part4 Flashcards
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or amusement)
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
chimerical
fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
leave-taking
farewell or departure
modish
fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
fleet
fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral
latch
fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch
fussy
fastidious; finicky; easily upset
kismet
fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.
patriarch
father and ruler of a family or tribe
beget
father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
captious
faultfinding; too critical
impeccable
faultless
propitious
favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign
auspicious
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
nepotism
favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
claustrophobia
fear of being locked in
acrophobia
fear of heights
hydrophobia
fear of water; rabies
xenophobia
fear or hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe
trepidation
fear; nervous apprehension
apprehensive
fearful; discerning
timorous
fearful; timid; demonstrating fear
intrepid
fearless
practicable
feasible
plumage
feathers of a bird;
lineaments
features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line
commiserate
feel or express pity or sympathy for
euphoria
feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being; feeling of great happiness or well-being (when unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric
affinity
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
nausea
feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness
simulate
feign; imitate
pretend
feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don’t pretend to much expertise; N. pretense
visceral
felt in one’s inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate
vixen
female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew
ewe
female sheep
amazon
female warrior
pen
fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
frond
fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
fecundity
fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young
febrile
feverish
demoniac(demoniacal)
fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
ferocious
fierce; violent; N. ferocity
melee
fight
dossier
file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
replenish
fill up again
fraught
filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight
elated
filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation
aghast
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
sordid
filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
denouement
final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
ultimate
final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental; Ex. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.
ascertain
find out for certain; make certain
aversion
firm dislike
assurance
firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one’s own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one’s own ability; showing certainty
inherent
firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic
tenacity
firmness; persistence
primal
first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man’s primal innocence
primary
first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first
draft
first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript
arable
fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
tantrum
fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex. The child went into tantrums.
paroxysm
fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst
spasmodic
fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion
propriety
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary
aptitude
fitness; talent
moodiness
fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood:
rig
fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; Ex. rig the election
ration
fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
flaccid
flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles
panache
flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache; CF. ÀÜ ¾Æ·¡·Î õÀ» »©³»´Â ¼Ø¾¾
gaudy
flashy; showy
meretricious
flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute
floe
flat mass of floating ice
delta
flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
blandishment
flattery
adulation
flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
sherbet
flavored dessert ice
armada
fleet of warships
fugitive
fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large
evanescent
fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce
carnal
fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
pliant
flexible; easily influenced
pliable
flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
supple
flexible; limber; pliant
willowy
flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
lithe
flexible; supple; CF. limber
limber
flexible; supple; pliable; V.
coquette
flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
inundate
flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work
deluge
flood; rush; V.
parquet
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece
trickle
flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
dribble
flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
exude
flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation
influx
flowing into
confluence
flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together
flux
flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux
glib
fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick
voluble
fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility
flit
fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
ensue
follow (as a result)
subsequent
following in time or order; later
retinue
following; attendants
bookish
fond of books and reading
endearment
fond word or act; expression of affection
ambrosia
food of the gods
viand
food; CF. live
victuals
food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food
austere
forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk’s austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
compress
force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.
extrude
force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die
vehement
forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence
duress
forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
prognosis
forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
paramount
foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal
harbinger
forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
precursor
forerunner; predecessor
vanguard
forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard
bode
foreshadow; portend
presage
foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen
portend
foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning
premonition
forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
granulate
form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle
satire
form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly
concordat
formal agreement
requisition
formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
dissertation
formal essay; treatise
panegyric
formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don’t deserve such panegyrics.
disquisition
formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
stately
formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
phalanx
formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)
predecessor
former occupant of a post
redoubtable
formidable; causing fear
amorphous
formless; lacking shape or definition
citadel
fortress
noisome
foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
malodorous
foul-smelling
quadruped
four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped
shard
fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay bowl, or cup)
rubble
fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)
aromatic
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
chassis
framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
gallows
framework from which a noose is suspended (used for execution by hanging)
candor
frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
extricate
free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle
carefree
free from worries; having no problems
gratis
free; without charge; ADJ.
latitude
freedom from narrow limitations
impunity
freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish
congeal
freeze; coagulate
frenetic(phrenetic)
frenzied; frantic
furor
frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury
repine
fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
amity
friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
intimidate
frighten; N. intimidation
outskirts
fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston
facade(fa\c{c}ade)
front or face (of building); superficial or false appearance
scowl
frown angrily; N: angry frown
hail
frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate hail
husbandry
frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman
baffle
frustrate; perplex
discomfit
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
outlaw
fugitive from the law (excluded from legal protection); V: declare (someone) to be an outlaw; deprive of the protection of the law; declare illegal; Ex. Drinking has been outlawed.
flowery
full of flowers; full of ornate expressions
enterprising
full of initiative; showing enterprise
vital
full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize
porous
full of pores; like a sieve
vain
full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity
vibrant
full of vigor or energy; vibrating
buxom
full-bosomed; plump; jolly
replete
fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
rationale
fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
obsequy
funeral ceremony
undertaker
funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials
dirge
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
purveyor
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide
hindmost
furthest behind; farthest to the rear
jollity
gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay
temporize
gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself
lope
gallop slowly
hiatus
gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break
pucker
gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
glean
gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty
muster
gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one’s strength for the ordeal; N.
garner
gather; store up; amass
blithe(blithesome)
gay; joyous
consensus
general agreement; opinion reached by a group
dynamo
generator for producing electricity; energetic person
magnanimity
generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous
largess
generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)
benevolent
generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
bountiful
generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
zephyr
gentle breeze; west wind
unfeigned
genuine; real
orient
get one’s bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate
grisly
ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies
apparition
ghost; phantom
vampire
ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
spectral
ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
serendipity
gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck; CF. The Three Princes of Serendip
benefactor
gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
legacy
gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor
colossus
gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance
mammoth
gigantic; enormous
titanic
gigantic; N. titan
embody
give a bodily form to; incorporate; include
vouch
give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher
tinge
give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N: slight degree of a color or quality; Ex. tinged with grey/jealousy
burlesque
give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly
predispose
give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition
foreshadow
give an indication beforehand; be a sign of (what is coming); portend; prefigure
defer
give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
suckle
give or take milk at the breast or udder
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
fashion
give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay
resign
give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively
relinquish
give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm
waive
give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim
forgo(forego)
give up; do without
render
give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully
spare
give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time
gratuitous
given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done without good reason; Ex. gratuitous comment
querulous
given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining
studious
given to diligent study
morbid
given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
jocose
given to(having a tendency of) joking
odoriferous
giving off an odor
beatific
giving or showing bliss; blissful
sensuous
giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin
carafe
glass water bottle; decanter
slag
glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
blue
gloomy; depressed
melancholy
gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia
fervor
glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
retrograde
go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.
kneel
go down on one’s knee(s)
traverse
go through or across
chalice
goblet; consecrated cup
adverse
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
transcendental
going beyond common thought or ideas; impossible to understand by practical experiences or practices; known only by studying thoughts or intuition; OP. empirical; CF. transcendentalism
presumptuous
going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties
transition
going from one state of action to another
bullion
gold and silver in the form of bars
prosperity
good fortune and financial success; physical well-being
poise
good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
camaraderie
good-fellowship; CF. comrade
jovial
good-natured; merry; cheerful
virtue
goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity
oligarchy
government by a privileged few
gerontocracy
government ruled by old people
theocracy
government run by religious leaders
monarchy
government under a single ruler
encroachment
gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another’s possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon
herbivorous
grain-eating; CF. herbivore
sumptuous
grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
bombast
grandiloquent, pompous speech
impart
grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart
vouchsafe
grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
browse
graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
profusion
great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
conflagration
great fire
adversity
great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
clout
great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist
rapture
great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
avalanche
great mass of falling snow and ice
consternation
great shock; dismay
woe
great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering; Ex. financial woes
cataract
great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
magnitude
greatness (in size or extent); extent
cupidity
greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
avarice
greediness for wealth
avid
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
verdigris
green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather
patina
green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting
verdant
green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows
lament
grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
gruesome
grisly; horrible
primp
groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
lechery
gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
killjoy
grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others
herd
group of animals; crowd; one who looks after a herd; Ex. shepherd/goatherd; Ex. herd instinct; Ex. herdsman; V: come together in a herd; look after a herd; Ex. herd cattle
avantgarde
group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
entourage
group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround
archipelago
group of closely located islands
primate
group of mammals including humans
cohorts
group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
choir
group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services); place for choir
junta
group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)
trilogy
group of three related works (connected by a shared subject but each complete in itself)
camp
group sharing a common cause or opinion
coterie
group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
proliferate
grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation
burgeon
grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon
flourish
grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave; brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the sun. N: showy movement or gesture; embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in handwriting)
cumulative
growing by addition; accumulative
rampant
growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed
accretion
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
macabre
gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
warranty
guarantee; assurance by seller
tutelage
guardianship; training; function of a tutor; instruction
surmise
guess; N.
arroyo
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
recidivism
habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
inebriated
habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety
taciturn
habitually silent; talking little
trite
hackneyed; commonplace
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich'ed
crone
hag; ugly old woman
hackles
hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone’s hackles rise
coiffure
hairstyle
hirsute
hairy; having a lot of hair
somnolent
half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
satyr
half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus (resembling a goat), portrayed as wanton(unrestrained) and cunning; lecher; CF. faun; CF. goat: lecherous man
clot
half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
snicker
half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
gavel
hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.
maul
handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer
tiller
handle used to move boat’s rudder (to steer)
factotum
handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything
loiter
hang about/around; stand idly about; linger
hover
hang about; (of birds or aircraft) stay in the air in one place; (of people) wait nearby; stay around one place; waver; be in an uncertain state
pendant(pendent)
hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
pendulous
hanging; suspended
eventual
happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory
concurrent
happening at the same time; in agreement
casual
happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark
forthcoming
happening in the near future; ready; willing to help; Ex. No answer was forthcoming.
felicity
happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous
beset
harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
harry
harass, annoy, torment (by repeated attacks); raid
bait
harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
rigid
hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule
brittle
hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation
incrustation
hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust
crust
hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
esoteric
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica
drudgery
hard unpleasant work; menial work
adamant
hard; inflexible
arduous
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
callous
hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
defame
harm someone’s reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
deleterious
harmful
injurious
harmful; causing injury
noxious
harmful; CF. obnoxious
detrimental
harmful; damaging; N. detriment
innocuous
harmless
placebo
harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
consonant
harmonious; in agreement; N.
compatible
harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together
concord
harmony; accord
consonance
harmony; agreement
conformity
harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance
bridle
harness fitted about a horse’s head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger
belabor
harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically
severity
harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense
expedite
hasten; make go faster
slapdash
hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)
headlong
hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.
incubate
hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for development; be holding in one’s body an infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:disease
malicious
hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite
misogynist
hater of woman; CF. misogyny
misogamy
hatred of marriage
supercilious
haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium
tend
have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply one’s attention; attend
vertebrate
having a backbone or spinal column; N: group of animals having a segmented spinal column
consanguineous(consanguine)
having a common ancestor
concentric
having a common center
cognate
having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
blunt
having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt
determinate
having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
wan
having a pale or sickly color; pallid
serrated
having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
sour
having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.
capillary
having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
autocratic
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
apolitical
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
odorous
having an odor
clairvoyant
having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
voluminous
having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large
ponderous
having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
relevant
having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
desperate
having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
effete
having lost one’s original power; barren; worn out; exhausted
multiform
having many forms
multilingual
having many languages; fluent in several languages
versatile
having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility
ciliated
having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
peerless
having no equal; incomparable
uninhibited
having no inhibitions; free in behavior and feelings
static
having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state
unprecedented
having no previous example; novel; unparalleled
monochromatic
having only one color
prurient
having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire
verisimilar
having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible
musky
having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer
rancid
having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
authoritative
having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
civil
having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic
cognitive
having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing
fluted
having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column
effeminate
having womanly traits
promontory
headland
salubrious
healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health
hale
healthy
bank
heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning
ardor
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
calorific
heat-producing; N. calorie
celestial
heavenly
lopsided
heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
cumbersome
heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
communal
held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
facilitate
help bring about; make less difficult
conducive
helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
beneficial
helpful; useful; advantageous
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
recluse
hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
halting
hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act with uncertainty; falter; hesitate; waver; stop
scruple
hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience
flinch
hesitate; shrink back (in fear of something unpleasant); Ex. She did not flinch in the face of danger.
falter
hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or move unsteadily through weakness; N.
potpourri
heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)
pitfall
hidden danger; concealed trap
irony
hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean; use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning
impede
hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block
cache
hiding place; V.
intellect
higher mental powers; person of great intellectual ability
culmination
highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
apogee
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
agog
highly excited; intensely curious
prodigy
highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder
baroque
highly ornate
high-flown
highly pretentious or inflated
virtuoso
highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso
coup
highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d’'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills
impediment
hindrance; stumbling-block; speech defect preventing clear articulation; Ex. speech impediment
insinuate
hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex. insinuate himself into the boss’s favor; CF. ingratiate
inkling
hint; slight indication
intimate
hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship; familiar; private; personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or confidant; CF. intimacy
bump
hit or knock against with force; N.
slap
hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
swipe
hit with a sweeping motion; N.
repress
hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion
clasp
hold firmly within arms
tenacious
holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
tenure
holding of an office or real estate; time during which such an office is held
riveting
holding one’s attention; absorbing; engrossing
pertinacious
holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent
retentive
holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory
concave
hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
hermitage
home of a hermit
domicile
home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one’s domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
waif
homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
vagrant
homeless wanderer
nostalgia
homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
integrity
honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being whole and undivided; completeness
fete(f\^ete)
honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a feast; N. (outdoor) festival or feast; CF. feast
commemorate
honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war
distinction
honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
kudos
honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement
homage
honor; tribute; great respect; Ex. pay/do homage to
disconsolate
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
cornucopia
horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty
ghastly
horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast
animus
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
antagonism
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
pudding
hot sweet dish
choleric
hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera
embrace
hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet
colossal
huge
behemoth
huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
gargantuan
huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel
enormity
hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous
brawn
human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
humility
humbleness of spirit
mortify
humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one’s body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die
degradation
humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
indulgent
humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence
parody
humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.
waggish
humorous; mischievous; tricky
scavenge
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
precipitate
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
hull
husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship
crossbreed
hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
trance
hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one’s physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition
mesmerize
hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer
utopia
ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian
quixotic
idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
drone
idle person who lives on other people’s work; male bee
snub
ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she snubbed me; N.
mischance
ill luck
enmity
ill will; hatred; hostility
illicit
illegal
contraband
illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
bastard
illegitimate child
cantankerous
ill-humored; irritable
morose
ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
paramour
illicit lover
