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GRE Complete Vocab
GRE VOCABULARY WORDS
349
Language - English
Graduate
12/30/2008

Additional Language - English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Abash
Definition
(v) to make ashamed; to emberess.
Term
Abate
Definition
(v) subside; to reduce.
Term
Abdicate
Definition
(v) to step down from a position of power or responsibility.
Term
aberrant
Definition
deviating from normal or correct.
Term
Aberration
Definition
(n) sth. not typical. a deviation from standard.
Term
Abhor
Definition
(v) to hate very much.
Term
Abject
Definition
(adj) hopeless; extremely sad or servile. Defeated;
Term
Abnegate
Definition
(v) to deny oneself things; to reject; to renounce.
Term
Abortive
Definition
(adj) successful.
Term
abscond
Definition
"to leave secretly and hide, often to avoid the law."
Term
Absolve
Definition
(v) to forgive or to free from blame; to free from sin; to free from obligation.
Term
abstemious
Definition
: marked by restraint especially in the consumption of food or alcohol ; also : reflecting such restraint
Term
Abstruse
Definition
(adj) hard to understand.
Term
Abysmal
Definition
(adj) extremely hopeless or wretched.
Term
Accolade
Definition
(n) an award.
Term
Acerbic
Definition
(adj) bitter; sour; severe.
Term
Acquiesce
Definition
(v) to comply passively; to accept; to assent; to agree;
Term
Acrid
Definition
(adj) harsh - like acid.
Term
Acrimonious
Definition
(adj) full of spite; bitter; nasty.
Term
Acuity
Definition
Keenness of perception.
Term
Acumen
Definition
(n) Keenness of judgment; mental sharpness.
Term
Acute
Definition
(adj) sharp; shrewd.
Term
Adamant
Definition
(adj) stubborn; unyielding; completely inflexible.
Term
Adherent
Definition
(n) follower.
Term
Admonish
Definition
(v) to warn; to scold.
Term
adroit
Definition
"""(adj) skillful; dexterous; clever; shrewd."
Term
adulate
Definition
To praise or admire excessively; fawn on.
Term
Adulation
Definition
(v) wild or excessive admiration; flattery.
Term
advocate
Definition
"to speak, plead, or argue for a cause, or in another’s behalf. (n) -- one who advocates."
Term
aggrandize
Definition
"to make greater, to increase, thus, to exaggerate."
Term
aggrieve
Definition
To distress; afflict. To inflict an injury or injuries on.
Term
Alacrity
Definition
Cheerful eagerness or readiness to respond.
Term
amalgamate
Definition
to unite or mix. (n) -- amalgamation.
Term
ambiguous
Definition
vague; subject to more than one interpretation
Term
ambrosial
Definition
"extremely pleasing to the senses, divine (as related to the gods) or delicious (n: ambrosia)"
Term
Ameliorate
Definition
To make better or more tolerable.
Term
Amenable
Definition
Obedient; willing to give in to the wishes of others.
Term
anachronism
Definition
a person or artifact appearing after its own time or out of chronological order (adj: anachronistic)
Term
analgesia
Definition
insensibility to pain without loss of consciousness
Term
analgesic
Definition
an agent for producing analgesia
Term
Anecdote
Definition
a short account of a humorous or revealing incident.
Term
anomalous
Definition
"peculiar; unique, contrary to the norm (n: anomaly)"
Term
Antecedent
Definition
Sb or sth that went before; sth that provides a model for sth that came after it.
Term
antediluvian
Definition
"ancient; outmoded; (literally,before the flood)"
Term
antipathy
Definition
"hostility toward, objection, or aversion to"
Term
Aphorism
Definition
"a brief, often witty saying; a proverb."
Term
Apotheosis
Definition
Elevating to divine status; the perfect example of sth.
Term
Apprehensive
Definition
Worried; anxious.
Term
Approbation
Definition
Approval; praise.
Term
Arbiter
Definition
one who decides; a judge.
