Barron's Flashcards
1
Q
Abate
A
v. to decrease; reduce
A new road will most likely abate the heavy traffic on the old bridge.
2
Q
Abdicate
A
v. to give up a position, right, or power
Augustus, the last Western Roman Emperor, was forced to abdicate the throne in 476 AD.
3
Q
Aberrant
A
adj. deviating from the norm (abberation: n. something different)
4
Q
Abeyance
A
n. temporary suppression or suspension
A good judge must hold his or her judgment in abeyance until the facts in a case have been presented.
5
Q
Abject
A
adj. miserable; pitiful
Most of the the population in third world countries live in abject poverty.
6
Q
Abjure
A
v. to reject; abandon formally
For foreigners to become a US citizen, he or she must take an oath abjuring allegiance to any other country and pledge to take up arms to defined if it required.
7
Q
Abcission
A
n. act of cutting; natural separation of leaf or other part of plant
Premature leaf abcission is an adaptive plant response to herbivorous attack.
8
Q
Abscond
A
v. to depart secretly
A warrant is out for the arrest of a person believed to have absconded with 3 million dollars.
9
Q
Abstemious
A
adj. moderate in appetite
Some research suggests that people with an abstemious lifestyle tend to live longer than people who indulge their appetites.
10
Q
Abstinence
A
n. the giving up of certain pleasures
The monk’s vow of abstinence include all intoxicating substances.
11
Q
Abysmal
A
adj. very bad
The coach was furious about the team’s absymal performance on the basketball court.
12
Q
Accretion
A
n. growth in size; increase in amount
The opening of railway communication with London in 1906 resulted in a considerable accretion of residential population.
13
Q
Accrue
A
v. to accumulate; grow by additions
Your money will accrue interest after leaving it in the bank for 12 months.
14
Q
Adamant
A
adj. uncompromising; unyielding
Despite widespread opposition to his plan, the party’s leader is adamant that it must move to the center to appeal to moderate voters.
15
Q
Adjunct
A
n. something added, attached, or joined
Speed walking, cross-country running, and marathons are normally regarded as adjuncts of track and field athletics since these races are not normally held on a track.
16
Q
Admonish
A
v. to caution or reprimand
The judge admonished the jury to discount testimony that had been ruled inadmissible.
17
Q
Adulterate
A
v. to corrupt or make impure
If you want to adulterate your alcoholic drink, you should add some water to it.
18
Q
Aesthetic
A
adj. relating to beauty or art
The aesthetic of the building was ruined by graffiti.
19
Q
Affected
A
adj. pretentious; phony
It has been argued that the emphasis on so-called “proper English” leads to unnatural and affected speech.
20
Q
Affinity
A
n. fondness; liking; similarity
The affinity for the fourth oxygen molecule to bind to hemoglobin is approximately 300x higher than that for the first.
21
Q
Aggrandize
A
v. to make larger or greater
One of the concerns of the framers of the US constitution was that one branch of government would try to aggrandize itself at the expense of others.
22
Q
Aggregate
A
adj. amounting to a whole; total v. to collect into a mass
The aggregate wealth of a country includes private as well as public resources and possessions.
23
Q
Alacrity
A
adj. cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed
The football coach was pleased to see the team get to work on the task of improving its tackling skills with alacrity.
24
Q
Alchemy
A
n. medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; seemingly magical powers; process of transmutation
Alchemy was the forerunner of modern science of chemistry.
25
Allay
v. to soothe; lessen; ease
Improvments in antivirus software have allayed many people's fears of having their computers "infected" with malicous software.
26
Alleviate
v. to reduce or improve partially
Take aspirin to alleviate your headache.
27
Alloy
n. a combination; mixture of 2 or more metals
Scientists formulate alloyws to create properties that are not possessed by natural metals or other substances.
28
Allure
n. the power to entice by charm
He found the scent of her perfume to be quite alluring.
29
Amalgamate
v. to combined into an unified whole
In early 1999, 6 municipalities were amalgamated into an enlarged city of Toronto, Canada.
30
Ambiguous
adj. unclear; doubful in meaning
31
Ambrosia
adj. something delicious; food of the Gods
The combination of flavors inthe Moroccan baked eggplant was pure ambrosia.
32
Ameliorate
v. to improve
Knowing they could not stop the spread of the contagion in a few days, health authorities worked to inhibit its spread and to ameliorate its effects by issuing warnings to the public and initiating immunization programs.
33
Amenable
adj. agreeable; cooperative; suited
The young writer is amenable to suggestions for improving for prose style to make it more interesting.
