ISEE Vocab Upper 1-500 Flashcards
impasse
blocked path; dilemma with no solution
entrust
give trust to
assert
to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
obdurate
stubborn
aloof
reserved， distant
economical
avoiding waste， using the minimal amount of time or money
misty
vague or hazy
insincere
to not be honest when expressing a feeling
fiscal
relating to finances
fusion
the act of fusing (or melting) together
perceive
to have an understanding of
groundbreaker
someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art…original
forebear
an ancestor， a person from whom one is descended; an ancestor (usu. plural)
chagrin
strong feelings of embarrassment 懊恼
console
to soothe in time of sadness， affliction or distress
excess
a surplus， too much
jeopardize
put at risk
emotion
any strong feeling
imminent
about to happen
dull
not clear， blunt
justifiable
can be shown to be right or just
liquefy
to become liquid
disaffect
to cause to lose affection or loyalty
concur
to agree
denounce
to condemn openly as evil
foreshadow
gives clues that suggest what might happen in the future
improvise
perform without preparation
disdain
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
diaphanous
transparent; delicate in form
acclaim
enthusiastic approval
chicanery
the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them) 强辩 欺骗
detest
to dislike intensely
evaluate
place a value on
courageous
brave， valiant
endemic
native to or confined to a certain region
mollify
to calm or soothe
dawdle
take more time than necessary 混日子
frivolous
silly or trivial
hyperbole
a figure of speech where exaggeration is used (example….I could eat a horse)
elegy
a sad or mournful poem
delectable
delicious
indecent
improper behavior
barren
not productive， bare
antithesis
the direct opposite， a sharp contrast
condescending
treating people as weak or inferior
epitome
a representation of ， a standard or typical example
agony
intense feelings of suffering
familiar
well known or easily recognized
adapt
make fit for， or change to suit a new purpose
meager
small in amount
insolent
rude or disrespectful 粗野
monotonous
always the same; not varying; boring
modern
relating to recent times or present
creativity
imaginative， expressive， original
hesitant
acting with uncertainty or lack of confidence
anomaly
deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
dilapidated
broken down and shabby 残破
intrepid
courageous， fearless 强悍 无畏
angst
anxiety; fear; dread
deter
to discourage or prevent from taking action
enthusiastic
excited
inane
lacking sense
innate
existing from birth， inborn
amoral
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
ambush
a surprise attack
humorously
in a funny way
dissolute
loose in one’s morals or behavior
divulge
to tell， reveal; to make public
incongruous
not consistant
eclectic
made up of a variety of sources or styles
inattentive
not paying attention
abduct
take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom
homage
Honor or respect shown publicly
ecstatic
in a state of intense joy or happiness
infirmity
physical or mental weakness or defect 病弱
halt
to cause to stop
incessant
constant，
acrid
harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper
capture
to take captive by force
failure
an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose
outcast
a person who is rejected (from society or home)
imperious
(adj.) overbearing， arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing， compelling 专横
inaugurate
to install in office with a formal ceremony
alter
cause to change
agenda
a temporally organized plan for matters to be attended to
imitate
to copy actions or appearance
flexible
responds well to change， adaptable
hallow
to make holy
expose
to make known， visible
ancient
very old
grovel
to beg; to lower oneself to please another 拜倒
hinder
to get in the way of， block progress
diminish
to make smaller
indifferent
showing no care or concern in attitude or action
affection
a fond or tender feeling
heinous
shockingly brutal or cruel
condone
to overlook， forgive， disregard
limit
the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed
entangle
twist together or entwine into a confusing mass
dread
be afraid or scared of (e.g. dread going somewhere)
gregarious
sociable
benefactor
a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help)
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
assist
give help or assistance
astonish
affect with wonder
impartial
showing lack of favoritism
capitulate
to surrender or acquiesce
furtive
secretive or stealthy
censor
to remove vulgar， obscene， or objectionable material from
deprived
lacking， not having
catalyst
something that causes an important event to happen
furious
extreme anger
frantic
uncontrolled excitement or emotion
appraise
place a value on
elevate
to move to a higher place， to promote
malady
a disease or disorder
abide
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
detached
separated， not connected
assure
make certain of
comprehend
get the meaning of something; grasp， understand
depict
to represent
edible
fit to be eaten
annoy
to bother; to make angry by repeated noise or action
dejected
depressed
dearth
scarce supply， a lack of
facilitate
to make easier
civilian
a nonmilitary person
laurels
a shrub or a tree
disposition
mood， temper
garish
tastelessly showy， flashy
mock
imitate in a rude way or make fun of someone
hostile
very unfriendly or showing ill will
aware
knowing about something
ameliorate
to make better
mysterious
very hard to explain or understand
accelerate
move faster
impoverished
reduced to being poor
grave
serious， somber
articulate
expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language
antiquated
obsolete， out of fashion， no longer usable
feign
to pretend
credulous
gullible
announcement
a formal public statement
coddle
to treat like a baby， to pamper
convoluted
complicated
cuckold
a man married to an unfaithful wife
jovial
cheery
defer
to put off， postpone
brevity
brief in duration， does not last long
perjury
the act of lying under oath
laurels
honor and glory
eon
an immeasurably long period of time
ignorant
lacking knowledge or education
consent
agree
odious
intense dislike
astound
affect with wonder
cordial
warm and sincere， friendly
extemporaneous
carried out with little preparation
condemn
express strong disapproval of
candor
the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
exceptional
well above average， extraordinary
esoteric
intended for a small group
consular
having to do with an officer in the foreign service of a country
chaff
worthless matter
dreary
depressing and boring
excel
to do better than， surpass
affluent
rich， wealthy
callous
thick-skinned， insensitive
allege
to declare that something is true without proof
altrustic
Unselfish， concerned with the welfare of others
chide
to scold midly
decree
an authoritative order
dilettante
An amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
aspire
have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
irony
a difference between what is expected and what actually occurs
impeccable
perfect， no flaws
elegance
a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste
complacent
content to a fault， unconcerned
extend
to stretch out
gullible
easily tricked ， naive and easily deceived or tricked
innocuous
harmless
debilitate
to sap the strength or energy
benevolent
doing or producing good
curtail
to cut short， abbreviate
deft
quick and skillful in movement
malcontent
dissatisfied with conditions
empirical
relying on or derived from observation or experiment
banish
to force to leave
ardor
intense feeling of love
mitigate
make less severe or harsh
mutable
changeable
essential
basic or necessary
elongate
to make longer
divisive
creating conflict
grievance
a complaint
ease
lessen pain or discomfort
humble
not proud; modest
contrite
feeling regret or sorrow
garrulous
tiresomely talkative
divergent
differing in opinions， going in different directions
idolatry
worship idols
adamant
unyielding; firm in opinion
apprehend
to seize; to arrest
diffidence
timid， shy
extravagant
excessive， over the top， costing too much
overwrought
extremely nervous or excited
agressive
quick to attack; inclined to hostile actions; assertive; bold and energetic
impropriety
not being proper， improper
conscientious
with principles， according to conscience
garb
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
belittle
lessen the authority， dignity， or reputation of
bane
the cause of ruin， harm， distress， or death
grieve
to express deep sadness because of a loss
burgeon
to begin to grow or blossom
intelligent
smart， knowledgeable
modest
Not thinking too highly of oneself
gossamer
something flimsy or delicate， or light
dismal
dreary
decorum
appropriate behavior or conduct
energetic
active
miserable
very unhappy
contemptuous
scornful
arouse
to excite or bring about
bleak
(adj.) bare， dreary， dismal
euphoric
feeling of great happiness
combination
the result of merging two or more substances
enmity
Mutual Hatred
gibberish
nonsensical talking or writing (the baby was talking gibberish…)
incredulous
disbelieving
exacerbate
to make worse， aggravate
compassion
deep awareness of the suffering of another
eccentric
abnormal
breach
a rift or tear
calamity
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune; a disaster
impermeable
preventing especially liquids to pass or diffuse through…raincoats are impermeable
clutch
to hold tightly
ephemeral
lasting a very short time
classification
systematic grouping
anguish
extreme mental distress
ancestor
someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
laudable
worthy of high praise
forsake
to give up or renounce
horrendous
awful， dreadful
enlightened
people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity
mosaic
a design made by using small color pieces of tile or glass in a service
impervious
not affected or hurt by;
compile
to put together or compose from materials gathered from several sources
accustom
To make familiar
mannequin
life sized statue of a human
glib
performed with a natural， offhand ease
climax
point of greatest intensity
mundane
ordinary
crystalline
resembling crystal
infer
guess correctly
citation
a quoting of an authoritative source
deleterious
having a harmful or bad effect
allocate
assign; set apart for a particular purpose
crucible
a hard test of patience or believe
defiance
resisting or opposing authority
colloquial
informal， conversational
engender
to cause， to produce， to create
mediocre
ordinary， inferior to high quality
assassinate
to murder for political reasons
entail
have as a logical consequence
frugal
not wasting much， thrifty
innovations
something newly introduced
lax
lacking strictness
distinguished
set apart
array
an impressive display
discover
get to know or become aware of， usually accidentally
asset
a useful or valuable quality
fathom
to understand
lucid
easily understood
blatant
unpleasantly or offensively noisy; glaring
forerunner
a person who goes before or announces the coming of another
lethargy
lack of energy; sluggishness
benign
harmless
implausible
difficult to believe
gaudy
showy in a tasteless way
collaborate
to work together on
desertion
act of leaving or abandoning
dexterous
skillful with the use of hands
capricious
determined by chance or impulse rather than by reason
anology
comparison made between two things to show how they are alike
constitute
to amount to ，equal
clumsy
ackward
inferior
lower in rank or quality
meticulous
careful and precise
authority
official permission or approval
crucify
to torment， or mortify
amend
to make better
immense
extremely large
bizarre
Extremely strange， unusual， atypical
dour
gloomy
Abate
become less in amount or intensity
integrity
honesty， high moral standards;
hermit
one who prefers to live alone
dispose
give， sell， or transfer to another
ethereal
intangible， something you cannot see or touch
defection
withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility
envelop
to enclose
ecstasy
intense joy or delight
detention
act of keeping back or detaining， like causing someone to stay after school for a punishment
disconcert
to upset， ruffle
excavate
to expose or uncover
banal
obvious and dull
affable
diffusing warmth and friendliness
crude
raw， unrefined
abdicate
give up， such as power， as of monarchs and emperors， or duties and obligations
ascend
travel up， “We ascended the mountain”
assign
select something or someone for a specific purpose
necessitates
to require or compel
cautious
careful
depressing
making you feel sad
accuse
blame for， make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against
incriminate
to accuse of
guile
skillful deceit
humane
kindness， kind， merciful
mimic
to copy or imitate closely
don
to put on
fallacy
a false notion
gusty
windy， sudden outburst
joyful
glad， happy
bungle
to handle badly， botch
competent
capable， qualified
distress
cause strain， anxiety or suffering
alleviate
provide physical relief， as from pain
arrogant
having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride
austere
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
impair
make imperfect
impede
to slow the progress of， to hinder
exhort
urge on or encourage especially by shouts
amass
collect or gather
minuscule
tiny
patronizing
act superior， treat someone in a way that is degrading
homeliness
not attractive
embellishment
decoration
humility
freedom from pride; humbleness; lowliness; modesty
lenient
not harsh or strict
chronic
long in duration (e.g.， a chronic illness)
cater
to satisfy the needs of， try to make things easy and pleasant; to supply food and service
deny
declare untrue
exotic
foreign， strikingly strange or unusual
imply
to hint; to suggest indirectly
consecrate
to set apart as sacred
impassive
lack of emotion
admire
feel admiration for
mourn
to express sadness or grief
acknowledge
accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
noxious
harmful
irate
extremely angry
incite
provoke or stir up (His brother incites him to anger when he messes up his room.)
contempt
haughty disdain， as for something base or unworthy
idle
lazy， not active
aesthetic
pertaining to beauty
abandon
leave someone who needs or counts on you
conventional
conforming to standards， traditional
blight
anything that destroys， prevents growth， or causes devaluation
absolve
let off the hook
dilemma
a situation that requires a choice between two options that seem equal
antipathy
a feeling of intense dislike
merry
jolly，
assume
to take for granted; to suppose
merciless
without kindness or pity; cruel
achieve
to gain with effort
obligatory
required or demanded
decisive
characterized by decision and firmness
absurd
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
cue
a reminder or prompting
discriminating
able to see differences
morose
gloomy
discredit
to damage reputation
fabrication
something that has been made
agile
moving quickly and lightly
fortitude
strength of mind that allows one to go through pain or hard times with courage
bliss
a state of extreme happiness
discreet
careful about what one says or does; prudent
palpable
able to be touched or felt
perceptive
sharp understanding
misguided
lead astray
fulsome
plentiful or abundant
anthology
a collection of selected literary passages
disorganized
lacking order or methodical arrangement， messy
inhabit
to live in or reside
disfavored
disliked
condense
to reduce or make more compact
cacophony
bad noise
moderation
Not too much or too little of something; not going to an extreme in your pursuit of a goal.
evacuate
to empty or remove contents
opaque
not letting light through
artificial
Made by human beings and not by nature
index
a sign， something that reveals
fidelity
faithful to duties or obligations
disavow
To deny responsibility for or connection with
boredom
the condition of being unexcited
magnificence
greatness or splendor
pardon
excusing a mistake or offense
fickle
changeable or unstable
lament
to mourn or grieve
permanence
permanent， forever
despicable
Very bad， contemptible
candid
Completely honest
ostracize
exclude from a group
ambiguous
open to two or more interpretations
perpetuate
to make permanent or long lasting
calm
undisturbed， composed
estimate
to form an opinion about
anxious
worried; concerned
endure
to tolerate
controlled
restrained
dormant
inactive
ludicrous
broadly or extravagantly humorous
crucial
extremely significant or important
fluctuate
to rise and fall; to vary irregularly…. (the temperature fluctuates)
detain
stop or halt
arrest
the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
navigate
to plan， control or record the course， direct carefully and safely
abet
assist or encourage， usually in some wrongdoing
empathy
identification with another’s feelings
emaciate
to waste away， make thin and weak
amiable
friendly
apathy
the trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally
complicity
involvement in a questionable act or crime
acquit
pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
corporeal
having material or physical form or substance
fleeting
passing quickly
chaperone
an adult who supervises a group of younger people
evanescence
lasting a short time， fading away gradually
livid
furious
distraction
Something that diverts attention away from the original focus
fluent
able to express oneself easily
loyal
faithful， unwavering in devotion to friend or a cause
immortal
living forever
embroil
to involve in a conflict or difficulty; to throw into confusion
lively
full of energy or spirit
opulent
having great wealth
belligerent
given to fighting， warlike; combative， aggressive; one at war， one engaged in war
foolish
lack of sense or judgement
faithful
worthy of trust， full of belief
abbreviate
shorten
inaudible
impossible to hear
linger
to be slow in leaving
peddle
to travel about selling something
clandestine
marked by secrecy
mettle
courage and fortitude
covet
to want or desire
destitute
extremely poor; lacking necessities like food and shelter
assuage
to calm
archaic
antiquated， old， out of use
intermission
the break between parts of a play， opera， or concert
experiment
a test
infinite
having no boundaries or limits
antecedent
something that came before
composure
mental calmness
infect
contaminate with a disease or a bad idea
assimilate
to absorb fully or make one’s own; to adopt as one’s own; to adapt fully
meddlesome
incline to interfere
core
basic， the central or innermost part
jubilant
joyful
hysterical
uncontrollably emotional
fare
a fee
diligent
hardworking
feeble
weak
infuriate
to make angry
laconic
using few words
fatuous
foolish
evoke
to summon or call forth
circumvent
to go around; bypass
incapacitate
to deprive of strength or ability
anonymous
having no known name or identity or known source
bolster
support and strengthen
eloquent
expressive ， well spoken
critical
inclined to judge and find fault
admonish
warn strongly 谏 训诫
evenhanded
fair， showing no favoritism
copious
abundant
ferocity
ferocious or fierce
elitist
the belief that certain persons are superior
jocular
joking， characterized by joking
apex
the highest point (of something)
crook
curve， bend， criminal
immaculate
completely neat and clean
hew
to strike or cut
elaborate
add details， say more
extinct
no longer in existence
exonerate
free from guilt or blame
hamper
to prevent movement or action， put at a disadvantage
impolite
without consideration for others
foster
to bring up or nurture
abridge
to shorten
haughty
very proud in an unpleasant way
abundant
present in great quantity
cease
stop
gloomy
dreary， dark or dismal
kidnap
to sieze and detain unlawfully
melancholy
sadness
equity
conformity with rules or standards; the state of being fair
discard
to throw away or reject
notorious
famous for something bad
glamorous
full of charm and elegance
