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330 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abase
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(v) lower, degrade, humiliate
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Abash
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(v) embarrass
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Abate
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(v) subside or moderate
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Abbreviate
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(v) shorten
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Abdicate
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(v) renounce, give up
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Aberrant
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(adj) abnormal, deviant
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Aberration
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(n) abnormality, departure from the norm, mental irregularity or disorder
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Abet
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(v) assist, usually in doing something wrong
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Abeyance
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(n) suspended action- held in abeyance
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Abhor
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(v) detest, hate
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Abjure
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(v) renounce upon oath, disavow
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Ablution
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(n) washing- daily ablutions
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Abnegation
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(n) renunciation, self sacrifice- an act of abnegation to save the kingdom
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Abolish
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(v) cancel, put to an end
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Abominable
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(adj) detestable, extremely unpleasant, very bad
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Abominate
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(v) loathe, hate
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Aboriginal
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(adj) being the first of its kind in a region, primitive, native
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Abortive
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(adj) unsuccessful, fruitless
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Abrasive
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(adj) rubbing away, tending to grind down
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Abridge
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(v) condense or shorten
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Abrogate
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(v) abolish
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Abscission
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(n) removal by cutting of as in surgery, separation
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Abscond
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(v) depart secretly and hide
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Absolute
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(adj) complete, totally unlimited, certain
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Absolve
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(v) pardon (an offense)
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Abstain
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(v) refrain, withhold from participation
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Abstemious
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(adj) sparing in eating and drinking: temperate
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Abstinence
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(n) restraint from eating or drinking
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Abstract
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(adj) theoretical, not concrete, nonrepresentational
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Abstruse
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(adj) obscure, profound, difficult to understand
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Abstruse
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(adj) obscure, profound, difficult to understand
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Abusive
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(adj) coarsely insulting, physically harmful
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Abut
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(v) border upon, adjoin
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Abysmal
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(adj) bottomless
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Abyss
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(n) enormous chasm, vast bottomless pit
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Academic
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(adj) related to a school, not practical or directly useful
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Accede
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(v) agree
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accelerate
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(v) move faster
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accessible
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(adj) easy to approach, obtainable
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accessory
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(n) additional object, useful but not essential thing
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acclaim
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(v) applaud, annouce with great approval
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acclimate
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(v)adjust to climate or environment, adapt
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acclivity
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(n) sharp upslope of a hill
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accolade
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(n) award of merit
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accommodate
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(v) oblige or help someone, adjust or bring into harmony, adapt
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accomplice
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(n)partner in crime
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accord
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(n)agreement
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accost
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(v) approach and speak first to a person
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accoutre
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(v)equip
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accretion
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(n) growth, increase
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accrue
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(v) come about by addition
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acerbic
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(adj) bitter or sour in nature, sharp and cutting
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acerbity
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(n) bitterness of speech and temper
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acetic
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(adj) vinegary
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acidulous
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(adj) slightly sour, sharp, caustic
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acknowledge
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(v) recognize, admit
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acme
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(n) peak, pinnacle, highest point
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acoustics
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(n) science of sound, quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
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aquiesce
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(v) assent, agree passively
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acquittal
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(n) deliverance from a change
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acrid
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(adj)sharp, bitterly pungent
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acrimonious
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(adj) bitter in words or manner
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acrophobia
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(n) fear of heights
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actuarial
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(adj)calculating pertaining to insurance statistics
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actuate
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(v) motivate
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acuity
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(n) sharpness
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acumen
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(n) mental keenness
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acute
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(adj) quickly perceptive, keen, brief and severe
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adage
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(n) wise saying, proverb
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adamant
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(adj)hard inflexible
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adapt
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(v) alter, modify
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addendum
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(n) adition, appendix to book
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addiction
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(n) compulsive habitual need
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addle
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(v) muddle, drive crazy, become rotten
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address
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(v) direct a speech to, deal with or discuss
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adept
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(adj) expert at
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adhere
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(v) stick fast
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adherent
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(n) supporter, follower
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adjacent
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(adj) adjoining, neighboring, close by
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adjunct
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(n) something (generally nonessential or inferior) added on or attatched
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adjuration
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(n) solemn urging
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adjutant
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(n) staff officer assisting the commander, assistant
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admonish
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(v) warn reprove
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adorn
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(v) decorate
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adroit
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(adj) skillful
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adulation
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(n) flattery admiration
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adulterate
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(v) make impure by adding or tainted substances
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advent
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(n) arrival
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adventitious
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(adj) accidental, causal
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adversary
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(n) opponent, enemy
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daverse
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(adj) unfavorable, hostile
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adversity
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(n) poverty, misfortune
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advert
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(v) refer(to)
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advocacy
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(n) support, active pleading on behalf of someone or something
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advocate
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(v) urge, plead for
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aegis
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(n) shield, defense
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aerie
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(n) nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk)
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aesthetic
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(adj) artistic, dealing with or capaple of appreciating the beautiful
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affable
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(adj) easily approachable, warmly friendly
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affected
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(adj) artificial, pretended, assumed in order to impress
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affadavit
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(n) written statement made under oath
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affiliation
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(n) joining, associating with
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affinity
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(n) kinship
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affirmation
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(n) positive assertion, confirmation, solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath
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affix
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(v) attach or add on, fasten
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affliction
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n. state of distress, cause of suffering
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affluence
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n. abundance, wealth
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affront
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n. insult, offense, intentional act of disrespect
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agape
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adj openmouthed
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agenda
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n. items of business at a meeting
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agglomeration
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n. collection, heap
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aggrandize
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v. increase or intensify, raise in power wealth, rank or honor
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aggregate
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v. gather, accumulate
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aggressor
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n. attacker
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aghast
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adj. horrified, dumbfounded
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agility
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n. nimbleness
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agitate
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v. stir up disturb
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agnostic
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n. one who is skeptical of the existence of a god or any ultimate reality
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agog
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adj. highly excited, intensely curious
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agrarian
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adj. pertaining to land or its cultivation
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alacricity
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n. cheerful promptness, eagerness
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alchemy
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n. medieval form of speculative thought that aimed to transform base metals into silver or gold and to discover a means of prolonging life
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alcove
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n. nook, recess
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alias
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n. an assumed name
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alienate
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v. make hostile, separate
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alimentary
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adj. supplying nourishment
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alimony
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n. payments made to an ex-spouse after divorce
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allay
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v. calm, pacify
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allege
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v. state without proof
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allegiance
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n. loyalty
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allegory
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n. story in which characters are used as symbols, fable
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alleviate
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v. relieve
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alliteration
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n. repetition of beginning sound in poetry
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allocate
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v. assign
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alloy
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n. a mixture as of metals
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alloy
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v. mix, make less pure, lessen or moderate
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allude
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v. refer indirectly
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allure
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v. entice, attract
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allusion
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n. indirect reference
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alluvial
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adj. pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
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aloof
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adj. apart, reserved
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aloft
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adv. upward
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altercation
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n. noisy quarrel, heated dispute
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altruistic
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adj. unselfishly generous, concerned for others
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amalgamate
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v. combine, unite in one body
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amass
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v. collect
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amazon
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n. female warrior
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ambidexterous
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adj. capable of using either hand with equal ease
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ambience
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n. environment, atmosphere
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ambiguous
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adj. unclear or doubtful in meaning
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ambivalence
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n. the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
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amble
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n. moving at an easy pace
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ambrosia
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n. food of the gods
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ambulatory
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adj. able to walk, not bedridden
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ameliorate
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v. improve
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amendable
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adj. readily managed or willing to be led, answerable or accountable legally
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amend
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v. correct, change generally for the better
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amenities
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n. convenient features, courtesies
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amiable
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adj. agreeable, lovable, warmly friendly
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amicable
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adj. politely friendly, not quarrelsome
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amiss
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adj. wrong
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amity
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n. friendship
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amnesia
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n. loss of memory
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amnesty
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n. pardon
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amoral
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adj. nonmoral
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amorous
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adj. moved by sexual love, loving
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amorphous
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adj. formless lacking shape or definition
