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Balam's GRE Words > Deck 3 > Flashcards

Deck 3 Flashcards

0
Q

Clarion

A

adj.
Loud and clear; inspiring: “a clarion call to resistance.”
n.
1. A medieval trumpet with a shrill clear tone.

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1
Q

Sacrosanct

A

adj.

  1. extremely sacred or inviolable.
  2. regarded or treated as being above or beyond interference, criticism, etc.
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2
Q

Ignominious

A

adj.

  1. Deserving or bringing disgrace or shame; despicable; contemptible.
  2. Degrading; debasing: “The young people huddled with their sodden gritty towels and ignominious goosebumps inside the gray-shingled bathhouse” (John Updike).
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3
Q

Peremptory

A

adj.

  1. Putting an end to all debate or action: a peremptory decree.
  2. Not allowing contradiction or refusal; imperative: The officer issued peremptory commands.
  3. Having the nature of or expressing a command; urgent: The teacher spoke in a peremptory tone.
  4. Offensively self-assured; dictatorial: a swaggering, peremptory manner.
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4
Q

Paramount

A

adj.

  1. Of chief concern or importance: “tending first to one’s paramount needs.”
  2. Supreme in rank, power, or authority.
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5
Q

Pharisaical

A

adj.

Hypocritically self-righteous and condemnatory.

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6
Q

August

A

adj.

  1. Inspiring awe or admiration; majestic: “the august presence of the monarch. “
  2. Venerable for reasons of age or high rank.
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7
Q

Illimitable

A

adj.

Impossible to limit or circumscribe; limitless. boundless; infinite.

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8
Q

Grandiose

A

adj.

  1. Characterized by greatness of scope or intent; grand.
  2. Characterized by feigned or affected grandeur; pompous.
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9
Q

Egregious

A

adj

  1. outstandingly bad; offensive; flagrant: “an egregious lie.”
  2. distinguished; eminent
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10
Q

Premonitory

A

n.

  1. A presentiment of the future; a foreboding.
  2. A warning in advance; a forewarning.
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11
Q

Acrid

A

adj.

  1. Unpleasantly sharp, pungent, or bitter to the taste or smell.
  2. Caustic in language, tone or nature.
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12
Q

Irate

A

adj.

  1. Extremely angry; enraged.
  2. Characterized or occasioned by anger: “an irate phone call.”
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13
Q

Acquisitive

A

adj.

  1. Characterized by a strong desire to gain and possess, often greedily.
  2. Tending to acquire and retain ideas or information: “an acquisitive mind.”
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14
Q

Doughty

A

adj.

Marked by stouthearted courage; brave. Hardy; resolute; valiant.

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15
Q

Stark

A

adj
1. (usually prenominal) devoid of any elaboration; blunt: the stark facts.
2. grim; desolate: “a stark landscape.”
3. (usually prenominal) utter; absolute: “stark folly.”
4. severe; violent
5. rigid, as in death (esp in the phrases “stiff and stark,” “stark dead”)
adv
6. completely: “stark mad.”

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16
Q

Moribund

A

adj.

  1. Approaching death; about to die.
  2. On the verge of becoming obsolete: “moribund customs”; a “moribund way of life.”
  3. Stagnant; without force or vitality.
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17
Q

Adamant

A

adj.
Impervious to pleas, appeals, or reason; stubbornly unyielding.

n.

  1. A stone once believed to be impenetrable in its hardness.
  2. An extremely hard substance.
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18
Q

Sanguinary

A

adj

  1. accompanied by much bloodshed
  2. bloodthirsty
  3. consisting of, flowing, or stained with blood
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19
Q

Motley

A
  1. Having elements of great variety or incongruity; heterogeneous.
  2. Having many colors; variegated; parti-colored: “a motley tunic.”
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20
Q

Rife

A

adj.
1. In widespread existence, practice, or use; increasingly prevalent.”rumor was rife in the village.”
2. Abundant or numerous.

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21
Q

Extort

A

tr.v.

To obtain from another by coercion or intimidation. To twist out by force.

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22
Q

Insuperable

A

adj.

Impossible to overcome; insurmountable: “insuperable odds.”

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23
Q

Nonpareil

A

adj.
Having no equal; peerless: “the Yankees’ nonpareil center fielder.”
n.
1. A person or thing that has no equal; a paragon.

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24
Q

Exultant

A

adj

1. elated or jubilant, esp because of triumph or success.

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25
Q

Retort

A

v. intr.
1. To make a reply, especially a quick, caustic, or witty one. To turn someone’s remark back on them.
2. To present a counterargument.
3. To return like for like; retaliate.

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26
Q

Lout

A

n.

An awkward and stupid person; an oaf. A crude and boorish person.

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28
Q

Pandemonium

A

n
1. wild confusion; uproar
2. a place of uproar and chaos
[C17: coined by Milton to designate the capital of hell in Paradise Lost, from pan- + Greek daimōndemon]

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29
Q

Effulgence

A

n.

A brilliant radiance.

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30
Q

Pittance

A

n.

  1. A meager monetary allowance, wage, or remuneration.
  2. A very small amount: “not a pittance of remorse.”
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31
Q

Attrition

A

n.

  1. A rubbing away or wearing down by friction.
  2. A gradual diminution in number or strength because of constant stress.
  3. A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death.
  4. Repentance for sin motivated by fear of punishment rather than by love of God.
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32
Q

Defection

A
  1. abandonment of duty, allegiance, principles, etc; backsliding
  2. Act or instance of disowning allegiance to one’s country to take up residence in another: “a Soviet citizen who defected to Israel.”
  3. To abandon a position or association, often to join an opposing group: “defected from the party over the issue of free trade.”
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33
Q

Maelstrom

A

n.

  1. A violent or turbulent situation: “caught in the maelstrom of war.”
  2. A whirlpool of extraordinary size or violence.
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34
Q

Exaction

A

n.

  1. act of demanding or levying by force or authority; “exaction of tribute”; “exaction of various dues and fees”
  2. an excessive or harsh demand, esp for money; extortion
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35
Q

Avidity

A
  1. Ardent desire or craving; eagerness.

2. Keen interest or enthusiasm: “followed the tournament with avidity.”

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36
Q

Stricture

A

n.

  1. A restraint, limit, or restriction.
  2. An adverse remark or criticism; censure.
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37
Q

Lurid

A

adj.

  1. Causing shock or horror bc of savagery and violence; gruesome.
  2. Marked by sensationalism, ghastly, vivid in shocking detail: “a lurid account of the crime.”
  3. Glowing or shining with the glare of fire through a haze; glowing with an unnatural glare: “lurid flames.”
  4. Sallow or pallid in color; wan; sickly yellow.
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37
Q

Scot-free

A

adv.

  1. Without having to pay: “got away from the restaurant scot-free.”
  2. Without incurring any penalty or punishment: “came away from the incident scot-free.”
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38
Q

Venial

A

adj.

  1. Easily excused or forgiven; pardonable: a venial offense.
  2. (Roman Catholic Church) Minor, therefore warranting only temporal punishment.
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39
Q

Invidious

A

adj

  1. incurring or tending to arouse resentment, unpopularity, etc: an invidious task.
  2. (of comparisons or distinctions) unfairly or offensively discriminating
  3. grudging; envious
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40
Q

Sanguine

A

adj.
1.
a. Of the color of blood; red.
b. Of a healthy reddish color; ruddy: a sanguine complexion.
2. Archaic
a. Having blood as the dominant humor in terms of medieval physiology.
b. Having the temperament and ruddy complexion formerly thought to be characteristic of a person dominated by this humor; passionate.
3. Cheerfully confident; optimistic.

Word History: The similarity in form between sanguine, “cheerfully optimistic,” and sanguinary, “bloodthirsty,” may prompt one to wonder how they have come to have such different meanings. The explanation lies in medieval physiology with its notion of the four humors or bodily fluids (blood, bile, phlegm, and black bile). The relative proportions of these fluids was thought to determine a person’s temperament. If blood was the predominant humor, one had a ruddy face and a disposition marked by courage, hope, and a readiness to fall in love. Such a temperament was called sanguine, the Middle English ancestor of our word sanguine. The source of the Middle English word was Old French sanguin, itself from Latin sanguineus. Both the Old French and Latin words meant “bloody,” “blood-colored,” Old French sanguin having the sense “sanguine in temperament” as well. Latin sanguineus was in turn derived from sanguis, “blood,” just as English sanguinary is. The English adjective sanguine, first recorded in Middle English before 1350, continues to refer to the cheerfulness and optimism that accompanied a sanguine temperament but no longer has any direct reference to medieval physiology.

