Categories
Advertisement
GRE Word List
this word list contains repeated words in GRE Real test. Syntax: Word, Meaning, Example sentence.
abbreviate
shorten Example Because we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.
abate
subside or moderate Example Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate.
abortive
unsuccessful; fruitless Example We had to abandon our abortive attempts.
absolute
complete; totally unlimited; certain Example Although the King of Siam was an absolute monarch, he did not want to behead his unfaithful wife without absolute evidence of her infidelity.
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; non-representational Example To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he had never missed a meal.
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmful Example An abusive parent damages a child both mentally and physically.
accelerate
move faster Example In our science class, we learn how falling bodies accelerate.
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable Example We asked our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot.
accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing Example She bought an attractive handbag as an accessory for her dress.
abscond
depart secretly and hide Example The teller absconded with the bonds and was not found.
aberrant
abnormal or deviant Example Given the aberrant nature of the data, we came to doubt the validity of the entire experiment.
abeyance
suspended action Example The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival.
adamant
hard, inflexible Example He was adamant in his determination to punish the wrongdoer.
adulterate
make impure by mixing with baser substances Example It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer.
adversity
poverty, misfortune Example We must learn to meet adversity gracefully.
abase
lower; degrade; humiliate Example Anna expected to have to curtsy to the King of Siam; when told to cast herself down on the ground before him, however she refused to abase herself.
abash
embarrass Example He was not at all abashed by her open admiration.
abdicate
renounce; give up Example When Edward VII abdicated the British throne, he surprised the entire world.
abet
assist, usually in doing something wrong Example She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned.
abject
wretched; lacking pride Example On the streets of New York the homeless live in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find shelter from the wind.
abjure
renounce upon oath Example He abjured his allegiance to the king.
ablution
washing Example His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled "Opera in the Bath."
abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice Example Though Rudolph and Duchess Flavia loved one another, their love was doomed, for she had to wed the king; their act of abnegation was necessary to preserve the kingdom.
abominate
loathe; hate Example Moses scolded the idol worshippers in the tribe because he abominated the custom.
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down Example Just as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can wear away a listener's patience.
abrogate
abolish Example He intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor.
absolve
pardon (an offense) Example The father confessor absolved him of his sins.
abstain
refrain; withhold from participation Example After considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race.
abut
border upon; adjoin Example Where our estates abut, we must build a fence.
abysmal
bottomless Example His arrogance is exceeded only by his abysmal ignorance.
accede
agree Example If I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands.
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment Example One of the difficulties of our present air age is the need of travellers to acclimate themselves to their new and often strange environments.
acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill Example The car could not go up the acclivity in high gear.
accolade
award of merit Example In Hollywood, an "Oscar" is the highest accolade.
accord
agreement Example She was in complete accord with the verdict.
accost
approach and speak first to a person Example When the two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I thought they were going to attack me.
accoutre
equip Example The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply
accretion
growth; increase Example The accretion of wealth marked the family's rise in power.
accrue
come about by addition Example You must pay the interest that has accrued on your debt as well as the principal sum.
acidulous
slightly sour; sharp; caustic Example James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks.
acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point Example Welles's success in Citizen Kane marked the acme of his career as an actor; never again did he achieve such popular acclaim.
acquiesce
assent; agree passively Example Although she appeared to acquiesce to her employer's suggestions, I could tell she had reservations about the changes he wanted made.
acquittal
deliverance from a charge Example His acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty.
acrid
sharp; bitterly pungent Example The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired.
acrimonious
stinging, caustic Example His tendency to utter acrimonious remarks alienated his audience.
actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics Example According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago.
actuate
motivate Example I fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily.
acuity
sharpness Example In time his youthful acuity of vision failed him, and he needed glasses.
acumen
mental keenness Example His business acumen helped him to succeed where others had failed.
adage
wise saying; proverb Example There is much truth in the old adage about fools and their money.
addendum
addition; appendix to book Example Jane's editor approved her new comparative literature text but thought it would be even better with an addendum on recent developments in literary criticism.
addle
muddle; drive crazy Example This idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle anyone.
adherent
supporter; follower Example In the wake of the scandal, the senator's one-time adherent quietly deserted him.
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position Example I will entertain this concept as an adjunct to the main proposal.
adjuration
solemn urging Example Her adjuration to tell the truth did not change the witnesses' testimony.
adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant Example Though Wellington delegated many tasks to his chief adjutant, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Somerset was in no doubt as to who made all major decisions.
admonish
warn; reprove Example He admonished his listeners to change their wicked ways.
adorn
decorate Example Wall paintings and carved statues adorned the temple.
adroit
skillful Example His adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased his employers.
adulation
flattery; admiration Example The rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes-men.
advent
arrival Example Most Americans were unaware of the advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima reached them.
adventitious
accidental; casual Example He found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate.
adversary
opponent; enemy Example Batman struggled to save Gotham City from the machinations of his wicked adversary, the Joker.
adverse
unfavorable; hostile Example adverse circumstances compelled him to close his business.
advert
refer to Example Since you advert to this matter so frequently, you must regard it as important.
advocate
urge; plead for Example The abolitionists advocated freedom for the slaves.
aegis
shield; defense Example Under the aegis of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy our most treasured freedoms.
affable
courteous Example Although he held a position of responsibility, he was an affable individual and could be reached by anyone with a complaint.
affected
artificial; pretended Example His affected mannerisms irritated may of us who had known him before his promotion.
affidavit
written statement made under oath Example The court refused to accept his statement unless he presented it in the form of an affidavit.
affiliation
joining; associating with Example His affiliation with the political party was of short duration for he soon disagreed with his colleagues.
affinity
kinship Example She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains.
affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath Example Despite Tom's affirmation of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie.
affix
attach or add on; fasten Example First the registrar had to affix his signature to the license; then he had to affix his official seal.
affluence
abundance; wealth Example Foreigners are amazed by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life.
affront
insult; offend Example Accustomed to being treated with respect, Miss Challoner was affronted by Vidal's offensive behavior.
agape
openmouthed Example She stared, agape, at the many strange animals in the zoo.
agenda
items of business at a meeting Example We had so much difficulty agreeing upon an agenda that there was very little time for the meeting.
agglomeration
collection; heap Example It took weeks to assort the agglomeration of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip.
aggrandize
increase or intensify; raise in power, wealth, rank or honor Example The history of the past quarter century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to act aggressively in international affairs without considering the wishes of Congress.
aggregate
sum; total Example The aggregate wealth of this country is staggering to the imagination.
aghast
horrified Example He was aghast at the nerve of the speaker who had insulted his host.
agility
nimbleness Example The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience.
agitate
stir up; disturb Example Her fiery remarks agitated the already angry mob.
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence of knowability of a god or any ultimate reality Example The agnostic demanded proof before she would accept the statement of the minister.
agog
highly excited; intensely curious Example We were all agog at the news that the celebrated movie star was giving up his career in order to enter a monastery.
agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivation Example As a result of its recent industrialization, the country is gradually losing its agrarian traditions.
alacrity
cheerful promptness Example He demonstrated his eagerness to serve by his alacrity in executing the orders of his master.
alchemy
medieval chemistry Example The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy.
alcove
nook; recess Example Though their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an alcove adjacent to the living room made an adequate breakfast nook for the young couple.
alias
an assumed name Example John Smith's alias was Bob Jones.
alienate
make hostile; separate Example Her attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith in each other.
alimentary
supplying nourishment Example The alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods occurs there.
alimony
payments make to an ex-spouse after divorce Example Because Tony had supported Tina through medical school, on their divorce he asked the court to award him $500 a month in alimony.
allay
calm; pacify Example The crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled.
allege
state without proof Example It is alleged that she had worked for the enemy.
allegory
story in which characters are used as symbols; fable Example Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of the human soul.
alleviate
relieve Example This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs.
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry Example "The furrow followed free" is an example of alliteration.
alloy
mixture as of metals Example alloy of gold are used more frequently than the pure metal.
allude
refer indirectly Example Try not to allude to this matter in his presence because the topic annoys him.
allure
entice; attract Example allured by the song of the sirens, the helmsman steered the ship toward the reef.
allusion
indirect reference Example the allusions to mythological characters in Milton's poems bewilder the reader who has not studied Latin.
alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water Example The farmers found the alluvial deposits at the mouth of the river very fertile.
aloof
apart; reserved Example Shy by nature, she remained aloof while all the rest conversed.
aloft
upward Example The sailor climbed aloft into the rigging.
altercation
noisy quarrel Example Throughout the altercation, not one sensible word was uttered.
altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others Example In providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships to hundreds of economically disadvantaged youths, Eugene Lang performed a truly altruistic deed.
amalgamate
combine; unite in one body Example The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body.
amass
collect Example The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible.
amazon
female warrior Example Ever since the days of Greek mythology we refer to strong and aggressive women as amazons.
ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease Example A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous.
ambience
environment; atmosphere Example She went to the restaurant not for the food but for the ambience.
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning Example His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take.
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes Example Torn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by the ambivalence of her feelings.
amble
moving at an easy pace Example When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble.
ambrosia
food of the gods Example ambrosia was supposed to give immortality to any human who ate it.
ambulatory
able to walk Example He was described as an ambulatory patient because he was not confined to his bed.
ameliorate
improve Example Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums.
amenable
readily managed; willing to be led Example He was amenable to any suggestions that came from those he looked up to; he resented advice from his inferiors.
amend
correct; change, generally for the better Example Hoping to amend his condition, he left Vietnam for the United States.
amenities
convenient features; courtesies Example In addition to the customary amenities for the business traveler -- fax machines, modems, a health club -the hotel offers the services of a butler versed in social amenities.
amiable
agreeable; lovable Example His amiable disposition pleased all who had dealings with him.
amicable
friendly Example The dispute was settled in an amicable manner with no harsh words.
amiss
wrong; faulty Example Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything were amiss.
amity
friendship Example Student exchange programs such as the Experiment in International Living were established to promote international amity.
amnesia
loss of memory Example Because she was suffering from amnesia, the police could not get the young girl to identify herself.
amnesty
pardon Example When his first child was born, the king granted amnesty to all in prison.
amoral
non-moral Example The amoral individual lacks a code of ethics; he should not be classified as immoral.
amorous
moved by ***ual love; loving Example Don Juan was known for his amorous adventures.
amorphous
shapeless; vague; indeterminate Example John was subject to panic attacks that left him prey to vague, amorphous fears: he knew he was terrified, but could neither define nor explain the cause of his terror.
amphibian
able to live both on land and in water Example Frogs are classified as amphibian.
amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seats Example The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators.
ample
abundant Example He had ample opportunity to dispose of his loot before his police caught up with him.
amplify
enlarge Example Her attempts to amplify her remarks were drowned out by the jeers of the audience.
amputate
cut off part of body; prune Example When the doctors had to amputate Ted Kennedy's leg to prevent the spread of cancer, he did not let the loss of his leg keep him from participating in sports.
amok
in a state of rage Example The police had to be called in to restrain him after he ran amok in the department store.
amulet
charm; talisman Example Around her neck she wore the amulet that the witch doctor had given her.
anachronism
something or someone misplaced in time Example Shakespeare's reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is an anachronism; no clocks existed in Caesar's time.
analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain Example The analgesic qualities of his lotion will provide temporary relief.
analogous
comparable Example She called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same.
analogy
similarity; parallelism Example Your analogy is not a good one because the two situations are not similar.
anarchist
person who rebels against the established order Example Only the total overthrow of all governmental regulations would satisfy the anarchist.
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder Example The assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy.
anathema
solemn curse; someone or something that is despised Example He heaped anathema upon his foe.
anathematize
curse Example The high priest anathematized the heretic.
anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place Example We set the post in concrete to anchor it in place.
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary Example In an ancillary capacity Doctor Watson was helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the good doctor to solve a perplexing case on his own.
anecdote
short account of an amusing or interesting event Example Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Raegan told anecdotes about poor people who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds.
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles Example The doctor ascribes her tiredness to anemia.
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness Example His monotonous voice acted like an anesthetic; his audience was soon asleep.
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering Example Visiting the site of explosion, Premier Gorbachev wept to see the anguish of the victims and their families.
angular
sharp-cornered; stiff in manner Example His features, though angular, were curiously attractive.
animadversion
critical remark Example He resented the animadversions of his critics, particularly because he realized they were true.
animated
lively Example Her animated expression indicated a keenness of intellect.
animosity
active enmity Example He incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power.
animus
hostile feeling or intent Example The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks.
annals
records; history Example In the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements.
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling Example After the glass is annealed, it will be less subject to chipping and cracking.
annihilate
destroy Example The enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate the entire population.
annotate
comment; make explanatory notes Example In the appendix to the novel, the critic sought to annotate many of the more esoteric references.
annuity
yearly allowance Example The annuity he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he can live very comfortably without working.
annul
make void Example The parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage.
anodyne
drug that relieves pain; opiate Example His pain was so great that no anodyne could relieve it.
anoint
consecrate Example The prophet Samuel anointed David with oil, crowning him king of Israel.
anomalous
abnormal; irregular Example He was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures that he despised.
anomaly
irregularity Example A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly.
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness Example The donor of the gift asked the college not to mention him by name; the dean readily agreed to respect his anonymity.
antagonistic
hostile; opposed Example Despite his lawyers' best efforts to stop him, the angry prisoner continued to make antagonistic remarks to the judge.
antecede
precede Example The invention of the radiotelegraph anteceded the development of television by a quarter of a century.
antecedents
preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; early life; ancestors Example Before giving permission for Drummie to marry Estella, Miss Havisham had a few questions about the young man's birth and antecedents.
antediluvian
antiquated; ancient Example The antediluvian customs had apparently not changed for thousands of years.
anthropoid
manlike Example The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals.
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankind Example Anthropologists have discovered several relics of prehistoric humans in this area.
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics Example Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics.
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion Example After the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax.
antipathy
aversion; dislike Example His extreme antipathy to dispute caused him to avoid argumentative discussions with his friends.
antiquated
obsolete; outdated Example Accustomed to editing his papers on word processors, Philip thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to use.
antiseptic
substance that prevents infection Example It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound, no matter how slight or insignificant.
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to Example This tyranny was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for, and he fought it with all his strength.
anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals Example After heating the iron horseshoe in the forge, the blacksmith picked it up with his tongs and set it on the anvil.
apathetic
indifferent Example He felt apathetic about the conditions he had observed and did not care to fight against them.
apathy
lack of caring; indifference Example A firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote.
ape
imitate or mimic Example He was suspended for a week because he had aped the principal in front of the whole school.
aperture
opening; hole Example She discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room.
apex
tip; summit; climax Example He was at the apex of his career.
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness Example After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently.
aphorism
pithy maxim Example An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific.
apiary
a place where bees are kept Example Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee.
aplomb
poise; composure Example Wellington's nonchalance and aplomb in the heat of battle always heartened his followers.
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations; especially of disaster Example His apocalyptic remarks were dismissed by his audience as wild surmises.
apocryphal
untrue; made up Example To impress his friends, Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city.
apogee
highest point Example When the moon in its orbit is furthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee.
apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness followed by paralysis Example He was crippled by an attack of apoplexy.
apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs Example Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate.
apothecary
druggist Example In Holland, apothecaries still sell spices as well as ointments and pills.
apothegm
pithy, compact saying Example Proverbs are apothegms that have become familiar sayings.
apotheosis
deification; glorification Example The Roman empress Livia envied the late emperor his apotheosis; she hoped that on her death she, too, would be exalted to the rank of a god.
appal
dismay; shock Example We were appalled by the horrifying conditions in the city's jails.
apparition
ghost; phantom Example Hamlet was uncertain about the identity of the apparition that had appeared and spoken to him.
appease
pacify; soothe Example We have discovered that, when we try to appease our enemies, we encourage them to make additional demands.
appellation
name; title Example He was amazed when the witches hailed him with his correct appellation.
append
attach Example I shall append this chart to my report.
application
diligent attention; (secondary meaning) apply Example Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application.
apposite
appropriate; fitting Example He was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion.
appraise
estimate the value of Example It is difficult to appraise old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless.
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of Example Little Orphan Annie truly appreciated the stocks Daddy Warbucks ave her, whose value appreciated considerably over the years.
apprehend
arrest ( a criminal); dread; perceive Example The police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long.
apprehensive
fearful; discerning Example His apprehensive glances at the people who were walking in the street revealed his nervousness.
apprise
inform Example When he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip.
approbation
approval Example Wanting her parents' regard, she looked for some sign of their approbation.
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one's own use Example The ranch owners appropriated the lands that had originally been set aside for the Indians' use.
appurtenances
subordinate possessions Example He bought the estate and all its appurtenances.
apropos
with reference to; regarding Example I find your remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent.
aptitude
fitness; talent Example The counselor evaluated his aptitudes before advising him about the career he should follow.
aquiline
curved, hooked Example He can be recognized by his aquiline nose, curved like the beak of the eagle.
arable
fit for plowing Example The land was no longer arable; erosion had removed the valuable topsoil.
arbiter
person with power to decide a matter in a dispute; judge Example As an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won the confidence of the workers and the employers.
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; tyrannical Example The coach claimed the team lost because the umpire made some arbitrary calls.
arbitrate
act as judge Example She was called upon to arbitrate the dispute between the union and the management.
arboretum
place where different varieties of trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited Example Walking along the treelined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly fine sycamores.
arcade
a covered passageway, usually lined with shops Example The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain.
arcane
secret; mysterious Example What was arcane to us was clear to the psychologist.
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind Example The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins.
archaic
antiquated Example "Methinks," "thee," and "thou" are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary.
archetype
prototype; primitive pattern Example The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey.
archipelago
group of closely located islands Example When he looked at the map and saw the archipelagoes in the South Seas, he longed to visit them.
archives
public records; place where public records are kept Example These documents should be part of the archives so that historians may be able to evaluate them in the future.
ardor
heat; passion; zeal Example Katya's ardor was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
arduous
hard; strenuous Example Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy.
argot
slang Example In the argot of the underworld, she "was taken for a ride."
aria
operatic solo Example At her Metropolitan Opera audition, Marian Anderson sang an aria from Norma.
arid
dry; barren Example The cactus had adapted to survive in an arid environment.
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class Example Americans have mixed feelings about hereditary aristocracy:
armada
fleet of warships Example Queen Elizabeth's navy was able to defeat the mighty armada that threatened the English coast.
aromatic
fragrant Example Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe.
arraign
charge in court; indict Example After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court.
array
marshal; draw up in order Example His actions were bound to array public sentiment against him.
array
clothe; adorn Example She liked to watch her motherarray herself in her finest clothes before going out for the evening.
arrears
being in debt Example He was in arrears with his payments on the car.
arrogance
pride, haughtiness Example The arrogance of the nobility was resented by the middle class.
arroyo
gully Example Until the heavy rains of the past spring, this arroyo had been a dry bed.
articulate
effective; distinct Example Her articulate presentation of the advertising campaign impressed her employers.
artifacts
products of primitive culture Example Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor and came to no conclusion.
artifice
deception; trickery Example The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than military might.
artisan
a manually skilled worker Example Artists and artisans alike are necessary to the development of a culture.
artless
without guile; open and honest Example Red Riding Hood's artless comment, "Grandma, what big eyes you have!" indicates the child's innocent surprises at her "grandmother's" changed appearance.
ascendancy
controlling influence Example President Marcos failed to maintain his ascendency over Philippines.
ascetic
practicing self-denial; austere Example The wealthy young man could not understand the ascetic life led by the monks.
asceticism
doctrine of self-denial Example We find asceticism practiced in many monastries.
ascribe
refer; attribute; assign Example I can ascribe no motive for her acts.
asceptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect Example Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced asceptic conditions.
ashen
ash-colored; deadly pale Example Her face was ashen with fear.
asinine
stupid Example Your asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration.
askance
with a sideways or indirect look Example Looking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn.
askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle Example When he placed his hat askew upon his head, his observers laughed.
asperity
sharpness (of temper) Example These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed.
aspersion
slanderous remark Example Do not cast aspersions on her character.
aspirant
seeker after position or status Example Although I am as aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses.
aspiration
noble ambition Example Youth's aspirations should be as lofty as the stars.
assail
assault Example He was assailed with questions after his lecture.
assay
analyze; evaluate Example When they assayed the ore, they found that they had discovered a very rich vein.
assent
agree; accept Example It gives me great pleasure to assent to your request.
assert
state strongly or positively; insist on or demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc). Example When Jill asserted that nobody else in the junior class had such an early curfew, her parents Asserted themselves, telling her that if she didn't get home by nine o'clock she would be grounded for the week.
assessment
estimation; appraisal Example I would like to have your assessment of the situation in South Africa.
assiduous
diligent Example It took Rembrandt weeks of assiduous labor before he was satisfied with his portrait of his son.
assimilate
absorb; cause to become homogenous Example The manner in which the United States was able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants during the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth centuries will always be a source of pride.
assuage
ease; lessen(pain) Example Your messages of cheer should assuage her suffering.
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of Example The young princess made the foolish assumption that the regent would not object to her Assumption of power.
assurance
promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence Example When Gutherie gave Guiness his assurance that rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurance that Guiness was convinced.
asteroid
small planet Example asteroids have become commonplace to the readers of interstellar travel stories in science fiction magazines.
astigmatism
eye defect that prevents proper focus Example As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses.
astral
relating to the stars Example She was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed.
astringent
binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe Example The astringent quality of unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult.
astronomical
enormously large or extensive Example The government seemed willing to spend astronomical sums on weapons development.
astute
wise; shrewd Example That was a very astute observation.
asunder
into parts; apart Example Their points of view are poles asunder.
asylum
place of refuge or shelter; protection Example The refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new land.
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line Example Because one eyebrow was set markedly higher than the other, William's face had a particularly asymmetric appearance.
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; Example throwback Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan ancestors who lavished great care on their small plots of soil.
atheistic
denying the existence of God Example His atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers.
atone
make amends for; pay for Example He knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime.
atrocity
brutal deed Example In time of war, many atrocities are committed by invading armies.
atrophy
wasting away Example Polio victims need physiotherapy to prevent the atrophy of affected limbs.
attenuate
make thin; weaken Example By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines.
attest
testify; bear witness Example Having served as a member of a grand jury, I can attest that our system of indicting individuals is in need of improvement.
attribute
essential quality Example His outstanding attribute was his kindness.
attribute
ascribe; explain Example I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
attrition
gradual wearing down Example They decided to wage a war of attrition rather than to rely on all-out attack.
audacious
daring; bold Example Audiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, death-defying leap to freedom and escaped Darth Vader's troops.
audit
examination of accounts Example When the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the embezzlements of the chief cashier.
augment
increase Example How can we hope to augment our forces when our allies are deserting us?
augury
omen; prophecy Example He interpreted the departures of the birds as an augury of evil.
august
impressive; majestic Example Visiting the palace at Versailes, she was impressed by the august surroundings in which she found herself.
aureole
sun's corona; halo Example Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureols around their heads.
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis Example The auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening.
auspicious
favoring success Example With favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail.
austere
strict, stern Example His austere demeanor prevented us from engaging in our usual frivolous activities.
austerity
sternness; severity; lack of luxuries Example The austerity and dignity of the court were maintained by the new justices, who were a strict and solemn group.
authenticate
prove genuine Example An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting, distinguishing it from its imitation.
authoritarian
favoring or exercising total control; non-democratic Example The people had no control over their destiny; they were forced to obey the dictates of the authoritarian regime.
authoritative
having the weight of authority; dictatorial Example We accepted her analysis of the situation as authoritative.
autocrat
monarch with supreme power Example He ran his office like an autocrat, giving no one else any authority.
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans Example Long before science fiction readers became aware of robots, writers were creating stories of automation who could outperform humans.
autonomous
self-governing Example This island is a colony; however, in most matters, it is autonomous and receives no orders from the mother country.
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem Example The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or sub-sidiary Example To prepare for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station.
avarice
greed for wealth Example King Midas's avarice has been famous for centuries.
aver
state confidently Example I wish to aver that I am certain of success.
averse
reluctant Example He was averse to revealing the sources of his information.
aversion
firm dislike Example Their mutual aversion was so great that they refused to speak to one another.
avert
prevent; turn away Example She averted her eyes from the dead cat on the highway.
aviary
enclosure for birds Example The aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds.
avid
greedy; eager for Example He was avid for learning and read everything he could get.
avocation
secondary or minor occupation Example His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation.
avow
declare openly Example I must avow that I am innocent.
avuncular
like an uncle Example Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings.
awe
solemn wonder Example The tourists gazed with awe at the tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon.
awl
pointed tool used for piercing Example She used an awl to punch additional holes in the leather belt she had bought.
awry
distorted; crooked Example He held his head awry, giving the impression that he had caught cold in his neck during the night.
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof Example Before a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certain principles or axioms.
azure
sky blue Example azure skies are indicative of good weather.
babble
chatter idly Example The little girl babbled about her doll.
bacchanalian
drunken Example Emperor Nero attended the bacchanalian orgy.
badger
pester; annoy Example She was forced to change her telephone number because she was badgered by obscene phone calls.
badinage
teasing conversation Example Her friends at work greeted the news of her engagement with cheerful badinage.
baffle
frustrate; perplex Example The new code baffled the enemy agents.
bait
harass; tease Example The soldiers baited the prisoners, terrorizing them.
baleful
menacing; deadly Example Casting a baleful eye at his successful rival, the rejected suitor stole off, vowing to have his revenge.
balk
stoop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue Example The chief of police balked at sending his officers into the riot-torn area.
balk
foil Example When the warden learned that several inmates were planning to escape, he took steps to balk their attempt.
ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weight Example The ship was listing badly to one side; it was necessary to shift the ballast in the hold to get her back on an even keel.
balm
something that relieves pain Example Friendship is the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.
balmy
mild; fragrant Example A balmy breeze refreshed us after the sultry blast.
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite Example His frequent use of cliches made his essay seem banal.
bandy
discuss lightly; exchange blows or words Example The president refused to bandy words with reporters at the press conference.
bane
cause of ruin Example Lack of public transportation is the bane of urban life.
bantering
good-naturedly ridiculing Example They resented his bantering remarks because they misinterpreted his teasing as sarcasm.
barb
sharp projection form fishhook, etc.; pointed comment Example The barb from the fishhook caught in his finger as he grabbed the fish.
bard
poet Example The ancient bard Homer sang of the fall of Troy.
barefaced
shameless; bold; unconcealed Example Shocked by Huck Finn's barefaced lies, Miss Watson prayed the good Lord would give him a sense of his unregenerate wickedness.
baroque
highly ornate Example Accustomed to the severe, angular lines of modern skyscrapers, they found the flamboyance of baroque architecture amusing.
barrage
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion Example The company was forced to retreat through the barrage of heavy canyons.
barrister
counselor-at-law Example Galsworthy started as a barrister, but when he found the practice of law boring, turned to writing.
barterer
trader Example The barterer exchanged trinkets for the natives' furs.
bask
luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth Example basking on the beach, she relaxed so completely that she fell asleep.
bastion
stronghold; something seen as a source of protection Example The villagers fortified the town hall, hoping this improvised bastion could protect them from the guerrila raids.
bate
let down; restrain Example Until it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity.
bauble
trinket; trifle Example The child was delighted with the bauble she had won in the grab bag.
bawdy
indecent; obscene Example She took offense at his bawdy remarks.
beatific
giving bliss; blissful Example The beatific smile on the child's face made us very happy.
beatitude
blessedness; state of bliss Example Growing closer to God each day, the mystic achieved a state of indescribable beatitude.
bedizen
dress with vulgar finery Example The witch doctors were bedizened in their gaudiest costumes.
bedraggle
wet thoroughly Example We were so bedraggled by the severe storm that we had to change into dry clothing.
befuddle
confuse thoroughly Example His attempts to clarify the situation succeeded only on befuddling her further.
beget
father; produce; give rise to Example One good turn may deserve another; it does not necessarily beget another.
begrudge
resent Example I begrudge every minute I have to spend attending meetings.
beguile
amuse; delude; cheat Example I beguiled himself during the long hours by playing solitaire.
behemoth
huge creature; something of monstrous size or power Example Sportcasters nicknamed the linebacker "The Behemoth."
beholden
obligated; indebted Example Since I do not wish to be beholden to anyone, I cannot accept this favor.
behoove
be suited to; be incumbent upon Example In this time of crisis, it behooves all of us to remain calm and await the instructions of our superiors.
belabor
explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally Example The debate coach warned her student not to bore the audience by belaboring his point.
belated
delayed Example He apologized for his belated note of condolence to the widow of his friend and explained that he had just learned of her husband's untimely death.
beleaguer
besiege Example As soon as the city was beleaguered, the life became more subdued as the citizens began their long wait for outside assitance.
belie
contradict; give a false impression Example His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his innate sensitivity.
belittle
disparage; depreciate Example Parents should not belittle their children's early attempts at drawing, but should encourage their efforts.
bellicose
warlike Example His bellicose disposition alienated his friends.
belligerent
quarrelsome Example Whenever he had too much to drink, he became belligerent and tried to pick fights with strangers.
bemused
confused; lost in thought; preoccupied Example Jill studied the garbled instructions with a bemused look on her face.
benediction
blessing Example The appearance of the sun after the many rainy days was like a benediction.
benefactor
gift giver; patron Example Scrooge later became Tiny Tim's benefactor and gave him a benediction.
beneficent
kindly; doing good Example The overgenerous philanthropist had to curb his beneficent impulses before he gave away all his money and left himself with nothing.
beneficiary
person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy Example You may change your beneficiary as often as you wish.
benevolent
generous; charitable Example His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him.
benign
kindly; favorable; not malignant Example The old man was well liked because of his benign attitude toward friend and stranger alike.
benison
blessing Example Let us pray that the benison of peace once more shall prevail among the nations of the world.
bent
determined; natural talent or inclination Example bent on advancing in the business world, the secretary heroine of Working Girl had a true bent for high finance.
bequeath
leave to someone by means of a will; hand down Example In his will, Father bequeathed his watch to Phillip; the bequest meant a great deal to the boy.
berate
scold strongly Example He feared she would berate him for his forgetfulness.
bereavement
state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved Example His friends gathered to console him upon his sudden bereavement.
bereft
deprived of; lacking Example The foolish gambler soon found himself bereft of funds.
berserk
frenzied Example Angered, he went berserk and began to wreck the room.
beset
harass; trouble Example Many problems beset the American public school system.
besmirch
soil, defile Example The scandalous remarks in the newspaper besmirch the reputations of every member of the society.
bestial
beastlike; brutal; inhuman Example The Red Cross sought to put an end to the bestial treatment of prisoners of war.
bestow
confer Example He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.
betroth
become engaged to marry Example The announcement that they had become betrothed surprised their friends who had not suspected any romance.
bevy
large group Example The movie actor was surrounded by a bevy of startlets.
bicameral
two-chambered, as a legislative body Example The United States Congress is a bicameral body.
bicker
quarrel Example The children bickered morning, noon, and night, exasperating their parents.
biennial
every two years Example The group held biennial meetings instead of annual ones.
bifurcated
divided into two branches; forked Example With a bifurcated branch and a piece of elastic rubber, he made a crude but effective slingshot.
bigotry
stubborn intolerance Example Brought up in a democratic atmosphere, student was shocked by the bigotry and narrowness expressed by several of his classmates.
bilious
suffering from indigestion; irritable Example His bilious temperament was apparent to all who heard him rant about his difficulties.
bilk
swindle; cheat Example The con man specialized in bilking insurance companies.
bivouac
temporary encampment Example While in bivouac, we spent the night in our sleeping bags under the stars.
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting Example The plot of the novel was too bizarre to be believed.
blanch
bleach; whiten Example Although age had blanched his hair, he was still vigorous and energetic.
bland
soothing; mild Example She used a bland ointment for her sunburn.
blandishment
flattery Example Despite the salesperson's blandishments, the customer did not buy the outfit.
blase
bored with pleasure or dissipation Example Your blase attitude gives your students an erroneous impression of the joys of scholarship.
blasphemous
profane; impious Example The people in the room were shocked by his his blasphemous language.
blatant
extremely obvious; loudly offensive Example Caught in a blatant lie, the scoundrel had only one regret: he wished that he had lied more subtly.
bleak
cold; cheerless Example The Aleutian Islands are bleak military outposts.
blighted
suffering from a disease; destroyed Example The extent of the blighted areas could be seen only when viewed from the air.
blithe
gay; joyous; careless Example Shelley called the skylark a "blithe spirit" because of its happy song.
bloated
swollen or puffed as with water or air Example Her bloated stomach came from drinking so much water.
blowhard
talkative boaster Example After all Sol's talk about his big show business connections led nowhere, Sally decided he was just another blowhard.
bludgeon
club; heavy-headed weapon Example His walking stick served him as a bludgeon on many occasions.
bluff
pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff Example Claire thought Lord Byron's boast that he would swim the Hellespont was just a bluff, she was astounded when he dove from the high bluff into the waters below.
blunder
error Example The criminal's fatal blunder led to his capture.
blurt
utter impulsively Example Before she could stop him, he blurted out the news.
bode
foreshadow; portend Example The gloomy skies and the sulfurious odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil to those who settled in the area.
bogus
counterfeit; not authentic Example The police quickly found the distributors of the bogus twenty-dollar bills.
boisterous
violent; rough; noisy Example The unruly crowd became even more boisterous when he tried to quiet them.
bolster
support; reinforce Example The debaters amassed file boxes full of evidence to bolster their arguments.
bombast
pompous, inflated language Example Filled with bombast, the orator's speech left the audience more impressed with his pomposity than with his logic.
boon
blessing; benefit Example The recent rains that filled our empty reservoirs were a boon to the whole community.
boorish
rude; insensitive Example Though Mr. Potts constantly interrupted his wife, she ignored his boorish behavior, for she had lost hope of teaching him courtesy.
bouillon
clear beef soup Example The cup of bouillon served by the stewards was welcomed by those who had been chilled by the cold ocean breezes.
bountiful
generous; showing bounty Example She distributed gifts in a bountiful and gracious manner.
bourgeois
middle class Example The French Revolution was inspired by the bourgeois, who resented the aristocracy.
bovine
cowlike; placid and dull Example Nothing excites Esther; even when she won the state lottery, she still preserved her air of bovine calm.
bowdlerize
expurgate Example After the film editors had bowdlerized the language in the script, the motion picture's rating was changed from "R" to "PG."
brackish
somewhat saline Example He found the only wells in the area were brackish; drinking the water made him nauseous.
braggadocio
boasting Example He was disliked because his manner was always full of braggadocio.
braggart
boaster Example Modest by nature, she was no braggart, preferring to let her accomplishments speak for themselves.
bravado
swagger; assumed air of defiance Example The bravado of the young criminal disappeared when he was confronted by the victims of his brutal attack.
brawn
muscular strength; sturdiness Example It takes brawn to become a champion weight-lifter.
brazen
insolent Example Her brazen contempt for authority angered the officials.
breach
breaking of contract or duty; fissure; gap Example They found a breach in the enemy's fortifications and penetrated their lines.
breadth
width; extent Example We were impressed by the breadth of her knowledge.
brevity
conciseness Example brevity is essential when you send a telegram or cablegram; you are charged for every word.
brindled
tawny or grayish with streaks or spots Example He was disappointed in the litter because the puppies were brindled; he had hoped for animals of uniform color.
bristling
rising like bristles; showing irritation Example The dog stood there, bristling with anger.
brittle
easily broken; difficult Example My employer's brittle personality made it difficult for me to get along with her.
broach
open up Example He did not even try to broach the subject of poetry.
brocade
rich, figured fabric Example The sofa was covered with expensive brocade.
brochure
pamphlet Example This brochure on farming was issued by the Department of Agriculture.
brooch
ornamental clasp Example She treasured the brooch because it was an heirloom.
brook
tolerate; endure Example The dean would brook no interference with his disciplinary actions.
browbeat
bully; intimidate Example Billy resisted Ted's attempts to browbeat him into handing over his lunch money.
brusque
blunt; abrupt Example She was offended by his brusque reply.
bucolic
rustic; pastoral Example The meadow was the scene of bucolic gaiety.
buffoonery
clowning Example John Candy's buffoonery in Uncle Buck was hilarious.
bugaboo
bugbear; object of baseless terror Example If we become frightened by such bugaboos, we are no wiser than the birds who fear scarecrows.
bullion
gold and silver in the form of bars Example Much bullion is stored in the vaults at Fort Knox.
bulwark
earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends Example The navy is our principal bulwark against invasion.
bungle
spoil by clumsy behavior Example I was afraid you would bungle his assignment but I had no one else to send.
bureaucracy
government by bureaus Example Many people fear that the constant introduction of federal agencies will create a government by bureaucracy.
burgeon
grow forth; send out buds Example In the spring, the plants that burgeon are a promise of the beauty that is to come.
burlesque
give an imitation that ridicules Example In his caricature, he burlesqued the mannerisms of his adversary.
burly
husky; muscular Example The burly mover lifted the packing crate with ease.
burnish
make shiny by rubbing; polish Example The maid burnished the brass fixtures until they reflected the lamplight.
buttress
support; prop up Example Just as architects buttress the walls of cathedrals with flying buttresses, debates buttress their arguments with facts.
buxom
full-bosomed; plump; jolly Example High fashion models usually are slender rather than buxom.
cabal
small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests Example The cabal was defeated when its scheme was discovered.
cache
hiding place Example The detectives followed the suspects until he led them to the cache where he had stored his loot.
cacophony
discord Example Some people seem to enjoy the cacophony of an orchestra that is tuning up.
cadaver
corpse Example In some states, it is illegal to dissect cadavers.
cadaverous
like a corpse; pale Example From his cadaverous appearance, we could see how the disease had ravaged him.
cadence
rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat Example Marching down the road, the troops sang out, following the cadence set by the sergeant.
cajole
coax; wheedle Example I will not be cajoled into granting your wish.
calamity
disaster; misery Example As news of the calamity spread, offers of relief poured in to the stricken community.
caliber
ability; capacity Example A man of such caliber should not be assigned such menial tasks.
calligraphy
beautiful writing; excellent penmanship Example As we examine ancient manuscripts, we became impressed with the calligraphy of the scribes.
callous
hardened; unfeeling Example He had worked in the hospital for so many years that he was callous to the suffering in the wards.
callow
youthful; immature Example In that youthful movement, the leaders were only a little less callow than their immature followers.
calorific
heat-producing Example Coal is much more calorific than green wood.
calumny
malicious misrepresentation Example He could endure his financial failure, but he could not bear the calumny that his foes heaped upon him.
camaraderie
good-fellowship Example What he loved best about his job was the sense of camaraderie he and his co-workers shared.
cameo
shell or jewel carved in relief Example Tourists are advised not to purchase cameos from the street peddlers of Rome who sell poor specimens of the carver's art.
canard
unfounded rumor Example It is almost impossible to protect oneself from such a base canard.
candor
frankness Example The candor and simplicity of his speech impressed all, it was all clear he held nothing back.
canine
related to dogs; doglike Example Some days the canine population of Berkeley seems almost to outnumber the human population.
canker
any ulcerous sore; any evil Example Poverty is a canker in the body politic; it must be cured.
canny
shrewd; thrifty Example The canny Scotsman was more than a match for the swindlers.
cant
pious phraseology; jargon of criminals Example Angry that the president had slashed the education budget, we dismissed his speech on the importance of education as mere cant.
cantankerous
ill-humored; irritable Example Constantly complaining about his treatment and refusing to cooperate with the hospital staff, he was a cantankerous patient.
cantata
story set to music, to be sung by a chorus Example The choral society sang the new cantata composed by its leader.
canter
slow gallop Example Because the racehorse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the race was won in a canter.
canto
division of a long poem Example Dante's poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy is divided into cantos.
canvass
determine or seek opinions, votes, etc. Example After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident that he represented the majority opinion of his district.
capacious
spacious Example In the capacious areas of the railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting for their train.
capillary
having a very fine bore Example The changes in surface tension of liquids in capillary vessels is of special interest to physicists.
capitulate
surrender Example The enemy was warned to capitulate or face annihilation.
caprice
whim Example She was an unpredictable creature, acting on caprice, never taking thought of the consequences.
capricious
fickle; incalculable Example The storm was capricious and changed course constantly.
caption
title; chapter heading; text under illustration Example I find the captions that accompany these cartoons very clever and humorous.
captious
faultfinding Example His criticisms were always captious and frivolous, never offering constructive suggestions.
carafe
glass water bottle Example With each dinner, the patron receives a carafe of red or white wine.
carapace
shell covering the back (of a turtle, crab, etc) Example At the children's zoo, Richard perched on top of the giant turtle's hard carapace as it slowly made its way around the enclosure.
carat
unit of weight for precious stones; measure of fineness of gold Example He gave her a diamond that weighed three carats and was mounted in an eighteen-carat gold band.
carcinogenic
causing cancer Example Many supposedly harmless substances have been revealed to be carcinogenic.
cardinal
chief Example If you want to increase your word power, the cardinal rule of vocabulary-building is to read.
careen
lurch; sway from side to side Example The taxicab careened wildly as it rounded the corner.
caricature
distortion; burlesque Example The caricatures he drew always emphasized personal weaknesses of the people he burlesqued.
carillon
set of bells capable of being played Example The carillon in the bell tower of the Coca-Cola pavilion at the New York World's Fair provided musical entertainment every hour.
carnage
destruction of life Example The carnage that can be caused by atomic warfare adds to the responsibilities of our statesmen.
carnal
fleshly Example The public was more interested in carnal pleasures than in spiritual matters.
carnivorous
meat-eating Example The lion is a carnivorous animal.
carousal
drunken revel Example The party degenerated into an ugly carousal.
carping
petty criticism; fault-finding Example Welcoming constructive criticism, Lexy appreciated her editor's comments, finding them free of carping.
carrion
rotting flesh of a dead body Example Buzzards are nature's scavengers; they eat the carrion left behind by other predators.
cartographer
map-maker Example Though not a professional cartographer, Tolkien was able to construct a map of the fictional world.
cascade
small waterfall Example We could not appreciate the beauty of the many cascades as we made detours around each of them to avoid getting wet.
caste
one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society, social stratification; prestige Example The differences created by caste in India must be wiped out if true democracy is to prevail in that country.
castigation
punishment; severe criticism Example Sensitive even to mild criticism, Woolf could not bear castigation that she found in certain reviews.
casualty
serious or fatal accident Example The number of automotive casualties on this holiday weekend was high.
cataclysm
deluge; upheaval Example A cataclysm such as the French Revolution affects all countries.
catalyst
agent that brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged Example Many chemical reactions cannot take place without the presence of a catalyst.
catapult
slingshot; hurling machine Example Airplanes are sometimes launched from battleships by catapults.
cataract
great waterfall; eye abnormality Example She gazed with awe at the mighty cataract known as Niagara Falls.
catastrophe
calamity Example The Johnstown flood was a catastrophe.
catechism
book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answer Example He taught by engaging his pupils in a catechism until they gave him the correct answer.
categorical
without exceptions; unqualified; absolute Example Though the captain claimed he was never, never sick at sea, he finally qualified his categorical denial; he was hardly ever sick at sea.
catharsis
purging or cleansing of any passage of the body Example Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a catharsis by purging the soul of base concepts.
cathartic
purgative Example Some drugs act as laxatives when taken in small doses but act as cathartics when taken in much larger doses.
catholic
universal; wide-ranging liberal Example He was extremely catholic in his taste and read everything he could find in the library.
caucus
private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy Example At the opening of Congress the members of the Democratic Party held a caucus to elect the majority leader of the House and the party whip.
caulk
to make watertight (by plugging seams) Example When water from the shower leaked into the basement, we knew it was time to caulk the tiles at the edges of the shower stall.
causal
implying a cause-and-effect relationship Example The psychologist maintained there was a causal relationship between the nature of one's early childhood experiences and one's adult personality.
caustic
burning; sarcastically biting Example The critic's caustic remarks angered the hapless actors who were the subjects of his sarcasm.
cauterize
burn with hot iron or caustic Example In order to prevent infection, the doctor cauterized the wound.
cavalcade
procession; parade Example As described by Chaucer, the cavalcade of Canterbury pilgrims was motley group.
cavalier
casual and offhand; arrogant Example Sensitive about having her ideas taken lightly, Marcia felt insulted by Mark's cavalier dismissal of her suggestion.
cavil
make frivolous objections Example I respect your sensible criticisms, but I dislike the way you cavil about unimportant details.
cede
transfer; yield title to Example I intend to cede this property to the city.
celerity
speed; rapidity Example Hamlet resented his mother's celerity in remarrying within a month after his father's death.
celestial
heavenly Example She spoke of the celestial joys that awaited virtuous souls in the hereafter.
celibate
abstaining from ***ual intercourse; unmarried Example Though the late Havelock Ellis wrote extensively about ***ual customs and was considered an expert in such matters, recent studies maintain he was celibate throughout his life.
censor
overseer of morals; person who eliminates inappropriate matter Example Soldiers dislike having their mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution.
censorious
critical Example censorious people delight in casting blame.
censure
blame; criticize Example He was censured for his inappropriate behavior.
centaur
mythical figure, half man and half horse Example I was particularly impressed by the statue of the centaur in the Roman Hall of the museum.
centigrade
denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius) Example On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing point of water is zero degrees.
centrifugal
radiating; departing from the center Example Many automatic drying machines remove excess moisture from clothing by centrifugal force.
centrifuge
machine that separates substances by whirling them Example At the dairy, we employ a centrifuge to separate cream from milk.
centripetal
tending toward the center Example Does centripetal force or the force of gravity bring orbiting bodies to the earth's surface?
centurion
Roman army officer Example Because he was in command of a company of one hundred soldiers, he was called a centurion.
cerebral
pertaining to the brain or intellect Example The content of philosophical works is cerebral in nature and requires much thought.
cerebration
thought Example Mathematics problems sometimes require much cerebration.
ceremonious
marked by formality Example Ordinary dress would be in appropriate at so ceremonious an affair.
cessation
stopping Example The workers threatened a cessation of all activities if their demands were not met.
cession
yielding to another; ceding Example The cession of Alaska to the United States is discussed in this chapter.
chafe
warm by rubbing Example The collar chafed his neck.
chaff
worthless products of an endeavor Example When you separate the wheat from the chaff, be sure you throw out the chaff.
chaffing
bantering; joking Example Sometimes his flippant and chaffing remarks annoy us.
chagrin
vexation; disappointment Example Her refusal to go with us filled us with chagrin.
chalice
goblet; consecrated cup Example In a small room adjoining the cathedral, many ornately decorated chalices made by the most famous European goldsmiths were on display.
chameleon
lizard that changes color in different situations Example Like the chameleon, he assumed the political coloration of every group he met.
champion
support militantly Example Martin Luther King, Jr., won the Nobel Peace Prize because he championed the oppressed in their struggle for equality.
chaotic
in utter disorder Example He tried to bring order into the chaotic state of affairs.
charisma
divine gift; great popular charm or appeal Example Political commentators have deplored the importance of a candidate's charisma in these days of television campaigning.
charlatan
quack; pretender to knowledge Example When they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get them back to Kansas, Dorothy and her friends were sure they'd been duped by a charlatan.
chary
cautious; sparing or restrained about giving Example A prudent, thrifty New Englander, DeWitt was as chary of investing money in junk bonds as he was chary of paying people unnecessary compliments.
chase
ornament a metal surface by indenting Example With his hammer, he carefully chased an intricate design onto the surface of the chalice.
chasm
abyss Example They could not see the bottom of the chasm.
chassis
framework and working parts of an automobile Example Examining the car after the accident, the owner discovered that the body had been ruined but that the chassis was unharmed.
chaste
pure Example Her chaste and decorous garb was appropriately selected for the solemnity of the occasion.
chasten
discipline; punish in order to correct Example Whom God loves, God chastens.
chastise
punish Example I must chastise you for this offense.
chauvinist
blindly devoted patriot Example A chauvinist cannot recognize any faults in his country, no matter how flagrant they may be.
check
stop motion; curb or restrain Example Thrusting out her arm, Grandma checked Bobby's lunge at his sister. "Young man," she said, "you'd better check your temper."
checkered
marked by changes in fortune Example During his checkered career he had lived in palatial mansions and in dreary boardinghouses.
cherubic
angelic; innocent-looking Example With her cheerful smile and rosy cheeks, she was a particularly cherubic child.
chicanery
trickery Example Your deceitful tactics in this case are indications of chicanery.
chide
scold Example Grandma began to chide Steven for his lying.
chimerical
fantastic; highly imaginative Example Poe's chimerical stories are sometimes too morbid for reading in bed.
chivalrous
courteous; faithful; brave Example chivalrous behavior involves noble words and good deeds.
choleric
hot-tempered Example His flushed, angry face indicated a choleric nature.
choreography
art of dancing Example Martha Graham introduced a form of choreography that seemed awkward and alien to those who had been brought up on classic ballet.
chronic
long established, as a disease Example The doctors were finally able to attribute his chronic headaches and nausea to traces of formaldehyde gas in his apartment.
