Gre - Barron 2

Front 1

jeopardize

Back 1

endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy: danger

Front 2

jettison

Back 2

throw overboard (from a ship or plane)

Front 3

jibe

Back 3

agree; be in harmony with; gibe

Front 4

jingoist

Back 4

extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism

Front 5

jocose

Back 5

given to (having a tendency of) joking

Front 6

jocular

Back 6

said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking

Front 7

jocund

Back 7

merry

Front 8

jollity

Back 8

gaiety; cheerfulness; Adj. jolly: merry; gay

Front 9

jostle

Back 9

shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly; Ex. jostled by the crowds

Front 10

jovial

Back 10

good-natured; merry; cheerful

Front 11

jubilation

Back 11

rejoicing; great joy

Front 12

judicious

Back 12

sound on judgment; wise

Front 13

juggernaut

Back 13

irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its path

Front 14

juncture

Back 14

crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining

Front 15

junket

Back 15

trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense

Front 16

junta

Back 16

group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)

Front 17

jurisprudence

Back 17

science of law

Front 18

juxtapose

Back 18

place side by side; Cf. next

Front 19

kaleidoscope

Back 19

tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce interesting symmetrical effects; series of changing events; Ex. kaleidoscope of European history; Cf. beautiful

Front 20

ken

Back 20

range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken

Front 21

kernel

Back 21

central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)

Front 22

killjoy

Back 22

grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others

Front 23

kindle

Back 23

start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse

Front 24

kindred

Back 24

related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N: relative; kin; kinship

Front 25

kinetic

Back 25

producing motion; of motion

Front 26

kismet

Back 26

fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.

Front 27

kleptomaniac

Back 27

person who has a compulsive desire to steal

Front 28

knave

Back 28

untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery

Front 29

knead

Back 29

mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough

Front 30

knell

Back 30

tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.

Front 31

knit

Back 31

contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by intertwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit together in a few weeks.

Front 32

knoll

Back 32

little round hill; hillock

Front 33

knotty

Back 33

intricate; difficult; tangled; Cf. knot

Front 34

kudos

Back 34

honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement

Front 35

labile

Back 35

likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. labiality

Front 36

laborious

Back 36

demanding much work or care; tedious

Front 37

labyrinth

Back 37

maze

Front 38

laceration

Back 38

torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin as with broken glass); wound

Front 39

lachrymose

Back 39

producing tears; tearful

Front 40

lackadaisical

Back 40

lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid

Front 41

lackluster

Back 41

lacking luster (shine; gloss); dull

Front 42

laconic

Back 42

brief and to the point; using few words; terse

Front 43

laggard

Back 43

slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler

Front 44

lagoon

Back 44

shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs

Front 45

laity

Back 45

laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy

Front 46

lament

Back 46

grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation

Front 47

lampoon

Back 47

ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution

Front 48

lancet

Back 48

small surgical tool for making incisions

Front 49

languid

Back 49

lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless

Front 50

languish

Back 50

lose animation or strength

Front 51

languor

Back 51

lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression

Front 52

lank

Back 52

long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln

Front 53

lap

Back 53

(v) take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently; Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person

Front 54

larceny

Back 54

theft; Ex. petit larceny

Front 55

larder

Back 55

pantry; place where food is kept

Front 56

largess

Back 56

generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)

Front 57

lascivious

Back 57

lustful

Front 58

lassitude

Back 58

languor; weariness; listlessness

Front 59

latent

Back 59

present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; Cf. potential

Front 60

lateral

Back 60

of or coming from the side

Front 61

latitude

Back 61

freedom from narrow limitations

Front 62

laud

Back 62

praise; N. Adj. laudable: praiseworthy; Adj. laudatory: expressing praise

Front 63

lavish

Back 63

liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance

Front 64

lax

Back 64

careless; negligent; not paying enough attention; Ex. lax service

Front 65

lean

Back 65

(adj) thin; lacking of in fat (meat, often beef)

Front 66

leaven

Back 66

add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens

Front 67

lechery

Back 67

gross lewdness; lustfulness; Adj. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man

Front 68

lectern

Back 68

reading desk or stand for a public speaker

Front 69

leery

Back 69

(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious

Front 70

leeway

Back 70

room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline

Front 71

legacy

Back 71

gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor

Front 72

legend

Back 72

explanatory list of symbols on a map

Front 73

legerdemain

Back 73

sleight (dexterity) of hand; Cf. light of hand

Front 74

legitimate

Back 74

(adj) having the sanction of law or established custom.

Front 75

leonine

Back 75

like a lion

Front 76

lethal

Back 76

deadly

Front 77

lethargic

Back 77

drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness and inactivity

Front 78

levee

Back 78

earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; Cf. raise

Front 79

levitate

Back 79

rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); Cf. light

Front 80

levity

Back 80

lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner

Front 81

levy

Back 81

impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect (a tax); Ex. levy a tax on tobacco

Front 82

lewd

Back 82

lustful

Front 83

lexicographer

Back 83

compiler of a dictionary; Cf. lexicography: work of compiling a dictionary

Front 84

lexicon

Back 84

dictionary

Front 85

liability

Back 85

drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being liable; Adj. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)

Front 86

liaison

Back 86

contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups; one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection

Front 87

libel

Back 87

defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character; V. Adj. libelous

Front 88

libertine

Back 88

debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; Cf. free

Front 89

libidinous

Back 89

lustful

Front 90

libido

Back 90

psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire

Front 91

libretto

Back 91

text of an opera or oratorio; Cf. book

Front 92

licentious

Back 92

amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained

Front 93

lien

Back 93

legal claim or right on a property

Front 94

ligneous

Back 94

like wood

Front 95

lilliputian

Back 95

extremely small; Cf. Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels

Front 96

limber

Back 96

flexible; supple; pliable; V.

Front 97

limbo

Back 97

region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo

Front 98

limn

Back 98

draw; outline; describe; Cf. line

Front 99

limpid

Back 99

crystal clear

Front 100

lineage

Back 100

descent; ancestry

Front 101

lineaments

Back 101

features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; Cf. line

Front 102

linguistic

Back 102

pertaining to language

Front 103

listless

Back 103

lacking in spirit or energy; languid

Front 104

litany

Back 104

supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words

Front 105

lithe

Back 105

flexible; supple; Cf. limber

Front 106

litigation

Back 106

lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V. litigate

Front 107

litotes

Back 107

understatement for emphasis; Ex. "not bad (=pretty good)"

Front 108

livid

Back 108

lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely angry

Front 109

loath

Back 109

(=loth) reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go

Front 110

loathe

Back 110

detest; Adj. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive; Ex. loathsome smell

Front 111

lode

Back 111

metal-bearing vein (long deposit of an ore)

Front 112

lofty

Back 112

very high

Front 113

log

Back 113

record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk; V.

Front 114

loiter

Back 114

hang about/around; stand idly about; linger

Front 115

loll

Back 115

lounge about

Front 116

longevity

Back 116

long life; long duration

Front 117

loom

Back 117

appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct, or distorted form); Ex. The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly. N: apparatus for making thread into cloth

Front 118

lope

Back 118

gallop slowly

Front 119

loquacious

Back 119

talkative; N. loquacity

Front 120

low

Back 120

moo; make the sound of a cow

Front 121

lucid

Back 121

easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity

Front 122

lucrative

Back 122

profitable; producing wealth; N. lucre: money, profit

Front 123

ludicrous

Back 123

laughable; ridiculous; trifling

Front 124

lugubrious

Back 124

mournful; sorrowful

Front 125

lull

Back 125

moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex. a lull in the rain; V: cause to become less active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false sense of security; Cf. lullaby

Front 126

lumber

Back 126

(v) move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered through the woods

Front 127

lumen

Back 127

unit of light energy (one candle's worth)

Front 128

luminary

Back 128

celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object that gives light (as a celestial body)

Front 129

luminous

Back 129

shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light; Ex. luminous paint/road signs

Front 130

lunar

Back 130

pertaining to the moon

Front 131

lure

Back 131

decoy or bait; V.

Front 132

lurid

Back 132

wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; Ex. lurid details of the murder

Front 133

lurk

Back 133

stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived

Front 134

luscious

Back 134

pleasing to taste or smell; delicious

Front 135

luster

Back 135

shine; gloss (of a polished surface)

Front 136

lustrous

Back 136

shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair

Front 137

luxuriant

Back 137

abundant; growing healthily and in large amounts; excessively ornate; rich and splendid; fertile; Ex. luxuriant forests/prose; Cf. luxurious, luxuriate

Front 138

macabre

Back 138

gruesome; grisly; ghastly; Cf. of death

Front 139

mace

Back 139

ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval weapon

Front 140

macerate

Back 140

soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper

Front 141

Machiavellian

Back 141

crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power

Front 142

machinations

Back 142

evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate

Front 143

maculated

Back 143

spotted; stained; Cf. immaculate

Front 144

madrigal

Back 144

pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments

Front 145

maelstrom

Back 145

violent whirlpool; violent or turbulent situation; Cf. stream

Front 146

magisterial

Back 146

authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner

Front 147

magnanimity

Back 147

generosity; Adj. magnanimous: generous

Front 148

magnate

Back 148

person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate

Front 149

magniloquent

Back 149

boastful; pompous

Front 150

magnitude

Back 150

greatness (in size or extent); extent

Front 151

maim

Back 151

mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life

Front 152

maladroit

Back 152

clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling

Front 153

malady

Back 153

illness

Front 154

malaise

Back 154

uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)

Front 155

malapropism

Back 155

comic misuse of a word; Cf. Mrs. Malaprop

Front 156

malcontent

Back 156

person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person; Adj: discontented

Front 157

malediction

Back 157

curse

Front 158

malefactor

Back 158

evildoer; criminal

Front 159

malevolent

Back 159

wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence

Front 160

malfeasance

Back 160

wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)

Front 161

malicious

Back 161

hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite

Front 162

malign

Back 162

speak evil of; bad-mouth (criticize spitefully); defame; Adj: harmful; Ex. malign influence

Front 163

malignant

Back 163

tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor

Front 164

malingerer

Back 164

one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work

Front 165

malleable

Back 165

(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding (beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable (easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable

Front 166

malodorous

Back 166

foul-smelling

Front 167

mammal

Back 167

vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young

Front 168

manacle

Back 168

restrain; handcuff; N.

Front 169

mandate

Back 169

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

Front 170

mandatory

Back 170

obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate

Front 171

maneuver

Back 171

(=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

Front 172

mangy

Back 172

shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance

Front 173

maniacal

Back 173

raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; Cf. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm

Front 174

manifest

Back 174

evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly

Front 175

manifesto

Back 175

public declaration of principles; statement of policy

Front 176

manifold

Back 176

many in number or kind; numerous; varied

Front 177

manipulate

Back 177

operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate publicity and men; Adj. manipulative

Front 178

mannered

Back 178

affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech

Front 179

manumit

Back 179

emancipate; free from slavery or bondage

Front 180

marital

Back 180

pertaining to marriage

Front 181

maritime

Back 181

bordering on (adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces

Front 182

marked

Back 182

noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man

Front 183

marred

Back 183

damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure

Front 184

marshal

Back 184

put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official

Front 185

marsupial

Back 185

one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch (pocket of skin or leather); Cf. kangaroo, opossum, wombat

Front 186

martial

Back 186

warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law

Front 187

martinet

Back 187

strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; Cf. Jean Martinet

Front 188

martyr

Back 188

one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism

Front 189

masochist

Back 189

person who enjoys his own pain; Cf. masochism

Front 190

masticate

Back 190

chew

Front 191

materialism

Back 191

preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)

Front 192

maternal

Back 192

motherly; N. maternity: motherhood

Front 193

matriarch

Back 193

woman who rules a family or larger social group

Front 194

matriculate

Back 194

enroll (in college or graduate school); Cf. matrix

Front 195

matrix

Back 195

point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization

Front 196

maul

Back 196

handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer

Front 197

mausoleum

Back 197

monumental tomb; large stately tomb; Cf. Mausolos

Front 198

mauve

Back 198

pale purple

Front 199

maverick

Back 199

rebel; nonconformist (in a group)

Front 200

mawkish

Back 200

mushy (sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental

Front 201

maxim

Back 201

proverb; truth pithily stated

Front 202

mayhem

Back 202

injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; Cf. maim

Front 203

meager

Back 203

scanty; inadequate

Front 204

mealymouthed

Back 204

indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive

Front 205

meander

Back 205

wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly

Front 206

meddlesome

Back 206

interfering; V. meddle: interfere

Front 207

mediate

Back 207

settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire

Front 208

mediocre

Back 208

ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad

Front 209

meditation

Back 209

reflection; thought; V. meditate

Front 210

medium

Back 210

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

Front 211

medley

Back 211

mixture

Front 212

meek

Back 212

submissive; patient and long-suffering

Front 213

megalomania

Back 213

mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance

Front 214

melancholy

Back 214

gloomy; morose; blue; N. Adj. melancholic; Cf. melancholia

Front 215

melee

Back 215

(=mêlée) fight

Front 216

mellifluous

Back 216

(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune

Front 217

memento

Back 217

token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit

Front 218

memorialize

Back 218

commemorate

Front 219

menagerie

Back 219

collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo

Front 220

mendacious

Back 220

lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity

Front 221

mendicant

Back 221

beggar; Adj: living as a beggar

Front 222

menial

Back 222

suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)

Front 223

mentor

Back 223

counselor; teacher

Front 224

mercantile

Back 224

concerning trade or merchants

Front 225

mercenary

Back 225

motivated solely by money or gain; N.

Front 226

mercurial

Back 226

capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; Cf. mood

Front 227

meretricious

Back 227

flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. meretricious argument/jewel; Cf. prostitute

Front 228

merger

Back 228

combination (of two business corporations); act of merging

Front 229

mesmerize

Back 229

hypnotize; N. mesmerism; Cf. Franz Mesmer

Front 230

metallurgical

Back 230

pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores

Front 231

metamorphosis

Back 231

change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis

Front 232

metaphor

Back 232

implied comparison; Cf. simile

Front 233

metaphysical

Back 233

pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality

Front 234

mete

Back 234

measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment

Front 235

meteoric

Back 235

like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor

Front 236

methodical

Back 236

systematic; N. method: systematic method of procedure

Front 237

meticulous

Back 237

excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous

Front 238

mettle

Back 238

courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; Adj. mettlesome

Front 239

miasma

Back 239

swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence

Front 240

microcosm

Back 240

small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society

Front 241

migrant

Back 241

changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one that migrates

Front 242

migratory

Back 242

wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another; move periodically from one region to another

Front 243

milieu

Back 243

social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.

