part8 Flashcards
abjure
renounce upon oath
abdicate
renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
refurbish
renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish
abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
solder
repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts
remediable
reparable
retaliate
repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
reimburse
repay; pay back
rescind
repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)
reiterate
repeat
recite
repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation
penitent
repentant; N.
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
rote
repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
supersede
replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
rejoinder
reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order)
personify
represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification
rebus
representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. R U 18'' is a rebus forAre you 18’’.
upbraid
reprimand; severely scold
replicate
reproduce; duplicate
reprimand
reprove severely; rebuke; N.
hideous
repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex. hideous face/scream
sedentary
requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population
salvage
rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
equine
resembling a horse; Ex. equine face
umbrage
resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness
distant
reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
cistern
reservoir or water tank
defeatist
resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
immune
resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity
determination
resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
sonorous
resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
recourse
resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
prestige
respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
esteem
respect; value; judge; N.
reputable
respectable; having a good reputation
reverent
respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect
paraphrase
restate a passage in one’s own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words
repose
resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single man
reinstate
restore to a previous condition or position
renovate
restore to good condition; renew
rehabilitate
restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
pinion
restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird’s wing
manacle
restrain; handcuff; N.
inhibit
restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent; N. inhibition
leash
restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
abstinence
restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
constraint
restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison
compulsive
resulting from compulsion
reprisal
retaliation
superannuated
retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
comeback
retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
rebate
return of part of a payment; discount; V.
relapse
return to a former state (esp. after improvement); N.
restitution
returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury
divulge
reveal
disclose
reveal; N. disclosure
venerate
revere; treat with great respect
transpose
reverse the order or position of
backslide
revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
resurrect
revive
resuscitate
revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child
repeal
revoke; annul
cadence
rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
pulse
rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity; V: pulsate
brocade
rich, figured(patterned) fabric
conundrum
riddle; difficult problem
equestrian
rider on horseback; ADJ.
derision
ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
mock
ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision
lampoon
ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution
deride
ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
jurisdiction
right and power to apply the law; authority
franchise
right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory
whorl
ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement;
resurge
rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again
levitate
rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light
soar
rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.
eminent
rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position
bristling
rising like bristles; showing irritation
exposure
risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open; Ex. exposure of governmental corruption
venture
risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
wallow
roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury
tundra
rolling treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America
centurion
Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)
toga
Roman outer robe
gambol
romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
palate
roof of the mouth; sense of the taste
loft
room or space under the roof; attic
leeway
room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline
extirpate
root up; uproot; destroy completely
roseate
rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
spin
rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton, wool, etc.); N.
carrion
rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
gruff
rough-mannered; (of a voice) rough; hoarse
circuitous
roundabout
devious
roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
rotundity
roundness; sonorousness of speech
regal
royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
efface
rub out; remove the surface of
attrition
rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down
d'ebris
rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
florid
ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose
boor
rude, insensitive person
boorish
rude; insensitive
effrontery
rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
domineer
rule over tyrannically
sovereign
ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent
elope
run away secretly with the intention of getting married
seedy
run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel
pastoral
rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor
career
rush wildly; go at full speed
torrent
rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.
yokel
rustic; country bumpkin; Ã̳ð
bucolic
rustic; pastoral
forlorn
sad and lonely; wretched; desolate
woeful
sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably bad; Ex. woeful housing conditions
funereal
sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
wistful
sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing
jocular
said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking
clipper
sailing vessel built for great speed
emolument
salary; payment for an office; compensation
saline
salty
monotony
sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone
uniformity
sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same all over
surfeit
satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food
slake
satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
satiate
satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated
sate
satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
imbue
saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings
valediction
saying farewell; expression of leave-taking
saga
Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
meager
scanty; inadequate
dearth
scarcity
paucity
scarcity; dearth
dispel
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
disperse
scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
skeptic
sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
pedant
scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities
savant
scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know
monograph
scholarly article
seminary
school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women
conservatory(conservatoire)
school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
hygiene
science and practice of the promotion and preservation of health; ADJ. hygienic: showing careful attention to cleanness (to prevent disease); Ex. hygienic condition
jurisprudence
science of law
acoustics
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
ornithologist
scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds
rebuke
scold harshly; criticize severely
berate
scold strongly
excoriate
scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off
chide
scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
shrew
scolding woman; very small mouselike animal
contempt
scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible
sardonic
scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile
glower
scowl; glare; look or stare angrily
rag
scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance
conscientious
scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
hermetic
sealed by fusion so as to be airtight; airtight
scorch
sear; N.