34
Amenity
n. something that increases comfort
Many amenities such as normal plumbing are considered normal and necessary but were considered luxuries a few generations ago.
35
Amulet
n. ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
She jerked the amulet off his neck, and the lighting flickered.
36
Anachronism
n. something out of the proper time
Much of the comedy resolved around such anachronisms, with the 18th century protagonists ofthen using 20th century references and visited by modern-day concerns.
37
Analgesic
n. medication that reduces or eliminates pain
Aspirin is a powerful analgesic that is effective for alleviating pain, fever, and inflammation.
38
Analogous
adj. comparable
The psychology researcher's experiement postulates that the brain is analogous to a digital computer.
39
Ambivalence
n. state of having conflicting emotional attitudes.
John felt some ambivalence about getting married before finishing college.
40
Anarchy
n. the absence of government
A city on the brink of total anarchy is bieng held hostage by the increased threat of organized gang violence.
41
Anodyne
n. something that calms or soothe pain
Some people use alcohol as an anodyne to numb their emotional pain.
42
Anomalous
adj. irregular; deviating from the norm n. anomaly
The psychologist discounted the anomalous behaviior of the soldier, saying it was merely a short-term effect on the stress of battle.
43
Antecedent
n. something that comes before; event that happens before another
Homeopathy was an antecedent to modern science.
44
Antediluvian
adj. prehistoric
45
Antipathy
n. dislike; hostility
46
Apathy
n. indifference; lack of feeling
47
Apex
n. the highest point
48
Apogee
n. the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point
49
Apothegm
n. terse, witty saying
50
Appease
v. to calm, pacify; placate
51
Appelation
n. name
52
Apposite
adj. strikingly appropriate and relevant
53
Apprise
v. to inform
54
Approbation
n. approval; praise
55
Appropriate
v. to take possession for one's own use; confiscate
56
Apropos
adj. relevant
57
Arabesque
n. ornate design featured as intertwined curves; ballet move
58
Archeology
n. the study of material evidence of past human life
59
Ardor
n. great emotion or passion
60
Arduous
adj. extremely difficult; laborious
61
Argot
n. a specialized vocabulary used by a group
62
Arrest
v. to stop; seize
63
Artifact
n. item made by human craft
64
Artless
adj. guileless; natural; simple; w/o effort
65
Ascetic
n. someone who practice self-denial
66
Asperity
n. severity; harshness; irritability
67
Aspersions
n. slander; false rumor
68
Assidious
adj. diligent; hardworking
69
Assuage
v. to make less severe
70
Astringent
adj. severe, harsh
71
Asylum
n. place of refugee or shelter
72
Atavism
n. in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organsim after several generations of absence; return of trait after period of absence
73
Attenuate
v. to weaken
74
Audacious
adj. bold; daring
75
Austere
adj. stern, unadorned; strict in appearance, manner, or attitude.
76
Autonomous
adj. self-governing; independent
77
Avarice
n. greed
78
Aver
v. to affirm; declare to be true
79
Avocation
n. secondary occupation
80
Avuncular
adj. like an uncle; benevolent; tolerant
81
Axiomatic
adj. taken for granted
82
Bacchanalian
adj. pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry
83
Banal
n. commonplace; trite
84
Banter
n. playful conversation
85
Bard
n. poet
86
Bawdy
adj. obscene
87
Beatify
v. to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to
88
Bedizen
v. to dress in showy, vulgar manner
89
Behemoth
n. huge creature; something very large and powerful
90
Belie
v. to contradict; misrepresent; give a false impression
91
Beneficient
adj. kindly; doing good
92
Bifurcate
v. to divide into two parts
93
Blandishment
n. flattery
94
Blasé
adj. bored because of frequent indulgences; unconcerned
95
Bolster
v. to give a boost to; prop up; support
96
Bombastic
adj. pompous; using inflated language
97
Boorish
adj. rude; insensitive
98
Bovine
adj. cowlike
99
Brazen
adj. bold; shameless
100
Broach
v. to mention for the first time
101
Bucolic
adj. characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral
102
Burgeon
v. to flourish
103
Burnish
v. to polish
104
Buttress
v. to reinforce; support
105
Cacophonous
adj. unpleasant and harsh-sounding
106
Cadge
v. to beg; sponge
107
Callous
adj. thick-skinned; insensitive
108
Calumny
adj. false and malicious accusation; slander
109
Canard
n. false, deliberately miserable story
110
Canon
n. an established principle; a basis or standard for judgment; a group of literary works
111
Cant
n. insincere talk; language of a particular group
112
Cantankerous
adj. irritable; ill-humored
113
Capricious
adj. fickle; impulsive; unpredictable
114
Captious
adj. fault-finding; intend to entrap, as in an argument
115
Cardinal
adj. of foremost importance
116
Carnal
adj. of the flesh or body; relating to physical appetite
117
Carping
v. to find fault; complain
118
Cartography
n. the science of making maps
119
Caste
n. any of the hereditary social classes of Hindu society; social stratification
120
Castigation
n. punishment; chastisement; criticism
121
Cataclysm
n. a violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change
122
Catalyst
n. something causing change
123
Categorical
adj. absolute; without exception
124
Caucus
n. a small group within an organization
125
Causal
adj. involving a cause
126
Caustic
adj. sarcastically biting; burning
127
Celestial
adj. concerning the sky or heaven; sublime
128
Centrifugal
adj. moving away from center
129
Centripedal
adj. moving or directed towards the center
130
Champion
v. to defend or support
131
Chasten
v. to correct by punishment or reproof; to restrain or subdue
132
Chicanery
n. trickery; fraud
133
Churlish
adj. rude; boorish
134
Circuitous
adj. roundabout
135
Clairvoyant
n. one who can see into the future; psychic
136
Clamor
n. noisy outcry
137
Clique
n. a small, exclusive group
138
Cloister
v. to confine; seclude
139
Coagulate
v. thicken; congeal
140
Chivalry
n. the qualities idealized by knighthood such as bravery and gallancy toward woman
141
Coalesce
v. to cause to become one
142
Coda
n. concluding part of a literary or musical composition; something that summarizes or concludes
143
Codify
v. to systematize
144
Cognizant
adj. informed; conscious; aware
145
Collage
n. artistic composition of material past over a surface; an assemblage of diverse elements
146
Commensurate
adj. proportional
147
Compendium
n. a brief, comprehensive summary
148
Complacent
adj. self-satisfied
149
Complaisant
adj. overly polite; willing to please; obliging
150
Complement
adj. something that completes or makes up a whole
151
Compliant
adj. yielding
152
Compunction
adj. uneasiness caused by guilt
153
Concave
adj. curving inward
154
Conciliatory
adj. overcoming distrust or hostility
155
Concoct
v. to invent
156
Concomitant
adj. existing concurrently
157
Condone
v. to overlook voluntarily; forgive
158
Confound
v. to baffle; perplex; mix up
159
Congenial
adj. similar in taste and habits; friendly; suited to
160
Conjugal
adj. pertaining to marriage argeement
161
Connoisseur
n. someone possessing expert knowledge or training; someone of informed and discriminating taste
162
Conscript
n. someone compulsorily enrolled for military services
163
Consecrate
v. to declare sacred
164
Contend
v. to assert
165
Contentious
adj. quarrelsome; causing quarrel
166
Contiguous
adj. touching; neighboring; connecting without a break
167
Continence
adj. self-control; abstention from sexual activity
168
Contrite
adj. very sorrowful for doing wrong
169
Contumacious
adj. disobedient; rebellious
170
Conundrum
adj. riddle; puzzle with no solution
171
Convention
n. practice widely observed in a group; custom; accepted technique or device
172
Converge
v. to approach; come together; tend to meet
173
Convex
adj. curved outward
174
Convivial
adj. sociable
175
Convulated
adj. twisted; complicated
176
Copious
adj. abundant; plentiful
177
Coquette
n. woman who flirts
178
Cornucopia
n. horn overflowing with fruit and grain; state of abundance
179
Cosmology
n. the study of the universe as a totality; theory of origin and structure of the universe
180
Covert
adj. hidden; secret
181
Covetous
adj. desiring something owned by another
182
Cozen
v. to mislead by trick or fraud; deceive
183
Craven
adj. cowardly
184
Credence
n. acceptance of something as true
185
Credo
n. statement of belief or principle; creed
186
Daunt
v. to discourage; intimidate; dishearten
187
Dearth
n. scarcity
188
Debauchery
n. corruption
189
Decorum
n. proper behavior
190
Defame
v. to malign; harm someone's reputation
191
Default
v. to fail to act
192
Deference
n. respect; regard for another's wish
193
Defunct
adj. no longer existing
194
Delineate
v. to represent or depict
195
Demographic
adj. related to population balance
196
Demotic
adj. pertaining to people and everyday language
197
Demur
v. to express doubt
198
Denigrate
v. to slur someone's reputation
199
Denizen
n. an inhabitant; a regular visitor
200
Denouement
n. outcome; unraveling of the plot of the play or work of literature
201
Deride
v. to mock
202
Derivative
n. something derived; unoriginal
203
Desiccate
v. to dry completely
204
Desuetude
n. state of disuse
205
Desultory
adj. random; disconnected; rambling
206
Deterrent
n. something that discourages or hinders
207
Detraction
n. act of taking away; derugatory comment on a person's character
208
Diaphanous
adj. transparent; fine-textured; insubstantial; vague
209
Diatribe
n. bitter verbal attack
210
Dichotomy
n. division into two equally contradictory parts
211
Diffidence
n. shyness; lack of confidence
212
Diffuse
v. to spread out
213
Digression
n. act of straying from the main point
214
Dirge
n. funeral hymm
215
Disabuse
v. to free from misconception
216
Discerning
adj. perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgment
217
Discomfit
v. to make uneasy; disconcert
218
Discordant
adj. not in tune
219
Discredit
v. to dishonor; disgrace; cause to be doubted
220
Discrepancy
n. difference between
221
Discrete
adj. constituting a separate thing; distinct
222
Discretion
n. quality of showing self-restraint in action or speech; free to act on one's own
223
Disingenuous
adj. not candid; crafty
224
Disinterested
adj. unprejudiced; objective
225
Disjointed
adj. lacking order or coherence; dislocated
226
Dismiss
v. put away from consideration; reject
227
Disparage
v. to belittle
228
Disparate
adj. dissimiliar
disparity (n)
229
Dissemble
v. to pretend; disguise one's motive
230
Disseminate
v. to spread; scatter; disperse
231
Dissident
n. person who disagrees about beliefs
232
Dissolution
adj. disintegration; debauchery
233
Dissonance
adj. discord; lack of harmony
234
Distend
v. to expand; swell out
235
Distill
v. extract the essential elements
236
Distrait
adj. inattentive; preoccupied
237
Diverge
v. to vary; go in different direction from the same point
238
Divest
v. to strip; deprive; rid
239
Divulge
v. to make known something that is secret
240
Doctrinaire
adj. relating to a person who cannot compromise about points of a theory or doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding
241
Document
v. to provide with written evidence to support
242
Doggerel
n. poor verse
243
Dogmatic
adj. stating of opinion without proof
Dogma (n)
244
Dormant
adj. inactive
245
Dross
adj. waste; worthless matter; trivial matter
246
Dupe
v. to deceive; trick
247
Ebullient
adj. exhilarated; enthusiastic
248
Eclectic
adj. selecting from various sources
249
Effervescence
adj. state of high spirits or liveliness; process of bubbling as gas escapes
250
Effete
adj. depleted of vitality; overrefined; decadent
251
Efficacy
n. efficiency; effectiveness
252
Effrontery
n. shameless boldness; presumptuousness
253
Egoism
n. the tendency to see things in relation to oneself; self-centeredness
254
Egotistical
adj. excessively self-centered; conceited
255
Elegy
n. poem or song expressing lamentation
256
Elicit
v. to provoke; draw out
257
Elixir
n. substance believed to have power to cure ills
258
Elysian
adj. blissful; delightful
259
Emaciated
adj. thin and wasted
260
Embellish
v. to adorn; decorate; enhance; make more attractive by adding details
261
Emollient
adj. soothing; mollifying
262
Empirical
adj. derived from observation or experiment
263
Emulate
v. to imitate; copy
264
Encomium
n. a formal expression of praise
265
Endemic
adj. inherent; belonging to an area
266
Enervate
v. to weaken
267
Engender
v. to cause; produce
268
Enhance
v. to increase; improve
269
Entomology
n. the scientific study of insects
270
Enunciate
v. to pronounce clearly
271
Ephemeral
adj. short-lived; fleeting
272
Epistemology
n. branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge
273
Equable
adj. steady; unvarying; serene
274
Equanimity
n. composure; calmness
275
Equivocate
v. to intentionally use vague language
276
Errant
adj. mistaken; straying from the proper course
277
Erudite
adj. learned; scholarly
278
Esoteric
adj. hard to understand; known only to a few
279
Essay
v. to make an attempt; subject to a test
280
Estimable
adj. admirable; possible to estimate
281
Ethnocentric
adj. based on the attitude that one's group is superior
282
Etiology
n. causes or origin
283
Etymology
n. origin and history of a word
284
Eugenics
n. study of the factors that influence the hereditary qualities of the human race and ways to improve these qualities
285
Eulogy
n. high praise, especially of a person who recently passed.
286
Euphemism
n. use of agreeable or inoffensive language in place of unpleasant or offensive language
287
Euphoria
n. a feeling of extreme happiness
288
Euthanasia
n. mercy killing
289
Evince
v. to show plainly; be an indication of
290
Evocative
adj. tending to call to mind or produce a reaction
291
Exacerbate
v. to aggravate; make worse
292
Exact
v. to force the payment of; demand and obtain by authority
293
Exculpate
v. to free of blame; vindicate
294
Execrable
adj. detestable; abhorrent; be against
295
Exhort
v. to urge by strong appeals
296
Exigency
n. crisis; urgent requirements
297
Existential
adj. having to do with existence; based on experience
298
Exorcise
v. to expel evil spirits; free from bad influences
299
Expatiate
v. to speak or write at length
300
Expatriate
v. to send into exile
301
Expiate
v. to atone for; make amends
302
Explicate
v. to explain; interpret; clarify
303
Expository
adj. explanatory
304
Extant
adj. in existence; not lost
305
Extemporaneous
adj. unrehearsed
306
Extirpate
v. to root up; to destroy
307
Extraneous
adj. not essential
308
Extrapolation
n. the act of estimation by projecting known information
309
Extrinsic
adj. not inherent or essential
310
Facetious
adj. humorous
311
Fetid
adj. having a bad smell
312
Fetter
v. to bind; confine
313
Fiat
n. arbitrary order; authorization
314
Fidelity
n. loyalty; exact correspondence
315
Fillibuster
n. use of obstructive tactics in legislature to block passage of law
316
Finesse
v. to handle with deceptive or evasive strategy; to use finesse, that is, refinement in performance
317
Fissure
n. crevice
318
Flag
v. to droop; grow weak
319
Fledgling
n. beginner; novice
320
Flora
n. plants of a region or era
321
Florid
adj. ruddy; reddish; flowery
322
Flourish
n. an embellishment or ornamentation
323
Flout
v. to treat scornfully
324
Flux
n. flowing; a continuous moving
325
Foment
v. to incite; arouse
326
Forbearance
n. patience
327
Forestall
v. to prevent; delay
328
Formidable
adj. menacing; threatening
329
Forswear
v. renounce; repudiate
330
Founder
v. to sink; fail; collapse
331
Fracas
n. a loud quarrel; brawl
332
Fractious
adj. quarrelsome; unruly; rebellious
333
Fresco
n. a painting done on a plaster
334
Frieze
n. ornamental band on a wall
335
Froward
n. stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient
336
Frugality
n. thrift
337
Fulminate
v. to attack loudly; denounce
338
Fulsome
adj. so excessive as to be disgusting
339
Fusion
adj. union; synthesis
340
Futile
adj. ineffective; useless; fruitless
341
Facilitate
v. to make less difficult
342
Factotum
n. a person who can do all sorts of work; a handyman
343
Fallacious
adj. based on a false idea or fact; misleading
344
Fallow
adj. plowed but not sowed; unculivated
345
Fatuous
adj. foolishly self-satisfied
346
Fauna
n. animal of a region or period
347
Fawning
adj. seeking favor by flattery
348
Felicitous
adj. suitably expressed; appropriate; well-chosen
349
Feral
adj. existing in a wild or untamed state
350
Fervor
n. warmth and intensity of emotion
adj. fervent
351
Gainsay
v. to deny; dispute; oppose
352
Gambol
v. to frolic; leap playfully
353
Garrulous
adj. very talkative; wordy
354
Gauche
adj. coarse and uncouth; clumsy
355
Geniality
n. cheerfulness; kindliness; sociability
adj. genial
356
Gerrymander
v. to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favors a political party
357
Glib
adj. fluent in an insincere way; offhand
358
Goad
v. to prod; urge on
359
Gossamer
adj. sheer; light and delicate, like cobwebs
360
Gouge
v. to tear off; scoop out; overcharge
361
Grandiloquent
adj. pompous; bombastic
362
Gregarious
adj. sociable
363
Grouse
v. to complain
364
Guileless
adj. free of cunning and deceit; artless
365
Guise
n. outward appearance; false appearance; pretense
366
Gullible
adj. easily deceived
367
Gustatory
adj. affecting the sense of taste
368
Halcyon
adj. calm and peaceful; happy; golden; prosperous
369
Hallowed
adj. holy; sacred
370
Harangue
n. long, pompous speech; tirade
371
Harrowing
adj. extremely distressing; terrifying
372
Herbivorous
adj. relating to a herbivore, an animal that feeds mainly on plants
373
Hermetic
adj. tightly sealed; magical
374
Heterodox
adj. unorthodox; not widely accepted
375
Hieroglyphics
n. writing or symbols that are hard to decipher
376
Hirsute
adj. covered with hair
377
Histrionic
adj. relating to exaggerated emotional behavior calculated by effect; theatrical arts or performance
378
Homeostasis
n. automatic maintenance by an organism by normal temperature, chemical balance, etc. within itself
379
Homily
n. sermon; tedious moralizing speech; platitude
380
Homogeneous
adj. composed of identical parts; uniform in composition
381
Hyperbole
n. purposeful exaggeration for effect
382
Iconoclastic
adj. attacking cherished tradition
383
Idolstry
n. idol worship; blind or excessive devotion
384
Igneous
adj. produced by fire; volcanic
385
Imbroglio
n. complicated situation; an entanglement
386
Immutable
adj. unchangeable
387
Impair
v. to damage; injure
388
Impassive
adj. showing no emotion
389
Impecunious
adj. poor; having no money
390
Impede
v. to hinder; block
391
Impermeable
adj. impossible to penetrate
392
Imperturbable
adj. not easily disturbed
393
Impervious
adj. impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
394
Impinge
v. to strike; encroach
395
Implacable
adj. inflexible; incapable of being pleased
396
Implausible
adj. unlikely; unbelievable
397
Implicit
adj. implied; understood but not stated
398
Implode
v. collapse inward violently
399
Imprecation
n. curse
400
Impute
v. attritbute the fault to
401
Inadvertently
adj. carelessly; unintentionally
402
Incarnate
adj. having bodily form
403
Inchoate
adj. imperfectly formed or formulated
404
Incongruity
n. state of not fitting
405
Inconsequential
adj. insignificant; unimportant
406
Incorporate
v. introduce something into another thing already in existence; combine
407
Incursion
n. sudden invasion
408
Indeterminate
adj. uncertain; indefinite
409
Indigence
n. poverty
410
Indolent
adj. habitually lazy; idle
411
Ineluctable
adj. not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable
412
Inert
adj. unable to move; sluggish
413
Ingenuous
adj. naive and trusting; lacking sophistication
414
Inherent
adj. firmly established by nature or habit
415
Innocuous
adj. harmless
416
Insensible
adj. unconscious; unresponsive
417
Insinuate
v. to suggest; say indirectly; imply
418
Insipid
adj. lacking in flavor; dull
419
Insouciant
adj. indifferent; lacking concern or care
420
Insularity
n. narrow-minded; isolation
421
Insuperable
adj. insurmontable; unconquerable
422
Intangible
adj. not material
423
Interdict
v. to prohibit
424
Internecine
adj. deadly on both sides
425
Interpolate
v. to insert; change by adding new words or materials
426
Interregnum
n. intervial between reigns; gap in continuity
427
Intimate
adj. marked by close acquaintance
428
Intractable
adj. not easily managed
429
Intransigence
n. stubbornness; refusal to compromise
430
Introspective
adj. contemplating one's own thoughts and feelings
431
Inundate
v. to cover with water; overwhelm
432
Inured
v. hardened; accustomed; used to
433
Invective
n. verbal abuse
434
Inveigh
v. to disapprove; protest vehemently
435
Inveterate
adj. confirmed; long-standing; deeply rooted
436
Invidious
adj. likely to provoke ill will; offensive
437
Irascible
adj. easily angered
438
Irresolute
adj. unusre of how to act; weak
439
Itinerant
adj. wandered from place to place; unsettled
440
Inveigle
v. to win over by flattery or coaxing
441
Itinerary
n. route of a traveler's journey
442
Jaundiced
adj. having a yellow discoloration of the skin; affected by envy, resentment, or hostility
443
Jibe
v. to be in agreement
444
Jocose
adj. fond of joking; jocular; playful
445
Juggernaut
n. huge force destroying everything in its path
446
Junta
n. group of people united in political intrigue
447
Juxtapose
v. place side by side
448
Kudos
n. fame; glory; honor
449
Labile
adj. likely to change
450
Laconic
adj. using few words
451
Lambaste
v. to thrash verbally or physically
452
Lasvicious
adj. lustful
453
Lassitude
adj. lethargy; sluggishness
454
Latent
adj. present but hidden; potential
455
Laud
v. to praise
456
Lethargic
adj. inactive
457
Levee
n. an embankment that prevents a river from overflowing
458
Levity
n. light manner or attitude
459
Liberal
adj. tolerant; broad-minded; generous; lavish
460
Libertine
n. one without self restraint
461
Libido
n. sexual desire
462
Lilliputian
adj. extremely small
463
Limn
v. to draw; describe
464
Limpid
adj. clear; transparent
465
Linguistic
adj. pertaining to language
466
Litany
n. lengthy recitation; repetitive chant
467
Literati
n. scholarly or learned persons
468
Litigation
n. legal proceedings
469
Log
n. record of a voyage; record of daily activities
470
Loquacious
adj. talkative
471
Lucid
adj. bright; clear; intelligible
472
Lucre
n. money or profits
473
Luminious
adj. bright; brilliant; glowing
474
Lustrous
adj. shining
475
Machiavellian
adj. crafty; double-dealing
476
Machination
n. plot or schemes
477
Maelstrom
n. whirlpool; turmoil
478
Magnanimity
n. generosity; nobility
479
Malign
v. to speak evil of
480
Malinger
v. to feign illness to escape duty
481
Malleable
adj. capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable
482
Maverick
n. dissenter
483
Megalomania
n. delusions of power or importance
484
Menagerie
n. a variety of animals kept together
485
Mendacious
adj. dishonest
486
Mendicant
n. beggar
487
Meretricious
adj. gaudy; plausible but false; specious
488
Mesmorize
v. to hypnotize
489
Metamorphosis
n. change; transformation
490
Metaphysics
n. a branch of philosophy that investigates the ultimate nature of reality
491
Meterological
adj. concerned with the weather
492
Meticulous
adj. very careful; fastidious
493
Mettle
n. courage; endurance
494
Mettlesome
adj. full of courage and fortitude; spirited
495
Microcosm
n. a small system having analogies to a larger system; small world
496
Militate
v. to work against
497
Minatory
adj. threatening; menacing
498
Minuscule
adj. very small
499
Minutia
n. petty details
500
Misanthrope
n. one who hates humanity
501
Miscellany
n. mixture of writing on various subjects
502
Miscreant
n. villian; criminal
503
Misogynist
n. one who hates women
504
Mitigate
v. to cause to become less harsh, severe, or painful; alleviate
505
Mnemonic
adj. related to memory; assisting memory
506
Modicum
n. limited quantity
507
Mollify
v. to soothe
508
Monolithic
adj. solid and uniform; constituting a single, unified whole
509
Morose
adj. ill-humored; sullen
510
Motley
adj. many colored; made up of many parts
511
Multifarious
adj. diverse
512
Mundane
adj. worldly as opposed to spiritual; concerned with the ordinary
513
Negate
v. to cancel out; nullify
514
Neologism
n. new word or expression
515
Neophyte
n. novice; beginner
516
Nexus
n. a means of connection; a connected group or series; center
517
Nonplussed
adj. bewildered
518
Nostalgia
n. sentimental long of a past time
519
Necromancy
n. black magic
520
Nostrum
n. medicine or remedy of doubtful effectiveness; supposed cure
521
Nugatory
adj. trifling; invalid
522
Obdurate
adj. stubborn
523
Obsequious
adj. firmly submissive
524
Obsequy
n. funeral ceremony
525
Obviate
v. to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent
526
Occlude
v. to shut; block
527
Occult
adj. relating to practices connected with supernatural phenomena
528
Odyssey
n. a long, adventurous voyage; a quest
529
Officious
adj. too helpful; meddlesome
530
Olfactory
adj. concerning with the sense of smell
531
Oligarchy
n. form of government in which power only belongs to a few leaders
532
Onerous
adj. burdensome
533
Onomatopoeia
n. formation or use of words that imitates the sound of the actions they refer to
534
Opprobation
n. disgrace; contempt
535
Ornithologist
n. scientist who studies birds
536
Oscillate
v. to move back and forth
537
Ostentious
adj. showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious
538
Overweening
adj. presumptuous; arrogant; overbearing
539
Paean
n. song of joy or truimph; a fervent expression of joy
540
Paleontology
n. study of past geological eras through fossil remains
541
Pallid
adj. lacking color or liveliness
542
Panegyric
n. elaborate praise; formal hymm of praise
543
Paragon
n. model of excellence of perfection
544
Partisan
adj. one sided; committed to a party, group or cause; prejudiced
545
Pathological
adj. departing from normal condition
546
Patois
n. regional dialect; nonstandard speech; jargon
547
Paucity
n. scarcity
548
Pedantic
adj. showing off learning
549
Pellucid
adj. transparent; translucent; easily understood
550
Penchant
n. inclination
551
Penury
n. extreme poverty
552
Peregrination
n. a wandering from place to place
553
Peremptory
adj. imperative; leaving no choice
554
Perennial
adj. present throughout the years; persistent
555
Perfidious
adj. faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy
556
Perfunctory
adj. superficial; not thorough; performed really as a duty
557
Perigee
n. the point in the orbit that is closest to Earth
558
Permeable
adj. penetrable
559
Perturb
v. to disturb easily; make uneasy or anxious; cause a body to deviate from its regular orbit
560
Pervasive
adj. spread throughout every part
561
Phlegmatic
adj. calm in temperament; sluggish
562
Piety
n. devoutness
563
Placate
v. to lessen another's anger; to pacify
564
Plasticity
n. condition of being able to being shaped or formed; pliability
565
Platitude
n. stale, overused expression
566
Plethora
n. excessive; overabundance
567
Plummet
v. to fall; plunge
568
Pragmatic
adj. practical
569
Precarious
adj. uncertain
570
Precipitate
v. to cause to happen; throw down from a height
adj. rash; hasty; sudden
571
Precursor
n. forerunner; predecessor
572
Presumptuous
adj. rude; improperly bold
573
Prevaricate
v. to quibble; evade the truth
574
Pristine
adj. untouched; uncorrupted
575
Probity
n. honesty; high-mindedness
576
Problematic
adj. posing a problem; doubtful; unsettled
577
Prodigal
adj. wasteful; extravagant; lavish
578
Proliferate
v. to increase rapidly
579
Propensity
n. inclination; tendency
580
Propitiate
v. to win over; appease
581
Propriety
n. correct conduct; fitness
582
Proscribe
v. to condemn; forbid; outlaw
583
Pungent
adj. strong or sharp in smell or taste; penetrating; caustic; to the point
584
Qualified
adj. limited; restricted
585
Quibble
v. to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details
586
Quiescent
adj. inactive; still
587
Rarefied
adj. refined
v. rarefy
588
Recalcitrant
adj. resisting authority or control
589
Recant
v. to retract a statement or opinion
590
Recondite
adj. abstruse; profound
591
Refractory
adj. stubborn; unmanageable; resisting ordinary method of treatment
592
Refute
v. to contradict; disprove
593
Relegate
v. to consign to an inferior position
594
Reproach
v. to find fault with; complain
595
Reprobate
n. morally unprincipled person
596
Repudiate
v. to reject as having no authority; refuse to accept
597
Rescind
v. to cancel
598
Resolution
n. determination; resolve
599
Reticent
adj. no speaking freely; reserved; reluctant
600
Reverent
adj. expressing deep respect; worshipful
601
Sage
adj. wise
602
Salubrious
adj. healthful
603
Sanction
v. to approve; ratify; permit
604
Satiate
v. to satisfy
605
Saturate
v. to soak thoroughly; imbue throughout
606
Secrete
v. produce and secret substance into organism
607
Shard
n. a piece of broken glass or pottery
608
Skeptic
n. one who doubts
609
Solicitous
adj. concerned; attentive; eager
610
Soporific
adj. sleep producing
611
Specious
adj. seeming to be logical and sound, but not really so; superficially plausible, but actually wrong
612
Spectrum
n. a broad range of related ideas or objects
613
Sporadic
adj. irregular
614
Stigma
n. mark of disgrace or inferiority
615
Stint
v. to be sparing
n. period of time spent doing something
616
Stipulate
v. to specify as an essential condition
617
Stolid
adj. having or showing little emotion
618
Striated
adj. marked with thin, narrow grooves or channels
619
Strut
v. to swagger; displace to impress others
620
Subpoena
n. notice ordering someone to appear in court
621
Substantiate
v. to support with proof or evidence
622
Supersede
v. to replace, especially to displace as inferior or antiquated
623
Supposition
n. the act of assuming to be true or real
624
Tacit
adj. silently understood; implied
625
Tangential
adj. peripheral; digressing
626
Tenuous
adj. weak; insubstantial
627
Tirade
n. long, violent speech; verbal assault
628
Torpor
adj. lethargy; dormancy; sluggishness
629
Tortuous
adj. having many twists and turns; highly complex
630
Tractable
adj. obedient; yielding
631
Transgression
n. act of trespassing or violating a law or rule
632
Truculence
n. aggressiveness; ferocity
633
Vacillate
v. to waver; oscillate
634
Venerate
v. to adore; honor; respect
635
Veracious
adj. truthful; accurate
636
Verbose
adj. wordy
637
Viable
adj. practicable; capable of developing
638
Viscous
adj. thick; syrupy; sticky
639
Vituperative
adj. using or containing harsh, abusive censure
640
Volatile
adj. tending to vary frequently; fickle
641
Warranted
adj. justified
642
Wary
adj. careful; cautious
643
Welter
v. to wallow or roll; toss about; be in turmoil
644
Whimsical
adj. fanciful; unpredictable
645
Zealot
n. one who is fanatically devoted to a cause
646
