Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Balam's GRE Words > Deck 6 > Flashcards

Deck 6 Flashcards

0
Q

Steep

v

A
  1. To soak in liquid in order to cleanse, soften, or extract a given property from.
  2. To infuse or subject thoroughly to.
  3. To make thoroughly wet; saturate.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

Singular

adj

A

3.

a. Being beyond what is ordinary, especially in being exceptionally good; remarkable: “Dinners with [our two friends] became the evenings we looked forward to with singular pleasure” (David Halberstam).
b. Strange or unusual: “I accordingly obeyed forthwith what I still considered a very singular summons” (Edgar Allan Poe).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Strut

n

A
  1. A structural element used to brace or strengthen a framework by resisting stress or compression.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Limpid

adj

A
  1. Characterized by transparent clearness; pellucid.
  2. Free from clouds or haze: a limpid sky.
  3. Easily intelligible; clear: writes in a limpid style.
  4. Easily or pleasantly heard; distinct: playing the violin with a limpid tone.
  5. Flowing or moving gracefully: limpid movements of a dancer.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Wag

n

A

A humorous or droll person; a wit.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Table

v

A

To postpone or remove from consideration of (a piece of legislation, a parliamentary motion, for example); shelve.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Stand

n

A

A group of trees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Scurvy

adj

A

Contemptible; despicable. “A scurvy knave.”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Anathema

n

A
  1. A formal ecclesiastical ban, curse, or excommunication.
  2. A vehement denunciation; a curse: “the sound of a witch’s anathemas in some unknown tongue” (Nathaniel Hawthorne).
  3. One that is cursed or damned.
  4. One that is greatly reviled, loathed, or shunned: “Essentialism—a belief in natural, immutable sex differences—is anathema to postmodernists.”
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Tender

v

A
  1. To proffer; To offer formally: “tender a letter of resignation.”
  2. Law To offer (payment or performance) pursuant to an obligation.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Waffle

v

A

To speak or write equivocally, evasively. To be unable to make a decision, waver.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Asseverate

v

A

Aver, assert. To declare seriously or positively; affirm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Cavil

n

A

To argue or find fault over trivial matters; raise petty objections. Quibble; Carp.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Contumacious

adj

A

Obstinately disobedient or rebellious; insubordinate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Descry

v

A
  1. To catch sight of (something difficult to discern).
    “From the top of the hill I descried a solitary rider.”
  2. To discover by careful observation or scrutiny; detect: “descried a message of hope in her words.”
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Exegesis

n

A

Critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text. Explication.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Celerity

n

A

Swiftness of action or motion; speed. Alacrity. (Think of “accelerate”)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Fatuous

adj

A

Foolish or silly, complacently or inanely foolish; especially in a smug or self-satisfied way: “an era of delicious, fatuous optimism shaped by the belief that enough good will on the part of people like ourselves could repair anything” (Shirley Abbott). See Synonyms at foolish.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Diaphanous

adj

A

adj.

  1. Sufficiently thin or airy as to be translucent: “a diaphanous gown; diaphanous gauze.”
  2. Of such fine composition as to be easily damaged or broken; delicate: “diaphanous butterfly wings.”
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Nonplussed

adj

A
  1. To be at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; bewildered.

“The scientists were completely nonplussed—the apparatus had not acted at all as they had expected.”

Usage problem: the word is frequently used to mean “to make indifferent, bore,” as if the plus part of the word meant “to overcome with excitement.” This usage is still controversial and should probably be avoided.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Pellucid

adj

A
  1. Admitting the passage of light; transparent or translucent.
  2. Transparently clear in style or meaning. Limpid: “pellucid prose.”
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Sententious

adj

A
  1. Terse and energetic in expression; pithy.

2. Full of or given to using aphorisms, especially in a pompously moralizing manner. Epigrammatic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Exscind

v

A

To cut out; excise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Lubricious

adj

A

1.

a. Full of or displaying sexual desire: “They fell immediately into an orgy of lubricious kissing” (Joseph Heller).
b. Sexually stimulating; salacious: “a book of lubricious photographs.”
2. Having a slippery or smooth quality: “Throughout the empire a lubricious glaze of venality came to coat every governmental surface” (Cullen Murphy).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Peroration

n

A
  1. the concluding part of a speech, which recapitulates the principal points.
  2. a long speech, often flowery and highly rhetorical.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Which of your words means:

To proffer; offer.

A

Tender

v

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Imbroglio

n

A

a. A difficult, intricate or perplexing political or interpersonal situation; an entanglement.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Which of your words means:

To postpone or remove from consideration of; shelve.

A

Table

v

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Which of your words means:

A structural element used to brace or strengthen a framework

A

Strut

n

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Ossified

adj

A

Tending to become more rigid, conventional, sterile amd reactionary with age. Literally “to change into bone.”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Which of your words means:

To saturate of completely soak.

A

Steep

v

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Which of your words means:

A group of trees

A

Stand

n

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Which of your words means:

Exceptional, unusual, odd.

A

Singular

adj

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Which of your words means:

Contemptible, despicable.