Front 244

militant

Back 244

combative; bellicose; N.

Front 245

militate

Back 245

work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; Cf. serve as a soldier

Front 246

millennium

Back 246

thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity

Front 247

mimicry

Back 247

imitation

Front 248

minatory

Back 248

(=minacious) menacing; threatening

Front 249

mincing

Back 249

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

Front 250

minion

Back 250

servile dependent; obsequious follower

Front 251

minuscule

Back 251

extremely small

Front 252

minute

Back 252

extremely small; Cf. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting

Front 253

minutiae

Back 253

petty or trivial details; Cf. minutia

Front 254

mirage

Back 254

unreal reflection; optical illusion

Front 255

mire

Back 255

entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire

Front 256

mirth

Back 256

merriment; laughter

Front 257

misadventure

Back 257

mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure

Front 258

misanthrope

Back 258

one who hates mankind; misanthropist

Front 259

misapprehension

Back 259

error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend

Front 260

miscellany

Back 260

mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items

Front 261

mischance

Back 261

ill luck

Front 262

misconstrue

Back 262

interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge

Front 263

miscreant

Back 263

wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; Cf. believe

Front 264

misdemeanor

Back 264

minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing

Front 265

miserly

Back 265

stingy; mean

Front 266

misgivings

Back 266

doubts

Front 267

mishap

Back 267

unfortunate accident

Front 268

misnomer

Back 268

wrong or improper name; incorrect designation

Front 269

misogamy

Back 269

hatred of marriage

Front 270

misogynist

Back 270

hater of woman; Cf. misogyny

Front 271

missile

Back 271

object to be thrown or projected

Front 272

missive

Back 272

letter; written statement; Cf. sent

Front 273

mite

Back 273

very small object or insect-like creature; small coin

Front 274

mitigate

Back 274

appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity

Front 275

mnemonic

Back 275

pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as a formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid

Front 276

mobile

Back 276

movable; not fixed; N. mobility

Front 277

mock

Back 277

ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision

Front 278

mode

Back 278

prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life

Front 279

modicum

Back 279

limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; Cf. moderate

Front 280

modish

Back 280

fashionable; conforming to the current fashion

Front 281

modulate

Back 281

tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G

Front 282

mogul

Back 282

powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; Cf. Mongol, Moghul; Cf. Mongolian

Front 283

molecule

Back 283

the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance

Front 284

mollify

Back 284

soothe an angry person

Front 285

mollycoddle

Back 285

pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively

Front 286

molt

Back 286

(=moult) periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)

Front 287

molten

Back 287

melted; Ex. molten lava

Front 288

momentous

Back 288

very important; N. moment; Cf. momentary

Front 289

momentum

Back 289

quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force

Front 290

monarchy

Back 290

government under a single ruler

Front 291

monastic

Back 291

related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns

Front 292

monetary

Back 292

pertaining to money

Front 293

monochromatic

Back 293

having only one color

Front 294

monotheism

Back 294

belief in one God

Front 295

monotony

Back 295

sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; Adj. monotonous; Cf. monotone

Front 296

monumental

Back 296

massive; impressively large; built as a monument

Front 297

moodiness

Back 297

fits of depression or gloom

Front 298

moratorium

Back 298

legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses

Front 299

morbid

Back 299

given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; Cf. disease

Front 300

mordant

Back 300

biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit

Front 301

mores

Back 301

conventions; moral standards; moral customs

Front 302

moribund

Back 302

dying; at the point of death; Cf. death

Front 303

morose

Back 303

ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy

Front 304

mortician

Back 304

undertaker; Cf. death

Front 305

mortify

Back 305

humiliate by embarrassing 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

Front 306

mosaic

Back 306

picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; Adj.

Front 307

mote

Back 307

small speck (esp. of dust)

Front 308

motif

Back 308

theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure

Front 309

motility

Back 309

ability to move spontaneously; Adj. motile: moving spontaneously

Front 310

motley

Back 310

multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; Cf. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)

Front 311

mottled

Back 311

blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors

Front 312

mountebank

Back 312

charlatan; boastful pretender

Front 313

muddle

Back 313

confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion

Front 314

muggy

Back 314

(of weather) warm and damp

Front 315

mulct

Back 315

defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy

Front 316

multifarious

Back 316

varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities

Front 317

multiform

Back 317

having many forms

Front 318

multilingual

Back 318

having many languages; fluent in several languages

Front 319

multiplicity

Back 319

state of being numerous or multiple; large number; Ex. multiplicity of details; Adj. multiple: of more than one element

Front 320

mundane

Back 320

worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; Cf. world

Front 321

munificent

Back 321

very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificence

Front 322

mural

Back 322

wall painting

Front 323

murky

Back 323

dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom

Front 324

muse

Back 324

ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)

Front 325

musky

Back 325

having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer

Front 326

muster

Back 326

gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.

Front 327

musty

Back 327

stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; Cf. moist

Front 328

mutability

Back 328

ability to change in form; fickleness; Adj. mutable: able to change; fickle; Cf. mutate; Cf. mutant

Front 329

mutinous

Back 329

unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; Cf. mutineer

Front 330

myopic

Back 330

nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia

Front 331

myriad

Back 331

very large number; Adj. Cf. ten thousand

Front 332

nadir

Back 332

lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith

Front 333

naiveté

Back 333

(=naivety) quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; Adj. naive: ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous

Front 334

narcissist

Back 334

conceited person; N. narcissism; Cf. narcissus

Front 335

nascent

Back 335

incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex. nascent ability in music

Front 336

natation

Back 336

swimming

Front 337

natty

Back 337

neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser

Front 338

nauseate

Back 338

cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea

Front 339

nautical

Back 339

pertaining to ships or navigation

Front 340

navigable

Back 340

(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered

Front 341

nebulous

Back 341

vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal

Front 342

necromancy

Back 342

black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; Cf. necromancer; Cf. necro+divination; Cf. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis

Front 343

nefarious

Back 343

very wicked

Front 344

negate

Back 344

cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation

Front 345

negligence

Back 345

neglect; failure to take reasonable care; Adj. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care

Front 346

negligible

Back 346

so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded

Front 347

nemesis

Back 347

someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; Cf. Nemesis

Front 348

neologism

Back 348

new or newly coined word or phrase

Front 349

neophyte

Back 349

recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; Cf. plant

Front 350

nepotism

Back 350

favoritism (to a relative); Cf. nephew

Front 351

nether

Back 351

lower; Ex. nether garments/regions

Front 352

nettle

Back 352

irritate; annoy; vex; Adj. nettlesome

Front 353

nexus

Back 353

connection

Front 354

nib

Back 354

beak (bill); pen point

Front 355

nicety

Back 355

precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties

Front 356

niggardly

Back 356

meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person

Front 357

niggle

Back 357

spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; Adj. niggling

Front 358

nihilist

Back 358

one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; Cf. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement

Front 359

nip

Back 359

snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill

Front 360

nirvana

Back 360

in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude

Front 361

nocturnal

Back 361

done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; Cf. nocturne

Front 362

noisome

Back 362

foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome

Front 363

nomadic

Back 363

wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place

Front 364

nomenclature

Back 364

terminology (system of specialized words); system of names or naming things

Front 365

nominal

Back 365

in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; Cf. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint

Front 366

nonchalance

Back 366

indifference; lack of concern; composure; Adj. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts

Front 367

noncommittal

Back 367

neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided

Front 368

nondescript

Back 368

indistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd

Front 369

nonentity

Back 369

person of no importance; nonexistence

Front 370

nonplus

Back 370

put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; Cf. no more

Front 371

nostalgia

Back 371

homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; Adj. nostalgic

Front 372

nostrum

Back 372

questionable medicine; quack medicine; Cf. our (remedy)

Front 373

notable

Back 373

conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted

Front 374

notoriety

Back 374

disrepute; ill fame

Front 375

novelty

Back 375

something new; newness; Adj. novel: new; original

Front 376

novice

Back 376

beginner

Front 377

noxious

Back 377

harmful; Cf. obnoxious

Front 378

nuance

Back 378

shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction

Front 379

nubile

Back 379

marriageable; of marriageable age; Cf. connubial

Front 380

nugatory

Back 380

worthless; futile

Front 381

nullify

Back 381

make invalid; make null; invalidate

Front 382

numismatist

Back 382

person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals

Front 383

nuptial

Back 383

related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony

Front 384

nurture

Back 384

nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing

Front 385

nutrient

Back 385

nourishing substance; Adj: providing nourishment

Front 386

oaf

Back 386

stupid awkward person; Cf. elf

Front 387

obdurate

Back 387

stubborn; refusing to change one's belief

Front 388

obeisance

Back 388

bow (to show respect and obedience)

Front 389

obelisk

Back 389

tall column tapering (becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid

Front 390

obese

Back 390

excessively fat; N. obesity

Front 391

obfuscate

Back 391

confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand

Front 392

obituary

Back 392

death notice (esp. in a newspaper); Adj.

Front 393

objective

Back 393

(adj) not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim

Front 394

obligatory

Back 394

binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate

Front 395

oblique

Back 395

indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference

Front 396

obliterate

Back 396

destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village

Front 397

oblivion

Back 397

obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness

Front 398

oblivious

Back 398

inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful (having the habit of forgetting)

Front 399

obloquy

Back 399

slander; disgrace; infamy

Front 400

obnoxious

Back 400

offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell

Front 401

obscure

Back 401

dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning

Front 402

obsequious

Back 402

slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic

Front 403

obsequy

Back 403

funeral ceremony

Front 404

obsessive

Back 404

related to thinking about something constantly; of an obsession; preoccupying; N. obsession: compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea; compulsive idea; V. obsess: preoccupy the mind of excessively

Front 405

obsidian

Back 405

last demand; last warning; last statement of conditions that must be met; Ex. They have ignored our ultimatum.

Front 406

obsolete

Back 406

outmoded; no longer used

Front 407

obstetrician

Back 407

physician specializing in delivery (assisting in giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; Cf. midwife

Front 408

obstinate

Back 408

stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy

Front 409

obstreperous

Back 409

boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable

Front 410

obtrude

Back 410

push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; impose (oneself or one's ideas) on others; butt in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B; Adj. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; Cf. unobtrusive

Front 411

obtuse

Back 411

blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding

Front 412

obviate

Back 412

make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need

Front 413

Occident

Back 413

the West

Front 414

occlude

Back 414

shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery

Front 415

occult

Back 415

mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; Op. bare

Front 416

oculist

Back 416

physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes

Front 417

odium

Back 417

detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct); Adj. odious

Front 418

odoriferous

Back 418

giving off an odor

Front 419

odorous

Back 419

having an odor

Front 420

odyssey

Back 420

long, eventful, adventurous journey

Front 421

offensive

Back 421

attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend: violate; hurt the feelings of; N. offense: offending; violating of a moral or social code; crime; attack;

Front 422

offhand

Back 422

casual; done without prior thought or preparation

Front 423

officious

Back 423

meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy

Front 424

ogle

Back 424

look at amorously; make eyes at; Ex. old men ogling young girls

Front 425

olfactory

Back 425

concerning the sense of smell

Front 426

oligarchy

Back 426

government by a privileged few

Front 427

ominous

Back 427

threatening; of an evil omen

Front 428

omnipotent

Back 428

all-powerful; having unlimited power

Front 429

omnipresent

Back 429

universally present; ubiquitous

Front 430

omniscient

Back 430

all-knowing

Front 431

omnivorous

Back 431

eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything

Front 432

onerous

Back 432

burdensome

Front 433

onomatopoeia

Back 433

words formed in imitation of natural sounds

Front 434

onslaught

Back 434

vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected onslaught of the enemy

Front 435

onus

Back 435

burden; responsibility

Front 436

opalescent

Back 436

iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence

Front 437

opaque

Back 437

dark; not transparent; N. opacity

Front 438

opiate

Back 438

medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium

Front 439

opportune

Back 439

timely; well-chosen

Front 440

opportunist

Back 440

individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances; N. opportunism

Front 441

opprobrium

Back 441

infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification (slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; Adj. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous

Front 442

optimist

Back 442

person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism

Front 443

optimum

Back 443

most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition

Front 444

optional

Back 444

not compulsory; left to one's choice; N. option: act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to choose; something available as a choice; Ex. have no option; Ex. two options

Front 445

optometrist

Back 445

one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects

Front 446

opulence

Back 446

extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; Adj. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant

Front 447

opus

Back 447

work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; Cf. opera

Front 448

oracular

Back 448

of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous; hard to understand; N. oracle: wiser person; prophecy made by an oracle

Front 449

orator

Back 449

public speaker

Front 450

ordain

Back 450

decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; Cf. ordination

Front 451

ordeal

Back 451

severe trial or affliction; difficult experience; trial (test of patience or endurance); affliction

Front 452

ordinance

Back 452

decree; authoritative order

Front 453

ordination

Back 453

ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest

Front 454

orgy

Back 454

wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping

Front 455

orientation

Back 455

act of finding oneself in society; orienting

Front 456

orifice

Back 456

mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); Cf. mouth

Front 457

ornate

Back 457

excessively or elaborately decorated

Front 458

ornithologist

Back 458

scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds

Front 459

orthodox

Back 459

traditional; (of someone) conservative in belief; adhering to an established doctrine

Front 460

orthography

Back 460

correct spelling; Cf. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics

Front 461

oscillate

Back 461

vibrate pendulumlike; waver

Front 462

osseous

Back 462

made of bone; bony

Front 463

ossify

Back 463

change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging in one's ideas

Front 464

ostensible

Back 464

apparent; appearing as such; professed (pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible purpose of the expedition

Front 465

ostentatious

Back 465

showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display

Front 466

ostracize

Back 466

banish from a group; exclude from public favor; ban; Ex. His friends ostracized him. N. ostracism

Front 467

oust

Back 467

expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting

Front 468

outlandish

Back 468

bizarre; peculiar; unconventional

Front 469

outmoded

Back 469

no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned

Front 470

outrage

Back 470

act of extreme violence or viciousness; resentful anger; V: commit an outrage on; produce anger in; Adj. outrageous: offensive

Front 471

outskirts

Back 471

fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston

Front 472

outspoken

Back 472

candid; blunt

Front 473

outstrip

Back 473

outrun; surpass; outdo

Front 474

outwit

Back 474

outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly

Front 475

ovation

Back 475

enthusiastic applause

Front 476

overbearing

Back 476

bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate

Front 477

overblown

Back 477

inflated; exaggerated

Front 478

overdose

Back 478

(n) an excessive dose, usually so large a dose of a medicine that its effect is toxic

Front 479

overt

Back 479

open to view; public; not secret; Cf. covert

Front 480

overweening

Back 480

arrogant; presumptuous

Front 481

overwrought

Back 481

nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; Cf. wrought: made or done

Front 482

pachyderm

Back 482

thick-skinned animal

Front 483

pacifist

Back 483

one opposed to force; antimilitarist; Adj. N. pacifism: opposition to war as a means of resolving disputes

Front 484

pacify

Back 484

soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to

Front 485

paean

Back 485

song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory

Front 486

painstaking

Back 486

taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through

Front 487

palatable

Back 487

agreeable; pleasing to the taste

Front 488

palate

Back 488

roof of the mouth; sense of the taste

Front 489

palatial

Back 489

of or suitable for a palace; magnificent

Front 490

paleontology

Back 490

study of prehistoric life or fossils; Cf. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents

Front 491

palimpsest

Back 491

parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased

Front 492

pall

Back 492

become boring; grow tiresome

Front 493

pallet

Back 493

small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet

Front 494

palliate

Back 494

ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)

Front 495

pallid

Back 495

pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion

Front 496

palpable

Back 496

tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious; Ex. palpable blunder

Front 497

palpitate

Back 497

throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.

Front 498

paltry

Back 498

insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; Cf. trash

Front 499

pan

Back 499

criticize harshly

Front 500

panacea

Back 500

cure-all; remedy for all diseases

Front 501

panache

Back 501

flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache; Cf.

Front 502

pandemic

Back 502

widespread; affecting the majority of people; N: pandemic disease; Cf. all people

Front 503

pandemonium

Back 503

wild tumult (commotion); wild noisy disorder; Cf. Paradise Lost

Front 504

pander

Back 504

cater to (the low desires of others)

Front 505

panegyric

Back 505

formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.

Front 506

panoramic

Back 506

denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area

Front 507

papyrus

Back 507

ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant

Front 508

parable

Back 508

short simple story teaching a moral

Front 509

paradigm

Back 509

model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word

Front 510

paradox

Back 510

something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct

Front 511

paragon

Back 511

model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue

Front 512

parallelism

Back 512

state of being parallel; similarity; analogy

Front 513

parameter

Back 513

limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the budget

Front 514

paramount

Back 514

foremost in importance; supreme; Cf. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal

Front 515

paramour

Back 515

illicit lover

Front 516

paranoia

Back 516

psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; N: Adj: paranoid, paranoiac

Front 517

paraphernalia

Back 517

equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; Cf. married woman's property exclusive of her dowry

Front 518

paraphrase

Back 518

restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words

Front 519

parasite

Back 519

animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; Cf. para-: beside

Front 520

parched

Back 520

extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)

Front 521

pariah

Back 521

social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah

Front 522

parity

Back 522

equality; close resemblance; Cf. disparate

Front 523

parlance

Back 523

language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance

Front 524

parley

Back 524

conference (between opponents); Cf. speak

Front 525

parochial

Back 525

narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes

Front 526

parody

Back 526

humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.

Front 527

paroxysm

Back 527

fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst

Front 528

parquet

Back 528

floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; Cf. strip: long narrow piece

Front 529

parry

Back 529

ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully; N.

Front 530

parsimony

Back 530

stinginess; excessive frugality; Adj. parsimonious

Front 531

partiality

Back 531

state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias; special fondness; preference; Adj. partial

Front 532

partisan

Back 532

one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla

Front 533

partition

Back 533

divide into parts

Front 534

passé

Back 534

old-fashioned; past the prime

Front 535

passive

Back 535

not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance

Front 536

pastiche

Back 536

imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists

Front 537

pastoral

Back 537

rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor

Front 538

patent

Back 538

obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.

Front 539

pathetic

Back 539

causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching

Front 540

pathological

Back 540

pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease

Front 541

pathos

Back 541

tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel

Front 542

patina

Back 542

green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting

Front 543

patois

Back 543

local or provincial dialect

Front 544

patriarch

Back 544

father and ruler of a family or tribe

Front 545

patrician

Back 545

noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; Cf. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; Cf. plebeian

Front 546

patronize

Back 546

support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N. patronage; Cf. boycott

Front 547

paucity

Back 547

scarcity; dearth

Front 548

pauper

Back 548

very poor person

Front 549

peccadillo

Back 549

slight offense or fault; Cf. sin

Front 550

pecuniary

Back 550

pertaining to money

Front 551

pedagogue

Back 551

teacher; Cf. child leader

Front 552

pedagogy

Back 552

teaching; art of education

Front 553

pedant

Back 553

scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities; adj pedantic

Front 554

pedantic

Back 554

bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry

Front 555

pedestrian

Back 555

ordinary; dull; unimaginative (lacking in imagination); going on foot; Ex. pedestrian prose; N.

Front 556

pediatrician

Back 556

physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics

Front 557

peerless

Back 557

having no equal; incomparable

Front 558

pejorative

Back 558

(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect; Ex. Many women now considers "housewife" a pejorative expression, because it patronized them.

Front 559

pell-mell

Back 559

in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell

Front 560

pellucid

Back 560

transparent; limpid (crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand

Front 561

penance

Back 561

self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance for one's sins; Cf. penitent

Front 562

penchant

Back 562

strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars

Front 563

pendant

Back 563

(=pendent) hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)

Front 564

pendulous

Back 564

hanging; suspended

Front 565

penitent

Back 565

repentant; N.

Front 566

pensive

Back 566

dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; Cf. think over

Front 567

penumbra

Back 567

partial shadow (in an eclipse); Cf. almost shadow

Front 568

penury

Back 568

extreme poverty; stinginess; Adj. penurious: very poor; stingy

Front 569

peon

Back 569

landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage

Front 570

perceptive

Back 570

insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception

Front 571

percussion

Back 571

striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion

Front 572

perdition

Back 572

damnation; complete ruin; hell

Front 573

peregrination

Back 573

journey; V. peregrinate

Front 574

peremptory

Back 574

demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock

Front 575

perennial

Back 575

something long-lasting; perennial plant; Adj: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring

Front 576

perfidious

Back 576

treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery

Front 577

perforate

Back 577

pierce; put a hole through

Front 578

perfunctory

Back 578

done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss

Front 579

perigee

Back 579

point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; Cf. apogee

Front 580

perimeter

Back 580

outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference

Front 581

peripatetic

Back 581

walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy

Front 582

periphery

Back 582

outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town

Front 583

perjury

Back 583

false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath

Front 584

permeable

Back 584

that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge

Front 585

pernicious

Back 585

very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia

Front 586

peroration

Back 586

conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length

Front 587

perpetrate

Back 587

commit an offense; do (something wrong)

Front 588

perpetuate

Back 588

make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity

Front 589

perplex

Back 589

frustrate; baffle

Front 590

perquisite

Back 590

(=perk) any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car

Front 591

personable

Back 591

attractive (in personality or appearance)

Front 592

perspicacious

Back 592

(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute

Front 593

perspicuous

Back 593

(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments; N. perspicuity

Front 594

pert

Back 594

(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat

Front 595

pertinent

Back 595

suitable; to the point; relevant

Front 596

perturb

Back 596

disturb greatly

Front 597

peruse

Back 597

read through with care; N. perusal

Front 598

pervasive

Back 598

spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells, ideas, feelings) spread throughout; charge; permeate

Front 599

perverse

Back 599

purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity

Front 600

perversion

Back 600

corruption; turning from right to wrong

Front 601

pessimism

Back 601

belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; Adj. pessimistic

Front 602

pestilential

Back 602

(=pestilent) causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)

Front 603

pestle

Back 603

tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar

Front 604

petty

Back 604

trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded

Front 605

petulant

Back 605

touchy; peevish; ill-tempered

Front 606

pharisaical

Back 606

pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical

Front 607

phenomena

Back 607

observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; Cf. phenomenon; Adj. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength

Front 608

philanderer

Back 608

faithless lover; flirt

Front 609

philanthropist

Back 609

lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy

Front 610

philatelist

Back 610

stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting

Front 611

philistine

Back 611

narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; Op. aesthete

Front 612

philology

Back 612

study of language or words

Front 613

phlegmatic

Back 613

calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; Cf. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract

Front 614

phobia

Back 614

morbid fear

Front 615

phoenix

Back 615

symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes

Front 616

phylum

Back 616

major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division

Front 617

physiognomy

Back 617

face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features

Front 618

physiological

Back 618

pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology

Front 619

piebald

Back 619

of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; Cf. pie+bald

Front 620

piecemeal

Back 620

one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal

Front 621

pied

Back 621

piebald; variegated (many-colored); multicolored

Front 622

piety

Back 622

devoutness; reverence for God; Adj. pious

Front 623

pigment

Back 623

coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)

Front 624

pillage

Back 624

plunder

Front 625

pillory

Back 625

punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.

Front 626

pine

Back 626

long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline

Front 627

pinion

Back 627

restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing

Front 628

pinnacle

Back 628

peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame

Front 629

piquant

Back 629

pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help

Front 630

pique

Back 630

irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity

Front 631

piscatorial

Back 631

pertaining to fishing; Cf. Pisces

Front 632

pitfall

Back 632

hidden danger; concealed trap

Front 633

pith

Back 633

core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance

Front 634

pithy

Back 634

concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty

Front 635

pittance

Back 635

small amount (of money); small allowance or wage

Front 636

pivotal

Back 636

of a pivot; central; critical; crucial

Front 637

placate

Back 637

pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease

Front 638

placebo

Back 638

harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill

Front 639

placid

Back 639

peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake

Front 640

plagiarize

Back 640

steal another's ideas or writings and pass them off as one's own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; Cf. kidnap

Front 641

plaintive

Back 641

expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song

Front 642

plait

Back 642

braid; intertwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric; Cf. pigtail, ponytail

Front 643

plasticity

Back 643

ability to be molded; Adj. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay

Front 644

platitude

Back 644

trite remark; commonplace statement; Adj. platitudinous

Front 645

platonic

Back 645

purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire

Front 646

plaudit

Back 646

praise; enthusiastic approval; round (succession or series) of applause; Adj. plauditory; Cf. applaud

Front 647

plausible

Back 647

conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious

Front 648

plebeian

Back 648

common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; Cf. patrician

Front 649

plenary

Back 649

(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power

Front 650

plenitude

Back 650

abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; Cf. plenary, plenty

Front 651

plethora

Back 651

excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses

Front 652

pliable

Back 652

flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable

Front 653

pliant

Back 653

flexible; easily influenced

Front 654

plight

Back 654

difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament

Front 655

pluck

Back 655

courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; Adj. plucky: courageous; brave

Front 656

plumage

Back 656

feathers of a bird

Front 657

plumb

Back 657

exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of

Front 658

plummet

Back 658

fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.

Front 659

plush

Back 659

deluxe; grand; luxurious

Front 660

plutocracy

Back 660

society ruled by the wealthy

Front 661

poacher

Back 661

(n) one who hunt illegally

Front 662

podiatrist

Back 662

doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatric

Front 663

podium

Back 663

pedestal; raised platform

Front 664

poignancy

Back 664

quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; Adj. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; Cf. prick

Front 665

polarize

Back 665

split into opposite extremes or camps

Front 666

polemical

Back 666

(=polemic) aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply expressing opinions)

Front 667

politic

Back 667

prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised

Front 668

polity

Back 668

(particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity

Front 669

polygamist

Back 669

one who has more than one spouse at a time; Cf. bigamy; Cf. polyandry

Front 670

polyglot

Back 670

speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.

Front 671

pomposity

Back 671

self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt (pompous person); Adj. pompous: self-important

Front 672

ponderous

Back 672

having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing

Front 673

pontifical

Back 673

pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; Cf. pontiff: pope; bishop

Front 674

pore

Back 674

study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.

Front 675

porous

Back 675

full of pores; like a sieve

Front 676

port

Back 676

harbor or bay that ships can dock

Front 677

portend

Back 677

foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning

Front 678

portly

Back 678

stout; corpulent

Front 679

poseur

Back 679

person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others; person who poses; Cf. pose

Front 680

posterity

Back 680

descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; Cf. posterior, anterior

Front 681

posthumous

Back 681

after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death); coming or occurring after one's death; Ex. posthumous fame/novel

Front 682

postulate

Back 682

self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)

Front 683

posture

Back 683

assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose; attitude

Front 684

potable

Back 684

suitable for drinking; drinkable

Front 685

potent

Back 685

powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential

Front 686

potentate

Back 686

monarch; sovereign

Front 687

potential

Back 687

expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth

Front 688

potion

Back 688

dose (of liquids); liquid dose

Front 689

potpourri

Back 689

heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)

Front 690

poultice

Back 690

soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body

Front 691

practicable

Back 691

feasible

Front 692

practical

Back 692

based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man

Front 693

pragmatic

Back 693

practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill

Front 694

pragmatist

Back 694

practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way of dealing with things

Front 695

prate

Back 695

talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly

Front 696

prattle

Back 696

talk idly; babble; N. Cf. prate

Front 697

précis

Back 697

abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text

Front 698

preamble

Back 698

introductory statement

Front 699

precarious

Back 699

unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living

Front 700

precedent

Back 700

preceding (in time, rank, etc.)

Front 701

precept

Back 701

practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept

Front 702

precipice

Back 702

cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice

Front 703

precipitant

Back 703

something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; Op. solvent

Front 704

precipitate

Back 704

hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; Adj. hasty; rash; premature; sudden

Front 705

precipitous

Back 705

steep; overhasty; precipitate

Front 706

precise

Back 706

exact

Front 707

preclude

Back 707

make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate

Front 708

precocious

Back 708

advanced in development; N. precocity

Front 709

precursor

Back 709

forerunner; predecessor

Front 710

predator

Back 710

predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others; Adj. predatory: living by preying on other organisms; plundering; N. predation

Front 711

predecessor

Back 711

former occupant of a post

Front 712

predetermine

Back 712

determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly

Front 713

predicament

Back 713

difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma

Front 714

predilection

Back 714

preference; partiality

Front 715

predispose

Back 715

give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition

Front 716

preeminent

Back 716

outstanding; superior

Front 717

preempt

Back 717

prevent in advance; head off (forestall); forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of; displace; Ex. preempt any attempts; Adj. preemptive

Front 718

preen

Back 718

make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on; Cf. prune

Front 719

prefatory

Back 719

introductory; of a preface

Front 720

prehensile

Back 720

capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails

Front 721

prelate

Back 721

church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)

Front 722

prelude

Back 722

introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner

Front 723

premeditate

Back 723

plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder

Front 724

premise

Back 724

assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based

Front 725

premonitory

Back 725

serving to warn

Front 726

preposterous

Back 726

absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous

Front 727

prerogative

Back 727

privilege; unquestionable right; Cf. ask before

Front 728

presage

Back 728

foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen

Front 729

prescience

Back 729

ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; Adj. prescient

Front 730

presentiment

Back 730

premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear

Front 731

prestige

Back 731

respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; Adj: causing admiration; Adj. prestigious: having prestige

Front 732

presumptuous

Back 732

going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties

Front 733

pretentious

Back 733

ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim to be art

Front 734

preternatural

Back 734

beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces

Front 735

pretext

Back 735

excuse

Front 736

prevail

Back 736

be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do something

Front 737

prevalent

Back 737

widespread; generally accepted

Front 738

prevaricate

Back 738

lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)

Front 739

prey

Back 739

target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey; victimize; Ex. Cats prey on mice.

