The document provides a wordlist of over 100 words, defined in 1-2 sentences each. It begins with some abbreviations used. The words are presented alphabetically from "abaft" to "zealot" with their definitions. The wordlist aims to concisely define and explain the meaning and usage of various words.

1. The Wordlist
Suvrit Sra
October 8, 2000

2. Abbreviations
• ath.: anything.
• char.: characterized or characteristic
• sth.: something.
• sb.: somebody.
• usu.: usually.
• ∼: stands for the word in context
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3. The Wordlist
1. abaft: behind.
17. abolish: 1) to end the observance or effect of
: cancel : annul; 2) destroy : put an end to.
2. abase: disgrace; debase; lower; to humble or
humiliate.
18. abominate: to hate or loathe intensely; abhor.
3. abase: to confound, disgrace, debase; [Opp]
uplift, dignify, elevate.
4. abash: discourage; disconcert; discompose.
19. aboriginal: existing (in a place) from the beginning or from earliest days; indigenous; being the first of its kind in a region.
5. abate: moderate; mitigate; to weaken or become less in amount, degree, etc.
20. abortive: unsuccessful; fruitless; coming to
nth.
6. abbreviate: to make briefer; esp to reduce to
a shorter form intended to stand for the whole;
shorten.
21. abound: teem, swarm, flourish; [Opp.] deficient, destitute, lack.
22. abrade: 1a) to rub or wear away esp by friction : erode; 1b) to irritate or roughen by rubbing; 2) to wear down in spirit : irritate.
7. abdicate: resign; abandon; renounce; to give
up formally (a high office, throne, etc); to surrender or repudiate.
8. abed: in bed; confined to bed.
23. abrasive: 1) tending to abrade; 2) causing
irritation [∼ manners].
9. aberrant: exceptional; deviating; divergent;
erroneous.
24. abrasive: a substance (emery, sandpaper)
used for abrasion.
10. abet: aid; assist; incite; stimulate; promote.
25. abridgment: outline; digest; synopsis; abstract.
11. abeyance: suspension; adjournment; temporary inactivity; a lapse in succession during
which there is no person in whom a title; is
vested.
26. abrogation: nullification; revocation; annulment; defeasance; retractation; recantation.
12. abject: of the lowest degree; wretched; cast
away; worthless; groveling; base; outcast.
27. abscond: to depart secretly and hide oneself;
to decamp, bolt, flee; [Opp.] remain, endure,
emerge.
13. abjure: to give up on oath; forswear; recant;
retract; repudiate; renounce.
28. absentia: absent.
29. absolute: 1a) free from imperfection : perfect; 1b) free or relatively free from mixture :
pure; 2) being, governed by, or char of a ruler
or authority, completely free from; constitutional or other restraint; 3) positive, unquestionable [∼ proof]; 4) fundamental, ultimate
14. ablate: to remove.
15. ablutions: the act or action of bathing.
16. abnegation: denial; refusal; forbearance; selfdenial.
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4. [∼ knowledge]; 5) perfectly embodying the nature of a thing [∼ justice]; 6) complete, totally
unlimited; certain.
42. abysmal: bottomless; unfathomable; abyssal.
43. academia: the academic life, community or
world; pedant.
30. absolution: forgiveness; the act of absolving?.
44. acatalectic: complete.
45. accede: assent; comply; agree.
31. absolve: exonerate; to acquit; exculpate.
46. accentuate: to make prominent; emphasize.
32. abstain: to refrain deliberately and often with
an effort of self-denial from an action or practice.
47. accessible: 1) providing access; 2a) capable of
being reached [∼ by rail]; also : being within
reach; 2b) easy to speak or deal with [∼ people]; 3) capable of being influenced : open; 4)
capable of being used or seen : available; 5) capable of being understood or appreciated [the
author’s most ; ∼ stories].
33. abstemious: sparing in food, drink or enjoyment; temperate.
34. abstention: refrain; (to abstain from).
35. abstinence: 1) voluntary forbearance esp
from indulgence of an appetite or craving or
from eating some foods : abstention; 2) habitual abstaining from intoxicating beverages.
48. accessory: 1) assisting as a subordinate; esp
: contributing to a crime but not as the chief
agent; 2) aiding or contributing in a secondary
way; supplementary.
36. abstract: 1) remove, separate; 2) to consider
apart from application to or association with
a particular instance; 3) to draw away the attention of; 4) steal, purloin.
49. accessory: 1a) a person not actually or constructively present but contributing as an ;
assistant or instigator to the commission of
an offense—called also ; ‘accessory before the
fact’; 1b) a person who knowing that a crime
has been committed aids or shelters ; the offender with the attempt to defeat justice—
called also ‘accessory ; after the fact’; 2a) a
thing of secondary or subordinate importance
: adjunct; 2b) additional object or device not
essential in itself.
37. abstract: 1) summary of points (as of a writing) usu. presented in skeletal form; 2) also sth
that summarizes or concentrates the essentials
of a larger thing; or several things.
38. abstract: 1a) dissociated from any specific instance [∼ entity]; 1b) difficult to understand :
abstruse [∼ problems]; 1c) insufficiently factual : formal [possessed only as an ∼ right]; 2)
dealing with a subject in its abstract aspects :
theoretical; 3) impersonal, detached; 4) having
only intrinsic form with little or no attempt at
pictorial ; representation or narrative content.
50. acclamation: a shout of applause or assent.
51. acclimate: acclimatize; to adapt to a new
temperature, altitude, climate, environment,
or situation.
52. acclivity: a sharp ascending slope or hill.
39. abstruseness: hidden; remote; difficult to
understand.
53. accolade: 1a) a ceremonial embrace; 1b) a
ceremony or salute conferring knighthood; 2a)
a mark of acknowledgment : award; 2b) an
expression of praise.
40. abusive: 1) characterized by wrong or improper use or action; esp corrupt [∼ financial
practices]; 2a) using harsh insulting language;
characterized by or serving for abuse; 2b) physically injurious [∼ behavior].
54. accommodate: 1) to make fit, suitable or
congruous; 2) to bring into agreement or concord : reconcile; 3) to provide with sth desired,
needed or suited (as a helpful service, a ; loan
or lodgings); 4a) to make room for; 4b) to hold
41. abut: to terminate at a point of contact; to
lean for support; to border on; adjoin.
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5. without crowding or inconvenience; 5) to give
consideration to : allow for [∼ the special interests of ; some people]; 6) to help or oblige
someone.
70. acquittal: a setting free from the charge of
an offense by verdict, sentence or other; legal
process.
71. acrimony: acerbity; tartness; bitterness; hatred; acridity.
55. accost: to approach and speak to often in a
challenging or aggressive way.
72. action:
achievement, activity,
[Opp.] inertia, ennui, lassitude.
56. accoutre: (or accouter) to provide with
equipment or furnishings : outfit.
exertion;
73. actuary: 1) one who makes calculations connected with insurance, annuity premiums, ; reserves and dividends; 2) relating to statistical
calculation esp of life expectancy.
57. accretion: accumulation; continued growth;
(root: accrescent);
58. accrue: an accession, increment or product.
74. actuate: 1) to put into mechanical action or
motion; 2) to move to action : motivate.
59. accrue: increment; to come as an accession;
to fall due.
75. acuity: sharpness; keenness of perception.
60. acculturate: to change through acculturation.
76. acumen: insight; keenness; perspicacity.
61. acculturation: cultural modification of an individual group or people by adapting to or ;
borrowing traits from another culture.
62. accumulate: amass, aggregate, hoard; [Opp.]
dissipate, disperse, portion.
77. acute: 1) char by sharpness or severity [∼
pain]; 2) ending in a sharp point; 3) marked
by a keen discernment or intellectual perception esp of subtle ; distinctions : penetrating
[an ∼ thinker]; 4) felt, perceived, or experience
intensely [∼ distress].
63. acedia: listlessness; torpor; sloth; apathy;
boredom (of religious stuff).
78. adage: a saying often in metaphorical form
that embodies a common observation.
64. acephalous: leaderless (headless?).
79. adagio: a slow tempo; a slow movement.
65. acerbate: acrimony; soreness; malevolence;
irritate; exasperate.
80. addle: barren; incomplete; abortive; confuse;
muddle; confound [an ∼ egg, he has an ∼
brain].
66. acervate: [Biol] heaped; growing in tight clusters or heaps—esp growth of moss or fungi.
81. adduce: allege; advance; affirm; assign; urge;
to bring forward in discussion.
67. acidulous: slightly sour containing carbonic
acid; somewhat acid or harsh in taste or manner.
82. adept: thoroughly proficient; expert; a highly
skilled or well trained individual.
68. acknowledge: 1) to recognize the rights, authority, or status of ; 2) to disclose knowledge
of or agreement with; 3a) to express gratitude
or obligation for; 3b) to take notice of; 3c) to
make known the receipt of; 4) to recognize as
genuine or valid [∼ a debt]; 5) admit, own,
avow, confess.
83. adit: mine entrance.
84. adjourn: discontinue meeting.
85. adjudicate: to determine judicially;
pronounce–to award.
to
86. adjunct: appendage; augment; supernumerary; interlineation; corollary; addition; appendage; appurtenance.
69. acquiesce: to rest satisfied or without making
opposition; to assent.
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6. 87. adjuration: 1) a solemn oath; 2) an earnest 105. advocate: 1) one that pleads the cause of anurging or advising.
other; 2) one that defends or maintains a cause
or proposal; 3) to plead in favor of : support.
88. adjure: 1) to command solemnly under or as
if under oath or penalty of a curse; 2) to urge 106. aegis: a shield belonging to Zeus; protection;
patronage.
or advise earnestly.
89. adjutant: an officer specially appointed to as- 107. aesthetic: 1a) of, relating to , or dealing with
aesthetics or the beautiful; 1b) artistic; 1c)
sist a commanding officer.
pleasing in appearance : attractive; 2) appre90. admonish: warn; advise; counsel; censure; reciative of, responsive to, or zealous abut the
prove.
beautiful.
91. admonition: reproof; counsel; advice.
108. aesthetic: a branch of philosophy dealing
with the nature of beauty, art, and taste and ;
92. adroit: expert or nimble in the use of hands;
with the creation and appreciation of beauty.
dextrous; deft; adept.
109. affable: 1) being pleasant and at ease in talk93. adroit: proficient, dextrous, artful; [Opp.]
ing to others; 2) characterized by ease and
awkward, dull, clumsy.
friendliness.
94. adscititious: derived or acquired from sth ex- 110. affectation: 1a) the act of taking on or distrinsic; added; redundant; adventitious.
playing an attitude or mode of behavior not ;
natural to oneself : artificiality.
95. adulation: to fawn upon; to flatter.
111. affected: 1) inclined, disposed; 2a) given to
96. adulterate: 1) to corrupt, debase, or make
affectation; 2b) assumed artificially or falsely :
impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior;
pretended.
substance or element; 2) to prepare for sale by
replacing more valuable with less valuable.
112. afferent: bringing towards a central point.
97. adumbrate: to give a faint shadow of; to fore- 113. affiant: affidavit signer.
shadow/overshadow; darkness; allegorise; rep114. affidavit: a sworn statement in writing made
resent.
esp under oath or an affirmation before an; au98. aduncity: hooked; curved or hooked as a parthorized magistrate or officer.
rots beak.
115. affiliate: 1a) to bring or receive into close connection as a member or branch; 1b) to asso99. advene: to be superadded.
ciate as a member; 2) to trace the origin of.
100. advent: the coming into being or use; arrival.
116. affinity: 1) relationship by marriage; 2) sym101. adventitious: added from without; accidenpathy marked by community of interest : kintal?; adscititious.
ship; 2) an attraction to or liking for sth.
102. adverse: 1) acting against or in a contrary di- 117. affirmation: 1) the act of affirming : a posrection : hostile; 2a) opposed to one’s interests
itive assertion ; 2) a solemn declaration made
[an ∼ verdict]; 2b) causing harm; harmful [∼
under the penalties of perjury by a person who
drug effects].
; conscientiously declines from taking an oath.
103. adversity: misfortune; ill-luck; calamity; dis- 118. affix: 1) to attach physically; 2) to attach in
tress.
any way; 3) add; append.
104. advert: to refer; to turn one’s attention.
119. afflatus: inspiration.
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7. 120. affluence: abounding/inflowing wealth;
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
126.
136. agnostic: a person who holds the view that
any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown ;
affray: disturbance; a brawl; breach of the
and prob unknowable; broadly: one who is not
peace.
committed to believing in either the existence
or ; the nonexistence of God or a god.
affront: insult; annoy; vex; taunt; provoke;
exasperate.
137. agog: in a state of eager anticipation , excitement or interest.
aficionado: a person who likes, knows about,
and appreciates a usu fervently pursued; inter138. agrarian: relating to land; its management or
est or activity.
distribution.
afoul: in entanglement; in collision.
139. ague: burning fever; a shivering fit.
agape: curious; expectant; wonder; with gap140. aileron: a flap on an aeroplane wingtip for
ing mouth.
lateral balance.
agenda: 1) a list or outline of things to be
considered or done; 2) an underlying often ide- 141. ailurophile: a person having a strong attraction to or devoted to cats.
ological plan or program.
127. agglomeration: 1) the action or process of 142. alacrity: speed; swiftness; briskness; quickness.
collecting in a mass; 2) a heap or cluster of
usu. disparate elements [urban ∼s knit; to143. albeit: despite the fact; not withstanding
gether etc].
even if.
128. agglutinate: to cause to cohere or clump.
144. alchemy: 1) an early form of chemistry, with
129. aggrandize: exalt; enrich; augment; advance;
philosophical and magical associations, ; studelevate.
ied in the Middle Ages: its chief aims were
to change metals into gold ; and to discover
130. aggravation: heightening; exacerbation; exthe elixir of perpetual youth; 2) a method or
asperation; overestimation; exaggeration.
power of transmutation; 3) esp. the seemingly
miraculous change of a thing into sth. better.
131. aggregate: 1) a mass or body of units or
parts somewhat loosely associated with one ; 145. alcove: 1) a recessed section of a room, as a
another; 2) the whole sum or amount; 3) sum
breakfast nook; 2) secluded corner in a garden
total.
: summerhouse.
132. aggregate: 1) to collect or gather into a mass
146. alderman: a nobleman of highest rank;
or whole : total.
maybe a civic dignitary next to mayor.
133. aghast: struck with terror, amazement or hor147. aleatory: depending on chance.
ror; shocked.
134. agility: 1) marked by ready ability to move 148. alee: on or towards the lee side.
with quick, easy grace; 2) nimbleness; dexter- 149. alembic: distilling vessel.
ity.
150. alfresco: in the fresh and cool air; ¡to aug135. agitate: 1) to move with irregular , rapid, or
ment this meaning¿.
violent action; 2) to excite and often trouble
the mind or feelings of : disturb; 3a) to discuss 151. alginate: to prepare a colloidal substance.
excitedly and earnestly; 3b) to stir up public
discussion of; to attempt to arouse public feel- 152. alias: an assumed name; another name;
ing.
pseudonym.
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8. 153. alienate: 1) to transfer the ownership of 169. aloof: 1) at a distance : removed; 2) distant
(property) to another; 2) to make unfriendly
in sympathy, interest, etc; reserved and cool
: estrange; 3) to cause to be withdrawn or
[her manner was ∼].
detached [as from one’s society]; 4) to cause
170. alopecia: loss of hair, esp on the head; baldtransference of (affection).
ness.
154. alimentary: 1) connected with food or nutrition; 2) nourishing; 3) support or sustenance. 171. altercation: an angry or heated argument.
155. alimony: allowance for support for divorced 172. altruist: a person living and acting for the
interest of others.
wife.
156. allayed: to put down; to quell; to alleviate; to 173. amalgamate: 1) to combine in an amalgam;
2) to join together into one : unite : combine.
abate.
to assert positively, or declare; af- 174. amanuensis: one who writes down the dictation.
to assert without proof; 2) to offer
excuse, etc [in his defense he ∼d 175. amaranthine: everlasting.
; insanity].
176. amass: 1) to pile up : collect together; 2) to
158. allegiance: loyalty; submission; subjection;
accumulate (esp wealth).
devotion.
177. amatory: of, relating to, or expressing sexual
159. allegoric: symbolical narration; (ref trickery).
love.
157. allege: 1)
firm : esp,
as a plea,
temporary
160. allegory: 1) a story in which people, things, 178. amazon: a large, strong, masculine woman.
and happenings have a hidden or symbolic;
meaning : allegories are used for teaching or 179. ambergris: perfume base.
explaining ideas, moral ; principles etc; 2) any
180. ambidextrous: 1) able to use both hands
symbol or emblem.
with equal ease; 2) very skillful or versatile;
161. allele: any of several forms of a gene aris3) deceitful : double-dealing.
ing thru mutation, responsible for ; hereditary
181. ambivalence: having opposing emotional atvariation.
titude towards the same subject.
162. allemande: a movement which affects change
182. amble: to move at an easy pace; (move like a
of order in a dance.
horse).
163. alleviate: to lessen; to mitigate.
183. ambrosia: food of the Greek gods which con164. allure: to tempt with sth desirable; entice;
ferred everlasting youth and beauty; can be
fascinate; attract.
used to praise any fine food.
165. allusion: passing or casual reference; an inci- 184. ambulatory: 1) of or for walking; 2) able to
dental mention.
walk and not confined to bed [an ambulatory
patient]; 3) moving from one place to another
166. alluvial: of, found in, or made up of, allu: movable; 4) that can be changed or revoked
vium.
[an ambulatory will].
167. alluvium: sand, clay, etc, gradually deposited 185. ambuscade: an ambush.
by moving water, as along a river bed ; or the
shore of a lake : wash.
186. ameliorate: to make better; improve.
168. aloft: in air, upward.
187. amenable: able to be led; submissive.
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9. 188. amend: 1) to remove the faults of : correct : 204. amplify: 1) to make larger or stronger; inemend; 2) to change or revise (a law, constitucrease or extend (power, authority, etc); 2) to
tion, etc); 3) to make better : improve.
develop more fully, as with details, examples,
statistics, etc.
189. amenity: 1) pleasant quality; attractiveness;
2a) an attractive or desirable feature, as of 205. amputate: to cut off (an arm, leg, etc), esp
by surgery.
a place, climate, etc; 2b) ath that adds to
one’s comfort : convenience; 3) the courteous
206. amulet: an object worn on the body beacts and pleasant manners of polite social because of its supposed magical power to protect;
haviour.
against injury or evil; a charm; talisman.
190. amerce: punished by fine.
207. ana: collection of odd literary items.
191. amiable: agreeable, pleasing, charming;
208. anachronism: misdate; intempestivity; a
[Opp.] dour, testy, grouchy, crusty.
chronological misplacing of persons, events,
objects, or customs in regard; to each other.
192. amicable: friendly in feeling; showing goodwill; peaceable [an amicable discussion].
209. anagogic: mystical;.
193. amiss: in a wrong way; astray, wrongly, fault210. analects: miscellaneous excerpts.
ily, improperly,etc.
211. analgesia: a fully conscious state in which
194. amity: friendly, peaceful relations, as between
normal pain is not felt.
nations; friendship.
212. analogous: similar or comparable in certain
195. amnesty: a pardon, esp for political offenses
respects.
against a government.
213. analogy: 1) similarity in some respects be196. amok (amuck): 1) to rush about in a frenzy
tween things otherwise unlike; partial resemto kill; 2) to lose control of oneself and behave
blance; 2) [Logic] an inference from certain
outrageously and violently; 3) to become wild
admitted resemblances between two or; more
or undisciplined.
things to a probable further similarity between
them.
197. amoral: 1) not to be judged by criteria of
morality; neither moral nor immoral; 2) with- 214. anaphorically: the rhetorical device of beginout moral sense or principles; incapable of disning successive sentences with the same word;
tinguishing between right and wrong.
or phrase.
198. amorous: of, relating to, expression of sexual 215. anarchism: 1) the theory that all forms of
love.
government interfere unjustly with individual;
liberty and should be replaced by the volun199. amorphism: uncouthness; absence of form.
tary association of cooperative; groups; 2) re200. amortize: to wipe out; to provide for the
sistance, sometimes by terrorism, to organized
gradual extinction of sth.
government.
201. amphibology: ambiguity.
216. anastomotic: communication by cross connections to form a network.
202. amphitheater: 1) a round or oval building
with an open space (arena) surrounded by ris- 217. anathema: a solemn ecclesiastical curse; a
ing ; rows of seats.
curse; execration;
203. ample: 1) large in size, extent, scope etc : 218. anchor: 1) any device that holds sth else sespacious : roomy; 2) more than enough : abuncure; 2) ath. that gives or seems to give stadant; 3) enough to fulfill the needs or purpose
bility or security; 3) a person who anchors a
: adequate.
team, news-cast etc.
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10. 219. anchoritism: (anchorite: a recluse : a man 234. anneal: 1) to heat (glass, metals,etc) and
then cool slowly to prevent bitterness; 2) to
or woman who has renounced the world).
strengthen and temper (the mind, will, etc).
220. anchovy: a small Mediterranean fish of herring family (put on pizza as sauce).
235. annihilate: 1) to destroy completely : put
out of existence : demolish; 2) to consider or
221. ancillary: 1) subordinate: often with to; 2)
cause to be of no importance or without effect;
that serves as an aid : auxiliary.
nullify [to ∼ another’s ambition]; 3) to conquer
decisively : crush.
222. ancipital: two edged.
223. anecdote: a short, entertaining account of 236. annotated: to make notes upon sth.
some happening, usually personal or; bio237. annuity: payment falling due annually.
graphical.
224. anemia: 1) lack or vigor or vitality : lifeless- 238.
ness.
239.
225. anesthesia: 1) a partial or total loss of the
sense of pain, temperature, touch, etc.; pro240.
duced by disease; 2) a loss of sensation induced by an anesthetic, hypnosis, or acupuncture and; limited to a specific area or involving
a loss of consciousness.
241.
226. anfractuous: winding.
227. anguish: great suffering, as from worry, grief, 242.
or pain; agony.
243.
228. angular: 1) having or forming an angle or
angles; having sharp corners; 2) with bones
that jut out : gaunt; 3) without ease or grace;
244.
stiff [an angular stride].
229. anhedonia: losing the will of living or losing ability to experience pleasure in normally;
pleasurable things.
230. animadvert: to consider; attend to; reprehend; to make a critical and usu censorious 245.
remark.
246.
231. animate: 1) to give life to : bring to life; 2)
to make gay, energetic or spirited; 3) to give
motion to : to put into action.
annunciate: proclaim; announce.
anodyne: lenitive; remedial; relief; drug that
relieves pain.
anoint: to smear with ointment or oil; to
drub; to smear with oil in a ceremony of consecration.
anomaly: irregularity; sth different, abnormal, peculiar. or not easily classified.
anomic: ¡see anomie!¿.
anomie: this is a social condition characterized by the breakdown of norms governing; social interactions; social alienation.
anonymous: 1) with no name known or acknowledged; 2) given ,written, etc by a person
whose name is withheld or unknown; 3) not
easily distinguished from others from one another because of a lack of; individual features
or character.
ansate: having a handle.
antagonist: 1) a person who opposes or competes with another : adversary : opponent; 2)
a muscle, drug, etc that acts in opposition to
or counteracts another.
232. animus: 1) an animating force or underlying 247. antecede: to go before in rank, place, or time;
purpose : intention; 2) a feeling or strong illprecede.
will or hatred : animosity.
248. antecedents: 1) any happening or thing prior
233. annals: 1) a written account of events year
to another; 2) ath logically preceding; 3) one’s
by year in chronological order; 2) historical
ancestry, past life, training etc.
records or chronicles : history; 3) any journal containing reports of discoveries in some 249. antediluvian: very old, old-fashioned, or
fields, meetings of; a society, etc.
primitive.
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11. 250. anthropoid: 1) resembling a human; 2) ape- 266. aperture: 1) an opening; hole : gap; 2) the
like [a brutish man with anthropoid features].
opening or the diameter of the opening in a
camera, telescope, etc.; thru which light passes
251. anthropology: the study of humans, esp of
into the lens.
the variety, physical and cultural; characteristics, distribution, customs, social relation- 267. aphasia: inability to express thought in words
ships, etc of humanity.
by reason of some brain disease.
252. anthropomorphism: the attributing of hu- 268. aphesis: initial curtailment.
man shape or characteristics to a god, animal,
269. aphorism: a concise and statement; a brief
or; inanimate thing.
pithy saying.
253. anticipation: foreboding, presentiment, pre270. apiaries: a place where bees are kept.
vision; fear, doubt, dread.
254. anticlimax: 1) a sudden drop from the dig- 271. aplomb: self-possession; assurance; poise.
nified or important in thought or expression 272. apocalypse: 1) any of various Jewish and
to; the commonplace or trivial, sometimes for
Christian pseudonymous writings depicting;
humorous effect; 2) a descent, as in a series of
symbolically the ultimate destruction of evil
events, which is in ludicrous or disappointing;
and triumph of good; 2) a disclosure regarded
contrast to a preceding rise.
as prophetic : revelation.
255. antihero: the protagonist of a novel, play, etc 273. apocryphal: not genuine; of doubtful authorwho lacks the virtues and esteemable; traits of
ity; spurious.
a traditional hero.
274. apodictic: necessarily true.
256. antinomy: opposition between principles.
275. apogee: 1) the point farthest from the earth
257. antipathy: aversion, repugnance, antagoin the orbit of the moon or of a man-made;
nism; [Opp.] approbation, commendation, apsatellite: opposed to perigee; 2) the highest or
preciation.
farthest point.
258. antiphonal: alternate chanting or singing.
276. apolaustic: devoted to enjoyment.
259. antiquarian: connected with the studies of 277. apologue: a moral fable.
relics.
278. apology: exculpation, entreaty, supplication;
260. antisemitic: anti Jews.
[Opp.] censure, arraignment, imputation.
261. antithesis: 1) a contrast or opposition of 279. apoplexy: a condition in any organ of severe
thoughts, usu. in two phrase, clauses, or; senhemorrhage or infraction: formerly used; esp.
tences [you are going : i am staying]; 2) the
to indicate cerebral accident or stroke.
second part of such an expression; 3) the exact opposite [joy is the antithesis of sorrow]. 280. aposiopesis: sentence left unfinished.
262. anvil: an iron or steel block on which metal 281. apostate: renegade; (one who has revolted
objects are hammered into shape.
from ecclesiastical obedience); defection.
263. apathetic: lack of interest towards sth or 282.
someone’s problems?.
283.
264. apathy:
stoicism, lethargy, indifference;
[Opp.] turbulence, eagerness, vehemence.
284.
265. ape: to imitate or mimic.
10
apothecary: a druggist or pharmacist.
apothegm: a pithy saying more short pointed
and practical than the aphorism need be.
apotheosis: resuscitation; canonization; hero
worship; deification; glorification.

12. 285. appall: to fill with horror or dismay; shock.
301. aqueduct: canal.
286. appanage: 1) a provision for maintenance 302. arbiter: umpire; judge.
esp for the kings younger child; 2) natural at303. arbitrary: 1) not fixed by rules but left to
tribute.
one’s judgement or choice : discretionary; 2)
based on one’s preference, notion, whim etc;
287. apparition: 1) anything that appears unex3) absolute : despotic.
pectedly or in an extraordinary way; esp, a
strange figure appearing suddenly and thought
304. arbitration: the act of arbitrating; specif, the
to be a ghost; 2) the act of appearing or besettlement of a dispute by a person or persons
coming visible.
chosen to hear both; sides and come to a decision.
288. appease: 1) to pacify or quiet, esp by giving
in to the demands of; 2) to satisfy or relieve 305. arbor: a shaft or beam; a spindle or axis; grass
[water appeases thirst].
plot; garden.
289. appellation: 1) the act of calling by a name; 306. arboretum: a place where many kinds of
2) a name or title that describes or identifies a
trees and shrubs are grown for exhibition.
person or thing : designation.
307. arcade: a passage having an arched roof; any
290. append: to attach or affix; add as a supplecovered passageway, esp one with shops; on the
ment or appendix.
sides.
291. appetency: craving.
308. archaic: old-fashioned; ancient.
292. apposite: juxtaposition; appropriate or apt.
309. archetypal: prototype; original pattern or
model.
293. apprehend: 1) to take into custody : capture
or arrest; 2) to take hold of mentally : perceive 310. archives: [usually pl.] a place in which public
: understand; 3) to anticipate with anxiety :
records or historical documents are; preserved;
dread.
also, the material preserved.
294. apprise: to inform or notify.
311. ardor: 1) emotional warmth : passion; 2) eagerness : enthusiasm : zeal; 3) intense heat :
295. approbation: approval; official approval,
fire.
sanction or commendation.
312. arduous: 1) difficult to do : laborious : oner296. appurtenance: 1) anything that appertains;
ous; 2) using much energy : strenuous; 3) steep
thing added to a more important thing : ad: hard to climb [an arduous slope].
junct; 2) [pl.] apparatus or equipment : accessories; 3) an incidental right, privilege, etc, 313. argot: slang; (orig that of thieves).
attached to some thing and passing with it, as
314. aria: an air or melody in a opera, cantata, or
by conveyance or sale.
oratorio, esp for solo voice with; instrumental
accompaniment.
297. apropos: to the purpose; appropriately.
298. apse: a semi circular of polygonal recess esp 315. arid: 1) lacking enough water for things to
grow : dry and barren; 2) not interesting :
at the east end of a church quire.
lifeless : dull.
299. apterous: wingless.
316. aristocracy: 1) orig. government by the best
300. aptitude: the quality of being apt or approcitizens; 2) government by a privileged minorpriate; a natural tendency or inclination; a
ity or upper class, usu. of inherited wealth and
natural ability or talent; quickness to learn or
social position; 3) a country with this form of
understand.
govt : oligarchy.
11

13. 317. armada: 1) a fleet of warships; 2) a fleet of 333. aseptic: medically sterile; not septic; free
military aircraft.
from or keeping away disease producing or putrefying microorganisms.
318. armistice: a suspension of hostilities; a truce.
334. asinine: of or like an ass.
319. armorer: a maker/repairer/custodian of
335. askance: with a sideways glance; obliquely;
arms and armor.
with suspicion, disapproval etc.
320. aromatic: 1) of or having and aroma;
smelling sweet or spicy; fragrant or pungent. 336. askew: aside; awry;
321. arraign: charge; cite; censure; summon (bring 337. asperity: discourtesy; anger; irascibility;
roughness or harshness as of surface, sound,
before a court).
weather,etc or of circumstances.
322. arrant: downright; unmitigated; notorious;
338. aspersion: the act of defaming; a damaging
rascally.
or disparaging remark; slander; innuendo.
323. array: 1) to place in order : marshal (troops
for battle, etc); 2) to dress in fine or showy 339. aspirant: a person who aspires, as after honors, high position, etc.
attire : deck out.
324. arrears: unpaid and overdue debts; any obligation not met on time; unfinished business,
work, etc.
340. aspiration: a) strong desire or ambition, as
for advancement, honor, etc; b) the thing so
desired; 2) a breathing in, as of dust into the
lungs.
325. arroyo: 1) a dry gully; 2) a rivulet or stream.
341. assay: to put to trial; to put to the proof; to
test.
326. articulate: 1) having parts connected by
joints; 2) able to speak; 3) expressing oneself 342. assess: 1) to set an estimated value on (propeasily and clearly; 4) well formulated : clearly
erty etc) for taxation; 2) to set the amount of
presented [an articulate argument].
(a tax, a fine, damages etc); 3) to impose a
fine, tax or special payment on (a person or
327. artifacts: any object made by human work;
property).
esp, a simple or primitive tool, weapon, vessel,
etc.
343. asseveration: assertion.
328. artifice: 1) skill or ingenuity; 2) a clever ex- 344. assiduity: persistent application or diligence.
pedient; 3) trickery or craft.
345. assiduously: diligently.
329. artisan: a worker in a skilled trade; crafts346. assimilate: 1) to change (food) into a form
man.
that can be taken up by, and made part of;
330. artless: 1) lacking skill or art; 2) uncultured
body tissues; 2) to absorb and incorporate into
: ignorant; 3) not artistic : clumsy : crude;
one’s thinking; 3) to absorb (groups of different
4) without artificiality : simple : natural; 4)
cultures) into the main cultural body; 4) to
without guile or deceit.
make like or alike : cause to resemble : with
to.
331. ascendancy: a position in which one has control or power; supremacy; domination.
347. assonant: to correspond in vowel sound.
332. ascription: act, expression, formula of ascrib- 348. assuage: 1) to lessen (pain, distress, etc) :
ing or imputing (assigning or attributing sth to
allay; 2) to satisfy or slake (thirst, appetite,
sth).
etc); 3) to calm (passion, anger, etc) : pacify.
12

14. 349. assurance: the act or action of assuring: as 367. atrophy: wasting away; progressive decline;
pledge, guarantee: the act of conveying real;
degeneration.
property: also the instrument by which it is
conveyed; the state of being assured: as secu- 368. attenuate: decrease; weaken; mitigate.
rity: being certain in the mind.
369. attest: to bear witness; certify or testify (to).
350. asthenic: weak.
370. attrition: wearing down by rubbing together;
351. astigmatism: distorted view or judgement,
a defective or imperfect sorrow for sin; any
as because of bias.
gradual wearing or weakening esp to the point
of exhaustion; loss of personnel from an orga352. astral: belonging to the stars.
nization in the normal course of events, as by
retirement.
353. astringent: that contracts the body tissues
and checks secretions, capillary bleeding,etc;
371. atypical: not typical.
styptic; having a harsh biting quality.
372. audacity: boldness; effrontery; presumption;
arrogance; assurance.
354. astrolabe: astronomical instrument.
355. astute: clever, discerning, sagacious; [Opp.]
obtuse, stolid, dull.
373. audit: 1) a formal, often periodic examination
and checking of accounts or financial records
356. astute: sagacious; shrewd; having keen disto verify their correctness; 2) a settlement or
cernment.
adjustment of accounts.
357. asunder: into parts or pieces; apart or sepa374. augurs: a diviner; soothsayer.
rate in direction or position.
358. asylum: 1) a place where one is safe and se- 375. augury: 1) divination from omens; 2) an
omen; portent; indication.
cure; refuge; 2) the protection given by a sanctuary or refuge or by one country to refugees
from another country; 3) an institution for the 376. august: 1) inspiring awe and reverence; imposing and magnificent; 2) worthy of respect
care of the mentally ill, or of the aged, the poor
because of age and dignity, high position, etc;
etc.
venerable.
359. asyndeton: omission of conjunctions.
377. aura: subtle emanation; air; distinctive char360. atavistic: appearance of ancestral but not
acter.
parental characteristics.
378. aureole: a radiance encircling the head or
361. atemporal: independent of or unaffected by
body, as in religious paintings; halo; glory;
time; timeless.
the illuminated area around the sun etc, as
when seen in a mist or during an eclipse; sun’s
362. atheist: a person who believes that there is
corona.
no God.
363. atonal: out of tune; not referred to any scale 379. auscultation: the art of discovering the conor tonic.
dition of the lungs and heart by applying the
ear of the stethoscope.
364. atone: 1) to make amends or reparation (for
a wrongdoing etc).
380. austere: 1) having a severe or stern look,
365. atrabilious: melancholy.
366. atrocity: 1) atrocious behaviour or condition;
brutality, cruelty etc.
13
manner, etc; forbidding; 2) showing strict selfdiscipline and self-denial; ascetic; 3) very plain;
lacking ornament or luxury [austere surroundings].

15. 381. authenticate: 1) to make authentic or valid; 396. avocation: sth done in addition to a vocation
2) to establish the truth of; verify; 3) to prove
or regular work, and usu for pleasure; hobby.
to be genuine or as represented.
397. avowal: a positive declaration; an acknowl382. authoritarian: believing in, relating to ,
edgement; a frank confession.
characterized by, or enforcing unquestioning
obedience to authority, as that of a dictator, 398. avuncular: 1) of an uncle; 2) having traits
considered typical of uncles; jolly, indulgent,
rather than individual freedom of judgement
stodgy, etc.
and action.
383. autism: absorption in self-centered subjective 399. awl: a small, pointed tool for making holes in
wood, leather, etc.
mental activity usu accompanied by marked
withdrawal from reality.
400. awry: askew; with a twist to a side; wrong;
amiss.
384. autocrat: 1) a ruler with absolute power;
dictator; despot; 2) anyone having unlimited 401. axiom: 1) a statement universally accepted as
power over others; 3) any domineering, selftrue; maxim; 2) an established principle or law
willed person.
of a science, art etc.
385. autodidacts: self taught.
402. azure: of faint blue sky color.
386. automaton: 1) ath that can move or act of
403. azygous: single.
itself; 2) a mechanism that is relatively self
operating, esp robot.
404. bacchanalia: a drunken party; orgy.
387. autopsy: 1) an examination and dissection of 405. badger: to harass or annoy persistently.
a dead body to discover the cause of death,
damage done by disease, etc; post-mortem; 2) 406. badinage: light playful talk; banter.
a detailed critical analysis of a book, play, etc,
407. bagatelle: a trifle; a piece of music played in
or of some event.
a light style.
388. auxiliary: 1) giving help or aid; assisting or
408. bait: 1) to torment or harass with unprosupporting; 2) acting in a subsidiary, or suborvoked, vicious, repeated attacks; 2) to tease or
dinate capacity; 3) additional; supplementary;
goad esp so as to provoke reaction; 3) to put
reserve.
food etc on (a hook or trap) to lure animals or
fish.
389. avaricious: greedy;miserly; parsimonious;
penurious; stingy.
409. baize: a coarse woollen cloth.
390. avariciousness: parsimonious, niggardly,
410. baldric: belt for sword.
penurious, greediness; [Opp.] bountiful, munificent, generous.
411. baleen: whalebone.
391. aver: to declare to be true.
412. baleful: malignant; hurtful; sorrowful.
392. averse: reluctant; disinclined.
413. balk: 1) to obstruct or thwart; foil; 2) to stop
and obstinately refuse to move or act; 3) to
393. aviary: a large cage or building for keeping
hesitate or recoil (at).
many birds.
394. avid: having an intense craving; greedy; eager 414. balm: 1) any fragrant ointment or aromatic
oil for healing or anointing; 2) ath healing or
and enthusiastic.
soothing, esp to the mind or temper [sleep was
395. avocation: a diversion or distraction from
a ∼ to his troubles]; 3) pleasant odor; fraone’s regular occupation.
grance.
14

16. 415. balmy: having the qualities of balm; soothing, 428. barrage: 1) a curtain of artillery fire laid
mild, pleasant, etc [a balmy day].
down to keep enemy forces from moving, or; to
cover or prepare the way for one’s own forces,
416. balustrade: a small pillar supporting a stair
esp in attack; 2) a heavy, prolonged attack of
rail; railing.
words, blows, etc.
417. banal: commonplace; trivial; trite; insipid.
418. bane: the cause of distress, death, or ruin.
429. barrage: a man-made barrier in a stream,
river, etc to deepen the water or channel it;
for irrigation; dam.
419. banter: to joke or jest; to assail with good 430. barratry: a kind of fraud.
humored raillery.
431. barrier: bulwark, barricade, rampart; [Opp.]
opening, transit, way.
420. barb: 1) a thin, somewhat beardlike growth
near the mouth of certain animals, as the; bar- 432. barrister: in England, a qualified member of
bel of a fish; 2) a piece of linen for covering the
the legal profession who presents and; pleads
throat and sometimes the chin worn by nuns;
cases in court; counselor-at-law.
3) a sharp point curving or projecting in an
opposite direction from the main; point of a 433. barter: to trade by exchanging goods or serfish-hook, harpoon, arrow etc; 4) sharpness;
vices without using money.
sting [the ∼ of his wit made us wince]; 5) a
cutting remark; 6) one of the hairlike branches 434. bask: 1) to warm oneself pleasantly, as in the
sunlight; 2) to enjoy a warm or pleasant feeling
growing from the shaft of a feather.
from being in a certain environment or; situation [to bask in someone’s favor].
421. barbate: bearded.
422. bard: 1) any of various national minstrels or 435. bastion: a kind of tower or fortification; (figuratively defense)
epic poets; a poet.
436. bate: to abate, lessen, lower, etc.
423. barefaced: 1) with the face uncovered, unmasked, beardless; 2) unconcealed; open; 3) 437. bathos: ludicrous descent from the elevated
shameless; brazen; audacious.
to the mean in writing or speech.
424. baritone: deep toned male voice between bass 438. batiste: a fine fabric of linen, cotton or wool.
and tenor (eg Amitabh’s voice).
439. batten: to grow fat.
425. barnacle: shell-bearing sea animal.
440. bauble: a trifling piece of finery; a child’s
plaything.
426. baroque: 1) of, characteristic of or like a style
of art and architecture characterized; by much 441. bawdy: indecent or humorously coarse; lewd.
ornamentation and curved rather than straight
lines; 2) of, characteristic of, or like a style 442. beatific: blissful.
of music characterized by highly; embellished
melodies and fugal or contrapuntal forms; 3) 443. beatitude: heavenly happiness.
designating or of the period in which these
444. bedizen: to dress or decorate in a cheap,
styles flourished( 1600-1750); 4) fantastically
showy way.
overdecorated; gaudily ornate; 5) irregular in
shape said of pearls; something so ornate as to 445. bedlam: an asylum for lunatics; a madhouse.
be in bad taste.
446. bedraggle: to soil by dragging in the wet or
427. barouche: carriage.
dirt; gen for a pathetic condition.
15

17. 447. bedrock: 1) a secure foundation; 2) the very 463. belittle: to make seem little, less important
bottom; 3) basic principles or facts.
etc; speak slightingly of; depreciate.
448. beech: a common forest tree (silvery bark 464. bellicose: warlike; contentious.
etc).
465. belligerent: 1) at war; designating or of a
449. befogged: to obscure.
state recognized under international law as;
being engaged in a war; 2) inclined to or ex450. beget: 1) to be the father or sire of; procreate;
hibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combative2) to bring into being; produce [tyranny ∼s
ness.
rebellion].
451. begrudge: 1) to feel ill will or resentment 466. bellwether: leader.
at the possession or employment of (sth) by; 467. bemused: to put in confusion; stupefy.
another [to begrudge another’s fortune]; 2) to
give with ill will or reluctance [he begrudges 468. benediction: a blessing; a solemn invocation
her every cent]; 3) to regard with displeasure
of the divine blessing on men or things.
or disapproval.
469. benefactor: a person who has given help, esp
452. beguile: to cheat or deceive; to pass with
financial help; patron.
diversion of attention from ath tedious or
470. beneficence: active goodness; kindness; charpainful.
ity.
453. behemoth: an animal or thing that is huge
or very powerful.
471. beneficiary: 1) anyone receiving benefit; 2)
a person named to receive the income or in454. beholden: obliged to feel grateful; owing
heritance from a will, insurance policy, trust
thanks; indebted.
etc.
455. behoove: to be necessary for or incumbent 472. benighted: overtaken by night; involved in
upon [it behooves you to think for yourself].
darkness intellectual or moral.
456. belabor: 1) to beat severely; hit or whip; 2)
473. benign: 1) good-natured; kindly; 2) favorto attack with words; scold; 3) to spend too
able; beneficial; 3) doing little or no harm; not
much time and effort on; develop in too great
malignant.
detail [to belabor the issue].
474. benison: benediction; blessing.
457. belated: late or too late; tardy.
458. beldam: a hag; a grandmother or remoter an- 475. bequeathal: to transmit to posterity; to commit or entrust to anyone.
cestress.
459. beleaguer: 1) to besiege by encircling, as with 476. berate: to scold or chide vigorously.
an army; 2) to beset, as with difficulties; ha477. bereave: 1) to deprive or rob; dispossess: now
rass.
usually in the pp, bereft [she was bereft of hope
or; happiness]; 2) to leave in a sad or lonely
460. belesprit: in good spirits.
state, as by loss or death.
461. belgard: a fair or kind look.
478. bereft: deprived by death of some dear rela462. belie: 1) to give a false idea of; disguise or
tive or friend; snatched away.
misrepresent [his smile ∼s his anger]; 2) to
leave unfulfilled; disappoint [war ∼d hopes for 479. beset: 1) to cover or set thickly with; stud; 2)
peace]; 3) to show to be untrue; prove false
to attack from all sides; harass or besiege; 3)
[her cruelty ∼d her kind words].
to surround or hem in.
16

18. 480. besmirch: to soil as with smoke or soot; to 502. bivouac: the resting of soldiers in open air at
bring to dishonor, sully.
night.
481. besotted: to make dull, sottish, or stupid; 503. blanch: 1) to make white; take color out of;
infatuated.
to make pale.
482. bespeak: engage in advance.
483.
484.
485.
486.
504. bland: 1) pleasantly smooth in manner;
suave; 2) mild and soothing; not sharp, harsh
bestow: 1) to give or present as a gift : often
etc.
with on or upon; 2) to apply; devote [to ∼
much time on a project].
505. blandish: to flatter or coax in persuading; cajole.
betrothal: mutual pledge to marry; engagement.
506. blase: having indulged in pleasure so much as
to be unexcited by it; satiated and bored.
bevy: 1) a group, esp of girls or women; 2)
a flock : now chiefly of quail; 3) any group or 507. blasphemy: impious or profane speaking.
collection.
508. blatant: glaringly obvious; calumniously
bezel: edge of a cutting tool.
clamorous; egregiously vulgar.
487. bibelot: trinket; a small decorative object.
488. bibulous: addicted to drink.
489. bicameral: having two legislative chambers.
509. bleak: dreary, desolate, dismal; [Opp.] bright,
cheerful, balmy.
510. bleary: dim; esp from fatigue or sleep.
490. bicker: to contend in a petty way; a fight or 511. blight: 1) any atmospheric or soil condition,
parasite, or insect that kills,; withers, or checks
quarrel.
the growth of plants; 2) any of several plant
diseases, as rust, mildew, or smut; 3) anything
491. biddable: tractable.
that destroys, prevents growth, or causes de492. bifurcated: having two branches or peaks;
valuation [slums are a; blight on a city]; 4)
forked.
a person or thing that withers one’s hopes or
ambitions.
493. bight: bay.
512. blighted: injured; destroyed; depressed; frus494. bigotry: blind or excessive zeal esp in relitrated.
gious manners; intolerance; prejudice.
513. blithe: jocund; cheerful; sprightly.
495. bijoux: a jewel; something delicate and
exquisitely wrought.
514. bloated: 1) to swell, as with water or air; 2)
to puff up, as with pride.
496. bilboes: fetters.
497. bilge: the broadest part of a ships bottom.
515. blowhard: a loudly boastful person.
498. bilious: 1) having or resulting from some ail- 516. bludgeon: a short club with a thick, heavy,
or loaded end.
ment of the bile or the liver.
499. bilk: swindle; frustrate; defraud.
517. bluestocking: a learned lady esp one inclining to pedantry.
500. bipartisan: consisting of members of two par518. bluff: 1) a high, steep, broad-faced bank or
ties.
cliff; 2) having a rough and frank but affable
501. bittern: marsh bird.
manner.
17

19. 519. bluff: 1) to mislead or seek to mislead (a per- 540. boustrophedonic: alternately from left to
son) by a false, bold front; 2) to frighten (a
right and right to left.
person) by threats not intended to be carried
541. bovine: 1) of an ox; 2) having ox-like qualout.
ities; thought of as ox-like; slow,dull, stupid,
520. blurb: a publishers commendatory descripstolid, etc.
tion of a book commonly printed on the jacket.
542. bowdlerize: to remove passages considered
521. blurt: to say suddenly, without stopping to
offensive from (a book, play, etc); expurgate.
think: often with out.
543. brachylogy: condensed expression.
522. blustered: to bully or swagger.
523. bode: to be an omen of; presage.
524. bogus: not genuine; spurious.
544. brackish: 1) somewhat salty, as the water of
some marshes near the sea; 2) having an unpleasant taste; nauseating.
525. bolster: 1) a long, narrow cushion or pillow; 545. braggadocio: empty boasting; braggart or
2) a soft pad for easing pressure on any part
boaster.
of the body; 3) to support, strengthen or reinforce.
546. brandish: to wave or flourish as a weapon.
526. bombast: talk or writing that sounds grand 547. bravado: pretended courage or defiant confior important but has little meaning; pompous
dence where there is little or none.
language.
548. brawn: strong, well-developed muscles; mus527. bonafide: genuine.
cular strength.
528. bonhomie: easy good nature.
549. brazen: bold or reckless;
529. boon: 1) welcome benefit; blessing; 2) merry?.
550. brazier: a vessel or tray for hot coals.
530. boor: crude; peasant; coarse or awkward per551. breakwater: a barrier against force of waves.
son; yokel; churl.
531. bootlegging: illicit distillation of liquor.
552. breviary: prayer book.
532. bosky: woody; bushy; shady; (colloq) some- 553. brevity: shortness of duration; esp, shortness
what tipsy.
or conciseness of expression.
533. bosun: boatswain.
534. bouillon: a clear broth, usually of beef.
554. bridle: any curb or restraint; a head(like
me)movement expressing scorn or vanity.
535. boulevard: a promenade bordered with trees. 555. brindle: marked with spots or streaks (of a
darker color).
536. bounteous: bountiful.
537. bountiful: 1) giving freely and graciously; 556. brinkmanship: the art or practice of pushing
a dangerous situation or confrontation to the
generous; 2) provided in abundance; plentiful.
limit of safety esp to force a desired outcome.
538. bourasque: a tempest.
557. brittle: 1) easily broken or shattered because
539. bourgeois: 1a) a self employed person, as a
hard and inflexible; 2) having a sharp, hard
shopkeeper or businessman; 1b) a member of
quality; 3) stiff and unbending in manner; lackthe bourgeoisie or middle class; 2) a person
ing warmth.
whose, beliefs, attitudes and practices are conventionally middle class.
558. broached: to open up or begin.
18

20. 559. broadsheet: a sheet of paper printed on one 578. bureaucracy: 1) the administration of govside containing a proclamation or popular maternment thru departments and subdivisions
ter.
managed by sets of appointed officials following an inflexible routine; 2) the officials collec560. broadside: the side of a ship; all the guns on
tively.
one side of a ship of war; also broadsheet.
579. burgeon: 1) to put forth buds, shoots, etc;
561. brocade: a rich cloth with a raised design, as
sprout; 2) to grow or develop rapidly; expand;
of silk, velvet, gold, or silver, woven into it.
proliferate; flourish [the burgeoning suburbs].
562. brochure: a pamphlet, esp one promoting or 580. burgess: a member of a privileged class in a
advertising something.
town;
563. brooch: an ornament that is held by a pin or 581. burgher: a townsman;.
clasp and is worn at or near the neck.
582. burlesque: ludicrous imitation;.
564. brook: to put up with; endure: usually in the
583. burnish: to make or become shiny by rubnegative [I will brook no interference].
bing; polish.
565. browbeat: to intimidate with harsh, stern
584. buttress: 1) a projecting structure, generally
looks and talk; bully.
of brick or stone, built against a wall to sup566. brumal: wintry.
port or reinforce it; 2) anything like a buttress;
support or prop.
567. brummagem: tinsel.
585. buxom: having a shapely, full-bosomed fig568. brusquely: curtly; roughly.
ure: said of a woman or girl.
569. buccal: of or pertaining to the mouth or 586. cabal: small party united for some secret decheeks.
sign; the plot or scheme itself.
570. bucolic: pertaining to the tending of cattle; 587.
pastoral; rustic.
588.
571. buffoon: a person who is always clowning and
trying to be funny; clown.
572. bugaboo: bugbear;.
cabala: mystical doctrine.
cache: 1) a place in which stores of food,
supplies, etc, are hidden, as by explorers or
trappers; 2) a safe place for hiding or storing
things; 3) ath stored or hidden in such a place.
589. cachet: a seal; any distinctive stamp; a cap573. bugbear: 1) an imaginary hobgoblin or terror
sule enclosing a medicine.
used to frighten children into good conduct; 2)
anything causing seemingly needless or exces- 590. cachinnation: loud laughter.
sive fear or anxiety; 3) imaginary; bane; alarm;
591. cacophony: harsh, jarring sound; dissonance.
fear.
574. bullion: 1) gold and silver regarded as raw 592. cadaverous: pale; deathly; sickly looking;
gaunt; corpse like.
material; 2) gold or silver in the form of ingots,
bars, or sometimes coins.
593. cadence: 1) fall of the voice in speaking; 2)
inflection or modulation in tone; 3) any rhyth575. bulwark: the side of the ship projecting above
mic flow of sound; 4) measured movement, as
the deck; a fortification or rampart.
in dancing or marching, or the beat of such
576. bumptiousness: offensively self important.
movement.
577. bungle: to spoil by clumsy work or action; 594. cadge: To intrude or live on another meanly,
botch.
or beg.
19

21. 595. cadger: idler; beggar; huckster.
615. canard: a false rumor; a false esp malicious
report that has been fabricated with the intention of doing harm.
596. caesura: rhythmic break.
597. caitiff: a person of low character.
616. cancel: rescind, abrogate, annul; to endorse,
enforce, ratify.
598. cajole: to coax with flattery and insincere
talk; wheedle.
617. candent: glowing; white hot.
599. calamity: 1) deep trouble or misery; 2) any 618. candor: openness; frankness in expressing
extreme misfortune bringing great loss and soroneself; the quality of being fair and unprejrow; disaster.
udiced and impartial.
600. calefaction: increase of temperature; igni- 619. canker: 1) ath that corrupts or gradually detion; inflammation.
stroys; 2) an ulcerlike sore, esp in the mouth :
thought to be an immune reaction.
601. calescent: growing warm.
620. canny: careful and shrewd in one’s actions
602. caliber: degree of worth or value of a person
and dealings; clever and cautious; careful, pruor thing; quality or ability.
dent : with money; thrifty.
603. caliginous: misty.
621. canon: a regulation or dogma decreed by a
church council; the authentic works of a writer;
604. calk: to render watertight; sailor slang–to
law?.
snooze.
605. calligraphy: 1) beautiful handwriting, esp as 622. cant: beveled; to set at an angle; tilt; to pitch
to one side; lean; slope;inclined.
an art; 2) handwriting; penmanship.
606. callous: insensible, obdurate, unfeeling; com- 623. cant: lively; lusty.
passionate, indulgent, tender.
624. cant: the expression or repetition of conventional or trite opinions or sentiments esp the
607. callous: lacking pity, mercy etc; unfeeling;
insincere use of pious words.
thick and hardened.
608. callow: raw; inexperienced (note sense!); low
lying and liable to be submerged; still lacking
the feathers needed for flying; unfledged.
609. calorific: producing heat.
625. cant: to talk or beg in a whining or sing-song
manner; to speak in cant or jargon; to talk
hypocritically.
626. cantankerous:
temper.
cross-grained; perverse in
610. calumny: defamation, libel, detraction, as627. cantata: a musical composition consisting of
persion; laudation, commendation, goodwill.
vocal solos, choruses etc, often with instrumental accompaniment, used as a setting for
611. calumny: false accusation; slander.
a story to be sung not acted.
612. camaraderie: loyalty and warm, friendly feel628. canto: any of the main divisions of certain
ing among comrades; comradeship.
long poems, corresponding to the chapters of
613. camber: curve upwards.
a book.
614. cameo: 1) a minor but well defined role in 629. canvass: 1) to examine or discuss in detail;
a play, movie, etc, esp by a notable actor; 1)
look over carefully; 2) to go through (places)
a fine bit of descriptive writing ¡other horrid
or among (people) asking for (votes, opinions,
meanings in the dictionary¿.
orders, etc).
20

22. 630. capacious: having a large capacity; roomy; 645. caricature: 1) a picture or imitation of a perspacious.
son, literary style, etc in which certain; features or mannerisms are exaggerated for satir631. caparisoned: the covering of a horse; rich
ical effect; 2) a likeness or imitation that is so
cloth over war horse.
distorted or inferior as to seem ludicrous.
632. capillary: 1) of or like a hair, esp in being 646. carillon: 1) a set of stationary bells, each
very slender; 2) having a very small bore.
producing one tone of the chromatic scale;
now usu sounded by means of a keyboard; 2)
633. capitulate: to treaty; to draw up terms of
a smaller instrument imitating this electroniagreement; to surrender conditionally.
cally usu by amplifying the; sounds made by
striking metal tubes, bars, etc.
634. caprice: a change of humor or opinion without reason; a freak changeableness.
647. carious: decayed (link to carrion!).
635. caption: 1a) a heading or title, as of an article; 1b) a descriptive title, or legend, as un- 648. carnage: bloody and extensive slaughter, esp
in battle; massacre; bloodshed.
der the illustration; 2b) a heading showing the
names of the parties, court and docket number
649. carousal: festivities; drinking and dancing; a
in a pleading or deposition.
noisy merry drinking party.
636. captious: petulant, censorious, carping, fret650. carp: to catch at small faults and errors.
ful; encouraging, complementary, approving.
637. captious: ready to catch at faults and take 651. carping: biting; venomous; to complain or
find fault in a petty or nagging way.
offense; quibbling; carping; made only for the
sake of argument or fault finding.
652. carrefour: crossroads; square, plaza.
638. carafe: a glass bottle for serving wine, water
653. carrion: the decaying flesh of a dead body esp
or coffee.
when regarded as food for scavenging animals;
ath very disgusting or repulsive.
639. carapace: the horny, protective covering over
all or part of the back of certain animals, as
654. caryatid: column in the shape of a female
the upper shell of the turtle, armadillo etc.
figure.
640. carat: 1) a unit of weight for precious stones
and pearls, equal to 200 milligrams; 2) one 655. cascade: 1) a small steep waterfall, esp one of
a series; 2) ath suggesting this, as a shower of
24th part (of pure gold) [14-carat gold is 14
sparks or an arrangement of lace or drapery in
parts pure gold and 10 parts alloy].
rippling folds; 3) ath connected in a series.
641. carcinogenic: any substance that produces
656. cassock: robe worn by a priest.
cancer.
657. caste: 1) any exclusive and restrictive social
or occupational class or group; 2) rigid class
643. cardinal: 1) of main importance; principal;
distinction based or birth, wealth, etc, operatchief; 2) bright-red, like the robe of a cardinal.
ing as a social system or principle.
642. carcinoma: a cancer.
644. careen: 1) to cause (a ship) to lean or lie on 658. castellated: having turrets and battlements
one side, as on a beach, so that the; bottom
like a castle.
can be cleaned, repaired etc; 2) to cause to
lean sideways, tip, tilt; 3) to lurch from side to 659. castigate: to punish or rebuke severely, esp
side, esp when moving rapidly.
by harsh public criticism.
21

23. 660. casualty: 1) an accident esp a fatal one; 2) 674. caulk: 1) to stop up (the cracks, seams,etc)
anyone hurt or killed in an accident; 3) ath
of (a window frame, boat, etc) as with a putty
lost, destroyed, or made useless by some unlike sealant or oakum; 2) to make (a joint of
fortunate or unforeseen happening.
overlapping plates) tight by hammering the
edge of one plate into the side of the other.
661. cataclysmic: a debacle; deluge; any great upheaval that causes sudden and violent changes 675. causal: 1) of a cause or causes; 2) being or involving a cause; 3) relating to cause and effect.
as earthquake etc.
662. catalyst: 1) any substance serving as the 676. caustic: that can burn, eat away or destroy
tissue by chemical action; corrosive; cutting or
agent in catalysis; 2) a person or thing acting
sarcastic in utterance; biting.
as the stimulus in bringing about or hastening
a result.
677. cauterize: to burn with a hot needle, a laser,
a caustic substance, or an electric; current, so
663. catapult: 1) an ancient military contrivance
as to destroy dead or unwanted tissue, prevent
for throwing or shooting stones, spears, etc; 2)
the spread of; infection, seal blood vessels etc.
a slingshot; 3) to move quickly; leap.
678. cavalcade: a procession of horsemen or car664. cataract: a large waterfall; any strong flood
riages; any procession; a sequence or series of
or rush of water.
events.
665. catechism: 1) a handbook of questions and 679. cavil: to make empty trifling objections; to
answers for teaching the principles of a reliuse false arguments.
gion; 2) any similar handbook for teaching the
680. cede: to give up one’s rights in; surrender forfundamentals of a subject.
mally; to transfer the title of ownership of.
666. categorical: without qualifications or conditions; absolute; positive; direct; explicit: said 681. celerity: swiftness in acting or moving; speed.
of a statement, theory, etc.
682. celestial: 1) of or in the sky or universe, as
planets, stars, etc; 2a) of heaven; divine; 2b)
667. categorically: unqualifiedly.
of the finest or highest kind [∼ bliss].
668. catenary: type of a suspended cable.
683. celibate: 1) an unmarried person, esp one under a vow to remain unmarried; 2) one who
669. catharsis: 1) purgation, esp of the bowels; 2)
abstains from sexual intercourse.
the purifying of the emotions or relieving of
emotional tensions; 3) the alleviation of fear, 684. cenobite: monk living communally.
problems, and complexes by bringing them to
685. cenotaph: a sepulchral monument without a
consciousness or giving them expression.
burial; empty tomb.
670. cathartic: a medicine for stimulating evacua686. censorious: expressing censure; inclined to
tion of bowels; purgative.
find fault; harshly critical.
671. catholic: 1) of general scope or value; all- 687. censure: to express strong disapproval of;
inclusive; universal; 2) broad in sympathies,
condemn as wrong.
tastes, or understanding; liberal; 3) of the
688. centrifugal: moving or tending to move away
Christian church headed by the Pope.
from the center (as opposed to centripetal?).
672. caucus: a closed meeting of a group of persons
belonging to the same political party or faction 689. centrifuge: a machine using centrifugal force
to separate particles of varying density, as
usu to select candidates or to decide on policy.
cream from milk, or to draw off moisture, as
673. caudle: warm drink for invalids.
in a washing machine.
22

24. 690. centurion: the commanding officer of an an- 708. chaperon: one who accompanies a lady for
protection or appearances sake.
cient Roman century.
691. cerebral: of the brain or cerebrum; appealing 709. charisma: a divinely inspired gift, grace or
to, or conceived by the intellect rather than
talent as for prophesying, healing etc; a special
the emotions.
quality of leadership that captures the popular imagination; a special charm or allure that
692. cerebrate: to use one’s brain; think.
inspires fascination or devotion.
693. ceremonious: 1) ceremonial; 2) full of cere- 710. charlatan: a person who pretends to have exmony; 3) char by conventional usages or forpert knowledge or skill that he does not have;
mality; 4) excessively formal or proper.
fake; mountebank.
694. certitude: certainty; the state of being or
711. chary: not taking chances; careful; cautious;
feeling certain.
not giving freely; sparing (chary of his hospitality).
695. cessation: a ceasing or stopping, either forever or for some time.
712. chase: to make a groove or furrow in; indent.
696. cession: a ceding or giving up ( of rights,
713. chase: to ornament (metal) by engraving, emproperty, territory etc) to another.
bossing etc.
697. chafe: to rub so as to stimulate or make warm;
to wear away by rubbing; to irritate or make 714. chasm: 1) a deep crack in the earth’s surface;
abyss; narrow gorge; 2) any break or gap ; 3) a
sore by rubbing; to annoy, irritate.
wide divergence of feelings, sentiments, interests, etc; rift.
698. chaff: the husks of wheat or other grain separated in thrashing or winnowing; fine cut
hay or straw used as fodder; ath worthless; 715. chassis: the part of a motor vehicle that includes the engine, the frame, suspension systiny strips of metal foil used to confuse enemy
tem, wheels, steering mechanism, etc but not
radar.
the body.
699. chaff: to tease or ridicule in a good natured
716. chaste: not indulging in unlawful sexual acway.
tivity; virtuous; sexually abstinent; celibate;
700. chaffer: haggle.
pure, decent or modest in nature, behaviour
etc; restrained and simple in style; not ornate.
701. chagrin: vexation; annoyance; a feeling of embarrassment and annoyance because one has 717. chasten: 1) to punish in order to correct or
failed or been disappointed; mortification.
make better; chastise; 2) to restrain from excess; subdue; 3) to make purer in style; refine.
702. chalice: 1) a cup; goblet; 2) the cup or wine
of Holy Communion; 3) a cup shaped flower 718. chastise: 1) to punish, esp by beating; 2) to
¡there is some one called chalis too¿.
scold or condemn sharply.
703. chameleon: 1) a changeable or fickle person. 719. chasuble: ecclesiastical garment.
704. chamois: a goat like antelope.
705. champion: to fight for; defend; support.
706. chanticleer: cock.
707. chaparral: thicket.
720. chattel: any kind of property which is not
freehold.
721. chauvinistic: an absurdly extravagant pride
in one’s country with a corresponding contempt for foreign nations
23

25. 722. checkered: 1) having a pattern of squares; 740. circlet: a small circle; a ring or circular band
2) varied by the use of color and shading;
worn as an ornament esp on the head.
3) marked by diversified features or by varied
741. circuitous: roundabout; indirect; devious.
events, some unpleasant [ a ∼ career].
723. cherubic: 1) a person, esp a child, with a 742. circumjacence: ambience; environment; encompassment.
sweet, innocent face; 2) a representation of one
of the cherubim as, in early art, a winged angel
743. circumlocution: verbiage, verbosity, redunclothed in red or later, a chubby, rosy-faced
dancy, periphrasis; terseness, succinctness,
child with wings.
brevity.
724. chiaroscuro: management of light and shade
744. circumscription: the act of limiting; rein a picture.
straining the action of; to confine.
725. chiastic: type of inverted word order.
745. circumspect: looking around on all sides
watchfully.
726. chicanery: trickery or artifice esp in legal proceedings; quibbling.
746. circumvent: to surround or circle around; to
727. chimerical: wildly fanciful; unreal; imagisurround or encircle with evils, enmity etc, ennary.
trap; to get the better of or prevent from happening by craft or ingenuity.
728. chine: backbone.
747. citadel: a fortress on a commanding height for
729. chiromancy: palmistry.
defense of a city; a fortified place; stronghold;
a place of safety; refuge.
730. chitterling: part of the small intestine.
731. choleric: full or choler (anger); passionate; 748. cite: 1) to summon to appear before a court
of law; 2) to quote (a passage, book, speech,
bilious.
writer, etc); 3) to refer to or mention as a way
732. choreography: 1) dancing, esp ballet dancof example, proof, or precedent.
ing; 2) the arrangement of the written notation
of the movements of a dance, esp of a ballet; 749. civil: 1) of a citizen or citizens; 2) of a community of citizens, their govt, or their interre3) the art of devising dances, esp ballets.
lations [∼ service, war etc]; 3) polite or cour733. chronicle: 1) a historical record or register of
teous, esp in a merely formal way.
facts or events arranged in the order in which
they happened; 2) a narrative; history.
750. clairvoyance: 1) the supposed ability to perceive things that are not in sight or that cannot
734. chutzpah: shameless audacity; impudence;
be seen; 2) keen perception or insight.
brass.
751. clairvoyance: 1) the supposed ability to per735. cicatrix: scar tissue.
ceive things that are not in sight or that cannot
be seen; 2) keen perception or insight.
736. cinerary: pertaining to ashes.
737. cinnabar: bright-red mineral.
752. clamber: to climb with effort or clumsily, esp
by using the hands as well as the feet.
738. cipher: 1) the symbol 0, indicating a value of
naught, zero; 2) a person or thing of no im- 753. clammy: moist; cold damp.
portance or value; nonentity; 3a) a system of
secret writing based on a key, or set of prede- 754. clamor: 1) a loud outcry, uproar; 2) a vehement continued expression of the general feeltermined rules or symbols.
ing or public opinion; loud demand or com739. circa: about; around.
plaint.
24

26. 755. clandestine: concealed or hidden; surrepti- 775. cockatrice: fabulous serpent.
tious; furtive; kept secret or hidden esp for il776. coda: a more or less independent passage
licit purpose.
added to the end of a section or composition
756. clapper: a thing that makes a clapping sound,
so as to reinforce the sense of conclusion.
as the tongue of a bell or, facetiously, that of
777. coddle: to cook (esp eggs in the shell) gena garrulous person.
tly by heating in water not quite at boiling
757. clarion: strong or loud; bugle like instrument.
temperature; to treat (an invalid, baby etc)
tenderly.
758. clavicle: a bone connecting the sternum with
the scapula; collar bone.
778. codicil: a supplement to a will that changes,
explains, revokes or adds provisions; appendix,
supplement.
759. claymore: broad sword.
760. cleave: 1) to divide by a blow, as with an axe
779. codify: to arrange (laws, rules etc) systemat: split; 2) to pierce; 3) to sever : disunite.
ically.
761. cleft: 1) an opening made by or as by cleaving
: crack, crevice; 2) a hollow between two parts. 780. coercive: with power to compel.
762. clemency: mildness; readiness to forgive.
781. coeval: of the same age or period; contemporary.
763. cliche: hackneyed; a stereo-typed phrase.
782. coffer: a chest for holding money or treasure.
764. clientele: all one’s clients or customers collectively.
783. cog: any of the series of teeth on the rim of
a wheel, for transmitting or receiving motion
765. climactic: of, constituting, or in the order of
by fitting between the teeth of another wheel;
a climax.
gear tooth.
766. clime: a region or realm esp with reference to
784. cogent: powerful; convincing; forceful and to
its climate.
the point as a reason or argument.
767. clime: a region or realm, esp with reference
785. cogitate: to turn a thing over in one’s mind;
to its climate.
to ponder;
768. clique: a small exclusive circle of people;
786. cognate: related by family; having the same
snobbish or narrow coterie.
ancestor; having the same nature or quality;
769. cloister: a place of religious retirement; to
related thru the same source; derived from a
confine within walls.
common original form (as in cognate words of
diff langs and cognate languages).
770. clout: 1) a blow with or as with the hand :
rap; 2) [Now Chiefly Dial] to patch or mend 787. cognition: the process of knowing in the
coarsely.
broadest sense. including perception, memory,
and judgement.
771. cloy: to disgust; to cause distaste from excess.
772. coadjutor: assistant.
788. cognitive: capable of cognition (ie knowing,
quick understanding).
773. coagulate: to cause (a liquid) to become a
789. cognizance: 1) perception or knowledge; esp
soft, semi solid mass; curdle; clot.
the range of knowledge possible thru observation; 2) official observation of or authority over
774. coalesce: to grow together or to unite into
one body (root of coalition).
sth.
25

27. 790. cohere: 1) stick together; 2) to be connected 805. collusion: a secret agreement to deceive.
naturally or logically, as by a common princi806. colophon: publishers ornamental device; An
ple : be consistent.
inscription, monogram, or cipher, containing
the place and date of publication, printer’s
791. cohort: any band of men esp warriors.
name, etc., formerly placed on the last page
792. coiffure: a headdress; a style of arranging
of a book.
hair.
807. colossus: 1) a gigantic statue; 2) any huge or
793. coincident: 1) occurring at the same time;
important person or thing.
2) taking up the same position in the space
at the same time; 3) in agreement; similar or 808. comatose: 1) of, like, or in a coma or stupor;
2) characterized by lethargic inertness; torpid
identical [when desire and need are ∼].
[a comatose economy].
794. colander: a perforated pan, usu bowl-shaped,
809. combatively: aggressively; in fighting spirit;
for draining off liquids, as in washing veg.
795. coliseum: a large place of entertainment.
810. comely: pleasant to look at; attractive; fair.
796. collaborate: 1) to work together, esp in some 811. comely: pleasing; graceful.
literary, artistic, or scientific undertaking; 2)
812. comestible: eatable; food.
to cooperate with an enemy invader.
813. comeuppance: a deserved rebuke or penalty;
797. collage: 1) an art form in which bits of objects
deserts.
such as newspaper, cloth, pressed; flowers, etc
are pasted together on a surface in incongruous 814. comity: courteousness; civility.
relationship for; their symbolic or suggestive
effect; 2) any collection of seemingly unrelated 815. commandeer: to compel to military service;
to take arbitrarily.
bits and parts, as in a photomontage.
816. commemorate: to honor the memory of as
by a ceremony; to keep alive the memory of;
collateral: 1) parallel in time, rank, imporserve as a memorial to.
tance, etc; corresponding; 2) accompanying or
existing in a subordinate, corroborative, or in- 817. commensurate: 1) equal in measure or size;
coextensive; 2) corresponding in extent or dedirect; relationship; 3a) designating or of segree; proportionate; 3) measurable by the
curity given as a pledge for the fulfillment of
same standard or measure;specif, designatan; obligation; 3b) secured or guaranteed by
ing two quantities having a common measure
property, as stocks, bonds etc.
which is contained an integral number of times
collation: bringing together for examination
in each.
and comparison; a repast between meals.
818. commination: threatening; denunciation.
collop: small piece of meat.
819. commiserate: to feel or show sorrow or pity
colloquial: 1) designating or of the words,
for.
phrases, and idioms characteristic of informal
offering plenty of room;
speech and writing; informal; 2) having to do 820. commodious:
roomy; spacious.
with or like conversation; conversational.
798. collate: to bring together for comparison.
799.
800.
801.
802.
803. colloquialism: conversation in the ordinary 821. communal: 1) of a commune or communes;
2) of or belonging to the community; shared,
language; used in common conversation.
or participated in, by all; 3) designating or of
804. colloquy: a conversation, esp a formal discussocial or economic organization in which there
sion; conference.
is common ownership of property.
26

28. 822. compact: an agreement between two or more 839. conative: relating to an attempt to perform
individuals, states, etc; covenant.
action.
823. compelling: irresistibly or keenly interest- 840. concatenation: to chain or link together; to
connect in series.
ing, attractive, etc; captivating [a compelling
drama].
841. concede: to yield or give up.
824. compendium: a summary or abstract con- 842. conception: 1) that which is conceived, specif
taining the essential information in a brief
an embryo or fetus; 2) the beginning of some
form; concise but comprehensive treatise.
process, chain of events, etc; 3) the act, process
or power of conceiving mentally; formulation
825. compensate: to make up for; be a counterof ideas, esp of abstractions.
balance to in weight, force, etc; 2) to make
equivalent or suitable return to; to recom- 843. concert: to arrange or settle by mutual unpense.
derstanding; contrive or plan together; devise.
826. complacent: satisfied, esp self-satisfied; affa- 844.
ble, smug .
845.
827. complaisant: willing to please; affably agree846.
able; obliging.
847.
828. complement: 1) that which completes or
brings to perfection; 2) the amount or number needed to fill in or complete.
848.
829. compliant: complying or tending to comply;
yielding; submissive.
830. complicity: a sharing of wrongdoing.
conch: spiral shell.
conciliate: to reconcile.
conciliatory: making friends; reconciling.
concise: brief and to the point; short and
clear.
conclave: 1) the private meeting of cardinals
to elect a pope; 2) any private or secret meeting; 3) any large conference or convention.
849. concoct: 1) to make by combining various ingredients; compound; 2) to devise, invent, or
plan.
831. complicity: complexity; state or condition of
850. concomitant: an accompanying or attendant
being an accomplice.
condition, circumstance or thing.
832. comply: to act in accordance (with a request,
851. concord: harmony, agreement.
order rule etc).
833. comport: to agree; suit; to bear; to behave 852. concordant: harmonious; united.
or conduct (oneself) in a specified manner.
853. concordat: agreement.
834. composure: calmness of mind or manner; 854. concourse: assembly of persons or things runtranquility; self-possession.
ning or drawn together; a large hall; an open
space.
835. comprise: 1) to include; contain; 2) consist
of, be composed of.
855. concupiscence: burning desire.
836. compunction: a sharp feeling of uneasiness 856. concurring: to coincide; to run together; to
agree; to assent.
brought on by a sense of guilt; twinge of conscience; remorse; a feeling of slight regret for
857. condescend: 1) to descend voluntarily to the
sth done.
level, regarded as lower, of the person one is
dealing with; be graciously willing to do sth
837. compunction: contrition; regret; remorse;.
regarded as beneath one’s dignity; deign; 2) to
838. comstockery: over zealous censorship.
deal with others in a proud or haughty way.
27

29. 858. condign: deserved; suitable; said esp of pun- 875. congruence: 1) the state or quality of being
ishment for wrongdoing.
in agreement; correspondence; harmony.
859. condiments: a seasoning or relish for food, 876. conjecture: an inferring, theorizing, or preas pepper, mustard, sauces, etc.
dicting from incomplete or uncertain evidence;
guesswork
860. condole: to express sympathy; mourn in sympathy; commiserate.
877. conjugal: of marriage or of the relation between husband and wife; matrimonial; connu861. condoned: to forgive; to excuse; to atone for.
bial.
862. conduce: to tend or lead (to an effect); con878.
tribute.
879.
863. conducive: that conduces to contributes;
tending or leading (to).
880.
864. conduit: a channel or pipe conveying water
or another fluid.
conjunct: conjoined; joined.
connivance: to take no notice; to have a private understanding.
connive: to wink as at a fault; to take no
notice; to have a private understanding.
881. connoisseur: a person who has expert knowledge and keen discrimination in some field esp
in the fine arts or in matters of taste.
confidant: a close, trusted friend, to whom
one confides intimate matters or secrets.
882. connotation: to signify or suggest meanings,
ideas in addition to the explicit primary meanconfiscate: 1) to seize (private property) for
ing.
the public treasury, usually as a penalty; 2) to
seize by or as by authority; appropriate.
883. connubial: pertaining to marriage.
conflagration: a big, destructive fire.
884. consanguinity: relationship by descent from
confluence: 1) a flowing together, esp of two
the same ancestor; blood relationship; close asor more streams; 2) the place where they join,
sociation;filiation; agnation; cognation.
or a stream formed in this way; 3) a coming
885. conscientious: governed by or made or
together as of people; crowd; throng.
done according to what one knows is
conformity: 1) the condition or fact of beright;scrupulous; honest; showing care and
ing in harmony or agreement; correspondence;
precision; painstaking.
congruity; similarity; 2) action in accordance
with customs, rules, prevailing opinion, etc; 886. conscription: compulsory enrollment for service.
conventional behaviour.
865. confabulations: confidential conversations.
866.
867.
868.
869.
870.
871. congealing: to freeze; to solidify.
887. consecrate: to set apart for holy use; to render holy or venerable.
872. congenial: 1) kindred; compatible [∼ tastes];
2) having the same tastes and temperament; 888. consensus: 1) an opinion held by all or most;
2) general agreement, esp of opinion.
friendly; sympathetic [∼ friends]; 3) suited to
one’s needs or disposition [∼ work].
889. consequential: 1) following as an effect or
influence; 2) important.
873. congenital: 1) existing as such at birth; 2)
existing as if inborn; inherent [a ∼ cheerful890. conservatory: 1) a room enclosed in glass, for
ness].
growing and showing plants; non-commercial
874. conglomeration: varied mixture; collection
greenhouse; 2) a school specializing in one of
or jumble of things;
the fine arts [a music conservatory].
28

30. 891. consign: 1) to hand over; give up or deliver; 902. contagion: transmission of a disease by direct
2) to put in the care of another; entrust [∼
contact with an infected person or object.
the orphan to her uncle’s care]; 3) to assign to
an undesirable position or place; relegate [∼ to 903. contemn: despise.
oblivion]; 4) to send or deliver as goods to be 904. contemn: to despise.
sold.
905. contempt: the feeling or attitude of one who
892. consistency: 1a) the condition of holding tolooks down on somebody or something as begether; firmness or thickness, as of a liquid;
ing low, mean, or unworthy; scorn.
1b) amount or degree of this [oil or the wrong
∼]; 2) agreement; harmony; logical connection 906. contentious: causing lot of disagreements or
arguments.
[arguments lacking ∼]; 3) agreement with what
has already been done or expressed.
907. context: 1) the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw; light
893. consonance: 1) harmony or agreement of eleon its meaning; 2) the whole situation, backments or parts; accord; 2) a pleasing combinaground, or environment relevant to a particution of simultaneous musical sounds; harmony
lar; event, personality, creation, etc.
of tones.
894. consort: 1) orig, a partner, companion; 2) a 908. contiguous: 1) in physical contact; touching
along all or most of one side; 2) near, next or
wife or husband; spouse, esp of a reigning king
adjacent.
or queen.
895. conspire: 1) to plan and act together secretly, 909. continence: self-restraint; moderation; selfrestraint in esp by total abstinence from sexual
esp in order to commit a crime; 2) to comactivity.
bine or work together for any purpose or effect
[events conspired to ruin him].
910. contingent: 1) that may or may not happen; possible; 2) happening by chance; ac896. consternation: great fear or shock that
cidental; fortuitous; 3) unpredictable because
makes one feel helpless or bewildered.
dependent on chance; 4) a group forming part
897. constituent: 1) necessary in forming or makof a larger group [military ∼].
ing up a whole; component [a ∼ part]; 2) that
can or does appoint or vote for a representa- 911. contort: to twist or wrench out of its usual
form into one that is grotesque; distort viotive; 3) authorized to make or revise a political
lently.
constitution or establish a government [a ∼ assembly].
912. contraband: 1) unlawful or prohibited trade;
2) goods forbidden by law to be imported or
898. constraint: 1) a constraining or being conexported; smuggled merchandise.
strained; specif a) confinement or restriction;
b) compulsion or coercion; 2a) a repression of
913. contradistinction: distinction by contrast.
natural feelings or behaviour; 2b) forced, unnatural manner; awkwardness.
914. contrapositive: opposition; contrast?.
899. construe: to explain; to interpret; to infer.
915. contrarity: contrast; anti-thesis; antagonism;
inversion.
900. consummate: to raise to the highest point;
to perfect or finish.
916. contravene: to go against; oppose; conflict
with; violate [practices contravening an ethi901. consumptive: 1) consuming or tending to
cal code]; to disagree with in argument; conconsume; destructive or wasteful; 2) of, havtradict.
ing, or relating to tuberculosis of the lungs; 3)
a person who has tuberculosis of the lungs.
917. contretemps: an embarrassing situation.
29

31. 918. contrite: feeling sorry; penitent.
not natural, original or spontaneous [∼ behavior].
919. contrivance: invention; design; artifice.
920. contrived: too obviously the result of forethought and planning; not spontaneous or natural.
931. converge: 1) to come together or tend to
come together at a point; 2) to move or be directed toward each other or toward the same
place, purpose or result.
921. controvert: 1) to argue or reason against;
932. conversant: familiar or acquainted (with),
contradict; deny; dispute 2) to argue about;
esp as a result of study or experience; versed
debate; discuss.
(in).
922. contumacious: opposing lawful authority
933. converse: 1) thing related in a converse way;
with contempt; obstinate.
the opposite; 2) [Logic] the proposition obtained by conversion.
923. contumely: insolent; harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt.
934. converse: 1) to hold a conversation; talk; 2)
924. contuse: to injure without breaking the skin;
[Obs] to consort; to interact socially.
bruise.
935. convert: 1) to change from one form or use
925. conundrum: 1) any puzzling question or
in another; transform; 2) to cause to change
problem; 2) a riddle whose answer contains
as from one religion, doctrine, or course to ana pun (Ex: “What’s the difference between a
other; 3) to exchange for sth equal in value [Re
jeweler and a jailor?”, “One sells watches and
to $].
the other watches cells”).
936. conveyance: 1) the act of conveying; 2) a
926. conundrum: a riddle turning on some odd
means of conveying; carrying device, esp a veor fanciful resemblance between things quite
hicle; 3a) the transfer of the ownership of real
unlike; any puzzling question.
property from one person to another; 3b) the
document by which this is effected; deed.
927. convalescent: 1) gradually recovering health
after illness; 2) of or having to do with conva- 937. conviction: 1) a convicting or being conlescence [a ∼ diet]; a person who is convalescvicted; 2) the state or appearance of being coning.
vinced, as of the truth of a belief [to speak with
∼]; 3) a strong belief.
928. convene: to convoke; to meet together esp for
a common purpose.
938. convivial: 1) having to do with a feast or
festive activity; 2) fond of eating, drinking and
929. convention: 1a) an assembly, often periodigood company; sociable; jovial.
cal, of members or delegates, as of a political; ,
social, professional or religious group; 1b) the
members or delegates of such an assembly; 2a) 939. convoke: to call together; to assemble.
an agreement between persons, nations etc [the 940. convoluted: 2) extremely involved; intricate;
Geneva ∼, a copyright ∼]; 2b) general agreecomplicated [ a ∼ style].
ment on the usages and practices of social life;
[Bohemian revolt against ∼]; 3) a customary 941. copious: heavy; rich; viscous; thick.
practice, rule, method etc.
942. coquetry: flirting; attempt to attract admi930. conventional: 1) having to do with a conration without serious affection.
vention or assembly; 2) of, sanctioned by, or
growing out of custom or usage; customary; 943. coquette: a girl or woman who merely from
3a) depending on or conforming to formal or
vanity tries to get men’s attention ad admiraaccepted standards or rules rather than nature;
tion.
30

32. 944. cordon: 1) a line or circle of police, soldiers, 960. cosmic: 1) of the cosmos; relating to the uniforts. ships etc, stationed around an area to
verse as a whole; 2) of the universe exclusive
guard it; 2) a cord, ribbon, or braid worn as a
of the earth [∼ dust]; 3) vast; grandiose.
decoration or badge.
961. cosset: to fondle; to treat as a pet; to pamper.
945. cormorant: a glutton; web footed sea birds
962. coterie: a social literary or other exclusive
of great voracity.
circle whose members share a common background; clique.
946. cornice: 1) a horizontal molding projecting
along the top of a wall, building, etc; 2) the top 963. countermand: to cancel or revoke ( a compart of an entablature; 3) a projecting, decomand or order); to call back or order back by
rative strip above a window, designed to keep
a contrary order.
a curtain rod from showing.
964. counterpart: 1) a person or thing that cor947. cornucopia: horn of plenty; an exhaustible
responds to or closely resembles another, as in
store; abundance; a receptacle shaped like a
form or function; 2) a thing which, when added
horn or cone.
to another, completes or complements it; 3) a
copy or duplicate, as of a lease.
948. corollary: 1) a proposition that follows from
the one that has already been proved; 2) an 965. counterpoint: the art of combining melodies.
inference or deduction; 3) ath that follows as
966. counterpoise: to poise or weigh against or on
normal result.
the opposite side.
949. corporeal: 1) of, for, or having the nature 967. coup: 1) literally, a blow; 2) a sudden, sucof, the body; physical; bodily; not spiritual; 2)
cessful move or action; brilliant stroke; 3) coup
of material nature; perceptible by the senses;
d’etat.
tangible.
968. couple: 1) ath joining two things together;
950. corpulent: obese; fat; swollen.
bond; link; 2) two things or persons of the
same sort that are somehow associated.
951. corpus: a body (of things, literature, law etc).
969. courier: 1) a messenger sent in haste or on
952. corral: a pen for cattle; an enclosure; .
a regular schedule with important or; urgent
messages; specif a) a member of the diplomatic
953. correlation: mutuality; complimentary; recorps charged with carrying messages; b) a spy
ciprocal; analogous.
carrying secret information; 2) a person hired
to take care of hotel accommodations and lug954. corroborate: to make certain the validity of;
gage and to act; as a guide for a traveler.
confirm; bolster; support [evidence to corroborate his testimony].
970. covenant: 1) a binding and solemn agreement
to do or keep from doing a specified thing;
955. corroboration: confirmation; to confirm to
compact; 2) an agreement among members of
make more certain.
a church to defend and maintain its doctrines,
polity and faith.
956. corrosive: 1) corroding or causing corrosion;
2) bitingly sarcastic; cutting.
971. covert: concealed, hidden, disguised, or surreptitious [ a covert threat]; protected by a
957. corrugated: to shape or contract into parallel
husband: said of a marriage woman.
grooves and ridges; make wrinkles in; furrow.
972. covert: hidden.
958. coruscate: sparkle.
973. covetousness:
inordinately desirousness;
959. coryphee: chorus girl.
avariciousness.
31

33. 974. covin: (also covine) conspiratorial band.
992. cretin: a person suffering from cretinism.
975. cow: to make timid and submissive by filling 993. cretinism: a congenital deficiency of thyroid
with fear or awe; intimidate.
secretion with resulting deformity and mental
deficiency.
976. cower: 1) to crouch or huddle up, as from
fear or cold; 2) to shrink and tremble, as from 994. crevice: a narrow opening caused by a crack
someone’s anger, threats, or blows; cringe.
or split; fissure; cleft; chink.
977. coy: 1) orig quiet, silent; 2a) shrinking from 995. cringed: to bend or crouch with servility.
contact or familiarity with others; bashful; shy;
2b) primly reserved; demure; 3) affecting inno- 996. criterion: a standard, rule, or test by which
cence or shyness, esp in a playful or coquettish
something can be judged; measure of value.
manner; 4) reticent or evasive in making com997. critiquing: reviewing; criticizing.
mitment.
998. croft: a small farm (vegetable garden!).
978. cozen: 1) to cheat; defraud; 2) to deceive.
979. crabbed: 1) peevish; morose; ill-tempered; 999. crone: an ugly, withered old woman; hag.
cross; 2) hard to understand because intricate or complicated; 3) hard to read because 1000. crony: a very close intimate friend.
cramped or irregular [∼ handwriting].
1001. crotchety: full of peculiar whims or stubborn
notions; cantankerous; eccentric.
980. crampon: mountain climber.
1002. crotchety: perversely whimsical; eccentric.
981. crapulous: ill from over-drinking.
982. crass: 1) grossly stupid, dull or obtuse; 2) 1003.
tasteless, insensitive, and coarse; 3) moneygrubbing; blatantly materialistic.
1004.
983. craven: very cowardly; abjectly afraid; thorough coward.
1005.
984. credence: belief; trust.
985. credo: creed;
986. credulity: a tendency to believe too readily,
esp with little or no proof; lack of doubt.
cruet: a small bottle (that can be used as a
sprinkler).
crux: 1) a difficult problem; puzzling thing;
2) the essential or deciding point.
crypt: a underground chamber or vault as one
under the main floor of a church, esp formerly
serving as a burial place.
1006. cryptic: 1a) having hidden or ambiguous
meaning; mysterious; baffling [a ∼ comment].
987. creed: 1) a brief statement of religious belief; 1007.
confession of faith; 2) a specific statement of 1008.
this kind, accepted by a church; 3) a statement
of belief, principles or opinions on any subject.
cryptogram: ath written in cipher.
cubicle: 1) a small sleeping compartment, as
in a dormitory; 2) any small compartment, as
for study.
988. crepitate: make a rattling sound (decrepita1009. cuisine: style of cooking; manner of preparing
tion).
food; also, the food prepared, as at a restaurant.
989. crepuscule: twilight; dusk.
990. crescendo: gradually increasing in loudness 1010. culinary: of or relating to the kitchen or cookery.
or intensity.
991. crestfallen: 1) with drooping crest or bowed 1011. cull: something picked out; esp, something rehead; 2) dejected, disheartened, or humbled.
jected as not being up to standard.
32

34. 1012. culminated: to reach the highest point; cli- 1029. dally: 1) to flirt; to play at love; 2) to deal
max.
lightly or carelessly (with); trifle; toy; 3) to
waste time; loiter.
1013. culpable: deserving blame; blameworthy.
1030. dank: disagreeably damp; moist and chilly.
1014. culvert: a conduit, esp a drain, as a pipelike
construction of stone, concrete, or; metal, that 1031. dapper: 1) small and active; 2) trim, neat or
smart in dress or appearance.
passes under a road, railroad track, footpath,
etc. or through an; embankment.
1032. dappled: marked or variegated with spots;
mottled.
1015. cumbersome: unwieldy; clumsy; burdensome; hard to handle or deal with as because 1033. dastardliness: cowardliness, characterized
of size, weight or many parts.
by underhandedness or treachery.
1016. cupidity: greed; covetousness.
1034. daunt: to make afraid or discouraged; intimidate; dishearten.
1017. curator: one that has the care and superintendence of something; esp, one in charge of a 1035.
museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit.
1036.
1018. curlicue: fantastic curl; a fancifully curved or
spiral figure; flourish.
1037.
1019. curmudgeon: a surly, ill-mannered, bad tempered person; cantankerous fellow.
dauntless: fearless; unsubdued.
dawdle: to waste (time) in trifling or by being
slow; idle: often with away.
deadlock: 1) a standstill resulting from the
action of equal and opposed forces; stalemate;
2) a tie between opponents in the course of a
contest.
1020. cursive: flowing; not disconnected; specif,
designating writing in which the strokes of the 1038. deadpan: without expression or show of emoletters are joined in each word.
tion; blank(ly).
1021. cursorily: running quickly over; hastily; su- 1039.
perficially.
1040.
1022. curtail: to cut short; reduce; abridge.
1041.
1023. cynical: 1) believing that people are motivated in all their actions only by; selfishness : 1042.
denying the sincerity of people’s motives and
actions, or by; the value of living; 2) sarcastic,
sneering, etc.
1043.
deadwood: dead meaningless customs.
dearth: scarcity, dearness, want, high price.
debase: to make lower in value, quality, character, dignity etc.
debauch: to lead away from duty or allegiance; to corrupt with lewdness.
debilitate: weaken; enervate.
1024. cynosure: any person or thing that is a center 1044. debonair: 1) easy and carefree in manner;
of attention or interest.
jaunty; sprightly; 2) elegant and gracious; urbane.
1025. dado: middle section of a pedestal.
1045. debris: 1) rough broken bits of stone, wood,
1026. daedal: ingenious.
glass etc, as after destruction; rubble; 2) bits
or pieces of rubbish; litter.
1027. daemon: a spirit holding a middle place between god and men(spirit, genius,devil).
1046. debunk: to expose the false or exaggerated
claims, pretensions , glamour etc of.
1028. dais: a platform raised above the floor at one
end of a hall or room, as for a throne, seats of 1047. debutante: one who makes her first appearhonor , a speaker’s stand etc.
ance.
33

35. 1048. decadence: a process, condition or period of 1064. default: 1) failure to do sth or be somewhere
decline as in morals, art, literature, etc; detewhen required or expected, specif; a) failure to
rioration; decay.
pay money due; b) failure to appear in court
to defend or prosecute a case; c) failure to take
1049. decapitate: to cut off the head of; behead.
part in or finish a contest.
1050. deciduous: 1) falling off or out at a cer- 1065.
tain season or stage of growth, as some leaves,
antlers, insect wings, milk teeth; 2) short-lived;
temporary.
1051. deciduous: not evergreen.
defeasance: 1) the annulment of a contract
or deed; 2) a clause stating a condition the
fulfillment of which makes the deed, contract,
etc void in whole or in-part.
1066. defeatist: a person who too readily accepts
or expects defeat.
1052. decimate: to punish every tenth man;
1067. defection: 1) abandonment of loyalty, duty,
loosely- to punish very heavily.
or principle; desertion; 2) the act of defecting
1053. decipher: 1) to translate (a message in cifrom one’s country; 3) a failing or failure.
pher or code) into ordinary, understandable;
language : decode; 2) to make out the mean- 1068. defenestrate: a throwing of a person or thing
out of a window.
ing of (ancient inscriptions, illegible writing,
etc).
1069. deference: 1) a yielding in opinion, judgement or wishes; 2) courteous regard or respect.
1054. decoction: a liquid preparation.
1055. decollete: cut low so as to bare the neck and 1070. defile: 1) a narrow passage thru which troops
must defile; 2) any narrow valley or mountain
shoulders, as some dresses.
pass; 3) a march in single file or files.
1056. decompose: 1) to break up or separate into
1071. defile: 1) to make filthy or dirty; pollute; 2)
basic components or parts; 2) to rot.
to make ceremonially unclean; 3) to corrupt;
4) to profane or sully (as a person’s name);
1057. decorum: 1) propriety and good taste in behavior, speech, dress, etc; 2) an act or require1072. definitive: 1) that settles or decides in a final
ment of polite behavior: often used in pl.
way; decisive; conclusive [a ∼ answer]; 2) most
nearly complete and accurate; authoritative;
1058. decrement: deduction; reprise; rebate.
3) serving to define; limiting or distinguishing
precisely.
1059. decrepit: broken down or worn out by old
age, illness or long use.
1073. deflect: to turn or make go to one side; bend;
swerve.
1060. decrepitude: the condition of being decrepit;
infirmity or feebleness.
1074. defoliate: to strip of leaves.
1061. decry: to speak out against strongly and
1075.
openly; denounce [to decry religious intolerance]; to depreciate (money etc) officially.
1076.
1062. deface: 1) to spoil the appearance of; disfigure; mar; 2) to make illegible by injuring the
surface of.
1077.
defray: to pay or furnish the money for ( the
cost or expenses).
defrock: to deprive of the rank or function of
priest or minister.
deft: skillful in a quick, sure, and easy way;
dextrous.
1063. defame: to attack or injure the reputation
or honor of by false and malicious statements; 1078. defunct: no longer living or existing; dead or
malign, slander, or libel.
extinct; out of outer since a long time.
34

36. 1079. degenerate: 1) having sunk below a former or 1096.
normal condition, character etc; deteriorated;
2) morally corrupt; depraved.
1097.
1080. deglutition: swallowing food.
1081. degrade: to lower in rank or status, as in punishing; denote; to lower or corrupt in quality, 1098.
moral character or value; debase; to bring into
dishonor or contempt.
1099.
1082. degraded: disgraced, debased, depraved etc.
1100.
1083. deify: to exalt to the rank of a god.
1101.
1084. deign: to condescend to do sth thought to
be slightly beneath one’s dignity [the queen
deigned to shake my hand].
1102.
1085. deleterious: hurtful or destructive; poisonous.
1103.
1086. deliberate: to think or consider carefully and
fully; esp, to consider reasons for and against
a thing in order to make up one’s mind [a jury
deliberates].
1104.
1087. delineate: 1) to trace the outline of; sketch
out; 2) to draw; depict; 3) to depict in words;
1105.
describe.
demagogue: a leader of the people; a popular
and factious orator.
demean: to lower in status or character; degrade; humble [to demean oneself by taking a
bribe].
demeanor: outward behavior; conduct, deportment.
demented: out of one’s mind; insane.
demesne: region (domain?).
demography: the statistical science dealing
with the distribution, density, vital statistics
etc of human population.
demoniac: like or characteristic of a demon;
fiendish; frenzied.
demotic: 1) of the people; popular; specif,
vernacular; 2) designating or of a simplified
system of ancient Egyptian writing : distinguished from hieratic.
demur: to hesitate because of one’s doubts or
objections; have scruples; object.
demure: 1) decorous; modest; reserved; 2)
affectedly modest or shy; coy.
1088. delinquency: failure in or omission of duty;
1106. denigrate: to blacken; to disparage the chara fault; a crime.
acter or reputation of; defame.
1089. delirium: a temporary state of extreme mental excitement, marked by restlessness,; con- 1107. denizen: 1a) an inhabitant or occupant; 1b)
a frequenter of a particular place.
fused speech, and hallucinations: it sometimes
occurs during a fever or; in some forms of in- 1108. denouement: the outcome, solution, unravsanity; uncontrollably wild excitement or emoeling, or clarification of a plot in a drama, story
tion.
etc; any final revelation or outcome.
1090. delitescence: concealment.
1091.
1092.
1093.
1094.
1109. denounce: 1) to accuse publicly; inform
against [to ∼ an accomplice in crime]; 2) to
delude: to fool, as by false promises or wrong
condemn strongly as evil; 3) to give formal nonotions; mislead; deceive; trick.
tice of the ending of a (treaty, armistice etc).
deluge: great overflow of water.
1110. depict: 1) to represent in a drawing, painting,
delusion: a false belief or opinion.
sculpture, etc; portray; picture; 2) to picture
in words; describe.
delusive: 1) tending to delude; misleading; 2)
of or like a delusion; unreal.
1111. depilate: to remove hair.
1095. delve: to dig with a spade; to investigate for 1112. depletion: the act of emptying or exhausting
information; search (into books, the past etc).
or reducing.
35

37. 1113. deplore: 1) to be regretful or sorry about; 1129. desecrate: to profane; to take away the salament; 2) to regard as unfortunate or
credness of sth.
wretched; 3) to condemn as wrong; disapprove
1130. desiccate: to dry completely; to preserve
of.
(food) by drying.
1114. deploy: 1a) to spread out (troops etc) so as
to form a wider front; 1b) to station or place 1131. desideratum: something desired or much
wanted.
(forces, equipment,etc) in accordance with a
plan.
1132. desolate: 1) left alone; lonely; solitary; 2)
uninhabited; deserted; 3) made uninhabitable;
1115. depose: 1) to remove from office or a position
laid waste; in a ruinous state.
of power, esp from a throne; oust; 2) [Law] to
state or testify under oath but out of court.
1133. desperado: a dangerous, reckless criminal;
bold outlaw.
1116. depositary: a receipt for money deposited in
a bank.
1134. despise: to look down on with contempt and
1117. deposition: 1) a deposing or being deposed;
scorn; to regard with dislike or repugnance.
removal from office or position of power; 2)
the act of testifying; 3) a depositing or being 1135. despoil: plunder; destroy; deprive sth of value
by or as by force.
deposited.
1118. deprave: to lead into bad habits; make 1136. despondency: state of being dejected, depressed, disheartened etc.
morally bad; corrupt; pervert.
1119. deprecate: to feel and express disapproval of; 1137. despotic: of or like a despot; autocratic;
tyrannical.
plead against; to depreciate, belittle.
1120. depreciate: to reduce in value or price; to 1138. destitute: not having; being without; lacking;
lacking the necessities of life; living in complete
make seem less important; belittle; disparage.
poverty.
1121. depredation: the act or an instance of robbing, plundering, or laying waste.
1139. destitution: deprivation of office; forsaken in
utter want;
1122. deracinate: to pull up by the roots; to extirpate.
1140. desuetude: dissuage; want of habit; disuse;
discontinuance.
1123. derange: to upset the arrangement, order, or
operation of ; unsettle; disorder; to make in- 1141. desultory: passing from one thing to another
sane.
in an aimless way; disconnected; not methodical [a desultory conversation]; lacking direct
1124. derelict: deserted by the owner; abandoned;
relevance; random; incidental [a desultory obforsaken; neglectful of duty; remiss; negligent.
servation].
1125. deride: to laugh at in contempt or scorn;
1142. detached: 1) not connected; separate; 2) not
make fun of; ridicule.
involved by emotion, interests, etc; aloof; impartial.
1126. derivative: using or taken from other sources;
not original.
1143. detente: relaxation or easing of tension (as
between two nations).
1127. derogatory: detracting; injurious.
1128. descry: to catch sight of; discern (distant or 1144. deter: to keep or discourage (a person, group,
obscure objects); to look for and discover; deor nation) from doing something by instilling
tect.
fear, anxiety, doubt, etc.
36

38. 1145. detonation: to explode violently and noisily. 1164. digression: to wander away from the main
topic; ramble.
1146. detraction: a taking or drawing away; a
malicious discrediting of someone’s character, 1165. dilapidated: in ruins; in need of repair as due
to neglect.
accomplishments, etc as by revealing hidden
faults or by slander.
1166. dilatory: causing or tending to cause delay;
meant to gain time, defer action etc; inclined
1147. detrimental: causing damage or injury.
to delay; slow or late in doing things.
1148. detrition: wearing away.
1167. dilemma: an argument necessitating a choice
1149. devoid: completely without; empty or destibetween equally unfavorable or disagreeable altute.
ternatives; any situation in which one must
change between unpleasant alternatives; any
1150. devolve: to pass (on) to another or others:
serious problem.
said of duties, responsibilities etc.
1168. dilettante: person who loves fine arts in a
superficial way without serious purpose.
1151. devout: very religious; pious; showing reverence; earnest; sincere; heartfelt.
1169. dimidiate: halved.
1152. dexterity: skill; adroitness; nimbleness.
1170. diminutive: of a diminished size; contracted.
1153. diabolical: devilish;.
1154. diadem: a crown, headband or the like; royal
power, authority or dignity.
1155. dialectics: logical argumentation.
1171. dinghy: 1) a small boat carried on a warship
or merchant ship; 2) a small boat used as a
tender to a yacht; 3) a small, single masted
racing boat.
1156. diaphanous: so fine or gauzy in texture as to 1172.
be transparent or translucent; vague or indistinct; airy.
1173.
1157. diatribe: a continued discourse or disputation; an invective harangue.
1174.
1158. dichotomy: division into two parts (halves,
kinds, pairs); schism or split.
1159. diction: manner of speaking or expressing.
dingy: 1) dirty colored; not bright or clean;
grimy; 2) dismal; shabby.
dint: force; exertion; now chiefly in ’by dint
of’; 2) a dent.
diorama: 1) a picture painted or set of transparent curtains and looked at thru a; small
opening; 2) a miniature scene, wholly or partially : three dimensional, depicting; figures in
a naturalistic setting; 3) a museum display of
a preserved or reconstructed specimen, as of
wildlife; in a simulation of its habitat.
1160. dictum: a statement or saying esp a formal
statement of fact, opinion, principle etc or of
one’s will or judgement; pronouncement.
1175. dire: arousing terror or causing extreme distress; dreadful; terrible; calling for quick ac1161. didactic: fitted or intended to teach; instruction.
tive; preceptive; too much inclined to teach
others; boringly pedantic or moralistic.
1176. dirge: a funeral hymn; a slow sad song,
poem or musical composition expressing grief
1162. diffidence: lack of confidence in oneself;
or mourning; lament.
marked by hesitation in asserting oneself; shyness.
1177. disabuse: to get rid of false ideas; undeceive.
1163. diffuse: spread out or dispersed; not con- 1178. disaffect: to cause to lose affection for; make
centrated; using more words than are needed;
unfriendly,discontented, or disloyal, esp tolong-winded; wordy.
ward the government.
37

39. 1179. disapprobation: disapproval.
1180.
1181.
1182.
1183.
1184.
1185.
1186.
1187.
1188.
1189.
1190.
1191.
1192.
1195. discreet: careful about what one says or does;
prudent esp keeping silent or preserving confidisarray: 1) to throw into disorder or confudences when necessary.
sion; upset; 2) a state of disorderly or insufficient dress.
1196. discrepancy: lack of agreement, or an instance of this; difference; inconsistency.
disavow: to deny any knowledge or approval
of, or responsibility for; disclaim; disown.
1197. discrete: 1) separate and distinct; not attached to others; unrelated; 2) made up of disdisband: to cease to exist or function as an
tinct parts; discontinuous.
organization; scatter; disperse.
1198. discretion: 1) the freedom or authority to
disburse: to pay out; expend.
make decisions and choices; power to judge or
act; 2) the quality of being discreet, or careful
discalced: barefooted.
about what one does and says; prudence.
discern: to separate mentally (a thing) from
another or others; recognize as separate or 1199. discrimination: 1a) act of discriminating;
1b) the process by which two stimuli differing
different; to perceive or recognize; make out
in some aspect are responded; to differently;
clearly.
2) the quality or power of finely distinguishdiscerning: having or showing good judgeing; 3a) the act or practice or an instance of
ment or understanding; astute.
discriminating categorically rather; than individually; 3b) prejudiced or prejudicial outlook,
disclaim: to give up or renounce any claim to
action, or treatment [racial ∼].
or connection with; to refuse to acknowledge
or admit; deny; repudiate.
1200. discursive: running from one thing to another; roving desultory; intellectual, rational.
discombobulate: to upset the composure of;
disconcert.
1201. disdain: to regard or treat as unworthy or
beneath one’s dignity, specif to refuse or reject
discomfited: to bauch; to defeat; to rout; diswith aloof contempt or scorn.
concerted.
1202. disembark: to unload (passengers or goods)
disconcerting: to throw into confusion; disfrom a ship; aircraft, etc.
turb; frustrated.
1203. disenfranchise: to deprive of the rights of
disconsolate: so unhappy that nothing will
citizenship esp of the right to vote; to deprive
comfort; inconsolable; dejected; causing or
of a privilege, right or power.
suggesting dejection.
1204. disengage: to release or loosen from sth that
discordant: 1) not in accord; disagreeing;
binds, holds, entangles, or interlocks; unfasten;
conflicting; 2) not in harmony; dissonant;
detach; disentangle.
clashing.
1193. discourse: 1) communication of ideas, infor- 1205.
mation etc, esp by talking; conversation; 2)
a long and formal treatment of a subject, in 1206.
speech or writing; lecture; treatise; dissertation.
1207.
1194. discredit: 1) to reject as untrue, disbelieve;
2) to show or be a reason for disbelief or distrust; cast doubt on; 3) to damage the credit 1208.
or reputation of ; disgrace.
38
disfigure: to hurt the appearance or attractiveness of; deform; deface; mar.
disgorge: to discharge from the throat; to
vomit; to throw out with violence.
disgruntle: to make peevishly discontented;
displease and make sulky.
dishearten: to deprive of courage or enthusiasm; discourage; depress; daunt.

40. 1209. disheveled: disarranged and untidy; tousled; 1224. dispel: to scatter and drive away; cause to
rumpled; said of hair, clothing etc.
vanish; disperse.
1210. disinclination: a dislike or lack of desire; 1225. dispirit: to lower the spirits of; make sad,
aversion; reluctance.
discouraged or apathetic; depressed, dejected.
1211. disingenuous: not frank or open; crafty.
1226. displosion: explosion.
1212. disinter: to remove from a grave, tomb etc; 1227. disport:
dig up; exhume; to bring (sth hidden) to light.
frolic.
to indulge in amusement; play;
1213. disinterested: not influenced by personal in1228. disport: to indulge in amusement; play;
terest or selfish motives; impartial; unbiased.
frolic.
1214. disjointed: 1a) being thrown out of orderly
function [∼ society]; 1b) lacking coherence or 1229. disputations: inclined to dispute; fond of arguing; contentious.
orderly sequence [an incomplete and ∼ history]; 2) separated at or as if at a joint.
1230. disquieting: causing anxiety or uneasiness.
1215. disjunctive: disjoining; tending to separate;
1231. disquisition: a formal discussion of some subuniting sentences but disjoining the sense.
ject, often in writing; discourse or treatise.
1216. dislodge: to force from a position or place
1232. disquisition: dissertation.
where lodged, hiding etc; drive out.
1217. dismantle: to strip of covering; to strip (a 1233.
house, ship etc) of furniture, equipment, means
of defense etc; to take apart; disassemble; dismember.
1234.
1218. dismember: to remove the limbs of by cutting or tearing; to pull or cut to pieces; sepa- 1235.
rate into parts; divide up or mutilate.
dissect: 1) to examine or analyze closely; 2)
to cut apart piece by piece; separate into parts,
as a body for purposes of study; anatomize.
dissemble: to conceal; to play the hypocrite.
disseminate: to scatter far and wide; spread
abroad, as if sowing; promulgate widely.
1219. disparage: to dishonor by comparison with 1236. dissension: a difference of opinion; disagreement or esp violent quarreling or wrangling.
what is inferior; to talk slightingly of.
1220. disparate: distinct in kind; dissimilar; un- 1237. dissent: to differ in belief or opinion; disagree:
often with from; to reject the doctrines and
equal.
forms of an established church.
1221. dispassionate: free from passion, emotion, or
1238. dissertation: a formal and lengthy discourse
bias; calm; impartial.
or treatise on some subject, esp one based on;
1222. dispatch: 1) to send off or away with promptoriginal research and written in partial fulfillness or speed; esp : to send off on official busiment of requirements for a; doctorate.
ness; 2a) to kill with quick efficiency; 3) to
dispose off (as a task) rapidly or efficiently; 4) 1239. dissident: disagreeing esp with an established
defeat.
religious or political system, organization or
belief.
1223. dispatch: 1a) a message sent with speed, esp:
an important official message sent by a diplo- 1240. dissimilarity: diversity; disparity; dissemmatic, military or naval officer; 1b) a news
blance; disparateness; divergence.
item filed by a correspondent; 2) promptness of
efficiency in performance or transmission [done 1241. dissimulate: to hide (one’s feelings, motives,
with ∼].
etc) by pretense; dissemble.
39

41. 1242. dissolution: 1) the act or process of dissolv- 1256.
ing: as ; a) separation into component parts;
b(i)] decay, disintegration; b(ii)] death; c) termination or destruction by breaking down, disrupting, or dispersing [the ∼ of the republic]; 1257.
d) the dissolving of an assembly or organization; e) liquefaction; 2) a dissolute act or practice.
1243. dissonant: unpleasant or discordant sound.
divergent: 1a) diverging from each other; 1b)
differing from each other or from a standard;
deviant [the ∼ interests of capital and labor].
diversify: 1) to make diverse : give variety
to [∼ a course of study]; 2) to balance (as an
investment portfolio) defensively by dividing
funds among securities of different industries
or of different classes; 3) to increase the variety
of the products.
1244. dissuade: to turn ( a person) aside (from a 1258. diversion: 1) the act or instance of diverting
from a course, activity or use : deviation; 2)
course, etc) by persuasion or advice.
sth that diverts or amuses : pastime; 3) an at1245. distaff: 1. The staff for holding a bunch of
tack or feint hat draws the attention and force
flax, tow, or wool, from which the thread is
of an enemy from the point of the principal
drawn in spinning by hand; 2. Used as a symoperation.
bol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a woman;
1259. divested: stripped; to deprive of ath; to diswomen, collectively.
encumber or rid (of sth unwanted).
1246. distant: cool in manner; aloof; reserved.
1260. divine: 1) clergyman; 2) theologian.
1247. distend: to stretch out; to expand due to
1261. divine: 1) to discover intuitively : infer; 2) to
pressure from within.
discover or locate (as water or minerals under1248. distill: 1) to let fall, exude, or precipitate in
ground) usu by means of a divining rod.
drops or in a wet mist; 2a) to subject to or
transform by distillation; 2b) to extract the 1262. divine: 1a) of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God or a god [∼ love]; 1b) being a
essence of; concentrate.
deity [the ∼ Saviour]; 1c) directed to a deity
[∼ worship]; 2a) supremely good : superb [the
1249. distort: 1) to twist out of shape; change the
pizza was ∼]; 2b) heavenly, godlike.
usual or normal shape, form, or appearance of;
2) to misrepresent; misstate; pervert [to distort
the facts]; 3) to modify (a wave, sound, signal, 1263. divulge: to make known; disclose; reveal.
etc) so as to produce an unfaithful reproduc1264. docket: a summary, as of a legal proceeding,
tion.
or a list of legal decisions; a list of cases to be
tried by a law court; agenda; a label listing the
1250. distrait: absent minded.
contents of a package, directions etc.
1251. distrait: absent minded; inattentive.
1265. doctrinaire: adhering to a doctrine or theory
in an unyielding, dogmatic way.
1252. distraught: extremely troubled; mentally
confused; distracted; harassed; driven mad,
1266. dodder: 1) to tremble or shake from weakness
crazy.
or age; 2) to progress feebly and unsteadily;
totter.
1253. dithyramb: frenzied emotional poem.
an eternity; aeons; assiduity; 1267. doff: 1a) to remove (an article of wear) from
the body; 1b) to take off (the hat) in greeting
or as a sign of respect; 2) to rid oneself of : put
1255. diva: a leading woman singer esp in grand
aside [∼ one’s hat to or ∼ one’s cap to] : to
opera; prima donna.
show respect to : salute.
1254. diuturnity:
perennial.
40

42. 1268. dogged: not giving in readily; persistent; 1284.
stubborn.
1285.
1269. doggerel: trivial, awkward, often satirical
verse characterized by monotonous rhythm;
any trivial or bad poetry.
dour: gloomy; sullen; forbidding.
douse: 1) to plunge into water; 2a) to throw
a liquid on : drench; 2b) slosh; 3) extinguish
[∼ the lights] : to fall or become plunged into
water.
1270. dogma: positive assertion of settled opinion; 1286. douse: 1a) furl [∼ a sail]; 1b) slacken [∼ a
rigid tenet or principle or idea.
rope]; 2) take off, doff.
1271. doldrums: 1) a spell of listlessness or despon- 1287.
dency; 2) [often cap] : a part of the ocean near
the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and 1288.
light shifting winds; 3) a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump.
1289.
1272. dolorous: causing, marked by, or expressing
misery or grief.
1290.
1273. dolt: a stupid, slow-witted person; blockhead.
douse: a heavy drenching.
dovecote: a small cot or box in which pigeons
breed.
dovetailed: to join or fit compactly or harmoniously.
dowdy: not neat or stylish in dress or appearance; shabby.
1274. domicile: a customary dwelling place; home. 1291. downcast: directed downward; very unhappy
or discouraged; sad; dejected.
1275. domineer: to rule (over) in a harsh or arro1292. doxology: hymn of praise.
gant way; bully.
1276. don: to put on ( a garment, etc); dress in a 1293. drab: 1) of a dull yellowish-brown color;
2) not bright or lively; dull; dreary, or
certain color or material, etc.
monotonous; cheerless.
1277. dormant: 1) represented on a coat of arms
in a lying position with the head on forepaws; 1294. dragnet: a net to be dragged along the bottom of water or the ground.
2) marked by a suspension of activity : as ;
a) temporarily devoid of external activity [a ∼
1295. dregs: 1) the particles of solid matter that
volcano]; b) temporarily in abeyance yet capasettle at the bottom in a liquid; lees; 2) the
ble of being activated; 3a) asleep, inactive; 3b)
most worthless part [the dregs of society]; 3)
having the faculties suspended : sluggish.
[sing.] a small amount remaining; residue.
1278. dormer: a window set vertically in a structure
projecting through a sloping roof; also, the the 1296. drivel: to be foolish; speak like an idiot.
roofed structure containing such a window. 1297. droll: amusing in an odd or wry way.
1279. dorsal: of, on, or near the back.
1280.
1281.
1282.
1283.
1298. drone: a male bee, as a male honeybee, or
ant which serves only in a reproductive capacdossier: a collection of documents concerning
ity, has no sting and does no work; an idle
a particular person or matter.
person who lives by the work of others; parasite; loafer; a pilotless airplane that is directed
dotage: feeble and childish state due to old
in flight by remote control.
age; senility; a doting; foolish or excessive affection.
1299. drone: to make a continuous and monotonous
humming or buzzing sound; to talk on and on
dote: to be foolish or weak-minded esp bein a dull monotonous way.
cause of old age; to be excessively or foolishly
fond (with or upon).
1300. dross: a scum formed on the surface of molten
doughty: valiant.
material; waste matter; worthless stuff.
41

43. 1301. dross: worthless matter.
1316. eavesdrop: to listen secretly to the private
conversation of others.
1302. drudgery: work that is hard, menial, or tire1317. ebb: 1) to flow back or out; recede, as the
some.
tide; 2) to weaken or lessen; decline.
1303. dubious: 1) giving rise to uncertainty as ; a)
of doubtful promise or outcome [felt that our 1318. ebullient: agitated; enthusiastic; bubbling;
boiling.
pain was a little ∼]; b) questionable or suspect as to true nature or quality [the prac- 1319. eccentric: anomalous, crotchety, cranky;
tice is ∼ of legality], [the ∼ honor of being
usual, regular, conventional.
the world’s biggest polluter]; 2) unsettled in
opinion : doubtful [i was ∼ about the plan]. 1320. eccentric: not having the same center: opposed to concentric; not having the axis ex1304. dudgeon: resentment.
actly in the centre; off-centre; not exactly circular in shape or motion; deviating from the
1305. dudgeon: resentment; indignation; a small
norm, as in conduct; out of the ordinary; odd;
dagger.
unconventional.
1306. duenna: an old lady who watches over or 1321.
chaperones a younger.
1322.
1307. dulcet: sweet; melodious; harmonious.
1323.
1308. dulcimer: musical instrument.
1309. dupe: to deceive by trickery; fool or cheat.
1310. duplicity: hypocritical cunning or deception;
double-dealing.
ecclesiastical: pertaining to the church.
ecdysis: moulting.
eclectic: selecting or borrowing; choosing the
best out of everything; sort of opposite of exclusive!.
1324. eclipse: 1) to darken; obscure; 2) to make
seem less brilliant, famous, etc; overshadow;
outshine; surpass.
1311. duress: under compulsion; constraint; impris- 1325. ecology: the branch of biology that deals
with the relations between living organisms
onment.
and their environment.
1312. dwindle: to keep on becoming or making
1326. ecstasy: a state of being overpowered by emosmaller or less; diminish; shrink.
tion, as by joy, grief, passion, etc; a feeling
of overpowering joy; great delight; rapture; a
1313. dyspepsia: 1) indigestion ; 2) ill-humor : distrance, esp one resulting from religious fervor.
gruntlement.
1314. dysphoria: impatience under affliction; mor- 1327. edacious: devouring.
bid restlessness.
1328. eddy: a current of air, water, etc moving
against the main current and with a circular
1315. earthy: 1a) of, relating to or consisting of
motion; little whirlpool or whirlwind; a conearth [∼ creatures like worms];; 1b) suggestive
trary movement or trend, limited in imporof earth (as in texture, odor, or color) [an ∼
tance or effect.
yellow]; 1c) rough, coarse, or plain in taste [∼
flavors]; 2a) characteristic of or associated with 1329. edentate: toothless.
mortal life on the earth [prefers ∼ to ethereal
themes]; 3) suggestive of plain or poor peo- 1330. edification: education; instruction.
ple and their ways : as ; a) practical, down- 1331. edifices: a large built structure.
to-earth [∼ problems of daily life]; b) crude,
gross [∼ humor]; c) plain and simple in style : 1332. eerie: mysterious; uncanny or weird esp in
unsophisticated [∼ peasant cookery].
such a way so as to frighten or disturb.
42

44. 1333. efface: to destroy the surface of; to rubout; to 1348.
make (oneself) inconspicuous; withdraw (oneself) from notice.
1349.
1334. effectual: producing, or able to produce, the
desired effect.
1350.
1335. effeminate: 1) having feminine qualities untypical of a man : not manly in appearance or;
manner; 2) marked by an unbecoming delicacy 1351.
or over-refinement; [∼ art, an ∼ civilization].
egregious: something outstandingly bad;
outrageous; flagrant [an egregious error].
egress: 1) the action or right of going or coming out; 2) a place or means of going out : exit.
ejaculation: a sudden vehement utterance;
exclamation.
elate: to raise the spirits of; make very proud,
happy, or joyful.
1336. effervescent: giving off gas bubble; bubbling 1352. eldritch: eerie.
up; foaming; lively and high-spirited; viva- 1353. eleemosynary: of, relating to, or supported
cious.
by charity.
1337. effete: no longer fertile; having lost character,
1354. elegiac: mournful.
vitality, or strength; marked by a weakness or
decadence.
1355. elegy: a song in the lament and praise of the
dead; any poem , song, etc in a mournfully
1338. efficacious: having the power to produce a
contemplative tone.
desired effect.
1356. elixir: 1a(i)) a substance held capable of pro1339. efficacy: power to produce effects or intended
longing life indefinitely; a(ii)) a substance held
results; effectiveness.
capable of changing base metals to gold; b(i)]
cure-all; b(ii)] a medicinal concoction; 2) a
1340. effigy: a portrait, statue or the like, esp of a
sweetened liquid usu containing alcohol that
person; likeness; often a crude representation
is used in medication either for its medicinal
of a despised person.
ingredients or as a flavoring; 3) the essential
1341. effluvium: a real or supposed flow in the form
principal.
of a vapor or stream of invisible particles; a
1357. ellipsis: the omission of a word or words necdisagreeable or noxious vapor or odor.
essary for complete grammatical construction
1342. effrontery: unashamed boldness; impudence;
but understood in the context [ex. “if possiaudacity; presumption.
ble” for “if it is possible”].
1343. effulgent: radiant.
1358. elliptical: 1a) of, relating to, or marked by
extreme economy of speech or writing; 1b) of
1344. effusiveness: expressing emotion in a copious
or relating to deliberate obscurity (as of literand demonstrating manner.
ary or conversational style).
1345. egalitarian: equalitarian.
1359. eloquence: 1) discourse marked by force and
persuasiveness; also : the art or power of us1346. egoism: 1a) doctrine that individual self ining such discourse; 2) the quality of forceful or
terest is the actual motive of all; conscious
persuasive expressiveness.
action; 1b) a doctrine that individual selfinterest is valid end of all actions; 2) excessive
concern for oneself with or without exagger- 1360. elude: to escape by stratagem; to baffle.
ated feelings of; self-importance.
1361. elutriate: to separate by washing into finer
and coarser portions.
1347. egotism: 1a) excessive use of the first person
singular personal pronoun; 1b) the practice of 1362. elysian: happy; blissful; delightful.
talking about oneself too much; 2) an exaggerated sense of self-importance : conceit.
1363. emaciated: made lean and thin.
43

45. 1364. emancipation: act of setting free from 1379. emissary: a person or agent, esp a secret
bondage or disability of any kind.
agent sent on a spec mission.
1365. embargo: 1) an order of a government pro- 1380.
hibiting the departure of commercial ships
from; its ports; 2) a legal prohibition on com- 1381.
merce [an ∼ on arms shipments]; 3) stoppage,
impediment; esp : prohibition; 4) an order by
a common carrier or public regulatory agency 1382.
prohibiting or; restricting freight transportation.
1366. embark: 1) to go on board a vehicle for transportation; 2) to make a start [∼ on a new career]; 3) to engage, enlist, or invest in an enterprise.
emollient: softening; soothing.
emolument: the returns arising from office or
employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites.
empathy: 1) the imaginative projection of a
subjective state into an object so that; the object appears to be infused with it; 2) the action
of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and; vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of;
either the past or present without having the
feelings, thoughts, and; experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner;
also the capacity for this.
1367. embed: 1a) to enclose closely in or as if in a
matrix [fossils ∼ded in stone]; 1b) to make sth
an integral part of [the prejudice ∼ded in our
language]; 1c) to prepare (a microscopy spec- 1383. empirical: relying on or based on solely experiment and observation rather than theory.
imen) for sectioning by infiltrating with and
enclosing in a supporting substance; 2) to sur1384. empyreal: the firmament on high (heavround closely [a sweet pulp ∼s the plum seed].
enly?).
1368. embellishment: to make beautiful, graceful;
1385. emulate: strive to equal.
decoration; ornamentation.
1369. embezzle: to steal (money, etc entrusted to 1386. emulate: to imitate (a person or thing admired); to try, often by imitating or copying,
one’s care); take by fraud for one’s own use.
to equal or surpass; to rival successfully.
1370. emblazon: adorn magnificently.
1387. enamour: to charm; to inflame with love.
1371. embrangle: to confuse; to perplex.
1388. encomium: a formal expression of high
1372. embrocate: rub with a liniment.
praise; eulogy; panegyric.
1373. embroil: to confuse ( affairs, etc); mix up; 1389. encompass: to shut in all around; surround,
muddle; to draw into a conflict or fight; involve
encircle; to contain, include; to bring about,
in trouble.
achieve, contrive [to encompass its destruction].
1374. embryonic: in an early stage; underdeveloped; rudimentary.
1375.
1376.
1377.
1378.
1390. encroach: 1) to enter by gradual steps or
by stealth into the possessions or rights of
embryonic: rudimentary.
another; 2) to advance beyond the usual or
emend: to make scholarly corrections or improper limits [the gradually encroaching sea].
provements in ( a text).
1391. encumbered: loaded with; hampered by.
emendation: correction (to make emends)
1392. endearment: 1) a word or an act (as a caeminent: 1) standing out so as to be readily
ress) expressing affection; 2) to cause to beperceived or noticed : conspicuous; 2) jutting
come beloved or admired.
out : projecting; 3) exhibiting eminence esp
in standing above others in some quality or 1393. endemic: disease prevalent in a particular
position : prominent.
area.
44

46. 1394. endorsement: 1) a provision added to an in- 1408. enjoin: to urge or impose with authority; orsurance contract altering its scope of applicader; enforce [to enjoin silence on a class]; to
tion ; 2) sanction, approval.
prohibit esp by legal injunction; forbid [the
company was enjoined from using false adver1395. endue: to provide (with sth), specif to endow
tising]; to order (someone) authoritatively to
with (qualities, talents etc).
do sth esp by legal injunction.
1409. ennui: boredom.
1396. enduring: lasting; permanent; durable.
1410. enormity: 1) an outrageous, improper, vicious or immoral act [the enormities of state
power]; 2) the quality or state of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous. esp : great
1398. enervate: to deprive of nerve, strength or
wickedness [the ∼ of crimes committed is apcourage.
palling]; 3) the quality or state of being huge :
immensity; 4) a quality of momentous impor1399. enfranchise: to free from slavery, bondage,
tance.
legal obligation etc; to give a franchise to,
1397. energize: to give energy to; activate; invigorate.
specif to admit to citizenship esp to the right 1411. enrapture: to put in ecstasy; to fill with great
to vote.
pleasure or delight; entrance; enchant.
1400. enfranchise: to set free; to give a ∼ or polit- 1412. ensconce: to place or settle comfortably,
snugly or securely [to ensconce oneself in an
ical privileges.
armchair].
1401. engage: 1) to offer (as one’s word) as security
for a debt or cause; 2) to attract and hold by 1413. ensnare: to take in or as if in a snare; catch;
entrap.
influence or power; 3a) to interlock with : mesh
: also : to cause (mechanical parts) to mesh; 1414. ensue: 1) to come afterward; follow immedi4) to bind oneself to do sth, esp : to bind as
ately; 2) to happen as a consequence; result.
a pledge to marry; 5a) to provide occupation
for : involve [∼ him in a new project]; 5b) to 1415. enthrall: to make a slave of; enslave; to hold
as if in a spell; captivate; fascinate.
arrange or obtain the use of services of : hire;
5c) engross; 5d) participate.
1416. entice: to attract by offering hope of reward
or pleasure; tempt;allure.
1402. engaging: attractive; pleasant; winning;
charming.
1417. entity: 1a) being ,existence,esp : independent, separate, or self-contained existence; 1b)
1403. engender: to bring into being; bring about;
the existence of a thing as contrasted with its
cause; produce [pity engendered love].
attributes; 2) sth that has separate and distinct existence and objective or conceptual re1404. engross: to take the entire attention of; ocality.
cupy wholly; absorb [engrossed in a book].
1418. entomology: study of insects.
1405. engulf: to submerge, inundate, swamp;.
1419. entourage: 1) one’s attendants or associates;
2) surroundings.
1406. enhance: 1) heighten , increase, esp to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, 1420. entrance: 1) to put into a trance; 2) to fill
or attractiveness.
with rapture or delight; enchant; charm; enrapture.
1407. enigma: a perplexing, usu ambiguous statement; riddle; a perplexing, baffling, or seem- 1421. entreat: to ask earnestly; beg; beseech; imingly inexplicable matter, person etc.
plore.
45

47. 1422. entree: 1a) the act or manner of entering : 1437. epistle: a writing sent to one, a letter.
entrance; 1b) freedom of entry or access; 2)
1438. epitaph: an inscription on a tomb or gravethe main course of a meal in the U.S.
stone in the memory of the person buried
1423. entrepreneur: a person who organizes and
there; a short composition in prose or verse
manages a business undertaking, assuming the
written as a tribute to the dead person.
risk for the sake of profit; an enterprising per1439. epithet: an adjective, noun or phrase, ofson!.
ten specif a disparaging one, used to charac1424. enunciate: to pronounce distinctly.
terize some person or thing [ex “egghead” for
an intellectual]; a descriptive name or title [ex
1425. environ: to surround; encircle.
America the beautiful etc].
1426. eolithic: pertaining to earliest human culture.
1440. epitome: embodiment; an abridgement or
short summary of ath.
1427. epaulet: a shoulder ornament for certain uniforms, esp military uniforms.
1441. epitome: synopsis, abridgement, condensation; enlargement, augmentation, increment.
1428. ephemeral: ath that is short lived or lasts for
a short time.
1442. eponym: 1) one for whom or which sth is or
is believed to be named; 2) a name (as of a
1429. epic: 1) a long narrative poem in elevated
drug or a disease) based on or derived from an
style recounting the deeds of a legendary or
eponym.
historical hero [the Iliad and Odyssey are
epics]; 2) a work of art (as a novel or drama)
that resembles or suggests an epic; 3) a se- 1443. equable: not varying or fluctuating much;
steady; uniform [an equable person]; not readries of events or body of legend or tradition
ily upset; even, tranquil, serene.
thought to form the proper subject of an epic
[the winning of the West was a great American 1444. equanimity: evenness of mind or temper.
epic].
1445. equestrian: a rider on horseback esp one per1430. epicene: sexless.
forming acrobatics on horseback as in a circus.
1431. epicure: a person who enjoys and has a dis- 1446. equine: of or like or characteristic of a horse.
criminating taste for fine food and drinks.
1447. equipoise: equal distribution of weight; state
1432. epigram: any concise and pointed or sarcastic
of balance, or equilibrium; a weight or force
saying or poem.
that balances another; counterbalance.
1433. epilogue: 1) a concluding section that rounds
1448. equitable: characterized by equity; fair; just:
out the design of a literary work; 2a) a speech
said of actions, results of actions etc.
often in verse addressed to the audience by
an actor at the end of a play; also : the ac- 1449. equivocation: the use of ambiguous exprestor speaking such an ∼; 2b) the final scene
sions specially in order to mislead.
of a play that comments on or summarizes the
main action; 3) the concluding section of a mu- 1450. eristic: argumentative.
sical composition; coda.
1451. erose: having irregular notched edges (serrated?).
1434. epiphenomenon: an accompanying phenomenon outside the chain of causation.
1452. erratic: having no fixed course or purpose;
irregular, random , wandering; deviating from
1435. episcopal: governed by bishops.
the normal customary course; eccentric,queer.
1436. epistemological: pertaining to the theory of
1453. erratic: unpredictable, irregular.
knowledge.
46

48. 1454. ersatz: a substitute; a supplementary reserve 1470. ethnic: designating or of a population subfrom which waste can be made good.
group having a common cultural heritage or
distinguished by customs, characteristics, lan1455. eructate: burp!.
guage, common history etc.
1456. erudite: having or showing a wide knowledge 1471. ethnology: the branch of anthropology that
gained from reading; learned, scholarly.
studies comparatively the cultures or recent societies or language groups.
1457. escapade: a reckless adventure or prank.
1458. eschatology: the doctrine of the last or final 1472. ethos: the characteristic and distinguishing
attitudes, habits, beliefs, etc of an individual
things as death, judgement, state after death.
or of a group.
1459. escheat: a property that falls to the state for
the want of an heir; plunder; gain; to confis- 1473. etiolate: to blanch; to make pale.
cate.
1474. etiolated: bleached.
1460. eschew: to shun; to flee from; to abstain from. 1475. etiology: enquiry into physical causes.
1461. esculent: edible.
1476. etiquette: forms or ceremony or decorum;
1462. esemplastic: bringing together or able to 1477. eugenic: causing improvement of hereditary
bring together different concepts and thoughts
qualities of a stock.
into a unified whole [the esemplastic imagina1478. eulogy: a speech or writing in praise of a pertion].
son, event, or thing esp a formal speech prais1463. esoteric: intended for or understood by only
ing a person who has recently died.
a chosen few, as an inner group of disciples or
initiates (said of ideas, literature, etc); beyond 1479. eupeptic: having good digestion.
the understanding or knowledge of most peo1480. euphemism: a figure of rhetoric by which an
ple, abstruse; confidential; private; withheld
unpleasant or offensive thing is designated by
[an esoteric plan].
a milder term.
1464. espionage: the act of spying; the use of spies
1481. euphony: 1) pleasing or sweet sound; esp the
by a government to learn the military secrets
acoustic effect produced by words so formed or
of another nations; the use of spies in induscombined as to please the ear; 2) a harmonious
try or commerce to learn the secrets of other
succession of words having a pleasing sound.
companies.
1482. euphoria: a feeling of well being or elation.
1465. espouse: 1) marry; 2) to take up and support
as a cause; become attached to.
1483. euphuism: excessive elegance of language.
1466. estivate: spend the summer (akin to hiber- 1484. euthanasia: act or method of causing death
nate!).
painlessly, so as to end suffering: advocated by
some as a way to deal with persons dying of
1467. estrange: to remove, as from usu surroundincurable, painful diseases.
ings or associates; keep apart or away; to turn
a person from a friendly attitude to an indif- 1485. euthenics: science of dealing with improveferent, unfriendly or hostile one; alienate the
ment of well being.
affections of.
1486. evade: prevaricate, shuffle, shun; confront,
1468. esurient: voracious.
face, acknowledge.
1469. ethereal: light airy or tenuous; extremely del- 1487. evanescent:
icate or refined; heavenly.
ephemeral.
47
tending to fade from sight;

49. 1488. evenhanded: impartial; fair; just.
1503. execrate: 1) to declare to be evil or detestable
: denounce; 2) to detest utterly.
1489. evince: to show plainly; indicate; make manifest esp to show that one has (a specified qual- 1504. execute: 1) to carry out fully : put comity, feeling etc).
pletely into effect [∼ a command]; 2) to do
what is provided or required by [∼ a decree];
1490. evoke:
to call forth or summon (a
3) to put to death esp in compliance with a lespirit,demon etc), as by chanting magical
gal sentence; 4) to make or produce (as a work
words; conjure up; to draw forth or elicit (a
of art) esp by carrying out a design; 5) to perparticular mental image, reaction etc).
form what is required to give validity to [∼ a
deed]; 6) play [∼ a piece of music].
1491. exacerbate: to embitter; to provoke; to render more violent or severe as a disease.
1505. exegesis: explanation, critical analysis, or interpretation of a word, literary passage etc esp
1492. exacerbate: to make more intense or sharp;
in the Bible.
aggravate (disease, pain, annoyance etc); to exasperate, annoy; irritate; embitter.
1506. exhort: to urge earnestly by advice, warning
etc (to do what is proper or required); admon1493. exacting: making severe of excessive deish strongly.
mands; not easily satisfied; strict [an exacting
teacher]; demanding great care, patience , ef- 1507. exhortation: to urge strongly and earnestly.
fort, etc; arduous [an exacting job].
1508. exhume: to dig out of the earth; disinter; to
1494. exalt: to raise on high; elevate; lift up : specif
bring to light; disclose; reveal.
:; to raise in status or dignity, power, honor,
wealth, etc; to praise, glorify, extol; to fill with 1509. exhume: to take out of the ground or place
joy, pride, etc; to heighten or intensify the acof burial.
tion or effect of.
1510. exigency: compulsion,necessity, distress, dif1495. exasperate: to make very angry; to irritate
ficulty; normalcy, regularity.
in a high degree.
1511. exiguous: scanty; little; small; meager.
1496. exchequer: 1) treasury; esp : a national or
royal treasury; 2) pecuniary resources : funds. 1512. existential: 1) of, relating to, or affirming existence [∼ propositions]; 2a) grounded in exis1497. excise: to remove (a tumor , organ etc) by
tence or the experience of existence : empiricutting out or away.
cal; 2b) having being in time and space.
1498. excogitate: to discover by thinking; to think 1513. exodus: a going out or forth esp in a large
out earnestly or laboriously.
group.
1499. excoriate: to strip, scratch or rub off the skin 1514. exonerate: 1) acquit; free from charges; 2) to
of; flay, abrade, chafe; to denounce harshly.
relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship.
1500. excrescence: outgrowth or projection esp abnormal; abnormal twisted outgrowth.
1515. exorbitant: going beyond what is reasonable,
just, proper, usual etc; excessive, extravagant:
1501. exculpate: to free from blame; declare or
said esp of prices, charges etc.
prove guiltless.
1516. exorcise: to drive (an evil spirit or spirits) out
1502. execrable: 1) deserving to be execrated : deor away by ritual prayers, incantations etc.
testable [∼ crimes]; 2) very bad : wretched [∼
hotel food].
1517. exoteric: easily understood.
48

50. 1518. exotic: foreign , not native; strange or dif- 1534.
ferent in a way that is striking or fascinating;
strangely beautiful, enticing etc.
1535.
1519. expatiate: to walk about; to enlarge in discourse, argument or writing.
expound: to expose or lay open the meaning
of.
expropriate: 1) to deprive of possession or
proprietary rights; 2) to transfer (the property
of another) to one’s own possession.
1520. expatriate: to drive (a person) from his or 1536. expugnable: capable of being overcome or
vanquished.
her native land; exile; to withdraw (oneself)
from one’s native land or from allegiance to it. 1537. expunge: to wipe out; to efface; to mark for
deletion.
1521. expectoration: to expel from the breast or
lungs by coughing.
1538. expurgate: to purge out or render pure; to remove passages considered obscene or otherwise
objectionable from (a book, etc); to expunge
(objectionable material from),
1522. expedience: specific subservience; opportunism; pragmatism.
1523. expedite: to free from impediments; to has1539. extant: standing out or above the rest; still
ten; to send forth; to dispatch.
existing; not extinct; not lost or destroyed.
1524. expendable: that may be expended; esp that
may be sacrificed to achieve some end; to 1540. extant: still in existence.
expend—to lay out;
1541. extemporaneous: unpremeditated, improvised, impromptu; premeditated, studied, pre1525. expiate: to make amends or reparation for
pared.
(wrongdoing or guilt); atone for; pay the
penalty of; suffer for.
1542. extenuated: mitigated; to lessen.
1526. expletives: meaningless oaths.
1543. extirpate: to root out; to destroy totally; to
exterminate.
1527. explicate: to make clear or explicit (sth ob1544. extirpate: to root out; to exterminate.
scure or implied); explain fully.
1528. explicit: 1a) fully revealed or expressed with- 1545.
out vagueness,implication, or ambiguity : leav- 1546.
ing no question as to meaning or intent; 2)
open in the depiction of nudity or sexuality [∼
1547.
books and films].
1529. exploit: an act remarkable for brilliance or
daring; bold deed.
1530. exploit: to make use of; turn to account; uti- 1548.
lize productively; to make unethical use of for
one’s own advantage or profit; specif to make
profit from the labor of (others) without giving
a just return; to stir up interest in; promote [to
1549.
exploit a product].
1531. expository: serving to explain.
1532. expostulate: remonstrance.
1533. expostulate:
to reason with a person
earnestly, objecting to that person’s actions or
intentions; remonstrate (with).
49
extol: to praise highly; laud; to lift up.
extort: to wring out (from); to gain or draw
out (money) by compulsion or violence.
extradite: to turn over (a person accused or
convicted of a crime) to the jurisdiction of another country, state etc where the crime was
allegedly committed.
extraneous: coming from outside; foreign [an
extraneous substance]; not truly or properly
belonging; not essential; not pertinent; irrelevant.
extrapolation: 1a) to project, extend, or expand (known data or experience) into an area
not; known or experienced so as to arrive at
a usu conjectural knowledge of an; unknown
area; 1b) to predict by projecting past experience or known data [∼ public; sentiment on
one issue from known public reaction on others].

51. 1550. extricate: to free from entanglement or per- 1566. facile: affable; easily persuaded; yielding; using or showing little effort and not sincere or
plexities.
profound; superficial [ a facile solution, facile
1551. extrinsicality: objectiveness; extraneousemotions].
ness; adventitiousness.
1552. extrovert: one whose personality is charac- 1567. facilitate: to make easy or easier.
terized by extroversion; broadly : a gregarious
1568. facsimile: (an) exact reproduction or copy;
unreserved person.
the transmission and reproduction of graphic
matter by electronic means.
1553. extrude: to push or force out ; expel; to force
(metal, plastic etc) through a die or very small
1569. faction: a group of people inside a political
holes to give it a certain shape.
party, club, government etc working in a com1554. extrusion: thrusting or throwing out; expulmon cause against other such groups or against
sion.
the main body; partisan conflict within an organization or a country.
1555. exuberant: in high spirits; lavish; luxuriant;
overflowing.
1570. factious: tending to promote internal dissen1556. exudation: act of exuding or discharging thru
pores such as sweating.
sion.
1571. factitious: sth made up; artificial.
1557. exude: to pass out in drops thru pores, an
incision etc; ooze; discharge; to diffuse or seem 1572. factotum: a person employed to do all kinds
of work for another.
to radiate [to ∼ joy].
1558. exult: to rejoice greatly; to be jubilant, glory. 1573. faculty: 1) ability, power : as ; a) innate or
acquired ability to act or do; b) an inherent
1559. eyas: unfledged bird.
capability, power or function [the ∼ of hearing]; c) any of the powers of the mind formerly
1560. eyry: the nest of a bird of prey; a house or
held by psychologists to form a basis for the exstronghold perched on some high place; other
planation of all mental phenomena; d) natural
spelling are — aerie, aery, eyrie.
aptitude [has a ∼ for saying the right things];
1561. fabricate: 1a) invent, create; 1b) to make
2a) a branch of teaching or learning in an edup for the purpose of deception; 2) construct,
ucational institution.
manufacture.
1574. fad: a custom, style etc that many people are
1562. facade: the front of a building; part of a buildinterested in for a short time; passing in fashing facing a street, courtyard etc; the front part
ion; craze.
of ath: often used figuratively, with implications of an imposing appearance concealing sth 1575. fadge: to agree; hit it off; to succeed.
inferior.
1576. falchion: medieval sword.
1563. facetious: witty; humorous; jocose; joking or
trying to be jocular esp at an inappropriate
1577. fallacious: false; misleading.
time.
1564. facetious: jocular, funny, humorous; solemn, 1578. fallible: liable to be mistaken or deceived; liable to be erroneous or inaccurate.
melancholy, sad.
1565. facets: any of the small , polished plane sur- 1579. fallow: land ploughed by not seeded for one
faces of a cut gem; any of a number of dies or
or more growing seasons, to kill weeds, make
aspects, as of a personality.
the soil richer etc.
50

52. 1580. falter: to move uncertainly or unsteadily; tot- 1594. fathom: to measure the depth of ; sound; to
ter, stumble; to stumble in speech; speak haltget to the bottom of; understand thoroughly.
ingly, stammer; to act hesitantly; show uncertainty; waver; flinch; to lose strength, certainty 1595. fatuous: complacently stupid or inane; silly,
foolish; esp marked by
etc.
1581. fanaticism: excessive and unreasonable zeal. 1596. fauna: the animals of a specified region or
time.
1582. fancied: 1) to have a fancy for; like; 2) to
form a conception of : imagine [∼ our embar- 1597. fawn: to show friendliness by licking hands,
wagging its tail etc, said of a dog; to act
rassment]; 3a) to believe mistakenly or without
servilely; cringe and flatter.
evidence; 3b) to believe without being certain
[she ∼ she had met him before]; 4) to visualize
1598. faze: to disturb, disconcert.
or interpret as [∼ myself a child again].
1583. fancier: a person with a special interest in and 1599. febrile: of or like fever; feverish.
knowledge of sth, particularly of the breeding
1600. feckless: spiritless; helpless; futile.
of plants or animals [a dog fancier].
1584. fanciful: 1) marked by fancy or unrestrained 1601. feculent: covered with filth.
imagination rather than by reason and experi- 1602. fecund: fruitful; fertile; prolific.
ence [a ∼ reason]; 2) existing in fancy only [a
∼ notion]; 3) marked by or as if by fancy or 1603. feign: to pretend; to make up (a story, excuse
whim [gave their children ∼ names].
etc), invent; fabricate.
1585. fane: temple.
1604. feint: a false show; sham; a pretended blow
or attack intended to take the opponent off his
1586. fanfare: 1) a showy outward display; 2) a
guard, as in boxing or warfare.
short and lively sounding of trumpets.
1587. fantasia: a composition in fanciful or irregu- 1605. felicitous: used or expressed in a way suitable
to the occasion; aptly chosen; having the knack
lar form.
of appropriate and pleasing expression.
1588. farce: 1) a savory stuffing : forcemeat; 2) a
light dramatic composition marked by broadly 1606. felicity: happiness; delight; a blessing; a quality or knack of appropriate and pleasing exsatirical comedy and improbable plot; 3) a
pression in writing, speaking, painting etc; an
ridiculous empty show; mockery [the enforceapt expression or thought.
ment of this law became a ∼].
1607. fell: fierce; terrible; cruel; deadly: archaic except in the phrase “one fell swoop” a single ef1590. farthingale: hoop skirt (like the one worn by
fort or action that is completely effective, devVictorian women).
astating etc.
1589. farrier: black-smith.
1591. fascicle: a bundle or bunch; esp a bunched 1608. felonious:
heinous, despicable, vicious;
tuft of branches root or fibers.
praiseworthy, beneficent, meritorious.
1592. fastidious: affecting superior taste; difficult
1609. felonious: wicked; depraved; done with a deto please; very critical or discriminating; reliberate intention to commit crime.
fined in a too dainty or oversensitive way so as
to be easily disgusted.
1610. feracious: fruitful.
1593. fatalism: the belief that all events are deter- 1611. ferial: pertaining to holidays.
mined by fate and hence inevitable; acceptance
1612. ferment: a state of excitement or agitation.
of every event as inevitable.
51

53. 1613. fervent: hot; ardent; zealous; warm in feeling;
intensely devoted or earnest; ardent.
regarded as analogous : metaphorical [∼ language]; 2b) characterized by figures of speech
[a ∼ description].
1614. fervid: very hot; having burning desire or
emotion; zealous.
1629. figurine: a small sculptured or molded figure;
statuette.
1615. fervor: intense heat; great warmth of emotion; ardor; zeal.
1630. filch: to steal ; to pilfer.
1616. fester: to form pus; ulcerate; to grow embit- 1631. filial: pertaining to or becoming of a son or
tered; rankle; to decay.
daughter; of, suitable to, or due from a son or
daughter [filial devotion].
1617. festive: 1) of, relating to or suitable for a feast
or festival; 2) joyful, gay.
1632. filibuster: a buccaneer; a piratical adventurer; one who makes unauthorized war; one
1618. festoon: 1) a decorative chain or strip hangwho obstructs legislation by speeches motions
ing between two points; 2) a carved, molded,
etc.
or painted ornament representing a decorative
1633. filigree: 1) ornamental work esp of fine wire
chain; 3) decorate, adorn.
of gold, silver or copper applied chiefly to gold
1619. fete: 1) festival; 2a) a lavish often outdoor
and silver surfaces; 2a) ornamental openwork
entertainment; 2b) a large elaborate party.
of delicate or intricate design; 2b) a pattern
or design resembling such openwork [a ∼ of
1620. fete: 1) to honour or commemorate with a
frost]; c) ornamentation, embellishment [writfete; 2) to pay high honour to.
ings heavy with late Victorian ∼].
1621. fetid: having a bad smell, as of decay; stink1634. fillip: stimulus.
ing, putrid.
1622. fettle: to make ready; set in order; arrange; 1635. finale: the concluding movement or passage
of a musical composition; the last scent or feato potter fussily about.
ture of an entertainment; the conclusion or last
1623. fiasco: a failure; a complete failure of any
part, end.
kind.
1636. fine: penalty, forfeiture, confiscation; indem1624. fiat: 1) a command or act of will that creates
nity, remuneration, reimbursement.
sth without or as if without further effort; 2) an
authoritative determination : dictate [a ∼ of 1637. finesse: 1) refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture; 2) skillful handling
conscience]; 3) an authoritative arbitrary order
of a situation : adroit maneuvering; 3) the
: decree [government by ∼].
withholding of one’s highest card or trump in
1625. fidelity: faithful performance of duty; accuthe hope that a lower card will take the trick
racy of a description, translation etc. or of the
because the only opposing higher card is in the
reproduction of sound, image etc.
hand of the opponent who has already played.
1626. fiducial: serving as a basis of reckoning; show- 1638. finicky: too particular or exacting: overly
ing confidence or reliance.
dainty or fastidious; fussy.
1627. figment: sth made up or contrived.
1639. firebrand: a piece of burning wood; a person
who stirs up others to revolt or strife.
1628. figurative: 1a) representing by a figure or resemblance : emblematic; 1b) of or relating to 1640.
representation of form or figure in art [∼ sculpture]; 2a) expressing one thing in terms normally denoting another with which it may be
52
fissure: 1) a narrow opening or crack of considerable length and depth usu occurring from
some breaking or parting; 2a) a natural cleft
between body parts or in the substance of an

54. organ; 2b) a break or slit in tissue usu at 1653.
the junction of skin and mucous membrane;
3) a separation or disagreement in thought or
viewpoint : schism; 4) to break into fissures :
cleave.
1654.
1641. fitful: characterized by irregular or intermittent activity, impulses etc; spasmodic, restless.
1655.
1642. flaccid: hanging in loose folds or wrinkles;
soft and limp; flabby [flaccid muscles]; lacking 1656.
force; weak, feeble.
1643. flag: to become limp; droop; to lose strength;
grown weak or tired [his energy flagged].
fleck: 1) streak , spot [whitecaps ∼ed the blue
sea]; 2) to color as if by sprinkling with flecks
[his wife is ∼ed with sarcasm]; 3) flake, particle.
fledge: to grow the feathers necessary for flying.
fledged: acquiring feathers (for flying).
fleece: 1a) the coat of wool covering a wool
bearing animal (as a sheep); 1b) the wool obtained from a sheep at one shearing; 2a) to
strip of money or property by fraud or extortion; 2b) to charge excessively for goods or services; 3) to dot or cover with fleecy masses.
1644. flagellation: a whipping or flagging, esp as a
religious discipline or for sexual stimulation. 1657. fleeting: transient, transitory, ephemeral; enduring, continual, eternal.
1645. flagrantly: notoriously; enormous!; outra1658. flick: 1) a light sharp jerky stroke or movegeously; egregiously?.
ment; 2a) to move or propel or as if with a
flick [∼ed her hair back over her shoulder]; 2b)
1646. flail: 1) a hand threshing implement consistto activate, deactivate, or change by or as if
ing of a wooden handle at the end of which a
by flicking a switch [∼ on a cigarette lighter];
stouter and shorter stick is so hung as to swing
3a) to strike lightly with a quick sharp motion
freely; 2a) to strike with or as with a flail [arms
[∼ed the horse with a whip]; 3b) to remove
∼ing the water]; 2b) to move, swing, or beat
with light blows [∼ed an ash off her sleeve].
as if wielding a flail [∼ing a club to drive away
the insects].
1659. flinched: to shrink back; to fail; to wince,
as from pain; to draw back from ath difficult,
1647. flair: a natural talent or ability; knack; aptidangerous or painful.
tude.
1648. flamboyant: designating or of a kind of ar- 1660.
chitecture as late French Gothic characterized
by flamelike tracery of windows and florid dec1661.
oration; flamelike or brilliant in form or color;
too showy or ornate; florid; extravagant etc.
flippant: light; pert and frivolous of speech;
showing disrespectful levity.
flit: to pass lightly and rapidly [memories flitted thru his mind]; to fly lightly and rapidly;
flutter.
1649. flange: a projecting rim or collar on a wheel,
1662. flocculent: fluffy.
pipe, rail etc to hold it in place, give it
strength, guide it or attach it to sth else.
1663. floe: a single piece, large or small of floating
sea ice.
1650. flaunt: to make a gaudy, ostentatious, conspicuous, impudent or defiant display; to flut- 1664. florid: flushed with red or pink; rosy; ruddy:
ter or wave freely.
said of the complexion; highly decorated;
gaudy , showy, ornate [a florid musical pas1651. flautist: flute player.
sage].
1652. flay: to strip off the skin or hide of, as by 1665. flotilla: a fleet of small ships.
whipping; to criticize or scold mercilessly; to
rob, pillage; fleece.
1666. flotsam: the wreckage of a ship; cargo.
53

55. 1667. flounder: to stumble helplessly; to make mis- 1684. forbear: (obs) to do without; to hold oneself
takes.
back from esp with an effort; hold back, abstain [can write with ease what i forbear to
1668. flout: to mock or scoff at; show scorn or conread]; to control oneself when provoked: be
tempt for.
patient.
1669. flout: to mock, jeer; treat with contempt.
1685. forbearance: a refraining from the enforcement of sth (as a debt, right , obligation) that
1670. fluctuation: 1) a shifting back and forth with
is due; leniency.
uncertainty; 2) to ebb and flow in waves.
1671. fluent: flowing or moving smoothly and eas- 1686. ford: a shallow place in a river stream, etc
where one can cross by wading or by riding on
ily [fluent verse]; able to write or speak easily,
horseback, in an automobile etc.
smoothly and expressively.
1672. fluke: a result esp a successful one, brought 1687. forebode: to prognosticate, surmise, betoken
forewarn; to have a presentiment of (sth bad
about by accident; stroke of luck.
or harmful).
1673. fluster: to make or become confused, nervous
1688. forensic: of, characteristic of, or suitable for
or befuddled.
a law court, public debate, or formal argumen1674. fluted: grooved.
tation; specializing in or having to do with the
application of scientific, esp medical knowledge
1675. fluted: having or marked by grooves.
to legal matters as in the investigation of a
1676. foible: a small weakness; slight frailty in charcrime.
acter; the weakest part of the sword blade,
1689. forerunner: harbinger, precursor, predecesfrom the middle to the point.
sor; successor, follower, descendent.
1677. foil: to keep from being successful; thwart;
frustrate; to enhance by contrast; someone or 1690. foreshadow: to be sign of (sth to come); indicate or suggest beforehand; prefigure; presage.
sth that serves as a contrast to another [acted
as a foil for a comedian].
1691. foresight: 1) an act or the power of foreseeing
1678. foist: to put in slyly or surreptitiously, as a
clause into a contract; to get (a thing) accepted, sold, etc by fraud, deception etc; palm
off: with on or upon.
: prescience; 2) provident care : prudence [had
the ∼ to invest his money wisely]; 3) an act of
looking forward: also a view forward.
1681. foolhardy: bold or daring in a foolish way; 1694.
rash; reckless.
1695.
1682. fop: a vain, affected man who pays too
much attention to his clothes, appearance etc; 1696.
dandy, coxcomb.
forfeited: that to which a right is lost.
1692. forestall: a place taken before hand; to anticipate; to hinder by anticipating; to bar.
1679. foliage: leaves, as of a plant or tree; mass
of leaves; leafage; a decoration consisting of a
1693. forestall: to prevent or hinder by doing sth
representation of leaves, branches, flowers etc.
ahead of time; to act in advance of; get ahead,
anticipate; to interfere with the trading in (a
1680. foment: to treat with warm water, medicated
market ) by buying up goods in advance, getlotions etc; to stir up (trouble); instigate; inting sellers to raise prices,etc.
cite [to foment a riot].
1683. foray: a sudden attack or raid in order to seize
or steal things.
54
forgo: to do without; abstain from; give up.
forlorn: 1a) bereft, forsaken [left quite ∼ of
hope]; 1b) sad and lonely because of isolation
or desertion : desolate; 2) being in poor condition : miserable, wretched [∼ tumble down
buildings].

56. 1697. formality: 1) compliance with formal or con- 1712.
ventional rules : ceremony; 2) the quality or
state of being formal; 3) an established form
or procedure that is required or conventional.
1698. formidable: causing fear or dread; hard to
handle or overcome; awe inspiring in size, excellence, etc; redoubtable.
1699. forsake: to give up; renounce (a habit, idea
etc); to leave; abandon.
1700. forswear: to renounce on oath; promise 1713.
earnestly to give up; to deny earnestly or on
oath.
1714.
1701. forte: a thing that a person does particularly
well; special accomplishment or strong pint;
the strongest part of the blade of a sword, be- 1715.
tween the middle and the hilt.
1702. forthright: straightforward; direct; frank.
franchise: 1) freedom or immunity from some
burden or restriction vested in a person or
group, ; 2a) a special privilege granted to an
individual or group; esp the right to be and
exercise the powers of a corporation; 2b) a
constitutional or statutory right or privilege
: esp the right to vote; 3) the right or license
granted to an individual or group to market
a company’s goods or services in a particular
territory; 4) the right of membership in a professional sports league.
frantic: wild with anger, pain, worry etc; frenzied.
fraught: filled, charged or loaded (with) ;
emotional, tense, anxious, distressing ,etc.
fray: 1) [archaic] scare : frighten away; 2)
a usu disorderly or protracted fight, struggle
or dispute; 3a) to wear (as an edge of cloth)
by or as if by rubbing : fret; 3b) to separate
the threads at the edge of; 4) strain, irritate
[tempers became a bit ∼ed].
1703. fortitude: courage in endurance; the strength
to bear misfortune, pain etc calmly and pa1716. frenetic: delirious; frantic; distracted; mad;
tiently; firm courage.
wildly excited.
1704. fortuitous: happening by chance; bringing or
1717. fresco: the art or technique of painting with
happening by good luck; fortunate.
watercolors on wet plaster.
1705. foster: to bring up with care; rear; to help to
grow or develop; stimulate; promote [to foster 1718. fret: 1) to decorate with interlaced designs;
to form pattern upon; 2) to enrich with emdiscontent]; to cling to in one’s mind; cherish
bossed carved patters; 3) an ornamental net[to foster a hope].
work, esp : a medieval metallic or jeweled net
for a woman’s headdress; 4) an ornament or
1706. founder: 1) one that founds or establishes; 2)
ornamental work often in relief consisting of
to become disabled : esp to go lame; 3) to give
small straight bars intersecting one another in
way : collapse; 4) to sink below the surface of
right or oblique angles.
the water; 5) to come to grief : fail.
1719. fret: 1a) to eat or gnaw into : corrode , also
: fray; 1b) rub, chafe; 1c) to make by wearing
1708. fracas: uproar; a noisy quarrel.
away a substance [the stream ∼ted a channel];
2) to cause to suffer emotional strain : vex; 3)
1709. fractious: refractory or unruly; peevish; irrito pass (as time) in fretting; 4) agitate, ripple.
table; cross.
1720. fricative: produced by friction; ¡another in1710. fragrance: redolence.
teresting meaning on the rocks¿.
1707. foyer: a public room opening on the lobby.
1711. frailty: the quality or condition of being frail; 1721. friction: disagreement or conflict because of
weakness esp moral weakness.
differences of opinion, temperament etc.
55

57. 1722. frieze: a decoration or series of decorations 1737. fulcrum: the support or point of support on
forming an ornamental band around a room,
which a lever turns in raising or moving sth; a
mantel etc.
means of exerting influence, pressure etc.
1723. frigate: formally a vessel in the class next to 1738.
ships of the line.
1739.
1724. frigid: extremely cold: without heat or
warmth; without warmth of feeling or manner; stiff and formal; habitually failing to be- 1740.
come sexually aroused, or abnormally repelled
by sexual activity: said of a woman.
fuliginous: sooty.
fulminate: to thunder or make a loud noise;
to detonate.
fulminate: to thunder or make a loud noise;
to issue decrees with violence or threats; to
denounce.
1725. fritter: to waste (money, time, etc) bit by bit 1741. fulsome: cloying or causing surfeit; offensive;
disgustingly fawning.
on petty things: usu with away.
1726. frivolous: trifling; silly; not properly serious 1742. functionary: a person who performs a certain
or sensible; giddy.
function, esp an official.
1727. frolicsome: full of gaiety or high spirits; play- 1743. funereal: 1) of or relating to a funeral; 2)
ful; merry.
befitting or suggesting a funeral (as in solemnity).
1728. frond: a leaf; specif : the leaf of a fern : the
leaf of a palm; the leaflike part or shoot of a 1744. furbelow: ruffle.
lichen, seaweed, duckweed etc.
1745. furlough: leave of absence.
1729. frounce: to plait; to curl; to wrinkle up.
1746. furor: 1) an angry or maniacal fit : rage; 2)
1730. fructify: to bear fruit; become fruitful.
fury ; 3) a fashionable craze : vogue; 4a) furious or hectic activity; 4b) an outburst of public
1731. frugal: thrifty; economical in the use of
excitement or indignation : uproar.
means.
1732. fruition: a pleasure obtained from using or 1747.
possessing sth; enjoyment; the bearing of fruit;
a coming to fulfillment; realization [a book
that is a fruition of years of research].
furtive: 1a) done by stealth : surreptitious;
1b) expressive of stealth : sly [had a ∼
look about him]; 2) obtained underhandedly
: stolen.
1748. fusillade: a simultaneous or rapid and continuous discharge of many firearms; sth like this
1734. fugitive: 1) running away or intending flight
[ a fusillade of questions].
[∼ slave, ∼debtor]; 2) moving from place to
place : wandering; 3a) being of short duration; 1749. fusion: 1) a unison as if by melting; as a)
a merging of diverse, distinct or separate ele3b) difficult to grasp or retain : elusive; c)
ments into a unified whole; b) a political partlikely to evaporate, deteriorate, change, fade
nership : coalition; c) popular music combinor disappear [dyed with ∼ colors]; 4) being of
ing different styles (jazz, classical etc).
transient interest [∼ essays].
1733. fugacious: transitory.
1735. fugitive: a person who flees or tries to escape, 1750. fustian: a kind of coarse twilled cotton fabric;
a bombastic style of writing or speaking; a kind
esp refugee.
of liquor.
1736. fugue: a polyphonic composition based on
one, two, or more themes,that are enunciated 1751. futile: 1) serving no useful purpose; comby several voices or parts in turn & subjected
pletely ineffective; 2) occupied with trifles :
to contrapuntal treatment.
frivolous.
56

58. 1752. gadfly: metaphorically sth after one in a re- 1766.
lentless manner!??; a person who annoys others or rouses them from complacency; any of
several large flies as the horsefly, that bite livestock.
gape: 1a) to open the mouth wide; 1b) to
open or part widely [holes ∼d in the pavement]; 2) to gaze stupidly or in open mouthed
surprise or wonder; 3) yawn; an open-mouthed
stare.
1767. garble: 1) to sift impurities from; 3a) to so
alter or distort as to create a wrong impres1754. gainsay: to deny; to contradict; to speak or
sion or change the meaning [∼ a story]; 3b)
act against; oppose.
to introduce textual error into (a message) by
inaccurate encipherment, transmission or de1755. gait: the manner of walking on foot; way of
cipherment; 4) the impurities removed from
walking or running; any of the various foot
spices in sifting.
movements of a horse,as a trot, pace, canter
1768. gargantuan: a giant; enormous; prodigious.
or gallop.
1753. gaffe: a blunder; faux pas.
1756. galaxy: an assembly of brilliant or famous 1769. gargoyle: 1a) a spout in the form of a
grotesque human or animal figure projecting
people; a brilliant array of things.
from a roof gutter to throw rain-water clear of
a building; 1b) a grotesquely carved figure; 2)
1757. gall: 1a) a skin sore caused by chronic irritaa person with an ugly face.
tion; 1b) to cause or state of exasperation; 2)
to fret and wear away by friction : chafe.
1770. garner: a store of ath; to accumulate.
1758. gall: 1a) bile : esp bile obtained from an ani1771. garnish: to decorate; adorn; embellish; trim;
mal and used in the arts or medicine; 1b) sth
to decorate (food) with sth that adds color or
bitter to endure; 2) bitterness of spirit : ranflavor [a steak garnished with parsley].
cor; 2) brazen boldness coupled with impudent
assurance and insolence.
1772. garrulous: talking much or too much esp
about unimportant things; loquacious.
1759. galleon: a large sailing ship with three or four
masts and a high forecastle and stern, devel- 1773. gastronomy: the art or science of good eatoped in the 15th and 16th cent, and used as
ing; epicurism.
both, a warship and a trading ship?.
1774. gauche: lacking grace esp social grace; awkward; tactless.
1760. galliard: (or gailliard) lively dance.
1761. galvanize: 1b) to stimulate or excite as if by 1775. gaucherie: clumsiness; social awkwardness.
an electric shock [an issue that would ∼ public
1776. gawk: 1) a clumsy stupid person : lout; 2) to
opinion].
gape or stare stupidly.
1762. gambit: 1) an initial move in ath esp one with 1777. gazette: 1) newspaper; 2) an official journal;
an element of trickery; 2) a remark intended to
3) to announce or publish in a gazette.
start a conversation or make a telling point; 3)
a calculated move; stratagem.
1778. genealogy: history of the descent of families;
pedigree; lineage.
1763. gambol: to leap; to frisk in sport.
1779. generality: 1) the quality or state of being
1764. gamely: 1) having or showing a resolute ungeneral; 2a) generalization; 2b) a vague or inyiedling spirit; 2) willing or ready to proceed;
adequate statement.
of or relating to game.
1780. generic: a class of objects comprehending
1765. gamut: the full extent of ath.
several species.
57

59. 1781. genesis: generation; creation or production. 1795. gesticulate: to make use of gestures esp with
the hands and arms as in adding nuances or
1782. genial: 1a) favorable to growth or comfort
force to one’s speech, or as a substitute for
: mild [∼ sunshine]; 1b) marked by a diffusspeech.
ing sympathy or friendliness; 2) displaying or
marked by genius; 3) of or relating to the chin. 1796. gibberish: rapid and incoherent talk; unintelligible chatter; jargon.
1783. genre: kind; class (as of works of literature,
1797. gibbous: hump backed.
art etc).
1798. gibe: to jeer or taunt; scoff (at).
1784. genteel: well bred; graceful in manners or in
form.
1799. gimlet: a small tool for boring holes by turning it with the hand.
1785. gentility: 1) the condition of belonging to
the gentry : gentlefolk, gentry; 2a) decorum 1800. gingerly: in a careful or cautious way.
of conduct; 2b) attitudes or activity marked
by false delicacy , prudery, or affectation; 2c) 1801. girth: a band put around the belly of a horse
or other animals for holding a saddle, pack etc;
superior social status or prestige evidenced by
the circumference, as of a tree trunk or permanners , possessions or mode of life.
son’s waist.
1786. gentry: the class of people next below the
1802. gist: 1) the ground of a legal action; 2) the
nobility; people of a particular class or group
main point or part : essence.
[the newspaper gentry].
1803. glade: clear open spaces in woods or forests.
1787. genuflect: to bend the knee, as in reverence
or worship; to act in a submissive or servile 1804. glair: slimy substance.
way.
1805. gleaned: to gather, discover,or find out
(facts) slowly and patiently.
1788. germane: truly relevant; pertinent; to the
point.
1806. glib: 1a) marked by ease and informality :
nonchalant; 1b) showing little forethought or
1789. germinal: 1a) being in the earliest stage of
preparation : offhand [∼ answers]; 1c) lacking
development; 1b) creative, productive; 2) of,
depth and substance : superficial; 2) marked
relating to or char of a germ cell or embryo.
by ease and fluency in speaking or writing often to the point of being insincere or deceitful
1790. germination: doubling!.
[a ∼ politician].
1791. gerontocracy: a government by the elderly
1807. glibly: smoothly; to make glib; ie easy, facile,
men of the society.
fluent and plausible.
1792. gerrymander: to rearrange voting districts
in the interest of a particular party or candi- 1808. glimmer: 1a) to shine faintly or unsteadily;
1b) to give off a subdued unsteady reflection;
date; to manipulate so as to reach undue con2) to appear indistinctly with a faintly lumiclusions.
nous quality; 3) an intermittent light.
1793. gestalt: a unified whole; a configuration, pat1809. glissade: to slide or glide down; act of sliding
tern,or organized field having specific properdown a slope; a gliding movement in dancing.
ties that cannot be derived from summation of
component parts.
1810. glitch: slide; glide; a minor malfunction; a
false or spurious electronic signal.
1794. gestation: the act or period of carrying young
in the uterus from conception to birth; preg- 1811. gloat: to gaze or think with exultation,
nancy; a development,as of a plan in the mind.
avarice or malicious pleasure : often with over.
58

60. 1812. gloss over: to deal with a subject or problem 1828. gourmet: a person who likes and is an excellightly or not at all.
lent judge of fine foods and drinks; epicure.
1813. glossary: a collection of textual glosses or of 1829. graduated: increasing in rate with increase
specialized terms with their meanings.
in taxable base : progressive.
1814. glower: 1) to look or stare with sullen an- 1830.
noyance or anger; 2) a sullen brooding look of
annoyance or anger.
1831.
1815. glut: 1) to fill up ,esp with food to satiety; 2)
to flood (the market) with goods so that supply exceeds demand; 3) an excessive quantity 1832.
: oversupply.
1833.
1816. glutinous: gluey; sticky.
grandeur: splendor of appearance; loftiness
of thought or deportment.
grandiloquent: using high flown, pompous ,
bombastic words and expressions.
grandiose: grand or imposing.
grandiose: having grandeur or magnificence;
imposing, impressive; seeming or trying to
seem very important; pompous and showy.
1817. gluttonous: inclined to eat too much and
greedily.
1834. grange: a granary; ¡add more here?¿.
1818. gnarled: knotted and twisted,as the trunk of 1835.
an old tree; roughened , hardened, sinewy etc,
as hands that do rough work.
1836.
1819. gnaw: 1) to cut, bite, and wear away bit by
bit with the teeth; 2) to consume; wear away;
corrode; 3) to torment, as by constant pain,
fear, etc; harass.
1820. gnawing: 1) a sensation of dull, constant pain
or suffering; 2) [pl] pangs, esp of hunger.
granulate: to form or crystallize into grains
or granules.
graphic: 1) formed by writing, drawing or engraving; 2) marked by a clear lifelike or vividly
realistic description; 3a) of , or relating to or
of the pictorial arts; 3b) of, relating to, or involving such reproductive methods as those of
engraving, etching, lithography, photography,
serigraphy etc.
1821. gnome: 1) maxim, aphorism; 2) an ageless 1837. grate: to grind into shreds or particles by rubbing or scraping; to rub against (an object)
and often deformed dwarf of folklore ho live in
with a harsh, scraping sound; to grind (the
the earth and usu guards treasure.
teeth) together with a rasping sound; to irritate; annoy.
1822. gnomon: type of indicator.
1823. gonfalon: type of flag.
1824. gormandize: to eat too much.
1838. gratify: 1) to be a source of or give pleasure
or satisfaction to; 2) to give in to : indulge,
satisfy.
1825. gossamer: 1) a film of cobwebs floating in air 1839. gratis: for nothing; without payment or recin calm clear weather; 2) sth light, delicate,
ompense.
or insubstantial [the ∼ of youth’s dreams]; 3)
extremely light, delicate or tenuous.
1840. gratuitous: done or given for nothing; voluntary.
1826. gouge: 1) a chisel with a concavo-convex cross
section; 2a) the act of gouging; 2b) a groove or 1841. gratuity: sth given voluntarily beyond oblicavity scooped out; 3) an excessive or improper
gation usu for some service esp : tip.
exaction : extortion.
1842. grave: crypt, catacomb, mausoleum, sepul1827. gourmand: a person with a hearty liking for
cher.
good food and drink and a tendency to indulge
in them in excess.
1843. greenhorn: novice; inexperienced; tyro?.
59

61. 1844. gregarious: living in herds or flocks; fond of 1862. gulch: a gully; a ravine or narrow rocky valley.
the company of others; sociable.
1863. gullible: easily duped or cheated.
1845. grievance: 1) a cause of distress (as an unsatisfactory working condition) felt to afford 1864. gumption: shrewdness; common sense.
reason for complaint or resistance; 2) the for- 1865. gustatory: of or having to do with tasting or
mal expression of a grievance : complaint.
the sense of taste.
1846. grill: to question intensely.
1866. gusto: taste, liking; keen enjoyment; enthusiastic appreciation; zest; relish; great vigor or
1847. grimace: a twisting or distortion of the face,
liveliness.
as in expressing pain, contempt. disgust, etc.
or a wry look as in seeking to amuse.
1867. gusty: characterized by gusts of air or wind;
characterized by sudden bursts or outbursts.
1848. grisly: terrifying; horrible; ghastly.
1849. grist: corn for grinding; supply portion; quan- 1868. gyrate: to revolve, spin, whirl; curved round
in a coil.
tity; profit.
1850. grotesque: bizarre; queer or strange; ludi- 1869. hackles: 1a) one of the long narrow feathers
on the neck or saddle of a bird; 1b) the neck
crously eccentric or strange; absurdly inconplumage of the domestic fowl; 2) a comb or
gruous.
board with long metal teeth for dressing flax,
1851. grotto: 1) cave; 2) an artificial recess or struchemp, or jute; 3) erectile hairs along the neck
ture made to resemble a natural cave.
and back esp of a dog.
1852. grouse: to complain; grumble.
1870. hackneyed: cliched; dulled by over-much use;
trite.
1853. grovel: to fawn, to snivel, cower; scorn, disdain, command.
1871. haft: knife handle.
1854. grudge: to envy and resent (someone) be- 1872.
cause of that person’s possession or enjoyment of (sth); begrudge [to grudge a person 1873.
his success]; to give with reluctance [the miser
grudged his dog its food].
1874.
1855. gruel: a thin, easily digested porridge made
by cooking meal in water or milk.
haggard: (obs) intractable; lean; hollow eyed.
haggle: to argue about terms, price, etc; bargain, wrangle.
halcyon: the kingfisher once believed to make
a floating nest on the sea which remained calm
during hatching; calm; happy.
1856. grueling: extremely trying; exhausting.
1875. hale: a) free from disease, defect or infirmity
: sound; b) retaining exceptional health and
1857. gruesome: inspiring horror or repulsion :
vigor.
grisly.
1876. hallowed: made holy; consecrated.
1858. gruff: 1) rough, brusque, or stern in manner,
speech, or aspect [a ∼ reply]; 2) being deep 1877. hallucination: 1a) a perception of objects
and harsh : hoarse [a ∼ voice].
with no reality usu arising from disorder of the
nervous system or in response to drugs; 1b) the
object so perceived; 2) an unfounded or mistaken impression or notion : delusion.
1859. guffaw: a loud, coarse burst of laughter.
1860. guile: artifice, duplicity, deceit; candor, frankness, integrity.
1861. guise: 1) a form of style or dress : costume;
2a) external appearance : semblance : pretext.
1878. halting: limping,awkward, or unsteady [a
halting gait]; marked by hesitation or uncertainty, jerky, disconnected etc [halting speech].
60

62. 1879. hamartiology: branch of theology dealing 1896. haughty: supercilious, disdainful, imperious;
with sin.
unpretentious, unassuming, bashful.
1880. hamate: hooked.
1897. hazy: somewhat vague, obscure, confused or
indefinite [hazy thinking].
1881. hamper: 1a) to restrict the movement of by
bonds or obstacles : impede; 1b) to interfere 1898.
with the operation of : disrupt; 2) curb, restrain, encumber.
1899.
1882. hap: 1) happening; chance, fortune; 2) sth (as
a bed, quilt or cloak) that serves as a covering
or wrap.
1883. hapless: unfortunate; unlucky; luckless.
headlong: 1) headfirst; 2) without any deliberation : recklessly; 3) without pause or delay.
headstrong: determined not to follow orders,advice etc but to do as one pleases;
self-willed; showing such determination [headstrong desire].
1900. healthy: salubrious, sanative, bracing; emaciated, weak, ailing.
1884. harangue: loud speech addressed to a multi1901. hearken: to hear attentively; to listen.
tude; a pompous or wordy address.
1885. harass: to trouble, worry or torment, as with 1902. hebetude: dullness.
cares, debts, repeated questions, etc; trouble 1903. heckle: to harass or try to disconcert, with
by repeated raids or attacks etc; harry.
questions, challenges or gibes : badger; bait.
1886. harbinger: a forerunner; pioneer; one sent 1904. hedonism: in ethics, the doctrine that pleabefore to provide lodging.
sure is the highest good.
1887. harbor: to serve as or provide a place of pro- 1905. hedonist: epicure; glutton; sensualist.
tection to ;shelter or house; conceal or hide; to
be the dwelling place or habits of; to hold in 1906. heed: to pay close attention to ; take careful
notice of.
the mid; cling to [to harbor or grudge].
1888. hardy: bold and resolute; daring; courageous; 1907.
too bold; full or temerity; rash; able to withstand fatigue, privation etc; robust, vigorous;
1908.
able to survive the winter without special care:
said of a plant.
1909.
1889. harlequin: a pantomime character; a breed
of small spotted dogs; buffoon.
1910.
1890. harmonic: in harmony; concordant.
hegemony: leadership; preponderant influence esp of one state over another.
heinous: flagrant, nefarious, infernal; laudable, ethical, exemplary.
heinous: wicked in a high degree; odious.
henchman: a servant or page; an active political partisan esp from self interest.
1911. heresy: a religious belief opposed to the orthodox doctrines of a church, esp such a belied
specifically denounced by the church; the rejection of a belief that is part of church dogma;
1892. harrow: to tear or harass; to acutely distress.
any opinion (in philosophy, politics,etc) op1893. harry: to raid esp repeatedly and ravage or
posed to official or established views or docrob; pillage; plunder; to torment or worry; hatrines.
rass; to force or push along.
1912. heresy: belief contrary to the authorized
1894. hasten: accelerate, expedite, sprint, scamper;
teaching of one’s natural religious community;
drudge, doddle, linger.
heterodoxy.
1891. harp: to persist in talking or writing or tediously or continuously (on or upon sth).
1895. hatchment: heraldic panel.
1913. heretic: an upholder of heresy.
61

63. 1914. heretic: dissenter, nonconformist, apostate, 1929. higgle: to make difficulty in bargaining; to
renegade;.
chaffer.
1915. hermetic: belonging in any way to the beliefs 1930. hilarious: noisily merry; boisterous; gay; procurrent in the middle ages; magical.
ducing great merriment; very funny.
1916. hermetic: magical; alchemic; hard to under- 1931. hindmost: farthest back; closest to the rear.
stand; obscure; completely sealed by fusion,
soldering etc so as to keep air or gas from get- 1932. hinterland: the land or district behind that
bordering on a coast or river; specif an inting in or out; airtight.
land region claimed by the state that owns the
1917. hermit: a person who lives alone in a lonely
coast; an area far from big cities and towns;
or secluded spot, often from religious motives;
back country.
recluse.
1933. hireling: a person who is for hire, esp one who
1918. herpetology: the branch of zoology having to
will follow anyone’s orders for pay; mercenary.
do with the study of reptiles and amphibians.
1934. hirsute: hairy; shaggy; bristly.
1919. heterodox: departing from or opposed to the
usu beliefs or established doctrines esp in reli- 1935. histrionic: theatrical.
gion; inclined towards heresy; unorthodox.
1936. histrionics: relating to the stage or stage
1920. heterogenous: variant, discordant, conglomplayers; an artificial or affected manner, diserate; homogeneous, identical, conforming.
play of emotions etc.
1921. heuristic: the art of discovery in logic; serving 1937. hoary: white or greyish white esp with age or
or leading to find out.
frost.
1922. hew: 1) to cut with blows of a heavy cutting
1938.
instrument; 2) to fell by blows of an axe; 3) to
give form and shape to as with heavy cutting
blows [∼ed their farms from the wilderness].
1939.
1923. heyday: the time of greatest health; exaltation of spirits; culmination of vigor, prosperity, 1940.
gaiety; flush or full bloom.
hoax: 1) to trick into believing or accepting
as genuine sth false and often preposterous; 2)
an act of intended trick or fraud.
hobbledehoy: a gawky lad.
hogwash: thin worthless stuff; the refuse of a
kitchen, brewery etc given to pigs.
1924. hiatus: a break where a part is missing or lost, 1941. holocaust: an offering the whole of which is
as in a manuscript; lacuna; an opening; a gap;
burnt; a huge slaughter or destruction of life.
a break in continuity.
1942. holy: haloed, immaculate, sanctified; lascivi1925. hibernal: of or pertaining to winter; wintry.
ous, blasphemous, sacrilegious.
1926. hibernal: wintry.
1943. homage: ath given or done to show reverence,
honor or respect; usu with do or pay [to pay
1927. hierarchy: a group of persons or things arhomage to a hero].
ranged in order of rank, grade, class etc.
1928. hieroglyphic: a picture or symbol represent- 1944.
ing a word, syllable, or sound, used by the ancient Egyptians and others instead of alphabetical letters; [usu pl] a method of writing
using hieroglyphics; picture writing; a symbol,
sign etc hard to understand; [pl] writing hard
to decipher.
62
homeostasis: the tendency to maintain or
the maintenance of normal, internal stability
in; an organism by coordinated responses of
the organ systems that automatically; compensate for environmental changes; any analogous maintenance of stability or equilibrium,as
within a social group.

64. 1945. homespun: spun or made at home; plain, un- 1963. hubris: wanton insolence resulting from excessive pride or from passion; arrogance such
pretentious; homely.
as which invites disaster.
1946. homily: 1) usu a short sermon; 2) a lecture
1964. huckster: a retailer of small wares; a mean,
or discourse on or of a moral theme.
haggling fellow.
1947. homomorphic: like in form.
1965. humane: having what are considered the best
qualities of human beings; kind, tender, mer1948. hone: a fine-grained, hard stone used to
ciful, sympathetic etc; civilizing, humanizing.
sharpen cutting tools.
lacking
1949. honed: to pine, moan or grieve; to sharpen 1966. humdrum:
monotonous; boring.
on a stone.
variety;
dull,
1950. honorifics: attributing or doing honour. (e.g. 1967. hummock: a low, rounded hill; knoll; hillock;
a ridge or rise in an ice field; a tract of fertile,
Sir, Maharaj)
heavily wooded land, higher than a surrounding marshy area.
1951. hoodwink: to blindfold; to deceive, impose
on .
1968. hurtle: to dash (against or together) with
great force or crushing impact; collide; to move
1952. horde: a nomadic tribe or clan of Mongols;
swiftly and with great force.
any wandering tribe or group; a large moving
crowd or throng.
1969. husbandry: the business of a farmer; economical management; thrift.
1953. horipilation: standing up of hair on end.
1970. hustings: election platform.
1954. hortatory: serving to encourage or urge to
good deeds; exhorting; giving advice.
1971. hyaline: glassy.
1955. horticulture: the art or science of growing 1972. hybrid: the offspring produced by crossing
two individuals of unlike genetic composition;
flowers, fruits, vegetables, and shrubs esp in
ath of mixed origin, unlike parts etc.
gardens or orchards.
1956. hospice:
a house of entertainment for 1973. hydrophobia: an abnormal fear of water; rabies.
strangers esp one kept by monks; a home of
refuge.
1974. hyperbole: exaggeration for effect and not
meant to be taken literally.
1957. hovel: a low open shed as for sheltering animals or storing supplies or equipment; any 1975.
small, miserable dwelling.
1976.
1958. hover: to stay suspended or flutter in the air,
near one place; to linger or wait close by esp in
an overprotective, insistent or anxious way; to 1977.
be in an uncertain condition; waver (between).
1959. hoyden: a tomboy.
1960. hoyden: a tomboy; a romp.
1961. hub: the center of activity; focal point.
hyperborean: frigid.
hypercritical: too critical; too severe in
judgement; hard to please.
hypochondria: abnormal anxiety over one’s
health, often with imaginary illnesses and severe melancholy.
1978. hypocrisy: 1) a feigning to be what one is not
or to believe what one does not; esp the false
assumption of an appearance of virtue and religion.
1962. hubbub: a confused sound of many voices; 1979. hypothecate: to place or assign as security
uproar; tumult.
under an arrangement to mortgage.
63

65. 1980. hypothesis: an unproved theory, proposition, 1994. ignoramus: an ignorant person; esp one presupposition etc tentatively accepted to explain
tending to knowledge.
certain facts or to provide a basis for further
1995. illative: inferential.
investigation, argument etc.
1981. ibid: in the same place.
1996. illicit: not permitted; unlawful.
1982. ichthyology: the branch of zoology dealing 1997. illimitable: without limits or bounds; immeasurable.
with fishes, their structure, classification, and
life history.
1998. illuminate: 1a) to enlighten spiritually or intellectually; 1b(i)] to supply or brighten with
1983. icon: an image; figure; representation specif
light; 1b(ii)] to make luminous or shining; 1c)
any of various stylized figures, as displayed on
to subject to radiation; 2) to make clear : elua computer screen, representing available funccidate.
tions or resources.
1984. iconoclast: 1) one who destroys religious im- 1999. illusive: illusory.
ages and opposes their veneration; 2) one who
2000. illusory: based on or producing illusion : deattacks settled beliefs or institutions.
ceptive; apparent.
1985. ictus: verse stress (how the stress is laid in a 2001. imbalance: lack of balance; the state of being
particular line as in elocuting the verse).
out of equilibrium or out of proportion.
1986. ideology: 1) visionary theorizing; 2a) a sys- 2002.
tematic body of concepts esp about human life
or culture; 2b) the manner or content of thinking char of an individual, group or culture.
1987. idiosyncrasy: the temperament or mental
constitution peculiar to a person or group; any 2003.
personal peculiarity or mannerism; an individual reaction to a drug, food, etc that is different from the reaction of most people.
2004.
1988. idolatry: concerned with the worship of idols;
excessive love.
1989. idyllic: happily innocent; rustic; pastoral.
2005.
1990. igneous: of, containing or having the nature
of fire; fiery; produced by the action of fire; 2006.
specif formed by volcanic action or intense
heat,as rocks solidified from molten magma at
or below the surface of the earth.
2007.
1991. ignoble: not noble in birth or position; of the
common people; not noble in character or qual- 2008.
ity; dishonorable; base; mean.
imbecile: 1) a mentally deficient person; esp
a feeble minded person having a mental age of
three to seven years and requiring supervision
in the performance of routine daily tasks of
self-care.
imbecility: 1) the quality or state of being
an imbecile; 2a) utter foolishness : futility; 2b)
sth that is foolish or nonsensical.
imbibe: 1) [archaic] soak, steep; 2a) to receive
into the mind and retain; 2b) to assimilate or
take into solution; 3a) drink; 3b) to take in or
up.
imbricate: overlap evenly.
imbroglio: an involved and confusing situation state of confusion and complication; a
confused misunderstanding or disagreement.
imbrue: drench, stain, esp with blood.
imbue: 1) to permeate or influence as if by
dyeing [the spirit that ∼s the new constitution]; 2) to tinge or dye deeply.
1992. ignominious: dishonorable, shameful, scandalous; honorable, reputable, esteemable.
2009. immaculate: spotless; unstained; pure.
1993. ignominy: public disgrace; infamy.
2010. immanent: intrinsical; inherent.
64

66. 2011. imminent: likely to happen without delay; 2024.
impending; threatening: said of danger, evil,
misfortune.
2025.
2012. immolate: 1) to offer in sacrifice; esp to kill
as a sacrificial victim; 2) to kill or destroy often
2026.
by fire.
impecunious: having no money; poor; penniless.
impede: to bar or hinder the progress of ;
obstruct or delay.
impediment: ath that impedes; specif : a
speech defect; stutter, lisp, stammer etc: ath
preventing the making of a legal contract esp
of a marriage contract.
2013. immune: 1a) free, exempt [∼ from taxes]; 1b)
marked by protection [some criminal leaders
are ∼ from arrest]; 2) not susceptible or re2027. impending: hovering threateningly or mensponsive [∼ to all pleas].
acingly.
2014. immure: to shut up within or as within walls;
imprison; confine or seclude; to entomb in a 2028. impenitent: without regret, shame or remorse; unrepentant.
wall.
mu- 2029. imperative: mandatory, inexorable, peremptory, preponderant, decretory, exigent; discretionary, voluntary, optional.
impair: to damage or make worse or as if
by diminishing in some material respect [his 2030. imperative: urgently necessary.
health was ∼ed by overwork].
2031. imperceivable: which cannot be perceived.
impale: to fence in with stakes; to surround
2032. imperceptible: not discernible.
with a border; to put to death by spitting on
a stake; to transfix.
2033. imperious: authoritative; assuming command; domineering.
impalpable: nor perceivable by touch; extremely fine grained.
2034. imperious: overbearing, arrogant, domineering, etc; urgent; imperative.
impalpable: that cannot be felt by touching;
too slight or subtle to be grasped easily by the 2035. impermeable: not permeable; not permitmind.
ting fluids to pass thru it, impenetrable.
2015. immutable:
tated/changed.
2016.
2017.
2018.
2019.
which
cannot
be
2020. impasse: a passage open only at one end; 2036.
blind alley; a situation offering no escape as a
difficulty without solution, an argument where
no agreement is possible etc; deadlock.
impertinent: not pertinent; having no connection with a given matter; irrelevant; not
showing proper respect or manners; saucy; insolent,impudent.
2021. impassive: not feeling pain; not liable to suf- 2037. impertinent: saucy; impudent.
fering; insensible; not feeling or showing emotion; placid; calm.
2038. imperturbable: that cannot be disconcerted,
disturbed or excited; impassive.
2022. impeach: 1a) to bring and accusation against;
1b) to charge with a crime or misdemeanor, 2039. impervious: incapable of being passed thru
specif; to charge (a public official) before a
or penetrated; not affected by: with to [impercompetent tribunal with misconduct in office;
vious to pity].
2) to cast doubt on , esp to challenge the cred2040. impetuous: momentum; incentive; moving
ibility or validity of.
with great force or violence; having great impe2023. impeccable: faultless; which cannot be found
tus; rushing; furious ; acting or done suddenly
fault with.
with little thought; rash; impulsive.
65

67. 2041. impetus: 1) a driving force; impulse; 2) in- 2054. imponderable: not ponderable; specif: that
centive, stimulus; stimulus or encouragement
cannot be weighed or measured : that cannot
resulting in increased activity.
be conclusively determined or explained.
2042. impiety: a lack of piety; specif : lack of rev- 2055.
erence for God : lack of respect or dutifulness
as toward a parent.
2056.
2043. impinge: to strike, hit or dash (on , upon or
against sth); to touch (on or upon); to have an
effect [an idea that impinges on one’s mind];
to make inroads or encroach (on or upon the 2057.
property or rights of another).
import: to mean; signify [an action that imports trouble].
importunate: urgent or persistent in asking
or demanding; insistent; refusing to be denied;
annoyingly urgent or persistent.
importune: to trouble with requests or demands; urge or entreat persistently or repeatedly.
2044. impious: wanting in veneration as for gods,
parents etc.
2058. imposter: a person who deceives or cheats
others esp by pretending to be someone or sth
2045. implacable: which cannot be placated; inexthat he or she is not.
orable; irreconcilable.
2046. implausible: sth not plausible; provoking dis- 2059. imposture: 1) the act or practice of deceiving
by means of an assumed character or name;
belief.
¡see: fraud, sham, fake, humbug, counterfeit¿.
2047. implement: 1) carry out , accomplish esp to
give practical effect to and ensure of actual ful- 2060. impotent: lacking physical strength; weak;
ineffective, powerless or helpless [impotent
fillment by concrete measures.
rage]; unable to engage in sexual intercourse
2048. implicate: incriminate, impute, stigmatise,
esp because of an inability to have an erection.
impeach; absolve, condone, approve.
2061. impoverish: to make poor.
2049. implication: 1) close connection, esp incriminating involvement; 2a) the act of implying : 2062. imprecation: abuse; curse; prayer for or invocation (of evil, a curse etc) [to imprecate disthe state of being implied; 2b(i)] a logical reaster upon one’s foe].
lation between two propositions that fails to
hold only if the first is true and the second is
false; 2b(ii)] a logical relationship between two 2063. impregnable: that which cannot be taken;
unshakable; unyielding; firm [an impregnable
propositions in which if the first is true the secbelief].
ond is true; 3a) sth implied as a suggestion; 3b)
a possible significance [the book has political
2064. impresario: manager of an opera company.
∼s].
2050. implicit: suggested or to be understood 2065. imprison: immure, incarcerate, detain; release, reprieve, extricate, disenthrall.
though not plainly expressed; implied; without reservation or doubt; unquestionable; ab2066. impromptu: improvised; offhand; without
solute.
prior preparation; composed or uttered without any previous preparation : extemporane2051. implore: 1) to call upon in supplication; beous.
seech; entreat.
2052. impolitic: not politic; unwise; injudicious; in- 2067. improvident: failing to provide for the future; lacking foresight or thrift.
expedient.
2053. imponderable: not able to be weighed or es- 2068. improvident: not prudent;
timated.
wanting foresight.
66
thoughtless;

68. 2069. improvised: to compose, or simultaneously 2085.
compose and perform, on the spur of the moment; and without preparation; extemporize;
to make , bring about or do on the spur of the
moment [to improvise a solution to a problem]; 2086.
to make, provide, or do with the tools and material at hand, usu to fill an; unforeseen and
immediate need.
incandescent: glowing with intense heat;
red-hot or esp white hot; very bright; shining
brilliantly; glowing.
incantation: the chanting of magical words
or formulas that are supposed to cast a spell
or perform other magic.
2087. incapacitate: to make unable or unfit esp to
make incapable of normal activity.
2070. imprudent: not prudent; without thought of
the consequences; lacking in judgement or cau2088. incarcerate: to imprison; jail; to shut up;
tion; rash; indiscreet.
confine.
2071. imprudent: wanting foresight or discretion;
2089. incarnate: 1) to give bodily form or subie incautious, inconsiderate.
stance to; actualize (give concrete form to).
2072. impugn: to oppose; to attack by words or
2090. incarnate: 1a) vested with bodily and esp huarguments; to call in question.
man nature and form; 1b) made manifest or
comprehensible : embodied [a fiend ∼]; 2) in2073. impuissance: lack of power; weakness.
carnadine [∼ clover].
2074. impunity: freedom or safety from punish2091. incarnation: 1a(i)] the embodiment of a dement or ill consequences.
ity or spirit in some earthly form; 1a(ii)] [cap]
the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus
2075. imputation: 1) the act of imputing as : atChrist; 1b) a concrete and actual form of a
tribution, ascription; 2) accusation; 3) insinuquality or concept ; esp a person showing a
ation.
trait or typical character to a marked degree
2076. impute: to attribute, to reproach, to indict,
[she is the ∼ of goodness]; 2) a particular physto inculpate; extenuate, palliate, exculpate,
ical form or state : version [in another ∼ he
exonerate.
might be a first vice-president].
2077. inadvertence: oversight.
2078.
2079.
2080.
2081.
2082.
2092. incendiaries: one who maliciously sets fire to
property; one who inflames passions or proinadvertent: not attentive or observant;
motes strife.
heedless; due to oversight; unintentional.
2093. incendiary: having to do with the willful
inalienable: that may not be taken away or
destruction of property by fire; causing or
transferred.
designed to cause fires,as certain substances,
bombs etc.
inane: empty; vacant; vapid?; lacking sense
of meaning; foolish, silly.
2094. incense: 1) material used to produce a fragrant odor when burned; 2) the perfume exinanimate: not animate; not endowed with
haled from some spices when burned ; broadly
(animal) life; not animated; dull; spiritless.
a pleasing scent; 3) pleasing attention : flatinanition: emptiness.
tery.
2083. inarticulate: unable to put into words.
2095. incense: to arouse the extreme anger and indignation of.
2084. inaugurate: to induct (an official) into office
with a formal ceremony; to make a formal be- 2096. incentive: sth that stimulates one to take
ginning of; to celebrate formally the first public
action, work harder etc; stimulus; encourageuse of; dedicate [to inaugurate a new library].
ment.
67

69. 2097. inception: the beginning of sth; start; commencement.
2098. incessant: never ceasing; continuing or being
repeated without stopping or in a way that
seems endless.
compatible : as ; a) incapable of association or
harmonious coexistence [∼ colors]; b) unsuitable for use together because of undesirable
chemical or physiological effects; c) not both
true [∼ propositions].
2111. incongruity: inconsistent; disjointed; unsuit2099. inchoate: only begun; unfinished; rudimenable.
tary; not yet clearly or completely formed or
2112. incongruous: inappropriate, incompatible,
organized; disordered.
variform; homologous, cognate, apposite.
2100. incidence: 1a) angle of incidence; 1b) the arrival of sth (as a projectile or a ray of light) at 2113. inconsequential: 1a) illogical; 1b) irrelevant;
2) of no significance : unimportant.
a surface; 2a) the act or the fact or manner of
falling upon or affecting : occurrence; 2b) rate 2114. inconsistent: lacking consistency as; a) not
of occurrence or influence [a high ∼ of crime].
compatible with another fact or claim [∼ state2101. incipient: in the first state of existence; just
beginning to exist or to come to notice [an incipient illness].
ments]; b) containing incompatible elements;
c) incoherent or illogical in thought or actions
: changeable.
2115. incontinent: a(i)] lacking self restraint; a(ii)]
not being under control; b) unable to retain
a bodily discharge (as urine) voluntarily; b)
without any moral restraint : lewd.
2103. incite: to move to action : stir up : urge on :
spur on; foment.
2116. incontrovertible: that cannot be contro2102. incisive: cutting into; sharp; keen; penetrating; acute [an incisive mind].
verted; not disputable or debatable; undeniable.
2104. inclement: severe; stormy; harsh.
2105. inclusive: including or tending to include;
2117. incorporeal: not consisting of matter; withesp taking everything into account; reckoning
out material body or substance; of spirits or
everything; including the terms, limits or exangels; without physical existence in itself but
tremes mentioned.
belonging as a right to a material things or
property as a patent, copyright etc.
2106. incogitancy: absence or want of thought; fatuity; inanity.
2118. incorrigible: not corrigible; that cannot be
corrected, improved or reformed esp because
2107. incognito: 1) with one’s identity concealed;
firmly established as a habit or because set in
2) the state or assumed identity of one living
bad habits as a child.
or traveling incognito .
2108. incoherent: 1) lacking coherence as ; a) lack- 2119.
ing cohesion : loose; b) lacking orderly conti- 2120.
nuity, arrangement, or relevance : inconsistent;
2) lacking clarity or intelligibility : incompre2121.
hensible.
incrassate: thicken.
incredulity: unwillingness or inability to believe; doubt; skepticism.
incredulous: hard of belief; not believing.
2109. incommodious:
causing inconvenience; 2122. increment: 1) the act or process of increasing
esp in quantity or value : enlargement; 2a) sth
uncomfortable; troublesome; inconveniently
grained or added; 2b) one of a regular series of
small, narrow etc.
additions; 2c) a minute increase in quantity;
2110. incompatible: 1) incapable of being held by
3) the amount or degree by which sth changes,
one person at one time—used of offices that
esp : the amount of positive or negative change
make conflicting demands of the holder; 2) not
in the value of one or more set of variables.
68

70. 2123. incriminating: to charge with a crime or 2136. indenture: a written agreement between two
fault.
or more parties; a contract.
2124. incubate: 1) to sit on (eggs) so as to hatch 2137.
by the warmth of the body; also : to maintain
2138.
(as an embryo or a chemically active system)
under conditions favorable for hatching, development or reaction; 2) to cause (as an idea) to
develop.
2125. incubus: an evil spirit or demon thought in 2139.
medieval times to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women; a nightmare; ath
oppressive; burden.
indenture: a written contract.
indeterminate: not determinate; specif : inexact in its limits, nature etc; indefinite; uncertain; vague [an indeterminate amount]; not
yet settled, concluded or known; doubtful or
inconclusive.
indict: 1) to charge with a fault or offense
: criticize, accuse; 2) to charge with a crime
by the finding or presentiment of a jury (as a
grand jury) in due form of law.
2126. inculcate: to impress upon the mind by fre- 2140. indifference: apathy, impassivity, hebequent repetition or persistent urging.
tude, supineness, insusceptibility; sensitiveness, warmth, liveliness.
2127. inculcation: to enforce by frequent admonitions and repetitions.
2141. indigenous: existing, growing or produced
naturally in a region or country; belonging (to)
2128. incumbent: 1) the holder of an office or ecas a native; innate; inherent; inborn.
clesiastical benefice; 2) occupant; 3) imposed
as a duty : obligatory; 4) obligatory, binding, 2142. indigent: poverty stricken; destitute.
unavoidable; 5) leaning, hanging over.
2143. indignation: anger or scorn that is a reaction
to injustice, ingratitude, or meanness; righ2129. incumbent: lying, resting or pressing with its
teous anger.
weight on sth else; currently in office.
2130. incunabula: early printed books; A work of 2144. indignity: sth the humiliates, insults or injures the dignity or self-respect; affront.
art or of human industry, of an early epoch;
especially, a book printed before A. D. 1500. 2145. indiscreet: imprudent; injudicious.
2131. incur: to come into or acquire (sth undesir- 2146.
able) [to incur a debt]; to become subject to
thru one’s own action; bring upon oneself [to
incur someone’s wrath].
indiscriminate: not based on careful selection or a discerning taste; confused, random
or promiscuous; not discriminating; not making careful choices or distinctions.
2132. incursion: a running or coming in esp when 2147.
undesired; inroad; a sudden brief invasion or
raid.
2148.
2133. indefatigable: that cannot be tired out; not
yielding to fatigue.
2149.
2134. indemnify: to protect against or keep free
from loss, damage etc; insure; to repay for
what has been lost or damaged; compensate
2150.
for a loss etc; reimburse; to redeem or make
good (a loss).
2151.
indispensable: which cannot be dispensed
with.
2135. indemnity:
punishment.
indisputable: that cannot be doubted or disputed; unquestionable.
indissoluble: that cannot be dissolved , decomposed, broken or destroyed; firm, stable,
lasting, permanent.
indite: to put in writing; compose and write.
indoctrinate: to instruct in any doctrine.
security from damage loss or 2152. indolent: disliking or avoiding work; idle;
lazy.
69

71. 2153. indolent: indisposed to activity; lazy.
2172. infamous: having a very bad reputation; notorious; in disgrace or dishonour; causing or
2154. indolent: slack, sluggish, soporific, languid;
deserving a bad reputation; scandalous.
spry, bustling, diligent.
2173. infantile: like, suitable for , or characteristic
2155. indomitable: not to be overcome.
of an infant; childish or childlike; babyish; immature; in the earliest stage of development.
2156. indubitable: certain; which cannot be
doubted.
2174. infernal: of the ancient mythological world
2157. inductive: 1) leading on : inducing; 2) of, relating to, or employing mathematical or logical
induction; 3) introductory.
of the dead; of hell; hellish, diabolic, fiendish,
inhumane.
2175. infidel: unbelieving; skeptical.
2158. indulge: to take unrestrained pleasure in;
2176. infidelity: unfaithfulness esp in the marriage
gratify; to yield to the desire of : humor;
contract.
to treat with excessive leniency, generosity or
consideration.
2177. infiltrate: 1) to cause (as a liquid) to permeate sth by penetrating it’s pores or interstices;
2159. indulgent: 1) characterized by indulgence; le2) to pass into or thru (a substance) by filternient.
ing or permeating; 3) to pass (troops) singly
or in small groups thru gaps in the enemy line;
2160. inebriated: drunk; excited; exhilarated.
4) to enter or become established in gradually
2161. inebriety: drunkenness; intoxication.
or unobtrusively usu for subversive purposes.
2162. ineffable: to overwhelming to be expressed 2178. infinitesimal: immeasurably or incalculably
or described in words; inexpressible [ineffable
small.
beauty]; too awesome or scared to be spoken
2179. infinitude: boundlessness; vastness.
[God’s ineffable name].
2163. ineffectual: not effectual; not producing or 2180. infirm: not firm or strong physically; weak;
feeble, as from old age; not firm in mind or
not able to produce the desired effect.
purpose; not resolute; vacillating; not stable,
2164. ineluctable: inescapable; inevitable.
firm or sound; frail, shaky, as a structure; not
secure or valid [an infirm title to property].
2165. inept: unfit; irrelevant and futile; fatuous.
2181. infirmity: 1a) the quality or state of being
frail; 1b) the condition of being feeble : frailty;
2) disease, malady; 3) a personal failing : foible
inerrant: not erring; making no mistakes; in[one of the besetting infirmities of living creafallible.
tures is egotism].
inertia: a tendency to remove in a fixed condition without change; disinclination to move 2182. inflated: 1) elaborated or heightened by artificial or empty means [an ∼ style of writing];
or act.
2) distended with air or gas; 3) expanded to
inevitable: incapable of being avoided or
an abnormal or unjustifiable volume or level.
evaded.
2183. infraction: violation esp of law;infringement.
inexorable: not to be moved by entreaty; un2184. infringe: trespass; breach.
relenting; unyielding.
2166. inequity: lack of equity; an unjust action.
2167.
2168.
2169.
2170.
2171. infallible: not liable to fail, go wrong, make 2185. ingenious: skillful in invention; of good nata mistake etc; dependable; reliable, sure.
ural abilities.
70

72. 2186. ingenuous: free from deception; frank; hon- 2204. inordinate: excessive, profuse, intemperate;
orable.
meager, sparse, scanty.
2187. ingrained: 1) worked into the grain or fiber; 2205.
2) forming a part of the essence or inmost being : deep-seated [∼ prejudice].
2206.
2188. ingrate: an ungrateful person.
2207.
2189. ingratiating: pleasing; commending to grace
or favor; esp to bring (oneself) into another’s
favor or good graces by conscious effort.
2208.
2190. ingress: entrance; influx; incursion.(opp
egress-exit; efflux).
2209.
2191. inherent: innate; natural.
inquest: act of inquiring before a jury esp in
case of violent or sudden death.
2192. inhibit: 1) to prohibit from doing sth; 2a) 2210.
to hold in check : restrain; 2b) to discourage
2211.
from free or spontaneous activity esp thru the
operation of inner psychological impediments
or of social controls.
inscrutable: enigmatic.
inquisition: judicial inquiry.
inquisitor: one who inquires or makes inquisition, esp one who is unduly harsh, severe or
hostile in making an inquiry.
insalubrious: not salubrious; not healthful;
unwholesome.
insatiable: constantly wanting more; that
cannot be satisfied or appeased; very greedy.
inscrutable: that cannot be easily understood; completely obscure or mysterious; unfathomable; enigmatic.
2212. insensate: 1) lacking sense or understanding;
foolish; 2) lacking animate awareness or sensation; 3) lacking humane feeling : brutal.
inimitable: that cannot be imitated or
matched; too good to be equaled or copied.
2213. insensible: 1) imperceptible [dampened by
an ∼ dew]; broadly: slight : slight, gradual
iniquitous: nefarious, vicious, infamous; up[∼ motion]; 2) incapable or bereft of feeling
right, virtuous, equitable.
or sensation as ; a) not endowed with life or
spirit : insentient [∼ earth]; b) unconscious
injunction: order; precept; exhortation.
[knocked ∼]; c) lacking sensory perception or
injurious: pernicious, detrimental, disadvanability to react; 3) lacking emotional response
tageous; beneficial, useful, favorable.
: apathetic, indifferent; 4) lacking delicacy or
refinement.
inkling: an indirect suggestion; slight indication; hint; a vague idea or notion; suspicion. 2214. insidious: designing, wily, crafty; frank, candid, sincere.
innate: inborn.
2215. insidious: watching an opportunity to eninnocuous: harmless, salutary, refreshing;
snare; deceptive; treacherous.
not likely to give offense or arouse strong feeling of hostility; ¡opp¿ noxious, deleterious, 2216. insinuate: to give indirect hints of a derogamaleficent, baneful.
tory nature.
2193. inimical: unfriendly; hostile; unfavorable.
2194.
2195.
2196.
2197.
2198.
2199.
2200.
2201. innuendo: insinuation; indirect reference or 2217. insipid: tasteless; wanting spirit or interest;
intimation.
dull.
2202. inopportune: not opportune; coming or hap- 2218. insipid: without flavor; tasteless; not exciting
pening at a poor time; not appropriate.
or interesting; dull.
2203. inordinate: disproportionate; huge.
2219. insolent: rude; overbearing; insulting.
71

73. 2220. insolvent: 1a) unable to pay debts as they fall 2234.
due in the usu course of business; having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value
of assets held; 1b) insufficient to pay all debts
[an ∼ state]; 1c) not up to a normal standard
or complement : impoverished; 2) relating to
or for the relief of insolvents.
2235.
2221. insomnia: prolonged and usu abnormal inability to obtain adequate sleep.
intangible: incapable of being perceived by
touch; not definite or clear to the mind; that
represents value but either has no intrinsic
value or no material being [stocks and bonds
are intangible property, goodwill is an intangible asset].
integral: 1a) essential to completeness : constituent [an ∼ part]; 1b) formed as a unit with
another part [a seat with ∼ headrest]; 2) lacking nothing essential : entire.
2222. insouciant: careless, unconcerned, reckless;
2236. integrate: 1) to form, coordinate, or blend
[opp. are] prudent, circumspect, wary.
into a functioning or unified whole : unite; 2a)
to unite with sth else; 2b) to incorporate into
2223. inspissate: make thick.
a larger unit; 3a) to end the segregation of and
bring into equal membership in society or an
2224. instigated: to urge on; to incite.
organization.
2225. insubordinate: not submissive to authority.
2237. integrity: 1) firm adherence to a code of esp
moral or artistic values : incorruptibility; 2) an
2226. insubstantial: not substantial; specif : not
unimpaired condition : soundness; 3) the qualreal, imaginary; not solid or firm; weak or
ity or state of being complete or undivided.
flimsy.
2227. insufferable: detestable; that cannot be en- 2238. integument: outer covering.
dured.
2239. intellect: 1a) the power of knowing as distinguished from the power to feel and to will
2228. insufferable: intolerable, appalling, excruci: the capacity for knowledge; 1b) the capacating; soothing, emollient, agreeable.
ity for rational or intelligent thought esp when
highly developed; 2) a person with great intel2229. insular: 1a) of, relating to, or constituting an
lectual powers.
island; 1b) dwelling or situated on an island [∼
residents]; 2) char of an isolated people, esp : 2240. intelligentsia: the people regarded as or rebeing, having, or reflecting a narrow provincial
garding themselves a the educated and enlightviewpoint; 3) of or relating to an island of cells
ened class; intellectuals collectively.
or tissues.
2241. intemperate: indulging to excess any ap2230. insuperable: which cannot be overcome or
petite or passion.
surmounted.
2242. intercalate: insert a day in a calendar.
2231. insupportable: unjustified; or that cannot
2243. intercede: to act as peacemaker between two.
be supported by ath.
2232. insurgent: rising up against established au- 2244.
thority; rebellious specif; designating or of a 2245.
revolt or rebellion not well enough organized
to be recognized in international law as belligerence; designating or of a faction in revolt 2246.
against the leadership of a political party.
2247.
2233. insurrection: a rising or revolt; rebellion.
72
intercept: to stop in passage.
intercession: act of interceding or pleading
for another.
interdict: to prohibit; to forbid.
interim: the period of time between; meantime.

74. 2248. interlocution: collocution; colloquy; conver- 2262. intractable: not tractable; specif : hard to
sation; confabulation.
manage; unruly or stubborn; hard to work,
manipulate, cure, treat etc.
2249. interloper: one who trades without license;
2263. intramural: within walls; included within the
an intrudes or meddle in other’s affairs.
college.
2250. intermediary: acting between others; inter2264. intransigent: refusing to compromise, come
mediate agent.
to an agreement or be reconciled; uncompro2251. interminable: endless; boundless.
mising.
2252. internecine: deadly or harmful to both sides 2265. intrepid: fearless; dauntless.
of a group involved in a conflict as a civil war;
mutually destructive or harmful; of or involv- 2266. intrigue: conspiracy, machination, ruse; innocence, honesty, sincerity.
ing conflict within a group.
2253. interpolate: 1a) to alter or corrupt (as a text) 2267.
by inserting new or foreign matter; 1b) to insert (words) into a text or into a conversation;
2268.
2) to insert between other things or parts : intercalate.
2269.
2254. interpose: intervene, intercede, intercept, interpolate; withhold, disregard, ignore.
2270.
2255. interpose: to put in by way of interruption.
2256. interregnum: an interval between two successive reigns, when the country has no 2271.
sovereign; a suspension of governmental or administrative functions; period without the usu 2272.
ruler, governor etc; any break in a series or in
a continuity; interval.
intrinsic: innate, ingrained, syngenic; extrinsic, extraneous, external.
intrinsicality:
quintessence.
immanence;
inherence;
introspective: to look into the mind; thinking deeply; observation and analysis of oneself.
introvert: to direct (one’s interest, mind or
attention) upon oneself; introspect; to bend
(sth) inward.
intrusion: something forced in;.
inundate: to cover or engulf with a flood; deluge; to overwhelm with a rush or great amount
of ath.
2257. interrogate: to ask questions of formally in 2273. inure: to make accustomed to sth difficult,
painful etc; habituate.
examining.
2258. interspersion: to scatter or set here and 2274. invalidate: to make invalid; esp to weaken or
destroy the cogency of; nullify.
there.
2259. intervene: 1) to occur, fall or come between 2275.
points of time or events; 2) to enter or appear
as an irrelevant or extraneous feature or cir2276.
cumstance; 3) to come in or between by way
of hindrance or modification [∼ to sop a fight];
4a) to become a third party to a legal pro- 2277.
ceeding begun by others for the protection of
an alleged interest.
2278.
2260. intimate: to make known indirectly; hint or
imply.
2279.
2261. intimidate: to strike fear into; to influence by
threats and violence.
73
invariably:
change.
undoubtedly; not capable of
invasion: incursion, inroad, foray; fortification, escarpment, rampart, bulwark.
invective: abuses; inveighing; using, inclined
to use or characterized by strong verbal abuse.
inveigh: to make a violent verbal attack; talk
or write bitterly (against); rail.
inveigle: to lead on with deception; entice or
trick into doing or giving sth, going somewhere
etc.

75. 2280. inveterate: deep rooted; confirmed in any 2294. irreconcilable: that cannot be reconciled;
habit.
that cannot be brought into agreement; incompatible; conflicting or inconsistent.
2281. invidious: odious, vexatious, obnoxious; giv2295. irredeemable: which cannot be redeemed ie
ing offense.
bought back.
2282. inviolable: not to be violated; not to be
2296. irrepressible: that which cannot be crushed.
profaned or injured; sacred [an inviolable
promise]; that cannot be violated; indestruc- 2297. irresolute: not resolute; wavering in decision,
tible [the inviolable heavens].
purpose or opinion; indecisive; vacillating.
2283. inviolate: uninjured; unprofaned.
2298. irreverent: lacking proper respect or seriousness; also : satiric.
2284. invoke: 1a) to petition for health or support;
1b) to appeal to or cite as authority; 2) to call 2299.
forth by incantation : conjure; 3) to make an
earnest request for : solicit; 4) to put into effect 2300.
or operation : implement.
irrevocable: which cannot be recalled; unalterable.
isthmus: a narrow strip of land having water
at each side and connecting two bodies of land.
2285. invulnerable: not vulnerable specif; that 2301. itinerary: traveling plan; a record of a journey; a guidebook for travelers.
cannot be wounded or injured; proof against
attack; unassailable.
2302. jaded: tired; worn out; wearied; dulled or satiated, as from over indulgence.
2286. iota: a very small quantity; jot.
2303. jamboree: a boisterous frolic; a spree; a great
2287. irascible: easily angered; quick-tempered;
boy-scout rally.
showing or resulting from a quick temper or
fit of anger [an irascible reply].
2304. jape: prick.
2305. jargon: 1a) confused, unintelligible language;
1b) a strange, outlandish, or barbarous language or dialect; 1c) a hybrid language or diirenic: (or eirenic) working for peace.
alect simplified in vocabulary and grammar
iridescent:
having or showing shifting
and used for communication between peoples
changes in color or an interplay or rainbowlike
of different speech; 2) the technical termicolors, as when seen from different angles.
nology or char idiom of a special activity or
group; 3) obscure and often pretentious lanirk: to irritate; disgust; annoy.
guage marked by circumlocutions and long
words.
ironic: 1) relating to, containing, or constituting irony; 2) given to irony : sarcastic.
2306. jaundiced: 1) affected with or as if with jaundice; 2) exhibiting or influenced by envy, disirony: 1) a pretense of ignorance and of willtaste or hostility [a ∼ eye].
ingness to learn from another assumed; in order to make the other’s false conceptions by 2307. jaunt: to take a short trip for pleasure.
adroit questioning; 2a) the use of words to ex- 2308. jaunty: having an airy or sprightly manner;
press sth other than and esp the opposite of;
approaching swagger.
literal meaning; 2b) a usu humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by 2309. jeopardy: 1) exposure to or imminence of
irony; 3) an incongruity between the actual redeath, loss, or injury : danger; 2) the danger
sult of a sequence of events and the; normal or
that an accused person is subjected to when
expected result.
on trial for a criminal offense.
2288. irate: angry; wrathful; incensed.
2289.
2290.
2291.
2292.
2293.
74

76. 2310. jettison: to throw overboard; to discard (sth) 2325. kaleidescope: ath that constantly changes in
as useless or a burden.
color or pattern.
2311. jingo: a person who boasts of his patriotism 2326.
and favors an aggressive, threatening warlike
foreign policy; chauvinist.
2327.
2312. jocose: joking or playful; humorous.
ken: mental perception; range of knowledge,
understanding [beyond one’s ken].
killjoy: a person who destroys or lesses people’s enjoyment.
2313. jocund: marked by or suggestive of high spir- 2328. kindred: relatives or family; kin; of like nature; similar [kindred spirits].
its and lively mirthfulness.
2329. kinetic: of or resulting from motion; energetic
and dynamic.
2314. joist: timber laid horizontally.
2315. jollity: the quality or state of being jolly; fun.
2330.
2316. jostle: 1a) to come in contact or into collision;
1b) to make one’s way by pushing and shoving;
1c) to exist in close proximity; 2) to vie in
2331.
gaining an objective : contend.
2317. judicial: having, showing or applying sound
judgement; wise and careful.
2318. judicious: having, exercising, or char by
sound judgement : discreet.
2319. juggernaut: ath that exacts blind devotion
or terrible sacrifice; any terrible , irresistible
force.
kleptomania: an abnormal, persistent impulse or tendency to steal not prompted by
need.
knapsack: a leather or canvas bag or case
worn on the back as by soldiers or hikers for
carrying equipment or supplies.
2332. knave: a dishonest, deceitful person; tricky
rascal, rogue.
2333. knead: to mix and work (dough, clay etc) into
a pliable mass by folding over and squeezing
usu with the hands; to press, rub or squeeze
with the hands; massage.
2320. juncture: 1a) joint, connection; 1b) the man- 2334.
ner or transition or mode of relationship between two consecutive sounds in speech; 2) an
instance of joining : union, junction; 3) a point
of time, esp one made critical by concurrence 2335.
of circumstances; 4) [syn] exigency, emergency,
contingency, pinch, straits.
knell: the sound of a bell, esp of a bell rung
slowly, as at a funeral; an omen of death, failure etc.
2321. junket: 1) a dessert of sweetened flavored 2336.
milk set with rennet; 2a) a festive social affair; 2b) a trip, journey, esp a trip made by an 2337.
official at public expense; 3) feast, banquet.
knotty: having or full of knots; hard to solve
or explain; puzzling.
2322. junta: ruling council; a group of political in- 2338.
triguer esp such a group of military men in
power after a coup.
2339.
2323. jurisprudence: the science or philosophy of
law; a part or divisions of law [medical jurisprudence].
2340.
kowtow: the Chinese ceremony of prostration.
knit: 1) [chiefly dial] to tie together; 2) to
link firmly or closely [∼ted my hands]; 3) to
contract into wrinkles.
kosher: pure, clean according ordinance eg
Jewish meat.
kudos: credit or praise for an achievement;
glory, fame.
labefaction: weakening.
2324. juxtapose: to put side by side or dose to- 2341. labile: liable to change; unstable [labile chemgether.
ical compounds].
75

77. 2342. labile: unstable.
or dull; lose intensity; to suffer with longing;
pine; to put on an air of sentimental tenderness
or wistful melancholy.
2343. labyrinth: a structure containing an intricate
network of winding passages hard to follow
without losing one’s way; maze; a complicated 2359. languor: a lack of vigor or vitality; weakness;
perplexing arrangement, course of affairs etc;
a lack of interest or spirit; feeling of listlessthe inner ear.
ness; indifference; the condition of being still,
sluggish or dull.
2344. lacerate: to tear; to wound; to afflict.
2345. laches: inexcusable dealing.
2360. lank: long and slender; lean; straight and
limp; not curly : said of hair.
2346. lachrymose: tearful; sad.
2361. lanyard: short rope.
2347. lackadaisical: affectedly pensive; sentimental; languishing.
2362. larceny:
pillage, theft, embezzlement;
restoration, return, indemnification.
2348. laconic: curt, succinct, pithy, brief, terse; diffuse, rambling, wordy, profuse.
2363. larder: a place where the food supplies of a
household are kept; pantry; a supply of food;
2349. laggard: a slow person esp one who is always
provisions.
falling behind; loiterer.
2350. lagoon: a shallow lake or pond esp one con- 2364.
nected with a larger body of water; the area
of water enclosed by a circular coral reef, or
atoll; an area of shallow salt water separated
2365.
from the sea by sand dunes.
largesse: generous giving, as from a patron;
a gift or gifts given in a generous or sometimes
showy way; nobility of spirit.
lascivious: wanton,lewd, prurient, ribald,
dissolute; virtuous, unsullied, chaste.
2351. laity: all the people not included among the
clergy; laymen collectively; all the people not 2366. lassitude: languor, torpor, lethargy; vivacity,
vigour, animation.
belonging to any given profession.
2352. lambaste: to beat soundly; thrash; to scold 2367. latent: present but invisible or inactive; lying
hidden and underdeveloped within a person or
or denounce severely.
thing,as a quality or power.
2353. lambent: licking; moving about as if touching
lightly; flickering.
2368. lateral: of , at , from or toward the side; sideways.
2354. lament: to feel deep sorrow or express it as
by weeping or wailing; mourn; grieve.
2369. latifundia: large landed estate.
2355. lampoon: a piece of satirical writing, usu at2370. latitude: freedom from narrow restrictions;
tacking or ridiculing someone.
freedom of opinion, conduct or action.
2356. languid: without vigor or vitality; drooping;
weak; without interest or spirit; listless; indif- 2371. laudable: deserving praise;.
ferent; sluggish; dull; slow.
2372. laudatory: expressing praise; eulogistic; commendatory.
2357. languish: to be inert, depressed; to droop.
2358. languish: to lose vigor or vitality; fail in 2373.
health; become weak; droop; to live under distressing conditions; continue in a state of suffering [to languish in poverty]; to become slack
76
lavish: very generous or liberal in giving
or spending, often extravagantly so; prodigal;
more than enough; very abundant; unstinted
[lavish entertainment].

78. 2374. lax: 1a) [of the bowels] loose, open; 2) defi- 2386.
cient in firmness : not stringent [∼ control];
3a) not tense, firm or rigid : slack [a ∼ rope];
3b) having an open or loose texture; 3c) having 2387.
the constituents spread apart [a ∼ flower cluster]; 4) articulated with the muscles involved
in a relatively relaxed state (as the vowel ¨ in 2388.
i
contrast with the vowel ´ ¡check this last meane
ing out i am not so sure about this.
2375. lechery: unstrained, excessive indulgence of
sexual desires; gross sensuality; lewdness.
2389.
2376. lectern: a reading desk in a church esp such
a desk from which a part of the scriptures is 2390.
read in a church service; a stand for holding
the notes written speech ,etc, as of a lecture.
lethal: causing or capable or causing death;
fatal or deadly.
lethargy: a condition of abnormal drowsiness
or torpor; a great lack of energy; sluggishness,
dullness, apathy etc.
levee: an embankment built alongside a river
to prevent high water from flooding bordering
land; a landing place, as a pier on the bank of
a river; a low ridge of earth around a field to
be irrigated.
levitate: to cause to rise and float in the air.
levity: lightness; subtile; astatic; lightness or
gaiety of disposition, conduct or speech; esp
improper unbecoming gaiety or flippancy; lack
of seriousness; frivolity; fickleness; instability.
2377. leer: a sly, sidelong, lecherous look.
2378. leery: on one’s guard; wary; suspicious.
2391. levy: to impose or collect (a tax, tribute,
fine,etc); to enlist (troops) for military service,
usu by force; to wage (war).
2379. leeway: 1a) off-course lateral movement of a
ship when under way; 1b) the angle between 2392.
the heading and track of an airplane; 2) an
allowable margin of freedom or variation : tolerance.
2393.
2380. legacy: money or property left to someone
by will; bequest; ath handed down from or as
2394.
from, an ancestor.
2395.
2381. legend: 1a) a story coming down from the
past esp : one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable; 1b) a body of such
stories [a place in the ∼ of the frontier]; 1c) a
popular myth of recent origin; 1d) a person or
thing that inspires legends; 2a) an inscription 2396.
or title on an object (as a coin); 2b) caption;
2c) an explanatory list of the symbols on a map
or chart.
lewd: showing or intended to excite lust or
sexual desire esp in an offensive way; lascivious.
lexicographer: a person who compiles or
writes a dictionary.
lexicon: a dictionary.
liability: 1a) the quality or state of being liable; 1b) probability; 2) sth for which one is liable esp pecuniary obligation : debt—usu used
in plural; 3) one that acts as a disadvantage :
drawback.
liaison: 1) a binding or thickening agent used
in cooking; 2a) a close bond or connection :
interrelationship; 2b) an illicit sexual relationship : affair; 3a) communication for
2397. libel: any false and malicious written or
printed statement or any sign, picture, or effigy
tending to expose a person to public ridicule,
2383. legerdemain: sleight of hand; tricks of stage
hatred, or contempt or to injure a person’s repmagician; trickery of any sort; deceit.
utation in any way.
2384. lenient: not harsh or severe in disciplining, punishing, judging etc; mild; merciful; 2398. libertine: a person esp a man, who leads
an unrestrained, sexually immoral life; rake; a
clement.
free-thinker esp in religious matters—usu used
2385. leonine: of, characteristic of or like a lion.
disparagingly.
2382. legerdemain: a sleight of hand; jugglery.
77

79. 2399. libidinous: full of or characterized by lust; 2415. liquidate: 1a(i)] to determine by agreement
lewd; lascivious.
or by litigation the precise amount of (indebtedness, damages or accounts); (ii)] to deter2400. libido: 1) emotional or psychic energy that
mine the liabilities and apportion assets toin psychoanalytic theory is derived from primward discharging the indebtedness of; 1b) to
itive biological urges and that is usu goalsettle (a debt) by payment or other settlement;
directed; 2) sexual drive.
2) to do away with ; 3) to convert (assets) into
cash.
2401. libretto: the words, or text of an opera, oratorio or any other long choral work.
2416. lissome: nimble; flexible.
2402. licentious: morally unstrained, esp in sexual 2417.
activity; lascivious.
2418.
2403. lien: a claim on the property of another as
security for the payment of a just debt.
list: to tilt to one side, as a ship.
listless: having no interest in what is going
on about one, as a result of illness, weariness,
dejection, etc; spiritless; languid.
2419. litany: a prayer of supplication; a series
of fixed invocations and responses used as a
2405. ligneous: of, or having the nature of wood;
prayer; a repetitive recitation, listing or speciwoody.
fication.
2404. ligature: a bandage; a tie.
2406. limber: pliant, lithe, ductile; rigid, unyield- 2420. lithe: bending easily; flexible; supple; limber;
ing, obstinate.
lissome.
2407. limbo: place of oblivion; borderland of hell; 2421. litigation: law-suit; the act or process of carrying on a lawsuit.
any intermediate, indeterminate state or condition; a place or condition of confinement, ne2422. litotes: understatement for effect, esp such
glect or oblivion.
understatement in which sth is expressed by a
negation of the contrary (ex not a few regrets).
2408. limn: 1) to draw or paint on a surface; 2)
to outline in clear sharp detail : delineate; 3) 2423. livid: black and blue; discolored by a bruise;
describe.
grayish blue; lead colored : sometimes to mean
pale white or red [livid with rage].
2409. limpid: perfectly clear; transparent; not
cloudy or turbid [limpid waters]; clear and sim- 2424. loath: unwilling; reluctant: usu followed by
ple [limpid prose].
an infinitive [to be loath to depart].
2410. lineage: direct descent from an ancestor; an- 2425.
cestry; family; stock; descendants from a common ancestor.
2426.
2411. lineaments: 1a) an outline, feature, or contour of a body or figure esp of a face—usu used
in pl; 1b) a linear topographic feature (as of the
earth or a planet) that reveals a characteristic
2427.
(as a fault or the subsurface structure); 2) a
distinguishing or char feature.
loathe: to feel intense dislike, disgust, or hatred for; abhor; detest.
locution: 1) particular form of expression or a
peculiarity of phrasing; esp : a word or expression char of a region, group or cultural level;
2) style of discourse : phraseology.
lode: 1) [dial Eng] waterway; 2) an ore deposit; 3) sth that resembles a lode : an abundant store.
2412. linguistic: of or relating to language or lin- 2428. lofty: 1a) elevated in character and spirit : noguistics.
ble; 1b) elevated in status : superior; 2) having
a haughty overbearing manner : supercilious;
2413. lintel: bar above the door.
3a) rising to a great height : impressively high;
2414. lionize: to treat as a celebrity.
3b) remote, esoteric.
78

80. 2429. loiter: to linger in an aimless way; spend time 2445. lurid: 1a) wan and ghastly pale in appearance
idly: often with about ; to walk or move slowly
; 1b) of any of several light or medium grayish
and indolently, with frequent stops and pauses.
colors ranging in hue from yellow to orange;
2) shining with the red glow of fire seen thru
2430. loll: to lean or lounge about in a relaxed or
smoke or cloud; 3a) causing horror or revulsion
lazy manner; to hang in a relaxed manner;
: gruesome; 3b) melodramatic, sensational :
droop.
also shocking [paperbacks in the usual ∼ covers].
2431. loophole: a means of escape or evasion; or
maybe a fallacy in a system.
2446. lurk: to stay hidden, ready to spring out, attack etc; lie in wait; to exist undiscovered or
2432. lope: to move along easily, with a long swingunobserved; be present as a latent or not reading stride or in an easy canter.
ily apparent threat; to move furtively.
2433. lopsided: ill balanced; heavy on one side.
2434. loquacious: very talkative; fond of talking.
2435. lout: a clumsy stupid fellow; boor.
2447. luscious: palatable, savory, delectable; unsavory, sharp, acrid.
2448. lustrous: having lustre; shining; bright; glorious.
2436. low: to make the characteristic vocal sound of 2449. macabre:
a cow; moo.
ghastly.
2437. lucid: clearheaded; rational [ a lucid thinker]; 2450.
clear to the mind; readily understood [lucid
instructions]; transparent; designating an interval of sanity in a mental disorder.
grim and horrible;
gruesome;
mace: a heavy medieval war club, often with
a spiked, metal head; any similar weapon; a
staff used as a symbol of authority by certain
officials; mace-bearer.
2438. lucrative: producing wealth or profit; prof- 2451. macebearer: one who carries a mace in a ceritable; remunerative [a lucrative investment].
emonial procession.
2439. lucre: money; riches : now chiefly in a humor- 2452. macerate: to soften and break down into
ously derogatory sense, as in “filthy lucre”.
component parts by soaking in liquid for some
time; specif to soften and break down (food)
2440. ludicrous: so absurd, ridiculous, or exaggerin the digestive system; to steep (fruit or vegated as to cause or merit laughter.
etables) as in wine or liquor; loosely, to break,
tear,chop etc into bits; to cause to waste away
2441. lugubrious: very sad or mournful esp in a
or grow thin.
way that seems exaggerate or ridiculous.
2453. Machiavellian: of, like or characterized by
2442. lull: to calm or soothe by gentle sound or mothe political principles and methods of expetion: chiefly in “lull to sleep”; to bring into a
diency, craftiness, and duplicity set forth in
specified condition by soothing and reassuring
Machiavelli’s book, “The Prince”; crafty; de[to lull people into a false sense of security]; to
ceitful
make less intense; quiet; allay.
2454. machicolated: having loopholes for dropping
2443. lumber: to move heavily, clumsily and often
missiles.
noisily; to rumble.
2455. machination: scheming; an artful or secret
2444. luminary: a body that gives off light, such as
plot or scheme, esp one with evil intent.
the sun or moon; a person who sheds light on
some subject or enlightens mankind; famous 2456. maculated: 1) marked with spots : blotched;
intellectual; any famous or well-known person.
2) impure, besmirched.
79

81. 2457. madrigal: a short poem, usu a love poem, 2474. malfeasance: wrongdoing or misconduct, esp
which can be set to music; an often contrapunby a public official.
tal song with parts for several voices singing
without accompaniment, popular in the 15th- 2475. malicious: having, showing or caused by
malice; spiteful; intentionally mischievous or
17th centuries; loosely any song, esp a part
harmful.
song.
2458. maelstrom: violent whirlpool; violent con- 2476. maligned: to speak evil of esp falsely and rancorously.
fused agitated state of mind/emotions etc.
2459. maestro: a master usu in an art; esp an emi- 2477. malinger: to pretend to be ill or otherwise incapacitated to in order to escape duty or work;
nent composer, conductor, or teacher of music.
shirk.
2460. magnanimous: noble in mind; high-souled;
esp generous in overlooking injury or insult; 2478. malleable: that which can be hammered,
pounded or pressed into various shaped withrising above pettiness or meanness.
out breaking: said of metals; capable of being
2461. magnate: a very important or influential perchanged, molded, trained etc; adaptable.
son in any field of activity esp in a large business.
2479. malodorous: having a bad odor; stinking.
2462. magniloquent: lofty, pompous or grandiose 2480.
in speech or style of expression; boastful or
bombastic.
2481.
2463. maieutic: dialectic method of Socrates.
manacle: a handcuff; fetter or shackle for the
hand; any restraint (usu used in pl).
mandate: a charge; a command from a superior to an inferior.
2464. maim: to deprive of the use of some necessary 2482. mandatory: 1) containing or constituting a
part of the body; cripple; mutilate; disable.
command : obligatory [∼ retirement age]; 2)
of, by, relating to, or holding a League of na2465. maladies: an illness or disease either of the
tions Mandate.
body or the mind.
2466. maladroitness: opposite of adroitness.
2483. mandrill: baboon.
2467. malaise: uneasiness; feeling of discomfort or 2484.
sickness.
2485.
2468. malapropism: ludicrous misuse of words, esp
through confusion caused by resemblance in
2486.
sound.
mangled: injured; twisted.
mangy: shabby and filthy; sordid; squalid;
mean and low; despicable.
maniacal: of, having or showing mania;
wildly insane; raving; characterized by excessive or persistent enthusiasm.
2469. malcontent: discontented; dissatisfied, or rebellious ; applied esp to the critics of the gov2487. manifest: 1) readily perceived by the senses
ernment.
and esp by the sight; 2) easily understood or
2470. malediction: a curse; imprecation; denuncirecognized by the mind : obvious; 3) to make
ation; execration; anathema; fulmination; vilievident or certain by showing or displaying; 4)
fication; vituperation; scurrility.
manifestation, indication; 5) manifesto; 6) a
list of passengers or an invoice of cargo for a
2471. malefactor: evil doer; a criminal.
vehicle (as a ship or plane).
2472. malefic: doing mischief; producing evil.
2488. manifestation: 1a) the act, process, or an
2473. malevolence: bad intention; malice; rancor;
instance of manifesting; 1b) sth that manifests
virulence; mordacity; acerbity; galling.
or is manifest; 1c) one of the forms in which
80

82. an individual is manifested; 1d) an occult phe- 2504.
nomenon : specif materialization; 2) a public
demonstration of power and purpose.
2505.
2489. manifesto: a public declaration of motives
and intentions by government or by a person
or group regarded as having some public importance.
maritime: nautical, oceanic, aquatic; terrestrial, earthly, inland.
maritime: on,near or living near the sea; of or
relating to sea navigation, shipping etc; characteristic of sailors; nautical ; of the relatively
wet air or climate associated with large bodies
of water.
2490. manifold: having many and various forms, 2506. marked: singled out to be watched or looked
features, part etc [manifold wisdom]; of many
for as an object of suspicion, hostility, etc [a
sorts; many and varied.
marked man]; noticeable; obvious; appreciable; distinct; conspicuous [a marked change in
2491. manipulate: to work, operate, or treat with
behavior].
or as with the hand or hands; handle or use esp
with skill; to manage or control artfully or by 2507. marmoreal: pertaining to marble.
shrewd use of influence, often in an unfair or
fraudulent way [to manipulate an election by 2508. marmot: rodent.
bribing the voters]; to falsify (figures, accounts
etc) for one’s own purposes or profit; to cause 2509. marshal: 1a) a high official in the household
of a medieval king, prince, or noble orig hav(prices of stock etc) to fall or rise by wash sales,
ing charge of the cavalry but later usu in commatched orders etc.
mand of the military forces; 1b) a person who
2492. mannered: 1) having manners of a specified
arranges and directs the ceremonial aspects of
kind [well-mannered]; 2a) having or displaying
a gathering; 2) an officer having charge of prisa particular manner; 2b) having an artificial
oners.
or stilted character [passages...so ∼ as to be
2510. marsupium: a fold of skin on the abdomen of
unintelligible].
a female marsupial forming a pouch in which
2493. mantic: prophetic.
the newborn young are carried.
2494. mantle: a loose garment.
2511. martial: of or suitable for war [martial songs];
showing a readiness or eagerness to fight; war2495. manumit: to free from slavery; liberate (a
like; of the army, the navy or military life; milslave,serf etc).
itary.
2496. mar: to injure or damage so as to make imperfect, less attractive etc; spoil; impair; disfigure. 2512. martinet: a very strict military disciplinarian; any very strict disciplinarian or stickler
2497. marasmus: progressive emaciation.
for rigid regulations.
2498. marasmus: wasting away of the body.
2513. martingale: harness strap.
2499. marcescent: withering.
2500.
2501.
2502.
2503.
2514. masochism: the getting of sexual pleasure
from being dominated, mistreated or hurt
marinade: a savory usu acidic sauce in which
physically or otherwise by one’s partner; the
meat, fish or a vegetable is soaked to enrich its
getting of pleasure from suffering , physical or
flavor or to tenderize it.
psychological pain, inflicted by others or by
oneself.
marinate: to steep (meat, fish, veg etc) in a
marinade.
2515. mastic: a kind of resin.
marionette: a puppet moved by strings.
2516. masticate: to chew up (food etc); to grind,
marital: of marriage; matrimonial; connubial.
cut or knead (rubber etc) to a pulp.
81

83. 2517. materialism: the philosophic doctrine that 2529.
matter is the only reality and everything in;
the world, including thought, will, and feel- 2530.
ing, can be explained only in; terms of matter:
opposed to idealism; the doctrine that comfort,pleasure and wealth are the only or highest goals or values; the tendency to be more
concerned with material than with spiritual or;
intellectual goals or values.
2531.
maxim: general principle; a pithy saying.
mayhem: the offense of maiming a person;
specif the intentional mutilation of another’s
body; injury inflicted on another so as to cause
loss of a bodily part or function necessary for
self-defense; any deliberate destruction or violence; any deliberate destruction or violent.
meager: thin; lean; emaciated; of poor quality or small amount; not full or rich; inadequate.
2518. maternal: of, like or characteristic of a
mother or motherhood; motherly; derived, received or inherited from a mother; related thru 2532. mealymouthed: not outspoken or blunt; not
the mother’s side of the family.
willing to state the facts in simple, direct
words; euphemistic and insincere.
2519. matriarchy: a form of social organization in
which the mother is recognized as the head of 2533. meander: to take a winding or tortuous
course said of a stream; to wander aimlessly
the family or tribe, descent and kinship being
or idly; ramble.
traced thru the mother; government, rule or
domination by women.
2534. meddle: to concern oneself with or take part
in other people’s affairs without being asked
2520. matutinal: early.
or needed; interfere (in or with); to tamper
2521. maudlin: foolishly and tearfully or weakly
(with).
sentimental; tearfully sentimental from too
2535. mediate: 1) occupying a middle position; 2a)
much liquor.
acting thru an intervening agency; 2b) exhibiting indirect causation, connection or relation.
2522. maudlin: silly; sickly; sentimental; fuddled;
half drunk.
2536. mediate: 1a) to effect by action as an intermediary; 1b) to bring accord out of by action
2523. maul: to injure by beating or tearing; bruise
as an intermediary; 2a) to act as intermediary
or lacerate; to handle roughly or clumsily;
agent in bringing, effecting
manhandle.
2524. maunder: talk incoherently.
2537. mediocre: of moderate or low quality, value,
ability, or performance : ordinary, so-so.
2525. mausoleum: a large, imposing tomb: humor2538. meditation: 1) a discourse intended to exously applied to any large, somber building or
press its author’s reflections or to guide others
room; a building with vaults for the entombin contemplation; 2) the act or process of medment of a number of bodies.
itating.
2526. mauve: a purple dye and pigment that is pro- 2539. medley: mingled and confused mass; a muduced by oxidizing aniline, used for wool, silk
sical piece made up of tunes or passages from
etc.
various works.
2527. maverick: an unbranded animal, esp a 2540.
strayed calf; a person who takes an independent stand, as in politics, refusing to conform
to that of a party or group.
2541.
2528. mawkish: having a sweet, weak, sickening
taste; insipid or nauseating; sentimental in a
weak, insipid way, so as to be sickening.
82
meek: patient and mild; not inclined to anger
or resentment; too submissive; easily imposed
on; spineless; spiritless.
megalomania: a mental disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur, wealth, power
etc; a passion for or for doing big things; a
tendency to exaggerate.

84. 2542. meiosis: understatement.
2543.
2544.
2545.
2546.
2547.
2561. merger: 1) [Law] the absorption of an estate,
a contract, or an interest in another, of a minor
melee: a confused struggle; esp : a hand-tooffense, or by obligation into a judgement; 2a)
hand fight among several people.
the act or process of merging; 2b) absorption
by a corporation of one or more organizations
melic: pertaining to song.
(as business concerns).
mellifluous: flowing with honey or sweetness;
2562. mesa: an isolated relatively flat topped natusmooth.
ral elevation usu more extensive than a butte
mellow: soft to the touch; genial.
and less extensive than a plateau; also : a
broad terrace with an abrupt slope on one side
memento: ath serving as a reminder or warn: bench.
ing; a souvenir.
2548. memorabilia:
memoirs!.
things worth remembering; 2563. mescaline: drug producing hallucination.
2549. memorialize: 1) to address or petition by a
memorial; 2) commemorate.
2564. metaphor: a figure of speech containing an
implied comparison, in which a word or phrase
ordinarily and primarily used of one things is
applied to another.
2550. menagerie: a place where animals are kept
esp for exhibition.
2565. mete: to allot; distribute; apportion : usu
with out [mete out].
2551. mendacious: lying; a falsehood.
2552. mendacity:
falsehood,
prevarication, 2566. meteoric: 1) of, relating to, or derived from
the earth’s atmosphere [∼ water]; 2a) of or recalumny, perjury; veracity, candor, probity.
lating to a meteor; 2b) resembling a meteor in
2553. mendicant: begging; a begging friar; fakir.
speed or in sudden and temporary brilliance
[∼ rise to fame].
2554. menial: of or fit for servants; servile; low;
mean.
2567. methodical: characterized by method; orderly; systematic.
2555. mentor: tutor; teacher; a wise counselor.
2556. mercantile: 1) of or relating to merchants or 2568.
trading; 2) of, relating to or having the char of
mercantilism.
2569.
2557. mercenaries: 1) a soldier hired for money;
paid soldier; 2) serving merely for pay or sordid
advantage : venal, also : greedy.
2570.
2558. mercenary: a professional soldier hired to
serve in a foreign army; a person who will do
ath for money; hireling.
meticulous: extremely or excessively careful
about details; scrupulous or finicky.
2559. mercurial: variable, fluctuating, erratic; im- 2571.
mutable, constant, steadfast.
2572.
2560. meretricious: 1) of or relating to a prostitute
: having the nature of prostitution [∼ relationship]; 2a) a tawdrily and falsely attractive [the
paradise they found was a piece of ∼ trash];
2b) superficially significant : pretentious.
mettlesome: high spirited.
83
metropolis: the main city, often the capital
of a country, state or region; an y large city or
center of population, culture etc.
mettle: quality or character or temperament,
esp high quality of character; spirit; courage;
ardor.
miasma: an unwholesome exaltation; a vapor
rising as from marshes or decomposing animal
or vegetable matter, formerly supposed to poison and inflect the air, causing malaria, etc; an
unwholesome or befogging, atmosphere, influence.

85. 2573. microcosm: 1) a little world; esp : the human 2589. mirth: gladness or gaiety as shown by or acrace or human nature seen as an epitome of the
companied with laughter.
world or the universe; 2) a community or other
than unity that is an epitome or a larger unity. 2590. misadventure: an unlucky accident; mishap;
an instance of bad luck.
2574. midden: refuse heap.
2591. misanthrope: a person who hates or distrusts all people : also misanthropist.
2575. migrant: one that migrates; a) a person who
moves regularly in order to find work esp in 2592. misapprehension: to apprehend wrongly;
harvesting crops; b) an animal that shifts from
misunderstand.
one habitat to another.
2593. miscellany: 1a) [pl] separate writings col2576. milieu: environment, esp social or cultural
lected in one volume; 1b) a collection of writsetting.
ings on various subjects; 2) a mixture of various things.
2577. militant: ready or willing to fight; esp vigorous or aggressive in support or promotion of a 2594. mischance: 1) bad luck; 2) a piece of bad luck
cause; at war; fighting.
: mishap; [syn] misfortune.
2578. militate: to be directed (against); operate or 2595. mischance: an unlucky accident; misadvenwork (against or, rarely, for) : said of facts, eviture; bad luck or instance of it.
dence, actions, etc [his youth militated against
2596. misconstrue: to construe wrongly; misunderhim].
stood; misinterpret.
2579. mimesis: imitation, mimicry.
2597. miscreant: an evil person; criminal; villain.
2580. minatory: menacing; threatening.
2598. misdemeanors: bad conduct; misdeed; any
minor offense, as the breaking of a municipal
2581. mincing: affectedly elegant or dainty : a perordinance, for which; statute provides a lesser
son, or a person’s speech, manner, etc; characpunishment than for felony : the penalty is usu
terized by short steps or affected daintiness [a
a; fine or imprisonment for a short time (usu
mincing walk].
less than one year) in a local; jail, workhouse
2582. minimal: least possible.
etc.
2583. minion: a favorite, esp one who is a fawning 2599.
servile follower : term of contempt; a subordinate official, deputy, or the like.
2600.
2584. miniscule: very small or insignificant in
2601.
amount.
misgiving: mistrust; to fill with apprehensions.
mishmash: a hotch-potch; a medley.
misnomer: the act of applying a wrong name
or epithet to some person or thing; such a
name or epithet; an error in naming a person
or place in a legal document.
2585. minute: very small; tiny; of little importance
or significance; petty; trifling; of, characterized
by or attentive to tiny details; exact; precise. 2602. misogamy: hatred of marriage.
2586. minutiae: small or relatively unimportant de- 2603. misogyny: hatred of women esp by man.
tails.
2604. misprision: official misconduct.
2587. mire: deep mud; wet, soggy earth; slush; an
2605. missile: a weapon, or other object, as a spear,
area of wet, soggy ground.
bullet, rocket,etc, designed to be thrown,fired,
2588. mire: to cause to get stuck in or as in mire;
or launched toward a target; often specif a
to soil or splatter with mud or dirt.
guided or ballastic missile.
84

86. 2606. missive: a letter or written message.
2621. monad: number one; a unit; an ultimate unit
of being material or psychical.
2607. mite: 1) ¡ignoring the small arachnids¿; 2) a
small coin or sum of money; 2a) a very little : 2622. monarchy: 1) undivided rule or absolute
sovereignty by a single person; 2) a nation or
bit; 2b) a very small object or creature.
state having a monarchical government; 3) a
2608. mitigate: to make or become milder, less segovernment having an hereditary chief of state
vere , less rigorous or less painful; moderate;
with life tenure and powers varying from nomto operate or work (against) : generally coninal to absolute.
sidered a loose or erroneous usage.
2623. monetary: of or relating to money or to the
mechanisms by which it is supplied to and cir2609. mitigated: to mollify; appease.
culates in the economy.
2610. mnemonic: 1) assisting or intending to assist
memory; also : of or relating to mnemonics; 2) 2624. monograph: a systematic account on one
particular subject.
of or relating to memory.
2611. mode: a prevailing fashion or style (as of 2625. monolithic: 1a) of, relating to, or resembling
a monolith : huge, massive; 1b(i)] formed from
dress, behaviour); [syn] fashion; ¡for the other
a single crystal [a ∼ silicon chip]; 1b(ii)] prolonger meaning please see a dictionary!¿.
duced in or on a monolithic chip; 2a) cast as
a single piece; 2b) formed or composed of a
2612. modicum: small quantity; a limited portion.
material without joints or seams; 3) constitut2613. modish: in the current mode; in the latest
ing a massive undifferentiated and often rigidly
style; fashionable.
whole [a ∼ society].
2614. modulation: 1) a regulating according to 2626.
pressure or proportion : tempering; 2) an inflection of the tone or pitch of the voice; specif
2627.
: the use of stress or pitch to convey meaning;
3) a change from one musical key to another
by modulating.
monotheism: the belief or doctrine that
there is only one God.
monotony: sameness of tone or pitch, or continuance of the same tone without variation;
lack of variation or variety; tiresome sameness
or uniformity.
2615. mogul: a powerful or important person, esp 2628. monumental: 1) of or relating to a monuone with autocratic power.
ment; 2) serving as or resembling a monument
: massive; also : highly significant : outstand2616. moiety: half; one of two parts or divisions.
ing; 3) very great.
2617. mollify: to sooth the temper of; pacify; ap2629. moody: subject to or characterized by
pease; to make less intense, severe or violent.
gloomy sullen moods or changes of mood.
2618. mollycoddle: 1) a pampered or effeminate 2630. moratorium: a legal authorization, usu by
man or boy; 2) to surround with an excessive
a law passed in an emergency to delay payor absurd degree of indulgence and attention.
ment of money due, as by a bank or debtor
nation; the effective period of such an autho2619. molt: to cast off or shed the exoskeleton, hair,
rization; any authorized delay or stopping of
outer skin, horns, or feathers at certain intersome specified activity.
vals, prior to replacement of the cast-off parts
by a new growth : said of reptiles, birds, in- 2631. morbid: sickly; unwholesome.
sects etc.
2632. mordant: 1) biting and caustic in thought,
2620. momentous: of great moment; very impormanner or style : incisive [a ∼ wit]; 2) burning,
tant [a momentous decision].
pungent.
85

87. 2633. mores: 1) the fixed morally binding customs 2648. muddle: 1) to make turbid or muddy; 2) to
of a particular group; 2) moral attitudes; 3)
befog or stupefy esp with liquor; 3) to mix conhabits, manners.
fusedly; 4) to make a mess of : bungle; 5) to
think or act in a confused aimless way.
2634. mores: folk ways that are considered conducive to the welfare of society and so, through 2649. mudlark: a name for various birds that fregeneral observance, develop the force of law,
quent mud; one who picks up a living along
after becoming part of the formal legal code.
the banks of tidal rivers.
2635. morganatic: marriage of royalty to a com- 2650. muggy: hot and damp, with little or no stirmoner.
ring of the air [muggy weather].
2636. moribund: in a dying state; being in a state 2651. mulct: to punish by a fine or by depriving of
of inactivity or obsolescence.
sth; to extract (money etc) from (someone) as
by fraud or deceit.
2637. morose: ill-tempered; gloomy; sullen etc;
characterized by gloom.
2652. muliebrity: womanliness.
2638. mortician: a person who manages a funeral 2653. multifarious: having great diversity; made
home and is usu a licensed embalmer.
up of many parts.
2639. mortification:
which vexes.
humiliation; chagrin; that 2654. multiform: having many forms or appearances.
2640. mortify: to punish (one’s body) or control 2655.
(one’s physical desires and passions) by selfdenial, fasting etc as a means of religious ascetic discipline; to cause to feel shame, humil- 2656.
iation, chagrin etc ; to injure the pride or selfrespect of; to destroy the vitality or vigor of.
2657.
2641. mosaic: the fitting together in a design of
2658.
small pieces of colored marble glass etc.
multiplicity: the quality or condition of being manifold or various; a great number.
mummery: great show without reality; foolish ceremonial.
mundane: worldly; earthly.
munificent: extremely generous.
2642. mote: a speck of dust or other tiny particle. 2659. murky: dark or gloomy; heavy and obscure
with smoke, mist, etc [the murky air].
2643. motif: a main element, idea, feature etc;
specif a main theme or subject to be elabo- 2660. murrain: plague.
rated on or developed as in a piece of music, a
2661. muse: to think deeply and at length; medibook, etc; a repeated figure in a design; some
tate.
inner drive, impulse, intention etc that causes
a person to do sth or act in a certain way; in- 2662. musky: having an odor of or resembling musk.
centive; goal.
2663. muster: 1) a representative specimen : sam2644. motile: capable of or exhibiting spontaneous
ple; 2a) an act of assembling; specif : formal
motion.
military inspection; 2b) critical examination;
2c) an assembled group : collection; 2d) in2645. motley: of many colors or patches of color;
ventory.
having or composed of many different or dashing elements; heterogeneous [a motley crew!]. 2664. muster: 1) to cause to gather : convene; b) to
enroll formally—usu used with in or into [was
2646. mottle: to mark with blotches, streaks and
∼ed into the army]; c) to call the roll of; 2a)
spots of different colors or shades.
to bring together : collect; 2b) to call forth :
2647. mountebank: any charlatan, or quack.
rouse.
86

88. 2665. musty: having a stale, moldy smell or taste as 2680. nautical: of or having to do with sailors, ships
an unused room; food kept in a damp place,etc;
or navigation.
state or trite; worn-out; antiquated; dull; apa2681. neap: neap tide.
thetic.
2666. mutilate: to cut off or damage a limb or other 2682.
important part of ( a person or animal); to
2683.
damage, injure or otherwise mar, esp by removing an essential part or parts [to mutilate
a book by censorship].
2684.
2667. mutiny: revolt against and often, forcible resistance to constituted authority; esp rebellion 2685.
of soldiers or sailors against their officers.
2686.
2668. muzzle: gag, trammel, suppress; liberate, foster, stimulate.
nebulous: misty; hazy; vague; cloudlike.
necromancy: the practice of claiming to foretell the future by alleged communication with
the dead; black magic; sorcery.
necrosis: death or part of the living body.
nefarious: very wicked; villainous; iniquitous.
negligent: habitually failing to do the required thing; neglectful; careless; lax, inattentive or indifferent.
2669. myopia: lack of understanding or foresight. 2687. nemesis: retributive justice.
2670. myriad: various; many; of a highly varied na- 2688. neologism: a new word or a new meaning for
ture.
an established word; the use of, or the practice of creating new words or new meanings
2671. mystique: incommunicable spirit, gift or
for established words.
quality; secret.
2689. neonatal: new born.
2672. nadir: that point of the celestial sphere directly opposite to the zenith and directly below 2690. neophyte: a new convert; one newly baptised;
the observer; the lowest point; time of greatest
a newly ordained priest; a tyro or beginner.
depression or dejection.
2691. neophytes: new convert; one newly baptised.
2673. naivete: the quality or state of being naive;
simplicity; artlessness; a naive action or re- 2692. nepenthe: opiate.
mark.
2693. nepotism: favoritism shown to relatives, esp
in appointment to desirable positions.
2674. narcissism: self-love; excessive interest in
own’s appearance, comfort, importance, abili2694. nescience: want of knowledge.
ties etc.
2675. narrative: 1) sth that is narrated : story; 2) 2695.
the art or practice of narration; 3) the representation in art of an event or story; also : an
example of such a representation.
2696.
2676. nascent: being born; beginning to form, start,
grow or develop : said of ideas, cultures etc.
2677. natation: the act or art of swimming.
2678. natty: dapper; spruce; trim and smart in appearance or dress [a natty suit].
nether: lying, or thought of as lying below
the earth’s surface; lower or under [the nether
tip of a crescent].
nettle: 1) any of various prickly or stinging
plants other than those of genus Urtica; 2) to
strike or sting as if with nettles; 3) to arouse
to sharp but transitory annoyance or anger.
2697. nexus: a connection, tie, or link between individuals of a group, members of a series etc;
the group or series connected.
2679. nausea: a feeling of sickness at the stomach 2698. nib: the bill or beak of a bird; the projecting
with an impulse to vomit; disgust; loathing.
end of ath; point; sharp prong.
87

89. 2699. nicety: 1) the quality or state of being nice; 2711.
2) an elegant, delicate, or civilized feature [the
niceties of life]; 3) a fine point or distinction
: subtlety [the niceties of table manners]; 4)
careful attention to details; delicate exactness
: precision; 5) delicacy of taste or feeling : fas2712.
tidiousness.
2700. niggard: a stingy person; miser.
2701. niggle: to work fussily; pay too much attention to petty details; be finicky.
nomenclature: the system or set of names
used in a specific branch of learning or activity,
as in biology for plants and animals, or for the
parts of a particular mechanism; the act or a
system for naming.
nominal: of, consisting of, having the nature
of, or giving a name or names; of or having to
do with a noun or nouns; in name only, not in
fact [the nominal leader]; very small compared
to usu expectations.
2713. nonchalance: casual; cool; sangfroid.
2702. niggling: finicky.
2714. noncommittal: not committing one to any
point of view or course of action; not revealing
2703. nihilism: belief in nothing; denial of all realone’s position or purpose; having no definite
ity; extreme skepticism.
quality, meaning etc.
2704. nimbus: 1a) a luminous vapor, cloud, or at- 2715.
mosphere about a god or goddess when on
earth; 1b) a cloud or atmosphere (as of romance) about a person or thing; 2)) an indi- 2716.
cation (as a circle) of radiant light or glory
about the head of a drawn or sculptured divinity, saint or sovereign; 3) a rain cloud : thunder
2717.
cloud.
2705. nimiety: excess.
nondescript: not easily classified; neither one
thing nor another.
nonentity: the state of not existing; sth exists
only in the mind or imagination; a person or
thing of little or no importance.
nonplus: a condition of perplexity in which
one is unable to go, speak or act further.
2718. normative: establishing a standard.
2706. nirvana: 1) the final beatitude that tran- 2719.
scends suffering, karma, and samsara and is
sought esp in Buddhism thru the extinction
of desire and individual consciousness; 2a) a
place or state of oblivion to care, pain or ex2720.
ternal reality; also : bliss, heaven.
nostalgia: 1) the state of being homesick :
homesickness; 2) a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past
period or irrecoverable condition.
nostrum: a medicine prepared by the person selling it; a patent medicine of a king sold
with exaggerated claims; quack medicine; a
pet scheme for solving some social or political
problem; panacea.
2707. nocturnal: of, done or happening in the
night; functioning or active during the night;
having blossoms that open at night, as some
flowers.
2721. notorious: well-known; publicly discussed;
widely but unfavorably known or talked about.
2708. noetic: relating to intellectual comprehension.
2722. novelty: the quality of being novel; newness;
freshness; sth new, fresh or usu; change; in2709. noisome: injurious to health; harmful; having
novation; a small often cheap, cleverly made
bad odor; foul-smelling.
article, usu for play or adornment : usu used
in pl.
2710. nomad: a member of a tribe or people having no permanent home but moving about con- 2723. novice: 1) a person admitted to probationstantly in search of food, pasture etc; any wanary membership of a religious community; 2)
derer who has no fixed home.
beginner : tyro.
88

90. 2724. noxious: 1a) physically harmful or destruc- 2739.
tive to living beings [∼ wastes that poison our
streams]; 1b) constituting a harmful influence
on mind or behavior : morally corrupting [∼ 2740.
doctrines]; 2) distasteful, obnoxious; 3) [syn]
pernicious.
2725. nuance: a slight or delicate variation in color,
meaning etc; shade of difference.
oblation: act of offering in worship; a sacrifice.
obligatory: 1) binding in law or conscience;
2) relating to or enforcing an obligation [an ∼
writ]; 3) mandatory, required [∼ military service]; also : so commonplace as to be a convention, fashion or cliche [the ∼ death scene in
the opera].
2726. nubile: marriageable esp a girl who seems 2741. obliquity: inclination; slope; leaning; gradient.
mature; sexually attractive : said of a young
woman.
2742. obliterate: to blot out or wear away, leaving
no traces; erase; efface; to do away with as if
2727. nugatory: trifling; worthless; not operative;
by effacing; destroy.
invalid.
2743. oblivion: forgetfulness; state of being forgot2728. nugatory: trivial.
ten; amnesty; official overlooking of offenses.
2729. nullify: 1) to make null; esp : to make legally 2744. oblivious to: unmindful of.
null and void; 2) to make of no value and consequence; 3) [syn] negate, annul, abrogate, in- 2745. obloquy: defamation, stigma, abasement; repute, renown, dignity.
validate.
2746. obloquy: verbal abuse of a person or thing;
censure or vituperation, esp when widespread
or general; ill repute, disgrace, or infamy re2731. nuptial: of marriage or a wedding; of or havsulting from this.
ing to do with mating.
2730. nuncupative: unwritten.
2732. nurture: to promote the development of; to 2747. obnoxious: liable to hurt, punishment or censure; objectionable; offensive.
raise by educating, training etc; to feed or
nourish.
2748. obscure: lacking light; dim ; dark; murky [the
obscure night]; not easily perceived; specif not
2733. oaf: a stupid person; specif a stupid, clumsy
clear or distinct; faint or undefined [an obscure
fellow; lout.
figure or sound]; not easily understood; vague;
cryptic; ambiguous [an obscure explanation];
2734. obdurate: not easily moved to pity or sympain an inconspicuous position; hidden [an obthy; hard-hearted; hardened and unrespecting;
scure village]; not well known; not famous [an
impenitent; not giving in readily;stubborn; difobscure scientist].
ficult to influence.
2735. obeisance: a gesture of respect or reverence, 2749.
such as a bow or curtsy; the attitude shown by
2750.
this; homage; deference.
2751.
2736. obelisk: a tall four sided tapering pillar usually of one stone topped with a pyramid.
2752.
2737. obfuscation: confusion; bewilderment. obfuscate: to muddle, perplex, stupefy.
2753.
2738. obituary: a notice of someone’s death , as in
a newspaper, usu with a brief biography.
89
obsequies: funeral rites or ceremonies.
obsequious: too eager to obey or serve;
obsequy: a funeral or burial rite—usu used
in pl.
obsess: to haunt or trouble in mind, esp to
an abnormal degree; preoccupy greatly.
obsidian: a hard, usu dark colored black, volcanic glass with conchoidal fracture, often used
as a gemstone.

91. 2754. obsolescent: gone out of use; antiquated; ob- 2769. odious: arousing or deserving hatred or
solete.
loathing; disgusting; offensive.
2755. obstetrics: the branch of medicine concerned 2770. odiously: hateful; offensively.
with the care and treatment of women during
pregnancy, childbirth, and the ensuing period. 2771. odium: hatred esp of a person or thing regarded as loathsome; the state or fact of being
2756. obstreperous: noisy; boisterous, or unruly
hated; the disgrace brought on by hateful acesp in resisting or opposing.
tion; opprobrium.
2757. obtrude: to thrust forward; push out; eject; 2772.
to offer or force (oneself, one’s opinions etc)
upon others unasked or unwanted.
2773.
2758. obtuse: not sharp or pointed; blunt; slow to
understand or perceive; dull or insensitive; not 2774.
producing a sharp impression; not acute [an
obtuse pain].
odoriferous: giving off an odor, now often
specif a strong or offensive one.
odyssey: any extended wandering or journey.
offensive: 1a) making attack : aggressive;
1b) of, relating to, or designed for attack [∼
weapons]; 1c) of or relating to an attempt to
score in a game or contest; also : of or relating
to a team in possession of the ball or puck; 2)
giving painful or unpleasant sensations : nauseous; 3) causing displeasure or resentment.
2759. obverse: 1) facing the observer or opponent;
2) having the base narrower than the top [an
∼ leaf]; 3) the side of a coin or currency note
bearing the chief device and lettering ; broadly
: a front or principal surface; 4) a counterpart 2775. offhand: said or done without prior preparation or study; extemporaneous; unpremedihaving the opposite orientation or force [their
tated; casual , curt, informal, brusque.
rise was merely the ∼ of the Emperor’s fall].
2760. obviate: to do away with or prevent by effec- 2776. officious: offering unnecessary and unwanted
advice or services; meddle-some esp in a hightive measures; make unnecessary.
handed or overbearing way; in diplomacy, un2761. obviated: to meet on the way; to prevent or
official or informal.
dispose off in advance.
2777. offshoot: 1a) a collateral or derived branch,
2762. Occident: the part of the world west of Asia,
descendant, or member : outgrowth; 1b) a
esp Europe and the Americas.
lateral branch (as of a mountain range); 2) a
branch of the main stem.
2763. occlude: to close, shut or block (a passage);
to prevent the passage of ; shut in or out; to 2778. ogle: to keep looking (at) boldly and with obconceal , hide, or obscure; to retain or absorb
vious desire; make eyes (at).
(a gas, liquid or solid).
2779. olfactory: of the sense of smell.
2764. occult: hidden; concealed; secret; esoteric;
beyond human understanding; mysterious; 2780. oligarchy: 1) government by the few; 2) a
government in which a small group exercise
designating or of certain alleged mystic arts
control esp for corrupt and selfish purposes;
such as magic, alchemy, astrology etc.
also : a group exercising such control.
2765. occursion: impulse; ¡check out this one!¿.
2781. ombudsman: 1) a government official ap2766. oculist: early term for ophthalmologist; oppointed to receive and investigate complaints
tometrist.
made by individual against abuses or capricious acts of public officials; 2) one that investi2767. odalisque: a female slave; a concubine in a
gates reported complaints (as from students or
harem.
consumers), reports findings, and helps achieve
2768. odalisque: oriental female slave.
equitable settlements.
90

92. 2782. ominously: portending evil; inauspicious.
2797. opportunity: a combination of circumstances favorable for the purpose; fit time; a
2783. omnipotent: unlimited power; all powerful.
good chance or occasion as to advance oneself.
2784. omniscience: knowledge of all things; all 2798. opprobrious: infamous, ignominious, abhorknowing.
rent; meritorious, commendable, upright.
2785. oneiric: relating to dreams.
2799. opprobrium: disgrace; reproach; infamy.
2786. onerous: troublesome; burdensome; involving a legal obligation that equals or exceeds 2800. oppugnant: opposing, unpropitious, adverse,
recalcitrant; propitious, conciliatory, sympathe benefit.
thetic.
2787. onomatopoeia: the formation of a word in
imitation of the sound of the thing meant; the 2801. opsimath: a very late learner.
use of words whose sounds help to suggest the
meaning (hiss, buzz); echoism; the use of words 2802. optimism: 1) a doctrine that this world is the
best possible world; 2) an inclination to put
whose sounds reinforce their meaning or tone,
the most favorable construction upon actions
as in poetry.
and events or to anticipate the best possible
outcome.
2788. onslaught: an esp fierce attack; also : sth resembling such an attack [an ∼ of technological
2803. optimum: 1) the amount or degree of sth that
changes].
is most favorable to some end; esp : the most
2789. onus: burden; responsibility; burden of proof
favorable condition for the growth and repro: the obligation to prove what is asserted and
duction of an organism; 2) greatest degree atin dispute.
tained or attainable under implied or specified
conditions.
2790. opacity: opaqueness; impervious to light; obfuscated; murky; fumed.
2804. optometry: measurement of the range and
power of vision; the profession of examining
2791. opalescent: showing a play of colors like that
the eyes and measuring the errors in refracof the opal; iridescent.
tion and of prescribing glasses to correct these
defects.
2792. operose: laborious.
2793. ophiology: the branch of zoology specializing 2805. opulence: richness; characterized by abundance or profusion; luxuriant.
in the study of snakes.
2794. opiate: any medicine containing opium or 2806.
any of its derivatives, and acting as a sedative
and narcotic; ath tending to quiet, soothe, or
deaden.
2807.
2795. opportune: right for the purpose; fitting in
regard to circumstances : said of time; happening or done at the right time; seasonable; 2808.
well-timed; timely.
opus: a work; composition; esp any of the musical works of a composer numbered in order
of composition or publication.
oracular: ambiguous, mystical, cryptic; lucid,
clear, definite.
oratorio: a long, dramatic musical composition usu on a religious theme, consisting of
arias, recitatives, duets, trios, choruses etc,
sung to orchestral accompaniment; it is presented without stage action, scenery, or costumes.
2796. opportunism: the practice or policy of
adapting one’s actions, judgements etc. to circumstances, as in politics, in order to further
one’s immediate interests, without regard for
basic principles or eventual consequences.
2809. ordaining: to order; to assign; to decree.
91

93. 2810. ordeal: an ancient method of trial in which 2824.
the accused was exposed to physical dangers,
from which he was supposed to divinely protected if he was innocent; any difficult, painful,
or trying experience; severe trial.
orthography: 1a) the art of writing words
with the proper letters according to standard
usage; 1b) the representation of the sounds of
a language by written or printed symbols; 2) a
part of language study that deals with letters
and spelling.
2811. ordinal: indicating order or sequence.
2825.
2812. ordinance: a direction or command of an authoritative nature; that which is held to be a
decree of fate or of a deity; an established or 2826.
prescribed practice or usage esp a religious rite;
a governmental, now esp municipal, statute or
regulation.
2827.
osseous: composed of, containing or like
bone; bony.
ossify: to change or develop into bone; to settle or fix rigidly in a practice, custom, attitude,
etc.
ostensible: avowed, specious, professed; unexpected, covert, veiled.
2813. ordination: the act or an instance of ordaining; the state of being ordained.
2828. ostensible: outwardly showing or professed.
2814. orient: 1) [cap] East; 2) a pearl of great luster; 2829. ostentation: act of showing; display to draw
3) lustrous, sparkling.
attention or admiration.
2815. orient: 1a) to cause to face or point toward 2830.
the east; specif : to build (a church or temple)
with the longitudinal axis pointing eastward
and the chief altar at the eastern end; 1b) to 2831.
set or arrange in any determinate position, esp
in relation to the points of the compass; 2a) to
set right by adjusting to facts or principles; 2832.
2b) to acquaint with the existing situation or
environment; 3) to direct (as a book or film) 2833.
toward the interests of a particular group.
2834.
2816. orifice: an opening (as a vent, mouth, or hole)
thru which sth may pass.
2835.
2817. oriflamme: battle standard.
2818. orison: prayer.
oust: to force or drive out; expel, eject, dispossess, etc.
outlandish: foreign; queer; bizarre; out of the
way.
outlandish: very odd, strange or peculiar;
fantastic; bizarre; remote; out of the wary.
outlay: expenditure.
outmoded: no longer in fashion or accepted;
obsolete.
outskirt: part or district remote from the center or midst, as of a city.
2836. outspoken: unrestrained in speech; frank;
spoken boldly or candidly.
2819. ormolu: imitation gold.
2837. outstrip: to go at a faster pace than; get
2820. ornate: 1) marked by elaborate rhetoric or
ahead of; to excel; surpass.
florid style; 2) elaborately or excessively deco2838. outwit: 1) to get the better of by superior
rated.
cleverness : outsmart.
2821. orotund: resonant.
2839. ovation: 1) a ceremony attending the entering
of Rome by a general who had won a victory of
2822. orthodox: conforming to the usu beliefs or
less importance than that for which a triumph
established doctrines, as in religion, politics,
was granted; 2) an expression or demonstraetc; approved or conventional.
tion of popular acclaim esp by enthusiastic ap2823. orthoepy: study of pronunciation.
plause [received a standing ∼].
92

94. 2840. overbearing: arrogant; domineering; acting 2854. paleontology: a science dealing with the life
in a dictatorial manner; of transcending imof past geological periods as known from fossil
portance; overriding.
remains.
2841. overt: not hidden; open; observable; appar- 2855.
ent; manifest; done openly and publicly, without attempt at concealment and with evident
intent.
palimpsest: a parchment, tablet etc that
has been written upon or inscribed two or
three times, the previous texts having been imperfectly erased an remaining, therefore still
partly visible.
2842. overture: opening; disclosure; an offer or pro2856. palingeneis: reincarnation; a second creposal.
ation; metempsychosis.
2843. overweening: arrogant; excessively proud;
2857. pall: to become insipid, cloying, boring, weariexaggerated; excessive.
some etc; to become satiated or bored.
2844. overwrought: 1) extremely excited : agi2858. pallet: 1) a straw filled tick or mattress; 2) a
tated; 2) elaborated to excess : overdone.
small, hard temporary bed.
2845. pachyderm: any of certain large thick
skinned hoofed animals, as the elephant, 2859. pallet: 1) a wooden flat blade instrument; 2)
a lever or surface in a timepiece that receives
rhinoceros, and hippopotamus, formerly clasan impulse from the escapement wheel imparts
sified together; a thick-skinned, insensitive,
motion to a balance or pendulum; 3) a portable
stolid person.
platform for handling, storing, or moving materials and packages (as in warehouses).
2846. pacifism: opposition to the use of force under
any circumstances; specif refusal for reasons of
conscience or participate in war or any military 2860. palliative: serving to extenuate; mitigating;
that which lessens pain etc.
action.
2847. paean: in ancient greece a hymn of thanksgiv- 2861. pallid: pale; wan; lacking sparkle or liveliness
: dull.
ing to the gods, esp to Apollo;a song of thanksgiving or triumph; exultation.
2862. palpable: that can be touched or felt; easily
perceived by the senses; audible; recognizable,
2848. pagan: 1) heathen; esp : a follower of a polyperceptible, noticeable, obvious, evident;
theistic religion (as in ancient Rome); 2) one
who has little or no religion and who delights 2863. palpate: examine by touching.
in sensual pleasures and material goods : an
2864. palpitate: to beat rapidly or flutter; said esp
irreligious or hedonistic person.
of heart action that one is conscious of; to
2849. pageant: a dramatic performance, scene or
throb, quiver, tremble.
part.
2865. paltry: practically worthless; trifling, insignif2850. painstaking: taking pains; very careful; diliicant, contemptible, petty.
gent; characterized by great care.
2866. panacea:
a supposed remedy, cure or
2851. paladin: champion of a cause.
medicine for all diseased or ills; cure-all.
2852. palatable: pleasant or acceptable to the taste; 2867. panache: a plume of feathers esp such a
fit to be eaten or drunk; acceptable to the
plume on a helmet; dashing elegance of manmind.
ner; carefree, spirited self-confidence or style
flamboyance.
2853. palatial: 1) of, relating to or being a palace;
2) suitable to a palace : magnificent.
2868. pandect: complete digest.
93

95. 2869. pandemic: epidemic over a wide area.
2870.
2871.
2872.
2873.
2885. parallelism: 1) the quality or state of being parallel; 2) resemblance, correspondence;;
pandemonium: any place or scene of wild
3) repeated syntactical similarities introduced
disorder, noise or confusion; wild disorder,
for rhetorical effect; 4) a theory that mind and
noise or confusion.
matter accompany one another but are not casually related.
pander: a go-between in a sexual intrigue, esp
a procurer, pimp; a person who provides the 2886. parameter: characteristic; element; factor
means of helping to satisfy the ignoble ambi[political dissent as a ∼ of modern life].
tions or desires, vices etc of another.
2887. paramount: superior to all others; supreme.
panegyric: laudatory speech; eulogy.
2888. paramour: a lover or mistress esp the illicit
sexual partner of a married man or woman.
pannier: large wicker basket.
2874. panoply: full array.
2875. panorama: vista; landscape view.
2889. paranoia: a form of insanity characterized by
fixed delusions esp of grandeur, pride and persecution.
2876. pantheism: the doctrine that identifies god 2890. paraphernalia: trappings; equipment; miscellaneous accessories.
with the universe.
2891. paraphrase: 1) a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another
form.
pantomime: 1a) an ancient Roman dramatic
performance featuring a solo dancer and a narrative chorus; 1b) any of various dramatic or 2892. parasite: a person as in ancient greece , who
flattered and amused the host in return for free
dancing performances in which a story is told
meals; a person who lives at the expense of
by expressive bodily or facial movements of the
another or others without making any useful
performers.
contribution or return.
papyrus: 1) a tall sedge of the Nile valley; 2)
2893. paregoric: soothing; lessening pain; camthe pith of the papyrus plant, esp when cut in
phorated tincture of opium used esp to relieve
strips and pressed into a material to write on;
pain.
3a) written scroll made of papyrus.
2894. pariah: outcast; one of low or no caste?!.
parable: a short , simple story, usu of an occurrence of a familiar kind, from which a moral 2895. parimutuel: a betting machine which autoor religious lesson may be drawn.
matically pools, stakes and distributes winnings.
paraclete: advocate.
2896. parity: 1) the quality or state of being equal
paradigm: literally an example or exemplar;
or equivalent; 2a) equivalence of a commodity
a pattern, example or model; an overall conprice expressed in one currency to its price except accepted by most people in an intellectual
pressed in another; 2b) the quality of purchascommunity as a science, because of its effecing power established by law between different
tiveness in explaining a complex process, idea
kinds of money at a given ratio.
or set of data.
2897. parity: the state or fact of having borne offparadox: self contradictory stmt; contrary to
spring.
received opinion.
2898. parlance: speaking; conversation; mode of
speech.
parale(i)psis: pretended omission.
2877. pantheon: hall of fame.
2878.
2879.
2880.
2881.
2882.
2883.
2884.
94

96. 2899. parley: a talk or conference for the purpose of 2912.
discussing a specific matter or of setting a dispute, as a military conference with an enemy
2913.
under a truce, for discussing terms.
2914.
2900. parochial: restricted or confined within narrow limits.
passe: out of date; old-fashioned; not youthful, rather old.
passementerie: decorative trimming.
pastiche: a literary, artistic, or musical composition made of bits from various sources;
potpourri; a literary , artistic , or musical composition intended to imitate or caricature another artists’ style; a jumbled mixture, .
2901. parody: 1) a literary or musical work in which
the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule; 2) a feeble 2915. patchouli: mint perfume.
or ridiculous imitation.
2916. patent: 1) an official document containing a
2902. parol: word of mouth.
right or a privilege; 2) a writing securing to an
inventor for a term of years the exclusive right
2903. parole: 1) a promise made with or confirmed
to make, use or sell an invention.
by a pledge of one’s honor; esp :the promise
of a prisoner of war to fulfill stated conditions 2917. patent: 1a) open to public inspection—used
in consideration of his release; 2) a watchword
chiefly in the phrase ‘letters patent’; 1b) segiven only to officers of the guard and of the
cured by letters patent to the exclusive conday; 3) a conditional release of a prisoner servtrol and possession of a particular individual
ing an indeterminate or unexpired sentence;
or party; 1c) protected by a trademark or a
4a) a language viewed as a specific individual
trade name so as to establish proprietary rights
usage : performance.
analogous to those conveyed by letters patent;
2) making exclusive or proprietary claims or
2904. paroxysm: a sudden attack, or intensification
pretensions; 4) affording a free passage : unof the symptoms, of a disease, usu recurring
obstructed [a ∼ opening].
periodically; a sudden convulsion or outburst
as of laughter, rage, or sneezing; fit; spasm. 2918. paternoster: the lord’s prayer; a harangue; a
muttered formula or spell;.
2905. parquetry: inlaid woodwork in geometric
forms, usu of contrasting woods, used esp in 2919. pathological: 1) altered or caused by disease;
2) diseased?.
flooring.
2906. parried: to ward or keep off; to avert; to turn 2920.
aside (a question, criticism etc) as by a clever
or evasive reply or remark.
2921.
2907. parsimony: sparingness in the spending of
money; frugality; niggardliness.
2908. partiality: the quality or state of being partial; a special liking or taste.
2909. partisan: a blind or unreasoning adherent of 2922.
a party or faction; any of a group of guerilla
fighters; esp a member of an organized civilian
force fighting covertly to drive out occupying
enemy troops.
2923.
2910. parturition: act of bringing forth; childbirth.
2911. pasquinade: 1) a lampoon posted in a public
place; 2) satirical writing : satire.
95
pathos: the quality in sth experienced or observed which arouses feeling of pity, sorrow,
sympathy, or compassion.
patina: a fine crust or film on bronze or copper, usu green or greenish-black formed by natural oxidation and often valued as being ornamental; any thin coating or color change resulting from age, as on old wood or silver.
patios: a form of language differing generally
from the accepted standard, as a provincial or
local dialect; the specialized vocabulary and
idioms of those in the same profession.
patriarch: 1a) one of the scriptural fathers
of the human race or of the Hebrew people;
1b) a man who is father or founder; 1c) the
oldest member or representative of a group; a
venerable old man.

97. 2924. patronize: 1) to act as patron of: provide aid 2940.
or support for; 2) to adopt an air of condescension toward : treat haughtily or coolly; 3) to
be a frequent or regular customer or client of.
pejorative: declining, making or becoming
worse; applied to words whose basic meaning has changed for the worse; disparaging or
derogatory.
2925. Patsy: the scapegoat; a person who is easily 2941. pelagic: pertaining to the sea.
manipulated or victimized; sucker.
2942. pell-mell: in a jumbled, confused mass or
manner; without order or method; in wild dis2926. paucity: smallness of quantity.
orderly haste, headlong.
2927. pauper: 1) a person destitute of means except 2943.
such as are derived from charity; specif : one
who receives funds or aids designated for the
poor.
2944.
2928. peccadillo: a trifling fault.
2929. peculation: embezzlement.
pellucid: transparent or translucent; clear;
easy to understand; clear and simple in style
[a pellucid explanation].
penance: 1) an act of self-abasement, mortification or devotion performed to show sorrow
or repentance for sin; 2) sth (as a hardship or
penalty) resembling an act of penance (as in
compensating for an offense).
2930. pecuniary: relating to money; involving a
2945. penchant: inclination; a strong liking or
money penalty, or fine.
fondness.
2931. pecunious: rich; relating to money.
2946. pendant: 1) sth suspended as ; a) an ornament (as on a necklace) allowed to hang free;
2932. pedagogue: a teacher, often specif a pedantic
b) an electrical fixture suspended from the ceildogmatic teacher.
ing; 2) a hanging ornament of roofs or ceiling
2933. pedagogy: the profession or function of a
much used as a connector on a boat or ship; esp
teacher; teaching; the art or science of teaching
: a short rope hanging from a spar and having
esp instruction in teaching methods.
at its free end a block or spliced thimble; 3)
sth secondary or supplementary.
2934. pedant: 1a) one who makes show of knowledge; 1b) one who is unimaginative or who 2947. pendulous: hanging freely or loosely; suspended so as to swing; hanging or bending
unduly emphasizes minutiae in the presentadownward; drooping.
tion or use of knowledge; 1c) a formalist or
precisionist in teaching.
2948. penitent: suffering pain or sorrow with will
to repent.
2935. pedantic: school masterly; one who is learned
without being judicious; bookish knowledge!. 2949. penitentiary: relating to penance; penal and
reformatory.
2936. pedestrian: going or done on foot, walking;
lacking interest or imagination; prosaic; ordi- 2950. pennate: winged.
nary and dull: said of a literary style, a speech 2951. pensive: thinking deeply or seriously, ofetc.
ten sad or melancholy things; expressing deep
thought.
2937. pediatrics: the branch of medicine dealing
with the development and care of infants and 2952. penultimate: last but one.
children, and with the treatment of their dis2953. penumbra: the partly lighted area surroundeases, illnesses etc.
ing the complete shadow (umbra) of a body,
as the moon, during an eclipse; the less dark
2938. pedigree: lineage of ancestors; genealogy.
region surrounding the dark central area of a
2939. peerless: which does not have any match;.
sunspot; a vague, indefinite, or borderline area.
96

98. 2954. penurious: unwilling to part with money or 2967. perigee: the point nearest to the earth in the
possessions; mean; miserly; stingy; characterorbit of the moon or of a man made satellite;
ized by extreme poverty; impoverished.
opposed to apogee; the lowest or nearest point.
2955. penury: lack of money, property or necessi- 2968. perimeter: 1a) the boundary of a closed
ties; extreme poverty; destitution.
plane figure; 1b) the length of a perimeter; 2)
a line or strip bounding or protecting an area;
2956. peon: 1) any of various workers in India, etc
3) outer limits—often used in pl.
as ; a) infantryman; b) orderly; 2) a member of
the landless laboring class in Spanish America; 2969. peripatetic: walking about; pedestrian; itin3) a person held in compulsory servitude to a
erant; an aristotalian.
master for the working out of an indebtedness.
2970. peripheral: on the boundary;.
2957. percept: 1) a commandment or direction
meant as a rule of action or conduct; 2) a rule 2971. periphrasis: the use of many words where
of moral conduct; maxim; 3) a rule or direcone or few would do; roundabout way of speaktion, as in technical matters; 4) a written oring or writing; circumlocution.
der; writ.
2972. peristyle:
enclosure formed by row of
2958. percipience: keen perception.
columns.
2959. percussion: 1) the act of percussing: as ; a) 2973.
the striking of a percussion cap so as to set
off the charge in a firearm; b) the beating or 2974.
striking of a musical instrument; c) the act or
technique of tapping the surface of a body part
to learn the condition of the parts beneath by 2975.
the resultant sound.
perjure: to swear falsely; to forswear oneself.
perjury: the breaking of an oath; false swearing.
permeate: to pass into or thru and affect every part of; penetrate and spread thru.
2960. perdition: 1a) [archaic] utter destruction; 2) 2976. pernicious: highly injurious; malevolent.
eternal damnation; hell.
2961. peregrination: to travel about; to live in a
foreign country; to traverse; to go on a pilgrimage.
2977. peroration: the concluding part of a speech,
in which there is a summing up and emphatic recapitulation; a high-flown or bombastic speech.
2962. peremptory: absolute; precluding debate or
2978. perpetrate: to do or perform (sth evil, crimdispute; final; admitting no refusal or denial.
inal or offensive); be guilty of; to commit (a
blunder); impose (a hoax) etc.
2963. peremptory: arbitrary, overbearing, authoritative; mild, wavering, indecisive.
2979. perpetrate: to execute or commit esp an offense, poem or pun.
2964. perfidious: unfaithful; basely violating faith.
2965. perforate: to make a hole or holes thru, as by 2980.
punching or boring; pierce; penetrate; to pierce
with holes in a row, as a pattern, computer
tape, sheet of stamps etc.
perpetual: lasting or enduring forever or
for an indefinitely long time; eternal; permanent; continuing indefinitely without interruption; unceasing; constant; blooming continuously throughout the growing season.
2966. perfunctory: done merely as a duty to be got
through; acting without zeal or interest; hasty 2981. perpetuity: timelessness; athanasia; semor superficial.
piternal; amaranthine.
97

99. 2982. perquisite: sth additional to regular profit or 2995.
pay, resulting from one’s position or employment, esp sth customary or expected; a tip
or gratuity; a privilege or benefit to which a
person , institution etc is entitled by virtue of
2996.
status, position or the like; prerogative; right.
2997.
2983. persiflage: banter; flippancy.
2984. personable: having a pleasing appearance
and personality; attractive.
pestilential: 1a) causing or tending to cause
pestilence : deadly; 1b) of or relating to pestilence; 2) morally harmful : pernicious; 3) giving rise to vexation or annoyance : irritating.
petard: explosive device.
petrify: to replace the normal cells (of organic
matter) with silica or other mineral deposits;
re-form as a strong substance; to make rigid,
inflexible or inert; harden or deaden; to paralyze or make numb, as with fear; stupefy; shun.
2985. perspicacious: having keen judgement or un- 2998. petulance: showing peevish impatience, irriderstanding; acutely perceptive.
tation or caprice; impudent in manner.
2986. perspicuous: lucid; clear in statement or ex- 2999. petulant: irritated; showing peevish impapression.
tience, irritation or caprice.
2987. pert: 1a) saucily free and forward : flippantly 3000. phantasmagoria: fantastic series of illusive
images or of real forms.
cocky and assured; 1b) being trim and chic :
jaunty [a ∼ little hat]; 1c) piquantly stimulat3001. pharisaic: emphasizing or observing the leting [is a ∼ notion].
ter but not the spirit of religious law, selfrighteous; sanctimonious; pretending to be
2988. pertinacious: thoroughly tenacious; holding
highly moral or virtuous without actually beobstinately to an opinion or purpose; obstiing so; hypocritical.
nate; unyielding.
3002. phenomenon: 1) [pl phenomena] : an observable fact or event; 2a) an object or aspect
known thru the senses rather than by thought
or; intuition; 2b) a temporal or spatiotemporal
object of sensory experience as distinguished;
2990. perturbation: the state of being disturbed;
from a noumenon; 2c) a fact or event of sciendisquiet of mind.
tific interest susceptible of scientific; descrip2991. peruse: to read carefully or thoroughly;
tion and explanation.
study; loosely, to read in a casual or leisurely
3003. philander: to engage lightly in passing love
way.
affairs; make love insincerely : said of a man.
2992. pervasive: to extend throughout; permeate. 3004. philanthropy: 1) goodwill to fellow men, esp
2989. perturb: to cause to be alarmed, agitated or
upset; disturb or trouble greatly; to cause disorder or confusion in ; unsettle.
2993. perverse: 1a) turned away from what is right
or good : corrupt; 1b) improper, incorrect; 1c) 3005.
contrary to the evidence or the direction of the
judge on a point of law [∼ verdict]; 2a) obstinate in opposing what is right, reasonable,
or accepted : wrongheaded; 2b) arising from
or indicative of stubbornness or obstinacy; 3) 3006.
marked by peevishness or petulance : cranky.
2994. pessimism: the tendency to expect misfortune or the worst outcome in any circumstances; practice of looking on the dark side
of things.
98
: active effort to promote human welfare.
Philistine: a person regarded as smugly narrow and conventional in views and tastes, lacking in and indifferent to cultural and aesthetic
values.
philology: 1) the study of literature and of
disciplines relevant to literature or to language
as used in literature; 2a) linguistics, esp : historical and comparative linguistics; 2b) the
study of human speech, esp as the vehicle of
literature and as a field of study that sheds
light on cultural history.

100. 3007. phlegmatic: hard to rouse to action; specif 3022. pillory: a device consisting of a wooden board
sluggish; dull; apathetic; cam; cool; stolid.
with holes for the head and hands, in which
petty offenders were formerly locked and ex3008. physiognomy: the practice of trying to judge
posed to public scorn; any exposure to public
character and mental qualities by observation
scorn.
of bodily, esp facial features; facial features
and expression esp as supposedly indicative of 3023. pince-nez: eye glass kept on nose by a clip.
character; the face; apparent characteristics; 3024. pine: to waste (away) thru grief, pain, longing
outward features or appearance.
etc; to have an intense longing or desire; yearn
: with for, after, or an infinitive.
3009. physiological: 1) char of or appropriate to an
organism’s healthy or normal functioning; 2) 3025. pinion: 1) the terminal section of a bird’s
differing in, involving or affecting physiological
wing including the carpus, metacarpus and
factors [a ∼ strain of bacteria].
phalanges : broadly the wing; 2) feather, quill
: also flight feathers; 3a) to disable or re3010. piacular: requiring a sacrifice.
strain from binding the arms; 3b) to bind fast
: shackle; 4) a gear with a small number of
3011. picaresque: relating to rogues (ex movies or
teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or
sth where the rogue can be the hero).
rack.
3026. pinnacle: a small turret or spire on a buttress
or a supporting pier; a pointed formation, as
3013. picturesque: like a picture; implying some
at the top of a mountain; peak; the highest
measure of beauty with much quaintness.
point; culmination; acme.
3012. picayune: ath of little or no value; petty.
3014. piebald: black and white in patches; motley. 3027. piquancy: pleasantly sharp or pungent;
3015. pied: covered with patches or spots of two or
more colors; piebald; variegated.
3028. pique: to arouse resentment in, as by slighting; ruffle the pride of; to arouse; provoke.
3029.
3016. piety: 1) the quality or state of being pious :
as; a) fidelity to natural obligations (as to par- 3030.
ents); b) dutifulness in religion : devoutness;
3031.
2) a conventional belief or standard : orthodoxy.
3032.
piscatorial: related to fishing.
pitfall: hidden dangers.
pithy: full of vigor; terse; full of substance.
pittance: a special additional allowance of
food or drink in a religious house; a dole; a
very small portion or quantity.
3017. pigment: coloring matter, usu in the form of
an insoluble powder, mixed with oil, water, etc
to make paints; any coloring matter in the cells 3033. pivot: a person or thing or or around which
sth turns or depends etc; central point.
and tissues of plants or animals.
3018. pilchard: young herring.
3034. placate: to soothe or mollify esp by concessions; appease.
3019. pilfer: to steal (esp small sums or petty ob- 3035. placebo: a harmless, unmedicated preparajects); filch.
tion given as a medicine to a patient merely to
humor him or used as a control in testing the
3020. pilferage: petty theft; to steal in small quanefficacy of another, medicated substance; sth
tity.
said or done to win the favor of another.
3021. pillaging: plundering; to take as booty or 3036. plagiarism: stealing the thoughts or writings
loot.
of others and giving them out as one’s own.
99

101. 3037. plaintiff: a person who brings a suit into a 3055.
court of law; complainant.
3056.
3038. plaintive: expressing of suffering or woe;
mournful; melancholy.
podagra: gout (disease—check up).
podiatry: the profession dealing with the specialized care of the feet and esp with the treatment and prevention of foot disorders.
3039. plangent: resounding deeply.
3057. podium: 1) a low wall serving as a foundation
or a terrace wall : as; a) one around the arena
3040. platitude: flatness; dull commonplace or truof an ancient amphitheater serving as a base
ism; an empty remark made as if it were imfor the tiers of seats; b) the masonry under
portant.
the stylobate of a temple; 2a) a dais esp for an
orchestral conductor; 2b) lectern.
3041. platonic: purely spiritual; free from sensual
desires—specially pertaining to relations be- 3058. pogrom: an organized massacre;.
tween man & woman.
3059. poignant: stinging; pricking; sharp; sharply
3042. plaudit: an act of applause; praise bestowed.
painful to the feelings; piercing; evoking pity,
compassion,etc; emotionally touching or mov3043. plebiscite: ¡can be used for a law made by
ing.
the people¿; an ascertainment of the general
opinion on any matter.
3060. polarize: 1) to give physical polarity to; 2) to
break up into opposing factions or groupings
3044. plenary: full; complete; absolute [plenary
[a campaign that ∼d the electorate]; 3) conpower]; for attendance by all [a plenary sescentrate [recreate a cohesive rock community
sion].
by polarizing ...].
3045. plenipotentiary: having complete powers.
3061. polemic: given to disputing; controversial; ar3046. plenitude: fullness; completeness.
gumentative.
3047. plethora: over-fullness in any way.
3062. politic: 1) political 2) characterized by
shrewdness in managing, contriving or dealing;
3048. pliant: flexible; easily influenced.
3) sagacious in promoting a policy; 4) shrewdly
tactful.
3049. pluck: 1) to pull or pick off or out; 2) to move,
remove or separate forcibly or abruptly; 3) the
3063. polity: 1) political organization; 2) a specific
heart, liver, lungs and wind pipe of a slaughform of political organization; 3) a form of govtered animal esp as an item of food; 4) couraernment of a religious denomination.
geous readiness to fight or continue against
odds : dogged resolution.
3064. polity: basic structure of government.
3050. plumb: perfectly vertical; to a complete de- 3065.
gree : absolutely [you are ∼ crazy she said];
to weight with lead; to examine minutely and 3066.
critically; to seal with lead.
3067.
3051. plumetting: sharply falling down.
polloi:
poltroonery: want of spirit; chicken!.
polyglot:
guages.
speaking or writing many lan-
3052. pluralist: one who holds more than one offices 3068. pomp: stately or brilliant display; splendor;
magnificence; ostentatious show or display.
at one time.
3053. plutocracy: a govt by the wealthy; a group 3069. ponderous: very heavy; unwieldy because of
weight; that seems heavy; bulky; massive; laof wealthy people who control or influence the
bored and dull.
government.
3054. pluvial: rainy.
3070. pontiff: of a priest or a bishop.
100

102. 3071. pontifical: of or belonging to a pontiff; splendid; pompously dogmatic.
3072. popinjay: fop.
figure; 3) a conscious mental or outward behavioral attitude [take a natural ∼ toward the
discussions].
3089. potable: fit to drink; drinkable.
3073. populous: full of people; numerously inhabited; popular (sometimes).
3090. potent: having authority or power; mighty;
influential [a potent monarch]; convincing; co3074. porcine: of, relating to or suggesting swine.
gent [a potent argument]; effective or powerful
in action as a drug or drink.
3075. pore: to read or study carefully : with over;
to think deeply and thoroughly : with over.
3091. potentate: a person having great power;
3076. porphyry: a reddish purple rock.
ruler; monarch.
3077. portal: a gate or doorway esp a magnificent 3092. potential: that can, but has not as yet, come
one.
into being; possible; latent; unrealized; undeveloped.
3078. portend: to be an omen or warning of; foreshadow; presage; to be an indication of ; sig- 3093. pother: disturbance.
nify.
3094. potion: a drink or liquid dose, as a medicine,
3079. portent: an evil omen; foreshadowing import.
poison, or supposedly magic substance.
3080. portly: 1) dignified, stately; 2) heavy or
3095. potpourri: a mixture of dried flower petals
round of body : stout.
with spices, kept in ajar for its fragrance; 2) a
medley, miscellany, or an anthology.
3081. poseur: a person who pretends to be what he
is not; an affected or insincere person.
3096. poultice: a hot, soft, moist mass, as of flour,
3082. posset: spiced hot drink.
herbs, mustard, etc, sometime spread on cloth,
applied to a sore or inflamed part of the body.
3083. posterity: 1) the offspring of one progenitor
to the furthest generation; 2) all future gener- 3097. practicable: that can be done or put into
ations.
practice; feasible [ a practicable plan]; that can
be used; usable; useful.
3084. posthumous: born after the father’s death;
published after the death of author; arising or 3098. pragmatic: 1) relating to matters of fact or
continuing after one’s death.
practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters; practical as opposed
to idealistic [∼ men of power have had etc].
3085. postprandial: after dinner.
3086. postulant: a petitioner; a candidate for holy
3099. prate: to talk much and foolishly; chatter.
orders.
3087. postulate: 1) demand,claim; 2a) to assume 3100.
or claim as true, existent or necessary : depend upon or start from the postulate of; 3)
a hypothesis advanced as an essential presup- 3101.
position, condition or premise for a train of
reasoning.
prattle: to speak in a childish way; babble;
prate.
preamble: an introduction, esp one to a constitution, statute etc stating the reasons for it
and its purpose; an introductory fact, event
etc; preliminary.
3088. posture: 1) the position or bearing of the
body whether char or assumed for a special 3102. prebendary: resident clergyman who enjoys
purpose; 2) the pose of a model or artistic
a prebend.
101

103. 3103. precarious: 1) depending upon circum- 3114.
stances; uncertain; insecure; 2) dependent
upon chance; risky [a precarious foothold];
3) dependent upon mere assumption; unwar- 3115.
ranted [a precarious assertion].
3104. precatory: of the nature of or expressing a
wish, request or recommendation.
3116.
3105. precedent: 1) prior in time, order, arrangement or significance; 2) an earlier occurrence of
sth similar; 3a) sth done or said that may serve
as an example or rule to authorize or justify a
3117.
subsequent act of the same or an analogous
kind [a verdict that had no precedent].
3106. precept: 1) a command or principle intended
esp as a general rule of action; 2) an order is3118.
sued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official.
3119.
3107. precinct: space; an area esp around a building or other subject; any area of jurisdiction. 3120.
precocious: early in reaching some state of
development.
precursor: 1) a person or thing that goes before; forerunner; harbinger; 2) a predecessor,
as in office; 3) a substance that precedes and
is the source of another substance.
predatory: 1) of, living by , or characterized
by plundering, robbing or exploiting others; 2)
living by capturing and feeding upon other animals; predacious.
predecessor: 1) a person who precedes or
preceded another, as in office; 2)a thing replaced by another thing, as in use; 3) an ancestor, forefather.
predicament: unfortunate situation or condition.
predicate: preach; to affirm; to assert;
predilection: favourable prepossession of
mind; preference.
3108. precipice: 1) a vertical, almost vertical . or
overhanging rock face; steep cliff; 2) a greatly 3121. preeminence: outstanding extreme; surpasshazardous situation, verging on disaster.
ing others in good or bad qualities.
3109. precipitate: 1) falling steeply, rushing head- 3122.
long, flowing swiftly, etc; 2)acting, happening or done very hastily or rashly; impetuous; headstrong; 3) very sudden, unexpected,
or abrupt.
preemption: 1) the act or right of buying
land, etc before, or in preference to, others;
esp such a right granted to a settler on public
land; 2) action taken to check another action
beforehand.
3110. precipitate: 1) to throw headlong; hurl 3123.
downward; 2) to cause to happen before expected, warranted, needed, or desired; bring
3124.
on; hasten [to precipitate a crisis]; 4) to condense (water vapor) and cause to fall to the
ground as rain, snow, sleet etc.
3125.
preen: a) [dial Brit] pin : brooch; b) to dress
or smooth (oneself) up : primp.
3111. precipitous: sheer; sharp like a precipice.
3112. precise: 1) strictly defined; accurately stated; 3126.
definite; 2) speaking definitely or distinctly; 3)
with no variation; minutely exact [the precise
amount]; 4a) that strictly conforms to usage, 3127.
rules etc; scrupulous; fastidious; 4b) too fastidious; finicky.
prefatory: of, like, or serving as a preface;
introductory.
prehensile: adapted for seizing or grasping,
esp by wrapping or folding around sth, as the
tail of certain monkeys.
prelate: an ecclesiastic of high rank; a chief
priest in clergymen.
prelude: ath serving as the introduction to a
principal event, action, performance etc; preliminary part; preface; opening.
3113. preclude: to close beforehand; to prevent; to 3128. premeditate: to think out, plan or scheme
hinder by anticipation.
beforehand [a premeditated murder].
102

104. 3129. premonition: a forewarning; feeling that sth 3146.
is going to happen.
3147.
3130. preponderate: 1) to sink or incline downward, as the scale of a balance; 2) to surpass
others in amount, number, power, influence, 3148.
importance, etc; predominate.
3131. preposterous: utterly absurd.
prevenience: foresighted action.
prim: stiffly formal, precise, moral, etc;
proper; demure.
primogeniture: 1) the condition or fact of
being the first-born of the same parents; 2)
the exclusive right of the eldest son to inherit
his father’s estate.
3132. prerogative: a peculiar privilege shared by 3149. primordial: 1) first in time; existing at or
no other; a distinctively superior advantage.
from the beginning; primitive; primeval; 2)
not derivative; fundamental; original; 3) earli3133. presage: 1) sth that foreshadows or portends
est formed in the development of an organism,
a future event : omen; 2) an intuition or feeling
organ, structure, etc; primitive.
of what is going to happen in the future.
3150. primp: to groom or dress up in a fussy way.
3134. prescience: fore knowledge; foresight.
3151. pristine: 1) original; former; belonging to the
3135. presentiment: a feeling that sth esp of an unearliest time; 2) still pure; uncorrupted; unfortunate or evil nature is about to take place;
spoiled.
foreboding.
3136. prestidigitator: one who has sleight of hand. 3152. privation: being deprived of something necessary for comfort.
3137. prestige: 1) the power to impress or influence,
as because of success, wealth etc; 2) reputation 3153. privative: making negative.
based on brilliance of achievement, character 3154. privy: 1) a small building having a bench with
etc; renown.
holes thru which the user may defecate or urinate; toilet.
3138. presumptuous: insolent, arrogant, brazen;
[Opp.] diffident, coy, unobtrusive.
3155. privy: 1a) private, withdrawn; 1b) secret; 2)
belonging or relating to a person in one’s indi3139. presumptuous: presuming; taking as true
vidual rather than official capacity; 3) admitwithout examination or proof.
ted as one sharing a secret [∼ to the conspir3140. pretentious: 1) overassuming; seeming to
acy].
claim much; 2) affectedly grand; ostentatious.
3156. probation: testing; proof.
3141. preterition: retrospective time; bygone days;
3157. probity: uprightness; moral integrity.
antiquity; pristine.
3142. preternatural: 1) differing from or beyond 3158. problematic: 1) having the nature of a problem; hard to solve or deal with; 2) not settled;
what is normally found in or expected from
yet to be determined; uncertain.
nature; abnormal ;2) supernatural;
3143. pretext: 1) a false reason or motive put forth 3159. proclivity: inclination; propensity.
to hide the real one; excuse; 2) a cover-up;
3160. procrastinate: to put off intentionally and
front.
habitually : postpone.
3144. prevalent: a) widely existing; b) generally
3161. procure: 1) to get or bring about by some
practiced, occurring, or accepted.
effort; obtain ;secure [to procure supplies]; 2)
3145. prevaricate: to deviate; to evade the truth;
to obtain (persons, esp women) for the purpose
to shift from side to side.
of prostitution.
103

105. 3162. prod: 1) to jab or poke with or as with a 3179. proliferate: 1) to grow by multiplying new
pointed stick; goad ; 2) to urge or stir unto
parts, as by budding, in quick succession; 2)
action.
to multiply rapidly; increase profusely.
3163. prodigal: 1) exceedingly or recklessly waste- 3180.
ful; 2) extremely generous; lavish [prodigal
with one’s praise]; 3) extremely abundant; profuse.
3181.
3164. prodigious: 1) wonderful; amazing; 2) of
great size, power, extent, etc; enormous; huge.
3182.
3165. profane: 1) to treat sth (sacred) with irreverence, abuse or contempt : desecrate; 2) to
debase by wrong, unworthy or vulgar use; 3)
not concerned with religious purposes : secular; 4) not holy because unconsecrated, impure 3183.
or defiled : unsanctified.
3166. profligate: abandoned to vice; overthrown;
defeated.
prolific: 1) producing young or fruit, esp
freely; 2) to increase in number as by proliferating : multiply.
prolix: long winded; dwelling too long on particulars.
prominent: 1) sticking out; projecting [a
prominent chin]; 2) noticeable at once; conspicuous [prominent markings]; 3) widely and
favorably known [a prominent artist].
promiscuous: 1) consisting of different elements mixed together or mingled without sorting or discrimination; 2) characterized by lack
of discrimination; specif engaging in sexual intercourse indiscriminately or with many persons; 3) without plan or purpose; casual.
3167. profound: deep seated; intense; abstruse.
3168. profusion: extravagance; prodigality.
3184. promissory: containing a promise of some engagement to be fulfilled.
3169. progenitor: 1) a forefather, ancestor in di- 3185.
rect line; 2) a source from which sth develops;
originator or precursor.
3186.
3170. progeny: children, descendants or offspring
collectively; issue.
3171. prognathous: having projecting jaws.
promontory: a peak of high land that juts
out into a body of water; headland.
prompt: 1) to move to action : incite; 2) to
assist (one acting or reciting) by saying or suggesting or saying the next words of sth forgotten or imperfectly learned : cue; 3) to serve as
the inciting cause of; 4) being ready and quick
to act as occasion demands.
3172. prognosis: a forecast or forecasting; esp a
prediction of the probable course of a disease 3187. promulgate: to proclaim; to make widely
in an individual and the chances of recovery.
known.
3173. prognostications: predictions.
3188. prone: 1) having a tendency or inclination :
being likely [∼ to forget names]; 2a) having the
3174. projectile: 1) an object designed to be hurled
front or ventral surface downward; 2b) lying
or shot forward, as a cannon shell etc; 2) anyflat or prostrate.
thing thrown or hurled forward.
3175. prolate: ¡also used for¿ widespread.
3189. propaedeutic: relating to introduction to a
study.
3176. prolegomena: an introduction esp to a trea3190. propagate: 1) to cause to continue to increase
tise;.
by sexual or asexual reproduction; 2) to pass
along to offspring; 3) to cause to spread out
3177. prolegomena: preliminary remarks.
and affect a greater number or greater area :
3178. proletariat: the working class; esp the indusextend; to foster growing knowledge of familtrial working class.
iarity with or acceptance of : publicize.
104

106. 3191. propensity: inclination of mind; tendency to 3205. proscribe: to banish, ostracise, interdict; to
good or evil; disposition.
invite, entreat, welcome.
3192. prophylactic: preventive or protective; esp 3206. proselyte: 1) to try to convert (a person), esp
preventing or guarding against disease.
to one’s religion; 2) to persuade to do or join
sth esp by offering an inducement.
3193. propinquity: 1) nearness in time or place; 2)
nearness of relationship; kinship.
3207. prosody: 1) the science or art of versification, including the study of metrical struc3194. propitiate: to cause to become favorably intures, stanza forms, etc; 2) a particular system
clined; win or regain the good will of; appease
or style of versification and metrical structure.
or conciliate [sacrifices made to propitiate the
gods].
3208. prosperity: the condition of being successful
or thriving, esp well being.
3195. propitious: favorable; disposed to be gracious; boding well; auspicious; that favors or 3209. prostration: humble reverence; (say lying
furthers [propitious winds].
flat on the ground).
3196. proponent: bringing forward; bringing into 3210. protagonist: hero; leader; the chief actor or
action.
combatant.
3197. propositions: act of proposing.
3211. protean: readily assuming different shapes;
variable; inconstant.
3198. propound: to put forward for consideration;
purpose.
3212. prototype: original; module; paradigm; spec3199. proprietary: of the nature of property; of
ownership.
3213.
3200. propriety: 1) the quality of being proper, fitting or suitable; fitness; 2) conformity with
what is proper or fitting; 3) conformity with
accepted standards or proper manner or be3214.
havior.
3215.
3201. propulsive: tending or having power to propel.
3216.
imen; archetype.
protract: 1) to draw out, lengthen in duration; prolong; 2) to draw to scale, using a protractor and scale; 3) to thrust out; extend :
opposed to retract.
protrude: to thrust or jut out; project.
protuberance: bulging or swelling.
provenance: 1) origin, source; 2) the history
of ownership of a valued object or work of art
or literature.
3202. prosaic: 1) of or like prose rather than poetry;
often specif heavy, flat, unimaginative etc; 2)
commonplace, dull and ordinary [prosaic de- 3217. provender: 1) dry food for livestock, as hay,
tails of everyday life].
corn, oats,etc; fodder; 2) provisions; food.
3203. proscenium: 1a) the apron of a stage; 1b) 3218.
the plane separating the stage proper from the
audience and including the arch (proscenium
arch) and the curtain within it; 2) the stage of 3219.
an ancient Greek or Roman theatre.
3204. proscribe: 1) in ancient Rome, to publish the
name of ( a person) condemned to death, ban- 3220.
ishment etc; 2) to deprive of the protection
of the law; outlaw; 3) to banish; exile; 4) to
denounce or forbid the practice, use etc of; interdict.
105
providence: foresight; prudent management
and thrift; timely preparation.
provident: 1) providing for future needs or
events; exercising or characterized by foresight;
2) prudent or economical.
provincial: 1) the superior of a province of a
Roman Catholic religious order; 2) one living
in or coming from a province; 3a) a person of
local or restricted interests or outlook; 3b) a
person lacking urban polish or refinement.

107. 3221. provisional: having the nature of a tempo- 3232.
rary provision; arranged or established for the
time being, pending permanent arrangement
or establishment.
psychiatry: the branch of medicine concerned with the study, treatment and prevention of disorders of the mind including psychoses and neuroses, emotional maladjustment
etc.
3222. proviso: a provision or condition in a deed or
3233. psychopath: a person suffering from a menwriting; stipulation.
tal disorder; specif a person whose behavior is
largely amoral or asocial and who is; charac3223. provoke: 1) to excite to some action or feelterized by irresponsibility, lack of remorse or
ing; 2) to anger, irritate, or annoy; 3) to stir
shame, perverse or; impulsive (often criminal)
up (action or feeling); 4) to call forth; evoke
behavior, and other serious personality defects;
[to provoke a smile].
generally without psychotic attacks or symptoms.
3224. proximity: the state or quality of being near;
nearness in space, time etc.
3234. psychosis: a major mental disorder in which
the personality in very seriously disorganized
3225. proxy: 1) the agency or function of a depute;
and contact with reality is usu impaired.
2) the authority to act for another; 3) a document empowering a person to act for another, 3235. pterodactyl: any of various pterosaurs of the
as in voting at a stockholder’s meeting; 4) a
Late Jurassic having a rudimentary tail and
person empowered to act for another.
beak with reduced dentition.
3226. prude: a person who is over modest or proper 3236. puerile: childish; trifling; silly.
in behaviour, dress, or speech, esp in a way 3237. puerile: foolish, puny, fatuous, shallow; wise,
that annoys others.
sensible, shrewd.
3227. prudent: 1) capable of exercising sound 3238.
judgement in practical matters, esp as concerns one’s own interests; 2) cautious or dis- 3239.
creet in conduct; circumspect; not rash; 3) 3240.
managing carefully and with economy.
3241.
3228. prune: 1) to remove the dead or living parts
from (a plant) so as to increase fruit or flower 3242.
production or improve the form; 2) to cut out
or get rid of as being unnecessary; 3) to reduce 3243.
or diminish by removing what is unnecessary.
pugnacious: fondness for fighting.
puissant: powerful; strong.
pulchritude: physical comeliness; beauty.
pullulate: swarm.
pulsate: 1) to beat or throb rhythmically, as
the heart; 2) to vibrate; quiver.
pulverize: 1) to crush , grind, etc into a powder or dust; 2) to break down completely; demolish.
3229. prurient: uneasily or morbidly interested
curious or craving; dallying with lascivious 3244. pummel: to beat or hit with repeated blows,
thoughts.
esp with the fist.
3230. psittacism: parrot like.
3245. punctilious: exact observance of formalities.
3246.
3231. psyche: 1) the human soul; 2) the intellect; 3) the mind considered as a subjectively
perceived, functional entity, based ultimately
upon physical processes but with complex processes of its own : it governs the total organism
and its interactions with the environment.
3247.
106
pundit: 1) a person who has or professes to
have great knowledge/learning; actual or selfprofessed authority; 2) in India , a Brahmin
who is learned in Sanskrit and in Hindu philosophy, law and religion.
pungency: acridity; mordant; acrimonious.

108. 3248. pungent: sharp; pricking or acrid to taste.
3266. qualm: 1) a sudden attack of illness, faintness,
or nausea; 2) a sudden access of usu disturbing
3249. punitive: concerned with inflicting or intendemotion (as of doubt of fear); 3) a feeling of
ing to inflict punishment.
uneasiness about a point esp of conscience or
propriety.
3250. purblind: lacking understanding.
3251. purgatory: any state or place of temporary 3267.
punishment, expiation or remorse.
3268.
3252. purloin: to filch; steal; to appropriate wrongfully and often by breach of trust.
quandaries: state of perplexity; dilemma.
quarry: 1) an animal that is being hunted
down, esp with dogs or hawks; prey; 2) ath
being hunted or pursued.
3253. purport: 1) meaning; tenor; sense; drift; 2) 3269. quarry: a place where building stone, marble
intention; object.
or slate is excavated, as by cutting or blasting.
3254. purveyor: one whose business is to provide 3270. quash: 1) to annul or set aside (an indictvictuals or meals.
ment); 2) to quell or suppress (an uprising).
3255. purview: scope; range; field of activity or 3271. quay: a wharf, usu of concrete or stone, for
view.
use in loading and unloading ships.
3256. pusillanimity: timidity, dastardliness, cow3272. queasy: unsettled; uneasy; causing nausea.
ardice, poltroonery; valour, intrepidity, fortitude.
3273. quell: to extinguish; to crush; subdue.
3257. putative: generally considered or deemed
3274. querulous: complaining; peevish.
such; reputed [a putative ancestor].
3258. putrid: 1) decomposed; rotten and foul 3275.
smelling; 2) causing, showing or proceeding
from decay; 3) morally corrupt; depraved; 4)
very disagreeable or unpleasant.
quibble: an evasive turning away from the
point in question into matters irrelevant;
merely verbal or insignificant; a pun; a petty
conceit.
3276. quibble: prevaricate, equivocate, cavil; befirm, act conscientiously, speak plainly.
3259. pylon: gateway.
3260. pyromania: a persistent compulsion to start
destructive fires.
3277. quiddity: the whatness or essence of anything; a cavil; a captious question.
3261. quack: 1) any person who pretends to have
knowledge or skill that he or she does not have 3278. quiescent: quiet; still; inactive.
in a particular field; charlatan; 2) an untrained
person who practices medicine fraudulently. 3279. quietude: quietness; tranquility.
3262. quaff: to drink deeply in a hearty or thirsty 3280.
way.
3281.
3263. quagmire: wet boggy ground that yields or
quakes under the feet; a difficult or inextricable
position [a quagmire of debts].
3264. quail: to draw back in fear; lose heart or
courage.
3265. quaint: skillful esp in the use of language.
107
quietus: release from life.
quintessence: 1) in ancient and medieval
philosophy the fifth essence, or ultimate substance, of which the heavenly bodies were
thought to be composed : distinguished from
the four elements (air, fire, water, and earth);
2) the pure, concentrated essence of ath; 3)
the most perfect manifestation of a quality or
thing.

109. 3282. quip: 1a) a clever usu taunting remark : gibe; 3300. rampant: prevalent, dominant, violent; un1b) a witty or funny observation or response
obtrusive, meek, mild.
usu made on the spur of the moment; 2) quib3301. rampant: rearing; high spirited; unreble, equivocation.
strained; unchecked in growth or prevalence.
3283. quirk: a sudden turn; twist; an artful evasion;
3302. rampart: 1) an embankment of earth, usu
a quibble.
surmounted by a parapet, encircling a castle,
3284. quisling: a traitor.
fort etc for defense against attack; 2) any defense or bulwark.
3285. quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous or foolishly idealistic; visionary; impractical or im- 3303. ramshackle: tumble down; not in good conpracticable.
dition?.
3286. quizzical: 1) odd, comical; 2) teasing; ban- 3304. rancid: sour; rank in smell or taste; having
tering; 3) perplexed; questioning.
the bad smell or taste of stale fats or oils.
3287. quizzical: awed?.
3305. rancor: ill-will; virulence; spite; deep seated
enmity.
3288. quorum: 1) the minimum number of members required to be present at an assembly or 3306. rankle: to cause or cause to have long lasting
meeting before it can validly proceed to transanger, rancor, resentment etc [their indifferact business; 2) a select group or company.
ence rankled him].
3289. quotidian: 1) daily; recurring every day; 2) 3307. rankling: continuing to be a painful or bitter
everyday, usual or ordinary.
memory;
3290. quotidian: occurring everyday.
3308. rant: to talk or say in a loud, wild, extravagant way; declaim violently; rave.
3291. rabid: frantic, berserk, frenetic, frenzied;
sane, normal, reasonable.
3309. rapacious: avaricious, voracious, predatory;
liberal, bountiful, prodigal.
3292. raconteur: a person skilled at telling stories
or anecdotes.
3310. rapine: plundering; prey; ravishment.
3293. ragamuffin: a dirty, ragged person; esp a 3311.
poor ragged child.
3312.
3294. rail: to speak bitterly or reproachfully; complain violently : with against or at.
3313.
3295. raiment: clothing; wearing apparel; attire.
3314.
3296. rakish:
dissolute; libertine; having a
trim or streamline appearance suggestive of 3315.
speed; dashingly or carelessly unconventional
: jaunty.
3297. rambling: aimless; walking for pleasure.
rapport: relation; connection.
rapprochement: a drawing together; establishment or renewal of cordial relations.
raptorial: predacious.
rapturous: extremely delightful; paroxysm.
rarefy: 1) to make or become thin, or less
dense; 2) to make or become more refined, subtle or lofty.
3316. raspy: 1) rasping; grating; 2) easily irritated.
3298. rambunctious: marked by uncontrollable ex- 3317. ratify: to approve or confirm, esp to give official sanction to.
uberance; unruly.
3299. ramification: branching esp the remote 3318. ratiocination: logical reasoning; act of drawbranch, offshoot or link.
ing conclusions from premises.
108

110. 3319. raucous: 1) hoarse; rough-sounding; 2) loud 3333.
and rowdy.
3334.
3320. ravage: 1) an act or practice of ravaging; 2)
damage resulting from ravaging ; violently destructive effect; 3) to wreak havoc on : affect
3335.
destructively.
rebuttal: to repel; to refute.
3321. rave: 1a) to talk irrationally in or as if in delir- 3336.
ium; 1b) to speak wildly; 1c) to talk with extreme enthusiasm; 2) to move or advance vio3337.
lently : storm; 3) act or instance of raving; 4)
an extravagantly favorable criticism.
3338.
3322. ravel: 1a) to separate or undo the texture of
: unravel; 1b) undo the intricacies of : disentangle ; 2) sth tangled; sth raveled out : specif
a loose thread.
3339.
recant: retract, abjure, withdraw, repudiate;
to acknowledge, admit, proclaim.
recalcitrant: 1) refusing to obey authority,
custom, regulation, etc; stubbornly defiant; 2)
hard to handle or deal with.
recalcitrant: obstinate in opposition.
recant: to retract; to revoke a former declaration; to unsay what has been said.
recant: to withdraw or renounce (beliefs or
statements formerly held) esp in a formal or
public manner.
recapitulate: to repeat briefly, as in an outline; summarize.
3323. ravenous: 1) greedily or wildly hungry; voracious or famished; 2) very eager for gratifica- 3340. receptacle: that in ath may be received or
tion [ravenous for praise]; 3) very rapacious.g
stored.
3324. raze: to tear down completely; level to the 3341. receptive: 1) able or inclined to receive; esp
ground; demolish.
: open and responsive to ideas, impressions or
suggestions; 2a) of a sensory end organ : fit to
3325. reactionary: relating to, marked by, or favorreceive or transmit stimuli.
ing reaction ,esp ultraconservative in politics.
3326. realm: 1) a kingdom; 2) a region; sphere; area 3342. recession: 1) the act or action of receding
: withdrawal; 2) a departing procession (as of
[the realm of thought]; 3) any of the primary
clergy and choir at the end of a church service);
biogeographic regions of the earth.
3) a period of reduced economic activity.
3327. rebate: a return on part of an amount paid,
as for goods or services, serving s a reduction 3343. recidivism: habitual or chronic relapse, or
tendency to relapse, esp into, crime or antior discount.
social behavior.
3328. rebuff: 1) an abrupt, blunt refusal of offered
3344. reciprocate: 1) to give and take mutually; 2)
advice, help etc; 2) any check or repulse.
to return in kind or degree; 2) to move for3329. rebuffed: a beating back; unexpected refusal;
ward and backward alternately [a reciprocatsnub.
ing valve].
3330. rebuked:
sternly.
to check; restrain; to reprove 3345. recluse: shut away from the world; secluded;
solitary.
3331. rebus: a kind of puzzle consisting of pictures 3346.
of objects, signs, letters, etc, the combination
of whose names suggests words or phrases [a 3347.
picture of an eye followed by an L followed by
an ampersand is a ∼ for “island”].
3348.
3332. rebut: to contradict, refute or oppose, esp in
a formal manner by argument, proof, etc, as
in a debate.
109
recoil: to shrink from;.
recompense: to return an equivalent to or
for; to repay.
reconcile: 1) to make friendly again or win
over to a friendly attitude; 2) to settle a (quarrel or dispute) or compose (a difference); 3)
to make (arguments, ideas, texts, accounts,

111. etc) consistent, compatible, etc; bring into har- 3360. recuperate: 1) to be restored to health,
mony; 4) to make content, submissive or acquistrength etc; get well again; recover; 2) to reescent (to) [to become ∼ed one’s lot].
cover losses, etc.
3349. recondite: 1) beyond the grasp of the or- 3361.
dinary mind or understanding; profound; abstruse; 2) dealing with abstruse or difficult sub- 3362.
jects; 3) obscure or concealed.
3363.
3350. reconnaissance: an exploratory survey or examination as in seeking out information about
enemy positions or installations, or as in making a preliminary geological or engineering survey.
recusant: dissenting in religion.
redaction: editing.
redeem: 1a) to buy back : repurchase; 1b) to
get or win back; 2) to free from what distresses
or harms: as; a) to free from captivity by payment of ransom; b) to extricate from or help
to overcome sth detrimental; c) to release from
blame or debt; 3) to change for the better; 4)
to atone for : expiate.
3351. recount: 1) to tell in detail; give an account
of; narrate; 2) to tell in order or one by one; 3364. redolent: 1) sweet-smelling; fragrant; 2)
3) to count again.
smelling (of); 3) suggestive or evocative (of).
3352. recourse: 1) a turning or seeking for aid, 3365.
safety etc; 2) that to which one turns seeking aid,safety , etc [one’s last recourse]; 3) the
right to demand payment from the maker or 3366.
endorser of a negotiable; instrument as a bill
of exchange : usu in “without recourse” without; obligation to pay (added by the endorser
to the bill of exchange to escape; possible lia- 3367.
bility).
3353. recreant: surrendering; craven; false.
3354. recriminate: to answer an accuser by accusing him in return; reply with a counter-charge.
redoubtable: 1) formidable; valiant; 2) commanding respect [a ∼ logician].
redress: to set right; rectify or remedy, often by making compensation for (a wrong,
grievance,etc).
redundance: superabundance; superfluity;
saturation; exuberance; surfeit; excess; exorbitance.
3368. reek: 1) to expose to the action of smokes or
fumes; 2) to emit or exude (vapor, fumes, etc).
3355. recrudescence: a new outbreak after a pe- 3369.
riod of abatement or inactivity; renewal.
3370.
3356. rectify: 1) to set right : remedy; 2) to purify (as alcohol) esp by repeated or fractional
3371.
distillation; 3) to correct by removing errors :
adjust.
refection: a light meal.
refectory: a dining hall in a monastery, college, etc.
referendum: the principle or practice of submitting a vote, a question directly to the vote
of the electorate.
3357. rectitude: 1) conduct according to moral
principle; strict honesty; uprightness of char- 3372. refractory: 1) hard to manage; stubborn; obstinate : said of a person or animal; 2) resistant
acter; 2) correctness of judgement or method.
to heat; hard to melt or work : said or ores or
3358. rectitude: 1) the quality or state of being
metals; 3a) not yielding to treatment,as a disstraight; 2) moral integrity : righteousness; 3)
ease; 3b) able to resist disease.
the quality or state of being correct in judge3373. refrain: 1) to keep oneself from doing, feeling
ment or procedure.
or indulging in sth and esp from following a
3359. recumbent: 1a) lying down; reclining; leanpassing impulse; 2) curb, restrain.
ing; 1b) resting; idle; 2) designating a part that
leans or lies upon some other part or surface. 3374. refulgent: brilliant.
110

112. 3375. refurbish: to brighten, freshen, or polish up 3387. reiterate: to repeat (sth done or said); say or
again; renovate.
do again or repeatedly.
3376. refute: 1) to prove (a person) to be wrong; 3388. rejoinder: a) an answer to a reply; b) a reply;
confute; 2) to prove (an argument or stateanswer.
ment) to be false or wrong, by argument or
3389. rejuvenate: 1) to make feel or seem young
evidence.
again; bring back to youthful strength, appear3377. regal: 1) of a monarch, royal; 2) characteristic
ance etc; 2) to make seem new or fresh again.
of, like, or fit for a monarch; splendid, stately,
magnificent etc.
3390. relation: analogy; apposition; affinity; homogeneity.
3378. regale: 1) to entertain by providing a splendid feast; 2) to delight with sth pleasing or 3391. relegate: to banish; to dismiss; to assign; to
amusing.
refer.
3379. regatta: event consisting of rowing or yacht 3392.
races.
3393.
3380. regeneration: 1) an act or the process of regenerating; 2) spiritual renewal or revival; 3)
renewal or restoration of a body or bodily part 3394.
after injury or as a normal process; 4) utilization special devices of heat or other products
that would ordinarily be lost.
relegate: to banish; to send away; to dismiss.
relent: to soften in temper, resolution etc; become less severe, stern, stubborn etc.
relic: 1a) an object esteemed and venerated
because of association with a saint or martyr; 1b) souvenir: memento; 2) [pl] remains,
corpse; 3) a survivor or remnant of some past
or outmoded practice.
3381. regicide: 1) one who kills, or is responsible
for the killing of a monarch, esp of one’s own 3395. relinquish: 1) to give up; abandon (a plan,
country; 2) the killing of a monarch.
policy etc); 2) to renounce or surrender (sth
owned, a right etc); 3) to let go (a grasp, hold
3382. regime: 1a) regimen; 1b) a regular pattern of
etc).
occurrence or action (as of seasonal rainfall);
1c) the char behavior or orderly procedure of a
3396. reliquary: a receptacle for relics.
natural phenomenon or process; 2a) a mode or
rule of management; 2b) a form of government; 3397. relish: 1) char flavor; esp : pleasing or zestful
2c) a government in power.
flavor; 2) a quality just sufficient to flavor or
characterize : trace; 3a) enjoyment or delight
3383. regimen: a regulated system of diet, exercise,
in sth that satisfies one’s tastes, inclinations or
etc for therapy or the maintenance or improvedesires; 3b) a strong liking, or inclination; 4a)
ment of health.
sth adding a zestful flavor esp a condiment (as
of pickles or green tomatoes) eaten with other
3384. rehabilitate: 1a) to restore to a former cafood to add flavor.
pacity : reinstate; 1b) to restore to good repute : reestablish the good name of; 2a) to
restore to a former state (as of efficiency, good 3398. remediable: capable of being remedied, relieved, corrected or treated.
management or solvency) [∼ slum areas]; 2b)
to restore or bring to a condition of health or
3399. reminiscence: recollection; an account of sth
useful and constructive activity.
remembered; sth that suggests or recalls sth
else; reminder.
3385. reification: act of making sth concrete.
3386. reimbursable: sth which can be ∼ ie to pay 3400. remiss: negligent; slack; wanting in vigor;
an equivalent to the loss or expense.
characterized by carelessness or negligence.
111

113. 3401. remission: the act or an instance of remit- 3413.
ting; specif ; a) forgiveness or pardon, as of
sin’s or crimes; b) cancellation of or release
from a debt, tax, penalty etc; c) a lessening or 3414.
abating, as of heat or cold, pain etc; d) a relatively prolonged lessening or disappearance of
the symptoms of a disease.
3402. remonstrate: to make strong or formal
protest; to expostulate;
renunciate: to renounce; repudiate: specif
ascetic self-denial.
reparation: 1a) a repairing or keeping in repair; 1b) [pl] repairs; 2a) the act of making
amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury; 2b) sth done or
given as an act of satisfaction; 3) indemnification.
3415. repartee: 1) a quick, witty reply; 2) a series of
3403. remorse: 1) a gnawing distress arising from
such rejoinders; 3) skill in making witty replies.
a sense of guilt for past wrongs ; self-reproach;
3416. repartee: a quick witty reply.
penitence.
3404. remunerate: to recompense; to pay for ser- 3417. repatriate: to send back or return to the
country of birth,citizenship, or allegiance.
vice rendered.
3405. rend: 1) to tear, pull or rip with violence 3418.
: with from, off, away etc; 2) to tear, pull
apart, rip up or split with violence [a tree rent
by lightning] : often used figuratively [a roar
rends the air]; 3) to tear (one’s clothing) to 3419.
show grief, anguish, etc.
repeal: 1) to rescind or annul by authoritative
act; esp : to revoke or abrogate by legislative
enactment; 2) abandon, renounce.
repellent: 1) serving to drive away or ward
off—-often used in combination; 2) arousing
aversion or disgust.
3406. rendition: surrender; to tender or submit.
3420. repercussion: 1) reflection, reverberation;
2a) an action or effect given or extended in
return : a reciprocal action or effect; 2b) a
widespread, indirect, or unforeseen effect of an
3408. renege: to back out of an agreement; go back
action, or event.
on a promise.
3421. repertoire: 1a) a list or supply of dramas, op3409. renitent: constantly opposed.
eras, pieces or parts that a company or person
is prepared to perform; 1b) a supply of skills,
3410. renounce: 1) to give up (a claim, right, belief
devices, or expedients [part of the ∼ of a quaretc), usu by a formal public statement; 2) to
terback]; 1c) a list or supply of capabilities.
give up (a pursuit, practice, way of living or
3407. renegade:
¡alternate spelling—renegate¿
apostate; one faithless to principle or party.
feeling etc); 3) to cast off or disown; refuse 3422.
further association with; repudiate.
3423.
3411. renovate: 1) to make fresh or sound again,
as though new; clean up, replace worn out and
broken parts; 2) to refresh; revive.
3424.
3412. rent: 1a) a usu fixed periodical return made
by a tenant or occupant of property to the
owner for the possession and use thereof; esp 3425.
: an agreed sum paid at fixed intervals by the
tenant; 2) the portion of the income of an economy (as of a nation) attributable to land as a 3426.
factor of production in addition to capital and
labor.
112
repertoire: a repertory of someone or sth.
repertory: storehouse; repository; company
that presents several different plays, operas, or
theater housing such a company.
repine: 1) to feel or express dejection or discontent; 2) to long for sth.
repine: to feel or express unhappiness or discontent; complain; fret.
replete: 1) fully or abundantly provided or
filled [a book ∼ with info]; 2a) abundantly fed
: fat : stout.

114. 3427. replete: ill-filled or plentifully supplied; 2) 3442. reprove: 1) to scold or correct usu gently or
stuffed with food and drink; gorged.
with kindly intent; 2) to express disapproval of
: censure [it is not for me to ∼ popular taste].
3428. replicate: 1) to fold; bend back; 2) to repeat
or duplicate.
3443. repudiate: 1) to refuse to have ath to do with;
disown or cast off publicly; 2a) to refuse to ac3429. repository: a place or receptacle in which ath
cept or support; deny the validity of (a belief, a
is laid up; storehouse; place of accumulation.
treaty, etc); 2b) to deny the truth of (a charge,
etc); 3) to refuse to acknowledge or pay (a debt
3430. reprehend: to reprimand or rebuke (a peror obligation) : said esp of a government.
son); to find fault with (sth done); censure.
3444. repudiate: to divorce; to disown; to reject.
3431. reprehensible: blameworthy.
3432. repress: 1a) to check by or as if by pressure : 3445.
curb [injustice was ∼ed]; 1b) to put down by
force : subdue; 2a) to hold in by self control
[∼ed a laugh]; 2b) to prevent the natural or
normal expression, activity or development of 3446.
[∼ed her anger].
3433. repressive: adj of repress ie to keep under;
restrain.
3434. reprieve: 1) to postpone the punishment of;
esp to postpone the execution of (a person condemned to death); 2) to give a temporary relief
to, as from trouble or pain.
repugnance: 1) inconsistency or contradiction; 2) extreme dislike or distaste; aversion;
antipathy.
repulsion: 1) the action of repulsing : the
state of being repulsed; 2) the action of repelling : the force with which bodies, particles,
or like forces repel one another.
3447. requiem: a Mass for one or more deceased
persons; a musical setting for this; also, any
musical service, hymn, or dirge for the dead;
3) any dirge like song, chant, or poem.
3448. requisite: required, as by circumstances; nec3435. reprieve: to delay the execution of; interval
essary for some purpose; indispensable.
of ease or relief; a suspension of a criminal sentence.
3449. requite: 1) to make return or repayment to
for a benefit, injury, etc; reward or retaliate
3436. reprimand: 1) a severe or formal reproof;
against; 2) to make return or repayment for (a
2) to reprove sharply or censure formally usu
benefit, service, etc, or an injury, wrong, etc).
from a position of authority.
3450. rescind: to cut away; to annul, to abrogate.
3437. reprisal: seizure in retaliation; sth given or
paid in retaliation.
3451. reserve: 1a) to hold in reserve : keep back
[∼ grain for seed]; 1b) to set aside (part of
3438. reprise: 1) a deduction or charge made yearly
the consecrated elements) at the Eucharist for
out of a manor or estate—usu used in pl; 2) a
future use; 1c) to retain or hold over to a future
recurrence, renewal, or resumption of an actime or place : defer [∼ one’s judgement or
tion; 3a) a musical repetition : recapitulation.
plan]; 2) to set or have set aside or apart [∼ a
hotel room].
3439. reproach: to accuse of and blame for a fault,
so as to make feel ashamed; rebuke; reprove.
3452. residue: 1) that which is left over after part
is taken away; remainder; rest; 2) the mat3440. reprobate: base; depraved; unprincipled; an
ter remaining at the end of a process, as after
abandoned or profligate person.
evaporation etc; 3) that part of a testator’s es3441. reprobation: the act of reprobating or the
tate which is left after all claims, charges, and
state of being reprobate.
bequests have been satisfied.
113

115. 3453. resignation: 1a) act or instance of resigning
sth : surrender; 1b) a formal notification of
resigning; 2) submissiveness.
3454. resilient: 1) bouncing or springing back into
shape, position etc. after being stretched, bent
or esp compressed; 2) recovering strength, spirits, good humor etc quickly.
3455. resolute: firm and determined;.
judgement; 1c) the state of one risen from the
dead; 2) resurgence, revival.
3466. resuscitate: to revive or revitalize; bring
back to life; esp to revive (someone apparently
dead, in a faint etc) as by artificial respiration
etc.
3467. retaliate: to return like for like; esp to return
evil for evil; pay back injury for injury.
3456. resonant: 1) continuing to sound : echoing;
3468. retentive: 1) having the power, property, or
2a) capable of inducing resonance; 2b) relatcapacity or retaining [soils ∼ of moisture]; esp
ing to or exhibiting resonance; 3a) marked by
: retaining knowledge easily.
grandiloquence.
3457. respite: 1) a delay or postponement, esp post- 3469. reticent: reserved or sparing in communication.
ponement of carrying out a death sentence; reprieve; 2) an interval of temporary relief or
3470. reticulated: network pattern.
rest, as from pain, work, duty etc; lull.
3458. resplendent: shining brilliantly; gorgeously 3471. retinue: a body of assistants, followers, or
servants attending a person of rank or imporbright or splendid.
tance; train of attendants or retainers.
3459. responsive: 1) giving response : constituting
a response : answering [a ∼ glance] [∼ aggres- 3472. retiring: drawing back from contact with others, from publicity, etc; reserved; shy.
sion]; 2) quick to respond or react appropriately or sympathetically : sensitive; 3) using
3473. retort: 1) to pay or hurl back : return [∼
responses [∼ worship].
an insult]; 2a) to make a reply to; 2b) to say
3460. restitution: 1) a giving back to the rightin reply; 3) to answer (as in argument) by
ful owner of sth that has been lost or taken
counter argument; 4) a quick witty, or cutting
away; restoration; 2) a making good for loss or
reply, esp : one that turns back or counters
damage; reimbursement; 3) a return to a forthe speaker’s words; 5) a vessel or chamber in
mer condition or situation; 4) the recovery of
which substances are distilled or decomposed
its shape by an elastic body after pressure or
by heat.
strain is released.
3474. retract: 1) to draw back or in; 2) to with3461. restive: obstinate, refractory; uneasy, as if
draw or disavow ( a promise , offer, charge,
ready to break from control.
statement, etc); recant.
3462. restraint: 1a) an act of restraining : the state
3475. retrench: to cut off, out, or down.
of being restrained; 2) a control over the expression of one’s emotions or thoughts.
3476. retribution: giving in return; repaying; rewarding or punishing suitably.
3463. resumption: 1) an act or instance of resuming : recommencement; 2) a return to payment
3477. retrieve: rescue, salvage, regain; restore, rein specie.
vive, correct.
3464. resurgent: rising or tending to rise again.
3478. retroactive: 1) having application to or effect
3465. resurrection: 1a) [cap] the rising of Christ
on things prior to its enactment [a ∼ law]; 2)
from the dead; 1b) [often cap] the rising again
going info effect as of a specified date in the
to life of all the human dead before the final
past [a ∼ increase].
114

116. 3479. retrograde: 1) moving or directed backward; 3494.
retiring or retreating; 2) inverse or reverse :
said of order; 3) going back or tending to go
back to an earlier, esp worse, condition, retro- 3495.
gressive.
3480. retrograde: inverse, reverting; degenerating.
3481. retrospective: looking back; retroactive.
ricochet: a glancing rebound or skip as of a
projectile flying low (to skip along the ground.)
rider: 1) one that rides; 2a) an addition to
a document often attached on a separate piece
of paper; 2b) a clause appended to a legislative
bill to secure a usu distinct object; 3) sth used
to overlie another or to move along on another
piece.
3482. revamp: 1) remake; revise; 2) renovate; re- 3496. rife: 1) frequently or commonly occurring,
construct.
widespread [gossip was rife]; 2a) abundant; 2b)
abounding [rife with error].
3483. reveled: to feast or make merry in a riotous
manner.
3484. reverberate: 1) reflect; 2) repel; 3) echo.
3497. rift: 1) an opening caused by or as if by splitting; cleft; fissure. 2) an open break in a previously friendly relationship.
3485. reverie: 1) dreamy thinking or imagining,
esp of agreeable things; fanciful musing; day- 3498. rig: 1) the distinctive shape, number and arrangement of sails and masts of a ship; 2)
dreaming; 2) a dreamy, fanciful or visionary
equipage : esp a carriage with its horse; 3)
notion or daydream.
clothing, dress; 4) tackle, machinery equip3486. revile: to assail with bitter abuse.
ment fitted for a specified purpose [an oildrilling ∼].
3487. revoke: 1) to annul by recalling or taking back
: rescind [∼ a will]; 2) to bring or call back; 3) 3499. rig: 1) to fit out (as a ship) with rigging; 2)
an act or instance of revoking in a card game.
clothe, dress—usu with out; 3) to furnish with
special gear : equip; 4a) to put in condition
3488. revulsion: 1) a sudden, complete, and vioor position for use : adjust , arrange [a car
lent change of feeling; abrupt, strong reaction
rigged for manual control]; 4b) construct [∼
in sentiment; 2) extreme disgust, shock or reup a temporary shelter].
pugnance; feeling or great loathing.
3500. rig: to manipulate or control usu by deceptive
3489. rhapsody: any wild or unconnected composior dishonest means [∼ an election].
tion; an ecstatic or unrestrainedly enthusiastic
utterance of feeling.
3501. rile: to anger; to irritate.
3490. rhetoric: 1a) the art of using words effectively 3502.
in speaking or writing; now the art of prose
composition; 1b) skill in this; 1c) a treatise or 3503.
book on this; 2) artificial eloquence; language
that is showy an elaborate but largely empty
3504.
of clear ideas or sincere emotion.
rimose: full of cracks.
riposte: a swift sharp reply in speech or action.
risible: inducing laughter.
3491. rhetoric: false, showy, artificial, or declama- 3505. rive: 1a) to wrench open or tear apart into
pieces : rend; 1b) to split with force or violence
tory expression.
[lightning rived the tree]; 2a) to divide into
3492. ribald: characterized by coarse or vulgar jokpieces : shatter; 2b) fracture.
ing or mocking, esp dealing with sex in a hu3506. riveting: having the power to fix attention :
morously earthy or direct way.
engrossing, fascinating.
3493. ribald: low; base; mean; licentious; floutingly
derisive.
3507. rivulet: a little stream; brook.
115

117. 3508. robust: 1a) strong and healthy; full of vigor;
hardy; 1b) strongly built or based; muscular
or sturdy; 2) suited to or requiring physical
strength or stamina [robust work]; 3) rough;
coarse; boisterous; 4) full and rich, as in flavor 3521.
[a robust port wine].
3509. rococo: 1) a style of architecture, decorative
art, music etc, of the early 18th century developed from and in reaction the Baroque and
characterized by profuse and delicate ornamentation, reduced scale,lightness, grace etc;
2) a style or architecture, music, etc, regarded
often disparagingly, as this.
2) water-worn or rough broken stones or bricks
used in coarse masonry or; in filling courses of
walls.
rubric: 1a) an authoritative rule; esp : a rule
for conduct of a liturgical service; 1b) name,
title specif : the title of a statue; sth under
which a thing is classed : category [the sensations falling; under the general ∼ “pressure”];
1c) an explanatory or introductory commentary : an editorial interpolation; 2) a heading
of a part of a book or manuscript done or underlined in a color; (as red) different from the
rest.
3510. roil: 1) to make (a liquid) cloudy, muddy or 3522. rudimentary: 1) consisting in first principles
unsettled by stirring up the sediment; 2) to stir
: fundamental [had only a ∼ formal education];
up; agitate; 3) to make angry or irritable; rile.
2) of a primitive kind; 3) very imperfectly developed or represented only by a vestige [the
3511. roseate: 1) resembling a rose , esp in color; 2)
∼ tail of a hyrax].
overly optimistic : viewed favorably.
3523. rueful: 1) causing sorrow or pity; lamentable;
3512. roster: 1) a list of military or naval person2a) feeling or showing sorrow or pity; mournful
nel or groups, specif one showing their regular
2b) feeling or showing regret, esp in an abashed
assignments and periods of duty; 2) any list;
way.
roll.
3524. ruffian: a brutal, violent, lawless person;
3513. rostrum: a platform for public speaking.
tough or hoodlum.
3514. rote: a fixed, mechanical way of doing sth;
routine - “by rote”; by memory alone; without 3525. ruminate: 1) to chew (the cud), as a cow
does; 2) to turn (ath) over in the mind; mediunderstanding or thought.
tate (on).
3515. rotunda: a round building, hall or room, esp
3526. rummage: 1) to make a thorough search or
one with a dome.
investigation; 2) to engage in an undirected or
3516. rousing: 1a) giving rise to excitement : stirhaphazard search; 3a) a confused or misc colring; 1b) brisk, lively; 2) exceptional, superlalection; 3b) items for sale at a rummage sale;
tive.
4) thorough search esp among a confusion of
objects.
3517. rout: 1) a crowd of people : throng specif :
rabble; 2) disturbance; 3) a fashionable gath- 3527. runagate: a vagabond; a renegade; fugitive.
ering.
3528. rune (runic adj): 1) any of the characters of
3518. rout: a disastrous defeat ¡many more meanany of several alphabets used by the Germanic
ings are there pl see zee lexicon¿.
peoples from about the 3d to 13th centuries;
2) mystery, magic; 3) poem, song.
3519. rout: to low loudly—bellow.
3529. runnel: small stream.
3520. rubble: 1a) broken fragments (as of rock)
resulting from the decay or destruction of; a 3530. ruse: a stratagem, trick, or artifice.
building [fortification knocked into ∼]; 1b) a
miscellaneous confused mass or group of usu 3531. rusticate: to banish for a time from a town
or college.
broken or worthless things; [lay in a pile of ∼];
116

118. 3532. sabotage: 1) intentional destruction of ma- 3545.
chines, waste of materials, etc, as by; employees during labor disputes; 2) destruction 3546.
of railroads, bridges machinery etc by enemy
3547.
agents or by an; underground resistance; 3)
the deliberate obstruction of or damage to any
cause, movement, activity, effort,etc.
3548.
3533. saboteur: one that practices sabotage.
saltatory: leaping.
salubrious: healthful, healthgiving.
salutary: 1) promoting or conducive to
health; healthful; 2) promoting or conducive
to some good purpose; beneficial.
salver: a small tray on an ornamental stand.
3549. salvo: a saving clause; an expedient for saving
appearances, avoiding offense; a simultaneous
discharge of artillery in salute or otherwise.
3535. saccharine: 1) of, having the nature of, containing, or producing sugar; 2) too sweet or
3550. sanatorium: a hospital esp for consumptives
syrupy [a saccharine voice].
or convalescents.
3536. sacrilege: profanation of ath holy.
3551. sanctimonious: pretending to be very holy
3537. sacrosanct: inviolable.
or pious; affecting righteousness.
3534. sabulous: sandy.
3538. sadism: the getting of sexual pleasure from 3552.
dominating, mistreating, or hurting one’s partner; the getting of pleasure from inflicting
physical or psychological pain on another or
others.
3539. saga: 1) a prose narrative recorded in Iceland
in the 12th and 13th centuries of historic or
legendary figures and events of the heroic age
of Norway and Iceland; 2) a modern heroic narrative resembling the Icelandic saga; 3) a long
detailed account [a ∼ of the Old South].
sanction: 1) a formal decree, esp : an ecclesiastical decree; sth that makes an oath binding;
2) the detriment, loss of reward, or coercive
intervention annexed to a; violation of a law
as a means of enforcing the law; 3a) a consideration, principle, or influence (as of conscience) that impels to; moral action or determines moral judgement; 4) an economic or
military coercive measure adopted usu by several nations in; concert for forcing a nation violating international law to desist or yield; to
adjudication.
3540. sagacious: keen in perception or thought; dis3553. sanctuary: a place of refuge; a place affording
cerning and judicious.
immunity from arrest; a private retreat.
3541. sage: 1a) wise thru reflection and experience;
2) proceeding from or characterized by wis- 3554. sanctum: holy place;.
dom, prudence and good judgement [∼ ad- 3555. sangfroid: coolness; self possession.
vice]; 3) one (as a profound philosopher) distinguished for wisdom; 4) a mature or venera- 3556. sanguinary: 1) accompanied by much bloodble man of sound judgement.
shed or carnage; 2) flowing with blood; bloodstained; 3) eager for bloodshed, bloodthirsty.
3542. salacious: 1) arousing or appealing to sexual
desire or imagination : lascivious; 2) lecherous, 3557. sanguine: ardent, confident and inclined to
lustful.
hopefulness; abounding in blood.
3543. salient: 1a) leaping, jumping, or capering; 1b) 3558.
gushing or jetting forth; 2) pointing outward;
jutting or projecting as an angle; 3) standing out from the rest, noticeable; conspicuous; 3559.
prominent.
3544. sallow: of a sickly, pale yellow hue.
sap (4th ): the extension of a trench to a
point below the enemy fortification.
sarcasm: a taunting, sneering, cutting or
caustic remark; gibe or jeer, generally ironic.
3560. sardonic: sneering; bitter, unmirthful laugh.
117

119. 3561. sartorial: 1) to tailors or their work; 2) of 3574. scanty: 1) barely sufficient; not ample; meaclothing or dress, esp men’s.
ger. 2) insufficient, not enough; 3) narrow;
small; close.
3562. sate: 1) to satisfy (an appetite, desire etc) to
the full; gratify completely; 2) to provide with 3575. scapegoat: a person, group or thing upon
whom the blame for the mistakes or crimes of
more than enough, so as to weary or disgust;
others is thrust.
glut; surfeit.
3563. satiate: to satisfy (as a need or desire) fully 3576. scapegrace: graceless hare-brained fellow.
or to excess; [syn] sate, surfeit, cloy, pall, glut,
3577. scathing: hurting; damaging; scorching.
gorge.
3564. satire: 1a) a literary work in which vices, 3578. scavenge: 1) to clean up (streets, alleys
etc); remove rubbish, dirt, garbage, etc from;
abuses, follies, stupidities, etc are held up to
2) to salvage (usable goods) by rummaging
ridicule and contempt.
thru refuse or discards; 3) to remove burned
gases from (the cylinder of an ICE); 4) to
3565. saturnine: 1) born under or influenced astroclean (molten metal) by using a substance that
logically by the planet Saturn; 2a) cold and
will combine chemically with the impurities
steady in mood : slow to act or change; 2b)
present.
of a gloomy or surly disposition; 2c) having a
sardonic aspect [a ∼ smile].
3579. scenario: 1) an outline or synopsis of a play,
opera, or the like, indicating scenes, charac3566. satyriasis: abnormal and uncontrollable deters, etc; 2) the script of a film; 3) the outline
sire by a man for sexual intercourse.
for any proposed or planned series of events,
3567. saunter: to walk about idly; stroll.
real or imagined.
3568. savage: 1) wild, uncultivated, rugged , etc [a 3580.
savage jungle]; 2) fierce; ferocious; untamed [a
savage tiger]; 3) without civilization; primitive;
barbarous [a ∼ tribe]; 4) lacking polish; crude; 3581.
rude; 5) cruel; pitiless; 6) furious; ill-tempered.
3582.
3569. savant: a learned person; eminent scholar.
3583.
3570. savor: 1) the taste or smell of sth; 2) a distinctive quality; 3) to give flavor to : season;
4a) to have experience of : taste; 4b) to taste 3584.
or smell with pleasure : relish.
3585.
3571. scabrous: rough.
schematic: of or relating to a scheme or
schema; a schematic drawing or diagram.
schism: breach esp in the unity of a church.
scholiast: maker of marginal annotations.
scintilla: 1) a spark; 2) a particle; the least
trace : used only figuratively.
scintillation: sparkling.
scion: a young member; descendant.
3586. scoff: to show mocking contempt, scorn or derision, esp by language; jeer.
3572. scad: a very large number or amount [scads
of money].
3587. scorn: extreme, often indignant contempt for
someone or sth; utter disdain.
3573. scaffold: 1) a temporary metal or wooden
framework for supporting workmen and ma- 3588. scotch: 1) to put an end to [∼ed rumors of a
terials during the erecting, repairing, or paintmilitary takeover]; 2) a chock to prevent rolling
ing of a building etc; 2) a raised platform on
or slipping; 3) a superficial cut : score; 4) hinwhich criminals are executed, as by hanging;
der, thwart.
3) a temporary wooden stage or platform, as
that on which medieval plays were presented; 3589. scoured: to clean, polish, remove by hard
4) any raised framework.
rubbing.
118

120. 3590. scourge: 1) a whip or other instrument for 3607.
flogging; 2) any means of inflicting sever punishment, suffering or vengeance; 3) any cause
of serious trouble or affliction [the scourge of 3608.
war].
3591. scrawny: thin and bony.
3592. scrimshaw: curved decorated object.
3593. scrumptious: delightful.
sear: the catch that holds the hammer of a
gun’s lock or half cock.
seasoned: 1a) to give (food) more flavor or
zest by adding seasoning or savory ingredients;
1b) to give a distinctive quality to as if by seasoning; esp : to make more agreeable [advice
∼ with wit]; 2a) to treat (as wood or a skillet) so as to prepare for use; 2b) made fit by
experience [a ∼ veteran].
conscientious, cautious, cap-
3609. secedes: to withdraw esp from party, religious
body, federation.
3595. scuffle: 1) to struggle or fight in rough confusion; 2) to move in a confused hurry or bustle;
3) to drag the feet; shuffle.
3610. seclude: 1) to keep away or apart from others; bar or shut off from the view of or relations
with others; isolate; 2) to make private or hidden; screen.
3594. scrupulous:
tious.
3596. scurf: dandruff.
3611. secrete: 1) to put or keep in a secret place;
hide; conceal; 2) to form and release (a speci3597. scurrilous: using indecent or abusive lanfied secretion) as a gland does.
guage; coarse; vulgar; foulmouthed.
3598. scurry: to run hastily; scamper.
3599. scurvy: low; mean; vile; contemptible.
3612. sectarian: 1) limited in character or scope
: parochial; 2) adherent of a sect; narrow or
bigoted person.
3613. secular: 1a) of or relating to the worldly or
temporal [∼ concerns]; 1b) not overtly or specif
scuttle: 1) a shallow open basket for carrying
religious [∼ music]; 1c) not ecclesiastical or
sth (as a grain or garden produce); 2) a metal
clerical; 2) not bound by monastic vows or
pail that usu has a bail and a sloped lip and is
rules; specif : of, relating to, or forming clergy
used esp for carrying coal.
not belonging to a religious order or congregation [a ∼ priest]; 3a) occurring once in an age
scuttle: 1) a small opening in a wall or roof
or a century.
furnished with a lid.
3614. sedate: calm, quiet or composed, esp serious
scuttle: a quick shuffling pace; a short swift
and unemotional; staid, decorous.
run.
3615. sedentary: 1) not migratory : settled [∼
scuttled: 1) to cut a hole thru the bottom,
birds]; 2) doing or requiring much sitting; 3)
deck, side (of a ship); specif : to sink or atpermanently attached [∼ barnacles].
tempt to sink by making holes thru the bottom.
3616. sedition: insurrection; public tumult.
3600. scutate: shield shaped.
3601.
3602.
3603.
3604.
3605. seamy: 1) having or showing seams, esp with 3617. sedulous: 1) working hard and steadily; dilirough unfinished edges, as the underside of a
gent; 2) constant; persistent.
garment; 2) unpleasant, squalid, or sordid [the
3618. seedy: 1) containing or full of seeds [a ∼
seamy side of life].
fruit]; 2) inferior in condition or quality : as;
3606. sear: 1) to make withered and dry : parch;
a) shabby, run-down [∼ clothes]; b) somewhat
2) to burn, scorch or injure with as or if with
disreputable : squalid [a ∼ district, ∼ entersudden application of intense heat.
tainment]; c) slightly unwell : debilitated.
119

121. 3619. seemly: 1) pleasing in appearance; fair; hand- 3631.
some; 2) suitable, proper, fitting or becoming,
esp as regards conventional standards of conduct or good taste; decorous.
sensuous: 1) derived from, based on, affecting, appealing to, or perceived by the senses;
2) readily susceptible thru the senses; enjoying
the pleasures of sensation.
3620. seep: to leak, drip or flow out slowly thru 3632. sententious: 1) expressing much in few
words; short and pithy; pointed; 2) full of, or
small openings or pores; ooze.
fond of using maxims, proverbs,etc, esp in a
way that is ponderously trite and moralizing.
3621. seethe: 1) to boil or to surge, bubble or foam,
as if boiling; 2) to be violently agitated or dis3633. sentient: conscious; aware; responsive to
turbed.
stimulus.
3622. seine: a large fishing net with floats along the 3634. sentinel: a person or animal set to guard a
top edge and weights along the bottom.
group, specif, a sentry.
3623. seismic: 1) of, having to do with, or caused 3635.
by an earthquake or by man-made tremors; 2)
subject to earthquakes.
3636.
3624. semblance: 1a) outward and often specious
appearance or show : form [wrapped in a ∼ 3637.
of composure]; 1b) modicum [has been strug- 3638.
gling to get some ∼ of justice for his people];
2) aspect, countenance; 3a) a phantasmal form 3639.
: apparition : image, likeness.
3640.
3625. seminal: containing or contributing seeds of
later development : creative, original [a ∼ 3641.
book].
3642.
3626. seminary: 1) an environment in which sth
originates and from which it is propagated [a 3643.
∼ of vice and crime]; 2a) an institution of secondary or higher education; 2b) an institution
for the training of candidates for the priest3644.
hood, ministry, or rabbinate.
3627. senescence: process of going old.
septic: causing or resulting from sepis or putrefaction.
sepulcher: large tomb; a vault for burial.
sequacious: following.
sequester: to set aside, seclude; to confiscate;
seraglio: harem.
sere: dried up; withered.
serendipity: the faculty of making happy
chance finds.
sericeous: silky.
serpentine: of or like a serpent; esp a) evilly
cunning or subtle, treacherous; b) coiled or
twisted, winding.
serrate: having sawlike notches along the
edges, as some leaves.
3645. serried: crowded together.
3628. senility: the quality or state of being senile; 3646. servitude: 1) the condition of a slave, serf,
specif : the physical and mental infirmity of
or the like; subjection to a master; slavery or
old age.
bondage; 2) work imposed as punishment for
crime.
3629. sensibilities: sensitivity.
3647. sever: 1) to separate, make or become dis3630. sensual: 1) of the body and the senses as distinct; divide; 2) to part or break off, as by
tinguished from the intellect or spirit ; bodily;
cutting or with force; cut in two.
2a) connected or preoccupied with bodily or
sexual pleasures; voluptuous; 2b) full of lust; 3648. severe (severity adj): austere : stringent :
licentious; lewd; 3) resulting from, or showing
restrictive : censorious : plain (in manner);
preoccupation with, bodily or sexual pleasure.
grievous : arduous.
120

122. 3649. sextant: an instrument used by navigators for 3661.
measuring the angular distance of the sun , a
star, etc from the horizon, as in finding the
position of a ship.
shoddy: 1) made wholly or partly of shoddy;
2a) cheaply imitative : vulgarly pretentious;
2b) hastily or poorly done : inferior; 2c)
shabby.
3650. shackle: 1) a metal fastening, usu one of a 3662.
linked pair, for the wrist or ankle of a prisoner;
fetter; manacle; 2) ath that restrains freedom
of action or expression; 3) any of the several
devices used in fastening or coupling.
shoddy: 1a) a reclaimed wool from materials
that are not felted that is of better quality and
longer staple than mungo; 1b) a fabric often of
inferior quality manufactured wholly or partly
from reclaimed wool; 2a) inferior, imitative, or
pretentious articles or matter.
3651. sham: to be or make an imitation or false
3663. shrew: a scolding, nagging, evil-tempered
show of; counterfeit.
woman.
3652. shambles: 1) a place where meat is sold;
butcher’s stall or shop : now only in bad usage, 3664. shrewd: keen-witted, clever, or sharp in practical affairs; astute.
esp in street names; 2) a slaughterhouse; 3) a
scene of great slaughter, bloodshed or carnage; 3665. shun: to keep away from; avoid scrupulously
4) any scene or condition of great destruction
or consistently.
or disorder.
3666. shunt: 1) to move or turn to one side; turn
3653. shard: a fragment or broken piece, esp of potaside or out of the way; 2) to shift or switch,
tery; potsherd.
as a train , car etc from one track to another.
3654. sheaf: 1) a bunch of cut stalks of grain, etc 3667.
bound up in a bundle; 2) a collection of things
gathered together; bundle, as of papers.
3668.
3655. sheathe: 1) to put into or furnish with a
sheath; 2) to plunge or bury (as a sword) in
flesh; 3) to withdraw (a claw) into a sheath; to
3669.
cover with sth that protects.
3656. shenanigan: sl trickery; humbug.
shyster: a person, esp a lawyer, who uses unethical or tricky methods; pettifogger.
sibling: one of two or more persons born of
the same parents, or sometimes, having one
parent in common; brother or sister.
sibyl: 1) any of certain women consulted as
prophetesses by the ancient Greeks and Romans; 2) a fortune-teller.
3657. sherbet: 1) a beverage, orig from the Ori- 3670. sibylline: oracular.
ent, made of watered fruit juice and sugar, and
3671. sidereal: of or relative to the stars.
served cold; 2) a frozen dessert like an ice but
with gelatin and often milk, added.
3672. sidle: to move sideways, esp in a shy or
stealthy manner; to make go sideways; a
3658. shibboleth: 1a) a word or saying used by adsidling movement.
herents of a party, sect or belief and usu regarded by others as empty of real meaning [the 3673. siesta: period of rest or sleep in the early afternoon.
old ∼s come rolling of their lips]; 1b) a widely
held belief [today this book publishing ∼ is a
3674. siffilate: whisper.
myth].
3675. sillabub: sweet-dish.
3659. shimmer: 1) to shine with an unsteady light;
glimmer; 2) to form a wavering image, as by 3676. simian: of or like an ape or monkey.
reflection from waves of water or heat.
3677. simile: a figure of speech in which one thing
3660. shirk: to neglect or evade doing (sth) that
is likened to another, dissimilar things by the
should be done.
use of like, as, etc [her tears flowed like wine].
121

123. 3678. simper: to smile in a silly, affected or self- 3693. skulk: to sneak; to lurk; to avoid work or
conscious way.
responsibility; shirk; malinger.
3679. simplistic: 1) simple; 2) of, relating to, or 3694. skullduggery: underhand malpractices.
char by simplism : oversimple [adequate, if oc3695. slacken: 1) to become less active, intense,
casionally ∼].
brisk, etc; 2) to become less tense; loosen, as
3680. simulate: 1) to give a false indication or aprope.
pearance of; pretend; feign; 2) to have or take
on the external appearance of; look or act like. 3696. slag: the fused refuse or dross separated from
a metal in the process of smelting.
3681. sine qua non: somebody who is indispens3697. slake: 1) to allay or make (thirst, desire,etc)
able.
less active or intense by satisfying, assuage;
3682. sinecure: an office or position providing an
satisfy; 2) to cause (a fire) to die down or go
income or other advantage but requiring little
out; 3) to produce a chemical change in (lime)
or no work.
by combination with water.
3683. sinewy: 1) full of sinews : as ; a) tough, 3698.
stringy [∼ meat]; b) strong [∼ arms]; 2)
marked by the strength of sinews [a demanding 3699.
∼ intelligence].
3700.
3684. sinister: 1) threatening harm, evil or mis3701.
fortune; ominous, portentous [sinister storm
clouds]; 2) wicked, evil or dishonest, esp in
some dark,mysterious way; 3) most unfavorable or unfortunate; disastrous [met a sinister 3702.
fate].
slanders: false or malicious report.
slapdash: sth done carelessly and hastily.
slatternly: dirty untidy woman; slovenly.
sleazy: 1) flimsy or thin in texture or
substance; lacking firmness; shoddy,shabby,
cheap, morally low etc.
sleeper: a previously disregarded person or
thing that unexpectedly receives success, assumes importance etc.
3685. sinuous: snake like; bending, winding, or
curving in and out; not straightforward; de- 3703. sleight: 1) cunning or craft used in deceiving;
vious; crooked.
2) skill or dexterity.
3686. skeptical: one who inclines to disbelieve; ha- 3704. slight: 1a) having a slim or delicate build :
bitual doubter.
not stout or massive in body; 1b) lacking in
strength or substance : flimsy, frail; 2) to treat
3687. skiff: any of various small, light, open boats
as unimportant : make light of; 3) to treat with
propelled by ores, motor or sail.
disdain or indifference; 4) to perform or attend
to carelessly and inadequately.
3688. skimp: 1) to give or allow too little; be stingy;
scrimp; 2) to keep expenses very low.
3705. slither: 1) to slip or slide on or as on a slope,
with a loose or broken surface; 2a) to move
3689. skinflint: a niggardly person; miser.
along by a sliding or gliding as a snake; 2b) to
3690. skirmish: an irregular fight between small
walk with a sliding motion.
parties.
3706. sloth: disinclination to work or exert oneself;
3691. skittish: 1) lively playful, esp in a coy manindolence, laziness; idleness.
ner; 2) easily frightened; jumpy [a skittish
3707. slough: 1) the cast-off skin of a snake; 2) a
horse]; 3) fickle or undependable.
mass of dead tissue separating from an ulcer;
3692. skittles: a bowling game.
3) sth that may be shed or cast off.
122

124. 3708. slough: 1a) a place of deep mud or mire; 1b) 3726.
swamp : an inlet on a river : backwater : a
creek in a marsh or tide flat; 2) a state of moral
degradation or spiritual dejection.
3727.
3709. slough: marsh.
3710. slovenly: carelessly or dirtily dressed.
3711. sluggard: a habitually lazy person.
3712. slur: 1a) an insulting or disparaging remark
or innuendo : aspersion; 1b) a shaming or degrading effect : stain, stigma; 2) a blurred spot
in printed matter : smudge; 3) to cast aspersions on : to make indistinct.
solace: 1) an easing of grief, loneliness, discomfort etc; 2) sth that eases or relieves; comfort; consolation; relief.
solecism: 1) a violation of the conventional
usage, grammar, etc of a language; ungrammatical use of words [“we done it” for “we did
it”]; 2) a violation of good manners; breach of
etiquette; 3) a mistake or impropriety.
3728. solicit: 1) to ask or seek earnestly or pleadingly; appeal to or for [to solicit air, to ∼
members for donations]; 2) to tempt or entice (someone) to do wrong; 3) to approach for
some immoral purposes, as a prostitute does.
3729. solicitous: 1) showing care, attention, or concern; 2) showing anxious desire; eager; 3) full
of anxiety or apprehension; troubled.
3713. slurry: thin paste; semi-fluid mixture.
3714. smattering: 1) slight or superficial knowledge; 2) a small number.
3730. solicitude: 1a) the state of being solicitous
: anxiety; 1b) attentive care and protective3715. smirch: to besmear; dirty; to sully.
ness; also : an attitude of solicitous concern or
attention; 2) a cause of care or concern—usu
3716. smirk: to smile in a conceited, knowing, or
used in pl.
annoyingly complacent way.
3717. smolder: 1) to burn and smoke without
flame; be consumed by slow combustion; 2) to
exist in a suppressed state or with activity stifled; 3) to have or show feelings of suppressed
anger or hate.
3731. soliloquy: 1) an act or instance of talking to
oneself; 2) lines in a drama in which a character
reveals his or her thoughts to the audience, but
not to the other characters, by speaking as if
to himself.
3732. solvent: 1) able to pay all one’s debts or meet
all financial responsibilities; that which can be
dissolved.
3719. snicker: a sly or derisive, partly stifled laugh.
3718. smutty: obscene; filthy.
3720. sniggle: to catch with a baited hook.
3721. sniveling: sniffing; snuffling; whimpering.
3733. somatic: of the body, as distinguished from
the soul, mind, or psyche; corporeal, physical.
3734. somber: dark and gloomy; somber.
3722. sobriety: state or habit of being sober; grav- 3735. sommelier: butler; wine waiter.
ity; calmness.
3736. somnolent: 1) sleepy; drowsy; 2) inducing
3723. sodality: fellowship.
drowsiness.
3724. sodden: 1a) dull or expressionless esp from 3737.
continued indulgence in alcoholic beverages [∼
features]; 1b) torpid, sluggish [∼ minds]; 2a)
heavy with or as if with moisture or water [the
∼ ground]; 2b) soaked or saturated.
sonorous: 1) producing or capable or producing sound, esp sound of full , deep, or rich
quality; resonant; 2) full, deep or rich : said of
sound; 3) having a powerful, impressive sound;
high sounding.
3725. sojourner: one who stays as a temporary res- 3738. sophism: a clever and plausible but fallacious
ident at some place; [sojourned for a month at
argument or forms reasoning, whether or not
a resort].
intended to deceive; fallacy or sophistry.
123

125. 3739. sophist: 1) [cap] any of a class of ancient 3754.
Greek teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and;
the art of successful living prominent about
the middle of the 5th century BC; for their
adroit subtle and allegedly often specious rea- 3755.
soning; 2) philosopher, thinker; 3) a captious 3756.
or fallacious reasoner.
3757.
3740. sophistry: absence of reasoning; casuistry;
equivocation; chicanery.
3758.
3741. sophistry: false or vicious reasoning.
spectral: 1) of, having the nature of, or like a
specter; phantom; ghostly; 2) of or caused by
a spectrum or spectra.
speculation: reflection; conjecture; viewing.
speleology: study of caves.
spendthrift: a person who spends money
carelessly or wastefully; squanderer.
sphinx-like: enigmatic and mysterious ¡see
others in detail¿.
3742. sophomoric: 1) conceited and overconfident 3759. spiel: a speech meant to persuade by force
of knowledge but poorly informed or immaand eloquence; sales patter.
ture; 2) of, relating to or char of a sophomore
3760. splenetic: peevish; melancholy.
[a ∼ prank].
3743. soporific: 1) causing or tending to cause 3761. splenetic: spiteful.
sleep; 2) of or characterized by sleep or sleepi3762. splice: 1a) to unite (as two ropes) by interness.
weaving the strands; 1b) to unite (as lengths
of magnetic tape) by lapping two ends together
3744. sordid:
1) dirty; squalid; depressingly
or by applying a piece that laps upon two ends
wretched; 2a) base, ignoble, mean; 2b) merand making fast; 2) to unite, link, or insert as
cenary, avaricious, grasping or meanly selfish.
if by splicing; 3) marriage, wedding.
3745. sorority: sisterhood; a women’s academic so3763. spoliation: plundering.
ciety.
3746. spangle: 1) a small piece of bright metal, esp 3764.
any of a number of those sewn on fabric for
decoration; 2) any small, bright object that
glitters.
3747. spangle: to glitter; to sprinkle with.
spontaneous: 1) acting in accordance with
or resulting from a natural feeling, impulse
or tendency, without any constraint, effort or
premeditation; 2) having no apparent external
cause or influence; occurring or produced by its
own energy, force etc or thru internal causes;
self-acting; 3) growing naturally without being
planted or tended; indigenous; wild.
3748. spartan: like or characteristic of the Spartans; warlike, brave, hardy, stoical, severe, frugal and highly disciplined.
3765. spoonerism:
accidental transposition of
sounds in (almost!) successive words [ex ’tons
3749. spasmodic: of, having the nature of, like or
of soil’ by ’sons of toil’].
characterized by spasm or spasms; sudden violent and temporary; fitful; intermittent.
3766. sporadic: scattered; occurring now and then.
3750. spat: a brief, petty quarrel or dispute.
3767. sportive: 1a) fond of or full of sport or merriment; playful; 1b) done in fun or play, not in
3751. spawn: 1) to produce young, esp in large
earnest; 2) of, or having the nature of sport,
numbers : bring forth, generate.
esp outdoor sport.
3752. speakeasy: an illicit dram (liquor) shop; she- 3768. sprightly: vivacious; lively.
been.
3769. spruced: smart; neat; over-fastidious.
3753. specious: seeming to be good, sound, correct,
logical etc. without really being so; plausible 3770. spry: full of life; active, nimble, brisk, etc ,esp
but not genuine.
though elderly.
124

126. 3771. spry: nimble, agile, brisk; dull, depressed, in- 3789. statuette: a small statue.
firm.
3790. status quo: the existing state of affairs (at a
3772. spume: foam.
particular time).
3773. spurious: 1) of illegitimate birth : bastard; 3791.
2) outwardly similar or corr to sth without or
erroneously attributed origin : forged; 3) of a
deceitful nature or quality.
3774. spurns: to kick; to reject with contempt.
statute: 1) an established rule, formal regulation; 2a) a law passed by a legislative body
and set forth in a formal document; 2b) such
a document.
3792. statutory: enacted by statute.
3775. squabble: a noisy, petty quarrel or dispute; 3793. staunch: firm in support.
wrangle.
3794. stave: shaft; bar; rod.
3776. squalid: filthy; foul; neglected; poverty
stricken.
3795. steadfast: 1) firm, fixed, settled or established; 2) not changing, fickle or wavering; con3777. squalid: foul or unclean esp as the result
stant.
of neglect or unsanitary conditions; wretched;
miserable; sordid.
3796. steep: 1) to soak in liquid, so as to soften,
clean, extract the essence of,etc; 2) to immerse,
3778. squander: to spend or use wastefully or exsaturate, absorb, or imbue [steeped in folklore].
travagantly.
3779. squeamish: disgusted; offended; sick at stom- 3797. stellar: 1) of the stars or a star; 2) like a star,
as in shape; 3) b;y or as by a star performer;
ach.
excellent; outstanding; 4) leading; chief [a stel3780. staccato: short clipped and separate music
lar role].
notes (also used for voice!).
3798. stentorian: extremely loud and strong.
3781. stagnant: 1) without motion or current; not
flowing or moving; 2) foul from lack of move- 3799. stereotyped: lacking originality or individument : said of water etc; 3) not active, alert
ality; trite.
etc; sluggish [a stagnant ming].
3800. sternutation: sneezing.
3782. staid: sober; sedate; settled and steady.
3801. stertorous: snoring.
3783. stalemate: deadlock, unsatisfactory draw.
3802. stevedore: one who loads and unloads ves3784. stalwart: 1) strong and well-built; sturdy; rosels.
bust; 2) brave, valiant; 3) resolute; firm; unyielding.
3803. stickler: 1) a person who insists on the strict
observance of sth specified : usu with for [a
3785. stamina: resistance to fatigue, illness, hard∼ for discipline]; 2) sth puzzling or difficult to
ship, etc; endurance.
solve.
3786. stanch: 1) to check or stop the flow of [∼ed
3804. stifle: 1) to kill by cutting off the supply of air
her flow of tears]; also : to stop the flow of
from; suffocate; smother; choke; 2) to suppress
blood from (a wound); 3a) to stop or check in
or repress; hold back; check, stop, inhibit, etc
its course [trying to ∼ the crime wave]; 3b) to
[to ∼ a sob, to ∼ protests].
make watertight : stop up.
3805. stigma: 1) a mark of shame or discredit :
stain; b) an identifying mark or char; specif
3788. statuesquely: like a statue; tall and shapely.
: a specific diagnostic sign of a disease.
3787. statis: stagnation.
125

127. 3806. stigmatise: to describe or identify in oppro- 3822. stratum: 1) a bed or layer artificially made;
2a) a socioeconomic level of society comprising
brious terms; to mark with stigmata.
of persons of the same or similar status esp
3807. stilted:
artificially formal or dignified;
with regard to education or culture; 2b) one
pompous.
of a series of layers, levels, or gradations in an
ordered system [strata of thought].
3808. stint: 1) restriction; limit; limitation; 2a) an
assigned task or quantity of work; 2b) a spec3823. strepitant: boisterous.
ified period of time spent doing sth.
3809. stint: to restrict or limit to a certain quantity, 3824.
number, share, or allotment. often small or
scanty.
3825.
3810. stipend: 1) a regular or fixed payment for
services,as a salary; 2) any periodic payment,
3826.
as a pension or allowance.
3811. stipple: 1) to paint, draw , engrave, or apply
in small points or dots rather than in lines or
solid areas; 2) to cover or mark with dots or
quick dabs; fleck.
strew: to spread about here and there by or
as by sprinkling; scatter.
striate: to mark with stria; stripe, band, furrow, etc.
stricture: 1a) an abnormal narrowing of a
bodily passage : also : the narrowed part; 1b)
a constriction of the breath passage in the production of a speech sound; 2) sth that closely
restrains or limits : restriction [moral ∼s]; 3)
an adverse criticism : censure.
3812. stipulate: 1) to include specifically in the 3827. strident: harsh sounding; shrill; grating.
terms of an agreement, contract, etc; arrange
definitely; 2) to specify as an essential condi- 3828. stringent: 1) rigidly controlled, enforced, etc;
strict; severe; 2) tight in loan or investment
tion of or requisite in an agreement.
money [a ∼ money market]; 3) compelling;
3813. stodge: to stuff; cram; gorge; to sate.
convincing [∼ reason].
3814. stodgy: 1) having a rich filling quality : heavy
3829. strut: to flaunt; to stand stiffly upright; to
[∼ bread]; 2) moving in a slow plodding way
walk so in vanity or self importance.
esp as a result of physical bulkiness; 3) boring,
dull [out on a peaceful rather ∼ Sunday trip]. 3830. stucco: plaster used for coating walls, making
casts etc.
3815. stoical: showing austere indifference to joy,
grief, pleasure, or pain; calm and unflinching
3831. studied: 1) prepared or planner by careful
under suffering, bad fortune ,etc.
study [a ∼ reply]; 2) deliberate; premeditated
[in ∼ disarray].
3816. stoke: 1) to stir up and feed fuel to ( a fire,
furnace etc); 2) to tend (a furnace, boiler etc);
3) to feed or eat large quantities of food; fill 3832. stultify: 1a) to make seem foolish, stupid, inconsistent, etc; make absurd or ridiculous; 1b)
(up).
to make dull or torpid; 2) to render worthless,
3817. stolid: having or showing little or no emotions
useless or futile; 3) to allege to be of unsound
mind and therefore not legally responsible.
or sensitivity; unexcitable; impassive.
3818. stolid: not showing feeling; imperturbable;
3833. stultify: to allege or prove to be of unsound
mind; to cause to appear foolish; to destroy
3819. straiten: to tighten; to narrow; to put into
the force of.
difficulties.
3820. stratagem: a trick or a device; subterfuge.
3821. stratified: to deposit or form in layers.
3834. stupefy: 1) to bring into a state of stupor;
stun; make dull or lethargic; 2) to astound,
amaze or bewilder.
126

128. 3835. stupor: 1) a state in which the mind and 3849. subservient: serving to promote; slavish; obsenses are dulled; partial or complete loss of
sequious.
sensibility, as from the use of a narcotic or from
shock; 2) mental or moral dullness or apathy. 3850. subside: 1) to sink or fall to the bottom; settle, as sediment; 2) to send to a lower level; 3)
3836. stymie: any situation in which one is obto become less active, intense, etc; abate.
structed or frustrated.
3851. subsidiary: 1) giving air, support, service etc;
3837. styptic: tending to halt bleeding by contractserving to supplement; auxiliary; 2) being in a
ing the tissues or blood vessels; astringent.
secondary or subordinate relationship; 3) of,
consisting or maintained by a subsidy or sub3838. suave: smoothly gracious or polite; polished;
sidies.
blandly ingratiating; urbane.
3852. subsidy: a grant of money, specif; a) a grant
3839. subaltern: 1) particular with reference to a
of money from one government to another, as
related universal proposition [“some S is P” is
for military aid; b) a government grant to a
a ∼ proposition to “all S is P”]; subordinate.
private enterprise considered of benefit to the
public.
3840. subjugate: 1) to bring under control or subjection; conquer; 2) to cause to become sub3853. subsist: to have existence; to exist.
servient; subdue.
3854. subsistence: existence; means of support;
3841. sublimate: 1) to purify or refine (a substance)
livelihood.
by subliming; 2) to have a purifying or ennobling effect or influence on; 3) to express 3855. substantiate: 1) to give substance or form to
(socially or personally unacceptable impulses,
: embody; 2) to establish by proof or compespecif sexual impulses) in constructive, accepttent evidence : verify [∼ a charge].
able forms, often unconsciously.
3856. substantive: 1) [broadly] a word or word
3842. sublime: 1) noble; exalted; majestic; 2)
group functioning as a noun; 2) being a totally
inspiring awe or admiration thru grandeur,
independent entity; 3a) real rather than apbeauty, etc; 3) outstandingly or supremely
parent : firm : also permanent, enduring; 3b)
such [a man of ∼ taste].
expressing existence [the ∼ verb is the verb ‘to
be’]; 4) creating and defining rights and duties
3843. subliminal: beneath the threshold of con[∼ law].
sciousness.
3844. submissive: having or showing the tendency 3857. subsume: 1) to include within a larger class,
group, order etc; 2) to show (an idea, instance,
to submit without resistance; docile ; yielding.
etc) to be covered by a rule, principle etc.
3845. suborn: 1) to get or bring about thru bribery
or other illegal methods; 2) to induce or insti- 3858. subterfuge: any plan , action, or device used
to hide one’s true objective, evade a difficult or
gate (another) to do sth illegal, esp to commit
unpleasant situation, etc; stratagem; artifice.
perjury.
3846. subpoena: a written legal order directing a 3859.
person to appear in court to give testimony, 3860.
show specified records,etc.
3861.
3847. subrogation: substitution; put in place of an3862.
other.
subtlety: the quality or state of being subtle.
suburbia: the suburban world.
subvention: financial aid.
subversive: tending or seeking to subvert,
overthrow, or destroy (an established government, institution, belief etc).
3848. subservient: 1) that is useful, helpful or of
service, esp in an inferior or subordinate capacity; 2) submissive; obsequious.
3863. succinct: concise; close fitting.
127

129. 3864. succor: aid, help; relief.
3865.
3866.
3867.
3868.
3869.
3870.
3871.
3883. superficial: 1a) of or being on the surface [a
∼ burn]; 1b) of or limited to surface area; plane
succulent: 1) full of juice; juicy; 2) full of in[∼ measurements]; 2) concerned with and unterest, vigor, etc; not dry or dull; 3) having
derstanding only the easily apparent and obvithick, fleshy tissues for storing water, as a cacous; not profound; shallow; 3) quick and curtus.
sory [a ∼ reading]; 4) seeming such only at first
glance; merely apparent [a ∼ resemblance].
succumb: 1) to give way (to); yield; submit;
3884. superfluous: 1) being more than is needed,
2) to die.
useful or wanted; surplus; excessive; 2) not
sucker: one who is easily taken in by ath
needed; unnecessary; irrelevant [a ∼ remark].
(gullible!).
3885. superimpose: 1) to put, lay or stack on top
of sth else; 2) to add as a dominant or unassudorific: promoting sweat.
similated feature.
suffrage: a prayer esp for the dead; a vote.
3886. supernal: celestial; of a higher world; exalted;
lofty.
suffragette: a woman seeking votes for
women.
3887. supernumerary: 1) that exceeds or is beyond the regular or prescribe number; extra;
suffuse: to over spread so as to fill with a
2) that is beyond the number or qty needed or
glow, color, fluid etc : said of light, a blush,
desired; superfluous.
air etc.
3888. supersede: 1) to cause to be set aside or
dropped from use an inferior or obsolete and
replace by sth else; 2) to take the place of in
office, function, etc; succeed; 3) to remove or
cause to be removed so as to make way for
another; supplant.
3872. sully: 1) to make soiled or tarnished : defile.
3873. sultry: very hot and humid : sweltering.
3874. sumptuary: regulating expenditure.
3875. sumptuous: 1) involving great expenses;
costly; lavish; 2) magnificent or splendid, as 3889. supine: lying on the back.
in furnishings,etc.
3890. supplant: 1) to take the place of; supersede,
esp thru force or plotting; 2) to remove or up3876. sunder: asunder, break apart.
root in order to replace with sth else.
3877. sunder: to break apart; separate; part; split. 3891. supple: 1) easily bent or twisted; flexible; pliant; 2) able to bend and move easily and nim3878. sundries: several.
bly; lithe; limber [a ∼ body]; 3) easily changed
or influenced; yielding; compliant; 4) yielding
3879. sundry: various; miscellaneous; diverse.
too easily; obsequious; servile; 5) adaptable,
as to changes; resilient; elastic : said of the
3880. superannuate: 1) to set aside s, or become
mind,etc.
old fashioned or obsolete; 2) to retire from service, esp with a pension, because of old age or 3892. suppliant: 1) asking humbly; supplicatinfirmity.
ing; entreating; 2) expressing supplication [∼
3881. supercilious:
haughty; proud.
coolly
and
words].
patronizingly
3893. suppliants: asking earnestly; entreating.
3882. supererogatory: 1) done or observed beyond 3894. supplicate: 1) to ask for humbly and
the degree required or expected; 2) superfluearnestly, as by prayer; 2) to make a humble
ous.
request of; petition earnestly.
128

130. 3912. swale: shade; marshy land;.
3895. supplication: entreating earnestly.
3896. supposition: sth that is supposed : hypoth- 3913.
esis; the act of supposing.
3914.
3897. supposititious: 1a) fraudulently substituted
: spurious; 1b) [of a child] (i) falsely presented
as a genuine heir : illegitimate; 2) imaginary. 3915.
3898. suppurate: form pus.
swarthy: having a dark complexion.
swathe: 1) to wrap or bind up in a long strip
or bandage; 2) to wrap (a bandage, etc) around
sth; 3) to surround or envelop; enclose.
swelter: to be or feel uncomfortably hot;
sweat, feel weak etc, from great heat.
3916. swerve: to turn aside or cause to turn aside
sharply or suddenly from a straight line ,course
etc.
3900. surly: 1) bad-tempered; sullenly rude; hostile
and uncivil; 2) gloomy and threatening : said
3917. swill: 1) wash : drench; 2) to drink great
of weather.
drafts of : guzzle; 3) to feed (as a pig) with
swill; 4) sth suggestive of slop or garbage :
3901. surmise: an idea or opinion formed from evrefuse; 5) a semi-liquid food mixed with waidence that is nether positive not conclusive;
ter or skimmed or sour milk.
conjecture; guess.
3899. surcease: end.
3902. surmount: 1) get the better; of ; conquer; 3918.
overcome; 2) to be or lie at the top of; be or
rise above; 3) to climb up and across (a height,
obstacle etc); 4) to place sth above or on top 3919.
of.
3920.
3903. surrealism: drawing upon the subconscious,
escaping the control of reason.
3921.
3904. surreptitious: stealthy; secret.
3905. surrogate: substitute.
3906. surveillance: 1a) close watch kept upon
someone, esp a suspect; 1b) constant observation of a place or process; 2) supervision or
inspection.
swindle: 1) to get money or property from
(another) under false pretenses; cheat; defraud; 2) to get by false pretense or fraud.
swizzle: to drink to excess.
sybarite: anyone very fond of self-indulgence
and luxury; voluptuary.
sycophant: a person who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; toady;
parasite.
3922. syllogism: 1) an argument or form of reasoning in which two statements or premises are
made and a logical conclusion is drawn from
them; 2) reasoning from the general to the
particular; deductive logic; 3) an instance of
subtle, tricky or specious reasoning.
3907. susceptible: easily affected emotionally; having a sensitive nature or feelings.
3923. sylvan: 1) of or characteristic of the woods or
the forest; 2) living or found in the woods or
3908. suture: 1a) a strand or fiber used to sew parts
the forest; 3) wooded.
of the living body; also : a stitch made with
a suture; 2a) the seam or seamlike line along 3924. symbiotic: mutually beneficial partnership
between organisms of different kind.
which two things or parts are sewed or united;
3) the line of union in an immovable articula3925. synchronism: coincidence; concurrence; contion (as between the bones of the skull).
comitance.
3909. svelte: lithe; lissome.
3926. synchronous: 1) happening at the same time;
3910. swale: a shady spot; a sunken or marshy
place.
3911. swale: marshy prairie.
129
occurring together; simultaneous; 2) having
the same period between movements, occurrences, etc; having the same rate and phase,
as vibrations.

131. 3927. syncopate: 1a) to shorten or produce by syn- 3941.
cope [∼ suppose to s’pose]; 1b) to cut short;
clip , abbreviate; 2) to modify or affect (musical rhythm) by syncopation.
tangible: 1) that can be touched or felt by
touch; having actual form and substance; 2)
corporeal and able to be appraised for value
[∼ assets]; that can be understood; definite;
objective.
3928. syncope: loss of consciousness resulting from
insufficient blood flow to the brain; faint; 2) 3942. tanner: a person who works in tanning hides.
loss of one or more sounds or letters in the
interior of a word (as in fo’c’sle for forecastle). 3943. tantalize: to tease or disappoint by promising
or showing sth desirable and then withholding
it.
3929. syndicate: a council; a body of men chosen to
watch the interest of a company or to manage
3944. tantamount: amounting to as much or to the
a bankrupt property.
same; equal in value or meaning.
3930. synergism: the doctrine that the human will
3945. tantrum: a violent, willful outburst of annoyand the divine spirit are two efficient agents
ance, rage etc; childish fit of bad temper.
that cooperate in regeneration; coordinated
action.
3946. taper: 1a) a slender candle; 1b) a long waxed
wick use esp for lighting candles, lamps pipes
3931. synopsis: a statement giving a brief, general
or fires; 1c) a feeble light; 2a) a tapering form
review or condensation; summary.
or figure; 2b) gradual diminution of thickness,
diameter or width in an elongated object.
3932. tabernacle: a tent or movable hut; ¡also used
for human body wrt soul¿.
3933. tabescent: wasting away.
3947. tardiness: slowness; too long delayed.
3948. tarn: small mountain lake.
3934. tacit: 1) unspoken; silent; 2) not expressed or 3949. tarry: 1) to delay, linger, be tardy etc; 2)
declared openly, but implied or understood [∼
to stay for a time, esp longer than originally
approval].
intended; remain; 3) to wait.
3935. taciturn: disinclined to speak; uncommunica- 3950.
tive.
3951.
3936. tactile: 1) that can be perceived by the touch;
tangible; 2) of, having, or related to the sense
of touch.
3952.
3937. taint: 1a) to affect with sth physically injurious, unpleasant, etc; infect, poison etc; 1b) to
affect with putrefaction or decay; spoil; 2) to 3953.
make morally corrupt or depraved.
3954.
3938. talesman: juror.
3939. talisman: 1) sth, as a ring or stone, bearing 3955.
engraved figures or symbols thought to bring
good luck, keep away evil, etc; amulet; 2) ath
thought to have magic power; charm.
3956.
tatterdemalion: ragamuffin.
taut: 1) tightly stretched, as a rope; 2) showing strain; tense [a ∼ smile]; 3) trim, tidy, welldisciplined, efficient, etc [a ∼ ship].
tautological: use of words that say the same
thing esp needlessly.
tawdry: cheap and showy, gaudy, sleazy.
taxonomy: the science of classification; laws
and principles covering the classifying objects,
tedium: the condition or quality of being tiresome, wearisome, boring, or monotonous; tediousness.
teleology: doctrine of purpose in nature.
3940. tangential: 1) divergent, digressive; 2) touch- 3957. tellurian: pertaining to the earth.
ing lightly : incidental, peripheral [∼ involvement].
3958. temerarious: rash.
130

132. 3959. temerity: rashness; unreasonable contempt 3973. tenuous: 1) slender or fine, as a fiber; 2) rare,
for danger.
as air at high altitudes; not dense; 3) not substantial; slight, flimsy [∼ evidence].
3960. temperament: internal constitution or state.
3974. tenuous: thin; slender; rarefied.
3961. temperate: moderate; self-restrained esp in
3975. tepid: 1) barely or moderately warm; lukeappetites and passions; 2) neither very hot nor
warm : said of liquids; 2) lacking warmth of
very cold.
feeling and enthusiasm.
3962. tempestuous: stormy!.
3976. termagant: shrewish.
3963. tempo: 1) the speed at which a musical com- 3977.
position is or is supposed to be performed : it is
indicated by such notations as allegro, andante
etc, or by reference to metronome timing; 2)
rate of activity; pace [the ∼ of modern living].
terminate: 1) to bring to an end in space
or time; from the end or conclusion of; limit,
bound, finish, or conclude; 2) to put an end to;
stop; cease; 3) to dismiss from employment;
fire.
3964. temporize: 1) to act to suit the time or oc- 3978.
casion : yield to current or dominant opinion
: compromise; 2) to draw out discussions or
negotiations so as to gain time [you’d have to 3979.
∼ until you found out how she wanted to be
advised].
terminology: 1) the terms or system of terms
used in a specific science, art etc; nomenclature; 2) the systematic study of terms.
3965. tenacious: 1) holding firmly; 2) that retains
well; retentive [a ∼ memory]; 3) that holds together strongly; cohesive; tough [a ∼ wood];
4) that clings; adhesive; sticky; 5) persistent; 3980.
stubborn [∼ courage].
3981.
3966. tenacious: retaining or holding fast; tough;
stubborn.
terminus: 1) a final goal : a finishing point; 2)
a post or stone marking a boundary; 3) either
end of a transportation line or travel route;
also : the station, town or city at such a place
: terminal : extreme point or tip [∼ of the
glacier].
terrapin: turtle.
terse: 1) smoothly elegant : polished; 2) devoid of superfluity [a ∼ summary]; also : short,
brusque [dismissed me with a ∼ “no”].
3967. tendentious: characterized by a deliberate 3982. tertiary: of the third rank, order, formation,
stage,etc; third.
tendency or aim; esp, advancing a definite
point of view [∼ writings].
3983. tesselate: to lay out, inlay, or pave in a mosaic pattern of small square blocks.
3968. tenement: a holding by any tenure; ath that
3984. testator: a person who has made a will, esp
may be held by a tenant.
one who has died leaving a valid will.
3969. tenets: any opinion principle or doctrine that
3985. testy: irritable; touchy; peevish.
a person holds as true.
3986. tether: 1) a rope or chain fastened to an animal so as to keep it within certain bounds; 2)
the limit of one’s abilities, resources, etc.
3971. tentative: 1) made, done, proposed,etc experimentally or provisionally; not definite or 3987. thalassic: pertaining to the sea.
final; 2) indicating timidity hesitancy or un3988. thematic: 1) of, or relating to the stem of a
certainty [a ∼ caress].
word; 2) [of a vowel] being the last part of a
3972. tentatively: done provisionally and experiwood stem before the inflectional ending; 3) of,
mentally.
relating to , or constituting a theme.
3970. tenets: basic principles of sth.
131

133. 3989. theme: 1a) a subject or topic of discourse or 4002. tinsel: 1. A shining material used for ornaof artistic representation; 1b) a specific and
mental purposes; esp. a very thin, gauze-like
distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern.
cloth with much gold or silver woven into it;
also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coat3990. theocracy: government by a person or pering of gold,silver,brass etc; 2. Something shinsons claiming to rule with divine authority.
ing and gaudy; something superficially shining
and showy, or having a false luster, and more
3991. therapeutic: 1) of or relating to the treatgay than valuable.
ment of a disease or disorder by remedial
agents or methods [a ∼ rather than a diag- 4003. tipple: to drink (alcoholic liquor) habitually.
nostic specialty]; 2) providing or assisting in a
4004. tirade: harangue; extended scolding; denuncure : curative, medicinal.
ciation.
3992. thespian: having to do with the drama; dra4005. titanic: of great size, strength or power.
matic.
3993. thrall: 1) a servant, slave : bondsman, serf; 4006.
2) a person in moral or mental servitude; 3) a
state of complete absorption [mountains could
hold me in ∼ with subtle attractions of their
own].
tithe: 1) one tenth of the annual produce of
one’s land or of one’s annual income, paid as a
tax or contribution to support a church or its
clergy; 2a) a tenth part; 2b) any small part; 3)
any tax or levy.
3994. thrive: 1) to prosper or flourish, be successful, 4007.
esp as the result of economical management;
2) to grow vigorously or luxuriantly; improve
4008.
physically.
4009.
3995. throe: a spasm or pang of pain : usu used in
pl [death throes].
4010.
3996. throng: 1) a great number of people gathered
together; crowd; 2) a crowding together of peo- 4011.
ple; crowded condition; 3) any great number
of things massed or considered together; multitude.
4012.
3997. throttle: suffocate.
titillate: 1) tickle; 2) to excite or stimulate
pleasurably, often erotically.
titivate: spruce up.
titter: to laugh in a half-suppressed way, suggestive of silliness, nervousness, etc; giggle.
titubant: staggering.
toady: a servile flatterer; sycophant, esp one
who does distasteful or unprincipled things in
order to gain favor.
toga: 1) in ancient Rome, a loose, one piece
outer garment worn in public citizens; 2) a
robe of office, char gown of a profession.
3998. thwart: to hinder, obstruct, frustrate, or defeat (a person, plans, etc).
4013. tome: a book, esp a large, scholarly or ponderous one.
3999. tiller: a bar or handle for turning a boat’s
rudder.
4014. tonsure: a clipping off or shaving off of part or
all of the hair of the head, done esp formerly as
4000. timbre: the characteristic quality of sound
a signal of entrance into a clerical or monastic
that distinguishes one voice or musical instrustate.
ment from another or one vowel sound from
another : it is determined by the harmonics of 4015. topiary: relating to shaping trees.
the sound and is distinguished from the inten4016. topography: 1a) the art or practice of
sity and pitch.
graphic delineation in detail usu on maps or
4001. timorous: 1) of a timid disposition : fearful;
charts; of natural and man-made features of a
2) expressing or suggesting timidity [proceed
place or region esp in a way to show; their relwith doubtful and ∼ steps].
ative positions and elevations; 1b) the physical
132

134. or natural features of an object or entity and 4027. traduce: 1) to say untrue or malicious things
their; structural relationships.
about; defame; slander; vilify; 2) to make
mockery of; betray.
4017. torpor: 1) a state of being dormant or inactive; temporary loss of all or part of the power 4028. tranquil: 1) free from disturbance or agitation, calm, serene, peaceful, placid, etc; 2)
of sensation or motion; stupor; sluggishness;
quiet or motionless; steady [∼ waters].
2) dullness; apathy.
4018. torrent: 1) a swift, violent stream, esp of water; 2) a flood or rush of words, mail etc; 3) a
very heavy fall of rain.
4029. transcend: 1) to go beyond the limits of;
overstep; exceed [a story that ∼s belief]; 2)
to be superior to; surpass; excel.
4030. transcribe: 1) to write out or type out in full
(shorthand notes, a speech etc); 2) to represent (speech sounds) in phonetic or phonemic
symbols; 3) to translate or transliterate; 4) to
arrange or adapt (a piece of music) for an instrument, voice, or ensemble other than that
for which it was originally written; 5) to make
4020. tortuous: 1) full of twists, turns, curves, or
a recording.
windings; winding, crooked; 2) not straightfor4031. transfixed: paralysed with emotion;.
ward; devious; specif deceitful or tricky.
4019. torso: 1) the trunk of a statue of the nude
human figure, esp of such a statue lacking the
head and full limbs; 2) the trunk of the human
body; 3) any unfinished or fragmentary piece
of work.
4032.
4021. touchstone: 1) a type of black stone formerly
used to test the purity of gold or silver by the
streak left on it when it was rubbed with the
metal; 2) any test or criterion for determining 4033.
genuineness or value.
transgress: 1) to overstep or break (a law,
commandment etc); 2) to go beyond (a limit,
boundary, etc).
transgression: to pass beyond the limit of;
to overstep.
4022. touchy: 1) easily offended; oversensitive; irri- 4034. transience: passing; short duration; momentary.
table; 2) sensitive to touch; easily irritated, as
a part of the body; 3) very risky [a ∼ situa4035. transient: 1a) passing away with time; not
tion]; 4) highly flammable or readily ignited.
permanent; temporary; transitory; 1b) passing
quickly or soon; fleeting; ephemeral; 2) staying
4023. tout: 1) to spy on : watch ; 2a) [Brit] to spy
only for a short time [the ∼ population at reout information about (as a racing stable or
sorts].
horse); 2b) to give a tip or solicit bets on (a
horse); 3) to solicit, peddle, or persuade impor- 4036.
tunately [not meant to ∼ you off the movie]; 4)
to praise or publicize loudly or extravagantly
[∼ed as the most etc]; one who solicits patron- 4037.
age.
4024. toxic: 1) of, affected by, or caused by a toxin,
or poison; 2) acting as a poison; poisonous.
transientness:
ducity.
evanescence; fugacity; ca-
transitory: going or passing away; lasting for
a short time.
4038. transitory: of a passing nature; not enduring or permanent; temporary, fleeting, or
ephemeral; transient.
4025. tract: a propagandizing pamphlet, esp one on 4039. transmigration: to pass into another body
a religious or political subject.
or place or abode;
4026. tractable: 1) easily managed, taught, or con- 4040. transmogrification: to transform, transtrolled; docile, compliant; 2) easily worked;
mute; (ie change to another form or submalleable.
stance).
133

135. 4041. transmute: to change from one form, species, 4054. trepidation: 1) tremulous or trembling movecondition, nature, or substance into another;
ment; quaking; tremor; 2) a fearful uncertransform; convert.
tainty, anxiety etc; apprehension.
4042. transpire: 1) to give off vaporous material; 4055.
specif : to give off or exude a vapor esp from
the surfaces of leaves; 2) to pass in the form
of a vapor from a living body; 3a) to be re4056.
vealed : come to light; 3b) to become known
or apparent : develop.
tribulation: 1) great misery or distress, as
from oppression; deep sorrow; 2) sth that
causes suffering or distress; affliction; trial.
tribunal: 1) a seat or bench upon which a
judge or judges sit in court; 2) a court of justice; 3) any seat of judgement [the ∼ of popular
sentiment].
4043. trappings: 1) caparison—usu used in pl; 2)
[pl] outward decoration or dress : ornamental 4057. tribute: 1a) a payment by one ruler or naequipment; also : outward signs [conventional
tion to another in acknowledgement of submismen with all the ∼ of banality].
sion or as the price of protection; also : the
tax levied for such a payment; b) an excessive
4044. trauma: 1) a bodily injury, wound, or shock;
tax, rental or tariff imposed by a government,
2) a painful emotional experience or shock,
sovereign, lord or landlord; 2a) sth given or
often producing a lasting psychic effect and
contributed voluntarily as due or deserved; esp
sometimes, a neurosis.
: a gift or service showing respect, gratitude,
or affection [floral ∼s].
4045. travail: 1) very hard work; toil; 2) labor pains;
pains of childbirth; 3) intense pain; agony.
4058. trident: 1) having three teeth, processes or
points; 2) a 3-pronged spear serving in classical
4046. travail: excessive labor; toil.
mythology as the attribute of a sea god (as
Neptune).
4047. travesty: 1) a grotesque or farcial imitation
for purposes of ridicule, burlesque; 2) a crude,
4059. trilogy: a set of three related plays, novels,
distorted, or ridiculous representation (of sth)
etc, which together form an extended, unified
[a trial that was a ∼ of justice].
work, though each has its own unity.
4048. travesty: disguise; burlesque.
4060. trinket: 1) a small, inexpensive ornament,
piece of jewelry etc; 2) a trifle or joy.
4049. treatise: a formal, systematic article or book
on some subject, esp a discussion of facts, evi- 4061. triturated: pulverized.
dence, or principles and the conclusions based
4062. trivia: 1) unimportant matters, trivialities; 2)
on these.
little known, insignificant facts.
4050. tremor: 1) a trembling, shaking or shivering;
2) a vibratory or quivering motion; 3) a ner- 4063. troglodyte: cave dweller.
vous thrill; trembling sensation; 4) a trembling
4064. troth: 1) loyal or pledged faithfulness :
sound; 5) a state of tremulous excitement [in
fidelity; 2) one’s pledged word ; also :
a ∼ of delight].
bethrothal.
4051. tremulous: 1) trembling; palpitating; quiver- 4065. truculent: 1) fierce; cruel; savage; ferocious;
ing; 2) fearful; timid; timorous; 3) marked by
2) rude, harsh, mean, scathing,etc : said of
or showing trembling or quivering.
speech or writing; 3) pugnacious or bellicose.
4052. trenchant: sharp, cutting, assertive, pointed; 4066. truism: an undoubted or self-evident truth;
feeble, vacillating, pointless.
esp one too obvious for mention.
4053. trencherman: a hearty eater.
4067. trumpery: showy trash.
134

136. 4068. truncated: to cut short; to maim;lop.
4084. tycoon: a wealthy and powerful industrialist,
financier.
4069. truncheon: a broken or cut piece; a broken
4085. tyranny: 1) oppressive power [every form of
spear; a cudgel; a staff of authority.
∼ over the mind of man]; 2a) a government
4070. tryst: 1) an appointment to meet at a speciin which absolute power is vested in a single
fied time and place, esp one made secretly by
ruler; esp : one char of an ancient Greek citylovers; 2a) a meeting held by appointment; 2b)
state; 2) a rigorous condition imposed by some
the place of such a meeting (also called “trystoutside agency or force.
ing place”).
4086. tyro: a beginner; a novice.
4071. tumbrel: (also tumbril) two wheeled cart.
4087. ubiquitous: to be found everywhere; om4072. tumid: 1) swollen; bulging; 2) inflated or
nipresent.
pompous.
4088. ulterior: 1) lying beyond or on the farther
4073. tumult: 1) noisy commotion, as of a crowd;
side; 2) later, subsequent, or future; 3) further,
uproar; 2) confusion; agitation; disturbance; 3)
more remote; esp beyond what is expressed,
great emotional disturbance; agitation of mind
implied or evident; undisclosed [an ∼ motive].
or feeling.
4089. ultimatum: a last offer or demand esp by
4074. turbid: 1) muddy or cloudy from having the
one of the parties engaged in negotiations, the
sediment stirred up; 2) thick, dense or dark, as
rejection of which usu leads to a break in reclouds or smoke; 3) confused; perplexed; mudlations and unilateral action, the use of force,
dled.
etc by the party issuing the ultimatum; a final
point.
4075. turbulent: full of commotion or wild disorder; specif a) marked by or causing turmoil; 4090. ululation: animal sounds.
unruly or boisterous [a ∼ mob]; b) violently
4091. umber: reddish brown earth.
agitated; tumultuous [∼ grief]; c) marked by
wildly irregular motion [∼ air currents].
4092. umbrage: resentment, displeasure, antipathy,
animosity; affection, amity, admiration.
4076. tureen: a large, deep serving dish with a lid,
used for soups, stews,etc.
4093. umbrage: shade; a shadowy appearance;that
which casts a shade.
4077. turgid: 1) swollen; distended; 2) bombastic;
pompous; grandiloquent.
4094. unalienable: inalienable.
4078. turmoil: tumult; commotion; uproar; confu- 4095. unanimous: 1) agreeing completely; united
in opinion; 2) showing, or based on, complete
sion.
agreement.
4079. turncoat: a person who goes over to the op4096. unassailable: untested.
posite side or party; traitor.
4097. unassuming: not assuming, pretentious or
forward; modest; retiring.
4080. turpitude: baseness, vileness; depravity.
4081. tussock: thick clump of grass.
4098.
4082. tutelage: 1) the function of a guardian;
guardianship; care, protection, etc; 2) teaching; instruction; 3) the condition of being un- 4099.
der a guardian or tutor.
4083. tutelary: 1) that watches over or protects; 2)
of or serving as a guardian.
135
unbridle: 1) to remove the bridle from ( a
horse etc); to free from restraint.
uncanny: 1) mysterious or unfamiliar, esp
in such a way as to frighten or make uneasy;
preternaturally strange; eerie; weird; 2) so remarkable , acute etc as to seem preternatural
[∼ shrewdness].

137. 4100. uncanny: weird; unearthly; savouring of the 4115. unfetter: to free from fetters; free from resupernatural.
straint of any kind; liberate.
4101. unconscionable: 1) not guided or restrained 4116.
by conscience; unscrupulous; 2) unreasonable,
excessive, or immoderate; 3) not fair or just; 4117.
outrageous [∼ demands].
unfettered: unrestraint; to free from fetters
(chains).
unfrock: to deprive of the rank or function of
priest or minister.
4102. uncouth: 1) awkward; clumsy; ungainly; 2) 4118. ungainly: 1) awkward, clumsy; 2) coarse and
uncultured; crude; boorish.
unattractive.
4103. unction: 1) the act of anointing as a rite of 4119.
consecration or healing; 2) sth used for anointing : ointment, unguent; 3) exaggerated, as- 4120.
sumed, or superficial earnestness of language
or manner.
4104. unctuousness:
lubrication;
(unctuous-oleaginous; pinguid).
anointment.
4105. undermine: 1) to excavate the earth beneath
: form a mine under : sap; 2) to wash away 4121.
supporting material from under; 3) to subvert
or weaken insidiously or secretly; 4) to weaken 4122.
or ruin by degrees.
unguent: a salve or ointment.
unilateral: 1a) done or undertaken by one
person or party; 1b) of, relating to, or affecting one side of a subject : one-sided; 1c) constituting or relating to contract or engagement
by which an express obligation to do or forbear
is imposed on only one party; 2a) having parts
arranged on one side [a ∼ raceme].
unimpaired: undamaged; free from being impaired.
unimpeachable: not impeachable; that cannot be doubted; questioned, or discredited; irreproachable.
4106. underscore: 1) to draw a line under : underline; 2) to make evident : emphasize, stress; 3) 4123. uninhibited: without inhibition; esp free
to provide (action on film) with accompanying
from the usu social or psychological restraints,
music.
as in behavior.
4107. undulate: 1) to cause to move in waves; 2) to 4124. unison: 1) an interval consisting of two identical musical pitches; prime; 2) complete agreegive a wavy form, margin, or surface to.
ment; concord; harmony.
4108. unearth: 1) to dig up from or out of the earth;
2) to bring to light as by searching; discover; 4125. unkempt: 1) tangled, disheveled, etc as if
from not having been combed; 2) not tidy or
disclose.
neat; messy; 3) not polished or refined; crude;
rough.
4109. unedifying: not comforting.
4110. unequivocal: clear; unquestionable; not of 4126. unobtrusive: without getting noticed.
doubtful meaning.
4127. unpalatable: not of good taste.
4111. unequivocal: not equivocal; not ambiguous; 4128. unprecedented: having no precedent or parplain; clear.
allel; novel; unheard of.
4112. unerring: 1) free from error; 2) not missing 4129. unpremeditated: not studied or purposed
beforehand.
or failing; certain; sure; exact.
4113. unfaltering: not wavering or weakening : 4130. unravel: 1) to undo (sth woven, tangled or
raveled up); untangle or separate the threads
firm.
of; 2) to make clear of confusion or involve4114. unfeigned: not feigned; genuine; real; sincere.
ment; solve.
136

138. 4131. unremitting: not relaxing; continued; inces- 4149.
sant;.
4150.
4132. unrequited: not returned; unanswerable; unreciprocated.
4151.
upshot: the conclusion; result; outcome.
urbane: polite and courteous in a smooth,
polished way; refined.
urchin: a small boy, or any youngster, esp one
who is roguish or mischievous.
4133. unruly: hard to control, restrain, or keep in
order; disobedient, disorderly, etc.
4152. ursine: of, like, or char of a bear; bearlike.
4134. unsavory: 1) unpleasant to taste or smell; 2) 4153.
unpleasant or offensive, esp so as to seem immoral.
4154.
4135. unscathed: not hurt; unharmed.
usufruct: right to enjoy property of other
without changing it.
usurp: to take or assume (power, a position,
property, rights, etc) and hold in possession by
force or without right.
4136. unseemly: not seemly; not decent or proper;
4155. usury: 1) the act or practice of lending money
unbecoming; indecorous.
at interest, now specif at a rate of interest that
is excessive or unlawfully high; 2) interest at
4137. unsightly: not sightly; not pleasant to look
such a high rate.
at; ugly.
4138. unstintingly: not restricting or holding back; 4156. utopia: 1) any idealized place, state, or situation of perfection; 2) any visionary scheme
giving or being given freely [to praise ∼].
or system for an ideally perfect society; 3) a
4139. unsullied: not dirty; clean?.
novel or other work depicting utopian society
or place.
4140. untenable: which cannot be retained; inca4157. uxorious: excessively or submissively fond of
pable of being tenanted or occupied.
a wife.
4141. untoward: 1) difficult to guide, manage or
work with : unruly, intractable; 2a) marked by 4158. vacillate: 1) to sway to and fro; waver; totter;
stagger; 2) to fluctuate or oscillate; 3) to waver
trouble or unhappiness : unlucky; 2b) not fain mind; show indecision.
vorable : adverse, unpropitious [∼ side-effects];
3) improper, indecorous.
4159. vacuous: 1) empty of matter; 2) having
4142. unwarranted: that cannot be justified; inexcusable.
4143. unwary: careless; not vigilant.
or showing lack of intelligence, interest or
thought; stupid; inane; senseless; 3) characterized by lack of purpose, of profitable employment etc; idle.
4144. unwieldy: hard to wield, manage, handle or 4160. vagaries: a freakish prank; a caprice; a digression;
deal with, as because or large size or weight,
or awkward form.
4161. vagary: 1) an odd, eccentric or unexpected
action or bit of conduct; 2) an odd, whimsical,
4145. unwitting: 1) not knowing; unaware; 2) not
or freakish idea or notion; oddity; caprice.
intended; unintentional.
4162. vagrant: a person who wanders from place to
4146. unwonted: unaccustomed.
place or lives a wandering life; rover; one who
wanders from place to place without a regu4147. upbraid: to rebuke severely or bitterly; cenlar job, supporting oneself by begging etc; idle
sure sharply.
wanderer , vagabond; a tramp, beggar, prosti4148. uproarious: 1) making, or char by an uproar;
tute or similar idle or disorderly person whose
tumultuous; 2a) loud and boisterous, as laughway of living makes them liable to arrest and
ter; 2b) causing such laughter [an ∼ joke].
detention.
137

139. 4163. vagrant: following no fixed direction, course, 4177. vegetate: 1) to grow as plants; 2) to exist
or pattern; random, wayward, fleeting, erratic
with little mental and physical activity; lead a
etc.
dull inactive life; 3) to grow or increase in size,
as a wart or another abnormal outgrowth.
4164. vainglorious: 1) boastfully vain and proud of
oneself; 2) showing or char by boastful vanity. 4178. vehement: 1) acting or moving with great
force; violent; impetuous; 2) having or char
by intense feeling or strong passion; fervent;
4165. valediction: 1) the act of bidding or saying
impassioned etc.
farewell; 2) sth said in parting; farewell utterance.
4179. velleity: slight wish.
4166. valiant: valorous, puissant; dastardly, craven, 4180. velocity: quickness or rapidity of motion or
sneaking.
action; swiftness; speed.
4167. validate: 1) to make a binding under the law; 4181.
give legal force to; declare legally valid; 2) to
prove to be valid; confirm the validity of; verify.
4182.
4168. valor: marked courage or bravery.
4169. vanguard: the foremost of an army; the forefront.
venal: 1) that can readily be bribed or corrupted [a ∼ judge]; 2) char by bribery or corruption [a ∼ bargain].
vendetta: 1) a feud in which the relatives of
a murdered or wronged person seek vengeance
on the murdered or wrongdoer or on members
of that person’s family; 2) any bitter quarrel
or feud.
4170. vantage: a) position, situation, etc more ad- 4183. vendor: one who vends or sells; seller.
vantageous than that of an opponent; b) a po4184. veneer: 1) a thin surface layer of fine wood or
sition that allows a clear and broad view, uncostly material laid over a base of common maderstanding, etc (also “vantage point”).
terial; 2) any of the thin layers glued together
in plywood; 3) any attractive but superficial
4171. vapid: insipid; tasteless; flavorless; flat; uninappearance or display [a ∼ of culture].
teresting; lifeless; dull; boring
4172. variegated: 1) marked with different colors
in spots, streaks, etc; parti-colored; 2) having
variety in character, form , etc; varied; diversified.
4185. venerable: 1) worthy of respect or reverence
by reason of age and dignity, character, or position; 2) impressive on account of age or historic
or religious associations,
4186.
4173. vassal: 1) in the Middle Ages, a person
who held land under the feudal system, doing
homage and pledging fealty to an over-lord, 4187.
and performing military or other duties in return for his protection; feudal tenant; 2) a de- 4188.
pendent; a bondsman; slave.
4189.
4174. vaticination: prophesy.
venerate: to look upon with feelings of deep
respect; regard as venerable; revere.
venial: pardonable; excusable.
venison: the flesh of a deer, used as food.
ventriloquism: the art or practice of speaking so that the voice seems to come from some
source other than the speaker.
4175. vaunt: to boast about (sth); brag of sth ex- 4190. venturesome: 1) inclined to venture, or take
cessively [the ∼ed beauties of Paris].
chances; daring; 2) involving danger or risk;
risky; hazardous.
4176. veer: 1) to change direction; shift; turn or
swing around; 2) to change sides; shift, as 4191. Venus: the scene or locale of a large gatherfrom, one opinion or attitude to another.
ing,as for sports event or rock concert.
138

140. 4192. veracious: 1) habitually truthful; honest; 2) 4208. versatile: a) competent in many things; able
true; accurate.
to turn easily from one subject or occupation
to another; many-sided; b) adaptable to many
4193. veracity: 1) habitual truthfulness; honesty;
uses or functions.
2) accordance with truth; accuracy of statement; 3) accuracy or precision, as of percep- 4209. vertex: the highest point; summit; apex, as
the top point of the sun, moon etc, above the
tion; 4) that which is true; truth.
horizon.
4194. verbalize: 1) to be wordy, or verbose; 2) to
use words to express or communicate meaning. 4210. vertiginous: dizzy.
4195. verbiage: 1) an excess of words beyond those
needed to express concisely what is meant;
wordiness; 2) style of expression; diction.
4211. vertigo: a condition in which one has the feeling of whirling or of having the surroundings
whirling about one, so that one tends to lose
balance; dizziness.
4196. verbigerate: cause a repeated echo.
4197.
4198.
4199.
4200.
4212. verve: 1) vigor and energy, as in movement,
portrayal, etc; 2) exuberant enthusiasm; spirit,
verbose: using or containing too many words;
dash, etc.
wordy; long winded; prolix.
4213. vesicant: causing blisters.
verdant: 1) green; 2) covered with green vegetation; 3) inexperienced; immature [∼ youth]. 4214. vestige: 1) a trace, mark, or sign of sth that
once existed or disappeared; [∼s of the ancient
verdigris: a greenish or greenish blue coating
wall]; 2) a trace; bit [not a ∼ of hope left]; 3)
(false verdigris) that forms like rust; on brass,
a degenerate, atrophied, or rudimentary organ
bronze or copper.
or part, more fully developed; or functional in
an earlier stage of development of the individverdure: greenness.
ual or; species: also “vestiguim”.
4201. verecund: bashful.
4215. vestige: a mark or trace of sth that no longer
remains.
4202. verger: minor church official.
4216. vesture: a garment; vegetation clothing the
4203. verisimilitude: 1) the appearance of being
soil.
true or real; 2) sth having the mere appearance
4217. viable: 1) able to live; specif a) having develof being true or real.
oped sufficiently within the uterus to be able to
live and continue normal development outside
4204. verity: 1) the quality or state of being true or
the uterus [a premature but ∼ infant]; b) able
real; 2) sth (as a statement) that is true; esp :
to take root and grow [∼ seeds]; 2) workable
a fundamental and inevitably true value [such
and likely to survive or to have real meaning,
eternal verities as honor, love and patriotism];
pertinence, etc [a ∼ economy, ∼ ideas].
3) the quality or state of being truthful or honest [the kings becoming graces, as justice, ∼].
4218. viand: 1) an article of food; 2) [pl] food of
various kinds; esp choice dishes.
4205. vernacular: 1a) using a language or dialect
native to a region or country rather than a 4219. vicarious: exercise performed or suffered by
literary, cultured or foreign language.
one person or thing instead of another.
4206. vernal: appearing in spring; fresh and youth- 4220. vicissitude: change of fortune.
ful.
4221. victual: 1) food or other provisions; 2) [pl]
4207. verrucose: warty.
articles of food, esp when prepared for use.
139

141. 4222. vie: to struggle for superiority (with someone) 4238. visage: 1) the face, with reference to the form
or enter into competition (for sth); compete.
and proportions of the feature or to the expression; countenance; 2) appearance; aspect.
4223. vigil: a) a purposeful or watchful staying
awake during the usual hours of sleep; b) a 4239. visceral: 1) felt in or as if in the viscera : deep
watch kept, or the period of this.
[∼ conviction]; 2) not intellectual : instinctive,
unreasoning [∼ drives]; 3) dealing with crude
4224. vigilant: staying watchful and alert to danger
or elemental emotions : earthy [a ∼ novel].
or trouble.
4240. viscid: having a cohesive and sticky fluid con4225. vignette: a photographic portrait; a characsistency; viscous.
ter sketch; a word picture.
4226. vilify: to make vile; to disparage; to defame. 4241. viscous: having a cohesive and sticky fluid
consistency; viscid.
4227. vilify: to use abusive or slanderous language
4242. vise: a device, usu fastened to a workbench,
about or of; calumniate; revile; defame.
consisting of two jaws opened and closed by a
4228. vindicate: 1) to clear from criticism, blame,
screw, lever, etc and used for holding firmly an
guilt , suspicion etc; uphold by evidence or arabject being worked on.
gument; 2) to defend or maintain (a cause,
claim,etc) against opposition; 3) to serve as 4243. visionary: 1a) of the nature of a vision :
illusory; 1b) incapable of being realized or
justification for; justify [a success which ∼d
achieved : utopian [a ∼ scheme]; 1c) existing
their belief in him]; 4) to lay claim to or estabonly in imagination : unreal; 2) disposed to
lish possession of (sth for oneself or another).
reverie or imagination : dreamy; 3) having a
4229. vindictive: 1) revengeful in spirit; inclined
marked foresight and imagination [a ∼ leader];
to seek vengeance; 2) said or done in revenge;
4) one whose ideas or projects are impractical
char by vengeance. [∼ punishment].
: dreamer.
4230. vintner: 1) a person who sells wine; wine mer- 4244. vital: 1a) existing as a manifestation of life;
chant; 2) a person who makes wine,
1b) concerned with or necessary to the maintenance of life [∼ organs]; 2) full of life and vigor
4231. virago: an amazon; a heroic or man-like
: animated; 3) char of life or living beings; 4)
woman.
fundamentally concerned with or affecting life
4232. virgate: rod shaped.
or living beings : invigorating : mortal.
4233. viridity: greenness.
4245. vitiate: 1) to make imperfect, faulty, or impure; spoil; corrupt; 2) to weaken morally, de4234. virile: 1) of, belonging to, or char of an adult
base, pervert; 3) to make (a contract, or legal
man; manly; male; 2) having manly strength
instrument) ineffective; invalidate.
or vigor; forceful; 3) of or capable of copulation; sexually potent.
4246. vitreous: a) of, having the nature of or like
glass; glassy; b) derived from or made of glass.
4235. virtual: being such practically or in effect,
although not in actual fact or name [a ∼ im- 4247. vitriolic: extremely biting or caustic; sharp
possibility].
and bitter. [∼ talk].
4236. virtuoso: a person displaying great technical 4248. vituperation: abusive; foul language.
skill in some fine art, esp in the performance
4249. vivacity: liveliness; animation.
of music.
4237. virulent: a) extremely poisonous or injurious; 4250. vivisection: medical research consisting of
deadly; b) bitterly antagonistic or spiteful; full
surgical operations or other expts performed
of hate and enmity; venomous; rancorous.
on living animals to study the structure and
140

142. function of living organs and parts, and to investigate the effects of diseases and therapy.
a while or eddy in its rush, absorbing effect,
catastrophic power, etc.
4251. vixen: 1) a female fox; 2) an ill-tempered, 4262.
shrewish, or malicious woman.
4263.
4252. vociferous: 1) loud, noisy, or vehement in 4264.
making one’s feelings known; clamorous; characterized by clamor or vehement outcry.
votary: worshipper;.
4253. vogue: 1) the accepted fashion or style at any 4265.
particular time; mode : often with the; 2) general favor or acceptance; popularity [coming
into ∼].
vulnerable: 1) that can be wounded or physically injured; 2a) open to criticism or attack [
a ∼ reputation]; 2b) easily hurt, as by adverse
criticism; sensitive; 2c) affected by a specified
influence, temptation, etc [∼ to political pressure]; 3) open to attack by armed forces.
vouchsafe: condescend; be graciously willing.
voyeur: a person who has an exaggerated interest in viewing sexual objects or activities to
obtain sexual gratification; peeping Tom.
4254. volatile: 1) readily vaporizable at a relatively
low temperature; 2) flying or having the power
to fly; 3a) lighthearted or lively; 3b) easily 4266. vulpine: 1) of or like a fox or foxes; 2) clever,
aroused [∼ suspicions]; 3c)
cunning,etc.
4255. volition: 1) the act of using the will; exer- 4267. waffle: to speak or write in a wordy, vague or
cise of the will as in deciding what to do; 2) a
indecisive manner.
conscious or deliberate decision or choice thus
made; 3) the power or faculty of using the will. 4268. waft: 1) to move or go lightly on or as if on
a buoyant medium; 2) sth (as an odor) that
4256. volition: act of willing or choosing; the power
is wafted : whiff; 3) a slight breeze : puff; 4)
of determining.
the act of waving; 5) a pennant or flag used to
signal or show wind direction.
4257. voluble: char by a great flow of words; talking
4269. waggish: 1) like, char of, or befitting a wag;
much and easily; talkative,glib, etc.
roguishly merry; 2) done, said or made in jest;
4258. voluminous: 1) writing, producing, consistplayful [a waggish remark].
ing of, or forming enough material to fill volumes; 2) of great volume; large; bulky; full. 4270. waif: 1a) a piece of property found (as washed
up by the sea) but unclaimed; 1b) [pl] stolen
4259. voluptuous: 1) full of, producing, or char by
goods thrown away by a thief in flight; 2a) sth
sensual delights and pleasure; sensual; 2) fond
found without an owner and esp by chance;
of or directed toward luxury, elegance, and the
2b) a stray person or animal, esp : a homeless
pleasure of the senses; 3a) suggesting or exchild[].
pressing sensual pleasures or gratification; 3b)
sexually attractive because of a full shapely 4271. waive: 1) to give up or forgo (a right, claim,
privilege,etc); 2) to refrain from insisting on or
figure; 4) arising from sensual gratification.
taking advantage of; 3) to put off until later;
4260. voracious: 1) greedy in eating; devouring
postpone; defer; 4) to forgo or relinquish volor eager to devour large quantities of food;
untarily (a right, privilege, claim, etc which
ravenous; gluttonous; 2) very greedy or eaone is legally entitled to enforce).
ger in some desire or pursuit; insatiable [a ∼
4272. wallow: 1) to roll oneself about in an indolent
reader].
or ungainly manner; 2) to billow forth : surge;
4261. vortex: 1) a whirling mass of water forming a
3) to devote oneself entirely, esp : to take unvacuum at its center, into which ath caught in
restrained pleasure : delight; 4a) to become
the motion is drawn; whirlpool; 2) a whirl or
abundantly supplied : luxuriate [a family that
powerful eddy of air; whirlwind; 3) any activ∼s in money]; 5) a state of degradation or deity, situation or state of affairs that resembles
generacy.
141

143. 4273. wan: 1) sickly pale; pallid; colorless; [a ∼ com- 4285.
plexion]; 2) faint, feeble or weak in a way suggestive of a sickly condition or great weariness,
sadness,etc [a wan smile].
wax: 1) to grow gradually larger, more numerous etc; increase in strength, intensity , volume; 2) to speak or express oneself [he ∼ed on
and on about his prowess].
4274. wane: 1) to grow gradually less in extent : 4286.
said esp of the visible face of the moon; 2) to
4287.
become less intense, bright, strong etc; grow
dim or faint, as a light; 3) to decline in importance, power, prosperity, influence, etc; 4)
to approach the end : said of a period of time 4288.
[the day ∼s].
wayfarer: traveler esp on foot.
4275. wangle: 1) to extricate oneself (as from difficulty) : wiggle; 2) to resort to trickery or
devious methods.
4276. wanly: pale and sickly.
4277. wanton: 1) playfully mean or cruel : mis- 4289.
chievous; 2a) lewd, bawdy; 2b) causing sexual
excitement : lustful, sensual; 3a) merciless, inhumane [∼ cruelty]; 3b) having no just foundation or provocation : malicious [a ∼ attack];
4) a pampered person or animal : pet, esp : a
spoilt child; 5) one given to self-indulgent flir- 4290.
tation or trifling—used esp in the phrase ‘play
the wanton’.
4278. warbled: to sing in a quavering way.
waylay: 1) to lie in wait for and attack; ambush; 2) to wait for and accost (a person) on
the way.
wean: 1) to accustom (as a child) to take food
otherwise than by nursing; 2) to detach from a
source of dependence [being ∼ed off the medication]; also : to free from a usu unwholesome
habit or interest [∼ him off his excessive drinking habit]; 3) to accustom to sth from an early
age—used in the passive esp with on [students
∼ed on the microcomputer].
weather: 1) to expose to the open air : subject to the action of elements; 2) to bear up
against and come safely thru [∼ a storm]; 3)
state or vicissitude of life or fortune; 4) disagreeable atmospheric conditions.
welt: 1) a strip between a shoe sole and upper thru which they are stitched or stapled together; 2) a double edge, strip, insert, or seam
(as on a garment) for ornament or reinforcement; 3a) a ridge or lump raised on the body
usu by a blow; a heavy blow.
4279. warrant: ground, justification, sanction, authorization; guarantee, security, confirmation, 4291. welter: 1a) writhe, toss ; also :wallow; 1b) to
rise and fall or toss about in or with waves; 2)
proof.
to become deeply sunk, soaked or involved; 3)
4280. warren: 1) a space or limited area in which
to be in turmoil.
rabbits breed or are numerous; 3) any building or group of buildings crowded like a rabbit 4292. welter: confusion.
warren.
4293. wenches: a working girl, a maid-servant.
4281. wary: 1) cautious; on one’s guard; 2) char by 4294. wheedle: 1) to influence or entice with soft
caution [a ∼ look].
words or flattery; [∼ one’s way into favor].
4282. wassail: a festive occasion; revelry; a drinking 4295. whelp: 1) any of the young of various carnivbout; drinking or festive song.
orous mammals and esp of the dog; 2) a young
boy or girl; 3) to give birth to—used of various
4283. wastrel: 1) a person who wastes; esp a
carnivores and esp the dog.
spendthrift; 2) good for nothing; a useless or
4296. whet: 1) to sharpen by rubbing or grinding
worthless person.
(the edge of a knife or tool); hone; 2) to make
4284. wattle: fleshy flap.
keen; stimulate [to ∼ the appetite].
142

144. 4297. whilom: quondam; former.
4313. wisp: 1) a small handful (as of hay or straw);
2) a thin strip or fragment; 3) sth frail, slight
4298. whimple: a veil folded around the head, neck
or fleeting [a ∼ of a girl].
or cheeks part of a nuns dress.
4314. wistful: showing or expressing vague yearn4299. whimsical: 1) full of or char by whims or
ings; longing pensively.
whimsy; 2) oddly out of the ordinary; fanciful;
freakish; 3) subject to sudden change; unpre- 4315. withdrawn: withdrawing within oneself, shy,
reserved, introverted etc.
dictable.
4300. whimsical: delicately fanciful.
4316. witless: lacking wit or intelligence; foolish.
4301. whinny: to neigh in a low, gentle, contented 4317. wizardry: the art or practice of a wizard;
specif a) witchcraft; magic; sorcery; b) excepway : said of a horse.
tional cleverness.
4302. whit: the least bit; jot; iota : chiefly in negative constructions [not a ∼ the wiser, not care 4318. wizen: to dry up; wither; shrivel.
one ∼].
4319. wizened: dried up with age; shrivelled.
4303. whittle: to pare or cut with a knife; to dimin- 4320.
ish gradually; to cut wood aimlessly.
4321.
4304. whorl: 1) a drum shaped section on the lower
part of a spindle in spinning or weaving machinery serving as a pulley for the tape drive
that rotates the spindle; 2) an arrangement of 4322.
similar anatomical parts (as leaves) in a circle
4323.
around a point on an axis ; 3) sth that whirls,
coils, or spirals or whose form suggests such
movement.
4324.
4305. wicket: gate.
wont: usual practice; habit; custom.
worldly: 1) of, relating to, or devoted to this
world and its pursuits rather than to religion
or spiritual affairs; worldly-wise.
wrangle: an angry noisy dispute or quarrel.
wrath: 1) intense anger, rage, fury; 2) any
action carried out in great anger, esp for punishment or vengeance.
wreak: 1) to cause the infliction of (vengeance
or punishment); 2) to give free play or course
to (malevolent) feeling.
4306. willful: 1) said or done deliberately or intentionally; 2) doing as one pleases; self-willed. 4325. wrench: 1) to move with a violent twist: to
undergo twisting; 2) change, distort, pervert;
4307. wily: full of wiles; crafty; sly.
3a) to pull or tighten twisting or with violence; 3b) to snatch forcibly; 4a) a sharp twist
4308. wimble: gimlet.
or sudden jerk straining muscles or ligaments;
4309. wince: to shrink or draw back slightly, usu
4b) a distorting or perverting alteration ; 4c)
with a grimace, as in pain, embarrassment,
acute emotional distress; 4d) sudden violent
alarm etc.
emotional change; 5) a hand or power tool for
holding, twisting or turning an object.
4310. windfall: 1) sth blown down by the wind, as
fruit from a tree; 2) any unexpected acquisi- 4326. wrest: 1) to pull, force, or move by violent
tion, gain or stroke of good luck.
wringing or twisting movements; 2) to gain
with difficulty by or as if by force, violence or
4311. winsome: attractive in a sweet, engaging
determined labour.
way; charming.
4327. writ: a formal legal document ordering or pro4312. wiseacre: one who unduly assumes an air
hibiting some action.
of superior wisdom; a simpleton quite unconscious of being such.
4328. writhe: to cause to twist or turn; contort.
143

145. 4329. wry: 1) to pull out of or as if out of proper
shape; 2) to make awry; 3) having bent or
twisted shape or condition; 3) cleverly and often ironically or grimly humorous.
4330. xenophobia: fear or hatred of strangers or
foreigners or of anything strange or foreign.
4331. yaw: to deviate temporarily from.
4332. yen: a strong longing or desire.
4333. yeomen: staunch and brave.
4334. yoke: 1) a wooden bar or frame by which two
draft animals (as oxen) are joined at the heads
or necks for working together; 2) servitude,
bondage, tie,link.
4335. yokel: a person living in a rural area; rustic;
country bumpkin : a contemptuous person.
4336. yore: times long past : now only in “of yore”
, formerly.
4337. zany: a clown or buffoon; specif a former stock
character in comedies who clownishly aped the
principal actors; a silly or foolish person; simpleton.
4338. zeal: intense enthusiasm, as in working for a
cause; ardent endeavor or devotion; ardor; fervor.
4339. zealot: a person who is zealous, esp to an
extreme or excessive degree; fanatic.
4340. zenith: the point directly overhead in the sky
or on the celestial sphere : opposed to nadir;
the highest point; peak.
4341. zephyr: a soft, gentle breeze; the west wind; a
fine, soft, light-weight yarn, cloth or garment.
4342. ziggurat: pyramidical temple.
144