Vocabulary List 5 Flashcards
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Utilitarian
adj. designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive
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End
n. a goal or result that one hopes to achieve
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Coltish
adj. energetic but awkward in one’s movement or behavior
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Anthropogenic
adj. originating in human activity (chiefly of environmental pollution or pollutants)
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Indictment
n. a formal charge or accusation for a serious crime
n. a thing that serves to illustrate that a system or situation is bad and deserves to be condemned
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Spindly
adj. (of a person or limb) long or tall and thin
adj. (of a thing) weak or insubstantial in construction
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Euphoric
adj. characterized or feeling intense excitement and happiness
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Ensconce
v. establish or settle (someone) in a safe, comfortable, or secret place
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Conflux (or confluence)
n. the act or process of merging
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Ascertain
v. find out (something) for certain
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Quiddity
n. the inherent nature or essence of someone or something
n. a distinctive feature; a peculiarity or quirk
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Repository
n. a place, building, or receptacle where things are or may be stored
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Receptacle
n. an object or space used to contain something (trash receptacles)
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Mnemonic
n. a device used to assist in remembering something
adj. aiding or designed to aid the memory
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Curtail
v. reduce in extent or quality
v. (curtail someone of) deprive someone of (something)
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Vested
adj. secured in the possession of or assigned to a person
adj. protected or established by law or contract
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Imperial
adj. of or relating to an emperor (the imperial family)
adj. majestic, magnificent (the bedroom was huge and imperial)
adj. imperious or domineering
adj. of, relating to, or denoting the U.S. system of non metric measurements (e.g. foot, ounce, etc.)
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Autocratic
adj. taking no account of other people’s wishes or feeling, cavalier; domineering
adj. of or relating to a ruler who has absolute power
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Hank
n. a coil or skein of yarn, hair, rope, or other material (a thick hank of blonde hair)
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Skein
n. a length or thread of yarn, loosely coiled and knitted
n. a complicated or tangled arrangement, snafu, or state (a skein of lies)
n. a flock of geese or swans in flight, typically in a V-shaped formation
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Gainly
adj. graceful and well-proportioned
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Liaison
n. a channel for communication (he provided a liaison with the guerrillas)
n. a person who acts as a connection for communication between groups of people
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Bank
v. heap (a substance) into a mass or mound (snow was banked in humps on the roadside)
v. edge or surround with a row or ridge of something (steps banked with pots of chrysanthemum)
n. a slope, mass, or mound of a particular substance
n. a set or series of similar things, especially electrical or electronic devices (the DJ had big banks of lights and speakers on either side of his console)
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Introspection
n. the examination or observation of one’s mental state and emotional processes
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Advent
n. the arrival of a noticeable person, thing, or event (the advent of the television)
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Propagate
v. breed specimens of (an animal, plant, etc.) by natural processes from the parent stock
v. spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely
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Sojourn
n. a temporary stay
v. to stay somewhere temporarily
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Cordon
v. prevent access to or from (an area or building) by surrounding it with police or guards
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Sisyphean
adj. (of a task) such that it can’t be completed
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Relief
n. the state or quality of being clearly visible or obvious due to being accentuated in some way (the setting sun threw the snow-covered peaks into relief)
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Disquieting
adj. inducing feelings of anxiety or worry
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Heady
adj. (of liquor) potent; intoxicating
adj. having a strong or exhilarating effect (the heady days of the birth of the women’s movement)
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Inordinate
adj. unusually or disproportionately large; excessive
adj. (of a person) unrestrained in feelings or behavior; disorderly
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Saccharide
n. a lump or teaspoon of sugar, used to sweeten tea or coffee
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Absquatulate
v. to flee; abscond
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Pyrotechnic
adj. brilliant or sensational
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Acuity
n. sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing (intellectual acuity, visual acuity)
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Lugubrious
adj. looking or sounding sad or dismal
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Dash
v. strike or fling (something) with great force, hurl
v. strike forcefully against something (a gust of wind dashed against the rocks)
v. cause someone to lose confidence, dispirit
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Antiquated
adj. old fashioned or outdated
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Incandescent
adj. emitting light as a result of being heated
adj. passionate or brilliant
adj. apoplectic
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Polymath
n. a person of wide-ranged knowledge or learning
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Sapient
adj. wise, or attempting to appear wise
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Shortchange
v. treat unfairly by withholding something of value (residents perennially complain about their own children’s needs being shortchanged)
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Triage
n. the process of determining the most important people or things from amongst a large number that requires attention
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Enceinte
adj. pregnant
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Behoove
v. be appropriate or necessary (it behooves us to reflect on the matter)
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Collar
v. seize, grasp, or apprehend (someone)
v. approach aggressively and talk to (someone who wishes to leave)
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Phalanx
n. a body of troops or police officers, standing or moving in close formation (six hundred marchers set off, led by a phalanx of police)
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Slop
n. spill or flow over the edge of a container, typically as a result of careless handling
n. apply or put (something) in a casual or insouciant manner
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Paddy
n. a fit of temper (he sulked off in a paddy)
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Rapport
n. a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other
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Nonpareil
adj. having no match or equal, unrivaled
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Sibilant
adj. making or characterized by a hissing sound (a sibilant whisper)
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Heuristic
adj. enabling a person to discover something or learn something on their own (a “hands-on” or interactive heuristic approach to learning)
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Scrupulous
adj. (of a person or process) diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details
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Absolve
v. set or declare (someone) free of blame, guilt, or responsibility
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Rescind
v. revoke, cancel, or repeal (a law, order, or agreement)
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Field
v. deal with a difficult question, telephone call, etc. (he has fielded five calls from salespeople)
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Rankle
v. (of a comment, event, or fact) cause annoyance or resentment that persists
v. annoy or irritate (someone)
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Gubernatorial
adj. of or relating to a state governor or the office of a state government
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Well-nigh
adj. almost
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Auteur
n. a filmmaker with their own personal artistic style
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Betoken
v. be a sign of, indicate
v. be a warning or bellwether of (a future event)
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Pinion
n. the outer part of a bird’s wing including the flight feathers
n. a small gear or spindle engaging with a large gear
v. tie or hold the legs or arms of (someone)
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Barb
n. a deliberately hurtful remark
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Id
n. the part of the mind in which innate instinctive impulses and primary processes manifest
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Spirit
v. convey rapidly and secretly
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Convey
v. transport or carry to a place
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Excise
v. cut out surgically
v. remove (a section) from a piece of text or music
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Paunch
n. a large or protruding abdomen or stomach
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Gripe
v. express a complaint or grouse about something
v. to grip tightly
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Cantrip
n. a mischievous or playful act; a trick
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Undertone
n. a subdued or muted tone of sound or color (they were talking in undertones)
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Pallid
adj. (of a person’s face) pale, typically because of poor health
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Liquid
adj. having the clear shimmer of water (liquid dark eyes)
adj. (of a sound) clear, pure, and flowing; harmonious
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Unilateral
adj. (of an action or decision) performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a particular situation, without the agreement or assent of another or the others
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Ancillary
adj. additional; subsidiary
n. something that functions in a supplementary or supporting role
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Stigma
n. a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person (the stigma of mental disorder)
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Prognosis
n. a forecast for the likely outcome of an event (gloomy prognoses of overpopulation)
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Bate
v. to moderate or restrain
v. beat the wings in an attempt to escape from the perch
n. an angry mood (he got into a stinking bate)
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Circumstantial
adj. (of a description) containing full details
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Votary
n. a devoted follower, adherent, or advocate of someone or something (he was a votary of John Keats)
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Straggling
adj. tattered
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Straggle
v. move along slowly, typically in a small irregular group, so as to remain some distance behind the person or people in the front
v. grow, spread, or be laid out in an irregular, untidy way
n. an untidy or irregularly arranged mass or group of something
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Pander
v. gratify or indulge an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit of a person with such a desire, etc. (newspapers are pandering to people’s baser instincts)
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Ignominy
n. public shame or disgrace (the ignominy of being imprisoned)
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Indisposition
n. mild illness
n. lack of enthusiasm or inclination, reluctant (an utter indisposition to do anything whenever)
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Celibate
adj. abstaining from marriage or sexual relations
n. a person who abstains from marriage or sexual relations
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Docile
adj. submissive
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Pensive
adj. engaging in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought
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Pigeon-toed
adj. having the toes or feet turned inward
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Miasma
n. a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor
n. an oppressive or unpleasant atmosphere that surrounds or emanates from something
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Trill
n. a quavering or vibrating sound
n. the pronunciation of a consonant, especially r, with rapid vibration of the tongue against the hard or soft palate or the uvula
v. to make either of these sounds
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Incumbent
adj. (incumbent on/upon) necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility
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Panoramic
adj. (of a view or picture) with a wide view surrounding the observer
adj. including all aspects of a subject; wide-ranging
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Palpitate
v. (of the heart) beat strongly, rapidly, or irregularly
v. shake; tremble
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Congeal
v. solidify or coagulate, especially by cooling
v. take shape or coalesce into a satisfying whole
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Averse
adj. having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
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Arbitrator
n. an arbiter
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v. breed specimens of (an animal, plant, etc.) by natural processes from the parent stock
v. spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely
Propagate
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adj. designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive
Utilitarian
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n. a goal or result that one hopes to achieve
End
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adj. energetic but awkward in one’s movement or behavior
Coltish
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adj. originating in human activity (chiefly of environmental pollution or pollutants)
Anthropogenic
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n. a formal charge or accusation for a serious crime
n. a thing that serves to illustrate that a system or situation is bad and deserves to be condemned
Indictment
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adj. (of a person or limb) long or tall and thin
adj. (of a thing) weak or insubstantial in construction
Spindly
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adj. characterized or feeling intense excitement and happiness
Euphoric
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v. establish or settle (someone) in a safe, comfortable, or secret place
Ensconce
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n. the act or process of merging
Confluence (also conflux)
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v. find out (something) for certain
Ascertain
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n. the inherent nature or essence of someone or something
n. a distinctive feature; a peculiarity or quirk
Quiddity
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n. a place, building, or receptacle where things are or may be stored
Repository
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n. an object or space used to contain something
Receptacle
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n. a device used to assist in remembering something
adj. aiding or designed to aid the memory
Mnemonic
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v. reduce in extent or quality
v. deprive someone of (something)
Curtail
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adj. secured in the possession of or assigned to a person
adj. protected or established by law or contract
Vested
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adj. of or relating to an emperor
adj. majestic, magnificent
adj. imperious or domineering
adj. of, relating to, or denoting the U.S. system of non metric measurements (e.g. foot, ounce, etc.)
Imperial
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adj. taking no account of other people’s wishes or feeling, cavalier; domineering
adj. of or relating to a ruler who has absolute power
Autocratic
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n. a coil or skein of yarn, hair, rope, or other material
Hank
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n. a length or thread of yarn, loosely coiled and knitted
n. a complicated or tangled arrangement, snafu, or state
n. a flock of geese or swans in flight, typically in a V-shaped formation
Skein
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adj. graceful and well-proportioned
Gainly
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n. a channel for communication
n. a person who acts as a connection for communication between groups of people
Liaison
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v. heap (a substance) into a mass or mound
v. edge or surround with a row or ridge of something
n. a slope, mass, or mound of a particular substance
n. a set or series of similar things, especially electrical or electronic devices
Bank
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n. the examination or observation of one’s mental state and emotional processes
Introspection
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n. the arrival of a noticeable person, thing, or event
Advent
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n. a temporary stay
v. to stay somewhere temporarily
Sojourn
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v. prevent access to or from (an area or building) by surrounding it with police or guards
Cordon
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adj. (of a task) such that it can’t be completed
Sisyphean
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n. the state or quality of being clearly visible or obvious due to being accentuated in some way
Relief
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adj. inducing feelings of anxiety or worry
Disquieting
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adj. (of liquor) potent; intoxicating
adj. having a strong or exhilarating effect
Heady
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adj. unusually or disproportionately large; excessive
adj. (of a person) unrestrained in feelings or behavior; disorderly
Inordinate
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n. a lump or teaspoon of sugar, used to sweeten tea or coffee
Saccharide
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v. to flee; abscond
Absquatulate
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adj. brilliant or sensational
Pyrotechnic
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n. sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing
Acuity
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adj. looking or sounding sad or dismal
Lugubrious
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v. strike or fling (something) with great force, hurl
v. strike forcefully against something
v. cause someone to lose confidence, dispirit
Dash
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adj. old fashioned or outdated
Antiquated
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adj. emitting light as a result of being heated
adj. passionate or brilliant
adj. apoplectic
Incandescent
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n. a person of wide-ranged knowledge or learning
Polymath
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adj. wise, or attempting to appear wise
Sapient
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v. treat unfairly by withholding something of value
Shortchange
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n. the process of determining the most important people or things from amongst a large number that requires attention
Triage
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adj. pregnant
Enceinte
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v. be appropriate or necessary
Behoove
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v. seize, grasp, or apprehend (someone)
v. approach aggressively and talk to (someone who wishes to leave)
Collar
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n. a body of troops or police officers, standing or moving in close formation
Phalanx
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n. spill or flow over the edge of a container, typically as a result of careless handling
n. apply or put (something) in a casual or insouciant manner
Slop
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n. a fit of temper
Paddy
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n. a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other
Rapport
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adj. having no match or equal, unrivaled
Nonpareil
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adj. making or characterized by a hissing sound
Sibilant
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adj. enabling a person to discover something or learn something on their own
Heuristic
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adj. (of a person or process) diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details
Scrupulous
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v. set or declare (someone) free of blame, guilt, or responsibility
Absolve
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v. revoke, cancel, or repeal (a law, order, or agreement)
Rescind
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v. deal with a difficult question, telephone call, etc.
Field
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v. (of a comment, event, or fact) cause annoyance or resentment that persists
v. annoy or irritate (someone)
Rankle
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adj. of or relating to a state governor or the office of a state government
Gubernatorial
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adj. almost
Well-nigh
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n. a filmmaker with their own personal artistic style
Auteur
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v. be a sign of, indicate
v. be a warning or bellwether of (a future event)
Betoken
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n. the outer part of a bird’s wing including the flight feathers
n. a small gear or spindle engaging with a large gear
v. tie or hold the legs or arms of (someone)
Pinion
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n. a deliberately hurtful remark
Barb
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n. the part of the mind in which innate instinctive impulses and primary processes manifest
Id
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v. convey rapidly and secretly
Spirit
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v. transport or carry to a place
Convey
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v. cut out surgically
v. remove (a section) from a piece of text or music
Excise
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n. a large or protruding abdomen or stomach
Paunch
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v. express a complaint or grouse about something
v. to grip tightly
Gripe
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n. a mischievous or playful act; a trick
Cantrip
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n. a subdued or muted tone of sound or color
Undertone
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adj. (of a person’s face) pale, typically because of poor health
Pallid
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adj. having the clear shimmer of water
adj. (of a sound) clear, pure, and flowing; harmonious
Liquid
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adj. (of an action or decision) performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a particular situation, without the agreement or assent of another or the others
Unilateral
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adj. additional; subsidiary
n. something that functions in a supplementary or supporting role
Ancillary
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n. a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person
Stigma
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n. a forecast for the likely outcome of an event
Prognosis
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v. to moderate or restrain
v. beat the wings in an attempt to escape from the perch
n. an angry mood
Bate
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adj. (of a description) containing full details
Circumstantial
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n. a devoted follower, adherent, or advocate of someone or something
Votary
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adj. tattered
Straggling
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v. move along slowly, typically in a small irregular group, so as to remain some distance behind the person or people in the front
v. grow, spread, or be laid out in an irregular, untidy way
n. an untidy or irregularly arranged mass or group of something
Straggle
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v. gratify or indulge an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit or a person with such a desire, etc.
Pander
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n. public shame or disgrace
Ignominy
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n. mild illness
n. lack of enthusiasm or inclination, reluctant
Indisposition
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adj. abstaining from marriage or sexual relations
n. a person who abstains from marriage or sexual relations
Celibate
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adj. submissive
Docile
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adj. engaging in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought
Pensive
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adj. having the toes or feet turned inward
Pigeon-toed
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n. a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor
n. an oppressive or unpleasant atmosphere that surrounds or emanates from something
Miasma
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n. a quavering or vibrating sound
n. the pronunciation of a consonant, especially r, with rapid vibration of the tongue against the hard or soft palate or the uvula
v. to make either of these sounds
Trill
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adj. necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility
Incumbent
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adj. (of a view or picture) with a wide view surrounding the observer
adj. including all aspects of a subject; wide-ranging
Panoramic
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v. (of the heart) beat strongly, rapidly, or irregularly
v. shake; tremble
Palpitate
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v. solidify or coagulate, especially by cooling
v. take shape or coalesce into a satisfying whole
Congeal
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adj. having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
Averse
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n. an arbiter
Arbitrator