GRE Deck 9 Flashcards
abdicate
renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
abjure
renounce upon oath
abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down
abstain
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one’s vote; ±â±ÇÇÃÂè´Ù
abstinence
restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
academic
related to a school; not practical or directly useful
acknowledge
recognize; admit
advert
refer
alleviate
relieve (pain)
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
allude
refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
annals
records arranged in yearly parts; history
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
antecede
precede
antecedents
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
antidote
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
archives
public records; place where public records are kept
arrogance
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one’s own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
ascribe
refer; attribute; assign
aseptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
astral
relating to the stars
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
attrition
rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
authenticate
prove genuine
averse
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
avert
prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
backslide
revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
bar
railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister
belligerent
quarrelsome
bicker
quarrel
bluff
pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured
boor
rude, insensitive person
boorish
rude; insensitive
breed
produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant
brisk
quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
bristling
rising like bristles; showing irritation
brocade
rich, figured(patterned) fabric
bucolic
rustic; pastoral
bulge
protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude
cadence
rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
canine
related to dogs; doglike
career
rush wildly; go at full speed
carrion
rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
castigation
punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
castrate
remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
cater
provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)
catharsis
purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art
cathartic
purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
caucus
private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston
cavalcade
procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry
cavil
quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
centrifugal
radiating; departing from the center
centurion
Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)
charlatan
quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)
charm
quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch
chastise
punish as by beating; criticize severely
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order)
circuitous
roundabout
circumspect
prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
cistern
reservoir or water tank
cite
quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record
climactic
relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
clipper
sailing vessel built for great speed
comeback
retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
commemorative
remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp
compliant
readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements
compulsive
resulting from compulsion
compunction
remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
compute
reckon; calculate
conciliatory
reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)
conclave
private secret meeting
concoct
prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction
connivance
pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire
constraint
restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison
contentious
quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
conundrum
riddle; difficult problem
cornice
projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars); ÃÂÂ_¸¶ ÀåÂÂ_Ãâ€_
corpuscle
red or white cell in the blood
culinary
relating to cooking or kitchen
curfew
regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew
d'ebris
rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
dais
raised platform for speakers or other important people
dearth
scarcity
decorous
proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
decorum
propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
defeatist
resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
defiance
refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
defray
provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
dehydrate
remove water from; dry out
demographic
related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
denomination
religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic
deplete
reduce; exhaust
deplore
regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition
deride
ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
derision
ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
desecrate
profane; violate the sanctity of
desperado
reckless, desperate outlaw
determination
resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
devious
roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
dialectical
relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
disclose
reveal; N. disclosure
discretion
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
dislodge
remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
dispel
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
disperse
scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
dissimulate
pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
distant
reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
distill
refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew
divulge
reveal
docket
program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket
document
provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.
domineer
rule over tyrannically
don
put on; OP. doff
dorsal
relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
drama
prose or verse composition to be performed by actors; play; exciting and unusual situation
droll
queer and amusing
dubious
questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
ecstasy
rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy
efface
rub out; remove the surface of
effrontery
rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
elope
run away secretly with the intention of getting married
elysian
relating to paradise; blissful
emboss
produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design
eminent
rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position
emolument
salary; payment for an office; compensation
endemic
prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic
endue
provide with some quality; endow
enigma
puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling
entity
real being
entrance
put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight
equestrian
rider on horseback; ADJ.
equine
resembling a horse; Ex. equine face
esteem
respect; value; judge; N.
ethnic
relating to races
exalt
raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex. exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation
execute
put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution
expos'e
public revelation of something discreditable
expostulation
protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate
exposure
risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open; Ex. exposure of governmental corruption
extirpate
root up; uproot; destroy completely
extrapolation
projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from known information
exult
rejoice
feign
pretend
fertile
producing many young, fruits, or seeds; (of land) producing good crops; V. fertilize
fester
rankle; produce irritation or resentment; (of a cut or wound) generate pus or rot; Ex. His insult festered in my mind for days.
finished
properly made and complete; Ex. finished product/performance
florid
ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose
flout
reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules
flush
redden; blush; flow suddenly and abundantly; wash out by a rapid brief flow of water; N: reddish tinge; blush; brief rush; rush of strong feeling; Ex. flush of pride; ADJ: having surfaces in the same plane; even; blushing
foolhardy
rash; reckless; foolishly daring
foray
raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.
