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Vocabulary III
GRE Vocabulary Study
50
Other
Graduate
01/10/2010

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Term
abate
Definition
verb; to lessen in intensity or degree
Term
accolade
Definition
noun; an expression of praise
Term
adulation
Definition
noun; excessive praise; intense adoration
Term
aesthetic
Definition
adj; dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
Term
ameliorate
Definition
verb; to make better or more tolerable
Term
ascetic
Definition
noun; one who practices rigid self-denial, esp. as an act of religious devotion
Term
avarice
Definition
noun; greed, esp. for wealth (adj form: avaricious)
Term
axiom
Definition
noun; a universally recognized principle
Term
burgeon
Definition
verb; to grow rapidly or flourish
Term
bucolic
Definition
adj; rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
Term
cacophony
Definition
noun; harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance (adj form: cacophonous)
Term
canon
Definition
noun; and established set of principles or code of laws. often religious in nature
Term
castigation
Definition
noun; severe criticism or punishment (verb form: castigate)
Term
catalyst
Definition
noun; a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes change
Term
caustic
Definition
adj; burning or stinging; causing corrosion
Term
chary
Definition
adj; wary; cautious; sparing
Term
cogent
Definition
adj; appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
Term
complaisance
Definition
noun; the willingness to comply with the wishes of others (adj form; complaisant)
Term
contentious
Definition
adj; argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
Term
contrite
Definition
adj; regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness (noun form; contrition)
Term
culpable
Definition
adj; deserving blame (noun form: culpability)
Term
dearth
Definition
noun; smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack
Term
demur
Definition
verb; to question or oppose
Term
didactic
Definition
adj; intended to teach or instruct
Term
discretion
Definition
noun; cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions (adj; discreet)
Term
disinterested
Definition
adj; free of bias or self-interest; impartial
Term
dogmatic
Definition
adj; expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or unprovable principles (noun: dogma)
Term
ebullience
Definition
noun; the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings (adj: ebullient)
Term
eclectic
Definition
adj; composed of elements drawn form various sources
Term
elegy
Definition
noun; a mournful poem, esp. one lamenting the dead (adj: elegiac)
Term
emollient
Definition
adj/noun; soothing, esp. to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smooths the skin
Term
empirical
Definition
adj; based on observation or experiment
Term
enigmatic
Definition
adj; mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand (noun: enigma)
Term
ephemeral
Definition
adj; brief; fleeting
Term
esoteric
Definition
adj; intended for or understood by a small, specific group
Term
eulogy
Definition
noun; a speech honoring the dead (verb: eulogize)
Term
exonerate
Definition
verb; to remove blame
Term
facetious
Definition
adj; playful; humorous
Term
fallacy
Definition
noun; an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief (adj: fallacious)
Term
furtive
Definition
adj; marked by stealth; convert; surreptitious
Term
gregarious
Definition
adj; sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
Term
harangue
Definition
verb/noun; to deliver a pompous speech or tirade; a long, pompous speech
Term
heretical
Definition
adj; violating accepted dogma or convention (noun: heresy)
Term
hyperbole
Definition
noun; an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech (adj: hyperbolic)
Term
impecunious
Definition
adj; lacking funds; without money
Term
incipient
Definition
adj; beginning to come into being or to become apparent
Term
inert
Definition
adj; unmoving; lethargic; sluggish
Term
innocuous
Definition
adj; harmless; causing no damage
Term
intransigent
Definition
adj; refusing to compromise (noun: intransigence)
Term
inveigle
Definition
verb; to obtain by deception or flattery
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