A

Scurvy

adj

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Which of your words means:

A vehement denunciation; a curse.
One that is cursed or damned.
One that is greatly reviled, loathed, or shunned.

A

Anathema

n

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Which of your words means:

A humorous or droll person; a wit.

A

Wag

n

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Which of your words means:

To speak or write equivocally, evasively. To be unable to make a decision, waver.

A

Waffle

v

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Which of your words means:

Full of or given to using aphorisms, especially in a pompously moralizing manner. Epigrammatic.

A

Sententious

adj

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. the concluding part of a speech.
  2. a long, flowery and highly rhetorical speech.
A

Peroration

n

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Which of your words means:

Characterized by transparent clearness; pellucid.

A

Limpid

adj

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

Which of your words means:

Complacently or inanely foolish; especially in a smug or self-satisfied way.

A

Fatuous

adj

56
Q

Which of your words means:

Tending to become more rigid, conventional, sterile amd reactionary with age.

A

Ossified

adj

57
Q

Which of your words means:

Full of or displaying sexual desire; Salacious; Greasy, slippery.

A

Lubricious

adj

58
Q

Which of your words means:

To be at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; bewildered.

A

Nonplussed

adj

59
Q

Which of your words means:

Transparent, clear, easy to understand, limpid.

A

Pellucid

adj

60
Q

Which of your words means:

A difficult or embarrassing situation.

A

Imbroglio

n

61
Q

Which of your words means:

To cut out; excise.

63
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. Sufficiently thin or airy as to be translucent.
  2. Of such fine composition as to be easily damaged or broken; delicate.
A

Diaphanous

adj

64
Q

Which of your words means:

Critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text.

A

Exegesis

n

65
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. To catch sight of (something difficult to discern).
  2. To discover by careful observation or scrutiny; detect.
66
Q

Which of your words means:

Obstinately disobedient or rebellious; insubordinate.

A

Contumacious

adj

67
Q

Which of your words means:

Speed, alacrity.

A

Celerity

n

68
Q

Which one of your words means:

To argue or find fault over trivial matters; raise petty objections. Quibble; Carp.

69
Q

Which of your words means:

To declare seriously or positively; affirm.

A

Asseverate

n

70
Q

Lithe

adj

A
  1. Bending readily; pliant; limber; supple. “Lithe birch branches.”
  2. Marked by effortless grace. “A lithe ballet dancer.”

Syn. Lissom, lissome, lithesome, supple, sylphlike, svelte, slender, graceful.

71
Q

Which one of your words means:

  1. Bending readily; pliant; limber; supple.
  2. Marked by effortless grace.
72
Q

Philippic

n

A

A violent verbal denunciation characterized by harsh, often insulting language; a tirade; bitter or impassioned speech of censure or denunciation; invective.
(Named after the orations of Demosthenes against Philip II, king of Macedonia.)

Syn. diatribe; fulmination; harangue; jeremiad; tirade.

73
Q

Which of your words means:

A violent verbal denunciation characterized by harsh, often insulting language; a tirade; bitter or impassioned speech of censure or denunciation; invective.

A

Philippic

n

74
Q

Panacea

n

A

A remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all.

Syn. Nostrum; catholicon.

75
Q

Which of your words mean:

A remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a nostrum.

76
Q

Lissome

adj

A
  1. Moving or able to move with grace and ease; lithe and graceful.
  2. Easily bent; supple; agile; nimble or active.
77
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. Moving or able to move with grace and ease; lithe and graceful.
  2. Easily bent; supple; agile; nimble or active.
A

Lissome

adj

78
Q

Hale

adj) (v

A

(adj) Free from infirmity or illness; sound; strong; healthy; robust.
(v) To compel to go; to pull or drag; to cause to do through pressure or necessity.

79
Q

Which of your words means:

(adj) Free from infirmity or illness; sound; strong; healthy; robust.
(v) To compel to go; to pull or drag; to cause to do through pressure or necessity.

A

Hale

adj) (v

80
Q

Mettle

n

A
  1. Courage; fortitude. Determination; resolve. Ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances.
  2. Inherent character; disposition or temperament.

Idiom: on (one’s) mettle: prepared to accept a challenge and do one’s best.

Syn. Nerve; spunk; pluck; heart. Spirit, resolution.

81
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. Courage; fortitude. Determination; resolve. Ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances.
  2. Inherent character; disposition or temperament.
82
Q

Pilfer; Pilfering

v

A
  1. To steal (minor items) esp. in small quantities.

Syn. filch, snitch.

83
Q

Which of your words means:

To steal (minor items) esp. in small quantities.

A

Pilfer; Pilfering

v

84
Q

Olio

n

A
  1. A mixture or medley; a hodgepodge.
  2. A collection of various artistic or literary works or musical pieces; a miscellany.

Syn. Gallimaufry; potpourri; mélange; salmagundi.

85
Q

Which of your words means:

A mixture or medley; a hodgepodge.

86
Q

Equable

adj

A
  1. Unvarying, steady; uniform. “An equable climate.”

