Book19 Flashcards
pulchritude
beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous
pulmonary
pertaining to the lungs
pulsate
throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly
pulse
rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity; V: pulsate
pulverize
crush or grind into very small particles
pummel
pommel; beat or pound with fists
punctilious
minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful attention payed to every small exact detail
pundit
authority on a subject; expert; learned person
pungent
stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic; N. pungency
punitive
punishing; Ex. punitive measures
puny
tiny; weak; insignificant
purchase
secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
purgatory
place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the souls must expiate their sins
purge
remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or defilement); N.
purport
intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which purports to be signed by the general
purported
alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists
rooster
cock; adult male chicken
rabble
mob; noisy crowd
purse
pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
pucker
gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
purveyor
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide
pusillanimous
cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted
putative
supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child
putrid
decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity
putrefy
make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
putrescent
becoming putrid; putrefying
gangrene
decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood supply (usually following injury); ADJ. gangrenous
pyromaniac
person with an insane desire to set things on fire
quack
charlatan; impostor
quadruped
four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped
quaff
drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment)
quagmire
bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself
bog
soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud
quail
cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart
quaint
odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque
qualified
limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify
qualms
uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen.
quandary
dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a quandary about whether to go.
quarantine
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine
quarry
person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey
quarry
dig into (to get stone); N: mine
bank
heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning
quash
crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a rebellion/the decision of the low court
squash
crush; quash; suppress
quay
dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
queasy
experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy
quell
suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet; Ex. “Army Quells Rebellion’’ in newspaper; CF. kill
quench
assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish; put out; suppress
squelch
produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash
querulous
given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining
whine
complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as in pain or supplication)
query
inquiry; question; V.
queue
line (of waiting people or vehicles)
quibble
minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil
quiescent
dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence
quietude
tranquillity; calmness
quintessence
purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence
quip
taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.
taunt
deride or provoke; challenge in derision; N.
quirk
sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate
quisling
traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling
quiver
case for arrows
quiver
tremble; shake; N.
leash
restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
quixotic
idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
quizzical
curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying); questioning; teasing; mocking; bantering; Ex. quizzical glance
quorum
minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
quotidian
daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine
rabid
of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
raconteur
story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill
ragamuffin
dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes
tatter
torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes) old and torn; (of a person) dressed in old torn clothes
rail
complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices
raiment
clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.
rakish
jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
rake
angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular
rake
immoral or dissolute person
rally
come or bring together; call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate (after illness or difficulty); N: act of rallying; mass gathering
ramble
wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress
ramification
branching out; subdivision; one branch of a system; one of the results following from an action or decision; Ex. ramifications of a business/the decision
ramify
branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions
ramp
slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
rampant
growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed
rampart
defensive mound of earth
ramshackle
(of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart
rickety
(of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets; CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D
ransack
search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
rancid
having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
rank
offensive in odor or flavor
rancor
long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ. rancorous
random
without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random
lot
object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land
draw
choosing of a lot or card
lottery
contest in which winners are selected in a drawing of lots
raffle
lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off a new car
rankle
irritate; fester; annoy
rant
speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.
rapacious
voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds
rapport
close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony
rapt
engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
rarefied
made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
rare
(of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains
raspy
making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
rasp
(of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; rub with something rough; Ex. The cat’s tongue rasped my hand.
ratify
approve formally; confirm; verify
ratiocination
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
rationale
fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
rationalize
make rational; devise false reasons for (one’s behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization
rational
(of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason; logical
ration
fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
raucous
(of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts
ravage
devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms
maraud
move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
rave
overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as if mad; Ex. raving lunatic
ravel
fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
ravenous
extremely hungry; voracious
ravine
narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon
raze
destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground
reactionary
strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical
reinstate
restore to a previous condition or position
realm
kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility
reaper
one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop
rebate
return of part of a payment; discount; V.
rebuff
reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
snub
ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she snubbed me; N.
rebuke
scold harshly; criticize severely
rebus
representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. R U 18'' is a rebus forAre you 18’’.
rebuttal
refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove
recalcitrant
disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
recant
disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant one’s faith/a statement
recapitulate
summarize
recast
reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again
fashion
give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay
receptive
quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal
recession
withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
recess
pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive
recidivism
habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
recipient
receiver
reciprocal
mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement
reciprocate
do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually; interchange; move backwards and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights
recluse
hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
reconcile
make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one’s political principles with one’s religious beliefs
recondite
abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
reconnaissance
survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)
recount
narrate or tell (a story); count over again
recourse
resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
resort
turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
makeshift
temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
recreant
disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
recrimination
countercharges; V. recriminate
rectify
set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
rectitude
moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
recumbent
reclining; lying down completely or in part
recline
lie down
recuperate
recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses
recurrent
occurring again and again
redolent
odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
redoubtable
formidable; causing fear
redress
remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for
redundant
superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively wordy; repetitious
reek
emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench
stench
strong foul odor; reek; stink
stink
stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
refectory
dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)
refraction
bending of a ray of light
refractory
unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse
refrain
abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
chorus
phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
refulgent
effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon
gleam
brief flash of light; glow; V.
refurbish
renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish
refute
disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
regal
royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
regale
entertain
regatta
boat or yacht race
regeneration
spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
penology
study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation
regicide
murder of a king or queen
regime
method of system or government
regimen
prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer
regiment
military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society
rehabilitate
restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
reimburse
repay; pay back
reiterate
repeat
rejoinder
reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
comeback
retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
rejuvenate
make young again
relegate
put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture to the children’s room; Ex. relegated to the second division
relent
become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless: unyielding; continuously severe
relevant
having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
relic
surviving remnant (from an extinct culture); memento; keepsake; relics: corpse; Ex. ancient relics; Ex. relics of his travel; Ex. His relics are buried at X.
relinquish
give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm
relish
enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
remediable
reparable
reminiscence
recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
reminiscent
suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence
remiss
negligent; careless about a duty
remission
temporary moderation (of disease symptoms); remitting of a debt or punishment; cancelation of a debt; pardon; Ex. The disease went into remission; Ex. Christians pray for the remission of sins.
remit
transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
remittance
remitting of money; amount of money remitted
