GRE24 Flashcards
sterile
incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V. sterilize
misconstrue
interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge
sedate
composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative
brawn
human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
bluster
blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale
herpetologist
one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians
trappings
outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward sign of rank)
confidant(confidante)
trusted friend (to whom one tells one’s secret)
collation
a light meal; collating
splice
join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.
saga
Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
garish
overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
factious
inclined to form factions; causing dissension
scowl
frown angrily; N: angry frown
gallows
framework from which a noose is suspended (used for execution by hanging)
stockade
wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
ameliorate
improve
eccentric
irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric
loquacious
talkative; N. loquacity
dribble
flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
flair
talent
promulgate
announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication
shaving
very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp blade)
unerringly
infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes
entrepreneur
businessperson (who assumes the risk of a business venture); contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial
trim
make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by removing what is unnecessary; ornament; decorate (round the edges); Ex. trim the cost; Ex. jacket trimmed with fur; N. ADJ: tidy; in good order
start
move suddenly or involuntarily; Ex. start at the sight of a snake
manacle
restrain; handcuff; N.
overwrought
nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done
intimidate
frighten; N. intimidation
stalemate
deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
stamina
power of endurance; strength; staying power
regale
entertain
dearth
scarcity
indulgent
humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence
grotto
small cavern
eulogistic
praising; full of eulogy
impugn
dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight
pestilential(pestilent)
causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)
guise
outward appearance; costume; Ex. in a new guise
urge
drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to take action; impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that prompts action
artifice
deception; trickery
progeny
children; offspring; descendants
nautical
pertaining to ships or navigation
onomatopoeia
words formed in imitation of natural sounds
protean
able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
codicil
supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
debilitate
weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble
favoritism
display of partiality toward a favored person
plump
pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
hysteria
excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric: person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack of hysteria
morbid
given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
conscript
draftee; person forced into military service; V.
machinations
evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate
sinecure
well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
enterprise
willingness to take new ventures; initiative; business organization; plan (that is difficult or daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round the world in a small boat
airy
of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
staccato
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
motto
brief statement used to express a principle
reactionary
strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical
entrance
put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight
swell
long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.
figurine
small ornamental statuette(very small statue)
sundry
miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items
vaunted
boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt: boast; brag
schism
division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split
verbiage
pompous array of words; too many unnecessary words; wordiness
jaded
tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued; surfeited; worn out; wearied; Ex. jaded appetite
contaminate
pollute
hardy
(of people or animals) sturdy; robust; (of plants) able to stand inclement(stormy) weather
inimical
(of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy
noncommittal
neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided
Bacchanalia
the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
condescend
(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior
attest
testify; bear witness
jocose
given to(having a tendency of) joking
sartorial
pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
brevity
conciseness; shortness of duration
pilfer
steal things of small value; filch; snitch