Combo Vocab Flashcards
Elucidation
clarification, explanation
Ochlocracy
mob rule
Plutocracy
gov. run by the wealthy
Oligarchy
gov run by a few powerful people
Magisterial
commanding and dignified
Disquietude
a state of anxiety
Surreptitious
secret, stealthy
Decrepitude
a state of deterioration due to old age or long use
Expository
intended to explain or describe something
Imbibe
(v.) to drink; to take in, absorb
Abnegate/Abjure/Abdicate
renounce or reject (something desired or valuable)
Unctuous, obsequious, to Kowtow
(of a person) excessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily:
Exegesis
critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture.
Vociferous
loud and noisy; compelling attention; nosily crying out, as in protest
related: stentorian, clamor
Scrupulous
principled, very careful and conscientious
Excogitating/cogitation
think out, plan, or devise
Impinging
have an effect or impact, especially a negative one
Didactic
intended to teach
Raillery/Japery
practical joke; say or do something in jest or mockery.
Disavowal
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow
Promulgate
promote or make widely known (an idea or cause): these objectives have to be promulgated within the organization.
• put (a law or decree) into effect by official proclamation: in January 1852, the new constitution was promulgated.
Callow
(especially of a young person) inexperienced and immature: earnest and callow undergraduates.
Taxonomy
the classification of something, especially organisms: the taxonomy of these fossils.
Bellicose/Belligerent/Truculent/Pugnacious
demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight: a group of bellicose patriots.
Ignominy; n, Opprobrium; n
public shame or disgrace: the ignominy of being imprisoned.
Indemnify
compensate (someone) for harm or loss: the amount of insurance that may be carried to indemnify the owner in the event of a loss.
• secure (someone) against legal responsibility for their actions: the newspaper could not be forced to indemnify the city for personal-injury liability.
Constancy
the quality of being faithful and dependable.
• the quality of being enduring and unchanging: the trade winds are noted for constancy in speed and direction.
Incisive
trenchant; penetrating ; remarkably clear + direct; keen; acute
Apostate (n, adj) Apostasy (n)
One who renounces a belief
person who deserts a party, cause, religion, etc.
related:
recreant (coward or deserter)
perfidy (faithlessness, treachery)
heretic (believer who disagrees with religious authorities; any nonconformist thinker)
quisling (traitor)
infidel (unbeliever, person who does not accept a particular faith)
Keen
Sharp or penetrating in intellect, insight or perception
Inert
having no inherent power of action, motion, or resistance (as opposed to active)
Flout
to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff at; mock
Propitiate
To make favorably inclined; appease; conciliate
Coagulate
congeal; curdle; change from fluid into a thicker mass
Recondite, arcane, inscrutable, abstruse, obscure
esoteric knowledge about profound or difficult subject matter
Quibble
slight objection or criticism; to raise objection about something that is trivial
Solicitous
characterized by or showing interest or concern
Confound/Bemuse
to cause surprise or confusion in somebody else
Obstinate, Obdurate, Recalcitrant, Intransigent, Intractable, Obstreperous , Refractory , Tenacious
stubbornly refusing; unyielding; intractable
Relegate
(v) send or commit to an inferior place, rank, condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task) to someone else
Delineate
(v. ) to portray, sketch, or describe precisely; mark the outline of; sketch ; describe in detail
related: adumbrate (give a rough outline of)
Felicitous
(adj.) appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy
Striated
furrowed; striped; streaked
Parry
(v.) to ward off, fend off, deflect, evade, avoid; (n.) a defensive movement in fencing and other sports
Magnanimous/Liberality/Munificent/ Unstinting
generous; charitable; forgiving
Emulate
to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass
Sanction
Give authority or permission to; legal penalty for a forbidden action
Insensible
without one’s mental faculties, typically a result of violence or intoxication; unconscious.
Precarious
uncertain; risky; lacking in security or stability
Analogus
comparable; similarity b/w like features of two things
Caustic
(adj.) corrosive; able to burn or eat away by chemical action; biting, sarcastic in a scathing way
Empirical
based on or concerned with observations not just logic
Implicit
implied though not plainly expressed
Solipsism
the theory that the self is the only reality; the quality of being selfish or self-centered
Indolent
wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy
Facetious
treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant; glib; frivolous
Tenuous
having little substance or strength; weak connection; very weak; flimsy
Maverick
one who is independent and resists adherence to a group
Politic
shrewd and practical in managing or dealing with things; diplomatic
Coda
concluding part of a literary or musical composition; something that summarizes or concludes
Discrete
unconnected; separate; distinct
Complaisant
Eager to please; cheerfully complying
Yoke
to bind; the quality of being oppressive ex) the yoke of capitalism
Mendacious
dishonest, deceitful
Strut
supporting bar; a structural support or brace
related: bolster or fortify, buttress
Distill
purify; refine; get to the essential meaning of something
Partisan
a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person; devotee
Insularity
ignorance of or lack of interest in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience
Reproach
express disapproval or disappointment
Sage
a profoundly wise person
Penchant
a strong inclination or liking
Perenial
(adj.) lasting for a long time, persistent; (n.) a plant that lives for many years
Supposition
an uncertain belief; (N) assumption, hypothesis, something that has been supposed
related: conjecture
Welter
a confused multitude of things; move in turbulent manner
Tortuous
(adj.) winding, twisted, crooked; highly involved, complex; devious
Buttress
a support or prop
Subterfuge
an excuse or trick (artifice) for escaping or hiding something
Skulk
to move stealthily; to lie in hiding
Exorbitant
(adj.) unreasonably high; excessive
Congenial
(adj.) getting on well with others; agreeable, pleasant
Preponderance
the quality or fact of being greater in quantity, or importance
Penitent
showing or feeling regret for wrongdoing, repentant
Kinesthetic
the sensation of movement or strain in muscles, tendons, and joints; muscle sense.
Descry
to detect through careful observation
Choleric
bad-tempered or irritable
Assay
analyze; test; evaluate
Adumbrate
to foreshadow
Discountenance
To look upon with disfavor;
to disapprove of
Bilious (bill-yes)
peevish or irritable; sickeningly unpleasant
Commiserate
(v.) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress
Reprove
to gently criticize or correct
Polity
an organized society, such as a nation, state, church, or other organization, having a specific form of government
Inane
(adj.) silly, empty of meaning or value
Miscreant
a person who behaves badly or in a way that breaks the law
Paean
song of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy
Panegyric
formal or elaborate praise
Sojourn
(n)- A temporary stay
(v)- To stay for a time
[syn]- ((n)): visit, stopover, brief stay
Oratory
the art of public speaking
Elocution
the skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation.
Torterring
move in a feeble or unsteady way
Stalwart
loyal, reliable, and hardworking
Irrefragable/incontrovertible/indubitably (adv)
not able to be refuted or disproved; indisputable
Nonplussed
surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react; perplexed
Incapacitated
prevent from functioning in a normal way; deprived of strength or power
Stout
plump; stocky; substantial; brave and determined
Abashed
embarrassed, ashamed
Dolorous
Feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress
Petulant
childishly sulky or bad-tempered
Tempestuous
characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion
Pliant
bending readily; easily influenced
Capitulate
(v.) to end resistance, give up, surrender, throw in the towel
Interloper
a person who interferes or meddles in the affairs of others
Interpose/Intercalate/Interpolate
To place or come between; to intervene or interrupt; to mediate
Circumnavigate
to sail or travel all the way around; to avoid an obstacle; avoid dealing with something
Compulsory
required by law or a rule; obligatory; mandatory
Apogee
farthest or highest point; culmination; zenith
Diminutive
extremely or unusually small
Adversaries
opponents, enemies
Injudicious
not sensible or wise; not appropriate in a particular situation
Discretionary
subject to one’s own judgment
Mercenary
a professional soldier hired by a foreign army; primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics
Prolocutor
One who speaks for another; spokesman; chairman
Countenance
(n) a person’s face or facial expression; (v) to approve, support or encourage
Provenance
place or source of origin; a record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality
Attuned
familiar with someone or something so that you can understand or recognize them or it, and act in an appropriate way
Disingenuous
characterized by lying or falsehood
Metamorphosis
a transformation or dramatic change
Sedulously / Sedulous
Faithfully; done diligently and carefully
Expiate
(v.) to make amends, to atone
Taper
to become smaller or thinner toward one end
Occult
beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding; mysterious
Brood
informal: all of the children in a family: he was the youngest in a brood of six |
figurative : a remarkable brood of writers.
verb
1 [ no obj. ] Ponder; to think or worry persistently or moodily about; think deeply about something that makes one unhappy: he brooded over his need to find a wife.
Astute
having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage
Sententious/Sanctimonious/Priggish
(adj.) self-righteous, characterized by moralizing; (adj.) making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious, self-righteous, canting, holier-than-thou
Interminable
incapable of being terminated; unending
Instantiate
to provide an instance of or concrete evidence in support of (a theory, concept, claim, or the like).
Scotch
[ with obj. ] decisively put an end to: a spokesman has scotched the rumors.
• archaic render (something regarded as dangerous) temporarily harmless: feudal power in France was scotched, though far from killed.
2 [ with obj. ] wedge (someone or something) somewhere: he soon scotched himself against a wall.
Nugatory
Trifling; ineffective
of no value or importance: a nugatory and pointless observation.
• useless; futile: the teacher shortages will render nugatory the hopes of implementing the new curriculum.
Runic
Mysterious; used for casting a spell; having some secret or mysterious meaning:
runic rhyme.
Equanimity
Calmness; composure
Inveigh
Protest strongly; attack w words; speak or write about (something) with great hostility: nationalists inveighed against those who worked with the British.
Obfuscate
Make unclear
Ecumenical
Friendly relations between different religions
Bonhomie
Noun- Good natured manner; affable; geniality
Levity
Inappropriate lightness of manner; frivolity
Flagitious
shamefully wicked, as persons, actions, or times.
heinous or flagrant, as a crime; infamous.
Pleonasm/Pleonastic
the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy.
an instance of this, as free gift or true fact.
a redundant word or expression.
Halcyon
Prosperous; calm; peaceful; Idyllically calm and peaceful; an untroubled golden time of satisfaction, happiness, and tranquility
Gallantry
Heroic bravery
Recalcitrant
Resisting authority or control
Iconoclastic
Attacking original, cherished beliefs and long held traditions
Theistic
Believing that one god created and rules humans/the world
Unobtrusive
Not blatant; inconspicuous
Magnanimity
Generous and forgiving
Potlatch
Wild Party
Rota
A period of work done in rotation with others
Quietus
Something that has a calming or soothing effect
Death or something that causes death, regarded as a release from life
Solicitude
Care or concern for someone of something; a feeling of excessive concern
Indolence
The practice of avoiding activity; laziness
Multifarious
Made up of many different parts
Prosaic
Factual or straightforward; having the style or diction of prose (lacking poetic beauty); commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative
Prose
Written or spoken language in it’s ordinary form (without poetic structure); plain or dull writing
Festoon
An ornamental chain of flowers or ribbons
Imprudent
Lacking good sense
Malfeasance
Wrongdoing
Enmity
Extreme ill will that exists between enemies
Creed
An set of principles or beliefs
Fraudulent
Something that is intended to deceive
Bromide
a trite or commonplace remark; a tiresome or boring person; a sedative
Substantiate; Substantiation (n)
Provide evidence to support or prove the truth of
Proof with evidence
Consumate
verb | | [with object]
make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse: they did not consummate their marriage until months after it took place.
• complete (a transaction or attempt); make perfect: his scheme of colonization was consummated through bloodshed.
adjective
showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect: she dressed with consummate elegance.
having or revealing supreme mastery or skill; to make perfect and complete in every aspect
Inerrant
Without error
Fickle
changing frequently, especially as regards one’s loyalties, interests, or affection: Web patrons are a notoriously fickle lot, bouncing from one site to another on a whim | the weather is forever fickle.
Tenebrous
Obscure; difficult to understand
Pertinacious
holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action; resolute, stubborn: he worked with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions.
Ineffable
too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words: the ineffable natural beauty of the Everglades.
• not to be uttered: the ineffable Hebrew name that gentiles write as Jehovah.
Begrudge
verb
1 [with two objects] envy (someone) the possession or enjoyment of (something): she begrudged Martin his affluence.
2 [with object] give reluctantly or resentfully: nobody begrudges a single penny spent on health.
Delineate
verb [with object]
describe or portray (something) precisely: the law should delineate and prohibit behavior that is socially abhorrent.
• indicate the exact position of (a border or boundary).
Indemnify
verb (indemnifies, indemnifying, indemnified) [with object]
compensate (someone) for harm or loss: the amount of insurance that may be carried to indemnify the owner in the event of a loss.
• secure (someone) against legal liability for their actions: the newspaper could not be forced to indemnify the city for personal-injury liability.
Supercilious
Arrogant
Rhetoric
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques
Declaim
utter or deliver words or a speech in a rhetorical or impassioned way, as if to an audience: [ with obj. ] : she declaimed her views | [ no obj. ] : a preacher declaiming from the pulpit.
• [ no obj. ] (declaim against) forcefully protest against or criticize (something).
Jejune
1 naive, simplistic, and superficial: their entirely predictable and usually jejune opinions.
2 (of ideas or writings) dry and uninteresting: the poem seems to me rather jejune.
Turbid
Thick or dense or obscure, confused, muddled (not clear, coherent or arranged in order)
(of a liquid) cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter: the turbid estuary.
• confused or obscure in meaning or effect: a turbid piece of cinéma vérité.
Palter
1 equivocate (to be deliberately unclear) or prevaricate in action or speech: if you palter or double in your answers, I will have thee hung alive in an iron chain.
Notional
foolish and speculative
Adulate
praise (someone) excessively or obsequiously: he was adulated in the press.
Diachronic
concerned with the way in which something, especially language, has developed and evolved through time.
Plutonian
1 of or associated with the underworld.
2 relating to the dwarf planet Pluto.
Dionysian
wildly uninhibited, frenzied, or orgiastic
Saturnine
gloomy, sluggish, sullen, or taciturn in temperament
Saturnalian
unrestrained in revelry; orgiastic
Hermetic
“sealed airtight” or “isolated, impervious to outside influence.
Exigent
Urgent; pressing; demanding
Circumspect
wary and unwilling to take risks; careful, cautious, well-considered
Debunk
expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief); reduce the inflated reputation of (someone), especially by ridicule
Pessimism
a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen; a lack of hope or confidence in the future: the dispute cast an air of deep pessimism over the future of the peace talks.
Obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree:
Ubiquitous
present, appearing, or found everywhere
Disparate
adjective
essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison: they inhabit disparate worlds of thought.
• containing elements very different from one another: a culturally disparate country.
noun (disparates) archaic
things so unlike that there is no basis for comparison.
Disputatious
adjective
fond of or causing heated arguments: a congenial hangout for disputatious academics | disputatious council meetings.
Polemical
adjective
relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech: a polemical essay.
Protract/Protracted
verb [with object]
prolong: he had certainly taken his time, even protracting the process.
Protracted: adjective
lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual: a protracted and bitter dispute.
Acclamation
loud and enthusiastic approval, typically to welcome or honor someone or something:
the tackle brought the fans to their feet in acclamation | the president was again greeted by the acclamations of all present.
Symposium
oun (plural symposia | -zēə | or symposiums)
a conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject.
- a collection of essays or papers on a particular subject by a number of contributors.
- a drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet (and notable as the title of a work by Plato).
Cloistered
adjective
1 having or enclosed by a cloister, as in a monastery: a cloistered walkway bordered the courtyard.
2 kept away from the outside world; sheltered: a cloistered upbringing.
Adduce
verb [with object]
cite as evidence: a number of factors are adduced to explain the situation.
Trumpet
verb (trumpets, trumpeting, trumpeted)
1 [no object] play a trumpet: a jazz band trumpeted on the stage behind, and the kids danced until dark.
• make a loud, penetrating sound resembling that of a trumpet: wild elephants trumpeting in the bush.
2 [with object] proclaim widely or loudly: the press trumpeted another defeat for the government.
PHRASES
blow one’s (own) trumpet
mainly British talk openly and boastfully about one’s achievements: he refused to blow his own trumpet and blushingly declined to speak.
Axiomatic
adjective
self-evident or unquestionable: it is axiomatic that dividends have to be financed.
Callow
cal·low | ˈkalō |
adjective
(of a young person) inexperienced and immature: earnest and callow undergraduates.
Aspirate
verb | ˈaspəˌrāt | [with object]
Medicine breathe (something) in; inhale: some drowning victims don’t aspirate any water.
