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My Words_Defined_REV_FOR IPHONE500thru550 Flashcards

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1
Q

mores

A

conventions; moral standards; moral customs

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2
Q

morose

A

ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy

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3
Q

multifarious

A

varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities

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4
Q

mundane

A

worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world

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5
Q

munificent

A

very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience

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6
Q

myopic

A

nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia

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7
Q

myriad

A

very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand

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8
Q

myriamid

A

N/A

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9
Q

nacrease

A

resembling nacre; lustrous; pearly.

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10
Q

nadir

A

lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith

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11
Q

naivet'e(naivety)

A

quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na"ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous

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12
Q

narcissist

A

conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus

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13
Q

nascent

A

incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex. nascent ability in music

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14
Q

nebulous

A

vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal

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15
Q

negligible

A

so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded

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16
Q

neologism

A

new or newly coined word or phrase

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17
Q

neophyte

A

recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant

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18
Q

nepotism

A

favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew

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19
Q

nettle

A

irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome

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20
Q

N/A

A

N/A

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21
Q

noisome

A

foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome

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22
Q

nomenclature

A

terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things

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23
Q

nominal

A

in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint

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24
Q

nomenclature

A

a set or system of names or terms, as those used in a particular science or art, by an individual or community, etc

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25
Q

nostrum

A

questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)

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26
Q

nuance

A

shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction

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27
Q

numismatist

A

person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals

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28
Q

obdurate

A

stubborn; refusing to change one’s belief

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29
Q

obeisance

A

bow (to show respect and obedience)

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30
Q

obfuscate

A

confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand

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31
Q

oblique

A

neither perpendicular nor parallel to a given line or surface; slanting; sloping.

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32
Q

obligatory

A

binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate

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33
Q

oblique

A

indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference

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34
Q

obsequious

A

slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic

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35
Q

obstinate

A

stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy

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36
Q

obviate

A

make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need

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37
Q

occlude

A

shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.

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38
Q

odious

A

arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile

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39
Q

offal

A

refuse; rubbish; garbage.

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40
Q

officious

A

meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one’s services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy

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41
Q

oligarchy

A

government by a privileged few

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42
Q

omnipotent

A

all-powerful; having unlimited power

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43
Q

onerous

A

burdensome

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44
Q

opaque

A

dark; not transparent; N. opacity

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45
Q

opine

A

to hold or express an opinion.

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46
Q

opprobrium

A

infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous

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47
Q

opulence

A

extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant

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48
Q

orotune

A

(of the voice or speech) characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness.

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49
Q

ossify

A

change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging in one’s ideas

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50
Q

ostensible

A

apparent; appearing as such; professed(pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible purpose of the expedition

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51
Q

ostentatious

A

showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display

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52
Q

ostracize

A

banish from a group; exclude from public favor; ban; Ex. His friends ostracized him. N. ostracism

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53
Q

overwrought

A

nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done

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54
Q

palatial

A

of or suitable for a palace; magnificent

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55
Q

palliate

A

ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)

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56
Q

pallid

A

pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion

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57
Q

panacea

A

cure-all; remedy for all diseases

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58
Q

panache

A

flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache

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59
Q

panegyric

A

formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don’t deserve such panegyrics.

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60
Q

panoply

A

a wide-ranging and impressive array or display:

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61
Q

paradigm

A

model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word

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62
Q

paradox

A

something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct

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63
Q

paragon

A

model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue

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64
Q

paraphrase

A

restate a passage in one’s own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words

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65
Q

pare

A

to cut off the outer coating, layer, or part of.

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66
Q

pariah

A

social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah

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67
Q

parley

A

conference (between opponents); CF. speak

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68
Q

parry

A

ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully; N.

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69
Q

parvenu

A

upstart; newly rich person

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70
Q

pastiche

A

imitation of another’s style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists

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71
Q

pathogenic

A

capable of producing disease: pathogenic bacteria.

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72
Q

paucity

A

scarcity; dearth

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73
Q

peccadillo

A

slight offense or fault; CF. sin

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74
Q

peculate

A

to steal or take dishonestly (money, especially public funds, or property entrusted to one’s care); embezzle.

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75
Q

pedant

A

scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities

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76
Q

pedantic

A

bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry

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77
Q

peevish

A

bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry

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78
Q

pejorative

A

(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect; Ex. Many women now considers ``housewife’’ a pejorative expression, because it patronized them.

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79
Q

penchant

A

strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars

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80
Q

pensive

A

dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over

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81
Q

penury

A

extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy

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82
Q

peregrination

A

journey; V. peregrinate

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83
Q

perfidious

A

treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery

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84
Q

perfunctory

A

done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss

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85
Q

peripatetic

A

walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy

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86
Q

peripheral

A

of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest

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87
Q

permeable

A

that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge

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88
Q

pernicious

A

very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia

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89
Q

perquisite(perk)

A

any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car

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90
Q

personable

A

attractive (in personality or appearance)

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91
Q

perspicacious

A

(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute

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92
Q

pervade

A

to become spread throughout all parts of: Spring pervaded the air.

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93
Q

pettifogger

A

to practice chicanery of any sor

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94
Q

phalanx

A

formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)

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95
Q

philanthropist

A

lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy

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96
Q

philistine

A

narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete

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97
Q

phlegmatic

A

calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract

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98
Q

pithy

A

concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty

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99
Q

pittance

A

small amount (of money); small allowance or wage

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100
Q

placate

A

pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease

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101
Q

plasticity

A

ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay

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102
Q

platitude

A

trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous

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103
Q

plebeian

A

common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician

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104
Q

plethora

A

excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses

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105
Q

plexiform

A

intricate; complex.

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106
Q

pliant

A

flexible; easily influenced

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107
Q

pluck

A

courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave

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108
Q

poignancy

A

quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick

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109
Q

polemic

A

attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy

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110
Q

politic

A

prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised

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111
Q

polyglot

A

speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.

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112
Q

pontifical

A

pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop

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113
Q

posit

A

to lay down or assume as a fact or principle; postulate.

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114
Q

potentate

A

monarch; sovereign

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115
Q

pragmatic

A

practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill

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116
Q

prattle

A

talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate

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117
Q

precipitate

A

hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden

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118
Q

precis

A

a concise summary.

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119
Q

preclude

A

make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate

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120
Q

precocious

A

advanced in development; N. precocity

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121
Q

predilection

A

preference; partiality

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122
Q

prescience

A

ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient

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123
Q

pretext

A

excuse

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124
Q

prevaricate

A

lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)

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125
Q

pristine

A

unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition

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126
Q

probity

A

uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility

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127
Q

proclivity

A

inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)

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128
Q

prodigal

A

wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality

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129
Q

prodigious

A

enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory

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130
Q

profligate

A

wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy

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131
Q

prognosticate

A

predict (according to present indications)

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132
Q

proletarian

A

member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)

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133
Q

proliferate

A

grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation

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134
Q

prolific

A

producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer

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135
Q

prolixity

A

tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse

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136
Q

promulgate

A

announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication

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137
Q

propinquity

A

nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship

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138
Q

propitiate

A

appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory

139
Q

propriety

A

fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary

140
Q

prosaic

A

lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; CF. prose

141
Q

proscribe

A

prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw

142
Q

protean

A

able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will

143
Q

protract

A

prolong; lengthen in time; draw out

144
Q

provident

A

providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident

145
Q

proximity

A

nearness; ADJ. proximate

146
Q

prudent

A

cautious; careful; prudential

147
Q

puerile

A

childish; immature; CF. puer: boy

148
Q

pugilist

A

boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing

149
Q

pugnacity

A

combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious: (of people) belligerent; combative in nature

150
Q

pulchritude

A

beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous

151
Q

pungent

A

stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic; N. pungency

152
Q

pusillanimous

A

cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted

153
Q

puissant

A

powerful; mighty; potent.

154
Q

putative

A

supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child

155
Q

quandary

A

dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a quandary about whether to go.

156
Q

querulous

A

given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining

157
Q

quiescent

A

dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence

158
Q

quintessence

A

purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence

159
Q

quixotic

A

idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote

160
Q

quotidian

A

daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine

161
Q

raconteur

A

story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill

162
Q

raproachment

A

an establishment or reestablishment of harmonious relations:

163
Q

rarefied

A

made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction

164
Q

rebuff

A

reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.

165
Q

reconcile

A

make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one’s political principles with one’s religious beliefs

166
Q

recrimination

A

countercharges; V. recriminate

167
Q

recrudecense

A

breaking out afresh or into renewed activity; revival or reappearance in active existence.

168
Q

recur

A

to come up again for consideration, as a question.

169
Q

redoubtable

A

formidable; causing fear

170
Q

redress

A

remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for

171
Q

refractory

A

unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse

172
Q

refulgent

A

effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon

173
Q

rejoinder

A

reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply

174
Q

remonstrate

A

protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest

175
Q

remunerative

A

(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble

176
Q

renaisance

A

any similar revival in the world of art and learning.

177
Q

repast

A

meal; feast; banquet

178
Q

replete

A

fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors

179
Q

repose

A

resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single man

180
Q

reprobate

A

morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?

181
Q

repudiate

A

disown; disavow; deny

182
Q

requite

A

make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal

183
Q

rescind

A

repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)

184
Q

resolute

A

firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion.

185
Q

restive

A

impatiently restless (induced by external coercion or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; CF. not a general synonym for `restless’

186
Q

reticent

A

inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence

187
Q

retort

A

quick sharp reply; V.

188
Q

rhetoric

A

art of effective communication; art of using language effectively and persuasively; style of speaking or writing; grandiloquent language; Ex. political rhetoric; ADJ. rhetorical; CF. rhetorical question: question to which no answer is expected as ``Who kn

189
Q

ribald

A

marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke

190
Q

risible

A

pertaining to or connected with laughing.

191
Q

rococo

A

ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century

192
Q

rodomontade

A

vainglorious boasting or bragging; pretentious, blustering talk.

193
Q

ruminate

A

chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically); mull over(ponder)

194
Q

rustic

A

pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person

195
Q

sacrosanct

A

invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable

196
Q

sagacious

A

wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity

197
Q

salient

A

prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features

198
Q

salubrious

A

healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health

199
Q

sanctimonious

A

displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety

200
Q

sanction

A

approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance

201
Q

sanguine

A

optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red

202
Q

sardonic

A

scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile

203
Q

satiate

A

satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated

204
Q

saturate

A

soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity

205
Q

saturnalia

A

unrestrained revelry; orgy.

206
Q

saturnine

A

morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.

207
Q

scarify

A

to lacerate by severe criticism.to loosen (the soil) with a type of cultivator

208
Q

sciamachy

A

an act or instance of fighting a shadow or an imaginary enemy.

209
Q

scintilla

A

trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark

210
Q

sciolist

A

superficial knowledge

211
Q

scrupulous

A

conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker

212
Q

scurrilous

A

abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark

213
Q

sedition

A

conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious

214
Q

senescent

A

growing old; aging.

215
Q

sentient

A

capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience

216
Q

seraphic

A

of, like, or befitting a seraph.

217
Q

sinecure

A

well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif

218
Q

slake

A

satisfy (thirst); quench; sate

219
Q

sobriquiet

A

a nickname.

220
Q

solecism

A

nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette

221
Q

solicitous

A

anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude

222
Q

sonorous

A

resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound

223
Q

sophistry

A

seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism

224
Q

soporific

A

sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy

225
Q

spartan

A

without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life

226
Q

specious

A

seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)

227
Q

spendthrift

A

someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth

228
Q

sporadic

A

occurring irregularly; intermittent

229
Q

sportive

A

playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike

230
Q

spurious

A

false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments

231
Q

squalor

A

condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story

232
Q

stasis

A

the state of equilibrium or inactivity caused by opposing equal forces.

233
Q

stereotype

A

one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to stereotype

234
Q

stigma

A

token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful

235
Q

stoic

A

stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism

236
Q

stolid

A

dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected

237
Q

stratagem

A

deceptive scheme; clever trick

238
Q

stricture

A

severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction

239
Q

strident

A

loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency

240
Q

subjugate

A

conquer; bring under control

241
Q

sublime

A

causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter

242
Q

subterfuge

A

stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge

243
Q

succor

A

assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.

244
Q

sully

A

defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one’s hands in menial labor

245
Q

superannuated

A

retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete

246
Q

supercilious

A

haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium

247
Q

supine

A

lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision

248
Q

supplant

A

take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace

249
Q

supplicate

A

petition humbly; pray to grant a favor

250
Q

supposition

A

assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose

251
Q

suppurated

A

to produce or discharge pus, as a wound; maturate.

252
Q

surfeit

A

satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food

253
Q

surly

A

bad-tempered; rude; cross

254
Q

surreptitious

A

done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden

255
Q

susurrus

A

a soft murmuring or rustling sound; whisper.

256
Q

sybarite

A

lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy

257
Q

sycophant

A

servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic

258
Q

symbiosis

A

interdependent relationship (between groups, species) often mutually beneficial; ADJ. symbiotic; CF. together + life

259
Q

syncopation

A

a shifting of the normal accent, usually by stressing the normally unaccented beats.

260
Q

tacit

A

understood (without actually being expressed); not put into words; Ex. tacit agreement

261
Q

taciturn

A

habitually silent; talking little

262
Q

talon

A

claw of bird

263
Q

tangential

A

only slightly connected; not central; peripheral; digressing; showing divergence; CF. tangent

264
Q

tantamount

A

equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount

265
Q

tawdry

A

cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry

266
Q

temerity

A

boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day’s work

267
Q

tenuous

A

thin; slim; rare

268
Q

tersgiversation

A

to change repeatedly one’s attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject, etc.; equivocate.

269
Q

terrestrial

A

on or relating to the earth

270
Q

terse

A

concise; abrupt; pithy

271
Q

tirade

A

long angry denunciatory speech; diatribe; harangue; extended scolding; denunciation

272
Q

toady

A

servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn

273
Q

tome

A

large volume; book

274
Q

torpor

A

lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; ADJ. torpid: lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of an animal) dormant; hibernating

275
Q

traduce

A

expose to slander

276
Q

transient

A

staying for a short time; momentary; temporary; N: one that is transient

277
Q

transitory

A

transient; impermanent; fleeting; N. transitoriness

278
Q

transmute

A

transform; change; convert to something different

279
Q

trenchant

A

cutting; incisive; keen

280
Q

triturate

A

to reduce to fine particles or powder by rubbing, grinding, bruising, or the like; pulverize.

281
Q

troglodyte

A

a prehistoric cave dweller.

282
Q

truculence

A

aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent: aggressive; pugnacious; fierce

283
Q

truncate

A

cut the top off; shorten

284
Q

turbid

A

(of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick

285
Q

turgid

A

swollen; distended (as from liquid)

286
Q

tyro

A

beginner; novice

287
Q

ubiquitous

A

being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity

288
Q

umbrage

A

resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness

289
Q

unassuaged

A

unsatisfied; not soothed

290
Q

uncanny

A

strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack

291
Q

unconscionable

A

unscrupulous; not guided by conscience; excessive; beyond reason; Ex. unconscionable demand

292
Q

unequivocal

A

plain; clear; obvious

293
Q

unprecedented

A

having no previous example; novel; unparalleled

294
Q

untenable

A

(of a position, esp. in an argument) indefensible; not able to be maintained

295
Q

unwarranted

A

unjustified; having no justification; groundless; baseless; undeserved

296
Q

upbraid

A

reprimand; severely scold

297
Q

urbane

A

suave; refined in manner; elegant

298
Q

usury

A

lending money at illegal high rates of interest

299
Q

vacillate

A

waver (in opinion); fluctuate; sway to and fro; N. vacillation

300
Q

vacuous

A

empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity

301
Q

vanguard

A

forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard

302
Q

vapid

A

lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture

303
Q

variegate

A

change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)

304
Q

variegated

A

(esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored

305
Q

venal

A

capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal

306
Q

vendetta

A

blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams

307
Q

venerable

A

deserving high respect; commanding respect; CF. command: deserve and get

308
Q

venerate

A

revere; treat with great respect

309
Q

venial

A

(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial

310
Q

veracity

A

truthfulness; adherence to the truth

311
Q

verbose

A

wordy; N. verbosity

312
Q

verdant

A

green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows

313
Q

vernacular

A

living language (as compared to the official language); language spoken in a country or region; natural style; Ex. lapse into the vernacular

314
Q

vernal

A

pertaining to spring

315
Q

vestige

A

trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion

316
Q

vex

A

annoy; distress

317
Q

vicissitude

A

change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China

318
Q

vilify

A

slander; speak evil of; N. vilification

319
Q

vim

A

lively or energetic spirit; enthusiasm; vitality.

320
Q

vindicate

A

clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one’s client; Ex. vindicate one’s claim; CF. vindicator

321
Q

vindictive

A

disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak

322
Q

viscous

A

(of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF. consistency

323
Q

vitiate

A

spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally

324
Q

vituperative

A

abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively

325
Q

volatile

A

changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile character/situation in the street

326
Q

volition

A

act of using one’s will; act of making a conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition.

327
Q

voluble

A

fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility

328
Q

waive

A

give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim

329
Q

wan

A

having a pale or sickly color; pallid

330
Q

wanton

A

unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause

331
Q

waver

A

move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady in decision or movement; Ex. wavering between accepting and refusing

332
Q

whimsical

A

erratic; unpredictable:

333
Q

wily

A

full of, marked by, or proceeding from wiles; crafty; cunning.

334
Q

winsome

A

sweetly or innocently charming; winning; engaging: a winsome smile

335
Q

wizened

A

withered; shriveled: a wizened old man; wizened features.

336
Q

wraight

A

an apparition of a living person supposed to portend his or her death.

337
Q

wry

A

produced by a distortion or lopsidedness of the facial features: a wry grin

338
Q

xenophobia

A

an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange.

339
Q

yoke

A

a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal.

340
Q

zeal

A

fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.

341
Q

zealot

A

an excessively zealous person; fanatic.

342
Q

zenth

A

a highest point or state; culmination.

343
Q

zephyr

A

a gentle, mild breeze.

Vocabulary Builder (2 decks)

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