GRE Deck 7 Flashcards
abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
accelerate
move faster
accommodate
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
actuate
motivate; activate; cause to act
acumen
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
adapt
make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
addle
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
adulterate
make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)
nest of a large bird of prey
aggrandize
make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
agility
nimbleness; ability to move quickly
airy
of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
alchemy
medieval chemistry
alcove
nook; recess
alienate
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
alloy
mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
alms
money or goods given to the poor
altercation
noisy quarrel
amenable
obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
amoral
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
amorous
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
annul
make void
anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being; N.
antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
appellation
name; title
arboreal
of or living in trees
array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
artifacts
object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
attenuate
make thin; weaken
atypical
not normal; not typical
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
avuncular
of or like an uncle
bacchanal
noisy party with a lot of drinking
beholden
obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
blemish
mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished
botch
mismanage; blow
bourgeois
middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions
bout
match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu
brawl
noisy quarrel
brawny
muscular; having well-developed muscles
bungle
mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior
burnish
make shiny by rubbing; polish
calumny
malicious misrepresentation; slander
capacity
mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president
carnivorous
meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
cartographer
map-maker
caulk(calk)
make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
centaur
mythical figure, half man and half horse
ceremonious
marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
char
make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion
chaste
morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere
checkered(chequered)
marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares
cipher
nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
cleft
N: split
cloister
monastery or convent
commonwealth
nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation
compensatory
making up for; repaying
compost
mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put or make compost
composure
mental calmness
compulsory
obligatory; that must be done
concerted
mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together
conglomeration
mass of material sticking together
corollary
natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
correlation
mutual relationship
courier
messenger
creep
move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.
cryptic
mysterious; hidden; secret
cynosure
object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
dapper
neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
dart
move or throw suddenly and quickly
deface
mar; disfigure
definitive
most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
deft
neat; skillful
delirium
mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
demotic
of or pertaining to the people
demur
object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
denotation
meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
derelict
negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
dereliction
neglect of duty; abandonment
desolate
make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
die
metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
dint
means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
discordant
not harmonious; conflicting
disfigure
mar the appearance of; spoil
disgruntle
make discontented
disingenuous
not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
docile
obedient; easily managed; submissive
dowry
money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage
drivel
nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
ductile
malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
earthly
of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason
eccentricity
oddity; idiosyncrasy
effluvium
noxious(harmful) smell
egregious
notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking
engross
occupy fully; absorb
enliven
make lively or spirited; animate
entail
make necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit the inheritance of (property) to a specified succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B
erratic
odd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable
erroneous
mistaken; wrong; incorrect
euphemism
mild expression in place of an unpleasant one; ADJ. euphemistic
euthanasia
mercy killing
evasive
not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading; V. evade: avoid (a duty or responsibility) or escape from by deceit
exceptionable
objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable
exempt
not subject to a duty or obligation; free from a duty; V.
exotic
not native; from another part of the world; strange; intriguingly unusual; Ex. exotic flower/dress
expletive
meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word
exploit
make use of, sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation
extemporaneous
not planned; impromptu; extempore
extraneous
not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external; coming from the outside; Ex. extraneous details/noise/to the subject
faculty
mental or bodily powers; teaching staff
fake
not genuine; N: one that is not genuine; impostor; sham; V: counterfeit; Ex. fake the results of the experiment/the signature
feline
of a member of the cat family; N.
fetid(foetid)
malodorous; foul
fetish(fetich)
object believed to have spiritual powers; object of excessive attention or reverence; CF. fetishism
figurative
not literal but metaphorical; using a figure(impression) of speech
foliage
masses of leaves; CF. defoliate
formidable
menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question
frisk
move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful
fuddle
make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused
fumble
move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in search of something); mishandle or drop a ball that is in play; bungle; botch; spoil by mishandling; N.
gait
manner of walking or running; speed
galvanic
of the production of electricity by the action of an acid on a metal; having the effect of an electric shock; Ex. galvanic cell; galvanic effect; CF. Luigi Galvani
garbled
mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up or distort (a message) to such an extent as to make misleading or unintelligible
geriatrics
medical treatment and care of old age
gesticulation
motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures (while speaking)
gibberish
nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or writing; babbling
gibe
mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks
gorge
narrow canyon; steep rocky cleft; ravine (made by a stream which runs through it)
groom
man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush (an animal)
habitat
natural home of a plant or animal; CF. habitation
hamper
obstruct; prevent the free movement of; N: ÂÂ_Ãâ€_·áÇ°ÀÌÂÂ_ª ÀǺÂÂ_ µîÀ» ´ã´Ãâ€_ ÂÂ_Ù±¸´ÃÂè
headfirst
moving with the head leading; headlong
heedless
not noticing; disregarding
herald
messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher
homely
not good-looking; unattractive
homogeneous
of the same kind; uniform in composition throughout
humane
marked by kindness or consideration; kind and compassionate; humanitarian
humble
of low rank or position; modest; having a low opinion of oneself and a high opinion of others; unassuming; not proud; V. humiliate: make humble; cause to feel ashamed or to lose the respect of others
hybrid
mongrel; mixed breed; V. hybridize
idle
not working; not employed or busy; lazy; without purpose; useless; lacking substance; baseless; not based on truth; Ex. idle worker; Ex. talk idly; V.
illusion
misleading vision or visual image; false idea or belief; CF. delusion
impartial
not biased; fair; N. impartiality
impassable
not able to be traveled or crossed
impending
nearing; approaching; about to happen
impenetrable
not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding; impossible to understand; Ex. impenetrable mystery
impenitent
not repentant
impersonal
not being a person; not showing personal feelings; Ex. impersonal force/manner/organization
impetus
moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse
impolitic
not wise; not expedient; not politic
impoverish
make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil
impregnate
make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate
inalienable
not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex. inalienable rights
incidental
not essential; minor; N: something incidental
incommodious
not spacious; inconvenient
incumbent
obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently holding an office; N: person who holds an office
indecisive
marked by indecision; inconclusive; Ex. indecisive battle
indelible
not able to be erased
indemnify
make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured
indentation
notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth
indigenous
native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World
inebriate
make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person
ineffectual
not effective; not having a desired effect; weak
infamous
notoriously bad; notorious; well known for being bad; Ex. infamous behavior; N: infamy: infamous act; evil fame or reputation
ingenious
marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N. ingenuity
ingenuous
naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid
inimitable
matchless; not able to be imitated
insatiable
not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex. insatiable appetite
institutionalize
make into an institution; put or confine in an institution
insularity
narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula
intangible
not able to be perceived by touch; vague
integrate
make whole; combine; make into one unit
interim
meantime; Ex. in the interim; ADJ. taking place during an interim; Ex. interim paper
internecine
mutually destructive
interstice
narrow space between things
intolerant
not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one’s own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate
intoxicate
make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated by all the money he might win
intrigue
make secret plans; plot; arouse the curiosity of; N: secret scheme; plot; secret love affair
irrelevant
not applicable; unrelated
irreparable
not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible to repair
isthmus
narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land
jaundice
medical condition in which the skin, the white part of the eyes, etc. turn yellow; V: affect with jaundice; affect with prejudice, envy, or hostility; bias
jocund
merry
jumble
mix in a confused way
juridical
of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of courts of law; CF. judiciary
knead
mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough
labyrinth
maze
lag
move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag behind the rest; N.
lateral
of or coming from the side
layman
man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional
leniency
mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe in judgment or punishment
lode
metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)
lot
object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land
low
moo; make the sound of a cow
lucre
money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre
lugubrious
mournful; sorrowful
lull
moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex. a lull in the rain; V: cause to become less active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false sense of security; CF. lullaby
lumber
move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered through the woods; N: timber
maim
mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life
mandatory
obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
manifold
many in number or kind; numerous; varied
maraud
move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
marginal
of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal effect/writing ability
marked
noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man
mat
not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
maternal
motherly; N. maternity: motherhood
mausoleum
monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos
mawkish
mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental
medley
mixture
megalomania
mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance
memoir
memoirs; autobiography; biography
mercenary
motivated solely by money or gain; N.
mete
measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
metrical
metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of Homer
minatory
menacing; threatening
mingle
mix together in close association
mirth
merriment; laughter
misadventure
mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
miscellany
mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items
misdemeanor
minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing
missile
object to be thrown or projected
mobile
movable; not fixed; N. mobility
molten
melted; Ex. molten lava
monumental
massive; impressively large; built as a monument
morgue
mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation
motley
multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)
myopic
nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia
mystic
of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
natty
neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser
negligence
neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care
neologism
new or newly coined word or phrase
niggardly
meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person
noncommittal
neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided
nubile
marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
nullify
make invalid; make null; invalidate
nuptial
of marriage or the wedding ceremony; N; nuptials; wedding ceremony
nurture
nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing
nutrient
nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment
objective
not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim
oblivion
obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness
obnoxious
offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell
obviate
make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need
occult
mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare
officious
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one’s services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy
opiate
medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium
optician
maker and seller of eyeglasses
optimum
most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition
optional
not compulsory; left to one’s choice; N. option: act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to choose; something available as a choice; Ex. have no option; Ex. two options
oracular
of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous; hard to understand; N. oracle: wiser person; prophecy made by an oracle
orifice
mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth
outmoded
no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned
overture
musical introduction to a long musical piece; first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace
overwrought
nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done
palatial
of or suitable for a palace; magnificent
paradigm
model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word
paragon
model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue
parochial
narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes
passive
not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance
patent
obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.
patrician
noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian
pending
not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the decision pending his return
peripheral
of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest
perpetuate
make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity
phenomena
observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength
philistine
narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
phobia
morbid fear
piebald
of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald
pivotal
of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
polar
of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex. polar opposites
potentate
monarch; sovereign
prance
move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
prank
mischievous trick
preclude
make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
preen
make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on; CF. prune
procurement
obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another
projectile
missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
proletarian
member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)
promiscuous
mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity
propensity
natural inclination
prophetic
of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet
propinquity
nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship
proximity
nearness; ADJ. proximate
psychic
of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary mental powers
psychosis
mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic
psychosomatic
of the influence of the mind on the body (esp. with respect to disease)
punctilious
minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful attention payed to every small exact detail
putrefy
make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
quaint
odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque
quibble
minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil
quicksilver
mercury
quorum
minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
rabble
mob; noisy crowd
rabid
of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
ram
male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
rank
offensive in odor or flavor
raspy
making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
rationalize
make rational; devise false reasons for (one’s behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization
ravine
narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon
reciprocal
mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement
reconcile
make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one’s political principles with one’s religious beliefs
recount
narrate or tell (a story); count over again
rectitude
moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
recurrent
occurring again and again
redolent
odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
regicide
murder of a king or queen
regime
method of system or government
regiment
military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society
rejuvenate
make young again
remiss
negligent; careless about a duty
rendezvous
meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.
repast
meal; feast; banquet
reprise
musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises
reprobate
morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?
requiem
mass for the dead; dirge
requisite
necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required; necessary
requite
make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal
restraint
moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
ribald
marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
rift
narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
righteous
morally upright; just
rivet
metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross
roil
make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
rumble
make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder or stomach)
runic
mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune: one of the letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic peoples (cut on stone or wood); magic charm
rustle
make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together
saturnine
morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.
scanty
meager; insufficient
schematic
of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation; outline
score
number of points; written form of a musical composition; reason; group of 20; notch or incision; Ex. full/vocal score; Ex. Don’t worry on that score; V: mark with lines or notches; Ex. score the paper to make it easy to fold
scurry
move hastily; hurry; move briskly
seasonable
occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute
seasonal
of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment
sectarian
of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member of a sect; narrow-minded person
septic
of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)
sextant
navigation tool used to determine a ship’s latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)
shoot
new growth from a plant
shuffle
mix together; jumble; move (something) from one place to another; slide (the feet) along the ground while walking; Ex. shuffle papers from one pile to another; N.
shunt
move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.
simian
monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
skinflint
miser; stingy person
skirmish
minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
skulk
move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.
slack
moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one’s work; N. V.
slavish
of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original
slick
make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib
slink
move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush)
smelt
melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition
sneak
move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky
sobriety
moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
solecism
nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette
sonic
of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic
sparse
not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
sporadic
occurring irregularly; intermittent
spruce
neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.
squabble
minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
striated
marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
stultify
make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression
stun
make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
subordinate
occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
substantial
of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
suitor
man who is courting a woman
sundry
miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items
superficial
of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge
synthetic
not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis; Ex. synthetic fiber; N.
tarnish
make or become dull or discolored; N.
tautological
needlessly repetitious; Ex. ``It was visible to the eye’’; N. tautology: needless repetition of the same sense; statement that is always true
temper
moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) as by alternate heating and cooling
temperate
moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature; CF. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society
temporal
of time; not lasting forever; limited by time; temporary; secular; worldly
tentative
not fully worked out or developed; provisional; experimental; uncertain; hesitant; not definite or positive; Ex. tentative agreement/reply
tessellated
mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
testator
maker of a will; CF. testatrix
thematic
of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
tightwad
miser; excessively frugal person
title
name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation as of rank or office (such as Lord or General); right or claim to possession; championship; Ex. title as head of the family; Ex. title to the estate
titter
nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
titular
of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular head of the company
trim
make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by removing what is unnecessary; ornament; decorate (round the edges); Ex. trim the cost; Ex. jacket trimmed with fur; N. ADJ: tidy; in good order
tryst
meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet
unassailable
not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question
unassuming
modest; Ex. the champion’s unassuming manner
unceremonious
not done politely without due formalities
undulating
moving with a wavelike motion; V. undulate; CF. und: wave
unearthly
not earthly; supernatural; weird; ghostly
unregenerate
making no attempt to change one’s bad practices
unrequited
not requited; not reciprocated; Ex. unrequited love
unwitting
not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex. She was their unwitting accomplice; Ex. unwitting insult; CF. wit: know
uproar
noisy confusion
uproarious
marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy (esp. with laughter); hilarious; causing loud laughter; extremely funny
urchin
mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin: hedgehog; CF. porcupine: pig with spikes ?; CF. sea urchin
validate
make valid; confirm; ratify
venison
meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork, ham, bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton; CF. lamb: lamb
virile
manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength
vitreous
of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify
vulgar
of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth; N. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; CF. vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout
waft
move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window
waver
move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady in decision or movement; Ex. wavering between accepting and refusing
well-bred
of good upbringing; well-mannered and refined
wretch
miserable person; bad or despicable person; ADJ. wretched: miserable; bad; contemptible; vile
