SAT VOCAB

renounce

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

n 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;

n empathy

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

n 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

s elastic

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

n 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

s 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

n 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)

n refrain

abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus

celibate

abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy

n 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

n plenitude

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

affluence

abundance; wealth

n luxuriant

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

invective

abuse

n scurrilous

abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark

n vituperative

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

chasm

abyss; very deep crack

n 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

n fortuitous

accidental; by chance; N. fortuity

incriminate

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

n 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

n habituate

accustom or familiarize; addict

n inured

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

n 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

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)

s ambush

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

s 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

stealth

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

animosity

active enmity

vigor

active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous

anguish

acute pain; extreme suffering

proverb

adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ: of a ____; widely known

n 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

n elaboration

addition of details; intricacy

addendum

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

condign

adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved

n viscid

adhesive; gluey

contiguous

adjacent to; touching upon

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

n 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

n gustatory

affecting or relating to the sense of taste

n 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

n ferment

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

accede

agree

assent

agree; accept; N. assessment

n jibe

agree; be in harmony with; gibe

concur

agree; coincide; happen at the same time

n 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

purported

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

s permissive

allowing much freedom; lenient; Ex. permissive society

n disport

amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert

anachronism

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

s pedigree

ancestry; lineage

s ruminant

animal that ruminates; ADJ.

n 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

n 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)

archaic

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

gyroscope

apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.

ostensible

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

n 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

n verisimilitude

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

n 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

s lubricate

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

n fervid

ardent; zealous; hot

s parish

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

callus

area of thick hard skin

n haggle

argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain)

stem_from

arise from; originate from

s 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

n 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

s 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

s 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

s meter

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

apprehend

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

incendiary

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

n gastronomy

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

n prosody

art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse

treatise

article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly

n 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

aesthetic

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

abet

assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

s pose

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

n magisterial

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

s 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

n shirk

avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger

n eschew

avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks

accolade

award of merit; strong praise and approval

s grouch

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

peevish

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

n surly

bad-tempered; rude; cross

s cross

bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry

s 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

n equipoise

balance; balancing force; equilibrium

embargo

ban on commerce or other activity

n 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

s 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

s 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

s prefigure

be a sign of; foreshadow

n fret

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

s beware

be cautious (of)

n 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.

n seethe

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

n prevail

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

comport

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

fruition

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

ursine

bearlike; pertaining to a bear

bestial

beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel

s thresh

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

s 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.

n 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

n pulchritude

beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous

incipient

beginning; in an early stage

flirt

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

s 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;

veritable

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

monotheism

belief in one God

credulity

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

n 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

s 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

s droop

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

n genuflect

bend the knee as in worship

refraction

bending of a ray of light

beleaguer

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

n inordinate

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

irreproachable

beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex. irreproachable conduct

n preternatural

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

n 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. : constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate

n mordant

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

acrid

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

s 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

n gall

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

acerbity

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

outlandish

bizzare; peculiar; unconventional

n hallowed

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

beatitude

blessedness; state of great happiness

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

n 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

n vendetta

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

artery

blood-vessel; CF. vein

n gory

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

sanguinary

bloody; with much bloodshed

n 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

n 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

n vaunted

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

braggart

boaster; bragger

n vainglorious

boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity

magniloquent

boastful; pompous

braggadocio

boasting

n regatta

boat or yacht race

corporeal

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

clientele

body of customers

n quagmire

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

n guffaw

boisterous laughter; V.

n revelry

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

n 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

n 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

n pedantic

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

verge

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

s margin

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

n 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

n 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

valor

bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave

fortitude

bravery; courage; strength of mind

n fracas

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

n 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

n 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.

s exhale

breathe out; OP. inhale

respiration

breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory

n fancier

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

concise

brief and compact

n laconic

brief and to the point; using few words; terse

s gloss

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

glossary

brief explanation of words used in the text

s gleam

brief flash of light; glow; V.

illuminate

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

resplendent

brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious

n farce

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

n 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. ____ the whole story; CF: underlying structure; Ex. ____ of society

s edifice

building (of imposing size)

browbeat

bully; intimidate

n sheaf

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

encumber

burden; N. encumbrance

n onus

burden; responsibility

n onerous

burdensome

cauterize

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

n sear

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

s flicker

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

entrepreneur

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

convoke

call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation

n 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

n halcyon

calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days

equanimity

calmness of temperament; composure

tranquillity

calmness; peace

serenity

calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene

negate

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

abolish

cancel; put an end to

n 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

n venal

capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal

reparable

capable of being repaired

tensile

capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. ____rubber

n 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

n sentient

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

ambidextrous

capable of using either hand with equal ease

n vagary

capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander

n 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

n studied

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

n lax

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

s plane

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

s vulture

carrion-eating birds

n scabbard

case for a sword blade; sheath

n quiver

case for arrows

s bewitch

cast a spell over; captivate completely

cavalier

casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight

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.

s 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

n 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

s touching

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

n problematic

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

sublime

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

s grim

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

analgesic

causing insensitivity to pain; N.

s nauseous

causing nausea; feeling nausea

n pestilential(pestilent)

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

pathetic

causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching

n 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

n 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)

n mace

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

n ordination

ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest

certitude

certainty

s curb

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

n shackle

chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.

n hap

chance; luck

s odds

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

n vicissitude

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

n veer

change in direction; swerve

metamorphosis

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

s 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

s variegate

change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)

n gerrymander

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

n volatile

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

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

n impeach

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

n 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

n 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.

n jabber

chatter rapidly or unintelligibly

n tawdry

cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry

cozen

cheat; hoodwink; swindle

swindler

cheater

fraudulent

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

n geniality

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

s fermentation

chemical reaction that splits complex organic compounds; unrest; agitation

n 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

n puerile

childish; immature; CF. puer: boy

infantile

childish; infantlike

n progeny

children; offspring; descendants

indiscriminate

choosing at random; confused; not based on careful distinctions

s draw

choosing of a lot or card

chortle

chuckle with delight; N.

n prelate

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

curmudgeon

churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person

n 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

n talon

claw of bird

expurgate

clean; remove offensive parts of a book

bouillon

clear beef (or meat) soup

exculpate

clear from blame or guilt

n 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

s distinctive

clearly different from others of the same kind

s distinct

clearly different; clearly noticed

perspicuity

clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity

s chaplain

clergyman attached to a chapel

s resourceful

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

s sly

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

s cunning

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

shrewd

clever; astute

scale

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

denizen

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

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

s attire

clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel

s outfit

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

n 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

n lout

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

maladroit

clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling

abusive

coarsely insulting; physically harmful

s 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

n menagerie

collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo

agglomeration

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

n 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

n pigment

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

militant

combative; bellicose; N.

n pugnacity

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

n 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 ____from scientific research; Ex. interest ____ in a bank account

convene

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

n solace

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

n malapropism

comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop

n fiat

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

s urgent

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

compulsion

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

n reparation

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

n lexicographer

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

s whine

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

n rail

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

n snivel

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

n grouse

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

unanimity

complete agreement; ADJ. unanimous

bliss

complete happiness; ADJ. blissful

s 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. ____honesty/ruler;

n 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

narcissist

conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus

n 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

n hermetic

concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult

n 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

n peroration

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

finale

conclusion; concluding part

s damn

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

denounce

condemn; criticize; N. denunciation

s 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

n 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

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

n fluster

confuse; make nervous and confused; N.

n muddle

confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion

n 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

n hubbub

confused uproar; loud noise; din

s historical

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

n nexus

connection

n 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

n 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

n scurvy

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

s base

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

s vying

contending; CF. vie

s lottery

contest in which winners are selected in a drawing of lots

s persist

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

s persevere

continue steadily in spite of difficulties

din

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

n 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

n foil

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

s dominate

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

ascendancy

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

amenities

convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies

n mores

conventions; moral standards; moral customs

s tan

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

cogent

convincing

s broil

cook by direct heat; N.

facsimile

copy

replica

copy

n 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

s 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

n 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

n 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)

s 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

n mentor

counselor; teacher

reckon

count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose

recrimination

countercharges; V. recriminate

bogus

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

s 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

n mettle

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

n pluck

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

n 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

n fawning

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

n glaze

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

s gild

cover with a thin layer of gold

craven

cowardly

n pusillanimous

cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted

n quail

cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart

bovine

cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm

crevice

crack; fissure

n Machiavellian

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

n hurtle

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

n 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

n juncture

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

animadversion

critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval

n pan

criticize harshly

askew

crookedly; slanted; at an angle

n throng

crowd (of people or things); V.

