Scott Floam (Barron's ess. words)

arroyo

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

recidivism

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

inebriated

habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety

taciturn

habitually silent; talking little

trite

hackneyed; commonplace

banal

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

crone

hag; ugly old woman

hackles

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

coiffure

hairstyle

hirsute

hairy; having a lot of hair

somnolent

half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence

satyr

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

clot

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

snicker

half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.

utopia

ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian

quixotic

idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote

drone

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

snub

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

mischance

ill luck

enmity

ill will; hatred; hostility

cantankerous

ill-humored; irritable

morose

ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy

gavel

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

maul

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

tiller

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

illicit

illegal

contraband

illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.

factotum

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

bastard

illegitimate child

paramour

illicit lover

malady

illness

illusory

illusive; deceptive; not real

Shangri-la

imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost Horizon

fictitious

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

loiter

hang about/around; stand idly about; linger

hover

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

pendant(pendent)

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

pendulous

hanging; suspended

eventual

happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory

concurrent

happening at the same time; in agreement

fancy

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

casual

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

forthcoming

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

fancied

imagined; unreal

ape

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

emulate

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

mimicry

imitation

dummy

imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy

pastiche

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

sophomoric

immature; half-baked; like a sophomore

unfledged

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

intuition

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

misconduct

immoral behavior; bad management; V.

rake

immoral or dissolute person

evenhanded

impartial; fair

restive

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

imminent

impending; near at hand

felicity

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

impervious

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

beset

harass or trouble from all directions; hem in

harry

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

bait

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

impalpable

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

rigid

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

brittle

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

incrustation

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

crust

hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)

impudence

impertinence; insolence

esoteric

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

drudgery

hard unpleasant work; menial work

adamant

hard; inflexible

arduous

hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work

impermeable

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

metaphor

implied comparison; CF. simile

causal

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

historic

important in history; Ex. historic battle

callous

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

levy

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

defame

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

deleterious

harmful

noxious

harmful; CF. obnoxious

injurious

harmful; causing injury

detrimental

harmful; damaging; N. detriment

irreconcilable

impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able to be resolved

innocuous

harmless

irretrievable

impossible to recover or regain; CF. retrieve

susceptible

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

august

impressive; majestic

grandeur

impressiveness; stateliness; majesty

incarcerate

imprison

immure

imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall

impropriety

improperness; unsuitableness

ameliorate

improve

insolence

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

nirvana

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

comatose

in a coma; extremely sleepy

gamely

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

amok(amuck)

in a state of rage; Ex. run amok

congruent

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

pell-mell

in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell

virtual

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

vassal

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

sound

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

enamored

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

nominal

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

chaotic

in utter disorder

inert

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

malapropos

inappropriate; ADV.

oblivious

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

placebo

harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill

consonant

harmonious; in agreement; N.

compatible

harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together

concord

harmony; accord

consonance

harmony; agreement

conformity

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

bridle

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

belabor

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

severity

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

expedite

hasten; make go faster

slapdash

hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)

headlong

hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.

incubate

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

malicious

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

misogynist

hater of woman; CF. misogyny

misogamy

hatred of marriage

supercilious

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

tend

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

vertebrate

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

consanguineous(consanguine)

having a common ancestor

concentric

having a common center

cognate

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

blunt

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

determinate

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

wan

having a pale or sickly color; pallid

serrated

having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf

sour

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

capillary

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

autocratic

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

apolitical

having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs

odorous

having an odor

clairvoyant

having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance

voluminous

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

ponderous

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

anthropomorphic

having human form or characteristics

relevant

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

desperate

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

effete

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

multiform

having many forms

multilingual

having many languages; fluent in several languages

versatile

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

ciliated

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

peerless

having no equal; incomparable

uninhibited

having no inhibitions; free in behavior and feelings

static

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

unprecedented

having no previous example; novel; unparalleled

monochromatic

having only one color

prurient

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

verisimilar

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

musky

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

rancid

having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank

authoritative

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

civil

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

cognitive

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

fluted

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

effeminate

having womanly traits

promontory

headland

denizen

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

incisive

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

enlist

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

condescend

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

innate

inborn

variegated

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

pert

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

flighty

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

spry

(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble

censor

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

proselytize

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

flutter

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

warble

(of a bird) sing; babble; N.

capsize

(of a boat) turn over

navigable

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

ramshackle

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

abject

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

virulent

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

d\'ecollet\'e

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

transpire

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

venial

(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial

throb

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

turbid

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

viscous

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

malleable

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

tumid

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

erudite

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

grandiloquent

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

discursive

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

venturesome

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

rotund

(of a person) fat and round

rational

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

expansive

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

swelter

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

veracious

(of a person) truthful

inhibited

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

resound

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

desolate

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

run-down

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

lush

(of a plant or grass) growing very well

untenable

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

swarthy

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

slough

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

resonant

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

rasp

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

haunt

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

episodic

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

apocryphal

(of a story) widely believed but untrue

ooze

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

demure

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

pejorative

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

felicitous

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

rare

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

graze

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

feral

(of an animal) not domestic; wild

traumatic

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

seemly

(of behavior) proper; appropriate

heterodox

(of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional

rickety

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

dull

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

exorbitant

(of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable bounds

inchoate

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

arid

(of land) dry; barren; unproductive

fallow

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

rolling

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

vivid

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

catholic

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

gush

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

sinewy

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

debonair

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

legato

(of music) played smoothly

hardy

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

dutiful(duteous)

