GRE 3000 Word List - List17

occult

*Dark and mysterious*, the *occult* is a kind of supernatural power or magic. If you see your neighbor chanting over a giant vat of bubbling brew in the middle of the night, there's a chance he's dabbling in the occult. The word occult has its roots in the Latin occultus, meaning *"hidden, secret."* That's why it can also be used as both a noun referring to black magic and an adjective meaning "difficult to see." Quipped the famous physicist Heinz Pagels, "I like to browse in occult bookshops if for no other reason than to refresh my commitment to science." 【考法 1】 adj. not easily apprehended or understood : abstruse, mysterious 難以理解的 奧祕的 【例】 an occult reference in the text that has puzzled scholars 【近】 ambiguous, arcane, equivocal, inscrutable, opaque, impenetrable 【反】 bare, manifest, patent, readily fathomable 暴露的，可理解的 【考法 2】 v. to keep secret or shut off from view 使隐藏或神秘 【例】 occulted their house from prying eyes by planting large trees around it 【例】 the actor's private life had long been occulted by a contrived public persona 【近】belie, blanket, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, disguise, enshroud, mask, obscure, screen, shroud, suppress, veil, blot out, paper over 【反】 bare, disclose, display, divulge, expose, reveal, show, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

obstreperous

*Obstreperous* means *boisterous, noisy, aggressive, defiant*. You've probably seen an obstreperous child in the grocery store, pulling away from her mother, screaming at the top of her lungs. If you've been to a large concert where the band doesn't come on stage for hours, you might have been part of an obstreperous crowd: increasingly impatient, with fights breaking out, things thrown up onto the stage, and demands being shouted, "Give us some music before the night is out!" Some people are kind and gentle with strangers, but around their own family turn obstreperous, shouting "You never loved me!" at their mom when she gives them the smaller of two cookies. 【考法 1】adj. stubbornly resistant to control; unruly; given to resisting authority or another's control 任性的 難駕馭的 【例】the club's president was at his wits' end with obstreperous members who refused to cooperate 【近】 balky, defiant, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory 【反】 disciplined, amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable 守紀律的，顺从的 【考法 2】 adj. 吵闹的: engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest 【例】 an obstreperous crowd protesting the government's immigration policy 【近】 blatant, clamant, clamorous, squawking, vociferant

opprobrious

*Opprobrious* is a *heavy-duty word to describe something taunting or shameful*. Opprobrious words criticize in a *mean, hurtful way*. Opprobrious comes from the Latin opprobare which means *"to reproach or taunt."* If someone is being opprobrious, she's being abusive and mean. Insults are opprobrious, while constructive criticism is not. No one wants to be treated in an opprobrious way. We can also use this word for bad behavior that causes shame — someone cheating on a test is opprobrious. Opprobrious actions are disgraceful, ignominious, and inglorious. 【考法 1】 adj. expressing contemptuous reproach; scornful or abusive 鄙俗的 下流的 【例】 opprobrious language 脏话 【近】 scurrilous, vitriolic, vituperative, contumelious 【考法 2】 adj. bringing disgrace; shameful or infamous 該罵的 可恥的 【例】 opprobrious conduct 令人鄙视的行为 【近】 discreditable, disgraceful, dishonorable, ignominious, infamous, notorious, shameful, unrespectable 【反】 irreproachable, honorable, reputable, respectable 无可指责的，受人尊敬的 【派】 opprobrium 恶名 【反】 good repute

overt

*Overt* means open and done in plain sight. An overt attempt to get your teacher off-track might fail. Instead, try asking subtle questions about her kids, and she'll stay off topic all class. If you speak French, remember that overt is the same as the French ouvert "open." If you don't speak French, give up all hope of ever learning this word. Just kidding -- forgive the overt attempt at humor. English speakers, here's your trick for remembering the difference between overt and covert: overt = "open," covert = "covered." 【考法 1】 adj. 明显的，公開的: open and observable; not hidden, concealed, or secret 【例】 overt hostility 【反】 shadowy 模糊的

overweening

*Overweening* is a negative term meaning *arrogant or excessive*. People can be described as having overweening pride or overweening ambition. It's too much and not good. Confidence and pride are okay in moderation. Overweening means having too much of it though so that it overtakes the rest of your personality, and not in a good way. If your football team has won every game of the season, they need to watch that they don't become overweening and start playing games as if they have already won. 【考法 1】自負的 conceited, presumptuous; excessive, immoderate 【例】Conservative areas are not allowed by the overweening federal government to honour their own values. 【近】 assumptive, arrogant, bumptious, haughty, imperious, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous 【反】 humble, modest

pandemonium

*Pandemonium* is chaos, total and utter craziness — like the stampede after your team won the championship, when everyone spilled onto the field at once, bouncing off each other. If you look carefully at the word pandemonium, you'll see the word demon inside it. This makes sense, since the word pandemonium was coined in Milton's Paradise Lost, where it was the name of the palace built in the middle of Hell. Milton wrote back in the 17th century. Nowadays, pandemonium crops up whenever journalists are describing a chaotic scene. High school students have been heard to use it to describe their lunchroom. 【考法 1】 n. 喧嚣，骚动: wild uproar or noise 【例】 Christmas morning at our house is always marked by pandemonium 【近】 bluster, bustle, disturbance, furor, fuss, hubbub, moil, pother, ruckus, ruction, tumult, turmoil, uproar 【反】 serene 安静

outmaneuver

*outmaneuver* out- +‎ maneuver 【考法 1】 vt. 運用策略擊敗；以計謀勝過 : to overcome (an opponent) by artful, clever maneuvering 【例】 outmaneuvered his congressional opponent 【例】 Still, U.S. officials acknowledge that they were outmaneuvered by their Russian counterparts, at least on the photographers, and "got rolled," in the words of one. 【近】 outfox, outslick, outsmart, outthink, outwit 【反】 yield 屈服

outset

*outset* 【考法 1】 n. 开始: beginning, start 【例】 I wish you'd mentioned this problem at the outset. 【例】 China's program, which would dwarf all existing markets, will likely be similarly difficult to link to actual emissions reductions, at least at the outset. 【近】 alpha, commencement, genesis, inception, incipience, nascence 【反】 termination, close, conclusion, end, ending, omega 終止

palmy

*palmy* From palm +‎ -y. 【考法 1】 adj. 繁荣的: marked by prosperity 【例】 the palmy days of the British drama 【例】 In 1860 he was called to the bar and joined the northern circuit, then in its palmy days of undividedness. 【近】 flourishing, prosperous, thriving, booming, lush, roaring, halcyon 【反】 failed, depressed, unprosperous, unsuccessful

paranoid

*paranoid* From paranoia +‎ -oid. 【考法 1】 adj. 多疑的，患妄想症的: exhibiting or characterized by extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others 【例】a paranoid suspicion that the phone might be bugged 【例】Years later, Arthur is still disturbed by these events and preoccupied by a paranoid certainty that the Terror remains at large. 【近】 distrustful, nervous, suspicious, unbelieving, worried 【反】 credulous 轻信的 【派】 paranoia n. 偏执狂

particularize

*particularize* 【考法 1】 vt. 詳細說明；列舉: to go into or give details or particulars 【例】 particularize the rules you must observe 【例】 California grants concealed carry permits for "good cause"—namely, a "particularized need, substantiated by documentary evidence, to carry a firearm for self-defense." 【近】 detail, specificate, specify 【反】 abbreviate, abridge, condense, shorten 删减内容

paean

A *paean* is a hymn of *praise or thanksgiving*. You might sing a paean in church, where many hymns extol the greatness of God. Paean was originally a song of praise for Apollo, or Paian as he was sometimes called. You can now use paean to mean any song of praise, regardless of the deity, or to mean a formal expression of praise, like a eulogy. At your mother's birthday dinner, it might be nice for you and your brothers and sisters to write and sing a paean to her good-natured love and support of you over many years. 【考法 1】 n. 讚頌歌: a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph 【例】 her retirement party featured many paeans for her long years of service to the company 【近】 accolade, citation, dithyramb, eulogium, eulogy, hymn, panegyric, tribute

pall

A *pall* was originally a coffin's cloak. Now pall usually means that an event or situation is — literally or figuratively — covered in gloom, like disappointing news that casts a pall on your day. The noun pall comes from the Latin word, pallium, "covering or cloak." This use of pall has come to mean *"gloom"* like your grandparents' not being there to celebrate with you that casts a pall over your graduation. The verb pall is used when someone or something becomes *boring or less interesting over time*, like your initial willingness to perform household chores that began to pall when you realize no one else wants to pitch in to keep things neat. 【考法 1】 vi. 失去兴趣: to lose in interest or attraction 【例】Hishumorbegantopallonus. 【反】 interest, intrigue 激发兴趣

paltry

A *paltry* amount is *so small it's not even worth thinking about*. In the novel "Oliver Twist," when Oliver is given a paltry amount of gruel — not nearly enough — he asks, "Please, sir, can I have some more?" Paltry is a laughably small amount — the waiter might chuck a paltry tip in the garbage. If you have only 50 cents in your bank account, it's such a paltry amount, you may as well be broke. It can also mean "not worth considering" or "not important." If you keep breaking your promises, your friends will get sick of your paltry excuses. 【考法 1】 adj. 微不足道的; 無意義的: lacking in importance or worth 【例】 used a paltry, underhanded scheme to get him fired 【近】 inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, niggling, piddling, piffling, trivial 【反】 significant, important, big, consequential, considerable, material 意义重大的 【考法 2】 adj. 让人厌恶，让人鄙视的: arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust 【例】 a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired 【近】 cheap, cruddy, deplorable, despicable, grubby, lame, lousy, mean, scummy, scurvy, sneaking, wretched 【反】 admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, meritorious, praiseworthy

pan

A *pan* can be a cooking utensil, a negative opinion, or a sweeping camera shot. You cook eggs in a pan, but as a film critic you might pan a new docudrama for poor editing and overuse of pan shots. A pan is a shallow metal object that you use to cook food. It can also be a verb indicating you're expressing a negative view. To pan a performance, book, or movie is to say that you think it stunk. If all the critics pan something, sales usually go down, but not always. To pan a film or video camera is to move it from left to right or right to left in a smooth motion. 【考法 1】 v./n. 严厉批评: a harsh criticism 【例】 almost all the movie critics have panned this latest sequel in a tired series 【近】 blame, censure, condemn, denounce, dispraise, reprehend 【反】 eulogize, extol, rave, laud, praise 称赞

parable

A *parable* is a short and simple story that *teaches a religious or moral lesson*. The parable of the Good Samaritan and the parable of the Prodigal Son are just two examples of the many parables attributed to Jesus, as recorded in the four gospels. Parable descends from the Greek parabolē "a comparison, analogy," from paraballein "to compare," from the prefix para- "beside" plus ballein "to throw." The sense of comparing, or throwing an idea beside another, is at the heart of the word. When you hear a parable, you're meant to use the comparison to learn how to act--the fox's "sour grapes" are compared to your own downgrading of the thing you cannot have. 【考法 1】 n. 寓言: a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life 【例】 the parable in which the repentant sinner is compared to the returning prodigal son 【近】 apologue, fable

parenthesis

A *parenthesis* is a tall, curvy punctuation mark used to set off material that isn't fundamental to the main topic, like an afterthought or an aside (or a funny joke). Parenthesis marks come in pairs: the plural is spelled "parentheses." Parentheses look like this: ( ). When you use parentheses to set off material in a sentence, you say that the material is "in parenthesis." Put something in parentheses if it's a comment, an afterthought, or additional information that is possibly interesting but not essential to the subject. You can also describe something as a parenthesis, like a digressive story about horses in the middle of a political speech. 【考法 1】 n. 间断: an interruption of continuity; an interval 【例】a parenthesis in another wise solid marriage 【近】 discontinuity, interim, interlude, intermission, interregnum, interruption, interstice, interval 【反】 continuation, continuity 持续不断; resumption 繼续

pariah

A *pariah* is someone that has been soundly rejected by their community. Your constant gossiping might make you a pariah on campus. Pariah takes its name from a tribe in Southeast India. The pariahs were drummers, sorcerers, and servants who became untouchables in Indian society because of the unsanitary jobs they did. Pariah maintains this sense of untouchableness. Pariahs are not just unliked, they are avoided at all costs. Imagine how a once popular restaurant could gain pariah status if it fails health inspections three times in a row. 【考法 1】 n. 被社會遺棄者: one that is despised or rejected, outcast 【例】 I felt like a pariah when I wore the wrong outfit to the dinner party. 【近】 castaway, castoff, leper, reject

paroxysm

A *paroxysm* is a *convulsion or sudden* fit, brought on because you're freaking out or coming down with something. Paroxysm is from the Greek word paroxysmos, which basically means *"to irritate."* If you're irritated to the point of having a wild fit, like if you see someone trying to steal your car, you might go into a paroxysm of rage. When the teacher talked about private parts, the students went into a paroxysm of giggles. A paroxysm can be medical, too, like when an illness suddenly attacks, and you get symptoms like chills and a fever right away. 【考法 1】 n. :a sudden outburst of emotion or action (感情、动作的)突发 【例】a paroxysm of coughing 【近】burst, ebullition, eruption, explosion, flare, flash, flush, gush, outburst, storm 【考法 2】 n. violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) （政治、社会领域呃）大动荡 【例】 Darwin's introduction of the theory of evolution created paroxysms in both religion and science that are still being felt today. 【近】bouleversement, cataclysm, earthquake, hurricane, storm, tempest, tumult, upheaval, uproar

parrot

A *parrot* is a brightly colored tropical bird with a distinctly loud voice. If you see someone calling a colorful bird "Polly" and asking it if it wants a *cracker, that's a parrot.* Parrots are popular pets because many of them have the ability to mimic sounds they hear, sometimes including human speech. In fact, this skill has led to a secondary meaning of the word parrot, "mimic mindlessly." You could say, for example, "I'm not going to just parrot everything the teacher says — I'm no parrot." The origin of the word is uncertain, although we know that before parrot, this bird was called a popinjay. 【考法 1】 鸚鵡 【考法 2】 vt. to repeat or imitate, especially without understanding 機械地重複 【例】 parrot others blindly 【近】 copy, ditto, duplicate, echo, quote 【反】 coin, create, devise, invent

padding

A cushioning or protective material is *padding*. When you're moving into a new apartment, you might want to wrap your dishes in padding to keep them from being damaged. Padding has many different uses, from the padding in a padded mailing envelope to the padding in a sofa cushion that gives you a soft place to sit. There's also padding inside protective sports gear and built into yoga mats. Sometimes padding is simply used to make something seem bigger, and from this meaning comes the sense of padding meaning "unnecessary extra material," especially superfluous words in a speech or a book. 【考法 1】 n. the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts 墊料; 填料 【例】 that feature writer is sometimes guilty of padding, but he keeps it from getting out of hand 【近】 caricature, coloring, elaboration, embellishment, embroidery, hyperbole, magnification, overstatement, stretching 【反】 meiosis, understatement 轻描淡写

panegyric

A formal, high-minded speech can be described with a formal, high-minded word — the word *panegyric*, which is a very elaborate tribute to someone. You could consider most eulogies as panegyrics. It stands to reason that the original use of the word panegyris, from which panegyric derives, was to describe a public gathering in honor of a Greek god. The Latin, L. panegyricus, altered slightly to mean "public eulogy," which around the 16th Century shifted to the French panégyrique, which meant "laudation." In any case, the word today stands for high praise given in a speech or tribute as highfalutin as the word itself sounds. 【考法 1】 n. 赞颂之词，颂文: a eulogistic oration or writing 【例】 wrote a panegyric on the centennial of the Nobel laureate's birth 【近】 accolade, citation, commendation, dithyramb, eulogium, eulogy, hymn, paean 【反】 anathema, denunciation, condemnation 谴责

patent

A patent is a government document that proves that an invention is yours and yours alone. In the U.S., as of 2009, over 7,000,000 patents were issued by the Patent and Trademark Office. *Patent* also refers to leather that has a very shiny finish. The process for making leather look like this was once patented, but since patents do not last forever, the process is now available for anyone to use. As with patent leather, the word is often used as part of a sales pitch, explaining why something is special: "We use patented technology..." or "Our patented method..." 【考法 1】 adj. 显而易见的，明显的: readily visible or intelligible: obvious 【例】 Unfortunately, the patent flaw of the proposal did not deter the city council from putting it up for a vote. 【近】 apparent, blatant, conspicuous, evident, flagrant, manifest, obvious, plain 【反】 concealed, hidden, invisible 隐藏的，不可见的

parity

All things *being equal*, *parity* means, basically, equality. It's used in finance, physics, math, and even sports. When people talk about parity in a football league, for example, they mean the teams are evenly matched. Go, evenly matched team, go! Parity comes from the same Latin root as pair, which is par, for "equal." Parity is an equal amount of something, or an equal rank or skill level between people or teams. During the Cold War, the word parity was used to describe the equal amount of resources the US and the USSR had. So now it also means an equal amount between enemies, which is probably why sportscasters love it. 【考法 1】 n. 相称，同等，平等: the quality or state of being equal or equivalent 【例】 to achieve parity with our commercial competitors 取得与我们的商业竞争对手同等的地位 【近】 coequality, coordinateness, equality, equivalency, par, sameness 【反】 disparity, imparity, inequality 不公平; incommensurateness 不相称

oration

An *oration* is a *formal speech given in public*. You might give the oration at the big party celebrating your grandparents' 50th anniversary. If you're giving an oration, make sure you show up prepared. An oration is a speech that's planned in advance rather than made up on the spot. It usually has a formal tone and is presented at a ceremony of some kind. You probably remember nervously sitting through an oration at your graduation ceremony, or you may have listened to a funeral oration celebrating the life of a famous person. 【考法 1】 n. ( 有野心、自高自大的)演说: a speech delivered in a high-flown or pompous manner 【近】 address, declamation, harangue, peroration

parry

Here comes someone who only ever talks to you when he needs a favor. Quick, *parry*! When you parry, you avoid doing things. As the needy friend approaches, say, "I wish I had time to catch up!" and hurry off. Or, hide under a table. The word parry is often used to describe blocking or evading a movement, like parrying a punch, but it can also refer to an evasion that is verbal rather than physical. For example, if you are put on the spot and asked about something you'd rather avoid, you can parry to get out of it — change the subject or ask a question in return. When used in this way parry retains its sense of defending yourself through evasion. 【考法 1】 vt. 躲避(问题): to evade especially by an adroit answer 【例】 He parried the embarrassing question with a clever reply. 【近】 avoid, dodge, elude, eschew, evade, finesse, scape, shirk, shun 【反】 confront, face, meet 面对; embrace 欣然接受

onerous

If one teacher gives you three hours of homework a night, that's rough. But if all of your teachers do it, that makes the task of completing your homework an *onerous* one, to say the least. If something is onerous, it is *very difficult to deal with or do.* A near synonym is burdensome. In legal usage, onerous describes a contract or lease that has more obligations than advantages. Onerous derives from Middle English, from Old French onereus, from Latin onerōsus, from onus "burden." In English, an onus is a task or duty that is onerous, or very difficult. 【考法 1】 adj. requiring much time, effort, or careful attention 沉重的; 繁重的 【例】 building the scale model of the frigate was an onerous task 【近】 arduous, burdensome, challenging, exacting, grueling, taxing, toilsome 【反】 requiring little effort, light, nondemanding, unchallenging, undemanding

outlandish

If something is *outlandish* it's *bizarre or unfamiliar, far outside the boundaries of expected or normal behavior*. Driving around the city in a golf cart and eating spaghetti with pineapple sauce are both examples of outlandish behavior. It's easy to imagine how the word outlandish originated. The Old English root is utland, which literally means "out-land," or foreign. Now, it would be inappropriate to refer to a foreigner as outlandish, unless, say, he shows up to the office in a red patent-leather Speedo and a ten-gallon hat. 【考法 1】 adj. 稀奇古怪的: strikingly out of the ordinary: bizarre 【例】 an outlandish costume 【近】 bizarre, cranky, eccentric, erratic, offbeat, peculiar, remarkable 【反】 conventional, familiar, nonexotic, nonglamorous, plain-Jane, unglamorous, unromantic 常规的，平凡的

pathological

If something is caused by a physical or mental disease, it is pathological. Someone with a *pathological* compulsion for cleanliness might scrub the floors for hours every night. Pathological comes from a Greek word, pathologikos, which means "treating of diseases" — pathos means "suffering." Anyone who studies or works with diseases, from their causes to their symptoms, identifies how the disease affects its victims, in other words, its pathological effects. Remember that this is a medical distinction. If a person has, for example, obsessive-compulsive disorder, his or her repetitive actions are pathological. 【考法 1】 adj. being such to a degree that is extreme, excessive, or markedly abnormal 病理學（上）的；病態的；由疾病引起的 【例】 She has a pathological fear of snakes. 【近】 abnormal, aberrant, anomalous, morbid 【反】 normal 正常的; natural 自然的

partisan

If something is prejudicial towards a particular point of view, you can call it *partisan*. You'll often hear of the partisan politics in the U.S.— since politicians seem to be completely devoted to the agendas of their own parties. Partisan can be used to describe rabid supporters of any person or activity. In American English, however, it is most often used to refer to politics and the American two-party system of Democrats and Republicans. A bill introduced may have partisan support from the party that introduced the bill, or — more rarely it seems to American voters — the bill may even have bipartisan support. The prefix bi is added to show the support from both parties. 【考法 1】 n. 跟随者，信徒: one who follows the opinions or teachings of another 【例】 Partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all. 【近】 acolyte, adherent, disciple, pupil, votary 【反】 bellwether, leader 领导者 【考法 2】 n. (狂热、坚定的)拥护者，支持者: one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause 【例】 a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it 【近】 crusader, fanatic, ideologue, zealot, true believer 【反】 adversary, antagonist, opponent 反对者 【考法 3】adj. 偏袒的: inclined to favor one side over another 【例】 a shamelessly partisan news report 【近】 biased, one-sided, partial, prejudiced 【反】disinterested, equitable, evenhanded, fair, impartial, neutral, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced 公平的

ostracize

If you *banish someone or ignore* him, you *ostracize* him. When the Iranian president claimed that the Holocaust was a hoax, he was ostracized by the international community. Ostraka is an ancient Greek word for pottery shard. Thousands of years ago, in the Greek city of Athens, there was a public process where you would write the name of someone you wanted to kick out of town on a broken ceramic fragment. If enough Athenians wrote the same name, that person was sent away for ten years. This process was called an ostracism. 【考法 1】 vt. 排斥: to exclude from a group 【例】 He was ostracized from the scientific community for many years because of his radical political beliefs. 【近】 banish, bounce, chase, dismiss, expel, extrude, oust, boot out, cast out, run off, drum out, kick out, throw out, turf out 【反】 take in, include, embrace, welcome

oblivious

If you *don't notice or aren't aware*, it means that the adjective *oblivious* applies to you! When we think of the adjective oblivious, it is usually in situations that involve being totally unaware of what's staring us right in the face. It can also mean being forgetful and absent-minded. The cartoon character Mr. Magoo is a perfect example of someone who is oblivious; his eyesight is so bad that he always gets himself into various scrapes and mishaps. For example, Mr. Magoo mistakes an airplane for a theater and instead of watching a movie, he takes a seat on a departing airplane! 【考法 1】 adj. 不知道的，不知情的: lacking conscious awareness; not informed about or aware of something 【例】 He seemed oblivious to the fact that he had hurt her. 【近】 incognizant, insensible, unaware, unconscious, uninformed, unwitting 【反】 mindful, vigilant, acquainted, cognizant, conscious, conversant, grounded, informed, knowing, mindful, witting 留意的，机警的

obloquy

If you are on the receiving end of *obloquy*, then society has turned against you and you are in a state of disgrace. Poor Hester Prynne who was forced to wear a red "A" on her chest for "adultery" knows all about obloquy. If you break the word obloquy into its two Latin roots, you have ob, meaning "against" and loqui, meaning "to speak" — so obloquy means "to speak against," in an especially mean way. Obloquy can also be the result of public shame, or criticism. Get scolded in front of the other shoppers by the grocery store manager for knocking over a display of bottles, and you will understand what obloquy is! 【考法 1】 n. 谩骂，诽谤: abusively detractive language or utterance; calumny 【例】 she unleashed a torrent of obloquy on her opponent 【近】 billingsgate, fulmination, invective, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation 【反】 adulation 极度谄媚 【考法 2】 n. 恶名，耻辱 : the state of having lost the esteem of others 【例】 the accused murderer was condemned to live out his days in perpetual obloquy 【近】 discredit, disesteem, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame 【反】 esteem, honor, respect 敬重，好名声

obsequious

If you disapprove of the overly submissive way someone is acting — like the teacher's pet or a celebrity's assistant — call them by the formal adjective *obsequious*. There are many words in the English language for a person or an action that is overly obedient and submissive. Obsequious people are usually not being genuine; they resort to flattery and other fawning ways to stay in the good graces of authority figures. An obsequious person can be called a bootlicker, a brownnoser or a toady. You can also say that someone gives an obsequious bow, a gesture that means, "your wish is my command." 【考法 1】 adj. 谄媚的，奴性的: marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness 【例】 She's constantly followed by obsequious assistants who will do anything. 【反】 supercilious 目中无人的

patina

If you have an old bronze sculpture with a surface that has oxidized and turned green or brown, that coating is called a *patina*. A patina can appear on anything made of metal. A patina can also be the shiny surface on wooden furniture that you get after years and years of polishing. You can also use the word in a metaphorical sense, to describe somebody who has acquired some surface character that doesn't go very deep — like the tycoon who has a patina of sophistication but only pretends to be interested in art and literature. 【考法 1】 n. 外表: a superficial covering or exterior 【例】 a superficial patina of knowledge 【近】 façade, hull, skin, veneer 【反】 essential quality 本质;core, kernel 核心 【考法 2】 n. ( 内而外散发的)氛围，气场: an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character 【例】 Although the winery is brand-new, it has been constructed and decorated to give it a patina of old-world quaintness. 【反】 air, ambience, aroma, atmosphere, climate, flavor, halo, odor, smell, temper, vibration

painstaking

If you notice that *painstaking* is composed of pains and taking, you already have a pretty clear sense of what this adjective means: to be painstaking is to be so careful—so meticulous, so thorough that it hurts. Painstaking is most commonly paired with detail — in fact, writers might like to avoid the phrase "painstaking detail" as clichéd. In contemporary usage, the agony implied by the word often seems to be shared by both the person who makes a painstaking effort and the person confronted with the fruits of that labor: "Gertrude's ability to appear politely interested was tested as her dinner companion related his painstaking attempts to establish himself as the true heir to the British throne." 【考法 1】 adj. 煞费苦心的: taking pains: expending, showing, or involving diligent care and effort 【例】 It took months of painstaking research to write the book. 【近】 careful, conscientious, fussy, meticulous, scrupulous 【反】 slipshod, cursory, careless 不经心的，草率的

oxymoron

Jumbo shrimp? Open secret? Use *oxymoron* to refer to a word or phrase that *contradicts itself, usually to create some rhetorical effect.* When Shakespeare's Juliet says, "Parting is such sweet sorrow," she is using an oxymoron; her apparently self-contradictory turn of phrase actually makes a neat kind of sense. Oxymoron is sometimes used to describe a word combination that strikes the listener as humorously contradictory, even if the speaker didn't intend it that way — perhaps the most famous example is "military intelligence." The word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron; in Greek, oxy- means "sharp" or "wise," while moros means "foolish." 【考法 1】 n. 矛盾修饰法: a combination of contradictory or incongruous words 【例】 The phrase "cruel kindness" is an oxymoron. 【例】 The phrase "Broadway rock musical" is an oxymoron. Broadway doesn't have the nerve to let the really hard stuff in the house.

palatial

Knowing that the adjective *palatial* is derived from the same Latin word as palace gives you a good sense of its meaning: magnificent, reminiscent of a home fit for a king. The Palatine (Collis Palatium in Latin) is the center of Rome's famed Seven Hills. Tradition holds that it was the location on which Romulus founded the city, and it became a prestigious site for powerful Romans—including emperors—to build large, lavish homes. Palatium made its way into every Romance language and beyond: it became palazzo in Italian, palacio in Spanish, and palast in German. Palace entered English via the Old French palais. Power, affluence, extravagance: these are the qualities that should come to mind when you encounter the word palatial. 【考法 1】 adj. 宫殿般奢华的: of the nature of a palace, as in spaciousness or ornateness 【例】a palatial penthouse apartment 【近】deluxe, lavish, luxuriant, opulent, sumptuous 【反】 ascetic, austere, humble, no-frills, spartan

obdurate

Obdurate is a formal word meaning *stubborn*. If you want to major in English, but your parents are obdurate that you should go premed, they might go so far as to threaten not to pay your tuition. This adjective descends from Latin obdurare "to harden." A near synonym is adamant, from Latin adamas "hard metal, diamond." So both of these synonyms derive from the quality of hardness being associated with a stubborn personality. 【考法 1】 adj. 固执的: resistant to persuasion or softening influences 【例】 She is known for her obdurate determination. 【 近 】 adamant, hard-nosed, headstrong, inflexible, intransigent, pertinacious, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful 【反】 acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding 【考法 2】 adj. 冷酷无情的: having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings 【例】 the obdurate refusal of the crotchety old man to let the neighborhood kids retrieve their ball from his backyard 【近】 affectless, callous, compassionless, hard-hearted, heartless, indurate, inhuman, insensate, ironhearted, merciless, remorseless, ruthless, unsparing 【反】 charitable, compassionate, humane, kindhearted, kindly, merciful, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, warmhearted

overbearing

Overbearing means *domineering*. You might find it difficult to play the piano as your *overbearing* instructor criticizes every key you touch. The adjective overbearing typically describes a person who is *haughty and dictatorial*. Someone considered to be overbearing or arrogant would unlikely also be called "kind" or "modest," which are antonyms of overbearing. Overbearing also means "repressing" or "overwhelming." Thomas Jefferson uses this definition in his decree, "If the freedom of religion, guaranteed to us by law in theory, can ever rise in practice under the overbearing inquisition of public opinion, then and only then will truth, prevail over fanaticism." 【考法 1】 adj. domineering in manner; arrogant 專橫的 【例】 Her husband's overbearing manner made her miserable. 【近】 authoritative, despotic, dictatorial, imperious, masterful, peremptory 【反】 meek, unassuming谦逊的 【考法 2】 adj. overwhelming in power or significance; predominant, coming before all others in importance 壓倒的, 支配的; 傲慢的，自大的 【例】 the overbearing problem in our nation's schools 【近】 capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, key, leading, master, number one, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primary, prior, sovereign, supreme

ostentatious

Reach for the adjective *ostentatious* when you want a flashy way to say — well, *"flashy" or "showy."* No one wants to be described as ostentatious, a word whose cousins include pretentious, flamboyant, and gaudy. It originates from the Latin word ostentare, "to display," but in English it's often used for displays of the crass or vulgar sort. A rapper's diamond-encrusted teeth might be an ostentatious display of "bling," and someone wailing especially loudly at a funeral of a distant acquaintance might be making an ostentatious show of sorrow. 【考法 1】 adj. 賣弄炫耀的: marked by or fond of conspicuous or vainglorious and sometimes pretentious display 【例】 wears an ostentatious diamond ring on her finger 【近】 flamboyant, flaring, flashy, splashy 【反】 modest, artless, austere, unpretentious, conservative, quiet, understated, unflamboyant, unflashy 谦让的， 朴素的，保守地

pandemic

Remember the 2009 swine flu? That was a *pandemic* — an illness that swept over much of the globe. People fear pandemics, and with good reason. The black plague that ran through Asia and Europe in the 1300s is believed to have killed as much as half of Europe's population, between 75 and 100 million folks. The word comes from ancient Greek — pan (meaning "all") and demos (meaning "people"), or simply put — all the people. Of course, people across the globe suffer from the seasonal flu, and many die from it. But it isn't considered a pandemic because it is generally harmless to the healthy. 【考法 1】 adj. 大范围流行的: widespread; general 【例】 pandemic malaria 【反】 limited 有限的

pallid

Santa looks a little pallid, meaning that he has a *pale complexion*, from spending too much time at the North Pole. A few days in Hawaii might do wonders to add color to his pale, bearded face. Pallid means pale, or lacking color. It's often used together with complexion to describe someone who has a pale face, either due to a lack of sunshine or some kind of emotional distress. A reclusive author could be pallid from spending too much time indoors. His books can also be called pallid if they're lacking in color and excitement. 【考法 1】 adj. 无生气的，缺乏活力的: lacking in radiance or vitality; dull 【例】Themovieisapallidversionoftheclassicnovel. 【反】 piquant 【考法 2】 adj. 苍白无血色的: having an abnormally pale or wan complexion 【例】 a pallid girl who looked as though she'd never seen the sun 【近】 ashen, ashy, blanched, pasty, wan 【反】 rubicund, blooming, florid, flush, full-blooded, glowing, ruddy, sanguine

obfuscate

Some people are experts at *obfuscating* the truth by *being evasive, unclear, or obscure* in the telling of the facts. The people who are good at obfuscating would include defense lawyers and teenagers asked about their plans for Saturday night. Although the verb obfuscate can be used in any case where something is darkened, less clear, or more obscure, it is most frequently used in reference to things like ideas, facts, issues, or the truth. The usual implied meaning is that this obfuscation is done deliberately. Politicians often obfuscate the truth about the issues to win support for their positions so they can win elections. 【考法 1】 vt. 使困惑 ，使模糊: to make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand 【例】 obfuscate the reader 【近】 becloud, befog, blur, cloud, fog, muddy 【反】 demystify, elucidate, illuminate, clarify, explain clearly 【派】 obfuscated 模糊的 【反】 lucid 清晰的

nugatory

Something *nugatory* has *no real value; it's worthless*. All your excuses for why you didn't turn the bath tap off when you left the apartment are nugatory; they don't change the fact that the tub overflowed and leaked into the apartment below. An adjective meaning "trifling, of no value," nugatory comes from the Latin nugatorius "worthless, futile," which in turn came from the also Latin nugatory — "jester, trifle." It's a word you probably don't hear too often, but it's a fun and descriptive one to use. Describe something with no force or importance as nugatory. "Whether this rug is red or green is nugatory to someone who is colorblind." MN: No+guarantee, i.e a product which has no guarantee, is worthless 【考法 1】 adj. of little or no consequence; inconsequential 瑣碎的；沒價值的；無效的；不起作用的 【例】 the book is entertaining, but its contributions to Shakespearean scholarship are nugatory 【近】 incidental, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, negligible, trifling, trivial 【反】 consequential, eventful, important, major, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, unfrivolous, weighty 重要的

palatable

Something that is *palatable* is *acceptable to one's sense of taste*—literally or figuratively. If it's palatable, then you can put up with it — whether it's leftovers or a mediocre made-for-TV movie. The palate is the roof of the mouth, the combination of structures that separates the mouth from the nose. Early anatomists believed that the sense of taste was located in the palate, and, just as taste is metaphorically expanded to include sensibilities beyond the experience of food and drink, so palatable can be used to describe phenomena beyond the culinary. And, while palatable can mean pleasing or agreeable, it generally means merely tolerable—edible, rather than delicious. 【考法 1】 adj. 感到愉悦满足的: giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses 【例】 I always associate the palatable aroma of roasting turkey with Thanksgiving. 【近】 agreeable, blessed, congenial, delectable, delightful, delightsome, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, grateful, gratifying, heavenly, jolly, luscious, pleasurable, satisfying, savory 【反】 disagreeable, pleasureless, unpalatable, unpleasant, unwelcome 不愉悦的

odium

That shivery feeling of* disgust and hatred* that you get when you see something senseless and horrible is called *odium*. Odium made its way into the English language through Latin, and the word's root od-, meaning "hatred," might tip you off that this word involves extreme dislike of some sort. Odium is a little more immediate than hate and usually describes a negative response to a specific action rather than a long-held, sustained hatred. Your dislike of broccoli, for example, wouldn't be described as odium. Instead, think of odium as hate mixed with repulsion and condemnation, what you feel, for example, if you hear a racist speech or a news story about a terrorist act. 【考法 1】 n. strong dislike, contempt, or aversion 憎恨 恥辱 【例】 time did nothing to diminish the odium in which the traitor lived out his days 个 徒的 【近】 ignominy, infamy, obloquy, opprobrium 【反】 esteem, honor, respect, hankering, infatuation

obtuse

The adjective obtuse is good for describing someone slow on the uptake: "Don't be so obtuse: get with the program!" The adjective obtuse literally means "rounded" or "blunt," but when it's used for a person, it means "not quick or alert in perception" — in other words, not the sharpest tool in the shed. It's not just for dull people, but also dull angles: in geometry, an obtuse angle is one that is not so sharp (between 90 and 180 degrees). 【考法 1】 adj. 愚钝的: not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily 【例】 Are you being deliberately obtuse? 【近】 dumb, fatuous, mindless, oafish, opaque, senseless, unintelligent, vacuous 【反】 insightful, apt, brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, fast, intelligent, keen, nimble, quick, quick-witted, sharp, sharp-witted, smart

obtrusive

The eight-foot-tall, hot pink statue of Minnie Mouse did not belong among the beige couches of the fancy living room. The statue was *obtrusive* to say the least, meaning it *stood out in a bad way.* Something that obtrudes sticks out, like a sore thumb. Wear a leopard-print toga to a gathering of PETA supporters, or ask loudly if wine is being served at an Alcoholics' Anonymous meeting — these are examples of obtrusive behavior, which draws attention to you and makes you stick out, but not in a good way. 【考法 1】undesirably prominent; thrust out 惹眼的 【例】Israel will remove metal detectors from a holy site in Jerusalem and use less obtrusive surveillance. 【近】 intruding, prominent, highlighted, striking 【反】 unobtrusive

pastiche

The next time you see a movie that you think is a cheap imitation of an older, better movie, you can sound like a film critic by dismissing the picture as a thoughtless *pastiche*. A pastiche is an artwork that copies the style of another work or that combines various, distinct styles together into one work. A pastiche can also be a musical medley, or the piecing together of various songs. Pastiche comes from the Italian word pasticcio, which can refer to a pie containing a mix of ingredients, such as meat and pasta. 【考法 1】n （带嘲讽的）模仿: a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work, often with satirical intent 【例】 a pastiche of Botticelli's Birth of Venus 【近】 burlesque, caricature, imitation, parody, spoof, travesty 【反】 original work 原作 【考法 2】 n. 大杂烩: a pasticcio of incongruous parts; a hodgepodge 【例】 a pastiche of dishes from many countries 【近】 agglomerate, collage, hodgepodge, jumble, jungle, medley, montage, motley, salad, variety, welter

opine

The verb *opine* is used when someone *speaks up and expresses an opinion*. You might opine that dogs are highly preferable to cats. Whenever you have something to say about a subject, you have the option to opine about it or keep your mouth shut. Movie critics opine about the best films of the year, and kindergarten kids opine that they'd rather not take a nap. Opine can also describe what you suppose will happen, like when you opine that school lunches will improve because of the new cook. The Latin opinari, or have an opinion, is the root of opine. 【考法 1】 vt. to express opinions 發表意見 【例】 You can opine about any subject you like. 【近】 comment, editorialize, note, observe, reflect, weigh in

officious

Though *officious* sounds like official, it means *being annoyingly eager to do more than is required*. "The officious lunch lady made everyone's food choices her business, and made nasty comments when students chose cookies over carrots." Officious is a tricky word as it seems like it might mean something like office or official. Instead, it is a word to describe someone that acts more official than they actually are. People who are officious are busybodies. They want to make their opinions known and followed, despite not having any kind of real power. 【考法 1】 adj. 多管閒事的 thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited 【例】 an officious little man who was always telling everyone else how to do their jobs 【近】 interfering, intruding, meddlesome, obtrusive, presuming, prying, snoopy 【反】 unobtrusive 不引人注目的

obviate

To *obviate* means *to eliminate the need for something or to prevent something from happening*. If you want to obviate the possibility of a roach infestation, clean your kitchen regularly. The prefix ob means "to go against." That makes sense when you look at the words obstruct and obstacle, but how about obstetrics? Why does the name of the branch of medicine dealing with birth have the same root as words that mean "stop" or "get in the way"? Because a midwife stands opposite to, or against, the woman giving birth. 【考法 1】 vt. 排除，使不必要: to anticipate and prevent (as a situation) or make unnecessary (as an action) 【例】 The new treatment obviates the need for surgery. 【近】 avert, forestall, preclude, stave off, head off

palter

To *palter* is to beat around the *bush by speaking or writing in an unclear way*. People palter to confuse others. Palter is an unusual word for a common thing: speaking or writing in a way that bamboozles others. Politicians are paltering experts: they palter when they leave out important information or use euphemisms to confuse voters. Paltering can be vague, distracting, or misleading. People palter when they have something to hide or just don't want to discuss. Paltering isn't outright lying, but it's close. The opposite of paltering is being straightforward, clear, and honest. 【考法 1】 vi. 欺骗: to act insincerely or deceitfully 【例】 unwilling to palter over the price of the house 【近】 chaffer, deal, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, negotiate, equivocate 【反】 candor 坦率

omniscient

To be *omniscient* is to *know everything*. This often refers to a special power of God. If you combine the Latin roots omnis (meaning "all") and scientia (meaning "knowledge"), you'll get omniscient, meaning "knowledge of all." It would be nice to be omniscient: then you would know absolutely everything in the world. Many religions have a god who is all-powerful and omniscient. This is how a god is supposed to know when you sinned, or what's going to happen in the future. 【考法 1】 adj. possessed of universal or complete knowledge 無所不知的，博識的 【例】 an omniscient deity 【反】 vacuous 无知的

panache

To have *panache* is to have a stylish flair. You might wear your giant polka-dotted scarf with great panache. Panache comes from the Latin word pinnaculum, which means "small wing" or "tuft of feathers." When you decorate yourself with a flourish, have an elegant appearance, or do something with style, you are said to have panache. You might wear your beret with new-found panache. Your aunt Milly may throw a party with unmatched panache. Or you brother's ability to turn a phrase may show an uncommon panache. 【考法 1】 n. 炫耀: dash or flamboyance in style and action 【例】 The BBC Symphony Orchestra played with great panache. 【反】 humility, unremarkable behavior, dullness 谦逊，尋常举止，平庸乏味

opportune

Use the adjective *opportune* to describe especially *good timing*. A snowstorm is an opportune time to make extra money shoveling your neighbor's driveway. You can see the word opportunity in opportune. Both words come from the Latin word opportunus, meaning "favorable," which itself is derived from a phrase that describes wind blowing toward a port. Just as the wind helps speed ships toward shore, something that is opportune offers favorable circumstances for accomplishing something or doing something. 【考法 1】 adj. suitable or convenient for a particular occurrence 湊巧的，恰好的，時機好的；及時的 【例】 an opportune moment 【近】 seasonable, well-timed 【反】 inconvenient, untimely, inappropriate, unseasonable

outwit

Use the verb *outwit* to describe *using your brain to beat an opponent*, like outwitting someone by figuring out the answer to a difficult riddle. Wit comes from the Old English word witan, which means "to know." So someone who outwits another person knows more — or at least knows more than the person thought. You can outwit someone with clever words, or with craftiness on the playing field. An unexpected strategy can help one side outwit the other on the battlefield. 【考法 1】 v. 瞒骗，以智取胜 : to surpass in cleverness or cunning; outsmart 【例】 a plan to outwit their opponents at their own game 【近】 outfox, outmaneuver, outslick, outsmart, outthink

obstinate

When someone is *beyond stubborn*, use the word obstinate instead: "You *obstinate* old mule! Get out of my way!" While stubborn may have positive or negative connotations, obstinate is most definitely negative, because it implies a kind of hard-headed determination not to change your mind even when it might be best to rethink your position. "The obstinate Man does not hold Opinions, but they hold him," wrote Samuel Butler way back in the seventeenth century. The word still does the trick if you want a put-down for someone you think is being a pig-headed fool or a stick in the mud. 【考法 1】 adj. 固执的: perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion 【例】obstinate resistance to change 【近】 adamant, headstrong, intransigent, stubborn, uncompromising, unyielding, willful 【反】acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding 【考法 2】 adj. 難于减轻或治愈的: not easily subdued, remedied, or removed 【例】 obstinate fever 【例】 an obstinate headache

palpable

When something is *palpable*, you can *touch or handle* it, even though the word is often used to describe things that usually can't be handled or touched, such as emotions or sensations. You probably won't see palpable used to describe, say, an egg or a doorknob or a motorcycle. Palpable is usually reserved for situations in which something invisible becomes so intense that it feels as though it has substance or weight. When the towers came down, the sense of sadness was so great, it was palpable. 【考法 1】 adj. capable of being touched or felt 摸得到的 【例】 a small but palpable lump in my neck 【近】 touchable 【反】 impalpable, intangible 【考法 2】 adj. easily perceived; obvious 極其明瞭的 【例】 a palpable difference 【近】 apprehensible, detectable, discernible, distinguishable, sensible 【反】 imperceptible, inappreciable, indistinguishable, insensible, undetectable

obstruct

When you *obstruct* something, you *block* it. If you're gobbling down your pizza, a chunk of crust you didn't chew so well might obstruct your airway and you'll choke. Obstruct also means to get in the way so that you hide something from view. That fast food tower being built next to your beach house will obstruct your lovely ocean vistas. And that scene gives you a vivid illustration of the Latin roots the word comes from: ob- "against," and struere, "build." You can also obstruct something or someone by putting up a roadblock, literal or figurative: when you park yourself by the exit door, you obstruct everybody's way out. 【考法 1】 vt. : to impede, retard, or interfere with; hinder; to create difficulty for the work or activity of 妨礙 给...制造困难 【例】 He was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators. 【近】 encumber, fetter, handicap, hinder, impede, inhibit, stymie, interfere with 【反】facilitate, abet, aid, assist 【考法 2】 vt. to prevent passage through by filling with something 阻撓 【例】 an unobstructed view 【近】 occlude 【反】 clear, free, open up, unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop

obliterate

When you see *obliterate*, think of evil alien invaders that zap a planet with a destructive ray. In one blast, the planet and all of the people on it are vaporized. The planet is truly obliterated, or completely wiped out. A long time ago, obliterate had to do with blotting out words on a page. This is why you see the word literate in there. Today it means to erase or destroy completely so that there is nothing left. While you can still obliterate text, you can also obliterate hope, an opponent, or all traces of your presence. Whatever you obliterate is completely gone. 【考法 1】 vt. 除去: to remove from existence 【例】 the March snowstorm obliterated our hopes for an early spring 【近】 efface, eradicate, expunge, expurgate, exterminate, extirpate, wipe out