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amphibian
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adj. able to live both on land and in water
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amphitheatre
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n. oval building with tiers of seats
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ample
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adj. abundant
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amplify
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v. broaden or clarify by expanding, intensify, make stronger
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amputate
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v. cut off part of body, prune
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amok
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adv. in a state of rage
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anathema
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n. solemn curse, someone or something regarded as a curse
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ancillary
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adj. serving as an aid or accessory, auxiliary
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anemia
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n. condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles
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angular
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adj. sharp cornered, stiff in manner
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animadversion
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n. critical remark
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animus
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n. hostile feeling or intent
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anneal
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reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling
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annuity
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n. yearly allowance
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anodyne
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n. drug that relieves pain
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antecedents
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n. preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
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antediluvian
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adj. antiquated, extremely ancient
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anthropoid
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adj. manlike
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anthropomorphic
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adj. having human form or characteristics
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antic
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adj. extravagantly odd
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aperture
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n. opening, hole
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apiary
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n. place where bees are kept
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aplomb
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n. poise, assurance
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apocalyptic
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adj. prophetic, pertaining to revelations
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apocryphal
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adj. spurious, not authentic, invented rather than true
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apogee
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n. highest point
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apostate
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n. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs
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apothegm
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n. pithy, compact saying
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apotheosis
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n. elevation to godhood, an ideal example of something
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appellation
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n. name, title
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append
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v. attach
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apposite
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adj. appropritae, fitting
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apprise
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v. inform
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approbation
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n. approval
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appurtenances
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n. subordinate possesions. He bought the estate and all its appurtenances
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apropos
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adj. to the point and timely/prep. with reference to, regarding
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aquiline
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adj. curved, hooked
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arabesque
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n. style of decoration involving intertwined plants and abstract curves. ballet position with one leg supporting the weight of the body while hte other leg is extended in the back
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arable
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adj. fit for growing crops
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arbiter
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n. person with power to decide a matterin dispute, judge
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argot
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n. slang
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array
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v. marshal, draw up in order (array public sentiment against him)/ clothe, adorn
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arrears
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n. being in debt
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arcade
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n. covered passageway, usually lined with shops
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argot
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n. slang
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arraign
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v. charge in court, indict
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arrears
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n. being in debt
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arroyo
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n. gully
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artifice
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n. deception, trickery
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ascendancy
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n. controlling influence
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asperity
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n. sharpness (of temper)
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aspersion
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n. slanderous remark
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assiduous
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adj. dilligent
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assumption
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n. something taken for granted, the taking over or taking possesion of
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astigmatism
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n. eye defect that prevents proper focus
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atavism
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n. resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parent, reversion to an earlier type, throwback
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attenuate
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v. make thinner, weaken or lessen (in density force or degree)
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attrition
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n. gradual decrease in numbers, reduciton in work forece without firing employees, wearing away of opposition by means of harassment
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augury
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n. omen, prophecy
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aureole
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n. sun's corona, halo
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auroral
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adj. pertaining to the aurora borealis
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austere
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adj. forbiddingly stern, severely simple and unornamented
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autocratic
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adj. having abosolute unchecked power, dictatorial
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automation
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n. mechanilsm that imitates actions of humans
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avarice
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n. greediness for wealth
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aver
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v. assent confidently or declare as used in law, state formally as a fact
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avocation
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n. secondary or minor occupation
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avuncular
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adj. like an uncle
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bacchanalian
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adj. drunken
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badinage
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n. teasing conversation
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baleful
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adj. threatening, menacing, sinister, foreshadowing evil
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bandy
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n. discuss lightly or gibly, exchange (words) heatedly
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balk
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v. stop short as if faced with an obstacle and refuse to continue/ v. foil
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barefaced
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adj. shameless, bold, unconcealed
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barrister
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n. counselor-at-law
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bate
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v. let down, restrain
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bauble
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n. trinket trifle
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beatific
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adj. showing or producing joy, blissful
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beatify
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v. belss or sanctify, proclaim someone dead to be one of the blessed
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beatitude
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n. blessedness, state of bliss
