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GRE > GRE14 > Flashcards

GRE14 Flashcards

1
Q

hummock

A

small hill; hillock

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2
Q

elaboration

A

addition of details; intricacy

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3
Q

haphazard

A

random; by chance; happening in an unplanned manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town

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4
Q

righteous

A

morally upright; just

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5
Q

incantation

A

singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant

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6
Q

saccharine

A

cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin

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7
Q

conglomerate

A

corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.

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8
Q

esoteric

A

hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica

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9
Q

nadir

A

lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith

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10
Q

mat

A

not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.

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11
Q

prototype

A

original work used as a model by others

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12
Q

supersede

A

replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession

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13
Q

bastion

A

stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism

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14
Q

menial

A

suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)

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15
Q

buccaneer

A

pirate

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16
Q

somnolent

A

half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence

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17
Q

microcosm

A

small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society

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18
Q

hone

A

sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a tool

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19
Q

unruly

A

disobedient; lawless; difficult to control

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20
Q

ensconce

A

settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)

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21
Q

execute

A

put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution

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22
Q

resuscitate

A

revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child

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23
Q

credulity

A

belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet'e; ADJ. credulous

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24
Q

adulterate

A

make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances

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25
Q

absolve

A

pardon (an offense)

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26
Q

miasma

A

swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence

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27
Q

gradation

A

series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression

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28
Q

comprise

A

include; consist of

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29
Q

compromise

A

adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one’s principle; N.

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30
Q

forfeit

A

something surrendered as punishment for a crime or breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture

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31
Q

frond

A

fern leaf; palm or banana leaf

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32
Q

perceptive

A

insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception

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33
Q

fit

A

sudden outburst of an illness or feeling; convulsion caused by epilepsy

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34
Q

communal

A

held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune

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35
Q

vicarious

A

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

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36
Q

militate

A

work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier

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37
Q

recurrent

A

occurring again and again

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38
Q

despondent

A

without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection

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39
Q

analogy

A

similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things

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40
Q

sphinx-like

A

enigmatic; mysterious

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41
Q

maul

A

handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer

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42
Q

capricious

A

unpredictable; fickle

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43
Q

confound

A

confuse; puzzle

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44
Q

silt

A

sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)

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45
Q

acrid

A

bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent

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46
Q

wiggle

A

wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions

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47
Q

nonplus

A

put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more

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48
Q

depreciate

A

lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value

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49
Q

rehabilitate

A

restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of

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50
Q

reminiscence

A

recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past

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51
Q

trickle

A

flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.

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52
Q

spectrum

A

colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts

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53
Q

headstrong

A

willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to have one’s own way; CF. no ‘excessive’

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54
Q

averse

A

reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work

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55
Q

havoc

A

widespread damage; disorder; chaos

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56
Q

exhale

A

breathe out; OP. inhale

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57
Q

marked

A

noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man

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58
Q

pertinent

A

suitable; to the point; relevant

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59
Q

redolent

A

odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery

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60
Q

lilliputian

A

extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver’s Travels

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61
Q

usury

A

lending money at illegal high rates of interest

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62
Q

badger

A

pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal

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63
Q

uncouth

A

boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish

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64
Q

predilection

A

preference; partiality

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65
Q

psychic

A

of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary mental powers

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66
Q

ironic

A

expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner

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67
Q

pessimism

A

belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic

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68
Q

purchase

A

secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing

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69
Q

affront

A

insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally

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70
Q

periphery

A

outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town

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71
Q

topography

A

physical features of a region (such as the shape and height); CF. topo-: place

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72
Q

voodoo

A

religion practiced chiefly in Haiti

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73
Q

pungent

A

stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic; N. pungency

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74
Q

bog

A

soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud

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75
Q

decorum

A

propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct

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76
Q

prune

A

cut away; trim

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77
Q

dissemble

A

disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend

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78
Q

glaring

A

(of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly bright; shining intensely and blindingly

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79
Q

pore

A

study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.

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80
Q

tenet

A

doctrine; dogma

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81
Q

savory

A

pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable; Ex. savory reputation

82
Q

parley

A

conference (between opponents); CF. speak

83
Q

caldron(cauldron)

A

large kettle

84
Q

pillory

A

punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.

85
Q

encroachment

A

gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another’s possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon

86
Q

recondite

A

abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret

87
Q

inured

A

accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling

88
Q

recital

A

act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)

89
Q

denotation

A

meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation

90
Q

perfidious

A

treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery

91
Q

mnemonic

A

pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid

92
Q

pathos

A

tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel

93
Q

snip

A

short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors

94
Q

prolific

A

producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer

95
Q

append

96
Q

plummet

A

fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.

97
Q

irreconcilable

A

impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able to be resolved

98
Q

scintillate

A

sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation

99
Q

artery

A

blood-vessel; CF. vein

100
Q

venture

A

risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.

