LEVEL 5 SAT VOCAB

picayune

adj. (informal) small and of little importance

elaborate

adj. marked by complexity and richness of detail; developed or executed with care and in minute detail; verb work out in detail; add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; produce from basic elements or sources; change into a more developed product; make more complex, intricate, or richer

foolhardy

adj. marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences

duplicitous

adj. marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another

flowery

adj. marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details; of or relating to or suggestive of flowers

fickle

adj. marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments; liable to sudden unpredictable change

fanatical

adj. marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea

overzealous

adj. marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea

hysterical

adj. marked by excessive or uncontrollable emotion; characterized by or arising from psychoneurotic hysteria

ferocious

adj. marked by extreme and violent energy

slipshod

adj. marked by great carelessness

haphazard

adj. marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chance; adv. without care; in a slapdash manner

scathing

adj. marked by harshly abusive criticism

humble

adj. marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful; used of unskilled work (especially domestic work); low or inferior in station or quality; of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense); verb cause to be unpretentious; cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

circuitous

adj. marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct; deviating from a straight course

imitative

adj. marked by or given to imitation; not genuine; imitating something superior; (of words) formed in imitation of a natural sound

forlorn

adj. marked by or showing hopelessness

discreet

adj. marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint; heedful of potential consequences; unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic

efficacious

adj. marked by qualities giving the power to produce an intended effect; producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect

prodigal

adj. marked by rash extravagance; very generous; recklessly wasteful; noun a recklessly extravagant consumer

brusque

adj. marked by rude or peremptory shortness

wily

adj. marked by skill in deception

judicious

adj. marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters

calibrated

adj. marked with or divided into degrees

shabby

adj. mean and unworthy and despicable; showing signs of wear and tear

putrid

adj. morally corrupt or evil; in an advanced state of decomposition and having a foul odor; of or relating to or attended by putrefaction

virtuous

adj. morally excellent; in a state of sexual virginity

lithe

adj. moving and bending with ease

abnormal

adj. much greater than the normal; not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm; departing from the normal in e.g. intelligence and development

sacrosanct

adj. must be kept sacred

inviolable

adj. must be kept sacred; incapable of being transgressed or dishonored; not capable of being violated or infringed; able to withstand attack

insular

adj. narrowly restricted in outlook or scope; suggestive of the isolated life of an island; relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island

endemic

adj. native to or confined to a certain region; of or relating to a disease (or anything resembling a disease) constantly present to greater or lesser extent in a particular locality; originating where it is found; noun a plant that is native to a certain limited area; a disease that is constantly present to a greater or lesser degree in people of a certain class or in people living in a particular location

impish

adj. naughtily or annoyingly playful

relentless

adj. never-ceasing; not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

unrelenting

adj. never-ceasing; not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

impervious

adj. not admitting of passage or capable of being affected

unforeseen

adj. not anticipated; happening or coming quickly and without warning

unassuming

adj. not arrogant or presuming

retiring

adj. not arrogant or presuming; moving toward a position farther from the front; reluctant to draw attention to yourself; of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office

generic

adj. applicable to an entire class or group; (of drugs) not protected by trademark; relating to or common to or descriptive of all members of a genus; noun any product that can be sold without a brand name; a wine that is a blend of several varieties of grapes with no one grape predominating; a wine that does not carry the name of any specific grape

miffed

adj. aroused to impatience or anger

stilted

adj. artificially formal

artificial

adj. artificially formal; contrived by art rather than nature; not arising from natural growth or characterized by vital processes

flabbergasted

adj. as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise

inclined

adj. at an angle to the horizontal or vertical position; (often followed by `to') having a preference, disposition, or tendency; used especially of the head or upper back; having made preparations

fawning

adj. attempting to win favor by flattery; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery

auspicious

adj. auguring favorable circumstances and good luck

sparing

adj. avoiding waste

tenable

adj. based on sound reasoning or evidence

redoubled

adj. become much greater in intensity or size or amount

efficient

adj. being effective without wasting time or effort or expense; able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively

indulgent

adj. being favorably inclined; characterized by or given to yielding to the wishes of someone; tolerant or lenient

chronic

adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering

pivotal

adj. being of crucial importance

muted

adj. being or made softer or less loud or clear; in a softened tone

gestural

adj. being other than verbal communication; used of the language of the deaf

omnipresent

adj. being present everywhere at once

self-deprecating

adj. belittling or undervaluing oneself; excessively modest.

regal

adj. belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler

romantic

adj. belonging to or characteristic of romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts; expressive of or exciting sexual love or romance; not sensible about practical matters; unrealistic; noun a soulful or amorous idealist; an artist of the Romantic Movement or someone influenced by Romanticism

bourgeois

adj. belonging to the middle class; conforming to the standards and conventions of the middle class; (according to Marxist thought) being of the property-owning class and exploitive of the working class; noun a member of the middle class; a capitalist who engages in industrial commercial enterprise

contemporary

adj. belonging to the present time; characteristic of the present; occurring in the same period of time; noun a person of nearly the same age as another

unimpeachable

adj. beyond doubt or reproach; completely acceptable; not open to exception or reproach; free of guilt; not subject to blame

inordinate

adj. beyond normal limits

marred

adj. blemished by injury or rough wear; having the surface damaged or disfigured

laconic

adj. brief and to the point; effectively cut short

compendious

adj. briefly giving the gist of something

redemptive

adj. bringing about salvation or redemption from sin; of or relating to or resulting in redemption

congregate

adj. brought together into a group or crowd; verb come together, usually for a purpose

pliable

adj. capable of being bent or flexed or twisted without breaking; able to adjust readily to different conditions; capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out; susceptible to being led or directed

feasible

adj. capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are

divisible

adj. capable of being or liable to be divided or separated

malleable

adj. capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out; easily influenced

verifiable

adj. capable of being verified; capable of being tested (verified or falsified) by experiment or observation

combustible

adj. capable of igniting and burning; noun a substance that can be burned to provide heat or power

viable

adj. capable of life or normal growth and development; capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are

solvent

adj. capable of meeting financial obligations; noun a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances; a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem

blithe

adj. carefree and happy and lighthearted; lacking or showing a lack of due concern

obligated

adj. caused by law or conscience to follow a certain course

disconcerting

adj. causing an emotional disturbance

demeaning

adj. causing awareness of your shortcomings

dire

adj. causing fear or dread or terror; fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless

pestering

adj. causing irritation or annoyance

vexatious

adj. causing irritation or annoyance

vexing

adj. causing irritation or annoyance; extremely annoying or displeasing

cautious

adj. cautious in attitude and careful in actions; prudent; showing careful forethought; avoiding excess; noun people who are fearful and cautious

solidified

adj. changed into a solid mass

ossified

adj. changed into bone; hardened by deposits of mineral matter; set in a rigidly conventional pattern of behavior, habits, or beliefs

patriarchal

adj. characteristic of a form of social organization in which the male is the family head and title is traced through the male line; relating to or characteristic of a man who is older or higher in rank

histrionic

adj. characteristic of acting or a stage performance; often affected

authoritarian

adj. characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty; expecting unquestioning obedience; likened to a dictator in severity; noun a person who behaves in an tyrannical manner

worldly

adj. characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world; concerned with secular rather than sacred matters; very sophisticated especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world

narcissistic

adj. characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance

totalitarian

adj. characterized by a government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control; of or relating to the principles of totalitarianism according to which the state regulates every realm of life; noun an adherent of totalitarian principles or totalitarian government

intensive

adj. characterized by a high degree or intensity; often used as a combining form; of agriculture; intended to increase productivity of a fixed area by expending more capital and labor; tending to give force or emphasis; noun a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies

impertinent

adj. characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality; improperly forward or bold; not pertinent to the matter under consideration

verdant

adj. characterized by abundance of verdure

dynamic

adj. characterized by action or forcefulness or force of personality; of or relating to dynamics; expressing action rather than a state of being; used of verbs (e.g. `to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. `running' in `running water'); noun an efficient incentive

ingenuous

adj. characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious; lacking in sophistication or worldliness

irascible

adj. characterized by anger; quickly aroused to anger

dogmatic

adj. characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles; relating to or involving dogma; of or pertaining to or characteristic of a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative

courteous

adj. characterized by courtesy and gracious good manners; exhibiting courtesy and politeness

premeditated

adj. characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning

sedate

adj. characterized by dignity and propriety; dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises; verb cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to

bookish

adj. characterized by diligent study and fondness for reading

byzantine

adj. characterized by elaborate scheming and intrigue; devious; highly complex or intricate; of or relating to or characteristic of the Byzantine Empire or the ancient city of Byzantium; of or relating to the Eastern Orthodox Church or the rites performed in it; noun a native or inhabitant of Byzantium or of the Byzantine Empire

lively

adj. characterized by energetic activity; filled with events or activity; full of life and energy; full of zest or vigor; full of spirit; elastic; rebounds readily; quick and energetic

membranous

adj. characterized by formation of a membrane (or something resembling a membrane); relating to or made of or similar to a membrane

slapstick

adj. characterized by horseplay and physical action; noun acoustic device consisting of two paddles hinged together; used by an actor to make a loud noise without inflicting injury when striking someone; a boisterous comedy with chases and collisions and practical jokes

impassioned

adj. characterized by intense emotion

methodical

adj. characterized by method and orderliness

kinetic

adj. characterized by motion; relating to the motion of material bodies and the forces associated therewith; supplying motive force

stifling

adj. characterized by oppressive heat and humidity; noun forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority

collegial

adj. characterized by or having authority vested equally among colleagues; of or resembling or typical of a college or college students

formulaic

adj. characterized by or in accordance with some formula

repressed

adj. characterized by or showing the suppression of impulses or emotions

minute

adj. characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination; infinitely or immeasurably small; immeasurably small; noun a short note; a unit of angular distance equal to a 60th of a degree; a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour; distance measured by the time taken to cover it; a particular point in time; an indefinitely short time

blasphemous

adj. characterized by profanity or cursing; grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred

repetitious

adj. characterized by repetition

resounding

adj. characterized by reverberation

tumultuous

adj. characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination

gossamer

adj. characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy; so thin as to transmit light; noun a gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture; filaments from a web that was spun by a spider

inflammatory

adj. characterized or caused by inflammation; arousing to action or rebellion

incriminating

adj. charging or suggestive of guilt or blame

imminent

adj. close in time; about to occur

compounded

adj. combined into or constituting a chemical compound

recurring

adj. coming back

emergent

adj. coming into existence; occurring unexpectedly and requiring urgent action

devoid

adj. completely lacking; completely wanting or lacking

subservient

adj. compliant and obedient to authority; abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant; serving or acting as a means or aid

exhibitionistic

adj. compulsively attracting attention to yourself especially by public exposure or exaggerated behavior

theoretical

adj. concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; concerned with theories rather than their practical applications

rhetorical

adj. concerned with effect or style of writing and speaking; of or relating to rhetoric

ideological

adj. concerned with or suggestive of ideas

self-righteous

adj. confident of one's own righteousness, especially when smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others.

sanguine

adj. confidently optimistic and cheerful; inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life; noun a blood-red color

muddled

adj. confused and vague; used especially of thinking

sundry

adj. consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds (even to the point of incongruity)

clamorous

adj. conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry

vociferous

adj. conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry

mimic

adj. constituting an imitation; noun someone who mimics (especially an actor or actress); verb imitate (a person or manner), especially for satirical effect

constituent

adj. constitutional in the structure of something (especially your physical makeup); noun (grammar) a word or phrase or clause forming part of a larger grammatical construction; a member of a constituency; a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she votes; an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system; an abstract part of something

accusatory

adj. containing or expressing accusation

invidious

adj. containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice

desolate

adj. crushed by grief; providing no shelter or sustenance; verb devastate or ravage; reduce in population; leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

malignant

adj. dangerous to health; characterized by progressive and uncontrolled growth (especially of a tumor)

embroiled

adj. deeply involved especially in something complicated

meager

adj. deficient in amount or quality or extent

sterile

adj. deficient in originality or creativity; lacking powers of invention; incapable of reproducing; free of or using methods to keep free of pathological microorganisms

deadpan

adj. deliberately impassive in manner; adv. without betraying any feeling

evasive

adj. deliberately vague or ambiguous; avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger especially enemy fire; skillful at eluding capture

immoral

adj. deliberately violating accepted principles of right and wrong; morally unprincipled; marked by immorality; deviating from what is considered right or proper or good; characterized by wickedness or immorality; not adhering to ethical or moral principles

stratified

adj. deposited or arranged in horizontal layers; (used of society) socially hierarchical; arranged in a sequence of grades or ranks

empirical

adj. derived from experiment and observation rather than theory; relying on medical quackery

retroactive

adj. descriptive of any event or stimulus or process that has an effect on the effects of events or stimuli or process that occurred previously; affecting things past

hapless

adj. deserving or inciting pity

functional

adj. designed for or capable of a particular function or use; involving or affecting function rather than physiology; designed for or adapted to a function or use; fit or ready for use or service; relating to or based on function especially as opposed to structure; (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

obscene

adj. designed to incite to indecency or lust; suggestive of or tending to moral looseness; offensive to the mind

preliminary

adj. designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding; noun something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; a minor match preceding the main event

demoralizing

adj. destructive of morale and self-reliance

decisive

adj. determining or having the power to determine an outcome; characterized by decision and firmness; unmistakable; forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis

ravenous

adj. devouring or craving food in great quantities; extremely hungry

indiscernible

adj. difficult or impossible to perceive or discern; barely able to be perceived

unwieldy

adj. difficult to work or manipulate; difficult to use or handle or manage because of size or weight or shape; lacking grace in movement or posture

probing

adj. diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation

thwarted

adj. disappointingly unsuccessful

daunting

adj. discouraging through fear

luxurious

adj. displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses; rich and superior in quality

amenable

adj. disposed or willing to comply; liable to answer to a higher authority; open to being acted upon in a certain way; readily reacting to suggestions and influences

audacious

adj. disposed to venture or take risks; unrestrained by convention or propriety; invulnerable to fear or intimidation

militant

adj. disposed to warfare or hard-line policies; showing a fighting disposition; engaged in war; noun a militant reformer

divisive

adj. dissenting (especially dissenting with the majority opinion)

timely

adj. done or happening at the appropriate or proper time; before a time limit expires; adv. at an opportune time

interdisciplinary

adj. drawing from or characterized by participation of two or more fields of study

acquisitive

adj. eager to acquire and possess things especially material possessions or ideas

raunchy

adj. earthy and sexually explicit; thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot; suggestive of or tending to moral looseness

peevish

adj. easily irritated or annoyed

tractable

adj. easily managed (controlled or taught or molded); readily reacting to suggestions and influences

infectious

adj. easily spread; caused by infection or capable of causing infection; of or relating to infection

transparent

adj. easily understood or seen through (because of a lack of subtlety); transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity; free of deceit; so thin as to transmit light

chic

adj. elegant and stylish; noun elegance by virtue of being fashionable

prevalent

adj. encountered generally especially at the present time

prevailing

adj. encountered generally especially at the present time; most frequent or common

amateur

adj. engaged in as a pastime; lacking professional skill or expertise; noun someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime; does not play for pay

frenetic

adj. excessively agitated; transported with rage or other violent emotion

frantic

adj. excessively agitated; transported with rage or other violent emotion; marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion

penurious

adj. excessively unwilling to spend; not having enough money to pay for necessities

wearied

adj. exhausted

mimetic

adj. exhibiting mimicry; characterized by or of the nature of or using mimesis

impermanent

adj. existing or enduring for a limited time only; not permanent; not lasting

optimistic

adj. expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds; expecting the best

pessimistic

adj. expecting the worst in this worst of all possible worlds

triumphant

adj. experiencing triumph; joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success

pejorative

adj. expressing disapproval

contemptuous

adj. expressing extreme contempt

disapproving

adj. expressing or manifesting disapproval

supercilious

adj. expressive of contempt; having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

reactionary

adj. extremely conservative; noun an extreme conservative; an opponent of progress or liberalism

famished

adj. extremely hungry

excruciating

adj. extremely painful

nefarious

adj. extremely wicked

remiss

adj. failing in what duty requires

derelict

adj. failing in what duty requires; in deplorable condition; forsaken by owner or keeper; worn and broken down by hard use; noun a person unable to support himself; a ship abandoned on the high seas

jingoistic

adj. fanatically patriotic

remote

adj. far apart in nature; inaccessible and sparsely populated; apart in space; separate or apart in time; very unlikely; noun a device that can be used to control a machine or apparatus from a distance

hospitable

adj. favorable to life and growth; disposed to treat guests and strangers with cordiality and generosity; having an open mind

egalitarian

adj. favoring social equality; noun a person who believes in the equality of all people

bold

adj. fearless and daring; clear and distinct; very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front; noun a typeface with thick heavy lines

rapturous

adj. feeling great rapture or delight

abashed

adj. feeling or caused to feel uneasy and self-conscious

repentant

adj. feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds

self-satisfied

adj. feeling or showing satisfaction with oneself.

contrite

adj. feeling regret for a fault or offence; feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses

astounded

adj. filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

beguiled

adj. filled with wonder and delight

unswerving

adj. firm and dependable especially in loyalty; going directly ahead from one point to another without veering or turning aside

communal

adj. for or by a group rather than individuals; relating to a small administrative district or community

clairvoyant

adj. foreseeing the future; perceiving things beyond the natural range of the senses; noun someone who has the power of clairvoyance

promulgated

adj. formally made public

overarching

adj. forming an arch overhead

formative

adj. forming or capable of forming or molding or fashioning; capable of forming new cells and tissues; susceptible to alteration by development and experience; noun minimal language unit that has a syntactic (or morphological) function

perilous

adj. fraught with danger

guileless

adj. free from guile; free of deceit

modest

adj. free from ostentation or pretension; not large but sufficient in size or amount; not offensive to sexual mores in conduct or appearance; marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself; free from pomp or affectation; limited in size or scope; humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness; low or inferior in station or quality

nonpartisan

adj. free from party affiliation or bias; noun a person who is nonpartisan

irreproachable

adj. free of guilt; not subject to blame

absolved

adj. freed from any question of guilt

disenchanted

adj. freed from enchantment

lush

adj. full of juice; produced or growing in extreme abundance; characterized by extravagance and profusion; noun a person who drinks alcohol to excess habitually

jovial

adj. full of or showing high-spirited merriment

sprightly

adj. full of spirit and vitality

ancillary

adj. furnishing added support

conferred

adj. given formally or officially

gluttonous

adj. given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink

fastidious

adj. giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness; having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures

permissive

adj. granting or inclined or able to grant permission; not strict in discipline; not preventive

preeminent

adj. greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement

exorbitant

adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation

fretful

adj. habitually complaining; unable to relax or be still

taciturn

adj. habitually reserved and uncommunicative

acrid

adj. harsh or corrosive in tone; strong and sharp; "the pungent taste of radishes"

censorious

adj. harshly critical or expressing censure

dour

adj. harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance; showing a brooding ill humor; stubbornly unyielding

cursory

adj. hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

reputable

adj. having a good reputation

imbecile

adj. having a mental age of three to seven years; noun a person of subnormal intelligence

odoriferous

adj. having a natural fragrance; emitting an odor; giving off an odor; morally offensive

euphonious

adj. having a pleasant sound; (of speech or dialect) pleasing in sound; not harsh or strident

emollient

adj. having a softening or soothing effect especially to the skin; noun toiletry consisting of any of various substances in the form of a thick liquid that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin

aromatic

adj. having a strong pleasant odor; (chemistry) of or relating to or containing one or more benzene rings

variegated

adj. having a variety of colors

infamous

adj. having an exceedingly bad reputation

skewed

adj. having an oblique or slanting direction or position

ruffled

adj. having decorative ruffles or frills; shaken into waves or undulations as by wind

baroque

adj. having elaborate symmetrical ornamentation; noun elaborate and extensive ornamentation in decorative art and architecture that flourished in Europe in the 17th century

ponderous

adj. having great mass and weight and unwieldiness; labored and dull; slow and laborious because of weight

brittle

adj. having little elasticity; hence easily cracked or fractured or snapped; (of metal or glass) not annealed and consequently easily cracked or fractured; lacking warmth and generosity of spirit; noun caramelized sugar cooled in thin sheets

multifaceted

adj. having many aspects

multifarious

adj. having many aspects

unprecedented

adj. having no precedent; novel

elongate

adj. having notably more length than width; being long and slender; of a leaf shape; long and narrow; verb make long or longer by pulling and stretching

beneficiary

adj. having or arising from a benefice; noun the recipient of funds or other benefits; the semantic role of the intended recipient who benefits from the happening denoted by the verb in the clause

passionate

adj. having or expressing strong emotions

practical

adj. having or put to a practical purpose or use; concerned with actual use or practice; guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory; being actually such in almost every respect

impassive

adj. having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited; deliberately impassive in manner

consummate

adj. having or revealing supreme mastery or skill; without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers; perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities; verb make perfect; bring to perfection; fulfill sexually

combative

adj. having or showing a ready disposition to fight; striving to overcome in argument; inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits

haughty

adj. having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

self-possessed

adj. having or showing control of one's feelings, behavior, etc.; composed; poised.

aggressive

adj. having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends; characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight; tending to spread quickly

adept

adj. having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude; noun someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

noble

adj. having or showing or indicative of high or elevated character; of or belonging to or constituting the hereditary aristocracy especially as derived from feudal times; inert especially toward oxygen; impressive in appearance; noun a titled peer of the realm

patronized

adj. having patronage or clients

motley

adj. having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly; consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds (even to the point of incongruity); noun a multicolored woolen fabric woven of mixed threads in 14th to 17th century England; a garment made of motley (especially a court jester's costume); a collection containing a variety of sorts of things; verb make motley; color with different colors; make something more diverse and varied

fortified

adj. having something added to increase the strength; secured with bastions or fortifications

mottled

adj. having spots or patches of color

retentive

adj. having the power, capacity, or quality of retaining water; good at remembering; having the capacity to retain something

viscous

adj. having the sticky properties of an adhesive; having a relatively high resistance to flow

spellbound

adj. having your attention fixated as though by a spell

audible

adj. heard or perceptible by the ear; noun a football play is changed orally after both teams have assumed their positions at the line of scrimmage

earthy

adj. hearty and lusty; not far removed from or suggestive of nature; of or consisting of or resembling earth; conspicuously and tastelessly indecent; sensible and practical

liable

adj. held legally responsible; (often followed by `to') likely to be affected with; subject to legal action; at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant

metaphysical

adj. highly abstract and overly theoretical; without material form or substance; pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics

sweeping

adj. ignoring distinctions; taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination; noun the act of cleaning with a broom

boorish

adj. ill-mannered and coarse and contemptible in behavior or appearance

incorrigible

adj. impervious to correction by punishment

indisputable

adj. impossible to doubt or dispute; not open to question; obviously true

irrepressible

adj. impossible to repress or control

insatiable

adj. impossible to satisfy

indomitable

adj. impossible to subdue

insuperable

adj. impossible to surmount; incapable of being surmounted or excelled

disgruntled

adj. in a state of sulky dissatisfaction

dissatisfied

adj. in a state of sulky dissatisfaction

ramshackle

adj. in deplorable condition

disheveled

adj. in disarray; extremely disorderly

insurgent

adj. in opposition to a civil authority or government; noun a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions); a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment

verbatim

adj. in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker; adv. using exactly the same words

inexplicable

adj. incapable of being explained or accounted for

incorruptible

adj. incapable of being morally corrupted

impregnable

adj. incapable of being overcome, challenged or refuted; able to withstand attack; capable of conceiving

inalienable

adj. incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another; not subject to forfeiture

irrevocable

adj. incapable of being retracted or revoked

infallible

adj. incapable of failure or error

submissive

adj. inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination; abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant

florid

adj. inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life; elaborately or excessively ornamented

somnolent

adj. inclined to or marked by drowsiness

preachy

adj. inclined to or marked by tedious moralization

comprehensive

adj. including all or everything; broad in scope; noun an intensive examination testing a student's proficiency in some special field of knowledge

inclusive

adj. including much or everything; and especially including stated limits

inclusiveness

adj. including or encompassing the stated limit or extremes in consideration or account (usually used postpositively):

astronomical

adj. inconceivably large; relating or belonging to the science of astronomy

enhanced

adj. increased or intensified in value or beauty or quality

cumulative

adj. increasing by successive addition

fanciful

adj. indulging in or influenced by fancy; having a curiously intricate quality; not based on fact; dubious

self-indulgent

adj. indulging one's own desires, passions, whims, etc., especially without restraint.

stunted

adj. inferior in size or quality

infinitesimal

adj. infinitely or immeasurably small; noun (mathematics) a variable that has zero as its limit

arboreal

adj. inhabiting or frequenting trees; resembling a tree in form and branching structure; of or relating to or formed by trees

noxious

adj. injurious to physical or mental health

redoubtable

adj. inspiring fear; having or worthy of pride

pitiable

adj. inspiring mixed contempt and pity; deserving or inciting pity

pitiful

adj. inspiring mixed contempt and pity; deserving or inciting pity; bad; unfortunate

pathetic

adj. inspiring scornful pity; inspiring mixed contempt and pity; deserving or inciting pity

gregarious

adj. instinctively or temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others; (of animals) tending to form a group with others of the same species; (of plants) growing in groups that are close together

conciliatory

adj. intended or likely to overcome animosity or hostility; making or willing to make concessions

fraudulent

adj. intended to deceive

spurious

adj. intended to deceive; born out of wedlock; plausible but false

propitiatory

adj. intended to reconcile or appease; having power to atone for or offered by way of expiation or propitiation

fitful

adj. intermittently stopping and starting; occurring in spells and often abruptly

officious

adj. intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner

qualitative

adj. involving distinctions based on qualities; relating to or involving comparisons based on qualities

fiscal

adj. involving financial matters

kindred

adj. related by blood or marriage; similar or related in quality or character; noun group of people related by blood or marriage

kin

adj. related by blood; noun group of people related by blood or marriage; a person having kinship with another or others

archaeological

adj. related to or dealing with or devoted to archaeology

chronological

adj. relating to or arranged according to temporal order

temperamental

adj. relating to or caused by temperament; likely to perform unpredictably; subject to sharply varying moods

aural

adj. relating to or characterized by an aura; of or pertaining to hearing or the ear

missionary

adj. relating to or connected to a religious mission; noun someone who attempts to convert others to a particular doctrine or program; someone sent on a mission--especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country

glacial

adj. relating to or derived from a glacier; extremely cold; devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

promissory

adj. relating to or having the character of a promise

therapeutic

adj. relating to or involved in therapy; tending to cure or restore to health; noun a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain

monetary

adj. relating to or involving money

parochial

adj. relating to or supported by or located in a parish; narrowly restricted in outlook or scope

agrarian

adj. relating to rural matters

bucolic

adj. relating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle; used of idealized country life; noun a short descriptive poem of rural or pastoral life; a country person

empiric

adj. relying on medical quackery; derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

aloof

adj. remote in manner; adv. in an aloof manner

becalmed

adj. rendered motionless for lack of wind

timeworn

adj. repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

archetypal

adj. representing or constituting an original type after which other similar things are patterned

sedentary

adj. requiring sitting or little activity

serpentine

adj. resembling a serpent in form

wayward

adj. resistant to guidance or discipline

suspect

adj. not as expected; noun someone who is under suspicion; a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused; verb imagine to be the case or true or probable; hold in suspicion; believe to be guilty; regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in

unwitting

adj. not aware or knowing; unaware because of a lack of relevant information or knowledge; not intentional

inglorious

adj. not bringing honor and glory; (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame

commonplace

adj. not challenging; dull and lacking excitement; completely ordinary and unremarkable; repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse; noun a trite or obvious remark

opaque

adj. not clear; not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy; not clearly understood or expressed

unethical

adj. not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior; not adhering to ethical or moral principles

immaterial

adj. not consisting of matter; (often followed by `to') lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other; of no importance or relevance especially to a law case; without material form or substance; not pertinent to the matter under consideration

inconsonant

adj. not consonant or in accord.

unadorned

adj. not decorated with something to increase its beauty or distinction

sparse

adj. not dense

unmitigated

adj. not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier

undone

adj. not done; not fastened or tied or secured; thrown into a state of disorganization or incoherence; doomed to extinction

burdensome

adj. not easily borne; wearing

taxing

adj. not easily borne; wearing

unabashed

adj. not embarrassed

extraneous

adj. not essential; not pertinent to the matter under consideration; not belonging to that in which it is contained; introduced from an outside source; coming from the outside

temperate

adj. not extreme in behavior; (of weather or climate) free from extremes; mild; or characteristic of such weather or climate; not extreme

inconsequential

adj. not following logically as a consequence; lacking worth or importance

extrinsic

adj. not forming an essential part of a thing or arising or originating from the outside

inimical

adj. not friendly

vestigial

adj. not fully developed in mature animals

stagnant

adj. not growing or changing; without force or vitality; not circulating or flowing

disembodied

adj. not having a material body

indeterminate

adj. not leading to a definite ending or result; not capable of being determined; not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance; having a capacity for continuing to grow at the apex; of uncertain or ambiguous nature

unerring

adj. not liable to error

indiscriminate

adj. not marked by fine distinctions; failing to make or recognize distinctions

lay

adj. not of or from a profession; concerning those not members of the clergy; noun a narrative poem of popular origin; a narrative song with a recurrent refrain; verb put in a horizontal position; lay eggs; prepare or position for action or operation; impose as a duty, burden, or punishment; put into a certain place or abstract location

inextricable

adj. not permitting extrication; incapable of being disentangled or untied

insipid

adj. not pleasing to the sense of taste; lacking interest or significance; lacking significance or impact; lacking taste or flavor or tang

latent

adj. not presently active; potentially existing but not presently evident or realized

ineffectual

adj. not producing an intended effect; lacking in power or forcefulness; producing no result or effect

inconspicuous

adj. not prominent or readily noticeable

inadvisable

adj. not prudent or wise; not recommended; not advisable

unbridled

adj. not restrained or controlled

malcontent

adj. not satisfied or content with currently prevailing conditions or circumstances.

integrated

adj. not segregated; designated as available to all races or groups; formed into a whole or introduced into another entity; resembling a living organism in organization or development; caused to combine or unite; formed or united into a whole

unrestrained

adj. not subject to restraint; richly and brilliantly colorful; marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion

unsympathetic

adj. not sympathetic or disposed toward; (of characters in literature or drama) tending to evoke antipathetic feelings; not agreeing with your tastes or expectations; lacking in sympathy and kindness; not having an open mind

grim

adj. not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty; shockingly repellent; inspiring horror; causing dejection; characterized by hopelessness; filled with gloom; harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance; harshly ironic or sinister

undue

adj. not yet payable; not appropriate or proper (or even legal) in the circumstances; lacking justification or authorization; beyond normal limits

wrongheaded

adj. obstinately perverse in judgment or opinion

posthumous

adj. occurring or coming into existence after a person's death

instantaneous

adj. occurring with no delay

azure

adj. of a deep somewhat purplish blue color similar to that of a clear October sky; noun a light shade of blue; verb color azure

transient

adj. of a mental act; causing effects outside the mind; lasting a very short time; noun (physics) a short-lived oscillation in a system caused by a sudden change of voltage or current or load; one who stays for only a short time

meandering

adj. of a path e.g.

synthetic

adj. of a proposition whose truth value is determined by observation or facts; systematic combining of root and modifying elements into single words; involving or of the nature of synthesis (combining separate elements to form a coherent whole) as opposed to analysis; not genuine or natural; artificial as if portrayed in a film; not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially; noun a compound made artificially by chemical reactions

retrograde

adj. of amnesia; affecting time immediately preceding trauma; moving from east to west on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in a direction opposite to that of the Earth; going from better to worse; moving or directed or tending in a backward direction or contrary to a previous direction; verb go back over; move back; move in a direction contrary to the usual one; move backward in an orbit, of celestial bodies; get worse or fall back to a previous condition

attenuated

adj. of an electrical signal; reduced in amplitude with little or no distortion; reduced in strength

gargantuan

adj. of great mass; huge and bulky

eminent

adj. of imposing height; especially standing out above others; having achieved eminence; standing above others in quality or position; (used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation

legitimate

adj. of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful; in accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles; based on known statements or events or conditions; authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law; verb make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone); show or affirm to be just and legitimate; make legal

bent

adj. of metal e.g.; used especially of the head or upper back; fixed in your purpose; altered from an originally straight condition; used of the back and knees; stooped; noun a special way of doing something; a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way; an area of grassland unbounded by fences or hedges; grass for pastures and lawns especially bowling and putting greens

cognitive

adj. of or being or relating to or involving cognition

puerile

adj. of or characteristic of a child; displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity

ritualistic

adj. of or characterized by or adhering to ritualism

pragmatic

adj. of or concerning the theory of pragmatism; concerned with practical matters; guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory; noun an imperial decree that becomes part of the fundamental law of the land

funerary

adj. of or for or relating to a funeral

curatorial

adj. of or relating to a curator or the duties of a curator

magisterial

adj. of or relating to a magistrate; used of a person's appearance or behavior; befitting an eminent person; offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power

antiquarian

adj. of or relating to antiques or antiquities; of or relating to persons who study or deal in antiques or antiquities; noun an expert or collector of antiquities

confrontational

adj. of or relating to confrontation

semantic

adj. of or relating to meaning or the study of meaning

nihilistic

adj. of or relating to nihilism

olfactory

adj. of or relating to olfaction

theological

adj. of or relating to or concerning theology

mnemonic

adj. of or relating to or involved the practice of aiding the memory; noun a device (such as a rhyme or acronym) used to aid recall

bureaucratic

adj. of or relating to or resembling a bureaucrat or bureaucracy

predictive

adj. of or relating to prediction; having value for making predictions

stylistic

adj. of or relating to style (especially in the use of language)

genial

adj. of or relating to the chin or median part of the lower jaw; diffusing warmth and friendliness; agreeable, conducive to comfort

pluralistic

adj. of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of pluralism

monumental

adj. of outstanding significance; relating or belonging to or serving as a monument; imposing in size or bulk or solidity

unrealized

adj. of persons; marked by failure to realize full potentialities

unruly

adj. of persons; noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; unwilling to submit to authority

basal

adj. of primary importance; serving as or forming a base; especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or stem; especially arising directly from the root or rootstock or a root-like stem

stately

adj. of size and dignity suggestive of a statue; refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court; impressive in appearance

sage

adj. of the grey-green color of sage leaves; having wisdom that comes with age and experience; noun aromatic fresh or dried grey-green leaves used widely as seasoning for meats and fowl and game etc; a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom; any of various plants of the genus Salvia; a cosmopolitan herb

sophomoric

adj. of, relating to, or characteristic of a sophomore:

indecent

adj. offensive to good taste especially in sexual matters; offending against sexual mores in conduct or appearance; not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

repugnant

adj. offensive to the mind

piecemeal

adj. one thing at a time; adv. a little bit at a time

inchoate

adj. only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

leery

adj. openly distrustful and unwilling to confide

terrestrial

adj. operating or living or growing on land; of this earth; concerned with the world or worldly matters; of or relating to or characteristic of the planet Earth or its inhabitants; of or relating to or inhabiting the land as opposed to the sea or air

pacifist

adj. opposed to war; noun someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes

regressive

adj. opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state; (of taxes) adjusted so that the rate decreases as the amount of income increases

treacly

adj. overly sweet

extenuating

adj. partially excusing or justifying

reactive

adj. participating readily in reactions; tending to react to a stimulus

facile

adj. performing adroitly and without effort; arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth; expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively

specious

adj. plausible but false; based on pretense; deceptively pleasing

fragrant

adj. pleasant-smelling

amused

adj. pleasantly occupied

mellifluous

adj. pleasing to the ear

apolitical

adj. politically neutral

indigent

adj. poor enough to need help from others

destitute

adj. poor enough to need help from others; completely wanting or lacking

unintelligible

adj. poorly articulated or enunciated, or drowned by noise; not clearly understood or expressed

cogent

adj. powerfully persuasive

antecedent

adj. preceding in time or order; noun the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun; a preceding occurrence or cause or event; anything that precedes something similar in time; someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

self-serving

adj. preoccupied with one's own interests, often disregarding the truth or the interests, well-being, etc., of others.

overweening

adj. presumptuously arrogant; unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings

daredevil

adj. presumptuously daring; noun a reckless impetuous irresponsible person

preventative

adj. preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease; tending to prevent or hinder; noun an agent or device intended to prevent conception; any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome; remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease

bitter

adj. proceeding from or exhibiting great hostility or animosity; expressive of severe grief or regret; one of the four basic taste sensations; sharp and disagreeable; like the taste of quinine; very difficult to accept or bear; marked by strong resentment or cynicism; causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold; harsh or corrosive in tone; adv. extremely and sharply; noun the taste experience when quinine or coffee is taken into the mouth; English term for a dry sharp-tasting ale with strong flavor of hops (usually on draft); the property of having a harsh unpleasant taste; verb make bitter

tactile

adj. producing a sensation of touch; of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch

bountiful

adj. producing in abundance; given or giving freely

revered

adj. profoundly honored

august

adj. profoundly honored; of or befitting a lord; noun the month following July and preceding September

apocalyptic

adj. prophetic of devastation or ultimate doom; of or relating to an apocalypse

informative

adj. providing or conveying information; serving to instruct of enlighten or inform; tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance

guarded

adj. prudent

parenthetical

adj. qualifying or explaining; placed or as if placed in parentheses; noun an expression in parentheses

quibbling

adj. quibbling over insignificant details

pugnacious

adj. ready and able to resort to force or violence; tough and callous by virtue of experience

spurned

adj. rebuffed (by a lover) without warning

sporadic

adj. recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances

obliterate

adj. reduced to nothingness; verb remove completely from recognition or memory; do away with completely, without leaving a trace; make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or concealing; mark for deletion, rub off, or erase

reflexive

adj. referring back to itself; without volition or conscious control; noun a personal pronoun compounded with -self to show the agent's action affects the agent

glum

adj. reflecting gloom; showing a brooding ill humor

regenerate

adj. reformed spiritually or morally; verb restore strength; undergo regeneration; form or produce anew; be formed or shaped anew; replace (tissue or a body part) through the formation of new tissue; return to life; get or give new life or energy; amplify (an electron current) by causing part of the power in the output circuit to act upon the input circuit; reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new; bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one

flashback

noun a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an earlier event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development of the story; an unexpected but vivid recurrence of a past experience (especially a recurrence of the effects of an hallucinogenic drug taken much earlier)

talisman

noun a trinket or piece of jewelry thought to be a protection against evil

solidarity

noun a union of interests or purposes or sympathies among members of a group

asset

noun a useful or valuable quality

vector

noun a variable quantity that can be resolved into components; any agent (person or animal or microorganism) that carries and transmits a disease; a straight line segment whose length is magnitude and whose orientation in space is direction

magnate

noun a very wealthy or powerful businessman

tycoon

noun a very wealthy or powerful businessman

torrent

noun a violently fast stream of water (or other liquid); a heavy rain; an overwhelming number or amount

pardon

noun a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense; the act of excusing a mistake or offense; the formal act of liberating someone; verb grant a pardon to; accept an excuse for

counterpoise

noun a weight that balances another weight; verb constitute a counterweight or counterbalance to

epigram

noun a witty saying

charade

noun a word acted out in an episode of the game of charades; a composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way

acronym

noun a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name

locution

noun a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

prophet

noun an authoritative person who divines the future; someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter of the will of God

avocation

noun an auxiliary activity

clamber

noun an awkward climb; verb climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

premonition

noun an early warning about a future event; a feeling of evil to come

disquisition

noun an elaborate analytical or explanatory essay or discussion

aberration

noun an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image; a disorder in one's mental state; a state or condition markedly different from the norm

sensationalism

noun the journalistic use of subject matter that appeals to vulgar tastes; subject matter that is calculated to excite and please vulgar tastes; (philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience; (philosophy) the ethical doctrine that feeling is the only criterion for what is good

cartography

noun the making of maps and charts

diction

noun the manner in which something is expressed in words; the articulation of speech regarded from the point of view of its intelligibility to the audience

spawn

noun the mass of eggs deposited by fish or amphibians or molluscs; verb lay spawn; call forth

credence

noun the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true; a kind of sideboard or buffet

veneer

noun coating consisting of a thin layer of superior wood glued to a base of inferior wood; an ornamental coating to a building; verb cover with veneer

razing

noun complete destruction of a building; the event of a structure being completely demolished and leveled

worldliness

noun concern with worldly affairs to the neglect of spiritual needs; the quality or character of being intellectually sophisticated and worldly through cultivation or experience or disillusionment

conscience

noun conformity to one's own sense of right conduct; a feeling of shame when you do something immoral; motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions

puzzlement

noun confusion resulting from failure to understand

scuttle

noun container for coal; shaped to permit pouring the coal onto the fire; an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship; verb to move about or proceed hurriedly

meditation

noun continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature; (religion) contemplation of spiritual matters (usually on religious or philosophical subjects)

replica

noun copy that is not the original; something that has been copied

propriety

noun correct or appropriate behavior

clientele

noun customers collectively

syllogism

noun deductive reasoning in which a conclusion is derived from two premises

deviation

noun deviate behavior; the error of a compass due to local magnetic disturbances; the difference between an observed value and the expected value of a variable or function; a variation that deviates from the standard or norm; a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern)

dissonance

noun disagreeable sounds; the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality; sound that is a disagreeable auditory experience; a conflict of people's opinions or actions or characters

turmoil

noun disturbance usually in protest; violent agitation; a violent disturbance

misgiving

noun doubt about someone's honesty; painful expectation; uneasiness about the fitness of an action

incredulity

noun doubt about the truth of something

languor

noun inactivity; showing an unusual lack of energy; a feeling of lack of interest or energy; a relaxed comfortable feeling

infelicity

noun inappropriate and unpleasing manner or style (especially manner or style of expression)

aptitude

noun inherent ability

inequity

noun injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standards

hypocrisy

noun insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have; an expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction

implement

noun instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end; verb apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design; pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue; ensure observance of laws and rules

vehemence

noun intensity or forcefulness of expression; the property of being wild or turbulent

quarantine

noun isolation to prevent the spread of infectious disease; enforced isolation of patients suffering from a contagious disease in order to prevent the spread of disease; verb place into enforced isolation, as for medical reasons

objectivity

noun judgment based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices

immediacy

noun lack of an intervening or mediating agency; the quickness of action or occurrence; immediate intuitive awareness

pettiness

noun lack of generosity in trifling matters; the quality of being unimportant and petty or frivolous; narrowness of mind or ideas or views

incapacity

noun lack of physical or natural qualifications; lack of intellectual power

banter

noun light teasing repartee; verb be silly or tease one another

leniency

noun lightening a penalty or excusing from a chore by judges or parents or teachers; a disposition to yield to the wishes of someone; mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant

disequilibrium

noun loss of equilibrium attributable to an unstable situation in which some forces outweigh others

masquerade

noun making a false outward show; a party of guests wearing costumes and masks; a costume worn as a disguise at a masquerade party; verb pretend to be someone or something that you are not; take part in a masquerade

ratification

noun making something valid by formally ratifying or confirming it

gloat

noun malicious satisfaction; verb dwell on with satisfaction; gaze at or think about something with great self-satisfaction, gratification, or joy

scouring

noun moving over territory to search for something; the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water

vicissitude

noun mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another); a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something

reciprocity

noun mutual exchange of commercial or other privileges; a relation of mutual dependence or action or influence

provocation

noun needed encouragement; unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment; something that incites or provokes; a means of arousing or stirring to action

incoherency

noun nonsense that is simply incoherent and unintelligible; lack of cohesion or clarity or organization

truculence

noun obstreperous and defiant aggressiveness

approbation

noun official recognition or approval; official approval

rehash

noun old material that is slightly reworked and used again; verb present or use over, with no or few changes; go back over

eclipse

noun one celestial body obscures another; verb cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention; cause an eclipse of; of celestial bodies; exceed in importance; outweigh

faculty

noun one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind; the body of teachers and administrators at a school

predecessor

noun one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)

prose

noun ordinary writing as distinguished from verse; matter of fact, commonplace, or dull expression

hubris

noun overbearing pride or presumption

alarm

noun a device that signals the occurrence of some undesirable event; an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger; fear resulting from the awareness of danger; a clock that wakes sleeper at preset time; verb warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness; fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised

discrepancy

noun a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions; an event that departs from expectations

conundrum

noun a difficult problem

impatience

noun a dislike of anything that causes delay; a restless desire for change and excitement; a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay

aloofness

noun a disposition to be distant and unsympathetic in manner; indifference by personal withdrawal

affability

noun a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)

humility

noun a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride; a humble feeling

propensity

noun a disposition to behave in a certain way; a natural inclination; an inclination to do something

faction

noun a dissenting clique; a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue

epiphany

noun a divine manifestation; twelve days after Christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus

admiration

noun a favorable judgment; a feeling of delighted approval and liking; the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

motto

noun a favorite saying of a sect or political group

tribute

noun payment by one nation for protection by another; something given or done as an expression of esteem; payment extorted by gangsters on threat of violence

gallantry

noun polite attentiveness to women; the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle); courtesy towards women

toil

noun productive work (especially physical work done for wages); verb work hard

manicure

noun professional care for the hands and fingernails; verb care for (one's hand) by cutting and shaping the nails, etc.; trim carefully and neatly

venality

noun prostitution of talents or offices or services for reward

mischief

noun reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others; the quality or nature of being harmful or evil

prominence

noun relative importance; the state of being prominent: widely known or eminent; something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings

avarice

noun reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins); extreme greed for material wealth

intrepidity

noun resolute courageousness

carouse

noun revelry in drinking; a merry drinking party; verb engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking

piety

noun righteousness by virtue of being pious

jeer

noun showing your contempt by derision; verb laugh at with contempt and derision

deftness

noun skillful performance or ability without difficulty

arbitrator

noun someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue

novice

noun someone new to a field or activity; someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows

scapegoat

noun someone punished for the errors of others

confidant

noun someone to whom private matters are confided

misanthrope

noun someone who dislikes people in general

emancipator

noun someone who frees others from bondage

stickler

noun someone who insists on something

contour

noun a feature (or the order or arrangement of features) of anything having a complex structure; a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal height; any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline); verb form the contours of

trepidation

noun a feeling of alarm or dread

remorse

noun a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)

distaste

noun a feeling of intense dislike

elation

noun a feeling of joy and pride; an exhilarating psychological state of pride and optimism; an absence of depression

irascibility

noun a feeling of resentful anger

gratitude

noun a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

matriarch

noun a female head of a family or tribe; a feisty older woman with a big bosom (as drawn in cartoons)

gaiety

noun a festive merry feeling; a gay feeling

pseudonym

noun a fictitious name used when the person performs a particular social role

conscript

noun someone who is drafted into military service; verb enroll into service compulsorily

simile

noun a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with `like' or `as')

savanna

noun a flat grassland in tropical or subtropical regions

puffery

noun a flattering commendation (especially when used for promotional purposes)

flotilla

noun a fleet of small craft; a United States Navy fleet consisting of two or more squadrons of small warships

indictment

noun a formal document written for a prosecuting attorney charging a person with some offense; an accusation of wrongdoing

waiver

noun a formal written statement of relinquishment

plenitude

noun a full supply

profiteer

noun someone who makes excessive profit (especially on goods in short supply); verb make an unreasonable profit, as on the sale of difficult to obtain goods

adversary

noun someone who offers opposition

entrepreneur

noun someone who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it

pander

noun someone who procures customers for whores (in England they call a pimp a ponce); verb arrange for sexual partners for others; yield (to); give satisfaction to

purveyor

noun someone who supplies provisions (especially food)

avenger

noun someone who takes vengeance

materialist

noun someone who thinks that nothing exists but physical matter; someone with great regard for worldly possessions

lobbyist

noun someone who tries to persuade legislators to vote for bills that the lobbyists favor

chronicler

noun someone who writes chronicles

naysayer

noun someone with an aggressively negative attitude

prosperity

noun the condition of prospering; having good fortune; an economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment

incision

noun the cutting of or into body tissues or organs (especially by a surgeon as part of an operation); a depression scratched or carved into a surface

dalliance

noun the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working; playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest

opacity

noun the quality of being opaque to a degree; the degree to which something reduces the passage of light; incomprehensibility resulting from obscurity of meaning; the phenomenon of not permitting the passage of electromagnetic radiation

rationalism

noun the doctrine that reason is the right basis for regulating conduct; (philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge is acquired by reason without resort to experience; the theological doctrine that human reason rather than divine revelation establishes religious truth

self-congratulatory

noun the expression or feeling of uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's own accomplishment, good fortune, etc.; complacency.

astonishment

noun the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

despair

noun the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well; a state in which everything seems wrong and will turn out badly; verb abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart

mainstay

noun the forestay that braces the mainmast; a central cohesive source of support and stability; a prominent supporter

contrary

adj. resistant to guidance or discipline; very opposed in nature or character or purpose; of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false; in an opposing direction; noun a logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false; exact opposition; a relation of direct opposition

unyielding

adj. resistant to physical force or pressure; stubbornly unyielding

amnesty

noun the formal act of liberating someone; a period during which offenders are exempt from punishment; a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense; verb grant a pardon to (a group of people)

spartan

adj. resolute in the face of pain or danger or adversity; of or relating to or characteristic of Sparta or its people; practicing great self-denial; unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; noun a resident of Sparta

resurgent

adj. rising again as to new life and vigor

vitiated

adj. ruined in character or quality; impaired by diminution

façade

noun the front of a building, especially an imposing or decorative one.

entourage

noun the group following and attending to some important person

particularity

noun the quality of being particular and pertaining to a specific case or instance

specificity

noun the quality of being specific rather than general; the quality of being specific to a particular organism

ruggedness

noun the quality of being topologically uneven; the quality of being difficult to do; the property of being big and strong

fluctuation

noun the quality of being unsteady and subject to changes; a wave motion; an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change

vanity

noun the quality of being valueless or futile; low table with mirror or mirrors where one sits while dressing or applying makeup; the trait of being unduly vain and conceited; feelings of excessive pride

garrulity

noun the quality of being wordy and talkative

refinement

noun the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste; the result of improving something; a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude; the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.); a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality

mortality

noun the quality or state of being mortal; the ratio of deaths in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 per year

despotic

adj. ruled by or characteristic of a despot; belonging to or having the characteristics of a despot; characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty

monarchical

adj. ruled by or having the supreme power resting with a monarch; having the characteristics of or befitting or worthy of a monarch

inconsolable

adj. sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled

disjointed

adj. separated at the joint; taken apart at the joints; lacking orderly continuity

cardinal

adj. serving as an essential component; being or denoting a numerical quantity but not order; noun crested thick-billed North American finch having bright red plumage in the male; a variable color averaging a vivid red; (Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes; the number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order

prefatory

adj. serving as an introduction or preface

explanatory

adj. serving or intended to explain or make clear

barrage

noun the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target; the rapid and continuous delivery of linguistic communication (spoken or written); verb address with continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage

regress

noun the reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence; returning to a former state; verb get worse or fall back to a previous condition; go back to a statistical means; go back to bad behavior; go back to a previous state

stern

adj. severe and unremitting in making demands; of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect; not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty; severely simple; noun the rear part of a ship; United States concert violinist (born in Russia in 1920); the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on

sensual

adj. sexually exciting or gratifying; marked by the appetites and passions of the body

urbane

adj. showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience

timid

adj. showing fear and lack of confidence; lacking conviction or boldness or courage; lacking self-confidence; noun people who are fearful and cautious

dilettante

adj. showing frivolous or superficial interest; amateurish; noun an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge

impartial

adj. showing lack of favoritism; free from undue bias or preconceived opinions

phlegmatic

adj. showing little emotion

static

adj. showing little if any change; not active or moving; not in physical motion; concerned with or producing or caused by static electricity; noun angry criticism; a crackling or hissing noise cause by electrical interference

spiteful

adj. showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite

indefatigable

adj. showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality

obdurate

adj. showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings; stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing

cordial

adj. sincerely or intensely felt; showing warm and heartfelt friendliness; diffusing warmth and friendliness; noun strong highly flavored sweet liquor usually drunk after a meal

sagacious

adj. skillful in statecraft or management; acutely insightful and wise

retrenchment

noun the reduction of expenditures in order to become financial stable; entrenchment consisting of an additional interior fortification to prolong the defense

relevance

noun the relation of something to the matter at hand

synchrony

noun the relation that exists when things occur at the same time

indulgence

noun the remission by the pope of the temporal punishment in purgatory that is still due for sins even after absolution; the act of indulging or gratifying a desire; a disposition to yield to the wishes of someone; an inability to resist the gratification of whims and desires; foolish or senseless behavior

ingenue

noun the role of an innocent artless young woman in a play; an artless innocent young girl (especially as portrayed on the stage); an actress who specializes in playing the role of an artless innocent young girl

metallurgy

noun the science and technology of metals

flank

noun the side between ribs and hipbone; a cut from the fleshy part of an animal's side between the ribs and the leg; the side of military or naval formation; a subfigure consisting of a side of something; verb be located at the sides of something or somebody

anthropology

noun the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings

muse

noun the source of an artist's inspiration; in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science; verb reflect deeply on a subject

rebuttal

noun the speech act of refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument; (law) a pleading by the defendant in reply to a plaintiff's surrejoinder

coalition

noun the state of being combined into one body; the union of diverse things into one body or form or group; the growing together of parts; an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty

taint

noun the state of being contaminated; verb contaminate with a disease or microorganism; place under suspicion or cast doubt upon

primacy

noun the state of being first in importance

disrepute

noun the state of being held in low esteem

surfeit

noun the state of being more than full; eating until excessively full; the quality of being so overabundant that prices fall; verb indulge (one's appetite) to satiety; supply or feed to surfeit

bias

adj. slanting diagonally across the grain of a fabric; noun a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation; a line or cut across a fabric that is not at right angles to a side of the fabric; verb cause to be biased; influence in an unfair way

latency

noun the state of being not yet evident or active; the time that elapses between a stimulus and the response to it; (computer science) the time it takes for a specific block of data on a data track to rotate around to the read/write head

tangency

noun the state of being tangent; having contact at a single point or along a line without crossing; (electronics) a junction where things (as two electrical conductors) touch or are in physical contact

arrest

noun the state of inactivity following an interruption; the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); verb hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of; take into custody; attract and fix; cause to stop

relish

noun the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth; spicy or savory condiment; vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment; verb derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

savor

noun the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth; verb taste appreciatively; give taste to; derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in; have flavor; taste of something

elasticity

noun the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed

demise

noun the time when something ends

whimsy

noun the trait of acting unpredictably and more from whim or caprice than from reason or judgment; an odd or fanciful or capricious idea

liberality

noun the trait of being generous in behavior and temperament; an inclination to favor progress and individual freedom

intransigence

noun the trait of being intransigent; stubbornly refusing to compromise

tidiness

noun the trait of being neat and orderly; the habit of being tidy

brashness

noun the trait of being rash and hasty; tasteless showiness

resolve

noun the trait of being resolute; a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote; verb find the solution; make clearly visible; cause to go into a solution; understand the meaning of; bring to an end; settle conclusively; reach a decision; reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation

conceit

noun the trait of being unduly vain and conceited; an artistic device or effect; a witty or ingenious turn of phrase; an elaborate poetic image or a far-fetched comparison of very dissimilar things; feelings of excessive pride

recklessness

noun the trait of giving little thought to danger

discretion

noun the trait of judging wisely and objectively; knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress; freedom to act or judge on one's own; the power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies; refined taste; tact

hobble

noun the uneven manner of walking that results from an injured leg; a shackle for the ankles or feet; verb hamper the action or progress of; strap the foreleg and hind leg together on each side (of a horse) in order to keep the legs on the same side moving in unison; walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury

palate

noun the upper surface of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities

dialect

noun the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people

mudslinging

noun the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent

guile

noun the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them); the quality of being crafty; shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

foible

noun the weaker part of a sword's blade from the forte to the tip; a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

adoration

noun the worship given to God alone; the act of admiring strongly; a feeling of profound love and admiration

amenities

noun things that make you comfortable and at ease

oblique

adj. slanting or inclined in direction or course or position--neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-angled; indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading; noun any grammatical case other than the nominative; a diagonally arranged abdominal muscle on either side of the torso

soporific

adj. sleep inducing; inducing mental lethargy; noun a drug that induces sleep

torpid

adj. slow and apathetic; in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation

suave

adj. smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication; having a sophisticated charm

negligible

adj. so small as to be meaningless; insignificant; not worth considering

luminous

adj. softly bright or radiant

abstemious

adj. sparing in consumption of especially food and drink; marked by temperance in indulgence

botched

adj. spoiled through incompetence or clumsiness

diffuse

adj. spread out; not concentrated in one place; lacking conciseness; (of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected; verb move outward; cause to become widely known; spread or diffuse through

sprawling

adj. spreading out carelessly (as if wandering) in different directions; noun an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about

adherent

adj. sticking fast; noun someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another

obtrusive

adj. sticking out; protruding; undesirably noticeable

extant

adj. still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost

quaint

adj. strange in an interesting or pleasing way; very strange or unusual; odd or even incongruous in character or appearance; attractively old-fashioned (but not necessarily authentic)

syncopated

adj. stressing a normally weak beat

prostrate

adj. stretched out and lying at full length along the ground; lying face downward; verb render helpless or defenseless; throw down flat, as on the ground; get into a prostrate position, as in submission

regimented

adj. strictly controlled

pungent

adj. strong and sharp; "the pungent taste of radishes"; capable of wounding

aghast

adj. struck with fear, dread, or consternation

doctrinaire

adj. stubbornly insistent on theory without regard for practicality or suitability; noun a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions

rugged

adj. sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring; very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution; rocky and steep; topographically very uneven

phobic

adj. suffering from irrational fears

picturesque

adj. suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture; strikingly expressive

uncanny

adj. suggesting the operation of supernatural influences; surpassing the ordinary or normal

risque

adj. suggestive of sexual impropriety

speculation

noun a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence); an investment that is very risky but could yield great profits; continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature; a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

appropriate

adj. suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc; suitable and fitting; meant or adapted for an occasion or use; being of striking appropriateness and pertinence; appropriate for achieving a particular end; implies a lack of concern for fairness; verb take possession of by force, as after an invasion; give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause

lyrical

adj. suitable for or suggestive of singing; expressing deep personal emotion

edible

adj. suitable for use as food; noun any substance that can be used as food

congruous

adj. suitable or appropriate together; corresponding in character or kind

definitive

adj. supplying or being a final or conclusive settlement; clearly defined or formulated; of recognized authority or excellence

substantiated

adj. supported or established by evidence or proof

abrupt

adj. surprisingly and unceremoniously brusque in manner; exceedingly sudden and unexpected; extremely steep; marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions

riff

noun a jazz ostinato; usually provides a background for a solo improvisation; a Berber living in northern Morocco; verb play riffs; look through a book or other written material

jaunt

noun a journey taken for pleasure; verb make a trip for pleasure

excursion

noun a journey taken for pleasure; wandering from the main path of a journey

ingratitude

noun a lack of gratitude

satellite

adj. surrounding and dominated by a central authority or power; noun man-made equipment that orbits around the earth or the moon; any celestial body orbiting around a planet or star; a person who follows or serves another; verb broadcast or disseminate via satellite

suggestible

adj. susceptible or responsive to suggestion

protean

adj. taking on different forms

humdrum

adj. tediously repetitious or lacking in variety; not challenging; dull and lacking excitement; noun the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety

corrective

adj. tending or intended to correct or counteract or restore to a normal condition; designed to promote discipline; noun a device for treating injury or disease

perfidious

adj. tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans

curative

adj. tending to cure or restore to health; noun a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain

asphyxiating

adj. tending to deprive of oxygen

deprecatory

adj. tending to diminish or disparage

domineering

adj. tending to domineer

captious

adj. tending to find and call attention to faults

revitalizing

adj. tending to impart new life and vigor to

intrusive

adj. tending to intrude (especially upon privacy); thrusting inward; of rock material; forced while molten into cracks between layers of other rock

divergent

adj. tending to move apart in different directions; diverging from another or from a standard

evanescent

adj. tending to vanish like vapor

extrapolated

adj. that are estimated

stimulant

adj. that stimulates; noun a drug that temporarily quickens some vital process; any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action

improvidence

noun a lack of prudence and care by someone in the management of resources

confidential

adj. the level of official classification for documents next above restricted and below secret; available only to persons authorized to see documents so classified; denoting confidence or intimacy; (of information) given in confidence or in secret; entrusted with private information and the confidence of another

perturbed

adj. thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (`rattled' is an informal term)

interminable

adj. tiresomely long; seemingly without end

innumerable

adj. too numerous to be counted

balanced

adj. total debits and credits are equal; being in a state of proper balance or equilibrium

utter

adj. total; without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers; verb express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words); put into circulation; articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise; express in speech

harried

adj. troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances

askew

adj. turned or twisted toward one side; adv. turned or twisted to one side

intertwined

adj. twined or twisted together

insolvent

adj. unable to meet or discharge financial obligations; noun someone who has insufficient assets to cover their debts

indispensable

adj. unavoidable; not to be dispensed with; essential; absolutely necessary; vitally necessary

agnostic

adj. uncertain of all claims to knowledge; of or pertaining to an agnostic or agnosticism; noun a person who claims that they cannot have true knowledge about the existence of God (but does not deny that God might exist); someone who is doubtful or noncommittal about something

skirt

noun a garment hanging from the waist; worn mainly by girls and women; cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist; informal terms for a (young) woman; verb pass around or about; move along the border; form the edge of; avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues); extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle

wane

noun a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number); verb decrease in phase; become smaller; grow smaller

chimera

noun a grotesque product of the imagination; (Greek mythology) fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head and a goat's body and a serpent's tail; daughter of Typhon

archipelago

noun a group of many islands in a large body of water

infirmary

noun a health facility where patients receive treatment

canvas

noun a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents); the mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete; an oil painting on canvas fabric; the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account; a tent made of canvas fabric; a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel; verb cover with canvas; consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning; get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions; solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign

bombard

noun a large shawm; the bass member of the shawm family; verb address with continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage; throw bombs at or attack with bombs; cast, hurl, or throw repeatedly with some missile

narrow

minded - adj. lacking tolerance or flexibility or breadth of view; rigidly adhering to a particular sect or its doctrines; capable of being shocked

incarnation

noun (Christianity) the Christian doctrine of the union of God and man in the person of Jesus Christ; time passed in a particular bodily form; the act of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas etc.; a new personification of a familiar idea

nemesis

noun (Greek mythology) the goddess of divine retribution and vengeance; something causes misery or death

persona

noun (Jungian psychology) a personal facade that one presents to the world; an actor's portrayal of someone in a play

placebo

noun (Roman Catholic Church) vespers of the office for the dead; an innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier or to the control group in experiments on the efficacy of a drug

fissure

noun (anatomy) a long narrow slit or groove that divides an organ into lobes; a long narrow opening; a long narrow depression in a surface; verb break into fissures or fine cracks

kinship

noun (anthropology) relatedness or connection by blood or marriage or adoption; a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character

pinnacle

noun (architecture) a slender upright spire at the top of a buttress of tower; a lofty peak; the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development; verb raise on or as if on a pinnacle; surmount with a pinnacle

conviction

noun (criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed; an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

suffrage

noun a legal right guaranteed by the 15th amendment to the US constitution; guaranteed to women by the 19th amendment

foil

noun a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button; a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal; picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector; anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities; a device consisting of a flat or curved piece (as a metal plate) so that its surface reacts to the water it is passing through; verb cover or back with foil; enhance by contrast; hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

shroud

noun a line that suspends the harness from the canopy of a parachute; burial garment in which a corpse is wrapped; (nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind; verb wrap in a shroud; cover as if with a shroud; form a cover like a shroud

waft

noun a long flag; often tapering; verb be driven or carried along, as by the air; blow gently

harangue

noun a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion; verb deliver a harangue to; address forcefully

abasement

noun a low or downcast state; depriving one of self-esteem

occlusion

noun (dentistry) the normal spatial relation of the teeth when the jaws are closed; closure or blockage (as of a blood vessel); the act of blocking; an obstruction in a pipe or tube; (meteorology) a composite front when colder air surrounds a mass of warm air and forces it aloft

nuisance

noun (law) a broad legal concept including anything that disturbs the reasonable use of your property or endangers life and health or is offensive; a bothersome annoying person

demurral

noun (law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings

bequest

noun (law) a gift of personal property by will

injunction

noun (law) a judicial remedy issued in order to prohibit a party from doing or continuing to do a certain activity; a formal command or admonition

disclaimer

noun (law) a voluntary repudiation of a person's legal claim to something; denial of any connection with or knowledge of

proprietor

noun (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

postulate

noun (logic) a proposition that is accepted as true in order to provide a basis for logical reasoning; verb take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom; maintain or assert; require as useful, just, or proper

negation

noun (logic) a proposition that is true if and only if another proposition is false; the speech act of negating; a negative statement; a statement that is a refusal or denial of some other statement

corollary

noun (logic) an inference that follows directly from the proof of another proposition; a practical consequence that follows naturally

dysfunction

noun (medicine) any disturbance in the function of an organ or body part

slur

noun (music) a curved line spanning notes that are to be played legato; a blemish made by dirt; a disparaging remark; verb utter indistinctly; speak disparagingly of; e.g., make a racial slur; play smoothly or legato; become vague or indistinct

timbre

noun (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound)

stature

noun (of a standing person) the distance from head to foot; high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement

inertia

noun (physics) the tendency of a body to maintain is state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force; a disposition to remain inactive or inert

patronage

noun (politics) granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support; the business given to a commercial establishment by its customers; the act of providing approval and support; a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient; customers collectively; verb support by being a patron of; be a regular customer or client of

entropy

noun (thermodynamics) a thermodynamic quantity representing the amount of energy in a system that is no longer available for doing mechanical work; (communication theory) a numerical measure of the uncertainty of an outcome

wade

noun English tennis player who won may women's singles titles (born in 1945); verb walk (through relatively shallow water)

sully

noun French statesman (1560-1641); United States painter (born in England) of portraits and historical scenes (1783-1872); verb charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically; place under suspicion or cast doubt upon

guru

noun a Hindu or Buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher; a recognized leader in some field or of some movement; each of the first ten leaders of the Sikh religion

sierra

noun a Spanish mackerel of western North America; a range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline)

doctrine

noun a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school

reckoning

noun a bill for an amount due; the act of counting; problem solving that involves numbers or quantities

epistle

noun a book of the New Testament in the form of a letter from an Apostle; a specially long, formal letter

confessional

noun a booth where a priest sits to hear confessions

abyss

noun a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)

repository

noun a burial vault (usually for some famous person); a person to whom a secret is entrusted; a facility where things can be deposited for storage or safekeeping

affliction

noun a cause of great suffering and distress; a condition of suffering or distress due to ill health; a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity

poise

noun a cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimeter maintains a velocity of 1 centimeter per second; a state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium; great coolness and composure under strain; verb hold or carry in equilibrium; cause to be balanced or suspended; be motionless, in suspension; prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

coffer

noun a chest especially for storing valuables; an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome

cabal

noun a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue; a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act (especially a political plot); verb engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together

anthology

noun a collection of selected literary passages

exhortation

noun a communication intended to urge or persuade the recipients to take some action; the act of exhorting; an earnest attempt at persuasion

counterbalance

noun a compensating equivalent; a weight that balances another weight; equality of distribution; verb oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions; oppose with equal weight or force; adjust for

grievance

noun a complaint about a (real or imaginary) wrong that causes resentment and is grounds for action; an allegation that something imposes an illegal obligation or denies some legal right or causes injustice; a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation

panoply

noun a complete and impressive array

travesty

noun a composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way; a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations; verb make a travesty of

adage

noun a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people

proverb

noun a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people

precondition

noun a condition that is a prerequisite; an assumption that is taken for granted; an assumption on which rests the validity or effect of something else; verb put into the required condition beforehand

receptacle

noun a container that is used to put or keep things in; an electrical (or electronic) fitting that is connected to a source of power and equipped to receive an insert; enlarged tip of a stem that bears the floral parts

depravity

noun a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice; moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles

canopy

noun a covering (usually of cloth) that serves as a roof to shelter an area from the weather; the umbrellalike part of a parachute that fills with air; the transparent covering of an aircraft cockpit; verb cover with a canopy

infraction

noun a crime less serious than a felony

ruffian

noun a cruel and brutal fellow

undercut

noun a cut made underneath to remove material; a notch cut in the trunk of tree in order to determine the direction of its fall; the material removed by a cut made underneath; (sports) a stroke that puts reverse spin on the ball; the tender meat of the loin muscle on each side of the vertebral column; verb cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall; strike (the ball) in golf, tennis, or hockey obliquely downward so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot; cut away the underpart of; cut away material from the underside of (an object) so as to leave an overhanging portion in relief; sell cheaper than one's competition

cynicism

noun a cynical feeling of distrust

tryst

noun a date; usually with a member of the opposite sex; a secret rendezvous (especially between lovers)

ruse

noun a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)

gesticulation

noun a deliberate and vigorous gesture or motion

rebuff

noun a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval); an instance of driving away or warding off; verb reject outright and bluntly; force or drive back

sophistry

noun a deliberately invalid argument displaying ingenuity in reasoning in the hope of deceiving someone

motif

noun a design that consists of recurring shapes or colors; a theme that is elaborated on in a piece of music; a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work

technicality

noun a detail that is considered insignificant

explication

noun a detailed explanation of the meaning of something; the act of making clear or removing obscurity from the meaning of a word or symbol or expression etc.

manifestation

noun a manifest indication of the existence or presence or nature of some person or thing; a clear appearance; a public display of group feelings (usually of a political nature); expression without words; an appearance in bodily form (as of a disembodied spirit)

levity

noun a manner lacking seriousness; feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness

mar

noun a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body); the month following February and preceding April; verb make imperfect; destroy or injure severely

gauge

noun a measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.; the thickness of wire; the distance between the rails of a railway or between the wheels of a train; accepted or approved instance or example of a quantity or quality against which others are judged or measured or compared; diameter of a tube or gun barrel; verb mix in specific proportions; adapt to a specified measurement; measure precisely and against a standard; determine the capacity, volume, or contents of by measurement and calculation; rub to a uniform size; judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)

sanction

noun a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards; the act of final authorization; formal and explicit approval; official permission or approval; verb give religious sanction to, such as through on oath; give authority or permission to; give sanction to

rendezvous

noun a meeting planned at a certain time and place; a place where people meet; a date; usually with a member of the opposite sex; verb meet at a rendezvous

specter

noun a mental representation of some haunting experience; a ghostly appearing figure

commendation

noun a message expressing a favorable opinion; an official award (as for bravery or service) usually given as formal public statement

witticism

noun a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter

compromise

noun a middle way between two extremes; an accommodation in which both sides make concessions; verb settle by concession; make a compromise; arrive at a compromise; expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute

oversight

noun a mistake resulting from inattention; an unintentional omission resulting from failure to notice something; management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group

elegy

noun a mournful poem; a lament for the dead

medley

noun a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources

ballad

noun a narrative poem of popular origin; a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

affinity

noun a natural attraction or feeling of kinship; inherent resemblance between persons or things; the force attracting atoms to each other and binding them together in a molecule; (immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody; a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character; (biology) state of relationship between organisms or groups of organisms resulting in resemblance in structure or structural parts; (anthropology) kinship by marriage or adoption; not a blood relationship

preempt

noun a high bid that is intended to prevent the opposing players from bidding; verb make a preemptive bid in the game of bridge; acquire for oneself before others can do so; gain possession of by prior right or opportunity, especially so as to obtain the right to buy (land); take the place of or have precedence over

asylum

noun a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person; a shelter from danger or hardship

supplication

noun a humble request for help from someone in authority; the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving); a prayer asking God's help as part of a religious service

wordplay

noun a humorous play on words

shame

noun a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt; a state of dishonor; an unfortunate development; verb surpass or beat by a wide margin; cause to be ashamed; compel through a sense of shame; bring shame or dishonor upon

excerpt

noun a passage selected from a larger work; verb take out of a literary work in order to cite or copy

census

noun a periodic count of the population; verb conduct a census

pestilence

noun a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of; any epidemic disease with a high death rate; a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal

forebear

noun a person from whom you are descended

compatriot

noun a person from your own country

colossus

noun a person of exceptional importance and reputation; someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful

polymath

noun a person of great and varied learning

snob

noun a person regarded as arrogant and annoying

defector

noun a person who abandons their duty (as on a military post)

deserter

noun a person who abandons their duty (as on a military post); a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.

alarmist

noun a person who alarms others needlessly

founder

noun a person who founds or establishes some institution; a worker who makes metal castings; inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse; verb stumble and nearly fall; sink below the surface; break down, literally or metaphorically; fail utterly; collapse

colleague

noun a person who is member of your class or profession; an associate you work with

dupe

noun a person who is tricked or swindled; verb fool or hoax

proponent

noun a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea

ingrate

noun a person who shows no gratitude

miscreant

noun a person without moral scruples

gait

noun a person's manner of walking; a horse's manner of moving; the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

indiscretion

noun a petty misdeed; the trait of being injudicious

offset

noun a plate makes an inked impression on a rubber-blanketed cylinder, which in turn transfers it to the paper; structure where a wall or building narrows abruptly; a natural consequence of development; a horizontal branch from the base of plant that produces new plants from buds at its tips; a compensating equivalent; the time at which something is supposed to begin; verb produce by offset printing; create an offset in; cause (printed matter) to transfer or smear onto another surface; compensate for or counterbalance; make up for

incentive

noun a positive motivational influence; an additional payment (or other remuneration) to employees as a means of increasing output

eventuality

noun a possible event or occurrence or result

proxy

noun a power of attorney document given by shareholders of a corporation authorizing a specific vote on their behalf at a corporate meeting; a person authorized to act for another

revivalist

noun a preacher of the Christian gospel

prognosis

noun a prediction of the course of a disease; a prediction about how something (as the weather) will develop

preamble

noun a preliminary introduction to a statute or constitution (usually explaining its purpose); verb make a preliminary introduction, usually to a formal document

testament

noun a profession of belief; either of the two main parts of the Christian Bible; strong evidence for something; a legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die

proffer

noun a proposal offered for acceptance or rejection; verb present for acceptance or rejection

itinerary

noun a proposed route of travel; a guidebook for travelers; an established line of travel or access

denunciation

noun a public act of denouncing

manifesto

noun a public declaration of intentions (as issued by a political party or government)

pathos

noun a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow); a style that has the power to evoke feelings; a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

supplement

noun a quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency); a supplementary component that improves capability; textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end; verb add as a supplement to what seems insufficient; serve as a supplement to; add to the very end

stagnation

noun a state of inactivity (in business or art etc); inactivity of liquids; being stagnant; standing still; without current or circulation

anarchy

noun a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)

miser

noun a stingy hoarder of money and possessions (often living miserably)

repertory

noun a storehouse where a stock of things is kept; the entire range of skills or aptitudes or devices used in a particular field or occupation; a collection of works (plays, songs, operas, ballets) that an artist or company can perform and do perform for short intervals on a regular schedule

impasse

noun a street with only one way in or out; a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible

adversity

noun a stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event; a state of misfortune or affliction

affiliate

noun a subsidiary or subordinate organization that is affiliated with another organization; a subordinate or subsidiary associate; a person who is affiliated with another or with an organization; verb join in an affiliation; join in an affiliation; keep company with; hang out with

render

noun a substance similar to stucco but exclusively applied to masonry walls; verb cause to become; pass down; coat with plastic or cement; give or supply; give back; make over as a return; melt (fat or lard) in order to separate out impurities; restate (words) from one language into another language; bestow; show in, or as in, a picture; give an interpretation or rendition of; to surrender someone or something to another; provide or furnish with

salvo

noun a sudden outburst of cheers; an outburst resembling the discharge of firearms or the release of bombs; rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms

recapitulation

noun a summary at the end that repeats the substance of a longer discussion; (music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) in which musical themes that were introduced earlier are repeated; emergence during embryonic development of various characters or structures that appeared during the evolutionary history of the strain or species

buttress

noun a support usually of stone or brick; supports the wall of a building; verb make stronger or defensible; reinforce with a buttress

bravado

noun a swaggering show of courage

inquiry

noun a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest; a search for knowledge; an instance of questioning

proposition

noun a task to be dealt with; (logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false; an offer for a private bargain (especially a request for sexual favors); the act of making a proposal; a proposal offered for acceptance or rejection; verb suggest sex to

excise

noun a tax that is measured by the amount of business done (not on property or income from real estate); verb remove by cutting; levy an excise tax on; remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line

sojourner

noun a temporary resident

hodgepodge

noun a theory or argument made up of miscellaneous or incongruous ideas; a motley assortment of things

menace

noun a threat or the act of threatening; something that is a source of danger; verb act in a threatening manner; express a threat either by an utterance or a gesture; pose a threat to; present a danger to

stymie

noun a thwarting and distressing situation; a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole; verb hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

tamper

noun a tool for tamping (e.g., for tamping tobacco into a pipe bowl or a charge into a drill hole etc.); verb play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly; intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly

beseem

verb accord or comport with

finagle

verb achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods

arbitrate

verb act between parties with a view to reconciling differences

intercede

verb act between parties with a view to reconciling differences

enact

verb act out; represent or perform as if in a play; order by virtue of superior authority; decree

aggrandize

verb add details to

annotate

verb add explanatory notes to or supply with critical comments; provide interlinear explanations for words or phrases

avow

verb admit openly and bluntly; make no bones about; to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true

annul

verb annul by recalling or rescinding; declare invalid

apprehend

verb anticipate with dread or anxiety; get the meaning of something; take into custody

reappraise

verb appraise anew

accost

verb approach with an offer of sexual favors; speak to someone

ratify

verb approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation

anthropomorphize

verb ascribe human features to something

entreat

verb ask for or request earnestly

lionize

verb assign great social importance to

relegate

verb assign to a class or kind; refer to another person for decision or judgment; assign to a lower position; reduce in rank; expel, as if by official decree

acculturate

verb assimilate culturally

assail

verb attack someone physically or emotionally; attack in speech or writing; launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

eschew

verb avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of

ostracize

verb avoid speaking to or dealing with; expel from a community or group

impede

verb be a hindrance or obstacle to; block passage through

pertain

verb be a part or attribute of; have to do with or be relevant to

afford

verb be able to spare or give up; afford access to; have the financial means to do something or buy something; be the cause or source of

behoove

verb be appropriate or necessary

equivocate

verb be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

forego

verb be earlier in time; go back further

succumb

verb be fatally overwhelmed; consent reluctantly

fraternize

verb be on friendly terms with someone, as if with a brother, especially with an enemy

conform

verb be similar, be in line with; adapt or conform oneself to new or different conditions

suffice

verb be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

drub

verb beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight

corrode

verb become destroyed by water, air, or an etching chemical such as an acid; cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid

languish

verb become feeble; lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief; have a desire for something or someone who is not present

polarize

verb become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation; cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions; cause to vibrate in a definite pattern

recommence

verb begin again; cause to start anew

dissemble

verb behave unnaturally or affectedly; hide under a false appearance; make believe with the intent to deceive

genuflect

verb bend the knees and bow in church or before a religious superior or image; bend the knees and bow in a servile manner

implicate

verb bring into intimate and incriminating connection; impose, involve, or imply as a necessary accompaniment or result

arouse

verb call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); stimulate sexually; to begin moving, "As the thunder started the sleeping children began to stir"; stop sleeping; cause to become awake or conscious; cause to be alert and energetic; summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

engender

verb call forth; make children

summon

verb call in an official matter, such as to attend court; ask to come; make ready for action or use; gather or bring together

commemorate

verb call to remembrance; keep alive the memory of someone or something, as in a ceremony; be or provide a memorial to a person or an event; mark by some ceremony or observation

renounce

verb cast off or disown; turn away from; give up; leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily; give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations

embitter

verb cause to be bitter or resentful

placate

verb cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of

germinate

verb cause to grow or sprout; produce buds, branches, or germinate; work out

resuscitate

verb cause to regain consciousness; return to consciousness

derogate

verb cause to seem less serious; play down

crystallize

verb cause to take on a definite and clear shape; assume crystalline form; become crystallized; cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form; make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear

parch

verb cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat

berate

verb censure severely or angrily

promote

verb change a pawn for a king by advancing it to the eighth row, or change a checker piece for a more valuable piece by moving it the row closest to your opponent; be changed for a superior chess or checker piece; give a promotion to or assign to a higher position; contribute to the progress or growth of; make publicity for; try to sell (a product)

defame

verb charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

denigrate

verb charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; cause to seem less serious; play down

abstain

verb choose not to consume; refrain from voting

exemplify

verb clarify by giving an example of; be characteristic of

accumulate

verb collect or gather; get or gather together

amass

verb collect or gather; get or gather together

vanquish

verb come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

contrive

verb come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort; put or send forth; make or work out a plan for; devise

emulate

verb compete with successfully; approach or reach equality with; imitate the function of (another system), as by modifying the hardware or the software; strive to equal or match, especially by imitating

entrust

verb confer a trust upon; put into the care or protection of someone

appraise

verb consider in a comprehensive way; place a value on; judge the worth of something

reconstitute

verb construct or form anew or provide with a new structure

decode

verb convert code into ordinary language

rectify

verb convert into direct current; set straight or right; math: determine the length of; make right or correct; bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one; reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities

signify

verb convey or express a meaning; make known with a word or signal; denote or connote

quench

verb cool (hot metal) by plunging into cold water or other liquid; reduce the degree of (luminescence or phosphorescence) in (excited molecules or a material) by adding a suitable substance; satisfy (thirst); electronics: suppress (sparking) when the current is cut off in an inductive circuit, or suppress (an oscillation or discharge) in a component or device; suppress or crush completely; put out, as of fires, flames, or lights

despoil

verb destroy and strip of its possession; steal goods; take as spoils

refract

verb determine the refracting power of (a lens); subject to refraction

derive

verb develop or evolve from a latent or potential state; come from; obtain; come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example; reason by deduction; establish by deduction

detest

verb dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards

allocate

verb distribute according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose

abolish

verb do away with

temporize

verb draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time

expurgate

verb edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate

enshrine

verb enclose in a shrine; hold sacred

conjure

verb engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together; ask for or request earnestly; summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

instill

verb enter drop by drop; impart gradually; fill, as with a certain quality; teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions; produce or try to produce a vivid impression of

authenticate

verb establish the authenticity of something

deify

verb exalt to the position of a God; consider as a god or godlike

scrutinize

verb examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification; to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail

peruse

verb examine or consider with attention and in detail

quantify

verb express as a number or measure or quantity; use as a quantifier

condole

verb express one's sympathetic grief, on the occasion of someone's death

decry

verb express strong disapproval of

abhor

verb find repugnant

adhere

verb follow through or carry out a plan without deviation; stick to firmly; be a devoted follower or supporter; be compatible or in accordance with; come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation; be loyal to

dispel

verb force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings; to cause to separate and go in different directions

constitute

verb form or compose; set up or lay the groundwork for; create and charge with a task or function; to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of the stage setting"

endow

verb furnish with an endowment; give qualities or abilities to

thrive

verb gain in wealth; grow stronger

glean

verb gather, as of natural products

reap

verb gather, as of natural products; get or derive

ameliorate

verb get better; to make better

mingle

verb get involved or mixed-up with; to bring or combine together or with something else; be all mixed up or jumbled together

acclimate

verb get used to a certain climate

relent

verb give in, as to influence or pressure

dispense

verb grant a dispensation; grant an exemption; give or apply (medications); administer or bestow, as in small portions

vouchsafe

verb grant in a condescending manner

burgeon

verb grow and flourish

confer

verb have a conference in order to talk something over; present

enquire

verb have a wish or desire to know something; inquire about; conduct an inquiry or investigation of

prefigure

verb imagine or consider beforehand; indicate by signs

reinvigorate

verb impart vigor, strength, or vitality to

inoculate

verb impregnate with the virus or germ of a disease in order to render immune; insert a bud for propagation; introduce a microorganism into; introduce an idea or attitude into the mind of; perform vaccinations or produce immunity in by inoculation

aerate

verb impregnate, combine, or supply with oxygen; aerate (sewage) so as to favor the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter; expose to fresh air

amplify

verb increase the volume of; exaggerate or make bigger; increase in size, volume or significance; to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth

indicate

verb indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively; to state or express briefly; suggest the necessity of an intervention; in medicine; give evidence of; be a signal for or a symptom of

mesmerize

verb induce hypnosis in; attract strongly, as if with a magnet

castigate

verb inflict severe punishment on; censure severely

interleave

verb intersperse alternately, as of protective covers for book illustrations; intersperse the sectors on the concentric magnetic circular patterns written on a computer disk surface to guide the storing and recording of data; provide (books) with blank leaves

interpose

verb introduce; be or come between; to insert between other elements; get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force

enjoin

verb issue an injunction; give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority

prescribe

verb issue commands or orders for

decimate

verb kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies; kill in large numbers

emigrate

verb leave one's country of residence for a new one

bequeath

verb leave or give by will after one's death

prolong

verb lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer; lengthen or extend in duration or space

incarcerate

verb lock up or confine, in or as in a jail

despise

verb look down on with disdain

evaporate

verb lose or cause to lose liquid by vaporization leaving a more concentrated residue; change into a vapor; cause to change into a vapor

degrade

verb lower the grade of something; reduce its worth; reduce the level of land, as by erosion; reduce in worth or character, usually verbally

allude

verb make a more or less disguised reference to

refurbish

verb make brighter and prettier

conjoin

verb make contact or come together; take in marriage

facilitate

verb make easier; increase the likelihood of (a response); be of use

preclude

verb make impossible, especially beforehand; keep from happening or arising; make impossible

efface

verb make inconspicuous; remove completely from recognition or memory; remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing

divulge

verb make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret

convey

verb make known; pass on, of information; transmit a title or property; transfer to another; serve as a means for expressing something; go or come after and bring or take back; take something or somebody with oneself somewhere; transmit or serve as the medium for transmission

demystify

verb make less mysterious or remove the mystery from

pilfer

verb make off with belongings of others

incur

verb make oneself subject to; bring upon oneself; become liable to; receive a specified treatment (abstract)

compensate

verb make payment to; compensate; make amends for; pay compensation for; adjust for; do or give something to somebody in return; make reparations or amends for; make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities

impoverish

verb make poor; take away

redouble

verb make twice as great or intense; double again; double in magnitude, extent, or intensity

impair

verb make worse or less effective; make imperfect

convene

verb meet formally; call together

conflate

verb mix together different elements

roam

verb move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

skulk

verb move stealthily; avoid responsibilities and duties, e.g., by pretending to be ill; lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner

propagate

verb multiply sexually or asexually; cause to propagate, as by grafting or layering; transmit or cause to broaden or spread; transmit; travel through the air; transmit from one generation to the next; cause to become widely known; become distributed or widespread

cadge

verb obtain or seek to obtain by cadging or wheedling; ask for and get free; be a parasite

seep

verb pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings

extemporize

verb perform without preparation; manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand

interrogate

verb pose a series of questions to; transmit (a signal) for setting off an appropriate response, as in telecommunication

acquit

verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges; behave in a certain manner

provoke

verb provide the needed stimulus for; evoke or provoke to appear or occur; call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); annoy continually or chronically

regale

verb provide with choice or abundant food or drink

incite

verb provoke or stir up; urge on; cause to act; give an incentive for action

entice

verb provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion

quash

verb put down by force or intimidation; declare invalid

propound

verb put forward, as of an idea

exert

verb put to use; make a great effort at a mental or physical task; have and exercise

abide

verb put up with something or somebody unpleasant; dwell

exalt

verb raise in rank, character, or status; praise, glorify, or honor; fill with sublime emotion; tickle pink; heighten or intensify

attain

verb reach a point in time, or a certain state or level; reach a destination, either real or abstract; find unexpectedly; to gain with effort

forgo

verb refrain from consuming; lose or lose the right to by some error, offense, or crime; do without or cease to hold or adhere to; be earlier in time; go back further

disavow

verb refuse to acknowledge; disclaim knowledge of; responsibility for, or association with

venerate

verb regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of

bemoan

verb regret strongly

extricate

verb release from entanglement of difficulty

marginalize

verb relegate to a lower or outer edge, as of specific groups of people

doff

verb remove

expunge

verb remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line

dislodge

verb remove or force from a position of dwelling previously occupied; remove or force out from a position; change place or direction

erode

verb remove soil or rock; become ground down or deteriorate

unhinge

verb remove the hinges from; disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

excavate

verb remove the inner part or the core of; form by hollowing; find by digging in the ground; lay bare through digging

presuppose

verb require as a necessary antecedent or precondition; take for granted or as a given; suppose beforehand

culminate

verb rise to, or form, a summit; bring to a head or to the highest point; end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage; reach the highest altitude or the meridian, of a celestial body; reach the highest or most decisive point

iterate

verb run or be performed again; to say, state, or perform again

rhapsodize

verb say (something) with great enthusiasm; recite a rhapsody

cleave

verb separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument; make by cutting into; come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

instigate

verb serve as the inciting cause of; provoke or stir up

embark

verb set out on (an enterprise or subject of study); go on board; proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers

veer

verb shift to a clockwise direction; turn sharply; change direction abruptly

quicken

verb show signs of life; give life or energy to; give new life or energy to; move faster; make keen or more acute

declaim

verb speak against in an impassioned manner; recite in elocution

sermonize

verb speak as if delivering a sermon; express moral judgements

squander

verb spend extravagantly; spend thoughtlessly; throw away

revile

verb spread negative information about

vilify

verb spread negative information about

pervade

verb spread or diffuse through

galvanize

verb stimulate (muscles) by administering a shock; cover with zinc; to stimulate to action

subsidize

verb support through subsidies; secure the assistance of by granting a subsidy, as of nations or military forces

capitulate

verb surrender under agreed conditions

detract

verb take away a part from; diminish

supercede

verb take the place or move into the position of

supersede

verb take the place or move into the position of

natter

verb talk socially without exchanging too much information

indoctrinate

verb teach doctrines to; teach uncritically

impart

verb tell or deposit (information) knowledge; make known; pass on, of information; make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret; bestow a quality on

jettison

verb throw as from an airplane; throw away, of something encumbering

bedazzle

verb to cause someone to lose clear vision, especially from intense light

overstate

verb to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth

unfetter

verb to free from restraint; liberate.

ascend

verb travel up, "We ascended the mountain"; slope upwards; go along towards (a river's) source; become king or queen; go back in order of genealogical succession; come up, of celestial bodies

reverberate

verb treat, process, heat, melt, or refine in a reverberating furnace; be reflected as heat, sound, or light or shock waves; have a long or continuing effect; spring back; spring away from an impact; to throw or bend back or reflect (from a surface); ring or echo with sound

avert

verb turn away or aside; prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

condense

verb undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops; compress or concentrate; develop due to condensation; become more compact or concentrated; cause a gas or vapor to change into a liquid; remove water from; make more concise

economize

verb use cautiously and frugally; spend sparingly, avoid the waste of

deplete

verb use up (resources or materials)

theatricality

noun an artificial and mannered quality

raid

noun an attempt by speculators to defraud investors; a sudden short attack; verb search for something needed or desired; take over (a company) by buying a controlling interest of its stock; search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on; enter someone else's territory and take spoils

mystique

noun an aura of heightened value or interest or meaning surrounding a person or thing

pronouncement

noun an authoritative declaration

breezily

adv. in a breezy manner

singularly

adv. in a singular manner or to a singular degree

sinuously

adv. in a sinuous manner

distinctively

adv. in an identifiably distinctive manner

unduly

adv. to an undue degree

patently

adv. unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly')

inadvertently

adv. without knowledge or intention

mercilessly

adv. without pity; in a merciless manner

loftiness

noun impressiveness in scale or proportion; the condition of being high or lofty

procurement

noun the act of getting possession of something

heterogeneity

noun the quality of being diverse and not comparable in kind

forthrightness

noun the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech

candor

noun the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech; ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty

individuality

noun the quality of being individual; the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity

beneficence

noun the quality of being kind or helpful or generous; doing good; feeling beneficent

splendor

noun the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand; a quality that outshines the usual

grandeur

noun the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand; the quality of elevation of mind and exaltation of character or ideals or conduct

blanched

adj. anemic looking from illness or emotion; (especially of plants) developed without chlorophyll by being deprived of light

incensed

adj. angered at something unjust or wrong

outraged

adj. angered at something unjust or wrong

prospective

adj. anticipated for the near future; concerned with or related to the future

engrossed

adj. written formally in a large clear script, as a deed or other legal document; giving or marked by complete attention to

callow

adj. young and inexperienced

guise

noun an artful or simulated semblance

medium

adj. (meat) cooked until there is just a little pink meat inside; around the middle of a scale of evaluation of physical measures; noun an intervening substance through which signals can travel as a means for communication; a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information; (usually plural) transmissions that are disseminated widely to the public; the surrounding environment; someone who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead; a state that is intermediate between extremes; a middle position; an intervening substance through which something is achieved; (biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed; a liquid with which pigment is mixed by a painter; an occupation for which you are especially well suited; (bacteriology) a nutrient substance (solid or liquid) that is used to cultivate micro-organisms

unruffled

adj. (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves; free from emotional agitation or nervous tension

effervescent

adj. (of a liquid) giving off bubbles; marked by high spirits or excitement; used of wines and waters; charged naturally or artificially with carbon dioxide

soluble

adj. (of a substance) capable of being dissolved in some solvent (usually water); susceptible of solution or of being solved or explained

spacious

adj. (of buildings and rooms) having ample space; very large in expanse or scope

arable

adj. (of farmland) capable of being farmed productively

nomadic

adj. (of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently

illegible

adj. (of handwriting, print, etc.) not legible

eased

adj. (of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear

crass

adj. (of persons) so unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility

tremulous

adj. (of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear

synonymous

adj. (of words) meaning the same or nearly the same

susceptible

adj. (often followed by `of' or `to') yielding readily to or capable of; easily impressed emotionally

cognizant

adj. (sometimes followed by `of') having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

detrimental

adj. (sometimes followed by `to') causing harm or injury

ingrained

adj. (used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held

usurped

adj. (used especially of the rights of another) seized and held by force

expendable

adj. (used of funds) remaining after taxes; suitable to be expended

refined

adj. (used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel; freed from impurities by processing; free from what is tawdry or unbecoming; suggesting taste, ease, and wealth; made pure; showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience

supple

adj. (used of persons' bodies) capable of moving or bending freely; (used of e.g. personality traits) readily adaptable; moving and bending with ease; verb make pliant and flexible

figurative

adj. (used of the meanings of words or text) not literal; using figures of speech; consisting of or forming human or animal figures

redolent

adj. (used with `of' or `with') noticeably odorous; having a strong pleasant odor; serving to bring to mind

protective

adj. (usually followed by `of') solicitously caring or mindful; intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind; showing a care

immune

adj. (usually followed by `to') not affected by a given influence; relating to or conferring immunity (to disease or infection); secure against; relating to the condition of immunity; noun a person who is immune to a particular infection

imperious

adj. able to deal authoritatively with affairs

hardy

adj. able to survive under unfavorable conditions; having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships; resolute and without fear; noun English novelist and poet (1840-1928); United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957)

pallid

adj. abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress; lacking in vitality or interest or effectiveness; (of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble

taunting

adj. abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule; noun aggravation by deriding or mocking or criticizing

palatable

adj. acceptable to the taste or mind

punctual

adj. acting or arriving or performed exactly at the time appointed

orthodox

adj. adhering to what is commonly accepted; of or pertaining to or characteristic of Judaism; of or relating to or characteristic of the Eastern Orthodox Church

fictitious

adj. adopted in order to deceive; formed or conceived by the imagination

dejected

adj. affected or marked by low spirits

ample

adj. affording an abundant supply; more than enough in size or scope or capacity; fairly large

slight

adj. almost no or (with `a') at least some; very little; being of delicate or slender build; having little substance or significance; noun a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval); verb pay no attention to, disrespect

hoary

adj. ancient; covered with fine whitish hairs or down; showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair

organic

adj. involving or affecting physiology or bodily organs; simple and healthful and close to nature; relating or belonging to the class of chemical compounds having a carbon basis; being or relating to or derived from or having properties characteristic of living organisms; of or relating to foodstuff grown or raised without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or hormones; of or relating to or derived from living organisms; constitutional in the structure of something (especially your physical makeup); noun a fertilizer that is derived from animal or vegetable matter

intrepid

adj. invulnerable to fear or intimidation

coalesced

adj. joined together into a whole

foreseen

adj. known beforehand

tasteless

adj. lacking aesthetic or social taste; lacking flavor

hesitant

adj. lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly; acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence

shortsighted

adj. lacking foresight or scope; not given careful consideration; unable to see distant objects clearly

insubstantial

adj. lacking material form or substance; unreal; lacking in nutritive value

licentious

adj. lacking moral discipline; especially sexually unrestrained

labored

adj. lacking natural ease; requiring or showing effort

decrepit

adj. lacking physical strength or vitality; worn and broken down by hard use

indecorous

adj. lacking propriety and good taste in manners and conduct; not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

insincere

adj. lacking sincerity

enervated

adj. lacking strength or vigor

wan

adj. lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness; abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress; (of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble; noun a computer network that spans a wider area than does a local area network; verb become pale and sickly

imprudent

adj. lacking wise self-restraint; not prudent or wise

pedestrian

adj. lacking wit or imagination; noun a person who travels by foot

capacious

adj. large in capacity

copious

adj. large in number or quantity (especially of discourse); affording an abundant supply

voluminous

adj. large in volume or bulk; large in number or quantity (especially of discourse); marked by repeated turns and bends

fleeting

adj. lasting for a markedly brief time

scant

adj. less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so; verb limit in quality or quantity; supply sparingly and with restricted quantities; work hastily or carelessly; deal with inadequately and superficially

sublime

adj. lifted up or set high; inspiring awe; of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style; worthy of adoration or reverence; verb vaporize and then condense right back again; change or cause to change directly from a solid into a vapor without first melting

meteoric

adj. like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience; pertaining to or consisting of meteors or meteoroids; of or pertaining to atmospheric phenomena, especially weather and weather conditions

avuncular

adj. like an uncle in kindness or indulgence; being or relating to an uncle

fallible

adj. likely to fail or make errors; having the attributes of man as opposed to e.g. divine beings

episodic

adj. limited in duration to a single episode; occurring or appearing at usually irregular intervals; of writing or narration; divided into or composed of episodes

hinder

adj. located at or near the back of an animal; verb put at a disadvantage; be a hindrance or obstacle to; hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

subordinate

adj. lower in rank or importance; subject or submissive to authority or the control of another; (of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence; inferior in rank or status; noun an assistant subject to the authority or control of another; a word that is more specific than a given word; verb make subordinate, dependent, or subservient; rank or order as less important or consider of less value

exhilarated

adj. made joyful

disheartened

adj. made less hopeful or enthusiastic

predisposed

adj. made susceptible

mortified

adj. made to feel uncomfortable because of shame or wounded pride; suffering from tissue death

invasive

adj. marked by a tendency to spread especially into healthy tissue; relating to a technique in which the body is entered by puncture or incision; gradually intrusive without right or permission; involving invasion or aggressive attack

studious

adj. marked by care and effort; characterized by diligent study and fondness for reading

assiduous

adj. marked by care and persistent effort

sedulous

adj. marked by care and persistent effort

impudent

adj. marked by casual disrespect; improperly forward or bold

fledgling

adj. young and inexperienced; (of a young bird) having acquired its flight feathers; noun young bird that has just fledged or become capable of flying; any new participant in some activity

bohemian

adj. unconventional in especially appearance and behavior; of or relating to Bohemia or its language or people; noun a nonconformist writer or artist who lives an unconventional life; a native or inhabitant of Bohemia in the Czech Republic; a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling; they are believed to have originated in northern India but now are living on all continents (but mostly in Europe, North Africa, and North America)

obliged

adj. under a moral obligation to do something

provisionary

adj. under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon

tentative

adj. under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; unsettled in mind or opinion

inhospitable

adj. unfavorable to life or growth; not hospitable

bereft

adj. unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love; sorrowful through loss or deprivation

fulsome

adj. unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech

grating

adj. unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound; noun optical device consisting of a surface with many parallel grooves in it; disperses a beam of light (or other electromagnetic radiation) into its wavelengths to produce its spectrum; a frame of iron bars to hold a fire; a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air

raucous

adj. unpleasantly loud and harsh; disturbing the public peace; loud and rough

stalwart

adj. used especially of persons; dependable; having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships; noun a person who is loyal to their allegiance (especially in times of revolt)

detached

adj. used of buildings; standing apart from others; no longer connected or joined; not fixed in position; being or feeling set or kept apart from others; showing lack of emotional involvement

symbiotic

adj. used of organisms (especially of different species) living together but not necessarily in a relation beneficial to each

calculating

adj. used of persons

insufferable

adj. used of persons or their behavior

congenial

adj. used of plants; capable of cross-fertilization or of being grafted; suitable to your needs or similar to your nature

mercenary

adj. used of soldiers hired by a foreign army; profit oriented; marked by materialism; noun a person hired to fight for another country than their own

stylized

adj. using artistic forms and conventions to create effects; not natural or spontaneous

wordy

adj. using or containing too many words

boon

adj. very close and convivial; noun a desirable state

contiguous

adj. very close or connected in space or time; having a common boundary or edge; touching; connecting without a break; within a common boundary

tantalizing

adj. very pleasantly inviting; arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable or mockingly out of reach

comely

adj. very pleasing to the eye; according with custom or propriety

minuscule

adj. very small; of or relating to a small cursive script developed from uncial; 7th to 9th centuries; lowercase; noun a small cursive script developed from uncial between the 7th and 9th centuries and used in medieval manuscripts; the characters that were once kept in bottom half of a compositor's type case

emaciated

adj. very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold

vivacious

adj. vigorous and animated

proverbial

adj. widely known and spoken of; of or relating to or resembling or expressed in a proverb

dutiful

adj. willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect

malevolent

adj. wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred; having or exerting a malignant influence

extemporaneous

adj. with little or no preparation or forethought

impromptu

adj. with little or no preparation or forethought; adv. without advance preparation; noun an extemporaneous speech or remark; a short musical passage that seems to have been made spontaneously without advance preparation

insoluble

adj. without hope of solution; (of a substance) incapable of being dissolved; admitting of no solution or explanation

literal

adj. without interpretation or embellishment; limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text; avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis); being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something; noun a mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind

ruthless

adj. without mercy or pity

evenhanded

adj. without partiality

amorphous

adj. without real or apparent crystalline form; lacking the system or structure characteristic of living bodies; having no definite form or distinct shape

unscrupulous

adj. without scruples or principles

shopworn

adj. worn or faded from being on display in a store; repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

restless

adj. worried and uneasy; ceaselessly in motion; unable to relax or be still; not affording rest

hallowed

adj. worthy of religious veneration

rack

noun a rapid gait of a horse in which each foot strikes the ground separately; a form of torture in which pain is inflicted by stretching the body; a support for displaying various articles; framework for holding objects; an instrument of torture that stretches or disjoints or mutilates victims; rib section of a forequarter of veal or pork or especially lamb or mutton; the destruction or collapse of something; verb torture on the rack; seize together, as of parallel ropes of a tackle in order to prevent running through the block; work on a rack; stretch to the limits; draw off from the lees; fly in high wind; put on a rack and pinion; torment emotionally or mentally; run before a gale; go at a rack; obtain by coercion or intimidation

reformation

noun a religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches; improvement (or an intended improvement) in the existing form or condition of institutions or practices etc.; intended to make a striking change for the better in social or political or religious affairs; rescuing from error and returning to a rightful course

antidote

noun a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison

memento

noun a reminder of past events

caricature

noun a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect; verb represent in or produce a caricature of

watershed

noun a ridge of land that separates two adjacent river systems; an event marking a unique or important historical change of course or one on which important developments depend

perquisite

noun a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right); an incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is regarded as a right)

mimeograph

noun a rotary duplicator that uses a stencil through which ink is pressed (trade mark Roneo); verb print copies from (a prepared stencil) using a mimeograph

acrimony

noun a rough and bitter manner

potentate

noun a ruler who is unconstrained by law

maxim

noun a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits; English inventor (born in the United States) who invented the Maxim gun that was used in World War I (1840-1916)

cachet

noun a seal on a letter; a warrant formerly issued by a French king who could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal; an indication of approved or superior status

hoard

noun a secret store of valuables or money; verb save up as for future use; get or gather together

huckster

noun a seller of shoddy goods; a person who writes radio or tv advertisements; verb wrangle (over a price, terms of an agreement, etc.); sell or offer for sale from place to place

reallocation

noun a share that has been allocated again; a new apportionment (especially a new apportionment of congressional seats in the United States on the basis of census results)

fable

noun a short moral story (often with animal characters); a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events; a deliberately false or improbable account

epilogue

noun a short passage added at the end of a literary work; a short speech (often in verse) addressed directly to the audience by an actor at the end of a play

aphorism

noun a short pithy instructive saying

omen

noun a sign of something about to happen; verb indicate by signs

monolith

noun a single great stone (often in the form of a column or obelisk)

nudge

noun a slight push or shake; verb push into action by pestering or annoying gently; to push against gently

vignette

noun a small illustrative sketch (as sometimes placed at the beginning of chapters in books); a photograph whose edges shade off gradually; a brief literary description

minutia

noun a small or minor detail

gaffe

noun a socially awkward or tactless act

quagmire

noun a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot

mendicancy

noun a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person); the state of being a beggar or mendicant

dirge

noun a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person

pigeonhole

noun a specific (often simplistic) category; a small compartment; verb treat or classify according to a mental stereotype; place into a small compartment

capacity

noun a specified function; the maximum production possible; tolerance for alcohol; ability to perform or produce; the power to learn or retain knowledge; in law, the ability to understand the facts and significance of your behavior; (computer science) the amount of information (in bytes) that can be stored on a disk drive; the amount that can be contained; an electrical phenomenon whereby an electric charge is stored; the susceptibility of something to a particular treatment

grandstand

noun a stand at a racecourse or stadium consisting of tiers with rows of individual seats that are under a protective roof; the audience at a stadium or racetrack; verb perform ostentatiously in order to impress the audience and with an eye to the applause

prototype

noun a standard or typical example

pandemonium

noun a state of extreme confusion and disorder

opprobrium

noun a state of extreme dishonor; state of disgrace resulting from public abuse

antiquity

noun an artifact surviving from the past; the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe; extreme oldness

forge

noun a workplace where metal is worked by heating and hammering; furnace consisting of a special hearth where metal is heated before shaping; verb make a copy of with the intent to deceive; create by hammering; move or act with a sudden increase in speed or energy; move ahead steadily; come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort; make out of components (often in an improvising manner); make something, usually for a specific function

warrant

noun a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts; a type of security issued by a corporation (usually together with a bond or preferred stock) that gives the holder the right to purchase a certain amount of common stock at a stated price; a written assurance that some product or service will be provided or will meet certain specifications; formal and explicit approval; verb stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of; show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for

treaty

noun a written agreement between two states or sovereigns

servility

noun abject or cringing submissiveness

permutation

noun act of changing the lineal order of objects in a group; complete change in character or condition; the act of changing the arrangement of a given number of elements; an event in which one thing is substituted for another

redress

noun act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil; a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury; verb make reparations or amends for

deferment

noun act of putting off to a future time

abstinence

noun act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite; the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)

merriment

noun activities that are enjoyable or amusing; a gay feeling

jest

noun activity characterized by good humor; a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter; verb act in a funny or teasing way; tell a joke; speak humorously

repartee

noun adroitness and cleverness in reply

condescension

noun affability to your inferiors and temporary disregard for differences of position or rank; the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior; a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient

audacity

noun aggressive boldness or unmitigated effrontery; fearless daring

assent

noun agreement with a statement or proposal to do something; verb to agree or express agreement

posterity

noun all future generations; all of the offspring of a given progenitor

fauna

noun all the animal life in a particular region or period; a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

glamour

noun alluring beauty or charm (often with sex-appeal); verb cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something

reverie

noun an abstracted state of absorption; absentminded dreaming while awake

apparition

noun an act of appearing or becoming visible unexpectedly; something existing in perception only; the appearance of a ghostlike figure; a ghostly appearing figure

atrocity

noun an act of atrocious cruelty; the quality of being shockingly cruel and inhumane

treachery

noun an act of deliberate betrayal; betrayal of a trust

insurrectionists

noun an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil authority or an established government.

understudy

noun an actor able to replace a regular performer when required; verb be an understudy or alternate for a role

annex

noun an addition that extends a main building; verb attach to; take (territory) as if by conquest

afterthought

noun an addition that was not included in the original plan; thinking again about a choice previously made

temperament

noun an adjustment of the intervals (as in tuning a keyboard instrument) so that the scale can be used to play in different keys; excessive emotionalism or irritability and excitability (especially when displayed openly); your usual mood

populist

noun an advocate of democratic principles

gibe

noun an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect; verb laugh at with contempt and derision; be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

parasite

noun an animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host; a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage

relic

noun an antiquity that has survived from the distant past; something of sentimental value

array

noun an arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics; especially fine or decorative clothing; an impressive display; an orderly arrangement; verb align oneself with a group or a way of thinking; lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line

ramification

noun an arrangement of branching parts; the act of branching out or dividing into branches; a development that complicates a situation; a part of a forked or branching shape

quarrel

noun an arrow that is shot from a crossbow; has a head with four edges; an angry dispute; verb have a disagreement over something

minimalism

noun an art movement in sculpture and painting that began in the 1950s and emphasized extreme simplification of form and color

scheme

noun an elaborate and systematic plan of action; a schematic or preliminary plan; an internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world; a statement that evades the question by cleverness or trickery; a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole; verb form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner; devise a system or form a scheme for

squelch

noun an electric circuit that cuts off a receiver when the signal becomes weaker than the noise; a crushing remark; verb suppress or crush completely; walk through mud or mire; make a sucking sound; to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

verity

noun an enduring or necessary ethical or religious or aesthetic truth; conformity to reality or actuality

barter

noun an equal exchange; verb exchange goods without involving money

calamity

noun an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

inception

noun an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events

strategist

noun an expert in strategy (especially in warfare)

gloss

noun an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text; an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading; the property of being smooth and shiny; an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge; usually published as an appendix to a text on that field; verb provide an interlinear translation of a word or phrase; provide interlinear explanations for words or phrases; give a shine or gloss to, usually by rubbing; gloss or excuse

kudos

noun an expression of approval and commendation

condolence

noun an expression of sympathy with another's grief

idiom

noun an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up; the style of a particular artist or school or movement; a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language; the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people

allegory

noun an expressive style that uses fictional characters and events to describe some subject by suggestive resemblances; an extended metaphor; a short moral story (often with animal characters); a visible symbol representing an abstract idea

encore

noun an extra or repeated performance; usually given in response to audience demand; verb request an encore, from a performer

utopia

noun an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal; a work of fiction describing a utopia; a book written by Sir Thomas More (1516) describing the perfect society on an imaginary island; ideally perfect state; especially in its social and political and moral aspects

dignitary

noun an important or influential (and often overbearing) person

impropriety

noun an improper demeanor; the condition of being improper; an act of undue intimacy; an indecent or improper act

misconception

noun an incorrect conception

forerunner

noun an indication of the approach of something or someone; a person who goes before or announces the coming of another; anything that precedes something similar in time

harbinger

noun an indication of the approach of something or someone; verb foreshadow or presage

vestige

noun an indication that something has been present

innuendo

noun an indirect (and usually malicious) implication

circumlocution

noun an indirect way of expressing something; a style that involves indirect ways of expressing things

wallow

noun an indolent or clumsy rolling about; a puddle where animals go to wallow; verb delight greatly in; devote oneself entirely to something; indulge in to an immoderate degree, usually with pleasure; be ecstatic with joy; roll around, "pigs were wallowing in the mud"; rise up as if in waves

mischance

noun an instance of misfortune; an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate

mishap

noun an instance of misfortune; an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate

oration

noun an instance of oratory

query

noun an instance of questioning; verb pose a question

curriculum

noun an integrated course of academic studies

clarification

noun an interpretation that removes obstacles to understanding; the act of removing solid particles from a liquid

mania

noun an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action; a mood disorder; an affective disorder in which the victim tends to respond excessively and sometimes violently

toady

noun an obsequious flatterer; sycophant.

hazard

noun an obstacle on a golf course; a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune; an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another; verb put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation; take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome; put at risk

sinecure

noun an office that involves minimal duties; a benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral duties are attached

ailment

noun an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining

preconception

noun an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence; a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation

console

noun an ornamental scroll-shaped bracket (especially one used to support a wall fixture); a scientific instrument consisting of displays and an input device that an operator can use to monitor and control a system (especially a computer system); housing for electronic instruments, as radio or television; a small table fixed to a wall or designed to stand against a wall; verb give moral or emotional strength to

sensation

noun an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation; a general feeling of excitement and heightened interest; a state of widespread public excitement and interest; the faculty through which the external world is apprehended; someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

vagary

noun an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.)

conjunction

noun an uninflected function word that serves to conjoin words or phrases or clauses or sentences; (astronomy) apparent meeting or passing of two or more celestial bodies in the same degree of the zodiac; the grammatical relation between linguistic units (words or phrases or clauses) that are connected by a conjunction; something that joins or connects; the temporal property of two things happening at the same time; the state of being joined together

carnivore

noun any animal that feeds on flesh; a terrestrial or aquatic flesh-eating mammal

gimmick

noun any clever maneuver; something unspecified whose name is either forgotten or not known; a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

bromide

noun any of the salts of hydrobromic acid; formerly used as a sedative but now generally replaced by safer drugs; a trite or obvious remark

flounder

noun any of various European and non-European marine flatfish; flesh of any of various American and European flatfish; verb behave awkwardly; have difficulties; walk with great difficulty

balm

noun any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing; semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation

carp

noun any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae; the lean flesh of a fish that is often farmed; can be baked or braised; verb raise trivial objections

blight

noun any plant disease resulting in withering without rotting; a state or condition being blighted; verb cause to suffer a blight

stimulus

noun any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action

impediment

noun any structure that makes progress difficult; something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

credo

noun any system of principles or beliefs

antipodes

noun any two places or regions on diametrically opposite sides of the Earth

atrophy

noun any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use); a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse; verb undergo atrophy

advent

noun arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous); the season including the four Sundays preceding Christmas; (Christian theology) the reappearance of Jesus as judge for the Last Judgment

attribution

noun assigning to a cause or source; assigning some quality or character to a person or thing

succor

noun assistance in time of difficulty; verb help in a difficult situation

misconduct

noun bad or dishonest management by persons supposed to act on another's behalf; activity that transgresses moral or civil law; verb manage badly or incompetently; behave badly

values

noun beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment (either for or against something)

wrath

noun belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong (personified as one of the deadly sins); intense anger (usually on an epic scale)

desecration

noun blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character

sacrilege

noun blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character

ward

noun block forming a division of a hospital (or a suite of rooms) shared by patients who need a similar kind of care; a district into which a city or town is divided for the purpose of administration and elections; a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another; United States businessman who in 1872 established a successful mail-order business (1843-1913); English writer of novels who was an active opponent of the women's suffrage movement (1851-1920); English economist and conservationist (1914-1981); a division of a prison (usually consisting of several cells); verb watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect

palette

noun board that provides a flat surface on which artists mix paints and the range of colors used; the range of colour characteristic of a particular artist or painting or school of art; one of the rounded armor plates at the armpits of a suit of armor

dissipation

noun breaking up and scattering by dispersion; useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly; dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure

buoy

noun bright-colored; a float attached by rope to the seabed to mark channels in a harbor or underwater hazards; verb mark with a buoy; keep afloat; float on the surface of water

resurgence

noun bringing again into activity and prominence

rubric

noun category name; a title or heading that is printed in red or in a special type; an authoritative rule of conduct or procedure; directions for the conduct of Christian church services (often printed in red in a prayer book); a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with; an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text; verb adorn with ruby red color

analogy

noun drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect; an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others; the religious belief that between creature and creator no similarity can be found so great but that the dissimilarity is always greater; language can point in the right direction but any analogy between God and humans will always be inadequate

wrack

noun dried seaweed especially that cast ashore; the destruction or collapse of something; growth of marine vegetation especially of the large forms such as rockweeds and kelp; verb smash or break forcefully

tedium

noun dullness owing to length or slowness; the feeling of being bored by something tedious

endeavor

noun earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness); verb attempt by employing effort

castanet

noun either of a pair of concave pieces of wood held in the palm of the hand and clicked together, usually to accompany dancing.

gentility

noun elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression

stamina

noun enduring strength and energy

plaudits

noun enthusiastic approval

zeal

noun excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end; prompt willingness; a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

impunity

noun exemption from punishment or loss

vaunt

noun extravagant self-praise; verb show off

plethora

noun extreme excess

virulence

noun extreme hostility; extreme harmfulness (as the capacity of a microorganism to cause disease)

mawkishness

noun falsely emotional in a maudlin way; insincere pathos

nepotism

noun favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs)

consternation

noun fear resulting from the awareness of danger

malice

noun feeling a need to see others suffer; the quality of threatening evil

ardor

noun feelings of great warmth and intensity; intense feeling of love; a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

fervor

noun feelings of great warmth and intensity; the state of being emotionally aroused and worked up

blather

noun foolish gibberish; verb to talk foolishly

folly

noun foolish or senseless behavior; the trait of acting stupidly or rashly; the quality of being rash and foolish; a stupid mistake

imprimatur

noun formal and explicit approval

civility

noun formal or perfunctory politeness; the act of showing regard for others

gumption

noun fortitude and determination; sound practical judgment

clarity

noun free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression; the quality of clear water

parity

noun functional equality; (physics) parity is conserved in a universe in which the laws of physics are the same in a right-handed system of coordinates as in a left-handed system; (mathematics) a relation between a pair of integers: if both integers are odd or both are even they have the same parity; if one is odd and the other is even they have different parity; (obstetrics) the number of liveborn children a woman has delivered; (computer science) a bit that is used in an error detection procedure in which a 0 or 1 is added to each group of bits so that it will have either an odd number of 1's or an even number of 1's; e.g., if the parity is odd then any group of bits that arrives with an even number of 1's must contain an error

obstruction

noun getting in someone's way; the act of obstructing; any structure that makes progress difficult; the state or condition of being obstructed; something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted

restitution

noun getting something back again; the act of restoring something to its original state; a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury

babble

noun gibberish resembling the sounds of a baby; verb to talk foolishly; utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way; divulge confidential information or secrets; "Be careful--his secretary talks"; flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise

embodiment

noun giving concrete form to an abstract concept; a new personification of a familiar idea; a concrete representation of an otherwise nebulous concept

serendipity

noun good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries

perniciousness

noun grave harmfulness or deadliness

hilarity

noun great merriment

drudgery

noun hard monotonous routine work

panacea

noun hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists; (Greek mythology) the goddess of healing; daughter of Aesculapius and sister of Hygeia

appellation

noun identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others

ideology

noun imaginary or visionary theorization; an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation

inertness

noun immobility by virtue of being inert

complement

noun something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction; number needed to make up a whole force; a complete number or quantity; one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response; verb make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to

reparation

noun something done or paid in expiation of a wrong; (usually plural) compensation exacted from a defeated nation by the victors; compensation (given or received) for an insult or injury; the act of putting something in working order again

monstrosity

noun something hideous or frightful; a person or animal that is markedly unusual or deformed

subterfuge

noun something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity

pretext

noun something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason; an artful or simulated semblance

marvel

noun something that causes feelings of wonder; verb express astonishment or surprise about something; be amazed at

counsel

noun something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action; a lawyer who pleads cases in court; verb give advice to

boast

noun speaking of yourself in superlatives; verb show off; wear or display in an ostentatious or proud manner

emblem

noun special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.; a visible symbol representing an abstract idea

jargon

noun specialized technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject; a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves); a colorless (or pale yellow or smoky) variety of zircon

trifle

noun sponge cake spread with jam and soaked in wine; served with a custard sauce; something of small importance; a detail that is considered insignificant; verb consider not very seriously; act frivolously; waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently

quandary

noun state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options; a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one

drone

noun stingless male bee in a colony of social bees (especially honeybees) whose sole function is to mate with the queen; a pipe of the bagpipe that is tuned to produce a single continuous tone; an aircraft without a pilot that is operated by remote control; an unchanging intonation; someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind; verb talk in a monotonous voice; make a monotonous low dull sound

disgust

noun strong feelings of dislike; verb cause aversion in; offend the moral sense of; fill with distaste

moratorium

noun suspension of an ongoing activity; a legally authorized postponement before some obligation must be discharged

accord

noun sympathetic compatibility; concurrence of opinion; a written agreement between two states or sovereigns; harmony of people's opinions or actions or characters; verb allow to have; go together

expropriation

noun taking out of an owner's hands (especially taking property by public authority)

gullibility

noun tendency to believe too readily and therefore to be easily deceived

entity

noun that which is perceived or known or inferred to have its own distinct existence (living or nonliving)

repeal

noun the act of abrogating; an official or legal cancellation; verb annul by recalling or rescinding

agitation

noun the act of agitating something; causing it to move around (usually vigorously); disturbance usually in protest; the feeling of being agitated; not calm; a state of agitation or turbulent change or development; a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance

disruption

noun the act of causing disorder; an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity; an event that results in a displacement or discontinuity; a disorderly outburst or tumult

constraint

noun the act of constraining; the threat or use of force to control the thoughts or behavior of others; the state of being physically constrained; a device that retards something's motion

convergence

noun the act of converging (coming closer); the approach of an infinite series to a finite limit; the occurrence of two or more things coming together; a representation of common ground between theories or phenomena

confection

noun the act of creating something (a medicine or drink or soup etc.) by compounding or mixing a variety of components; a food rich in sugar; verb make into a confection

arbitration

noun the act of deciding as an arbiter; giving authoritative judgment; (law) the hearing and determination of a dispute by an impartial referee agreed to by both parties (often used to settle disputes between labor and management)

deposition

noun the act of deposing someone; removing a powerful person from a position or office; (law) a pretrial interrogation of a witness; usually conducted in a lawyer's office; the natural process of laying down a deposit of something; the act of putting something somewhere

dispensation

noun the act of dispensing (giving out in portions); an exemption from some rule or obligation; a share that has been dispensed or distributed

apportionment

noun the act of distributing by allotting or apportioning; distribution according to a plan

levy

noun the act of drafting into military service; a charge imposed and collected; verb impose and collect; cause to assemble or enlist in the military

distension

noun the act of expanding by pressure from within; the state of being stretched beyond normal dimensions

commission

noun the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions; an official document issued by a government and conferring on the recipient the rank of an officer in the armed forces; a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something; a fee for services rendered based on a percentage of an amount received or collected or agreed to be paid (as distinguished from a salary); the state of being in good working order and ready for operation; a special assignment that is given to a person or group; the act of committing a crime; a special group delegated to consider some matter; a group of representatives or delegates; verb charge with a task; put into commission; equip for service; of ships; place an order for

isolation

noun the act of isolating something; setting something apart from others; a country's withdrawal from international politics; a feeling of being disliked and alone; (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which memory of an unacceptable act or impulse is separated from the emotion originally associated with it; a state of separation between persons or groups

liberation

noun the act of liberating someone or something; the attempt to achieve equal rights or status; the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)

perseverance

noun the act of persisting or persevering; continuing or repeating behavior; persistent determination

prediction

noun the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future); a statement made about the future

impression

noun the act of pressing one thing on or into the surface of another; an impressionistic portrayal of a person; (dentistry) an imprint of the teeth and gums in wax or plaster; an outward appearance; a vague idea in which some confidence is placed; all the copies of a work printed at one time; a clear and telling mental image; a symbol that is the result of printing; a concavity in a surface produced by pressing

retraction

noun the act of pulling or holding or drawing a part back; a disavowal or taking back of a previous assertion

extirpation

noun the act of pulling up or out; uprooting; cutting off from existence; surgical removal of a body part or tissue

detachment

noun the act of releasing from an attachment or connection; a small unit of troops of special composition; coming apart; avoiding emotional involvement; the state of being isolated or detached

renunciation

noun the act of renouncing; sacrificing or giving up or surrendering (a possession or right or title or privilege etc.); an act (spoken or written) declaring that something is surrendered or disowned; rejecting or disowning or disclaiming as invalid; the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes)

reprieve

noun the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment; a warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence); a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort; an interruption in the intensity or amount of something; verb relieve temporarily; postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution

salvage

noun the act of rescuing a ship or its crew or its cargo from a shipwreck or a fire; the act of saving goods or property that were in danger of damage or destruction; property or goods saved from damage or destruction; verb collect discarded or refused material; save from ruin, destruction, or harm

dispatch

noun the act of sending off something; killing a person or animal; the property of being prompt and efficient; an official report (usually sent in haste); verb kill without delay; send away towards a designated goal; dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently; complete or carry out; kill intentionally and with premeditation

winnow

noun the act of separating grain from chaff; verb blow away or off with a current of air; separate the chaff from by using air currents; blow on; select desirable parts from a group or list

bifurcation

noun the act of splitting into two branches; the place where something divides into two branches; a bifurcating branch (one or both of them)

sustenance

noun the act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence; a source of materials to nourish the body; the financial means whereby one lives

temperance

noun the act of tempering; the trait of avoiding excesses; abstaining from excess

brandish

noun the act of waving; verb move or swing back and forth; exhibit aggressively

deterrence

noun the act or process of discouraging actions or preventing occurrences by instilling fear or doubt or anxiety; a communication that makes you afraid to try something; a negative motivational influence

increment

noun the amount by which something increases; a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important

countenance

noun the appearance conveyed by a person's face; the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British); formal and explicit approval; verb consent to, give permission

ambiance

noun the atmosphere of an environment; a particular environment or surrounding influence

yen

noun the basic unit of money in Japan; equal to 100 sen; a yearning for something or to do something; verb have a desire for something or someone who is not present

meritocracy

noun the belief that rulers should be chosen for their superior abilities and not because of their wealth or birth; a form of social system in which power goes to those with superior intellects

pathology

noun the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases; any deviation from a healthy or normal condition

coronation

noun the ceremony of installing a new monarch

multitude

noun the common people generally; a large gathering of people; a large indefinite number

distortion

noun the mistake of misrepresenting the facts; the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean; a change for the worse; a change (usually undesired) in the waveform of an acoustic or analog electrical signal; the difference between two measurements of a signal (as between the input and output signal); an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image; a shape resulting from distortion

revoke

noun the mistake of not following suit when able to do so; verb annul by recalling or rescinding; fail to follow suit when able and required to do so

renege

noun the mistake of not following suit when able to do so; verb fail to fulfill a promise or obligation

denotation

noun the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to; the act of indicating or pointing out by name

crux

noun the most important point; a small conspicuous constellation in the southern hemisphere in the Milky Way near Centaurus

hierarchy

noun the organization of people at different ranks in an administrative body; a series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system

ebb

noun the outward flow of the tide; a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number); verb fall away or decline; hem in fish with stakes and nets so as to prevent them from going back into the sea with the ebb; flow back or recede

vocation

noun the particular occupation for which you are trained; a body of people doing the same kind of work

renaissance

noun the period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the modern world; a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries; the revival of learning and culture

rigidity

noun the physical property of being stiff and resisting bending; the quality of being rigid and rigorously severe

zenith

noun the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected

allure

noun the power to entice or attract through personal charm; verb dispose or incline or entice to

prescience

noun the power to foresee the future

husbandry

noun the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock

symbolism

noun the practice of investing things with symbolic meaning; a system of symbols and symbolic representations; an artistic movement in the late 19th century that tried to express abstract or mystical ideas through the symbolic use of images

protagonist

noun the principal character in a work of fiction; a person who backs a politician or a team etc.

distillation

noun the process of purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors; a purified liquid produced by condensation from a vapor during distilling; the product of distilling

intonation

noun the production of musical tones (by voice or instrument); especially the exactitude of the pitch relations; the act of singing in a monotonous tone; singing by a soloist of the opening piece of plainsong; rise and fall of the voice pitch

continuity

noun the property of a continuous and connected period of time; a detailed script used in making a film in order to avoid discontinuities from shot to shot; uninterrupted connection or union

deficit

noun the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required; an excess of liabilities over assets (usually over a certain period); (sports) the score by which a team or individual is losing; a deficiency or failure in neurological or mental functioning

profusion

noun the property of being extremely abundant

cornucopia

noun the property of being extremely abundant; a goat's horn filled with grain and flowers and fruit symbolizing prosperity

longevity

noun the property of being long-lived; duration of service

corpulence

noun the property of excessive fatness

spareness

noun the property of having little body fat; the property of being scanty or scattered; lacking denseness

magnitude

noun the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small); relative importance; a number assigned to the ratio of two quantities; two quantities are of the same order of magnitude if one is less than 10 times as large as the other; the number of magnitudes that the quantities differ is specified to within a power of 10

impermeability

noun the property of something that cannot be pervaded by a liquid

consonance

noun the property of sounding harmonious; the repetition of consonants (or consonant patterns) especially at the ends of words

cognition

noun the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

valor

noun the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)

resonance

noun the quality imparted to voiced speech sounds by the action of the resonating chambers of the throat and mouth and nasal cavities; a vibration of large amplitude produced by a relatively small vibration near the same frequency of vibration as the natural frequency of the resonating system; an excited state of a stable particle causing a sharp maximum in the probability of absorption of electromagnetic radiation; having the character of a loud deep sound; the quality of being resonant; a relationship of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people

credibility

noun the quality of being believable or trustworthy

mutability

noun the quality of being capable of mutation

citation

noun thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1948; a summons that commands the appearance of a party at a proceeding; an official award (as for bravery or service) usually given as formal public statement; a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage; (law) the act of citing (as of spoken words or written passages or legal precedents etc.); a passage or expression that is quoted or cited

certitude

noun total certainty or greater certainty than circumstances warrant

disintegration

noun total destruction; the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation; separation into component parts; in a decomposed state

vacuity

noun total lack of meaning or ideas; a region that is devoid of matter; the absence of matter

commerce

noun transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services); social exchange, especially of opinions, attitudes, etc.; the United States federal department that promotes and administers domestic and foreign trade (including management of the census and the patent office); created in 1913

trove

noun treasure of unknown ownership found hidden (usually in the earth)

qualm

noun uneasiness about the fitness of an action; a mild state of nausea

pallor

noun unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)

pride

noun unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins); the trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards; a feeling of self-respect and personal worth; satisfaction with your (or another's) achievements; a group of lions; verb be proud of

revelry

noun unrestrained merrymaking

perishability

noun unsatisfactoriness by virtue of being subject to decay or spoilage or destruction

turbulence

noun unstable flow of a liquid or gas; a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally); instability in the atmosphere

edification

noun uplifting enlightenment

compulsion

noun using force to cause something; an urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid; an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions against your will

havoc

noun violent and needless disturbance

expatriate

noun voluntarily absent from home or country; verb move away from one's native country and adopt a new residence abroad; expel from a country

lassitude

noun weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy; a feeling of lack of interest or energy; a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)

receptivity

noun willingness or readiness to receive (especially impressions or ideas)

effacement

noun withdrawing into the background; making yourself inconspicuous; shortening of the uterine cervix and thinning of its walls as it is dilated during labor

salutation

noun word of greeting used to begin a letter; (usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting); an act of honor or courteous recognition

malfeasance

noun wrongful conduct by a public official

disposition

noun your usual mood; a natural or acquired habit or characteristic tendency in a person or thing; the act or means of getting rid of something; an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others