Term
arbitrate
Definition
to settle a dispute by impulse (n: arbitration)
Term
Arcane
Definition
only known to a select few; mysterious.
Term
Ardent
Definition
passionate.
Term
Arduous
Definition
hard; difficult
Term
Artifice
Definition
A clever trick; cunning.
Term
Ascendancy
Definition
Supremacy; domination.
Term
aspersion
Definition
slander.
Term
assailable
Definition
to attack violently with blows or words.
Term
Assay
Definition
"""(n) 1. chem. anal. of sth. (esp. a drug); 2. to asses;3. to attempt; to try."""
Term
Assiduous
Definition
hard working; busy; quite diligent.
Term
Assuage
Definition
to soothe; to pacify; to ease the pain of; to relieve;
Term
Astute
Definition
Keen judgment;
Term
attenuate
Definition
weaken (adj: attenuated); reduce in thickness.
Term
Attrition
Definition
"gradual wearing away, weakening or loss; a natural or expected decrease in number or size."
Term
audacious
Definition
"extremely bold; fearless, especially said of human behavior (n: audacity)"
Term
Auspicious
Definition
favorable; promising; pointing to a good result.
Term
Austere
Definition
unadorned; stern; forbidding; w/o excess.
Term
Autocratic
Definition
ruling w/ absolute authority; extremely bossy.
Term
Avarice
Definition
greed; excessive love of riches.
Term
Aver
Definition
(v) to state positively; to assert.
Term
aver
Definition
a: to verify or prove to be true in pleading a cause b: to allege or assert in pleading
Term
aversion
Definition
avoidance; obsolete : the act of turning away;
Term
Avuncular
Definition
like an uncle; esp. like a nice uncle.
Term
banal
Definition
commonplace or trite (n: banality)
Term
barefaced
Definition
"unconcealed, shameless, or brazen"
Term
bemused
Definition
bewildered; confused. [mused to the point of confusion]
Term
bequeath
Definition
to leave sth to sb in a will. [(n) bequest]
Term
beset
Definition
to harass; to surround
Term
besmirch
Definition
"to charge falsley or with malicious intent; to attack a good name and reputation of sb; smear as to stain or make dirty (soil, sully); "
Term
blandishment
Definition
speech or action intended to coax someone into doing something
Term
blithe
Definition
carefree; cheerful.
Term
bombast
Definition
pompous speech (adj: bombastic)
Term
breach
Definition
"a lapse, gap or break, as in a fortress wall. To break or break through.ex: Unfortunately, the club members never forgot his breach of ettiquette."
Term
brusque
Definition
abrupt in manner; blunt; rough: A brusque welcome greeted his unexpected return.
Term
bucolic
Definition
charmingly rural; rustic; country like.
Term
bungle
Definition
to act or work clumsily and awkwardly
Term
burgeon
Definition
to grow or flourish; a bud or new growth (adj: burgeoning )
Term
burlesque
Definition
"a ludicrous mocking, or exaggerated imitation. "
Term
buttress
Definition
to support. a support
Term
cacophony
Definition
"harsh sounding mixture of words, voices or sounds."
Term
cadge
Definition
to get something by taking advantage of someone
Term
cajole
Definition
to persuade sb or sth to do sth they don't want to do.
Term
callow
Definition
immature.
Term
canard
Definition
misleading story;
Term
capitulate
Definition
to surrender; to give up or give in.
Term
Caprices
Definition
"""(n) 1. a change of mind; whim; 2. a tendency to change one's mind suddenly or impulsively."""
Term
castigate
Definition
to criticize severely; to chastise.
Term
catalyst
Definition
an agent of change (adj: catalytic; v. catalyze)
Term
Catharsis
Definition
Purification that brings emotional relief or renewal.
Term
caustic
Definition
"capable of dissolving by chemical action; highly critical: ""His caustic remarks spoiled the mood of the party."""
Term
Caustic
Definition
Like acid; corrosive.
