stricture
critical comments; severe and adverse criticismHis strictures on the author's style are prejudiced and unwarranted.
disband
dissolve; disperseThe chess club disbanded after its disastrous initial season.
elixir
cure-all; something invigoratingThe news of her chance to go abroad acted on her like an elixir.
humid
dampShe could not stand the humid climate and moved to a drier area.
audacious
daring; boldAudiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, death-defying leap tofreedom and escaped Darth Vader's troops.
obscure
darken; make unclearAt times he seemed purposely to obscure his meaning, preferring mystery to clarity.
obituary
dealth noticeI first learned of her death when I read the obituary in the newspaper.
illusive
deceivingThis is only a mirage; let us not be fooled by its illusive effect.
artifice
deception; trickeryThe Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than militarymight.
delusive
deceptive; raising vain hopesDo not raise your hopes on the basis of his delusive promises.
pious
devoutThe pious parents gave their children a religious upbringing.
conclusive
decisive; ending all debateWhen the stolen books turned up in John's locker, we finally had conclusive evidence of the identity of themysterious thief.
avow
declare openlyI must avow that I am innocent.
ordinance
decreePassing a red light is a violation of a city ordinance.
consecrate
dedicate; sanctifyWe shall consecrate our lives to this noble purpose.
piety
devoutness; reverence for GodLiving her life in prayer and good works, Mother Teresa exemplifies the true sprit of piety.
mulct
defraud a person of somethingThe lawyer was accused of trying to mulct the boy of his legacy.
demean
degrade; humiliateHe felt that he would demean himself if he replied to the scurrilous letter.
tarry
delay; dawdleWe can't tarry if we want to get to the airport on time.
sleight
dexterityThe magician amazed the audience with his sleight of hand.
malicious
dictated by hatred or spiteThe malicious neighbor spread the gossip.
disparity
difference; condition of inequalityThe disparity in their ages made no difference at all.
diverse
differing in some characteristics; variousThere are diverse ways of approaching this problem.
consign
deliver officially; entrust; set apartThe court consigned the child to her paternal grandmother's care.
disavowal
denial; disclaimingHis disavowal of his part in the conspiracy was not believed by the jury.
charisma
divine gift; great popular charm or appealPolitical commentators have deplored the importance of a candidate's charisma in these days of televisioncampaigning.
tractable
docileYou will find the children in this school very tractable and willing to learn.
podiatrist
doctor who treats ailments of the feetHe consulted a podiatrist about his fallen arches.
asceticism
doctrine of self-denialWe find asceticism practiced in many monastries.
tenet
doctrine; dogmaThe agnostic did not accept the tenets of their faith.
homespun
domestic; made at homehomespun wit, like homespun cloth, was often coarse and plain.
panoramic
denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive viewOn a clear day, from the top of the World Trade Center you can get a panoramic view of New York Cityand neighboring stretches of New Jersey and Long Island.
inveigh
denounce; utter censure or invective He inveighed against the demagoguery of the previous speaker and urged that the audience reject hisphilosophy as dangerous.
gainsay
denyShe was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report.
renege
deny; go back onHe reneged on paying off his debt.
exodus
departureThe exodus from the hot and stuffy city was particularly noticeable on Friday evenings.
posterity
descendants; future generationsWe hope to leave a better world to posterity.
lineage
descent; ancestryHe traced his lineage back to Mayflower days.
forsake
desert; abandon; renounceNo one expected Foster to forsake his wife and children and run off with another woman.
scurvy
despicable; contemptiblePeter Pan sneered at Captain Hook and his scurvy crew.
bent
determined; natural talent or inclinationbent on advancing in the business world, the secretary heroine of Working Girl had a true bent for highfinance.
dogged
determined;stubbornLes Miserables tells of Inspector Javert's long, dogged pursuit of the criminal Jean Valjean.
loathe
detestWe loathed the wicked villain.
swerve
deviate; turn aside sharplyThe car swerved wildly as the driver struggled to regain control of the wheel.
acclimate
adjust to climate or environmentOne of the difficulties of our present air age is the need of travellers to acclimate themselves to their newand often strange environments.
delve
dig; investigatedelving into old books and manuscripts is part of a researcher's job.
discursive
digressing; ramblingThey were annoyed and bored by her discursive remarks.
incapacitate
disableDuring the winter, many people were incapacitated by respiratory ailments.
dissent
disagreeIn a landmark Supreme Court decision, Justice Marshall dissented from the majority opinion.
disapprobation
disapproval; condemnationThe conservative father viewed his daughter's radical boyfriend with disapprobation.
enfranchise
admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote)Although blacks were enfranchised shortly after the Civil War, women did not receive the right to voteuntil 1920.
concede
admit; hieldDespite all the evidence Monica had assembled, Mark refused to concede that she was right.
rebate
discountWe offer a rebate of ten percent to those who pay cash.
indignation
anger ar an injusticeHe felt indignation at the ill-treatment of the helpless animals.
symmetry
arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruityThe addition of a second tower will give this edifice the symmetry that it now lacks.
apprehend
arrest ( a criminal); dread; perceiveThe police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long.
incendiary
arsonistThe fire spread in such an unusual manner that the fire department chiefs were certain that it had been setby an incendiary.
rhetoric
art of effective communication; insincere or grandiloquent languageAll writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric.
dictum
arthoritative and weighty statementShe repeated the statement as though it were the dictum of the most expert worker in the group.
imposture
assuming a false identity; masqueradeShe was imprisoned for her imposture of a doctor.
premise
assumption; postulateBecause Jack had based his argument upon a faulty premise, his opponent cheerfully pointed out the holesin his logic.
iconoclastic
attacking cherished traditionsGeorge Bernard Shaw's iconoclastic plays often startled more conventional people.
offensive
attacking; insulting; distastefulGetting into street brawls is no minor offense for professional boxers, who are required by law to restricttheir offensive impulses to the ring.
relegate
banish; consign to inferior positionIf we relegate these experts to minor posts because of their political persuasions, we shall lose theirvaluable services.
insolvent
bankrupt; lacking money to payWhen rumors that he was insolvent reached his creditors, they began to press him for payment of themoney due them.
fundamental
basic; primary; essential The committee discussed all sorts of side issues without ever getting down to addressing the fundamentalproblem.
disparate
basically different; unrelatedIt is difficult, if not impossible, to organize these disparate elements into a coherent whole.
seethe
be disturbed; boilThe nation was seething with discontent as the nobleman continued their arrogant ways.
betroth
become engaged to marryThe announcement that they had become betrothed surprised their friends who had not suspected anyromance.
virus
disease communicatorThe doctors are looking for a specific medicine to control this virus.
condescend
bestow courtesies with a superior airThe king condescended to grant an audience to the friends of the condemned man.
indubitably
beyond a doubtBecause her argument was indubitably valid, the judge accepted it.
preternatural
beyond that which is normal in natureJohn's mother's total ability to tell when he was lying struck him as almost preternatural.
partial
biased; having a liking for somethingI am extremely partial to chocolate eclairs.
benison
blessingLet us pray that the benison of peace once more shall prevail among the nations of the world.
hindrance
block; obstacleStalled cars along the highway are a hindrance to traffic that tow trucks should remove without delay.
vendetta
blood feudThe rival mobs engaged in a bitter vendetta.
hierarchy
body divided into ranksIt was difficult to step out of one's place in this hierarchy.
clientele
body of customersThe rock club attracted a young, stylish clientele.
guffaw
boisterous laughterThe loud guffaws that came from the closed room indicated that the members of the committe had not yetsettled down to a serious business.
hilarity
boisterous mirthThe hilarity is improper on this solemn day of mourning.
venturesome
boldA group of venturesome women were the first to scale Mt.Annapurna.
harrow
break up ground after plowing; tortureI don't want to harrow you at this time by asking you to recall the details of your unpleasant experience.
breach
breaking of contract or duty; fissure; gapThey found a breach in the enemy's fortifications and penetrated their lines.
debacle
breaking up; downfall This debacle in the government can only result in anarchy.
succinct
brief; terse; compactHis remarks are always succinct and pointed.
illuminate
brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlightenJust as a lamp can illuminate a dark room, a perceptive comment can illuminate a knotty problem.
expunge
cancel; removeIf you behave, I will expunge this notation from your record.
revoke
cancel; retractRepeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol face having their driver's licensespermanently revoked.
outspoken
candid; bluntThe candidate was too outspoken to be a successful politician; he had not yet learned to weigh his wordscarefully.
taper
candleHe lit the taper on the windowsill.
venal
capable of being bribed The venal policeman accepted the bribe offered him by the speeding motorist whom he had stopped.
slough
cast offEach spring, the snake sloughs off its skin.
cavalier
casual and offhand; arrogantSensitive about having her ideas taken lightly, Marcia felt insulted by Mark's cavalier dismissal of hersuggestion.
offhand
casual; done without prior thoughtExpecting to be treated with due propriety by her costs, Great-Aunt Maud was offended by their offhandmanner.
grievance
cause of complaintWhen her supervisor ignored her complaint, she took her grievance to the union.
dissemble
disguise; pretendEven though John tried to dissemble his motive for taking modern dance, we all knew there not to dancebut to meet girls.
prompt
cause; provoke; provide a cue for an actorWhatever prompted you to ask for such a big piece of cake when you're on a diet?
carcinogenic
causing cancerMany supposedly harmless substances have been revealed to be carcinogenic.
downcast
disheartened; sadCheerful and optimistic by nature, Beth was never downcast despite the difficulties she faced.
unkempt
disheveled; with uncared-for appearanceThe beggar was dirty and unkempt.
appal
dismay; shockWe were appalled by the horrifying conditions in the city's jails.
analgesic
causing insensitivity to painThe analgesic qualities of his lotion will provide temporary relief.
pestilential
causing plague; banefulPeople were afraid to explore the pestilential swap.
prudent
cautious; carefulA miser hoards money not because he is prudent but because he is greedy.
insubordinate
disobedientThe insubordinate private was confined to the barracks.
unruly
disobedient; lawlessThe only way to curb this unruly mob is to use tear gas.
contumacious
disobedient; resisting authorityThe contumacious mob shouted defiantly at the police.
repudiate
disown; disavowHe announced that he would repudiate all debts incurred by his wife.
disclaim
disown; renounce claim toIf I grant you this previlege, will you disclaim all other rights?
belittle
disparage; depreciateParents should not belittle their children's early attempts at drawing, but should encourage their efforts.
flaunt
display ostentatiouslyShe is not the one of those actresses who flaunt their physical charms; she can act.
mace
ceremonial staff; clublike medieval weaponThe Grand Marshal of the parade raised his mace to signal that it was time for the procession to begin.
innovation
change; introduction of something newShe loved innovatins just because they were new.
progeny
children; offspringHe was proud of his progeny but regarded George as the most promising of all his children.
indiscriminate
choosing at random; confusedShe disapproved of her son's indiscriminate television viewing and decided to restrict him to educationalprograms.
vociferous
clamorous; noisyThe crowd grew vociferous in its anger and threatened to take the law into its own hands.
limpid
clearA limpid stream ran through his property.
bouillon
clear beef soupThe cup of bouillon served by the stewards was welcomed by those who had been chilled by the coldocean breezes.
ingenious
cleverHe came up with a use for Styrofoam packing balls that was so ingenious that his business schoolprofessors declared it was marketable.
array
clothe; adornShe liked to watch her motherarray herself in her finest clothes before going out for the evening.
raiment
clothing"How can I go to the ball?" asked Cinderella. "I have no raiment fit to wear."
discount
disregardBe prepared to discount what he has to say about his ex-wife.
buffoonery
clowningJohn Candy's buffoonery in Uncle Buck was hilarious.
fodder
coarse food for cattle, horses etc.One of Nancy's chores ar the ranch was to put fresh supplies of fodder in the horses' stalls.
embark
commence; go on board a boat; begin a journeyIn devoting herself to the study of gorillas, Dian Fossey embarked on a course of action that was to costher her life.
annotate
comment; make explanatory notesIn the appendix to the novel, the critic sought to annotate many of the more esoteric references.
mercantile
concerning tradeI am more interested in the opportunites available in the mercantile field than I am in those in the legalprofession.
terse
concise; abrupt; pithyI admire his terse style of writing; he comes directly to the point.
pithy
concise; meatyI enjoy reading his essays because they are always compact and pithy.
finale
conclusionIt is not until we reach the finale of this play that we can understand the author's message.
denounce
condemn; critcizeThe reform candidate denounced the corrupt city officers for having betrayed the public's trust.
deign
condescendHe felt that he would debase himself if he deigned to answer his critics.
contingent
conditionalThe continuation of this contract is contingent on the quality of your first output.
bestow
conferHe wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.
parley
conferenceThe peace parley has not produced the anticipated truce.
validate
confirm; ratifyI will not publish my findings until I validate my results.
fluster
confuseThe teacher's sudden question flustered him and he stammered his reply.
turmoil
confusion; strifeConscious he had sinned, he was in a state of spiritual turmoil.
gourmet
connoisseur of food and drinkThe gourmet stated that this was the best onion soup she had ever tasted.
epicure
connoisseur of food and drinkepicures frequent this restaurant because it features exotic wines and dishes.
subjugate
conquer; bring under controlIt is not our aim to subjugate our foe; we are interested only in establishing peaceful relations.
anoint
consecrateThe prophet Samuel anointed David with oil, crowning him king of Israel.
deliberate
consider; ponder; unhurriedOffered the new job, she asked for time to deliberate before she made her decision.
prominent
conspicuous; notable; protrudingHave you ever noticed that Prince Charles's prominent ears make him resemble the big-eared character inMad comics?
despicable
contemptibleYour despicable remarks call for no reply.
supercilious
contemptuous; haughtyI prefer Jill's modesty to Jack's supercilious and arrogant attitude.
vie
contend; competePoliticians vie with one another, competing for donations and votes.
din
continued loud noiseThe din of the jackhammers outside the classroom window drowned out the lecturer's voice.
dissident
dissenting; rebelliousIn the purge that followed the student demonstrations at Tianamen Square, the government hunted downthe dissident students and their supporters.
heterogeneous
dissimilarIn a heterogeneous group, we have an unassorted assemblage, while in a homogeneous group we havepeople or things that have common traits.
orthography
correct spellingMany of us find English orthography difficult to master because so many of our words are writtenphonetically.
depravity
corruption; wickednessThe depravity of the tyrant's behavior shocked us all.
zany
crazy; comic.I can watch the Marx brothers' zany antics for hours.
lope
gallop slowlyAs the horses loped along, we had an opportunity to admire the ever-changing scenery.
hiatus
gap; pauseExcept for a brief two-year hiatus, during which she enrolled in the Peace Corps, Ms. Clements hasdevoted herself to her medical career.
glean
gather leavingsAfter the crops had been harvested by the machines, the peasants were permitted to glean the wheat left inthe fields.
muster
gather; assembleWashington mustered his forces at Trenton.
garner
gather; store upShe hoped to garner the world's literature in one library.
garish
gaudyShe wore a garish rhinestone necklace.
blithe
gay; joyous; carelessShelley called the skylark a "blithe spirit" because of its happy song.
largess
generous giftLady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor.
bountiful
generous; showing bountyShe distributed gifts in a bountiful and gracious manner.
zephyr
gentle breeze; west wind.When these zephyrs blow, it is good to be in an open boat under a full sail.
seminal
germinal; influencing future developments; related to seed or semenAlthough Freud has generally been regarded as a seminal thinker who shaped the course of psychology, hispsychoanalytic methods have come under attack recently.
orient
get one's bearings; adjustPhilip spent his first day in Denver orienting himself to the city.
grisly
ghastlyShe shuddered at the grisly sight.
apparition
ghost; phantomHamlet was uncertain about the identity of the apparition that had appeared and spoken to him.
morbid
given to unwholesome thought; gloomyThese morbid speculations are dangerous; we must lighten our spirits by emphasizing more pleasantmatters.
beatific
giving bliss; blissfulThe beatific smile on the child's face made us very happy.
odoriferous
giving off an odor The odoriferous spices stimulated her jaded appetite.
shimmer
glimmer intermittentlyThe moonlight shimmered on the water as the moon broke through the clouds for a moment.
bantering
good-naturedly ridiculingThey resented his bantering remarks because they misinterpreted his teasing as sarcasm.
virtue
goodness; moral excellence; good qualityA virtue carried to extremes can turn into something resembling vice; humility, for example, candegenerate into servility and spinelessness.
bureaucracy
government by bureausMany people fear that the constant introduction of federal agencies will create a government bybureaucracy.
voluptuous
gratifying the sensesThe nobility during the Renaissance led voluptuous lives.
pall
grow tiresomeThe study of word lists can eventually pall and put one to sleep.
flourish
grow well; prosper; make sweeping gesturesThe orange trees flourished in the sun.
arroyo
gullyUntil the heavy rains of the past spring, this arroyo had been a dry bed.
inebriety
habitual intoxicationBecause of his inebriety, he was discharged from his position as family chauffeur.
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; triteHis frequent use of cliches made his essay seem banal.
hirsute
hairyHe was a hitsute individual with a heavy black beard.
satyr
half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus, portrayed as wanton and cunningHe was like a satyr in his lustful conduct.
snicker
half-stifled laughThe boy could not suppress a snicker when the teacher sat on the tack.
maul
handle roughlyThe rock star was mauled by his overexcited fans.
tilter
handle used to move the boat's rudder (to steer)Fearing the wind might shift suddenly and capsize the skiff, Tom kept one hand on the tilter at all times.
hover
hang about; wait nearbyThe police helicopter hovered above the accident.
loiter
hang around; lingerThe policeman told him not to loiter in the alley.
defamation
harming a person's reputationSuch defamation of character may result in a slander suit.
innocuous
harmlessLet him drink it; it is innocuous and will have no ill effect.
placebo
harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pillIn a controlled experiment, fifty volunteers were given erythromycin tablets; the control group receivedonly placebos.
headlong
hasty; rashThe slave seized the unexpected chance to make a headlong dash across the border to freedom.
incubate
hatch; schemeInasmuch as our supply of electricity is cut off, we shall have to rely on the hens to incubate these eggs.
odious
hatefulI find the task of punishing you most odious.
determinate
having a fixed order of procedure; invariableAt the royal wedding, the procession of the nobles followed a determinate order of precedence.
decollete
having a low-cut neckline Fashion decrees that evening gowns be decollete this season; bare shoulders are again the vogue.
wan
having a pale or sickly color; pallid.Suckling asked, "Why so pale and wan, fond lover?"
serrated
having a sawtoothed edgeThe beech tree is one of many plants that have serrated leaves.
plausible
having a show of truth but open to doubt; speciousEven though your argument is plausible, I still would like to have more proof.
capillary
having a very fine boreThe changes in surface tension of liquids in capillary vessels is of special interest to physicists.
tendentious
having an aim; biased; designed to further a causeThe editorials in this periodical are tendentious rather than truth-seeking.
multiform
having many formsSnowflakes are multiform but always hexagonal.
flinch
hesitate; shrinkHe did not flinch in the face of danger but fought back bravely.
potpourri
heterogeneous mixture; medleyHe offered a potpourri of folk songs from many lands.
irony
hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaningGradually his listeners began to realize that the excessive praise he was lavishing was merely irony; he wasactually denouncing his opponent.
encomium
high praise; eulogyUneasy with the encomiums expressed by his supporters, Tolkien felt unworthy of such high praise.
virtuoso
highly skilled artistThe child prodigy Yehudi Menuhin grew into a virtuoso whose virtuosity on the violin thrilled millions.
impediment
hindrance; stumbling-blockShe had a speech impediment that prevented her from speaking clearly.
inkling
hintThis came as a complete surprise to me as I did not have the slightest inkling of your plans.
insinuate
hint; implyWhat are you trying to insinuate by that remark?
innuendo
hint; insinuationI can defend myself against direct accusations; innuendos and oblique attacks on my character are whattrouble me.
tenacious
holding fastI had to struggle to break his tenacious hold on my arm.
hermitage
home of a hermitEven in his remote hermitage he could not escape completely from the world.
choleric
hot-temperedHis flushed, angry face indicated a choleric nature.
firebrand
hothead; troublemakerThe police triedto keep track of all the local firebrands when the President came to town.
parody
humorous imitation; travestyWe enjoyed the clever parodies of popular songs that the chorus sang.
consort
husband or wifeThe search for a consort for the young Queen Victoria ended happily.
burly
husky; muscularThe burly mover lifted the packing crate with ease.
mesmerize
hypnotizeThe incessant drone seemed to mesmerize him and place him in a trance.
supposition
hypothesis; surmiseI based my decision to confide in him on the supposition that he would be discreet.
drone
idle person; male beeContent to let his wife support him, the would-be writer was in reality nothing but a drone.
evenhanded
impartial; fairDo 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?
impalpable
imperceptible; intangibleThe ash is so fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a fine layer covering the windowledge.
transitoriness
impermanenceConscious that all things pass, the psalmist relates the transitoriness of happiness and fame.
pert
impertinent; forwardI think your pert and impudent remarks call for an apology.
vehement
impetuous; with marked vigorHe spoke with vehement eloquence in defense of his client.
gamely
in a spirited manner; with courageBecause he had fought gamely against a much superior boxer, the crowd gave him a standing ovation whenhe left the arena.
amok
in a state of rage The police had to be called in to restrain him after he ran amok in the department store.
oratorio
dramatic poem set to musicThe Glee Club decided to present an oratorio during their recital.
elicit
draw out by discussionThe detectives tried to elicit where he had hidden his loot.
limn
draw; outline; describeParodoxically, the more realistic the details this artist chooses, the better able to limn her fantastic, other-worldly landscapes.
primp
dress or groom oneself with careShe primps for hours before a dance.
bedizen
dress with vulgar fineryThe witch doctors were bedizened in their gaudiest costumes.
imbibe
drink inThe dry soil imbibed the rain quickly.
exorcise
drive our evil spiritsBy incantation and prayer, the medicine man sought to exorcise the evil spirits that had taken possession ofthe young warrior.
repellent
driving away; unattractiveMosquitoes find the odor so repellent that they leave any spot where this liquid has been sprayed.
propulsive
driving forwardThe jet plane has a greater propulsive power than the engine-driven plane.
flag
droop; grow feebleWhen the opposing hockey team scored its third goal only minutes into the first period, the home team'sspirits flagged.
lethargic
drowsy; dullThe stuffy room made her lethargic; she felt as if she was about to nod off.
anodyne
drug that relieves pain; opiateHis pain was so great that no anodyne could relieve it.
bacchanalian
drunkenEmperor Nero attended the bacchanalian orgy.
carousal
drunken revelThe party degenerated into an ugly carousal.
provender
dry food; fodderI am afraid of a severe winter because I have stored a large quantity of provender for the cattle.
desiccate
dry upA tour of this smokehouse will give you an idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate food in order topreserve it.
arid
dry; barrenThe cactus had adapted to survive in an arid environment.
gullible
easily deceivedHe preyed upon gullible people, who believed his stories of easy wealth.
timid
easily frightened; apprehensiveHe was timid and cowardish; always backing up at daunting situations.
lucid
easily understood; clear; intelligibleHer explanation was lucid enought for a child to grasp.
accessible
easy to approach; obtainableWe asked our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot.
facile
easy; expertBecause he was a facile speaker, he never refused a request to address an organization.
erode
eat awayThe limestone was eroded by the dripping water
omnivorous
eating both plant and animal food; devouring everythingSome animals, including humans, are omnivorous and eat both meat and vegetables; others are eithercarnivorous or herbivorous.
reverberate
echo; resoundThe entire valley reverberated with the sound of the church bells.
economy
efficiency or conciseness in using somethingReading the epigrams of Pope, I admire the economy of his verse: in few words he conveys worlds ofmeaning.
effectual
efficientIf we are to succeed, we must seek effectual means of securing our goals.
exertion
effort; expenditure of much physical workThe exertion involved in unscrewing the rusty bolt left her exhausted.
ovoid
egg-shapedAt Easter she had to cut out hundreds of brightly colored ovoid shapes.
worldly
engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual.You must leave your worldly goods behind you when you go to meet your Maker.
gourmand
epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drinkgoumands lack self-restraint; if they enjoy a particular cuisine, they eat far too much of it.
hyperbole
exaggeration; overstatementThis salesman is guilty of hyperbole in describing his product; it is wise to discount his claims.
sublime
exalted; noble; upliftingMother Teresa has been honored for her sublime deeds.
audit
examination of accountsWhen the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the embezzlements of thechief cashier.
ejaculation
exclamationHe could not repress an ejaculation of surprise when he heard the news.
ostracize
exclude from public favor; banAs soon as the newspapers carried the story of his connection with the criminals, his friends began toostracize him.
grueling
exhaustingThe marathon is a grueling race.
deprecate
express disapproval of; protest against; belittleA firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy, Miss Post deprecated the modern tendency to address newacquaintances by their first names.
gloat
express evil satisfaction; view malevolentlyAs you gloat over your ill-gotten wealth, do you think of the many victims you have defrauded?
decry
express strong disapproval of ; disparageThe founder of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, strongly decries the lack offinancial and moral support for children in America today.
condole
express sympathetic sorrowHis friends gathered to condole with him over his loss.
prolong
extend; draw out; lengthenIn their determination to discover ways to prolong human life, doctors fail to take into account that longerlives are not always happier ones.
physiognomy
faceHe prided himself on his ability to analyze a person's character by studying his physiognomy.
visage
face; appearanceThe stern visage of the judge indicated that she had decided to impose a severe penalty.
laxative
facilitating evacuation of the bowelsThe effect of the constipation medicine is laxative; it empties the bowels.
relapse
fall back or sink againThe economy relapsed into a depression from the peak.
plummet
fall sharply Stock prices plummeted as Wall Street reacted to the rise in interest rates.
windfall
fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event.This huge tax refund is quite a windfall.
deciduous
falling off, as of leavesThe oak is a deciduous tree.
delusion
false belief; hallucinationThis scheme is a snare and a delusion.
perjury
false testimony while under oathWhen several witnesses appeared to challenge his story, he was indicted for perjury.
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideousOn Halloween people enjoy wearing groteque costumes.
chimerical
fantastic; highly imaginativePoe's chimerical stories are sometimes too morbid for reading in bed.
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrastingThe plot of the novel was too bizarre to be believed.
modish
fashionableShe always discarded all garments that were no longer modish.
kismet
fatekismet is the Arabic word for "fate."
patriarch
father and ruler of a family or tribeIn many primitive tribes, the leader and lawmaker was the patriarch.
jaded
fatigued; surfeitedHe looked for exotic foods to stimulate his jaded appetite.
commiserate
feel or express pity or sympathy forHer friends commiserated with the widow.
euphoria
feeling of exaggerated (or unfounded) well-being"Jill's been on cloud nine ever since Jacj asked her out," said Betty, dismissing her friend's euphoria.
witless
foolish; idiotic.Such witless and fatuous statements will create the impression that you are an ignorant individual.
fatuous
foolish; inaneHe is far too intelligent to utter such fatuous remarks.
extrude
force or push outMuch pressure is required to extrude these plastics.
contrived
forced; artificial; not spontaneousFeeling ill at ease with his new in-laws; James made a few contrived attempts at conversation and thenretreated into silence.
harbinger
forerunnerThe crocus is an early harbinger of spring.
dissertation
formal essayIn order to earn a graduate degree from many of our universities, a candidate is frequently required toprepare a dissertation on some scholarly subject.
panegyric
formal praiseThe modest hero blushed to hear the speakers delivering panegyrics about his valorous act.
predecessor
former occupant of a postI hope I can live up to the fine example set by my late predecessor in this office.
redoubtable
formidable; causing fearDuring the Cold War period, neighboring countries tried not to offend the Russians because they could beredoubtable foes.
noisome
foul smelling; unwholesomeI never could stand the noisome atmosphere surrounding the slaughter houses.
malodorous
foul-smellingThe component heap was most malodorous in summer.
putrid
foul; rotten; decayedThe gangrenous condition of the wound was indicated by the putrid smell when the bandages were removed.
latitude
freedom from narrow limitationsI think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter.
impunity
freedom from punishmentThe bully mistreated everyone in the class with impunity for he felt that no one would dare retaliate.
berserk
frenzied Angered, he went berserk and began to wreck the room.
outskirts
fringes; outer bordersLiving outskirts of Boston, Sarah sometimes felt as if she were cut off from the cultural heart of the city.
facade
front of the buildingThe facade of the church had often been photographed by tourists because it was more interesting thanthe rear.
husbandry
frugality; thrift; agricultureHe accumulated his small fortune by diligence and husbandry.
baffle
frustrate; perplexThe new code baffled the enemy agents.
jollity
gaiety; cheerfulnessThe festive Christmas dinner was a merry one, and old and young alike joined in the general jollity.
intermittent
periodic; on and offOur picnic was marred by intermittent rains.
tangential
peripheral; only slightly connected; digressingDespite Clark's attempts to distract her with tangential remarks, Lois kept on coming back to her mainquestion: why couldn't he come out to dinner with Superman and her?
indissoluble
permanentThe indissoluble bonds of marriage are all too often being dissolved.
transparent
permitting to light to pass through freely; easily detectedYour scheme is so transparent that it will fool no one.
heretic
person who maintains opinions contrary to the doctrines of the churchShe was punished by the Spanish Inquisition because she was a heretic.
poseur
person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress othersSome thought Dali was a brillant painter; others dismissed him as a poseur.
anarchist
person who rebels against the established orderOnly the total overthrow of all governmental regulations would satisfy the anarchist.
proponent
person who supports or proposes (an idea)After the bill had been amended and re-amended in committee, even its original proponents didn't want tovote in its favor.
tanner
person who turns animal hides into leatherUsing a solution of tanbark, the tanner treated the cowhide, transforming it into supple leather.
heckler
person who verbally harasses others The heckler kept interrupting the speaker with rude remarks.
induce
persuade; bring aboutAfter the quarrel, Tina said nothing could induce her to talk to Tony again.
germinal
pertaining to a germ; creativeSuch an idea is germinal; I am certain that it will influence thinkers and philosophers for many generations.
provincial
pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticatedAs provincial governor, Sir Henry administered the Queen's law in his remote corner of Canada.
horticultural
pertaining to cultivation of gardensWhen he bought his house, he beganto look for flowers and decorative shrubs, and began to read booksdealing with horticultural matters.
pathological
pertaining to diseaseAs we study the pathological aspects of this disease, we must not overlook the psychological elements.
thespian
pertaining to dramaHer success in the school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian career.
seismic
pertaining to earthquakesThe Richter scale is a measurement of seismic disturbances.
existential
pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialismTo the existential philosopher, human reason is inadequate to explain an irrational, meaningless universe.
valedictory
pertaining to farewellI found the valedictory address too long; leave-taking should be brief.
piscatorial
pertaining to fishingHe spent many happy hours at the lake in his piscatorial activities.
infernal
pertaining to hell; devilishThey could think of no way to hinder his infernal scheme.
agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivationAs a result of its recent industrialization, the country is gradually losing its agrarian traditions.
connubial
pertaining to maffige or the matrimonial stateIn his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of connubial bliss.
marital
pertaining to marriageAfter the publication of his book on marital affairs, he was often consulted by married people on the vergeof divorce.
conjugal
pertaining to marriageTheir dreams of conjugal bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed.
mnemonic
pertaining to memoryHe used mnemonic tricks to master new words.
psychopathic
pertaining to mental derangementThe psychopathic patient suffers more frequently from a disorder of the nervous system than from adiseased brain.
pecuniary
pertaining to moneyI never expected a pecuniary reward for my work in this activity.
monetary
pertaining to moneyJane held the family purse strings: she made all monetary decisions affecting the household.
vitreous
pertaining to or resembling glassAlthough this plastic has many vitreous qualties such as transparency, it is unbreakable.
erotic
pertaining to passionate loveThe erotic passages in this novel should be removed as they are merely pornographic.
nautical
pertaining to ships or navigationThe Maritime Museum contains many models of clipper ships, logbooks, anchors and many other items ofa nautical nature.
vernal
pertaining to springWe may expect vernal showers all during the month of April.
sartorial
pertaining to tailorsHe was as famous for the sartorial splendor of his attire as he was for his acting.
metallurgical
pertaining to the art of removing metals from oresDuring the course of his metallurgical research, the scientist developed a steel alloy of tremendousstrength.
mandatory
obligatoryThese instructions are mandatory; any violation will be severely punished.
scurrilous
obscene; indecentYour scurrilous remarks are especially offensive because they are untrue.
hermetic
obscure and mysterious; occultIt is strange to consider that modern chemistry originated in the hermetic teachings of the ancientalchemists.
procurement
obtainingThe personnel department handles the procurement of new employees.
gazette
official publicationHe read the gazettes regularly for announcement of his promotion.
convert
one who has adopted a different religion or opinionOn his trip to Japan, though the President spoke at length about the merits of American automobiles, hemade few converts to his beliefs.
polygamist
one who has more than one spouse at a timeHe was arrested as a polygamist when his two wives filed complaints about him.
herpetologist
one who studies reptilesAs a boy, Indiana Jones had a traumatic experience involving snakes; sensibly enough, he studies to bearchaeologist, not a herpetologist.
cerebral
pertaining to the brain or intellectThe content of philosophical works is cerebral in nature and requires much thought.
ecclesiastic
pertaining to the churchThe minister donned his ecclesiastic garb and walked to the pulpit.
eugenic
pertaining to the improvement of raceIt is easier to apply eugenic principles to the raising of racehorses or prize cattle than t the development ofhuman beings.
lunar
pertaining to the moonlunar craters can be plainly seen with the aid of a small telescope.
tactile
pertaining to the organs or sense of touchHis callused hands had lost their tactile sensitivity.
dermatologist
one who studies the skin and its diseasesI advise you to consult a dermatologist about your acne.
unilateral
one-sidedThis legislation is unilateral since it binds only one party in the controversy.
partisan
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a partyOn certain issues of conscience, she refused to take a partisan stand.
patent
open for the public to read; obviousIt was patent to everyone that the witness spoke the truth.
broach
open upHe did not even try to broach the subject of poetry.
aperture
opening; holeShe discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room.
agape
openmouthedShe stared, agape, at the many strange animals in the zoo.
adversary
opponent; enemyBatman struggled to save Gotham City from the machinations of his wicked adversary, the Joker.
controvert
oppose with arguments; contradictTo controvert your theory will require much time but it is essential that we disprove it.
subsume
include; encompassDoes the general theory of relativity contradict Newtonian physics, or is Newton's law of gravity subsumedinto Einstein's larger scheme?
increment
increaseThe new contract calls for a 10 percent increment in salary for each employee for the next two years.
pendant
ornament (hanging from a necklace, etc.)The grateful team presented the coach with a silver chain and pendant engraved with the school's motto.
demotic
pertaining to the peopleHe lamented the passing of aristocratic society and maintained that a demotic society would lower thenation's standards.
pretentious
ostentatious; ambitiousI do not feel that your limited resources will permit you to carry out such a pretentious program.
wax
increase; grow.With proper handling, his fortunes waxed and he became rich.
irremediable
incurable; uncorrectableThe error she made was irremediable; she could see no way to repair it.
circumlocution
indirect or roundabout expressionHe was afraid to call spade a spade and resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct reference to his subject.
opportunist
individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstancesForget about ethics! He's such an opportunist that he'll vote in favor of any deal that will give him a break.
proselytize
induce someone to convert to religion or beliefIn these interfaith meetings, there must be no attempt to proselytize; we must respect all points of view.
prevail
induce; triumph overHe tried to prevail on her to type his essays for him.
futile
ineffective; fruitlessWhy waste your time on futile pursuits?
fledgling
inexperiencedWhile it is necessary to provide these fledgling poets with an opportunity to present their work, it is notessential that we admire everything they write.
inerrancy
infallibilityJane refused to believe in the pope's inerrancy, reasoning: "All human beings are capable of error. Thepope is a human being. Therefore, he pope is capable of error.
wreak
inflict.I am afraid he will wreak his vengeance on the innocent as well as the guilty.
colloquy
informal discussionI enjoy our colloquies but I sometimes wish that they could be made more formal and more searching.
denizen
inhabitant ofGhosts are denizens of the land of the dead who return to earth.
incompatible
inharmoniousThe married couple argued incessantly and finally decided to separate because they were incompatible.
discordant
inharmonious; conflictingShe tried to unite the discordant factions.
mayhem
injury to the bodyThe riot was marked not only by mayhem, with its attendant loss of life and limb, but also by arson andpillage.
tesselated
inlaid; mosaicI recall seeing a table with a tesselated top of bits of stone and glass in a very interesting pattern.
effervescence
inner excitement; exuberanceNothing depressed her for long; her natural effervescence soon reasserted itself.
deranged
insaneHe had to be institutionalized because he was deranged.
demented
insaneShe became increasingly demented and had to be hospitalized.
paltry
insignificant; pettyThis is a paltry sum to pay for such a masterpiece.
puny
insignificant; tiny; weakOur puny efforts to stop the flood were futile.
testy
irritable; short-temperedMy advice is to avoid discussing this problem with him today as he is rather testy and may shout at you.
sensuous
pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the sensesHe was stimulated by the sights, sounds and smells about him; he was enjoying his sensuous experience.
upshot
outcomeThe upshot of the rematch was that the former champion proved that he still possessed all the skills of hisyouth.
denouement
outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary workThe play was childishly written; the denouement was obvious to sophisticated theatergoers as early as themiddle of the first act.
hue
outcryWhen her purse was snatched, she raised such a hue and cry that the thief was captured.
minutiae
petty detailsShe would have liked to ignore the minutiae of daily living.
epistemologist
philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge"What is more important, a knowledge of nature of the nature of knowledge?" the epistemologist asked thenaturalist.
cliche
phrase culled in meaning by repetitionHigh school compositions are often marred by such cliches as "strong as an ox."
circumvent
outwit; baffleIn order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before startingour major campaign.
beneficent
kindly; doing goodThe overgenerous philanthropist had to curb his beneficent impulses before he gave away all his moneyand left himself with nothing.
trinket
knickknack; baubleWhenever she traveled abroad, Ethel would pick up costume jewelry and other trinkets as souvenirs.
imbalance
lack of balance or symmetry; disproportionBecause of the great imbalance between the number of men and women invited, the dance wasunsuccessful.
timidity
lack of self-confidence or courageIf you are to succeed as a salesperson, you must first lose your timidity and fear of failure.
levity
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolityStop giggling abd wriggling around in the pew; such levity is improper in church.
dispirited
lacking in spiritThe 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.
listless
lacking in spirit or energyWe had expected him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude.
pediatrician
physician specializing in children's diseases.The family doctor advised the parents to consult a pediatrician about their child's ailment.
mosaic
picture made of smell, colorful inlaid tilesThe mayor compared the ciry to a beautiful mosaic made up of people of every race and religion on earth.
irreverent
lacking proper respectThe worshippers resented her irreverent remarks about their faith.
inept
lacking skill; inadequate; inappropriateinept as a carpenter, Ira was all thumbs.
pine
languish, decline; long for, yearnThough she tried to be happy living with Clara in the city, Heidi pined for the mountains and for her gruffbut loving grandfather.
metropolis
large cityEvery evening this terminal is filled with the thousands of commuters who are going from this metropolisto their homes in the suburbs.
bevy
large groupThe movie actor was surrounded by a bevy of startlets.
hieroglyphic
picture writingThe discovery of the Rosetta Stone enabled scholars to read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
vignette
picture; short literary sketchThe New Yorker published her latest vignette.
impale
pierceHe was impaled by the spear hurled by his adversary.
perforate
pierce; put a hole throughBefore you can open the aspirin bottle, you must first perforate the plastic safety seal that covers the cap.
tome
large volumeHe spent much time in the libraries poring over ancient tomes.
salacious
lascivious; lustfulChaucer's monk is not pious but salacious, a teller of lewd tales and ribald jests.
scourge
lash; whip; severe punishment They feared the plague and regarded it as a deadly scourge.
languor
lassitude; depressionHis friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to thetheater.
ultimatum
last demand; warningSince they have ignored our ultimatum, our only recourse is to declare war.
terminus
last stop of railroadAfter we reached the railroad terminus, we continued our journey into the wilderness on saddle horses.
enduring
lasting; survivingKeats believed in the enduring power of great art, which outlast its creator's brief lives.
ludicrous
laughable; triflingLet us be serious; this is not a ludicrous issue.
profusion
lavish expenditure; overabundant conditionSeldom have I seen food and drink served in such profusion as at the wedding feast.
sumptuous
lavish; richI cannot recall when I have had such a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.
spawn
lay eggsFish ladders had to be built in the dams to assist the salmon returning to spawn in their native streams.
stratum
layer of earth's surface; layer of societyUnless we alleviate conditions in the lowest stratum of our society, we may expect grumbling and revolt.
punctilious
laying stress on niceties of conduct or form; preciseWe must be punctilious in our planning of this affair, for any error may be regarded as a personal affront.
virile
manlyI do not accept the premise that a man is virile only when he is belligerent.
gait
manner of walking or running; speedThe lame man walked with an uneven gait.
variegated
many-coloredWithout her glasses, Gretchen saw the fields of tulips as a variegated blur.
cartographer
map-makerThough not a professional cartographer, Tolkien was able to construct a map of the fictional world.
disfigure
mar the appearance of; spoilAn ugly frown disfigured his normally pleasant face.
deface
mar; disfigureIf you deface a library book, you will have to pay a hefty fine.
peripheral
marginal; outerWe lived, not in central London, but in one of those peripheral suburbs that spring up on the outskirts ofthe great city.
welt
mark from beating or whipping.The evidence of child abuse was very clear; Jennifer's small body was covered with welts and bruises.
checkered
marked by changes in fortuneDuring his checkered career he had lived in palatial mansions and in dreary boardinghouses.
holster
pistol caseEven when he was not in uniform, he carried a holster and pistol under his arm.
aphorism
pithy maximAn aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific.
uproarious
marked by commotion; extremely funny; very noisyThe uproarious comedy hit Home Alone featured Macaulay Culkin, whose mugging and comic anticsprovoked gales of uproarious laughter from audiences coast to coast.
ceremonious
marked by formalityOrdinary dress would be in appropriate at so ceremonious an affair.
sheathe
place into a caseAs soon as he recognized the approaching men, he sheathed his dagger and hailed them as friends.
purgatory
place of spiritual expiationIn this purgatory, he could expect no help from his comrades.
scenario
plot outline; screenplay; opera librettoScaramouche startled the other actors in the commedia troupe when he suddenly departed from theircustomary scenario and began to improvise.
despoil
plunderIf you do not yield, I am afraid the enemy will despoil the countryside.
predatory
plunderingThe hawk is a predatory bird.
elegy
poem or song expressing lamentation On the death of Edward King, Milton composed the elegy "Lycidas."
bard
poetThe ancient bard Homer sang of the fall of Troy.
solstice
point at which the sun is farthest from the equatorThe winter solstice usually occurs on December 21.
permeable
porous; allowing passage throughGlass is permeable to light.
delineate
portrayHe is weakest when he attempts to delineate character.
depict
portrayIn this book, the author depicts the slave owners as kind and benevolent masters.
vantage
position giving an advantageThey fired upon the enemy from behind trees, walls and any other point of vantage they could find.
affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oathDespite Tom's affirmation of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie.
dogmatic
positive; arbitraryDo not be so dogmatic about that statement; it can be easily refuted.
mete
measure; distributeHe tried to be impartial in his efforts to mete out justice.
carnivorous
meat-eatingThe lion is a carnivorous animal.
alchemy
medieval chemistryThe changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy.
mirth
merriment; laughterSober Malvolio found Sir Toby's mirth improper.
jocund
merrySanta Claus is always vivacious and jocund.
lode
metal-bearing veinIf this lode that we have discovered extends for any distance, we have found a fortune.
regime
method or system of governmentWhen a Frenchman mentions the Old Regime, he refers to the government existing before the revolution.
bourgeois
middle classThe French Revolution was inspired by the bourgeois, who resented the aristocracy.
fallacious
misleadingYour reasoning must be fallacious because it leads to a ridiculous answer.
projectile
missileMan has always hurled projectiles at his enemy whether in the form of stones or of highly explosive shells.
knead
mix; work doughHer hands grew strong from kneading bread.
promiscuous
mixed indiscriminately; haphazard; irregular, particularly sexuallyIn the opera La Boheme, we get a picture of the promiscuous life led by the young artists of Paris.
garbled
mixed up; jumbled; distortedA favorite party game involves passing a whispered message from one person to another; by the time itreaches the last player, the message has become totally garbled.
gibe
mockAs you gibe at their superstitious beliefs, do you realize that you, too, are guilty of similarly foolishthoughts?
scoff
mock; ridiculeHe scoffed at dentists until he had his first toothache.
satirical
mockingThe humor of cartoonists Gary Trudeau often is satirical; though the comments of the Doonesburycharacters, Trudeau ridicules political corruption and folly.
simian
monkeylikeLemurs are nocturnal mammals and have many simian characteristics, although they are less intelligentthan monkeys.
mausoleum
monumental tombHis body was placed in the family mausolem.
low
mooFrom the hilltop, they could see the herd like ants in the distance; they could barely hear the cattle low.
undulate
move with a wavelike motionThe flag undulated in the breeze.
amorous
moved by sexual love; lovingDon Juan was known for his amorous adventures.
console
lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfortWhen her father died, Marius did his best to console Cosette.
fallible
liable to errI know I am fallible, but I feel confident that I am right this time.
unfettered
liberated; freed from chainsChained to the wall for months on end, the hostage despaired that he would ever be unfettered.
flick
light stroke as with a whipThe horse needed no encouragement; only one flick of the whip was all the jockey had to apply to get theanimal to run at top speed.
giddy
light-hearted; dizzyHe felt his giddy youth was past.
glacial
like a glacier; extremely coldNever a warm person, when offended hugo could seem positively glacial.
imperial
like an emperor; related to an empireWhen hotel owner Leona Helmsley appeared in ads as Queen Leona standing guard over the Palace Hotel,her critics mocked her imperial fancies.
enumerate
list; mention one by oneHuck hung his head in shame as Miss Watson enumerated his many flaws.
chameleon
lizard that changes color in different situationsLike the chameleon, he assumed the political coloration of every group he met.
odyssey
long, evenful journeyThe refugee's journey from Cambodia was a terrifying odyssey.
