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GRE Test Prep
Vocabulary found on the GRE
217
Language - English
Graduate
10/07/2010

Additional Language - English Flashcards

 


 

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Term
aberrant
Definition
Markedly different from an accepted norm.
Term
aberration
Definition
Deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course
Term
abet
Definition
To aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense
Term
abeyance
Definition
A state of suspension or temporary inaction
Term
abjure
Definition
To recant, renounce, repudiate under oath
Term
ablution
Definition
A washing or cleansing, especially of the body
Term
abrogate
Definition
to abolish, repeal
Term
abscond
Definition
to depart suddenly to avoid arrest
Term
abstemious
Definition
Characterized by self denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food
Term
abstruse
Definition
dealing with matters difficult to be understood
Term
abut
Definition
To touch at the end or boundary line
Term
accede
Definition
to agree
Term
acquiesce
Definition
to comply, to submit
Term
acrid
Definition
harshly pungent or bitter
Term
acumen
Definition
Quickness of intellectual insight, or discernment; keenness of discrimination
Term
adage
Definition
an old saying
Term
adamant
Definition
Any substance of exceeding hardness or impenetrability
Term
admonition
Definition
gentle reproof
Term
adumbrate
Definition
To represent beforehand in outline or by emblem.
Term
affable
Definition
Easy to approach
Term
aggrandize
Definition
To cause to appear greatly.
Term
aggravate
Definition
To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome
Term
agile
Definition
Able to move or act quickly, physically, or mentally
Term
agog
Definition
In eager desire.
Term
alacrity
Definition
cheerful willingness
Term
alcove
Definition
A covered recess connected with or at the side of a larger room
Term
alleviate
Definition
To make less burdensome or less hard to bear
Term
aloof
Definition
Not in sympathy with or desiring to associate with others
Term
amalgamate
Definition
To mix or blend together in a homogeneous body
Term
ambidextrous
Definition
Having the ability of using both hands with equal skill or ease
Term
ambiguous
Definition
having a double meaning
Term
ameliorate
Definition
to relieve, as from pain or hardship
Term
anathema
Definition
Anything forbidden, as by social usage
Term
animadversion
Definition
The utterance of criticism or censure
Term
animosity
Definition
hatred
Term
antediluvian
Definition
Of or pertaining to the times, things, events before the great flood in the days of Noah.
Term
antidote
Definition
Anything that will counteract or remove the effects of poison, disease, or the like
Term
aplomb
Definition
confidence, coolness
Term
apocryphal
Definition
Of doubtful authority or authenticity
Term
apogee
Definition
climax
Term
apostate
Definition
false
Term
apotheosis
Definition
Deification
Term
apparition
Definition
ghost
Term
appease
Definition
To soothe by quieting anger or indignation
Term
apposite
Definition
appropriate
Term
apprise
Definition
to give notice to, to inform
Term
approbation
Definition
sanction
Term
arboreal
Definition
of trees
Term
ardor
Definition
intensity of passion or affection
Term
argot
Definition
A specialized vocabulary peculiar to a particular group
Term
arrant
Definition
Notoriously bad.
Term
ascetic
Definition
Given to severe self-denial and practicing excessive abstinence and devotion.
Term
ascribe
Definition
To assign as a quality or attribute
Term
ambrosial
Definition
extremely pleasing to the senses, divine (as related to the gods) or delicious (n: ambrosia)
Term
anomalous
Definition
peculiar; unique, contrary to the norm (n: anomaly)
Term
audacious
Definition
extremely bold; fearless, especially said of human behavior (n: audacity)
Term
blandishment
Definition
speech or action intended to coax someone into doing something
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.
Term
burgeon
Definition
to grow or flourish; a bud or new growth (adj: burgeoning )
Term
buttress
Definition
to support. a support
Term
cadge
Definition
to get something by taking advantage of someone
Term
caprice
Definition
impulse (adj: capricious)
Term
castigate
Definition
to chastise or criticize severely
Term
catalyst
Definition
an agent of change (adj: catalytic; v. catalyze)
Term
caustic
Definition
capable of dissolving by chemical action; highly critical
Term
chicanery
Definition
deception by trickery
Term
complaisant
Definition
willingly compliant or accepting of the status quo (n: complaisance)
Term
conflagration
Definition
a great fire
Term
corporeal
Definition
of or having to do with material, as opposed to spiritual; tangible.
Term
corporal
Definition
of the body: "corporal punishment." a non-commissioned officer ranked between a sergeant and a private.
Term
corroborate
Definition
o strengthen or support:
Term
craven
Definition
cowardly; a coward
Term
culpable
Definition
deserving of blame
Term
dearth
Definition
lack, scarcity
Term
deference
Definition
submission or courteous yielding
Term
depict
Definition
to show, create a picture of
Term
deprecation
Definition
belittlement
Term
depredation
Definition
the act of preying upon or plundering
Term
descry
Definition
to make clear, to say
Term
desiccate
Definition
to dry out thoroughly (adj: desiccated)
Term
diatribe
Definition
a bitter abusive denunciation.
Term
diatribe
Definition
a bitter abusive denunciation.
Term
diffident
Definition
lacking self-confidence, modest (n: diffidence)
Term
disabuse
Definition
to free a person from falsehood or error
Term
disparaging
Definition
belittling
Term
dispassionate
Definition
calm; objective; unbiased
Term
dissemble
Definition
to conceal one's real motive, to feign
Term
dogged
Definition
stubborn or determined
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
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
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
Term
enervate
Definition
to weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of
Term
engender
Definition
to give rise to, to propagate, to cause
Term
enigma
Definition
puzzle; mystery
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
Term
erudite
Definition
scholarly; displaying deep intensive learning. (n: erudition)
Term
esoteric
Definition
intended for or understood by only a few (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
Term
exculpate
Definition
to demonstrate or prove to be blameless
Term
exorbitant
Definition
exceeding customary or normal limits, esp. in quantity or price
Term
explicit
Definition
fully and clearly expressed
Term
extant
Definition
in existence, still existing
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
Term
fawn
Definition
to seek favor or attention; to act subserviantly
Term
feign
Definition
to give false appearance or impression
Term
fervid, fervent
Definition
highly emotional; hot
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
Term
floundering
Definition
struggling
Term
garrulous
Definition
verbose; talkative; rambling
Term
gossamer
Definition
fine cobweb on foliage; fine gauzy fabric; very fine
Term
guile
Definition
skillful deceit
Term
guileless
Definition
honest; straightforward (n: guilelessness)
Term
hapless
Definition
unfortunate
Term
headlong
Definition
headfirst; impulsive; hasty. impulsively; hastily; without forethought
Term
homogenous
Definition
similar in nature or kind; uniform
Term
iconoclast
Definition
one who attacks traditional ideas or institutions or one who destroys sacred images (adj: iconoclastic)
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
Term
improvidence
Definition
an absence of foresight; a failure to provide for future needs or events
Term
inchoate
Definition
in an initial or early stage; incomplete; disorganized
Term
incorrigible
Definition
not capable of being corrected
Term
indelible
Definition
permanent; unerasable; strong
Term
ineffable
Definition
undescribable; inexpressible in words; unspeakable
Term
infer
Definition
to deduce
Term
ingenious
Definition
clever
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
Term
insipid
Definition
lacking zest or excitement; dull
Term
insular
Definition
of or pertaining to an island, thus, excessively exclusive
Term
intransigent
Definition
stubborn; immovable; unwilling to change
Term
irascible
Definition
prone to outbursts of temper, easily angered
Term
laconic
Definition
using few words; terse
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
lucid
Definition
clear; translucent
Term
loquacious
Definition
talkative
Term
lugubrious
Definition
weighty, mournful, or gloomy, especially to an excessive degree
Term
magnanimity
Definition
generosity and nobility. (adj: magnanimous)
Term
malevolent
Definition
malicious; evil; having or showing ill will
Term
misanthrope
Definition
one who hates people
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
Term
nefarious
Definition
wicked, evil
Term
noisome
Definition
harmful, offensive, destructive
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
Term
panegyric
Definition
a writing or speech in praise of a person or thing
Term
peccadillo
Definition
a small sin or fault
Term
pedantic
Definition
showing a narrow concern for rules or formal book learning; making an excessive display of one's own learning
Term
perfidious
Definition
deliberately treacherous; dishonest (n: perfidy)
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
placate
Definition
to calm or reduce anger by making concessions
Term
plastic
Definition
related to being shaped or molded; capable of being molded
Term
plethora
Definition
excessively large quantity; overabundance
Term
ponderous
Definition
heavy; massive; awkward; dull
Term
pragmatic
Definition
concerned with facts; practical, as opposed to highly principled or traditional
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
Term
precursor
Definition
something (or someone) that precedes another
Term
prevaricate
Definition
to stray away from or evade the truth
Term
prodigal
Definition
rashly wasteful
Term
propitiate
Definition
to conciliate; to appease
Term
Pulchritudinous
Definition
beautiful (n: pulchritude)
Term
pusillanimous
Definition
cowardly, timid, or irreselute; petty
Term
quiescence
Definition
inactivity; stillness; dormancy (adj: quiescent)
Term
rarefy
Definition
to make or become thin; to purify or refine (n: rarefaction, adj: rarefied)
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
Term
sate
Definition
to satisfy fully or to excess
Term
savant
Definition
a person of profound or extensive learning; learned scholar (compare to idiot savant: a person with knowledge in only one area, but severely lacking in others)
Term
sedulous
Definition
diligent; persevering; persistent
Term
specious
Definition
seemingly true but really false; deceptively convincing or attractive
Term
superficial
Definition
only covering the surface
Term
tacit
Definition
unspoken
Term
taciturn
Definition
habitually untalkative or silent (n: taciturnity)
Term
temperate
Definition
exercising moderation and self-denial; calm or mild (n: temperance)
Term
tirade
Definition
an angry speech
Term
diatribe
Definition
an angry speech
Term
tortuous
Definition
twisted; excessively complicated
Term
tractable
Definition
ability to be easily managed or controlled
Term
turpitude
Definition
depravity; baseness
Term
tyro
Definition
beginner; person lacking experience in a specific endeavor
Term
vacuous
Definition
empty; without contents; without ideas or intelligence
Term
venerate
Definition
great respect or reverence
Term
verbose
Definition
wordy
Term
vex
Definition
to annoy; to bother; to perplex; to puzzle; to debate at length
Term
viscous
Definition
slow moving; highly resistant to flow
Term
slow moving; highly resistant to flow
Definition
explosive; fickle (n: volatility)
Term
voracious
Definition
craving or devouring large quantities of food, drink, or other things
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
welter
Definition
(n) a confused mass; a jumble or muddle (v) to roll, toss, or heave, as waves or the sea; to lie bathed in or be drenched in something, esp. blood
Term
effete
Definition
lacking in vigor, unable to produce, sterile
Term
vicssitude
Definition
change or variation occurring in the course of things; change; mutation; mutability
Term
cloy
Definition
to be weary from overeating
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