Term
Chagrin
Definition
Humiliation; embarrassment.
Term
Charlatan
Definition
Fraud; quack; conman.
Term
chicanery
Definition
deception by trickery
Term
Chicanery
Definition
Trickery; deceitfulness.
Term
Chimera
Definition
An illusion; a foolish fancy.
Term
Choleric
Definition
Hot tempered; quick to anger.
Term
Circuitous
Definition
roundabout; not following a direct path.
Term
Cogent
Definition
"1) relevant.; 2) powerfully convincing"""
Term
commensurate
Definition
equal; proportionate.
Term
complaisant
Definition
willingly compliant or accepting of the status quo (n: complaisance)
Term
complicity
Definition
participation in wrong doing; acting as an accomplice.
Term
conciliate
Definition
To overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease. To regain or try to regain (friendship or goodwill) by pleasant behavior. To make or attempt to make compatible; reconcile.
Term
conciliatory
Definition
making peace; attempting to resolve a dispute.
Term
conflagration
Definition
a great fire
Term
Confluence
Definition
a flowing together; the place where rivers meet.
Term
Congenial
Definition
Agreeably suitable; pleasant.
Term
Congenital
Definition
a trait acquired between conception and birth; innate.
Term
conjure
Definition
to summon or bring as if by magic.
Term
Consonant
Definition
harmonious; in agreement.
Term
Contentious
Definition
argumentative; quarrelsome.
Term
contiguous
Definition
side by side; adjoining.
Term
contravene
Definition
to go or act contrary to; to oppose in an argument.
Term
contrived
Definition
artificial; labored
Term
convivial
Definition
fond of partying; festive.
Term
copious
Definition
abundant; plentiful.
Term
corporal
Definition
"of the body: ""corporal punishment."" a non-commissioned officer ranked between a sergeant and a private."
Term
corporeal
Definition
"of or having to do with material, as opposed to spiritual; tangible. (In older writings,coeporeal could be a synonym for corporal. This usage is no longer common)"
Term
corroborate
Definition
"to strengthen or support: ""The witness corroborted his story."" (n: corroboration)"
Term
covert
Definition
secret; hidden.
Term
craven
Definition
cowardly; a coward
Term
credulous
Definition
gullible; eager to believe.
Term
culpable
Definition
deserving of blame (n: culpability)
Term
cursory
Definition
hasty; superficial.
Term
curt
Definition
rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner.
Term
cynic
Definition
one who deeply distrusts human nature; one who believes humans are motivated only by selfishness.
Term
daunt
Definition
(v) to make fearful; to intimidate
Term
dearth
Definition
"lack, scarcity: ""The prosecutor complained about the dearth of concrete evidence against the suspect."""
Term
dearth
Definition
(n) lack; scarcity
Term
debacle
Definition
(n) violent breakdown; sudden overthrow; overwhelming defeat
Term
debauchery
Definition
(n) wild living; excessive intemperance.
Term
debilitate
Definition
(v) to weaken; to cripple
Term
decadent
Definition
"(adj) decaying or decayed, esp. in morals."
Term
decimate
Definition
(v) to kill or destroy a large part of.
Term
decorous
Definition
(adj) proper; in good taste; orderly
Term
Deference
Definition
"(n) Courteous respect for another's opinion, wishes, or judgment. (deferential)."
Term
deleterious
Definition
(adj) harmful
Term
delineate
Definition
(v) to describe accurately; to outline
Term
delud
Definition
(v) to deceive.
Term
deluge
Definition
(n) a flood; an inundation
Term
demagogue
Definition
"(vn) a leader of the people, but more a rabble rouser"
Term
denizen
Definition
(n) inhabitant
Term
depict
Definition
"to show, create a picture of."
Term
depravity
Definition
(n) extreme wickedness or corruption
Term
deprecation
Definition
belittlement. (v. deprecate)
Term
depredation
Definition
"the act of preying upon or plundering: ""The depredations of the invaders demoralized the population."""
