Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
685 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
|
abdicate
|
to denounce; to discard; to abandon
|
|
|
|
aberration
|
something not typical; a deviation
|
|
|
|
abhorrence
|
repugnance; detestation
|
|
|
|
abjure
|
to renounce upon oath
|
|
|
|
abnegation
|
self-denial
|
|
|
|
abrogate
|
to break, as a treaty or law
|
|
|
|
abscond
|
to depart secretly; to hide (oneself)
|
|
|
|
absolve
|
to set free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt
|
|
|
|
abstain
|
to refrain deliberately from an action or practice, usually as a form of self-denial
|
|
|
|
abstemious
|
sparing or moderate, especially in eating or drinking ANTONYM: dluttonous
|
|
|
|
abstruse
|
hard to understand or grasp; esoteric
|
|
|
|
abut
|
to border on; to terminate at the boundary or point of contact
|
|
|
|
abysmal
|
immeasurable; bottomless
|
|
|
|
accolade
|
an award or honor; high praise
|
|
|
|
acquiesce
|
to agree silently; to accept tacitly
|
|
|
|
acrophobia
|
the fear of heights
|
|
|
|
acumen
|
keenness
|
|
|
|
adamant
|
unyielding; stubborn
|
|
|
|
addle
|
to throw into fonfusion; to confound
|
|
|
|
adjure
|
to command solemnly; to advise earnestly; to beg
|
|
|
|
adroit
|
showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness
|
|
|
|
adulation
|
excessive praise
|
|
|
|
adulambrate
|
to intimate or foreshadow; to obscure
|
|
|
|
aestivate (estivate)
|
to spend the summer in an inactive state
|
|
|
|
agglomeration
|
a collection in a mass, heap or cluster; aggrandizement
|
|
|
|
agoraphobia
|
the fear of open spaces
|
|
|
|
alacrity
|
liveliness or eagerness; readiness ANTONYM: lassitude
|
|
|
|
allegory
|
a symbolic expression or description
|
|
|
|
allusion
|
an indirect reference to something else; a hint
|
|
|
|
alms
|
charity; something given to the poor (usually refers to small change)
|
|
|
|
alpinism
|
mountain climbing
|
|
|
|
altruistic
|
unselfish; concerned with the welfare of others
|
|
|
|
ambergris
|
a product of sperm whales usd in the manufacture or perfume
|
|
|
|
amphora
|
an ancient two-handled Greek jar
|
|
|
|
anathema
|
a ban or curse; a denunciation accompanied by excommunication
|
|
|
|
andiron
|
a metal support used for holding logs in a hearth
|
|
|
|
androphobia
|
the fear of men
|
|
|
|
anneal
|
to toughen or to strengthen
|
|
|
|
anodyne
|
a pain reliever
|
|
|
|
anomaly
|
an aberration; a deviation; an irregularity
|
|
|
|
antipathy
|
firm dislike; hatred ANTONYM: sympathy
|
|
|
|
antiseptic
|
free from germs, exceptionally clean
|
|
|
|
antithesis
|
the direct opposite
|
|
|
|
aphelion
|
the point in a planet's orbit that is farthest from the sun
|
|
|
|
apocalyptic
|
of, or relating to, a revelation or discovery
|
|
|
|
apocryphal
|
of doubtful authenticity; spurious
|
|
|
|
apogee
|
the point in a satellite's orbit that is farthest from the center of the earth
|
|
|
|
aquiline
|
hooked; like an eagle
|
|
|
|
arachnophobia
|
the fear of spiders
|
|
|
|
archon
|
the chief magistrate in ancient Athens; any ruler
|
|
|
|
arid
|
dull; unimaginative; extremely dry
|
|
|
|
arrogate
|
to claim or seize without justification; to usurp
|
|
|
|
artifice
|
cleverness; ingenuity
|
|
|
|
assiduous
|
diligent
|
|
|
|
assuage
|
to ease the intensity of; to appease; to pacify ANTONYM: exacerbate
|
|
|
|
astraphobia
|
the fear of lightning
|
|
|
|
atrophy
|
a wasting away; degeneration
|
|
|
|
attenuate
|
to lessen in amount, force, or value; to weaken
|
|
|
|
austral
|
southern ANTONYM: boreal
|
|
|
|
axiom
|
a self-evident rule or truth; a qidely accepted saying
|
|
|
|
azure
|
sky blue
|
|
|
|
baleful
|
menacing; harmful
|
|
|
|
balmy
|
soothing; mild
|
|
|
|
banal
|
trite; commonplace
|
|
|
|
bellicose
|
inclined to start wars or fights ANTONYM: pacific
|
|
|
|
beneficent
|
beneficial ANTONYM: deleterious
|
|
|
|
benign
|
gracious; favorable; not threatening to health ANTONYM: malignant
|
None
|
|
|
bibliophile
|
one who loves books
|
|
|
|
biennial
|
occuring every two years
|
|
|
|
bifurcate
|
divided in two branches; forked
|
|
|
|
blighted
|
withered or rotten; destroyed; frustrated
|
|
|
|
blithe
|
happy; merry; cheerful
|
|
|
|
bombastic
|
pompous; overblown; turgid
|
|
|
|
boreal
|
northern ANTONYM: austral
|
|
|
|
boycott
|
to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (a person, store, organization) as a sign of disapproval
|
|
|
|
broach
|
to make known for the first time; to open up (a subject) for discussion
|
|
|
|
bromidic
|
lacking originality; trite
|
|
|
|
brontophobia
|
the fear of thunder
|
|
|
|
brook
|
to bear or tolerate; to put up with
|
|
|
|
brusque
|
abrupt or short in manner or speech
|
|
|
|
buccal
|
pertaining to the cheeks or side of the mouth
|
|
|
|
bucolic
|
pastoral; relating to rural life
|
|
|
|
buffoon
|
a clown or ludicrous figure; someone who amuses with jokes or tricks
|
|
|
|
bulbous
|
rotund; round like a bulb
|
|
|
|
bumptious
|
aggressive and assertive in an offensive way ANTONYM: shy; self-effacing
|
|
|
|
buoyant
|
(1) having the ability to float (2) cheerful; gay
|
None
|
|
|
burnish
|
to make shiny or lustrous; to polish
|
|
|
|
burnoose
|
a hooded Arabic cloak
|
|
|
|
cassock
|
a loose robe worn by priests
|
|
|
|
cabal
|
group united to plot, especially the overthrow of authority
|
|
|
|
cache
|
(1) a hiding place; (2) something hidden in a secure place
|
|
|
|
cacophony
|
a harsh-sounding mixture of words, voices, or sounds
|
|
|
|
caduceus
|
the emblem of the medical profession (a staff wutg ubtertwubed snajes and wings at the top)
|
|
|
|
cajole
|
to persuade a reluctant person to do something; to coax
|
|
|
|
caliber
|
the diameter of the bore of a gun
|
|
|
|
gauge
|
the size of a shotgun; measure of the interior diameter of the barrel
|
|
|
|
calumny
|
a lie told to damage another's reputation; slander
|
|
|
|
candid
|
frank
|
|
|
|
canonical
|
orthodox; authoritive
|
|
|
|
capitulate
|
to cease resisting; to surrender (often after negotiations)
|
|
|
|
capricious
|
unpredictable; governed by a whim
|
|
|
|
captious
|
critical; fault-finding
|
|
|
|
carp
|
to complain
|
|
|
|
cashmere
|
a fine wool from a cashmere goat (derived from Kashmir, India)
|
None
|
|
|
catharsis
|
purification of emotions, especially through art
|
|
|
|
bathos
|
sentimalism; overdone pathos; triteness; anticlimax
|
|
|
|
pathos
|
something that evokes pity, compassion, or sorrw
|
|
|
|
catholic
|
universal ANTONYM: provincial; parochial
|
|
|
|
caustic
|
acrid; biting
|
|
|
|
cavil
|
to raise trivial objections; to nitpick
|
|
|
|
cerulean
|
resembling the blue of the sky
|
|
|
|
chaff
|
waste material from the threshing of wheat
|
|
|
|
dross
|
waste material from molten metal
|
|
|
|
slag
|
scoria; refuse from the melting of metals or reduction of ore
|
|
|
|
tailings
|
waste material from the preparation of ores or grains
|
|
|
|
chartreuse
|
yellow-green
|
|
|
|
chastise
|
to criticize harshly; to castigate
|
|
|
|
chauvinism
|
excessive or blind patriotism
|
|
|
|
chicanery
|
trickery; artful deception
|
|
|
|
chimerical
|
fantastically visionary; wildly fanciful
|
|
|
|
choleric
|
easily angered or irritated
|
|
|
|
Cimmerian
|
(1) adj. shrouded in gloom and darkness; (2) n. a mythical people described by Homer as dwelling in gloom
|
|
|
|
stygian
|
(1) dark and gloomy; (2) relating to the Styx (in Gree mythology, the river of the underworld)
|
|
|
|
circumlocution
|
an indirect expression; wordy or evasive language
|
|
|
|
circumspect
|
considering all options; cautious
|
|
|
|
clandestine
|
surreptitious; secret
|
|
|
|
claustrophobia
|
the fear of closed places
|
|
|
|
clemency
|
an act of leniency; mercy
|
|
|
|
cloy
|
to satiate
|
|
|
|
glut
|
to oversupply; to satiate
|
None
|
|
|
coalesce
|
to grow together; to unite into a whole
|
|
|
|
coda
|
a passage that concludes a musical or literary work
|
|
|
|
cogent
|
pertinent; compelling; convincing
|
|
|
|
cognizant
|
perceptive; observant
|
|
|
|
colloquial
|
of or relating to conversation; characteristic of informal speech
|
|
|
|
collusion
|
a secret agreement, especially for an illegal purpose
|
|
|
|
compulsion
|
an impulse to perform an irrational act
|
|
|
|
phobia
|
an inexplicable fear of something
|
|
|
|
conjoin
|
to join or act together
|
|
|
|
contentious
|
rebellious; stubbornly disobedient; renegade
|
|
|
|
conundrum
|
a puzzle; a riddle
|
|
|
|
cooper
|
a maker of casks or barrels
|
None
|
|
|
corroborate
|
to confirm; to back up with evidence
|
|
|
|
cowl
|
(1) a hood; (2) a cover for an engine
|
|
|
|
croupier
|
a collector and payer of bets at a casino
|
|
|
|
culinary
|
having to do with the kitchen or cooking
|
|
|
|
cynophobia
|
the fear of dogs
|
|
|
|
cynosure
|
the center of interest
|
|
|
|
dauntless
|
fearless
|
|
|
|
debacle
|
a violent breakdown; a sudden overthrow
|
|
|
|
debauchery
|
wild living; corruption by sensuality
|
|
|
|
debilitate
|
to weaken ANTONYM: invigorate
|
|
|
|
debonair
|
suave; courteious; sophisticated
|
|
|
|
deciduous
|
falling off or shedding at a certain season; ephemeral; not permanent
|
|
|
|
declaim
|
to make a bombastic speech
|
|
|
|
decorous
|
properl in good taste; correct
|
|
|
|
defalcate
|
to embezzle; to abscond with money
|
|
|
|
deleterious
|
harmful ANTONYM: beneficial; salubrious; salutary
|
|
|
|
delineate
|
to describe; to portray; to sketch
|
|
|
|
deliquesce
|
to melt away or dissolve; to become soft, especially with age
|
|
|
|
delusion
|
a deception; a false psychotic belief regarding oneself or others
|
|
|
|
demur
|
to object; to take exception
|
|
|
|
denim
|
a durable, twilled, usually cotton fabric qoven with white filling thread
|
|
|
|
denoument
|
the unfolding or outcome of a series or events
|
|
|
|
denounce
|
to express strong disapproval, especially publicly
|
|
|
|
depraved
|
morally corrupt or evil
|
|
|
|
deprecate
|
to play down; to belittle
|
|
|
|
depredate
|
to lay waste; to plunder
|
|
|
|
desiccate
|
to dry out
|
|
|
|
despot
|
a ruler with absolute power
|
|
|
|
desultory
|
lacking plan, regularity, or purpose; random
|
|
|
|
dexterous
|
mentally skillful; artful; clever
|
|
|
|
dialectic
|
logical argumentation
|
|
|
|
diametric
|
completely opposed; at opposite extremes
|
|
|
|
diaphanous
|
sheer; extremely delicate
|
|
|
|
diatribe
|
a bitter denunciation ANTONYM: panegyric
|
|
|
|
dichotomy
|
division, especially into two contradictory groups
|
|
|
|
didactic
|
intend to teach, moralize, or preach
|
|
|
|
diffident
|
shy; lacking in self-confidence
|
|
|
|
dilatory
|
tending to cause delay ANTONYM: expeditious
|
|
|
|
dilettante
|
one who is involved in a variety of things, none of them seriously; dabbler
|
None
|
|
|
diminution
|
a decrease; a lessening
|
|
|
|
dint
|
a force; a power
|
|
|
|
disavow
|
to deny
|
|
|
|
discomfit
|
to confuse, to deject; to frustrate; to deceive
|
|
|
|
discourse
|
to converse; to discuss formally
|
|
|
|
disingenuous
|
lacking in candor
|
|
|
|
disinterested
|
unbiased
|
|
|
|
dissemble
|
to feign or pretend
|
|
|
|
dissenter
|
one who goes against an opinion; nonconformist
|
|
|
|
dissuade
|
to persuade someone not to do something
|
|
|
|
djellabah
|
a loose-fitting gown worn in North Africa
|
|
|
|
doctrinaire
|
dogmatic
|
|
|
|
doggerel
|
comic, loose verse
|
|
|
|
dolt
|
a stupid person
|
|
|
|
doughty
|
fearless; valiant
|
|
|
|
draconian
|
severe (as a code of laws); cruel
|
|
|
|
dray
|
a vehicle used to haul goods
|
|
|
|
teamster
|
a person who drives a truck as an occupation
|
|
|
|
ductile
|
malleable
|
|
|
|
dunce
|
a dull-witted or stupid person
|
|
|
|
duplicity
|
concealment of one's true intentions by misleading words or actions; deception
|
|
|
|
ebullient
|
lively; enthusiastic; boiling up
|
|
|
|
eclectic
|
selecting from many sources what seems to be the best; catholic
|
|
|
|
ecumenical
|
(1) haing to do with a body of churches; (2) worldwide or general in extent or application
|
|
|
|
edification
|
instruction; improvement; enlightenment
|
|
|
|
efface
|
to make indistinct by wearing away; to erase or remove
|
|
|
|
effervescent
|
lively; bubbly ANTONYM: effete
|
|
|
|
effete
|
exhausted; worn-out ANTONYM: effervescent
|
|
|
|
effluvium
|
a disagreeable or noxious vapor; escaping gas
|
|
|
|
effusive
|
overflowing very demonstrative
|
|
|
|
egregious
|
conspicuously bad; flagrant
|
|
|
|
egress
|
(1) n. an exit; (2) v. to go out from
|
|
|
|
elan
|
dash; vigorous spirit
|
|
|
|
elegy
|
a lament for the dead
|
|
|
|
elucidate
|
to shed light upon; to make clear
|
|
|
|
emanate
|
to send out; to emit
|
|
|
|
eminent
|
prominent; famous; standing above others in some quality or position
|
|
|
|
endue
|
to provide; to endow
|
|
|
|
enervate
|
to exhaust, weaken, or unnerve ANTONYM: invigorate
|
|
|
|
engender
|
to bring into being; to produce
|
|
|
|
enigma
|
a baffling situation; something that is hard to explain or solve
|
|
|
|
ephemeral
|
lasting a short time; transient
|
|
|
|
epiphany
|
a sudden, and often divine, enlightenment or realization
|
|
|
|
epitome
|
a typical or ideal example
|
|
|
|
equivocal
|
ambiguous; deliberately confusing; able to be interpreted in more than one way
|
|
|
|
erratic
|
unpredictable; wandering; arbitrary ANTONYM: static; stable
|
|
|
|
teamster
|
to avoid; to shun
|
|
|
|
euphemism
|
(1) the substitution of a positive expression for something that may be interpreted as negative or distasteful; (2) the expression that is substituted
|
|
|
|
evanescent
|
fleeting; hardly visible; ephemeral
|
|
|
|
exacerbate
|
to make more violent or more severe ANTONYM: assuage; sppease
|
|
|
|
exculpate
|
to exonerate; to clear of guilt or blame
|
|
|
|
exigent
|
urgent; requiring prompt action; taxing
|
|
|
|
expedite
|
to speed up; to hasten
|
|
|
|
explicate
|
to explain
|
|
|
|
expunge
|
to strike out; to obliterate or erase
|
|
|
|
facetious
|
humorous; not serious
|
|
|
|
factitious
|
artificial; sham ANOTNYM: authentic
|
|
|
|
fagoting
|
a type of embroidery
|
|
|
|
fallacious
|
erroneous; deceiving; misleading
|
|
|
|
fallible
|
capable of making a mistake or error
|
|
|
|
fastidious
|
hard to please; fickle
|
|
|
|
fatuous
|
silly; inane
|
|
|
|
fealty
|
allegiance
|
|
|
|
feasible
|
practical; workable
|
|
|
|
feckless
|
worthless; feeble
|
|
|
|
fecund
|
fruitful; fertile
|
|
|
|
fervid
|
very hot; intense in feeling or emotion; impassioned
|
|
|
|
fetid
|
having an offensive ordor
|
|
|
|
vapid
|
flat; uninteresting; insipid
|
|
|
|
fetish
|
(1) a charm; a talisman; an amulet; an object thought to deflect evil or bring luck; (2) a fixation; an object of obsessive desire; a preoccupation
|
|
|
|
fiduciary
|
a trustee
|
|
|
|
fitful
|
irregular; spasmodic
|
|
|
|
flaccid
|
limp; flabby ANTONYM: resilient
|
|
|
|
flag
|
to weaken; to slow down
|
|
|
|
flagon
|
a flask with a handle and lid
|
|
|
|
tureen
|
a casserole or bowl usually used to serve soup
|
|
|
|
foible
|
a minor flaq or shortcoming in character; a weakness
|
|
|
|
foment
|
to instigate, incite, or arouse
|
|
|
|
foray
|
(1) v. to ravage for spoils; to pillage; (2) n. sudden, sometimes brief, invasion
|
|
|
|
forbear
|
an ancestor or forefather
|
|
|
|
fortuitous
|
happening by chance; unplanned
|
|
|
|
fractious
|
unruly; quarrelsome
|
|
|
|
franchise
|
the right to vote; a special privilege granted to a few; the right to market certain goods in a particular region
|
|
|
|
fraught
|
laden; charged
|
|
|
|
frenetic
|
frantic; frenzied
|
|
|
|
froward
|
hapbitually disobedient; not willing to compromise
|
|
|
|
frugal
|
economical; thrifty; sparing
|
|
|
|
fuchsia
|
vivid reddish purple
|
|
|
|
fugacious
|
disapperaring after a short time; short-lived; evanescent
|
|
|
|
fulminate
|
to denounce; to send forth invectives; to explode
|
|
|
|
fulsome
|
(1) abundant; copious; (2)morally offensive; disgusting
|
|
|
|
furtive
|
sly; shifty
|
|
|
|
gainsay
|
to deny; to contradict
|
|
|
|
galvanize
|
(1) to stimulate or excite; (2) to coat with zinc
|
|
|
|
gamut
|
the entire range
|
|
|
|
garner
|
to collect; to accumulate
|
|
|
|
garrote
|
to strangle and rob
|
|
|
|
garrulous
|
wordy; extremely talkative; gabby ANTONYM: taciturn
|
|
|
|
gauche
|
lacking social grace; crude; awkward
|
|
|
|
gaunt
|
excessively thin; lean
|
|
|
|
gelding
|
a castrated male horse
|
|
|
|
denre
|
an artistic category or type
|
|
|
|
genuflect
|
to go down on one's knee; to kneel, usually in obedience or respect
|
|
|
|
germane
|
closely related; relevant; fitting
|
|
|
|
glabrous
|
smooth; referring to a surface without hair or projections
|
|
|
|
hirsute
|
roughly hairy
|
|
|
|
goad
|
to urge, egg on, or incite to do something ANTONYM: curb
|
|
|
|
gorgon
|
one of three snake-haired sisters whose glance turned the beholder into stone
|
|
|
|
gourmand
|
one who eats and drinks excessively; glutton
|
|
|
|
gratuitous
|
not required by the circumstances; unwarranted; unnecessary
|
|
|
|
gregarious
|
liking companionship; sociable
|
|
|
|
griffin
|
a mythical anymal having the head and wings of an eagle and the body and legs of a lion
|
|
|
|
chimera
|
(1) a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent; (2) illusion or mental fabrication
|
|
|
|
minotaur
|
a monster, half man and half bull, confined in a labyrinth
|
|
|
|
guffaw
|
a loud, boisterous burst of laughter
|
|
|
|
guile
|
deceitful cunning; cleverness
|
|
|
|
gulch
|
a deep pit; a ravine
|
|
|
|
hackneyed
|
overused; trite; commonplace
|
|
|
|
haiku
|
a type of unrymed Japanese poem consisting of three lines
|
|
|
|
halcyon
|
peaceful; tranquil
|
|
|
|
harangue
|
a ranting speech without much real meaning
|
|
|
|
harbinger
|
someone or something that foreshadows what is to come
|
|
|
|
Hellene
|
a native or inhabitant of Greece
|
|
|
|
heretic
|
one who goes against an established religion or belief; nonconformist
|
|
|
|
hermenuetics
|
the study of principles of interpretation (e.g. in the Bible)
|
|
|
|
hermetic
|
sealed off from external influencel airtightl abstruse or occult
|
|
|
|
herpetophobia
|
the fear of snakes
|
|
|
|
hiatus
|
a gap or interruption in time or in a continuum
|
|
|
|
hibernate
|
to spend the winter in a dormant, inactive state
|
|
|
|
hierarchy
|
a graded or ranked classification determined on the basis of age, economic status, or class
|
|
|
|
hirsute
|
hairy ANTONYM: glabrous
|
|
|
|
hoary
|
gray or white with age
|
|
|
|
homily
|
an inspirational discourse; a sermon
|
|
|
|
homogeneous
|
of uniform structure or composition
|
|
|
|
homophobia
|
the fear of homosexuals
|
|
|
|
homophones
|
words that sound alike but have different meanings
|
|
|
|
homonyms
|
homophones; also, words that are spelled the same but have different meanings (e.g. cleave, quail, bear)
|
|
|
|
hone
|
to sharpen
|
|
|
|
hyaline
|
transparent or almost so; glassy
|
|
|
|
hybrid
|
anything that is the product of at least two different sources
|
|
|
|
hydroponics
|
cultivation of plants in liquid nutrients
|
|
|
|
hyperbole
|
an exaggeration
|
|
|
|
hypertrophy
|
an exaggerated increase or complexity
|
|
|
|
hypocritical
|
pretending to have qualities or virtues that are not possessed; dissembling
|
|
|
|
hypothetical
|
based on conjecture; conditional
|
|
|
|
empirical
|
based on expertise, observation, or experimental evidence
|
|
|
|
iconoclast
|
one who destroys religious images or attacks established beliefs
|
|
|
|
vandal
|
one who destroys property
|
|
|
|
idyllic
|
carefree and lighthearted; peaceful
|
|
|
|
igneous
|
referring to rock formed from molten magme; volcanic
|
|
|
|
metamorphic
|
referring to rock formed from sedimentary rock and changed through pressure or heat
|
|
|
|
ignominious
|
infamous; despicable
|
|
|
|
imbue
|
to permeate or influence
|
|
|
|
imminent
|
about to happen (usually rreferring to something threatening)
|
None
|
|
|
immiscible
|
incapable of being mixed
|
|
|
|
immutable
|
not susceptible to change
|
|
|
|
impassive
|
apathetic; expressionless
|
|
|
|
impecunious
|
having little or no money
|
|
|
|
impermeable
|
impervious; not permitting passage through
|
|
|
|
impolitic
|
inwise; injudicious
|
|
|
|
imprecate
|
to curse
|
|
|
|
improvident
|
not providing for the future; careless
|
|
|
|
prescient
|
having foresight or foreknowledge of the future
|
|
|
|
impugn
|
to attack. Especially as false or lacking integrity
|
|
|
|
inanition
|
a loss of vitality from lack of food and water
|
|
|
|
incarnadine
|
blood red
|
|
|
|
inchoate
|
beginning; insipient; only imperfectly formed
|
|
|
|
inciphient
|
just beginning; in the early stages; commencing
|
|
|
|
incisive
|
keen; direct; decisive
|
|
|
|
incommodious
|
troublesome; inconvenient
|
|
|
|
incongruous
|
not like the others in a group; out of place; incompatible
|
|
|
|
incontrovertible
|
unquestionable; indisputable
|
None
|
|
|
incorrigible
|
unruly; delinquent
|
|
|
|
inculcate
|
to teach and impress by repetition
|
|
|
|
indemnify
|
(1) to secure against loss; (2) to compensate for hurt or loss
|
|
|
|
indigenous
|
having originated naturally in a particular environment
|
|
|
|
indigent
|
impoverished
|
|
|
|
induction
|
(1) an initiation into military service; (2) reasoning from parts to whole
|
|
|
|
ordination
|
an initiation into religious service
|
|
|
|
ineluctable
|
inescapable; inevitable
|
|
|
|
inimical
|
hostile; unfriendly ANTONYM: amicable
|
|
|
|
iniquitoue
|
vicious; wicked
|
|
|
|
innuendo
|
a veiled allusion; insinuation
|
|
|
|
insurgent
|
a person who revolts against established authority
|
|
|
|
intractable
|
hard to manage; unruly; obstinate
|
|
|
|
intransigent
|
stubborn; uncompromising
|
|
|
|
intrepid
|
fearless ANTONYM: timorous
|
|
|
|
inure
|
to accustom to accept something undesirable; to habituate
|
|
|
|
invective
|
insulting or abusive language
|
|
|
|
invidious
|
offensive; envious; obnoxious
|
|
|
|
irascible
|
easily angered; choleric; malevolent
|
|
|
|
jalousie
|
a type of blind or shutter having adjustable slats or louvers and usually made of glass
|
|
|
|
jargon
|
specialized terminology of a certain group; a lingo
|
|
|
|
jejune
|
immature; juvenile
|
|
|
|
jenny
|
a female donkey
|
|
|
|
jettison
|
to sacrifice cargo to lighten a ship or vehicle
|
|
|
|
jetty
|
a projection or structure extending into a body of water
|
|
|
|
jezebel
|
a shameless, brazen woman
|
|
|
|
jocose
|
humorous; witty
|
|
|
|
jocular
|
habitually happy or cheerful
|
|
|
|
jocund
|
gay; cheerful
|
|
|
|
judicious
|
wise; sagacious; prudent
|
|
|
|
junk
|
(1) trash; something that is not worth saving; (2) a type of Chinese ship
|
|
|
|
junta
|
a political group or committee, especially after a revolution
|
|
|
|
juxtapose
|
to place right next to something
|
|
|
|
kaleidoscope
|
(1) a succession of changing patterns or scenes; (2) a changing pattern or scene
|
|
|
|
kindle
|
to activate or inspire; to arouse
|
None
|
|
|
kindred
|
(1) n. relatives; kinship; (2) adj. similar in nature; like
|
|
|
|
kinetic
|
related to motion
|
|
|
|
knave
|
a sly, deceitful man or boy
|
|
|
|
kudos
|
praise; compliments
|
|
|
|
labyrinth
|
a place full of intricate passageways; something extremely complex or intricate
|
|
|
|
laconic
|
concise ANTONYM: verbose; redundant
|
|
|
|
lambent
|
flickering; softly bright or radiant, as a candle
|
|
|
|
lampoon
|
harsh, satirical writing, usually attacking an individual
|
|
|
|
lascivious
|
lewd; lustful; wanton
|
|
|
|
lassitude
|
fatigue; weariness ANTONYM: alacrity
|
None
|
|
|
laudable
|
worthy of praise
|
|
|
|
lethargic
|
slow moving; sluggish
|
|
|
|
levity
|
lightness; lack of seriousness; frivolity
|
|
|
|
libertine
|
a person who is not restrained by convention or morality
|
|
|
|
licentious
|
lacking moral restraints, especially sexual ones; lustful
|
|
|
|
ligneous
|
woodlike
|
|
|
|
limpid
|
clear and simple in style; transparent; serene and untroubled
|
|
|
|
lucid
|
clear; sane ; translucent; luminous
|
|
|
|
pellucid
|
reflecting light evenly; easy to understand
|
|
|
|
litigate
|
to try in court; to contest in law
|
|
|
|
littoral
|
relating to the shore or coastal region
|
|
|
|
loggia
|
a roofed, open gallery, like a porch
|
|
|
|
loquacious
|
talkative
|
|
|
|
lucre
|
monetary gain; profit
|
|
|
|
ludicrous
|
laughable; rediculous
|
|
|
|
lugubrious
|
gloomy; sorrowful
|
|
|
|
lurid
|
(1) gruesome; shocking; (2) ghastly pale
|
|
|
|
magenta
|
deep purplish red
|
|
|
|
malefactor
|
an evil-doer; a criminal
|
|
|
|
malfeasance
|
wrongdoing; official misconduct
|
|
|
|
malignant
|
evil; injurious; tending to produce death ANTONYM: benign
|
|
|
|
mandatory
|
necessary; obligatory
|
None
|
|
|
marred
|
injured; blemished; damaged
|
|
|
|
martinet
|
a strict disciplinarian
|
|
|
|
masticate
|
to chew
|
|
|
|
maudlin
|
foolishly sentimental or morose
|
|
|
|
maverick
|
a rebel; a nonconformist
|
|
|
|
megalomaniac
|
one who exhibits delusions of omnipotence or grandeur
|
|
|
|
mercurial
|
quickly changing; inconstant
|
|
|
|
meretricious
|
attractive only on the surface; superficial; pretentious
|
|
|
|
meticulous
|
extremely concerned with details; well organized
|
|
|
|
miasma
|
a depleting or corrupting influence or atmosphere
|
|
|
|
millennium
|
a thousand years
|
|
|
|
miscreant
|
a heretic; a villain; one who commits illegal acts
|
|
|
|
misogynistic
|
characterized by hatred of women
|
|
|
|
mitigate
|
to soften; to lessen the severity of
|
|
|
|
moot
|
questionable; debatably
|
|
|
|
mordant
|
biting in manner or style; incisive
|
|
|
|
motility
|
movement
|
|
|
|
munificent
|
lavish; generous; liberal
|
|
|
|
nadir
|
(1) the lowest point; (2) a point in the sky opposite the zenith
|
|
|
|
naiad
|
a water nymph
|
|
|
|
napery
|
table linens
|
|
|
|
necromancy
|
magic; witchcraft
|
|
|
|
chiromancy
|
palmistry
|
|
|
|
necrophobia
|
the fear of death
|
None
|
|
|
necropolis
|
a cemetery
|
|
|
|
nefarious
|
wicked; vile
|
|
|
|
nexus
|
a connection or link
|
|
|
|
niggardly
|
stingy
|
|
|
|
noisome
|
offensive; harmful
|
|
|
|
nomenclature
|
a standardized system of symbols for a particular subject, usually art or science
|
|
|
|
nonfeasance
|
failure to perform an act that should have been completed
|
|
|
|
notorious
|
widely and unfavorably known
|
None
|
|
|
nuance
|
a subtle distinction, variation, or quality
|
|
|
|
nugatory
|
inconsequential; trifling
|
|
|
|
nullify
|
to void legally; to make of no consequence
|
|
|
|
numismatist
|
on who studies and collects coins and tokens
|
|
|
|
nuncupative
|
no written; oral
|
|
|
|
nyctophobia
|
the fear of darkness
|
|
|
|
obdurate
|
persistent; unyielding
|
|
|
|
obfuscate
|
to confuse ANTONYM: clarify
|
|
|
|
objurgate
|
to denounce harshly; to declaim; to castigate
|
|
|
|
obliterate
|
to destroy completely; to cause to disappear
|
|
|
|
obloquy
|
(1) abusive language; (2) bad repute
|
|
|
|
obscurant
|
tending to make obscure
|
|
|
|
obsequious
|
obedient; subservient
|
|
|
|
sycophant
|
a servile, self-seeking flatterer
|
|
|
|
obtrude
|
to force, usually oneself or one's ideas on another without request
|
|
|
|
ocher
|
earthy yellow or red
|
|
|
|
ochlophobia
|
the fear of crowds
|
|
|
|
officious
|
meddling; interfering
|
|
|
|
olfactory
|
relating to the sense of smell
|
|
|
|
oligarchy
|
form of government in which control is placed in the hands of a few, especially associated with corruption
|
|
|
|
omnipotent
|
all-powerful
|
|
|
|
omnipresent
|
being all places at once
|
|
|
|
omniscient
|
knowing everything
|
|
|
|
omnivore
|
one who eats both animals and vegetables
|
|
|
|
onomatopoeia
|
the use of words whose sounds convey their meaning (e.g., buzz, hiss)
|
|
|
|
ontogeny
|
the development of an organism
|
|
|
|
onus
|
a burden; an obligation
|
|
|
|
ophidiophobia
|
the fear of snakes
|
|
|
|
opprobrium
|
desgrace due to a shameful act
|
|
|
|
opus
|
a major work, especially a set of musical compositions
|
|
|
|
ornithophobia
|
the fear of birds
|
|
|
|
oscillate
|
to swing back and forth; to vary
|
|
|
|
osmosis
|
diffusion through a membrane
|
|
|
|
ossify
|
to become hard as a bone
|
|
|
|
ostentatious
|
showy; pretentious
|
|
|
|
oviparous
|
producing eggs that hatch outside the maternal body
|
|
|
|
palindrome
|
a word, sentence, or number that reads the same backward and foreward (e.g., mom)
|
|
|
|
palliate
|
to cover up with excuses; to extenuate
|
|
|
|
panegyric
|
high praise; a tribute; an encomium ANTONYM: diatribe
|
|
|
|
paradigm
|
an example; a pattern; an archetype
|
|
|
|
paradox
|
(1) something true that appears to be false; (2) something false that appears to be logical
|
|
|
|
pariah
|
an outcast
|
|
|
|
parry
|
(1) to ward off; (2) to escape by dodging
|
|
|
|
parisimony
|
the quality of being careful with money; thrift ANTONYM: extravagance
|
|
|
|
partisan
|
one who is committed to a particular person, cause, or idea
|
|
|
|
parvenu
|
one recently risen to an unaccustomed position and not yet possessing the requisite dignity or characteristics; upstart
|
|
|
|
paucity
|
a small amount; a scarcity
|
|
|
|
pecuniary
|
having to do with money
|
|
|
|
pedantic
|
characterized by an ostentations display of learning
|
|
|
|
pedometer
|
an instrument used to measure the distance walked
|
|
|
|
pennultimate
|
next to last
|
|
|
|
peremptory
|
precluding a right of action, delay, or debate; admitting or no contradiction
|
|
|
|
perfidious
|
faithless; disloyal; treacherous
|
|
|
|
peripatetic
|
wandering; itinerant
|
|
|
|
peruse
|
to read carefully; to study
|
None
|
|
|
pervade
|
to spread throughout
|
|
|
|
petulant
|
ill-tempered' irritable; fractious
|
|
|
|
philatelist
|
one who studies and collects stamps
|
|
|
|
-phile
|
a love or afiniry for (e.g. philogyny: love of men)
|
|
|
|
-phobe
|
a fear of or aversion to
|
|
|
|
philistine
|
(1) characterized by material rather than spiritual or artistic balues; (2) narrow-minded or uninformed with respect to a specific topic area
|
|
|
|
piscatorial
|
of or relating to fish
|
|
|
|
platen
|
(1) a roller on a typewriter; (2) a flat plate
|
|
|
|
platitude
|
the state of being dull, banal, or trite
|
|
|
|
plethora
|
a superfluity; an excess
|
|
|
|
plumb
|
(1) n. a lead weight used to find the true vertical; (2) v. to measure the depth of; to fathom
|
|
|
|
polemic
|
strong argument in refutation of another; disputation; practice of engaging in controversy
|
|
|
|
poltroon
|
a coward
|
|
|
|
potlatch
|
(1) a ceremonial feast, with gifts, ofnorthwest coast Indians; (2) a festival or celebration
|
|
|
|
precipitous
|
steep
|
|
|
|
precocious
|
exhibiting maturity at an early age
|
|
|
|
prescience
|
the anticipation of upcoming events; foresight
|
|
|
|
prevaricate
|
to deviate from the truth; to lie
|
|
|
|
probity
|
honesty; uprightness; rectitude
|
|
|
|
profusion
|
a great amount; an abundance
|
|
|
|
prognosticate
|
to forecast; to prophesy
|
|
|
|
propinquity
|
closeness; proximity
|
|
|
|
proxy
|
a person authorized to act for another (e.g. to vote corporate stock)
|
|
|
|
pseudonym
|
a fictitious or pen name
|
|
|
|
surname
|
(1) a family name; (2) an added name or nickname
|
|
|
|
puce
|
dark red
|
|
|
|
puerile
|
childish juvenile
|
None
|
|
|
pundit
|
an expert; an authority; a critical; a savant
|
|
|
|
purloin
|
to steal
|
|
|
|
purview
|
a range of authority, competence, or responsibility; scope
|
|
|
|
pusillanimous
|
cowardly; fearful
|
|
|
|
Pyrrhic
|
usually referring to a victory won at excessively high cost
|
|
|
|
quaff
|
to drink hearily
|
|
|
|
quagmire
|
a bog; a difficult or entrapping situation; a predicament
|
|
|
|
qualm
|
(1) a sudden onset of illness, especially of nausea; (2) a feeling of unease about a point of conscience
|
|
|
|
quandary
|
a state of confusion of doubt
|
|
|
|
quell
|
to suppress
|
|
|
|
querulous
|
complaining; whining
|
|
|
|
quintessence
|
the essence of something in its most concentrated form; the urest representative from a certain category
|
|
|
|
quisling
|
a traitor
|
|
|
|
quittance
|
a release from debt or obligation
|
|
|
|
quixotic
|
foolishly impractical and idealistic; capricious
|
|
|
|
quizzical
|
(1) eccentric; odd; (2) inquisitive; questioning
|
|
|
|
quondam
|
former; sometime
|
|
|
|
quorum
|
the minimum number of a group that must be present to conduct business legally
|
|
|
|
quotidian
|
daily
|
|
|
|
rancorous
|
with ill-will; with enmity ANTONYM: benevolent
|
|
|
|
raze
|
to demolish completely; to destroy
|
|
|
|
recalcitrant
|
obstinately defiant of authority; resistant
|
|
|
|
recidivism
|
repeated relapse, as in tendency to repeat criinal activity
|
|
|
|
reciprocal
|
(1) mutuall shared; common; (2) inversely related
|
|
|
|
recondite
|
obscure; concealed; incomprehensible; esoteric
|
|
|
|
recumbent
|
lying down; leaning; resting
|
|
|
|
recusant
|
marked by refusal to obey authority
|
|
|
|
redolent
|
having a pleasing scent; fragrant
|
|
|
|
refurbish
|
to freshen or make new; to renovate
|
|
|
|
relegate
|
to assign to a place of insignificance; to banish
|
|
|
|
relume
|
to light or light again; to rekindle; to reestablish
|
|
|
|
remonstrate
|
to object; to protest
|
|
|
|
reprehend
|
to voice disapproval of
|
|
|
|
reprobate
|
a villain; an immoral person
|
|
|
|
repugnant
|
distasteful; abhorrent; obnoxious ANTONYM: congenial
|
|
|
|
rescind
|
to take away; to remove
|
|
|
|
resilient
|
able to recover easily from hardship or misfortune; flexible
|
|
|
|
revile
|
to use abusive speech; to rail; to scold
|
|
|
|
ribald
|
rude or offensive; indecent
|
|
|
|
risible
|
capable of laughing or provoking laughter
|
|
|
|
rookery
|
a breeding place among rocks for mammals (e.g. seals) or birds
|
|
|
|
roseate
|
overoptimistic; cheerful
|
|
|
|
rotund
|
round; plump; chubby
|
|
|
|
ruminate
|
to reflect on something; to ponder
|
|
|
|
saboteur
|
one who willfully hinders, through destruction or obstruction, industrial production or a nation's war effort
|
|
|
|
fifth column
|
supporters of an enemy that engage in sabotage within defense lines or national boundaries
|
|
|
|
sagacious
|
wise; astute; perspicacious
|
|
|
|
salubrious
|
healthy; promoting well-being; salutary ANTONYM: deleterious
|
|
|
|
sanctimonious
|
(1) devout; holy; (2) hypocritically devout or holy
|
|
|
|
sanction
|
to authorixe or approve
|
|
|
|
sanguine
|
hopeful
|
|
|
|
sardonic
|
distdainful; sarcastic
|
|
|
|
satiric
|
using ridicule or sarcasm to convey criticism; lampooning
|
|
|
|
saturnine
|
gloomy; sullen; morose
|
|
|
|
savant
|
one with detailed knowledge in a specialized field
|
|
|
|
prodigy
|
highly talented child
|
|
|
|
virtuoso
|
one who is highly skilled in the practice of an art, especially music
|
None
|
|
|
scintilla
|
a minute trace or jot; an iota
|
|
|
|
tittle
|
a particle
|
|
|
|
sectarian
|
of or relating to a sect or a smaller group within a larger group that adopts only certain beleifs; narrow-minded
|
|
|
|
sequester
|
(1) to set apart from others; to segregate; (2) to confiscate
|
None
|
|
|
sidereal
|
related to the stars; astral
|
|
|
|
sophomoric
|
(literally "wise fool") believing one's level of knowledge and maturity to be higher than it actually is
|
|
|
|
soporific
|
marked by, or causing, sleepiness or lethargy; drowsy
|
|
|
|
sordid
|
wretched; vile; foul
|
|
|
|
spelunker
|
one who studies and explores caves as a hobby
|
|
|
|
splenetic
|
hot tempered; easily angered
|
|
|
|
spurious
|
false; forged; counterfeit
|
|
|
|
staid
|
sedate; serious; grave
|
|
|
|
sterile
|
inimaginative; unfruitful; bare ANTONYM: fecund; fertile
|
|
|
|
stolid
|
dull; unemotional; immovable
|
|
|
|
stoma, stomata
|
a minute opening on outside surface of a plant (e.g. a leaf) for the passage pf gases
|
None
|
|
|
striated
|
referring to muscle with alternate light and dark bands, as opposed to smooth muscle
|
|
|
|
strident
|
loud; harsh; grating
|
|
|
|
superfluous
|
more than necessary; extra
|
|
|
|
surmise
|
to imagine; to make inferences based on insufficient evidence
|
|
|
|
surreptitious
|
secret; covert ANTONYM: brazen; overt
|
|
|
|
sybaritic
|
voluptuous; sensual
|
|
|
|
sycophant
|
servile flatterer; parasite
|
|
|
|
synthesis
|
the combination of parts to form a whole, or of thesis and antithesis to form a higher truth
|
|
|
|
tacit
|
unspoken; implied ANTONYM: explicit
|
|
|
|
taciturn
|
silent; having little inclination to talk ANTONYM: garrulous
|
|
|
|
tactile
|
perceptible by touch; tangible
|
|
|
|
tangential
|
touching only the edge; marginally relevant
|
|
|
|
tangerine
|
a deep orange to almost scarlet mandarin orange
|
|
|
|
tawdry
|
appearing gaudy or cheap
|
|
|
|
temerity
|
audicity; effrontery; boldness ANTONYM: caution
|
|
|
|
temporal
|
referring to time, as opposed to eternity; secular
|
|
|
|
tenet
|
a doctrine upheld by members of an organization
|
|
|
|
tepid
|
moderately warm; lukemarm
|
|
|
|
termagant
|
a shrew; a nagging woman, as Xanthippe (Socrates' wife); a virago; an ogress; a harpy
|
|
|
|
terrestrial
|
having to do with the earth
|
|
|
|
terse
|
(1) polished; refined (2) short and to the point; concise
|
|
|
|
therapeutic
|
used in the treatment of diseases or disorders; curative
|
|
|
|
timbre
|
the quality of a sound or tone, distinctive of a particular voice or instrument
|
|
|
|
timorous
|
fearful; timid ANTONYM: intrepid
|
|
|
|
tirade
|
a long, intemperate speech, diatribe
|
None
|
|
|
torpid
|
dormant; lacking energy; lethargic; apathetic; dull
|
|
|
|
vapid
|
lacking vitality; flat; uninteresting
|
|
|
|
torque
|
(1) n. a twisting or turning force; (2) to cause to rotate or twist
|
|
|
|
torrid
|
oppressively hot
|
|
|
|
tort
|
a civil wrong for which the injured party is entitled to compensation
|
|
|
|
tractable
|
docile; mallable; obedient ANTONYM: unruly
|
|
|
|
transient
|
lasting only a short time; changing; ephemeral; transitory
|
|
|
|
trenchant
|
(1) caustic; penetrating; (2) separate; distinct
|
|
|
|
triskaidekaphobia
|
the fear of the number 13
|
|
|
|
truculent
|
cruel; brutal belligerent
|
|
|
|
turbid
|
muddy
|
|
|
|
turpitude
|
baseness; corruption; depravity
|
|
|
|
umbrage
|
(1) a feeling of offense or annoyance; (2) a shadow; a hint; a suspicion
|
|
|
|
unctuous
|
oily; smug; suave
|
|
|
|
undulate
|
to move in wavelike motions; to fluctuate
|
|
|
|
unduly
|
excessively
|
|
|
|
unequivocal
|
clear; obvious; certain
|
|
|
|
ungainly
|
hard to handle; unwieldy; clumsy
|
|
|
|
ungulate
|
hooflike; regerring to hoofed animals
|
|
|
|
urbane
|
polished; polite or finished in manner
|
|
|
|
utopian
|
referring to paradise or an impossible ideal
|
|
|
|
uxoricide
|
the murder of one's wife
|
|
|
|
vacillate
|
to waver; to fluctuate; to oscillate
|
|
|
|
vacuous
|
stupid; lacking intelligence
|
|
|
|
vagrancy
|
the state of being homeless (legally, a misdemeanor)
|
|
|
|
vapid
|
insipid spiritless
|
None
|
|
|
venal
|
corruptible
|
|
|
|
venerate
|
to honor
|
|
|
|
venial
|
forgivable
|
|
|
|
verbose
|
wordy ANTONYM: laconic
|
None
|
|
|
viable
|
(1) capable of living (2)able to stand or develop independently
|
|
|
|
vicarious
|
experienced through another medium; experienced through imaginary participation in the events of another's life
|
|
|
|
vilify
|
to slander; to verbally abuse; to defame
|
|
|
|
virago
|
a loud, overbearing woman; a termagant
|
|
|
|
viscous
|
thick; having a gummy consistency
|
|
|
|
vitriolic
|
caustic; biting
|
|
|
|
viviparous
|
producing living young, as most mammals, some reptiles, and a few fishes
|
|
|
|
volatile
|
easily aroused; explosive
|
|
|
|
volition
|
choice or decision; will
|
|
|
|
voracious
|
ravenous; gluttonous; insatiable
|
|
|
|
vulpine
|
foxlike; crafty
|
|
|
|
wan
|
pale; sickly
|
|
|
|
wanton
|
flirtatious; lascivious
|
|
|
|
whet
|
to stimulate; to incite; to make more intense, especially an appetite
|
|
|
|
wizened
|
shrunken and wrinkled with age
|
|
|
|
wright
|
a worker, especially in wood; used in combination with another word (e.g. wheelwright, playwright)
|
|
|
|
wroth
|
intensely angry; incensed
|
|
|
|
xanthic
|
yellowish
|
|
|
|
xenophobia
|
the fear of strangers
|
|
|
|
yean
|
to give birth, used of sheep or goats
|
|
|
|
yore
|
time long past
|
|
|
|
yowl
|
to cry out loudly; to wail
|
|
|
|
zealot
|
one who is enthusiastic, sometimes fanatical, about a cause
|
|
|
|
zenith
|
(1) the highest point; (2) the highest point reached by a celestial body ANTONYM: nadir
|
|
