Book16 Flashcards
nebula
diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy
necromancy
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
nefarious
very wicked
negate
cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation
negligence
neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care
negligible
so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded
nemesis
someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis
neologism
new or newly coined word or phrase
neophyte
recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant
nepotism
favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
favoritism
display of partiality toward a favored person
nether
lower; Ex. nether garments/regions
nettle
irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
nexus
connection
nib
beak(bill); pen point
nicety
precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties
niggardly
meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person
niggle
spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling
nihilist
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
nip
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
snip
short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors
pinch
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
nirvana
in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude
impersonal
not being a person; not showing personal feelings; Ex. impersonal force/manner/organization
nocturnal
done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne
noisome
foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
nomadic
wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place
nomenclature
terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things
nominal
in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint
nonchalance
indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts
noncommittal
neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided
nondescript
undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd
nonentity
person of no importance; nonexistence
nonplus
put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
nostalgia
homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
nostrum
questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
notable
conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted
notoriety
disrepute; ill fame
nova
star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness
novelty
something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original
novice
beginner
noxious
harmful; CF. obnoxious
nuance
shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction
shade
slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey
gradation
series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression
nubile
marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
nugatory
worthless; futile
nullify
make invalid; make null; invalidate
numismatist
person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals
nuptial
related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony
nurture
nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing
nutrient
nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment
nutrition
process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition
nutritious
providing nourishment
nourish
provide with food necessary for life and growth
nourishment
something that nourishes; food
oaf
stupid awkward person; CF. elf
obdurate
stubborn; refusing to change one’s belief
obeisance
bow (to show respect and obedience)
obelisk
tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid
obese
excessively fat; N. obesity
obfuscate
confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand
obituary
death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.
objective
not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim
obligatory
binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate
oblique
indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference
obliterate
destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village
oblivion
obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness
oblivious
inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful(having the habit of forgetting)
obloquy
slander; disgrace; infamy
obnoxious
offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell
obscure
dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning
obsequious
slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic
slavish
of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original
obsequy
funeral ceremony
obsessive
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
obsidian
black volcanic rock
scion
detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant
obsolete
outmoded; no longer used
obstetrician
physician specializing in delivery(assisting in giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF. midwife
obstinate
stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy
obstreperous
boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable
obtrude
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
obtuse
blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding
obviate
make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need
Occident
the West
occlude
shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.
occult
mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare
oculist
physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes
odious
arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile
odium
detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)
odoriferous
giving off an odor
odorous
having an odor
odyssey
long, eventful, adventurous journey
offensive
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
offhand
casual; done without prior thought or preparation
officious
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one’s services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy
pushy
disagreeably aggressive
ogle
look at amorously; make eyes at; Ex. old men ogling young girls
olfactory
concerning the sense of smell
oligarchy
government by a privileged few
ominous
threatening; of an evil omen
threat
sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of rain; V: express a threat; give warning of (something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain.
omnipotent
all-powerful; having unlimited power
omnipresent
universally present; ubiquitous
omniscient
all-knowing
omnivorous
eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything
onerous
burdensome
onomatopoeia
words formed in imitation of natural sounds
rustle
make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together
onslaught
vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected onslaught of the enemy
slaughter
killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher (animals) for food; kill in large numbers
onus
burden; responsibility
spare
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
opalescent
iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence
opaque
dark; not transparent; N. opacity
opiate
medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium
opportune
timely; well-chosen
opportunist
individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances; N. opportunism
opprobrium
infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous
optician
maker and seller of eyeglasses
optimist
person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism
optimum
most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition
optional
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
optometrist
one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects
opulence
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant
opus
work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; CF. opera
oracular
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
orator
public speaker
oratorio
dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata
ordain
decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination
ordeal
severe trial or affliction; difficult experience; trial(test of patience or endurance); affliction
ordinance
decree; authoritative order
ordination
ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest
orgy
wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping
orient
get one’s bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate
orientation
act of finding oneself in society; orienting
orifice
mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth
ornate
excessively or elaborately decorated
ornithologist
scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds
orthodox
traditional; (of someone) conservative in belief; adhering to an established doctrine
orthography
correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics
oscillate
vibrate pendulumlike; waver
osseous
made of bone; bony
ossify
change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging in one’s ideas
ostensible
apparent; appearing as such; professed(pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible purpose of the expedition
apparent
evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
ostentatious
showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display
ostracize
banish from a group; exclude from public favor; ban; Ex. His friends ostracized him. N. ostracism
blackball
vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote
oust
expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting
outlandish
bizzare; peculiar; unconventional
outmoded
no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned
outskirts
fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston
outspoken
candid; blunt
blunt
having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt
outstrip
outrun; surpass; outdo
outwit
outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly
ovation
enthusiastic applause
overbearing
bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate
overt
open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert
overweening
arrogant; presumptuous
overwrought
nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done
hysteria
excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric: person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack of hysteria
ovoid
egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate
pachyderm
thick-skinned animal
pacifist
one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N. pacifism: opposition to war as a means of resolving disputes
pacify
soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to
paean
song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory
painstaking
taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through
palatable
agreeable; pleasing to the taste
palate
roof of the mouth; sense of the taste
palatial
of or suitable for a palace; magnificent
paleontology
study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents
palette
board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring matters)
palimpsest
parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased
parchment
writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat
pall
become boring; grow tiresome
pallet
small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet
palliate
ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)
pallid
pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion
palpable
tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious; Ex. palpable blunder
palpitate
throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.
throb
(of a heart or machine) beat rapidly or violently; N. Ex. hearthrob: heartbeat; sweetheart
paltry
insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash
pan
criticize harshly
panacea
cure-all; remedy for all diseases
panache
flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache
pandemic
widespread; affecting the majority of people; N: pandemic disease; CF. all people
pandemonium
wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF. Paradise Lost
pander
cater to (the low desires of others)
cater
provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)
panegyric
formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don’t deserve such panegyrics.
panoramic
denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area
pantomime
acting without dialogue; V.
papyrus
ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant
parable
short simple story teaching a moral
paradigm
model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word
paradox
something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct
paragon
model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue
