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GRE Vocabulary > Deck 1 > Flashcards

Deck 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

scupper

A

verb: to cause something such as a plan or an opportunity to fail

Arriving late for the interview scuppered my chances of getting the job.

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2
Q

compel

A

verb: to force someone to do something

As a schoolboy he was compelled to wear shorts even in winter.

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3
Q

crackdown

A

noun: a situation in which someone starts to deal with bad or illegal behaviour in a more severe way

There has been a series of government crackdowns on safety in factories.

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4
Q

trample

A

verb: to step heavily on something or someone, causing damage or injury

Somebody trampled all over my flowerbeds!

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5
Q

thwart

A

verb: to stop something from happening or someone from doing something

Our holiday plans were thwarted by the airline pilots’ strike

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6
Q

hobble

A

verb: to walk in an awkward way, usually because the feet or legs are injured

The last time I saw Rachel she was hobbling around with a stick.

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7
Q

disburse

A

verb: to pay out money, usually from an amount that has been collected for a particular purpose

The local authorities annually disburse between £50 million and £100 million on arts projects.

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8
Q

bellow

A

verb: to shout in a loud voice, or (of a cow or large animal) to make a loud, deep sound

“Keep quiet!” the teacher bellowed across the room.

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9
Q

outwit

A

verb: to get an advantage over someone by acting more cleverly and often by using a trick

In the story, the cunning fox outwits the hunters.

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10
Q

heed

A

verb: to pay attention to something, especially advice or a warning

The airline has been criticized for failing to heed advice/warnings about lack of safety routines.

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11
Q

inertia

A

noun: lack of activity or interest, or unwillingness to make an effort to do anything

The organization is stifled by bureaucratic inertia.

etymology: inertia “unskillfulness, ignorance; inactivity, idleness”; addtional meaning of “apathy, passiveness, inactivity” in English

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12
Q

reluctant

A

adjective: not willing to do something and therefore slow to do it

I was having such a good time I was reluctant to leave.

etymology: re- “against” + luctari “to struggle, wrestle”

related words: reluctance (the quality of being reluctant)

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13
Q

abstention

A

noun: refraining from voting

There were high levels of abstention (from voting) in the last elections.

etymology: ab “off, away from” + tenere “to hold”

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14
Q

malign

A

adjective: causing or intending to cause harm or evil

Foreign domination had a malign influence on local politics.

etymology: male “badly” + -gnus “born,” from gignere “to bear, beget”

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15
Q

placate

A

verb: to stop someone from feeling angry

Outraged minority groups will not be placated by promises of future improvements.

etymology: placare “to calm, appease, quiet, soothe, assuage”

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16
Q

artificer

A

noun: a skilled craftsman (= someone who makes things)

The production of religious artefacts in Celtic society called for highly skilled designers and artificers.

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17
Q

covetous

A

adjective: wanting to have something too much, especially something that belongs to someone else; desire for wealth

I can’t help casting covetous looks at my neighbour’s new Porsche.

etymology: cupidus “very desirous”

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18
Q

peripatetic

A

adjective: travelling around to different places, usually because you work in more than one place

a peripatetic music teacher

etymology: peri “around, about” + patein “to walk, tread”

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19
Q

perilous

A

adjective: extremely dangerous

The country roads are quite perilous.

etymology: periculosus “dangerous, hazardous,” from periculum “a danger, attempt, risk”

related words: peril (danger)

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20
Q

enervate

A

verb: to sap energy from

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21
Q

equivocal

A

adjective: not clear and seeming to have two opposing meanings, or confusing and able to be understood in two different ways (ambiguous)
etymology: aequus “equal” + vocare “to call,” which is related to vox “voice”

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22
Q

venerate

A

verb: to honour or very much respect a person or thing; to respect deeply

Robert Burns is Scotland’s most venerated poet.

etymology: venerari “to reverence, worship,” from venus “beauty, love, desire”

related words: veneration (deep respect)

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23
Q

upbraid

A

verb: to forcefully or angrily tell someone they should not have done a particular thing and criticize them for having done it, to scold

In newspaper articles she consistently upbraided those in authority who overstepped their limits.