Front 740

primogeniture

Back 740

seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)

Front 741

primordial

Back 741

existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary

Front 742

primp

Back 742

groom oneself with care; adorn oneself

Front 743

pristine

Back 743

unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition

Front 744

privation

Back 744

lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; Cf. deprive

Front 745

privy

Back 745

secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; Cf. private

Front 746

probe

Back 746

explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe

Front 747

probity

Back 747

uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility

Front 748

problematic

Back 748

causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.

Front 749

proclivity

Back 749

inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)

Front 750

procurement

Back 750

obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another

Front 751

prod

Back 751

poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action; N: pointed object used to prod; prodding

Front 752

prodigal

Back 752

wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality

Front 753

prodigious

Back 753

enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory

Front 754

prodigy

Back 754

highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder

Front 755

profane

Back 755

violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for; Adj: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things

Front 756

profligate

Back 756

wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy

Front 757

profound

Back 757

deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity

Front 758

profusion

Back 758

great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; Adj. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant

Front 759

progenitor

Back 759

ancestor

Front 760

progeny

Back 760

children; offspring; descendants

Front 761

prognosis

Back 761

forecasted course of a disease; prediction; Cf. prognostic

Front 762

prognosticate

Back 762

predict (according to present indications)

Front 763

prohibitive

Back 763

so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax

Front 764

projectile

Back 764

missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)

Front 765

proletarian

Back 765

member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)

Front 766

proliferate

Back 766

grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation

Front 767

prolific

Back 767

producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer

Front 768

prolixity

Back 768

tedious wordiness; verbosity; Adj. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse

Front 769

prologue

Back 769

introduction (to a poem or play)

Front 770

prolong

Back 770

lengthen; extend; draw out

Front 771

prominent

Back 771

protruding (sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent

Front 772

promontory

Back 772

headland

Front 773

promote

Back 773

advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or popularize; Ex. Milk promotes health; Ex. promote a match/bill; Ex. promote a new product

Front 774

prompt

Back 774

cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an actor); Adj: done without delay; done at the right time; punctual; on time; N: reminder or cue

Front 775

promulgate

Back 775

announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication

Front 776

prone

Back 776

inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes; Ex. accident-prone

Front 777

propellant

Back 777

(=propellent) substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)

Front 778

propensity

Back 778

natural inclination

Front 779

prophetic

Back 779

of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet

Front 780

propinquity

Back 780

nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship

Front 781

propitiate

Back 781

appease; conciliate; make peaceful; Adj. propitiatory

Front 782

propitious

Back 782

favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign

Front 783

propound

Back 783

put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory

Front 784

propriety

Back 784

fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; Cf. proprietor, proprietary

Front 785

prosaic

Back 785

lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact (concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; Cf. prose

Front 786

proscenium

Back 786

part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage

Front 787

proscribe

Back 787

prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw

Front 788

proselytize

Back 788

(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion

Front 789

prosody

Back 789

art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse

Front 790

prosperity

Back 790

good fortune and financial success; physical well-being

Front 791

prostrate

Back 791

stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating illness; Adj: lying face down; having lost all strength

Front 792

protégé

Back 792

(fem. protégée) person receiving protection and support from a patron

Front 793

protean

Back 793

able to take on many forms; versatile; Cf. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will

Front 794

protocol

Back 794

diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats; first copy of a treaty before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that the queen meet him at the airport.

Front 795

prototype

Back 795

original work used as a model by others

Front 796

protract

Back 796

prolong; lengthen in time; draw out

Front 797

protrude

Back 797

stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth

Front 798

protuberance

Back 798

protrusion; swelling; bulge

Front 799

provenance

Back 799

place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; Cf. come

Front 800

provender

Back 800

dry food for livestock; fodder

Front 801

provident

Back 801

providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; Op. improvident

Front 802

provincial

Back 802

pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated

Front 803

provisional

Back 803

tentative; temporary

Front 804

proviso

Back 804

stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision

Front 805

provocative

Back 805

arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex. provocative in tight jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger; cause (an unpleasant action or feeling); N. provocation

Front 806

prowess

Back 806

extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle

Front 807

proximity

Back 807

nearness; Adj. proximate

Front 808

proxy

Back 808

authorized agent; authority to act for another

Front 809

prude

Back 809

excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; Adj. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety

Front 810

prudent

Back 810

cautious; careful; prudential

Front 811

prune

Back 811

cut away; trim

Front 812

pry

Back 812

inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying

Front 813

pseudonym

Back 813

pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; Adj. pseudonymous

Front 814

psyche

Back 814

soul; mind

Front 815

psychiatrist

Back 815

doctor who treats mental diseases

Front 816

psychopathic

Back 816

pertaining to mental derangement; N. psychopath: person with an antisocial personality disorder

Front 817

psychosis

Back 817

mental disorder; Adj. N. psychotic

Front 818

pterodactyl

Back 818

extinct flying reptile; Cf. wing finger

Front 819

puerile

Back 819

childish; immature; Cf. puer: boy

Front 820

pugilist

Back 820

boxer; Cf. pugilism: boxing

Front 821

pugnacity

Back 821

combativeness; disposition to fight; Adj. pugnacious: (of people) belligerent; combative in nature

Front 822

puissant

Back 822

powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power

Front 823

pulchritude

Back 823

beauty; comeliness; Adj. pulchritudinous

Front 824

pulmonary

Back 824

pertaining to the lungs

Front 825

pulsate

Back 825

throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly

Front 826

pulverize

Back 826

crush or grind into very small particles

Front 827

punctilious

Back 827

minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful attention paid to every small exact detail

Front 828

pundit

Back 828

authority on a subject; expert; learned person

Front 829

pungent

Back 829

stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic; N. pungency

Front 830

punitive

Back 830

punishing; Ex. punitive measures

Front 831

purchase

Back 831

secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing

Front 832

purgatory

Back 832

place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the souls must expiate their sins

Front 833

purge

Back 833

remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or defilement); N.

Front 834

purity

Back 834

(n) integrity; something being whole or untouched

Front 835

purport

Back 835

intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which purports to be signed by the general

Front 836

purported

Back 836

alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists

Front 837

purse

Back 837

pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet

Front 838

purveyor

Back 838

furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; Cf. provide

Front 839

pusillanimous

Back 839

cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted

Front 840

putative

Back 840

supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child

Front 841

putrid

Back 841

decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity

Front 842

quack

Back 842

charlatan; impostor

Front 843

quadruped

Back 843

four-footed animal; Adj. Cf. biped

Front 844

quaff

Back 844

drink with zest; drink with relish (zest; hearty enjoyment); Cf. sip

Front 845

quail

Back 845

cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart

Front 846

quaint

Back 846

odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque

Front 847

qualified

Back 847

limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify

Front 848

qualms

Back 848

uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen

Front 849

quandary

Back 849

dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a quandary about whether to go.

Front 850

quarantine

Back 850

isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine

Front 851

quarry

Back 851

person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey

Front 852

quash

Back 852

crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a rebellion/the decision of the low court

Front 853

quay

Back 853

dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)

Front 854

queasy

Back 854

experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy

Front 855

quell

Back 855

suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet; Ex. "Army Quells Rebellion" in newspaper; Cf. kill

Front 856

quench

Back 856

assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish; put out; suppress

Front 857

querulous

Back 857

given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining

Front 858

query

Back 858

inquiry; question; V.

Front 859

queue

Back 859

line (of waiting people or vehicles)

Front 860

quibble

Back 860

minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil

Front 861

quietude

Back 861

tranquility; calmness

Front 862

quintessence

Back 862

purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; Adj. quintessential; Cf. fifth essence

Front 863

quip

Back 863

taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.

Front 864

quirk

Back 864

sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate

Front 865

quisling

Back 865

traitor who aids invaders; Cf. Vidkun Quisling

Front 866

quiver

Back 866

case for arrows

Front 867

quiver

Back 867

tremble; shake; N.

Front 868

quixotic

Back 868

idealistic but impractical; Cf. Don Quixote

Front 869

quizzical

Back 869

curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying); questioning; teasing; mocking; bantering; Ex. quizzical glance

Front 870

quorum

Back 870

minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting

Front 871

quotidian

Back 871

daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine

Front 872

rabid

Back 872

of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; Cf. rabies: hydrophobia

Front 873

raconteur

Back 873

story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill

Front 874

ragamuffin

Back 874

dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes

Front 875

rail

Back 875

complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices

Front 876

raiment

Back 876

clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.

Front 877

rakish

Back 877

jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.

Front 878

rally

Back 878

come or bring together; call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate (after illness or difficulty); N: act of rallying; mass gathering

Front 879

ramble

Back 879

wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress

Front 880

ramification

Back 880

branching out; subdivision; one branch of a system; one of the results following from an action or decision; Ex. ramifications of a business/the decision

Front 881

ramp

Back 881

slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)

Front 882

rampant

Back 882

growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed

Front 883

rampart

Back 883

defensive mound of earth

Front 884

ramshackle

Back 884

(of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart

Front 885

rancid

Back 885

having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank

Front 886

rancor

Back 886

long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; Adj. rancorous

Front 887

rankle

Back 887

irritate; fester; annoy

Front 888

rant

Back 888

speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.

Front 889

rapacious

Back 889

voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds

Front 890

rapport

Back 890

close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony

Front 891

rapt

Back 891

engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener

Front 892

rarefied

Back 892

made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction

Front 893

raspy

Back 893

making a harsh noise; grating; harsh

Front 894

ratify

Back 894

approve formally; confirm; verify

Front 895

ratiocination

Back 895

reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically

Front 896

rationale

Back 896

fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action

Front 897

rationalize

Back 897

make rational; devise false reasons for (one's behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization

Front 898

raucous

Back 898

(of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts

Front 899

ravage

Back 899

devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms

Front 900

ravel

Back 900

fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist

Front 901

ravenous

Back 901

extremely hungry; voracious

Front 902

ravine

Back 902

narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; Cf. gully, canyon

Front 903

ray

Back 903

discharge but longer and more flowing

Front 904

raze

Back 904

destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground

Front 905

reactionary

Back 905

strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. Op. radical

Front 906

realm

Back 906

kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility

Front 907

reaper

Back 907

one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop

Front 908

rebate

Back 908

return of part of a payment; discount; V.

Front 909

rebuff

Back 909

reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.

Front 910

rebuke

Back 910

scold harshly; criticize severely

Front 911

rebus

Back 911

representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. "R U 18" is a rebus for "Are you 18".

Front 912

rebuttal

Back 912

refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove

Front 913

recalcitrant

Back 913

disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child

Front 914

recant

Back 914

disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant one's faith/a statement

Front 915

recapitulate

Back 915

summarize

Front 916

recast

Back 916

reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again

Front 917

receptive

Back 917

quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal

Front 918

recession

Back 918

withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity

Front 919

recidivism

Back 919

habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist

Front 920

recipient

Back 920

receiver

Front 921

reciprocal

Back 921

mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement

Front 922

reciprocate

Back 922

do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually; interchange; move backwards and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights

Front 923

recluse

Back 923

hermit; loner; Adj. reclusive

Front 924

reconcile

Back 924

make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one's political principles with one's religious beliefs

Front 925

recondite

Back 925

abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret

Front 926

reconnaissance

Back 926

survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)

Front 927

recount

Back 927

narrate or tell (a story); count over again

Front 928

recourse

Back 928

resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to

Front 929

recrimination

Back 929

countercharges; V. recriminate

Front 930

rectify

Back 930

set right; correct; Cf. rect-: right

Front 931

rectitude

Back 931

moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment

Front 932

recumbent

Back 932

reclining; lying down completely or in part

Front 933

recuperate

Back 933

recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses

Front 934

recurrent

Back 934

occurring again and again

Front 935

redolent

Back 935

odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery

Front 936

redoubtable

Back 936

formidable; causing fear

Front 937

redress

Back 937

remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for

Front 938

redundant

Back 938

superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively wordy; repetitious

Front 939

reek

Back 939

emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench

Front 940

refectory

Back 940

dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)

Front 941

refraction

Back 941

bending of a ray of light

Front 942

refractory

Back 942

unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse

Front 943

refrain

Back 943

abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus

Front 944

refulgent

Back 944

effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon

Front 945

refurbish

Back 945

renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; Cf. furbish: polish

Front 946

refute

Back 946

disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation

Front 947

regal

Back 947

royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner

Front 948

regale

Back 948

entertain

Front 949

regeneration

Back 949

spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually

Front 950

regicide

Back 950

murder of a king or queen

Front 951

regime

Back 951

method of system or government

Front 952

regimen

Back 952

prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer

Front 953

regiment

Back 953

military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society

Front 954

rehabilitate

Back 954

restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of

Front 955

reimburse

Back 955

repay; pay back

Front 956

reiterate

Back 956

repeat

Front 957

rejoinder

Back 957

reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply

Front 958

rejuvenate

Back 958

make young again

Front 959

relegate

Back 959

put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture to the children's room; Ex. relegated to the second division

Front 960

relent

Back 960

become less severe; give in (surrender); Adj. relentless: unyielding; continuously severe

Front 961

relevant

Back 961

having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy

Front 962

relic

Back 962

surviving remnant (from an extinct culture); memento; keepsake; relics: corpse; Ex. ancient relics; Ex. relics of his travel; Ex. His relics are buried.

Front 963

relinquish

Back 963

give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm

Front 964

relish

Back 964

enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest

Front 965

remediable

Back 965

reparable

Front 966

reminiscence

Back 966

recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past

Front 967

remiss

Back 967

negligent; careless about a duty

Front 968

remission

Back 968

temporary moderation (of disease symptoms); remitting of a debt or punishment; cancellation of a debt; pardon; Ex. The disease went into remission; Ex. Christians pray for the remission of sins.

