GRE Deck 4 Flashcards
abash
embarrass
abide
dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can’t abide rude people.
abode
dwelling place; home
abyss
enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
accoutre
equip; N. accoutrement
acrophobia
fear of heights
adept
expert at; very skilled
adulation
flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
affable
easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
affinity
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
aghast
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
allure
entice; attract; tempt
amazon
female warrior
ambience
environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
ambrosia
food of the gods
ample
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
ancestry
family descent; ADJ. ancestral
anodyne
drug that relieves pain or trouble; ÃÂÅøÃ…ëÃÂÅÂÂ_; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
apotheosis
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
apparent
evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
appraise
estimate value of; N. appraisal
apprehensive
fearful; discerning
aptitude
fitness; talent
arable
fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
armada
fleet of warships
artful
exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
articulate
effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
ascertain
find out for certain; make certain
assurance
firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one’s own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one’s own ability; showing certainty
astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
astronomical
enormously large or extensive
attribute
essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
audit
examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
auspicious
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
austere
forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk’s austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
aversion
firm dislike
aviary
enclosure for birds; large cage
bacchanalian
drunken
baleful
evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
bedizen
dress with vulgar finery
beget
father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
begrudge
envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn’t begrudge him his success.
biennial
every two years
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
blandishment
flattery
blatant
extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
blunder
error; stupid mistake
bolt
door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a door); gobble down
bookish
fond of books and reading
bowdlerize
expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
brave
face courageously; Ex. brave the storm
brink
edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon
canto
division of a long poem
captious
faultfinding; too critical
cardiologist
doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
carnal
fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
carousal
drunken revel; V. carouse
chimerical
fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
claustrophobia
fear of being locked in
collate
examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)
combustible
easily burned; N. CF. combustion
commensurate
equal in extent; of the same size
commiserate
feel or express pity or sympathy for
component
element; ingredient
compress
force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.
condole
express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow
confluence
flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together
congenital
existing at birth
conscript
draftee; person forced into military service; V.
construe
explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
conversant
familiar with; having knowledge of
coquette
flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
cordon
extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; (ÂÂ_î±ú¿¡ÂÂ_ÂÂ_ °Üµå¶û ÂÂ_ØÀ¸·ÃÅ_ °ÉÃâ€_¡´Ãâ€_) ÀåÂÂ_Ãâ€_ ¸®º»; V.
correlate
either of the correlated things; V.
corrosive
eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
credential
evidence concerning one’s authority; written proof of a person’s position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.
crux
essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
d'enouement
final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
debunk
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
deciduous
falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
declivity
downward slope
decry
express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
defalcate
embezzle
default
failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
delete
erase; strike out
delta
flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
deluge
flood; rush; V.
delusion
false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
demoniac(demoniacal)
fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
depravity
extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
deprecate
express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
derogatory
expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
desiccate
dry up
destitute
extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
detached
emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
detonation
explosion
devoid
empty; lacking
devotee
enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
dilapidated
falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
dilate
expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
dismiss
eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal
distend
expand; swell out
dominant
exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive
dossier
file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
drab
dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
draconian
extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
draft
first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript
dribble
flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
drip
fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
drudge
do drudgery; N: person who drudges
duplicity
double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
duress
forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
dynamic
energetic; vigorously active
ecclesiastic
ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman
economy
efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources
ecosystem
ecological community together with its environment
effective
effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph
effectuate
effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation
effigy
dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President
egoism
excessive interest in one’s self; belief that one should be interested in one’s self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical
egotistical
egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited
egress
exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress
ejaculation
exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate
elated
filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation
elevation
elevated position; altitude; height; flat upright side of a building; angle made by pointing a gun; Ex. The elevation of her style is much admired; Ex. front elevation of the house
elicit
draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone)
elliptical
elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out
eloquence
expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced
elucidate
explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid
elusive
evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes me.
embed(imbed)
enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass
encipher
encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher
endearment
fond word or act; expression of affection
engaged
employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict
ensue
follow (as a result)
entree(entr'ee)
entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle
environ
enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city)
equitable
fair; impartial; OP. inequitable
equity
fairness; justice; OP. inequity
erode
eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks.
eulogy
expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone’s death; V. eulogize
euphoria
feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being; feeling of great happiness or well-being (when unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric
evanescent
fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce
ewe
female sheep
exacting
extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety
except
exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality
exegesis
explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages
exertion
effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert oneself: make a great effort
exorcise
drive out evil spirits
expatriate
exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish; leave one’s country
expeditious
done with speed; quick; N. expedition
explicate
explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable
expository
explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition
expound
explain
extrinsic
external; not essential or inherent; extraneous; OP. intrinsic
extrude
force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die
exude
flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation
facile
easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial; not deep; Ex. facile solution to a complex problem; Ex. facile speaker; N. facility: ability to do something easily and well; ease in doing resulting from skill or aptitude; something that facilitates an action; amenity; Ex. with great facility
fallacious
false; based on a fallacy; misleading; N. fallacy: false idea or notion; false reasoning; Ex. popular fallacy; Ex. fallacy of the argument
fanaticism
excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause; N. fanatic; ADJ. fanatic
febrile
feverish
fecundity
fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young
ferocious
fierce; violent; N. ferocity
ferret
drive or hunt out of hiding; hunt with ferrets; drive out (as from a hiding place); expel; uncover or discover by searching; Ex. ferret out the secret; N. small fierce animal which catches rats and rabbits by going into their holes
fiend
evil spirit; devil
flaccid
flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles
flag
droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ. flagging; CF. unflagging
fleet
fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral
flit
fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
floe
flat mass of floating ice
flotsam
drifting wreckage
flux
flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux
founder
fail completely; sink; CF. flounder
fraught
filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight
frond
fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
fugitive
fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large
fussy
fastidious; finicky; easily upset
gamut
entire range
gaudy
flashy; showy
genus
division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species
germ
earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something that may develop into something larger or more important; microbe
gestate
evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth
gist
essence; main point; substance
glib
fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick
gloat
express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels.
gloss_over
explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults
gnome
dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure hoards
gobble
eat very quickly
gourmand
epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink
grimace
facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc; V.
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or amusement)
grueling
exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race
gullible
easily deceived
gusto
eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm
halfhearted
exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm
harbinger
forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
hegemony
dominance especially of one nation over others
homespun
domestic; made at home; spun or woven at home; simple and ordinary; Ex. homespun philosophy
hortatory
encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort
humdrum
dull; monotonous
hydrophobia
fear of water; rabies
hyperbole
exaggeration; overstatement; ADJ. hyperbolic: of hyperbole; of a hyperbola
hypercritical
excessively exacting; too critical (without noticing good qualities)
hysteria
excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric: person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack of hysteria
idiom
expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic
imbibe
drink in
impeccable
faultless
impel
drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action
imperious
domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor
incarnate
endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody
incense
enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned to produce a pleasant odor
incident
event; event that causes a crisis
inflated
exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)
influx
flowing into
inherent
firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic
inquisitive
eager for knowledge; unduly curious
interjection
exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch’’
interminable
endless
intrepid
fearless
intrinsic
essential; inherent; built-in
inundate
flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work
iridescent
exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil slick; N. iridescence
ironic
expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner
jeopardize
endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy: danger
jingoist
extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism
kismet
fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.
latch
fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch
leave-taking
farewell or departure
legend
explanatory list of symbols on a map
lethargic
drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness and inactivity
levee
earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise
liability
drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)
lilliputian
extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver’s Travels
limber
flexible; supple; pliable; V.
limn
draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
lineaments
features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line
lithe
flexible; supple; CF. limber
lucid
easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity
machinations
evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate
malefactor
evildoer; criminal
maleficient
doing evil; N. maleficience
manifest
evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly
manumit
emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
matin'ee(matinee)
dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon
matriculate
enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix
maudlin
effusively sentimental
medium
element that is a creature’s natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substance through which something else is transmitted
melee
fight
meretricious
flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute
meticulous
excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous
minuscule(miniscule)
extremely small
minute
extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting
mire
entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire
misapprehension
error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
misgivings
doubts
modish
fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
moodiness
fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood: state of mind or emotion
moribund
dying; at the point of death; CF. death
nausea
feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness
nectar
drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
nepotism
favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
nocturnal
done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne
obese
excessively fat; N. obesity
omnivorous
eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything
opulence
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant
oratorio
dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata
ornate
excessively or elaborately decorated
oust
expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting
ovation
enthusiastic applause
ovoid
egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate
palliate
ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)
panache
flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache; CF. ÀÜ ÂÂ_Æ·¡·ÃÅ_ õÀ» »©ÂÂ_»´Ãâ€_ ÂÂ_ØÂÂ_ÂÂ_
paramount
foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal
paraphernalia
equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman’s property exclusive of her dowry
parched
extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)
parity
equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate
paroxysm
fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst
parquet
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece
patriarch
father and ruler of a family or tribe
pen
fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
penetrate
enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand
pensive
dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over
penury
extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy
perfunctory
done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss
perjury
false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath
perpetual
everlasting
philanderer
faithless lover; flirt
physiognomy
face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
plaintive
expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
plethora
excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
pliable
flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
pliant
flexible; easily influenced
plumage
feathers of a bird;
plumb
exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of
plummet
fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.
podiatrist
doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics
potential
expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
potion
dose (of liquids); liquid dose
practicable
feasible
precinct
division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college
precise
exact
pretend
feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don’t pretend to much expertise; N. pretense
pretext
excuse
primal
first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man’s primal innocence
primary
first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first
primordial
existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
probe
explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe
prodigious
enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory
prognosis
forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
propitious
favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign
propriety
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary
propulsive
driving forward; N. propulsion
provender
dry food for livestock; fodder
prowess
extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle
prude
excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety
psychiatrist
doctor who treats mental diseases
pterodactyl
extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger
quaff
drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); ÂÂ_ÃœÂÂ_©ÂÂ_ÃœÂÂ_© ¸¶ÂÂ_ôÙ; CF. sip
quay
dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
queasy
experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy
quiescent
dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence
rapt
engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
ration
fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
ravel
fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
ravenous
extremely hungry; voracious
reciprocate
do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually; interchange; move backwards and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights
reek
emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench
refulgent
effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon
regale
entertain
relish
enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
renown
fame; ADJ. renowned
repel
drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion
repellent
driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive; N.
replenish
fill up again
resilient
elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from misfortune)
retinue
following; attendants
reverberate
echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.
rhapsody
excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)
rig
fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; Ex. rig the election
rudimentary
elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language
savor
enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality
scrutinize
examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny
season
enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning
seasoned
experienced
self-indulgence
excessive indulgence of one’s own desire
sherbet
flavored dessert ice
significant
expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant
simulate
feign; imitate
sinister
evil; ominous
solicit
entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer
sordid
filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
spasmodic
fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
sphinx-like
enigmatic; mysterious
spurious
false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments
squeamish
easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.
stanza
division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
stodgy
dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
stolid
dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
subsequent
following in time or order; later
subsistence
existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
superfluous
excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity
supple
flexible; limber; pliant
suppliant
entreating; beseeching; N.
surpass
exceed
surreptitious
done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
swill
drink greedily
tantamount
equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount
tantrum
fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex. The child went into tantrums.
tenacity
firmness; persistence
tenet
doctrine; dogma
termination
end; V. terminate
timorous
fearful; timid; demonstrating fear
tipple
drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink
tractable
docile; easily managed; (of something) easily changed or molded; N. tractability
traduce
expose to slander
transcendent
exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing; V. transcend: go beyond; exceed; surpass; N. transcendancy
trepidation
fear; nervous apprehension
trickle
flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
turmoil
extreme confusion; great commotion and confusion; Ex. throw the country into turmoil
ultimate
final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental; Ex. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.
underhand(underhanded)
done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)
unexceptionable
entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism
urge
drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to take action; impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that prompts action
uxorious
excessively submissive or devoted to one’s wife; CF. uxor: wife
vacuous
empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity
vehement
forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence
verve
enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor
viand
food; CF. live
vicarious
experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ
victuals
food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food
visage
face; appearance
visceral
felt in one’s inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate
vision
eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural
vixen
female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew
voluble
fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility
weird
eerie; strange; unnatural
willowy
flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