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24
Q

profligate

A

adjective: spending resources recklessly or wastefully

The profligate use of antibiotics has led to the evolution of resistant bacteria.

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25
Q

auspicious

A

adjective: suggesting a positive and successful future; favorable; of good omen

They won their first match of the season 5–1 which was an auspicious start/beginning.

etymology: auspicium “divination by observing the flight of birds,

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26
Q

amenable

A

adjective: easily persuaded; willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion

She might be more amenable to the idea if you explained how much money it would save.

etymology: amener “bring, take, conduct, lead” (to the law) + mener “to lead”

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27
Q

galvanize

A

verb: to excite or inspire (someone) to action

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28
Q

prevaricate

A

verb: to avoid telling the truth or saying exactly what you think; to speak in an evasive way

He accused the minister of prevaricating.

etymology: praevaricari “to make a sham accusation, deviate” (from the path of duty), literally “walk crookedly;” in Church Latin, “to transgress”; the meaning “to act or speak evasively, swerve from the truth” is from 1630s

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29
Q

gregarious

A

adjective: to be likely to socialize

Emma’s a gregarious, outgoing sort of person.

gregarius “pertaining to a flock; of the herd, of the common sort, common”

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30
Q

innocuous

A

adjective: completely harmless

Some mushrooms look innocuous but are in fact poisonous.

etymology: in- “not” + nocuus “hurtful,” from root of nocere “to injure, harm”

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31
Q

maintain

A

verb: to assert; to express firmly your belief that something is true

Throughout his prison sentence, Dunn has always maintained his innocence.

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32
Q

impertinent

A

adjective: rude and not showing respect, especially towards someone older or in a higher position than you

I hope he didn’t think I was being impertinent when I asked him about his private life.

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33
Q

parochial

A

adjective: relating to a parish (= an area that has its own church or priest)

parochial boundaries

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34
Q

qualify

A

verb: to limit the strength or meaning of a statement

I’d like to qualify my criticisms of the school’s failings, by adding that it’s a very happy place.

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35
Q

undermine

A

verb: to weaken (paired with an abstract term)

The student undermined the teacher’s authority.

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36
Q

wanting

A

adjective: lacking

I think she’s perhaps a little wanting in charm.

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37
Q

intimate

A

verb: to suggest something subtly

She has intimated that she will resign if she loses the vote.

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38
Q

ambivalent

A

adjective: mixed or conflicting emotions about something

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39
Q

censure

A

verb: to express strong criticism or disapproval

Ministers were censured for their lack of decisiveness during the crisis.

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40
Q

brooding

A

adjective: making you feel uncomfortable or worried, as if something bad is going to happen

He stood there in the corner of the room, a dark, brooding presence.

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41
Q

gorge

A

verb: to eat until you are unable to eat any more

If you gorge yourself on snacks like that, you won’t eat your dinner.

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42
Q

dissolute

A

adjective: (of a person) living in a way that other people strongly disapprove of

He led a dissolute life, drinking, and womanizing till his death.

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43
Q

vacuously

A

adverb: in a way that shows no intelligent thought

He stared down at her, grinning vacuously.

etymology: vacuus “empty, void, free”

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44
Q

suffuse

A

verb: to spread through or over something completely

His voice was low and suffused with passion.

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45
Q

sullen

A

adjective: angry and unwilling to smile or be pleasant to people

His daughters stared back at him with an expression of sullen resentment.

etymology: solus “by oneself, alone”; the sense shift in Middle English from “solitary” to “morose” (i.e. “remaining alone through ill-humor”) occurred late 14c

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46
Q

congregation

A

noun: a group of people who have come together in a religious building for worship and prayer

The priest asked the congregation to kneel.

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47
Q

huddle

A

verb: to come close together in a group, or to hold your arms and legs close to your body, especially because of cold or fear

Everyone huddled round the fire to keep warm.

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48
Q

permeate

A

verb: to spread through something and be present in every part of it

Dissatisfaction with the government seems to have permeated every section of society.

