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285 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abrogate
|
n
to abolish, repeal, or nullify |
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abstruse
|
adj
difficult to understand |
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abysmal
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adj
extremely hopeless or wretched; bottomless |
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accolade
|
n
an award or honor |
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acerbic
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adj
bitter, sour, severe |
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acumen
|
n
keenness of judgment; mental sharpness |
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affable
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adj
easy to talk to; friendly |
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afford
|
n
to permit or allow; to enable |
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aggregate
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n, adj
collection of things mixed together, the sum total |
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allocate
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v
to distribute, assign, or allot |
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aloof
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adj
standoffish, uninvolved, keeping one's distance |
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ameliorate
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v
to make better or more tolerable |
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anachronistic
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adj
out of place in time or history |
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anathema
|
n
something or someone loathed or detested |
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ancillary
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adj
subordinate; providing assistance |
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annul
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v
to make void; usually refers to marriage |
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anomaly
|
n
an aberration, deviation, or irregularity |
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anthropology
|
n
the study of human cultures |
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antithetical
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adj
in opposition, contrary to |
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apostate
|
n
one who deserts his or her professed principles or faith |
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apotheosis
|
n
elevation to divine status; the perfect example of something |
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appropriate
|
v
to take without permission; to set aside for a particular use |
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archetype
|
n
an original model or pattern |
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ardent
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adj
passionate |
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arsenal
|
n
a storehouse of weapons |
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ascertain
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v
to determine with certainty; to find out definitely |
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ascetic
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adj
hermitlike; practicing self-denial |
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assiduous
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adj
hardworking, diligent, busy |
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assuage
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v
to soothe, pacify, or relieve |
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attrition
|
n
gradual wearing away; a natural or expected decrease in size or number |
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augury
|
n
an omen, especially a good omen |
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auspices
|
n
protection, support; sponsorship |
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avarice
|
n
greed |
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avuncular
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adj
kind, helpful, generous; like a nice uncle |
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barometer
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n
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure |
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beguile
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v
to delude by guile or craft; to mislead, divert |
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behest
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n
a command or order |
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beleaguer
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v
to surround, besiege, or harass |
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belie
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v
to give a false impression; to contradict |
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bellicose
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adj
warlike, belligerent |
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bequest
|
n
something left to someone in a will |
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blithe
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adj
carefree, cheerful |
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broach
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v
to open up a subject, often a delicate one, for discussion |
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brusque
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adj
rough and short in manner, blunt, abrupt |
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burgeon
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v
to expand; to flourish |
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buttress
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n, v
a support for a bulding or structure; to support |
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cabal
|
n
a group of conspirators; the acts of such a group; a clique |
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cajole
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v
to persuade with flattery or gentle urging |
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calipers
|
n
a pinching instrument used for determining the thickness of objects or the distance between surfaces |
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candor
|
n
sincerty, honesty |
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canon
|
n
a rule or law, especially a religious one; a body of rules or laws; an authoritative list; the set of works by an author that are accepted as authentic |
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cantankerous
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adj
ill-natured, contentious |
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canvass
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v
to campaign; to seek or solicit orders, votes, etc |
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capacitor
|
n
a device that stores energy |
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capitulate
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v
to surrender, give up, or give in |
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capricious
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adj
unpredictable, likely to change at any moment |
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captious
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adj
ill-natured, quarrelsome |
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carp
|
v
to complain or find fault with someone |
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cartography
|
n
the study and creation of maps |
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castigate
|
v
to criticize severely; to chastise |
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catalyst
|
n
anyone or anything that makes something happen without being drectly involved |
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catharsis
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n
purification that brings emotional relief or renewal |
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cavil
|
v
to quibble; to raise trivial objections |
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censure
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v
to condemn severely for doing something bad |
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chagrin
|
n
humiliation; embarrassed disappointment |
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chicanery
|
n
trickery, deceitfulness, artifice(especially legal or political) |
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chimerical
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adj
imaginary, given to fantasy |
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choleric
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adj
hot-tempered, quick to anger |
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circumvent
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v
to go around |
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closefisted
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adj
stingy |
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coalesce
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v
to come together as one, to fuse, to unite |
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cogitate
|
v
to ponder; to mediate; to think carefully about |
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colloquial
|
adj
ordinary, informal in relationship to speech |
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conscript
|
v
enlisted, drafted, or enrolled; usually refers to mandatory military service |
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corroborate
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v
to confirm; to back up with evidence |
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coterie
|
n
a group of close associates; a circle of friends |
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coy
|
adj
shy, reluctant to make a commitment |
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cracen
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adj
cowardly, afraid |
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curmudgeon
|
n
an irascible, crotchety old person |
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dearth
|
n
a shortage or scarcity of something |
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debacle
|
n
a big disaster |
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deft
|
adj
very skillful |
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dehydrate
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v
to remove water |
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deleterious
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adj
harmful |
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demagogue
|
n
a leader of the people, but more a rabble-rouser |
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demography
|
n
the statistical study of the characteristics of populations |
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desalinate
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v
to remove salt from something |
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desiccate
|
v
to dry out |
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diplomatic
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adj
tactful; good at negotiating |
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discomfit
|
v
to frustrate, to confuse |
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dither
|
v
to vacillate between choices; to tremble with excitement |
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diurnal
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adj
ocurring every day; ovurring during the daytime |
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divisive
|
adj
creating conflict and disagreement |
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draconian
|
adj
severe, harsh, cruel |
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ebullient
|
adj
bubbling with excitement, exuberant |
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eclectic
|
adj
drawn from many sources |
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effigy
|
n
a likeness of a perso, usually one used to express hatred for that person |
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egregious
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adj
extremely bad, flagrant |
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elliptical
|
adj
oval; missing a word or words; obscure |
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endemic
|
adj
native, restricted to a particular region or area, indigenous |
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ephemeral
|
adj
lasting a very short time |
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equine
|
adj
relating to horses, horselike |
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equivocal
|
adj
embiguous, intentionally confusing, capable of beng interpreted many ways |
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ersatz
|
adj
serving as a substitute, synthetic, artificial |
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ethereal
|
adj
heavenly, light, insubstantial |
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etymology
|
n
the study of words and their meanings |
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euphonious
|
adj
pleasant-sounding, opposite of cacophonous; melodious |
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evanescent
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adj
fleeting, vanishing, happening only for the briefest period |
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evince
|
v
to demonstrate convinvingly; to prove |
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execrate
|
v
to curse, denounce |
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exhume
|
v
to unbury; to dig out of the ground |
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exonerate
|
v
to free conpletely from blame |
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expeditious
|
adj, v
prompt, speedy; to expedite |
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expiate
|
v
to make amends, to atone |
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expunge
|
v
to erse, obliterate, to blot out |
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facile
|
adj
fluent, skillful in a superficial way |
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fecund
|
adj
fertile, productive |
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fervent
|
adj
having intense feeling, enthusiastic; fervid |
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feign
|
v
to pretend; to make a false representation of something |
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flaccid
|
adj
soft and limp |
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florid
|
adj
very fancy; ususally refers to intangible things |
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flout
|
v
to disregard something or someone out of disrespect |
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ford
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n,v
the shallow part of a river; to cross a river at the shallow part |
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forensics
|
n
the art or study of argumentation and formal debate |
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fortuitous
|
adj
accidental, occurrng by chance |
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fracas
|
n
a big fight |
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furrow
|
n, v
a narrow groove made in the ground; to make wrinkles in the face |
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gaffe
|
n
a social blunder, an embarrassing mistake, a faux pas |
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galvanize
|
v
to starte into sudden activity; to revitalize |
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gastronomy
|
n
the art of eating well |
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germane
|
adj
relevant, applicable, pertinent |
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glower
|
v
to look or stare with sullen dislike or anger |
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goldbrick
|
v,n
to swindle, to sell something worthless as if it were valuable; a swindle |
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grandiloquent
|
adj
using a lot of big, fancy words to sound impressive |
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gratuitous
|
adj
given freely; uncalled for; unjustified; unprovoked |
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glut
|
n
surplus, overabundance |
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hackneyed
|
adj
overused, trite, stale |
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halcyon
|
adj
peaceful, serene; carefree |
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garbinger
|
n
a forerunner, a signal of |
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hedonism
|
n
the pursuit of pleasure as a way of life |
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hegemony
|
n
leadership, especiall of one nation over another |
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hermetic
|
adj
airtight, impervious to external influence |
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homily
|
n
a sermon |
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hubris
|
n
excessive pride |
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humanist
|
n
one who has great concern for human welfare, values, and dignity; a student of the classics |
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hybrid
|
n
formed, bred, or composed from different elements |
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hypodermic
|
adj
beneath the skin |
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idiosyncratic
|
adj
quirky, peculiar, eccentric |
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ignominy
|
n
shame, disrepute, disgrace |
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importune
|
v
to beg, urge, or insist persistently |
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inane
|
adj
silly, senseless |
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incantation
|
n
a chant |
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incarnate
|
adj
in the flash |
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incensed
|
adj
very angry |
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inchoate
|
adj
incomplete; only partially formed |
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indignant
|
adj
angry or insulted, especially as a result of something unjust or unworthy |
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indolent
|
adj
averse to activity; habitually lazy |
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ineffable
|
adj
incapable of being expressed or described |
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inexorable
|
adj
relentless, inevitable, unavoidable |
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inoculate
|
v
to protect against disease |
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insouciant
|
adj
nonchalant, lighthearted, carefree |
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irascible
|
adj
easily angered or provoked; irritable |
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jaunt
|
n
a short pleasure trip |
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jejune
|
adj
lacking maturity or significance; irrelevant |
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jettison
|
v
to throw or cast off |
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jingoist
|
n
an excessively vigilant patriot; a bellicose chauvinist; a war-mongering nationalist |
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jurisprudence
|
n
the study of law |
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karma
|
n
consequences of one's actions; fate, destiny |
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kudos
|
n
honor, glory, acclaim, compliment |
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lambaste
|
v
to assault violently with words |
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lament
|
v
to mourn |
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laudatory
|
adj
praising |
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lax
|
adj
not strict; careless or negligent |
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lexicon
|
n
a glossary or dictionary |
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limpid
|
adj
transparent, clear, lucid |
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liniment
|
n
a medicinal liquid or salve for rubbing on the skin |
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liquidate
|
v
to get rid of; to settle a debt |
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lugubrious
|
adj
exaggeratedly mournful |
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luminary
|
n
a person who has attained eminence in his or her field |
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maudlin
|
adj
silly and overly sentimental |
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maverick
|
n
a nonconformist; a rebel |
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mellifluous
|
adj
flowing sweetly; usually refers to sounds or voices |
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mendacious
|
adj
lying, dishonest |
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meritorious
|
adj
deserving praise or reward |
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mirth
|
n
amusement or laughter |
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misanthrope
|
n
one who hates people |
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mollify
|
v
to soften, soothe, pacify |
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moribund
|
adj
dying |
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narcissism
|
n
excessive love of one's body or oneself |
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nebulous
|
adj
vague, hazy, indistinct |
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neologism
|
n
a new word or phrase; a new usage of a word |
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neophyte
|
n
a novice or beginner |
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noisome
|
adj
affensive or disgusting; stinking, noxious |
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noxious
|
adj
harmful, offensive |
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nuance
|
n
a subtle difference or distinction |
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numerology
|
n
the study or numbers for the purposes of predicting the future |
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obdurate
|
adj
stubborn, insensitive, unyielding, resistant to persuasion |
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obeisance
|
n
deep reverence; a bow or curtsy |
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obfuscate
|
v
to darken or confuse |
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obsequious
|
adj
fawning, subservient, servile, excessively deferential |
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odometer
|
n
instrument that measures how many miles one has traveled |
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olfactory
|
adj
pertaining to the sense of smell |
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oligarchy
|
n
