GRE04 Flashcards
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
reprieve
postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of
elegy
poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac
mogul
powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol, Moghul; CF. Mongolian
sublime
causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
lineage
descent; ancestry
sanguinary
bloody; with much bloodshed
ferocious
fierce; violent; N. ferocity
circumscribe
limit; confine; draw a line around
compulsive
resulting from compulsion
titter
nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
prophetic
of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet
seclusion
isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate
egregious
notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking
importune
beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way)
rakish
jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
florid
ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose
whorl
ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement;
equity
fairness; justice; OP. inequity
nimble
quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
ceremonious
marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
pecuniary
pertaining to money
dominate
control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height; ³»·Ã´Ùº¸´Ù
whinny
neigh like a horse; CF. neigh: make the sound which horses make
tenancy
possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant’s occupancy
angular
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
fetish(fetich)
object believed to have spiritual powers; object of excessive attention or reverence; CF. fetishism
serrated
having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
laity
laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy
macabre
gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
scaffold
temporary platform for workers (to work at heights above the ground); bracing framework; platform for execution
hostility
unfriendliness; hatred; enmity; ADJ. hostile
penology
study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation
premeditate
plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
pulverize
crush or grind into very small particles
ponderous
having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
charisma
divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism
rider
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
scuttle
sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship’s deck or hull
oculist
physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes
gouge
overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex. gouge the public; CF. usury
unregenerate
making no attempt to change one’s bad practices
dabble
work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
pose
assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect a particular attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a threat; N.
nomadic
wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place
voluminous
having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large
loathe
detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive; Ex. loathsome smell
buoyant
able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market
rustic
pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person
sentient
capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience
application
diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
ecliptic
path of the sun and the planets
spangle
small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
forswear
renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure
impeach
charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a witness’s credibility
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
serpentine
winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of the river; N. serpent: snake
capitulate
surrender; give up all resistance
inclusive
tending to include all; all-inclusive; Ex. inclusive charge
pastry
paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)
Machiavellian
crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power
gush
(of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole; make an excessive display of feeling (without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from the wound.
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
falsify
make (something written) false by changing
graphic
pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described
ploy
strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management ploy
remit
transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
multiform
having many forms
physiological
pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology
smart
intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex. smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N: smarting pain
cohorts
group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
fodder
coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock; CF. food
cognate
having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
doctrinaire
unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
miscellany
mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items
adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
resurge
rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again
sap
diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification); Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength.
molt(moult)
periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)
fluster
confuse; make nervous and confused; N.
dossier
file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
pang
sudden sharp feeling of pain
deputize
work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away
duplicity
double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
pen
fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
decrepit
weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
impromptu
without previous preparation; off the cuff(end of a sleeve); on the spur of the moment
beseech
beg; plead with
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich'ed
drivel
nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
clot
half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
discombobulated
discomposed; confused
musky
having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer
monetary
pertaining to money
sunder
separate; part; CF. asunder
metropolis
large city
estranged
separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N. estrangement
unwonted
unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted punctuality.
referendum
direct vote by all the people
wake
trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before; Ex. hunger followed in the wake of the war
egotism
tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively; conceit; self-importance
emancipate
set free; liberate
mendicant
beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
interrogate
question closely; cross-examine; cross-question
foible
small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble
alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
incubate
hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for development; be holding in one’s body an infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:disease
bullion
gold and silver in the form of bars
sect
separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group
levee
earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise
dishonor
disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
versatile
having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility
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
reiterate
repeat
flirt
behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal triflingly with; N: one (or woman) given to flirting; ADJ. flirtatious
culmination
highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
glower
scowl; glare; look or stare angrily
dorsal
relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
fervor
glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
mete
measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
celerity
speed; rapidity
vainglorious
boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity
annex
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
embargo
ban on commerce or other activity
scurrilous
abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
skeptic
sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
supplicate
petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
controvert
oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
crestfallen
dejected; dispirited
panegyric
formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don’t deserve such panegyrics.
assuage
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
august
impressive; majestic
impenitent
not repentant
gross
total; fragrant; clearly wrong; (of people’s behavior) coarse; corpulent; Ex. gross insolence/behavior; V: earn as a total amount; N: 12 dozens
indolent
lazy
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
aberrant
abnormal or deviant
askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
spare
give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time
nostalgia
homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
humility
humbleness of spirit
sensuous
giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin
vain
full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity
quell
suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet; Ex. ``Army Quells Rebellion’’ in newspaper; CF. kill
hideous
repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex. hideous face/scream
demented
insane; wacky
cleave
split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven
tessellated
mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
prance
move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
commandeer
take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes
subsistence
existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
lampoon
ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution
denizen
(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
magnitude
greatness (in size or extent); extent
crypt
secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)
baleful
evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
gyroscope
apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.
ungainly
(of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy; (of something) unwieldy; Ex. ungainly dancer/instrument
ruse
trick to deceive; stratagem
collaborate
work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy
simper
smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
recalcitrant
disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
hierarchy
arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks; body of persons having authority
hothead
person who does things too quickly without thinking; ADJ. hotheaded
succumb
yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness
contraband
illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
fatuous
smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity, fatuousness
unction
the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction
unsullied
untarnished; CF. sully
chasten
discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
innate
inborn
extemporaneous
not planned; impromptu; extempore
bombastic
pompous; using inflated language
hazard
venture; put in danger; risk; Ex. hazard a guess; N: possible source of danger
polygamist
one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
dismantle
take apart; disassemble
viscid
adhesive; gluey
beatitude
blessedness; state of great happiness
exegesis
explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages
stanch
stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
obsequy
funeral ceremony
stout
rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
centrifuge
machine that separates substances by whirling them
humor
indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality that makes something amusing; state of mind; mood; Ex. in a bad humor; Ex. out of humor
recumbent
reclining; lying down completely or in part
despot
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
whimsical
capricious; fanciful; amusingly strange
hilarity
boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ. hilarious: full of laughter
servitude
slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment
spat
squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
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
ignoble
unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed
snicker
half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
scrimmage
disorderly fight between two or more people
speechless
unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
solicit
entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer
permeable
that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge
spartan
without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life
olfactory
concerning the sense of smell
