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Book16 Flashcards

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1
Q

nebula

A

diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy

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2
Q

necromancy

A

black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis

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3
Q

nefarious

A

very wicked

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4
Q

negate

A

cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation

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5
Q

negligence

A

neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care

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6
Q

negligible

A

so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded

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7
Q

nemesis

A

someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis

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8
Q

neologism

A

new or newly coined word or phrase

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9
Q

neophyte

A

recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant

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10
Q

nepotism

A

favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew

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11
Q

favoritism

A

display of partiality toward a favored person

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12
Q

nether

A

lower; Ex. nether garments/regions

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13
Q

nettle

A

irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome

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14
Q

nexus

A

connection

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15
Q

nib

A

beak(bill); pen point

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16
Q

nicety

A

precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties

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17
Q

niggardly

A

meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person

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18
Q

niggle

A

spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling

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19
Q

nihilist

A

one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement

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20
Q

nip

A

snip off; stop something’s growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill

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21
Q

snip

A

short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors

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22
Q

pinch

A

squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. N: amount that can be held between the thumb and a finger

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23
Q

nirvana

A

in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude

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24
Q

impersonal

A

not being a person; not showing personal feelings; Ex. impersonal force/manner/organization

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25
Q

nocturnal

A

done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne

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26
Q

noisome

A

foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome

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27
Q

nomadic

A

wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place

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28
Q

nomenclature

A

terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things

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29
Q

nominal

A

in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint

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30
Q

nonchalance

A

indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts

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31
Q

noncommittal

A

neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided

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32
Q

nondescript

A

undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd

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33
Q

nonentity

A

person of no importance; nonexistence

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34
Q

nonplus

A

put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more

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35
Q

nostalgia

A

homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic

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36
Q

nostrum

A

questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)

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37
Q

notable

A

conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted

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38
Q

notoriety

A

disrepute; ill fame

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39
Q

nova

A

star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness

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40
Q

novelty

A

something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original

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41
Q

novice

A

beginner

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42
Q

noxious

A

harmful; CF. obnoxious

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43
Q

nuance

A

shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction

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44
Q

shade

A

slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey

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45
Q

gradation

A

series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression

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46
Q

nubile

A

marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial

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47
Q

nugatory

A

worthless; futile

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48
Q

nullify

A

make invalid; make null; invalidate

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49
Q

numismatist

A

person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals

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50
Q

nuptial

A

related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony

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51
Q

nurture

A

nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing

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52
Q

nutrient

A

nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment

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53
Q

nutrition

A

process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition

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54
Q

nutritious

A

providing nourishment

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55
Q

nourish

A

provide with food necessary for life and growth

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56
Q

nourishment

A

something that nourishes; food

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57
Q

oaf

A

stupid awkward person; CF. elf

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58
Q

obdurate

A

stubborn; refusing to change one’s belief

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59
Q

obeisance

A

bow (to show respect and obedience)

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60
Q

obelisk

A

tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid

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61
Q

obese

A

excessively fat; N. obesity

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62
Q

obfuscate

A

confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand

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63
Q

obituary

A

death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.

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64
Q

objective

A

not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim

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65
Q

obligatory

A

binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate

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66
Q

oblique

A

indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference

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67
Q

obliterate

A

destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village

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68
Q

oblivion

A

obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness

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69
Q

oblivious

A

inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful(having the habit of forgetting)

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70
Q

obloquy

A

slander; disgrace; infamy

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71
Q

obnoxious

A

offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell

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72
Q

obscure

A

dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning

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73
Q

obsequious

A

slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic

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74
Q

slavish

A

of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original

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75
Q

obsequy

A

funeral ceremony

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76
Q

obsessive

A

related to thinking about something constantly; of an obsession; preoccupying; N. obsession: compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea; compulsive idea; V. obsess: preoccupy the mind of excessively

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77
Q

obsidian

A

black volcanic rock

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78
Q

scion

A

detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant

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79
Q

obsolete

A

outmoded; no longer used

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80
Q

obstetrician

A

physician specializing in delivery(assisting in giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF. midwife

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81
Q

obstinate

A

stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy

82
Q

obstreperous

A

boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable

83
Q

obtrude

A

push (oneself or one’s ideas) forward or intrude; impose (oneself or one’s ideas) on others; butt in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B; ADJ. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; CF. unobtrusive

84
Q

obtuse

A

blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding

85
Q

obviate

A

make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need

86
Q

Occident

A

the West

87
Q

occlude

A

shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.

88
Q

occult

A

mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare

89
Q

oculist

A

physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes

90
Q

odious

A

arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile

91
Q

odium

A

detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)

92
Q

odoriferous

A

giving off an odor

93
Q

odorous

A

having an odor

94
Q

odyssey

A

long, eventful, adventurous journey

95
Q

offensive

A

attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend: violate; hurt the feelings of; N. offense: offending; violating of a moral or social code; crime; attack; Ex. first offense

96
Q

offhand

A

casual; done without prior thought or preparation

97
Q

officious

A

meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one’s services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy

98
Q

pushy

A

disagreeably aggressive

99
Q

ogle

A

look at amorously; make eyes at; Ex. old men ogling young girls

100
Q

olfactory

A

concerning the sense of smell

101
Q

oligarchy

A

government by a privileged few

102
Q

ominous

A

threatening; of an evil omen

103
Q

threat

A

sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of rain; V: express a threat; give warning of (something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain.

104
Q

omnipotent

A

all-powerful; having unlimited power

105
Q

omnipresent

A

universally present; ubiquitous

106
Q

omniscient

A

all-knowing

107
Q

omnivorous

A

eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything

108
Q

onerous

A

burdensome

109
Q

onomatopoeia

A

words formed in imitation of natural sounds

110
Q

rustle

A

make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together

111
Q

onslaught

A

vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected onslaught of the enemy

112
Q

slaughter

A

killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher (animals) for food; kill in large numbers

113
Q

onus

A

burden; responsibility

114
Q

spare

A

give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time

115
Q

opalescent

A

iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence

116
Q

opaque

A

dark; not transparent; N. opacity

117
Q

opiate

A

medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium

118
Q

opportune

A

timely; well-chosen

119
Q

opportunist

A

individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances; N. opportunism

120
Q

opprobrium

A

infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous

121
Q

optician

A

maker and seller of eyeglasses

122
Q

optimist

A

person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism

123
Q

optimum

A

most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition

124
Q

optional

A

not compulsory; left to one’s choice; N. option: act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to choose; something available as a choice; Ex. have no option; Ex. two options

125
Q

optometrist

A

one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects

126
Q

opulence

A

extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant

127
Q

opus

A

work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; CF. opera

128
Q

oracular

A

of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous; hard to understand; N. oracle: wiser person; prophecy made by an oracle

129
Q

orator

A

public speaker

130
Q

oratorio

A

dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata

131
Q

ordain

A

decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination

132
Q

ordeal

A

severe trial or affliction; difficult experience; trial(test of patience or endurance); affliction

133
Q

ordinance

A

decree; authoritative order

134
Q

ordination

A

ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest

135
Q

orgy

A

wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping

136
Q

orient

A

get one’s bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate

137
Q

orientation

A

act of finding oneself in society; orienting

138
Q

orifice

A

mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth

139
Q

ornate

A

excessively or elaborately decorated

140
Q

ornithologist

A

scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds

141
Q

orthodox

A

traditional; (of someone) conservative in belief; adhering to an established doctrine

142
Q

orthography

A

correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics

143
Q

oscillate

A

vibrate pendulumlike; waver

144
Q

osseous

A

made of bone; bony

145
Q

ossify

A

change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging in one’s ideas

146
Q

ostensible

A

apparent; appearing as such; professed(pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible purpose of the expedition

147
Q

apparent

A

evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement

148
Q

ostentatious

A

showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display

149
Q

ostracize

A

banish from a group; exclude from public favor; ban; Ex. His friends ostracized him. N. ostracism

150
Q

blackball

A

vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote

151
Q

oust

A

expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting

152
Q

outlandish

A

bizzare; peculiar; unconventional

153
Q

outmoded

A

no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned

154
Q

outskirts

A

fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston

155
Q

outspoken

A

candid; blunt

156
Q

blunt

A

having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt

157
Q

outstrip

A

outrun; surpass; outdo

158
Q

outwit

A

outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly

159
Q

ovation

A

enthusiastic applause

160
Q

overbearing

A

bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate

161
Q

overt

A

open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert

162
Q

overweening

A

arrogant; presumptuous

163
Q

overwrought

A

nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done

164
Q

hysteria

A

excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric: person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack of hysteria

165
Q

ovoid

A

egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate

166
Q

pachyderm

A

thick-skinned animal

167
Q

pacifist

A

one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N. pacifism: opposition to war as a means of resolving disputes

168
Q

pacify

A

soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to

169
Q

paean

A

song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory

170
Q

painstaking

A

taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through

171
Q

palatable

A

agreeable; pleasing to the taste

172
Q

palate

A

roof of the mouth; sense of the taste

173
Q

palatial

A

of or suitable for a palace; magnificent

174
Q

paleontology

A

study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents

175
Q

palette

A

board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring matters)

176
Q

palimpsest

A

parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased

177
Q

parchment

A

writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat

178
Q

pall

A

become boring; grow tiresome

179
Q

pallet

A

small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet

180
Q

palliate

A

ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)

181
Q

pallid

A

pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion

182
Q

palpable

A

tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious; Ex. palpable blunder

183
Q

palpitate

A

throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.

184
Q

throb

A

(of a heart or machine) beat rapidly or violently; N. Ex. hearthrob: heartbeat; sweetheart

185
Q

paltry

A

insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash

186
Q

pan

A

criticize harshly

187
Q

panacea

A

cure-all; remedy for all diseases

188
Q

panache

A

flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache

189
Q

pandemic

A

widespread; affecting the majority of people; N: pandemic disease; CF. all people

190
Q

pandemonium

A

wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF. Paradise Lost

191
Q

pander

A

cater to (the low desires of others)

192
Q

cater

A

provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)

193
Q

panegyric

A

formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don’t deserve such panegyrics.

194
Q

panoramic

A

denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area

195
Q

pantomime

A

acting without dialogue; V.

196
Q

papyrus

A

ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant

197
Q

parable

A

short simple story teaching a moral

198
Q

paradigm

A

model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word

199
Q

paradox

A

something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct

200
Q

paragon

A

model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue

Barron GRE (24 decks)

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