1-500 Flashcards
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
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
wry
(esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing displeasure)
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
decollete
(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
wither
(of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay
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
wont
(the stated person’s) habit or custom; habitual procedure; ADJ. wonted: customary
bloated
(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air
sonnet
14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
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
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'' forLet 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
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
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering
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
purported
alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists
omniscient
all-knowing
permissive
allowing much freedom; lenient; Ex. permissive society
omnipotent
all-powerful; having unlimited power
waylay
ambush; lie in wait for and attack
rider
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
licentious
amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
yield
amount produced; crop; income on investment; profit obtained from an investment; V: produce; give in; surrender
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
wrath
anger; fury
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
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)
comely
attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
prepossessing
attractive; CF. preoccupying ?
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
lambaste
beat; thrash verbally or physically
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)
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; ´ãÁó(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
vaunted
boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt: boast; brag
braggart
boaster; bragger