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

plenary

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

stringent

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

amalgamate

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

crotchety

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

ungainly

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

perspicacious

(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute

leery

(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious

inimical

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

glaring

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

unmitigated

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

rife

(of something bad) widespread; abundant; current

extant

(of something written or painted) still in existence

perspicuous

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

didactic

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

impassioned

(of speech) filled with passion; fervent

acute

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

sallow

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

ebb

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

stentorian

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

dingy

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

raucous

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

overwhelm

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

stagnant

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

torrid

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

sultry

(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous

muggy

(of weather) warm and damp

mellifluous

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

equivocal

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

remunerative

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

cursive

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

polity

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

shambles

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

upright

(sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral

bloated

(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air

implacable

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

invulnerable

incapable of injury; impossible to damage or injure

sterile

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

cremate

incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium

nascent

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

proclivity

inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)

sadistic

inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty

factious

inclined to form factions; causing dissension

reticent

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

sonnet

14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern

prone

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

subsume

include (as a member of a group); encompass

comprise

include; consist of

salubrious

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

hale

healthy

partial

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

unobtrusive

inconspicuous; not blatant

skittish

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

increment

increase

wax

increase gradually (as the moon); grow

propagate

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

amplify

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

crescendo

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

augment

increase; add to

enhance

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

implicate

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

irremediable

incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy

bawdy

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

bank

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

calorific

heat-producing; N. calorie

ardor

heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent

celestial

heavenly

nonchalance

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

lopsided

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

cumbersome

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

ballast

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

communal

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

resentment

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

facilitate

help bring about; make less difficult

conducive

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

beneficial

helpful; useful; advantageous

mealymouthed

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

circumlocution

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

innuendo

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

oblique

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

incontrovertible

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

irrefutable

indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable

idiosyncrasy

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

opportunist

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

hypnosis

induced sleeping state; ADJ. hypnotic; V. hypnotize

humor

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

fledgling(fledgeling)

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

inerrancy

infallibility

unerringly

infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes

opprobrium

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

contagion

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

illimitable

infinite; limitless

dysentery

inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract

overblown

inflated; exaggerated

subjective

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

apprise

inform

colloquy

informal discussion; conversation

impinge

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

ingenue

ing\'enue; young innocent girl

infest

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

incompatible

inharmonious; N. incompatibility

bruise

injure without breaking the skin; N.

impair

injure; hurt; damage

mayhem

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

effervescence

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

pry

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

query

inquiry; question; V.

demented

insane

deranged

insane

lunatic

insane; Ex. lunatic asylum

epitaph

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

interpolate

insert between

foist

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

perceptive

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

paltry

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

inconsequential

insignificant; unimportant

cant

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

impertinent

insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence

brazen

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

institution

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

edify

instruct; correct morally

slight

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

affront

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

insuperable

insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties

intelligentsia

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

smart

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

lust

intense sexual desire; intense eagerness; V.

frigid

intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone

purport

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

ulterior

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

symbiosis

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

meddlesome

interfering; V. meddle: interfere

intermediary

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

misconstrue

interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge

daunt

intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten

asunder

into parts; apart; V. sunder

knotty

intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot

broach

introduce as a subject; moot; open up

incorporate

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

prologue

introduction (to a poem or play)

prelude

introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner

preamble

introductory statement

prefatory

introductory; of a preface

interloper

intruder; one who interferes

contrive

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

figment

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

energize

invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active

exhilarating

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

sacrosanct

invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable

mass

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

impregnable

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

opalescent

iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence

anvil

iron block used in hammering out metals

eccentric

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

anomaly

irregularity

juggernaut

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

ineluctable

irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable

cleft

N: split

indecision

irresolution; inability to make up one's mind

impiety

irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety

blasphemy

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

impious

irreverent

irascible

irritable; easily angered

testy

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

nettle

irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome

rankle

irritate; fester; annoy

rile

irritate; vex; muddy

voyeur

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

pique

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

pharisee

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

centurion

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

toga

Roman outer robe

saga

Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative

aristocracy

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

recluse

hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive

halting

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

scruple

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

notch

V-shaped cut in a surface; V.

flinch

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

falter

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

potpourri

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

pitfall

hidden danger; concealed trap

irony

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

impede

hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block

arcade

a covered passageway usually lined with shops

scad

a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes

collation

a light meal; collating

artisan

a manually skilled worker

regent

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

apiary

a place where bees are kept

carillon

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

cache

hiding place; V.

intellect

higher mental powers; person of great intellectual ability

renounce

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

ventral

abdominal

plasticity

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

mutablility

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

foresight

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

prescience

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

empathy

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

motility

ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously

caliber

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

soluble

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

tangible

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

buoyant

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

amphibian

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

solvent

able to pay all depths; N. solvency

effectual

able to produce a desired effect; valid

discriminating

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

elastic

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

protean

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

ambulatory

able to walk

aberrant

abnormal or deviant

dys-

abnormal; impaired

anomalous

abnormal; irregular

abrogate

abolish

consistency

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

anarchy

absence of governing body; state of disorder

distrait

absentminded; distracted

imperative

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

assimilate

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

refrain

abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus

celibate

abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy

pr\'ecis

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

recondite

abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret

preposterous

absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous

plenitude

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

affluence

abundance; wealth

luxuriant

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

invective

abuse

scurrilous

abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark

vituperative

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

chasm

abyss; very deep crack

spoonerism

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

fortuitous

accidental; by chance; N. fortuity

adventitious

accidental; casual; happening by chance

incriminate

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

wean

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

habituate

accustom or familiarize; addict

inured

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

culmination

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

wangle

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

appropriate

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

exonerate

acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt

arbitrate

act as judge (at the request of both sides)

incarnation

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

vivisection

act of dissecting living animals

outrage

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

orientation

act of finding oneself in society; orienting

summation

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

lookout

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

ambush

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

provision

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

recital

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

diversion

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

volition

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

usage

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

disjunction

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

clown

act stupidly; play the fool; N.

pantomime

acting without dialogue; V.

stealth

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

animosity

active enmity

vigor

active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous

apogee

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

agog

highly excited; intensely curious

prodigy

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

anguish

acute pain; extreme suffering

proverb

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

leaven

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

elaboration

addition of details; intricacy

addendum

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

accessory

additional object; useful but not essential thing

condign

adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved

viscid

adhesive; gluey

contiguous

adjacent to; touching upon

adjacent

adjoining; neighboring; close by

compromise

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

acclimate

adjust to climate or environment; adapt

ward

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

ventilate

admit fresh air into to replace stale air

enfranchise

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

concede

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

espouse

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

embellish

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

promote

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

precocious

advanced in development; N. precocity

benefit

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

suffragist

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

mannered

affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech

mincing

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

grandiose

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

gustatory

affecting or relating to the sense of taste

posthumous

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

emissary

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

catalyst

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

polemical(polemic)