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illnessAfter the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or couldonly mumble incoherently.
strident
loud and harshShe scolded him in a strident voice
clangor
loud, resounding noiseThe blacksmith was accustomed to the clangor of hammers on steel.
loll
lounge aboutThey lolled around in their chairs watching television.
reciprocal
mutual; exchangeable; interactingThe two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement.
occult
mysterious; secret; supernaturalThe occult rites of the organization were revealed only to members.
ravine
narrow valley with steep sidesSteeper than a gully, less precipitous than a canyon, a ravine is, like them, the product of years of erosion.
insularity
narrow-mindedness; isolationThe insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anyuthing foreign.
indigenous
nativeTobacco is one of the indigenous plants that the early explorers found in this country.
imminent
near at hand; impendingRosa was such a last-minute worker that she could never start writing a paper till the deadline wasimminent.
impending
nearing; approachingThe entire country was saddened by the news of his impending death.
derelict
neglectful of duty; abandonedThe corporal who fell asleep while on watch was thrown into the guardhouse for being derelic in his duty.
altercation
noisy quarrelThroughout the altercation, not one sensible word was uttered.
placate
pacify; conciliateThe teacher tried to placate the angry mother.
appease
pacify; sootheWe have discovered that, when we try to appease our enemies, we encourage them to make additionaldemands.
optional
not compulsory; left to one's choiceI was impressed by the range of optional accessories for my microcomputer that were available.
rudimentary
not developed; elementaryHis dancing was limited to a few rudimentary steps.
unearthly
not earthly; weirdThere is an unearthly atmosphere in her work that amazes the casual observer.
insatiable
not easily satisfied; greedyWelty's thirst for knowledge was insatiable; she was in the library day and night.
ineffectual
not effective; weak Because the candidate failed to get across his message to the public, his campaign was ineffectual.
motley
parti-colored; mixedThe captain had gathered a motley crew to sail the vessel.
penumbra
partial shadow (in an eclipse)During an eclipse, we can see an area of total darkness and a lighter area, which is the penumbra.
complicity
participation; involvementYou cannot keep your complicity in this affair secret very long; you would be wise to admit yourinvolvement immediately.
genre
particular variety of art or literatureBoth a short story writer and a poet, Langston Hughes proved himself equally skilled in either genre.
forberance
patienceWe must use forbearance in dealing with him because he is still weak from his illness.
authenticate
prove genuineAn expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting, distinguishing it from its imitation.
maxim
proverb; a truth pithily statedAesop's fables illustrate moral maxims.
defray
provide ofr the payment ofHer employer offered to defray the costs of her postgraduate education.
marshal
put in orderAt a debate tournament, extemporaneous speakers have only a minute or two to marshal their thoughtsbefore addressing their audience.
verbalize
put into wordsI know you don't like to talk about these things, but please try to verbalize your feelings.
interrogate
question closely; cross-examineKnowing that the Nazis would interrogate him about his background, the secret agent invented a coverstory that would help him meet their quesions.
centrifugal
radiating; departing from the centerMany automatic drying machines remove excess moisture from clothing by centrifugal force.
foray
raidThe company staged a midnight foray against the enemy outpost.
ken
range of knowledgeI cannot answer your question since this matter is beyond my ken.
incidence
rate of occurrence; particular occurrenceHealth professionals expressed great concern over the high incidence of infant mortality in major urbanareas.
maniacal
raving madHis maniacal laughter frightened us.
perusal
readingI am certain that you have missed important details in your rapid perusal of this document.
entity
real beingAs soon as the charter was adopted, the United Nations became an entity and had to be considered as afactor in world diplomacy.
foster
rear; encourageAccording to the legend, Romulus and Remus were fostered by a she-wolf that raised the abandonedinfants as her own.
insurgent
rebelliousWe will not discuss reforms until the insurgent troops have returned to their homes.
repercussion
rebound; reverberation; reactionI am afraid that this event will have serious repercussions.
debase
reduce to lower stateDo not debase youself by becoming maudlin.
redress
remedy; compensationDo you mean to tell me that I can get no redress for my injuries?
commemorative
remembering; honoringThe new commemorative stamp honors the late Martin Luther King, Jr.
compunction
remorseThe judge was especially severe in this sentencing because he felt that the criminal had shown nocompunction for his heinous crime.
dislodge
remove (forcible)Thrusting her fist up under the choking man's lower ribs, Margaret used the Heimlich maneuver todislodge the food caught in this throat.
penitent
repentantWhen he realized the enormity of his crime, he became remorseful and penitent.
rote
repetitionHe recited the passage by rote and gave no indication he understood what he was saying.
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry"The furrow followed free" is an example of alliteration.
supplant
replace; usurpCorazon Aquino supplanted Ferdinand Marcos as president of the Philippines.
sedentary
requiring sittingBecause he had a sedentary occupation, he decided to visit a gymnasium weekly.
defeatist
resigned to defeat; accepting defeat as a natural outcomeIf you maintain your defeatist attitude, you will never succeed.
dutiful
respectful; obedientThe dutiful child grew up to be a conscientious adult aware of his civic obligations.
procrastinate
postpone; delayIt is wise not to procrastinate; otherwise, we find ourselves bogged down in a mass of work that shouldhave been finished long ago.
effusive
pouring forth; gushingHer effusive manner of greeting her friends finally began to irritate them.
indigence
povertyNeither the economists nor the political scientists have found a way to wipe out the inequities of wealthand eliminate indigence from our society.
adversity
poverty, misfortuneWe must learn to meet adversity gracefully.
intuition
power of knowing without reasoningShe claimed to know the truth by intuition.
mogul
powerful personThe oil moguls made great profits when the price of gasoline rose.
potent
powerful; persuasive; greatly influentialThe jury was swayed by the highly potent testimony of the crime's sole eyewitness.
puissant
powerful; strong; potentWe must keep his friendship for he will make a puissant ally.
impuissance
powerlessness; feeblenessThe lame duck President was frustrated by his shift from enormous power to relative impuissance.
pragmatic
practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact ofsomethingThis coming trip to France should provide me with a pragmatic test of the value of my conversationalFrench class.
feasible
practical This is an entirely feasible proposal. I suggest we adopt it.
pragmatist
practical personNo pragmatist enjoys becoming involved in a game that he can never win
eulogistic
praisingTo everyone's surprise, the speech was eulogistic rather than critical in tone.
regimen
prescribed diet and habitsI doubt whether the results warrant our living under such a strict regimen.
stymie
present an obstacle; stumpThe detective was stymied by the contradictory evidence in the robbery investigation.
overweening
presumptuous; arrogantHis overweening pride in his accomplishments was not justified.
sham
pretendHe shammed sickness to get out of going to school.
feign
pretendLady Macbeth feigned illness in the courtyard although she was actually healthy.
dissimulate
pretend; conceal by feigningShe tried to dissimulate her grief by her exuberant attitude.
connivance
pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offendWith the connivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher.
forestall
prevent by taking action in advanceBy setting up a prenuptial agreement, the prospective bride and groom hoped to forestall any potentialarguments about money in the event of a divorce.
avert
prevent; turn awayShe averted her eyes from the dead cat on the highway.
asceptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effectHospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced asceptic conditions.
arrogance
pride, haughtinessThe arrogance of the nobility was resented by the middle class.
haughtiness
pride; arroganceI resent his haughtiness because he is no better than we are.
conclave
private meetingHe was present at all their conclaves as an unofficial observer.
caucus
private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policyAt the opening of Congress the members of the Democratic Party held a caucus to elect the majorityleader of the House and the party whip.
idiosyncratic
private; peculiar to an individualSuch behavior is idiosyncratic, it is as easily identifiable as a signature.
prerogative
privilege; unquestionable rightThe President cannot levy taxes; that is the prerogative of the legislative branch of government.
dilemma
problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternativesIn this dilemma, he knew no one to whom he could turn for advice.
cavalcade
procession; paradeAs described by Chaucer, the cavalcade of Canterbury pilgrims was motley group.
igneous
produced by fire; volcanicLava, pumice, and other igneous rocks are found in great abundance around Mount Vesuvius near Naples.
visionary
produced by imagination; fanciful; mysticalShe was given to visionary schemes that never materialized.
wince
shrink back; flinch.The screech of the chalk on the blackboard made her wince.
dwindle
shrink; reduceThey spent so much money that their funds dwindled to nothing.
wither
shrivel; decay.Cut flowers are beautiful for a day, but all too soon they wither.
mawkish
sickening; insipidYour mawkish sighs fill me with disgust.
winnow
sift; separate good parts from bad.This test will winnow out the students who study from those who don't bother.
portent
sign; omen; forewarningHe regarded the black cloud as a portent of evil.
inane
silly; senselessSuch comments are inane because they do not help us solve our program.
fusilade
simultaneous firing or outburs (of missiles, questions, etc.)Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture concludes with a thunderous fusilade of cannon fire.
scuttle
sinkThe sailors decided to scuttle their vessel rather than surrender it to the enemy.
ulterior
situated beyond; unstated and often questionableYou must have an ulterior motive for your behavior, since there is no obvious reason for it.
dexterous
skillfulThe magician was so dexterous that we could not follow his movements as he performed his tricks.
gambol
skip; leap playfullyWatching children gamboling in the park is a pleasant experience
azure
sky blueazure skies are indicative of good weather.
argot
slangIn the argot of the underworld, she "was taken for a ride."
oblique
slanting; deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight lineThe sergeant ordered the men to march "oblique right."
thrall
slave; bondageThe captured soldier was held in thrall by the conquering army.
obsequious
slavishly attentive; servile; sycophanticHelen valued people who behaved as if they respected themselves; nothing irritated her more than anexcessively obsequious waiter or a fawning salesclerk.
somnambulist
sleepwalkerThe most famous somnambulist in literature is Lady Macbeth; her monologue in the sleepwalking scene isone of the highlights of Shakespeare's play.
slacken
slow up; loosenAs they passed the finish line, the runners slackened their pace.
sloth
slow-moving tree-dwelling mammalNote how well the somewhat greenish coat of the sloth enables it to blend in with its arborealsurroundings.
sluggish
slow; lazy; lethargicAfter two nights without sleep, she felt sluggish and incapable of exertion.
laggard
slow; sluggishThe sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders.
stealth
slyness; sneakiness; secretivenessFearing detection by the sentries on duty, the scout inched his way toward the enemy camp with greatstealth.
figurine
small ornamental statuetteIn the Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade was hired to trace the missing figurine of a black bird.
steep
soak; saturateBe sure to steep the fabric in the dye bath for the full time prescribed.
sodden
soaked; dull, as if from drinkHe set his sodden overcoat near the radiator to dry.
gregarious
sociableTypically, party-throwers are gregarious; hermits are not.
gaffe
social blunderAccording to Miss Manners, to call your husband by your lover's name is worse than a mere gaffe; it is atactical mistake.
glutton
someone who eats too muchWhen Mother saw that Bobby had eaten all the cookies, she called him a little glutton.
prate
speak foolishly; boast idlyLet us not prate about our qualities; rather, let our virtues speak for themselves.
inarticulate
speechless; producing indistinct speechHe became inarticulate with rage and uttered sounds without meaning.
velocity
speedThe train went by at considerable velocity.
tempo
speed of musicI find the conductor's tempo too slow for such a brilliant piece of music.
celerity
speed; rapidityHamlet resented his mother's celerity in remarrying within a month after his father's death.
dispatch
speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speedYoung Napoleon defeated the enemy with all possible dispatch; he then sent a dispatch to headquarters,informing his commander of the great victory.
niggle
spend too much time on minor points; carpLet's not niggle over details.
regeneration
spiritual rebirthModern penologists strive for the regeneration of the prisoners.
cleft
splitErosion caused a cleft in the huge boulder.
cleave
split asunderThe lightening cleaves the tree in two.
polarize
split into opposite extremes or campsThe abortion issue has polarized the country into pro-choice and anti-abortion camps.
bungle
spoil by clumsy behaviorI was afraid you would bungle his assignment but I had no one else to send.
deadlock
standstill; stalemateThe negotiations had reached a deadlock.
kindle
start a fire; inspireHer teacher's praise kindled a spark a hope inside her.
parallelism
state of being parallel; similarityThere is a striking parallelism between the twins.
inclined
tending or leaning toward; bentThough I am inclined to be skeptical, the witness's manner inclines me to believe his story.
turbulence
state of violent agitationWe were frightened by the turbulence of the ocean during the storm.
nomenclature
terminology; system of namesShe struggled to master scientific nomenclature.
balk
stoop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continueThe chief of police balked at sending his officers into the riot-torn area.
raconteur
story-tellerMy father was a gifted raconteur with an unlimited supply of anecdotes.
bastion
stronghold; something seen as a source of protectionThe villagers fortified the town hall, hoping this improvised bastion could protect them from the guerrilaraids.
contend
struggle; compete; assert earnestlyIn Revolt of the Black Athlete, sociologist Harry Edwards contends that young black athletes have beenexploited by some college recruiters.
refractory
stubborn; unmanageableThe refractory horse was eliminated from the race when he refused to obey the jockey.
headstrong
stubborn; willful; unyieldingBecause she refused to marry the man her parents had chosen for her, everyone scolded Minna and calledher a foolish, headstrong girl.
perverse
stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and unacceptableWhen Hannibal Lecter was in a perverse mood, he ate the flesh of his victims.
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankindAnthropologists have discovered several relics of prehistoric humans in this area.
pore
study industriously; ponder; scrutinizeDetermined to become a physician, Beth spends hours poring over her anatomy text.
philology
study of languageThe professor of philology advocated the use of Esperanto as an international language.
ethnology
study of mankindSociology is one aspect of the science of ethnology.
stodgy
stuffy; boringly conservativeFor a young person, Winston seems remarkably stodgy: you'd expect someone of his age to have a littlemore life.
asinine
stupidYour asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration.
dolt
stupid personI thought I was talking to a mature audience; instead, I find myself addressing a pack of dolts.
oaf
stupid, awkward personHe called the unfortunate waiter a clumsy oaf.
hardy
sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weatherWe asked the gardening expert to recommend particularly hardy plants that could withstand our harshNew England winters.
meek
submissive; patient and long-sufferingMr. Barrett never expected his meek daughter would dare to defy him by eloping with her suitor.
rakish
stylish; sportyHe wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
quash
subdue; crush; squashThe authorities acted quickly to quash the student rebellion, sending in tanks to cow the demonstrators.
subaltern
subordinateThe captain treated his subalterns as though they were children rather than commissioned officers.
subsidiary
subordinate; secondaryThis information may be used as subsidiary evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument.
abate
subside or moderateRather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate.
emetic
substance causing vomitingThe use of an emetic like mustard is useful in cases of poisoning.
humus
substance formed by decaying vegetable matterIn order to improve his garden, he spread humus over his lawn and flower beds.
spate
sudden floodI am worried about the possibility of a spate if the rains do not diminish soon.
connotation
suggested or implied meaning of an expressionForeigners frequently are unaware of the connotations of the words they use.
indicative
suggestive; implyingA lack of appetite may be indicative of a major mental or physical disorder.
forensic
suitable to debate or courts of lawIn her best forensic manner, the lawyer addressed the jury.
expedient
suitable; practical; politicA pragmatic politician, he was guided by what was expedient rather than by what was ethical.
pertinent
suitable; to the pointThe lawyer wanted to know all the pertinent details.
dour
sullen; stubbornThe man was dour abd taciturn.
conjure
summon a devil; proactive magic; imagine; inventHe conjured up an image of a reformed city and had the voters completely under his spell.
redundant
superfluous; excessively wordy; repetitiousYour composition is redundant; you can easily reduce its length.
supererogatory
superfluous; more than needed or demandedWe have more than enough witnesses to corroborate your statement; to present any more would besupererogatory.
preponderance
superiority of power, quantity, etc.The rebels sought to overcome the preponderance of strength of the government forces by engaging inguerrilla tactics.
satiate
surfeit; satisfy fullyThe guests, having eaten until they were satiated, now listened inattentively to the speakers.
conjecture
surmise; guessI will end all your conjectures; I admit I am guilty as charged.
outrtip
surpass; outdoJesse Owens easily outstripped his competitors to win the gold metal at the Olympic Games.
capitulate
surrenderThe enemy was warned to capitulate or face annihilation.
extradition
surrender of prisoner by one state to anotherThe lawyers opposed the extradition of their client on the grounds that for more than five years he hadbeen a model citizen.
vulnerable
susceptible to woundsAchilles was vulnerable only in his heel.
abeyance
suspended actionThe deal was held in abeyance until her arrival.
leery
suspicious; cautiousDon't eat sushi at this restaurant; I'm a bit leery about how fresh it is.
bravado
swagger; assumed air of defiance The bravado of the young criminal disappeared when he was confronted by the victims of his brutal attack.
miasma
swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere, often emanating from decaying matter; pervasivecorrupting influence The smog hung over Victorian London like a dark cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was a visiblemiasma.
bilk
swindle; cheatThe con man specialized in bilking insurance companies.
bloated
swollen or puffed as with water or airHer bloated stomach came from drinking so much water.
methodical
systematicAn accountant must be methodical and maintain order among his financial records.
doff
take offA gentleman used to doff his hat to a lady.
retroactive
taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax)Because the new pension law was retroactive to the first of the year, even though Martha had retired inFebruary she was eligible for the pension.
loquacious
talkativeShe is very loquacious and can speak on the telephone for hours.
blowhard
talkative boasterAfter all Sol's talk about his big show business connections led nowhere, Sally decided he was just anotherblowhard.
soliloquy
talking to oneselfThe soliloquy is a device used by the dramatist to reveal a character's innermost thoughts and emotions.
obelisk
tall column tapering and ending in a pyramidCleopatra's Needle is an obelisk in New York City's Central Park.
palpable
tangible; easily perceptibleI cannot understand how you could overlook such a palpable blunder.
quip
tauntYou are unpopular because you are too free with your quips and sarcastic comments.
pedagogue
teacherHe could never be a stuffy pedagogue; his classes were always lively and filled with humor.
pedagogy
teaching; art of educationThough Maria Montessori gained fame for her innovations in pedagogy, it took years before her teachingtechniques became common practice in American schools.
list
tilt; lean overThat flagpole should be absolutely vertical; instead, it lists to one side.
yore
time past.He dreamed of the elegant homes of yore, but gave no thought to their inelegant plumbing.
gratuity
tipMany service employees rely more on gratuities than on salaries for their livelihood.
apex
tip; summit; climaxHe was at the apex of his career.
caption
title; chapter heading; text under illustrationI find the captions that accompany these cartoons very clever and humorous.
ethos
underlying character of a culture, group, etc.Seeing how tenderly Spaniards treated her small daughter made author Barbara Kingsolver aware of howgreatly children were valued in the Spanish ethos.
cede
transfer; yield title toI intend to cede this property to the city.
pellucid
transparent; limpid; easy to understandAfter reading these stodgy philosophers, I find his pellucid style very enjoyable.
conspiracy
treacherous plotBrutus and Cassius joined in the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar.
perifidious
treacherous; disloyalWhen Caesar realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend.
exchequer
treasuryHe had been Chancellor of the exchequer before his promotion to the office he now holds.
lionize
treat as a celebrity She enjoyed being lionized and adored by the public.
tremor
trembling; slight quiverShe had a nervous tremor in her right hand.
tremulous
trembling; wavering She was tremulous more from excitement than from fear.
confidant
trusted friendHe had no confidants with whom he could discuss his problems at home.
veracious
truthfulI can recommend him for this position because I have always found him veracious and reliable.
kaleidoscope
tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc.,produce interesting symmetrical effectsPeople found a new source of entertainment while peering through the kaleidoscope; they found the ever-changing patterns fascinating.
deflect
turn asideHis life was saved when his cigarette case deflected the bullet.
deviate
turn away fromDo not deviate from the truth; you must face the facts.
deify
turn into a god; idolizeAdmire the rock star all you want; just don't deify him.
petrify
turn to stoneHis sudden and unexpected appearance seemed to petrify her.
torque
twisting force; force producing rotationWith her wrench she applied sufficient torque to the nut the loosen it.
sojourn
temporary stayAfter his sojourn in Florida, he began to long for the colder climate of his native New England home.
reprieve
temporary stayDuring the twenty-four-hour reprieve, the lawyers sought to make the stay of execution permanent.
homeostasis
tendency of a system to maintain relative stabilityA breakdown of the body's immune system severely undermines the body's ability to maintainhomeostasis.
contortions
twistings; distortionsAs the effects of the opiate wore away, the contortions of the patient became more violent anddemonstrated how much pain she was enduring.
bicameral
two-chambered, as a legislative bodyThe United States Congress is a bicameral body.
equestrian
rider on horsebackThese paths in the park are reserved for equestrians and their steeds.
derision
ridiculeThey greeted his proposal with derision and refused to consider it seriously.
lampoon
ridiculeThis article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls.
static
unchanging; lacking developmentNothing had changed at home; things were static there
invincible
unconquerableSuperman is invincible.
indomitable
unconquerableThe founders of our country had indomitable willpower.
insensible
unconscious; unresponsiveSherry and I are very different; at times when I would be covered with embarrassment, she seemsinsensible to shame.
bristling
rising like bristles; showing irritationThe dog stood there, bristling with anger.
wallow
roll in; indulge in; become helpless.The hippopotamus loves to wallow in the mud.
dilapidated
ruined because of neglectWe felt that the dilapidated building needed several coats of paint.
disconcolate
sadThe death of his wife left him disconsolate.
jocular
said or done in jestDo not take my jocular remarks seriously.
emolument
salary; compensationIn addition to the emolument this position offers, you must consider the social prestige it carries with it.
intersperse
scatterThe molecules will intersperse throughout the space according to the second law of thermodynamics.
dispel
scatter; drive away; cause to vanishThe bright sunlight eventually dispelled the morning mist.
machinations
schemesI can see through your wily machinations.
pedant
scholar who overemphasizes book learning or technicalitiesHer insistence that the book be memorized marked the teacher as a pedant rather than a scholar.
gastronomy
science of preparing and serving good foodOne of the by-products of his trip to Europe was his interest in gastronomy; he enjoyed preparing andserving foreign dishes to his friends.
postulate
self-evident truthWe must accept these statements as postulates before pursuing our discussions any further.
deride
scoff atThe people derided his grandiose schemes.
chide
scoldGrandma began to chide Steven for his lying.
berate
scold stronglyHe feared she would berate him for his forgetfulness.
shrew
scolding womanNo one wanted to marry Shakespeare's Kate because she was a shrew.
despise
scornI despise your attempts at a reconciliation at this time and refuse to meet you.
glower
scowlThe angry boy glowered at his father.
clandestine
secretAfter avoiding their chaperon, the lovers had a clandestine meeting.
surreptitious
secretNews of their surreptitious meeting gradually leaked out.
inviolability
security from being destroyed, corrupted or profanedThey respected the inviolability of her faith and did not try to change her manner of living.
collateral
security given for loanThe sum you wish to borrow is so large that it must be secured by collateral.
pomposity
self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirtAlthough the commencement speaker had some good things to say, we had to laugh at his pomposity andgeneral air of parading his own dignity.
continence
self-restraint; sexual chastityShe vowed to lead a life of continence.
trigger
set offJohn is touchy today; say one word wrong and you'll trigger an explosion.
acuity
sharpnessIn time his youthful acuity of vision failed him, and he needed glasses.
tonsure
shaving of the head, especially by person entering religious ordersHis tonsure, even more than his monastic garb, indicated that he was a member of the religious order.
molt
shed or cast off hair or feathersThe male robin molted in the spring.
manifest
understandable; clearHis evil intentions were manifest and yet we could not stop him.
disinterested
unprejudicedThe only disinterested person in the room was the judge.
mirage
unreal reflection; optical illusionThe lost prospector was fooled by a mirage in the desert.
fantastic
unreal; grotesque; whimsicalYour fears are fantastic because no such animal as you have described exists.
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; tyrannicalThe coach claimed the team lost because the umpire made some arbitrary calls.
earthy
unrefined; coarseHis earthy remarks often embarrassed the women in the audience.
mutinous
unruly; rebelliousThe captain had to use force to quiet his mutinous crew.
slovenly
untidy; slipshodSuch slovenly work habits will never produce good products.
inopportune
untimely; poorly chosenA rock concert is an inopportune setting for a quiet conversation.
apocryphal
untrue; made upTo impress his friends, Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city.
ineffable
unutterable; cannot be expressed in speechSuch ineffable joy must be experienced; it cannot be described.
disinclination
unwilingnessSome mornings I feel a great disinclination to get out of bed.
aloft
upwardThe sailor climbed aloft into the rigging.
suavity
urbanity; polishHe is particulary good in roles that require suavity and sophistication.
exhort
urgeThe evangelist will exhort all sinners in his audience to reform.
goad
urge onHe was goaded by his friends until he yielded to their wishes.
advocate
urge; plead forThe abolitionists advocated freedom for the slaves.
coercion
use of forceThey forced him to obey, but only by great coercion.
wistful
vaguely longing; sadly pensive.With a last wistful glance at the happy couples dancing in the hall, Sue headed back to her room to studyfor her exam.
multifarious
varied; greatly diversifiedA career woman and mother, she was constantly busy with the multifarious activities of her daily life.
pied
variegated; multicoloredThe pied piper of Hamelin got his name from the multicolored clothing he wore.
diversity
variety; dissimilitudeThe diversity of colleges in this country indicates that many levels of ability are being served.
sundry
various; severalMy suspicions were aroused when I read sundry items in the newspapers about your behavior.
diverge
vary; go in different directionsfrom the same pointThe spokes of the wheel diverge from the hub.
isotope
varying form of an elementThe study of the isotopes of uranium led to the development of the nuclear bomb.
conveyance
vehicle; transferDuring the transit strike, commuters used various kinds of conveyances.
tarantula
venomous spiderWe need an antitoxin to counteract the bite of the tarantula.
plumb
verticalBefore hanging wallpaper it is advisable to drop a plumb line from the ceiling as a guide.
execrable
very badThe anecdote was in execrable taste and shocked the audience.
gingerly
very carefully To separate egg whites, first crack the egg gingerly.
wary
very cautious.The spies grew wary as they approached the sentry.
pernicious
very destructive, harmfulHe argued that these books had a pernicious effect on young and susceptible minds.
munificent
very generousThe munificent gift was presented to the bride by her rich uncle.
lofty
very highThey used to tease him about his lofty ambitions.
momentous
very importantOn this momentous occasion, we must be very solemn.
myriad
very large numbermyriads of mosquitoes from the swamps invaded our village every twilight.
infringe
violate; encroachI think your machine infringes on my patent and intend to sue.
transgression
violation of a law; sinForgive us our transgressions; we know not what we do.
impetuous
violent; hasty; rashWe tried to curb his impetuous behavior because we felt that in his haste he might offend some people.
boisterous
violent; rough; noisyThe unruly crowd became even more boisterous when he tried to quiet them.
insomnia
wakefulness; inability to sleepHe refused to join us in a midnight cup of coffee because he claimed it gave him insomnia.
vagabond
wanderer; trampIn summer, college students wander the roads of Europe like carefree vagabonds.
errant
wanderingMany a charming tale has been written about the knights-errant who helped the weak and punished theguilty during the Age of Chivalry.
nomadic
wanderingSeveral nomadic tribes of Indians would hunt in this area each year.
vigilance
watchfulnessEternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
fluctuation
waveringMeteorologists watch the fluctuations of the barometer in order to predict the weather.
impotent
weak; ineffectiveAlthough he wished to break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent in resisisting the craving for acigarette.
enervate
weakenShe was slow to recover from her illness; even a short walk to the window evervated her.
foible
weakness; slight faultWe can overlook the foibles of our friends; no one is perfect.
languid
weary; sluggish; listlessHer siege of illness left her languid and pallid.
imponderable
weightlessI can evaluate the data gathered in this study; the imponderable items are not so easily analyzed.
ponderous
weighty; unwieldyHis humor lacked the light touch; his jokes were always ponderous.
eerie
weirdIn that eerie setting, it was easy to believe in ghosts and other supernatural beings.
genteel
well-bred; elegantWe are looking for a man with a genteel apperance who can inspire confidence by his cultivated manner.
fanciful
whimsical; visionaryThis is a fanciful scheme because it does not consider the facts.
maelstrom
whirlpoolThe canoe was tossed about in the maelstrom.
breadth
width; extentWe were impressed by the breadth of her knowledge.
pandemonium
wild tumultWhen the ships collided in the harbor, pandemonium broke out among the passengers.
lurid
wild; sensationalThe lurid stories he told shocked his listeners.
vintner
winemaker; seller of wineThe poet wondered what the vintners could buy that would be half as precious as the wine they sold.
adage
wise saying; proverbThere is much truth in the old adage about fools and their money.
astute
wise; shrewdThat was a very astute observation.
malevolent
wishing evilWe must thwart his malevolent schemes.
askance
with a sideways or indirect lookLooking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn.
incognito
with identity concealed; using an assumed nameThe monarch enjoyed traveling throughthe town incognito and mingling with the populace.
apropos
with reference to; regardingI find your remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent.
retraction
withdrawalHe dropped his libel suit after the newspaper published a retraction of its statement.
recession
withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activityThe slow recession of the flood waters created problems for the crews working to restore power to thearea.
incredulous
withholding belief; skeptical When Jack claimed he hadn't eaten the jelly doughnut, Jill took an incredulous look at his smeared face andlaughed.
unique
without an equal; single in kindYou have the unique distinction of being the first student whom I have had to fail in this course.
guileless
without deceitHe is naive, simple, and guileless; he cannot be guilty of fraud.
random
without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazardAlthough the sponsor of the raffle claimed all winners were chosen at random, people had their suspicionswhen the grand prize went to the sponsor's brother-in-law.
categorical
without exceptions; unqualified; absoluteThough the captain claimed he was never, never sick at sea, he finally qualified his categorical denial; hewas hardly ever sick at sea.
impassive
without feeling; not affected by painThe Native American has been incorrectly depicted as an impassive individual, undemonstrative andstoical.
artless
without guile; open and honestRed Riding Hood's artless comment, "Grandma, what big eyes you have!" indicates the child's innocentsurprises at her "grandmother's" changed appearance.
impromptu
without previous preparationHer listeners were amazed that such a thorough presentation could be made in an impromptu speech.
deadpan
wooden; impassiveWe wanted to see how long he could maintain his deadpan expression.
verbatim
word for wordHe repeated the message verbatim.
epithet
word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thingSo 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.
diffusion
wordiness; spreading in all directions like a gasYour composition suffers from a diffusion of ideas; try to be more compact.
verbose
wordyThis article is too verbose; we must edit it.
opus
work Although many critics hailed his Fifth Symphony, he did not regard it as his major opus.
militate
work againstYour record of lateness and absence will militate against your chances of promotion.
collaborate
work togetherTwo writers collaborated in preparing this book.
mundane
worldly as opposed to spiritualHe was concerned only with mundane matters, especially the daily stock market quotations.
secular
worldly; not pertaining to church matters; temporalThe church leaders decided not interfere in secular matters.
solicitous
worried, concernedThe employer was very solicitous about the health of her employees as replacements were difficult to get.
exacerbate
worsen; embitterThis latest arrest will exacerbate the already existing discontent of the people and enrage them.
swathe
wrap around; bandageWhen I visited him in the hospital, I found him swathed in bandages.
miscreant
wretch; villainHis kindness to the miscreant amazed all of us who had expected to hear severe punishment pronounced.
abject
wretched; lacking prideOn the streets of New York the homeless live in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find shelter fromthe wind.
extort
wring from; get money by threats, etc.The blackmailer extorted money from his victim.
subpoena
writ summoning a witness to appearThe prosecutor's office was ready to serve a subpoena on the reluctant witness.
indite
write; composeCyrano indited many letters for Christian.
annuity
yearly allowanceThe annuity he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he canlive very comfortably without working.
jaundiced
yellowed; prejudiced; enviousShe gazed at the painting with jaundiced eyes; she knew it was better than hers.
compliant
yieldingHe was compliant and ready to go along with his friends' desires.
cession
yielding to another; cedingThe cession of Alaska to the United States is discussed in this chapter.
submissive
yielding; timidCrushed by his authoritarian father, Will had no defiance left in him; he was totally submissive in the faceof authority.
whelp
young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.This collie whelp won't do for breeding, but he'd make a fine pet.
skulduggery
dishonest behaviorThe investigation into municipal corruption turned up new instances of skulduggery daily.
palatial
magnificentHe proudly showed us through his palatial home.
formidable
menacing; threateningWe must not treat the battle lightly for we are facing a formidable foe.
amble
moving at an easy paceWhen she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble.
addle
muddle; drive crazyThis idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle anyone.
augury
omen; prophecyHe interpreted the departures of the birds as an augury of evil.
liquidate
settle accounts; clear upHe was able to liquidate all his debts in short period of time.
ordeal
severe trial or afflictionTerry Anderson spoke movingly of his long ordeal as a hostage in Lebanon.
rigor
severityMany settlers could not stand the rigors of the New England winters.
polyglot
speaking several languagesNew York City is a polyglot community because of the thousands of immigrants who settle there.
antiseptic
substance that prevents infectionIt is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound, no matter how slight or insignificant.
propellant
substance that propels or drives forwardThe development of our missile program has forced our scientists to seek more powerful propellants.
serpentine
winding; twistingThe car swerved at every curve in the serpentine road.
migratory
wanderingThe return of the migratory birds to the northern sections of this country is a harbinger of spring.
brazen
insolentHer brazen contempt for authority angered the officials.
impertinent
insolentI regard your remarks as impertinent and I resent them.
wizardry
sorcery; magic.Merlin amazed the knights with his wizardry.
canto
division of a long poemDante's poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy is divided into cantos.
derogatory
expressing a low opinionI resent your derogatory remarks.
potential
expressing possibility; latentThe juvenile delinquent is a potential murderer.
laudatory
expressing praiseThe critics' laudatory comments helped to make her a star.
eloquence
expressiveness; persuasive speechThe crowds were stirred by Martin Luther King's eloquence.
bowdlerize
expurgateAfter the film editors had bowdlerized the language in the script, the motion picture's rating was changedfrom "R" to "PG."
splice
fasten together; uniteBefore you splice two strips of tape together, be sure to line them up evenly.
granulate
form into grainsSugar that has been granulated dissolves more readily than lump sugar.
extricate
free; disentangleHe found that he could not extricate himself from the trap.
phobia
morbid fearHer fear of flying was more than mere nervousness; it was a real phobia.
optimum
most favorableIf you wait for the optimum moment to act, you may never begin your project .
inverse
oppositeThere is an inverse ratio between the strength of light and its distance.
momentum
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetusThe car lost momentum as it tried to ascend the steep hill.
bicker
quarrelThe children bickered morning, noon, and night, exasperating their parents.
odium
repugnance; dislikeI cannot express the odium I feel at your heinous actions.
solicit
request earnestly; seekKnowing she needed to have a solid majority for the budget to pass, the mayor telephoned all the membersof the city council to solicit their votes.
discrete
separate; unconnectedThe universe is composed of discrete bodies.
estranged
separated; alienatedThe estranged wife sought a divorce.
casualty
serious or fatal accidentThe number of automotive casualties on this holiday weekend was high.
dismantle
take apartWhen the show closed, they dismantled the scenery before restoring it.
anomalous
abnormal; irregularHe was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures that he despised.
palpitate
throb; flutterAs he became excited, his heart began to palpitate more and more erratically.
barrage
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusionThe company was forced to retreat through the barrage of heavy canyons.
exasperate
vexJohnny often exasperates his mother with his pranks.
rile
vex; irritate; muddyRed had a hair-trigger temper: he was an easy man to rile.
chagrin
vexation; disappointmentHer refusal to go with us filled us with chagrin.
imbecility
weakness of mindI am amazed at the imbecility of the readers of these trashy magazines.
tycoon
wealthy leaderJohn D. Rockefeller was a prominent tycoon.
saccharine
cloyingly sweetShe tried to ingratiate herself, speaking sweetly and smiling a saccharine smile.
voyeur
PeepingJill called Jack a voyeur when she caught him aiming his binoculars at a bedroom window of the housenext door.
lout
clumsy personThe delivery boy is an awkward lout.
gauche
clumsy; boorishSuch remarks are gauche and out of place; you should apologize for making them.
centurion
Roman army officerBecause he was in command of a company of one hundred soldiers, he was called a centurion.
befuddle
confuse thoroughlyHis attempts to clarify the situation succeeded only on befuddling her further.
muddle
confuse; mix upHis thoughts were muddled and chaotic.
confound
confuse; puzzleNo mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes for long.
discombobulated
confused; discomposedThe novice square dancer became so discombobulated that he wandered into wrong set.
hypothetical
based on assumptions or hypothesesWhy do we have to consider hypothetical cases when we have actual case histories that we may examine?
bemused
confused; lost in thought; preoccupiedJill studied the garbled instructions with a bemused look on her face.
empirical
based on experienceHe distrusted hunches and intuitive flashes; he placed his reliance entirely on empirical data.
throng
crowdThrongs of shoppers jammed the aisles.
fell
cruel; deadlyThe newspapers told of the tragic spread of the fell disease
tureen
deep dish for serving soupThe waiters brought the soup to the tables in silver tureens.
incipient
beginning; in an early stageI will go to sleep early for I want to break an incipient cold.
demeanor
behavior; bearingHis sober demeanor quieted the noisy revelers.
arrears
being in debtHe was in arrears with his payments on the car.
fatalism
belief that events are determined by forces beyond one's controlWith fatalism, he accepted the hardships that beset him.
vituperative
abusive; scolding He became more vituperative as he realized that we were not going to grant him his wish.
chasm
abyssThey could not see the bottom of the chasm.
mishap
accidentWith a little care you could have avoided this mishap.
dissection
analysis; cutting apart in order to examineThe dissection of frogs on the laboratory is particularly unpleasant to some students.
graduated
arraged by degree (of height, difficulty, etc.)Margaret loved her graduated set of Russian hollow wooden dolls; she spent hours happily putting thesmaller dolls into their larger counterparts.
codify
arrange (laws, rules) as a code; classify We need to take the varying rules and regulations of the different health agencies and codify them into anational health code.
abet
assist, usually in doing something wrongShe was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned.
lax
carelessWe dislike restaurants where the service is lax and inattentive.
cajole
coax; wheedleI will not be cajoled into granting your wish.
narcissist
conceited personA narcissist is his own best friend.
nexus
connectionI fail to see the nexus that binds these two widely separated events.
profound
deep; not superficial; completeFreud's remarkable insights into human behavior caused his fellow scientists to honor him as a profoundthinker.
dissolution
disintegration; looseness in moralsThe profligacy and dissolution of life in Caligula's Rome appall some historians.
disaffected
disloyalOnce the most loyal of Gorbachev's supporters, Shverdnaze found himself becoming increasinglydisaffected.
savor
enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or qualityRelishing his triumph, Costner especially savored the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure.
egoism
excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than inothersHis egoism prevented him from seeing the needs of his colleagues.
meticulous
excessively carefulHe was meticulous in checking his accounts and never made mistakes.
slapdash
haphazard; careless; sloppyFrom the number of typos and misspellings I've found on it, it's clear that Mario proofread the report in aremarkably slapdash fashion.
concurrent
happening at the same timeIn America, the colonists were resisting the demands of the mother contry; at the concurrent moment inFrance, the middle class was sowing the seeds of rebellion.
ardor
heat; passion; zealKatya's ardor was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handingout flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
colossal
hugeRadio City Music Hall has a colossal stage.
levy
impose (a fine); collect (a payment)Crying "No taxation withouth representation," the colonists demonstrated against England's power to levytaxes.
cant
pious phraseology; jargon of criminalsAngry that the president had slashed the education budget, we dismissed his speech on the importance ofeducation as mere cant.
incentive
spur; motiveStudents who dislike school must be given an incentive to learn.
filch
stealThe boys filched apples from the fruit stand.
molecule
the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of thatsubstanceIn chemistry, we study how atoms and molcules react to form new substances.
histrionic
theatricalHe was proud of his histrionic ability and wanted to paly the role of Hamlet.
nullify
to make invalidOnce the contract was nullified, it no longer had any legal force.
roil
to make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; to disturbBe careful when you pour not to roil the wine; if you stir up the sediment you'll destroy the flavor.
rendition
translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc.The audience cheered enthusiastically as she completed her rendition of the aria.
trek
travel; journeyThe tribe made their trek further north that summer in search of game.
fractious
unrulyThe fractious horse unseated its rider.
insalubrious
unwholesome; not healthfulThe mosquito-ridden swamp was an insalubrious place, a breeding ground for malarial contagion.
colander
utensil with perforated bottom used for strainingBefore serving the spaghetti, place it in a colander to drain it.
blurt
utter impulsivelyBefore she could stop him, he blurted out the news.
refrain
v. abstain from; resist n. chorusWhenever he heard a song with a lively chorus, Sol could never refrain from joining in on the refrain.
generality
vague statementThis report is filled with generalities; you must be more specific in you statements.
nebulous
vague; hazy; cloudyShe had only a nebulous memory of her grandmother's face.
muggy
warm and dampAugust in New York City is often muggy.
chafe
warm by rubbingThe collar chafed his neck.
admonish
warn; reproveHe admonished his listeners to change their wicked ways.
context
writings preceding and following the passage quotedBecause these lines are taken out of context, they do not convey the message the author intended.
