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800 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
abate
|
to decrease; reduce
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abdicate
|
to give up a position, right, or power
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aberrant
|
deviating from what is normal
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abeyance
|
temporary suppression or suspension
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abject
|
miserable; pitiful
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abjure
|
to reject; abandon formally
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abscission
|
the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant
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abscond
|
to depart secretly
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abstemious
|
moderate in appetite
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abstinence
|
the giving up of certain pleasures
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abysmal
|
very bad
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accretion
|
growth in size or increase in amount
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accrue
|
to accumulate; grow by additions
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adamant
|
uncompromising; unyielding
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adjunct
|
something added, attached, or joined
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admonish
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to caution or reprimand
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adulterate
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to corrupt or make impure
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aesthetic
|
relating to beauty or the arts
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affected
|
pretentious; phony
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affinity
|
fondness; liking; similarity
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aggrandize
|
to make larger or greater
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aggregate
|
amounting to a whole; total
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alacrity
|
cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed
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alchemy
|
medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; a seemingly magical power or process of transmutation
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allay
|
to lessen; ease; soothe
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alleviate
|
to relieve; improve partially
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alloy
|
a combination; a mixture of two or more metals
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allure
|
the power to entice by charm
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amalgamate
|
to combine into a unified whole
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ambiguous
|
unclear or doubtful in meaning
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ambivalence
|
the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes
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ambrosia
|
something delicious; the food of the gods
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ameliorate
|
to improve
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amenable
|
agreeable; cooperative; suited
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amenity
|
something that increases comfort
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amulet
|
ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
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anachronism
|
something out of the proper time
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analgesic
|
medication that reduces or eliminates pain
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analogous
|
comparable
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anarchy
|
absence of government; state of disorder
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anodyne
|
something that calms or soothes pain
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anomalous
|
irregular; deviating from the norm
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antecedent
|
something that comes before
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antediluvian
|
prehistoric
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antipathy
|
dislike; hostility
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apathy
|
indifference
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apex
|
the highest point
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apogee
|
the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point
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apothegm
|
a terse, witty saying
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appease
|
to calm, pacify, placate
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appellation
|
name
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apposite
|
strikingly appropriate and relevant
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apprise
|
to inform
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approbation
|
praise, approval
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appropriate
|
to take possession of for one's own use; confiscate
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apropos
|
relevant
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arabesque
|
ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the body
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archeology
|
the study of material evidence of past human life
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ardor
|
great emotion or passion
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arduous
|
extremely difficult; laborious
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argot
|
a specialized vocabulary used by a group
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arrest
|
to stop; to seize
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artifact
|
item made by human craft
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artless
|
guileless; natural
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ascetic
|
one who practices self-denial
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asperity
|
severity; harshness; irritability
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aspersion
|
slander; false rumor
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assiduous
|
diligent; hard-working
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assuage
|
to make less severe
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astringent
|
harsh; severe
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asylum
|
place of refuge or shelter
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atavism
|
in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence; individual or a part that exhibits atavism; return of a trait after a period of absence
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attenuate
|
to weaken
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audacious
|
bold; daring
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austere
|
stern; unadorned; simple
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autonomous
|
self-governing; independent
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avarice
|
greed
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aver
|
to affirm; declare to be true
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avocation
|
secondary occupation
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avuncular
|
like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
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axiomatic
|
taken for granted; self-evident truth
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bacchanalian
|
pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry
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banal
|
commonplace; trite
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banter
|
playful conversation
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bard
|
poet
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bawdy
|
obscene
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beatify
|
to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to
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bedizen
|
to dress in a vulgar, showy manner
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behemoth
|
huge creature; anything very large and powerful
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belie
|
to contradict; misrepresent; give a false impression
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beneficent
|
kindly; doing good
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bifurcate
|
to divide into two parts
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blandishment
|
flattery
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blase
|
bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned
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bolster
|
to give a boost to; prop up; support
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bombastic
|
pompous; using inflated language
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boorish
|
rude; insensitive
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bovine
|
cowlike
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brazen
|
bold; shameless
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broach
|
to mention for the first time
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bucolic
|
characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral
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burgeon
|
to grow and flourish
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burnish
|
to polish
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buttress
|
to reinforce; support
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cacaphonous
|
unpleasant or harsh-sounding
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cadge
|
to beg; sponge
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callous
|
thick-skinned; insensitive
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calumny
|
false and malicious accusation; slander
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canard
|
false; deliberately misleading story
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canon
|
an established set of principles; a basis or standard for judgment; a group of literary works
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cant
|
insincere talk; language of a particular group
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cantankerous
|
irritable; ill-humored
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capricous
|
fickle
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captious
|
faultfinding; intended to entrap, as in an argument
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cardinal
|
of foremost importance
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carnal
|
of the flesh or body; related to physical appetities
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carping
|
to find fault; complain
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cartography
|
science of making maps
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caste
|
any of the hereditary social classes in Hindu society; social stratification
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castigation
|
punishment; chastisement; criticism
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cataclysm
|
a violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change
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catalyst
|
something that causes change
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categorical
|
absolute; without exception
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caucus
|
smaller group within an organization
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causal
|
involving a cause
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caustic
|
burning; stinging; causing corrosion
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celestial
|
concerned with sky or heavens; sublime
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centrifugal
|
moving away from a center
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centripetal
|
moving or directed toward a center
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champion
|
to defend or support
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chasten
|
to correct by punishment or reproof; to restrain or subdue
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chicanery
|
trickery; fraud
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chivalry
|
the qualities idealized by knighthood such as bravery and gallantry toward women
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churlish
|
rude; boorish
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circuitous
|
roundabout
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clamor
|
noisy outcry
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clique
|
a small, exclusive group
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cloister
|
to confine; seclude
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coagulate
|
thicken; congeal
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coalesce
|
to cause to become one
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coda
|
concluding part of a literary or musical composition; something that summarizes or concludes
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codify
|
to systematize
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cognizant
|
informed; conscious; aware
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collage
|
artistic composition of materials pasted over a surface; an assemblage of diverse elements
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commensurate
|
proportional
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compendium
|
brief, comprehensive summary
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complacent
|
self-satisfied
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complaisant
|
overly polite; willingness to comply with the wishes of others
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complement
|
something that completes or makes up a whole
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compliant
|
yielding
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compunction
|
uneasiness caused by guilt
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concave
|
curving inward
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conciliatory
|
overcoming distrust or hostility
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concoct
|
to invent
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concomitant
|
existing concurrently
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condone
|
to overlook voluntarily; forgive
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confound
|
to baffle; perplex; mix up
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congenial
|
similar in tastes and habits; friendly; suited to
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conjugal
|
pertaining to marriage agreement
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connoisseur
|
expert in matters of taste; expert knowledge or training
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conscript
|
a person compulsorily enrolled for military service
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consecrate
|
to declare sacred
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contend
|
to assert
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contentious
|
quarrelsome; causing quarrels
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contiguous
|
touching; neighboring; connecting without a break
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continence
|
self-control; abstention from sexual activity
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contrite
|
very sorrowful for a wrong; seeking forgiveness
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contumacious
|
disobedient; rebellious
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conundrum
|
riddle; puzzle with no solution
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convention
|
practice widely observed in a group; custom; accepted technique or device
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converge
|
to approach; come together; tend to meet
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convex
|
curved outward
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convivial
|
sociable
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convoluted
|
twisted; complicated
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copious
|
abundant; plentiful
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coquette
|
woman who flirts
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cornucopia
|
horn overflowing with fruit and grain; state of abundance
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cosmology
|
study of the universe as a totality; theory of the origin and structure of the universe
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covert
|
hidden; secret
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covetous
|
desiring something owned by another
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cozen
|
to mislead by trick or fraud; decieve
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craven
|
cowardly
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credence
|
acceptance of something as true
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credo
|
statement of belief or principle; creed
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daunt
|
to discourage; intimidate; dishearten
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dearth
|
scarcity
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debauchery
|
corruption
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decorum
|
proper behavior
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defame
|
to malign; harm someone's reputation
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default
|
to fail to act
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deference
|
respect; regard for another's wish
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defunct
|
no longer existing
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delineate
|
to represent or depict
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demographic
|
related to population balance
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demotic
|
pertaining to people
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demur
|
to express doubt; question or oppose
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denigrate
|
to slur someone's reputation
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denizen
|
an inhabitant; a regular visitor
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denouement
|
outcome; unraveling of the plot of a play or work of literature
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clairvoyant
|
one who can predict the future; psychic
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deride
|
to mock
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derivative
|
something derived; unoriginal
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desiccate
|
to dry completely
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desuetude
|
state of disuse
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desultory
|
random; disconnected; rambling
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deterrent
|
something that discourages or hinders
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detraction
|
the act of taking away
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diaphanous
|
transparent; vague; insubstancial
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diatribe
|
bitter verbal attack
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dichotomy
|
division into two usually contradictory parts
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diffidence
|
shyness; lack of confidence
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diffuse
|
to spread out
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digression
|
act of straying from the main point
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dirge
|
funeral hymn
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disabuse
|
free from a misconception
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discerning
|
perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgement
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discomfit
|
to make uneasy; disconcert
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discordant
|
not in tune
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discredit
|
to dishonor; disgrace
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discrepancy
|
difference between
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discrete
|
constituing a separate thing; distinct
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discretion
|
quality of showing self-restraint in speech or actions
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disingenuous
|
not candid, crafty
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disinterested
|
unpredujiced; objective
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disjointed
|
lacking order or coherence; dislocated
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dismiss
|
put away from consideration; reject
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disparage
|
to belittle
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disparate
|
dissimilar
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dissemble
|
to pretend; disguise one's motives
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disseminate
|
to spread; scatter; disperse
|
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dissolution
|
disintegration;debauchery
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dissonance
|
discord; lack of harmony
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distend
|
to expand; swell out
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distill
|
extract the essential elements
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distrait
|
inattentive; preoccupied
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diverge
|
to vary; go in different directions from the same point
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divest
|
to strip; deprive; rid
|
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divulge
|
to make known something that is secret
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document
|
to provide with written evidence to support
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doggerel
|
poor verse
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dogmatic
|
stating opinions without proof
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dormant
|
inactive
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dross
|
waste; worthless matter
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dupe
|
to deceive; trick
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ebullient
|
exhilarated; overly enthusiastic
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eclectic
|
selecting from various sources
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effervescence
|
state of high spirits or liveliness; process of bubling as gas escapes
|
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effete
|
depleted of vitality; overrefined; decadent
|
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dissident
|
person who disagrees about beliefs
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doctrinaire
|
dogmatic; unyielding
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efficacy
|
effectiveness; efficiency
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effrontery
|
shameless boldness; presumptuousness
|
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egoism
|
the tendency to see things in relation to oneself; self-centeredness
|
|
egotistical
|
excessively self-centered; conceited
|
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elegy
|
poem or song expressing lamentation
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elicit
|
to provoke; draw out
|
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elixir
|
a sustance believed to have the power to cure ills
|
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Elysian
|
delightful; blissful
|
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emaciated
|
thin and wasted
|
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embellish
|
to adorn; enhance
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emollient
|
soothing; mollifying
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empirical
|
derived from observation or experiment
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emulate
|
to imitate; copy
|
|
encomium
|
a formal expression of praise
|
|
endemic
|
inherent; belonging to an area
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enervate
|
to weaken
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engender
|
to cause; produce
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enhance
|
to increase; improve
|
|
entomology
|
the scientific study of insects
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enunciate
|
to pronounce clearly
|
|
ephemeral
|
short-lived; fleeting
|
|
epistemology
|
branch of philosophy tha texamines the nature of knowledge
|
|
equable
|
steady; unvarying; serene
|
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equanimity
|
composure; calmness
|
|
equivocate
|
intentionally use vague language
|
|
errant
|
mistaken; straying from the proper course
|
|
erudite
|
learned; scholarly
|
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esoteric
|
hard to understand; known only to a few
|
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essay
|
to make an attempt; subject to a test
|
|
estimable
|
admirable; possible to estimate
|
