Advanced Words Flashcards

Question

choleric

Answer 1

adj. prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered While a brilliant lecturer, Mr. Dawson came across as choleric and unapproachable—very rarely did students come to his office hours.

Answer 2

adj. hasty or rash v. to cause to happen Instead of conducting a thorough investigation after the city hall break-in, the governor acted precipitately, accusing his staff of aiding and abetting the criminals. The government's mishandling the hurricane's aftermath precipitated a widespread outbreak of looting and other criminal activity.

Answer 3

adj. morose or gloomy Deprived of sunlight, humans become saturnine; that’s why in very northerly territories people are encouraged to sit under an extremely powerful lamp, lest they become morose.

Answer 4

adj. arrogant; presumptuous Mark was so convinced of his basketball skills that in his overweening pride he could not fathom that his name was not on the varsity list; he walked up to the basketball coach and told her she had forgotten to add his name.

Answer 5

v. to bully or intimidate The boss’s hectoring manner put off many employees, some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs.

Answer 6

adj. complete and wholly (usually modifying a noun with negative connotation) An arrant fool, Lawrence surprised nobody when he lost all his money in a pyramid scheme that was every bit as transparent as it was corrupt.

Answer 7

n. spirit of the times Each decade has its own zeitgeist—the 1990’s was a prosperous time in which the promise of the American Dream never seemed more palpable.

Answer 8

adj. lacking manners or refinement The manager was unnecessarily churlish to his subordinates, rarely deigning to say hello, but always quick with a sartorial jab if someone happened to be wearing anything even slightly mismatching.

Answer 9

n. an outcast The once eminent scientist, upon being found guilty of faking his data, has become a pariah in the research community.

Answer 10

adj. cautious, suspiciously reluctant to do something Having received three speeding tickets in the last two months, Jack was chary of driving at all above the speed limit, even on a straight stretch of highway that looked empty for miles ahead.

Answer 11

v. to speak vaguely, usually with the intention to mislead or deceive After Sharon brought the car home an hour after her curfew, she equivocated when her parents pointedly asked her where she had been.

Answer 12

adj. lecherous; sexually perverted Lolita is a challenging novel for many, not necessarily because of the elevated prose style but because of the depravity of the main character, Humbert Humbert, who, as an old, lascivious man, falls in love with a girl.

Answer 13

adj. intricate and complex Getting a driver’s license is not simply a matter of taking a test; the regulations and procedures are so byzantine that many have found themselves at the mercy of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Answer 14

v. to help pay the cost of, either in part of full In order for Sean to attend the prestigious college, his generous uncle helped defray the excessive tuition with a monthly donation.

Answer 15

n. depravity; a depraved act During his reign, Caligula indulged in unspeakable sexual practices, so it not surprising that he will forever be remembered for his turpitude.

Answer 16

adj. without cunning or deceit Despite the president's seemingly artless speeches, he was a skilled and ruthless negotiator.

Answer 17

n. the lowest point For many pop music fans, the rap and alternative-rock dominated 90s were the nadir of musical expression.

Answer 18

adj. done diligently and carefully An avid numismatist, Harold sedulously amassed a collection of coins from over 100 countries—an endeavor that took over fifteen years, and to five continents.

Answer 19

adj. lacking money; poor adj. miserly Truly penurious, Mary had nothing more than a jar full of pennies. Warren Buffett, famous multi-billionaire, still drives a cheap sedan, not because he is penurious, but because luxury cars are gaudy and impractical.

Answer 20

n. a strong verbal attack against a person or institution Steve’s mom launched into a diatribe during the PTA meeting, contending that the school was little more than a daycare in which students stare at the wall and teachers stare at the chalkboard.

Answer 21

v. to drink or absorb as if drinking Plato imbibed Socrates’ teachings to such an extent that he was able to write volumes of work that he directly attributed, sometimes word for word, to Socrates.

Answer 22

adj. haughty and disdainful; looking down on others Nelly felt the Quiz Bowl director acted superciliously towards the underclassmen; really, she fumed, must he act so preternaturally omniscient each time he intones some obscure fact—as though everybody knows that Mt. Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America.

Answer 23

n. the highest point The apogee of the Viennese style of music, Mozart’s music continues to mesmerize audiences well into the 21st century.

Answer 24

v. to eliminate completely When I turned 18, all of the shoplifting and jaywalking charges were expunged from my criminal record.

Answer 25

n. a person who thinks that their country should be at war In the days leading up to war, a nation typically breaks up into the two opposing camps: doves, who do their best to avoid war, and jingoists, who are only too eager to wave national flags from their vehicles and vehemently denounce those who do not do the same.

Answer 26

n. change in one’s circumstances, usually for the worse Even great rulers have their vicissitudes—massive kingdoms have diminished overnight, and once beloved kings have faced the scorn of angry masses.

Answer 27

adj. artificial; not natural The defendant’s story was largely factitious and did not accord with eyewitness testimonies

Answer 28

adj. lacking money; poor In extremely trying times, even the moderately wealthy, after a few turns of ill-fortune, can become impecunious.

Answer 29

adj. readily taking on different roles; versatile Peter Sellers was truly a protean actor—in Doctor Strangelove he played three very different roles: a jingoist general, a sedate President and a deranged scientist.

Answer 30

adj. to have a limited outlook or understanding In gambling, the addict is easily blinkered by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it.

Answer 31

adj. illusive; unreal Those suffering from malaria fall into a feverish sleep, their world a whirligig of phantasmagoria; if they recover, they are unsure of what actually took place and what was simply a product of their febrile imaginations.

Answer 32

adj. overly emotional and sad Just as those who were alive during the 70’s are mortified that they once cavorted about in bellbottoms, many who lived during the 80’s are now aghast at the maudlin pop songs they used to enjoy—really, just what exactly is a total eclipse of the heart?

Answer 33

n. exaltation to divine status; the highest point of development As difficult as it is to imagine, the apotheosis of Mark Zuckerberg’s career, many believe, is yet to come.

Answer 34

v. to limit or qualify a statement; to avoid making a direct statement When asked why he had decided to buy millions of shares at the very moment the tech companies stock soared, the CEO hedged, mentioning something vague about gut instinct.

