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GRE Vocab Genius > Advanced Vocab Words - Set 5 > Flashcards

Advanced Vocab Words - Set 5 Flashcards

Learn to understand and effectively use 100 advanced vocabulary words. Improve your test scores, or simply be more articulate in your daily life. Each word is used in context in a sample sentence and includes synonyms and a pronunciation guide.

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1
Q

Define:

obfuscate

(ob-fuh-skeyt)

A

v. to deliberately obscure, to make confusing, to bewilder

The governor obfuscated the issue with big words and numbers.

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2
Q

Define:

encomium

(en-koh-mee-uhm)

A

n. enthusiastic praise

That country’s national anthem is an encomium to the heroes of a war long past.

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3
Q

Define:

din

(din)

A

n. loud sustained noise, confusing or tumultuous sound

During the concert, Jill couldn’t hear Rick over the din of the loudspeakers.

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4
Q

Define:

alloy

(n. al-oi; v. al-oi)

A

n. a mixture of superior and inferior ingredients

v. to debase by mixing with something inferior

The heroism one sees nowadays is often alloyed with some degree of self-interest.

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5
Q

Define:

pugilism

(pyoo-djuh-liz-uhm)

A

n. the skill or practice of fighting with fists; boxing

Mike Tyson is known throughout the world for his pugilism.

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6
Q

Define:

sanctimony

(sangk-tuh-moh-nee)

A

n. self-righteousness, pretended piety, insincere holiness

His sanctimony was laughable, since we all knew he was one of the worst offenders.

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7
Q

Define:

baleful

(beyl-fuhl)

A

adj. full of sinister influence, pernicious, ominous

The basilisk’s baleful glare is lethal.

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8
Q

Define:

hallow

(hal-oh)

A

v. to set apart as holy, to sanctify

The site for the church was hallowed in a special ceremony.

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9
Q

Define:

ostensible

(uh-sten-suh-buhl)

A

adj. apparent

adj. pretended

The oil spill was the ostensible result of lax safety regulations.

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10
Q

Define:

sinecure

(sahy-nih-kyoor)

A

n. a comfortable job requiring little work

Carolyn’s position in the office is a sinecure; she does nothing all day yet she draws the same salary as everyone else.

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11
Q

Define:

lackey

(lak-ee)

A

n. a male servant, servile follower, toady

Lori’s boyfriend becomes a lackey during her shopping trips.

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12
Q

Define:

redress

(ree-dress)

A

v. to set right, to remedy

n. compensation or restitution for a wrong

The peaceful petitioning for redress of wrongs is a right enshrined in our country’s founding document.

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13
Q

Define:

unctuous

(uhngk-choo-uhs)

A

adj. oily, greasy

adj. characterized by insincere earnestness

The king had the unctuous toady removed from his palace.

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14
Q

Define:

arrant

(ar-uhnt)

A

adj. impudent

adj. thorough, utter, complete

Though the professor is considered one of the greats of his discipline, lately his lectures have verged on arrant nonsense.

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15
Q

Define:

vaunt

(vawnt)

A

v. to boast or brag about

Chris, though usually very modest, will readily vaunt his achievements in a job interview.

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16
Q

Define:

affectation

(af-ek-tey-shuhn)

A

n. a show or pretense

n. artificial behavior to impress others

That American doctor’s affectation of a British accent has drawn much criticism.

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17
Q

Define:

philately

(fih-lat-uhl-ee)

A

n. the study of postage stamps

His grandfather is obsessed with philately and has even made several overseas pen pals in order to study their countries’ postage.

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18
Q

Define:

canonical

(kuh-non-ih-kuhl)

A

adj. in agreement with accepted principles

adj. authorized, accepted

The canonical Mozart sonatas were consulted in order to compare them to the newly-discovered manuscript attributed to him.

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19
Q

Define:

whit

(wit)

A

n. the smallest possible part or fraction

The bank robber did not have a whit of self-respect.

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20
Q

Define:

epaulet

(ep-uh-let)

A

n. a shoulder ornament, esp. a strap on military uniforms

The veteran’s uniform was adorned by a pair of impressive epaulets.

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21
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to deliberately obscure, to make confusing, to bewilder

A

obfuscate

(ob-fuh-skeyt)

synonyms: baffle, muddle, confound, cloud, confuse, bewilder

The lawyer tried to obfuscate the facts to confuse the jury.

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22
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. enthusiastic praise

A

encomium

(en-koh-mee-uhm)

synonyms: tribute, laudation, praise, commendation, accolade, honor

The author received an encomium from critics praising her latest novel.

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23
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. loud, sustained noise, confusing or tumultuous sound

A

din

(din)

synonyms: buzz, clamor, commotion, racket, uproar, cacophony

The din of the crowd made it difficult to hear the speaker.

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24
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a mixture of superior and inferior ingredients

v. to debase by mixing with something inferior

A

alloy

(n. al-oi; v. al-oi)

synonyms: blend, combination; debase, devalue, mixture, compound

Bronze is an alloy made from copper and tin.

The decision to alloy the pure metal with cheaper materials diminished its quality.

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25
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the skill or practice of fighting with fists; boxing

A

pugilism

(pyoo-djuh-liz-uhm)

synonyms: battle, sparring, duel, boxing, fisticuffs

His passion for pugilism led him to become a champion boxer.

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26
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. self-righteousness, pretended piety, insincere holiness

A

sanctimony

(sangk-tuh-moh-nee)

synonyms: smug, hypocritical, preachy, pharisaical, moralizing

Her sanctimony was evident as she criticized others while ignoring her own faults.

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27
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. full of sinister influence, pernicious, ominous

A

baleful

(beyl-fuhl)

synonyms: menacing, evil, malicious, threatening

The baleful glare from the villain sent shivers down the hero’s spine.

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28
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to set apart as holy, to sanctify

A

hallow

(hal-oh)

synonyms: bless, consecrate, sanctify, venerate

The community came together to hallow the new memorial.

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29
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. apparent

A

ostensible

(uh-sten-suh-buhl)

synonyms: exhibited, likely, manifest, seeming, purported

The ostensible reason for his visit was to check on her, but he had another agenda.

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30
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a comfortable job requiring little work

A

sinecure

(sahy-nih-kyoor)

synonyms: easy work, position of ease, cushy job

After years of hard work, he finally landed a sinecure that allowed him to relax.

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31
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a male servant, servile follower, toady

A

lackey

(lak-ee)

synonyms: servant, butler, subordinate, sycophant, minion

He was treated like a lackey, always expected to run errands for his boss.

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32
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to set right, to remedy

n. compensation or restitution for a wrong

A

redress

(ree-dress)

synonyms: help, compensate; justice, rectify, remedy

She sought to redress the imbalance by addressing the unfair policies.

The company offered a redress to customers affected by the faulty product.

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33
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. oily, greasy

adj. characterized by insincere earnestness

A

unctuous

(uhngk-choo-uhs)

synonyms: fatty, slick; lying, untruthful, smooth, ingratiating

The chef used unctuous olive oil to enhance the flavor of the dish.

His unctuous compliments made her suspicious of his true intentions.

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34
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. impudent

adj. thorough, utter, complete

A

arrant

(ar-uhnt)

synonyms: shameless; brazen, blatant, notorious

His arrant disregard for the rules resulted in severe consequences.

The arrant nonsense in his speech frustrated the audience.

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35
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to boast, to brag

A

vaunt

(vawnt)

synonyms: flaunt, gloat, show off, proclaim

She loved to vaunt her accomplishments at every opportunity.

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36
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a show or pretense

n. artificial behavior to impress others

A

affectation

(af-ek-tey-shuhn)

synonyms: pretend, artificiality, pretense, facade

Her British accent was an affectation she adopted to appear more sophisticated.

The writer’s affectation for using complicated words made his work less accessible.

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37
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the study of postage stamps

A

philately

(fih-lat-uhl-ee)

synonyms: study of stamps, stamp collecting, philatelic study

Her passion for philately led her to collect rare stamps from around the world.

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38
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. in agreement with accepted principles

adj. authorized, accepted

A

canonical

(kuh-non-ih-kuhl)

synonyms: orthodox, standard, approved, recognized

The canonical texts of the religion are studied by scholars worldwide.

Her research follows canonical methods recognized by the scientific community.

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39
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the smallest possible part or fraction

A

whit

(wit)

synonyms: atom, crumb, grain, iota, bit, fragment

There wasn’t a whit of evidence to support his claims.

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40
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a shoulder ornament, esp. a strap on military uniforms

A

epaulet

(ep-uh-let)

synonyms: military decoration, service stripe, shoulder piece, insignia

The soldier’s uniform was adorned with gold epaulets indicating his rank.

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41
Q

Define:

panoply

(pan-uh-plee)

A

n. a splendid, striking array

n. the complete armory of a warrior

n. a shining protective array

A porcupine’s panoply of quills is quite a protective arsenal.

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42
Q

Define:

pantheon

(pan-thee-on)

A

n. a temple dedicated to the gods

n. all the gods of a people

n. a group of famous persons

The Greek pantheon includes Zeus and his consort, Hera.

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43
Q

Define:

blandish

(blan-dish)

A

v. to coax or influence with flattery

Steve blandished her into going out with him.

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44
Q

Define:

peremptory

(puh-remp-tuh-ree)

A

adj. admitting of no contradiction; putting an end to further debate; haughty; imperious

He ended the discussion with a peremptory wave of his hand.

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45
Q

Define:

tyro

(tahy-roh)

A

n. a beginner or novice in any kind of skill

The hapless tyro tripped over the ropes on his way into the boxing ring.

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46
Q

Define:

fetid

(fet-id)

A

adj. malodorous, stinky

The fetid green substance had taken over the entire fridge.

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47
Q

Define:

fecundity

(fih-kuhn-dih-tee)

A

n. fertility, fruitfulness

An artist’s period of fecundity can come at any time of her life.

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48
Q

Define:

rarefied

(rair-uh-fahyd)

A

adj. thin, pure, refined

The rarefied air of higher altitudes makes it very difficult to climb Mt. Everest.

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49
Q

Define:

delectation

(dee-lek-tey-shuhn)

A

n. enjoyment

They played wiffleball for the delectation of it, not for the competition.

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50
Q

Define:

fickle

(fick-ul)

A

adj. prone to changing often

Suzanne was a fickle friend who could not be relied upon.

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51
Q

Define:

fidelity

(fih-dell-ih-tee)

A

n. devotion to obligations or loyalties

n. the accuracy of a reproduced sound or image

Kevin’s parents were proud of him for his fidelity to the family business.

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52
Q

Define:

fission

(fish-un)

A

n. the act of separating into parts

The controversial legislation led to the fission of the administration.

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53
Q

Define:

flag

(flag)

A

v. to become tired or weak

v. to droop or limp

The runner’s enthusiasm flagged when she realized she still had many miles ahead of her.

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54
Q

Define:

florid

(floor-id)

A

adj. healthy-looking

adj. ornate or flowery

The author’s florid prose did not impress the critics, who found her work pretentious.

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55
Q

Define:

forbear

(for-bear)

A

v. to refrain from doing something

Although I know Adam likes to crack jokes, I would have liked him to forbear silliness in such a serious situation.

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56
Q

Define:

forestall

(for-stall)

A

v. to deal with ahead of time; to prevent

The mayor called the police before the protest even began in order to forestall rioting.

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57
Q

Define:

quail

(kweyl)

A

v. to shrink with fear

The puppy quailed at my angry tone.

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58
Q

Define:

forthright

(forth-rahyt)

A

adj. straightforward

One should be forthright and honest with the authorities so as not to seem suspicious.

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59
Q

Define:

fortuity

(for-too-ih-tee)

A

n. an event that happens by chance without a known cause

n. luck

By sheer fortuity, Linda was assigned to the same homeroom as her twin brother.

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60
Q

Define:

mince

(minss)

A

v. to speak carefully; to euphemize

Don’t mince words with me; just say what you need to say!

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61
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a splendid, striking array

n. the complete armory of a warrior

n. a shining protective array

A

panoply

(pan-uh-plee)

synonyms: display, arrangement; armaments, array, equipment, ensemble

The museum featured a panoply of historical artifacts from various cultures.

The knight’s panoply included an impressive array of armor and weapons.

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62
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a temple dedicated to the gods

n. all the gods of a people

n. a group of famous persons

A

pantheon

(pan-thee-on)

synonyms: house of worship, sanctuary, deities, divine assembly

The ancient Greeks built a pantheon to honor their gods.

The artist’s work has earned her a place in the pantheon of contemporary greats.

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63
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to coax or influence with flattery

A

blandish

(blan-dish)

synonyms: charm, flatter, cajole, sweet-talk

He tried to blandish his way into a better deal with flattery.

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64
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. admitting of no contradiction; putting an end to further debate; haughty; imperious

A

peremptory

(puh-remp-tuh-ree)

synonyms: opinionated, absolute, assertive, dictatorial, commanding

Her peremptory tone left no room for discussion.

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65
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a beginner or novice in any kind of skill

A

tyro

(tahy-roh)

synonyms: beginner, rookie, neophyte, fledgling

As a tyro in the field, he was eager to learn from his peers.

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66
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. malodorous, stinky

A

fetid

(fet-id)

synonyms: corrupt, gross, rancid, foul-smelling

The fetid odor from the garbage made the area unbearable.

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67
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. fertility, fruitfulness

A

fecundity

(fih-kuhn-dih-tee)

synonyms: abundance, productivity, richness, yield

The fecundity of the land resulted in a bountiful harvest.

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68
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. thin, pure, refined

A

rarefied

(rair-uh-fahyd)

synonyms: thin, refined, elevated, esoteric

The rarefied air at high altitudes can be challenging for climbers.

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69
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. enjoyment

A

delectation

(dee-lek-tey-shuhn)

synonyms: delight, elation, pleasure, satisfaction

She read the novel with great delectation, savoring each chapter.

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70
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. prone to changing often

A

fickle

(fick-ul)

synonyms: inconstant, unpredictable, capricious, changeable

His fickle nature made it hard to rely on his commitments.

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71
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. devotion to obligations or loyalties

n. the accuracy of a reproduced sound or image

A

fidelity

(fih-dell-ih-tee)

synonyms: allegiance, faith, loyalty, constancy

Her fidelity to her friends was unwavering, always standing by them in tough times.

The fidelity of the sound system ensured that every note was reproduced accurately.

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72
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the act of separating into parts

A

fission

(fish-un)

synonyms: division, severance, parting, splitting, fragmentation

The fission of the atom released a significant amount of energy.

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73
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to become tired or weak

v. to droop or limp

A

flag

(flag)

synonyms: droop, fade, wane, weaken, sink, decline

After hours of studying, he began to flag, struggling to keep his eyes open.

The flowers started to flag in the heat without enough water.

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74
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. healthy-looking

adj. ornate or flowery

A

florid

(floor-id)

synonyms: pretty, fancy; extravagant, ornamental, flamboyant, showy

The patient had a florid complexion, indicating good health.

The artist’s florid style was characterized by intricate designs and vibrant colors.

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75
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to refrain from doing something

A

forbear

(for-bear)

synonyms: avoid, constrain, forgo, withhold, abstain

He decided to forbear from commenting on the sensitive issue.

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76
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to deal with ahead of time; to prevent

A

forestall

(for-stall)

synonyms: intercept, anticipate, prevent, avert, preempt

They tried to forestall problems by addressing them early.

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77
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to shrink with fear

A

quail

(kweyl)

synonyms: recoil, cower, tremble, flinch

She began to quail at the thought of public speaking.

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78
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. straightforward

A

forthright

(forth-rahyt)

synonyms: honest, frank, direct, candid

His forthright manner made him a trusted advisor.

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79
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. an event that happens by chance without a known cause

n. luck

A

fortuity

(for-too-ih-tee)

synonyms: accident; good fortune, coincidence, serendipity

The discovery of the rare artifact was a remarkable fortuity during the excavation.

Winning the lottery was a stroke of fortuity that changed his life.

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80
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to speak carefully; to euphemize

A

mince

(minss)

synonyms: soften, tone down, diminish, moderate

He chose to mince his words when discussing the sensitive topic.

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81
Q

Define:

visceral

(viss-er-uhl)

A

adj. felt in one’s stomach

adj. emotional, rather than intellectual

Jeb’s visceral response to his mother’s racist ramblings was visible to all of us.

82
Q

Define:

refectory

(rih-fek-tuh-ree)

A

n. a room or dining area where meals are served

The students milled about the entrance to the refectory, counting down the seconds until supper would be served.

83
Q

Define:

frenetic

(fruh-net-ik)

A

adj. frenzied or frantic

Frenetic screams filled the room as people tried to get out before the fire spread.

84
Q

Define:

infinitesimal

(in-fin-ih-tess-uh-muhl)

A

adj. immeasurably small

The proportion of truly selfless people in this world is surely infinitesimal .

85
Q

Define:

sanguine

(sang-gwin)

A

adj. cheerfully optimistic; a blood-red color

Samantha had a sanguine attitude towards life that enriched those around her.

86
Q

Define:

furtive

(fur-tiv)

A

adj. secretive, sly

At the party, Julia cast furtive glances around the room to make sure her elder sister was not around to send her back home.

87
Q

Define:

calumny

(kal-uhm-nee)

A

n. a false statement; slander, aspersion

The desperate candidate abandoned reasoned arguments and resorted to calumnies against the front-runner.

88
Q

Define:

quotidian

(kwoh-tid-ee-uhn)

A

adj. everyday, commonplace, habitual

Joe’s small, quotidian pleasures seemed more substantial than Mattias’s high-profile jet-setting.

89
Q

Define::

salacious

(suh-ley-shuhs)

A

adj. causing sexual desire, bawdy

Many parents were unhappy with the magazine’s salacious material.

90
Q

Define:

importune

(im-pour-chewn)

A

v. to beg persistently

Kate importuned her father every day to teach her how to sail.

91
Q

Define:

impregnable

(im-preg-nuh-bul)

A

adj. able to withstand attack

The fortress was surrounded by a moat so as to make it impregnable.

92
Q

Define:

daft

(daft)

A

adj. mad, crazy

adj. foolish

The daft man was walking about the room conversing with himself.

93
Q

Define:

solemn

(sol-uhm)

A

adj. deeply earnest, grave

adj. of a very serious nature; gloomy

Carter’s solemn voice made his family suspect that a tragedy had occurred.

94
Q

Define:

impromptu

(im-promp-too)

A

adj. spontaneously done without preparation

During a lull in the live broadcast, the host began an impromptu dance number with some of the contestants.

95
Q

Define:

impudent

(im-pyuh-dent)

A

adj. improperly disrespectful

The girl was forced to apologize in front of the class for her impudent attitude towards her teachers.

96
Q

Define:

bedizen

(bih-dahy-zuhn)

A

v. to adorn, usually in a poorly conceived or tasteless manner

Paula was bedizened with gaudy decorations.

97
Q

Define:

incense

(in-sense)

A

v. to make angry

The class’s behavior incensed the teacher to the point that she gave them all extra homework.

98
Q

Define:

volition

(voh-lish-uhn)

A

n. a conscious decision or the capability of choosing

n. willingness

Though his friends had egged him on, it was determined that Pat stole the sunglasses of his own volition.

99
Q

Define:

tamp

(tamp)

A

v. to plug

v. to drive in or down by a series of blows

They tamped down the soil around the base of the new sapling.

100
Q

Define:

steel

(steel)

A

v. to make hard, strong or obdurate

v. to fill with determination

John realized that he would lose the chess match and steeled himself for disappointment.

101
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. felt in one’s stomach

adj. emotional, rather than intellectual

A

visceral

(viss-er-uhl)

synonyms: habitual, instinctive, inherent; affective, gut-level, intuitive

His visceral reaction to the news was evident as he clutched his stomach in shock.

She had a visceral response to the film that left her in tears.