government by only a very few people |
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ornate
|
adj
very fancy; usually refers to tangible things |
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palliative
|
adj.,n
something that provides temporary relief without getting rid of the problem |
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paltry
|
adj
insignificant; worthless |
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panacea
|
n
something that cures everything |
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panache
|
n
flair, verve; dashing elegance |
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paragon
|
n
a model of excellence |
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peccadillo
|
n
a minor offense or error |
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pedantic
|
adj
boringly scholarly or academic; overconcerned with details |
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penurious
|
adj
extremely stingy, poor, or miserly |
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perfidy
|
n
treachery |
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perfunctory
|
adj
unenthusiastic, careless |
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pernicious
|
adj
deadly, extremely evil |
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perquisite
|
n
a privilege that goes along with a job |
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philistine
|
n
a smugly ignorant person with no appreciation for intellectuall or artistic matters |
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piquant
|
adj
pleasantly sharp in flavor; interestingly provocative or stimulating |
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pique
|
v
to excite; to arouse an emotion or provoke to action |
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plebeian
|
adj
common, vulgar, low-class |
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poignant
|
adj
painfully emotional, extremely moving; sharp or astute |
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polemic
|
n
a powerful argument often made to attack or refute a controversial issue |
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portent
|
n
an omen, a sign of something coming |
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potentate
|
n
a person who possesses great power |
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predilection
|
n
a natural preference for something |
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preempt
|
v
to seize something by prior right |
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prescient
|
adj
having knowledge of things before they exist or happen |
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|
priggish
|
adj
very fussy, self-righteous, high-maintenance; usually refers to people |
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profligate
|
adj
extravagantly wasteful; wildely immoral |
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prolific
|
adj
abundantly productie, fruitful, or fertile |
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promulgate
|
v
to publicly or formally declare something |
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prosaic
|
adj
dull, unimaginative |
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pugnacious
|
adj
quarrelsome, combative, always ready to fight |
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|
pulchritude
|
n
physical beauty |
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queue
|
n.,v
a line; to line up |
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|
quiescent
|
adj
motionless; at rest; still |
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|
quintessential
|
adj
most perfect |
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|
quixotic
|
adj
idealistic to a foolish or impractical degree |
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quotidian
|
adj
daily, everyday; ordinary |
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|
raze
|
v
to completely destroy or level something |
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|
rebuke
|
v
to criticize sharply |
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|
recapitulate
|
v
to review or summarize |
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|
recidivism
|
n
the act of repeating an offense |
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|
redolent
|
adj
fragrant |
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renege
|
v
to go back on a bet or promise |
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|
retrenchment
|
n
cutting down or off, reduction |
|
|
rhetoric
|
n
the study or art of using language well; the use of undue exaggeration |
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|
sacrosanct
|
adj
sacred, held to be inviolable |
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|
sanguine
|
adj
cheerful, optimistic, hopeful |
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sardonic
|
adj
mocking, scornful |
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|
saturnine
|
adj
gloomy or taciturn |
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|
scrupulous
|
adj
strict, careful; hesitant for ethical reasons |
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|
semantic
|
n
pertaining to the meaning of words or symbols |
|
|
semaphore
|
n
a system of signaling, usually through the use of flags |
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|
serendipity
|
n
accidental good fortune, the discovery of good things without looking for them |
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skinflint
|
n
a mean, penny-pinching person |
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|
smidgen
|
n
a very small amount |
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|
somber
|
adj
depressing, dismal, gloomy |
|
|
specious
|
adj
deceptively plausible or attractive; misleading |
|
|
stand
|
n
a group of trees |
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|
sublime
|
adj
of great intellectual, moral, or spiritual value |
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|
subsidy
|
n
a gift of money |
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|
subterfuge
|
n
deceptive strategy used to conceal, escape, or evade |
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|
supercilious
|
adj
haughty, patronizing |
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|
supplicate
|
v
to ask or beg humbly |
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|
tenable
|
adj
valid, capable of being argued successfully |
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|
threadbare
|
adj
falling apart, meager, poor, old |
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|
truculent
|
adj
fierce, cruel, savagely brutal |
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|
turbid
|
adj
unclear or opaque; lacking clarity or purity |
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|
uncanny
|
adj
extraordinary, mysterious, uncomfortably strange |
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|
unilateral
|
adj
involving one side only; done on behalf of one side only |
|
|
usury
|
n
the practice of lending money at a high rate of interest |
|
|
vacuous
|
adj
empty of content; lacking in ideas or intelligence |
|
|
vapid
|
adj
dull, spiritless |
|
|
verdant
|
adj
covered with green plants; leafy; inexperienced |
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|
vernacular
|
n
everyday speech, slang, idiom |
|
|
vestige
|
n
everyday speech, slang, idiom |
|
|
vestige
|
n
a remaining bit of something, a last trace |
|
|
vilify
|
v
a remaining bit of something, a last trace |
|
|
vilify
|
v
to say vile things about; to defame |
|
|
wane
|
v
to decrease in strength or intensity; to fade away; to decline in power |
|
|
wanton
|
adj
malicious, unjustifiable, unprovoked, egregious |
|
|
wizened
|
adj
shriveled, withered, shrunken |
|
|
zeitgeist
|
n
the mood or spirit of the times |
|
|
zenith
|
n
the highest point; peak; pinnacle |
