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25 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
talisman
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Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -mans 1 : an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune 2 : something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects - tal·is·man·ic / adjective - tal·is·man·i·cal·ly/ adverb |
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pith
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Function: noun
1 a : a usually continuous central strand of spongy tissue in the stems of most vascular plants that probably functions chiefly in storage b : any of various loose spongy plant tissues that resemble true pith c : the soft or spongy interior of a part of the body 2 a : the essential part : CORE b : substantial quality (as of meaning) 3 : IMPORTANCE Function: transitive verb 1 a : to kill (as cattle) by piercing or severing the spinal cord b : to destroy the spinal cord or central nervous system of (as a frog) usually by passing a wire or needle up and down the vertebral canal 2 : to remove the pith from (a plant stem) |
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doctrine
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Function: noun
1 archaic : TEACHING, INSTRUCTION 2 a : something that is taught b : a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : DOGMA c : a principle of law established through past decisions d : a statement of fundamental government policy especially in international relations |
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toady
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Function: noun
plural: toadies one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors synonym: SYCOPHANT Function: intransitive verb Inflected Form(s): toadied; toadying to behave as a toady, to engage in sycophancy synonym: FAWN |
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jetsam
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Function: noun
1 : the part of a ship, its equipment, or its cargo that is cast overboard to lighten the load in time of distress and that sinks or is washed ashore 2 : FLOTSAM(unimportant stuff) |
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sundry
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Function: adjective
MISCELLANEOUS, VARIOUS <sundry articles> Function: pronoun, plural in construction an indeterminate number <recommended for reading by all and sundry -- Edward Huberman> |
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termagant
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Function: noun
an overbearing or nagging woman : SHREW Function: adjective : OVERBEARING, SHREWISH |
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phlegmatic
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Function: adjective
1 : resembling, consisting of, or producing the humor phlegm 2 : having or showing a slow and stolid temperament synonym see IMPASSIVE - phleg·mat·i·cal·ly / adverb |
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vituperate
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Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing transitive senses : to abuse or censure severely or abusively : BERATE intransitive senses : to use harsh condemnatory language synonym see SCOLD - vi·tu·per·a·tor / noun |
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withstand
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Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): with·stood ; -stand·ing 1 a : to stand up against : oppose with firm determination; especially : to resist successfully b : to be proof against : resist the effect of <withstand the impact of a landing -- Current Biography> 2 archaic : to stop or obstruct the course of synonym: OPPOSE |
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malleable
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Function: adjective
1 : capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer or by the pressure of rollers 2 a : capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences b : having a capacity for adaptive change synonym see PLASTIC - mal·lea·bil·i·ty /noun |
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promulgate
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Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -gat·ed; -gat·ing 1 : to make known by open declaration : PROCLAIM 2 a : to make known or public the terms of (a proposed law) b : to put (a law) into action or force synonym: DECLARE - pro·mul·ga·tion /noun - pro·mul·ga·tor / noun |
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amalgam
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Function: noun
1 : an alloy of mercury with another metal that is solid or liquid at room temperature according to the proportion of mercury present and is used especially in making tooth cements 2 : a mixture of different elements |
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vitiate
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Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing 1 : to make faulty or defective : IMPAIR <the comic impact is vitiated by obvious haste -- William Styron> 2 : to debase in moral or aesthetic status <a mind vitiated by prejudice> 3 : to make ineffective <fraud vitiates a contract> synonym see DEBASE - vi·ti·a·tion /noun - vi·ti·a·tor / noun |
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fawn
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Function: intransitive verb
1 : to show affection -- used especially of a dog 2 : to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner - fawn·er noun - fawn·ing·ly /adverb synonyms FAWN, TOADY, TRUCKLE, CRINGE, COWER mean to behave abjectly before a superior. FAWN implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention <waiters fawning over a celebrity>. TOADY suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude <toadying to his boss>. TRUCKLE implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior <truckling to a powerful lobbyist>. CRINGE suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility <a cringing sycophant>. COWER suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people <cowering before a bully>. Function: noun 1 : a young deer; especially : one still unweaned or retaining a distinctive baby coat 2 : KID 1 3 : a light grayish brown |
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detritus
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Function: noun
plural: de·tri·tus 1 : loose material (as rock fragments or organic particles) that results directly from disintegration 2 : a product of disintegration, destruction, or wearing away : DEBRIS - de·tri·tal /adjective |
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hector
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Function: noun
BULLY, BRAGGART Function: verb Inflected Form(s): hec·tored; hec·tor·ing intransitive senses : to play the bully : SWAGGER transitive senses : to intimidate or harass by bluster or personal pressure synonym see BAIT - hec·tor·ing·ly / adverb |
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mélange
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Function: noun
a mixture often of incongruous(incompatible) elements |
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enervate
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Function: adjective
lacking physical, mental, or moral vigor : ENERVATED Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): -vat·ed; -vat·ing 1 : to reduce the mental or moral vigor of 2 : to lessen the vitality or strength of synonym see UNNERVE - en·er·va·tion / noun |
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unctuous
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Function: adjective
1 a : FATTY, OILY b : smooth and greasy in texture or appearance 2 : PLASTIC <fine unctuous clay> 3 : full of unction; especially : revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality - unc·tu·ous·ly adverb - unc·tu·ous·ness noun |
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venal
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Function: adjective
1 : capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration : PURCHASABLE; especially : open to corrupt influence and especially bribery : MERCENARY <a venal legislator> 2 : originating in, characterized by, or associated with corrupt bribery <a venal arrangement with the police> - ve·nal·i·ty / noun - ve·nal·ly / adverb |
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bombastic
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Function: adjective
marked by or given to bombast : POMPOUS, OVERBLOWN - bom·bas·ti·cal·ly / adverb |
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protean
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Function: adjective
1 : of or resembling Proteus in having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms 2 : displaying great diversity or variety : VERSATILE |
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diaphanous
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Function: adjective
1 : characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through 2 : characterized by extreme delicacy of form : ETHEREAL <painted diaphanous landscapes> 3 : INSUBSTANTIAL, VAGUE <had only a diaphanous hope of success> - di·aph·a·nous·ly adverb - di·aph·a·nous·ness noun |
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lower
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Function: intransitive verb
1 : to look sullen : FROWN 2 : to be or become dark, gloomy, and threatening Function: noun frown Function: adjective 1 : relatively low in position, rank, or order 2 : SOUTHERN <lower New York State> 3 : less advanced in the scale of evolutionary development 4 a : situated or held to be situated beneath the earth's surface b capitalized : being an earlier epoch or series of the period or system named <Lower Cretaceous> <Lower Paleolithic> 5 : constituting the popular and often the larger and more representative branch of a bicameral legislative body <lower house> Function: verb 1 a : to let descend : LET DOWN b : to depress as to direction <lower your aim> c : to reduce the height of 2 a : to reduce in value, number, or amount b (1) : to bring down in quality or character : DEGRADE (2) : ABASE, HUMBLE c : to reduce the objective of |