Front 969

remnant

Back 969

remainder

Front 970

remonstrate

Back 970

protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest

Front 971

remorse

Back 971

deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach

Front 972

remunerative

Back 972

(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble

Front 973

render

Back 973

give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully

Front 974

rendezvous

Back 974

meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.

Front 975

rendition

Back 975

rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc

Front 976

renegade

Back 976

deserter; traitor; Adj.

Front 977

renege

Back 977

break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off the debt

Front 978

renounce

Back 978

abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one's claim to the property/one's religion; N. renunciation

Front 979

renovate

Back 979

restore to good condition; renew

Front 980

renown

Back 980

fame; Adj. renowned

Front 981

rent

Back 981

tear made by rending; rip; split

Front 982

reparable

Back 982

capable of being repaired

Front 983

reparation

Back 983

compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; Cf. repair

Front 984

repartee

Back 984

quick clever reply

Front 985

repast

Back 985

meal; feast; banquet

Front 986

repeal

Back 986

revoke; annul

Front 987

repel

Back 987

drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room; Cf. repulsion

Front 988

repellent

Back 988

driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive; N.

Front 989

repercussion

Back 989

rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion

Front 990

repertoire

Back 990

list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; Cf. repertory

Front 991

repine

Back 991

fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work

Front 992

replenish

Back 992

fill up again

Front 993

replete

Back 993

fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors

Front 994

replicate

Back 994

reproduce; duplicate; N: replica

Front 995

reprehensible

Back 995

deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame

Front 996

repress

Back 996

hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion

Front 997

reprieve

Back 997

postponement or cancellation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of

Front 998

reprimand

Back 998

reprove severely; rebuke; N.

Front 999

reprisal

Back 999

retaliation

Front 1000

reprise

Back 1000

musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises

Front 1001

reproach

Back 1001

blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval or disappointment; N. Adj. reproachful

Front 1002

reprobate

Back 1002

morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; Cf. disapproved by God?

Front 1003

reprobation

Back 1003

severe disapproval; Cf. approbation

Front 1004

repudiate

Back 1004

disown; disavow; deny

Front 1005

repugnance

Back 1005

disgust; strong dislike; loathing; Adj. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive

Front 1006

repulsion

Back 1006

distaste; disgust; act of driving back; Adj. repulsive: causing disgust; tending to drive away; V. repel (not `repulse')

Front 1007

reputable

Back 1007

respectable; having a good reputation

Front 1008

reputed

Back 1008

supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute: consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem

Front 1009

requiem

Back 1009

mass for the dead; dirge

Front 1010

requisite

Back 1010

necessary requirement; something required; Adj: required; necessary

Front 1011

requite

Back 1011

make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requital

Front 1012

rescind

Back 1012

repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)

Front 1013

resentment

Back 1013

indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel anger about

Front 1014

reserve

Back 1014

self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; Adj. reserved: shy and uncommunicative

Front 1015

residue

Back 1015

remainder; balance

Front 1016

resignation

Back 1016

patiently submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job; Adj. resigned: acquiescent

Front 1017

resilient

Back 1017

elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from misfortune)

Front 1018

resolution

Back 1018

determination; resoluteness; Adj. resolute: firm or determined in purpose

Front 1019

resolve

Back 1019

determination; resolution; firmness of purpose

Front 1020

resonant

Back 1020

(of a sound) echoing; resounding (sounding loudly); deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance

Front 1021

respiration

Back 1021

breathing; exhalation; Adj. respiratory

Front 1022

respite

Back 1022

time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment; reprieve

Front 1023

resplendent

Back 1023

brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious

Front 1024

responsiveness

Back 1024

state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.; Adj. responsive: readily reacting; Ex. responsive to treatment

Front 1025

restitution

Back 1025

returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury

Front 1026

restive

Back 1026

impatiently restless (induced by external coercion or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; Cf. not a general synonym for `restless'

Front 1027

restraint

Back 1027

moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction

Front 1028

resumption

Back 1028

taking up again; recommencement; V. resume: begin or take up again; take or occupy again; Ex. Kindly resume your seats.

Front 1029

resurge

Back 1029

rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; Adj. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again

Front 1030

resuscitate

Back 1030

revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child

Front 1031

retain

Back 1031

keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor

Front 1032

retaliate

Back 1032

repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate

Front 1033

retentive

Back 1033

holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory

Front 1034

reticent

Back 1034

inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence

Front 1035

retinue

Back 1035

following; attendants

Front 1036

retiring

Back 1036

shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality

Front 1037

retort

Back 1037

quick sharp reply; V.

Front 1038

retract

Back 1038

withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a statement/an offer/claws; N. retraction; Cf. retractile

Front 1039

retrench

Back 1039

cut down; cut down expenses; economize

Front 1040

retribution

Back 1040

deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for offenses; compensation; vengeance; Cf. pay back

Front 1041

retrieve

Back 1041

recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex. retrieve the situation

Front 1042

retroactive

Back 1042

taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax); (of a law) having effect on the past as well as the future

Front 1043

retrograde

Back 1043

go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; Adj.

Front 1044

retrospective

Back 1044

looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V. retrospect

Front 1045

revelry

Back 1045

boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration

Front 1046

reverberate

Back 1046

echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.

Front 1047

reverent

Back 1047

respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect

Front 1048

reverie

Back 1048

daydream; abstracted musing

Front 1049

revert

Back 1049

relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former owner; N. reversion

Front 1050

revile

Back 1050

attack with abusive language; vilify (slander)

Front 1051

revoke

Back 1051

cancel; retract; Cf. irrevocable

Front 1052

revulsion

Back 1052

sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture

Front 1053

rhapsodize

Back 1053

speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery

Front 1054

rhetoric

Back 1054

art of effective communication; art of using language effectively and persuasively; style of speaking or writing; grandiloquent language; Ex. political rhetoric; Adj. rhetorical; Cf. rhetorical question: question to which no answer is expected as "Who knows it ?"

Front 1055

ribald

Back 1055

marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke

Front 1056

riddle

Back 1056

pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating earth from stone)

Front 1057

rider

Back 1057

amendment or clause added to a legislative bill

Front 1058

rife

Back 1058

(of something bad) widespread; abundant; current

Front 1059

rift

Back 1059

narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; Op. reconciliation

Front 1060

rig

Back 1060

fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; Ex. rig the election

Front 1061

rigid

Back 1061

hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule

Front 1062

rigor

Back 1062

severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter

Front 1063

rile

Back 1063

irritate; vex; muddy

Front 1064

rivulet

Back 1064

small stream; Cf. rill < rivulet < river

Front 1065

roam

Back 1065

travel; walk

Front 1066

robust

Back 1066

strong; vigorous

Front 1067

rococo

Back 1067

ornate; highly decorated; N. Cf. 18th century

Front 1068

roil

Back 1068

make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb

Front 1069

roseate

Back 1069

rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views

Front 1070

roster

Back 1070

list (of names)

Front 1071

rostrum

Back 1071

raised platform for speech-making; pulpit

Front 1072

rote

Back 1072

repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote

Front 1073

rotunda

Back 1073

circular building or hall covered with a dome

Front 1074

rousing

Back 1074

lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse: waken; arouse from sleep or depression; excite; stir up

Front 1075

rout

Back 1075

put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat

Front 1076

rubble

Back 1076

fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)

Front 1077

rubric

Back 1077

title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol

Front 1078

ruddy

Back 1078

reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking

Front 1079

rudimentary

Back 1079

elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language

Front 1080

rue

Back 1080

regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. Adj. rueful

Front 1081

ruffian

Back 1081

violent scoundrel; bully

Front 1082

rugged

Back 1082

rough

Front 1083

rummage

Back 1083

ransack; thoroughly search

Front 1084

runic

Back 1084

mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune: one of the letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic peoples (cut on stone or wood); magic charm

Front 1085

ruse

Back 1085

trick to deceive; stratagem

Front 1086

rustic

Back 1086

pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person

Front 1087

rusticate

Back 1087

banish to the country; dwell in the country

Front 1088

ruthless

Back 1088

pitiless; merciless; cruel

Front 1089

saboteur

Back 1089

one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property; N. sabotage: destruction of property (usually carried out secretly)

Front 1090

saccharine

Back 1090

cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin

Front 1091

sacrilegious

Back 1091

desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration, misuse, or theft of something sacred

Front 1092

sacrosanct

Back 1092

inviolably sacred; most sacred; inviolable

Front 1093

sadistic

Back 1093

inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty

Front 1094

saga

Back 1094

Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative

Front 1095

sagacious

Back 1095

wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity

Front 1096

sage

Back 1096

person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; Adj: wise

Front 1097

salacious

Back 1097

lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk

Front 1098

salient

Back 1098

prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features

Front 1099

saline

Back 1099

salty

Front 1100

sallow

Back 1100

(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice

Front 1101

salubrious

Back 1101

healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; Cf. health

Front 1102

salutary

Back 1102

tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; Cf. health

Front 1103

salvage

Back 1103

rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved

Front 1104

sanctimonious

Back 1104

displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety

Front 1105

sanction

Back 1105

approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance

Front 1106

sanctuary

Back 1106

place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex. The outlaw was granted sanctuary in the church.

Front 1107

sanguinary

Back 1107

bloody; with much bloodshed

Front 1108

sanguine

Back 1108

optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red

Front 1109

sap

Back 1109

diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification); Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength.

Front 1110

sarcasm

Back 1110

cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging rebuke; Adj. sarcastic

Front 1111

sardonic

Back 1111

scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile

Front 1112

sartorial

Back 1112

pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; Cf. sartor: tailor

Front 1113

sate

Back 1113

satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy

Front 1114

satellite

Back 1114

small body revolving around a larger one

Front 1115

satiate

Back 1115

satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated

Front 1116

satire

Back 1116

form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly; Adj. satirical

Front 1117

saturate

Back 1117

soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity

Front 1118

saunter

Back 1118

stroll (go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.

Front 1119

savant

Back 1119

scholar; learned person; Cf. savoir: know

Front 1120

savor

Back 1120

enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality

Front 1121

savory

Back 1121

pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable; Ex. savory reputation

Front 1122

scabbard

Back 1122

case for a sword blade; sheath

Front 1123

scads

Back 1123

a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes

Front 1124

scaffold

Back 1124

temporary platform for workers (to work at heights above the ground); bracing framework; platform for execution

Front 1125

scale

Back 1125

climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones

Front 1126

scanty

Back 1126

meager; insufficient

Front 1127

scapegoat

Back 1127

someone who bears the blame for others; whipping boy; Cf. escape+goat

Front 1128

scavenge

Back 1128

hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food; search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who scavenges; animal that feeds on refuse and carrion

Front 1129

scenario

Back 1129

plot outline; screenplay (script for a movie); opera libretto; outline of possible future events

Front 1130

schematic

Back 1130

of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation; outline

Front 1131

schism

Back 1131

division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split

Front 1132

scintilla

Back 1132

trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; Cf. spark

Front 1133

scintillate

Back 1133

sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation

Front 1134

scoff

Back 1134

laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats

Front 1135

scotch

Back 1135

stamp out (put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor; Cf. cut;

Front 1136

scourge

Back 1136

lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict

Front 1137

scruple

Back 1137

hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience

Front 1138

scrupulous

Back 1138

conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker

Front 1139

scrutinize

Back 1139

examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny

Front 1140

scuffle

Back 1140

struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry; N. Cf. scuffling twins?

Front 1141

scurrilous

Back 1141

abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark

Front 1142

scurry

Back 1142

move hastily; hurry; move briskly

Front 1143

scurvy

Back 1143

contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C

Front 1144

scuttle

Back 1144

sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull

Front 1145

seamy

Back 1145

sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life

Front 1146

sear

Back 1146

burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause (a plant) to wither

Front 1147

seasoned

Back 1147

experienced

Front 1148

secession

Back 1148

withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership

Front 1149

seclusion

Back 1149

isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate

Front 1150

secrete

Back 1150

conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism; Cf. secretive

Front 1151

sect

Back 1151

separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group

Front 1152

secular

Back 1152

worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal

Front 1153

sedate

Back 1153

composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; Cf. sedative

Front 1154

sedentary

Back 1154

requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population

Front 1155

sedition

Back 1155

conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; Adj. seditious

Front 1156

sedulous

Back 1156

diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity

Front 1157

seedy

Back 1157

run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel

Front 1158

seemly

Back 1158

(of behavior) proper; appropriate

Front 1159

seep

Back 1159

pass slowly through small openings; ooze; trickle; N. seepage

Front 1160

seethe

Back 1160

be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.

Front 1161

seine

Back 1161

seine net; net for catching fish

Front 1162

seismic

Back 1162

pertaining to earthquakes

Front 1163

semblance

Back 1163

outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.

Front 1164

seminal

Back 1164

related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field

Front 1165

seminary

Back 1165

school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women

Front 1166

senility

Back 1166

old age; feeblemindedness of old age; Adj. senile: resulting from old age; showing the weakness of body or mind from old age; Ex. senile dementia

Front 1167

sensitization

Back 1167

process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become sensitive

Front 1168

sensual

Back 1168

devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous; Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips

Front 1169

sensuous

Back 1169

giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin

Front 1170

sententious

Back 1170

pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic

Front 1171

sentient

Back 1171

capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience

Front 1172

sentinel

Back 1172

sentry; lookout

Front 1173

septic

Back 1173

of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)

Front 1174

sepulcher

Back 1174

tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; Adj. sepulchral

Front 1175

sequester

Back 1175

isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life

Front 1176

sere

Back 1176

sear; parched; dry

Front 1177

serendipity

Back 1177

gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck; Cf. The Three Princes of Serendipity

Front 1178

serenity

Back 1178

calmness; placidity; Adj. serene

Front 1179

serpentine

Back 1179

winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of the river; N. serpent: snake

Front 1180

serrated

Back 1180

having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf

Front 1181

servile

Back 1181

slavish; cringing; N. servility

Front 1182

servitude

Back 1182

slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment

Front 1183

sever

Back 1183

separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up (a relationship); N. severance; Cf. severance pay: extra pay given an employee upon leaving a position

Front 1184

severity

Back 1184

harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; Adj. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense

Front 1185

sextant

Back 1185

navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)

Front 1186

shackle

Back 1186

chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.

Front 1187

sham

Back 1187

pretend; feign; Adj: not genuine; fake; Ex. sham jewelry; N: something that is not what it appears; impostor; pretense; Ex. The agreement was a sham.

Front 1188

shambles

Back 1188

(place or scene of) complete disorder or ruin; wreck; mess; Ex. After the hurricane, the coast was a shambles.

Front 1189

shard

Back 1189

fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay bowl, or cup)

Front 1190

shaving

Back 1190

very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp blade)

Front 1191

sheaf

Back 1191

bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together

Front 1192

sheathe

Back 1192

place into a case; insert into or provide with a sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a blade

Front 1193

sherbet

Back 1193

flavored dessert ice

Front 1194

shimmer

Back 1194

shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.

Front 1195

shirk

Back 1195

avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger

Front 1196

shoddy

Back 1196

made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick

Front 1197

shout

Back 1197

to speak very loudly, to call out; yell

Front 1198

shrew

Back 1198

scolding woman; very small mouselike animal

Front 1199

shrewd

Back 1199

clever; astute

Front 1200

shun

Back 1200

keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by her neighbors.

Front 1201

shunt

Back 1201

move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.

Front 1202

shyster

Back 1202

lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practitioner

Front 1203

sibling

Back 1203

brother or sister

Front 1204

sibylline

Back 1204

prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)

Front 1205

silt

Back 1205

sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)

Front 1206

simian

Back 1206

monkeylike; N: ape or monkey

Front 1207

simile

Back 1207

comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as

Front 1208

simper

Back 1208

smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly

Front 1209

simplistic

Back 1209

oversimplified

Front 1210

simulate

Back 1210

feign; imitate

Front 1211

sinecure

Back 1211

well-paid position with little responsibility; Cf. sine cure: without care; Cf. San Serif

Front 1212

sinewy

Back 1212

(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone

Front 1213

singular

Back 1213

being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior

Front 1214

sinister

Back 1214

evil; ominous

Front 1215

sinuous

Back 1215

twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest

Front 1216

skeptic

Back 1216

sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; Adj. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism

Front 1217

skiff

Back 1217

small light sailboat or rowboat

Front 1218

skimp

Back 1218

provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; Adj. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly

Front 1219

skinflint

Back 1219

miser; stingy person

Front 1220

skirmish

Back 1220

minor fight; minor battle in war; V.

Front 1221

skittish

Back 1221

inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; Cf. skit

Front 1222

skulduggery

Back 1222

(=skullduggery) dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election

Front 1223

skulk

Back 1223

move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.

Front 1224

slacken

Back 1224

slow up; loosen; make or become slack

Front 1225

slag

Back 1225

glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter

Front 1226

slander

Back 1226

defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. Adj. slanderous

Front 1227

slapdash

Back 1227

hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy (carelessly done)

Front 1228

sleazy

Back 1228

shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric

Front 1229

sleeper

Back 1229

one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable

Front 1230

sleight

Back 1230

dexterity; Cf. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks

Front 1231

slew

Back 1231

large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left

Front 1232

slight

Back 1232

insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; Adj. small in size; of small importance

Front 1233

slipshod

Back 1233

slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work

Front 1234

slither

Back 1234

slip or slide

Front 1235

sloth

Back 1235

slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; Adj. slothful: lazy; indolent

Front 1236

slough

Back 1236

(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed

Front 1237

slovenly

Back 1237

untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless

Front 1238

sluggard

Back 1238

lazy person

Front 1239

sluggish

Back 1239

lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; Cf. slug: nail with no shell

Front 1240

sluice

Back 1240

artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)

Front 1241

slur

Back 1241

pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble

Front 1242

slur

Back 1242

slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.

Front 1243

smattering

Back 1243

slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German

Front 1244

smelt

Back 1244

melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition

Front 1245

smirk

Back 1245

conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone else's misfortune); V.

Front 1246

smolder

Back 1246

smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger

Front 1247

snicker

Back 1247

half-stifled (suppressed) laugh; V.

Front 1248

snivel

Back 1248

complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.

Front 1249

soar

Back 1249

the act of flying

Front 1250

sobriety

Back 1250

moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness

Front 1251

sodden

Back 1251

thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink

Front 1252

sojourn

Back 1252

temporary stay; V: stay for a time

Front 1253

solace

Back 1253

comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble

Front 1254

solder

Back 1254

repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts

Front 1255

solecism

Back 1255

nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette

Front 1256

solemnity

Back 1256

seriousness; gravity

Front 1257

solicitous

Back 1257

anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude

Front 1258

soliloquy

Back 1258

talking to oneself (esp. in a play); Cf. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)

Front 1259

solitude

Back 1259

state of being alone; seclusion; Adj. solitary: existing or living alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded; single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of proof

Front 1260

solstice

Back 1260

point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator

Front 1261

soluble

Back 1261

able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved

Front 1262

solvent

Back 1262

able to pay all depths; substance that dissolves another; N. solvency; Adj. capable of dissolving another substance

Front 1263

somatic

Back 1263

pertaining to the body; bodily; physical

Front 1264

somnambulist

Back 1264

sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism

Front 1265

somnolent

Back 1265

half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence

Front 1266

sonorous

Back 1266

resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound

Front 1267

sophist

Back 1267

teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument

Front 1268

sophisticated

Back 1268

worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate

Front 1269

sophistry

Back 1269

seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism

Front 1270

sophomoric

Back 1270

immature; half-baked; like a sophomore

Front 1271

soporific

Back 1271

sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy

Front 1272

sordid

Back 1272

filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story

Front 1273

sparse

Back 1273

not thick; thinly scattered; scanty

Front 1274

spartan

Back 1274

without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life

Front 1275

spasmodic

Back 1275

fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion

Front 1276

spat

Back 1276

squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel

Front 1277

spate

Back 1277

sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents

Front 1278

spatial

Back 1278

relating to space

Front 1279

spatula

Back 1279

broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing

Front 1280

spawn

Back 1280

lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals

Front 1281

specious

Back 1281

seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)

Front 1282

spectral

Back 1282

ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom

Front 1283

spectrum

Back 1283

colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts

Front 1284

sphinx-like

Back 1284

enigmatic; mysterious

Front 1285

splice

Back 1285

join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.

Front 1286

spontaneity

Back 1286

lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint; Adj. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening without being planned

Front 1287

sporadic

Back 1287

occurring irregularly; intermittent

Front 1288

sportive

Back 1288

playful; frolicsome; merry; Cf. sport: play or frolic; Cf. sportsmanlike

Front 1289

spry

Back 1289

(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble

Front 1290

spurious

Back 1290

false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments

Front 1291

spurn

Back 1291

reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.

Front 1292

squabble

Back 1292

minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children

Front 1293

squalor

Back 1293

condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; Adj. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story

Front 1294

squander

Back 1294

waste; spend foolishly

Front 1295

squat

Back 1295

short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.

Front 1296

staccato

Back 1296

played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause

Front 1297

staid

Back 1297

serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony

Front 1298

stalemate

Back 1298

deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked

Front 1299

stalwart

Back 1299

physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower

Front 1300

stamina

Back 1300

power of endurance; strength; staying power

Front 1301

stanch

Back 1301

stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound

Front 1302

static

Back 1302

having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state

Front 1303

statute

Back 1303

law enacted by the legislature

Front 1304

statutory

Back 1304

created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit

Front 1305

steadfast

Back 1305

steadily loyal; unswerving; steady

Front 1306

stealth

Back 1306

action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; Adj. stealthy

Front 1307

steep

Back 1307

soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; Adj. precipitous

Front 1308

stellar

Back 1308

pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance

Front 1309

stem

Back 1309

(v) stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk

Front 1310

stem from

Back 1310

arise from; originate from

Front 1311

stentorian

Back 1311

(of the voice) extremely loud; Cf. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad

Front 1312

stereotype

Back 1312

one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to stereotype people; Ex. stereotyped answer

Front 1313

stickler

Back 1313

perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right

Front 1314

stifle

Back 1314

suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate

Front 1315

stigma

Back 1315

token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful

Front 1316

stilted

Back 1316

bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; Cf. stiff: formal

Front 1317

stint

Back 1317

supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint

Front 1318

stipend

Back 1318

pay for services

Front 1319

stipple

Back 1319

paint or draw with dots or short strokes

Front 1320

stipulate

Back 1320

state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance

Front 1321

stock

Back 1321

standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for sale in a shop; Op. unique

Front 1322

stockade

Back 1322

wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier

Front 1323

stodgy

Back 1323

dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book

Front 1324

stoic

Back 1324

stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. Cf. stoicism

Front 1325

stoke

Back 1325

stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully

Front 1326

stolid

Back 1326

dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected

Front 1327

stratagem

Back 1327

deceptive scheme; clever trick

Front 1328

stratified

Back 1328

divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify

Front 1329

stratum

Back 1329

layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata

Front 1330

streak

Back 1330

Thin line or strip of something

Front 1331

stream

Back 1331

Discharge but longer and more flowing

Front 1332

strew

Back 1332

spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals

Front 1333

striated

Back 1333

marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line

Front 1334

stricture

Back 1334

severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction

Front 1335

strident

Back 1335

loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency

Front 1336

stringent

Back 1336

(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions

Front 1337

stroller

Back 1337

(n) a carriage in which a baby sits or lies, and is pushed by someone

Front 1338

struggling

Back 1338

working hard to accomplish a goal; striving

Front 1339

strut

Back 1339

pompous walk; supporting bar; V: walk in a self-important manner

Front 1340

studied

Back 1340

carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark

Front 1341

stultify

Back 1341

make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression

Front 1342

stupefy

Back 1342

stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze

Front 1343

stupor

Back 1343

state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness

Front 1344

stygian

Back 1344

unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; Cf. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead

Front 1345

stymie

Back 1345

thwart; present an obstacle; stump

Front 1346

suavity

Back 1346

urbanity; polish; Adj. suave: smooth and courteous

Front 1347

subaltern

Back 1347

subordinate

Front 1348

subdue

Back 1348

less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one's anger

Front 1349

subjective

Back 1349

influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence

Front 1350

subjugate

Back 1350

conquer; bring under control

Front 1351

sublimate

Back 1351

refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state

Front 1352

sublime

Back 1352

causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter

Front 1353

subliminal

Back 1353

below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement

Front 1354

submissive

Back 1354

willing to obey orders; yielding; timid

Front 1355

subordinate

Back 1355

occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class

Front 1356

suborn

Back 1356

persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation

Front 1357

subpoena

Back 1357

writ (written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena

Front 1358

subsequent

Back 1358

following in time or order; later

Front 1359

subservient

Back 1359

behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience

Front 1360

subside

Back 1360

sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate

Front 1361

subsidiary

Back 1361

serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.

Front 1362

subsidy

Back 1362

direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy

Front 1363

subsistence

Back 1363

existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)

Front 1364

substantial

Back 1364

of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy

Front 1365

substantiate

Back 1365

support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify

Front 1366

substantive

Back 1366

substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues

Front 1367

subsume

Back 1367

include (as a member of a group); encompass

Front 1368

subtlety

Back 1368

perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; Adj. subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning

Front 1369

subversive

Back 1369

tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; Cf. undermine

Front 1370

succor

Back 1370

assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.

Front 1371

succumb

Back 1371

yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness

Front 1372

suffragist

Back 1372

advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); Cf. suffrage

Front 1373

suffuse

Back 1373

spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.

Front 1374

sully

Back 1374

defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one's hands in menial labor

Front 1375

sultry

Back 1375

(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous

Front 1376

summation

Back 1376

act of finding the total; summing-up; summary (esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)

Front 1377

sundry

Back 1377

miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items

Front 1378

superannuated

Back 1378

retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete

Front 1379

supercilious

Back 1379

haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; Cf. eyebrow, cilium

Front 1380

supererogatory

Back 1380

superfluous; more than needed or demanded

Front 1381

superficial

Back 1381

of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge

Front 1382

superimpose

Back 1382

place over something else

Front 1383

supernumerary

Back 1383

person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; Adj: additional to the usual or necessary number

Front 1384

supersede

Back 1384

replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession

Front 1385

supine

Back 1385

lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision

Front 1386

supplant

Back 1386

take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace

Front 1387

supple

Back 1387

flexible; limber; pliant

Front 1388

suppliant

Back 1388

entreating; beseeching; N.

Front 1389

supplicate

Back 1389

petition humbly; pray to grant a favor

Front 1390

supposition

Back 1390

assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose

Front 1391

supposititious

Back 1391

assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical

Front 1392

suppress

Back 1392

put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm; inhibit the expression of; check; prevent from being published or made public; Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress the magazine/truth

Front 1393

surfeit

Back 1393

satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food

Front 1394

surly

Back 1394

bad-tempered; rude; cross

Front 1395

surmount

Back 1395

overcome

Front 1396

surpass

Back 1396

exceed

Front 1397

surreptitious

Back 1397

done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden

Front 1398

surrogate

Back 1398

substitute; person or thing used in place of another; Ex. surrogate mother; Adj.

Front 1399

surveillance

Back 1399

close observation of a person (esp. one under suspicion); watching; guarding

Front 1400

susceptible

Back 1400

impressionable; easily influenced; sensitive; having little resistance as to a disease; likely to suffer; receptive to; capable of accepting; Ex. susceptible to persuasion/colds; Ex. The agreement is not susceptible of alteration; N. susceptibility

Front 1401

sustain

Back 1401

suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop; maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the trapped miners

Front 1402

sustenance

Back 1402

sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food, nourishment; something that maintains life; food

Front 1403

suture

Back 1403

stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound

Front 1404

swarthy

Back 1404

(of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian

Front 1405

swathe

Back 1405

swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages

Front 1406

swelter

Back 1406

(of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be oppressed by heat

Front 1407

swerve

Back 1407

deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course; Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the right.

Front 1408

swill

Back 1408

drink greedily

Front 1409

swindler

Back 1409

cheater

Front 1410

sybarite

Back 1410

lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; Cf. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy

Front 1411

sycophant

Back 1411

servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; Adj. sycophantic

Front 1412

syllogism

Back 1412

logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument

Front 1413

sylvan

Back 1413

pertaining to the woods or the country

Front 1414

symbiosis

Back 1414

interdependent relationship (between groups, species) often mutually beneficial; Adj. symbiotic; Cf. together + life

Front 1415

symmetry

Back 1415

arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity; Adj. symmetric

Front 1416

synoptic

Back 1416

providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis

Front 1417

synthesis

Back 1417

combining parts or separate things into a whole; the whole so formed; PL. syntheses; V. synthesize

Front 1418

synthetic

Back 1418

not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis; Ex. synthetic fiber; N.

Front 1419

tacit

Back 1419

understood (without actually being expressed); not put into words; Ex. tacit agreement

Front 1420

taciturn

Back 1420

habitually silent; talking little

Front 1421

tactile

Back 1421

pertaining to the organs or sense of touch

Front 1422

taint

Back 1422

contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad; Ex. tainted reputation; N: stain; touch of decay or bad influence; Cf. touch

Front 1423

talisman

Back 1423

charm; object believed to give supernatural powers to or protect its bearer

Front 1424

talon

Back 1424

claw of bird

Front 1425

tangential

Back 1425

only slightly connected; not central; peripheral; digressing; showing divergence; Cf. tangent

Front 1426

tangible

Back 1426

able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof

Front 1427

tanner

Back 1427

person who turns animal hides into leather

Front 1428

tantalize

Back 1428

tease; excite by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach; torture with disappointment; Cf. Tantalus: Greek mythological figure

Front 1429

tantamount

Back 1429

equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; Cf. amount

Front 1430

taper

Back 1430

very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward one end

Front 1431

tarantula

Back 1431

venomous spider

Front 1432

tarry

Back 1432

linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle

Front 1433

taut

Back 1433

tight; strained; tense; ready; Op. slack

Front 1434

tautological

Back 1434

needlessly repetitious; Ex. "It was visible to the eye"; N. tautology: needless repetition of the same sense; statement that is always true

Front 1435

tawdry

Back 1435

cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry

Front 1436

taxonomist

Back 1436

specialist in classifying (animals...); Cf. taxonomy: science of classification

Front 1437

tedium

Back 1437

boredom; weariness; Adj. tedious

Front 1438

teetotalism

Back 1438

practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks; N. teetotaler; Adj. teetotal; Cf. T + total

Front 1439

temerity

Back 1439

boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day's work

Front 1440

temper

Back 1440

moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) as by alternate heating and cooling

Front 1441

temperament

Back 1441

characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess; Adj. temperamental: of temperament; having frequent changes of temper; Ex. temperamental dislike of sports; Ex. temperamental actress

Front 1442

temperate

Back 1442

moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature; Cf. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society

Front 1443

tempestuous

Back 1443

stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest: violent storm

Front 1444

tempo

Back 1444

speed of music

Front 1445

temporal

Back 1445

of time; not lasting forever; limited by time; temporary; secular; worldly

Front 1446

temporize

Back 1446

gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself

Front 1447

tenacious

Back 1447

holding fast (as to a belief); persistent; N. tenacity

Front 1448

tendentious

Back 1448

promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth-seeking; Cf. tend: move in a certain direction

Front 1449

tender

Back 1449

offer formally; extend; Ex. tender one's resignation/the exact fare; N: formal offer; money; Ex. legal tender; Adj: young and vulnerable; sensitive to the touch; sore; soft; delicate; Ex. child of tender years; Ex. tender wound

Front 1450

tenet

Back 1450

doctrine; dogma

Front 1451

tensile

Back 1451

capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. tensile rubber

Front 1452

tenuous

Back 1452

thin; slim; rare

Front 1453

tenure

Back 1453

holding of an office or real estate; time during which such an office is held

Front 1454

tepid

Back 1454

lukewarm; slightly warm; half-hearted; not eager; Ex. tepid reaction to the new film; Ex. tepid supporter

Front 1455

termination

Back 1455

end; V. terminate

Front 1456

terminology

Back 1456

terms used in a science or art; study of nomenclature

Front 1457

terminus

Back 1457

last stop of railroad; end

Front 1458

terrestrial

Back 1458

on or relating to the earth

Front 1459

terse

Back 1459

concise; abrupt; pithy

Front 1460

tertiary

Back 1460

third in order or rank

Front 1461

tessellated

Back 1461

mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern

Front 1462

testator

Back 1462

maker of a will; Cf. testatrix

Front 1463

testy

Back 1463

irritable; impatient and bad-tempered; short-tempered; N. testiness

Front 1464

tether

Back 1464

tie (an animal) with a rope or tether; N: rope or chain to which an animal is tied; limit of one's endurance; Ex. the end of one's tether

Front 1465

thematic

Back 1465

of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea

Front 1466

theocracy

Back 1466

government run by religious leaders

Front 1467

theoretical

Back 1467

based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical

Front 1468

therapeutic

Back 1468

curative; N. therapy

Front 1469

thermal

Back 1469

pertaining to heat; producing heat; warm; Ex. thermal bath; N: rising current of warm air

Front 1470

thespian

Back 1470

pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress

Front 1471

thrall

Back 1471

slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; Cf. enthrall

Front 1472

threadbare

Back 1472

worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor; hackneyed; Ex. threadbare excuses

Front 1473

thrifty

Back 1473

careful about money; economical; N. thrift

Front 1474

thrive

Back 1474

prosper; flourish

Front 1475

throes

Back 1475

violent anguish

Front 1476

throng

Back 1476

crowd (of people or things); V.

Front 1477

throttle

Back 1477

strangle; regulate the speed with a throttle; N: valve that regulates the flow; Cf. throat

Front 1478

thwart

Back 1478

block or hinder; baffle; frustrate

Front 1479

tightwad

Back 1479

miser; excessively frugal person

Front 1480

tiller

Back 1480

handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer)

Front 1481

timbre

Back 1481

quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument (which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch)

Front 1482

timidity

Back 1482

lack of self-confidence or courage; Adj. timid

Front 1483

timorous

Back 1483

fearful; timid; demonstrating fear

Front 1484

tipple

Back 1484

drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink

Front 1485

tirade

Back 1485

long angry denunciatory speech; diatribe; harangue; extended scolding; denunciation

Front 1486

titanic

Back 1486

gigantic; N. titan

Front 1487

tithe

Back 1487

tax of one-tenth (contributed to a church); V: pay a tithe

Front 1488

titillate

Back 1488

tickle; excite pleasantly; Ex. not to titillate the audience but to enlighten it

Front 1489

title

Back 1489

name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation as of rank or office (such as Lord or General); right or claim to possession; championship; Ex. title as head of the family; Ex. title to the estate

Front 1490

titter

Back 1490

nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.

Front 1491

titular

Back 1491

of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular head of the company

Front 1492

toady

Back 1492

servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn

Front 1493

toga

Back 1493

Roman outer robe

Front 1494

tome

Back 1494

large volume; book

Front 1495

tonsure

Back 1495

shaving of the head especially by person entering religious orders; V.

Front 1496

topography

Back 1496

physical features of a region (such as the shape and height); Cf. topo-: place

Front 1497

torpor

Back 1497

lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; Adj. torpid: lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of an animal) dormant; hibernating

Front 1498

torque

Back 1498

twisting force; force producing rotation

Front 1499

torrent

Back 1499

rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.

Front 1500

torrid

Back 1500

(of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid love affairs

Front 1501

torso

Back 1501

trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk

Front 1502

tortuous

Back 1502

winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain road

Front 1503

totter

Back 1503

shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall

Front 1504

touchstone

Back 1504

stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion; standard

Front 1505

touchy

Back 1505

oversensitive; easily offended; irascible; delicate; needing delicate handling; Ex. touchy situation

Front 1506

tout

Back 1506

promote or publicize (one's goods or service); praise excessively (as a form of advertisement); Cf. advertise

Front 1507

toxic

Back 1507

poisonous; N. toxicity

Front 1508

tract

Back 1508

propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political group); expanse of land; region of indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex. digestive tract

Front 1509

tractable

Back 1509

docile; easily managed; (of smt) easily changed or molded; N. tractability

Front 1510

traduce

Back 1510

expose to slander

Front 1511

trajectory

Back 1511

path taken by a projectile; Ex. trajectory of a bullet

Front 1512

tranquility

Back 1512

calmness; peace

Front 1513

transcendent

Back 1513

exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing; V. transcend: go beyond; exceed; surpass; N. transcendence

Front 1514

transcribe

Back 1514

copy; write a copy of; N. transcription

Front 1515

transgression

Back 1515

violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond (a limit); violate; do wrong

Front 1516

transient

Back 1516

staying for a short time; momentary; temporary; N: one that is transient

Front 1517

transition

Back 1517

going from one state of action to another

Front 1518

transitory

Back 1518

transient; impermanent; fleeting; N. transitoriness

Front 1519

translucent

Back 1519

partly transparent

Front 1520

transmute

Back 1520

transform; change; convert to something different

Front 1521

transparent

Back 1521

permitting light to pass through freely; easily detected; obvious; clear; Ex. transparent lie

Front 1522

transpire

Back 1522

(of a fact) become known; be revealed; happen; give off (watery waste matter) through pores

Front 1523

transport

Back 1523

strong emotion; rapture; Ex. in a transport/transports of; V: move to strong emotion; enrapture

Front 1524

trappings

Back 1524

outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward sign of rank)

Front 1525

traumatic

Back 1525

(of an experience) deeply shocking; pertaining to an injury caused by violence; N. trauma: serious wound; emotional shock that causes lasting psychological damage

Front 1526

travail

Back 1526

strenuous work; toil; painful labor; labor of childbirth

Front 1527

traverse

Back 1527

go through or across

Front 1528

travesty

Back 1528

copy or example of something that completely misrepresents the true nature of the real thing; comical parody or imitation; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous; Ex. travesty of justice; Op. paragon

Front 1529

treatise

Back 1529

article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly

Front 1530

trek

Back 1530

travel; journey; V: make a long difficult journey

Front 1531

tremor

Back 1531

trembling; slight quiver (as of the earth or from nervous agitation)

Front 1532

tremulous

Back 1532

trembling; wavering

Front 1533

trenchant

Back 1533

cutting; incisive; keen

Front 1534

trepidation

Back 1534

fear; nervous apprehension

Front 1535

tribulation

Back 1535

suffering; ordeal; distress; trial

Front 1536

tribunal

Back 1536

court of justice

Front 1537

tribute

Back 1537

tax levied by a ruler; payment made by one nation to another in acknowledgment of submission; mark of respect (such as praise or gift); Ex. pay tribute to

Front 1538

trident

Back 1538

three-pronged spear

Front 1539

trifling

Back 1539

trivial; unimportant

Front 1540

trigger

Back 1540

set off; start

Front 1541

trilogy

Back 1541

group of three related works (connected by a shared subject but each complete in itself)

Front 1542

trinket

Back 1542

knickknack; bauble; cheap jewelry

Front 1543

trite

Back 1543

hackneyed; commonplace

Front 1544

trivia

Back 1544

trifles; unimportant matters

Front 1545

troth

Back 1545

pledge of good faith especially in betrothal; betrothal; Ex. by my troth

Front 1546

trough

Back 1546

long narrow container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.); long narrow depression as between waves

Front 1547

truculence

Back 1547

aggressiveness; ferocity; Adj. truculent: aggressive; pugnacious; fierce

Front 1548

truism

Back 1548

self-evident truth

Front 1549

truncate

Back 1549

cut the top off; shorten

Front 1550

tryst

Back 1550

meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet

Front 1551

tumult

Back 1551

commotion of a great crowd; riot; noise; uproar; Adj. tumultuous: noisy and disorderly

Front 1552

tundra

Back 1552

rolling treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America

Front 1553

turbid

Back 1553

(of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick

Front 1554

tureen

Back 1554

deep dish for serving soup

Front 1555

turgid

Back 1555

swollen; distended (as from liquid)

Front 1556

turmoil

Back 1556

extreme confusion; great commotion and confusion; Ex. throw the country into turmoil

Front 1557

turncoat

Back 1557

traitor

Front 1558

turpitude

Back 1558

depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude

Front 1559

tutelage

Back 1559

guardianship; training; function of a tutor; instruction; Adj. tutelary

Front 1560

tycoon

Back 1560

wealthy and powerful businessperson; wealthy leader; magnate; Ex. business tycoon

Front 1561

typhoon

Back 1561

tropical hurricane or cyclone

Front 1562

tyranny

Back 1562

oppression; cruel government; Adj. tyrannical: of a tyrant or tyranny; despotic; V. tyrannize: treat tyrannically; oppress

Front 1563

tyro

Back 1563

beginner; novice

Front 1564

ubiquitous

Back 1564

being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity

Front 1565

ulterior

Back 1565

intentionally hidden; beyond what is evident; situated beyond; unstated and often questionable; Ex. ulterior motive

Front 1566

ultimate

Back 1566

final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental; Ex. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.

Front 1567

umbrage

Back 1567

resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness

Front 1568

unaccountable

Back 1568

inexplicable; impossible to account for; unreasonable or mysterious

Front 1569

unanimity

Back 1569

complete agreement; Adj. unanimous

Front 1570

unassailable

Back 1570

not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question

Front 1571

unassuaged

Back 1571

unsatisfied; not soothed

Front 1572

unassuming

Back 1572

modest; Ex. the champion's unassuming manner

Front 1573

unbridled

Back 1573

violent; uncontrolled; Ex. unbridled rage/greed

Front 1574

uncanny

Back 1574

strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack

Front 1575

uncouth

Back 1575

boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish

Front 1576

unction

Back 1576

the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction

Front 1577

unctuous

Back 1577

oily; bland; insincerely suave

Front 1578

underlying

Back 1578

lying below; fundamental

Front 1579

undermine

Back 1579

weaken gradually; sap; dig a mine beneath

Front 1580

underscore

Back 1580

underline; emphasize

Front 1581

undulating

Back 1581

moving with a wavelike motion; V. undulate; Cf. und: wave

Front 1582

unearthly

Back 1582

not earthly; supernatural; weird; ghostly

Front 1583

unequivocal

Back 1583

plain; clear; obvious

Front 1584

unerringly

Back 1584

infallibly; Adj. unerring: making no mistakes

Front 1585

unexceptionable

Back 1585

entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism

Front 1586

unfaltering

Back 1586

steadfast; firm; not changing

Front 1587

unfeigned

Back 1587

genuine; real

Front 1588

unfetter

Back 1588

liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter

Front 1589

unfledged

Back 1589

immature; not having the feathers necessary to fly; Cf. fledgling

Front 1590

unfrock

Back 1590

defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority

Front 1591

ungainly

Back 1591

(of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy; (of something) unwieldy; Ex. ungainly dancer/instrument

Front 1592

unguent

Back 1592

ointment

Front 1593

uniformity

Back 1593

sameness; monotony; Adj. uniform: the same all over

Front 1594

unilateral

Back 1594

one-sided; involving or affecting only one side; Ex. unilateral declaration

Front 1595

unimpeachable

Back 1595

that cannot be impeached; beyond doubt or question; blameless and exemplary

Front 1596

uninhibited

Back 1596

unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings

Front 1597

unintimidating

Back 1597

unfrightening

Front 1598

unique

Back 1598

without an equal; single in kind

Front 1599

unison

Back 1599

unity of pitch (in musical performance); complete accord; Ex. The choir sang in unison

Front 1600

universal

Back 1600

characterizing or affecting all; general; present everywhere; of the universe; cosmic; Ex. universal agreement; Ex. a subject of universal interest

Front 1601

unkempt

Back 1601

disheveled; uncared for in appearance; not combed; Cf. comb

Front 1602

unmitigated

Back 1602

(of something bad) not moderated; unrelieved or immoderate; without qualification; absolute; Ex. unmitigated disaster

Front 1603

unobtrusive

Back 1603

inconspicuous; not blatant

Front 1604

unprecedented

Back 1604

having no previous example; novel; unparalleled

Front 1605

unprepossessing

Back 1605

unattractive

Front 1606

unravel

Back 1606

disentangle; solve

Front 1607

unrequited

Back 1607

not requited; not reciprocated; Ex. unrequited love

Front 1608

unruly

Back 1608

disobedient; lawless; difficult to control

Front 1609

unsavory

Back 1609

distasteful; disagreeable; morally offensive; Ex. unsavory activity/reputation

Front 1610

unscathed

Back 1610

unharmed; Ex. escape the accident unscathed

Front 1611

unseemly

Back 1611

unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with unseemly haste

Front 1612

unsullied

Back 1612

untarnished; Cf. sully

Front 1613

untenable

Back 1613

(of a position, esp. in an argument) indefensible; not able to be maintained

Front 1614

untoward

Back 1614

unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter

Front 1615

unwarranted

Back 1615

unjustified; having no justification; groundless; baseless; undeserved

Front 1616

unwieldy

Back 1616

awkward (to carry or move); cumbersome; unmanageable

Front 1617

unwonted

Back 1617

unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted punctuality.

