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399 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abate |
Decrease |
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Abdicate |
To give up a position |
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Abberant |
Deviating from norm |
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abeyance |
temporary suppression or suspension |
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abject |
miserable; pitiful |
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abjure |
to reject; abandon formally |
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abscission |
the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant |
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abscise |
to cut off |
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abscond |
to depart secretly |
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abstemious |
moderate in appetite, self denying; refraining from indulging |
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abstinence |
the giving up of certain pleasures |
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Abhor |
hate |
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Bigot |
narrow-minded, prejudiced person |
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Counterfeit |
fake; false |
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Enfranchise |
give voting rights |
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Hamper |
hinder; obstruct |
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Kindle |
to start a fire |
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Noxious |
harmful; poisonous; lethal |
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Placid |
calm; peaceful |
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Remuneration |
payment for work done |
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Talisman |
lucky charm |
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Abrasive |
rough; coarse; harsh |
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Bilk |
cheat; defraud |
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Covert |
hidden; undercover |
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Engender |
cause |
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Hangar |
storage area (like garage) for a plane |
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Knotty |
complex; difficult to solve |
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Nuance |
something subtle; a fine shade of meaning |
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Plagiarism |
taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas |
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Renown |
fame |
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Tangent |
going off the main subject |
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Abasement
|
humiliation; degradation
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Billowing
|
swelling; fluttering; waving
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Cower
|
recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from
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Enhance
|
improve; make better or clearer
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Harangue
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noisy, attacking speech
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Labyrinth
|
a maze
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Nullify
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to counter; make unimportant
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Plaintiff
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petitioner (in court of law)
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Replete
|
full
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Tangible
|
can be touched
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Abrogate
|
cancel; deny; repeal
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Blasphemy
|
speech which offends religious sentiments
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Credible
|
believable
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Enigma
|
puzzle; mystery
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Harbingers
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indicators; bringers of warnings
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Labyrinthine
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complicated; highly convoluted
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Nuzzle
|
cuddle; snuggle
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Harbingers |
indicators; bringers of warnings |
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Reprehensible
|
shameful; very bad
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Tardy
|
slow; late; overdue; delayed
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Absolution |
forgiveness; pardon; release |
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Blatant |
obvious |
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Creditable |
praiseworthy |
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Ensconce |
establish firmly in a position |
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Hasten |
hurry; accelerate; rush |
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Laceration |
a cut |
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Ensconce |
establish firmly in a position |
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Plausible |
believable, likely, convincing, reliable |
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Reprieve |
a respite; postponement of a sentence |
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Tawdry |
showy but cheap and of poor quality; gaudy |
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Abstain |
desist; go without; withdraw; refrain |
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Reprieve |
a respite; postponement of a sentence |
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Credulous |
gullible; ready to believe anything |
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Abstain |
desist; go without; withdraw; hold back from doing |
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Haughtiness |
arrogance; pride |
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Lachrymose |
tearful; sad |
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Enshroud |
cover, wrap |
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Haughtiness |
arrogance; pride |
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Repudiate |
shun; eschew; refuse |
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Tedium |
boredom |
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Blithe |
free-spirited; carefree; merry |
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Crepuscular |
active at dawn and dusk |
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Enunciation |
clear pronunciation; accent; articulation |
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Headstrong |
stubborn; willful |
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Lackluster |
dull; monotonous; bland |
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Objective |
unbiased; not subjective |
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Pliable |
flexible; not stubborn |
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Rescind |
retract; repeal |
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Temper |
to moderate; soften |
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Abstruse |
difficult to understand; obscure |
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Blunderbuss |
1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2. a clumsy person |
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Cringe |
recoil; flinch; shy away |
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Envenom |
to cause bitterness and bad feeling |
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Hedonism |
self indulgence; pleasure-seeking |
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Laconic |
using few words; brief; to the point |
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Oblique |
indirect; slanting |
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Plumage |
feathers of a bird |
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Resignation |
acceptance of fate |
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Tenacious |
stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose |
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Accolade |
tribute; honor; praise |
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Bolster |
support; prop up |
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Cryptic |
puzzling; enigmatic |
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Ephemeral |
short-lived |
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Hedonist |
a pleasure seeker |
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Lamentation |
expression of regret or sorrow |
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Obliterate |
destroy; demolish; eradicate |
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Plummet |
fall suddenly and steeply |
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Resolution |
determination |
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Tentative |
not certain |
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Acquiesce |
to agree to; give in to |
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Bombast |
arrogant, pompous language |
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Curtail |
cut short, reduce |
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Epicure |
someone who appreciates good food and drink |
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Heed |
listen to |
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Lampoon |
ridicule; spoof |
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Oblivious |
totally unaware |
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Podium |
raised platform |
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Resonant |
echoing |
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Tenuous |
flimsy; not solid |
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Acrid |
sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes) |
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Boorish |
ill-mannered |
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Cynical |
believing that people act only out of selfish motives |
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Epistle |
a letter (form of communication), message |
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Heresy |
against orthodox opinion |
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Lance |
spear, spike |
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Obscure |
difficult to understand; partially hidden |
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Poignant |
deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions |
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Respite |
a break; intermission |
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Terse |
concise; to the point, laconic |
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Acrophobia |
fear of heights |
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Bourgeois |
middle class |
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Debility |
weakness; incapacity |
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Epistolary |
concerned with letters; through correspondence |
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Hiatus |
interruption; pause |
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Languid |
tired; slow |
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Obscured |
hidden; covered; buried |
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Poised |
calm; collected; self-possessed |
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Resplendent |
shining; glowing |
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Therapeutic |
medicinal; curative |
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Acuity |
sharpness (mental or visual) |
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Braggart |
boaster |
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Debunking |
exposing false claims or myths |
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Epitomized |
typified; characterized; personified |
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Hidebound |
rigid in opinions |
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Languish |
decay; fade away; get weaker |
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Obsequious |
servile; submissive |
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Polemical |
causing debate or argument |
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Restorative |
a tonic |
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Thwart |
prevent; frustrate |
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Adamant |
forceful; inflexible |
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Brawny |
muscular, husky |
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Decathlon |
an athletic competition with ten events |
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Equivocate |
speak ambiguously; avoid telling the truth |
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Hieroglyphics |
1. picture writing; 2. writing which is difficult to read or enigmatic |
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Larceny |
theft; robbery; stealing |
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Obsession |
a dominating concern |
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Ponderous |
weighty; slow and heavy |
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Retention |
preservation; withholding |
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Equivocate |
speak ambiguously; avoid telling the truth |
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Adroit |
skilful |
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Brevity |
being brief |
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Decorum |
dignified, correct behavior [decorous (a)] |
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Err |
make a mistake |
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Hinder |
obstruct |
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Largess |
generosity |
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Obsolete |
no longer valid |
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Pontificate |
speak pompously or dogmatically |
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Reticent |
restrained; holding something back;uncommunicative |
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Tirade |
stream of verbal abuse |
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Adversity |
hardship |
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Broach |
start to discuss; approach |
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Deference |
respect |
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Esoteric |
obscure and difficult to understand |
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Hoary |
old |
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Lavish |
on a grand scale; wasteful |
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Obtuse |
mentally dull |
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Adulation |
strong admiration; worship; cringe, servility |
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Bristle |
to show irritation |
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Decoy |
lure; trap; trick |
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Erratic |
wandering; irregular |
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Histrionic |
theatrical; exaggerated |
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Laud |
praise |
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Portend |
foretell |
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Obstreperous |
noisy and boisterous |
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Retraction |
withdrawal; cancellation of a statement |
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Titter |
giggle quietly |
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Portent |
a warning sign; omen |
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Revere |
worship |
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Tome |
large book |
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Advocate |
support |
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Brusque |
blunt; abrupt |
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Defoliate |
cause leaves to fall off |
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Espouse |
promote; take up; support |
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Hone |
sharpen; increase; whet |
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Lax |
careless; not strict |
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Obviate |
avoid; make unnecessary |
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Poseur |
someone who puts on an act |
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Riddled |
full of (usually full of holes) |
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Torpid |
inactive; lazy; stagnant |
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Aesthetic |
concerning art or beauty |
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Bulwark |
fortification; barricade; wall |
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Defunct |
no longer in existence, extinct |
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Etymology |
the study of word origins |
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Hyperbole |
grossly exaggerated speech |
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Legend |
1. key to map; 2. myth or story |