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49
Q

frolic

A

verb: to play and behave in a happy way

A group of suntanned children were frolicking on the beach.

etymology: fröhlich - “happy”

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50
Q

aestivation

A

noun: a state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, although taking place in the summer rather than the winter
etymology: aestus “heat,” aestas “summer,” literally “the hot season”

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51
Q

dormancy

A

noun: the state of being dormant (= not active or growing but able to become active later)

Warm temperatures bring the seeds out of dormancy.

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52
Q

fiefdom

A

noun: an area of land, especially one that is rented and paid for by work

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53
Q

tottering

A

adjective: walking with difficulty in a way that looks as if you are about to fall

One picture was of a tottering 89-year-old leaving the platform after her conference speech.

54
Q

rousing

A

adjective: making people feel excited and proud or ready to take action

We sang a last rousing chorus of the national anthem.

55
Q

fibrous

A

adjective: made of fibres, or like fibre

56
Q

frayed

A

adjective: with the threads at the edge coming loose

frayed cuffs

57
Q

perturb

A

verb: to worry someone

News of the arrest perturbed her greatly.

58
Q

expulsion

A

noun: (the act of) forcing someone, or being forced, to leave a school, organization, or country

They threatened him with expulsion from school.

59
Q

bereavement

A

noun: the death of a close relation or friend

She has recently suffered a bereavement.

60
Q

purloin

A

verb: to steal something

I was using a pen that I’d purloined from the office.

61
Q

harbinger

A

noun: a person or thing that shows that something is going to happen soon, especially something bad

a harbinger of doom

62
Q

innate

A

adjective: An innate quality or ability is one that you were born with, not one you have learned

Cyril’s most impressive quality was his innate goodness.

63
Q

waywardness

A

noun: the quality of being wayward (= doing only what you want, in a way that is difficult to control)

He was a man of professional brilliance but personal waywardness.

64
Q

indelible

A

adjective:
1) an indelible mark or substance is impossible to remove by washing or in any other way

indelible ink

2) indelible memories or actions are impossible to forget, or have a permanent influence or effect

I have an indelible memory of that meeting with Anastasia.

etymology: in- “not, opposite of, without” + delebilis “able to be destroyed,” from delere “destroy, blot out”

65
Q

fend off

A

verb: to avoid dealing with something that is unpleasant or difficult

Taiwan’s economy has fended off the epidemic and is welcoming back firms that had decamped to China.

66
Q

litany

A

noun: originally a long Christian prayer in which the person leading the service speaks some parts and the other people at the service speak other parts; figuratively, a long list of unpleasant things, especially things that are repeated

The manufacturers are reported to have received a litany of complaints from dissatisfied customers.

67
Q

intractable

A

adjective: very difficult or impossible to control, manage, or solve

We are facing an intractable problem.

68
Q

sweeping

A

adjective:

1) affecting many things or people; large

It is obvious that sweeping changes are needed in the legal system.

2) A sweeping win or victory is an easy or complete win

The candidate failed to win the sweeping victory he expected.

69
Q

clang

A

verb: to make a loud deep ringing sound like that of metal being hit, or to cause something to make this sound

He woke up to hear the sound of bells clanging in the distance.

70
Q

reverberate

A

verb: If a loud, deep sound reverberates, it continues to be heard around an area, so that the area seems to shake

The narrow street reverberated with/to the sound of the workmen’s drills.

71
Q

scaffolding

A

noun: a raised structure that supports workers and materials during work on a building

The scaffolding rises 10 stories above the street.

72
Q

trepidation

A

noun: fear or worry about what is going to happen

We view future developments with some trepidation.

related words: tremble

etymology: trepidus “alarmed, scared,” from trep- “to shake, tremble”

73
Q

anaemic

A

adjective: suffering from anaemia

Lack of iron in your diet can make you anaemic.

