a bate'

v- to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit

syn- diminish, decrease, subside, let up

ant- intensify, increase, magnify, wax

a du la' tion

n- praise or flattery that is excessive

syn- adoration, idolization, hero-worship

ant- ridicule, derision, scorn, odium

ana the' ma

n- an object of intense dislike; adj- curse or strong denunciation

syn- malediction, imprecation, abomination

ant- benediction, blessing

as tute'

adj- shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

syn- shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious, wily

ant- obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb

ava' rice

n- a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

syn- cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness

cul' pa ble

adj- deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

syn- guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy

ant- blameless, innocent, laudable

dil' a tory

adj- tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

syn- stalling, slow, tardy, laggard

ant- prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious

e gre' gi ous

adj- conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)

syn- glaring, flagrant, blatant ant- unnoticeable, paltry, piddling

e qui' vo cate

v- to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous

syn- to talk out of both sides of one's mouth, palter, hedge

ant- to speak one's mind plainly

ev a ne' scent

adj- vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

syn- ephemeral, transient, transitory

ant- everlasting, immortal, imperishable

ir re so lute'

adj- unable to make up one's mind, hesitating

syn- indecisive, vacillating, wavering

ant- determined, decisive, unwavering

ne' bu lous

adj- cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct

syn- hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, vague, murky, opaque, indeterminate

ant- definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused

nov' ice

n & adj- one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience

syn- neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice

ant- veteran, past master, pro, expert

pe' nury

n- extreme poverty; barrenness; insufficiency

syn- destitution, want, indigence

ant- affluence, abundance, luxury, opulence

pre ten' tious

adj- done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious

syn- inflated, ostentatious, affected

ant- unassuming, unaffected, modest

re cap' i tu late

v- to review a series of facts; to sum up

syn- review, summarize, sum up, go over

re sus' i tate

v- to revive, bring back to consciousness or exsistence

syn- revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate

slo' ven ly

adj- untidy, dirty, careless

syn- unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax

ant- neat, tidy, careful, meticulous

sup po si' tion

n- something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

syn- assumption, presumption, hypothesis

tor' pid

adj- inactive, sluggish, dull

syn- sluggish, lethargic, otiose, languid

ant- energetic, dynamic, vigorous