n horde

crowd; swarm

diadem

crown

s shack

crude cabin

s hut

crude dwelling; shack

n fell

cruel; (of a disease) deadly

pulverize

crush or grind into very small particles

s squash

crush; quash; suppress

n quash

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

s oatmeal

crushed oats used for making porridge

exclaim

cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory

n limpid

crystal clear

therapeutic

curative; N. therapy

n elixir

cure-all; panacea; something invigorating

panacea

cure-all; remedy for all diseases

n 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

n 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

n 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)

s clip

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

n fell

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

truncate

cut the top off; shorten

n 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

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

n quotidian

daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine

diurnal

daily; occurring during the daytime

n marred

damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure

n perdition

damnation; complete ruin; hell

humid

damp; N. humidity

dank

damp; unpleasantly wet

obscure

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

n 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

n obituary

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

disembark

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

n libertine

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

s 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

n putrid

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

guile

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

delude

deceive

n wheedle

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

n 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

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

n garnish

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

s fringe

decorative edge of hanging threads; edge

n 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

n ordain

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

ordinance

decree; authoritative order

consecrate

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

infer

deduce; conclude; N. inference

n ignominy

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

n tureen

deep dish for serving soup

grudge

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

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

n foil

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

rampart

defensive mound of earth

s feebleminded

deficient in intelligence; very stupid

n sully

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

n 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

s retard

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

belated

delayed

dilatory

delaying; tending to delay

calculated

deliberately planned; likely

n filigree

delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork

n finesse

delicate skill; V: handle with finesse

s dainty

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

s choice

delicate; of very fine quality

s exquisite

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

acquittal

deliverance from a charge; V: 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

s exact

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

n 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

n inveigh

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

n gainsay

deny

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

n 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

s 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

n 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

n forsake

desert; abandon; renounce

n renegade

deserter; traitor; ADJ.

defection

desertion

comeuppance

deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke

s merit

deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise

n retribution

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

culpable

deserving blame; blameworthy

reprehensible

deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame

n venerable

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

s reverend

deserving reverence; N: priest

s monogram

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

n invidious

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

s crave

desire; want intensely

s vile

despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander

annihilate

destroy

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)

n 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

s scion

detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant

resolution

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

n 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

n 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

n 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

s horoscope

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

n lexicon

dictionary

s 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

n fastidious

difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky

n inscrutable

difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious

s nebula

diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy

n quarry

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

exhume

dig out of the ground; remove from a grave

n unearth

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

n disinter

dig up; unearth; OP. inter

delve

dig; search deeply; investigate

n quandary

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

assiduous

diligent

application

diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself

n sedulous

diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity

industrious

diligent; hard-working; N. industry

s 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

n sap

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

n refectory

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

n 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

s referendum

direct vote by all the people

s plebiscite

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

n ragamuffin

dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes

smudge

dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.

n incapacitate

disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity

s pushy

disagreeably aggressive

s dissension

disagreement of opinions causing strife within a group

disapprobation

disapproval; condemnation

calamity

disaster; misery

insightful

discerning; perceptive

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

disjointed

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

dishearten

discourage

s rabies

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

dishonor

disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable

repugnance

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

n fulsome

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

n downcast

disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward

n dissolution

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

disaffected

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

unruly

disobedient; lawless; difficult to control

repudiate

disown; disavow; deny

disclaim

disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer

belittle

disparage; depreciate

s favoritism

display of partiality toward a favored person

n flaunt

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

sanctimonious

displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N.: hypocritical piety

n 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

s mannerism

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

discernible

distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement

awry

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

caricature

distortion; burlesque

s 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

n schism

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

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

tenet

doctrine; dogma

s maleficient

doing evil; N. maleficience

homespun

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

n 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

s underhand(underhanded)

done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)

s 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

n quiescent

dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence

potion

dose (of liquids); liquid dose

n duplicity

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

n misgivings

doubts

declivity

downward slope

conscript

draftee; person forced into military service; V.

s 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)

n limn

draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?

n liability

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

s 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

n 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

n 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; ÁøÅëÁ¦; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement

apothecary

druggist; pharmacist

carousal

drunken revel; V. carouse

n provender

dry food for livestock; fodder

desiccate

dry up

n stolid

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

n drab

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

n humdrum

dull; monotonous

n 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

s abide

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

s abode

dwelling place; home

combustible

easily burned; N. CF. combustion

gullible

easily deceived

rudimentary

elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language

s 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

n 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

s defalcate

embezzle

detached

emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment

n vacuous

empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity

encipher

encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher

termination

end; V. terminate

incarnate

endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody

dynamic

energetic; vigorously active

n rapt

engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener

s season

enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning

n savor

enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality

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

n matriculate

enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix

n 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

n regale

entertain

n verve

enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor

n ovation

enthusiastic applause

devotee

enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach

allure

entice; attract; tempt

n gamut

entire range

n unexceptionable

entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism

n 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.

n 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

paraphernalia

equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman's property exclusive of her dowry

n 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

n 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.

s incident

event; event that causes a crisis

perpetual

everlasting

sinister

evil; ominous

malefactor

evildoer; criminal

n gestate

evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth

precise

exact

n 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)

n 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.

s 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

meticulous

excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous

s rhapsody

excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)

ornate

excessively or elaborately decorated

n uxorious

excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife; CF. uxor: wife

s interjection

exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch''

n ejaculation

exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate

s except

exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality

pretext

excuse

s dominant

exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive

n grueling

exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race

s artful

exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice

s halfhearted

exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm

n iridescent

exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil slick; N. iridescence

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

n 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

n oust

expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting

seasoned

experienced

n 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

n queasy

experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy

adept

expert at; very skilled

expound

explain

n exegesis

explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages

legend

explanatory list of symbols on a map

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

n gloat

express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels.

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

s 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

opulence

extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant

blatant

extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy

n visage

face; appearance

n grimace

facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc; V.

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

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

n spurious

false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments

renown

fame; ADJ. renowned

conversant

familiar with; having knowledge of

ancestry

family descent; ADJ. ancestral

chimerical

fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature

s leave-taking

farewell or departure

n modish

fashionable; conforming to the current fashion

s fleet

fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral

s latch

fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch

s fussy

fastidious; finicky; easily upset

n 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

n impeccable

faultless

intrepid

fearless

practicable

feasible

n plumage

feathers of a bird;

n lineaments

features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line

commiserate

feel or express pity or sympathy for

n 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

s nausea

feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness

simulate

feign; imitate

s pretend

feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don't pretend to much expertise; N. pretense

n visceral

felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate

n vixen

female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew

n ewe

female sheep

amazon

female warrior

s pen

fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose

n frond

fern leaf; palm or banana leaf

n fecundity

fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young

n febrile

feverish

demoniac(demoniacal)

fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil

n fraught

filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight

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

n 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

s primal

first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man's primal innocence

s 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

n 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

n 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

n 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

incisive

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

s 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

n variegated

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

n pert

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

s flighty

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

n 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.

n proselytize

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

discursive

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

n rig

fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; Ex. rig the election

s ration

fixed portion; V: distribute as rations

n flaccid

flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles

n meretricious

flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute

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

n 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

deluge

flood; rush; V.

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

n 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

n flit

fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower

centurion

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

anarchy

absence of governing body; state of disorder

adventitious

accidental; casual; happening by chance

exonerate

acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt

accessory

additional object; useful but not essential thing

amiable

agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly

n forebears(forbears)

ancestors

advent

arrival

n nib

beak(bill); pen point

n fructify

bear fruit; produce fruit

credence

belief

benediction

blessing

abut

border upon; adjoin

takeoff

burlesque; act of leaving the ground

s incinerate

burn to ashes

nauseate

cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea

germinate

cause to sprout; sprout

n ossify

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

n fodder

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

n hoodwink

deceive; delude

raze

destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground

resolve

determination; resolution; firmness of purpose

psychiatrist

doctor who treats mental diseases

expatriate

exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish; leave one's country

s brave

face courageously; Ex. brave the storm

delusion

false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that

n lope

gallop slowly

n hiatus

gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break

avalanche

great mass of falling snow and ice

surmise

guess; N.

n pendulous

hanging; suspended

concave

hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex

n domicile

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

pudding

hot sweet dish

choleric

hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera

intuition

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

query

inquiry; question; V.