Answer 35

adj. wildly idealistic; impractical For every thousand startups with quixotic plans to be the next big name in e-commerce, only a handful ever become profitable.

Answer 36

adj. fallen into a state of ignorance Far from being a period of utter benightedness, The Medieval Ages produced some great works of theological speculation.

Answer 37

v. to criticize very harshly Entrusted with the prototype to his company’s latest smartphone, Larry, during a late night karaoke bout, let the prototype slip into the hands of a rival company—the next day Larry was excoriated, and then fired.

Answer 38

n. something that has been changed numerous times but on which traces of former iterations can still be seen The downtown was a palimpsest of the city’s checkered past: a new Starbucks had opened up next to an abandoned, shuttered building, and a freshly asphalted road was inches away from a pothole large enough to swallow a small dog.

Answer 39

adj. extremely optimistic Even in the midst of a lousy sales quarter, Debbie remained Pollyannaish, never losing her shrill voice and wide smile, even when prospective customers hung up on her.

Answer 40

adj. bossy and domineering My sister used to peremptorily tell me to do the dishes, a chore I would either do perfunctorily or avoid doing altogether.

Answer 41

adj. dull; lacking flavor adj. immature; childish Although many top chefs have secured culinary foam's popularity in haute cuisine, Waters criticizes it for being jejune and unfilling. Her boss further cemented his reuptation for being jejune after throwing a fit when the water cooler wasn't refilled.

Answer 42

v. to defraud or swindle The so-called magical diet cure simply ended up mulcting Maria out of hundreds of dollars, but did nothing for her weight.

Answer 43

adj. related to fashion or clothes Monte was astute at navigating the world of finance; sartorially, however, he was found wanting—he typically would attempt to complement his beige tie with a gray suit and white pants.

Answer 44

adj. easily excused or forgiven; pardonable His traffic violations ran the gamut from the venial to the egregious—on one occasion he simply did not come to a complete stop; another time he tried to escape across state lines at speeds in excess of 140 mph.

Answer 45

adj. trifling or petty (a person) English teachers are notorious for being picayune; however, the English language is so nuanced and sophisticated that often such teachers are not being contrary but are only adhering to the rules.

Answer 46

n. a strict disciplinarian The job seemed perfect to Rebecca, until she found out that her boss was a total martinet; after each project the boss would come by to scrutinize—and inevitably criticize—every little detail of the work Rebecca had done.

Answer 47

adj. likely to lean towards a controversial view Because political mudslinging has become a staple of the 24-hour media cycle, most of us, despite protestations to the contrary, are tendentious on many of today’s pressing issues.

Answer 48

n. a grouchy, surly person Since Uncle Mike was the family curmudgeon, each Thanksgiving he was plied with copious amounts of wine, in the hope that he would become less grouchy.

Answer 49

n. joy from watching the suffering of others From his warm apartment window, Stanley reveled in schadenfreude as he laughed at the figures below, huddled together in the arctic chill.

Answer 50

n. a force that cannot be stopped Napoleon was considered a juggernaut until he decided to invade Russia in winter; after which, his once indomitable army was decimated by cold and famine.

Answer 51

n. greed for money Some believe people that amassing as much wealth as possible is the meaning to life—yet they often realize that cupidity brings anything but happiness.

Answer 52

adj. describing a victory that comes at such a great cost that the victory is not worthwhile George W. Bush’s win in the 2000 election was in many ways a pyrrhic victory: the circumstances of his win alienated half of the U.S. population.

Answer 53

adj. to be moralizing, usually in a pompous sense The old man, casting his nose up in the air at the group of adolescents, intoned sententiously, “Youth is wasted on the young.”

Answer 54

v. to curse and hiss at Though the new sitcom did decently in the ratings, Nelson railed against the show, saying that it was nothing more than an execrable pastiche of tired cliché’s and canned laughter.

Answer 55

adj. clarity in terms of expression Her limpid prose made even the most recondite subjects accessible to all.

Answer 56

n. a confusing and potentially embarrassing situation The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong broths, creating an imbroglio that diners would not soon forget.

Answer 57

n. a person who has recently reached a position of power; a social climber The city center was aflutter with arrivistes who each tried to outdo one another with their ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.

Answer 58

v. to manipulate voting districts in order to favor a particular political party Years ago, savvy politicians had gerrymandered the city center to ensure their re-election.

Answer 59

adj. to criticize harshly; to berate Jason had dealt with disciplinarians before, but nothing prepared him for the first week of boot camp, as drill sergeants vituperated him for petty oversights such as forgetting to double knot the laces on his boots.

Answer 60

v. to remove objectionable material The censor expurgated every reference to sex and drugs, converting the rapper's raunchy flow into a series of bleeps.

Answer 61

adj. to be deliberately teasing The baroness was arch, making playful asides to the townspeople; yet because they couldn't pick up on her dry humor, they thought her supercilious.

Answer 62

n. calmness or poise in difficult situations The hostage negotiator exhibited a sangfroid that oftentimes was more menacing than the sword at his throat, or the gun at his head.

Answer 63

adj. filled with courage or valor For its raid on the Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Seal Team Six has become, for many Americans, the embodiment of mettle.

Answer 64

n. the confusion of a word with another word that sounds similar Whenever I looked glum, my mother would offer to share "an amusing antidote" with me—an endearing malapropism of "anecdote" that never failed to cheer me up.

Answer 65

v. to make objections while pleading The mothers of the kidnapped victims remonstrated to the rogue government to release their children, claiming that the detention violated human rights.

Answer 66

adj. to be biased against due to envy or prejudice Shelly was jaundiced towards Olivia; though the two had once been best friends, Olivia had become class president, prom queen, and, to make matters worse, the girlfriend of the one boy Shelly liked.

Answer 67

n. a person who indulges in luxury Despite the fact that he’d maxed out fifteen credit cards, Max was still a sybarite at heart: when the police found him, he was at a $1,000 an hour spa in Manhattan, getting a facial treatment.

Answer 68

n. abusive or denunciatory language The Internet has unleashed the invectives in many of us; many people post stinging criticism on the comments section underneath newspaper articles or YouTube videos.

Answer 69

adj. smooth and sweet-sounding Chelsea’s grandmother thought Franz Schubert’s music to be the most mellifluous ever written; Chelsea demurred, and to her grandmother’s chagrin, would blast Rihanna on the home stereo speakers.

Answer 70

v. to placate or appease The two sons, plying their angry father with cheesy neckties for Christmas, were hardly able to propitiate him – the father already had a drawer full of ones he had never worn before or ever planned to.

Answer 71

v. to persuade somebody that his/her belief is not valid As a child, I was quickly disabused of the notion that Santa Claus was a rotund benefactor of infinite largess—one night I saw my mother diligently wrapping presents and storing them under our Christmas tree.

Answer 72

adj. terribly evil For fans of the Harry Potter series, the fell Lord Voldemort, who terrorized poor Harry for seven lengthy installments, has finally been vanquished by the forces of good—unless, that is, JK Rowling decides to come out of retirement.

Answer 73

adj. irritable; always angry Rex was bilious all morning, and his face would only take on a look of contentedness when he’d had his morning cup of coffee.

Answer 74

adj. to be overly theatrical Though she received a B- on the test, she had such a histrionic outburst that one would have thought that she’d been handed a death sentence.

Answer 75

n. a person who has suddenly become wealthy, but not socially accepted as part of a higher class The theater was full of parvenus who each thought that they were surrounded by true aristocrats.

Answer 76

n. a confusing and potentially embarrassing situation The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong broths, creating an imbroglio that diners would not soon forget.

Answer 77

n. a traitor History looks unfavorably upon quislings; indeed they are accorded about the same fondness as Nero—he who watched his city burn down while playing the violin.

Answer 78

adj. marked by courage and determination Some scouts initially doubted Pedroia because of his short stature, but he is a plucky player, surprising everyone with his boundless energy and fierce determination.

Answer 79

v. beg persistently and urgently After weeks of importuning the star to meet for a five-minute interview, the journalist finally got what she wanted.

Answer 80

adj. (of a person) not doing one's duties n. (of a building) abandoned The teacher was derelict in her duties because she hadn't graded a single student paper in three weeks. At one time the waterfront factories were busy and productive, but now they stand derelict and will be torn down.

Answer 81

n. an office that involves minimal duties The position of Research Director is a sinecure: the job entails almost no responsibilities, nor does the person in that position have to answer to anyone.

Answer 82

adj. having good judgement and acute insight Steve Jobs is surely one of the most sagacious CEOs, making Apple the most recognizable and valuable companies in the world.

Answer 83

n. a sudden revelation or moment of insight Gary one day had an epiphany that he was a people person; he prompty quit his factory job and began working as a salesman.

Answer 84

adj. excessively flattering toward someone's life or work Most accounts of Tiger Woods life were hagiographic, until, that is, his affairs made headlines.

Answer 85

v. be a mystery or bewildering to Mary's behavior completely flummoxes me: I never have any idea what her motivations might be.

Answer 86

v. wander aimlessly v. speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly Max liked to maunder down by the seaside and pick up whatever sea shells he would stumble upon. After drinking two espressos each, the animated couple would maunder loudly, annoying the other patrons in the coffee shop.

Answer 87

n. any long and tedious account of something Mr. Rogers spoke to a Senate committee and did not give a litany of reasons to keep funding the program, but instead, appealed to the basic human decency of all present.

Answer 88

n. lack of concern Surprisingly, Hank had become a high-powered CEO; his high school friends remembered him as "Hanky Panky", who shrugged off each failed class with insouciance.

Answer 89

v. attribute (responsibility or fault) to something He imputed his subpar performance on the test to a combination of stress and poor sleep.

Answer 90

n. a socially awkward or tactless act Mother Anna was always on guard against any solecism from her children and scolded them immediately if any of them talked out of place in public.

Answer 91

v. give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority The government agency enjoined the chemical company to clean up the hazardous dump it had created over the years.

Answer 92

n. a statement made about the future When the Senator was asked about where the negotiations would lead, he said that any guess he could make would be an unreliable prognostication.

Answer 93

n. integrity, strong moral principles The ideal politician would have the probity to lead, but reality gravely falls short of the ideal of morally upright leaders.

Answer 94

adj. acutely insightful and wise Many modern observers regard Eisenhower as perspicacious, particularly in his accurate prediction of the growth of the military.

Answer 95

adj. inspiring fear or awe On television basketball players don't look that tall, but when you stand in front of a seven-foot tall NBA player, he is truly redoubtable.

Answer 96

n. audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to The skateboarders acted with effrontery, skating through the church grounds and spray-painting signs warning trespassers.

Answer 97

v. ridicule with satire Mark Twain understood that lampooning a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism.

Answer 98

v. draw back, as with fear or pain Craig always claimed to be a fearless outdoorsman, but when the thunderstorm engulfed the valley, he quailed at the thought of leaving the safety of his cabin.

Answer 99

n. a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes You may call him a "motivational speaker," but I call him a charlatan--he doesn't have any idea what he's really talking about.

Answer 100

adj. puffed up with vanity The dictator was known for his grandiloquent speeches, puffing his chest out and using big, important-sounding words.

Answer 101

adj. marked by precise accordance with details The colonel was so punctilious about enforcing regulations that men feel compelled to polish even the soles of their shoes.

Answer 102

n. a socially awkward or tactless act In a famous gaffe, Vice President Quayle attempted to correct the spelling of a grade school student, only to find that the child was correct.

Answer 103

n. the quality of innocence I, personally, found the artlessness of her speech charming.

Answer 104

adj. being on the point of death; declining rapidly losing all momentum in progress Whether you like it or not, jazz as a genre is moribund at best, possibly already dead.

Answer 105

n. the state of being first in importance The primacy of Apple Computers is not guaranteed, as seen in the recent lawsuits and weak growth.

Answer 106

n. boring verbosity I loved my grandfather dearly, but his prolixity would put me to sleep, regardless of the topic.

Answer 107

adj. excessively mournful At the funeral, lugubrious songs filled the small church.

Answer 108

adj. uncooperative, not willing to give up information The teacher demanded to know who broke the window while he was out of the room, but the students understandably were unforthcoming.

Answer 109

v. hold spellbound She was so enthralled by the movie that she never heard people screaming, "Fire! Fire!" in the neighboring theater.

Answer 110

adj. ominously prophetic When the captain and more than half the officers were sick on the very first night of the voyage, many of the passengers felt this was portentous, but the rest of the voyage continued without any problems.

Answer 111

n. a feeling of anger caused by being offended Since he was so in love with her, he took umbrage at her comments, even though she had only meant to gently tease him.

Answer 112

n. a summary (think of recap) Every point of the professors lesson was so clear that the students felt his concluding recapitulation was not necessary.

Answer 113

adj. relating to or involving money The defendent was found guilty and had to serve a period of community service as well as pay pecuniary damages to the client.

Answer 114

adj. expressing praise or approval Although it might not be her best work, Hunter's new novel has received generally approbatory reviews.

Answer 115

v. edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate To receive an R rating, the entire movie was bowdlerized because it contained so much violence and grotesque subject matter.

Answer 116

n. fearless daring No child has the temerity to go in the rundown house at the end of the street and see if it is haunted.

Answer 117

n. deceitfulness, pretending to want one thing but interested in something else A life of espionage is one of duplicity: an agent must pretend to be a totally different person than who she or he actually is.

Answer 118

adj. widely known and esteemed; having or conferring glory Einstein was possibly the most illustrious scientist in recent history.

Answer 119

v. enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate something Many college superstar athletes are hailed as the next big thing, but then flop at the professional level.

Answer 120

n. a person skilled in telling anecdotes Jude is entertaining, but he is no raconteur: beyond the handful of amusing stories he has memorized, he has absolutely no spontaneous story-telling ability.

Answer 121

adj. biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style While Phil frequently made mordant remarks about company policy overall, he always was considerably gentler in discussing any person in particular.

Answer 122

n. an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading While the banker maintained a semblance of respectability in public, those who knew him well were familiar with his many crimes.

Answer 123

n. a statement made about the future When the Senator was asked about where the negotiations would lead, he said that any guess he could make would be an unreliable prognostication.

Answer 124

v. relinquish possession or control over Eventually, all parents must cede control of their growing childrens' educations and allow their offspring some autonomy.

Answer 125

adj. harsh or corrosive in tone While the teacher was more moderate in her criticism of the other student's papers, she was vitriolic toward Peter's paper, casting every flaw in the harshest light.

Answer 126

n. something that soothes or relieves pain adj. inoffensive Muzak, which is played in department stores, is intended to be an anodyne, but is often so cheesy and over-the-top that customers become irritated. Wilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast, but Jill preferred a far more anodyne meal in the mornings.

Answer 127

adj. lacking energy and vigor After three straight shows, the lead actress gave an anemic performance the fourth night, barely speaking loudly enough for those in the back rows to hear.

Answer 128

adj. careful in regard to your own interests; providing carefully for the future In a move that hardly could be described as provident, Bert spend his entire savings on a luxurious cruise, knowing that other bills would come due a couple months later.

Answer 129

v. ridicule with satire Mark Twain understood that lampooning a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism.

Answer 130

adj. of or characteristic of a child; displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity Helen enjoyed blowing soap bubbles, but Jim regarded this as puerile, totally unworthy of a woman with a Ph.D.

Answer 131

v. make rigid and set into a conventional pattern Even as a young man, Bob had some bias against poor people, but during his years in social services, his bad opinions ossified into unshiftable views.

Answer 132

adj. showing inappropriate levity Although Sam was trying to honor Mark's sense of humor, many found it quite flippant that he wore a comic nose and glasses mask to Mark's funeral.

Answer 133

adj. powerful Over the years of service, and quite to his surprise, he became a puissant advisor to the community.

Answer 134

n. an indirect suggestion At first the hostess tried intimation, praising the benefits of cutlery; when Cecil continued eating with his hands, the hostess told him to use a fork at dinner.

Answer 135

adj. coming across as uninterested or unconcerned; overly casual The twenty-somethings at the coffee shop always irked Sheldon, especially the way in which they acted nonchalantly towards everything, not even caring when Sheldon once spilled his mocha on them.

Answer 136

n. an exemption from a rule or obligation Since her father is a billionaire, she is given dispensation from many of the school's policies.

Answer 137

adj. not able to work, survive, or succeed (also spelled inviable). The plan was obviously unviable considering that it lead to complete environmental destruction in the river valley.

Answer 138

v. fit together tightly, as if by means of a interlocking joint Although Darwin's evolution and Mendel's genetics were developed in isolation from one another, they dovetail very well.

Answer 139

n. overbearing pride or presumption Bill Clinton was criticized for his hubris, since he believed he could get away with anything once in the White House.

Answer 140

adj. noisily and stubbornly defiant; willfully difficult to control When the teacher asked the obstreperous student simply to bus his tray, the student threw the entire tray on the floor, shouted an epithet, and walked out.

Answer 141

v. deeply hurt the feelings of; distress The teacher was fired for lacerating a student who wrote a poor essay.

Answer 142

adj. unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; practicing great self-denial After losing everything in a fire, Tim decided to live in spartan conditions, sleeping on the floor and owning as little furniture as a possible.

Answer 143

adj. stealthy, taking pains not to be caught or detected Since his mom was a light sleeper, Timmy had to tiptoe surreptitiously through the entire house, careful to not make the floors creak, until he at last was able to enjoy his plunder: a box of chocolate chip cookies.

Answer 144

adj. brought low in spirit I asked Maria on a date and she refused without a moment's thought; I was crestfallen.

Answer 145

adj. likely to cause resentment At a time when many others in the office were about to be laid off, many considered Cheryl's fine clothes that day an invidious display.

Answer 146

v. treat with excessive indulgence The king and queen cosseted the young prince, giving him a prized miniature pony for his fifth birthday.

Answer 147

v. cause to take on a definite and clear shape Only after fifteen minutes of brainstorming did Samantha's ideas for the essay crystallize.

Answer 148

v. to enclose, usually in walls The modern supermarket experience makes many feel claustrophobic, as they are immured in walls upon walls of products.

Answer 149

n. harshness of manner The editor was known for his asperity, often sending severe letters of rejection to amateur writers.

Answer 150

adj. necessarily or demonstrably true; impossible to deny or disprove Unless you can provide incontrovertible evidence, I will remain skeptical.

Answer 151

v. engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together The rebels met at night in an abandoned barn to machinate.

Answer 152

n. a practical consequence that follows naturally A corollary of Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the east coast of the U.S., is a push to build higher sea walls to protect against future hurricanes.

Answer 153

v. to make accustomed to something unpleasant Three years of Manhattan living has inured her to the sound of wailing sirens; she could probably sleep through the apocalypse.

Answer 154

adj. not given careful consideration Marty was improvident, never putting money aside for the future but spending it on decorating the interior of his home.

Answer 155

adj. glaringly obvious Since the book had been through no fewer than six proof runs, the staff was shocked to see such a patent spelling mistake remaining, right in the middle of the front cover!

Answer 156

adj. traveling by foot Jim always preferred a peripatetic approach to discovering a city: he felt that he could see so many more details while walking.

Answer 157

v. express strong disapproval of The entire audience erupted in shouts and curses, decrying the penalty card issued by the referee.

Answer 158

n. the final resolution of the many strands of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of events At the denouement of the movie, all questions were answered, and the true identity of the robber was revealed.

Answer 159

adj. defying imitation; matchless Mozart's music follows a clear pattern that, anyone could imitate, but his music gives an overall sense of effortlessness that is inimitable.

Answer 160

v. hold back The costume encumbered all my movements and caused me to sweat profusely.

Answer 161

adj. (of a circumstance) with little chance of success With only a bottle of water and a sandwich, the hikers faced an unpropitious task: ascending a huge mountain that took most two days to climb.

Answer 162

n. speed, rapidity We aim to respond to customers' questions with celerity and accuracy, with no longer than a 24 hour wait time.

Answer 163

adj. (of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified With the combination of Kepler's brilliant theories and Galileo's telescopic observations, the old geocentric theory became untenable to most of the educated people in Europe.

Answer 164

adj. fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience The equitable distribution of ice cream to a group of 5 year olds will ensure little to no fighting—at least until the ice cream is gone.

Answer 165

adj. not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure The house shook and the ground quaked, but my dad was unflappable and comforted the family.

Answer 166

adj. must be kept sacred While the literary critic subjected most of the classics to the harshest reviews, he regarded Cervantes as inviolate, and had nothing but praise for him.

Answer 167

adj. as if driven by turbulent or conflicting emotions; highly energetic and wildly changing or fluctuating Chuck and Kathy had always been stable and agreeable people on their own, but when they got involved, it was a tempestuous relationship.

Answer 168

adj. impossible to deny or disprove The existence of life on earth is irrefutable; the existence of intelligent life on earth is still hotly debated.

Answer 169

n. a feeling of evil to come On the night that Lincoln would be fatally shot, his wife had a presentiment about going to Ford's Theater, but Lincoln persuaded her that everything would be fine.

Answer 170

adj. dependable; inured to fatigue or hardships Despite all the criticism directed at the President during this scandal, Lisa has remained his stalwart supporter.

Answer 171

v. make more subtle or refined Jack's vulgar jokes were not so successful in the rarefied environment of college professors.

Answer 172

adj. having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy Children are imperious with each other before they learn that earning someone's respect is better than demanding.

Answer 173

adj. characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation Herbert is rarely impetuous, but on the spur of the moment, he spent thousands of dollars on a motorcycle today.

Answer 174

n. someone who deliberately creates trouble Freddie is a firebrand: every time he walks into the office, he winds up at the center of heated argument.

Answer 175

adj. offensively self-assured or given to exercising unwarranted power Though she was only a third grade teacher, Ms. Martinet was magisterial in dealing with her class, lording over them like a queen.

Answer 176

v. to hold back the progress of something Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts, making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage.

Answer 177

n. mutual accusations The two brothers sat and cried, pointing fingers and making elaborate recriminations of the other's guilt

Answer 178

adj. humorously vulgar The speaker was famous for his ribald humor, but the high school principal asked him to keep the talk G-rated when he spoke to the student body.

Answer 179

n. something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity Finally deciding to abandon all subterfuge, Arthur revealed to Cindy everything about his secret affair over the past two years.

Answer 180

v. become feeble Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker languished, eating protein bars and nuts.

Answer 181

n. something that is inappropriate for the given time period (usually something old). Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking anachronism.

Answer 182

n. abusive or venomous language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will His vitriol spewed forth from a deep-seated racism that consumed his whole life.

Answer 183

n. something to be imitated Lena's homework is on the wall because it is an exemplar of clean, neat, and thoughtful work.

Answer 184

adj. creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression World leaders coming to meet Gandhi would expect a towering sage, and often would be surprised by the unprepossessing little man dressed only in a loincloth and shawl.

Answer 185

adj. not real or genuine; phony The car dealer's ersatz laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated.

Answer 186

n. the most essential part of something When Cynthia hears a speaker presenting a complex argument, she is always able to discard the irrelevant details and extract the pith of what the speaker is trying to convey.

Answer 187

adj. smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values Jane considered Al completely philistine, because he talked almost exclusive about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was.

Answer 188

n. any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge Empiricism does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.

Answer 189

n. a strong verbal attack Political broadsides are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election.

Answer 190

n. a feeling of excessive concern I walked to his house in the rain to make sure he had enough to eat while he was sick, but he seemed not to appreciate my solicitude.

Answer 191

v. express discontent or a strong regret While the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits, after the meeting employees bemoaned the cuts as further evidence that management was against them.

Answer 192

adj. like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience The early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to meteoric stardom, but a terribly injury tragically cut short his career.

Answer 193

adj. having a sophisticated charm James Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and debonair manner.

Answer 194

adj. marked by high spirits or excitement After the sales result, the manager was in an effervescent mood, letting several employees leave work early that day.

Answer 195

adj. filled with or evoking sadness No event is more doleful than the passing of my mother; she was a shining star in my life, and it brings me great sadness to think that she is now gone.

Answer 196

adj. highly perceptive Even the most percipient editor will make an occasional error when proofreading.

Answer 197

adj. showing little emotion Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply phlegmatic: he doesn't have the energy or inclination to care about anything.

Answer 198

v. react in an offended or angry manner As we discussed the painting, I noticed the artist's wife bristling at our criticisms, ready to defend her husband's work.

Answer 199

adj. only partly in existence; imperfectly formed Inchoate ideas about the relation of humans to other animals had been discussed since the Middle Ages but the modern theory really began with Darwin.

Answer 200

adj. very generous Helen is unstinting with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend.

Answer 201

n. the reestablishing of cordial relations Although Ann hoped that her mother and her aunt would have a rapprochement, each one's bitter accusations against the other made any reconciliation unlikely.

Answer 202

v. suppress or crush completely After the dictator consolidated his power, he took steps to squelch all criticism, often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime.

Answer 203

adj. causing irritation or annoyance Maria found her coworker's cell phone nettlesome, because every few minutes it would buzz to life with another text message.

Answer 204

n. a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime The Old Testament doctrine of an eye for an eye is not the kind of retaliation practiced in war; rather, an arm, a leg, and both ears are the reprisal for the smallest scratch.

Answer 205

v. put up with something or somebody unpleasant While she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not brook any form of talking--even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention.

Answer 206

v. seize and control without authority Arriving at the small town, the outlaw arrogated the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.

Answer 207

v. express strong disapproval of The manager spent an hour objurgating the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.

Answer 208

n. defiant aggressiveness When the boss confronted Aaron about his earlier remarks, Aaron responded with utter truculence, simply throwing a glass of water in the boss' face and walking away.

Answer 209

adj. too sacred to be uttered; defying expression or description While art critics can occasionally pinpoint a work's greatness, much of why a piece captures our imaginations is completely ineffable.

Answer 210

adj. ancient Most workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are hoary men with long white beards.

Answer 211

n. a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback Much of the modern art movement was an atavism to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America.

Answer 212

n. a maneuver or risk in a game or conversation, designed to secure an advantage Randy played a gambit, telling his boss that he would leave at the end of the week if he didn't get a raise.

Answer 213

n. strong feelings of embarrassment v. cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of Much to the timid writer's chagrin, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage. She never cared what others said about her appearance but was chagrined by the smallest comment from her mother.

Answer 214

adj. strongly affectionate towards adj. very drunk Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became besotted with the young Romeo. Never before have I seen my mom so besotted, and honestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks so much.

Answer 215

v. to break out or happen again After years of gamblers anonymous, Tony thought he'd broken his compulsive slot machine playing, but it took only one trip to the Atlantic City for a full recrudescence--he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.

Answer 216

n. something desired or wished for but is only an illusion and impossible to achieve Many believe that a world free of war is a chimera—a dream that ignores humanity's violent tendencies.

Answer 217

v. do something that one considers to be below one's dignity The master of the house never deigned to answer questions from the servants.

Answer 218

adj. threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments Movies often use storms or rain clouds as a baleful omen of evil events that will soon befall the main character.

Answer 219

n. model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal n. an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still believe that Michael Jordon is the paragon for basketball players. Some say that Athens was the paragon of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote.

Answer 220

v. be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner During the interrogation, the suspect was browbeaten into signing a false confession.

Answer 221

adj. not confined or limited The whole notion of living untrammeled inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Answer 222

adj. not straightforward; giving a false appearance of frankness Many adults think that they can lie to children, but kids are smart and know when people are disingenuous.

Answer 223

n. a witty saying My favorite epigram from Mark Twain is "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way."

Answer 224

adj. in an early stage of development The Board of Directors is hoping to launch a new product soon, but planning for the Z7 is in an embryonic stages.

Answer 225

adj. supply added support In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.

Answer 226

adj. ludicrously odd The clown's antic act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears.

Answer 227

n. a short, pithy instructive saying Winston Churchill is famous for many apothegms, but this might be his most famous: "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

Answer 228

n. cunning tricks used to deceive others The mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of artifices designed to mislead the voting public.

Answer 229

n. total lack of meaning or ideas Bill's poem was nothing more than a list of impressive sounding words, so there was no point in trying to take meaning from the inanity.

Answer 230

adj. showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others On her first day at the job, Annie was complaisant, fulfilling every request of her new employee and anticipating future requests.

Answer 231

adj. not admitting of passage or capable of being affected I am not impervious to your insults; they cause me great pain.

Answer 232

adj. (of conflict) within a group or organization The guerilla group, which had become so powerful as to own the state police, was finally destroyed by an internecine conflict.

Answer 233

adj. showing sorrow Chopin's ballades are filled with sharp changes in moods--a dolorous melody can give way to a lighthearted tempo.

Answer 234

v. to give or take something by force v. to allocate The government appropriated land that was occupied by squatters, sending them scurrying for another place to live. The committee appropriated the funds to its various members.

Answer 235

v. cause one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm As an undergraduate Mark felt stultified by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge.

Answer 236

v. convert to another religion, philosophy, or perspective Lisa loves her Mac but says little about it; by contrast, Jake will proselytize, interrogating anyone with an Android about why she didn't purchase an iPhone.

Answer 237

adj. brave; bold; courageous I enjoy films in which a doughty group comes together to battle a force of evil.

Answer 238

v. command against My doctor proscribes that I not eat donuts with chocolate sauce and hamburger patties for breakfast.

Answer 239

adj. characterized by lightness and insubstantiality Because she dances with an ethereal style, ballet critics have called her Madame Butterfly.

Answer 240

v. mix together different elements or concepts In her recent book, the author conflates several genres--the detective story, the teen thriller, and the vampire romance--to create a memorable read.

Answer 241

v. attack as false or wrong Though many initially tried to impugn Darwin's theory, in scientific circles today, the is idea taken as truth.

Answer 242

v. change or alter in form, appearance, or nature One of the goals of alchemy was to find the substance or process that would transmute lead into gold.

Answer 243

n. someone new to a field or activity All great writers, athletes, and artists were tyros at one time—unknown, clumsy, and unskilled with much to learn.

Answer 244

adv. with care and persistence The top college football program recruits new talent assiduously, only choosing those who were the top in their county.

Answer 245

n. someone shirking their duty by pretending to be sick or incapacitated At one time, our country was full of hardworking respectful people, but now it seems that everyone is a malingerer with little inclination to work.

Answer 246

adj. characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty adj. offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power The last true autocratic country is certainly North Korea; nowhere does a leader exercise the absolute control over all aspects of a people the way that Kim Jong-un does. The manager was finally fired for his autocratic leadership, which often bordered on rude and offensive.

Answer 247

adj. slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; lacking in insight or discernment Jackson was the most obtuse member of the team: the manager's subtle ironies were always lost on him.

Answer 248

n. resourcefulness and determination Wallace Stegner lamented the lack of gumption in the U.S. during the sixties, claiming that no young person knew the value of work.

Answer 249

adj. reluctant to draw attention to yourself The most admirable teachers and respected leaders are those who are self-effacing, directing attention and praise to their students and workers.

Answer 250

n. something desired as a necessity The desideratum of the environmental group is that motorists should rely on carpooling.

Answer 251

n. a pauper who lives by begging Tolstoy was an aristocrat, but he strove to understand the Christianity of the Russian peasants by wandering among them as a mendicant.

Answer 252

adj. highly or widely praised or boasted about For years, they had heard of New York City's vaunted skyline, and when they finally saw it, the spectacular cityscape did not disappoint them in the least.

Answer 253

n. a formal expression of praise Dave asked Andrew to do just a simple toast, but Andrew launched into a full panegyric, enumerating a complete list of Dave's achievements and admirable qualities.

Answer 254

n. an act of extreme wickedness The enormity of Pol Pot's regime is hard to capture in words--within months hundreds of thousands of Cambodians lost their lives.

Answer 255

adj. (of language) pompous and tedious The amount of GRE vocabulary he used increased with his years--by the time he was 60, his novels were so turgid that even his diehard fans refused to read them.

Answer 256

adj. showing hovering attentiveness Our neighbors are constantly knocking on our door to make sure we are ok, and I don't know how to ask them to stop being so solicitous about our health.

Answer 257

n. injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standards After decades of racial inequity, the "separate but equal" doctrine was successfully overturned.

Answer 258

adj. intellectually productive The artist had entered a fecund period, producing three masterpieces in the span of two months.

Answer 259

v. talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner The vice-president would often pontificate about economic theory, as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic.

Answer 260

adj. never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored To many the grass at Wimbledon is inviolable and only greater tennis players are able to enjoy a game there.

Answer 261

adj. acceptable to the taste or mind MIkey didn't partake much in his friends' conversations, but found their presence palatable.

Answer 262

n. a very intense and uncontrolled fire In the summer months, conflagrations are not uncommon in the southwest, do to the heat and lack of rain.

Answer 263

n. overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors As soon as she won the lottery, Alice begin displaying a hauteur to her friends, calling them dirty-clothed peasants behind their backs.

Answer 264

n. great coolness and composure under strain Nancy acted with aplomb during dangerous situations--she once calmly climbed up an oak tree to save a cat.

Answer 265

v. formally reject or give up (as a belief) While the church believed that Galileo abjured the heliocentric theory under threat of torture, he later wrote a book clearly supporting the theory.

Answer 266

adj. free of guilt; not subject to blame; beyond doubt or reproach After his long and unimpeachable service to the company, Sharat felt that a gold watch was a slap in the face rather than an honor.

Answer 267

adj. being of equal extent or scope or duration The border of the state is coterminous with geographic limits on travel; the east and north are surrounded by a nearly uncrossable river and the south by a desert.

Answer 268

v. the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess v. anger or take offense New curfew laws have bridled people's tendency to go out at night. The hostess bridled at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food.

Answer 269

adj. Associated with or participating in an activity, especially one of a questionable nature. While the grand jury cleared the senator of all criminal charges, in the public mind he was still complicit in the corruption.

Answer 270

adj. arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth Many news shows provide facile explanations to complex politics, so I prefer to read the in-depth reporting of The New York Times.

Answer 271

adj. transparently clear; easily understandable The professor had a remarkable ability make even the most difficult concepts seem pellucid.

Answer 272

n. a trite or obvious remark Instead of sharing his umbrella, the cheeky stranger offered Martha the following bromide: "Looks like it's raining."

Answer 273

adj. (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point Many readers find it tough to read Moby Dick since the author is discursive, often cutting the action short to spend 20 pages on the history of a whale.

Answer 274

adj. immune to attack; without flaws Professor Williams is so self-assured as to seem arrogant, presenting each and every opinion as an unassailable fact.

Answer 275

adj. young and inexperienced Both Los Angeles and New York are known for callow out-of-towners hoping to make it big.

Answer 276

adj. expressing sorrow Few can listen to the elegiac opening bars of the Moonlight sonata without feeling the urge to cry.

Answer 277

v. provide with an opportunity The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro affords a panoramic view that encompasses both Tanzania and Kenya.

Answer 278

adj. having an extremely bad smell Each August, when the winds moved in a south easterly direction, the garbage dump would spread noisome vapors through the small town.

Answer 279

adj. uninteresting, lacking vitality Few novelists over 80 are able to produce anything more than desiccated works--boring shadows of former books.

Answer 280

adj. very irritable Ever since the car accident, Frank has been unable to walk without a cane, and so he has become splenetic and unpleasant to be around.

Answer 281

n. a deliberately misleading fabrication The public will always be fooled by the media's canards.

Answer 282

v. draw from specific cases for more general cases By extrapolating from the data on the past three months, we can predict a 5% increase in traffic to our website.

Answer 283

adj. showing sorrow Lachrymose and depressed, Alexei Alexandrovich walked two miles home in the rain after learning that his wife was having an affair.

Answer 284

adj. truthfully, without a doubt Frank is a veritable life-saver -- last year, on two different occasions, he revived people using CPR.

Answer 285

adj. intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner The professor had trouble concentrating on her new theorem, because her officious secretary would barge in frequently reminding her of some trivial detail involving departmental paperwork.

Answer 286

n. fanatical patriotism; belief that one's group/cause is superior to all other groups/causes Vegetarians argue that man is chauvinistic in his belief that animals do not consciously feel the pain we humans do.

Answer 287

n. the appearance of truth All bad novels are bad for numerous reasons; all good novels are good for their verisimilitude of reality, placing the readers in a world that resembles the one they know.

Answer 288

adj. given to or marked by the open expression of emotion When Sally told James that she wanted to break up with him, she expected he would react demonstratively, but he quietly nodded his head and left without saying a word.

Answer 289

n. to indicate smallness adj. very small He prefers to be called a diminutive of his name: "Bill" instead of "John William." When he put on his father's suit and shoes, his appearance was that of a diminutive youth.

Answer 290

n. a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture) n. a bad imitation The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showcases a simulacrum of all the present and approved buildings in the city of Shanghai. The early days of computer graphics made real people into a simulacrum that now seems comical.

Answer 291

n. a living full of debauchery and indulgence in sensual pleasure Many Roman emperors were known for their dissolution, indulging in unspeakable desires of the flesh.

Answer 292

v. state or announce The President wanted to promulgate the success of the treaty negotiations, but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement.

Answer 293

adj. inappropriate During the executive meeting, the marketing director continued to make infelicitous comments about the CEO's gambling habit.

Answer 294

v. squander or spend money frivolously v. to disperse or scatter The recent graduates dissipated their earnings on trips to Las Vegas and cruises in Mexico. Kathleen's perfume was overwhelming in the cramped apartment, but once we stepped outside the smell dissipated and we could breathe once again.

Answer 295

adj. disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking A stand-up comedian walks a fine line when making jokes about members of the audience; such fun and joking can quickly become sardonic and cutting.

Answer 296

v. to serve as a judge in a competition; to arrive at a judgment or conclusion Only those with the most refined palates were able to adjudicate during the barbeque competition.

Answer 297

n. an excessive amount of something There was no such thing as a surfeit of shopping for Nancy--she could stay at the outlet stores from opening to closing time.

Answer 298

adj. unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love adj. sorrowful through loss or deprivation After 64 years of marriage, William was bereft after the death of his wife. "You are not bereft if you haven't played on your Xbox in the past week," his mother said.

Answer 299

adj. deserving of esteem and respect After serving thirty years, in which he selflessly served the community, Judge Harper was one of the more estimable people in town.

Answer 300

n. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune The introduction of smallpox was a cataclysm for Native Americans, killing off more than half of their population.

Answer 301

n. a cruel and oppressive dictator The Emperor Claudius was regarded as a fair-minded leader; his successor, Nero, was an absolute despot.

Answer 302

v. to deceive or trick someone Someone tried to hoodwink Marty with an email telling him that his uncle had just passed away, and to collect the inheritance he should send his credit card information.

Answer 303

adj. describing an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another Concomitant with his desire for nature was a desire for the culture and energy of a big city.

Answer 304

v. speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly During the rain delay, many who had come to see the game palavered, probably hoping that idle chatter would make the time go by faster.

Answer 305

n. a small or moderate or token amount If my sister had even a modicum of sense, she wouldn't be engaged to that barbarian.

Answer 306

adj. unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom (usually followed by 'to') I was loath to leave the concert before my favorite band finished playing.

Answer 307

adj. tending to vanish like vapor The storm flashed into existence above us and lasted only a short time—an evanescent turbulence of wind and cloud.

Answer 308

v. droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness; become less intense After the three crushing defeats in the last three games, the team's enthusiasm began to flag.

Answer 309

v. attraction or feeling of love She is completely enamored with Justin Bieber, and goes to all his concerts on the East coast.

Answer 310

n. the quality of being meager After two months at sea, the exiguity of the ship's supplies forced them to search for fresh water and food.

Answer 311

adj. be valid, applicable, or true The custom of waiting your turn in line does not obtain in some countries, in which many people try to rush to front of the line at the same time.

Answer 312

n. an angry dispute The Prime Minister looked very foolish after his row with the foreign dignitary was caught on video and posted on youtube.

Answer 313

adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation Shelley made one exorbitant purchase after another, buying new clothes and taking vacations even though she earned a limited salary.

Answer 314

adj. impossible to avoid or evade: For those who smoke cigarettes for years, a major health crisis brought on by smoking is ineluctable.

Answer 315

n. light teasing The new recruit was not bothered by the raillery, finding most of it light-hearted and good-natured.

Answer 316

n. hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; a universal solution While the company credit card has made most large purchases easier, it is no panacea: some smaller basic transactions still must be conducted in cash.

Answer 317

n. corruption, usually through bribery In countries with rampant graft, getting a driver's license can require no more than paying an official.

Answer 318

adj. joyously unrestrained Can you blame him for his ebullient mood? He just graduated from medical school.

Answer 319

n. to surrender (usually under agreed conditions) Paul, losing 19-0 in a ping-pong match against his nimble friend, basically capitulated when he played the last two points with his eyes closed.

Answer 320

adj. not straightforward; indirect Herbert never explicitly revealed anything negative about Tom's past, but at times he would obliquely suggest that Tom was not as innocent as he seemed.

Answer 321

adj. characterized by or full of force and vigor; having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect Jill presented a rather superficial treatment of sales in Asia, but her trenchant analysis of sales in Europe inspired a number of insights into how to proceed in that market.

Answer 322

v. revoke or relinquish formally; do away with As part of the agreement between the labor union and the company, the workers abrogated their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance.

Answer 323

v. To erroneously attribute; to falsely ascribe; used especially of authorship. I made a mistake; I misattributed "Crime and Punishment" to Leo Tolstoy when it was actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Answer 324

v. ridicule or expose to public scorn After the candidate confessed, the press of the opposing party took the opportunity to pillory him, printing editorials with the most blatantly exaggerated accusations.

Answer 325

adj. idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquillity; marked by peace and prosperity The first decade after WWI was a halcyon period in America with new-found wealth and rapidly improving technology.

Answer 326

v. a contrary command canceling or reversing a previous command By the time the colonel countermanded his soldiers not to land in enemy territory, a few helicopters had already touched down amid heavy gunfire.

Answer 327

v. conceal one's true motives, usually through deceit To get close to the senator, the assassin dissembled his intentions, convincing many people that he was a reporter for a well-known newspaper.

Answer 328

n. an act that debases or corrupts The movie World War Z is a complete bastardization of the book with little more in common than zombies and a title.

Answer 329

n. the name derived from a person (real or imaginary); the person for whom something is named Alexandria, Egypt is an eponym because it is named after Alexander the Great.