amiss
wrong; faultySeeing her frown, he wondered if anything were amiss.
nirvana
Buddihist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of animpersonal beatitudeDespite his desire to achieve nirvana, the young Buddhist found that even the buzzing of a fly coulddistract him from his meditation.
arcade
a covered passageway, usually lined with shopsThe arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and thewinter rain.
disarray
a disorderly or untidy stateAfter the New Year's party, the once orderly house was in total disarray.
psychiatrist
a doctor who treats mental diseasesA psychiatrist often needs long conferences with his patient before a diagnosis can be made.
disquisition
a formal systematic inquiry; an explanation of the results of a formal inquiryIn his disquisition, he outlined the steps he had taken in reaching his conclusions.
legacy
a gift made by a willPart of my legacy from my parents is an album of family photographs.
scad
a great quantityRefusing Dave's offer to lend him a shirt, Phil replied, "No, thanks: I've got scads of clothes."
relinquish
abandonI will relinquish my claims to this property if you promise to retain my employees.
ventral
abdominalWe shall now examine the ventral plates of this serpent, not the dorsal side.
elaboration
addition of details; intricacyTell what happened simply, without any elaboration.
addendum
addition; appendix to bookJane's editor approved her new comparative literature text but thought it would be even better with anaddendum on recent developments in literary criticism.
accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thingShe bought an attractive handbag as an accessory for her dress.
amiable
agreeable; lovableHis amiable disposition pleased all who had dealings with him.
palatable
agreeable; pleasing to the tasteNeither Jack's underbaked opinions nor his overcooked casseroles were palatable to me.
haggle
argue about pricesI prefer to shop in a store that has a one-price policy because, whenever I haggle with a shopkeeper, I amnever certain that I paid a fair price for the articles I purchased.
disputatious
argumentative; fond of argumentPeople avoided discussing contemporary problems with him because of his disputatious manner.
stemfrom
arise fromMilton's problems in school stemmed from his poor study habits.
cohorts
armed bandCaesar and his Roman cohorts conquered almost all of the known world.
practical
based on experience; usefulHe was a practical man, opposed to theory
transpire
be revealed; happenWhen Austen writes the sentence "It had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him," hermeaning is not that the debts had just been incurred, but the the shocking news had just leaked out.
fructify
bear fruitThis peach tree should fructify in three years.
temperament
characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excessAlthough the twins look alike, they differ markedly in temperament: Tod is calm, but Rod is excitable.
lateral
coming from the sideIn order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots.
sacrilegious
desecrating; profaneHis stealing of the altar cloth was a very sacrilegious act.
reprehensible
deserving blameYour vicious conduct in this situation is reprehensible.
sedulous
diligentThe young woman was so sedulous that she received a commendation for her hard work.
caricature
distortion; burlesqueThe caricatures he drew always emphasized personal weaknesses of the people he burlesqued.
primordial
existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentaryThe Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial ancestors.
exegesis
explanation, especially of biblical passagesI can follow your exegesis of this passage to a limited degree; some of your reasoning eludes me.
default
failure to doAs a result of her husband's failure to appear in court, she was granted a divorce by default.
equitable
fair; impartialI am seeking an equitable solution to this dispute, one which will be fair and acceptable to both sides.
equity
fairness; justiceOur courts guarantee equity to all.
purchase
firm grasp or footingThe mountaineer struggled to get a proper purchase on the slippery rock.
florid
flowery; ruddyHis complexion was even more florid than usual because of his anger.
influx
flowing intoThe influx of refugees into the country has taxed the relief agencies severely.
mellifluous
flowing smoothly; smoothItalian is a mellifluous language.
citadel
fortressThe citadel overlooked the city like a protecting angel.
buxom
full-bosomed; plump; jollyHigh fashion models usually are slender rather than buxom.
colossus
gigantic statueThe legendary Colossus of Rhodes, bronze statue of the sun god that dominated the harbor of the Greekseaport, was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
ogle
glance coquettishly at; make eyes atSitting for hours at the sidewalk cafe, the old gentleman would oggle the young girls and recall his youthfulromances.
raspy
grating; harshThe sergeant's raspy voice grated on the recruits' ears.
avarice
greed for wealthKing Midas's avarice has been famous for centuries.
avid
greedy; eager forHe was avid for learning and read everything he could get.
accretion
growth; increaseThe accretion of wealth marked the family's rise in power.
tutelage
guardianship; trainingUnder the tutelage of such masters of the instrument, she made rapid progress as a virtuoso.
trite
hackneyed; commonplaceThr trite and predictable situations in many television programs alienate many viewers.
arduous
hard; strenuousHer arduous efforts had sapped her energy.
eminent
high; loftyAfter his appointment to this emiment position, he seldom had time for his former friends.
intellect
higher mental powersHe thought college would develop his intellect.
apogee
highest pointWhen the moon in its orbit is furthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee.
aghast
horrifiedHe was aghast at the nerve of the speaker who had insulted his host.
enormity
hugeness (in a bad sense)He did not realize the enormity of his crime until he saw what suffering he had caused.
humility
humbleness of spiritHe spoke with a humility and lack of pride that impressed his listeners.
metaphor
implied comparison"He soared like an eagle" is an example of a simile; "He is an eagle in flight," is a metaphor.
chaotic
in utter disorderHe tried to bring order into the chaotic state of affairs.
innate
inbornHis innate talent for music was soon recognized by his parents.
nascent
incipient; coming into beingIf we could identify these revolutionary movements in their nascent state, we would be able to eliminateserious trouble in later years.
nonchalance
indifference; lack of interestFew people could understand how he could listen to the news of the tragedy with such nonchalance; themahority regarded him as callous and unsympathetic.
apathetic
indifferentHe felt apathetic about the conditions he had observed and did not care to fight against them.
insouciant
indifferent; without concern or careYour insouciant attitude at such a critical moment indicates that you do not understand the gravity of thesituation.
impregnable
invulnerableUntil the development of the airplane as a military weapon, the fort was considered impregnable.
opalescent
iridescentThe Ancient Mariner admired the opalescent sheen on the water.
anvil
iron block used in hammering out metalsAfter heating the iron horseshoe in the forge, the blacksmith picked it up with his tongs and set it on theanvil.
anomaly
irregularityA bird that cannot fly is an anomaly.
ineluctable
irresistable; not to be escapedHe felt that his fate was ineluctible and refused to make any attempt to improve his lot.
juggernaut
irresistible crushin forceNothing could survive in the path of the juggernaut.
impiety
irreverence; wickednessWe must regard your blasphemy as an act of impiety.
quarantine
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection We will have to place this house under quarantine until we determine the nature of the disease.
seclusion
isolation; solitudeOne moment she loved crowds; the next, she sought seclusion.
emanate
issue forthA strong odor of sulfur emanated from the spring.
agenda
items of business at a meetingWe had so much difficulty agreeing upon an agenda that there was very little time for the meeting.
yoke
join together, unite.I don't wish to be yoked to him in marriage, as if we were cattle pulling a plow.
insubstantial
lacking substance; insignificant; frailHis hopes for a career in acting proved insubstantial; no one would cast him, even in an insubstantial role.
lavish
liberal; wastefulThe actor's lavish gifts pleased her.
baleful
menacing; deadlyCasting a baleful eye at his successful rival, the rejected suitor stole off, vowing to have his revenge.
medley
mixtureThe band played a medley of Gershwin tunes.
sacrosanct
most sacred; inviolableThe brash insurance salesman invaded the sacrosanct privacy of the office of the president of the company.
maternal
motherly Many animals display maternal instincts only while their offspring are young and helpless.
gesticulation
motion; gestureOperatic performers are trained to make exaggerated gesticulations because of the large auditoriums inwhic they appear.
stagnant
motionless; stale; dullThe stagnant water was a breeding ground for disease
waft
moved gently by wind or waves.Daydreaming, he gazed at the leaves that wafted past his window.
regicide
murder of a king or queenThe beheading of Mary Queen of Scots was an act of regicide.
myopic
nearsightedIn thinking only of your present needs and ignoring the future, you are being rather myopic.
natty
neatly or smartly dresssedPriding himself on being a natty dresser, the gangster Bugsy Siegel collected a wardrobe of imported suitsand ties.
impenitent
not repentantWe could see by his brazen attitude that he was impenitent.
ironic
occurring in an unexpected and contrary mannerIt is ironic that his success came when he least wanted it.
sporadic
occurring irregularlyAlthough there are still sporadic outbursts of shooting in the streets, the rebellion is essentially over.
eccentricity
oddity; idiosyncrasySome of his friends tried to account for his rudeness to strangers as the eccentricity of genius.
piebald
of different colors; motled; spottedYou should be able to identify Polka Dot in this race; he is the only piebald horse running.
senility
old age; feeble mindedness of old ageMost of the decisions are being made by the junior members of the company because of the senility of thepresident.
trappings
outward decorations; ornamentsHe loved the trappings of success: the limousines, the stock options, the company jet.
manifestation
outward demonstration; indicationMozart's early attraction to the harsichord was the first manifestation of his pronounced musical bent.
elliptical
oval; ambiguous, either purposely or because key words have been left outAn elliptical billiad ball wobbles because it is not perfectly round; an elliptical remark baffles because it isnot perfectly clear.
gloss
over explain awayNo matter how hard he tried to talk around the issue, President Bush could not gloss over the fact that hehad raised the taxes after all.
surmount
overcomeHe had to surmount many obstacles in order to succeed.
inundate
overflow; floodThe tremendous waves inundated the town.
elated
overjoyed; in high spiritsGrinning from ear to ear, Bonnie Blair was clearly elated by her Olympic victory.
beneficiary
person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policyYou may change your beneficiary as often as you wish.
reprobate
person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decencyI cannot understand why he has so many admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is.
devout
piousThe devout man prayed daily.
enrapture
please intenselyThe audience was enraptured by the freshness of the voices and the excellent orchestration.
luscious
pleasing to taste or smellThe ripe peach was luscious.
troth
pledge of good faith especially in betrothalHe gave her his troth and vowed to cherish her always.
fallow
plowed but sowed; uncultivated Farmers have learned that it is advisable to permit land to le fallow every few years.
martrix
point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or dieSome historians claim the Nile Valley was the matrix of the Western civilization.
awl
pointed tool used for piercingShe used an awl to punch additional holes in the leather belt she had bought.
muse
ponderFor a moment he mused about the beauty of the scene, but his thought soon changed as he recalled hisown personal problems.
doggerel
poorverseAlthough we find occasional snatches of genuine poetry in her work, most of her writing is mere doggerel.
vogue
popular fashionJeans became the vogue on many college campuses.
presentiment
premonition; forebodingHamlet felt a presentiment about his meeting with Laertes.
docket
program asfor trial; book where such entries are madeThe case of Smith v. Jones was entered in the docket for July 15.
interdict
prohibit; forbidCivilized nations must interdict the use of nuclear weapons if we expect out society to live.
inhibit
prohibit; restrainThe child was not inhibited in her responses.
extrapolation
projection; conjectureBased on their extrapolation from the results of the primaries on Super Tuesday, the networks predictedthat George Bush would be the Republican candidate for the presidency.
salient
prominentOne of the salient features of that newspaper is its excellent editorial page.
whiff
puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); hint.The slightest whiff of Old Spice cologne brought memories of George to her mind.
wrest
pull away; take by violence.With only ten seconds left to play, our team wrested victory from their grasp.
wrench
pull; strain; twist.She wrenched free of her attacker and landed a powerful kick to his kneecap.
chastise
punishI must chastise you for this offense.
pillory
punish by placing in a wooden frame; subject to criticism and ridiculeEven though he was mocked and pilloried, he maintained that he was correct in his beliefs.
punitive
punishingHe asked for punitive measures against the offender.
castigation
punishment; severe criticismSensitive even to mild criticism, Woolf could not bear castigation that she found in certain reviews.
retort
quick, sharp replyEven when it was advisable for her to keep her mouth shut, she was always ready with a retort.
cite
quote; commendShe could cite passages in the Bible from memory.
compute
reckon; calculateHe failed to compute the interest, so his bank balance was not accurate.
recumbent
reclining; lying down completely or in partThe command "AT EASE" does not permit you to take a recumbent position.
reactionary
recoiling from progress; retrogradeHis program was reactionary since it sought to abolish many of the social reforms instituted by theprevious administration.
reminiscence
recollectionHer reminiscences of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book.
sublimate
refine; purifyWe must strive to sublimate these desires and emotions into worthwhile activities.
meditation
reflection; thoughtShe reached her decision only after much meditation.
abstain
refrain; withhold from participationAfter considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinkingwhile he trained for the race.
limbo
region near heaven or hell where certain souls are keptAmong the divisions of Hell are Purgatory and limbo.
kindred
related; similar in nature or characterTom Sawyer and Huck Finn were two kindred spirits.
requite
repay; revengeThe wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them.
venerate
revereIn China, the people venerate their ancestors.
circuitous
roundaboutBecause of the traffic congestion on the main highways, she took a circuitous route.
conservatory
school of the fine arts (especiallymusic or drama)A gifted violinist, Marya was selected to study at the conservatory.
sophistry
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoningInstead of advancing valid arguments, he tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood of sophistries.
specious
seemingly reasonable but incorrectLet us not be misled by such specious arguments.
usurp
seize power; supplantThe revolution ended when the victorious rebel leader usurped the throne.
confiscate
seize; commandeerThe army confiscated all available supplies of uranium.
truism
self-evident truthMany a truism is well expressed in a proverb.
exemplary
serving as a model; outstandingHer exemplary behavior was praised at commencement.
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliaryIn an ancillary capacity Doctor Watson was helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the good doctor tosolve a perplexing case on his own.
premonitory
serving to warnYou should have visited a doctor as soon as you felt these premonitory chest pains.
emancipate
set freeAt first, the attempts of the Abolitioninst to emancipate the slaves were unpopular in New England as wellas in the South.
carillon
set of bells capable of being playedThe carillon in the bell tower of the Coca-Cola pavilion at the New York World's Fair provided musicalentertainment every hour.
ensconce
settle comfortablyThe parents thought that their children were ensconced safely in the private school and decided to leavefor Europe.
subside
settle down; descend; grow quietThe doctor assured us that the fever would eventually subside.
parable
short, simple story teaching a moralLet us apply to our own conduct the lesson that this parable teaches.
ephemeral
short-lived; fleetingThe mayfly is an ephemeral creature.
skiff
small, light sailboat or rowboatTom dreamed of owning an ocean-going yacht but had to settle for a skiff he could sail in the bay.
pallet
small, poor bedThe weary traveler went to sleep on his straw pallet.
exiguous
small; minuteGrass grew there, an exiguous outcropping among the rocks.
dolorous
sorrowfrlHe found the dolorous lamentations of the bereaved family emotionally disturbing and he left as quickly ashe could.
judicious
sound in judgment; wiseAt a key moment in his life, he made a judicious investment that was the foundation of his later wealth.
capacious
spaciousIn the capacious areas of the railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting for their train.
philatelist
stamp-collectorWhen she heard the value of the Penny Black stamp, Phyllis was inspired to become a philatelist.
rout
stampede; drive outThe reinforcements were able to rout the enemy
diligence
steadiness of effort; persisten hard workHer employers were greatly impressed by her diligence and offered her a partnership in the firm.
plagiarize
steal another's ideas and pass them off as one's own The editor could tell that the writer had plagiarized parts of the article; he could recognize wholeparagraphs from the original source.
embezzlement
stealingThe bank teller confessed his embezzlement of the funds.
agitate
stir up; disturbHer fiery remarks agitated the already angry mob.
appurtenances
subordinate possessionsHe bought the estate and all its appurtenances.
reputed
supposedHe is the reputed father of the child.
venison
the meat of a deerThe hunters dined on venison.
larceny
theftBecause of the prisoner's record, the district attorney refused to reduce the charge from grand larceny topetit larceny.
motif
themeThis simple motif runs throughout the score.
memento
token; reminderTake this book as a memento of your visit.
trivia
trifles; unimportant mattersToo many magazines ignore newsworthy subjects and feature trivia.
flippancy
trifling gaietyYour flippancy at this serious moment is offensive.
jaunt
trip; short journeyHe took a quick jaunt to Atlantic City.
despotism
tyrannyThe people rebelled against the despotism of the king.
unintimidating
unfrighteningThough Phil had expected to feel overawed when he met Joe Montana, he found the experienceunintimidating and relaxing.
ingrate
ungrateful personThat ingrate Bob sneered at the tie I gave him.
carat
unit of weight for precious stones; measure of fineness of goldHe gave her a diamond that weighed three carats and was mounted in an eighteen-carat gold band.
prophylactic
used to prevent diseaseDespite all prophylactic measures introduced by the authorities, the epidemic raged until cool weather setin.
foppish
vain about dress and appearanceHe tried to imitate the foppish manner of the young men of the court.
infinitesimal
very smallIn the twentieth century, physicists have made their greatest discoveries about the characteristics ofinfinitesimal objects like the atom and its parts.
mite
very small object or creature; small coinGnats are annoying mites that sing.
iota
very small quantityShe hadn't an iota of common sense.
sinuous
winding; bending in and out; not morally honestThe snake moved in a sinuous manner.
gusty
windyThe gusty weather made sailing precarious.
peripatetic
walking about; movingThe peripatetic school of philosophy derives its name from the fact that Aristotle walked with his pupilswhile discussing philosophy with them.
welter
wallow.At the height of the battle, the casualties were so numerous that the victims weltered in their blood whilewaiting for medical attention.
ramble
wander aimlessly (physically or mentally)Listening to the teacher ramble, Judy wondered whether he'd ever get to his point.
dross
waste matter; worhtless impuritiesMany methods have been devised to separate the valuable metal from the dross.
haggard
wasted away; gauntAfter his long illness, he was pale and haggard.
prodigal
wasteful; reckless with moneyThe prodigal son squandered his inheritance.
vacillate
waver; fluctuateUncertain which suitor she ought to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one, now the other.
sinecure
well-paid position with little responsibilityMy job is no sinecure; I work long hours and have much responsibility.
bedraggle
wet thoroughlyWe were so bedraggled by the severe storm that we had to change into dry clothing.
onomatopoeia
words formed in imitation of natural soundsWords like "rustle" and "gargle" are illustrations of onomatopoeia.
sallow
yellowish; sickly in colorWe were disturbed by his sallow complexion, which was due to jaundice.
succumb
yield; give in; dieI succumb to temptation whenever it comes my way.
debutante
yound woman making formal entrance into societyAs a debutante, she was often mentioned in the society columns of the newspapers.
condign
adequate; deservedly severeThe public approved the condign punishment for the crime.
assent
agree; acceptIt gives me great pleasure to assent to your request.
accord
agreementShe was in complete accord with the verdict.
synthetic
artificial; resulting from synthesisDuring the twentieth century, many synthetic products have replaced the natural products.
append
attachI shall append this chart to my report.
prattle
babbleThe children prattle endlessly about their new toys.
encumber
burdenSome people encumber themselves with too much luggage, when they take short trips.
tranquillity
calmness; peaceAfter the commotion and excitement of the city, I appreciate the tranquillity of these fields and forests.
serenity
calmness; placidityThe serenity of the sleepy town was shattered by a tremendous explosion.
rescind
cancelBecause of public resentment, the king had to rescind his order.
prehensile
capable of grasping or holdingMonkeys use not only their arms and legs but also their prehensile tails in traveling through the trees.
viable
capable of maintaining life; practicable; workableThe infant, though prematurely born, is viable and has a good chance to survive.
ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal easeA switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous.
vagary
caprice; whimShe followed every vagary of fashion.
whimsical
capricious; fanciful.He dismissed his generous gift to his college as a sentimental fancy, an old man's whimsical gesture.
coalesce
combine; fuseThe brooks coalesce into one large river.
plenary
complete; fullThe union leader was given plenary power to negotiate a new contract with the employers.
integral
complete; necessary for completenessPhysical education is an integral part of our curriculum; a sound mind and a sound body arecomplementary.
absolute
complete; totally unlimited; certainAlthough the King of Siam was an absolute monarch, he did not want to behead his unfaithful wifewithout absolute evidence of her infidelity.
fathom
comprehend; investigateI find his motives impossible to fathom.
constraint
compulsion; repression of feelingsThere was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one dared to criticize the speaker.
egotism
conceit; vanityShe thought so much of herself that we found her egotism unwarranted and irritating.
smirk
conceited smileWipe that smirk off your face!
obfuscate
confuse; muddleDo not obfuscate the issues by dragging in irrelevant arguments.
censorious
criticalcensorious people delight in casting blame.
anathematize
curseThe high priest anathematized the heretic.
dank
dampThe walls of the dungeon were dank and slimy.
inveterate
deep-rooted; habitualShe is an inveterate smoker and cannot break the habit.
ingrained
deeply established; firmly rootedTry as they would, the missionaries were unable to uproot the ingrained superstitions of the natives.
slander
defamation; utterance of false and malicious statementsUnless you can prove your allegations, your remarks constitute slander.
carnage
destruction of lifeThe carnage that can be caused by atomic warfare adds to the responsibilities of our statesmen.
resolution
determinationNothing could shake his resolution to succeed despite all difficulties.
resolve
determinationNothing could shake his resolve that his children would get the best education that money could buy.
squalid
dirty; neglected; poorIt is easy to see how crime can breed in such a squalid neighborhood.
calamity
disaster; miseryAs news of the calamity spread, offers of relief poured in to the stricken community.
discernible
distinguishable; perceivableThe ships in the harbor were not discernible in the fog.
awry
distorted; crooked He held his head awry, giving the impression that he had caught cold in his neck during the night.
perturb
disturb greatlyI am afraid this news will perturb him and cause him grief.
dubious
doubtfulHe has the dubious distinction of being the lowest man in his class.
equivocal
doubtful; ambiguousMacbeth was misled by the equivocal statements of the witches.
misgivings
doubtsHamlet described his misgivings to Horatio but decided to fence with Laertes despite his foreboding ofevil.
ferret
drive or hunt out of hidingShe was ferreted out their secret.
rapport
emotional closeness; harmonyIn team teaching, it is important that all teachers in the group have good rapport with one another.
libido
emotional urges behind human activityThe psychiatrist maintained that suppression of the libido often resulted in maladjustment and neuroses.
exorbitant
excessiveThe people grumbled at his exorbitant prices but paid them because he had a monopoly.
fanaticism
excessive zealThe leader of the group was held responsible even though he could not control the fanaticism of hisfollowers.
superfluous
excessive; overabundant, unnecessaryPlease try not to include so many superfluous details in your report; just give me the bare facts.
pretext
excuseHe looked for a good pretext to get out of paying a visit to his aunt.
impeccable
faultlessHe was proud of his impeccable manners.
gaudy
flashy; showyHer gaudy taste in clothes apalled us.
flux
flowing; series of changesWhile conditions are in such a state of flux, I do not wish to commit myself too deeply in this affair.
glib
fluentHe is a glib and articulate speaker.
voluble
fluent; glibShe was a voluble speaker, always ready to talk.
retinue
following; attendantsThe queen's retinue followed her down the aisle.
quadruped
four-footed animalMost mammals are quadrupeds.
shard
fragment, generally of potteryThe archaeologist assigned several students the task of reassembling earthenware vessels from the shardshe had brought back from the expedition.
porous
full of pores; like a sieve Dancers like to wear porous clothing because it allows the ready passage of water and air.
obsequy
funeral ceremonyHundreads paid their last respects at his obsequies.
hindmost
furthest behindThe coward could always be found in the hindmost lines whenever a battle was being waged.
serendipity
gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luckMany scientific discoveries are a matter of serendipity: Newton was not sitting there thinking about gravitywhen the apple dropped on his head.
benefactor
gift giver; patronScrooge later became Tiny Tim's benefactor and gave him a benediction.
mammoth
giganticThe mammoth corporations of the twentieth century are a mixed blessing
titanic
gigantictitanic waves beat aginst the shore during the hurricane.
pendulous
hanging; suspendedThe pendulous chandeliers swayed in the breeze as if they were about to fall from the ceiling.
adamant
hard, inflexibleHe was adamant in his determination to punish the wrongdoer.
callous
hardened; unfeelingHe had worked in the hospital for so many years that he was callous to the suffering in the wards.
partiality
inclination; biasAs a judge, not only must I be unbiased, but I must also avoid any evidence of partiality when I award theprize.
proclivity
inclination; natural tendency The cross old lady has a proclivity to grumble.
daunt
intimidateYour threats cannot daunt me.
devoid
lackingHe was devoid of any personal desire for gain in his endeavor to secure improvement in the community.
incontinent
lacking self-restraintHis incontinent behavior off stage shocked many people and they refused to attend the plays and moviesin which he appeared.
dirge
lament with musicThe funeral dirge stirred us to tears.
peon
landless agricultural worker; bond servantThe land reformers sought to liberate the peons and establish them as independent farmers.
parlance
language; idiomAll this legal parlance confuses me; I need an interpreter.
missive
letterThe ambassador received a missive from the Secretary of State.
prevaricate
lieSome people believe that to prevaricate in a good cause is justifiable and regard the statement as a "whitelie."
queue
lineThey stood patiently in the queue outside the movie theatre.
coeval
living at the same time as; contemporarycoeval with the dinosaur, the pterodactyl flourished during the Mesozoic era.
vernacular
living language; natural styleCut out those old-fashioned "thee's" and "thou's" and write in the vernacular.
abominate
loathe; hateMoses scolded the idol worshippers in the tribe because he abominated the custom.
repugnance
loathingShe looked at the snake with repugnance.
patois
local or provincial dialectHis years of study of the language at the university did not enable him to understand the patois of thenatives.
yen
longing; urge.She had a yen to get away and live on her own for a while.
retrospective
looking back on the pastIt is only when we become retrospective that we can appreciate the tremendous advances made during thiscentury.
introspective
looking within oneselfWe all have our introspective moments during which we examine our souls.
episodic
loosely connectedThough he tried to follow the plot of Gravity's Rainbow, John found the novel too episodic.
languish
lose animation; lose strengthIn stories, lovelorn damsels used to languish and pine away.
steadfast
loyal; unswervingPenelope was steadfast in her affections, faithfully waiting for Ulysses to return from his wanderings.
fidelity
loyaltyA dog's fidelity to its owner is one of the reasons why that animal is a favorite household pet.
decoy
lure or baitThe wild ducks were not fooled by the decoy.
entice
lure; attract; temptShe always tried to entice her baby brother into mischief.
lascivious
lustfulBecause they might arouse lascivious impulses in their readers, the lewd books were banned by the clergy.
libidinous
lustfulThey objected to his libidinous behavior.
bask
luxuriate; take pleasure in warmthbasking on the beach, she relaxed so completely that she fell asleep.
supine
lying on backThe defeated pugilist lay supine on the canvas.
calumny
malicious misrepresentationHe could endure his financial failure, but he could not bear the calumny that his foes heaped upon him.
ductility
malleability; flexibility; ability to be drawn outCopper wire has many industrial uses because of its extreme ductility.
inimitable
matchless; not able to be imitatedWe admire Auden for his inimitable use of language; he is one of a kind.
labyrinth
mazeTom and Becky were lost in the labyrinth of secret caves.
scanty
meager; insufficientThinking his helping of food was scanty, Oliver Twist asked for more.
denotation
meaning; distinguishing by nameA dictionary will always give us the denotation of a word; frequently, it will always give us its connotation.
niggardly
meanly stingy; parsimoniousThe niggardly pittance the widow receives from the government cannot keep her from poverty.
cloister
monastery or conventThe nuns lived in the cloister.
whinny
neigh like a horse. When he laughed through his nose, it sounded as if he whinnied.
patrician
noble; aristocraticWe greatly admired her well-bred, patrician elegance
clamor
noiseThe clamor of the children at play outside made it impossible for her to take a nap.
passive
not active; acted uponMahatma Gandhi urged his followers to pursue a program of passive resistance as he felt that it was moreeffective than violence and acts of terrorism.
nutrient
nourishing substanceAs a budding nutritionist, Kim has learned to design diets that contain foods rich in important basicnutrients.
docile
obedient; easily managedAs docile as he seems today, that old lion was once a ferocious, snarling beast.
missile
object to be thrown or projectedScientists are experimenting with guided missiles.
recalcitrant
obstinately stubbornDonkeys are reputed to be the most recalcitrant of animals.
indignity
offensive or insulting treatmentAlthough he seemed to accept cheerfully the indignities heaped upon him, he was inwardly very angry.
immolate
offer as a sacrificeThe tribal kind offered to immolate his daughter to quiet the angry gods.
tender
offer; extendAlthough no formal changes had been made against him, in the wake of the recent scandal the mayor felthe should tender his resignation.
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or sub-sidiaryTo prepare for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station.
incumbent
officeholderThe newly elected public official received valuable advice from the present incumbent.
liaison
officer who acts as go-between for two armies; intermediaryAs the liason, he had to avoid offending the leaders of the two armies.
functionary
officialAs his case was transferred from one functionary to another, he began to despair of ever reaching asettlement.
unctous
oily; bland; insincerely suaveUriah Heep disguised his nefarious actions by unctuous protestations of his "'umility."
unguent
ointment Apply this unguent to the sore muscles before retiring.
passe
old-fashioned; past the primeHer style is passe and reminiscent of the Victorian era.
caste
one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society, social stratification; prestigeThe differences created by caste in India must be wiped out if true democracy is to prevail in that country.
pacifist
one opposed to force; antimilitaristThe pacifists urged that we reduce our military budget and recall our troops stationed overseas.
apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefsBecause he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate.
malingerer
one who feigns illness to escape dutyThe captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers and force them to work.
optometrist
one who fits glasses to remedy visual defectsAlthough an optometrist is qualified to treat many eye disorders, she may not use medicinesor surgery inher examinations.
reaper
one who harvests grainDeath, the Grim Reaper, cuts down men and women, just as a farmer cuts down the ripened grain.
introvert
one who is introspective; inclined to think more about oneselfIn his poetry, he reveals that he is an introvert by his intense interest in his own problems.
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence of knowability of a god or any ultimate realityThe agnostic demanded proof before she would accept the statement of the minister.
hireling
one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously)In a matter of such importance, I do not wish to deal with hirelings; I must meet with the chief.
seep
ooze; trickleDuring the rainstorm, water seeped through the crack in the basement wall and damaged the floor boards.
overt
open to viewAccording to the United States Constitution, a person must commit an overt act before he may be tried fortreason.
gape
open widelyThe huge pit gaped before him; if he stumbled, he would fall in.
gambit
opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificedThe player was afraid to accept his opponent's gambit because he feared a trap which as yet he could notsee.
aria
operatic soloAt her Metropolitan Opera audition, Marian Anderson sang an aria from Norma.
provenance
origin or source of somethingI am not interested in its provenance; I am more concerned with its usefulness than with its source.
prototype
original work used as a model by othersThe crude typewriter on display in this museum is the prototype of the elaborate machines in use today.
epaulet
ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)The shoulder loops on Sam Spade's trench coat are the nonmilitary counterparts of the fringed epaulets onGeorge Washington's uniform.
frieze
ornamental band on a wallThe frieze of the church was adorned with sculpture.
brooch
ornamental claspShe treasured the brooch because it was an heirloom.
flamboyant
ornateModern architecture has discarded the flamboyant trimming on buildings and emphasizes simplicity of line.
proscribe
ostracize; banish; outlawAntony, Octavius and Lepidus proscribed all those who had conspired against Julius Caesar.
travail
painful laborHow long do you think a man can endure such travail and degradation without rebelling?
absolve
pardon (an offense)The father confessor absolved him of his sins.
whittle
pare; cut off bits.As a present for Aunt Polly, Tom whittled some clothespins out of a chunk of wood.
proscenium
part of stage in front of curtainIn the theater-in-the-round there can be no proscenium or proscenium arch.
translucent
partly transparentWe could not recognize the people in the next room because of the translucent curtains that separated us.
faction
party; clique; dissensionThe quarrels and bickering of the two small factions within the club disturbed the majority of themembers.
trajectory
path taken by a projectileThe police tried to locate the spot from which the assassin had fired the fatal shot by tracing the trajectoryof the bullet.
resignation
patient submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a jobIf Bob Cratchit had not accepted Scrooge's bullying with timid resignation, he might have gotten up thenerve to hand in his resignation.
stipend
pay for servicesThere is a nominal stipend for this position.
pseudonym
pen nameSamuel Clemens' pseudonym was Mark Twain.
gentry
people of standing; class of people just below nobilityThe local gentry did not welcome the visits of the summer tourists and tried to ignore their presence in thecommunity.
divine
perceive intuitively; foresee the futureNothing infuriated Tom more than Aunt Polly's ability to divine when he was not telling the truth.
epitome
perfect example or embodimentSinging "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" in The Pirates of Penzance, Major-GeneralStanley proclaimed himself the epitome of an officer and a gentleman.
stickler
perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly rightThe Internal Revenue Service agent was a stickler for accuracy; no approximations or rough estimateswould satisfy him.
interregnum
period between two reignsHenry VIII desperately sought a male heir because he feared the civil strife that might occur if anyprolonged interregum succeeded his death.
epoch
period of timeThe glacial epoch lasted for thousands of years.
problematic
perplexing; unsettled: questionableGiven the many areas of conflict still awaiting resolution, the outcome of the peace talks remainsproblematic.
magnate
person of prominence or influenceThe steel magnate decided to devote more time to city politics.
founder
person who establishes (an organization, business)Among those drowned when the Titanic sank was the founder of the Abraham & Straus chain.
arbiter
person with power to decide a matter in a dispute; judgeAs an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won the confidence of the workers and the employers.
pontifical
pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentiousFrom the very beginning of his ministry it was clear from his pontifical pronouncements that John wasdestined for a high pontifical office.
rustic
pertaining to country people; uncouthThe backwoodsman looked out place in his rustic attire.
inductive
pertaining to induction or preceeding from the specific to the generalThe discovery of the planet Pluto is an excellent example of the results that can be obtained from inductivereasoning.
linguistic
pertaining to languageThe modern tourist will encounter very little linguistic difficulty as English has become an almost universallanguage.
graphic
pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly describedI was particularly impressed by the graphic presentation of the storm.
stellar
pertaining to the starsHe was the stellar attraction of the entire performance.
sylvan
pertaining to the woods; rusticHis paintings of nymphs in sylvan backgrounds were criticized as oversentimental.
germane
pertinent; bearing upon the case at handThe lawyer objected that the testimony being offered was not germane to the case at hand.
relevant
pertinent; referring to the case in hand Teri was impressed by how relevant Virginia Woolf's remarks were to her as a woman writer; it was as ifWoolf had been writing with Teri's situation in mind.
badger
pester; annoyShe was forced to change her telephone number because she was badgered by obscene phone calls.
carping
petty criticism; fault-findingWelcoming constructive criticism, Lexy appreciated her editor's comments, finding them free of carping.
topography
physical features of a regionBefore the generals gave the order to attack, they ordered a complete study of the topography of theregion.
obstetrician
physician specializing in delivery of babiesUnlike midwives, who care for women giving birth at home, obstetricians generally work in a hospitalsetting.
oculist
physician who specialized in treatment of the eyesIn many states, an oculist is the only one who may apply medicinal drops to the eyes for the purpose ofexamining them.
juxtapose
place side by sideComparison will be easier if you juxtapose the two objects.
arboretum
place where different varieties of trees and shrubs are studied and exhibitedWalking along the treelined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly finesycamores.
gratify
pleaseHer parents were gratified by her success.
pillage
plunder The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it in ruins.
strut
pompous walkHis strut as he marched about the parade ground revealed him for what he was: a pompous buffoon.
prognosticate
predictI prognosticate disaster unless we change our wasteful ways.
endue
provide with some quality; endowHe was endued with a lion's courage.
wrangle
quarrel; obtain through arguing; herd cattle.They wrangled over their inheritance.
haphazard
random; by chanceHis haphazard reading left him unaquainted with the authors of the books.
knavery
rascalityWe cannot condone such knavery in public officials.
allude
refer indirectlyTry not to allude to this matter in his presence because the topic annoys him.
thematic
relating to a unifying motif or ideaThose who think of Moby Dick as a simple adventure story about whaling miss is underlying thematicimport.
schematic
relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbolsIn working out the solution to an analytical logic question, you may find it helpful to construct a simpleschematic diagram illustrating the relationships between the items of information given in the question.
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order)The gossip columnist was paid to chronicle the latest escapades of the socially prominent celebrities.
nemesis
revenging agentCaptain Bligh vowed to be Christian's nemesis.
resurgent
rising again after defeat, etc.The resurgent nation surprised everyone by its quick recovery after total defeat.
exposure
risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of layingsomething openExposure to sun and wind had dried out her hair and weathered her face.
fleece
rob; plunderThe tricksters fleeced him of his inheritance.
dearth
scarcityThe dearth of skilled labor compelled the employers to open trade schools.
paucity
scarcityThey closed the restaurant because the paucity of customers made it uneconomical to operate.
seminary
school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young womenSure of his priestly vocation, Terrence planned to pursue his theological training at the local RomanCatholic seminary.
jurisprudence
science of lawHe was more a student of jurisprudence than a practitioner of the law.
anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in placeWe set the post in concrete to anchor it in place.
primogeniture
seniority by birthBy virtue of primogeniture, in some cultures the first-born child has many privileges denied his brothersand sisters.
touchy
sensitive; irascibleDo not discuss this phase of the problem as he is very touchy about it.
sentinel
sentry; lookoutThough camped in enemy territory, Bledsoe ignored the elementary precaution of posting sentinels aroundthe encampment.
sunder
separate; partNorthern and southern Ireland are politically and religiously sundered.
mangy
shabby; wretchedWe finally thew out the mangy rug that the dog had destroyed.
hovel
shack; small, wretched houseHe wondered how poor people could stand living in such a hovel.
fetter
shackleThe prisoner was fettered to the wall.
nuance
shade of difference in meaning or colorThe unskilled eye of the layperson has difficulty in dicerning the nuances of color in the paintings.
doddering
shaky; infirm from old ageAlthough he is not as yet a doddering and senile old man, his ideas and opinions no longer can merit therespect we gave them years ago.
angular
sharp-cornered; stiff in mannerHis features, though angular, were curiously attractive.
acrid
sharp; bitterly pungent The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired.
hone
sharpenTo make shaving easier, he honed his razor with great care.
whet
sharpen; stimulate.The odors from the kitchen are whetting my appetite; I will be ravenous by the time the meal is served.
ostentatious
showy; pretentious; trying to attract attentionTrump's latest casino in Atlantic City is the most ostentatious gambling place in the East: it easilyoutglitters its competitors.
scintilla
shred; least bitYou have not produced a scintilla of evidence to support your argument.
hazy
slightly obscureIn hazy weather, you cannot see the top of this mountain.
hummock
small hillThe ascent of the hummock is not difficult and the view from the hilltop is ample reward tor the effort.
spangle
small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentationThe thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights.
vent
small opening; outletThe wine did not flow because the air vent in the barrel was clogged.
writhe
squirm, twist.He was writhing in pain, desperate for the drug his body required.
protrude
stick outHis fingers protruded from the holes in his gloves.
surrogate
substituteFor a fatherless child, a male teacher may become a father surrogate.
gouge
tear outIn that fight, all the rules were forgotten; the adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to gouge each other's eyesout.
tantalize
tease; torture with disappointmentTom loved to tantalize his younger brother with candy; he knew the boy was forbidden to have it.
overhaul
thoroughly examine the condition of and repair if necessaryIt is necessary for the engineers of NASA to overhaul the rocket everyday; otherwise, an incident similar tothat of Challenger accident might happen.
gentility
those of gentle birth; refinement Her family was proud of its gentility and elegance.
trident
three-pronged spearNeptune is usually depicted as rising from the sea, carrying his trident on his shoulder.
flail
thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss aboutIn medieval times, warriors flailed their foe with a metal ball attached to a handle.
frugality
thrift; economyIn these economically difficult days businesses must practice frugality or risk bankruptcy.
improvident
thriftlessHe was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to "save for a rainy day."
pulsate
throbWe could see the blood vessels in his temple pulsate as he became more angry.
precipitate
throw headlong; hastenThe removal of American political support appeared to have precipitated the downfall of the Marcosregime.
embroil
throw into confusionHe became embroiled in the heated discussion when he tried to arbitrate the dispute.
jettison
throw overboardIn order to enable the ship to ride safely through the storm, the captain had to jettison much of his cargo.
fulminate
thunder; explodeThe people against whom she fulminated were innocent of any wrongdoing.
titillate
tickleI am here not to titillate my audience but to enlighten it.
taut
tight; readyThe captain maintained that he ran a taut ship.
quisling
traitor who aids invadersIn 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.
equable
tranquil; steady; uniformAfter the hot summers and cold winters of New England, he found the climate of the West Indies equableand pleasant.
disdain
treat with scorn or contemptYou make enemies of all you disdain.
feint
trick; shift; sham blowThe boxer was fooled by his opponent's feint and dropped his guard.
ruse
trick; stratagemYou will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ruse.
superficial
trivial; shallowSince your report gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, I cannot give you more than a passinggrade.
petty
trivial; unimportant; very smallShe had no major complaints to make about his work, only a few petty quibbles that were almost toominor to state.
pest
troublesome or annoying personHe was a pest; always bothering people.
torso
trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunkThis torso, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is now on exhibition in the museum in Naples.
veracity
truthfulnessTrying to prove Hill a liar, Senator Spector repeatedly questioned her veracity.
irresolute
uncertain how to act; weakShe had no respect for him because he seemed weak-willed and irresolute.
indeterminate
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefiniteThat interest rates shall rise appears certain; when they will do so, however, remains indeterminate.
precarious
uncertain; riskyI think this stock is a precarious investment and advise against its purchase.
inequity
unfairnessIn demanding equal pay for equal work, women protest the basic inequity of a system that allots greaterfinancial rewards to men.
adverse
unfavorable; hostileadverse circumstances compelled him to close his business.
hapless
unfortunateThis hapless creature had never known a moment's pleasure.
untoward
unfortunate; annoyingUntoward circumstances prevent me from being with you on this festive occasion.
canard
unfounded rumorIt is almost impossible to protect oneself from such a base canard.
inimical
unfriendly; hostileShe felt that they were inimical and were hoping for her downfall.
unscathed
unharmedThey prayed he would come back from the war unscathed.
fusion
union; coalitionThe opponents of the political party in power organized a fusion of disgruntled groups and became animportant element in the election.
fluke
unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune When Douglass defeated Tyson for the heavyweight championship, some sportscasters dismissed hisvictory as a fluke.
implausible
unlikely; unbelievableThough her alibi seened implausible, it in fact turned out to be true.
indifferent
unmoved; lacking concernBecause she felt no desire to marry, she was indifferent to his constant proposals.
derivative
unoriginal; obtained from another sourceAlthough her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature, the critics thought she had promise andeventually would find her own voice.
heterodox
unorthodox; unconventionalTo those who upheld the belief that the earth did not move, Galileo's theory that the earth circled the sunwas disturbingly heterodox.
intractable
unruly; refractoryThe horse was intractable and refused to enter the starting gate.
unassuaged
unsatisfied; not soothedHer anger is unassuaged by your apology.
abortive
unsuccessful; fruitlessWe had to abandon our abortive attempts.
untenable
unsupportableI find your theory untenable and must reject it.
unsullied
untarnishedI am happy that my reputation is unsullied.
rectitude
uprightnessHe was renowned for his rectitude and integrity.
integrity
uprightness; wholenessLincoln, whose personal integrity has inspired millions, fought a civil war to maintain the integrity of therepublic, that these United States might remain undivided for all time.
instigate
urge; start; provokeI am afraid that this statement will instigate a revolt.
exigency
urgent situationIn this exigency, we must look for aid from our allies.
importunate
urging; demandingHe tried to hide from his importunate creditors until his allowance arrived.
substantiate
verify; supportI intend to substantiate my statement by producing witnesses.
toga
Roman outer robeMarc Antony pointed to the slashes in Caesar's toga.
saga
Scandinavian myth; any legendThis is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it.
grimace
a facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc.Even though he remained silent, his grimace indicated his displeasure.
minion
a servile dependentHe was always accompanied by several of his minions because he enjoyed their subservience and flattery.
pittance
a small allowance or wageHe could not live on the pittance he received as a pension and had to look for an additional source ofrevenue.
incredulity
a tendency to disbeliefYour incredulity in the face of all the evidence is hard to understand.
renounce
abandon; disown; repudiateEven though she knew she would be burned at the stake as a witch, Joan of Arc refused to renounce herbelief that her voices came from God.
prescience
ability to foretell the futureGiven the current wave of Japan-bashing, it does not take prescience for me to foresee problems in ourfuture trade relations with Japan.
aberrant
abnormal or deviantGiven the aberrant nature of the data, we came to doubt the validity of the entire experiment.