102
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a room or dining area where meals are served

A

refectory

(rih-fek-tuh-ree)

synonyms: chamber, dining hall, cafeteria, mess hall

The students gathered in the refectory for their lunchtime meal.

103
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. frenzied or frantic

A

frenetic

(fruh-net-ik)

synonyms: anxious, hysterical, rattled, chaotic, wild

The frenetic pace of the city made it hard to relax.

104
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. immeasurably small

A

infinitesimal

(in-fin-ih-tess-uh-muhl)

synonyms: little, synonyms: little, microscopic, minuscule, tiny

The scientist measured the infinitesimal particles with great precision.

105
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. cheerfully optimistic

A

sanguine

(sang-gwin)

synonyms: happy, cheerful, hopeful, buoyant

Despite the challenges ahead, she remained sanguine about the future.

106
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. secretive, sly

A

furtive

(fur-tiv)

synonyms: sneaky, stealthy, covert, surreptitious

She cast a furtive glance at the hidden documents on the table.

107
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a false statement; slander, aspersion

A

calumny

(kal-uhm-nee)

synonyms: misrepresentations, slanderous, defamation, libel

The politician’s career was ruined by a calumny that spread quickly through the media.

108
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. everyday, commonplace, habitual

A

quotidian

(kwoh-tid-ee-uhn)

synonyms: ordinary, trivial, mundane, routine

Her quotidian routine included a morning jog and a cup of coffee.

109
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. causing sexual desire, bawdy

A

salacious

(suh-ley-shuhs)

synonyms: erotic, lecherous, raunchy, lascivious, risqué

The novel was criticized for its salacious content that appealed to base desires.

110
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to beg persistently

A

importune

(im-pour-chewn)

synonyms: demand, appeal, plead, beseech

He would importune his friends for favors whenever he needed help.

111
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. able to withstand attack

A

impregnable

(im-preg-nuh-bul)

synonyms: impenetrable, unassailable, invulnerable, secure

The fortress was built to be impregnable, with walls that could withstand any assault.

112
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. mad, crazy

adj. foolish

A

daft

(daft)

synonyms: absurd, insane, silly, nonsensical

His daft idea to swim in the icy lake in winter raised eyebrows.

Deciding to invest all his savings in a single stock was a daft move.

113
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. deeply earnest, grave

adj. of a very serious nature; gloomy

A

solemn

(sol-uhm)

synonyms: quiet, serious, grave, somber, earnest, thoughtful

The solemn ceremony honored those who had sacrificed their lives.

His solemn expression indicated he understood the seriousness of the situation.

114
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. spontaneously done without preparation

A

impromptu

(im-promp-too)

synonyms: improvised, unrehearsed, spontaneous, extemporaneous, off-the-cuff

The impromptu speech he gave was surprisingly well-received.

115
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. improperly disrespectful

A

impudent

(im-pyuh-dent)

synonyms: cocky, insolent, overbearing, brazen, audacious

His impudent remarks during the meeting shocked everyone.

116
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to adorn, usually in a poorly conceived or tasteless manner

A

bedizen

(bih-dahy-zuhn)

synonyms: clothe, embellish, garnish, dress up, decorate

She chose to bedizen herself in bright colors and flashy accessories.

117
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make angry

A

incense

(in-sense)

synonyms: fire up, enrage, infuriate, provoke

The rude comment served to incense her, making her visibly upset.

118
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a conscious decision or the capability of choosing

n. willingness

A

volition

(voh-lish-uhn)

synonyms: choice, option, preference, determination, resolve

He made the decision of his own volition, choosing to pursue a different career path.

Her volition to help others was evident in her volunteer work.

119
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to plug

v. to drive in or down by a series of blows

A

tamp

(tamp)

synonyms: fill, jam; ram, butt, drive, pack, compress

She used a tool to tamp the soil around the newly planted flowers.

He had to tamp the stakes firmly into the ground to secure the tent.

120
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make hard, strong or obdurate

v. to fill with determination

A

steel

(steel)

synonyms: harden, toughen; brace, embolden, fortify, prepare

He had to steel himself for the difficult conversation ahead.

She steeled herself against doubt and pushed forward with her goals.

121
Q

Define:

gossamer

(goss-uh-murr)

A

adj. delicate, insubstantial, flimsy

The gossamer kite broke in two at the first gust of wind.

122
Q

Define:

inimical

(ih-nim-ih-kuhl)

A

adj. hostile, unfriendly

The Antarctic is inimical to life.

123
Q

Define:

vainglorious

(veyn-glawr-ee-us)

A

adj. boastful of one’s accomplishments or accolades; vain

Dave’s vainglorious attitude unfortunately overshadowed his considerable accomplishments.

124
Q

Define:

pariah

(puh-rahy-uh)

A

n. an outcast; a rejected or despised person

Alex left the party feeling like a pariah.

125
Q

Define:

indelible

(in-del-uh-buhl)

A

adj. impossible to remove or to forget

The memory of that day had become indelible in his mind.

126
Q

Define:

byzantine

(biz-uhn-teen)

A

adj. complex, intricate, labyrinthine

The byzantine rules of the card game confused everyone.

127
Q

Define:

inveigh

(in-vey)

A

v. to attack verbally, to deprecate

The protesters were inveighing against government policies.

128
Q

Define:

peccadillo

(pek-uh-dil-oh)

A

n. slight infraction of rules, a minor sin

As a society, we tend to take our politicians to task over peccadilloes while overlooking the failings of our political system as a whole.

129
Q

Define:

panegyric

(pan-ih-djirr-ik)

A

n. a formal and elaborate public compliment; praise, laudation

The mayor extended a panegyric to all of the citizens who were fighting overseas.

130
Q

Define:

quaff

(kwaf)

A

v. to drink deeply; to intoxicate oneself with great enjoyment

He quaffed the pint in a three hearty gulps.

131
Q

Define:

inchoate

(in-koe-it)

A

adj. not fully formed

An inchoate sense of duty is no substitute for a sober assessment of the hardships that lie ahead if you decide to follow your husband to his remote post.

132
Q

Define:

essay

(n., ess-ey; v., ess-ey)

A

n. an attempt or trial

v. to test, try, experiment, investigate

My frequent essays at piano playing have only met with failure.

133
Q

Define:

incisive

(in-sahy-siv)

A

adj. quick to understand or perceptive

adj. clearly expressed; decisive

The boy’s incisive mind allowed him to excel in all of his classes.

134
Q

Define:

incorrigible

(in-kor-ih-juh-bull)

A

adj. unable to be corrected or reformed

Incorrigible juvenile offenders are sent to a special program within the prison.

135
Q

Define:

inculcate

(ing-cull-kate)

A

v. to teach by frequent repetition

Throughout the year, the faculty is expected to inculcate the essentials of fire safety in the students.

136
Q

Define:

indigenous

(in-didj-ih-nuss)

A

adj. originating in a certain place

The Aborigines are a people indigenous to Australia.

137
Q

Define:

indigent

(in-dih-djunt)

A

adj. extremely poor

The organization’s mission was to provide educational resources to indigent women in various countries.

138
Q

Define:

indolent

(in-dull-uhnt)

A

adj. habitually lazy

adj. causing little or no pain

The company’s owner decided to fire the most indolent workers first.

139
Q

Define:

redolent

(red-uhl-uhnt)

A

adj. fragrant, suggestive, or evocative

The fraternity house was redolent of stale beer and day-old pizza

140
Q

Define:

provident

(prov-ih-duhnt)

A

adj. looking to the future

adj. frugal

The young couple’s provident financial planning was an asset to them later in life.

141
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. delicate, insubstantial, flimsy

A

gossamer

(goss-uh-murr)

synonyms: thin, delicate, light, fragile, airy, ethereal

The gossamer fabric of her dress fluttered in the breeze.

142
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. hostile, unfriendly

A

inimical

(ih-nim-ih-kuhl)

synonyms: antagonistic, harmful, adverse, detrimental

The inimical comments from the critics hurt the artist deeply.

143
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. boastful of one’s accomplishments or accolades; vain

A

vainglorious

(veyn-glawr-ee-us)

synonyms: immodest, self-absorbed, conceited, narcissistic

His vainglorious speech about his achievements bored the audience.

144
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. an outcast; a rejected or despised person

A

pariah

(puh-rahy-uh)

synonyms: vagabond, persona non grata, leper, outlier

After the scandal, he became a pariah in his community.

145
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. impossible to remove or to forget

A

indelible

(in-del-uh-buhl)

synonyms: enduring, lasting, unforgettable, permanent, ineradicable

The indelible memories of her childhood shaped who she became.

146
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. labyrinthine, complex. intricate

A

byzantine

(biz-uhn-teen)

synonyms: convoluted, elaborate, complicated, tortuous

The byzantine regulations made it difficult for small businesses to operate.

147
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to attack verbally, deprecate

A

inveigh

(in-vey)

synonyms: remonstrate, lambaste, berate, rail against

He began to inveigh against the new policies during the meeting.

148
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. slight infraction of rules, a minor sin

A

peccadillo

(pek-uh-dil-oh)

synonyms: faux pas, misdemeanor, vice, infraction, error

His peccadillo of forgetting to RSVP was forgiven by his friends.

149
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a formal and elaborate public compliment; praise, laudation

A

panegyric

(pan-ih-djirr-ik)

synonyms: flattery, compliment, credit, tribute, eulogy

The mayor delivered a panegyric in honor of the retiring teacher.

150
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to drink deeply; to intoxicate oneself with great enjoyment

A

quaff

(kwaf)

synonyms: guzzle, swig, imbibe, sip

After a long day, he would quaff a cold beer on the porch.

151
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. not fully formed

A

inchoate

(in-koe-it)

synonyms: undeveloped, beginning, elementary, nascent, rudimentary

The inchoate idea needed more development before it could be presented.

152
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. an attempt or trial

v. to test, try, experiment, investigate

A

essay

(n., ess-ey, v., ess-ey)

synonyms: experiment, endeavor, attempt, trial, examination, assessment

His first essay at painting was filled with bold colors and energy.

She decided to essay a new approach to solving the problem.

153
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. quick to understand or perceptive

adj. clearly expressed; decisive

A

incisive

(in-sahy-siv)

synonyms: intelligent, quick; clear-cut, shrewd, sharp

Her incisive comments during the discussion highlighted her deep understanding of the topic.

The CEO’s incisive speech laid out the company’s vision with clarity.

154
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unable to be corrected or reformed

A

incorrigible

(in-kor-ih-juh-bull)

synonyms: rebellious, disobedient, incurable, irredeemable, hopeless

His incorrigible behavior in school led to multiple suspensions.

155
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to teach by frequent repetition

A

inculcate

(ing-cull-kate)

synonyms: communicate, drill, instill, impart, indoctrinate

The teacher aimed to inculcate good study habits in her students.

156
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. originating in a certain place

A

indigenous

(in-didj-ih-nuss)

synonyms: native, inborn, aboriginal, local, endemic

The indigenous cultures of the region have rich traditions and histories.

157
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. extremely poor

A

indigent

(in-dih-djunt)

synonyms: destitute, impoverished, needy, penniless

The charity provides support for indigent families in the community.

158
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. habitually lazy

adj. causing little or no pain

A

indolent

(in-dull-uhnt)

synonyms: idle, lazy; insensitive, slothful, lethargic

His indolent attitude made it difficult for him to meet deadlines.

The indolent tumor was discovered during a routine check-up.

159
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. fragrant, suggestive or evocative

A

redolent

(red-uhl-uhnt)

synonyms: aromatic, imbued with, scented, perfumed

The garden was redolent with the scent of blooming flowers.

160
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. looking to the future

adj. frugal

A

provident

(prov-ih-duhnt)

synonyms: cautious, prepared; thrifty, prudent, foresighted

Her provident nature led her to save money for emergencies.

The provident shopper always looked for the best deals.

161
Q

Define:

untoward

(uhn-tawrd)

A

adj. troublesome, unruly, adverse, or indecent

This is not the first time I have noted untoward similarities between those two students’ papers.

162
Q

Define:

paean

(pee-uhn)

A

n. a song or expression of joy or praise

After their country won the World Cup, the band wrote a paean to the national team that became a Top 20 hit.

163
Q

Define:

aspersion

(uh-spur-zhuhn)

A

n. the act of defamation or maligning; a derogatory remark

The aspersions cast by his political opponent took weeks to eradicate.

164
Q

Define:

lucid

(lue-sid)

A

adj. easy to understand

adj. transparent (permitting light to pass through)

adj. having a clear mind

The artist was unable to express his abstract ideas in a lucid manner.

165
Q

Define:

luminous

(lue-muh-nus)

A

adj. emitting light; bright

adj. enlightening

My friend raves about this “luminous” collection of poems, though I didn’t think it was particularly insightful.

166
Q

Define:

luxuriant

(lug-zhure-ee-unt)

A

adj. growing in extreme abundance

adj. luxurious and complexly detailed

Anne’s luxuriant garden was considered the nicest in the neighborhood.

167
Q

Define:

malevolent

(muh-lev-uh-lunt)

A

adj. wishing evil on others

The malevolent old woman was always trying to make her neighbors miserable.

168
Q

Define:

manifest

(man-ih-fest)

A

n. a list of the people aboard a ship or plane

adj. clearly apparent

v. to exhibit a quality

Linda’s laziness was manifest in the messy state of her apartment.

169
Q

Define:

mannered

(man-urd)

A

adj. artificial or affected

The pretentious socialite had a mannered way of speaking that did not impress many of her peers.

170
Q

Define:

mantle

(man-tul)

A

n. a covering or concealing object

n. a symbol of power or duty

Amid the spate of resignations at town hall, the untested woman was forced to accept the mantle of leadership as the town’s youngest mayor ever.

171
Q

Define:

mar

(mar)

A

v. to make imperfect

n. a mark that damages the appearance of something

Although entertaining and well-written, the screenplay was marred by its dependence on stereotypes instead of well-developed characters.

172
Q

Define:

martinet

(mar-tih-net)

A

n. one who demands strict adherence to rules

The nanny was hired for the unruly children because of her reputation as a martinet who would be sure to keep them in line.

173
Q

Define:

matrix

(may-tricks)

A

n. a place in which something originates or develops

This computer program is the matrix for the movie’s digital art.

174
Q

Define:

palette

(pal-it)

A

n. a board used by artists to mix paint colors

n. a range of colors

The poor artist managed to make an interesting piece with a palette of only black and white.

175
Q

Define:

paradigm

(pair-ih-dahym)

A

n. a standard example

n. a pattern or model

He used the Civil War as a historical paradigm to support his point.

176
Q

Define:

paramount

(pair-ih-mount)

A

adj. most important

Educational reform was a paramount issue for both mayoral candidates.

177
Q

Define:

parch

(parch)

A

v. to make dry

v. to make thirsty

The sun’s intense heat parched the ground and wilted the leaves on the trees.

178
Q

Define:

parsimonious

(par-suh-moh-nee-us)

A

adj. frugal; cheap

Her aunt was too parsimonious to chip in for the family’s annual reunion.

179
Q

Define:

pathology

(pah-thol-uh-djee)

A

n. the study of disease

n. a disease’s progression or manifestation

An oncologist concerns herself with the pathology of cancer.

180
Q

Define:

paucity

(paw-suh-tee)

A

n. a small amount

The paucity of resources meant the film had to be made with unpaid actors and few crew members.

181
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. troublesome, unruly, adverse, or indecent

A

untoward

(uhn-tawrd)

synonyms: problematic, objectionable, inappropriate, difficult

His untoward behavior at the party caused discomfort among the guests.

182
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a song or expression of joy or praise

A

paean

(pee-uhn)

synonyms: hymn, melody, ode, anthem

The choir sang a paean to celebrate the community’s achievements.

183
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the act of defamation or maligning; derogatory remark

A

aspersion

(uh-spur-zhuhn)

synonyms: abuse, belittlement, slander, disparagement

Her comments were not just criticism; they were an aspersion on his character.

184
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. easy to understand

adj. transparent (permitting light to pass through)

adj. having a clear mind

A

lucid

(lue-sid)

synonyms: clearheaded, sensible, unblurred, coherent, articulate

His lucid explanation made the complex topic accessible to everyone.

After a good night’s sleep, she felt lucid and ready to tackle the day.

185
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. emitting light; bright

adj. enlightening

A

luminous

(lue-muh-nus)

synonyms: glowing, edifying, radiant, brilliant

The luminous stars filled the night sky with their glow.

The lecture was not only informative but also luminous in its insights.

186
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. growing in extreme abundance

adj. luxurious and complexly detailed

A

luxuriant

(lug-zhure-ee-unt)

synonyms: fertile, lush, prolific, opulent, extravagant

The luxuriant vegetation in the rainforest is home to countless species.

The garden was a luxuriant display of flowers and foliage, delighting every visitor.

187
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. wishing evil on others

A

malevolent

(muh-lev-uh-lunt)

synonyms: hateful, malicious, malignant, spiteful, vindictive

His malevolent glare sent chills down her spine.

188
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a list of the people aboard a ship or plane

adj. clearly apparent

v. to exhibit a quality

A

manifest

(man-ih-fest)

synonyms: ledger; conspicuous, unambiguous; demonstrate, show, display, reveal

The captain checked the manifest to ensure all passengers were accounted for.

Her kindness manifests in her willingness to help those in need.

189
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. artificial or affected

A

mannered

(man-urd)

synonyms: unnatural, stilted, affected, contrived

His mannered speech made him seem insincere and pretentious.

190
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a covering or concealing object

n. a symbol of power or duty

A

mantle

(man-tul)

synonyms: cloak, covering, shroud, cape

The old mantle hung above the fireplace, filled with memories.

He took on the mantle of leadership with great responsibility.

191
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make imperfect

n. a mark that damages the appearance of something

A

mar

(mar)

synonyms: hurt, blemish, ruin, deface, spoil

The scratches on the surface will mar the beauty of the table.

The small mar on the painting was hardly noticeable but still bothered her.

192
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. one who demands strict adherence to rules

A

martinet

(mar-tih-net)

synonyms: authoritarian, enforcer, disciplinarian, taskmaster

The teacher was a martinet, enforcing rules with an iron fist.

193
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a place in which something originates or develops

A

matrix

(may-tricks)

synonyms: forge, source, origin, framework, environment

The matrix of the organization fosters innovation and creativity.

194
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a board used by artists to mix paint colors

n. a range of colors

A

palette

(pal-it)

synonyms: paint board, spectrum, color range, mixing board

The artist’s palette was filled with vibrant hues.

The interior designer chose a palette of soft pastels for the room.

195
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a standard example

n. a pattern or model

A

paradigm

(pair-ih-dahym)

synonyms: archetype, template, model, example

The new research provides a paradigm for understanding climate change.

The shift in the company’s paradigm allowed for greater flexibility.

196
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. most important

A

paramount

(pair-ih-mount)

synonyms: principal, prominent, significant, supreme, chief

Safety is paramount in any construction project.

197
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to make dry

v. to make thirsty

A

parch

(parch)

synonyms: dehydrate, dry, evaporate, desiccate, wither

The hot sun will quickly parch the landscape.

The long hike through the desert began to parch his throat.

198
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. frugal; cheap

A

parsimonious

(par-suh-moh-nee-us)

synonyms: penurious, miserly, simple, stingy, thrifty

Her parsimonious nature made her hesitant to spend money on luxuries.

199
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. the study of disease

n. a disease’s progression or manifestation

A

pathology

(pah-thol-uh-djee)

synonyms: disease science, medicine, epidemiology

Pathology plays a crucial role in diagnosing medical conditions.

The pathology of the disease can vary significantly between patients.

200
Q

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

n. a small amount

A

paucity

(paw-suh-tee)

synonyms: lack, scarcity, dearth, insufficiency

There was a paucity of evidence to support his claims.

GRE Vocab Genius (9 decks)

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