41
Q

Antipode

A

n.

A direct, exact or diametrical opposite.

43
Q

Surreptitious

A

adj

  1. done, acquired, etc, in secret or by improper means
  2. operating by stealth
  3. characterized by fraud or misrepresentation of the truth
44
Q

Denunciatory

A

adj.

  1. Containing warning of punishment; especially a public condemnation or censure.
  2. Causing blame to be imputed to, by accusing another of a crime before a public prosecutor; inculpatory.
45
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. Unpleasantly sharp, pungent, or bitter to the taste or smell.
  2. Caustic in language, tone or nature.
A

Acrid

46
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. Of chief concern or importance
  2. Supreme in rank, power, or authority.
A

Paramount

47
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

Marked by stouthearted courage; brave. Hardy; resolute; valiant.

A

Doughty

48
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. To make a reply, especially a quick, caustic, or witty one. To turn someone’s remark back on them.
  2. To present a counterargument.
  3. To return like for like; retaliate.
A

Retort

49
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. In widespread existence, practice, or use; increasingly prevalent.
  2. Abundant or numerous.
A

Rife

50
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

Loud and clear; inspiring

A

Clarion

51
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. Putting an end to all debate or action.
  2. Not allowing contradiction or refusal; imperative.
  3. Having the nature of or expressing a command;urgent.
  4. Offensively self-assured; dictatorial
A

Peremptory

52
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. Approaching death; about to die.
  2. On the verge of becoming obsolete.
  3. Stagnant; without force or vitality.
A

Moribund

53
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. extremely sacred or inviolable.
  2. regarded or treated as being above or beyond interference, criticism etc.
A

Sacrosanct

54
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. A presentiment of the future; a foreboding.
  2. A warning in advance; a forewarning.
A

Premonitory

55
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. Deserving or bringing disgrace or shame; despicable; contemptible.
  2. Degrading; debasing.
A

Ignominious

56
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. Characterized by greatness of scope or intent; grand.
  2. Characterized by feigned or affected grandeur; pompous.
A

Grandiose

57
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

Hypocritically self-righteous and condemnatory.

A

Pharisaical

58
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

Impossible to limit or circumscribe; limitless. boundless; infinite.

A

Illimitable

59
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

Impossible to overcome; insurmountable.

A

Insuperable

60
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. Inspiring awe or admiration; majestic.
  2. Venerable for reasons of age or high rank.
A

August

61
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. devoid of any elaboration; blunt.
  2. grim; desolate.
  3. utter; absolute
  4. severe; violent
  5. rigid, as in death
    adv
  6. completely
A

Stark

62
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. Extremely angry; enraged.
  2. Characterized or occasioned by anger
A

Irate

63
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

  1. outstandingly bad; offensive; flagrant
  2. distinguished; eminent
A

Egregious

64
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. Characterized by a strong desire to gain and possess, often greedily.
  2. Tending to retain ideas or information
A

Aquisitive

65
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean?

  1. Having elements of great variety or incongruity; heterogeneous.
  2. Having many colors; variegated; parti-colored
A

Motley

66
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

adj.
Impervious to pleas, appeals, or reason; stubbornly unyielding.

n.

  1. A stone once believed to be impenetrable in its hardness.
  2. An extremely hard substance.
A

Adamant

67
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

Having no equal; peerless

A

Nonpareil

68
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. A meager monetary allowance, wage, or remuneration.
  2. A very small amount.
A

Pittance

69
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. A restraint, limit, or restriction.
  2. An adverse remark or criticism; censure.
A

Stricture

70
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. elated or jubilant, esp because of triumph or success
A

Exultant

71
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. Ardent desire or craving; eagerness.
  2. Keen interest or enthusiasm.
A

Avidity

72
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

To obtain from another by coercion or intimidation. To twist out by force.

A

Extort

73
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

An awkward and stupid person; an oaf.

A

Lout

74
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean?

A brilliant radiance.

A

Effulgence

75
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. A rubbing away or wearing down by friction.
  2. A gradual diminution in number or strength because of constant stress.
  3. A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death.
  4. Repentance for sin motivated by fear of punishment rather than by love of God.
A

Attrition

76
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. abandonment of duty, allegiance, principles, etc; backsliding
  2. Act or instance of disowning allegiance to one’s country to take up residence in another.
A

Defection

77
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. wild confusion; uproar
  2. a place of uproar and chaos
A

Pandemonium

78
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. act of demanding or levying by force or authority.
  2. an excessive or harsh demand, esp for money; extortion
A

Exaction

79
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. Easily excused or forgiven; pardonable
A

Venial

80
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. A violent or turbulent situation.
  2. A whirlpool of extraordinary size or violence.
A

Maelstrom

81
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. Causing shock or horror bc of savagery and violence; gruesome.
  2. Marked by sensationalism, ghastly, vivid in shocking detail.
  3. glowing with an unnatural glare
  4. Sallow or pallid in color; wan; sickly yellow.
A

Lurid

82
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. Without having to pay
  2. Without incurring any penalty or punishment
A

Scot-free

83
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. Containing warning of punishment; especially a public condemnation or censure.
  2. Causing blame to be imputed to, by accusing another of a crime before a public prosecutor; inculpatory.
A

Denunciatory

84
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

  1. done, acquired, etc, in secret or by improper means
  2. operating by stealth
  3. characterized by fraud or misrepresentation of the truth
A

Surreptitious

85
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following?

A direct, exact or diametrical opposite.

A

Antipode

86
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following:

  1. incurring or tending to arouse resentment, unpopularity.
  2. (of comparisons or distinctions) unfairly or offensively discriminating
  3. grudging; envious
A

Invidious

87
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following:

adj

  1. accompanied by much bloodshed
  2. bloodthirsty
  3. consisting of, flowing, or stained with blood
A

Sanguinary

88
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean:

Cheerfully optimistic, hopeful and confident.

A

Sanguine

89
Q

Mordant

A 
adj.
1.
a. Bitingly sarcastic: mordant satire.
b. Incisive and trenchant: an inquisitor's mordant questioning.
2. Bitingly painful.
3. Serving to fix colors in dyeing.

Latin: mordere: to bite

90
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following:

1.

a. Bitingly sarcastic
b. Incisive and trenchant
2. Bitingly painful.
3. Serving to fix colors in dyeing.

A

Mordant

91
Q

Ineffaceable

A

adj.

Impossible to efface; indelible.

92
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following:

adj.
indelible.

A

Ineffaceable

93
Q

Beetling

A

adj.
Jutting; overhanging: beetle brows.
intr.v. bee·tled, bee·tling, bee·tles
To jut; overhang: “The rocks often beetled over the road” (Washington Irving).

94
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following:

adj.
Jutting; overhanging
intr.v
To jut; overhang

A

Beetling

95
Q

Refractory

A

adj.

  1. Obstinately resistant to authority or control. See Synonyms at unruly.
  2. Difficult to melt or work; resistant to heat: a refractory material such as silica.
  3. Resistant to treatment: a refractory case of acne.

Latin: fract–> to break into pieces. infraction: breaking a rule; fraction: broken part of a number; fracture

96
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following:

adj.

  1. Obstinately resistant to authority or control, unbreakable.
  2. Difficult to melt or work; resistant to heat.
  3. Resistant to treatment.
A

Refractory

97
Q

Noisome

A

adj.

  1. Offensive to the point of arousing disgust; foul, esp. of smell: a noisome odor.
  2. Harmful or dangerous: noisome fumes.
98
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following:

adj.

  1. Offensive to the point of arousing disgust; foul, esp. of smell.
  2. Harmful or dangerous, noxious.
A

Noisome

99
Q

Tenuous

A

adj.

  1. lacking a sound basis; unsubstantiated; weak. “A tenuous claim.”
  2. thin or slender in form. “The spider spins its tenuous web.”
  3. thin in consistency; rare or rarefied. “A tenuous fluid is not viscous.”
  4. of slight importance or significance; unsubstantial.
100
Q

Which one of your vocabulary words mean the following:

adj.

  1. lacking a sound basis; unsubstantiated; weak.
  2. thin or slender in form.
  3. thin in consistency; rare or rarefied.
  4. of slight importance or significance; unsubstantial.
A

Tenuous

Balam's GRE Words (7 decks)

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