Term
deride
Definition
(v) to ridicule; to laugh at contemptuously
Term
descry
Definition
"to make clear, to say"
Term
desiccate
Definition
to dry out thoroughly (adj: desiccated)
Term
despondent
Definition
(adj) extremely depressed; full of despair
Term
despot
Definition
(n) an absolute ruler; an autocrat.
Term
desultory
Definition
(adj) without a plan or pupose; disconnected; random
Term
diatribe
Definition
a bitter abusive denunciation.
Term
dictum
Definition
(v) an authoritative saying; an adage; a maxim; a proverb.
Term
diffident
Definition
"lacking self-confidence, modest (n: diffidence)"
Term
dilettante
Definition
(n) sb w/ superficial knowledge of the arts; an amateur; a dabbler.
Term
disabuse
Definition
"to free a person from falsehood or error: ""We had to disabuse her of the notion that she was invited."""
Term
disdain
Definition
(n) arrogant scorn; contempt
Term
disparage
Definition
"(v) to belittle; to say uncomplimentary things about, usually in a somewhat indirect way."
Term
disparaging
Definition
belittling (n: disparagement. v. disparage)
Term
dispassionate
Definition
calm; objective; unbiased
Term
dissemble
Definition
"to conceal one's real motive, to feign"
Term
disseminate
Definition
(v) to spread the seeds of sth; to scatter; to make widely known.
Term
distend
Definition
(v) to swell; to extend a great deal;
Term
docile
Definition
(adj) easily taught; obedient; easy to handle.
Term
dogged
Definition
"stubborn or determined: ""Her dogged pursuit of the degree eventually paid off."""
Term
dogmatic
Definition
"relying upon doctrine or dogma, as opposed to evidence"
Term
eclectic
Definition
"selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources: ""Many modern decorators prefer an eclectic style."" (n: eclecticism)"
Term
efficacy
Definition
effectiveness; capability to produce a desired effect
Term
effluent
Definition
"the quality of flowing out. something that flows out, such as a stream from a river (n: effluence)"
Term
Effrontery
Definition
(n) Shameless boldness.
Term
emollient
Definition
softening; something that softens
Term
emulate
Definition
to strive to equal or excel (n: emulation)
Term
encomium
Definition
a formal eulogy or speech of praise
Term
endemic
Definition
"prevalent in or native to a certain region, locality, or people: ""The disease was endemic to the region."" Don't confuse this word with epidemic."
Term
enervate
Definition
"to weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of: ""The heatenervated everyone."" (adj: enervating)"
Term
engender
Definition
"to give rise to, to propagate, to cause: ""His slip of the toungue engendered much laughter."""
Term
enigma
Definition
"puzzle; mystery: ""Math is an enigma to me."" (adj: enigmatic)"
Term
ephemeral
Definition
"lasting for only a brief time, fleeting (n: ephemera)"
Term
equivocal
Definition
"ambiguous; unclear; subject to more than one interpretation -- often intentionally so: ""Republicans complained that Bill Clinton's answers were equivocal."" (v. equivocate)"
Term
erudite
Definition
scholarly; displaying deep intensive learning. (n: erudition)
Term
esoteric
Definition
"intended for or understood by only a few: ""The esoteric discussion confused some people."" (n: esoterica)"
Term
eulogy
Definition
a spoken or written tribute to the deceased (v. eulogize)
Term
exacerbate
Definition
"to increase the bitterness or violence of; to aggravate: ""The decision to fortify the border exacerbated tensions."""
Term
exculpate
Definition
"to demonstrate or prove to be blameless: ""The evidence tended to exculpate the defendant.""(adj: exculpatory)"
Term
execrate
Definition
to abhor; to denounce.
Term
exorbitant
Definition
"exceeding customary or normal limits, esp. in quantity or price: ""The cab fare was exorbitant."""
Term
explicit
Definition
fully and clearly expressed
Term
exponent
Definition
an advocate; an interpretor;
Term
extant
Definition
"in existence, still existing: The only extant representative of that species."""
Term
fastidious
Definition
"a: having high and often capricious standards : difficult to please b: showing or demanding excessive delicacy or care c: reflecting a meticulous, sensitive, or demanding attitude "
Term
fathom
Definition
"a measure of length (six feet) used in nautical settings. to penetrate to the depths of something in order to understand it: ""I couldn't fathom her reasoning on that issue."""
Term
fawn
Definition
"to seek favor or attention; to act subserviantly (n, adj: fawning)"
Term
feign
Definition
"to give false appearance or impression: ""He feigned illness to avoid going to school."" (adj: feigned)"
Term
fervent
Definition
fervid; passionate.
Term
fervid
Definition
"highly emotional; hot: ""The partisans displayed a fervent patriotism."" (n: fervor)"
Term
fledgling
Definition
a baby bird; an inexperienced person; inexperienced.
Term
florid
Definition
"flushed with a rosy color, as in complexion; very ornate and flowery: ""florid prose."""
Term
floundering
Definition
"struggling: ""We tried to save the floundering business."""
Term
gall
Definition
to fret or wear away by friction; to annoy.
Term
garrulous
Definition
"verbose; talkative; rambling: ""We tried to avoid our garrulous neighbor."""
Term
glib
Definition
"readily fluent, often thoughtlessly, superficially, or insincerely so: a glib talker; glib answers. "
Term
gossamer
Definition
"fine cobweb on foliage; fine gauzy fabric; very fine: ""She wore a gossamer robe."""
Term
guile
Definition
"skillful deceit: ""He was well known for his guile."" (v. bequile; adj: beguiling. Note, however, that these two words have an additional meaning: to charm (v.) or charming (adj:), while the word guile does not generally have any such positive connotations)"
Term
guileless
Definition
honest; straightforward (n: guilelessness)
Term
hapless
Definition
unfortunate
Term
harry
Definition
to torment; to attack; to harass.
Term
headlong
Definition
"headfirst; impulsive; hasty. impulsively; hastily; without forethought: ""They rushed headlong into marriage."""
Term
homogenous
Definition
"similar in nature or kind; uniform: ""a homogeneous society."""
Term
iconoclast
Definition
one who attacks traditional ideas or institutions or one who destroys sacred images (adj: iconoclastic)
Term
iconographer
Definition
someone who deals with iconography (study of icons - symbols for culture or religion).
Term
impecunious
Definition
penniless; poor
Term
imperious
Definition
commanding
Term
implication
Definition
insinuation or connotation (v. implicate)
Term
imply
Definition
"to suggest indirectly; to entail:  ""She implied she didn't believe his story."" (n: implication)"
Term
improvidence
Definition
"an absence of foresight; a failure to provide for future needs or events: ""Their improvidence resulted in the loss of their home."""
Term
inchoate
Definition
"in an initial or early stage; incomplete; disorganized: ""The act of writing forces one to clarify incohate thoughts."""
Term
incorrigible
Definition
"not capable of being corrected: ""The school board finally decided the James was incorrigible and expelled him from school."""
Term
indelible
Definition
"permanent; unerasable; strong: ""The Queen made an indelible impression on her subjects."""
Term
indolent
Definition
"1) a: causing little or no pain b: slow to develop or heal ; 2) a: averse to activity, effort, or movement : habitually lazy b: conducive to or encouraging laziness c: exhibiting indolence "
Term
ineffable
Definition
undescribable; inexpressible in words; unspeakable
Term
ineluctable
Definition
unchangeable; sth unavoidable.
Term
infer
Definition
"to deduce: ""New genetic evidence led some zoologists to infer that the red wolf is actually a hybrid of the coyote and the gray wolf."""
Term
ingenious
Definition
"clever: ""She developed an ingenious method for testing her hypothesis.""(n: ingenuity)"
Term
ingenuous
Definition
"unsophisticated; artless; straightforward; candid: ""Wilson's ingenuous response to the controversial calmed the suspicious listeners."""
Term
inhibit
Definition
"to hold back, prohibit, forbid, or restrain (n: inhibition, adj: inhibited)"
Term
innocuous
Definition
harmless; having no adverse affect; not likely to provoke strong emotion
Term
insensible
Definition
"numb; unconscious: ""Wayne was rendered insensible by a blow to the head."" unfeeling; insensitive: ""They were insensibile to the suffering of others.:"
Term
insipid
Definition
lacking zest or excitement; dull
Term
insular
Definition
"of or pertaining to an island, thus, excessively exclusive: ""Newcomers found it difficult to make friends in the insular community."""
Term
intransigent
Definition
"stubborn; immovable; unwilling to change: ""She was so intransigent we finally gave up trying to convince her."" (n: intransigence)"
Term
inundate
Definition
to flood; cover or overspread with water; deluge; to overwhelm
Term
Inured
Definition
(v) to make accustomed to sth. usu. undesirable. To harden.
Term
irascible
Definition
"prone to outbursts of temper, easily angered"
Term
irresolute
Definition
uncertain how to act or proceed : vacillating
Term
laconic
Definition
"using few words; terse: ""a laconic reply."""
Term
larder
Definition
a supply or place to supply food; pantry; food cellar.
Term
lassitude
Definition
state of feeling weary (lethargic).
Term
latent
Definition
present or potential but not evident or active (n: latency)
Term
laudable
Definition
praiseworthy; commendable (v. laud)
Term
leviathan
Definition
"giant whale, therefore, something very large"
Term
loquacious
Definition
talkative
Term
lucid
Definition
"clear; translucent: ""He made a lucid argument to support his theory."""
Term
lugubrious
Definition
"weighty, mournful, or gloomy, especially to an excessive degree: ""Jake's lugubrious monologues depressed his friends."""
Term
magnanimity
Definition
generosity and nobility. (adj: magnanimous)
Term
malevolent
Definition
"malicious; evil; having or showing ill will: ""Some early American colonists saw the wilderness as malevolent and sought to control it."""
Term
misanthrope
Definition
"one who hates people: ""He was a true misanthrope and hated even himself."""
Term
misnomer
Definition
incorrect name or word for something
Term
misogynist
Definition
one who hates women
Term
mitigate
Definition
"to make less forceful; to become more moderate; to make less harsh or undesirable: ""He was trying to mitigate the damage he had done."" (n: mitigation)"
Term
munificent
Definition
liberal in giving;
Term
nefarious
Definition
"wicked, evil: ""a nefarious plot."""
Term
noisome
Definition
"harmful, offensive, destructive: ""The noisome odor of the dump carried for miles."""
Term
obdurate
Definition
hardened against influence or feeling; intractable.
Term
obviate
Definition
to prevent by anticipatory measures; to make unnecessary:
Term
occlude
Definition
to close or shut off; to obstruct (n: occlusion)
Term
opaque
Definition
"not transparent or transluscent; dense; difficult to comprehend, as inopaque reasoning"
Term
ossified
Definition
"turned to bone; hardened like bone; Inflexible: ""The ossified culture failed to adapt to new economic conditions and died out."""
Term
panegyric
Definition
a writing or speech in praise of a person or thing
Term
parsimonious
Definition
"1) exhibiting or marked by parsimony ; especially : frugal to the point of stinginess; 2) sparing , restrained"
Term
peccadillo
Definition
a small sin or fault
Term
pedant
Definition
1) a male school teacher. 2) a: one who makes a show of knowledge b: one who is unimaginative or who unduly emphasizes minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge c: a formalist or precisionist in teaching
Term
pedantic
Definition
"showing a narrow concern for rules or formal book learning; making an excessive display of one's own learning: ""We quickly tired of his pedantic conversation."" (n: pedant, pedantry)."
Term
pedantic
Definition
acting like a pedant;
Term
pedestrian
Definition
"commonplace , unimaginative"
Term
perfidious
Definition
deliberately treacherous; dishonest (n: perfidy)
Term
peroration
Definition
the concluding part of a discourse; a closing argument; a highly rhetorical speech.
Term
petulant
Definition
"easily or frequently annoyed, especially over trivial matters; childishly irritable"
Term
philanthropy
Definition
"tendency or action for the benefit of others, as in donating money or property to a charitible organization"
Term
phlegmatic
Definition
not easily excited; cool; sluggish
Term
piquant
Definition
agreeably stimulating to the palate (spicy); engagingly provocative.
Term
Pith
Definition
"""(n) 1. the soft, sponge-like tissue in the center of the stem and branches of many vascular plants.; 2. The central or essential part."""
Term
pithy
Definition
"brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; terse; forcible: a pithy observation"
Term
placate
Definition
"to calm or reduce anger by making concessions: ""The professor tried to placate his students by postponing the exam."""
Term
plastic
Definition
related to being shaped or molded; capable of being molded. (n: plasticity n: plastic)
Term
plethora
Definition
"excessively large quantity; overabundance: ""We received a p lethora of applications for the position."""
Term
ponderous
Definition
"heavy; massive; awkward; dull: ""A ponderous book is better than a sleeping pill."""
Term
pragmatic
Definition
"concerned with facts; practical, as opposed to highly principled or traditional: ""His pragmatic approach often offended idealists."" (n: pragmatism)"
Term
precipice
Definition
"cliff with a vertical or nearly vertical face; a dangerous place from which one is likely to fall; metaphorically, a very risky circumstance"
Term
precipitate
Definition
"to fall; to fall downward suddenly and dramatically; to bring about or hasten the occurrence of something: ""Old World diseases precipitated a massive decline in the American Indian population."""
Term
precursor
Definition
"something (or someone) that precedes another: ""The assasination of the Archduke was a precursor to the war."""
Term
prevaricate
Definition
"to stray away from or evade the truth: ""When we asked him what his intentions were, he prevaricated.""(n: prevarication; prevaricator)"
Term
prodigal
Definition
"rashly wasteful: ""Americans' prodigal devotion to the automobile is unique."""
Term
propensity
Definition
: an often intense natural inclination or preference
Term
propitiate
Definition
"to conciliate; to appease: ""They made sacrifices to propitiate angry gods."""
Term
Pulchritudinous
Definition
beautiful (n: pulchritude)
Term
pusillanimous
Definition
"cowardly, timid, or irreselute; petty: ""The pusillanimous leader soon lost the respect of his people."""
Term
quiescence
Definition
inactivity; stillness; dormancy (adj: quiescent)
Term
rancor
Definition
"bitter, deep-seeded ill."
Term
Rarefy
Definition
"""(v) 1. to make less dense; thin out; to lighten.;2. to purify."""
Term
refractory
Definition
"resisting control or authority : stubborn , unmanageable"
Term
reprobation
Definition
to blame; a comment expressing blame.
Term
reproof
Definition
"the act of censuring, scolding, or rebuking. (v. reprove)."
Term
rescind
Definition
to repeal or annul
Term
sagacious
Definition
having a sharp or powerful intellect or discernment. (n: sagacity).
Term
sanguine
Definition
"cheerful; confident: ""Her sanguine attitude put everyone at ease.""(Sangfroid (noun) is a related French word meaning unflappibility. Literally, it means cold blood)"
Term
sate
Definition
to satisfy fully or to excess
Term
saturnine
Definition
having a gloomy or morose temperament
Term
savant
Definition
a very knowledgable person; a genious
Term
Scurvy
Definition
(adj) worthless; contemptible.
Term
sedulous
Definition
"diligent; persevering; persistent: ""Her sedulous devotion to overcoming her background impressed many."" (n: sedulity; sedulousness; adv. sedulously)"
Term
shirk
Definition
to go stealthily : sneak
Term
specious
Definition
"seemingly true but really false; deceptively convincing or attractive: ""Her argument, though specious, was readily accepted by many."""
Term
stalwart
Definition
": marked by outstanding strength and vigor of body, mind, or spirit "
Term
superficial
Definition
"only covering the surface: ""A superficial treatment of the topic was all they wanted."""
Term
Supine
Definition
(adj) 1. Lying on the back with face upward; 2. Not disposed to act; lethargic.
Term
tacit
Definition
"unspoken: ""Katie and carmella had a tacit agreement that they would not mention the dented fender to their parents."""
Term
taciturn
Definition
habitually untalkative or silent (n: taciturnity)
Term
temperate
Definition
exercising moderation and self-denial; calm or mild (n: temperance)
Term
terse
Definition
"neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy, as language."
Term
tether
Definition
(n) something (as a rope or chain) by which an animal is fastened so that it can range only within a set radius; (vt) to fasten or restrain by or as if by a tether
Term
tirade (diatribe)
Definition
"an angry speech: ""His tirade had gone on long enough."""
Term
tortuous
Definition
"twisted; excessively complicated: ""Despite public complaints, tax laws and forms have become increasingly tortuous."" Note: Don't confuse this with torturous."
Term
tractable
Definition
"ability to be easily managed or controlled: ""Her mother wished she were more tractable."" (n: tractibility)"
Term
turpitude
Definition
"depravity; baseness: ""Mr. Castor was fired for moral turpitude."""
Term
tyro
Definition
"beginner; person lacking experience in a specific endeavor: ""They easily took advantage of the tyro."""
Term
untold
Definition
limitless
Term
vacillate
Definition
"1) a: to sway through lack of equilibrium b: fluctuate , oscillate; 2) to waver in mind, will, or feeling : hesitate in choice of opinions or courses"
Term
vacuous
Definition
"empty; without contents; without ideas or intelligence:: ""She flashed a vacuous smile."""
Term
vapid
Definition
boring; dull.
Term
venerate
Definition
"great respect or reverence: ""The Chinese traditionally venerated their ancestors; ancestor worship is merely a popular misnomer for this tradition."" (n: veneration, adj: venerable)"
Term
verbose
Definition
"wordy: ""The instructor asked her verbose student make her paper more concise."" (n: verbosity)"
Term
vex
Definition
"to annoy; to bother; to perplex; to puzzle; to debate at length: ""Franklin vexed his brother with his controversial writings."""
Term
viscous
Definition
"slow moving; highly resistant to flow: ""Heintz commercials imply that their catsup is more viscous than others'."" (n: viscosity)"
Term
volatile
Definition
explosive; fickle (n: volatility).
Term
voluble
Definition
characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; fluent; glib; talkative: a voluble spokesman for the cause.
Term
voracious
Definition
"craving or devouring large quantities of food, drink, or other things. She is a voracious reader."
Term
waver
Definition
to hesitate or to tremble
Term
wretched
Definition
extremely pitiful or unfortunate (n: wretch)
Term
zeal
Definition
"enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal (n: zealot; zealoutry. adj: zealous)"
Term
eschew
Definition
to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds : shun
Term
caveat
Definition
a warning or caution; admonition.
Term
nascent
Definition
beginning to exist or develop: the nascent republic.
Term
atrophy
Definition
a wasting away; wither or deterioration or diminution: intelectual atrophy
Term
predilection
Definition
an established preference for sth.
Term
surfeit
Definition
an overabundant supply; an intemperate or immoderate indulgence in something (as food or drink)
Term
torpor
Definition
"apathy, dullness; a state of mental and motor inactivity with partial or total insensibilit. Syn: Lethargy"
Term
urbane
Definition
"Polite, refined, and often elegant in manner."
Term
harangue
Definition
lecture; a speech addressed to a public assembly
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