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

truculence

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

ferment

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

harrowing

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

accede

agree

assent

agree; accept; N. assessment

jibe

agree; be in harmony with; gibe

concur

agree; coincide; happen at the same time

amiable

agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly

palatable

agreeable; pleasing to the taste

accord

agreement

bargain

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

compact

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

dilettante

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

desultory

aimless; haphazard; digressing at random

attentive

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

omniscient

all-knowing

omnipotent

all-powerful; having unlimited power

purported

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

permissive

allowing much freedom; lenient; Ex. permissive society

waylay

ambush; lie in wait for and attack

rider

amendment or clause added to a legislative bill

licentious

amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained

disport

amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert

concession

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

alias

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

anachronism

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

dissection

analysis; cutting apart in order to examine

assay

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

progenitor

ancestor

forebears(forbears)

ancestors

pedigree

ancestry; lineage

papyrus

ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant

cherubic

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

indignation

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

rake

angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular

irate

angry; CF. ire: anger; wrath

parasite

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

ruminant

animal that ruminates; ADJ.

totem

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

gadfly

animal-biting fly; irritating person

fauna

animals of a period or region; CF. flora

promulgate

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

enunciate

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

harass

annoy by repeated attacks

vex

annoy; distress

gall

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

chagrin

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

irksome

annoying; tedious; V. irk: annoy

antediluvian

antiquated; extremely ancient

archaic

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

solicitous

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

perquisite(perk)

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

canker

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

refuse

anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash

aloof

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

siren

apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature

gyroscope

apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.

ostensible

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

loom

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

verisimilitude

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

propitiate

appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory

mitigate

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

acclaim

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

lubricate

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

accost

approach and speak first to a person

converge

approach; tend to meet; come together

apposite

appropriate; fitting

approbation

approval

ratify

approve formally; confirm; verify

sanction

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

countenance

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

endorse

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

conduit

aqueduct; passageway for fluids

fervent

ardent; zealous; hot

fervid

ardent; zealous; hot

parish

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

callus

area of thick hard skin

haggle

argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain)

disputatious

argumentative; fond of argument

stem_from

arise from; originate from

militia

army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers

battalion

army unit made up of four or more companies

incite

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

provocative

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

odious

arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile

codify

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

graduate

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

graduated

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

hierarchy

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

rig

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

symmetry

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

meter

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

apprehend

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

advent

arrival

hubris

arrogance; excessive self-conceit

overweening

arrogant; presumptuous

incendiary

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

gastronomy

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

rhetoric

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

choreography

art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances

prosody

art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse

treatise

article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly

sluice

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

culvert

artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road

affected

artificial; pretended

factitious

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

aesthetic

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

ashen

ash-colored; deadly pale

assail

assault

compile

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

acquiesce

assent; agree passively; comply without protest

baroque

highly ornate

high-flown

highly pretentious or inflated

virtuoso

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

contention

assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition

allocate

assign; set apart for a particular purpose

succor

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

abet

assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

consort

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

quench

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

pose

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

posture

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

supposititious

assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical

imposture

assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor

supposition

assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose

premise

assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based

dumbfound(dumfound)

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

heinous

atrocious; wicked; hatefully bad; Ex. heinous crime

append

attach

annex

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

bombardment

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

polemic

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

revile

attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)

iconoclastic

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

offensive

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

court

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

engage

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

personable

attractive (in personality or appearance)

prepossessing

attractive; CF. preoccupying ?

comely

attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance

impute

attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation

dictum

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

decree

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

magisterial

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

pundit

authority on a subject; expert; learned person

proxy

authorized agent; authority to act for another

postmortem

autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem

covetous

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

antipathy

aversion; dislike or opposition

shirk

avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger

eschew

avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks

accolade

award of merit; strong praise and approval

unwieldy

awkward (to carry or move); cumbersome; unmanageable

hinterlands

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

grouch

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

peevish

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

surly

bad-tempered; rude; cross

cross

bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry

puzzle

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

equilibrium

balance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity

equipoise

balance; balancing force; equilibrium

embargo

ban on commerce or other activity

ostracize

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

rusticate

banish to the country; dwell in the country

insolvent

bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency

chaffing

bantering; joking

debar

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

barrage

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

stump

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

hypothetical

based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed; N. hypothesis

empirical

based on experience

practical

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

theoretical

based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical

fundamental

basic; primary; essential

disparate

basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated

prefigure

be a sign of; foreshadow

fret

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

beware

be cautious (of)

dote

be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline

behoove(behove)

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

appreciate

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

betray

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

seethe

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

prevail

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

nib

beak(bill); pen point

fructify

bear fruit; produce fruit

comport

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

fruition

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

ursine

bearlike; pertaining to a bear

bestial

beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel

thresh

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

thrash

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

flail

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

finery

beautiful clothes for a special occasion

calligraphy

beautiful writing; excellent penmanship

pulchritude

beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous

pall

become boring; grow tiresome

betroth

become engaged to marry

relent

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

ingratiate

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

blush

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

prosper

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

topple

become unsteady and fall down

degenerate

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

putrescent

becoming putrid; putrefying

apiculture

bee-keeping

implore

beg

importune

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

beseech

beg; plead with

mendicant

beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar

wage

begin and continue (a war)

coup

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

impediment

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

insinuate

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

inkling

hint; slight indication

inaugurate

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

sprout

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

initiate

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

novice

beginner

tyro

beginner; novice

conception

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

incipient

beginning; in an early stage

genesis

beginning; origin

flirt

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

subservient

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

mischief

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

demeanor

behavior; bearing

decapitate

behead

ubiquitous

being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity

arrears

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

singular

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

aboriginal

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

veritable

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

credence

belief

monotheism

belief in one God

credulity

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

fatalism

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

pessimism

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

Epicurean

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

disparage

belittle

subliminal

below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement

stoop

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

droop

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

genuflect

bend the knee as in worship

refraction

bending of a ray of light

beleaguer

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

inordinate

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

irreproachable

beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex. irreproachable conduct

preternatural

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

indenture

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

covenant

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

astringent

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

obligatory

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

mordant

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

acrid

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

feud

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

diatribe

bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse

gall

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

acerbity

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

outlandish

bizzare; peculiar; unconventional

graphite

black form of carbon used in lead pencils

necromancy

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

obsidian

black volcanic rock

denigrate

blacken; defame

reproach

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

censure

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

blanch

bleach; whiten; make white or pale

hallowed

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

beatitude

blessedness; state of great happiness

benediction

blessing

benison

blessing

boon

blessing; benefit; something very helpful

chauvinist

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

filibuster

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

thwart

block or hinder; baffle; frustrate

hindrance

block; obstacle; V. hinder

vendetta

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

artery

blood-vessel; CF. vein

gory

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

sanguinary

bloody; with much bloodshed

mottled

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

bluster

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

doldrums

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

brusque

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

obtuse

blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding

palette

board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring matters)

brag

boast

intimate

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

bump

hit or knock against with force; N.

vaunted

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

braggart

boaster; bragger

vainglorious

boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity

magniloquent

boastful; pompous

braggadocio

boasting

regatta

boat or yacht race

corporeal

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

clientele

body of customers

quagmire

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

guffaw

boisterous laughter; V.

revelry

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

hilarity

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

obstreperous

boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable

dauntless

bold; fearless

temerity

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

stilted

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

catechism

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

anthology

book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus

pedantic

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

uncouth

boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish

churlish

boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo

abut

border upon; adjoin

verge

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

margin

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

maritime

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

blas\'e

bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored

ennui

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

tedium

boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious

overbearing

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

abysmal

bottomless

obeisance

bow (to show respect and obedience)

hive

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

pugilist

boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing

plait

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

ramify

branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions

ramification

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

exploit

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

valor

bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave

fortitude

bravery; courage; strength of mind

fracas

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

fray

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

violate

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

renege

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

breach

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

exhale

breathe out; OP. inhale

respiration

breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory

fancier

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

concise

brief and compact

laconic

brief and to the point; using few words; terse

gloss

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

glossary

brief explanation of words used in the text

gleam

brief flash of light; glow; V.

motto

brief statement used to express a principle

compendium

brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious

slap

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

illuminate

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

resplendent

brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious

incur

bring upon oneself

farce

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

spatula

broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing

comprehensive

broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive

sibling

brother or sister

tawny

brownish yellow

contusion

bruise

atrocity

brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious

bugaboo

bugbear; object of baseless terror

fabricate

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

edifice

building (of imposing size)

browbeat

bully; intimidate

sheaf

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

encumber

burden; N. encumbrance

onus

burden; responsibility

incubus

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

onerous

burdensome

takeoff

burlesque; act of leaving the ground

cauterize

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

sear

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

incinerate

burn to ashes

flicker

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

caustic

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

implode

burst inward; CF. vaccum tube

inter

bury; N. interment

swipe

hit with a sweeping motion; N.

entrepreneur

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

guy

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

catastrophe

calamity ; disaster

actuarial

calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics

repress

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

invoke

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

fanfare

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

evoke

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

convoke

call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation

phlegmatic

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

dispassionate

calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings

allay

calm; pacify

halcyon

calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days

equanimity

calmness of temperament; composure

tranquillity

calmness; peace

serenity

calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene

clasp

hold firmly within arms

negate

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

abolish

cancel; put an end to

expunge

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

revoke

cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable

countermand

cancel; revoke (an order)

outspoken

candid; blunt

venal

capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal

reparable

capable of being repaired

tensile

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

prehensile

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

viable

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

sentient

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

ambidextrous

capable of using either hand with equal ease

vagary

capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander

mercurial

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

enthrall

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

thrifty

careful about money; economical; N. thrift

studied

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

lax

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

plane

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

vulture

carrion-eating birds

scabbard

case for a sword blade; sheath

quiver

case for arrows

bewitch

cast a spell over; captivate completely

cavalier

casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight

offhand

casual; done without prior thought or preparation

cursory

casual; hastily done with little attention to detail

descry

catch sight of (something distant)

pander

cater to (the low desires of others)

grievance

cause of complaint; complaint

indoctrinate

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

conjure

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

nauseate

cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea

germinate

cause to sprout; sprout

suspend

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

generate

cause; produce; create

engender

cause; produce; give rise to

prompt

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

touching

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

problematic

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

carcinogenic

causing cancer; N. carcinogen

sublime

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

grim

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

analgesic

causing insensitivity to pain; N.

nauseous

causing nausea; feeling nausea

pestilential(pestilent)

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

pathetic

causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching

vitriolic

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

prudent

cautious; careful; prudential

chary

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

luminary

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

reprove

censure; rebuke; N. reproof

kernel

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

mace

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

formality

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

ordination

ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest

certitude

certainty

curb

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

shackle

chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.

hap

chance; luck

odds

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

vicissitude

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

veer

change in direction; swerve

metamorphosis

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

ossify

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

shift

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

variegate

change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)

gerrymander

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

innovation

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

fickle

changeable (in affections or friendship); faithless

volatile

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

migrant

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

padre

chaplain (in the armed forces)

temperament

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

generic

characteristic of an entire class or species; of a genus

universal

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

impeach

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

arraign

charge in court; indict

indict

charge; N. indictment

mountebank

charlatan; boastful pretender

quack

charlatan; impostor

talisman

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

amulet

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

engaging

charming; attractive

idyllic

charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene

babble

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

jabber

chatter rapidly or unintelligibly

tawdry

cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry

cozen

cheat; hoodwink; swindle

swindler

cheater

fraudulent

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

jaunty

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

alacrity

cheerful promptness without reluctance

geniality

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

fermentation

chemical reaction that splits complex organic compounds; unrest; agitation

masticate

chew

ruminate

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

arch-

chief; first; Ex. archbishop

cardinal

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

puerile

childish; immature; CF. puer: boy

infantile

childish; infantlike

progeny

children; offspring; descendants

indiscriminate

choosing at random; confused; not based on careful distinctions

draw

choosing of a lot or card

chortle

chuckle with delight; N.

prelate

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

curmudgeon

churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person

tenacious

holding fast (as to a belief); persistent

tenure

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

riveting

holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing

rotunda

circular building or hall covered with a dome

vociferous

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

friction

clash or conflict in opinion; rubbing against

talon

claw of bird

expurgate

clean; remove offensive parts of a book

bouillon

clear beef (or meat) soup

exculpate

clear from blame or guilt

vindicate

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

distinctive

clearly different from others of the same kind

distinct

clearly different; clearly noticed

perspicuity

clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity

chaplain

clergyman attached to a chapel

resourceful

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

sly

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

cunning

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

shrewd

clever; astute

precipice

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

clime

climate

clamber

climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble

scale

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

surveillance

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

rapport

close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony

circuit

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

attire

clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel

outfit

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

raiment

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

buffoonery

clowning

saccharine

cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin

bludgeon

club; heavy-headed weapon; V.

gauche

clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth

lout

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

maladroit

clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling

fodder

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

abusive

coarsely insulting; physically harmful

rooster

cock; adult male chicken

convoluted

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

bleak

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

clavicle

collarbone

amass

collect (gradually, in a very large amount)

corpus

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

menagerie

collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo

agglomeration

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

hue

color; aspect; Ex. opinions of every hue

spectrum

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

pigment

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

militant

combative; bellicose; N.

pugnacity

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

merger

combination (of two business corporations); act of merging

amalgam

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

coalesce

combine; fuse; N. coalescence

compound

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

synthesis

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

intervene

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

rally

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

accrue

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

convene

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

solace

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

malapropism

comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop

fiat

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

enjoin

command; order; forbid

bid

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

memorialize

commemorate

embark

commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey

annotate

comment; make explanatory notes

perpetrate

commit an offense; do (something wrong)

plebeian

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

hackneyed

commonplace; trite

tumult

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

analogous

comparable; similar

simile

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

glamor

compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous

urgent

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

compulsion

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

reparation

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

lexicographer

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

whine

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

rail

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

snivel

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

grouse

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

grumble

complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.

unanimity

complete agreement; ADJ. unanimous

bliss

complete happiness; ADJ. blissful

sovereignty

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

consummate

complete; V.

complement

complete; consummate; make perfect; N.

integral

complete; necessary for completeness; Ex. integral part

absolute

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

imbroglio

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

improvise

compose on the spur of the moment

sedate

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

collected

composed; calm; self-possessed

fathom

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

addiction

compulsive habitual need

palm

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

secrete

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

narcissist

conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus

smirk

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

plausible

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

hermetic

concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult

olfactory

concerning the sense of smell

mercantile

concerning trade or merchants

pithy

concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty

terse

concise; abrupt; pithy

brevity

conciseness; shortness of duration

coda

concluding section of a musical or literary composition

peroration

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

finale

conclusion; concluding part

damn

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

denounce

condemn; criticize; N. denunciation

doom

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

abridge

condense or shorten

deign

condescend; stoop

anemia

condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic

squalor

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

analgesia

condition of being unable to feel pain

standstill

condition of no movement or activity; stop

florescence

condition or period of flowering

healthful

conducive to good health; Ex. healthful mountain air

wholesome

conducive to mental or physical health; healthful

sedition

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

bestow

confer

parley

conference (between opponents); CF. speak

corroborate

confirm; support; strengthen

discord

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

compliance

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

befuddle

confuse thoroughly

fluster

confuse; make nervous and confused; N.

muddle

confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion

obfuscate

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

confound

confuse; puzzle

disconcert

confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb

hubbub

confused uproar; loud noise; din

bemused

confused; lost in thought; preoccupied

welter

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

coagulate

congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant

natal

connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF. postnatal

historical

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

nexus

connection

gourmet

connoisseur of food and drink; epicure

epicure

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

subjugate

conquer; bring under control

scrupulous

conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker

anoint

consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)

deliberate

consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow

notable

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

flagrant

conspicuously wicked, bad, or offensive; blatant; outrageous

collusion

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

constitution

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

liaison

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

taint

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

scurvy

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

base

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

vie

contend; compete

vying

contending; CF. vie

lottery

contest in which winners are selected in a drawing of lots

persist

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

persevere

continue steadily in spite of difficulties

din

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

knit

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

belie

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

contravene

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

antithesis

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

foil

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

dominate

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

ascendancy

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

amenities

convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies

mores

conventions; moral standards; moral customs

tan

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

cogent

convincing

broil

cook by direct heat; N.

facsimile

copy

replica

copy

travesty

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

transcribe

copy; write a copy of; N. transcription

lace

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

pith

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

conglomerate

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

cadaver

corpse; dead human body

emend

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

disabuse

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

orthography

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

amend

correct; change ; generally for the better

congruence

correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity

debauch

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

pervert

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

perversion

corruption; turning from right to wrong

barrister

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

mentor

counselor; teacher

reckon

count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose

recrimination

countercharges; V. recriminate

bogus

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

forge

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

mettle

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

pluck

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

tribunal

court of justice

deference

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

chivalrous

courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry

comity

courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations

pertinacious

holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent

retentive

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

fawning

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

glaze

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

gild

cover with a thin layer of gold

craven

cowardly

pusillanimous

cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted

quail

cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart

bovine

cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm

crevice

crack; fissure

Machiavellian

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

hurtle

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

grovel

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

statutory

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

credo

creed

fissure

crevice; crack

juncture

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

animadversion

critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval

pan

criticize harshly

askew

crookedly; slanted; at an angle

throng

crowd (of people or things); V.

horde

crowd; swarm

diadem

crown

shack

crude cabin

hut

crude dwelling; shack

fell

cruel; (of a disease) deadly

mash

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

pulverize

crush or grind into very small particles

squash

crush; quash; suppress

quash

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

oatmeal

crushed oats used for making porridge

exclaim

cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory

limpid

crystal clear

therapeutic

curative; N. therapy

elixir

cure-all; panacea; something invigorating

panacea

cure-all; remedy for all diseases

quizzical

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

draught

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

malediction

curse

execrate

curse; express abhorrence for; detest

imprecation

curse; swearword

aquiline

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

convex

curving outward

excise

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

prune

cut away; trim

retrench

cut down; cut down expenses; economize

dismember

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

amputate

cut off part of body; prune (a limb)

clip

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

fell

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

truncate

cut the top off; shorten

hew

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

sarcasm

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

abscission

cutting off; separation

trenchant

cutting; incisive; keen

concave

hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex

hermitage

home of a hermit

debut

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

chore

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

quotidian

daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine

diurnal

daily; occurring during the daytime

marred

damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure

perdition

damnation; complete ruin; hell

humid

damp; N. humidity

dank

damp; unpleasantly wet

hazardous

dangerous

audacious

daring; bold; N. audacity

domicile

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

waif

homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays

vagrant

homeless wanderer

murky

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

somber

dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow

opaque

dark; not transparent; N. opacity

obscure

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

eclipse

darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse

reverie

daydream; abstracted musing

defunct

dead; no longer in use or existence

stalemate

deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked

lethal

deadly

demise

death

obituary

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

disembark

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

libertine

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

gangrene

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

decomposition

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

decadence

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

putrid

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

guile

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

delude

deceive

wheedle

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

hoodwink

deceive; delude

inveigle

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

beguile

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

illusive

deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive

artifice

deception; trickery

stratagem

deceptive scheme; clever trick

delusive

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

resolve

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

nostalgia

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

conclusive

decisive; ending all debate

hatch

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

avow

declare openly; N. avowal

decipher

decode; CF. indecipherable

adorn

decorate

embroider

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

garnish

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

fringe

decorative edge of hanging threads; edge

wane

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

edict

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

ordain

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

ordinance

decree; authoritative order

integrity

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

consecrate

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

infer

deduce; conclude; N. inference

ignominy

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

tureen

deep dish for serving soup

grudge

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

coma

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

remorse

deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach

inveterate

deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old

profound

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

ingrained

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

slander

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

libel

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

discredit

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

foil

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

rampart

defensive mound of earth

feebleminded

deficient in intelligence; very stupid

sully

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

mulct

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

unfrock

defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority

debase

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

crestfallen

dejected; dispirited

retard

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

belated

delayed

dilatory

delaying; tending to delay

calculated

deliberately planned; likely

filigree

delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork

finesse

delicate skill; V: handle with finesse

dainty

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

choice

delicate; of very fine quality

exquisite

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

acquittal

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

cataclysm

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

hallucination

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

exact

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

peremptory

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

laborious

demanding much work or care; tedious

disavowal

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

centigrade

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

panoramic

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

inveigh

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

gainsay

deny

atheistic

denying the existence of God; N. atheism

abscond

depart secretly and hide

exodus

departure (of a large number of people)

contingent

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

bearing

deportment; connection

turpitude

depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude

bereaved

deprived of (someone beloved through death)

bereft

deprived of (something valuable); lacking

devolve

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

taunt

deride or provoke; challenge in derision; N.

deducible

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

derivation

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

posterity

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

lineage

descent; ancestry

sacrilegious

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

forsake

desert; abandon; renounce

renegade

deserter; traitor; ADJ.

defection

desertion

comeuppance

deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke

merit

deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise

retribution

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

culpable

deserving blame; blameworthy

reprehensible

deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame

venerable

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

reverend

deserving reverence; N: priest

monogram

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

invidious

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

crave

desire; want intensely

vile

despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander

annihilate

destroy

raze

destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground

obliterate

destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village

defoliate

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

corrode

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

holocaust

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

carnage

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

demolition

destruction; V. demolish

scion

detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant

resolution

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

resolve

determination; resolution; firmness of purpose

predetermine

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

canvass

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

bent

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

dogged

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

loathe

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

abhor

detest; hate

abominable

detestable; extremely unpleasant

odium

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

depose

dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify

ravage

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

swerve

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

aberration

deviation from the normal; mental disorder

sensual

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

pious

devout; religious; N. piety

piety

devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious

sleight

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

diabolical

diabolic; devilish; fiendish

horoscope

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

lexicon

dictionary

suffocate

die or kill from lack of air; suppress

disparity

difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity

diverse

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

plight

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

predicament

difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma

fastidious

difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky

inscrutable

difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious

nebula

diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy

quarry

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

exhume

dig out of the ground; remove from a grave

unearth

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

disinter

dig up; unearth; OP. inter

delve

dig; search deeply; investigate

quandary

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

assiduous

diligent

application

diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself

fete(f\^ete)

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

sedulous

diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity

industrious

diligent; hard-working; N. industry

reduce

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

sap

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

refectory

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

protocol

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

address

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

subsidy

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

beeline

direct quick route

referendum

direct vote by all the people

plebiscite

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

ragamuffin

dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes

smudge

dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.

filth

dirty matter; ADJ. filthy

incapacitate

disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity

dissent

disagree

pushy

disagreeably aggressive

dissension

disagreement of opinions causing strife within a group

disapprobation

disapproval; condemnation

calamity

disaster; misery

insightful

discerning; perceptive

commemorate

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

distinction

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

kudos

honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement

chasten

discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate

recant

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

discombobulated

discomposed; confused

faze

disconcert; dismay; embarrass

disjointed

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

dissonance

discord

cacophonous

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

dishearten

discourage

bandy

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

virus

disease communicator

rabies

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

unravel

disentangle; solve

disenfranchise

disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise

dishonor

disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable

demean

disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave

homage

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

disconsolate

hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)

dissemble

disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend

repugnance

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

fulsome

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

downcast

disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward

unkempt

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

skulduggery(skullduggery)

dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election

dissolution

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

recreant

disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person

disaffected

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

appall

dismay; shock deeply

insubordination

disobedience; rebelliousness; ADJ. insubordinate

recalcitrant

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

unruly

disobedient; lawless; difficult to control

scrimmage

disorderly fight between two or more people

repudiate

disown; disavow; deny

disclaim

disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer

belittle

disparage; depreciate

favoritism

display of partiality toward a favored person

flaunt

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

sanctimonious

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

vindictive

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

clemency

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

refute

disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation

cornucopia

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

ghastly

horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast

animus

hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition

impugn

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

contest

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

discount

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

notoriety

disrepute; ill fame

dissident

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

heterogeneous

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

disband

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

girth

distance around something; circumference

repulsion

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

cloying

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

unsavory

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

pronounced

distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp

mannerism

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

feature

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

discriminate

distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference

discernible

distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement

awry

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

caricature

distortion; burlesque

dispense

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

disseminate

distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)

perturb

disturb greatly

discompose

disturb the composure of; confuse

partition

divide into parts

stratified

divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify

bifurcated

divided into two branches; forked

charisma

divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism

schism

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

dichotomy

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

precinct

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

canto

division of a long poem

stanza

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

genus

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

drudge

do drudgery; N: person who drudges

reciprocate

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

tractable

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

quay

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

cardiologist

doctor specializing in ailments of the heart

podiatrist

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

psychiatrist

doctor who treats mental diseases

tenet

doctrine; dogma

maleficient

doing evil; N. maleficience

homespun

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

hegemony

dominance especially of one nation over others

imperious

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

nocturnal

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

perfunctory

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

surreptitious

done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden

underhand(underhanded)

done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)

expeditious

done with speed; quick; N. expedition

bolt

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

quiescent

dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence

potion

dose (of liquids); liquid dose

duplicity

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

misgivings

doubts

declivity

downward slope

conscript

draftee; person forced into military service; V.

