GRE16 From2986-3185 Flashcards
1
Q
sloth
A
slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
2
Q
decoy
A
lure or bait; V.
3
Q
incorporeal
A
without a material body; insubstantial
4
Q
forestall
A
prevent by taking action in advance
5
Q
ravine
A
narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon
6
Q
cauterize
A
burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
7
Q
wither
A
(of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay
8
Q
superfluous
A
excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity
9
Q
blas'e
A
bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored
10
Q
dauntless
A
bold; fearless
11
Q
improvise
A
compose on the spur of the moment
12
Q
touching
A
causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic; V. touch: cause to feel pity or sympathy; ADJ. touched
13
Q
imponderable
A
weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound
14
Q
sepulcher
A
tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral
15
Q
impregnable
A
invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take
16
Q
vouch
A
give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher
17
Q
prolong
A
lengthen; extend; draw out
18
Q
scavenge
A
hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food; search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who scavenges; animal that feeds on refuse and carrion
19
Q
barterer
A
trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money
20
Q
succulent
A
juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus
21
Q
alms
A
money or goods given to the poor
22
Q
mash
A
crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl
23
Q
ostentatious
A
showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display
24
Q
propriety
A
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary
25
outspoken
candid; blunt
26
sybarite
lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy
27
herald
messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher
28
harping
tiresome dwelling on a subject; V. harp: dwell on(think or speak a lot about) tediously
29
gargoyle
waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building
30
repertoire
list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; CF. repertory
31
inconsequential
insignificant; unimportant
32
eugenic
pertaining to the improvement of race; N. eugenics: study of hereditary improvement of the human race
33
homeostasis
tendency of a system or organism to maintain relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF. homeo-: constant; Ex. homeotherm
34
throttle
strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N: valve that regulates the flow; CF. throat ?
35
fuss:
trouble or worry over trifles; make nervous; pay too much attention to; N: needless concern or worry (about a trivial thing); anxious nervous condition; display of attention; Ex. make a fuss over the baby
36
wane
decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.
37
exclaim
cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory
38
gorge
stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful
39
denounce
condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
40
concede
admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal
41
canine
related to dogs; doglike
42
abrogate
abolish
43
mutilate
maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part
44
refrain
abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
45
impiety
irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety
46
dysentery
inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract
47
unobtrusive
inconspicuous; not blatant
48
evanescent
fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce
49
deducible
derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
50
debase
degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
51
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
52
provision
act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure; provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement
53
tramp
walk with a heavy step; travel on foot; N: vagrant; one who travels aimlessly about; long walk; sound of heavy walking
54
abet
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
55
phalanx
formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)
56
miasma
swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence
57
rigor
severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
58
titanic
gigantic; N. titan
59
forge
counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by heating in a forge and hammering into shape; move with a sudden increase of speed or power; Ex. forged ahead in the last two years; N: furnace where metals are heated
60
usurp
seize another's power or rank (without legal authority); supplant; appropriate; N. usurpation; CF. take for one's own use
61
lineage
descent; ancestry
62
whimsy
whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely; Ex. story full of whimsy
63
detached
emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
64
aperture
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
65
referendum
direct vote by all the people
66
engage
attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle
67
indolent
lazy
68
callous
hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
69
dart
move or throw suddenly and quickly
70
contrived
unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.
71
complicity
participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
72
inequity
unfairness; ADJ. inequitable
73
creed
system of religious or ethical belief
74
concord
harmony; accord
75
fashion
give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay
76
proclivity
inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)
77
glare
shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.
78
bromide
platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
79
rake
angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular
80
antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
81
amalgamate
(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
82
extenuate
weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of (bad behavior)
83
season
enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning
84
solicitous
anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
85
unsavory
distasteful; disagreeable; morally offensive; Ex. unsavory activity/reputation
86
oligarchy
government by a privileged few
87
sect
separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group
88
kernel
central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)
89
harbinger
forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
90
galley
low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
91
harbor
give protection (by giving food and shelter); provide a refuge for; hide; keep in mind (thoughts or feelings); Ex. harbor a grudge/criminal; N: place of shelter; refuge
92
homily
sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic
93
rotunda
circular building or hall covered with a dome
94
defrock
strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
95
chorus
phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
96
genus
division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species
97
resonant
(of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding loudly); deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance
98
tautological
needlessly repetitious; Ex. ``It was visible to the eye''; N. tautology: needless repetition of the same sense; statement that is always true
99
linguistic
pertaining to language
100
castigation
punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
101
cataract
great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
102
strident
loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
103
cognate
having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
104
belligerent
quarrelsome
105
deference
courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
106
winnow
sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; CF. wind
107
problematic
causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.
