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I Flashcards

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1
Q

ichthyology

A

study of fish

Jacques Cousteau’s rpograms about sea life have advanced the cause of ichthyology.

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2
Q

iconoclastic

A

attacking cherished traditions

George Bernard Shaw’s iconoclastic plays often startled more conventional people.

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3
Q

idiom

A

spcial usage in language

I could not understand their idioms because literal translation made no sense.

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4
Q

idolatry

A

worship of idols; excessive admiration

Such idolatry of singers of country music is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth.

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5
Q

idyllic

A

charmingly carefree; simple

Far from the city, she led an idyllic existence in her rural retreat.

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6
Q

igneous

A

produced by fire; volcanic

Lava, pumice, and other igneous rocks are found in great abundance around Mount Vesuvius near Naples.

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7
Q

ignoble

A

of lowly origin; unworthy

This plan is inspired by ignoble motives and I must, therefore, oppose it.

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8
Q

ignominious

A

disgraceful

The country smarted under the ignominious defeat and dreamed of the day when it would be victorious.

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9
Q

illimitable

A

infinite

Human beings, having explored the far corners of the earth, are now reaching out into illimitable space.

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10
Q

illusive

A

deceiving

This is only a mirage; let us not be fooled by its illusive effect.

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11
Q

illusory

A

deceptive; not real

Unfortunately, the costs of running the lemonade stand were so high that Tom’s profits proved illusory.

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12
Q

imbecility

A

weakness of mind

I am amazed at the imbecility of the readers of these trashy magazines.

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13
Q

imbibe

A

drink in

The dry soil imbibed the rain quickly.

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14
Q

imbroglio

A

complicated situation; perplexity; entanglement

He was called in to settle the imbroglio but failed to bring harmony into the situation.

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15
Q

imbue

A

saturate, fill

His visits to the famous Gothic cathedrals imbued him with feelings of awe and reverence.

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16
Q

immaculate

A

pure; spotless

The West Point cadets were immaculate as they lined up for inspection.

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17
Q

immolate

A

offer as a sacrifice

The tribal kind offered to immolate his daughter to quiet the angry gods.

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18
Q

immure

A

imprison; shut up in confinement

For the two weeks before the examination, the student immureed himself in his room and concentrated upon his studies.

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19
Q

impale

A

pierce

He was impaled by the spear hurled by his adversary.

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20
Q

impalpable

A

imperceptible; intangible

The ash is so fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a fine layer covering the window ledge.

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21
Q

impasse

A

predicament from which there is no escape

In this impasse, all turned to prayer as their last hope.

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22
Q

impassive

A

without feeling; not affected by pain

The Native American has been incorrectly depicted as an impassive individual, undemonstrative and stoical.

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23
Q

impeach

A

charge with crime in office; indict

The angry congressman wanted to impeach the President for his misdeeds.

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24
Q

impecunious

A

without money

Now that he was wealthy, he gladly contributed to funds to assist impecunious and disbled persons.

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25
Q

impede

A

hinder; block

The special prosecutor determined that the Attorney General, though inept, had not intentionally set out to impede the progress of the investigation.

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26
Q

impending

A

nearing; approaching

The entire country was saddened by the news of his impending death.

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27
Q

impenitent

A

not repentant

We could see by his brazen attitude that he was impenitent.

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28
Q

imperiousness

A

lordliness; domineering manner; arrogance

His imperiousness indicated that he had long been accustomed to assuming command.

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29
Q

impertinent

A

insolent

I regard your remarks as impertinent and I resent them.

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30
Q

imperturbable

A

calm; placid

Wellington remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation in spite of the hyteria and panic all around him.

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31
Q

impetuous

A

violent; hasty; rash

We tried to curb his impetuous behavior because we felt that in his haste he might offend some people.

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32
Q

impetus

A

moving force; incentive; stimulus

A new federal highway program would create jobs and five added impetus to our economic recovery.

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33
Q

impiety

A

irreverence; wickedness

We must regard your blasphemy as an act of impiety.

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34
Q

impinge

A

infringe; touch; collide with

How could they be married without impinging on one another’s freedom?

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35
Q

impious

A

irreverent

The congregation was offended by her impious remarks.

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36
Q

implacable

A

incapable of being pacified

Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family.

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37
Q

implausible

A

unlikely; unbelievable

Though her alibi seened implausible, it in fact turned out to be true.

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38
Q

implore

A

beg

He implored her to give him a second chance.

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39
Q

impolitic

A

not wise

I think it is impolitic to raise this issue at the present time because the public is too angry.

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40
Q

imponderable

A

weightless

I can evaluate the data gathered in this study; the imponderable items are not so easily analyzed.

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41
Q

import

A

significance

I feel that you have not grasped the full import of the message sent tous by the enemy.

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42
Q

importunate

A

urging; demanding

He tried to hide from his importunate creditors until his allowance arrived.

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43
Q

importune

A

beg persistently

Democratic and Republican phone solicitors importuned her for contributions so frequently that she decided to give nothing to either party.w

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44
Q

impotent

A

weak; ineffective

Although he wished to break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent in resisisting the craving for a cigarette.

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45
Q

imprecation

A

curse

Roused from the bed at what he considered an ungodly hour, Roy muttered imprecations under his breath.

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46
Q

impregnable

A

invulnerable

Until the development of the airplane as a military weapon, the fort was considered impregnable.

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47
Q

impromtu

A

without previous preparation

Her listeners were amazed that such a thorough presentation could be made in an impromptu speech.

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48
Q

impropriety

A

state of being inappropriate

Because of the impropriety of his costume, he was denied entrance into the dining room.

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49
Q

improvident

A

thriftless

He was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to “save for a rainy day.”

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50
Q

imprudent

A

lacking caution; injudicious

It is imprudent to exercise vigorously and become overheated when you are unwell.

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51
Q

impugn

A

doubt; challenge; gainsay

I cannot impugn your honesty without evidence.

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52
Q

impuissance

A

powerlessness; feebleness

The lame duck President was frustrated by his shift from enormous power to relative impuissance.

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53
Q

impute

A

attribute; ascribe

If I wished to impute blame to the officers in charge of this program, I would state my feelings definitely and immediately.

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54
Q

inadvertently

A

carelessly; unintentionally; by oversight

She inadvertently omitted two questions on the examination and mismarked her answer sheet.

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55
Q

inalienable

A

not to be taken away; nontransferable

The Declaration of Independence mentions the inalienable rights that all of us possess.

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56
Q

inane

A

silly; senseless

Such comments are inane because they do not help us solve our program.

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57
Q

inaugurate

A

begin formally; install in office

The candidate promised that he would inaugurate a new nationwide health care plan as soon as he was inaugurated as president.

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58
Q

incandescent

A

stikingly bright; shining with intense heat

If you leave on an incandescent light bulb, it quickly grows too hot to touch.

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59
Q

incantation

A

singing or chanting of magical formula

Uttering incantations to make the brew more potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron.

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60
Q

incense

A

enrage; infuriate

Unkindness to children incensed her.

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61
Q

inception

A

start; beginning

She was involved with the project from its inception.

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62
Q

incessant

A

uninterrupted

The crickets kept up an incessant chirping that disturbed our attempts to fall asleep.

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63
Q

inchoate

A

recently begun; rudimentary; elementary

Before the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass.

64
Q

incicental

A

not essential; minor

The scholarship covered his major expenses at college and some of his incidental expenses as well.

65
Q

incipient

A

beginning; in an early stage

I will go to sleep early for I want to break an incipient cold.

66
Q

incisive

A

cutting; sharp

His incisive remarks made us see the fallacy in our plans.

67
Q

incite

A

arouse to action

The demogogue incited the mob to take action into its own hands.

68
Q

inclement

A

stormy; unkind

I like to read a good book in inclement weather.

69
Q

incommodious

A

not spacious; inconvenient

In their incommodious quarters, they had to improvise for closet space.

70
Q

incontinent

A

lacking self-restraint

His incontinent behavior off stage shocked many people and they refused to attend the plays and movies in which he appeared.

71
Q

incontrovertible

A

indisputable

We must yield to the incontrovertible evidence that you have presented and free your client.

72
Q

incorporeal

A

immaterial; without a material body

We must devote time to the needs of our incorporeal mind as well as our corporeal body.

73
Q

incorrigible

A

uncorrectable

Though Widow Douglass hoped to reform Huck, Miss Watson pronounced him incorrigible and said he would come to no good end.

74
Q

incubus

A

burden; mental care; nightmare

The incubus of financial worry helped bring on her nervous breakdown.

75
Q

incumbent

A

officeholder

The newly elected public official received valuable advice from the present incumbent.

76
Q

incur

A

bring upon oneself

His parents refused to pay any future debts he might incur.

77
Q

incursion

A

temporary invasion

The nightly incursions and hit-and-run raids of our neighbors across the border tried the patience of the country to the point where we decided to retaliate in force.

78
Q

indefatigable

A

tireless

He was indefatigable in his constant efforts to raise funds for the Red Cross.

79
Q

indemnify

A

make secure against loss; compensate for loss

The city will indemnify all home owners whose property is spoiled by this project.

80
Q

indenture

A

bind as servant or apprentice to master

Many immigrants could come to America only after they had indentured themselves for several years.

81
Q

indeterminate

A

uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite

That interest rates shall rise appears certain; when they will do so, however, remains indeterminate.

82
Q

indict

A

charge

If the grand jury indicts the suspect, he will go to trial.

83
Q

indigence

A

poverty

Neither the economists nor the political scientists have found a way to wipe out the inequities of wealth and eliminate indigence from our society.

84
Q

indignation

A

anger ar an injustice

He felt indignation at the ill-treatment of the helpless animals.

85
Q

indignity

A

offensive or insulting treatment

Although he seemed to accept cheerfully the indignities heaped upon him, he was inwardly very angry.

86
Q

indissoluble

A

permanent

The indissoluble bonds of marriage are all too often being dissolved.

87
Q

indite

A

write; compose

Cyrano indited many letters for Christian.

88
Q

indolence

A

laziness

He outgrew his youthful indolence to become a model of industry and alertness on the job.

89
Q

indomitable

A

unconquerable

The founders of our country had indomitable willpower.

90
Q

indubitably

A

beyond a doubt

Because her argument was indubitably valid, the judge accepted it.

91
Q

inductive

A

pertaining to induction or preceeding from the specific to the general

The discovery of the planet Pluto is an excellent example of the results that can be obtained from inductive reasoning.

92
Q

indulgent

A

humoring; yielding; lenient

indulgent parents spoil their children by giving in to their every whim.

93
Q

inebriety

A

habitual intoxication

Because of his inebriety, he was discharged from his position as family chauffeur.

94
Q

ineffable

A

unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech

Such ineffable joy must be experienced; it cannot be described.

95
Q

ineluctable

A

irresistable; not to be escaped

He felt that his fate was ineluctible and refused to make any attempt to improve his lot.

96
Q

inequity

A

unfairness

In demanding equal pay for equal work, women protest the basic inequity of a system that allots greater financial rewards to men.

97
Q

inerrancy

A

infallibility

Jane refused to believe in the pope’s inerrancy, reasoning: “All human beings are capable of error. The pope is a human being. Therefore, he pope is capable of error.

98
Q

inexorable

A

relentless; unyielding; implacable

After listening to the pleas for clemency, the judge was inexorable and gave the convicted man the maximum punishment allowed by law.

99
Q

infallible

A

unerring

We must remember that none of us is infallible; we all make mistakes.

100
Q

infamous

A

notoriously bad

Jesse James was an infamous outlaw.

101
Q

infidel

A

unbeliever

The Saracens made war against tne infidels.

102
Q

infirmity

A

weakness

Her greatest infirmity was lack of willpower.

103
Q

infraction

A

violation

Because of his many infractions of school regulations, he was suspended by the dean.

104
Q

infringe

A

violate; encroach

I think your machine infringes on my patent and intend to sue.

105
Q

ingrate

A

ungrateful person

That ingrate Bob sneered at the tie I gave him.

106
Q

ingratiate

A

become popular with

He tried to ingratiate himself into her parents’ good graces.

107
Q

inherent

A

firmly established by nature or habit

His inherent love of justice compelled him to come to their aid.

108
Q

inimical

A

unfriendly; hostile

She felt that they were inimical and were hoping for her downfall.

109
Q

iniquitous

A

unjust; wicked

I cannot approve of the iniquitous methods you used to gain your present position.

110
Q

injurious

A

harmful

Smoking cigarettes can be injurious to your health.

111
Q

inkling

A

hint T

his came as a complete surprise to me as I did not have the slightest inkling of your plans.

112
Q

innocuous

A

harmless

Let him drink it; it is innocuous and will have no ill effect.

113
Q

innuendo

A

hint; insinuation

I can defend myself against direct accusations; innuendos and oblique attacks on my character are what trouble me.

114
Q

inopportune

A

untimely; poorly chosen

A rock concert is an inopportune setting for a quiet conversation.

115
Q

inordinate

A

unrestrained; excessive

She had an inordinate fondness for candy.

116
Q

inquisitor

A

questioner (specially harsh); investigator

Fearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret police, Marsha faced her inquisitors with trepidation.

117
Q

insalubrious

A

unwholesome; not healthful

The mosquito-ridden swamp was an insalubrious place, a breeding ground for malarial contagion.

118
Q

inscrutable

A

impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious

Experienced poker players try to keep their expressions inscrutable, hiding their reactions to the cards behind a so-called poker face.

119
Q

insensate

A

without feeling

She lay there as insensate as a log.

120
Q

insidious

A

treacherous; stealthy; sly

The fifth column is insidious because it works secretly within our territory for our defeat.

121
Q

insolence

A

imprudent disrespect; haughtiness

How dare you treat me so rudely! The manager will hear of you insolence.

122
Q

insouciant

A

indifferent; without concern or care

Your insouciant attitude at such a critical moment indicates that you do not understand the gravity of the situation.

123
Q

instigate

A

urge; start; provoke

I am afraid that this statement will instigate a revolt.

124
Q

insularity

A

narrow-mindedness; isolation

The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anyuthing foreign.

125
Q

insurgent

A

rebellious

We will not discuss reforms until the insurgent troops have returned to their homes.

126
Q

intelligentsia

A

intellectuals; members of the educated elite

She preferred discussions about sports and politics to the literary conversations of the intelligentsia.

127
Q

inter

A

bury

They are going to inter the body tomorrow ar Broadlawn Cemetry.

128
Q

interdict

A

prohibit; forbid

Civilized nations must interdict the use of nuclear weapons if we expect out society to live.

129
Q

interim

A

meantime

The company will not consider our proposal until next week; in the interim, let us proceed as we have in the past.

130
Q

interloper

A

intruder

The merchant thought of his competitors as interlopers who were stealing away his trade.

131
Q

internecine

A

mutually destructive

The rising death toll on both sides indicates the internecine natire of his conflict.

132
Q

interpolate

A

insert between

She talked so much that I could not interpolate a single remark.

133
Q

interregnum

A

period between two reigns

Henry VIII desperately sought a male heir because he feared the civil strife that might occur if any prolonged interregum succeeded his death.

134
Q

intimate

A

hint

She intimated rather than stated her preferences.

135
Q

intractable

A

unruly; refractory

The horse was intractable and refused to enter the starting gate.

136
Q

intransigence

A

state of stubborn unwillingness to compromise

The intransigence of both parties in the dispute makes an early settlement almost impossible to obtain.

137
Q

inured

A

accustomed; hardened

She became inured to the Alaskan cold.

138
Q

invective

A

abuse

He had expected criticism but not the invective that greeted his proposal.

139
Q

inveigh

A

denounce; utter censure or invective

He inveighed against the demagoguery of the previous speaker and urged that the audience reject his philosophy as dangerous.

140
Q

inveigle

A

lead astray; wheedle

She was inveigled into joining the club after an initial reluctance.

141
Q

inveterate

A

deep-rooted; habitual

She is an inveterate smoker and cannot break the habit.

142
Q

invidious

A

designed to create ill will or envy

We disregarded her invidious remarks because we realized how jealous she was.

143
Q

invoke

A

call upon; ask for

She invoked her advisor’s aid in filling out her financial aid forms.

144
Q

iota

A

very small quantity

She hadn’t an iota of common sense.

145
Q

irascible

A

irritable; easily angered

Her irascible temper frightened me.

146
Q

irate

A

angry

When John’s mother found out that he had overthrown his checking account for the third month in a row, she was so irate that she could scarcely speak to him.

147
Q

iridescent

A

exhibiting rainbowlike colors

She admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water.

148
Q

irksome

A

annoying; tedious

He found working on the assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the operation he had to perform.

149
Q

irreconsilable

A

incompatible; not able to be resolved

Because the separated couple were irreconcilable, the marriage counselor recommended a divorce.

150
Q

irreparable

A

not able to be corrected or repaired

Your apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have done to her reputation.

151
Q

irresolute

A

uncertain how to act; weak

She had no respect for him because he seemed weak-willed and irresolute.

152
Q

irrevocable

A

unalterable

Let us not brood over past mistakes since they are irrevocable.

153
Q

isthmus

A

narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land

In a magnificent feat of engineering, Goethals and his men cut through the isthmus of Panama in constructing the Panama Canal.

154
Q

itinerant

A

wandering; traveling

He was an itinerant peddler and traveled through Pennsylvania and Virginia selling his wares.

155
Q

intersperse

A

scatter

The molecules will intersperse throughout the space according to the second law of thermodynamics.

156
Q

inquisitive

A

unduly curious; prying; seeking knowledge

We need more inquisitive students in this school; lectures are dull.

157
Q
A

GRE (24 decks)

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