2. Not easily disturbed; serene; even-tempered; placid.

87
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. Unvarying, steady; uniform.
  2. Not easily disturbed; serene; even-tempered; placid.
A

Equable

adj

88
Q

Priggish (adj.)

Prig (n)

A

A person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner.

Syn. Square-toed, straight-laced; prissy; prudish; puritanical, prim.

89
Q

Which one of your words means:

A person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, especially in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner.

A

Prig (n)

Priggish (adj)

90
Q

Bootless

adj

A

Of little or no use; vain; fruitless; futile; sleeveless.

91
Q

Which of your words mean:

Of little or no use; vain; fruitless; futile; sleeveless.

A

Bootless

adj

92
Q

Feckless

adj

A
  1. Careless and irresponsible.
  2. Feeble, weak or ineffective.

Syn. Irresponsible; indifferent; inept; incompetent.

93
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. Careless and irresponsible.
  2. Feeble, weak or ineffective.
A

Feckless

adj

94
Q

Philandering ; Philander

v

A
  1. To have a sexual affair w s.one who is not one’s partner or spouse. Used esp.of men.
  2. To have many casual sexual affairs. Used esp. Of men.(why? Because they preserve promiscuous and nympho for women? ::side-eye::)
95
Q

Which of your words mean:

  1. To have a sexual affair w s.one who is not one’s partner or spouse. Used esp.of men.
  2. To have many casual sexual affairs. Used esp. Of men.
A

Philandering; Philander

v

96
Q

Prurient

adj

A
  1. Characterized by an inordinate interest in sex.
  2. Arousing or appealing to an inordinate interest in sex.

Syn. Lustful; salacious; lubricious; lascivious; lewd; lecherous; hankering; libidinous; concupiscent; smutty; indecent; licentious.

97
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. Characterized by an inordinate interest in sex.
  2. Arousing or appealing to an inordinate interest in sex.
A

Prurient

adj

98
Q

Puckish

adj

A

Mischievous, impish; naughty, annoyingly playful; whimsical; pixilated.

99
Q

Which of your words mean:

Mischievous, impish; naughty, annoyingly playful

A

Puckish

adj

100
Q

Pyrrhic

n

A
  1. A metrical unit of two short or unstressed syllables.

2. An ancient Greek dance imitating the motions of warfare; ritual dance.

101
Q

Which of your words mean:

  1. A metrical unit of two short or unstressed syllables.
  2. An ancient Greek dance imitating the motions of warfare; ritual dance.
102
Q

Requite

v

A

To make return to, respond to (a person for a kindness or injury); repay with a similar or appropriate action; to get revenge.

“If he love to madness, I shall never requite him.” (Shakespeare)

103
Q

Which of your words means:

To make return to, respond to (a person for a kindness or injury); repay with a similar or appropriate action.

104
Q

Irredentist

n

A

One who advocates the recovery of territory culturally or historically related to one’s nation but now subject to a foreign government.

For instance RIRA (The Real IRA) is an irredentist political group formed after the Good Friday agreement. RIRA believes that the British dominion has not ended and wants North Ireland back from UK rule.

105
Q

Which of your words means:

One who advocates the recovery of territory culturally or historically related to one’s nation but now subject to a foreign government.

A

Irredentist

n

106
Q

Uncouth

adj

A
  1. Crude, unrefined; lacking in good manners or grace.
  2. Awkward or clumsy; ungraceful.
  3. Rude, uncivil or boorish.

Syn. Ungainly, gawky, loutish, oafish, lubberly, churlish.

107
Q

Which of your questions means:

  1. Crude, unrefined; lacking in good manners or grace.
  2. Awkward or clumsy; ungraceful.
  3. Rude, uncivil or boorish.
A

Uncouth

adj

108
Q

Pulchritude (n) ; Pulchritudinous (adj)

A

Great physical beauty and appeal; comeliness.

Syn. Beauty; curvaceousness; voluptuousness; shapeliness.

109
Q

Which of your words means:

Great physical beauty and appeal; comeliness.

A

Pulchritude

n

110
Q

Putative

adj

A
  1. Generally regarded as such; supposed; reputed.
  2. Considered to exist or have existed; inferred.

Syn. Imputed; Purported; acknowledged.

111
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. Generally regarded as such; supposed; reputed.
  2. Considered to exist or have existed; inferred.
A

Putative

adj

112
Q

Assay

n) (v

A

(v) 1. To examine or analyze. “To assay a situation.”
2. To test or evaluate. “Assay one’s strength.”
3. To attempt; try; essay. “To assay a dance step.”
4. To analize a substance for strength, composition, content.

(n) 1. An analysis of the composition, strength of a substance.
2. A substance undergoing trial.
3. A detailed report of the findings in assaying a substance.

113
Q

Which of your words means:

  1. To examine or analyze.
  2. To test or evaluate.
  3. To attempt; try.
A

Assay

v) (n

114
Q

Abstruse

adj

A

Difficult to understand; recondite; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge; esoteric.

115
Q

Which of your words means:

Difficult to understand; recondite; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge; esoteric.

A

Abstruse

adj

Balam's GRE Words (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions