Scott Floam (Barron's ess. words)

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arroyo

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

recidivism

habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist

inebriated

habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety

taciturn

habitually silent; talking little

trite

hackneyed; commonplace

banal

hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed

crone

hag; ugly old woman

hackles

hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone's hackles rise

coiffure

hairstyle

hirsute

hairy; having a lot of hair

somnolent

half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence

satyr

half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus (resembling a goat), portrayed as wanton(unrestrained) and cunning; lecher; CF. faun; CF. goat: lecherous man

clot

half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.

snicker

half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.

utopia

ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian

quixotic

idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote

drone

idle person who lives on other people's work; male bee

snub

ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she snubbed me; N.

mischance

ill luck

enmity

ill will; hatred; hostility

cantankerous

ill-humored; irritable

morose

ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy

gavel

hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.

maul

handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer

tiller

handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer)

illicit

illegal

contraband

illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.

factotum

handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything

bastard

illegitimate child

paramour

illicit lover

malady

illness

illusory

illusive; deceptive; not real

Shangri-la

imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost Horizon

fictitious

imaginary; non-existent; purposely invented to deceive; untrue; Ex. fictitious name/boyfriend; CF. fictional

loiter

hang about/around; stand idly about; linger

hover

hang about; (of birds or aircraft) stay in the air in one place; (of people) wait nearby; stay around one place; waver; be in an uncertain state

pendant(pendent)

hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)

pendulous

hanging; suspended

eventual

happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory

concurrent

happening at the same time; in agreement

fancy

imagination (of a whimsical or fantastic nature); capricious liking; V: imagine; be fond of; ADJ. decorative; elaborate

casual

happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark

forthcoming

happening in the near future; ready; willing to help; Ex. No answer was forthcoming.

fancied

imagined; unreal

ape

imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)

emulate

imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)

mimicry

imitation

dummy

imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy

pastiche

imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists

sophomoric

immature; half-baked; like a sophomore

unfledged

immature; not having the feathers necessary to fly; CF. fledgling

intuition

immediate insight; power of knowing without reasoning; ADJ. intuitive; V. intuit: know by intuition

misconduct

immoral behavior; bad management; V.

rake

immoral or dissolute person

evenhanded

impartial; fair

restive

impatiently restless (induced by external coercion or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; CF. not a general synonym for `restless'

imminent

impending; near at hand

felicity

happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous

impervious

impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being affected (in one's opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism

beset

harass or trouble from all directions; hem in

harry

harass, annoy, torment (by repeated attacks); raid

bait

harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals

impalpable

imperceptible(not easily understood); intangible; OP. palpable: tangible; easily perceptible

rigid

hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule

brittle

hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation

incrustation

hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust

crust

hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)

impudence

impertinence; insolence

esoteric

hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica

drudgery

hard unpleasant work; menial work

adamant

hard; inflexible

arduous

hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work

impermeable

impervious; not permitting passage through its substance; impossible to permeate

metaphor

implied comparison; CF. simile

causal

implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality

historic

important in history; Ex. historic battle

callous

hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind

levy

impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect (a tax); Ex. levy a tax on tobacco

defame

harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory

deleterious

harmful

noxious

harmful; CF. obnoxious

injurious

harmful; causing injury

detrimental

harmful; damaging; N. detriment

irreconcilable

impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able to be resolved

innocuous

harmless

irretrievable

impossible to recover or regain; CF. retrieve

susceptible

impressionable; easily influenced; sensitive; having little resistance as to a disease; likely to suffer; receptive to; capable of accepting; Ex. susceptible to persuasion/colds; Ex. The agreement is not susceptible of alteration; N. susceptibility

august

impressive; majestic

grandeur

impressiveness; stateliness; majesty

incarcerate

imprison

immure

imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall

impropriety

improperness; unsuitableness

ameliorate

improve

insolence

impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ. insolent; CF. haughty + rude

nirvana

in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude

comatose

in a coma; extremely sleepy

gamely

in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game

amok(amuck)

in a state of rage; Ex. run amok

congruent

in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous

pell-mell

in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell

virtual

in essence; existing in essence though not in actual form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual ruler/space

vassal

in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord; subordinate or dependent

sound

in good condition; showing good judgment or good sense; thorough; complete; Ex. sound mind/investment/training

enamored

in love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V. enamor: inspire with love

nominal

in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint

chaotic

in utter disorder

inert

inactive; lacking power to move; unable to move or act; Ex. chemically inert; N. inertia: state of being inert; force which keeps a thing in the position or state

malapropos

inappropriate; ADV.

oblivious

inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful(having the habit of forgetting)

placebo

harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill

consonant

harmonious; in agreement; N.

compatible

harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together

concord

harmony; accord

consonance

harmony; agreement

conformity

harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance

bridle

harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger

belabor

harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically

severity

harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense

expedite

hasten; make go faster

slapdash

hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)

headlong

hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.

incubate

hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for development; be holding in one's body an infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:disease

malicious

hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite

misogynist

hater of woman; CF. misogyny

misogamy

hatred of marriage

supercilious

haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium

tend

have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply one's attention; attend

vertebrate

having a backbone or spinal column; N: group of animals having a segmented spinal column

consanguineous(consanguine)

having a common ancestor

concentric

having a common center

cognate

having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.

blunt

having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt

determinate

having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final

wan

having a pale or sickly color; pallid

serrated

having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf

sour

having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.

capillary

having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity

autocratic

having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy

apolitical

having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs

odorous

having an odor

clairvoyant

having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance

voluminous

having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large

ponderous

having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing

anthropomorphic

having human form or characteristics

relevant

having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy

desperate

having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort

effete

having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted

multiform

having many forms

multilingual

having many languages; fluent in several languages

versatile

having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility

ciliated

having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash

peerless

having no equal; incomparable

uninhibited

having no inhibitions; free in behavior and feelings

static

having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state

unprecedented

having no previous example; novel; unparalleled

monochromatic

having only one color

prurient

having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire

verisimilar

having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible

musky

having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer

rancid

having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank

authoritative

having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive

civil

having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic

cognitive

having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing

fluted

having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column

effeminate

having womanly traits

promontory

headland

denizen

(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor

incisive

(appreciatively) cutting; sharp; Ex. incisive remarks; V. incise: make a cut into

enlist

(cause to) join the armed forces; obtain (help, sympathy, or support)

condescend

(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior

innate

inborn

variegated

(esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored

pert

(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat

flighty

(esp. of a woman's behavior) capricious; often changing, esp. from one lover to another; impulsive

spry

(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble

censor

(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.

proselytize

(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion

flutter

(of a bird with large wings) wave (the wings) lightly, rapidly, and irregularly; vibrate rapidly or erratically; fly by waving quickly; flitter; N.

warble

(of a bird) sing; babble; N.

capsize

(of a boat) turn over

navigable

(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered

ramshackle

(of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart

abject

(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology

virulent

(of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N. virulence; CF. virus; CF. venom

d\'ecollet\'e

(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)

transpire

(of a fact) become known; be revealed; happen; give off (watery waste matter) through pores

venial

(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial

throb

(of a heart or machine) beat rapidly or violently; N. Ex. hearthrob: heartbeat; sweetheart

turbid

(of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick

viscous

(of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF. consistency

malleable

(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable

tumid

(of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous

erudite

(of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition

grandiloquent

(of a person or speech) using high sounding or important-sounding language; pompous; bombastic

discursive

(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)

venturesome

(of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an action) risky

rotund

(of a person) fat and round

rational

(of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason; logical

expansive

(of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size

swelter

(of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be oppressed by heat

veracious

(of a person) truthful

inhibited

(of a person) unable to express what one really feels

resound

(of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter

desolate

(of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless

run-down

(of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a person) weak or exhausted

lush

(of a plant or grass) growing very well

untenable

(of a position, esp. in an argument) indefensible; not able to be maintained

swarthy

(of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?

slough

(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed

resonant

(of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding loudly); deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance

rasp

(of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; rub with something rough; Ex. The cat's tongue rasped my hand.

haunt

(of a spirit) visit (a place); come to mind continually; visit (a place) regularly; frequent; Ex. haunted house; Ex. haunted by his last words; N: place much frequented

episodic

(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience

apocryphal

(of a story) widely believed but untrue

ooze

(of a thick liquid) pass or flow slowly; N: mud or thick liquid as at the bottom of a river

demure

(of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure

pejorative

(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect; Ex. Many women now considers ``housewife'' a pejorative expression, because it patronized them.

felicitous

(of a word or remark) apt; suitably expressed; well chosen

rare

(of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains

graze

(of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an animal) to feed on grass; scrape (esp. the skin) or touch lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can't graze the cattle till summer; N: surface wound

feral

(of an animal) not domestic; wild

traumatic

(of an experience) deeply shocking; pertaining to an injury caused by violence; N. trauma: serious wound; emotional shock that causes lasting psychological damage

seemly

(of behavior) proper; appropriate

heterodox

(of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional

rickety

(of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets; CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D

dull

(of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.

exorbitant

(of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable bounds

inchoate

(of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not explicit; at the beginning of development; rudimentary; elementary; Ex. inchoate mass

arid

(of land) dry; barren; unproductive

fallow

(of land) plowed but not sowed (to improve the quality); uncultivated

rolling

(of land) rising and falling in long gentle slopes; happening continuously by stages; Ex. rolling devolution of power to local governments

vivid

(of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking lifelike mental images; Ex. vivid red hair/description

catholic

(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes

gush

(of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole; make an excessive display of feeling (without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from the wound.

sinewy

(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone

debonair

(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition

legato

(of music) played smoothly

hardy

(of people or animals) sturdy; robust; (of plants) able to stand inclement(stormy) weather

dutiful(duteous)

(of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)

plenary

(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power

stringent

(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions

amalgamate

(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body

crotchety

(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion

ungainly

(of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy; (of something) unwieldy; Ex. ungainly dancer/instrument

perspicacious

(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute

leery

(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious

inimical

(of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy

glaring

(of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly bright; shining intensely and blindingly

unmitigated

(of something bad) not moderated; unrelieved or immoderate; without qualification; absolute; Ex. unmitigated disaster

rife

(of something bad) widespread; abundant; current

extant

(of something written or painted) still in existence

perspicuous

(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments

didactic

(of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism

impassioned

(of speech) filled with passion; fervent

acute

(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain

sallow

(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice

ebb

(of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide

stentorian

(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad

dingy

(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain

raucous

(of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts

overwhelm

(of water) cover completely; defeat completely by much greater force; Ex. overwhelmed by grief

stagnant

(of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output

torrid

(of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid love affairs

sultry

(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous

muggy

(of weather) warm and damp

mellifluous

(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune

equivocal

(of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally misleading; (of behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal

remunerative

(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble

cursive

(of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined

polity

(particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity

shambles

(place or scene of) complete disorder or ruin; wreck; mess; Ex. After the hurricane, the coast was a shambles.

upright

(sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral

bloated

(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air

implacable

incapable of being pacified; impossible to appease; Ex. implacable enemy

invulnerable

incapable of injury; impossible to damage or injure

sterile

incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V. sterilize

cremate

incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium

nascent

incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex. nascent ability in music

proclivity

inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)

sadistic

inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty

factious

inclined to form factions; causing dissension

reticent

inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence

sonnet

14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern

prone

inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes; Ex. accident-prone

subsume

include (as a member of a group); encompass

comprise

include; consist of

salubrious

healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health

hale

healthy

partial

incomplete; favoring one side over another; having a liking for something

unobtrusive

inconspicuous; not blatant

skittish

inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit

increment

increase

wax

increase gradually (as the moon); grow

propagate

increase in number by producing young; multiply; spread; Ex. Most plants propagate by seed; Ex. newspaper propagating their ideas

amplify

increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph

crescendo

increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent

augment

increase; add to

enhance

increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or usefulness); improve

implicate

incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be involved (in a crime); Ex. implicate someone in the crime

irremediable

incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy

bawdy

indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd

bank

heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning

calorific

heat-producing; N. calorie

ardor

heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent

celestial

heavenly

nonchalance

indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts

lopsided

heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking

cumbersome

heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform

ballast

heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast

communal

held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune

resentment

indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel anger about

facilitate

help bring about; make less difficult

conducive

helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards

beneficial

helpful; useful; advantageous

mealymouthed

indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive

circumlocution

indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)

innuendo

indirect or subtle (derogatory) hint; insinuation; Ex. sexual innuendo

oblique

indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference

incontrovertible

indisputable; impossible to dispute; not open to question; unquestionable

irrefutable

indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable

idiosyncrasy

individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral peculiarity; eccentricity; attitude, behavior, or opinion peculiar to a person; anything highly individual or eccentric; ADJ. idiosyncratic

opportunist

individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances; N. opportunism

hypnosis

induced sleeping state; ADJ. hypnotic; V. hypnotize

humor

indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality that makes something amusing; state of mind; mood; Ex. in a bad humor; Ex. out of humor

fledgling(fledgeling)

inexperienced; N: young bird that has acquired wing feathers and is learning to fly; inexperienced person

inerrancy

infallibility

unerringly

infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes

opprobrium

infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous

contagion

infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air

illimitable

infinite; limitless

dysentery

inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract

overblown

inflated; exaggerated

subjective

influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence

apprise

inform

colloquy

informal discussion; conversation

impinge

infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with; Ex. The effects are impinging on every aspect of our lives.

ingenue

ing\'enue; young innocent girl

infest

inhabit in numbers large enough to be harmful; Ex. Mice infested the house; Ex. shark-infested waters

incompatible

inharmonious; N. incompatibility

bruise

injure without breaking the skin; N.

impair

injure; hurt; damage

mayhem

injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim

effervescence

inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce

pry

inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying

query

inquiry; question; V.

demented

insane

deranged

insane

lunatic

insane; Ex. lunatic asylum

epitaph

inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a tombstone)

interpolate

insert between

foist

insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion; palm off; pass off as genuine or worthy; CF. fist

perceptive

insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception

paltry

insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash

inconsequential

insignificant; unimportant

cant

insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people

impertinent

insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence

brazen

insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence

institution

instituting; (building for the) organization; established custom, practice, or relationship in a society; mental hospital; Ex. institution of marriage

edify

instruct; correct morally

slight

insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance

affront

insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally

insuperable

insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties

intelligentsia

intellectuals; members of the educated elite (often used derogatorily)

smart

intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex. smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N: smarting pain

lust

intense sexual desire; intense eagerness; V.

frigid

intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone

purport

intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which purports to be signed by the general

ulterior

intentionally hidden; beyond what is evident; situated beyond; unstated and often questionable; Ex. ulterior motive

symbiosis

interdependent relationship (between groups, species) often mutually beneficial; ADJ. symbiotic; CF. together + life

meddlesome

interfering; V. meddle: interfere

intermediary

intermediate; acting as a mediator; N: mediator; go-between

misconstrue

interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge

daunt

intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten

asunder

into parts; apart; V. sunder

knotty

intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot

broach

introduce as a subject; moot; open up

incorporate

introduce something into a larger whole; include; embody; give material form to; ADJ.

prologue

introduction (to a poem or play)

prelude

introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner

preamble

introductory statement

prefatory

introductory; of a preface

interloper

intruder; one who interferes

contrive

invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention

figment

invention; something invented; imaginary thing; Ex. figment of your imagination

energize

invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active

exhilarating

invigorating and refreshing; cheering; V. exhilarate: make cheerful and excited; Ex. exhilarated by the ride in the sports car

sacrosanct

invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable

mass

Christian religious ceremony; CF. Mass: ceremony of the Eucharist

impregnable

invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take

opalescent

iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence

anvil

iron block used in hammering out metals

eccentric

irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric

anomaly

irregularity

juggernaut

irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its path

ineluctable

irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable

cleft

N: split

indecision

irresolution; inability to make up one's mind

impiety

irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety

blasphemy

irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege

impious

irreverent

irascible

irritable; easily angered

testy

irritable; impatient and bad-tempered; short-tempered; N. testiness

nettle

irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome

rankle

irritate; fester; annoy

rile

irritate; vex; muddy

voyeur

Peeping Tom; person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others

pique

irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity

pharisee

Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy); hypocritical self-righteous person

centurion

Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)

toga

Roman outer robe

saga

Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative

aristocracy

hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat

recluse

hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive

halting

hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act with uncertainty; falter; hesitate; waver; stop

scruple

hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience

notch

V-shaped cut in a surface; V.

flinch

hesitate; shrink back (in fear of something unpleasant); Ex. She did not flinch in the face of danger.

falter

hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or move unsteadily through weakness; N.

potpourri

heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)

pitfall

hidden danger; concealed trap

irony

hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean; use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning

impede

hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block

arcade

a covered passageway usually lined with shops

scad

a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes

collation

a light meal; collating

artisan

a manually skilled worker

regent

a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent

apiary

a place where bees are kept

carillon

a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played

cache

hiding place; V.

intellect

higher mental powers; person of great intellectual ability

renounce

abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one's claim to the property/one's religion; N. renunciation

ventral

abdominal

plasticity

ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay

mutablility

ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant

foresight

ability to foresee future happenings; prudence in providing for the future

prescience

ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient

empathy

ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc.; identification with and understanding of another's feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy

motility

ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously

caliber

ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber

soluble

able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved

tangible

able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof

buoyant

able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market

amphibian

able to live both on land and in water; N.

solvent

able to pay all depths; N. solvency

effectual

able to produce a desired effect; valid

discriminating

able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination

elastic

able to spring back into shape; quick to recover (as from disappointment); able to adapt to change; Ex. elastic plans; N: elastic material

protean

able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will

ambulatory

able to walk

aberrant

abnormal or deviant

dys-

abnormal; impaired

anomalous

abnormal; irregular

abrogate

abolish

consistency

absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous

anarchy

absence of governing body; state of disorder

distrait

absentminded; distracted

imperative

absolutely necessary; that must be done; critically important; expressing command; Ex. It is imperative that; N: something that must be done

assimilate

absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)

refrain

abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus

celibate

abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy

pr\'ecis

abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text

recondite

abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret

preposterous

absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous

plenitude

abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty

affluence

abundance; wealth

luxuriant

abundant; growing healthily and in large amounts; excessively ornate; rich and splendid; fertile; Ex. luxuriant forests/prose; CF. luxurious, luxuriate

invective

abuse

scurrilous

abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark

vituperative

abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively

chasm

abyss; very deep crack

spoonerism

accidental transposition of sounds in successive words; Ex. ``Let me sew you to your sheet'' for ``Let me show you to your seat''; CF. William Spooner

fortuitous

accidental; by chance; N. fortuity

adventitious

accidental; casual; happening by chance

incriminate

accuse of or implicate in a crime; serve as evidence against; cause to seem or make guilty of a crime; Ex. incriminating evidence

wean

accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the young of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling; give up a cherished activity; cause to gradually leave (an interest or habit); Ex. wean oneself from cigarettes

habituate

accustom or familiarize; addict

inured

accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling

culmination

highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war

wangle

achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.

appropriate

acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate

exonerate

acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt

arbitrate

act as judge (at the request of both sides)

incarnation

act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex. previous incarnation/reincarnation

vivisection

act of dissecting living animals

outrage

act of extreme violence or viciousness; resentful anger; V: commit an outrage on; produce anger in; ADJ. outrageous: offensive

orientation

act of finding oneself in society; orienting

summation

act of finding the total; summing-up; summary (esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)

lookout

act of keeping watch; high place commanding a wide view; person who keeps watch

ambush

act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.

provision

act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure; provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement

recital

act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)

diversion

act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse

volition

act of using one's will; act of making a conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition.

usage

act or manner of using; accepted practice; way in which words are actually used

disjunction

act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive

clown

act stupidly; play the fool; N.

pantomime

acting without dialogue; V.

stealth

action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy

animosity

active enmity

vigor

active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous

apogee

highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee

agog

highly excited; intensely curious

prodigy

highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder

anguish

acute pain; extreme suffering

proverb

adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially

leaven

add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens

elaboration

addition of details; intricacy

addendum

addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)

accessory

additional object; useful but not essential thing

condign

adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved

viscid

adhesive; gluey

contiguous

adjacent to; touching upon

adjacent

adjoining; neighboring; close by

compromise

adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one's principle; N.

acclimate

adjust to climate or environment; adapt

ward

administrative division of a city; division in a hospital or prison; incompetent person placed under the protection of a guardian; V: guard; ward off: avert

ventilate

admit fresh air into to replace stale air

enfranchise

admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise

concede

admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal

espouse

adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N. espousal

embellish

adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding fictitious details)

promote

advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or popularize; Ex. Milk promotes health; Ex. promote a match/bill; Ex. promote a new product

precocious

advanced in development; N. precocity

benefit

advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits

suffragist

advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage

mannered

affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech

mincing

affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way, taking little short steps; Ex. The actor minced across the stage; CF. mincemeat; CF. mincer

grandiose

affectedly grand; pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously exaggerated; impressive; great in size or scope; grand; Ex. grandiose ideas

gustatory

affecting or relating to the sense of taste

posthumous

after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death); coming or occurring after one's death; Ex. posthumous fame/novel

emissary

agent (sent on a mission to represent another); messenger

catalyst

agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis

polemical(polemic)

aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply expressing opinions)

truculence

aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent: aggressive; pugnacious; fierce

ferment

agitation; commotion(noisy and excited activity); unrest (of a political kind); V. produce by fermentation; undergo fermentation; cause (a state of trouble)

harrowing

agonizing; distressing; traumatic; V. harrow: break up and level (soil) with a harrow; inflict great distress on; agonize; N: farming machine to break up the earth

accede

agree

assent

agree; accept; N. assessment

jibe

agree; be in harmony with; gibe

concur

agree; coincide; happen at the same time

amiable

agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly

palatable

agreeable; pleasing to the taste

accord

agreement

bargain

agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power

compact

agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement

dilettante

aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight

desultory

aimless; haphazard; digressing at random

attentive

alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration

omniscient

all-knowing

omnipotent

all-powerful; having unlimited power

purported

alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists

permissive

allowing much freedom; lenient; Ex. permissive society

waylay

ambush; lie in wait for and attack

rider

amendment or clause added to a legislative bill

licentious

amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained

disport

amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert

concession

an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire

alias

an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias

anachronism

an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic

dissection

analysis; cutting apart in order to examine

assay

analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)

progenitor

ancestor

forebears(forbears)

ancestors

pedigree

ancestry; lineage

papyrus

ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant

cherubic

angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order

indignation

anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation; ADJ. indignant

rake

angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular

irate

angry; CF. ire: anger; wrath

parasite

animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; CF. para-: beside

ruminant

animal that ruminates; ADJ.

totem

animal, plant, or natural object serving as a symbol of a clan or family; representation of this; Ex. totem pole

gadfly

animal-biting fly; irritating person

fauna

animals of a period or region; CF. flora

promulgate

announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication

enunciate

announce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory was first enunciated by him.

harass

annoy by repeated attacks

vex

annoy; distress

gall

annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse); exasperation

chagrin

annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)

irksome

annoying; tedious; V. irk: annoy

antediluvian

antiquated; extremely ancient

archaic

antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.

solicitous

anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude

perquisite(perk)

any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car

canker

any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer

refuse

anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash

aloof

apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.

siren

apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature

gyroscope

apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.

ostensible

apparent; appearing as such; professed(pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible purpose of the expedition

loom

appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct, or distorted form); Ex. The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly. N: apparatus for making thread into cloth

verisimilitude

appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth

propitiate

appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory

mitigate

appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity

acclaim

applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise

lubricate

apply a lubricant to; N. lubricant: substance that reduces friction

accost

approach and speak first to a person

converge

approach; tend to meet; come together

apposite

appropriate; fitting

approbation

approval

ratify

approve formally; confirm; verify

sanction

approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance

countenance

approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance

endorse

approve; support; write one's signature on the back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal

conduit

aqueduct; passageway for fluids

fervent

ardent; zealous; hot

fervid

ardent; zealous; hot

parish

area in the care of a single priest and served by one main church

callus

area of thick hard skin

haggle

argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain)

disputatious

argumentative; fond of argument

stem_from

arise from; originate from

militia

army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers

battalion

army unit made up of four or more companies

incite

arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist; Ex. incite a riot/the crowd to rebellion

provocative

arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex. provocative in tight jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger; cause (an unpleasant action or feeling); N. provocation

odious

arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile

codify

arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs

graduate

arrange into categories or grades; divide into marked intervals (for use in measurement); Ex. graduated ruler

graduated

arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc.)

hierarchy

arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks; body of persons having authority

rig

arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a ship) with rigging; ADJ. rigging: ropes that hold up a ship's sails

symmetry

arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity; ADJ. symmetrical

meter

arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual rhythm)

apprehend

arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension

advent

arrival

hubris

arrogance; excessive self-conceit

overweening

arrogant; presumptuous

incendiary

arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb

gastronomy

art and science of preparing and serving good food; CF. gastronome

rhetoric

art of effective communication; art of using language effectively and persuasively; style of speaking or writing; grandiloquent language; Ex. political rhetoric; ADJ. rhetorical; CF. rhetorical question: question to which no answer is expected as ``Who knows it ?''

choreography

art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances

prosody

art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse

treatise

article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly

sluice

artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)

culvert

artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road

affected

artificial; pretended

factitious

artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears

aesthetic

artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics

ashen

ash-colored; deadly pale

assail

assault

compile

assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary

acquiesce

assent; agree passively; comply without protest

baroque

highly ornate

high-flown

highly pretentious or inflated

virtuoso

highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso

contention

assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition

allocate

assign; set apart for a particular purpose

succor

assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.

abet

assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

consort

associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)

quench

assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish; put out; suppress

pose

assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect a particular attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a threat; N.

posture

assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose; attitude

supposititious

assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical

imposture

assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor

supposition

assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose

premise

assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based

dumbfound(dumfound)

astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck

heinous

atrocious; wicked; hatefully bad; Ex. heinous crime

append

attach

annex

attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one

bombardment

attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard

polemic

attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy

revile

attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)

iconoclastic

attacking cherished traditions; N. iconoclast: one who attacks traditional ideas; one who destroys sacred images

offensive

attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend: violate; hurt the feelings of; N. offense: offending; violating of a moral or social code; crime; attack; Ex. first offense

court

attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite; attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster

engage

attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle

personable

attractive (in personality or appearance)

prepossessing

attractive; CF. preoccupying ?

comely

attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance

impute

attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation

dictum

authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)

decree

authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree

magisterial

authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner

pundit

authority on a subject; expert; learned person

proxy

authorized agent; authority to act for another

postmortem

autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem

covetous

avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)

antipathy

aversion; dislike or opposition

shirk

avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger

eschew

avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks

accolade

award of merit; strong praise and approval

unwieldy

awkward (to carry or move); cumbersome; unmanageable

hinterlands

back country; inner part of a country; OP. foreland

grouch

bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining; V: complain; grumble

peevish

bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry

surly

bad-tempered; rude; cross

cross

bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry

puzzle

baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over a problem in an effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the answer; N.

equilibrium

balance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity

equipoise

balance; balancing force; equilibrium

embargo

ban on commerce or other activity

ostracize

banish from a group; exclude from public favor; ban; Ex. His friends ostracized him. N. ostracism

rusticate

banish to the country; dwell in the country

insolvent

bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency

chaffing

bantering; joking

debar

bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services

barrage

barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism

stump

base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle

hypothetical

based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed; N. hypothesis

empirical

based on experience

practical

based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man

theoretical

based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical

fundamental

basic; primary; essential

disparate

basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated

prefigure

be a sign of; foreshadow

fret

be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful

beware

be cautious (of)

dote

be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline

behoove(behove)

be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.

appreciate

be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference

betray

be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.

seethe

be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.

prevail

be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do something

nib

beak(bill); pen point

fructify

bear fruit; produce fruit

comport

bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment

fruition

bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization; Ex. come to/be brought to fruition

ursine

bearlike; pertaining to a bear

bestial

beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel

thresh

beat (cereal plants) with a machine or flail to separate the grains from the straw

thrash

beat with a whip or flail; defeat utterly; talk about thoroughly in order to find the answer; move wildly or violently; Ex. The fishes thrashed about in the net.

flail

beat with or as if with a flail; move wildly; thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about; N: threshing tool consisting of a stick swinging from the end of a long handle

finery

beautiful clothes for a special occasion

calligraphy

beautiful writing; excellent penmanship

pulchritude

beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous

pall

become boring; grow tiresome

betroth

become engaged to marry

relent

become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless: unyielding; continuously severe

ingratiate

become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss

blush

become red in the face (from embarrassment or shame); become red or rosy; N.

prosper

become successful (esp. financially); thrive; grow well; Ex. children prospering under his care

topple

become unsteady and fall down

degenerate

become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person

putrescent

becoming putrid; putrefying

apiculture

bee-keeping

implore

beg

importune

beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way)

beseech

beg; plead with

mendicant

beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar

wage

begin and continue (a war)

coup

highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills

impediment

hindrance; stumbling-block; speech defect preventing clear articulation; Ex. speech impediment

insinuate

hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex. insinuate himself into the boss's favor; CF. ingratiate

inkling

hint; slight indication

inaugurate

begin formally; install in office; induct into office by a formal ceremony; N. inauguration; ADJ. inaugural

sprout

begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new growth on a plant; shoot

initiate

begin; originate; receive into a group; introduce to a new field or activity; Ex. initiate someone into the mysteries of a secret religion; N: one who has been initiated

novice

beginner

tyro

beginner; novice

conception

beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception

incipient

beginning; in an early stage

genesis

beginning; origin

flirt

behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal triflingly with; N: one (or woman) given to flirting; ADJ. flirtatious

subservient

behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience

mischief

behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome

demeanor

behavior; bearing

decapitate

behead

ubiquitous

being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity

arrears

being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done

singular

being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior

aboriginal

being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine

veritable

being truly so; real or genuine; actual; not false or imaginary

credence

belief

monotheism

belief in one God

credulity

belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous

fatalism

belief that events are determined by forces or fates beyond one's control; ADJ. fatalistic; CF. fatal: causing death

pessimism

belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic

Epicurean

believing that pleasure is good and suffering is bad and should be avoided; N.

disparage

belittle

subliminal

below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement

stoop

bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying

droop

bend or hang downward; become weakened; Ex. His shoulders drooped with tiredness; N.

genuflect

bend the knee as in worship

refraction

bending of a ray of light

beleaguer

besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset

inordinate

beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive; Ex. inordinate demands

irreproachable

beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex. irreproachable conduct

preternatural

beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces

indenture

bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind by indenture; N: contract binding one party into the service of another for a specified time (as between an apprentice and his master)

covenant

binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise

astringent

binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism

obligatory

binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate

mordant

biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit

acrid

bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent

feud

bitter prolonged quarrel (usually between two peoples or families); V. CF. Romeo and Juliet; CF. feudal, feudalism

diatribe

bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse

gall

bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; ´ãÃó(bile); CF. gall bladder

acerbity

bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)

outlandish

bizzare; peculiar; unconventional

graphite

black form of carbon used in lead pencils

necromancy

black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis

obsidian

black volcanic rock

denigrate

blacken; defame

reproach

blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval or disappointment; N. ADJ. reproachful

censure

blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval

blanch

bleach; whiten; make white or pale

hallowed

blessed; consecrated; Ex. hallowed ground; V. hallow: set apart as holy

beatitude

blessedness; state of great happiness

benediction

blessing

benison

blessing

boon

blessing; benefit; something very helpful

chauvinist

blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin

filibuster

block legislation or prevent action in a lawmaking body by making very slow long speeches; N; freebooter

thwart

block or hinder; baffle; frustrate

hindrance

block; obstacle; V. hinder

vendetta

blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams

artery

blood-vessel; CF. vein

gory

bloody; N. gore: blood (from a wound)

sanguinary

bloody; with much bloodshed

mottled

blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors

bluster

blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale

doldrums

blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums

brusque

blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice

obtuse

blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding

palette

board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring matters)

brag

boast

intimate

hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship; familiar; private; personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or confidant; CF. intimacy

bump

hit or knock against with force; N.

vaunted

boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt: boast; brag

braggart

boaster; bragger

vainglorious

boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity

magniloquent

boastful; pompous

braggadocio

boasting

regatta

boat or yacht race

corporeal

bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible

clientele

body of customers

quagmire

bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself

guffaw

boisterous laughter; V.

revelry

boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration

hilarity

boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ. hilarious: full of laughter

obstreperous

boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable

dauntless

bold; fearless

temerity

boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day's work

stilted

bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal

catechism

book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize

anthology

book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus

pedantic

bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry

uncouth

boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish

churlish

boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo

abut

border upon; adjoin

verge

border; edge, rim, or margin; Ex. on the verge of: very near to; V: border on

margin

border; room; allowance beyond what is needed; Ex. margin of safety

maritime

bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces

blas\'e

bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored

ennui

boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; CF. annoy

tedium

boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious

overbearing

bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate

abysmal

bottomless

obeisance

bow (to show respect and obedience)

hive

box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive

pugilist

boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing

plait

braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail

ramify

branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions

ramification

branching out; subdivision; one branch of a system; one of the results following from an action or decision; Ex. ramifications of a business/the decision

exploit

brave and successful act; deed or action, particularly a brave deed; CF. crossing the Atlantic ocean

valor

bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave

fortitude

bravery; courage; strength of mind

fracas

brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number of people take part; melee

fray

brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have loose threads developing; cause to become worn out (a person's temper or nerves); CF. rub

violate

break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually; Ex. violate graves

renege

break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off the debt

breach

breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.

exhale

breathe out; OP. inhale

respiration

breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory

fancier

breeder or dealer of animals; one who has a special interest, as for raising specific plant or animal

concise

brief and compact

laconic

brief and to the point; using few words; terse

gloss

brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression; V.

glossary

brief explanation of words used in the text

gleam

brief flash of light; glow; V.

motto

brief statement used to express a principle

compendium

brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious

slap

hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack

illuminate

brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten; enable to understand; Ex. illuminating remarks

resplendent

brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious

incur

bring upon oneself

farce

broad comedy; mockery; humorous play full of silly things happening; ADJ. farcical

spatula

broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing

comprehensive

broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive

sibling

brother or sister

tawny

brownish yellow

contusion

bruise

atrocity

brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious

bugaboo

bugbear; object of baseless terror

fabricate

build; lie; make up (a story) in order to deceive; Ex. fabricate the whole story; CF. fabric: underlying structure; Ex. fabric of society

edifice

building (of imposing size)

browbeat

bully; intimidate

sheaf

bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together

encumber

burden; N. encumbrance

onus

burden; responsibility

incubus

burden; very worriying problem; mental care; nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus

onerous

burdensome

takeoff

burlesque; act of leaving the ground

cauterize

burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection

sear

burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause (a plant) to wither

incinerate

burn to ashes

flicker

burn unsteadily or fitfully; move waveringly; N: flickering movement or light; brief sensation; Ex. flicker of excitement

caustic

burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless

implode

burst inward; CF. vaccum tube

inter

bury; N. interment

swipe

hit with a sweeping motion; N.

entrepreneur

businessperson (who assumes the risk of a business venture); contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial

guy

cable or chain attached to something that needs to be braced or steadied; CF. guide

catastrophe

calamity ; disaster

actuarial

calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics

repress

hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion

invoke

call and bring into use (a right or law); call on/upon (a higher power or god) for help; ask for; beg for; conjure (a spirit); Ex. invoke the veto power; Ex. invoke one's advisor/God

fanfare

call by bugles or trumpets; showy display; spectacular public display

evoke

call forth (memory or feeling); Ex. That old film evoked memories of my childhood; N. evocation

convoke

call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation

phlegmatic

calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract

dispassionate

calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings

allay

calm; pacify

halcyon

calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days

equanimity

calmness of temperament; composure

tranquillity

calmness; peace

serenity

calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene

clasp

hold firmly within arms

negate

cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation

abolish

cancel; put an end to

expunge

cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase

revoke

cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable

countermand

cancel; revoke (an order)

outspoken

candid; blunt

venal

capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal

reparable

capable of being repaired

tensile

capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. tensile rubber

prehensile

capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails

viable

capable of maintaining life; feasible; practical or workable; Ex. viable scheme

sentient

capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience

ambidextrous

capable of using either hand with equal ease

vagary

capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander

mercurial

capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood

enthrall

capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of (as if magic); hold spellbound

thrifty

careful about money; economical; N. thrift

studied

carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark

lax

careless; negligent; not paying enough attention; Ex. lax service

plane

carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat

vulture

carrion-eating birds

scabbard

case for a sword blade; sheath

quiver

case for arrows

bewitch

cast a spell over; captivate completely

cavalier

casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight

offhand

casual; done without prior thought or preparation

cursory

casual; hastily done with little attention to detail

descry

catch sight of (something distant)

pander

cater to (the low desires of others)

grievance

cause of complaint; complaint

indoctrinate

cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism

conjure

cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.

nauseate

cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea

germinate

cause to sprout; sprout

suspend

cause to stop for a period; interrupt; hold in abeyance; defer; hang from above; exclude for a period from a position; Ex. suspended state; Ex. suspend judgment; Ex. suspended from the team; N. suspension

generate

cause; produce; create

engender

cause; produce; give rise to

prompt

cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an actor); ADJ: done without delay; done at the right time; punctual; on time; N: reminder or cue

touching

causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic; V. touch: cause to feel pity or sympathy; ADJ. touched

problematic

causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.

carcinogenic

causing cancer; N. carcinogen

sublime

causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter

grim

causing great fear; unrelenting; determined in spite of fear; Ex. grim smile

analgesic

causing insensitivity to pain; N.

nauseous

causing nausea; feeling nausea

pestilential(pestilent)

causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)

pathetic

causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching

vitriolic

causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression; CF. glass

prudent

cautious; careful; prudential

chary

cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold

luminary

celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object that gives light (as a celestial body)

reprove

censure; rebuke; N. reproof

kernel

central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)

mace

ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval weapon

formality

ceremonious quality; ceremonious adherence to rules; something done just for form's sake; Ex. mere formality

ordination

ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest

certitude

certainty

curb

chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain

shackle

chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.

hap

chance; luck

odds

chances; probability; disagreement; Ex. The odds are that it will rain. Ex. at odds with

vicissitude

change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China

veer

change in direction; swerve

metamorphosis

change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis

ossify

change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging in one's ideas

shift

change position or place; exchange (one thing) for another; change in direction or position; Ex. shift the stolen goods; N. group of workers which takes turns with other groups; working period of such a group

variegate

change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)

gerrymander

change voting district lines in order to favor a political party; N. CF. Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander

innovation

change; something newly introduced; introduction of something new; V. innovate: begin or introduce (something new); be creative; ADJ. innovative

fickle

changeable (in affections or friendship); faithless

volatile

changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile character/situation in the street

migrant

changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one that migrates

padre

chaplain (in the armed forces)

temperament

characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess; ADJ. temperamental: of temperament; having frequent changes of temper; Ex. temperamental dislike of sports; Ex. temperamental actress

generic

characteristic of an entire class or species; of a genus

universal

characterizing or affecting all; general; present everywhere; of the universe; cosmic; Ex. universal agreement; Ex. a subject of universal interest

impeach

charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a witness's credibility

arraign

charge in court; indict

indict

charge; N. indictment

mountebank

charlatan; boastful pretender

quack

charlatan; impostor

talisman

charm; object believed to give supernatural powers to or protect its bearer

amulet

charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck

engaging

charming; attractive

idyllic

charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene

babble

chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.

jabber

chatter rapidly or unintelligibly

tawdry

cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry

cozen

cheat; hoodwink; swindle

swindler

cheater

fraudulent

cheating; deceitful; Ex. fraudulent means; N. fraud: deception; swindle

jaunty

cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree; dapper in appearance; Ex. jaunty person/hat

alacrity

cheerful promptness without reluctance

geniality

cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy; ADJ. genial: cheerful and good-tempered

fermentation

chemical reaction that splits complex organic compounds; unrest; agitation

masticate

chew

ruminate

chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically); mull over(ponder)

arch-

chief; first; Ex. archbishop

cardinal

chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order

puerile

childish; immature; CF. puer: boy

infantile

childish; infantlike

progeny

children; offspring; descendants

indiscriminate

choosing at random; confused; not based on careful distinctions

draw

choosing of a lot or card

chortle

chuckle with delight; N.

prelate

church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)

curmudgeon

churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person

tenacious

holding fast (as to a belief); persistent

tenure

holding of an office or real estate; time during which such an office is held

riveting

holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing

rotunda

circular building or hall covered with a dome

vociferous

clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining)

friction

clash or conflict in opinion; rubbing against

talon

claw of bird

expurgate

clean; remove offensive parts of a book

bouillon

clear beef (or meat) soup

exculpate

clear from blame or guilt

vindicate

clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one's client; Ex. vindicate one's claim; CF. vindicator

distinctive

clearly different from others of the same kind

distinct

clearly different; clearly noticed

perspicuity

clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity

chaplain

clergyman attached to a chapel

resourceful

clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource, resourcefulness

sly

clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's intentions

cunning

clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit

shrewd

clever; astute

precipice

cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice

clime

climate

clamber

climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble

scale

climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones

surveillance

close observation of a person (esp. one under suspicion); watching; guarding

rapport

close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony

circuit

closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place

attire

clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel

outfit

clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy outfit

raiment

clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.

buffoonery

clowning

saccharine

cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin

bludgeon

club; heavy-headed weapon; V.

gauche

clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth

lout

clumsy person; ADJ. loutish; CF. from countrysides ?

maladroit

clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling

fodder

coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock; CF. food

abusive

coarsely insulting; physically harmful

rooster

cock; adult male chicken

convoluted

coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain

bleak

cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing

clavicle

collarbone

amass

collect (gradually, in a very large amount)

corpus

collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse

menagerie

collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo

agglomeration

collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap

hue

color; aspect; Ex. opinions of every hue

spectrum

colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts

pigment

coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)

militant

combative; bellicose; N.

pugnacity

combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious: (of people) belligerent; combative in nature

merger

combination (of two business corporations); act of merging

amalgam

combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth

coalesce

combine; fuse; N. coalescence

compound

combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex. factory compound; CF. complex

synthesis

combining parts or separate things into a whole; the whole so formed; PL. syntheses; V. synthesize

intervene

come between; interfere; Ex. intervened to prevent a fight; N. intervention

rally

come or bring together; call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate (after illness or difficulty); N: act of rallying; mass gathering

accrue

come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual

convene

come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council

solace

comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble

malapropism

comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop

fiat

command; arbitrary order; Ex. presidential fiat; CF. let it be done

enjoin

command; order; forbid

bid

command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom

memorialize

commemorate

embark

commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey

annotate

comment; make explanatory notes

perpetrate

commit an offense; do (something wrong)

plebeian

common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician

hackneyed

commonplace; trite

tumult

commotion of a great crowd; riot; noise; uproar; ADJ. tumultuous: noisy and disorderly

analogous

comparable; similar

simile

comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as

glamor

compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous

urgent

compelling immediate action; pressing; persistent; importunate; Ex. urgent in his demands

compulsion

compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse

reparation

compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; CF. repair

lexicographer

compiler of a dictionary; CF. lexicography: work of compiling a dictionary

whine

complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as in pain or supplication)

rail

complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices

snivel

complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.

grouse

complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump chickenlike game bird

grumble

complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.

unanimity

complete agreement; ADJ. unanimous

bliss

complete happiness; ADJ. blissful

sovereignty

complete independence and self-government (of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern

consummate

complete; V.

complement

complete; consummate; make perfect; N.

integral

complete; necessary for completeness; Ex. integral part

absolute

complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism

imbroglio

complicated situation (as in a play); painful or complex misunderstanding (as in a play); entanglement; confused mass (as of papers); V. embroil

improvise

compose on the spur of the moment

sedate

composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative

collected

composed; calm; self-possessed

fathom

comprehend; investigate; determine the depth of; N. unit of measurement for the depth of water

addiction

compulsive habitual need

palm

conceal in the palm of the hand; palm off: pass off; Ex. palm off some bad oranges onto the lady/the painting as a real Renoir

secrete

conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism; CF. secretive

narcissist

conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus

smirk

conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone else's misfortune); V.

plausible

conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious

hermetic

concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult

olfactory

concerning the sense of smell

mercantile

concerning trade or merchants

pithy

concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty

terse

concise; abrupt; pithy

brevity

conciseness; shortness of duration

coda

concluding section of a musical or literary composition

peroration

conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length

finale

conclusion; concluding part

damn

condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation

denounce

condemn; criticize; N. denunciation

doom

condemnation to a severe penalty; ruin; fate (esp. a tragic or ruinous one); V.

abridge

condense or shorten

deign

condescend; stoop

anemia

condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic

squalor

condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story

analgesia

condition of being unable to feel pain

standstill

condition of no movement or activity; stop

florescence

condition or period of flowering

healthful

conducive to good health; Ex. healthful mountain air

wholesome

conducive to mental or physical health; healthful

sedition

conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious

bestow

confer

parley

conference (between opponents); CF. speak

corroborate

confirm; support; strengthen

discord

conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)

compliance

conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply

befuddle

confuse thoroughly

fluster

confuse; make nervous and confused; N.

muddle

confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion

obfuscate

confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand

confound

confuse; puzzle

disconcert

confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb

hubbub

confused uproar; loud noise; din

bemused

confused; lost in thought; preoccupied

welter

confusion; turmoil; confused mass; bewildering jumble; Ex. welter of data

coagulate

congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant

natal

connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF. postnatal

historical

connected with history; based on events in history (whether regarded as important or not)

nexus

connection

gourmet

connoisseur of food and drink; epicure

epicure

connoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ. epicurean; CF. Epicurus

subjugate

conquer; bring under control

scrupulous

conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker

anoint

consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)

deliberate

consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow

notable

conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted

flagrant

conspicuously wicked, bad, or offensive; blatant; outrageous

collusion

conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude

constitution

constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions

liaison

contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups; one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection

taint

contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad; Ex. tainted reputation; N: stain; touch of decay or bad influence; CF. touch

scurvy

contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C

base

contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron

vie

contend; compete

vying

contending; CF. vie

lottery

contest in which winners are selected in a drawing of lots

persist

continue in existence; last; continue in a course of action in spite of opposition; Ex. persist in/with something; ADJ. persistent

persevere

continue steadily in spite of difficulties

din

continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition

knit

contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit together in a few weeks.

belie

contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.

contravene

contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention

antithesis

contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical

foil

contrast; one that by contrast enhances the distinctive characteristics of another

dominate

control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height; ³»·Ã´Ùº¸´Ù

ascendancy

controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant

amenities

convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies

mores

conventions; moral standards; moral customs

tan

convert (hide) into leather; make brown by exposure to the sun

cogent

convincing

broil

cook by direct heat; N.

facsimile

copy

replica

copy

travesty

copy or example of something that completely misrepresents the true nature of the real thing; comical parody or imitation; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous; Ex. travesty of justice; OP. paragon

transcribe

copy; write a copy of; N. transcription

lace

cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges (as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace

pith

core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance

conglomerate

corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.

cadaver

corpse; dead human body

emend

correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement

disabuse

correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief

orthography

correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics

amend

correct; change ; generally for the better

congruence

correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity

debauch

corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)

pervert

corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex. perverted sexual desire/scientific knowledge; N: person whose sexual behavior is not natural

perversion

corruption; turning from right to wrong

barrister

counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar

mentor

counselor; teacher

reckon

count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose

recrimination

countercharges; V. recriminate

bogus

counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview

forge

counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by heating in a forge and hammering into shape; move with a sudden increase of speed or power; Ex. forged ahead in the last two years; N: furnace where metals are heated

mettle

courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome

pluck

courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave

tribunal

court of justice

deference

courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery

chivalrous

courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry

comity

courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations

pertinacious

holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent

retentive

holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory

fawning

courting favor by cringing and flattering; V. fawn: exhibit affection as a dog; seek favor or attention by obsequiousness

glaze

cover with a thin and shiny surface; apply a glaze to; N: thin, smooth, shiny coating (as for pottery); Ex. unglazed pottery

gild

cover with a thin layer of gold

craven

cowardly

pusillanimous

cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted

quail

cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart

bovine

cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm

crevice

crack; fissure

Machiavellian

crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power

hurtle

crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling runaway train

grovel

crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate; behave in a servile manner

statutory

created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit

credo

creed

fissure

crevice; crack

juncture

crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining

animadversion

critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval

pan

criticize harshly

askew

crookedly; slanted; at an angle

throng

crowd (of people or things); V.

horde

crowd; swarm

diadem

crown

shack

crude cabin

hut

crude dwelling; shack

fell

cruel; (of a disease) deadly

mash

crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl

pulverize

crush or grind into very small particles

squash

crush; quash; suppress

quash

crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a rebellion/the decision of the low court

oatmeal

crushed oats used for making porridge

exclaim

cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory

limpid

crystal clear

therapeutic

curative; N. therapy

elixir

cure-all; panacea; something invigorating

panacea

cure-all; remedy for all diseases

quizzical

curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying); questioning; teasing; mocking; bantering; Ex. quizzical glance

draught

current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid swallowed at a time

malediction

curse

execrate

curse; express abhorrence for; detest

imprecation

curse; swearword

aquiline

curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose

convex

curving outward

excise

cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good produced and used inside a country; N. excision

prune

cut away; trim

retrench

cut down; cut down expenses; economize

dismember

cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb

amputate

cut off part of body; prune (a limb)

clip

cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener

fell

cut or knock down (a tree or a person); bring down (with a missile)

truncate

cut the top off; shorten

hew

cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.

sarcasm

cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging rebuke; ADJ. sarcastic

abscission

cutting off; separation

trenchant

cutting; incisive; keen

concave

hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex

hermitage

home of a hermit

debut

d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society

chore

daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task

quotidian

daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine

diurnal

daily; occurring during the daytime

marred

damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure

perdition

damnation; complete ruin; hell

humid

damp; N. humidity

dank

damp; unpleasantly wet

hazardous

dangerous

audacious

daring; bold; N. audacity

domicile

home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.

waif

homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays

vagrant

homeless wanderer

murky

dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom

somber

dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow

opaque

dark; not transparent; N. opacity

obscure

dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning

eclipse

darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse

reverie

daydream; abstracted musing

defunct

dead; no longer in use or existence

stalemate

deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked

lethal

deadly

demise

death

obituary

death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.

disembark

debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark

libertine

debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou\'e; CF. free

gangrene

decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood supply (usually following injury); ADJ. gangrenous

decomposition

decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts

decadence

decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent

putrid

decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity

guile

deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning; Ex. persuade her by guile

delude

deceive

wheedle

deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her

hoodwink

deceive; delude

inveigle

deceive; lead astray by deception; wheedle(cajole); Ex. inveigle her into joining the club; CF. interest dishonestly

beguile

deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile

illusive

deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive

artifice

deception; trickery

stratagem

deceptive scheme; clever trick

delusive

deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises

resolve

decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined decision; N. resolution

nostalgia

homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic

conclusive

decisive; ending all debate

hatch

deck opening; lid covering a deck opening; V: emerge from an egg; produce (young) from an egg

avow

declare openly; N. avowal

decipher

decode; CF. indecipherable

adorn

decorate

embroider

decorate with needlework; ornament (a story) with fancy or fictitious details; embellish

garnish

decorate; add a garnish to; decorate (food or drink) with small items such as lemon slices; N.

fringe

decorative edge of hanging threads; edge

wane

decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.

edict

decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command

ordain

decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination

ordinance

decree; authoritative order

integrity

honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being whole and undivided; completeness

consecrate

dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor

infer

deduce; conclude; N. inference

ignominy

deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat

tureen

deep dish for serving soup

grudge

deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.

coma

deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow

remorse

deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach

inveterate

deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old

profound

deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity

ingrained

deeply established; firmly rooted; Ex. ingrained dirt/prejudice

slander

defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ. slanderous

libel

defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character; V. ADJ. libelous

discredit

defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful

foil

defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart; CF. fail

rampart

defensive mound of earth

feebleminded

deficient in intelligence; very stupid

sully

defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one's hands in menial labor

mulct

defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy

unfrock

defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority

debase

degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement

crestfallen

dejected; dispirited

retard

delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a child) slower in development

belated

delayed

dilatory

delaying; tending to delay

calculated

deliberately planned; likely

filigree

delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork

finesse

delicate skill; V: handle with finesse

dainty

delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress

choice

delicate; of very fine quality

exquisite

delicate; very finely made; extremely beautiful; Ex. exquisite piece of jewelry

acquittal

deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner

cataclysm

deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change

hallucination

delusion; false idea; false perception of objects with a compelling sense of their reality; objects so perceived; V. hallucinate; ADJ. hallucinatory

exact

demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction

peremptory

demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock

laborious

demanding much work or care; tedious

disavowal

denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim

centigrade

denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)

panoramic

denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area

inveigh

denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh against the evils of drink

gainsay

deny

atheistic

denying the existence of God; N. atheism

abscond

depart secretly and hide

exodus

departure (of a large number of people)

contingent

dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency

bearing

deportment; connection

turpitude

depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude

bereaved

deprived of (someone beloved through death)

bereft

deprived of (something valuable); lacking

devolve

deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to

taunt

deride or provoke; challenge in derision; N.

deducible

derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning

derivation

deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word

posterity

descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; CF. posterior, anterior

lineage

descent; ancestry

sacrilegious

desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration, misuse, or theft of something sacred

forsake

desert; abandon; renounce

renegade

deserter; traitor; ADJ.

defection

desertion

comeuppance

deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke

merit

deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise

retribution

deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for offenses; compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back

culpable

deserving blame; blameworthy

reprehensible

deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame

venerable

deserving high respect; commanding respect; CF. command: deserve and get

reverend

deserving reverence; N: priest

monogram

design composed of one or more initials of a name; V.

invidious

designed to create ill will or envy; tending to rouse ill will or envy; Ex. invidious comparison

crave

desire; want intensely

vile

despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander

annihilate

destroy

raze

destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground

obliterate

destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village

defoliate

destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant

corrode

destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)

holocaust

destruction by fire; CF. burnt whole; CF. Holocaust

carnage

destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals

demolition

destruction; V. demolish

scion

detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant

resolution

determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute: firm or determined in purpose

resolve

determination; resolution; firmness of purpose

predetermine

determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly

canvass

determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.

bent

determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination

dogged

determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean

loathe

detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive; Ex. loathsome smell

abhor

detest; hate

abominable

detestable; extremely unpleasant

odium

detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)

depose

dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify

ravage

devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms

swerve

deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course; Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the right.

aberration

deviation from the normal; mental disorder

sensual

devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous; Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips

pious

devout; religious; N. piety

piety

devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious

sleight

dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks

diabolical

diabolic; devilish; fiendish

horoscope

diagram of the positions of stars at a given moment (eg. of a person's birth) used by astrologers

lexicon

dictionary

suffocate

die or kill from lack of air; suppress

disparity

difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity

diverse

differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N. diversity: variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance

plight

difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament

predicament

difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma

fastidious

difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky

inscrutable

difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious

nebula

diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy

quarry

dig into (to get stone); N: mine; ä¼®Àå

exhume

dig out of the ground; remove from a grave

unearth

dig up; discover (facts) by careful searching; Ex. He unearthed some secrets about her; OP. conceal

disinter

dig up; unearth; OP. inter

delve

dig; search deeply; investigate

quandary

dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a quandary about whether to go.

assiduous

diligent

application

diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself

fete(f\^ete)

honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a feast; N. (outdoor) festival or feast; CF. feast

sedulous

diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity

industrious

diligent; hard-working; N. industry

reduce

diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction

sap

diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification); Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength.

refectory

dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)

protocol

diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats; first copy of a treaty before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that the queen meet him at the airport.

address

direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech

subsidy

direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy

beeline

direct quick route

referendum

direct vote by all the people

plebiscite

direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)

ragamuffin

dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes

smudge

dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.

filth

dirty matter; ADJ. filthy

incapacitate

disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity

dissent

disagree

pushy

disagreeably aggressive

dissension

disagreement of opinions causing strife within a group

disapprobation

disapproval; condemnation

calamity

disaster; misery

insightful

discerning; perceptive

commemorate

honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war

distinction

honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction

kudos

honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement

chasten

discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate

recant

disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant one's faith/a statement

discombobulated

discomposed; confused

faze

disconcert; dismay; embarrass

disjointed

disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin

dissonance

discord

cacophonous

discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds

dishearten

discourage

bandy

discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with

virus

disease communicator

rabies

disease passed on by the bite of an infected animal (causing madness and death)

unravel

disentangle; solve

disenfranchise

disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise

dishonor

disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable

demean

disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave

homage

honor; tribute; great respect; Ex. pay/do homage to

disconsolate

hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)

dissemble

disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend

repugnance

disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive

fulsome

disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome praise/expressions of admire

downcast

disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward

unkempt

disheveled; uncared for in appearance; not combed; CF. comb

skulduggery(skullduggery)

dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election

dissolution

disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life

recreant

disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person

disaffected

disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty

appall

dismay; shock deeply

insubordination

disobedience; rebelliousness; ADJ. insubordinate

recalcitrant

disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child

unruly

disobedient; lawless; difficult to control

scrimmage

disorderly fight between two or more people

repudiate

disown; disavow; deny

disclaim

disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer

belittle

disparage; depreciate

favoritism

display of partiality toward a favored person

flaunt

display ostentatiously; Ex. ``Honey, if you've got it, flaunt it !''

sanctimonious

displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety

vindictive

disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak

clemency

disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement

refute

disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation

cornucopia

horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty

ghastly

horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast

animus

hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition

impugn

dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight

contest

dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.

discount

disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost

notoriety

disrepute; ill fame

dissident

dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.

heterogeneous

dissimilar; mixed; not homogeneous; consisting of dissimilar elements or plants

disband

dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.

girth

distance around something; circumference

repulsion

distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ. repulsive: causing disgust; tending to drive away; V. repel (not `repulse')

cloying

distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess

unsavory

distasteful; disagreeable; morally offensive; Ex. unsavory activity/reputation

pronounced

distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp

mannerism

distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art (according to a set of styles)

feature

distinctive part of the faces (as the eyes or mouth); features: overall appearance of the face; prominent or distinctive quality; prominent article; film; V: make prominent

discriminate

distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference

discernible

distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement

awry

distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.

caricature

distortion; burlesque

dispense

distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule

disseminate

distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)

perturb

disturb greatly

discompose

disturb the composure of; confuse

partition

divide into parts

stratified

divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify

bifurcated

divided into two branches; forked

charisma

divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism

schism

division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split

dichotomy

division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)

precinct

division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college

canto

division of a long poem

stanza

division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)

genus

division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species

drudge

do drudgery; N: person who drudges

reciprocate

do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually; interchange; move backwards and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights

tractable

docile; easily managed; (of something) easily changed or molded; N. tractability

quay

dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)

cardiologist

doctor specializing in ailments of the heart

podiatrist

doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics

psychiatrist

doctor who treats mental diseases

tenet

doctrine; dogma

maleficient

doing evil; N. maleficience

homespun

domestic; made at home; spun or woven at home; simple and ordinary; Ex. homespun philosophy

hegemony

dominance especially of one nation over others

imperious

domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor

nocturnal

done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne

perfunctory

done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss

surreptitious

done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden

underhand(underhanded)

done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)

expeditious

done with speed; quick; N. expedition

bolt

door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a door); gobble down

quiescent

dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence

potion

dose (of liquids); liquid dose

duplicity

double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous

misgivings

doubts

declivity

downward slope

conscript

draftee; person forced into military service; V.

matin\'ee(matinee)

dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon

oratorio

dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata

elicit

draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone)

limn

draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?

antagonism

hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist

liability

drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)

pensive

dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over

bedizen

dress with vulgar finery

flotsam

drifting wreckage

tipple

drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink

swill

drink greedily

imbibe

drink in

nectar

drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees

quaff

drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); ²Ü²©²Ü²© ¸¶½Ã´Ù; CF. sip

repel

drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion

urge

drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to take action; impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that prompts action

impel

drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action

pudding

hot sweet dish

ferret

drive or hunt out of hiding; hunt with ferrets; drive out (as from a hiding place); expel; uncover or discover by searching; Ex. ferret out the secret; N. small fierce animal which catches rats and rabbits by going into their holes

exorcise

drive out evil spirits

repellent

driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive; N.

propulsive

driving forward; N. propulsion

flag

droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ. flagging; CF. unflagging

lethargic

drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness and inactivity

anodyne

drug that relieves pain or trouble; ÃøÃ...ëæ; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement

apothecary

druggist; pharmacist

bacchanalian

drunken

carousal

drunken revel; V. carouse

provender

dry food for livestock; fodder

desiccate

dry up

stolid

dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected

drab

dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life

humdrum

dull; monotonous

stodgy

dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book

effigy

dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President

gnome

dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure hoards

abide

dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.

abode

dwelling place; home

moribund

dying; at the point of death; CF. death

gusto

eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm

inquisitive

eager for knowledge; unduly curious

germ

earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something that may develop into something larger or more important; microbe

levee

earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise

palliate

ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)

facile

easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial; not deep; Ex. facile solution to a complex problem; Ex. facile speaker; N. facility: ability to do something easily and well; ease in doing resulting from skill or aptitude; something that facilitates an action; amenity; Ex. with great facility

affable

easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly

combustible

easily burned; N. CF. combustion

gullible

easily deceived

squeamish

easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.

lucid

easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity

accessible

easy to approach; obtainable

choleric

hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera

erode

eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks.

gobble

eat very quickly

corrosive

eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce

omnivorous

eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything

ecclesiastic

ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman

reverberate

echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.

ecosystem

ecological community together with its environment

brink

edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon

weird

eerie; strange; unnatural

effectuate

effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation

articulate

effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints

effective

effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph

economy

efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources

exertion

effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert oneself: make a great effort

refulgent

effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon

maudlin

effusively sentimental

ovoid

egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate

egotistical

egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited

correlate

either of the correlated things; V.

resilient

elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from misfortune)

medium

element that is a creature's natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substance through which something else is transmitted

component

element; ingredient

rudimentary

elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language

elevation

elevated position; altitude; height; flat upright side of a building; angle made by pointing a gun; Ex. The elevation of her style is much admired; Ex. front elevation of the house

apotheosis

elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something

dismiss

eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal

elliptical

elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out

manumit

emancipate; free from slavery or bondage

abash

embarrass

defalcate

embezzle

reek

emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench

detached

emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment

engaged

employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict

devoid

empty; lacking

vacuous

empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity

embed(imbed)

enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass

environ

enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city)

aviary

enclosure for birds; large cage

encipher

encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher

hortatory

encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort

termination

end; V. terminate

jeopardize

endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy: danger

interminable

endless

incarnate

endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody

dynamic

energetic; vigorously active

rapt

engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener

season

enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning

sphinx-like

enigmatic; mysterious

savor

enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality

relish

enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest

abyss

enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit

prodigious

enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory

astronomical

enormously large or extensive

ample

enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space

incense

enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned to produce a pleasant odor

matriculate

enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix

embrace

hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet

colossal

huge

mire

entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire

penetrate

enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand

regale

entertain

verve

enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor

ovation

enthusiastic applause

devotee

enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach

allure

entice; attract; tempt

gamut

entire range

unexceptionable

entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism

entree(entr\'ee)

entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle

solicit

entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer

suppliant

entreating; beseeching; N.

ambience

environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature

begrudge

envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.

gourmand

epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink

commensurate

equal in extent; of the same size

parity

equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate

accoutre

equip; N. accoutrement

paraphernalia

equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman's property exclusive of her dowry

tantamount

equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount

delete

erase; strike out

misapprehension

error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend

blunder

error; stupid mistake

arcane

esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener

gist

essence; main point; substance

crux

essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance

attribute

essential quality; V: ascribe; explain

intrinsic

essential; inherent; built-in

appraise

estimate value of; N. appraisal

elusive

evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes me.

incident

event; event that causes a crisis

perpetual

everlasting

behemoth

huge creature; something of monstrous size or power

gargantuan

huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel

enormity

hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous

biennial

every two years

credential

evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.

apparent

evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement

manifest

evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly

machinations

evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate

fiend

evil spirit; devil

baleful

evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look

sinister

evil; ominous

malefactor

evildoer; criminal

gestate

evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth

precise

exact

plumb

exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of

inflated

exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)

hyperbole

exaggeration; overstatement; ADJ. hyperbolic: of hyperbole; of a hyperbola

autopsy

examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.

audit

examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.

collate

examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)

scrutinize

examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny

surpass

exceed

transcendent

exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing; V. transcend: go beyond; exceed; surpass; N. transcendancy

plethora

excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses

self-indulgence

excessive indulgence of one's own desire

egoism

excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical

hysteria

excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric: person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack of hysteria

fanaticism

excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause; N. fanatic; ADJ. fanatic

superfluous

excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity

meticulous

excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous

rhapsody

excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)

hypercritical

excessively exacting; too critical (without noticing good qualities)

obese

excessively fat; N. obesity

prude

excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety

ornate

excessively or elaborately decorated

brawn

human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness

uxorious

excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife; CF. uxor: wife

interjection

exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch''

ejaculation

exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate

except

exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality

pretext

excuse

dominant

exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive

grueling

exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race

artful

exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice

halfhearted

exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm

iridescent

exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil slick; N. iridescence

expatriate

exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish; leave one's country

subsistence

existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)

congenital

existing at birth

primordial

existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary

egress

exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress

dilate

expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)

distend

expand; swell out

oust

expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting

seasoned

experienced

humility

humbleness of spirit

vicarious

experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ

queasy

experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy

adept

expert at; very skilled

expound

explain

gloss_over

explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults

explicate

explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable

construe

explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue

elucidate

explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid

exegesis

explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages

legend

explanatory list of symbols on a map

mortify

humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die

degradation

humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank

expository

explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition

probe

explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe

detonation

explosion

debunk

expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule

traduce

expose to slander

condole

express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow

deprecate

express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory

gloat

express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels.

indulgent

humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence

decry

express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films

derogatory

expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage

significant

expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant

ironic

expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner

potential

expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth

plaintive

expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song

eulogy

expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize

idiom

expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic

eloquence

expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced

parody

humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.

bowdlerize

expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler

cordon

extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; (¾î±ú¿¡¼ °Üµå¶û ¹ØÀ¸·Î °ÉÄ¡´Â) Àå½Ä ¸®º»; V.

extrinsic

external; not essential or inherent; extraneous; OP. intrinsic

pterodactyl

extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger

prowess

extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle

turmoil

extreme confusion; great commotion and confusion; Ex. throw the country into turmoil

depravity

extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave

penury

extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy

opulence

extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant

blatant

extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy

jingoist

extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism

exacting

extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety

parched

extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)

ravenous

extremely hungry; voracious

destitute

extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience

draconian

extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician

minuscule(miniscule)

extremely small

lilliputian

extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels

minute

extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting

astigmatism

eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism

vision

eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural

physiognomy

face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features

brave

face courageously; Ex. brave the storm

visage

face; appearance

grimace

facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc; V.

founder

fail completely; sink; CF. flounder

default

failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.

equitable

fair; impartial; OP. inequitable

equity

fairness; justice; OP. inequity

philanderer

faithless lover; flirt

waggish

humorous; mischievous; tricky

scavenge

hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food; search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who scavenges; animal that feeds on refuse and carrion

ravel

fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist

drip

fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops

plummet

fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.

deciduous

falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth

dilapidated

falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation

delusion

false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that

perjury

false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath

fallacious

false; based on a fallacy; misleading; N. fallacy: false idea or notion; false reasoning; Ex. popular fallacy; Ex. fallacy of the argument

spurious

false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments

renown

fame; ADJ. renowned

conversant

familiar with; having knowledge of

ancestry

family descent; ADJ. ancestral

grotesque

fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or amusement)

bizarre

fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional

chimerical

fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature

leave-taking

farewell or departure

modish

fashionable; conforming to the current fashion

fleet

fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral

latch

fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch

fussy

fastidious; finicky; easily upset

precipitate

hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden

kismet

fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.

patriarch

father and ruler of a family or tribe

beget

father; become the father of; produce; give rise to

captious

faultfinding; too critical

impeccable

faultless

propitious

favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign

auspicious

favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices

nepotism

favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew

claustrophobia

fear of being locked in

acrophobia

fear of heights

hydrophobia

fear of water; rabies

trepidation

fear; nervous apprehension

apprehensive

fearful; discerning

timorous

fearful; timid; demonstrating fear

intrepid

fearless

practicable

feasible

plumage

feathers of a bird;

lineaments

features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line

commiserate

feel or express pity or sympathy for

euphoria

feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being; feeling of great happiness or well-being (when unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric

affinity

feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages

nausea

feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness

simulate

feign; imitate

pretend

feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don't pretend to much expertise; N. pretense

visceral

felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate

vixen

female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew

ewe

female sheep

amazon

female warrior

pen

fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose

frond

fern leaf; palm or banana leaf

fecundity

fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young

febrile

feverish

demoniac(demoniacal)

fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil

ferocious

fierce; violent; N. ferocity

melee

fight

dossier

file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back

replenish

fill up again

fraught

filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight

hull

husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship

elated

filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation

aghast

filled with great surprise or fear; horrified

sordid

filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story

d\'enouement

final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained

ultimate

final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental; Ex. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.

ascertain

find out for certain; make certain

aversion

firm dislike

assurance

firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty

inherent

firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic

tenacity

firmness; persistence

primal

first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man's primal innocence

primary

first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first

draft

first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript

arable

fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land

tantrum

fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex. The child went into tantrums.

paroxysm

fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst

spasmodic

fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion

propriety

fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary

aptitude

fitness; talent

moodiness

fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood: state of mind or emotion

rig

fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; Ex. rig the election

ration

fixed portion; V: distribute as rations

flaccid

flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles

crossbreed

hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed

panache

flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache; CF. ÀÜ ¾Æ·¡·Î õÀ» »©³»´Â ¼Ø¾¾

gaudy

flashy; showy

meretricious

flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute

floe

flat mass of floating ice

delta

flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river

blandishment

flattery

adulation

flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved

sherbet

flavored dessert ice

armada

fleet of warships

fugitive

fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large

evanescent

fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce

carnal

fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body

pliant

flexible; easily influenced

pliable

flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable

supple

flexible; limber; pliant

willowy

flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow

lithe

flexible; supple; CF. limber

limber

flexible; supple; pliable; V.

coquette

flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.

inundate

flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work

deluge

flood; rush; V.

parquet

floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece

trickle

flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.

dribble

flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.

exude

flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation

influx

flowing into

confluence

flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together

trance

hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition

mesmerize

hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer

flux

flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux

glib

fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick

voluble

fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility

flit

fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower

ensue

follow (as a result)

subsequent

following in time or order; later

retinue

following; attendants

bookish

fond of books and reading

endearment

fond word or act; expression of affection

ambrosia

food of the gods

viand

food; CF. live

victuals

food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food

austere

forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity

compress

force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.

extrude

force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die

vehement

forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence

duress

forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress

prognosis

forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic

paramount

foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal

harbinger

forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)

precursor

forerunner; predecessor

vanguard

forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard

bode

foreshadow; portend

presage

foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen

portend

foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning

premonition

forewarning; presentiment; foreboding

granulate

form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle

satire

form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly

concordat

formal agreement

requisition

formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.

dissertation

formal essay; treatise

panegyric

formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.

disquisition

formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report

stately

formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic

phalanx

formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)

predecessor

former occupant of a post

redoubtable

formidable; causing fear

amorphous

formless; lacking shape or definition

citadel

fortress

noisome

foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome

malodorous

foul-smelling

quadruped

four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped

shard

fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay bowl, or cup)

rubble

fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)

aromatic

fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell

chassis

framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached

gallows

framework from which a noose is suspended (used for execution by hanging)

candor

frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid

extricate

free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle

carefree

free from worries; having no problems

gratis

free; without charge; ADJ.

latitude

freedom from narrow limitations

impunity

freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish

congeal

freeze; coagulate

frenetic(phrenetic)

frenzied; frantic

furor

frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury

repine

fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work

amity

friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations

intimidate

frighten; N. intimidation

outskirts

fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston

facade(fa\c{c}ade)

front or face (of building); superficial or false appearance

scowl

frown angrily; N: angry frown

hail

frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate hail

husbandry

frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman

baffle

frustrate; perplex

discomfit

frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb

outlaw

fugitive from the law (excluded from legal protection); V: declare (someone) to be an outlaw; deprive of the protection of the law; declare illegal; Ex. Drinking has been outlawed.

flowery

full of flowers; full of ornate expressions

enterprising

full of initiative; showing enterprise

vital

full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize

porous

full of pores; like a sieve

vain

full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity

vibrant

full of vigor or energy; vibrating

buxom

full-bosomed; plump; jolly

replete

fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors

rationale

fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action

obsequy

funeral ceremony

undertaker

funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials

dirge

funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)

purveyor

furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide

hindmost

furthest behind; farthest to the rear

jollity

gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay

temporize

gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself

lope

gallop slowly

hiatus

gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break

pucker

gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold

glean

gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty

muster

gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.

garner

gather; store up; amass

blithe(blithesome)

gay; joyous

consensus

general agreement; opinion reached by a group

dynamo

generator for producing electricity; energetic person

magnanimity

generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous

largess

generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)

benevolent

generous; charitable; having a wish to do good

bountiful

generous; graciously generous; showing bounty

unfeigned

genuine; real

orient

get one's bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate

grisly

ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies

apparition

ghost; phantom

vampire

ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living

spectral

ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom

serendipity

gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck; CF. The Three Princes of Serendip

benefactor

gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose

legacy

gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor

colossus

gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance

titanic

gigantic; N. titan

mammoth

gigantic; enormous

embody

give a bodily form to; incorporate; include

vouch

give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher

tinge

give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N: slight degree of a color or quality; Ex. tinged with grey/jealousy

burlesque

give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly

predispose

give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition

foreshadow

give an indication beforehand; be a sign of (what is coming); portend; prefigure

defer

give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous

suckle

give or take milk at the breast or udder

harbor

give protection (by giving food and shelter); provide a refuge for; hide; keep in mind (thoughts or feelings); Ex. harbor a grudge/criminal; N: place of shelter; refuge

fashion

give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay

resign

give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively

relinquish

give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm

waive

give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim

forgo(forego)

give up; do without

render

give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully

spare

give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time

gratuitous

given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done without good reason; Ex. gratuitous comment

querulous

given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining

studious

given to diligent study

morbid

given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease

jocose

given to(having a tendency of) joking

odoriferous

giving off an odor

beatific

giving or showing bliss; blissful

sensuous

giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin

carafe

glass water bottle; decanter

slag

glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter

blue

gloomy; depressed

melancholy

gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia

fervor

glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat

retrograde

go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.

kneel

go down on one's knee(s)

traverse

go through or across

chalice

goblet; consecrated cup

adverse

going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile

transcendental

going beyond common thought or ideas; impossible to understand by practical experiences or practices; known only by studying thoughts or intuition; OP. empirical; CF. transcendentalism

presumptuous

going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties

transition

going from one state of action to another

bullion

gold and silver in the form of bars

prosperity

good fortune and financial success; physical well-being

poise

good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position

camaraderie

good-fellowship; CF. comrade

jovial

good-natured; merry; cheerful

virtue

goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity

oligarchy

government by a privileged few

gerontocracy

government ruled by old people

theocracy

government run by religious leaders

monarchy

government under a single ruler

encroachment

gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another's possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon

herbivorous

grain-eating; CF. herbivore

sumptuous

grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast

bombast

grandiloquent, pompous speech

impart

grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart

vouchsafe

grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment

browse

graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually

profusion

great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant

conflagration

great fire

adversity

great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event

clout

great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist

rapture

great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous

avalanche

great mass of falling snow and ice

consternation

great shock; dismay

cataract

great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)

magnitude

greatness (in size or extent); extent

cupidity

greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid

avarice

greediness for wealth

avid

greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity

verdigris

green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather

patina

green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting

verdant

green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows

lament

grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation

gruesome

grisly; horrible

primp

groom oneself with care; adorn oneself

lechery

gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man

killjoy

grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others

avantgarde

group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard

entourage

group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround

archipelago

group of closely located islands

primate

group of mammals including humans

cohorts

group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)

choir

group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services); place for choir

junta

group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)

trilogy

group of three related works (connected by a shared subject but each complete in itself)

camp

group sharing a common cause or opinion

coterie

group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests

proliferate

grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation

burgeon

grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon

flourish

grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave; brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the sun. N: showy movement or gesture; embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in handwriting)

cumulative

growing by addition; accumulative

rampant

growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed

accretion

growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete

macabre

gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death

warranty

guarantee; assurance by seller

tutelage

guardianship; training; function of a tutor; instruction

surmise

guess; N.

sequester

isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life

quarantine

isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine

seclusion

isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate

emanate

issue forth; come out

agenda

items of business at a meeting

rakish

jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.

splice

join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.

couple

join; unite; OP. uncouple

affiliation

joining; associating with

facetious

joking (often inappropriately); unserious; humorous

bantering

joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter

peregrination

journey; V. peregrinate

festive

joyous; celebratory; relating to a feast or festival

conviction

judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief

judiciary

judicial branch of government

succulent

juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus

warrant

justification; written order that serves as authorization (esp. a judicial writ); Ex. search/death warrant; V: justify; guarantee

warranted

justified; authorized

treasure

keep as precious; cherish

shun

keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by her neighbors.

detain

keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention

retain

keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor

vigil

keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); Ex. all-night vigil

decimate

kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of

strangle

kill by choking or suffocating; suppress

smother

kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in little stickers

slaughter

killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher (animals) for food; kill in large numbers

gracious

kind in a generous way (to someone less important)

ignite

kindle; light; catch fire or set fire to

beneficent

kindly; doing good

benign

kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor

gentle

kindly; soft; mild; of good family

realm

kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility

consanguinity

kinship; relationship by birth

trinket

knickknack; bauble; cheap jewelry

cognizance

knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware

imbalance

lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion

apathy

lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic

discrepancy

lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions

incongruity

lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous: lacking in harmony; inappropriate

languor

lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression

spontaneity

lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening without being planned

irreverence

lack of proper respect or reverence; ADJ. irreverent

disproportion

lack of proportion (between the parts); ADJ. disproportionate

timidity

lack of self-confidence or courage

levity

lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner

privation

lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF. deprive

imprudent

lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious

languid

lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless

insipid

lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character

prosaic

lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; CF. prose

frivolous

lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently carefree; unworthy of serious attention; relatively unimportant; trivial

dispirited

lacking in spirit

listless

lacking in spirit or energy; languid

lackadaisical

lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid

vapid

lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture

lackluster

lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull

flippant

lacking proper seriousness; Ex. flippant remarks about death; N. flippancy

arrhythmic

lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia

incontinent

lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious

insubstantial

lacking substance; insignificant; frail; immaterial

bemoan

lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of

peon

landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage

jargon

language used by special group; technical terminology; gibberish; nonsensical or incoherent talk

parlance

language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance

lassitude

languor; weariness; listlessness

metropolis

large city

swarm

large group of insects moving in a mass; crowd of people or animals; V: move in a crowd or mass

bevy

large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets

handsome

large in quantity; generous; Ex. handsome reward

galaxy

large isolated system of stars, such as the Milky Way; collection of brilliant personalities

caldron(cauldron)

large kettle

slew

large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left

sledge

large sled drawn by work animals

galleon

large three-masted sailing ship

sleigh

large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice

tome

large volume; book

billow

large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows

salacious

lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk

scourge

lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict

ultimatum

last demand; last warning; last statement of conditions that must be met; Ex. They have ignored our ultimatum.

terminus

last stop of railroad; end

enduring

lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering) for a long time; remain alive (in spite of difficulties); last; survive

scoff

laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats

chuckle

laugh quietly

ludicrous

laughable; ridiculous; trifling

statute

law enacted by the legislature

litigation

lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V. litigate

solicitor

lawyer in the lower court of law

shyster

lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner

spawn

lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals

stratum

layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata

laity

laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy

indolent

lazy

sluggard

lazy person

sluggish

lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell

seduce

lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive

livid

lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely angry

gaunt

lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren

bound

leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty to do something (legally or morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late; Ex. I am bound to say my opinion; CF. bounce, rebound

holster

leather pistol case (that hangs on a belt around the waist)

maroon

leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown

bequeath

leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest

rou\'e

lecherous man

scraps

leftover food

lien

legal claim or right on a property

moratorium

legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses

chancellor

legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor

rightful

legally correct; Ex. rightful owner

legislature

legislating branch of government; CF. legislate: make laws

usury

lending money at illegal high rates of interest

duration

length of time something lasts

prolong

lengthen; extend; draw out

subdue

less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one's anger

depreciate

lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value

console

lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation

diminution

lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish

bate

let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate

anticlimax

letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting

torpor

lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; ADJ. torpid: lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of an animal) dormant; hibernating

missive

letter; written statement; CF. sent

fallible

liable to err

lavish

liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance

unfetter

liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter

recline

lie down

prevaricate

lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)

hereafter

life after death

afterlife

life after death; later part of one's life

diorama

life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background

inanimate

lifeless; not animate

boost

lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase

flick

light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light quick blow; strike with a light quick blow (as from a whip); Ex. flick the switch

giddy

light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy; causing dizziness; Ex. giddy youth; Ex. giddy climb/height

cadaverous

like a corpse; pale

vulpine

like a fox; crafty

glacial

like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg

leonine

like a lion

meteoric

like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor

ethereal

like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air

imperial

like an emperor; related to an empire; CF. imperialism

ligneous

like wood

labile

likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability

circumscribe

limit; confine; draw a line around

parameter

limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the budget

finite

limited

modicum

limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate

qualified

limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify

queue

line (of waiting people or vehicles)

pedigree

line of ancestors; ancestry; lineage; ADJ. (of an animal) descended from of a chosen family; Ex. pedigree dog; CF. crane's foot

tarry

linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle

concatenate

link as in a chain

roster

list (of names)

repertoire

list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; CF. repertory

enumerate

list; mention one by one

compilation

listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling

knoll

little round hill; hillock

vegetate

live in a monotonous way (without interests or activity); CF. vegetation: plants of an area; CF. vegetarian; CF. vegan

cohabit

live together

sprightly

lively

vivacious

lively or animated; sprightly

rousing

lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse: waken; arouse from sleep or depression; excite; stir up

animated

lively; spirited

coeval

living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age

vernacular

living language (as compared to the official language); language spoken in a country or region; natural style; Ex. lapse into the vernacular

chameleon

lizard that changes color in different situations

abominate

loathe; hate

patois

local or provincial dialect

venue

location; place (of a crime, trial, gathering, etc.); CF. come

syllogism

logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument

valid

logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable; effective; Ex. valid reasoning/passport

linger

loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going; continue or persist; be slow to disappear; Ex. The smell lingered for days.

dawdle

loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing

lank

long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln

tirade

long angry denunciatory speech; diatribe; harangue; extended scolding; denunciation

chronic

long established as a disease

pine

long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline

epic

long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art (celebrating the feats of a hero); ADJ: (of stories or events) resembling an epic; grand

longevity

long life; long duration

frock

long loose garment (worn by monks)

groove

long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the movement of something; Ex. groove of the record

trough

long narrow container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.); long narrow depression as between waves

eon(aeon)

long period of time; an age; longest division of geologic time containing two or more eras

furrow

long shallow trench made by a plow; deep wrinkle in the skin; V.

swell

long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.

odyssey

long, eventful, adventurous journey

harangue

long, passionate, and vehement speech; V.

rancor

long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ. rancorous

ogle

look at amorously; make eyes at; Ex. old men ogling young girls

despise

look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible

retrospective

looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V. retrospect

introspective

looking within oneself; N. introspection: self-examination

noose

loop formed in a rope

mantle

loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core

garrulous

loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity

chip

lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp

languish

lose animation or strength

amnesia

loss of memory

aphasia

loss of speech due to injury or illness

raffle

lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off a new car

strident

loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency

clamor

loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous

blare

loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light

clangor

loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging

loll

lounge about

sybarite

lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy

philanthropist

lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy

galley

low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)

growl

low, guttural, menacing sound (as of a dog)

murmur

low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble

nether

lower; Ex. nether garments/regions

abase

lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect

nadir

lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith

allegiance

loyalty

fidelity

loyalty; accuracy

tepid

lukewarm; slightly warm; ¹ÌÃö±ÙÇÃ'; half-hearted; not eager; Ex. tepid reaction to the new film; Ex. tepid supporter

careen

lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger

decoy

lure or bait; V.

entice

lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract; tempt

lascivious

lustful

lewd

lustful

libidinous

lustful

bask

luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth

underlying

lying below; fundamental

supine

lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision

mendacious

lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity

centrifuge

machine that separates substances by whirling them

berserk

mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited

functional

made for practical use only (without decoration); functioning; Ex. functional modern furniture; CF. functionalism

rarefied

made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction

osseous

made of bone; bony

shoddy

made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick

miscellaneous

made up of a variety of parts

frenzied

madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement

mutilate

maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part

brunt

main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument

trunk

main wooden stem of a tree; human body excluding the head and limbs; torso; prehensile nose of an elephant

phylum

major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division

assuage

mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)

enact

make (a bill) into law

disbar

make (a lawyer) leave the bar or the legal profession

dilute

make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president

crochet

make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet

falsify

make (something written) false by changing

grate

make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred by rubbing against a rough surface; Ex. grated cheese N: framework of metal bars to hold fuel in a fireplace

expiate

make amends for (a sin)

atone

make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for

endear

make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone; ADJ. dear: loved; cherished; high-priced

embitter

make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.

dazzle

make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder

coin

make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented

desolate

make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert

disgruntle

make discontented

inebriate

make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person

intoxicate

make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated by all the money he might win

reconcile

make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one's political principles with one's religious beliefs

aggrandize

make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement

preclude

make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate

adulterate

make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances

institutionalize

make into an institution; put or confine in an institution

nullify

make invalid; make null; invalidate

roil

make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb

enliven

make lively or spirited; animate

trim

make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by removing what is unnecessary; ornament; decorate (round the edges); Ex. trim the cost; Ex. jacket trimmed with fur; N. ADJ: tidy; in good order

entail

make necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit the inheritance of (property) to a specified succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B

preen

make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on; CF. prune

char

make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion

addle

make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)

tarnish

make or become dull or discolored; N.

putrefy

make or become putrid; N. putrefaction

adapt

make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.

rumble

make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder or stomach)

perpetuate

make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity

impoverish

make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil

impregnate

make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate

rationalize

make rational; devise false reasons for (one's behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization

requite

make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal

intrigue

make secret plans; plot; arouse the curiosity of; N: secret scheme; plot; secret love affair

indemnify

make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured

burnish

make shiny by rubbing; polish

rustle

make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together

slick

make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib

stultify

make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression

fuddle

make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused

attenuate

make thin; weaken

stun

make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound

alienate

make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of

obviate

make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need

exploit

make use of, sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation

validate

make valid; confirm; ratify

annul

make void

caulk(calk)

make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)

integrate

make whole; combine; make into one unit

rejuvenate

make young again

optician

maker and seller of eyeglasses

testator

maker of a will; CF. testatrix

raspy

making a harsh noise; grating; harsh

unregenerate

making no attempt to change one's bad practices

compensatory

making up for; repaying

ram

male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact

calumny

malicious misrepresentation; slander

ductile

malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled

fetid(foetid)

malodorous; foul

groom

man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush (an animal)

suitor

man who is courting a woman

layman

man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional

megalomania

mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance

anthropoid

manlike; resembling a human being; N.

virile

manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength

gait

manner of walking or running; speed

manifold

many in number or kind; numerous; varied

cartographer

map-maker

disfigure

mar the appearance of; spoil

deface

mar; disfigure

blemish

mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished

uproarious

marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy (esp. with laughter); hilarious; causing loud laughter; extremely funny

ceremonious

marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy

checkered(chequered)

marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares

indecisive

marked by indecision; inconclusive; Ex. indecisive battle

ingenious

marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N. ingenuity

humane

marked by kindness or consideration; kind and compassionate; humanitarian

ribald

marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke

striated

marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line

nubile

marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial

array

marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array

requiem

mass for the dead; dirge

conglomeration

mass of material sticking together

foliage

masses of leaves; CF. defoliate

monumental

massive; impressively large; built as a monument

bout

match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu

inimitable

matchless; not able to be imitated

labyrinth

maze

scanty

meager; insufficient

repast

meal; feast; banquet

denotation

meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation

expletive

meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word

niggardly

meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person

dint

means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work

interim

meantime; Ex. in the interim; ADJ. taking place during an interim; Ex. interim paper

mete

measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment

venison

meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork, ham, bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton; CF. lamb: lamb

carnivorous

meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore

automaton

mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself

officious

meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy

jaundice

medical condition in which the skin, the white part of the eyes, etc. turn yellow; V: affect with jaundice; affect with prejudice, envy, or hostility; bias

geriatrics

medical treatment and care of old age

opiate

medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium

alchemy

medieval chemistry

tryst

meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet

rendezvous

meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.

smelt

melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition

molten

melted; Ex. molten lava

proletarian

member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)

memoir

memoirs; autobiography; biography

formidable

menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question

minatory

menacing; threatening

composure

mental calmness

delirium

mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious

psychosis

mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic

acumen

mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen

faculty

mental or bodily powers; teaching staff

capacity

mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president

discerning

mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive

quicksilver

mercury

euthanasia

mercy killing

mirth

merriment; laughter

jocund

merry

courier

messenger

herald

messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher

die

metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice

rivet

metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross

lode

metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)

regime

method of system or government

metrical

metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of Homer

bourgeois

middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions

euphemism

mild expression in place of an unpleasant one; ADJ. euphemistic

leniency

mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe in judgment or punishment

regiment

military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society

quorum

minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting

misdemeanor

minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing

skirmish

minor fight; minor battle in war; V.

quibble

minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil

squabble

minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children

punctilious

minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful attention payed to every small exact detail

sundry

miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items

misadventure

mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure

urchin

mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin: hedgehog; CF. porcupine: pig with spikes ?; CF. sea urchin

prank

mischievous trick

tightwad

miser; excessively frugal person

skinflint

miser; stingy person

wretch

miserable person; bad or despicable person; ADJ. wretched: miserable; bad; contemptible; vile

illusion

misleading vision or visual image; false idea or belief; CF. delusion

botch

mismanage; blow

bungle

mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior

projectile

missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)

erroneous

mistaken; wrong; incorrect

jumble

mix in a confused way

mingle

mix together in close association

shuffle

mix together; jumble; move (something) from one place to another; slide (the feet) along the ground while walking; Ex. shuffle papers from one pile to another; N.

knead

mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough

promiscuous

mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity

garbled

mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up or distort (a message) to such an extent as to make misleading or unintelligible

medley

mixture

alloy

mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness

compost

mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put or make compost

miscellany

mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items

rabble

mob; noisy crowd

gibe

mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks

paragon

model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue

paradigm

model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word

temper

moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) as by alternate heating and cooling

temperate

moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature; CF. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society

sobriety

moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness

restraint

moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction

unassuming

modest; Ex. the champion's unassuming manner

lull

moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex. a lull in the rain; V: cause to become less active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false sense of security; CF. lullaby

potentate

monarch; sovereign

cloister

monastery or convent

alms

money or goods given to the poor

dowry

money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage

lucre

money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre

hybrid

mongrel; mixed breed; V. hybridize

simian

monkeylike; N: ape or monkey

mausoleum

monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos

low

moo; make the sound of a cow

rectitude

moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment

reprobate

morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?

chaste

morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere

righteous

morally upright; just

phobia

morbid fear

saturnine

morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.

morgue

mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation

tessellated

mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern

optimum

most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition

definitive

most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court

maternal

motherly; N. maternity: motherhood

gesticulation

motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures (while speaking)

actuate

motivate; activate; cause to act

mercenary

motivated solely by money or gain; N.

lugubrious

mournful; sorrowful

orifice

mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth

mobile

movable; not fixed; N. mobility

shunt

move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.

prance

move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)

frisk

move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful

accelerate

move faster

skulk

move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.

slink

move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)

waft

move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window

scurry

move hastily; hurry; move briskly

lumber

move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered through the woods; N: timber

maraud

move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army

lag

move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag behind the rest; N.

waver

move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady in decision or movement; Ex. wavering between accepting and refusing

dart

move or throw suddenly and quickly

fumble

move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in search of something); mishandle or drop a ball that is in play; bungle; botch; spoil by mishandling; N.

creep

move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.

sneak

move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky

amorous

moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances

impetus

moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse

slack

moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V.

undulating

moving with a wavelike motion; V. undulate; CF. und: wave

headfirst

moving with the head leading; headlong

motley

multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)

regicide

murder of a king or queen

brawny

muscular; having well-developed muscles

mawkish

mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental

overture

musical introduction to a long musical piece; first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace

reprise

musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises

maim

mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life

correlation

mutual relationship

reciprocal

mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement

concerted

mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together

internecine

mutually destructive

cryptic

mysterious; hidden; secret

occult

mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare

runic

mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune: one of the letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic peoples (cut on stone or wood); magic charm

centaur

mythical figure, half man and half horse

ingenuous

naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid

title

name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation as of rank or office (such as Lord or General); right or claim to possession; championship; Ex. title as head of the family; Ex. title to the estate

appellation

name; title

recount

narrate or tell (a story); count over again

gorge

narrow canyon; steep rocky cleft; ravine (made by a stream which runs through it)

parochial

narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes

isthmus

narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land

rift

narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation

interstice

narrow space between things

ravine

narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon

philistine

narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete

insularity

narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula

commonwealth

nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation

indigenous

native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World

corollary

natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)

habitat

natural home of a plant or animal; CF. habitation

propensity

natural inclination

sextant

navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)

impending

nearing; approaching; about to happen

propinquity

nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship

proximity

nearness; ADJ. proximate

myopic

nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia

dapper

neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry

spruce

neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.

deft

neat; skillful

natty

neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser

requisite

necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required; necessary

tautological

needlessly repetitious; Ex. ``It was visible to the eye''; N. tautology: needless repetition of the same sense; statement that is always true

dereliction

neglect of duty; abandonment

negligence

neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care

derelict

negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person

remiss

negligent; careless about a duty

titter

nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.

overwrought

nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done

aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)

nest of a large bird of prey

noncommittal

neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided

shoot

new growth from a plant

neologism

new or newly coined word or phrase

agility

nimbleness; ability to move quickly

outmoded

no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned

patrician

noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian

uproar

noisy confusion

bacchanal

noisy party with a lot of drinking

altercation

noisy quarrel

brawl

noisy quarrel

cipher

nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.

amoral

nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong

drivel

nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense

gibberish

nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or writing; babbling

solecism

nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette

alcove

nook; recess

irreparable

not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible to repair

indelible

not able to be erased

intangible

not able to be perceived by touch; vague

impenetrable

not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding; impossible to understand; Ex. impenetrable mystery

impassable

not able to be traveled or crossed

passive

not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance

irrelevant

not applicable; unrelated

impersonal

not being a person; not showing personal feelings; Ex. impersonal force/manner/organization

impartial

not biased; fair; N. impartiality

optional

not compulsory; left to one's choice; N. option: act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to choose; something available as a choice; Ex. have no option; Ex. two options

unceremonious

not done politely without due formalities

unearthly

not earthly; supernatural; weird; ghostly

insatiable

not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex. insatiable appetite

ineffectual

not effective; not having a desired effect; weak

extraneous

not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external; coming from the outside; Ex. extraneous details/noise/to the subject

incidental

not essential; minor; N: something incidental

evasive

not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading; V. evade: avoid (a duty or responsibility) or escape from by deceit

tentative

not fully worked out or developed; provisional; experimental; uncertain; hesitant; not definite or positive; Ex. tentative agreement/reply

fake

not genuine; N: one that is not genuine; impostor; sham; V: counterfeit; Ex. fake the results of the experiment/the signature

homely

not good-looking; unattractive

discordant

not harmonious; conflicting

asymmetric

not identical on both sides of a dividing central line

objective

not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim

unwitting

not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex. She was their unwitting accomplice; Ex. unwitting insult; CF. wit: know

figurative

not literal but metaphorical; using a figure(impression) of speech

disingenuous

not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous

exotic

not native; from another part of the world; strange; intriguingly unusual; Ex. exotic flower/dress

synthetic

not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis; Ex. synthetic fiber; N.

atypical

not normal; not typical

heedless

not noticing; disregarding

unassailable

not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question

extemporaneous

not planned; impromptu; extempore

impenitent

not repentant

unrequited

not requited; not reciprocated; Ex. unrequited love

mat

not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.

incommodious

not spacious; inconvenient

exempt

not subject to a duty or obligation; free from a duty; V.

sparse

not thick; thinly scattered; scanty

inalienable

not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex. inalienable rights

intolerant

not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one's own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate

impolitic

not wise; not expedient; not politic

idle

not working; not employed or busy; lazy; without purpose; useless; lacking substance; baseless; not based on truth; Ex. idle worker; Ex. talk idly; V.

pending

not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the decision pending his return

indentation

notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth

marked

noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man

egregious

notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking

infamous

notoriously bad; notorious; well known for being bad; Ex. infamous behavior; N: infamy: infamous act; evil fame or reputation

nurture

nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing

nutrient

nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment

effluvium

noxious(harmful) smell

score

number of points; written form of a musical composition; reason; group of 20; notch or incision; Ex. full/vocal score; Ex. Don't worry on that score; V: mark with lines or notches; Ex. score the paper to make it easy to fold

amenable

obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests

docile

obedient; easily managed; submissive

demur

object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday

fetish(fetich)

object believed to have spiritual powers; object of excessive attention or reverence; CF. fetishism

artifacts

object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced

cynosure

object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor

missile

object to be thrown or projected

lot

object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land

exceptionable

objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable

beholden

obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude

mandatory

obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate

incumbent

obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently holding an office; N: person who holds an office

compulsory

obligatory; that must be done

accommodate

oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging

abstruse

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

oblivion

obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness

phenomena

observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength

antiquated

obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated

hamper

obstruct; prevent the free movement of; N: ½Ä·áÇ°À̳ª ÀǺ¹ µîÀ» ´ã´Â ¹Ù±¸´Ã

procurement

obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another

patent

obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.

engross

occupy fully; absorb

subordinate

occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class

recurrent

occurring again and again

seasonable

occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute

sporadic

occurring irregularly; intermittent

quaint

odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque

erratic

odd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable

eccentricity

oddity; idiosyncrasy

redolent

odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery

marginal

of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal effect/writing ability

feline

of a member of the cat family; N.

seasonal

of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment

peripheral

of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest

pivotal

of a pivot; central; critical; crucial

polar

of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex. polar opposites

prophetic

of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet

schematic

of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation; outline

sectarian

of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member of a sect; narrow-minded person

thematic

of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea

titular

of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular head of the company

airy

of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal

oracular

of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous; hard to understand; N. oracle: wiser person; prophecy made by an oracle

piebald

of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald

vitreous

of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify

well-bred

of good upbringing; well-mannered and refined

mystic

of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism

humble

of low rank or position; modest; having a low opinion of oneself and a high opinion of others; unassuming; not proud; V. humiliate: make humble; cause to feel ashamed or to lose the respect of others

nuptial

of marriage or the wedding ceremony; N; nuptials; wedding ceremony

septic

of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)

lateral

of or coming from the side

slavish

of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original

avuncular

of or like an uncle

arboreal

of or living in trees

demotic

of or pertaining to the people

rabid

of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia

palatial

of or suitable for a palace; magnificent

psychic

of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary mental powers

sonic

of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic

substantial

of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy

vulgar

of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth; N. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; CF. vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout

psychosomatic

of the influence of the mind on the body (esp. with respect to disease)

juridical

of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of courts of law; CF. judiciary

galvanic

of the production of electricity by the action of an acid on a metal; having the effect of an electric shock; Ex. galvanic cell; galvanic effect; CF. Luigi Galvani

homogeneous

of the same kind; uniform in composition throughout

superficial

of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge

earthly

of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason

temporal

of time; not lasting forever; limited by time; temporary; secular; worldly

rank

offensive in odor or flavor

obnoxious

offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell

tender

offer formally; extend; Ex. tender one's resignation/the exact fare; N: formal offer; money; Ex. legal tender; ADJ: young and vulnerable; sensitive to the touch; sore; soft; delicate; Ex. child of tender years; Ex. tender wound

immolate

offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)

auxiliary

offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant

functionary

official (who performs a particular function)

tribune

official of ancient Rome elected by the plebians to protect their rights; protector of the people

license

official or legal permission; latitude of action or speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or damage; V.

gazette

official periodical publication; newspaper

magistrate

official with power to administer the law

unctuous

oily; bland; insincerely suave

unguent

ointment

senility

old age; feeblemindedness of old age; ADJ. senile: resulting from old age; showing the weakness of body or mind from old age; Ex. senile dementia

pass\'e

old-fashioned; past the prime

chaperon

older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman

augury

omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)

ellipsis

omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses

terrestrial

on or relating to the earth

humanitarian

one devoted to the promotion of human welfare; CF. humanism

culprit

one guilty of a crime

invalid

one incapacitated(disabled) by a chronic illness; ADJ: incapacitated by illness; not valid; null; V: allow to leave (a military force) because of ill-health

marsupial

one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat

caste

one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige

compartment

one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided

pacifist

one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N. pacifism: opposition to war as a means of resolving disputes

piecemeal

one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal

stereotype

one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to stereotype people; Ex. stereotyped answer

sleeper

one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable

outcast

one that has been excluded from a society; ADJ.

tenant

one that pays rent to use property owned by another

apostate

one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy

hedonist

one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life; CF. hedonism: practice of living one's life purely for pleasure

mason

one who builds or works with stone or brick; N. masonry: work of a mason; stonework or brickwork

saboteur

one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property; N. sabotage: destruction of property (usually carried out secretly)

nihilist

one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement

malingerer

one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work

optometrist

one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects

soothsayer

one who foretells the future

reaper

one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop

convert

one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief

peer

one who has equal standing with another; nobleman; V: look intently; N. peerage; CF. peeress

polygamist

one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry

misanthrope

one who hates mankind; misanthropist

plumber

one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(pipes)

bully

one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.

bigot

one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)

introvert

one who is introspective or inclined to think more about oneself; ADJ. introverted

agnostic

one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality

hireling

one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously); one who works solely for compensation; Ex. hireling politician

spoilsport

one who spoils the pleasure of others

herpetologist

one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians

dermatologist

one who studies the skin and its diseases

supplicant

one who supplicates; ADJ.

martyr

one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism

vigilante

one who without authority assumes law enforcement powers

apologist

one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia

ego

one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem

unilateral

one-sided; involving or affecting only one side; Ex. unilateral declaration

partisan

one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla

tangential

only slightly connected; not central; peripheral; digressing; showing divergence; CF. tangent

overt

open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert

gape

open widely; open the mouth wide; stare wonderingly with the mouth open; CF. agape

gambit

opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action made to produce a future advantage

aperture

opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light

agape

openmouthed

manipulate

operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate publicity and men; ADJ. manipulative

diva

operatic singer; prima donna

aria

operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio

heresy

opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion; ADJ. heretical; CF. heretic

thesis

opinion put forward and supported by reasoned arguments

dogmatic

opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal

adversary

opponent; enemy

controvert

oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy

inverse

opposite

converse

opposite; ADJ.

tyranny

oppression; cruel government; ADJ. tyrannical: of a tyrant or tyranny; despotic; V. tyrannize: treat tyrannically; oppress

sanguine

optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red

mandate

order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another country; power to given to a government; region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex. mandated territory

commonplace

ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark

mediocre

ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad

pedestrian

ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot; Ex. pedestrian prose; N.

conventional

ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons

institute

organization for a special purpose; V: establish

prototype

original work used as a model by others

chase

ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch

emblazon

ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment

epaulet(epaulette)

ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)

brooch

ornamental clasp; pin

frieze

ornamental horizontal band on a wall

rococo

ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century

flamboyant

ornate; highly elaborate; richly colored; ostentatious; showy; CF. flame

pretentious

ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim to be art

upshot

outcome; final result

hue_and_cry

outcry; loud cry or clamor; strong protest; Ex. hue and cry against the new rule

perimeter

outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference

zest

outer skin of an orange used for giving a special taste to food; spice; interest; flavor; spirited enjoyment; Ex. add a certain zest to the affair; Ex. zest for life

obsolete

outmoded; no longer used

outstrip

outrun; surpass; outdo

periphery

outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town

outwit

outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly

preeminent

outstanding; superior

guise

outward appearance; costume; Ex. in a new guise

semblance

outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.

trappings

outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward sign of rank)

manifestation

outward demonstration; manifesting; indication of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation of his pronounced musical bent

token

outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude

circumvent

outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around

amphitheater

oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena

garish

overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy

gouge

overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex. gouge the public; CF. usury

surmount

overcome

exuberance

overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness; ADJ. exuberant: high-spirited and lively; growing abundantly and strongly

condone

overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse

compelling

overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel

bureaucracy

overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic

touchy

oversensitive; easily offended; irasible; delicate; needing delicate handling; Ex. touchy situation

simplistic

oversimplified

glut

overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply

insurmountable

overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable

rave

overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as if mad; Ex. raving lunatic

appease

pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement

placate

pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease

stipple

paint or draw with dots or short strokes

varnish

paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film; glossy coating produced by using this substance; Ex. nail varnish; V.

monochrome

painting in only one color; ADJ.

fresco

painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)

mauve

pale purple

pallid

pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion

mollycoddle

pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively

brochure

pamphlet

mime

pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic; pantomime

larder

pantry; place where food is kept

palimpsest

parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased

amnesty

pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)

absolve

pardon (an offense)

vicar

parish priest; representative

spoof

parody

proscenium

part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage

terminal

part that forms the end; railroad or bus station; ADJ. forming an end; ending in death; fatal; Ex. terminal cancer

penumbra

partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow

complicity

participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)

filing

particle removed by a file

genre

particular variety of art or literature

translucent

partly transparent

accomplice

partner in crime

coalition

partnership; league; union of separate political parties

faction

party; clique (within a large group); dissension

infiltrate

pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an organization) sneakily; Ex. infiltrate the troops into enemy territory; CF. infiltrator

weather

pass safely through (a storm or difficult period); endure the effects of weather or other forces

seep

pass slowly through small openings; ooze; trickle; N. seepage

pastry

paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)

plaster

paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls; V.

madrigal

pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments

ecliptic

path of the sun and the planets

trajectory

path taken by a projectile; Ex. trajectory of a bullet

forbearance

patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from (in a generous and forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear to send him to prison

resignation

patiently submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job; ADJ. resigned: acquiescent

recess

pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive

heed

pay attention to; N: close attention

stipend

pay for services

disburse

pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse

expenditure

payment or expense; expending; something expended; output; Ex. receipt for the expenditure; Ex. expenditure of all the energy

alimony

payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce

placid

peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake

amicable

peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement

pinnacle

peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame

acme

peak; pinnacle; highest point

podium

pedestal; raised platform

pseudonym

pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; ADJ. pseudonymous

contrite

penitent; repentant; N. contrition

gentry

people of standing(rank or position); people of good family or high social position; class of people just below nobility

divine

perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination

subtlety

perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning

epitome

perfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody

stickler

perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right

interregnum

period between two successive reigns or governments

equinox

period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial

prime

period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V: make ready; prepare

epoch

period of time

intermittent

periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at intervals

molt(moult)

periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)

indissoluble

permanent; impossible to dissolve or disintegrate

transparent

permitting light to pass through freely; easily detected; obvious; clear; Ex. transparent lie

executioner

person administering capital punishment

sage

person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; ADJ: wise

connoisseur

person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art

ecologist

person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology

felon

person convicted of a grave crime; CF. felony: serious crime

executor

person designated to execute the terms of a will; ¿¹¼ú ÀÛÇ°ÀÇ Ã¦ÀÛÀÚ

malcontent

person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person; ADJ: discontented

beneficiary

person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will

executive

person having administrative authority; one branch of government executing laws; ADJ: relating to executing

extrovert

person interested mostly in external objects and actions

dignitary

person of high rank or position

nonentity

person of no importance; nonexistence

magnate

person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate

quarry

person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey

supernumerary

person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary number

prot\'eg\'e

person receiving protection and support from a patron

hypochondriac

person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness; ADJ. CF. hypochondria: neurosis that one is or is becoming ill; CF. abdomen

demagogue

person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery

trickster

person who cheats people

numismatist

person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals

hothead

person who does things too quickly without thinking; ADJ. hotheaded

masochist

person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism

founder

person who establishes (an organization or business)

kleptomaniac

person who has a compulsive desire to steal

hostage

person who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy so that the other side will do what the enemy demands

apiarist

person who keeps bees

optimist

person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism

poseur

person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others; person who poses; CF. pose

anarchist

person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority

tanner

person who turns animal hides into leather

heckler

person who verbally harasses others; V. heckle: verbally harass as with gibes (by interrupting a speaker or speech)

pyromaniac

person with an insane desire to set things on fire

arbiter

person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware

coax

persuade by flattery

cajole

persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle

dissuade

persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion

suborn

persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation

induce

persuade; lead to do something; bring about; N. inducement

pontifical

pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop

germinal

pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea

provincial

pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated

colloquial

pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression

rustic

pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person

horticultural

pertaining to cultivation of gardens; N. horticulture: science or art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants; CF. agriculture: science or art of farming or growing crops

pathological

pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease

thespian

pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress

seismic

pertaining to earthquakes

existential

pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism

valedictory

pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp. at graduation exercises)

piscatorial

pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces

thermal

pertaining to heat; producing heat; warm; Ex. thermal bath; N: rising current of warm air

infernal

pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of fiery heat or destruction

inductive

pertaining to induction or proceeding from the specific to the general

agrarian

pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform

linguistic

pertaining to language

conjugal

pertaining to marriage

marital

pertaining to marriage

connubial

pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state

mnemonic

pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid

psychopathic

pertaining to mental dearrangement; N. psychopath: person with an antisocial personality disorder

monetary

pertaining to money

pecuniary

pertaining to money

filial

pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter; Ex. filial respect

erotic

pertaining to passionate love or sexual love

nautical

pertaining to ships or navigation

alluvial

pertaining to soil deposits left by running water

metaphysical

pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality

vernal

pertaining to spring

sartorial

pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor

pharisaical

pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical

graphic

pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described

metallurgical

pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores

auroral

pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis

somatic

pertaining to the body; bodily; physical

cerebral

pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum

eugenic

pertaining to the improvement of race; N. eugenics: study of hereditary improvement of the human race

pulmonary

pertaining to the lungs

lunar

pertaining to the moon

tactile

pertaining to the organs or sense of touch

physiological

pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology

stellar

pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance

cosmic

pertaining to the universe; vast

sylvan

pertaining to the woods or the country

germane

pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; appropriate

badger

pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal

supplicate

petition humbly; pray to grant a favor

carping

petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble

minutiae

petty or trivial details; CF. minutia

epistemologist

philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge; N. epistemology

clich\'e

phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich\'ed

chorus

phrase repeated throughout a song or poem

topography

physical features of a region (such as the shape and height); CF. topo-: place

stalwart

physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower

pediatrician

physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics

obstetrician

physician specializing in delivery(assisting in giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF. midwife

oculist

physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes

cull

pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.

mosaic

picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.

hieroglyphic

picture writing; ADJ.

pied

piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored

firebrand

piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker; person who stirs up trouble

bust

piece of sculpture showing a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest; V: break up; arrest; Ex. crimebuster

impale

pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear

lance

pierce with a lance; cut into; N: spearlike weapon

riddle

pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating earth from stone)

perforate

pierce; put a hole through

conifer

pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen

devout

pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope

buccaneer

pirate

freebooter

pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich

jug

pitcher; container for holding liquids

aphorism

pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic

apothegm(apophthegm)

pithy, compact saying

sententious

pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic

ruthless

pitiless; merciless; cruel

cemetery

place for burying the dead

induct

place formally in office; install; admit as a member; initiate; N. induction: inducting; process of deriving general principles from particular facts

sheathe

place into a case; insert into or provide with a sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a blade

provenance

place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come

asylum

place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)

sanctuary

place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex. The outlaw was granted sanctuary in the church.

haven

place of safety; refuge; harbor; Ex. tax haven

purgatory

place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the souls must expiate their sins

Elysium

place or condition of bliss

superimpose

place over something else

juxtapose

place side by side; CF. next

submerge

place under water; dip; go under water; cover completely (as with water); Ex. submerged in work

ford

place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.

arboretum

place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited

unequivocal

plain; clear; obvious

braid

plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; N: braided segment (as of hair)

premeditate

plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder

itinerary

plan of a trip; record of a trip

blight

plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy

mongrel

plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.

sow

plant or scatter seed

flora

plants of a region or era

bromide

platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement

frolic

play and jump about happily; frisk; Ex. frolicking young lambs

romp

play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N.

staccato

played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause

jest

playful remark or act; V. act or speak playfully

sportive

playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike

entreat

plead; ask earnestly

savory

pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable; Ex. savory reputation

congenial

pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather

plump

pleasantly fat; nicely rounded

convivial

pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial

piquant

pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help

enrapture

please intensely; fill with rapture and delight

gratify

please; satisfy; Ex. gratify a desire

luscious

pleasing to taste or smell; delicious

troth

pledge of good faith especially in betrothal; betrothal; Ex. by my troth

copious

plentiful

scenario

plot outline; screenplay(script for a movie); opera libretto; outline of possible future events

pillage

plunder

despoil

plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village

depredation

plundering; destruction

douse

plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse

elegy

poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac

bard

poet

perigee

point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee

matrix

point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization

outlook

point of view; view from a particular place; expectation for the future; prospect; Ex. outlook on life; Ex. pleasing outlook; Ex. weather outlook

solstice

point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator

prong

pointed projecting part

awl

pointed tool used for piercing

aplomb

poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence

venom

poison (of an animal); hatred; Ex. remarks full of venom; ADJ. venomous

viper

poisonous snake

toxic

poisonous; N. toxicity

prod

poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action; N: pointed object used to prod; prodding

jab

poke abruptly with something sharp; punch with short blows

contaminate

pollute

defile

pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains

pummel

pommel; beat or pound with fists

verbiage

pompous array of words; too many unnecessary words; wordiness

strut

pompous walk; V: walk in a self-important manner

bombastic

pompous; using inflated language

muse

ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)

doggerel

poor verse

indigent

poor; destitute

vogue

popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.

depict

portray

delineate

portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation

bane

posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous

vantage

position giving an advantage (such as a strategic point); CF. vantagepoint

championship

position of champion; defense or support; competition held to determine a champion

affirmation

positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination

healthy

possessing good health; healthful

tenancy

possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant's occupancy

procrastinate

postpone; delay or put off

reprieve

postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of

decant

pour off gently (wine or liquid)

effusion

pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing

indigence

poverty

stamina

power of endurance; strength; staying power

efficacy

power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual

surge

powerful movement of or like a wave; V.

mogul

powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol, Moghul; CF. Mongolian

potent

powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential

puissant

powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power

impuissance

powerlessness; feebleness

pragmatic

practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill

pragmatist

practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way of dealing with things

precept

practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept

feasible

practical; able to be carried out; practicable

teetotalism

practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks; N. teetotaler;; ADJ. teetotal; CF. T + total

ascetic

practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism

extol

praise very highly; glorify

laud

praise; N. ADJ. laudable: praiseworthy; ADJ. laudatory: expressing praise

plaudit

praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud

encomiastic

praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy

eulogistic

praising; full of eulogy

escapade

prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that disobeys rules

frolicsome

prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky

invocation

prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon as a reference or support; act of invoking

antecede

precede

precedent

preceding (in time, rank, etc.)

antecedents

preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background

nicety

precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties

predator

predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others; ADJ. predatory: living by preying on other organisms; plundering; N. predation

forerunner

predecessor; one that comes before and indicates the approach of another

impasse

predicament(dangerous condition) from which there is no escape; situation allowing for no further progress

prognosticate

predict (according to present indications)

predilection

preference; partiality

foreboding

premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V. forebode: be a warning of (something unpleasant)

presentiment

premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear

materialism

preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)

concoct

prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction

regimen

prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer

latent

present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF. potential

pass_off

present falsely; represent falsely to be

forward

presumptuous or bold

feign

pretend

dissimulate

pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble

sham

pretend; feign; ADJ: not genuine; fake; Ex. sham jewelry; N: something that is not what it appears; impostor; pretense; Ex. The agreement was a sham.

hypocritical

pretending to be virtuous; deceiving; N. hypocrisy: profession of beliefs one does not possess; CF. hypocrite

bluff

pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured

connivance

pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire

pretension

pretentiousness; claim (without foundation); Ex. I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.

endemic

prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic

mode

prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life

forestall

prevent by taking action in advance

preempt

prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of; displace; Ex. preempt any attempts; ADJ. preemptive

avert

prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.

aseptic

preventing infection; having a cleansing effect

haughtiness

pride; arrogance; ADJ. haughty

arrogance

pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)

caucus

private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston

conclave

private secret meeting

prerogative

privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before

sensitization

process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become sensitive

nutrition

process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition

cavalcade

procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry

emboss

produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design

squelch

produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash; CF. ÃøÈëÀ» À§¿¡¼ ¹âÀ» ¶§

breed

produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant

igneous

produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks) formed from lava; Ex. igneous meteorite

visionary

produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical; showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one given to speculative impractical ideas

fertile

producing many young, fruits, or seeds; (of land) producing good crops; V. fertilize

kinetic

producing motion; of motion

prolific

producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer

fruitful

producing results; profitable; prolific; producing in abundance

lachrymose

producing tears; tearful

desecrate

profane; violate the sanctity of

lucrative

profitable; producing wealth

docket

program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket

interdict

prohibit; forbid; N.

proscribe

prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw

cornice

projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars); ó¸¶ Àå½Ä

extrapolation

projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from known information

protract

prolong; lengthen in time; draw out

salient

prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features

tout

promote or publicize (one's goods or service); praise excessively (as a form of advertisement); CF. advertise

tendentious

promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend: move in a certain direction

slur

pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble

tract

propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political group); expanse of land; region of indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex. digestive tract

decorous

proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)

prim

proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper

finished

properly made and complete; Ex. finished product/performance

patrimony

property inherited from a father

sibylline

prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)

apocalyptic

prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse

decorum

propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct

drama

prose or verse composition to be performed by actors; play; exciting and unusual situation

thrive

prosper; flourish

tutelary

protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex. tutelary deities

remonstrate

protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest

expostulation

protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate

archetype

prototype; primitive pattern

gnarl

protruding knot on a tree; V.

bulge

protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude

prominent

protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent

protuberance

protrusion; swelling; bulge

authenticate

prove genuine

maxim

proverb; truth pithily stated

cater

provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)

defray

provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay

skimp

provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly

nourish

provide with food necessary for life and growth

endue

provide with some quality; endow

document

provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.

synoptic

providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis

provident

providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident

nutritious

providing nourishment

discretion

prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary

circumspect

prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought

politic

prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised

prize

pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)

libido

psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire

paranoia

psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; N: ADJ: paranoid, paranoiac

manifesto

public declaration of principles; statement of policy

archives

public records; place where public records are kept

expos\'e

public revelation of something discreditable

orator

public speaker

forum

public square of an ancient Roman city; public place for open discussion; court of law

purse

pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet

chastise

punish as by beating; criticize severely

pillory

punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.

punitive

punishing; Ex. punitive measures

castigation

punishment; severe criticism or disapproval

sheer

pure; thin and transparent; very steep

platonic

purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire

quintessence

purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence

cathartic

purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.

catharsis

purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art

perverse

purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity

obtrude

push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; impose (oneself or one's ideas) on others; butt in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B; ADJ. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; CF. unobtrusive

shove

push forward; push roughly; Ex. pushing and shoving to get on the bus; N.

suppress

put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm; inhibit the expression of; check; prevent from being published or made public; Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress the magazine/truth

nonplus

put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more

propound

put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory

imperil

put in danger

marshal

put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official

relegate

put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture to the children's room; Ex. relegated to the second division

execute

put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution

implement

put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with tools; Ex. implement the plan/suggestion; N: tool or instrument

verbalize

put into words; ADJ. verbal: of words; spoken rather than written; oral; of a verb

don

put on; OP. doff

intrude

put or force in without being asked; trespass; enter as an uninvited person; Ex. intrude one's own opinion into the report; CF. thrust in

rout

put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat

entrance

put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight

enigma

puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling

charlatan

quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)

timbre

quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument (which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch)

poignancy

quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick

providence

quality of being provident; divine care; god's care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there; ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate

verity

quality of being true; lasting truth or principle; Ex. the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the eternal verities

naivet\'e(naivety)

quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na\"ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous

charm

quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch

momentum

quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force

bicker

quarrel

belligerent

quarrelsome

scrappy

quarrelsome

contentious

quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments

droll

queer and amusing

interrogate

question closely; cross-examine; cross-question

grill

question severely; cook on a grill; broil; N: cooking surface of parallel metal bars

nostrum

questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)

dubious

questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety

inquisitor

questioner (especially harsh); investigator; person making an inquisition

cavil

quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily

brisk

quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor

repartee

quick clever reply

nimble

quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind

receptive

quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal

retort

quick sharp reply; V.

cite

quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record

centrifugal

radiating; departing from the center

maniacal

raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm

foray

raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.

bar

railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister

exalt

raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex. exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation

welt

raised mark from a beating or whipping

dais

raised platform for speakers or other important people

rostrum

raised platform for speech-making; pulpit

pulpit

raised platform used in preaching (in a church)

haphazard

random; by chance; happening in an unplanned manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town

ken

range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken

fester

rankle; produce irritation or resentment; (of a cut or wound) generate pus or rot; Ex. His insult festered in my mind for days.

rummage

ransack; thoroughly search

ecstasy

rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy

foolhardy

rash; reckless; foolishly daring

incidence

rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex. high incidence of infant mortality

stout

rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter

voracious

ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader

qualify

reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of something stated

skim

read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid

peruse

read through with care; N. perusal

compliant

readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements

lectern

reading desk or stand for a public speaker

entity

real being

foster

rear; bring up (for a certain period only); encourage; promote the development of (feelings or ideas); Ex. help foster friendly relations; ADJ: giving parental care although not related by blood; Ex. foster parents

ratiocination

reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically

maverick

rebel; nonconformist (in a group)

insurrection

rebellion; uprising

insurgent

rebellious; N.

repercussion

rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion

recipient

receiver

neophyte

recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant

desperado

reckless, desperate outlaw

compute

reckon; calculate

recumbent

reclining; lying down completely or in part

acknowledge

recognize; admit

reminiscence

recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past

conciliatory

reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)

recast

reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again

log

record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk; V.

genealogy

record of descent; lineage; ancestry; study of ancestry

annals

records arranged in yearly parts; history

retrieve

recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex. retrieve the situation

recuperate

recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses

corpuscle

red or white cell in the blood

flush

redden; blush; flow suddenly and abundantly; wash out by a rapid brief flow of water; N: reddish tinge; blush; brief rush; rush of strong feeling; Ex. flush of pride; ADJ: having surfaces in the same plane; even; blushing

ruddy

reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking

anneal

reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)

deplete

reduce; exhaust

advert

refer

allude

refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference

ascribe

refer; attribute; assign

distill

refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew

sublimate

refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state

meditation

reflection; thought; V. meditate

abstain

refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote; ±â±ÇÇôÙ

intransigence

refusal of any compromise; stubbornness; ADJ. intransigent: uncompromising

defiance

refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant

rebuttal

refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove

limbo

region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo

deplore

regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition

rue

regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. ADJ. rueful

curfew

regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew

rebuff

reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.

spurn

reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.

repulse

reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion

flout

reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules

exult

rejoice

jubilation

rejoicing; great joy

revert

relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former owner; N. reversion

academic

related to a school; not practical or directly useful

canine

related to dogs; doglike

nuptial

related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony

monastic

related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns

demographic

related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population

seminal

related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field

narrative

related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration

obsessive

related to thinking about something constantly; of an obsession; preoccupying; N. obsession: compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea; compulsive idea; V. obsess: preoccupy the mind of excessively

kindred

related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N: relative; kin; kinship

culinary

relating to cooking or kitchen

elysian

relating to paradise; blissful

ethnic

relating to races

spatial

relating to space

sidereal

relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day

dialectical

relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments

dorsal

relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin

climactic

relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic

astral

relating to the stars

vent

release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly); utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on his family.

inexorable

relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable price rises

alleviate

relieve (pain)

voodoo

religion practiced chiefly in Haiti

denomination

religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic

icon(ikon)

religious image; idol; image or representation

averse

reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work

loath

reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go.

remnant

remainder

residue

remainder; balance

residual

remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue

antidote

remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles

redress

remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for

commemorative

remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp

remittance

remitting of money; amount of money remitted

compunction

remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt

shear

remove (fleece or hair) by cutting; remove the hair or fleece from; cut with or as if with shears; N: shears; pair of scissors

dislodge

remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge

purge

remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or defilement); N.

castrate

remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)

dehydrate

remove water from; dry out

rendition

rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc

forswear

renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure

abjure

renounce upon oath

abdicate

renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)

refurbish

renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish

abnegation

renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation

solder

repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts

remediable

reparable

retaliate

repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate

reimburse

repay; pay back

rescind

repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)

reiterate

repeat

recite

repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation

penitent

repentant; N.

alliteration

repetition of beginning sound in poetry

rote

repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote

supersede

replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession

rejoinder

reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply

chronicle

report; record (in chronological order)

personify

represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification

rebus

representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. ``R U 18'' is a rebus for ``Are you 18''.

upbraid

reprimand; severely scold

replicate

reproduce; duplicate

reprimand

reprove severely; rebuke; N.

hideous

repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex. hideous face/scream

sedentary

requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population

salvage

rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved

atavism

resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic

equine

resembling a horse; Ex. equine face

umbrage

resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness

distant

reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly

cistern

reservoir or water tank

defeatist

resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism

immune

resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity

determination

resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision

sonorous

resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound

recourse

resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to

prestige

respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige

esteem

respect; value; judge; N.

reputable

respectable; having a good reputation

reverent

respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect

paraphrase

restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words

repose

resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single man

reinstate

restore to a previous condition or position

renovate

restore to good condition; renew

rehabilitate

restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of

pinion

restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing

manacle

restrain; handcuff; N.

inhibit

restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent; N. inhibition

leash

restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash

abstinence

restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote

constraint

restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison

compulsive

resulting from compulsion

reprisal

retaliation

superannuated

retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete

comeback

retort; quick clever reply; return to former status

rebate

return of part of a payment; discount; V.

relapse

return to a former state (esp. after improvement); N.

restitution

returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury

divulge

reveal

disclose

reveal; N. disclosure

venerate

revere; treat with great respect

transpose

reverse the order or position of

backslide

revert (to bad habits); N. reverter

resurrect

revive

resuscitate

revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child

repeal

revoke; annul

cadence

rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm

pulse

rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity; V: pulsate

brocade

rich, figured(patterned) fabric

conundrum

riddle; difficult problem

equestrian

rider on horseback; ADJ.

derision

ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory

lampoon

ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution

mock

ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision

deride

ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect

jurisdiction

right and power to apply the law; authority

franchise

right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory

resurge

rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again

levitate

rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light

soar

rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.

eminent

rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position

bristling

rising like bristles; showing irritation

exposure

risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open; Ex. exposure of governmental corruption

venture

risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.

wallow

roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury

tundra

rolling treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America

gambol

romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.

palate

roof of the mouth; sense of the taste

loft

room or space under the roof; attic

leeway

room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline

extirpate

root up; uproot; destroy completely

roseate

rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views

spin

rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton, wool, etc.); N.

carrion

rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture

gruff

rough-mannered; (of a voice) rough; hoarse

circuitous

roundabout

devious

roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route

rotundity

roundness; sonorousness of speech

regal

royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner

efface

rub out; remove the surface of

attrition

rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition

abrasive

rubbing away; tending to grind down

d\'ebris

rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed

florid

ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose

boor

rude, insensitive person

boorish

rude; insensitive

effrontery

rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek

domineer

rule over tyrannically

sovereign

ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent

elope

run away secretly with the intention of getting married

seedy

run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel

pastoral

rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor

career

rush wildly; go at full speed

torrent

rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.

bucolic

rustic; pastoral

forlorn

sad and lonely; wretched; desolate

funereal

sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral

jocular

said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking

clipper

sailing vessel built for great speed

emolument

salary; payment for an office; compensation

saline

salty

monotony

sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone

uniformity

sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same all over

surfeit

satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food

slake

satisfy (thirst); quench; sate

satiate

satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated

sate

satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy

imbue

saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings

valediction

saying farewell; expression of leave-taking

meager

scanty; inadequate

dearth

scarcity

paucity

scarcity; dearth

disperse

scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd

dispel

scatter; drive away; cause to vanish

skeptic

sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism

pedant

scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities

savant

scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know

monograph

scholarly article

seminary

school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women

conservatory(conservatoire)

school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy

hygiene

science and practice of the promotion and preservation of health; ADJ. hygienic: showing careful attention to cleanness (to prevent disease); Ex. hygienic condition

jurisprudence

science of law

acoustics

science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in

ornithologist

scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds

rebuke

scold harshly; criticize severely

berate

scold strongly

excoriate

scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off

chide

scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)

shrew

scolding woman; very small mouselike animal

contempt

scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible

sardonic

scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile

glower

scowl; glare; look or stare angrily

rag

scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance

conscientious

scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker

hermetic

sealed by fusion so as to be airtight; airtight

scorch

sear; N.

sere

sear; parched; dry

ransack

search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.

condiments

seasonings; spices

avocation

secondary or minor occupation

clandestine

secret

crypt

secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)

covert

secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt

privy

secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF. private

inviolable

secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or profanation); unassailable; Ex. inviolable oath/rights; N. inviolability

purchase

secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing

anchor

secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage

collateral

security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters

silt

sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)

dregs

sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue

aspire

seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership

aspirant

seeker after position or status

sophistry

seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism

specious

seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)

seine

seine net; net for catching fish

usurp

seize another's power or rank (without legal authority); supplant; appropriate; N. usurpation; CF. take for one's own use

confiscate

seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer

excerpt

selected passage (written or musical) taken from a longer work; V.

eclectic

selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism

confidence

self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling you this in confidence; Ex. exchange confidences about their boyfriends; ADJ. confident

reserve

self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and uncommunicative

truism

self-evident truth

axiom

self-evident truth requiring no proof

postulate

self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)

autonomous

self-governing; N. autonomy

pomposity

self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt(pompous person); ADJ. pompous: self-important

consequential

self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent

penance

self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance for one's sins; CF. penitent

continence

self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent

complacency

self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent

smug

self-satisfied; complacent

vendor

seller

flip

send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking with a light quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip over

deport

send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment

consign

send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee

dotage

senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage

primogeniture

seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)

voluptuous

sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex. voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary: voluptuous person

sentinel

sentry; lookout

sect

separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group

sever

separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up (a relationship); N. severance; CF. severance pay: extra pay given an employee upon leaving a position

sunder

separate; part; CF. asunder

discrete

separate; unconnected

estranged

separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N. estrangement

gradation

series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression

staid

serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony

casualty

serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle

discourse

serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.

sober

serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober

gravity

seriousness; ADJ. grave

solemnity

seriousness; gravity

homily

sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic

minion

servile dependent; obsequious follower

sycophant

servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic

toady

servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn

exemplary

serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary punishment/behavior; N. exemplar: typical example; model

ancillary

serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.

subsidiary

serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.

complementary

serving to complete something

premonitory

serving to warn

emancipate

set free; liberate

stint

set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings

trigger

set off; start

rectify

set right; correct; CF. rect-: right

mediate

settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire

liquidate

settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate; kill or abolish

ensconce

settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)

stricture

severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction

reprobation

severe disapproval; CF. approbation

vertigo

severe dizziness; giddiness

ordeal

severe trial or affliction; difficult experience; trial(test of patience or endurance); affliction

censorious

severely critical

rigor

severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter

sleazy

shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric

mangy

shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance

hovel

shack; small wretched house

fetter

shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or shackle for the foot of a prisoner; CF. foot

nuance

shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction

totter

shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall

wag

shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog wagged its tail; N: humorous person; wit

shudder

shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.

doddering

shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder

lagoon

shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs

barefaced

shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie

barb

sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark

tart

sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex. tart apple/reply

acclivity

sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity

angular

sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner

hone

sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a tool

acuity

sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)

asperity

sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter

tonsure

shaving of the head especially by person entering religious orders; V.

diaphanous

sheer; transparent

gossamer

sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb

carapace

shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)

cameo

shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film

aegis

shield; protection; defense

glitter

shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex. glittering diamond ring; N: sparkling light; attractiveness; glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on the waves

glow

shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals); show redness and heat (in the face) after hard work or because of strong feelings; N: light produced by a heated body; brilliance of a color

glimmer

shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady light; faint indication; Ex. glimmer of hope

glare

shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.

shimmer

shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.

luster

shine; gloss (of a polished surface)

luminous

shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light; Ex. luminous paint/road signs

effulgent

shining brightly; brilliant

lustrous

shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair

squat

short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.

idyll(idyl)

short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy period of life (in the country); scene from such a time; Ex. idyll of two young lovers

snip

short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors

parable

short simple story teaching a moral

epilogue

short speech at conclusion of dramatic work

bristle

short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly

anecdote

short story of an amusing or interesting event

ephemeral

short-lived; fleeting

defect

shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)

abbreviate

shorten

curtail

shorten; reduce

catcall

shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.

jostle

shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly; Ex. jostled by the crowds

exemplify

show by example; furnish an example; serve as an example of; Ex. His pictures exemplify that sort of painting.

evince

show clearly

ebullient

showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling

flashy

showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance

ostentatious

showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display

canny

shrewd in money matters; thrifty

clarion

shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times

cringe

shrink back as if in fear; cower

cower

shrink quivering as from fear; cringe

dwindle

shrink; reduce gradually

confine

shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement

occlude

shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.

coy

shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer¸¦ ¹Þ¾Ã'À» ¶§

retiring

shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality

diffidence

shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident

threat

sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of rain; V: express a threat; give warning of (something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain.

import

significance; importance; meaning

betoken

signify; indicate; be a sign of

indices

signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student's potential; CF. index: something that reveals or indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index

muted

silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic noise

mute

silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V: soften the sound, color, shade of

sullen

silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy

inane

silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity

parallel

similar; analogous; corresponding; N: parallel line; person or thing that is parallel (to another); similarity; Ex. know of no parallel to the case; Ex. without parallel; V: be similar to; make parallel; Ex. Your experience parallels mine; CF. unparalleled

analogy

similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things

synchronous

similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring at the same time; V. synchronize

volley

simultaneous discharge of a number of shots; V.

fusillade

simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)

inasmuch_as

since; owing to the fact that

incantation

singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant

scuttle

sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull

subside

sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate

brood

sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time

dilemma

situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives

bulk

size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size

cynical

skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness

craft

skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning

tact

skill or sensitivity in dealing with people without causing offence

adroit

skillful (in using mind or hand)

dexterous

skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity

mange

skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair

acne

skin disease (on the face)

hide

skin of an animal

azure

sky blue

obloquy

slander; disgrace; infamy

slur

slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.

vilify

slander; speak evil of; N. vilification

detraction

slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor

aspersion

slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on

argot

slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people

thrall

slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; CF. enthrall

servitude

slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment

servile

slavish; cringing; N. servility

obsequious

slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic

doze

sleep lightly; nap

hibernate

sleep throughout the winter; N. hibernation

soporific

sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy

dormant

sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent

somnambulist

sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism

legerdemain

sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand

tint

slight degree of color; V: give a tint to

shade

slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey

smattering

slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German

peccadillo

slight offense or fault; CF. sin

hazy

slightly obscure; misty; unclear; N. haze: light mist or smoke; confused state of mind

acidulous

slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic

catapult

slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult

slither

slip or slide

ramp

slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)

incline

slope; slant; Ex. steep incline

slipshod

slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work

decelerate

slow down

canter

slow gallop; V. CF. trot

sloth

slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent

slacken

slow up; loosen; make or become slack

dolt

slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull

laggard

slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler

tardy

slow; sluggish; not on time; late; Ex. tardy arrival

commune

small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature

pittance

small amount (of money); small allowance or wage

scrap

small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel

pinnace

small boat

dinghy

small boat (often ship's boat)

satellite

small body revolving around a larger one

grotto

small cavern

cubicle

small chamber used for sleeping or work

chapel

small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)

vignette

small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene

clique

small exclusive group of people

cabal

small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests

hummock

small hill; hillock

exiguous

small in amount; minute

skiff

small light sailboat or rowboat

miniature

small model; small painting; ADJ: small

vent

small opening; outlet (as of fumes or a gas); Ex. He gave vent to his anger by kicking the chair.

figurine

small ornamental statuette(very small statue)

speck

small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye

facet

small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side

asteroid

small planet

pallet

small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet

microcosm

small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society

wrinkle

small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.

circlet

small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)

shed

small roofed structure for storage and shelter; V: pour forth; lose by natural process; repel without allowing penetration; radiate; cast; Ex. shed tears/light/water/skin/leaves

tablet

small round piece of medicine; flat piece of stone or metal bearing an inscription; Ex. stone tablet on the wall

spangle

small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation

mote

small speck (esp. of dust)

rivulet

small stream; CF. rill < rivulet < river

lancet

small surgical tool for making incisions

cascade

small waterfall

foible

small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble

daub

smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint

simper

smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly

sleek

smooth and shining (as from good health); V.

glossy

smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on a surface; superficially attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners

paste

smooth viscous mixture as of flour(powder made by crushing grain) and water (used as an adhesive); V: cause to adhere by applying paste

fluency

smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent

smolder

smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger

fatuous

smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity, fatuousness

snuffle

sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)

nip

snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill

prohibitive

so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax

negligible

so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded

saturate

soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity

steep

soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous

gregarious

sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group

outgoing

sociable; eager to mix socially with others

gaffe

social blunder

milieu

social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.

convention

social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement

pariah

social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah

plutocracy

society ruled by the wealthy

balmy

soft and mild (of air); fragrant

marrow

soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood cells

porridge

soft food made by boiling oatmeal

bog

soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud

macerate

soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper

besmirch

soil; defile; make dirty

anathema

solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize

oath

solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''

adjuration

solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly

awe

solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome

monolithic

solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone

dupe

someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive

nemesis

someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis

actuary

someone who advises insurance companies

scapegoat

someone who bears the blame for others; whipping boy; CF. escape+goat

ventriloquist

someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing (without moving lips or jaws); N. ventriloquism, ventriloquy

glutton

someone who eats too much; ADJ. gluttonous: given to gluttony; greedy; CF. gluttony: habit of eating too much

spendthrift

someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth

paradox

something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct

adjunct

something attached to but holding an inferior position

contrivance

something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme

comestible

something fit to be eaten

implication

something hinted at or suggested; implying; implicating

perennial

something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring

novelty

something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original

trifle

something of little importance or value; small amount; Ex. a trifle; V: treat without seriousness; flirt

precedent

something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF. unprecedented

forfeit

something surrendered as punishment for a crime or breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture

assumption

something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume

precipitant

something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; ħÀüæ; OP. solvent

deterrent

something that discourages or deters

nourishment

something that nourishes; food

balm

something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees

memorial

something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to honor the memory of a person or event; ADJ: commemorative

brackish

somewhat saline

paean

song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory

anthem

song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem

mollify

soothe an angry person

pacify

soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to

poultice

soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body

bland

soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence

emollient

soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.

seamy

sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life

ulcer

sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate

dolorous

sorrowful; N. dolor

psyche

soul; mind

toll

sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals; N: sound of a bell; fixed tax or charge

judicious

sound on judgment; wise

crabbed

sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting

capacious

spacious

commodious

spacious and comfortable

abstemious

sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

scintillate

sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation

fitful

spasmodic; intermittent; irregular

waffle

speak equivocally about an issue; N.

malign

speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame; ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence

advocate

speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for

rhapsodize

speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery

rant

speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.

stammer

speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions

polyglot

speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.

knack

special talent; art

taxonomist

specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF. taxonomy: science of classification

expertise

specialized knowledge (in a particular field); expert skill

nonsense

speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail

inarticulate

speechless; producing indistinct speech; not articulate; not expressing oneself clearly

velocity

speed

tempo

speed of music

celerity

speed; rapidity

dispatch

speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill

niggle

spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling

regeneration

spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually

polarize

split into opposite extremes or camps

cleave

split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven

rend

split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow

mar

spoil the appearance of

vitiate

spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally

confidential

spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary

blotch

spot; blot; CF. blot+botch

fleck

spot; mark with flecks; N: small mark or spot

immaculate

spotless; flawless; absolutely clean

dappled

spotted

maculated

spotted; stained; CF. immaculate

smear

spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing

deploy

spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically

strew

spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals

suffuse

spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.

pervasive

spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells, ideas, feelings) spread throughout; charge; permeate

incentive

spur; motive; something which encourages one to greater activity

espionage

spying

spat

squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel

dissipate

squander; waste foolishly; scatter

pinch

squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. N: amount that can be held between the thumb and a finger

adjutant

staff officer assisting the commander; assistant

musty

stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist

scotch

stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF. È°µ¿À» ÃÙÀÌ´Â ÀǹÌ

philatelist

stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting

lounge

stand, sit, or lie in a lazy, relaxed way

stock

standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique

criteria

standards used in judging; CF. criterion

deadlock

standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate

nova

star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness

gawk

stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe

kindle

start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse

inception

start; beginning

instigate

start; urge; provoke; incite; Ex. instigate a search/quarrel

stipulate

state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance

aver

state confidently; declare as true

solitude

state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary: existing or living alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded; single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of proof

bereavement

state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft

immobility

state of being immovable

matrimony

state of being married

anonymity

state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous

multiplicity

state of being numerous or multiple; large number; Ex. multiplicity of details; ADJ. multiple: of more than one element

parallelism

state of being parallel; similarity; analogy

partiality

state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias; special fondness; preference

inconsistency

state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness; ADJ. inconsistent: displaying a lack of consistency; erratic; contradictory; incompatible

stupor

state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness

suspense

state of being undecided; anxiety or apprehension resulting from uncertainty

decrepitude

state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age

blues

state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)

disarray

state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray

affliction

state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on

polarity

state of having two opposite qualities

responsiveness

state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.; ADJ. responsive: readily reacting; Ex. responsive to treatment

turbulence

state of violent agitation; ADJ. turbulent: violently agitated or disturbed

assert

state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence

understate

state with less truth than seems warranted by the facts; Ex. He understated the seriousness of the crime; N. understatement; OP. overstate

allege

state without proof

transient

staying for a short time; momentary; temporary; N: one that is transient

unfaltering

steadfast; firm; not changing

steadfast

steadily loyal; unswerving; steady

diligence

steadiness of effort; persistent hard work

filch

steal (things of small value)

plagiarize

steal another's ideas or writings and pass them off as one's own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap

pilfer

steal things of small value; filch; snitch

lurk

stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived

furtive

stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive glance

precipitous

steep; overhasty; precipitate

helm

steering wheel of a ship; position of control

stink

stench; V: emit a strong foul odor

trample

step heavily with the feet; crush under the feet

stamp

step on heavily (so as to crush or extinguish); put an end to; imprint or impress with a mark, design, or seal; shape with a die; characterize; Ex. machine stamping out car bodies; Ex. newspaper stamping him as a liar; N. stamping; implement used to stamp; impression stamped; mark; Ex. Her remarks bear the stamp of truth.

adhere

stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality

protrude

stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth

cohere

stick together

glutinous

sticky; viscous; gluey

galvanize

stimulate or shock by an electric current; stimulate by shock; shock into action; stir up; coat with rust-resistant zinc by using electricity

parsimony

stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious

pungent

stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic; N. pungency

acrimonious

stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior

miserly

stingy; mean

proviso

stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision

stoke

stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully

agitate

stir up; disturb

foment

stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or unpleasant)

suture

stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound

hoard

stockpile; accumulate for future use; N: supply stored for future use

stoic

stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism

touchstone

stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion; standard

check

stop motion; curb or restrain

stem

stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk

stanch

stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound

balk

stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate

cessation

stoppage

arsenal

storage place for military equipment

repository

storehouse

granary

storehouse for grain

inclement

stormy; unkind; unmerciful; CF. clement

tempestuous

stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest: violent storm

cantata

story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)

allegory

story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable

raconteur

story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill

portly

stout; corpulent

forthright

straightforward; direct; frank

queer

strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal

uncanny

strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack

throttle

strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N: valve that regulates the flow; CF. throat ?

subterfuge

stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge

ploy

strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management ploy

maneuver(manoeuver)

strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end

straggle

stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out in a scattered group; Ex. straggling marathon racer; Ex. straggling branch

travail

strenuous work; toil; painful labor; labor of childbirth

prostrate

stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating illness; ADJ: lying face down; having lost all strength

tension

stretching; condition of being stretched; mental strain; strained relationship between groups or people

martinet

strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet

buffet

strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set

clap

strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause

clapper

striker (tongue) of a bell

percussion

striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion

incandescent

strikingly bright; shining with intense heat; emitting visible light when heated; Ex. incandescent light bulb; CF. candle

divest

strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)

defrock

strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock

flay

strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly

apoplexy

stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain

saunter

stroll(go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.

gust

strong abrupt rush of wind; V. CF. bluster

sturdy

strong and firm (in the body)

transport

strong emotion; rapture; Ex. in a transport/transports of; V: move to strong emotion; enrapture

stench

strong foul odor; reek; stink

penchant

strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars

wanderlust

strong longing to travel

forte

strong point or special talent in a person's character

bulwark

strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends

robust

strong; vigorous

drastic

strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures

bastion

stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism

reactionary

strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical

flounder

struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter (as in water, mud, snow, etc.); proceed in confusion

scuffle

struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry; N. CF. scuffling twins ?

contend

struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly

contumacious

stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)

bigotry

stubborn intolerance

obstinate

stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy

obdurate

stubborn; refusing to change one's belief

wrongheaded

stubbornly wrong

cadet

student at a military school

anthropologist

student of the history and science of humankind

pore

study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.

archaeology

study of artifacts and relics of early mankind

ichthyology

study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish

ethnology

study of humankind; study of the different races of human beings; CF. anthropology

entomology

study of insects

philology

study of language or words

paleontology

study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents

penology

study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation

gerontology

study of the sociological phenomena associated with old age

etymology

study of word parts; study of the origins of words

gorge

stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful

daze

stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.

stupefy

stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze

oaf

stupid awkward person; CF. elf

buffoon

stupid person; clown

asinine

stupid; Ex. asinine remarks

cuisine

style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine

urbane

suave; refined in manner; elegant

meek

submissive; patient and long-suffering

subaltern

subordinate

appurtenances

subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing

authoritarian

subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father

abate

subside or moderate

emetic

substance causing vomiting; ADJ.

humus

substance or rich soil formed by decaying vegetable matter; CF. soil

solvent

substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of dissolving another substance

antiseptic

substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.

anesthetic

substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia

propellant(propellent)

substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)

substantive

substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues

surrogate

substitute; person or thing used in place of another; Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.

prosperous

successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off

nurse

suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone

d\'eb\^acle

sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster

spate

sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents

stampede

sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals or people); V: participate in or cause stampede; Ex. stampede before the price rises

fit

sudden outburst of an illness or feeling; convulsion caused by epilepsy

pang

sudden sharp feeling of pain

quirk

sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate

revulsion

sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture

sustain

suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop; maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the trapped miners

blighted

suffering from a disease; destroyed

dyspeptic

suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food

bilious

suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated

tribulation

suffering; ordeal; distress; trial

imply

suggest a meaning not expressed; signify

connotation

suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote

reminiscent

suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence

indicative

suggestive; implying; serving to indicate

expedient

suitable (for a particular purpose although not necessarily morally correct); practical; politic(prudent); N: something expedient

potable

suitable for drinking; drinkable

menial

suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)

forensic

suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in legal proceedings and the tracking of criminals; Ex. forensic science/medicine

pertinent

suitable; to the point; relevant

dour

sullen; gloomy; stubborn

aggregate

sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars

recapitulate

summarize

vertex

summit; highest point; PL. vertices

aureole

sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light

redundant

superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively wordy; repetitious

supererogatory

superfluous; more than needed or demanded

curator

superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)

preponderance

superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V. preponderate: be greater in power, weight, or importance; ADJ. preponderant

codicil

supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will

litany

supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words

stint

supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint

alimentary

supplying nourishment

substantiate

support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify

champion

support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)

fulcrum

support on which a lever rests or pivots

pedestal

support or base as for a pillar or statue

prop

support placed under or against something; V.

patronize

support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N. patronage; CF. boycott

advocacy

support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something

buttress

support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress

bolster

support; reinforce

proponent

supporter; backer; opposite of opponent

adherent

supporter; follower

constituent

supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component

strut

supporting bar; CF. airplane wingÀ̳ª building µîÀ» support

reputed

supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute: consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem

putative

supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child

stifle

suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate

quell

suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet; Ex. ``Army Quells Rebellion'' in newspaper; CF. kill

self-righteous

sure of one's own righteousness; moralistic

finish

surface texture; completeness of execution

conjecture

surmise; guess; V.

extradition

surrender of prisoner by one state to another; Ex. extradition treaty; V. extradite

disgorge

surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge

capitulate

surrender; give up all resistance

encircle

surround

engulf

surround and swallow up

hem

surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.

besiege

surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually

encompass

surround; include; Ex. His activities encompass publishing and computers.

reconnaissance

survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)

relic

surviving remnant (from an extinct culture); memento; keepsake; relics: corpse; Ex. ancient relics; Ex. relics of his travel; Ex. His relics are buried at X.

vulnerable

susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability

abeyance

suspended action

sustenance

sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food, nourishment; something that maintains life; food

bravado

swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery

miasma

swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence

swathe

swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages

sentimental

swayed by sentiment; appealing to the sentiments

euphony

sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious

dulcet

sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious

billowing

swelling out in waves; surging

natation

swimming

chisel

swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting

bilk

swindle; cheat

sway

swing from side to side; influence (someone) to change one's opinion; N.

eddy

swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.

sidetrack

switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from a main issue; N. CF. siding: short section of railroad track connected by switches with a main track

turgid

swollen; distended (as from liquid)

phoenix

symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes

compassion

sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate

ideology

system of ideas characteristic of a group or culture

creed

system of religious or ethical belief

scheme

systematic plan; plot; clever dishonest plan; orderly arrangement of elements; Ex. health insurance scheme; Ex. a scheme to escape taxes; Ex. a color scheme; Ex. a story with no scheme; V: contrive a scheme

methodical

systematic; N. method: systematic method of procedure

distract

take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted

commandeer

take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes

dismantle

take apart; disassemble

presume

take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection); N. presumption

lap

take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently; Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person

doff

take off; OP. don

conspire

take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.

luxuriate

take pleasure in great comfort

expropriate

take possession of (often for public use and without payment)

supplant

take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace

avenge

take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.

retroactive

taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax); (of a law) having effect on the past as well as the future

embezzlement

taking for one's own use in violation of trust; stealing (of money placed in one's care)

painstaking

taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through

resumption

taking up again; recommencement; V. resume: begin or take up again; take or occupy again; Ex. Kindly resume your seats.

flair

talent

expatiate

talk at length; speak or write in detail

drone

talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.

prattle

talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate

prate

talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly

blowhard

talkative boaster; braggart

loquacious

talkative; N. loquacity

soliloquy

talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)

obelisk

tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid

palpable

tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious; Ex. palpable blunder

prey

target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey; victimize; Ex. Cats prey on mice.

quip

taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.

brindled

tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)

tribute

tax levied by a ruler; payment made by one nation to another in acknowledgment of submission; mark of respect (such as praise or gift); Ex. pay tribute to

tithe

tax of one-tenth (contributed to a church); V: pay a tithe

inculcate

teach (ideas or principles); instill

sophist

teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument

pedagogue

teacher; CF. child leader

pedagogy

teaching; art of education

doctrine

teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal

rent

tear made by rending; rip; split

rip

tear or be torn quickly and violently; Ex. The sail ripped under the force of the wind; N.

mangle

tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex. badly mangled bodies

gouge

tear out; cut out (as if with a gouge); Ex. gouge his eyes out; N: chisel for cutting out hollow areas in wood

tantalize

tease; excite by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach; torture with disappointment; CF. Tantalus: Greek mythological figure

badinage

teasing conversation; banter; joking talk

prolixity

tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse

confide

tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about

bivouac

temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.

makeshift

temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter

incursion

temporary invasion; CF. excursion: short journey

remission

temporary moderation (of disease symptoms); remitting of a debt or punishment; cancelation of a debt; pardon; Ex. The disease went into remission; Ex. Christians pray for the remission of sins.

scaffold

temporary platform for workers (to work at heights above the ground); bracing framework; platform for execution

sojourn

temporary stay; V: stay for a time

homeostasis

tendency of a system or organism to maintain relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF. homeo-: constant; Ex. homeotherm

incredulity

tendency to disbelief

cohesion

tendency to keep together

egotism

tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively; conceit; self-importance

pathos

tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel

inclined

tending or leaning toward; bent; V. incline: slant; dispose; be disposed; tend

evocative

tending to call up (emotions, memories)

malignant

tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor

salutary

tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health

inclusive

tending to include all; all-inclusive; Ex. inclusive charge

subversive

tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?

centripetal

tending toward the center

provisional

tentative; temporary

nomenclature

terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things

terminology

terms used in a science or art; study of nomenclature

awful

terrible; very bad

enclave

territory enclosed within an alien land

cow

terrorize; intimidate

attest

testify; bear witness

deposition

testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning

libretto

text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book

permeable

that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge

unimpeachable

that cannot be impeached; beyond doubt or question; blameless and exemplary

concomitant

that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else

Occident

the West

unction

the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction

Bacchanalia

the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus

coincidence

the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental

molecule

the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance

ambivalence

the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions

histrionic

theatrical; excessively dramatic or emotional; affected; of actors or acting; N. histrionics: histrionic behavior

larceny

theft; Ex. petit larceny

motif

theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure

abstract

theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

pachyderm

thick-skinned animal

emaciated

thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)

gruel

thin liquid porridge

veneer

thin surface layer (of good quality wood, glued to a base of inferior material); cover; surface show; fa\c{c}ade; V.

tenuous

thin; slim; rare

counterpart

thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system

jetsam

things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)

cogitate

think over; ponder

devise

think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest

tertiary

third in order or rank

sodden

thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink

gentility

those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel

cerebration

thought; working of the brain

millennium

thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity

menace

threat; V: threaten

ominous

threatening; of an evil omen

trident

three-pronged spear

frugality

thrift; economy; ADJ. frugal: practicing economy; costing little; inexpensive

improvident

thriftless; not providing for the future

palpitate

throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.

pulsate

throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly

hurl

throw forcefully; shout out violently

embroil

throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio

toss

throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion; flip (a coin) to decide something

jettison

throw overboard (from a ship or plane)

fulminate

thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation

frustrate

thwart; defeat; prevent from accomplishing a purpose

stymie

thwart; present an obstacle; stump

titillate

tickle; excite pleasantly; Ex. not to titillate the audience but to enlighten it

tether

tie (an animal) with a rope or tether; N: rope or chain to which an animal is tied; limit of one's endurance; Ex. the end of one's tether

taut

tight; strained; tense; ready; OP. slack

list

tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)

respite

time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment; reprieve

heyday

time of greatest success or power; prime

opportune

timely; well-chosen

puny

tiny; weak; insignificant

gratuity

tip

apex

tip; summit; climax; highest point

weary

tired after long work; V.

jaded

tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued; surfeited; worn out; wearied; Ex. jaded appetite

indefatigable

tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting tired

harping

tiresome dwelling on a subject; V. harp: dwell on(think or speak a lot about) tediously

rubric

title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol

caption

title; chapter heading; text under illustration

stigma

token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful

memento

token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit

brook

tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream

knell

tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.

sepulcher

tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral

modulate

tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G

indisputable

too certain to be disputed; beyond doubt

fathomless

too deep to be measured or understood; unfathomable

far-fetched

too improbable to be believed; implausible; Ex. far-fetched story

finicky

too particular; fussy; difficult to please; too concerned with unimportant details or quality; Ex. finicky about her food

pestle

tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar

cog

tooth projecting from a wheel

crest

top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird

overthrow

topple; N.

tatter

torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes) old and torn; (of a person) dressed in old torn clothes

laceration

torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin as with broken glass); wound

fiasco

total failure; CF. bottle

gross

total; fragrant; clearly wrong; (of people's behavior) coarse; corpulent; Ex. gross insolence/behavior; V: earn as a total amount; N: 12 dozens

explicit

totally clear; definite; outspoken

tickle

touch (the body) lightly so as to cause laughter; please

petulant

touchy; peevish; ill-tempered

scintilla

trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark

vestige

trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion

brand

trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar.

barterer

trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money

orthodox

traditional; (of someone) conservative in belief; adhering to an established doctrine

wake

trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before; Ex. hunger followed in the wake of the war

turncoat

traitor

quisling

traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling

equable

tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform

quietude

tranquillity; calmness

transmute

transform; change; convert to something different

transitory

transient; impermanent; fleeting; N. transitoriness

remit

transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment

pellucid

transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand

peddle

travel about selling (wares); CF. foot

trek

travel; journey; V: make a long difficult journey

conspiracy

treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)

perfidious

treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery

insidious

treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading harmfully in a stealthy manner; Ex. insidious spreading of dry rot

exchequer

treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer

lionize

treat (a person) as a celebrity

coddle

treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs

disdain

treat with scorn or contempt

indignity

treatment or situation that causes shame or loss of dignity, respect; offensive or insulting treatment; humiliating or degrading treatment; Ex. I suffered the indignity of having to say that in front of them.

quiver

tremble; shake; N.

tremor

trembling; slight quiver (as of the earth or from nervous agitation)

tremulous

trembling; wavering

ruse

trick to deceive; stratagem

hoax

trick which makes someone take action; practical joke; Ex. hoax mail; V.

gull

trick; deceive; hoodwink; N: person who is easily tricked; dupe

feint

trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw away defensive action; V.

chicanery

trickery; deception

dally

trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time

trivia

trifles; unimportant matters

bauble

trinket; cheap jewel; trifle

stumble

trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act falteringly; N.

junket

trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense

jaunt

trip; short journey

platitude

trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous

trifling

trivial; unimportant

petty

trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded

typhoon

tropical hurricane or cyclone

fuss:

trouble or worry over trifles; make nervous; pay too much attention to; N: needless concern or worry (about a trivial thing); anxious nervous condition; display of attention; Ex. make a fuss over the baby

torso

trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk

confidant(confidante)

trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)

veracity

truthfulness; adherence to the truth

complaisant

trying to please; obliging; willing to please others

kaleidoscope

tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce interesting symmetrical effects; series of changing events; Ex. kaleidoscope of European history; CF. beautiful

chant

tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant

warren

tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live

deflect

turn aside; turn away from a straight course

deviate

turn away from (a principle, norm); move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism

deify

turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity

vaporize

turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)

overturn

turn over; capsize; topple

resort

turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.

petrify

turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze

invert

turn upside down or inside out; reverse the position or condition of

wring

twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting; wrench painfully (necks or hands)

warp

twist out of shape; N.

distort

twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion

gnarled

twisted

torque

twisting force; force producing rotation

sinuous

twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest

contortions

twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist

bicameral

two-chambered as a legislative body

despot

tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism

unsightly

ugly; unpleasant to look at

speechless

unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger

indubitable

unable to be doubted; which cannot be doubted; unquestionable

irrepressible

unable to be restrained or held back; impossible to hold back

doctrinaire

unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties

unwonted

unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted punctuality.

irrevocable

unalterable; irreversible; impossible to revoke

unprepossessing

unattractive

inevitable

unavoidable

unseemly

unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with unseemly haste

infidel

unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion)

irresolute

uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in resolution; indecisive; N. irresolution

indeterminate

uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite

immutable

unchangeable

ambiguous

unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation

invincible

unconquerable

indomitable

unconquerable; unyielding

insensible

unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible

bohemian

unconventional (in an artistic way)

incorrigible

uncorrectable

disengage

uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage

underscore

underline; emphasize

ethos

underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos

hindsight

understanding the nature of an event after it has actually happened

litotes

understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''

tacit

understood (without actually being expressed); not put into words; Ex. tacit agreement

implicit

understood but not stated; implied; unquestioning and complete; Ex. implicit trust

mortician

undertaker; CF. death

torpedo

underwater explosive apparatus; V.

embryonic

undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of development

nondescript

undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd

disquietude

uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious

malaise

uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)

qualms

uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen.

infallible

unerring; never making mistakes

untoward

unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter

unaccountable

unexplicable; impossible to account for; unreasonable or mysterious

inequity

unfairness; ADJ. inequitable

mishap

unfortunate accident

hapless

unfortunate; luckless

canard

unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report

hostility

unfriendliness; hatred; enmity; ADJ. hostile

unintimating

unfrightening

ingrate

ungrateful person (not expressing thanks)

unscathed

unharmed; Ex. escape the accident unscathed

consolidation

unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen

incoherent

unintelligible; muddled; unable to express one's thoughts in an orderly manner; illogical; lacking cohesion; not coherent

inadvertently

unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly

incessant

uninterrupted; unceasing

fusion

union; coalition; V. fuse

lumen

unit of light energy (one candle's worth)

carat(karat)

unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold

unison

unity of pitch (in musical performance); complete accord; Ex. The choir sang in unison.

omnipresent

universally present; ubiquitous

unwarranted

unjustified; having no justification; groundless; baseless; undeserved

implausible

unlikely (to be true); unbelievable; Ex. implausible alibi

fluke

unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune; accidental stroke of good luck; ADJ. fluky

refractory

unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse

indifferent

unmoved or unconcerned by; having no interest in; mediocre; neither good nor bad

contrived

unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.

imperceptible

unnoticeable; impossible to perceive; undetectable

derivative

unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.

screech

unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.

stygian

unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead

capricious

unpredictable; fickle

disinterested

unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective

mirage

unreal reflection; optical illusion

arbitrary

unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler

earthy

unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal

uninhibited

unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings

wanton

unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause

intractable

unruly; difficult to manage; Ex. intractable problem/child

fractious

unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex. fractious horse

mutinous

unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer

precarious

unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living

unassuaged

unsatisfied; not soothed

unconscionable

unscrupulous; not guided by conscience; excessive; beyond reason; Ex. unconscionable demand

altruistic

unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism

imperturbable

unshakably calm; placid

pristine

unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition

abortive

unsuccessful; fruitless

inept

unsuited; inappropriate; lacking skill; incompetent; CF. inapt: (of statements or ideas) inappropriate

unsullied

untarnished; CF. sully

dowdy

untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman

disheveled

untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel

slovenly

untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless

inopportune

untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly chosen

knave

untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery

ineffable

unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy

insalubrious

unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place

grudging

unwilling; reluctant; stingy(giving reluctantly)

disinclination

unwillingness

ignoble

unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed

brim

uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat); Ex. The glass was full to the brim; V: be full to the brim

probity

uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility

distraught

upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry

parvenu

upstart; newly rich person

aloft

upward; high up in the air

suavity

urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous

exhort

urge (by strong argument or advice); Ex. The general exhorted his men to fight bravely; N. exhortation

goad

urge on; drive with a goad; cause (someone) to do something by continued annoyance; Ex. They goaded him into doing it by saying he was a coward; N: sharp-pointed stick for driving cattle; stimulus; CF. annoy continually

exigency

urgent situation; ADJ. exigent

importunate

urging; always demanding; troublesomely urgent or persistent

dowse

use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals

equivocate

use equivocal language to deceive people; lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth; N. equivocation

coercion

use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce

husband

use sparingly; conserve; save; Ex. husband one's energy; CF. house holder

prophylactic

used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic; condom; N. prophylaxis: prevention of disease

futile

useless; hopeless; ineffectual

satirical

using satire; mocking

colander

utensil with perforated bottom used for straining

mutter

utter (complaining words) indistinctly in low tones

grunt

utter a deep guttural sound (as a pig does); N.

blurt

utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement

generality

vague statement; general statement which is not detailed; quality of being general; greater part; most; Ex. generality of people

nebulous

vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal

foppish

vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance

conceit

vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)

multifarious

varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities

diverge

vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating

isotope

varying from of an element

conveyance

vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance

tarantula

venomous spider

hazard

venture; put in danger; risk; Ex. hazard a guess; N: possible source of danger

mammal

vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young

foul

very bad or disagreeable; very dirty; Ex. foul smell/flavor/temper/language/air/deed/weather/means; N. act against the rules; V. make or become foul; commit a foul

execrable

very bad; detestable

gingerly

very carefully; ADJ.

wary

very cautious; watchful

corpulent

very fat; N. corpulence

munificent

very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience

pernicious

very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia

lofty

very high

momentous

very important; N. moment; CF. momentary

myriad

very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand

pauper

very poor person

infinitesimal

very small

mite

very small object or insect-like creature; small coin

iota

very small quantity

taper

very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward one end

shaving

very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp blade)

crass

very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior

nefarious

very wicked

mortar

vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle

veto

vested power to reject a bill; exercise of this right; V: prevent or forbid by exercising the power of veto

exasperate

vex; annoy or make angry (by testing the patience)

oscillate

vibrate pendulumlike; waver

vise

vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device

onslaught

vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected onslaught of the enemy

acetic

vinegary

infringe

violate (a law); encroach (the right of another person)

profane

violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for; ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things

infraction

violation (of a rule or regulation); breach

transgression

violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond (a limit); violate; do wrong

throes

violent anguish

ruffian

violent scoundrel; bully

convulsion

violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive

maelstrom

violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream

impetuous

violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful thought; Ex. impetuous decision

boisterous

violent; rough; noisy

unbridled

violent; uncontrolled; Ex. unbridled rage/greed

rapacious

voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds

blackball

vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote

constituency

voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)

swear

vow; promise; use profane oaths; use offensive words

insomnia

wakefulness; inability to sleep

limp

walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak

swagger

walk or behave with an over-confident manner

wade

walk through a substance, such as water, that impedes movement

tramp

walk with a heavy step; travel on foot; N: vagrant; one who travels aimlessly about; long walk; sound of heavy walking

tread

walk; trample; N: grooved face of a tire; horizontal part of a step

peripatetic

walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy

amble

walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly

mural

wall painting

welter

wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in blood); Ex. The victims weltered in their blood.

ramble

wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress

vagabond

wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp

errant

wandering (esp. in search of adventure); straying from proper moral standards; Ex. knight-errant

digression

wandering away from the subject; V. digress

vagrant

wandering from place to place; roving; stray; moving in a random fashion; Ex. vagrant thoughts; N. vagrancy

nomadic

wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place

migratory

wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another; move periodically from one region to another

itinerant

wandering; traveling from place to place (to perform work); Ex. itinerant preacher

parry

ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully; N. CF. ¸·´Â´Ù´Â °³³äÀÌ ¾Æ´Ã"

bellicose

warlike

martial

warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law

chafe

warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.

cordial

warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome

admonish

warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove

dire

warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food

ablution

washing

fritter

waste (time or money on unimportant things)

litter

waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter

dross

waste matter; worthless impurities

squander

waste; spend foolishly

haggard

wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the rescued miners

profligate

wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy

prodigal

wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality

wastrel

waster; profligate

atrophy

wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)

oversee

watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight: unintentional failure to notice or do something; supervision

vigilant

watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to spot danger; N. vigilance

gargoyle

waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building

brandish

wave around (a weapon); flourish

vacillate

waver (in opinion); fluctuate; sway to and fro; N. vacillation

fluctuate

waver; shift; rise and fall as if in waves; change or vary irregularly

decrepit

weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man

frail

weak; N. frailty

impotent

weak; ineffective; lacking in physical strength or power

debilitate

weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble

undermine

weaken gradually; sap; dig a mine beneath

emasculate

weaken; castrate

invalidate

weaken; destroy; make invalid; nullify

extenuate

weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of (bad behavior)

enervate

weaken; take away energy from

infirmity

weakness

imbecility

weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N. imbecile: stupid person; fool

tycoon

wealthy and powerful businessperson; wealthy leader; magnate; Ex. business tycoon

masquerade

wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume party or ball at which masks are worn; pretense; disguise

imponderable

weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound

eerie

weird; causing fear because strange

genteel

well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance of refinement; Ex. genteel poverty

sinecure

well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif

bedraggle

wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled

swamp

wetland; marsh; V: flood; overwhelm; drench in with liquid

deserts

what someone deserves

caprice

whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause

fanciful

whimsical; visionary; imaginary; produced by imagination; Ex. fanciful scheme

vortex

whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged

hoary

white with age

iniquitous

wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity

havoc

widespread damage; disorder; chaos

pandemic

widespread; affecting the majority of people; N: pandemic disease; CF. all people

prevalent

widespread; generally accepted

breadth

width; extent

orgy

wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping

pandemonium

wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF. Paradise Lost

frantic

wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic with fear

lurid

wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; Ex. lurid details of the murder

headstrong

willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to have one's own way; CF. no 'excessive'

submissive

willing to obey orders; yielding; timid

enterprise

willingness to take new ventures; initiative; business organization; plan (that is difficult or daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round the world in a small boat

meander

wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly

tortuous

winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain road

serpentine

winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of the river; N. serpent: snake

dormer

window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room

gale

windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughters, tears); Ex. gale of laughter

gusty

windy

vintner

wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine

hibernal

wintry; wintery; of or like winter

adage

wise saying; proverb

sagacious

wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity

astute

wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage

malevolent

wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence

askance

with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at

incognito

with identity concealed; using an assumed name; ADJ.

apropos

with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.

retract

withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a statement/an offer/claws; N. retraction; CF. retractile

secession

withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership

recession

withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity

incredulous

withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief

incorporeal

without a material body; insubstantial

unique

without an equal; single in kind

spartan

without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life

insouciant

without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent

guileless

without deceit

random

without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random

categorical

without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute

impassive

without feeling; expressionless; imperturbable; stoical; Ex. impassive face

insensate

without feeling; lacking sense; foolish

artless

without guile; open and honest

despondent

without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection

impecunious

without money

impromptu

without previous preparation; off the cuff(end of a sleeve); on the spur of the moment

epigram

witty thought or saying, usually short

matriarch

woman who rules a family or larger social group

inamorata

woman whom a man loves

stockade

wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier

deadpan

wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face

fleece

wool coat of a sheep; V: shear the fleece from; rob by a trick; swindle; plunder

dyslexia

word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read

swear-word

word considered offensive; Ex. ``bloody''

verbatim

word for word; in the same words; repeating the actual words exactly

epithet

word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)

cue

word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to

onomatopoeia

words formed in imitation of natural sounds

verbose

wordy; N. verbosity

diffuse

wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse

opus

work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; CF. opera

militate

work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier

dabble

work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid

collage

work of art put together from fragments

deputize

work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away

elaborate

work out carefully; add more detail or information; ADJ.

collaborate

work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy

mundane

worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world

sophisticated

worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate

secular

worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal

threadbare

worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor; hackneyed; Ex. threadbare excuses

exacerbate

worsen; aggravate; embitter

idolatry

worship of idols; excessive admiration or devotion; ADJ. idolatrous

chaff

worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff

nugatory

worthless; futile

grapple

wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and struggle with; Ex. grapple with the burglar

miscreant

wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF. believe

wiggle

wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions

extort

wring from; get money by threats, etc.; obtain by force or threats; CF. extortionate: exorbitant

crinkle

wrinkle

corrugated

wrinkled; ridged

subpoena

writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena

indite

write; compose

parchment

writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat

context

writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs

affidavit

written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)

figure

written symbols; number; amount represented in numbers; outline or silhouette of a thing or human body; person (well-known); impression; diagram; pattern; group in a dance; Ex. figure of speech; V. calculate with numbers; adorn with figures; appear; consider; Ex. My name did not figure in the list.

misnomer

wrong or improper name; incorrect designation

amiss

wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.

malfeasance

wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)

annuity

yearly allowance

jaundiced

yellowed; prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful) from long and disappointing experience of human affairs; Ex. with a jaundiced eye

cede

yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession

succumb

yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness

indulge

yield to; gratify; allow oneself a special pleasure; Ex. indulge one's every whim/a child/in a big cigarette; N. indulgence

cession

yielding to another; ceding

whelp

young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family

debutante

young woman making formal entrance into society

callow

youthful; immature; inexperienced


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