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorderThe assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy.
distrait
absentmindedBecause of his concentration on the problem, the professor often appeared distrait and unconcerned aboutroutine.
assimilate
absorb; cause to become homogenousThe manner in which the United States was able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants during thenineteenth and early part of the twentieth centuries will always be a source of pride.
riveting
absorbing; engrossingThe reviewer described Byatt's novel Possession as a riveting tale: absorbed in the story, he had finished itin a single evening.
celibate
abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarriedThough the late Havelock Ellis wrote extensively about sexual customs and was considered an expert insuch matters, recent studies maintain he was celibate throughout his life.
recondite
abstruse; profound; secretHe read many recondite books in order to obtain the material for the scholarly thesis.
preposterous
absurd; ridiculousWhen the candidate tried to downplay his youthful experiments with marijuana by saying he hadn't inhaled,we all thought, "What a preposterous excuse!"
plenitude
abundance; completenessLooking in the pantry, we admired the plenitude of fruits and pickles we had preserved during the summer.
incarnation
act of assuming a human body and human natureThe incarnation of Jesus Christ is a basic tenet of Christian theology.
vivisection
act of dissecting living animalsThe Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opposed vivisection and deplored the practice ofusing animals in scientific experiments.
repulsion
act of driving back; distasteThe repulsion of the enemy forces was not accomplished bloodlessly; many of the defenders werewounded in driving the enemy back.
orientation
act of finding oneself in societyFreshman orientation provides the incoming students with an opportunity to learn about their newenvironment and their place in it.
summation
act of finding the total, summaryIn his summation, the lawyer emphasized the testimony given by the two witnesses.
volition
act of making a conscious choiceShe selected this dress of her own volition.
diversion
act of turning aside; pastimeAfter studying for several hours, he needed a diversion from work.
vicarious
acting as a substitute; done by a deputyMany people get a vicarious thrill at the movies by imagining they are the characters on the screen.
formality
adherence to established rules or proceduresSigning this petition is a mere formality; it does not obligate you in any way.
viscid
adhesive; glueyThe trunk of the maple tree was viscid with sap.
contiguous
adjacent to; touching uponThe two countries are contiguous for a few miles; then they are separated by the gulf.
compromise
adjust; endanger the interests or reputation ofYour presence at the scene of the dispute compromises our claim to neutrality in this matter.
espouse
adopt; supportShe was always ready to espouse a worthy cause.
embellish
adorn My mother-in-law's stories about her journey from Russia made us laugh because she embellished the barefacts of her travels with humourous acecdotes.
enhance
advance; improveYour chances for promotion in this department will be enhanced if you take some more courses in eveningschool.
precocious
advanced in developmentBy her rather adult manner of discussing serious topics, the child demonstrated that she was precocious.
dissuade
advise againstHe could not dissuade his friend from joining the conspirators.
suffragist
advocate of voting rights (for women)In recognition of her efforts to win the vote for women, Congress authorized coining a silver dollarhonoring the suffragist Susan B. Anthony.
mannered
affected; not naturalAttempting to copy the style of his wealthy neighbors, Gatsby adopted a mannered, artificial way ofspeech.
mincing
affectedly daintyYum-Yum walked across the stage with mincing steps.
lackadaisical
affectedly languidHe was lackadaisical and indifferent about his part in the affair.
gustatory
affecting the sense of tasteThe Thai restaurant offered an unusual gustatory experience for those used in a bland cuisine.
posthumous
after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death)The critics ignored his works during his lifetime; it was only after the posthumous publication of his lastnovel that they recognized his great talent.
catalyst
agent that brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchangedMany chemical reactions cannot take place without the presence of a catalyst.
emissary
agent; messengerThe secretary of State was sent as the President's special emissary to the conference on disarmament.
ferment
agitation; commotionWith the breakup of the Soviet Union, much of Eastern Europe was in a state of ferment.
accede
agreeIf I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands.
concur
agree Did you concur with the decision of the court or did you find it unfair?
winsome
agreeable; gracious; engaging.By her winsome manner, she made herself liked by everyone who met her.
compact
agreement; contractThe signers of the Mayflower Compact were establishing a form of government.
truculence
agressiveness; ferocityTynan's reviews were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence.
succor
aid; assistance; reliefWe shall be ever grateful for the succor our country gave us when we were in need.
dilettante
aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabblerHe was not serious in his painting; he was rather a dilettante.
desultory
aimless; haphazard; digressing at randomIn prison Malcolm X set himself the task of reading straight through the dictionary; to him reading waspurposeful, not desultory.
omniscient
all-knowingI do not pretend to be omniscient, but I am positive about this fact.
omnipotent
all-powerfulThe monarch regarded himself as omnipotent and responsible to no one for his acts.
waylay
ambush; lie in wait.They agreed to waylay their victim as he passed through the dark alley going home.
rider
amendment or clause added to a legislative billSenator Foghorn said he would support Senator Filibuster's tax reform bill only if Filibuster agreed to addan antipollution rider to the bill.
reparation
amends; compensationAt the peace conference, the defeated country promised to pay reparations to the victors.
yield
amount produced; crop; income on investment.An experienced farmer can estimate the annual yield of his acres with surprising accuracy.
disport
amuseThe popularity of Florida as a winter resort is constantly increasing; each year, thousands more disportthemselves at Miami and Palm Beach.
beguile
amuse; delude; cheatI beguiled himself during the long hours by playing solitaire.
concession
an act of yieldingBefore they could reach an agreement, both sides had to make certain concessions.
alias
an assumed nameJohn Smith's alias was Bob Jones.
assay
analyze; evaluateWhen they assayed the ore, they found that they had discovered a very rich vein.
progenitor
ancestorThe Roth family, whose progenitors emigrated from Germany early in the nineteenth century, settled inPeru, Illinois.
forebears
ancestorsReverence for one's forebears (sometimes referred to as ancestor worship) plays an important part in manyOriental cultures.
papyrus
ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plantThe ancient Egyptians were among the first to write on papyrus.
cherubic
angelic; innocent-lookingWith her cheerful smile and rosy cheeks, she was a particularly cherubic child.
wrath
anger; fury.She turned to him, full of wrath, and said, "What makes you think I'll accept lower pay for this job thanyou get?"
irate
angryWhen 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.
parasite
animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant The tapeworm is an example of the kind of parasite that may infest the human body.
gadfly
animal-biting fly; an irritating personLike a gadfly, he irritated all the guests at the hotel; within forty eight hours, everyone regarded him as anannoying busybody.
fauna
animals of a period or regionThe scientist could visualize the fauna of the period by examining the skeletal remains and the fossils.
harass
annoy by repeated attacksWhen he could not pay his bills as quickly as he had promised, he was harrassed by his creditors.
gall
annoy; chafeTheir taunts galled him.
vex
annoy; distressPlease try not to vex your mother; she is doing the best she can.
nettle
annoy; vexDo not let him nettle you with his sarcastic remarks.
irksome
annoying; tediousHe found working on the assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the operation he had toperform.
gyroscope
apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.By using a rotating gyroscope, they were able to stabilize the vessel, counteracting the rolling movementsof the sea. 114. - apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.
ostensible
apparent; professed; pretendedAlthough the ostensible purpose of this expedition is to discover new lands, we are really interested infinding new markets for our products.
verisimilitude
appearance of truth; likelihoodCritics praised her for the verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth. She was completelybelievable.
mitigate
appeaseNothing he did could mitigate her wrath; she was unforgiving.
propitiate
appeaseThe natives offered sacrifices to propitiate the gods.
accost
approach and speak first to a personWhen the two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I thought they were going to attack me.
apposite
appropriate; fittingHe was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion.
approbation
approvalWanting her parents' regard, she looked for some sign of their approbation.
ratify
approve formally; verifyBefore the treaty could go into effect, it had to be ratified by the president.
sanction
approve; ratifyNothing will convince me to sanction the engagement of my daughter to such a worthless young man.
endorse
approve; supportEveryone waited to see which one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor would endorse.
plauditory
approving; applaudingThe theatrical company reprinted the plauditory comments of the critics in its advertisement.
felicitous
apt; suitably expressed; well chosenHe was famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at manybanquet.
conduit
aqueduct; passageway for fluidsWater was brought to the army in the desert by an improvised conduit from the adjoining mountain.
fervid
ardentHer fervid enthusiasm inspired all of us to undertake the dangerous mission.
fervent
ardent; hotShe felt that the fervent praise was excessive and somewhat undeserved.
incite
arouse to actionThe demogogue incited the mob to take action into its own hands.
advent
arrivalMost Americans were unaware of the advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima reachedthem.
hubris
arrogance; excessive self-conceitFilled with hubris, Lear refused to heed his friends' warnings.
presumptous
arrogant; taking libertiesIt seems presumptous for one so relatively new to the field to challenge the conclusions of its leadingexperts.
choreography
art of dancingMartha Graham introduced a form of choreography that seemed awkward and alien to those who hadbeen brought up on classic ballet.
dialectic
art of debateI am not skilled in dialectic and therefore, cannot answer your arguments as forcefully as I wish.
treatise
article treating a subject systematically and thoroughlyHe is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan playwrights for his graduate degree.
sluice
artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of waterIn times of drought, this sluice enables farmers to obtain water for irrigation.
affected
artificial; pretendedHis affected mannerisms irritated may of us who had known him before his promotion.
factitous
artificial; shamHollywood actresses often create factitious tears by using glycerine.
sophistication
artificiality; unnaturalness; act of employing sophistry in reasoningSophistication is an acquired characteristic, found more frequently among city dwellers than amongresidents of rural areas.
attribute
ascribe; explainI attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
ashen
ash-colored; deadly paleHer face was ashen with fear.
assail
assaultHe was assailed with questions after his lecture.
convene
assembleBecause much is needed legislation had to be enacted, the governor ordered the legislature to convene inspecial session by January 15.
acquiesce
assent; agree passivelyAlthough she appeared to acquiesce to her employer's suggestions, I could tell she had reservations aboutthe changes he wanted made.
consort
associate withWe frequently judge people by the company with whom they consort.
posture
assume an affected pose; act artificiallyNo matter how much Arnold boasted or postured, I could not believe he was as important as he pretendedto be.
supposititious
assumed; counterfeit; hypotheticalI find no similarity between your supposititious illustration and the problem we are facing.
quiescent
at rest; dormantAfter this geyser erupts, it will remain quiescent for twenty-four hours.
moribund
at the point of deathThe doctors called the family to the bedside of the moribund patient.
heinous
atrocious; hatefully badHitler's heinous crimes will never be forgotten.
affix
attach or add on; fastenFirst the registrar had to affix his signature to the license; then he had to affix his official seal.
engage
attract; hire; pledge oneself; confront"Your case has engaged my interest, my lord," said Holmes, "You many engage my services."
personable
attractiveThe man I am seeking to fill this position must be personable since he will be representing us before thepublic.
comely
attractive; agreeableI would rather have a poor and comely wife than a rich and homely one.
impute
attribute; ascribeIf I wished to impute blame to the officers in charge of this program, I would state my feelings definitelyand immediately.
magisterial
authoritative; imperiousThe learned doctor laid down the law to his patient in a magisterial tone of voice.
proxy
authorized agentPlease act as my proxy and vote for this slate of candidates in my absence.
loath
averse; reluctantThey were both loath for him to go.
antipathy
aversion; dislikeHis extreme antipathy to dispute caused him to avoid argumentative discussions with his friends.
eschew
avoidHe tried to eschew all display of temper.
shirk
avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malingerBrian has a strong sense of duty; he would never shirk any responsibility.
temporize
avoid committing oneself; gain timeI cannot permit you to temporize any longer; I must have a definite answer today.
accolade
award of meritIn Hollywood, an "Oscar" is the highest accolade.
unwieldy
awkward; cumbersome; unmanageableThe large carton was so unwieldy that the movers had trouble getting it up the stairs.
hinterlands
back countryThey seldom had visitors, living as they did way out in the hinderlands.
thwart
baffle; frustrateHe felt that everyone was trying to thwart his plans and prevent his success.
equilibrium
balanceAfter the divorce, he needed some time to regain his equilibrium.
equipoise
balance; balancing force; equilibriumThe high-wire acrobat used his pole as an equipose to overcome the swaying caused by the wind.
embargo
ban on commerce or other activityAs a result of the embargo, trade with colonies was at a standstill.
rusticate
banish to the country; dwell in the countryI like city life so much that I can never understand how people can rusticate in the suburbs.
quizzical
bantering; comical; humorously seriousWill Rogers' quizzical remarks endeared him to his audiences.
chaffing
bantering; jokingSometimes his flippant and chaffing remarks annoy us.
dote
be excessively fond of; show signs of mental declineNot only grandmothers bore you with stories about their brilliant grandchildren; grandfathers dote on thelittel rascals, too.
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious ofLittle Orphan Annie truly appreciated the stocks Daddy Warbucks ave her, whose value appreciatedconsiderably over the years.
stint
be thrifty; set limits"Spare no expense," the bride's father said, refusing to stint on the wedding arrangements.
nib
beak; pen pointThe nibs of fountain pens often become clotted and corroded.
comport
bear one's self; behaveHe comported himself with great dignity.
fruition
bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realizationThis building marks the fruition of all our aspirations and years of hard work.
ursine
bearlike; pertaining to a bearBecause of its ursine appearance, the great panda has been identified with the bears; actually, it is closelyrelated to the raccoon.
bestial
beastlike; brutal; inhumanThe Red Cross sought to put an end to the bestial treatment of prisoners of war.
pummel
beatThe severity with which he was pummeled was indicated by the bruises he displayed on his head and face.
lambaste
beat; thrash verbally or physicallyIt was painful to watch the champion lambaste his opponent, tearing into him mercilessly.
calligraphy
beautiful writing; excellent penmanshipAs we examine ancient manuscripts, we became impressed with the calligraphy of the scribes.
pulchritude
beauty; comelinessI do not envy the judges who have to select this year's Miss America from this collection of femalepulchritude.
ingratiate
become popular withHe tried to ingratiate himself into her parents' good graces.
degenerate
become worse; deteriorateAs the fight dragged on, the champion's style degenerated until he could barely keep on his feet.
novice
beginnerEven a novice can do good work if he follows these simple directions.
tyro
beginner; noviceFor a mere tyro, you have produced some marvelous results.
subservient
behaving like a slave; servile; obsequiousHe was proud and dignified; he refused to be subservient to anyone.
decapitate
beheadThey did not hang Lady Jane Grey; they decapitated her.
ubiquitous
being everywhere; omnipresentThat Christmas "The Little Drummer Boy" seemed ubiquitous: Justin heard the tune everywhere he went.
monotheism
belief in one GodAbraham was the first to proclaim his belief in monotheism.
pessimism
belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominessThe good news we have been receiving lately indicates that there is little reason for your pessimism.
hedonism
belief that pleasure is the sole aim in lifehedonism and asceticism are opposing philosophies of human behavior.
disparage
belittleDo not disparage anyone's contribution; these little gifts add up to large sums.
subliminal
below the thresholdWe may not be aware of the subliminal influences that affect our thinking.
genuflect
bend the knee as in worshipA proud denocrat, he refused to genuflect to any man.
refraction
bending of a ray of lightWhen you look at a stick inserted in water, it looks bent because of the refraction of the light by the water.
beleaguer
besiegeAs soon as the city was beleaguered, the life became more subdued as the citizens began their long wait foroutside assitance.
indenture
bind as servant or apprentice to masterMany immigrants could come to America only after they had indentured themselves for several years.
astringent
binding; causing contraction; harsh or severeThe astringent quality of unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult.
obligatory
binding; requiredIt is obligatory that books borrowed from the library be returned within two weeks.
stringent
binding; rigidI think these regulations are too stringent.
mordant
biting; sarcastic; stingingActors feared the critic's mordant pen.
diatribe
bitter scolding; invectiveDuring the lengthy diatribe delivered by his opponent he remained calm and self-controlled.
rancor
bitterness; hatredLet us forget out rancor and cooperate in this new endeavor.
gall
bitterness; nerveThe knowledge of his failure filled him with gall.
outlandish
bizzare; peculiar; unconventionalThe eccentric professor who engages in markedly outlandish behavior is a stock figure in novels with anacademic setting.
necromancy
black magic; dealings with the deadBecause he was able to perform feats of necromancy, the natives thought he was in league with the devil.
denigrate
blackenAll attempts to denigrate the character of our late President have failed; the people still love him andcherish his memory.
reproach
blame; censureI want my work to be above reproach and without error
censure
blame; criticizeHe was censured for his inappropriate behavior.
unimpeachable
blameless and exemplaryHer conduct in office was unimpeachable and her record is spotless.
blanch
bleach; whitenAlthough age had blanched his hair, he was still vigorous and energetic.
hallowed
blessed; consecratedShe was laid to rest in hallowed ground.
beatitude
blessedness; state of blissGrowing closer to God each day, the mystic achieved a state of indescribable beatitude.
benediction
blessingThe appearance of the sun after the many rainy days was like a benediction.
boon
blessing; benefitThe recent rains that filled our empty reservoirs were a boon to the whole community.
chauvinist
blindly devoted patriotA chauvinist cannot recognize any faults in his country, no matter how flagrant they may be.
filibuster
block legislation by making long speechesEven though we disapproved of Senator Foghorn's political goals, we were impressed by his ability tofilibuster endlessly to keep an issue from coming to a vote.
gory
bloodyThe audience shuddered as they listened to the details of the gory massacre.
sanguinary
bloodyThe battle of lwo Jina was unexpectedly sanguinary with many casualties.
doldrums
blues; listlessness; slack periodOnce the excitement of meeting her deadline was over, she found herself in the doldrums.
brusque
blunt; abruptShe was offended by his brusque reply.
obtuse
blunt; stupidBecause he was so obtuse, he could not follow the teacher's reasoning and asked foolish questions.
palette
board on which a painter mixes pigmentsAt the present time, art supply stores are selling a paper palette that may be discarded after use.
vaunted
boasted; bragged; highly publicizedThis much vaunted project proved a disappointment when it collapsed.
braggart
boasterModest by nature, she was no braggart, preferring to let her accomplishments speak for themselves.
magniloquent
boastful, pompousIn their stories of the trial, the reporters ridiculed the magniloquent speeches of the defense attorney.
vainglorious
boastful; excessively conceited She was a vainglorious and arrogant individual.
braggadocio
boastingHe was disliked because his manner was always full of braggadocio.
regatta
boat or yacht raceMany boating enthusiasts followed the regatta in their own yachts.
revelry
boisterous merrymakingNew Year's Eve is a night of revelry.
obstreperous
boisterous; noisyThe crowd became obstreperous and shouted their disapproval of the proposals made by the speaker.
dauntless
boldDespite the dangerous nature of the undertaking, the dauntless soldier volunteered for the assignment.
temerity
boldness; rashnessDo you have the temerity to argue with me?
stilted
bombastic; stiffly pompousHis stilted rhetoric did not impress the college audience; they were immune to bombastic utterances.
catechism
book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answerHe taught by engaging his pupils in a catechism until they gave him the correct answer.
churlish
boorish; rudeDismayed by his churlish manners at the party, the girls vowed never to invite him again.
abut
border upon; adjoinWhere our estates abut, we must build a fence.
verge
border; edgeMadame Curie knew she was on the verge of discovering the secrets of radioactive elements.
maritime
bordering on the sea; nauticalThe maritime Provinces depend on the sea for their wealth.
blase
bored with pleasure or dissipationYour blase attitude gives your students an erroneous impression of the joys of scholarship.
ennui
boredomThe monotonous routine of hopital life induced a feeling of ennui which made him moody and irritable.
tedium
boredom; wearinessWe hope this radio will help overcome the tedium of your stay in the hospital.
overbearing
bossy; arrogant; decisively important Certain of her own importance and of the unimportance of everyone else, Lady Bracknell was intolerablyoverbearing in manner. "In choosing a husband," she said, "good birth is of overbearing importance;compared to that, neither wealth nor talent signifie
abysmal
bottomlessHis arrogance is exceeded only by his abysmal ignorance.
obeisance
bowShe made an obeisance as the king and queen entered the room.
pugilist
boxerThe famous pugilist Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammed Ali.
dichotomy
branching into two partsThe dichotomy of our legislative system provides us with many safeguards.
ramification
branching out; subdivisionWe must examine all the ramifications of this problem.
valor
braveryHe received the Medal of Honor for his valor in battle.
fortitude
bravery; courageHe was awarded the medal for his fortitude in the battle.
fray
brawlThe three musketeers were in the thick of fray.
fracas
brawl; meleeThe military police stopped the fracas in the bar and arrested the belligerents.
respiration
breathing; exhalationThe doctor found that the patient's years of smoking had adversely affected both his lung capacity and hisrate of respiration.
fancier
breeder or dealer of animalsThe dog fancier exhibited her prize collie at the annual Kennel Club show.
concise
brief and compactWhen you define a new word, be concise; the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember.
laconic
brief and to the pointMany of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words.
glossary
brief explanation of words used in the textI have found the glossary in this book very useful; it has eliminated many trips to the dictionary.
compendium
brief, comprehensive summaryThis text can serve as a compendium of the tremendous amount of new material being developed in thisfield.
resplendent
brilliant; lustrousThe toreador wore a resplendent costume called a suit of lights.
nonplus
bring to a halt by confusion; perplexJack's uncharacteristic rudeness nonplussed Jill, leaving her uncertain how to react.
incur
bring upon oneselfHis parents refused to pay any future debts he might incur.
rationalization
bringing into conformity with reasonAll attempts at rationalization at this time are doomed to failure; tempers and emotions run too high forintelligent thought to prevail.
farce
broad comedy; mockeryNothing went right; the entire interview degenerated into a farce.
spatula
broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixingThe manufacturers of this frying pan recommended the use of a rubber spatula to avoid scratching thespecially treated surface.
sibling
brother or sisterWe may not enjoy being siblings, but we cannot forget that we still belong to the same family.
contusion
bruise She was treated for contusions and abrasions.
atrocity
brutal deedIn time of war, many atrocities are committed by invading armies.
bugaboo
bugbear; object of baseless terrorIf we become frightened by such bugaboos, we are no wiser than the birds who fear scarecrows.
fabricate
build; lieBecause of the child's tendency to fabricate, we had trouble believing her.
voluminous
bulky; largeDespite her family burdens, she kept up a voluminous correspondence with her friends.
browbeat
bully; intimidateBilly resisted Ted's attempts to browbeat him into handing over his lunch money.
ruffian
bully; scoundrelThe ruffians threw stones at the police.
sheaf
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied togetherThe lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as he rose to question the witness.
incubus
burden; mental care; nightmareThe incubus of financial worry helped bring on her nervous breakdown.
onus
burden; responsibilityThe emperor was spared the onus of signing the surrender papers; instead, he relegated the assignment tohis generals.
onerous
burdensomeHe asked for an assistant because his work load was too onerous.
cauterize
burn with hot iron or causticIn order to prevent infection, the doctor cauterized the wound.
smolder
burn without flame; be liable to break out at any momentThe rags smoldered for hours before they burst into flame.
caustic
burning; sarcastically bitingThe critic's caustic remarks angered the hapless actors who were the subjects of his sarcasm.
inter
buryThey are going to inter the body tomorrow ar Broadlawn Cemetry.
entrepreneur
businessperson; contractorOpponents of our present tax program argue that it discourages entrepreneurs from trying new fields ofbusiness activity.
wheedle
cajole; coax; deceive by flattery.She knows she can wheedle almost anything she wants from her father.
catastrophe
calamityThe Johnstown flood was a catastrophe.
actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statisticsAccording to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago.
fanfare
call by bugles or trumpets; showy displayThe exposition was opened with fanfare of trumpets and the firing of cannon.
evoke
call forthHe evoked much criticism by his hostile manner.
invoke
call upon; ask forShe invoked her advisor's aid in filling out her financial aid forms.
dispassionate
calm; impartialIn a dispassionate analysis of the problem, he carefully examined the causes of the conflict and proceededto suggest suitable remedies.
phlegmatic
calm; not easily disturbedThe nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic person, unexcited in the face of sudden emergencies.
allay
calm; pacifyThe crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled.
halcyon
calm; peacefulIn those halcyon days, people were not worried about sneak attacks and bombings.
imperturbable
calm; placidWellington remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation in spite of the hyteria and panicall around him.
sedative
calming drug or influenceIt is dangerous to drive after taking the sedative; it brings drowsiness.
equanimity
calmness of temperamentIn his later years, he could look upon the foolishness of the world with equanimity and humor.
reparable
capable of being repairedFortunately, the damages we suffered in the accident were reparable and our car looks brand new.
malleable
capable of being shaped by poundingGold is a malleable metal.
tensile
capable of being stretchedMountain climbers must know the tensile strength of their ropes.
enthrall
capture; enslaveFrom the moment he saw her picture, he was enthralled by her beauty.
thrifty
careful about money; economicalA thrifty shopper compares prices before making major purchases.
inadvertently
carelessly; unintentionally; by oversightShe inadvertently omitted two questions on the examination and mismarked her answer sheet.
negligence
carelessnessnegligence can prove costly near complicated machinery.
scabbard
case for a sword blade; sheathThe drill master told the recruit to wipe the blood from his sword before slipping it back into the scabbard.
quiver
case for arrowsRobin Hood reached back and plucked one last arrow from his quiver.
descry
catch sight ofIn the distance, we could barely descry the enemy vessels.
pander
cater to the low desires of othersThe reviewer accused the makers of Lethal Weapon of pandering to the masses' taste of violence.
bane
cause of ruinLack of public transportation is the bane of urban life.
stultify
cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinderHis long hours in the blacking factory left young Dickens numb and incurious, as if the menial labor hadstultified his mind.
supersede
cause to be set aside; replaceThis regulation will supersede all previous rules.
nauseate
cause to become sick; fill with disgustThe foul smells began to nauseate him.
leaven
cause to rise or grow lighter; enlivenAs bread dough is leavened, it puffs up, expanding in volume.
germinate
cause to sprout; sproutAfter the seeds germinate and develop their permanent leaves, the plants may be removed from the coldframes and transplanted to the garden.
engender
cause; produceTo receive praise for real accomplishments engenders self-confidence in a child.
pathetic
causing sadness, compassion, pity; touchingEveryone in the auditorium was weeping by the time he finished his pathetic tale about the orphaned boy.
chary
cautious; sparing or restrained about givingA prudent, thrifty New Englander, DeWitt was as chary of investing money in junk bonds as he was charyof paying people unnecessary compliments.
luminary
celebrity; dignitaryA leading light of the American stage, Ethel Barrymore was a theatrical luminary whose name lives on.
reprove
censure; rebukeThe principal reproved the students when they became unruly in the auditorium.
pivotal
central; criticalDe Klerk's decision to set Nelson Mandela free was pivotal; without Mandela's release, there was nopossibility that the African National Cogress would entertain talks with the South African government.
ordination
ceremony conferring holy ordersThe candidate for ordination had to meet with the bishop and the diocean officers before being judgedready to be ordained a deacon.
shackle
chain; fetterThe criminal's ankles were shackled to prevent his escape.
hap
chance; luckIn his poem hap, Thomas Hardy objects to the part chance plays in our lives.
veer
change in directionAfter what seemed an eternity, the wind veered to the east and the storm abated.
gerrymander
change in voting district lines in order to favor a political partyThe illogical pattern of the map of this congressional district is proof that the state legislaturegerrymandered this area in order to favor the majority party.
metamorphosis
change of formThe metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly is typical of many such changes in animal life.
vicissitude
change of fortuneHumbled by life's vicissitudes, the last emperor of China worked as a lowly gardener in the palace overwhich he had once ruled.
ossify
change or harden into boneWhen he called his opponent a "bonehead," he implied that his adversary's brain had ossified and that hewas not capable of clear thinking.
transmute
change; convert to something differentHe was unable to transmute his dreams into actualities.
volatile
changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidlyThe political climate today is extremely volatile: no one can predict what the electorate will do next.
fickle
changeable; faithlessHe discovered his supposedly faithful girlfriend was fickle
mutable
changing in form; fickleHis opinion were mutable and easily influenced by anyone who had any powers of persuasion.
migrant
changing its habitat; wanderingThese migrant birds return every spring.
impeach
charge with crime in office; indictThe angry congressman wanted to impeach the President for his misdeeds.
mountebank
charlatan; boastful pretenderThe patent medicine man was a mountebank.
quack
charlatan; impostorDo not be misled by the exorbitant claims of this quack; he cannot cure you.
idyllic
charmingly carefree; simpleFar from the city, she led an idyllic existence in her rural retreat.
babble
chatter idlyThe little girl babbled about her doll.
tawdry
cheap and gaudyHe won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island.
swindler
cheatShe was gullible and trusting, an easy victim for the first swindler who came along.
fraudulent
cheating; deceitfulThe government seeks to prevent fraudulent and misleading advertising.
stanch
check flow of bloodIt is imperative that we stanch the gushing wound before we attend to the other injuries.
stem
check the flowThe paramedic used a tourniquet to stem the bleeding from the slashed artery.
alacrity
cheerful promptnessHe demonstrated his eagerness to serve by his alacrity in executing the orders of his master.
sanguine
cheerful; hopefulLet us not be too sanguine about the outcome; something could go wrong.
geniality
cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathyThis restaurant is famous and popular because of the geniality of the proprietor, who tries to makeeveryone happy.
masticate
chewWe must masticate our food carefully and slowly in order to avoid digestive disorders.
ruminate
chew the cud; ponderWe cannot afford to wait while you ruminate upon these plans.
cardinal
chiefIf you want to increase your word power, the cardinal rule of vocabulary-building is to read.
puerile
childishHis puerile pranks sometimes offended his more mature friends.
infantile
childish; infantlikeWhen will he outgrow such infantile behavior?
prelate
church dignitaryThe archbishop of Moscow and other high-ranking prelates visited the Russian Orthodox seminary.
rotunda
circular building or hall covered with a domeHis body lay in state in the rotunda of the Capitol.
obsidian
clak volcanic rockThe deposits of obsidian on the mountain slopes were an indiacation that volcano had erupted in ancienttimes.
friction
clash in opinion; rubbing againstAt this time when harmony is essential, we cannot afford to have any friction in our group.
talon
claw of birdThe falconer wore a leather gauntlet to avoid being clawed by the hawk's talons.
purge
clean by removing impurities; clear of changesIf you are to be purged of the charge of contempt of Congress, you must be willing to answer thequestions previously asked.
expurgate
clean; remove offensive parts of a bookThe editors felt that certain passages in the book had to be expurgated before it could be used in theclassroom.
exculpate
clear from blameHe was exculpated of the crime when the real criminal confessed.
vindicate
clear of chargesI hope to vindicate my client and return him to society as a free man.
perspicuity
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguityOne of the outstanding features of this book is the perspicuity of its author; her meaning is always clear.
repartee
clever replyHe was famous for his witty repartee and his sarcasm.
shrewd
clever; astuteA shrewd investor, he took clever advantage of the fluctuations of the stock market.
precipice
cliff; dangerous positionSuddenly Indiana Jones found himself dangling from the edge of a precipice.
clamber
climb by crawlingShe clambered over the wall.
scale
climb up; ascendTo locate a book on the top shelf of the stacks, Lee had to scale an exceptionally rickety ladder.
compress
close; squeeze; contractShe compressed the package under her arm.
bludgeon
club; heavy-headed weaponHis walking stick served him as a bludgeon on many occasions.
maladroit
clumsy; bunglingIn his usual maladroit way, he managed to upset the cart and spill the food.
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmfulAn abusive parent damages a child both mentally and physically.
bleak
cold; cheerlessThe Aleutian Islands are bleak military outposts.
clavicle
collarboneEven though he wore shoulder pads, the football player broke his clavicle during a practice scrimmage.
amass
collectThe miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible.
agglomeration
collection; heapIt took weeks to assort the agglomeration of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip.
hue
color; aspectThe aviary contained birds of every possible hue.
spectrum
colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prismThe visible portion of the spectrum includes red at one end and violet at the other.
pigment
coloring matterVan Gogh mixed various pigments with linseed oil to create his paints.
militant
combative; bellicoseAlthoughat this time he was advocating a policy of neutrality, one could usually find him adopting a moremilitant attitude.
pugnacious
combative; disposed to fightAs a child he was pugnacious and fought with everyone.
merger
combination (of two business corporations)When the firm's president married the director of financial planning, the office joke was that it wasn't amarriage, it was a merger.
compound
combine; constitute; pay interest; increaseThe makers of the popular cold remedy compounded a nasal decongestant with an antihistamine.
amalgamate
combine; unite in one bodyThe unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body.
synthesis
combining parts into a wholeNow that we have succeeded in isolating this drug, our next problem is to plan its synthesis in thelaboratory.
accrue
come about by additionYou must pay the interest that has accrued on your debt as well as the principal sum.
intervene
come betweenShe intervened in the argument between her two sons.
converge
come togetherMarchers converged on Washington for the great Save Our Cities-Save Our Children March.
solace
comfort in troubleI hope you will find solace in the thought that all of us share your loss.
malapropism
comic misuse of a wordWhen Mrs. Malaprop criticizes Lydia for being "as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile," sheconfuses "allegory" and "allegator" in a typical malapropism.
travesty
comical parody; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculousThe ridiculous decision the jury has arrived at is a travesty of justice.
fiat
commandI cannot accept government by fiat; I feel that I must be consulted.
ordain
command; arrange; consecrateThe king ordained that no foreigner should be allowed to enter the city.
enjoin
command; order; forbidThe owners of the company asked the court to enjoin the union from picketing the plant.
memorialize
commemorateLet us memorialize his great contribution by dedicating this library in his honor.
perpetrate
commit an offenseOnly an insane person could perpetrate such a horrible crime.
plebeian
common; pertaining to the common peopleHis speeches were aimed at the plebeian minds and emotions; they disgusted the more refined.
hackneyed
commonplace; triteThe English teacher criticized her story because of its hackneyed and unoriginal plot.
tumult
commotion; riot; noiseShe could not make herself heard over the tumult of the mob.
analogous
comparableShe called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended thatwe do the same.
simile
comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as"My love is like a red, red rose" is a simile.
remunerative
compensating; rewardingI find my new work so renumerative that I may not return to my previous employment.
lexicographer
compiler of a dictionaryThe new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compiling and editing the work.
grouse
complain; fussStudents traditionally grouse about the abysmal quality of "mystery meat" and similar dornitory food.
consummate
completeI have never seem anyone who makes as many stupid errors as you do; you must be a consummate idiot.
unanimity
complete agreementWe were surprised by the unanimity with which our proposals were accepted by the different groups.
complement
complete; consummate; make perfectThe waiter recommended a glass of port to complement the cheese.
imbroglio
complicated situation; perplexity; entanglementHe was called in to settle the imbroglio but failed to bring harmony into the situation.
improvise
compose on the spur of the momentShe would sit at the piano and improvise for hours on themes from Bach and Handel.
sedate
composed; graveThe parents were worried because they felt their son was too quiet and sedate.
brevity
concisenessbrevity is essential when you send a telegram or cablegram; you are charged for every word.
coda
concluding section of a musical or literary compositionThe piece concluded with a distinctive coda that strikingly brought together various motifs.
peroration
conclusion of an orationThe peroration was largely hortatory and brought the audience to its feet clamoring for action at its close.
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpusclesThe doctor ascribes her tiredness to anemia.
compliance
conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yieldThe design for the new school had to be in compliance with the local building code.
disconcert
confuse; upset; embarrassThe lawyer was disconcerted by the evidence produced by her adversary.
hubbub
confused uproar The marketplace was a scene of hubbub and excitement.
scrupulous
conscientious; extremely thoroughI can recommend him for a position of responsibility for I have found him a very scrupulous young man.
flagrant
conspicuously wickedWe cannot condone such flagrant violations of the rules.
collusion
conspiring in a fraudulent schemeThe swindlers were found guilty of collusion.
solecism
construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammaticallyI must give this paper a failing mark because it contains many solecisms.
trough
container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.)The hungry pigs struggled to get at the fresh swill in the trough. The surfer rode her board, coasting alongin the trough between two waves.
tainted
contaminated; corrupt Health authorities are always trying to prevent the sale and use of tainted food.
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or toThis tyranny was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for, and he fought it with all his strength.
polemic
controversy; argument in support of point of viewHer essays were, for the main part, polemics for the party's policy.
amenities
convenient features; courtesies 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.
cogent
convincingShe presented cogent arguments to the jury.
replica
copyAre you going to hang this replica of the Declaration of Independence in the classroom or in theauditorium?
facsimilie
copyMany museums sell facsimilies of the works of art on display.
transcribe
copyWhen you transcribe your notes, please send a copy to Mr.Smith and keep the original for our files.
rectify
correctI want to rectify my error before it is too late.
disabuse
correct a false impression; undeceiveI will attempt to diabuse you of your impression of my client's guilt; I know he is innocent.
reconcile
correct inconsistencies; become friendly after a quarrelEvery time we try to reconcile our checkbook with the bank statement, we quarrel. However, despite thesemonthly lovers' quarrels, we always manage to reconcile.
emend
correct, usually a textThe critic emended the book by retranslating several passages.
amend
correct; change, generally for the betterHoping to amend his condition, he left Vietnam for the United States.
emendation
correction of errors; improvementPlease initial all the emendations you have made in this contract.
congruence
correspondence of parts; harmonious relationshipThe student demonstrated the congruence of the two triangles by using the hypotenuse-arm theorem.
vitriolic
corrosive; sarcasticSuch vitriolic criticism is uncalled for.
debauch
corrupt; make intemperateA vicious newspaper can debauch public ideals.
perversion
corruption; turning from right to wrongInasmuch as he had no motive for his crimes, we could not understand his perversion.
barrister
counselor-at-lawGalsworthy started as a barrister, but when he found the practice of law boring, turned to writing.
mentor
counselor; teacherDuring this very trying period, she could not have had a better mentor, for the teacher was sympatheticand understanding.
recrimination
counterchargesLoud and angry recriminations were her answer to his accusations.
bogus
counterfeit; not authenticThe police quickly found the distributors of the bogus twenty-dollar bills.
yokel
country bumpkin.At school, his classmates regarded him as a yokel and laughed at his rustic mannerisms.
pluck
courageEven the adversaries of young Indiana Jones were impressed by the boy's pluck in trying to rescue thearcheological treasure they had stolen.
mettle
courage; spiritWhen challenged by the other horses in the race, the thoroughbred proved its mettle by its determinationto hold the lead.
tribunal
court of justiceThe decision of the tribunal was final and the prisoner was sentenced to death.
affable
courteousAlthough he held a position of responsibility, he was an affable individual and could be reached by anyonewith a complaint.
deference
courteous regard for another's wishIn deference to his desires, the employers granted him a holiday.
chivalrous
courteous; faithful; bravechivalrous behavior involves noble words and good deeds.
comity
courtesy; civilityA spirit of comity should exist among nations.
fawning
courting favor by cringing and flatteringShe was constantly surrounded by a group of fawning admirers who had hoped to win some favor.
glaze
cover with a thin and shiny surfaceThe freezing rain glazed the streets and made driving hazardous.
pusillanimous
cowardly; faintheartedYou should be ashamed of your pusillanimous conduct during this dispute.
quail
cower; lose heartHe was afraid that he would quail in the face of danger.
bovine
cowlike; placid and dullNothing excites Esther; even when she won the state lottery, she still preserved her air of bovine calm.
machiavellian
crafty; double-dealingI do not think he will be a good embassador because he is not accustomed to the machiavellianmaneuverings of foreign diplomats.
hurtle
crash; rushThe runaway train hurtled toward disaster.
grovel
crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrateEven though we have been defeated, we do not have to grovel before our conquerors.
statutory
created by statute or legislative actionThe judicial courts review and try statutory crimes.
fissure
creviceThe mountain climbers secured footholds in tiny fissures in the rock.
malefactor
criminalWe must try to bring these malefactors to justice.
juncture
crisis;joining pointAt this critical juncture, let us think carefully before determining the course we shall follow.
animadversion
critical remarkHe resented the animadversions of his critics, particularly because he realized they were true.
pan
criticize harshlyHoping for a rave review of his new show, the playwright was miserable when the critics panned itunanimously.
askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angleWhen he placed his hat askew upon his head, his observers laughed.
horde
crowdJust before Christmas the stores are filled with hordes of shoppers.
diadem
crownThe king's diadem was on display at the museum.
pulverize
crush or grind into very small particlesBefore sprinkling the dried herbs into the stew, Michael first pulverized them into a fine powder.
wily
cunning; artful.She is as wily as a fox in avoiding trouble.
therapeutic
curativeNow better known for its racetrack, Saratoga Springs first gained attention for the therapeutic qualities ofits famous "healing waters."
panacea
cure-all; remedy for all diseasesThere is no easy panacea that will solve our complicated international situation.
imprecation
curseRoused from the bed at what he considered an ungodly hour, Roy muttered imprecations under his breath.
malediction
curseThe witch uttered maledictions against her captors.
execrate
curse; express abhorrence forThe world execrates the memory of Hitler and hopes that genocide will never again be the policy of anynation.
aquiline
curved, hookedHe can be recognized by his aquiline nose, curved like the beak of the eagle.
convex
curving outwardHe polished the convex lens of his telescope.
wont
custom; habitual procedure.As was his wont, he jogged two miles every morning before going to work.
excise
cut away; cut outWhen you excise the dead and dying limbs of a tree, you not only improve its appearance but also enhanceits chances of bearing fruit.
prune
cut away; trimWith the help of her editor, she was able to prune her manuscript into publishable form.
retrench
cut down; economizeIf they were to be able to send their children to college, they would have to retrench.
dismember
cut into small partsWhen the Austrian Empire was dismembered, several new countries were established.
amputate
cut off part of body; pruneWhen the doctors had to amputate Ted Kennedy's leg to prevent the spread of cancer, he did not let theloss of his leg keep him from participating in sports.
truncate
cut the top off The top of the cone that has been truncated in a plane parallel to its base is a circle.
hew
cut to pieces with ax or swordThe cavalry rushed into melee and hewed the enemy with their swords.
trenchant
cutting; keenI am afraid of his trenchant wit for it is so often sarcastic.
incisive
cutting; sharpHis incisive remarks made us see the fallacy in our plans.
diurnal
dailyA farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks at any time; cows, for example, must be milked regularly.
quotidian
daily; commonplace; customaryTo Philip, each new day of his internship was filled with excitement; he could not dismiss his rounds asmerely quotidian routine.
marred
damaged; disfiguredShe had to refinish the marred surface of the table.
perdition
damnation; complete ruinPraying for salvation, young Daedalus feared he was damned to eternal perdition.
hazardous
dangerousYour occupation is too hazardous for insurance companies to consider your application.
swarthy
dark; duskyDespite the stereotype, not all Italians are swarthy; many are fair and blond.
opaque
dark; not transparentThe opaque window kept the sunlight out of the room.
obscure
dark; vague; unclearEven after I read the poem a fourth time, its meaning was still obscure.
eclipse
darken; extinguish; surpassThe new stock market high eclipsed the previous record set in 1985.
murkiness
darkness; gloomThe murkiness and fog of the waterfront that evening depressed me.
reverie
daydream; musingHe was awakened from his reverie by the teacher's question.
defunct
dead; no longer in use or existenceThe lawyers sought to examine the books of the defunct corporation.
stalemate
deadlockNegotiations between the union and the employers have reached a stalemate; neither side is willing tobudge from previously stated positions.
lethal
deadlyIt is unwise to leave lethal weapons where children may find them.
demise
deathUpon the demise of the dictator, a bitter dispute about succession to power developed.
libertine
debauched person, roue Although she was aware of his reputation as a libertine, she felt she could reform him and help him breakhis dissolute way of life.
decomposition
decayDespite the body's advanced state of decomposition, the police were able to identify the murdered man.
decadence
decayThe moral decadence of the people was reflected in the lewd literature of the period.
guile
deceit; duplicityShe achieved her high position by guile and treachery.
delude
deceiveDo not delude yourself into believing that he will relent.
hoodwink
deceive; deludeHaving been hoodwinked once by the fast-talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went topurchase a used car.
illusory
deceptive; not realUnfortunately, the costs of running the lemonade stand were so high that Tom's profits proved illusory.
resolve
decide; settle; solveHomes resolved to travel to Bohemia to resolve the dispute between Irene Adler and the King.
hatch
deck opening; lid covering a deck openingThe latch on the hatch failed to catch, so the hatch remained unlatched.
manifesto
declaration; statement of policyThe Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels proclaimed the principles of modern communism.
decipher
decodeI could not decipher the doctor's handwriting.
garnish
decorateParsley was used to garnish the boiled potato.
adorn
decorateWall paintings and carved statues adorned the temple.
infer
deduce; concludeWe must be particularly cautious when we infer that a person is guilty on the basis of circumstantialevidence.
exploit
deed or action, particularly a brave deedRaoul Wallenberg was noted for his exploits in rescuing Jews from Hitler's forces.
libelous
defamatory; injurious to the good name of a personHe sued the newspaper because of its libelous story.
discredit
defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve The campaign was highly negative in tone; each candidate tried to discredit the other.
foil
defeat; frustrateIn the end, Skywalker is able to foil Vader's diabolical schemes.
rampart
defensive mound on earth"From the ramparts we watched" as the fighting continued.
apotheosis
deification; glorificationThe 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.
respite
delay in punishment; interval of relief; restThe judge granted the condemned man a respite to enable his attorneys to file an appeal.
demur
delay; objectTo demur at this time will only worsen the already serious situation; now is the time for action.
belated
delayedHe apologized for his belated note of condolence to the widow of his friend and explained that he had justlearned of her husband's untimely death.
dilatory
delayingYour dilatory tactics may compel me to cancel the contract.
finesse
delicate skillThe finesse and adroitness of the surgeon impressed the observers in the operating room.
filigree
delicate, lacelike metalworkThe pendant with gold filigree that she wore round her neck trembled with each breath she took.
render
deliver; provide; representHe rendered aid to the needy and indigent.
acquittal
deliverance from a chargeHis acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty.
cataclysm
deluge; upheavalA cataclysm such as the French Revolution affects all countries.
hallucination
delusionI think you were frightened by a hallucination that you created in you own mind.
peremptory
demanding and leaving no choiceFrom Jack's peremptory knock on the door, Jill could tell he would not give up until she let him in.
laborious
demanding much work or care; tediousIn putting together his dictionary of the English language, Doctor Johnson undertook a laborious task.
negation
denialI must accept his argument since you have been unable to present any negation of his evidence.
nihilism
denial of traditional values; total skepticismnihilism holds that existence has no meaning.
centigrade
denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius) On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing point of water is zero degrees.
atheistic
denying the existence of GodHis atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers.
abscond
depart secretly and hideThe teller absconded with the bonds and was not found.
turpitude
depravityA visitor may be denied admittance to this country if she has been guilty of moral turpitude.
despondent
depressed; gloomy To the dismay of his parents, he became more and more depondent every day.
disenfranchise
deprive of a civil rightThe imposition if the poll tax effectively disenfranchised poor Southern blacks, who lost their right to vote.
bereft
deprived of; lackingThe foolish gambler soon found himself bereft of funds.
devolve
deputize; pass to othersIt devolved upon us, the survivors, to arrange peace terms with the enemy.
deducible
derived byreasoningIf we accept your premise, your conclusions are easily deducible.
renegade
deserter; traitorBecause he had abandoned his post and joined forces with the Indians, his fellow officers considered thehero of Dances with Wolves a renegade.
defection
desertionThe children, who had made him an idol, were hurt most by his defection from our cause.
venerable
deserving high respectWe do not mean to be disrespectful when we refuse to follow the advice of our venerable leader.
invidious
designed to create ill will or envyWe disregarded her invidious remarks because we realized how jealous she was.
annihilate
destroyThe enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate the entire population.
raze
destroy completelyThe owners intend to raze the hotel and erect an office building on the site.
obliterate
destroy completelyThe tidal wave obliterated several island villages.
defoliate
destroy leavesIn Vietnam the army made extensive use of chemical agents to defoliate the woodlands.
demolition
destructionOne of the major aims of the air force was the complete demolition of all means of transportation by thebombing of rail lines and the terminals.
holocaust
destruction by fireCitizens of San Francisco remember that the destruction of the city was caused not by the earthquake butby the holocaust that followed.
canvass
determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident that he represented themajority opinion of his district.
depose
dethrone; remove form officeThe army attempted to depose the king and set up a military government.
die
device for stamping or impressing; moldIn coining pennies, workers at the old mint squeezed sheets of softened copper between two dies.
diabolical
devilishThis scheme is so diabolical that I must reject it.
sensual
devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptousI cannot understand what caused him to drop his sensual way of life and become so ascetic.
lexicon
dictionaryI cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library.
divergent
differing; deviatingThe two witnesses presented the jury with remarkably divergent accounts of the same epipode.
fastidious
difficult to please; squeamishThe waitresses disliked serving him dinner because of his very fastidious taste.
quarry
dig intoThey quarried blocks of marble out of the hillside.
exhume
dig out of the ground; remove from a graveBecause of the rumor that he had been poisoned, his body was exhumed in order that an autopsy might beperformed.
unearth
dig upWhen they unearthed the city, the archeologists found many relics of an ancient civilization.
disinter
dig up; unearthThey disinterred the body and held an autopsy.
quandary
dilemmaWhen the two colleges to which he had applied accepted him, he was in a quandary as to which one heshould attend.
assiduous
diligentIt took Rembrandt weeks of assiduous labor before he was satisfied with his portrait of his son.
application
diligent attention; (secondary meaning) applyPleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application.
sap
diminish; undermineThe element kryptonite had an unhealthy effect on Superman: it sapped his strength.
refectory
dining hallIn this huge refectory, we can feed the entire student body at one sitting.
protocol
diplomatic etiquetteWe must run this state dinner according to protocol if we are to avoid offending any of our guests.
subsidy
direct financial aid by government, etc.Without this subsidy, American ship operators would not be able to compete in world markets.
dire
disastrousPeople ignored her dire predictions of an approaching depression.
exude
discharge; give forthThe maple syrup is obtained from the sap that the trees exude in early spring.
chasten
discipline; punish in order to correctWhom God loves, God chastens.
faze
disconcert; dismayNo crisis could faze the resourceful hotel manager.
disjointed
disconnectedHis remarks were so disjointed that we could not follow his reasoning.
dissonance
discordSome contemporary musicians deliberately use dissonance to achieve certain effects.
cacophony
discordSome people seem to enjoy the cacophony of an orchestra that is tuning up.
dishearten
discourageHis failure to pass the bar exam disheartened him.
bandy
discuss lightly; exchange blows or wordsThe president refused to bandy words with reporters at the press conference.
sardonic
disdainful; sarcastic; cynicalThe sardonic humor of nightclub comedians who satirize or ridicule patrons in the audience strikes somepeople as amusing and others as rude.
unravel
disentangle; solveWith equal ease Miss Marple unraveled tangled balls of yarn and baffling murder mysteries.
ignominious
disgracefulThe country smarted under the ignominious defeat and dreamed of the day when it would be victorious.
fulsome
disgustingly excessiveHis fulsome praise of the dictator annoyed his listeners.
provident
displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergenciesIn his usual provident manner, he had insured himself against this type of loss.
sanctimonious
displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutnessYou do not have to be so sanctimonious to prove that you are devout.
clemency
disposition ot be lenient; mildness, as of the weatherThe lawyer was pleased when the case was sent to Judge Smith's chambers because Smith was noted forher clemency toward first offenders.
refute
disproveThe defense called several respectable witnesses who were able to refute the false testimony of theprosecution's only witness.
contest
disputeThe defeated candidate attempted to contest the election results.
notoriety
disrepute; ill fameTo the starlet, any publicity was good publicity: if she couldn't have a good reputation, she'd settle fornotoriety.
profilgate
dissipated; wasteful; licentiousIn this profilgate company, she lost all sense of decency.
girth
distance around something; circunferenceIt took an extra-large cummerbund to fit around Andrew Carnegie's considerable girth.
cloying
distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimentalDisliking the cloying sweetness of standard wedding cakes, Jody and Tom chose a homemade carrot cakefor their reception.
unsavory
distasteful; morally offensivePeople with unsavory reputations should not be allowed to work with young children.
tribulation
distress; sufferingAfter all the trials and tribulations we have gone through, we need this rest.
ramify
divide into branches or subdivisionsWhen the plant begins to ramify, it is advisable to nip off most of the new branches.
stratified
divided into classes; arranged into strataAs the economic gap between the rich and the poor increased, Roman society grew increasingly stratified.
bifurcated
divided into two branches; forkedWith a bifurcated branch and a piece of elastic rubber, he made a crude but effective slingshot.
stanza
division of a poemDo you know the last stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
severance
division; partition; separationThe severance of church and state is a basic principle of our government.
schism
division; splitLet us not widen the schism by further bickering.
vertigo
dizzinessWe test potential plane pilots for susceptibility to spells of vertigo.
quay
dock; landing placeBecause of the captain's carelessness, the ship crashed into the quay.
hegemony
dominance, especially of one nation over othersAs one Eastern European nation after another declared its independence, commentators marveled at thesudden breakdown of the once monolithic Soviet hegemony.
nocturnal
done at nightMr. Jones obtained a watchdog to prevent the nocturnal raids on his chicken coops.
latent
dormant; hiddenHer latent talent was discovered by accident.
potion
dose (of liquid)Tristan and Lsolde drink a love potion in the first act of the opera.
deplicity
double-dealing; hypocrisyPeople were shocked and dismayed when they learned of his duplicity in this affair, as he had alwaysseemed honest and straightforward.
impugn
doubt; challenge; gainsayI cannot impugn your honesty without evidence.
skeptic
doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting apoint of view.In this matter, I am a skeptic; I want proof.
declivity
downward slopeThe children loved to ski down the declivity.
conscript
draftee; person forced into military serviceDid Rambo volunteer to fight in Vietnam, or was he a conscript, drafted against his will?
liability
drawback; debtsHer lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was able to overcome.
pensive
dreamily thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadnessThe pensive youth gazed at the painting for a long time and then sighed.
flotsam
drifting wreckageBeachcombers eke out a living by salvaging the flotsam and jetsam of the sea.
tipple
drink (alcoholic beverages) frequentlyHe found that his most enjoyable evenings occurred when he tippled with his friends at the local pub.
swill
drink greedilySinging, "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum," Long John Silver and his fellow pirates swilled their grog.
quaff
drink with relishAs we quaffed our ale, we listened to the gay songs of the students in the tavern.
apothecary
druggistIn Holland, apothecaries still sell spices as well as ointments and pills.
prosaic
dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factualThough the ad writers had come up with a highly creative campaign to publicize the company's newestproduct, the head office rejected it for a more prosaic, down-to-earth approach.
drab
dull; lacking color; cheerlessThe Dutch woman's drab winter coat contrasted with the distinctive, colorful native costume she worebeneath it.
humdrum
dull; monotonousAfter years of adventure, he could not settle down to a humdrum existence.
dingy
dull; not fresh; cheerlessRefusing to be depressed by her dingy studio apartment, Bea spent the weekend polishing the floors andwindows and hanging bright posters on the walls.
stolidity
dullness; impassivenssThe earthquake shattered his usual stolidity; trembling, he crouched on the no longer stable ground.
effigy
dummyThe mob showed its irritation by hanging the judge in effigy.
gnome
dwarf; underground spiritIn medieval mythology, gnomes were the special guardians and inhabitants of subterranean mines.
zeal
eager enthusiasm.Wang's zeal was contagious; soon all his fellow students were busily making posters, inspired by his ardententhusiasm for the cause.
levee
earthen or stone embankment to prevent floodingAs the river rose and threatened to overflow the levee, emergency workers rushed to reinforce the wallswith sandbags.
bulwark
earthwork or other strong defense; person who defendsThe navy is our principal bulwark against invasion.
palliate
ease pain; make less severe or offensiveIf we cannot cure this disease at present, we can, at least try to palliate the symptoms.
assuage
ease; lessen(pain)Your messages of cheer should assuage her suffering.
brittle
easily broken; difficultMy employer's brittle personality made it difficult for me to get along with her.
combustible
easily burnedAfter the recent outbreak of fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all combustiblematerials be kept in safe containers.
queasy
easily nauseated; squeamishAs the ship left the harbor, he became queasy and thought that he was going to suffer from seasickness.
resonant
echoing; resounding; deep and full in soundThe deep, resonant voice of the actor James Earl Jones makes him particulary effective when he appearson stage.
periphery
edge, especially of a round surfaceHe sensed that there was something just beyond the periphery of his vision.
articulate
effective; distinctHer articulate presentation of the advertising campaign impressed her employers.
maudlin
effusively sentimentalI do not like such maudlin pictures. I call them tearjerkers.
resilient
elastic; having the power of springing backHighly resilient, steel makes excellent bedsprings.
component
element; ingredientI wish all the components of my stereo system were working at the same time.
dismiss
eliminate from consideration; rejectBelieving in John's love for her, she dismissed the notion that he might be unfaithful.
manumit
emancipate; free from bondageEnlightened slave owners were willing to manumit their slaves and thus put an end to the evil slavery in thecountry.
abash
embarrassHe was not at all abashed by her open admiration.
reek
emit (odor)The room reeked with stale tobacco smoke.
detached
emotionally removed; calm and objective; indifferentA psychoanalyst must maintain a detached point of view and stay uninvolved with her patients' perssonallives.
underscore
emphasizeAdressing the jogging class, Kim underscored the importance to runners of good nutrition.
vacuous
empty; lacking in ideas; stupidThe candidate's vacuous remarks annoyed the audience, who had hoped to hear more than emptyplatitudes
embed
enclose; place in somethingTales of actual historical figures like King Alfred have become embedded in legends.
environ
enclose; surroundParis was environed by a wall
aviary
enclosure for birdsThe aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds.
hortatory
encouraging; exhortiveThe crowd listened to his hortatory statements with ever-growing excitement; finally they rushed from thehall to carry to his suggestions.
interminable
endlessAlthough his speech lasted for only twenty minutes, it seemed interminable to his bored audience.
incarnate
endowed with flesh; personifiedYour attitude is so fiendish that you must be a devil incarnate.
weather
endure the effects of weather or other forces.He weathered the changes in his personal life with difficulty, as he had no one in whom to confide.
gusto
enjoyment; enthusiasmHe accepted the assignment with such gusto that I feel he would have been satisfied with a smaller salary.
amplify
enlargeHer attempts to amplify her remarks were drowned out by the jeers of the audience.
prodigious
enormous; marvelousHe marveled at her prodigious appetite when he saw all the food she ate.
astronomical
enormously large or extensiveThe government seemed willing to spend astronomical sums on weapons development.
incense
enrage; infuriateUnkindness to children incensed her.
mire
entangle; stick in swampy groundTheir rear wheels became mired in mud.
regale
entertainJohn regaled us with tales of his adventures in Africa.
verve
enthusiasm; livelinessShe approached her studies with such verve that it was impossible for her to do poorly.
ovation
enthusiastic applauseWhen Placido Domingo came on stage in the first act of La Boheme, he was greeted by a tremendousovation.
devotee
enthusiastic followerA devotee of the opera, he bought season tickets every year.
allure
entice; attractallured by the song of the sirens, the helmsman steered the ship toward the reef.
gamut
entire rangeIn this performance, the leading lady was able to demonstrate the complete gamut of her acting ability.
entree
entrance; a way inBecause of his wealth and social position, he had entree into the most exclusive circles.
suppliant
entreating; beseechingHe could not resist the dog's suppliant whimpering, and he gave it some food.
ambience
environment; atmosphereShe went to the restaurant not for the food but for the ambience.
milieu
environment; means of expressionHis milieu is watercolors, although he has produced excellent oil paintings and lithographs.
tantamount
equalYour ignoring their pathetic condition is tantamount to the murder.
commensurate
equal in extentYour reward will be commensurate with your effort.
parity
equality; close resemblanceI find your analogy inaccurate because I do not see the parity between the two illustrations.
accoutre
equipThe fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply
paraphernalia
equipment; odds and endsHis desk was cluttered with paper, pen, ink, dictionary and other paraphernalia of the writing craft.
quibble
equivocate; play on wordsDo not quibble; I want a straightforward and definite answer.
delete
erase; strike outIf you delete this paragraph, the composition will have more appeal.
blunder
errorThe criminal's fatal blunder led to his capture.
misapprehension
error; misunderstandingTo avoid msapprehension, I am going to ask all of you to repeat the instructions I have given.
gist
essenceshe was asked to give the gist of the essay in two sentence.
attribute
essential qualityHis outstanding attribute was his kindness.
substantive
essential; pertaining to the substanceAlthough the delegates were aware of the importance of the problem, they could not agree on thesubstantive issues.
intrinsically
essentially; inherently; naturallyAlthough my grandmother's china has intrinsically little value, I shall always cherish it for the memories itevokes.
appraise
estimate the value ofIt is difficult to appraise old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless.
assessment
estimation; appraisalI would like to have your assessment of the situation in South Africa.
elusive
evasive; baffling; hard to graspHis elusive dreams of wealth were costly to those of his friends who supported him financially.
perpetual
everlastingPonce de Leon hoped to find perpetual youth.
biennial
every two yearsThe group held biennial meetings instead of annual ones.
sinister
evilWe must defeat the sinister forces that seek our downfall.
gestate
evolve, as in prenatal growthWhile this scheme was being gestated by the conspirators, they maintained complete silence about theirintentions.
precise
exactIf you don't give me precise directions and a map, I'll never find your place.
inflated
exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)His claims about the new product were inflated; it did not work as well as he had promised.
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortemThe medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
scrutinize
examine closely and criticallySearching for flaws, the sergeant scrutinized every detail of the private's uniform.
collate
examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in orderThey collated the newly found manuscripts to determine their age.
surpass
exceedHer SAT scores surpassed out expectations.
transcend
exceed; surpassThis accomplishment transcends all our previous efforts.
plethora
excess; overabundanceShe offered a plethora of excuses for her shortcomings.
uxorious
excessively devoted to one's wifeHis friends laughed at him because he was so uxorious and submissive to his wife's desires.
hypercritical
excessively exactingYou are hypercritical in your demands for perfection; we all make mistakes.
obese
excessively fatIt is advisable that obese people try to lose weight.
tightwad
excessively frugal person; miserJill called Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the check.
rapacious
excessively grasping; plunderingHawks and other rapacious birds prey on variety of small animals.
prude
excessively modest or proper personThe X-rated film was definitely not for prudes.
ornate
excessively or elaborately decoratedFurniture of the Baroque period can be recognized by its ornate carvings.
garrulous
excessively talkative, especially about unimportant subjects; loquacious; wordyMany club members avoided the company of the garrulous junior executive because his contant chatterbored them to tears.
iridescent
exhibiting rainbowlike colorsShe admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water.
expatriate
exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native landHenry James was an American expatriate who settled in England.
egress
exitBarnum's sign "To the Egress" fooled many people who thought they were going to see an animal andinstead found themselves in the street.
dilate
expandIn the dark, the pupils of your eyes dilate.
distend
expand;swell outI can tell when he is under stress by the way the veins distend on his forehead.
oust
expel; drive outThe world wondered if Aquino would be able to oust Marcos from office.
sustain
experience; support; nourishHe sustained such a severe injury that the doctors feared he would be unable to work to sustain hisgrowing family.
seasoned
experiencedThough pleased with her new batch of rookies, the basketball coach wished she had a few more seasonedplayers on the team.
belabor
explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verballyThe debate coach warned her student not to bore the audience by belaboring his point.
elucidate
explain; enlightenHe was called upon to elucidate the disputed points in his article.
construe
explain; interpretIf I construe your remarks correctly, you disagree with the theory already advanced.
explicate
explain; interpret; clarifyHarry Levin explicated James Joyce's novels with such clarity that even Finnegan's Wake seemedcomprehensible to his students.
legend
explanatory list of symbols on a mapThe legend at the bottom of the map made it clear which symbols stood for rest areas along the highwayand which stood for public camp sites.
expository
explanatory; serving to explainThe mannual that came with my VCR was no masterpiece of expository prose: its explanations were sogarbled that I couldn't even figure out how to rewind a tape.
probe
explore with toolsThe surgeon probed the wound for foreign matter before suturing it.
detonation
explosionThe detonation of the bomb could be heard miles away.
debunk
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridiculePointing out that he conhsistently had voted afainst strenghtening antipollution legislation, reportersdebunked the candidate's claim that he was a fervent environmentalist.
traduce
expose to slanderHis opponents tried to traduce the candidate's reputation by spreading rumors about his past.
jeopardy
exposure to death or dangerLegally, one cannot be placed in double jeopardy.
vent
express; utterHe vented his wrath on his class.
tirade
extended scolding; denunciationLong before he had finished his tirade, we were sufficiently aware of the seriousness of our misconduct.
extrinsic
external; not inherent; foreignDo not be fooled by extrinsic causes. We must look for the intrinsic reason.
pterodactyl
extinct flying reptileThe remains of pterodactyls indicate that these flying reptiles had a wingspan of as much as twenty feet.
ravenous
extremely hungryThe revenous dog upset several garbage pails in its search for food.
stentorian
extremely loudThe town crier had stentorian voice.
blatant
extremely obvious; loudly offensiveCaught in a blatant lie, the scoundrel had only one regret: he wished that he had lied more subtly.
virulent
extremely poisonousThe virus is highly virulent and has made many of us ill for days.
destitute
extremely poorThe costs of the father's illness left the family destitute.
minute
extremely smallThe twins resembled one another closely; only minute differences set them apart.
lilliputian
extremely smallTiny and delicate, the model was built on a lilliputian scale.
minuscule
extremely smallWhy should I involve myself with a project with so minuscule a chance for success?
astigmatism
eye defect that prevents proper focusAs soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to theoptometrist for corrective glasses.
founder
fail completely; sinkAfter hitting the submerged iceberg, the Titanic started taking in water rapidly and soon foundered.
philanderer
faithless lover; flirtSwearing he had never so much as looked at another woman, Jack assured Jill he was no philanderer.
ravel
fall apart into tangles; unravel or untwist; entangleA sigle thread pulled loose, and the entire scarf started to ravel.
spurious
false; counterfeit; forged; illogicalThe hero of Jonathan Gash's mystery novels is an antique dealer who gives the reader advice on how to tellspurious antiques from the real things.
renown
fameFor many years an unheralded researcher, Barbara McClintock gained international renown when she wonthe Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.
conversant
familiar withThe lawyer is conversant with all the evidence.
zealot
fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal.It is good to have a few zealots in our group for their enthusiasm is contagious.
beget
father; produce; give rise toOne good turn may deserve another; it does not necessarily beget another.
captious
faultfindingHis criticisms were always captious and frivolous, never offering constructive suggestions.
propitious
favorable; kindlyI think it is advisable that we wait for a more propitious occasion to announce our plans; this is not a goodtime.
authoritarian
favoring or exercising total control; non-democraticThe people had no control over their destiny; they were forced to obey the dictates of the authoritarianregime.
auspicious
favoring successWith favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail.
nepotism
favoritism (to a relative)John left his position with the company because he felt that advancement was based on nepotism ratherthan ability.
intimidation
fearA ruler who maintains his power by intimidation is bound to develop clandestine resistance.
claustrophobia
fear of being locked inHis fellow classmates laughed at his claustrophobia and often threatened to lock him in his room.
hydrophobia
fear of water; rabiesA dog that bites a human being must be observed for symptoms of hydrophobia.
xenophobia
fear or hatred of foreigners.When the refugee arrived in America, he was unprepared for the xenophobia he found there.
trepidation
fear; trembling agitationWe must face the enemy without trepidation if we are to win this battle.
timorous
fearful; demonstrating fearHis timorous manner betrayed the fear he felt at the moment.
apprehensive
fearful; discerningHis apprehensive glances at the people who were walking in the street revealed his nervousness.
intrepid
fearlessFor his intrepid conduct in battle, he was promoted.
practicable
feasibleThe board of directors decided that the plan was practicable and agreed to undertake the project.
lineaments
features, especially of the faceShe quickly sketched the lineaments of his face.
feckless
feeble, ineffective; unthinking, irresponsibleEinstein was noted for his extraordinary inspirations; on the other hand, he was noted for being feckless inhis daily chores.
simulate
feignHe simulated insanity in order to avoid punishment for his crime.
visceral
felt in one's inner organsShe disliked the visceral sensations she had whenever she rode the roller coaster.
vixen
female fox; ill-tempered womanAware that she was right once again, he lost his temper and called her a shrew and a vixen.
ewe
female sheepThe flock of sheep was made up of dozens of ewes, together with only a handful of rams.
amazon
female warriorEver since the days of Greek mythology we refer to strong and aggressive women as amazons.
frond
fern leaf; palm or banana leafAfter the storm the beach was littered with the fronds of palm trees.
luxuriant
fertile; abundant; ornateFarming was easy in this luxuriant soil.
fecundity
fertility; fruitfulnessThe fecundity of his mind is illustrated by the many vivid images in his poems.
febrile
feverishIn his febrile condition, he was subject to nightmares and hallucinations.
mercurial
fickle; changingHe was of a mercurial temperament and therefore unpredictable.
capricious
fickle; incalculableThe storm was capricious and changed course constantly.
demoniac
fiendishThe Spanish Inquisition devised many demoniac means of torture.
melee
fightThe captain tried to ascertain the cause of the melee that had broken out among the crew members.
dossier
file of documents on a subjectOrdered by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate the senator, the FBI compiled a complete dossier.
replenish
fill up again Before she could take another backpacking trip, Carla had to replenish her stock of freeze-dried foods.
fraught
filledSince this enterprise is fraught with danger, I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks.
replete
filled to capacity; abundantly suppliedThe book is replete with humorous situations.
sordid
filthy; base; vileThe social worker was angered by the sordid housing provided for the homeless.
ultimate
final; not susceptible to further analysisScientists are searching for the ultimate truths.
aversion
firm dislikeTheir mutual aversion was so great that they refused to speak to one another.
inherent
firmly established by nature or habitHis inherent love of justice compelled him to come to their aid.
spasmodic
fitful; periodicThe spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers.
propriety
fitness; correct conductI want you to behave at this dinner with propriety; don't embarass me.
aptitude
fitness; talentThe counselor evaluated his aptitudes before advising him about the career he should follow.
moodiness
fits of depression or gloomWe could not discover the cause of her recurrent moodiness.
rig
fix or manipulateThe ward boss was able to rig the election by bribing people to stuff the ballot boxes with ballots markedin his candidate's favor.
obsession
fixed idea; continued broodingThis obsession with the supernatural has made him unpopular with his neighbors.
flaccid
flabbyHis sedentary life had left him with flaccid muscles.
panache
flair; flamboyanceMany performers imitate Noel Coward, but few have his panache and sense of style.
meretricious
flashy; tawdry; falsely attractiveHer jewels were inexpensive but not meretricious.
delta
flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a riverHis dissertation discussed the effect of intermittent flooding on the fertility of the Nile delta.
blandishment
flatteryDespite the salesperson's blandishments, the customer did not buy the outfit.
adulation
flattery; admirationThe rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes-men.
sherbet
flavored dessert iceI prefer raspberry sherbet to ice cream since it is less fattening.
excoriate
flay; abradeThese shoes are so ill-fitting that they will excoriate the feet and create blisters.
armada
fleet of warshipsQueen Elizabeth's navy was able to defeat the mighty armada that threatened the English coast.
fugitive
fleeting or transitory; rovingThe film brought a few fugitive images to her mind, but on the whole it made no lasting impression uponher.
evanescent
fleeting; vanishingFor a brief moment, the entire skyline was bathed in an orange-red hue in the evanescent rays of thesunset.
carnal
fleshlyThe public was more interested in carnal pleasures than in spiritual matters.
limber
flexibleHours of ballet classes kept him limber.
pliant
flexible; easily influencedCatherine's disposition was pliant; she was like putty in her suitor's hands.
supple
flexible; pliantThe angler found a supple limb and used it as a fishing rod.
lithe
flexible; suppleHer figure was lithe and willowy.
pliable
flexible; yielding; adaptableIn remodeling the bathroom, we replaced all the old, rigid lead pipes with new, pliable copper tubing.
sleazy
flimsy; unsubstantialThis is a sleazy fabric; it will not wear well.
levitate
float in the air (especially by magical means)As the magician passed his hands over the recumbent body of his assistant, she appeared to rise andlevitate about three feet above the table.
deluge
flood; rushWhen we advertised the position, we received a deluge of applications.
parquet
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosic-like pattern.In laying the floor, the carpenters combined redwood and oak in an elegant parquet.
confluence
flowing together; crowdThey built the city at the confluence of two rivers.
flit
fly; dart lightly; pass swiftly byLike a bee flitting from flower to flower, Rose flitted from one boyfriend to the next.
balk
foilWhen the warden learned that several inmates were planning to escape, he took steps to balk their attempt.
ensue
followThe evils that ensued were the direct result of the miscalculations of the leaders.
subsequent
following; laterIn subsequent lessons, we shall take up more difficult problems.
endearment
fond word or actYour gifts and endearments cannot make me forget your earlier insolence.
victuals
foodI am very happy to be able to provide you with these victuals; I know you are hungry.
viand
foodThere was a variety of viands at the feast.
ambrosia
food of the godsambrosia was supposed to give immortality to any human who ate it.
duress
forcible restraint, especially unlawfullyThe hostages were held under duress until the prisoners' demands were met.
prognosis
forecasted course of a disease; predictionIf the doctor's prognosis is correct, the patient will be in a coma for at least twenty-four hours.
paramount
foremost in importance; supremeProper nutrition and hygiene are of paramount importance in adolescent development and growth.
precursor
forerunnerThough Gray and Burns share many traits with the Romantic poets who followed them, most criticsconsider them precursors of the Romantic Movement, not true Romantics.
vanguard
forerunners; advance forcesWe are the vanguard of a tremendous army that is following us.
bode
foreshadow; portendThe gloomy skies and the sulfurious odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil to those who settled in the area.
presage
foretellThe vultures flying overhead presaged the discovery of the corpse in the desert.
portend
foretell; presageThe king did not know what these omens might portend and asked his soothsayers to interpret them.
oracular
foretelling; mysteriousOedipus could not understand the oracular warning he received.
premonition
forewarningWe ignored these premonitions of disaster because they appeared to be based on childish fears.
oblivion
forgetfulnessHer work had fallen into a state of oblivion; no one bothered to read them.
venial
forgivable; trivialWe may regard a hugry man's stealing as a venial crime.
polity
form of government of nation or stateOur polity should be devoted to the concept that the government should strive for the good of all citizens.
satire
form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack vice and follyGulliver's Travels, which is regarded by many as a tale for children, is actually a bitter satire attackinghuman folly.
discourse
formal disscussion; conversationThe young Plato was drawn to the Agora to hear the philosophical discourse of Socrates and his followers.
rubble
fragmentsTen years after World War II, some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be seen.
aromatic
fragrantMedieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe.
redolent
fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odorEven though it is February, the air is redolent of spring.
chassis
framework and working parts of an automobileExamining the car after the accident, the owner discovered that the body had been ruined but that thechassis was unharmed.
candor
franknessThe candor and simplicity of his speech impressed all, it was all clear he held nothing back.
gratis
freeThe company offered to give one package gratis to every purchaser of one of their products.
congeal
freeze; coagulateHis blood congealed in his veins as he saw the dread monster rush toward him.
frenetic
frenzied; franticHis frenetic activities convinced us that he had no organized plan of operation.
furor
frenzy; great excitementThe story of her embezzlement of the funds created a furor on the stock exchange.
scruple
fret about; hesitate, for ethical reasonsFearing that her husband had become involved in an affair, she did not scruple to read his diary.
repine
fret; complainThere is no sense repining over the work you have left undone.
querulous
fretful; whiningHis classmates were repelled by his querulous and complaining statements.
amicable
friendlyThe dispute was settled in an amicable manner with no harsh words.
debonair
friendly; aiming to pleaseThe debonair youth was liked by all who met him, because of his cheerful and obliging manner.
amity
friendshipStudent exchange programs such as the Experiment in International Living were established to promoteinternational amity.
purveyor
furnisher of foodstuffs; catererAs purveyor of rare wines and viands, he traveled through France and Italy every year in search of newproducts to sell.
nugatory
futile; worthlessThis agreement is nugatory for no court will enforce it.
consensus
general agreementThe consensus indicates that we are opposed to entering into this pact.
fester
generate pusWhen her finger began to fester, the doctor lanced it and removed the splinter that had caused the pus toform.
magnanimity
generosityNoted for his magnanimity, philanthropist Eugene Lang donated millions to charity.
benevolent
generous; charitableHis benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him.
unfeigned
genuine; realShe turned so pale that I am sure her surprise was unfeigned.
spectral
ghostlyWe were frightened by the spectral glow that filled the room.
vampire
ghostly being that sucks the blood of the livingChildren were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampires.
burlesque
give an imitation that ridiculesIn his caricature, he burlesqued the mannerisms of his adversary.
foreshadow
give an indication beforehand; portend; prefigureIn retrospect, political analysts realized that Yeltsin's defiance of the attempted coup foreshadowed hisemergence as the dominant figure of the new Russian republic.
relent
give inWhen her stern father would not relent and allow her to marry Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett elopedwith her suitor.
yield
give in; surrender.The wounded knight refused to yield to his foe.
waive
give up temporarily; yield.I will waive my rights in this matter in order to expedite our reaching a proper decision.
forgo
give up; do withoutDetermined to lose weight for the summer, Ida decided to forgo dessert until she could fit into a size eightagain.
gratuitous
given freely; unwarranted; uncalled forQuit making gratuitous comments about my driving; no one asked you for your opinion.
jocose
given to jokingThe salesman was so jocose that many of his customers suggested that he become a stand-up comic.
carafe
glass water bottleWith each dinner, the patron receives a carafe of red or white wine.
saturnine
gloomyDo not be misled by his saturnine countenance; he is not as gloomy as he looks.
somber
gloomy; depressingFrom the doctor's grim expression, I could tell he had somber news.
fervor
glowing ardorTheir kiss was full of the fervor of first love.
disembark
go ashore; unload cargo from a shipBefore the passengers could disembark, they had to pick up their passports from the ship's purser.
retrograde
go backwards; degenerateInstead of advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in ethics and culture.
traverse
go through or acrossWhen you traverse this field, be careful of the bull.
objective
goal; aimA degree in medicine was her ultimate objective.
chalice
goblet; consecrated cupIn a small room adjoining the cathedral, many ornately decorated chalices made by the most famousEuropean goldsmiths were on display.
devious
going astray; erraticYour devious behavior in this matter puzzles me since you are usually direct and straightforward.
transition
going from one state of action to anotherDuring the period of transition from oil heat to gas heat, the furnace will have to be shut off.
bullion
gold and silver in the form of barsMuch bullion is stored in the vaults at Fort Knox.
prosperity
good fortune; financial success; physical well-beingPromising to stay together "for richer, for poorer," the newlyweds vowed to be true to one another in prosperity and hardship alike.
jovial
good natured; merryA frown seemed out of place on his invariably jovial face.
camaraderie
good-fellowshipWhat he loved best about his job was the sense of camaraderie he and his co-workers shared.
oligarchy
government by a fewThe feudal oligarchy was supplanted by an autocracy.
theocracy
government of a community by religious leadersSome Pilgrims favored the establishment of a theocracy in New England.
gerontocracy
government ruled by old peopleGulliver visited a gerontocracy in which the young people acted as servants to their elders, all the whiledreaming of the day they would be old enough to have servants of their own.
monarchy
government under a single hereditary ruler with varying degrees of powerEngland today remains a monarchy.
encroachment
gradual intrusionThe encroachment of the factories upon the neighborhood lowered the value of the real estate.
attrition
gradual wearing downThey decided to wage a war of attrition rather than to rely on all-out attack.
herbivorous
grain-eatingSome herbivorous animals have two stomachs for digesting their food.
vouchsafe
grant condescendingly; guaranteeI can safely vouchsafe you fair return on your investment.
demure
grave; serius; coy She was demure and reserved.
conflagration
great fireIn the conflagration that followed the 1906 earthquake, much of San Francisco was destroyed.
clout
great influence (especially political or social)Gatsby wondered whether he had enough clout to be admitted to the exclusive club.
cataract
great waterfall; eye abnormalityShe gazed with awe at the mighty cataract known as Niagara Falls.
magnitude
greatness; extentIt is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of his crime.
patina
green crust on old bronze works; tone slowly taken by varnished paintingJudging by the patina on this bronze statue, we can conclude that this is the work of a medieval artist.
lament
grieve; express sorrowEven advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat.
gruesome
grislyPeople screamed when her gruesome appearance was flashed on the screen.
lechery
gross lewdness; lustfulnessIn his youth he led a life of lechery and debauchery; he did not mend his ways until middle age.
killjoy
grouch; spoilsportAt breakfast we had all been enjoying our bacon and eggs until that killjoy John started talking about howbad animal fats and cholesterol were for our health.
archipelago
group of closely located islandsWhen he looked at the map and saw the archipelagoes in the South Seas, he longed to visit them.
junta
group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabalAs soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the execution of all of the members of thejunta.
trilogy
group of three worksRomain Rolland's novel Jean Christophe was first published as a trilogy.
burgeon
grow forth; send out budsIn the spring, the plants that burgeon are a promise of the beauty that is to come.
wane
grow gradually smaller.From now until December 21, the winter solstice, the hours of daylight will wane.
proliferate
grow rapidly; spread; multiplyTimes of economic hardship inevitably encourage countless get-rich-quick schemes to proliferate
macabre
gruesome; grislyThe city morgue is a macabre spot for the uninitiated.
warranty
guarantee; assurance by seller.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.
surmise
guessI surmise that he will be late for this meeting.
remorse
guilt; self-reproachThe murderer felt no remorse for his crime.
recidivism
habitual return to crimePrison reformers in the United States are disturbed by the high rate of recidivism; the number of personsserving second and third terms indicates the failure of the prisons to rehabilitate the inmates.
taciturn
habitually silent; talking a littleNew Englanders are reputedly taciturn people.
hackles
hairs on back and neck, especially of a dogThe dog's hackles rose and he began to growl as the sound of footsteps grew louder.
coiffure
hairstyleYou can make a statement with your choice of coiffure: in the 60's many African-Americans affirmed theirracial heritage by wearing their hair in Afros.
somnolent
half asleepThe heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker.
factotum
handyman; person who does all kinds of workAlthough we had hired him as a messenger, we soon began to use him as a general factotum around theoffice.
pendant
hanging down from somethingHer pendant earrings glistened in the light.
compatible
harmonious; in harmony withThey were compatible neighbors, never quarreling over unimportant matters.
concord
harmonyWatching Tweediedum and Tweedledee battle, Alice wondered why the two brothers could not manage tolife in concord.
consonance
harmony; agreementHer agitation seemed out of consonance with her usual calm.
conformity
harmony; agreementIn conformity with our rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization.
raucous
harsh and shrillHis raucous laughter irritated me and grated on my ears.
severity
harshness; plainnessThe newspapers disapproved of the severity of the sentence.
expedite
hastenWe hope you will be able to expedite delivery because of our tight schedule.
misogynist
hater of womenShe accused him of being a misogynist because he had been a bachelor all his life.
misogamy
hatred of marriageHe remained a bachelor not because of misogamy but because of ill fate: his fiancee died before thewedding.
concentric
having a common centerThe target was made of concentric circles.
malignant
having an evil influence; virulentThis is a malignant disease; we must have to use drastic measures to stop its spread.
odorous
having an odorThis variety of hybrid tea rose is more odorous than the one you have in your garden.
clairvoyant
having foresight; fortunetellerCassandra's clairvoyant warning was not heeded by the Trojans.
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristicsPrimitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics.
perspicacious
having insight; penetrating; astuteThe brillant lawyer was known for his perspicacious deductions.
multilingual
having many languagesBecause they are bordered by so many countries, the Swiss people are multilingual.
versatile
having many talents; capable of working in many fieldsHe was a versatile athlete; at college he had earned varsity letters in baseball, football, and track.
ciliated
having minute hairsThe paramecium is a ciliated, one-celled animal.
monochromatic
having only one colorMost people who are color blind actually can distinguish several colors; some, however, have a trulymonochromatic view of a world all in shades of gray.
preempt
head off; forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself; supplantHoping to preempt any attempts by the opposition to make educational reform a hot political issue, thecandidate set out her own plan to revitalize the public schools.
promontory
headlandThey erected a lighthouse on the promontory to warn approaching ships of their nearness to the shore.
precipitate
headlong; rashDo not be precipitate in this matter; investigate further.
salubrious
healthfulMany people with hay fever move to more salubrious sections of the country during the months of Augustand September.
hale
healthyAfter a brief illness, he was soon hale.
pyre
heap of combustible material, esp. for burning a corpse.The mortician put pyre on the corpse before burning a corpse.
calorific
heat-producingCoal is much more calorific than green wood.
celestial
heavenlyShe spoke of the celestial joys that awaited virtuous souls in the hereafter.
ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weightThe ship was listing badly to one side; it was necessary to shift the ballast in the hold to get her back on aneven keel.
communal
held in common; of a group of peopleWhen they were divorced, they had trouble dividing their communal property.
recluse
hermitThe recluse lived in a hut in the forest.
halting
hesitant; falteringNovice extemporaneous speakers often talk in a halting fashion as they grope for the right words.
falter
hesitateWhen told to dive off the high board, she did not falter, but proceeded at once.
secrete
hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism.The pack rat secretes odds and ends in its nest; the pancreas secretes insulin in the islets of Langerhans.
cache
hiding placeThe detectives followed the suspects until he led them to the cache where he had stored his loot.
glaring
highly conspicuous; harshly brightglaring spelling or grammatical errors in your resume will unfavorably impress potential employers.
agog
highly excited; intensely curiousWe were all agog at the news that the celebrated movie star was giving up his career in order to enter amonastery.
prodigy
highly gifted child; marvelMenuhin was a prodigy, performing wonders on his violin when he was barely eight years old.
baroque
highly ornateAccustomed to the severe, angular lines of modern skyscrapers, they found the flamboyance of baroquearchitecture amusing.
impede
hinder; blockThe special prosecutor determined that the Attorney General, though inept, had not intentionally set out toimpede the progress of the investigation.
intimate
hintShe intimated rather than stated her preferences.
tenure
holding of an office; time during which such an office is heldHe was permanent tenure in this position and cannot be fired.
retentive
holding; having a good memoryThe pupil did not need to spend much time in study as he had a retentive mind.
concave
hollowThe back-packers found partial shelter from the storm by huddling against the concave wall of the cliff.
domicile
homeAlthoughhis legal domicile was in New York City, his work kept him away from his residence for manyyears.
waif
homeless child or animal.Although he already had eight cats, he could not resist adopting yet another feline waif.
vagrant
homeless wandererBecause he was a stranger in town with no visible means of support, Martin feared he would be jailed as avagrant.
nostalgia
homesickness; longing for the pastThe first settlers found so much work to do that they had little time for nostalgia.
fete
honor at a festivalThe returning hero was feted at a community supper and dance.
kudos
honor; glory; praiseThe singer complacently received kudos on his performance from his entourage.
homage
honor; tributeIn her speech she tried to pay homage to a great man.
ghastly
horribleThe murdered man was a ghastly sight.
animus
hostile feeling or intentThe animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insultingremarks.
antagonistic
hostile; opposedDespite his lawyers' best efforts to stop him, the angry prisoner continued to make antagonistic remarks tothe judge.
behemoth
huge creature; something of monstrous size or powerSportcasters nicknamed the linebacker "The Behemoth."
gargantuan
huge; enormousThe gargantuan wrestler was terrified of mice.
mortify
humiliate; punish the fleshShe was so mortified by her blunder that she ran to her room in tears.
indulgent
humoring; yielding; lenientindulgent parents spoil their children by giving in to their every whim.
facetious
humorous; jocularYour facetious remarks are not appropriate at this serious moment.
scavenge
hunt through discarded materials for usable items; search, especially for foodIf you need car parts that the dealers no longer stock, try scavenging for odd bits and pieces at the autowreckers' yards.
quixotic
idealistic but impracticalHis head is in the clouds; he is constantly presenting these quixotic schemes.
ideology
ideas of a group of peopleThat ideology is dangerous to this country because it embraces undemocratic philosophies.
contraband
illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goodsThe coast guard tries to prevent contraband in U.S. waters.
paramour
illicit loverShe sought a divorce on the grounds that her husband had a paramour in another town.
fictitious
imaginaryAlthough this book purports to be a biography of George Washington, many of the incidents are fictitious.
utopia
imaginary land with perfect social and political systemShangri-la was the name of James Hilton's Tibetan utopia.
ape
imitate or mimicHe was suspended for a week because he had aped the principal in front of the whole school.
mimicry
imitationHer gift for mimicry was so great that her friends said that she should be in the theater.
pastiche
imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writingWe cannot even say that her music is a pastiche of this or that composer; it is rather, reminiscent of manymusicians.
incorporeal
immaterial; without a material bodyWe must devote time to the needs of our incorporeal mind as well as our corporeal body.
unfledged
immatureIt is hard for an unfledged writer to find a sympathetic publisher.
sophomoric
immature; shallowYour sophomoric remarks are a sign of your youth and indicate that you have not given much thought tothe problem.
inscrutable
impenetrable; not readily understood; mysteriousExperienced poker players try to keep their expressions inscrutable, hiding their reactions to the cardsbehind a so-called poker face.
impermeable
impervious; not permitting passage through its substanceThis new material is impermeable to liquids.
causal
implying a cause-and-effect relationshipThe psychologist maintained there was a causal relationship between the nature of one's early childhoodexperiences and one's adult personality.
grandiose
imposing; impressiveHis grandiose manner impressed those who met him for the first time.
prestige
impression produced by achievements or reputationThe wealthy man sought to obtain social prestige by contributing to popular charities.
susceptible
impressionable; easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a diseaseHe was a very susceptible young man, and so his parents worried that he might fall into bad company.
august
impressive; majesticVisiting the palace at Versailes, she was impressed by the august surroundings in which she found herself.
grandeur
impressiveness; stateliness; majestyNo matter how often he hiked through the mountains, David never failed to be struck by the grandeur ofthe Sierra Nevada range.
incarcerate
imprisonThe warden will incarcerate the felon after conviction.
immure
imprison; shut up in confinement For the two weeks before the examination, the student immureed himself in his room and concentratedupon his studies.
implacable
incapable of being pacifiedMadame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family.
invulnerable
incapable of injuryAchilles was invulnerable except in his heel.
sadistic
inclined to crueltyIf we are to improve conditions in this prison, we must first get rid of the sadistic warden.
factious
inclined to form factions; causing dissension.Your statement is factious and will upset the harmony that now exists.
prone
inclined to; prostrateShe was prone to sudden fits of anger.
comprise
include; consist ofIf the District of Columbia were to be granted a statehood, the United States of America would comprisefifty-onestates, not just fifty.
irreconsilable
incompatible; not able to be resolvedBecause the separated couple were irreconcilable, the marriage counselor recommended a divorce.
partial
incompleteIn this issue we have published only a partial list of contributors because we lack space to acknowledgeeveryone.
unobtrusive
inconspicuous; not blatantThe secret service agents in charge of protecting the President tried to be as unobtrusive as possible.
augment
increaseHow can we hope to augment our forces when our allies are deserting us?
aggrandize
increase or intensify; raise in power, wealth, rank or honorThe history of the past quarter century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to actaggressively in international affairs without considering the wishes of Congress.
bawdy
indecent; obsceneShe took offense at his bawdy remarks.
allusion
indirect referencethe allusions to mythological characters in Milton's poems bewilder the reader who has not studied Latin.
mealymouthed
indirect speech; hypocritical; evasiveRather than tell Jill directly what he disliked, Jack made a few mealymouthed comments and tried to changethe subject.
incontrovertible
indisputableWe must yield to the incontrovertible evidence that you have presented and free your client.
unerringly
infalliblyMy teacher unerringly pounced on the one typographical error in my essay.
opprobrium
infamy; vilificationHe refused to defend himself against the slander and opprobrium hurled against him by the newspapers; hepreferred to rely on his record.
contagion
infectionFearing contagion, they took drastic steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
illimitable
infiniteHuman beings, having explored the far corners of the earth, are now reaching out into illimitable space.
apprise
informWhen he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip.
impinge
infringe; touch; collide withHow could they be married without impinging on one another's freedom?
epitaph
inscription in memory of a dead personIn his will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted placed on his tombstone.
interpolate
insert betweenShe talked so much that I could not interpolate a single remark.
foist
insert improperly; palm offI will not permit you to foist such ridiculous ideas upon the membership of this group.
perceptive
insightful; aware; wiseAlthough Maud was a generally perceptive critic, she had her blind sports: she could never see flaws in thework of her friends.
inconsequential
insignificant; unimportantBrushing off Ali's apologies for having broken the wine glass, Tamara said, "Don't worry about it; it'sinconsequential."
vapid
insipid; inaneShe delivered an uninspired and vapid address.
edify
instruct; correct morallyAlthough his purpose was to edify and not to entertain his audience, many of his listeners were amusedand not enlightened.
slur
insult to one's character or reputation; slanderPolls revealed that the front-runner's standing had been damaged by the slurs and innuendoes circulated byhis opponent's staff.
slight
insult to one's dignity; snubHypersensitive and ready to take offense at any discourtesy, Bertha was always on the lookout for real orimaginary slights.
affront
insult; offendAccustomed to being treated with respect, Miss Challoner was affronted by Vidal's offensive behavior.
insuperable
insurmountable; invincibleIn the face of insuperable difficulties they maintained their courage and will to resist.
intelligentsia
intellectuals; members of the educated eliteShe preferred discussions about sports and politics to the literary conversations of the intelligentsia.
frigid
intensely coldAlaska is in the frigid zone.
purport
intention; meaningIf the purport of your speech was to arouse the rabble, you succeeded admirably.
willful
intentional; headstrong.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.
symbiosis
interdependent relationship (between groups, species), often mutually beneficialBoth the crocodile bird and the crocodile derive benefit from their symbiosis; pecking away at foodparticles embedded in the crocodile's teeth, the bird derives nourishment; the crocodile, meanwhile, derivesproper dental hygiene.
meddlesome
interferingHe felt his marriage was suffering because of his meddlesome mother-in-law.
expletive
interjection; profane oathThe sergeant's remarks were filled with expletives that offended the new recruits.
misconstrue
interpret incorrectly; misjudgeShe took the passage seriously rather than humourously because she misconstrued the author's ironic tone.
knotty
intricate; difficult; tangledWhat to Watson had been a knotty problem to Sherlock Holmes was simplicity itself.
incorporate
introduce something into a larger whole; combine; uniteBreaking with precedent, President Truman ordered the military to incorporate blacks into every branch ofthe armed services.
prelude
introduction; forerunnerI am afraid that this border raid is the prelude to more serious attacks.
prefactory
introductoryThe chairman made a few prefactory remarks before he called on the first speaker.
preamble
introductory statementIn the preamble to the Constitution, the purpose of the document is set forth.
withdrawn
introverted; remote.Rebuffed by his colleagues, the initially outgoing young researcher became increasingly withdrawn.
interloper
intruderThe merchant thought of his competitors as interlopers who were stealing away his trade.
figment
invention; imaginary thingThat incident never took place; it is a figment of your imagination.
energize
invigorate; make forceful and activeRather than exhausting Maggie, dancing energized her.
tonic
invigorating medicineThe tonic water invigorated her, contrary to the enervating effect of the alcohol.
impious
irreverentThe congregation was offended by her impious remarks.
irascible
irritable; easily angeredHer irascible temper frightened me.
rankle
irritate; festerThe memory of having been jilted rankled him for years.
pique
irritation; resentmentShe showed her pique by her refusal to appear with the other contestants at the end of the contest.
retain
keep; employFighting to retain his seat in Congress, Senator Foghorn retained a new manager to head his reelectioncampaign.
decimate
kill, usually one out of tenWe do more to decimate our population in automobile accidents than we do in war.
humane
kindHis humane and considerate treatment of the unfortunate endeared him to all.
ignite
kindle; lightWhen Desi crooned, "Baby, light my fire," literal-minded Lucy looked around for some paper to ignite.
benign
kindly; favorable; not malignantThe old man was well liked because of his benign attitude toward friend and stranger alike.
realm
kingdom; sphereThe realm of possibilities for the new invention was endless.
affinity
kinshipShe felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains.
consanguinity
kinshipThe lawsuit developed into a test of the consanguinity of the claimant to the estate.
cognizance
knowledgeDuring the election campaign, the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the internationalsituation.
apathy
lack of caring; indifferenceA firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who neverbothered to vote.
discrepancy
lack of consistency; differenceThe police noticed some discrepancies in his description of the crime and did not believe him.
incongruity
lack of harmony; absurdityThe incongruity of his wearing sneakers with formal attire amused the observers.
imprudent
lacking caution; injudiciousIt is imprudent to exercise vigorously and become overheated when you are unwell.
insipid
lacking in flavor; dullFlat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid: both lack sparkle.
frivolous
lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportantThough Nancy enjoyed Bill's frivolous, lighthearted companionship, she sometimes wondered whether hecould ever be serious.
spartan
lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplinedLooking over the bare, unheated room with its hard cot, he wondered what he was doing in such spartanquarters. Only his spartan sense of duty kept him at his post.
jargon
language used by special group; gibberishWe tried to understand the jargon of the peddlers in the market place but could not find any basis forcomprehension.
lassitude
languor; wearinessThe hot, tropical weather created a feeling of lassitude and encouraged drowsiness.
galleon
large sailing shipThe Spaniards pinned their hopes on the galleon, the large warship; the British, on the smaller and fasterpinnace.
statute
law We have many statutes in our law books which should be repealed.
litigation
lawsuitTry to settle this amicably; I do not want to start litigation.
shyster
lawyer using questionable methods.On L.A. Law, respectable attorney Brackman was horrified to learn that his newly discovered half brotherwas a cheap shyster.
laity
laypersons; persons not connected with the clergyThe laity does not always understand the clergy's problems.
indolence
lazinessHe outgrew his youthful indolence to become a model of industry and alertness on the job.
sloth
lazinessSuch sloth in a young person is deplorable; go to work!
sluggard
lazy person"You are a sluggard, a drone, a parasite," the angry father shouted at his lazy son.
inveigle
lead astray; wheedleShe was inveigled into joining the club after an initial reluctance.
livid
lead-coloredl; black and blue; ashen; enragedHis face was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might have an attack of apoplexy.
gaunt
lean and angular; barrenHis once-round face looked surprisingly gaunt after he had lost weight.
pundit
learned Hindu; any learned person; authority on a subjectEven though he discourses on the matter like a pundit, he is actually rather ignorant about this topic.
erudite
learned; scholarlyHis erudite writing was difficult to read because of the many allusions which were unfamiliar to mostreaders.
bequeath
leave to someone by means of a will; hand downIn his will, Father bequeathed his watch to Phillip; the bequest meant a great deal to the boy.
lien
legal claim on a propertyThere was a delay before Ralph could take possession of his late uncle's home; apparently, anotherclaimant had a lien upon the estate.
moratorium
legal delay of paymentIf we declare a moratorium and delay collection of debts for six months, I am sure the farmers will be ableto meet their bills.
usury
lending money at illegal rates of interestThe loan shark was found guilty of usury.
depreciate
lessen in valueIf you neglect this properly, it will depreciate.
diminution
lessening; reduction in sizeThe blockaders hoped to achieve victory as soon as the diminution of the enemy's supplies became serious.
bate
let down; restrainUntil it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity.
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotionAfter the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax.
torpor
lethargy; sluggishness; dormancyNothing seemed to arouse him from his torpor; he had wholly surrendered himself to lethargy.
equivocate
lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truthThe audience saw through his attempts to equivocate on the subject under discussion and ridiculed hisremarks.
inanimate
lifelessshe was asked to identify the still and inanimate body.
ethereal
light; heavenly; fineVisitors were impressed by her ethereal beauty, her delicate charm.
jaunty
lighthearted; animated; easy and carefreeIn Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly sang and danced his way throughtthe lighthearted title number in aproperly jaunty style.
cadaverous
like a corpse; paleFrom his cadaverous appearance, we could see how the disease had ravaged him.
rabid
like a fanatic; furiousHe was a rabid follower of the Dodgers and watched them play whenever he could go to the ball park.
vulpine
like a fox; craftyShe disliked his sly ways, but granted him a certain vulpine intelligence.
leonine
like a lionHe was leonine in his rage.
avuncular
like an uncleAvuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings.
ligneous
like woodPetrified wood may be ligneous in appearance, but it is stonelike in composition.
diorama
like-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or historyBecause they dramatically pose actual stuffed animals against realistic painted landscapes, the dioramas atthe Museum of Natural History particularly impress high school biology students.
labile
likely to change; unstableBecause the hormonal changes they undergo affect their spirits, adolescents may become emotionally labileand experience sudden shifts of mood.
circumscribe
limit; confine Although I do not wish to circumscribe your activities, I must insist that you complete this assignmentbefore you start anything else.
parameter
limit; independent variableWe need to define the parameters of the problem.
finite
limitedIt is difficult for humanity with its finite existence to grasp the infinite.
modicum
limited quantityAlthough his story is based on a modicum of truth, most of the events he describes are fictitious.
qualified
limited; restrictedUnable to give the candidate full support, the mayor gave him only a qualified endorsement.
concatenate
link as in a chain It is difficult to understand how these events could concatenate as they did without outside assistance.
roster
listThey print the roster of players in the season's program.
repertoire
list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to presentThe opera company decided to include Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the following season.
compilation
listing of statistical information in tabular or book formThe compilation of available scholarships serves a very valuable purpose.
stygian
literary darkThe stygian room reminded him of an empty space.
knoll
little, round hillRobert Louis Stevenson's grave is on a knoll in Samoa; to reach the grave site, you must climb uphill andwalk a short distance along a marked path.
vegetate
live in a monotonous wayI do not understand how you can vegetate in this quiet village after the adventurous life you have led.
animated
livelyHer animated expression indicated a keenness of intellect.
vivacious
lively or animated; sprightlyShe had always been vivacious and sparkling.
skittish
lively; friskyShe is as skittish as a kitten playing with a piece of string.
rousing
lively; stirring"And now, let's have a rousing welcome for TV's own Roseanne Arnold, who'll lead us in a rousingrendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'"
venue
locationThe attorney asked for a change of venue; he thought his client would do better if the trial were held in aless conservative county.
syllogism
logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptiveor specious argument There must be a fallacy in this syllogism; I cannot accept its conclusion.
valid
logically convincing; sound; legally acceptableYou're going to have to come up with a better argument if you want to convince me that your reasoning isvalid.
dawdle
loiter; waste timeInasmuch as we must meet a deadline, do not dawdle over this work.
lank
long and thinlank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln was a striking figure.
chronic
long established, as a diseaseThe doctors were finally able to attribute his chronic headaches and nausea to traces of formaldehyde gasin his apartment.
epic
long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of artKurosawa's film Seven Samurai is an epic portraying the struggle of seven warriors to destroy a band ofrobbers.
longevity
long lifeWhen he reached ninety, the old man was proud of his longevity.
eon
long period of time; an ageIt has taken eons for our civilization to develop.
harangue
long, passionate, and vehement speechIn her lengthy harangue, the principal berated the offenders.
imperiousness
lordliness; domineering manner; arroganceHis imperiousness indicated that he had long been accustomed to assuming command.
amnesia
loss of memoryBecause she was suffering from amnesia, the police could not get the young girl to identify herself.
sybarite
lover of luxuryRich people are not always sybarites; some of them have little taste for a life of luxury.
philanthropist
lover of mankind; doer of goodAs he grew older, he became famous as a philanthropist and benefactor of the needy.
nether
lowerTradition locates hell in the nether regions.
abase
lower; degrade; humiliateAnna expected to have to curtsy to the King of Siam; when told to cast herself down on the ground beforehim, however she refused to abase herself.
degraded
lowered in rank; debasedThe degraded wretch spoke only of his past glories and honors.
nadir
lowest pointAlthough few people realized it, the Dow-Jones averages had reached their nadir and would soon begin anupward surge.
mendacious
lying; falseHe was pathological liar, and his friends learned to discount his mendacious stories.
centrifuge
machine that separates substances by whirling themAt the dairy, we employ a centrifuge to separate cream from milk.
rarefied
made less dense [of a gas]The mountain climbers had difficulty breathing in the rarefied atmosphere.
osseus
made of bone; bonyThe hollow "soft spot" found at the top of the infant's skull gradually closes as new osseus tissue fills in thegap.
frenzied
madly excitedAs soon as they smelled smoke, the frenzied animals milled about in their cages.
mutilate
maimThe torturer threatened to mutilate his victim.
adulterate
make impure by mixing with baser substances It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer.
stupefy
make numb; stun; amazeDisapproving of drugs in general, Laura refused to take sleeping pills or any other medicine that mightstupefy her.
preen
make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfactionAs Kitty preened before the mirror, carefully smoothing her shining hair, she couldn't help preening herselfon her good looks.
indemnify
make secure against loss; compensate for lossThe city will indemnify all home owners whose property is spoiled by this project.
burnish
make shiny by rubbing; polishThe maid burnished the brass fixtures until they reflected the lamplight.
annul
make voidThe parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage.
yeoman
man owing small estate; middle-class farmer.It was not the aristocrat but the yeoman who determined the nation's policies.
lacerate
mangle; tearHer body was lacerated in the automobile crash.
megalomania
mania for doing grandiose thingsDevelopers who spend millions trying to build the world's tallest skyscraper suffer from megalomania.
anthropoid
manlikeThe gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals.
striated
marked with parallel bands; groovedThe glacier left many striated rocks.
array
marshal; draw up in orderHis actions were bound to array public sentiment against him.
requiem
mass for the dead; dirgeThey played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral.
floe
mass of floating iceThe ship made slow progress as it battered its way through the ice floes.
conglomeration
mass of material sticking togetherIn such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was impossible to find a single area of analysis.
foliage
masses of leavesEvery autumn before the leaves fell he promised himself he would drive though the New England toadmire the colorful fall foliage.
monumental
massiveWriting a dictionary is a monumental task.
sustenance
means of support, food, nourishmentIn the tropics, the natives find sustenance easy to obtain because of all the fruit trees.
dint
means; effortBy dint of much hard work, the volunteers were able to control the raging forest fire.
interim
meantimeThe company will not consider our proposal until next week; in the interim, let us proceed as we have inthe past.
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humansLong before science fiction readers became aware of robots, writers were creating stories of automationwho could outperform humans.
officious
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's servicesAfter her long flight, Jill just wanted to nap, but the officious bellboy was intent on showing her all thespecial features of the deluxe suite.
tryst
meetingThe lovers kept their tryst even though they realized their danger.
rendezvous
meeting placeThe two fleets met at the rendezvous at the appointed time.
molten
meltedThe city of Pompeii was destroyed by volcanic ash rather than by molten lava flowing from Mount Vesuvius.
proletarian
member of the working classThe aristocrats feared mob rule and gave the right to vote only to the wealthy, thus depending theproletarians of a voice in government.
minatory
menacing; threateningJabbing a minatory forefinger at Dorothy, the Wicked Witch cried, "I'll get you, and your little dog, too!"
drudgery
menial workCinderella's fairy godmother rescued her from a life of drudgery.
composure
mental calmnessEven the latest work crisis failed to shake her composure.
psychosis
mental disorderWe must endeavor to find an outlet for the patient's repressed desires if we hope to combat this psychosis.
delirium
mental disorder marked by confusionThe drunkard in his delirium saw strange animals.
acumen
mental keennessHis business acumen helped him to succeed where others had failed.
faculty
mental or bodily powers; teaching staffAs he grew old, he feared he might lose his faculties and become useless to his employer.
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having insightBecause he was considered the most discerning member of the firm, he was assigned the most difficultcases.
euthanasia
mercy killingMany people support euthanasia for terminally ill patients who wish to die.
euphemism
mild expression in place of an unpleasant oneThe expression "he passed away" is a euphemism for "he died."
balmy
mild; fragrantA balmy breeze refreshed us after the sultry blast.
leniency
mildness; permissivenessConsidering the gravity of the offense, we were surprised by the leniency of the sentence.
misdemeanor
minor crimeThe culprit pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor rather than face trial for a felony.
skirmish
minor fightCuster's troops expected they might run into a skirmish or two on maneuvers; they did not expect to face amajor battle.
squabble
minor quarrel; bickeringChildren invariably get involved in petty squabbles; wise parents know when to interfere and when to letthe children work things out on their own.
misadventure
mischance; ill luckThe young explorer met death by misadventure.
urchin
mischievous child (usually a boy)Get out! This store is no place for grubby urchins!
waggish
mischievous; humorous; tricky.He was a prankster who, unfortunately, often overlooked the damage he could cause with his waggishtricks.
skinflint
miserThe old skinflint refused to give her a raise.
qualms
misgivingsHis qualms of conscience had become so great that he decided to abandon his plans.
illusion
misleading visionIt is easy to create an optical illusion in which lines of equal length appear different.
erroneous
mistaken; wrongI thought my answer was correct, but it was erroneous.
alloy
mixture as of metalsalloy of gold are used more frequently than the pure metal.
miscellany
mixture of writings on various subjectsThis is an interesting miscellany of nineteenth-century prose and poetry.
paragon
model of perfectionThe class disliked him because the teacher was always pointing him out as a paragon of virtue.
paradigm
model; example; patternPavlov's experiment in which he trains a dog to salivate on hearing a bell is a paradigm of the conditioned-response experiment in behavioal psychology.
temper
moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel)Not even her supervisor's grumpiness could temper Nancy's enthusiasm for her new job.
sobriety
moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousnessNeither drunkards nor comics are noted for sobriety.
unassuming
modestHe is so unassuming that some people fail to realize how great a man he really is.
retiring
modest; shyGiven Susan't retiring personality, no one expected her to take up public speaking; surprisingly enough, shebecame a star of the school debate team.
lull
moment of calmNot wanting to get wet, they waited under the awning for a lull in the rain.
transient
momentary; temporary; staying for a short timeLexy's joy at finding the perfect Christmas gift for Phil was transient; she still had to find presents for thecousins and Uncle Bob. Located near the airport, this hotel caters to the largely transient trade.
autocrat
monarch with supreme powerHe ran his office like an autocrat, giving no one else any authority.
potentate
monarch; sovereignThe potentate spent more time at Monte Carlo than he did at home on his throne.
lucre
moneyPreferring lucre to undying fame, he wrote stories of popular appeal.
hybrid
mongrel; mixed breedMendel's formula explains the appearance of hybrids and pure species in breeding.
actuate
motivateI fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily.
mercenary
motivated solely by money or gain"I'm not in this war because I get my kicks waving flags," said the mercenary soldier. "I'm in it for thedough."
plaintive
mournfulThe dove has a plaintive and melancholy call
lugubrious
mournfulThe lugabrious howling of the dogs added to our sadness.
orifice
mouthlike opening; small openingThe Howe Caverns were discovered when someone observed that a cold wind was issuing from an orificein the hillside.
impetus
moving force; incentive; stimulusA new federal highway program would create jobs and five added impetus to our economic recovery.
turbid
muddy; having the sediment disturbedThe water was turbid after the children had waded through it.
propagate
multiply; spreadSince bacteria propagate more quickly in unsanitary environments, it is important to keep hospital roomsclean.
mutter
murmur or grumbleThe child muttered at the doll.
brawn
muscular strength; sturdinessIt takes brawn to become a champion weight-lifter.
maim
mutilate; injureThe hospital could not take care of all who had been mangled or maimed in the railroad accident.
concerted
mutually agreed on; done togetherThe girl scouts in the troop made a concerted effort to raise funds for their annual outing, and emitted aconcerted sigh when their leader announced that they had reached their goal.
internecine
mutually destructiveThe rising death toll on both sides indicates the internecine natire of his conflict.
runic
mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabetTolkien's use of Old English words and inscriptions in the runic alphabet give The Lord of the Rings itsatmosphere of antiquity.
centaur
mythical figure, half man and half horseI was particularly impressed by the statue of the centaur in the Roman Hall of the museum.
ingenuous
naive; young and unsophisticatedAlthough she was over forty, the movie star still insisted that she be cast as an ingenuous sweet youngthing.
appellation
name; titleHe was amazed when the witches hailed him with his correct appellation.
recount
narrate or tell; count over againAbout to recount the latest adventure of Sherlock Holmes, Watson lost track of exactly how many casesHolmes had solved and refused to begin his tale until he'd recounted them one by one.
gorge
narrow canyon; steep, rocky cleftTerrified of heights, George could not bring himself to peer down into the gorge to see the rapids below.
parochial
narrow in outlook; provincial; related to parishesAlthough Jane Austen writes novels set in small rural communities, her concerns are universal, notparochial.
isthmus
narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of landIn a magnificent feat of engineering, Goethals and his men cut through the isthmus of Panama inconstructing the Panama Canal.
philistine
narrow-minded person, uncultured and exculsively interested in material gainWe need more men of culture and enlightenment; we have too many philistines among us.
sectarian
narrow-minded; limited in scopeAs university chaplain, she sought to address universal religious issues and not limit herself to mere sectarian concerns.
propensity
natural inclinationConvinced of his own talent, Sol has an unfortunate propensity to belittle the talents of others.
sextant
navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitudeGiven a clear night, with the aid of his sextant and compass, he could keep the ship safely on course.
proximity
nearnessThe deer sensed the hunter's proximity and bounded away.
propinquity
nearness; kinshipTheir relationship could not be explained as being based on mere propinquity: they were more thanrelatives; they were true friends.
spruce
neat and trimEvery button buttoned, tie firmly in place, young Alex Keaton looked spruce and tidy for his job interviewat the bank.
dapper
neat and trimIn "The Odd Couple," Tony Randall played Felix Unger, an excessively dapper soul who could not standto have a hair out of place.
deft
neat; skillfulThe deft waiter uncorked the champagne without spilling a drop.
requisite
necessary requirementMany colleges state that a student must offer three years of a language as a requisite for admission.
tautological
needlessly repetitiousIn the sentence "It was visible to the eye," the phrase "to the eye" is tautological.
pejorative
negative in connotation; having a belittling effect.Instead of criticizing Clinton's policies, the Republicans made pejorative remarks about his character.
remiss
negligentHe was accused of being remiss in his duty when the prisoner escaped.
titter
nervous laughHer aunt's constant titter nearly drove her mad.
seine
net for catching fishWhen the shad run during the spring, you may see fishermen with seines along the banks of our coastalrivers.
noncommittal
neutral; unpledged; undecidedWe were annoyed by his noncommittal reply for we had been led to expect definite assurances of hisapproval.
neologism
new or newly coined word or phraseAs we invent new techniques and professions, we must also invent neologisms such as "microcomputer"and "astronaut" to describe them.
subtlety
nicety; cunning; guile; delicacyThe subtlety of his remarks was unnoticed by most of his audience.
agility
nimblenessThe agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience.
outmoded
no longer stylish; old-fahionedUnconcerned about keeping in style, Lenore was perfectly happy to wear outmoded clothes as long as theywere clean and unfrayed.
aspiration
noble ambition Youth's aspirations should be as lofty as the stars.
irrelevant
not applicable; unrelatedThis statement is irrelevant and should be disregarded by the jury.
extraneous
not essential; externalDo not pad your paper with extraneous matters; stick to essential items only.
incidental
not essential; minorThe scholarship covered his major expenses at college and some of his incidental expenses as well.
disingenuous
not naive; sophisticated Although he was young, his remarks indicated that he was disingenous.
exotic
not native; strangeBecause of his exotic headdress, he was followed in the streets by small children who laughed at his strangeappearance.
heedless
not noticing; disregardingHe drove on, heedless of the warnings that the road was dangerous.
impervious
not penetrable; not permitting passage throughYou cannot change their habits for their minds are impervious to reasoning.
extemporaneous
not planned; impromtuBecause his extemporaneous remarks were misinterpreted, he decided to write all his speeches in advance.
theoretical
not practical or applied; hypotheticalBob 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 basicsoundness.
unrequited
not reciprocatedSuffering the pangs of unrequited love, Olivia rebukes Cesario for his hard-heartedness.
incommodious
not spacious; inconvenientIn their incommodious quarters, they had to improvise for closet space.
inalienable
not to be taken away; nontransferableThe Declaration of Independence mentions the inalienable rights that all of us possess.
unprecedented
novel; unparalleledMargaret Mitchell's book Gone with the Wind was an unprecedented success.
effluvium
noxious smellAir pollution has become a serious problem in our major cities; the effluvium and the poisons in the air arehazards to life.
quorum
number of members necessary to conduct a meetingThe senator asked for a roll call to determine whether a quorum was present.
manifold
numerous; variedI cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your manifold kindnesses.
beholden
obligated; indebtedSince I do not wish to be beholden to anyone, I cannot accept this favor.
enigmatic
obscure; puzzlingMany have sought to fathom the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa.
phenomena
observable facts; subjects of scientific investigationWe kept careful records of the phenomena we noted in the course of these experiments.
antiquated
obsolete; outdatedAccustomed to editing his papers on word processors, Philip thought typewriters were too antiquated forhim to use.
hamper
obstructThe minority party agreed not to hamper the efforts of the leaders to secure a lasting peace.
engross
occupy fullyJohn was so engrossed in his studies that he did not hear his mother call.
erratic
odd; unpredictableInvestors become anxious when the stock market appears erratic.
eccentric
odd; whimsical; irregularThe comet passed close by the earth in its eccentric orbit.
ignoble
of lowly origin; unworthyThis plan is inspired by ignoble motives and I must, therefore, oppose it.
homogeneous
of the same kindMany educators try to put pupils of similar abilities in the same class because they believe that hishomogeneous grouping is advisable.
obnoxious
offensiveI find your behavior obnoxious; please mend your ways.
ellipsis
omission of words from a textSometimes an ellipsis can lead to a dangling modifier, as in the sentence "Once dressed, you shouldrefrigerate the potato salad.
terrestrial
on or relating to the earthWe have been able to explore the terrestrial regions much more thoroughly than the aquatic or celestialregions.
marsupial
one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouchThe most common marsupial in North America is the opposum.
saboteur
one who commits sabotage; destroyer of propertyMembers of the Resistance acted as saboteurs, blowing up train lines to prevent supplies from reaching theNazi army.
misanthrope
one who hates mankindWe thought the hermit was a miantrope because he shunned our society.
rift
opening; breakThe plane was lost in the stormy sky until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds.
manipulate
operate with the hands; control or change by artful meansHow do you manipulate these puppets?
diva
operatic singer; prima donnaAlthough world famous as a diva, she did not indulge in fits of temerament.
heresy
opinion contrary to popular belief or to accepted religionHe was threatened with excommunication because his remarks were considered to be pure heresy.
converse
oppositeThe inevitable converse of peace is not war but annihilation.
tyranny
oppression; cruel governmentFrederick Douglass fought against the tyranny of slavery throughout his entire life.
mandate
order; chargeIn his inaugural address, the President stated that he had a mandate from the people to seek an end tosocial evils such as poverty and poor housing.
mediocre
ordinary; commonplaceWe were disappointed because he gave a rather mediocre performance in this role.
conventional
ordinary; typicalHis conventional upbringing left him wholly unprepared for his wife's eccentric family.
pedestrian
ordinary; unimaginativeUnintentionally boring, he wrote page after page of pedestrian prose.
chase
ornament a metal surface by indentingWith his hammer, he carefully chased an intricate design onto the surface of the chalice.
rococo
ornate; highly decoratedThe rococo style in furniture and architecture, marked by scrollwork and excessive decoration, flourishedduring the middle of the eighteenth century.
perimeter
outer boundaryTo find the perimeter of any quadrilateral, we add the lengths of the four sides.
uncouth
outlandish; clumsy; boorish Most biographers portray Lincoln as an uncouth and ungainly young man.
obsolete
outmoded"Hip" is an obsolete expression; it went out with love beads and tie-dye shirts.
outwit
outsmart; trickBy disguising himself as an old woman, Holmes was able to outwit his pursuers and escape capture.
preeminent
outstanding; superiorThe king traveled to Boston because he wanted the preeminent surgeon in the field to perform theoperation.
semblance
outward appearance; guiseAlthough this book has a semblance of wisdom and scholarship, a careful examination will reveal manyerrors and omissions.
amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seatsThe spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators.
condone
overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuseUnlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold.
compelling
overpowering; irresistible in effectThe prosecutor presented a well-reasoned case, but the defense attorney's compelling arguments forleniency won over the jury.
censor
overseer of morals; person who eliminates inappropriate matterSoldiers dislike having their mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution.
simplistic
oversimplifiedThough Jack's solution dealt adequately with one aspect of the problem, it was simplistic in failing toconsider various complicating factors that might arise.
streotyped
oversimplified; lacking individuality; seen as a typeMy chief objection to the book is that the characters are stereotyped; they come across as ethniccaricatures, not as real people with individual quirks, fears, and dreams.
glut
overstock; fill to excessThe many manufacturers glutted the market and could not find purchasers for the many articles they hadproduced.
rave
overwhelmingly favorable reviewThough critic John Simon seldom has a good word to say about contemporary plays, his review of All inthe Timing was a total rave.
stipple
paint or draw with dotsSeurat carefully stippled dabs of pure color on the canvas, juxtaposing dots of blue and yellow that theviewer's eye would interpret as green.
fresco
painting in plaste (usually fresh)The cathedral is visited by many tourists who wish to admire the frescoes by Glotto.
mauve
pale purpleThe mauve tint in the lilac bush was another indication that spring had finally arrived.
pallid
pale; wanBecause his occupation required that he work at night and sleep during the day, he had an exceptionallypallid complexion.
mollycoddle
pamper; indulge excessivelyDon't mollycoddle the boy, Maud! You'll spoil him.
brochure
pamphletThis brochure on farming was issued by the Department of Agriculture.
tract
pamphlet; a region of indefinite sizeThe King granted William Penn a tract of land in the New World.
larder
pantry; place where food is keptThe first thing Bill did on returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in thelarder.
sere
parched; dryAfter the unseasonably dry winter the Berkeley hills looked dusty and sere.
palimpsest
parchment used for second time after original writing has been erasedUsing chemical reagents, scientists have been able to restore the original writings on many palimpsests.
amnesty
pardonWhen his first child was born, the king granted amnesty to all in prison.
predilection
partiality; preferenceAlthough the artist used various media from time to time, she had a predilection for watercolors.
infiltrate
pass into or through; penetrate (an organization) sneakilyIn order to infiltrate enemy lines at night without being seen, the scouts darkened their faces and woreblack coveralls.
madrigal
pastoral songHis program of folk songs included several madrigals which he sang to the accompaniment of a lute.
acme
peak; pinnacle; highest pointWelles's success in Citizen Kane marked the acme of his career as an actor; never again did he achieve suchpopular acclaim.
idiosyncrasy
peculiarity; eccentricityOne of his personal idiosyncrasies was his habit of rinsing all cutlery given him in a restaurant.
podium
pedestal; raised platformThe audience applauded as the conductor made his way to the podium.
contrite
penitentHer contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence.
equinox
period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumnThe vernal equinox is usually marked by heavy rainstorms.
extrovert
person interested mostly in external objects and actionsA good salesperson in usually an extrovert, who likes to mingle with people.
nonentity
person of no importance; nonexistenceDon't dismiss John as a nonentity; in his quiet way, he's very important to the firm.
supernumerary
person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extraHis first appearance on the stage was as a supernumerary in a Shakespearean tragedy.
hypochondriac
person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illnessThe doctor prescribed chocolate pills for his patient who was a hypocondriac.
ragamuffin
person wearing tattered clothesHe felt sorry for the ragamuffin who was begging for food and gave him money to buy a meal.
demagogue
person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leaderHe was accused of being a demogogue because he made promises that aroused futile hopes in his listeners.
numismatist
person who collects coinsThe numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins.
masochist
person who enjoys his own painThe masochist begs, "Hit me." The sadist smiles and says, "I won't."
kleptomaniac
person who has a compulsive desire to stealThey discovered that the wealthy customer was a kleptomaniac when they caught her stealing some cheaptrinkets.
stoic
person who is indifferent to pleasure or painThe doctor called her patient a stoic because he had borne the pain of the examination withoutwhimpering.
optimist
person who looks on the bright sideThe pessimist says the glass is half-empty; the optimist says it is half-full.
millinery
person who makes or sells women's hatsThe millinery displayed fashionable hats in the street where many women passed by.
pyromaniac
person with an insane desire to set things on fireThe detectives searched the area for the pyromaniac who had set these costly fires.
suborn
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury)In the Godfather, the mobsters used bribery and threats to suborn the witnesses against Don MichaelCorleone.
pharisaical
pertaining to Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous;hypocriticalWalter Lippmann has pointed out that moralists who do not attempt to explain the moral code theyadvocate are often regarded as pharisaical and ignored.
filial
pertaining to a son or daughterMany children forget their filial obligations and disregard the wishes of their parents.
traumatic
pertaining to an injury caused by violenceIn his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle.
colloquial
pertaining to conversational or common speechYour use of colloquial expressions in a formal essay such as the one you have presented spoils the effectyou hope to achieve.
thermal
pertaining to heatThe natives discovered that the host springs gave excellent thermal baths and began to develop theircommunity as a health resort.
alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running waterThe farmers found the alluvial deposits at the mouth of the river very fertile.
metaphysical
pertaining to speculative philosophyThe modern poets have gone back to the fanciful poems of the metaphysical poets of the seventeenthcentury for many of their images.
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealisThe auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening.
somatic
pertaining to the body; physicalWhy do you ignore the spiritual aspects and emphasize only the corporeal and the somatic ones?
pulmonary
pertaining to the lungsIn his researches on pulmonary diseases, he discovered many facts about the lungs of animals and humanbeings.
physiological
pertaining to the science of the function of living organismsTo understand this disease fully, we must examine not only its physiological aspects but also itspsychological elements.
supplicate
petition humbly; pray to grant a favorWe supplicate Your Majesty to grant him amnesty.
conifer
pine tree; cone-bearing treeAccording to geologists, the conifers were the first plants to bear flowers.
apothegm
pithy, compact sayingProverbs are apothegms that have become familiar sayings.
ruthless
pitilessThe escaped convict was a dangerous and ruthless murderer.
asylum
place of refuge or shelter; protectionThe refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new land.
superimpose
place over something elseYour attempt to superimpose another agency in this field will merely increase the bureaucratic nature ofour government.
ford
place where a river can be crossed on footRather than risk using the shaky rope bridge, David walked a half-mile downstream until he came to theneartest ford.
unequivocal
plain; obviousMy answer to your proposal is an unequivocal and absolute "No."
perspicuous
plainly expressedHer perspicuous comments eliminated all posibility of misinterpretation.
premeditate
plan in advance She had premeditated the murder for months, reading about common poisons and buying weed killer thatcontained arsenic.
itinerary
plan of a tripBefore leaving for his first visit to France and England, he discussed his itinerary with people who hadbeen there and with his travel agent.
flora
plants of a region or eraBecause she was a botanist, she spent most of her time studying the flora of the desert.
rostrum
platform for speech-making; pulpitThe crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who wasapproaching the rostrum.
staccato
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt, sharp soundHis staccato speech reminded one of the sound of a machine gun.
sportive
playfulSuch a sportive attitude is surprising in a person as serious as you usually are.
entreat
plead; ask earnestlyShe entreated her father to let her stay out till midnight.
congenial
pleasant; friendly My father loved to go out for a meal with congenial companions.
piquant
pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulatingThe piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of the meal.
ravage
plunder; despoilThe marauding army ravaged the countryside.
depredation
plunderingAfter the depredations of the invaders, the people were penniless.
douse
plunge into water; drench; extinguishThey doused each other with hoses and balloons.
zenith
point directly overhead in the sky; summit.When the sun was at its zenith, the glare was not as strong as at sunrise and sunset.
perigee
point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earthThe rocket which was designed to take photographs of the moon was launched as the moon approachedits perigee.
prod
poke; stir up; urgeIf you prod him hard enough, he'll eventually clean his room.
contaminate
polluteThe sewage system of the city so contaminated the water that swimming was forbidden.
defile
pollute; profaneThe hoodlums defiled the church with their scurrilous writing.
verbiage
pompous array of wordsAfter we had waded through all the verbiage, we discovered that the writer had said very little.
bombast
pompous, inflated languageFilled with bombast, the orator's speech left the audience more impressed with his pomposity than with hislogic.
grandiloquent
pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding languageThe politician could bever speak simply; she was always grandiloquent.
consequential
pompous; self-importantConvinced of his own importance, the actor strutted about the dressing room with a consequential air.
decant
pour off gentlyBe sure to decant this wine before serving it.
effusion
pouring forthThe critics objected to her literary effusion because it was too flowery.
efficacy
power to produce desired effectThe efficacy of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage.
precept
practical rule guiding conduct"Love thy neighbor as thyself" is a worthwhile precept.
ascetic
practicing self-denial; austereThe wealthy young man could not understand the ascetic life led by the monks.
eulogy
praiseAll the eulogies of his friends could not remove the sting of the calumny heaped upon him by his enemies.
extol
praise; glorifyThe astronauts were extolled as the pioneers of the Space Age.
laudable
praiseworthy; commendableHis laudable deeds will be remarked by all whom he aided.
encomiastic
praising; eulogisticSome critics believe that his encomiastic statements about Napoleon were inspired by his desire formaterial advancement rather than by an honest belief in the Emperor's genius.
escapade
prank; flighty conductThe headmaster could not regard this latest escapade as a boyish joke and expelled the young man.
frolicsome
prankish; gayThe frolicsome puppy tried to lick the face of its master.
antecede
precedeThe 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; ancestorsBefore giving permission for Drummie to marry Estella, Miss Havisham had a few questions about theyoung man's birth and antecedents.
precedent
preceding in time, rank, etc.Our discussions, precedent to this event, certainly did not give you any reason to believe that we wouldadopt your proposal.
nicety
precision; minute distinctionI cannot distinguish between such niceties of reasoning.
impasse
predicament from which there is no escapeIn this impasse, all turned to prayer as their last hope.
foreboding
premonition of evilCaeser ridiculed his wife's foreboding about the Ides of March.
materialism
preoccupation with physical comforts and thingsBy its nature, materialism is opposed to idealism, for where the materialist emphasizes the needs of thebody, the idealist emphasizes the needs of the soul.
concoct
prepare by combining; make up in concertHow did the inventive chef ever concoct such strange dish?
hypocritical
pretending to be virtuous; deceivingI resent his hypocritical posing as a friend for I know he is interested only in his own advancement.
bluff
pretense (of strength); deception; high cliffClaire thought Lord Byron's boast that he would swim the Hellespont was just a bluff, she was astoundedwhen he dove from the high bluff into the waters below.
subterfuge
pretense; evasionAs soon as we realized that you had won our support by a subterfuge we withdrew our endorsement ofyour candidacy.
mode
prevailing styleShe was not used to their lavish mode of living.
endemic
prevailinig among a specific group of people or in a specific are or countryThis disease is endemic in this part of the world; more than 80 percent of the population are at one time oranother affected by it.
kinetic
producing motionDesigners of the electric automobile find that their greatest obstacle lies in the development of light andefficient storage batteries, the source of the kinetic energy needed to propel the vehicle.
lachrymose
producing tearsHis voice has a lachrymose quality that is more appropriate at a funeral than a class reunion.
artifacts
products of primitive cultureArchaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor and came tono conclusion.
blasphemous
profane; impiousThe people in the room were shocked by his his blasphemous language.
desecrate
profane; violate the sanctity ofThe soldiers desecrated the temple.
lucrative
profitableHe turned his hobby into a lucrative profession.
wastrel
profligate.He was denounced as a wastrel who had dissipated his inheritance.
protract
prolongSeeking to delay the union members' vote, the management team tried to protract the negotiationsendlessly, but the union representatives saw through their strategy.
assurance
promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidenceWhen Gutherie gave Guiness his assurance that rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurancethat Guiness was convinced.
seemly
proper; appropriateLady Bracknell did not think it was seemly for Ernest to lack a proper family; no baby abandoned on adoorstep could grow up to marry her daughter.
sibylline
prophetic; oracularUntil their destruction by fire in 83 B.C., the sibylline books were often consulted by the Romans.