74
Q

promulgate

A

verb:
1) to spread beliefs or ideas among a lot of people
2) to announce something publicly, especially a new law

The new law was finally promulgated in the autumn of last year.

etymology: promulgare “make publicly known, propose openly, publish,” probably from pro “forth” + mulgere “to milk”, used metaphorically for “cause to emerge”

75
Q

fret

A

verb: to be nervous or worried

Don’t fret - I’m sure he’s OK.

76
Q

palpable

A

adjective: so obvious that it can easily be seen or known, or (of a feeling) so strong that it seems as if it can be touched or physically felt

a palpable effect

77
Q

usher

A

verb: to show someone where they should go, or to make someone go where you want them to go

She ushered us into her office and offered us coffee.

78
Q

eponymous

A

adjective: an eponymous adjective, place name, etc. is one that comes from the name of a person

Victorian, Wagnerian, and dickensian are all examples of eponymous adjectives.

etymology: eponymos “given as a name, giving one’s name to something”

79
Q

spur

A

verb: to encourage an activity or development or make it happen faster

Rising consumer sales have the effect of spurring the economy to faster growth.

80
Q

scramble

A

verb:

1) to move or climb quickly but with difficulty, often using your hands to help you

She scrambled up the steep hillside and over the rocks.

2) to compete with other people for something there is very little of:

People are scrambling to buy property before prices rise even further.

3) to put things such as words or letters in the wrong order so that they do not make sense

He had a habit of scrambling his words when excited.

81
Q

swathe

A

noun:

1) a long strip or large area especially of land

Huge swathes of rainforest are being cleared for farming and mining.

2) a large part of something that includes several different things

These people represent a broad/wide swathe of public opinion.

3) a long strip of cloth

His head was wrapped in swathes of bandages.

82
Q

ply

A

verb: to sell or to work regularly at something, especially at a job that involves selling things

Fishermen in small boats ply their trade up and down the coast.

83
Q

emporium

A

noun: a large shop that sells many different types of goods, or a shop that sells a particular type of goods

an ice cream/antiques emporium

84
Q

giddy

A

adjective:

1) feeling silly, happy, and excited and showing this in your behaviour

She was giddy with excitement.

2) having a slight feeling of spinning around or being unable to balance; slightly dizzy

When she got off the roller coaster, she felt giddy and lightheaded.

85
Q

enticing

A

adjective: Something that is enticing attracts you to it by offering you advantages or pleasure (alluring)

an enticing smile
an enticing job offer

86
Q

ailment

A

noun: illness

87
Q

siloed

A

adjective: separated from other people or things

Working in a big company, you became very siloed and it was easy to lose touch with the real world.

88
Q

herald

A

verb: be a sign that (something) is about to happen

The trade agreement heralded a new era of economic development.

89
Q

foray

A

noun:
1) a short period of time being involved in an activity that is different from and outside the range of a usual set of activities

She made a brief foray into acting before becoming a teacher.

2) the act of an army suddenly and quickly entering the area belonging to the enemy in order to attack them or steal their supplies

90
Q

gusto

A

noun: great energy, enthusiasm, and enjoyment that is experienced by someone taking part in an activity, especially a performance

Everyone joined in the singing with great gusto.

91
Q

preposterous

A

adjective: very silly or stupid, absurd

The very idea is preposterous!

92
Q

dismal

A

adjective:

1) sad and without hope

a dismal expression

2) very bad

The acting was dismal, wasn’t it?

etymology: dies mali “evil or unlucky days”

93
Q

exhort

A

verb: to strongly encourage or try to persuade someone to do something

The governor exhorted the prisoners not to riot.

94
Q

decidedly

A

adverb: certainly and obviously

He was decidedly careful about what he told me.

95
Q

finicky

A

adjective:

1) difficult to please:

a finicky eater

2) needing a lot of attention to detail:

Repairing watches must be a very finicky job.

96
Q

paraphernalia

A

noun: all the objects needed for or connected with a particular activity

We sell pots, gloves, seeds and other gardening paraphernalia.

etymology: para- “beside” + pherne “dowry,” which is related to pherein “to carry”; meaning “equipment, apparatus” is attested by 1736, from the notion of “odds and ends

97
Q

fare

A

verb: to succeed or be treated in the stated way

How did you fare in your exams?