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Odious |
hateful |
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Posterity |
future generations |
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Rife |
common |
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Torpor |
dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity |
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Affable |
friendly; social; easygoing |
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Bureaucracy |
officialdom |
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Degradation |
deprivation; poverty; debasement |
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Eulogy |
praise |
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Hypochondriac |
a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses |
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Legion |
in large numbers |
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Officious |
domineering; intrusive; meddlesome |
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Posthumous |
after death |
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Rigor |
thoroughness |
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Totter |
walk unsteadily |
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Exculpate |
exonerate |
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illusory |
deceptive; false; misleading |
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Lobbyist |
person who tries to persuade someone to support a particular cause |
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Onus |
burden |
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Precarious |
unstable; risky |
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Sagacious |
wise |
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Trepidation |
fear |
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Amass |
accumulate |
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Callow |
immature |
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Depravity |
moral corruption |
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Precarious |
unstable; risky |
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Immoderate |
excessive; extreme |
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Lofty |
snooty; arrogant; haughty |
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Opaque |
does not let light through |
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Precedent |
a previous occurrence used as a guide |
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Sage |
a wise person |
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Trinket |
something of little value; knick-knack |
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Ambiguity |
uncertainty; vagueness |
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Candid |
frank; honest |
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Deprecate |
criticize; denounce |
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Exegesis |
scholarly explanation or interpretation |
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Immutable |
unchanging; permanent |
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Longevity |
long life |
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Opulent |
wealthy; rich; magnificent |
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Precept |
guiding principle |
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Salacious |
lecherous; erotic |
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Trite |
unoriginal; dull; banal; cliche |
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Ambiguous |
unclear in meaning; can be interpreted in different ways |
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Candor |
frankness; openness |
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Deride |
ridicule; make fun of; mock |
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Exemplary |
outstandingly good; setting a fine example |
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Impartial |
unbiased; neutral |
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Loquacious |
talkative |
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Ordain |
1. destine; 2. confer holy orders on a priest |
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Precinct |
district of a city |
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Sallow |
yellowish |
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Trivial |
unimportant |
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Alacrity |
eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness |
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Burgeon |
grow; flourish; put forth new shoots |
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Deleterious |
harmful |
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Euphemism |
a polite phrase to cover something unpleasant |
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Hypocritical |
insincere |
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Lethargic |
tired; without energy |
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Ogle |
stare at; observe in an obvious manner |
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Postulate |
hypothesize; propose |
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Robust |
strong; healthy; tough |
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Tractable |
obedient; dutiful; polite |
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Burnish |
polish |
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Deliberate |
to think over deeply |
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Euphony |
pleasant sounds |
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Levity |
flippancy; joking about serious matters |
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Olfactory |
concerned with the sense of smell |
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Potable |
suitable for drinking |
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Burnish |
polish |
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Tranquil |
peaceful |
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Alibi |
an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene |
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Buttress |
strengthen; support |
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Delineation |
demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining |
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Potable |
suitable for drinking |
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Idiosyncrasy |
a personal peculiarity; something unique to an individual |
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Libertarian |
someone who opposes tyranny |
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Ominous |
threatening |
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Potent |
powerful; compelling; strong |
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Ruminate |
think over something; ponder |
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Transcribe |
copy |
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Allay |
to lessen |
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Libertarian |
someone who opposes tyranny |
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Demur |
hesitate; refuse |
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Exacerbate |
make worse |
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Ignominious |
shameful |
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Liniment |
soothing lotion |
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Omnipotent |
all-powerful |
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Pragmatic |
practical |
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Ruse |
trick; stratagem |
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Transgress |
go astray; disobey; commit a sin |
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Alleviate |
make less severe |
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Cacophony |
discordant loud noises |
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Denounce |
condemn; speak out against |
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Exasperated |
frustrated; annoyed |
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Ignominy |
shame |
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Lithe |
flexible; supple |
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Omniscient |
all-knowing |
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Pragmatist |
practical person; one who is concerned with usefulness |
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Transient |
short-lived; ephemeral |
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Aloof |
distant; detached; cold |
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Cajole |
coax |
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Deplete |
use up; lessen |
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Exceptionable |
very bad (something which we should object to) |
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Illuminate |
to light up or make clear |
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Livid |
very angry |
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Onerous |
burdensome; hard to undertake |
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Introduction |
introductory material |
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Sacrosanct |
very holy; inviolable |
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Traverse |
to move across |
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Caldron |
huge cooking pot |
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Deplore |
regret |
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Ambivalence |
lack of clarity; wavering; being undecided |
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Cantankerous |
bad-tempered; quarrelsome |
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Exemplify |
to serve as a good example |
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Impecunious |
having no money |
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Lucid |
clear |
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Ornate |
highly decorated |
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Precipice |
steep slope |
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Salubrious |
health-giving |
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Derogatory |
uncomplimentary |
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Ambulatory |
able to walk around (used of hospital patients) |
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Capacious |
spacious |
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Desecrate |
to damage or pollute a holy place |
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Exhaustive |
complete and thorough |
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Impious |
wicked; profane |
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Ludicrous |
ridiculous; silly |
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Truant |
shirker; someone absent without permission |
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Truncate |
cut short |
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Ameliorate |
make better |
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Capitulate |
surrender; give in to |
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Impious |
wicked; profane |
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Impoverished |
destitute; poor; exausted |
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Lukewarm |
1. unenthusiastic; 2. neither hot nor cold |
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Ossify |
1. turn to bone; 2. become fixed and rigid |
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Salutary |
something which teaches you a lesson; beneficial |
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Sanctimonious |
hypocritically holy |
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Amelioration |
improvement |
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Carping |
constant criticism |
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Desist |
stop; discontinue; cease |
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Exorcism |
getting free/rid of; eliminating (especially demons) |
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Impromptu |
unrehearsed; spontaneous |
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Lummox |
clumsy person |
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Preclude |
prevent or make impossible |
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Precocious |
developing early |
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Sanction |
give approval to |
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Turpitude |
depravity |
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Amiable |
friendly |
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Cartographer |
person who makes maps |
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Expatriate |
refugee; emigrant; someone living away from his own country |
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Lummox |
clumsy person |
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Luscious |
juicy; moist; succulent |
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Oust |
push out of a position |
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Predecessor |
one who came before |
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Sanguinary |
bloodthirsty; bloody |
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Tyro |
novice; beginner |
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Amity |
friendship |
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Castigate |
scold strongly |
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Destitution |
hardship; poverty; misery |
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Expedient |
convenient; practical |
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Incantation |
chant; invocation; prayer |
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Oust |
push out of a position |
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Overt |
obvious; not hidden |
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Predicament |
dilemma; difficult situation |
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Sanguine |
optimistic; cheerful |
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Ubiquitous |
found everywhere; omnipresent |
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Amorphous |
lacking in shape |
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Catharsis |
purging of pent-up emotions |
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Deter |
put off; prevent |
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Expedite |
make faster |
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Incarceration |
putting in prison |
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Machinations |
plots and plans |
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Overwrought |
worked up; in an emotional state |
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Preeminent |
famous; outstanding |
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Sardonic |
mocking |
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Unalloyed |
undiluted; total |
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Analgesic |
medicine to combat pain |
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Caucus |
type of private political meeting |
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Deteriorate |
worsen; decline |
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Exposition |
clear explanation |
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Incessant |
without stopping |
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Maelstrom |
whirlpool; storm in the ocean |
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Palatable |
good to eat; agreeable |
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Prerogative |
right or privilege |
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Savant |
person with knowledge |
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Unctuous |
oily; using excessive flattery |
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Analogous |
comparable |
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Caustic |
burning |
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Detrimental |
harmful |
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Extol |
praise |
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Incipient |
just beginning |
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Magnanimous |
generous; big-hearted |
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Palisade |
fence made of posts |
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Prescient |
having fore-knowledge |
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Scale |
to climb |
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Undermined |
damaged; attacked |
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Anarchy |
chaos; lack of government |
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Cavalcade |
procession of vehicles |
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Devoured |
greedily eaten/consumed |
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Extradite |
deport from one country back to the home country |
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Inclination |
tendency; a leaning toward |
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Magnate |
powerful businessman |
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Scapegoat |
person on whom blame is placed for faults of others |
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Underscore |
emphasize |
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Complimentary |
congratulatory, laudatory |