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order) Example The gossip columnist was paid to chronicle the latest escapades of the socially prominent celebrities.
churlish
boorish; rude Example Dismayed by his churlish manners at the party, the girls vowed never to invite him again.
ciliated
having minute hairs Example The paramecium is a ciliated, one-celled animal.
cipher
nonentity; worthless person or thing Example She claimed her ex-husband was a total cipher and wondered why she had ever married him.
cipher
secret code Example Lacking his code book, the spy was unable to decode the message sent to him in cipher.
circlet
small ring; band Example This tiny circlet is very costly because it is set with precious stones.
circuitous
roundabout Example Because of the traffic congestion on the main highways, she took a circuitous route.
circumlocution
indirect or roundabout expression Example He was afraid to call spade a spade and resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct reference to his subject.
circumscribe
limit; confine Example Although I do not wish to circumscribe your activities, I must insist that you complete this assignment before you start anything else.
circumspect
prudent; cautious Example Investigating before acting, she tried always to be circumspect.
circumvent
outwit; baffle Example In order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign.
citadel
fortress Example The citadel overlooked the city like a protecting angel.
cite
quote; commend Example She could cite passages in the Bible from memory.
civil
having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and polite Example Although internal Revenue Service agents are civil servants, they are not always civil to suspected tax evaders.
clairvoyant
having foresight; fortuneteller Example Cassandra's clairvoyant warning was not heeded by the Trojans.
clamber
climb by crawling Example She clambered over the wall.
clamor
noise Example The clamor of the children at play outside made it impossible for her to take a nap.
clandestine
secret Example After avoiding their chaperon, the lovers had a clandestine meeting.
clangor
loud, resounding noise Example The blacksmith was accustomed to the clangor of hammers on steel.
clapper
striker (tongue) of a bell Example Wishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale wound his scarf around the clapper to muffle its striking.
clarion
shrill, trumpetlike sound Example We woke to the clarion to muffle its striking.
claustrophobia
fear of being locked in Example His fellow classmates laughed at his claustrophobia and often threatened to lock him in his room.
clavicle
collarbone Example Even though he wore shoulder pads, the football player broke his clavicle during a practice scrimmage.
cleave
split asunder Example The lightening cleaves the tree in two.
cleft
split Example Erosion caused a cleft in the huge boulder.
clemency
disposition ot be lenient; mildness, as of the weather Example The lawyer was pleased when the case was sent to Judge Smith's chambers because Smith was noted for her clemency toward first offenders.
cliche
phrase culled in meaning by repetition Example High school compositions are often marred by such cliches as "strong as an ox."
clientele
body of customers Example The rock club attracted a young, stylish clientele.
climactic
relating to the highest point Example When he reached the climactic portions of the book, he could not stop reading.
clime
region; climate Example His doctors advised him to move to a milder clime.
clique
small, exclusive group Example She charged that a clique had assumed control of school affairs.
cloister
monastery or convent Example The nuns lived in the cloister.
clout
great influence (especially political or social) Example Gatsby wondered whether he had enough clout to be admitted to the exclusive club.
cloying
distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental Example Disliking the cloying sweetness of standard wedding cakes, Jody and Tom chose a homemade carrot cake for their reception.
coagulate
thicken; congeal; clot Example Even after you remove the pudding from the burner, it will continue to coagulate as it stands.
coalesce
combine; fuse Example The brooks coalesce into one large river.
coda
concluding section of a musical or literary composition Example The piece concluded with a distinctive coda that strikingly brought together various motifs.
coddle
treat gently; pamper Example Don't coddle the children to much; they need a taste of discipline.
codicil
supplement to the body of a will Example This codicil was drawn up five years after the writing of the original will.
codify
arrange (laws, rules) as a code; classify Example We need to take the varying rules and regulations of the different health agencies and codify them into a national health code.
coercion
use of force Example They forced him to obey, but only by great coercion.
coeval
living at the same time as; contemporary Example coeval with the dinosaur, the pterodactyl flourished during the Mesozoic era.
cog
tooth projecting from a wheel Example A bicycle chain moves through a series of cogs in order to propel the bike.
cogent
convincing Example She presented cogent arguments to the jury.
cogitate
think over Example cogitate on this problem; the solution will come.
cognate
related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature Example The English word "mother" cognate to the Latin word "mater," whose influence is visible in the words "maternal" and "maternity."
cognitive
having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental precesses Example Though Jack was emotionally immature, his cognitive development was admirable; he was very advanced intellectually.
cognizance
knowledge Example During the election campaign, the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the international situation.
cohere
stick together Example Solids have a greater tendency to cohere than liquids.
cohesion
tendency to keep together Example A firm believer in the maxim "Divide and conquer," the emperor, by lies and trickery, sought to disrupt the cohesion ofthe free nations.
cohorts
armed band Example Caesar and his Roman cohorts conquered almost all of the known world.
coiffure
hairstyle Example You can make a statement with your choice of coiffure: in the 60's many African-Americans affirmed their racial heritage by wearing their hair in Afros.
coincident
occurring at the same time Example Some people find the coincident events in Hardy's novels annoyingly improbable.
colander
utensil with perforated bottom used for straining Example Before serving the spaghetti, place it in a colander to drain it.
collaborate
work together Example Two writers collaborated in preparing this book.
collage
work of art put together from fragments Example Scraps of cloth, paper doilies, and old photographs all went into her collage.
collate
examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order Example They collated the newly found manuscripts to determine their age.
collateral
security given for loan Example The sum you wish to borrow is so large that it must be secured by collateral.
collation
a light meal Example Tea sandwiches and cookies were offered at the collation.
colloquial
pertaining to conversational or common speech Example Your use of colloquial expressions in a formal essay such as the one you have presented spoils the effect you hope to achieve.
colloquy
informal discussion Example I enjoy our colloquies but I sometimes wish that they could be made more formal and more searching.
collusion
conspiring in a fraudulent scheme Example The swindlers were found guilty of collusion.
colossal
huge Example Radio City Music Hall has a colossal stage.
colossus
gigantic statue Example The legendary Colossus of Rhodes, bronze statue of the sun god that dominated the harbor of the Greek seaport, was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
comatose
in a coma; extremely sleepy Example The long-winded orator soon had his audience in a comatose state.
combustible
easily burned Example After the recent outbreak of fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all combustible materials be kept in safe containers.
comely
attractive; agreeable Example I would rather have a poor and comely wife than a rich and homely one.
comestible
something fit to be eaten Example The roast turkey and other comestibles, the wines, and the excellent service made this Thanksgiving dinner particularly memorable.
comeuppance
rebuke; deserts Example After his earlier rudeness, we were delighted to see him get his comeuppance.
comity
courtesy; civility Example A spirit of comity should exist among nations.
commandeer
to draft for military purposes; to take for public use Example The policeman commandeered the first car that approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearest hospital.
commemorative
remembering; honoring Example The new commemorative stamp honors the late Martin Luther King, Jr.
commensurate
equal in extent Example Your reward will be commensurate with your effort.
commiserate
feel or express pity or sympathy for Example Her friends commiserated with the widow.
commodious
spacious and comfortable Example After sleeping in a small roadside cabins, they found their hotel suite commodious.
communal
held in common; of a group of people Example When they were divorced, they had trouble dividing their communal property.
compact
agreement; contract Example The signers of the Mayflower Compact were establishing a form of government.
compact
tightly packed; firm; brief Example His short, compact body was better suited to wrestling than to basketball.
compatible
harmonious; in harmony with Example They were compatible neighbors, never quarreling over unimportant matters.
compelling
overpowering; irresistible in effect Example The prosecutor presented a well-reasoned case, but the defense attorney's compelling arguments for leniency won over the jury.
compendium
brief, comprehensive summary Example This text can serve as a compendium of the tremendous amount of new material being developed in this field.
compensatory
making up for; repaying Example Can a compensatory education program make up for the inadequate schooling he received in earlier years?
compilation
listing of statistical information in tabular or book form Example The compilation of available scholarships serves a very valuable purpose.
complacent
self-satisfied Example There was a complacent look on his face as he examined his paintings.
complaisant
trying to please; obliging Example The courtier obeyed the king's orders in a complaisant manner.
complement
complete; consummate; make perfect Example The waiter recommended a glass of port to complement the cheese.
compliance
conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield Example The design for the new school had to be in compliance with the local building code.
compliant
yielding Example He was compliant and ready to go along with his friends' desires.
complicity
participation; involvement Example You cannot keep your complicity in this affair secret very long; you would be wise to admit your involvement immediately.
component
element; ingredient Example I wish all the components of my stereo system were working at the same time.
comport
bear one's self; behave Example He comported himself with great dignity.
composure
mental calmness Example Even the latest work crisis failed to shake her composure.
compound
combine; constitute; pay interest; increase Example The makers of the popular cold remedy compounded a nasal decongestant with an antihistamine.
comprehensive
thorough; inclusive Example This book provides a comprehensive review of verbal and math skills for the SAT.
compress
close; squeeze; contract Example She compressed the package under her arm.
comprise
include; consist of Example If the District of Columbia were to be granted a statehood, the United States of America would comprise fifty-onestates, not just fifty.
compromise
adjust; endanger the interests or reputation of Example Your presence at the scene of the dispute compromises our claim to neutrality in this matter.
compunction
remorse Example The judge was especially severe in this sentencing because he felt that the criminal had shown no compunction for his heinous crime.
compute
reckon; calculate Example He failed to compute the interest, so his bank balance was not accurate.
concatenate
link as in a chain Example It is difficult to understand how these events could concatenate as they did without outside assistance.
concave
hollow Example The back-packers found partial shelter from the storm by huddling against the concave wall of the cliff.
concede
admit; hield Example Despite all the evidence Monica had assembled, Mark refused to concede that she was right.
conceit
whimsical idea; extravagant metaphor Example He was an entertaining companion, always expressing himself in amusing conceits and witty turns of phrase.
concentric
having a common center Example The target was made of concentric circles.
conception
beginning; forming of a idea Example At the first conception of the work, he was consulted.
concerted
mutually agreed on; done together Example The girl scouts in the troop made a concerted effort to raise funds for their annual outing, and emitted a concerted sigh when their leader announced that they had reached their goal.
concession
an act of yielding Example Before they could reach an agreement, both sides had to make certain concessions.
conciliatory
reconciling; soothing Example She was still angry despite his conciliatory words.
concise
brief and compact Example When you define a new word, be concise; the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember.
conclave
private meeting Example He was present at all their conclaves as an unofficial observer.
conclusive
decisive; ending all debate Example When the stolen books turned up in John's locker, we finally had conclusive evidence of the identity of the mysterious thief.
concoct
prepare by combining; make up in concert Example How did the inventive chef ever concoct such strange dish?
concomitant
that which accompanies Example Culture is not always a concomitant of wealth.
concord
harmony Example Watching Tweediedum and Tweedledee battle, Alice wondered why the two brothers could not manage to life in concord.
concur
agree Example Did you concur with the decision of the court or did you find it unfair?
concurrent
happening at the same time Example In America, the colonists were resisting the demands of the mother contry; at the concurrent moment in France, the middle class was sowing the seeds of rebellion.
condescend
bestow courtesies with a superior air Example The king condescended to grant an audience to the friends of the condemned man.
condign
adequate; deservedly severe Example The public approved the condign punishment for the crime.
condiments
seasonings; spices Example Spanish food is full of condiments.
condole
express sympathetic sorrow Example His friends gathered to condole with him over his loss.
condone
overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse Example Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold.
conducive
helpful; contributive Example Rest and proper diet are conducive to good health.
conduit
aqueduct; passageway for fluids Example Water was brought to the army in the desert by an improvised conduit from the adjoining mountain.
confidant
trusted friend Example He had no confidants with whom he could discuss his problems at home.
confiscate
seize; commandeer Example The army confiscated all available supplies of uranium.
conflagration
great fire Example In the conflagration that followed the 1906 earthquake, much of San Francisco was destroyed.
confluence
flowing together; crowd Example They built the city at the confluence of two rivers.
conformity
harmony; agreement Example In conformity with our rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization.
confound
confuse; puzzle Example No mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes for long.
congeal
freeze; coagulate Example His blood congealed in his veins as he saw the dread monster rush toward him.
congenial
pleasant; friendly Example My father loved to go out for a meal with congenial companions.
congenital
existing at birth Example His congenital deformity disturbed his parents.
conglomeration
mass of material sticking together Example In such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was impossible to find a single area of analysis.
congruence
correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship Example The student demonstrated the congruence of the two triangles by using the hypotenuse-arm theorem.
conifer
pine tree; cone-bearing tree Example According to geologists, the conifers were the first plants to bear flowers.
conjecture
surmise; guess Example I will end all your conjectures; I admit I am guilty as charged.
conjugal
pertaining to marriage Example Their dreams of conjugal bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed.
conjure
summon a devil; proactive magic; imagine; invent Example He conjured up an image of a reformed city and had the voters completely under his spell.
connivance
pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend Example With the connivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher.
connoisseur
person competent to act as judge of art, ect.; a lover of an art Example She had developed into a connoisseur of fine china.
connotation
suggested or implied meaning of an expression Example Foreigners frequently are unaware of the connotations of the words they use.
connubial
pertaining to maffige or the matrimonial state Example In his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of connubial bliss.
consanguinity
kinship Example The lawsuit developed into a test of the consanguinity of the claimant to the estate.
conscientious
scrupulous; careful Example A conscientious editor checked every definition for its accuracy.
conscript
draftee; person forced into military service Example Did Rambo volunteer to fight in Vietnam, or was he a conscript, drafted against his will?
consecrate
dedicate; sanctify Example We shall consecrate our lives to this noble purpose.
consensus
general agreement Example The consensus indicates that we are opposed to entering into this pact.
consequential
pompous; self-important Example Convinced of his own importance, the actor strutted about the dressing room with a consequential air.
conservatory
school of the fine arts (especiallymusic or drama) Example A gifted violinist, Marya was selected to study at the conservatory.
consign
deliver officially; entrust; set apart Example The court consigned the child to her paternal grandmother's care.
consistency
absence of contradictions; dependability; uniformity; degree of thickness Example Holmes judged puddings and explanations on their consistency; he liked his puddings without lumps and his explanations without improbabilities.
console
lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort Example When her father died, Marius did his best to console Cosette.
consonance
harmony; agreement Example Her agitation seemed out of consonance with her usual calm.
consort
associate with Example We frequently judge people by the company with whom they consort.
consort
husband or wife Example The search for a consort for the young Queen Victoria ended happily.
conspiracy
treacherous plot Example Brutus and Cassius joined in the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar.
constituent
supporter Example The congressman received hundreds of letters from angry constituents after the Equal Rights Amendment failed to pass.
constraint
compulsion; repression of feelings Example There was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one dared to criticize the speaker.
construe
explain; interpret Example If I construe your remarks correctly, you disagree with the theory already advanced.
consummate
complete Example I have never seem anyone who makes as many stupid errors as you do; you must be a consummate idiot.
contagion
infection Example Fearing contagion, they took drastic steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
contaminate
pollute Example The sewage system of the city so contaminated the water that swimming was forbidden.
contempt
scorn; disdain Example Even if you feel superior to others, it is unwise to show your contempt for them.
contend
struggle; compete; assert earnestly Example In Revolt of the Black Athlete, sociologist Harry Edwards contends that young black athletes have been exploited by some college recruiters.
contentious
quarrelsome Example We heard loud and contentious noises in the next room.
contest
dispute Example The defeated candidate attempted to contest the election results.
context
writings preceding and following the passage quoted Example Because these lines are taken out of context, they do not convey the message the author intended.
contiguous
adjacent to; touching upon Example The two countries are contiguous for a few miles; then they are separated by the gulf.
continence
self-restraint; ***ual chastity Example She vowed to lead a life of continence.
contingent
conditional Example The continuation of this contract is contingent on the quality of your first output.
contortions
twistings; distortions Example As the effects of the opiate wore away, the contortions of the patient became more violent and demonstrated how much pain she was enduring.
contraband
illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods Example The coast guard tries to prevent contraband in U.S. waters.
contravene
contradict; oppose: infringe on or transgress Example Mr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth to contravene his will by eloping with Robert Browning.
contrite
penitent Example Her contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence.
contrived
forced; artificial; not spontaneous Example Feeling ill at ease with his new in-laws; James made a few contrived attempts at conversation and then retreated into silence.
controvert
oppose with arguments; contradict Example To controvert your theory will require much time but it is essential that we disprove it.
contumacious
disobedient; resisting authority Example The contumacious mob shouted defiantly at the police.
contusion
bruise Example She was treated for contusions and abrasions.
conundrum
riddle; difficult problem Example During the long car ride, she invented conundrums to entertain the children.
convene
assemble Example Because much is needed legislation had to be enacted, the governor ordered the legislature to convene in special session by January 15.
convention
social or moral custom; established practice Example Flying in the face of convention, George Sand (Amandine Dudevant) shocked her contemporaries by taking lovers and wearing men's clothes.
conventional
ordinary; typical Example His conventional upbringing left him wholly unprepared for his wife's eccentric family.
converge
come together Example Marchers converged on Washington for the great Save Our Cities-Save Our Children March.
conversant
familiar with Example The lawyer is conversant with all the evidence.
converse
opposite Example The inevitable converse of peace is not war but annihilation.
convert
one who has adopted a different religion or opinion Example On his trip to Japan, though the President spoke at length about the merits of American automobiles, he made few converts to his beliefs.
convex
curving outward Example He polished the convex lens of his telescope.
conveyance
vehicle; transfer Example During the transit strike, commuters used various kinds of conveyances.
conviction
strongly held belief Example Nothing could shake his conviction that she was innocent.
convivial
festive; gay; characterized by joviality Example The convivial celebrators of the victory sang their college songs.
convoke
call together Example Congress was convoked at the outbreak of the emergency.
convoluted
coiled around; involved; intricate Example His argument was so convoluted that few of us could follow a it intelligently.
copious
plentiful Example She had copious reasons for rejecting the proposal.
coquette
flirt Example Because she refused to give him an answer to his proposal of marriage, he called her a coquette.
cordial
gracious; heartfelt Example Our hosts greeted us at the airport with a cordial welcome and a hearty hug.
cordon
extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress Example The police cordon was so tight that the criminals could not leave the area.
cornice
projecting molding on building (usually above columns) Example Because the stones forming the cornice had been loosened by the storms, the police closed the building until repairs could be made.
cornucopia
horn overflowing wiht fruit and grain; symbol of abundance Example The encyclopedia salesman claimed the new edition was a veritable cornucopia of information, an inexhaustible source of knowledge for the entire family.
corollary
consequence; accompaniment Example Brotherly love is a complex emotion, with a sibling rivalry its natural corollary.
corporeal
bodily; material Example He was not a churchgoer; he was interested only in corporeal matters.
corpulent
very fat Example The corpulent man resolved to reduce.
correlation
mutual relationship Example He sought to determine the correlation that existed between ability in algebra and ability to interpret reading exercises.
corroborate
confirm Example Unless we find a witness to corroborate your evidence, it will not stand up in court.
corrosive
eating away by chemicals or disease Example Stainless steel is able to withstand the effects of corrosive chemicals.
corrugated
wrinkled; ridged Example She wished she could smooth away the wrinkles from his corrugated brow.
cosmic
pertaining to the universe; vast Example cosmic rays derive their name from the fact that they bombard the earth's atmosphere from outer space.
coterie
group that meets socially; select circle Example After his book had been published, he was invited to join the literary coteri that lunched daily at the hotel.
countenance
approve; tolerate Example He refused to countenance such rude behavior on their part.
countenance
face Example Whe Jose saw his newborn daughter, a proud smile spread across his countenance.
countermand
cancel; revoke Example The general countermand the orders issued in his absence.
counterpart
a thing that completes another; things very much alike Example Night and day are counterparts.
coup
highly successful action or sudden attack Example As the news of his coup spread throughout Wall Street, his fellow brokers dropped by to congratulate him.
couple
join; unite Example The Flying Karamazovs couple expert juggling and amateur joking in their nightclub act.
courier
messenger Example The publisher sent a special courier to pick up the manuscript.
covenant
agreement Example We must comply with the terms of the covenant.
covert
secret; hidden; implied Example She could understand the covert threat in the letter.
covetous
avaricious; eagerly desirous of Example The child was covetous by nature and wanted to take the toys belonging to his classmates.
cow
terrorize; intimidate Example The little boy was so cowed by the hulking bully that he gave up his lunch money without a word of protest.
cower
shrink quivering, as from fear Example The frightened child cowered in the corner of the room.
coy
shy; modest; coquettish Example She was coy in her answers to his offer.
cozen
cheat; hoodwink; swindle Example He was the kind of individual who would cozen his friends in a cheap card game but remain eminently ethical in all his business dealings.
crabbed
sour; peevish Example The children avoided the crabbed old man because he scolded them when they made noise.
crass
very unrefined; grossly insensible Example The philosophers deplored the crass commercialism.
craven
cowardly Example When he saw the enemy troops advancing, he had a craven impulse to run for his life.
credence
belief Example Do not place any credence in his promises.
credo
creed Example I believe we may best describe his credo by saying that it approximates the Goldren Rule.
credulity
belief on slight evidence Example The witch doctor took advantage of the credulity of the superstitious natives.
creed
system of religious or ethical belief Example In any loyal American's creed, love of democracy must be emphasized.
crescendo
increase in the volume or intensity, as in a musical passage; climax Example The overture suddenly changed from a quiet pastoral theme to a crescendo featuring blaring trumpets and clashing cymbols.
crestfallen
dejected; dispirited Example We were surprised at his reaction to the failure of his project; instead of being crestfallen, he was busily engaged in planning new activities.
crevice
crack; fissure Example The mountain climbers found footholds in the tiny crevices in the mountainside.
cringe
shrink back, as if in fear Example The dog cringed, expecting a blow.
criteria
standards used in judging Example What criteria did you use when you selected this essay as the prize winner?
crone
hag Example The toothless crone frightened us when she smiled.
crotchety
eccentric; whimsical Example Although he was reputed to be a crochety old gentleman, I found his ideas substantially sound and sensible.
crux
crucial point Example This is the crux of the entire problem.
crypt
secret recess or vault usually used for burial Example Until recently only bodies of rulers and leading statesmen were interred in this crypt.
cryptic
mysterious; hidden; secret Example His cryptic remarks could not be interpreted.
cubicle
small chamberused for sleeping Example After his many hours of intensive study in the library he retired to his cubicle.
cuisine
style of cooking Example French cuisine is noted for its use of sauces and wines.
culinary
relating to cooking Example Many chefs attribute their culinary skill to the wise use of spices.
cull
pick out; reject Example Every month the farmer culls the nonplaying hens from his flock and sells them to the local butcher.
culmination
attainment of highest point Example His inauguration as President of the United States marked the culmination of his political career.
culpable
deserving blame Example Corrupt politicians who condone the activities of the gamblers are equally culpable.
culvert
artificial channel for water Example If we build a culvert under the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of the road's being flooded during the rainy season.
cumbersome
heavy; hard to manage Example He was burdened down with cumbersome parcels.
cumulative
growing by addition Example Vocabulary building is a cumulative process: as you go through your flash cards, you will add new words to your vocabulary, one by one.
cupidity
greed Example The defeated people could not satisfy the cupidity of the conquerors, who demanded excessive tribute.
curator
superintendent; manager Example The members of the board of trustees of the museum expected the new curator to plan events and exhibitions that would make the museum more popular.
curmudgeon
churlish, miserly individual Example Although he was regarded by many as a curmudgeon, a few of us were aware of the many kindnesses and acts of charity that he secretly performed.
cursive
flowing, running Example In normal writing we run our letters together in cursive form; in printing, we separate the letters.
cursory
casual; hastily done Example A cursory examination of the ruins indicates the possibility of arson; a more extensive study should be undertaken.
curtail
shorten; reduce Example During the coal shortage, we must curtail our use of this vital commodity.
cynical
skeptical or distrustful of human motives Example cynical at all times, he was suspicious of all altruistic actions of others.
cynosure
object of general attention Example As soon as the movie star entered the room, she became the cynosure of all eyes.
consternation
anxiety, dismay Example Lincoln is famous for saying that the consternations during the civil war had left him decrepit.
casual
accidental; not regular or permanent; careless; informal Example It can be argued that physical laws can be casual as well as inveterate, since it is based on an induction.
dais
raised platform for guests of honor Example When he approached the dais, he was greeted by cheers from the people who had come to honor him.
dally
trifle with; procrastinate Example Laertes told Ophelia that Hamlet could only dally with her affections.
dank
damp Example The walls of the dungeon were dank and slimy.
dapper
neat and trim Example In "The Odd Couple," Tony Randall played Fe*** Unger, an excessively dapper soul who could not stand to have a hair out of place.
dappled
spotted Example The sunlight filtering though the screens created a dappled effect on the wall.
daub
smear (as with paint) Example From the way he daubed his paint on the canvas, I could tell he knew nothing of oils.
daunt
intimidate Example Your threats cannot daunt me.
dauntless
bold Example Despite the dangerous nature of the undertaking, the dauntless soldier volunteered for the assignment.
dawdle
loiter; waste time Example Inasmuch as we must meet a deadline, do not dawdle over this work.
deadlock
standstill; stalemate Example The negotiations had reached a deadlock.
deadpan
wooden; impassive Example We wanted to see how long he could maintain his deadpan expression.
dearth
scarcity Example The dearth of skilled labor compelled the employers to open trade schools.
debacle
breaking up; downfall Example This debacle in the government can only result in anarchy.
debase
reduce to lower state Example Do not debase youself by becoming maudlin.
debauch
corrupt; make intemperate Example A vicious newspaper can debauch public ideals.
debilitate
weaken; enfeeble Example Overindulgence debilitates character as well as physical stamina.
debonair
friendly; aiming to please Example The debonair youth was liked by all who met him, because of his cheerful and obliging manner.
debris
rubble Example A full year after the earthquake in Mexico City, workers were still carting away the debris.
debunk
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule Example Pointing out that he conhsistently had voted afainst strenghtening antipollution legislation, reporters debunked the candidate's claim that he was a fervent environmentalist.
debutante
yound woman making formal entrance into society Example As a debutante, she was often mentioned in the society columns of the newspapers.
decadence
decay Example The moral decadence of the people was reflected in the lewd literature of the period.
decant
pour off gently Example Be sure to decant this wine before serving it.
decapitate
behead Example They did not hang Lady Jane Grey; they decapitated her.
decelerate
slow down Example Seeing the emergency blinkers in the road ahead, he decelerated quickly.
deciduous
falling off, as of leaves Example The oak is a deciduous tree.
decimate
kill, usually one out of ten Example We do more to decimate our population in automobile accidents than we do in war.
decipher
decode Example I could not decipher the doctor's handwriting.
declivity
downward slope Example The children loved to ski down the declivity.
decollete
having a low-cut neckline Example Fashion decrees that evening gowns be decollete this season; bare shoulders are again the vogue.
decomposition
decay Example Despite the body's advanced state of decomposition, the police were able to identify the murdered man.
decorum
propriety; seemliness Example Shocked by the unruly behavior, the teacher criticized the class for its lack of decorum.
decoy
lure or bait Example The wild ducks were not fooled by the decoy.
decrepitude
state of collagse caused by illness or old age Example I was unprepared for the state of decrepitude in which I had found my old friend; he seemed to have aged twenty years in six months.
decry
express strong disapproval of ; disparage Example The founder of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, strongly decries the lack of financial and moral support for children in America today.
deducible
derived byreasoning Example If we accept your premise, your conclusions are easily deducible.
deface
mar; disfigure Example If you deface a library book, you will have to pay a hefty fine.
defamation
harming a person's reputation Example Such defamation of character may result in a slander suit.
default
failure to do Example As a result of her husband's failure to appear in court, she was granted a divorce by default.
defeatist
resigned to defeat; accepting defeat as a natural outcome Example If you maintain your defeatist attitude, you will never succeed.
defection
desertion Example The children, who had made him an idol, were hurt most by his defection from our cause.
deference
courteous regard for another's wish Example In deference to his desires, the employers granted him a holiday.
defile
pollute; profane Example The hoodlums defiled the church with their scurrilous writing.
definitive
most reliable or complee Example Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln may be regarded as the definitive work on the life of the Great Emancipator.
deflect
turn aside Example His life was saved when his cigarette case deflected the bullet.
defoliate
destroy leaves Example In Vietnam the army made extensive use of chemical agents to defoliate the woodlands.
defray
provide ofr the payment of Example Her employer offered to defray the costs of her postgraduate education.
defrock
to strip a priest or minister of church authority Example We knew the minister had violated church regulations, but we had not realized his offense was serious enough to cause him to be defrocked.
deft
neat; skillful Example The deft waiter uncorked the champagne without spilling a drop.
defunct
dead; no longer in use or existence Example The lawyers sought to examine the books of the defunct corporation.
degenerate
become worse; deteriorate Example As the fight dragged on, the champion's style degenerated until he could barely keep on his feet.
degraded
lowered in rank; debased Example The degraded wretch spoke only of his past glories and honors.
dehydrate
remove water from; dry out Example Vigorous dancing quickly dehydrates the body; between dances, be sure to drink more water than normal.
deify
turn into a god; idolize Example Admire the rock star all you want; just don't deify him.
deign
condescend Example He felt that he would debase himself if he deigned to answer his critics.
delete
erase; strike out Example If you delete this paragraph, the composition will have more appeal.
deleterious
harmful Example Workers in nuclear research must avoid the deleterious effects of radioactive substances.
deliberate
consider; ponder; unhurried Example Offered the new job, she asked for time to deliberate before she made her decision.
delineate
portray Example He is weakest when he attempts to delineate character.
delirium
mental disorder marked by confusion Example The drunkard in his delirium saw strange animals.
delta
flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river Example His dissertation discussed the effect of intermittent flooding on the fertility of the Nile delta.
delude
deceive Example Do not delude yourself into believing that he will relent.
deluge
flood; rush Example When we advertised the position, we received a deluge of applications.
delusion
false belief; hallucination Example This scheme is a snare and a delusion.
delusive
deceptive; raising vain hopes Example Do not raise your hopes on the basis of his delusive promises.
delve
dig; investigate Example delving into old books and manuscripts is part of a researcher's job.
demagogue
person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader Example He was accused of being a demogogue because he made promises that aroused futile hopes in his listeners.
demean
degrade; humiliate Example He felt that he would demean himself if he replied to the scurrilous letter.
demeanor
behavior; bearing Example His sober demeanor quieted the noisy revelers.
demented
insane Example She became increasingly demented and had to be hospitalized.
demise
death Example Upon the demise of the dictator, a bitter dispute about succession to power developed.
demographic
related to population balance Example In conducting a survey, one should take into account demographic trends in the region.
demolition
destruction Example One of the major aims of the air force was the complete demolition of all means of transportation by the bombing of rail lines and the terminals.
demoniac
fiendish Example The Spanish Inquisition devised many demoniac means of torture.
demotic
pertaining to the people Example He lamented the passing of aristocratic society and maintained that a demotic society would lower the nation's standards.
demur
delay; object Example To demur at this time will only worsen the already serious situation; now is the time for action.
demure
grave; serius; coy Example She was demure and reserved.
denigrate
blacken Example All attempts to denigrate the character of our late President have failed; the people still love him and cherish his memory.
denizen
inhabitant of Example Ghosts are denizens of the land of the dead who return to earth.
denotation
meaning; distinguishing by name Example A dictionary will always give us the denotation of a word; frequently, it will always give us its connotation.
denouement
outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work Example The play was childishly written; the denouement was obvious to sophisticated theatergoers as early as the middle of the first act.
denounce
condemn; critcize Example The reform candidate denounced the corrupt city officers for having betrayed the public's trust.
depict
portray Example In this book, the author depicts the slave owners as kind and benevolent masters.
deplete
reduce; exhaust Example We must wait until we deplete our present inventory before we order replacements.
deplore
regret Example Although I deplore the vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express yourself freely.
deploy
move troops so that the battle line is extended at the expense of depth Example The general ordered the battalion to deploy in order to meet the offensive of the enemy.
depose
dethrone; remove form office Example The army attempted to depose the king and set up a military government.
deposition
testimony under oath Example He made his deposition in the judge's chamber.
depravity
corruption; wickedness Example The depravity of the tyrant's behavior shocked us all.
deprecate
express disapproval of; protest against; belittle Example A firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy, Miss Post deprecated the modern tendency to address new acquaintances by their first names.
depreciate
lessen in value Example If you neglect this properly, it will depreciate.
depredation
plundering Example After the depredations of the invaders, the people were penniless.
deranged
insane Example He had to be institutionalized because he was deranged.
derelict
neglectful of duty; abandoned Example The corporal who fell asleep while on watch was thrown into the guardhouse for being derelic in his duty.
deride
scoff at Example The people derided his grandiose schemes.
derision
ridicule Example They greeted his proposal with derision and refused to consider it seriously.
derivative
unoriginal; obtained from another source Example Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature, the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice.
dermatologist
one who studies the skin and its diseases Example I advise you to consult a dermatologist about your acne.
derogatory
expressing a low opinion Example I resent your derogatory remarks.
descry
catch sight of Example In the distance, we could barely descry the enemy vessels.
desecrate
profane; violate the sanctity of Example The soldiers desecrated the temple.
desiccate
dry up Example A tour of this smokehouse will give you an idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate food in order to preserve it.
desolate
rob of joy; lay waste to; forsake Example The bandits desolated the countryside, burning farms and carrying off the harvest.
desperado
reckless outlaw Example Butch Cassidy was a bold desperado with a price on his head.
despicable
contemptible Example Your despicable remarks call for no reply.
despise
scorn Example I despise your attempts at a reconciliation at this time and refuse to meet you.
despoil
plunder Example If you do not yield, I am afraid the enemy will despoil the countryside.
despondent
depressed; gloomy Example To the dismay of his parents, he became more and more depondent every day.
despotism
tyranny Example The people rebelled against the despotism of the king.
destitute
extremely poor Example The costs of the father's illness left the family destitute.
desultory
aimless; haphazard; digressing at random Example In prison Malcolm X set himself the task of reading straight through the dictionary; to him reading was purposeful, not desultory.
detached
emotionally removed; calm and objective; indifferent Example A psychoanalyst must maintain a detached point of view and stay uninvolved with her patients' perssonal lives.
determinate
having a fixed order of procedure; invariable Example At the royal wedding, the procession of the nobles followed a determinate order of precedence.
deterrent
something that discourages; hindrance Example Does the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers?
detonation
explosion Example The detonation of the bomb could be heard miles away.
detraction
slandering; aspersion Example He is offended by your frequent detractions of his ability as a leader.
detrimental
harmful; damaging Example Your acceptance of her support will ultimately prove detrimental rather than helpful to your cause.
deviate
turn away from Example Do not deviate from the truth; you must face the facts.
devious
going astray; erratic Example Your devious behavior in this matter puzzles me since you are usually direct and straightforward.
devoid
lacking Example He was devoid of any personal desire for gain in his endeavor to secure improvement in the community.
devolve
deputize; pass to others Example It devolved upon us, the survivors, to arrange peace terms with the enemy.
devotee
enthusiastic follower Example A devotee of the opera, he bought season tickets every year.
devout
pious Example The devout man prayed daily.
dexterous
skillful Example The magician was so dexterous that we could not follow his movements as he performed his tricks.
diabolical
devilish Example This scheme is so diabolical that I must reject it.
diadem
crown Example The king's diadem was on display at the museum.
dialectic
art of debate Example I am not skilled in dialectic and therefore, cannot answer your arguments as forcefully as I wish.
diaphanous
sheer; transparent Example They saw the burglar clearly through the diaphanous curtain.
diatribe
bitter scolding; invective Example During the lengthy diatribe delivered by his opponent he remained calm and self-controlled.
dichotomy
branching into two parts Example The dichotomy of our legislative system provides us with many safeguards.
dictum
arthoritative and weighty statement Example She repeated the statement as though it were the dictum of the most expert worker in the group.
didactic
teaching; instructional; preaching or moralizing Example The didactic qualities of his poetry overshadow its literary qualities; the lesson he teaches is more memorable than the lines.
die
device for stamping or impressing; mold Example In coining pennies, workers at the old mint squeezed sheets of softened copper between two dies.
diffidence
shyness Example You must overcome your diffidence if you intend to become a salesperson.
diffusion
wordiness; spreading in all directions like a gas Example Your composition suffers from a diffusion of ideas; try to be more compact.
digression
wandering away from the subject Example Nobody minded when Professor Renoir's lectures wandered away from their offical theme; his digressions were always more fascinating than the topic of the day.
dilapidated
ruined because of neglect Example We felt that the dilapidated building needed several coats of paint.
dilate
expand Example In the dark, the pupils of your eyes dilate.
dilatory
delaying Example Your dilatory tactics may compel me to cancel the contract.
dilemma
problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives Example In this dilemma, he knew no one to whom he could turn for advice.
dilettante
aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler Example He was not serious in his painting; he was rather a dilettante.
diligence
steadiness of effort; persisten hard work Example Her employers were greatly impressed by her diligence and offered her a partnership in the firm.
dilute
make less concentrated; reduce in strength Example She preferred her coffee diluted with milk.
diminution
lessening; reduction in size Example The blockaders hoped to achieve victory as soon as the diminution of the enemy's supplies became serious.
din
continued loud noise Example The din of the jackhammers outside the classroom window drowned out the lecturer's voice.
dinghy
small boat (often ship's boat) Example In the film Lifeboat, an ill-assorted group of passengers from a sunken ocean liner are marooned at sea in a dinghy.
dingy
dull; not fresh; cheerless Example Refusing to be depressed by her dingy studio apartment, Bea spent the weekend polishing the floors and windows and hanging bright posters on the walls.
dint
means; effort Example By dint of much hard work, the volunteers were able to control the raging forest fire.
diorama
like-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history Example Because they dramatically pose actual stuffed animals against realistic painted landscapes, the dioramas at the Museum of Natural History particularly impress high school biology students.
dire
disastrous Example People ignored her dire predictions of an approaching depression.
dirge
lament with music Example The funeral dirge stirred us to tears.
disabuse
correct a false impression; undeceive Example I will attempt to diabuse you of your impression of my client's guilt; I know he is innocent.
disaffected
disloyal Example Once the most loyal of Gorbachev's supporters, Shverdnaze found himself becoming increasingly disaffected.
disapprobation
disapproval; condemnation Example The conservative father viewed his daughter's radical boyfriend with disapprobation.
disarray
a disorderly or untidy state Example After the New Year's party, the once orderly house was in total disarray.
disavowal
denial; disclaiming Example His disavowal of his part in the conspiracy was not believed by the jury.
disband
dissolve; disperse Example The chess club disbanded after its disastrous initial season.
disburse
pay out Example When you disburse money on the company's behalf, be sure to get a receipt.
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable Example The ships in the harbor were not discernible in the fog.
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having insight Example Because he was considered the most discerning member of the firm, he was assigned the most difficult cases.
disclaim
disown; renounce claim to Example If I grant you this previlege, will you disclaim all other rights?
disclose
reveal Example Although competitors offered him bribes, he refused to disclose any information about his company's forthcoming product.
discombobulated
confused; discomposed Example The novice square dancer became so discombobulated that he wandered into wrong set.
discomfit
put to rout; defeat; disconcert Example This ruse will discomfit the enemy.
disconcert
confuse; upset; embarrass Example The lawyer was disconcerted by the evidence produced by her adversary.
disconcolate
sad Example The death of his wife left him disconsolate.
discordant
inharmonious; conflicting Example She tried to unite the discordant factions.
discount
disregard Example Be prepared to discount what he has to say about his ex-wife.
discourse
formal disscussion; conversation Example The young Plato was drawn to the Agora to hear the philosophical discourse of Socrates and his followers.
discredit
defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve Example The campaign was highly negative in tone; each candidate tried to discredit the other.
discrepancy
lack of consistency; difference Example The police noticed some discrepancies in his description of the crime and did not believe him.
discrete
separate; unconnected Example The universe is composed of discrete bodies.
discretion
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances Example Use your discretion in this matter and do not discuss it with anyone.
discrimination
ability to see differences; prejudice Example They feared he lacked sufficient discrimination to judge complex works of modern art.
discursive
digressing; rambling Example They were annoyed and bored by her discursive remarks.
disdain
treat with scorn or contempt Example You make enemies of all you disdain.
disembark
go ashore; unload cargo from a ship Example Before the passengers could disembark, they had to pick up their passports from the ship's purser.
disenfranchise
deprive of a civil right Example The imposition if the poll tax effectively disenfranchised poor Southern blacks, who lost their right to vote.
disengage
uncouple; separate; disconnect Example A standard movie routine involves the hero's desperate attempt to disengage a railroad car from a moving train.
disfigure
mar the appearance of; spoil Example An ugly frown disfigured his normally pleasant face.
disgorge
surrender something; efect; vomit Example Unwilling to disgorge the cash he had stolen from the pension fund, the embezzler tried to run away.
disgruntle
make discontented Example The passengers were disgruntled by the numerous delays.
dishearten
discourage Example His failure to pass the bar exam disheartened him.
disheveled
untidy Example Your disheveled appearance will hurt your chances in this interview.
disinclination
unwilingness Example Some mornings I feel a great disinclination to get out of bed.
disingenuous
not naive; sophisticated Example Although he was young, his remarks indicated that he was disingenous.
disinter
dig up; unearth Example They disinterred the body and held an autopsy.
disinterested
unprejudiced Example The only disinterested person in the room was the judge.
disjointed
disconnected Example His remarks were so disjointed that we could not follow his reasoning.
dislodge
remove (forcible) Example Thrusting her fist up under the choking man's lower ribs, Margaret used the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food caught in this throat.
dismantle
take apart Example When the show closed, they dismantled the scenery before restoring it.
dismember
cut into small parts Example When the Austrian Empire was dismembered, several new countries were established.
dismiss
eliminate from consideration; reject Example Believing in John's love for her, she dismissed the notion that he might be unfaithful.
disparage
belittle Example Do not disparage anyone's contribution; these little gifts add up to large sums.
disparate
basically different; unrelated Example It is difficult, if not impossible, to organize these disparate elements into a coherent whole.
disparity
difference; condition of inequality Example The disparity in their ages made no difference at all.
dispassionate
calm; impartial Example In a dispassionate analysis of the problem, he carefully examined the causes of the conflict and proceeded to suggest suitable remedies.
dispatch
speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed Example Young Napoleon defeated the enemy with all possible dispatch; he then sent a dispatch to headquarters, informing his commander of the great victory.
dispel
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish Example The bright sunlight eventually dispelled the morning mist.
disperse
scatter Example The police fired tear gas into crowd to disperse the protesters.
dispirited
lacking in spirit Example The coach used all the tricks at his command to buoy up the enthusiasm of his team, which I had become dispirited at the loss of the star player.
disport
amuse Example The popularity of Florida as a winter resort is constantly increasing; each year, thousands more disport themselves at Miami and Palm Beach.
disputatious
argumentative; fond of argument Example People avoided discussing contemporary problems with him because of his disputatious manner.
disquisition
a formal systematic inquiry; an explanation of the results of a formal inquiry Example In his disquisition, he outlined the steps he had taken in reaching his conclusions.
dissection
analysis; cutting apart in order to examine Example The dissection of frogs on the laboratory is particularly unpleasant to some students.
dissemble
disguise; pretend Example Even though John tried to dissemble his motive for taking modern dance, we all knew there not to dance but to meet girls.
disseminate
scatter (like seeds) Example The invention of the radio helped propagandists to disseminate their favorite doctrines very easily.
dissent
disagree Example In a landmark Supreme Court decision, Justice Marshall dissented from the majority opinion.
dissertation
formal essay Example In order to earn a graduate degree from many of our universities, a candidate is frequently required to prepare a dissertation on some scholarly subject.
dissident
dissenting; rebellious Example In the purge that followed the student demonstrations at Tianamen Square, the government hunted down the dissident students and their supporters.
dissimulate
pretend; conceal by feigning Example She tried to dissimulate her grief by her exuberant attitude.
dissipate
squander Example The young man quickly dissipated his inheritance and was soon broke.
dissolution
disintegration; looseness in morals Example The profligacy and dissolution of life in Caligula's Rome appall some historians.
dissonance
discord Example Some contemporary musicians deliberately use dissonance to achieve certain effects.
dissuade
advise against Example He could not dissuade his friend from joining the conspirators.
distant
reserved or aloof; cold in manner Example His distant greeting made me feel unwelcome from the start.
distend
expand;swell out Example I can tell when he is under stress by the way the veins distend on his forehead.
distill
purify; refine; concentrate Example A moonshiner distills mash into whiskey; an epigrammatist distills thoughts into quips.
distortion
twisting out of shape Example It is difficult to believe the newspaper accounts of this event because of the distortions and exaggerations of the reporters.
distrait
absentminded Example Because of his concentration on the problem, the professor often appeared distrait and unconcerned about routine.
distraught
upset; distracted by anxiety Example The distraught parents frantically searched the ravine for their lost child.
diurnal
daily Example A farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks at any time; cows, for example, must be milked regularly.
diva
operatic singer; prima donna Example Although world famous as a diva, she did not indulge in fits of temerament.
diverge
vary; go in different directionsfrom the same point Example The spokes of the wheel diverge from the hub.
divergent
differing; deviating Example The two witnesses presented the jury with remarkably divergent accounts of the same epipode.
diverse
differing in some characteristics; various Example There are diverse ways of approaching this problem.
diversion
act of turning aside; pastime Example After studying for several hours, he needed a diversion from work.
diversity
variety; dissimilitude Example The diversity of colleges in this country indicates that many levels of ability are being served.
divest
strip; deprive Example He was divested of his power to act and could no longer govern.
divine
perceive intuitively; foresee the future Example Nothing infuriated Tom more than Aunt Polly's ability to divine when he was not telling the truth.
divulge
reveal Example I will not tell you this news because I am sure you will divulge it prematurely.
docile
obedient; easily managed Example As docile as he seems today, that old lion was once a ferocious, snarling beast.
docket
program asfor trial; book where such entries are made Example The case of Smith v. Jones was entered in the docket for July 15.
doctrinaire
unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding Example Weng had hoped that the student-led democracy movement might bring about change in China, but the repressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners crushed his dreams of democracy.
document
provide written evidence Example She kept all the receipts from her business trip in order to document her expenses for the firm.
doddering
shaky; infirm from old age Example Although he is not as yet a doddering and senile old man, his ideas and opinions no longer can merit the respect we gave them years ago.
doff
take off Example A gentleman used to doff his hat to a lady.
dogged
determined;stubborn Example Les Miserables tells of Inspector Javert's long, dogged pursuit of the criminal Jean Valjean.
doggerel
poorverse Example Although we find occasional snatches of genuine poetry in her work, most of her writing is mere doggerel.
dogmatic
positive; arbitrary Example Do not be so dogmatic about that statement; it can be easily refuted.
doldrums
blues; listlessness; slack period Example Once the excitement of meeting her deadline was over, she found herself in the doldrums.
dolorous
sorrowfrl Example He found the dolorous lamentations of the bereaved family emotionally disturbing and he left as quickly as he could.
dolt
stupid person Example I thought I was talking to a mature audience; instead, I find myself addressing a pack of dolts.
domicile
home Example Althoughhis legal domicile was in New York City, his work kept him away from his residence for many years.
domineer
rule over tyrannically Example Students prefer teachers who guide, not ones who domineer.
don
put on Example When Clark Kent had to don his Superman outfit, he changed clothes in a convenient phone booth.
dormant
sleeping; lethargic; torpid Example Sometimes dormant talents in our friends surprise those of us who never realize how gifted our acquaintances really are.
dormer
window projecting from roof Example In remodeling the attic into a bedroom, we decided that we needed to put in dormers to provide sufficient ventilation for the new room.
dorsal
relating to the back of an animal Example A shark may be identified by its dorsal fin, which projects above the surface of the ocean.
dossier
file of documents on a subject Example Ordered by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate the senator, the FBI compiled a complete dossier.
dotage
senility Example In his dotage, the old man bored us with long tales of events in his childhood.
dote
be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline Example Not only grandmothers bore you with stories about their brilliant grandchildren; grandfathers dote on the littel rascals, too.
dour
sullen; stubborn Example The man was dour abd taciturn.
douse
plunge into water; drench; extinguish Example They doused each other with hoses and balloons.
dowdy
slovenly; untidy Example She tried to change her dowdy image by buying a fashionable new wardrobe.
downcast
disheartened; sad Example Cheerful and optimistic by nature, Beth was never downcast despite the difficulties she faced.
drab
dull; lacking color; cheerless Example The Dutch woman's drab winter coat contrasted with the distinctive, colorful native costume she wore beneath it.
dregs
sediment; worthless residue Example David poured the wine carefully to avoid stirring up the dregs.
droll
queer and amusing Example He was a popular guest because his droll anecdotes were always entertaining.
drone
idle person; male bee Example Content to let his wife support him, the would-be writer was in reality nothing but a drone.
drone
talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee Example On a gorgeous day, who wants to be stuck in a classroom listening to the teacher drone?
dross
waste matter; worhtless impurities Example Many methods have been devised to separate the valuable metal from the dross.
drudgery
menial work Example Cinderella's fairy godmother rescued her from a life of drudgery.
dubious
doubtful Example He has the dubious distinction of being the lowest man in his class.
ductility
malleability; flexibility; ability to be drawn out Example Copper wire has many industrial uses because of its extreme ductility.
dulcet
sweet sounding Example The dulcet sounds of the birds at dawn were soon drowned out by the roar of traffic passing our motel.
dupe
someone easily fooled Example While the gullible Watson often was made a dupe by unscrupulous parties, Sherlock Holmes was far more difficult to fool.
deplicity
double-dealing; hypocrisy Example People were shocked and dismayed when they learned of his duplicity in this affair, as he had always seemed honest and straightforward.
duress
forcible restraint, especially unlawfully Example The hostages were held under duress until the prisoners' demands were met.
dutiful
respectful; obedient Example The dutiful child grew up to be a conscientious adult aware of his civic obligations.
dwindle
shrink; reduce Example They spent so much money that their funds dwindled to nothing.
dynamic
active; efficient Example A dynamic government is necessary to meet the demands of a changing society.
dyspeptic
suffering from indigestion Example All the talk about rich food made him feel dyspeptic.
earthy
unrefined; coarse Example His earthy remarks often embarrassed the women in the audience.
ebb
recede; lessen Example His fortunes began to ebb during the recession.
ebullient
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm Example His ebullient nature could not be repressed.
eccentric
odd; whimsical; irregular Example The comet passed close by the earth in its eccentric orbit.
eccentricity
oddity; idiosyncrasy Example Some of his friends tried to account for his rudeness to strangers as the eccentricity of genius.
ecclesiastic
pertaining to the church Example The minister donned his ecclesiastic garb and walked to the pulpit.
eclectic
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources Example His style of interior decoration was eclectic: bits and pieces of furnishings from widely divergent periods, strikingly juxtaposed to create a unique color.
eclipse
darken; extinguish; surpass Example The new stock market high eclipsed the previous record set in 1985.
ecologist
person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment Example The ecologist was concerned that the new dam would upset the natural balance of the creatures living in Glen Canyon.
economy
efficiency or conciseness in using something Example Reading the epigrams of Pope, I admire the economy of his verse: in few words he conveys worlds of meaning.
ecstasy
rapture, joy; any overpowering emotion Example The announcement that the war had ended brought on an ecstasy that resulted in many uncontrolled celebrations.
eddy
swirling current of water, air, etc. Example The water in the tide pool was still, except for an occasional eddy.
edify
instruct; correct morally Example Although his purpose was to edify and not to entertain his audience, many of his listeners were amused and not enlightened.
eerie
weird Example In that eerie setting, it was easy to believe in ghosts and other supernatural beings.
efface
rub out Example The coin had been handled so many times that its data had been effaced.
effectual
efficient Example If we are to succeed, we must seek effectual means of securing our goals.
effeminate
having womanly traits Example His voice was high-pitched and effeminate.
effervescence
inner excitement; exuberance Example Nothing depressed her for long; her natural effervescence soon reasserted itself.
effete
worn out; exhausted; barren Example The literature of the age reflected the effete condition of the writers; no new ideas were forthcoming.
efficacy
power to produce desired effect Example The efficacy of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage.
effigy
dummy Example The mob showed its irritation by hanging the judge in effigy.
effluvium
noxious smell Example Air pollution has become a serious problem in our major cities; the effluvium and the poisons in the air are hazards to life.
effrontery
shameless boldness Example She had the effrontery to insult the guest.
effusion
pouring forth Example The critics objected to her literary effusion because it was too flowery.
effusive
pouring forth; gushing Example Her effusive manner of greeting her friends finally began to irritate them.
egoism
excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in Example others His egoism prevented him from seeing the needs of his colleagues.
egotism
conceit; vanity Example She thought so much of herself that we found her egotism unwarranted and irritating.
egregious
notorious; conspicuously bad; shocking Example She was an egregious liar; we all knew better than to believe a word she said.
egress
exit Example Barnum's sign "To the Egress" fooled many people who thought they were going to see an animal and instead found themselves in the street.
ejaculation
exclamation Example He could not repress an ejaculation of surprise when he heard the news.
elaboration
addition of details; intricacy Example Tell what happened simply, without any elaboration.
elated
overjoyed; in high spirits Example Grinning from ear to ear, Bonnie Blair was clearly elated by her Olympic victory.
elegy
poem or song expressing lamentation Example On the death of Edward King, Milton composed the elegy "Lycidas."
elicit
draw out by discussion Example The detectives tried to elicit where he had hidden his loot.
e***ir
cure-all; something invigorating Example The news of her chance to go abroad acted on her like an e***ir.
ellipsis
omission of words from a text Example Sometimes an ellipsis can lead to a dangling modifier, as in the sentence "Once dressed, you should refrigerate the potato salad.
elliptical
oval; ambiguous, either purposely or because key words have been left out Example An elliptical billiad ball wobbles because it is not perfectly round; an elliptical remark baffles because it is not perfectly clear.
eloquence
expressiveness; persuasive speech Example The crowds were stirred by Martin Luther King's eloquence.
elucidate
explain; enlighten Example He was called upon to elucidate the disputed points in his article.
elusive
evasive; baffling; hard to grasp Example His elusive dreams of wealth were costly to those of his friends who supported him financially.
elysian
relating to paradise; blissful Example An afternoon sail on the bay was for her an elysian journey.
emaciated
thin and wasted Example His long period of starvation had left him emaciated.
emanate
issue forth Example A strong odor of sulfur emanated from the spring.
emancipate
set free Example At first, the attempts of the Abolitioninst to emancipate the slaves were unpopular in New England as well as in the South.
embargo
ban on commerce or other activity Example As a result of the embargo, trade with colonies was at a standstill.
embark
commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey Example In devoting herself to the study of gorillas, Dian Fossey embarked on a course of action that was to cost her her life.
embed
enclose; place in something Example Tales of actual historical figures like King Alfred have become embedded in legends.
embellish
adorn Example My mother-in-law's stories about her journey from Russia made us laugh because she embellished the bare facts of her travels with humourous acecdotes.
embezzlement
stealing Example The bank teller confessed his embezzlement of the funds.
embroil
throw into confusion Example He became embroiled in the heated discussion when he tried to arbitrate the dispute.
embryonic
undeveloped; rudimentary Example The evil of class and race hatred must be eliminated while it is still in an embryonic state; otherwise, it may grow to dangerous proportions.
emend
correct, usually a text Example The critic emended the book by retranslating several passages.
emendation
correction of errors; improvement Example Please initial all the emendations you have made in this contract.
emetic
substance causing vomiting Example The use of an emetic like mustard is useful in cases of poisoning.
eminent
high; lofty Example After his appointment to this emiment position, he seldom had time for his former friends.
emissary
agent; messenger Example The secretary of State was sent as the President's special emissary to the conference on disarmament.
emollient
soothing or softening remedy Example He applied an emollient to the inflamed area.
emolument
salary; compensation Example In addition to the emolument this position offers, you must consider the social prestige it carries with it.
empathy
ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc Example What made Ann such a fine counselor was her empathy, her ability to put herself in her client's place and feel his emotions as if they were her own.
empirical
based on experience Example He distrusted hunches and intuitive flashes; he placed his reliance entirely on empirical data.
emulate
rival; imitate Example As long as our political leaders emulate the virtues of the great leaders of this country, we shall flourish.
enamored
in love Example Narcissus became enamored of his own beauty.
enclave
territory enclosed within an alien land Example The Vatican is an independent enclave in Italy.
encomiastic
praising; eulogistic Example Some critics believe that his encomiastic statements about Napoleon were inspired by his desire for material advancement rather than by an honest belief in the Emperor's genius.
encomium
high praise; eulogy Example Uneasy with the encomiums expressed by his supporters, Tolkien felt unworthy of such high praise.
encompass
surround Example Although we were encompassed by enemy forces, we were cheerful for we were well stocked and could withstand a siege until our allies joined us.
encroachment
gradual intrusion Example The encroachment of the factories upon the neighborhood lowered the value of the real estate.
encumber
burden Example Some people encumber themselves with too much luggage, when they take short trips.
endearment
fond word or act Example Your gifts and endearments cannot make me forget your earlier insolence.
endemic
prevailinig among a specific group of people or in a specific are or country Example This disease is endemic in this part of the world; more than 80 percent of the population are at one time or another affected by it.
endorse
approve; support Example Everyone waited to see which one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor would endorse.
endue
provide with some quality; endow Example He was endued with a lion's courage.
enduring
lasting; surviving Example Keats believed in the enduring power of great art, which outlast its creator's brief lives.
energize
invigorate; make forceful and active Example Rather than exhausting Maggie, dancing energized her.
enervate
weaken Example She was slow to recover from her illness; even a short walk to the window evervated her.
enfranchise
admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote) Example Although blacks were enfranchised shortly after the Civil War, women did not receive the right to vote until 1920.
engage
attract; hire; pledge oneself; confront Example "Your case has engaged my interest, my lord," said Holmes, "You many engage my services."
engender
cause; produce Example To receive praise for real accomplishments engenders self-confidence in a child.
engross
occupy fully Example John was so engrossed in his studies that he did not hear his mother call.
enhance
advance; improve Example Your chances for promotion in this department will be enhanced if you take some more courses in evening school.
enigma
puzzle Example Depite all attempts to decipher the code, it remained an enigma.
enigmatic
obscure; puzzling Example Many have sought to fathom the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa.
enjoin
command; order; forbid Example The owners of the company asked the court to enjoin the union from picketing the plant.
enmity
ill will; hatred Example At Camp David President Carter labored to bring an end to the enmity that prevented Egypt and Israel from living in peace.
ennui
boredom Example The monotonous routine of hopital life induced a feeling of ennui which made him moody and irritable.
enormity
hugeness (in a bad sense) Example He did not realize the enormity of his crime until he saw what suffering he had caused.
enrapture
please intensely Example The audience was enraptured by the freshness of the voices and the excellent orchestration.
ensconce
settle comfortably Example The parents thought that their children were ensconced safely in the private school and decided to leave for Europe.
ensue
follow Example The evils that ensued were the direct result of the miscalculations of the leaders.
enthrall
capture; enslave Example From the moment he saw her picture, he was enthralled by her beauty.
entice
lure; attract; tempt Example She always tried to entice her baby brother into mischief.
entity
real being Example As soon as the charter was adopted, the United Nations became an entity and had to be considered as a factor in world diplomacy.
entomology
study of insects Example I found entomology the least interesting part of my course in biology; studying insects bored me.
entrance
put under a spell; carry away with emotion Example Shafts of sunlight on a wall could entrance her and leave her spellbound.
entreat
plead; ask earnestly Example She entreated her father to let her stay out till midnight.
entree
entrance; a way in Example Because of his wealth and social position, he had entree into the most exclusive circles.
entrepreneur
businessperson; contractor Example Opponents of our present tax program argue that it discourages entrepreneurs from trying new fields of business activity.
enumerate
list; mention one by one Example Huck hung his head in shame as Miss Watson enumerated his many flaws.
enunciate
speak distinctly Example How will people understand you if you do not enunciate?
environ
enclose; surround Example Paris was environed by a wall
eon
long period of time; an age Example It has taken eons for our civilization to develop.
epaulet
ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.) Example The shoulder loops on Sam Spade's trench coat are the nonmilitary counterparts of the fringed epaulets on George Washington's uniform.
ephemeral
short-lived; fleeting Example The mayfly is an ephemeral creature.
epic
long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art Example Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai is an epic portraying the struggle of seven warriors to destroy a band of robbers.
epicure
connoisseur of food and drink Example epicures frequent this restaurant because it features exotic wines and dishes.
epigram
witty thought or saying, usually short Example Poor Richard's epigrams made Benjamin Franklin famous.
epilogue
short speech at conclusion of dramatic work Example The audience was so disappointed in the play that many did not remain to hear the epilogue.
episodic
loosely connected Example Though he tried to follow the plot of Gravity's Rainbow, John found the novel too episodic.
epistemologist
philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge Example "What is more important, a knowledge of nature of the nature of knowledge?" the epistemologist asked the naturalist.
epitaph
inscription in memory of a dead person Example In his will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted placed on his tombstone.
epithet
word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing Example So many kings of France were named Charles that modern students need epithets to tell them apart: Charles the Wise, for example, was someone far different from Charles the Fat.
epitome
perfect example or embodiment Example Singing "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" in The Pirates of Penzance, Major-General Stanley proclaimed himself the epitome of an officer and a gentleman.
epoch
period of time Example The glacial epoch lasted for thousands of years.
equable
tranquil; steady; uniform Example After the hot summers and cold winters of New England, he found the climate of the West Indies equable and pleasant.
equanimity
calmness of temperament Example In his later years, he could look upon the foolishness of the world with equanimity and humor.
equestrian
rider on horseback Example These paths in the park are reserved for equestrians and their steeds.
equilibrium
balance Example After the divorce, he needed some time to regain his equilibrium.
equine
resembling a horse Example His long, bony face had an equine look to it.
equinox
period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn Example The vernal equinox is usually marked by heavy rainstorms.
equipoise
balance; balancing force; equilibrium Example The high-wire acrobat used his pole as an equipose to overcome the swaying caused by the wind.
equitable
fair; impartial Example I am seeking an equitable solution to this dispute, one which will be fair and acceptable to both sides.
equity
fairness; justice Example Our courts guarantee equity to all.
equivocal
doubtful; ambiguous Example Macbeth was misled by the equivocal statements of the witches.
equivocate
lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth Example The audience saw through his attempts to equivocate on the subject under discussion and ridiculed his remarks.
erode
eat away Example The limestone was eroded by the dripping water
erotic
pertaining to passionate love Example The erotic passages in this novel should be removed as they are merely ****ographic.
errant
wandering Example Many a charming tale has been written about the knights-errant who helped the weak and punished the guilty during the Age of Chivalry.
erratic
odd; unpredictable Example Investors become anxious when the stock market appears erratic.
erroneous
mistaken; wrong Example I thought my answer was correct, but it was erroneous.
erudite
learned; scholarly Example His erudite writing was difficult to read because of the many allusions which were unfamiliar to most readers.
escapade
prank; flighty conduct Example The headmaster could not regard this latest escapade as a boyish joke and expelled the young man.
eschew
avoid Example He tried to eschew all display of temper.
esoteric
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few Example New Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and events: the implication is if you are in the in-crowd, you'll get the reference; if you come from Cleveland, you won't.
espionage
spying Example In order to maintain its power, the government developed a system of espionage that penetrated every hosehold.
espouse
adopt; support Example She was always ready to espouse a worthy cause.
esteem
repect; value; judge Example I esteem Ezra Pound both for his exciting poetry and for his acute comments on literature.
estranged
separated; alienated Example The estranged wife sought a divorce.
ethereal
light; heavenly; fine Example Visitors were impressed by her ethereal beauty, her delicate charm.
ethnic
relating to races Example Intolerance between ethnic groups is deplorable and usually is based on lack of information.
ethnology
study of mankind Example Sociology is one aspect of the science of ethnology.
ethos
underlying character of a culture, group, etc. Example Seeing how tenderly Spaniards treated her small daughter made author Barbara Kingsolver aware of how greatly children were valued in the Spanish ethos.
etymology
study of word parts Example A knowledge of etymology can help you on many English tests.
eugenic
pertaining to the improvement of race Example It is easier to apply eugenic principles to the raising of racehorses or prize cattle than t the development of human beings.
eulogistic
praising Example To everyone's surprise, the speech was eulogistic rather than critical in tone.
eulogy
praise Example All the eulogies of his friends could not remove the sting of the calumny heaped upon him by his enemies.
euphemism
mild expression in place of an unpleasant one Example The expression "he passed away" is a euphemism for "he died."
euphony
sweet sound Example Noted for its euphony even when it is spoken, the Italian language is particularly pleasing to the ear when sung.
euphoria
feeling of exaggerated (or unfounded) well-being Example "Jill's been on cloud nine ever since Jacj asked her out," said Betty, dismissing her friend's euphoria.
euthanasia
mercy killing Example Many people support euthanasia for terminally ill patients who wish to die.
evanescent
fleeting; vanishing Example For a brief moment, the entire skyline was bathed in an orange-red hue in the evanescent rays of the sunset.
evasive
not frank; eluding Example Your evasive answers convinced the judge that you were witholding important evidence.
evince
show clearly Example When he tried to answer the questions, he evinced his ignorance of the subject matter.
evenhanded
impartial; fair Example Do men and women receive evenhanded treatment from their teachers, or, as recent studies suggest, do teachers pay more attention to male students than to females?
evoke
call forth Example He evoked much criticism by his hostile manner.
ewe
female sheep Example The flock of sheep was made up of dozens of ewes, together with only a handful of rams.
exacerbate
worsen; embitter Example This latest arrest will exacerbate the already existing discontent of the people and enrage them.
exacting
extremely demanding Example The colonies rebelled against the exacting financial claims of the mother country.
exalt
raise in rank or dignity; praise Example The actor Alec Guinness was exalted to the rank of knighthood by the Queen; he now is known as Sir Alec Guinness.
exasperate
vex Example Johnny often exasperates his mother with his pranks.
excerpt
selected passage (written or musical) Example The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a novel is a clip from a film.
exchequer
treasury Example He had been Chancellor of the exchequer before his promotion to the office he now holds.
excise
cut away; cut out Example When you excise the dead and dying limbs of a tree, you not only improve its appearance but also enhance its chances of bearing fruit.
excoriate
flay; abrade Example These shoes are so ill-fitting that they will excoriate the feet and create blisters.
exculpate
clear from blame Example He was exculpated of the crime when the real criminal confessed.
execrable
very bad Example The anecdote was in execrable taste and shocked the audience.
execrate
curse; express abhorrence for Example The world execrates the memory of Hitler and hopes that genocide will never again be the policy of any nation.
execute
put into effect; carry out Example The choreographer wanted to see how well she could execute a pirouette.
exegesis
explanation, especially of biblical passages Example I can follow your exegesis of this passage to a limited degree; some of your reasoning eludes me.
exemplary
serving as a model; outstanding Example Her exemplary behavior was praised at commencement.
exemplify
show by example; furnish an example Example Three-time winner of the Super Bowl, Joe Montana exemplifies the ideal quarterback.
exertion
effort; expenditure of much physical work Example The exertion involved in unscrewing the rusty bolt left her exhausted.
exhort
urge Example The evangelist will exhort all sinners in his audience to reform.
exhume
dig out of the ground; remove from a grave Example Because of the rumor that he had been poisoned, his body was exhumed in order that an autopsy might be performed.
exigency
urgent situation Example In this exigency, we must look for aid from our allies.
exiguous
small; minute Example Grass grew there, an exiguous outcropping among the rocks.
existential
pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism Example To the existential philosopher, human reason is inadequate to explain an irrational, meaningless universe.
exodus
departure Example The exodus from the hot and stuffy city was particularly noticeable on Friday evenings.
exonerate
acquit; exculpate Example I am sure this letter naming the actual culprit will exonerate you.
exorbitant
excessive Example The people grumbled at his exorbitant prices but paid them because he had a monopoly.
exorcise
drive our evil spirits Example By incantation and prayer, the medicine man sought to exorcise the evil spirits that had taken possession of the young warrior.
exotic
not native; strange Example Because of his exotic headdress, he was followed in the streets by small children who laughed at his strange appearance.
expatiate
talk at length Example At this time, please give us a brief resume of your work; we shall permit you to expatiate later.
expatriate
exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land Example Henry James was an American expatriate who settled in England.
expedient
suitable; practical; politic Example A pragmatic politician, he was guided by what was expedient rather than by what was ethical.
expedite
hasten Example We hope you will be able to expedite delivery because of our tight schedule.
expertise
specialized knowledge; expert skill Example Although she was knowledgeable in a number of fields, she was hired for her particular expertise in computer programming.
expiate
make amends for (a sin) Example He tried to expiate his crimes by a full confession to the authorities.
expletive
interjection; profane oath Example The sergeant's remarks were filled with expletives that offended the new recruits.
explicate
explain; interpret; clarify Example Harry Levin explicated James Joyce's novels with such clarity that even Finnegan's Wake seemed comprehensible to his students.
explicit
totally clear; definite; outspoken Example Don't just hint around that you're dissatisfied: be explicit about what's bugging you.
exploit
deed or action, particularly a brave deed Example Raoul Wallenberg was noted for his exploits in rescuing Jews from Hitler's forces.
exploit
make use of, sometimes unjustly Example Caesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit migrant farmworkers in California.
expository
explanatory; serving to explain Example The mannual that came with my VCR was no masterpiece of expository prose: its explanations were so garbled that I couldn't even figure out how to rewind a tape.
expostulation
protest; remonstrance Example Despite the teacher's scoldings and expostulations, the class remained unruly.
exposure
risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying Example something open Exposure to sun and wind had dried out her hair and weathered her face.
expunge
cancel; remove Example If you behave, I will expunge this notation from your record.
expurgate
clean; remove offensive parts of a book Example The editors felt that certain passages in the book had to be expurgated before it could be used in the classroom.
extant
still in existence Example Although the authorities suppressed the book, many copies are extant and may be purchased at exorbitant prices.
extemporaneous
not planned; impromtu Example Because his extemporaneous remarks were misinterpreted, he decided to write all his speeches in advance.
extenuate
weaken; mitigate Example It is easier for us to extenuate our own shortcomings than those of others.
extirpate
root up Example The Salem witch trials were a misguided attempt to extirpate superstition and heresy.
extol
praise; glorify Example The astronauts were extolled as the pioneers of the Space Age.
extort
wring from; get money by threats, etc. Example The blackmailer extorted money from his victim.
extradition
surrender of prisoner by one state to another Example The lawyers opposed the extradition of their client on the grounds that for more than five years he had been a model citizen.
extraneous
not essential; external Example Do not pad your paper with extraneous matters; stick to essential items only.
extrapolation
projection; conjecture Example Based on their extrapolation from the results of the primaries on Super Tuesday, the networks predicted that George Bush would be the Republican candidate for the presidency.
extricate
free; disentangle Example He found that he could not extricate himself from the trap.
extrinsic
external; not inherent; foreign Example Do not be fooled by extrinsic causes. We must look for the intrinsic reason.
extrovert
person interested mostly in external objects and actions Example A good salesperson in usually an extrovert, who likes to mingle with people.
extrude
force or push out Example Much pressure is required to extrude these plastics.
exuberant
abundant; effusive; lavish Example His speeches were famous for his exuberant language and vivid imagery.
exude
discharge; give forth Example The maple syrup is obtained from the sap that the trees exude in early spring.
exult
rejoice Example We exulted when our team won the victory.
fabricate
build; lie Example Because of the child's tendency to fabricate, we had trouble believing her.
facade
front of the building Example The facade of the church had often been photographed by tourists because it was more interesting than the rear.
facet
small plane surface (of a gem); a side Example The stonecutter decided to improve the rough diamond by providing it with several facets.
facetious
humorous; jocular Example Your facetious remarks are not appropriate at this serious moment.
facile
easy; expert Example Because he was a facile speaker, he never refused a request to address an organization.
facilitate
make less difficult Example He tried to facilitate repayment of the loan by getting a part-time job.
facsimilie
copy Example Many museums sell facsimilies of the works of art on display.
faction
party; clique; dissension Example The quarrels and bickering of the two small factions within the club disturbed the majority of the members.
factious
inclined to form factions; causing dissension. Example Your statement is factious and will upset the harmony that now exists.
factitous
artificial; sham Example Hollywood actresses often create factitious tears by using glycerine.
factotum
handyman; person who does all kinds of work Example Although we had hired him as a messenger, we soon began to use him as a general factotum around the office.
faculty
mental or bodily powers; teaching staff Example As he grew old, he feared he might lose his faculties and become useless to his employer.
fallacious
misleading Example Your reasoning must be fallacious because it leads to a ridiculous answer.
fallible
liable to err Example I know I am fallible, but I feel confident that I am right this time.
fallow
plowed but sowed; uncultivated Example Farmers have learned that it is advisable to permit land to le fallow every few years.
falter
hesitate Example When told to dive off the high board, she did not falter, but proceeded at once.
fanaticism
excessive zeal Example The leader of the group was held responsible even though he could not control the fanaticism of his followers.
fancied
imagined; unreal Example You are resenting fancied insults. No one has ever said such things about you.
fancier
breeder or dealer of animals Example The dog fancier exhibited her prize collie at the annual Kennel Club show.
fanciful
whimsical; visionary Example This is a fanciful scheme because it does not consider the facts.
fanfare
call by bugles or trumpets; showy display Example The exposition was opened with fanfare of trumpets and the firing of cannon.
fantastic
unreal; grotesque; whimsical Example Your fears are fantastic because no such animal as you have described exists.
farce
broad comedy; mockery Example Nothing went right; the entire interview degenerated into a farce.
fastidious
difficult to please; squeamish Example The waitresses disliked serving him dinner because of his very fastidious taste.
fatalism
belief that events are determined by forces beyond one's control Example With fatalism, he accepted the hardships that beset him.
fathom
comprehend; investigate Example I find his motives impossible to fathom.
fatuous
foolish; inane Example He is far too intelligent to utter such fatuous remarks.
fauna
animals of a period or region Example The scientist could visualize the fauna of the period by examining the skeletal remains and the fossils.
fawning
courting favor by cringing and flattering Example She was constantly surrounded by a group of fawning admirers who had hoped to win some favor.
faze
disconcert; dismay Example No crisis could faze the resourceful hotel manager.
feasible
practical Example This is an entirely feasible proposal. I suggest we adopt it.
febrile
*****ish Example In his febrile condition, he was subject to nightmares and hallucinations.
fecundity
fertility; fruitfulness Example The fecundity of his mind is illustrated by the many vivid images in his poems.
feign
pretend Example Lady Macbeth feigned illness in the courtyard although she was actually healthy.
feint
trick; shift; sham blow Example The boxer was fooled by his opponent's feint and dropped his guard.
felicitous
apt; suitably expressed; well chosen Example He was famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at many banquet.
felicity
happines; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.) Example She wrote a note to the newlyweds wishing them great felicity in their wedded life.
fell
cruel; deadly Example The newspapers told of the tragic spread of the fell disease
felon
person convicted of a grave crime Example A convicted felon loses the right to vote
ferment
agitation; commotion Example With the breakup of the Soviet Union, much of Eastern Europe was in a state of ferment.
ferret
drive or hunt out of hiding Example She was ferreted out their secret.
fervent
ardent; hot Example She felt that the fervent praise was excessive and somewhat undeserved.
fervid
ardent Example Her fervid enthusiasm inspired all of us to undertake the dangerous mission.
fervor
glowing ardor Example Their kiss was full of the fervor of first love.
fester
generate pus Example When her finger began to fester, the doctor lanced it and removed the splinter that had caused the pus to form.
fester
rankle, produce irritation or resentment Example Joe's insult festered in Anne's mind for days, and made her too angry to speak to him.
festive
joyous; celebratory Example Their wedding in the park was a festive occasion.
fete
honor at a festival Example The returning hero was feted at a community supper and dance.
fetid
malodorous Example The neglected wound became fetid.
fetter
shackle Example The prisoner was fettered to the wall.
fiasco
total failure Example Our ambitious venture ended in a fiasco and we were forced to flee.
fiat
command Example I cannot accept government by fiat; I feel that I must be consulted.
fickle
changeable; faithless Example He discovered his supposedly faithful girlfriend was fickle
fictitious
imaginary Example Although this book purports to be a biography of George Washington, many of the incidents are fictitious.
fidelity
loyalty Example A dog's fidelity to its owner is one of the reasons why that animal is a favorite household pet.
figment
invention; imaginary thing Example That incident never took place; it is a figment of your imagination.
figurative
not literal, but metaphorical; using a figure of speech Example "To lose one's marbles" is a figurative expression; if you're told Jack has lost his marbles, no one expects you to rush out to buy him a replacement set.
figurine
small ornamental statuette Example In the Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade was hired to trace the missing figurine of a black bird.
filch
steal Example The boys filched apples from the fruit stand.
filial
pertaining to a son or daughter Example Many children forget their filial obligations and disregard the wishes of their parents.
filibuster
block legislation by making long speeches Example Even though we disapproved of Senator Foghorn's political goals, we were impressed by his ability to filibuster endlessly to keep an issue from coming to a vote.
filigree
delicate, lacelike metalwork Example The pendant with gold filigree that she wore round her neck trembled with each breath she took.
finale
conclusion Example It is not until we reach the finale of this play that we can understand the author's message.
finesse
delicate skill Example The finesse and adroitness of the surgeon impressed the observers in the operating room.
finicky
too particular; fussy Example The old lady was finicky about her food and ate very little.
finite
limited Example It is difficult for humanity with its finite existence to grasp the infinite.
firebrand
hothead; troublemaker Example The police triedto keep track of all the local firebrands when the President came to town.
fissure
crevice Example The mountain climbers secured footholds in tiny fissures in the rock.
fitful
spasmodic; intermittent Example After several fitful attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project until he felt more energetic.
flaccid
flabby Example His sedentary life had left him with flaccid muscles.
flag
droop; grow feeble Example When the opposing hockey team scored its third goal only minutes into the first period, the home team's spirits flagged.
flagrant
conspicuously wicked Example We cannot condone such flagrant violations of the rules.
flail
thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about Example In medieval times, warriors flailed their foe with a metal ball attached to a handle.
flair
talent Example She has an uncanny flair for discovering new artists before the public has become aware of their existence.
flamboyant
ornate Example Modern architecture has discarded the flamboyant trimming on buildings and emphasizes simplicity of line.
flaunt
display ostentatiously Example She is not the one of those actresses who flaunt their physical charms; she can act.
flay
strip off skin; plunder Example The criminal was condemned to be flayed alive.
fleck
spot Example Her cheeks flecked with tears, were testimony to the hours of weeping.
fledgling
inexperienced Example While it is necessary to provide these fledgling poets with an opportunity to present their work, it is not essential that we admire everything they write.
fleece
wool coat of a sheep Example They shear sheep of their fleece, which they then comb into separate strands of wool.
fleece
rob; plunder Example The tricksters fleeced him of his inheritance.
flick
light stroke as with a whip Example The horse needed no encouragement; only one flick of the whip was all the jockey had to apply to get the animal to run at top speed.
flinch
hesitate; shrink Example He did not flinch in the face of danger but fought back bravely.
flippancy
trifling gaiety Example Your flippancy at this serious moment is offensive.
flit
fly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by Example Like a bee flitting from flower to flower, Rose flitted from one boyfriend to the next.
floe
mass of floating ice Example The ship made slow progress as it battered its way through the ice floes.
flora
plants of a region or era Example Because she was a botanist, she spent most of her time studying the flora of the desert.
florid
flowery; ruddy Example His complexion was even more florid than usual because of his anger.
flotsam
drifting wreckage Example Beachcombers eke out a living by salvaging the flotsam and jetsam of the sea.
flourish
grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures Example The orange trees flourished in the sun.
flout
reject; mock Example The headstrong youth flouted all authority; he refused to be curbed.
fluctuation
wavering Example Meteorologists watch the fluctuations of the barometer in order to predict the weather.
fluency
smoothness of speech Example He spoke French with fluency and ease.
fluke
unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune Example When Douglass defeated Tyson for the heavyweight championship, some sportscasters dismissed his victory as a fluke.
fluster
confuse Example The teacher's sudden question flustered him and he stammered his reply.
fluted
having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar) Example All that remained of the ancient building were the fluted columns.
flux
flowing; series of changes Example While conditions are in such a state of flux, I do not wish to commit myself too deeply in this affair.
fodder
coarse food for cattle, horses etc. Example One of Nancy's chores ar the ranch was to put fresh supplies of fodder in the horses' stalls.
foible
weakness; slight fault Example We can overlook the foibles of our friends; no one is perfect.
foil
contrast Example In "Star Wars," dark, evil Darth Vader is a perfect foil for fair-haired, naive Luke Skywalker.
foil
defeat; frustrate Example In the end, Skywalker is able to foil Vader's diabolical schemes.
foist
insert improperly; palm off Example I will not permit you to foist such ridiculous ideas upon the membership of this group.
foliage
masses of leaves Example Every autumn before the leaves fell he promised himself he would drive though the New England to admire the colorful fall foliage.
foment
stir up; instigate Example This report will foment disssension in the club.
foolhardy
rash Example Don't be foolhardy. Get the advice of experienced people before undertaking this venture.
foppish
vain about dress and appearance Example He tried to imitate the foppish manner of the young men of the court.
foray
raid Example The company staged a midnight foray against the enemy outpost.
forberance
patience Example We must use forbearance in dealing with him because he is still weak from his illness.
ford
place where a river can be crossed on foot Example Rather than risk using the shaky rope bridge, David walked a half-mile downstream until he came to the neartest ford.
forebears
ancestors Example Reverence for one's forebears (sometimes referred to as ancestor worship) plays an important part in many Oriental cultures.
foreboding
premonition of evil Example Caeser ridiculed his wife's foreboding about the Ides of March.
forensic
suitable to debate or courts of law Example In her best forensic manner, the lawyer addressed the jury.
foreshadow
give an indication beforehand; portend; prefigure Example In retrospect, political analysts realized that Yeltsin's defiance of the attempted coup foreshadowed his emergence as the dominant figure of the new Russian republic.
foresight
ability to foresee future happenings; prudence Example A wise investor, she had the foresight to buy land just before the current real estate boom.
forestall
prevent by taking action in advance Example By setting up a prenuptial agreement, the prospective bride and groom hoped to forestall any potential arguments about money in the event of a divorce.
forgo
give up; do without Example Determined to lose weight for the summer, Ida decided to forgo dessert until she could fit into a size eight again.
formality
adherence to established rules or procedures Example Signing this petition is a mere formality; it does not obligate you in any way.
formidable
menacing; threatening Example We must not treat the battle lightly for we are facing a formidable foe.
forsake
desert; abandon; renounce Example No one expected Foster to forsake his wife and children and run off with another woman.
forswear
renounce; abandon Example The captured knight could escape death only if he agreed to forswear Christianity and embrace Islam as the one true faith.
forte
strong point or special talent Example I am not eager to play this rather seious role, for my forte is comedy.
forthright
straightforward; direct; frank Example I prefer Jill's forthright approach to Jack's tendency to beat around the bush.
fortitude
bravery; courage Example He was awarded the medal for his fortitude in the battle.
fortuitous
accidental; by chance Example There is no connection between these two events; their timing is entirely fortuitous.
foster
rear; encourage Example According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were fostered by a she-wolf that raised the abandoned infants as her own.
founder
fail completely; sink Example After hitting the submerged iceberg, the Titanic started taking in water rapidly and soon foundered.
founder
person who establishes (an organization, business) Example Among those drowned when the Titanic sank was the founder of the Abraham & Straus chain.
fracas
brawl; melee Example The military police stopped the fracas in the bar and arrested the belligerents.
fractious
unruly Example The fractious horse unseated its rider.
frailty
weakness Example The doctor prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements for the sick old woman because of her frailty.
franchise
right granted by authority Example The city issued a franchise to the company to operate surface transit lines on the streets for ninety-nine years.
frantic
wild Example At the time of the collision, many people became frantic with fear.
fraudulent
cheating; deceitful Example The government seeks to prevent fraudulent and misleading advertising.
fraught
filled Example Since this enterprise is fraught with danger, I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks.
fray
brawl Example The three musketeers were in the thick of fray.
frenetic
frenzied; frantic Example His frenetic activities convinced us that he had no organized plan of operation.
frenzied
madly excited Example As soon as they smelled smoke, the frenzied animals milled about in their cages.
fresco
painting in plaste (usually fresh) Example The cathedral is visited by many tourists who wish to admire the frescoes by Glotto.
fret
to be annonyed or vexed Example To fret over your poor grades is foolish; instead, decide to work harder in the future.
friction
clash in opinion; rubbing against Example At this time when harmony is essential, we cannot afford to have any friction in our group.
frieze
ornamental band on a wall Example The frieze of the church was adorned with sculpture.
frigid
intensely cold Example Alaska is in the frigid zone.
fritter
waste Example He could not apply himself to any task and frittered away his time in idle conversation.
frivolous
lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant Example Though Nancy enjoyed Bill's frivolous, lighthearted companionship, she sometimes wondered whether he could ever be serious.
frolicsome
prankish; gay Example The frolicsome puppy tried to lick the face of its master.
frond
fern leaf; palm or banana leaf Example After the storm the beach was littered with the fronds of palm trees.
fructify
bear fruit Example This peach tree should fructify in three years.
frugality
thrift; economy Example In these economically difficult days businesses must practice frugality or risk bankruptcy.
fruition
bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization Example This building marks the fruition of all our aspirations and years of hard work.
fugitive
fleeting or transitory; roving Example The film brought a few fugitive images to her mind, but on the whole it made no lasting impression upon her.
fulcrum
support on which a lever rests Example If we use this stone as a fulcrum and the crowbar as a lever, we may be able to move this boulder.
fulminate
thunder; explode Example The people against whom she fulminated were innocent of any wrongdoing.
fulsome
disgustingly excessive Example His fulsome praise of the dictator annoyed his listeners.
functionary
official Example As his case was transferred from one functionary to another, he began to despair of ever reaching a settlement.
fundamental
basic; primary; essential Example The committee discussed all sorts of side issues without ever getting down to addressing the fundamental problem.
funereal
sad; solemn Example I fail to understand why there is such a funereal atmosphere; we have lost a battle, not a war.
furor
frenzy; great excitement Example The story of her embezzlement of the funds created a furor on the stock exchange.
furtive
stealthy; sneaky Example The boy gave a furtive look at his classmate's test paper.
fusilade
simultaneous firing or outburs (of missiles, questions, etc.) Example Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture concludes with a thunderous fusilade of cannon fire.
fusion
union; coalition Example The opponents of the political party in power organized a fusion of disgruntled groups and became an important element in the election.
futile
ineffective; fruitless Example Why waste your time on futile pursuits?
feckless
feeble, ineffective; unthinking, irresponsible Example Einstein was noted for his extraordinary inspirations; on the other hand, he was noted for being feckless in his daily chores.
gadfly
animal-biting fly; an irritating person Example Like a gadfly, he irritated all the guests at the hotel; within forty eight hours, everyone regarded him as an annoying busybody.
gaffe
social blunder Example According to Miss Manners, to call your husband by your lover's name is worse than a mere gaffe; it is a tactical mistake.
gainsay
deny Example She was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report.
gait
manner of walking or running; speed Example The lame man walked with an uneven gait.
galaxy
the Milky Way; any collection of brilliant personalities Example The deaths of such famous actors as Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, and Marlene Dietrich demonstrate that the galaxy of Hollywood superstars is rapidly disppearing.
gall
bitterness; nerve Example The knowledge of his failure filled him with gall.
gall
annoy; chafe Example Their taunts galled him.
galleon
large sailing ship Example The Spaniards pinned their hopes on the galleon, the large warship; the British, on the smaller and faster pinnace.
galvanize
stimulate by shock; stir up Example The entire nation was galvanized into strong military activity by the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
gambit
opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed Example The player was afraid to accept his opponent's gambit because he feared a trap which as yet he could not see.
gambol
skip; leap playfully Example Watching children gamboling in the park is a pleasant experience
gamely
in a spirited manner; with courage Example Because he had fought gamely against a much superior boxer, the crowd gave him a standing ovation when he left the arena.
gamut
entire range Example In this performance, the leading lady was able to demonstrate the complete gamut of her acting ability.
gape
open widely Example The huge pit gaped before him; if he stumbled, he would fall in.
garbled
mixed up; jumbled; distorted Example A favorite party game involves passing a whispered message from one person to another; by the time it reaches the last player, the message has become totally garbled.
gargantuan
huge; enormous Example The gargantuan wrestler was terrified of mice.
gargolye
waterspout carved in groteque figures on a building Example The gargoyles adorning the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris are amusing in their grotesqueness.
garish
gaudy Example She wore a garish rhinestone necklace.
garner
gather; store up Example She hoped to garner the world's literature in one library.
garnish
decorate Example Parsley was used to garnish the boiled potato.
garrulity
talkativeness Example The man who married a dumb wife asked the doctor to make him deaf because of his wife's garrulity after her cure.
garrulous
excessively talkative, especially about unimportant subjects; loquacious; wordy Example Many club members avoided the company of the garrulous junior executive because his contant chatter bored them to tears.
gastronomy
science of preparing and serving good food Example One of the by-products of his trip to Europe was his interest in gastronomy; he enjoyed preparing and serving foreign dishes to his friends.
gauche
clumsy; boorish Example Such remarks are gauche and out of place; you should apologize for making them.
gaudy
flashy; showy Example Her gaudy taste in clothes apalled us.
gaunt
lean and angular; barren Example His once-round face looked surprisingly gaunt after he had lost weight.
gawk
stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe Example The country boy gawked at the skyscrapers and neon lights of the big city.
gazette
official publication Example He read the gazettes regularly for announcement of his promotion.
genealogy
record of descent; lineage Example He was proud of his genealogy and constantly referred to the achievements of his ancestors.
generality
vague statement Example This report is filled with generalities; you must be more specific in you statements.
generic
characteristic of an entire class or species Example Sue knew so many computer programmers who spent their spare time playing fantasy games that she began to think that playing Dungeon & Dragons was a generic trait.
genesis
beginning; origin Example Tracing the genesis of a family is the theme of "Roots."
geniality
cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy Example This restaurant is famous and popular because of the geniality of the proprietor, who tries to make everyone happy.
genre
particular variety of art or literature Example Both a short story writer and a poet, Langston Hughes proved himself equally skilled in either genre.
genteel
well-bred; elegant Example We are looking for a man with a genteel apperance who can inspire confidence by his cultivated manner.
gentility
those of gentle birth; refinement Example Her family was proud of its gentility and elegance.
gentry
people of standing; class of people just below nobility Example The local gentry did not welcome the visits of the summer tourists and tried to ignore their presence in the community.
genuflect
bend the knee as in worship Example A proud denocrat, he refused to genuflect to any man.
germane
pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand Example The lawyer objected that the testimony being offered was not germane to the case at hand.
germinal
pertaining to a germ; creative Example Such an idea is germinal; I am certain that it will influence thinkers and philosophers for many generations.
germinate
cause to sprout; sprout Example After the seeds germinate and develop their permanent leaves, the plants may be removed from the cold frames and transplanted to the garden.
gerontocracy
government ruled by old people Example Gulliver visited a gerontocracy in which the young people acted as servants to their elders, all the while dreaming of the day they would be old enough to have servants of their own.
gerrymander
change in voting district lines in order to favor a political party Example The illogical pattern of the map of this congressional district is proof that the state legislature gerrymandered this area in order to favor the majority party.
gestate
evolve, as in prenatal growth Example While this scheme was being gestated by the conspirators, they maintained complete silence about their intentions.
gesticulation
motion; gesture Example Operatic performers are trained to make exaggerated gesticulations because of the large auditoriums in whic they appear.
ghastly
horrible Example The murdered man was a ghastly sight.
gibberish
nonsense; babbling Example Did you hear that foolish boy spouting gibberish about monsters from outer space?
gibe
mock Example As you gibe at their superstitious beliefs, do you realize that you, too, are guilty of similarly foolish thoughts?
giddy
light-hearted; dizzy Example He felt his giddy youth was past.
gingerly
very carefully Example To separate egg whites, first crack the egg gingerly.
girth
distance around something; circunference Example It took an extra-large cummerbund to fit around Andrew Carnegie's considerable girth.
gist
essence Example she was asked to give the gist of the essay in two sentence.
glacial
like a glacier; extremely cold Example Never a warm person, when offended hugo could seem positively glacial.
glaring
highly conspicuous; harshly bright Example glaring spelling or grammatical errors in your resume will unfavorably impress potential employers.
glaze
cover with a thin and shiny surface Example The freezing rain glazed the streets and made driving hazardous.
glean
gather leavings Example After the crops had been harvested by the machines, the peasants were permitted to glean the wheat left in the fields.
glib
fluent Example He is a glib and articulate speaker.
glimmer
shine erratically; twinkle Example In the darkness of the cavern, the glowworms hanging from the cavern roof glimmered like distant stars.
gloat
express evil satisfaction; view malevolently Example As you gloat over your ill-gotten wealth, do you think of the many victims you have defrauded?
gloss
over explain away Example No matter how hard he tried to talk around the issue, President Bush could not gloss over the fact that he had raised the taxes after all.
glossary
brief explanation of words used in the text Example I have found the glossary in this book very useful; it has eliminated many trips to the dictionary.
glossy
smooth and shining Example I want this photograph printed on glossy paper, not matte.
glower
scowl Example The angry boy glowered at his father.
glut
overstock; fill to excess Example The many manufacturers glutted the market and could not find purchasers for the many articles they had produced.
glutinous
sticky; viscous Example Molasses is a glutinous substance.
glutton
someone who eats too much Example When Mother saw that Bobby had eaten all the cookies, she called him a little glutton.
gnarled
twisted Example The gnarled oak tree had been a landmark for years and was mentioned in several deeds.
gnome
dwarf; underground spirit Example In medieval mythology, gnomes were the special guardians and inhabitants of subterranean mines.
goad
urge on Example He was goaded by his friends until he yielded to their wishes.
gorge
narrow canyon; steep, rocky cleft Example Terrified of heights, George could not bring himself to peer down into the gorge to see the rapids below.
gorge
stuff oneself Example The gluttonous guest gorged himself with food as though he had not eaten for days.
gory
bloody Example The audience shuddered as they listened to the details of the gory massacre.
gossamer
sheer; like cobwebs Example Nylon can be woven into gossaner or thick fabrics.
gouge
tear out Example In that fight, all the rules were forgotten; the adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to gouge each other's eyes out.
gourmand
epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink Example goumands lack self-restraint; if they enjoy a particular cuisine, they eat far too much of it.
gourmet
connoisseur of food and drink Example The gourmet stated that this was the best onion soup she had ever tasted.
graduated
arraged by degree (of height, difficulty, etc.) Example Margaret loved her graduated set of Russian hollow wooden dolls; she spent hours happily putting the smaller dolls into their larger counterparts.
granary
storehouse for grain Example We have reason to be thankful, for our crops were good and our granaries are full.
grandeur
impressiveness; stateliness; majesty Example No matter how often he hiked through the mountains, David never failed to be struck by the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada range.
grandiloquent
pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language Example The politician could bever speak simply; she was always grandiloquent.
grandiose
imposing; impressive Example His grandiose manner impressed those who met him for the first time.
granulate
form into grains Example Sugar that has been granulated dissolves more readily than lump sugar.
graphic
pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described Example I was particularly impressed by the graphic presentation of the storm.
grapple
wrestle; come to grips with Example He grappled with the burglar and overpowered him.
grate
make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred Example The screams of the quarreling children grated on her nerves.
gratify
please Example Her parents were gratified by her success.
gratis
free Example The company offered to give one package gratis to every purchaser of one of their products.
gratuitous
given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for Example Quit making gratuitous comments about my driving; no one asked you for your opinion.
gratuity
tip Example Many service employees rely more on gratuities than on salaries for their livelihood.
gravity
seriousness Example We could tell we were in serious trouble from the gravity of her expression.
gregarious
sociable Example Typically, party-throwers are gregarious; hermits are not.
grievance
cause of complaint Example When her supervisor ignored her complaint, she took her grievance to the union.
grill
question severely Example In violation of the Miranda law, the police grilled the suspect for several hours before reading him his rights.
grimace
a facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc. Example Even though he remained silent, his grimace indicated his displeasure.
grisly
ghastly Example She shuddered at the grisly sight.
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideous Example On Halloween people enjoy wearing groteque costumes.
grotto
small cavern Example The Blue Grotto in Capri can be entered only by small boats rowed by natives through a natural opening in the rocks.
grouse
complain; fuss Example Students traditionally grouse about the abysmal quality of "mystery meat" and similar dornitory food.
grovel
crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate Example Even though we have been defeated, we do not have to grovel before our conquerors.
grudging
unwilling; reluctant; stingy Example We received only grudging support from the mayor despite his earlier promises of aid.
gruel
thin, liquid porridge Example Our daily allotment of gruel made the meal not only monotonous but also unpalatable.
grueling
exhausting Example The marathon is a grueling race.
gruesome
grisly Example People screamed when her gruesome appearance was flashed on the screen.
gruff
rough-mannered Example Although he was blunt and gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children.
guffaw
boisterous laughter Example The loud guffaws that came from the closed room indicated that the members of the committe had not yet settled down to a serious business.
guile
deceit; duplicity Example She achieved her high position by guile and treachery.
guileless
without deceit Example He is naive, simple, and guileless; he cannot be guilty of fraud.
guise
appearance; costume Example In the guise of a plumber, the detective investigated the murder case.
gullible
easily deceived Example He preyed upon gullible people, who believed his stories of easy wealth.
gustatory
affecting the sense of taste Example The Thai restaurant offered an unusual gustatory experience for those used in a bland cuisine.
gusto
enjoyment; enthusiasm Example He accepted the assignment with such gusto that I feel he would have been satisfied with a smaller salary.
gusty
windy Example The gusty weather made sailing precarious.
gyroscope
apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc. Example By using a rotating gyroscope, they were able to stabilize the vessel, counteracting the rolling movements of the sea.
hackles
hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog Example The dog's hackles rose and he began to growl as the sound of footsteps grew louder.
hackneyed
commonplace; trite Example The English teacher criticized her story because of its hackneyed and unoriginal plot.
haggard
wasted away; gaunt Example After his long illness, he was pale and haggard.
haggle
argue about prices Example I prefer to shop in a store that has a one-price policy because, whenever I haggle with a shopkeeper, I am never certain that I paid a fair price for the articles I purchased.
halcyon
calm; peaceful Example In those halcyon days, people were not worried about sneak attacks and bombings.
hale
healthy Example After a brief illness, he was soon hale.
hallowed
blessed; consecrated Example She was laid to rest in hallowed ground.
hallucination
delusion Example I think you were frightened by a hallucination that you created in you own mind.
halting
hesitant; faltering Example Novice extemporaneous speakers often talk in a halting fashion as they grope for the right words.
hamper
obstruct Example The minority party agreed not to hamper the efforts of the leaders to secure a lasting peace.
hap
chance; luck Example In his poem hap, Thomas Hardy objects to the part chance plays in our lives.
haphazard
random; by chance Example His haphazard reading left him unaquainted with the authors of the books.
hapless
unfortunate Example This hapless creature had never known a moment's pleasure.
harangue
long, passionate, and vehement speech Example In her lengthy harangue, the principal berated the offenders.
harass
annoy by repeated attacks Example When he could not pay his bills as quickly as he had promised, he was harrassed by his creditors.
harbinger
forerunner Example The crocus is an early harbinger of spring.
harbor
provide a refuge for; hide Example The church harbored illegal aliens who were political refugees.
hardy
sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weather Example We asked the gardening expert to recommend particularly hardy plants that could withstand our harsh New England winters.
harping
tiresome dwelling on a subject Example After he had reminded me several times about what he had done for me I told him to stop his harping on my indebtedness to him.
harrow
break up ground after plowing; torture Example I don't want to harrow you at this time by asking you to recall the details of your unpleasant experience.
harry
harass, annoy, torment; raid Example The guerrilla band harried the enemy nightly.
hatch
deck opening; lid covering a deck opening Example The latch on the hatch failed to catch, so the hatch remained unlatched.
haughtiness
pride; arrogance Example I resent his haughtiness because he is no better than we are.
hazardous
dangerous Example Your occupation is too hazardous for insurance companies to consider your application.
hazy
slightly obscure Example In hazy weather, you cannot see the top of this mountain.
headlong
hasty; rash Example The slave seized the unexpected chance to make a headlong dash across the border to freedom.
headstrong
stubborn; willful; unyielding Example Because she refused to marry the man her parents had chosen for her, everyone scolded Minna and called her a foolish, headstrong girl.
heckler
person who verbally harasses others Example The heckler kept interrupting the speaker with rude remarks.
hedonism
belief that pleasure is the sole aim in life Example hedonism and asceticism are opposing philosophies of human behavior.
heedless
not noticing; disregarding Example He drove on, heedless of the warnings that the road was dangerous.
hegemony
dominance, especially of one nation over others Example As one Eastern European nation after another declared its independence, commentators marveled at the sudden breakdown of the once monolithic Soviet hegemony.
heinous
atrocious; hatefully bad Example Hitler's heinous crimes will never be forgotten.
herbivorous
grain-eating Example Some herbivorous animals have two stomachs for digesting their food.
heresy
opinion contrary to popular belief or to accepted religion Example He was threatened with excommunication because his remarks were considered to be pure heresy.
heretic
person who maintains opinions contrary to the doctrines of the church Example She was punished by the Spanish Inquisition because she was a heretic.
hermetic
sealed by fusion so as to be airtight Example After these bandages are sterilized, they are placed in hermetic containers.
hermetic
obscure and mysterious; occult Example It is strange to consider that modern chemistry originated in the hermetic teachings of the ancient alchemists.
hermitage
home of a hermit Example Even in his remote hermitage he could not escape completely from the world.
herpetologist
one who studies reptiles Example As a boy, Indiana Jones had a traumatic experience involving snakes; sensibly enough, he studies to be archaeologist, not a herpetologist.
heterodox
unorthodox; unconventional Example To those who upheld the belief that the earth did not move, Galileo's theory that the earth circled the sun was disturbingly heterodox.
heterogeneous
dissimilar Example In a heterogeneous group, we have an unassorted assemblage, while in a homogeneous group we have people or things that have common traits.
hew
cut to pieces with ax or sword Example The cavalry rushed into melee and hewed the enemy with their swords.
heyday
time of greatest success; prime Example In their heyday, the San Francisco Forty-Niners won the Super Bowl two years running.
hiatus
gap; pause Example Except for a brief two-year hiatus, during which she enrolled in the Peace Corps, Ms. Clements has devoted herself to her medical career.
hibernal
wintry Example Bears prepare for their long hibernal sleep by overeating.
hibernate
sleep throughout the winter Example Bears are one of the many species of animals that hibernate.
hierarchy
body divided into ranks Example It was difficult to step out of one's place in this hierarchy.
hieroglyphic
picture writing Example The discovery of the Rosetta Stone enabled scholars to read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
hilarity
boisterous mirth Example The hilarity is improper on this solemn day of mourning.
hindmost
furthest behind Example The coward could always be found in the hindmost lines whenever a battle was being waged.
hindrance
block; obstacle Example Stalled cars along the highway are a hindrance to traffic that tow trucks should remove without delay.
hinterlands
back country Example They seldom had visitors, living as they did way out in the hinderlands.
hireling
one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously) Example In a matter of such importance, I do not wish to deal with hirelings; I must meet with the chief.
hirsute
hairy Example He was a hitsute individual with a heavy black beard.
histrionic
theatrical Example He was proud of his histrionic ability and wanted to paly the role of Hamlet.
hoard
stockpile; accumulate for future use Example Whenever there are rumors of a food shortage, people are tempted to hoard food.
hoary
white with age Example The man was hoary and wrinkled when he was 70.
hoax
trick; practical joke Example Embarrassed by the hoax, he reddened and left the room.
holocaust
destruction by fire Example Citizens of San Francisco remember that the destruction of the city was caused not by the earthquake but by the holocaust that followed.
holster
pistol case Example Even when he was not in uniform, he carried a holster and pistol under his arm.
homage
honor; tribute Example In her speech she tried to pay homage to a great man.
homeostasis
tendency of a system to maintain relative stability Example A breakdown of the body's immune system severely undermines the body's ability to maintain homeostasis.
homespun
domestic; made at home Example homespun wit, like homespun cloth, was often coarse and plain.
homily
sermon; serious warning Example His speeches were always homilies, advising his listeners to repent and reform.
homogeneous
of the same kind Example Many educators try to put pupils of similar abilities in the same class because they believe that his homogeneous grouping is advisable.
hone
sharpen Example To make shaving easier, he honed his razor with great care.
hoodwink
deceive; delude Example Having been hoodwinked once by the fast-talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went to purchase a used car.
horde
crowd Example Just before Christmas the stores are filled with hordes of shoppers.
hortatory
encouraging; exhortive Example The crowd listened to his hortatory statements with ever-growing excitement; finally they rushed from the hall to carry to his suggestions.
horticultural
pertaining to cultivation of gardens Example When he bought his house, he beganto look for flowers and decorative shrubs, and began to read books dealing with horticultural matters.
hovel
shack; small, wretched house Example He wondered how poor people could stand living in such a hovel.
hover
hang about; wait nearby Example The police helicopter hovered above the accident.
hubbub
confused uproar Example The marketplace was a scene of hubbub and excitement.
hubris
arrogance; excessive self-conceit Example Filled with hubris, Lear refused to heed his friends' warnings.
hue
color; aspect Example The aviary contained birds of every possible hue.
hue
outcry Example When her purse was snatched, she raised such a hue and cry that the thief was captured.
humane
kind Example His humane and considerate treatment of the unfortunate endeared him to all.
humdrum
dull; monotonous Example After years of adventure, he could not settle down to a humdrum existence.
humid
damp Example She could not stand the humid climate and moved to a drier area.
humility
humbleness of spirit Example He spoke with a humility and lack of pride that impressed his listeners.
hummock
small hill Example The ascent of the hummock is not difficult and the view from the hilltop is ample reward tor the effort.
humus
substance formed by decaying vegetable matter Example In order to improve his garden, he spread humus over his lawn and flower beds.
hurtle
crash; rush Example The runaway train hurtled toward disaster.
husbandry
frugality; thrift; agriculture Example He accumulated his small fortune by diligence and husbandry.
hybrid
mongrel; mixed breed Example Mendel's formula explains the appearance of hybrids and pure species in breeding.
hydrophobia
fear of water; rabies Example A dog that bites a human being must be observed for symptoms of hydrophobia.
hyperbole
exaggeration; overstatement Example This salesman is guilty of hyperbole in describing his product; it is wise to discount his claims.
hypercritical
excessively exacting Example You are hypercritical in your demands for perfection; we all make mistakes.
hypochondriac
person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness Example The doctor prescribed chocolate pills for his patient who was a hypocondriac.
hypocritical
pretending to be virtuous; deceiving Example I resent his hypocritical posing as a friend for I know he is interested only in his own advancement.
hypothetical
based on assumptions or hypotheses Example Why do we have to consider hypothetical cases when we have actual case histories that we may examine?
ichthyology
study of fish Example Jacques Cousteau's rpograms about sea life have advanced the cause of ichthyology.
icon
religious image; idol Example The icons on the walls of the church were painted in the 13th century.
iconoclastic
attacking cherished traditions Example George Bernard Shaw's iconoclastic plays often startled more conventional people.
ideology
ideas of a group of people Example That ideology is dangerous to this country because it embraces undemocratic philosophies.
idiom
spcial usage in language Example I could not understand their idioms because literal translation made no sense.
idiosyncrasy
peculiarity; eccentricity Example One of his personal idiosyncrasies was his habit of rinsing all cutlery given him in a restaurant.
idiosyncratic
private; peculiar to an individual Example Such behavior is idiosyncratic, it is as easily identifiable as a signature.
idolatry
worship of idols; excessive admiration Example Such idolatry of singers of country music is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth.
idyllic
charmingly carefree; simple Example Far from the city, she led an idyllic existence in her rural retreat.
igneous
produced by fire; volcanic Example Lava, pumice, and other igneous rocks are found in great abundance around Mount Vesuvius near Naples.
ignite
kindle; light Example When Desi crooned, "Baby, light my fire," literal-minded Lucy looked around for some paper to ignite.
ignoble
of lowly origin; unworthy Example This plan is inspired by ignoble motives and I must, therefore, oppose it.
ignominious
disgraceful Example The country smarted under the ignominious defeat and dreamed of the day when it would be victorious.
illicit
illegal Example The defense attorney claimed that the police had entrapped his client; that is, they had elicited the illicit action of which they now accuse of him.
illimitable
infinite Example Human beings, having explored the far corners of the earth, are now reaching out into illimitable space.
illuminate
brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten Example Just as a lamp can illuminate a dark room, a perceptive comment can illuminate a knotty problem.
illusion
misleading vision Example It is easy to create an optical illusion in which lines of equal length appear different.
illusive
deceiving Example This is only a mirage; let us not be fooled by its illusive effect.
illusory
deceptive; not real Example Unfortunately, the costs of running the lemonade stand were so high that Tom's profits proved illusory.
imbalance
lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion Example Because of the great imbalance between the number of men and women invited, the dance was unsuccessful.
imbecility
weakness of mind Example I am amazed at the imbecility of the readers of these trashy magazines.
imbibe
drink in Example The dry soil imbibed the rain quickly.
imbroglio
complicated situation; perplexity; entanglement Example He was called in to settle the imbroglio but failed to bring harmony into the situation.
imbue
saturate, fill Example His visits to the famous Gothic cathedrals imbued him with feelings of awe and reverence.
immaculate
pure; spotless Example The West Point cadets were immaculate as they lined up for inspection.
imminent
near at hand; impending Example Rosa was such a last-minute worker that she could never start writing a paper till the deadline was imminent.
immobility
state of being immovable Example Modern armies cannot afford the luxury of immobility, as they are vulnerable to attack while standing still.
immolate
offer as a sacrifice Example The tribal kind offered to immolate his daughter to quiet the angry gods.
immure
imprison; shut up in confinement Example For the two weeks before the examination, the student immureed himself in his room and concentrated upon his studies.
immutable
unchangeable Example Scientists are constantly seeking to discover the immutable laws of nature.
impair
worsen; diminish in value Example This arrest will impair her reputation in the community.
impale
pierce Example He was impaled by the spear hurled by his adversary.
impalpable
imperceptible; intangible Example The ash is so fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a fine layer covering the window ledge.
impasse
predicament from which there is no escape Example In this impasse, all turned to prayer as their last hope.
impassive
without feeling; not affected by pain Example The Native American has been incorrectly depicted as an impassive individual, undemonstrative and stoical.
impeach
charge with crime in office; indict Example The angry congressman wanted to impeach the President for his misdeeds.
impeccable
faultless Example He was proud of his impeccable manners.
impecunious
without money Example Now that he was wealthy, he gladly contributed to funds to assist impecunious and disbled persons.
impede
hinder; block Example The special prosecutor determined that the Attorney General, though inept, had not intentionally set out to impede the progress of the investigation.
impediment
hindrance; stumbling-block Example She had a speech impediment that prevented her from speaking clearly.
impending
nearing; approaching Example The entire country was saddened by the news of his impending death.
impenetrable
not able to be pierced or entered Example How could the murderer have gotten into the locked room? To Watson, the mystery, like the room, was impenetrable.
impenitent
not repentant Example We could see by his brazen attitude that he was impenitent.
imperial
like an emperor; related to an empire Example When hotel owner Leona Helmsley appeared in ads as Queen Leona standing guard over the Palace Hotel, her critics mocked her imperial fancies.
imperiousness
lordliness; domineering manner; arrogance Example His imperiousness indicated that he had long been accustomed to assuming command.
impermeable
impervious; not permitting passage through its substance Example This new material is impermeable to liquids.
impertinent
insolent Example I regard your remarks as impertinent and I resent them.
imperturbable
calm; placid Example Wellington remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation in spite of the hyteria and panic all around him.
impervious
not penetrable; not permitting passage through Example You cannot change their habits for their minds are impervious to reasoning.
impetuous
violent; hasty; rash Example We tried to curb his impetuous behavior because we felt that in his haste he might offend some people.
impetus
moving force; incentive; stimulus Example A new federal highway program would create jobs and five added impetus to our economic recovery.
impiety
irreverence; wickedness Example We must regard your blasphemy as an act of impiety.
impinge
infringe; touch; collide with Example How could they be married without impinging on one another's freedom?
impious
irreverent Example The congregation was offended by her impious remarks.
implacable
incapable of being pacified Example Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family.
implausible
unlikely; unbelievable Example Though her alibi seened implausible, it in fact turned out to be true.
implement
put into effect; supply with tools Example The mayor was unwilling to implement the plan until she was sure it had the governor's backing.
implication
that which is hinted at or suggested Example If I understand the implications of your remark, you do not trust our captain.
implicit
understood but not stated Example Jack never told Jill he adored her; he believed his love was implicit in his deeds.
implore
beg Example He implored her to give him a second chance.
imply
suggest a meaning not expressed Example Even though your statement does not declare that you are at war with that country, your actions imply that that is the actual situation.
impolitic
not wise Example I think it is impolitic to raise this issue at the present time because the public is too angry.
imponderable
weightless Example I can evaluate the data gathered in this study; the imponderable items are not so easily analyzed.
import
significance Example I feel that you have not grasped the full import of the message sent tous by the enemy.
importunate
urging; demanding Example He tried to hide from his importunate creditors until his allowance arrived.
importune
beg persistently Example Democratic and Republican phone solicitors importuned her for contributions so frequently that she decided to give nothing to either party.
imposture
assuming a false identity; masquerade Example She was imprisoned for her imposture of a doctor.
impotent
weak; ineffective Example Although he wished to break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent in resisisting the craving for a cigarette.
imprecation
curse Example Roused from the bed at what he considered an ungodly hour, Roy muttered imprecations under his breath.
impregnable
invulnerable Example Until the development of the airplane as a military weapon, the fort was considered impregnable.
impromptu
without previous preparation Example Her listeners were amazed that such a thorough presentation could be made in an impromptu speech.
impropriety
state of being inappropriate Example Because of the impropriety of his costume, he was denied entrance into the dining room.
improvident
thriftless Example He was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to "save for a rainy day."
improvise
compose on the spur of the moment Example She would sit at the piano and improvise for hours on themes from Bach and Handel.
imprudent
lacking caution; injudicious Example It is imprudent to exercise vigorously and become overheated when you are unwell.
impugn
doubt; challenge; gainsay Example I cannot impugn your honesty without evidence.
impuissance
powerlessness; feebleness Example The lame duck President was frustrated by his shift from enormous power to relative impuissance.
impunity
freedom from punishment Example The bully mistreated everyone in the class with impunity for he felt that no one would dare retaliate.
impute
attribute; ascribe Example If I wished to impute blame to the officers in charge of this program, I would state my feelings definitely and immediately.
inadvertently
carelessly; unintentionally; by oversight Example She inadvertently omitted two questions on the examination and mismarked her answer sheet.
inalienable
not to be taken away; nontransferable Example The Declaration of Independence mentions the inalienable rights that all of us possess.
inane
silly; senseless Example Such comments are inane because they do not help us solve our program.
inanimate
lifeless Example she was asked to identify the still and inanimate body.
inarticulate
speechless; producing indistinct speech Example He became inarticulate with rage and uttered sounds without meaning.
inaugurate
begin formally; install in office Example The candidate promised that he would inaugurate a new nationwide health care plan as soon as he was inaugurated as president.
incandescent
stikingly bright; shining with intense heat Example If you leave on an incandescent light bulb, it quickly grows too hot to touch.
incantation
singing or chanting of magical formula Example Uttering incantations to make the brew more potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron.
incapacitate
disable Example During the winter, many people were incapacitated by respiratory ailments.
incarcerate
imprison Example The warden will incarcerate the felon after conviction.
incarnate
endowed with flesh; personified Example Your attitude is so fiendish that you must be a devil incarnate.
incarnation
act of assuming a human body and human nature Example The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a basic tenet of Christian theology.
incendiary
arsonist Example The fire spread in such an unusual manner that the fire department chiefs were certain that it had been set by an incendiary.
incense
enrage; infuriate Example Unkindness to children incensed her.
incentive
spur; motive Example Students who dislike school must be given an incentive to learn.
inception
start; beginning Example She was involved with the project from its inception.
incessant
uninterrupted Example The crickets kept up an incessant chirping that disturbed our attempts to fall asleep.
inchoate
recently begun; rudimentary; elementary Example Before the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass.
incidence
rate of occurrence; particular occurrence Example Health professionals expressed great concern over the high incidence of infant mortality in major urban areas.
incidental
not essential; minor Example The scholarship covered his major expenses at college and some of his incidental expenses as well.
incipient
beginning; in an early stage Example I will go to sleep early for I want to break an incipient cold.
incisive
cutting; sharp Example His incisive remarks made us see the fallacy in our plans.
incite
arouse to action Example The demogogue incited the mob to take action into its own hands.
inclement
stormy; unkind Example I like to read a good book in inclement weather.
incline
slope; slant Example The architect recommended that the nursing home's ramp be rebuilt because its incline was too steep for wheelchairs.
inclined
tending or leaning toward; bent Example Though I am inclined to be skeptical, the witness's manner inclines me to believe his story.
inclusive
tending to include all Example The comedian turned down the invitation to join the Player's Club, saying any club that would let him in was too inclusive for him.
incognito
with identity concealed; using an assumed name Example The monarch enjoyed traveling throughthe town incognito and mingling with the populace.
incoherent
unintelligible; muddled; illogical Example The bereaved father sobbed and stammered, his words becoming almost incoherent in his grief.
incommodious
not spacious; inconvenient Example In their incommodious quarters, they had to improvise for closet space.
incompatible
inharmonious Example The married couple argued incessantly and finally decided to separate because they were incompatible.
incongruity
lack of harmony; absurdity Example The incongruity of his wearing sneakers with formal attire amused the observers.
inconsequential
insignificant; unimportant Example Brushing off Ali's apologies for having broken the wine glass, Tamara said, "Don't worry about it; it's inconsequential."
inconsistency
state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness Example How are lawyers different from agricultural inspectors? Where lawyers check inconsistencies in witnesses' statements, agricultural inspectors check inconsistencies in Grade A eggs.
incontinent
lacking self-restraint Example His incontinent behavior off stage shocked many people and they refused to attend the plays and movies in which he appeared.
incontrovertible
indisputable Example We must yield to the incontrovertible evidence that you have presented and free your client.
incorporate
introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite Example Breaking with precedent, President Truman ordered the military to incorporate blacks into every branch of the armed services.
incorporeal
immaterial; without a material body Example We must devote time to the needs of our incorporeal mind as well as our corporeal body.
incorrigible
uncorrectable Example Though Widow Douglass hoped to reform Huck, Miss Watson pronounced him incorrigible and said he would come to no good end.
incredulity
a tendency to disbelief Example Your incredulity in the face of all the evidence is hard to understand.
incredulous
withholding belief; skeptical Example When Jack claimed he hadn't eaten the jelly doughnut, Jill took an incredulous look at his smeared face and laughed.
increment
increase Example The new contract calls for a 10 percent increment in salary for each employee for the next two years.
incriminate
accuse; serve as evidence against Example The witness's testimony against the racketeers incriminates some high public officials as well.
incubate
hatch; scheme Example Inasmuch as our supply of electricity is cut off, we shall have to rely on the hens to incubate these eggs.
incubus
burden; mental care; nightmare Example The incubus of financial worry helped bring on her nervous breakdown.
incumbent
officeholder Example The newly elected public official received valuable advice from the present incumbent.
incur
bring upon oneself Example His parents refused to pay any future debts he might incur.
incursion
temporary invasion Example The nightly incursions and hit-and-run raids of our neighbors across the border tried the patience of the country to the point where we decided to retaliate in force.
indefatigable
tireless Example He was indefatigable in his constant efforts to raise funds for the Red Cross.
indemnify
make secure against loss; compensate for loss Example The city will indemnify all home owners whose property is spoiled by this project.
indenture
bind as servant or apprentice to master Example Many immigrants could come to America only after they had indentured themselves for several years.
indeterminate
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite Example That interest rates shall rise appears certain; when they will do so, however, remains indeterminate.
indicative
suggestive; implying Example A lack of appetite may be indicative of a major mental or physical disorder.
indict
charge Example If the grand jury indicts the suspect, he will go to trial.
indifferent
unmoved; lacking concern Example Because she felt no desire to marry, she was indifferent to his constant proposals.
indigence
poverty Example Neither the economists nor the political scientists have found a way to wipe out the inequities of wealth and eliminate indigence from our society.
indigenous
native Example Tobacco is one of the indigenous plants that the early explorers found in this country.
indignation
anger ar an injustice Example He felt indignation at the ill-treatment of the helpless animals.
indignity
offensive or insulting treatment Example Although he seemed to accept cheerfully the indignities heaped upon him, he was inwardly very angry.
indiscriminate
choosing at random; confused Example She disapproved of her son's indiscriminate television viewing and decided to restrict him to educational programs.
indisputable
too certain to be disputed Example In the face of these indisputable statements, I withdraw my complaint.
indissoluble
permanent Example The indissoluble bonds of marriage are all too often being dissolved.
indite
write; compose Example Cyrano indited many letters for Christian.
indolence
laziness Example He outgrew his youthful indolence to become a model of industry and alertness on the job.
indomitable
unconquerable Example The founders of our country had indomitable willpower.
indubitably
beyond a doubt Example Because her argument was indubitably valid, the judge accepted it.
induce
persuade; bring about Example After the quarrel, Tina said nothing could induce her to talk to Tony again.
inductive
pertaining to induction or preceeding from the specific to the general Example The discovery of the planet Pluto is an excellent example of the results that can be obtained from inductive reasoning.
indulgent
humoring; yielding; lenient Example indulgent parents spoil their children by giving in to their every whim.
inebriety
habitual intoxication Example Because of his inebriety, he was discharged from his position as family chauffeur.
ineffable
unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech Example Such ineffable joy must be experienced; it cannot be described.
ineffectual
not effective; weak Example Because the candidate failed to get across his message to the public, his campaign was ineffectual.
ineluctable
irresistable; not to be escaped Example He felt that his fate was ineluctible and refused to make any attempt to improve his lot.
inept
lacking skill; inadequate; inappropriate Example inept as a carpenter, Ira was all thumbs.
inequity
unfairness Example In demanding equal pay for equal work, women protest the basic inequity of a system that allots greater financial rewards to men.
inerrancy
infallibility Example Jane refused to believe in the pope's inerrancy, reasoning: "All human beings are capable of error. The pope is a human being. Therefore, he pope is capable of error.
inertia
state of being inert or indisposed to move Example Our inertia in this matter may prove disastrous; we must move to aid our allies immediately.
inevitable
unavoidable Example Death and taxes are both inevitable.
inexorable
relentless; unyielding; implacable Example After listening to the pleas for clemency, the judge was inexorable and gave the convicted man the maximum punishment allowed by law.
infallible
unerring Example We must remember that none of us is infallible; we all make mistakes.
infamous
notoriously bad Example Jesse James was an infamous outlaw.
infantile
childish; infantlike Example When will he outgrow such infantile behavior?
infer
deduce; conclude Example We must be particularly cautious when we infer that a person is guilty on the basis of circumstantial evidence.
infernal
pertaining to hell; devilish Example They could think of no way to hinder his infernal scheme.
infidel
unbeliever Example The Saracens made war against tne infidels.
infiltrate
pass into or through; penetrate (an organization) sneakily Example In order to infiltrate enemy lines at night without being seen, the scouts darkened their faces and wore black coveralls.
infinitesimal
very small Example In the twentieth century, physicists have made their greatest discoveries about the characteristics of infinitesimal objects like the atom and its parts.
infirmity
weakness Example Her greatest infirmity was lack of willpower.
inflated
exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas) Example His claims about the new product were inflated; it did not work as well as he had promised.
influx
flowing into Example The influx of refugees into the country has taxed the relief agencies severely.
infraction
violation Example Because of his many infractions of school regulations, he was suspended by the dean.
infringe
violate; encroach Example I think your machine infringes on my patent and intend to sue.
ingenious
clever Example He came up with a use for Styrofoam packing balls that was so ingenious that his business school professors declared it was marketable.
ingenuous
naive; young and unsophisticated Example Although she was over forty, the movie star still insisted that she be cast as an ingenuous sweet young thing.
ingrained
deeply established; firmly rooted Example Try as they would, the missionaries were unable to uproot the ingrained superstitions of the natives.
ingrate
ungrateful person Example That ingrate Bob sneered at the tie I gave him.
ingratiate
become popular with Example He tried to ingratiate himself into her parents' good graces.
inherent
firmly established by nature or habit Example His inherent love of justice compelled him to come to their aid.
inhibit
prohibit; restrain Example The child was not inhibited in her responses.
inimical
unfriendly; hostile Example She felt that they were inimical and were hoping for her downfall.
inimitable
matchless; not able to be imitated Example We admire Auden for his inimitable use of language; he is one of a kind.
iniquitous
unjust; wicked Example I cannot approve of the iniquitous methods you used to gain your present position.
initiate
begin; originate; receive into a group Example The college is about to initiate a program for reducing math anxiety among students.
injurious
harmful Example Smoking cigarettes can be injurious to your health.
inkling
hint Example This came as a complete surprise to me as I did not have the slightest inkling of your plans.
innate
inborn Example His innate talent for music was soon recognized by his parents.
innocuous
harmless Example Let him drink it; it is innocuous and will have no ill effect.
innovation
change; introduction of something new Example She loved innovatins just because they were new.
innuendo
hint; insinuation Example I can defend myself against direct accusations; innuendos and oblique attacks on my character are what trouble me.
inopportune
untimely; poorly chosen Example A rock concert is an inopportune setting for a quiet conversation.
inordinate
unrestrained; excessive Example She had an inordinate fondness for candy.
inquisitor
questioner (specially harsh); investigator Example Fearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret police, Marsha faced her inquisitors with trepidation.
insalubrious
unwholesome; not healthful Example The mosquito-ridden swamp was an insalubrious place, a breeding ground for malarial contagion.
insatiable
not easily satisfied; greedy Example Welty's thirst for knowledge was insatiable; she was in the library day and night.
inscrutable
impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious Example Experienced poker players try to keep their expressions inscrutable, hiding their reactions to the cards behind a so-called poker face.
insensate
without feeling Example She lay there as insensate as a log.
insensible
unconscious; unresponsive Example Sherry and I are very different; at times when I would be covered with embarrassment, she seems insensible to shame.
insidious
treacherous; stealthy; sly Example The fifth column is insidious because it works secretly within our territory for our defeat.
insinuate
hint; imply Example What are you trying to insinuate by that remark?
insipid
lacking in flavor; dull Example Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid: both lack sparkle.
insolence
imprudent disrespect; haughtiness Example How dare you treat me so rudely! The manager will hear of you insolence.
insolvent
bankrupt; lacking money to pay Example When rumors that he was insolvent reached his creditors, they began to press him for payment of the money due them.
insomnia
wakefulness; inability to sleep Example He refused to join us in a midnight cup of coffee because he claimed it gave him insomnia.
insouciant
indifferent; without concern or care Example Your insouciant attitude at such a critical moment indicates that you do not understand the gravity of the situation.
instigate
urge; start; provoke Example I am afraid that this statement will instigate a revolt.
insubordinate
disobedient Example The insubordinate private was confined to the barracks.
insubstantial
lacking substance; insignificant; frail Example His hopes for a career in acting proved insubstantial; no one would cast him, even in an insubstantial role.
insularity
narrow-mindedness; isolation Example The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anyuthing foreign.
insuperable
insurmountable; invincible Example In the face of insuperable difficulties they maintained their courage and will to resist.
insurgent
rebellious Example We will not discuss reforms until the insurgent troops have returned to their homes.
insurrection
rebellion; uprising Example Given the current state of affairs in South Africa, an insurrection seems unavoidable.
intangible
not able to be perceived by touch; vague Example Though the financial benefits of his Oxford post were meager, Lewis was drawn to it by its intangible rewards: prestige, intellectual freedom, the fellowship of his peers.
integral
complete; necessary for completeness Example Physical education is an integral part of our curriculum; a sound mind and a sound body are complementary.
integrate
make whole; combine; make into one unit Example She tried to integrate all their activities into one program.
integrity
uprightness; wholeness Example Lincoln, whose personal integrity has inspired millions, fought a civil war to maintain the integrity of the republic, that these United States might remain undivided for all time.
intellect
higher mental powers Example He thought college would develop his intellect.
intelligentsia
intellectuals; members of the educated elite Example She preferred discussions about sports and politics to the literary conversations of the intelligentsia.
inter
bury Example They are going to inter the body tomorrow ar Broadlawn Cemetry.
interdict
prohibit; forbid Example Civilized nations must interdict the use of nuclear weapons if we expect out society to live.
interim
meantime Example The company will not consider our proposal until next week; in the interim, let us proceed as we have in the past.
interloper
intruder Example The merchant thought of his competitors as interlopers who were stealing away his trade.
interminable
endless Example Although his speech lasted for only twenty minutes, it seemed interminable to his bored audience.
intermittent
periodic; on and off Example Our picnic was marred by intermittent rains.
internecine
mutually destructive Example The rising death toll on both sides indicates the internecine natire of his conflict.
interpolate
insert between Example She talked so much that I could not interpolate a single remark.
interregnum
period between two reigns Example Henry VIII desperately sought a male heir because he feared the civil strife that might occur if any prolonged interregum succeeded his death.
interrogate
question closely; cross-examine Example Knowing that the Nazis would interrogate him about his background, the secret agent invented a cover story that would help him meet their quesions.
intervene
come between Example She intervened in the argument between her two sons.
intimate
hint Example She intimated rather than stated her preferences.
intimidation
fear Example A ruler who maintains his power by intimidation is bound to develop clandestine resistance.
intractable
unruly; refractory Example The horse was intractable and refused to enter the starting gate.
intransigence
state of stubborn unwillingness to compromise Example The intransigence of both parties in the dispute makes an early settlement almost impossible to obtain.
intrepid
fearless Example For his intrepid conduct in battle, he was promoted.
intrinsically
essentially; inherently; naturally Example Although my grandmother's china has intrinsically little value, I shall always cherish it for the memories it evokes.
introspective
looking within oneself Example We all have our introspective moments during which we examine our souls.
introvert
one who is introspective; inclined to think more about oneself Example In his poetry, he reveals that he is an introvert by his intense interest in his own problems.
intrude
trespass; enter as an uninvited person Example She hesitated to intrude on their conversation.
intuition
power of knowing without reasoning Example She claimed to know the truth by intuition.
inundate
overflow; flood Example The tremendous waves inundated the town.
inured
accustomed; hardened Example She became inured to the Alaskan cold.
invalidate
weaken; destroy Example The relatives who received little or nothing sought to invalidate the will by claiming that the deceased had not been in his right mind when he signed the document.
invective
abuse Example He had expected criticism but not the invective that greeted his proposal.
inveigh
denounce; utter censure or invective Example He inveighed against the demagoguery of the previous speaker and urged that the audience reject his philosophy as dangerous.
inveigle
lead astray; wheedle Example She was inveigled into joining the club after an initial reluctance.
inverse
opposite Example There is an inverse ratio between the strength of light and its distance.
invert
turn upside down or inside out Example When he inverted his body in a hand stand, he felt the blood rush to his head.
inveterate
deep-rooted; habitual Example She is an inveterate smoker and cannot break the habit.
invidious
designed to create ill will or envy Example We disregarded her invidious remarks because we realized how jealous she was.
invincible
unconquerable Example Superman is invincible.
inviolability
security from being destroyed, corrupted or profaned Example They respected the inviolability of her faith and did not try to change her manner of living.
invoke
call upon; ask for Example She invoked her advisor's aid in filling out her financial aid forms.
invulnerable
incapable of injury Example Achilles was invulnerable except in his heel.
iota
very small quantity Example She hadn't an iota of common sense.
irascible
irritable; easily angered Example Her irascible temper frightened me.
irate
angry Example When John's mother found out that he had overthrown his checking account for the third month in a row, she was so irate that she could scarcely speak to him.
iridescent
exhibiting rainbowlike colors Example She admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water.
irksome
annoying; tedious Example He found working on the assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the operation he had to perform.
ironic
occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner Example It is ironic that his success came when he least wanted it.
irony
hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning Example Gradually his listeners began to realize that the excessive praise he was lavishing was merely irony; he was actually denouncing his opponent.
irreconsilable
incompatible; not able to be resolved Example Because the separated couple were irreconcilable, the marriage counselor recommended a divorce.
irrelevant
not applicable; unrelated Example This statement is irrelevant and should be disregarded by the jury.
irremediable
incurable; uncorrectable Example The error she made was irremediable; she could see no way to repair it.
irreparable
not able to be corrected or repaired Example Your apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have done to her reputation.
irrepressible
unable to be restrained or held back Example Her high spirits were irrepressible.
irresolute
uncertain how to act; weak Example She had no respect for him because he seemed weak-willed and irresolute.
irreverent
lacking proper respect Example The worshippers resented her irreverent remarks about their faith.
irrevocable
unalterable Example Let us not brood over past mistakes since they are irrevocable.
isotope
varying form of an element Example The study of the isotopes of uranium led to the development of the nuclear bomb.
isthmus
narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land Example In a magnificent feat of engineering, Goethals and his men cut through the isthmus of Panama in constructing the Panama Canal.
itinerant
wandering; traveling Example He was an itinerant peddler and traveled through Pennsylvania and Virginia selling his wares.
itinerary
plan of a trip Example Before leaving for his first visit to France and England, he discussed his itinerary with people who had been there and with his travel agent.
intersperse
scatter Example The molecules will intersperse throughout the space according to the second law of thermodynamics.
inquisitive
unduly curious; prying; seeking knowledge Example We need more inquisitive students in this school; lectures are dull.
jaded
fatigued; surfeited Example He looked for exotic foods to stimulate his jaded appetite.
jargon
language used by special group; gibberish Example We tried to understand the jargon of the peddlers in the market place but could not find any basis for comprehension.
jaundiced
yellowed; prejudiced; envious Example She gazed at the painting with jaundiced eyes; she knew it was better than hers.
jaunt
trip; short journey Example He took a quick jaunt to Atlantic City.
jaunty
lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree Example In Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly sang and danced his way throughtthe lighthearted title number in a properly jaunty style.
jeopardy
exposure to death or danger Example Legally, one cannot be placed in double jeopardy.
jettison
throw overboard Example In order to enable the ship to ride safely through the storm, the captain had to jettison much of his cargo.
jingoism
extremely aggressive and militant patriotism Example We must be careful to prevent a spirit of jingoism from spreading at this time.
jocose
given to joking Example The salesman was so jocose that many of his customers suggested that he become a stand-up comic.
jocular
said or done in jest Example Do not take my jocular remarks seriously.
jocund
merry Example Santa Claus is always vivacious and jocund.
jollity
gaiety; cheerfulness Example The festive Christmas dinner was a merry one, and old and young alike joined in the general jollity.
jostle
shove; bump Example In the subway he was jostled by the crowds.
jovial
good natured; merry Example A frown seemed out of place on his invariably jovial face.
jubilation
rejoicing Example There was great jubilitation when the armistice was announced.
judicious
sound in judgment; wise Example At a key moment in his life, he made a judicious investment that was the foundation of his later wealth.
juggernaut
irresistible crushin force Example Nothing could survive in the path of the juggernaut.
juncture
crisis;joining point Example At this critical juncture, let us think carefully before determining the course we shall follow.
junket
trip, especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense Example Though she maintained she had gone abroad to collect firsthand data on the Common Market, the opposition claimed that her trip was merely a political junket.
junta
group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal Example As soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the execution of all of the members of the junta.
jurisprudence
science of law Example He was more a student of jurisprudence than a practitioner of the law.
juxtapose
place side by side Example Comparison will be easier if you juxtapose the two objects.
kaleidoscope
tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc., Example produce interesting symmetrical effects People found a new source of entertainment while peering through the kaleidoscope; they found the everchanging patterns fascinating.
ken
range of knowledge Example I cannot answer your question since this matter is beyond my ken.
killjoy
grouch; spoilsport Example At breakfast we had all been enjoying our bacon and eggs until that killjoy John started talking about how bad animal fats and cholesterol were for our health.
kindle
start a fire; inspire Example Her teacher's praise kindled a spark a hope inside her.
kindred
related; similar in nature or character Example Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were two kindred spirits.
kinetic
producing motion Example Designers of the electric automobile find that their greatest obstacle lies in the development of light and efficient storage batteries, the source of the kinetic energy needed to propel the vehicle.
kismet
fate Example kismet is the Arabic word for "fate."
kleptomaniac
person who has a compulsive desire to steal Example They discovered that the wealthy customer was a kleptomaniac when they caught her stealing some cheap trinkets.
knavery
rascality Example We cannot condone such knavery in public officials.
knead
mix; work dough Example Her hands grew strong from kneading bread.
knell
tolling of a bell, especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell Example "The curfew tolls the knell of parting day."
knit
contract into wrinkles Example Whenever David worries, his brow knits in a frown.
knoll
little, round hill Example Robert Louis Stevenson's grave is on a knoll in Samoa; to reach the grave site, you must climb uphill and walk a short distance along a marked path.
knotty
intricate; difficult; tangled Example What to Watson had been a knotty problem to Sherlock Holmes was simplicity itself.
kudos
honor; glory; praise Example The singer complacently received kudos on his performance from his entourage.
labile
likely to change; unstable Example Because the hormonal changes they undergo affect their spirits, adolescents may become emotionally labile and experience sudden shifts of mood.
laborious
demanding much work or care; tedious Example In putting together his dictionary of the English language, Doctor Johnson undertook a laborious task.
labyrinth
maze Example Tom and Becky were lost in the labyrinth of secret caves.
lacerate
mangle; tear Example Her body was lacerated in the automobile crash.
lachrymose
producing tears Example His voice has a lachrymose quality that is more appropriate at a funeral than a class reunion.
lackadaisical
affectedly languid Example He was lackadaisical and indifferent about his part in the affair.
lackluster
dull Example We were disappointed by the lackluster performance.
laconic
brief and to the point Example Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words.
laggard
slow; sluggish Example The sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders.
lagoon
shallow body of water near a sea; lake Example They enjoyed their swim in the calm lagoon.
laity
laypersons; persons not connected with the clergy Example The laity does not always understand the clergy's problems.
lambaste
beat; thrash verbally or physically Example It was painful to watch the champion lambaste his opponent, tearing into him mercilessly.
lament
grieve; express sorrow Example Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat.
lampoon
ridicule Example This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls.
languid
weary; sluggish; listless Example Her siege of illness left her languid and pallid.
languish
lose animation; lose strength Example In stories, lovelorn damsels used to languish and pine away.
languor
lassitude; depression Example His friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to the theater.
lank
long and thin Example lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln was a striking figure.
larceny
theft Example Because of the prisoner's record, the district attorney refused to reduce the charge from grand larceny to petit larceny.
larder
pantry; place where food is kept Example The first thing Bill did on returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in the larder.
largess
generous gift Example Lady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor.
lascivious
lustful Example Because they might arouse lascivious impulses in their readers, the lewd books were banned by the clergy.
lassitude
languor; weariness Example The hot, tropical weather created a feeling of lassitude and encouraged drowsiness.
latent
dormant; hidden Example Her latent talent was discovered by accident.
lateral
coming from the side Example In order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots.
latitude
freedom from narrow limitations Example I think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter.
laudable
praiseworthy; commendable Example His laudable deeds will be remarked by all whom he aided.
laudatory
expressing praise Example The critics' laudatory comments helped to make her a star.
lavish
liberal; wasteful Example The actor's lavish gifts pleased her.
lax
careless Example We dislike restaurants where the service is lax and inattentive.
leaven
cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven Example As bread dough is leavened, it puffs up, expanding in volume.
lechery
gross lewdness; lustfulness Example In his youth he led a life of lechery and debauchery; he did not mend his ways until middle age.
lectern
reading desk Example The chaplain delivered his sermon from a hastily improvised lectern.
leery
suspicious; cautious Example Don't eat sushi at this restaurant; I'm a bit leery about how fresh it is.
leeway
room to move; margin Example When you set a deadline, allow a little leeway.
legacy
a gift made by a will Example Part of my legacy from my parents is an album of family photographs.
legend
explanatory list of symbols on a map Example The legend at the bottom of the map made it clear which symbols stood for rest areas along the highway and which stood for public camp sites.
legerdemain
sleight of hand Example The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain.
leniency
mildness; permissiveness Example Considering the gravity of the offense, we were surprised by the leniency of the sentence.
leonine
like a lion Example He was leonine in his rage.
lethal
deadly Example It is unwise to leave lethal weapons where children may find them.
lethargic
drowsy; dull Example The stuffy room made her lethargic; she felt as if she was about to nod off.
levee
earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding Example As the river rose and threatened to overflow the levee, emergency workers rushed to reinforce the walls with sandbags.
levitate
float in the air (especially by magical means) Example As the magician passed his hands over the recumbent body of his assistant, she appeared to rise and levitate about three feet above the table.
levity
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity Example Stop giggling abd wriggling around in the pew; such levity is improper in church.
levy
impose (a fine); collect (a payment) Example Crying "No taxation withouth representation," the colonists demonstrated against England's power to levy taxes.
lewd
lustful Example They found his lewd stories objectionable.
lexicographer
compiler of a dictionary Example The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compiling and editing the work.
lexicon
dictionary Example I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library.
liability
drawback; debts Example Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was able to overcome.
liaison
officer who acts as go-between for two armies; intermediary Example As the liason, he had to avoid offending the leaders of the two armies.
libelous
defamatory; injurious to the good name of a person Example He sued the newspaper because of its libelous story.
libertine
debauched person, roue Example Although she was aware of his reputation as a libertine, she felt she could reform him and help him break his dissolute way of life.
libidinous
lustful Example They objected to his libidinous behavior.
libido
emotional urges behind human activity Example The psychiatrist maintained that suppression of the libido often resulted in maladjustment and neuroses.
libretto
text of an opera Example The composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its libretto.
licentious
wanton; lewd; dissolute Example The licentious monarch helped bring about his country's downfall.
lien
legal claim on a property Example There was a delay before Ralph could take possession of his late uncle's home; apparently, another claimant had a lien upon the estate.
ligneous
like wood Example Petrified wood may be ligneous in appearance, but it is stonelike in composition.
lilliputian
extremely small Example Tiny and delicate, the model was built on a lilliputian scale.
limber
flexible Example Hours of ballet classes kept him limber.
limbo
region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept Example Among the divisions of Hell are Purgatory and limbo.
limn
draw; outline; describe Example Parodoxically, the more realistic the details this artist chooses, the better able to limn her fantastic, otherworldly landscapes.
limpid
clear Example A limpid stream ran through his property.
lineage
descent; ancestry Example He traced his lineage back to Mayflower days.
lineaments
features, especially of the face Example She quickly sketched the lineaments of his face.
linguistic
pertaining to language Example The modern tourist will encounter very little linguistic difficulty as English has become an almost universal language.
lionize
treat as a celebrity Example She enjoyed being lionized and adored by the public.
liquidate
settle accounts; clear up Example He was able to liquidate all his debts in short period of time.
list
tilt; lean over Example That flagpole should be absolutely vertical; instead, it lists to one side.
listless
lacking in spirit or energy Example We had expected him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude.
litany
supplicatory prayer Example On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity.
lithe
flexible; supple Example Her figure was lithe and willowy.
litigation
lawsuit Example Try to settle this amicably; I do not want to start litigation.
litotes
understatement for emphasis Example To say, "He little realizes," when we mean that he does not realize at all, is an example of the kind of understatement we call litotes.
livid
lead-coloredl; black and blue; ashen; enraged Example His face was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might have an attack of apoplexy.
loath
averse; reluctant Example They were both loath for him to go.
loathe
detest Example We loathed the wicked villain.
lode
metal-bearing vein Example If this lode that we have discovered extends for any distance, we have found a fortune.
lofty
very high Example They used to tease him about his lofty ambitions.
loiter
hang around; linger Example The policeman told him not to loiter in the alley.
loll
lounge about Example They lolled around in their chairs watching television.
longevity
long life Example When he reached ninety, the old man was proud of his longevity.
lope
gallop slowly Example As the horses loped along, we had an opportunity to admire the ever-changing scenery.
loquacious
talkative Example She is very loquacious and can speak on the telephone for hours.
lout
clumsy person Example The delivery boy is an awkward lout.
low
moo Example From the hilltop, they could see the herd like ants in the distance; they could barely hear the cattle low.
lucid
easily understood; clear; intelligible Example Her explanation was lucid enought for a child to grasp.
lucrative
profitable Example He turned his hobby into a lucrative profession.
lucre
money Example Preferring lucre to undying fame, he wrote stories of popular appeal.
ludicrous
laughable; trifling Example Let us be serious; this is not a ludicrous issue.
lugubrious
mournful Example The lugabrious howling of the dogs added to our sadness.
lull
moment of calm Example Not wanting to get wet, they waited under the awning for a lull in the rain.
lumber
move heavily of clumsily Example Still somewhat torpid after its long hibernation, the bear lumbered through the woods.
lumen
unit of light energy (one candle's worth) Example In buying light bulbs, she checked not only their power, as measured in watts, but their brightness, as measured in lumens.
luminary
celebrity; dignitary Example A leading light of the American stage, Ethel Barrymore was a theatrical luminary whose name lives on.
luminous
shining; issuing light Example The sun is a luminous body.
lunar
pertaining to the moon Example lunar craters can be plainly seen with the aid of a small telescope.
lurid
wild; sensational Example The lurid stories he told shocked his listeners.
lurk
stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived Example "Who knows what evils lurk in the hearts of men? The shadow knows."
luscious
pleasing to taste or smell Example The ripe peach was luscious.
luster
shine; gloss Example The soft luster of the silk in the dim light was pleasing.
lustrous
shining Example Her large and lustrous eyes gave a touch of beauty to an otherwise drab face.
luxuriant
fertile; abundant; ornate Example Farming was easy in this luxuriant soil.
laxative
facilitating evacuation of the bowels Example The effect of the constipation medicine is laxative; it empties the bowels.
macabre
gruesome; grisly Example The city morgue is a macabre spot for the uninitiated.
mace
ceremonial staff; clublike medieval weapon Example The Grand Marshal of the parade raised his mace to signal that it was time for the procession to begin.
macerate
soften by soaking in liquid; waste away Example The strawberries had been soaking in the champagn for so long that they had begun to macerate: they literally fell apart at the touch of a spoon.
machiavellian
crafty; double-dealing Example I do not think he will be a good embassador because he is not accustomed to the machiavellian maneuverings of foreign diplomats.
machinations
schemes Example I can see through your wily machinations.
maculated
spotted; stained Example Instead of writing that Gorbachev had a birthmark on his forehead, the pompous young poet sang of the former premier's maculated brow.
madrigal
pastoral song Example His program of folk songs included several madrigals which he sang to the accompaniment of a lute.
maelstrom
whirlpool Example The canoe was tossed about in the maelstrom.
magisterial
authoritative; imperious Example The learned doctor laid down the law to his patient in a magisterial tone of voice.
magnanimity
generosity Example Noted for his magnanimity, philanthropist Eugene Lang donated millions to charity.
magnate
person of prominence or influence Example The steel magnate decided to devote more time to city politics.
magniloquent
boastful, pompous Example In their stories of the trial, the reporters ridiculed the magniloquent speeches of the defense attorney.
magnitude
greatness; extent Example It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of his crime.
maim
mutilate; injure Example The hospital could not take care of all who had been mangled or maimed in the railroad accident.
maladroit
clumsy; bungling Example In his usual maladroit way, he managed to upset the cart and spill the food.
malaise
uneasiness; distress Example She felt a sudden vague malaise when she heard sounds at the door.
malapropism
comic misuse of a word Example When Mrs. Malaprop criticizes Lydia for being "as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile," she confuses "allegory" and "allegator" in a typical malapropism.
malcontent
person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs Example He was one of the few malcontents in the Congress; he constantly voiced his objections to the Presidential program.
malediction
curse Example The witch uttered maledictions against her captors.
malefactor
criminal Example We must try to bring these malefactors to justice.
malevolent
wishing evil Example We must thwart his malevolent schemes.
malfeasance
wrongdoing Example The authorities did not discover the campaign manager's malfeasance until after he had spent most of the money he had embezzled.
malicious
dictated by hatred or spite Example The malicious neighbor spread the gossip.
malign
speak evil of; defame Example Because of her hatred of the family, she maligns all who are friendly to them.
malignant
having an evil influence; virulent Example This is a malignant disease; we must have to use drastic measures to stop its spread.
malingerer
one who feigns illness to escape duty Example The captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers and force them to work.
malleable
capable of being shaped by pounding Example Gold is a malleable metal.
malodorous
foul-smelling Example The component heap was most malodorous in summer.
mammal
vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young Example Many people regard the whale as a fish and do not realize that it is a mammal.
mammoth
gigantic Example The mammoth corporations of the twentieth century are a mixed blessing
manacle
restrain; handcuff Example The police immediately manacled the prisoner so he could not escape.
mandate
order; charge Example In his inaugural address, the President stated that he had a mandate from the people to seek an end to social evils such as poverty and poor housing.
mandatory
obligatory Example These instructions are mandatory; any violation will be severely punished.
mangy
shabby; wretched Example We finally thew out the mangy rug that the dog had destroyed.
maniacal
raving mad Example His maniacal laughter frightened us.
manifest
understandable; clear Example His evil intentions were manifest and yet we could not stop him.
manifestation
outward demonstration; indication Example Mozart's early attraction to the harsichord was the first manifestation of his pronounced musical bent.
manifesto
declaration; statement of policy Example The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels proclaimed the principles of modern communism.
manifold
numerous; varied Example I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your manifold kindnesses.
manipulate
operate with the hands; control or change by artful means Example How do you manipulate these puppets?
mannered
affected; not natural Example Attempting to copy the style of his wealthy neighbors, Gatsby adopted a mannered, artificial way of speech.
manumit
emancipate; free from bondage Example Enlightened slave owners were willing to manumit their slaves and thus put an end to the evil slavery in the country.
marital
pertaining to marriage Example After the publication of his book on marital affairs, he was often consulted by married people on the verge of divorce.
maritime
bordering on the sea; nautical Example The maritime Provinces depend on the sea for their wealth.
marked
noticeable; targeted for vengeance Example He walked with a marked limp, a souvenir of an old IRA attack. As British ambassador, he knew he was a marked man.
marred
damaged; disfigured Example She had to refinish the marred surface of the table.
marshal
put in order Example At a debate tournament, extemporaneous speakers have only a minute or two to marshal their thoughts before addressing their audience.
marsupial
one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch Example The most common marsupial in North America is the opposum.
martial
warlike Example The sound of marital music was always inspiring to the young poet.
martinet
strict disciplinarian Example The commanding officer was a martinet who observed each regulation to the ltter.
masochist
person who enjoys his own pain Example The masochist begs, "Hit me." The sadist smiles and says, "I won't."
masticate
chew Example We must masticate our food carefully and slowly in order to avoid digestive disorders.
materialism
preoccupation with physical comforts and things Example By its nature, materialism is opposed to idealism, for where the materialist emphasizes the needs of the body, the idealist emphasizes the needs of the soul.
maternal
motherly Example Many animals display maternal instincts only while their offspring are young and helpless.
matriarch
woman who rules a family or larger social group Example The matriarch ruled her gypsy tribe with a firm hand.
martrix
point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die Example Some historians claim the Nile Valley was the matrix of the Western civilization.
maudlin
effusively sentimental Example I do not like such maudlin pictures. I call them tearjerkers.
maul
handle roughly Example The rock star was mauled by his overexcited fans.
mausoleum
monumental tomb Example His body was placed in the family mausolem.
mauve
pale purple Example The mauve tint in the lilac bush was another indication that spring had finally arrived.
maverick
rebel; nonconformist Example To the masculine literary establishment, George Sand with her insistence on wearing trousers and smoking cigars was clearly a maverick who fought her proper womanly role.
mawkish
sickening; insipid Example Your mawkish sighs fill me with disgust.
maxim
proverb; a truth pithily stated Example Aesop's fables illustrate moral maxims.
mayhem
injury to the body Example The riot was marked not only by mayhem, with its attendant loss of life and limb, but also by arson and pillage.
meager
scanty; inadequate Example His salary was far too meager for him to afford to buy a new car.
mealymouthed
indirect speech; hypocritical; evasive Example Rather than tell Jill directly what he disliked, Jack made a few mealymouthed comments and tried to change the subject.
meander
to wind or turn in its course Example It is difficult to sail up this stream because of the way it meanders through the countryside.
meddlesome
interfering Example He felt his marriage was suffering because of his meddlesome mother-in-law.
mediate
settle a dispute through the services of an outsider Example Let us mediate out differences rather than engage in a costly strike.
mediocre
ordinary; commonplace Example We were disappointed because he gave a rather mediocre performance in this role.
meditation
reflection; thought Example She reached her decision only after much meditation.
medley
mixture Example The band played a medley of Gershwin tunes.
meek
submissive; patient and long-suffering Example Mr. Barrett never expected his meek daughter would dare to defy him by eloping with her suitor.
megalomania
mania for doing grandiose things Example Developers who spend millions trying to build the world's tallest skyscraper suffer from megalomania.
melee
fight Example The captain tried to ascertain the cause of the melee that had broken out among the crew members.
mellifluous
flowing smoothly; smooth Example Italian is a mellifluous language.
memento
token; reminder Example Take this book as a memento of your visit.
memorialize
commemorate Example Let us memorialize his great contribution by dedicating this library in his honor.
mendacious
lying; false Example He was pathological liar, and his friends learned to discount his mendacious stories.
mendicant
beggar Example From the moment we left the ship, we were surrounded by mendicants and peddlers.
menial
suitable for sevants; low Example I cannot understand why a person of your ability and talent should engage in such menial activities.
mentor
counselor; teacher Example During this very trying period, she could not have had a better mentor, for the teacher was sympathetic and understanding.
mercantile
concerning trade Example I am more interested in the opportunites available in the mercantile field than I am in those in the legal profession.
mercenary
motivated solely by money or gain Example "I'm not in this war because I get my kicks waving flags," said the mercenary soldier. "I'm in it for the dough."
mercurial
fickle; changing Example He was of a mercurial temperament and therefore unpredictable.
meretricious
flashy; tawdry; falsely attractive Example Her jewels were inexpensive but not meretricious.
merger
combination (of two business corporations) Example When the firm's president married the director of financial planning, the office joke was that it wasn't a marriage, it was a merger.
mesmerize
hypnotize Example The incessant drone seemed to mesmerize him and place him in a trance.
metallurgical
pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores Example During the course of his metallurgical research, the scientist developed a steel alloy of tremendous strength.
metamorphosis
change of form Example The metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly is typical of many such changes in animal life.
metaphor
implied comparison Example "He soared like an eagle" is an example of a simile; "He is an eagle in flight," is a metaphor.
metaphysical
pertaining to speculative philosophy Example The modern poets have gone back to the fanciful poems of the metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century for many of their images.
mete
measure; distribute Example He tried to be impartial in his efforts to mete out justice.
meteoric
swift; momentarily brilliant Example We all wondered at his meteoric rise to fame.
methodical
systematic Example An accountant must be methodical and maintain order among his financial records.
meticulous
excessively careful Example He was meticulous in checking his accounts and never made mistakes.
metropolis
large city Example Every evening this terminal is filled with the thousands of commuters who are going from this metropolis to their homes in the suburbs.
mettle
courage; spirit Example When challenged by the other horses in the race, the thoroughbred proved its mettle by its determination to hold the lead.
miasma
swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere, often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence Example corrupting influence The smog hung over Victorian London like a dark cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was a visible miasma.
microcosm
small world Example In the microcosm of our rural village, we find illustrations of all the evils that beset the universe.
migrant
changing its habitat; wandering Example These migrant birds return every spring.
migratory
wandering Example The return of the migratory birds to the northern sections of this country is a harbinger of spring.
milieu
environment; means of expression Example His milieu is watercolors, although he has produced excellent oil paintings and lithographs.
militant
combative; bellicose Example Althoughat this time he was advocating a policy of neutrality, one could usually find him adopting a more militant attitude.
militate
work against Example Your record of lateness and absence will militate against your chances of promotion.
millenium
thousand-year period; period of happiness and prosperity Example I do not expect the milennium to come during my lifetime.
mimicry
imitation Example Her gift for mimicry was so great that her friends said that she should be in the theater.
minatory
menacing; threatening Example Jabbing a minatory forefinger at Dorothy, the Wicked Witch cried, "I'll get you, and your little dog, too!"
mincing
affectedly dainty Example Yum-Yum walked across the stage with mincing steps.
minion
a servile dependent Example He was always accompanied by several of his minions because he enjoyed their subservience and flattery.
minuscule
extremely small Example Why should I involve myself with a project with so minuscule a chance for success?
minute
extremely small Example The twins resembled one another closely; only minute differences set them apart.
minutiae
petty details Example She would have liked to ignore the minutiae of daily living.
mirage
unreal reflection; optical illusion Example The lost prospector was fooled by a mirage in the desert.
mire
entangle; stick in swampy ground Example Their rear wheels became mired in mud.
mirth
merriment; laughter Example Sober Malvolio found Sir Toby's mirth improper.
misadventure
mischance; ill luck Example The young explorer met death by misadventure.
misanthrope
one who hates mankind Example We thought the hermit was a miantrope because he shunned our society.
misapprehension
error; misunderstanding Example To avoid msapprehension, I am going to ask all of you to repeat the instructions I have given.
miscellany
mixture of writings on various subjects Example This is an interesting miscellany of nineteenth-century prose and poetry.
mischance
ill luck Example By mischance, he lost his week's salary.
misconstrue
interpret incorrectly; misjudge Example She took the passage seriously rather than humourously because she misconstrued the author's ironic tone.
miscreant
wretch; villain Example His kindness to the miscreant amazed all of us who had expected to hear severe punishment pronounced.
misdemeanor
minor crime Example The culprit pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor rather than face trial for a felony.
miserly
stingy; mean Example The miserly old man hoarded his coins not out of prudence but out of greed.
misgivings
doubts Example Hamlet described his misgivings to Horatio but decided to fence with Laertes despite his foreboding of evil.
mishap
accident Example With a little care you could have avoided this mishap.
misnomer
wrong name; incorrect designation Example His tyrannical conduct proved to all that his nickname, King Eric the Just, was a misnomer.
misogamy
hatred of marriage Example He remained a bachelor not because of misogamy but because of ill fate: his fiancee died before the wedding.
misogynist
hater of women Example She accused him of being a misogynist because he had been a bachelor all his life.
missile
object to be thrown or projected Example Scientists are experimenting with guided missiles.
missive
letter Example The ambassador received a missive from the Secretary of State.
mite
very small object or creature; small coin Example Gnats are annoying mites that sing.
mitigate
appease Example Nothing he did could mitigate her wrath; she was unforgiving.
mnemonic
pertaining to memory Example He used mnemonic tricks to master new words.
mobile
movable; not fixed Example The mobile blood bank operated by the Red Cross visited our neighborhood today.
mode
prevailing style Example She was not used to their lavish mode of living.
modicum
limited quantity Example Although his story is based on a modicum of truth, most of the events he describes are fictitious.
modish
fashionable Example She always discarded all garments that were no longer modish.
modulation
toning down; changing from one key to another Example When we she spoke, it was with quiet modulation of voice.
mogul
powerful person Example The oil moguls made great profits when the price of gasoline rose.
molecule
the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that Example substance In chemistry, we study how atoms and molcules react to form new substances.
mollify
soothe Example We tried to mollify the hysterical child by promising her many gifts.
mollycoddle
pamper; indulge excessively Example Don't mollycoddle the boy, Maud! You'll spoil him.
molt
shed or cast off hair or feathers Example The male robin molted in the spring.
molten
melted Example The city of Pompeii was destroyed by volcanic ash rather than by molten lava flowing from Mount Vesuvius.
momentous
very important Example On this momentous occasion, we must be very solemn.
momentum
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus Example The car lost momentum as it tried to ascend the steep hill.
monarchy
government under a single hereditary ruler with varying degrees of power Example England today remains a monarchy.
monastic
related to monks Example Wanting to live a religious life, he took his monastic vows.
monetary
pertaining to money Example Jane held the family purse strings: she made all monetary decisions affecting the household.
monochromatic
having only one color Example Most people who are color blind actually can distinguish several colors; some, however, have a truly monochromatic view of a world all in shades of gray.
monolithic
solidly uniform; unyielding Example Knowing the importance of appearing resolute, the patriots sought to present a monolithic front.
monotheism
belief in one God Example Abraham was the first to proclaim his belief in monotheism.
monotony
sameness leading to boredom Example He took a clerical job, but soon grew to hate the monotony of his daily routine.
monumental
massive Example Writing a dictionary is a monumental task.
moodiness
fits of depression or gloom Example We could not discover the cause of her recurrent moodiness.
moratorium
legal delay of payment Example If we declare a moratorium and delay collection of debts for six months, I am sure the farmers will be able to meet their bills.
morbid
given to unwholesome thought; gloomy Example These morbid speculations are dangerous; we must lighten our spirits by emphasizing more pleasant matters.
mordant
biting; sarcastic; stinging Example Actors feared the critic's mordant pen.
mores
customs Example The mores of Mexico are those of Spain with some modifications.
moribund
at the point of death Example The doctors called the family to the bedside of the moribund patient.
morose
ill-humored; sullen Example When we first meet Hamlet, we find him morose and depressed.
mortician
undertaker Example The mortician prepared the corpse for burial.
mortify
humiliate; punish the flesh Example She was so mortified by her blunder that she ran to her room in tears.
mosaic
picture made of smell, colorful inlaid tiles Example The mayor compared the ciry to a beautiful mosaic made up of people of every race and religion on earth.
mote
small speck Example The tiniest mote in the eye is very painful.
motif
theme Example This simple motif runs throughout the score.
motility
ability to move spontaneously Example Certain organisms exhibit remarkable motility; motile spores, for example, may travel for miles before coming to rest.
motley
parti-colored; mixed Example The captain had gathered a motley crew to sail the vessel.
mottled
spotted Example When he blushed, his face took on a mottled hue.
mountebank
charlatan; boastful pretender Example The patent medicine man was a mountebank.
muddle
confuse; mix up Example His thoughts were muddled and chaotic.
muggy
warm and damp Example August in New York City is often muggy.
mulct
defraud a person of something Example The lawyer was accused of trying to mulct the boy of his legacy.
multifarious
varied; greatly diversified Example A career woman and mother, she was constantly busy with the multifarious activities of her daily life.
multiform
having many forms Example Snowflakes are multiform but always hexagonal.
multilingual
having many languages Example Because they are bordered by so many countries, the Swiss people are multilingual.
multiplicity
state of being numerous Example He was appalled by the multuplicity of details he had to complete before setting out on his mission.
mundane
worldly as opposed to spiritual Example He was concerned only with mundane matters, especially the daily stock market quotations.
munificent
very generous Example The munificent gift was presented to the bride by her rich uncle.
murkiness
darkness; gloom Example The murkiness and fog of the waterfront that evening depressed me.
muse
ponder Example For a moment he mused about the beauty of the scene, but his thought soon changed as he recalled his own personal problems.
musky
having the odor of musk Example She left a trace of musky perfume behind her.
muster
gather; assemble Example Washington mustered his forces at Trenton.
musty
stale; spoiled by age Example The attic was dark and musty.
mutable
changing in form; fickle Example His opinion were mutable and easily influenced by anyone who had any powers of persuasion.
muted
silent; muffled; toned down Example In the funeral parlor, the mourners' voices had a muted quality.
mutilate
maim Example The torturer threatened to mutilate his victim.
mutinous
unruly; rebellious Example The captain had to use force to quiet his mutinous crew.
myopic
nearsighted Example In thinking only of your present needs and ignoring the future, you are being rather myopic.
myriad
very large number Example myriads of mosquitoes from the swamps invaded our village every twilight.
mutter
murmur or grumble Example The child muttered at the doll.
millinery
person who makes or sells women's hats Example The millinery displayed fashionable hats in the street where many women passed by.
nadir
lowest point Example Although few people realized it, the Dow-Jones averages had reached their nadir and would soon begin an upward surge.
naivete
quality of being unsophisticated Example I cannot believe that such naivete is unassumed in a person of her age and experience.
narcissist
conceited person Example A narcissist is his own best friend.
narrative
related to telling a story Example A born teller of tales, Olsen used her impressive narrative skills to advantage in her story "I Stand Here Ironing."
nascent
incipient; coming into being Example If we could identify these revolutionary movements in their nascent state, we would be able to eliminate serious trouble in later years.
natation
swimming Example The Red Cross emphasizes the need for courses in natation.
natty
neatly or smartly dresssed Example Priding himself on being a natty dresser, the gangster Bugsy Siegel collected a wardrobe of imported suits and ties.
nauseate
cause to become sick; fill with disgust Example The foul smells began to nauseate him.
nautical
pertaining to ships or navigation Example The Maritime Museum contains many models of clipper ships, logbooks, anchors and many other items of a nautical nature.
nebulous
vague; hazy; cloudy Example She had only a nebulous memory of her grandmother's face.
necromancy
black magic; dealings with the dead Example Because he was able to perform feats of necromancy, the natives thought he was in league with the devil.
nefarious
very wicked Example He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds.
negation
denial Example I must accept his argument since you have been unable to present any negation of his evidence.
negligence
carelessness Example negligence can prove costly near complicated machinery.
negligible
so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded Example Because the damage to his car had been negligible, Michael decided he wouldn't bother to report the matter to his insurance company.
nemesis
revenging agent Example Captain Bligh vowed to be Christian's nemesis.
neologism
new or newly coined word or phrase Example As we invent new techniques and professions, we must also invent neologisms such as "microcomputer" and "astronaut" to describe them.
neophyte
recent convert; beginner Example This monuntain slope contains slides that will challenge esperts as well as neophytes.
nepotism
favoritism (to a relative) Example John left his position with the company because he felt that advancement was based on nepotism rather than ability.
nether
lower Example Tradition locates hell in the nether regions.
nettle
annoy; vex Example Do not let him nettle you with his sarcastic remarks.
nexus
connection Example I fail to see the nexus that binds these two widely separated events.
nib
beak; pen point Example The nibs of fountain pens often become clotted and corroded.
nicety
precision; minute distinction Example I cannot distinguish between such niceties of reasoning.
niggardly
meanly stingy; parsimonious Example The niggardly pittance the widow receives from the government cannot keep her from poverty.
niggle
spend too much time on minor points; carp Example Let's not niggle over details.
nihilism
denial of traditional values; total skepticism Example nihilism holds that existence has no meaning.
nirvana
Buddihist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude Example Despite his desire to achieve nirvana, the young Buddhist found that even the buzzing of a fly could distract him from his meditation.
nocturnal
done at night Example Mr. Jones obtained a watchdog to prevent the nocturnal raids on his chicken coops.
noisome
foul smelling; unwholesome Example I never could stand the noisome atmosphere surrounding the slaughter houses.
nomadic
wandering Example Several nomadic tribes of Indians would hunt in this area each year.
nomenclature
terminology; system of names Example She struggled to master scientific nomenclature.
nominal
in name only; trifling Example He offered to drive her to the airport for only a nominal fee.
nonchalance
indifference; lack of interest Example Few people could understand how he could listen to the news of the tragedy with such nonchalance; the mahority regarded him as callous and unsympathetic.
noncommittal
neutral; unpledged; undecided Example We were annoyed by his noncommittal reply for we had been led to expect definite assurances of his approval.
nondescript
undistinctive; ordinary Example The private detective was a short, nondescript fellow with no ourstanding features, the sort of person one would never notice in a crowd.
nonentity
person of no importance; nonexistence Example Don't dismiss John as a nonentity; in his quiet way, he's very important to the firm.
nonplus
bring to a halt by confusion; perplex Example Jack's uncharacteristic rudeness nonplussed Jill, leaving her uncertain how to react.
nostalgia
homesickness; longing for the past Example The first settlers found so much work to do that they had little time for nostalgia.
nostrum
questionable medicine Example No quack selling nostrums is going to cheat me.
notoriety
disrepute; ill fame Example To the starlet, any publicity was good publicity: if she couldn't have a good reputation, she'd settle for notoriety.
novelty
something new; newness Example The computer is no longer a novelty around the office.
novice
beginner Example Even a novice can do good work if he follows these simple directions.
noxious
harmful Example We must trace the source of these noxious gases before they asphyxiate us.
nuance
shade of difference in meaning or color Example The unskilled eye of the layperson has difficulty in dicerning the nuances of color in the paintings.
nubile
marrigeable Example Mrs. Bennet, in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, was worried about finding suitable husbands for her five nubile daughters.
nugatory
futile; worthless Example This agreement is nugatory for no court will enforce it.
nullify
to make invalid Example Once the contract was nullified, it no longer had any legal force.
numismatist
person who collects coins Example The numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins.
nuptial
related to marriage Example Their nuptial ceremony was performed in Golden Gate Park.
nurture
nourish; educate; foster Example The head Start program attempts to nurture prekindergarten children so that they will do well when they enter public school.
nutrient
nourishing substance Example As a budding nutritionist, Kim has learned to design diets that contain foods rich in important basic nutrients.
oaf
stupid, awkward person Example He called the unfortunate waiter a clumsy oaf.
obdurate
stubborn Example He was obdurate in his refusal to listen to our complaints.
obeisance
bow Example She made an obeisance as the king and queen entered the room.
obelisk
tall column tapering and ending in a pyramid Example Cleopatra's Needle is an obelisk in New York City's Central Park.
obese
excessively fat Example It is advisable that obese people try to lose weight.
obfuscate
confuse; muddle Example Do not obfuscate the issues by dragging in irrelevant arguments.
obituary
dealth notice Example I first learned of her death when I read the obituary in the newspaper.
objective
not influenced by emotions; fair Example Even though he was her son, she tried to be objective about his behavior.
objective
goal; aim Example A degree in medicine was her ultimate objective.
obligatory
binding; required Example It is obligatory that books borrowed from the library be returned within two weeks.
oblique
slanting; deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line Example The sergeant ordered the men to march "oblique right."
obliterate
destroy completely Example The tidal wave obliterated several island villages.
oblivion
forgetfulness Example Her work had fallen into a state of oblivion; no one bothered to read them.
obloquy
slander; disgrace; infamy Example I resent the obloquy that you are casting upon my reputation.
obnoxious
offensive Example I find your behavior obnoxious; please mend your ways.
obscure
dark; vague; unclear Example Even after I read the poem a fourth time, its meaning was still obscure.
obscure
darken; make unclear Example At times he seemed purposely to obscure his meaning, preferring mystery to clarity.
obsequious
slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic Example Helen valued people who behaved as if they respected themselves; nothing irritated her more than an excessively obsequious waiter or a fawning salesclerk.
obsequy
funeral ceremony Example Hundreads paid their last respects at his obsequies.
obsession
fixed idea; continued brooding Example This obsession with the supernatural has made him unpopular with his neighbors.
obsidian
clak volcanic rock Example The deposits of obsidian on the mountain slopes were an indiacation that volcano had erupted in ancient times.
obsolete
outmoded Example "Hip" is an obsolete expression; it went out with love beads and tie-dye shirts.
obstetrician
physician specializing in delivery of babies Example Unlike midwives, who care for women giving birth at home, obstetricians generally work in a hospital setting.
obstinate
stubborn Example We tried to persuade him to give up smoking, but he was obstinate and refused to change.
obstreperous
boisterous; noisy Example The crowd became obstreperous and shouted their disapproval of the proposals made by the speaker.
obtrusive
pushing forward Example I found her a very obstrusive person, constantly seeking the center of the stage.
obtuse
blunt; stupid Example Because he was so obtuse, he could not follow the teacher's reasoning and asked foolish questions.
obviate
make unnecessary; get rid of Example I hope this contribution will obviate any need for further collections of funds.
occident
the West Example It will take occident to understand the ways and customs of the orient.
occlude
shut; close Example A blood clot occluded an artery to the heart.
occult
mysterious; secret; supernatural Example The occult rites of the organization were revealed only to members.
oculist
physician who specialized in treatment of the eyes Example In many states, an oculist is the only one who may apply medicinal drops to the eyes for the purpose of examining them.
odious
hateful Example I find the task of punishing you most odious.
odium
repugnance; dislike Example I cannot express the odium I feel at your heinous actions.
odoriferous
giving off an odor Example The odoriferous spices stimulated her jaded appetite.
odorous
having an odor Example This variety of hybrid tea rose is more odorous than the one you have in your garden.
odyssey
long, evenful journey Example The refugee's journey from Cambodia was a terrifying odyssey.
offensive
attacking; insulting; distasteful Example Getting into street brawls is no minor offense for professional boxers, who are required by law to restrict their offensive impulses to the ring.
offhand
casual; done without prior thought Example Expecting to be treated with due propriety by her costs, Great-Aunt Maud was offended by their offhand manner.
officious
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services Example After her long flight, Jill just wanted to nap, but the officious bellboy was intent on showing her all the special features of the deluxe suite.
ogle
glance coquettishly at; make eyes at Example Sitting for hours at the sidewalk cafe, the old gentleman would oggle the young girls and recall his youthful romances.
olfactory
concerning the sense of smell Example The olfactory organ is the nose.
oligarchy
government by a few Example The feudal oligarchy was supplanted by an autocracy.
ominous
threatening Example Those clouds are ominous; they suggest that a severe storm is on the way.
omnipotent
all-powerful Example The monarch regarded himself as omnipotent and responsible to no one for his acts.
omnipresent
universally present; ubiquitous Example On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is omnipotent.
omniscient
all-knowing Example I do not pretend to be omniscient, but I am positive about this fact.
omnivorous
eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything Example Some animals, including humans, are omnivorous and eat both meat and vegetables; others are either carnivorous or herbivorous.
onerous
burdensome Example He asked for an assistant because his work load was too onerous.
onomatopoeia
words formed in imitation of natural sounds Example Words like "rustle" and "gargle" are illustrations of onomatopoeia.
onslaught
vicious assault Example We suffered many casualties during unexpected onslaght of the enemy troops.
onus
burden; responsibility Example The emperor was spared the onus of signing the surrender papers; instead, he relegated the assignment to his generals.
opalescent
iridescent Example The Ancient Mariner admired the opalescent sheen on the water.
opaque
dark; not transparent Example The opaque window kept the sunlight out of the room.
opiate
sleep producer; deadener of pain Example By such opiates, she made the people forget their difficulties and accept their unpleasant circumstances.
opportune
timely; well chosen Example You have come at an opportune moment for I need a new secretary.
opportunist
individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances Example Forget about ethics! He's such an opportunist that he'll vote in favor of any deal that will give him a break.
opprobrium
infamy; vilification Example He refused to defend himself against the slander and opprobrium hurled against him by the newspapers; he preferred to rely on his record.
optician
maker and seller of eyeglasses Example The patient took the prescription given him by his oculist to the optician.
optimist
person who looks on the bright side Example The pessimist says the glass is half-empty; the optimist says it is half-full.
optimum
most favorable Example If you wait for the optimum moment to act, you may never begin your project .
optional
not compulsory; left to one's choice Example I was impressed by the range of optional accessories for my microcomputer that were available.
optometrist
one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects Example Although an optometrist is qualified to treat many eye disorders, she may not use medicinesor surgery in her examinations.
opulence
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance Example The glitter and opulence of the ballroom took Cinderella's breath away.
opus
work Example Although many critics hailed his Fifth Symphony, he did not regard it as his major opus.
oracular
foretelling; mysterious Example Oedipus could not understand the oracular warning he received.
oratorio
dramatic poem set to music Example The Glee Club decided to present an oratorio during their recital.
ordain
command; arrange; consecrate Example The king ordained that no foreigner should be allowed to enter the city.
ordeal
severe trial or affliction Example Terry Anderson spoke movingly of his long ordeal as a hostage in Lebanon.
ordinance
decree Example Passing a red light is a violation of a city ordinance.
ordination
ceremony conferring holy orders Example The candidate for ordination had to meet with the bishop and the diocean officers before being judged ready to be ordained a deacon.
orient
get one's bearings; adjust Example Philip spent his first day in Denver orienting himself to the city.
orientation
act of finding oneself in society Example Freshman orientation provides the incoming students with an opportunity to learn about their new environment and their place in it.
orifice
mouthlike opening; small opening Example The Howe Caverns were discovered when someone observed that a cold wind was issuing from an orifice in the hillside.
ornate
excessively or elaborately decorated Example Furniture of the Baroque period can be recognized by its ornate carvings.
ornithologist
scientific student of birds Example Auduborn's drawings of American bird life have been of interest not only to the ornithologists but also to the general public.
orthodox
traditional; conservative in belief Example Faced with a problem, he preferred to take an orthodox approach rather than shock anyone.
orthography
correct spelling Example Many of us find English orthography difficult to master because so many of our words are written phonetically.
oscillate
vibrate pendulumlike; waver Example It is interesting to note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism.
osseus
made of bone; bony Example The hollow "soft spot" found at the top of the infant's skull gradually closes as new osseus tissue fills in the gap.
ossify
change or harden into bone Example When he called his opponent a "bonehead," he implied that his adversary's brain had ossified and that he was not capable of clear thinking.
ostensible
apparent; professed; pretended Example Although the ostensible purpose of this expedition is to discover new lands, we are really interested in finding new markets for our products.
ostentatious
showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention Example Trump's latest casino in Atlantic City is the most ostentatious gambling place in the East: it easily outglitters its competitors.
ostracize
exclude from public favor; ban Example As soon as the newspapers carried the story of his connection with the criminals, his friends began to ostracize him.
oust
expel; drive out Example The world wondered if Aquino would be able to oust Marcos from office.
outlandish
bizzare; peculiar; unconventional Example The eccentric professor who engages in markedly outlandish behavior is a stock figure in novels with an academic setting.
outmoded
no longer stylish; old-fahioned Example Unconcerned about keeping in style, Lenore was perfectly happy to wear outmoded clothes as long as they were clean and unfrayed.
outskirts
fringes; outer borders Example Living outskirts of Boston, Sarah sometimes felt as if she were cut off from the cultural heart of the city.
outspoken
candid; blunt Example The candidate was too outspoken to be a successful politician; he had not yet learned to weigh his words carefully.
outrtip
surpass; outdo Example Jesse Owens easily outstripped his competitors to win the gold metal at the Olympic Games.
outwit
outsmart; trick Example By disguising himself as an old woman, Holmes was able to outwit his pursuers and escape capture.
ovation
enthusiastic applause Example When Placido Domingo came on stage in the first act of La Boheme, he was greeted by a tremendous ovation.
overbearing
bossy; arrogant; decisively important Example Certain of her own importance and of the unimportance of everyone else, Lady Bracknell was intolerably overbearing in manner. "In choosing a husband," she said, "good birth is of overbearing importance; compared to that, neither wealth nor talent signifie
overt
open to view Example According to the United States Constitution, a person must commit an overt act before he may be tried for treason.
overweening
presumptuous; arrogant Example His overweening pride in his accomplishments was not justified.
overwrought
extremely agitated; hysterical Example When Kate heard the news of the sudden tragedy, she became too overwrought to work and had to leave the office early.
ovoid
egg-shaped Example At Easter she had to cut out hundreds of brightly colored ovoid shapes.
overhaul
thoroughly examine the condition of and repair if necessary Example It is necessary for the engineers of NASA to overhaul the rocket everyday; otherwise, an incident similar to that of Challenger accident might happen.
pachyderm
thick-skinned animal Example The elephant is probably the best-known pachyderm.
pacifist
one opposed to force; antimilitarist Example The pacifists urged that we reduce our military budget and recall our troops stationed overseas.
pacify
soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue Example Dentists criticize the practice of giving fussy children sweets to pacify them.
paean
song of praise or joy Example paeans celebrating the victory filled the air.
painstaking
showing hard work; taking great care Example The new high-frequency word list is the result of painstaking efforts on the part of our research staff.
palatable
agreeable; pleasing to the taste Example Neither Jack's underbaked opinions nor his overcooked casseroles were palatable to me.
palatial
magnificent Example He proudly showed us through his palatial home.
paleontology
study of prehistoric life Example The professor of paleontology had a superb collection of fossils.
palette
board on which a painter mixes pigments Example At the present time, art supply stores are selling a paper palette that may be discarded after use.
palimpsest
parchment used for second time after original writing has been erased Example Using chemical reagents, scientists have been able to restore the original writings on many palimpsests.
pall
grow tiresome Example The study of word lists can eventually pall and put one to sleep.
pallet
small, poor bed Example The weary traveler went to sleep on his straw pallet.
palliate
ease pain; make less severe or offensive Example If we cannot cure this disease at present, we can, at least try to palliate the symptoms.
pallid
pale; wan Example Because his occupation required that he work at night and sleep during the day, he had an exceptionally pallid complexion.
palpable
tangible; easily perceptible Example I cannot understand how you could overlook such a palpable blunder.
palpitate
throb; flutter Example As he became excited, his heart began to palpitate more and more erratically.
paltry
insignificant; petty Example This is a paltry sum to pay for such a masterpiece.
pan
criticize harshly Example Hoping for a rave review of his new show, the playwright was miserable when the critics panned it unanimously.
panacea
cure-all; remedy for all diseases Example There is no easy panacea that will solve our complicated international situation.
panache
flair; flamboyance Example Many performers imitate Noel Coward, but few have his panache and sense of style.
pandemic
widespread; affecting the majority of people Example They feared the AIDS epidemic would soon reach pandemic proportions.
pandemonium
wild tumult Example When the ships collided in the harbor, pandemonium broke out among the passengers.
pander
cater to the low desires of others Example The reviewer accused the makers of Lethal Weapon of pandering to the masses' taste of violence.
panegyric
formal praise Example The modest hero blushed to hear the speakers delivering panegyrics about his valorous act.
panoramic
denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view Example On a clear day, from the top of the World Trade Center you can get a panoramic view of New York City and neighboring stretches of New Jersey and Long Island.
pantomime
acting without dialogue Example Because he worked in pantomime, the clown could be understood wherever he appeared.
papyrus
ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant Example The ancient Egyptians were among the first to write on papyrus.
parable
short, simple story teaching a moral Example Let us apply to our own conduct the lesson that this parable teaches.
paradigm
model; example; pattern Example Pavlov's experiment in which he trains a dog to salivate on hearing a bell is a paradigm of the conditionedresponse experiment in behavioal psychology.
paradox
statement that looks false but is actually correct; a contradictory statement Example Wordworth's "The child is father to the man" is an example of paradox.
paragon
model of perfection Example The class disliked him because the teacher was always pointing him out as a paragon of virtue.
parallelism
state of being parallel; similarity Example There is a striking parallelism between the twins.
parameter
limit; independent variable Example We need to define the parameters of the problem.
paramount
foremost in importance; supreme Example Proper nutrition and hygiene are of paramount importance in adolescent development and growth.
paramour
illicit lover Example She sought a divorce on the grounds that her husband had a paramour in another town.
paranoia
psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution Example Suffering from paranois, he claimed everyone was out to get him; ironically, his claim was accurate; even paranoids have enemies.
paraphernalia
equipment; odds and ends Example His desk was cluttered with paper, pen, ink, dictionary and other paraphernalia of the writing craft.
paraphrase
restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author Example In 250 words or less, paraphrase this article.
parasite
animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant Example The tapeworm is an example of the kind of parasite that may infest the human body.
parched
extremely dry; very thirsty Example The parched desert landscape seemed hostile to life.
pariah
social outcast Example I am not a pariah to be shunned and ostracized.
parity
equality; close resemblance Example I find your analogy inaccurate because I do not see the parity between the two illustrations.
parlance
language; idiom Example All this legal parlance confuses me; I need an interpreter.
parley
conference Example The peace parley has not produced the anticipated truce.
parochial
narrow in outlook; provincial; related to parishes Example Although Jane Austen writes novels set in small rural communities, her concerns are universal, not parochial.
parody
humorous imitation; travesty Example We enjoyed the clever parodies of popular songs that the chorus sang.
paroxysm
fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage Example When he heared of his son's misdeeds, he was seized by a paroxysm of rage.
parquet
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosic-like pattern. Example In laying the floor, the carpenters combined redwood and oak in an elegant parquet.
parry
ward off a blow Example He was content to wage a defensive battle and tried to parry his opponent's thrusts.
parsimonious
stingy; excessively frugal Example His parsimonious nature did not permit him to enjoy any luxuries.
partial
incomplete Example In this issue we have published only a partial list of contributors because we lack space to acknowledge everyone.
partial
biased; having a liking for something Example I am extremely partial to chocolate eclairs.
partiality
inclination; bias Example As a judge, not only must I be unbiased, but I must also avoid any evidence of partiality when I award the prize.
partisan
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party Example On certain issues of conscience, she refused to take a partisan stand.
passe
old-fashioned; past the prime Example Her style is passe and reminiscent of the Victorian era.
passive
not active; acted upon Example Mahatma Gandhi urged his followers to pursue a program of passive resistance as he felt that it was more effective than violence and acts of terrorism.
pastiche
imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing Example We cannot even say that her music is a pastiche of this or that composer; it is rather, reminiscent of many musicians.
pastoral
rural Example In these stories of pastoral life, we find an understanding of the daily tasks of country folk.
patent
open for the public to read; obvious Example It was patent to everyone that the witness spoke the truth.
pathetic
causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching Example Everyone in the auditorium was weeping by the time he finished his pathetic tale about the orphaned boy.
pathological
pertaining to disease Example As we study the pathological aspects of this disease, we must not overlook the psychological elements.
pathos
tender to sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings. Example The quiet tone of pathos that ran through the novel never degenerated into the maudlin or the overly sentimental.
patina
green crust on old bronze works; tone slowly taken by varnished painting Example Judging by the patina on this bronze statue, we can conclude that this is the work of a medieval artist.
patois
local or provincial dialect Example His years of study of the language at the university did not enable him to understand the patois of the natives.
patriarch
father and ruler of a family or tribe Example In many primitive tribes, the leader and lawmaker was the patriarch.
patrician
noble; aristocratic Example We greatly admired her well-bred, patrician elegance
patronize
support; act superior toward Example Experts in a field sometimes appear to patronize people who are less knowledgeable of the subject.
paucity
scarcity Example They closed the restaurant because the paucity of customers made it uneconomical to operate.
pauper
very poor person Example Though Widow Brown was living on a reduced income, she was by no means a pauper.
peccadillo
slight offense Example If we examine these escapades carefully, we will realize that they are mere peccadilloes rather than major crimes.
pecuniary
pertaining to money Example I never expected a pecuniary reward for my work in this activity.
pedagogue
teacher Example He could never be a stuffy pedagogue; his classes were always lively and filled with humor.
pedagogy
teaching; art of education Example Though Maria Montessori gained fame for her innovations in pedagogy, it took years before her teaching techniques became common practice in American schools.
pedant
scholar who overemphasizes book learning or technicalities Example Her insistence that the book be memorized marked the teacher as a pedant rather than a scholar.
pedantic
showing off learning; bookish Example Leaving his decisions with humorous, down-to-earth anecdotes, Judge Walker was not at all pedantic legal scholar.
pedestrian
ordinary; unimaginative Example Unintentionally boring, he wrote page after page of pedestrian prose.
pediatrician
physician specializing in children's diseases. Example The family doctor advised the parents to consult a pediatrician about their child's ailment.
pejorative
negative in connotation; having a belittling effect. Example Instead of criticizing Clinton's policies, the Republicans made pejorative remarks about his character.
pellmell
in confusion; disorderly Example The excited students dashed pellmell into the stadium to celebrate the victory.
pellucid
transparent; limpid; easy to understand Example After reading these stodgy philosophers, I find his pellucid style very enjoyable.
penance
self-imposed punishment for sin Example The Ancient Mariner said, "I have penance done and penance more will do," to atone for the sin of killing the albatross.
penchant
strong inclination; liking Example He had a strong penchant for sculpture and owned many statues.
pendant
hanging down from something Example Her pendant earrings glistened in the light.
pendant
ornament (hanging from a necklace, etc.) Example The grateful team presented the coach with a silver chain and pendant engraved with the school's motto.
pendulous
hanging; suspended Example The pendulous chandeliers swayed in the breeze as if they were about to fall from the ceiling.
penitent
repentant Example When he realized the enormity of his crime, he became remorseful and penitent.
pensive
dreamily thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness Example The pensive youth gazed at the painting for a long time and then sighed.
penumbra
partial shadow (in an eclipse) Example During an eclipse, we can see an area of total darkness and a lighter area, which is the penumbra.
penurious
stingy; parsimonious Example He was a penurious man, averse to spending money even for the necessities of life.
penury
extreme poverty Example When his pension fund failed, George feared he would end his days in penury.
peon
landless agricultural worker; bond servant Example The land reformers sought to liberate the peons and establish them as independent farmers.
perceptive
insightful; aware; wise Example Although Maud was a generally perceptive critic, she had her blind sports: she could never see flaws in the work of her friends.
percussion
striking one object against another sharply Example The drum is a percussion instrument.
perdition
damnation; complete ruin Example Praying for salvation, young Daedalus feared he was damned to eternal perdition.
peregrination
journey Example Auntie Mame was a world traveler whose peregrinations took her from Tiajuana to Timbuctoo.
peremptory
demanding and leaving no choice Example From Jack's peremptory knock on the door, Jill could tell he would not give up until she let him in.
perennial
something long-lasting Example Tese plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for many years.
perifidious
treacherous; disloyal Example When Caesar realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend.
perforate
pierce; put a hole through Example Before you can open the aspirin bottle, you must first perforate the plastic safety seal that covers the cap.
perfunctory
superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm Example The auditor's perfunctory inspection of the books overlooked many errors.
perigee
point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth Example The rocket which was designed to take photographs of the moon was launched as the moon approached its perigee.
perimeter
outer boundary Example To find the perimeter of any quadrilateral, we add the lengths of the four sides.
peripatetic
walking about; moving Example The peripatetic school of philosophy derives its name from the fact that Aristotle walked with his pupils while discussing philosophy with them.
peripheral
marginal; outer Example We lived, not in central London, but in one of those peripheral suburbs that spring up on the outskirts of the great city.
periphery
edge, especially of a round surface Example He sensed that there was something just beyond the periphery of his vision.
perjury
false testimony while under oath Example When several witnesses appeared to challenge his story, he was indicted for perjury.
permeable
porous; allowing passage through Example Glass is permeable to light.
pernicious
very destructive, harmful Example He argued that these books had a pernicious effect on young and susceptible minds.
peroration
conclusion of an oration Example The peroration was largely hortatory and brought the audience to its feet clamoring for action at its close.
perpetrate
commit an offense Example Only an insane person could perpetrate such a horrible crime.
perpetual
everlasting Example Ponce de Leon hoped to find perpetual youth.
perquisite
any gain above stipulated salary Example The perquisites attached to this job make it even more attractive than the salary indicates.
personable
attractive Example The man I am seeking to fill this position must be personable since he will be representing us before the public.
perspicacious
having insight; penetrating; astute Example The brillant lawyer was known for his perspicacious deductions.
perspicuity
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity Example One of the outstanding features of this book is the perspicuity of its author; her meaning is always clear.
perspicuous
plainly expressed Example Her perspicuous comments eliminated all posibility of misinterpretation.
pert
impertinent; forward Example I think your pert and impudent remarks call for an apology.
pertinacious
stubborn; persistent Example He is bound to succeed because his pertinacious nature will not permit him to quit.
pertinent
suitable; to the point Example The lawyer wanted to know all the pertinent details.
perturb
disturb greatly Example I am afraid this news will perturb him and cause him grief.
perusal
reading Example I am certain that you have missed important details in your rapid perusal of this document.
pervasive
spread throughout Example Despite airing them for several hours, she could not rid her clothes of the pervasive odor of mothbals that clung to them.
perverse
stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and unacceptable Example When Hannibal Lecter was in a perverse mood, he ate the flesh of his victims.
perversion
corruption; turning from right to wrong Example Inasmuch as he had no motive for his crimes, we could not understand his perversion.
pessimism
belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess Example The good news we have been receiving lately indicates that there is little reason for your pessimism.
pestilential
causing plague; baneful Example People were afraid to explore the pestilential swap.
pestle
tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl Example From the way in which the elderly pharmacist pounded the drug with his pestle, young George could tell that his employer was agitated about something.
petrify
turn to stone Example His sudden and unexpected appearance seemed to petrify her.
petty
trivial; unimportant; very small Example She had no major complaints to make about his work, only a few petty quibbles that were almost too minor to state.
petulant
touchy; peevish Example The *****ish patient was petulant and restless.
pharisaical
pertaining to Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical Example Walter Lippmann has pointed out that moralists who do not attempt to explain the moral code they advocate are often regarded as pharisaical and ignored.
phenomena
observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation Example We kept careful records of the phenomena we noted in the course of these experiments.
philanderer
faithless lover; flirt Example Swearing he had never so much as looked at another woman, Jack assured Jill he was no philanderer.
philanthropist
lover of mankind; doer of good Example As he grew older, he became famous as a philanthropist and benefactor of the needy.
philatelist
stamp-collector Example When she heard the value of the Penny Black stamp, Phyllis was inspired to become a philatelist.
philistine
narrow-minded person, uncultured and exculsively interested in material gain Example We need more men of culture and enlightenment; we have too many philistines among us.
philology
study of language Example The professor of philology advocated the use of Esperanto as an international language.
phlegmatic
calm; not easily disturbed Example The nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic person, unexcited in the face of sudden emergencies.
phobia
morbid fear Example Her fear of flying was more than mere nervousness; it was a real phobia.
physiognomy
face Example He prided himself on his ability to analyze a person's character by studying his physiognomy.
physiological
pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms Example To understand this disease fully, we must examine not only its physiological aspects but also its psychological elements.
piebald
of different colors; motled; spotted Example You should be able to identify Polka Dot in this race; he is the only piebald horse running.
pied
variegated; multicolored Example The pied piper of Hamelin got his name from the multicolored clothing he wore.
piety
devoutness; reverence for God Example Living her life in prayer and good works, Mother Teresa exemplifies the true sprit of piety.
pigment
coloring matter Example Van Gogh mixed various pigments with linseed oil to create his paints.
pillage
plunder Example The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it in ruins.
pillory
punish by placing in a wooden frame; subject to criticism and ridicule Example Even though he was mocked and pilloried, he maintained that he was correct in his beliefs.
pine
languish, decline; long for, yearn Example Though she tried to be happy living with Clara in the city, Heidi pined for the mountains and for her gruff but loving grandfather.
pinion
restrain Example They pinioned his arms against his body but left his legs free so that he could move about.
pinnacle
peak Example We could see the morning sunlight illuminate the pinnacle while the rest of the mountain lay in shadow.
pious
devout Example The pious parents gave their children a religious upbringing.
piquant
pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating Example The piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of the meal.
pique
irritation; resentment Example She showed her pique by her refusal to appear with the other contestants at the end of the contest.
piscatorial
pertaining to fishing Example He spent many happy hours at the lake in his piscatorial activities.
pithy
concise; meaty Example I enjoy reading his essays because they are always compact and pithy.
pittance
a small allowance or wage Example He could not live on the pittance he received as a pension and had to look for an additional source of revenue.
pivotal
central; critical Example De Klerk's decision to set Nelson Mandela free was pivotal; without Mandela's release, there was no possibility that the African National Cogress would entertain talks with the South African government.
placate
pacify; conciliate Example The teacher tried to placate the angry mother.
placebo
harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill Example In a controlled experiment, fifty volunteers were given erythromycin tablets; the control group received only placebos.
placid
peaceful; calm Example After his vacation in this placid section, he felt soothed and rested.
plagiarize
steal another's ideas and pass them off as one's own Example The editor could tell that the writer had plagiarized parts of the article; he could recognize whole paragraphs from the original source.
plaintive
mournful Example The dove has a plaintive and melancholy call
plasticity
ability to be molded Example When clay dries out, it loses its plasticity and becomes less malleable.
platitude
trite remark; commonplace statement Example The platitudes in his speech were applauded by the vast majority in his audience; only a few people perceived how trite his remarks were.
platonic
purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire Example Accused of impropriety in his dealings with female students, the professor maintained he had only a platonic interest in the women involved.
plauditory
approving; applauding Example The theatrical company reprinted the plauditory comments of the critics in its advertisement.
plausible
having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious Example Even though your argument is plausible, I still would like to have more proof.
plebeian
common; pertaining to the common people Example His speeches were aimed at the plebeian minds and emotions; they disgusted the more refined.
plenary
complete; full Example The union leader was given plenary power to negotiate a new contract with the employers.
plenitude
abundance; completeness Example Looking in the pantry, we admired the plenitude of fruits and pickles we had preserved during the summer.
plethora
excess; overabundance Example She offered a plethora of excuses for her shortcomings.
pliable
flexible; yielding; adaptable Example In remodeling the bathroom, we replaced all the old, rigid lead pipes with new, pliable copper tubing.
pliant
flexible; easily influenced Example Catherine's disposition was pliant; she was like putty in her suitor's hands.
pluck
courage Example Even the adversaries of young Indiana Jones were impressed by the boy's pluck in trying to rescue the archeological treasure they had stolen.
plumb
vertical Example Before hanging wallpaper it is advisable to drop a plumb line from the ceiling as a guide.
plummet
fall sharply Example Stock prices plummeted as Wall Street reacted to the rise in interest rates.
plutocracy
society ruled by the wealthy Example From the way the government caters to the rich, you might think our society is a plutocracy rather than a democracy.
podiatrist
doctor who treats ailments of the feet Example He consulted a podiatrist about his fallen arches.
podium
pedestal; raised platform Example The audience applauded as the conductor made his way to the podium.
poignancy
quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion Example Watching the tearful reunion of the long-separated mother and child, the social worker was touched by the poignancy of the scene.
polarize
split into opposite extremes or camps Example The abortion issue has polarized the country into pro-choice and anti-abortion camps.
polemic
controversy; argument in support of point of view Example Her essays were, for the main part, polemics for the party's policy.
politic
expedient; prudent; well devised Example Even though he was disappointed, he did not think it politic to refuse the offer.
polity
form of government of nation or state Example Our polity should be devoted to the concept that the government should strive for the good of all citizens.
polygamist
one who has more than one spouse at a time Example He was arrested as a polygamist when his two wives filed complaints about him.
polyglot
speaking several languages Example New York City is a polyglot community because of the thousands of immigrants who settle there.
pomposity
self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt Example Although the commencement speaker had some good things to say, we had to laugh at his pomposity and general air of parading his own dignity.
ponderous
weighty; unwieldy Example His humor lacked the light touch; his jokes were always ponderous.
pontifical
pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious Example From the very beginning of his ministry it was clear from his pontifical pronouncements that John was destined for a high pontifical office.
pore
study industriously; ponder; scrutinize Example Determined to become a physician, Beth spends hours poring over her anatomy text.
porous
full of pores; like a sieve Example Dancers like to wear porous clothing because it allows the ready passage of water and air.
portend
foretell; presage Example The king did not know what these omens might portend and asked his soothsayers to interpret them.
portent
sign; omen; forewarning Example He regarded the black cloud as a portent of evil.
portly
stout; corpulent Example The salesclerk tactfully referred to the overweight customer as portly rather than fat.
poseur
person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others Example Some thought Dali was a brillant painter; others dismissed him as a poseur.
posterity
descendants; future generations Example We hope to leave a better world to posterity.
posthumous
after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death) Example The critics ignored his works during his lifetime; it was only after the posthumous publication of his last novel that they recognized his great talent.
postulate
self-evident truth Example We must accept these statements as postulates before pursuing our discussions any further.
posture
assume an affected pose; act artificially Example No matter how much Arnold boasted or postured, I could not believe he was as important as he pretended to be.
potable
suitable for drinking Example The recent drought in the Middle Atlantic States has emphasized the need for extensive research in ways of making sea water potable.
potent
powerful; persuasive; greatly influential Example The jury was swayed by the highly potent testimony of the crime's sole eyewitness.
potentate
monarch; sovereign Example The potentate spent more time at Monte Carlo than he did at home on his throne.
potential
expressing possibility; latent Example The juvenile delinquent is a potential murderer.
potion
dose (of liquid) Example Tristan and Lsolde drink a love potion in the first act of the opera.
potpourri
heterogeneous mixture; medley Example He offered a potpourri of folk songs from many lands.
poultice
soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body Example He was advised to apply a flaxseed poultice to the inflammation.
practicable
feasible Example The board of directors decided that the plan was practicable and agreed to undertake the project.
practical
based on experience; useful Example He was a practical man, opposed to theory
pragmatic
practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something Example This coming trip to France should provide me with a pragmatic test of the value of my conversational French class.
pragmatist
practical person Example No pragmatist enjoys becoming involved in a game that he can never win
prate
speak foolishly; boast idly Example Let us not prate about our qualities; rather, let our virtues speak for themselves.
prattle
babble Example The children prattle endlessly about their new toys.
preamble
introductory statement Example In the preamble to the Constitution, the purpose of the document is set forth.
precarious
uncertain; risky Example I think this stock is a precarious investment and advise against its purchase.
precedent
something preceding in time that may be used as an authority or guide for future action Example This decision sets a precedent for future cases of a similar nature.
precedent
preceding in time, rank, etc. Example Our discussions, precedent to this event, certainly did not give you any reason to believe that we would adopt your proposal.
precept
practical rule guiding conduct Example "Love thy neighbor as thyself" is a worthwhile precept.
precipice
cliff; dangerous position Example Suddenly Indiana Jones found himself dangling from the edge of a precipice.
precipitate
headlong; rash Example Do not be precipitate in this matter; investigate further.
precipitate
throw headlong; hasten Example The removal of American political support appeared to have precipitated the downfall of the Marcos regime.
precipitous
steep; overhasty Example This hill is difficult to climb because it is so precipitous; one slip, and our descent will be precipitous as well.
precise
exact Example If you don't give me precise directions and a map, I'll never find your place.
preclude
make impossible; eliminate Example This contract does not preclude my being employed by others at the same time that I am working for you.
precocious
advanced in development Example By her rather adult manner of discussing serious topics, the child demonstrated that she was precocious.
precursor
forerunner Example Though Gray and Burns share many traits with the Romantic poets who followed them, most critics consider them precursors of the Romantic Movement, not true Romantics.
predatory
plundering Example The hawk is a predatory bird.
predecessor
former occupant of a post Example I hope I can live up to the fine example set by my late predecessor in this office.
predilection
partiality; preference Example Although the artist used various media from time to time, she had a predilection for watercolors.
preeminent
outstanding; superior Example The king traveled to Boston because he wanted the preeminent surgeon in the field to perform the operation.
preempt
head off; forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself; supplant Example Hoping to preempt any attempts by the opposition to make educational reform a hot political issue, the candidate set out her own plan to revitalize the public schools.
preen
make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction Example As Kitty preened before the mirror, carefully smoothing her shining hair, she couldn't help preening herself on her good looks.
prefactory
introductory Example The chairman made a few prefactory remarks before he called on the first speaker.
prehensile
capable of grasping or holding Example Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but also their prehensile tails in traveling through the trees.
prelate
church dignitary Example The archbishop of Moscow and other high-ranking prelates visited the Russian Orthodox seminary.
prelude
introduction; forerunner Example I am afraid that this border raid is the prelude to more serious attacks.
premeditate
plan in advance Example She had premeditated the murder for months, reading about common poisons and buying weed killer that contained arsenic.
premise
assumption; postulate Example Because Jack had based his argument upon a faulty premise, his opponent cheerfully pointed out the holes in his logic.
premonition
forewarning Example We ignored these premonitions of disaster because they appeared to be based on childish fears.
premonitory
serving to warn Example You should have visited a doctor as soon as you felt these premonitory chest pains.
preponderance
superiority of power, quantity, etc. Example The rebels sought to overcome the preponderance of strength of the government forces by engaging in guerrilla tactics.
preposterous
absurd; ridiculous Example When the candidate tried to downplay his youthful experiments with marijuana by saying he hadn't inhaled, we all thought, "What a preposterous excuse!"
prerogative
privilege; unquestionable right Example The President cannot levy taxes; that is the prerogative of the legislative branch of government.
presage
foretell Example The vultures flying overhead presaged the discovery of the corpse in the desert.
prescience
ability to foretell the future Example Given the current wave of Japan-bashing, it does not take prescience for me to foresee problems in our future trade relations with Japan.
presentiment
premonition; foreboding Example Hamlet felt a presentiment about his meeting with Laertes.
prestige
impression produced by achievements or reputation Example The wealthy man sought to obtain social prestige by contributing to popular charities.
presumptous
arrogant; taking liberties Example It seems presumptous for one so relatively new to the field to challenge the conclusions of its leading experts.
pretentious
ostentatious; ambitious Example I do not feel that your limited resources will permit you to carry out such a pretentious program.
preternatural
beyond that which is normal in nature Example John's mother's total ability to tell when he was lying struck him as almost preternatural.
pretext
excuse Example He looked for a good pretext to get out of paying a visit to his aunt.
prevail
induce; triumph over Example He tried to prevail on her to type his essays for him.
prevalent
widespread; generally accepted Example A radical committed to social change, Reed had no patience with the conservative views prevalent in the America of his day.
prevaricate
lie Example Some people believe that to prevaricate in a good cause is justifiable and regard the statement as a "white lie."
prey
target of a hunt; victim Example In Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Euell Gibbons has as his prey not wild beasts but wild plants.
prim
very precise and formal; exceedingly proper Example Many people commented on the contrast between the prim attire of the young lady and the inappropriate clothing worn by her escort.
primogeniture
seniority by birth Example By virtue of primogeniture, in some cultures the first-born child has many privileges denied his brothers and sisters.
primordial
existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary Example The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial ancestors.
primp
dress or groom oneself with care Example She primps for hours before a dance.
pristine
characteristic of earlier times; primitive, unspoiled Example This area has been preserved in all its pristine wildness.
privation
hardship; want Example In his youth, he knew hunger and privation.
privy
secret; hidden; not public Example We do not care for privy chamber of government.
probe
explore with tools Example The surgeon probed the wound for foreign matter before suturing it.
probity
uprightness; incorruptibility Example Everyone took his probity for granted; his defalcations, therefore, shocked us all.
problematic
perplexing; unsettled: questionable Example Given the many areas of conflict still awaiting resolution, the outcome of the peace talks remains problematic.
proclivity
inclination; natural tendency Example The cross old lady has a proclivity to grumble.
procrastinate
postpone; delay Example It is wise not to procrastinate; otherwise, we find ourselves bogged down in a mass of work that should have been finished long ago.
procurement
obtaining Example The personnel department handles the procurement of new employees.
prod
poke; stir up; urge Example If you prod him hard enough, he'll eventually clean his room.
prodigal
wasteful; reckless with money Example The prodigal son squandered his inheritance.
prodigious
enormous; marvelous Example He marveled at her prodigious appetite when he saw all the food she ate.
prodigy
highly gifted child; marvel Example Menuhin was a prodigy, performing wonders on his violin when he was barely eight years old.
profane
violate; desecrate Example Tourists are urged not to profane the sanctity of holy places by wearing improper garb.
profilgate
dissipated; wasteful; licentious Example In this profilgate company, she lost all sense of decency.
profound
deep; not superficial; complete Example Freud's remarkable insights into human behavior caused his fellow scientists to honor him as a profound thinker.
profusion
lavish expenditure; overabundant condition Example Seldom have I seen food and drink served in such profusion as at the wedding feast.
progenitor
ancestor Example The Roth family, whose progenitors emigrated from Germany early in the nineteenth century, settled in Peru, Illinois.
progeny
children; offspring Example He was proud of his progeny but regarded George as the most promising of all his children.
prognosis
forecasted course of a disease; prediction Example If the doctor's prognosis is correct, the patient will be in a coma for at least twenty-four hours.
prognosticate
predict Example I prognosticate disaster unless we change our wasteful ways.
projectile
missile Example Man has always hurled projectiles at his enemy whether in the form of stones or of highly explosive shells.
proletarian
member of the working class Example The aristocrats feared mob rule and gave the right to vote only to the wealthy, thus depending the proletarians of a voice in government.
proliferate
grow rapidly; spread; multiply Example Times of economic hardship inevitably encourage countless get-rich-quick schemes to proliferate
prolific
abundantly fruitful Example She was a prolific writer who produced as many as three books a year.
pro***
verbose; drawn out Example Her pro*** arguments irritated and bored the jury.
prolong
extend; draw out; lengthen Example In their determination to discover ways to prolong human life, doctors fail to take into account that longer lives are not always happier ones.
prominent
conspicuous; notable; protruding Example Have you ever noticed that Prince Charles's prominent ears make him resemble the big-eared character in Mad comics?
promiscuous
mixed indiscriminately; haphazard; irregular, particularly ***ually Example In the opera La Boheme, we get a picture of the promiscuous life led by the young artists of Paris.
promontory
headland Example They erected a lighthouse on the promontory to warn approaching ships of their nearness to the shore.
prompt
cause; provoke; provide a cue for an actor Example Whatever prompted you to ask for such a big piece of cake when you're on a diet?
promulgate
make known by official proclamation or publication Example As soon as the Civil Service Commission promulgates the names of the successful candidates, we shall begin to hire members of our staff.
prone
inclined to; prostrate Example She was prone to sudden fits of anger.
propagate
multiply; spread Example Since bacteria propagate more quickly in unsanitary environments, it is important to keep hospital rooms clean.
propellant
substance that propels or drives forward Example The development of our missile program has forced our scientists to seek more powerful propellants.
propensity
natural inclination Example Convinced of his own talent, Sol has an unfortunate propensity to belittle the talents of others.
prophetic
having to do with predicting the future Example In interpreting Pharaoh's prophetic dream, Joseph said that the seven fat cows eaten by the seven lean cows represented seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
prophylactic
used to prevent disease Example Despite all prophylactic measures introduced by the authorities, the epidemic raged until cool weather set in.
propinquity
nearness; kinship Example Their relationship could not be explained as being based on mere propinquity: they were more than relatives; they were true friends.
propitiate
appease Example The natives offered sacrifices to propitiate the gods.
propitious
favorable; kindly Example I think it is advisable that we wait for a more propitious occasion to announce our plans; this is not a good time.
proponent
person who supports or proposes (an idea) Example After the bill had been amended and re-amended in committee, even its original proponents didn't want to vote in its favor.
propound
put forth for analysis Example In you discussion, you have propounded several questions; let us consider each one separately.
propriety
fitness; correct conduct Example I want you to behave at this dinner with propriety; don't embarass me.
propulsive
driving forward Example The jet plane has a greater propulsive power than the engine-driven plane.
prosaic
dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factual Example Though the ad writers had come up with a highly creative campaign to publicize the company's newest product, the head office rejected it for a more prosaic, down-to-earth approach.
proscenium
part of stage in front of curtain Example In the theater-in-the-round there can be no proscenium or proscenium arch.
proscribe
ostracize; banish; outlaw Example Antony, Octavius and Lepidus proscribed all those who had conspired against Julius Caesar.
proselytize
induce someone to convert to religion or belief Example In these interfaith meetings, there must be no attempt to proselytize; we must respect all points of view.
prosody
the art of versification Example This book on prosody contains a rhyming dictionary as well as samples of the various verse forms.
prosperity
good fortune; financial success; physical well-being Example Promising to stay together "for richer, for poorer," the newlyweds vowed to be true to one another in prosperity and hardship alike.
prostrate
stretch out full on ground Example He prostrated himself before the idol.
protean
versatile; able to take on many forms Example A remarkably protean actor, Alec Guinness could take on any role.
protocol
diplomatic etiquette Example We must run this state dinner according to protocol if we are to avoid offending any of our guests.
prototype
original work used as a model by others Example The crude typewriter on display in this museum is the prototype of the elaborate machines in use today.
protract
prolong Example Seeking to delay the union members' vote, the management team tried to protract the negotiations endlessly, but the union representatives saw through their strategy.
protrude
stick out Example His fingers protruded from the holes in his gloves.
protuberance
protrusion; bulge Example A ganglionic cyst is a fluid-filled tumor (generally benign) that develops near a joint membrane or tendon sheath, and that bulges beneath the skin, forming a protuberance.
provenance
origin or source of something Example I am not interested in its provenance; I am more concerned with its usefulness than with its source.
provender
dry food; fodder Example I am afraid of a severe winter because I have stored a large quantity of provender for the cattle.
provident
displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies Example In his usual provident manner, he had insured himself against this type of loss.
provincial
pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated Example As provincial governor, Sir Henry administered the Queen's law in his remote corner of Canada.
provisional
tentative Example The appointment is provisional; only on the approval of the board of directors will it be made permanent.
proviso
stipulation Example I am ready to accept your proposal with the two proviso that you meet your obligations within the next two weeks.
provoke
stir up anger; cause retaliation Example In order to prevent a sudden outbreak of hostilities, we must not provoke our foe.
proximity
nearness Example The deer sensed the hunter's proximity and bounded away.
proxy
authorized agent Example Please act as my proxy and vote for this slate of candidates in my absence.
prude
excessively modest or proper person Example The X-rated film was definitely not for prudes.
prudent
cautious; careful Example A miser hoards money not because he is prudent but because he is greedy.
prune
cut away; trim Example With the help of her editor, she was able to prune her manuscript into publishable form.
pseudonym
pen name Example Samuel Clemens' pseudonym was Mark Twain.
psychiatrist
a doctor who treats mental diseases Example A psychiatrist often needs long conferences with his patient before a diagnosis can be made.
psychopathic
pertaining to mental derangement Example The psychopathic patient suffers more frequently from a disorder of the nervous system than from a diseased brain.
psychosis
mental disorder Example We must endeavor to find an outlet for the patient's repressed desires if we hope to combat this psychosis.
pterodactyl
extinct flying reptile Example The remains of pterodactyls indicate that these flying reptiles had a wingspan of as much as twenty feet.
puerile
childish Example His puerile pranks sometimes offended his more mature friends.
pugilist
boxer Example The famous pugilist Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammed Ali.
pugnacious
combative; disposed to fight Example As a child he was pugnacious and fought with everyone.
puissant
powerful; strong; potent Example We must keep his friendship for he will make a puissant ally.
pulchritude
beauty; comeliness Example I do not envy the judges who have to select this year's Miss America from this collection of female pulchritude.
pulmonary
pertaining to the lungs Example In his researches on pulmonary diseases, he discovered many facts about the lungs of animals and human beings.
pulsate
throb Example We could see the blood vessels in his temple pulsate as he became more angry.
pulverize
crush or grind into very small particles Example Before sprinkling the dried herbs into the stew, Michael first pulverized them into a fine powder.
pummel
beat Example The severity with which he was pummeled was indicated by the bruises he displayed on his head and face.
punctilious
laying stress on niceties of conduct or form; precise Example We must be punctilious in our planning of this affair, for any error may be regarded as a personal affront.
pundit
learned Hindu; any learned person; authority on a subject Example Even though he discourses on the matter like a pundit, he is actually rather ignorant about this topic.
pungency
sharpness; stinging quality Example The pungency of the cigarette smoke made me cough.
punitive
punishing Example He asked for punitive measures against the offender.
puny
insignificant; tiny; weak Example Our puny efforts to stop the flood were futile.
purchase
firm grasp or footing Example The mountaineer struggled to get a proper purchase on the slippery rock.
purgatory
place of spiritual expiation Example In this purgatory, he could expect no help from his comrades.
purge
clean by removing impurities; clear of changes Example If you are to be purged of the charge of contempt of Congress, you must be willing to answer the questions previously asked.
purport
intention; meaning Example If the purport of your speech was to arouse the rabble, you succeeded admirably.
purveyor
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer Example As purveyor of rare wines and viands, he traveled through France and Italy every year in search of new products to sell.
pusillanimous
cowardly; fainthearted Example You should be ashamed of your pusillanimous conduct during this dispute.
putative
supposed; reputed Example Although there are some doubts, the putative author of this work is Massinger.
putrid
foul; rotten; decayed Example The gangrenous condition of the wound was indicated by the putrid smell when the bandages were removed.
pyromaniac
person with an insane desire to set things on fire Example The detectives searched the area for the pyromaniac who had set these costly fires.
pyre
heap of combustible material, esp. for burning a corpse. Example The mortician put pyre on the corpse before burning a corpse.
pest
troublesome or annoying person Example He was a pest; always bothering people.
prohibitive
extremely high (of prices etc.) Example The super computer's price was prohibitive.
quack
charlatan; impostor Example Do not be misled by the exorbitant claims of this quack; he cannot cure you.
quadruped
four-footed animal Example Most mammals are quadrupeds.
quaff
drink with relish Example As we quaffed our ale, we listened to the gay songs of the students in the tavern.
quagmire
soft, wet, boggy land; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself Example Up to her knees in mud, Myra wondered how on earth she was going to extricate herself from this quagmire.
quail
cower; lose heart Example He was afraid that he would quail in the face of danger.
quaint
odd; old-fashioned; picturesque Example Her quaint clothes and old-fashioned language marked her as an eccentric.
qualified
limited; restricted Example Unable to give the candidate full support, the mayor gave him only a qualified endorsement.
qualms
misgivings Example His qualms of conscience had become so great that he decided to abandon his plans.
quandary
dilemma Example When the two colleges to which he had applied accepted him, he was in a quandary as to which one he should attend.
quarantine
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection Example We will have to place this house under quarantine until we determine the nature of the disease.
quarry
victim; object of a hunt Example The police closed in on their quarry.
quarry
dig into Example They quarried blocks of marble out of the hillside.
quash
subdue; crush; squash Example The authorities acted quickly to quash the student rebellion, sending in tanks to cow the demonstrators.
quay
dock; landing place Example Because of the captain's carelessness, the ship crashed into the quay.
queasy
easily nauseated; squeamish Example As the ship left the harbor, he became queasy and thought that he was going to suffer from seasickness.
quell
put down; quiet Example The police used fire hoses and teat gas to quell the rioters.
querulous
fretful; whining Example His classmates were repelled by his querulous and complaining statements.
queue
line Example They stood patiently in the queue outside the movie theatre.
quibble
equivocate; play on words Example Do not quibble; I want a straightforward and definite answer.
quiescent
at rest; dormant Example After this geyser erupts, it will remain quiescent for twenty-four hours.
quietude
tranquillity Example He was impressed by the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the valley.
quintessence
purest and highest embodiment Example Noel Coward displayed the quintessence of wit.
quip
taunt Example You are unpopular because you are too free with your quips and sarcastic comments.
quirk
startling twise; caprice Example By a quirk of fate, he found himself working for the man whom he had discharged years before.
quisling
traitor who aids invaders Example In his conquest of Europe, Hitler was aided by the quislings who betrayed their own people and served in the puppet governments established by the Nazis.
quiver
case for arrows Example Robin Hood reached back and plucked one last arrow from his quiver.
quixotic
idealistic but impractical Example His head is in the clouds; he is constantly presenting these quixotic schemes.
quizzical
bantering; comical; humorously serious Example Will Rogers' quizzical remarks endeared him to his audiences.
quorum
number of members necessary to conduct a meeting Example The senator asked for a roll call to determine whether a quorum was present.
quotidian
daily; commonplace; customary Example To Philip, each new day of his internship was filled with excitement; he could not dismiss his rounds as merely quotidian routine.
rabid
like a fanatic; furious Example He was a rabid follower of the Dodgers and watched them play whenever he could go to the ball park.
raconteur
story-teller Example My father was a gifted raconteur with an unlimited supply of anecdotes.
ragamuffin
person wearing tattered clothes Example He felt sorry for the ragamuffin who was begging for food and gave him money to buy a meal.
rail
scold; rant Example You may rail at him all you want; you will never change him.
raiment
clothing Example "How can I go to the ball?" asked Cinderella. "I have no raiment fit to wear."
rakish
stylish; sporty Example He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
ramble
wander aimlessly (physically or mentally) Example Listening to the teacher ramble, Judy wondered whether he'd ever get to his point.
ramification
branching out; subdivision Example We must examine all the ramifications of this problem.
ramify
divide into branches or subdivisions Example When the plant begins to ramify, it is advisable to nip off most of the new branches.
ramp
slope; inclined plane Example The house was built with ramps instead of stairs in order to enable the man in the wheelchair to move easily from room to room and floor to floor.
rampant
rearing up on hind legs; unrestrained Example The rampant weeds in the garden killed all the flowers that had been planted in the spring.
rampart
defensive mound on earth Example "From the ramparts we watched" as the fighting continued.
ramshackle
rickety; falling apart Example The boys propped up the ramshackle clubhouse with a couple of boards.
rancid
having the odor of stale fat Example A rancid odor filled the ship's galley and nauseated the crew.
rancor
bitterness; hatred Example Let us forget out rancor and cooperate in this new endeavor.
random
without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard Example Although the sponsor of the raffle claimed all winners were chosen at random, people had their suspicions when the grand prize went to the sponsor's brother-in-law.
rankle
irritate; fester Example The memory of having been jilted rankled him for years.
rant
rave; speak bombastically Example As we heard him rant on the platform, we could not understand his strange popularity with many people.