98
Q

staunch

A

verb: to stop something happening, or to stop liquid, especially blood, from flowing out

The country’s asylum laws were amended to staunch the flow/flood of economic migrants.

99
Q

loom

A

verb: to appear as a large, often frightening or unclear shape or object

Dark storm clouds loomed on the horizon.

100
Q

erstwhile

A

adjective: previous

101
Q

impudent

A

adjective: improperly forward or bold; rude and not showing respect, especially towards someone who is older or in a more important position

an impudent remark/child

102
Q

diffident

A

adjective: showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence

You shouldn’t be so diffident about your achievements - you’ve done really well!

103
Q

deferential

A

adjective: showing respect

She is always extremely deferential towards anyone in authority.

104
Q

chortle

A

verb: to chuckle, laugh merrily, often in a breathy, muffled way

105
Q

querulous

A

adjective: habitually complaining, often in a weak voice

He became increasingly dissatisfied and querulous in his old age.

106
Q

perfidy

A

noun: an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of trust
etymology: per “through” + fidem “faith”

107
Q

vociferous

A

adjective: conspicuously and offensively loud

108
Q

germane

A

adjective: relevant and appropriate

The professor wanted to tell the jury in detail about his new book, but the lawyer said it was not germane to the charges in the cases.

etymology: germanus “having the same parents”

109
Q

frivolous

A

adjective: not serious in content or attitude or behavior

Compared to Juliet’s passionate concern for human rights, Jake’s non-stop concern about football seems somewhat frivolous.

110
Q

obscure

A

verb: make unclear

obsured view of the road

adjective: known by only a few

an obscure actor

111
Q

decorous

A

adjective: characterized by good taste in manners and conduct

Sally’s parties are decorous affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectual conversation.

etymology: decorus “becoming, seemly, fitting, proper,”

112
Q

recondite

A

adjective: incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
etymology: recondere “store away, hide, conceal, put back again, put up again, lay up”

113
Q

audacious

A

adjective: willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks (negatively connotated: shameless, unrestrained by propriety)
etymology: audacia “daring, boldness, courage”

114
Q

aesthete

A

noun: one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature

115
Q

gainsay

A

verb: deny or contradict; speak against or oppose

I can’t gainsay a single piece of evidence James has presented, but I still don’t trust his conclusion.

etymology:iterally “say against,” from gain- (Old English gegn- “against;”) + say

116
Q

engender

A

verb: give rise to

117
Q

gall

A

noun:
1) the trait of being rude and impertinent (having the gall to do sth.)
2) feeling deep of bitter anger and ill-will

118
Q

entrenched

A

adjective: fixed firmly or secured

entrenched habits at an old age

119
Q

preclude

A

verb: keep from happening or arising; make impossible

The manager specified that all other gates be locked to preclude the possibility of persons without tickets entering the arena undetected.

120
Q

volubility

A

noun: the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously

121
Q

dictatorial

A

adjective: expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler

122
Q

glut

A

noun: an excessive suplly

The Internet offers a glut of news.

verb: supply with an excess of

In the middle of economic crises, hiring managers find their inboxes glutted with resumes.

123
Q

eschew

A

verb: aviod and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of

Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals.

124
Q

conspicuous

A

adjective: without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious

Among the tall trees and flower fields, the building seemed out of place with its conspicuous, cold concrete and angular steel exterior.

125
Q

mawkish

A

adjective: overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting

126
Q

didactic

A

adjective: instructive (especially excessively)

127
Q

inexorable

A

adjective: impossible to stop or prevent

The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture.

etymology: in- “not, opposite of” + exorabilis “able to be entreated,” from exorare “to prevail upon,” from ex “out” + ōrare “to pray to, beseech”

128
Q

gossamer

A

adjective: characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy

The gossamer wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often damaged.

129
Q

exacerbate

A

verb: make worse

130
Q

abreast

A

adjective: up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information

These daily updates were designed to help readers keep abreast of the markets.

GRE Vocabulary (11 decks)

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