n interpolate

insert between

institution

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

n edify

instruct; correct morally

n 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

prologue

introduction (to a poem or play)

impiety

irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety

n salacious

lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk

deface

mar; disfigure

botch

mismanage; blow

accelerate

move faster

n scurry

move hastily; hurry; move briskly

s headfirst

moving with the head leading; headlong

regicide

murder of a king or queen

n reprise

musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises

appellation

name; title

s rank

offensive in odor or flavor

brooch

ornamental clasp; pin

s heed

pay attention to; N: close attention

optimist

person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism

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

n infernal

pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of fiery heat or destruction

lunar

pertaining to the moon

pediatrician

physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics

s freebooter

pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich

ruthless

pitiless; merciless; cruel

plump

pleasantly fat; nicely rounded

s healthy

possessing good health; healthful

antecede

precede

s pass_off

present falsely; represent falsely to be

s forward

presumptuous or bold

aseptic

preventing infection; having a cleansing effect

n lachrymose

producing tears; tearful

n prim

proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper

archetype

prototype; primitive pattern

chastise

punish as by beating; criticize severely

enigma

puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling

n lectern

reading desk or stand for a public speaker

advert

refer

alleviate

relieve (pain)

n upbraid

reprimand; severely scold

replicate

reproduce; duplicate

salvage

rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved

cistern

reservoir or water tank

circuitous

roundabout

pastoral

rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor

saline

salty

disperse

scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd

n jurisprudence

science of law

s scorch

sear; N.

s ransack

search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.

condiments

seasonings; spices

complacency

self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent

n dotage

senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage

n ensconce

settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)

censorious

severely critical

n luster

shine; gloss (of a polished surface)

ephemeral

short-lived; fleeting

n inane

silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity

n slither

slip or slide

n ramp

slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)

n gaffe

social blunder

n dupe

someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive

n foment

stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or unpleasant)

n pore

study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.

archaeology

study of artifacts and relics of early mankind

n ichthyology

study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish

bilious

suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated

codicil

supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will

conjecture

surmise; guess; V.

n doff

take off; OP. don

awful

terrible; very bad

n memento

token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit

s fathomless

too deep to be measured or understood; unfathomable

n pestle

tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar

n jaunt

trip; short journey

n 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

n untoward

unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter

unaccountable

unexplicable; impossible to account for; unreasonable or mysterious

inopportune

untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly chosen

n knave

untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery

n ineffable

unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy

n insalubrious

unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place

n nebulous

vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal

acetic

vinegary

n frantic

wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic with fear

n nugatory

worthless; futile

amiss

wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.

n malfeasance

wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)

s flutter

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

n warble

(of a bird) sing; babble; N.

s capsize

(of a boat) turn over

n 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

n 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

n 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)

n transpire

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

n venial

(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial

s throb

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

n turbid

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

n malleable

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

n 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

venturesome

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

s rational

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

n expansive

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

n swelter

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

n veracious

(of a person) truthful

s inhibited

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

s 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

s run-down

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

s lush

(of a plant or grass) growing very well

n untenable

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

n swarthy

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

n 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

s 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.

s 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

n 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

s 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

n 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.

n felicitous

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

s 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

n feral

(of an animal) not domestic; wild

traumatic

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

n seemly

(of behavior) proper; appropriate

n heterodox

(of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional

s 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

n 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

n fallow

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

s rolling

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

s 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

s 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.

n 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

s legato

(of music) played smoothly

n hardy

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

n dutiful(duteous)

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

n 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

n inimical

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

n glaring

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

n unmitigated

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

n 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

s impassioned

(of speech) filled with passion; fervent

acute

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

n 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

n 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

n raucous

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

s 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

n torrid

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

sultry

(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous

cursive

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

shambles

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

s upright

(sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral

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.

n 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

n duress

forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress

premonition

forewarning; presentiment; foreboding

n granulate

form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle

s phalanx

formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)

n redoubtable

formidable; causing fear

amorphous

formless; lacking shape or definition

citadel

fortress

n noisome

foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome

malodorous

foul-smelling

n quadruped

four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped

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

s 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

s carefree

free from worries; having no problems

n gratis

free; without charge; ADJ.

n latitude

freedom from narrow limitations

impunity

freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish

congeal

freeze; coagulate

n frenetic(phrenetic)

frenzied; frantic

n outskirts

fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston

n facade(fa\c{c}ade)

front or face (of building); superficial or false appearance

s hail

frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate hail

n husbandry

frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman

baffle

frustrate; perplex

vain

full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity

s vibrant

full of vigor or energy; vibrating

n jollity

gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay

n temporize

gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself

s sonnet

14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern

s pucker

gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold

n glean

gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty

n muster

gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.

n garner

gather; store up; amass

benevolent

generous; charitable; having a wish to do good

bountiful

generous; graciously generous; showing bounty

orient

get one's bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate

n grisly

ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies

apparition

ghost; phantom

mammoth

gigantic; enormous

s embody

give a bodily form to; incorporate; include

s vouch

give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher

s 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

n 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

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

s fashion

give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay

s 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

s 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

n querulous

given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining

n morbid

given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease

n jocose

given to(having a tendency of) joking

n 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

n slag

glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter

s blue

gloomy; depressed

melancholy

gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia

n fervor

glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat

transcendental

going beyond common thought or ideas; impossible to understand by practical experiences or practices; known only by studying thoughts or intuition; OP. empirical;

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

bombast

grandiloquent, pompous speech

s impart

grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart

n 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

s rapture

great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous

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)

avarice

greediness for wealth

avid

greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity

n verdigris

green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather

n patina

green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting

n verdant

green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows

n primp

groom oneself with care; adorn oneself

lechery

gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man

n killjoy

grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others

s avantgarde

group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard

s entourage

group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround

archipelago

group of closely located islands

s 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)

s choir

group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services); place for choir

n junta

group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)

n trilogy

group of three related works (connected by a shared subject but each complete in itself)

s 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)

n 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

n macabre

gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death

warranty

guarantee; assurance by seller

n tutelage

guardianship; training; function of a tutor; instruction

arroyo

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

recidivism

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

n inebriated

habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety

crone

hag; ugly old woman

n hackles

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

coiffure

hairstyle

n hirsute

hairy; having a lot of hair

n somnolent

half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence

n 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.

n snicker

half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.

n gavel

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

n maul

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

n tiller

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

n factotum

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

loiter

hang about/around; stand idly about; linger

n 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.)

s eventual

happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory

concurrent

happening at the same time; in agreement

casual

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

s forthcoming

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

n felicity

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

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

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

n incrustation

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

s crust

hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)

n esoteric

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

drudgery

hard unpleasant work; menial work

arduous

hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work

callous

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

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

innocuous

harmless

n 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

s 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

s tend

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

s 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.

s 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

n wan

having a pale or sickly color; pallid

n serrated

having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf

s 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

n 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

s uninhibited

having no inhibitions; free in behavior and feelings

n musky

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

n 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

n 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

promontory

headland

n salubrious

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

beneficial

helpful; useful; advantageous

n halting

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

n scruple

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

n falter

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

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

n 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

cache

hiding place; V.

intellect

higher mental powers; person of great intellectual ability

culmination

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

slap

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

repress

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

clasp

hold firmly within arms

tenacious

holding fast (as to a belief); persistent

tenure

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

n waif

homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays

vagrant

homeless wanderer

nostalgia

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

integrity

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

n fete(f\^ete)

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

commemorate

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

n distinction

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

n kudos

honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement

homage

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

disconsolate

hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)

cornucopia

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

n ghastly

horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast

animus

hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition

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

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

parody

humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.

n waggish

humorous; mischievous; tricky

n 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

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

s hull

husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship

s crossbreed

hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed

s trance

hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition

n mesmerize

hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer

n mischance

ill luck

enmity

ill will; hatred; hostility

s bastard

illegitimate child

paramour

illicit lover

malady

illness

illusory

illusive; deceptive; not real

n emulate

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

mimicry

imitation

s dummy

imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy

n pastiche

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

n sophomoric

immature; half-baked; like a sophomore

n unfledged

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

n 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'

impalpable

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

impudence

impertinence; insolence

irretrievable

impossible to recover or regain; CF. retrieve

implacable

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

invulnerable

incapable of injury; impossible to damage or injure

s sterile

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

s cremate

incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium

n nascent

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

proclivity

inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)

n sadistic

inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty

n factious

inclined to form factions; causing dissension

n reticent

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

prone

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

n subsume

include (as a member of a group); encompass

comprise

include; consist of

partial

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

n unobtrusive

inconspicuous; not blatant

n skittish

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

increment

increase

n 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

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

n nonchalance

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

resentment

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

n 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)

n innuendo

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

s 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

n fledgling(fledgeling)

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

unerringly

infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes

n 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

n illimitable

infinite; limitless

s dysentery

inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract

n 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

n impinge

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

s ingenue

ing\'enue; young innocent girl

s infest

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

bruise

injure without breaking the skin; N.

impair

injure; hurt; damage

n mayhem

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

n effervescence

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

n pry

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

demented

insane

deranged

insane

s lunatic

insane; Ex. lunatic asylum

n epitaph

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

n 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

n paltry

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

inconsequential

insignificant; unimportant

insuperable

insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties

intelligentsia

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

s smart

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

s 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

n ulterior

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

n symbiosis

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

n meddlesome

interfering; V. meddle: interfere

s 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

broach

introduce as a subject; moot; open up

incorporate

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

prelude

introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner

preamble

introductory statement

prefatory

introductory; of a preface

n interloper

intruder; one who interferes

energize

invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active

n sacrosanct

invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable

n impregnable

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

n opalescent

iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence

anvil

iron block used in hammering out metals

n juggernaut

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

n ineluctable

irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable

s indecision

irresolution; inability to make up one's mind

blasphemy

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

impious

irreverent

n irascible

irritable; easily angered

n testy

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

n nettle

irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome

n rankle

irritate; fester; annoy

n rile

irritate; vex; muddy

pique

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

n sequester

isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life

agenda

items of business at a meeting

bantering

joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter

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

s 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

n 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

n insipid

lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character

n 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

n dispirited

lacking in spirit

listless

lacking in spirit or energy; languid

n lackadaisical

lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid

n vapid

lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture

n lackluster

lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull

n 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

n peon

landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage

jargon

language used by special group; technical terminology; gibberish; nonsensical or incoherent talk

n parlance

language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance

n lassitude

languor; weariness; listlessness

metropolis

large city

s 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

s 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

n slew

large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left

s sledge

large sled drawn by work animals

galleon

large three-masted sailing ship

s 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

n scourge

lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict

n ultimatum

last demand; last warning; last statement of conditions that must be met; Ex. They have ignored our ultimatum.

n 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

n scoff

laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats

chuckle

laugh quietly

n ludicrous

laughable; ridiculous; trifling

statute

law enacted by the legislature

n litigation

lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V. litigate

solicitor

lawyer in the lower court of law

n laity

laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy

n sluggard

lazy person

sluggish

lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell

seduce

lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive

n livid

lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely angry

n gaunt

lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren

s 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

n 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

s rou\'e

lecherous man

scraps

leftover food

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

n missive

letter; written statement; CF. sent

fallible

liable to err

n 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

s recline

lie down

n 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

cadaverous

like a corpse; pale

n vulpine

like a fox; crafty

glacial

like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg

meteoric

like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor

n 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

n ligneous

like wood

n labile

likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability

circumscribe

limit; confine; draw a line around

qualified

limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify

s pedigree

line of ancestors; ancestry; lineage; ADJ. (of an animal) descended from of a chosen family; Ex. pedigree dog; CF. crane's foot

n tarry

linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle

concatenate

link as in a chain

n 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

n lank

long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln

n tirade

long angry denunciatory speech; diatribe; harangue; extended scolding; denunciation

chronic

long established as a disease

n pine

long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline

n trough

long narrow container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.); long narrow depression as between waves

n eon(aeon)

long period of time; an age; longest division of geologic time containing two or more eras

s 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.

n odyssey

long, eventful, adventurous journey

n harangue

long, passionate, and vehement speech; V.

n rancor

long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ. rancorous

n 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

n introspective

looking within oneself; N. introspection: self-examination

s noose

loop formed in a rope

s mantle

loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core

n garrulous

loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity

aphasia

loss of speech due to injury or illness

s raffle

lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off a new car

n 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

n 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

s murmur

low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble

n nether

lower; Ex. nether garments/regions

abase

lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect

n nadir

lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith

allegiance

loyalty

fidelity

loyalty; accuracy

n tepid

lukewarm; slightly warm; ¹ÌÁö±ÙÇÑ; 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.

lascivious

lustful

libidinous

lustful

bask

luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth

underlying

lying below; fundamental

n supine

lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision

n mendacious

lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity

centrifuge

machine that separates substances by whirling them

berserk

mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited

s functional

made for practical use only (without decoration); functioning; Ex. functional modern furniture; CF. functionalism

n rarefied

made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction

n osseous

made of bone; bony

n shoddy

made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick

s miscellaneous

made up of a variety of parts

n frenzied

madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement

n mutilate

maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part

brunt

main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. ____ of the argument

s trunk

main wooden stem of a tree; human body excluding the head and limbs; torso; prehensile nose of an elephant

n 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)

s 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

s crochet

make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet

s falsify

make (something written) false by changing

n 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

desolate

make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert

n disgruntle

make discontented

s inebriate

make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person

s intoxicate

make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated by all the money he might win