• draw (fluid) by suction from a vessel or cavity: bile was aspirated through a catheter.
noun | ˈasp(ə)rət |
1 Phonetics an aspirated consonant.
• the sound h or a character used to represent this sound.
2 Medicine matter that has been drawn from the body by suction: gastric aspirate | esophageal aspirates.
adjective | ˈasp(ə)rət | Phonetics
(of a sound) pronounced with an exhalation of breath; aspirated.
Inveigle
verb [with object and adverbial]
persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery: we cannot inveigle him into putting pen to paper.
• (inveigle oneself or one’s way into) gain entrance to (a place) by persuading (someone) with deception or flattery: Jones had inveigled himself into her house.
Clement
adjective
1 (of weather) mild: it is a very clement day.
2 (of a person or a person’s actions) merciful.
Equitable
adjective
1 fair and impartial: an equitable balance of power.
2 Law valid in equity as distinct from law: the beneficiaries have an equitable interest in the property.
Courtly
adjective (courtlier, courtliest)
very polite or refined, as befitting a royal court: he gave a courtly bow.
Collate
verb [with object]
1 collect and combine (texts, information, or sets of figures) in proper order: all the information obtained is being collated.
• compare and analyze (texts or other data): these accounts he collated with his own experience.
• Printing verify the order of (sheets of a book) by their signatures.
2 appoint (a member of the clergy) to a benefice.
Bloviate
verb [no object] US informal
talk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way.
Filch
verb [with object] informal
pilfer or steal (something, especially a thing of small value) in a casual way: I was promptly accused of filching Mr. Muir’s idea.
Churlish
adjective
rude in a mean-spirited and surly way: it seems churlish to complain.
Schism
noun
a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief: the widening schism between Church leaders and politicians | [mass noun] : the persistence of this group could produce schism within society.
• the formal separation of a Church into two Churches or the secession of a group owing to doctrinal and other differences. See also Great Schism.
Forbearance
noun
patient self-control; restraint and tolerance: forbearance from taking action.
• Law the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.
Fiat
noun
a formal authorization or proposition; a decree: adopting a legislative review program, rather than trying to regulate by fiat.
• an arbitrary order: the appraisal dropped the value from $75,000 to $15,000, rendering it worthless by bureaucratic fiat.
Venial
denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace: we cannot prevent ourselves sometimes from dreaming of performing venial if not mortal sins | everything I’ve disclosed up to now can be seen as venial. Often contrasted with mortal.
• (of a fault or offense) slight and pardonable.
Fulminate
verb [no object]
1 express vehement protest: he fulminated against the evils of his time | she began fulminating at the injustice of it all.
2 literary explode violently or flash like lightning: thunder fulminated around the house.
Stupefy
make (someone) unable to think or feel properly: the offense of administering drugs to a woman with intent to stupefy her.
• astonish and shock: the amount they spend on clothes would appall their parents and stupefy their grandparents.
Interminable
adjective endless (often used hyperbolically): we got bogged down in interminable discussions.
Delimit
verb (delimits, delimiting, delimited) [with object]
determine the limits or boundaries of: agreements delimiting fishing zones.
related: demarcate
Tantamount
adjective [predicative] (tantamount to)
equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as: the resignations were tantamount to an admission of guilt.
Apposite
apt in the circumstances or in relation to something: an apposite quotation | the observations are apposite to the discussion.
Chimeric, Chimerical
adjective 1 (of a mythical animal) formed from parts of various animals: the design is based on a chimeric creature with the body of a turtle and the head of a dragon.
2 hoped for but illusory or impossible to achieve: the notion of tolerance is a chimeric dream.
Gustatory
adjective formal
concerned with tasting or the sense of taste: gustatory delights.
Nimbus
1 a luminous cloud or a halo surrounding a supernatural being or a saint: a nimbus of power played around him, brighter than lightning.
• a light, color, etc., that surrounds someone or something.
2 a large gray rain cloud: [as modifier] : nimbus clouds.
Plenitude
an abundance: the farm boasts a plenitude of animals and birds.
• the condition of being full or complete: the plenitude of the Pope’s powers.
Prepossession
noun
a preconceived opinion; a prejudice: ill-informed prepossessions | imagine listening to Beethoven with the prepossession that C is a good note and F a bad one.
Bespeak
1 (of an appearance or action) suggest; be evidence of: the attractive tree-lined road bespoke money.
2 order or reserve (something) in advance: obtaining the affidavits that it has been necessary to bespeak.
3 archaic speak to: and in disgrace bespoke him thus.
Lampoon
verb [with object] publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm: the senator made himself famous as a pinch-penny watchdog of public spending, lampooning dubious federal projects.
noun
a speech or text lampooning someone or something: does this sound like a lampoon of student life?
Morass
noun
1 an area of muddy or boggy ground: in midwinter the track beneath this bridge became a muddy morass.
2 a complicated or confused situation: she would become lost in a morass of lies and explanations.
Null
adjective
1 [predicative] having no legal or binding force; invalid: the establishment of a new interim government was declared null and void.
2 having or associated with the value zero.
• Mathematics (of a set or matrix) having no elements, or only zeros as elements.
3 lacking distinctive qualities; having no positive substance or content: his curiously null life.
Synoptic
adjective
1 of or forming a general summary or synopsis: a synoptic outline of the contents.
• taking or involving a comprehensive mental view: a synoptic model of higher education.
Protean
adjective
tending or able to change frequently or easily: it is difficult to comprehend the whole of this protean subject.
• able to do many different things; versatile: Shostakovich was a remarkably protean composer, one at home in a wide range of styles.
Prolixity
adjective
(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy; boring verbosity: he found the narrative too prolix and discursive.
Cantankerous
adjective
bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative: a crusty, cantankerous old man.
Impute
verb [with object]
represent (something, especially something undesirable) as being done, caused, or possessed by someone; attribute: the crimes imputed to Richard.
- Finance assign (a value) to something by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes: by imputing the interest rates they potentially introduce a measurement error.
- Theology ascribe (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to someone by virtue of a similar quality in another: Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us.
Grouse
verb [no object]
complain pettily; grumble: she heard him grousing about his assistant.
noun
a grumble or complaint: our biggest grouse was about the noise of the construction work.
Envoy
noun
1 a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission: the UN special envoy to Yugoslavia | a peace envoy.
2 a minister plenipotentiary, ranking below ambassador and above chargé d’affaires.
Ascetic/Asceticism
adjective
characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons: an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual labor | a narrow, humorless, ascetic face.
noun
a person who practices severe self-discipline and abstention.
abstinent or austere in lifestyle
related: hermit, anchorite (person who lives away from society), recluse (person who lives in solitude)
Succor
noun
assistance and support in times of hardship and distress: the wounded had little chance of succor.
• (succors) archaic reinforcements of troops.
verb [with object]
give assistance or aid to: prisoners of war were liberated and succored.
Inane
adjective
silly; stupid: don’t constantly badger people with inane questions.
Fallible
adjective
capable of making mistakes or being erroneous: experts can be fallible.
Fatuous
adjective
silly and pointless: a fatuous comment.
Volley
noun (plural volleys)
1 a number of bullets, arrows, or other projectiles discharged at one time: the infantry let off a couple of volleys.
• a series of utterances directed at someone in quick succession: he unleashed a volley of angry questions.
• Tennis an exchange of shots.
2 (in sports, especially tennis or soccer) a strike or kick of the ball made before it touches the ground: a forehand volley.
Imprecation
noun formal
a spoken curse: she hurled her imprecations at anyone who might be listening.
curse, prayer for harm to come to someone
related: malediction
Salvo
noun (plural salvos or salvoes)
a simultaneous discharge of artillery or other guns in a battle: a deafening salvo of shots rang out | another salvo crashed nearer to the German positions.
- a number of weapons released from one or more aircraft in quick succession.
- a sudden, vigorous, or aggressive act or series of acts: the pardons provoked a salvo of accusations.
Waggish
adjective dated
humorous in a playful, mischievous, or facetious manner: a waggish riposte.
Riposte
noun
1 a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
2 a quick return thrust following a parry.
verb
1 [with direct speech] make a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism: “I’d have made lamb chops had I known you’re a vegetarian,” Kris riposted.
2 [no object] make a quick return thrust in fencing.
Avow
declare or state assuredly
Lucid
1 expressed clearly; easy to understand: a lucid account | write in a clear and lucid style.
- showing ability to think clearly, especially in the intervals between periods of confusion or insanity: he has a few lucid moments every now and then.
- Psychology (of a dream) experienced with the dreamer feeling awake, aware of dreaming, and able to control events consciously.
2 literary bright or luminous: birds dipped their wings in the lucid flow of air.
Limpid
(of a liquid) free of anything that darkens; completely clear: the limpid waters of the Caribbean.
- (of a person’s eyes) unclouded; clear: the limpid gray eyes gazed trustfully at her.
- (especially of writing or music) clear and accessible or melodious: the limpid notes of a recorder.
Scrimp/Scrimping
be thrifty or parsimonious; economize: I have scrimped and saved to give you a good education.
Misappropriate
verb [with object]
(of a person) dishonestly or unfairly take (something, especially money, belonging to another) for one’s own use: department officials had misappropriated funds.
Tractable
(of a person) easy to control or influence: tractable dogs that have had some obedience training.
• (of a situation or problem) easy to deal with: trying to make the mathematics tractable.
Complaisant
adjective
willing to please others; obliging; agreeable: when unharnessed, Northern dogs are peaceful and complaisant.
Chivy
the act of pestering or harassing somebody, usually in order to make him or her do something
tell (someone) repeatedly to do something: an association that chivvies government into action.
Ineluctable (adj) , Ineluctably (adv) , Ineluctability (n)
adjective
unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable: the ineluctable facts of history.
Incommutable
adjective
not capable of being changed or exchanged.
Insensate
adjective
lacking physical sensation: a patient who was permanently unconscious and insensate.
• lacking sympathy or compassion; unfeeling: a positively insensate hatred.
• completely lacking sense or reason: insensate jabbering.
Overbearing
adjective
unpleasantly or arrogantly domineering: his overbearing, sometimes ruthless desire to succeed.
Requite
make appropriate return for (a favor, service, or wrongdoing): they are quick to requite a kindness.
- return a favor to (someone): to win enough to requite my friends.
- respond to (love or affection); return: she did not requite his love.
Retrench
verb [no object]
(of a company, government, or individual) reduce costs or spending in response to economic difficulty: as a result of the recession the company retrenched | [with object] : if people are forced to retrench their expenditure trade will suffer.
• [with object] formal reduce or diminish (something) in extent or quantity: right-wing parties which seek to retrench the welfare state.
Reconnoiter
verb [with object]
make a military observation of (a region): they reconnoitered the beach some weeks before the landing | [no object] : the raiders were reconnoitering for further attacks.
noun
an act of reconnoitering: a nocturnal reconnoiter of the camp.
Descry
verb (descries, descrying, descried) [with object] literary
catch sight of: she descried two figures.
Amorphous
without a clearly defined shape or form: amorphous blue forms and straight black lines.
- vague; ill-organized; unclassifiable: make explicit the amorphous statements.
- (of a group of people or an organization) lacking a clear structure or focus: an amorphous and leaderless legislature.
Expatiate
verb [no object] speak or write at length or in detail: she expatiated on working-class novelists.
Supererogatory
describes “an action performed beyond what is expected or required.”
Pith
noun
1 spongy white tissue lining the rind of an orange, lemon, and other citrus fruits.
• Botany the spongy cellular tissue in the stems and branches of many higher plants.
• archaic spinal marrow.
2 the essence of something: a book that he considered contained the pith of all his work.
3 forceful and concise expression: he writes with a combination of pith and exactitude.
verb [with object]
1 remove the pith from: peel and pith the oranges.
2 pierce or sever the spinal cord of (an animal) so as to kill or immobilize it.
to kill by cutting the spinal cord
Etiolate
to weaken or drain of vigor
Besiege
(v) Attack, overwhelm, crowd in on or surround
related: harry (harass or annoy), hound (harass or pursue relentlessly), beleaguer (surround, as with with difficulty or attackers)
Effrontery
(n) Insolence, boldness, or presumptuous
Rarefy
(v) To make or become thin, less compact, or less dense
(v) To purify, refine, or make more spiritual
(adj) lofty, very high up or elevated, exclusive; select
Diatribe
(n) Bitter, abusive criticism or denunciation
Precipitate
(v) To throw or fall down headlong
(v) To bring about or cause to happen, especially abruptly or prematurely
(v) To cause (a substance) to separate from a solution;
To condense or cause to condense and fall from the sky as snow, rain, etc.
(adj.) Speeding headlong, rapidly, or dangerously;
Proceeding with undue haste and without necessary forethought
Aver (Uh-Ver)
(v) To assert or affirm positively
(v) To formally assert or prove in pleading a case or cause
state or assert to be the case: [ with clause ] : he averred that he was innocent of the allegations | [ with direct speech ] : “You’re the most beautiful girl in the world,” he averred.
• [ with obj. ] Law allege as a fact in support of a plea.
Lucid
(adj. ) Intelligible or readily understandable
(adj. ) Sane or rational
(adj. ) Translucent or clear; bright or luminous
Intrepid
(adj.) Resolutely fearless or undaunted
Anomalous
(adj. ) Deviating from the norm or expectations; irregular
(adj. ) Uncertain or incongruous in nature
Burgeon
(v) To produce or send out new growth; to sprout or bloom
(v) To grow, expand, or develop quickly and often profusely
Sap
(n) 1. The circulatory fluid of a plant; an essential bodily fluid
2. Health, vitality, or energy (metaphor related to “essential body fluid”)
3. A gullible person, fool, or dupe
(v) 1. To deplete, drain, or weaken, especially of energy or vitality
2. To diminish the intensity or supply of
3. To undermine the foundations of
Occult
(adj. ) Secret or withheld from the uninitiated
(adj. ) Mysterious, inscrutable, difficult or impossible to comprehend
(adj. ) Of, related to, or concerned with magic or the supernatural
Gainsay
(v) To deny or prove false
(v) To oppose or speak out against
Gist
(n) The central point or essence; the heart of the matter
(n) The grounds of a legal action
Plasticity
(n) Capacity to be molded or made to assume or hold a shape
Ebullience
(n) Liveliness or exuberance, especially in manner or expression; joyously unrestrained
Artless
(adj. ) Uncultured or ignorant, lacking in knowledge
(adj. ) Poorly or crudely made
(adj. ) Without artificiality; natural, sincere
Tortuous
(adj. ) Winding; containing numerous twists, turns, or bends
(adj. ) Crooked, tricky, or devious
(adj. ) Highly involved, circuitous, or complex
Tenuous
(adj. ) Not dense; thin or diluted inconsistency
(adj. ) Slender
(adj. ) Lacking substance or strength; flimsy; shaky
Propitiate
v) To gain or regain the favor of; appease or conciliate
Malediction
(n) A curse
Sanction
- (POSITIVE meaning) Official or authoritative permission or authorization;
support or encouragement
(v) To approve or authorize officially;
to support or tolerate by showing approval - (NEGATIVE meaning) A penalty meant to force compliance;
a military or economic measure adopted by several nations and meant to coerce
another nation violating international law
(v) To penalize, especially for a violation of international law
Complaisant
(adj.) Agreeable, eager to please, obliging
Ubiquitous
(adj.) Existing or present everywhere; constantly encountered or widespread
Perfidy
(n) 1. The quality or state of being disloyal; treachery; faithlessness
2. An act of disloyalty
Derivative
(adj. ) Not original; secondary or copied
(adj. ) Derived
Fracas
(n) A noisy, loud quarrel, brawl, or disturbance
Presumptuous
(adj.) Overstepping the bounds of what’s right or proper; inappropriately forward or
taking liberties
Slight
(v) 1. To treat as unimportant or make light of
2. To treat with disdain or discourteous inattention
- To do inattentively or negligently
(n) An instance of being slighted
(adj. ) 1. Slim or delicate of body - Small in size, extent, or quantity
- Trifling, trivial, or unimportant
- Lacking strength or substance; flimsy
Pristine
(adj. ) Belonging or related to the original, earliest condition; primitive
(adj. ) Remaining in a pure, unspoiled state; untouched by civilization
(adj. ) Clean as if new
Confound
(v) To confuse, perplex, or stump; to throw into disorder
(v) To mix up; to fail to notice differences
(v) To refute, prove wrong, or put to shame
Console
(v) To comfort; to alleviate someone’s grief, suffering, or sense of loss
(n) 1. a cabinet (such as for a television) designed to stand on the floor
2. the control unit of a computer, electrical system, vehicle, etc.
related: succor (comfort, provide relief)
Discrete
(n) Separate or distinct; an individual thing
(n) Consisting of unconnected individual parts; not continuous
Approbation
(n) Official approval
(n) Commendation; praise; a warm expression of approval
Concur
(v) To agree, cooperate, or coincide
Denunciation
- Public condemnation or censure
2. An accusation of a crime
Foment
(v) To foster or promote the development of; to incite or rouse
Diffuse
(adj. ) Dispersed; spread out
(adj. ) Wordy and poorly organized
Exculpate
(v) To clear from a charge or guilt
Obstinate
(adj.) Stubbornly sticking to an attitude, opinion, purpose, or course against
argument or persuasion; difficult to control, subdue, or remedy
Prodigious
(adj. ) Impressive or extraordinary in bulk, amount, or degree; enormous
(adj. ) Marvelous; eliciting amazement
Levy
(v) 1. To impose and collect (such as a tax)
2. To draft troops into military service
3. To declare and wage war
Covert
(adj. ) Not openly done, acknowledged, or avowed; veiled
(adj. ) Sheltered or covered
Avow
verb (used with object)
to declare frankly or openly; own; acknowledge; confess; admit:
He avowed himself an opponent of all alliances.
Apprise
(v) To inform, tell, or give notice to
Recalcitrant
(adj.) Stubbornly resisting or defying authority or guidance
Convoke
(v) To call (as a group of people) to a meeting
Catholic
(adj.) Universal, broad-minded
Martinet
(n) Person who adheres to rules extremely closely; a disciplinarian
Ponderous
(adj. ) Of great weight; unwieldy due to heaviness and bulk
(adj. ) Labored, dull, or lifeless
Somatic
(adj.) 1. Pertaining to the body (as opposed to the mind, a body part, or the
environment)
2. Relating to the wall of the body cavity
Fluke
(n) A stroke of good luck; a chance occurrence or accident
Doff
(v) 1. To take off or remove (as clothes); to tip or remove (one’s hat) in greeting
2. To put aside or discard
Scurvy
(n) A wasting disease caused by vitamin C deficiency
(adj. ) Contemptible, despicable, or mean
Apposite
(adj.) Appropriate, relevant, or apt
Garrulous
(adj.) Wordy; overly talkative and given to long, rambling, often trivial speech
Gambol
(v) To frolic; to skip or leap about playfully
Fulminate
(v) To send out or issue with denunciation, invective, or condemnation
(v) To explode
Abscission
(n) The act of cutting off
noun Botany
the natural detachment of parts of a plant, typically dead leaves and ripe fruit: leaf abscission in trees | [as modifier] : abscission layer.
Truculent
(adj. ) Ferocious, cruel, or savage
(adj. ) Deadly or destructive
(adj. ) Scathing or harsh
(adj. ) Belligerent or aggressive; disposed to fighting
Rigor
strictness, severity, or harshness, as in dealing with people.
the full or extreme severity of laws, rules, etc.
severity of living conditions; hardship; austerity:
the rigor of wartime existence.
a severe or harsh act, circumstance, etc.
scrupulous or inflexible accuracy or adherence:
the logical rigor of mathematics.
severity of weather or climate or an instance of this:
the rigors of winter.
Germane
(adj.) Relevant or closely related
Viscid
(adj.) Having a sticky, adhesive, or viscous quality or consistency
Glib
(adj. ) Fluent in speaking or writing to the point of insincerity or thoughtlessness
(adj. ) Done with natural ease or off hand nonchalance
Requite
v) To repay or make return for; to reciprocate
(v) To avenge
(v) To recompense for a service, benefit, or injury
Grouse
(v) To complain, grumble
(n) A grievance; a persistent complaint
(n) Any of various types of plump, chicken-like gamebirds
Appreciable
(adj) Possible to see, measure, or estimate
large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount)
Dilate
(v) 1. To cause to expand; to widen or enlarge
2. To speak or write at length on a subject
Sangfroid
(n) Self-possession or composure, especially under stress
Intemperance
(n) Indulgence of passions or appetites
(n) Excessive drinking of alcohol
Stalwart
(adj.) Strong or vigorous in mind, body, or spirit
Abridge
(v) To cut short or condense (especially of a written work)
Squelch
(v) To crush or squash as if by trampling
(v) To quell or suppress completely
(v) To silence, as by a crushing remark
(v) To emit a splashing, sucking sound
Extempore/Extemporaneous
(adj.) Done, said, or composed with little or no preparation; unpremeditated; impromptu
Forestall
(v) To hinder or prevent in advance
(v) To anticipate or deal with in advance
(v) To buy up goods so as to drive up prices for resale
Quiescence
(n) The state of being quiescent; tranquil restfulness or repose
Nabob
(n) A person who is wealthy, prominent, or important
n) A provincial governor of India’s Mogul empire (historical
Noisome
(adj.) Having an extremely offensive smell
Puissance
(n) Power; might
Rue
bitterly regret (something one has done or allowed to happen): Ferguson will rue the day he turned down that offer | she might live to rue this impetuous decision. noun archaic
repentance; regret: with rue my heart is laden.
• compassion; pity: tears of pitying rue.
(n) a bitter herb used medicinally
Dilatory
(adj.) Slow, late; procrastinating or stalling for time
Verisimilar (ver-uh-SIM-ill-er)
(adj.) Probably, likely, or appearing to be true
ver·i·si·mil·i·tude | ˌvərəsəˈmiləˌt(y)o͞od |
noun
the appearance of being true or real: the detail gives the novel some verisimilitude.
related: feasible (possible, logical, likely or suitable), plausible
Teetotaler
(n) One who abstains totally from alcohol
Indelible
(adj. ) Permanent; impossible to remove, erase, or wash away
(adj. ) Memorable; unforgettable; making a lasting impression
Fatuous
(adj.) Complacently foolish or silly
Inveterate
(adj. ) Established through long practice or precedent
(adj. ) Habitual or ingrained
Propagate
(v) To multiply or breed; to pass (traits) to offspring
(v) To extend or spread to a greater area or number
(v) To foster wider knowledge or spread word of; to publicize
Ingenuous
(adj. ) Lacking in cunning, guile, or worldliness; straightforward, candid, or frank; Free of dissimulation.
related: guileless, artless, ingenue
Affable
(adj.) Pleasant and easy to talk to; approachable
Adhere
(v) To stay attached; to stick to
(v) To be devoted in support or allegiance
(v) To remain committed to
Slack
(adj.) Negligent, careless, or lax; slow, sluggish, or lacking energy; lacking
tautness or tightness; weak; inactive, not busy
(v) 1. To become slack; to loosen or make slower
2. To shirk or evade work; to be careless or inattentive in doing
Egress
(n) The act of going out or exiting
(n) An exit or way out
Ascend
(v) To move or slope upward; to rise from a lower level or station
(v) To go back in time or genealogical progression
(v) To become king or queen
Rent
(adj. ) Having been torn, violently lacerated, or wrested from
(n) 1. A tear or opening created by rending
2. A rift or breach in relations
Aseptic
(adj. ) Free from or protecting against infection by pathogenic microorganisms
(adj. ) Without animation or emotion
Skullduggery
(n) Deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous behavior
Grate
(v) To shred (such as cheese) by rubbing against anabrasive surface;
to cause to make a harsh sound through grinding (as teeth);
to persistently annoy
Gratuitous
(adj. ) Done, given, or obtained without payment; unearned
(adj. ) Unwarranted, unjustified, or uncalled-for
Aspersion
(n) A false, derogatory claim meant to injure someone’s reputation
(n) The act of making such a claim
(n) A sprinkling with water, especially as part of a religious ceremony
Halcyon
(adj. ) Calm, peaceful, or tranquil
(adj. ) Prosperous or wealthy
Encomium
a formal expression of high praise; eulogy:
An encomium by the president greeted the returning hero.
Savant
(n) A learned person, scholar, or sage; an idiot savant
Sedulous
(adj. ) Diligent or persevering in effort or application
(adj. ) Done or achieved through perseverance
related: assiduous
Sinecure
(n) A paid position or office requiring little or no work
Harrow
(v) To disturb or torment
(v) To prepare ground for planting with a harrow (a tool designed to break up and
even out plowed land)
Clinch
(v) grab or hold; secure a goal (to “clinch the win”), make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together
Stymie
(v) To block, thwart, or stand in the way of
Welter
(n) A confused jumble or mass
(v) To become deeply involved or embroiled in something
(v) To roll, writhe, or heave
Supplicate
(v) To ask humbly of (someone); to beseech
(v) To ask for something humbly; to pray for
Torrid
(adj. ) Parched; burning or intensely hot
(adj. ) Passionate or ardent
(adj. ) Fast or hurried
related: arid (dry, barren)
Idyll
(n) A poem, either a short description of an idealized rural scene or a narrative
dealing with romantic or heroic themes
(n) A carefree, lighthearted experience or period;
a romantic interlude
Travesty
(n) A distorted, debased, grotesque, or inferior imitation or likeness
(n) An exaggerated burlesque or imitation of a serious literary work, which is usually
grotesquely incongruous
Turpitude
(n) Depravity, baseness, or vileness
(n) A corrupt act
Fledge
(v) To care for (as a young bird) until it is ready to fly
(v) To cover with or as with feathers
(v) To grow plumage needed for flight
Impecunious
(adj.) Penniless; without money
Warmonger
(n) One who advocates or attempts to incite war
Prevaricate
(v) To equivocate, lie, or stray from the truth
Improbity
(n) Dishonesty; lack of probity (probity = honesty)
Conversance
(n) Familiarity; the state of being able to speak about something (“converse”)
knowledgeably
Quandary
(n) State of perplexity, especially regarding how to proceed
Propriety
(n) The quality of being proper or appropriate
(n) Plural: The customs and rules of polite society
Impudent
(adj.) Insolent; boldly disrespectful
Impugn
(v) To challenge or attack as false or questionable
Inadvertent
(adj. ) Accidental or unintentional
(adj. ) Inattentive; not fully focused or taking heed
Recumbent
(adj. ) Lying down or reclining, especially in repose
(adj. ) Resting or idle
Abjure
(v) To renounce, recant, or repudiate, often solemnly or under oath
related: forswear (reject or renounce under oath; swear falsely in court, eschew
Pallid
(adj.) Abnormally pale; lacking color or vitality
Refulgent rih-FULL-jent
(adj.) Radiant or resplendent; shining brilliantly
Aggregate
(v) To gather together
(n) Formed by the collection of smaller parts
Incursion
(n) An invasion, raid, or hostile entrance of another’s territory
(n) The act of entering
Equanimity
(n) Calmness; mental or emotional stability under stress; balance or equilibrium
Indeterminate/Indeterminable
not exactly known, established, or defined: the date of manufacture is indeterminate.
- (of a judicial sentence) such that the convicted person’s conduct determines the date of release.
- Mathematics (of a quantity) having no definite or definable value.
- Medicine (of a condition) from which a diagnosis of the underlying cause cannot be made: indeterminate colitis.
(adj.) Having an infinite number of solutions
Corrugated
(adj. ) Drawn or bent into folds or furrows (as in corrugated cardboard)
(adj. ) Wrinkled, as in the skin or face
Indigence
(n) Utter poverty, without comfort
Indigenous
(adj. ) Native to or naturally occurring in a region or environment
(adj. ) Innate or natural
EsotericEsoteric
(adj.) Understood by or intended for only a select group, often of people with
specialized knowledge
(adj.) Confidential
Aberrant
(adj. ) Deviating from the usual or proper course, especially in behavior
(adj. ) Deviating from the normal or expected type; atypical
Crass
(adj. ) Crude, gross, and unrefined; lacking indiscrimination
(adj. ) Excessively materialistic
Avid
(adj. ) Urgently, keenly desirous to the point of greed
(adj. ) Marked by enthusiasm or voracious interest
Summarily
(adv) immediately; in a prompt or direct manner; without prior notice
Extenuating
(adj.) Lessening or mitigating the seriousness or extent of something
Cryptic
(adj. ) Having or seeming to have hidden meaning; mysterious or mystifying
(adj. ) Secret or occult; employing or using code or a cipher
Damp
(v) To deaden; to hold back or retard the energy of; to stifle, suffocate, or restrain
Tout
(v) To solicit business, votes, etc., in a persistent or annoying way
(v) To describe or advertise boastfully; promote or praise excessively
Fallacious
(adj. ) Built on unsound logic; containing a fallacy (fallacy = logical mistake)
(adj. ) Misleading or delusive
Tribute
(n) A gift, service, or other demonstration of gratitude, admiration, or affection
(n) Evidence or something indicating a praiseworthy quality or characteristic
(n) Payment given or extracted as a sign of submission or in exchange for protection
Inveigle
(v) To lure, induce, or win over by using flattery
(v) To obtain by flattery or coaxing
Ferment
(v) 1. To undergo or cause fermentation (such as yogurt or other such foods)
2. To excite or agitate; to foment
(n) A state of agitation, unrest, or tumult (“the political ferment may lead to revolt”)
Alacrity
(n) Cheerful willingness or promptness
noun
brisk and cheerful readiness: she accepted the invitation with alacrity.
Jabber
(v) To talk rapidly, incoherently, or nonsensically
Jibe (2nd definition)
(v) To be in harmony; agree
Fecund
(adj.) Fruitful, fertile
Refractory
(adj.) Stubbornly disobedient; hard to manage
Base
(adj. ) Mean-spirited, contemptible, or selfish
(adj. ) Showing a lack of values or ethics
(adj. ) Of inferior value or quality
Pettifogger
n) A shifty or unethical lawyer
(n) A person who bickers or quibbles over trivial matters
Confabulate
(v) Chat; talk casually
(v) To make things up; in psychology, to fill in gaps in one’s memory with
“fabulous” stories
Fetter
(v) Shackle, put in chains, or restrict the freedom of
Vaunt
(v) Brag about
Sophomoric
(adj. ) Immature; showing lack of judgment
(adj. ) Pretentious and immature at the same time
Dissonance
(n) Harsh, unpleasantly conflicting, or cacophonous sounds
(n) Inconsistency or lack of agreement
Preternatural
(adj. ) Exceeding the natural, normal, or regular; extraordinary
(adj. ) Existing outside of or beyond the normal course of nature
(adj. ) Supernatural
Preen
(v) (Of animals) To smooth and clean one’s fur or feathers
(v) To dress with great care or primp
(v) To gloat, congratulate oneself, or swell with pride
Lassitude
(n) Weariness or fatigue
(n) Listlessness or indolence
Levity
(n) Lightness or unseriousness of manner, mind, or character, to the point of being
inappropriate; frivolity
(n) Fickleness or inconstancy
Laggard
(adj.) Slow, sluggish, or lagging behind
Exigent
(adj. ) Urgent, pressing, or demanding immediate action
(adj. ) Demanding a good deal or too much
Profundity
(n) Something profound; intellectual, mental, or emotional depth
Ford
(n) A shallow place in a body of water where one can cross on foot, by horse, etc.
(v) To cross over a body of water, such as a river, in this way
Limpid
(adj. ) Clear or transparent
(adj. ) Simple, transparent, or easily understood (as in style or speech)
(adj. ) Untroubled or serene
Proscribe
(v) To prohibit or forbid
(v) To condemn as dangerous or harmful
(v) To banish; to publish the name of a convicted outlaw
List
(v) To lean to one side, as a ship
Pungency
(n) The state or quality of being acrid in smell; biting, caustic, sharp, or incisive
Loll
(v) To move or rest in a reclined, indolent manner; to droop or hang
Impute
(n) Attribute; give blame or responsibility for (sometimes falsely)
Pique
noun
a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one’s pride: he left in a fit of pique.
verb (piques |pēks| , piquing |ˈpēkiNG| , piqued |pēkt| )
1 [ with obj. ] stimulate (interest or curiosity): you have piqued my curiosity about the man.
2 (be piqued) feel irritated or resentful: she was piqued by his curtness.
3 (pique oneself) archaic pride oneself.