108
tractable
docile; easily managed; (of something) easily changed or molded; N. tractability
109
indoctrinate
cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism
110
virtuoso
highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso
111
dais
raised platform for speakers or other important people
112
euphemism
mild expression in place of an unpleasant one; ADJ. euphemistic
113
indignity
treatment or situation that causes shame or loss of dignity, respect; offensive or insulting treatment; humiliating or degrading treatment; Ex. I suffered the indignity of having to say that in front of them.
114
maternal
motherly; N. maternity: motherhood
115
demographic
related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
116
stricture
severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
117
dynamic
energetic; vigorously active
118
impersonal
not being a person; not showing personal feelings; Ex. impersonal force/manner/organization
119
warble
(of a bird) sing; babble; N.
120
discordant
not harmonious; conflicting
121
criteria
standards used in judging; CF. criterion
122
demeanor
behavior; bearing
123
doctrine
teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal
124
rivet
metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross
125
levity
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner
126
executioner
person administering capital punishment
127
cemetery
place for burying the dead
128
protocol
diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats; first copy of a treaty before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that the queen meet him at the airport.
129
catechism
book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize
130
mendacious
lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity
131
dull
(of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.
132
chant
tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant
133
parchment
writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat
134
baroque
highly ornate
135
motto
brief statement used to express a principle
136
juxtapose
place side by side; CF. next
137
insolence
impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ. insolent; CF. haughty + rude
138
culmination
highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
139
adhere
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
140
putrid
decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity
141
sodden
thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
142
threat
sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of rain; V: express a threat; give warning of (something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain.
143
pivotal
of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
144
nuptial
of marriage or the wedding ceremony; N; nuptials; wedding ceremony
145
detraction
slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
146
malapropos
inappropriate; ADV.
147
amorphous
formless; lacking shape or definition
148
patent
obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.
149
rationale
fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
150
scurrilous
abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
151
bent
determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination
152
decorous
proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
153
improvident
thriftless; not providing for the future
154
menial
suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)
155
disband
dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
156
indite
write; compose
157
foment
stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or unpleasant)
158
cavalier
casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
159
recrimination
countercharges; V. recriminate
160
graduate
arrange into categories or grades; divide into marked intervals (for use in measurement); Ex. graduated ruler
161
pillage
plunder
162
maroon
leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
163
annals
records arranged in yearly parts; history
164
peer
one who has equal standing with another; nobleman; V: look intently; N. peerage; CF. peeress
165
capacity
mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president
166
junket
trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense
167
heed
pay attention to; N: close attention
168
tangible
able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof
169
invective
abuse
170
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 for ``Are you 18''.
171
astringent
binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
172
impropriety
improperness; unsuitableness
173
repeal
revoke; annul
174
prone
inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes; Ex. accident-prone
175
precipice
cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice
176
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
177
elaboration
addition of details; intricacy
178
ethnic
relating to races
179
skulduggery
dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
180
pessimism
belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic
181
woe
great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering; Ex. financial woes
182
makeshift
temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
183
parasite
animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; CF. para-: beside
184
conscript
draftee; person forced into military service; V.
185
verisimilitude
appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth
186
mollify
soothe an angry person
187
fallacious
false; based on a fallacy; misleading; N. fallacy: false idea or notion; false reasoning; Ex. popular fallacy; Ex. fallacy of the argument
188
authoritarian
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
189
seasonal
of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment
190
engaged
employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict
191
righteous
morally upright; just
192
inclusive
tending to include all; all-inclusive; Ex. inclusive charge
193
margin
border; room; allowance beyond what is needed; Ex. margin of safety
194
spasmodic
fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
195
effrontery
rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
196
warranted
justified; authorized
197
obsolete
outmoded; no longer used
198
intransigence
refusal of any compromise; stubbornness; ADJ. intransigent: uncompromising
199
premonitory
serving to warn
200
rightful
legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