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ethnocentric
|
based on the attitude tha one's group is superior
|
|
etiology
|
causes or origins
|
|
etymology
|
origin an history of a word
|
|
eugenics
|
study of factors that influence the hereditary qualities of the human race and ways to improve those qualities
|
|
eulogy
|
high praise to a death person
|
|
euphemism
|
use of agreeable or inoffensive language in place of offensive language
|
|
euphoria
|
feeling of extreme happiness
|
|
euthanasia
|
mercy killing
|
|
evince
|
to show plainly; be an indication of
|
|
evocative
|
tending to call to mind or produce a reaction
|
|
exacerbate
|
to aggravate; make worse
|
|
exact
|
to force the payment of; demand and obtain by authority
|
|
exculpate
|
to clear of blame; vindicate
|
|
execrable
|
detertable; abhorrent
|
|
exhort
|
to urge by strong appeals
|
|
exigency
|
crisis; urgent requirements
|
|
existential
|
having to do with existence
|
|
exorcise
|
to expel evil spirits; free from bad influences
|
|
expatiate
|
to speak or write at length
|
|
expatriate
|
to send into exile
|
|
expiate
|
to atone for
|
|
explicate
|
to explain;interpret;clarify
|
|
expository
|
explanatory
|
|
extant
|
in existence; not lost
|
|
extemporaneous
|
unrehearsed
|
|
extirpate
|
to root up; to destroy
|
|
extraneous
|
not essencial
|
|
extrapolation
|
the act of estimation by projecting known information
|
|
extrinsic
|
not inherent of essential
|
|
facetious
|
homorous
|
|
facilitate
|
to make less difficult
|
|
factotum
|
a person who does all sorts of work; a handyman
|
|
fallacious
|
based on a false idea or fact; misleading
|
|
fallow
|
plowed but not sowed; uncultivated
|
|
fatuous
|
foolishly self-satisfied
|
|
fauna
|
animals of a period o region
|
|
fawning
|
seeking flavor by flattering
|
|
felicitous
|
suitable expressed; wee-chose; appropiate
|
|
feral
|
existing in a wild or untamed state
|
|
fervor
|
warmth and intensity of emotion
|
|
fetid
|
having a bad smell
|
|
fetter
|
to bind; confine
|
|
fiat
|
arbitray order; authorization
|
|
fidelity
|
loyalty; exact correspondence
|
|
filibuster
|
use of obstructive tactics in a legislature to block passage of a law
|
|
finesse
|
to handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy; refined in performance
|
|
fissure
|
crevice
|
|
flag
|
to droop; grow weak
|
|
fledging
|
beginner; novice
|
|
flora
|
plants of a region or era
|
|
flourish
|
en embellishment or ornamentation
|
|
flout
|
to treat scornfully
|
|
flux
|
flowing; a continuous moving
|
|
foment
|
to incite; arouse
|
|
forbearance
|
patience
|
|
forestall
|
to prevent; delay
|
|
formidable
|
menacing; threatening
|
|
forswear
|
renounce; repudiate
|
|
founder
|
to sink; fail; colapse
|
|
fracas
|
a loud quarrel; brawl
|
|
fractious
|
quarrelsome; unruly; rebellious
|
|
fresco
|
a painting done on plaster
|
|
frieze
|
ornamental band on a wall
|
|
froward
|
stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient
|
|
frugality
|
thrift
|
|
fulminate
|
to attack loudly; denounce
|
|
fulsome
|
so excessive as to be disgusting
|
|
fusion
|
union; synthesis
|
|
futile
|
ineffective; useless; fruitless
|
|
florid
|
ruddy; reddish; flowery
|
|
gainsay
|
to deny; dispute; oppose
|
|
gambol
|
to frolic; leap playfully
|
|
garrulous
|
very talkative; wordy
|
|
gauche
|
coarse and uncouth; clumsy
|
|
geniality
|
cheerfulness; kindliness; sociability
|
|
gerrymander
|
to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favors a political party
|
|
glib
|
fluent in an insincere way; offhand
|
|
goad
|
to prod; urge on
|
|
gossamer
|
sheer; light and delicate; like cobwebs
|
|
gouge
|
to tear out; scoop out; overcharge
|
|
grandiloquent
|
pompous; bombastic
|
|
gregarious
|
outgoing; sociable
|
|
grouse
|
to complain
|
|
guileless
|
free of cunning or deceit; artless
|
|
guise
|
outward appearance; false appearance
|
|
gullible
|
easily deceived
|
|
gustatory
|
affecting the sense of taste
|
|
halcyon
|
calm and peaceful; happy; golden; prosperous
|
|
hallowed
|
holy; sacred
|
|
harangue
|
long, pompous speech; tirade
|
|
harrowing
|
extremely distressing; terrifying
|
|
herbivorous
|
an animal that feeds mainly on plants
|
|
hermetic
|
tighly sealed; magical
|
|
heterodox
|
not widely accepted
|
|
hieroglyphics
|
a system of writing in which pictorial symbols represent meanings or sounds; wirting or symbols that are difficult to decipher
|
|
hirsute
|
covered with hair
|
|
histrionic
|
relating to exaggerated emotional behavior calculated for effect; theatrical acts or performances
|
|
homeostasis
|
automatic maintenance by an organism in balance with itself
|
|
homily
|
sermon; tedious moralizing lecture
|
|
homogeneous
|
composed of identical parts; uniform in composition
|
|
hyperbole
|
purposeful exaggeration for effect
|
|
iconoclastic
|
attacking cherished traditions
|
|
idolatry
|
idol worship; blind or excessive devotion
|
|
igneous
|
produced by fire; volcanic
|
|
imbroglio
|
complicated situation; an entanglement
|
|
immutable
|
inchangeable
|
|
impair
|
to damage; injure
|
|
impassive
|
showing no emotion
|
|
impecunious
|
poor; having no money
|
|
impede
|
to hinder; block
|
|
impermeable
|
impossible to permeate
|
|
imperturbable
|
not easily disturbed
|
|
impervious
|
incapable of being affected; impossible to penetrate
|
|
impinge
|
to strike; encroach
|
|
implacable
|
inflexible; incable of being pleased or calmed down
|
|
implausible
|
unlikely; unbelievable
|
|
implicit
|
implied; understood but not stated
|
|
implode
|
collapse inward violently
|
|
imprecation
|
curse; damnation
|
|
impute
|
to attribute the fault to; relate to a particular cause or source
|
|
inadvertenly
|
carelessly; unintentionally
|
|
incarnate
|
having bodily form
|
|
inchoate
|
imperfectely formed or formulated
|
|
incongruity
|
state of not fitting
|
|
inconsequencial
|
insgnificant; unimportant
|
|
incorporate
|
introduce something into another thing already in existence
|
|
incursion
|
sudden invasion
|
|
indeterminate
|
uncertain; indefinite
|
|
indigence
|
poverty
|
|
indolent
|
habitually lazy; idle
|
|
ineluctable
|
not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable
|
|
inert
|
unable to move; sluggish
|
|
ingenous
|
naive and trusting; lacking sophistication
|
|
inherent
|
firmly established by nature or habit
|
|
innocuous
|
harmless
|
|
insensible
|
unconscious; unresponsive
|
|
insinuate
|
to suggest; say indirectly; imply
|
|
insipid
|
lacking in flavor; dull
|
|
insouciant
|
indifferent; lacking concern or care
|
|
insularity
|
narrow-mindedness; isolation
|
|
insuperable
|
insurmountable; unconquerable
|
|
intangible
|
not material
|
|
interdict
|
to forbid; prohibit
|
|
internecine
|
deadly to both sides
|
|
interpolate
|
to insert; change by adding new words or material
|
|
interregnum
|
interval between reigns; gap in continuity
|
|
intimate
|
marked by close acquaintance
|
|
intractable
|
not easily managed
|
|
intransigence
|
stubbornness; refusal to compromise
|
|
introspective
|
contemplating one's own thoughts and feelings
|
|
inundate
|
to cover with water, overwhelm
|
|
inured
|
hardened; accustomed; used to
|
|
invective
|
verbal abuse
|
|
inveigh
|
to disapprove; protest vehemently
|
|
inveigle
|
to win over by flattering or coaxing
|
|
inveterate
|
confirmed; long standing
|
|
invidious
|
likely to provoke ill will
|
|
irascible
|
easily angered
|
|
irresolute
|
unsure of how to act; weak
|
|
itinerant
|
wandering from place to place; unsettled
|
|
itinerary
|
route of a traveler's journey
|
|
jaundiced
|
havind a yellowish discoloration of the skin; affected by envy
|
|
jibe
|
to be in agreement
|
|
jocose
|
fond of joking; jocular
|
|
juggernaut
|
huge froce destrying everything in its path
|
|
junta
|
group of people united in political intrigue
|
|
juxtapose
|
place side by side
|
|
kudos
|
fame; glory; honor
|
|
labile
|
likely to change
|
|
laconic
|
using few words
|
|
lambaste
|
to trash verbally or physically
|
|
lascivious
|
lustful
|
|
lassitude
|
lethargy; sluggishness
|
|
latent
|
dormant; potential not apparent
|
|
laud
|
praise
|
|
lethargic
|
inactive
|
|
levee
|
en embankment that prevents a river from overflowing
|
|
levity
|
light manner or attitude
|
|
liberal
|
tolerant; broad-minded
|
|
libertine
|
one without moral restraint
|
|
libido
|
sexual desire
|
|
lilliputian
|
extremely small
|
|
limn
|
to draw, describe
|
|
limpid
|
clear; transparent
|
|
linguistic
|
pertaining to language
|
|
litany
|
lengthy recitation; repetitive chant
|
|
literati
|
scholarly of learned persons
|
|
litigation
|
legal proceedings
|
|
log
|
record of a voyage; record of daily activities
|
|
loquacious
|
talkative
|
|
lucid
|
bright; clear; intelligible
|
|
lucre
|
money or profits
|
|
luminous
|
bright; brilliant; glowing
|
|
lustrous
|
shining
|
|
machiavellian
|
crafty; double-dealing
|
|
machinations
|
plots or schemes
|
|
maelstrom
|
whirpool; turmoil
|
|
magnaminity
|
generosity; nobility
|
|
malign
|
to speak evil of
|
|
malinger
|
to feign illness to escape duty
|
|
malleable
|
capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionate
|
|
maverick
|
dissenter
|
|
megalomania
|
delusions of power or importance
|
|
menagerie
|
a variety of animals kept together
|
|
mendacious
|
dishonest
|
|
mendicant
|
beggar
|
|
meretricious
|
gaudy; specious; flasely attractive
|
|
mesmerize
|
to hypnotize
|
|
metamorphosis
|
change; transformation
|
|
metaphysics
|
a branch of philosophy tha tinvestigates the ultimate nature of reality
|
|
metereological
|
concerned with the weather
|
|
meticulous
|
very careful; picky; fastidious
|
|
mettle
|
courage; endurance
|
|
mettlesome
|
full of courage and fortitude
|
|
microcosm
|
a small system having analogies to a larger system
|
|
militate
|
to work against
|
|
minatory
|
threatening; menacing
|
|
minuscule
|
very small
|
|
minutia
|
petty details
|
|
misanthrope
|
one who hates humanity; one who dislikes others
|
|
miscellany
|
mixture of writtings on various subjects
|
|
miscreant
|
villain; criminal
|
|
misogynist
|
one who hates women
|
|
mitigate
|
alleviate; to become less severe
|
|
mnemonic
|
realated to memory; assisting memory
|
|
modicum
|
limited quantity
|
|
mollify
|
to soothe
|
|
monolithic
|
solid and uniform; constituing a single, unified whole
|
|
morose
|
ill-humored; sullen
|
|
motley
|
many colored; made up of many parts
|
|
multifarious
|
diverse
|
|
mundane
|
worldy as opposed to spiritual; concerned with the ordinary
|
|
necromancy
|
black magic
|
|
negate
|
to cancel out; nullify
|
|
neologism
|
new word or expression
|
|
neophyte
|
novice; beginner
|
|
nexus
|
a means of connection; a center
|
|
nonplussed
|
bewildered
|
|
nostalgia
|
sentimental longing for a past time
|
|
nostrum
|
medicine or remedy of doubtful effectiveness
|
|
nugatory
|
trifling; invalid
|
|
obdurate
|
stubborn
|
|
obsequious
|
overly submissive
|
|
obsequy
|
funeral ceremony
|
|
obviate
|
to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent
|
|
occlude
|
to shut; block
|
|
occult
|
relating to practices connected with supernatural phenomena
|
|
odyssey
|
a long, adventurous voyage; a quest
|
|
officious
|
too helful; meddlesome
|
|
olfactory
|
concerning the sense of smell
|
|
oligarchy
|
form of government in which power belongs to only a few leaders
|
|
onerous
|
burdensome
|
|
onomatopeia
|
formation or use of words that imitate sounds of the actions they refer to
|
|
opprobium
|
public disgrace; contempt
|
|
ornithologist
|
scientist who studies birds
|
|
oscillate
|
to move back and forth
|
|
ostentatious
|
showy; pretentious
|
|
overweening
|
presumptuous; arrogant
|
|
paean
|
song of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy
|
|
paleonthology
|
study of past geological eras through fossil remains
|
|
pallid
|
lacking color or liveliness
|
|
panegyric
|
elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
|
|
paragon
|
model of perfection or excellence
|
|
partisan
|
one-sided; committed to a party, group or cause
|
|
pathological
|
departing from normal condition
|
|
patois
|
jargon; a regional dialect
|
|
paucity
|
scarcity
|
|
pedantic
|
showing off learning
|
|
pellucid
|
transparent; easily understood
|
|
penchant
|
inclination
|
|
penury
|
extreme poverty
|
|
peregrination
|
wandering from place to place
|
|
peremptory
|
imperative; leaving no choice
|
|
perennial
|
present throughout the years; persistent
|
|
perfidious
|
faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy
|
|
perfunctory
|
superficial; performed really as a duty
|
|
perigee
|
point in an orbit that is closest to the earth
|
|
permeable
|
penetrable
|
|
perturb
|
to disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious
|
|
pervasive
|
spread throughout every part
|
|
petulant
|
rude; peevish
|
|
phlegmatic
|
unemotional; calm in temperament
|
|
phoenix
|
anything that is restored after suffering great destruction
|
|
physiognomy
|
facial features
|
|
piety
|
devoutness
|
|
piquant
|
pleasantly pungent; attractive
|
|
pique
|
fleeting feeling or hurt pride
|
|
placate
|
soothe; pacify
|
|
placid
|
calm
|
|
plaintive
|
melancholy; mournful
|
|
plasticity
|
pliability; condition of being able to be shaped or formed
|
|
platitude
|
stale; overused expression
|
|
platonic
|
spiritual; theoretical
|
|
plethora
|
excess; overabundance
|
|
plumb
|
to examine deeply; determine the depth
|
|
plummet
|
to fall; plunge
|
|
plutocracy
|
society ruled by the wealthy
|
|
porous
|
full of holes; permeable to liquids
|
|
poseur
|
poerson who affects an attitude to impress others
|
|
pragmatic
|
practical
|
|
prate
|
to talk idly; chatter
|
|
prattle
|
meaningless, foolish talk
|
|
preamble
|
preliminary statement
|
|
precarious
|
uncertain
|
|
precept
|
principle; law
|
|
precipitate
|
to cause to happen; throw down from a height
|
|
precipitate
|
rash; hasty; sudden; done without deliberation
|
|
precursor
|
forerunner; predecessor
|
|
preempt
|
to supersede; appropiate for oneself
|
|
prehensile
|
capable of grasping
|
|
premonition
|
forewarning; presentiment
|
|
presage
|
to foretell; indicate in advance
|
|
presumptuous
|
rude; improperly bold
|
|
preternatural
|
supernatural; beyond the normal use of nature
|
|
prevaricate
|
to quibble; evade the truth
|
|
primordial
|
original; existing from the beginning
|
|
pristine
|
untouched; uncorrupted
|
|
probity
|
honesty; high-mindness
|
|
problematic
|
posing a problem; doubtful
|
|
prodigal
|
wasteful; extravagant; lavish
|
|
profound
|
deep, not superficial
|
|
prohibitive
|
so high as to prevent the purchase or use of, forbidding
|
|
proliferate
|
to increase rapidly
|
|
propensity
|
inclination, tendency
|
|
propitiate
|
to win over, appease
|
|
propriety
|
correct conduct, fitness
|
|
proscribe
|
to condemn, forbid, outlaw
|
|
provident
|
providing for future need, frugal
|
|
puissant
|
powerful
|
|
punctilious
|
careful in observing rules fo behavior
|
|
pungent
|
penetrating, caustic, to the point
|
|
pusillanimous
|
cowerdly
|
|
purport
|
to profess, suppose, claim
|
|
quagmire
|
marsh, difficult situation
|
|
quail
|
to cower, lose heart
|
|
qualified
|
limited, restricted
|
|
qualm
|
sudden feeling of faintness or nausea
|
|
query
|
question
|
|
quibble
|
to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details
|
|
quiescent
|
inactive, still
|
|
quorum
|
number of memeber necessary to conduct a meeting
|
|
raconteur
|
witty, skillful storyteller
|
|
rail
|
to scold with bitter or abusive language
|
|
raiment
|
clothing
|
|
ramification
|
implication, consequence
|
|
rarefied
|
refined
|
|
rationale
|
fundamental reason
|
|
rebu
|
puzzle in whic pictures or symbols represent words
|
|
recalcitrant
|
resisting authority or control
|
|
recant
|
retract a statement of opinion
|
|
recluse
|
person who lives in seclusion and often in solitude
|
|
recondite
|
abstruse, profound
|
|
redoubtable
|
formidable, arousing fear
|
|
refractory
|
stubborn, resisting ordinary methods of treatment
|
|
refulgent
|
brightly shining, resplendent
|
|
refute
|
to contradict, disprove
|
|
regale
|
to entertain
|
|
relegate
|
to consign to an inferior position
|
|
remonstrate
|
to object or protest
|
|
renege
|
to go back on one's word
|
|
reparation
|
amends, compensation
|
|
repine
|
fret, complain
|
|
reprise
|
repetition, especially of a piece of music
|
|
reproach
|
to find fault with, blame
|
|
reprobate
|
morally unprincipled person
|
|
repudiate
|
to reject as having no authority
|
|
rescind
|
to cancel
|
|
resolution
|
determination, resolve
|
|
resolve
|
determination, firmness of purpose
|
|
reticent
|
nor speaking freely, reserved, reluctant
|
|
reverent
|
expressing deep respect, worshipful
|
|
riposte
|
retaliatory action or retort
|
|
rococo
|
excessively ornate
|
|
rubric
|
protocol, title or heading
|
|
rue
|
regret
|
|
ruse
|
trick, crafty stratagem
|
|
sage
|
wise
|
|
salacious
|
lascivious, lustful
|
|
salubrious
|
healthful
|
|
salutary
|
expecting an improvement, favorable to health
|
|
sanction
|
to approve, ratify, permit
|
|
sardonic
|
cynical, scornfully mocking
|
|
sartorial
|
pertaining to tailors
|
|
satiate
|
to satisfy
|
|
saturate
|
imbue througout, soak thoroughly
|
|
saturnine
|
gloomy
|
|
satyr
|
a creature that is half-man, half beast, with the horns and legs of a goat
|
|
savor
|
to enjoy, have a distinctive flavor or smell
|
|
schematic
|
relating to or in the form of an outline or diagram
|
|
secrete
|
produce and release substance into organism
|
|
sedition
|
behaviour prompting rebellion
|
|
sedulous
|
diligent, assiduous
|
|
seismic
|
relating to earthquakes
|
|
sensual
|
relating to the senses, gratifying the physical (sexual) senses
|
|
sensuous
|
relating to the senses
|
|
sentient
|
aware, concious, able to preceive
|
|
servile
|
submissive, obedient
|
|
sextant
|
navigation tool that determines latitude and longitude
|
|
shard
|
a piece of broken glass or pottery
|
|
sidereal
|
relating to the stars
|
|
simian
|
apelike, relating to apes
|
|
simile
|
comparison of one thing with another using "like" or "as"
|
|
sinecure
|
well-paying job that requieres little or no work
|
|
singular
|
unique, extraordinary, odd
|
|
sinuous
|
intricate, complex
|
|
skeptic
|
one who doubts
|
|
sobriety
|
seriousness
|
|
sodden
|
thoroughly soaked, saturated
|
|
solicitous
|
concerned, attentive, eager
|
|
soliloquy
|
literary or dramatic speech by one character, not adressed to others
|
|
solvent
|
able to meet financial obligations
|
|
somatic
|
relating to or affecting the body, corporeal
|
|
soporific
|
sleep producing
|
|
sordid
|
filthy, contemptible and corrupt
|
|
specious
|
seeming to be logical and sound, but not really so
|
|
spectrum
|
band of color, broad range of related ideas or objects
|
|
spendthrift
|
person who spends money recklessly
|
|
sporadic
|
irregular
|
|
squalor
|
filthy, wretched condition
|
|
staccato
|
marked by abrupt, clear-cut sounds
|
|
stanch
|
to stop or check the flow of
|
|
stentorian
|
extremely loud
|
|
stigma
|
mark of disgrace or inferiority
|
|
stint
|
to be sparing
|
|
stipulate
|
to specify as an essential condition
|
|
stolid
|
having or showing little emotion
|
|
stratified
|
arranged in layers
|
|
striated
|
marked with thin, narrow grooves or channels
|
|
stricture
|
something that restrains, negative criticism
|
|
strident
|
loud, harsh, unpleasantly noisy
|
|
strut
|
to swagger, display to impress others
|
|
stultify
|
to impair or reduce to uselessness
|
|
stupefy
|
to dull the senses of, stun, atonish
|
|
stygian
|
dark and gloomy, hellish
|
|
subpoena
|
notice ordering someone to appear in court
|
|
subside
|
to settle down, grow quiet
|
|
substantiate
|
to support with proof or evidence
|
|
substantive
|
essential
|
|
subsume
|
to include, incorporate
|
|
subversive
|
intended to undermine or underthrow, especially an established government
|
|
succor
|
relief, help in time of distress or want
|
|
suffrage
|
the right to vote
|
|
sundry
|
various
|
|
supersede
|
to relace, especially to displace as inferior or antiquated
|
|
supine
|
lying in the back, marked by lethargy
|
|
supplant
|
to replace, substitute
|
|
suppliant
|
beseeching
|
|
supplicant
|
one who asks humbly and earnestly
|
|
supposition
|
the act of assuming to be true or real
|
|
syllogism
|
a form of deductive reasoning with a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion
|
|
sylvan
|
related to the woods or forest
|
|
tacit
|
silently understood, implied
|
|
talisman
|
charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune
|
|
tangential
|
peripheral, irrelevant, digressing
|
|
tautology
|
unnecessary repetition
|
|
taxonomy
|
science of classification
|
|
tenet
|
belief, doctrine
|
|
tenuous
|
weak, insubstantial
|
|
terrestrial
|
earthly, commonplace
|
|
theocracy
|
government by priests representing a god
|
|
thespian
|
an actor or actress
|
|
timbre
|
voice tone color
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tirade
|
long, violent speech, verbal assault
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toady
|
flatterer, yes-man
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tome
|
book, usually large and academic
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torpor
|
lethargy, dormancy, sluggishness
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torque
|
a turning or twisting force
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tortuous
|
having many twists and turns, highly complex
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tout
|
to promote or praise energetically
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tractable
|
obedient, yielding
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transgression
|
act of trespassing or violating a law or rule
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transient
|
temporary, fleeting
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translucent
|
partially transparent
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travail
|
work, especially arduous work
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travesty
|
parody, exaggerated imitation, caricature
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treatise
|
article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly
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tremulous
|
trembling, frugal, timid
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trepidation
|
fear and anxiety
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truculence
|
aggressiveness, ferocity
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tryst
|
agreement between lovest to meet, rendez-vous
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tumid
|
swollen, distended
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turbid
|
muddy, opaque, in a state of great confusion
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turgid
|
swollen, pompous
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tutelary
|
serving as a guardian or protector
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uncanny
|
myterious, strange
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undulating
|
moving in waves
|
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unfeigned
|
not false, genuine
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untenable
|
indefensible
|
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untoward
|
not favorable, troublesome, unruly
|
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usury
|
a practice of lending money at exorbitant rates
|
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vacillate
|
to waver, oscillate
|
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vacuous
|
empty, void, lacking intelligence
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valedictory
|
pertaining to a farewell
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vapid
|
tasteless, dull
|
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variegated
|
varied, marked with different colors
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vaunt
|
to boast, drag
|
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venal
|
mercenary, corruptible
|
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vendetta
|
prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility
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venerate
|
to adore, honor, respect
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veracious
|
truthful, accurate
|
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verbose
|
wordy
|
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vertigo
|
dizziness
|
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vexation
|
irritation, annoyance
|
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viable
|
practicable, capable of developing
|
|
vindictive
|
vengeful, unforgiving
|
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virtuoso
|
someone with master skills, expert musician
|
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visage
|
appearance, aspect
|
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viscous
|
thick, syrupy
|
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vitiate
|
to impair the quality of, corrupt morally
|
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vituperative
|
using or containing harsh, abusive censure
|
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vivisection
|
dissection, surgery, or painful experiments performed on a living animal for the purpose of scientific research
|
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vogue
|
prevailing fashion or practice
|
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volatile
|
tending to vary frequently, fickle
|
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vortex
|
whirpool, center of turbulence
|
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warranted
|
justified
|
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wary
|
careful, cautious
|
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welter
|
wallow or roll, toss about, be in turmoil
|
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whimsical
|
fanciful, unpredictable
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wistful
|
vaguely longing, sadly thoughtful
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zealot
|
one who is fanatically devoted to a cause
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