Lull
(v) To soothe or put to sleep
(v) To deceive or cause to feel a false sense of safety or security
related: slack (calm, period of quiet)
Canon
(n) That which is standard, approved, or sanctioned, especially in regards to
scripture or literature
(n) A rule, principal, or law
Quack
(n) One who fraudulently claims to have medical skills; a charlatan
Macerate
(v) To make soft or dissolve by soaking; to emaciate
Desultory
(adj. ) Lacking in consistency or order; unplanned or fitful
(adj. ) Random or disconnected from the main subject
Epicure
(n) Someone with refined, discriminating taste, especially in food or wine; a connoisseur
Rebuff
(v) To reject or criticize bluntly or abruptly; to snub
(v) To check, repel, or drive of
Recondite
(adj.) Challenging to those of average understanding or knowledge; abstruse or
deep
(adj.) Concealed or hidden
Soporific
(adj. ) Tending to cause sleep or dull alertness
(adj. ) Sleepy, lethargic, or drowsy
Redoubtable
E (adj.) Causing fear or awe; alarming or formidable
(adj.) Illustrious; worthy of respect
Mercurial
(adj.) Changeable, volatile, or given to rapid shifts in mood
(adj.) Having qualities associated w/Greek god Mercury, including cleverness,
eloquence, and thievishness
Metaphysical
(adj) concerned with abstract thought; related to metaphysics (branch of
philosophy concerned with explaining the nature of being and of the world);
very subtle or abstruse
Salient
(adj.) Standing out; most noticeable or important
Normative
(adj.) Prescribing a norm or standard; expressing value judgments (how things
should be) instead of just stating the facts
Shyster
(n) A person who uses petty or unethical practices, esp. a lawyer who does this
Crepuscular
(adj.) Like twilight; dim
Syncretism
(n) Reconciliation or fusion (esp. only partial) of different philosophies, religions,
belief systems, etc.
Ecumenical
(adj.) Universal; worldwide in scope
Castigation
(n) Severe criticism, reproach, or punishment
related: admonish, reprove, upbraid, reprimand, rebuke, excoriate, castigate
Repine
(v) To be discontent, complain, or fret
(v) To yearn or long deeply for something
Meteoric
(adj.) resembling a meteor in speed; having sudden and temporary brilliance similar to a meteor’s
Minatory
(adj.) Menacing or threatening in nature or aspect
Endemic
(adj. ) Native to or characteristic of a certain place or people
(adj. ) Restricted or confined to a specific area or place
Abrogate
(v) To abolish, annul, or put aside, usually officially
Broach
(v) To mention, suggest, or bring up
(v) To tap, pierce, or open up
Deposition
(n) The act of removing from power
(n) Testimony under oath
(n) The process of depositing, or the state of being deposited
Accretion
(n) Growth by gradual addition or build up
Opprobrium
(n) Disgrace or infamy due to shameful, despicable behavior
(n) Harsh contempt or condemnation
(n) A cause for shame or disgrace
Sate
(v) To satisfy or appease (an appetite) fully
(v) To indulge (an appetite) to excess; to glut
Equitable
(adj.) Fair and impartial; characterized by or showing equity (equity = fairness)
(Note: do not confuse with equivocal, meaning ambivalent, undecided)
Natty
(adj.) Smart and trim in dress or appearance (usually of a man: “nattily dressed”
Seamy
(adj.) Sordid; unpleasant; showing the low side of life
Sedulous
(adj. ) Diligent or persevering in effort or application
(adj. ) Done or achieved through perseverance
Efface
(v.) To erase; to rub or wipe out
(v.) To conduct oneself inconspicuously, to make oneself “invisible” (often used in the
expression “self-effacing”)
Neologism
(n) A new word, phrase, or usage
(n) A psychotic symptom involving the creation of new words
Seminal
(adj. ) Pertaining to seed; having possibility of future development
(adj. ) Very original and influencing later works (as a seminal artist or artwork)
Nexus
(n) A link or connection
(n) A connected group or series
(n) The core, focus, or central point of connection
Supine
(adj.) Lying on the back or face up
(adj.) Showing or characterized by lethargy, passivity, or apathetic inactivity;
mentally or morally indifferent or lax
Caustic
(adj. ) Capable of burning, corroding, or eating away at
(adj. ) Cutting, harsh, sarcastic, or severely critical
Nugatory
(adj. ) Of little value, worth, or importance; trifling or inconsequential
(adj. ) Without force or effectiveness
Maelstrom
(n) A chaotic, turbulent situation
Obstinacy
(adj.) Stubbornly sticking to an attitude, opinion, purpose, or course, against
argument or persuasion
(adj.) Difficult to control, subdue, or remedy
Sinewy
(adj. ) Full of sinews (tendons); tough and stringy or strong
(adj. ) Lean and muscular; strong, forceful, or vigorous
Occluded
(v) To obstruct, close up, or block off
(v) To prevent the passage of
Slew
(n) A large number or quantity (“a whole slew of problems”)
Continent
(adj.) Exercising or marked by self-restraint, especially of the desires
Odium
(n) The state or quality of being odious (arousing contempt or strong displeasure)
(n) Contempt, dislike, or repugnance
(n) Disgrace or infamy due to reprehensible or hateful acts
Sodden
(adj. ) Weighted down with or as if with water; soaked thoroughly
(adj. ) Dull or expressionless, as from drink
(adj. ) Sluggish or torpid
Surfeit
(n) 1. An excessive amount or oversupply
2. Overindulgence (such as in food or drink); disgust from overindulgence
(v) To feed or supply to surfeit (i.e., satiety, excess, or disgust)
Solvent
(adj.) Able to pay debts; not bankrupt
Onerous
(adj. ) Burdensome or troublesome (“onus”=burden)
(adj. ) Entailing legal obligations that exceed the benefits
Machination
(n) Crafty schemes or plots
Chary
(adj. ) Cautious or wary
(adj. ) Sparing; hesitant to give, accept, or expend
(adj. ) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident
Sardonic
(adj.) Scornfully mocking; derisive
Tendentious
(adj.) Partisan; marked by a strong point of view
Bedizen
(v) Dress or decorate in a gaudy, ostentatious way
Internecine
(adj. ) Pertaining to conflict within a group
(adj. ) Mutually destructive
Sere
(adj.) Dry or withered
Semiotic
(n) The theory or study of signs and symbols used as elements of communication;
the study of languages, gestures, or even clothing used as communication
Resplendent
shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid:
troops resplendent in white uniforms; resplendent virtues.
attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous: she was resplendent in a sea-green dress.
Interregnum
An interval or pause
Prosaic
Factual or straightforward
Innuendo
Indirect information
Reprobate
One who is morally unprincipled
Rogue
An unprincipled or dishonest person
Deign
To do something that one considers beneath their dignity
Contracted
Become smaller; used in relation to having made contracts
Tumid
Swollen or affected with swelling
Rhapsodize
Talk with extravagant enthusiasm
Countenance
Composure, self-control; facial expression; admit as acceptable or possible; support
Attenuated
Weakened in force or effect
Madcap
reckless, crazy, eccentric
Spendthrift
reckless about spending; one who spends money wastefully
Cataclysm
Any violent upheaval, esp one of a social or political nature
Assiduous
constant in application or effort; working diligently at a task; persevering; industrious; attentive; unremitting (not slacking or abating; incessant)
Peregrinate
(V) travel from place to place, esp. on foot
related: Itinerant, peripatetic, wayfaring
Semantic
(ADJ) relating to the different meanings of words or other symbols
Hedge
(V) Avoid commitment by leaving provisions for withdrawal or changing one’s mind; protect a bet by also betting on the other side
related: equivocate, waffle, Tergiversate (waver, use unclear language to deceive or avoid committing), Palter (talk insincerely; bargain or haggle)
A hedge fund is an investment fund that hedges risk with a variety of methods, such as short selling and derivatives
Recrudescent
(ADJ)
Recrudescence (N)
Recrudesce (V)
Revival, breaking out into renewed activity
generally used for the reappearance of a disease
related: renascent (reviving, becoming active again), resurgent (having a revival, rising or surging again)
Clamber
(V) climb away awkwardly or with difficulty, scramble
Redound
(V) to have a good or bad effect, esp as a result of a person’s efforts or actions (usually used with to, on or upon)
related: reap (harvest, get as a result of one’s effort)
Penumbra
N) outer part of a shadow from an eclipse; any surrounding region, fringe, periphery; any area where something sort of exists
related: hinterland (remote or undeveloped area)
Winnow
sift, analyze critically, separate the useful part from the worthless part
related: rarefy (make more pure, exclusive, or thinner and less dense)
Droll
funny in an odd way; adjective
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement: his unique brand of droll self-mockery.
noun archaic
a jester or entertainer; a buffoon.
related: waggish (merry), risible (lau
Hand-wringing
(N) grasping, squeezing, etc. of the hands as an expression of nervousness, guilt, etc. extended debate over what to do about an issue
Milieu (mill-YUH)
(N) environment, atmosphere; the environmental setting in which something happens or develops
related: zeitgeist (the cultural, intellectual mood of a time period), ethos (the character or moral values specific to a person, group or time period, etc)
Bent
personal inclination or tendency
related: predilection, propensity
Pastiche
(N) mix of incongruous parts; artistic work imitating the work of other artists, often satirically; a thrown together mess
related: hodgepodge, medley, farrago, potpourri, olio (mixtures of diverse things) eclectic is more positive and means selecting the best from a diverse selection
Doctrinaire
person who applies doctrine in an impractical or rigid and close-minded way (noun); merely theoretical, impractical, or fanatical about other people accepting once’s ideas (adj)
related: dogmatic
Precis (PRAY-see)
concise summary, abstract
related: digest, recapitulation, compendium
Hew (HYOO)
(V) strike, chop, or hack (with a axe, sword, etc.) make or shape something (such as a statue) with a cutting tool
Whitewash
a substance used to whiten walls, wood, etc. (noun); deception, covering up wrongs, errors, misdeeds, etc. (verb)
related: gloss over, paper over
Lurid
gruesome or excessively vivid; sensational, shocking, unrestrained
Platitude
a shallow, overused statement; cliche
related: banal, hackneyed, inane, insipid, trite
Inter
bury (a dead body) or place in a tomb
Discomfiting
disconcerting, confusing, frustrating
related: abash (destroy the confidence of, make ashamed), disquiet
Rend
V) tear violently esp to tear one’s clothing or hair out of grief; pull apart, split or tear away
Spate
sudden outpouring or rush; flood
[ usu. in sing. ] a large number of similar things or events appearing or occurring in quick succession: a spate of attacks on travelers.
related: inundated, deluge
Searchingly
In a searching or penetrating manner; while examining closely or probing for answers
Infallible (in-FAL-ih-bull)
Incapable of error; certain
related: unerring
Bilk
cheat or defraud
related: hoodwink, swindle, con, fleece
Glacial
pertaining to glaciers; cold, icy, slow, unsympathetic
related: frigid (very cold, without human warmth or emotion), gelid (icy)
Impious
not religious, lacking reverence, ungodly
related: irreverent, sacrilegious, blasphemous
Meretricious (mair-uh-TRISH-uss)
attractive un a vulgar or flashy way; tawdry; deceptive
related: gaudy, showy, garish (much too bright, vivid, fancy)
Disclaim
deny, repudiate
Ostensible, Ostensive
professed, evident, or pretended; outwardly appearing in a certain way
related: putative (supposed or reputed), nominal (trivial; in name only, so-called)
Irascible
irritable, easily angered
related: dyspeptic, curmudgeon, crotchety, cantankerous
Ire
Anger
Diaphanous
very sheer, fine, translucent
related: gossamer
Fallow
left unplanted (of land); not in use
related: arable (able to be farmed; fertile)
Hotly
in an intense, fiery or heated way
related: heatedly
Stint
period of time spent doing something or a specific, limited amount of work (noun); to be frugal, to get by on little
related: mister, cheapskate, skinflint (stingy person), frugal, thrifty
Mendicant
beggar, or religious follower who lives by begging]]
related: pauper, Alms (money or other donation given as charity)
Irresolute
wavering, not sure how to proceed; not firm in one’s decision making
related: ambivalent, equivocal
Arbiter, Arbitrate
(N) judge, umpire, person empowered to decide on matters at hand
related: Adjudicator (judge or arbitrator, esp. judge of a competition)
Recapitulate
the restatement of a main idea; a summary or concise review… this is where recap comes from!
related: precis, digest (periodical containing shortened versions of works published elsewhere), compendium
Molt
shed or cast off, esp to regularly shed skin, feathers, etc. (as a snake)
related: to slough or shed
Wanton
Reckless, vicious, without regard for what is right; unjustifiable, deliberately done for no reason at all; sexually unrestrained, or excessively luxurious
Dissolution
breaking bonds or breaking up a group of people; death; disintegration; extreme hedonism; a living full of debauchery and indulgence in sensual pleasure
- disintegration; decomposition: the dissolution of the flesh.
- formal death.
2 debauched living; dissipation: an advanced state of dissolution.
Cupidity
greed, excessive desire
related: avarice, covetousness, rapacity, rapaciousness
Forage
wander in search of; rummage, hunt, make a raid
related: plunder, pillage, ransack, depredate and despoil all mean raiding or looting)
Sybarite (SIB-uh-rite)
person devoted to pleasure and luxury
related: voluptuary, hedonist (pleasure-seeker)
Vanguard
leading units at the front of an army; leaders in a trend or movement, people on the cutting edge; the forefront of a trend or movement
Incarnadine
blood red or flesh colored
related: vermilion (bright red)
Erstwhile
former, previous (adj); in the past, formerly (adv)
related: bygone (past, former), quondam (former, sometime)
Graft
join living tissue (skin) to the part of the body where it will continue to live and grow; to attach as if by grafting; the act of acquiring money or other benefits through illegal means esp. by abusing one’s power (noun)
Syntax
the rules governing grammar and how words join to make sentences, the study of these rules
Dovetail
join or fit together
related: converge (move towards one another or towards a point; unite)
Bevy
any large group that stays together
related: covey (group of birds, or any group), brood (group of offspring born at the same time)
Malinger
pretend to be sick, esp. to get out of work, duties, etc.
related: shirk, skulk (to hide for a bad reason, such as avoiding work, or waiting to attack someone)
Asperity
show reluctance or object; esp for moral reasons
related: balk (refuse to proceed or to do something)
Demur
Rigor, severity; harshness or sharpness of tone; roughness of surface
Gouge
scooping or digging tool; force out a person’s eye with one’s thumb; swindle, extort money from
related: rout (dig around as with a snout; rummage; scoop out or gouge)
Aloof
distant physically or emotionally, reserved; indifferent
related: detached (impartial or aloof) standoffish (cold, unfriendly)
Mannered
having a particular manner; esp. an artificial one
related: affectation (fake behavior, such as in speech or dress, adopted to give a certain impression)
Virulent
Extremely infectious, poisonous, etc. hateful, bitterly hostile
related: pathogenic, pervasive
Baying
howling in a deep way, like a dog or wolf
Expurgate
censor; remove objectionable or offensive parts
related: bowdlerize (expurgate, abridge, or distort), expunge (strike, eliminate, mark for deletion)
Disparage
belittle, put down
related: denigrate
Expedient
suitable; proper; effective, often at the expense of ethics or other considerations
Fractious
unruly, troublemaking; irritable
related: obstreperous, refractory, captious (faultfinding, making a big deal of trivial faults)
Quixotic
extremely impractical but very romantic, chivalrous, or idealistic; impulsive
related: rash (too hasty, acting without considering the consequences)
Brook
suffer or tolerate; put up with something or somebody unpleasant
related: condone, countenance
Investiture
noun
the action of formally investing a person with honors or rank: the investiture of bishops.
• a ceremony at which honors or rank are formally conferred on a particular person.
Militate
have a great effect, weigh heavily (often militate against)
related: inimical (hostile, adverse or harmful)
Unsparing
unmerciful, harsh (as in not sparing any criticism); generous, lavish (as in not sparing any help or gifts to others)
related: acerbic, acrid, astringent, caustic
Axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof; universally or generally accepted principle
related: maxim, postulate (self-evident proposition, such as in math)
Iniquity
injustice, wickedness, sin
Contumacious
rebellious; stubbornly disobedient
related: obstreperous, recalcitrant, refractory
Dither
act indecisively; a state of fear or trembling excitement
related: vacillate and equivocate
Plucky
brave, spirited
Lissome
flexible, supple, agile
related: nimble (moving quickly and lightly; alert)
Orotund
full, rich and clear (of the voice or speaking); pompous, bombastic
related: sonorous (giving out a deep, rich, loud sound) dulcet (melodious, agreeable to the ear) mellifluous stentorian (loud)
Circumscribe
restrict or confine; strictly limit a role, range of activity, or area; in math, to be constructed around so as to touch as many points as possible
Dyspeptic
grumpy, pessimistic, irritable; suffering from dyspepsia (indigestion)
related: crank (an unbalanced person who is fanatical about a private, generally petty cause), cantankerous
Impassive
not having or not showing physical feeling or emotion: apathy; not feeling or showing emotion: impassive passersby ignore the performers.
related: stoic, inscrutable (not able to be scrutinized, mysterious)
Dispatch
send off or deal with in a speedy way; speed, promptness; To transact or dispose of a matter promptly or speedily; the property of being prompt and efficient
related: expediency
Hearken, Hark
listen, pay attention to
Static
fixed, not moving or changing
related: status quo, stasis, standing (existing indefinitely), stationary (not moving)
illiberality
narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity: opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior: illiberal and anti-democratic policies.
related: insular, jingoism
Qualified
modified, limited, conditional on something else
related: tentative, temper
Resolution
the quality of being firmly determined; resolving to do something; a formal judgement, esp. decided by vote
related: resolve
Augere
to increase
related: augment, aggrandize
Exponent
person who expounds or explains; champion, advocate, or representative
related: proponent
Sound
measure the depth of, penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand
related: fathom, plumb
Credulous
gullible; prone to believing or trusting too easily
Outstrip
surpass, exceed, be larger or better than; leave behind
related: supersede
Gawky
physically awkward esp. a tall, skinny person
related: coltish (playful, wild, resembling a young horse; esp having disproportionately long legs, ungainly (awkward, ungraceful)
Document
support with evidence, cite sources in a detailed way, create documentary evidence of
related: corroborate, substantiate, verify
Futile/Futility
useless, ineffective
related: bootless, otiose
Obviate
prevent, eliminate, make unnecessary
related: circumvent (bypass, avoid)
Synchronous
happening at the same time; occurring at the same time, rate, and thus happening together repeatedly
related: simultaneous, contemporaneous
syn/sym means the together
Succeeding
coming after or following
related: subsequent
Potentate
ruler, person of great power
Imminent
ready to occur, impending
Eminent
highly respected; standing above others in quality or position
Daunt
Discourage, dishearten, lessen the courage of
related: cow (intimidate, destroy the courage of)
Hardy
bold, brave, capable of withstanding hardship, fatigue, cold, robust; capable of enduring difficult conditions.
• (of a plant) able to survive outside during winter.
related: robust, hale
Restive
restless; impatient or uneasy under the control of another
Presumptive
based on inference or assumption; providing reasonable grounds for belief
related: ostensive, ostensible
* don’t confuse with presumptuous*
Notoriety
notorious, ill fame; the state of being well-known for a disgraceful reason
related: infamous
Impair
make worse, weaken
related: exacerbate, aggravate, mar, vitiate
Layperson
a person who is not a member of the clergy
related: laity (the church’s membership)
Conversely
in an opposite way; on the other hand
related: the expression “on the contrary”
Secular
not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things
Craven
very cowardly, lacking courage
related: timorous, pusillanimous, dastardly
Skirt
border, lie along the edge of, go around; evade
related: circumvent
Inasmuch
to the extent that; insofar as: these provisions apply only inasmuch as trade between Member States is affected.
• considering that; since (used to specify the respect in which a statement is true): it was not really a still life inasmuch as all the objects were in motion.
related: whereas (while on the contrary, considering that)
Sportive
playful, merry, done in sport rather than intended seriously
related: jocular, jocose, jocund, waggish, risible
Assimilate
to take in and incorporate as one’s own; absorb
to bring into conformity with the customs, attitudes, etc. of a group, nation; adapt or adjust
Scant
not enough or barely enough
related: modicum, scintilla, iota, mote, tad (small amount)
paucity, dearth (scarcity, lack)
Prim
(adj) formally precise or proper, as persons or behavior; stiffly neat
(v) to draw up the mouth in an affectedly nice or precise way
Pontificate
(n) the office or term of office of a pontiff
(v) to perform the office or duties of a pontiff (a high or chief priest)
speak in a pretentiously dignified or dogmatic way
Acquisitive
tending or seeking to acquire and own, often greedily; eager to get wealth, possessions, etc.: our acquisitive impulses; acquisitive societies
Sophistry
the use of fallacious arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving.
• a fallacious argument.
Depredate
steal from, typically using force; plunder: many types of predators depredate bird nests | wandering flocks of pigeons depredating barley crops.
Heterodox
not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs: heterodox views.
Somniferous
tending to induce sleep; soporific.
Hypnagogic
of or relating to the state immediately before falling asleep; tending to induce sleep.
Bathetic
characterized by a sudden, often ludicrous, switch from elevated to the everyday or banal
Eviscerate
to disembowel (cut open and remove the internal organs of) or to remove something of central significance
Dergate
1 [ with obj. ] disparage (someone or something): it is typical of Pirandello to derogate the powers of reason.
2 [ no obj. ] (derogate from) detract from: this does not derogate from his duty to act honestly and faithfully.
3 [ no obj. ] (derogate from) deviate from (a set of rules or agreed form of behavior): one country has derogated from the Rome Convention.
Vitiate
spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of: development programs have been vitiated by the rise in population.
• destroy or impair the legal validity of.
Recreant
Cowardly; unfaithful; traitorous
Meritorious
deserving praise, reward, esteem
Earnest
serious in intention, purpose, or effort
Cache
hiding place
Reprisal
an act of retaliation
Proverbial
having become an object of common mention or reference
Filial
of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter
Circuitous
roundabout, not direct
Buffet
A blow; violent shock or concussion
Vituperate
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate
Insurgent
rebel
Abiding
Continuing without change; enduring; steadfast
Indomitable
that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable
Liminal
relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process
Sumptuous
extravagantly splendid or costly; luxurious
Magnetism
Strong attractive power or charm
Torque
a force that causes rotation
Chasm
A breach or wide fissure
Elixir/Panacea
Remedy for all disease or ills; cure-all
Cavalcade
Noteworthy series of events or activities; A procession of persons riding horses
Foible
a minor character flaw; (n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw
Preclude
to make impossible; to prevent the occurrence or existence of
Redolent
having a pleasant odor; suggestive or evocative
Insidious
intended to entrap or beguile; Working in a subtle but destructive way
Incipient
beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage
Revile
to assail with contemptuous or opprobrious language; address or speak of abusively
Conformable
similar
Row/Fracas
fight; argument
Loathsome
causing hatred or disgust; repulsive
Objectionable
offensive; arousing disapproval
Unwieldy/Cumbersome
burdesome
Apprise
(v.) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice
Maintain
to assert
Parochial
narrowly restricted in scope or outlook
Amenable
agreeable; easily persuaded
Intimate/Intimation
verb) to suggest something subtly
noun) a hint, indirect suggestion
Disenterested
free of bias or self-interest; impartial; neutral
Equivocal
confusing or ambiguous
Qualify
reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of something stated; to make less severe
Belie
contradict; give a false impression; misrepresent
Impertinent, insolent, impudent
Disrespectful; improperly forward or bold
Venality
the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption
Gall
impudent behavior; feeling of deep and bitter anger/ill-will
Prescience (prescient)
knowledge of things before they happen; foresight
Glut
an oversupply; to oversupply
Inexorable
impossible to stop or prevent
Concede
acknowledge defeat; admit ( to a wrongdoing); surrender/relinquish
Volubility
the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously
Perfidy, Perfidious
deliberate breach of faith or trust; disloyalty — treacherous; traitorous; deceitful; faithless
Germane
(adj.) relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting
Treacherous
dangerously unstable and unpredictable; tending to betray
Derivative (n) ; Derivation (n) ; Derive (v)
unoriginal; taken from something already existing; to take or receive from a source; to obtain through reasoning
Precocious
(adj.) showing unusually early development or maturity (especially in talents and mental capacity)
Disaffected
rebellious, resentful of authority
Haughty/Hauteur/Cavalier/Supercilious/Imperious
Having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain if those one views as unworthy
Vilify
to malign, to defame, to utter abusive statements against
Heretic
a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)
Vehement
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
Subsume
to include, incorporate
Fallacious
of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning
Forlorn
marked by or showing hopelessness
Negligible
so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant.
Incongruous
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
Denote
be a sign of; indicate
Admonitory/admonish
serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective
Gauche (go-sh)
lacking social graces; tactless
Exacting
demanding perfection; strict
Bumbling
lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
Incorrigible
incapable of being reformed or improved; impervious to correction by punishment
Provincial
characteristic of a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
Contingent
a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
Hackneyed
overused, cliched
Denigrate/Calumny/Besmirch
charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; defame
Consecrate
to make holy or set apart for a high purpose
Forthcoming
adjective: available when required or as promised
Synonyms : approaching , coming , upcoming
The President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to read the forthcoming details of the bill.
adjective: at ease in talking to others
Synonyms : extroverted , outgoing
As a husband, Larry was not forthcoming: if Jill didn’t demand to know details, Larry would never share them with her.
Expound
to explain in detail; to clarify; state in depth
Pedantic
marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
Winsome
(adj.) charming, attractive, pleasing (often suggesting a childlike charm and innocence)
Prolific
intellectually productive
Resurgent
rising again as to new life and vigor
Haphazard
marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chance
Propitious
presenting favorable circumstances; auspicious: likely to result in or show signs of success
Constituent
an abstract part of something
Rescind
cancel officially
Prodigious
remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree
Irrevocable (ear-rev-a-ca-bul)
Incapable of being retracted or revoked
Inimical
hostile (usually describes environments or conditions), unfriendly, or harmful
Antithetical (antithesis), Antipodal
Diametrical : in direct opposition; being at opposite extremes; sharply contrasted
Tractable
easily managed or controlled; docile; yielding
Imprudent
not wise
Maladroit
clumsy; inept
Elicit
(v.) to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)
Harried
troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
Fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail: he chooses his words with fastidious care.
very concerned about matters of cleanliness: the child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers sticky or dirty.
hard to please
Transient, Ephemeral, Evanescent
Brief, lacking in permanence
Efficacious (adj) , Efficaciously(adv) , Efficacy (n)
effective; producing the desired outcome
Askance
with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval
Edifying
enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement; to instruct someone morally or spiritually
Slapdash
Carelessly and hastily put together
Unnerve
deprive of nerve or courage; cause to lose self-control; upset; enervate
Underwrite
agree to finance; to support financially
Dog
To pursue relentlessly; to hound
Pine
To yearn for
Diabolical
To be extremely wicked like the devil
Dupe/Fleece/Mulct
To trick or swindle; a person who is easily tricked and swindled
Peruse
to read carefully; scrutinize
Voracious
very hungry; approaching an activity with gusto
Screed/Tirade
noun: an abusive rant (often tedious)
Joey had difficulty hanging out with his former best friend Perry, who, during his entire cup of coffee, enumerated all of the government’s deficiencies–only to break ranks and launch into some screed against big business.
Thoroughgoing
adjective: very thorough; complete
Synonyms : exhaustive , thorough
As a thoroughgoing bibliophile, one who had turned his house into a veritable library, he shocked his friends when he bought a Kindle.
Tender
to offer formally; proffer
Retiring
to be shy, and to be inclined to retract from company
Reprobate/Churlish (adj)
(n.) a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel; (adj.) wicked, corrupt, or unprincipled; (v.) to disapprove of, condemn
Indignant
(adj.) filled with resentment or anger over something unjust, unworthy, or mean
Remiss
neglectful in performance of one’s duty, careless
Insolvent
(adj) unable to pay debts owed; bankrupt
Moment
significant and important value
Flush
to be in abundance
Exhort
(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly
Raft
large number of something
Start
to suddenly move in a particular direction
Virago
noun: an ill-tempered or violent woman
Synonyms : amazon
Poor Billy was the victim of the virago’s invective - she railed at him for a good 30-minutes about how he is the scum of the earth for speaking loudly on his cellphone in public.
Scintillating
describes someone who is brilliant and lively
Becoming
adjective: appropriate, and matches nicely
Synonyms : comely , comme il faut , decent , decorous , seemly
Her dress was becoming and made her look even more beautiful.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
Wax
(v.) - to increase gradually in size or degree
Ferret
to search for something persistently
Beatific
blissfully happy
Imponderable
Impossible to estimate, fathom or figure out
Stem
to hold back or limit the flow or growth of something
Paucity/Dearth
scarcity, lack of something
Cardinal
of foremost importance; fundamental
Checkered
marked by disreputable or unfortunate happenings
Pittance
a small amount of money
Cadaverous
pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse, emaciated
Errant
traveling, itinerant, peripatetic
Immaterial
Insignificant; unimportant; irrelevant
Fete
To celebrate a person
Respite
a period of relief or rest
Ascendancy
controlling influence; domination
Malady
a sickness, illness, disease, disorder
Discriminate
to differentiate; to make a clear distinction; to see the difference
Incessant
unceasing; never-ending
Raffish
adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness
Synonyms : devil-may-care , rakish
The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.
Plodding/Ponderous
slow-moving and unexciting; laborious and slow movement
Impermeable
does not allow fluids to pass through; (adj.) resistant to capture or penetration (Though the invaders used battering rams, catapults, and rain dances, the fortress proved impregnable and resisted all attacks.)
Inclement
stormy weather , harsh; severe in attitude or action; showing no mercy
Boon
a desirable state; very close and convivial
Ingenuity, ingenious
the quality of being clever, original, and inventive
Fledgling
beginner; novice; inexperienced
Cornucopia/Profusion
an abundant supply of
Hamstrung
verb: made ineffective or powerless
The FBI has made so many restrictions on the local police that they are absolutely hamstrung, unable to accomplish anything.
Egotist
a conceited and self-centered person
Derisive
abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
Vacuity/Vacuous
devoid of matter, substance, or meaning; lacking ideas or intelligence; purposeless
2 empty space; emptiness.
Rankle/Rankling
gnaw into; make resentful or angry
(of a comment, event, or fact) cause annoyance or resentment that persists: the casual manner of his dismissal still rankles.
Spurn
reject with contempt
Credence
belief in something
Urbane/Genteel
refined in manner or style
Martial
warlike; relating to the military
Buck
to resist
Destitute of
lacking, empty of, deficient in
Unseemly
(adj) improper, inappropriate, against the rules of taste or politeness
Placid
not easily upset or excited
Quip
a witty saying or remark; to make a witty remark, to say in jest
Connive
taking part in immoral and unethical plots
Aphoristic
adjective: something that is concise and instructive of a general truth or principle
Sometimes I can’t stand Nathan because he tries to impress every
Devolve
deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
Grow worse (devolve into)
Eke
verb: To live off meager resources, to scrape by
Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was able to eke out an existence on canned food.
Exasperate
irritate intensely; infuriate
Evenhanded
adjective: without partiality
Teachers often have trouble being evenhanded to all of their varied students.
Hodgepodge
mixture of different kinds of things, jumble
Melancholy
a deep, pensive, and long-lasting sadness.
Antedate
precede in time
Begrudge
to give reluctantly, to envy a possession or one’s enjoyment
Flounder
behave awkwardly; have difficulties
Finagle
achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods
Industrious
adj. characterized by hard work and perseverance; working hard to promote an enterprise
Piquant (pee-kahnt)
having an agreeably pungent taste
Preempt
to take precedence over someone or something already arranged or in place; to seize priority; to take for oneself; arrogate
Humdrum
lacking excitement; boring or monotonous
Glean
to collect bit by bit; to gather with patient labor
Veneer
a thin superficial surface layer
Incumbent
(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of
Foolhardy
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
Cerebral
involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct
Behoove
be necessary for; be proper for as for moral or ethical considerations; be incumbent on; one’s duty or obligation
Amply
adverb: more than is adequate
Synonyms : fully
The boat was amply supplied for its year at sea - no man would go hungry or thirst.
Provisional
under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; temporary; tentative
Creditable
praiseworthy
Abysmal
extremely bad; appalling
Stymie/Hamper/Frustrate
to hinder, impede
Boorish/Uncouth/Crass
vulgar; characterized by crude behavior and deplorable manners; unrefined
Besiege
harass, as with questions or requests; cause to feel distressed or worried
Staid
characterized by dignity and propriety
PERQUISITE (PUR kwuh zit)
A right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group: especially a hereditary or official right
Vanquish
(v.) to defeat in a battle or contest, overthrow; to overcome a feeling or condition
Balk
to refuse stubbornly or abruptly; to stop short and refuse to proceed
Sordid
involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt
Carping
persistently petty and unjustified criticism
Factious
produced by, or characterized by internal dissension
Vie
(v.) to compete; to strive for victory or superiority
Contentious/ Fractious
quarrelsome, inclined to argue
Anathema
a detested person; the source of somebody’s hate
Beg
assume something is true (usu. followed by “the question”, meaning that you ask a question in which you assume something that hasn’t been proven true)
Byzantine
excessively complex; intricate
Zeitgeist
the general spirit of the time
Hector/Cow
bully; intimidate with threats; bluster
Penurious
adj. poor, impoverished, destitute; miserly
Overweening
presumptuous; arrogant
Arrant
complete, utter
Defray
to help pay the cost of, either in part or full
Expansive
communicative, and prone to talking in a sociable manner
Insufferable
impossible to bear; intolerable
Feckless
lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible; lazy ; incompetent
Peremptory
bossy and domineering
Histrionic
overly dramatic
Gerrymander
manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.