foreboding
premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V. forebode: be a warning of (something unpleasant)
forerunner
predecessor; one that comes before and indicates the approach of another
forestall
prevent by taking action in advance
forlorn
sad and lonely; wretched; desolate
forswear
renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure
forum
public square of an ancient Roman city; public place for open discussion; court of law
forward
presumptuous or bold
foster
rear; bring up (for a certain period only); encourage; promote the development of (feelings or ideas); Ex. help foster friendly relations; ADJ: giving parental care although not related by blood; Ex. foster parents
franchise
right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory
fruitful
producing results; profitable; prolific; producing in abundance
funereal
sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
gambol
romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
genealogy
record of descent; lineage; ancestry; study of ancestry
gnarl
protruding knot on a tree; V.
grill
question severely; cook on a grill; broil; N: cooking surface of parallel metal bars
gruff
rough-mannered; (of a voice) rough; hoarse
haphazard
random; by chance; happening in an unplanned manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town
haughtiness
pride; arrogance; ADJ. haughty
hideous
repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex. hideous face/scream
hypocritical
pretending to be virtuous; deceiving; N. hypocrisy: profession of beliefs one does not possess; CF. hypocrite
icon(ikon)
religious image; idol; image or representation
igneous
produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks) formed from lava; Ex. igneous meteorite
imbue
saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings
immune
resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity
impasse
predicament(dangerous condition) from which there is no escape; situation allowing for no further progress
imperil
put in danger
implement
put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with tools; Ex. implement the plan/suggestion; N: tool or instrument
incidence
rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex. high incidence of infant mortality
inexorable
relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable price rises
inhibit
restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent; N. inhibition
inquisitor
questioner (especially harsh); investigator; person making an inquisition
insurgent
rebellious; N.
insurrection
rebellion; uprising
interdict
prohibit; forbid; N.
interrogate
question closely; cross-examine; cross-question
intransigence
refusal of any compromise; stubbornness; ADJ. intransigent: uncompromising
intrude
put or force in without being asked; trespass; enter as an uninvited person; Ex. intrude one’s own opinion into the report; CF. thrust in
jocular
said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking
jubilation
rejoicing; great joy
jurisdiction
right and power to apply the law; authority
ken
range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one’s ken
kindred
related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N: relative; kin; kinship
kinetic
producing motion; of motion
lachrymose
producing tears; tearful
lampoon
ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution
latent
present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF. potential
leash
restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
lectern
reading desk or stand for a public speaker
leeway
room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline
levitate
rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light
libido
psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire
limbo
region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo
loath
reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go.
loft
room or space under the roof; attic
log
record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk; V.
lucrative
profitable; producing wealth
manacle
restrain; handcuff; N.
maniacal
raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm
manifesto
public declaration of principles; statement of policy
marshal
put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official
materialism
preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)
maverick
rebel; nonconformist (in a group)
maxim
proverb; truth pithily stated
meager
scanty; inadequate
meditation
reflection; thought; V. meditate
mock
ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision
mode
prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life
momentum
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force
monastic
related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns
monotony
sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone
naivet'e(naivety)
quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na"ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous
narrative
related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration
neophyte
recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant
nicety
precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties
nimble
quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
nonplus
put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
nostrum
questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
nourish
provide with food necessary for life and growth
nuptial
related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony
nutrition
process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition
nutritious
providing nourishment
obsessive
related to thinking about something constantly; of an obsession; preoccupying; N. obsession: compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea; compulsive idea; V. obsess: preoccupy the mind of excessively
obtrude
push (oneself or one’s ideas) forward or intrude; impose (oneself or one’s ideas) on others; butt in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B; ADJ. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; CF. unobtrusive
orator
public speaker
palate
roof of the mouth; sense of the taste
paranoia
psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; N: ADJ: paranoid, paranoiac
paraphrase
restate a passage in one’s own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words
pass_off
present falsely; represent falsely to be
pastoral
rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor
patrimony
property inherited from a father
paucity
scarcity; dearth
pedant
scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities
penitent
repentant; N.
personify
represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification
peruse
read through with care; N. perusal
perverse
purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity
pillory
punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
pinion
restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird’s wing
platonic
purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
poignancy
quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick
politic
prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
precedent
preceding (in time, rank, etc.)
predator
predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others; ADJ. predatory: living by preying on other organisms; plundering; N. predation
predilection
preference; partiality
preempt
prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of; displace; Ex. preempt any attempts; ADJ. preemptive
prerogative
privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
presentiment
premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear
prestige
respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
pretension
pretentiousness; claim (without foundation); Ex. I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.
prim
proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
prize
pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
prognosticate
predict (according to present indications)
prolific
producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer
prominent
protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent
propound
put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory
proscribe
prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
protract
prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
protuberance
protrusion; swelling; bulge
providence
quality of being provident; divine care; god’s care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there; ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate
provident
providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
pulpit
raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
pulse
rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity; V: pulsate
punitive
punishing; Ex. punitive measures
purge
remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or defilement); N.
purse
pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
qualify
reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of something stated
quintessence
purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence
ratiocination
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
rebate
return of part of a payment; discount; V.
rebuff
reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
rebus
representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. R U 18'' is a rebus forAre you 18’’.
rebuttal
refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove
recast
reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again
receptive
quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal
recipient
receiver
recite
repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation
recourse
resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
recumbent
reclining; lying down completely or in part
recuperate
recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses
redress
remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for
refurbish
renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish
regal
royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
regimen
prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer
rehabilitate
restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
reimburse
repay; pay back
reinstate
restore to a previous condition or position
reiterate
repeat
rejoinder
reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
relapse
return to a former state (esp. after improvement); N.
relegate
put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture to the children’s room; Ex. relegated to the second division
remediable
reparable
reminiscence
recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
remittance
remitting of money; amount of money remitted
remnant
remainder
remonstrate
protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest
rendition
rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc
renovate
restore to good condition; renew
repartee
quick clever reply
repeal
revoke; annul
repercussion
rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion
replicate
reproduce; duplicate
repose
resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single man
reprimand
reprove severely; rebuke; N.
reprisal
retaliation
repulse
reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion
reputable
respectable; having a good reputation
rescind
repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)
residual
remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue
residue
remainder; balance
restitution
returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury
resurge
rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again
resurrect
revive
resuscitate
revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child
retaliate
repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
retort
quick sharp reply; V.
retrieve
recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex. retrieve the situation
reverent
respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect
revert
relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former owner; N. reversion
roseate
rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
rostrum
raised platform for speech-making; pulpit
rote
repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
rotundity
roundness; sonorousness of speech
rout
put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat
ruddy
reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking
rue
regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. ADJ. rueful
rummage
ransack; thoroughly search
saga
Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
salient
prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features
saline
salty
salvage
rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved
sate
satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
satiate
satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated
scrappy
quarrelsome
sedentary
requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population
seedy
run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel
seminal
related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field
sensitization
process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become sensitive
sham
pretend; feign; ADJ: not genuine; fake; Ex. sham jewelry; N: something that is not what it appears; impostor; pretense; Ex. The agreement was a sham.
shear
remove (fleece or hair) by cutting; remove the hair or fleece from; cut with or as if with shears; N: shears; pair of scissors
sheer
pure; thin and transparent; very steep
shove
push forward; push roughly; Ex. pushing and shoving to get on the bus; N.
sibylline
prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)
sidereal
relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
skeptic
sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
skim
read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
skimp
provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly
slake
satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
slur
pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble
soar
rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.
solder
repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts
sonorous
resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
sovereign
ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent
spatial
relating to space
spin
rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton, wool, etc.); N.
spurn
reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
squelch
produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash; CF. ÃÂÅøÈëÀ» À§¿¡ÂÂ_ÂÂ_ ÂÂ_âÀ» ¶§
stout
rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
sublimate
refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
superannuated
retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
supersede
replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
suppress
put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm; inhibit the expression of; check; prevent from being published or made public; Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress the magazine/truth
surfeit
satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food
synoptic
providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis
tendentious
promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend: move in a certain direction
thrive
prosper; flourish
timbre
quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument (which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch)
toga
Roman outer robe
torrent
rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.
tout
promote or publicize (one’s goods or service); praise excessively (as a form of advertisement); CF. advertise
tract
propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political group); expanse of land; region of indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex. digestive tract
transpose
reverse the order or position of
tundra
rolling treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America
tutelary
protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex. tutelary deities
umbrage
resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness
uniformity
sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same all over
upbraid
reprimand; severely scold
valediction
saying farewell; expression of leave-taking
venerate
revere; treat with great respect
vent
release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly); utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on his family.
venture
risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
verbalize
put into words; ADJ. verbal: of words; spoken rather than written; oral; of a verb
verity
quality of being true; lasting truth or principle; Ex. the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the eternal verities
visionary
produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical; showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one given to speculative impractical ideas
voodoo
religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
voracious
ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader
wallow
roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury
welt
raised mark from a beating or whipping
