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'' for
Let 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