GRE14 Flashcards
hummock
small hill; hillock
elaboration
addition of details; intricacy
haphazard
random; by chance; happening in an unplanned manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town
righteous
morally upright; just
incantation
singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant
saccharine
cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin
conglomerate
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.
esoteric
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica
nadir
lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith
mat
not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
prototype
original work used as a model by others
supersede
replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
bastion
stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
menial
suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)
buccaneer
pirate
somnolent
half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
microcosm
small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society
hone
sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a tool
unruly
disobedient; lawless; difficult to control
ensconce
settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)
execute
put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution
resuscitate
revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child
credulity
belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet'e; ADJ. credulous
adulterate
make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
absolve
pardon (an offense)
miasma
swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence
gradation
series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression
comprise
include; consist of
compromise
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.
forfeit
something surrendered as punishment for a crime or breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture
frond
fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
perceptive
insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception
fit
sudden outburst of an illness or feeling; convulsion caused by epilepsy
communal
held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
vicarious
experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ
militate
work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier
recurrent
occurring again and again
despondent
without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
analogy
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
sphinx-like
enigmatic; mysterious
maul
handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer
capricious
unpredictable; fickle
confound
confuse; puzzle
silt
sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
acrid
bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
wiggle
wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions
nonplus
put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
depreciate
lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
rehabilitate
restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
reminiscence
recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
trickle
flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
spectrum
colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts
headstrong
willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to have one’s own way; CF. no ‘excessive’
averse
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
havoc
widespread damage; disorder; chaos
exhale
breathe out; OP. inhale
marked
noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man
pertinent
suitable; to the point; relevant
redolent
odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
lilliputian
extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver’s Travels
usury
lending money at illegal high rates of interest
badger
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
uncouth
boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish
predilection
preference; partiality
psychic
of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary mental powers
ironic
expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner
pessimism
belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic
purchase
secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
affront
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
periphery
outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town
topography
physical features of a region (such as the shape and height); CF. topo-: place
voodoo
religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
pungent
stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic; N. pungency
bog
soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud
decorum
propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
prune
cut away; trim
dissemble
disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
glaring
(of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly bright; shining intensely and blindingly
pore
study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.
tenet
doctrine; dogma
savory
pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable; Ex. savory reputation
parley
conference (between opponents); CF. speak
caldron(cauldron)
large kettle
pillory
punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
encroachment
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
recondite
abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
inured
accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling
recital
act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)
denotation
meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
perfidious
treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
mnemonic
pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid
pathos
tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel
snip
short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors
prolific
producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer
append
attach
plummet
fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.
irreconcilable
impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able to be resolved
scintillate
sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation
artery
blood-vessel; CF. vein
venture
risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
pugilist
boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing
charlatan
quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)
vacuous
empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity
transitory
transient; impermanent; fleeting; N. transitoriness
dire
warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
comeuppance
deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke
tumid
(of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous
shade
slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey
suture
stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound
wily
crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem
withstand
stand up against; resist successfully
putrefy
make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
palpitate
throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.
hackles
hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone’s hackles rise
impervious
impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being affected (in one’s opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism
incentive
spur; motive; something which encourages one to greater activity
rank
offensive in odor or flavor
caricature
distortion; burlesque
omnipotent
all-powerful; having unlimited power
cadence
rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
infest
inhabit in numbers large enough to be harmful; Ex. Mice infested the house; Ex. shark-infested waters
unintimating
unfrightening
entree(entr'ee)
entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle
senility
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
apathy
lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
arrears
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
therapeutic
curative; N. therapy
limn
draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
subsequent
following in time or order; later
libretto
text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
integrate
make whole; combine; make into one unit
suavity
urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
wince
move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex. She winced as she touched the cold body.
whimsy
whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely; Ex. story full of whimsy
levity
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner
eclectic
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism
felicity
happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous
humid
damp; N. humidity
irksome
annoying; tedious; V. irk: annoy
asinine
stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
vendetta
blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams
fluted
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
incarnate
endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody
xenophobia
fear or hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe
ken
range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one’s ken
pique
irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity
misogamy
hatred of marriage
disinter
dig up; unearth; OP. inter
dissuade
persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
inasmuch_as
since; owing to the fact that
rapt
engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
lace
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
venerate
revere; treat with great respect
homeostasis
tendency of a system or organism to maintain relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF. homeo-: constant; Ex. homeotherm
universal
characterizing or affecting all; general; present everywhere; of the universe; cosmic; Ex. universal agreement; Ex. a subject of universal interest
artless
without guile; open and honest
riddle
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)
embitter
make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order)
blatant
extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
imminent
impending; near at hand
realm
kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility
inchoate
(of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not explicit; at the beginning of development; rudimentary; elementary; Ex. inchoate mass
magnate
person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate
granary
storehouse for grain
supposition
assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
peon
landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage
reverend
deserving reverence; N: priest
colander
utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
libido
psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire
frantic
wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic with fear
squeamish
easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.
inimitable
matchless; not able to be imitated
fiasco
total failure; CF. bottle
insensible
unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible
cathartic
purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
effigy
dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President
rift
narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
meander
wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly
bland
soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
despoil
plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
sheathe
place into a case; insert into or provide with a sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a blade
scale
climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones
ovoid
egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate
outlook
point of view; view from a particular place; expectation for the future; prospect; Ex. outlook on life; Ex. pleasing outlook; Ex. weather outlook
partition
divide into parts
snivel
complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don’t come back sniveling to me.
miserly
stingy; mean
recreant
disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
fundamental
basic; primary; essential
foil
defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart; CF. fail
stodgy
dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
uniformity
sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same all over
broil
cook by direct heat; N.
myriad
very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand
throttle
strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N: valve that regulates the flow; CF. throat ?
besmirch
soil; defile; make dirty
slake
satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
grouch
bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining; V: complain; grumble
modulate
tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G
