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415 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abdicate
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to give up a position, right, or power
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Abjure
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to reject, abandon formally
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Ablution
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act of cleansing
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Abnegate
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to deny, renounce
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Abrogate
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to abolish or invalidate by authority
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Abstemious
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consuming moderately
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Abstruse
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difficult to comprehend
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Abut
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to touch, to be in contact with
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Acerbic
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bitter, sharp in taste or temper
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Acme
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highest point, summit
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Acquiesce
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to agree or comply in silence
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Adroit
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skillful, accomplished, highly competent
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Adumbrate
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to sketch, outline in a shadowy way
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Aerie
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nook or nest built high in the air
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Altruism
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unselfish concern for others' welfare
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Ambulatory
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itinerant; walking around
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Amortize
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to diminish by installment payments
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Ancillary
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accessory, subordinate; helping
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Antediluvian
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prehistoric, ancient beyond measure; coming before the biblical flood
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Anthropomorphic
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attributing human qualities to nonhumans; having human qualities
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Aplomb
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poise, confidence
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Apostate
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one who renounces a religious faith
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Apothegm
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a short, instructive saying
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Apotheosis
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deification; glorified ideal
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Arboreal
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relating to trees; living in trees
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Assiduous
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diligent, persistent, hardworking
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Bacchanalian
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drunkenly festive
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Balk
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to refuse, shirk; prevent
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Beatific
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saintly, angelic
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Behemoth
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huge creature
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Belie
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to misrepresent; expose as false
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Benison
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blessing
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Bifurcate
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divide into two parts
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Bilious
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easily irritated, relating to bile
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Bonhomie
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good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer
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Bulwark
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defense wall; anything serving as defense
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Cajole
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to flatter, coax, persuade
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Calamitous
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disastrous, catastrophic
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Calumny
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false and malicious accusation, misrepresentation, slander
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Canard
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a lie
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Carom
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to strike and rebound
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Cavalcade
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a procession
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Chagrin
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shame, embarrassment, humiliation
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Charlatan
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quack, fake
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Chattel
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piece of personal property
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Chimerical
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fanciful, imaginary, visionary; impossible
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Choleric
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easily angered, short-tempered
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Churlish
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rude
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Cistern
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tank for rainwater
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Coalesce
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to grow together; cause to unite as one
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Coffer
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strongbox, large chest for money
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Cognomen
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family name; any name, especially a nickname
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Comeliness
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physical grace and beauty
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Commodious
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roomy, spaciou
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Compunctious
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feeling guilty or having misgivings
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Conciliatory
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overcoming distrust or hostility
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Conflagaration
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big, destructive fire
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Congenial
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similar in tastes and habits
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Consanguineous
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of the same origin; related by blood
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Contentious
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quarrelsome, disagreeable, belligerent
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Contumacious
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rebellious
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Corpulence
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obesity, fatness, bulkiness
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Corrugate
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to mold in a shape with parallel grooves and ridges
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Cosset
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to pamper, treat with great care
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Coterie
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small group of persons with a similar purpose
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Coven
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group of witches
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Curmudgeon
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cranky person
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Declivity
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downward slope
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Deleterious
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harmful, destructive, detrimental
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Deluge
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flood
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Demagogue
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leader of rabble-rouse who usually uses appeals to emotion or prejudice
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Denigrate
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to slur or blacken someone's reputation
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Descry
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to discover or reveal
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Diaphanous
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allowing light to show through; delicate
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Dictum
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authoritative statement; popular saying
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Didactic
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excessively instructive
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Diluvial
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relating to a flood
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Diminutive
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small
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Discomfit
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to cause preplexity and embarrassment
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Distaff
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the female branch of a family
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Dither
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to move or act confusedly or without clear purpose
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Diurnal
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daily
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Doctrinaire
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rigidly devoted to theories
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Dolor
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sadness
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Doughty
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courageous
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Droll
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amusing in a wry, subtle way
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Dyspeptic
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suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
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Ebullient
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exhilarated, full of enthusiasm and high spirits
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Effluvia
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outpouring of gasses or vapors
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Effulgent
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brilliantly shining
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Egregious
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conspicuously bad
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Emend
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to correct a text
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Emollient
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having soothing qualities, especially for skin
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Encomium
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warm praise
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Endemic
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belonging to a particular area, inherent
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Ennui
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boredom, lack of interest and energy
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Epicure
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person with refined taste in food and wine
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Epitome
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representative of an entire group; summary
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Ersatz
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fake
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Eschew
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to abstain from, avoid
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Evince
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to show clearly, display, signify
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Exorcise
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to expel evil spirits
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Expatiate
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to wander; to discuss or describe at length
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Expiate
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to atone for, make amends for
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Expunge
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to erase, eliminate completely
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Expurgate
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to censor
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Extemporaneous
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unrehearsed, on the spur of the moment
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Extol
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to praise
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Extrapolate
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to estimate
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Facetious
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witty in an inappropriate way
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Fatuous
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stupid; smugly foolish; unconsciously foolish
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Fealty
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intense loyalty
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Fecund
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fertile, fruitful, productive
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Fetid
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foul-smelling, putrid
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Fey
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doomed
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Filch
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to steal
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Filial
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appropriate for a child
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Flaccid
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limp, flabby, weak
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Foliate
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to grow, sprout leaves
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Forswear
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to repudiate, renounce, disclaim, reject
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Fracas
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noisy dispute
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Fractious
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unruly, rebellious
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Frenetic
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wildly frantic, frenzied, hectic
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Fulminate
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to explode with anger
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Fulsome
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excessive, overdone, sickeningly abundant
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Furtive
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secret, stealthy
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Gainsay
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to deny
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Gambol
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to dance or skip around playfully
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Gauche
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crude, socially awkward
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Germinate
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to begin to grow (as in a seed or idea)
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Gibe
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to make heckling, taunting remarks
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Glib
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fluent in an insincere manner; offhand, casual
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Gnostic
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having to do with knowledge
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Grandiloquence
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pompous talk, fancy but meaningless language
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Gratuitous
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free, voluntary; unnecessary and unjustified
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Gustatory
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relating to sense of taste
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Hackeneyed
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worn out by over-use
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Harangue
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a pompous speech
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Hegemony
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leadership, domination, usually by a country
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Heretical
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opposed to an established religious orthodoxy
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Hermetic
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tightly sealed
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Hoary
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very old; whitish or gray from age
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Husband
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to farm; manage carefully and thriftily
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Idiosyncrasy
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peculiarity of temperament, eccentricity
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Ignominious
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disgraceful and dishonorable
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Ilk
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type or kind
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Illusory
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unreal, deceptive
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Imbue
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to infuse; dye; wet, moisten
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Impecunious
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poor, having no money
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Imperious
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arrogantly self-assured, domineering, overbearing
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Impolitic
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unwise
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Impromptu
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spontaneous, without rehearsal
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Impugn
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to call into question, attack verbally
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Incarnate
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having bodily form
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Incendiary
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combustible, flammable, burning easily
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Inculcate
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to teach; impress in the mind
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Inculpate
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to blame; charge with a crime
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Indefatigable
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never tired
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Indigent
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very poor
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Indolent
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habitually lazy, idle
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Indubitable
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unquestionable
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Inert
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unable to move, tending to inactivity
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Infallible
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incapable of making a mistake
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Ingenious
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original, clever, inventive
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Ingratiate
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to bring oneself purposely into another's good graces
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Ingress
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entrance
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Innuendo
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indirect and subtle criticism, insinuation
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Insidious
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sly, treacherous, devious
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Insuperable
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insurmountable, unconquerable
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Interdict
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to forbid, prohibit
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Interlocutor
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someone taking part in a dialogue
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Interlopers
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trespasser; meddler in others' affairs
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Internecine
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deadly to both sides
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Interpolate
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to insert; change by adding new words or material
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Interstice
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a space between things
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Intimation
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clue, suggestion
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Intrepid
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fearless
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Intrinsic
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inherent, internal
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Inure
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to harden; accustom; become used to
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Inveterate
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confirmed, long-standing, deeply rooted
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Ingress
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entrance
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Innuendo
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indirect and subtle criticism, insinuation
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Insidious
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sly, treacherous, devious
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Insuperable
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insurmountable, unconquerable
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Interdict
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to forbid, prohibit
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Interlocutor
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someone taking part in a dialogue
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Interlopers
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trespasser; meddler in others' affairs
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Internecine
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deadly to both sides
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Interpolate
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to insert; change by adding new words or material
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Interstice
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a space between things
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Intimation
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clue, suggestion
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Intrepid
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fearless
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Intrinsic
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inherent, internal
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Inure
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to harden; accustom; become used to
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Inveterate
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confirmed, long-standing, deeply rooted
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Invidious
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likely to provoke ill will, offensive
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Itinerant
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wandering from place to place, unsettled
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Jibe
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to shift suddenly from one side to the other
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Jingoism
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belligerent support of one's ocuntry
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Jocular
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jovial, playful, humorous
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Juggernaut
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huge force destroying everything in its path
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Jurisprudence
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philosophy of law
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Kismet
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fate
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Knell
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sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure
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Lachrymose
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tearful
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Lambaste
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disapprove angrily
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Lapidary
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relating to precious stones
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Largess
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generosity; gift
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Lassitude
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lethargy, sluggishness
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Legerdemain
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trickery
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Levity
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humor, frivolity, gaiety
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Lexicon
|
dictionary, list of words
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Libidinous
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lustful
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Licentious
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immoral; unrestrained by society
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Limpid
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clear and simple in style
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Liniment
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medicinal liquid used externally to ease pain
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Lionize
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to treat as a celebrity
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Lissome
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easily flexed, limber, agile
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Lugubrious
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sorrowful, mournful
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Macabre
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gruesome, producing horror
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Machination
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plot or scheme
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Malapropism
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humorous misue of a word
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Malevolent
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ill-willed; causing evil or harm to others
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Manifold
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diverse, varied; comprised of many parts
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Martinet
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strict diciplinarian; one who rigidly follows rules
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Maudlin
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overly sentimental
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Mawkish
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sickeningly sentimental
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Megalomania
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mental state with delusions of wealth and power
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Mendacious
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dishonest
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Mendicant
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beggar
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Mercurial
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quick, shrewd, and unpredictable
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Meritorious
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deserving reward or praise
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Minatory
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menacing, threatening
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Mnemonic
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relating to memory; designed to assist memory
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Molt
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to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically
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Mordacious
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caustic, biting
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Mote
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small particle, speck
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Multifarious
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diverse
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Munificent
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generous
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Nadir
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lowest point
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Nascent
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starting to develop, coming into existence
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Nebulous
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vague, cloudy
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Necromancy
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black magic
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Nefarious
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vicious, evil
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Neologism
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new word or expression
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Neophyte
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novice, beginner
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Nihilism
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belief that existence and all traditional values are meaningless
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Noisome
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stinking, putrid
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Noxious
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harmful, unwholesome
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Numismatics
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coin collecting
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Obfuscate
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to confuse, obscure
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Obstreperious
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troublesome, boisterous, unruly
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Omnipotent
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having unlimited power
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Omniscient
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having infinte knowledge
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Oscillate
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to move back and forth
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Ouster
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explusion, ejection
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Paean
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a song of praise or thanksgiving
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Palliate
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to make less erious, ease
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Panacea
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cure-all
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Panegyric
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elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
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Panoply
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impressive array
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Parley
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discussion, usually between enemies
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Parochial
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of limited scope or outlook, provincial
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Parsimony
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stinginess
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Pastiche
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piece of literature or music imitating other works
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Paucity
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scarcity, lack
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Peccadillo
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minor sin or offense
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Peculation
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theft of money or goods
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Penchant
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inclination
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Penultimate
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next to last
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Penumbra
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partial shadow
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Perambulate
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walk about
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Periphrastic
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using circumlocution
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Pernicious
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very harmful
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Perspicacious
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shrewd, astute, keen-witted
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Pertinacious
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persistent, stubborn
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Phalanx
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massed group of soldiers, people, or things
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Philistine
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narrow-minded person, someone lacking appreciation for art or culture
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Plait
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to braid
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Plangent
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resounding; plaintive
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Plaudit
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applause
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Pneumatic
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relating to air; worked by compressed air
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Polemic
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controversy, argument; verbal attack
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Polyglot
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speaker of many languages
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Posit
|
to put in position; to suggest an idea
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Precept
|
principle; law
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Precursor
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forerunner, predecessor
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Predilection
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preference, liking
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Prescient
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having foresight
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Privation
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lack of usual necessities or comforts
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Probity
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honesty, high-mindedness
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Progenitor
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originator, forefather, ancestor in a direct line
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Prognosticate
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to predict
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Prolific
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productive, fertile
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Prolix
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tedious; wordy
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Promulgate
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to make known publicy
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Propinquity
|
nearness
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Propitious
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favorable, avantageoius
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Proselytize
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to induce someone to convert to a particular belief or religion
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Prostrate
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lying face downward, lying flat on the ground
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Protagonist
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main character in a play or story, hero
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Provident
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prudent, frugal
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Provincial
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rustic, unsophisticated, limited in scope
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Prurient
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lustful, exhibiting lewd desires
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Puerile
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childish, immature, silly
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Pulchritude
|
beauty
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Pundit
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an authority or critic
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Pusillanimous
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cowardly
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Querulous
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inclined to complain, irritable
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Quotidian
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occurring daily; commonplace
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Raconteur
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a witty, skillful storyteller
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Raillerty
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lighthearted jesting
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Rancor
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bitter hatred
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Rapacious
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greedy; predatory
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Rapprochement
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reestablishing a cordial relationship
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Raze
|
to tear down, demolish
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Recalcitrant
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resisting authority or control
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Recidivism
|
tendency to repeat previous behavior
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Recondite
|
relating to obscure learning; known to only a few
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Recreant
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disloyal; cowardly
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Redress
|
relief from wrong or injury
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Rejoinder
|
response
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Renege
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to go back on one's word
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Renitent
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resisting pressure, obstinate
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Repast
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meal
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Reprobate
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morally unprincipled person
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Requite
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to return or repay
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Respite
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interval of relief
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Restive
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impatient, uneasy, restless
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Retinue
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group of attendants with an important person
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Revelry
|
boisterous festivity
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Ribald
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humorous in a vulgar way
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Riposte
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a retort
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Rococo
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very highly ornamented
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Rotund
|
round in shape; fat
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Ruminate
|
to contemplate, reflect upon
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Sacrosanct
|
extremely sacred; beyond criticism
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Sagacious
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shrewd, wise
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Salacious
|
lustful
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Salubrious
|
healthful
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Sanguine
|
ruddy; cheerfully optimistic
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Sapient
|
wise
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Scabbard
|
sheath for sword or dagger
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Scintilla
|
very small amount
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Scintillate
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to sparkle, flash
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Scurrilous
|
vulgar, low, indecent
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Sedition
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behavior promoting rebellion
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Senescent
|
aging, growing old
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Sentient
|
aware, conscious, able to perceive
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Sepulchral
|
typical of a place of burial
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Seraphic
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angelic, pure, sublime
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Shirk
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to avoid a task due to laziness or fear
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Simper
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to smirk, smile foolishly
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Sinecure
|
well-paying job or office that requires little or not work
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Sinuous
|
winding; intricate, complex
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Slake
|
to quench or moderate
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Slovenly
|
untidy, messy
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Sojourn
|
visit, stay
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Solecism
|
grammatical mistake
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Solipsism
|
belief that the self is the only reality
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Somnambulist
|
sleepwalker
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Sonorous
|
producing a full, rich sound
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Sophist
|
person good at arguing deviously
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Sportive
|
frolicsome, playful
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Squalid
|
filthy; morally repulsive
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Staid
|
self-restrained, straight-laced
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Stentorian
|
extremely loud
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Striate
|
striped, grooved
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Stringent
|
imposing severe, rigorous standards
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Stymie
|
to block or thwart
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Subterfuge
|
trick or tactic used to avoid something
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Sully
|
to soil, stain, tarnish; taint
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Supercilious
|
arrogant, haugty, overbearing, condescending
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Surly
|
rude and bad-tempered
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Surreptitious
|
characterized by secrecy
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Sybarite
|
person devoted to pleasure and luxury
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Sycophant
|
self-serving flatterer, yes-man
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Syncopation
|
temporary irregularity in musical rhythm
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Tableau
|
vivid description, striking incident or scene
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Talisman
|
something producing a magical effect
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Tantamount
|
equivalent in value or significance; amounting to
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Temerity
|
recklessness
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Temporal
|
relating to time; chronological
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Tenable
|
defensible, reasonalbe
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Tenet
|
belief, doctrine
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Tenuous
|
weak, insubstantial
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Threnody
|
a sad poem or song
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Trammel
|
to impede or hamper
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Trenchant
|
acute, sharp, incisive; forceful, effective
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Trite
|
shallow, superficial
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Truculent
|
savage and cruel; fierce; ready to fight
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Turgid
|
swollen, bloated
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Turpitude
|
inherent vileness, foulness, depravity
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Tyro
|
beginner, novice
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Umbrage
|
offense, resentment
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Unctuous
|
greasy, oily; smug and falsely earnest
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Unfettered
|
free, unrestrained
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Unsullied
|
clean
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Untoward
|
not favorable; unruly
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Urbane
|
courteous, refined, suave
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Usury
|
lending money at exorbitant rates
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Vacuous
|
empty, void; lacking intelligence, purposeless
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Variegated
|
varied; marked with different colors
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Virile
|
manly, having qualities of an adult male
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Viscous
|
thick, syrupy, and sticky
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Vitiate
|
reduce in value or effectiveness
|
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Vitriolic
|
burning, caustic; sharp, bitter
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Vituperate
|
to abuse verbally
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Vociferous
|
loud, vocal, and noisy
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Voluble
|
speaking much and easily, talkative; glib
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Washpish
|
easily irritated
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Wizened
|
withered, shriveled, wrinkled
|
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Wraith
|
a ghost
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Xenophobia
|
fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers
|
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Zenith
|
highest point, summit
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