sere
sear; parched; dry
ransack
search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
condiments
seasonings; spices
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
clandestine
secret
crypt
secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)
covert
secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
privy
secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF. private
inviolable
secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or profanation); unassailable; Ex. inviolable oath/rights; N. inviolability
purchase
secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
collateral
security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters
silt
sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
dregs
sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
aspire
seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
aspirant
seeker after position or status
sophistry
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism
specious
seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
seine
seine net; net for catching fish
usurp
seize another’s power or rank (without legal authority); supplant; appropriate; N. usurpation; CF. take for one’s own use
confiscate
seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer
excerpt
selected passage (written or musical) taken from a longer work; V.
eclectic
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism
confidence
self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one’s abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I’m telling you this in confidence; Ex. exchange confidences about their boyfriends; ADJ. confident
reserve
self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and uncommunicative
truism
self-evident truth
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
postulate
self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)
autonomous
self-governing; N. autonomy
pomposity
self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt(pompous person); ADJ. pompous: self-important
consequential
self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
penance
self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance for one’s sins; CF. penitent
continence
self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent
complacency
self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
smug
self-satisfied; complacent
vendor
seller
flip
send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking with a light quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip over
deport
send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment
consign
send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee
dotage
senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one’s dotage
primogeniture
seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)
voluptuous
sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex. voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary: voluptuous person
sentinel
sentry; lookout
sect
separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group
sever
separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up (a relationship); N. severance; CF. severance pay: extra pay given an employee upon leaving a position
sunder
separate; part; CF. asunder
discrete
separate; unconnected
estranged
separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N. estrangement
gradation
series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression
staid
serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
casualty
serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle
discourse
serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.
sober
serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober
gravity
seriousness; ADJ. grave
solemnity
seriousness; gravity
homily
sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic
minion
servile dependent; obsequious follower
sycophant
servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic
toady
servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn
exemplary
serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary punishment/behavior; N. exemplar: typical example; model
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
subsidiary
serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
complementary
serving to complete something
premonitory
serving to warn
emancipate
set free; liberate
stint
set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings
trigger
set off; start
rectify
set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
mediate
settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire
liquidate
settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate; kill or abolish
ensconce
settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)
stricture
severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
reprobation
severe disapproval; CF. approbation
vertigo
severe dizziness; giddiness
ordeal
severe trial or affliction; difficult experience; trial(test of patience or endurance); affliction
censorious
severely critical
rigor
severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
sleazy
shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
mangy
shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance
hovel
shack; small wretched house
fetter
shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or shackle for the foot of a prisoner; CF. foot
nuance
shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction
totter
shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall
wag
shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog wagged its tail; N: humorous person; wit
shudder
shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
doddering
shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
lagoon
shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs
barefaced
shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
barb
sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark
tart
sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex. tart apple/reply
acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
angular
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
hone
sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a tool
whet
sharpen; stimulate;
acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
asperity
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
tonsure
shaving of the head especially by person entering religious orders; V.
diaphanous
sheer; transparent
gossamer
sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb
carapace
shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)
cameo
shell or jewel carved in relief; star’s special appearance in a minor role in a film
aegis
shield; protection; defense
glitter
shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex. glittering diamond ring; N: sparkling light; attractiveness; glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on the waves
glow
shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals); show redness and heat (in the face) after hard work or because of strong feelings; N: light produced by a heated body; brilliance of a color
glimmer
shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady light; faint indication; Ex. glimmer of hope
glare
shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.
shimmer
shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.
luster
shine; gloss (of a polished surface)
luminous
shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light; Ex. luminous paint/road signs
effulgent
shining brightly; brilliant
lustrous
shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair
squat
short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
idyll(idyl)
short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy period of life (in the country); scene from such a time; Ex. idyll of two young lovers
snip
short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors
parable
short simple story teaching a moral
epilogue
short speech at conclusion of dramatic work
bristle
short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
anecdote
short story of an amusing or interesting event
defect
shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
abbreviate
shorten
curtail
shorten; reduce
ephemeral
short-lived; fleeting
catcall
shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
jostle
shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly; Ex. jostled by the crowds
exemplify
show by example; furnish an example; serve as an example of; Ex. His pictures exemplify that sort of painting.
evince
show clearly
ebullient
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling
flashy
showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance
ostentatious
showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display
canny
shrewd in money matters; thrifty
clarion
shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times
cringe
shrink back as if in fear; cower
cower
shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
dwindle
shrink; reduce gradually
wizened
shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady
confine
shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement
occlude
shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.
coy
shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer¸¦ ¹Þ¾ÒÀ» ¶§
retiring
shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality
diffidence
shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
winnow
sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; CF. wind
threat
sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of rain; V: express a threat; give warning of (something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain.
import
significance; importance; meaning
betoken
signify; indicate; be a sign of
indices
signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student’s potential; CF. index: something that reveals or indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index
muted
silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic noise
mute
silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V: soften the sound, color, shade of
sullen
silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
inane
silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity
parallel
similar; analogous; corresponding; N: parallel line; person or thing that is parallel (to another); similarity; Ex. know of no parallel to the case; Ex. without parallel; V: be similar to; make parallel; Ex. Your experience parallels mine; CF. unparalleled
analogy
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
synchronous
similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring at the same time; V. synchronize
volley
simultaneous discharge of a number of shots; V.
fusillade
simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)
inasmuch_as
since; owing to the fact that
incantation
singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant
scuttle
sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship’s deck or hull
subside
sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
brood
sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time
dilemma
situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
bulk
size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size
cynical
skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness
craft
skill (esp. with one’s hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning
tact
skill or sensitivity in dealing with people without causing offence
adroit
skillful (in using mind or hand)
dexterous
skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
mange
skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair
acne
skin disease (on the face)
hide
skin of an animal
azure
sky blue
obloquy
slander; disgrace; infamy
slur
slander; insult to one’s character or reputation; V.
vilify
slander; speak evil of; N. vilification
detraction
slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
aspersion
slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
argot
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
thrall
slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; CF. enthrall
servitude
slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment
servile
slavish; cringing; N. servility
obsequious
slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic
doze
sleep lightly; nap
hibernate
sleep throughout the winter; N. hibernation
soporific
sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
dormant
sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
somnambulist
sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
legerdemain
sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
tint
slight degree of color; V: give a tint to
shade
slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey
smattering
slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German
peccadillo
slight offense or fault; CF. sin
hazy
slightly obscure; misty; unclear; N. haze: light mist or smoke; confused state of mind
acidulous
slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
catapult
slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
slither
slip or slide
ramp
slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
incline
slope; slant; Ex. steep incline
slipshod
slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
decelerate
slow down
canter
slow gallop; V. CF. trot
sloth
slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
slacken
slow up; loosen; make or become slack
laggard
slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler
tardy
slow; sluggish; not on time; late; Ex. tardy arrival
dolt
slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
commune
small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature
pittance
small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
whit
small amount; smallest speck;
scrap
small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel
pinnace
small boat
dinghy
small boat (often ship’s boat)
satellite
small body revolving around a larger one
wisp
small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)
grotto
small cavern
cubicle
small chamber used for sleeping or work
chapel
small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)
vignette
small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene
clique
small exclusive group of people
cabal
small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
hummock
small hill; hillock
exiguous
small in amount; minute
skiff
small light sailboat or rowboat
miniature
small model; small painting; ADJ: small
vent
small opening; outlet (as of fumes or a gas); Ex. He gave vent to his anger by kicking the chair.
figurine
small ornamental statuette(very small statue)
speck
small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye
facet
small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side
asteroid
small planet
pallet
small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet
microcosm
small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society
wrinkle
small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.
circlet
small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)
shed
small roofed structure for storage and shelter; V: pour forth; lose by natural process; repel without allowing penetration; radiate; cast; Ex. shed tears/light/water/skin/leaves
tablet
small round piece of medicine; flat piece of stone or metal bearing an inscription; Ex. stone tablet on the wall
spangle
small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
mote
small speck (esp. of dust)
rivulet
small stream; CF. rill < rivulet < river
lancet
small surgical tool for making incisions
cascade
small waterfall
foible
small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble
daub
smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one’s clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
simper
smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
sleek
smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
glossy
smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on a surface; superficially attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners
paste
smooth viscous mixture as of flour(powder made by crushing grain) and water (used as an adhesive); V: cause to adhere by applying paste
fluency
smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent
smolder
smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger
fatuous
smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity, fatuousness
snuffle
sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)
nip
snip off; stop something’s growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
prohibitive
so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax
negligible
so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded
saturate
soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity
steep
soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
gregarious
sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group
outgoing
sociable; eager to mix socially with others
gaffe
social blunder
milieu
social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one’s milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.
convention
social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement
pariah
social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah
plutocracy
society ruled by the wealthy
balmy
soft and mild (of air); fragrant
marrow
soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood cells
porridge
soft food made by boiling oatmeal
bog
soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud
macerate
soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper
besmirch
soil; defile; make dirty
anathema
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
oath
solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ’s sake’’
adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
awe
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
monolithic
solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone
dupe
someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
nemesis
someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis
scapegoat
someone who bears the blame for others; whipping boy; CF. escape+goat
ventriloquist
someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing (without moving lips or jaws); N. ventriloquism, ventriloquy
glutton
someone who eats too much; ADJ. gluttonous: given to gluttony; greedy; CF. gluttony: habit of eating too much
spendthrift
someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth
paradox
something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position
contrivance
something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme
comestible
something fit to be eaten
implication
something hinted at or suggested; implying; implicating
perennial
something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring
novelty
something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original
trifle
something of little importance or value; small amount; Ex. a trifle; V: treat without seriousness; flirt
precedent
something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF. unprecedented
forfeit
something surrendered as punishment for a crime or breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
precipitant
something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; ħÀüÁ¦; OP. solvent
deterrent
something that discourages or deters
nourishment
something that nourishes; food
balm
something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
memorial
something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to honor the memory of a person or event; ADJ: commemorative
brackish
somewhat saline
paean
song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory
anthem
song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
mollify
soothe an angry person
pacify
soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to
poultice
soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
bland
soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
emollient
soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.
wizardry
sorcery; magic
seamy
sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life
ulcer
sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate
dolorous
sorrowful; N. dolor
psyche
soul; mind
toll
sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals; N: sound of a bell; fixed tax or charge
judicious
sound on judgment; wise
crabbed
sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
capacious
spacious
commodious
spacious and comfortable
abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
scintillate
sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation
fitful
spasmodic; intermittent; irregular
waffle
speak equivocally about an issue; N.
malign
speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame; ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence
advocate
speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
rhapsodize
speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery
rant
speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.
stammer
speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
polyglot
speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.
knack
special talent; art
taxonomist
specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF. taxonomy: science of classification
expertise
specialized knowledge (in a particular field); expert skill
nonsense
speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
inarticulate
speechless; producing indistinct speech; not articulate; not expressing oneself clearly
velocity
speed
tempo
speed of music
celerity
speed; rapidity
dispatch
speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
niggle
spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling
regeneration
spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
polarize
split into opposite extremes or camps
cleave
split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven
rend
split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow
mar
spoil the appearance of
vitiate
spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally
confidential
spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary
