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Stack #1823652
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| reprimand ----------- Every time Ermengarde made a mistake in class, she was afraid that Miss Minchin would reprimand her and tell her father how badly she was doing in school. also N. | reprove severely; rebuke 1 |
| temporize ----------- I cannot permit you to temporize any longer; I must have a definite answer today. | avoid commiting oneself; gain time 2 |
| magnate ----------- Growing up in Pittsburgh, Annie Dillard was surrounded by the mansions of the great steel and coal magnates who set their mark on that city. | person of prominence or influence 3 |
| influx ----------- The influx of refugees into the country has taxed the relief agencies severely. | flowing into 4 |
| neophyte ----------- This mountain slope contains slides that will challenge experts as well as neophytes. | recent convert; beginner 5 |
| venerate ----------- In Tibet today, the common people still venerate their traditional spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. | revere 6 |
| heedless ----------- He drove on, heedless of the danger warnings placed at the side of the road. | not noticing; disregarding 7 |
| arrest ----------- Slipping, the trapeze artist plunged from the heights until a safety net luckily arrested his fall. This near-disaster arrested the crowd's attention. | stop or slow down; catch someone's attention 8 |
| pander ----------- The reviewer accused the makers of Lethal Weapon of pandering to the masses' taste for violence. | cater to the low desires of others 9 |
| ensconce ----------- Now that their children were ensconced safely in the private school, the jet-setting parents decided to leave for Europe. | settle comfortably 10 |
| phlegmatic ----------- The nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic person, unexcited in the face of sudden emergencies. | calm; not easily disturbed 11 |
| stodgy ----------- For a young person, Winston seems remarkably stodgy: you'd expect someone his age to show a little more life. | stuffy; boringly conservative 12 |
| recapitulate ----------- Let us recapitulate what has been said thus far before going ahead. | summarize 13 |
| herbivorous ----------- Some herbivorous animals have two stomachs for digesting their food. | grain-eating 14 |
| plummet ----------- Stock prices plummeted as Wall Street reacted to the crisis in the economy. | fall sharply 15 |
| flourish ----------- The orange trees flourished in the sun. | grow well; prosper; decorate with ornaments 16 |
| feint ----------- The boxer was fooled by his opponent's feint and dropped his guard. alsoV. | trick; shift; sham blow 17 |
| integral ----------- Physical education is an integral part of our curriculum; a sound mind and a sound body are complementary. | complete; necessary for completeness 18 |
| dissipate ----------- He is a fine artist, but I fear he may dissipate his gifts if he keeps wasting his time playing games. | squander; waste; scatter 19 |
| migratory ----------- The return of the migratory birds to the northern sections of this country is a harbinger of spring. migrate,V. | wandering 20 |
| coterie ----------- After his book has been published, he was invited to join the literary coterie that lunched daily at the hotel. | group that meets socially; select circle 21 |
| fallow ----------- Farmers have learned that it is advisable to permit land to lie fallow every few years. | plowed but not sowed; uncultivated 22 |
| tedious ----------- The repetitious nature of work on the assembly line made Martin's job very tedious. tedium, N. | boring; tiring 23 |
| asteroid ----------- Asteroids have become commonplace to the readers of interstellar travel stories in science fiction magazines. | small planet 24 |
| prelude ----------- I am afraid that this border raid is the prelude to more serious attacks. | introduction; forerunner 25 |
| overt ----------- According to the United States Constitution, a person must commit an overt act before he may be tried for treason. | open to view 26 |
| dupe ----------- While the gullible Watson often was made a dupe by unscrupulous parties, Sherlock Holmes was far more difficult to fool. alsoV. | someone easily fooled 27 |
| deducible ----------- If we accept your premise, your conclusions are easily deducible. | derived by reasoning 28 |
| facile ----------- Words came easily to Jonathan: he was a facile speaker and prided himself on being ready to make a speech at a moment's notice. | easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial 29 |
| adulterate ----------- It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer; when consumers learned that Beech-Nut had adulterated their apple juice by mixing it with water, they protested vigorously. | make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances 30 |
| gloss over ----------- No matter how hard he tried to talk around the issue, President Bush could not gloss over the fact that he had raised taxes after all. | explain away 31 |
| incubate ----------- Inasmuch as our supply of electricity is cut off, we shall have to rely on the hens to incubate these eggs. | hatch; scheme 32 |
| catharsis ----------- Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a catharsis by purging the soul of base concepts. | purging or cleansing of any passage of the body 33 |
| console ----------- When her father died, Marius did his best to console Cosette. | lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort 34 |
| figurative ----------- To lose one's marbles is a figurative expression; if you're told that Jack has lost his marbles, no one expects you to rush out to buy him a replacement set. | not literal, but metaphorical; using a figure of speech 35 |
| interim ----------- The company will not consider our proposal until next week; in the interim, let us proceed as we have in the past. | meantime 36 |
| captivate ----------- Bart and Lisa were captivated by their new nanny's winning manner. | charm or enthrall 37 |
| indomitable ----------- Focusing on her game despite all her personal problems, tennis champion Steffi Graf proved she had an indomitable will to win. | unconquerable; unyielding 38 |
| bestow ----------- He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero. | give 39 |
| extrinsic ----------- A criti?cally acclaimed extrinsic feature of the Chrysler Building is its ornate spire. The judge would not admit the testimony, ruling that it was extrinsic to the matter at hand. | external; not essential; extraneous 40 |
| misanthrope ----------- In Gulliver's Travels, Swift portrays an image of humanity as vile, degraded beasts; for this reason, various critics consider him a misanthrope. | one who hates mankind 41 |
| initiate ----------- The college is about to initiate a program in reducing math anxiety among students. | begin; originate; receive into a group 42 |
| cupidity ----------- The defeated people could not satisfy the cupidity of the conquerors, who demanded excessive tribute. | greed 43 |
| polyglot ----------- New York City is a polyglot community because of the thousands of immigrants who settle there. | speaking several languages 44 |
| languish ----------- Left at Miss Minchin's school for girls while her father went off to war, Sarah Crewe refused to languish; instead, she hid her grief and actively befriended her less fortunate classmates. | lose animation; lose strength 45 |
| euphonious ----------- Euphonious even when spoken, the Italian language is particularly pleasing to the ear when sung. euphony. N. | pleasing in sound 46 |
| bucolic ----------- Filled with browsing cows and bleating sheep, the meadow was a charmingly bucolic sight. | rustic; pastoral 47 |
| refraction ----------- When you look at a stick inserted in water, it looks bent because of the refraction of the light by the water. | bending of a ray of light 48 |
| calculated ----------- Lexy's choice of clothes to wear to the debate tournament was carefully calculated. Her conventional suit was one calculated to appeal to the conservative judges. | deliberately planned; likely 49 |
| protrude ----------- His fingers protruded from the holes in his gloves. protrusion, N. | stick out 50 |
| archives ----------- These documents should be part of the archives so that historians may be able to evaluate them in the future. | public records; place where public records are kept 51 |
| ghastly ----------- The murdered man was a ghastly sight. | horrible 52 |
| morbid ----------- People who come to disaster sites just to peer at the grisly wreckage are indulging their morbid curiosity. | given to unwholesome thought; moody; characteristic of disease 53 |
| antiquated ----------- Philip had grown so accustomed to editing his papers on word processors that he thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to use. | old-fashioned; obsolete 54 |
| descant ----------- He was willing to descant upon any topic of conversation, even when he knew very little about the subject under discussion. also N. | discuss fully 55 |
| absorb ----------- During the nineteenth century, America absorbed hordes of immigrants, turning them into productive citizens. Can Huggies diapers absorb more liquid than Pampers can? This question does not ab | assimilate or incorporate; suck or drink up; wholly engage 56 |
| dapper ----------- In The Odd Couple TV show, Tony Randall played Felix Unger, an excessively dapper soul who could not stand to have a hair out of place. | neat and trim 57 |
| pan ----------- Hoping for a rave review of his new show, the playwright was miserable when the critics panned it unanimously. | criticize harshly 58 |
| brunt ----------- Tom Sawyer claimed credit for painting the fence, but the brunt of the work fell on others. However, he bore the brunt of Aunt Polly's complaints when the paint began to peel. | main impact or shock 59 |
| untenable ----------- Wayne is so contrary that, the more untenable a position is, the harder he'll try to defend it. | indefensible; not able to be maintained 60 |
| alcove ----------- Though their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an alcove adjacent to the living room made an adequate breakfast nook for the young couple. | nook; small, recessed section of a room 61 |
| indifferent ----------- Because Ann felt no desire to marry, she was indifferent to Carl's constant proposals. Not only was she indifferent to him personally, but she felt that, given his general silliness, he would make an indifferent | unmoved or unconcerned by; mediocre 62 |
| rotundity ----------- Washington Irving emphasized the rotundity of the governor by describing his height and circumference. | roundness; sonorousness of speech 63 |
| annihilate ----------- The enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate the entire population. | destroy 64 |
| gambit ----------- The player was afraid to accept his opponent's gambit because he feared a trap which as yet he could not see. gambol V. skip; leap playfully. Watching children gambol-ing in the park is a pleasant exper | opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed 65 |
| outspoken ----------- The candidate was too outspoken to be a successful politician; he had not yet learned to weigh his words carefully. | candid; blunt 66 |
| gratuitous ----------- Quit making gratuitous comments about my driving; no one asked you for your opinion. | given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for 67 |
| gape ----------- The huge pit gaped before him; if he stumbled, he would fall in. Slackjawed in wonder, Huck gaped at the huge stalactites hanging down from the ceiling of the limestone cavern. | open widely; stare open-mouthed 68 |
| bacchanalian ----------- Emperor Nero attended the bacchanalian orgy. | drunken 69 |
| talisman ----------- Joe believed the carved pendant he found in Vietnam served him as a talisman and brought him safely through the war. | charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune 70 |
| abbreviate ----------- Because we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech. | shorten 71 |
| intemperate ----------- In a temper, Tony refused to tone down his intemperate remarks. | immoderate; excessive; extreme 72 |
| exacerbate ----------- The latest bombing exacerbated England's already existing bitterness against the IRA, causing the prime minister to break off the peace talks abruptly. | worsen; embitter 73 |
| tremulous ----------- She was tremulous more from excitement than from fear. | trembling; wavering 74 |
| atlas ----------- Embarrassed at being unable to distinguish Slovenia from Slovakia, George W. finally consulted an atlas. | a bound volume of maps, charts, or tables 75 |
| toady ----------- Never tell the boss anything he doesn't wish to hear: he doesn't want an independent adviser, he just wants a toady. alsoV. | servile flatterer; yes man 76 |
| riddle ----------- With his machine gun, Tracy riddled the car with bullets till it looked like a slice of Swiss cheese. During the proofreaders' strike, the newspaper was riddled with typos. | pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout 77 |
| perspicacious ----------- The brilliant lawyer was known for his perspicacious deductions. perspicacity, N. | having insight; penetrating; astute 78 |
| apex ----------- He was at the apex of his career: he had climbed to the top of the heap. | tip; summit; climax 79 |
| satellite ----------- During the first few years of the Space Age, hundreds of satellites were launched by Russia and the United States. | small body revolving around a larger one 80 |
| matriculate ----------- Incoming students formally matriculate at our college in a special ceremony during which they sign the official register of students. | enroll (in college or graduate school) 81 |
| totter ----------- On unsteady feet, the drunk tottered down the hill to the nearest bar. | move unsteadily; sway, as if about to fall 82 |
| irrelevant ----------- No matter how irrelevant the patient's mumblings may seem, they give us some indications of what he has on his mind. | not applicable; unrelated 83 |
| centrifugal ----------- Many automatic drying machines remove excess moisture from clothing by centrifugal force. | radiating; departing from the center 84 |
| inhibit ----------- Only two things inhibited him from taking a punch at Mike Tyson: Tyson's left hook, and Tyson's right jab. The protective undercoating on my car inhibits the formation of rust. | restrain; retard or prevent 85 |
| protégé ----------- Born with an independent spirit, Cyrano de Bergerac refused to be a protégé of Cardinal Richelieu. | person receiving protection and support from a patron 86 |
| vampire ----------- Children were afraid to go to sleep because of the many legends of vampires roaming at night. | ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living 87 |
| germane ----------- The judge refused to allow the testimony to be heard by the jury because it was not germane to the case. | pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand 88 |
| petulant ----------- If you'd had hardly any sleep for three nights and people kept phoning and waking you up, you'd sound pretty petulant, too. | touchy; peevish 89 |
| brooch ----------- She treasured the brooch because it was an heirloom. | ornamental clasp 90 |
| smolder ----------- The rags smoldered for hours before they burst into flame. | burn without flame; be liable to break out at any moment 91 |
| irrational ----------- Many people have such an irrational fear of snakes that they panic at the sight of a harmless garter snake. | illogical; lacking reason; insane 92 |
| equable ----------- After the hot summers and cold winters of New England, he found the climate of the West Indies equable and pleasant. | tranquil; steady; uniform 93 |
| somber ----------- From the doctor's grim expression, I could tell he had somber news. Dull brown and charcoal gray are pretty somber colors; can't you wear something bright? | gloomy; depressing; dark; drab 94 |
| idiosyncrasy ----------- One of Richard Nixon's little idiosyncrasies was his liking for ketchup on cottage cheese. One of Hannibal Lecter's little idiosyncrasies was his liking for human flesh. idiosyncratic,ADJ. | individual trait, usually odd in nature; eccentricity 95 |
| sheaf ----------- The lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as he rose to question the witness. | bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together 96 |
| philology ----------- The professor of philology advocated the use of Esperanto as an international language. | study of language 97 |
| repository ----------- Libraries are repositories of the world's best thoughts. | storehouse 98 |
| superimpose ----------- Your attempt to superimpose another agency in this field will merely increase the bureaucratic nature of our government. | place over something else 99 |
| insinuate ----------- When you said I looked robust, did you mean to insinuate that I'm getting fat? | hint; imply; creep in 100 |
| imperial ----------- When hotel owner Leona Helmsley appeared in ads as Queen Leona standing guard over the Palace Hotel, her critics mocked her imperial fancies. | like an emperor; related to an empire 101 |
| hulking ----------- Despite his hulking build, the heavyweight boxing champion was surprisingly light on his feet. hulk, N. | massive; bulky; great in size 102 |
| badger ----------- She was forced to change her telephone number because she was badgered by obscene phone calls. | pester; annoy 103 |
| infernal ----------- Batman was baffled: he could think of no way to hinder the Joker's infernal scheme to destroy the city. | pertaining to hell; devilish 104 |
| wanton ----------- Pointing to the stack of bills, Sheldon criticized Sarah for her wanton expenditures. In response, Sarah accused Sheldon of making an unfounded, wanton attack. | unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste 105 |
| tensile ----------- Mountain climbers must know the tensile strength of their ropes. tentative ADJ. hesitant; not fully worked out or developed; experimental; not definite or positive. Unsure of his welcome at the Christmas party, Scrooge t | capable of being stretched 106 |
| trepidation ----------- As she entered the office of the dean of admissions, Sharon felt some trepidation about how she would do in her interview. | fear; nervous apprehension 107 |
| dissident ----------- In the purge that followed the student demonstrations at Tiananmen Square, the government hunted down the dissident students and their supporters. also N. | dissenting; rebellious 108 |
| inert ----------- Get up, you lazybones, she cried to her husband, who lay in bed inert. inertia, N. | inactive; lacking power to move 109 |
| inept ----------- The inept glovemaker was all thumbs. | lacking skill; unsuited; incompetent 110 |
| Sagacious ----------- My father was a sagacious judge of character: he could spot a phony a mile away. sagacity, N. | perceptive; shrewd; having insight 111 |
| wastrel ----------- His neighbors denounced him as a wastrelwho had dissipated his inheritance. | profligate 112 |
| diversity ----------- The diversity of colleges in this country indicates that many levels of ability are being cared for. | variety; dissimilitude 113 |
| energize ----------- Rather than exhausting Maggie, dancing energized her. | invigorate; make forceful and active 114 |
| languor ----------- His friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to the theater. | lassitude; depression 115 |
| reprove ----------- The principal severely reproved the students whenever they talked in the halls. | censure; rebuke 116 |
| capitulate ----------- The enemy was warned to capitulate or face annihilation. | surrender 117 |
| beseech ----------- The workaholic executive's wife beseeched him to spend more time with their son. | beg; plead with 118 |
| negligible ----------- Because the damage to his car had been negligible, Michael decided he wouldn't bother to report the matter to his insurance company. | so small, trifling, or unimportant that it may be easily disregarded 119 |
| abusive ----------- An abusive parent damages a child both mentally and physically. | coarsely insulting; physically harmful 120 |
| impertinent ----------- His neighbors' impertinent curiosity about his lack of dates angered Ted. It was downright rude of them to ask him such personal questions. | insolent; rude 121 |
| astronomical ----------- The government seems willing to spend astronomical sums on weapons development. | enormously large or extensive 122 |
| axiom ----------- Before a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certain principles or axioms. | self-evident truth requiring no proof 123 |
| peccadillo ----------- When Peter Piper picked a peck of Polly Potter's pickles, did Pete commit a major crime or just a peccadillo? | slight offense 124 |
| impartial ----------- Knowing she could not be impartial about her own child, Jo refused to judge any match in which Billy was competing. | not biased; fair 125 |
| bastion ----------- The villagers fortified the town hall, hoping this improvised bastion could protect them from the guerillas' raids. . | fortress; defense 126 |
| wry ----------- We enjoy Dorothy Parker's verse for its wrywit. | twisted; with a humorous twist 127 |
| grapple ----------- He grappled with the burglar and overpowered him. | wrestle; come to grips with 128 |
| inarticulate ----------- He became inarticulate with rage and uttered sounds without meaning. | speechless; producing indistinct speech 129 |
| mannered ----------- Attempting to copy the style of his wealthy neighbors, Gatsby adopted a mannered, artificial way of speech. | affected; not natural 130 |
| modulate ----------- Always singing at the top of her lungs, the budding Brunhilde never learned to modulate her voice. | tone down in intensity; regulate; change from one key to another 131 |
| satire ----------- Gulliver's Travels, which is regarded by many as a tale for children, is actually a bitter satire attacking man's folly. | form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack vice and folly 132 |
| abrogate ----------- He intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor. | abolish 133 |
| humane ----------- It is ironic that the Humane Society sometimes must show its compassion toward mistreated animals by killing them to put them out of their misery. | marked by kindness or consideration 134 |
| flag ----------- When the opposing hockey team scored its third goal only minutes into the first quarter, the home team's spirits flagged. flagging,ADJ. | droop; grow feeble 135 |
| tenacious ----------- I had to struggle to break his tenacious hold on my arm. | holding fast 136 |
| implicate ----------- Here's the deal: if you agree to take the witness stand and implicate your partners in crime, the prosecution will recommend that the judge go easy in sentencing you. | incriminate; show to be involved 137 |
| averse ----------- The reporter was averse to revealing the sources of his information. | reluctant; disinclined 138 |
| effectual ----------- Medical researchers are concerned because of the development of drug-resistant strains of bacteria; many once useful antibiotics are no longer effectual in curing bacterial infections. | able to produce a desired effect; valid 139 |
| circuitous ----------- To avoid the traffic congestion on the main highways, she took a circuitous route. circuit, N. | roundabout 140 |
| guile ----------- lago uses considerable guile to trick Othello into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful. | deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning 141 |
| auspicious ----------- With favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail. Thomas, however, had doubts about sailing: a paranoid, he became suspicious whenever conditions seemed auspicious. | favoring success 142 |
| accretion ----------- The accretion of wealth marked the family's rise in power. | growth; increase 143 |
| detonation ----------- The detonation of the bomb could be heard miles away. | explosion 144 |
| pivotal ----------- The new smart weapons technology played a pivotal role in the quick resolution of the war with Iraq. | crucial; key; vital 145 |
| yield ----------- The wounded knight refused to yield to his foe. | give in; surrender 146 |
| beleaguer ----------- The babysitter was surrounded by a crowd of unmanageable brats who relentlessly beleaguered her. | besiege or attack; harassed 147 |
| declivity ----------- The children loved to ski down the declivity. | downward slope 148 |
| rehabilitate ----------- We must rehabilitate those whom we send to prison. | restore to proper condition 149 |
| compute ----------- He failed to compute the inter-est, so his bank balance was not accurate. computation, N. | reckon; calculate 150 |
| pulverize ----------- Before sprinkling the dried herbs into the stew, Michael first pulverized them into a fine powder. | crush or grind into dust 151 |
| frugality ----------- In economically hard times, anyone who doesn't learn to practice frugality risks bankruptcy. frugal,ADJ. | thrift; economy 152 |
| extricate ----------- Icebreakers were needed to extricate the trapped whales from the icy floes that closed them in. | free; disentangle 153 |
| eminent ----------- After his appointment to this eminent position, he seldom had time for his former friends. | high; lofty 154 |
| azure ----------- Azure skies are indicative of good weather. | sky blue 155 |
| quizzical ----------- When the skinny teenager tripped over his own feet stepping into the bullpen, Coach raised one quizzical eyebrow, shook his head, and said, Okay, kid. You're here, let's see what you've got. | teasing; bantering; mocking; curious 156 |
| rally -----------); revive or recuperate. Washington quickly rallied his troops to fight off the British attack. The patient had been sinking throughout the night, but at dawn she rallied and made a complete recovery. | call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc 157 |
| indissoluble ----------- The indissoluble bonds of marriage are all too often being dissolved. | permanent 158 |
| sinecure ----------- My job is no sinecure; I work long hours and have much responsibility. | well-paid position with little responsibility 159 |
| tract ----------- The king granted William Penn a tract of land in the New World. Penn then printed a tract in which he encouraged settlers to join his colony. | region of land (often imprecisely described); pamphlet 160 |
| gauche ----------- Compared to the sophisticated young ladies in their elegant gowns, tomboyish Jo felt gauche and out of place. | clumsy; coarse and uncouth 161 |
| ostensible ----------- Although the ostensible purpose of this expedition is to discover new lands, we are really interested in finding new markets for our products. | apparent; professed; pretended 162 |
| precarious ----------- Saying the stock would be a precarious investment, the broker advised her client against purchasing it. | uncertain; risky 163 |
| cuisine ----------- French cuisine is noted for its use od sauces and wines. | style of cooking 164 |
| skiff ----------- Tom dreamed of owning an ocean-going yacht but had to settle for a skiff he could sail in the bay. | small, light sailboat or rowboat 165 |
| deface ----------- If you deface a library book, you will have to pay a hefty fine. | mar; disfigure 166 |
| attribute ----------- I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents. | ascribe; explain 167 |
| gustatory ----------- The Thai restaurant offered an unusual gustatory experience for those used to a bland cuisine. | affecting the sense of taste 168 |
| effigy ----------- The mob showed its irritation by hanging the judge in effigy. | dummy 169 |
| spawn ----------- Fish ladders had to be built in the dams to assist the salmon returning to spawn in their native streams. also N. | lay eggs 170 |
| clench ----------- Open wide, said the dentist, but Clint clenched his teeth even more tightly than before. | close tightly; grasp 171 |
| divest ----------- He was divested of his power to act and could no longer govern. divestiture, N. | strip; deprive 172 |
| sheer ----------- Wearing nothing but an almost sheer robe, Delilah draped herself against the sheer temple wall. Beholding her, Samson was overcome by her sheer beauty. Then she sheared his hair. | very thin or transparent; very steep; absolute 173 |
| asunder ----------- | into parts; apart A fierce quarrel split the partnership asunder: the two partners finally sundered their connections because their points of view were poles asunder 174 |
| avalanche ----------- The park ranger warned the skiers to stay on the main trails, where they would be in no danger of being buried beneath a sudden avalanche. | great mass of falling snow and ice 175 |
| expertise ----------- Although she was knowledgeable in a number of fields, she was hired for her particular expertise in computer programming. | specialized knowledge; expert skill 176 |
| analgesic ----------- The analgesic qualities of this lotion will provide temporary relief. | causing insensitivity to pain 177 |
| irreparable ----------- Your apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have done to her reputation. | not able to be corrected or repaired 178 |
| ornithologist ----------- Audubon's drawings of American bird life have been of interest not only to the ornithologists but also to the general public. | scientific student of birds 179 |
| humdrum ----------- After his years of adventure, he could not settle down to a humdrum existence. | dull; monotonous 180 |
| transport ----------- Margo was a creature of extremes, at one moment in transports of joy over a vivid sunset, at another moment in transports of grief over a dying bird. also V. (secondary meaning) | strong emotion 181 |
| insubstantial ----------- His hopes for a career in acting proved insubstantial; no one would cast him, even in an insubstantial role. | lacking substance; insignificant; frail 182 |
| angular ----------- Mr. Spock's features, though angular, were curiously attractive, in a Vulcan way. | sharp-cornered; stiff in manner 183 |
| opportune ----------- Sally. looked at her father struggling to balance his checkbook; clearly this would not be an opportune moment to ask him for a raise in her allowance. | timely; well-chosen 184 |
| fodder ----------- One of Nancy's chores at the ranch was to put fresh supplies of fodder in the horses' stalls. | coarse food for cattle, horses, etc 185 |
| *atrophy ----------- Polio victims need physiotherapy to prevent the atrophy of affected limbs. alsoV. | wasting away 186 |
| heyday ----------- In their heyday, the San Francisco Forty-Niners won the Super Bowl two years running. | time of greatest success; prime 187 |
| presage ----------- The vultures flying overhead presaged the discovery of the corpse in the desert. | foretell 188 |
| mutinous ----------- The captain had to use force to quiet his mutinous crew. mutiny, N. | unruly; rebellious 189 |
| comparable ----------- People whose jobs are comparable in difficulty should receive comparable pay. | similar 190 |
| vise ----------- Before filing its edges, the locksmith took the blank key and fixed it firmly between the jaws of a vise. | tool for holding work in place 191 |
| buffoonery ----------- In the Ace Ventura movies, Jim Carrey's buffoonery was hilarious: like Bozo the Clown, he's a natural buffoon. | clowning 192 |
| convoke ----------- Congress was convoked at the outbreak of the emergency. convocation, V. | call together 193 |
| *culpable ----------- Corrupt politicians who condone the activities of the gamblers are equally culpable. | deserving blame 194 |
| censure ----------- The senator was censured for behavior inappropriate to a member of Congress. also N. | blame; criticize 195 |
| parsimony ----------- Furious because her father wouldn't let her buy out the clothing store, Annie accused him of parsimony. | stinginess; excessive frugality 196 |
| perceptive ----------- Although Maud was a generally perceptive critic, she had her blind spots: she could never see flaws in the work of her friends. | insightful; aware; wise 197 |
| ramble ----------- Listening to the teacher ramble, Judy wondered whether he'd ever get to his point. | wander aimlessly (physically or mentally) 198 |
| provoke ----------- In order to prevent a sudden outbreak of hostilities, we must not provoke our foe. provocation, N; provocative,ADJ. | stir to anger; cause retaliation 199 |
| warrant ----------- Before the judge issues the injunction, you must convince her this action is warranted. | justify; authorize 200 |
| reproach ----------- He never could do anything wrong without imagining how the look on his mother's face would reproach him afterwards. reproachful,ADJ. | express disapproval or disappointment 201 |
| recluse ----------- Disappointed in love, Miss Emily became a recluse; she shut herself away in her empty mansion and refused to see another living soul. reclusive,ADJ. | hermit; loner 202 |
| centurion ----------- Because he was in command of a company of one hundred soldiers, he was called a centurion. | Roman army officer 203 |
| precept ----------- Love thy neighbor as thyself is a worthwhile precept. | practical rule guiding conduct 204 |
| agglomeration ----------- It took weeks to assort the agglomeration of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip. | collection; heap 205 |
| *debilitate ----------- Michael's severe bout of the flu debilitated him so much that he was too tired to go to work for a week. | weaken; enfeeble 206 |
| subjective ----------- Your analysis is highly subjective; you have permitted your emotions and your opinions to color your thinking. | occurring or taking place within the subject; unreal 207 |
| ingenious ----------- Kit admired the ingenious way that her computer keyboard opened up to reveal the built-in CD-ROM below. ingenuity, N. | clever; resourceful 208 |
| correlation ----------- He sought to determine the correlation that existed between ability in algebra and ability to interpret reading exercises. correlate, V., N. | mutual relationship 209 |
| nuance ----------- Jody gazed at the Monet landscape for an hour, appreciating every subtle nuance of color in the painting. | shade of difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction 210 |
| unbridled ----------- She had a sudden fit of unbridled rage. | violent 211 |
| bauble ----------- The child was delighted with the bauble she had won in the grab bag. | trinket; trifle 212 |
| churlish ----------- Dismayed by his churlish mapners at the party, the girls vowed never to invite him again. | boorish; rude 213 |
| husband ----------- Marathon runners must husband their energy so that they can keep going for the entire distance. | use sparingly; conserve; save 214 |
| heinous ----------- Hitler's heinous crimes will never be forgotten. | atrocious; hatefully bad 215 |
| cohere ----------- Solids have a greater tendency to cohere than liquids. | stick together 216 |
| coercion ----------- The inquisitors used both physical and psychological coercion to force Joan of Arc to deny that her visions were sent by God. coerce,V. | use of force to get someone to obey 217 |
| metaphor ----------- He soared like an eagle is an example of a simile; He is an eagle in flight, a metaphor. | implied comparison 218 |
| exodus ----------- The exodus from the hot and stuffy city was particularly noticeable on Friday evenings. | departure 219 |
| bate ----------- Until it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity. bated,ADJ. | let down; restrain 220 |
| venom ----------- Bitten by a rattlesnake on his ankle, the cowboy contortionist curled up like a pretzel and sucked the venom out of the wound. | poison; hatred 221 |
| labyrinth ----------- Hiding from Indian Joe, Tom and Becky soon lost themselves in the labyrinth of secret underground caves. labyrinthine,ADJ. | maze 222 |
| edify ----------- Although his purpose was to edify and not to entertain his audience, many of his listeners were amused rather than enlightened. | instruct; correct morally 223 |
| substantiate ----------- These endorsements from satisfied customers substantiate our claim that Barron's How to Prepare for the SAT I is the best SAT-prep book on the market. | establish by evidence; verify; support 224 |
| jollity ----------- The festive Christmas dinner was a merry one, and old and young alike joined in the general jollity. | gaiety; cheerfulness 225 |
| expenditure ----------- When you are operating on an expense account, you must keep receipts for all your expenditures. If you don't save your receipts, you won't get repaid without the expenditure of a lot of energy arguing with the firm's accoun | payment or expense; output 226 |
| belittle ----------- Parents should not belittle their children's early attempts at drawing, but should encourage their efforts. Barry was a put-down artist: he was a genius at belittling people and making them feel small. | disparage or depreciate; put down 227 |
| ramshackle ----------- The boys propped up the ramshackle clubhouse with a couple of boards. | rickety; falling apart 228 |
| quiescent ----------- After the great eruption, fear of Mount Etna was great; people did not return to cultivate its rich hillside lands until the volcano had been quiescent for a full two years. quiescence, N. | at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive 229 |
| trappings ----------- He loved the trappings of success: the limousines, the stock options, the company jet. | outward decorations; ornaments 230 |
| surveillance ----------- The FBI kept the house under constant surveillance in the hope of capturing all the criminals at one time, | watching; guarding 231 |
| phobia ----------- Her fear of flying was more than mere nervousness; it was a real phobia. | morbid fear 232 |
| multiform ----------- Snowflakes are multiform but always hexagonal. | having many forms 233 |
| scuffle ----------- The twins briefly scuffled, wrestling to see which of them would get the toy. When their big brother yelled, Let go of my Gameboy! they scuffled off down the hall. scurrilous ADJ. obscene; indecent. | struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry 234 |
| exemplary ----------- At commencement the dean praised Ellen for her exemplary behavior as class president. | serving as a model; outstanding 235 |
| obsequious ----------- Helen liked to be served by people who behaved as if they respected themselves; nothing irritated her more than an excessively obsequious waiter or a fawning salesclerk. | slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic 236 |
| espionage ----------- In order to maintain its power, the government developed a system of espionage that penetrated every household. | Spying 237 |
| scenario ----------- Scaramouche startled the other actors in the commedia troupe when he suddenly departed from their customary scenario and began to improvise. | plot outline; screenplay; opera libretto 238 |
| muted ----------- Thanks to the thick, sound-absorbing walls of the cathedral, only muted traffic noise reached the worshippers within. | silent; muffled; toned down 239 |
| codicil ----------- Miss Havisham kept her lawyers busy drawing up codicils to add to her already complicated will. | supplement to the body of a will 240 |
| induce ----------- After the quarrel, Tina said nothing could induce her to talk to Tony again. inducement, N. | persuade; bring about 241 |
| fluke ----------- When Dou- glas defeated Tyson for the heavyweight championship, some sportscasters dismissed his victory as a fluke. | unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune 242 |
| contingent ----------- Caroline's father informed her that any raise in her allowance was contingent on the quality of her final grades. contingency, N. N. groups that makes up part of a gathering. The NY contingent of delegates at the Democra | depend on, conditional 243 |
| squat ----------- Tolkien's hobbits are somewhat squat, sturdy little creatures, fond of good ale, good music, and good mushrooms. | stocky; short and thick 244 |
| oaf ----------- Watch what you're doing, you clumsy oaf! Bill shouted at the waiter who had drenched him with iced coffee. | stupid, awkward person 245 |
| propitiate ----------- The natives offered sacrifices to propitiate the gods. | appease 246 |
| paranoia ----------- Suffering from paranoia, Don claimed everyone was out to get him; ironically, his claim was accurate: even paranoids have enemies. | psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution 247 |
| temerity ----------- Do you have the temerity to argue with me? | boldness; rashness 248 |
| staid ----------- Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn. | sober; sedate 249 |
| pedant ----------- Her insistence that the book be memorized marked the teacher as a pedant rather than a scholar. | scholar who overemphasizes book learning or technicalities 250 |
| delusion ----------- Don suffers from delusions of grandeur: he thinks he's a world-famous author when he's published just one paperback book. | false belief; hallucination 251 |
| rig ----------- The ward boss was able to rig the election by bribing people to stuff the ballot boxes with ballots marked in his candidate's favor. | fix or manipulate 252 |
| preen ----------- As Kitty preened before the mirror, carefully smoothing her shining hair, she couldn't help preening over how pretty she looked. | make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction 253 |
| tutelage ----------- Under the tutelage of such masters of the instrument, she made rapid progress as a virtuoso. | guardianship; training 254 |
| underlying ----------- The underlying cause of the student riot was not the strict curfew rule but the moldy cafeteria food. Miss Marple seems a sweet little old lady at first, but there's an iron will underlying that soft and fluffy facade. | fundamental; lying below 255 |
| subsequent ----------- In subsequent lessons, we shall take up more difficult problems. | following; later 256 |
| nonchalance ----------- Cool, calm, and collected under fire, James Bond shows remarkable nonchalance in the face of danger. | indifference; lack of concern; composure 257 |
| abridge ----------- Because the publishers felt the public wanted a shorter version of War and Peace, they proceeded to abridge the novel. | condense or shorten 258 |
| convert ----------- On his trip to Japan, though the President spoke at length about the virtues of American automobiles, he made few converts to his beliefs. also V. | one who has adopted a different religion or opinion 259 |
| cloying ----------- Disliking the cloying sweetness of standard wedding cakes, Jody and Tom chose to have homemade carrot cake at the reception. cloy,V. | distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental 260 |
| recumbent ----------- The command AT EASE does not permit you to take a recumbent position. | reclining; lying down completely or in part 261 |
| abundant ----------- At his immigration interview, Ivan listed his abundant reasons for coming to America: the hope of religious freedom, the prospect of employment, the promise of a more abundant life. | plentiful; possessing riches or resources 262 |
| cognizance ----------- During the election campaign, the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the international situation. | knowledge 263 |
| liaison ----------- As the liaison between the American and British forces during World War II, the colonel had to ease tensions between the leaders of the two armies. Romeo's rom | contact keeping parts of an organization in communication; go-between; secret love affair 264 |
| conveyance ----------- During the transit strike, commuters used various kinds of conveyances. | vehicle; transfer 265 |
| pliant ----------- Pinocchio's disposition was pliant, he was like putty in his tempters' hands. | flexible; easily influenced 266 |
| iconoclastic ----------- Deeply iconoclastic, Jean Genet deliberately set out to shock conventional theatergoers with his radical plays. | attacking cherished traditions 267 |
| compound -----------The makers of the popular cold remedy | combine; constitute; pay interest; increase 268 |
| decadence ----------- The moral decadence of the people was reflected in the lewd literature of the period. | decay 269 |
| cordon ----------- The police cordon was so tight that the criminals could not leave the area. also V. | extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress 270 |
| pine ----------- Though she tried to be happy living with Clara in the city, Heidi pined for the mountains and for her gruff but loving grandfather. | languish, decline; long for, yearn 271 |
| chronic ----------- The doctors were finally able to attribute his chronic headaches and nausea to traces of formaldehyde gas in his apartment. | long established as a disease 272 |
| mendacious ----------- Distrusting Huck from the start, Miss Watson assumed he was mendacious and refused to believe a word he said. | lying; habitually dishonest 273 |
| malleable ----------- Gold is a malleable metal, easily shaped into bracelets and rings. Fagin hoped Oliver was a malleable lad, easily shaped into a thief. | capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable 274 |
| verdant ----------- Monet's paintings of the verdant meadows were symphonies in green. | green; lush in vegetation 275 |
| inadvertently ----------- Judy's great fear was that she might inadvertently omit a question on the exam and mismark her whole answer sheet. | unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly 276 |
| intellect ----------- He thought college would develop his intellect. | higher mental powers 277 |
| inalienable ----------- The Declaration of Independence mentions the inalienable rights that all of us possess. | not to be taken away; nontransferable 278 |
| quirk ----------- By a quirk of fate, he found himself working for the man whom he had discharged years before. | startling twist; caprice 279 |
| boisterous ----------- The unruly crowd became even more boisterous when he tried to quiet them. | violent; rough; noisy 280 |
| dexterous ----------- The magician was so dexterous that we could not follow him as he performed his tricks. | skillful 281 |
| legend ----------- The legend at the bottom of the map made it clear which symbols stood for rest areas along the highway and which stood for public camp sites. (secondary meaning) | explanatory list of symbols on a map 282 |
| eccentricity ----------- Some of his friends tried to account for his rudeness to strangers as the eccentricity of genius. | oddity; idiosyncrasy 283 |
| forswear ----------- The captured knight could escape death only if he agreed to forswear Christianity and embrace Islam as the one true faith. | renounce; abandon 284 |
| attain ----------- The scarecrow sought to attain one goal: he wished to obtain a brain. | achieve or accomplish; gain 285 |
| aspire ----------- Because he aspired to a career in professional sports, Philip enrolled in a graduate program in sports management. aspiration, N. | seek to attain; long for 286 |
| bullion ----------- Much bullion is stored in the vaults at Fort Knox. | gold and silver in the form of bars 287 |
| despoil ----------- If you do not yield, I am afraid the enemy will despoil the countryside. | plunder 288 |
| egregious ----------- She was an egregious liar; we all knew better than to believe a word she said. Ed's housekeeping was egregious: he let his dirty dishes pile up so long that they were stuck together with last week's food. | notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking 289 |
| egotistical ----------- Typical egotistical remark: But enough of this chit-chat about you and your little problems. Let's talk about what's really important: Me! | excessively self-centered; self-important; conceited 290 |
| inaugurate ----------- The airline decided to inaugurate its new route to the Far East with a special reduced fare offer. inaugural,ADJ. | start; initiate; install in office 291 |
| solitude ----------- Much depends on how much you like your own company. What to one person seems fearful isolation to another is blessed solitude. | state of being alone; seclusion 292 |
| halting ----------- Novice extemporaneous speakers often talk in a halting fashion as they grope for the right words. | hesitant; faltering 293 |
| balm ----------- Friendship is the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. | something that relieves pain 294 |
| pinnacle ----------- We could see the morning sunlight illuminate the pinnacle while the rest of the mountain lay in shadow. | peak 295 |
| connoisseur -----------; a lover of an art. She had developed into a connoisseur of fine china. | person competent to act as a judge of art, etc 296 |
| volatile ----------- The political climate today is extremely volatile: No one can predict what the electorate will do next. Maria Callas's temper was extremely volatile: The only thing you could predict was that she was sure | changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly 297 |
| quay ----------- Because of the captain's carelessness, the ship crashed into the quay. | dock; landing place 298 |
| imprudent ----------- It is imprudent to exercise vigorously and become overheated when you are unwell. | lacking caution; injudicious 299 |
| solder ----------- The plumber fixed the leak in the pipes by soldering a couple of joints from which water had been oozing. | repair or make whole by using a metal alloy 300 |
| diurnal ----------- A farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks at any time; cows, for example, must be milked regularly. | daily 301 |
| repast ----------- The caterers prepared a delicious repast for Fred and Judy's wedding day. | meal; feast; banquet 302 |
| cower ----------- The frightened child cowered in the corner of the room. | shrink quivering, as from fear 303 |
| bogus ----------- The police quickly found the distributors of the bogus twenty-dollar bills. | counterfeit; not authentic 304 |
| bicameral ----------- The United States Congress is a bicameral body. | two-chambered, as a legislative body 305 |
| severity ----------- The severity of Jane's migraine attack was so great that she took to her bed for a week. | harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity 306 |
| inordinate ----------- She had an inordinate fondness for candy, eating two or three boxes in a single day. | unrestrained; excessive 307 |
| allegiance ----------- Not even a term in prison could shake Lech Walesa's allegiance to Solidarity, the Polish trade union he had helped to found. | loyalty 308 |
| accolade ----------- In Hollywood, an Oscar is the highest accolade. | award of merit 309 |
| pauper ----------- Though Widow Brown was living on a reduced income, she was by no means a pauper. | very poor person 310 |
| archetype ----------- The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey. | prototype; primitive pattern 311 |
| monumental ----------- Writing a dictionary is a monumental task. | massive 312 |
| domineer ----------- Students prefer teachers who guide, not ones who domineer. | rule over tyrannically 313 |
| inculcate ----------- In an effort to inculcate religious devotion, the officials ordered that the school day begin with the singing of a hymn. | teach; instill 314 |
| elicit ----------- The detectives tried to elicit where he had hidden his loot. | draw out by discussion 315 |
| aptitude ----------- The counselor gave him an aptitude test before advising him about the career he should follow. | fitness; talent 316 |
| proximity ----------- Blind people sometimes develop a compensatory ability to sense the proximity of objects around them. | nearness 317 |
| earthy ----------- His earthy remarks often embarrassed the women in his audience. | unrefined; coarse 318 |
| obstinate ----------- We tried to persuade him to give up smoking, but he was obstinate and refused to change. Blackberry stickers are the most obstinate weeds I know: once established in a yard, they're extremely hard to root out. obs | stubborn; hard to control or treat 319 |
| equivocate ----------- The audience saw through his attempts to equivocate on the subject under discussion and ridiculed his remarks. | lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth 320 |
| insidious ----------- The fifth column is insidious because it works secretly within our territory for our defeat. | treacherous; stealthy; sly 321 |
| analogous ----------- She called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same. | comparable 322 |
| ornate ----------- With its elaborately carved, convoluted lines, furniture of the Baroque period was highly ornate. | excessively or elaborately decorated 323 |
| exertion ----------- The exertion spent in unscrewing the rusty bolt left her exhausted. | effort; expenditure of much physical work 324 |
| invasive ----------- Giving up our war with the invasive blackberry vines that had taken over the back yard, we covered the lawn with concrete. invade,V. | tending to spread aggressively; intrusive 325 |
| accoutre ----------- The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply. accoutrements, N. | equip 326 |
| guileless ----------- He is naive, simple, and guileless; he cannot be guilty of fraud. | without deceit 327 |
| intrinsic ----------- Although my grandmother's china has little intrinsic value, I shall always cherish it for the memories it evokes. | essential; inherent; built-in 328 |
| mischance ----------- By mischance, he lost his week's salary. | ill luck 329 |
| embroil ----------- He became embroiled in the heated discussion when he tried to arbitrate the dispute. | throw into confusion; involve in strife; entangle 330 |
| titanic ----------- Titanic waves beat against the majestic S.S. Titanic, driving it against the concealed iceberg. | gigantic 331 |
| premise ----------- Based on the premise that there's no fool like an old fool, P. T. Barnum hired a ninety-year-old clown for his circus. | assumption; postulate 332 |
| preposterous ----------- When he tried to downplay his youthful experiments with marijuana by saying he hadn't inhaled, we all thought, What a preposterous excuse! | absurd; ridiculous 333 |
| infantile ----------- When will he outgrow such infantile behavior? | childish 334 |
| epic ----------- Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai is an epic portraying the struggle of seven warriors to destroy a band of robbers. alsoADJ. | long heroic poem, or similar work of art 335 |
| warble ----------- Every morning the birds warbled outside her window. also N. | sing; babble 336 |
| effusive ----------- Her effusive manner of greeting her friends finally began to irritate them. effusion, N. | pouring forth; gushing 337 |
| blanch ----------- Although age had blanched his hair, he was still vigorous and energetic. | bleach; whiten 338 |
| hover ----------- The police helicopter hovered above the accident. | hang about; wait nearby 339 |
| prosaic ----------- Though the ad writers came up with an original way to publicize the product, the head office rejected it for a more prosaic, ordinary slogan. | dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factual 340 |
| reverie ----------- He was awakened from his reverie by the teacher's question. | daydream; musing 341 |
| spendthrift ----------- Easy access to credit encourages people to turn into spendthrifts who shop till they drop. | someone who wastes money 342 |
| despise ----------- Mr. Bond, I despise spies; I look down on them as mean, despicable, honorless men, whom I would wipe from the face of the earth with as little concern as I would scrape dog droppings from the b | look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful 343 |
| scuttle ----------- The sailors decided to scuttle their vessel rather than surrender it to the enemy. | sink 344 |
| confiscate ----------- The army confiscated all available supplies of uranium. | seize; commandeer 345 |
| compliant ----------- Because Joel usually gave in and went along with whatever his friends desired, his mother worried that he might be too compliant | yielding 346 |
| witticism ----------- I don't mean any criticism, but that last witticism totally hurt my feelings. | witty saying; wisecrack 347 |
| grueling ----------- The marathon is a grueling race. | exhausting 348 |
| writhe ----------- In Dances with Snakes, the snake dancer wriggled sinuously as her boa constrictor writhed around her torso. | twist in coils; contort in pain 349 |
| celerity ----------- Hamlet resented his mother's celerity in remarrying within a month after his father's death. | speed; rapidity 350 |
| liability ----------- Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was eventually able to overcome. | drawback; debts 351 |
| robust ----------- After pumping iron and taking karate for six months, the little old lady was so robust that she could break a plank with her fist. | vigorous; strong 352 |
| extrapolation ----------- Based on their extrapolation from the results of the primaries on Super Tuesday, the networks predicted that Bob Dole would be the Republican candidate for the presidency. extrapolate,V. | projection; conjecture 353 |
| validate ----------- I will not publish my findings until I validate my results. | confirm; ratify 354 |
| *blighted ----------- The extent of the blighted areas could be seen only when viewed from the air. | suffering from a disease; destroyed 355 |
| stint ----------- Spare no expense, the bride's father said, refusing to stint on the wedding arrangements. | be thrifty; set limits 356 |
| evasive ----------- Your evasive answers convinced the judge that you were withholding important evidence. evade,V. | not frank; eluding 357 |
| gadfly ----------- Like a gadfly, he irritated all the guests at the hotel; within forty-eight hours, everyone regarded him as an annoying busybody. | animal-biting fly; an irritating person 358 |
| perfidious ----------- When Caesar realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend. perfidy, N. | treacherous; disloyal 359 |
| tautology ----------- Joyful happiness is an illustration of tautology. | unnecessary repetition 360 |
| punitive ----------- He asked for punitive measures against the offender. | punishing 361 |
| mandate ----------- In his inaugural address, the president stated that he had a mandate from the people to seek an end to social evils such as poverty. alsoV. | order; charge 362 |
| laud ----------- The NFL lauded Boomer Esiason's efforts to raise money to combat cystic fibrosis. laudable, laudatory,ADJ. | praise 363 |
| tarry ----------- We can't tarry if we want to get to the airport on time. | delay; dawdle 364 |
| prelate ----------- The archbishop of Moscow and other high-ranking prelates visited the Russian Orthodox seminary. | church dignitary 365 |
| hovel ----------- He wondered how poor people could stand living in such a hovel. | shack; small, wretched house 366 |
| outmoded ----------- Unconcerned about keeping in style, Lenore was perfectly happy to wear outmoded clothes as long as they were clean and unfrayed. | longer stylish; old-fashioned 367 |
| incisive ----------- His incisive remarks made us see the fallacy in our plans. | cutting; sharp 368 |
| apprehension ----------- His nervous glances at the passersby on the deserted street revealed his apprehension. | fear 369 |
| prognosis ----------- If the doctor's prognosis is correct, the patient will be in a coma for at least twenty-four hours. | forecasted course of a disease; prediction 370 |
| turmoil ----------- Lydia running off with a soldier! Mother fainting at the news! The Bennet household was in turmoil. | great commotion and confusion 371 |
| chassis ----------- Examining the car after the accident, the owner discovered that the body had been ruined but that the chassis was unharmed. | framework and working parts of an automobile 372 |
| indiscretion ----------- Terrified that the least indiscretion could jeopardize his political career, the novice politician never uttered an unguarded word. indiscreet,ADJ. | lack of tactfulness or sound judgment 373 |
| impel ----------- A strong feeling of urgency impelled her; if she failed to finish the project right then, she knew that she would never get it done. | drive or force onward 374 |
| disgorge ----------- Unwilling to disgorge the cash he had stolen from the pension fund, the embezzler tried to run away. | surrender something; eject; vomit 375 |
| degenerate ----------- As the fight dragged on, the champion's style degenerated until he could barely keep on his feet. | become worse; deteriorate 376 |
| badinage ----------- Her friends at work greeted the news of her engagement with cheerful badinage. | teasing conversation 377 |
| conceit ----------- Although Jack was smug and puffed up with conceit , he was an entertaining companion, always expressing himself in amusing conceits and witty turns of phrase. | vanity or self-love; whimsical idea; extravagant metaphor 378 |
| stupefy ----------- Disapproving of drugs in general, Laura refused to take sleeping pills or any other medicine that might stupefy her. stupefaction, N. | make numb; stun; amaze 379 |
| atrocity ----------- In time of war, many atrocities are committed by invading armies. | brutal deed 380 |
| deify ----------- Admire Elvis Presley all you want; just don't deify him. | turn into a god; idolize 381 |
| omnipresent ----------- On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is omnipresent. | universally present; ubiquitous 382 |
| facetious ----------- I'm serious about this project; I don't need any facetious, smartalecky cracks about do-gooder little rich girls. | joking (often inappropriately); humorous 383 |
| broach ----------- Jack did not even try to broach the subject of religion with his in-laws. If you broach a touchy subject, it may cause a breach. | introduce; open up 384 |
| frail ----------- The delicate child seemed too frail to lift the heavy carton. frailty, N. | weak 385 |
| solicitous ----------- The employer was very solicitous about the health of her employees as replacements were difficult to get. | worried; concerned 386 |
| callous ----------- He had worked in the hospital for so many years that he was callous to the suffering in the wards. callus, N. | hardened; unfeeling 387 |
| falter ----------- When told to dive off the high board, she did not falter, but proceeded at once. | hesitate 388 |
| singular ----------- Though the young man tried to understand Father William's singular behavior, he still found it odd that the old man incessantly stood on his head. singularity, N. | unique; extraordinary; odd 389 |
| aperture ----------- She discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room. | opening; hole 390 |
| renovate ----------- They claim that they can renovate worn shoes so that they look like new ones. | restore to good condition; renew 391 |
| promote ----------- Founder of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman ceaselessly promotes the welfare of young people everywhere. 0 | help to flourish; advance in rank; publicize 392 |
| larder ----------- The first thing Bill did on returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in the larder. | pantry; place where food is kept 393 |
| moratorium ----------- If we declare a moratorium and delay collection of debts for six months, I am sure the farmers will be able to meet their bills. | legal delay of payment 394 |
| reminiscence ----------- Her reminiscences of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book. | recollection 395 |
| nomenclature ----------- Sharon found Latin word parts useful in translating medical nomenclature: when her son had to have a bilateral myringotomy, she figured out that he just needed a hole in each of his eardrums to end the earaches he had. | terminology; system of names 396 |
| bard ----------- The ancient bard Homer sang of the fall of Troy. | poet 397 |
| restitution ----------- He offered to make restitution for the window broken by his son. | reparation; indemnification 398 |
| ballast ----------- The ship was listing badly to one side; it was necessary to shift the ballast in the hold to get her back on an even keel. alsoV. | heavy substance used to add stability or weight 399 |
| allegory ----------- Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of man's soul. allegorical,ADJ. | story in which characters are used as symbols; fable 400 |
| inviolable ----------- Batman considered his oath to keep the people of Gotham City inviolable: nothing on earth could make him break this promise. | secure from corruption, attack, or violation; unassailable 401 |
| concurrent ----------- In America,the colonists were resisting the demands of the mother country; at the concurrent moment in France, the middle class was sowing the seeds of rebellion. | happening at the same time 402 |
| maritime ----------- The Maritime Provinces depend on the sea for their wealth. | bordering on the sea; nautical 403 |
| bristling ----------- The dog stood there, bristling with anger. | rising like bristles; showing irritation 404 |
| waffle ----------- When asked directly about the governor's involvement in the savings and loan scandal, the press secretary waffled, talking all around the issue. | speak equivocally about an issue 405 |
| extrovert ----------- A good salesman is usually an extrovert, who likes to mingle with people. | person interested mostly in external objects and actions 406 |
| integrity ----------- Lincoln, whose personal integrity has inspired millions, fought a civil war to maintain the integrity of the Republic, that these United States might remain undivided for all time. | uprightness; wholeness 407 |
| foreshadow ----------- In retrospect, political analysts realized that Yeltsin's defiance of the attempted coup foreshadowed his emergence as the dominant figure of the new Russian republic. | give an indication beforehand; portend; prefigure 408 |
| tactile ----------- His callused hands had lost their tactile sensitivity. | pertaining to the organs or sense of touch 409 |
| abyss ----------- Darth Vader seized the evil emperor and hurled him down into the abyss, | enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit 410 |
| leery ----------- Don't eat the sushi at this restaurant; I'm a bit leery about how fresh the raw fish is. | suspicious; cautious 411 |
| cadaver ----------- In some states, it is illegal to dissect cadavers. | corpse 412 |
| acrophobia ----------- A born salesman, he could convince someone with a bad case of acrophobia to sign up for a life membership in a sky-diving club. | fear of heights 413 |
| exorbitant ----------- The people grumbled at his exorbitant prices but paid them because he had a monopoly. | excessive 414 |
| inter ----------- They are going to inter the body tomorrow at Broadlawn Cemetery. | bury 415 |
| ethos ----------- Seeing how tenderly ordinary Spaniards treated her small daughter made author Barbara Kingsolver aware of how greatly children were valued in the Spanish ethos. | underlying character of a culture, group, etc 416 |
| canter ----------- Because the racehorse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the race was won in a canter. alsoV. | slow gallop 417 |
| adroit ----------- His adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased his employers. | skillful 418 |
| meddlesome ----------- He felt his marriage was suffering because of his meddlesome mother-in-law. | interfering 419 |
| inimical ----------- I've always been friendly to Martha. Why is she so inimical to me? | unfriendly; hostile; harmful; detrimental 420 |
| allay ----------- The crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled. | calm; pacify 421 |
| schism ----------- Let us not widen the schism by further bickering. | division; split 422 |
| scurry ----------- The White Rabbit had to scurry to get to his appointment on time. | move briskly 423 |
| chicanery ----------- Those sneaky lawyers misrepresented what occurred, made up all sorts of implausible alternative scenarios to confuse the jurors, and in general depended on chicanery to win the case. | trickery; deception 424 |
| ambivalence ----------- Torn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by the ambivalence of her feelings. ambivalent,ADJ. | the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes 425 |
| sleight ----------- The magician amazed the audience with his sleight of hand. | dexterity 426 |
| equinox ----------- The vernal equinox is usually marked by heavy rainstorms. | period of equal days and nights; the beginning of Spring and Autumn 427 |
| retain ----------- Fighting to retain his seat in Congress, Senator Foghorn retained a new manager to head his reelection campaign. | keep; employ 428 |
| beatitude ----------- Growing closer to God each day, the mystic achieved a state of indescribable beatitude. | blessedness; state of bliss 429 |
| irksome ----------- He found working on the assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the operation he had to perform. irk,V. | annoying; tedious 430 |
| loll ----------- They lolled around in their chairs watching television. | lounge about 431 |
| execute ----------- The choreographer wanted to see how well she could execute a pirouette. (secondary meaning) execution, N. | put into effect; carry out 432 |
| menagerie ----------- Whenever the children run wild around the house, Mom shouts, Calm down! I'm not running a menagerie! | collection of wild animals 433 |
| surfeit ----------- Every Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an overabundance of holiday treats. also N. | satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything 434 |
| vehement ----------- Alfred became so vehement in describing what was wrong with the Internal Revenue Service that he began jumping up and down and frothing at the mouth. vehemence, N. | forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor 435 |
| adhere ----------- I will adhere to this opinion until proof that I am wrong is presented. adhesion, N. | stick fast 436 |
| auxiliary ----------- To prepare for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station. also N. | helper, additional or subsidiary 437 |
| simper ----------- Complimented on her appearance, Stella self-consciously simpered. | smirk; smile affectedly 438 |
| disinclination ----------- Some mornings I feel a great disinclination to get out of bed | unwillingness 439 |
| incorporate ----------- Breaking with precedent, President Truman ordered the military to incorporate blacks into every branch of the armed services. alsoADJ. | introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite 440 |
| hybrid ----------- Mendel's formula explains the appearance of hybrids and pure species in breeding. alsoADJ. | mongrel; mixed breed 441 |
| maverick ----------- To the masculine literary establishment, George Sand with her insistence on wearing trousers and smoking cigars was clearly a maverick who fought her proper womanly role. | rebel; nonconformist 442 |
| benign ----------- Though her benign smile and gentle bearing made Miss Marple seem a sweet little old lady, in reality she was a tough-minded, shrewd observer of human nature. benignity, N. | kindly; favorable; not malignant 443 |
| *cursory ----------- Because a cursory examination of the ruins indicates the possibility of arson, we believe the insurance agency should undertake a more extensive investigation of the fire's cause. | casual; hastily done 444 |
| incrustation ----------- In dry dock, we scraped off the incrustation of dirt and barnacles that covered the hull of the ship. | hard coating or crust 445 |
| foible ----------- We can overlook the foibles of our friends; no one is perfect. | weakness; slight fault 446 |
| nominal ----------- He offered to drive her to the airport for only a nominal fee. | in name only; trifling 447 |
| atypical ----------- The child psychiatrist reassured Mrs. Keaton that playing doctor was not atypical behavior for a child of young Alex's age. Yes, she replied, but not charging for house calls! | not normal 448 |
| pediatrician ----------- The family doctor advised the parents to consult a pediatrician about their child's ailment. | expert in children's diseases 449 |
| percussion ----------- The drum is a percussion instrument. also N. | striking one object against another sharply 450 |
| assurance ----------- When Guthrie gave Guinness his assurance that rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurance that Guinness felt relieved. assure,V. | promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence 451 |
| impenitent ----------- We could see from his tough guy attitude that he was impenitent. | not repentant 452 |
| glib ----------- Keeping up a steady patter to entertain his customers, the kitchen gadget salesman was a glib speaker, never at a loss for a word. | fluent; facile; slick 453 |
| mutability ----------- Going from rags to riches, and then back to rags again, the bankrupt financier was a victim of the mutability of fortune. | ability to change in form; fickleness 454 |
| paramount ----------- Proper nutrition and hygiene are of paramount importance in adolescent development and growth. | foremost in importance; supreme 455 |
| lofty ----------- Though Barbara Jordan's fellow students used to tease her about her lofty ambitions, she rose to hold one of the highest positions in the land. | very high 456 |
| harbor ----------- The church harbored illegal aliens who were political refugees. | provide a refuge for; hide 457 |
| impassive ----------- Refusing to let the enemy see how deeply shaken he was by his capture, the prisoner kept his face impassive. | without feeling; imperturbable; stoical 458 |
| pejorative ----------- Instead of criticizing Clinton's policies, the Republicans made pejorative remarks about his character. | negative in connotation; having a belittling effect 459 |
| deflect ----------- His life was saved when his cigarette case deflected the bullet. | turn aside 460 |
| preeminent ----------- The king traveled to Boston because he wanted the preeminent surgeon in the field to perform the operation. | outstanding; superior 461 |
| foolhardy ----------- Don't be foolhardy. Get the advice of experienced people before undertaking this venture. | rash 462 |
| embody ----------- Cheering on his rival Mark McGwire's efforts to break Roger Maris's home run record, Sammy Sosa embodied the spirit of true sportsmanship. | personify; make concrete; incorporate 463 |
| informal ----------- The English teacher preferred informal discussions to prepared lectures. | absence of ceremony; casual 464 |
| equity ----------- Our courts guarantee equity to all. | fairness; justice 465 |
| largess ----------- Lady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor. | generous gift 466 |
| austere ----------- The headmaster's austere demeanor tended to scare off the more timid students, who never visited his study willingly. The room reflected the man, austere and bare, like a monk's cell, with no to | forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented 467 |
| invidious ----------- We disregarded her invidious remarks because we realized how jealous she was. | designed to create ill will or envy 468 |
| baleful ----------- The fortune teller made baleful predictions of terrible things to come. | deadly; having a malign influence; ominous 469 |
| covert ----------- Investigations of the Central Interlligence Agency and other secret service networks reveal that such covert operations can get out of control. | secret; hidden; implied 470 |
| genesis ----------- Tracing the genesis of a family is the theme of Roots. | beginning; origin 471 |
| surmise ----------- I surmise that he will be late for this meeting. also N. | guess 472 |
| tenuous ----------- The allegiance of our allies is held by rather tenuous ties. | thin; rare; slim 473 |
| spatula ----------- The manufacturers of this frying pan recommend the use of a rubber spatula to avoid scratching the specially treated surface. | broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing 474 |
| dais ----------- When he approached the dais,he was greeted by cheers from the people who had come to honor him. | raised platform for guests of honor 475 |
| amputate ----------- When the doctors had to amputate the young man's leg to prevent the spread of cancer, he did not let the loss of a limb keep him from participating in sports. | cut off part of body; prune 476 |
| blurt ----------- Before she could stop him, he blurted out the news. | utter impulsively 477 |
| stereotype ----------- Critics object to the character of Jim in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because he seems to reflect the stereotype of the happy, ignorant slave. | fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture, often reflecting prejudice 478 |
| prophetic ----------- I have no magical prophetic powers; when I predict what will happen, I base my predictions on common sense. prophesy,V. | foretelling the future 479 |
| uninhibited ----------- The congregation was shocked by her uninhibited laughter during the sermon. | unrepressed 480 |
| plethora ----------- She offered a plethora of excuses for her shortcomings. | excess; overabundance 481 |
| array ----------- She liked to watch her mother array herself in her finest clothes before going out for the evening. also N. | clothe; adorn 482 |
| tumult ----------- She could not make herself heard over the tumult of the mob. | commotion; riot; noise 483 |
| lampoon ----------- This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls. also N. | ridicule 484 |
| drudgery ----------- Cinderella's fairy godmother rescued her from a life of drudgery. | menial work 485 |
| soporific ----------- Professor Pringle's lectures were so soporific that even he fell asleep in class. also N. | sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness 486 |
| reverent ----------- Though I bow my head in church and recite the prayers, sometimes I don't feel properly reverent. revere,V. | respectful; worshipful 487 |
| draconian ----------- When the principal canceled the senior prom because some seniors had been late to school that week, we thought the draconian punishment was far too harsh for such a minor violation of the rules. | extremely severe 488 |
| annex ----------- Mexico objected to the United States' attempts to annex the territory that later became the state of Texas. | attach; take possession of 489 |
| piecemeal ----------- Tolstoy's War and Peace is too huge to finish in one sitting; I'll have to read it piecemeal. | one piece at a time; gradually 490 |
| luxuriant ----------- Lady Godiva was completely covered by her luxuriant hair. | abundant; rich and splendid; fertile 491 |
| solicit ----------- Knowing she needed to have a solid majority for the budget to pass, the mayor telephoned all the members of the city council to solicit their votes. | request earnestly; seek 492 |
| prevail ----------- He tried to prevail on her to type his essay for him. | induce; triumph over 493 |
| corpulent ----------- The corpulent man resolved to reduce. corpulence, N. | very fat 494 |
| inclement ----------- In inclement weather, I like to curl up on the sofa with a good book and listen to the storm blowing outside. | stormy; unkind 495 |
| deterrent ----------- Does the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers? deter,V. | something that discourages; hindrance 496 |
| entity ----------- As soon as the Charter was adopted, the United Nations became an entity and had to be considered as a factor in world diplomacy. | real being 497 |
| august ----------- Visiting the palace at Versailles, she was impressed by the august surroundings in which she found herself. | impressive; majestic 498 |
| unanimity ----------- We were surprised by the unanimity with which members of both parties accepted our proposals. unanimous,ADJ. | complete agreement 499 |
| quietude ----------- He was impressed by the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the valley. | tranquility 500 |
| conclusive ----------- When the stolen books turned up in John's locker, we finally had conclusive evidence of the identity of the mysterious thief. | decisive; ending all debate 501 |
| arduous ----------- Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy. | hard; strenuous 502 |
| retrench ----------- In order to be able to afford to send their children to college, they would have to retrench. retrenchment, N. | cut down; economize 503 |
| daunt ----------- Boast all you like of your prowess. Mere words cannot daunt me, the hero answered the villain. | intimidate; frighten 504 |
| revulsion ----------- Many people in this country who admired dictatorships underwent a revulsion when they realized what Hitler and Mussolini were trying to do. | sudden violent change of feeling; reaction 505 |
| arboretum ----------- Walking along the tree-lined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly fine sycamores. | place where different tree varieties are exhibited 506 |
| ephemeral ----------- The mayfly is an ephemeral creature: its adult life lasts little more than a day. | short-lived; fleeting 507 |
| verbalize ----------- I know you don't like to talk about these things, but please try to verbalize your feelings. | put into words 508 |
| animosity ----------- He incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power. | active enmity 509 |
| caulk ----------- Jack had to caulk the tiles in the shower stall to stop the leak into the basement below. | make watertight by filling in cracks 510 |
| enrapture ----------- The audience was enraptured by the freshness of the voices and the excellent orchestration. | please intensely 511 |
| connubial ----------- In his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of connubial bliss. | pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state 512 |
| illicit ----------- The defense attorney maintained that his client had never performed any illicit action. | illegal 513 |
| savant ----------- Our faculty includes many worldfamous savants. | scholar 514 |
| pathetic ----------- Everyone in the auditorium was weeping by the time he finished his pathetic tale about the orphaned boy. | causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching 515 |
| odorous ----------- This variety of hybrid tea rose is more odorous than the one you have in your garden. | having an odor 516 |
| tawdry ----------- He won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island. | cheap and gaudy 517 |
| adorn ----------- Wall paintings and carved statues adorned the temple. adornment, N. | decorate 518 |
| alleviate ----------- This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs. | relieve 519 |
| arousal ----------- On arousal, Papa was always grumpy as a bear. The children tiptoed around the house, fearing they would arouse his anger by waking him up. | awakening; provocation (of a response) 520 |
| injurious ----------- Smoking cigarettes can be injurious to your health. | harmful 521 |
| arroyo ----------- Until the heavy rains of the past spring, this arroyo had been a dry bed. | gully 522 |
| meager ----------- Still hungry after his meager serving of porridge, Oliver Twist asked for a second helping. | scanty; inadequate 523 |
| usurp ----------- The revolution ended when the victorious rebel general succeeded in his attempt to usurp the throne. | seize another's power or rank 524 |
| stanch ----------- It is imperative that we stanch the gushing wound before we attend to the other injuries. | check flow of blood 525 |
| vertigo ----------- When you test potential airplane pilots for susceptibility to spells of vertigo, be sure to hand out air-sickness bags. | severe dizziness 526 |
| discomposure ----------- Perpetually poised, Agent 007 never exhibited a moment's discomposure. | agitation; loss of poise 527 |
| acclimate ----------- One of the difficulties of our present air age is the need of travelers to acclimate themselves to their new and often strange environments. | adjust to climate 528 |
| wean ----------- He decided he would wean himself away from eating junk food and stick to fruits and vegetables. | accustom a baby to not nurse; give up a cherished activity 529 |
| supplicate ----------- We supplicate Your Majesty to grant him amnesty. | petition humbly; pray to grant a favor 530 |
| contraband ----------- illegal trade; smuggling. The Coast Guard tries to prevent traffic in contraband goods. | ADJ 531 |
| scintillate ----------- I enjoy her dinner parties because the food is excellent and the conversation scintillates. | sparkle; flash 532 |
| desecrate ----------- Shattering the altar and trampling the holy objects underfoot, the invaders desecrated the sanctuary. | profane; violate the sanctity of 533 |
| ecstasy ----------- When Allison received her long-hoped-for letter of acceptance from Harvard, she was in ecstasy. ecstatic,ADJ. | rapture; joy; any overpowering emotion 534 |
| capricious ----------- The storm was capricious: it changed course constantly. Jill was capricious, too: she changed boyfriends almost as often as she changed clothes. | unpredictable; fickle 535 |
| tacit ----------- We have a tacit agreement based on only a handshake. | understood; not put into words 536 |
| mundane ----------- Uninterested in philosophical or spiritual discussions, Tom talked only of mundane matters such as the daily weather forecast or the latest basketball results. | worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday 537 |
| astute ----------- The painter was an astute observer, noticing every tiny detail of her model's appearance and knowing exactly how important each one was. | wise; shrewd; keen 538 |
| traduce ----------- His opponents tried to traduce the candidate's reputation by spreading rumors about his past. | expose to slander 539 |
| ardent ----------- Katya's ardor was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause. ardor, N. | intense; passionate; zealous 540 |
| cadaverous ----------- By his cadaverous appearance, we could see how the disease had ravaged him. | like a corpse; pale 541 |
| contempt ----------- The heavyweight boxer looked on ordinary people with contempt, scorning them as weaklings who couldn't hurt a fly. We thought it was contemptible of him to be contemptuous of people for being weak. | scorn; disdain 542 |
| connivance ----------- wrong; permission to offend. With the connivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher. connive, V. | assistance; pretense of ignorance of sth 543 |
| ratiocination ----------- While Watson was a man of average intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift for ratiocination made him a superb detective. | reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises 544 |
| virtuoso ----------- The child prodigy Yehudi Menuhin grew into a virtuoso whose violin performances thrilled millions. virtuosity, N. | highly skilled artist 545 |
| liniment ----------- The trainer carefully applied the liniment to the quarterback's bruise, gently rubbing it into the skin. | ointment; lotion; salve 546 |
| ornithology ----------- Audubon's studies of American birds greatly influenced the course of ornithology. | study of birds 547 |
| disparate ----------- Unfortunately, Tony and Tina have disparate notions of marriage: Tony sees it as a carefree extended love affair, while Tina sees it as a solemn commitment to build a family and a home. | basically different; unrelated 548 |
| excise ----------- When you excise the dead and dying limbs of a tree, you not only improve its appearance but also enhance its chances of bearing fruit. excision. N. | cut away; cut out 549 |
| hue ----------- The aviary contained birds of every possible hue. | color; aspect 550 |
| dissent ----------- In the recent Supreme Court decision, Justice O'Connor dissented from the majority opinion. also N. | disagree 551 |
| aberrant ----------- Given the aberrant nature of the data, we doubted the validity of the entire experiment. also N. | abnormal or deviant 552 |
| sententious ----------- After reading so many redundant speeches, I find his sententious style particularly pleasing. | terse; concise; aphoristic 553 |
| concede ----------- Despite all the evidence Monica had assembled, Mark refused to | admit; yield 554 |
| insipid ----------- Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid: both lack sparkle. | lacking in flavor; dull 555 |
| decorum ----------- Even the best-mannered students have trouble behaving with decorum on the last day of school. decorous,ADJ. | propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners 556 |
| conducive ----------- Rest and proper diet are conducive to good health. | contributive; tending to 557 |
| humility ----------- He spoke with a humility and lack of pride that impressed his listeners. | humbleness of spirit 558 |
| undermine ----------- The recent corruption scandals have undermined many people's faith in the city government. The recent torrential rains have washed away much of the cliffside; the deluge threatens to undermine the pillars supporting several houses at | weaken; sap 559 |
| defunct ----------- The lawyers sought to examine the books of the defunct corporation. | dead; no longer in use or existence 560 |
| bantering ----------- They resented his bantering remarks because they thought he was being sarcastic. | good-natured ridiculing 561 |
| disconcert ----------- The lawyer was disconcerted by the evidence produced by her adversary. | confuse; upset; embarrass 562 |
| unaccountable ----------- I have taken an unaccountable dislike to my doctor: I do not love thee, Doctor Fell. The reason why, I cannot tell. | inexplicable; unreasonable or mysterious 563 |
| concave ----------- The back-packers found partial shelter from the storm by huddling against the concave wall of the cliff. | hollow 564 |
| dispirited ----------- The coach used all the tricks at his command to buoy up the enthusiasm of his team, which had become dispirited at the loss of the star player. | lacking in spirit 565 |
| clangor ----------- The blacksmith was accustomed to the clangor of hammers on steel. | loud, resounding noise 566 |
| faculty ----------- As he grew old, Professor Twiggly feared he might lose his faculties and become unfit to teach. However, he had tenure: whether or not he was in full possession of his faculties, the school couldn't kick him o | mental or bodily powers; teaching staff 567 |
| itinerant ----------- He was an itinerant peddler and traveled through Pennsylvania and Virginia selling his wares. also N. | wandering; traveling 568 |
| condole ----------- His friends gathered to condole with him over his loss. condolence,N | express sympathetic sorrow 569 |
| catastrophe ----------- The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was a catastrophe that destroyed most of the city. A similar earthquake striking today could have even more catastrophic results. | calamity; disaster 570 |
| plumage ----------- Bird watchers identify different species of bird by their characteristic songs and distinctive plumage. | feathers of a bird 571 |
| bolt ----------- The carpenter shut the workshop door, sliding the heavy metal bolt into place. He sorted through his toolbox for the nuts and bolts and nails he would need. Before he cut into the bolt of canvas, he | door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric 572 |
| abstruse ----------- She carries around abstruse works of philosophy, not because she understands them but because she wants her friends to think she does. | obscure; profound; difficult to understand 573 |
| resolve ----------- How dare you question my resolve to take up sky-diving! Of course I haven't changed my mind! | determination; firmness of purpose 574 |
| shroud ----------- Fog shrouded Dracula's castle, hiding the ruined tower beneath sheets of mist. | hide from view; wrap for burial 575 |
| cerebral ----------- The content of philosophical works is cerebral in nature and requires much thought. | pertaining to the brain or intellect 576 |
| satiate ----------- Having stuffed themselves until they were satiated, the guests were so full they were ready for a nap. | satisfy fully 577 |
| suavity ----------- The elegant actor is particularly good in roles that require suavity and sophistication. | banity; polish 578 |
| plumb ----------- Before hanging wallpaper it is advisable to drop a plumb line from the ceiling as a guide. also N. andV. | checking perpendicularity; vertical 579 |
| resolve ----------- Holmes resolved to travel to Bohemia to resolve the dispute between Irene Adler and the king. | decide; settle; solve 580 |
| irreverence ----------- Some audience members were amused by the irreverence of the comedian's jokes about the Pope; others felt offended by his lack of respect for their faith. irreverent,ADJ. | lack of proper respect 581 |
| laggard ----------- The sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders. lag, N.,V. | slow; sluggish 582 |
| phoenix ----------- Like the legendary phoenix rising from its ashes, the city of San Francisco rose again after its destruction during the 1906 earthquake. | symbol of immortality or rebirth 583 |
| foment ----------- Cheryl's archenemy Heather spread some nasty rumors that fomented trouble in the club. Do you think Cheryl's foe meant to foment such discord? | stir up; instigate 584 |
| turpitude ----------- A visitor may be denied admittance to this country if she has been guilty of moral turpitude. | depravity 585 |
| redoubtable ----------- During the Cold War period, neighboring countries tried not to offend the Russians because they could be redoubtable foes. | formidable; causing fear 586 |
| exasperate ----------- Johnny often exasperates his mother with his pranks. | vex 587 |
| obdurate ----------- He was obdurate in his refusal to listen to our complaints. | stubborn 588 |
| insuperable ----------- Though the odds against their survival seemed insuperable, the Apollo 13 astronauts reached earth safely. | insurmountable; unbeatable 589 |
| cataclysm ----------- A cataclysm such as the French Revolution affects all countries. cataclysmic,ADJ. | upheaval; deluge 590 |
| quandary ----------- When both Harvard and Stanford accepted Laura, she was in a quandary as to which school she should attend. | dilemma 591 |
| complaisant ----------- Always ready to accede to his noble patron's wishes, Mr. Collins was a complaisant , even obsequious, character. | trying to please; obliging 592 |
| fraternize ----------- After the game, the members of the two teams fraternized as cheerfully as if they had never been rivals. | associate in a friendly way 593 |
| remorse ----------- The murderer felt no remorse for his crime. | guilt; self-reproach 594 |
| cajole ----------- Diane tried to cajole her father into letting her drive the family car. cajolery, N. | coax; wheedle 595 |
| verve ----------- She approached her studies with such verve that it was impossible for her to do poorly. | enthusiasm; liveliness 596 |
| porous ----------- Dancers like to wear porous clothing because it allows the ready passage of water and air. | full of pores; like a sieve 597 |
| dismiss ----------- Believing in John's love for her, she dismissed the notion that he might be unfaithful. (secondary meaning) | put away from consideration; reject 598 |
| ecclesiastic ----------- The minister donned his ecclesiastic garb and walked to the pulpit. also N. | pertaining to the church 599 |
| affluence ----------- Foreigners are amazed by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life. | abundance; wealth 600 |
| boundless ----------- Mike's energy was boundless: the greater the challenge, the more vigorously he tackled the job. | unlimited; vast 601 |
| merger ----------- When the firm's president married the director of financial planning, the office joke was that it wasn't a marriage, it was a merger. | combination (of two business corporations) 602 |
| bowdlerize ----------- After the film editors had bowdlerized the language in the script, the motion picture's rating was changed from R to PG. | expurgate 603 |
| lithe ----------- Her figure was lithe and willowy. | flexible; supple 604 |
| hypocritical ----------- Believing Eddie to be interested only in his own advancement, Greg resented his hypocritical posing as a friend. hypocrisy, N. | pretending to be virtuous; deceiving 605 |
| amble ----------- When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble. alsoV. | moving at an easy pace 606 |
| garner ----------- She hoped to garner the world's literature in one library. | gather; store up 607 |
| degradation ----------- Some secretaries object to fetching the boss a cup of coffee because they resent the degradation of being made to do such lowly tasks. degrade,V. | humiliation; debasement; degeneration 608 |
| truculence ----------- Tynan's reviews were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence. truculent,ADJ. | aggressiveness; ferocity 609 |
| anonymity ----------- The donor of the gift asked the college not to mention him by name; the dean readily agreed to respect his anonymity. | state of being nameless; anonymousness 610 |
| studied ----------- Given Jill's previous slights, Jack felt that the omission of his name from the guest list was a studied insult. | not spontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful 611 |
| filament ----------- A ray of sunlight illuminated the filaments of the spider web, turning the web into a net of gold. | fine thread or fiber; threadlike structure within a light bulb 612 |
| absolute ----------- Although the King of Siam was an absolute monarch, he did not want to behead his unfaithful wife without absolute evidence of her infidelity. | complete; totally unlimited; certain 613 |
| *vaporize -----------). Zap! went Super Mario's atomic ray gun as he vaporized another deadly foe. | turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc 614 |
| conversant ----------- The lawyer is conversant with all the evidence. | familiar with 615 |
| tanner ----------- Using a solution of tanbark, the tannertreated the cowhide, transforming it into supple leather. | person who turns animal hides into leather 616 |
| camaraderie ----------- What he loved best about his job was the sense of camaraderie he and his coworkers shared. | good-fellowship 617 |
| emanate ----------- A strong odor of sulphur emanated from the spring. | issue forth 618 |
| precipitate ----------- The removal of American political support appears to have precipitated the downfall of the Marcos regime. | throw headlong; hasten 619 |
| relevant ----------- How relevant Virginia Woolf's essays are to women writers today! It's as if Woolf in the 1930s foresaw our current literary struggles. relevancy, N. | pertinent; referring to the case in hand 620 |
| somnolent ----------- The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker. | half asleep 621 |
| loath ----------- Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go. | reluctant; disinclined 622 |
| application ----------- Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application to the task. apply, V. (secondary meaning) | diligent attention 623 |
| embargo ----------- As a result of the embargo, trade with the colonies was at a standstill. | ban on commerce or other activity 624 |
| admonish ----------- He admonished his listeners to change their wicked ways. admonition, N. | warn; reprove 625 |
| rhetorical ----------- To win his audience; the speaker used every rhetorical trick in the book. | pertaining to effective communication; insincere in language 626 |
| rivulet ----------- As the rains continued, the small trickle of water running down the hillside grew into a rivulet that threatened to wash away a portion of the slope. | small stream 627 |
| obituary ----------- I first learned of her death when I read the obituary column in the newspaper. also N. | death notice 628 |
| gratis ----------- The company offered to give one package gratis to every purchaser of one of their products. alsoADJ. | free 629 |
| credo ----------- I believe we may best describe his credo by saying that it approximates the Golden Rule. | creed 630 |
| ordeal ----------- June was so painfully shy that it was an ordeal for her to speak up when the teacher called on her in class. | severe trial or affliction 631 |
| maxim ----------- Aesop's fables illustrate moral maxims. | proverb; a truth pithily stated 632 |
| procrastinate ----------- Looking at four years of receipts and checks he still had to sort through, Bob was truly sorry he had procrastinated for so long and not finished filing his taxes long ago. | postpone; delay or put off 633 |
| tryst ----------- The lovers kept their tryst even though they realized their danger. | meeting 634 |
| depredation ----------- After the depredations of the invaders, the people were penniless. | plundering 635 |
| foster ----------- According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were fostered by a she-wolf who raised the abandoned infants with her own cubs. alsoADJ. | rear; encourage 636 |
| progenitor ----------- The Roth family, whose progenitors emigrated from Germany early in the nineteenth century, settled in Peru, Illinois. | ancestor 637 |
| candor ----------- Jack can carry candor too far: when he told Jill his honest opinion of her, she nearly slapped his face. candid,ADJ. | frankness; open honesty 638 |
| aesthetic ----------- The beauty of Tiffany's stained glass appealed to Esther's aesthetic sense. aesthete, N. | artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful 639 |
| clandestine ----------- After avoiding their chaperon, the lovers had a clandestine meeting. | secret 640 |
| intricate ----------- Philip spent many hours designing mazes so intricate that none of his classmates could solve them. intricacy, N. | complex; knotty; tangled 641 |
| prescience ----------- Given the current wave of Japan-bashing, it does not take prescience for me to foresee problems in our future trade relations with Japan. | ability to foretell the future 642 |
| indignity ----------- Although he seemed to accept cheerfully the indignities heaped upon him, he was inwardly very angry. | offensive or insulting treatment 643 |
| *credulity ----------- Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors to swindle them out of their savings. credulous, ADJ. | belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete 644 |
| adverse ----------- The recession had a highly adverse effect on Father's investment portfolio: he lost so much money that he could no longer afford the butler and the upstairs maid. adversity, N. | unfavorable; hostile 645 |
| necromancy ----------- The evil sorceror performed feats of necromancy, calling on the spirits of the dead to tell the future. | black magic; dealings with the dead 646 |
| ordain ----------- The king ordained that no foreigner should be allowed to enter the city. The Bishop of Michigan ordained David a deacon in the Episcopal Church. The young lovers felt that fate had ordained their meet | decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine 647 |
| spontaneity ----------- When Anne and Amy met, Amy impulsively hugged her new colleague, but Anne drew back, unprepared for such spontaneity. The cast over-rehearsed the play so much that the eventual performance | lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint 648 |
| squalor ----------- Rusted, broken-down cars in its yard, trash piled up on the porch, tar paper peeling from the roof, the shack was the picture of squalor. squalid,ADJ. | filth; degradation; dirty, neglected state 649 |
| Capacity ----------- Mike had the capacity to handle several jobs at once. In his capacity as president of SelecTronics he marketed an electronic dictionary with a capacity of 200,000 words. | mental or physical ability; role; ability to accommodate 650 |
| grill ----------- In violation of the Miranda law, the police grilled the suspect for several hours before reading him his rights. (secondary meaning) | question severely 651 |
| artifice ----------- The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than military might. | deception; trickery 652 |
| surmount ----------- Could Helen Keller, blind and deaf since childhood, surmount her physical disabilities and lead a productive life? | overcome 653 |
| strew ----------- Preceding the bride to the altar, the flower girl will strew rose petals along the aisle. | spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter 654 |
| nebulous ----------- After twenty years, she had only a nebulous memory of her grandmother's face. | vague; hazy; cloudy 655 |
| slither ----------- During the recent ice storm, many people slithered down this hill as they walked to the station. | slip or slide 656 |
| pessimism ----------- Considering how well you have done in the course so far, you have no real reason for such pessimism about your final grade. | belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess 657 |
| demeanor ----------- His sober demeanor quieted the noisy revelers. | behavior; bearing 658 |
| succinct ----------- Don't bore your audi ence with excess verbiage: be succinct. | brief; terse; compact 659 |
| munificent ----------- Shamelessly fawning over a particularly generous donor, the dean kept on referring to her as our munificent benefactor. munificence, N. | very generous 660 |
| chafe ----------- Chilled, he chafed his hands before the fire. The collar of his school uniform chafed Tom's neck, but not as much the school's strict rules chafed his spirit. also N. | warm by rubbing; make sore (by rubbing) 661 |
| conundrum ----------- During the long car ride, she invented conundrums to entertain the children. | riddle 662 |
| viscid ----------- The trunk of the maple tree was viscid with sap. | adhesive; gluey 663 |
| satirical ----------- The humor of cartoonist Gary Trudeau often is satirical; through the comments of the Doonesbury characters, Trudeau ridicules political corruption and folly. | mocking 664 |
| longevity ----------- When he reached ninety, the old man was proud of his longevity. | long life 665 |
| innocuous ----------- An occasional glass of wine with dinner is relatively innocuous and should have no ill effect on you. | harmless 666 |
| apposite ----------- He was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion. | appropriate; fitting 667 |
| fulcrum ----------- If we use this stone as a fulcrum and the crowbar as a lever, we may be able to move this boulder. | support on which a lever rests 668 |
| annul ----------- The parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage. | make void 669 |
| lionize ----------- She enjoyed being lionized and adored by the public. | treat as a celebrity 670 |
| amphibian ----------- Frogs are classified as amphibian. also N. | able to live both on land and in water 671 |
| futile ----------- It is futile for me to try to get any work done around here while the telephone is ringing every thirty seconds. futility, N. | useless; hopeless; ineffectual 672 |
| mincing ----------- Yum-Yum walked across the stage with mincing steps. | affectedly dainty 673 |
| alliteration ----------- The furrow followed free is an example of alliteration. | repetition of beginning sound in poetry 674 |
| secession ----------- The secession of the Southern states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his inauguration. secede,V. | withdrawal 675 |
| penitent ----------- When he realized the enormity of his crime, he became remorseful and penitent, also N. | repentant 676 |
| ejaculation ----------- He could not repress an ejaculation of surprise when he heard the news. | exclamation 677 |
| embrace ----------- Clasping Maid Marian in his arms, Robin Hood embraced her lovingly. In joining the outlaws in Sherwood Forest, she had openly embraced their cause. | hug; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include 678 |
| cringe ----------- The dog cringed, expecting a blow. | shrink back, as if in fear 679 |
| compatible ----------- They were compatible neighbors, never quarreling over unimportant matters. compatibility, N | harmonious; in harmony with 680 |
| listless ----------- We had expected him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude. | lacking in spirit or energy 681 |
| avid ----------- He was avid for learning and read everything he could get. avidity, N. | greedy; eager for 682 |
| posterity ----------- We hope to leave a better world to posterity. | descendants; future generations 683 |
| pacifist ----------- Shooting his way through the jungle, Rambo was clearly not a pacifist. | one opposed to force; antimilitarist 684 |
| cameo ----------- Don't bother buying cameos from the street peddlers in Rome: the carvings they sell are clumsy jobs. Did you enjoy Bill Murray's cameo in Little Shop of Horrors? He | shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film 685 |
| destitute ----------- Because they had no health insurance, the father's costly illness left the family destitute. | extremely poor 686 |
| residue ----------- In his will, he requested that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the residue be given to his wife. residual,ADJ. | remainder; balance 687 |
| ductile ----------- Copper is an extremely ductile material: you can stretch it into the thinnest of wires, bend it, even wind it into loops. | malleable; flexible; pliable 688 |
| retrospective ----------- The Museum of Graphic Arts is holding a retrospective showing of the paintings of Michael Whelan over the past two decades. | looking back on the past 689 |
| litigation ----------- Try to settle this amicably; I do not want to become involved in litigation. litigant, N. | lawsuit 690 |
| scabbard ----------- The drill master told the recruit to wipe the blood from his sword before slipping it back into the scabbard. | case for a sword blade; sheath 691 |
| milieu ----------- Surrounded by smooth preppies and arty bohemians, the country boy from Smalltown, USA, felt out of his milieu. Although he has produced excellent oil paintings and lithographs, his proper milieu is watercolor. | environment; means of expression 692 |
| inclined ----------- Though I am inclined to be skeptical, the witness's manner inclines me to believe his story. alsoV. | tending or leaning toward; bent 693 |
| intimate ----------- Was Dick intimating that Jane had bad breath when he asked if she'd like a breath mint? | hint; suggest 694 |
| pall ----------- The study of word lists can eventually pall and put one to sleep. | grow tiresome 695 |
| pungent ----------- The pungent odor of ripe Limburger cheese appealed to Simone but made Stanley gag. | stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic 696 |
| esteem ----------- Jill esteemed Jack's taste in music, but she deplored his taste in clothes. | respect; value 697 |
| cogitate ----------- Cogitate on this problem; the solution will come. | think over 698 |
| implausible ----------- Though her alibi seemed implausible, it in fact turned out to be true. | unlikely; unbelievable 699 |
| convention ----------- Flying in the face of convention, George Sand shocked the society by taking lovers and wearing men's clothes. N. | social or moral custom; established practice 700 |
| divergent ----------- Since graduating from medical school, the two doctors have taken divergent paths, one going on to become a nationally prominent surgeon, the other dedicating himself to a small family practice in his home town. divergence, N. | differing; deviating 701 |
| grove ----------- To the child, the small grove of oaks was as vast as Sherwood Forest, in which he played that legendary hero, Robin Hood. | group of trees (smaller than a forest); orchard 702 |
| incline ----------- The architect recommended that the nursing home's ramp be rebuilt because its incline was too steep for wheelchairs. | slope; slant 703 |
| fathom ----------- I find his motives impossible to fathom; in fact, I'm totally clueless about what goes on in his mind. | comprehend; investigate 704 |
| titular ----------- Although he was the titular head of the company, the real decisions were made by his general manager. | nominal holding of title without obligations 705 |
| invalidate ----------- The relatives who received little or nothing sought to invalidate the will by claiming that the deceased had not been in his right mind when he had signed the document. | weaken; destroy 706 |
| substantial ----------- The generous scholarship represented a substantial sum of money. | ample; solid; in essentials 707 |
| nirvana ----------- Despite his desire to achieve nirvana, the young Buddhist found that even the buzzing of a fly could distract him from his medi | in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude 708 |
| ostracize ----------- As soon as the newspapers carried the story of his connection with the criminals, his friends began to ostracize him. ostracism, N. | exclude from public favor; ban 709 |
| dispel ----------- The bright sunlight eventually dispelled the morning mist. | scatter; drive away; cause to vanish 710 |
| immutable ----------- All things change over time; nothing is immutable. | unchangeable 711 |
| ingratiate ----------- He tried to ingratiate himself into her parents' good graces. | become popular with 712 |
| promontory ----------- They erected a lighthouse on the promontory to warn approaching ships of their nearness to the shore. | headland 713 |
| calumny ----------- He could endure his financial failure, but he could not bear the calumny that his foes heaped upon him. | malicious misrepresentation; slander 714 |
| virtual ----------- She is a virtual financial wizard when it comes to money matters. | in essence; for practical purposes 715 |
| conventional ----------- His conventional upbringing left him wholly unprepared for his wife's eccentric family. | ordinary; typical 716 |
| titter ----------- Her aunt's constant titter nearly drove her mad. alsoV. | nervous laugh 717 |
| malfeasance ----------- The authorities did not discover the campaign manager's malfeasance until after he had spent most of the money he had embezzled. | wrongdoing 718 |
| precipice ----------- Suddenly Indiana Jones found himself dangling from the edge of a precipice. | cliff; dangerous position 719 |
| languid ----------- Her siege of illness left her languid and pallid. | weary; sluggish; listless 720 |
| enthrall ----------- From the moment he saw her picture, he was enthralled by her beauty. | capture; enslave 721 |
| ancestry ----------- David can trace his ancestry as far back as the seventeenth century, when one of his ancestors was a court trumpeter somewhere in Germany. ancestral,ADJ. | family descent 722 |
| permeate ----------- The odor of frying onions permeated the air. | pass through; spread 723 |
| bicker ----------- The children bickered morning, noon, and night, exasperating their parents. | quarrel 724 |
| collage ----------- Scraps of cloth, paper doilies, and old photographs all went into her collage | work of art put together from fragments 725 |
| philistine ----------- We need more men of culture and enlightenment; we have too many philistines among us. | narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain 726 |
| politic ----------- Even though he was disappointed by the size of the bonus he was offered, he did not think it politic to refuse it. | expedient; prudent; well advised 727 |
| upshot ----------- The upshot of the rematch was that the former champion proved that he still possessed all the skills of his youth. | outcome 728 |
| charisma ----------- | divine gift; great popular charm or appeal of a political leader Political commentators have deplored the importance of a candidate's charisma in these days of television campaigning 729 |
| temperament ----------- Although the twins look alike, they differ markedly in temperament: Todd is calm, but Rod is excitable. | characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess 730 |
| amoral ----------- The amoral individual lacks a code of ethics; he cannot tell right from wrong. The immoral person can tell right from wrong; he chooses to do something he knows is wrong. | nonmoral 731 |
| typhoon ----------- If you liked Twister, you'll love Typhoon! | tropical hurricane or cyclone 732 |
| unwarranted ----------- Your assumption that I would accept your proposal is unwarranted, sir; I do not want to marry you at all. We could not understand Martin's unwarranted rudeness to his mother's guests. | unjustified; groundless; undeserved 733 |
| arrogance ----------- Convinced that Emma thought she was better than anyone else in the class, Ed rebuked her for her arrogance. | pride; haughtiness 734 |
| fell ----------- The newspapers told of the tragic spread of the fell disease. | cruel; deadly 735 |
| roster ----------- They print the roster of players in the season's program. | list 736 |
| impasse ----------- In this impasse, all turned to prayer as their last hope. | predicament from which there is no escape; deadlock 737 |
| rustic ----------- The backwoodsman looked out of place in his rustic attire. | pertaining to country people; uncouth 738 |
| confirm ----------- I have several witnesses who will confirm my account of what happened. | corroborate; verify; support 739 |
| babble ----------- The little girl babbled about her doll. also N. | chatter idly 740 |
| impetuous ----------- Leap before you look was the motto suggested by one particularly impetuous young man. | violent; hasty; rash 741 |
| aphorism ----------- An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific. The proper study of mankind is man is an aphorism. There's no smoke without a fire is an adage. aphoristic,ADJ. | pithy maxim 742 |
| imperative ----------- It is imperative that you be extremely agreeable to GreatAunt Maud when she comes to tea: otherwise she might not leave you that million dollars in her will. also N. | absolutely necessary; critically important 743 |
| affinity ----------- She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains. | kinship 744 |
| asinine ----------- Your asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration. | stupid 745 |
| flit ----------- Like a bee flitting from flower to flower, Rose flitted from one boyfriend to the next. | fly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by 746 |
| lament ----------- Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat. lamentation, N. | grieve; express sorrow 747 |
| abstain ----------- After considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race. abstinence, N. | refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice 748 |
| allure ----------- Allured by the song of the sirens, the helmsman steered the ship toward the reef. also N. | entice; attract 749 |
| thermal ----------- The natives discovered that the hot springs made excellent thermal baths and began to develop their community as a health resort. also N. | pertaining to heat 750 |
| cascade ----------- We were too tired to appreciate the beauty of the many cascades because we had to detour around them to avoid being drenched by the water cascading down. | small waterfall 751 |
| impotent ----------- Although he wished to break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent in resisting the craving for a cigarette. | weak; ineffective 752 |
| momentous ----------- When Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium, they had no idea of the momentous impact their discovery would have upon society. | very important 753 |
| subordinate ----------- Bishop Proudie's wife expected all the subordinate clergy to behave with great deference to the wife of their superior. | occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive 754 |
| inexorable ----------- After listening to the pleas for clemency, the judge was inexorable and gave the convicted man the maximum punishment allowed by law. | relentless; unyielding; implacable 755 |
| filibuster ----------- Even though we disapproved of Senator Foghorn's political goals, we were impressed by his ability to filibuster endlessly to keep an issue from coming to a vote. | to block legislation by making long speeches 756 |
| musty ----------- The attic was dark and musty. | stale; spoiled by age 757 |
| throes ----------- The throes of despair can be as devastating as the spasms accompanying physical pain. | violent anguish 758 |
| shear ----------- You may not care to cut a sheep's hair, but Sarah shears sheep for Little Bo Peep. | cut or clip (hair, fleece); strip of something 759 |
| icon ----------- The icons on the walls of the church were painted in the 13th century. | religious image; idol 760 |
| denouement ----------- The play was childishly written; the denouement was obvious to sophisticated theatergoers as early as the middle of the first act. | outcome; final development of the plot of a play 761 |
| cynosure ----------- As soon as the movie star entered the room, she became the cynosure of all eyes. | the object of general attention 762 |
| galleon ----------- The Spaniards pinned their hopes on the galleon, the large warship; the British, on the smaller and faster pinnace. | large sailing ship 763 |
| frigid ----------- Alaska is in the frigid zone. | intensely cold 764 |
| distill ----------- A moonshiner distills mash into whiskey; an epigrammatist distills thoughts into quips. | extract the essence; purify; refine 765 |
| reiterate ----------- He reiterated the warning to make sure everyone understood it. | repeat 766 |
| debonair ----------- The debonair youth was liked by all who met him, because of his cheerful and obliging manner. | friendly; aiming to please 767 |
| knotty ----------- What to Watson had been a knotty problem, to Sherlock Holmes was simplicity itself. | intricate; difficult; tangled 768 |
| bent ----------- Bent on advancing in the business world, the secretary-heroine of Working Girl has a true bent for high finance. | determined; natural talent or inclination 769 |
| memento ----------- Take this book as a memento of your visit. | token; reminder 770 |
| debase ----------- In The King and I, Anna refuses to kneel down and prostrate herself before the king, for she feels that to do so would debase her position, and she will not submit to such debasement. | reduce in quality or value; lower in esteem; degrade 771 |
| ramify ----------- When the plant begins to ramify, it is advisable to nip off most of the new branches. | divide into branches or subdivisions 772 |
| cloister ----------- The nuns lived a secluded life in the cloister. | monastery or convent 773 |
| soliloquy ----------- The soliloquy is a device used by the dramatist to reveal a character's innermost thoughts and emotions. | talking to oneself 774 |
| concord ----------- Watching Tweedledum and Tweedledee battle,Alice wondered at their lack of concord. | harmony; agreement between people or things 775 |
| furtive ----------- Noticing the furtive glance the customer gave the diamond bracelet on the counter, the jeweler wondered whether he had a potential shoplifter on his hands. | stealthy; sneaky 776 |
| arable ----------- The first settlers wrote home glowing reports of the New World, praising its vast acres of arable land ready for the plow. | fit for growing crops 777 |
| parched ----------- The parched desert landscape seemed hostile to life. | extremely dry; very thirsty 778 |
| terminology ----------- The special terminology developed by some authorities in the field has done more to confuse the layman than to enlighten him. terminus N. last stop of railroad. After we reached the railroad terminus, we continued our | terms used in a science or art 779 |
| surpass ----------- Her SAT I scores surpassed our expectations. | exceed 780 |
| rave ----------- Though critic John Simon seldom has a good word to say about most contemporary plays, his review of All in the Timing was a total rave. | overwhelmingly favorable review 781 |
| posthumous ----------- The critics ignored his works during his lifetime; it was only after the posthumous publication of his last novel that they recognized his great talent. | after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death) 782 |
| gaunt ----------- His once round face looked surprisingly gaunt after he had lost weight. | lean and angular; barren 783 |
| prod ----------- If you prod him hard enough, he'll eventually clean his room. | poke; stir up; urge 784 |
| archaic ----------- Methinks, thee, and thou are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary. | antiquated 785 |
| swerve ----------- The car swerved wildly as the driver struggled to regain control of the wheel. | deviate; turn aside sharply 786 |
| parochial ----------- Although Jane Austen sets her novels in small rural communities, her concerns are universal, not parochial, | narrow in outlook; provincial; related to parishes 787 |
| anchor ----------- We set the post in concrete to anchor it in place. anchorage, N. | secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place 788 |
| winnow ----------- This test will winnow out the students who study from those who don't bother. | sift; separate good parts from bad 789 |
| callow ----------- As a freshman, Jack was sure he was a man of the world; as a sophomore, he made fun of freshmen as callow youths. In both cases, his judgment showed just how callow he was. | youthful; immature; inexperienced 790 |
| incursion ----------- The nightly incursions and hit-and-run raids of our neighbors across the border tried the patience of the country to the point where we decided to retaliate in force. | temporary invasion 791 |
| jurisprudence ----------- He was more a student of jurisprudence than a practitioner of the law. | science of law 792 |
| dauntless ----------- Despite the dangerous nature of the undertaking, the dauntless soldier volunteered for the assignment. | bold 793 |
| exonerate ----------- The defense team feverishly sought fresh evidence that might exonerate their client. | acquit; exculpate 794 |
| requite ----------- The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them. | repay; revenge 795 |
| founder ----------- Among those drowned when the Titanic sank was the founder of the Abraham & Straus department store. | person who establishes (an organization, business) 796 |
| circumspect ----------- Investigating before acting, she tried always to be circumspect. | prudent; cautious 797 |
| unassuming ----------- He is so unassuming that some people fail to realize how great a man he really is. | modest 798 |
| incipient ----------- I will go to sleep early for I want to break an incipient cold. | beginning; in an early stage 799 |
| stoke ----------- As a Scout Marisa learned how to light a fire, how to stoke it if it started to die down, and how to extinguish it completely. | stir up a fire; feed plentifully 800 |
| optimum ----------- If you wait for the optimum moment to act, you may never begin your project. also N. | most favorable 801 |
| hackneyed ----------- When the reviewer criticized the movie for its hackneyed plot, we agreed; we had seen similar stories hundreds of times before. | commonplace; trite 802 |
| enhance ----------- You can enhance your chances of being admitted to the college of your choice by learning to write well; an excellent essay can enhance any application. | increase; improve 803 |
| affiliation ----------- His affiliation with the political party was of short duration for he soon disagreed with his colleagues. | joining; associating with 804 |
| limpid ----------- A limpid stream ran through his property. | clear 805 |
| fidelity ----------- A dog's fidelity to its owner is one of the reasons why that animal is a favorite household pet. | loyalty 806 |
| wince ----------- The screech of the chalk on the blackboard made her wince. | shrink back; flinch 807 |
| valid ----------- You're going to have to come up with a better argument if you want to convince me that your reasoning is valid. | logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable 808 |
| scuttle ----------- The bug scuttled rapidly across the floor. | scurry; run with short, rapid steps 809 |
| outwit ----------- By disguising himself as an old woman, Holmes was able to outwit his pursuers and escape capture. | outsmart; trick 810 |
| jovial ----------- A frown seemed out of place on his invariably jovial face. | good-natured; merry 811 |
| panache ----------- Many performers imitate Noel Coward, but few have his panache and sense of style. | flair; flamboyance 812 |
| enunciate ----------- Stop mumbling! How will people understand you if you do not enunciate? | speak distinctly 813 |
| censorious ----------- Censorious people delight in casting blame. | critical 814 |
| cartographer ----------- Though not a professional cartographer, Tolkien was able to construct a map of his fictional world. | map-maker 815 |
| hermitage ----------- Even in his remote hermitage he could not escape completely from the world. | home of a hermit 816 |
| orientation ----------- Freshman orientation provides the incoming students with an opportunity to learn about their new environment and their place in it. | act of finding oneself in society 817 |
| wheedle ----------- She knows she can wheedle almost anything she wants from her father. | cajole; coax; deceive by flattery 818 |
| gruesome ----------- His face was the stuff of nightmares: all the children in the audience screamed when Freddy Kruger's gruesome countenance was flashed on the screen. | grisly; horrible 819 |
| martyr ----------- By burning her at the stake, the English made Joan of Arc a martyr for her faith. Mother played the martyr by staying home cleaning the house while the rest of the fam | one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer 820 |
| irrevocable ----------- As Sue dropped the Dear John letter into the mailbox, she suddenly had second thoughts and wanted to take it back, but she could not: her action was irrevocable. | unalterable; irreversible 821 |
| forensic ----------- In her best forensic manner, the lawyer addressed the jury. forenSiCS, N. | suitable to debate or courts of law 822 |
| marquee ----------- On stormy days, the hotel doorman keeps dry by standing directly beneath the marquee. The title of Arthur Kopit's play Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Momma's Hun | canopy above an entrance, under which one can take shelter; rooflike shelter above a theater entrance 823 |
| fulsome ----------- His fulsome praise of the dictator revolted his listeners. | disgustingly excessive 824 |
| concise ----------- When you define a new word, be concise : the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember | brief and compact 825 |
| agent ----------- °I will be the agent of America's destruction, proclaimed the beady-eyed villain, whose agent had gotten him the role. With his face, he could never have played the | means or instrument; personal representative; person acting in an official capacity 826 |
| catalyst ----------- Many chemical reactions cannot take place without the presence of a catalyst. | agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged 827 |
| illusory ----------- Unfortunately, the costs of running the lemonade stand were so high that Tom's profits proved illusory. | deceptive; not real 828 |
| wary ----------- The spies grew wary as they approached the sentry. | very cautious 829 |
| eclipse ----------- The new stock market high eclipsed the previous record set in 1995. | darken; extinguish; surpass 830 |
| bloated ----------- Her bloated stomach came from drinking so much water. | swollen or puffed as with water or air 831 |
| accost ----------- When the two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I thought they were going to attack me. | approach and speak first to a person 832 |
| stalemate ----------- Negotiations between the union and the employers have reached a stalemate; neither side is willing to budge from previously stated positions. | deadlock 833 |
| discomfit ----------- This ruse will discomfitthe enemy. discomfiture, N. discomfited,ADJ. | put to rout; defeat; disconcert 834 |
| stringent ----------- I think these regulations are too stringent. | binding; rigid 835 |
| slacken ----------- As they passed the finish line, the runners slackened their pace. | slow up; loosen 836 |
| impenetrable ----------- How could the murderer have gotten into the locked room? To Watson, the mystery, like the room, was impenetrable. | not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding 837 |
| enumerate ----------- Huck hung his head in shame as Miss Watson enumerated his many flaws. | list; mention one by one 838 |
| torpor ----------- Throughout the winter, nothing aroused the bear from his torpor: he would not emerge from hibernation until spring. torpid,ADJ. | lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy 839 |
| theoretical ----------- Bob was better at applied engineering and computer programming than he was at theoretical physics and math. While I can still think of some theoretical objections to your plan, you've convinced me of its basi | not practical or applied; hypothetical 840 |
| smelt ----------- The furnaceman smelts tin with copper to create a special alloy used in making bells. | melt or blend ores, changing their chemical composition 841 |
| pulchritude ----------- I do not envy the judges who have to select this year's Miss America from this collection of female pulchritude. | beauty; comeliness 842 |
| plenitude ----------- Looking in the pantry, we admired the plenitude of fruits and pickles we had preserved during the summer. | abundance; completeness 843 |
| ferment ----------- With the breakup of the Soviet Union, much of Eastern Europe was in a state of ferment. | agitation; commotion 844 |
| brazen ----------- Her brazen contempt for authority angered the officials. | insolent 845 |
| beeline ----------- As soon as the movie was over, Jim made a beeline for the exit. | direct, quick route 846 |
| beget ----------- One good turn may deserve another; it does not necessarily beget another. | father; produce; give rise to 847 |
| centripetal ----------- Does centripetal force or the force of gravity bring orbiting bodies to the earth's surface? | tending toward the center 848 |
| inequity ----------- In demanding equal pay for equal work, women protest the basic inequity of a system that gives greater financial rewards to men. | unfairness 849 |
| obtrude ----------- Because Fanny was reluctant to obtrude her opinions about child-raising upon her daughter-in-law, she kept a close watch on her tongue. obtrusive,ADJ. | push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; butt in; stick out or extrude 850 |
| brittle ----------- My employer's self-control was as brittle as an egg-shell. Her brittle personality made it difficult for me to get along with her. | easily broken; difficult 851 |
| saga ----------- This is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it. | Scandinavian myth; any legend 852 |
| diva ----------- Although world famous as a diva, she did not indulge in fits of temperament. .. | operatic singer; prima donna 853 |
| dogmatic ----------- We tried to discourage Doug from being so dogmatic, but never could convince him that his opinions might be wrong. | opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal 854 |
| disfigure ----------- An ugly frown disfigured his normally pleasant face. | mar in beauty; spoil 855 |
| braggart ----------- Modest by nature, she was no braggart, preferring to let her accomplishments speak for themselves. | boaster 856 |
| inconsequential ----------- Brushing off Ali's apologies for having broken the wineglass, Tamara said, Don't worry about it; it's inconsequential. | insignificant; unimportant 857 |
| demure ----------- She was demure and reserved, a nice modest girl whom any young man would be proud to take home to his mother. | grave; serious; coy 858 |
| consecrate ----------- We shall consecrate our lives to this noble purpose. | dedicate; sanctify 859 |
| rapt ----------- Caught up in the wonder of the storyteller's tale, the rapt listeners sat motionless, hanging on his every word. | absorbed; enchanted 860 |
| defile ----------- The hoodlums defiled the church with their scurrilous writing. | pollute; profane 861 |
| virile ----------- I do not accept the premise that a man proves he's virile by being belligerent. | manly 862 |
| heed ----------- We hope you heed our advice and get a good night's sleep before the test. also N. | pay attention to; consider 863 |
| adjacent ----------- Philip's best friend Jason lived only four houses down the block, close but not immediately adjacent. | adjoining; neighboring; close by 864 |
| resplendent ----------- While all the adults were commenting how glorious the emperor looked in his resplendent new clothes, one little boy was heard to say, But he's naked! | dazzling; glorious; brilliant 865 |
| continence ----------- At the convent, Connie vowed to lead a life of continence. The question was, could Connie be content with always being continent? | self-restraint; sexual chastity 866 |
| biennial ----------- Seeing no need to meet more frequently, the group held biennial meetings instead of annual ones. Plants that bear flowers biennially are known as biennials. | every two years 867 |
| prone ----------- She was prone to sudden fits of anger during which she would lie prone on the floor, screaming and kicking her heels. | inclined to; prostrate 868 |
| dermatologist ----------- I advise you to consult a dermatologist about your acne. | one who studies the skin and its diseases 869 |
| aquatic ----------- Paul enjoyed aquatic sports such as scuba diving and snorkeling. | pertaining to water 870 |
| misconception ----------- Sir, you are suffering from a misconception. I do not wish to marry you in the least! | mistaken idea 871 |
| supersede ----------- The new bulk mailing postal regulation supersedes the old one. If you continue to follow the old regulation, your bulk mailing will be returned to you. | cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete 872 |
| acute ----------- The acute young doctor realized immediately that the gradual deterioration of her patient's once acute hearing was due to a chronic illness, not an acute one. | quickly perceptive; keen; brief and severe 873 |
| implicit ----------- Jack never told Jill he adored her; he believed his love was implicit in his actions. | understood but not stated 874 |
| excoriate ----------- Seeing the holes in Bill's new pants, his mother furiously excoriated him for ruining his good clothes. The tight, starched collar chafed and excoriated his neck, rubbing it raw. | scold with biting harshness; strip the skin off 875 |
| centigrade ----------- On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing point of water is zero degrees. | measure of temperature used widely in Europe 876 |
| claustrophobia ----------- His fellow classmates laughed at his claustrophobia and often threatened to lock him in his room. | fear of being locked in 877 |
| assert ----------- Malcolm asserted that if Reese quit acting like a wimp and asserted himself a bit more, he'd improve his chances of getting a date. assertion, N. | declare or state with confidence; put oneself forward boldly 878 |
| gruel -----------, in milk or water. Our daily allotment of gruel made the meal not only monotonous but also unpalatable. | liquid food made by boiling oatmeal, etc 879 |
| marked ----------- He walked with a marked limp, a souvenir of an old I.R.A. attack. As British ambassador, he knew he was a marked man, for he knew the Irish Republican Army wanted him dead. | noticeable or pronounced; targeted for vengeance 880 |
| altruistic ----------- In providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships for hundreds of economically disadvantaged youths, Eugene Lang performed a truly altruistic deed. altruism, N. | unselfishly generous; concerned for others 881 |
| improvident ----------- He was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to save for a rainy day. improvidence, N. | thriftless 882 |
| cynical ----------- Cynical from birth, Sidney was suspicious whenever anyone gave him a gift 'with no strings attached.' cynic, N. | skeptical or distrustful of human motives 883 |
| bask ----------- Basking on the beach, she relaxed so completely that she fell asleep. | luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth 884 |
| sodden ----------- He set his sodden overcoat near the radiator to dry. | soaked; dull, as if from drink 885 |
| communal -----------When they were divorced, they had trouble dividing their communal property. | held in common; of a group of people 886 |
| verbose ----------- Someone mute can't talk; someone verbose can hardly stop talking. | wordy 887 |
| hone ----------- To make shaving easier, he honed his razor with great care. | sharpen 888 |
| arcane ----------- Secret brotherhoods surround themselves with arcane rituals and trappings to mystify outsiders. So do doctors. Consider the arcane terminology they use and the impression they try to give that what | secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated 889 |
| obtuse ----------- What can you do with somebody who's so obtuse that he can't even tell that you're insulting him? | blunt; stupid 890 |
| synthesis ----------- Now that we have succeeded in isolating this drug, our next problem is to plan its synthesis in the laboratory. synthesize,V. | combining parts into a whole 891 |
| denigrate ----------- All attempts to denigrate the character of our late president have failed; the people still love him and cherish his memory. | blacken 892 |
| leaven ----------- As bread dough is leavened, it puffs up, expanding in volume. | cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven 893 |
| musky ----------- She left a trace of musky perfume behind her. | having the odor of musk 894 |
| bombardment ----------- The enemy bombardment demolished the town. Members of the opposition party bombarded the prime minister with questions about the enemy attack. | attack with missiles 895 |
| magnitude ----------- It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of his crime. | greatness; extent 896 |
| palliate ----------- Not content merely to palliate the patient's sores and cankers, the researcher sought a means of wiping out the disease. palliative,ADJ. | lessen the violence of (a disease); alleviate; moderate intensity; gloss over with excuses 897 |
| collaborate ----------- Two writers collaborated in preparing this book | work together 898 |
| saturate ----------- Saturate your sponge with water until it can't hold any more. | soak thoroughly 899 |
| spry ----------- She was eighty years old, yet still spry and alert. | vigorously active; nimble 900 |
| cavalier ----------- The disguised prince resented the cavalier way in which the palace guards treated him. How dared they handle a member of the royal family so unceremoniously! | offhand or casual; haughty 901 |
| quagmire ----------- Up to her knees in mud, Myra wondered how on earth she was going to extricate herself from this quagmire. | soft wet boggy land; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself 902 |
| ancillary ----------- In an ancillary capacity, Doctor Watson was helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the good doctor to solve a perplexing case on his own. also N. | serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary 903 |
| ossify ----------- When he called his opponent a bonehead, he implied that his adversary's brain had ossified to the point that he was incapable of clear thinking. | change or harden into bone 904 |
| diverge ----------- The spokes of the wheel diverge from the hub. | vary; go in different directions from the same point 905 |
| subterfuge ----------- As soon as we realized that you had won our support by a subterfuge, we withdrew our endorsement of your candidacy. | pretense; evasion 906 |
| pique ----------- She showed her pique at her loss by refusing to appear with the other contestants at the end of the competition. alsoV. | irritation; resentment 907 |
| demagogue ----------- He was accused of being a demagogue because he made promises that aroused futile hopes in his listeners. | person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people 908 |
| pendant -----------) Thegrateful team presented the coach with a silver chain and pendant engraved with the school's motto. | ornament (hanging from a necklace, etc 909 |
| inscrutable ----------- Experienced poker players try to keep their expressions inscrutable, hiding their reactions to the cards behind a so-called poker face. | impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious 910 |
| wax ----------- With proper handling, his fortunes waxed and he became rich. | increase; grow 911 |
| contest ----------- The defeated candidate attempted to contest the election results. N. | dispute 912 |
| miasma ----------- The smog hung over Victorian London like a dark cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was a visible miasma. | swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere, often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence 913 |
| cubicle ----------- Hoping to personalize their workspace, the staff members decorated their tiny identical cubicles in markedly individual ways. | small compartment partitioned off; small bedchamber 914 |
| document ----------- She kept all the receipts from her business trip in order to document her expenses for the firm. also N. | provide written evidence 915 |
| vortex ----------- Sucked into the vortex of the tornado, Dorothy and Toto were carried from Kansas to Oz. | whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged 916 |
| coronation ----------- When the witches told Macbeth he would be king, they failed to warn him he would lose his crown soon after his coronation. | ceremony of crowning a queen or king 917 |
| implacable ----------- Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family. | incapable of being pacified 918 |
| lewd ----------- They found his lewd stories objectionable. | lustful 919 |
| fortitude ----------- He was awarded the medal for his fortitude in the battle. | bravery; courage 920 |
| adjunct ----------- Although I don't absolutely need a second computer, I plan to buy a laptop to serve as an adjunct to my desktop model. | something added on or attached (generally nonessential or inferior) 921 |
| gait ----------- The lame man walked with an uneven gait. | manner of walking or running; speed 922 |
| stipulate ----------- Before agreeing to reduce American military forces in Europe, the president stipulated that NATO inspection teams be allowed to inspect Soviet bases. | make express conditions; specify 923 |
| repress ----------- Anne's parents tried to curb her impetuosity without repressing her boundless high spirits. | restrain; crush; oppress 924 |
| faction ----------- The quarrels and bickering of the two small factions within the club disturbed the majority of the members. | party; clique; dissension 925 |
| fortuitous ----------- Though he pretended their encounter was fortuitous, he'd actually been hanging around her usual haunts for the past two weeks, hoping she'd turn up. | accidental; by chance 926 |
| material ----------- Probing the mysteries of this material world has always fascinated physicist George Whitesides. Reporters nicknamed Madonna the Material Girl because, despite her name, she seemed wholly unintereste | made of physical matter; unspiritual; important 927 |
| conflagration ----------- In the conflagration that fol-lowed the 1906 earthquake, much of San Francisco was destroyed. | great fire 928 |
| abut ----------- Where our estates abut, we must build a fence. | border upon; adjoin 929 |
| grouse ----------- Students traditionally grouse about the abysmal quality of mystery meat and similar dormitory food. | complain; fuss 930 |
| bedizen ----------- The witch doctors were bedizened in all their gaudiest costumes. | dress with vulgar finery 931 |
| impeach ----------- The angry congressman wanted to impeach the president for his misdeeds. | charge with crime in office; indict 932 |
| potable ----------- The recent drought in the Middle Atlantic states has emphasized the need for extensive research in ways of making sea water potable. also N. | suitable for drinking 933 |
| graft ----------- After the fire, Greg required skin grafts to replace the badly damaged areas on his forearms. alsoV. | piece of transplanted tissue; portion of plant inserted in another plant 934 |
| awry ----------- He held his head awry, giving the impression that he had caught cold in his neck during the night. alsoADJ. | distorted; crooked 935 |
| extenuate ----------- It is easier for us to extenuate our own shortcomings than those of others. | weaken; mitigate 936 |
| anguish ----------- Visiting the site of the explosion, the governor wept to see the anguish of the victims and their families. | acute pain; extreme suffering 937 |
| credibility ----------- Because the candidate had made some pretty unbelievable promises, we began to question the credibility of everything he said. | believability 938 |
| doggerel ----------- Although we find occasional snatches of genuine poetry in her work, most of her writing is mere doggerel. | poor verse 939 |
| vertex ----------- Let us drop a perpendicular line from the vertex of the triangle to the base. | summit 940 |
| impart ----------- Polly begged Grandma to impart her recipe for rugeleh, but her grandmother wouldn't say a word. | reveal or tell; grant 941 |
| melancholy ----------- To Eugene, stuck in his small town, a train whistle was a melancholy sound, for it made him think of all the places he would never get to see. | gloomy; morose; blue 942 |
| exalt ----------- The actor Alec Guinness was exalted to the rank of knighthood by the queen. | raise in rank or dignity; praise 943 |
| ravenous ----------- The ravenous dog upset several garbage pails in its search for food. | extremely hungry 944 |
| harrowing ----------- At first the former prisoner did not wish to discuss his harrowing months of captivity as a political hostage. | agonizing; distressing; traumatic 945 |
| rife ----------- In the face of the many rumors of scandal, which are rife at the moment, it is best to remain silent. | abundant; current 946 |
| supple ----------- Years of yoga exercises made Grace's body supple. | flexible; pliant 947 |
| auditory ----------- Audrey suffered from auditory hallucinations: she thought Elvis was speaking to her from the Great Beyond. | pertaining to the sense of hearing 948 |
| fiasco ----------- Our ambitious venture ended in a fiasco and we were forced to flee. | total failure 949 |
| machinations ----------- Fortunately, Batman saw through the wily machinations of the Riddler and saved Gotham City from destruction by the forces of evil. | evil schemes or plots 950 |
| improvise ----------- She would sit at the piano and improvise for hours on themes from Bach and Handel. | compose on the spur of the moment 951 |
| enmity ----------- At Camp David, President Carter labored to bring an end to the enmity that prevented the peaceful coexistence of Egypt and Israel. | ill will; hatred 952 |
| celibate ----------- The perennial bachelor vowed to remain celibate. celibacy, N. | unmarried; abstaining from sexual intercourse 953 |
| edict ----------- The emperor issued an edict decreeing that everyone should come see him model his magnificent new clothes. | decree (especially issued by a sovereign); official command 954 |
| effervescence ----------- Nothing depressed Sue for long; her natural effervescence soon reasserted itself. Soda that loses its effervescence goes flat. effervescent, ADJ. effervesce,V. | inner excitement or exuberance; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation 955 |
| implication ----------- When Miss Watson said she hadn't seen her purse since the last time Jim was in the house, the implication was that she suspected Jim had taken it. imply,V. | something hinted at or suggested 956 |
| smirk ----------- Wipe that smirk off your face! alsoV. | conceited smile 957 |
| innate ----------- Mozart's parents soon recognized young Wolfgang's innate talent for music. | inborn 958 |
| fictitious ----------- Although this book purports to be a biography of George Washington, many of the incidents are fictitious. | imaginary 959 |
| obstreperous ----------- What do you do when an obstreperous horde of drunken policemen goes carousing through your hotel, crashing into potted plants and singing vulgar songs? | boisterous; noisy 960 |
| exceptionable ----------- Do you find the punk rock band Green Day a highly exceptionable, thoroughly distasteful group, or do you think they are exceptionally talented performers? | objectionable 961 |
| blare ----------- I don't know which is worse: the steady blare of a boom box deafening your ears or a sudden blare of flashbulbs dazzling your eyes. | loud, harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light 962 |
| resonant ----------- The deep, resonant voice of the actor James Earl Jones makes him particularly effective when he appears on stage. | echoing; resounding; deep and full in sound 963 |
| confidant ----------- He had no confidants with whom he could discuss his problems at home. | trusted friend 964 |
| protuberance ----------- A ganglionic cyst is a fluid-filled tumor that develops near a joint membrane or tendon sheath, and that bulges beneath the skin, forming a protuberance. | protrusion; bulge 965 |
| Clip ----------- Phil's job at Fox Sports involved selecting clips of the day's sporting highlights for later broadcast. alsoV. | section of filmed material 966 |
| rigor ----------- Many settlers could not stand the rigors of the New England winters. | severity 967 |
| scrutinize ----------- Searching for flaws, the sergeant scrutinized every detail of the private's uniform. | examine closely and critically 968 |
| discord ----------- Watching Tweedledum battle Tweedledee, Alice wondered what had caused this pointless discord. | conflict; lack of harmony 969 |
| unfrock ----------- To disbar a lawyer, to unfrock a priest, to suspend a doctor's license to practice-these are extreme steps that the authorities should take only after careful consideration. | to strip a priest or minister of church authority 970 |
| allocate ----------- Even though the Red Cross had allocated a large sum for the relief of the sufferers of the disaster, many people perished. | assign 971 |
| constituent ----------- The congressman received hundreds of letters from angry constituents after the Equal Rights Amendment failed to pass. | supporter 972 |
| emissary ----------- The secretary of state was sent as the president's special emissary to the conference on disarmament. | agent; messenger 973 |
| rescind ----------- Because of the public outcry against the new taxes, the senator proposed a bill to rescind the unpopular financial measure. | cancel 974 |
| savor ----------- Relishing his triumph, the actor especially savored the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure. | enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality 975 |
| suborn ----------- In The Godfather, the mobsters used bribery and threats to suborn the witnesses against Don Michael Corleone. | persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury) 976 |
| peerless ----------- The reigning operatic tenor of his generation, to his admirers Luciano Pavarotti was peerless: no one could compare with him. | having no equal; incomparable 977 |
| forte ----------- I am not eager to play this rather serious role, for my forte is comedy. | strong point or special talent 978 |
| audacious ----------- Audiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, deathdefying leap to freedom, escaping Darth Vader's troops. audacity, N. | daring; bold 979 |
| epitome ----------- Singing I am the very model of a modern Major-General, in The Pirates of Penzance, Major-General Stanley proclaimed himself the epitome of an officer and a gentleman. | perfect example or embodiment 980 |
| inflated ----------- His claims about the new product were inflated, it did not work as well as he had promised. | exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas) 981 |
| gesticulation ----------- Operatic performers are trained to make exaggerated gesticulations because of the large auditoriums in which they appear. | motion; gesture 982 |
| collate ----------- They collated the newly found manuscripts to deter-mine their age. | examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order 983 |
| waylay ----------- They agreed to waylay their victim as he passed through the dark alley going home. | ambush; lie in wait 984 |
| host ----------- You must attend to a host of details if you wish to succeed as host of a formal dinner party. Leeches are parasites that cling to their hosts and dri | great number; person entertaining guests; animal or plant from which a parasite gets its nourishment 985 |
| desolate ----------- After six months in the crowded, bustling metropolis, David was so sick of people that he was ready to head for the most desolate patch of wilderness he could find. | unpopulated 986 |
| simian ----------- Lemurs are nocturnal mammals and have many simian characteristics, although they are less intelligent than monkeys. | monkeylike 987 |
| perfunctory ----------- The auditor's perfunctory inspection of the books overlooked many errors. Giving the tabletop only a perfunctory swipe with her dust cloth, Betty promised herself she'd clean it more | superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm 988 |
| aria ----------- At her Metropolitan Opera audition, Marian Anderson sang an aria from Norma. | operatic solo 989 |
| pterodactyl ----------- The remains of pterodactyls indicate that these flying reptiles had a wingspan of as much as twenty feet. | extinct flying reptile 990 |
| *assuage ----------- Jilted by Jane, Dick tried to assuage his heartache by indulging in ice cream. One gallon later, he had assuaged his appetite but not his grief. | ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger) 991 |
| rostrum ----------- The crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum. | platform for speech-making; pulpit 992 |
| matriarch ----------- The matriarch ruled her gypsy tribe with a firm hand. | woman who rules a family or larger social group 993 |
| peripheral ----------- We lived, not in central London, but in one of those peripheral suburbs that spring up on the outskirts of a great city. | marginal; outer 994 |
| escapism ----------- Before you criticize her constant reading as mere escapism, note how greatly her vocabulary has improved since she began spending her days buried in books. | avoiding reality by diverting oneself with amusements 995 |
| nadir ----------- Although few people realized it, the Dow-Jones averages had reached their nadir and would soon begin an upward surge. | lowest point 996 |
| pathological ----------- Jerome's pathological fear of germs led him to wash his hands a hundred times a day. pathology, N. | related to the study of disease; diseased or markedly abnormal 997 |
| migrant ----------- These migrant birds return every spring. also N. | changing its habitat; wandering 998 |
| importune ----------- Democratic and Republican phone solicitors importuned her for contributions so frequently that she decided to give nothing to either party. | beg persistently 999 |
| refrain ----------- Whenever he heard a song with a lively chorus, Sol could never refrain from joining in on the refrain. | abstain from; resist 1000 |
| lexicographer ----------- The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compiling and editing the work. | compiler of a dictionary 1001 |
| enfranchise ----------- Although Blacks were enfranchised shortly after the Civil War, women did not receive the right to vote until 1920. | to admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote) 1002 |
| approbation ----------- She looked for some sign of approbation from her parents, hoping her good grades would please them. | approval 1003 |
| portly ----------- The overweight gentleman was referred to as portly by the polite salesclerk. | stately; stout 1004 |
| recession ----------- The slow recession of the flood waters created problems for the crews working to restore power to the area. recede,V. | withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity 1005 |
| adulation ----------- The rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes men. adulate,V. | flattery; admiration 1006 |
| ramp ----------- The house was built with ramps instead of stairs in order to enable the man in the wheelchair to move easily from room to room and floor to floor. | slope; inclined plane 1007 |
| decapitate ----------- They did not hang Lady Jane Grey; they decapitated her. Off with her head! cried the Duchess, eager to decapitate poor Alice. | behead 1008 |
| ameliorate ----------- Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums. | improve 1009 |
| portend ----------- The king did not know what these omens might portend and asked his soothsayers to interpret them. | foretell; presage 1010 |
| galvanize ----------- News that the prince was almost at their door galvanized the ugly stepsisters into a frenzy of combing and primping. | stimulate by shock; stir up; revitalize 1011 |
| hoodwink ----------- Having been hoodwinked once by the fast-talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went to purchase a used car. | deceive; delude 1012 |
| engaging ----------- Everyone liked Nancy's pleasant manners and engaging personality. | charming; attractive 1013 |
| zenith ----------- When the sun was at its zenith, the glare was not as strong as at sunrise and sunset. | point directly overhead in the sky; summit 1014 |
| clemency ----------- The lawyer was pleased when the case was sent to Judge Smith's chambers because Smith was noted for her clemency toward first offenders. | disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the weather 1015 |
| translucent ----------- We could not recognize the people in the next room because of the translucent curtains that separated us. | partly transparent 1016 |
| beneficiary ----------- In Scrooge's will, he made Tiny Tim his beneficiary. everything he left would go to young Tim. | person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will 1017 |
| zeal ----------- Katya's zeal was contagious; soon all her fellow students were busily making posters, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause. zealous,ADJ. | eager enthusiasm 1018 |
| maladroit ----------- How maladroit it was of me to mention seeing you out partying last night! From the look on his face, I take it that your boyfriend thought you were otherwise occupied. | clumsy; bungling 1019 |
| monotony ----------- What could be more deadly dull than the monotony of punching numbers into a computer hour after hour? | sameness leading to boredom 1020 |
| polemical ----------- Lexy was a master of polemical rhetoric; she should have worn a T-shirt with the slogan Born to Debate. | aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious 1021 |
| precocious ----------- Listening to the grown-up way the child discussed serious topics, we couldn't help remarking how precocious she was. precocity, N. | advanced in development 1022 |
| travail ----------- How long do you think a man can endure such travail and degradation without rebelling? | painful labor 1023 |
| low ----------- From the hilltop, they could see the herd like ants in the distance; they could barely hear the cattle low. | moo 1024 |
| hoary ----------- The man was hoary and wrinkled when he was 70. | white with age 1025 |
| eccentric ----------- The comet veered dangerously close to the earth in its eccentric orbit. People came up with some eccentric ideas for dealing with the emergency: someone even suggested tieing a knot in the comet's tail! | irregular; odd; whimsical; bizarre 1026 |
| chisel ----------- That crook chiseled me out of a hundred dollars when he sold me that marble statue he'd chiseled out of some cheap hunk of rock. | swindle or cheat; cut with a chisel 1027 |
| seep ----------- During the rainstorm, water seeped through the crack in the basement wall and damaged the floor boards. seepage, N. | ooze; trickle 1028 |
| ascendancy ----------- Leaders of religious cults maintain ascendancy over their followers by methods that can verge on brainwashing. | controlling influence; domination 1029 |
| shirk -----------); malinger. Brian has a strong sense of duty; he would never shirk any responsibility. | avoid (responsibility, work, etc 1030 |
| vendor ----------- The fruit vendor sold her wares from a stall on the sidewalk. | seller 1031 |
| filial ----------- Many children forget their filial obligations and disregard the wishes of their parents. | pertaining to a son or daughter 1032 |
| *contend ----------- Sociologist Harry Edwards contends that young black athletes are exploited by some college recruiters. | struggle; compete; assert earnestly 1033 |
| replicate ----------- Because he had always wanted a palace, Donald decided to replicate the Tai Mahal in miniature on his estate. | reproduce; duplicate 1034 |
| salient ----------- One of the salient features of that newspaper is its excellent editorial page. | prominent 1035 |
| retaliation ----------- Because everyone knew the Princeton Band had stolen Brown's mascot, the whole Princeton student body expected some sort of retaliation from Brown. retaliate,V. | repayment in kind (usually for bad treatment) 1036 |
| stultify ----------- His long hours in the blacking factory left young Dickens numb and incurious, as if the menial labor had stultified his brain. | cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinder 1037 |
| withhold ----------- The tenants decided to withhold a portion of the rent until the landlord kept his promise to renovate the building. | refuse to give; hold back 1038 |
| concoct -----------How did the inventive chef ever | prepare by combining; make up in concert 1039 |
| forebears ----------- Reverence for one's forebears (sometimes referred to as ancestor worship) plays an important part in many Oriental cultures. | ancestors 1040 |
| visionary ----------- She was given to visionary schemes that never materialized. also N. | produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical 1041 |
| sphinx-like ----------- The Mona Lisa's sphinx-like expression has intrigued and mystified art lovers for centuries. | enigmatic; mysterious 1042 |
| attribute ----------- His outstanding attribute was his kindness. | essential quality 1043 |
| rousing ----------- And now, let's have a rousing welcome for TV's own Roseanne Barr, who'll lead us in a rousing rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' | lively; stirring 1044 |
| accede ----------- If I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands. | agree 1045 |
| conspicuous ----------- Janet was conspicuous both for her red hair and for her height. | easily seen; noticeable; striking 1046 |
| figurine ----------- In The Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade was hired to trace the missing figurine of a black bird. | small ornamental statuette 1047 |
| buffet ----------- To buffet something is to rough it up. (Buffet rhymes with Muffett.) Was Miss Muffett buffeted by the crowd on the way to the buffet tray? | slap; batter; knock about 1048 |
| dross ----------- Many methods have been devised to separate the valuable metal from the dross. | waste matter; worthless impurities 1049 |
| sham ----------- He shammed sickness to get out of going to school. also N. | pretend 1050 |
| potentate ----------- The potentate spent more time at Monte Carlo than he did at home on his throne. | monarch; sovereign 1051 |
| epicure ----------- Epicures frequent this restaurant because it features exotic wines and dishes. epicurean,ADJ. | connoisseur of food and drink 1052 |
| context ----------- Because these lines are taken out of context, they do not convey the massage the author intended. | writings preceding and following the passage quoted 1053 |
| compliance ----------- Bullheaded Bill was not noted for easy compliance with the demands of others. As an architect, how-ever, Bill recognized that his design for the new school had to be in compliance with the loca | readiness to yield; conformity in fulfilling requirements 1054 |
| predispose ----------- Oleg's love of dressing up his big sister's Barbie doll may have predisposed him to become a fashion designer. Genetic influences apparently predispose people to certain forms of cancer. | give an inclination toward; make susceptible to 1055 |
| fleck ----------- Her cheeks, flecked with tears, were testimony to the hours of weeping. | spot 1056 |
| acrimonious ----------- The candidate attacked his opponent in highly acrimonious terms. acrimony, | bitter in words or manner 1057 |
| uniformity ----------- At Persons magazine, we strive for uniformity of style; as a result, all our writers wind up sounding exactly alike. | sameness; monotony 1058 |
| lethal ----------- It is unwise to leave lethal weapons where children may find them. | deadly 1059 |
| intervene ----------- When two close friends get into a fight, be careful if you try to intervene; they may join forces to gang up on you. | come between 1060 |
| betray ----------- The spy betrayed his country by selling military secrets to the enemy. When he was taken in for questioning, the tightness of his lips betrayed his fear of being caught. | be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly) 1061 |
| mesmerize ----------- The incessant drone seemed to mesmerize him and place him in a trance. | hypnotize 1062 |
| multifaceted ----------- A multifaceted composer, Roger Davidson has recorded original pieces that range from ragtime tangos to choral masses. | having many aspects 1063 |
| hypercritical ----------- You are hypercritical in your demands for perfection; we all make mistakes. | excessively exacting 1064 |
| acme ----------- His success in this role marked the acme of his career as an actor. | top; pinnacle 1065 |
| intransigence ----------- The negotiating team had not expected such intransigence from the striking workers, who rejected any hint of a compromise. intransigent,ADJ. | refusal of any compromise; stubbornness 1066 |
| quiver ----------- The bird dog's nose twitched and his whiskers quivered as he strained eagerly against the leash. also N. | tremble; shake 1067 |
| tempo ----------- I find the band's tempo too slow for such a lively dance. | speed of music 1068 |
| transmute ----------- He was unable to transmute his dreams into actualities. | change; convert to something different 1069 |
| authoritative ----------- Impressed by the young researcher's well-documented presentation, we accepted her analysis of the experiment as authoritative. | having the weight of authority; peremptory and dictatorial 1070 |
| primp ----------- The groom stood by idly while his nervous bride-to-be primped one last time before the mirror. | groom oneself with care; adorn oneself 1071 |
| purveyor ----------- As purveyor of rare wines and viands, he traveled through France and Italy every year in search of new products to sell. | furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer 1072 |
| hodgepodge ----------- The reviewer roundly condemned the play as a hodgepodge of random and purposeless encounters carried out by a cast lacking any uniformity of accent or style. | jumble; mixture of ill-suited elements 1073 |
| contemporary ----------- Though Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot were contemporaries, the two novelists depicted their Victorian world in markedly different ways. also ADJ. | ???/ person belong to the same period 1074 |
| benediction ----------- The appearance of the sun after the many rainy days was like a benediction. | blessing 1075 |
| numismatist ----------- The numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins. | person who collects coins 1076 |
| whimsical ----------- In Mrs. Doubtfire, the hero is a playful, whimsical man who takes a notion to dress up as a woman so that he can look after his children, who are in the custody of his ex-wife. whimsy, N. | capricious; fanciful 1077 |
| anthem ----------- Let us now all join in singing the national anthem. | song of praise or patriotism 1078 |
| disingenuous ----------- Now that we know the mayor and his wife are engaged in a bitter divorce fight, we find their earlier remarks regretting their lack of time together remarkably disingenuous. | lacking genuine candor; insincere 1079 |
| murky ----------- The murky depths of the swamp were so dark that one couldn't tell the vines and branches from the snakes. | dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague 1080 |
| exempt ----------- Because of his flat feet, Foster was exempt from serving in the armed forces. alsoV. | not subject to a duty, obligation 1081 |
| gullible ----------- Overly gullible people have only themselves to blame if they fall for con artists repeatedly. As the saying goes, Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. | easily deceived 1082 |
| peregrination ----------- Auntie Mame was a world traveler whose peregrinations took her from Tiajuana to Timbuctoo. | journey 1083 |
| brawn ----------- It takes brawn to become a champion weightlifter. brawny,ADJ. | muscular strength; sturdiness 1084 |
| *avarice ----------- King Midas is a perfect example of avarice, for he was so greedy that he wished everything he touched would turn to gold. | greediness for wealth 1085 |
| quack ----------- Do not be misled by the exorbitant claims of this quack; he cannot cure you. | charlatan; impostor 1086 |
| crestfallen ----------- We were surprised at his reaction to the failure of his project; instead of being crestfallen, his was busily engaged in planning new activities. | dejected; dispirited 1087 |
| surly ----------- Because of his surly attitude, many people avoided his company. | rude; cross 1088 |
| discordant ----------- Nothing is quite so discordant as the sound of a junior high school orchestra tuning up. | not harmonious; conflicting 1089 |
| supplant ----------- Bolingbroke, later to be known as King Henry IV, fought to supplant his cousin, Richard III, as King of England. | replace; usurp 1090 |
| fervor ----------- At the protest rally, the students cheered the strikers and booed the dean with equal fervor. | glowing ardor; intensity of feeling 1091 |
| quorum ----------- The senator asked for a roll call to determine whether a quorum was present. | number of members necessary to conduct a meeting 1092 |
| warranty ----------- The purchaser of this automobile is protected by the manufacturer's warranty that the company will replace any defective part for five years or 50,000 miles. | guarantee; assurance by seller 1093 |
| acknowledge ----------- Although I acknowledge that the Beatles' tunes sound pretty dated today, I still prefer them to the gangsta rap songs my brothers play. | recognize; admit 1094 |
| rampant ----------- The rampant weeds in the garden choked the flowers until they died. | growing in profusion; unrestrained 1095 |
| ire ----------- The waiter tried unsuccessfully to placate the ire of the diner who had found a cockroach in her soup. | anger 1096 |
| superficial ----------- Since your report gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, I cannot give you more than a passing grade. | trivial; shallow 1097 |
| respite ----------- After working nonstop on this project for three straight months. I need a respite! For David, the two weeks vacationing in New Zealand were a delightful respite from the pressures of his job. | interval of relief; time for rest; delay in punishment 1098 |
| abstract ----------- To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he had never missed a meal. | theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational 1099 |
| impale ----------- He was impaled by the spear hurled by his adversary. | Pierce 1100 |
| prototype ----------- The crude typewriter on display in this museum is the prototype of the elaborate machines in use today. | original work used as a model by others 1101 |
| animus ----------- The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks. | hostile feeling or intent 1102 |
| swelter ----------- I am going to buy an air conditioning unit for my apartment as I do not intend to swelter through another hot and humid summer. | be oppressed by heat 1103 |
| statute ----------- The statute of limitations sets the limits on how long you have to take legal action in specific cases. | law enacted by the legislature 1104 |
| appraise ----------- It is difficult to appraise the value of old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless. appraisal, N. | estimate value of 1105 |
| quadruped ----------- Most mammals are quadrupeds. | four-footed animal 1106 |
| ostentatious ----------- Donald Trump's latest casino in Atlantic City is the most ostentatious gambling palace in the East: it easily outglitters its competitors. ostentation, N. | showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention 1107 |
| acuity ----------- In time his youthful acuity of vision failed him, and he needed glasses. | sharpness 1108 |
| luster ----------- The soft luster of the silk in the dim light was pleasing. | shine; gloss 1109 |
| disinterested ----------- Given the judge's political ambitions and the lawyers' financial interest in the case, the only disinterested person in the courtroom may have been the court reporter. | unprejudiced 1110 |
| amulet ----------- Around her neck she wore the amulet that the witch doctor had given her. | charm; talisman 1111 |
| creed ----------- Any loyal American's creed must emphasize love of democracy. | system of religious or ethical belief 1112 |
| swill ----------- Singing Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum, Long John Silver and his fellow pirates swilled their grog. | drink greedily 1113 |
| windfall ----------- This huge tax refund is quite a windfall. | unexpected lucky event 1114 |
| gruff ----------- Although he was blunt and gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children. | rough-mannered 1115 |
| opulence ----------- The glitter and opulence of the ballroom took Cinderella's breath away. opulent,ADJ. | extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance 1116 |
| flounder ----------- Up to his knees in the bog, Floyd floundered about, trying to regain his footing. Bewildered by the new software, Flo floundered until Jan showed her how to get started. | struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter 1117 |
| utopia ----------- Fed up with this imperfect universe, Don would have liked to run off to Shangri-la or some other imaginary utopia. utopian, ADJ. vacillate V. waver; fluctuate. Uncertain which suitor she ought to marry, the princess vac | ideal place, state, or society 1118 |
| retiring ----------- Given Susan's retiring personality, no one expected her to take up public speaking; surprisingly enough, she became a star of the school debate team, | modest; shy 1119 |
| figment ----------- That incident never took place; it is a figment of your imagination. | invention; imaginary thing 1120 |
| striated ----------- The glacier left many striated rocks. striate,V. | marked with parallel bands; grooved 1121 |
| grandiloquent ----------- The politician could never speak simply; she was always grandiloquent. | pompous; bombastic; using highsounding language 1122 |
| rout ----------- The reinforcements were able to rout the enemy. also N. | stampede; drive out 1123 |
| garrulous ----------- My Uncle Henry can out-talk any three people I know. He is the most garrulous person in Cayuga County. garrulity, N. | loquacious; wordy; talkative 1124 |
| camouflage ----------- In order to rescue Han Solo, Princess Leia camouflaged herself in the helmet and cloak of a space bandit. | disguise; conceal 1125 |
| beneficial ----------- Tiny Tim's cheerful good nature had a beneficial influence on Scrooge's onceuncharitable disposition. | helpful; useful 1126 |
| recrimination ----------- Loud and angry recriminations were her answer to his accusations. | countercharges 1127 |
| verge ----------- Madame Curie knew she was on the verge of discovering the secrets of radioactive elements. alsoV. | border; edge 1128 |
| purported ----------- The purported Satanists sacrificing live roosters in the park turned out to be a party of Shriners holding a chicken barbecue. | alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored 1129 |
| harass ----------- When he could not pay his bills as quickly as he had promised, he was harassed by his creditors. | to annoy by repeated attacks 1130 |
| transgression ----------- Forgive us our transgressions; we know not what we do. | violation of a law; sin 1131 |
| *coalesce ----------- The brooks coalesce into one large river. When minor political parties coalesce, their coalescence may create a major coalition. | combine; fuse 1132 |
| disdain ----------- In the film Funny Face, the bookish heroine disdained fashion models for their lack of intellectual interests. also N. | view with scorn or contempt 1133 |
| panacea ----------- The rich youth cynically declared that the panacea for all speeding tickets was a big enough bribe. | cure-all; remedy for all diseases 1134 |
| reprisal ----------- I am confident that we are ready for any reprisals the enemy may undertake. | retaliation 1135 |
| strident ----------- Whenever Sue became angry, she tried not to raise her voice; she had no desire to appear strident. | loud and harsh; insistent 1136 |
| rift ----------- The plane was lost in the stormy sky until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds. | opening; break 1137 |
| aggrandize ----------- The history of the past quarter century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to act aggressively in international affairs without considering the wishes of Congress. | increase or intensify 1138 |
| firebrand ----------- The police tried to keep track of all the local firebrands when the President came to town. | hothead: troublemaker 1139 |
| ascetic ----------- The wealthy, self-indulgent young man felt oddly drawn to the strict, ascetic life led by members of some monastic orders. also N. | practicing self-denial; austere 1140 |
| consummate ----------- I have never seen anyone who makes as many stupid errors as you do; what a consummate idiot you are! also V. | complete 1141 |
| dappled ----------- The sunlight filtering through the screens created a dappled effect on the wall. | spotted 1142 |
| subsidy ----------- Without this subsidy, American ship operators would not be able to compete in world markets. | direct financial aid by government, etc 1143 |
| uncanny ----------- You have the uncanny knack of reading my innermost thoughts. | strange; mysterious 1144 |
| philanthropist ----------- In his role as philanthropist and public benefactor, John D. Rockefeller, Sr., donated millions to charity; as an individual, however, he was a tight-fisted old man. | lover of mankind; doer of good 1145 |
| sophistry ----------- Instead of advancing valid arguments, he tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood of sophistries. | seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning 1146 |
| cavalcade ----------- As described by Chaucer, the cavalcade of Canterbury pilgrims was a motley group. | procession; parade 1147 |
| bureaucracy ----------- The Internal Revenue Service is the ultimate bureaucracy. taxpayers wasted so much paper filling out IRS forms that the IRS bureaucrats printed up a new set of rules requiring taxpayers to comp | over-regulated administrative system marked by red tape 1148 |
| equitable ----------- I am seeking an equitable solution to this dispute, one that will be fair and acceptable to both sides. | fair; impartial 1149 |
| yen ----------- She had a yen to get away and live on her own for a while. | longing; urge 1150 |
| flagrant ----------- The governor's appointment of his brother-in-law to the State Supreme Court was a flagrant violation of the state laws against nepotism (favoritism based on kinship). | conspicuously wicked; blatant; outrageous 1151 |
| amphitheater ----------- The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators. | oval building with tiers of seats 1152 |
| fanfare ----------- The exposition was opened with a fanfare of trumpets and the firing of cannon. | call by bugles or trumpets 1153 |
| discursive ----------- As the lecturer wandered from topic to topic, we wondered what if any point there was to his discursive remarks. | digressing; rambling 1154 |
| cipher ----------- She claimed her ex-husband was a total cipher and wondered why she had ever married him. | nonentity; worthless person or thing 1155 |
| visceral ----------- She disliked the visceral sensations she had whenever she rode the roller coaster. | felt in one's inner organs 1156 |
| acoustics ----------- Carnegie Hall is liked by music lovers because of its fine acoustics. | science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in 1157 |
| avuncular ----------- Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings. | like an uncle 1158 |
| exigency ----------- In this exigency, we must look for aid from our allies. | urgent situation 1159 |
| rote ----------- He recited the passage by rote and gave no indication he understood what he was saying. | repetition 1160 |
| graduated -----------). Margaret loved her graduated set of Russian hollow wooden dolls; she spent hours happily putting the smaller dolls into their larger counterparts. | arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc 1161 |
| fraudulent ----------- The government seeks to prevent fraudulent and misleading advertising. | cheating; deceitful 1162 |
| emancipate ----------- At first, the attempts of the Abolitionists to emancipate the slaves were unpopular in New England as well as in the South. | set free 1163 |
| gourmand ----------- Gourmands lack self-restraint; if they enjoy a particular cuisine, they eat far too much of it. | epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink 1164 |
| detraction ----------- He is offended by your frequent detractions of his ability as a leader. | slandering; aspersion 1165 |
| convene ----------- Because much needed legislation had to be enacted, the governor ordered the legislature to convene in special sessions by January 15. | assemble 1166 |
| ignoble ----------- This plan is inspired by ignoble motives and I must, therefore, oppose it. | of lowly origin; unworthy 1167 |
| crest ----------- Fleeing the tidal wave, the islanders scrambled to reach the crest of Mount Lucinda. With relief, they watched the crest of the wave break well below their vantage point. | highest point of a hill; foamy top of a wave 1168 |
| excerpt ----------- The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a novel is a clip from a film. alsoV. | selected passage (written or musical) 1169 |
| extraneous ----------- No wonder Ted can't think straight! His mind is so cluttered up with extraneous trivia, he can't concentrate on the essentials. | not essential; superfluous 1170 |
| prim ----------- Many people commented on the contrast between the prim attire of the young lady and the inappropriate clothing worn by her escort. | very precise and formal; exceedingly proper 1171 |
| muggy ----------- August in New York City is often muggy. | warm and damp 1172 |
| assail ----------- He was assailed with questions after his lecture. | assault 1173 |
| retentive ----------- The pupil did not need to spend much time studying, for he had a retentive mind and remembered all he read. | holding; having a good memory 1174 |
| metallurgical ----------- During the course of his metallurgical research, the scientist developed a steel alloy of tremendous strength. | pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores 1175 |
| fundamental ----------- The committee discussed all sorts of side issues without ever getting down to addressing the fundamental problem. | basic; primary; essential 1176 |
| complementary ----------- John and Lisa's skills are complementary | serving to complete something 1177 |
| predilection ----------- Although I have written all sorts of poetry over the years, I have a definite predilection for occasional verse. | partiality; preference 1178 |
| chalice ----------- In a small room adjoining the cathedral, many ornately decorated chalices made by the most famous European goldsmiths were on display. | goblet; consecrated cup 1179 |
| catholic ----------- He was extremely catholic in his taste and read everything he could find in the library. | broadly sympathetic; liberal 1180 |
| decoy ----------- The wild ducks were not fooled by the decoy. alsoV. | lure or bait 1181 |
| cadence ----------- Marching down the road, the troops sang out, following the cadence set by the sergeant. | rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat 1182 |
| resilient ----------- Highly resilient, steel makes excellent bedsprings. resilience, N. | elastic; having the power of springing back 1183 |
| indolent ----------- Couch potatoes lead an indolent life lying back on their Lazyboy recliners watching Tv. indolence, N. | lazy 1184 |
| colloquial ----------- Some of the new, less formal reading passages on the SAT have a colloquial tone that is intended to make them more appealing to students. | pertaining to conversational or common speech 1185 |
| impostor ----------- Holmes exposed the doctor as an impostor. | someone who assumes a false identity 1186 |
| misrepresent ----------- In his job application, Milton misrepresented his academic background; he was fired when his employers discovered the truth. The reformers accused Se | give a false or incorrect impression, often deliberately; serve unsatisfactorily as a representative 1187 |
| douse ----------- They doused each other with hoses and water balloons. | plunge into water; drench; extinguish 1188 |
| ecologist ----------- The ecologist was concerned that the new dam would upset the natural balance of the creatures living in Glen Canyon. | a person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment 1189 |
| entrance ----------- Shafts of sunlight on a wall could entrance her and leave her spellbound. | put under a spell; carry away with emotion 1190 |
| obstetrician ----------- In modern times, the delivery of children has passed from the midwife to the more scientifically trained obstetrician, | physician specializing in delivery of babies 1191 |
| indelible ----------- The indelible ink left a permanent mark on my shirt. Young Bill Clinton's meeting with President Kennedy made an indelible impression on the youth. | not able to be erased 1192 |
| talon ----------- The falconer wore a leather gauntlet to avoid being clawed by the hawk's talons. | claw of bird 1193 |
| gale ----------- The Weather Channel warned viewers about a rising gale, with winds of up to sixty miles per hour. | windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughter, tears) 1194 |
| maniacal ----------- Though Mr. Rochester had locked his mad wife in the attic, he could still hear her maniacal laughter echoing throughout the house. | raging mad; insane 1195 |
| frenzied ----------- As soon as they smelled smoke, the frenzied animals milled about in their cages. | madly excited 1196 |
| patriarch ----------- In many primitive tribes, the leader and lawmaker was the patriarch. | father and ruler of a family or tribe 1197 |
| concomitant ----------- Culture is not always a concomitant of wealth. ADJ | that which accompanies 1198 |
| lechery ----------- In his youth he led a life of lechery and debauchery; he did not mend his ways until middle age. lecherous,ADJ. | lustfulness; impurity in thought and deed 1199 |
| preempt ----------- Hoping to preempt any attempts by the opposition to make educational reform a hot political issue, the candidate set out her own plan to revitalize the public schools. preemptive, | head off; forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself; supplant 1200 |
| aquiline ----------- He can be recognized by his aquiline nose, curved like the beak of the eagle. | curved, hooked 1201 |
| vent ----------- The wine did not flow because the air vent in the barrel was clogged. | a small opening; outlet 1202 |
| weather ----------- He weathered the changes in his personal life with difficulty, as he had no one in whom to confide. | endure the effects of weather or other forces 1203 |
| cistern ----------- The farmers were able to withstand the dry season by using rainwater they had stored in an underground cistern. | reservoir or water tank 1204 |
| strut ----------- Looking at his selfimportant strut as he swaggered about the parade ground, I could tell Colonel Blimp thought highly of himself. alsoV. | pompous walk; swagger 1205 |
| revoke ----------- Repeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol face having their driver's licenses permanently revoked. | cancel; retract 1206 |
| subversive ----------- At first glance, the notion that styrofoam cups may actually be more ecologically sound than paper cups strikes most environmentalists as subversive. | tending to overthrow; destructive 1207 |
| avow ----------- Lana avowed that she never meant to steal Debbie's boyfriend, but no one believed her avowal of innocence. | declare openly 1208 |
| lethargic ----------- The stuffy room made her lethargic: she felt as if she was about to nod off. | drowsy; dull 1209 |
| maelstrom ----------- The canoe was tossed about in the maelstrom. | whirlpool 1210 |
| feasible ----------- Is it feasible to build a new stadium for the Yankees on New York's West Side? Without additional funding, the project is clearly unrealistic. | practical 1211 |
| evenhanded ----------- Do men and women receive evenhanded treatment from their teachers, or, as recent studies suggest, do teachers pay more attention to male students than to females? | impartial; fair 1212 |
| vex ----------- Please try not to vex your mother; she is doing the best she can. | annoy; distress 1213 |
| adapt ----------- Some species of animals have become extinct because they could not adapt to a changing environment. | alter; modify 1214 |
| effrontery ----------- She had the effrontery to insult the guest. | shameless boldness 1215 |
| urbane ----------- The courtier was urbane and sophisticated. urbanity, N. | suave; refined; elegant 1216 |
| infallible ----------- We must remember that none of us is infallible; we all make mistakes. | unerring 1217 |
| supercilious ----------- The supercilious headwaiter sneered at customers whom he thought did not fit in at a restaurant catering to an ultrafashionable crowd. | arrogant; condescending; patronizing 1218 |
| scapegoat ----------- After the Challenger disaster, NASA searched for scapegoats on whom they could cast the blame. | someone who bears the blame for others 1219 |
| slur ----------- When Sol has too much to drink, he starts to slur his words: Washamatter? Cansh you undershtand what I shay? | speak indistinctly; mumble 1220 |
| admonition ----------- After the student protesters repeatedly rejected Chairman Deng's admonitions, the government issued an ultimatum: either the students would end the demonstration at once or the soldiers would fire on the crowd. | warning 1221 |
| retroactive ----------- Because the law was retroactive to the first of the year, we found she was eligible for the pension. | of a law that dates back to a period before its enactment 1222 |
| venial ----------- When Jean Valjean stole a loaf of bread to feed his starving sister, he committed a venial offense. | forgivable; trivial 1223 |
| gusty ----------- The gusty weather made sailing precarious. | windy 1224 |
| marred ----------- She had to refinish the marred surface of the table. mar,V. | damaged; disfigured 1225 |
| fallible ----------- I know I am fallible, but I feel confident that I am right this time. | liable to err 1226 |
| renounce ----------- Even though she knew she would be burned at the stake as a witch, Joan of Arc refused to renounce her belief that her voices came from God. renunciation, N. | abandon; disown; repudiate 1227 |
| aghast ----------- He was aghast at the nerve of the speaker who had insulted his host. | horrified 1228 |
| turbid ----------- The water was turbid after the children had waded through it. | muddy; having the sediment disturbed 1229 |
| fissure ----------- The mountain climbers secured footholds in tiny fissures in the rock. | crevice 1230 |
| headstrong ----------- Because she refused to marry the man her parents had chosen for her, everyone scolded Minna and called her a foolish headstrong girl. | stubborn; willful; unyielding 1231 |
| panoramic ----------- On a clear day, from the top of the World Trade Center you can get a panoramic view of New York City and parts of New Jersey and Long Island. panorama, N. | related to an unobstructed and comprehensive view 1232 |
| bilious ----------- His bilious temperament was apparent to all who heard him rant about his difficulties. | suffering from indigestion; irritable 1233 |
| petty ----------- She had no major complaints to make about his work, only a few petty quibbles that were almost too minor to state. | trivial; unimportant; very small 1234 |
| negligence ----------- Tommy failed to put back the cover on the well after he fetched his pail of water; because of his negligence, Kitty fell in. | neglect; failure to take reasonable care 1235 |
| incentive ----------- Mike's strong desire to outshine his big sister was all the incentive he needed to do well in school. | spur; motive 1236 |
| ethereal ----------- In Shakespeare's The Tempest, the spirit Ariel is an ethereal creature, too airy and unearthly for our mortal world. | light; heavenly; unusually refined 1237 |
| profligate ----------- Although surrounded by wild and profligate companions, she nevertheless managed to retain some sense of decency. | dissipated; wasteful; wildly immoral 1238 |
| missile ----------- After carefully folding his book report into a paper airplane, Beavis threw the missile across the classroom at Butthead. Rocket scientists are building guided missiles; Beavis and Butthead can barely make unguided o | object to be thrown or projected 1239 |
| mammal ----------- Many people regard the whale as a fish and do not realize that it is a mammal. | a vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young 1240 |
| vital ----------- The vital, highly energetic first aid instructor stressed that it was vital in examining accident victims to note their vital signs. | vibrant and lively; critical; living, breathing 1241 |
| jocular ----------- Although Bill knew the boss hated jokes, he couldn't resist making one jocular remark. | said or done in jest 1242 |
| verbiage ----------- After we had waded through all the verbiage, we discovered that the writer had said very little. | pompous array of words 1243 |
| motley ----------- The jester wore a motley tunic, red and green and blue and gold all patched together haphazardly. Captain Ahab had gathered a motley crew to sail the vessel: old sea dogs and runaway boys, pillars of the church and drunkards, | multi-colored; mixed 1244 |
| gory ----------- The audience shuddered as they listened to the details of the gory massacre. | bloody 1245 |
| disseminate ----------- By their use of the Internet, propagandists have been able to disseminate their pet doctrines to new audiences around the globe. | distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds) 1246 |
| martial ----------- The sound of martial music inspired the young cadet with dreams of military glory. | warlike 1247 |
| deplore ----------- Although I deplore the vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express yourself freely. | regret; disapprove of 1248 |
| embellish ----------- The costume designer embellished the leading lady's ball gown with yards and yards of ribbon and lace. | adorn; ornament 1249 |
| shrewd ----------- A shrewd investor, he took clever advantage of the fluctuations of the stock market. | clever; astute 1250 |
| amiss ----------- Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything were amiss. also ADV. | wrong; faulty 1251 |
| caustic ----------- The critic's caustic remarks angered the hapless actors who were the subjects of his sarcasm. | burning; sarcastically biting 1252 |
| bland ----------- Jill tried a bland ointment for her sunburn. However, when Jack absentmindedly patted her on the sunburned shoulder, she couldn't maintain a bland disposition. | soothing or mild; agreeable 1253 |
| bolster ----------- The debaters amassed file boxes full of evidence to bolstertheir arguments. | support; reinforce 1254 |
| eerie ----------- In that eerie setting, it was easy to believe in ghosts and other supernatural beings. | weird 1255 |
| lunge ----------- The wide receiver lunged forward to grab the football. With his sword, Dartagnan lunged at his adversary. | quick forward dive or reach; thrust 1256 |
| deprecate ----------- A firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy, Miss Post deprecated the modern tendency to address new acquaintances by their first names. deprecatory,ADJ. | express disapproval of; protest against; belittle 1257 |
| sultry ----------- He could not adjust himself to the sultryclimate of the tropics. | sweltering 1258 |
| Unctuous ----------- Uriah Heep disguised his nefarious actions by unctuous protestations of his humility. | oily; bland; insincerely suave 1259 |
| misgivings ----------- Hamlet described his misgivings to Horatio but decided to fence with Laertes despite his foreboding of evil. | doubts 1260 |
| exult ----------- We exulted when our team won the victory. | rejoice 1261 |
| depict ----------- In this sensational exposé, the author depicts Beatle John Lennon as a drug-crazed neurotic. Do you question the accuracy of this depiction of Lennon? | portray 1262 |
| stupor ----------- In his stupor, the addict was unaware of the events taking place around him. | state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness 1263 |
| desultory ----------- In prison Malcolm X set himself the task of reading straight through the dictionary; to him, reading was purposeful, not desultory. | aimless; haphazard; digressing at random 1264 |
| aureole ----------- Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureoles around their heads. | sun's corona; halo 1265 |
| ambiguous ----------- His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take. ambiguity, N. | unclear or doubtful in meaning 1266 |
| compromise ----------- Sometimes the presence of a neutral third party can help adversaries | adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of 1267 |
| coiffure ----------- You can make a statement with your choice of coiffure: in the sixties many AfricanAmericans affirmed their racial heritage by wearing their hair in Afros. | hairstyle 1268 |
| veneer ----------- Casual acquaintances were deceived by his veneer of sophistication and failed to recognize his fundamental shallowness. | thin layer; cover 1269 |
| provocative ----------- In a typically provocative act, the bully kicked sand into the weaker man's face. | arousing anger or interest; annoying 1270 |
| affront ----------- When Mrs. Proudie was not seated beside the Archdeacon at the head table, she took it as a personal affront and refused to speak to her hosts for a week. alsoV. | insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect 1271 |
| Simplistic ----------- Though Jack's solution dealt adequately with one aspect of the problem, it was simplistic in failing to consider various complications that might arise. | oversimplified 1272 |
| deciduous ----------- The oak is a deciduous tree; in winter it looks quite bare. | falling off as of leaves 1273 |
| Clout ----------- Gatsby wondered whether he had enough clout to be admitted to the exclusive club. | great influence (especially political or social) 1274 |
| stanza ----------- Do you know the last stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner? | division of a poem 1275 |
| toxic ----------- We must seek an antidote for whatever toxic substance he has eaten. toxicity, N. | poisonous 1276 |
| disembark ----------- Before the passengers could disembark, they had to pick up their passports from the ship's purser. | go ashore; unload cargo from a ship 1277 |
| mentor ----------- During this very trying period, she could not have had a better mentor, for the teacher was sympathetic and understanding. | teacher 1278 |
| prologue ----------- In the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare introduces the audience to the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. | introduction (to a poem or play) 1279 |
| compelling ----------- The prosecutor presented a well-reasoned case, but the defense attorney's compelling arguments for leniency won over the jury. | overpowering; irresistible in effect 1280 |
| rebuttal ----------- The defense lawyer confidently listened to the prosecutor sum up his case, sure that she could answer his arguments in her rebuttal. | refutation; response with contrary evidence 1281 |
| spurn ----------- The heroine spurned the villain's advances. | reject; scorn 1282 |
| gibberish ----------- Did you hear that fool boy spouting gibberish about monsters from outer space? gibber,V. | nonsense; babbling 1283 |
| hostility ----------- A child who has been the sole object of his parents' affection often feels hostility toward a new baby in the family, resenting the newcomer who has taken his place. | unfriendliness; hatred 1284 |
| dossier ----------- Ordered by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate the senator, the FBI compiled a complete dossieron him. | file of documents on a subject 1285 |
| confound ----------- No mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes for long. | confuse; puzzle 1286 |
| bohemian ----------- Gertrude Stein ran off to Paris to live an eccentric, bohemian life with her writer friends. Oakland was not bohemian: it was too bourgeois, too middle-class. | unconventional (in an artistic way) 1287 |
| pretext ----------- He looked for a good pretext to get out of paying a visit to his aunt. | excuse 1288 |
| elegy ----------- On the death of Edward King, Milton composed the elegy Lycidas. elegiacal,ADJ. | poem or song expressing lamentation 1289 |
| agility ----------- The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience. | nimbleness 1290 |
| abstinence ----------- The doctor recommended total abstinence from salted foods. abstain,V. | restraint from eating or drinking 1291 |
| evince ----------- When he tried to answer the questions, he evinced his ignorance of the subject matter. | show clearly 1292 |
| palpable ----------- The patient's enlarged spleen was palpable: even the first year medical student could feel it. | tangible; easily perceptible; unmistakable 1293 |
| bourgeois ----------- Technically, anyone who belongs to the middle class is bourgeois, but, given the word's connotations, most people resent it if you call them that. | middle class; selfishly materialistic; dully conventional 1294 |
| requisite ----------- Many colleges state that a student must offer three years of a language as a requisite for admission. | necessary requirement 1295 |
| corollary ----------- Brotherly love is a complex emotion, with sibling rivalry its natural corollary. | consequence; accompaniment 1296 |
| contortion ----------- As the effect of the opiate wore away, the contortions of the patient became more violent and demostrated how much pain she was enduring. | twisting; distortion 1297 |
| alloy ----------- Our delight at the Yankees' victory was alloyed by our concern for Dwight Gooden, who injured his pitching arm in the game. | mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate 1298 |
| indubitable ----------- Auditioning for the chorus line, Molly was an indubitable hit: the director fired the leading lady and hired Molly in her place! | unable to be doubted; unquestionable 1299 |
| decelerate ----------- Seeing the emergency blinkers in the road ahead, he decelerated quickly. | slow down 1300 |
| ruse ----------- You will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ruse. | trick; stratagem 1301 |
| collusion ----------- The swindlers were found guilty of collusion. | conspiring in a fraudulent scheme 1302 |
| demean ----------- Standing on his dignity, he refused to demean himself by replying to the offensive letter. If you truly believed in the dignity of labor, you would not think it would demean you to work as a janitor. | degrade; humiliate 1303 |
| traverse ----------- When you traverse this field, be careful of the bull. | go through or across 1304 |
| barterer ----------- The barterer exchanged trinkets for the natives' furs. It seemed smarter to barter than to pay cash. | trader 1305 |
| congruent ----------- In formulating a hypothasis, we must keep it congruent with what we know of the real world; it cannot disagree with our experience. | in agreement; corresponding 1306 |
| frenetic ----------- His frenetic activities convinced us that he had no organized plan of operation. | frenzied; frantic 1307 |
| grisly ----------- She shuddered at the grisly sight. | ghastly 1308 |
| deleterious ----------- If you believe that smoking is deleterious to your health (and the Surgeon General certainly does), then quit! | harmful 1309 |
| shoddy ----------- You will never get the public to buy such shoddy material. | sham; not genuine; inferior 1310 |
| mawkish ----------- Whenever Gigi and her boyfriend would sigh and get all lovey-dovey, her little brother would shout, Yuck! protesting their mawkish behavior. | mushy and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; maudlin 1311 |
| refurbish ----------- The flood left a deposit of mud on everything; we had to refurbish our belongings. | renovate; make bright by polishing 1312 |
| conjugal ----------- Their dreams of conjugal bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed. | pertaining to marriage 1313 |
| unravel ----------- With equal ease Miss Marple unraveled tangled balls of yarn and baffling murder mysteries. | disentangle; solve 1314 |
| venturesome ----------- A group of venturesome women were the first to scale Mt. Annapurna. | bold 1315 |
| rankle ----------- The memory of having been jilted rankled him for years. | irritate; fester 1316 |
| serrated ----------- The beech tree is one of many plants that have serrated leaves. | having a sawtoothed edge 1317 |
| wispy ----------- Worried about preserving his few wispy tufts of hair, Walter carefully massaged his scalp and applied hair restorer every night. | thin; slight; barely discernible 1318 |
| stricture ----------- Huck regularly disobeyed Miss Watson's rules and strictures upon his behavior: he wouldn't wear shoes, no matter what she said. | restriction; adverse criticism 1319 |
| eschew ----------- Hoping to present himself to his girlfriend as a totally reformed character, he tried to eschew all the vices, especially chewing tobacco and drinking bathtub gin. | avoid 1320 |
| fret ----------- To fret over your poor grades is foolish; instead, decide to work harder in the future. | to be annoyed or vexed 1321 |
| dishearten ----------- His failure to pass the bar exam disheartened him. | discourage; cause to lose courage or hope 1322 |
| thwart ----------- He felt that everyone was trying to thwart his plans and prevent his success. | baffle; frustrate 1323 |
| epilogue ----------- The audience was so disappointed in the play that many did not remain to hear the epilogue. | short speech at conclusion of dramatic work 1324 |
| perforate ----------- Before you can open the aspirin bottle, you must first perforate the plastic safety seal that covers the cap. | pierce; put a hole through 1325 |
| laconic ----------- Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words. | brief and to the point 1326 |
| nascent ----------- If we could identify these revolutionary movements in their nascent state, we would be able to eliminate serious trouble in later years. | incipient; coming into being 1327 |
| sophomoric ----------- Even if you're only a freshman, it's no compliment to be told your humor is sophomoric. The humor in Dumb and Dumber is sophomoric at best. | immature; half-baked, like a sophomore 1328 |
| economy ----------- Reading the epigrams of Pope, I admire the economy of his verse: in few words he conveys worlds of meaning. (secondary meaning) | efficiency or conciseness in using something 1329 |
| unwieldy ----------- The large carton was so unwieldy that the movers had trouble getting it up the stairs. | awkward; cumbersome; unmanageable 1330 |
| pertinent ----------- Virginia Woolf's words on women's rights are as pertinent today as they were when she wrote them nearly a century ago. | To the point; relevant 1331 |
| anonymous ----------- She tried to ascertain the identity of the writer of the anonymous letter. | having no name 1332 |
| decollete ----------- Current fashion decrees that evening gowns be decollete this season; bare shoulders are again the vogue. | having a low-necked dress 1333 |
| poignancy ----------- Watching the tearful reunion of the long-separated mother and child, the social worker was touched by the poignancy of the scene. poignant,ADJ. | quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion 1334 |
| glut ----------- The many manufacturers glutted the market and could not find purchasers for the excess articles they had produced. also N. | overstock; fill to excess 1335 |
| protocol ----------- We must run this state dinner according to protocol if we are to avoid offending any of our guests. | diplomatic etiquette 1336 |
| reciprocate ----------- If they attack us, we shall be compelled to reciprocate and bomb their territory. reciprocity, N. | repay in kind 1337 |
| derelict ----------- The derelict craft was a menace to navigation. Whoever abandoned it in the middle of the harbor was derelict in living up to his responsibilities as a boat owner. also N. | abandoned; negligent 1338 |
| cabal ----------- The cabal was defeated when their scheme was discovered. | small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests 1339 |
| resentment ----------- Not wanting to appear a sore loser, Bill tried to hide his resentment of Barry's success. | indignation; bitterness; displeasure 1340 |
| invigorate ----------- A quick dip in the pool invigorated Meg, and with renewed energy she got back to work. | energize; stimulate 1341 |
| reserve ----------- Although some girls were attracted by Mark's air of reserve, Judy was put off by it, for she felt his aloofness indicated a lack of openness. reserved,ADJ. | self-control; formal but distant manner 1342 |
| prodigal ----------- Don't be so prodigal spending my money; when you've earned some money yourself, you can waste it as much as you want! also N. | wasteful; reckless with money 1343 |
| pittance ----------- He could not live on the pittance he received as a pension and had to look for an additional source of revenue. | a small allowance or wage 1344 |
| brochure ----------- This brochure on farming was issued by the Department of Agriculture. | pamphlet 1345 |
| debauch ----------- Did Socrates' teachings lead the young men of Athens to be virtuous citizens, or did they debauch the young men, causing them to question the customs of their fathers? Clearly, Socrates' philosophical talks were nothing lik | corrupt; seduce from virtue 1346 |
| coin ----------- Mints coin good money; counterfeiters coin fakes. Slanderers coin nasty rumors; writers coin words. A neologism is an expression that's been newly-coined. | make coins; invent or fabricate 1347 |
| acrid ----------- The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired. | sharp; bitterly pungent 1348 |
| artifact ----------- Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor but came to no conclusion about the culture they represented. | object made by human beings, either handmade or mass-produced 1349 |
| cipher ----------- Lacking his code book, the spy was unable to decode the message sent to him in cipher. | secret code 1350 |
| mimicry ----------- Her gift for mimicry was so great that her friends said that she should be in the theater. | imitation 1351 |
| expository ----------- The manual that came with my VCR was no masterpiece of expository prose: its explanations were so garbled that I couldn't even figure out how to rewind a tape. exposition, N. | explanatory; serving to explain 1352 |
| intuition ----------- Even though Tony denied that anything was wrong, Tina trusted her intuition that something was bothering him. intuitive,ADJ. | immediate insight; power of knowing without reasoning 1353 |
| thrifty ----------- A thrifty shopper compares prices before making major purchases. | careful about money; economical 1354 |
| insomnia ----------- He refused to join us in a midnight cup of coffee because he claimed it gave him insomnia. | wakefulness; inability to sleep 1355 |
| disinter ----------- They disinterred the body and held an autopsy. | dig up; unearth 1356 |
| incorrigible ----------- Though Widow Douglass hoped to reform Huck, Miss Watson called him incorrigible and said he would come to no good end. | not correctable 1357 |
| painstaking ----------- The new high-frequency word list is the result of painstaking efforts on the part of our research staff. | showing hard work; taking-Dreat care 1358 |
| larceny ----------- Because of the prisoner's record, the district attorney refused to reduce the charge from grand larceny to petty larceny. | theft 1359 |
| plasticity ----------- When clay dries out, it loses its plasticity and becomes less malleable. | ability to be molded 1360 |
| stymie ----------- The detective was stymied by the contradictory evidence in the robbery investigation. also N. | present an obstacle; stump 1361 |
| canvass ----------- After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident that he represented the majority opinion of his district. also N. | determine votes, etc 1362 |
| sedentary ----------- Disliking the effect of her sedentary occupation on her figure, Stacy decided to work out at the gym every other day. | requiring sitting 1363 |
| heckler ----------- The heckler kept interrupting the speaker with rude remarks. heckle,V. | person who harasses others 1364 |
| facade ----------- The ornate facade of the church was often photographed by tourists, who never bothered to walk around the building to view its other sides. Susan seemed super-confident, but that was just a facade | front (of building); superficial or false appearance 1365 |
| avert ----------- She averted her eyes from the dead cat on the highway. | prevent; turn away 1366 |
| adherent ----------- In the wake of the scandal, the senator's one-time adherents quickly deserted him. | supporter; follower 1367 |
| monosyllabic ----------- No matter what he was asked, the taciturn New Englander answered with a monosyllabic Yep or Nope. monosyllable, N. | having only one syllable 1368 |
| omnivorous ----------- Some animals, including man, are omnivorous and eat both meat and vegetables; others are either carnivorous or herbivorous. | eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything 1369 |
| throng ----------- Throngs of shoppers jammed the aisles. alsoV. | crowd 1370 |
| yore ----------- He dreamed of the elegant homes of yore, but gave no thought to their inelegant plumbing. | time past 1371 |
| fatuous ----------- He is far too intelligent to utter such fatuous remarks. | foolish; inane 1372 |
| frivolous ----------- Though Nancy enjoyed Bill's frivolous, lighthearted companionship, she sometimes wondered whether he could ever be serious. frivolity, N. | lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant 1373 |
| navigable ----------- So much sand had built up at the bottom of the canal that the waterway was barely navigable. | wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; able to be steered 1374 |
| quaff ----------- As we quaffed our ale, we listened to the lively songs of the students in the tavern. | drink with relish 1375 |
| alacrity ----------- Phil and Dave were raring to get off to the mountains; they packed up their ski gear and climbed into the van with alacrity. | cheerful promptness 1376 |
| grandiose ----------- The aged matinee idol still had grandiose notions of his supposed importance in the theatrical world. | pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously exaggerated; impressive 1377 |
| denotation ----------- A dictionary will always give us the denotation of a word; frequently, it will also give us the connotations. denote,V. | meaning; distinguishing by name 1378 |
| furor ----------- The story of her embezzlement of the funds created a furor on the Stock Exchange. | frenzy; great excitement 1379 |
| indisputable ----------- In the face of these indisputable statements, I withdraw my complaint. | too certain to be disputed 1380 |
| slough ----------- Each spring, the snake sloughs off its skin. | cast off 1381 |
| *beguile ----------- With flattery and big talk of easy money, the con men beguiled Kyle into betting his allowance on the shell game. Broke, he beguiled himself during the long hours by playing solitaire. | mislead or delude; pass time 1382 |
| irretrievable ----------- The left fielder tried to retrieve the ball, but it flew over the fence, bounced off a wall, and fell into the sewer: it was irretrievable. | impossible to recover or regain; irreparable 1383 |
| bluff ----------- Claire thought Lord Byron's boast that he would swim the Hellespont was just a bluff; she was astounded when he dove from the high bluff into the waters below. | pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff 1384 |
| ellipsis ----------- Sometimes an ellipsis can lead to a dangling modifier, as in the sentence Once dressed, you should refrigerate the potato salad. | omission of words from a text 1385 |
| ensemble ----------- As a dancer with the Oakland Ballet, Benjamin enjoyed being part of the ensemble. Having acted with one another for well over a decade, the cast members have developed a true sense of ensemble: Th | group of (supporting) players; organic unity; costume 1386 |
| torrent ----------- Day after day of heavy rain saturated the hillside until the water ran downhill in torrents. torrential,ADJ. | rushing stream; flood 1387 |
| apocryphal ----------- To impress his friends, Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city. | untrue; made up 1388 |
| retrograde ----------- instead of advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in ethics and culture. alsoADJ. | go backwards; degenerate 1389 |
| swarthy ----------- Despite the stereotypes, not all Italians are swarthy, many are fair and blond. | dark; dusky 1390 |
| ample ----------- Bond had ample opportunity to escape. Why did he let us catch him? | abundant 1391 |
| formality ----------- The president received the visiting heads of state with due formality: flags waving, honor guards standing at attention, anthems sounding at full blast. Signing this petition is a mere formali | ceremonious quality; something done just for form's sake 1392 |
| irate ----------- When John's mother found out he had overdrawn his checking account for the third month in a row, she was so irate she could scarcely speak to him. | angry 1393 |
| irreconcilable ----------- Because the separated couple were irreconcilable, the marriage counselor recommended a divorce. | incompatible; not able to be resolved 1394 |
| efface ----------- The coin had been handled so many times that its date had been effaced. | rub out 1395 |
| withdrawn ----------- Rebuffed by his colleagues, the initially outgoing young researcher became increasingly withdrawn. | introverted; remote 1396 |
| idolatry ----------- Such idolatry of singers of country music is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth. | worship of idols; excessive admiration 1397 |
| jostle ----------- In the subway he was jostled by the crowds. | shove; bump 1398 |
| lugubrious ----------- The lugubrious howling of the dogs added to our sadness. | mournful 1399 |
| cumulative ----------- Vocabulary building is a cumulative process: as you go through your flash cards, you will add new words to your vocabulary, one by one. | growing by addition 1400 |
| turgid ----------- The turgid river threatened to overflow the levees and flood the countryside. | swollen; distended 1401 |
| respiration ----------- The doctor found that the patient's years of smoking had adversely affected both his lung capacity and his rate of respiration. | breathing; exhalation 1402 |
| auroral ----------- The auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening. | pertaining to the aurora borealis 1403 |
| careen ----------- The taxicab careened wildly as it rounded the corner. | lurch; sway from side to side 1404 |
| cogent ----------- It was inevitable that David chose to go to Harvard: he had several cogent reasons for doing so, including a full-tuition scholarship. Katya argued her case with such cogency that the jury had to decide in favor of her client. | convincing 1405 |
| commensurate ----------- Your reward will be commensurate with your effort. | equal in extent 1406 |
| multiplicity ----------- He was appalled by the multiplicity of details he had to complete before setting out on his mission. | state of being numerous 1407 |
| calamity ----------- As news of the calamity spread, offers of relief poured in to the stricken community. | disaster; misery 1408 |
| plausible ----------- Your mother made you stay home from school because she needed you to program the VCR? I'm sorry, you'll have to come up with a more plausible excuse than that. | having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious 1409 |
| vacuous ----------- The vacuous remarks of the politician annoyed the audience, who had hoped to hear more than empty platitudes. | empty; inane 1410 |
| automaton ----------- Long before science fiction readers became aware of robots, writers were presenting stories of automatons who could outperform men. | mechanism that imitates actions of humans 1411 |
| partial ----------- In this issue we have published only a partial list of contributors because we lack space to acknowledge everyone. I am extremely partial to chocolate eclairs. | incomplete; having a liking for something 1412 |
| bravado ----------- The bravado of the young criminal disappeared when he was confronted by the victims of his brutal attack. | swagger; assumed air of defiance 1413 |
| histrionic ----------- He was proud of his histrionic ability and wanted to play the role of Hamlet, histrionics, N. | theatrical 1414 |
| *bequeath ----------- Though Maud had intended to bequeath the family home to her nephew, she died before changing her will. bequest, N. | leave to someone by a will; hand down 1415 |
| loom ----------- The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly above the small boy. | appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged or distorted form) 1416 |
| archipelago ----------- When Gauguin looked at the map and saw the archipelagoes in the South Seas, he longed to visit them. | group of closely located islands 1417 |
| amorous ----------- Love them and leave them was the motto of the amorous Don Juan. | moved by sexual love; loving 1418 |
| pact ----------- Tweedledum and Tweedledee made a pact not to quarrel anymore. | agreement; treaty 1419 |
| luscious ----------- The ripe peach was luscious. | pleasing to taste or smell 1420 |
| justification ----------- The jury found him guilty of the more serious charge because they could see no possible justification for his actions, | good or just reason; defense; excuse 1421 |
| picaresque ----------- Tom Jones has been hailed as one of the best picaresque novels in the English language. | pertaining to rogues in literature 1422 |
| outstrip ----------- Jesse Owens easily outstripped his white competitors to win the gold medal at the Olympic Games. | surpass; outdo 1423 |
| unerringly ----------- My teacher unerringly pounced on the one typographical error in my essay. | infallibly 1424 |
| emaciated ----------- His long period of starvation had left him emaciated. | thin and wasted 1425 |
| physiological ----------- To understand this disease fully, we must examine not only its physiological aspects but also its psychological elements. | pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms 1426 |
| practitioner ----------- In need of a hip replacement, Carl sought a practitioner with considerable experience performing this particular surgery. | someone engaged in a profession (law, medicine) 1427 |
| combustible ----------- After the recent outbreak of fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all combustible materials be kept in safe containers. | easily burned 1428 |
| impropriety ----------- Because of the impropriety of the punk rocker's slashed T-shirt and jeans, the management refused to admit him to the hotel's very formal dining room. | improperness; unsuitableness 1429 |
| stipend ----------- There is a nominal stipend for this position. | pay for services 1430 |
| deign ----------- The celebrated fashion designer would not deign to speak to a mere seamstress; his overburdened assistant had to convey the master's wishes to the lowly workers assembling his great designs. | condescend; stoop 1431 |
| flick ----------- The horse needed no encouragement; one flick of the whip was all the jockey had to apply to get the animal to run at top speed. | light stroke as with a whip 1432 |
| cede ----------- Eventually the descendants of England's Henry II were forced to cede their French territories to the King of France. | yield (title, territory) to; surrender formally 1433 |
| imperceptible ----------- Fortunately, the stain on the blouse was imperceptible after the blouse had gone through the wash. | unnoticeable; undetectable 1434 |
| tundra ----------- Despite the cold, many geologists are trying to discover valuable mineral deposits in the tundra. | rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America 1435 |
| expatriate ----------- Henry James was an American expatriate who settled in England. | exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land 1436 |
| myriad ----------- Myriads of mosquitoes from the swamps invaded our village every twilight. alsoADJ. | very large number 1437 |
| fractious ----------- Bucking and kicking, the fractious horse unseated its rider. | unruly; disobedient; irritable 1438 |
| zephyr ----------- When these zephyrs blow, it is good to be in an open boat under a full sail. | gentle breeze; west wind 1439 |
| exhume ----------- Could evidence that might identify the serial killer have been buried with his victim? To answer this question, the police asked the authorities for permission to exhume the victim's body. | dig out of the ground; remove from the grave 1440 |
| preamble ----------- In the Preamble to the Constitution, the purpose of the document is set forth. | introductory statement 1441 |
| apparition ----------- On the castle battlements, an apparition materialized and spoke to Hamlet, warning him of his uncle's treachery. In Ghostbusters, hordes of apparitions materialized, only to be dematerialized by the specialized apparatus wielded by | ghost; phantom 1442 |
| enigmatic ----------- Many have sought to fathom the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa. | obscure; puzzling 1443 |
| nonplus ----------- Jack's uncharacteristic rudeness nonplussed Jill, leaving her uncertain how to react. | bring to halt by confusion; perplex 1444 |
| connotation ----------- Foreigners frequently are unaware of the connotations of the words they use. | suggested or implied meaning of an expression 1445 |
| calligraphy ----------- As we examine ancient manuscripts, we become impressed with the calligraphy of the scribes. | beautiful writing; excellent penmanship 1446 |
| chauvinist ----------- A chauvinist cannot recognize any faults in his country, no matter how flagrant they may be. Likewise, a male chauvinist cannot recognize his bias in favor of his own sex, no matter how flagrant that may be. chauvinistic,ADJ. | blindly devoted patriot 1447 |
| annotate ----------- In the appendix to the novel, the editor sought to annotate many of the author's more esoteric references. | comment; make explanatory notes 1448 |
| qualified ----------- Unable to give the candidate full support, the mayor gave him only a qualified endorsement. (secondary meaning) | limited; restricted 1449 |
| remission ----------- Though the senator had been treated for cancer, his symptoms were in remission, and he was considered fit enough to handle the strains of a presidential race. | temporary moderation of disease symptoms; cancellation of a debt; forgiveness or pardon 1450 |
| vulnerable ----------- His opponents could not harm Achilles, who was vulnerable only in his heel. | susceptible to wounds 1451 |
| compensatory ----------- Can a compensatory education program make up for the inadequate schooling he received in earlier years? | making up for; repaying 1452 |
| paraphrase ----------- In 250 wordsaor less, paraphrase this article. also N. | restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author 1453 |
| incoherent ----------- The excited fan blushed and stammered, her words becoming almost incoherent in the thrill of meeting her favorite rock star face to face. incoherence, N. | unintelligible; muddled; illogical 1454 |
| controvert ----------- The witness's testimony was so cleat and her reputation for honesty so well-established that the defense attorney decided it was wiser to make no attempt to controvert what she said. | oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict 1455 |
| swagger ----------- The conquering hero didn't simply stride down the street; he swaggered. also N. | behave arrogantly or pompously; strut or walk proudly 1456 |
| finale ----------- It is not until we reach the finale of this play that we can understand the author's message. | conclusion 1457 |
| innovative ----------- The establishment of our SAT I computer data base has enabled us to come up with some innovative tactics for doing well on the SAT. | novel; introducing a change 1458 |
| astigmatism ----------- As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses. | eye defect that prevents proper focus 1459 |
| notable ----------- Normally notable for his calm in the kitchen, today the head cook was shaking, for the notable chef Julia Child was coming to dinner. | conspicuous; important; distinguished 1460 |
| solemnity ----------- The minister was concerned that nothing should disturb the solemnity of the marriage service. solemn,ADJ. | seriousness; gravity 1461 |
| précis ----------- Before making her presentation at the conference, Ellen wrote up a neat précis of the major elements she would cover. | concise summing up of main points 1462 |
| foreboding ----------- Suspecting no conspiracies against him, Caesar gently ridiculed his wife's forebodings about the Ides of March. | premonition of evil 1463 |
| list ----------- That flagpole should be absolutely vertical; instead, it lists to one side. (secondary meaning) | tilt; lean over 1464 |
| aseptic ----------- Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced aseptic conditions. | preventing infection; having a cleansing effect 1465 |
| oscillate ----------- It is interesting to note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism. | vibrate pendulumlike; waver 1466 |
| abnegation ----------- No act of abnegation was more pronounced than his refusal of any rewards for his discovery. | repudiation; self-sacrifice 1467 |
| insubordination ----------- At the slightest hint of insubordination from the sailors of the Bounty, Captain Bligh had them flogged; finally, they mutinied. | disobedience; rebelliousness 1468 |
| luminous ----------- The sun is a luminous body. | shining; issuing light 1469 |
| subpoena ----------- The prosecutor's office was ready to serve a subpoena on the reluctant witness. alsoV. | writ summoning a witness to appear 1470 |
| malediction ----------- When the magic mirror revealed that Snow White was still alive, the wicked queen cried out in rage and uttered dreadful maledictions. | curse 1471 |
| quarantine ----------- We will have to place this house under quarantine until we determine the exact nature of the disease. alsoV. | isolation of person or ship to prevent spread of infection 1472 |
| importunate ----------- He tried to hide from his importunate creditors until his allowance arrived. | urging; demanding 1473 |
| extrude ----------- Much pressure is required to extrude these plastics. | force or push out 1474 |
| dutiful ----------- When Mother told Billy to kiss Great-Aunt Hattie, the boy obediently gave the old woman a dutiful peck on her cheek. | respectful; obedient 1475 |
| transition ----------- During the period of transition from oil heat to gas heat, the furnace will have to be shut off. | going from one state of action to another 1476 |
| papyrus ----------- The ancient Egyptians were among the first to write on papyrus. | ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant 1477 |
| reciprocal ----------- The two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement. | mutual; exchangeable; interacting 1478 |
| tiller ----------- Fearing the wind might shift suddenly and capsize the skiff, Tom kept one hand on the tiller at all times. | handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer) 1479 |
| martinet ----------- No talking at meals! No mingling with the servants! Miss Minchin was a martinet who insisted that the schoolgirls in her charge observe each regulation to the letter. | strict disciplinarian 1480 |
| contentious ----------- Disagreeing violently with the referees' ruling, the coach became so contentious that they threw him out of the game. | quarrelsome 1481 |
| plight ----------- Many people feel that the federal government should do more to alleviate the plight of the homeless. Loggers, unmoved by the plight of the spotted owl, plan to continue logging whet | condition, state (especially a bad state or condition); predicament 1482 |
| addle ----------- This idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle anyone. addled,ADJ. | muddle; drive crazy; become rotten 1483 |
| hoax ----------- Embarrassed by the hoax, he reddened and left the room. alsoV. | trick; practical joke 1484 |
| crass ----------- The film critic deplored the crass commercialism of movie-makers who abandon artistic standards in order to make a quick buck. | very unrefined; grossly insensible 1485 |
| insatiable ----------- David's appetite for oysters was insatiable: he could easily eat four dozen at a single sitting. | not easily satisfied; unquenchable; greedy 1486 |
| rectify ----------- You had better send a check to rectify your account before American Express cancels your credit card. | set right; correct 1487 |
| foil ----------- In Star Wars, dark, evil Darth Vader is a perfect foil for fair-haired, naive Luke Skywalker. | contrast 1488 |
| exorcise ----------- By incantation and prayer, the medicine man sought to exorcise the evil spirits which had taken possession of the young warrior. | drive out evil spirits 1489 |
| impair ----------- Drinking alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely; if you're going to drink, don't drive. | injure; hurt 1490 |
| hypothetical ----------- Suppose you are accepted by Harvard, Stanford, and Brown. Which one would you choose to attend? Remember, this is only a hypothetical situation. hypotheSiS, N. | based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed 1491 |
| shard ----------- The archaeologist assigned several students the task of reassembling earthenware vessels from the shards he had brought back from the expedition. | fragment, generally of pottery 1492 |
| contrived ----------- Feeling ill at ease with his new in-laws, James made a few contrived attempts at conversation and then retreated into silence. | forced; artificial; not spontaneous 1493 |
| bustle ----------- David and the children bustled about the house getting in each other's way as they tried to pack for the camping trip. The whole house bustled with activity. | move about energetically; teem 1494 |
| fop ----------- People who dismissed young Mizrahi as a fop felt chagrined when he turned into one of the top fashion designers of his day. foppish,ADJ. | dandy; man excessively concerned with his clothes 1495 |
| perverse ----------- When Jack was in a perverse mood, he would do the opposite of whatever Jill asked him. When Hannibal Lecter was in a perverse mood, he ate the flesh of his victims. Jack acted out of perversity. Hanniba | stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and perverted 1496 |
| repellent ----------- Mosquitoes find the odor so repellent that they leave any spot where this liquid has been sprayed. also N. | driving away; unattractive 1497 |
| graphic ----------- I was particularly impressed by the graphic presentation of the storm. | pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described 1498 |
| tenet ----------- The agnostic did not accept the tenets of their faith. | doctrine; dogma 1499 |
| impinge ----------- collide with. How could they be married without impinging on one another's freedom? | infringe; touch; 1500 |
| idiom ----------- The phrase to lose one's marbles is an idiom: if I say that Joe's lost his marbles, I'm not asking you to find some for him. I'm telling you idi | expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style 1501 |
| permeable ----------- If your jogging clothes weren't made out of permeable fabric, you'd drown in your own perspiration (figuratively speaking). | penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through 1502 |
| assiduous ----------- He was assiduous, working at this task for weeks before he felt satisfied with his results. assiduity, N. | diligent 1503 |
| montage ----------- In one early montage, Beauchamp brought together pictures of broken mannequins and newspaper clippings about the Vietnam War. | photographic composition combining elements from different sources 1504 |
| sedulous ----------- After weeks of patient and sedulous labor, we completed our detailed analysis of every published SAT examination. | diligent; hardworking 1505 |
| indenture ----------- Many immigrants could come to America only after they had indentured themselves for several years. also N. | bind as servant or apprentice to master 1506 |
| baffle ----------- The new code baffled the enemy agents. | frustrate; perplex 1507 |
| covetous ----------- The child was covetous by nature and wanted to take the toys belonging to his classmates. covet, V. | avaricious; eagerly desire of 1508 |
| distant ----------- His distant greeting made me feel unwelcome from the start. (secondary meaning) | reserved or aloof; cold in manner 1509 |
| upbraid ----------- Not only did Miss Minchin upbraid Ermengarde for her disobedience, but she hung her up by her braids from a coat rack in the classroom. uproarious ADJ. marked by commotion; extremely funny; very noisy. The uproarious comedy h | severely scold; reprimand 1510 |
| garnish ----------- Parsley was used to garnish the boiled potato. also N. | decorate 1511 |
| fastidious ----------- Bobby was such a fastidious eater that he would eat a sandwich only if his mother first cut off every scrap of crust. | difficult to please; squeamish 1512 |
| besiege ----------- When the bandits besieged the village, the villagers holed up in the town hall and prepared to withstand a long siege. Members of the new administration were besieged with job applications from peopl | surround with armed forces; harass (with requests) 1513 |
| comely ----------- I would rather have a poor and comely wife than a rich and homely one. | attractive; agreeable 1514 |
| ventriloquist ----------- This ventriloquist does an act in which she has a conversation with a wooden dummy. | someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing 1515 |
| condone -----------Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold. | overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse 1516 |
| precinct ----------- Ed McBain's detective novels set in the 87th precinct provide an exciting picture of police work. | district or division of a city 1517 |
| woe ----------- Pale and wan with grief, Wanda was bowed down beneath the burden of her woes. | deep, inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering 1518 |
| presumptuous ----------- Matilda thought it was somewhat presumptuous of the young man to have addressed her without first having been introduced. Perhaps manners were freer here in the New World. | overconfident; impertinently bold; taking liberties 1519 |
| anecdote ----------- Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Reagan told anecdotes about poor people who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds. | short account of an amusing or interesting event 1520 |
| boon ----------- The recent rains that filled our empty reservoirs were a boon to the whole community. | blessing; benefit 1521 |
| infuriate ----------- Her big brother's teasing always infuriated Margaret; no matter how hard she tried to keep her temper, he always got her goat. | enrage; anger 1522 |
| relish ----------- Watching Peter enthusiastically chow down, I thought, Now there's a man who relishes a good dinner! also N. | savor; enjoy 1523 |
| responsiveness ----------- The audience cheered and applauded, delighting the performers by its responsiveness. | state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc 1524 |
| defeatist ----------- If you maintain your defeatist attitude, you will never succeed. also N. | attitude of one who is ready to accept defeat as a natural outcome 1525 |
| premeditate ----------- She had premeditated the murder for months, reading about common poisons and buying weed killer that contained arsenic. | plan in advance 1526 |
| defer ----------- | During the Vietnam War, many young men, hoping to be deferred, requested student deferments 1527 |
| fusion ----------- The opponents of the political party in power organized a fusion of disgruntled groups and became an important element in the election. | union; coalition 1528 |
| malapropism ----------- When Mrs. Malaprop accuses Lydia of being as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile, she confuses allegory and alligator in a typical malapropism. | comic misuse of a word 1529 |
| ennui ----------- The monotonous routine of hospital life induced a feeling of ennui that made him moody and irritable. | boredom 1530 |
| recalcitrant ----------- Which animal do you think is more recalcitrant, a pig or a mule? | obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly 1531 |
| saturnine ----------- Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance; he is not as gloomy as he looks. | gloomy 1532 |
| consonance ----------- Her agitation seemed out of consonance with her usual calm. | harmony; agreement 1533 |
| levitate ----------- As the magician passed his hands over the recumbent body of his assistant, she appeared to rise and levitate about three feet above the table. | float in the air (especially by magical means) 1534 |
| bilk ----------- The con man specialized in bilking insurance companies. | swindle; cheat 1535 |
| fallacious ----------- Paradoxically, fallacious reasoning does not always yield erroneous results: even though your logic may be faulty, the answer you get may nevertheless be correct. fallacy, N. | false; misleading 1536 |
| ingrate ----------- That ingrate Bob sneered at the tie I gave him. | ungrateful person 1537 |
| avenge ----------- Hamlet vowed he would avenge his father's murder and punish Claudius for his horrible crime. | take vengeance for something (or on behalf of someone) 1538 |
| leniency ----------- Considering the gravity of the offense, we were surprised by the leniency of the sentence. | mildness; permissiveness 1539 |
| subdued ----------- Bob liked the subdued lighting at the restaurant because he thought it was romantic. I just thought it was dimly lit. | less intense; quieter 1540 |
| divulge ----------- No lover of gossip, Charlotte would never divulge anything that a friend told her in confidence. | reveal 1541 |
| condense ----------- If you squeeze a slice of Wonder Bread, taking out the extra air, you can con- dense | make more compact or dense; shorten or abridge; reduce into a denser form 1542 |
| sedition ----------- His words, though not treasonous in themselves, were calculated to arouse thoughts of sedition. | resistance to authority; insubordination 1543 |
| enamored ----------- Narcissus became enamored of his own beauty. | in love 1544 |
| rant ----------- When he heard that I'd totaled the family car, Dad began to rant at me like a complete madman. | rave; talk excitedly; scold; make a grandiloquent speech 1545 |
| *constraint ----------- There was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one dared to criticize the speaker. constrain, V. | compulsion; repression of feelings 1546 |
| corporeal ----------- The doctor had no patience with spiritual matters: his job was to attend to his patients' corporeal problems, not to minister to their souls. | bodily; material 1547 |
| generality ----------- This report is filled with generalities; be more specific in your statements. | vague statement 1548 |
| haggle ----------- I prefer to shop in a store that has a one-price policy because, whenever I haggle with a shopkeeper, I am never certain that I paid a fair price for the articles I purchased. | argue about prices 1549 |
| complicity ----------- You cannot keep your complicity in this affair secret very long; you would be wise to admit your involvement immediately. | participation; involvement 1550 |
| vendetta ----------- The rival mobs engaged in a bitter vendetta. | blood feud 1551 |
| sustain ----------- He sustained such a severe injury that the doctors feared he would be unable to work to sustain his growing family. | experience; support; nourish 1552 |
| simile ----------- My love is like a red, red rose is a simile. | comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as 1553 |
| render ----------- He rendered aid to the needy and indigent. | deliver; provide; represent 1554 |
| luminary ----------- A leading light of the American stage, Ethel Barrymore was a theatrical luminary whose name lives on. | celebrity; dignitary 1555 |
| prevaricate ----------- Some people believe that to prevaricate in a good cause is justifiable and regard such a statement as a white lie. | lie 1556 |
| title -----------). Though the penniless Duke of Ragwort no longer held title to the family estate, he still retained his title as head of one of England's oldest families. | right or claim to possession; mark of rank; name (of a book, film, etc 1557 |
| prehensile ----------- Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but also their prehensile tails in traveling through the trees. | capable of grasping or holding 1558 |
| advocacy ----------- No threats could dissuade Bishop Desmond Tutu from his advocacy of the human rights of black South Africans. | support; active pleading on something's behalf 1559 |
| distinction ----------- A holder of the Medal of Honor, George served with great distinction in World War II. He made a distinction, however, between World War II and Vietnam, which he considered an immoral conflict. | honor; contrast; discrimination 1560 |
| onus ----------- The emperor was spared the onus of signing the surrender papers; instead, he relegated the assignment to his generals. | burden; responsibility 1561 |
| resurge ----------- It was startling to see the spirit of nationalism resurge as the Soviet Union disintegrated into a loose federation of ethnic and national groups. resurgence, N. | rise again; flow to and fro 1562 |
| limerick ----------- The limerick form is the best; its meter is pure anapest. A limerick's fun for most everyone, and the word may occur on your test. | humorous short verse 1563 |
| archaeology ----------- The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins. | study of artifacts and relics of early mankind 1564 |
| mirth ----------- Sober Malvolio found Sir Toby's mirth improper. | merriment; laughter 1565 |
| irrepressible ----------- My friend Kitty's curiosity was irrepressible: she poked her nose into everybody's business and just laughed when I warned her that curiosity killed the cat. | unable to be restrained or held back 1566 |
| transient ----------- Lexy's joy at finding the perfect Christmas gift for Phil was transient, she still had to find presents for the cousins and Uncle Bob. Located near the airport, this hotel caters to a largely transient | momentary; temporary; staying for a short time 1567 |
| bedraggle ----------- We were so bedraggled by the severe storm that we had to change into dry clothing. bedraggled,ADJ. | wet thoroughly; stain with mud 1568 |
| depravity ----------- The depravity of Caligula's behavior came to sicken even those who had willingly participated in his earlier, comparatively innocent orgies. | extreme corruption; wickedness 1569 |
| embroider ----------- For her mother's birthday, Beth embroidered a lovely design on a handkerchief. When asked what made her late getting home, Jo embroidered her account with tales of runaway horses and | decorate with needlework; ornament with fancy or fictitious details 1570 |
| odium ----------- Prince Charming could not express the odium he felt toward Cinderella's stepsisters because of their mistreatment of poor Cinderella. | detestation; hatefulness; disrepute 1571 |
| invective ----------- He had expected criticism but not the invective that greeted his proposal. inveigh,V. | abuse 1572 |
| burgeon ----------- In the spring, the plants that burgeon are a promise of the beauty that is to come. | grow forth; send out buds 1573 |
| legerdemain ----------- The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain. | sleight of hand 1574 |
| kinetic ----------- Designers of the electric automobile find that their greatest obstacle lies in the development of light and efficient storage batteries, the source of the kinetic energy needed to propel the vehicle. | producing motion 1575 |
| aftermath ----------- People around the world wondered what the aftermath of China's violent suppression of the student protests would be. | consequences; outcome; upshot 1576 |
| immune ----------- Fortunately, Florence had contracted chicken pox as a child and was immune to it when her baby broke out in spots. | resistant to; free or exempt from 1577 |
| embezzlement ----------- The bank teller confessed his embezzlement of the funds. | stealing 1578 |
| subtlety ----------- Never obvious, she expressed herself with such subtlety that her remarks went right over the heads of most of her audience. subtle,ADJ. | perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy 1579 |
| disenfranchise ----------- The imposition of the poll tax effectively disenfranchised poor Southern blacks, who lost their right to vote. | deprive of a civil right 1580 |
| delirium ----------- In his delirium, the drunkard saw pink panthers and talking pigs. Perhaps he wasn't delirious: he might just have wandered into a movie. | mental disorder marked by confusion 1581 |
| bellicose ----------- His bellicose disposition alienated his friends. | warlike 1582 |
| fell ----------- Crying Timber! Paul Bunyan felled the mighty redwood tree. Robin Hood loosed his arrow and felled the king's deer. | cut or knock down; bring down (with a missile) 1583 |
| libel ----------- If Batman wrote that the Joker was a dirty, 'rotten, mass-murdering criminal, could the Joker sue Batman for libel? | defamatory statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character 1584 |
| allusion ----------- When Amanda said to the ticket scalper, One hundred bucks? What do you want, a pound of flesh?, she was making an allusion to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. | indirect reference 1585 |
| cozen ----------- He was the kind of individual who would cozen his friends in a cheap card game but remain eminently ethical in all business dealings. | cheat; hoodwink; swindle 1586 |
| domicile ----------- Although his legal domicile was in New York City, his work kept him away from his residence for many years. alsoV. | home 1587 |
| demented ----------- Doctor Demento was a lunatic radio personality who liked to act as if he were truly demented. If you're demented, your mental state is out of whack; in other words, you're wacky. | insane 1588 |
| promulgate ----------- When Moses came down from the mountain top all set to promulgate God's commandments, he freaked out on discovering his followers worshipping a golden calf. | proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication 1589 |
| skulk ----------- He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid meeting any of his former friends. | move furtively and secretly 1590 |
| amass ----------- The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible. | collect 1591 |
| anachronistic ----------- The reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is anachronistic: clocks did not exist in Caesar's time. anachronism, N. | having an error involving time in a story 1592 |
| proletarian ----------- Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains is addressed to proletarians, not preppies. So is Blue Collar Holler. proletariat, N. | member of the working class; blue collar person 1593 |
| rebuff ----------- She rebuffed his invitation so smoothly that he did not realize he had been snubbed. also N. | snub; beat back 1594 |
| perpetuate ----------- Some critics attack The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because they believe Twain's book perpetuates a false image of Blacks in this country. | make something last; preserve from extinction 1595 |
| inevitable ----------- Though death and taxes are both supposedly inevitable, some people avoid paying taxes for years. | unavoidable 1596 |
| crescendo ----------- The music suddenly shifted its mood, dramatically switching from a muted, contemplative passage to a crescendo with blaring trumpets and clashing cymbals. | increase in the volume or intensity, as in a musical passage; climax 1597 |
| thrive ----------- Despite the impact of the recession on the restaurant trade, Philip's cafe thrived. | prosper; flourish 1598 |
| addiction ----------- His addiction to drugs caused his friends much grief. | compulsive, habitual need 1599 |
| cardiologist ----------- When the pediatrician noticed Philip had a slight heart murmur, she referred him to a cardiologist for further tests. | doctor specializing in the heart 1600 |
| wane ----------- When lit, does a wax candle wane? | decrease in size or strength; draw gradually to an end 1601 |
| anoint ----------- The prophet Samuel anointed David with oil, crowning him king of Israel. | consecrate 1602 |
| rubble ----------- Ten years after World War II, some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be seen. | broken fragments 1603 |
| aloft ----------- The sailor climbed aloft into the rigging. To get into a loft bed, you have to climb aloft. | upward 1604 |
| adventitious ----------- He found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate. | accidental; casual 1605 |
| complacency ----------- Full of complacency about his latest victories, he looked smugly at the row of trophies on his mantelpiece. complacent, ADJ | self-satisfaction; smugness 1606 |
| execrable ----------- The anecdote was in such execrable taste that it revolted the audience. | very bad 1607 |
| insolence ----------- How dare you treat me so rudely! The manager will hear of your insolence. insolent,ADJ. | impudent disrespect; haughtiness 1608 |
| vicissitude ----------- Humbled by life's vicissitudes, the last emperor of China worked as a lowly gardener in the palace over which he had once ruled. | change of fortune 1609 |
| stolid ----------- The earthquake shattered Stuart's usual stolid demeanor; trembling, he crouched on the no longer stable ground. | dull; impassive 1610 |
| bereavement ----------- His friends gathered to console him upon his sudden bereavement. | state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved 1611 |
| gorge ----------- The gluttonous guest gorged himself with food as though he had not eaten for days. | stuff oneself 1612 |
| quibble ----------- Aside from a few hundred teensy-weensy quibbles about the set, the script, the actors, the director, the costumes, the lighting, and the props, the hypercritical critic loved the play. alsoV. | minor objection or complaint 1613 |
| debris ----------- A full year after the earthquake in Mexico City, they were still carting away the debris. | rubble 1614 |
| calorific ----------- Coal is much more calorific than green wood. | heat-producing 1615 |
| apropos ----------- I find your remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent. also ADJ. and ADV. | with reference to; regarding 1616 |
| attest ----------- Having served as a member of the Grand Jury, I can attest that our system of indicting individuals is in need of improvement. | testify, bear witness 1617 |
| climactic ----------- When he reached the climactic portions of the book, he could not stop reading. climax, N. | relating to the highest point 1618 |
| diverse ----------- The professor suggested diverse ways of approaching the assignment and recommended that we choose one of them. diversity, N. | differing in some characteristics; various 1619 |
| quip ----------- You are unpopular because you are too free with your quips and sarcastic comments. alsoV. | taunt 1620 |
| zealot ----------- Though Glenn was devout, he was no zealot, he never tried to force his beliefs on his friends. | fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal 1621 |
| recant ----------- Those who can, keep true to their faith; those who can't, recant. Hoping to make Joan of Arc recant her sworn testimony, her English captors tried to convince her that her visions | disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error 1622 |
| magnanimous ----------- Philanthropists by definition are magnanimous; misers, by definition, are not. Cordelia was too magnanimous to resent her father's unkindness to her; instead, she generously forgave him. magnanimity, N. | generous; great-hearted 1623 |
| endorse ----------- Everyone waited to see which one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor would endorse. (secondary meaning) endorsement, N. | approve; support 1624 |
| authenticate ----------- An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting, distinguishing it from its imitation. | prove genuine 1625 |
| temper ----------- Not even her supervisor's grumpiness could temper Nancy's enthusiasm for her new job. | moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) 1626 |
| Chaotic ----------- He tried to bring order into the chaotic state of affairs. chaos, N. | in utter disorder 1627 |
| query ----------- In her column Ask Beth, the columnist invites young readers to send her their queries about life and love. | inquiry; question 1628 |
| inefficacious ----------- All Lois's coaxing and urging was inefficacious: Clark still refused to join her and Superman for dinner. inefficacy, N. | not effective; unable to produce a desired result 1629 |
| passport ----------- In arranging your first trip abroad, be sure to allow yourself enough time to apply for and receive your passport you won't be allowed to travel | legal document identifying the bearer as a citizen of a country and allowing him or her to travel abroad 1630 |
| genteel ----------- We are looking for a man with a genteel appearance who can inspire confidence by his cultivated manner. | well-bred; elegant 1631 |
| quaint ----------- Her quaint clothes and old-fashioned language marked her as an eccentric. | odd; old-fashioned; picturesque 1632 |
| extent ----------- What is the extentof the patient's injuries? If they are not too extensive, we can treat him on an outpatient basis. | degree; magnitude; scope 1633 |
| citadel ----------- The citadel overlooked the city like a protecting angel. | fortress 1634 |
| betroth ----------- The announcement that they had become betrothed surprised their friends who had not suspected any romance. betrothal, N. | become engaged to marry 1635 |
| laceration ----------- The stock car driver needed stitches to close up the lacerations he received in the car crash. | torn, ragged wound 1636 |
| incompatible ----------- The married couple argued incessantly and finally decided to separate because they were incompatible. incompatibility, N. | inharmonious 1637 |
| behemoth ----------- Sportscasters nicknamed the linebacker The Behemoth. | huge creature; monstrous animal 1638 |
| escapade ----------- The headmaster could not regard this latest escapade as a boyish joke and expelled the young man. | prank; flighty conduct 1639 |
| compile ----------- We planned to compile a list of the words most frequently used on SAT examinations. | assemble; gather; accumulate 1640 |
| affable ----------- Accustomed to cold, aloof supervisors, Nicholas was amazed at how affable his new employer was. | easily approachable; warmly friendly 1641 |
| hibernate ----------- Bears are one of the many species of animals that hibernate. hibernation, N. | sleep throughout the winter 1642 |
| proclivity ----------- Watching the two-year-old voluntarily put away his toys, I was amazed by his proclivityfor neatness. | inclination; natural tendency 1643 |
| demystify ----------- Helpful doctors demystify medical procedures by describing them in everyday language, explaining that a myringotomy, for example, is an operation involving making a small hole in one's eardrum. | clarify; free from mystery or obscurity 1644 |
| hilarity ----------- This hilarity is improper on this solemn day of mourning. | boisterous mirth 1645 |
| prominent ----------- Have you ever noticed that Prince Charles's prominent ears make him look like the big-eared character in Mad comics? | conspicuous; notable; sticking out 1646 |
| liberator ----------- Simon Bolivar, who led the South American colonies in their rebellion against Spanish rule, is known as the great liberator. liberate,V. | one who sets free 1647 |
| queasy ----------- Remember that great chase movie, the one with the carsick passenger? That's right: Queasy Rider! | easily nauseated; squeamish 1648 |
| pensive ----------- The pensive lover gazed at the portrait of his beloved and deeply sighed. | dreamily thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative 1649 |
| barb -----------; openly cutting remark. If you were a politician, which would you prefer, being caught on the barb of a fishhook or being subjected to malicious verbal barbs? Who can blame the president if he's happier fishing th | sharp projection from fishhook, etc 1650 |
| meticulous ----------- Martha Stewart was a meticulous housekeeper, fussing about each and every detail that went into making up her perfect home. | excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous 1651 |
| kudos ----------- The singer complacently received kudos from his entourage on his performance. | honor; glory; praise 1652 |
| ignominy ----------- To lose the Ping-Pong match to a trained chimpanzee! How could Rollo stand the ignominy of his defeat? ignominious,ADJ. | deep disgrace; shame or dishonor 1653 |
| lustrous ----------- Her large and lustrous eyes lent a touch of beauty to an otherwise plain face. | shining 1654 |
| acquiesce ----------- Although she appeared to acquiesce to her employer's suggestions, I could tell she had reservations about the changes he wanted made. acquiescence, N.; acquiescent,ADJ. | assent; agree without protesting 1655 |
| viable ----------- That idea won't work. Let me see whether I can come up with a viable alternative. | practical or workable; capable of maintaining life 1656 |
| canny ----------- The canny Scotsman was more than a match for the swindlers. | shrewd; thrifty 1657 |
| belie ----------- His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his inner sensitivity. | contradict; give a false impression 1658 |
| hazardous ----------- Your occupation is too hazardous for insurance companies to consider your application. | dangerous 1659 |
| inured ----------- She became inured to the Alaskan cold. | accustomed; hardened 1660 |
| slake ----------- When we reached the oasis, we were able to slake our thirst. | quench; sate 1661 |
| authoritarian ----------- The leaders of the authoritarian regime ordered the suppression of the democratic protest movement. After years of submitting to the will of her authoritarian father, E | subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will 1662 |
| anthology ----------- This anthology of science fiction was compiled by the late Isaac Asimov. anthologize,V. | book of literary selections by various authors 1663 |
| puerile ----------- His puerile pranks sometimes offended his more mature friends. | childish 1664 |
| specious ----------- To claim that, because houses and birds both have wings, both can fly, is extremely specious reasoning. | seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally) 1665 |
| codify ----------- We need to take the varying rules and regulations of the different health agencies and codify them into a national health code. | arrange (laws, rules) as a code; classify 1666 |
| baroque ----------- Accustomed to the severe lines of contemporary buildings, the architecture students found the flamboyance of baroque architecture amusing. They simply didn't go for baroque. | highly ornate 1667 |
| array ----------- His actions were bound to array public sentiment against him. also N. | marshal; draw up in order 1668 |
| volition ----------- She selected this dress of her own volition. | act of making a conscious choice 1669 |
| nomadic ----------- Several nomadic tribes of Indians would hunt in this area each year. | wandering 1670 |
| peruse ----------- After the conflagration that burned down her house, Joan closely perused her home insurance policy to discover exactly what benefits her coverage provided her. perusal, N. | read with care 1671 |
| ovation ----------- When the popular tenor Placido Domingo came on stage in the first act of La Boheme, he was greeted by a tremendous ovation. | enthusiastic applause 1672 |
| heterogeneous ----------- This year's entering class is a remarkably heterogeneous body: it includes students from forty different states and twenty-six foreign countries, some the children of billionaires, others the offspring of welfare families. hetero | dissimilar; mixed 1673 |
| besmirch ----------- The scandalous remarks in the newspaper besmirch the reputations of every member of the society. | soil, defile 1674 |
| rail ----------- You may rail at him all you want; you will never change him. | scold; rant 1675 |
| heterodox ----------- To those who upheld the belief that the earth did not move, Galileo's theory that the earth circled the sun was disturbingly heterodox. | unorthodox; unconventional 1676 |
| balk ----------- When the warden learned that several inmates were planning to escape, he took steps to balk their attempt. However, he balked at punishing them by shackling them to the walls of their cells. | foil or thwart; stop short; refuse to go on 1677 |
| rapport ----------- In team teaching, it is important that all teachers in the group have good rapport with one another. | emotional closeness; harmony 1678 |
| imminent ----------- Rosa was such a last-minute worker that she could never start writing a paper till the deadline was imminent. | near at hand; impending 1679 |
| impious ----------- The congregation was offended by her impious remarks. | irreverent 1680 |
| anthropologist ----------- Anthropologists have discovered several relics of prehistoric man in this area. | a student of the history and science of mankind 1681 |
| incidental ----------- The scholarship covered his major expenses at college and some of his incidental expenses as well. | not essential; minor 1682 |
| dismantle ----------- When the show closed, they dismantled the scenery before storing it. | take apart 1683 |
| ingrained ----------- Try as they would, the missionaries were unable to uproot the ingrained superstitions of the natives. | deeply established; firmly rooted 1684 |
| ambience ----------- She went to the restaurant not for the food but for the ambience. | environment; atmosphere 1685 |
| blandishment ----------- Despite the salesperson's blandishments, the customer did not buy the outfit. | flattery 1686 |
| dogged ----------- Les Miserables tells of Inspector Javert's long, dogged pursuit of the criminal Jean Valjean. | determined; stubborn 1687 |
| tome ----------- He spent much time in the libraries poring over ancient tomes. | large volume 1688 |
| schematic ----------- In working out the solution to this logic puzzle, you may find it helpful to construct a simple schematic diagram outlining the order of events. | relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols 1689 |
| verisimilitude ----------- Critics praised her for the verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth. She was completely believable. | appearance of truth; likelihood 1690 |
| scavenge ----------- If you need car parts that the dealers no longer stock, try scavenging for odd bits and pieces at the auto wreckers' yards. scavenger, N. | hunt through discarded materials for usable items; search, especially for food 1691 |
| eon ----------- It has taken eons for our civilization to develop. | long period of time; an age 1692 |
| fraught ----------- Since this enterprise is fraught with danger, I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks. | filled 1693 |
| jingoist ----------- Always bellowing America first!, the congressman was such a jingoist you could almost hear the sabers rattling as he marched down the halls. jingoism, N. | extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist 1694 |
| scamp ----------- Despite his mischievous behavior, Malcolm was such an engaging scamp that his mother almost lacked the heart to punish him. | rascal 1695 |
| affirmation ----------- Despite Tom's affirmations of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie. | positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath 1696 |
| rabid ----------- He was a rabid follower of the Dodgers and watched them play whenever he could go to the ball park. | like a fanatic; furious 1697 |
| *aviary ----------- The aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds. | enclosure for birds 1698 |
| surreptitious ----------- Hoping to discover where his mom had hidden the Christmas presents, Timmy took a surreptitious peek into the master bedroom closet. | secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden 1699 |
| dismember ----------- When the Austrian Empire was dismembered, several new countries were established. | cut into small parts 1700 |
| tenure ----------- He has permanent tenure in this position and cannot be fired. | holding of an office; time during which such an office is held 1701 |
| restraint ----------- Control yourself. young lady! Show some restraint! | moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction 1702 |
| pragmatic ----------- This coming trip to France should provide me with a pragmatic test of the value of my conversational French class. | practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something 1703 |
| moodiness ----------- Her recurrent moodiness left her feeling as if she had fallen into a black hole. | fits of depression or gloom 1704 |
| sibling ----------- We may not enjoy being siblings, but we cannot forget that we still belong to the same family. | brother or sister 1705 |
| tepid ----------- During the summer, I like to take a tepid bath, not a hot one. | lukewarm 1706 |
| prostrate ----------- He prostrated himself before the idol. alsoADJ. | stretch out full on ground 1707 |
| gouge ----------- In that fight, all the rules were forgotten; the adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to gouge each other's eyes out. | tear out 1708 |
| disconsolate ----------- The death of his wife left him disconsolate. | sad 1709 |
| trenchant ----------- I am afraid of his trenchant wit for it is so often sarcastic. | cutting; keen 1710 |
| lachrymose ----------- His voice has a lachrymose quality more appropriate to a funeral than a class reunion. | producing tears 1711 |
| felon ----------- A convicted felon loses the right to vote. | person convicted of a grave crime 1712 |
| inanimate ----------- She was asked to identify the still and inanimate body. | lifeless 1713 |
| chaste ----------- Her chaste and decorous garb was appropriately selected for the solemnity of the occasion. chastity, N. | pure 1714 |
| chortle ----------- When she heard that her rival had just been jailed for embezzlement, she chortled with joy. She was not a nice lady. | chuckle with delight 1715 |
| felicitous ----------- He was famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at many a banquet. felicity, N. | apt; suitably expressed; well chosen 1716 |
| ruminate ----------- Unable to digest quickly the baffling events of the day, Reuben ruminated about them till four in the morning. | chew over and over (mentally, or, like cows, physically); mull over; ponder 1717 |
| fledgling ----------- While it is necessary to provide these fledgling poets with an opportunity to present their work, it is not essential that we admire everything they write. also N. | inexperienced 1718 |
| insensible ----------- Sherry and I are very different; at times when I would be covered with embarrassment, she seems insensible to shame. | unconscious; unresponsive 1719 |
| haggard ----------- After his long illness, he was pale and haggard. | wasted away; gaunt 1720 |
| arbitrary ----------- Tom's arbitrary dismissal angered him; his boss had no reason to fire him. He threw an arbitrary assortment of clothes into his suitcase and headed off, not caring where he went. | capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical 1721 |
| forbearance ----------- We must use forbearance in dealing with him because he is still weak from his illness. | patience 1722 |
| horde ----------- Just before Christmas the stores are filled with hordes of shoppers. | crowd 1723 |
| gaffe ----------- According to Miss Manners, to call your husband by your lover's name is worse than a mere gaffe; it is a tactical mistake. | social blunder 1724 |
| winsome ----------- By her winsome manner, she made herself liked by everyone who met her. | agreeable; gracious; engaging 1725 |
| elliptical ----------- An elliptical billiard ball wobbles because it is not perfectly round; an elliptical remark baffles because it is not perfectly clear. | oval; ambiguous, either purposely or because key words have been left out 1726 |
| carat ----------- He gave her a three-carat diamond mounted in an eighteen-carat gold band. | unit of weight for precious stones; measure of fineness of gold 1727 |
| seethe ----------- The nation was seething with discontent as the noblemen continued their arrogant ways. | be disturbed; boil 1728 |
| actuarial ----------- According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago. | calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics 1729 |
| tycoon ----------- John D. Rockefeller was a prominent tycoon. | wealthy leader 1730 |
| inconsistency ----------- How are lawyers different from agricultural inspectors? While lawyers check inconsistencies in witnesses' statements, agricultural inspectors check inconsistencies in Grade A eggs. i | state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness 1731 |
| downcast ----------- Cheerful and optimistic by nature, Beth was never downcast despite the difficulties she faced. | disheartened; sad 1732 |
| raucous ----------- The raucous crowd of New Year's Eve revelers got progressively noisier as midnight drew near. | harsh and shrill; disorderly and boisterous 1733 |
| therapeutic ----------- Now better known for its racetrack, Saratoga Springs first gained attention for the therapeutic qualities of its famous healing waters. therapy, N. | curative 1734 |
| proxy ----------- Please act as my proxy and vote for this slate of candidates in my absence. | authorized agent 1735 |
| embark ----------- In devoting herself to the study of gorillas, Dian Fossey embarked on a course of action that was to cost her her life. | commence; go on board a boat or airplane; begin a journey 1736 |
| unscathed ----------- They prayed he would come back from the war unscathed. | unharmed 1737 |
| unwitting ----------- She was the unwitting tool of the swindlers. | unintentional; not knowing 1738 |
| moribund ----------- Hearst took a moribund, failing weekly newspaper and transformed it into one of the liveliest, most profitable daily papers around. | dying 1739 |
| anarchist ----------- Denying she was an anarchist, Katya maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it entirely. anarchy, N. | person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority 1740 |
| accord ----------- She was in complete accord with the verdict. | agreement 1741 |
| slipshod ----------- As a master craftsman, the carpenter prided himself on not doing slipshod work. | untidy or slovenly; shabby 1742 |
| scrupulous ----------- Though Alfred is scrupulous in fulfilling his duties at work, he is less conscientious about his obligations to his family and friends. | conscientious; extremely thorough 1743 |
| incontinent ----------- His incontinent behavior off stage so shocked many people that they refused to attend the plays and movies in which he appeared. | lacking self-restraint; licentious 1744 |
| agitate ----------- Her fiery remarks agitated the already angry mob. | stir up; disturb 1745 |
| dormer ----------- In remodeling the attic into a bedroom, we decided that we needed to put in dormers to provide sufficient ventilation for the new room. | window projecting from roof 1746 |
| aerie ----------- The mother eagle swooped down on the unwitting rabbit and bore it off to her aerie high in the Rocky Mountains. | nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk) 1747 |
| seismic ----------- The Richter scale is a measurement of seismic disturbances. | pertaining to earthquakes 1748 |
| feral ----------- Abandoned by their owners, dogs may revert to their feral state, roaming the woods in packs. | not domestic; wild 1749 |
| tarantula ----------- We need an antitoxin to counteract the bite of the tarantula. | venomous spider 1750 |
| indict ----------- The district attorney didn't want to indict the suspect until she was sure she had a strong enough case to convince a jury. indictment, N. | charge 1751 |
| mosaic ----------- The mayor compared the city to a beautiful mosaic made up of people of every race and religion on earth. | picture made of colorful small inlaid tiles 1752 |
| vapid ----------- Bor-ing! said Jessica, as she suffered through yet another vapid lecture about Dead White Male Poets. | dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless 1753 |
| celestial ----------- She spoke of the celestial joys that awaited virtuous souls in the hereafter. | heavenly 1754 |
| riveting ----------- The reviewer described Byatt's novel Possession as a riveting tale, one so absorbing that he had finished it in a single night. | absorbing; engrossing 1755 |
| linger ----------- Hoping to see Juliet pass by, Romeo lingered outside the Capulet house for hours. Though Mother made stuffed cabbage on Monday, the smell lingered around the house for days. | loiter or dawdle; continue or persist 1756 |
| aggregate ----------- Before the Wall Street scandals, dealers in so-called junk bonds managed to aggregate great wealth in short periods of time. aggregation, N. | gather; accumulate 1757 |
| nettle ----------- Do not let him nettle you with his sarcastic remarks. | annoy; vex 1758 |
| engender ----------- To receive praise for real accomplishments engenders self-confidence in a child. | cause; produce 1759 |
| lavish ----------- The actor's lavish gifts pleased her. alsoV. | liberal; wasteful 1760 |
| stratum ----------- Unless we alleviate conditions in the lowest stratum of our society, we may expect grumbling and revolt. | layer of earth's surface; layer of society 1761 |
| dislodge ----------- Thrusting her fist up under the choking man's lower ribs, Margaret used the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food caught in his throat. | remove (forcibly) 1762 |
| passive ----------- Mahatma Gandhi urged his followers to pursue a program of passive resistance as he felt that it was more effective than violence and acts of terrorism. | not active; acted upon 1763 |
| nauseate ----------- The foul smells began to nauseate him. | cause to become sick; fill with disgust 1764 |
| Clump ----------- Hiding behind the clump of bushes, the fugitives waited for the heavy clump of the soldiers' feet to fade away. | cluster or close group (of bushes, trees); mass; sound of heavy treading 1765 |
| opportunist ----------- Joe is such an opportunist that he tripled the price of bottled water at his store as soon as the earthquake struck. Because it can break water pipes, an earthqua | individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances 1766 |
| phylum ----------- In sorting out her hundreds of packets of seeds, Katya decided to file them by phylum. | major class of plants; primary branch of animal kingdom; division 1767 |
| variegated ----------- Without her glasses, Gretchen saw the fields of tulips as a variegated blur. | many-colored 1768 |
| annuity ----------- The annuity he setup with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he can live very comfortably without working. | yearly allowance 1769 |
| gall ----------- The knowledge of his failure filled him with gall. | bitterness; nerve 1770 |
| malevolent ----------- lago is a malevolent villain who takes pleasure in ruining Othello. | wishing evil 1771 |
| facilitate ----------- Rest and proper nourishment should facilitate the patient's recovery. | help bring about; make less difficult 1772 |
| verity ----------- Did you question the verity of Kato Kaelin's testimony about what he heard the night Nicole Brown Simpson was slain? To the skeptic, everything was relative: there were no eternal verities in which on | quality of being true; lasting truth or principle 1773 |
| gall ----------- Their taunts galled him. | annoy; chafe 1774 |
| interment ----------- Interment will take place in the church cemetery at 2 P.M. Wednesday. | burial 1775 |
| hamper ----------- The new mother didn't realize how much the effort of caring for an infant would hamper her ability to keep an immaculate house. | obstruct 1776 |
| nutrient ----------- As a budding nutritionist, Kim has learned to design diets that contain foods rich in important basic nutrients. | nourishing substance 1777 |
| enigma ----------- What do women want? asked Dr. Sigmund Freud. Their behavior was an enigma to him. | puzzle; mystery 1778 |
| devotee ----------- A devotee of the opera, he bought season tickets every year. | enthusiastic follower 1779 |
| cliché ----------- High school compositions are often marred by such clichés as strong as an ox. | phrase dulled in meaning by repetition 1780 |
| elusive ----------- Trying to pin down exactly when the contractors would be finished remodeling the house, Nancy was frustrated by their elusive replies. elude,V. | evasive; baffling; hard to grasp 1781 |
| prate ----------- Let us not prate about our good qualities; rather, let our virtues speak for themselves. | speak foolishly; boast idly 1782 |
| fray ----------- The three musketeers were in the thick of the fray. | brawl 1783 |
| symmetry ----------- Something lopsided by definition lacks symmetry. | arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity 1784 |
| kindred ----------- Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were two kindred spirits. also N. | related; belonging to the same family 1785 |
| parasite ----------- The tapeworm is an example of the kind of parasite that may infest the human body. | animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant 1786 |
| cosmopolitan ----------- Her years in the capital had transformed her into a cosmopolitan woman highly aware of international affairs. | sophisticated 1787 |
| timidity ----------- If you are to succeed as a salesman, you must first lose your timidity and fear of failure. | lack of self-confidence or courage 1788 |
| dolt ----------- I thought I was talking to a mature audience; instead, I find myself addressing a pack of dolts and idiots. | stupid person 1789 |
| *consensus ----------- Every time the garden club members had nearly reached a consensus about what to plant, Mistress Mary, quite contrary, disagreed. | general agreement 1790 |
| impiety ----------- When members of the youth group draped the church in toilet paper one Halloween, the minister reprimanded them for their impiety. | irreverence; lack of respect for God 1791 |
| commodious ----------- After sleeping in small roadside cabins, they found their hotel suite commodious. | spacious and comfortable 1792 |
| monetary ----------- Jane held the family purse strings: she made all monetary decisions affecting the household. | pertaining to money 1793 |
| nocturnal ----------- Mr. Jones obtained a watchdog to prevent the nocturnal raids on his chicken coops. | done at night 1794 |
| opaque ----------- The opaque window shade kept the sunlight out of the room. opacity, N. | dark; not transparent 1795 |
| impugn ----------- Our treasurer was furious when the finance committee's report impugned the accuracy of his financial records and recommended that he should take bonehead math. | dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); challenge; gainsay 1796 |
| missive ----------- The ambassador received a missive from the secretary of state. | letter 1797 |
| impeccable ----------- The uncrowned queen of the fashion industry, Diana was acclaimed for her impeccable taste. | faultless 1798 |
| sparse ----------- No matter how carefully Albert combed his hair to make it look as full as possible, it still looked sparse. | not thick; thinly scattered; scanty 1799 |
| oblivious ----------- Deep in her book, Nancy was oblivious to the noisy squabbles of her brother and his friends. | inattentive or unmindful; wholly absorbed 1800 |
| termination ----------- Though the time for termination of the project was near, we still had a lot of work to finish before we shut up shop. terminate,V. | end 1801 |
| decipher ----------- Lacking his code book, the spy was unable to decipher the scrambled message sent to him from the KGB. | interpret secret code 1802 |
| unconscionable ----------- She found the loan shark's demands unconscionable and impossible to meet. | unscrupulous; excessive 1803 |
| glossy ----------- I want this photograph printed on glossy paper, not matte. | smooth and shining 1804 |
| attrition ----------- In the 1960s urban churches suffered from attrition as members moved from the cities to the suburbs. Rather than fire | gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment 1805 |
| compress ----------- She compressed the package under her arm. | close; squeeze; contract 1806 |
| indices ----------- signs; indications. Many college admissions officers believe that SAT scores and high school grades are the best indices of a student's potential to succeed in college. N. SG. index. | PL 1807 |
| catcall ----------- Every major league pitcher has off days during which he must learn to ignore the catcalls and angry hisses from the crowd. | shout of disapproval; boo 1808 |
| inquisitor ----------- Fearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret police, Masha faced her inquisitors with trepidation. | questioner (especially harsh); investigator 1809 |
| acclivity ----------- The car would not go up the acclivity in high gear. | sharp upslope of a hill 1810 |
| sluggish ----------- After two nights without sleep, she felt sluggish and incapable of exertion. | Slow; lazy; lethargic 1811 |
| partisan ----------- On certain issues of principle, she refused to take a partisan stand, but let her conscience be her guide. Rather than joining forces to solve our nation's problems, the Democrats and Republicans spend th | one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party 1812 |
| hierarchy ----------- To be low man on the totem pole is to have an inferior place in the hierarchy. | arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks 1813 |
| exuberance ----------- I was bowled over by the exuberance of Amy's welcome. What an enthusiastic greeting! | overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness 1814 |
| nefarious ----------- The villain's crimes, though various, were one and all nefarious. | very wicked 1815 |
| irresolute ----------- Once you have made your decision, don't waver; a leader should never appear irresolute. | uncertain how to act; weak 1816 |
| salvage ----------- All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed. also N. | rescue from loss 1817 |
| underscore ----------- Addressing the jogging class, Kim underscored the importance to runners of good nutrition. | emphasize 1818 |
| prevalent ----------- A radical committed to social change, Reed had no patience with the conservative views prevalent in the America of his day. | widespread; generally accepted 1819 |
| bawdy ----------- Jack took offense at Jill's bawdy remarks. What kind of young man did she think he was? | indecent; obscene 1820 |
| enervate ----------- She was slow to recover from her illness; even a short walk to the window would enervate her. | weaken 1821 |
| obviate ----------- I hope this contribution will obviate any need for further collections of funds. | make unnecessary; get rid of 1822 |
| inkling ----------- This came as a complete surprise to me as I did not have the slightest inkling of your plans. | hint 1823 |
| headlong ----------- The slave seized the unexpected chance to make a headlong dash across the border to freedom. | hasty; rash 1824 |
| surrogate ----------- For a fatherless child, a male teacher may become a father surrogate. | substitute 1825 |
| amenable ----------- He was amenable to any suggestions that came from those he looked up to; he resented advice from his inferiors. | readily managed; willing to be led 1826 |
| sophisticated ----------- When Sophie makes wisecracks, she thinks she sounds sophisticated, but instead she sounds sophomoric. The new IBM laptop with the butterfly keyboard and the built-in quadspeed FAX modem is a pretty sophisticated mach | worldly-wise and urbane; complex 1827 |
| blasphemy ----------- In my father's house, the Dodgers were the holiest of holies; to cheer for another team was to utter words of blasphemy. blasphemous,ADJ. | irreverence; sacrilege; cursing 1828 |
| antithesis ----------- This tyranny was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for, and he fought it with all his strength. | contrast; direct opposite of or to 1829 |
| predicament ----------- Tied to the railroad tracks by the villain, Pauline strained against her bonds. How would she escape from this terrible predicament? | tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma 1830 |
| dearth ----------- The dearth of skilled labor compelled the employers to open trade schools. | scarcity 1831 |
| swindler ----------- She was gullible and trusting, an easy victim for the first swindler who came along. | cheat 1832 |
| grudging ----------- We received only grudging support from the mayor despite his earlier promises of aid. | unwilling; reluctant; stingy 1833 |
| ominous ----------- Those clouds are ominous; they suggest a severe storm is on the way. | threatening 1834 |
| aboriginal ----------- being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native. Her studies of the primitive art forms of the aboriginal Indians were widely reported in the scientific journals. aborigines, N. | , N 1835 |
| incite ----------- In a fiery speech, Mario incited his fellow students to go out on strike to protest the university's anti-affirmative action stand. | arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist 1836 |
| defiance ----------- When John reached the terrible two's, he responded to every parental request with howls of defiance. defy,V. | refusal to yield; resistance 1837 |
| onerous ----------- He asked for an assistant because his work load was too onerous. | burdensome 1838 |
| scanty ----------- Thinking his helping of food was scanty, Oliver Twist asked for more. | meager; insufficient 1839 |
| atavism ----------- The doctors ascribed the child's deformity to an atavism. | resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; deformity returning after passage of two or more generations 1840 |
| distraught ----------- The distraught parents frantically searched the ravine for their lost child. | upset; distracted by anxiety 1841 |
| indoctrinate ----------- CubanAmericans resisted sending Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba because he would be indoctrinated there with Communist principles. | instruct in a doctrine or ideology 1842 |
| giddy ----------- He felt his giddy youth was past. | light-hearted; dizzy 1843 |
| blasé ----------- Although Beth was as thrilled with the idea of a trip to Paris as her classmates were, she tried to act super cool and blasé, as if she'd been abroad hundreds of times. | bored with pleasure or dissipation 1844 |
| impediment ----------- She had a speech impediment that prevented her speaking clearly. | hindrance; stumbling-block 1845 |
| indignation ----------- He felt indignation at the ill-treatment of helpless animals. | anger at an injustice 1846 |
| witless ----------- If Beavis is a half-wit, then Butthead is totally witless. | foolish; idiotic 1847 |
| ulterior ----------- You must have an ulterior motive for your behavior, since there is no obvious reason for it. | situated beyond; unstated 1848 |
| glaring ----------- Glaring spelling or grammatical errors in your resume will unfavorably impress potential employers. | highly conspicuous; harshly bright 1849 |
| expedient ----------- A pragmatic politician, he was guided by what was expedient rather than by what was ethical. expediency, N. | suitable; practical; politic 1850 |
| apprehend ----------- The police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long. | arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive 1851 |
| plaudit ----------- The theatrical company reprinted the plaudits of the critics in its advertisements. plauditory,ADJ. | enthusiastically worded approval; round of applause 1852 |
| raconteur ----------- My father was a gifted raconteur with an unlimited supply of anecdotes. | storyteller 1853 |
| flinch ----------- He did not flinch in the face of danger but fought back bravely. | hesitate, shrink 1854 |
| apocalyptic ----------- The crowd jeered at the street preacher's apocalyptic predictions of doom. The Apocalypse or Book of Revelations of Saint John prophesies the end of the world as we know it and foretells marvels and prodigies th | prophetic; pertaining to revelations 1855 |
| affliction ----------- Even in the midst of her affliction, Elizabeth tried to keep up the spirits of those around her. | state of distress; cause of suffering 1856 |
| fecundity ----------- The fecundity of his mind is illustrated by the many vivid images in his poems. | fertility; fruitfulness 1857 |
| dynamic ----------- The dynamic aerobics instructor kept her students on the run; she was a little dynamo. | energetic; vigorously active 1858 |
| polygamist ----------- He was arrested as a polygamist when his two wives filed complaints about him. | one who has more than one spouse at a time 1859 |
| lackluster ----------- We were disappointed by the lackluster performance. | dull 1860 |
| apotheosis ----------- The apotheosis of a Roman emperor was designed to insure his eternal greatness: people would worship at his altar forever. The hero of the musical How to Succeed in Business ... was the apotheosis of | elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something 1861 |
| impecunious ----------- Though Scrooge claimed he was too impecunious to give alms, he easily could have afforded to be charitable. | without money 1862 |
| pristine ----------- This area has been preserved in all its pristine wildness. | characteristic of earlier times; primitive; unspoiled 1863 |
| tantrum ----------- The child learned that he could have almost anything if he had a tantrum. | fit of petulance; caprice 1864 |
| distend ----------- I can tell when he is under stress by the way the veins distend on his forehead. | expand; swell out 1865 |
| slur ----------- Polls revealed that the front-runner's standing had been badly damaged by the slurs and innuendoes circulated by his opponent's staff. also V. (secondary meaning) | insult to one's character or reputation; slander 1866 |
| pithy ----------- While other girls might have gone on and on about how uncool Elton was, Liz summed it up in one pithy remark: He's bogus! | concise; meaningful; substantial; meaty 1867 |
| engage ----------- Your case has engaged my interest, my lord, said Holmes. You may engage my services. | attract; hire; pledge oneself; confront 1868 |
| grovel ----------- Even though we have been defeated, we do not have to grovel before our conquerors. | crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate 1869 |
| astringent ----------- The astringent quality of the unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult. also N. | binding; causing contraction 1870 |
| chary ----------- A prudent, thrifty, New Englander, DeWitt was as chary of investing money in junk bonds as he was chary of paying people unnecessary compliments. | cautious; sparing or restrained about giving 1871 |
| prank ----------- Is tipping over garbage cans on Halloween merely a childish prank, or is it vandalism? | mischievous trick 1872 |
| facsimile ----------- Many museums sell facsimiles of the works of art on display. | COPY 1873 |
| waggish ----------- He was a prankster who, unfortunately, often overlooked the damage he could cause with his waggish tricks. wag, N. | mischievous; humorous; tricky 1874 |
| assent ----------- It gives me great pleasure to assentto your request. | agree; accept 1875 |
| valedictory ----------- I found the valedictory address too long; leave-taking should be brief. | pertaining to farewell 1876 |
| apprenticeship ----------- As a child, Pip had thought it would be wonderful to work as Joe's apprentice; now he hated his apprenticeship and scorned the blacksmith's trade. | time spent as a novice learning a trade from a skilled worker 1877 |
| finicky ----------- The little girl was finicky about her food, leaving over anything that wasn't to her taste. | too particular; fussy 1878 |
| alloy ----------- Alloys of gold are used more frequently than the pure metal. | a mixture as of metals 1879 |
| reticence ----------- Fearing his competitors might get advance word about his plans from talkative staff members, Hughes preferred reticence from his employees to loquacity. reticent,ADJ. | reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclination to silence 1880 |
| inclusive ----------- The comedian turned down the invitation to join the Players' Club, saying any club that would let him in was too inclusive for him. | tending to include all 1881 |
| bungalow ----------- Every summer we rent a bungalow on Cape Cod for our vacation home. The rent is high, the roof is low-it's a basic bungalow. | small cottage 1882 |
| arbiter ----------- As an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won the confidence of the workers and the employers. | a person with power to decide a dispute; judge 1883 |
| limber ----------- Hours of ballet classes kept him limber. | flexible 1884 |
| culinary ----------- Many chefs attribute their culinary skill to the wise use of spices. | relating to cooking 1885 |
| staccato ----------- His staccato speech reminded one of the sound of a machine gun. | played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound 1886 |
| reimburse ----------- Let me know what you have spent and I will reimburse you. | repay 1887 |
| unique ----------- You have the unique distinction of being the only student whom I have had to fail in this course. | without an equal; single in kind 1888 |
| alienate ----------- Her attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith in each other. | make hostile; separate 1889 |
| fervid ----------- Her fervid enthusiasm inspired all of us to undertake the dangerous mission. | ardent 1890 |
| incontrovertible ----------- Unless you find the evidence against my client absolutely incontrovertible, you must declare her not guilty of this charge. | indisputable; not open to question 1891 |
| fetid ----------- The neglected wound became fetid. | malodorous 1892 |
| duress ----------- The hostages were held under duress until the prisoners' demands were met. | forcible restraint, especially unlawfully 1893 |
| reparation ----------- At the peace conference, the defeated country promised to pay reparations to the victors. | amends; compensation 1894 |
| uncouth ----------- Most biographers portray Lincoln as an uncouth and ungainly young man. | outlandish; clumsy; boorish 1895 |
| obligatory ----------- It is obligatory that books borrowed from the library be returned within two weeks. | binding; required 1896 |
| parallelism ----------- Although the twins were separated at birth and grew up in different adoptive families, a striking parallelism exists between their lives. | state of being parallel; similarity 1897 |
| mushroom ----------- Between 1990 and 1999, the population of Silicon Valley mushroomed; with the rapidly increasing demand for housing, home prices skyrocketed as well. | expand or grow rapidly 1898 |
| decomposition ----------- Despite the body's advanced state of decomposition, the police were able to identify the murdered man. | decay 1899 |
| provident ----------- In his usual provident manner, he had insured himself against this type of loss. | displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies 1900 |
| compunction ----------- The judge was especially severe in his sentencing because he felt that the criminal had shown no compunction for his heinous crime. | remorse 1901 |
| dumbfound ----------- Egbert's perfect 1600 on his SAT I exam dumbfounded his classmates, who had always found him to be perfectly dumb. | astonish 1902 |
| misnomer ----------- His tyrannical conduct proved to all that his nickname, King Eric the Just, was a misnomer. | wrong name; incorrect designation 1903 |
| dissection ----------- The dissection of frogs in the laboratory is particularly unpleasant to some students. | analysis; cutting apart in order to examine 1904 |
| foresight ----------- A wise investor, she had the foresight to buy land just before the current real estate boom. | ability to foresee future happenings; prudence 1905 |
| probe ----------- The surgeon probed the wound for foreign matter before suturing it. also N. | explore with tools 1906 |
| quell ----------- Miss Minchin's demeanor was so stern and forbidding that she could quell any unrest among her students with one intimidating glance. | extinguish; put down; quiet 1907 |
| defray ----------- Her employer offered to defray the costs of her postgraduate education. | pay the costs of 1908 |
| whelp ----------- This collie whelp won't do for breeding, but he'd make a fine pet. | young wolf, dog, tiger, etc 1909 |
| immobility ----------- Modern armies cannot afford the luxury of immobility, as they are vulnerable to attack while standing still. | state of being immovable 1910 |
| waft ----------- Daydreaming, he gazed at the leaves that wafted past his window. | moved gently by wind or waves 1911 |
| felicity -----------). She wrote a note to the newlyweds wishing them great felicity in their wedded life. | happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc 1912 |
| coagulate ----------- Even after you remove the pudding from the burner, it will continue to coagulate as it stands; therefore, do not overcook the pudding, lest it become too thick. | thicken; congeal; clot 1913 |
| hindrance ----------- Stalled cars along the highway are a hindrance to traffic that tow trucks should remove without delay. hinder,V. | block; obstacle 1914 |
| consort ----------- We frequently judge people by the company with whom they consort. N. husband or wife. The search for a consort for the young Queen Victoria ended happily. | associate with 1915 |
| anthropomorphic ----------- Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics. anthropomorphism, N. | having human form or characteristics 1916 |
| pugnacity ----------- Put up your dukes! he cried, making a fist to show his pugnacity. pugnacious,ADJ. | combativeness; disposition to fight 1917 |
| epithet ----------- So many kings of France were named Charles that you could tell them apart only by their epithets: Charles the Wise was someone far different from Charles the Fat. | word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing 1918 |
| venal ----------- The venal policeman cheerfully accepted the bribe offered him by the speeding motorist whom he had stopped. | capable of being bribed 1919 |
| velocity ----------- The train went by at considerable velocity. | speed 1920 |
| veracity ----------- Asserting his veracity, young George Washington proclaimed, Father, I cannot tell a lie! | truthfulness 1921 |
| scale ----------- In order to locate a book on the top shelf of the stacks, Lee had to scale an exceptionally rickety ladder. | climb up; ascend 1922 |
| determination ----------- Nothing could shake his determination that his children would get the best education that money could buy. Thanks to my pocket calculator, my determination of the answer to the problem took only seconds of | resolve; measurement or calculation; decision 1923 |
| germinal ----------- Such an idea is germinal, I am certain that it will influence thinkers and philosophers for many generations. | pertaining to a germ; creative 1924 |
| manipulate ----------- Jim Henson understood how to manipulate the Muppets. Madonna understands how to manipulate men (and publicity). | ) artfully 1925 |
| anarchy ----------- The assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy. | absence of governing body; state of disorder 1926 |
| impede ----------- A series of accidents impeded the launching of the space shuttle. | hinder; block; delay 1927 |
| pyromaniac ----------- The detectives searched the area for the pyromaniac who had set these costly fires. | person with an insane desire to set things on fire 1928 |
| cater to ----------- The chef was happy to cater to the tastes of his highly sophisticated clientele. Critics condemned the movie industry for catering to the public's ever-increasing appetite for violence. | supply something desired (whether good or bad) 1929 |
| regimen ----------- I doubt whether the results warrant our living under such a strict regimen. | prescribed diet and habits 1930 |
| splice ----------- Before you splice two strips of tape together, be sure to line them up evenly. also N. | fasten together; unite 1931 |
| stealth ----------- Fearing detection by the sentries on duty, the scout inched his way toward the enemy camp with great stealth. | slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness 1932 |
| imperious ----------- Jane rather liked a man to be masterful, but Mr. Rochester seemed so bent on getting his own way that he was actually imperious! | domineering; haughty 1933 |
| raze ----------- Spelling is important: to raise a building is to put it up; to raze a building is to tear it down. | destroy completely 1934 |
| spurious ----------- The antique dealer hero of Jonathan Gash's mystery novels gives the reader tips on how to tell spurious antiques from the real thing. Natasha's claim to be the lost heir of the Romanoffs was spurious: the only t | false; counterfeit; forged; illogical 1935 |
| philanderer ----------- Swearing he had never so much as looked at another woman, Ralph assured Alice he was no philanderer. | faithless lover; flirt 1936 |
| shun ----------- Cherishing his solitude, the recluse shunned the company of other human beings. | keep away from 1937 |
| shambles ----------- After the hurricane, the Carolina coast was a shambles. After the New Year's Eve party, the apartment was a shambles. | wreck; mess 1938 |
| incantation ----------- Uttering incantations to make the brew more potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron. | singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula 1939 |
| flux ----------- While conditions are in such a state of flux, I do not wish to commit myself too deeply in this affair. | flowing; series of changes 1940 |
| illuminate ----------- Just as a lamp can illuminate a dark room, a perceptive comment can illuminate a knotty problem. | brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten 1941 |
| olfactory ----------- A wine taster must have a discriminating palate and a keen olfactory sense, for a good wine appeals both to the taste buds and to the nose. | concerning the sense of smell 1942 |
| countermand ----------- The general countermanded the orders issued in his absence. | cancel; revoke 1943 |
| patronize ----------- Penniless artists hope to find some wealthy art-lover who will patronize them. If some condescending wine steward patronized me because he saw I knew nothing about fine wine, I'd refuse to patronize his r | support; act superior toward; be a customer of 1944 |
| mendicant ----------- O noble sir, give alms to the poor, cried Aladdin, playing the mendicant. | beggar 1945 |
| poseur -----------, to impress others. Some thought Salvador Dali was a brilliant painter; others dismissed him as a poseur. | person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc 1946 |
| dormant ----------- At fifty her longdormant ambition to write flared up once more; within a year she had completed the first of her great historical novels. | sleeping; lethargic; latent 1947 |
| abeyance ----------- The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival. | suspended action 1948 |
| enterprising ----------- By coming up with fresh ways to market the company's products, Mike proved himself to be an enterprising businessman. | full of initiative 1949 |
| prune ----------- With the help of her editor, she was able to prune her overlong manuscript into publishable form. | cut away; trim 1950 |
| emollient ----------- The nurse applied an emollientto the inflamed area. alsoADJ. | soothing or softening remedy 1951 |
| clamor ----------- The clamor of the children at play outside made it impossible for her to take a nap. alsoV. | noise 1952 |
| vagrant ----------- Because he was a stranger in town with no visible means of support, Martin feared he would be jailed as a vagrant. vagrancy, N. | a homeless wanderer 1953 |
| quixotic ----------- Constantly coming up with quixotic, unworkable schemes to save the world, Simon has his heart in the right place, but his head somewhere in the clouds. | idealistic but impractical 1954 |
| complement ----------- The waiter recommended a glass of port to | complete; consummate; make perfect 1955 |
| inception ----------- She was involved with the project from its inception. | start; beginning 1956 |
| beset ----------- Many vexing problems beset the American public school system. Sleeping Beauty's castle was beset on all sides by dense thickets that hid it from view. | harass or trouble; hem in 1957 |
| autocratic ----------- Someone accustomed to exercising authority may become autocratic if his or her power is unchecked. Dictators by definition are autocrats. Bosses who dictate behavior as well as letters can be autocrat | having absolute, unchecked power; dictatorial 1958 |
| relegate ----------- After Ralph dropped his second tray of drinks that week, the manager swiftly relegated him to a minor post cleaning up behind the bar. | banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign 1959 |
| junta ----------- As soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the execution of all of the members of the junta. | group of men joined in political intrigue; cabal 1960 |
| diabolical ----------- What a fiend I am, to devise such a diabolical scheme to destroy Gotham City, chortled the Joker gleefully. | devilish 1961 |
| succulent ----------- To some people, Florida citrus fruits are more succulent than those from California. also N. | juicy; full of richness 1962 |
| placate ----------- The store manager tried to placate the angry customer, offering to replace the damaged merchandise or to give back her money right away. | pacify; conciliate 1963 |
| ashen ----------- Her face was ashen with fear. | ash-colored 1964 |
| grandeur ----------- No matter how often he hiked through the mountains, David never failed to be struck by the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada range. | impressiveness; stateliness; majesty 1965 |
| insolvent ----------- Although young Lord Widgeon was insolvent, he had no fear of being thrown into debtors' prison, for he was sure that if his creditors pressed him for payment his wealthy parents would repay what he owed. insolve | bankrupt; unable to repay one's debts 1966 |
| deride ----------- The critics derided his pretentious dialogue and refused to consider his play seriously. derision, N. | ridicule; make fun of 1967 |
| inverse ----------- There is an inverse ratio between the strength of light and its distance. | opposite 1968 |
| meditation ----------- She reached her decision only after much meditation. | reflection; thought 1969 |
| nepotism ----------- John left his position with the company because he felt that advancement was based on nepotism rather than ability. | favoritism (to a relative) 1970 |
| countenance ----------- He refused to countenance such rude behavior on their part. N. face. When Jose saw his new born daughter, a proud smile spread across his countenance. | approve; tolerate 1971 |
| muse ----------- For a moment he mused about the beauty of the scene, but his thoughts soon changed as he recalled his own personal problems. also N. | ponder 1972 |
| conception ----------- At the first conception of the work, he was consulted. conceive, V | beginning; forming of an idea 1973 |
| appall ----------- We were appalled by the horrifying conditions in the city's jails. | dismay; shock 1974 |
| browbeat ----------- Billy resisted Ted's attempts browbeat him into handing over his lunch money. | bully; intimidate 1975 |
| flout ----------- The headstrong youth flouted all authority; he refused to be curbed. | reject; mock 1976 |
| oblivion ----------- After a decade of popularity, Hurston's works had fallen into oblivion; no one bothered to read them any more. | obscurity; forgetfulness 1977 |
| affected ----------- His affected mannerisms-his Harvard accent, his air of boredom, his use of obscure foreign wordsbugged us: he acted as if he thought he was too good for his old high school friends. affectation, | artificial; pretended; assumed in order to impress 1978 |
| nullify ----------- Once the contract was nullified, it no longer had any legal force. | to make invalid 1979 |
| vivacious ----------- She had always been vivacious and sparkling. | animated; lively 1980 |
| acquittal ----------- His acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty. acquit,V. | deliverance from a charge 1981 |
| appellation ----------- Macbeth was startled when the witches greeted him with an incorrect appellation. Why did they call him Thane of Cawdor, he wondered, when the holder of that title still lived? | name; title 1982 |
| contravene ----------- Mr.Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth to contravene his will by eloping with Robert Browning. | contradict; oppose; infringe on or transgress 1983 |
| apparatus ----------- Firefighters use specialized apparatus to fight fires. | equipment 1984 |
| provisional ----------- Kim's acceptance as an American Express card holder was provisional: before issuing her a card, American Express wanted to check her employment record and credit history. | tentative 1985 |
| venerable ----------- We do not mean to be disrespectful when we refuse to follow the advice of our venerable leader. | deserving high respect 1986 |
| valor ----------- He received the Medal of Honor for his valor in battle. | bravery 1987 |
| quarry ----------- The police closed in on their quarry. | Victim; object of a hunt 1988 |
| voluble ----------- The excessively voluble speaker suffers from logorrhea: he runs off at the mouth a lot! | fluent; glib; talkative 1989 |
| remiss ----------- The guard was accused of being remiss in his duty when the prisoner escaped. | negligent 1990 |
| tangible ----------- Although Tom did not own a house, he had several tangible assets-a car, a television, a PC-that he could sell if he needed cash. | able to be touched; real; palpable 1991 |
| exposure ----------- Exposure to sun and wind had dried out her hair and weathered her face. She looked so changed that she no longer feared exposure as the notoriou | risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open 1992 |
| impromptu ----------- The judges were amazed that she could make such a thorough, well-supported presentation in an impromptu speech. | without previous preparation; off the cuff; on the spur of the moment 1993 |
| exude ----------- We get maple syrup from the sap that exudes from the trees in early spring. exudation, N. | discharge; give forth 1994 |
| lurk ----------- Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows. | stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived 1995 |
| defoliate ----------- In Vietnam the army made extensive use of chemical agents to defoliate the woodlands. | destroy leaves 1996 |
| chasm ----------- They could not see the bottom of the chasm. | abyss 1997 |
| putrid ----------- The gangrenous condition of the wound was indicated by the putrid smell when the bandages were removed. putrescence, N. | foul; rotten; decayed 1998 |
| gratify ----------- Lori's parents were gratified by her successful performance on the SAT. | please 1999 |
| potion ----------- Tristan and Isolde drink a love potion in the first act of the opera. | dose (of liquid) 2000 |
| timorous ----------- His timorous manner betrayed the fear he felt at the moment. | fearful; demonstrating fear 2001 |
| prosperity ----------- Promising to stay together for richer, for poorer, the newlyweds vowed to be true to one another in prosperity and hardship alike. | good fortune; financial success; physical well-being 2002 |
| distort ----------- It is difficult to believe the newspaper accounts of the riots because of the way some reporters distort and exaggerate the actual events. distortion, N. | twist out of shape 2003 |
| muddle ----------- His thoughts were muddled and chaotic. also N. | confuse; mix up 2004 |
| bereft ----------- The foolish gambler soon found himself bereft of funds. | deprived of; lacking; desolate because of a loss 2005 |
| pedestrian ----------- Unintentionally boring, he wrote page after page of pedestrian prose. | ordinary; unimaginative 2006 |
| cacophonous ----------- Do the students in the orchestra enjoy the cacophonous sounds they make when they're tuning up? I don't know how they can stand the racket. cacophony, N. | discordant; inharmonious 2007 |
| entail ----------- Building a collegelevel vocabulary will entail some work on your part. | require; necessitate; involve 2008 |
| crypt ----------- Until recently, only bodies of rulers and leading statesmen were interred in this crypt. | secret recess or vault, usually used for burial 2009 |
| patrician ----------- We greatly admired her well-bred, patrician elegance. also N. | noble; aristocratic 2010 |
| farce ----------- Nothing went right; the entire interview degenerated into a farce. farcical,ADJ. | broad comedy; mockery 2011 |
| notoriety ----------- To the starlet, any publicity was good publicity: if she couldn't have a good reputation, she'd settle for notoriety. notorious,ADJ. | disrepute; ill fame 2012 |
| reprise ----------- We enjoyed the soprano's solo in Act I so much that we were delighted by its reprise in the finale. | musical repetition; repeat performance; recurrent action 2013 |
| *debunk ----------- Pointing out that he consistently had voted against strengthening anti-pollution legislation, reporters debunked the candidate's claim that he was a fervent environmentalist. | expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc; ridicule 2014 |
| choreography ----------- Merce Cunningham has begun to use a computer in designing choreography. a software program allows him to compose arrangements of possible moves and immediately view them onscreen. | art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances 2015 |
| deposition ----------- He made his deposition in the judge's chamber. | testimony under oath 2016 |
| comprehensive ----------- This book provides a comprehensive review of verbal and math skills for the SAT. | thorough; inclusive 2017 |
| annals ----------- In the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements. | records; history 2018 |
| fawning ----------- She was constantly surrounded by a group of fawning admirers who hoped to win some favor. fawn,V. | courting favor by cringing and flattering 2019 |
| servile ----------- Constantly fawning on his employer, humble Uriah Heap was a servile creature. | slavish; cringing 2020 |
| despondent ----------- To the dismay of his parents, William became seriously despondent after he broke up with Jan; they despaired of finding a cure for his gloom. despondency, N. | depressed; gloomy 2021 |
| miserly ----------- Transformed by his vision on Christmas Eve, mean old Scrooge ceased being miserly and became a generous, kind old man. | stingy; mean 2022 |
| inane ----------- There's no point to what you're saying. Why are you bothering to make such inane remarks? | silly; senseless 2023 |
| faze ----------- No crisis could faze the resourceful hotel manager. | disconcert; dismay 2024 |
| biased ----------- Because the judge played golf regularly with the district attorney's father, we feared he might be biased in the prosecution's favor. bias, N. | slanted; prejudiced 2025 |
| topography ----------- Before the generals gave the order to attack, they ordered a complete study of the topography of the region. | physical features of a region 2026 |
| palatable ----------- Neither Jack's underbaked opinions nor his overcooked casseroles were palatable to Jill. | agreeable; pleasing to the taste 2027 |
| rent ----------- Kit did an excellent job of mending the rent in the lining of her coat. | rip; split 2028 |
| iota ----------- She hadn't an iota of common sense. | very small quantity 2029 |
| dregs ----------- David poured the wine carefully to avoid stirring up the dregs. | sediment; worthless residue 2030 |
| sate ----------- Its hunger sated. the lion dozed. | satisfy to the full; cloy 2031 |
| recipient ----------- Although he had been the recipient of many favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor. | receiver 2032 |
| indeterminate ----------- That interest rates shall rise appears certain; when they will do so, however, remains indeterminate. | uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite 2033 |
| finesse ----------- The finesse and adroitness with which the surgeon wielded her scalpel impressed all the observers in the operating room. | delicate skill 2034 |
| imply ----------- When Aunt Millie said, My! That's a big piece of pie, young man! was she implying that Bobby was being a glutton in helping himself to such a huge piece? | suggest a meaning not expressed; signify 2035 |
| vigor ----------- Although he was over seventy years old, Jack had the vigor of a man in his prime. vigorOUS,ADJ. | active strength 2036 |
| nostalgia ----------- My grandfather seldom spoke of life in the old country; he had little patience with nostalgia. nostalgic,ADJ. | homesickness; longing for the past 2037 |
| odyssey ----------- The refugee's journey from Cambodia was a terrifying odyssey. | long, eventful journey 2038 |
| apiary ----------- Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee. | a place where bees are kept 2039 |
| prodigious ----------- Watching the champion weight lifter heave the weighty barbell to shoulder height and then boost it overhead, we marveled at his prodigious strength. | marvelous; enormous 2040 |
| crop ----------- With care, David cropped picture until its edges neatly framed the flock of sheep cropping the grass. | cut off unwanted parts of a photograph; graze 2041 |
| ichthyology ----------- Jacques Cousteau's programs about sea life have advanced the cause of ichthyology | study of fish 2042 |
| dissuade ----------- Since Tom could not dissuade Huck from running away from home, he decided to run away with him. dissuasion, N. | persuade not to do; discourage 2043 |
| seasoned ----------- Though pleased with her new batch of rookies, the basketball coach wished she had a few more seasoned players on the team. | experienced 2044 |
| irony ----------- Gradually his listeners began to realize that the excessive praise he was lavishing on his opponent was actually irony, he was in fact ridiculing the poor | hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean 2045 |
| lull ----------- Not wanting to get wet, they waited under the awning for a lull in the rain. | moment of calm 2046 |
| affidavit ----------- The court refused to accept his statement unless he presented it in the form of an affidavit. | written statement made under oath 2047 |
| cantankerous ----------- Constantly complaining about his treatment and refusing to cooperate with the hospital staff, he was a cantankerous patient. | ill humored; irritable 2048 |
| tractable ----------- Although Susan seemed a tractable young woman, she had a stubborn streak of independence that occasionally led her to defy the powers-that-be when she felt they were in the wrong. | docile; easily managed 2049 |
| seminary ----------- Sure of his priestly vocation, Terrence planned to pursue his theological training at the local Roman Catholic seminary. | school for training future ministers; academy for young women 2050 |
| *corrode ----------- The girders supporting the bridge corroded so gradually that no one suspected any danger until the bridge suddenlly collapsed. corrosion, N. corrosive, ADJ. | destroy by chemical action 2051 |
| cognate ----------- The English word mother is cognate to the Latin word mater, whose influence is visible in the words maternal and maternity. also N. | related linguistically: allied by blood: similar or akin in nature 2052 |
| mite ----------- Gnats are annoying mites that sting. | very small object or creature; small coin 2053 |
| embryonic ----------- The evil of class and race hatred must be eliminated while it is still in an embryonic state; otherwise, it may grow to dangerous proportions. emend V. correct; correct by a critic. The critic emended the book by selecting | undeveloped; rudimentary 2054 |
| ascribe ----------- I can ascribe no motive for her acts. | refer; attribute; assign 2055 |
| disjointed ----------- His remarks were so disjointed that we could not follow his reasoning. | disconnected 2056 |
| altercation ----------- In that hottempered household, no meal ever came to a peaceful conclusion; the inevitable altercation might even end in blows. | noisy quarrel; heated dispute 2057 |
| orgy ----------- The Roman emperor's orgies were far wilder than the toga party in the movie Animal House. When her income tax refund check finally arrived, Sally indulged in an orgy of shopping. | wild, drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in a tendency 2058 |
| exacting ----------- Cleaning the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was an exacting task, one that demanded extremely meticulous care on the part of the restorers. exaction, N. | extremely demanding 2059 |
| swarm ----------- At the height of the city hall scandals, a constant swarm of reporters followed the mayor everywhere. alsoV. | dense moving crowd; large group of honeybees 2060 |
| expiate ----------- He tried to expiate his crimes by a full confession to the authorities. | make amends for (a sin) 2061 |
| monastic ----------- Withdrawing from the world, Thomas Merton joined a contemplative religious order and adopted the monastic life. | related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns 2062 |
| exotic ----------- Because of his exotic headdress, he was followed in the streets by small children who laughed at his strange appearance. | not native; strange 2063 |
| pervasive ----------- Despite airing them for several hours, Martha could not rid her clothes of the pervasive odor of mothballs that clung to them. pervade,V. | pervading; spread throughout every part 2064 |
| certitude ----------- Though there was no certitude of his getting the job, Lou thought he had a good chance of doing so. | certainty 2065 |
| protean ----------- A remarkably protean actor, Alec Guinness could take on any role. | versatile; able to take on many shapes 2066 |
| incumbent ----------- It is incumbent upon all incumbent elected officials to keep accurate records of expenses incurred in office. also N. | obligatory; currently holding an office 2067 |
| dwindle ----------- The food in the life boat gradually dwindled away to nothing; in the end, they ate the ship's cook. | shrink; reduce 2068 |
| chisel ----------- With his hammer and chisel, the sculptor chipped away at the block of marble. | wedgelike tool for cutting 2069 |
| propulsive ----------- The jet plane has a greater propulsive power than the engine-driven plane. | driving forward 2070 |
| lumber ----------- Still somewhat torpid after its long hibernation, the bear lumbered through the woods. | move heavily or clumsily 2071 |
| reputed ----------- Though he is the reputed father of the child, no one can be sure. repute, N. | supposed 2072 |
| decrepit ----------- The decrepit car blocked traffic on the highway. | worn out by age 2073 |
| sanction ----------- Nothing will convince me to sanction the engagement of my daughter to such a worthless young man. | approve; ratify 2074 |
| impermeable ----------- This new material is impermeable to liquids. | impervious; not permitting passage through its substance 2075 |
| servitude ----------- Born a slave, Frederick Douglass resented his life of servitude and plotted to escape to the North. | slavery; compulsory labor 2076 |
| transparent ----------- John's pride in his son is transparent; no one who sees the two of them together can miss it. | easily detected; permitting light to pass through freely 2077 |
| stem from ----------- Milton's problems in school stemmed from his poor study habits. | arise from 2078 |
| slag ----------- The blast furnace had a special opening at the bottom to allow the workers to remove the worthless slag. | residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter 2079 |
| reputable ----------- If you want to buy antiques, look for a reputable dealer; far too many dealers today pass off fakes as genuine antiques. | respectable 2080 |
| viscous ----------- Melted tar is a viscous substance. Viscosity, N. | sticky; gluey 2081 |
| flabbergasted ----------- In the film Flubber, the hero invents a remarkable substance whose amazing properties leave his coworkers flabbergasted. flabbergast,V. | astounded; astonished; overcome with surprise 2082 |
| polarize ----------- The abortion issue has polarized the country into pro-choice and anti-abortion camps. polarization, N. | split into opposite extremes or camps 2083 |
| buccaneer ----------- At Disneyland the Pirates of the Caribbean sing a song about their lives as bloody buccaneers. | pirate 2084 |
| steadfast ----------- Penelope was steadfast in her affections, faithfully waiting for Ulysses to return from his wanderings. | loyal; unswerving 2085 |
| caldron ----------- Why, Mr. Crusoe, said the savage heating the giant caldron, we'd love to have you for dinner! | large kettle 2086 |
| unassailable ----------- Penelope's virtue was unassailable; while she waited for her husband to come back from the war, no other man had a chance. | not subject to question; not open to attack 2087 |
| erode ----------- The limestone was eroded by the dripping water until only a thin shell remained. erosion, N. | eat away 2088 |
| mnemonic ----------- He used mnemonic tricks to master new words. | pertaining to memory 2089 |
| molt ----------- When Molly's canary molted, he shed feathers all over the house. | shed or cast off hair or feathers 2090 |
| malign ----------- Putting her hands over her ears, Rose refused to listen to Betty malign her friend Susan. | speak evil of; bad-mouth; defame 2091 |
| plutocracy ----------- From the way the government caters to the rich, you might think our society is a plutocracy rather than a democracy. | society ruled by the wealthy 2092 |
| infinitesimal ----------- In the twentieth century, physicists have made their greatest discoveries about the characteristics of infinitesimal objects like the atom and its parts. | very small 2093 |
| restive ----------- Waiting impatiently in line to see Santa Claus, even the best-behaved children grow restive and start to fidget. | restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control 2094 |
| circumscribe ----------- Although I do not wish to circumscribe your activities, I must insist that you complete this assignment before you start anything else. | limit; confine 2095 |
| predetermine ----------- Romeo and Juliet believed that Fate had predetermined their meeting. Bea gathered estimates from caterers, florists, and stationers so that she could predetermine the costs of holding a cate | predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly 2096 |
| soluble ----------- Sugar is soluble in water; put a sugar cube in water and it will quickly dissolve. | able to be dissolved; able to be explained 2097 |
| fester ----------- Joe's insult festered in Anne's mind for days, and made her too angry to speak to him. | rankle; produce irritation or resentment 2098 |
| offensive ----------- Getting into street brawls is no minor matter for professional boxers, who are required by law to restrict their offensive impulses to the ring. | attacking; insulting; distasteful 2099 |
| comeuppance ----------- After his earlier rudeness, we were delighted to see him get his | rebuke; deserts 2100 |
| meander ----------- Needing to stay close to a source of water, he followed every twist and turn of the stream as it meandered through the countryside. | wind or turn in its course 2101 |
| clime ----------- His doctor advised him to move to a milder clime. | region; climate 2102 |
| outskirts ----------- We lived, not in central London, but in one of those peripheral suburbs that spring up on the outskirts of a great city. | fringes; outer borders 2103 |
| propensity ----------- Convinced of his own talent, Sol has an unfortunate propensity to belittle the talents of others. | natural inclination 2104 |
| holster ----------- Even when he was not in uniform, he carried a holster and pistol under his arm. | pistol case 2105 |
| atheistic ----------- His atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers. | denying the existence of God 2106 |
| coalition ----------- The Rainbow Coalition united people of all races in a common cause. | partnership; league; union 2107 |
| voluptuous ----------- The nobility during the Renaissance led voluptuous lives. | gratifying the senses 2108 |
| gravity ----------- We could tell we were in serious trouble from the gravity of the principal's expression. (secondary meaning) grave,ADJ. | seriousness 2109 |
| personable ----------- The man I am seeking to fill this position must be personable since he will be representing us before the public. | attractive 2110 |
| terse ----------- There is a fine line between speech that is terse and to the point and speech that is too abrupt. | concise; abrupt; pithy 2111 |
| solvent ----------- By dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings. | able to pay all debts 2112 |
| incandescent ----------- If you leave on an incandescent light bulb, it quickly grows too hot to touch. | strikingly bright; shining with intense heat 2113 |
| microcosm ----------- The small village community that Jane Austen depicts serves as a microcosm of English society in her time, for in this small world we see all the social classes meeting and mingling. | small world; the world in miniature 2114 |
| pique ----------- I know something you don't know, said Lucy, trying to pique Ethel's interest. | provoke or arouse; annoy 2115 |
| conspiracy ----------- Brutus and Cassius joined in the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar. conspire, V. | treacherous plot 2116 |
| incredulous ----------- When Jack claimed he hadn't eaten the jelly doughnut, Jill took an incredulous look at his smeared face and laughed. incredulity, N. | withholding belief; skeptical 2117 |
| forsake ----------- No one expected Foster to forsake his wife and children and run off with another woman. | desert; abandon; renounce 2118 |
| incarnation ----------- The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a basic tenet of Christian theology. | act of assuming a human body and human nature 2119 |
| conviction ----------- is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief. Even her conviction for murder did not shake Peter's conviction that Harriet was innocent of the crime. | judgment that sb 2120 |
| refute ----------- The defense called several respectable witnesses who were able to refute the false testimony of the prosecution's sole witness. refutation, N. | disprove 2121 |
| delete ----------- Less is more: if you delete this paragraph, your whole essay will have greater appeal. | erase; strike out 2122 |
| perturb ----------- The thought that electricity might be leaking out of the empty light bulb sockets perturbed my aunt so much that at night she crept about the house screwing fresh bulbs in the vacant spots. perturbation, N. | disturb greatly 2123 |
| propitious ----------- Chloe consulted her horoscope to see whether Tuesday would be a propitious day to dump her boyfriend. | favorable; fortunate; advantageous 2124 |
| brevity ----------- Brevity is essential when you send a telegram or cablegram; you are charged for every word. | conciseness 2125 |
| gorge ----------- The white-water rafting guide warned us about the rapids farther downstream, where the river cut through a narrow gorge. | small, steep-walled canyon 2126 |
| profound ----------- Freud's remarkable insights into human behavior caused his fellow scientists to honor him as a profound thinker. profundity, N. | deep; not superficial; complete 2127 |
| denounce ----------- The reform candidate denounced the corrupt city officers for having betrayed the public's trust. denunciation, N. | condemn; criticize 2128 |
| misapprehension ----------- To avoid misapprehension, I am going to ask all of you to repeat the instructions I have given. | error; misunderstanding 2129 |
| opalescent ----------- The oil slick on the water had an opalescent, rainbow-like sheen. | iridescent; lustrous 2130 |
| repudiate ----------- On separating from Tony, Tina announced that she would repudiate all debts incurred by her soon-to-be ex-husband. | disown; disavow 2131 |
| unstinting ----------- The dean praised the donor of the new science building for her unstinting generosity. | giving generously; not holding back 2132 |
| encomium ----------- Uneasy with the encomiums expressed by his supporters, Tolkien felt unworthy of such high praise. | high praise; eulogy 2133 |
| mote ----------- The tiniest mote in the eye is very painful. | small speck 2134 |
| impoverished ----------- The loss of their farm left the family impoverished and without hope. | poor 2135 |
| revert ----------- Most of the time Andy seemed sensitive and mature, but occasionally he would revert to his smart-alecky, macho, adolescent self. | relapse; backslide; turn back to 2136 |
| nurture ----------- The Head Start program attempts to nurture pre-kindergarten children so that they will do well when they enter public school. also N. | nourish; educate; foster 2137 |
| gainsay ----------- She was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report. | deny 2138 |
| unprepossessing ----------- During adolescence many attractive young people somehow acquire the false notion that their appearance is unprepossessing. | unattractive 2139 |
| ape ----------- He was suspended for a week because he had aped the principal in front of the whole school. | imitate or mimic 2140 |
| neutral ----------- Reluctant to get mixed up in someone else's quarrel, Bobby tried to remain neutral, but eventually he had to take sides. | impartial; not supporting one side over another 2141 |
| mandatory ----------- These instructions are mandatory, any violation will be severely punished. | obligatory 2142 |
| pontifical ----------- From his earliest days at the seminary, John seemed destined for a high pontifical office. However, he sounded so pompous when he pontificated that he never was chosen pontiff after all. | pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious 2143 |
| invulnerable ----------- Achilles was invulnerable except in his heel. | incapable of injury 2144 |
| irremediable ----------- The error she made was irremediable; she could see no way to repair it. | incurable; uncorrectable 2145 |
| recast -----------); fashion again. Let me recast this sentence in terms your feeble brain can grasp: in words of one syllable, you are a fool. | reconstruct (a sentence, story, etc 2146 |
| discriminating ----------- A superb interpreter of Picasso, she was sufficiently discriminating to judge the most complex works of modern art. (secondary meaning) discrimination, N. | able to see differences; prejudiced 2147 |
| mettle ----------- When challenged by the other horses in the race, the thoroughbred proved its mettle by its determination to hold the lead. | courage; spirit 2148 |
| requiem ----------- They played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral. | mass for the dead; dirge 2149 |
| fitful ----------- After several fitful attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project until he felt more energetic. | spasmodic; intermittent 2150 |
| glaze ----------- The freezing rain glazed the streets and made driving hazardous. also N. | cover with a thin and shiny surface 2151 |
| incur ----------- His parents refused to pay any future debts he might incur. | bring upon oneself 2152 |
| insurgent ----------- Because the insurgent forces had occupied the capital and had gained control of the railway lines, several of the war correspondents covering the uprising predicted a rebel victory. | rebellious 2153 |
| mediocre ----------- We were disappointed because he gave a rather mediocre performance in this role. | ordinary; commonplace 2154 |
| infidel ----------- The Saracens made war against the infidels. | unbeliever 2155 |
| subjugate ----------- It is not our aim to subjugate our foe; we are interested only in establishing peaceful relations. | conquer; bring under control 2156 |
| jaded ----------- He looked for exotic foods to stimulate his jaded appetite. | fatigued; surfeited 2157 |
| wily ----------- She is as wily as a fox in avoiding trouble. | cunning; artful 2158 |
| lassitude ----------- After a massage and a long soak in the hot tub, I gave in to my growing lassitude and lay down for a nap. | languor; weariness 2159 |
| slight ----------- Hypersensitive and ready to take offense at any discourtesy, Bertha was always on the lookout for real or imaginary slights. alsoV. | insult to one's dignity; snub 2160 |
| unfetter ----------- Chained to the wall for months on end, the hostage despaired that he would ever be unfettered. | liberate; free from chains 2161 |
| noisome ----------- The noisome atmosphere downwind of the oil refinery not only stank, it damaged the lungs of everyone living in the area. | foul-smelling; unwholesome 2162 |
| seedy ----------- I would rather stay in dormitory lodgings in a decent youth hostel than have a room of my own in a seedy downtown hotel. | run-down; decrepit; disreputable 2163 |
| interminable ----------- Although his speech lasted for only twenty minutes, it seemed interminable to his bored audience. | endless 2164 |
| judicious ----------- At a key moment in his life, he made a judicious investment that was the foundation of his later wealth. | sound in judgment; wise 2165 |
| denizen ----------- In The Untouchables, Eliot Ness fights AI Capone and the other denizens of Chicago's underworld. Ness's fight against corruption was the talk of all the denizens of the local bars. | inhabitant or resident; regular visitor 2166 |
| sycophant ----------- Fed up with the toadies and flunkies who made up his entourage, the star cried, Get out, all of you! I'm sick of sycophants! sycophancy, N. | servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man 2167 |
| rue ----------- Tina rued the night she met Tony and wondered how she ever fell for such a jerk. rueful,ADJ. | regret; lament; mourn 2168 |
| decimate ----------- We do more to decimate our population in automobile accidents than we do in war. | kill, usually one out of ten 2169 |
| delve ----------- Delving into old books and manuscripts is part of a researcher's job. | dig; investigate 2170 |
| pert ----------- I think your pert and impudent remarks call for an apology. | impertinent; forward 2171 |
| accomplice ----------- Because he had provided the criminal with the lethal weapon, he was arrested as an accomplice in the murder. | partner in crime 2172 |
| bungle ----------- Don't botch this assignment, Bumstead; if you bungle the job, you're fired! | mismanage; blunder 2173 |
| preternatural ----------- Malcolm's mother's total ability to tell when he was lying struck him as almost preternatural. | beyond what is normal in nature 2174 |
| antediluvian ----------- Looking at his great-aunt's antique furniture, which must have been cluttering up her attic since the time of Noah's flood, the young heir exclaimed, Heavens! How positively antediluvian! | antiquated; extremely ancient 2175 |
| vouchsafe ----------- Occasionally the rock star would drift out onto the balcony and vouchsafe the crowd below a glimpse of her celebrated features. The professor vouchsafed not a word to the students' questions about what would be | grant; choose to give in reply; permit 2176 |
| dissolute ----------- The dissolute life led by the ancient Romans is indeed shocking. | loose in morals 2177 |
| buttress ----------- The attorney came up with several far-fetched arguments in a vain attempt to buttress his weak case. also N. | support; prop up 2178 |
| raspy ----------- The sergeant's raspy voice grated on the recruits' ears. | grating; harsh 2179 |
| lineage ----------- He traced his lineage back to Mayflower days. | descent; ancestry 2180 |
| psyche ----------- It is difficult to delve into the psyche of a human being. | soul; mind 2181 |
| amplify ----------- Charlie Brown tried to amplify his remarks, but he was drowned out by jeers from the audience. Lucy was smarter: she used a loudspeaker to amplify her voice. | broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger 2182 |
| vagabond ----------- In summer, college students wander the roads of Europe like carefree vagabonds. alsoADJ. | wanderer; tramp 2183 |
| alimony ----------- Mrs. Jones was awarded $200 monthly alimony by the court when she was divorced from her husband. | payment by a husband to his divorced wife (or vice versa) 2184 |
| trek ----------- The tribe made their trek farther north that summer in search of game. alsoV. | travel; journey 2185 |
| remedial ----------- Because he was a slow reader, he decided to take a course in remedial reading. | curative; corrective 2186 |
| artless ----------- Sophisticated and cynical, Jack could not believe Jill was as artless and naive as she appeared to be. | without guile; open and honest 2187 |
| instigate ----------- Rumors of police corruption led the mayor to instigate an investigation into the department's activities. | urge; start; provoke 2188 |
| infer ----------- From the students' glazed looks, it was easy for me to infer that they were bored out of their minds. inference, N. | deduce; conclude 2189 |
| craftiness ----------- In many Native American legends, the coyote is the clever trickster, the embodiment of craftiness. crafty, ADJ. | slyness; trickiness 2190 |
| fervent ----------- She felt that the fervent praise was excessive and somewhat undeserved. | ardent; hot 2191 |
| equilibrium ----------- After the divorce, he needed some time to regain his equilibrium. | balance 2192 |
| aphasia ----------- After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently. | loss of speech due to injury or illness 2193 |
| cardinal ----------- If you want to increase your word power, the cardinal rule of vocabulary-building is to read. | chief 2194 |
| privation ----------- In his youth, he knew hunger and privation. | hardship; want 2195 |
| oust ----------- The world wondered if Aquino would be able to oust Marcos from office. ouster, N. | expel; drive out 2196 |
| guffaw ----------- The loud guffaws that came from the closed room indicated that the members of the committee had not yet settled down to serious business. alsoV. | boisterous laughter 2197 |
| purse ----------- Miss Watson pursed her lips to show her disapproval of Huck's bedraggled appearance. | pucker; contract into wrinkles 2198 |
| counterpart ----------- Night and day are counterparts, complementing one another. | a thing that completes another; things very much alike 2199 |
| salutary ----------- The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy, as he became a model student. | tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome 2200 |
| arbitrator ----------- Because the negotiating teams had been unable to reach a contract settlement, an outside arbitrator was called upon to mediate the dispute between union and management. arbitration, N. | judge 2201 |
| fancy ----------- Martin took a fancy to paint his toenails purple. Assuming he would outgrow such fanciful behavior, his parents ignored his fancy feet. alsoADJ. | notion; whim; inclination 2202 |
| appreciate ----------- Little Orphan Annie truly appreciated the stocks Daddy Warbucks gave her, which appreciated in value considerably over the years. | be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of 2203 |
| equivocal ----------- Rejecting the candidate's equivocal comments on tax reform, the reporters pressed him to state clearly where he stood on the issue. equivocate,V. | ambiguous; intentionally misleading 2204 |
| forthright ----------- Never afraid to call a spade a spade, she was perhaps too forthrightto be a successful party politician. | outspoken; straightforward; frank 2205 |
| erratic ----------- Investors become anxious when the stock market appears erratic. | odd; unpredictable 2206 |
| renegade ----------- Because he had abandoned his post and joined forces with the Indians, his fellow officers considered the hero of Dances with Wolves a renegade. alsoADJ. | deserter; traitor 2207 |
| epigram ----------- Poor Richard's epigrams made Benjamin Franklin famous. | witty thought or saying, usually short 2208 |
| parity ----------- Unfortunately, some doubt exists whether women's salaries will ever achieve paritywith men's. | equality in status or amount; close resemblance 2209 |
| lout ----------- That awkward lout dropped my priceless vase! | clumsy person 2210 |
| boorish ----------- Natasha was embarrassed by her fellow spy's boorish behavior. If you cannot act like a gentleman, Boris, go back to Russia: espionage is no job for clumsy boors. boor, N. | rude; clumsy; ungentlemanly 2211 |
| germinate ----------- After the seeds germinate and develop their permanent leaves, the plants may be removed from the cold frames and transplanted to the garden. | cause to sprout; sprout 2212 |
| disparage ----------- A doting mother, Emma was more likely to praise her son's crude attempts at art than to disparage them. | belittle 2213 |
| tyro ----------- For a mere tyro, you have produced some wonderfully expert results. | beginner; novice 2214 |
| contiguous ----------- The two countries are contiguous for a few miles; then they are separated by the gulf. | adjacent to; touching upon 2215 |
| granulate ----------- Sugar that has been granulated dissolves more readily than lump sugar. granule, N. | form into grains 2216 |
| jargon ----------- The computer salesmen at the store used a jargon of their own that we simply couldn't follow; we had no idea what they were jabbering about. | language used by a special group; technical terminology; gibberish 2217 |
| scurvy ----------- Peter Pan sneered at Captain Hook and his scurvy crew. | despicable; contemptible 2218 |
| oblique ----------- Casting a quick, oblique glance at the reviewing stand, the sergeant ordered the company to march Oblique Right. | indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line) 2219 |
| impregnable ----------- Until the development of the airplane as a military weapon, the fort was considered impregnable. | invulnerable 2220 |
| prey ----------- In Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Euell Gibbons has as his prey not wild beasts but wild plants. alsoV. | target of a hunt; victim 2221 |
| mediate ----------- King Solomon was asked to mediate a dispute between two women, each of whom claimed to be the mother of the same child. | settle a dispute through the services of an outsider 2222 |
| belabor ----------- The debate coach warned her student not to bore the audience by belaboring her point. | explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; attack verbally 2223 |
| commiserate ----------- Her friends commiserated with the widow. | feel or express pity or sympathy for 2224 |
| celebrated ----------- Thanks to their race to break Roger Maris's home-run record, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire are two of America's most celebrated baseball players. celebrity, N. | famous; well-known 2225 |
| abrade ----------- The sharp rocks abraded the skin on her legs, so she put iodine on her abrasions. | wear away by friction; scrape; erode 2226 |
| integrate ----------- She tried to integrate all their activities into one program. | make whole; combine; make into one unit 2227 |
| punctilious ----------- Percy is punctilious about observing the rules of etiquette whenever Miss Manners invites him to stay. punctiliousness.N. | laying stress on niceties of conduct or form; minutely attentive to fine points (perhaps too much so) 2228 |
| expurgate ----------- The editors felt that certain passages in the book had to be expurgated before it could be used in the classroom. | clean; remove offensive parts of a book 2229 |
| allude ----------- Try not to mention divorce in Jack's presence because he will think you are alluding to his marital problems with Jill. | refer indirectly 2230 |
| enclave ----------- The Vatican is an independent enclave in Italy. | territory enclosed within an alien land 2231 |
| vernacular ----------- Cut out those old-fashioned thee's and thou's and write in the vernacular. alsoADJ. | living language; natural style 2232 |
| disquiet ----------- Holmes's absence for a day, slightly disquieted Watson; after a week with no word, however, Watson's uneasiness about his missing friend had grown into a deep fear for his safety. disquietude, N. | make uneasy or anxious 2233 |
| floe ----------- The ship made slow progress as it battered its way through the ice floes. | mass of floating ice 2234 |
| incorporeal ----------- While Casper the friendly ghost is an incorporeal being, nevertheless he and his fellow ghosts make quite an impact on the physical world. | lacking a material body; insubstantial 2235 |
| encompass ----------- Although we were encompassed by enemy forces, we were cheerful for we were well stocked and could withstand a siege until our allies joined us. | surround 2236 |
| persona ----------- Offstage the comedian was a sullen, irritable grumbler, a far cry from his ever-cheerful adopted stage persona. | public personality or facade 2237 |
| comatose ----------- The long-winded orator soon had his audience in a comatose state. | in a coma; extremely sleepy 2238 |
| spat ----------- What had started out as a mere spat escalated into a full-blown argument. | squabble; minor dispute 2239 |
| defame ----------- If you try to defame my good name, my lawyers will see you in court. If rival candidates persist in defaming one another, the voters may conclude that all politicians are crooks. defamation, N. | harm someone's reputation; malign; slander 2240 |
| duration ----------- Because she wanted the children to make a good impression on the dinner guests, Mother promised them a treat if they'd behave for the duration of the meal. | length of time something lasts 2241 |
| stint ----------- He performed his daily stint cheerfully and willingly. alsoV. | supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work 2242 |
| hibernal ----------- Bears prepare for their long hibernal sleep by overeating. | wintry 2243 |
| indigenous ----------- Cigarettes are made of tobacco, a plant indigenous to the New World. | native 2244 |
| sumptuous ----------- I cannot recall when I have had such a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast. | lavish; rich 2245 |
| nihilist ----------- In his final days, Hitler revealed himself a power-mad nihilist, ready to annihilate all of Western Europe, even to destroy Ger | one who believes traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist 2246 |
| accommodate ----------- Mitch always did everything possible to accommodate his elderly relatives, from driving them to medical appointments to helping them with paperwork. (secondary meaning) | oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt 2247 |
| testy ----------- My advice is to avoid discussing this problem with him today as he is rather testy and may shout at you. | irritable; short-tempered 2248 |
| metropolis ----------- Every evening the terminal is filled with thousands of commuters going from this metropolis to their homes in the suburbs. | large city 2249 |
| *conjecture ----------- Although there was no official count, the organizers conjectured that more than 10,000 marchers took part in the March for Peace. also N. | surmise; guess 2250 |
| rationale ----------- Her need to have someplace to hang her earring collection was Dora's rationale for piercing fifteen holes in each ear. | fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action 2251 |
| maudlin ----------- Whenever a particularly maudlin tearjerker was playing at the movies, Marvin would embarrass himself by weeping copiously. | effusively sentimental 2252 |
| brandish ----------- Alarmed, Doctor Watson wildly brandished his gun until Holmes told him to put the thing away before he shot himself. | wave around; flourish 2253 |
| tautological ----------- In the sentence It was visible to the eye, the phrase to the eye is tautological. | needlessly repetitious 2254 |
| paleontology ----------- The paleontology instructor had a superb collection of fossils. | study of prehistoric life 2255 |
| breach ----------- Jill sued Jack for breach of promise, claiming he had broken his promise to marry her. They found a breach in the enemy's fortifications and penetrated their lines. alsoV. | breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap 2256 |
| abash ----------- He was not at all abashed by her open admiration. | embarrass 2257 |
| deplete ----------- We must wait until we deplete our present inventory before we order replacements. | reduce; exhaust 2258 |
| mollify ----------- The airline customer service representative tried to mollify the angry passenger by offering her a seat in first class. | soothe 2259 |
| monolithic ----------- Knowing the importance of appearing resolute, the patriots sought to present a monolithic front. | solidly uniform; unyielding 2260 |
| profane ----------- The members of the mysterious Far Eastern cult sought to kill the British explorer because he had profaned the sanctity of their holy goblet by using it as an ashtray. alsoADJ. | violate; desecrate; treat unworthily 2261 |
| superfluous ----------- Betsy lacked the heart to tell June that the wedding present she brought was superfluous; she and Bob had already received five toasters. Please try not to include so many superfluous details in your report; just | unnecessary; excessive; overabundant 2262 |
| paraphernalia ----------- His desk was cluttered with paper, pen, ink, dictionary and other paraphernalia of the writing craft. | equipment; odds and ends 2263 |
| virtue ----------- Virtue carried to extremes can turn into vice: humility, for example, can degenerate into servility and spinelessness. | goodness, moral excellence; good quality 2264 |
| veer ----------- After what seemed an eternity, the wind veered to the east and the storm abated. | change in direction 2265 |
| generic ----------- Sue knew so many computer programmers who spent their spare time playing fantasy games that she began to think that playing Dungeons & Dragons was a generic trait. | characteristic of an entire class or species 2266 |
| propellants ----------- The development of our missile program has forced our scientists to seek more powerful propellants. | substances that propel or drive forward 2267 |
| zany ----------- I can watch the Marx brothers' zany antics for hours. | crazy; comic 2268 |
| asperity ----------- These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed. | sharpness (of temper) 2269 |
| bait ----------- The school bully baited the smaller children, terrorizing them. | harass; tease 2270 |
| repulsion ----------- Hating bloodshed, she viewed war with repulsion. Even defensive battles distressed her, for the repulsion of enemy forces is never accomplished bloodlessly. | distaste; act of driving back 2271 |
| repercussion ----------- I am afraid that this unfortunate incident will have serious repercussions. | rebound; reverberation; reaction 2272 |
| canine ----------- Some days the canine population of Berkeley seems almost to outnumber the human population, | related to dogs; dog-like 2273 |
| objective ----------- A degree in medicine was her ultimate objective. | goal; aim 2274 |
| paroxysm ----------- When he heard of his son's misdeeds, he was seized by a paroxysm of rage. | fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage 2275 |
| ignite ----------- When Desi crooned, Baby, light my fire, literal-minded Lucy looked around for some paper to ignite. | kindle; light 2276 |
| debutante ----------- As a debutante, she was often mentioned in the society columns of the newspapers. | young woman making formal entrance into society 2277 |
| thematic ----------- Those who think of Moby Dick as a simple adventure story about whaling miss its underlying thematic import. | relating to a unifying motif or idea 2278 |
| coincidence ----------- Was it just a coincidence that John and she had chanced to meet at the market for three days running, or was he deliberately trying to seek her out? coincidental,ADJ. | two or more things occurring at the same time by chance 2279 |
| verbatim ----------- He repeated the message verbatim. alsoADJ. | word for word 2280 |
| sartorial ----------- He was as famous for the sartorial splendor of his attire as he was for his acting. | pertaining to tailors 2281 |
| provincial ----------- As provincial governor, Sir Henry administered the Queen's law in his remote corner of Canada. Caught up in local problems, out of touch with London news, he became sadly provincial. | pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated 2282 |
| allege ----------- Although it is alleged that she has worked for the enemy, she denies the allegation and, legally, we can take no action against her without proof. allegation, N. | state without proof 2283 |
| foil ----------- In the end, Skywalker is able to foil Vader's diabolical schemes. | defeat; frustrate 2284 |
| decry ----------- The founder of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, strongly decries the lack of financial and moral support for children in America today. | express strong disapproval of; disparage 2285 |
| pacify ----------- Dentists criticize the practice of giving fussy children sweets to pacify them. | soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue 2286 |
| obliterate ----------- The tidal wave obliterated several island villages, | destroy completely 2287 |
| impetus ----------- A new federal highway program would create jobs and give added impetus to our economic recovery. | incentive; stimulus; moving force 2288 |
| rigorous ----------- Disliked by his superiors, the officer candidate in An Officer and a Gentleman endured an extremely rigorous training program. | severe; harsh; demanding; exact 2289 |
| harbinger ----------- The crocus is an early harbinger of spring. | forerunner 2290 |
| antecede ----------- The invention of the radiotelegraph anteceded the development of television by a quarter of a century. | precede 2291 |
| decrepitude ----------- I was unprepared for the state of decrepitude in which I had found my old friend; he seemed to have aged twenty years in six months. | state of collapse caused by illness or old age 2292 |
| killjoy ----------- At breakfast we had all been enjoying our bacon and eggs until that killjoy John started talking about how bad animal fats were for our health. | grouch; spoilsport 2293 |
| skeptic ----------- I am a skeptic about the new health plan; I want some proof that it can work. skepticism, N. | doubter; person who suspends judgment until the evidence supporting a point of view has been examined 2294 |
| dawdle ----------- We have to meet a deadline so don't dawdle; just get down to work. | ??,????loiter; waste time 2295 |
| rejoinder ----------- When someone has been rude to me, I find it particularly satisfying to come up with a quick rejoinder. | retort; comeback; reply 2296 |
| cache ----------- The detectives followed the suspect until he led them to the cache where he had stored his loot. He had cached the cash in a bag for trash: it was a hefty sum. | hiding place 2297 |
| assumption ----------- The young princess made the foolish assumption that the regent would not object to her assumption of power. assume,V. | something taken for granted; taking over or taking possession of 2298 |
| pastoral ----------- In these stories of pastoral life, we find an understanding of the daily tasks of country folk. | rural 2299 |
| stamina ----------- I doubt that she has the stamina to run the full distance of the marathon race. | strength; staying power 2300 |
| categorical ----------- Though the captain claimed he was never, never sick at sea, he finally had to qualify his categorical denial: he was hardly ever sick at sea. | without exceptions; unqualified; absolute 2301 |
| adamant ----------- Bronson played the part of a revenge-driven man, adamant in his determination to punish the criminals who destroyed his family. adamancy, N. | hard; inflexible 2302 |
| acquire ----------- Frederick Douglass was determined to acquire an education despite his master's efforts to prevent his doing so. | obtain; get 2303 |
| marsupial ----------- The most common marsupial in North America is the opossum. | one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch 2304 |
| agenda ----------- We had so much difficulty agreeing upon an agenda that there was very little time for the meeting. | items of business at a meeting 2305 |
| madrigal ----------- His program of folk songs included several madrigals which he sang to the accompaniment of a lute. | pastoral song 2306 |
| pore ----------- Determined to become a physician, Beth spent hours poring over her anatomy text. | study industriously; ponder; scrutinize 2307 |
| autopsy ----------- The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. alsoV. | examination of a dead body; post-mortem 2308 |
| deference ----------- In deference to the minister's request, please do not take photographs during the wedding service. | courteous regard for another's wish 2309 |
| erotic ----------- The erotic passages in this novel should be removed as they are merely pornographic. | pertaining to passionate love 2310 |
| prattle ----------- Baby John prattled on and on about the cats and his ball and the Cookie Monster. | babble 2311 |
| castigate ----------- When the teacher threatened that she would castigate the mischievous boys if they didn't behave, they shaped up in a hurry. | criticize severely; punish 2312 |
| expletive ----------- The sergeant's remarks were filled with expletives that offended the new recruits. | interjection; profane oath 2313 |
| euphemism ----------- The expression he passed away is a euphemism for he died. | mild expression in place of an unpleasant one 2314 |
| prolixity ----------- A writer who suffers from prolixity tells his readers everything they never wanted to know about his subject (or were too bored to ask). prolix,ADJ. | tedious wordiness; verbosity 2315 |
| girth ----------- It took an extra-large cummerbund to fit around Andrew Carnegie's considerable girth. | distance around something; circumference 2316 |
| predecessor ----------- I hope I can live up to the fine example set by my late predecessor in this office. | former occupant of a post 2317 |
| pliable ----------- In remodeling the bathroom, we have replaced all the old, rigid lead pipes with new, pliable copper tubing. | flexible; yielding; adaptable 2318 |
| reprieve ----------- During the twenty-four-hour reprieve, the lawyers sought to make the stay of execution permanent. alsoV. | temporary stay 2319 |
| receptive ----------- Adventure-loving Huck Finn proved a receptive audience for Tom's tales of buried treasure and piracy. | quick or willing to receive ideas, suggestions, etc 2320 |
| ravel ----------- A single thread pulled loose, and the entire scarf started to ravel. | fall apart into tangles; unravel or untwist; entangle 2321 |
| devious ----------- The Joker's plan was so devious that it was only with great difficulty we could follow its shifts and dodges. | roundabout; erratic; not straightforward 2322 |
| supposition ----------- I based my decision to confide in him on the supposition that he would be discreet. suppose,V. | hypothesis; the act of supposing 2323 |
| sanguine ----------- Let us not be too sanguine about the outcome; something could go wrong. | cheerful; hopeful 2324 |
| cite ----------- She could cite passages in the Bible from memory. citation, N. | quote; command 2325 |
| avocation ----------- His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation. | secondary or minor occupation 2326 |
| ponderous ----------- His humor lacked the light touch; his jokes were always ponderous. | weighty; unwieldy 2327 |
| comprise ----------- If the District of Columbia were to be granted statehood, the United States of America would comprise fifty-one states, not just fifty. | include; consist of 2328 |
| awe ----------- The tourists gazed with awe at the tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon. | solemn wonder 2329 |
| abhor ----------- She abhorred all forms of bigotry. abhorrence, N. | detest; hate 2330 |
| atone ----------- He knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime. | make amends for; pay for 2331 |
| cosmic ----------- Cosmic rays derive their name from the fact that they bombard the earth's atmosphere from outer space. cosmos, N. | pertaining to the universe; vast 2332 |
| caliber ----------- Einstein's cleaning the blackboards again? Albert, quit it! A man of your caliber shouldn't have to do such menial tasks. | ability; quality 2333 |
| waif ----------- Although he already had eight cats, he could not resist adopting yet another feline waif. | homeless child or animal 2334 |
| steep ----------- Be sure to steep the fabric in the dyebath for the full time prescribed. | soak; saturate 2335 |
| practical ----------- He was a practical man, opposed to theory. | based on experience; useful 2336 |
| amenities ----------- 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 the social amenities. | convenient features; courtesies 2337 |
| spartan ----------- Looking over the bare, unheated room, with its hard cot, he wondered what he was doing in such spartan quarters. Only his spartan sense of duty kept him at his post. | avoiding luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined 2338 |
| pomposity ----------- Although the commencement speaker had some good things to say, we had to laugh at his pomposity and general air of parading his own dignity. POMPOUS,ADJ. | self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt 2339 |
| congenial ----------- My father loved to go out for a meal with congenial | pleasant; friendly 2340 |
| rebuke ----------- No matter how sharply Miss Watson rebuked Huck for his misconduct, he never talked back but just stood there like a stump. also N. | scold harshly; criticize severely 2341 |
| travesty ----------- The ridiculous decision the jury has reached is a travesty of justice. | comical parody; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous 2342 |
| accentuate ----------- If you accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative, you may wind up with an overoptimistic view of the world. | emphasize; stress 2343 |
| intractable ----------- Charlie Brown's friend Pigpen was intractable: he absolutely refused to take a bath. | unruly; stubborn; unyielding 2344 |
| compact ----------- His short, compact body was better suited to wrestling than to basketball. | tightly packed; firm; brief 2345 |
| proponent ----------- In the Senate, proponents of the universal health care measure lobbied to gain additional support for the controversial legislation. | supporter; backer; opposite of opponent 2346 |
| indiscriminate ----------- She disapproved of her son's indiscriminate television viewing and decided to restrict him to educational programs. | choosing at random; confused 2347 |
| egress ----------- Barnum's sign To the Egress fooled many people who thought they were going to see an animal and instead found themselves in the street. | exit 2348 |
| franchise ----------- The city issued a franchise to the company to operate surface transit lines on the streets for ninety-nine years. For most of American history wo | right granted by authority; right to vote; business licensed to sell a product in a particular territory 2349 |
| erudite ----------- Though his fellow students thought him erudite, Paul knew he would have to spend many years in serious study before he could consider himself a scholar. | learned; scholarly 2350 |
| jettison ----------- In order to enable the ship to ride safely through the storm, the captain had to jettison much of his cargo. | throw overboard 2351 |
| rejuvenate ----------- The charlatan claimed that his elixir would rejuvenate the aged and weary. | make young again 2352 |
| purge ----------- When the Communist government purged the party to get rid of members suspected of capitalist sympathies, they sent the disloyal members to labor camps in Siberia. | remove or get rid of something unwanted; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify 2353 |
| salubrious ----------- Many people with hay fever move to more salubrious sections of the country during the months of August and September. | healthful 2354 |
| frantic ----------- At the time of the collision, many people became frantic with fear. | wild 2355 |
| amalgamate ----------- The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body. | combine; unite in one body 2356 |
| lope ----------- As the horses loped along, we had an opportunity to admire the ever-changing scenery. loquacious ADJ. talkative. Though our daughter barely says a word to us these days, put a phone in her hand and see how loquacious she can be: our phon | gallop slowly 2357 |
| reaper ----------- Death, the Grim Reaper, cuts down mortal men and women, just as a farmer cuts down the ripened grain. reap,V. | one who harvests grain 2358 |
| caption ----------- The captions that accompany The Far Side cartoons are almost as funny as the pictures. alsoV. | title; chapter heading; text under illustration 2359 |
| infamous ----------- Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer are both infamous killers. | notoriously bad 2360 |
| *corroborate ----------- Though Huck was quite willing to corroborate Tom's story, Aunt Polly knew better than to believe either of them. | confirm; support 2361 |
| prude ----------- The X-rated film was definitely not for prudes, prudish,ADJ. | excessively modest person 2362 |
| facet ----------- The stonecutter decided to improve the rough diamond by providing it with several facets. | small plane surface (of a gem); a side 2363 |
| materialism ----------- By its nature, materialism is opposed to idealism, for where the materialist emphasizes the needs of the body, the idealist emphasizes the needs of the soul. | preoccupation with physical comforts and things 2364 |
| fleece ----------- They shear sheep of their fleece, which they then comb into separate strands of wool. | wool coat of a sheep 2365 |
| synoptic ----------- The professor turned to the latest issue of Dissertation Abstracts for a synoptic account of what was new in the field. synopSiS, N. | providing a general overview; summary 2366 |
| bestial ----------- According to legend, the werewolf was able to abandon its human shape and take on a bestial form. | beastlike; brutal 2367 |
| Impervious ----------- The carpet salesman told Simone that his most expensive brand of floor covering was warranted to be impervious to ordinary wear and tear. Having read so many negative reviews of his acting, the | impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed 2368 |
| amity ----------- Student exchange programs such as the Experiment in International Living were established to promote international amity. | friendship 2369 |
| vituperative ----------- He became more vituperative as he realized that we were not going to grant him his wish. | abusive; scolding 2370 |
| tonic ----------- The tart homemade ginger ale had a tonic effect on Kit: she perked right up. also N. | invigorating; refreshing 2371 |
| drab ----------- The Dutch woman's drab winter coat contrasted with the distinctive, colorful native costume she wore beneath it. | dull; lacking color; cheerless 2372 |
| periphery ----------- He sensed that there was something just beyond the periphery of his vision. | edge, especially of a round surface 2373 |
| goad ----------- He was goaded by his friends until he yielded to their wishes. also N. | urge on 2374 |
| vigilance ----------- Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. | watchfulness 2375 |
| blatant ----------- To the unemployed youth from Dublin, the No Irish Need Apply placard in the shop window was a blatant mark of prejudice. | flagrant; conspicuously obvious; loudly offensive 2376 |
| gourmet ----------- The gourmet stated that this was the best onion soup she had ever tasted. | connoisseur of food and drink 2377 |
| tranquillity ----------- After the commotion and excitement of the city, I appreciate the tranquillity of these fields and forests. | calmness; peace 2378 |
| nautical ----------- The Maritime Museum contains many models of clipper ships, logbooks, anchors and many other items of a nautical nature. | pertaining to ships or navigation 2379 |
| forgo ----------- Determined to lose weight for the summer, Ida decided to forgo dessert until she could fit into a size eight again. | give up; do without 2380 |
| obsessive ----------- Ballet, which had been a hobby, began to dominate his life: his love of dancing became obsessive. obsession, N. | related to thinking about something constantly; preoccupying 2381 |
| genre ----------- Both a short story writer and a poet, Langston Hughes proved himself equally skilled in either genre. | particular variety of art or literature 2382 |
| pedagogy ----------- Though Maria Montessori gained fame for her innovations in pedagogy, it took years before her teaching techniques were common practice in American schools. | teaching; art of education 2383 |
| tribute ----------- The colonists refused to pay tribute to a foreign despot. | tax levied by a ruler; mark of respect 2384 |
| filch ----------- The boys filched apples from the fruit stand. | steal 2385 |
| random ----------- Although the sponsor of the raffle claimed all winners were chosen at random, people had their suspicions when the grand prize went to the sponsor's brother-in-law. | without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard 2386 |
| pertinacious ----------- He is bound to succeed because his pertinacious nature will not permit him to quit. | stubborn; persistent 2387 |
| *criterion ----------- What criterion did you use when you selected this essay as the prizewinner? criteria, pl. | standard used in judging 2388 |
| tyranny ----------- Frederick Douglass fought against the tyranny of slavery throughout his life. | oppression; cruel government 2389 |
| touchy ----------- Do not mention his bald spot; he's very touchy about it. | sensitive; irascible 2390 |
| precedent ----------- If I buy you a car for your sixteenth birthday, your brothers will want me to buy them cars when they turn sixteen, too; I can't afford to set such an expensive pr | something preceding in time that may be used as an authority or guide for future action 2391 |
| conscientious ----------- A conscientious editor, she checked every definition for its accuracy. | scrupulous; careful 2392 |
| circumvent ----------- In order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign. | outwit; baffle 2393 |
| bigotry ----------- Brought up in a democratic atmosphere, the student was shocked by the bigotry and narrowness expressed by several of his classmates. | stubborn intolerance 2394 |
| entitlement ----------- While Bill was entitled to use a company car while he worked for the firm, the company's lawyers questioned his entitlement to the vehicle once he'd quit his job. | right to claim something; right to benefits 2395 |
| proscribe ----------- Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus proscribed all those who had conspired against Julius Caesar. | ostracize; banish; outlaw 2396 |
| brindled ----------- He was disappointed in the litter because the puppies were brindled, he had hoped for animals of a uniform color. | tawny or grayish with streaks or spots 2397 |
| savory ----------- Julia Child's recipes enable amateur chefs to create savory delicacies for their guests. | tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable 2398 |
| haughtiness ----------- When she realized that Darcy believed himself too good to dance with his inferiors, Elizabeth took great offense at his haughtiness. | pride; arrogance 2399 |
| credence ----------- Do not place any credence in his promises. | belief 2400 |
| scruple ----------- Fearing that her husband had become involved in an affair, she did not scruple to read his diary. also N. | fret about; hesitate, for ethical reasons 2401 |
| convex ----------- He polished the convex lens of his telescope. | curving outward 2402 |
| marshal ----------- At a debate tournament, extemporaneous speakers have only a minute or two to marshal their thoughts before they address their audience. | put in order 2403 |
| malefactor ----------- Mighty Mouse will save the day, hunting down malefactors and rescuing innocent mice from peril. | evildoer; criminal 2404 |
| bludgeon ----------- Attacked by Dr. Moriarty, Holmes used his walking stick as a bludgeon to defend himself. Watson, he said, I fear I may have bludgeoned Moriarty to death. | club; heavy-headed weapon 2405 |
| replica ----------- Are you going to hang this replica of the Declaration of Independence in the classroom or in the auditorium? | copy 2406 |
| disengage ----------- A standard movie routine involves the hero's desperate attempt to disengage a railroad car from a moving train. | uncouple; separate; disconnect 2407 |
| entice ----------- She always tried to entice her baby brother into mischief. | lure; attract; tempt 2408 |
| audit ----------- When the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the embezzlements of the chief cashier. alsoV. | examination of accounts 2409 |
| sunder ----------- Northern and southern Ireland are politically and religiously sundered. | separate; part 2410 |
| strut ----------- The engineer calculated that the strut supporting the rafter needed to be reinforced. (secondary meaning) | supporting bar 2411 |
| narrative ----------- A born teller of tales, Tillie Olsen used her impressive narrative skills to advantage in her story I Stand Here Ironing. narrate,V. | related to telling a story 2412 |
| ramification ----------- We must examine all the ramifications of this problem. | branching out; subdivision 2413 |
| parry ----------- Unwilling to injure his opponent in such a pointless clash, Dartagnan simply tried to parry his rival's thrusts. What fun it was to watch Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy parry each other's verbal thrusts in their classic | ward off a blow; deflect 2414 |
| pariah ----------- If everyone ostracized singer Mariah Carey, would she then be Mariah the pariah? | social outcast 2415 |
| innuendo ----------- I can defend myself against direct accusations; innuendos and oblique attacks on my character are what trouble me. | hint; insinuation 2416 |
| quarry ----------- They quarried blocks of marble out of the hillside. also N. | dig into 2417 |
| anathema ----------- The Ayatolla Khomeini heaped anathema upon the Great Satan, that is, the United States. To the Ayatolla, America and the West were anathema; he loathed the democratic nations, cursing them in h | solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse 2418 |
| increment ----------- The new contract calls for a 10 percent increment in salary for each employee for the next two years. | increase 2419 |
| paltry ----------- One hundred dollars for a genuine imitation Rolex watch! Lady, this is a paltry sum to pay for such a high-class piece of jewelry. | insignificant; petty; trifling 2420 |
| latitude ----------- I think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter. | freedom from narrow limitations 2421 |
| undulating ----------- The Hilo Hula Festival was an undulating sea of grass skirts. | moving with a wavelike motion 2422 |
| cryptic ----------- Thoroughly baffled by Holmes's cryptic remarks, Watson wondered whether Holmes was intentionally concealinghis thoughts about the crime. | mysterious; hidden; secret 2423 |
| squander ----------- If you squander your allowance on candy and comic books, you won't have any money left to buy the new box of crayons you want. | waste 2424 |
| acumen ----------- His business acumen helped him to succeed where others had failed. | mental keenness 2425 |
| prolific ----------- My editors must assume I'm a prolific writer: they expect me to revise six books this year! | abundantly fruitful 2426 |
| causal ----------- The psychologist maintained there was a causal relationship between the nature of one's early childhood experiences and one's adult personality. causality, N. | implying a cause-and-effect relationship 2427 |
| sap ----------- The element kryptonite has an unhealthy effect on Superman: it saps his strength. | diminish; undermine 2428 |
| paradox ----------- Richard presents a bit of a paradox, for he is a card-carrying member of both the National Rifle Association and the relatively pacifist American Civil L | something apparently contradictory in nature; statement that looks false but is actually correct 2429 |
| debacle ----------- In the Air-plane movies, every flight turns into a debacle, with passengers and crew members collapsing, engines falling apart, and carry-on baggage popping out of the overhead bins. | sudden downfall; complete disaster 2430 |
| omnipotent ----------- The monarch regarded himself as omnipotent and responsible to no one for his acts. | all-powerful 2431 |
| vindicate ----------- The lawyer's goal was to vindicate her client and prove him innocent on all charges. The critics' extremely favorable reviews vindicate my opinion that The Madness of King George is a brilliant movie. | clear from blame; exonerate; justify or support 2432 |
| hardy ----------- We asked the gardening expert to recommend particularly hardy plants that could withstand our harsh New England winters. | sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weather 2433 |
| gloat ----------- As you gloat over your ill-gotten wealth, do you think of the many victims you have defrauded? | express evil satisfaction; view malevolently 2434 |
| liquidate ----------- He was able to liquidate all his debts in a short period of time. | settle accounts; clearup 2435 |
| wither ----------- Cut flowers are beautiful for a day, but all too soon they wither. | shrivel; decay 2436 |
| juncture ----------- At this critical juncture, let us think carefully before determining the course we shall follow. | crisis; joining point 2437 |
| elaboration ----------- Tell what happened simply, without any elaboration. elaborate,V. | addition of details; intricacy 2438 |
| entreat ----------- She entreated her father to let her stay out till midnight. | plead; ask earnestly 2439 |
| vitriolic ----------- Such vitriolic criticism is uncalled for. | corrosive; sarcastic 2440 |
| bountiful ----------- Thanks to the good harvest, we had a bountiful supply of food and we could be as bountiful as we liked in distributing food to the needy. | abundant; graciously generous 2441 |
| summation ----------- In his summation, the lawyer emphasized the testimony given by the two witnesses. | act of finding the total; summary 2442 |
| consign ----------- The court consigned the child to her paternal grandmother's care. consignment, N. | deliver officially; entrust; set apart 2443 |
| slothful ----------- Lying idly on the sofa while others worked, Reggie denied he was slothful: I just supervise better lying down. | lazy 2444 |
| replenish ----------- Before she could take another backpacking trip, Carla had to replenish her stock of freeze-dried foods. | fill up again 2445 |
| chastise ----------- I must chastise you for this offense. | punish 2446 |
| sportive ----------- Such a sportive attitude is surprising in a person as serious as you usually are. | playful 2447 |
| retinue ----------- The queen's retinue followed her down the aisle. | following; attendants 2448 |
| omniscient ----------- I do not pretend to be omniscient, but I am positive about this fact. | all-knowing 2449 |
| pretentious ----------- None of the other prize winners are wearing their medals; isn't it a bit pretentious of you to wear yours? | ostentatious; pompous; making unjustified claims; overly ambitious 2450 |
| dismay ----------- The huge amount of work she had left to do dismayed her. also N. | discourage; frighten 2451 |
| acerbity ----------- The meeting of the United Nations General Assembly was marked with such acerbity that informed sources held out little hope of reaching any useful settlement of the problem. acerbic,ADJ. | bitterness of speech and temper 2452 |
| reconnaissance ----------- If you encounter any enemy soldiers during your reconnaissance, capture them for questioning. | survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering 2453 |
| promiscuous ----------- In the opera La Boheme, we get a picture of the promiscuous life led by the young artists of Paris. | mixed indiscriminately; haphazard; irregular, particularly sexually 2454 |
| hazy ----------- In hazy weather, you cannot see the top of this mountain. | slightly obscure 2455 |
| burly ----------- The burly mover lifted the packing crate with ease. | husky; muscular 2456 |
| sleeper ----------- Unnoticed by the critics at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Prize winner was a classic sleeper. | something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable 2457 |
| concerted ----------- All the Girl Scouts made a concerted effort to raise funds for their annual outing. When the movie star appeared, his fans let out a concerted sigh. | mutually agreed on; done together 2458 |
| grimace ----------- Even though he remained silent, his grimace indicated his displeasure. alsoV. | a facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc 2459 |
| subliminal ----------- We may not be aware of the subliminal influences that affect our thinking. | below the threshold 2460 |
| capacious ----------- In the capacious rotunda of the railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting for their train. | spacious 2461 |
| manifesto ----------- The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels proclaimed the principles of modern communism. | declaration; statement of policy 2462 |
| unobtrusive ----------- Reluctant to attract notice, the governess took a chair in a far corner of the room and tried to be as unobtrusive as possible. | inconspicuous; not blatant 2463 |
| haphazard ----------- His haphazard reading left him unacquainted with the authors of the books. | random; by chance 2464 |
| prompt ----------- Whatever prompted you to ask for such a big piece of cake when you're on a diet? | cause; provoke; provide a cue for an actor 2465 |
| homogeneous ----------- Because the student body at Elite Prep was so homogeneous, Sara and James decided to send their daughter to a school that offered greater cultural diversity. homogenize,V. | of the same kind 2466 |
| defuse ----------- Police negotiators are trained to defuse dangerous situations by avoiding confrontational language and behavior. | remove the fuse of a bomb; reduce or eliminate a threat 2467 |
| exemplify ----------- For a generation of balletgoers, Rudolf Nureyev exemplified the ideal of masculine grace. | serve as an example of; embody 2468 |
| malingerer ----------- The captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers and force them to work. malinger,V. | one who feigns illness to escape duty 2469 |
| roil ----------- Be careful when you pour not to roil the wine; if you stir up the sediment you'll destroy the flavor. | to make liquids murky by stirring up sediment 2470 |
| iniquitous ----------- Whether or not King Richard III was responsible for the murder of the two young princes in the Tower, it was an iniquitous deed. iniquity, N. | wicked; immoral; unrighteous 2471 |
| chaffing ----------- Sometimes Chad's flippant, chaffing remarks annoy us. Still, Chad's chaffing keeps us laughing. also N. | bantering; joking 2472 |
| mammoth ----------- To try to memorize every word on this vocabulary list would be a mammoth undertaking; take on projects that are more manageable in size. | gigantic; enormous 2473 |
| maternal ----------- Many animals display maternal instincts only while their offspring are young and helpless. | motherly 2474 |
| chronicle ----------- The gossip columnist was paid to chronicle the latest escapades of the socially prominent celebrities. also N. | report; record (in chronological order) 2475 |
| impudence ----------- Kissed on the cheek by a perfect stranger, Lady Catherine exclaimed, Of all the nerve! Young man, I should have you horse-whipped for your impudence. | impertinence; insolence 2476 |
| antiseptic ----------- It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound, no matter how slight or insignificant. alsoADJ. | substance that prevents infection 2477 |
| *carping ----------- A carping critic is a nit-picker: he loves to point out flaws. If you don't like this definition, feel free to carp. | finding fault 2478 |
| rhetoric ----------- All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric. | art of effective communication; insincere language 2479 |
| ebb ----------- Sitting on the beach, Mrs. Dalloway watched the tide ebb: the waters receded, drawing away from her as she sat there all alone. also N. | recede; lessen 2480 |
| nicety ----------- I cannot distinguish between such niceties of reasoning. | precision; minute distinction 2481 |
| conservatory ----------- music or drama). A gifted violinist, Marya was selected to study at the consevatory. | school of the fine arts (esp 2482 |
| abortive ----------- Attacked by armed troops, the Chinese students had to abandon their abortive attempt to democratize Beijing peacefully. abort,V. | unsuccessful; fruitless 2483 |
| relic ----------- Egypt's Department of Antiquities prohibits tourists from taking mummies and other ancient relics out of the country. Mike keeps his photos of his trip to Egypt in a box with other relics of his travels. | surviving remnant; memento 2484 |
| clasp ----------- When the clasp on Judy's bracelet broke, Fred repaired it, bending the hook back into shape. He then helped her slip on the bracelet, holding it firm in the sure clasp of his hand. | fastening device; firm grip 2485 |
| nip ----------- The twins were plotting mischief, but Mother intervened and nipped that plan in the bud. The gardener nipped off a lovely rose and gave it to me. Last week a guard dog nipped | stop something's growth or development; snip off; bite; make numb with cold 2486 |
| nemesis ----------- Abandoned at sea in a small boat, the vengeful Captain Bligh vowed to be the nemesis of Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers. | someone seeking revenge 2487 |
| depreciate ----------- If you neglect this property, it will depreciate. | lessen in value 2488 |
| recourse ----------- The boy's only recourse was to appeal to his father for aid. | resorting to help when in trouble 2489 |
| desiccate ----------- A tour of this smokehouse will give you an idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate food in order to preserve it. | dry up 2490 |
| multilingual ----------- Because they are bordered by so many countries, the Swiss people are multilingual. | having many languages 2491 |
| snivel ----------- Don't you come sniveling to me complaining about your big brother. sobriety N. moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness. Neither falling-down drunks nor stand-up comics are noted for sobriety | run at the nose; snuffle; whine 2492 |
| alchemy ----------- The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy. alchemist, N. | medieval chemistry 2493 |
| seamy ----------- In The Godfather, Michael Corleone is unwilling to expose his wife and children to the seamy side of his life as the son of a Mafia don. sear V. char or burn; brand. Accidentally brushing against the hot grill, she seared her ha | sordid; unwholesome 2494 |
| defer ----------- When it comes to making decisions about purchasing software, we must defer to Michael, our computer guru; he gets the final word. Michael, however, can defer these questions to no one; only he can decide. | give in respectfully; submit 2495 |
| outlandish ----------- The eccentric professor who engages in markedly outlandish behavior is a stock figure in novels with an academic setting. | bizarre; peculiar; unconventional 2496 |
| abstemious ----------- Concerned whether her vegetarian son's abstemious diet provided him with sufficient protein, the worried mother pressed food on him. | sparing in eating and drinking; temperate 2497 |
| evanescent ----------- Brandon's satisfaction in his new job was evanescent, for he immediately began to notice its many drawbacks. evanescence, N. | fleeting; vanishing 2498 |
| deadlock ----------- Because negotiations had reached a deadlock, some of the delegates had begun to mutter about breaking off the talks. V. | standstill; stalemate 2499 |
| pernicious ----------- Crack cocaine has had a pernicious effect on urban society: it has destroyed families, turned children into drug dealers, and increased the spread of violent crimes. | very destructive 2500 |
| abrasive ----------- Just as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can wear away a listener's patience. abrade,V. | rubbing away; tending to grind down 2501 |
| insightful ----------- Sol thought he was very insightful about human behavior, but he was actually clueless as to why people acted the way they did. | discerning; perceptive 2502 |
| ethnic ----------- Intolerance between ethnic groups is deplorable and usually is based on lack of information. | relating to races 2503 |
| bluster ----------- Let the stormy winds bluster, cried Jack, we'll set sail tonight. Jill let Jack bluster. she wasn't going anywhere, no matter what he said. | blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully 2504 |
| *corrugated ----------- She wished she could smooth away the wrinkles from his corrugated brow. | wrinkled; ridged 2505 |
| knit ----------- Whenever David worries, his brow knits in a frown. When he broke his leg, he sat around the house all day waiting for the bones to knit. | contract into wrinkles; grow together 2506 |
| impalpable ----------- The ash is so fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a fine layer covering the window ledge. | imperceptible; intangible 2507 |
| enduring ----------- Keats believed in the enduring power of great art, which would outlast its creators' brief lives. | lasting; surviving 2508 |
| implore ----------- He implored her to give him a second chance. | beg 2509 |
| expansive ----------- Mr. Fezziwig was in an expansive humor, cheerfully urging his guests to join in the Christmas feast. Looking down on his expansive paunch, he sighed: if his belly expanded any fu | outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size 2510 |
| whiff -----------); hint. The slightest whiff of Old Spice cologne brought memories of George to her mind. | puff or gust (of air, scent, etc 2511 |
| placid ----------- After his vacation in this placid section, he felt soothed and rested. | peaceful; calm 2512 |
| deranged ----------- He had to be institutionalized because he was mentally deranged. | insane 2513 |
| proselytize ----------- In these interfaith meetings, there must be no attempt to proselytize; we must respect all points of view. | convert to a religion or belief 2514 |
| intrepid ----------- For her intrepid conduct nursing the wounded during the war, Florence Nightingale was honored by Queen Victoria. | fearless 2515 |
| elated ----------- Grinning from ear to ear, Bonnie Blair was clearly elated by her fifth Olympic gold medal. elation, N. | overjoyed; in high spirits 2516 |
| piebald ----------- You should be able to identify Polka Dot in this race; it is the only piebald horse running. | mottled; spotted 2517 |
| actuate ----------- I fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily. | motivate 2518 |
| dulcet ----------- The dulcet sounds of the birds at dawn were soon drowned out by the roar of traffic passing our motel. | sweet sounding 2519 |
| log ----------- Flogged two seamen today for insubordination wrote Captain Bligh in the Bounty's log. To see how much work I've accomplished recently, just take a look at the number of new files listed o | record of a voyage or flight; record of day to day activities 2520 |
| accessory ----------- She bought an attractive handbag as an accessory for her dress. alsoADJ. | additional object; useful but not essential thing 2521 |
| infiltrate ----------- In order to be able to infiltrate enemy lines at night without being seen, the scouts darkened their faces and wore black coveralls. infiltrator, N. | pass into or through; penetrate (an organization) sneakily 2522 |
| watershed ----------- The invention of the personal computer proved a historic watershed, for it opened the way to today's Information Age. | crucial dividing point 2523 |
| consolidation ----------- The recent consolidation of several small airlines into one major company has left observers of the industry wondering whether room still exist for the 'little guy' in aviation. consolidate, V. | unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger 2524 |
| pugilist ----------- The famous pugilist Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammed Ali. | boxer 2525 |
| potent ----------- Looking at the expiration date on the cough syrup bottle, we wondered whether the medication would still be potent. potency, N. | powerful; persuasive; greatly influential 2526 |
| arcade ----------- The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain. | a covered passageway, usually lined with shops 2527 |
| tightwad ----------- Jill called Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the check. | excessively frugal person; miser 2528 |
| demur ----------- When offered a post on the board of directors, David demurred: he had scruples about taking on the job because he was unsure he could handle it in addition to his other responsibilities. | object (because of doubts, scruples); hesitate 2529 |
| penchant ----------- Dave has a penchant for taking risks: one semester he went steady with three girls, two of whom were stars on the school karate team. | strong inclination; liking 2530 |
| iridescent ----------- She admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water. | exhibiting rainbowlike colors 2531 |
| insularity ----------- The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anything foreign. insular,ADJ. | narrow-mindedness; isolation 2532 |
| partiality ----------- As a judge, not only must I be unbiased, but I must also avoid any evidence of partiality when I award the prize. | inclination; bias 2533 |
| obnoxious ----------- I find your behavior obnoxious; please mend your ways. | offensive 2534 |
| anthropoid ----------- The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals. also N. | manlike 2535 |
| ceremonious ----------- Ordinary dress would be inappropriate at so ceremonious an affair. | marked by formality 2536 |
| gusto ----------- He accepted the assignment with such gusto that I feel he would have been satisfied with a smaller salary. | enjoyment; enthusiasm 2537 |
| apolitical ----------- It was hard to remain apolitical during the Vietnam War; even people who generally ignored public issues felt they had to take political stands. | having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs 2538 |
| furlough ----------- Dreaming of her loved ones back in the States, the young soldier could hardly wait for her upcoming furlough. | leave of absence; vacation granted a soldier or civil servant 2539 |
| cataract ----------- She gazed with awe at the mighty cataract known as Niagara Falls. | great waterfall; eye abnormality 2540 |
| preclude ----------- The fact that the band was already booked to play in Hollywood on New Year's Eve precluded their accepting the New Year's Eve gig in London they were offered. | make impossible; eliminate 2541 |
| antidote ----------- When Marge's child accidentally swallowed some cleaning fluid, the local poison control hotline instructed Marge how to administer the antidote. | medicine to counteract a poison or disease 2542 |
| resumption ----------- During summer break, Don had not realized how much he missed university life: at the resumption of classes, however, he felt marked excitement and pleasure. resume,V. | taking up again; recommencement 2543 |
| regal ----------- Prince Albert had a regal manner. | royal 2544 |
| cession ----------- The cession of Alaska to the United States is discussed in this chapter. | yielding to another; ceding 2545 |
| crux ----------- This is the crux of the entire problem: everything enters on its being resolved. | crucial point 2546 |
| charlatan ----------- When they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get them back to Kansas, Dorothy and her companions were indignant that they'd been duped by a charlatan. | quack; pretender to knowledge 2547 |
| explicit ----------- Don't just hint around that you're dissatisfied: be explicit about what's bugging you. | totally clear; definite; outspoken 2548 |
| garbled ----------- A favorite party game involves passing a whispered message from one person to another until, by the time it reaches the last player, the message is totally garbled. | mixed up; jumbled; distorted 2549 |
| confine ----------- The terrorists had confined their prisoner in a small room. However, they had not chained him to the wall or done anything else to confine his movement further. confinement, N. | shut in; restrict 2550 |
| fickle ----------- As soon as Romeo saw Juliet, he forgot all about his old girlfriend Rosaline. Was Romeo fickle? | changeable; faithless 2551 |
| maul ----------- The rock star was mauled by his over-excited fans. | handle roughly 2552 |
| demolition ----------- One of the major aims of the air force was the complete demolition of all means of transportation by bombing of rail lines and terminals. demolish,V. | destruction 2553 |
| benefactor ----------- Scrooge later became Tiny Tim's benefactor and gave him gifts. | gift giver; patron 2554 |
| discrete ----------- The universe is composed of discrete bodies. | separate; unconnected 2555 |
| estranged ----------- The estranged wife sought a divorce. estrangement, N. | separated; alienated 2556 |
| cleave ----------- With her heavy cleaver, Julia Child can cleave a whole roast duck in two. Soaked through, the soldier tugged at the uniform that cleaved annoyingly to his body. He would cleave to his post, come rain or shi | split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to 2557 |
| redolent ----------- Even though it is February, the air is redolent of spring. | fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor 2558 |
| incongruous ----------- Dave saw nothing incongruous about wearing sneakers with his tuxedo; he couldn't understand why his date took one look at him and started to laugh. incongruity, N. | not fitting; absurd 2559 |
| remonstrance ----------- The authorities were deaf to the pastor's remonstrances about the lack of police protection in the area. remonstrate,V. | protest; objection 2560 |
| aromatic ----------- Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe. | fragrant 2561 |
| ungainly ----------- If you want to know whether Nick's an ungainly dancer, check out my bruised feet, said Nora. Anyone who has ever tried to carry a bass fiddle knows it's an ungainly instrument. | awkward; clumsy; unwieldy 2562 |
| paean ----------- Paeans celebrating the victory filled the air. | song of praise or joy 2563 |
| prestige ----------- Many students want to go to Harvard College not for the education offered but for the prestige of Harvard's name. | impression produced by achievements or reputation 2564 |
| perennial ----------- These plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for many years. alsoADJ. | something that is continuing or recurrent 2565 |
| quail ----------- The Cowardly Lion was afraid that he would quail in the face of danger. | cower; lose heart 2566 |
| retrieve ----------- The dog was intelligent and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter. | recover; find and bring in 2567 |
| noxious ----------- We must trace the source of these noxious gases before they asphyxiate us. | harmful 2568 |
| askew ----------- When he placed his hat askew upon his head, his observers laughed. | crookedly; slanted; at an angle 2569 |
| delineate ----------- Using only a few descriptive phrases, Austen delineates the character of Mr. Collins so well that we can predict his every move. delineation, N. | portray; depict; sketch 2570 |
| prurient ----------- Aroused by his prurient impulses, the dirty old man leered at the sweet young thing and offered to give her a sample of his prowess. | having or causing lustful thoughts and desires 2571 |
| recount ----------- A born storyteller, my father loved to recount anecdotes about his early years in New York. | narrate or tell; count over again 2572 |
| yoke ----------- I don't wish to be yoked to him in marriage, as if we were cattle pulling a plow. also N. | join together, unite 2573 |
| dabble ----------- The amateur painter dabbled at art, but seldom produced a finished piece. The children dabbled their hands in the bird bath, splashing one another gleefully. | work at in a non-serious fashion; splash around 2574 |
| renege ----------- He reneged on paying off his debt. | deny; go back on 2575 |
| stagnant ----------- Mosquitoes commonly breed in ponds of stagnant water. Mike's career was stagnant; it wasn't going anywhere, and neither was he! stagnate,V. | motionless; stale; dull 2576 |
| hypochondriac ----------- The doctor prescribed chocolate pills for his patient who was a hypochondriac. | person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness 2577 |
| vestige ----------- We discovered vestiges of early Indian life in the cave. vestigial,ADJ. | trace; remains 2578 |
| vindictive ----------- I think it's unworthy of Martha to be so vindictive; she shouldn't stoop to such petty acts of revenge. | out for revenge; malicious 2579 |
| tempestuous ----------- Racketthrowing tennis star John McEnroe was famed for his displays of tempestuous temperament. | stormy; impassioned; violent 2580 |
| stifle ----------- Halfway through the boring lecture, Laura gave up trying to stifle her yawns. | suppress; extinguish; inhibit 2581 |
| vie ----------- Politicians vie with one another, competing for donations and votes. | contend; compete 2582 |
| irrefutable ----------- No matter how hard I tried to find a good comeback for her argument, I couldn't think of one: her logic was irrefutable. | indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable 2583 |
| defection ----------- The children, who had made him an idol, were hurt most by his defection from our cause. | desertion 2584 |
| buxom ----------- The soldiers remembered the buxom nurse who had always been so pleasant to them. | plump; vigorous; jolly 2585 |
| expropriate ----------- He questioned the government's right to expropriate his land to create a wildlife preserve. | take possession of 2586 |
| laborious ----------- In putting together his dictionary of the English language, Doctor Johnson undertook a laborious task. | demanding much work or care; tedious 2587 |
| accrue ----------- You must pay the interest that has accrued on your debt as well as the principal sum. accrual, N. | come about by addition 2588 |
| galaxy ----------- Science fiction stories speculate about the possible existence of life in other galaxies. The deaths of such famous actors as John Candy and George Burns | large, isolated system of stars, such as the Milky Way; any collection of brilliant personalities 2589 |
| tout ----------- I lost confidence in my broker after he touted some junk bonds to me that turned out to be a bad investment. | publicize; praise excessively 2590 |
| attenuate ----------- By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines. | make thin; weaken 2591 |
| arraign ----------- After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court. | charge in court; indict 2592 |
| bulwark ----------- The navy is our principal bulwark against invasion. | earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends 2593 |
| exegesis ----------- The minister based her sermon on her exegesis of a difficult passage from the book of Job. exegetical,ADJ. | explanation; interpretation, especially of a biblical text 2594 |
| congeal ----------- His blood congealed in his veins as he saw the dread monster rush toward him. | freeze; coagulate 2595 |
| inchoate ----------- Before the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass. | recently begun; rudimentary; elementary 2596 |
| repeal ----------- What would the effect on our society be if we decriminalized drug use by repealing the laws against the possession and sale of narcotics? | revoke; annul 2597 |
| unkempt ----------- Jeremy hated his neighbor's unkempt lawn: he thought its neglected appearance had a detrimental effect on neighborhood property values. | disheveled; uncared for in appearance 2598 |
| remnant ----------- I suggest that you wait until the store places the remnants of these goods on sale. | remainder 2599 |
| phenomena ----------- We kept careful records of the phenomena we noted in the course of these experiments. | observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation 2600 |
| deadpan ----------- We wanted to see how long he could maintain his deadpan expression. | wooden; impersonal 2601 |
| lexicon ----------- I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library. | dictionary 2602 |
| retract ----------- When I saw how Fred and his fraternity brothers had trashed the frat house, I decided to retract my offer to let them use our summer cottage for the weekend. retraction, N. | withdraw; take back 2603 |
| adage ----------- There is much truth in the old adage about fools and their money. | wise saying; proverb 2604 |
| bombastic ----------- Puffed up with conceit, the orator spoke in such a bombastic manner that we longed to deflate him. bombast, N. | pompous; using inflated language 2605 |
| subsistence ----------- In these days of inflated prices, my salary provides a mere subsistence. | existence; means of support; livelihood 2606 |
| spectrum ----------- The visible portion of the spectrum includes red at one end and violet at the other. | colored band produced when beam of light passes through a prism 2607 |
| naiveté ----------- Touched by the naivetd of sweet, convent-trained Cosette, Marius pledges himself to protect her innocence. naive,ADJ. | quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility 2608 |
| invert ----------- When he inverted his body in a handstand, he felt the blood rush to his head. inveterate ADJ. deep-rooted; habitual. An inveterate smoker, Bob cannot seem to break the habit, no matter how hard he tries. | turn upside down or inside out 2609 |
| litany ----------- On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity. | supplicatory prayer 2610 |
| demoniac ----------- The Spanish Inquisition devised many demoniac means of torture. demon, N. | fiendish 2611 |
| secular ----------- The church leaders decided not to interfere in secular matters. | worldly; not pertaining to church matters; temporal 2612 |
| alias ----------- John Smith's alias was Bob Jones. also ADV. | an assumed name 2613 |
| realm ----------- In the animal realm, the lion is the king of beasts. | kingdom; field or sphere 2614 |
| potential ----------- This juvenile delinquent is a potential murderer. also N. | expressing possibility; latent 2615 |
| doctrinaire ----------- Weng had hoped that the student-led democracy movement might bring about change in China, but the repressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners crushed his dreams of democracy | unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding 2616 |
| tender ----------- Although no formal charges had been made against him, in the wake of the recent scandal the mayor felt he should tender his resignation. | offer; extend 2617 |
| gargantuan ----------- The gargantuan wrestler was terrified of mice. | huge; enormous 2618 |
| berate ----------- He feared she would berate him for his forgetfulness. | scold strongly 2619 |
| abject ----------- On the streets of New York the homeless live in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find shelter from the wind. | wretched; lacking pride 2620 |
| curtail ----------- When Herb asked Diane for a date, she said she was really sorry she couldn't go out with him, but her dad had ordered her to curtail her social life. | shorten; reduce 2621 |
| adept ----------- She was adept at the fine art of irritating people. also N. | expert at 2622 |
| component ----------- I wish all the components of my stereo system were working at the same time. | element; ingredient 2623 |
| sonorous ----------- His sonorous voice resounded through the hall. | resonant 2624 |
| jabber ----------- Why does the fellow insist on jabbering away in French when I can't understand a word he says? | chatter rapidly or unintelligibly 2625 |
| terrestrial ----------- In many science fiction films, alien invaders from outer space plan to destroy all terrestrial life. | earthly (as opposed to celestial); pertaining to the land 2626 |
| emendation ----------- Please initial all the emendations you have made in this contract. | correction of errors; improvement 2627 |
| temporal ----------- At onetime in our history, temporal rulers assumed that they had been given their thrones by divine right. | not lasting forever; limited by time; secular 2628 |
| carnivorous ----------- The lion's a carnivorous beast. A hunk of meat makes up his feast. A cow is not a carnivore. She likes the taste of grain, not gore. | meat-eating 2629 |
| addendum ----------- As an addendum to the minutes, let me point out that Susan moved to appoint Kathy and Arthur to the finance committee. | an addition or supplement 2630 |
| sinister ----------- We must defeat the sinister forces that seek our downfall. | evil 2631 |
| append ----------- When you append a bibliography to a text, you have just created an appendix. | attach 2632 |
| belligerent ----------- Whenever he had too much to drink, he became belligerent and tried to pick fights with strangers. belligerence, N. | quarrelsome 2633 |
| touchstone ----------- What touchstone can be used to measure the character of a person? | stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion 2634 |
| knave ----------- Any politician nicknamed Tricky Dick clearly has the reputation of a knave. knavery, N. | untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel 2635 |
| ablution ----------- His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled Opera in the Bath. | washing 2636 |
| pied ----------- The Pied Piper of Hamelin got his name from the multicolored clothing he wore. | variegated; multicolored 2637 |
| threadbare ----------- The poor adjunct professor hid the threadbare spots on his jacket by sewing leather patches on his sleeves. | worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor 2638 |
| kernel ----------- Watson, buried within this tissue of lies there is a kernel of truth; when I find it, the mystery will be solved. | central or vital part; whole seed (as of corn) 2639 |
| patina ----------- Judging by the patina on this bronze statue, we can conclude that this is the work of a medieval artist. | green crust on old bronze works; tone slowly taken by varnished painting 2640 |
| licentious ----------- Unscrupulously seducing the daughter of his host, Don Juan felt no qualms about the immorality of his licentious behavior. | amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained 2641 |
| dissolution ----------- Which caused King Lear more suffering: the dissolution of his kingdom into warring factions, or the dissolution of his aged, failing body? | breaking of a union; decay; termination 2642 |
| intermittent ----------- The outdoor wedding reception had to be moved indoors to avoid the intermittent showers that fell on and off all afternoon. | periodic; on and off 2643 |
| glutton ----------- When Mother saw that Bobby had eaten all the cookies, she called him a little glutton. gluttonous,ADJ. | someone who eats too much 2644 |
| subsidiary ----------- This information may be used as subsidiary evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument. also N. | subordinate; secondary 2645 |
| pandemonium ----------- When the ships collided in the harbor, pandemonium broke out among the passengers. | wild tumult 2646 |
| tether ----------- Before we went to sleep, we tethered the horses to prevent their wandering off during the night. | tie with a rope 2647 |
| fugitive ----------- The film brought a few fugitive images to her mind, but on the whole it made no lasting impression upon her. | fleeting or transitory; roving 2648 |
| contention ----------- It is our contention that, if you follow our tactics, you will boost your score on the SAT. contend, V. | claim; thesis 2649 |
| vignette ----------- The New Yorker published her latest vignette. | picture; short literary sketch 2650 |
| motif ----------- This simple motif runs throughout the entire score. | theme 2651 |
| ironic ----------- It is ironic that his success came when he least wanted it. | resulting in an unexpected and contrary outcome 2652 |
| sanctuary ----------- The tiny attic was Helen's sanctuary to which she fled when she had to get away from the rest of her family. | refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place 2653 |
| geniality ----------- This restaurant is famous and popular because of the geniality of the proprietor who tries to make everyone happy. | cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy 2654 |
| menial ----------- Her wicked stepmother forced Cinderella to do menial tasks around the house while her ugly stepsisters lolled around painting their toenails. | suitable for servants; lowly; mean 2655 |
| mystify ----------- When doctors speak in medical jargon, they often mystify their patients, who have little knowledge of medical terminology. | bewilder purposely 2656 |
| anemia ----------- The doctor ascribes her tiredness to anemia. anemic,ADJ. | condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles 2657 |
| trespass ----------- The wicked baron flogged any poacher who trespassed on his private hunting grounds. also N. | unlawfully enter the boundaries of some else's property 2658 |
| ewe ----------- The flock of sheep was made up of dozens of ewes, together with only a handful of rams. | female sheep 2659 |
| saccharine ----------- She tried to ingratiate herself, speaking sweetly and smiling a saccharine smile. | cloyingly sweet 2660 |
| lilliputian ----------- Tiny and delicate, the model was built on a lilliputian scale. also N. | extremely small 2661 |
| levity ----------- Stop giggling and wriggling around in the pew: such levity is improper in church. | lack of seriousness; lightness 2662 |
| invocation ----------- The service of Morning Prayer opens with an invocation during which we ask God to hear our prayers. | prayer for help; calling upon as a reference or support 2663 |
| burlesque ----------- In Spaceballs, Rick Moranis burlesques Darth Vader of Star Wars, outrageously parodying Vader's stiff walk and hollow voice. | give an imitation that ridicules 2664 |
| blunder ----------- The criminal's fatal blunder led to his capture. alsoV. | error 2665 |
| perpetrate ----------- Only an insane person could perpetrate such a horrible crime. | commit an offense 2666 |
| immaculate ----------- Ken and Jessica were wonderful tenants and left the apartment in immaculate condition when they moved out. | spotless; flawless; absolutely clean 2667 |
| trough -----------) The hungry pigs struggled to get at the fresh swill in the trough. The surfer rode her board, coasting along in the trough between two waves. | container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc 2668 |
| hiatus ----------- During the summer hiatus, many students try to earn enough money to pay their tuition for the next school year. | gap; interruption in duration or continuity; pause 2669 |
| perquisite ----------- The perquisites attached to this job make it even more attractive than the salary indicates. | any gain above stipulated salary 2670 |
| flaunt ----------- Mae West saw nothing wrong with showing off her considerable physical charms, saying, Honey, if you've got it, flaunt it! | display ostentatiously 2671 |
| insulated ----------- A well-to-do bachelor, James spent his money freely, insulated from the cares of his friends, who had families to support. | set apart; isolated 2672 |
| unsightly ----------- Although James was an experienced emergency room nurse, he occasionally became queasy when faced with a particularly unsightly injury. | ugly 2673 |
| somnambulist ----------- The most famous somnambulist in literature is Lady Macbeth; her monologue in the sleepwalking scene is one of the highlights of Shakespeare's play. | sleepwalker 2674 |
| reek ----------- The room reeked with stale tobacco smoke. also N. | emit (odor) 2675 |
| defer ----------- In wartime, some young men immediately volunteer to serve; others | delay till later; exempt temporarily 2676 |
| aspirant ----------- Although I am an aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses. alsoADJ. | seeker after position or status 2677 |
| trajectory ----------- The police tried to locate the spot from which the assassin had fired the fatal shot by tracing the trajectory of the bullet. | path taken by a projectile 2678 |
| rancid ----------- A rancid odor filled the ship's galley and nauseated the crew. | having the odor of stale fat 2679 |
| dote ----------- Not only grandmothers bore you with stories about their brilliant grandchildren; grandfathers dote on the little rascals, too. Poor old Alf clearly doted: the senile old dotard was past it; in fact, | be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline 2680 |
| episodic ----------- Though he tried to follow the plot of Gravity's Rainbow, John found the novel too episodic; he enjoyed individual passages, but had trouble following the work as a whole. | loosely connected; divided into incidents 2681 |
| ford ----------- Rather than risk using the shaky rope bridge, David walked a halfmile downstream until he came to the nearest ford. alsoV. | place where a river can be crossed on foot 2682 |
| narcissist ----------- A narcissist is her own best friend. | conceited person; someone in love with his own image 2683 |
| shackle ----------- The criminal's ankles were shackled to prevent his escape. also N. | chain; fetter 2684 |
| diversion ----------- After studying for several hours, he needed a diversion from work. divert,V. | act of turning aside; pastime 2685 |
| sojourn ----------- After his sojourn in Florida, he began to long for the colder climate of his native New England home. | temporary stay 2686 |
| ogle ----------- At the coffee house, Walter was too shy to ogle the pretty girls openly; instead, he peeked out at them from behind a rubber plant. | look at amorously; make eyes at 2687 |
| mobile ----------- The mobile blood bank operated by the Red Cross visited our neighborhood today. mobility, N. | movable; not fixed 2688 |
| tenacity ----------- Jean Valjean could not believe the tenacity of Inspector Javert. Here all Valjean had done was to steal a loaf of bread, and the inspector had pursued him doggedly for twenty years! | firmness; persistence 2689 |
| pundit ----------- Some authors who write about SAT I as if they are pundits actually know very little about the test. | authority on a subject; learned person; expert 2690 |
| chide ----------- Grandma began to chide Steven for his lying. | scold 2691 |
| podium ----------- The audience applauded as the conductor made his way to the podium. | pedestal; raised platform 2692 |
| suppress ----------- Too polite to laugh in anyone's face, Roy did his best to suppress his amusement at Ed's inane remark. | stifle; overwhelm; subdue; inhibit 2693 |
| perdition ----------- Praying for salvation, young Steven Daedalus feared he was damned to eternal perdition. | damnation; complete ruin 2694 |
| inebriated ----------- Abe was inebriated more often than he was sober. Because of his inebriety, he was discharged from his job as a bus driver. | habitually intoxicated; drunk 2695 |
| querulous ----------- Even the most agreeable toddlers can begin to act querulous if they miss their nap. | fretful; whining 2696 |
| xenophobia ----------- When the refugee arrived in America, he was unprepared for the xenophobia he found there. | fear or hatred of foreigners 2697 |
| molten ----------- The city of Pompeii was destroyed by volcanic ash rather than by molten lava flowing from Mount Vesuvius. | melted 2698 |
| incarcerate ----------- The civil rights workers were willing to be arrested and even incarcerated if by their imprisonment they could serve the cause. | imprison 2699 |
| prodigy ----------- Menuhin was a prodigy, performing wonders on his violin when he was barely eight years old. | marvel; highly gifted child 2700 |
| piquant ----------- The piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of the meal. piquancy, N. | pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating 2701 |
| curator ----------- The members of the board of trustees of the museum expected the new curator to plan events and exhibitions that would make the museum more popular. | superintendent; manager 2702 |
| tantamount ----------- Though Rudy claimed his wife was off visiting friends, his shriek of horror when she walked into the room was tantamount to a confession that he believed she was dead. | equivalent in effect or value 2703 |
| glossary ----------- I have found the glossary in this book very useful; it has eliminated many trips to the dictionary. | brief explanation of words used in the text 2704 |
| sequester ----------- Banished from his kingdom, the wizard Prospero sequestered himself on a desert island. To prevent the jurors from hearing news broadcasts about the case, the judge decided to sequester the jury. | isolate; retire from public life; segregate; seclude 2705 |
| adversity ----------- We must learn to meet adversity gracefully. | poverty; misfortune 2706 |
| primordial ----------- The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial ancestors. | existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary 2707 |
| linchpin ----------- The linchpin in the district attorney's case was a photograph showing the defendant shaking hands with the hired killer. | something that holds or links various parts together 2708 |
| reactionary ----------- Opposing the use of English in worship services, reactionary forces in the church fought to reinstate the mass in Latin. | recoiling from progress; politically ultraconservative 2709 |
| shyster ----------- On L.A. Law, Brackman is horrified to learn that his newly-discovered half brother is nothing but a cheap shyster. | lawyer using questionable methods 2710 |
| mitigate ----------- Nothing Jason did could mitigate Medea's anger; she refused to forgive him for betraying her. | appease; moderate 2711 |
| explicate ----------- Harry Levin explicated James Joyce's often bewildering novels with such clarity that even Finnegan's Wake seemed comprehensible to his students. | explain; interpret; clarify 2712 |
| pedantic ----------- Leavening his decisions with humorous, down-to-earth anecdotes, Judge Walker was not at all the pedantic legal scholar. pedant, pedantry, N. | showing off learning; bookish 2713 |
| lateral ----------- In order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots. | coming from the side 2714 |
| optimist ----------- The pessimist says the glass is half-empty; the optimist says it is half-full. | person who looks on the good side 2715 |
| plagiarize ----------- The teacher could tell that the student had plagiarized parts of his essay; she could recognize whole paragraphs straight from Barron's Book Notes. | steal another's ideas and pass them off as one's own 2716 |
| entourage ----------- Surrounded by the members of his entourage, the mayor hurried into city hall, shouting a brusque No comment! to the reporters lining the steps. | group of attendants; retinue 2717 |
| malady ----------- A mysterious malady swept the country, filling doctors' offices with feverish, purple-spotted patients. | illness 2718 |
| mire ----------- Their rear wheels became mired in mud. also N. | entangle; stick in swampy ground 2719 |
| apprise ----------- When he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip. | inform 2720 |
| reconcile ----------- Each month when we try to reconcile our checkbook with the bank statement, we quarrel. However, despite these monthly lovers' quarrels, we always manage to reconcile. | correct inconsistencies; become friendly after a quarrel 2721 |
| adversary ----------- The young wrestler struggled to defeat his adversary. | opponent 2722 |
| catapult ----------- Airplanes are sometimes launched from battleships by catapults. alsoV. | slingshot; a hurling machine 2723 |
| precise ----------- If you don't give me precise directions and a map, I'll never find your place. | exact 2724 |
| despot ----------- How could a benevolent king turn overnight into a despot? | tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler 2725 |
| ebullient ----------- Amy's ebullient nature could not be repressed; she' was always bubbling over with excitement. ebullience, N. | showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm 2726 |
| ordinance ----------- Passing a red light is a violation of a city ordinance. | decree 2727 |
| forlorn ----------- Deserted by her big sisters and her friends, the forlorn child sat sadly on the steps awaiting their return. | sad and lonely; wretched 2728 |
| carnal ----------- Is the public more interested in carnal pleasures than in spiritual matters? Compare the number of people who read Playboy daily to the number of those who read the Bible or Koran every day. | fleshly 2729 |
| skirmish ----------- Custer's troops expected they might run into a skirmish or two on maneuvers; they did not expect to face a major battle. alsoV. | minor fight 2730 |
| jeopardize ----------- You can't give me a D in chemistry: you'll jeopardize my chances of getting into M.I.T. jeopardy, N. | endanger; imperil; put at risk 2731 |
| impassable ----------- A giant redwood had fallen across the highway, blocking all four lanes: the road was impassable. | not able to be traveled or crossed 2732 |
| incendiary ----------- The fire spread in such an unusual manner that the fire department chiefs were certain that it had been set by an incendiary. alsoADJ. | arsonist 2733 |
| sardonic ----------- The sardonic humor of nightclub comedians who satirize or ridicule patrons in the audience strikes some people as amusing and others as rude. | disdainful; sarcastic; cynical 2734 |
| anticlimax ----------- After the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax. anticlimactic,ADJ. | letdown in thought or emotion 2735 |
| qualms ----------- I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen; I know she will handle it admirably. | misgivings; uneasy fears, especially about matters of conscience 2736 |
| culminate ----------- George Bush's years of service to the Republican Party culminated in his being chosen as the Republican candidate for the presidency. His subsequent inauguration as President of the United States marked the culminatio | attain the highest point; climax 2737 |
| abjure ----------- He abjured his allegiance to the king. abjuration, N. | renounce upon oath 2738 |
| gentry ----------- The local gentry did not welcome the visits of the summer tourists and tried to ignore their presence in the community. | people of standing; class of people just below nobility 2739 |
| divine ----------- Nothing infuriated Tom more than Aunt Polly's ability to divine when he was telling the truth. | perceive intuitively; foresee the future 2740 |
| pious ----------- The challenge for church people today is how to be pious in the best sense, that is, to be devout without becoming hypocritical or sanctimonious. piety, N. | devout; religious 2741 |
| epistolary ----------- Mark Harris's Wake Up, Stupid! is a modern epistolary novel that uses letters, telegrams, and newspaper clippings to tell the hero's story. The movie You've Got Mail tells a story using e-mail; does that make it an e-pistolary | consisting of letters 2742 |
| contagion ----------- Fearing contagion, they took great steps to prevent the spread of the disease. | infection 2743 |
| foliage ----------- Every autumn before the leaves fell he promised himself he would drive through New England to admire the colorful fall foliage. | masses of leaves 2744 |
| sovereign ----------- Professor Pennywhistle claimed his panacea was a sovereign cure for all chronic complaints. In medicine the sovereign task of the doctor is to do no harm. Rebelling against the mother country, the o | efficacious; supreme or paramount; selfgoverning 2745 |
| equine ----------- His long, bony face had an equine look to it. | resembling a horse 2746 |
| indulgent ----------- Jay's mom was excessively indulgent she bought him every Nintendo cartridge and video game on the market. She indulged Jay so much, she spoiled him rotten. | humoring; yielding; lenient 2747 |
| piety ----------- The nuns in the convent were noted for their piety; they spent their days in worship and prayer. Pious,ADJ. | religious devotion; godliness 2748 |
| cognitive ----------- Though Jack was emotionally immature, his cognitive development was admirable; he was very advanced intellectually. | having to do with knowing or perceiving; related to the mental processes 2749 |
| remediable ----------- Let us be grateful that the damage is remediable. | reparable 2750 |
| gamely ----------- Because he had fought gamely against a much superior boxer, the crowd gave him a standing ovation when he left the arena. | bravely; with spirit 2751 |
| indefatigable ----------- Although the effort of taking out the garbage tired Wayne out for the entire morning, when it came to partying, he was indefatigable. | tireless 2752 |
| deliberate ----------- Offered the new job, she asked for time to deliberate before she told them her decision, | consider; ponder 2753 |
| militant ----------- Although at this time he was advocating a policy of neutrality, one could usually find him adopting a more militant attitude. also N. | combative; bellicose 2754 |
| endemic ----------- This disease is endemic in this part of the world; more than 80 percent of the population are at one time or another affected by it. | prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country 2755 |
| clapper ----------- Wishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale wound his scarf around the clapper to muffle the noise of its striking. | striker (tongue) of a bell 2756 |
| disperse ----------- The police fired tear gas into the crowd to disperse the protesters. dispersion, N. | scatter 2757 |
| frustrate ----------- We must frustrate this dictator's plan to seize control of the government. | thwart; defeat 2758 |
| theocracy ----------- Though some Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower favored the establishment of a theocracy in New England, many of their fellow voyagers preferred a nonreligious form of government. | government run by religious leaders 2759 |
| ascertain ----------- Please ascertain her present address. | find out for certain 2760 |
| reprobate ----------- I cannot understand why he has so many admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is. | person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency 2761 |
| heresy ----------- Galileo's assertion that the earth moved around the sun directly contradicted the religious teachings of his day; as a result, he was tried for heresy. heretic, N. | opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion 2762 |
| ferret ----------- She ferreted out their secret. | drive or hunt out of hiding 2763 |
| berserk ----------- Angered, he went berserk and began to wreck the room. | frenzied 2764 |
| collateral ----------- The sum you wish to borrow is so large that it must be secured by collateral. | security given for loan 2765 |
| worldly ----------- You must leave your worldly goods behind you when you go to meet your Maker. | engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual 2766 |
| saunter ----------- As we sauntered through the park, we stopped frequently to admire the spring flowers. | stroll slowly 2767 |
| quench ----------- No matter how much water the hiker drank, she could not quench her thirst. | douse or extinguish; assuage or satisfy 2768 |
| intimidate ----------- I'll learn karate and then those big bullies won't be able to intimidate me any more. | frighten 2769 |
| encumber ----------- Some people encumber themselves with too much luggage when they take short trips. | burden 2770 |
| curmudgeon ----------- Although he was regarded by many as a curmudgeon, a few of us were aware of the many kindness and acts of charity that he secretly performed. | churlish, miserly individual 2771 |
| revile ----------- Though most of his contemporaries reviled Captain Kidd as a notorious, bloody-handed pirate, some of his fellow merchant-captains believed him innocent of his alleged crimes. | attack with abusive language; vilify 2772 |
| appropriate ----------- The ranch owners appropriated the lands that had originally been set aside for the Indians' use. | acquire; take possession of for one's own use 2773 |
| withstand ----------- If you can withstand all the peer pressure in high school to cut classes and goof off, you should survive college just fine. | stand up against; successfully resist 2774 |
| amend ----------- Hoping to amend his condition, he left Vietnam for the United States. | correct; change, generally for the better 2775 |
| eulogy ----------- Instead of delivering a spoken eulogy at Genny's memorial service, Jeff sang a song he had written in her honor. | expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death 2776 |
| succor ----------- If you believe that con man has come here to succor you in your hour of need, you're an even bigger sucker than I thought. also N. | aid; assist; comfort 2777 |
| natty ----------- Priding himself on being a natty dresser, the gangster Bugsy Siegel collected a wardrobe of imported suits and ties. | neatly or smartly dressed 2778 |
| sadistic ----------- If we are to improve condi- tions in this prison, we must first get rid of the sadistic warden. | inclined to cruelty 2779 |
| willful ----------- 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. | intentional; headstrong 2780 |
| flamboyant ----------- Modern architecture has discarded the flamboyant trimming on buildings and emphasizes simplicity of line. | ornate 2781 |
| booming ----------- Who needs a microphone? cried the mayor in his booming voice. Cheerfully he boomed out that, thanks to him, the city's economy was booming. boom,V. | deep and resonant; flourishing, thriving 2782 |
| ineffable ----------- Such ineffable joy must be experienced; it cannot be described. | unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech 2783 |
| illusion ----------- It is easy to create an optical illusion in which lines of equal length appear different. | misleading vision 2784 |
| discrepancy ----------- The police noticed some discrepancies in his description of the crime and did not believe him. | lack of consistency; difference 2785 |
| exploit ----------- Raoul Wallenberg was noted for his exploits in rescuing Jews from Hitler's forces. | deed or action, particularly a brave deed 2786 |
| extant ----------- Although the book is out of print, some copies are still extant. Unfortunately, all of them are in libraries or private collections; none are for sale. | still in existence 2787 |
| invoke ----------- She invoked her advisor's aid in filling out her financial aid forms. | call upon; ask for 2788 |
| congenital ----------- Were you born stupid, or did you just turn out this way? In other words, is your idiocy acquired or congenital? Doctors are able to cure some | existing at birth 2789 |
| infusion ----------- The rookie quarterback brought an infusion of new life and vigor to the tired team. infuse,V. | act of introducing or instilling a quality; liquid solution 2790 |
| precursor ----------- Though Gray and Burns share many traits with the Romantic poets who followed them, most critics consider them precursors of the Romantic Movement, not true Romantics. | forerunner 2791 |
| arsenal ----------- People are forbidden to smoke in the arsenal for fear that a stray spark might setoff the munitions stored there. | storage place for military equipment 2792 |
| evocative ----------- Scent can be remarkably evocative: the aroma of pipe tobacco evokes the memory of my father; a whiff of talcum powder calls up images of my daughter as a child. | tending to call up (emotions, memories) 2793 |
| whet ----------- The odors from the kitchen are whetting my appetite; I will be ravenous by the time the meal is served. | sharpen; stimulate 2794 |
| abate ----------- Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate. abatement, N. | subside; decrease, lessen 2795 |
| cull ----------- Every month the farmer culls the nonlaying hens from his flock and sells them to the local butcher. also N. | pick out; reject 2796 |
| recidivism ----------- Prison reformers in the United States are disturbed by the high rate of recidivism; the number of men serving second and third terms in prison indicates the failure of prisons to rehabilitate the inmates. | habitual return to crime 2797 |
| epitaph ----------- In his will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted placed on his tombstone. | inscription in memory of a dead person 2798 |
| pallid ----------- Because his job required that he work at night and sleep during the day, he had an exceptionally pallid complexion. | pale; wan 2799 |
| sully ----------- He felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully his hands in such menial labor. | tarnish; soil 2800 |
| infraction ----------- When Dennis Rodman butted heads with that referee, he committed a clear infraction of NBA rules. | violation (of a rule or regulation); breach 2801 |
| raiment ----------- How can I go to the ball? asked Cinderella. I have no raiment fit to wear. | clothing 2802 |
| incapacitate ----------- During the winter, many people were incapacitated by respiratory ailments. | disable 2803 |
| wake ----------- The wake of the swan gliding through the water glistened in the moonlight. Reporters and photographers converged on South Carolina in the wake of the hurricane that d | trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before 2804 |
| ambidextrous ----------- A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous. | capable of using either hand with equal ease 2805 |
| ambulatory ----------- Juan was a highly ambulatory patient; not only did he refuse to be confined to bed, but he insisted on riding his skateboard up and down the halls. | able to walk; not bedridden 2806 |
| antagonism ----------- Barry showed his antagonism toward his new stepmother by ignoring her whenever she tried talking to him. antagonistic,ADJ. | hostility; active resistance 2807 |
| clairvoyant ----------- having foresight; fortuneteller. Cassandra's clairvoyant warning was not heeded by the Trojans. clairvoyance, N. | N 2808 |
| tantalize ----------- Tom loved to tantalize his younger brother with candy; he knew the boy was forbidden to have it. | tease; torture with disappointment 2809 |
| bane ----------- Lucy's little brother was the bane of her existence: his attempts to make her life miserable worked so well that she could have poisoned him with ratsbane for having such a baneful effect. | cause of ruin; curse 2810 |
| affix ----------- First the registrar had to affix her signature to the license; then she had to affix her official seal. | fasten; attach; add on 2811 |
| miscellany ----------- This is an interesting miscellany of nineteenth-century prose and poetry. | mixture of writings on various subjects 2812 |
| tendentious ----------- The editorials in this periodical are tendentious rather than truth-seeking. | having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause 2813 |
| opiate ----------- To say that religion is the opiate of the people is to condemn religion as a drug that keeps the people quiet and submissive to those in power. | medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction 2814 |
| paucity ----------- They closed the restaurant because the paucity of customers made it uneconomical to operate. | scarcity 2815 |
| tirade ----------- Every time the boss holds a meeting, he goes into a lengthy tirade, scolding us for everything from tardiness to padding our expenses. | extended scolding; denunciation; harangue 2816 |
| symbiosis ----------- Both the crocodile bird and the crocodile derive benefit from their symbiosis: pecking away at food particles embedded in the crocodile's teeth, the bird receives nouri | interdependent relationship (between groups, species), often mutually beneficial 2817 |
| mercurial ----------- Quick as quicksilver to change, he was mercurial in nature and therefore unreliable. | capricious; changing; fickle 2818 |
| condiments ----------- The chef seasoned the dish with so much garlic that we could hardly taste the other condiments | seasonings; spices 2819 |
| spatial ----------- NASA is engaged in an ongoing program of spatial exploration. When Jay says he's studying spatial relations, that doesn't mean he has relatives in outer space. | relating to space 2820 |
| *bleak ----------- The frigid, inhospitable Aleutian Islands are bleak military outposts. It's no wonder that soldiers assigned there have a bleak attitude toward their posting. | cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorable 2821 |
| bemused ----------- Jill studied the garbled instructions with a bemused look on her face. | confused; lost in thought; preoccupied 2822 |
| jaunt ----------- He took a quick jaunt to Atlantic City. | trip; short journey 2823 |
| devout ----------- The devout man prayed daily. | pious 2824 |
| astral ----------- She was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed. | relating to the stars 2825 |
| aplomb ----------- Gwen's aplomb in handling potentially embarrassing moments was legendary around the office; when one of her clients broke a piece of her best crystal, she coolly picked up her own goblet and hurled it into the fireplace. | poise; assurance 2826 |
| perjury ----------- Rather than lie under oath and perhaps be indicted for perjury, the witness chose to take the Fifth Amendment, refusing to answer any questions on the grounds that he might incriminate himself. | false testimony while under oath 2827 |
| incidence ----------- Health professionals expressed great concern over the high incidence of infant mortality in major urban areas. | rate of occurrence; particular occurrence 2828 |
| ubiquitous ----------- That Christmas The Little Drummer Boy seemed ubiquitous; David heard the tune everywhere. | being everywhere; omnipresent 2829 |
| illimitable ----------- Man, having explored the far corners of the earth, is now reaching out into illimitable space. | infinite 2830 |
| novelty ----------- The computer is no longer a novelty at work; every desk in our office has one. novel,ADJ. | something new; newness 2831 |
| crotchety ----------- Although he was reputed to be a crotchety old man, I found his ideas substantially sound and sensible. | eccentric; whimscal 2832 |
| torrid ----------- Harlequin Romances publish torrid tales of love affairs, some set in torrid climates. | passionate; hot or scorching 2833 |
| modicum ----------- Although his story is based on a modicum of truth, most of the events he describes are fictitious. | limited quantity 2834 |
| descry ----------- In the distance, we could barely descry the enemy vessels. | catch sight of 2835 |
| suture ----------- We will remove the sutures as soon as the wound heals. alsoV. | stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing 2836 |
| concentric ----------- The target was made of concentric circles. | having a common center 2837 |
| nonentity ----------- Because the two older princes dismissed their youngest brother as a nonentity, they did not realize that he was quietly plotting to seize the throne. | person of no importance; nonexistence 2838 |
| mercenary ----------- Andy's every act was prompted by mercenary motives: his first question was always What's in it for me? | interested in money or gain 2839 |
| recuperate ----------- The doctors were worried because the patient did not recuperate as rapidly as they had expected. | recover 2840 |
| exclaim ----------- Watson! Behind you! Holmes exclaimed, seeing the assassin hurl himself on his friend. | cry out suddenly 2841 |
| overbearing ----------- Certain of her own importance, and of the unimportance of everyone else, Lady Bracknell was intolerably overbearing in her manner. In choosing a husband, she said, good birth is of overbearing importance | bossy and arrogant; decisively important 2842 |
| antipathy ----------- Tom's extreme antipathy for disputes keeps him from getting into arguments with his temperamental wife. Noise in any form is antipathetic to him. Among his other antipathies are honking cars, boom boxes, and heavy metal rock. | aversion; dislike 2843 |
| premonition ----------- We ignored these premonitions of disaster because they appeared to be based on childish fears. | forewarning 2844 |
| wan ----------- Suckling asked, Why so pale and wan, fond lover? | having a pale or sickly color; pallid 2845 |
| monochromatic ----------- Most people who are color blind actually can distinguish several colors; some, however, have a truly monochromatic view of a world all in shades of gray. | having only one color 2846 |
| empathy ----------- What made Ann such a fine counselor was her empathy, her ability to put herself in her client's place and feel his emotions as if they were her own. empathize,V. | ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc 2847 |
| dissonance ----------- Composer Charles Ives often used dissonance-clashing or unresolved chords-for special effects in his musical works. | discord 2848 |
| overwrought ----------- When Kate heard the news of the sudden tragedy, she became too overwrought to work and had to leave the office early. | extremely agitated; hysterical 2849 |
| malcontent ----------- One of the few malcontents in Congress, he constantly voiced his objections to the presidential program. alsoADJ. | person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs 2850 |
| colossal ----------- Radio City Music Hall has a colossal stage. | huge 2851 |
| metaphysical ----------- The modern poets have gone back to the fanciful poems of the metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century for many of their images. metaphysics, N. | pertaining to speculative philosophy 2852 |
| carnage ----------- The film The Killing Fields vividly depicts the carnage wreaked by Pol Pot's followers in Cambodia. | destruction of life 2853 |
| lunar ----------- Lunar craters can plainly seen with the aid of a small telescope. | pertaining to the moon 2854 |
| pathos ----------- The quiet tone of pathos that ran through the novel never degenerated into the maudlin or the overly sentimental. | tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings 2855 |
| placebo ----------- In a controlled experiment, fifty volunteers were given aspirin tablets; the control group received only placebos. | harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill 2856 |
| whinny ----------- When he laughed through his nose, it sounded as if he whinnied. | neigh like a horse 2857 |
| turncoat ----------- The British considered Benedict Arnold a loyalist; the Americans considered him a turncoat. | traitor 2858 |
| hurtle ----------- The runaway train hurtled toward disaster. | crash; rush 2859 |
| asymmetric ----------- Because one eyebrow was set markedly higher than the other, William's face had a particularly asymmetric appearance. | not identical on both sides of a dividing central line 2860 |
| cow ----------- The little boy was so cowed by the hulking bully that he gave up his lunch money without a word of protest. | terrorize; intimidate 2861 |
| enormity ----------- He did not realize the enormity of his crime until he saw what suffering he had caused. | hugeness (in a bad sense) 2862 |
| linguistic ----------- The modern tourist will encounter very little linguistic difficulty as English has become an almost universal language. | pertaining to language 2863 |
| composure ----------- Even the latest work crisis failed to shake her composure | mental calmness 2864 |
| blithe ----------- Shelley called the skylark a blithe spirit because of its happy song. | gay; joyous; heedless 2865 |
| academic ----------- The dean's talk about reforming the college admissions system was only an academic discussion: we knew little, if anything, would change. | related to a school; not practical or directly useful 2866 |
| propagate ----------- Since bacteria propagate more quickly in unsanitary environments, it is important to keep hospital rooms clean. | multiply; spread 2867 |
| lummox ----------- Because he was highly overweight and looked ungainly, John Candy often was cast as a slow-witted lummox. | big, clumsy, often stupid person 2868 |
| traumatic ----------- In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle. | pertaining to an injury caused by violence 2869 |
| fetter ----------- The prisoner was fettered to the wall. | shackle 2870 |
| submissive ----------- When he refused to permit Elizabeth to marry her poet, Mr. Barrett expected her to be properly submissive; instead, she eloped! | yielding; timid 2871 |
| unearth ----------- When they unearthed the city, the archeologists found many relics of an ancient civilization. | dig up 2872 |
| diagnosis ----------- In medical school Margaret developed her skill at diagnosis, learning how to read volumes from a rapid pulse or a hacking cough. diagnose, V.; diagnostic,ADJ. | art of identifying a disease; analysis of a condition 2873 |
| incense ----------- Cruelty to defenseless animals incensed Kit: the very idea brought tears of anger to her eyes. | enrage; infuriate 2874 |
| fruition ----------- This building marks the fruition of all our aspirations and years of hard work. | bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization 2875 |
| incriminate ----------- The evidence gathered against the racketeers incriminates some high public officials as well. | accuse 2876 |
| *cordial ----------- Our hosts greeted us at the airport with a cordial welcome and a hearty hug. | gracious; heartfelt 2877 |
| stratify ----------- As the economic gap between the rich and the poor increased, Roman society grew increasingly stratified. | divide into classes; be arranged into strata 2878 |
| pragmatist ----------- No pragmatist enjoys becoming involved in a game he can never win. | practical person 2879 |
| convivial ----------- The convivial celebrators of the victory sang their college songs. | festive; gay; characterized by joviality 2880 |
| exhaustive ----------- We have made an exhaustive study of all published SAT tests and are happy to share our research with you. | thorough; comprehensive 2881 |
| prolong ----------- In their determination to discover ways to prolong human life, doctors fail to take into account that longer lives are not always happier ones. | make longer; draw out; lengthen 2882 |
| lurid ----------- Do the lurid cover stories in the Enquirer actually attract people to buy that trashy tabloid? | wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome 2883 |
| sacrosanct ----------- The brash insurance salesman invaded the sacrosanct privacy of the office of the president of the company. | most sacred; inviolable 2884 |
| converse ----------- The inevitable converse of peace is not war but annihilation. V. chat; talk informally. Eva was all ears while Lulu and Lola conversed. Wasn't it rude of her to eavesdrop on their conversation? conversation, N. | opposite 2885 |
| dubious ----------- Many critics of SAT I contend the test is of dubious worth. Jay claimed he could get a perfect 1600 on SAT I, but Ellen was dubious: she knew he hadn't cracked a book in three years. | questionable; filled with doubt 2886 |
| plaintive ----------- The dove has a plaintive and melancholy call. | mournful 2887 |
| innovation ----------- Although Richard liked to keep up with all the latest technological innovations, he didn't always abandon tried and true techniques in favor of something new. innovate,V. | change; introduction of something new 2888 |
| rancor ----------- Thirty years after the war, she could not let go of the past but was still consumed with rancor against the foe. | bitterness; hatred 2889 |
| jaundiced ----------- Because Sue disliked Carolyn, she looked at Carolyn's paintings with a jaundiced eye, calling them formless smears. Newborn infants afflicted with jaundice look slightly yellow: they have jaundic | prejudiced (envious, hostile or resentful); yellowed 2890 |
| practicable ----------- The board of directors decided that the plan was practicable and agreed to undertake the project. | feasible 2891 |
| interloper ----------- The merchant thought of his competitors as interlopers who were stealing away his trade. | intruder; unwanted meddler 2892 |
| invincible ----------- Superman is invincible. | unconquerable 2893 |
| ideology ----------- For people who had grown up believing in the communist ideology, it was hard to adjust to capitalism. | system of ideas of a group 2894 |
| aloof ----------- Shy by nature, she remained aloof while all the rest conversed. | apart; reserved 2895 |
| muster ----------- Washington mustered his forces at Trenton. also N. | gather; assemble 2896 |
| fatalism ----------- With fatalism, he accepted the hardships that beset him. fatalistic,ADJ. | belief that events are determined by forces beyond one's control 2897 |
| advent ----------- Most Americans were unaware of the advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima reached them. | arrival 2898 |
| optional ----------- Most colleges require applicants to submit SAT I scores; at some colleges, however, submitting SAT I scores is optional. | not obligatory; left to one's choice 2899 |
| secrete ----------- The pack rat secretes odds and ends in its nest; the pancreas secretes insulin in the islets of Langerhans. sect N. separate religious body; faction. As university chaplain, she sought to add | hide away; produce and release a substance into an organism 2900 |
| monarchy ----------- Though England today is a monarchy, there is some question whether it will be one in twenty years, given the present discontent at the prospect of Prince Charles as king. | government under a single ruler 2901 |
| bluff ----------- Jack had a bluff andhearty manner that belied his actual sensitivity; he never let people know how thin-skinned he really was. | rough but good-natured 2902 |
| rapacious ----------- The rapacious brigands stripped the villagers of all their possessions. rapacity, N. | excessively greedy; predatory 2903 |
| unrequited ----------- Suffering the pangs of unrequited love, Olivia rebukes Cesario for his hardheartedness. | not reciprocated 2904 |
| begrudge ----------- I begrudge every minute I have to spend attending meetings; they're a complete waste of time. | resent 2905 |
| rhapsodize ----------- She greatly enjoyed her Hawaiian vacation and rhapsodized about it for weeks. | to speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner 2906 |
| buffet ----------- Please convey the soufflé on the tray to the buffet. (Buffet rhymes with tray.) | table with food set out for people to serve themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set out 2907 |
| etymology ----------- A knowledge of etymology can help you on many English tests: if you know what the roots and prefixes mean, you can determine the meanings of unfamiliar words. | study of word parts 2908 |
| myopic ----------- Stumbling into doors despite the coke bottle lenses on his glasses, the nearsighted Mr. Magoo is markedly myopic. In playing all summer long and ignoring to store up food for winter, the grasshopper in Aesop's fable wa | nearsighted; lacking foresight 2909 |
| cursive ----------- In normal writing we run our letters together in cursive form; in printing, we separate the letters. | flowing, running 2910 |
| clamber ----------- She clambered over the wall. | climb by crawling 2911 |
| postulate ----------- The basic postulate of democracy, set forth in the Declaration of Independence, is that all men are created equal. | essential premise; underlying assumption 2912 |
| loathe ----------- Booing and hissing, the audience showed how much they loathed the wicked villain. | detest 2913 |
| insurmountable ----------- Faced by almost insurmountable obstacles, the members of the underground maintained their courage and will to resist. | overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable 2914 |
| fluster ----------- The teacher's sudden question flustered him and he stammered his reply. | confuse 2915 |
| optician ----------- The patient took the prescription given him by his oculist} o the optician. | maker and seller of eyeglasses 2916 |
| mortician ----------- The mortician prepared the corpse for burial. | undertaker 2917 |
| disheveled ----------- Your disheveled appearance will hurt your chances in this interview. | untidy 2918 |
| barricade ----------- Marius and his fellow students hurriedly improvised a rough barricade to block police access to the students' quarter. Malcolm and his brothers barricaded themselves in their bedroom to keep their moth | hastily put together defensive barrier; obstacle 2919 |
| alimentary ----------- The alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods occurs there. When asked for the name of the digestive tract, Sherlock Holmes replied, Alimentary, my dear Watson. | supplying nourishment 2920 |
| assimilate ----------- The manner in which the United States was able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries will always be a source of pride to Americans. The immigrants eagerly assimil | absorb; cause to become homogeneous 2921 |
| rend ----------- In his grief, he tried to rend his garments. rent, N. | split; tear apart 2922 |
| concur ----------- Did you concur with the decision of the court or did you find it unfair? | agree 2923 |
| forestall ----------- By setting up a prenuptial agreement, the prospective bride and groom hoped to forestall any potential arguments about money in the event of a divorce. | prevent by taking action in advance 2924 |
| animated ----------- Jim Carrey's facial expressions are highly animated: when he played Ace Ventura, he looked practically rubber-faced. | lively; spirited 2925 |
| homage ----------- In her speech she tried to pay homage to a great man. | honor; tribute 2926 |
| clique ----------- Fitzgerald wished that he belonged to the clique of popular athletes and big men on campus who seemed to run Princeton's social life. | small exclusive group 2927 |
| pellucid ----------- After reading these stodgy philosophers, I find Bertrand Russell's pellucid style very enjoyable. | transparent; limpid; easy to understand 2928 |
| rectitude ----------- The Eagle Scout was a model of rectitude. | uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment 2929 |
| don ----------- When Clark Kent has to don his Superman outfit, he changes clothes in a convenient phone booth. | put on 2930 |
| appease ----------- Tom and Jody tried to appease the crying baby by offering him one toy after another, but he would not calm down until they appeased his hunger by giving him a bottle. | pacify or soothe; relieve 2931 |
| glower ----------- The angry boy glowered at his father. | scowl 2932 |
| odious ----------- Cinderella's ugly stepsisters had the odious habit of popping their zits in public. | hateful; vile 2933 |
| deploy ----------- The general ordered the battalion to deploy in order to meet the enemy offensive. | spread out [troops] in an extended though shallow battle line 2934 |
| noncommittal ----------- We were annoyed by his noncommittal reply for we had been led to expect definite assurances of his approval. | neutral; unpledged; undecided 2935 |
| coy ----------- Reluctant to commit herself so early in the game, Kay was coy in her answers to Ken's offer. | shy; modest; coquettish 2936 |
| meek ----------- Can Lois Lane see through Superman's disguise and spot the superhero hiding behind the guise of meek, timorous Clark Kent? Mr. Barrett never expected his meek daughter would dare to defy him by eloping with her suitor. | quiet and obedient; spiritless 2937 |
| acclaim ----------- The NBC sportscasters acclaimed every American victory in the Olympics and decried every American defeat. also N. | applaud; announce with great approval 2938 |
| sedate ----------- The parents were worried because they felt their son was too quiet and sedate. | composed; grave 2939 |
| gregarious ----------- Typically, partygoers are gregarious; hermits are not. | sociable 2940 |
| consequential ----------- Convinced of his own importance, the actor strutted about the dressing room with a consequential air. | pompous; important; self-important 2941 |
| droll ----------- He was a popular guest because his droll anecdotes were always entertaining. | queer and amusing 2942 |
| precipitate ----------- Though I was angry enough to resign on the spot, I had enough sense to keep myself from quitting a job in such a precipitate fashion. | rash; premature; hasty; sudden 2943 |
| doctrine -----------) taught. He was so committed to the doctrines of his faith that he was unable to evaluate them impartially. | teachings, in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc 2944 |
| sanctimonious ----------- You do not have to be so sanctimonious to prove that you are devout. | displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness 2945 |
| trifling ----------- Why bother going to see a doctor for such a trifling, everyday cold? | trivial; unimportant 2946 |
| incessant ----------- In a famous TV commercial, the frogs' incessant croaking goes on and on until eventually it turns into a single word: Bud-weis-er. | uninterrupted; unceasing 2947 |
| marital ----------- After the publication of his book on marital affairs, he was often consulted by married people on the verge of divorce. | pertaining to marriage 2948 |
| egoism ----------- His egoism prevented him from seeing the needs of his colleagues. | excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others 2949 |
| temperate ----------- Try to be temperate in your eating this holiday season; if you control your appetite, you won't gain too much weight. | restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature 2950 |
| entomology ----------- Kent found entomology the most annoying part of his biology course; studying insects bugged him. | study of insects 2951 |
| florid ----------- If you go to Florida and get a sunburn, your complexion will look florid. | ruddy; reddish; flowery 2952 |
| inherent ----------- Katya's inherent love of justice caused her to champion anyone she considered treated unfairly by society. | firmly established by nature or habit 2953 |
| chagrin ----------- Embarrassed by his parents' shabby, working-class appearance, Doug felt their visit to his school would bring him nothing but chagrin. Someone filled with chagrin doesn't grin: he's too | vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride); disappointment 2954 |
| coquette ----------- Because she refused to give him an answer to his proposal of marriage, he called her a coquette. also V. | flirt 2955 |
| patent ----------- It was patent to everyone that the witness spoke the truth. also N. | open for the public to read; obvious 2956 |
| desolate ----------- The bandits desolated the countryside, burning farms and carrying off the harvest. | rob of joy; lay waste to; forsake 2957 |
| cant ----------- Shocked by news of the minister's extramarital love affairs, the worshippers dismissed his talk about the sacredness of marriage as mere cant. Cant is a form of hypocrisy: those who can, pray; those wh | insincere expressions of piety; jargon of thieves 2958 |
| dowdy ----------- She tried to change her dowdy image by buying a new fashionable wardrobe. | slovenly; untidy 2959 |
| proliferation ----------- Times of economic hardship inevitably encourage the proliferation of countless get-rich-quick schemes. proliferate,V. | rapid growth; spread; multiplication 2960 |
| podiatrist ----------- He consulted a podiatrist about his fallen arches. | doctor who treats ailments of the feet 2961 |
| aristocracy ----------- Americans have mixed feelings about hereditary aristocracy. we say all men are created equal, but we describe particularly outstanding people as natural aristocrats. | hereditary nobility; privileged class 2962 |
| amicable ----------- Beth's sister Jo is the hot-tempered tomboy who has a hard time maintaining amicable relations with those around her. Jo's quarrel with her friend Laurie finally reaches an amicable settlement, but not because Jo | politely friendly; not quarrelsome 2963 |
| regime ----------- When the French mention the Old Regime, they refer to the government existing before the revolution. | method or system of government 2964 |
| propriety ----------- Miss Manners counsels her readers so that they may behave with due propriety in any social situation and not embarrass themselves. | fitness; correct conduct 2965 |
| rile ----------- Red had a hair-trigger temper: he was an easy man to rile. | vex; irritate; muddy 2966 |
| friction ----------- At this time when harmony is essential, we cannot afford to have any friction in our group. | clash in opinion; rubbing against 2967 |
| propinquity ----------- Their relationship could not be explained as being based on mere propinquity; they were more than relatives, they were true friends. | nearness; kinship 2968 |
| slander ----------- Considering the negative comments politicians make about each other, it's a wonder that more of them aren't sued for slander. alsoV. | defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements 2969 |
| subside ----------- The doctor assured us that the fever would eventually subside. | settle down; descend; grow quiet 2970 |
| barren ----------- Looking out at the trackless, barren desert, Indiana Jones feared that his search for the missing expedition would prove barren. | desolate; fruitless and unproductive; lacking 2971 |
| devise ----------- How clever he must be to have devised such a devious plan! What ingenious inventions might he have devised if he had turned his mind to science and not to crime. | think up; invent; plan 2972 |
| mores ----------- In America, Benazir Bhutto dressed as Western women did; in Pakistan, however, she followed the mores of her people, dressing in traditional veil and robes. | conventions; moral standards; customs 2973 |
| pastiche ----------- We cannot even say that her music is a: pastiche of this composer or that; it is, rather, reminiscent of many musicians. | imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing 2974 |
| devoid ----------- You may think her mind is a total void, but she's actually not devoid of intelligence. She just sounds like an airhead. | lacking 2975 |
| hallucination ----------- I think you were frightened by a hallucination you created in your own mind. | delusion 2976 |
| fleece ----------- The tricksters fleeced him of his inheritance. | rob; plunder 2977 |
| vicarious ----------- Many people get a vicarious thrill at the movies by imagining they are the characters on the screen. | acting as a substitute; done by a deputy 2978 |
| chameleon ----------- Like the chameleon, he assumed the political thinking of every group he met. | lizard that changes color in different situations 2979 |
| manifest ----------- Digby's embarrassment when he met Madonna was manifest: his ears turned bright pink, he kept scuffing one shoe in the dirt, and he couldn't look her in the eye. | evident; visible; obvious 2980 |
| gingerly ----------- To separate egg whites, first crack the egg gingerly. | very carefully 2981 |
| voyeur ----------- Nancy called her brother a voyeur when she caught him aiming his binoculars at an upstairs window of the house of the newlyweds next door. | Peeping Tom 2982 |
| endearment ----------- Your gifts and endearments cannot make me forget your earlier insolence. | fond statement 2983 |
| bovine ----------- Nothing excites Esther; even when she won the state lottery, she still preserved her air of bovine calm. | cowlike; placid and dull 2984 |
| concession ----------- Before they could reach an agreement, both sides had to make certain concessions | an act of yielding 2985 |
| tangential ----------- Despite Clark's attempts to distract her with tangential remarks, Lois kept on coming back to her main question: why couldn't he come out to dinner with Superman and her? | peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing 2986 |
| jocose ----------- The salesman was so jocose that many of his customers suggested that he become a .,stand-up comic. | given to joking 2987 |
| maim ----------- The hospital could not take care of all who had been wounded or maimed in the railroad accident. | mutilate; injure 2988 |
| fracas ----------- The military police stopped the fracas in the bar and arrested the belligerents. | brawl, melee 2989 |
| imbalance ----------- To correct racial imbalance in the schools, school boards have bussed black children into white neighborhoods and white children into black ones. | lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion 2990 |
| serendipity ----------- Many scientific discoveries are a matter of serendipity. Newton was not sitting under a tree thinking about gravity when the apple dropped on his head. | gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck 2991 |
| platitude ----------- In giving advice to his son, old Polonius expressed himself only in platitudes; every word out of his mouth was a commonplace. | trite remark; commonplace statement 2992 |
| resolution ----------- Nothing could shake his resolution that his children would get the best education that money could buy. resolute,ADJ. | determination; resolve 2993 |
| fanaticism ----------- When Islamic fundamentalists demanded the death of Salman Rushdie because his novel questioned their faith, world opinion condemned them for their fanaticism. | excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause 2994 |
| crabbed ----------- The crabbed old man was avoided by the children because he scolded them when they made noise. | sour; peevish 2995 |
| inopportune ----------- A rock concert is an inopportune setting for a quiet conversation. | untimely; poorly chosen 2996 |
| hyperbole ----------- As far as I'm concerned, Apple's claims about the new computer are pure hyperbole: no machine is that good! | exaggeration; overstatement 2997 |
| gnome ----------- In medieval mythology, gnomes were the special guardians and inhabitants of subterranean mines. | dwarf; underground spirit 2998 |
| aversion ----------- Bert had an aversion to yuppies; Alex had an aversion to punks. Their mutual aversion was so great that they refused to speak to one another. | firm dislike 2999 |
| epoch ----------- The glacial epoch lasted for thousands of years. | period of time 3000 |
| arid ----------- The cactus has adapted to survive in an arid environment. | dry; barren 3001 |
| unruly ----------- The only way to curb this unruly mob is to use tear gas. | disobedient; lawless 3002 |
| repertoire -----------, a performer is prepared to present. The opera company decided to include Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the following season. | list of works of music, drama, etc 3003 |
| obsolete ----------- The invention of the pocket calculator made the slide rule used by generations of engineers obsolete. | no longer useful; outmoded; antiquated 3004 |
| panegyric ----------- Blushing at all the praise heaped upon him by the speakers, the modest hero said, °I don't deserve such panegyrics. | formal praise 3005 |
| prerogative ----------- The president cannot levy taxes; that is the prerogative of the legislative branch of government. | privilege; unquestionable right 3006 |
| buoyant ----------- When the boat capsized, her buoyant life jacket kept Jody afloat. Scrambling back on board, she was still in a buoyant mood, certain that despite the delay she'd win the race. | able to float; cheerful and optimistic 3007 |
| viper ----------- The habitat of the horned viper, a particularly venomous snake, is in sandy regions like the Sahara or the Sinai peninsula. | poisonous snake 3008 |
| relinquish ----------- Denise never realized how hard it would be for her to relinquish her newborn son to the care of his adoptive parents. Once you get used to fringe benefits like expense account meals and a company car, it's ver | give up something with reluctance; yield 3009 |
| yield ----------- An experienced farmer can estimate the annual yield of his acres with surprising accuracy. alsoV. | amount produced; crop; income on investment 3010 |
| advocate ----------- The abolitionists advocated freedom for the slaves. also N. | urge; plead for 3011 |
| accelerate ----------- In our science class, we learn how falling bodies accelerate. | move faster 3012 |
| gist ----------- She was asked to give the gist of the essay in two sentences. | essence 3013 |
| exploit ----------- Cesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit migrant farmworkers in California. exploitation, N. exploitative,ADJ. | make use of, sometimes unjustly 3014 |
| cerebration ----------- Mathematics problems sometimes require much cerebration. | thought 3015 |
| lackadaisical ----------- Because Gatsby had his mind more on his love life than on his finances, he did a very lackadaisical job of managing his money. | lacking purpose or zest; halfhearted; languid 3016 |
| vent ----------- The angry teacher vented his wrath on his class. | express; utter 3017 |
| intrude ----------- She hesitated to intrude on their conversation. | trespass; enter as an uninvited person 3018 |
| reprehensible ----------- Shocked by the viciousness of the bombing, politicians of every party uniformly condemned the terrorists' reprehensible deed. | deserving blame 3019 |
| taciturn ----------- The stereotypical cowboy is a taciturn soul, answering lengthy questions with a Yep or Nope. | habitually silent; talking little 3020 |
| minutiae ----------- She would have liked to ignore the minutiae of daily living. | petty details 3021 |
| mirage ----------- The lost prospector was fooled by a mirage in the desert. | unreal reflection; optical illusion 3022 |
| censor ----------- Soldiers dislike having their mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution. alsoV. | overseer of morals; person who reads to eliminate inappropriate remarks 3023 |
| detergent ----------- Many new detergents have replaced soap. | cleansing agent 3024 |
| check ----------- Thrusting out her arm, Grandma checked Bobby's lunge at his sister. Young man, she said, you'd better check your temper. (secondary meaning) | stop motion; curb or restrain 3025 |
| membrane ----------- Each individual section of an orange is covered with a thin, transparent membrane. membranous,ADJ. | thin soft sheet of animal or vegetable tissue 3026 |
| introspective ----------- Though young Francis of Assisi led a wild and worldly life, even then he had introspective moments during which he examined his soul. introvert N. one who is introspective; inclined to think more about oneself. In his poetry, | looking within oneself 3027 |
| latent ----------- Polaroid pictures are popular at parties, because you can see the latent photographic image gradually appear before your eyes. | potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden 3028 |
| industrious ----------- Look busy when the boss walks by your desk; it never hurts to appear industrious. industry, N. | diligent; hard-working 3029 |
| condemn ----------- In My Cousin Vinnie | censure; sentence; force or limit to a particular state 3030 |
| caricature ----------- The caricatures he drew always emphasized a personal weakness of the people he burlesqued. alsoV. | distortion; burlesque 3031 |
| pseudonym ----------- Samuel Clemens' pseudonym was Mark Twain. | pen name 3032 |
| Cleft ----------- Trying for a fresh handhold, the mountainclimber grasped the edge of a cleft in the sheer rockface. alsoADJ. | split 3033 |
| abet ----------- She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned. | aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage 3034 |
| conformity ----------- In conformity with our rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization. | harmony; agreement 3035 |
| momentum ----------- The car lost momentum as it tried to ascend the steep hill. | quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus 3036 |
| dissertation ----------- In order to earn a graduate degree from many of our universities, a candidate is frequently required to prepare a dissertation on some scholarly subject. | formal essay 3037 |
| sheathe ----------- As soon as he recognized the approaching men, he sheathed his dagger and hailed them as friends. | place into a case 3038 |
| libretto ----------- The composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its libretto. | text of an opera 3039 |
| rudimentary ----------- Although my grandmother's English vocabulary was limited to a few rudimentary phrases, she always could make herself understood. | not developed; elementary; crude 3040 |
| ingenuous ----------- The woodsman had not realized how ingenuous Little Red Riding Hood was until he heard that she had gone off for a walk in the woods with the Big Bad Wolf. | naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated 3041 |
| emulate ----------- In a brief essay, describe a person you admire, someone whose virtues you would like to emulate. | imitate; rival 3042 |
| vogue ----------- Jeans became the vogue on many college campuses. | popular fashion 3043 |
| copious ----------- She had copious reasons for rejecting the proposal. | plentiful 3044 |
| parable ----------- Let us apply to our own conduct the lesson that this parable teaches. | short, simple story teaching a moral 3045 |
| catechism ----------- He taught by engaging his pupils in a catechism until they gave him the correct answer. | book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answer 3046 |
| retort ----------- Even when it was advisable for her to keep her mouth shut, she was always ready with a quick retort. alsoV. | quick sharp reply 3047 |
| conciliatory ----------- She was still angry despite his conciliatory words. conciliate, V | reconciling; soothing 3048 |
| beatific ----------- The beatific smile on the child's face made us very happy. | giving bliss; blissful 3049 |
| waive ----------- I will waive my rights in this matter in order to expedite our reaching a proper decision. | give up temporarily; yield 3050 |
| abominable ----------- Mary liked John until she learned he was dating Susan; then she called him an abominable young man, with abominable taste in women. | detestable; extremely unpleasant; very bad 3051 |
| eddy ----------- The water in the tide pool was still, except for an occasional eddy. | swirling current of water, air, etc 3052 |
| anesthetic ----------- His monotonous voice acted like an anesthetic; his audience was soon asleep. anesthesia, N. | substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness 3053 |
| recurrent ----------- Richard's recurrent asthma attacks disturbed us and we consulted a physician. | occurring again and again 3054 |
| compact ----------- The signers of the Mayflower Compact were establishing a form of government. | agreement; contract 3055 |
| ratify ----------- Party leaders doubted that they had enough votes in both houses of Congress to ratify the constitutional amendment. | approve formally; confirm; verify 3056 |
| vantage ----------- They fired upon the enemy from behind trees, walls and any other point of vantage they could find. | position giving an advantage 3057 |
| objective ----------- Even though he was her son, she tried to be objective about his behavior. | not influenced by emotions; fair 3058 |
| palette ----------- At the present time, art supply stores are selling a paper palette that may be discarded after use. | board on which painter mixes pigments 3059 |
| wallow ----------- The hippopotamus loves to wallow in the mud. | roll in; indulge in; become helpless 3060 |
| grotesque ----------- On Halloween people enjoy wearing grotesque costumes. | fantastic; comically hideous 3061 |
| dispatch ----------- Young Napoleon defeated the enemy with all possible dispatch; he then sent a dispatch to headquarters informing his commander of the great victory. alsoV. | speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed 3062 |
| lull ----------- The mother's gentle song lulled the child to sleep. Malcolm tried to come up with a plausible story to lull his mother's suspicions, but she didn't believe a word he said. | soothe; cause one to relax one's guard; subside 3063 |
| wrench ----------- She wrenched free of her attacker and landed a powerful kick to his kneecap. | pull; strain; twist 3064 |
| ruddy ----------- Santa Claus's ruddy cheeks nicely complement Rudolph the Reindeer's bright red nose. | reddish; healthy-looking 3065 |
| propound ----------- In your discussion, you have propounded several questions; let us consider each one separately. | put forth for analysis 3066 |
| exhort ----------- The evangelist exhorted all the sinners in his audience to reform. exhortation, N. | urge 3067 |
| minuscule ----------- Why should I involve myself with a project with so minuscule a chance for success? | extremely small 3068 |
| medley ----------- To avoid boring dancers by playing any one tune for too long, bands may combine three or four tunes into a medley. | mixture 3069 |
| dispassionate ----------- Known in the company for his cool judgment, Bill could impartially examine the causes of a problem, giving a dispassionate analysis of what had gone wrong, and go on to suggest how to correct the mess. | calm; impartial 3070 |
| doldrums ----------- Once the excitement of meeting her deadline was over, she found herself in the doldrums. | blues; listlessness; slack period 3071 |
| acetic ----------- The salad had an exceedingly acetic flavor. | vinegary 3072 |
| pigment ----------- Van Gogh mixed various pigments with linseed oil to create his paints. | coloring matter 3073 |
| exculpate ----------- He was exculpated of the crime when the real criminal confessed. | clear from blame 3074 |
| transitory ----------- Fame is transitory: today's rising star is all too soon tomorrow's washed-up has-been. transitoriness, N. | impermanent; fleeting 3075 |
| assay ----------- When they assayed the ore, they found that they had discovered a very rich vein. also N. | analyze; evaluate 3076 |
| covenant ----------- We must comply with the terms of the covenant. | agreement 3077 |
| truism ----------- Many a truism is summed up in a proverb; for example, Marry in haste, repent at leisure. | self-evident truth 3078 |
| construe ----------- If I construe your remarks correctly, you disagree with the theory already advanced. | explain; interpret 3079 |
| resigned ----------- Resigned to his downtrodden existence, Bob Cratchit was too meek to protest Scrooge's bullying. resignation, N. | accepting one's fate; unresisting; patiently submissive 3080 |
| obscure ----------- At times he seemed purposely to obscure his meaning, preferring mystery to clarity. | darken; make unclear 3081 |
| protract ----------- Seeking to delay the union members' vote, the management team tried to protract the negotiations endlessly. | prolong 3082 |
| hedonist ----------- A thoroughgoing hedonist, he considered only his own pleasure and ignored any claims others had on his money or time. | one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life 3083 |
| malodorous ----------- The compost heap was most malodorous in summer. | foul-smelling 3084 |
| intimacy ----------- In a moment of rare intimacy, the mayor allowed the reporters a glimpse of his personal feelings about his family. intimate,ADJ. | closeness, often affectionate; privacy; familiarity 3085 |
| projectile ----------- Man has always hurled projectiles at his enemy whether in the form of stones or of highly explosive shells. | missile 3086 |
| dissemble ----------- Even though John tried to dissemble his motive for taking modern dance, we all knew he was there not to dance but to meet girls. | disguise; pretend 3087 |
| gibe ----------- As you gibe at their superstitious beliefs, do you realize that you, too, are guilty of similarly foolish thoughts? | mock 3088 |
| sage ----------- Hearing tales of a mysterious Master of All Knowledge who lived in the hills of Tibet, Sandy was possessed with a burning desire to consult the legendary sage. alsoADJ. | person celebrated for wisdom 3089 |
| autonomous ----------- Although the University of California at Berkeley is just one part of the state university system, in many ways Cal Berkeley is autonomous, for it runs several programs that are not subject to outside control. autonomy, N. | self-governing 3090 |
| exhilarating ----------- Though some of the hikers found tramping through the snow tiring, Jeffrey found the walk on the cold, crisp day exhilarating. | invigorating and refreshing; cheering 3091 |
| petrify ----------- His sudden and unexpected appearance seemed to petrify her. | turn to stone 3092 |
| *anomaly ----------- A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly. | irregularity 3093 |
| replete ----------- The movie star's memoir was replete with juicy details about the love life of half of Hollywood. | filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied 3094 |
| encipher ----------- One of Bond's first lessons was how to encipher the messages he sent to Miss Moneypenny so that none of his other lady friends could decipher them. | encode; convert a message into code 3095 |
| trite ----------- The trite and predictable situations in many television programs turn off many viewers, who, in turn, turn off their sets. | hackneyed; commonplace 3096 |
| doff ----------- A gentleman used to doff his hat to a lady. | take off 3097 |
| knoll ----------- Robert Louis Stevenson's grave is on a knoll in Samoa; to reach the grave site, you must climb uphill and walk a short distance along a marked path. | little round hill 3098 |
| snicker ----------- The boy could not suppress a snicker when the teacher sat on the tack. alsoV. | half-stifled laugh 3099 |
| morose ----------- Forced to take early retirement, Bill acted morose for months; then, all of a sudden, he shook off his sullen mood and was his usual cheerful self. | ill-humored; sullen; melancholy 3100 |
| euphoria ----------- Delighted with her SAT scores, sure that the university would accept her, Allison was filled with euphoria. euphoric,ADJ. | feeling of great happiness and well-being (sometimes exaggerated) 3101 |
| inundate ----------- This semester I am inundated with work: You should see the piles of paperwork flooding my desk. Until the great dam was built, the waters of the Nile used to inundate the river valley like clockwork every year. | overwhelm; flood; submerge 3102 |
| cohesion ----------- A firm believer in the maxim Divide and conquer, the evil emperor, by means of lies and trickery, sought to disrupt the cohesion of the federation of free nations. | tendency to keep together 3103 |
| reparable ----------- Fortunately, the damages we suffered in the accident were reparable and our car looks brand new. | capable of being repaired 3104 |
| spasmodic ----------- The spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers. | fitful; periodic 3105 |
| prowess ----------- Performing triple axels and double lutzes at the age of six, the young figure skater was world famous for her prowess on the ice. | extraordinary ability; military bravery 3106 |
| horticultural ----------- When he bought his house, he began to look for flowers and decorative shrubs, and began to read books dealing with horticultural matters. | pertaining to cultivation of gardens 3107 |
| chasten ----------- Whom God loves, God chastens. | discipline; punish in order to correct 3108 |
| dwarf ----------- The giant redwoods and high cliffs dwarfed the elegant Ahwahnee Hotel, making it appear a modest lodge rather than an imposing hostelry. | cause to seem small 3109 |
| mottled ----------- When old Falstaff blushed, his face was mottled with embarrassment, all pink and purple and red. | blotched in coloring; spotted 3110 |
| peremptory ----------- From Jack's peremptory knock on the door, Jill could tell he would not give up until she let him in. | demanding and leaving no choice 3111 |
| commandeer ----------- The policeman commandeered the first car that approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearest hospital. | to draft for military purposes; to take for public use 3112 |
| anomalous ----------- He was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures which he despised. | abnormal; irregular 3113 |
| table ----------- Because we seem unable to agree on this issue at the moment, let us table the motion for now and come back to it at a later date. | set aside a resolution or proposal for future consideration 3114 |
| abolish ----------- The president of the college refused to abolish the physical education requirement. abolition, N. | cancel; put an end to 3115 |
| formidable ----------- We must not treat the battle lightly for we are facing a formidable foe. | menacing; threatening 3116 |
| delude ----------- His mistress may have deluded herself into believing that he would leave his wife and marry her. | deceive 3117 |
| belated ----------- He apologized for his belated note of condolence to the widow of his friend and explained that he had just learned of her husband's untimely death. | delayed 3118 |
| subservient ----------- He was proud and dignified; he refused to be subservient to anyone. | behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious 3119 |
| orthodox ----------- Faced with a problem, he preferred to take an orthodox approach rather than shock anyone. orthodoxy, N. | traditional; conservative in belief 3120 |
| stilted ----------- His stilted rhetoric did not impress the college audience; they were immune to bombastic utterances. | bombastic; inflated 3121 |
| partition ----------- Before their second daughter was born, Jason and Lizzie decided each child needed a room of her own, and so they partitioned a large bedroom into two small but separate rooms. also N. | divide into parts 3122 |
| drone ----------- On a gorgeous day, who wants to be stuck in a classroom listening to the teacher drone ? | talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee 3123 |
| esoteric ----------- The New Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and events: the implication is, if you are in the in-crowd, you'll get the reference; if you come from Cleveland, you w | hard to understand; known only to the chosen few 3124 |
| frolicsome ----------- The frolicsome puppy tried to lick the face of its master. | prankish; gay 3125 |
| amiable ----------- In Little Women, Beth is the amiable daughter whose loving disposition endears her to all who know her. | agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly 3126 |
| pillage ----------- The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it in ruins. | plunder 3127 |
| oligarchy ----------- One small clique ran the student council: what had been intended as a democratic governing body had turned into an oligarchy. | government by a privileged few 3128 |
| apogee ----------- When the moon in its orbit is farthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee. | highest point 3129 |
| ludicrous ----------- Let us be serious; this is not a ludicrous issue. | laughable; trifling 3130 |
| elucidate ----------- He was called upon to elucidate the disputed points in his article. | explain; enlighten 3131 |
| nondescript ----------- The private detective was a short, nondescript fellow with no outstanding features, the sort of person one would never notice in a crowd. | undistinctive; ordinary 3132 |
| treatise ----------- He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan playwrights for his graduate degree. | article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly 3133 |
| couple ----------- The Flying Karamazovs couple expert juggling and amateur joking in their nightclub act. | join; unite 3134 |
| negate ----------- A sudden surge of adrenalin can negate the effects of fatigue: there's nothing like a good shock to wake you up. | cancel out; nullify; deny 3135 |
| turbulence ----------- Warned of approaching turbulence in the atmosphere, the pilot told the passengers to fasten their seat belts. | state of violent agitation 3136 |
| masochist ----------- The masochist begs, Hit me. The sadist smiles and says, I won't. | person who enjoys his own pain 3137 |
| serenity ----------- The sound of air raid sirens pierced the serenity of the quiet village of Pearl Harbor. serpentine ADJ. winding; twisting. The car swerved at every curve in the serpentine road. | calmness; placidity 3138 |
| retribution ----------- The evangelist maintained that an angry deity would exact retribution from the sinners. | vengeance; compensation; punishment for offenses 3139 |
| hermetic ----------- After you sterilize the bandages, place them in a container and seal it with a hermetic seal to protect them from contamination by airborne bacteria. | sealed by fusion so as to be airtight 3140 |
| welter ----------- The existing welter of overlapping federal and state programs cries out for immediate reform. | turmoil; bewildering jumble 3141 |
| redress ----------- Do you mean to tell me that I can get no redress for my injuries? also v. | remedy; compensation 3142 |
| aggressor ----------- Before you punish both boys for fighting, see whether you can determine which one was the aggressor. | attacker 3143 |
| gavel ----------- Sold! cried the auctioneer, banging her gavel on the table to indicate she'd accepted the final bid. | hammerlike tool; mallet 3144 |
| multifarious ----------- A career woman and mother, she was constantly busy with the multifarious activities of her daily life. | varied; greatly diversified 3145 |
| impunity ----------- A 98pound weakling can't attack a beachfront bully with impunity. the poor, puny guy is sure to get mashed. | freedom from punishment or harm 3146 |
| mural ----------- The walls of the Chicano Community Center are covered with murals painted in the style of Diego Rivera, the great Mexican artist. | wall painting 3147 |
| repugnant ----------- She found the snake repugnant and looked on it with loathing and fear. | loathsome; hateful 3148 |
| convoluted ----------- The new tax regulations are so convoluted that even accountants have trouble following their twists and turns. | coiled around; involved; intricate 3149 |
| brusque ----------- Was Bruce too brusque when he brushed off Bob's request with a curt Not now!? | blunt; abrupt 3150 |
| betoken ----------- The well-equipped docks, tall piles of cargo containers, and numerous vessels being loaded all betoken Oakland's importance as a port. | signify; indicate 3151 |
| unfathomable ----------- Unable to get to the bottom of the mystery, Watson declared it was unfathomable. | incomprehensible; impenetrable 3152 |
| stigma ----------- I do not attach any stigma to the fact that you were accused of this crime; the fact that you were acquitted clears you completely. | token of disgrace; brand 3153 |
| ineffectual ----------- Because the candidate failed to get across his message to the public, his campaign was ineffectual. | not effective; weak 3154 |
| renown ----------- For many years an unheralded researcher, Barbara McClintock gained international renown when she won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. renowned,ADJ. | fame 3155 |
| irascible ----------- Miss Minchin's irascible temper intimidated the younger schoolgirls, who feared she'd burst into a rage at any moment. | irritable; easily angered 3156 |
| artisan ----------- A noted artisan, Arturo was known for the fine craftsmanship of his inlaid cabinets. | manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed to artist 3157 |
| fresco ----------- The cathedral is visited by many tourists who wish to admire the frescoes by Giotto. | painting on plaster (usually fresh) 3158 |
| banal ----------- The hack writer's worn-out clich6s made his comic sketch seem banal. He even resorted to the banality of having someone slip on a banana peel! | hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality 3159 |
| arrears ----------- He was in arrears with his payments on the car. | being in debt 3160 |
| frond ----------- After the storm the beach was littered with the fronds of palm trees. | fern leaf; palm or banana leaf 3161 |
| palpitate ----------- As he became excited, his heart began to palpitate more and more erratically. | throb; flutter 3162 |
| conduit ----------- Water was brought to the army in the desert by an improvised conduit from the adjoining mountain. | aqueduct; passageway for fluids 3163 |
| fluctuate ----------- The water pressure in our shower fluctuates wildly; you start rinsing yourself off with a trickle, and, two minutes later, a blast of water nearly knocks you down. | waver; shift 3164 |
| expedite ----------- Because we are on a tight schedule, we hope you will be able to expedite the delivery of our order. The more expeditious your response is, the happier we'll be. | hasten 3165 |
| pandemic ----------- They feared the AIDS epidemic would soon reach pandemic proportions. | widespread; affecting the majority of people 3166 |
| *circumlocution ----------- He was afraid to call a spade a spade and resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct reference to his subject. | indirect or roundabout expression 3167 |
| opus ----------- Although many critics hailed his Fifth Symphony as his major work, he did not regard it as his major opus. | work 3168 |
| truncate ----------- The top of a cone that has been truncated in a plane parallel to its base is a circle. | cut the top off 3169 |
| substantive ----------- Although the delegates were aware of the importance of the problem, they could not agree on the substantive issues. | essential; pertaining to the substance 3170 |
| absolve ----------- The father confessor absolved him of his sins. absolution, N. | pardon (an offense) 3171 |
| consistency ----------- Holmes judged puddings and explanations on their consistency: he liked his puddings wihout lumps and his explanations without improbabilities. | absence of contradicitons; dependability; uniformity; degree of thickness 3172 |
| insurrection ----------- In retrospect, given how badly the British treated the American colonists, the eventual insurrection seems inevitable. | rebellion; uprising 3173 |
| torso ----------- This torso, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is now on exhibition in the museum in Naples. | trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk 3174 |
| *converge ----------- African- American men from all over the United States converged on Washington to take part in the historic Million Men march. | approach; tend to meet; come together 3175 |
| rendition ----------- The audience cheered enthusiastically as she completed her rendition of the aria. | translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc 3176 |
| bolt ----------- Jack was set to bolt out the front door, but Jill bolted the door. Eat your breakfast, she said, don't bolt your food. | dash or dart off; fasten (a door); gobble down 3177 |
| drivel ----------- Why do I have to spend my days listening to such idiotic drivel? Drivel is related to dribble: think of a dribbling, driveling idiot. | nonsense; foolishness 3178 |
| plagiarism ----------- The editor recognized the plagiarism and rebuked the culprit who had presented the manuscript as original. | theft of another's ideas or writings passed off as original 3179 |
| stigmatize ----------- I do not want to stigmatize this young offender for life by sending her to prison. | brand; mark as wicked 3180 |
| tremor ----------- She had a nervous tremor in her right hand. | trembling; slight quiver 3181 |
| pecuniary ----------- Seldom earning enough to cover their expenses, folk dance teachers work because they love dancing, not because they expect any pecuniary reward. | pertaining to money 3182 |
| intelligentsia ----------- She preferred discussions about sports and politics to the literary conversations of the intelligentsia. | the intelligent and educated classes [often used derogatorily] 3183 |
| abase ----------- Defeated, Queen Zenobia was forced to abase herself before the conquering Romans, who made her march in chains before the emperor in the procession celebrating his triumph. abasement, N. | lower; humiliate 3184 |
| sever ----------- The released prisoner wanted to begin a new life and sever all connections with his criminal past. Dr. Guillotin invented a machine that could neatly sever an aristocratic head from its equally aristocratic body. Unfortunately, he could | cut; separate 3185 |
| versatile ----------- She was a versatile athlete, earning varsity letters in basketball, hockey, and track. | having many talents; capable of working in many fields 3186 |
| definitive ----------- Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln may be regarded as the definitive work on the life of the Great Emancipator. | final; complete 3187 |
| inimitable ----------- We admire Auden for his inimitable use of language; he is one of a kind. | matchless; not able to be imitated 3188 |
| daub ----------- From the way he daubed his paint on the canvas, I could tell he knew nothing of oils. also N. | smear (as with paint) 3189 |
| unprecedented ----------- For a first novel, Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind was an unprecedented success. | novel; unparalleled 3190 |
| remunerative ----------- I find my new work so remunerative that I may not return to my previous employment. remuneration, N. | compensating; rewarding 3191 |
| extol ----------- The president extolled the astronauts, calling them the pioneers of the Space Age. | praise; glorify 3192 |
| vociferous ----------- The crowd grew vociferous in its anger and threatened to take the law into its own hands. | clamorous; noisy 3193 |
| scad ----------- Refusing Dave's offer to lend him a shirt, Phil replied, No, thanks, I've got scads of clothes. | a great quantity 3194 |
| unimpeachable ----------- Her conduct in office was unimpeachable and her record is spotless. | blameless and exemplary 3195 |
| wistful ----------- With a last wistful glance at the happy couples dancing in the hall, Sue headed back to her room to study for her exam. | vaguely longing; sadly thoughtful 3196 |
| disputatious ----------- Convinced he knew more than his lawyers, Alan was a disputatious client, ready to argue about the best way to conduct the case. disputant, N. | argumentative; fond of arguing 3197 |
| indicative ----------- A lack of appetite may be indicative of a major mental or physical disorder. | suggestive; implying 3198 |
| beam ----------- V. smile radiantly. If a beam of light falls on you, it illuminates you; if a beam of iron falls on you, it eliminates you. (No one feels like beaming when crushed by an iron beam.) | ray of light; long piece of metal or wood; course of a radio signal 3199 |
| default ----------- When the visiting team failed to show up for the big game, they lost the game by default. When Jack failed to make the payments on his Jaguar, the dealership took back the car because he had defaulted on his debt. | failure to act 3200 |
| transcendent ----------- For the amateur chef, dining at the four-star restaurant was a transcendent experience: the meal surpassed his wildest dreams. | surpassing; exceeding ordinary limits; superior 3201 |
| lap ----------- The kitten neatly lapped up her milk. The waves softly lapped against the pier. | take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently 3202 |
| redundant ----------- The bottle of wine I brought to Bob's was certainly redundant how was I to know Bob owned a winery? In your essay, you repeat several points unnecessarily; try to be less redundant in the future. redundanc | superfluous; repetitious; excessivejy wordy 3203 |
| sinewy ----------- The steak was too sinewy to chew. | tough; strong and firm 3204 |
| imperturbable ----------- In the midst of the battle, the Duke of Wellington remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation despite the hysteria and panic all around him. imperturbability, N. | calm; placid; composed 3205 |
| obese ----------- It is advisable that obese people try to lose weight. | fat 3206 |
| tortuous ----------- Because this road is so tortuous, it is unwise to go faster than twenty miles an hour on it. | winding; full of curves 3207 |
| simulate ----------- He simulated insanity in order to avoid punishment for his crime. | feign 3208 |
| articulate ----------- Her articulate presentation of the advertising campaign impressed her employers. alsoV. | effective; distinct 3209 |
| rider ----------- Senator Foghorn said he would support Senator Filibuster's tax reform bill only if Filibuster agreed to add an antipollution riderto the bill. | amendment or clause added to a legislative bill 3210 |
| obfuscate ----------- Was the president's spokesman trying to clarify the Whitewater mystery, or was he trying to obfuscate the issue so the voters would never figure out what went on? | confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex 3211 |
| bode ----------- The gloomy skies and the sulphurous odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil to those who settled in the area. | foreshadow; portend 3212 |
| rationalize ----------- When David told gabby Gabrielle he couldn't give her a ride to the dance because he had no room in the car, he was rationalizing; actually, he couldn't stan | give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable one; offer an excuse 3213 |
| unintimidating ----------- Though Phil had expected to feel overawed when he met Steve Young, he found the famous quarterback friendly and unintimidating. | unfrightening 3214 |
| confluence ----------- They built the city at the confluence of two rivers. | flowing together; crowd 3215 |
| static ----------- Why watch chess on TV? I like watching a game with action, not something static where nothing seems to be going on. | unchanging; lacking development 3216 |
| harangue ----------- In her lengthy harangue, the principal berated the offenders. alsoV. | noisy speech 3217 |
| trivial ----------- Too many magazines ignore newsworthy subjects and feature trivial affairs. trivia, N. | unimportant; trifling 3218 |
| derivative ----------- Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature,the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice. | unoriginal; derived from another source 3219 |
| imbibe ----------- The dry soil imbibed the rain quickly. | drink in 3220 |
| apologist ----------- Rather than act as an apologist for the current regime in Beijing and defend its brutal actions, the young diplomat decided to defect to the West. | one who writes in defense of a cause or institution 3221 |
| askance ----------- Looking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn. | with a sideways or indirect look 3222 |
| intangible ----------- Though the financial benefits of his Oxford post were meager, Lewis was drawn to it by its intangible rewards: prestige, intellectual freedom, the fellowship of his peers. | not able to be perceived by touch; vague 3223 |
| benevolent ----------- Mr. Fezziwig was a benevolent employer, who wished to make Christmas merrier for young Scrooge and his other employees. | generous; charitable 3224 |
| elixir ----------- The news of her chance to go abroad acted on her like an elixir. | cure-all; something invigorating 3225 |
| accessible ----------- We asked our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot. | easy to approach; obtainable 3226 |
| perimeter ----------- To find the perimeter of any quadrilateral, we add the lengths of the four sides. | outer boundary 3227 |
| portent ----------- He regarded the black cloud as a portent of evil. | sign; omen; forewarning 3228 |
| obscure ----------- Even after I read the poem a fourth time, its meaning was still obscure. obscurity, N. | dark; vague; unclear 3229 |
| apostate ----------- Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate. apostasy, N. | one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs 3230 |
| fluency ----------- He spoke French with fluency and ease. | smoothness of speech 3231 |
| detached ----------- A psychoanalyst must maintain a detached point of view and stay uninvolved with his or her patients' personal lives. To a child growing up in an apartment or a row house, to live in a | emotionally removed; calm and objective; physically unconnected 3232 |
| equanimity ----------- Even the inevitable strains of caring for an ailing mother did not disturb Bea's equanimity. | calmness of temperament; composure 3233 |
| officious ----------- Judy wanted to look over the new computer models on her own, but the officious salesman kept on butting in with helpful advice until she was ready to walk out of the store. | meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services 3234 |
| Stoic ----------- I wasn't particularly stoic when I had my flu shot; I squealed like a stuck pig. also N. | impassive; unmoved by joy or grief 3235 |
| rummage ----------- When we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days. also N. | ransack; thoroughly search 3236 |
| Chivalrous ----------- Chivalrous behavior involves noble words and good deeds. | courteous; faithful; brave 3237 |
| flora ----------- Because she was a botanist, she spent most of her time studying the flora of the desert. | plants of a region or era 3238 |
| malaise ----------- Feeling slightly queasy before going onstage, Carol realized that this touch of malaise was merely stage fright. | uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health 3239 |
| virus ----------- The doctors are looking for a specific medicine to control this virus. | disease communicator 3240 |
| rigid ----------- By living with a man to whom she was not married, George Eliot broke Victorian society's most rigid rule of respectable behavior. | stiff and unyielding; strict; hard and unbending 3241 |
| livid ----------- His face was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might have an attack of apoplexy. | lead-colored; black and blue; enraged 3242 |
| casualty ----------- The number of automotive casualties on this holiday weekend was high. | serious or fatal accident 3243 |
| barrage ----------- The company was forced to retreat through the barrage of heavy cannons. | barrier laid down by artillery fire 3244 |
| glimmer ----------- In the darkness of the cavern, the glowworms hanging from the cavern roof glimmered like distant stars, | shine erratically; twinkle 3245 |
| impending ----------- The entire country was saddened by the news of his impending death. | nearing; approaching 3246 |
| abdicate ----------- When Edward VIII abdicated the British throne to marry the woman he loved, he surprised the entire world. | renounce; give up 3247 |
| *contract ----------- Warm metal expands; cold metal contracts. | compress or shrink; make a pledge; catch a disease 3248 |
| sacrilegious ----------- His stealing of the altar cloth was a very sacrilegious act. | desecrating; profane 3249 |
| colander ----------- Before serving the spaghetti, place it in a colander to drain it. | utensil with perforated bottom used for straining 3250 |
| asylum ----------- The refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new land. | place of refuge or shelter; protection 3251 |
| efficacy ----------- The efficacy of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage. efficacious,ADJ. | power to produce desired effect 3252 |
| abduction ----------- The movie Ransom describes the attempts to rescue a multimillionaire's son after the child's abduction by kidnappers. abduct,V. | kidnapping 3253 |
| address ----------- Due to address the convention in July, Brown planned to address the issue of low-income housing in his speech. | direct a speech to; deal with or discuss 3254 |
| cherubic ----------- With her cheerful smile and rosy cheeks, she was a particularly cherubic child. | angelic; innocent-looking 3255 |
| chimerical ----------- As everyone expected, Ted's chimerical scheme to make a fortune by raising ermines in his back yard proved a dismal failure. | fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; imaginative 3256 |
| billowing ----------- Standing over the air vent, Marilyn Monroe tried vainly to control her billowing skirts. | swelling out in waves; surging 3257 |
| abscond ----------- The teller who absconded with the bonds went uncaptured until someone recognized him from his photograph on America's Most Wanted. | depart secretly and hide 3258 |
| novice ----------- Even a novice at working with computers can install Barron's Computer Study Program for the SAT by following the easy steps outlined in the user's manual. | beginner 3259 |
| stalwart ----------- His consistent support of the party has proved that he is a stalwart and loyal member. also N. | strong, brawny; steadfast 3260 |
| stratagem ----------- We saw through his clever stratagem. | deceptive scheme 3261 |
| transcribe ----------- When you transcribe your notes, please send a copy to Mr. Smith and keep the original for our files. transcription, N. | copy 3262 |
| erroneous ----------- I thought my answer was correct, but it was erroneous. | mistaken; wrong 3263 |
| jubilation ----------- There was great jubilation when the armistice was announced. jubilant,ADJ. | rejoicing 3264 |
| molecule ----------- In chemistry, we study how atoms and molecules react to form new substances. | the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance, having all the properties of that substance 3265 |
| seclusion ----------- One moment she loved crowds; the next, she sought seclusion. seclude,V. | isolation; solitude 3266 |
| regale ----------- John regaled us with tales of his adventures in Africa. | entertain 3267 |
| ordination ----------- At the young priest's ordination, the members of the congregation presented him with a set of vestments. ordain,V. | ceremony making someone a minister 3268 |
| susceptible ----------- Said the patent medicine man to his very susceptible customer: Buy this new miracle drug, and you will no longer be susceptible to the common cold. | impressionable; easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a disease; receptive to 3269 |
| empirical ----------- He distrusted hunches and intuitive flashes; he placed his reliance entirely on empirical data. | based on experience 3270 |
| dehydrate ----------- Running under a hot sun quickly dehydrates the body; joggers soon learn to carry water bottles and to drink from them frequently. | remove water from; dry out 3271 |
| sensual ----------- I cannot understand what caused him to abandon his sensual way of life and become so ascetic. | devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptuous 3272 |
| stem ----------- The paramedic used a tourniquet to stem the bleeding from the slashed artery. | check the flow 3273 |
| pantomime ----------- Because he worked in pantomime, the clown could be understood wherever he appeared. alsoV. | acting without dialogue 3274 |
| balmy ----------- A balmy breeze refreshed us after the sultry blast. | mild; fragrant 3275 |
| seemly ----------- Lady Bracknell did not think it was seemly for Ernest to lack a proper family: no baby abandoned on a doorstep could grow up to be a fit match for her daughter. | proper; appropriate 3276 |
| scaffold ----------- Before painting the house, the workers put up a scaffold to allow them to work on the second story. | temporary platform for workers; bracing framework; platform for execution 3277 |
| jaunty ----------- In An American in Paris, Gene Kelly sang and danced his way through Singing in the Rain in a properly jaunty style. | lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree 3278 |
| apathy ----------- A firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote. apathetic,ADJ. | lack of caring; indifference 3279 |
| agnostic ----------- Agnostics say we can neither prove nor disprove the existence of god; we simply just can't know. alsoADJ. | one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality 3280 |
| bizarre ----------- The plot of the novel was too bizarre to be believed. | fantastic; violently contrasting 3281 |
| malicious ----------- Jealous of Cinderella's beauty, her malicious stepsisters expressed their spite by forcing her to do menial tasks. malice, N. | hateful; spiteful 3282 |
| refractory ----------- The refractory horse was eliminated from the race when he refused to obey the jockey. | stubborn; unmanageable 3283 |
| lucid ----------- Ellen makes an excellent teacher: her explanations of technical points are lucid enough for a child to grasp. | easily understood; clear; intelligible 3284 |
| squabble ----------- Children invariably get involved in petty squabbles; wise parents know when to interfere and when to let the children work things out on their own. | minor quarrel; bickering 3285 |
| sublime ----------- Lucy was in awe of Desi's sublime musicianship, while he was in awe of her sublime naiveté. | exalted or noble and uplifting; utter 3286 |
| generate ----------- In his first days in office, President Clinton managed to generate a new mood of optimism; we just hoped he could generate some new jobs. | cause; produce; create 3287 |
| oracular ----------- Like many others who sought divine guidance from the oracle at Delphi, Oedipus could not understand the enigmatic oracularwarning he received. | prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous 3288 |
| confrontation ----------- Morris hoped to avoid any confrontations with his ex-wife, but he kept on running into her at the health club. How would you like to confront someone who can bench press 200 pounds? confront, | act of facing someone or something;encounter, often hostile 3289 |
| neologism ----------- As we invent new techniques and professions, we must also Invent neologisms such as microcomputer and astronaut to describe them. | new or newly coined word or phrase 3290 |
| armada ----------- Queen Elizabeth's navy defeated the mighty armada that threatened the English coast. | fleet of warships 3291 |
| mode ----------- The rock star had to have her hair done in the latest mode: frizzed, with occasional moussed spikes for variety. Henry plans to adopt a simpler mode of life: he is going to become a mushroom hunter and | prevailing style; manner; way of doing something 3292 |
| penury ----------- When his pension fund failed, George feared he would end his days in penury. He became such a penny pincher that he turned into a closefisted, penurious miser. | severe poverty; stinginess 3293 |
| discretion ----------- Use your discretion in this matter and do not discuss it with anyone. discreet,ADJ. | prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances 3294 |
| wrath ----------- She turned to him, full of wrath, and said, What makes you think I'll accept lower pay for this job than you get? | anger; fury 3295 |
| pusillanimous ----------- You should be ashamed of your pusillanimous conduct during this dispute. | cowardly; fainthearted 3296 |
| garish ----------- She wore a gaudy rhinestone necklace with an excessively garish gold lame dress. | over-bright in color; gaudy 3297 |
| voluminous ----------- A caftan is a voluminous garment; most people wearing one look as if they're draped in a small tent. | bulky; large 3298 |
| trinket ----------- Whenever she traveled abroad, Ethel would pick up costume jewelry and other trinkets as souvenirs. | knickknack; bauble 3299 |
| guise ----------- In the guise of a plumber, the detective investigated the murder case. | appearance; costume 3300 |
| mishap ----------- With a little care you could have avoided this mishap. | accident 3301 |
| progeny ----------- He was proud of his progeny in general, but regarded George as the most promising of all his children. | children; offspring 3302 |
| cavil ----------- It's fine when you make sensible criticisms, but it really bugs me when you cavil about unimportant details. also N. | make frivolous objections 3303 |
| disparity ----------- Their disparity in rank made no difference at all to the prince and Cinderella. | difference; condition of inequality 3304 |
| sluggard ----------- You are a sluggard, a drone, a parasite, the angry father shouted at his lazy son. | lazy person 3305 |
| misconstrue ----------- She took the passage seriously rather than humorously because she misconstrued the author's ironic tone. | interpret incorrectly; misjudge 3306 |
| glacial ----------- Never a warm person, when offended John could seem positively glacial. | like a glacier; extremely cold 3307 |
| conjure ----------- Sorcerers conjure devils to appear. Magicians conjure white rabbits out of hats. Political candidates conjure up images of reformed cities and a world at peace. | summon a devil; practice magic; imagine or invent 3308 |
| interrogate ----------- Knowing that the Nazis would interrogate him about his background, the secret agent invented a cover story that would help him meet their questions. | question closely; cross-examine 3309 |
| rarefied ----------- The mountain climbers had difficulty breathing in the rarefied atmosphere. rarefy,V. | made less dense (of a gas] 3310 |
| unseemly ----------- When he put whoopie cushions on all the seats in the funeral parlor, his conduct was most unseemly. | unbecoming; indecent; in poor taste 3311 |
| methodical ----------- An accountant must be methodical and maintain order among his financial records. | systematic 3312 |
| fabricate ----------- If we fabricate the buildings in this project out of standardized sections, we can reduce construction costs considerably. Because of Jack's tendency to fabricate, Jill had trouble believing a word he said. | build; lie 3313 |
| salvo ----------- The boom of the enemy's opening salvo made the petrified private jump. | discharge of firearms; military salute 3314 |
| fauna ----------- The scientist could visualize the fauna of the period by examining the skeletal remains and the fossils. | animals of a period or region 3315 |
| discount ----------- Be prepared to discount what he has to say about his ex-wife. | disregard; dismiss 3316 |
| bumptious ----------- His classmates called him a show-off because of his bumptious airs. | self-assertive 3317 |
| assessment ----------- Your SAT I score plays a part in the admission committee's assessment of you as an applicant. | evaluation; judgment 3318 |
| purchase ----------- The mountaineer struggled to get a proper purchase on the slippery rock. (secondary meaning) | firm grasp or footing 3319 |
| espouse ----------- She was always ready to espouse a worthy cause. | adopt; support 3320 |
| paradigm ----------- Pavlov's experiment in which he trains a dog to salivate on hearing a bell is a paradigm of the conditioned-response experiment in behavioral psychology. Barron's How to Prepare for College Entrance Examinations was a paradigm | model; example; pattern 3321 |
| stellar ----------- He was the stellar attraction of the entire performance. | pertaining to the stars 3322 |
| sordid ----------- The social worker was angered by the sordid housing provided for the homeless. | filthy; base; vile 3323 |
| commemorate ----------- The statue of the Minute Man commemorates the valiant soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. | honor the memory of 3324 |
| revelry ----------- New Year's Eve is a night of revelry | boisterous merrymaking 3325 |
| kaleidoscope -----------, produce interesting symmetrical effects. People found a new source of entertainment while peering through the kaleidoscope; they found the ever-changing patter | tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc 3326 |
| spate ----------- After the spate of angry words that came pouring out of him, Mary was sure they would never be reconciled. | sudden flood or strong outburst; a large number or amount 3327 |
| bemoan ----------- The widow bemoaned the death of her beloved husband. Although critics bemoaned the serious flaws in the author's novels, each year his latest book topped the best-seller list. | lament; express disapproval of 3328 |
| sustenance ----------- In the tropics, the natives find sustenance easy to obtain, due to all the fruit trees. | means of support, food, nourishment 3329 |
| legacy ----------- Part of my legacy from my parents is an album of family photographs. | a gift made by a will 3330 |
| vilify ----------- Waging a highly negative campaign, the candidate attempted to vilify his opponent's reputation. vilification, N. | slander 3331 |
| ingenue ----------- Although she was forty, she still insisted that she be cast as an ingenue and refused to play more mature roles. | an artless girl; an actress who plays such parts 3332 |
| entrepreneur ----------- Opponents of our present tax program argue that it discourages entrepreneurs from trying new fields of business activity. | businessman; contractor 3333 |
| whittle ----------- As a present for Aunt Polly, Tom whittled some clothespins out of a chunk of wood. | pare; cut off bits 3334 |
| succumb ----------- I succumb to temptation whenever I see chocolate. | yield; give in; die 3335 |
| quintessence ----------- Noel Coward displayed the quintessence of wit. | purest and highest embodiment 3336 |
| unpalatable ----------- I refuse to swallow your conclusion, said she, finding his logic unpalatable. | distasteful; disagreeable 3337 |
| irreproachable ----------- Homer's conduct at the office party was irreproachable; even Marge didn't have anything bad to say about how he behaved. | blameless; impeccable 3338 |
| suffragist ----------- In recognition of her efforts to win the vote for women, Congress authorized coining a silver dollar honoring the suffragistSusan B. Anthony | advocate of voting rights (for women) 3339 |
| voracious ----------- The wolf is a voracious animal, its hunger never satisfied. | ravenous 3340 |
| itinerary ----------- Disliking sudden changes in plans when she traveled abroad, Ethel refused to make any alterations in her itinerary. | plan of a trip 3341 |
| expunge ----------- If you behave, I will expunge this notation from your record. | cancel; remove 3342 |
| cantata ----------- The choral society sang the new cantata composed by its leader. | story set to music, to be sung by a chorus 3343 |
| infirmity ----------- Her greatest infirmity was lack of willpower. | weakness 3344 |
| skimp ----------- They were forced to skimp on necessities in order to make their limited supplies last the winter. | provide scantily; live very economically 3345 |
| nuptial ----------- Reluctant to be married in a traditional setting, they decided to hold their nuptial ceremony at the carousel in Golden Gate Park. | related to marriage 3346 |
| analogy ----------- A well-known analogy compares the body's immune system with an army whose defending troops are the lymphocytes or white blood cells. | similarity; parallelism 3347 |
| virulent ----------- Laid up with a virulent case of measles, Vera blamed her doctors because her recovery took so long. In fact, she became quite virulent on the subject of the quality of modern medical care. | extremely poisonous; hostile; bitter 3348 |
| flair ----------- She has an uncanny flair for discovering new artists before the public has become aware of their existence. | talent 3349 |
| browse ----------- How now, brown cow, browsing in the green, green grass. I remember lines of verse that I came across while browsing through the poetry section of the local bookstore. | graze; skim or glance at casually 3350 |
| champion ----------- Martin Luther King, Jr., won the Nobel Peace Prize because he championed the oppressed in their struggle for equality. | support militantly 3351 |
| equestrian ----------- These paths in the park are reserved for equestrians and their steeds. alsoADJ. | rider on horseback 3352 |
| taut ----------- The captain maintained that he ran a taut ship. | tight; ready 3353 |
| mock ----------- It is unkind to mock anyone; it is stupid to mock anyone significantly bigger than you. mockery, N. | ridicule; imitate, often in derision 3354 |
| gamut ----------- In this performance, the leading lady was able to demonstrate the complete gamut of her acting ability. | entire range 3355 |
| scourge ----------- They feared the plague and regarded it as a deadly scourge. alsoV. | lash; whip; severe punishment 3356 |
| mortify ----------- She was so mortified by her blunder that she ran to her room in tears. | humiliate; punish the flesh 3357 |
| canto ----------- Dante's poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy is divided into cantos. | division of a long poem 3358 |
| amorphous ----------- As soon as we have decided on our itinerary, we shall send you a copy; right now, our plans are still amorphous. | formless; lacking shape or definition 3359 |
| abysmal ----------- His arrogance is exceeded only by his abysmal ignorance. | bottomless 3360 |
| implement ----------- The mayor was unwilling to implement the plan until she was sure it had the governor's backing. also N. | put into effect; supply with tools 3361 |
| sinuous ----------- The snake moved in a sinuous manner. | winding; bending in and out; not morally honest 3362 |
| kleptomaniac ----------- They discovered that the wealthy customer was a kleptomaniac when they caught her stealing some cheap trinkets. | person who has a compulsive desire to steal 3363 |
| eloquence ----------- The crowds were stirred by Martin Luther King's eloquence. eloquent,ADJ. | expressiveness; persuasive speech 3364 |
| pitfall ----------- Her parents warned young Sophie against the many pitfalls that lay in wait for her in the dangerous big city. | hidden danger; concealed trap 3365 |
| bivouac ----------- While in bivouac, we spent the night in our sleeping bags under the stars. alsoV. | temporary encampment 3366 |
| amnesia ----------- Because she was suffering from amnesia, the police could not get the young girl to identify herself. | loss of memory 3367 |
| ruffian ----------- The ruffians threw stones at the police. | bully; scoundrel 3368 |
| chaff ----------- When you separate the wheat from the chaff, be sure you throw out the chaff. | worthless products of an endeavor 3369 |
| slapdash ----------- From the number of typos and misspellings I've found in it, it's clear that Mario proofread the report in a remarkably slapdash fashion. | haphazard; careless; sloppy 3370 |
| flaccid ----------- His sedentary life had left him with flaccid muscles. | flabby 3371 |
| slovenly ----------- Unshaven, sitting around in his bathrobe all afternoon, Gus didn't seem to care about the slovenly appearance he presented. The dark ring around the bathtub and the spider webs hanging from the beams proved what a slo | untidy; careless in work habits 3372 |
| presentiment ----------- Saying goodbye at the airport, Jack had a sudden presentiment that this was the last time he would see Jill. | feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear; premonition 3373 |
| contaminate ----------- The sewage system of the city so contaminated the water that swimming was forbidden. | pollute 3374 |
| feign ----------- Lady Macbeth feigned illness although she was actually healthy. | pretend 3375 |
| indentation ----------- You can tell one tree from another by examining their leaves and noting the differences in the indentations along the edges of the leaves. indent,V. | notch; deep recess 3376 |
| prudent ----------- A miser hoards money not because he is prudent but because he is greedy. prudence, N. | cautious; careful 3377 |
| treacly ----------- Irritatingly cheerful, always looking on the bright side, Pollyanna speaks nothing but treacly sentimentalities. treacle, N. | sticky sweet; cloyingly sentimental 3378 |
| ultimate ----------- Scientists are searching for ultimate truths. | final; not susceptible to further analysis 3379 |
| precipitous ----------- This hill is difficult to climb because it is so precipitous; one slip, and our descent will be precipitous as well. | steep; overhasty 3380 |
| checkered ----------- During his checkered career he had lived in palatial mansions and in dreary boardinghouses. | marked by changes in fortune 3381 |
| paragon ----------- Her fellow students disliked Lavinia because Miss Minchin always pointed her out as a paragon of virtue. | model of perfection 3382 |
| scoff ----------- He scoffed at dentists until he had his first toothache. | mock; ridicule 3383 |
| dissimulate ----------- She tried to dissimulate her grief by her exuberant attitude. | pretend; conceal by feigning 3384 |
| deft ----------- The deft waiter uncorked the champagne without spilling a drop. | neat; skillful 3385 |
| bevy ----------- The movie actor was surrounded by a bevyof starlets. | large group 3386 |
| unmitigated ----------- After four days of unmitigated heat, I was ready to collapse from heat prostration. The congresswoman's husband was an unmitigated jerk: not only did he abandon her, he took her campaign funds, too! | unrelieved or immoderate; absolute 3387 |
| choleric ----------- His flushed, angry face indicated a choleric nature. | hot-tempered 3388 |
| hydrophobia ----------- A dog that bites a human being must be observed for symptoms of hydrophobia. | rabies; fear of water 3389 |
| perpetual ----------- Ponce de Leon hoped to find the legendary fountain of perpetual youth. | everlasting 3390 |
| cessation ----------- The airline's employees threatened a cessation of all work if management failed to meet their demands. cease,V. | stoppage 3391 |
| relent ----------- When her stern father would not relent and allow her to marry Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett eloped with her suitor. relentless,ADJ. | give in 3392 |
| lucrative ----------- He turned his hobby into a lucrative profession. | profitable 3393 |
| demise ----------- Upon the demise of the dictator, a bitter dispute about succession to power developed. | death 3394 |
| drone ----------- Content to let his wife support him, the would-be writer was in reality nothing but a drone. | idle person; male bee 3395 |
| unequivocal ----------- My answer to your proposal is an unequivocal and absolute No. | plain; obvious; unmistakable 3396 |
| minute ----------- The twins resembled one another closely; only minute differences set them apart. | extremely small 3397 |
| coddle ----------- Don't coddle the children so much; they need a taste of discipline. | to treat gently 3398 |
| conglomeration ----------- In such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was impossible to find a single area of analysis. | mass of material sticking together 3399 |
| thespian ----------- Her success in the school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian career. also N. | pertaining to drama 3400 |
| levy ----------- Crying No taxation without representation, the colonists demonstrated against England's power to levy taxes. | impose (a fine); collect (a payment) 3401 |
| hallowed ----------- Although the dead girl's parents had never been active churchgoers, they insisted that their daughter be buried in hallowed ground. | blessed; consecrated 3402 |
| solecism ----------- I must give this paper a failing mark because it contains many solecisms. | construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically 3403 |
| forum ----------- The film opens with a shot of the ancient Forum in Rome, where several senators are discussing the strange new sect known as Christians. At the end of the movie, its director presid | place of assembly to discuss public concerns; meeting for discussion 3404 |
| delectable ----------- We thanked our host for a most delectable meal. | delightful; delicious 3405 |
| cornucopia ----------- The encyclopedia salesman claimed the new edition was a veritable cornucopia of information, an inexhaustible source of knowledge for the entire family. | horn overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance 3406 |
| doodle ----------- Art's teachers scolded him when he doodled all over the margins of his papers. | scribble or draw aimlessly; waste time 3407 |
| acidulous ----------- James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks. | slightly sour; sharp, caustic 3408 |
| sporadic ----------- Although you can still hear sporadic outbursts of laughter and singing outside, the big Halloween parade has passed; the party's over till next year. | occurring irregularly 3409 |
| deviate ----------- Richard never deviated from his daily routine: every day he set off for work at eight o'clock, had his sack lunch (peanut butter on whole wheat) at 12:15, and headed home at the stroke of five. | turn away from (a principle, norm); depart; diverge 3410 |
| grate ----------- The screams of the quarreling children grated on her nerves. | make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred 3411 |
| befuddle ----------- His attempts to clarify the situation succeeded only in befuddling her further. | confuse thoroughly 3412 |
| amnesty ----------- When his first child was born, the king granted amnesty to all in prison. | pardon 3413 |
| engross ----------- John was so engrossed in his studies that he did not hear his mother call. | occupy fully 3414 |
| universal ----------- At first, no one shared Christopher's opinions; his theory that the world was round was met with universal disdain. | characterizing or affecting all; present everywhere 3415 |
| predator ----------- Not just cats, but a wide variety of predators-owls, hawks, weasels, foxescatch mice for dinner. A carnivore is by definition predatory, for he preys on weaker creat | creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others 3416 |
| quiver ----------- Robin Hood reached back and plucked one last arrow from his quiver. (secondary meaning) | case for arrows 3417 |
| vanguard ----------- We are the vanguard of a tremendous army that is following us. | forerunners; advance forces 3418 |
| problematic ----------- Given the way building costs have exceeded estimates for the job, whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic. | doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing 3419 |
| attentive ----------- Spellbound, the attentive audience watched the final game of the tennis match, never taking their eyes from the ball. A cold wind sprang up; Stan's attentive daughter slipped a sweater over his shoulders w | alert and watchful; considerate; thoughtful 3420 |
| gentility ----------- Her family was proud of its gentility and elegance. | those of gentle birth; refinement 3421 |
| shimmer ----------- The moonlight shimmered on the water as the moon broke through the clouds for a moment. also N. | glimmer intermittently 3422 |
| sybarite ----------- Rich people are not always sybarites; some of them have little taste for a life of luxury. | lover of luxury 3423 |
| sarcasm ----------- Though Ralph pretended to ignore the mocking comments of his supposed friends, their sarcasm wounded him deeply. | scornful remarks; stinging rebuke 3424 |
| insalubrious ----------- The mosquito-ridden swamp was an insalubrious place, a breeding ground for malarial contagion. | unwholesome; not healthful 3425 |
| hoard ----------- Whenever there are rumors of a food shortage, many people are tempted to hoard food. also N. | stockpile; accumulate for future use 3426 |
| festive ----------- Their wedding in the park was a festive occasion. | joyous; celebratory 3427 |
| breadth ----------- We were impressed by the breadth of her knowledge. | width; extent 3428 |
| coup ----------- As the news of his coup spread throughout the Wall Street, his fellow brokers dropped by to congratulate him. | highly successful action; sudden attack 3429 |
| founder ----------- After hitting the submerged iceberg, the Titanic started taking in water rapidly and soon foundered. | fail completely; sink 3430 |
| discredit ----------- The campaign was highly negative in tone; each candidate tried to discredit the other. | defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve 3431 |
| bandy ----------- While the president was happy to bandy patriotic generalizations with anyone who would listen to him, he refused to bandy words with unfriendly reporters at the press conference. | discuss lightly or glibly; exchange (words) heatedly 3432 |
| spangle ----------- The thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights. | small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation 3433 |
| malignant ----------- Though many tumors are benign, some are malignant, growing out of control and endangering the life of the patient. | injurious; tending to cause death; aggressively malevolent 3434 |
| Iax ----------- We dislike restaurants where the service is lax and inattentive. | careless 3435 |
| trigger ----------- John is touchy today; say one word wrong and you'll trigger an explosion. | set off 3436 |
| derogatory ----------- I resent your derogatory remarks. | expressing a low opinion 3437 |
| puny ----------- Our puny efforts to stop the flood were futile. | insignificant; tiny; weak 3438 |
| eclectic ----------- His style of interior decoration was eclectic: bits and pieces of furnishings from widely divergent periods, strikingly juxtaposed to create a unique decor. eclecticism, N. | composed of elements drawn from disparate sources 3439 |
| ribald ----------- He sang a ribald song that offended many of the more prudish listeners. | wanton; profane 3440 |
| loiter ----------- The policeman told him not to loiter in the alley. | hang around; linger 3441 |
| dank ----------- The walls of the dungeon were dank and slimy. | damp 3442 |
| genealogy ----------- He was proud of his genealogy and constantly referred to the achievements of his ancestors. | record of descent; lineage 3443 |
| doleful ----------- He found the doleful lamentations of the bereaved family emotionally disturbing and he left as quickly as he could. | sorrowful 3444 |
| Civil ----------- Although Internal Revenue Service agents are civil servants, they are not always civil to suspected tax cheats. | having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and polite 3445 |
| parody ----------- The show Forbidden Broadway presents parodies spoofing the year's new productions playing on Broadway. | humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty 3446 |
| grievance ----------- When her supervisor ignored her complaint, she took her grievance to the union. | cause of complaint 3447 |
| saboteur ----------- Members of the Resistance acted as saboteurs, blowing up train lines to prevent supplies from reaching the Nazi army. | one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property 3448 |
| antecedents ----------- Susi Bechhofer's ignorance of her Jewish background had its antecedents in the chaos of World War II. Smuggled out of Germany and adopted by a Christian f | preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background 3449 |
| skinflint ----------- Scrooge was an ungenerous old skinflint until he reformed his ways and became a notable philanthropist. | stingy person; miser 3450 |
| augury ----------- He interpreted the departure of the birds as an augury of evil. augur,V. | omen; prophecy 3451 |
| sectarian ----------- Far from being broad-minded, the religious leader was intolerant of new ideas, paying attention only to purely sectarian interests. sect. N. | relating to a religious faction or subgroup; narrow-minded; limited 3452 |
| boycott ----------- To put pressure on grape growers to stop using pesticides that harmed the farm workers' health, Cesar Chavez called for consumers to boycott grapes. | refrain from buying or using 3453 |
| extradition ----------- The lawyers opposed the extradition of their client on the grounds that for more than five years he had been a model citizen. | surrender of prisoner by one state to another 3454 |
| cumbersome ----------- He was burdened down with cumbersome parcels. | heavey; hard to manage 3455 |
| craven ----------- Lillian's craven refusal to join the protest was criticized by her comrades, who had expected her to be brave enough to stand up for her beliefs. | cowardly 3456 |
| orient ----------- Philip spent his first day in Denver orienting himself to the city. | get one's bearings; adjust 3457 |
| courier ----------- The publisher sent a special courier to pick up the manuscript. | messenger 3458 |
| disgruntle ----------- The passengers were disgruntled by the numerous delays. | make discontented 3459 |
| discourse ----------- The young Plato was drawn to the Agora to hear the philosophical discourse of Socrates and his followers. alsoV. | formal discussion; conversation 3460 |
| duplicity ----------- When Tanya learned that Mark had been two-timing her, she was furious at his duplicity. | double-dealing; hypocrisy 3461 |
| repel ----------- At first, the Beast's ferocious appearance repelled Beauty, but she came to love the tender heart hidden behind that beastly exterior. | drive away; disgust 3462 |
| sentinel ----------- Though camped in enemy territory, Bledsoe ignored the elementary precaution of posting sentinels around the encampment. | sentry; lookout 3463 |
| gaudy ----------- The newest Trump skyscraper is typically gaudy, covered in gilded panels that gleam in the sun. | flashy; showy 3464 |
| extort ----------- The blackmailer extorted money from his victim. | wring from; get money by threats, etc 3465 |
| pummel ----------- Swinging wildly, Pam pummeled her brother around the head and shoulders. | beat or pound with fists 3466 |
| onset ----------- Caught unprepared by the sudden onset of the storm, we rushed around the house closing windows and bringing the garden furniture into shelter. Caught unprepared by the enemy onset, the troops scrambled to take shelter. | beginning; attack 3467 |
| orator ----------- The abolitionist Frederick Douglass was a brilliant orator whose speeches brought home to his audience the evils of slavery. | public speaker 3468 |
| augment ----------- Armies augment their forces by calling up reinforcements; teachers augment their salaries by taking odd jobs. | increase; add to 3469 |
| summit -----------) The summit of the amateur mountain climber's aspirations was someday to reach the summit of Mount Everest. | utmost height or pinnacle; highest point (of a mountain, etc 3470 |
| condescend ----------- Though Jill had been a star softball player in college, when she played a pickup game at the park she never | act conscious of descending to a lower level; patronize 3471 |
| metamorphosis ----------- The metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly is typical of many such changes in animal life. metamorphose,V. | change of form; major transformation 3472 |
| contrite ----------- Her contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence. contrition, N. | penitent 3473 |
| flippant ----------- When Mark told Mona he loved her, she dismissed his earnest declaration with a flippant Oh, you say that to all the girls! flippancy, N. | lacking proper seriousness 3474 |
| caucus ----------- At the opening of Congress, the members of the Democratic Party held a caucus to elect the Majority Leader of the House and the Party Whip. | private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy 3475 |
| taint ----------- One speck of dirt on your utensils may contain enough germs to taint an entire batch of preserves. | contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad 3476 |
| docile ----------- As docile as he seems today, that old lion was once a ferocious, snarling beast. docility, N. | obedient; easily managed 3477 |
| salacious ----------- Chaucer's monk is not pious but salacious. a teller of lewd tales and ribald jests. | lascivious; lustful 3478 |
| deluge ----------- When we advertised the position, we received a deluge of applications. | flood; rush 3479 |
| detrimental ----------- The candidate's acceptance of major financial contributions from a wellknown racist ultimately proved detrimental to his campaign, for he lost the backing of many of his early grassroots supporters. detriment, N. | harmful; damaging 3480 |
| clientele ----------- The rock club attracted a young, stylish clientele. | body of customers 3481 |
| mellifluous ----------- Italian is a mellifluous language, especially suited to being sung. | sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious 3482 |
| swathe ----------- When I visited him in the hospital, I found him swathed in bandages. | wrap around; bandage 3483 |
| misdemeanor ----------- The culprit pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor rather than face trial for a felony. | minor crime 3484 |
| pachyderm ----------- The elephant is probably the best-known pachyderm. | thick-skinned animal 3485 |
| ruthless ----------- Captain Hook was a dangerous, ruthless villain who would stop at nothing to destroy Peter Pan. | pitiless; cruel 3486 |
| gawk ----------- The country boy gawked at the skyscrapers and neon lights of the big city. | stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe 3487 |
| humid ----------- She could not stand the humid climate and moved to a drier area. | damp 3488 |
| agrarian ----------- The country is gradually losing its agrarian occupation and turning more and more to an industrial point of view. | pertaining to land or its cultivation 3489 |
| offhand ----------- Expecting to be treated with due propriety by her hosts, Great-Aunt Maud was offended by their offhand manner. | casual; done without prior thought 3490 |
| embed ----------- Tales of actual historical figures like King Alfred have become embedded in legends. | enclose; place in something 3491 |
| profusion ----------- Freddy was so overwhelmed by the profusion of choices on the menu that he knocked over his wine glass and soaked his host. He made profuse apologies to his host, the waiter, the bus boy, the people at the next | overabundance; lavish expenditure; excess 3492 |
| kindle ----------- One of the first things Ben learned in the Boy Scouts was how to kindle a fire by rubbing two dry sticks together. Her teacher's praise for her poetry kindled a spark of hope inside Maya. | start a fire; inspire 3493 |
| indigent ----------- Someone who is truly indigent can't even afford to buy a pack of cigarettes. [Don't mix up indigent and indigenous. See previous sentence.] | poor; destitute 3494 |
| anthropocentric ----------- Without considering any evidence that might challenge his anthropocentric viewpoint, Hector categorically maintained that dolphins could not be as intelligent as men. anthropocentrism, N. | regarding human beings as the center of the universe 3495 |
| wizardry ----------- Merlin the Magician amazed the knights with his wizardry. | sorcery; magic 3496 |
| depose ----------- The army attempted to depose the king and set up a military government. | dethrone; remove from office 3497 |
| caprice ----------- On a caprice, Jack tried drag-racing, but paid the price-his father took his Chevy Caprice away from him. | sudden, unexpected fancy; whim 3498 |
| solace ----------- I hope you will find solace in the thought that all of us share your loss. | comfort in trouble 3499 |
| encroachment ----------- The encroachment of the factories upon the neighborhood lowered the value of the real estate. | gradual intrusion 3500 |
| burnish ----------- The maid burnished the brass fixtures until they reflected the lamplight. | make shiny by rubbing; polish 3501 |
| gnarled ----------- The gnarled oak tree had been a landmark for years and was mentioned in several deeds. | twisted 3502 |
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