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations; especially of disasterHis apocalyptic remarks were dismissed by his audience as wild surmises.
decorum
propriety; seemlinessShocked by the unruly behavior, the teacher criticized the class for its lack of decorum.
thrive
prosper; flourishDespite the impact of recession on the restaurant trade, Philip's cafe thrived.
tutelary
protective; pertaining to a guardianshipI am acting in my tutelary capacity when I refuse to grant you permission to leave the campus.
remonstrance
protest; objectionThe authorities were deaf to the pastor's remonstrances about the lack of police protection in the area.
expostulation
protest; remonstranceDespite the teacher's scoldings and expostulations, the class remained unruly.
archetype
prototype; primitive patternThe Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long Islandand New Jersey.
protuberance
protrusion; bulgeA ganglionic cyst is a fluid-filled tumor (generally benign) that develops near a joint membrane or tendonsheath, and that bulges beneath the skin, forming a protuberance.
harbor
provide a refuge for; hideThe church harbored illegal aliens who were political refugees.
skimp
provide scantily; live very economicallyThey were forced to skimp on necessities in order to make their limited supplies last the winter.
document
provide written evidenceShe kept all the receipts from her business trip in order to document her expenses for the firm.
synoptic
providing a general overview; summaryThe professor turned to the latest issue of Dissertation Abstracts for a synoptic account of what was newin the field.
tentative
provisional; experimentalYour tentative plans sound plausible; let me know when the final details are worked out.
discretion
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstancesUse your discretion in this matter and do not discuss it with anyone.
circumspect
prudent; cautiousInvestigating before acting, she tried always to be circumspect.
paranoia
psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecutionSuffering from paranois, he claimed everyone was out to get him; ironically, his claim was accurate; evenparanoids have enemies.
archives
public records; place where public records are keptThese documents should be part of the archives so that historians may be able to evaluate them in thefuture.
chaste
pureHer chaste and decorous garb was appropriately selected for the solemnity of the occasion.
immaculate
pure; spotlessThe West Point cadets were immaculate as they lined up for inspection.
platonic
purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desireAccused of impropriety in his dealings with female students, the professor maintained he had only aplatonic interest in the women involved.
quintessence
purest and highest embodimentNoel Coward displayed the quintessence of wit.
cathartic
purgativeSome drugs act as laxatives when taken in small doses but act as cathartics when taken in much largerdoses.
catharsis
purging or cleansing of any passage of the bodyAristotle maintained that tragedy created a catharsis by purging the soul of base concepts.
distill
purify; refine; concentrateA moonshiner distills mash into whiskey; an epigrammatist distills thoughts into quips.
obtrusive
pushing forwardI found her a very obstrusive person, constantly seeking the center of the stage.
quell
put down; quietThe police used fire hoses and teat gas to quell the rioters.
propound
put forth for analysisIn you discussion, you have propounded several questions; let us consider each one separately.
execute
put into effect; carry outThe choreographer wanted to see how well she could execute a pirouette.
implement
put into effect; supply with toolsThe mayor was unwilling to implement the plan until she was sure it had the governor's backing.
don
put onWhen Clark Kent had to don his Superman outfit, he changed clothes in a convenient phone booth.
discomfit
put to rout; defeat; disconcertThis ruse will discomfit the enemy.
entrance
put under a spell; carry away with emotionShafts of sunlight on a wall could entrance her and leave her spellbound.
septic
putrid; producing putrefactionThe hospital was in such a filthy state that we were afraid that many of the patients would suffer fromseptic poisoning.
enigma
puzzleDepite all attempts to decipher the code, it remained an enigma.
rebus
puzzle in which pictures stand for wordsA coven of witches beside a tree is a possible rebus for the town Coventry.
charlatan
quack; pretender to knowledgeWhen they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get them back to Kansas, Dorothy and her friendswere sure they'd been duped by a charlatan.
timbre
quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrumentWe identify the instrument producing a musical sound by its timbre.
poignancy
quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotionWatching the tearful reunion of the long-separated mother and child, the social worker was touched by thepoignancy of the scene.
naivete
quality of being unsophisticatedI cannot believe that such naivete is unassumed in a person of her age and experience.
contentious
quarrelsomeWe heard loud and contentious noises in the next room.
belligerent
quarrelsomeWhenever he had too much to drink, he became belligerent and tried to pick fights with strangers.
droll
queer and amusingHe was a popular guest because his droll anecdotes were always entertaining.
slake
quench; sateWhen we reached the oasis, we were able to slake our thirst.
grill
question severelyIn violation of the Miranda law, the police grilled the suspect for several hours before reading him hisrights.
nostrum
questionable medicineNo quack selling nostrums is going to cheat me.
inquisitor
questioner (specially harsh); investigatorFearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret police, Marsha faced her inquisitors with trepidation.
receptive
quick or willing to receive ideas, suggestions, etc.Adventure-loving Huck Finn proved a receptive audience for Tom's tales of buried treasure and piracy.
exalt
raise in rank or dignity; praiseThe actor Alec Guinness was exalted to the rank of knighthood by the Queen; he now is known as Sir AlecGuinness.
dais
raised platform for guests of honorWhen he approached the dais, he was greeted by cheers from the people who had come to honor him.
fester
rankle, produce irritation or resentmentJoe's insult festered in Anne's mind for days, and made her too angry to speak to him.
rummage
ransack; thoroughly searchWhen we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days.
ecstasy
rapture, joy; any overpowering emotionThe announcement that the war had ended brought on an ecstasy that resulted in many uncontrolledcelebrations.
foolhardy
rashDon't be foolhardy. Get the advice of experienced people before undertaking this venture.
rant
rave; speak bombasticallyAs we heard him rant on the platform, we could not understand his strange popularity with many people.
voracious
ravenousThe wolf is a voracious animal, its hunger never satisfied.
amenable
readily managed; willing to be ledHe was amenable to any suggestions that came from those he looked up to; he resented advice from hisinferiors.
lectern
reading deskThe chaplain delivered his sermon from a hastily improvised lectern.
rampant
rearing up on hind legs; unrestrainedThe rampant weeds in the garden killed all the flowers that had been planted in the spring.
rationalize
reason; justify an improper actDo not try to rationalize your behavior by blaming your companions.
ratiocination
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premisesWhile Watson was a man of average intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift for ratiocination madehim a superb detective.
maverick
rebel; nonconformistTo the masculine literary establishment, George Sand with her insistence on wearing trousers and smokingcigars was clearly a maverick who fought her proper womanly role.
insurrection
rebellion; uprisingGiven the current state of affairs in South Africa, an insurrection seems unavoidable.
comeuppance
rebuke; desertsAfter his earlier rudeness, we were delighted to see him get his comeuppance.
ebb
recede; lessenHis fortunes began to ebb during the recession.
recipient
receiverAlthough he had been the recipient of many favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor.
neophyte
recent convert; beginnerThis monuntain slope contains slides that will challenge esperts as well as neophytes.
inchoate
recently begun; rudimentary; elementaryBefore the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass.
desperado
reckless outlawButch Cassidy was a bold desperado with a price on his head.
conciliatory
reconciling; soothingShe was still angry despite his conciliatory words.
genealogy
record of descent; lineageHe was proud of his genealogy and constantly referred to the achievements of his ancestors.
annals
records; historyIn the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements.
recuperate
recoverThe doctors were worried because the patient did not recuperate as rapidly as they had expected.
retrieve
recover; find and bring inThe dog was intelligent and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter.
reprise
recurrent action; musical repetition; repeat performanceAt Waterloo, it was not the effect of any one skirmish that exhausted Colonel Audly; rather it was thecumulative effect of the constant reprises that left him spent.
ruddy
reddish; healthy-lookingHis ruddy features indicated that he had spent much time in the open.
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and coolingAfter the glass is annealed, it will be less subject to chipping and cracking.
deplete
reduce; exhaustWe must wait until we deplete our present inventory before we order replacements.
advert
refer toSince you advert to this matter so frequently, you must regard it as important.
ascribe
refer; attribute; assignI can ascribe no motive for her acts.
rebuttal
refutation; response with contrary evidenceThe defense lawyer confidently listened to the prosecutor sum up his case, sure that she could answer hisarguments in her rebuttal.
clime
region; climateHis doctors advised him to move to a milder clime.
deplore
regretAlthough I deplore the vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express yourself freely.
rueful
regretful; sorrowful; dejectedThe artist has captured the sadness of childhood in his portrait of the boy with the rueful countenance.
narrative
related to telling a storyA born teller of tales, Olsen used her impressive narrative skills to advantage in her story "I Stand HereIroning."
astral
relating to the starsShe was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed.
inexorable
relentless; unyielding; implacableAfter listening to the pleas for clemency, the judge was inexorable and gave the convicted man themaximum punishment allowed by law.
alleviate
relieveThis should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs.
icon
religious image; idolThe icons on the walls of the church were painted in the 13th century.
averse
reluctantHe was averse to revealing the sources of his information.
remnant
remainderI suggest that you wait until the store places the remnants of these goods on sale.
residue
remainder; balanceIn his will, he requested that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the residue be given to hiswife.
remediable
reparableLet us be grateful that the damage is remediable.
restitution
reparation; indemnificationHe offered to make restitution for the window broken by his son.
reimburse
repayLet me know what you have spent and I will reimburse you.
reciprocate
repay in kindIf they attack us, we shall be compelled to reciprocate and bomb their territory.
retaliate
repay in kind (usually for bad treatment)Fear that we will retaliate immediately deters our foe from attacking us.
reiterate
repeatHe reiterated the warning to make sure everyone understood it.
esteem
repect; value; judgeI esteem Ezra Pound both for his exciting poetry and for his acute comments on literature.
replicate
reproduce; duplicateTo the chagrin of the scientists, they were unable to replicate the results of their controversial experiment.
reprimand
reprove severelyI am afraid that my parents will reprimand me when I show them my report card.
recant
repudiate; withdraw previous statementUnless you recant your confession, you will be punished severely.
salvage
rescue from lossAll attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type;throwbackMartin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan ancestors who lavished great care on their small plots of soil.
equine
resembling a horseHis long, bony face had an equine look to it.
begrudge
resentI begrudge every minute I have to spend attending meetings.
umbrage
resentment; anger; sense of injury or insultShe took umbrage at his remarks and stormed away in a huff.
distant
reserved or aloof; cold in manner His distant greeting made me feel unwelcome from the start.
reticent
reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence Hughes preferred reticent employees to loquacious ones, noting that the formers' dislike of idle chattermight ensure their discretion about his affairs.
slag
residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matterThe blast furnace had a special opening at the bottom to allow the workers to remove the worthless slag.
sedition
resistance to authority; insubordinationHis words, though not treasonous in themselves, were calculated to arouse thoughts of sedition.
sonorous
resonantHis sonorous voice resounded through the hall.
recourse
resorting to help when in troubleThe boy's only recourse was to appeal to his father for aid.
reputable
respectableIf you want to buy antiques, look for a reputable dealer; far too many dealers today pass off fakes asgenuine antiques.
reverent
respectfulHis reverent attitude was appropriate in a house of worship.
paraphrase
restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of authorIn 250 words or less, paraphrase this article.
restive
restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting controlWaiting impatiently in the line to see Santa Claus, even the best-behaved children grow restive and start tofidget.
renovate
restore to good condition; renewThey claim that they can renovate worn shoes so that they look like new ones.
rehabilitate
restore to proper conditionWe must rehabilitate those whom we send to prison.
pinion
restrainThey pinioned his arms against his body but left his legs free so that he could move about.
repress
restrain; crush; oppressAnne's parents tried to curb her impetuosity without repressing her boundless high spirits.
manacle
restrain; handcuffThe police immediately manacled the prisoner so he could not escape.
temperate
restrained; self-controlledNoted for his temperate appetite, he seldom gained weight.
reprisal
retaliationI am confident that we are ready for any reprisals the enemy may undertake.
sequester
retire from public life; segregate; secludeAlthough he had hoped for a long time to sequester himself in a small community, he never was able todrop his busy round of activities in the city.
superannuated
retired or disqualified because of ageThe superannuated man was indignant because he felt that he could still perform a good day's work.
rejoinder
retort; comeback; replyWhen someone has been rude to me, I find it particularly satisfying to come up with a quick rejoinder.
resuscitate
reviveThe lifeguard tried to resuscitate the drowned child by applying artificial respiration.
repeal
revoke; annulWhat would the effect on our society be if we decriminalized drug use by repealing the laws against thepossession and sale of narcotics?
cadence
rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beatMarching down the road, the troops sang out, following the cadence set by the sergeant.
brocade
rich, figured fabricThe sofa was covered with expensive brocade.
ramshackle
rickety; falling apartThe boys propped up the ramshackle clubhouse with a couple of boards.
conundrum
riddle; difficult problemDuring the long car ride, she invented conundrums to entertain the children.
franchise
right granted by authorityThe city issued a franchise to the company to operate surface transit lines on the streets for ninety-nineyears.
title
right or claim to possession; mark of rank; name (of a book, film, etc.)Though the penniless Duke of Ragwort no longer held title to the family estate, he still retained his title ashead of one of England's oldest families.
whorl
ring of leaves around stem; ring.Identification by fingerprints is based on the difference in shape and number of whorls on the fingers.
emulate
rival; imitateAs long as our political leaders emulate the virtues of the great leaders of this country, we shall flourish.
desolate
rob of joy; lay waste to; forsakeThe bandits desolated the countryside, burning farms and carrying off the harvest.
tundra
rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North AmericaDespite the cold, many geologists are trying to discover valuable mineral deposits in the tundra.
leeway
room to move; marginWhen you set a deadline, allow a little leeway.
extirpate
root upThe Salem witch trials were a misguided attempt to extirpate superstition and heresy.
roseate
rosy; optimisticI am afraid you will have to alter your roseate views in the light of the distressing news that has just arrived.
carrion
rotting flesh of a dead bodyBuzzards are nature's scavengers; they eat the carrion left behind by other predators.
gruff
rough-manneredAlthough he was blunt and gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children.
rotundity
roundness; sonorousness of speechWashington Irving emphasized the rotundity of the governor by describing his height and circumference.
regal
royalPrince Albert had a regal manner.
efface
rub outThe coin had been handled so many times that its data had been effaced.
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind downJust as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can wear away a listener'spatience.
debris
rubbleA full year after the earthquake in Mexico City, workers were still carting away the debris.
surly
rude; crossBecause of his surly attitude, many people avoided his company.
boorish
rude; insensitiveThough Mr. Potts constantly interrupted his wife, she ignored his boorish behavior, for she had lost hopeof teaching him courtesy.
domineer
rule over tyrannicallyStudents prefer teachers who guide, not ones who domineer.
snivel
run at the nose; snuffle; whineDon't you come sniveling to me complaining about your big brother.
seedy
run-down; decrepit; disreputableI would rather stay in dormitory lodgings in a decent youth hostel than have a room of my own in a seedydowntown hotel.
pastoral
ruralIn these stories of pastoral life, we find an understanding of the daily tasks of country folk.
torrent
rushing stream; floodDay after day of heavy rain saturated the hillside until the water ran downhill in torrents.
bucolic
rustic; pastoral The meadow was the scene of bucolic gaiety.
funereal
sad; solemnI fail to understand why there is such a funereal atmosphere; we have lost a battle, not a war.
imbue
saturate, fillHis visits to the famous Gothic cathedrals imbued him with feelings of awe and reverence.
relish
savor; enjoyI relish a good joke as much as anyone else.
meager
scanty; inadequateHis salary was far too meager for him to afford to buy a new car.
disperse
scatterThe police fired tear gas into crowd to disperse the protesters.
disseminate
scatter (like seeds)The invention of the radio helped propagandists to disseminate their favorite doctrines very easily.
savant
scholarOur faculty includes many worldfamous savants.
ornithologist
scientific student of birdsAuduborn's drawings of American bird life have been of interest not only to the ornithologists but also tothe general public.
rail
scold; rantYou may rail at him all you want; you will never change him.
upbraid
scold; reproachI must upbraid him for his unruly behavior.
contempt
scorn; disdain Even if you feel superior to others, it is unwise to show your contempt for them.
sarcasm
scornful remarks, stinging rebukeHis feelings were hurt by the sarcasm of his supposed friends.
conscientious
scrupulous; carefulA conscientious editor checked every definition for its accuracy.
hermetic
sealed by fusion so as to be airtightAfter these bandages are sterilized, they are placed in hermetic containers.
condiments
seasonings; spicesSpanish food is full of condiments.
avocation
secondary or minor occupationHis hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupationand concentrated on his avocation.
cipher
secret codeLacking his code book, the spy was unable to decode the message sent to him in cipher.
privy
secret; hidden; not publicWe do not care for privy chamber of government.
arcane
secret; mysteriousWhat was arcane to us was clear to the psychologist.
silt
sediment deposited by running waterThe harbor channel must be dredged annually to remove the silt.
dregs
sediment; worthless residueDavid poured the wine carefully to avoid stirring up the dregs.
aspirant
seeker after position or statusAlthough I am as aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses.
excerpt
selected passage (written or musical)The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a novel is a clip from a film.
eclectic
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sourcesHis style of interior decoration was eclectic: bits and pieces of furnishings from widely divergent periods,strikingly juxtaposed to create a unique color.
reserve
self-control; formal but distant mannerAlthough some girls were attracted by Mark's reserve, Judy was put off by it, for she felt his aloofnessindicated a lack of openness.
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proofBefore a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certainprinciples or axioms.
autonomous
self-governingThis island is a colony; however, in most matters, it is autonomous and receives no orders from the mothercountry.
penance
self-imposed punishment for sinThe Ancient Mariner said, "I have penance done and penance more will do," to atone for the sin of killingthe albatross.
complacent
self-satisfiedThere was a complacent look on his face as he examined his paintings.
vendor
sellerThe fruit vendor sold her wares from a stall on the sidewalk.
dotage
senilityIn his dotage, the old man bored us with long tales of events in his childhood.
gravity
seriousnessWe could tell we were in serious trouble from the gravity of her expression.
solemnity
seriousness; gravityThe minister was concerned that nothing should disturb the solemnity of the marriage service.
homily
sermon; serious warningHis speeches were always homilies, advising his listeners to repent and reform.
sycophant
servile flattererThe king enjoyed the servile compliments and attentions of the sycophants in his retinue.
toady
servile flatterer; yes manNever tell the boss anything he doesn't wish to hear: he doesn't want an independent adviser, he just wantsa toady.
mediate
settle a dispute through the services of an outsiderLet us mediate out differences rather than engage in a costly strike.
reprobation
severe disapprovalThe students showed their reprobation of his act by refusing to talk with him.
lagoon
shallow body of water near a sea; lakeThey enjoyed their swim in the calm lagoon.
shoddy
sham; not genuine; inferiorYou will never get the public to buy such shoddy material.
effrontery
shameless boldnessShe had the effrontery to insult the guest.
barefaced
shameless; bold; unconcealedShocked by Huck Finn's barefaced lies, Miss Watson prayed the good Lord would give him a sense of hisunregenerate wickedness.
amorphous
shapeless; vague; indeterminateJohn 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.
barb
sharp projection form fishhook, etc.; pointed commentThe barb from the fishhook caught in his finger as he grabbed the fish.
acclivity
sharp upslope of a hillThe car could not go up the acclivity in high gear.
asperity
sharpness (of temper)These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed.
pungency
sharpness; stinging qualityThe pungency of the cigarette smoke made me cough.
gossamer
sheer; like cobwebsNylon can be woven into gossaner or thick fabrics.
diaphanous
sheer; transparentThey saw the burglar clearly through the diaphanous curtain.
carapace
shell covering the back (of a turtle, crab, etc)At the children's zoo, Richard perched on top of the giant turtle's hard carapace as it slowly made its wayaround the enclosure.
cameo
shell or jewel carved in reliefTourists are advised not to purchase cameos from the street peddlers of Rome who sell poor specimens ofthe carver's art.
aegis
shield; defenseUnder the aegis of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy our most treasured freedoms.
glimmer
shine erratically; twinkleIn the darkness of the cavern, the glowworms hanging from the cavern roof glimmered like distant stars.
luster
shine; glossThe soft luster of the silk in the dim light was pleasing.
lustrous
shiningHer large and lustrous eyes gave a touch of beauty to an otherwise drab face.
luminous
shining; issuing lightThe sun is a luminous body.
canny
shrewd; thriftyThe canny Scotsman was more than a match for the swindlers.
clarion
shrill, trumpetlike soundWe woke to the clarion to muffle its striking.
occlude
shut; closeA blood clot occluded an artery to the heart.
diffidence
shynessYou must overcome your diffidence if you intend to become a salesperson.
import
significanceI feel that you have not grasped the full import of the message sent tous by the enemy.
muted
silent; muffled; toned downIn the funeral parlor, the mourners' voices had a muted quality.
analogy
similarity; parallelismYour analogy is not a good one because the two situations are not similar.
synchronous
similary timed; simultaneous withWe have many examples of scientists in different parts of the world who have made synchronousdiscoveries.
warble
sing; babble.Every morning the birds warbled outside her window.
incantation
singing or chanting of magical formulaUttering incantations to make the brew more potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron.
adroit
skillfulHis adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased his employers.
vilify
slanderShe is a liar and is always trying to vilify my reputation.
obloquy
slander; disgrace; infamyI resent the obloquy that you are casting upon my reputation.
revile
slander; vilify He was avoided by all who feared that he would revile and abuse them if they displeased him.
detraction
slandering; aspersionHe is offended by your frequent detractions of his ability as a leader.
aspersion
slanderous remarkDo not cast aspersions on her character.
shambles
slaughterhouse; scene of carnageBy the time the police arrived, the room was a shambles.
servitude
slavery; compulsory labor Born a slave, Douglass resented his wife of servitude and plotted to escape to the North.
servile
slavish; cringingConstantly fawning on his employer, humble Uriah Heap was a servile creature.
opiate
sleep producer; deadener of painBy such opiates, she made the people forget their difficulties and accept their unpleasant circumstances.
soporific
sleep producingI do not need a sedative when I listen to one of his soporific speeches.
hibernate
sleep throughout the winterBears are one of the many species of animals that hibernate.
dormant
sleeping; lethargic; torpidSometimes dormant talents in our friends surprise those of us who never realize how gifted ouracquaintances really are.
legerdemain
sleight of handThe magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain.
smattering
slight knowledgeI don't know whether it is better to be ignorant of a subject or to have a mere smattering of informationabout it.
peccadillo
slight offenseIf we examine these escapades carefully, we will realize that they are mere peccadilloes rather than majorcrimes.
acidulous
slightly sour; sharp; causticJames was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks.
catapult
slingshot; hurling machineAirplanes are sometimes launched from battleships by catapults.
slither
slip or slideDuring the recent ice storm, many people slithered down this hill as they walked to the station.
ramp
slope; inclined planeThe 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.
incline
slope; slantThe architect recommended that the nursing home's ramp be rebuilt because its incline was too steep forwheelchairs.
dowdy
slovenly; untidyShe tried to change her dowdy image by buying a fashionable new wardrobe.
decelerate
slow downSeeing the emergency blinkers in the road ahead, he decelerated quickly.
canter
slow gallopBecause the racehorse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the race was wonin a canter.
dinghy
small boat (often ship's boat)In the film Lifeboat, an ill-assorted group of passengers from a sunken ocean liner are marooned at sea in adinghy.
satellite
small body revolving around a larger oneDuring the first few years of the Space Age, hundreds of satellites were launched by Russia and the UnitedStates.
grotto
small cavernThe Blue Grotto in Capri can be entered only by small boats rowed by natives through a natural opening inthe rocks.
cabal
small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interestsThe cabal was defeated when its scheme was discovered.
facet
small plane surface (of a gem); a sideThe stonecutter decided to improve the rough diamond by providing it with several facets.
asteroid
small planetasteroids have become commonplace to the readers of interstellar travel stories in science fictionmagazines.
circlet
small ring; bandThis tiny circlet is very costly because it is set with precious stones.
mote
small speckThe tiniest mote in the eye is very painful.
rivulet
small streamAs 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.
cascade
small waterfall We could not appreciate the beauty of the many cascades as we made detours around each of them toavoid getting wet.
microcosm
small worldIn the microcosm of our rural village, we find illustrations of all the evils that beset the universe.
clique
small, exclusive groupShe charged that a clique had assumed control of school affairs.
whit
smallest speck.There is not a whit of intelligence or understanding in your observations.
daub
smear (as with paint)From the way he daubed his paint on the canvas, I could tell he knew nothing of oils.
simper
smirk; smile affectedlyComplimented on her appearance, Stella self-consciously simpered.
glossy
smooth and shiningI want this photograph printed on glossy paper, not matte.
fluency
smoothness of speechHe spoke French with fluency and ease.
rebuff
snub; beat backShe rebuffed his invitation so smoothly that he did not realize he had been snubbed.
negligible
so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregardedBecause the damage to his car had been negligible, Michael decided he wouldn't bother to report thematter to his insurance company.
saturate
soakTheir clothes were saturated by the rain.
staid
sober; sedateHer conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn.
convention
social or moral custom; established practiceFlying in the face of convention, George Sand (Amandine Dudevant) shocked her contemporaries bytaking lovers and wearing men's clothes.
pariah
social outcastI am not a pariah to be shunned and ostracized.
plutocracy
society ruled by the wealthyFrom the way the government caters to the rich, you might think our society is a plutocracy rather than ademocracy.
quagmire
soft, wet, boggy land; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneselfUp to her knees in mud, Myra wondered how on earth she was going to extricate herself from thisquagmire.
macerate
soften by soaking in liquid; waste awayThe strawberries had been soaking in the champagn for so long that they had begun to macerate: theyliterally fell apart at the touch of a spoon.
besmirch
soil, defileThe scandalous remarks in the newspaper besmirch the reputations of every member of the society.
anathema
solemn curse; someone or something that is despisedHe heaped anathema upon his foe.
adjuration
solemn urgingHer adjuration to tell the truth did not change the witnesses' testimony.
awe
solemn wonderThe tourists gazed with awe at the tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon.
monolithic
solidly uniform; unyieldingKnowing the importance of appearing resolute, the patriots sought to present a monolithic front.
dupe
someone easily fooledWhile the gullible Watson often was made a dupe by unscrupulous parties, Sherlock Holmes was far moredifficult to fool.
scapegoat
someone who bears the blame for othersAfter the Challenger disaster, NASA searched for scapegoats on whom they could cast the blame.
ventriloquist
someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thingThis ventriloquist does an act in which she has a conversation with a wooden dummy.
spendthrift
someone who wastes moneyEasy access to credit encourages people to turn into spendthrifts who shop till they drop. 193. sphinx-like enigmatic; mysteriousThe Mona Lisa's sphinx-like expression has puzzled art lovers for centuries.
pacify
soothe; make calm or quiet; subdueDentists criticize the practice of giving fussy children sweets to pacify them.
poultice
soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the bodyHe was advised to apply a flaxseed poultice to the inflammation.
bland
soothing; mildShe used a bland ointment for her sunburn.
seamy
sordid; unwholesomeIn the Godfather, Michael Corleone is unwilling to expose his wife and children to the seamy side of hislife as the son of a Mafia don.
commodious
spacious and comfortableAfter sleeping in a small roadside cabins, they found their hotel suite commodious.
scintillate
sparkle; flashI enjoy her dinner parties because the food is excellent and the conversation scintillates.
fitful
spasmodic; intermittentAfter several fitful attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project until he felt more energetic.
idiom
spcial usage in languageI could not understand their idioms because literal translation made no sense.
enunciate
speak distinctlyHow will people understand you if you do not enunciate?
taxonomist
specialist in classifying (animals, etc.)Dental patterns often enable the taxonomist to distinguish members of one rodent species from those ofanother.
expertise
specialized knowledge; expert skillAlthough she was knowledgeable in a number of fields, she was hired for her particular expertise incomputer programming.
rend
split; tear apartIn his grief, he tried to rend his garments.
vitiate
spoil the effect of; make inoperativeFraud will vitiate the contract.
maculated
spotted; stainedInstead of writing that Gorbachev had a birthmark on his forehead, the pompous young poet sang of theformer premier's maculated brow.
strew
spread randomly; sprinkle; scatterPreceding the bride to the altar, the flower girl will strew rose petals along the aisle.
pervasive
spread throughoutDespite airing them for several hours, she could not rid her clothes of the pervasive odor of mothbals thatclung to them.
espionage
spyingIn order to maintain its power, the government developed a system of espionage that penetrated everyhosehold.
spat
squabble; minor disputeWhat had started out as a mere spat escalated into a full-blown argument.
dissipate
squanderThe young man quickly dissipated his inheritance and was soon broke.
adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistantThough Wellington delegated many tasks to his chief adjutant, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Somerset was in nodoubt as to who made all major decisions.
musty
stale; spoiled by ageThe attic was dark and musty.
scotch
stamp out; thwart; hinderHeather tried to scotch the rumor that she had stolen her best friend's fiance.
gawk
stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed aweThe country boy gawked at the skyscrapers and neon lights of the big city.
inception
start; beginningShe was involved with the project from its inception.
quirk
startling twise; capriceBy a quirk of fate, he found himself working for the man whom he had discharged years before.
aver
state confidentlyI wish to aver that I am certain of success.
stupor
state of apathy; daze; lack of awarenessIn his stupor, the addict was unaware of the events taking place around him.
bereavement
state of being deprived of something valuable or belovedHis friends gathered to console him upon his sudden bereavement.
immobility
state of being immovableModern armies cannot afford the luxury of immobility, as they are vulnerable to attack while standing still.
impropriety
state of being inappropriateBecause of the impropriety of his costume, he was denied entrance into the dining room.
inertia
state of being inert or indisposed to moveOur inertia in this matter may prove disastrous; we must move to aid our allies immediately.
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness The donor of the gift asked the college not to mention him by name; the dean readily agreed to respect hisanonymity.
multiplicity
state of being numerousHe was appalled by the multuplicity of details he had to complete before setting out on his mission.
inconsistency
state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadinessHow are lawyers different from agricultural inspectors? Where lawyers check inconsistencies in witnesses'statements, agricultural inspectors check inconsistencies in Grade A eggs.
decrepitude
state of collagse caused by illness or old ageI was unprepared for the state of decrepitude in which I had found my old friend; he seemed to have agedtwenty years in six months.
responsiveness
state of reacting readily to appeals, order, etc.The audience cheered and applauded, delighting the performers by its responsiveness.
intransigence
state of stubborn unwillingness to compromiseThe intransigence of both parties in the dispute makes an early settlement almost impossible to obtain.
furtive
stealthy; sneakyThe boy gave a furtive look at his classmate's test paper.
precipitous
steep; overhastyThis hill is difficult to climb because it is so precipitous; one slip, and our descent will be precipitous as well.
austerity
sternness; severity; lack of luxuriesThe austerity and dignity of the court were maintained by the new justices, who were a strict and solemngroup.
cohere
stick togetherSolids have a greater tendency to cohere than liquids.
viscous
sticky, glueyMelted tar is a viscous substance.
glutinous
sticky; viscousMolasses is a glutinous substance.
rigid
stiff and unyielding; strict; hard and unbendingBy living with a man to whom she was not married, George Eliot broke Victorian society's most rigid ruleof respectable behavior.
incandescent
stikingly bright; shining with intense heatIf you leave on an incandescent light bulb, it quickly grows too hot to touch.
extant
still in existenceAlthough the authorities suppressed the book, many copies are extant and may be purchased at exorbitant prices.
galvanize
stimulate by shock; stir upThe entire nation was galvanized into strong military activity by the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
acrimonious
stinging, causticHis tendency to utter acrimonious remarks alienated his audience.
parsimonious
stingy; excessively frugalHis parsimonious nature did not permit him to enjoy any luxuries.
miserly
stingy; meanThe miserly old man hoarded his coins not out of prudence but out of greed.
penurious
stingy; parsimoniousHe was a penurious man, averse to spending money even for the necessities of life.
proviso
stipulationI am ready to accept your proposal with the two proviso that you meet your obligations within the nexttwo weeks.
stoke
stir up a fire; feed plentifullyAs a Scout, Marisa learned how to light a fire, how to stoke it if it started to die down, and how toextinguish it completely.
provoke
stir up anger; cause retaliationIn order to prevent a sudden outbreak of hostilities, we must not provoke our foe.
foment
stir up; instigateThis report will foment disssension in the club.
suture
stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewingWe will remove the sutures as soon as the wound heals.
hoard
stockpile; accumulate for future useWhenever there are rumors of a food shortage, people are tempted to hoard food.
squat
stocky; short and thickTolkien's hobbits are somewhat squat, sturdy little creatures, fond of good ale, good music, and good food.
touchstone
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterionWhat touchstone can be used to measure the character of a person?
check
stop motion; curb or restrainThrusting out her arm, Grandma checked Bobby's lunge at his sister. "Young man," she said, "you'd bettercheck your temper."
cessation
stoppingThe workers threatened a cessation of all activities if their demands were not met.
repository
storehouseLibraries are repositories of the world's best thoughts.
granary
storehouse for grainWe have reason to be thankful, for our crops were good and our granaries are full.
inclement
stormy; unkindI like to read a good book in inclement weather.
allegory
story in which characters are used as symbols; fablePilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of the human soul.
cantata
story set to music, to be sung by a chorusThe choral society sang the new cantata composed by its leader.
portly
stout; corpulentThe salesclerk tactfully referred to the overweight customer as portly rather than fat.
forthright
straightforward; direct; frankI prefer Jill's forthright approach to Jack's tendency to beat around the bush.
uncanny
strange; mysteriousYou have the uncanny knack of reading my innermost thoughts.
throttle
strangleThe criminal tried to throttle the old man with his bare hands.
vagrant
stray; randomHe tried to study, but could not collect his vagrant thoughts.
stamina
strength; staying powerI doubt that she has the stamina to run the full distance of the marathon race.
undergird
strengthen the base ofWhereas relativity theory undermined the Newtonian mechanics, cosmology was undergirded by it.
prostrate
stretch out full on groundHe prostrated himself before the idol.
martinet
strict disciplinarianThe commanding officer was a martinet who observed each regulation to the ltter.
austere
strict, sternHis austere demeanor prevented us from engaging in our usual frivolous activities.
clapper
striker (tongue) of a bellWishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale wound his scarf around the clapper to muffle its striking.
percussion
striking one object against another sharplyThe drum is a percussion instrument.
flay
strip off skin; plunderThe criminal was condemned to be flayed alive.
divest
strip; depriveHe was divested of his power to act and could no longer govern.
apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness followed by paralysisHe was crippled by an attack of apoplexy.
saunter
stroll slowlyAs we sauntered through the park, we stopped frequently to admire the spring flowers.
transport
strong emotionMargo was a creature of extremes, at one moment in transports of joy over a vivid sunset, at anothermoment in transports of grief over a dying bird.
penchant
strong inclination; likingHe had a strong penchant for sculpture and owned many statues.
forte
strong point or special talentI am not eager to play this rather seious role, for my forte is comedy.
stalwart
strong, brawny; steadfastHis consistent support of the party has proved that he is a stalwart and loyal member.
conviction
strongly held beliefNothing could shake his conviction that she was innocent.
scuffle
struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry.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.
obdurate
stubbornHe was obdurate in his refusal to listen to our complaints.
obstinate
stubbornWe tried to persuade him to give up smoking, but he was obstinate and refused to change.
bigotry
stubborn intoleranceBrought up in a democratic atmosphere, student was shocked by the bigotry and narrowness expressed byseveral of his classmates.
pertinacious
stubborn; persistentHe is bound to succeed because his pertinacious nature will not permit him to quit.
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankindThe professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins.
ichthyology
study of fishJacques Cousteau's rpograms about sea life have advanced the cause of ichthyology.
entomology
study of insectsI found entomology the least interesting part of my course in biology; studying insects bored me.
paleontology
study of prehistoric life The professor of paleontology had a superb collection of fossils.
etymology
study of word partsA knowledge of etymology can help you on many English tests.
gorge
stuff oneselfThe gluttonous guest gorged himself with food as though he had not eaten for days.
urbane
suave; refined; elegantThe courtier was urbane and sophisticated
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousnessHis monotonous voice acted like an anesthetic; his audience was soon asleep.
revulsion
sudden violent change of feeling; negative reactionMany people in this country who admired dictatorships underwent a revulsion when they realized whatHitler and Mussolini were trying to do.
blighted
suffering from a disease; destroyedThe extent of the blighted areas could be seen only when viewed from the air.
dyspeptic
suffering from indigestionAll the talk about rich food made him feel dyspeptic.
bilious
suffering from indigestion; irritableHis bilious temperament was apparent to all who heard him rant about his difficulties.
imply
suggest a meaning not expressedEven though your statement does not declare that you are at war with that country, your actions imply thatthat is the actual situation.
potable
suitable for drinkingThe recent drought in the Middle Atlantic States has emphasized the need for extensive research in ways ofmaking sea water potable.
menial
suitable for sevants; lowI cannot understand why a person of your ability and talent should engage in such menial activities.
aggregate
sum; totalThe aggregate wealth of this country is staggering to the imagination.
recapitulate
summarizeLet us recapitulate what has been said thus far before going ahead.
vertex
summitLet us drop a perpendicular line from the vertex of the triangle to the base.
aureole
sun's corona; haloMany medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureols around their heads.
perfunctory
superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasmThe auditor's perfunctory inspection of the books overlooked many errors.
codicil
supplement to the body of a willThis codicil was drawn up five years after the writing of the original will.
litany
supplicatory prayerOn this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervorand intensity.
stint
supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work He performed his daily stint cheerfully and willingly.
alimentary
supplying nourishmentThe alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods occurs there.
champion
support militantly Martin Luther King, Jr., won the Nobel Peace Prize because he championed the oppressed in their strugglefor equality.
fulcrum
support on which a lever restsIf we use this stone as a fulcrum and the crowbar as a lever, we may be able to move this boulder.
patronize
support; act superior towardExperts in a field sometimes appear to patronize people who are less knowledgeable of the subject.
buttress
support; prop upJust as architects buttress the walls of cathedrals with flying buttresses, debates buttress their argumentswith facts.
bolster
support; reinforceThe debaters amassed file boxes full of evidence to bolster their arguments.
constituent
supporterThe congressman received hundreds of letters from angry constituents after the Equal Rights Amendmentfailed to pass.
adherent
supporter; followerIn the wake of the scandal, the senator's one-time adherent quietly deserted him.
strut
supporting barThe engineer calculated that the strut supporting the rafter needed to be reinforced.
putative
supposed; reputedAlthough there are some doubts, the putative author of this work is Massinger.
stifle
suppress; extinguish; inhibitHalfway through the boring lecture, Laura gave up trying to stifle her yawns.
disgorge
surrender something; efect; vomitUnwilling to disgorge the cash he had stolen from the pension fund, the embezzler tried to run away.
encompass
surroundAlthough we were encompassed by enemy forces, we were cheerful for we were well stocked and couldwithstand a siege until our allies joined us.
reconnaissance
survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoiteringIf you encounter any enemy soldiers during your reconnaissance, capture them for questioning.
relic
surviving remnant; mementoEgypt's Department of Antiquities prohibits tourists from taking mummies and other ancient relics out ofthe country.
euphony
sweet soundNoted for its euphony even when it is spoken, the Italian language is particularly pleasing to the ear whensung.
dulcet
sweet soundingThe dulcet sounds of the birds at dawn were soon drowned out by the roar of traffic passing our motel.
sultry
swelteringHe could not adjust himself to the sultry climate of the tropics.
meteoric
swift; momentarily brilliantWe all wondered at his meteoric rise to fame.
natation
swimmingThe Red Cross emphasizes the need for courses in natation.
eddy
swirling current of water, air, etc.The water in the tide pool was still, except for an occasional eddy.
turgid
swollen; distendedThe turgid river threatened to overflow the levees and flood the contryside.
tumid
swollen; pompous; bombasticI especially dislike his tumid style; I prefer writing which is less swollen and bombastic.
resumption
taking up again; recommencementDuring the summer break, Don had not realized how much he missed university life: at the resumption ofclasses, however, he felt marked excitement and pleasure.
flair
talentShe has an uncanny flair for discovering new artists before the public has become aware of their existence.
expatiate
talk at lengthAt this time, please give us a brief resume of your work; we shall permit you to expatiate later.
drone
talk dully; buzz or murmur like a beeOn a gorgeous day, who wants to be stuck in a classroom listening to the teacher drone?
garrulity
talkativenessThe man who married a dumb wife asked the doctor to make him deaf because of his wife's garrulity after her cure.
prey
target of a hunt; victimIn Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Euell Gibbons has as his prey not wild beasts but wild plants.
sully
tarnish; soilHe felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully his hands in such menial labor.
savory
tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeableJulia Child's recipes enable amateur chefs to create savory delicacies for their guests.
brindled
tawny or grayish with streaks or spotsHe was disappointed in the litter because the puppies were brindled; he had hoped for animals of uniformcolor.
tribute
tax levied by a ruler; mark of respectThe colonists refused to pay tribute to a foreign despot.
tithe
tax of one-tenthBecause he was an agnostic, he refused to pay his tithes to the clergy.
sophist
teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoningYou are using all the devices of a sophist in trying to prove your case; your argument is specious.
didactic
teaching; instructional; preaching or moralizingThe didactic qualities of his poetry overshadow its literary qualities; the lesson he teaches is morememorable than the lines.
rent
tear or rip; splitThe conflict over abortion threatens to split our nation, creating a rent in the social fabric that will bedifficult to mend.
badinage
teasing conversationHer friends at work greeted the news of her engagement with cheerful badinage.
bivouac
temporary encampmentWhile in bivouac, we spent the night in our sleeping bags under the stars.
incursion
temporary invasionThe nightly incursions and hit-and-run raids of our neighbors across the border tried the patience of thecountry to the point where we decided to retaliate in force.
remission
temporary moderation of disease symptoms; cancellation of a debt; forgiveness or pardonThough Senator Tsongas had been treated for cancer, his symptoms were in remission, and he wasconsidered fit to handle the strains of a Presidential race.
scaffold
temporary platform for workers; bracing framework; platform for executionBefore painting the house, the workers put up a scaffold to allow them to work on the second story.
cohesion
tendency to keep togetherA firm believer in the maxim "Divide and conquer," the emperor, by lies and trickery, sought to disrupt thecohesion ofthe free nations.
pathos
tender to sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings.The quiet tone of pathos that ran through the novel never degenerated into the maudlin or the overlysentimental.
salutary
tending to improve; beneficial; wholesomeThe punishment had a salutary effect on the boy, as he became a model student.
inclusive
tending to include allThe comedian turned down the invitation to join the Player's Club, saying any club that would let him inwas too inclusive for him.
subversive
tending to overthrow; destructiveAt first glance, the notion that Styrofoam cups may actually be more ecologically sound than paper cupsstrikes most environmentalists as subversive.
centripetal
tending toward the centerDoes centripetal force or the force of gravity bring orbiting bodies to the earth's surface?
provisional
tentativeThe appointment is provisional; only on the approval of the board of directors will it be made permanent.
terminology
terms used in a science or artThe special terminology developed by some authorities in the field has done more to confuse laypersonsthan to enlighten them.
enclave
territory enclosed within an alien landThe Vatican is an independent enclave in Italy.
sententious
terse; concise; aphoristicAfter reading so many redundant speeches, I find his sententious style particulary pleasing.
attest
testify; bear witnessHaving served as a member of a grand jury, I can attest that our system of indicting individuals is in needof improvement.
deposition
testimony under oathHe made his deposition in the judge's chamber.
libretto
text of an operaThe composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its libretto.