Imbroglio
a confusing and potentially embarrassing situation
Pollyannaish
adjective: 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.
Sartorial
related to fashion or clothes
Hedge
to limit or qualify a statement; to avoid making a direct statement
Parvenu/Arriviste
noun: a person who has suddenly become wealthy, but not socially accepted as part of a higher class
Synonyms : arriviste , nouveau-riche , upstart
The theater was full of parvenus who each thought that they were surrounded by true aristocrats.
Blinkered
to have a limited outlook or understanding
Sangfroid (n)/Aplomb
calmness or poise in difficult situations
Fell
terribly evil
Juggernaut
a force that cannot be stopped
Protean
tending or able to change frequently or easily; able to do many different things; versatile
Pyrrhic
adjective: 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.
Factitious
artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears
Picayune
adjective: trifling (insignificant) or petty (a person)
Synonyms : fiddling , footling , lilliputian , little , niggling , petty , piddling , piffling , trivial
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.
Tendentious/Partisan
both words describe strong and biased views on controversial issues
Arch
to be deliberately teasing
Remonstrate
plead in protest
Malapropism
the confusion of a word with another word that sounds similar
Schadenfreude
noun: 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.
Execrate
to denounce as vile or evil; to curse; to detest
Quisling
noun: a traitor
Synonyms : collaborationist , collaborator
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.
Jaundiced
to be biased against due or envy or prejudice
Palimpsest
noun: 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.
Apotheosis
Exalted, perfect example, deification, or glorified; the highest point of development
Benighted
being in a state of intellectual darkness; ignorant; unenlightened
Excoriate
to censure scathingly, to upbraid
Phantasmagorical
adjective: illusive; unreal
Synonyms : phantasmagoric , surreal , surrealistic
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.
Mettlesome
filled with courage or valor
Provident/Improvident
preparing for the future; providing for the future; frugal/ not given careful consideration
Derelict
(n.) someone or something that is abandoned or neglected; (adj.) left abandoned; neglectful of duty
Hagiographic
adjective: excessively flattering toward someone’s life or work
Most accounts of Tiger Woods life were hagiographic, until, that is, his affairs made headlines.
Gaffe (gaff)/Solecism
a socially awkward or tactless act
Hail
enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate something
Portentous
of momentous or ominous significance
Litany
any long and tedious account of something
noun (plural litanies)
a series of petitions for use in church services or processions, usually recited by the clergy and responded to in a recurring formula by the people.
• a tedious recital or repetitive series: a litany of complaints.
Illustrious
well known, respected, and admired for past achievements
Temerity
boldness
Vitriolic/Asperity
harsh or corrosive in tone
Quail
draw back, as with fear or pain
Grandiloquent
speaking or expressed in a lofty style, often to the point of being pompous or bombastic.
Punctilious
marked by precise accordance with details
Flummox
to confuse; to perplex
Moribund
being on the point of death; declining rapidly losing all momentum in progress
Anondyne
not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive; something that calms or soothes pain
Bowlderize
remove or change parts considered vulgar or immoral
Impute/Ascribe
attribute or credit (responsibility) to
Anemic
lacking vigor or energy
Enjoin
to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way
Maunder
to talk or move aimlessly
Approbatory
adjective: expressing praise or approval
Synonyms : affirmative , approbative , approving
Although it might not be her best work, Hunter’s new novel has received generally approbatory reviews.
Duplicity
deceitfulness, pretending to want one thing but interested in something else
Primacy
noun: the state of being first in importance
The primacy of Apple Computers is not guaranteed, as seen in the recent lawsuits and weak growth.
Artlessness
noun: the quality of innocence
Synonyms : ingenuousness , innocence , naturalness
I, personally, found the artlessness of her speech charming.
Pecuniary
having to do with money
Semblance
an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
Importune
beg persistently and urgently
Unforthcoming
adjective: 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.
Encumber
hold back
Firebrand
someone who deliberately creates trouble
Dispensation
exemption from a rule or usual requirement: although she was too young, she was given special dispensation to play two matches | they were given a dispensation to take most of the first week off.
• permission to be exempted from the laws or observances of a church: he received papal dispensation to hold a number of benefices.
Inviolate / Inviolable
must be kept sacred; sacred; of such a character that it must not be broken, injured, or profaned
Precipitate/Impetuous
act quickly; characterized by lack of thought
Unviable/Inviable
not able to work, survive, or succeed
Decry
to express strong disapproval of
Untenable
(adj.) not capable of being held or defended; impossible to maintain
Corollary
natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
Rarified
To make less dense; to thin; make more subtle or refined
Unflapable
not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure
Puissant (poo-a-sent)
powerful ;
I see in my mind a noble and ___ nation.
(Poo sent all other apps to hell by becoming so powerful)
Lacerate
deeply hurt the feelings of; distress
Unpropitious/Inauspicious
adjective: (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.
Inimitable
adjective
so good or unusual as to be impossible to imitate or copy; unique: the inimitable ambience of Hawaii.
Denouement
the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved; outcome of a complex sequence of events
Crystalize
to cause (something, such as an idea, belief, etc.) to become clear and fully formed [clarify]
Crestfallen
(adj.) discouraged, dejected, downcast
Syn.: despondent, disconsolate
Ant.: elated, cheerful, self-satisfied, cocky
Hobble
verb: to hold back the progress of something
Synonyms : gimp , hitch , limp
Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts, making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage.
Recrimination
the act of accusing in return; a counter charge
Dovetail
to fit together with, so as to form a harmonious whole; interlock with
Presentiment/Baleful
a feeling of evil to come/foreshadowing evil
Immure
(v.) to enclose or confine within walls; to imprison; to seclude or isolate
Patent
glaringly obvious
Apposite
strikingly appropriate and relevant
Gambit
to take a risk for some advantage
Atavism
a reappearance of an earlier characteristic
Nettlesome/Nettled
causing irritation or annoyance
irritate or annoy (someone): I was nettled by Alene’s tone of superiority.
Epigram
a witty saying
Bristle
to react in an angry or offended manner
Appurtenant
adjective: supply added support
Synonyms : accessory , adjunct , adjuvant , ancillary , auxiliary
In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.
Besotted
adjective: strongly affectionate towards
Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became besotted with the young Romeo.
adjective: very drunk
Synonyms : blind drunk , blotto , cockeyed , crocked , fuddled , loaded , pie-eyed , pissed , pixilated , plastered , slopped , sloshed , smashed , soaked , soused , sozzled , squiffy , stiff , tight , wet
Never before have I seen my mom so besotted, and honestly, I hope it’s the last time she drinks so much.
Percipient
adjective: highly perceptive
Synonyms : clear
Even the most percipient editor will make an occasional error when proofreading.
Inanity
total lack of meaning or ideas
Rapprochement
reconciliation; restoration of cordial relations, especially between two countries
Doleful
filled with or evoking sadness
Embryonic
in an early stage of development
Languish
(v.) to become weak, feeble, or dull; to droop; to be depressed or dispirited; to suffer neglect
Untrammeled
not deprived of freedom of action or expression; not restricted or hampered: a mind untrammeled by convention.
Phlegmatic
showing little emotion
Recrudescence/Recrudesce
a new outbreak after a period of abatement or inactivity
Apothegm
a pithy instructive saying
Debonair
having a sophisticated charm
Broadside
noun: a strong verbal attack
Synonyms : bill , broadsheet , circular , flier , flyer , handbill , throwaway
Political broadsides are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election.
Objurgate
express strong disapproval of ; to scold or reprimand
Exemplar
noun: something to be imitated
Lena’s homework is on the wall because it is an exemplar of clean, neat, and thoughtful work.
Philistine
(adj.) lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements; (n.) such a person
Unprepossessing
creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression
Conflate
mix together different elements or concepts
Afford
provide with an opportunity
Facile
(adj.) easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt
Coterminous
adjective: being of equal extent or scope or duration
Synonyms : coextensive , conterminous
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.
Conflagration
a very intense and uncontrolled fire; an emotionally heated event
Desideratum
noun: something desired as a necessity
The desideratum of the environmental group is that motorists should rely on carpooling.
Palatable
(adj. ) acceptable to the taste or mind
(syn. ) toothsome, appetizing, tasty
Unimpeachable
free of guilt; not subject to blame; beyond doubt or reproach
Vaunted
adjective: 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.
Discursive
rambling, lacking order
Ethereal
characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
Stultify
cause one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm
I’m stultified by my job
Inequitable
unjust, not equitable or fair
Transmute
change or alter in form, appearance, or nature
Self-effacing
not drawing attention to oneself; modest
Enormity
(n.) the quality of exceeding all moral bounds; an exceedingly evil act; huge size, immensity
Doughty
brave and persistent
Assiduously
adverb: with care and persistence
The top college football program recruits new talent assiduously, only choosing those who were the top in their county.
Dessicated
uninteresting, lacking vitality; dried up; dehydrated
Obtuse
slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; lacking in insight or discernment
Unassailable
immune to attack; without flaws
Apropriate
to take possession of for one’s own use; confiscate; to allocate (appropriate funds)
Bridle
verb: the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
Synonyms : check , curb
New curfew laws have bridled people’s tendency to go out at night.
verb: anger or take offense
The hostess bridled at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food.
Elegiac
Expressing sorrow or lamentation
Proselytize
to convert someone to a faith, belief, or cause
Turgid
(adj.) swollen, bloated, filled to excess; overdecorated or excessive in language
Officious
meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority; offensive
Veritable
true; actual; genuine; real; authentic
Infelicitous
inappropriate
Countermand
(v.) to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first
Cataclysm
An event resulting in great loss and misfortune
Bereft
adj. unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love; sorrowful through loss or deprivation
Demonstrative
openly expressive of emotions
Simulacrum
noun: a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
Synonyms : effigy , image
The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showcases a simulacrum of all the present and approved buildings in the city of Shanghai.
noun: a bad imitation
The early days of computer graphics made real people into a simulacrum that now seems comical.
Eponym
a name derived from the name of person (real or imaginary) ;the person for whom something is named.
as the name of Alexandria is derived from the name of its founder: Alexander the Great
Palaver
prolonged and idle discussion
Graft
corruption, usually through bribery
Loath
unwilling to do something contrary to your custom (usually followed by ‘to’); reluctant
I was loath to…
Splenetic (spli-net-ik)
Irritable; bad-tempered; spiteful.
Origin: The word derives from spleen, the abdominal organ that the ancients regarded as the seat of emotions.
Ex: One way to drive Albie into a splenetic frenzy is to discuss income taxes with him.
Exiguity
the quality of being meager
Misattribute
verb: 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.
Bastardization
noun: an act that debases or corrupts
Synonyms : bastardisation
The movie World War Z is a complete bastardization of the book with little more in common than zombies and a title.
Chauvinism / Jingoism
(n) fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.;
Adjudicate
to act as judge in a matter; to settle through the use of a judge or legal tribunal; to arrive at a judgement or conclusion
Despot
a ruler with absolute power or tyrannical control over a group of people; cruel and oppressive leader
Obtain
be valid, applicable, true, or customary
Dissemble
to present a false appearance; to disguise one’s real intentions or character
Pillory/Pilloried
to expose to public scorn or contempt/attack or ridicule publicly
Modicum
a small amount of something
Dissipate
(v.) to cause to disappear; to scatter, dispel; to spend foolishly, squander; to be extravagant in pursuit of pleasure
Ennui
(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom; apathy
Saprophytic
relationship in which an organism obtains its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter
Paltry
insignificant; petty; trivial; (of ab amount) small or meager
Perspicuous, Perspicacity
adj) clearly expressed; easy to understand
noun) the quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness: the perspicacity of her remarks.
Fathomless
impossible to measure the depth of; bottomless.
impossible to understand; incomprehensible
Piddling/Trifling
amounting to very little; trifling; negligible
Vilipend/Denigrate
regard as worthless or of little value; despise.
speak slightingly or abusively of; vilify.
Diluvial
relating to a flood
Vagrant
(n.) an idle wanderer, tramp; (adj.) wandering aimlessly
Preposterous
completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; utterly foolish
Explicate
TO EXPLAIN; INTERPRET; CLARIFY
Edifice
1 a building, especially a large, imposing one.
2 a complex system of beliefs: the concepts on which the edifice of capitalism was built.
Bespoke
(of goods, especially clothing) made to order: a bespoke suit.
• (of a trader) creating made-to-order goods: bespoke tailors.
Effectuate
put into force or operation: school choice would effectuate a transfer of power from government to individuals.
Tremulous/Timorous
fearful, hesitant
Transcendent
surpassing the ordinary; exceptional: the conductor was described as a “transcendent genius.”
Celestial
heavenly
Allegorical
using characters+ events as symbols
Nebulous
Vague
Conversant
adjective
familiar with or knowledgeable about something: many ladies are conversant with the merits of drill-eyed needles.
Fitfully
unpredictable; not regularly or continuously; intermittently: he slept fitfully.
Fleetly
fast and nimble in movement: a man of advancing years, but fleet of foot.
Concatenation
noun
a series of interconnected things or events: a singular concatenation of events unlikely to recur.
• the action of linking things together in a series.
Inculcation/Inculcate
instill (an attitude, idea, or habit) by persistent instruction: the failures of the churches to inculcate a sense of moral responsibility.
• teach (someone) an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction: they will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture.
Emblematize
made into symbolic representation
Rancorous
characterized by bitterness or resentment: sixteen miserable months of rancorous disputes | a rancorous debate.
Brusque
abrupt or offhand in speech or manner: she could be brusque and impatient.
Annals
historic records
Paroxysm parek-sizem
a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity: a paroxysm of weeping.
• Medicine a sudden recurrence or attack of a disease; a sudden worsening of symptoms.
Travails
noun (also travails) painful or laborious effort: advice for those who wish to save great sorrow and travail. • labor pains: a woman in travail. verb [ no obj. ] engage in painful or laborious effort. • (of a woman) be in labor.
Integral
adjective
1 necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental: games are an integral part of the school’s curriculum | systematic training should be integral to library management.
- [attributive] included as part of a whole rather than supplied separately: the unit comes complete with integral pump and heater.
- [attributive] having or containing all parts that are necessary to be complete: the first integral recording of the ten Mahler symphonies.
Dystopian
adjective
relating to or denoting an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one: the dystopian future of a society bereft of reason | the utopian dream that became a dystopian nightmare.
noun
a person who advocates or describes an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad: a lot of things those dystopians feared did not come true.
Coruscate
verb [ no obj. ] literary
(of light) flash or sparkle: the light was coruscating from the walls.
Agronomic
economics of land management
Misstate
make wrong or inaccurate statements about.
Innervate
supply (an organ or other body part) with nerves.
Sanguinary
involving or causing much bloodshed; murderous
Poltroon
utter coward
Parlous
full of danger or uncertainty; precarious; perilous : the parlous state of the economy.
Arresting
Striking
Aghast
filled with horror or shock: when the news came out they were aghast.
Apportioned
divided/allocated
Roundly
1 in a vehement or emphatic manner: the latest attacks have been roundly condemned by campaigners for peace.
• so thoroughly as to leave no doubt: the army was roundly beaten.
• too plainly for politeness; bluntly: she told him roundly to get to the point.
Planned
reviewed negatively (used to refer to plays, moves, etc
Steward
conserve
Bald
overt: a bald lie
Imperious
not showing respect or reverence, especially for a god: the emperor’s impious attacks on the Church.
• (of a person or act) wicked: impious villains.
Puckish
being funny or playful, especially in a mischievous way: a puckish sense of humor.
Prurient
having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters: she’d been the subject of much prurient curiosity.
Lucre
monetary reward or gain: money
Effusive
unduly demonstrative: lacking reserve
Sentries
guards
Plaudits
expressions of praise
Coltish
playful; energetic but awkward in one’s movements or behavior.
Vestigial
forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable: he felt a vestigial flicker of anger from last night.
Dulcet
sweet + soothing
Skittish
(of an animal, especially of a horse) excitable or easily scared: a skittish chestnut mare | figurative : skittish investors withdrew their money from equity markets.
• (of a person) playfully frivolous or unpredictable: my skittish and immature mother.
Motley
adjective (motlier, motliest)
incongruously varied in appearance or character; disparate: a motley crew of discontents and zealots.
noun
1 [ usu. in sing. ] an incongruous mixture: a motley of interacting interest groups.
Putative
generally considered or reputed to be: the putative father of a boy of two.
Solemnity
the state or quality of being serious and dignified: his ashes were laid to rest with great solemnity.
• (usu. solemnities) a formal, dignified rite or ceremony: the ritual of the church was observed in all its solemnities.
Pacific
calm, soothing
Blithe
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper: a blithe disregard for the rules of the road.
• happy or joyous: a blithe seaside comedy.
Bon Mot ( Bon Mo)
witticism, quip
Hale
strong + healthy
Sobriety
grave, serious
Farcical
Laughable
Labile
unstable or moody
Inscrutable
difficult to understand or comprehend
Prognosticate/Prognostication
to forecast or predict (something future) from present indications or signs
forecast/prediction
Effete (eff-feet)
degenerate; worn out; sterile
(of a person) affected, overrefined, and ineffectual: effete trendies from art college.
• no longer capable of effective action: the authority of an effete aristocracy began to dwindle.
Whet
to make keen or eager; stimulate
Tacit
understood or implied
Malignity
desire to do evil
Decamp
to depart quickly, secretly, or unceremoniously (abruptly)
Tetchy
Bad tempered and irritable
Acuity
sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing: intellectual acuity | visual acuity.
Impertinence
lack of respect; rudeness: they gasped at the impertinence of the suggestion.
Curio
a rare, unusual, or intriguing object.
Unheralded
not previously announced, expected, or recognized.
Legerdemain
skillful use of one’s hands when performing conjuring tricks.
• deception; trickery.
Scion
a descendant of a notable family: he was the scion of a wealthy family.
Oviparous
egg-laying
Azure
bright blue color
Bijoux
trinkets
Vestments
garments
Garrish
obtrusively bright and showy; lurid: garish shirts in all sorts of colors.
Suffuse
gradually spread through or over: her cheeks were suffused with color | the first half of the poem is suffused with idealism.
Unilateral
one-sided
adjective
1 (of an action or decision) performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a particular situation, without the agreement of another or the others: unilateral nuclear disarmament.
2 relating to, occurring on, or affecting only one side of an organ or structure, or of the body.
Procure
1 obtain (something), especially with care or effort
• obtain (someone) as a prostitute for another person: he was charged with procuring a minor.
2 [ with obj. and infinitive ] Law persuade or cause (someone) to do something: he procured his wife to sign the agreement.
Otiosity
indolence; laziness
Obduracy
stuborness
Ululate
howl or wail as an expression of strong emotion, typically grief: women were ululating as the body was laid out.
Fugacious
tending to disappear; fleeting: she was acutely conscious of her fugacious youth.
Regnant
1 [ often postpositive ] reigning; ruling: a queen regnant.
2 currently having the greatest influence; dominant: the regnant belief.
Fascist/Fascism
a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc. and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism
Vainglorious
inordinate pride in oneself or one’s achievements; excessive vanity.
Canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters: canny shoppers came early for a bargain.
Sinuous
having many curves, bends, or turns (a sinuous path); characterized by a series of graceful curving motions(a sinuous dance); indirect/devious (sinuous questions)
Dialectical
relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions: dialectical ingenuity.
Penitential
relating to or expressing penitence or penance: penitential tears.
Strident
loud and harsh; grating: his voice had become increasingly sharp, almost strident.
• presenting a point of view, especially a controversial one, in an excessively and unpleasantly forceful way: public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident.
Blandishments
a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something: the blandishments of the travel brochure.
Misnomer
a wrong or inaccurate name or designation: “king crab” is a misnomer—these creatures are not crustaceans at all.
• a wrong or inaccurate use of a name or term: to call this “neighborhood policing” would be a misnomer.
Amity
Friendliness; a friendly relationship
Solace
comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness: she sought solace in her religion.
Distension/Distend
swell or cause to swell by pressure from inside: [ no obj. ] : the abdomen distended rapidly | [ with obj. ] : air is introduced into the stomach to distend it.
physical swelling
Stopgap
a temporary fix
Accede
assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty: the authorities did not accede to the strikers’ demands.
assume an office or position: he acceded to the post of director in September.
Portmanteau
• [ as modifier ] consisting of or combining two or more aspects or qualities: a portmanteau movie composed of excerpts from his most famous films.
Circumlocution
the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive: his admission came after years of circumlocution | he used a number of poetic circumlocutions.
Plangent
(of a sound) loud, reverberating, and often melancholy.
Allay
diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry): the report attempted to educate the public and allay fears.
Woodeness
stiff and awkward in movement or manner: she is one of the most wooden actresses of all time.
Braggadocio
boastful or arrogant behavior.
Plaintive
sounding sad and mournful: a plaintive cry.
Nonpareil
having no match or equal; unrivaled: he is a nonpareil storyteller | [ postpositive ] : a film critic nonpareil.
Cynosure
a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration: the Queen was the cynosure of all eyes.
Faustian
sacrificing spiritual values for power, knowledge or gain
Machiavellian
a person compared to Machiavelli for favoring expediency over morality.
Palpable
(of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible: a palpable sense of loss.
Exult
show or feel elation or jubilation, especially as the result of a success: exulting in her escape, Annie closed the door behind her.
Quantum
very small amount; generally of energy
a required or allowed amount, especially an amount of money legally payable in damages.
• a share or portion: each man has only a quantum of compassion.
Vertiginous
causing vertigo, especially by being extremely high or steep: vertiginous drops to the valleys below.
Corporeal
of or relating to a person’s body, especially as opposed to their spirit: he was frank about his corporeal appetites.
Aegis
the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization: negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN.
Accession
the attainment or acquisition of a position of rank or power, typically that of monarch or president: the queen’s accession to the throne | lost the vote on the Fortas accession to the chief justiceship.
Expostulate
express strong disapproval or disagreement: I expostulated with him in vain.
Compunction
a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that follows the doing of something bad: spend the money without compunction.
Giddy
causing dizziness
Espouse
to support
Jocund
cheerful and lighthearted: a jocund wedding party.
Condign
(of punishment or retribution) appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing; fitting and deserved.
Homonym
each of two or more words having the same spelling but different meanings and origins (e.g., pole1 and pole2); a homograph.
• each of two words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling (e.g., to , too, and two); a homophone.
Syllogism
deductive reasoning
Metonym
a word, name, or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated. For example, Washington is a metonym for the federal government of the US.
Portiere
a curtain hung over a door or doorway.
Hapless
luckless
Bravura
great technical skill and brilliance shown in a performance or activity: the recital ended with a blazing display of bravura | [ as modifier ] : a bravura performance.
Neoteric
adjective
recent; new; modern: another effort by the White House to display its neoteric wizardry went awry.
noun
a modern person; a person who advocates new ideas.
Categorical
absolute
Extirpate
root out and destroy completely: the use of every legal measure to extirpate this horrible evil from the land.
surgically remove
Cull
select from a large quantity; obtain from a variety of sources: anecdotes culled from Greek and Roman history.
Elan
energy, style, and enthusiasm: a rousing march, played with great elan.
Imbue
inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality: the entire performance was imbued with sparkle and elan.
Acreage
an area of land, typically when used for agricultural purposes, but not necessarily measured in acres: a 35% increase in net acreage.
Acute
(of a bad, difficult, or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree: an acute housing shortage | the problem is acute and getting worse.
• (of a disease or its symptoms) of short duration but typically severe: acute appendicitis. Often contrasted with chronic.
having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight: shrewd: an acute awareness of changing fashions.
• (of a physical sense or faculty) highly developed; keen: an acute sense of smell.
(of an angle) less than 90°.
- having a sharp end; pointed.
- (of a sound) high; shrill.
Agrarian
adjective
of or relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land.
• relating to landed property.
• relating to a social system upon which agriculture is the sustaining foundation.
noun
a person who advocates a redistribution of landed property, especially as part of a social movement.
Annex
append or add as an extra or subordinate part, especially to a document: the first ten amendments were annexed to the Constitution in 1791 | (as adj. annexed) : the annexed diagram.
- add (territory) to one’s own territory by appropriation: the left bank of the Rhine was annexed by France in 1797.
- informal take for oneself; appropriate: it was bad enough that Richard should have annexed his girlfriend.
- archaic add or attach as a condition or consequence.
Balmy
1 (of the weather) pleasantly warm: the balmy days of late summer.
2 N. Amer. or dated extremely foolish; eccentric: this is a balmy decision.
• mad; crazy: I think he’s gone balmy again.
Bough
a main branch of a tree: apple boughs laden with blossom.
Dextrous
demonstrating neat skill, especially with the hands: dexterous accordion playing.
• mentally adroit; clever: power users are dexterous at using software, rather than creating it.
Environ
surround; enclose: the stone circle was environed by an expanse of peat soil.
Infinitesimal
adjective
extremely small: an infinitesimal pause.
noun
Mathematics
an indefinitely small quantity; a value approaching zero.
Per Capita
for each person; in relation to people taken individually: [ as adv. ] : the state had fewer banks per capita than elsewhere | [ as adj. ] : per capita spen
Presage
verb [ with obj. ]
(of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen: the outcome of the game presaged the coming year.
• archaic (of a person) predict: lands he could measure, terms and tides presage.
verb [ with obj. ]
(of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen: the outcome of the game presaged the coming year.
• archaic (of a person) predict: lands he could measure, terms and tides presage.
Verge
noun
an edge or border: they came down to the verge of the lake.
• an extreme limit beyond which something specified will happen: I was on the verge of tears.
verge 2 |vərj|
noun
a wand or rod carried before a bishop or dean as an emblem of office.
verb [ no obj. ]
incline in a certain direction or toward a particular state: his style verged into the art nouveau school.
Acculturate/Acculturation
assimilate or cause to assimilate a different culture, typically the dominant one: [ no obj. ] : those who have acculturated to the US | [ with obj. ] : the next weeks were spent acculturating the field staff | (as adj. acculturated) : an acculturated Cherokee.
Adulatory
excessively praising or admiring: an adulatory review | the tone here is adulatory and uncritical.
Agglomerate
collect or form into a mass or group: [ with obj. ] : companies agglomerate multiple sites such as chains of stores | [ no obj. ] : these small particles soon agglomerate together.
noun |əˈɡlämərət|
a mass or collection of things: a multimedia agglomerate.
Aggrieved
feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated: they were aggrieved at the outcome | she did not see herself as the aggrieved party.
Akimbo
adverb
with hands on the hips and elbows turned outward: she stood with arms akimbo, frowning at the small boy.
• (of other limbs) flung out widely or haphazardly.
Albatross
any of several large, web-footed sea birds of the family Diomedeidae that have the ability to remain aloft for long periods.Compare wandering albatross.
a seemingly inescapable moral or emotional burden, as of guilt or responsibility.
something burdensome that impedes action or progress.
Aloft
adverb
high up; far above the ground.
Anomie
lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group: the theory that high-rise architecture leads to anomie in the residents.
Ape
verb [ with obj. ]
imitate the behavior or manner of (someone or something), especially in an absurd or unthinking way: new architecture can respect the old without aping its style.
Apocrypha
• (apocrypha)writings or reports not considered genuine.
Apologia
a formal written defense of one’s opinions or conduct: an apologia for book banning.
Apologist
a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial: an enthusiastic apologist for fascism in the 1920s.
Aquiline
like an eagle.
• (of a person’s nose) hooked or curved like an eagle’s beak.
Bedlam
1 a scene of uproar and confusion: there was bedlam in the courtroom.
2 • archaic an institution for the care of mentally ill people
belles-lettre/belletristic
literature regarded as a fine art, especially as having a purely aesthetic function.
light and elegant literature, especially that which is excessively refined, characterized by aestheticism, and minor in subject, substance, or scope.
Beseeched
ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat: [ with obj. and infinitive ] : they beseeched him to stay | [ with obj. ] : they earnestly beseeched his forgiveness | [ with obj. and direct speech ] : “You have got to believe me,” Gloria beseeched him | (as adj. beseeching) : a beseeching gaze.
Bonobo
a chimpanzee with a black face and black hair, found in the rain forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). Also called pygmy chimpanzee.
Blunt
make or become less sharp: [ with obj. ] : wood can blunt your ax | [ no obj. ] : the edge may blunt very rapidly.
• [ with obj. ] weaken or reduce (something): their determination had been blunted.
Flourish
verb (used without object)
to be in a vigorous state; thrive:
to be in its or in one’s prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.
verb (used with object)
to brandish dramatically; gesticulate with:
a conductor flourishing his baton for the crescendo.
to decorate or embellish (writing, a page of script, etc.) with sweeping or fanciful curves or lines.
noun
an act or instance of brandishing.
an ostentatious display.
Brandish
wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.
Gesticulate
to make or use gestures, especially in an animated or excited manner with or instead of speech.
verb (used with object), ges·tic·u·lat·ed, ges·tic·u·lat·ing.
to express by gesturing.
Buoyancy
1 the ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid.
• the power of a liquid to keep something afloat.
2 an optimistic and cheerful disposition: the happiness and buoyancy of his nature.
3 a high level of activity in an economy or stock market: there is renewed buoyancy in the demand for steel.
Callous
showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others: his callous comments about the murder made me shiver.
Calumnies/Calumny
the making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone’s reputation; slander.
• a false and slanderous statement.
Fealty
a feudal tenant’s or vassal’s sworn loyalty to a lord: they owed fealty to the Earl rather than the King.
• formal acknowledgment of this: a property for which she did fealty.
Robust
strong and healthy; vigorous: the Caplans are a robust, healthy lot.
- (of an object) sturdy in construction: a robust metal cabinet.
- (of a process, system, organization, etc.) able to withstand or overcome adverse conditions: California’s robust property market.
- uncompromising and forceful: the country’s decision to bow to UN pressure was preceded by a robust defense of its policies | he took quite a robust view of my case.
- (of wine or food) strong and rich in flavor or smell.
Supplant
supersede and replace: another discovery could supplant the original finding.
Jibe/Gibe
noun
an insulting or mocking remark; a taunt: a gibe at his old rivals.
verb [ no obj. ]
make insulting or mocking remarks; jeer: some cynics in the media might gibe.
Ingenue
an innocent or unsophisticated young woman.
Stanchion
an upright bar, post, or frame forming a support or barrier.
• (in full cattle stanchion)a frame that holds the head of a cow in place, especially to facilitate milking.
Comestible
an item of food: a fridge groaning with comestibles.
adjective
edible: comestible plants.
Earthy
resembling or suggestive of earth or soil: an earthy smell.
- (of a person) direct and uninhibited; hearty: the storefront is given over to a young, earthy crowd.
- (of humor) somewhat coarse or crude: their good-natured vulgarity and earthy humor.
Extrapolate
extend the application of (a method or conclusion, especially one based on statistics) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or similar methods will be applicable: the results cannot be extrapolated to other patient groups | [ no obj. ] : it is always dangerous to extrapolate from a sample.
• estimate or conclude (something) by extrapolating: attempts to extrapolate likely human cancers from laboratory studies.
Heuristic
inciting/guiding discovery
enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves: a “hands-on” or interactive heuristic approach to learning.
Grizzled
having or streaked with gray hair: grizzled hair.
Hirsute
hairy: their hirsute chests.
Vitreous
like glass in appearance or physical properties.
• (of a substance) derived from or containing glass: the toilet and bidet are made of vitreous china.
Helmsmanship
the action or skill of steering a ship or boat: the principles that govern the helmsmanship of marine vessels |
figurative : his helmsmanship of the economic recovery.
Immolate
kill or offer as a sacrifice, especially by burning.
Contraindication
verb [with object] (usually be contraindicated) Medicine
(of a condition or circumstance) suggest or indicate that (a particular technique or drug) should not be used in the case in question: surgery may also be contraindicated for more general reasons of increased operative risk.
Mimesis/Mimetic
imitation, in particular:
• representation or imitation of the real world in art and literature.
• the deliberate imitation of the behavior of one group of people by another as a factor in social change.
Mimicry
the action or art of imitating someone or something, typically in order to entertain or ridicule: the word was spoken with gently teasing mimicry | a playful mimicry of the techniques of realist writers.
Infallibility
the quality of being infallible; the inability to be wrong: his judgment became impaired by faith in his own infallibility.
Pretension
(pretension to) a claim or the assertion of a claim to something: their pretensions to culture | we cannot tolerate pretension to infallibility.
• (often pretensions) an aspiration or claim to a certain status or quality: another aging rocker with literary pretensions.
2 the use of affectation to impress; ostentatiousness: he spoke simply, without pretension.
Rapier
a thin, light, sharp-pointed sword used for thrusting.
(especially of speech or intelligence) quick and incisive: rapier wit.
Retch
verb [ no obj. ]
make the sound and movement of vomiting.
• vomit.
noun
a movement or sound of vomiting.
Rout
1 a disorderly retreat of defeated troops: the retreat degenerated into a rout | the army was in a state of demoralization verging on rout.
• a decisive defeat: the party lost more than half their seats in the rout.
2 Law, dated an assembly of people who have made a move toward committing an illegal act that would constitute an offense of riot.
Wallop
verb (wallops, walloping, walloped) [ with obj. ]
strike or hit (someone or something) very hard: they walloped the back of his head with a stick | figurative : they were tired of getting walloped with income taxes.
• heavily defeat (an opponent).
noun
1 a heavy blow or punch.
Wag
a person who makes facetious jokes.
Monastic
of or relating to monks, nuns, or others living under religious vows, or the buildings in which they live: a monastic order.
• resembling or suggestive of monks or their way of life, especially in being austere, solitary, or celibate: a monastic student bedroom.
Boondoggle
noun
work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value: writing off the cold fusion phenomenon as a boondoggle best buried in literature.
• a public project of questionable merit that typically involves political patronage and graft: they each drew $600,000 in the final months of the great boondoggle.
verb [ no obj. ]
waste money or time on unnecessary or questionable projects.
Dear
adverb
at a high cost: they buy property cheaply and sell dear.
Specter
a ghost.
• something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence: the specter of nuclear holocaust.
Plum
4 [ usu. as modifier ] informal a highly desirable attainment, accomplishment, or acquisition, typically a job: he landed a plum assistant producer’s job.
Touchstone
a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized: they tend to regard grammar as the touchstone of all language performance.
Cornerstone
an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based: a national minimum wage remained the cornerstone of policy.
Parable
a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.
Assent
noun
the expression of approval or agreement: a loud murmur of assent | he nodded assent.
• official agreement or sanction: the governor has power to withhold his assent from a bill.
verb [ no obj. ]
express approval or agreement, typically officially: Roosevelt assented to the agreement | [ with direct speech ] : “Guest house, then,” Frank assented cheerfully.
Ascent
a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill: the first ascent of the Matterhorn | the routes of ascent can be retraced.
- an upward slope or path: the ascent grew steeper.
- [ in sing. ] a rise to an important position or a higher level: his ascent to power.
Abet/Abettor
encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense: he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others.
• encourage or assist someone to commit (a crime): we are aiding and abetting this illegal traffic.
Modish/Modishness
often derogatory
conforming to or following what is currently popular and fashionable: it seems sad that such a scholar should feel compelled to use this modish jargon.
Balkanized
divide (a region or body) into smaller mutually hostile states or groups.
Patrician
an aristocrat or nobleman.
- N. Amer. a member of a long-established wealthy family.
- a member of a noble family or class in ancient Rome.
Immutable
unchanging over time or unable to be changed: an immutable fact.
Imperil
put at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed: white-band disease imperils coral reefs.
Impotent
unable to take effective action; helpless or powerless: he was seized with an impotent anger.
2 (of a man) abnormally unable to achieve a sexual erection.
• (of a male animal) unable to copulate.
Copulate
have sexual intercourse
Inquisitions
a period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation: she relented in her determined inquisition and offered help.
- historical a judicial or official inquiry.
- the verdict or finding of an official inquiry.
Interlude
an intervening period of time: enjoying a lunchtime interlude.
Inure to
1 [ with obj. ] (usu. be inured to) accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant: these children have been inured to violence.
2 [ no obj. ] (inure for/to) Law come into operation; take effect: a release given to one of two joint contractors inures to the benefit of both.
Inundate
overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with: we’ve been inundated with complaints from listeners.
2 flood: the islands may be the first to be inundated as sea levels rise.
Lackey
noun (pl. lackeys)
a servant, especially a liveried footman or manservant.
• derogatory a person who is obsequiously willing to obey or serve another person or group of people.
verb(also lacquey) (lackeys, lackeying, lackeyed) [ with obj. ] archaic
behave servilely to; wait upon as a lackey.
Lard
2 (usu. be larded with) embellish (talk or writing) with a variety of expressions: his conversation is larded with quotations from Coleridge.
• cover or fill thickly or excessively: the pages were larded with corrections and crossings-out.
Laurel
any of a number of shrubs and other plants with dark green glossy leaves
• honor or praise for an achievement: she has rightly won laurels for this brilliantly perceptive first novel.
look to one’s laurels
be careful not to lose one’s superior position to a rival.
rest on one’s laurels
be so satisfied with what one has already achieved that one makes no further effort.
Laxity
lack of strictness or care: the result of such fiscal laxity is a budget deficit | laxity of discipline.
2 looseness of a limb or muscle: over-stretching can result in joint laxity.
Leery
cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions: a city leery of gang violence.
Legume
• a seed, pod, or other edible part of a leguminous plant used as food.
Leimotif
a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation.
Literati
well-educated people who are interested in literature.
Maladjusted
failing or unable to cope with the demands of a normal social environment: maladjusted behavior.
Mead
an alcoholic liquor made by fermenting honey and water.
any of various nonalcoholic beverages.
Melange
a mixture; a medley: a mélange of tender vegetables and herbs.
Mercantilism
belief in the benefits of profitable trading; commercialism.
• chiefly historical the economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances, which a government should encourage by means of protectionism.
Metastasize
(of a cancer) spread to other sites in the body by metastasis: cancers that metastasize to the brain.
Mishmash
a confused mixture: a mishmash of outmoded ideas.
Monger
denoting a dealer or trader in a specified commodity: fishmonger | cheesemonger.
• a person who promotes a specified activity, situation, or feeling, especially one that is undesirable or discreditable: rumormonger | warmonger.
Monologue/Monological
a long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast program.
• a long and typically tedious speech by one person during a conversation: Fred carried on with his monologue as if I hadn’t spoken.
Moderate (verb)
make or become less extreme, intense, rigorous, or violent: [ with obj. ] : I shall not moderate my criticism | (as adj. moderating) : his moderating influence in the army was now needed more than ever | [ no obj. ] : the weather has moderated considerably.
Mote
a tiny piece of a substance: the tiniest mote of dust.
Munitions
military weapons, ammunition, equipment, and stores: reserves of nuclear, chemical, and conventional munitions | [ as modifier ] : a munitions expert | munition factories.
verb [ with obj. ]
supply with munitions.
Mystic
a person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect.
Nave
the central part of a church building, intended to accommodate most of the congregation. In traditional Western churches it is rectangular, separated from the chancel by a step or rail, and from adjacent aisles by pillars.
Neanderthal
• an uncivilized, unintelligent, or uncouth person, especially a man: the stereotype of the mechanic as a macho Neanderthal.
Nose
2 [ no obj. ] investigate or pry into something: I was anxious to get inside and nose around her house | she’s always nosing into my business.
• [ with obj. ] detect by diligent searching.
3 [ no obj. ] (of a vehicle or its driver) make one’s way cautiously forward: he turned left and nosed into an empty parking space.
• (of a competitor) manage to achieve a winning or leading position, especially by a small margin: they nosed ahead by one point.
Ode
a lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter.
• historical a poem meant to be sung.
Omnipotent
(of a deity) having unlimited power; able to do anything.
• having ultimate power and influence: an omnipotent sovereign.
noun (the Omnipotent)
God.
Omissions
someone or something that has been left out or excluded: there are glaring omissions in the report.
- the action of excluding or leaving out someone or something: the omission of recent publications from his bibliography.
- a failure to do something, especially something that one has a moral or legal obligation to do: to pay compensation for a wrongful act or omission.
Panned
1 informal criticize (someone or something) severely: the movie was panned by the critics.
2 wash gravel in a pan to separate out (gold): the old-timers panned gold | [ no obj. ] : prospectors panned for gold in the Yukon.
• (of gravel) yield gold.
Pander
verb [ no obj. ] (pander to)
gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit or a person with such a desire, etc.): newspapers are pandering to people’s baser instincts.
noun dated
a pimp.
• archaic a person who assists the baser urges or evil designs of others: the lowest panders of a venal press.
Pantheon
a group of particularly respected, famous, or important people: the pantheon of the all-time greats.
Parcel
2 a quantity or amount of something, especially as dealt with in one commercial transaction: a parcel of shares.
• a piece of land, especially one considered as part of an estate.
Jaunty
having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner: there was no mistaking that jaunty walk.
Pert
1 (of a girl or young woman) attractively lively or cheeky: a pert Belgian actress.
• (of a young person or their speech or behavior) impudent: no need to be pert, miss.
• another term for peart.
2 (of a bodily feature or garment) attractive because neat and jaunty: she had a pert nose and deep blue eyes.
Pidgins
[ as modifier ] denoting a simplified form of a language, especially as used by a nonnative speaker: we exchanged greetings, communicating in pidgin Spanish.
Piecemeal
adverb
piece by piece; one piece at a time; gradually:
to work piecemeal.
into pieces or fragments:
to tear a letter piecemeal.
Poultice
a soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant material or flour, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation and kept in place with a cloth.
Pitch
the steepness of a slope, especially of a roof.
• Climbing a section of a climb, especially a steep one.
Poultice
a soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant material or flour, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation and kept in place with a cloth.
Prodigy
a person, especially a young one, endowed with exceptional qualities or abilities: a Russian pianist who was a child prodigy in his day.
- an impressive or outstanding example of a particular quality: Germany seemed a prodigy of industrial discipline.
- an amazing or unusual thing, especially one out of the ordinary course of nature: omens and prodigies abound in Livy’s work.
Puritanical
a person, especially a young one, endowed with exceptional qualities or abilities: a Russian pianist who was a child prodigy in his day.
- an impressive or outstanding example of a particular quality: Germany seemed a prodigy of industrial discipline.
- an amazing or unusual thing, especially one out of the ordinary course of nature: omens and prodigies abound in Livy’s work.
Rail
complain or protest strongly and persistently about: he railed at human fickleness.
Referent
the thing that a word or phrase denotes or stands for: “the Morning Star” and “the Evening Star” have the same referent (the planet Venus).
Rife
adjective [ predic. ]
(especially of something undesirable or harmful) of common occurrence; widespread: male chauvinism was rife in medicine in those days.
• (rife with) full of: the streets were rife with rumor and fear.
adverb
in an unchecked or widespread manner: speculation ran rife that he was an arms dealer.
Sectarian
adjective
denoting or concerning a sect or sects: ethnic and sectarian differences.
- (of an action) carried out on the grounds of membership of a sect, denomination, or other group: a sectarian attack.
- rigidly following the doctrines of a sect or other group.
noun
a member of a sect.
• a person who rigidly follows the doctrines of a sect or other group.
Seething
- [ with obj. ] archaic cook (food) by boiling it in a liquid: others were cut into joints and seethed in cauldrons made of the animal’s own skins.
- (of a person) be filled with intense but unexpressed anger: inwardly he was seething at the slight to his authority.
- (of a place) be crowded with people or things moving about in a rapid or hectic way: the entire cellar was seething with spiders | the village seethed with life.
Simony
the buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges, for example pardons or benefices.
Slipstream
an assisting force regarded as drawing something along behind something else: when the U.S. economy booms, the rest of the world is pulled along in the slipstream.
Sophomoric
pretentious or juvenile: sophomoric double entendres.
Spectroscopy
the branch of science concerned with the investigation and measurement of spectra produced when matter interacts with or emits electromagnetic radiation.
Tat
tasteless or shoddy clothes, jewelry, or ornaments.
Teeming
abounding or swarming with something, as with people:
We elbowed our way through the teeming station.
prolific or fertile.
Titillate
stimulate or excite (someone), especially in a sexual way: these journalists are paid to titillate the public.
• archaic lightly touch; tickle.
Tony
fashionable among wealthy or stylish people: a tony restaurant.
Transmorgrify
to change in appearance or form, especially strangely or grotesquely; transform.
Wrack/Rack
verb [ with obj. ]
1 (also wrack)cause extreme physical or mental pain to; subject to extreme stress: he was racked with guilt.
• historical torture (someone) on the rack.
Termagant
a harsh-tempered, violent, turbulent or overbearing woman.
Gnostic
of or relating to knowledge, especially esoteric mystical knowledge.
Yen
desire or yearning
Frangible
delicate
Abecedarian
noun
a person who is learning the letters of the alphabet.
a beginner in any field of learning.
rudimentary; elementary; primary.
Canonize/Canonization
- regard as being above reproach or of great significance: we have canonized freedom of speech as an absolute value overriding all others.
- accept into the literary or artistic canon: [ as adj. ] : a familiar, canonized writer.
Catharsis
the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
Chaff
• worthless things; trash.
Cauterize
burn the skin or flesh of (a wound) with a heated instrument or caustic substance, typically to stop bleeding or prevent the wound from becoming infected.
Clairvoyant
noun
a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
adjective
having or exhibiting an ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact: he didn’t tell me about it and I’m not clairvoyant.
Commando
a soldier or unit of soldiers specially trained to carry out raids.
Commentate
report on an event as it occurs, especially for a news or sports broadcast; provide a commentary.
Compatriot
a fellow citizen or national of a country: Stich defeated his compatriot Boris Becker in the quarterfinals.
Conglomerate
a number of different things or parts that are put or grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities: the Earth is a specialized conglomerate of organisms.
• a large corporation formed by the merging of separate and diverse firms: a media conglomerate.
Legislative
having the power to make laws: the country’s supreme legislative body.
• of or relating to laws or the making of them: legislative proposals. Often contrasted with executive.
Congress
a formal meeting or series of meetings for discussion between delegates, especially those from a political party or labor union or from within a particular discipline: an international congress of mathematicians.
the action of coming together
Consanguineous
relating to or denoting people descended from the same ancestor: consanguineous marriages.
Contravene
violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct): this would contravene the rule against hearsay.
• conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), especially to its detriment: this contravened Washington’s commitment to its own proposal.
Couch In
1 (usu. be couched in) express (something) in language of a specified style: many false claims are couched in scientific jargon.
Covey
• a small group of people or things: coveys of actors rushed through the rooms.
Dame
1 (Dame)(in the UK) the title given to a woman equivalent to the rank of knight.
2 N. Amer. informal a woman.
Doyenne
a woman who is the most respected or prominent person in a particular field: she’s the doyenne of daytime TV.
Earmark
earmarks of a classic.
2 US a congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.
designate (something, typically funds or resources) for a particular purpose: the new money will be earmarked for cancer research.
Ecology
1 the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Epoch
a period of time in history or a person’s life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics: the Victorian epoch.
Entreaty
an earnest or humble request: the king turned a deaf ear to his entreaties.
Evanescent
pass out of sight, memory, or existence.
Flagrant
(of something considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive: his flagrant bad taste | a flagrant violation of the law.
Formalism
excessive adherence to prescribed forms: academic dryness and formalism.
- the use of forms of worship without regard to inner significance.
- the basing of ethics on the form of the moral law without regard to intention or consequences.
- concern or excessive concern with form and technique rather than content in artistic creation.
Forte
adverb and adjective
(especially as a direction) loud or loudly.
Fulmination
an expression of vehement protest: the fulminations of media moralists.
• a violent explosion or a flash like lightning.
Gadfly
a fly that bites livestock, especially a horsefly, warble fly, or botfly.
• an annoying person, especially one who provokes others into action by criticism.
Hamlet
a small settlement, generally one smaller than a village.
Hemorrhage
an escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, especially when profuse.
• a damaging loss of valuable people or resources suffered by an organization, group, or country: a hemorrhage of highly qualified teachers.
Honorific
(of an office or position) given as a mark of respect, but having few or no duties.
• denoting a form of address showing high status, politeness, or respect: an honorific title for addressing women.
Honeycomb
fill with cavities or tunnels: whole hillsides were honeycombed with mines.
• infiltrate and undermine: their men honeycombed the army.
Ideologue
an adherent of an ideology, especially one who is uncompromising and dogmatic: a conservative ideologue.
Disabuse
To free someone from a misconception or deception.
Morose
Sullen, gloomy or melancholy
Antagonism
Hostility, opposition or active resistance
Profuse
Present or available in great amount; plentiful, bountiful or copious
Pouring forth freely or abundantly; extravagant
Guise
An external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of something
Phalanx
Phalanxes (plural)
A body of troops or police officers standing by or living on close formation
A group of people or things of a similar type forming a compact body
Shoddy
Badly made or done
Virtuosic
Displaying or characterized by the exceptional technical skill
Irenic
tending to promote peace or reconciliation; peaceful or conciliatory.
Sclerotic
becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt: sclerotic management.
Ossified
having become rigid or fixed in attitude or position: an ossified institution | ossified business practices.