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bedizesn
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v. dress with vulgar finery
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bedraggled
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v. wet thoroughly
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beleaguer
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v. besiege or attack, harass
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belie
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v. contradict, give a false impression
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bellicose
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adj. warlike, pugnacious, naturally inclined to fight
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bemused
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adj. confsed, lost in thought, preoccupied
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benison
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n. blessing
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beset
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v. harass or trouble, hem in
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bicameral
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adj. two-chambered like a legislative body
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bilious
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adj. suffering from a liver complaint
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blandish
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v. cajole coax with flattery
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boon
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n. blessing, benefit
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bowdlerize
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v. expurgate,clean remove offensive parts of
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brindled
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adj. tawny or grayish with streaks or spots
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browbeat
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v. intimidate, bully
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bucolic
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adj. rustic, pastoral
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bulwark
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n. earthwork or other strong defense, person who defends
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burgeon
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v. grow forth, send out buds
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cabal
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n. small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
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cadge
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v. beg, mooch, panhandle
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calumny
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n. malicious misrepresentation, slander
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canard
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n. false or unfounded story, fabricated report
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captious
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adj. faultfinding
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carapace
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n. shell covering the back
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carillon
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n. set of bells capable of being played
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carping
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n. petty criticism, fault-finding
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castigation
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n. punishment, severe criticism
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catharsis
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n. purgin or cleansing of any passage of body
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cavalcade
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n. procession, parade
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cavil.
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v. make frivolous objections
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centurion
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n. romal army officer
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chaff
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n. worthless products of an endeavor
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chaffing
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adj. bantering joking
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chary
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adj. cautious, sparing restrainted about giving
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chimerical
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adj. fantastically improbable, highly unrealistic
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churlish
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adj. boorish, rude
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circumlocution
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n. unecessarily wordy and indirect speech, evasive language
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clarion
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adj. shrill trumpetlike sound
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coda
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n. concluding section of a musical or literary composition-something that rounds out summarizes or concludes.
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codicil
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n. supplement to the obdy of a will
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cogent
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adj. convincing
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comity
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n. courtesy, civility
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complicity
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involvement in a crime, participation
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concatenate
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v. link as in a chain
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concomitant
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n. that wich accompanies
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condign
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adj. appropriate, deserved
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connubial
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adj. pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
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contumacious
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adj. disobedient resisting authority
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cordon
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n. extended line of men or fortifications to prefent access or egress
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coterie
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n. group that meets socially, select circle
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countermand
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v. cancel revoke
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cow
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v. terrorize, intimidate
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crabbed
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adj. sour peevish
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cupidity
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n. greed
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curmudgeon
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n. churlish, miserly individual
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cynosure
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object of general attention
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deadpan
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adj. wooden, impassive
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debacle
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n. sudden downfall, complete disaster
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decollete
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adj. having a low-cut neckline
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demur
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n. objection, protest/ v. object, hesitate
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denizen
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n. inhabitatn or resident
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desuetude
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n. state of disuse
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diaphanous
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adj. sheer, transparent
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dilatory
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tending to delay, intentionally delaying
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disabuse
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v. correct a false impression, undecieve
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disconsolate
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adj. sad
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disport
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v. amuse
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disquisition
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n. a formal systematic inquiry, explanation of results of a formal inquiry
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dissemble
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v. disguise, pretend
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dissimulate
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v. pretend, conceal by feigning
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distrait
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adj. inattentive, distracted often by anxiety
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godderel
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n. poor verse
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dormer
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n. window projecting from roof
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draconian
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adj. extremely severe
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dross
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n. waste matter, worthless impurities
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ebullient
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adj. showing excitement, overflowing with enthusiasm
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effete
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adj. lacking vigor worn out, sterile
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effluvium
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n. noxious smell
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egress
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n. exit
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ellipsis
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n. omission of words from a text
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elysian
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adj. relating ot paradise, blissful
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emend
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v. correct, usually a text
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emetic
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n. substance causing vomiting
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