101
Q

pugilist

A

boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing

102
Q

charlatan

A

quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)

103
Q

vacuous

A

empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity

104
Q

transitory

A

transient; impermanent; fleeting; N. transitoriness

105
Q

dire

A

warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food

106
Q

comeuppance

A

deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke

107
Q

tumid

A

(of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous

108
Q

shade

A

slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey

109
Q

suture

A

stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound

110
Q

wily

A

crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem

111
Q

withstand

A

stand up against; resist successfully

112
Q

putrefy

A

make or become putrid; N. putrefaction

113
Q

palpitate

A

throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.

114
Q

hackles

A

hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone’s hackles rise

115
Q

impervious

A

impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being affected (in one’s opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism

116
Q

incentive

A

spur; motive; something which encourages one to greater activity

117
Q

rank

A

offensive in odor or flavor

118
Q

caricature

A

distortion; burlesque

119
Q

omnipotent

A

all-powerful; having unlimited power

120
Q

cadence

A

rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm

121
Q

infest

A

inhabit in numbers large enough to be harmful; Ex. Mice infested the house; Ex. shark-infested waters

122
Q

unintimating

A

unfrightening

123
Q

entree(entr'ee)

A

entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle

124
Q

senility

A

old age; feeblemindedness of old age; ADJ. senile: resulting from old age; showing the weakness of body or mind from old age; Ex. senile dementia

125
Q

apathy

A

lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic

126
Q

arrears

A

being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done

127
Q

therapeutic

A

curative; N. therapy

128
Q

limn

A

draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?

129
Q

subsequent

A

following in time or order; later

130
Q

libretto

A

text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book

131
Q

integrate

A

make whole; combine; make into one unit

132
Q

suavity

A

urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous

133
Q

wince

A

move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex. She winced as she touched the cold body.

134
Q

whimsy

A

whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely; Ex. story full of whimsy

135
Q

levity

A

lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner

136
Q

eclectic

A

selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism

137
Q

felicity

A

happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous

138
Q

humid

A

damp; N. humidity

139
Q

irksome

A

annoying; tedious; V. irk: annoy

140
Q

asinine

A

stupid; Ex. asinine remarks

141
Q

vendetta

A

blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams

142
Q

fluted

A

having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column

143
Q

incarnate

A

endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody

144
Q

xenophobia

A

fear or hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe

145
Q

ken

A

range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one’s ken

146
Q

pique

A

irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity

147
Q

misogamy

A

hatred of marriage

148
Q

disinter

A

dig up; unearth; OP. inter

149
Q

dissuade

A

persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion

150
Q

inasmuch_as

A

since; owing to the fact that

151
Q

rapt

A

engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener

152
Q

lace

A

cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges (as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace

153
Q

venerate

A

revere; treat with great respect

154
Q

homeostasis

A

tendency of a system or organism to maintain relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF. homeo-: constant; Ex. homeotherm

155
Q

universal

A

characterizing or affecting all; general; present everywhere; of the universe; cosmic; Ex. universal agreement; Ex. a subject of universal interest

156
Q

artless

A

without guile; open and honest

157
Q

riddle

A

pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating earth from stone)

158
Q

embitter

A

make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.

159
Q

chronicle

A

report; record (in chronological order)

160
Q

blatant

A

extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy

161
Q

imminent

A

impending; near at hand

162
Q

realm

A

kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility

163
Q

inchoate

A

(of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not explicit; at the beginning of development; rudimentary; elementary; Ex. inchoate mass

164
Q

magnate

A

person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate

165
Q

granary

A

storehouse for grain

166
Q

supposition

A

assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose

167
Q

peon

A

landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage

168
Q

reverend

A

deserving reverence; N: priest

169
Q

colander

A

utensil with perforated bottom used for straining

170
Q

libido

A

psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire

171
Q

frantic

A

wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic with fear

172
Q

squeamish

A

easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.

173
Q

inimitable

A

matchless; not able to be imitated

174
Q

fiasco

A

total failure; CF. bottle

175
Q

insensible

A

unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible

176
Q

cathartic

A

purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.

177
Q

effigy

A

dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President

178
Q

rift

A

narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation

179
Q

meander

A

wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly

180
Q

bland

A

soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence

181
Q

despoil

A

plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village

182
Q

sheathe

A

place into a case; insert into or provide with a sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a blade

183
Q

scale

A

climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones

184
Q

ovoid

A

egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate

185
Q

outlook

A

point of view; view from a particular place; expectation for the future; prospect; Ex. outlook on life; Ex. pleasing outlook; Ex. weather outlook

186
Q

partition

A

divide into parts

187
Q

snivel

A

complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don’t come back sniveling to me.

188
Q

miserly

A

stingy; mean

189
Q

recreant

A

disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person

190
Q

fundamental

A

basic; primary; essential

191
Q

foil

A

defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart; CF. fail

192
Q

stodgy

A

dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book

193
Q

uniformity

A

sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same all over

194
Q

broil

A

cook by direct heat; N.

195
Q

myriad

A

very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand

196
Q

throttle

A

strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N: valve that regulates the flow; CF. throat ?

197
Q

besmirch

A

soil; defile; make dirty

198
Q

slake

A

satisfy (thirst); quench; sate

199
Q

grouch

A

bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining; V: complain; grumble

200
Q

modulate

A

tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G

GRE (27 decks)

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