rapacious
excessively grasping; plundering Example Hawks and other rapacious birds prey on variety of small animals.
rapport
emotional closeness; harmony Example In team teaching, it is important that all teachers in the group have good rapport with one another.
rarefied
made less dense [of a gas] Example The mountain climbers had difficulty breathing in the rarefied atmosphere.
raspy
grating; harsh Example The sergeant's raspy voice grated on the recruits' ears.
ratify
approve formally; verify Example Before the treaty could go into effect, it had to be ratified by the president.
ratiocination
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises Example While Watson was a man of average intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift for ratiocination made him a superb detective.
rationalization
bringing into conformity with reason Example All attempts at rationalization at this time are doomed to failure; tempers and emotions run too high for intelligent thought to prevail.
rationalize
reason; justify an improper act Example Do not try to rationalize your behavior by blaming your companions.
raucous
harsh and shrill Example His raucous laughter irritated me and grated on my ears.
ravage
plunder; despoil Example The marauding army ravaged the countryside.
rave
overwhelmingly favorable review Example Though critic John Simon seldom has a good word to say about contemporary plays, his review of All in the Timing was a total rave.
ravel
fall apart into tangles; unravel or untwist; entangle Example A sigle thread pulled loose, and the entire scarf started to ravel.
ravenous
extremely hungry Example The revenous dog upset several garbage pails in its search for food.
ravine
narrow valley with steep sides Example Steeper than a gully, less precipitous than a canyon, a ravine is, like them, the product of years of erosion.
raze
destroy completely Example The owners intend to raze the hotel and erect an office building on the site.
reactionary
recoiling from progress; retrograde Example His program was reactionary since it sought to abolish many of the social reforms instituted by the previous administration.
realm
kingdom; sphere Example The realm of possibilities for the new invention was endless.
reaper
one who harvests grain Example Death, the Grim Reaper, cuts down men and women, just as a farmer cuts down the ripened grain.
rebate
discount Example We offer a rebate of ten percent to those who pay cash.
rebuff
snub; beat back Example She rebuffed his invitation so smoothly that he did not realize he had been snubbed.
rebus
puzzle in which pictures stand for words Example A coven of witches beside a tree is a possible rebus for the town Coventry.
rebuttal
refutation; response with contrary evidence Example The defense lawyer confidently listened to the prosecutor sum up his case, sure that she could answer his arguments in her rebuttal.
recalcitrant
obstinately stubborn Example Donkeys are reputed to be the most recalcitrant of animals.
recant
repudiate; withdraw previous statement Example Unless you recant your confession, you will be punished severely.
recapitulate
summarize Example Let us recapitulate what has been said thus far before going ahead.
receptive
quick or willing to receive ideas, suggestions, etc. Example Adventure-loving Huck Finn proved a receptive audience for Tom's tales of buried treasure and piracy.
recession
withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity Example The slow recession of the flood waters created problems for the crews working to restore power to the area.
recidivism
habitual return to crime Example Prison reformers in the United States are disturbed by the high rate of recidivism; the number of persons serving second and third terms indicates the failure of the prisons to rehabilitate the inmates.
recipient
receiver Example Although he had been the recipient of many favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor.
reciprocal
mutual; exchangeable; interacting Example The two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement.
reciprocate
repay in kind Example If they attack us, we shall be compelled to reciprocate and bomb their territory.
recluse
hermit Example The recluse lived in a hut in the forest.
reconcile
correct inconsistencies; become friendly after a quarrel Example Every time we try to reconcile our checkbook with the bank statement, we quarrel. However, despite these monthly lovers' quarrels, we always manage to reconcile.
recondite
abstruse; profound; secret Example He read many recondite books in order to obtain the material for the scholarly thesis.
reconnaissance
survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering Example If you encounter any enemy soldiers during your reconnaissance, capture them for questioning.
recount
narrate or tell; count over again Example About to recount the latest adventure of Sherlock Holmes, Watson lost track of exactly how many cases Holmes had solved and refused to begin his tale until he'd recounted them one by one.
recourse
resorting to help when in trouble Example The boy's only recourse was to appeal to his father for aid.
recrimination
countercharges Example Loud and angry recriminations were her answer to his accusations.
rectify
correct Example I want to rectify my error before it is too late.
rectitude
uprightness Example He was renowned for his rectitude and integrity.
recumbent
reclining; lying down completely or in part Example The command "AT EASE" does not permit you to take a recumbent position.
recuperate
recover Example The doctors were worried because the patient did not recuperate as rapidly as they had expected.
recurrent
occurring again and again Example These recurrent attacks disturbed us and we consulted a physician.
redolent
fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor Example Even though it is February, the air is redolent of spring.
redoubtable
formidable; causing fear Example During the Cold War period, neighboring countries tried not to offend the Russians because they could be redoubtable foes.
redress
remedy; compensation Example Do you mean to tell me that I can get no redress for my injuries?
redundant
superfluous; excessively wordy; repetitious Example Your composition is redundant; you can easily reduce its length.
reek
emit (odor) Example The room reeked with stale tobacco smoke.
refectory
dining hall Example In this huge refectory, we can feed the entire student body at one sitting.
refraction
bending of a ray of light Example When you look at a stick inserted in water, it looks bent because of the refraction of the light by the water.
refractory
stubborn; unmanageable Example The refractory horse was eliminated from the race when he refused to obey the jockey.
refrain
v. abstain from; resist n. chorus Example Whenever he heard a song with a lively chorus, Sol could never refrain from joining in on the refrain.
refurbish
renovate; make bright by polishing Example The flood left a deposit of mud on everything; it was necessary to refurbish our belongings.
refute
disprove Example The defense called several respectable witnesses who were able to refute the false testimony of the prosecution's only witness.
regal
royal Example Prince Albert had a regal manner.
regale
entertain Example John regaled us with tales of his adventures in Africa.
regatta
boat or yacht race Example Many boating enthusiasts followed the regatta in their own yachts.
regeneration
spiritual rebirth Example Modern penologists strive for the regeneration of the prisoners.
regicide
murder of a king or queen Example The beheading of Mary Queen of Scots was an act of regicide.
regime
method or system of government Example When a Frenchman mentions the Old Regime, he refers to the government existing before the revolution.
regimen
prescribed diet and habits Example I doubt whether the results warrant our living under such a strict regimen.
rehabilitate
restore to proper condition Example We must rehabilitate those whom we send to prison.
reimburse
repay Example Let me know what you have spent and I will reimburse you.
reiterate
repeat Example He reiterated the warning to make sure everyone understood it.
rejoinder
retort; comeback; reply Example When someone has been rude to me, I find it particularly satisfying to come up with a quick rejoinder.
rejuvenate
make young again Example The charlatan claimed that his e***ir would rejuvenate the aged and weary.
relegate
banish; consign to inferior position Example If we relegate these experts to minor posts because of their political persuasions, we shall lose their valuable services.
relent
give in Example When her stern father would not relent and allow her to marry Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett eloped with her suitor.
relevant
pertinent; referring to the case in hand Example Teri was impressed by how relevant Virginia Woolf's remarks were to her as a woman writer; it was as if Woolf had been writing with Teri's situation in mind.
relic
surviving remnant; memento Example Egypt's Department of Antiquities prohibits tourists from taking mummies and other ancient relics out of the country.
relinquish
abandon Example I will relinquish my claims to this property if you promise to retain my employees.
relish
savor; enjoy Example I relish a good joke as much as anyone else.
remediable
reparable Example Let us be grateful that the damage is remediable.
reminiscence
recollection Example Her reminiscences of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book.
remiss
negligent Example He was accused of being remiss in his duty when the prisoner escaped.
remission
temporary moderation of disease symptoms; cancellation of a debt; forgiveness or pardon Example Though Senator Tsongas had been treated for cancer, his symptoms were in remission, and he was considered fit to handle the strains of a Presidential race.
remnant
remainder Example I suggest that you wait until the store places the remnants of these goods on sale.
remonstrance
protest; objection Example The authorities were deaf to the pastor's remonstrances about the lack of police protection in the area.
remorse
guilt; self-reproach Example The murderer felt no remorse for his crime.
remunerative
compensating; rewarding Example I find my new work so renumerative that I may not return to my previous employment.
rend
split; tear apart Example In his grief, he tried to rend his garments.
render
deliver; provide; represent Example He rendered aid to the needy and indigent.
rendezvous
meeting place Example The two fleets met at the rendezvous at the appointed time.
rendition
translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc. Example The audience cheered enthusiastically as she completed her rendition of the aria.
renegade
deserter; traitor Example Because he had abandoned his post and joined forces with the Indians, his fellow officers considered the hero of Dances with Wolves a renegade.
renege
deny; go back on Example He reneged on paying off his debt.
renounce
abandon; disown; repudiate Example Even though she knew she would be burned at the stake as a witch, Joan of Arc refused to renounce her belief that her voices came from God.
renovate
restore to good condition; renew Example They claim that they can renovate worn shoes so that they look like new ones.
renown
fame Example For many years an unheralded researcher, Barbara McClintock gained international renown when she won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.
rent
tear or rip; split Example The conflict over abortion threatens to split our nation, creating a rent in the social fabric that will be difficult to mend.
reparable
capable of being repaired Example Fortunately, the damages we suffered in the accident were reparable and our car looks brand new.
reparation
amends; compensation Example At the peace conference, the defeated country promised to pay reparations to the victors.
repartee
clever reply Example He was famous for his witty repartee and his sarcasm.
repeal
revoke; annul Example What would the effect on our society be if we decriminalized drug use by repealing the laws against the possession and sale of narcotics?
repellent
driving away; unattractive Example Mosquitoes find the odor so repellent that they leave any spot where this liquid has been sprayed.
repercussion
rebound; reverberation; reaction Example I am afraid that this event will have serious repercussions.
repertoire
list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present Example The opera company decided to include Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the following season.
repine
fret; complain Example There is no sense repining over the work you have left undone.
replenish
fill up again Example Before she could take another backpacking trip, Carla had to replenish her stock of freeze-dried foods.
replete
filled to capacity; abundantly supplied Example The book is replete with humorous situations.
replica
copy Example Are you going to hang this replica of the Declaration of Independence in the classroom or in the auditorium?
replicate
reproduce; duplicate Example To the chagrin of the scientists, they were unable to replicate the results of their controversial experiment.
repository
storehouse Example Libraries are repositories of the world's best thoughts.
reprehensible
deserving blame Example Your vicious conduct in this situation is reprehensible.
repress
restrain; crush; oppress Example Anne's parents tried to curb her impetuosity without repressing her boundless high spirits.
reprieve
temporary stay Example During the twenty-four-hour reprieve, the lawyers sought to make the stay of execution permanent.
reprimand
reprove severely Example I am afraid that my parents will reprimand me when I show them my report card.
reprisal
retaliation Example I am confident that we are ready for any reprisals the enemy may undertake.
reprise
recurrent action; musical repetition; repeat performance Example At Waterloo, it was not the effect of any one skirmish that exhausted Colonel Audly; rather it was the cumulative effect of the constant reprises that left him spent.
reproach
blame; censure Example I want my work to be above reproach and without error
reprobate
person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency Example I cannot understand why he has so many admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is.
reprobation
severe disapproval Example The students showed their reprobation of his act by refusing to talk with him.
reprove
censure; rebuke Example The principal reproved the students when they became unruly in the auditorium.
repudiate
disown; disavow Example He announced that he would repudiate all debts incurred by his wife.
repugnance
loathing Example She looked at the snake with repugnance.
repulsion
act of driving back; distaste Example The repulsion of the enemy forces was not accomplished bloodlessly; many of the defenders were wounded in driving the enemy back.
reputable
respectable Example If you want to buy antiques, look for a reputable dealer; far too many dealers today pass off fakes as genuine antiques.
reputed
supposed Example He is the reputed father of the child.
requiem
mass for the dead; dirge Example They played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral.
requisite
necessary requirement Example Many colleges state that a student must offer three years of a language as a requisite for admission.
requite
repay; revenge Example The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them.
rescind
cancel Example Because of public resentment, the king had to rescind his order.
reserve
self-control; formal but distant manner Example Although some girls were attracted by Mark's reserve, Judy was put off by it, for she felt his aloofness indicated a lack of openness.
residue
remainder; balance Example In his will, he requested that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the residue be given to his wife.
resignation
patient submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job Example If Bob Cratchit had not accepted Scrooge's bullying with timid resignation, he might have gotten up the nerve to hand in his resignation.
resilient
elastic; having the power of springing back Example Highly resilient, steel makes excellent bedsprings.
resolution
determination Example Nothing could shake his resolution to succeed despite all difficulties.
resolve
determination Example Nothing could shake his resolve that his children would get the best education that money could buy.
resolve
decide; settle; solve Example Homes resolved to travel to Bohemia to resolve the dispute between Irene Adler and the King.
resonant
echoing; resounding; deep and full in sound Example The deep, resonant voice of the actor James Earl Jones makes him particulary effective when he appears on stage.
respiration
breathing; exhalation Example The doctor found that the patient's years of smoking had adversely affected both his lung capacity and his rate of respiration.
respite
delay in punishment; interval of relief; rest Example The judge granted the condemned man a respite to enable his attorneys to file an appeal.
resplendent
brilliant; lustrous Example The toreador wore a resplendent costume called a suit of lights.
responsiveness
state of reacting readily to appeals, order, etc. Example The audience cheered and applauded, delighting the performers by its responsiveness.
restitution
reparation; indemnification Example He offered to make restitution for the window broken by his son.
restive
restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control Example Waiting impatiently in the line to see Santa Claus, even the best-behaved children grow restive and start to fidget.
restraint
controlling force Example She dreamt of living an independent life, free of all restraints.
resumption
taking up again; recommencement Example During the summer break, Don had not realized how much he missed university life: at the resumption of classes, however, he felt marked excitement and pleasure.
resurgent
rising again after defeat, etc. Example The resurgent nation surprised everyone by its quick recovery after total defeat.
resuscitate
revive Example The lifeguard tried to resuscitate the drowned child by applying artificial respiration.
retain
keep; employ Example Fighting to retain his seat in Congress, Senator Foghorn retained a new manager to head his reelection campaign.
retaliate
repay in kind (usually for bad treatment) Example Fear that we will retaliate immediately deters our foe from attacking us.
retentive
holding; having a good memory Example The pupil did not need to spend much time in study as he had a retentive mind.
reticent
reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence Example Hughes preferred reticent employees to loquacious ones, noting that the formers' dislike of idle chatter might ensure their discretion about his affairs.
retinue
following; attendants Example The queen's retinue followed her down the aisle.
retiring
modest; shy Example Given Susan't retiring personality, no one expected her to take up public speaking; surprisingly enough, she became a star of the school debate team.
retort
quick, sharp reply Example Even when it was advisable for her to keep her mouth shut, she was always ready with a retort.
retraction
withdrawal Example He dropped his libel suit after the newspaper published a retraction of its statement.
retrench
cut down; economize Example If they were to be able to send their children to college, they would have to retrench.
retribution
vengeance; compensation; punishment for offenses Example The evangelist maintained that an angry deity would exact retribution from the sinners.
retrieve
recover; find and bring in Example The dog was intelligent and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter.
retroactive
taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax) Example Because the new pension law was retroactive to the first of the year, even though Martha had retired in February she was eligible for the pension.
retrograde
go backwards; degenerate Example Instead of advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in ethics and culture.
retrospective
looking back on the past Example It is only when we become retrospective that we can appreciate the tremendous advances made during this century.
revelry
boisterous merrymaking Example New Year's Eve is a night of revelry.
reverberate
echo; resound Example The entire valley reverberated with the sound of the church bells.
reverent
respectful Example His reverent attitude was appropriate in a house of worship.
reverie
daydream; musing Example He was awakened from his reverie by the teacher's question.
revile
slander; vilify Example He was avoided by all who feared that he would revile and abuse them if they displeased him.
revoke
cancel; retract Example Repeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol face having their driver's licenses permanently revoked.
revulsion
sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction Example Many people in this country who admired dictatorships underwent a revulsion when they realized what Hitler and Mussolini were trying to do.
rhapsodize
to speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner Example She greatly enjoyed her Hawaiian vacation and rhapsodized about it for weeks.
rhetoric
art of effective communication; insincere or grandiloquent language Example All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric.
ribald
wanton; profane Example He sang a ribald song that offended many of the more prudish listeners.
rider
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill Example Senator Foghorn said he would support Senator Filibuster's tax reform bill only if Filibuster agreed to add an antipollution rider to the bill.
rife
abundant; current Example In the face of the many rumors of scandal, which are rife at the moment, it is best to remain silent.
rift
opening; break Example The plane was lost in the stormy sky until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds.
rig
fix or manipulate Example The ward boss was able to rig the election by bribing people to stuff the ballot boxes with ballots marked in his candidate's favor.
rigid
stiff and unyielding; strict; hard and unbending Example By living with a man to whom she was not married, George Eliot broke Victorian society's most rigid rule of respectable behavior.
rigor
severity Example Many settlers could not stand the rigors of the New England winters.
rile
vex; irritate; muddy Example Red had a hair-trigger temper: he was an easy man to rile.
riveting
absorbing; engrossing Example The reviewer described Byatt's novel Possession as a riveting tale: absorbed in the story, he had finished it in a single evening.
rivulet
small stream Example As the rains continued, the trickle of water running down the hillside grew into a rivulet that threatened to wash away a portion of the slope.
robust
vigorous; strong Example The candidate for the football team had a robust physique.
rococo
ornate; highly decorated Example The rococo style in furniture and architecture, marked by scrollwork and excessive decoration, flourished during the middle of the eighteenth century.
roil
to make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; to disturb Example Be careful when you pour not to roil the wine; if you stir up the sediment you'll destroy the flavor.
roseate
rosy; optimistic Example I am afraid you will have to alter your roseate views in the light of the distressing news that has just arrived.
roster
list Example They print the roster of players in the season's program.
rostrum
platform for speech-making; pulpit Example The crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum.
rote
repetition Example He recited the passage by rote and gave no indication he understood what he was saying.
rotunda
circular building or hall covered with a dome Example His body lay in state in the rotunda of the Capitol.
rotundity
roundness; sonorousness of speech Example Washington Irving emphasized the rotundity of the governor by describing his height and circumference.
rousing
lively; stirring Example "And now, let's have a rousing welcome for TV's own Roseanne Arnold, who'll lead us in a rousing rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'"
rout
stampede; drive out Example The reinforcements were able to rout the enemy
rubble
fragments Example Ten years after World War II, some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be seen.
rubric
title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol Example In ordaining the new priests, the bishop carefully observed all the rubrics for the ordination service.
ruddy
reddish; healthy-looking Example His ruddy features indicated that he had spent much time in the open.
rudimentary
not developed; elementary Example His dancing was limited to a few rudimentary steps.
rueful
regretful; sorrowful; dejected Example The artist has captured the sadness of childhood in his portrait of the boy with the rueful countenance.
ruffian
bully; scoundrel Example The ruffians threw stones at the police.
ruminate
chew the cud; ponder Example We cannot afford to wait while you ruminate upon these plans.
rummage
ransack; thoroughly search Example When we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days.
runic
mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet Example Tolkien's use of Old English words and inscriptions in the runic alphabet give The Lord of the Rings its atmosphere of antiquity.
ruse
trick; stratagem Example You will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ruse.
rustic
pertaining to country people; uncouth Example The backwoodsman looked out place in his rustic attire.
rusticate
banish to the country; dwell in the country Example I like city life so much that I can never understand how people can rusticate in the suburbs.
ruthless
pitiless Example The escaped convict was a dangerous and ruthless murderer.
relapse
fall back or sink again Example The economy relapsed into a depression from the peak.
saboteur
one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property Example Members of the Resistance acted as saboteurs, blowing up train lines to prevent supplies from reaching the Nazi army.
saccharine
cloyingly sweet Example She tried to ingratiate herself, speaking sweetly and smiling a saccharine smile.
sacrilegious
desecrating; profane Example His stealing of the altar cloth was a very sacrilegious act.
sacrosanct
most sacred; inviolable Example The brash insurance salesman invaded the sacrosanct privacy of the office of the president of the company.
sadistic
inclined to cruelty Example If we are to improve conditions in this prison, we must first get rid of the sadistic warden.
saga
Scandinavian myth; any legend Example This is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it.
sagacious
keen; shrewd; having insight Example He is much too sagacious to be fooled by a trick like that.
sage
person celebrated for wisdom Example Hearing tales of a mysterious Master of All Knowledge who lived in the hills of Tibet, Sandy was possessed with a burning desire to consult the legendary sage.
salacious
lascivious; lustful Example Chaucer's monk is not pious but salacious, a teller of lewd tales and ribald jests.
salient
prominent Example One of the salient features of that newspaper is its excellent editorial page.
saline
salty Example The slightly saline taste of this mineral water is pleasant.
sallow
yellowish; sickly in color Example We were disturbed by his sallow complexion, which was due to jaundice.
salubrious
healthful Example Many people with hay ***** move to more salubrious sections of the country during the months of August and September.
salutary
tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome Example The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy, as he became a model student.
salvage
rescue from loss Example All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.
sanctimonious
displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness Example You do not have to be so sanctimonious to prove that you are devout.
sanction
approve; ratify Example Nothing will convince me to sanction the engagement of my daughter to such a worthless young man.
sanguinary
bloody Example The battle of lwo Jina was unexpectedly sanguinary with many casualties.
sanguine
cheerful; hopeful Example Let us not be too sanguine about the outcome; something could go wrong.
sap
diminish; undermine Example The element kryptonite had an unhealthy effect on Superman: it sapped his strength.
sarcasm
scornful remarks, stinging rebuke Example His feelings were hurt by the sarcasm of his supposed friends.
sardonic
disdainful; sarcastic; cynical Example The sardonic humor of nightclub comedians who satirize or ridicule patrons in the audience strikes some people as amusing and others as rude.
sartorial
pertaining to tailors Example He was as famous for the sartorial splendor of his attire as he was for his acting.
sate
satisfy to the full; cloy Example Its hunger sated, the lion dozed.
satellite
small body revolving around a larger one Example During the first few years of the Space Age, hundreds of satellites were launched by Russia and the United States.
satiate
surfeit; satisfy fully Example The guests, having eaten until they were satiated, now listened inattentively to the speakers.
satire
form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack vice and folly Example Gulliver's Travels, which is regarded by many as a tale for children, is actually a bitter satire attacking human folly.
satirical
mocking Example The humor of cartoonists Gary Trudeau often is satirical; though the comments of the Doonesbury characters, Trudeau ridicules political corruption and folly.
saturate
soak Example Their clothes were saturated by the rain.
saturnine
gloomy Example Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance; he is not as gloomy as he looks.
satyr
half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus, portrayed as wanton and cunning Example He was like a satyr in his lustful conduct.
saunter
stroll slowly Example As we sauntered through the park, we stopped frequently to admire the spring flowers.
savant
scholar Example Our faculty includes many worldfamous savants.
savor
enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality Example Relishing his triumph, Costner especially savored the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure.
savory
tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable Example Julia Child's recipes enable amateur chefs to create savory delicacies for their guests.
scabbard
case for a sword blade; sheath Example The drill master told the recruit to wipe the blood from his sword before slipping it back into the scabbard.
scad
a great quantity Example Refusing Dave's offer to lend him a shirt, Phil replied, "No, thanks: I've got scads of clothes."
scaffold
temporary platform for workers; bracing framework; platform for execution Example Before painting the house, the workers put up a scaffold to allow them to work on the second story.
scale
climb up; ascend Example To locate a book on the top shelf of the stacks, Lee had to scale an exceptionally rickety ladder.
scanty
meager; insufficient Example Thinking his helping of food was scanty, Oliver Twist asked for more.
scapegoat
someone who bears the blame for others Example After the Challenger disaster, NASA searched for scapegoats on whom they could cast the blame.
scavenge
hunt through discarded materials for usable items; search, especially for food Example If you need car parts that the dealers no longer stock, try scavenging for odd bits and pieces at the auto wreckers' yards.
scenario
plot outline; screenplay; opera libretto Example Scaramouche startled the other actors in the commedia troupe when he suddenly departed from their customary scenario and began to improvise.
schematic
relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols Example In working out the solution to an analytical logic question, you may find it helpful to construct a simple schematic diagram illustrating the relationships between the items of information given in the question.
schism
division; split Example Let us not widen the schism by further bickering.
scintilla
shred; least bit Example You have not produced a scintilla of evidence to support your argument.
scintillate
sparkle; flash Example I enjoy her dinner parties because the food is excellent and the conversation scintillates.
scoff
mock; ridicule Example He scoffed at dentists until he had his first toothache.
scotch
stamp out; thwart; hinder Example Heather tried to scotch the rumor that she had stolen her best friend's fiance.
scourge
lash; whip; severe punishment Example They feared the plague and regarded it as a deadly scourge.
scruple
fret about; hesitate, for ethical reasons Example Fearing that her husband had become involved in an affair, she did not scruple to read his diary.
scrupulous
conscientious; extremely thorough Example I can recommend him for a position of responsibility for I have found him a very scrupulous young man.
scrutinize
examine closely and critically Example Searching for flaws, the sergeant scrutinized every detail of the private's uniform.
scuffle
struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry. Example The twins briefly scuffled, wrestling to see which of them would get the toy. When their big brother yelled, "Let go of my Gameboy!" they scuffled off down the hall.
scurrilous
obscene; indecent Example Your scurrilous remarks are especially offensive because they are untrue.
scurry
move briskly Example The White Rabbit had to scurry to get to his appointment on time.
scurvy
despicable; contemptible Example Peter Pan sneered at Captain Hook and his scurvy crew.
scuttle
sink Example The sailors decided to scuttle their vessel rather than surrender it to the enemy.
seamy
sordid; unwholesome Example In the Godfather, Michael Corleone is unwilling to expose his wife and children to the seamy side of his life as the son of a Mafia don.
sear
char or burn; brand Example Accidentally brushing against the hot grill, she seared her hand badly.
seasoned
experienced Example Though pleased with her new batch of rookies, the basketball coach wished she had a few more seasoned players on the team.
secession
withdrawal Example The secession of the Southern states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his inauguration.
seclusion
isolation; solitude Example One moment she loved crowds; the next, she sought seclusion.
secrete
hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism. Example The pack rat secretes odds and ends in its nest; the pancreas secretes insulin in the islets of Langerhans.
sectarian
narrow-minded; limited in scope Example As university chaplain, she sought to address universal religious issues and not limit herself to mere sectarian concerns.
secular
worldly; not pertaining to church matters; temporal Example The church leaders decided not interfere in secular matters.
sedate
composed; grave Example The parents were worried because they felt their son was too quiet and sedate.
sedentary
requiring sitting Example Because he had a sedentary occupation, he decided to visit a gymnasium weekly.
sedition
resistance to authority; insubordination Example His words, though not treasonous in themselves, were calculated to arouse thoughts of sedition.
sedulous
diligent Example The young woman was so sedulous that she received a commendation for her hard work.
seedy
run-down; decrepit; disreputable Example I would rather stay in dormitory lodgings in a decent youth hostel than have a room of my own in a seedy downtown hotel.
seemly
proper; appropriate Example Lady Bracknell did not think it was seemly for Ernest to lack a proper family; no baby abandoned on a doorstep could grow up to marry her daughter.
seep
ooze; trickle Example During the rainstorm, water seeped through the crack in the basement wall and damaged the floor boards.
seethe
be disturbed; boil Example The nation was seething with discontent as the nobleman continued their arrogant ways.
seine
net for catching fish Example When the shad run during the spring, you may see fishermen with seines along the banks of our coastal rivers.
seismic
pertaining to earthquakes Example The Richter scale is a measurement of seismic disturbances.
semblance
outward appearance; guise Example Although this book has a semblance of wisdom and scholarship, a careful examination will reveal many errors and omissions.
seminal
germinal; influencing future developments; related to seed or semen Example Although Freud has generally been regarded as a seminal thinker who shaped the course of psychology, his psychoanalytic methods have come under attack recently.
seminary
school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women Example Sure of his priestly vocation, Terrence planned to pursue his theological training at the local Roman Catholic seminary.
senility
old age; feeble mindedness of old age Example Most of the decisions are being made by the junior members of the company because of the senility of the president.
sensual
devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptous Example I cannot understand what caused him to drop his sensual way of life and become so ascetic.
sensuous
pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses Example He was stimulated by the sights, sounds and smells about him; he was enjoying his sensuous experience.
sententious
terse; concise; aphoristic Example After reading so many redundant speeches, I find his sententious style particulary pleasing.
sentinel
sentry; lookout Example Though camped in enemy territory, Bledsoe ignored the elementary precaution of posting sentinels around the encampment.
septic
putrid; producing putrefaction Example The hospital was in such a filthy state that we were afraid that many of the patients would suffer from septic poisoning.
sepulcher
tomb Example Annabel Lee was buried in a sepulcher by the sea.
sequester
retire from public life; segregate; seclude Example Although he had hoped for a long time to sequester himself in a small community, he never was able to drop his busy round of activities in the city.
sere
parched; dry Example After the unseasonably dry winter the Berkeley hills looked dusty and sere.
serendipity
gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck Example Many scientific discoveries are a matter of serendipity: Newton was not sitting there thinking about gravity when the apple dropped on his head.
serenity
calmness; placidity Example The serenity of the sleepy town was shattered by a tremendous explosion.
serpentine
winding; twisting Example The car swerved at every curve in the serpentine road.
serrated
having a sawtoothed edge Example The beech tree is one of many plants that have serrated leaves.
servile
slavish; cringing Example Constantly fawning on his employer, humble Uriah Heap was a servile creature.
servitude
slavery; compulsory labor Example Born a slave, Douglass resented his wife of servitude and plotted to escape to the North.
severance
division; partition; separation Example The severance of church and state is a basic principle of our government.
severity
harshness; plainness Example The newspapers disapproved of the severity of the sentence.
***tant
navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude Example Given a clear night, with the aid of his ***tant and compass, he could keep the ship safely on course.
shackle
chain; fetter Example The criminal's ankles were shackled to prevent his escape.
sham
pretend Example He shammed sickness to get out of going to school.
shambles
slaughterhouse; scene of carnage Example By the time the police arrived, the room was a shambles.
shard
fragment, generally of pottery Example The archaeologist assigned several students the task of reassembling earthenware vessels from the shards he had brought back from the expedition.
sheaf
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together Example The lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as he rose to question the witness.
sheathe
place into a case Example As soon as he recognized the approaching men, he sheathed his dagger and hailed them as friends.
sherbet
flavored dessert ice Example I prefer raspberry sherbet to ice cream since it is less fattening.
shimmer
glimmer intermittently Example The moonlight shimmered on the water as the moon broke through the clouds for a moment.
shirk
avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger Example Brian has a strong sense of duty; he would never shirk any responsibility.
shoddy
sham; not genuine; inferior Example You will never get the public to buy such shoddy material.
shrew
scolding woman Example No one wanted to marry Shakespeare's Kate because she was a shrew.
shrewd
clever; astute Example A shrewd investor, he took clever advantage of the fluctuations of the stock market.
shun
keep away from Example Cherishing his solitude, the recluse shunned the company of other human beings.
shunt
turn aside; divert; sidetrack Example If the switchman failed to shunt the Silver Streak onto a side track, the train would plow right into Union Station.
shyster
lawyer using questionable methods. Example On L.A. Law, respectable attorney Brackman was horrified to learn that his newly discovered half brother was a cheap shyster.
sibling
brother or sister Example We may not enjoy being siblings, but we cannot forget that we still belong to the same family.
sibylline
prophetic; oracular Example Until their destruction by fire in 83 B.C., the sibylline books were often consulted by the Romans.
sidereal
relating to the stars Example Although hampered by optical and mechanical flaws, the orbiting Hubble space telescope has relayed extraordinary images of distant sidereal bodies.
silt
sediment deposited by running water Example The harbor channel must be dredged annually to remove the silt.
simian
monkeylike Example Lemurs are nocturnal mammals and have many simian characteristics, although they are less intelligent than monkeys.
simile
comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as Example "My love is like a red, red rose" is a simile.
simper
smirk; smile affectedly Example Complimented on her appearance, Stella self-consciously simpered.
simplistic
oversimplified Example Though Jack's solution dealt adequately with one aspect of the problem, it was simplistic in failing to consider various complicating factors that might arise.
simulate
feign Example He simulated insanity in order to avoid punishment for his crime.
sinecure
well-paid position with little responsibility Example My job is no sinecure; I work long hours and have much responsibility.
sinewy
tough; strong and firm Example The steak was too sinewy to chew
singular
unique; extraordinary; odd Example Though the young man tried to understand Father William's singular behavior, he still found it odd that the old man incessantly stood on his head.
sinister
evil Example We must defeat the sinister forces that seek our downfall.
sinuous
winding; bending in and out; not morally honest Example The snake moved in a sinuous manner.
skeptic
doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a Example point of view. In this matter, I am a skeptic; I want proof.
skiff
small, light sailboat or rowboat Example Tom dreamed of owning an ocean-going yacht but had to settle for a skiff he could sail in the bay.
skimp
provide scantily; live very economically Example They were forced to skimp on necessities in order to make their limited supplies last the winter.
skinflint
miser Example The old skinflint refused to give her a raise.
skirmish
minor fight Example Custer's troops expected they might run into a skirmish or two on maneuvers; they did not expect to face a major battle.
skittish
lively; frisky Example She is as skittish as a kitten playing with a piece of string.
skulduggery
dishonest behavior Example The investigation into municipal corruption turned up new instances of skulduggery daily.
skulk
move furtively and secretly Example He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid meeting any of his former friends.
slacken
slow up; loosen Example As they passed the finish line, the runners slackened their pace.
slag
residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter Example The blast furnace had a special opening at the bottom to allow the workers to remove the worthless slag.
slake
quench; sate Example When we reached the oasis, we were able to slake our thirst.
slander
defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements Example Unless you can prove your allegations, your remarks constitute slander.
slapdash
haphazard; careless; sloppy Example From the number of typos and misspellings I've found on it, it's clear that Mario proofread the report in a remarkably slapdash fashion.
sleazy
flimsy; unsubstantial Example This is a sleazy fabric; it will not wear well.
sleeper
something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable Example Unnoticed by the critics at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Prize winner was a classic sleeper.
sleight
dexterity Example The magician amazed the audience with his sleight of hand.
slight
insult to one's dignity; snub Example Hypersensitive and ready to take offense at any discourtesy, Bertha was always on the lookout for real or imaginary slights.
slither
slip or slide Example During the recent ice storm, many people slithered down this hill as they walked to the station.
sloth
laziness Example Such sloth in a young person is deplorable; go to work!
sloth
slow-moving tree-dwelling mammal Example Note how well the somewhat greenish coat of the sloth enables it to blend in with its arboreal surroundings.
slough
cast off Example Each spring, the snake sloughs off its skin.
slovenly
untidy; slipshod Example Such slovenly work habits will never produce good products.
sluggard
lazy person Example "You are a sluggard, a drone, a parasite," the angry father shouted at his lazy son.
sluggish
slow; lazy; lethargic Example After two nights without sleep, she felt sluggish and incapable of exertion.
sluice
artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water Example In times of drought, this sluice enables farmers to obtain water for irrigation.
slur
insult to one's character or reputation; slander Example Polls revealed that the front-runner's standing had been damaged by the slurs and innuendoes circulated by his opponent's staff.
smattering
slight knowledge Example I don't know whether it is better to be ignorant of a subject or to have a mere smattering of information about it.
smirk
conceited smile Example Wipe that smirk off your face!
smolder
burn without flame; be liable to break out at any moment Example The rags smoldered for hours before they burst into flame.
snicker
half-stifled laugh Example The boy could not suppress a snicker when the teacher sat on the tack.
snivel
run at the nose; snuffle; whine Example Don't you come sniveling to me complaining about your big brother.
sobriety
moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness Example Neither drunkards nor comics are noted for sobriety.
sodden
soaked; dull, as if from drink Example He set his sodden overcoat near the radiator to dry.
sojourn
temporary stay Example After his sojourn in Florida, he began to long for the colder climate of his native New England home.
solace
comfort in trouble Example I hope you will find solace in the thought that all of us share your loss.
solder
repair or make whole by using a metal alloy Example The plumber fixed the leak in the pipes by soldering a couple of joints from which water had been oozing.
solecism
construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically Example I must give this paper a failing mark because it contains many solecisms.
solemnity
seriousness; gravity Example The minister was concerned that nothing should disturb the solemnity of the marriage service.
solicit
request earnestly; seek Example Knowing she needed to have a solid majority for the budget to pass, the mayor telephoned all the members of the city council to solicit their votes.
solicitous
worried, concerned Example The employer was very solicitous about the health of her employees as replacements were difficult to get.
soliloquy
talking to oneself Example The soliloquy is a device used by the dramatist to reveal a character's innermost thoughts and emotions.
solstice
point at which the sun is farthest from the equator Example The winter solstice usually occurs on December 21.
solvent
able to pay all debts Example By dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings.
somatic
pertaining to the body; physical Example Why do you ignore the spiritual aspects and emphasize only the corporeal and the somatic ones?
somber
gloomy; depressing Example From the doctor's grim expression, I could tell he had somber news.
somnambulist
sleepwalker Example The most famous somnambulist in literature is Lady Macbeth; her monologue in the sleepwalking scene is one of the highlights of Shakespeare's play.
somnolent
half asleep Example The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker.
sonorous
resonant Example His sonorous voice resounded through the hall.
sophist
teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning Example You are using all the devices of a sophist in trying to prove your case; your argument is specious.
sophistication
artificiality; unnaturalness; act of employing sophistry in reasoning Example Sophistication is an acquired characteristic, found more frequently among city dwellers than among residents of rural areas.
sophistry
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning Example Instead of advancing valid arguments, he tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood of sophistries.
sophomoric
immature; shallow Example Your sophomoric remarks are a sign of your youth and indicate that you have not given much thought to the problem.
soporific
sleep producing Example I do not need a sedative when I listen to one of his soporific speeches.
sordid
filthy; base; vile Example The social worker was angered by the sordid housing provided for the homeless.
spangle
small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation Example The thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights.
spartan
lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined Example Looking over the bare, unheated room with its hard cot, he wondered what he was doing in such spartan quarters. Only his spartan sense of duty kept him at his post.
spasmodic
fitful; periodic Example The spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers.
spat
squabble; minor dispute Example What had started out as a mere spat escalated into a full-blown argument.
spate
sudden flood Example I am worried about the possibility of a spate if the rains do not diminish soon.
spatial
relating to space Example It is difficult to visualize the spatial extent of our universe.
spatula
broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing Example The manufacturers of this frying pan recommended the use of a rubber spatula to avoid scratching the specially treated surface.
spawn
lay eggs Example Fish ladders had to be built in the dams to assist the salmon returning to spawn in their native streams.
specious
seemingly reasonable but incorrect Example Let us not be misled by such specious arguments.
spectral
ghostly Example We were frightened by the spectral glow that filled the room.
spectrum
colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism Example The visible portion of the spectrum includes red at one end and violet at the other.
spendthrift
someone who wastes money Example Easy access to credit encourages people to turn into spendthrifts who shop till they drop.
sphinx-like
enigmatic; mysterious Example The Mona Lisa's sphinx-like expression has puzzled art lovers for centuries.
splice
fasten together; unite Example Before you splice two strips of tape together, be sure to line them up evenly.
spontaneity
impulsiveness; absence of premeditation Example What I liked best about Dale's parties was their spontaneity: a couple of friends would drop by, someone would pull out a fiddle or guitar, and before you knew it the party would be in full swing.
spoonerism
accidental transposition of sounds in sucessive words Example When the radio announcer introduced the President as Hoobert Herver, he was guilty of spoonerism.
sporadic
occurring irregularly Example Although there are still sporadic outbursts of shooting in the streets, the rebellion is essentially over.
sportive
playful Example Such a sportive attitude is surprising in a person as serious as you usually are.
spruce
neat and trim Example Every button buttoned, tie firmly in place, young Alex Keaton looked spruce and tidy for his job interview at the bank.
spry
vigorously active; nimble Example She was eighty years old, yet still spry and alert.
spurious
false; counterfeit; forged; illogical Example The hero of Jonathan Gash's mystery novels is an antique dealer who gives the reader advice on how to tell spurious antiques from the real things.
spurn
reject; scorn Example The heroine spurned the villain's advances.
squabble
minor quarrel; bickering Example Children invariably get involved in petty squabbles; wise parents know when to interfere and when to let the children work things out on their own.
squalid
dirty; neglected; poor Example It is easy to see how crime can breed in such a squalid neighborhood.
squander
waste Example The prodigal son squandered the family estate.
squat
stocky; short and thick Example Tolkien's hobbits are somewhat squat, sturdy little creatures, fond of good ale, good music, and good food.
staccato
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt, sharp sound Example His staccato speech reminded one of the sound of a machine gun.
stagnant
motionless; stale; dull Example The stagnant water was a breeding ground for disease
staid
sober; sedate Example Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn.
stalemate
deadlock Example Negotiations between the union and the employers have reached a stalemate; neither side is willing to budge from previously stated positions.
stalwart
strong, brawny; steadfast Example His consistent support of the party has proved that he is a stalwart and loyal member.
stamina
strength; staying power Example I doubt that she has the stamina to run the full distance of the marathon race.
stanch
check flow of blood Example It is imperative that we stanch the gushing wound before we attend to the other injuries.
stanza
division of a poem Example Do you know the last stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
static
unchanging; lacking development Example Nothing had changed at home; things were static there
statute
law Example We have many statutes in our law books which should be repealed.
statutory
created by statute or legislative action Example The judicial courts review and try statutory crimes.
steadfast
loyal; unswerving Example Penelope was steadfast in her affections, faithfully waiting for Ulysses to return from his wanderings.
stealth
slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness Example Fearing detection by the sentries on duty, the scout inched his way toward the enemy camp with great stealth.
steep
soak; saturate Example Be sure to steep the fabric in the dye bath for the full time prescribed.
stellar
pertaining to the stars Example He was the stellar attraction of the entire performance.
stem
check the flow Example The paramedic used a tourniquet to stem the bleeding from the slashed artery.
stemfrom
arise from Example Milton's problems in school stemmed from his poor study habits.
stentorian
extremely loud Example The town crier had stentorian voice.
streotyped
oversimplified; lacking individuality; seen as a type Example My chief objection to the book is that the characters are stereotyped; they come across as ethnic caricatures, not as real people with individual quirks, fears, and dreams.
stickler
perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right Example The Internal Revenue Service agent was a stickler for accuracy; no approximations or rough estimates would satisfy him.
stifle
suppress; extinguish; inhibit Example Halfway through the boring lecture, Laura gave up trying to stifle her yawns.
stigma
token of disgrace; brand Example I do not attach any stigma to the fact that you were accused of this crime; the fact that you were acquitted clears you completely.
stilted
bombastic; stiffly pompous Example His stilted rhetoric did not impress the college audience; they were immune to bombastic utterances.
stint
be thrifty; set limits Example "Spare no expense," the bride's father said, refusing to stint on the wedding arrangements.
stint
supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work Example He performed his daily stint cheerfully and willingly.
stipend
pay for services Example There is a nominal stipend for this position.
stipple
paint or draw with dots Example Seurat carefully stippled dabs of pure color on the canvas, juxtaposing dots of blue and yellow that the viewer's eye would interpret as green.
stipulate
make express conditions, specify Example Before agreeing to reduce American military forces in Europe, the president stipulated that NATO teams be allowed to inspect Soviet bases.
stodgy
stuffy; boringly conservative Example For a young person, Winston seems remarkably stodgy: you'd expect someone of his age to have a little more life.
stoic
person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain Example The doctor called her patient a stoic because he had borne the pain of the examination without whimpering.
stoke
stir up a fire; feed plentifully Example As a Scout, Marisa learned how to light a fire, how to stoke it if it started to die down, and how to extinguish it completely.
stolidity
dullness; impassivenss Example The earthquake shattered his usual stolidity; trembling, he crouched on the no longer stable ground.
stratified
divided into classes; arranged into strata Example As the economic gap between the rich and the poor increased, Roman society grew increasingly stratified.
stratum
layer of earth's surface; layer of society Example Unless we alleviate conditions in the lowest stratum of our society, we may expect grumbling and revolt.
strew
spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter Example Preceding the bride to the altar, the flower girl will strew rose petals along the aisle.
striated
marked with parallel bands; grooved Example The glacier left many striated rocks.
stricture
critical comments; severe and adverse criticism Example His strictures on the author's style are prejudiced and unwarranted.
strident
loud and harsh Example She scolded him in a strident voice
stringent
binding; rigid Example I think these regulations are too stringent.
strut
pompous walk Example His strut as he marched about the parade ground revealed him for what he was: a pompous buffoon.
strut
supporting bar Example The engineer calculated that the strut supporting the rafter needed to be reinforced.
studied
unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful Example Given Jill's previous slights, Jack felt that the omission of his name from the guest list was a studied insult.
stultify
cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinder Example His long hours in the blacking factory left young Dickens numb and incurious, as if the menial labor had stultified his mind.
stupefy
make numb; stun; amaze Example Disapproving of drugs in general, Laura refused to take sleeping pills or any other medicine that might stupefy her.
stupor
state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness Example In his stupor, the addict was unaware of the events taking place around him.
stymie
present an obstacle; stump Example The detective was stymied by the contradictory evidence in the robbery investigation.
suavity
urbanity; polish Example He is particulary good in roles that require suavity and sophistication.
subaltern
subordinate Example The captain treated his subalterns as though they were children rather than commissioned officers.
subjective
occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal Example Your analysis is highly subjective; you have permitted your emotions and your opinions to color your thinking.
subjugate
conquer; bring under control Example It is not our aim to subjugate our foe; we are interested only in establishing peaceful relations.
sublimate
refine; purify Example We must strive to sublimate these desires and emotions into worthwhile activities.
sublime
exalted; noble; uplifting Example Mother Teresa has been honored for her sublime deeds.
subliminal
below the threshold Example We may not be aware of the subliminal influences that affect our thinking.
submissive
yielding; timid Example Crushed by his authoritarian father, Will had no defiance left in him; he was totally submissive in the face of authority.
suborn
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury) Example In the Godfather, the mobsters used bribery and threats to suborn the witnesses against Don Michael Corleone.
subpoena
writ summoning a witness to appear Example The prosecutor's office was ready to serve a subpoena on the reluctant witness.
subsequent
following; later Example In subsequent lessons, we shall take up more difficult problems.
subservient
behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious Example He was proud and dignified; he refused to be subservient to anyone.
subside
settle down; descend; grow quiet Example The doctor assured us that the ***** would eventually subside.
subsidiary
subordinate; secondary Example This information may be used as subsidiary evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument.
subsidy
direct financial aid by government, etc. Example Without this subsidy, American ship operators would not be able to compete in world markets.
subsistence
existence; means of support; livelihood Example In those days of inflated prices, my salary provided mere subsistence.
substantiate
verify; support Example I intend to substantiate my statement by producing witnesses.
substantive
essential; pertaining to the substance Example Although the delegates were aware of the importance of the problem, they could not agree on the substantive issues.
subsume
include; encompass Example Does the general theory of relativity contradict Newtonian physics, or is Newton's law of gravity subsumed into Einstein's larger scheme?
subterfuge
pretense; evasion Example As soon as we realized that you had won our support by a subterfuge we withdrew our endorsement of your candidacy.
subtlety
nicety; cunning; guile; delicacy Example The subtlety of his remarks was unnoticed by most of his audience.
subversive
tending to overthrow; destructive Example At first glance, the notion that Styrofoam cups may actually be more ecologically sound than paper cups strikes most environmentalists as subversive.
succinct
brief; terse; compact Example His remarks are always succinct and pointed.
succor
aid; assistance; relief Example We shall be ever grateful for the succor our country gave us when we were in need.
succulent
juicy; full of richness Example To some people, Florida citrus fruits are more succulent than those from California.
succumb
yield; give in; die Example I succumb to temptation whenever it comes my way.
suffragist
advocate of voting rights (for women) Example In recognition of her efforts to win the vote for women, Congress authorized coining a silver dollar honoring the suffragist Susan B. Anthony.
suffuse
spread over Example A blush suffused her cheeks when we teased her about her love affair.
sully
tarnish; soil Example He felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully his hands in such menial labor.
sultry
sweltering Example He could not adjust himself to the sultry climate of the tropics.
summation
act of finding the total, summary Example In his summation, the lawyer emphasized the testimony given by the two witnesses.
sumptuous
lavish; rich Example I cannot recall when I have had such a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.
sunder
separate; part Example Northern and southern Ireland are politically and religiously sundered.
sundry
various; several Example My suspicions were aroused when I read sundry items in the newspapers about your behavior.
superannuated
retired or disqualified because of age Example The superannuated man was indignant because he felt that he could still perform a good day's work.
supercilious
contemptuous; haughty Example I prefer Jill's modesty to Jack's supercilious and arrogant attitude.
supererogatory
superfluous; more than needed or demanded Example We have more than enough witnesses to corroborate your statement; to present any more would be supererogatory.
superficial
trivial; shallow Example Since your report gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, I cannot give you more than a passing grade.
superfluous
excessive; overabundant, unnecessary Example Please try not to include so many superfluous details in your report; just give me the bare facts.
superimpose
place over something else Example Your attempt to superimpose another agency in this field will merely increase the bureaucratic nature of our government.
supernumerary
person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extra Example His first appearance on the stage was as a supernumerary in a Shakespearean tragedy.
supersede
cause to be set aside; replace Example This regulation will supersede all previous rules.
supine
lying on back Example The defeated pugilist lay supine on the canvas.
supplant
replace; usurp Example Corazon Aquino supplanted Ferdinand Marcos as president of the Philippines.
supple
flexible; pliant Example The angler found a supple limb and used it as a fishing rod.
suppliant
entreating; beseeching Example He could not resist the dog's suppliant whimpering, and he gave it some food.
supplicate
petition humbly; pray to grant a favor Example We supplicate Your Majesty to grant him amnesty.
supposition
hypothesis; surmise Example I based my decision to confide in him on the supposition that he would be discreet.
supposititious
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical Example I find no similarity between your supposititious illustration and the problem we are facing.
surfeit
satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything Example Every Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an overabundance of holiday treats.
surly
rude; cross Example Because of his surly attitude, many people avoided his company.
surmise
guess Example I surmise that he will be late for this meeting.
surmount
overcome Example He had to surmount many obstacles in order to succeed.
surpass
exceed Example Her SAT scores surpassed out expectations.
surreptitious
secret Example News of their surreptitious meeting gradually leaked out.
surrogate
substitute Example For a fatherless child, a male teacher may become a father surrogate.
surveillance
watching; guarding Example The FBI kept the house under constant surveillance in the hope of capturing all the criminals at one time.
susceptible
impressionable; easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a disease Example He was a very susceptible young man, and so his parents worried that he might fall into bad company.
sustain
experience; support; nourish Example He sustained such a severe injury that the doctors feared he would be unable to work to sustain his growing family.
sustenance
means of support, food, nourishment Example In the tropics, the natives find sustenance easy to obtain because of all the fruit trees.
suture
stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing Example We will remove the sutures as soon as the wound heals.
swarthy
dark; dusky Example Despite the stereotype, not all Italians are swarthy; many are fair and blond.
swathe
wrap around; bandage Example When I visited him in the hospital, I found him swathed in bandages.
swelter
be oppressed by heat Example I am going to buy an air conditioning unit for my apartment as I do not intend to swelter through another hot and humid summer.
swerve
deviate; turn aside sharply Example The car swerved wildly as the driver struggled to regain control of the wheel.
swill
drink greedily Example Singing, "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum," Long John Silver and his fellow pirates swilled their grog.
swindler
cheat Example She was gullible and trusting, an easy victim for the first swindler who came along.
sybarite
lover of luxury Example Rich people are not always sybarites; some of them have little taste for a life of luxury.
sycophant
servile flatterer Example The king enjoyed the servile compliments and attentions of the sycophants in his retinue.
syllogism
logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive Example or specious argument There must be a fallacy in this syllogism; I cannot accept its conclusion.
sylvan
pertaining to the woods; rustic Example His paintings of nymphs in sylvan backgrounds were criticized as oversentimental.
symbiosis
interdependent relationship (between groups, species), often mutually beneficial Example Both the crocodile bird and the crocodile derive benefit from their symbiosis; pecking away at food particles embedded in the crocodile's teeth, the bird derives nourishment; the crocodile, meanwhile, derives proper dental hygiene.
symmetry
arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity Example The addition of a second tower will give this edifice the symmetry that it now lacks.
synchronous
similary timed; simultaneous with Example We have many examples of scientists in different parts of the world who have made synchronous discoveries.
synoptic
providing a general overview; summary Example The professor turned to the latest issue of Dissertation Abstracts for a synoptic account of what was new in the field.
synthesis
combining parts into a whole Example Now that we have succeeded in isolating this drug, our next problem is to plan its synthesis in the laboratory.
synthetic
artificial; resulting from synthesis Example During the twentieth century, many synthetic products have replaced the natural products.
sedative
calming drug or influence Example It is dangerous to drive after taking the sedative; it brings drowsiness.
stygian
literary dark Example The stygian room reminded him of an empty space.
tacit
understood; not put into words Example We have a tacit agreement based on only a handshake.
taciturn
habitually silent; talking a little Example New Englanders are reputedly taciturn people.
tactile
pertaining to the organs or sense of touch Example His callused hands had lost their tactile sensitivity.
tainted
contaminated; corrupt Example Health authorities are always trying to prevent the sale and use of tainted food.
talisman
charm Example She wore the talisman to ward off evil.
talon
claw of bird Example The falconer wore a leather gauntlet to avoid being clawed by the hawk's talons.
tangential
peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing Example Despite Clark's attempts to distract her with tangential remarks, Lois kept on coming back to her main question: why couldn't he come out to dinner with Superman and her?
tangible
able to be touched; real; palpable Example Although Tom did not own a house, he had several tangible assets--a car, a television, a PC--that he could sell if he needed cash.
tanner
person who turns animal hides into leather Example Using a solution of tanbark, the tanner treated the cowhide, transforming it into supple leather.
tantalize
tease; torture with disappointment Example Tom loved to tantalize his younger brother with candy; he knew the boy was forbidden to have it.
tantamount
equal Example Your ignoring their pathetic condition is tantamount to the murder.
tantrum
fit of petulance; caprice Example The child learned that he could have almost anything if he went into tantrums.
taper
candle Example He lit the taper on the windowsill.
tarantula
venomous spider Example We need an antitoxin to counteract the bite of the tarantula.
tarry
delay; dawdle Example We can't tarry if we want to get to the airport on time.
taut
tight; ready Example The captain maintained that he ran a taut ship.
tautological
needlessly repetitious Example In the sentence "It was visible to the eye," the phrase "to the eye" is tautological.
tawdry
cheap and gaudy Example He won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island.
taxonomist
specialist in classifying (animals, etc.) Example Dental patterns often enable the taxonomist to distinguish members of one rodent species from those of another.
tedium
boredom; weariness Example We hope this radio will help overcome the tedium of your stay in the hospital.
temerity
boldness; rashness Example Do you have the temerity to argue with me?
temper
moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) Example Not even her supervisor's grumpiness could temper Nancy's enthusiasm for her new job.
temperament
characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess Example Although the twins look alike, they differ markedly in temperament: Tod is calm, but Rod is excitable.
temperate
restrained; self-controlled Example Noted for his temperate appetite, he seldom gained weight.
tempo
speed of music Example I find the conductor's tempo too slow for such a brilliant piece of music.
temporal
not lasting forever; limited by time; secular Example At one time in our history, temporal rulers assumed that they had been given their thrones by divine right.
temporize
avoid committing oneself; gain time Example I cannot permit you to temporize any longer; I must have a definite answer today.
tenacious
holding fast Example I had to struggle to break his tenacious hold on my arm.
tenacity
firmness; persistency; adhesiveness Example It is extremely difficult to overcome the tenacity of a habit such as smoking.
tendentious
having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause Example The editorials in this periodical are tendentious rather than truth-seeking.
tender
offer; extend Example Although no formal changes had been made against him, in the wake of the recent scandal the mayor felt he should tender his resignation.
tenet
doctrine; dogma Example The agnostic did not accept the tenets of their faith.
tensile
capable of being stretched Example Mountain climbers must know the tensile strength of their ropes.
tentative
provisional; experimental Example Your tentative plans sound plausible; let me know when the final details are worked out.
tenuous
thin; rare; slim Example The allegiance of our allies is held by rather tenuous ties; let us hope they will remain loyal.
tenure
holding of an office; time during which such an office is held Example He was permanent tenure in this position and cannot be fired.
tepid
lukewarm Example During the summer, I like to take a tepid bath, not a hot one.
terminate
to bring to an end Example When his contract was terminated unexpectedly, he desperately needed a new job.
terminology
terms used in a science or art Example The special terminology developed by some authorities in the field has done more to confuse laypersons than to enlighten them.
terminus
last stop of railroad Example After we reached the railroad terminus, we continued our journey into the wilderness on saddle horses.
terrestrial
on or relating to the earth Example We have been able to explore the terrestrial regions much more thoroughly than the aquatic or celestial regions.
terse
concise; abrupt; pithy Example I admire his terse style of writing; he comes directly to the point.
tertiary
third Example He is so thorough that he analyzes tertiary causes where other writers are content with primary and secondary reasons.
tesselated
inlaid; mosaic Example I recall seeing a table with a tesselated top of bits of stone and glass in a very interesting pattern.
testator
maker of a will Example The attorney called in his secretary and his partner to witness the signature of the testator.
testy
irritable; short-tempered Example My advice is to avoid discussing this problem with him today as he is rather testy and may shout at you.
tether
tie with a rope Example Before we went to sleep, we tethered the horses to prevent their wandering off during the night.
thematic
relating to a unifying motif or idea Example Those who think of Moby Dick as a simple adventure story about whaling miss is underlying thematic import.
theocracy
government of a community by religious leaders Example Some Pilgrims favored the establishment of a theocracy in New England.
theoretical
not practical or applied; hypothetical Example Bob was better at applied engineering and computer programming than he was at theoretical physics and math. While I can still think of some theoretical objections to your plan, you've convinced me of its basic soundness
therapeutic
curative Example Now better known for its racetrack, Saratoga Springs first gained attention for the therapeutic qualities of its famous "healing waters."
thermal
pertaining to heat Example The natives discovered that the host springs gave excellent thermal baths and began to develop their community as a health resort.
thespian
pertaining to drama Example Her success in the school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian career.
thrall
slave; bondage Example The captured soldier was held in thrall by the conquering army.
thrifty
careful about money; economical Example A thrifty shopper compares prices before making major purchases.
thrive
prosper; flourish Example Despite the impact of recession on the restaurant trade, Philip's cafe thrived.
throes
violent anguish Example The throes of despair can be as devastating as the spasms accompanying physical pain.
throng
crowd Example Throngs of shoppers jammed the aisles.
throttle
strangle Example The criminal tried to throttle the old man with his bare hands.
thwart
baffle; frustrate Example He felt that everyone was trying to thwart his plans and prevent his success.
tightwad
excessively frugal person; miser Example Jill called Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the check.
tilter
handle used to move the boat's rudder (to steer) Example Fearing the wind might shift suddenly and capsize the skiff, Tom kept one hand on the tilter at all times.
timbre
quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument Example We identify the instrument producing a musical sound by its timbre.
timidity
lack of self-confidence or courage Example If you are to succeed as a salesperson, you must first lose your timidity and fear of failure.
timorous
fearful; demonstrating fear Example His timorous manner betrayed the fear he felt at the moment.
tipple
drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently Example He found that his most enjoyable evenings occurred when he tippled with his friends at the local pub.
tirade
extended scolding; denunciation Example Long before he had finished his tirade, we were sufficiently aware of the seriousness of our misconduct.
titanic
gigantic Example titanic waves beat aginst the shore during the hurricane.
tithe
tax of one-tenth Example Because he was an agnostic, he refused to pay his tithes to the clergy.
titillate
tickle Example I am here not to titillate my audience but to enlighten it.
title
right or claim to possession; mark of rank; name (of a book, film, etc.) Example Though the penniless Duke of Ragwort no longer held title to the family estate, he still retained his title as head of one of England's oldest families.
titter
nervous laugh Example Her aunt's constant titter nearly drove her mad.
titular
having the title of an office without the obligations Example Although he was the titular head of the company, the real decisions were made by his general manager.
toady
servile flatterer; yes man Example Never tell the boss anything he doesn't wish to hear: he doesn't want an independent adviser, he just wants a toady.
toga
Roman outer robe Example Marc Antony pointed to the slashes in Caesar's toga.
tome
large volume Example He spent much time in the libraries poring over ancient tomes.
tonsure
shaving of the head, especially by person entering religious orders Example His tonsure, even more than his monastic garb, indicated that he was a member of the religious order.
topography
physical features of a region Example Before the generals gave the order to attack, they ordered a complete study of the topography of the region.
torpor
lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy Example Nothing seemed to arouse him from his torpor; he had wholly surrendered himself to lethargy.
torque
twisting force; force producing rotation Example With her wrench she applied sufficient torque to the nut the loosen it.
torrent
rushing stream; flood Example Day after day of heavy rain saturated the hillside until the water ran downhill in torrents.
torso
trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk Example This torso, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is now on exhibition in the museum in Naples.
tortuous
winding; full of curves Example Because this road is so tortuous, it is unwise to go faster than twenty miles an hour on it.
touchstone
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion Example What touchstone can be used to measure the character of a person?
touchy
sensitive; irascible Example Do not discuss this phase of the problem as he is very touchy about it.
tout
publicize; praise excessively Example I lost confidence in my broker after he touted some junk bonds that turned out to be a bad investment.
toxic
poisonous Example We must seek an antidote for whatever toxic substance he has eaten.
tract
pamphlet; a region of indefinite size Example The King granted William Penn a tract of land in the New World.
tractable
docile Example You will find the children in this school very tractable and willing to learn.
traduce
expose to slander Example His opponents tried to traduce the candidate's reputation by spreading rumors about his past.
trajectory
path taken by a projectile Example The police tried to locate the spot from which the assassin had fired the fatal shot by tracing the trajectory of the bullet.
tranquillity
calmness; peace Example After the commotion and excitement of the city, I appreciate the tranquillity of these fields and forests.
transcend
exceed; surpass Example This accomplishment transcends all our previous efforts.
transcribe
copy Example When you transcribe your notes, please send a copy to Mr.Smith and keep the original for our files.
transgression
violation of a law; sin Example Forgive us our transgressions; we know not what we do.
transient
momentary; temporary; staying for a short time Example Lexy's joy at finding the perfect Christmas gift for Phil was transient; she still had to find presents for the cousins and Uncle Bob. Located near the airport, this hotel caters to the largely transient trade.
transition
going from one state of action to another Example During the period of transition from oil heat to gas heat, the furnace will have to be shut off.
transitoriness
impermanence Example Conscious that all things pass, the psalmist relates the transitoriness of happiness and fame.
translucent
partly transparent Example We could not recognize the people in the next room because of the translucent curtains that separated us.
transmute
change; convert to something different Example He was unable to transmute his dreams into actualities.
transparent
permitting to light to pass through freely; easily detected Example Your scheme is so transparent that it will fool no one.
transpire
be revealed; happen Example When Austen writes the sentence "It had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him," her meaning is not that the debts had just been incurred, but the the shocking news had just leaked out.
transport
strong emotion Example Margo was a creature of extremes, at one moment in transports of joy over a vivid sunset, at another moment in transports of grief over a dying bird.
trappings
outward decorations; ornaments Example He loved the trappings of success: the limousines, the stock options, the company jet.
traumatic
pertaining to an injury caused by violence Example In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle.
travail
painful labor Example How long do you think a man can endure such travail and degradation without rebelling?
traverse
go through or across Example When you traverse this field, be careful of the bull.
travesty
comical parody; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous Example The ridiculous decision the jury has arrived at is a travesty of justice.
treatise
article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly Example He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan playwrights for his graduate degree.
trek
travel; journey Example The tribe made their trek further north that summer in search of game.
tremor
trembling; slight quiver Example She had a nervous tremor in her right hand.
tremulous
trembling; wavering Example She was tremulous more from excitement than from fear.
trenchant
cutting; keen Example I am afraid of his trenchant wit for it is so often sarcastic.
trepidation
fear; trembling agitation Example We must face the enemy without trepidation if we are to win this battle.
tribulation
distress; suffering Example After all the trials and tribulations we have gone through, we need this rest.
tribunal
court of justice Example The decision of the tribunal was final and the prisoner was sentenced to death.
tribute
tax levied by a ruler; mark of respect Example The colonists refused to pay tribute to a foreign despot.
trident
three-pronged spear Example Neptune is usually depicted as rising from the sea, carrying his trident on his shoulder.
trigger
set off Example John is touchy today; say one word wrong and you'll trigger an explosion.
trilogy
group of three works Example Romain Rolland's novel Jean Christophe was first published as a trilogy.
trinket
knickknack; bauble Example Whenever she traveled abroad, Ethel would pick up costume jewelry and other trinkets as souvenirs.
trite
hackneyed; commonplace Example Thr trite and predictable situations in many television programs alienate many viewers.
trivia
trifles; unimportant matters Example Too many magazines ignore newsworthy subjects and feature trivia.
troth
pledge of good faith especially in betrothal Example He gave her his troth and vowed to cherish her always.
trough
container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.) Example The hungry pigs struggled to get at the fresh swill in the trough. The surfer rode her board, coasting along in the trough between two waves.
truculence
agressiveness; ferocity Example Tynan's reviews were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence.
truism
self-evident truth Example Many a truism is well expressed in a proverb.
truncate
cut the top off Example The top of the cone that has been truncated in a plane parallel to its base is a circle.
tryst
meeting Example The lovers kept their tryst even though they realized their danger.
tumid
swollen; pompous; bombastic Example I especially dislike his tumid style; I prefer writing which is less swollen and bombastic.
tumult
commotion; riot; noise Example She could not make herself heard over the tumult of the mob.
tundra
rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America Example Despite the cold, many geologists are trying to discover valuable mineral deposits in the tundra.
turbid
muddy; having the sediment disturbed Example The water was turbid after the children had waded through it.
turbulence
state of violent agitation Example We were frightened by the turbulence of the ocean during the storm.
tureen
deep dish for serving soup Example The waiters brought the soup to the tables in silver tureens.
turgid
swollen; distended Example The turgid river threatened to overflow the levees and flood the contryside.
turmoil
confusion; strife Example Conscious he had sinned, he was in a state of spiritual turmoil.
turncoat
traitor Example The British considered Benedict Arnold a loyalist; the Americans considered him a turncoat.
turpitude
depravity Example A visitor may be denied admittance to this country if she has been guilty of moral turpitude.
tutelage
guardianship; training Example Under the tutelage of such masters of the instrument, she made rapid progress as a virtuoso.
tutelary
protective; pertaining to a guardianship Example I am acting in my tutelary capacity when I refuse to grant you permission to leave the campus.
tycoon
wealthy leader Example John D. Rockefeller was a prominent tycoon.
tyranny
oppression; cruel government Example Frederick Douglass fought against the tyranny of slavery throughout his entire life.
tyro
beginner; novice Example For a mere tyro, you have produced some marvelous results.
timid
easily frightened; apprehensive Example He was timid and cowardish; always backing up at daunting situations.
tonic
invigorating medicine Example The tonic water invigorated her, contrary to the enervating effect of the alcohol.
toil
work laboriously; make slow painful progress Example You must toil through 3500 words list in order to achieve a high score on GRE.
ubiquitous
being everywhere; omnipresent Example That Christmas "The Little Drummer Boy" seemed ubiquitous: Justin heard the tune everywhere he went.
ulterior
situated beyond; unstated and often questionable Example You must have an ulterior motive for your behavior, since there is no obvious reason for it.
ultimate
final; not susceptible to further analysis Example Scientists are searching for the ultimate truths.
ultimatum
last demand; warning Example Since they have ignored our ultimatum, our only recourse is to declare war.
umbrage
resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult Example She took umbrage at his remarks and stormed away in a huff.
unanimity
complete agreement Example We were surprised by the unanimity with which our proposals were accepted by the different groups.
unassuaged
unsatisfied; not soothed Example Her anger is unassuaged by your apology.
unassuming
modest Example He is so unassuming that some people fail to realize how great a man he really is.
unbridled
violent Example She had a sudden fit of unbridled rage.
uncanny
strange; mysterious Example You have the uncanny knack of reading my innermost thoughts.
unconscionable
unscrupulous; excessive Example She found the load shark's demands unconscionable and impossible to meet.
uncouth
outlandish; clumsy; boorish Example Most biographers portray Lincoln as an uncouth and ungainly young man.
unction
the act of anointing with oil Example The anointing with oil of a person near death is called extreme unction.
unctous
oily; bland; insincerely suave Example Uriah Heep disguised his nefarious actions by unctuous protestations of his "'umility."
undermine
weaken; sap Example The recent corruption scandals have undermined many people's faith in the city government.
underscore
emphasize Example Adressing the jogging class, Kim underscored the importance to runners of good nutrition.
undulate
move with a wavelike motion Example The flag undulated in the breeze.
unearth
dig up Example When they unearthed the city, the archeologists found many relics of an ancient civilization.
unearthly
not earthly; weird Example There is an unearthly atmosphere in her work that amazes the casual observer.
unequivocal
plain; obvious Example My answer to your proposal is an unequivocal and absolute "No."
unerringly
infallibly Example My teacher unerringly pounced on the one typographical error in my essay.
unfaltering
steadfast Example She approached the guillotine with unfaltering steps.
unfeigned
genuine; real Example She turned so pale that I am sure her surprise was unfeigned.
unfettered
liberated; freed from chains Example Chained to the wall for months on end, the hostage despaired that he would ever be unfettered.
unfledged
immature Example It is hard for an unfledged writer to find a sympathetic publisher.
unfrock
to strip a priest or minister of church authority Example To disbar a lawyer, to unfrock a priest, to suspend a doctor's license to practice--these are extreme steps that the authorities should take only after careful consideration.
ungainly
awkward Example He is an ungainly young man; he trips over everything.
unguent
ointment Example Apply this unguent to the sore muscles before retiring.
uniformity
sameness; consistency; monotony Example After a while, the uniformity of TV situation comedies becomes boring.
unilateral
one-sided Example This legislation is unilateral since it binds only one party in the controversy.
unimpeachable
blameless and exemplary Example Her conduct in office was unimpeachable and her record is spotless.
uninhibited
unrepressed Example The congregation was shocked by her uninhibited laughter during the sermon.
unintimidating
unfrightening Example Though Phil had expected to feel overawed when he met Joe Montana, he found the experience unintimidating and relaxing.
unique
without an equal; single in kind Example You have the unique distinction of being the first student whom I have had to fail in this course.
unison
unity of pitch; complete accord Example The choir sang in unison.
universal
characterizing or affecting all; present everywhere Example At first, no one shared Christopher's opinions; his theory that the world was round was met with universal disdain.
unkempt
disheveled; with uncared-for appearance Example The beggar was dirty and unkempt.
unobtrusive
inconspicuous; not blatant Example The secret service agents in charge of protecting the President tried to be as unobtrusive as possible.
unprecedented
novel; unparalleled Example Margaret Mitchell's book Gone with the Wind was an unprecedented success.
unprepossessing
unattractive Example During adolescence many attractive young people somehow acquire the false notion that their appearance is unprepossessing.
unravel
disentangle; solve Example With equal ease Miss Marple unraveled tangled balls of yarn and baffling murder mysteries.
unrequited
not reciprocated Example Suffering the pangs of unrequited love, Olivia rebukes Cesario for his hard-heartedness.
unruly
disobedient; lawless Example The only way to curb this unruly mob is to use tear gas.
unsavory
distasteful; morally offensive Example People with unsavory reputations should not be allowed to work with young children.
unscathed
unharmed Example They prayed he would come back from the war unscathed.
unseemly
unbecoming; indecent Example Your levity is unseemly at this time of mourning.
unsightly
ugly Example Although James was an experienced emergency room nurse, he occasionally became queasy when faced with a particularly unsightly injury.
unsullied
untarnished Example I am happy that my reputation is unsullied.
untenable
unsupportable Example I find your theory untenable and must reject it.
untoward
unfortunate; annoying Example Untoward circumstances prevent me from being with you on this festive occasion.
unwarranted
unjustified; groundless; undeserved Example We could not understand Martin's unwarranted rudeness to his mother's guests.
unwieldy
awkward; cumbersome; unmanageable Example The large carton was so unwieldy that the movers had trouble getting it up the stairs.
unwitting
unintentional; not knowing Example She was the unwitting tool of the swindlers
unwonted
unaccustomed Example He hesitated to assume the unwonted role of master of ceremonies at the dinner.
upbraid
scold; reproach Example I must upbraid him for his unruly behavior.
uproarious
marked by commotion; extremely funny; very noisy Example The uproarious comedy hit Home Alone featured Macaulay Culkin, whose mugging and comic antics provoked gales of uproarious laughter from audiences coast to coast.
upshot
outcome Example The upshot of the rematch was that the former champion proved that he still possessed all the skills of his youth.
urbane
suave; refined; elegant Example The courtier was urbane and sophisticated
urchin
mischievous child (usually a boy) Example Get out! This store is no place for grubby urchins!
ursine
bearlike; pertaining to a bear Example Because of its ursine appearance, the great panda has been identified with the bears; actually, it is closely related to the raccoon.
usurp
seize power; supplant Example The revolution ended when the victorious rebel leader usurped the throne.
usury
lending money at illegal rates of interest Example The loan shark was found guilty of usury.
utopia
imaginary land with perfect social and political system Example Shangri-la was the name of James Hilton's Tibetan utopia.
uxorious
excessively devoted to one's wife Example His friends laughed at him because he was so uxorious and submissive to his wife's desires.
undergird
strengthen the base of Example Whereas relativity theory undermined the Newtonian mechanics, cosmology was undergirded by it.
vacillate
waver; fluctuate Example Uncertain which suitor she ought to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one, now the other.
vacuous
empty; lacking in ideas; stupid Example The candidate's vacuous remarks annoyed the audience, who had hoped to hear more than empty platitudes
vagabond
wanderer; tramp Example In summer, college students wander the roads of Europe like carefree vagabonds.
vagary
caprice; whim Example She followed every vagary of fashion.
vagrant
stray; random Example He tried to study, but could not collect his vagrant thoughts.
vagrant
homeless wanderer Example Because he was a stranger in town with no visible means of support, Martin feared he would be jailed as a vagrant.
vainglorious
boastful; excessively conceited Example She was a vainglorious and arrogant individual.
valedictory
pertaining to farewell Example I found the valedictory address too long; leave-taking should be brief.
valid
logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable Example You're going to have to come up with a better argument if you want to convince me that your reasoning is valid.
validate
confirm; ratify Example I will not publish my findings until I validate my results.
valor
bravery Example He received the Medal of Honor for his valor in battle.
vampire
ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living Example Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampires.
vanguard
forerunners; advance forces Example We are the vanguard of a tremendous army that is following us.
vantage
position giving an advantage Example They fired upon the enemy from behind trees, walls and any other point of vantage they could find.
vapid
insipid; inane Example She delivered an uninspired and vapid address.
variegated
many-colored Example Without her glasses, Gretchen saw the fields of tulips as a variegated blur.
vassal
in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord Example The lord demanded that his vassals contribute more to his military campaign.
vaunted
boasted; bragged; highly publicized Example This much vaunted project proved a disappointment when it collapsed.
veer
change in direction Example After what seemed an eternity, the wind veered to the east and the storm abated.
vegetate
live in a monotonous way Example I do not understand how you can vegetate in this quiet village after the adventurous life you have led.
vehement
impetuous; with marked vigor Example He spoke with vehement eloquence in defense of his client.
velocity
speed Example The train went by at considerable velocity.
venal
capable of being bribed Example The venal policeman accepted the bribe offered him by the speeding motorist whom he had stopped.
vendetta
blood feud Example The rival mobs engaged in a bitter vendetta.
vendor
seller Example The fruit vendor sold her wares from a stall on the sidewalk.
veneer
thin layer; cover Example Casual acquaintances were deceived by his veneer of sophistication and failed to recognize his fundamental shallowness.
venerable
deserving high respect Example We do not mean to be disrespectful when we refuse to follow the advice of our venerable leader.
venerate
revere Example In China, the people venerate their ancestors.
venial
forgivable; trivial Example We may regard a hugry man's stealing as a venial crime.
venison
the meat of a deer Example The hunters dined on venison.
vent
small opening; outlet Example The wine did not flow because the air vent in the barrel was clogged.
vent
express; utter Example He vented his wrath on his class.
ventral
abdominal Example We shall now examine the ventral plates of this serpent, not the dorsal side.
ventriloquist
someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing Example This ventriloquist does an act in which she has a conversation with a wooden dummy.
venturesome
bold Example A group of venturesome women were the first to scale Mt.Annapurna.
venue
location Example The attorney asked for a change of venue; he thought his client would do better if the trial were held in a less conservative county.
veracious
truthful Example I can recommend him for this position because I have always found him veracious and reliable.
veracity
truthfulness Example Trying to prove Hill a liar, Senator Spector repeatedly questioned her veracity.
verbalize
put into words Example I know you don't like to talk about these things, but please try to verbalize your feelings.
verbatim
word for word Example He repeated the message verbatim.
verbiage
pompous array of words Example After we had waded through all the verbiage, we discovered that the writer had said very little.
verbose
wordy Example This article is too verbose; we must edit it.
verdant
green; lush in vegetation Example Monet's paintings of the verdant meadows were symphonies in green.
verdigris
green coating on copper which has been exposed to the weather Example Despite all attempts to protect the statue from the elements, it became coated with verdigris.
verge
border; edge Example Madame Curie knew she was on the verge of discovering the secrets of radioactive elements.
verisimilitude
appearance of truth; likelihood Example Critics praised her for the verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth. She was completely believable.
verity
truth; reality Example The four verities were revealed to Buddha during his long meditation.
vernacular
living language; natural style Example Cut out those old-fashioned "thee's" and "thou's" and write in the vernacular.
vernal
pertaining to spring Example We may expect vernal showers all during the month of April.
versatile
having many talents; capable of working in many fields Example He was a versatile athlete; at college he had earned varsity letters in baseball, football, and track.
vertex
summit Example Let us drop a perpendicular line from the vertex of the triangle to the base.
vertigo
dizziness Example We test potential plane pilots for susceptibility to spells of vertigo.
verve
enthusiasm; liveliness Example She approached her studies with such verve that it was impossible for her to do poorly.
vestige
trace; remains Example We discovered vestiges of early Indian life in the cave.
vex
annoy; distress Example Please try not to vex your mother; she is doing the best she can.
viable
capable of maintaining life; practicable; workable Example The infant, though prematurely born, is viable and has a good chance to survive.
viand
food Example There was a variety of viands at the feast.
vicarious
acting as a substitute; done by a deputy Example Many people get a vicarious thrill at the movies by imagining they are the characters on the screen.
vicissitude
change of fortune Example Humbled by life's vicissitudes, the last emperor of China worked as a lowly gardener in the palace over which he had once ruled.
victuals
food Example I am very happy to be able to provide you with these victuals; I know you are hungry.
vie
contend; compete Example Politicians vie with one another, competing for donations and votes.
vigilance
watchfulness Example Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
vigor
active strength Example Although he was over seventy years old, Jack had the vigor of a man in his prime.
vignette
picture; short literary sketch Example The New Yorker published her latest vignette.
vilify
slander Example She is a liar and is always trying to vilify my reputation.
vindicate
clear of charges Example I hope to vindicate my client and return him to society as a free man.
vindictive
revengeful Example She was very vindictive and never forgave an injury.
vintner
winemaker; seller of wine Example The poet wondered what the vintners could buy that would be half as precious as the wine they sold.
viper
poisonous snake Example The habitat of the horned viper, a particularly venomous snake, is in sandy regions like the Sahara or the Sinai peninsula.
virile
manly Example I do not accept the premise that a man is virile only when he is belligerent.
virtual
in essence; for practical purposes Example She is a virtual financial wizard when it comes to money matters.
virtue
goodness; moral excellence; good quality Example A virtue carried to extremes can turn into something resembling vice; humility, for example, can degenerate into servility and spinelessness.
virtuoso
highly skilled artist Example The child prodigy Yehudi Menuhin grew into a virtuoso whose virtuosity on the violin thrilled millions.
virulent
extremely poisonous Example The virus is highly virulent and has made many of us ill for days.
virus
disease communicator Example The doctors are looking for a specific medicine to control this virus.
visage
face; appearance Example The stern visage of the judge indicated that she had decided to impose a severe penalty.
visceral
felt in one's inner organs Example She disliked the visceral sensations she had whenever she rode the roller coaster.
viscid
adhesive; gluey Example The trunk of the maple tree was viscid with sap.
viscous
sticky, gluey Example Melted tar is a viscous substance.
vise
tool for holding work in place Example Before filling its edges, the keysmith took the blank key and fixed it firmly between the jaws of a vise.
visionary
produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical Example She was given to visionary schemes that never materialized.
vital
vibrant and lively; critical; living, breathing Example The vital, highly energetic first aid instructor stressed that it was vital in examining accident victims to note their vital signs.
vitiate
spoil the effect of; make inoperative Example Fraud will vitiate the contract.
vitreous
pertaining to or resembling glass Example Although this plastic has many vitreous qualties such as transparency, it is unbreakable.
vitriolic
corrosive; sarcastic Example Such vitriolic criticism is uncalled for.
vituperative
abusive; scolding Example He became more vituperative as he realized that we were not going to grant him his wish.
vivacious
lively or animated; sprightly Example She had always been vivacious and sparkling.
vivisection
act of dissecting living animals Example The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opposed vivisection and deplored the practice of using animals in scientific experiments.
vixen
female fox; ill-tempered woman Example Aware that she was right once again, he lost his temper and called her a shrew and a vixen.
vociferous
clamorous; noisy Example The crowd grew vociferous in its anger and threatened to take the law into its own hands.
vogue
popular fashion Example Jeans became the vogue on many college campuses.
volatile
changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly Example The political climate today is extremely volatile: no one can predict what the electorate will do next.
volition
act of making a conscious choice Example She selected this dress of her own volition.
voluble
fluent; glib Example She was a voluble speaker, always ready to talk.
voluminous
bulky; large Example Despite her family burdens, she kept up a voluminous correspondence with her friends.
voluptuous
gratifying the senses Example The nobility during the Renaissance led voluptuous lives.
voracious
ravenous Example The wolf is a voracious animal, its hunger never satisfied.
vortex
whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged Example Sucked into the vortex of the tornado, Dorothy and Toto were carried from Kansas to Oz.
vouchsafe
grant condescendingly; guarantee Example I can safely vouchsafe you fair return on your investment.
voyeur
Peeping Example Jill called Jack a voyeur when she caught him aiming his binoculars at a bedroom window of the house next door.
vulnerable
susceptible to wounds Example Achilles was vulnerable only in his heel.
vulpine
like a fox; crafty Example She disliked his sly ways, but granted him a certain vulpine intelligence.
waffle
speak equivocally about an issue Example When asked directly about the governor's involvement in the savings and loan scandal, the press secretary waffled, talking all around the issue.
waft
moved gently by wind or waves Example Daydreaming, he gazed at the leaves that wafted past his window.
waggish
mischievous; humorous; tricky Example He was a prankster who, unfortunately, often overlooked the damage he could cause with his waggish tricks.
waif
homeless child or animal Example Although he already had eight cats, he could not resist adopting yet another feline waif.
waive
give up temporarily; yield Example I will waive my rights in this matter in order to expedite our reaching a proper decision.
wallow
roll in; indulge in; become helpless Example The hippopotamus loves to wallow in the mud.
wan
having a pale or sickly color; pallid Example Suckling asked, "Why so pale and wan, fond lover?"
wane
grow gradually smaller Example From now until December 21, the winter solstice, the hours of daylight will wane.
wangle
wiggle out; fake Example She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
wanton
unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste Example Pointing to the stack of bills, Sheldon criticized Sarah for her wanton expenditures. In response, Sara accused Sheldon of making an unfounded, wanton attack.
warble
sing; babble Example Every morning the birds warbled outside her window.
warrant
justify; authorize Example Before the judge issues the injunction, you must convince her this action is warranted.
warranty
guarantee; assurance by seller Example The purchaser of this automobile is protected by the manufacturer's warranty that he will replace any defective part for five years or 50,000 miles.
warren
tunnels in which rabbits live; crowded conditions in which people live Example The tenement was a veritable warren, packed with people too poor to live elsewhere.
wary
very cautious Example The spies grew wary as they approached the sentry.
wastrel
profligate Example He was denounced as a wastrel who had dissipated his inheritance.
wax
increase; grow Example With proper handling, his fortunes waxed and he became rich.
waylay
ambush; lie in wait Example They agreed to waylay their victim as he passed through the dark alley going home.
wean
accustom a baby not to nurse; give up a cherished activity Example He decided he would wean himself away from eating junk food and stick to fruits and vegetables.
weather
endure the effects of weather or other forces Example He weathered the changes in his personal life with difficulty, as he had no one in whom to confide.
welt
mark from beating or whipping Example The evidence of child abuse was very clear; Jennifer's small body was covered with welts and bruises.
welter
turmoil; bewildering jumble Example The existing welter of overlapping federal and state proclaims cries out for immediate reform.
welter
wallow Example At the height of the battle, the casualties were so numerous that the victims weltered in their blood while waiting for medical attention.
wheedle
cajole; coax; deceive by flattery Example She knows she can wheedle almost anything she wants from her father.
whelp
young wolf, dog, tiger, etc. Example This collie whelp won't do for breeding, but he'd make a fine pet.
whet
sharpen; stimulate Example The odors from the kitchen are whetting my appetite; I will be ravenous by the time the meal is served.
whiff
puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); hint Example The slightest whiff of Old Spice cologne brought memories of George to her mind.
whimsical
capricious; fanciful Example He dismissed his generous gift to his college as a sentimental fancy, an old man's whimsical gesture.
whinny
neigh like a horse Example When he laughed through his nose, it sounded as if he whinnied.
whit
smallest speck Example There is not a whit of intelligence or understanding in your observations.
whittle
pare; cut off bits Example As a present for Aunt Polly, Tom whittled some clothespins out of a chunk of wood.
whorl
ring of leaves around stem; ring Example Identification by fingerprints is based on the difference in shape and number of whorls on the fingers.
willful
intentional; headstrong Example Donald had planned to kill his wife for months; clearly, her death was a case of deliberate, willful murder, not a crime of passion committed by a hasty, willful youth unable to foresee the consequences of his deeds.
wily
cunning; artful Example She is as wily as a fox in avoiding trouble.
wince
shrink back; flinch Example The screech of the chalk on the blackboard made her wince.
windfall
fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event Example This huge tax refund is quite a windfall.
winnow
sift; separate good parts from bad Example This test will winnow out the students who study from those who don't bother.
winsome
agreeable; gracious; engaging Example By her winsome manner, she made herself liked by everyone who met her.
wispy
thin; slight; barely discernible Example Worried about preserving his few wispy tufts of hair, Walter carefully massaged his scalp and applied hair restorer every night.
wistful
vaguely longing; sadly pensive Example With a last wistful glance at the happy couples dancing in the hall, Sue headed back to her room to study for her exam.
withdrawn
introverted; remote Example Rebuffed by his colleagues, the initially outgoing young researcher became increasingly withdrawn.
wither
shrivel; decay Example Cut flowers are beautiful for a day, but all too soon they wither.
witless
foolish; idiotic Example Such witless and fatuous statements will create the impression that you are an ignorant individual.
witticism
witty saying; facetious remark Example What you regard as witticisms are often offensive to sensitive people.
wizardry
sorcery; magic Example Merlin amazed the knights with his wizardry.
wizened
withered; shriveled Example The wizened old man in the home for the aged was still active and energetic.
wont
custom; habitual procedure Example As was his wont, he jogged two miles every morning before going to work.
worldly
engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual Example You must leave your worldly goods behind you when you go to meet your Maker.
wrangle
quarrel; obtain through arguing; herd cattle Example They wrangled over their inheritance.
wrath
anger; fury Example She turned to him, full of wrath, and said, "What makes you think I'll accept lower pay for this job than you get?"
wreak
inflict Example I am afraid he will wreak his vengeance on the innocent as well as the guilty.
wrench
pull; strain; twist Example She wrenched free of her attacker and landed a powerful kick to his kneecap.
wrest
pull away; take by violence Example With only ten seconds left to play, our team wrested victory from their grasp.
writ
written command issued by a court Example The hero of Leonard's novel is a process server who invents unorthodox ways of serving writs on reluctant parties.
writhe
squirm, twist Example He was writhing in pain, desperate for the drug his body required.
wry
twisted; with a humorous twist Example We enjoy Dorothy Parker's verse for its wry wit.
xenophobia
fear or hatred of foreigners Example When the refugee arrived in America, he was unprepared for the xenophobia he found there.
yen
longing; urge Example She had a yen to get away and live on her own for a while.
yeoman
man owing small estate; middle-class farmer Example It was not the aristocrat but the yeoman who determined the nation's policies.
yield
amount produced; crop; income on investment Example An experienced farmer can estimate the annual yield of his acres with surprising accuracy.
yield
give in; surrender Example The wounded knight refused to yield to his foe.
yoke
join together, unite Example I don't wish to be yoked to him in marriage, as if we were cattle pulling a plow.
yokel
country bumpkin Example At school, his classmates regarded him as a yokel and laughed at his rustic mannerisms.
yore
time past Example He dreamed of the elegant homes of yore, but gave no thought to their inelegant plumbing.
zany
crazy; comic Example I can watch the Marx brothers' zany antics for hours.
zeal
eager enthusiasm Example Wang's zeal was contagious; soon all his fellow students were busily making posters, inspired by his ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
zealot
fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal Example It is good to have a few zealots in our group for their enthusiasm is contagious.
zenith
point directly overhead in the sky; summit Example When the sun was at its zenith, the glare was not as strong as at sunrise and sunset.
zephyr
gentle breeze; west wind Example
Recent Articles
vBulletin Message
The following errors occurred with your submission