matin\'ee(matinee)

dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon

oratorio

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

elicit

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

limn

draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?

antagonism

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

liability

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

pensive

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

bedizen

dress with vulgar finery

flotsam

drifting wreckage

tipple

drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink

swill

drink greedily

imbibe

drink in

nectar

drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees

quaff

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

repel

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

urge

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

impel

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

pudding

hot sweet dish

ferret

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

exorcise

drive out evil spirits

repellent

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

propulsive

driving forward; N. propulsion

flag

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

lethargic

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

anodyne

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

apothecary

druggist; pharmacist

bacchanalian

drunken

carousal

drunken revel; V. carouse

provender

dry food for livestock; fodder

desiccate

dry up

stolid

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

drab

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

humdrum

dull; monotonous

stodgy

dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book

effigy

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

gnome

dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure hoards

abide

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

abode

dwelling place; home

moribund

dying; at the point of death; CF. death

gusto

eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm

inquisitive

eager for knowledge; unduly curious

germ

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

levee

earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise

palliate

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

facile

easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial; not deep; Ex. facile solution to a complex problem; Ex. facile speaker; N. facility: ability to do something easily and well; ease in doing resulting from skill or aptitude; something that facilitates an action; amenity; Ex. with great facility

affable

easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly

combustible

easily burned; N. CF. combustion

gullible

easily deceived

squeamish

easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.

lucid

easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity

accessible

easy to approach; obtainable

choleric

hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera

erode

eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks.

gobble

eat very quickly

corrosive

eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce

omnivorous

eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything

ecclesiastic

ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman

reverberate

echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.

ecosystem

ecological community together with its environment

brink

edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon

weird

eerie; strange; unnatural

effectuate

effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation

articulate

effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints

effective

effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph

economy

efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources

exertion

effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert oneself: make a great effort

refulgent

effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon

maudlin

effusively sentimental

ovoid

egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate

egotistical

egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited

correlate

either of the correlated things; V.

resilient

elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from misfortune)

medium

element that is a creature's natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substance through which something else is transmitted

component

element; ingredient

rudimentary

elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language

elevation

elevated position; altitude; height; flat upright side of a building; angle made by pointing a gun; Ex. The elevation of her style is much admired; Ex. front elevation of the house

apotheosis

elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something

dismiss

eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal

elliptical

elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out

manumit

emancipate; free from slavery or bondage

abash

embarrass

defalcate

embezzle

reek

emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench

detached

emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment

engaged

employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict

devoid

empty; lacking

vacuous

empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity

embed(imbed)

enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass

environ

enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city)

aviary

enclosure for birds; large cage

encipher

encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher

hortatory

encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort

termination

end; V. terminate

jeopardize

endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy: danger

interminable

endless

incarnate

endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody

dynamic

energetic; vigorously active

rapt

engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener

season

enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning

sphinx-like

enigmatic; mysterious

savor

enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality

relish

enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest

abyss

enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit

prodigious

enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory

astronomical

enormously large or extensive

ample

enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space

incense

enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned to produce a pleasant odor

matriculate

enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix

embrace

hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet

colossal

huge

mire

entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire

penetrate

enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand

regale

entertain

verve

enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor

ovation

enthusiastic applause

devotee

enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach

allure

entice; attract; tempt

gamut

entire range

unexceptionable

entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism

entree(entr\'ee)

entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle

solicit

entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer

suppliant

entreating; beseeching; N.

ambience

environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature

begrudge

envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.

gourmand

epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink

commensurate

equal in extent; of the same size

parity

equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate

accoutre

equip; N. accoutrement

paraphernalia

equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman's property exclusive of her dowry

tantamount

equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount

delete

erase; strike out

misapprehension

error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend

blunder

error; stupid mistake

arcane

esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener

gist

essence; main point; substance

crux

essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance

attribute

essential quality; V: ascribe; explain

intrinsic

essential; inherent; built-in

appraise

estimate value of; N. appraisal

elusive

evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes me.

incident

event; event that causes a crisis

perpetual

everlasting

behemoth

huge creature; something of monstrous size or power

gargantuan

huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel

enormity

hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous

biennial

every two years

credential

evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.

apparent

evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement

manifest

evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly

machinations

evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate

fiend

evil spirit; devil

baleful

evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look

sinister

evil; ominous

malefactor

evildoer; criminal

gestate

evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth

precise

exact

plumb

exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of

inflated

exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)

hyperbole

exaggeration; overstatement; ADJ. hyperbolic: of hyperbole; of a hyperbola

autopsy

examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.

audit

examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.

collate

examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)

scrutinize

examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny

surpass

exceed

transcendent

exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing; V. transcend: go beyond; exceed; surpass; N. transcendancy

plethora

excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses

self-indulgence

excessive indulgence of one's own desire

egoism

excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical

hysteria

excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric: person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack of hysteria

fanaticism

excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause; N. fanatic; ADJ. fanatic

superfluous

excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity

meticulous

excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous

rhapsody

excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)

hypercritical

excessively exacting; too critical (without noticing good qualities)

obese

excessively fat; N. obesity

prude

excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety

ornate

excessively or elaborately decorated

brawn

human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness

uxorious

excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife; CF. uxor: wife

interjection

exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch''

ejaculation

exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate

except

exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality

pretext

excuse

dominant

exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive

grueling

exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race

artful

exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice

halfhearted

exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm

iridescent

exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil slick; N. iridescence

expatriate

exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish; leave one's country

subsistence

existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)

congenital

existing at birth

primordial

existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary

egress

exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress

dilate

expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)

distend

expand; swell out

oust

expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting

seasoned

experienced

humility

humbleness of spirit

vicarious

experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ

queasy

experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy

adept

expert at; very skilled

expound

explain

gloss_over

explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults

explicate

explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable

construe

explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue

elucidate

explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid

exegesis

explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages

legend

explanatory list of symbols on a map

mortify

humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die

degradation

humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank

expository

explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition

probe

explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe

detonation

explosion

debunk

expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule

traduce

expose to slander

condole

express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow

deprecate

express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory

gloat

express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels.

indulgent

humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence

decry

express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films

derogatory

expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage

significant

expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant

ironic

expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner

potential

expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth

plaintive

expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song

eulogy

expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize

idiom

expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic

eloquence

expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced

parody

humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.

bowdlerize

expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler

cordon

extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; (¾î±ú¿¡¼ °Üµå¶û ¹ØÀ¸·Î °ÉÄ¡´Â) Àå½Ä ¸®º»; V.

extrinsic

external; not essential or inherent; extraneous; OP. intrinsic

pterodactyl

extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger

prowess

extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle

turmoil

extreme confusion; great commotion and confusion; Ex. throw the country into turmoil

depravity

extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave

penury

extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy

opulence

extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant

blatant

extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy

jingoist

extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism

exacting

extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety

parched

extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)

ravenous

extremely hungry; voracious

destitute

extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience

draconian

extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician

minuscule(miniscule)

extremely small

lilliputian

extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels

minute

extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting

astigmatism

eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism

vision

eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural

physiognomy

face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features

brave

face courageously; Ex. brave the storm

visage

face; appearance

grimace

facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc; V.

founder

fail completely; sink; CF. flounder

default

failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.

equitable

fair; impartial; OP. inequitable

equity

fairness; justice; OP. inequity

philanderer

faithless lover; flirt

waggish

humorous; mischievous; tricky

scavenge

hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food; search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who scavenges; animal that feeds on refuse and carrion

ravel

fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist

drip

fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops

plummet

fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.

deciduous

falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth

dilapidated

falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation

delusion

false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that

perjury

false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath

fallacious

false; based on a fallacy; misleading; N. fallacy: false idea or notion; false reasoning; Ex. popular fallacy; Ex. fallacy of the argument

spurious

false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments

renown

fame; ADJ. renowned

conversant

familiar with; having knowledge of

ancestry

family descent; ADJ. ancestral

grotesque

fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or amusement)

bizarre

fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional

chimerical

fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature

leave-taking

farewell or departure

modish

fashionable; conforming to the current fashion

fleet

fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral

latch

fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch

fussy

fastidious; finicky; easily upset

precipitate

hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden

kismet

fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.

patriarch

father and ruler of a family or tribe

beget

father; become the father of; produce; give rise to

captious

faultfinding; too critical

impeccable

faultless

propitious

favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign

auspicious

favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices

nepotism

favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew

claustrophobia

fear of being locked in

acrophobia

fear of heights

hydrophobia

fear of water; rabies

trepidation

fear; nervous apprehension

apprehensive

fearful; discerning

timorous

fearful; timid; demonstrating fear

intrepid

fearless

practicable

feasible

plumage

feathers of a bird;

lineaments

features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line

commiserate

feel or express pity or sympathy for

euphoria

feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being; feeling of great happiness or well-being (when unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric

affinity

feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages

nausea

feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness

simulate

feign; imitate

pretend

feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don't pretend to much expertise; N. pretense

visceral

felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate

vixen

female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew

ewe

female sheep

amazon

female warrior

pen

fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose

frond

fern leaf; palm or banana leaf

fecundity

fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young

febrile

feverish

demoniac(demoniacal)

fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil

ferocious

fierce; violent; N. ferocity

melee

fight

dossier

file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back

replenish

fill up again

fraught

filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight

hull

husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship

elated

filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation

aghast

filled with great surprise or fear; horrified

sordid

filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story

d\'enouement

final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained

ultimate

final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental; Ex. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.

ascertain

find out for certain; make certain

aversion

firm dislike

assurance

firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty

inherent

firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic

tenacity

firmness; persistence

primal

first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man's primal innocence

primary

first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first

draft

first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript

arable

fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land

tantrum

fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex. The child went into tantrums.

paroxysm

fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst

spasmodic

fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion

propriety

fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary

aptitude

fitness; talent

moodiness

fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood: state of mind or emotion

rig

fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; Ex. rig the election

ration

fixed portion; V: distribute as rations

flaccid

flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles

crossbreed

hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed

panache

flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache; CF. ÀÜ ¾Æ·¡·Î õÀ» »©³»´Â ¼Ø¾¾

gaudy

flashy; showy

meretricious

flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute

floe

flat mass of floating ice

delta

flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river

blandishment

flattery

adulation

flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved

sherbet

flavored dessert ice

armada

fleet of warships

fugitive

fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large

evanescent

fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce

carnal

fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body

pliant

flexible; easily influenced

pliable

flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable

supple

flexible; limber; pliant

willowy

flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow

lithe

flexible; supple; CF. limber

limber

flexible; supple; pliable; V.

coquette

flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.

inundate

flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work

deluge

flood; rush; V.

parquet

floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece

trickle

flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.

dribble

flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.

exude

flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation

influx

flowing into

confluence

flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together

trance

hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition

mesmerize

hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer

flux

flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux

glib

fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick

voluble

fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility

flit

fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower

ensue

follow (as a result)

subsequent

following in time or order; later

retinue

following; attendants

bookish

fond of books and reading

endearment

fond word or act; expression of affection

ambrosia

food of the gods

viand

food; CF. live

victuals

food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food

austere

forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity

compress

force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.

extrude

force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die

vehement

forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence

duress

forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress

prognosis

forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic

paramount

foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal

harbinger

forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)

precursor

forerunner; predecessor

vanguard

forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard

bode

foreshadow; portend

presage

foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen

portend

foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning

premonition

forewarning; presentiment; foreboding

granulate

form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle

satire

form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly

concordat

formal agreement

requisition

formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.

dissertation

formal essay; treatise

panegyric

formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.

disquisition

formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report

stately

formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic

phalanx

formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)

predecessor

former occupant of a post

redoubtable

formidable; causing fear

amorphous

formless; lacking shape or definition

citadel

fortress

noisome