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudesTorn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by theambivalence of her feelings.
comprehensive
thorough; inclusiveThis book provides a comprehensive review of verbal and math skills for the SAT.
cerebration
thoughtMathematics problems sometimes require much cerebration.
millenium
thousand-year period; period of happiness and prosperityI do not expect the milennium to come during my lifetime.
ominous
threateningThose clouds are ominous; they suggest that a severe storm is on the way.
tether
tie with a ropeBefore we went to sleep, we tethered the horses to prevent their wandering off during the night.
compact
tightly packed; firm; briefHis short, compact body was better suited to wrestling than to basketball.
heyday
time of greatest success; primeIn their heyday, the San Francisco Forty-Niners won the Super Bowl two years running.
opportune
timely; well chosenYou have come at an opportune moment for I need a new secretary.
indefatigable
tirelessHe was indefatigable in his constant efforts to raise funds for the Red Cross.
harping
tiresome dwelling on a subjectAfter he had reminded me several times about what he had done for me I told him to stop his harping onmy indebtedness to him.
rubric
title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocolIn ordaining the new priests, the bishop carefully observed all the rubrics for the ordination service.
terminate
to bring to an endWhen his contract was terminated unexpectedly, he desperately needed a new job.
commandeer
to draft for military purposes; to take for public useThe policeman commandeered the first car that approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearesthospital.
sinewy
tough; strong and firmThe steak was too sinewy to chew
vestige
trace; remainsWe discovered vestiges of early Indian life in the cave.
barterer
traderThe barterer exchanged trinkets for the natives' furs.
orthodox
traditional; conservative in beliefFaced with a problem, he preferred to take an orthodox approach rather than shock anyone.
turncoat
traitorThe British considered Benedict Arnold a loyalist; the Americans considered him a turncoat.
insidious
treacherous; stealthy; slyThe fifth column is insidious because it works secretly within our territory for our defeat.
coddle
treat gently; pamperDon't coddle the children to much; they need a taste of discipline.
chicanery
trickeryYour deceitful tactics in this case are indications of chicanery.
dally
trifle with; procrastinateLaertes told Ophelia that Hamlet could only dally with her affections.
bauble
trinket; trifleThe child was delighted with the bauble she had won in the grab bag.
junket
trip, especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expenseThough she maintained she had gone abroad to collect firsthand data on the Common Market, theopposition claimed that her trip was merely a political junket.
platitude
trite remark; commonplace statementThe platitudes in his speech were applauded by the vast majority in his audience; only a few peopleperceived how trite his remarks were.
verity
truth; realityThe four verities were revealed to Buddha during his long meditation.
complaisant
trying to please; obligingThe courtier obeyed the king's orders in a complaisant manner.
warren
tunnels in which rabbits live; crowded conditions in which people live.The tenement was a veritable warren, packed with people too poor to live elsewhere.
welter
turmoil; bewildering jumble.The existing welter of overlapping federal and state proclaims cries out for immediate reform.
shunt
turn aside; divert; sidetrackIf the switchman failed to shunt the Silver Streak onto a side track, the train would plow right into UnionStation.
invert
turn upside down or inside outWhen he inverted his body in a hand stand, he felt the blood rush to his head.
gnarled
twistedThe gnarled oak tree had been a landmark for years and was mentioned in several deeds.
wry
twisted; with a humorous twist.We enjoy Dorothy Parker's verse for its wry wit.
distortion
twisting out of shapeIt is difficult to believe the newspaper accounts of this event because of the distortions and exaggerationsof the reporters.
unprepossessing
unattractiveDuring adolescence many attractive young people somehow acquire the false notion that their appearanceis unprepossessing.
inevitable
unavoidableDeath and taxes are both inevitable.
unseemly
unbecoming; indecentYour levity is unseemly at this time of mourning.
infidel
unbelieverThe Saracens made war against tne infidels.
immutable
unchangeableScientists are constantly seeking to discover the immutable laws of nature.
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaningHis ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take.
incorrigible
uncorrectableThough Widow Douglass hoped to reform Huck, Miss Watson pronounced him incorrigible and said hewould come to no good end.
disengage
uncouple; separate; disconnectA standard movie routine involves the hero's desperate attempt to disengage a railroad car from a movingtrain.
inquisitive
unduly curious; prying; seeking knowledgeWe need more inquisitive students in this school; lectures are dull.
malaise
uneasiness; distressShe felt a sudden vague malaise when she heard sounds at the door.
infallible
unerringWe must remember that none of us is infallible; we all make mistakes.
incoherent
unintelligible; muddled; illogicalThe bereaved father sobbed and stammered, his words becoming almost incoherent in his grief.
unwitting
unintentional; not knowingShe was the unwitting tool of the swindlers
incessant
uninterruptedThe crickets kept up an incessant chirping that disturbed our attempts to fall asleep.
iniquitous
unjust; wicked I cannot approve of the iniquitous methods you used to gain your present position.
unwarranted
unjustified; groundless; undeservedWe could not understand Martin's unwarranted rudeness to his mother's guests.
uninhibited
unrepressedThe congregation was shocked by her uninhibited laughter during the sermon.
inordinate
unrestrained; excessiveShe had an inordinate fondness for candy.
wanton
unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste.Pointing to the stack of bills, Sheldon criticized Sarah for her wanton expenditures. In response, Saraaccused Sheldon of making an unfounded, wanton attack.
unconscionable
unscrupulous; excessiveShe found the load shark's demands unconscionable and impossible to meet.
altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for othersIn providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships to hundreds of economically disadvantagedyouths, Eugene Lang performed a truly altruistic deed.
studied
unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtfulGiven Jill's previous slights, Jack felt that the omission of his name from the guest list was a studied insult.
disheveled
untidyYour disheveled appearance will hurt your chances in this interview.
grudging
unwilling; reluctant; stingyWe received only grudging support from the mayor despite his earlier promises of aid.
probity
uprightness; incorruptibilityEveryone took his probity for granted; his defalcations, therefore, shocked us all.
distraught
upset; distracted by anxietyThe distraught parents frantically searched the ravine for their lost child.
retribution
vengeance; compensation; punishment for offensesThe evangelist maintained that an angry deity would exact retribution from the sinners.
prolix
verbose; drawn outHer prolix arguments irritated and bored the jury.
protean
versatile; able to take on many formsA remarkably protean actor, Alec Guinness could take on any role.
mammal
vertebrate animal whose female suckles its youngMany people regard the whale as a fish and do not realize that it is a mammal.
nefarious
very wickedHe was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds.
infraction
violationBecause of his many infractions of school regulations, he was suspended by the dean.
unbridled
violentShe had a sudden fit of unbridled rage.
throes
violent anguishThe throes of despair can be as devastating as the spasms accompanying physical pain.
digression
wandering away from the subjectNobody minded when Professor Renoir's lectures wandered away from their offical theme; his digressionswere always more fascinating than the topic of the day.
itinerant
wandering; travelingHe was an itinerant peddler and traveled through Pennsylvania and Virginia selling his wares.
licentious
wanton; lewd; dissoluteThe licentious monarch helped bring about his country's downfall.
ribald
wanton; profaneHe sang a ribald song that offended many of the more prudish listeners.
parry
ward off a blowHe was content to wage a defensive battle and tried to parry his opponent's thrusts.
bellicose
warlikeHis bellicose disposition alienated his friends.
martial
warlikeThe sound of marital music was always inspiring to the young poet.
ablution
washingHis daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled "Opera in the Bath."
fritter
wasteHe could not apply himself to any task and frittered away his time in idle conversation.
squander
wasteThe prodigal son squandered the family estate.
atrophy
wasting awayPolio victims need physiotherapy to prevent the atrophy of affected limbs.
surveillance
watching; guardingThe FBI kept the house under constant surveillance in the hope of capturing all the criminals at one time.
gargolye
waterspout carved in groteque figures on a buildingThe gargoyles adorning the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris are amusing in their grotesqueness.
invalidate
weaken; destroyThe relatives who received little or nothing sought to invalidate the will by claiming that the deceased hadnot been in his right mind when he signed the document.
debilitate
weaken; enfeebleOverindulgence debilitates character as well as physical stamina.
extenuate
weaken; mitigateIt is easier for us to extenuate our own shortcomings than those of others.
undermine
weaken; sapThe recent corruption scandals have undermined many people's faith in the city government.
infirmity
weaknessHer greatest infirmity was lack of willpower.
frailty
weaknessThe doctor prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements for the sick old woman because of her frailty.
caprice
whimShe was an unpredictable creature, acting on caprice, never taking thought of the consequences.
conceit
whimsical idea; extravagant metaphorHe was an entertaining companion, always expressing himself in amusing conceits and witty turns ofphrase.
vortex
whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plungedSucked into the vortex of the tornado, Dorothy and Toto were carried from Kansas to Oz.
hoary
white with ageThe man was hoary and wrinkled when he was 70.
pandemic
widespread; affecting the majority of peopleThey feared the AIDS epidemic would soon reach pandemic proportions.
prevalent
widespread; generally acceptedA radical committed to social change, Reed had no patience with the conservative views prevalent in theAmerica of his day.
wangle
wiggle out; fake.She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
frantic
wildAt the time of the collision, many people became frantic with fear.
tortuous
winding; full of curvesBecause this road is so tortuous, it is unwise to go faster than twenty miles an hour on it.
dormer
window projecting from roofIn remodeling the attic into a bedroom, we decided that we needed to put in dormers to provide sufficientventilation for the new room.
hibernal
wintryBears prepare for their long hibernal sleep by overeating.
secession
withdrawalThe secession of the Southern states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his inauguration.
wizened
withered; shriveled.The wizened old man in the home for the aged was still active and energetic.
insensate
without feelingShe lay there as insensate as a log.
impecunious
without moneyNow that he was wealthy, he gladly contributed to funds to assist impecunious and disbled persons.
witticism
witty saying; facetious remark.What you regard as witticisms are often offensive to sensitive people.
epigram
witty thought or saying, usually shortPoor Richard's epigrams made Benjamin Franklin famous.
matriarch
woman who rules a family or larger social groupThe matriarch ruled her gypsy tribe with a firm hand.
fleece
wool coat of a sheepThey shear sheep of their fleece, which they then comb into separate strands of wool.
toil
work laboriously; make slow painful progressYou must toil through 3500 words list in order to achieve a high score on GRE.
collage
work of art put together from fragmentsScraps of cloth, paper doilies, and old photographs all went into her collage.
effete
worn out; exhausted; barrenThe literature of the age reflected the effete condition of the writers; no new ideas were forthcoming.
impair
worsen; diminish in valueThis arrest will impair her reputation in the community.
idolatry
worship of idols; excessive admirationSuch idolatry of singers of country music is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth.
chaff
worthless products of an endeavorWhen you separate the wheat from the chaff, be sure you throw out the chaff.
grapple
wrestle; come to grips withHe grappled with the burglar and overpowered him.
writ
written command issued by a court.The hero of Leonard's novel is a process server who invents unorthodox ways of serving writs on reluctantparties.
affidavit
written statement made under oathThe court refused to accept his statement unless he presented it in the form of an affidavit.
misnomer
wrong name; incorrect designationHis tyrannical conduct proved to all that his nickname, King Eric the Just, was a misnomer.
malfeasance
wrongdoingThe authorities did not discover the campaign manager's malfeasance until after he had spent most of themoney he had embezzled.
callow
youthful; immatureIn that youthful movement, the leaders were only a little less callow than their immature followers.
asunder
into parts; apartTheir points of view are poles asunder.
pantomime
acting without dialogueBecause he worked in pantomime, the clown could be understood wherever he appeared.
animosity
active enmityHe incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power.
vigor
active strengthAlthough he was over seventy years old, Jack had the vigor of a man in his prime.
dynamic
active; efficientA dynamic government is necessary to meet the demands of a changing society.
tangible
able to be touched; real; palpableAlthough Tom did not own a house, he had several tangible assets--a car, a television, a PC--that he couldsell if he needed cash.
ungainly
awkwardHe is an ungainly young man; he trips over everything.
affluence
abundance; wealthForeigners are amazed by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life.
talisman
charmShe wore the talisman to ward off evil.
ample
abundantHe had ample opportunity to dispose of his loot before his police caught up with him.
amulet
charm; talismanAround her neck she wore the amulet that the witch doctor had given her.
rife
abundant; currentIn the face of the many rumors of scandal, which are rife at the moment, it is best to remain silent.
exuberant
abundant; effusive; lavishHis speeches were famous for his exuberant language and vivid imagery.
olfactory
concerning the sense of smellThe olfactory organ is the nose.
prolific
abundantly fruitfulShe was a prolific writer who produced as many as three books a year.
invective
abuseHe had expected criticism but not the invective that greeted his proposal.
anguish
acute pain; extreme sufferingVisiting the site of explosion, Premier Gorbachev wept to see the anguish of the victims and their families.
spoonerism
accidental transposition of sounds in sucessive wordsWhen the radio announcer introduced the President as Hoobert Herver, he was guilty of spoonerism.
cadaver
corpseIn some states, it is illegal to dissect cadavers.
collation
a light mealTea sandwiches and cookies were offered at the collation.
artisan
a manually skilled workerArtists and artisans alike are necessary to the development of a culture.
fortuitous
accidental; by chance There is no connection between these two events; their timing is entirely fortuitous.
apiary
a place where bees are keptAlthough he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee.
adventitious
accidental; casualHe found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate.
plasticity
ability to be moldedWhen clay dries out, it loses its plasticity and becomes less malleable.
foresight
ability to foresee future happenings; prudenceA wise investor, she had the foresight to buy land just before the current real estate boom.
empathy
ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etcWhat made Ann such a fine counselor was her empathy, her ability to put herself in her client's place andfeel his emotions as if they were her own.
motility
ability to move spontaneouslyCertain organisms exhibit remarkable motility; motile spores, for example, may travel for miles beforecoming to rest.
discrimination
ability to see differences; prejudiceThey feared he lacked sufficient discrimination to judge complex works of modern art.
caliber
ability; capacityA man of such caliber should not be assigned such menial tasks.
amphibian
able to live both on land and in waterFrogs are classified as amphibian.
solvent
able to pay all debtsBy dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings.
ambulatory
able to walkHe was described as an ambulatory patient because he was not confined to his bed.
abrogate
abolishHe intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor.
consistency
absence of contradictions; dependability; uniformity; degree of thicknessHolmes judged puddings and explanations on their consistency; he liked his puddings without lumps andhis explanations without improbabilities.
incriminate
accuse; serve as evidence againstThe witness's testimony against the racketeers incriminates some high public officials as well.
wean
accustom a baby not to nurse; give up a cherished activity.He decided he would wean himself away from eating junk food and stick to fruits and vegetables.
inured
accustomed; hardenedShe became inured to the Alaskan cold.
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one's own useThe ranch owners appropriated the lands that had originally been set aside for the Indians' use.
exonerate
acquit; exculpateI am sure this letter naming the actual culprit will exonerate you.
arbitrate
act as judgeShe was called upon to arbitrate the dispute between the union and the management.
archaic
antiquated"Methinks," "thee," and "thou" are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary.
antediluvian
antiquated; ancientThe antediluvian customs had apparently not changed for thousands of years.
perquisite
any gain above stipulated salaryThe perquisites attached to this job make it even more attractive than the salary indicates.
canker
any ulcerous sore; any evilPoverty is a canker in the body politic; it must be cured.
aloof
apart; reservedShy by nature, she remained aloof while all the rest conversed.
guise
appearance; costumeIn the guise of a plumber, the detective investigated the murder case.
swelter
be oppressed by heatI am going to buy an air conditioning unit for my apartment as I do not intend to swelter through anotherhot and humid summer.
behoove
be suited to; be incumbent uponIn this time of crisis, it behooves all of us to remain calm and await the instructions of our superiors.
implore
begHe implored her to give him a second chance.
importune
beg persistentlyDemocratic and Republican phone solicitors importuned her for contributions so frequently that shedecided to give nothing to either party.
mendicant
beggarFrom the moment we left the ship, we were surrounded by mendicants and peddlers.
inaugurate
begin formally; install in officeThe candidate promised that he would inaugurate a new nationwide health care plan as soon as he wasinaugurated as president.
initiate
begin; originate; receive into a groupThe college is about to initiate a program for reducing math anxiety among students.
conception
beginning; forming of a ideaAt the first conception of the work, he was consulted.
genesis
beginning; originTracing the genesis of a family is the theme of "Roots."
sear
char or burn; brandAccidentally brushing against the hot grill, she seared her hand badly.
generic
characteristic of an entire class or speciesSue knew so many computer programmers who spent their spare time playing fantasy games that shebegan to think that playing Dungeon & Dragons was a generic trait.
pristine
characteristic of earlier times; primitive, unspoiledThis area has been preserved in all its pristine wildness.
universal
characterizing or affecting all; present everywhereAt first, no one shared Christopher's opinions; his theory that the world was round was met with universaldisdain.
indict
chargeIf the grand jury indicts the suspect, he will go to trial.
arraign
charge in court; indictAfter his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court.
knit
contract into wrinklesWhenever David worries, his brow knits in a frown.
belie
contradict; give a false impressionHis coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his innate sensitivity.
contravene
contradict; oppose: infringe on or transgressMr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth to contravene his will by eloping with RobertBrowning.
foil
contrastIn "Star Wars," dark, evil Darth Vader is a perfect foil for fair-haired, naive Luke Skywalker.
restraint
controlling forceShe dreamt of living an independent life, free of all restraints.
ascendancy
controlling influencePresident Marcos failed to maintain his ascendency over Philippines.
mores
customsThe mores of Mexico are those of Spain with some modifications.
lackluster
dullWe were disappointed by the lackluster performance.
subsistence
existence; means of support; livelihoodIn those days of inflated prices, my salary provided mere subsistence.
congenital
existing at birthHis congenital deformity disturbed his parents.
politic
expedient; prudent; well devisedEven though he was disappointed, he did not think it politic to refuse the offer.
penury
extreme povertyWhen his pension fund failed, George feared he would end his days in penury.
opulence
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundanceThe glitter and opulence of the ballroom took Cinderella's breath away.
jingoism
extremely aggressive and militant patriotismWe must be careful to prevent a spirit of jingoism from spreading at this time.
overwrought
extremely agitated; hystericalWhen Kate heard the news of the sudden tragedy, she became too overwrought to work and had to leavethe office early.
exacting
extremely demandingThe colonies rebelled against the exacting financial claims of the mother country.
parched
extremely dry; very thirstyThe parched desert landscape seemed hostile to life.
prohibitive
extremely high (of prices etc.)The super computer's price was prohibitive.
tenacity
firmness; persistency; adhesivenessIt is extremely difficult to overcome the tenacity of a habit such as smoking.
arable
fit for plowingThe land was no longer arable; erosion had removed the valuable topsoil.
tantrum
fit of petulance; capriceThe child learned that he could have almost anything if he went into tantrums.
paroxysm
fit or attack of pain, laughter, rageWhen he heared of his son's misdeeds, he was seized by a paroxysm of rage.
verdigris
green coating on copper which has been exposed to the weatherDespite all attempts to protect the statue from the elements, it became coated with verdigris.
verdant
green; lush in vegetationMonet's paintings of the verdant meadows were symphonies in green.
felicity
happines; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.)She wrote a note to the newlyweds wishing them great felicity in their wedded life.
harry
harass, annoy, torment; raidThe guerrilla band harried the enemy nightly.
bait
harass; teaseThe soldiers baited the prisoners, terrorizing them.
beset
harass; troubleMany problems beset the American public school system.
esoteric
hard to understand; known only to the chosen fewNew Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and events: the implication is ifyou are in the in-crowd, you'll get the reference; if you come from Cleveland, you won't.
privation
hardship; wantIn his youth, he knew hunger and privation.
injurious
harmfulSmoking cigarettes can be injurious to your health.
noxious
harmfulWe must trace the source of these noxious gases before they asphyxiate us.
deleterious
harmfulWorkers in nuclear research must avoid the deleterious effects of radioactive substances.
detrimental
harmful; damagingYour acceptance of her support will ultimately prove detrimental rather than helpful to your cause.
musky
having the odor of muskShe left a trace of musky perfume behind her.
rancid
having the odor of stale fatA rancid odor filled the ship's galley and nauseated the crew.
titular
having the title of an office without the obligationsAlthough he was the titular head of the company, the real decisions were made by his general manager.
authoritative
having the weight of authority; dictatorialWe accepted her analysis of the situation as authoritative.
civil
having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and politeAlthough internal Revenue Service agents are civil servants, they are not always civil to suspected taxevaders.
cognitive
having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental precessesThough Jack was emotionally immature, his cognitive development was admirable; he was very advancedintellectually.
prophetic
having to do with predicting the future In interpreting Pharaoh's prophetic dream, Joseph said that the seven fat cows eaten by the seven leancows represented seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
fluted
having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar)All that remained of the ancient building were the fluted columns.
effeminate
having womanly traitsHis voice was high-pitched and effeminate.
conducive
helpful; contributiveRest and proper diet are conducive to good health.
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged classAmericans have mixed feelings about hereditary aristocracy:
mischance
ill luckBy mischance, he lost his week's salary.
enmity
ill will; hatredAt Camp David President Carter labored to bring an end to the enmity that prevented Egypt and Israelfrom living in peace.
cantankerous
ill-humored; irritableConstantly complaining about his treatment and refusing to cooperate with the hospital staff, he was acantankerous patient.
morose
ill-humored; sullenWhen we first meet Hamlet, we find him morose and depressed.
illicit
illegalThe defense attorney claimed that the police had entrapped his client; that is, they had elicited the illicitaction of which they now accuse of him.
fancied
imagined; unrealYou are resenting fancied insults. No one has ever said such things about you.
ameliorate
improveMany social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums.
insolence
imprudent disrespect; haughtinessHow dare you treat me so rudely! The manager will hear of you insolence.
spontaneity
impulsiveness; absence of premeditationWhat I liked best about Dale's parties was their spontaneity: a couple of friends would drop by, someonewould pull out a fiddle or guitar, and before you knew it the party would be in full swing.
comatose
in a coma; extremely sleepyThe long-winded orator soon had his audience in a comatose state.
pellmell
in confusion; disorderlyThe excited students dashed pellmell into the stadium to celebrate the victory.
virtual
in essence; for practical purposesShe is a virtual financial wizard when it comes to money matters.
vassal
in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lordThe lord demanded that his vassals contribute more to his military campaign.
enamored
in loveNarcissus became enamored of his own beauty.
nominal
in name only; triflingHe offered to drive her to the airport for only a nominal fee.
affiliation
joining; associating withHis affiliation with the political party was of short duration for he soon disagreed with his colleagues.
peregrination
journeyAuntie Mame was a world traveler whose peregrinations took her from Tiajuana to Timbuctoo.
festive
joyous; celebratoryTheir wedding in the park was a festive occasion.
succulent
juicy; full of richnessTo some people, Florida citrus fruits are more succulent than those from California.
warrant
justify; authorize.Before the judge issues the injunction, you must convince her this action is warranted.
sagacious
keen; shrewd; having insightHe is much too sagacious to be fooled by a trick like that.
shun
keep away from Cherishing his solitude, the recluse shunned the company of other human beings.
tepid
lukewarmDuring the summer, I like to take a tepid bath, not a hot one.
careen
lurch; sway from side to sideThe taxicab careened wildly as it rounded the corner.
lewd
lustfulThey found his lewd stories objectionable.
grate
make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shredThe screams of the quarreling children grated on her nerves.
expiate
make amends for (a sin)He tried to expiate his crimes by a full confession to the authorities.
atone
make amends for; pay forHe knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime.
disgruntle
make discontentedThe passengers were disgruntled by the numerous delays.
stipulate
make express conditions, specifyBefore agreeing to reduce American military forces in Europe, the president stipulated that NATO teamsbe allowed to inspect Soviet bases.
cavil
make frivolous objectionsI respect your sensible criticisms, but I dislike the way you cavil about unimportant details.
alienate
make hostile; separateHer attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith in each other.
preclude
make impossible; eliminateThis contract does not preclude my being employed by others at the same time that I am working for you.
promulgate
make known by official proclamation or publicationAs soon as the Civil Service Commission promulgates the names of the successful candidates, we shallbegin to hire members of our staff.
dilute
make less concentrated; reduce in strengthShe preferred her coffee diluted with milk.
facilitate
make less difficultHe tried to facilitate repayment of the loan by getting a part-time job.
attenuate
make thin; weakenBy withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines.
obviate
make unnecessary; get rid ofI hope this contribution will obviate any need for further collections of funds.
exploit
make use of, sometimes unjustlyCaesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit migrant farmworkers in California.
integrate
make whole; combine; make into one unitShe tried to integrate all their activities into one program.
rejuvenate
make young againThe charlatan claimed that his elixir would rejuvenate the aged and weary.
optician
maker and seller of eyeglassesThe patient took the prescription given him by his oculist to the optician.
testator
maker of a willThe attorney called in his secretary and his partner to witness the signature of the testator.
compensatory
making up for; repayingCan a compensatory education program make up for the inadequate schooling he received in earlier years?
fetid
malodorousThe neglected wound became fetid.
nubile
marrigeableMrs. Bennet, in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, was worried about finding suitable husbands for herfive nubile daughters.
definitive
most reliable or compleeCarl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln may be regarded as the definitive work on the life of the GreatEmancipator.
mobile
movable; not fixedThe mobile blood bank operated by the Red Cross visited our neighborhood today.
scurry
move brisklyThe White Rabbit had to scurry to get to his appointment on time.
accelerate
move fasterIn our science class, we learn how falling bodies accelerate.
skulk
move furtively and secretlyHe skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid meeting any of his formerfriends.
lumber
move heavily of clumsilyStill somewhat torpid after its long hibernation, the bear lumbered through the woods.
deploy
move troops so that the battle line is extended at the expense of depthThe general ordered the battalion to deploy in order to meet the offensive of the enemy.
amoral
non-moralThe amoral individual lacks a code of ethics; he should not be classified as immoral.
cipher
nonentity; worthless person or thingShe claimed her ex-husband was a total cipher and wondered why she had ever married him.
gibberish
nonsense; babblingDid you hear that foolish boy spouting gibberish about monsters from outer space?
alcove
nook; recessThough their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an alcove adjacent to the living room made anadequate breakfast nook for the young couple.
irreparable
not able to be corrected or repairedYour apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have done to her reputation.
intangible
not able to be perceived by touch; vagueThough the financial benefits of his Oxford post were meager, Lewis was drawn to it by its intangiblerewards: prestige, intellectual freedom, the fellowship of his peers.
impenetrable
not able to be pierced or enteredHow could the murderer have gotten into the locked room? To Watson, the mystery, like the room, wasimpenetrable.
evasive
not frank; eludingYour evasive answers convinced the judge that you were witholding important evidence.
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central lineBecause one eyebrow was set markedly higher than the other, William's face had a particularly asymmetricappearance.
objective
not influenced by emotions; fairEven though he was her son, she tried to be objective about his behavior.
temporal
not lasting forever; limited by time; secularAt one time in our history, temporal rulers assumed that they had been given their thrones by divine right.
figurative
not literal, but metaphorical; using a figure of speech"To lose one's marbles" is a figurative expression; if you're told Jack has lost his marbles, no one expectsyou to rush out to buy him a replacement set.
impolitic
not wiseI think it is impolitic to raise this issue at the present time because the public is too angry.
marked
noticeable; targeted for vengeanceHe walked with a marked limp, a souvenir of an old IRA attack. As British ambassador, he knew he was amarked man.
egregious
notorious; conspicuously bad; shockingShe was an egregious liar; we all knew better than to believe a word she said.
infamous
notoriously badJesse James was an infamous outlaw.
nurture
nourish; educate; fosterThe head Start program attempts to nurture prekindergarten children so that they will do well when theyenter public school.
recurrent
occurring again and againThese recurrent attacks disturbed us and we consulted a physician.
coincident
occurring at the same timeSome people find the coincident events in Hardy's novels annoyingly improbable.
subjective
occurring or taking place within the mind; unrealYour analysis is highly subjective; you have permitted your emotions and your opinions to color yourthinking.
quaint
odd; old-fashioned; picturesqueHer quaint clothes and old-fashioned language marked her as an eccentric.
disburse
pay outWhen you disburse money on the company's behalf, be sure to get a receipt.
alimony
payments make to an ex-spouse after divorceBecause Tony had supported Tina through medical school, on their divorce he asked the court to awardhim a month in alimony.
placid
peaceful; calmAfter his vacation in this placid section, he felt soothed and rested.
pinnacle
peakWe could see the morning sunlight illuminate the pinnacle while the rest of the mountain lay in shadow.
sage
person celebrated for wisdomHearing tales of a mysterious Master of All Knowledge who lived in the hills of Tibet, Sandy was possessedwith a burning desire to consult the legendary sage.
connoisseur
person competent to act as judge of art, ect.; a lover of an artShe had developed into a connoisseur of fine china.
ecologist
person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environmentThe ecologist was concerned that the new dam would upset the natural balance of the creatures living inGlen Canyon.
felon
person convicted of a grave crimeA convicted felon loses the right to vote
malcontent
person dissatisfied with existing state of affairsHe was one of the few malcontents in the Congress; he constantly voiced his objections to the Presidentialprogram.
aplomb
poise; composureWellington's nonchalance and aplomb in the heat of battle always heartened his followers.
toxic
poisonousWe must seek an antidote for whatever toxic substance he has eaten.
viper
poisonous snakeThe habitat of the horned viper, a particularly venomous snake, is in sandy regions like the Sahara or theSinai peninsula.
tout
publicize; praise excessivelyI lost confidence in my broker after he touted some junk bonds that turned out to be a bad investment.
flout
reject; mockThe headstrong youth flouted all authority; he refused to be curbed.
spurn
reject; scornThe heroine spurned the villain's advances.
exult
rejoiceWe exulted when our team won the victory.
jubilation
rejoicingThere was great jubilitation when the armistice was announced.
cognate
related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in natureThe English word "mother" cognate to the Latin word "mater," whose influence is visible in the words"maternal" and "maternity."
canine
related to dogs; doglikeSome days the canine population of Berkeley seems almost to outnumber the human population.
nuptial
related to marriageTheir nuptial ceremony was performed in Golden Gate Park.
monastic
related to monksWanting to live a religious life, he took his monastic vows.
demographic
related to population balanceIn conducting a survey, one should take into account demographic trends in the region.
elysian
relating to paradise; blissfulAn afternoon sail on the bay was for her an elysian journey.
ethnic
relating to racesIntolerance between ethnic groups is deplorable and usually is based on lack of information.
spatial
relating to spaceIt is difficult to visualize the spatial extent of our universe.
dorsal
relating to the back of an animalA shark may be identified by its dorsal fin, which projects above the surface of the ocean.
climactic
relating to the highest pointWhen he reached the climactic portions of the book, he could not stop reading.
sidereal
relating to the starsAlthough hampered by optical and mechanical flaws, the orbiting Hubble space telescope has relayedextraordinary images of distant sidereal bodies.
dehydrate
remove water from; dry outVigorous dancing quickly dehydrates the body; between dances, be sure to drink more water than normal.
abjure
renounce upon oathHe abjured his allegiance to the king.
forswear
renounce; abandonThe captured knight could escape death only if he agreed to forswear Christianity and embrace Islam as theone true faith.
abdicate
renounce; give upWhen Edward VII abdicated the British throne, he surprised the entire world.
refurbish
renovate; make bright by polishingThe flood left a deposit of mud on everything; it was necessary to refurbish our belongings.
abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrificeThough Rudolph and Duchess Flavia loved one another, their love was doomed, for she had to wed theking; their act of abnegation was necessary to preserve the kingdom.
solder
repair or make whole by using a metal alloyThe plumber fixed the leak in the pipes by soldering a couple of joints from which water had been oozing.
disclose
revealAlthough competitors offered him bribes, he refused to disclose any information about his company'sforthcoming product.
divulge
revealI will not tell you this news because I am sure you will divulge it prematurely.
vindictive
revengefulShe was very vindictive and never forgave an injury.
saline
saltyThe slightly saline taste of this mineral water is pleasant.
monotony
sameness leading to boredomHe took a clerical job, but soon grew to hate the monotony of his daily routine.
uniformity
sameness; consistency; monotonyAfter a while, the uniformity of TV situation comedies becomes boring.
surfeit
satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anythingEvery Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an overabundance of holiday treats.
sate
satisfy to the full; cloyIts hunger sated, the lion dozed.
anecdote
short account of an amusing or interesting eventRather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Raegan told anecdotes about poorpeople who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds.
epilogue
short speech at conclusion of dramatic workThe audience was so disappointed in the play that many did not remain to hear the epilogue.
abbreviate
shortenBecause we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.
jostle
shove; bumpIn the subway he was jostled by the crowds.
exemplify
show by example; furnish an exampleThree-time winner of the Super Bowl, Joe Montana exemplifies the ideal quarterback.
evince
show clearlyWhen he tried to answer the questions, he evinced his ignorance of the subject matter.
ebullient
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm His ebullient nature could not be repressed.
painstaking
showing hard work; taking great careThe new high-frequency word list is the result of painstaking efforts on the part of our research staff.
pedantic
showing off learning; bookishLeaving his decisions with humorous, down-to-earth anecdotes, Judge Walker was not at all pedantic legalscholar.
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior positionI will entertain this concept as an adjunct to the main proposal.
comestible
something fit to be eatenThe roast turkey and other comestibles, the wines, and the excellent service made this Thanksgiving dinnerparticularly memorable.
perennial
something long-lastingTese plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for many years.
novelty
something new; newness The computer is no longer a novelty around the office.
anachronism
something or someone misplaced in timeShakespeare's reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is an anachronism; no clocks existed in Caesar's time.
sleeper
something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuableUnnoticed by the critics at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Prize winner was a classic sleeper.
precedent
something preceding in time that may be used as an authority or guide for future actionThis decision sets a precedent for future cases of a similar nature.
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession ofThe young princess made the foolish assumption that the regent would not object to her Assumption ofpower.
deterrent
something that discourages; hindranceDoes the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers?
waffle
speak equivocally about an issue.When asked directly about the governor's involvement in the savings and loan scandal, the press secretarywaffled, talking all around the issue.
malign
speak evil of; defameBecause of her hatred of the family, she maligns all who are friendly to them.
balm
something that relieves painFriendship is the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.
brackish
somewhat salineHe found the only wells in the area were brackish; drinking the water made him nauseous.
paean
song of praise or joypaeans celebrating the victory filled the air.
mollify
sootheWe tried to mollify the hysterical child by promising her many gifts.
emollient
soothing or softening remedyHe applied an emollient to the inflamed area.
fleck
spotHer cheeks flecked with tears, were testimony to the hours of weeping.
dappled
spottedThe sunlight filtering though the screens created a dappled effect on the wall.
mottled
spottedWhen he blushed, his face took on a mottled hue.
suffuse
spread overA blush suffused her cheeks when we teased her about her love affair.
assert
state strongly or positively; insist on or demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc).When Jill asserted that nobody else in the junior class had such an early curfew, her parents Assertedthemselves, telling her that if she didn't get home by nine o'clock she would be grounded for the week.
allege
state without proofIt is alleged that she had worked for the enemy.
paradox
statement that looks false but is actually correct; a contradictory statementWordworth's "The child is father to the man" is an example of paradox.
unfaltering
steadfastShe approached the guillotine with unfaltering steps.
lurk
stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived"Who knows what evils lurk in the hearts of men? The shadow knows."
concomitant
that which accompaniesCulture is not always a concomitant of wealth.
implication
that which is hinted at or suggestedIf I understand the implications of your remark, you do not trust our captain.
galaxy
the Milky Way; any collection of brilliant personalitiesThe deaths of such famous actors as Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, and Marlene Dietrichdemonstrate that the galaxy of Hollywood superstars is rapidly disppearing.
occident
the WestIt will take occident to understand the ways and customs of the orient.
unction
the act of anointing with oilThe anointing with oil of a person near death is called extreme unction.
prosody
the art of versificationThis book on prosody contains a rhyming dictionary as well as samples of the various verse forms.
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; non-representationalTo him, hunger was an abstract concept; he had never missed a meal.
pachyderm
thick-skinned animalThe elephant is probably the best-known pachyderm.
coagulate
thicken; congeal; clotEven after you remove the pudding from the burner, it will continue to coagulate as it stands.
emaciated
thin and wastedHis long period of starvation had left him emaciated.
veneer
thin layer; coverCasual acquaintances were deceived by his veneer of sophistication and failed to recognize his fundamentalshallowness.
gruel
thin, liquid porridgeOur daily allotment of gruel made the meal not only monotonous but also unpalatable.
tenuous
thin; rare; slimThe allegiance of our allies is held by rather tenuous ties; let us hope they will remain loyal.
wispy
thin; slight; barely discernible.Worried about preserving his few wispy tufts of hair, Walter carefully massaged his scalp and applied hairrestorer every night.
cogitate
think overcogitate on this problem; the solution will come.
tertiary
thirdHe is so thorough that he analyzes tertiary causes where other writers are content with primary andsecondary reasons.
fret
to be annonyed or vexedTo fret over your poor grades is foolish; instead, decide to work harder in the future.
quietude
tranquillityHe was impressed by the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the valley.
caulk
to make watertight (by plugging seams) When water from the shower leaked into the basement, we knew it was time to caulk the tiles at the edgesof the shower stall.
sepulcher
tombAnnabel Lee was buried in a sepulcher by the sea.
rhapsodize
to speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic mannerShe greatly enjoyed her Hawaiian vacation and rhapsodized about it for weeks.
unfrock
to strip a priest or minister of church authorityTo disbar a lawyer, to unfrock a priest, to suspend a doctor's license to practice--these are extreme stepsthat the authorities should take only after careful consideration.
defrock
to strip a priest or minister of church authorityWe knew the minister had violated church regulations, but we had not realized his offense was seriousenough to cause him to be defrocked.
modulation
toning down; changing from one key to anotherWhen we she spoke, it was with quiet modulation of voice.
meander
to wind or turn in its courseIt is difficult to sail up this stream because of the way it meanders through the countryside.
stigma
token of disgrace; brandI do not attach any stigma to the fact that you were accused of this crime; the fact that you were acquittedclears you completely.
brook
tolerate; endureThe dean would brook no interference with his disciplinary actions.
knell
tolling of a bell, especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day."
indisputable
too certain to be disputedIn the face of these indisputable statements, I withdraw my complaint.
finicky
too particular; fussyThe old lady was finicky about her food and ate very little.
vise
tool for holding work in placeBefore filling its edges, the keysmith took the blank key and fixed it firmly between the jaws of a vise.
pestle
tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowlFrom the way in which the elderly pharmacist pounded the drug with his pestle, young George could tellthat his employer was agitated about something.
cog
tooth projecting from a wheelA bicycle chain moves through a series of cogs in order to propel the bike.
fiasco
total failureOur ambitious venture ended in a fiasco and we were forced to flee.
explicit
totally clear; definite; outspokenDon't just hint around that you're dissatisfied: be explicit about what's bugging you.
petulant
touchy; peevishThe feverish patient was petulant and restless.
intrude
trespass; enter as an uninvited personShe hesitated to intrude on their conversation.
hoax
trick; practical jokeEmbarrassed by the hoax, he reddened and left the room.
unsightly
uglyAlthough James was an experienced emergency room nurse, he occasionally became queasy when facedwith a particularly unsightly injury.
irrepressible
unable to be restrained or held backHer high spirits were irrepressible.
doctrinaire
unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyieldingWeng had hoped that the student-led democracy movement might bring about change in China, but therepressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners crushed his dreams of democracy.
unwonted
unaccustomedHe hesitated to assume the unwonted role of master of ceremonies at the dinner.
irrevocable
unalterableLet us not brood over past mistakes since they are irrevocable.
litotes
understatement for emphasisTo say, "He little realizes," when we mean that he does not realize at all, is an example of the kind ofunderstatement we call litotes.
implicit
understood but not statedJack never told Jill he adored her; he believed his love was implicit in his deeds.
tacit
understood; not put into wordsWe have a tacit agreement based on only a handshake.
mortician
undertakerThe mortician prepared the corpse for burial.
embryonic
undeveloped; rudimentaryThe evil of class and race hatred must be eliminated while it is still in an embryonic state; otherwise, it maygrow to dangerous proportions.
nondescript
undistinctive; ordinaryThe private detective was a short, nondescript fellow with no ourstanding features, the sort of person onewould never notice in a crowd.
singular
unique; extraordinary; oddThough the young man tried to understand Father William's singular behavior, he still found it odd that theold man incessantly stood on his head.
lumen
unit of light energy (one candle's worth)In buying light bulbs, she checked not only their power, as measured in watts, but their brightness, asmeasured in lumens.
unison
unity of pitch; complete accordThe choir sang in unison.
catholic
universal; wide-ranging liberalHe was extremely catholic in his taste and read everything he could find in the library.
omnipresent
universally present; ubiquitousOn Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is omnipotent.
pauper
very poor personThough Widow Brown was living on a reduced income, she was by no means a pauper.
prim
very precise and formal; exceedingly properMany people commented on the contrast between the prim attire of the young lady and the inappropriateclothing worn by her escort.
vital
vibrant and lively; critical; living, breathingThe vital, highly energetic first aid instructor stressed that it was vital in examining accident victims to notetheir vital signs.
oscillate
vibrate pendulumlike; waverIt is interesting to note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism.
onslaught
vicious assaultWe suffered many casualties during unexpected onslaght of the enemy troops.
quarry
victim; object of a huntThe police closed in on their quarry.
robust
vigorous; strongThe candidate for the football team had a robust physique.
spry
vigorously active; nimbleShe was eighty years old, yet still spry and alert.
profane
violate; desecrateTourists are urged not to profane the sanctity of holy places by wearing improper garb.