Front 1618

upbraid

Back 1618

reprimand; severely scold

Front 1619

uproarious

Back 1619

marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy (esp. with laughter); hilarious; causing loud laughter; extremely funny

Front 1620

upshot

Back 1620

outcome; final result

Front 1621

urbane

Back 1621

suave; refined in manner; elegant

Front 1622

urchin

Back 1622

mischievous child (usually a boy); Cf. urchin: hedgehog; Cf. porcupine: pig with spikes; Cf. sea urchin

Front 1623

ursine

Back 1623

bearlike; pertaining to a bear

Front 1624

usurp

Back 1624

seize another's power or rank (without legal authority); supplant; appropriate; N. usurpation; Cf. take for one's own use

Front 1625

usury

Back 1625

lending money at illegal high rates of interest

Front 1626

utopia

Back 1626

ideal place, state, or society; Adj. utopian

Front 1627

uxorious

Back 1627

excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife; Cf. uxor: wife

Front 1628

vacillate

Back 1628

waver (in opinion); fluctuate; sway to and fro; N. vacillation

Front 1629

vacuous

Back 1629

empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity

Front 1630

vagabond

Back 1630

wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp

Front 1631

vagary

Back 1631

capricious happening; caprice; whim; Cf. wander

Front 1632

vagrant

Back 1632

wandering from place to place; roving; stray; moving in a random fashion; Ex. vagrant thoughts; N. vagrancy

Front 1633

vainglorious

Back 1633

boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity

Front 1634

valedictory

Back 1634

pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp. at graduation exercises)

Front 1635

valid

Back 1635

logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable; effective; Ex. valid reasoning/passport

Front 1636

validate

Back 1636

make valid; confirm; ratify

Front 1637

valor

Back 1637

bravery; Adj. valiant: possessing valor; brave

Front 1638

vampire

Back 1638

ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living

Front 1639

vanguard

Back 1639

forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; Cf. rearguard

Front 1640

vantage

Back 1640

position giving an advantage (such as a strategic point); Cf. vantage point

Front 1641

vapid

Back 1641

lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture

Front 1642

vaporize

Back 1642

turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)

Front 1643

variegated

Back 1643

(esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored

Front 1644

vassal

Back 1644

in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord; subordinate or dependent

Front 1645

veer

Back 1645

change in direction; swerve

Front 1646

vegetate

Back 1646

live in a monotonous way (without interests or activity); Cf. vegetation: plants of an area; Cf. vegetarian; Cf. vegan

Front 1647

vehement

Back 1647

forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence

Front 1648

velocity

Back 1648

speed

Front 1649

venal

Back 1649

capable of being bribed; corrupt; Cf. vernal

Front 1650

vendetta

Back 1650

blood feud (esp. between two families); Cf. Nina Williams

Front 1651

vendor

Back 1651

seller

Front 1652

veneer

Back 1652

thin surface layer (of good quality wood, glued to a base of inferior material); cover; surface show; V.

Front 1653

venerable

Back 1653

deserving high respect; commanding respect; Cf. command: deserve and get

Front 1654

venerate

Back 1654

revere; treat with great respect

Front 1655

venial

Back 1655

(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial

Front 1656

venison

Back 1656

meat of a deer; Cf. cow: beef; Cf. pig: pork, ham, bacon; Cf. calf: veal; Cf. sheep: mutton; Cf. lamb: lamb

Front 1657

venom

Back 1657

poison (of an animal); hatred; Ex. remarks full of venom; Adj. venomous

Front 1658

vent

Back 1658

release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly); utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on his family.

Front 1659

vent

Back 1659

small opening; outlet (as of fumes or a gas); Ex. He gave vent to his anger by kicking the chair.

Front 1660

ventral

Back 1660

abdominal

Front 1661

ventriloquist

Back 1661

someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing (without moving lips or jaws); N. ventriloquism, ventriloquy

Front 1662

venture

Back 1662

risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.

Front 1663

venturesome

Back 1663

(of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an action) risky

Front 1664

venue

Back 1664

location; place (of a crime, trial, gathering, etc.); Cf. come

Front 1665

veracity

Back 1665

truthfulness; adherence to the truth; Adj. veracious

Front 1666

verbatim

Back 1666

word for word; in the same words; repeating the actual words exactly

Front 1667

verbiage

Back 1667

pompous array of words; too many unnecessary words; wordiness

Front 1668

verbose

Back 1668

wordy; N. verbosity

Front 1669

verdant

Back 1669

green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows

Front 1670

verdigris

Back 1670

green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather

Front 1671

verge

Back 1671

border; edge, rim, or margin; Ex. on the verge of: very near to; V: border on

Front 1672

verisimilar

Back 1672

having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible

Front 1673

verisimilitude

Back 1673

appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth

Front 1674

veritable

Back 1674

being truly so; real or genuine; actual; not false or imaginary

Front 1675

verity

Back 1675

quality of being true; lasting truth or principle; Ex. the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the eternal verities

Front 1676

vernacular

Back 1676

living language (as compared to the official language); language spoken in a country or region; natural style; Ex. lapse into the vernacular

Front 1677

versatile

Back 1677

having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility

Front 1678

vertex

Back 1678

summit; highest point; PL. vertices

Front 1679

vertigo

Back 1679

severe dizziness; giddiness

Front 1680

verve

Back 1680

enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor

Front 1681

vestige

Back 1681

trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion

Front 1682

vex

Back 1682

annoy; distress

Front 1683

viable

Back 1683

capable of maintaining life; feasible; practical or workable; Ex. viable scheme

Front 1684

viand

Back 1684

food; Cf. live

Front 1685

vicarious

Back 1685

experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ

Front 1686

vicissitude

Back 1686

change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; Cf. the last emperor of China

Front 1687

victuals

Back 1687

food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food

Front 1688

vie

Back 1688

contend; compete

Front 1689

vigilant

Back 1689

watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to spot danger; N. vigilance

Front 1690

vignette

Back 1690

small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene

Front 1691

vilify

Back 1691

slander; speak evil of; N. vilification

Front 1692

vindicate

Back 1692

clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one's client; Ex. vindicate one's claim; Cf. vindicator

Front 1693

vindictive

Back 1693

disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak

Front 1694

vintner

Back 1694

wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine

Front 1695

viper

Back 1695

poisonous snake

Front 1696

virile

Back 1696

manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength

Front 1697

virtual

Back 1697

in essence; existing in essence though not in actual form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual ruler/space

Front 1698

virtue

Back 1698

goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity

Front 1699

virtuoso

Back 1699

highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso

Front 1700

virulent

Back 1700

(of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N. virulence; Cf. virus; Cf. venom

Front 1701

virus

Back 1701

disease communicator

Front 1702

visage

Back 1702

face; appearance

Front 1703

visceral

Back 1703

felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; Cf. eviscerate

Front 1704

viscid

Back 1704

adhesive; gluey

Front 1705

viscous

Back 1705

(=viscid) (of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; Cf. consistency

Front 1706

vise

Back 1706

vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device

Front 1707

visionary

Back 1707

produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical; showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one given to speculative impractical ideas

Front 1708

vital

Back 1708

full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize

Front 1709

vitiate

Back 1709

spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally

Front 1710

vitreous

Back 1710

of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; Cf. petrify

Front 1711

vitriolic

Back 1711

causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression; Cf. glass

Front 1712

vituperative

Back 1712

abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively

Front 1713

vivacious

Back 1713

lively or animated; sprightly

Front 1714

vivisection

Back 1714

act of dissecting living animals

Front 1715

vixen

Back 1715

female fox; ill-tempered woman; Cf. shrew

Front 1716

vociferous

Back 1716

clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining)

Front 1717

vogue

Back 1717

popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.

Front 1718

volatile

Back 1718

changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile character/situation in the street

Front 1719

volition

Back 1719

act of using one's will; act of making a conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition

Front 1720

voluble

Back 1720

fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility

Front 1721

voluminous

Back 1721

having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large

Front 1722

voracious

Back 1722

ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader

Front 1723

vortex

Back 1723

whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged

Front 1724

vouchsafe

Back 1724

grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment

Front 1725

voyeur

Back 1725

peeping Tom; person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others

Front 1726

vulnerable

Back 1726

susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability

Front 1727

vulpine

Back 1727

like a fox; crafty

Front 1728

waffle

Back 1728

speak equivocally about an issue; N.

Front 1729

waft

Back 1729

move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window

Front 1730

waggish

Back 1730

humorous; mischievous; tricky

Front 1731

wagon

Back 1731

(n) a four-wheeled vehicle used for transporting

Front 1732

waif

Back 1732

homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays

Front 1733

waive

Back 1733

give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim

Front 1734

wake

Back 1734

trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before; Ex. hunger followed in the wake of the war

Front 1735

wallow

Back 1735

roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury

Front 1736

wan

Back 1736

having a pale or sickly color; pallid

Front 1737

wanderlust

Back 1737

strong longing to travel

Front 1738

wane

Back 1738

decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.

Front 1739

wangle

Back 1739

achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.

Front 1740

wanton

Back 1740

unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; Cf. having no just cause

Front 1741

warble

Back 1741

(of a bird) sing; babble; N.

Front 1742

warranted

Back 1742

justified; authorized

Front 1743

warranty

Back 1743

guarantee; assurance by seller

Front 1744

warren

Back 1744

tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live

Front 1745

wary

Back 1745

very cautious; watchful

Front 1746

wastrel

Back 1746

waster; profligate

Front 1747

wax

Back 1747

increase gradually (as the moon); grow

Front 1748

waylay

Back 1748

ambush; lie in wait for and attack

Front 1749

wean

Back 1749

accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the young of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling; give up a cherished activity; cause to gradually leave (an interest or habit); Ex. wean oneself from cigarettes

Front 1750

weather

Back 1750

pass safely through (a storm or difficult period); endure the effects of weather or other forces

Front 1751

welt

Back 1751

raised mark from a beating or whipping

Front 1752

welter

Back 1752

confusion; turmoil; confused mass; bewildering jumble; Ex. welter of data; wallow; lie soaked

Front 1753

wheedle

Back 1753

deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her

Front 1754

wheelchair

Back 1754

(n) a chair with wheels that is used by people who have difficult walking

Front 1755

whelp

Back 1755

young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.

Front 1756

whet

Back 1756

sharpen; stimulate; Ex. whet someone's appetite

Front 1757

whiff

Back 1757

puff or gust (of air, scent); short-lasting smell; hint; Ex. whiff of perfume/scandal

Front 1758

whimsical

Back 1758

capricious; fanciful; amusingly strange

Front 1759

whinny

Back 1759

neigh like a horse; Cf. neigh: make the sound which horses make

Front 1760

whisper

Back 1760

(v) to speak very softly

Front 1761

whittle

Back 1761

pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually; trim

Front 1762

whorl

Back 1762

ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers

Front 1763

willful

Back 1763

wilful; intentional; headstrong

Front 1764

wily

Back 1764

crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem

Front 1765

wince

Back 1765

move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex. She winced as she touched the cold body.

Front 1766

windfall

Back 1766

fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event

Front 1767

winnow

Back 1767

sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; Cf. wind

Front 1768

winsome

Back 1768

charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging

Front 1769

wispy

Back 1769

thin; slight; barely discernible

Front 1770

wistful

Back 1770

sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing

Front 1771

withdrawn

Back 1771

introverted; retiring; remote

Front 1772

wither

Back 1772

(of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay

Front 1773

withhold

Back 1773

refuse to give; hold back; Ex. withholding tax

Front 1774

withstand

Back 1774

stand up against; resist successfully

Front 1775

witless

Back 1775

lacking intelligence or wit; foolish; idiotic

Front 1776

witticism

Back 1776

witty saying; wisecrack (clever joking remark)

Front 1777

wizardry

Back 1777

sorcery; magic

Front 1778

wizened

Back 1778

shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady

Front 1779

woe

Back 1779

great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering; Ex. financial woes

Front 1780

wont

Back 1780

(the stated person's) habit or custom; habitual procedure; Adj. wonted: customary

Front 1781

wrangle

Back 1781

quarrel noisily; obtain through arguing; herd cattle; N.

Front 1782

wrath

Back 1782

anger; fury

Front 1783

wreak

Back 1783

inflict; Ex. wreak one's vengeance on

Front 1784

wrest

Back 1784

obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence; Ex. wrest victory from their grasp

Front 1785

writ

Back 1785

written command issued by a court (telling someone to do or not to do something)

Front 1786

writhe

Back 1786

twist in coils; contort in pain

Front 1787

wry

Back 1787

(esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing displeasure)

Front 1788

xenophobia

Back 1788

fear of hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe

Front 1789

yell

Back 1789

(v) to speak very loudly, to call out; shout

Front 1790

yen

Back 1790

strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel

Front 1791

yeoman

Back 1791

man or farmer owning small estate; middle-class farmer

Front 1792

yoke

Back 1792

(v) to join together; unite; N: crossbar used to joining two draft animals

Front 1793

yokel

Back 1793

rustic; country bumpkin;

Front 1794

yore

Back 1794

time long past; Ex. in the days of yore

Front 1795

zany

Back 1795

comic; crazy; N: clown; comical person (given to outlandish behavior)

Front 1796

zeal

Back 1796

eager enthusiasm (to a cause or ideal); Adj. zealous

Front 1797

zealot

Back 1797

one who is zealous; fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal

Front 1798

zenith

Back 1798

point directly overhead in the sky; summit; acme; highest point

Front 1799

zephyr

Back 1799

gentle breeze; west wind