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

n roil

make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb

s enliven

make lively or spirited; animate

s 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

n 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

s 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)

s tarnish

make or become dull or discolored; N.

s 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.

s 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

s 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

n requite

make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal

s intrigue

make secret plans; plot; arouse the curiosity of; N: secret scheme; plot; secret love affair

n indemnify

make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured

burnish

make shiny by rubbing; polish

s rustle

make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together

s slick

make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib

n 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

n testator

maker of a will; CF. testatrix

n raspy

making a harsh noise; grating; harsh

unregenerate

making no attempt to change one's bad practices

compensatory

making up for; repaying

s ram

male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact

calumny

malicious misrepresentation; slander

n ductile

malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled

n fetid(foetid)

malodorous; foul

s groom

man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush (an animal)

s suitor

man who is courting a woman

n megalomania

mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance

virile

manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength

n gait

manner of walking or running; speed

n manifold

many in number or kind; numerous; varied

cartographer

map-maker

disfigure

mar the appearance of; spoil

s blemish

mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished

n 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

s 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

n ribald

marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke

n striated

marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line

n 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

n foliage

masses of leaves; CF. defoliate

n 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

n repast

meal; feast; banquet

denotation

meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation

n expletive

meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word

n niggardly

meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. *****rd: 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

n mete

measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment

s 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

s 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

n tryst

meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet

rendezvous

meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.

n smelt

melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition

n molten

melted; Ex. molten lava

proletarian

member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)

s memoir

memoirs; autobiography; biography

formidable

menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question

n 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 ____

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

n mirth

merriment; laughter

n jocund

merry

courier

messenger

s 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

s rivet

metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross

n lode

metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)

regime

method of system or government

s 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

n regiment

military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society

n quorum

minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting

misdemeanor

minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing

skirmish

minor fight; minor battle in war; V.

n quibble

minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil

n 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

n sundry

miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items

n misadventure

mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure

n urchin

mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin: hedgehog; CF. porcupine: pig with spikes ?; CF. sea urchin

s prank

mischievous trick

n tightwad

miser; excessively frugal person

n skinflint

miser; stingy person

s 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

bungle

mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior

projectile

missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)

erroneous

mistaken; wrong; incorrect

s jumble

mix in a confused way

s mingle

mix together in close association

s 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.

n knead

mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough

n promiscuous

mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity

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

n unassuming

modest; Ex. the champion's unassuming manner

n 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

n potentate

monarch; sovereign

cloister

monastery or convent

s alms

money or goods given to the poor

s dowry

money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage

n lucre

money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre

hybrid

mongrel; mixed breed; V. hybridize

n simian

monkeylike; N: ape or monkey

n lugubrious

mournful; sorrowful

n orifice

mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth

mobile

movable; not fixed; N. mobility

n shunt

move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.

s prance

move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)

s frisk

move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful

n skulk

move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.

s slink

move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)

n waft

move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window

n lumber

move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered through the woods; N: timber

s maraud

move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army

s lag

move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag behind the rest; N.

s 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.

s creep

move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.

s 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

s 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

n 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)

brawny

muscular; having well-developed muscles

n 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

n 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

n 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

n recount

narrate or tell (a story); count over again

s interstice

narrow space between things

n ravine

narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon

n 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

n insularity

narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula

s 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)

s habitat

natural home of a plant or animal; CF. habitation

propensity

natural inclination

n sextant

navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)

impending

nearing; approaching; about to happen

n propinquity

nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship

proximity

nearness; ADJ. proximate

n myopic

nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia

dapper

neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry

n spruce

neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.

deft

neat; skillful

n natty

neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser

requisite

necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required; necessary

n 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

n titter

nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.

n 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

s shoot

new growth from a plant

n 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

n patrician

noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian

s uproar

noisy confusion

bacchanal

noisy party with a lot of drinking

impenetrable

not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding; impossible to understand; Ex. impenetrable mystery

passive

not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance

irrelevant

not applicable; unrelated

s impersonal