GRE16 Flashcards
catcall
shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
apothegm
pithy, compact saying
crotchety
(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
guile
deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning; Ex. persuade her by guile
liquidate
settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate; kill or abolish
tension
stretching; condition of being stretched; mental strain; strained relationship between groups or people
indeterminate
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
die
metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
impinge
infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with; Ex. The effects are impinging on every aspect of our lives.
pastiche
imitation of another’s style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists
conjecture
surmise; guess; V.
bookish
fond of books and reading
grate
make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred by rubbing against a rough surface; Ex. grated cheese N: framework of metal bars to hold fuel in a fireplace
existential
pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism
missive
letter; written statement; CF. sent
brindled
tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
gentility
those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel
bantering
joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
resurrect
revive
epistemologist
philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge; N. epistemology
whittle
pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually; trim
vindictive
disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak
toady
servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn
fringe
decorative edge of hanging threads; edge
tutelary
protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex. tutelary deities
clamber
climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
overbearing
bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate
rendezvous
meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.
dally
trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
swipe
hit with a sweeping motion; N.
imply
suggest a meaning not expressed; signify
exacting
extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety
erode
eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks.
torso
trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk
fortitude
bravery; courage; strength of mind
spoof
parody
crone
hag; ugly old woman
winnow
sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; CF. wind
zephyr
gentle breeze; west wind
botch
mismanage; blow
panacea
cure-all; remedy for all diseases
opprobrium
infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous
hireling
one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously); one who works solely for compensation; Ex. hireling politician
reckon
count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose
clarion
shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times
vouch
give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher
ecologist
person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology
thrifty
careful about money; economical; N. thrift
gorge
narrow canyon; steep rocky cleft; ravine (made by a stream which runs through it)
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.
eccentricity
oddity; idiosyncrasy
glutinous
sticky; viscous; gluey
amicable
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
engender
cause; produce; give rise to
missile
object to be thrown or projected
vampire
ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
preclude
make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
misconduct
immoral behavior; bad management; V.
parochial
narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes
petrify
turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze
corrosive
eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
impropriety
improperness; unsuitableness
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
unwitting
not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex. She was their unwitting accomplice; Ex. unwitting insult; CF. wit: know
irascible
irritable; easily angered
sophisticated
worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
hem
surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.
polity
(particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity
stench
strong foul odor; reek; stink
franchise
right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory
braid
plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; N: braided segment (as of hair)
delirium
mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
ford
place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.
levitate
rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light
illusive
deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive
quiver
tremble; shake; N.
handsome
large in quantity; generous; Ex. handsome reward
irresolute
uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in resolution; indecisive; N. irresolution
detonation
explosion
relevant
having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy