Kaplan 900 + Barron 600

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1.

Abate

to decrease; reduce

39.

Aesthetic

concerned with or appreciative of beauty

2.

Abdicate

to step down from a position of power

40.

Affected

pretentious; phony

3.

Aberrant

deviating from what is normal

41.

Affinity

fondness; liking; similarity

4.

Abeyance

temporary suppression or suspension

42.

Afflatus

a creative impulse, divine inspiration

5.

Abject

miserable; pitiful

43.

Agathism

the belief that things ultimately lead to good

6.

Abjure

to reject; abandon formally

44.

Agenda

program, things to be done

7.

Ablution

the act of washing one's body

45.

Aggrandize

to make larger or greater

8.

Abnegate

to deny to oneself, renounce, surrender

46.

Aggregate

9.

Abridge

to shorten, condense or lessen in length

adj. amounting to a whole; total; v. to collect

into a mass; n. collective mass or sum

10.

Abrogate

to repeal, to set aside, to nullify

47.

Aggrieve

to distress, to mistreat

11.

Abscission

n. the act of cutting; the natural separation of

a leaf or other part of a plant; v. to cut off or
away (abscise)

48.

Agnate

from the father's side of the family

49.

Akimbo

having one's hands in a bent position on the

hips,

12.

Abscond

to depart secretly

50.

Alacrity

cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed

13.

Absolve

to forgive or free from blame

51.

Alchemy

14.

Abstemious

moderate in appetite

15.

Abstinence

the giving up of certain pleasures

medieval chemical philosophy based on

changing metal into gold; a seemingly magical
power or process of transmutation

Abstruse

hard to understand or grasp

52.

Aleatory

based on chance

16.

Abut

to touch, to be in contact with

53.

Allay

to lessen; ease; soothe

17.

Abysmal

very bad

54.

Alleviate

to relieve; improve partially

18.

Accolade

award or honor, high praise

55.

Alloy

19.

a combination; a mixture of two or more

metals

20.

Accouterment

personal clothing, accessories, or equipment

56.

Allure

the power to entice by charm

21.

Accretion

growth in size or increase in amount

57.

Allusion

an indirect reference

22.

Accrue

to accumulate; grow by additions

58.

Altruism

unselfish concern for others' welfare

23.

Acerbic

bitter, sharp in taste or temper

59.

Altruistic

unselfish concern with the welfare of others

24.

Acidulous

sour, ill tempered

60.

Amalgamate

to combine into a unified whole

25.

Acme

highest point, summit

61.

Ambiguous

unclear or doubtful in meaning

26.

Acquiesce

to comply passively, to give in

62.

Ambivalence

27.

Acquit

to find not guilty, to conduct oneself

the state of having conflicting emotional

attitudes

28.

Adamant

uncompromising; unyielding

63.

Ambrosia

something delicious; the food of the gods

29.

Adjunct

something added; attached; or joined

64.

Ambulatory

able to walk or move about

30.

Adjure

to command or urge solemnly and earnestly

65.

Ameliorate

to improve

31.

Admonish

to caution or reprimand

66.

Amenable

agreeable; cooperative; suited

32.

Adroit

skillful, accomplished, highly competent

67.

Amenity

something that increases comfort

33.

Adulterate

to corrupt or make impure

68.

Amnesty

34.

Adumbrate

to suggest partly, to give a hint of things to

come

an official pardon for a group of people who

violate a law

69.

Amortize

to diminish by installment payments

35.

Adventitious

accidental

70.

Amulet

ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

36.

Advocate

to support, or be in favor of

71.

Ana

37.

Aegis

protection, patronage

a collection of materials that reflect a person or

place

Aerie

nook or nest built high in the air

72.

38.

Anachronism

something out of the proper time

73.

Analgesic

medication that reduces or elimates

pain

74.

Analogous

adj. comparable; n. a similarity in some

ways between things that are
otherwise dissimilar (analogy)

75.

Anarchy

n. absence of government; state of

disorder; adj. lacking order or control
(anarchic)

76.

Anathema

something or someone loathed or

intensely dislike

77.

Ancillary

subsidiary, subordinate

78.

Animosity

ill will, active dislike

79.

Animus

hostile feeling

80.

Anodyne

n. something that calms or soothes

pain; adj. relaxing; or capable of
soothing pain

103.

Apposite

strinkingly appropriate and relevant

104.

Apprise

to inform

105.

Approbation

praise; approval

106.

Appropriate

to take possession for one's own use;

confiscate

107.

Apropos

relevant

108.

Arabesque

ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a

ballet position in which one leg is extended in
back while the other supports the weight of
the body

109.

Arable

suitable for the growing of crops

110.

Arboreal

relating to trees; living in trees

111.

Archeology

the study of material evidence of past human

life

112.

Ardor

great emotion or passion

81.

Anomalous

irregular, abnormal, unusual

113.

Arduous

extremely difficult; laborious

82.

Anomie

a social condition marked by a

breakdown of social norms

114.

Argot

a specialized vocabulary used by a group

115.

Arrant

notoriously without moderation, downright

83.

Antecedent

something that comes before

116.

Arrest

to stop; to seize

84.

Antediluvian

prehistoric

117.

Arriviste

a social climber, an upstart

85.

Anthropomorphic

attributing human qualities to

nonhumans; having human qualities

118.

Artifact

item made by human craft

119.

Antinomy

a contradiction between two seemingly

true statements

Artless

guileless; natural

86.

120.

Ascetic

87.

Antipathy

dislike; hostility

n. one who practices self-denial; adj. selfdenying or austere

121.

Antipodal

situated on opposite side of the earth

or being exactly opposite

Aseptic

surgically clean, free of germs

88.

122.

Asperity

severity; harshness; irritability

89.

Apathy

indifference

123.

Aspersion

slander; false rumor

90.

Apex

the highest point

124.

Assiduous

diligent; hard-working

91.

Aphasia

loss of speech

125.

Assignation

92.

Aphorism

a wise saying

a secret meeting, a tryst, or something

assigned

126.

Aplomb

poise, confidence

Assuage

to make less severe

93.

127.

Apocryphal

false, spurious, of doubtful origin

Astringent

harsh; severe

94.

128.

Apogee

the point in an orbit most distant from

the body being orbited; the highest
point

Asylum

place of refuge or shelter

95.

129.

Atavism

96.

Apoplexy

a stroke resulting from loss of blood of

the brain,

in biology; the reappearance of a

characteristic in an organism after several
generations of absence; individual or a part
that exhibits atavism; return of a trait after a
period of absence

97.

Apostasy

a judge, one who decides

130.

Atrabilious

inclined to melancholy

98.

Apostate

one who renounces a religious faith

131.

Attenuate

to weaken

99.

Apothegm

a terse; witty saying

132.

Audacious

bold; daring

100.

Apotheosis

deification; glorified ideal

133.

Augment

to increase or enlarge

101.

Appease

to calm; pacify; placate

134.

Austere

stern; unadorned

102.

Appellation

name

135.

Autonomous

self-governing; independent

136.

Avarice

greed

170.

Bionics

the application of biological principles to the

the design of electrical or engineering
systems

137.

Aver

to affirm; declare to be true

138.

Aversion

strong or fixed dislike, a feeling of

repugnance

171.

Bivouac

a temporary encampment

139.

Avocation

secondary occupation

172.

Blanch

to turn pale

140.

Avuncular

like an uncle; benevolent and tolerant

173.

Blandishment

n. flattery; v. to coax with flattery (blandish)

141.

Axiomatic

taken for granted

174.

Blase

142.

Bacchanal

a drunken reveler or orgy

bored because of frequent indulgence;

unconcerned

Bacchanalian

pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity;

pertaining to revelry

175.

Blithe

happily, lighthearted, joyful

143.

176.

Bolster

to give a boost to; prop up; support

144.

Bailiwick

a particular area of expertise

177.

Bombastic

pompous; using inflated language

145.

Balk

to refuse, shirk; prevent

178.

Bonhomie

146.

Banal

commonplace; trite

good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good

cheer

Banausic

routine, mechanical, boring

179.

Bon vivant

someone who enjoys luxurious living

147.

Bandy

to toss and forth, to exchange, to use in a glib

way

180.

Boondoggle

a useless or valueless project or activity

148.

181.

Boorish

rude; insensitive

149.

Banter

playful conversation

182.

Bosky

wooded, covered with trees and shrubs

150.

Bard

poet

183.

Botch

to bungle, to foul up

151.

Baroque

extravagantly ornate, flamboyant,

characterized by bold ornamentation

184.

Bovine

cowlike

185.

Bowdlerize

to censor prudishly

186.

Bracing

invigorating, to prepare

152.

Bathos

a transition from the illustrious to the

commonplace, overdone pathos,

187.

Braggadocio

arrogant pretension, empty conceit

153.

Bawdy

obscene

188.

Brazen

bold; shameless

154.

Beatific

saintly, angelic

189.

Broach

to mention for the first time

155.

Beatify

to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to

190.

Brook

to tolerate, to put up with something

156.

Bedizen

to dress in a vulgar; showy manner

191.

Brummagem

bogus, fraudulent, cheap, showy

157.

Begrudge

to envy another's possessions, to concede

reluctantly

192.

Bucolic

characteristic of the countryside; rustic;

pastoral

158.

Behemoth

huge creature; anything very large and

powerful

193.

Buffoon

clown or fool

Belie

to contradict; misrepresent; give a false

impression

194.

159.

Bulwark

something used as a defense, a strong

protection

Bellwether

a person who assumes a leadership role or

takes initiative

195.

160.

Bumptious

pushy, conceited, noisily self assertive

196.

Burgeon

to flourish

161.

Benediction

a blessing, a good wish

197.

Burnish

to polish

162.

Beneficent

kindly; doing good

198.

Buttress

to reinforce; support

163.

Benign

gentle, not harmful, kind

199.

Byzantine

164.

Benison

blessing, benediction

extremely intricate or complicated in

structure

Besmirch

to stain or soil ( commonly as to reputation )

200.

165.

Cabal

a secret group of conspirators, a clique

Bibulous

highly absorbent, given to or fond of

alcoholic beverages

201.

166.

Cache

a hiding place, something hidden in a secret

place

Bifurcate

to divide into two parts

202.

167.

Cachet

a mark of distinction, a quality that "says"

prestige

168.

Bifurcated

forked, divided into two branches

203.

Cacophonous

unpleasant or harsh-sounding

169.

Bilious

ill tempered, cranky, angry

204.

Cadge

to beg; sponge

238.

Centrifugal

moving away from a center

205.

Caducity

the frailty of old age, the quality of being

perishable transitoriness

239.

Centripetal

moving or directed toward a center

240.

Chagrin

shame, embarrassment, humiliation

206.

Cajole

to flatter, coax, persuade

241.

Champion

to defend or support

207.

Calamitous

disastrous, catastrophic

242.

Charlatan

quack, fake

208.

Callous

thick-skinned; insensitive

243.

Chary

careful, cautious, wary

209.

Calumny

false and malicious accusation; slander

244.

Chasten

210.

Canard

false; deliberately misleading story

to correct by punishment or reproof; to

restrain or subdue

211.

Candor

truthfulness, great honesty, frankness

245.

Chastise

to criticize severely

212.

Canon

an established principle; a basis or standard

for judgment; a group of literary works

246.

Chattel

piece of personal property

247.

Chicanery

trickery; fraud

213.

Cant

insincere talk; language of a particular

group

248.

Chimerical

wildly fanciful, absurd

Cantankerous

irritable; ill-humored

249.

214.

Chivalry

the qualities idealized by knighthood such

as bravery and gallantry toward women

215.

Capitulate

to surrender, to stop resisting

250.

Choleric

easily angered, short-tempered

216.

Capricious

adj. fickle; n. inclination to change one's

mind compulsively

251.

Chronic

constant, lasting a long time

Captious

faultfinding; intended to entrap; as in an

argument

252.

217.

Churlish

rude; boorish

253.

Circuitous

roundabout

254.

Circumlocution

wordy language, an indirect, roundabout

expression

255.

Circumspect

careful, thought through

218.

Cardinal

of foremost importance

219.

Carnal

of the flesh or body; related to physical

appetites

220.

Carom

to strike and rebound

256.

Cistern

tank for rainwater

221.

Carping

to find fault; complain

257.

Clairvoyant

one who can predict the future; psychic

222.

Cartography

science of making maps

258.

Clamor

noisy outcry

223.

Caste

any of the hereditary social classes of hindu

society; social stratification

259.

Claque

an audience paid to clap, an obsequious

audience

224.

Castigate

to punish, chastise, criticize severely

260.

Clemency

disposition towards mercy, mildness

225.

Castigation

punishment; chastisement; criticism

261.

Clerisy

the intellectual elite

226.

Cataclysm

a violent upheaval that causes great

destruction and change

262.

Clique

a small; exclusive group

263.

Cloister

v. to confine; seclude; n. monastery or

convent; adj. shut away from the world
(cloistered)

264.

Clout

influence, a forceful blow

265.

Coagulate

thicken; congeal

227.

Catalyst

something causing change

228.

Categorical

absolute; without exception

229.

Catharsis

an emotional purification, an emotional

release

230.

Caucus

smaller group within an organization

266.

Coalesce

to cause to beome one

231.

Causal

involving a cause

267.

Coda

232.

Caustic

sarcastically biting; burning

concluding part of a literary or musical

composition; something that summarizes
or concludes

233.

Cavalcade

a procession

268.

Codify

systematize

234.

Cavil

to quibble, to raise trivial objections

269.

Coffer

strongbox, large chest for money

235.

Celerity

haste, swiftness of movement

270.

Cogent

convincing

236.

Celestial

concerning the sky or heavens; sublime

271.

Cogitate

to ponder over, to mediate, to think

237.

Censure

the act of blaming or condemning

272.

Cognizant

informed; conscious; aware

273.

Cognomen

family name; any name, especially a

nickname

274.

Coherent

making sense, organize and logical

275.

Collage

artistic composition of materials pasted

over a surface; an assemblage of diverse
elements

306.

Continence

self-control; abstention from sexual activity

307.

Contrite

very sorrowful for a wrong

308.

Contumacious

disobedient; rebellious

309.

Conundrum

riddle; puzzle with no solution

310.

Convention

n. practice widely observed in a group;

custom; accepted technique or device; adj.
customary or commonplace (conventional)

276.

Colloquial

conversational, used in informal speech

277.

Comeliness

physical grace and beauty

311.

Converge

to approach; come together; tend to meet

278.

Commensurate

proportional

312.

Convex

curved outward

279.

Commodious

roomy, spacious

313.

Convey

to transport, to conduct, to communicate

280.

Compatible

able to get along well

314.

Conviction

determination, a state of being convinced

281.

Compendium

brief; comprehensive summary

315.

Convivial

sociable

282.

Complacent

self-satisfied

316.

Convoluted

twisted; complicated

283.

Complaisant

overly polite; willing to please; obliging

317.

Copious

abundant; plentiful

284.

Complement

something that completes or makes up a

whole

318.

Coquette

woman who flirts

Compliant

yielding

319.

285.

Cornucopia

horn overflowing with fruit and grain; state

of abundance

286.

Comport

to behave

320.

Corpulence

obesity, fatness, bulkiness

287.

Compunction

uneasiness caused by guilt

321.

Corroborate

to support with evidence

288.

Compunctious

feeling guilty or having misgivings

322.

Corrugate

289.

Concave

curving inward

to mold in a shape with parallel grooves

and ridges

290.

Conciliatory

overcoming distrust or hostility

323.

Cortege

a procession, a group of attendants

291.

Concoct

invent

324.

Cosmology

292.

Concomitant

existing concurrently

study of the universe as a totality; theory of

the origin and structure of the universe

293.

Condone

to overlook volutarily; forgive

325.

Cosset

to pamper, treat with great care

294.

Conflagration

a large, disastrous fire

326.

Coterie

295.

Confound

to baffle; perplex; mix up

an intimate group of people with a common

interest

Congenial

similar in tastes and habits; friendly;

suited to

327.

Coven

group of witches

296.

328.

Covert

hidden; secret

297.

Conjugal

pertaining to marriage agreement

329.

Covet

to wish for with envy

298.

Connoisseur

a person possessing expert knowledge or

training; a person of informed and
discriminating taste

330.

Covetous

desiring something owned by another

331.

Cozen

to mislead by trick or fraud; deceive

332.

Craven

cowardly

333.

Credence

acceptance of something as true

334.

Credo

statement of belief or principle; creed

335.

Criterion

standard for judging

299.

Consanguineous

of the same origin; related by blood

300.

Conscript

n. person compulsorily enrolled for

military service; v. to enroll a person for
military service

301.

Consecrate

to declare sacred

336.

Culvert

a sewer or drain

302.

Contend

v. to assert; n. an assertion (contention)

337.

Curmudgeon

cranky person

303.

Contention

claim; thesis

338.

Cursory

brief, without much attention to detail

304.

Contentious

quarrelsome; causing quarrels

339.

Daedal

ingenious or complex in design

305.

Contiguous

touching; neighboring; connecting

without a break

340.

Daunt

to discourage; intimidate; dishearten

341.

Dearth

scarcity

342.

Debacle

a disaster or violent breakdown

376.

Descry

to discern, to see something, to teach sight of

343.

Debauchery

corruption

377.

Desecrate

to treat with disrespect

344.

Deciduous

shedding or losing leaves on a particular

season, not evergreen

378.

Desiccate

to dry completely

379.

Destitute

very poor, totally lacking

345.

Decimate

to kill or destroy a large part of

380.

Desuetude

state of disuse

346.

Declivity

downward slope

381.

Desultory

random; disconnected; rambling

347.

Decorum

proper behavior

382.

Deterrent

something that discourages or hinders

348.

De facto

in fact; whether by right or not; exercising

power without being legally established

383.

Detraction

the act of taking away; derogatory comment

on a person's character

349.

Defalcate

to embezzle

384.

Deviant

350.

Defame

to malign; harm someone's reputation

a person whose behavior differs from the

accepted standards of society

351.

Default

to fail to act

385.

Diadem

a crown that indicates royalty

352.

Defenestration

the act of throwing someone or something

out a window

386.

Diaphanous

transparent; fine-textured; insubstantial;

vague

353.

Defer

to submit to the wishes of another due to

respect or recognition of the person's
authority or knowledge

387.

Diatribe

bitter verbal attack

388.

Dichotomy

division into two usually contradictory parts

389.

Dictum

authoritative statement; popular saying

390.

Didactic

instructive, intended to educate

391.

Diffidence

shyness; lack of confidence

392.

Diffuse

v. to spread out; adj. wordy; rambling;

spread out

393.

Digress

to stray from the main subject

394.

Digression

act of straying from the main point

395.

Dilettante

a dabbler, someone with a superficial

knowledge (usually of the arts)

396.

Diluvial

relating to a flood

397.

Diminutive

small

398.

Dirge

funeral hymn

399.

Disabuse

to free from misconception

354.

Deference

respect; regard for another's wish

355.

Deft

skillful

356.

Defunct

no longer existing

357.

Deism

the belief that god created the world and

then left it to its own devices

358.

Deleterious

harmful

359.

Delineate

to represent or depict

360.

Delude

to deceive, to have false illusion

361.

Deluge

flood

362.

Demagogue

leader or rabble-rouser who usually uses

appeals to emotion or prejudice

363.

Demimonde

a class of kept women or women of lower

social standing,

364.

Demographic

related to population balance

400.

Discern

to perceive something obscure

365.

Demotic

pertaining to people

401.

Discerning

366.

Demur

to express doubt

perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good

judgment

Denigrate

to slur someone's reputation

402.

367.

Discomfit

to make uneasy; disconcert

Denizen

an inhabitant; a regular visitor

403.

368.

Discordant

not in tune

Denouement

outcome; unraveling of the plot of a play or

work of literature

404.

369.

Discount

to deduct, to disregard

405.

Discredit

to dishonor; disgrace; cause to be doubted

370.

Denunciation

open condemnation

406.

Discrepancy

difference between

371.

Depravity

moral corruption

407.

Discrete

constituting a separate thing; distinct

372.

Depreciate

to lessen in value, to belittle

408.

Discretion

373.

Depredate

to prey upon, to plunder with violence if

necessary

quality of showing self-restraint in speech or

actions; circumspection; freedom to act on
one's own

Deride

to mock

409.

374.

Disingenuous

not candid; crafty

Derivative

something derived; unoriginal

410.

375.

Disinterested

unprejudiced; objection

411.

Disjointed

lacking order or coherence; dislocated

447.

Dupe

to deceive; trick

412.

Dismiss

put away from consideration; reject

448.

Dyspeptic

413.

Disparage

to belittle

suffering from indigestion; gloomy and

irritable

414.

Disparate

dissimilar

449.

Ebb

to decline, to recede

415.

Disquiet

to make uneasy

450.

Ebullient

exhilarated; enthusiastic

416.

Dissemble

to pretend; disguise one's motinves

451.

Eccentric

non conventional, a little kooky

417.

Disseminate

to spread; scatter; disperse

452.

clat

a dazzling success, acclaim

418.

Dissident

person who disagrees about belief; etc.

453.

Eclectic

selecting from various sources

419.

Dissipate

to break up, to squander, to indulge

excessively in sensual pleasure

454.

Edacious

having an instable appetite, great voracity

455.

Efface

to erase, to rub away the features, to obscure

456.

Effervescence

state of high spirits or liveliness; the process

of bubbling as gas escapes

420.

Dissolution

disintegration; debauchery

421.

Dissonance

discord; lack of harmony

422.

Distaff

the female branch of a family

457.

Effete

depleted of vitality; overrefined; decadent

423.

Distend

to expand; swell out

458.

Efficacy

efficiency; effectiveness

424.

Distill

extract the essential elements

459.

Effluvia

outpouring of gases or vapors

425.

Distrait

inattentive; preoccupied

460.

Effrontery

shameless boldness; presumptuousness

426.

Dither

to move or act confusedly or without clear

purpose

461.

Effulgent

brilliantly shining

462.

Egocentric

self involved, selfish

427.

Diurnal

occurring during the day, happens everyday

463.

Egoism

428.

Diva

an opera singer, prima donna, a

tempermental, conceited person

the tendency to see thing in relation to

oneself; self-centered

464.

Egotistical

excessively self-centered; conceited

465.

Egregious

extremely bad, flagrant

429.

Diverge

to vary; go in different directions from the

same point

466.

lan

vigor, distinctive, elegant style

430.

Divest

to strip; deprive; rid

467.

Elegy

poem or song expressing lamentation

431.

Divulge

to make known something that is secret

468.

Elicit

to provoke; draw out

432.

Docile

easily tought, submissive

469.

Elixir

433.

Doctrinaire

relating to a person who cannot compromise

about points of a theory or doctrine; dogmatic;
unyielding

a substance believed to have the power to

cure ills

470.

Elliptical

oval, obscure in expression

471.

Elucidate

to make clear

472.

Elysian

blissful; delightful

473.

Emaciated

thin and wasted

474.

Embellish

to adorn; decorate; enhance; make more

attractive by adding details

475.

Emend

to correct a text

476.

Emigrate

to move to a new country, to move to a new

place

434.

Document

to provide with written evidence to support

435.

Doff

to take off (usually clothing) as a sign of

greeting

436.

Doggerel

poor verse

437.

Dogmatic

stating opinions without proof

438.

Dolor

sadness

439.

Dolorous

sorrowful

440.

Dormant

inactive

477.

Emissary

a messenger or representative, an agent

441.

Dossier

a file of documents, letters and records

478.

Emollient

442.

Doughty

courageous

adj. soothing; mollifying; n. an agent that

soothes or makes more acceptable

443.

Draconian

severe, exceedingly harsh

479.

Empirical

derived observation and experiment

444.

Droll

amusing in a wry, subtle way

480.

Emulate

to imitate; copy

445.

Dross

waste; worthless matter; trivial matter

481.

Encomium

a formal expression of praise

446.

Dulcet

having a nice, agreeable, melodious sound

482.

Endemic

inherent; belonging to an area

483.

Enervate

to weaken

518.

Eulogize

to speak in praise of someone, to pay written

or spoken tribute

484.

Engaging

charming, interesting

485.

Engender

to cause; produce

519.

Eulogy

high praise; especially of a person who has

recently died

486.

Enhance

to increase; improve

487.

Enigma

a puzzle, a baffling situation, something

obscure

520.

Euphemism

use of agreeable or inoffensive language in

place of unpleasant or offensive language

488.

Ennui

boredom, listlessness, lack of interest

521.

Euphoria

a feeling of extreme happiness

489.

Ensconce

to settle in snugly, to hide in a secure place

522.

Euthanasia

mercy killing

490.

Enshroud

to cover, to enclose with a dark cover

523.

Euthenics

the science of improving the condition of

humans by improving their environment

491.

Entomology

the scientific study of insects

524.

Evanescent

fleeting, vanishing, transient

492.

Enuciate

to pronounce clearly

525.

Evince

to show plainly; be an indication of

493.

Ephemeral

short-lived; fleeting

526.

Evocative

tending to call to mind or produce a reaction

494.

Epicene

having characteristics of both male and

female neuter

527.

Exacerbate

to aggravate; make worse

Epicure

person with refined taste in food and wine

528.

Exact

495.
496.

Epistemology

branch of philosophy that examines the

nature of knowledge

v. to force the payment of; demand and obtain

by authority; adj. extremely demanding
(exacting)

529.

Exacting

greatly demanding, requiring close attention

497.

Epitome

representative of an entire group; summary

530.

Exalt

to raise high, to glorify

498.

Equable

steady; unvarying; serene

531.

Exculpate

to clear of blame; vindicate

499.

Equanimity

composure; calmness

532.

Execrable

detestable; abhorrent

500.

Equitable

fair; just; impartial

533.

Exemplar

an excellent model, a typical example

501.

Equivocate

lie, mislead; attempt to conceal the truth

534.

Exhort

to urge by strong appeals

502.

Equivocation

to intentionally use vague language

535.

Exigency

crisis; urgent requirements

503.

Errant

mistaken; straying from the proper course

536.

Exigent

urgent, demands prompt action

504.

Ersatz

an inferior substitute

537.

Existential

505.

Erudite

learned; scholarly

506.

Escarpment

cliff, a steep slope resulting from erosion

having to do with existence; based on

experience; having to do with the philosophy
of existentialism

Eschew

to abstain from, avoid

538.

507.

Exorbitant

extravagant, exceeding what is usual

Esculent

edible, suitable for eating

539.

508.

Exorcise

to expel evil spirits; free from bad influences

Esoteric

hard to understand; known only to a few

540.

509.

Expatiate

to speak or write at length

Espy

to glimpse, to descry, to catch sight of

541.

510.

Expatriate

to send into exile

Essay

to make an attempt; subject to a test

542.

511.

Expedite

to make faster or easier, to carry out promptly

Estimable

admirable; possible to estimate

543.

512.

Expiate

to atone for

Ethnocentric

based on the attitude that one's group is

superior

544.

513.

Explicate

to explain; interpret; clarify

545.

Explicit

clearly stated, precisely shown

546.

Expository

explanatory

547.

Expunge

to erase, to strike out

514.

Etiolate

pale and drawn, to make weak by stunting

growth

515.

Etiology

causes or origins

548.

Expurgate

to censor

516.

Etymology

origin and history of a word

549.

Extant

in existence; not lost

517.

Eugenics

study of factors that influence the hereditary

qualities of the human race and ways to
improve these qualities

550.

Extemporaneous

unrehearsed

583.

Finesse

to handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy;

to use finesse; that is; refinement in
performance

551.

Extirpate

to root up; to destroy

552.

Extol

to praise highly

553.

Extraneous

not essential

584.

Fissure

crevice

554.

Extrapolate

to estimate

585.

Flaccid

limp, flabby, weak

555.

Extrapolation

the act of estimation by projecting known

information

586.

Flag

to droop; grow weak

587.

Flagellate

to whip, or to punish as if by whipping

556.

Extrinsic

not inherent or essential

588.

Fledgling

beginner; novice

557.

Facade

the principal front of a building, a false

appearance

589.

Flora

plants of a region or era

590.

Florid

ruddy; reddish; flowery

591.

Flourish

n. an embellishment or ornamentation; v.
meaning to grow vigorously; or to thrive

558.

Facetious

humorous

559.

Facilitate

to make less difficult

560.

Faction

a group, or part of large group, united on

an issue

592.

Flout

to treat scornfully

593.

Fluke

a chance event, a coincidence, a stroke of luck

594.

Flux

flowing; a continuous moving

595.

Fodder

raw material for a given end

596.

Foliate

to grow, sprout leaves

597.

Foment

to incite; arouse

598.

Foray

an initial venture, to raid in search of plunder

599.

Forbearance

patience

600.

Forestall

to prevent; delay

601.

Forfeit

to give up something as a penalty for some

error or crime

561.

Factotum

a person who does all sorts of work; a

handyman

562.

Fallacious

based on a false idea or fact; misleading

563.

Fallacy

false idea, mistaken belief, an implausible

argument

564.

Fallow

plowed but not sowed; uncultivated

565.

Fatuous

foolishly self-satisfied

566.

Fauna

animals of a period or region

567.

Fawning

seeking favor by flattery

568.

Fealty

intense loyalty

602.

Formidable

menacing; threatening

569.

Feckless

lacking responsibility, ineffective

603.

Forswear

renounce; repudiate

570.

Fecund

fertile, productive, fruitful

604.

Fortuitous

happening by chance, lucky fortunate

571.

Feign

to pretend, give a false impression, to

invent falsely

605.

Forward

contrary, consistently disobedient

Felicitous

suitably expressed; appropriate; wellchosen

606.

572.

Founder

to sink; fail; collapse

607.

Fracas

a loud quarrel; brawl

573.

Feral

existing in a wild or untamed state

608.

Fractious

quarrelsome; unruly; rebellious

574.

Fervor

n. warmth and intensity of emotion; adj.

full of strong emotion or impassioned
(fervent)

609.

Frenetic

wildly frantic, frenzied, hectic

610.

Fresco

a painting done on plaster

611.

Frieze

ornamental band on a wall

612.

Froward

stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient

613.

Frugality

thrift

575.

Fetid

having a bad smell

576.

Fetter

v. to bind; confine; n. something that

restricts or restrains

577.

Fey

otherworldly, magical, "touched"

614.

Fulminate

to attack loudly; denounce

578.

Fiat

arbitrary order; authorization

615.

Fulsome

so excessive as to be disgusting

579.

Fidelity

loyalty; exact correspondence

616.

Furtive

secret, done by stealth, sly

580.

Filch

to steal

617.

Fusillade

a rapid outburst, spray of gunfire

581.

Filial

relating to a son

618.

Fusion

union; synthesis

582.

Filibuster

use of obstructive tactics in a legislature

to block passage of a law

619.

Fustian

ridiculously pompous, bombastic, grandiose

in delivery

620.

Futile

ineffective; useless; fruitless

654.

Guileless

free of cunning or deceit; artless

621.

Gainsay

to deny; dispute; oppose

655.

Guise

622.

Galoot

a loutish oaf, a clumsy but somewhat

likable person

outward appearance; false appearance;

pretense

656.

Gullible

easily deceived

657.

Gustatory

affecting the sense of taste

623.

Galvanize

to arouse suddenly, to stimulate, spur to

action

658.

Hackneyed

worn out by over-use

624.

Gambol

to frolic; leap playfully

659.

Halcyon

625.

Gamin

a street urchin, a slim girl with an impish

charm

calm and peaceful; happy; golden;

prosperous

660.

Halitosis

bad breath

626.

Gamut

the full range of something

661.

Hallowed

holy; sacred

627.

Garner

to gather and store away, to acquire by

effort

662.

Harangue

long; pompous speech; tirade

Garrulous

very talkative; wordy

663.

628.

Harbinger

a precursor, an indication, one that

foreshadows what is coming

629.

Gauche

coarse and uncouth; clumsy

664.

Harrowing

extremely distressing; terrifying

630.

Gemeinschaft

a group with similar tastes, a group

bound by similar interests and kinship

665.

Hegemony

leadership, domination, usually by a country

Geniality

cheerfulness; kindliness; sociability

666.

631.

Hegira

an escape to avoid danger or to get away

from an unpleasant location

632.

Genteel

refined, polite, aristocratic

667.

Herald

to give notice of, to hail or greet

633.

Germinate

to begin to grow (as in a seed or idea)

668.

Herbivorous

634.

Gerrymander

to divide an area into voting districts in a

way that favors a political party

relating to a herbivore; an animal that feeds

mainly on plants

669.

Heresy

635.

Gestalt

a structure, whose parts cannot stand

alone

any belief that is strongly opposed to

established beliefs, or practice

670.

Heretical

636.

Gesticulate

to gesture, especially when speaking

opposed to an established religious

orthodoxy

637.

Gibe

to make heckling, taunting remarks

671.

Hermetic

tightly sealed; magical

638.

Gird

to invest with authority, to brace

672.

Heterodox

unorthodox; not widely accepted

639.

Glib

fluent in an insincere way; offhand

673.

Heuristic

640.

Gnostic

having to do with knowledge

641.

Goad

to prod; urge on

relating to a speculative formulation guiding

the investigation or solution of a problem;
educational method in which students learn
from their own investigations

642.

Gossamer

sheer; light and delicate; like cobwebs

674.

Hiatus

643.

Gouge

to tear out; scoop out; overcharge

a break or interruption from work or any

other established routine

644.

Grandiloquence

pompous talk, fancy but meaningless

language

675.

Hidebound

excessively rigid, dry and stiff, inflexible

676.

Hieroglyphics

a system of writing in which pictorial symbols

represent meaning or sounds; writing or
symbols that are difficult to decipher; the
symbols used in advanced mathematics

677.

Hirsute

covered with hair

678.

Histrionic

relating to exaggerated emotional behavior

calculated for effect; theatrical arts or
performances

679.

Hoary

gray or white with age, ancient, stale

680.

Homage

reverence, respect, an expression of high

regard

681.

Homeopathy

a system of natural healing

645.

Grandiloquent

pompous; bombastic

646.

Gratuitous

freely given, unnecessary, uncalled for,

unwarranted

647.

Gravity

seriousness

648.

Gregarious

sociable

649.

Grig

a lively person

650.

Grimace

to make an ugly disapproving facial

expression

651.

Grouse

to complain

652.

Grovel

to beg persistently, to degrade oneself

653.

Guile

deception or trickery

682.

683.

Homeostasis

Homily

automatic maintenance by an organism of

normal temperature; chemical balance; etc.
within itself
sermon; tedious moralizing lecture;
platitude

717.

Implausible

unlikely; unbelievable

718.

Implicit

implied; understood but not stated

719.

Implode

collapse inward violently

720.

Impolitic

unwise

684.

Homogeneous

composed of identical parts; uniform in

composition

721.

Impotent

lacking power, helpless, unable to

perform sexual intercourse

685.

Homogenous

of the same kind

722.

Imprecation

curse

686.

Homologate

to confirm officially

723.

Impromptu

spontaneous, without rehearsal

687.

Hortative

giving advice or exhortation

724.

Impugn

to attack the integrity of something

688.

Hubris

excessive pride, arrogance, exaggerated

self confidence

725.

Impute

689.

Hugger

mugger a confusion, jumble, muddle

to relate to a particular cause or source;

attribute the fault to; assign as a
characteristic

Husband

to farm; manage carefully and thriftily

726.

690.

Inadvertently

carelessly; unintentionally

Husbandry

the judicious used of resources, livestock

farming

727.

691.

Incarnate

having bodily form

728.

Incendiary

combustible, flammable, burning easily

729.

Incessant

unceasing, never ending, flowing without

interruption

730.

Inchoate

imperfectly formed or formulated

731.

Incipient

beginning to be, in an early stage

732.

Incongruity

state of not fitting

733.

Inconsequential

insignificant; unimportant

734.

Incontrovertible

not disputable, not open to question

735.

Incorporate

introduce something into another thing

already in existence; combine

692.

Hyperbole

purposeful exaggeration for effect

693.

Iconoclast

attacking cherished traditions

694.

Iconoclastic

attacking cherished tradition

695.

Idiosyncrasy

peculiarity of temperament, eccentricity

696.

Idolatry

idol worship; blind or excessive devotion

697.

Igneous

produced by fire; volcanic

698.

Ignominious

disgraceful and dishonorable

699.

Ilk

type or kind

700.

Illusory

unreal, deceptive

736.

Inculcate

to teach; impress in the mind

701.

Imago

an adult stage of an insect,

737.

Inculpate

to blame; charge with a crime

702.

Imbroglio

complicated situation; an entanglement

738.

Incursion

sudden invasion

703.

Imbue

to infuse; dye; wet, moisten

739.

Indefatigable

never tired

704.

Immaterial

insignificant, unimportant

740.

Indeterminate

uncertain; indefinite

705.

Imminent

about to occur, hanging threatening over

one's head

741.

Indigence

poverty

Immutable

unchangeable

742.

706.

Indigenous

native, produced or living in a particular

area

707.

Impair

to damage; injure

743.

Indigent

poverty stricken, needy

708.

Impassive

showing no emotion

744.

Indolent

habitually lazy; idle

709.

Impecunious

poor; having no money

745.

Indubitable

unquestionable

710.

Impede

to hinder; block

746.

Ineffable

unutterable, unspeakable

711.

Imperious

commanding, lordly, arrogant

747.

Ineluctable

not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable

712.

Impermeable

impossible to penetrate

748.

Inept

clumsy, awkward, incompetent

713.

Imperturbable

not easily disturbed

749.

Inert

unable to move; sluggish

714.

Impervious

impossible to penetrate; incapable of being

affected

750.

Inertia

disinclination to action or change

Impinge

to strike; encroach

751.

715.

Infallible

incapable of making a mistake

Implacable

inflexible; incapable of being pleased

752.

716.

Infamy

an evil reputation borne of a criminal act,

a reputation for evildeeds

753.

Ingenious

original, clever, inventive

790.

Inveigh

to disapprove; protest vehemently

754.

Ingenuous

naive and trusting; lacking sophistication

791.

Inveigle

to win over by flattery or coaxing

755.

Ingratiate

to bring oneself purposely into another's

good graces

792.

Inveterate

confirmed; long-standing; deeply rooted

793.

Invidious

likely to provoke ill will; offensive

756.

Ingress

entrance

794.

Irascible

easily angered

757.

Inherent

firmly established by nature or habit

795.

Irresolute

unsure of how to act; weak

758.

Inhibit

to keep from free activity or expression, to

restrain or even forbid

796.

Irreverent

disrespectful, gently or humorously mocking

Iniquitous

evil, unjust

797.

759.

Itinerant

wandering from place to place; unsettled

Innocuous

harmless

798.

760.

Itinerary

route of a traveler's journey

Innuendo

indirect and subtle criticism, insinuation

799.

761.

Jargon

a specialized vocabulary of a group, an

obscure language

762.

Inquietude

uneasiness, restlessness

800.

Jaundiced

763.

Insensible

unconscious; unresponsive

having a yellowish discoloration of the skin;

affected by envy; resentment; or hostility

764.

Insidious

sly, treacherous, having a gradual effect

801.

Jaunt

a short pleasure trip

765.

Insinuate

to suggest; say indirectly; imply

802.

Jejune

dull, lacking interest, empty of food

766.

Insipid

lacking in flavor; dull

803.

Jeopardy

exposure to danger, peril

767.

Insouciant

indifferent; lacking concern or care

804.

Jibe

to be in agreement

768.

Insularity

narrow-mindedness; isolation

805.

Jingoism

belligerent support of one's country

769.

Insuperable

insurmountable; unconquerable

806.

Jocose

fond of joking; jocular; playful

770.

Intangible

not material

807.

Jocular

jovial, playful, humorous

771.

Interdict

to forbid; prohibit; to confront and halt the

activities; advance; or entry of

808.

Judicious

wise, showing judgment, cautious

809.

Juggernaut

huge force destroying everything in its path

772.

Interlocutor

someone taking part in a dialogue

810.

Junction

a place of meeting or joining, a linkup

773.

Interloper

trespasser; meddler in others' affairs

811.

Junta

group of people united in politic intrigue

774.

Internecine

deadly to both sides

812.

Jurisprudence

philosophy of law

775.

Interpolate

to insert; change by adding new words or

material

813.

Juxtapose

place side by side

Interregnum

interval between reigns; gap in continuity

814.

776.

Karma

a good or bad emanation of force from

someone or something

777.

Interstice

a space between things

815.

Kismet

fate

778.

Intimate

marked by close acquaintance

816.

Knell

779.

Intimation

clue, suggestion

sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or

failure

780.

Intractable

not easily managed

817.

Kudos

fame; glory; gonor

781.

Intransigence

stubbornness; refusal to compromise

818.

Labile

likely to change

782.

Intransigent

uncompromising, stubborn

819.

Lachrymose

tearful, mournful

783.

Intrepid

fearless, having fortitude and endurance

820.

Laconic

using few words

784.

Intrinsic

inherent, internal

821.

Lambaste

to thrash verbally or physically

785.

Introspective

contemplating one's own thoughts and

feelings

822.

Lambent

radiant, flickering, marked by lightness

823.

Lament

to mourn, to express regret

786.

Inundate

to cover with water; overwhelm

824.

Lapidary

relating to precious stones

787.

Inure

to harden; accustom; become used to

825.

Largess

a generous giving of gifts, philanthropy

788.

Inured

hardened; accustomed; used to

826.

Lascivious

lustful

789.

Invective

verbal abuse

827.

Lassitude

lethargy; sluggishness

828.

Latent

present but hidden; potential

865.

Lustrous

shining

829.

Laud

to praise

866.

Macabre

gruesome, producing horror

830.

Lax

careless, too relaxed

867.

Macerate

to soften by soaking, to cause to waste away

831.

Legacy

something handed down from the past , a

bequest

868.

Machiavellian

crafty; double-dealing

869.

Machination

scheming activity foe an evil purpose

832.

Legerdemain

trickery

870.

Machinations

plots or schemes

833.

Leitmotif

a dominant or recurring theme or emotion

871.

Maelstrom

whirlpool; turmoil

834.

Lethargic

inactive

872.

Magnanimity

generosity; nobility

835.

Levee

an embankment that prevents a river from

overflowing

873.

Magnanimous

noble in spirit, generous, giving

Levity

light manner or attitude

874.

836.

Malaise

a feeling of depression, uneasiness, of being

unwell

837.

Lexicon

dictionary, list of words

875.

Malapropism

838.

Liaison

connection between different groups, a close

bond

the humorous misuse of a word that sound

very much like the word intended

876.

Malevolent

ill-willed; causing evil or harm to others

877.

Malfeasance

an illegal act especially by a public official

878.

Malign

to speak evil of

879.

Malinger

to feign illness to escape duty

880.

Malingerer

one who feigns illness to escape duty

881.

Malleable

capable of being shaped by pounding;

impressionable

839.

Libation

a pouring of a liquid for a religious ceremony,

a drink

840.

Liberal

tolerant; broad-minded; generous; lavish

841.

Libertine

one without moral restraint

842.

Libidinous

lustful, lascivious

843.

Libido

sexual desire

844.

Licentious

immoral; unrestrained by society

882.

Manifest

to make evident by showing

845.

Lilliputian

extremely small

883.

Manifold

diverse, varied; comprised of many parts

846.

Limn

to draw; describe

884.

Manqu

a failure to realize one's aspirations

847.

Limpid

clear; transparent

885.

Manumit

to release from slavery

848.

Linguistic

pertaining to language

886.

Marshal

849.

Liniment

medicinal liquid used externally to ease pain

to gather together something for a purpose,

to arrange in order

850.

Lionize

to treat as a celebrity

887.

Martinet

one who adheres strictly to rules

851.

Lissome

Moving and bending with ease

888.

Martyr

852.

Listless

a lack of energy, spiritless

one who suffers for a cause, a person who

sacrifices for a principle

853.

Litany

lengthy recitation; repetitive chant

889.

Matriculate

to enroll, most particularly in college

854.

Literati

scholarly or learned persons

890.

Matrix

855.

Litigation

legal proceedings

something from which something else

originates or takes from

Log

record of a voyage; record of daily activities

891.

Maudlin

overly sentimental

856.

Lope

to run at steady, easy pace

892.

Maverick

dissenter

857.

Loquacious

talkative

893.

Mawkish

sickeningly sentimental

858.

Lucid

bright; clear; intelligible

894.

Meander

to wander aimlessly

859.

Lucre

money or profits

895.

Megalomania

delusions of power or importance

860.

Lugubrious

sorrowful, mournful

896.

Mlange

a mixture of incongruous elements

861.

Luminary

a person of great intellectual, creative or

spiritual stature

897.

Mellifluous

sweetly flowing

862.

898.

Menagerie

a variety of animals kept together

863.

Luminous

bright; brilliant; glowing

899.

Mendacious

dishonest

864.

Lupine

having the characteristics of a wolf

900.

Mendicant

beggar

901.

Mercenary

a person who serves only for money,

motivated by greed

934.

Mordant

bitingly sarcastic, incisive, caustic in manner

902.

Mercurial

emotionally unpredictable, give to rapid

changes in mood

935.

Moribund

being in a dying or decaying condition

936.

Morose

ill-humored; sullen

903.

Meretricious

gaudy; plausible but false; specious

937.

Mote

small particle, speck

904.

Meritorious

deserving reward or praise

938.

Motley

many colored; made up of many parts

905.

Mesmerize

to hypnotize

939.

Moue

a pout, usually playful, a little grimace

906.

Metamorphosis

change; transformation

940.

Muckrake

to expose political misconduct

907.

Metaphysics

a branch of philosophy that investigates

the ultimate nature of reality

941.

Mugwump

a person or politician who can't make up his

mind, an independent

908.

Meteorological

concerned with the weather

942.

Multifarious

diverse

909.

Meticulous

very careful; fastidious

943.

Mundane

worldly as opposed to spiritual; concerned

with the ordinary

910.

Mettle

courage; endurance

911.

944.

Munificent

generous

Mettlesome

full of courage and fortitude; spirited

945.

Myopia

nearsightedness, lacking foresight

912.

Miasma

a poisonous swamp vapor, a harmful

influence or atmosphere

946.

Myriad

an immense indefinite number, multitude

Microcosm

a small system having analogies to a larger

system; small world

947.

913.

Nabob

a wealthy, influential person

948.

Nadir

lowest point

914.

Mien

demeanor, the air bearing of a person

949.

Nascent

coming into existence, being born

915.

Milieu

environment, surroundings

950.

Nebulous

vague, cloudy

916.

Militate

to work against

951.

Necromancy

black magic

917.

Minatory

threatening; menacing

952.

Nefandous

unspeakable, unutterable

918.

Minion

a hanger on, a follower, an underling

953.

Nefarious

vicious, evil

919.

Minuscule

very small

954.

Negate

to cancel out; nullify

920.

Minutia

petty details

955.

Negligent

careless, remiss

921.

Mirthful

merry, gleeful

956.

Nemesis

922.

Misanthrope

one who hates humanity

a powerful river, a usually unconquerable

opponent

Miscellany

mixture of writings on various subjects

957.

923.

Neologism

new word or expression

Miscreant

villain; criminal

958.

924.

Neophyte

novice; beginner

Misogynist

one who hates women

959.

925.

Nepotism

showing favoritism to friends or family, as in

granting positions in jobs or politics

926.

Mitigate

to cause to become less harsh; severe; or

painful; alleviate

960.

Nexus

a means of connection; a connected group or

series; a center

927.

Mnemonic

adj. related to memory; assisting memory;

n. a system that develops and improves
the memory

961.

Niggardly

stingy, small in a mean way

962.

Nihilism

the belief that there are no values or morals

in the universe,

963.

Nimbus

an atmosphere that surrounds a person or

thing, a rain cloud,

964.

Nirvana

a blissful, painless state,

965.

Noisome

harmful, unwholesome, stinking, putrid

966.

Nomadic

without a permanent home, constantly

wandering

967.

Nominal

insignificant, trifling

968.

Nonplus

to bewilder, to puzzle

928.

Modicum

limited quantity

929.

Mollify

soothe

930.

Molt

to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer

periodically

931.

Monolithic

solid and uniform; constituting a single;

unified whole

932.

933.

Moot
Mordacious

of no matter or consequence, not

important
caustic, biting

969.

Nonplussed

bewildered

1003.

Opaque

difficult to see through, unclear, dark

970.

Nostalgia

sentimental longing for a past time

1004.

Opine

to express an opinion

971.

Nostrum

medicine or remedy of doubtful

effectiveness; supposed cure

1005.

Opportunist

a person who takes advantage of

opportunity with no regard for principle

972.

Novel

new, original

1006.

Opprobrious

damning, extremely critical, disgraceful

973.

Noxious

harmful, unwholesome

1007.

Opprobrium

disgrace; contempt

974.

Nuance

a subtle distinction, a slight difference in

definition

1008.

Opus

a creative work, musical composition

1009.

Ornithologist

scientist who studies birds

975.

Nugatory

trifling; invalid

1010.

Oscillate

to move back and forth

976.

Nullify

to repeal, cancel, render void

1011.

Osmosis

977.

Numismatics

coin collecting

gradual or subtle absorption, an

unconscious process of absorption

978.

Obdurate

stubborn

1012.

Ossify

979.

Obfuscate

to confuse, obscure

to become rigid, to be come set in one's

ways

980.

Obliterate

to blot out leaving no traces, to destroy

1013.

Ostentatious

981.

Obloquy

strong language of condemnation

showy; trying to attract attention;

pretentious

Obscure

unclear, vague partially hidden, hard to

understand

1014.

Oust

to eject, to banish, to expel

982.

1015.

Ouster

expulsion, ejection

983.

Obsequious

overly submissive

1016.

Overture

an opening move, a preliminary offer

984.

Obsequy

funeral ceremony (often used in the

plural; obsequies)

1017.

Overweening

presumptuous; arrogant; overbearing

1018.

Pace

with deference to

985.

Obstreperous

stubbornly defiant, angry and clamorous

1019.

Pachyderm

a thick skinned animal

986.

Obviate

to make unnecessary; to anticipate and

prevent

1020.

Paean

song of joy or triumph; a fervent expression

of joy

987.

Occlude

to shut; block

1021.

Palatable

pleasant to the taste, agreeable in feeling

988.

Occult

relating to practices connected with

supernatural phenomena

1022.

Paleontology

study of past geological eras through fossil

remains

989.

Odious

hateful, evil, vile

1023.

Palliate

990.

Odyssey

a long adventurous voyage; a quest

to hide the seriousness of something with

excuses or apologies,

991.

Oeuvre

a work of art, the sum of an artist's work

1024.

Pallid

lacking color or liveliness

992.

Offal

the waste parts of a product (often as in a

butchered animal), refuse, rubbish

1025.

Paltry

a tiny or insignificant amount, meager,

scant

993.

Officious

too helpful; meddlesome

1026.

Panacea

a remedy that cures everything

994.

Ogle

to stare at in a disrespectful way

1027.

Panegyric

elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise

995.

Olfactory

concerning the sense of smell

1028.

Panoply

impressive array

996.

Oligarchy

form of government in which power

belongs to only a few leaders

1029.

Paradigm

a model or example

1030.

Paragon

model of excellence or perfection

1031.

Paralogism

illogical reasoning of which the reason is not

aware

997.

Omnipotent

having unlimited power

998.

Omniscient

all knowing, infinite awareness

999.

Omnivorous

eating or absorbing everything, feeding

on both animal and vegetable substances

1032.

Pariah

an outcast

1033.

Parley

discussion, usually between enemies

1000.

Onerous

burdensome

1034.

Parochial

of limited scope or outlook, provincial

1001.

Onomatopoeia

formation or use of words that imitate

sounds of the actions they refer to

1035.

Paroxysm

a fit

1036.

Parsimonious

stingy

1002.

Onus

burden, blame, obligation

1037.

Parsimony

stinginess

1071.

Perquisite

1038.

Partisan

one-sided; committed to a party; group. or

cause; prejudiced

a privilege or perk that goes along with a

job

1072.

Perspicacious

shrewd, astute, showing strong powers of

discernment

1073.

Pertinacious

persistent, stubborn

1074.

Perturb

to disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious;

cause a body to deviate from its regular
orbit

1039.

Partition

a dividing wall, a division

1040.

Parvenu

an upstart who has acquired wealth and

class but hasn'

1041.

Pastiche

a piece that imitates or is made up from

pieces of other works,

1042.

Pathological

departing from normal condition

1075.

Peruse

to study, to read over leisurely

1043.

Pathos

a quality that causes a feeling of pity or

sorrow

1076.

Pervasive

spread throughout every part

1077.

Petulant

rude; peevish

1078.

Phalanx

massed group of soldiers, people, or things

1079.

Phantasm

an apparition, phantom

1080.

Philanthropy

good will towards all people, love of

mankind, and act of generosity

1081.

Philistine

narrow-minded person, someone lacking

appreciation for art or culture

1044.

Patina

surface discoloration caused by age and

oxidation,

1045.

Patois

a regional dialect; nonstandard speech;

jargon

1046.

Paucity

scarcity

1047.

Peccadillo

minor sin or offense

1048.

Peculation

theft of money or goods

1082.

Phlegmatic

calm in temperament; sluggish

1049.

Pedant

uninspired; boring academic

1083.

Phoenix

1050.

Pedantic

showing off learning

1051.

Pellucid

transparent; translucent; easily understood

mythical; immortal bird that lives for 500

years; burns itself to death; and rises from
the ashes; anything that is restored after
suffering great destruction

1052.

Penchant

inclination

1084.

Physiognomy

facial features

1053.

Penultimate

next to last

1085.

Piety

devoutness

1054.

Penumbra

partial shadow

1086.

Pious

1055.

Penurty

extreme poverty

reverent, devout, dutiful, may at times be

marked by hypocrisy

1056.

Penury

extreme poverty

1087.

Piquant

1057.

Perambulate

walk about

appealingly stimulating; pleasantly

pungent; attrative

Percipience

keen perception

1088.

1058.

Pique

1059.

Perdition

eternal damnation

n. fleeting feeling of hurt pride; v. to

provoke or arouse

1089.

Peregrination

a wandering from place to place

Pivotal

1060.

crucial, something around which things

turn

1061.

Peremptory

imperative; leaving no choice

1090.

Placate

to lessen another's anger; to pacify

1062.

Perennial

present throughout the years; persistent

1091.

Placebo

a fake medication

1063.

Perfidious

faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy

1092.

Placid

calm

1064.

Perfunctory

superficial; not thorough; performed really

as a duty

1093.

Plaintive

melancholy; mournful

1094.

Perigee

point in an orbit that is closest to the earth

Plait

to braid

1065.

1095.

Periphrastic

using circumlocution

Plangent

resounding; plaintive

1066.

1096.

Permeable

penetrable

Plasticity

1067.

condition of being able to be shaped or

formed; pliability

1068.

Permeate

to spread or seep through, to penetrate, to

pervade

1097.

Platitude

stale; overused expression

1098.

Pernicious

very harmful

Platonic

1069.

spiritual; without sensual desire; or

theoretical

1070.

Perorate

to make a long, formal speech, to sum up a

speech

1099.

Plaudit

applause

1100.

Plausible

believable

1101.

Plebeian

common, vulgar, low class

1136.

Presumptuous

rude; improperly bold

1102.

Plenary

complete, fully attended, not deficient in any

way

1137.

Pretentious

showy, self important, make unjustifiable

claims to excellence

1103.

Plethora

excess; overabundance

1138.

Preternatural

1104.

Plumb

to determine the depth; to examine deeply

beyond the normal course of nature;

supernatural

1105.

Plume

to congratulate oneself in a self-satisfied way

1139.

Prevaricate

to quibble; evade the truth

1106.

Plummet

to fall; plunge

1140.

Primordial

original; existing from the beginning

1107.

Pluralism

a society in which distinct group function

together, but retain their identities

1141.

Pristine

untouched; uncorrupted

1142.

Privation

lack of comforts, poverty, a state of being

deprived

1108.

Plutocracy

society ruled by the wealthy

1109.

Pluvial

rainy

1143.

Probity

honesty; high-mindedness

1110.

Pneumatic

relating to air; worked by compressed air

1144.

Problematic

posing a problem; doubtful; unsettled

1111.

Poignant

emotionally moving

1145.

Prodigal

wasteful; extravagant; lavish

1112.

Polemic

a powerful argument to defend a thesis

1146.

Profligate

corrupt, degenerate, wildly extravagant

1113.

Poltroon

a coward

1147.

Profound

deep; not superficial

1114.

Polyglot

speaker of many languages

1148.

Progenitor

1115.

Porous

full of holes; permeable to liquids

originator, forefather, ancestor in a direct

line

Portent

an omen, a sign of something coming, a

foreshadowing

1149.

Prognosticate

to predict

1116.

1150.

Prohibitive

Poseur

person who affects an attitude or identity to

impress others

so high as to prevent the purchase or use

of; preventing; forbidding

1151.

Proliferate

to increase rapidly

1118.

Posit

to put in position; to suggest an idea

1152.

Prolific

1119.

Pragmatic

practical

marked by abundant production or

offspring

Prate

to talk idly; chatter

1153.

Prolix

tedious; wordy

1120.

Prattle

meaningless; foolish talk

1154.

Promulgate

to make known publicly

1121.

Preamble

preliminary statement

1155.

Propensity

inclination; tendency

1122.

Precarious

uncertain

1156.

Propinquity

nearness in place or time, kinship

1123.

Precept

principle; law

1157.

Propitiate

to win over; appease

1124.

Precipitate

v. to cause to happen; throw down from a

height; adj. rash; hasty sudden

1158.

Propitious

favorable, advantageous

1125.

1159.

Propriety

correct conduct; fitness

1126.

Preclude

to make impossible, to shut out, to bar

1160.

Prosaic

dull, unimaginative, lacking excitement

1127.

Precursor

forerunner; predecessor

1161.

Proscenium

1128.

Predilection

preference, liking

the part of the stage in front of the curtain,

the wall frame for the stage

Preempt

to supersede; appropriate for oneself

1162.

Proscribe

1129.

v. to condemn; forbid outlaw; adj. relating

to prohibition

1130.

Pregnant

highly significant, overflowing, rich in

significance

1163.

Proselytize

to seek to convert someone to a religion,

cause or political position

1131.

Prehensile

capable of grasping

1164.

Prostrate

1132.

Premonition

forewarning; presentiment

lying face downward, lying flat on the

ground

1133.

Prepossess

to cause to be preoccupied, to influence,

positively, in advance

1165.

Protagonist

main character in a play or story, hero

1166.

Protean

readily assuming different shapes or

characters

1167.

Provenance

origin, source, proof of posting ownership

1168.

Provident

providing for future needs; frugal

1117.

1134.

Presage

to foretell; indicate in advance

1135.

Prescient

having foresight

1169.

Provincial

limited in outlook, narrow in ideas

1170.

Prowess

exceptional skill or strength, military valor

1171.

Prudent

careful, cautious

1172.

Prurient

lascivious, have lustful thoughts or desires

1173.

Puerile

childish, immature, silly

1174.

Puissance

power, strength

1175.

Puissant

powerful

1176.

Pulchritude

physical beauty

1177.

Punctilious

careful in observing rules of behavior or

ceremony

1178.

Pundit

1179.

Pungent

1180.

Purport

1202.

Raffish

jaunty, sporty, disreputable, vulgar,

characterized by a careless
unconventionality

1203.

Rail

to scold with bitter or abusive language

1204.

Raillery

lighthearted jesting

1205.

Raiment

clothing

1206.

Ramification

implication; outgrowth; consequence

1207.

Rancor

bitter hatred

1208.

Rapacious

greedy; predatory

1209.

Rapprochement

a re establishment of good relations

an authority or critic

1210.

Rarefied

refined

strong or sharp in smell or taste;

penetrating; caustic; to the point

1211.

Rationale

fundamental reason

1212.

Raucous

v. to profess; suppose; claim; n. meaning

intended or implied

boisterous, harsh sounding, noisy and

disorderly

1213.

Raze

to tear down, demolish

1181.

Pusillanimous

cowardly

1214.

Rebuff

to snub, to refuse in a blunt or rude way

1182.

Putrefy

to rot

1215.

Rebuke

to criticize or reprimand sharply

1183.

Qua

in the capacity of

1216.

Rebus

1184.

Quagmire

marsh; difficult situation

puzzle in which pictures or symbols

represent words

1185.

Quail

to cower; lose heart

1217.

Recalcitrant

resisting authority or control

1186.

Quaint

pleasantly old fashioned, picturesque

1218.

Recant

to retract a statement or opinion

1187.

Qualified

limited; restricted

1219.

Recidivism

the act of repeating an offense

1188.

Qualm

sudden feeling of faintness or nausea;

uneasy feeling about the rightness of
actions

1220.

Reciprocal

mutual, shared, interchangeable

1221.

Recluse

person who lives in seclusion and often

in solitude

1189.

Quell

to put an end to, to squelch, to calm

1222.

Recondite

abstruse; profound

1190.

Querulous

inclined to complain, irritable

1223.

Recreant

disloyal; cowardly

1191.

Query

to question

1224.

Redoubtable

1192.

Quibble

to argue over insignificant and irrelevant

details

formidable; arousing fear; worthy of

respect

1225.

Redress

relief from wrong or injury

1193.

Quiddity

the real nature of a thing, the essence , a

hairsplitting distinction

1226.

Reductionistic

attempting to explain complex

phenomena by simple principles

1194.

Quiescence

state of rest or inactivity

1227.

Refract

deflect light or sound

1195.

Quiescent

inactive; still

1228.

Refractory

1196.

Quintessential

the most perfect example of

stubborn; unmanageable; resisting

ordinary methods of treatment

1197.

Quisling

a traitor who helps an enemy who

occupies his country

1229.

Refulgent

brightly shining; resplendent

1230.

Refute

to contradict; disapprove

1198.

Quixotic

foolishly impractical and idealistic

1231.

Regale

entertain

1199.

Quorum

number of members necessary to conduct

a meeting

1232.

Rejoinder

response

1233.

Relegate

to consign to an inferior position

1200.

Quotidian

occurring every day, commonplace

1234.

Relic

1201.

Raconteur

witty; skillful storyteller

an object associated with a saint,

something that remains from the past

1235.

Remonstrate

to object or protest

1236.

Remuneration

payment, recompense

1272.

Ruminate

to muse upon

1237.

Renege

to go back on one's word

1273.

Ruse

trick; crafty stratagem; subterfuge

1238.

Renitent

resisting pressure, obstinate

1274.

Rustic

primitive, rural, lacking city comforts

1239.

Reparation

amends; compensation

1275.

Saccharine

excessively sweet

1240.

Repartee

a quick, witty reply, spirited conversation

1276.

Sacrosanct

extremely sacred; beyond criticism

1241.

Repast

meal

1277.

Sagacious

wise shrewd

1242.

Repine

fret; complain

1278.

Sage

wise

1243.

Replenish

to refill, to supply once more

1279.

Salacious

lascivious; lustful

1244.

Reprehensible

deserving of blame

1280.

Sallow

a sickly, greenish yellow tone

1245.

Reprise

repetition; especially of a piece of music

1281.

Sally

1246.

Reproach

to find fault with; blame

a rushing attack, witty repartee, a brief

excursion

1247.

Reprobate

morally unprincipled person

1282.

Salubrious

healthful

1248.

Reprove

to gently criticize

1283.

Salutary

1249.

Repudiate

to reject as having no authority

expecting an improvement; favorable to

health

Requite

to return or repay

1284.

Sanction

1250.

v. to approve; ratify; permit; n. approval;

ratification; permission; penalize

1251.

Rescind

to cancel

1285.

Sangfroid

1252.

Resilient

an ability to recover from, or adjust easily

extraordinary composure in the face of

danger

1253.

Resolution

determination; resolve

1286.

Sanguine

ruddy; cheerfully optimistic

1254.

Resolve

determination; firmness of purpose

1287.

Sapient

wise

1255.

Respite

an interval of rest, a temporary delay

1288.

Saporous

tasty, flavorsome

1256.

Resplendent

brilliant, gloriously bright

1289.

Sardonic

cynical; scornfully mocking

1257.

Restive

impatient, uneasy, restless

1290.

Sartorial

pertaining to tailors

1258.

Reticent

not speaking freely; reserved; reluctant

1291.

Satiate

to satisfy

1259.

Retinue

a group of attendants to an elevated

person

1292.

Satrap

a subordinate ruler

1293.

Saturate

to soak thoroughly; imbue throughout

1260.

Revelry

boisterous festivity

1294.

Saturnine

gloomy

1261.

Reverent

expressing deep respect; worshipful

1295.

Satyr

1262.

Ribald

vulgar or indecent language

1263.

Rife

widespread, abounding, occurring

frequently

a creature that is half-man; half-beast with the

horns and legs of a goat; it is a follower of
dionysos; a lecher

1296.

Savant

a scholar, a very knowledgeable person

1264.

Riposte

retaliatory action or retort

1297.

Savor

to enjoy; have a distinctive flavor or smell

1265.

Robust

strong and healthy, vigorous

1298.

Scabbard

sheath for sword or dagger

1266.

Rococo

excessively ornate; highly decorated; style

of architecture in eighteenth century
europe

1299.

Scanty

minimal, hardly sufficient

1300.

Schematic

relating to or in the form of an outline or

diagram

1301.

Scintilla

very small amount

1267.

Rotund

round in shape; fat

1268.

Rou

a lecherous man, a rake, a person devoted

to sensual pleasures

1302.

Scintillate

to sparkle, to gleam, to be animated or brilliant

Rout

to put to flight, to scatter, to cause a huge

defeat

1303.

Sciolism

superficial knowledge

1269.

1304.

Scofflaw

one who is continually breaking the law

Rubric

title or heading; category; established

mode of procedure or conduct; protocol

1305.

Scotch

to put an end to

1306.

Scurrilous

vulgar, low, indecent

1270.

1271.

Rue

to regret

1307.

Secrete

produce and release substance into an

organism

1341.

Sobriety

seriousness

1308.

Sedition

behavior prompting rebellion

1342.

Sodden

thoroughly soaked; saturated

1309.

1343.

Sedulous

Sojourn

visit, stay

diligent

1310.

1344.

Solecism

grammatical mistake

Seismic

relating to earthquakes; earthshaking

1345.

Solicious

worried, concerned

1311.

Senescence

beginning of old age

1346.

Solicitous

concerned; attentive; eager

1312.

Senescent

aging, growing old

1347.

Soliloquy

1313.

Sensual

relating to the senses; gratifying the physical

senses; especially sexual appetites

literary or dramatic speech by one

character; not addressed to others

1348.

Solipsism

belief that the self is the only reality

1314.

Sensuous

relating to the senses; operating through the

senses

1349.

Solvent

able to meet financial obligation

Sententious

preachy, pompous, using wise sayings

excessively

1350.

1315.

Somatic

relating to or affecting the body; corporeal

1351.

Somnambulist

sleepwalker

1316.

Sentient

aware; conscious; able to perceive

1352.

Somnolent

drowsy, sleepy

1317.

Sepulchral

typical of a place of burial

1353.

Sonorous

producing a full, rich sound

1318.

Sequacious

slavish, obsequious, following in logical

sequence

1354.

Sophist

person good at arguing deviously

1355.

Soporific

sleep producing

1319.

Seraphic

angelic, pure, sublime

1356.

Sordid

filthy; contemptible and corrupt

1320.

Serried

crowded together

1357.

Spate

a sudden outburst

1321.

Serviette

a table napkin

1358.

Specious

1322.

Servile

submissive; obedient

seeming to be logical and sound; but not

really so

1323.

Sextant

navigation tool that determines latitude and

longitude

1359.

Spectrum

1324.

Shantung

a heavy nubby fabric, made of wild silk

band of colors produced when sunlight

passes through a prism; a broad range of
related ideas or objects

Shard

a piece of broken glass or pottery

1360.

1325.

Spelunker

a cave explorer

Shibboleth

a distinctive word or behavior that typifies a

group, a slogan

1361.

1326.

Spendthrift

n. person who spends money recklessly;

adj. wasteful and extravagant

Shirk

to avoid a task due to laziness or fear

1362.

1327.

Sporadic

irregular

Sidereal

relating to the stars

1363.

1328.

Sportive

frolicsome, playful

Simian

apelike; relating to apes

1364.

1329.

Spurious

false, fake, not genuine

Simile

comparison of one thing with another using

"like" or "as"

1365.

1330.

Squalid

filthy; morally repulsive

1366.

Squalor

filthy; wretched condition

1331.

Simper

to smile foolishly

1367.

Staccato

marked by abrupt; clear-cut sounds

1332.

Sinecure

well-paying job or office that requires little or

no work

1368.

Stagnate

to lie inactive, to stay in one place

1369.

Staid

self-restrained, strait-laced

1370.

Stalwart

unwavering, robust, sturdily built

1371.

Stanch

to stop or check the flow of

1372.

Static

stationary, not changing or moving

1373.

Steadfast

loyal, faithful

1374.

Stentorian

extremely loud

1375.

Stigma

mark of disgrace or inferiority

1376.

Stint

v. to be sparing; n. a period of time spent

doing something

1333.

Sine qua
non

something that is an essential condition of

1334.

Singular

unique; extraordinary; odd

1335.

Sinuous

winding; intricate; complex

1336.

Skeptic

one who doubts

1337.

Slake

to quench or moderate

1338.

Slatternly

squalid, a slovenly woman

1339.

Sloth

sluggish, laziness, indolence

1340.

Slovenly

untidy, messy

1377.

Stipulate

to specify as an essential condition

1415.

Surfeit

abundance, excessive amount

1378.

Stoic

showing indifference to pain, apathetic

1416.

Surly

rude and bad-tempered

1379.

Stolid

having or showing little emotion

1417.

Surmise

abundance, excessive amount

1380.

Stratagem

a trick or deceptive scheme

1418.

Surreptitious

sneaky, secret

1381.

Stratified

arranged in layers

1419.

Sybarite

person devoted to pleasure and luxury

1382.

Striate

striped, grooved

1420.

Sycophant

a flatterer, a self serving yes man

1383.

Striated

marked with thin; narrow grooves or

channels

1421.

Syllogism

1384.

Stricture

something that restrains; negative criticism

a form of deductive reasoning that has a

major premise; a minor premise; and a
conclusion

1385.

Strident

loud; harsh; unpleasantly noisy

1422.

Sylvan

related to the woods or forest

1386.

Stringent

imposing severe, rigorous standards

1423.

Syncopation

temporary irregularity in musical rhythm

1387.

Strut

to swagger; display to impress others

1424.

Synergy

1388.

Stultify

to impair or reduce to uselessness

the combined force of two distinct

elements that is more powerful then each
alone

1389.

Stupefy

to dull the senses of; stun; astonish

1425.

Table

to remove from consideration

1390.

Sturm and
drang

turmoil

1426.

Tableau

vivid description, striking incident or

scene

1391.

Stygian

dark and gloomy; hellish

1427.

Tacit

silently understood; implied

1392.

Stymie

to get in the way of, to hinder, to block

1428.

Talisman

1393.

Subpoena

notice ordering someone to appear in court

charm to bring good luck and avert

misfortune

1394.

Subside

to settle down; grow quiet

1429.

Tangential

peripheral; digressing

1395.

Substantiate

to support with proof or evidence

1430.

Tantamount

1396.

Substantive

essential; pertaining to the substance

equivalent in value or significance;

amounting to

Subsume

to include; incorporate

1431.

1397.

Tatterdemalion

a ragged person, always in tatters

Subterfuge

trick or tactic used to avoid something

1432.

1398.

Tautology

unnecessary repetition

Subversive

intended to undermine or overthrow;

especially an established government

1433.

1399.

Taxonomy

1400.

Succinct

concise, clearly expressed with a few words

science of classification; in biology; the

process of classifying organsims in
categories

1434.

Succor

relief; help in time of distress or want

Tedious

boring, tiresome

1401.

1435.

Suffrage

the right to vote

Teem

1402.

to swarm, to be inundated, to become full

to overflowing

1403.

Sui generis

unique, of its own kind, in a class by itself

1436.

Teleology

1404.

Sully

to soil, stain, tarnish; taint

the study of design or purpose in natural

phenomena

1405.

Sundry

various

1437.

Temerarious

recklessly daring, rash

1406.

Supercilious

arrogant, overbearing, condescending

1438.

Temerity

boldness, rashness, audacity

1407.

Supersede

to replace; especially to displace as inferior or

antiquated

1439.

Temperance

habitual moderation, the avoidance of

excess

1408.

Supervene

to follow immediately after, to ensue

1440.

Temporal

relating to time; chronological

1409.

Supine

lying on the back; marked by lethargy

1441.

Temporize

1410.

Supplant

to replace; substitute

to compromise, to draw something out in

order to gain time

Suppliant

beseeching

1442.

1411.

Tenable

defensible, reasonable

Supplicant

one who asks humbly and earnestly

1443.

1412.

Tendentious

advancing a point of view, biased

Supposition

the act of assuming to be true or real

1444.

1413.

Tenebrous

dark and gloomy

Surcease

cessation

1445.

1414.

Tenet

belief; doctrine

1446.

Tentative

uncertain, temporary not fully worked out

1479.

Treatise

article treating a subject systematically and

thoroughly

1447.

Tenuous

weak; insubstantial

1448.

Tepid

lukewarm, unenthusiastic, half hearted

1480.

Tremulous

trembling; quivering; frugal; timid

1449.

Termagant

a quarrelsome woman, a shrew

1481.

Trenchant

acute, sharp, incisive; forceful, effective

1450.

Terrestrial

earthly; commonplace

1482.

Trepidation

fear and anxiety

1451.

Terse

concise, brief, free of extra word

1483.

Trice

an moment, a short period of time

1452.

Theocracy

government by priests representing a god

1484.

Trilemma

1453.

Theology

the study of god or religion

a problem for which there are three possible

courses of action, and none perfect

Thespian

an actor or actress

1485.

Trite

unoriginal, overused, clichd, commonplace

1454.

Threnody

a sad poem or song

1486.

Trivial

unimportant, insignificant

1455.

Thwart

to prevent from being accomplished, to

frustrate, to hinder

1487.

Truculence

aggressiveness; ferocity

1456.

1488.

Truculent

hostile, aggressive, savage

Timbre

the characteristic quality of sound

produced by a particular instrument or
voice; tone color

1489.

Tryst

agreement between lovers to meet;

rendezvous

1490.

Tumid

swollen; distended

1457.

1458.

Timorous

fearful, easily frightened

1491.

Tumult

noisy commotion, uproar

1459.

Tirade

long; violent speech; verbal assault

1492.

Turbid

muddy; opaque; in a state of great confusion

1460.

Titular

in title only

1493.

Turgid

swollen; bloated; pompous

1461.

Toady

flatterer; hanger-on; yes-man

1494.

Turpitude

shameful wickedness, evil, depravity

1462.

Tome

book; usually large and academic

1495.

Tutelary

serving as a guardian or protector

1463.

Tonic

a refreshing drink, something that

invigorates

1496.

Tyro

beginner, novice

1497.

Ukase

an authoritative decree, official edict

1464.

Tony

fashionable, trendy, aristocratic

1498.

Umbrage

displeasure or resentment, shade

1465.

Toothsome

tasty, sexually attractive, luscious

1499.

Uncanny

mysterious; strange

1466.

Tor

a high rock, a high rocky hill, or pile of rocks

1500.

Unctuous

greasy, oily; smug and falsely earnest

1467.

Torpor

lethargy; dormancy; sluggishness

1501.

Undermine

1468.

Torque

a turning or twisting force; the moment of a

force; the measure of a force's tendency to
produce twisting or turning and rotation
around an axis

to weaken the support of, to injure in a slow

or sneaky way

1502.

Undulate

to move smoothly in a wavelike manner

1503.

Undulating

moving in waves

1504.

Unfeigned

not false; not made up; genuine

1505.

Unfettered

free, unrestrained

1469.

Tortuous

having many twists and turns; highly

complex

1470.

Tout

to promote or praise energetically

1506.

Unilateral

on one side alone

1471.

Tractable

obedient; yielding

1507.

Unsullied

clean

1472.

Trammel

to impede or hamper

1508.

Untenable

indefensible

1473.

Transfix

to cause to stand motionless with awe or

other intense emotion

1509.

Untoward

not favorable; troublesome; adverse; unruly

1510.

Transgression

act of trespassing or violating a law or rule

Urbane

suave, sophisticated, polished

1474.

1511.

Transient

temporary; short-lived; fleeting

Usufruct

1475.

the right to use someone else's property as

long as its not damaged in the process

1476.

Translucent

partially transparent

1512.

Usurp

to size wrongfully

1477.

Travail

n. work; especially arduous work;

tribulation; anguish; v. to work strenuously

1513.

Usury

practice of lending money at exorbitant rates

1514.

Travesty

parody; exaggerated imitation; caricature

Vacillate

to waver; oscillate

1478.

1515.

Vacuous

empty; void; lacking intelligence; purposeless

1516.

Vagary

whim, an unpredictable action

1551.

Vociferous

loud, vocal, and noisy

1517.

Vainglorious

boastful, pompous

1552.

Vogue

prevailing fashion or practice

1518.

Valedictory

pertaining to a farewell

1553.

Volatile

tending to vary frequently; fickle

1519.

Vapid

tasteless; dull

1554.

Voluble

speaking much and easily, talkative; glib

1520.

Variegated

varied; marked with different colors

1555.

Vortex

whirlpool; whirlwind; center of turbulence

1521.

Vaunt

to boast; brag

1556.

Votary

1522.

Vehement

intense, forceful marked by strong feeling

a person bound by vows to live a life of

religious service

1523.

Venal

bribable; mercenary; corruptible

1557.

Wanton

1524.

Vendetta

prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility

immoral, lewd, deliberate maliciousness,

having no regards for others

Veneer

faade, coating, outward appearance

1558.

Warranted

1525.

adj. justified; v. to attest to the accuracy or

quality; justify; grant authorization

1526.

Venerate

v. to adore; honor; respect; adj. respected

because of age; character; or position

1559.

Wary

careful; cautious

Veracious

truthful; accurate

1560.

Waspish

easily irritated

1527.

Verbose

wordy

1561.

Wastrel

someone who wastes, a spendthrift

1528.

Verdant

covered with green plants, leafy

1562.

Waver

1529.

to be indecisive or inconstant, to fluctuate in

opinion

1530.

Vernal

occurring in spring, springlike youthful

1563.

Welter

to wallow or roll; toss about; be in turmoil

1531.

Vertigo

dizziness

1564.

Whimsical

fanciful; unpredictable

1532.

Vestige

the remains of something that no longer

exists

1565.

Whimsy

playful or fanciful idea

Vexation

irritation; annoyance; confusion; puzzlement

1566.

Winnow

1533.

to blow of, or away, to separate the good from

the bad

1534.

Viable

practicable; capable of developing

1567.

Winsome

charming, sweetly engaging

1535.

Vicarious

acting for another, sharing in an experience

of another through the imagination

1568.

Wistful

vaguely longing; sadly thoughtful

Vie

to complete, to contest

1569.

Wizened

shriveled, withered

1536.

Vilify

to defame, to slander, to blacken the

character of

1570.

Wont

custom, habit

1537.

1571.

Wraith

a specter, ghost of a dead person

1538.

Vindictive

spiteful; vengeful; unforgiving

1572.

Xenophobia

fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers

1539.

Virile

manly, having qualities of an adult male

1573.

Zaftig

full figured, plump

1540.

Virtuoso

someone with masterly skills; expert

musician

1574.

Zealot

one who is fanatically devoted to a cause

1575.

Zealotry

fanaticism

1541.

Virulent

extremely poisonous, malignant, full of hate

1576.

Zeitgeist

the mood or spirit of the times

1542.

Visage

countenance; appearance; aspect

1577.

Zenith

the highest point

1543.

Viscosity

a thick or sticky consistency of a liquid

1578.

Zephyr

a gentle breeze

1544.

Viscous

thick; syrupy; and sticky

1579.

Ziggurat

a terrace

1545.

Vitiate

to impair the quality of; corrupt morally;

make inoperative

1546.

Vitriolic

corrosive, biting, bitterly scathing

1547.

Vituperate

to abuse verbally

1548.

Vituperative

using or containing harsh; abusive censure

1549.

Vivacious

lively, spirited

1550.

Vivisection

dissection; surgery; or painful experiments

performed on a living animal for the
purpose of scientific research