Direct Vocab 1 Flashcards
These next ten decks are designed to verify vocabulary knowledge. This level of knowledge is most helpful in confident elimination during sentence completion processes. It should also improve comprehension during passage reading.
The following vocabulary decks can be used effectively in two ways.
- As a diagnostic test.
- As a pretest memory booster.
Accordingly, you should use them to gauge how many of the 1,000 words provided you know. As you approach 70%, it become less likely you will miss questions due to lack of knowledge.
Two weeks before your test date, you should use these cards most, because short-term memory repetition will boost your recognition.
Remember, this kind of knowledge is only useful to help with elimination. Use the Context Sentence Skill Builder and the Rooting Skill Builder and get your ready list together for the essay.
Define:
abase
(v.) to humiliate, degrade
Define:
abate
(v.) to reduce, lessen
Define:
abdicate
(v.) to give up a position, usually one of leadership
Define:
abduct
(v.) to kidnap, take by force
Define:
aberration
(n.) something that differs from the norm
Define:
abet
(v.) to aid, help, encourage
Define:
abhor
(v.) to hate completely, to detest
Define:
abide
- (v.) to follow (as law)
- (v.) to wait, remain
- (v.) to put up with; tolerate
Define:
abject
(adj.) wretched, pitiful
Define:
abjure
(v.) to reject, renounce
Define:
abnegation
(n.) denial of comfort to oneself
Define:
abort
(v.) to give up on a half-finished project or effort
Define:
abridge
- (v.) to cut down, shorten
- (adj.) shortened
Define:
abrogate
(v.) to abolish, usually by authority
Define:
balk
(v.) to stop, block abruptly
Define:
ballad
(n.) a love song
Define:
banal
(adj.) dull, commonplace
Define:
cacophony
(n.) tremendous noise, disharmonious loud sound
Define:
cadence
(n.) a rhythm, progression of sound
Define:
cajole
(v.) to urge, coax
Define:
calamity
(n.) an event with disastrous consequences
Define:
calibrate
(v.) to set, standardize
Define:
callous
(adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling
Define:
calumny
(n.) an attempt to spoil a reputation by spreading lies
Define:
camaraderie
(n.) brotherhood, jovial unity
Define:
candor
(n.) honesty, frankness
Define:
canny
(adj.) shrewd, careful
Define:
canvas
- (n.) a piece of cloth on which an artist paints
- (v.) to cover, inspect
Define:
capacious
(adj.) very spacious
Define:
capitulate
(v.) to surrender
Define:
daunting
(adj.) intimidating, causing one to lose courage
Define:
dearth
(n.) a lack, scarcity
Define:
debacle
(n.) a disastrous failure, disruption
Define:
debase
(v.) to lower the quality or esteem of something
Define:
debauch
(v.) to corrupt by means of sensual pleasures
Define:
debunk
(v.) to expose the falseness of something
Define:
decorous
(adj.) socially proper, appropriate
Define:
decry
(v.) to criticize openly
Define:
deface
(v.) to ruin or injure to the appearance of something
Define:
defamatory
(adj.) harmful toward the reputation of another
Define:
ebullient
(adj.) extremely lively, enthusiastic
Define:
eclectic
(adj.) consisting of a diverse variety of elements
Define:
ecstatic
(adj.) intensely and overpoweringly happy
Define:
edict
(n.) an order, decree
Define:
efface
(v.) to wipe out, obliterate, rub away
Define:
effervescent
(adj.) bubbly, lively
Define:
efficacious
(adj.) effective
Define:
fabricate
(v.) to make up, invent
Define:
facade
- (n.) the wall of a building
- (n.) a deceptive appearance or attitude
Define:
facile
- (adj.) easy, requiring little effort
- (adj.) superficial, achieved with minimal thought or care, insincere
Define:
garish
(adj.) gaudy, in bad taste
Define:
hackneyed
(adj.) unoriginal, trite
Define:
iconoclast
(n.) one who attacks common beliefs or institutions
Define:
idiosyncratic
(adj.) peculiar to one person; highly individualized
Define:
idolatrous
(adj.) excessively worshipping one object or person
Define:
ignominious
(adj.) humiliating, disgracing
Define:
illicit
(adj.) forbidden, not permitted
Define:
immerse
(v.) to absorb, deeply involve, engross
Define:
immutable
(adj.) not changeable
Define:
impassive
(adj.) stoic, not susceptible to suffering
Define:
laceration
(n.) a cut, tear
Define:
laconic
(adj.) terse in speech or writing
Define:
maelstrom
(n.) a destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects
Define:
magnanimous
(adj.) noble, generous
Define:
malediction
(n.) a curse
Define:
nadir
(n.) the lowest point of something
Define:
nascent
(adj.) in the process of being born or coming into existence
Define:
obdurate
(adj.) unyielding to persuasion or moral influences
Define:
obfuscate
(v.) to render incomprehensible
Define:
pacific
(adj.) soothing
Define:
palatable
(adj.) agreeable to the taste or sensibilities
Define:
palette
(adj.) a range of colors or qualities
Define:
palliate
(v.) to reduce the severity of
Define:
pallid
(adj.) lacking color
Define:
panacea
(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties
Define:
paradigm
(n.) an example that is a perfect pattern or model
Define:
paradox
(n.) an apparently contradictory statement that is perhaps true
Define:
paragon
(n.) a model of excellence or perfection
Define:
paramount
(adj.) greatest in importance, rank, character
Define:
quagmire
(n.) a difficult situation
Define:
rail
(v.) to scold, protest
Define:
rancid
(adj.) having a terrible taste or smell
Define:
rancor
(n.) deep, bitter resentment
Define:
rapport
(n.) mutual understanding and harmony
Define:
rash
(adj.) hasty, incautious
Define:
saccharine
(adj.) sickeningly sweet
Define:
sacrosanct
(adj.) holy, something that should not be criticized
Define:
sagacity
(n.) soundness of perspective
Define:
salient
(adj.) significant, conspicuous
Define:
salutation
(n.) a greeting
Define:
tacit
(adj.) expressed without words
Define:
taciturn
(adj.) not inclined to talk
Define:
tangential
(adj.) incidental, peripheral, divergent
Define:
tantamount
(adj.) equivalent in value or significance
Define:
ubiquitous
(adj.) existing everywhere, widespread
Define:
vacillate
(v.) to fluctuate, hesitate
Define:
vacuous
(adj.) lack of content or ideas, stupid
Define:
wallow
(v.) to roll oneself indolently; to become or remain helpless
Define:
yoke
(v.) to join, link
Define:
zealous
(adj.) fervent, filled with eagerness in pursuit of something