Download make (oneself)

1
Ind
1
Sr
A1
Word
abase
Meaning
lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make
(oneself) lose self-respect
Sentence
Anna expected to have to curtsy to the King
of Siam; when told to cast herself down on
the ground before him, however she refused
to abase herself.
He was not at all abashed by her open
admiration.
Rather than leaving immediately, they waited
for the storm to abate.
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abash
embarrass
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abate
subside or moderate
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abbreviate
shorten
Because we were running out of time, the
lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.
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abdicate
renounce; give up (position, right, or
responsibility)
When Edward VII abdicated the British
throne, he surprised the entire world.
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aberrant
abnormal or deviant
Given the aberrant nature of the data, we
came to doubt the validity of the entire
experiment.
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aberration
abet
deviation from the normal; mental disorder
assist usually in doing something wrong;
encourage
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abeyance
suspended action
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abhor
abide
detest; hate
dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with;
tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide
rude people.
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abject
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible;
lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of selfrespect; Ex. abject apology
On the streets of New York the homeless live
in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find
shelter from the wind.
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abjure
ablution
renounce upon oath
washing
He abjured his allegiance to the king.
His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud
noises that he humorously labeled "Opera in
the Bath."
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abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
Though Rudolph and Duchess Flavia loved
one another, their love was doomed, for she
had to wed the king; their act of abnegation
was necessary to preserve the kingdom.
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abode
abolish
abominable
dwelling place; home
cancel; put an end to
detestable; extremely unpleasant
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abominate
loathe; hate
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aboriginal
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive;
native; indigenous; N. aborigine
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abortive
abrasive
unsuccessful; fruitless
rubbing away; tending to grind down
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abridge
abrogate
condense or shorten
abolish
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abscission
abscond
cutting off; separation
depart secretly and hide
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absolute
complete; totally unlimited; having complete
power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute
honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
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absolve
pardon (an offense)
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abstain
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally
not use one's vote;
She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle
he had planned.
The deal was held in abeyance until her
arrival.
Moses scolded the idol worshippers in the
tribe because he abominated the custom.
We had to abandon our abortive attempts.
Just as abrasive cleaning powders can wear
away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can
wear away a listener's patience.
He intended to abrogate the decree issued by
his predecessor.
The teller absconded with the bonds and was
not found.
Although the King of Siam was an absolute
monarch, he did not want to behead his
unfaithful wife without absolute evidence of
her infidelity.
The father confessor absolved him of his
sins.
After considering the effect of alcohol on his
athletic performance, he decided to abstain
from drinking while he trained for the race.
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abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
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abstinence
restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or
drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from
vote
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abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
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abstruse
abusive
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
coarsely insulting; physically harmful
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abut
border upon; adjoin
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abysmal
bottomless
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abyss
academic
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accede
enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
related to a school; not practical or directly
useful
agree
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accelerate
move faster
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accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
We asked our guide whether the ruins were
accessible on foot.
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accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing
She bought an attractive handbag as an
accessory for her dress.
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acclaim
applaud; praise; greet with great approval;
announce with great approval; Ex. The new
drung has been acclaimed as the most
important discoveries for years; N: strong
expression of approval and praise
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acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
One of the difficulties of our present air age is
the need of travellers to acclimate themselves
to their new and often strange environments.
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acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
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accolade
award of merit; strong praise and approval
The car could not go up the acclivity in high
gear.
In Hollywood, an "Oscar" is the highest
accolade.
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accommodate
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into
harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ.
accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and
obliging
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accomplice
accord
accost
partner in crime
agreement
approach and speak first to a person
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accoutre
equip; N. accoutrement
The fisherman was accoutred with the best
that the sporting goods store could supply
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accretion
growth or increase in size by gradual addition;
growth; increase; increase by natural growth;
Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V.
accrete
The accretion of wealth marked the family's
rise in power.
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accrue
come to one as a gain; accumulate over time;
come about by addition; Ex. benefits that
accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest
accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
You must pay the interest that has accrued
on your debt as well as the principal sum.
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acerbity
bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic:
bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
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acetic
acidulous
vinegary
slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he
had never missed a meal.
An abusive parent damages a child both
mentally and physically.
Where our estates abut, we must build a
fence.
His arrogance is exceeded only by his
abysmal ignorance.
If I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am
afraid that I will be the victim of future
demands.
In our science class, we learn how falling
bodies accelerate.
She was in complete accord with the verdict.
When the two young men accosted me, I was
frightened because I thought they were going
to attack me.
James was unpopular because of his
sarcastic and acidulous remarks.
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acknowledge
recognize; admit
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acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
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acne
acoustics
skin disease (on the face)
science of sound; quality that makes a room
easy or hard to hear in
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acquiesce
assent; agree passively; comply without protest
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acquittal
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from
a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty;
conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
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acrid
bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly
pungent
The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the
room after the pistol had been fired.
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acrimonious
stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N.
acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech
or behavior
His tendency to utter acrimonious remarks
alienated his audience.
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acrophobia
actuarial
fear of heights
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
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actuary
actuate
someone who advises insurance companies
motivate; activate; cause to act
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acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or
hearing)
In time his youthful acuity of vision failed him,
and he needed glasses.
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acumen
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment;
ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business
acumen
His business acumen helped him to succeed
where others had failed.
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acute
(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen;
penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense
of smell/analysis/pain
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adage
wise saying; proverb
There is much truth in the old adage about
fools and their money.
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adamant
hard; inflexible
He was adamant in his determination to
punish the wrongdoer.
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adapt
make or become suitable for a specific use;
alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of
adapting; composition recast into a new form;
Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
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addendum
addition; appendix to book; something that is
added (as at the end of a speech or book)
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addiction
addle
compulsive habitual need
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy;
become rotten (egg)
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address
direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or
discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to;
make with a destination; N: formal speech
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adept
adhere
expert at; very skilled
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion:
adhering; devotion; loyality
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adherent
supporter; follower
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adjacent
adjoin
adjourn
adjoining; neighboring; close by
be next to
suspend until a later time; move from one place
to another
Welles's success in Citizen Kane marked the
acme of his career as an actor; never again
did he achieve such popular acclaim.
Although she appeared to acquiesce to her
employer's suggestions, I could tell she had
reservations about the changes he wanted
made.
His acquittal by the jury surprised those who
had thought him guilty.
According to recent actuarial tables, life
expectancy is greater today than it was a
century ago.
I fail to understand what actuated you to reply
to this letter so nastily.
Jane's editor approved her new comparative
literature text but thought it would be even
better with an addendum on recent
developments in literary criticism.
This idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle
anyone.
In the wake of the scandal, the senator's onetime adherent quietly deserted him.
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adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior
position
I will entertain this concept as an adjunct to
the main proposal.
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adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly;
enjoin solemnly
Her adjuration to tell the truth did not change
the witnesses' testimony.
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adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
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admonish
warn or speak to with gentle disapproval;
reprove
Though Wellington delegated many tasks to
his chief adjutant, Lord Fitzroy Somerset,
Somerset was in no doubt as to who made all
major decisions.
He admonished his listeners to change their
wicked ways.
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adore
adorn
love deeply and respect highly
decorate
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adroit
skillful (in using mind or hand)
His adroit handling of the delicate situation
pleased his employers.
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adulation
flattery; admiration that is more than is
necessary or deserved
The rock star thrived on the adulation of his
groupies and yes-men.
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adulterate
make impure or of poorer quality by adding
inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
It is a crime to adulterate foods without
informing the buyer.
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Advent
arrival
Most Americans were unaware of the advent
of the Nuclear Age until the news of
Hiroshima reached them.
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adventitious
accidental; casual; happening by chance
He found this adventitious meeting with his
friend extremely fortunate.
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adversary
opponent; enemy
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adverse
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
Batman struggled to save Gotham City from
the machinations of his wicked adversary, the
Joker.
adverse circumstances compelled him to
close his business.
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adversity
great hardship or affliction; misfortune;
calamitous event
We must learn to meet adversity gracefully.
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advert
refer
Since you advert to this matter so frequently,
you must regard it as important.
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advocacy
support; active pleading on behalf of someone
or something
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advocate
speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan);
urge; plead for
The abolitionists advocated freedom for the
slaves.
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aegis
shield; protection; defense
Under the aegis of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy
our most treasured freedoms.
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aerie(aery,eyrie,
eyry) nest of a large bird of prey
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aesthetic
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating
the beautiful (of a person or building); CF.
aesthete; CF. aesthetics
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affable
easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly
friendly
Although he held a position of responsibility,
he was an affable individual and could be
reached by anyone with a complaint.
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affected
artificial; pretended
His affected mannerisms irritated may of us
who had known him before his promotion.
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affidavit
written statement made under oath (for use as
proof in a court of law)
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affiliation
joining; associating with
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affinity
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affirmation
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity
for her; Ex. many affinities between two
languages
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge
by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm;
ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive
discrimination
The court refused to accept his statement
unless he presented it in the form of an
affidavit.
His affiliation with the political party was of
short duration for he soon disagreed with his
colleagues.
She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their
pains were her pains.
Wall paintings and carved statues adorned
the temple.
Despite Tom's affirmation of innocence, Aunt
Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie.
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affliction
state of distress; trial; cause of distress or
suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
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affluence
abundance; wealth
Foreigners are amazed by the affluence and
luxury of the American way of life.
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affront
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V:
insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
Accustomed to being treated with respect,
Miss Challoner was affronted by Vidal's
offensive behavior.
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afterlife
agape
life after death; later part of one's life
openmouthed
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agenda
items of business at a meeting
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agglomeration
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a
rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass;
heap
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aggrandize
make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank,
or honor; N. aggrandizement
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aggregate
sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole;
accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100
dollars
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aghast
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
He was aghast at the nerve of the speaker
who had insulted his host.
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agility
nimbleness; ability to move quickly
The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled
the audience.
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agitate
stir up; disturb
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agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence or
knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
Her fiery remarks agitated the already angry
mob.
The agnostic demanded proof before she
would accept the statement of the minister.
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agog
highly excited; intensely curious
We were all agog at the news that the
celebrated movie star was giving up his
career in order to enter a monastery.
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agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian
reform
As a result of its recent industrialization, the
country is gradually losing its agrarian
traditions.
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airy
alacrity
of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
cheerful promptness without reluctance
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alchemy
medieval chemistry
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alcove
nook; recess
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alias
an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to
mislead people); ADV. alias
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alienate
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate;
change the ownership of
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alimentary
supplying nourishment
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alimony
payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after
divorce
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allay
calm; pacify
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allege
state without proof
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allegiance
loyalty
She stared, agape, at the many strange
animals in the zoo.
We had so much difficulty agreeing upon an
agenda that there was very little time for the
meeting.
It took weeks to assort the agglomeration of
miscellaneous items she had collected on her
trip.
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.
The aggregate wealth of this country is
staggering to the imagination.
He demonstrated his eagerness to serve by
his alacrity in executing the orders of his
master.
The changing of baser metals into gold was
the goal of the students of alchemy.
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.
John Smith's alias was Bob Jones.
Her attempts to alienate the two friends failed
because they had complete faith in each
other.
The alimentary canal in our bodies is so
named because digestion of foods occurs
there.
Because Tony had supported Tina through
medical school, on their divorce he asked the
court to award him $500 a month in alimony.
The crew tried to allay the fears of the
passengers by announcing that the fire had
been controlled.
It is alleged that she had worked for the
enemy.
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allegory
story, play, or picture in which characters are
used as symbols; fable
Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the
temptations and victories of the human soul.
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alleviate
relieve (pain)
This should alleviate the pain; if it does not,
we shall have to use stronger drugs.
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alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
The furrow followed free is an example of
alliteration.
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allocate
alloy
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allude
assign; set apart for a particular purpose
mixture as of metals; something added that
lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less
pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF.
unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals;
pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed
happiness
refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
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allure
entice; attract; tempt
allured by the song of the sirens, the
helmsman steered the ship toward the reef.
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alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
The farmers found the alluvial deposits at the
mouth of the river very fertile.
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alms
aloft
aloof
money or goods given to the poor
upward; high up in the air
apart; not open in one's relationship with other
people; reserved; ADV.
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altercation
noisy quarrel
Throughout the altercation, not one sensible
word was uttered.
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altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N.
altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of
others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
In providing tutorial assistance and college
scholarships to hundreds of economically
disadvantaged youths, Eugene Lang
performed a truly altruistic deed.
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amalgam
combination of different things; mixture of
metals (containing mercury) used for filling
holes in teeth
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amalgamate
(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one
body
The unions will attempt to amalgamate their
groups into one national body.
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amass
collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as
much gold as possible.
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amazon
female warrior
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ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease
Ever since the days of Greek mythology we
refer to strong and aggressive women as
amazons.
A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally
ambidextrous.
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ambience
environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with
a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely
surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
She went to the restaurant not for the food
but for the ambience.
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ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more
than one possible interpretation
His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did
not know which road to take.
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ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting
emotional attitudes or opinions
Torn between loving her parents one minute
and hating them the next, she was confused
by the ambivalence of her feelings.
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amble
walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk
slowly and aimlessly
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ambrosia
food of the gods
When she first mounted the horse, she was
afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a
gentle amble.
ambrosia was supposed to give immortality to
any human who ate it.
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ambulatory
able to walk
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ambush
act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden
attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie
in ambush; V.
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ameliorate
improve
alloy of gold are used more frequently than
the pure metal.
Try not to allude to this matter in his presence
because the topic annoys him.
The sailor climbed aloft into the rigging.
Shy by nature, she remained aloof while all
the rest conversed.
He was described as an ambulatory patient
because he was not confined to his bed.
Many social workers have attempted to
ameliorate the conditions of people living in
the slums.
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amenable
obedient; compliant; readily managed;
responsive; willing to be led; answerable or
accountable legally; responsible; able to be
tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible
suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex.
amenable to the usual tests
He was amenable to any suggestions that
came from those he looked up to; he
resented advice from his inferiors.
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amend
correct; change ; generally for the better
Hoping to amend his condition, he left
Vietnam for the United States.
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amenities
convenient features that helps to make life
pleasant; social courtesies
In addition to the customary amenities for the
business traveler -- fax machines, modems, a
health club -- the hotel offers the services of a
butler versed in social amenities.
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amiable
agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
His amiable disposition pleased all who had
dealings with him.
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amicable
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex.
amicable settlement
The dispute was settled in an amicable
manner with no harsh words.
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amiss
wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything
were amiss.
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amity
friendship; peaceful relationship as between
nations
Student exchange programs such as the
Experiment in International Living were
established to promote international amity.
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amnesia
loss of memory
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amnesty
pardon (allowed by government to political
criminals)
Because she was suffering from amnesia, the
police could not get the young girl to identify
herself.
When his first child was born, the king
granted amnesty to all in prison.
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amok(amuck)
in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
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amoral
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and
wrong
The amoral individual lacks a code of ethics;
he should not be classified as immoral.
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amorous
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love;
Ex. amorous advances
Don Juan was known for his amorous
adventures.
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amorphous
formless; lacking shape or definition
John was subject to panic attacks that left
him prey to vague, amorphous fears: he knew
he was terrified, but could neither define nor
explain the cause of his terror.
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amphibian
amphitheater
able to live both on land and in water; N.
oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
Frogs are classified as amphibian.
The spectators in the amphitheater cheered
the gladiators.
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ample
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex.
ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality
of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
He had ample opportunity to dispose of his
loot before his police caught up with him.
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amplify
increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or
clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger;
Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
Her attempts to amplify her remarks were
drowned out by the jeers of the audience.
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amputate
cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
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amulet
charm; talisman; an object worn believed to
protect against evil, bad luck
When the doctors had to amputate Ted
Kennedy's leg to prevent the spread of
cancer, he did not let the loss of his leg keep
him from participating in sports.
Around her neck she wore the amulet that the
witch doctor had given her.
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anachronism
an error involving time in a story; something or
someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
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analgesia
analgesic
condition of being unable to feel pain
causing insensitivity to pain; N.
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analogous
comparable; similar
She called our attention to the things that had
been done in an analogous situation and
recommended that we do the same.
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analogy
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar
things
Your analogy is not a good one because the
two situations are not similar.
Shakespeare's reference to clocks in Julius
Caesar is an anachronism; no clocks existed
in Caesar's time.
The analgesic qualities of his lotion will
provide temporary relief.
8
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A187
anarchist
person who seeks to overturn the established
government; advocate of abolishing authority
Only the total overthrow of all governmental
regulations would satisfy the anarchist.
188
A188
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder
The assassination of the leaders led to a
period of anarchy.
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A189
anathema
solemn curse; someone or something regarded
as a curse; V. anathematize
He heaped anathema upon his foe.
190
191
A190
A191
ancestry
anchor
family descent; ADJ. ancestral
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N.
anchorage
192
A192
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
193
A193
anecdote
short story of an amusing or interesting event
194
A194
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles;
ADJ. anemic
195
A195
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or
without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
His monotonous voice acted like an
anesthetic; his audience was soon asleep.
196
A196
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering
Visiting the site of explosion, Premier
Gorbachev wept to see the anguish of the
victims and their families.
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A197
angular
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded
(body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
His features, though angular, were curiously
attractive.
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A198
animadversion
critical remark; V. animadvert: comment
critically with disapproval
199
A199
animated
lively; spirited
He resented the animadversions of his critics,
particularly because he realized they were
true.
Her animated expression indicated a
keenness of intellect.
200
A200
animosity
active enmity
201
A201
animus
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility;
disposition
202
A202
annals
records arranged in yearly parts; history
In the annals of this period, we find no
mention of democratic movements.
203
A203
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by
heating and cooling (metal or glass)
After the glass is annealed, it will be less
subject to chipping and cracking.
204
A204
annex
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of;
incorporate (territory) into a larger existing
political unit (by force); N: building added to a
large one
205
A205
annihilate
destroy
The enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate
the entire population.
206
A206
annotate
comment; make explanatory notes
207
A207
annuity
yearly allowance
208
A208
annul
make void
In the appendix to the novel, the critic sought
to annotate many of the more esoteric
references.
The annuity he set up with the insurance
company supplements his social security
benefits so that he can live very comfortably
without working.
The parents of the eloped couple tried to
annul the marriage.
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A209
anodyne
drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ.
Ex. anodyne statement
His pain was so great that no anodyne could
relieve it.
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A210
anoint
consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
The prophet Samuel anointed David with oil,
crowning him king of Israel.
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A211
anomalous
abnormal; irregular
He was placed in the anomalous position of
seeming to approve procedures that he
despised.
We set the post in concrete to anchor it in
place.
In an ancillary capacity Doctor Watson was
helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the
good doctor to solve a perplexing case on his
own.
Rather than make concrete proposals for
welfare reform, President Raegan told
anecdotes about poor people who became
wealthy despite their impoverished
backgrounds.
The doctor ascribes her tiredness to anemia.
He incurred the animosity of the ruling class
because he advocated limitations of their
power.
The animus of the speaker became obvious
to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic
and insulting remarks.
9
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A212
A213
anomaly
anonymity
irregularity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ.
anonymous
A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly.
The donor of the gift asked the college not to
mention him by name; the dean readily
agreed to respect his anonymity.
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A214
antagonism
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause
to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person
who is opposed to another; opponent;
adversary; principal character in oppostion to
the protagonist
215
A215
antecede
precede
216
A216
antecedents
preceding events that influence what comes
later; ancestors or early background
217
A217
antediluvian
antiquated; extremely ancient
218
A218
anthem
219
A219
anthology
song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national
anthem
book of literary selections by various authors;
CF. omnibus
220
A220
anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being; N.
The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid
animals.
221
A221
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankind
Anthropologists have discovered several
relics of prehistoric humans in this area.
222
A222
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
Primitive religions often have deities with
anthropomorphic characteristics.
223
A223
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion; something
unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming
after something important or exciting
After the fine performance in the first act, the
rest of the play was an anticlimax.
224
A224
antidote
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex.
antidote to the economic troubles
225
A225
antipathy
aversion; dislike or opposition
226
A226
antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
227
A227
antique
made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N:
object that was made in an earlier period and
that is rare or valuable
228
229
A228
A229
antiquity
antiseptic
quality of being very old; ancient times;
substance that prevents infection in a wound;
ADJ.
230
A230
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic
or antithetical
231
232
A231
A232
antler
anvil
bony growth on the head of a deer
iron block used in hammering out metals
233
A233
apathy
lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or
interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk
in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
A firm believer in democratic government,
she could not understand the apathy of
people who never bothered to vote.
234
A234
ape
imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or
manner)
235
A235
aperture
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera
that limits the amount of light
236
A236
apex
tip; summit; climax; highest point
He was suspended for a week because he
had aped the principal in front of the whole
school.
She discovered a small aperture in the wall,
through which the insects had entered the
room.
He was at the apex of his career.
The invention of the radiotelegraph
anteceded the development of television by a
quarter of a century.
Before giving permission for Drummie to
marry Estella, Miss Havisham had a few
questions about the young man's birth and
antecedents.
The antediluvian customs had apparently not
changed for thousands of years.
His extreme antipathy to dispute caused him
to avoid argumentative discussions with his
friends.
Accustomed to editing his papers on word
processors, Philip thought typewriters were
too antiquated for him to use.
It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any
wound, no matter how slight or insignificant.
This tyranny was the antithesis of all that he
had hoped for, and he fought it with all his
strength.
After heating the iron horseshoe in the forge,
the blacksmith picked it up with his tongs and
set it on the anvil.
10
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A237
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
After the automobile accident, the victim had
periods of aphasia when he could not speak
at all or could only mumble incoherently.
238
A238
aphorism
pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is
more philosophical or scientific.
239
240
A239
A240
apiarist
apiary
person who keeps bees
a place where bees are kept
241
242
A241
A242
apiculture
aplomb
bee-keeping
poise; composure in difficult situations;
assurance; self-confidence
Wellington's nonchalance and aplomb in the
heat of battle always heartened his followers.
243
A243
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of
disaster; N. apocalypse
His apocalyptic remarks were dismissed by
his audience as wild surmises.
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A244
apocryphal
(of a story) widely believed but untrue
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A245
apogee
highest point; the point farthest from the earth;
OP. perigee
To impress his friends, Tom invented
apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big
city.
When the moon in its orbit is furthest away
from the earth, it is at its apogee.
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A246
apolitical
having an aversion or lack of concern for
political affairs
247
A247
apologist
one who writes in defense of a cause or
institution; N. apologia
248
A248
apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too
much blood in the brain
He was crippled by an attack of apoplexy.
249
A249
apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political
beliefs; N. apostasy
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A250
apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
Because he switched from one party to
another, his former friends shunned him as
an apostate.
In Holland, apothecaries still sell spices as
well as ointments and pills.
251
A251
apothegm(apopht
he
gm) pithy, compact saying
252
A252
apotheosis
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of
something
253
254
A253
A254
appall
apparent
dismay; shock deeply
evident; easily seen or understood; appearing
as such; Ex. apparent improvement
255
A255
apparition
ghost; phantom
256
A256
appease
pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N.
appeasement
257
A257
appellation
name; title
He was amazed when the witches hailed him
with his correct appellation.
258
259
A258
A259
append
application
attach
diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
260
A260
apposite
appropriate; fitting
261
A261
appraise
estimate value of; N. appraisal
I shall append this chart to my report.
Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed
the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his
application.
He was always able to find the apposite
phrase, the correct expression for every
occasion.
It is difficult to appraise old paintings; it is
easier to call them priceless.
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appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly
conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be
felt; Ex. appreciable difference
263
A263
apprehend
arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N.
apprehension
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A264
apprehensive
fearful; discerning
Although he spent many hours daily in the
apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee.
The Roman empress Livia envied the late
emperor his apotheosis; she hoped that on
her death she, too, would be exalted to the
rank of a god.
Hamlet was uncertain about the identity of the
apparition that had appeared and spoken to
him.
We have discovered that, when we try to
appease our enemies, we encourage them to
make additional demands.
Little Orphan Annie truly appreciated the
stocks Daddy Warbucks ave her, whose
value appreciated considerably over the
years.
The police will apprehend the culprit and
convict him before long.
His apprehensive glances at the people who
were walking in the street revealed his
nervousness.
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A265
apprise
inform
When he was apprised of the dangerous
weather conditions, he decided to postpone
his trip.
Wanting her parents' regard, she looked for
some sign of their approbation.
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A266
approbation
approval
267
A267
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one's own use
without permission; set aside for a particular
purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
The ranch owners appropriated the lands that
had originally been set aside for the Indians'
use.
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A268
appurtenances
subordinate possessions; something added to a
more important thing
He bought the estate and all its
appurtenances.
269
A269
apropos
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks
apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
I find your remarks apropos of the present
situation timely and pertinent.
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A270
aptitude
fitness; talent
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A271
aquiline
curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline
nose
The counselor evaluated his aptitudes before
advising him about the career he should
follow.
He can be recognized by his aquiline nose,
curved like the beak of the eagle.
272
A272
arable
fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
The land was no longer arable; erosion had
removed the valuable topsoil.
273
A273
arbiter
person with power to decide a matter in dispute;
judge who is in a position ot make influential
judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in
beachware
As an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won
the confidence of the workers and the
employers.
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A274
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical;
Ex. arbitrary ruler
The coach claimed the team lost because the
umpire made some arbitrary calls.
275
A275
arbitrate
act as judge (at the request of both sides)
She was called upon to arbitrate the dispute
between the union and the management.
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277
A276
A277
arboreal
arboretum
of or living in trees
place where different trees and shrubs are
studied and exhibited
278
A278
arcade
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
The arcade was popular with shoppers
because it gave them protection from the
summer sun and the winter rain.
279
A279
arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the
initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process
closed to the uninitiated listener
What was arcane to us was clear to the
psychologist.
280
281
A280
A281
archarchaeology
chief; first; Ex. archbishop
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
282
A282
archaic
antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the
past; N.
283
A283
archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
284
A284
archipelago
group of closely located islands
When he looked at the map and saw the
archipelagoes in the South Seas, he longed
to visit them.
285
A285
archives
public records; place where public records are
kept
These documents should be part of the
archives so that historians may be able to
evaluate them in the future.
286
A286
ardor
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. 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.
287
288
A287
A288
arduous
argot
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of
people
Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy.
In the argot of the underworld, she "was
taken for a ride."
289
A289
aria
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an
opera or oratorio
At her Metropolitan Opera audition, Marian
Anderson sang an aria from Norma.
Walking along the treelined paths of the
arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some
particularly fine sycamores.
The professor of archaeology headed an
expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of
ancient ruins.
Methinks, "thee," and "thou" are archaic
words that are no longer part of our normal
vocabulary.
The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the
many spans that now connect Manhattan with
Long Island and New Jersey.
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A290
arid
(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
The cactus had adapted to survive in an arid
environment.
291
A291
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government
by nobility; N. aristocrat
Americans have mixed feelings about
hereditary aristocracy:
292
A292
armada
fleet of warships
293
A293
aromatic
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong
pleasant smell
Queen Elizabeth's navy was able to defeat
the mighty armada that threatened the
English coast.
Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic
herbs from China to Europe.
294
A294
arraign
charge in court; indict
295
A295
array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order;
clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes;
ordered group; Ex. in battle array
After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the
accused man was arraigned in the County
Criminal Court.
She liked to watch her motherarray herself in
her finest clothes before going out for the
evening.
296
A296
arrears
being in debt; money that should have been
paid; work that should have been done
He was in arrears with his payments on the
car.
297
298
A297
A298
arrhythmic
arrogance
lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly
self-important (with a strong confidence in one's
own importance and a lack of respect for other
people)
The arrogance of the nobility was resented by
the middle class.
299
A299
arroyo
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
300
301
302
A300
A301
A302
arsenal
artery
artful
storage place for military equipment
blood-vessel; CF. vein
exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF.
artifice
303
A303
articulate
effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly;
having clear sounds; having joints; Ex.
articulate speech; V: express thoughts and
feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
Her articulate presentation of the advertising
campaign impressed her employers.
304
A304
artifacts
object made by human beings, either handmade or mass-produced
Archaeologists debated the significance of
the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia
Minor and came to no conclusion.
305
A305
artifice
deception; trickery
The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that
cunning and artifice were often more effective
than military might.
306
A306
artisan
a manually skilled worker
Artists and artisans alike are necessary to the
development of a culture.
307
A307
artless
without guile; open and honest
Red Riding Hood's artless comment,
"Grandma, what big eyes you have!"
indicates the child's innocent surprises at her
"grandmother's" changed appearance.
308
A308
ascendancy
controlling influence; position of controlling
influence; CF. in the ascendant
President Marcos failed to maintain his
ascendency over Philippines.
309
310
A309
A310
ascertain
ascetic
find out for certain; make certain
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical
pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life
of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
The wealthy young man could not understand
the ascetic life led by the monks.
311
312
313
314
A311
A312
A313
A314
ascribe
aseptic
ashen
asinine
refer; attribute; assign
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
ash-colored; deadly pale
stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
I can ascribe no motive for her acts.
315
A315
askance
with a sideways or indirect look (with
disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
Looking askance at her questioner, she
displayed her scorn.
316
A316
askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
When he placed his hat askew upon his
head, his observers laughed.
317
A317
asperity
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or
weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung
the boys to whom they had been directed.
318
A318
aspersion
slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
Do not cast aspersions on her character.
Until the heavy rains of the past spring, this
arroyo had been a dry bed.
Her face was ashen with fear.
Your asinine remarks prove that you have not
given this problem any serious consideration.
13
319
A319
aspirant
seeker after position or status
Although I am as aspirant for public office, I
am not willing to accept the dictates of the
party bosses.
320
A320
aspire
seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex.
aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after
the leadership
321
A321
assail
assault
322
A322
assay
analyze (to discover what materials are
present); evaluate (soil or ore)
323
A323
assent
agree; accept; N. assessment
324
A324
assert
state strongly or positively; demand recognition
of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by
forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
325
A325
assiduous
diligent
326
A326
assimilate
absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it;
understand (knowledge) completely and be able
to use properly; cause to become
homogeneous (the people of a country or race
in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
It gives me great pleasure to assent to your
request.
When Jill asserted that nobody else in the
junior class had such an early curfew, her
parents Asserted themselves, telling her that
if she didn't get home by nine o'clock she
would be grounded for the week.
It took Rembrandt weeks of assiduous labor
before he was satisfied with his portrait of his
son.
The manner in which the United States was
able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants
during the nineteenth and early part of the
twentieth centuries will always be a source of
pride.
327
A327
assuage
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy
(hunger); soothe (anger)
Your messages of cheer should assuage her
suffering.
328
A328
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or
taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of
power; V. assume
The young princess made the foolish
assumption that the regent would not object
to her Assumption of power.
329
A329
assurance
firm statement that something is certainly true;
promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in
one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of
all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex.
assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked
assurance in f
When Gutherie gave Guiness his assurance
that rehearsals were going well, he spoke
with such assurance that Guiness was
convinced.
330
A330
asteroid
small planet
asteroids have become commonplace to the
readers of interstellar travel stories in science
fiction magazines.
331
A331
astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP.
stigmatism
As soon as his parents discovered that the
boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him
to the optometrist for corrective glasses.
332
A332
astral
relating to the stars
She was amazed at the number of astral
bodies the new telescope revealed.
333
A333
astringent
binding; causing contraction (stopping
bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex.
astringent criticism
The astringent quality of unsweetened lemon
juice made swallowing difficult.
334
A334
astronomical
enormously large or extensive
The government seemed willing to spend
astronomical sums on weapons development.
335
A335
astute
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something
that is to one's advantage
That was a very astute observation.
336
337
A336
A337
asunder
asylum
into parts; apart; V. sunder
place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious
or political)
Their points of view are poles asunder.
The refugees sought asylum from religious
persecution in a new land.
338
A338
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central
line
Because one eyebrow was set markedly
higher than the other, William's face had a
particularly asymmetric appearance.
339
A339
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to
parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback;
ADJ. atavistic
Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan
ancestors who lavished great care on their
small plots of soil.
340
A340
atheistic
denying the existence of God; N. atheism
His atheistic remarks shocked the religious
worshippers.
He was assailed with questions after his
lecture.
When they assayed the ore, they found that
they had discovered a very rich vein.
14
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A341
atone
make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
He knew no way in which he could atone for
his brutal crime.
342
A342
atrocity
brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
In time of war, many atrocities are committed
by invading armies.
343
A343
atrophy
wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and
muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
Polio victims need physiotherapy to prevent
the atrophy of affected limbs.
344
A344
attentive
alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying
attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely
helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was
attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of
courtesy and consideration
345
A345
attenuate
make thin; weaken
By withdrawing their forces, the generals
hoped to attenuate the enemy lines.
346
A346
attest
testify; bear witness
Having served as a member of a grand jury, I
can attest that our system of indicting
individuals is in need of improvement.
347
348
A347
A348
attire
attribute
clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
349
A349
attrition
rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in
numbers or strength; reduction in the work force
without firing employees; wearing away of
opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war
of attrition
350
351
A350
A351
atypical
audacious
not normal; not typical
daring; bold; N. audacity
352
A352
audit
examination of accounts of a business; official
examination; V.
353
A353
augment
increase; add to
How can we hope to augment our forces
when our allies are deserting us?
354
A354
augury
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V.
augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something
in future)
He interpreted the departures of the birds as
an augury of evil.
355
A355
august
impressive; majestic
Visiting the palace at Versailes, she was
impressed by the august surroundings in
which she found herself.
356
A356
aureole
sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
Many medieval paintings depict saintly
characters with aureols around their heads.
357
A357
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora
australis
The auroral display was particularly
spectacular that evening.
358
A358
auspicious
favoring success; giving signs of future
success; Cf. auspices
With favorable weather conditions, it was an
auspicious moment to set sail.
359
A359
austere
forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or
enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented;
Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur
of the cathedral; N. austerity
His austere demeanor prevented us from
engaging in our usual frivolous activities.
360
A360
authenticate
prove genuine
361
A361
authoritarian
subordinating the individual to the state;
completely dominating another's will; Ex.
authoritarian regime/father
An expert was needed to authenticate the
original Van Gogh painting, distinguishing it
from its imitation.
The people had no control over their destiny;
they were forced to obey the dictates of the
authoritarian regime.
362
A362
authoritative
having the weight of authority; regarded as
providing knowledge that can be trusted;
reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex.
authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
363
A363
autocratic
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial;
N. autocrat, autocracy
I attribute her success in science to the
encouragement she received from her
parents.
They decided to wage a war of attrition rather
than to rely on all-out attack.
Audiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and
Princess Leia made their audacious, deathdefying leap to freedom and escaped Darth
Vader's troops.
When the bank examiners arrived to hold
their annual audit, they discovered the
embezzlements of the chief cashier.
We accepted her analysis of the situation as
authoritative.
15
364
A364
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans;
machine that works by itself
Long before science fiction readers became
aware of robots, writers were creating stories
of automation who could outperform humans.
365
A365
autonomous
self-governing; N. autonomy
This island is a colony; however, in most
matters, it is autonomous and receives no
orders from the mother country.
366
A366
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to
determine the cause of death.
367
A367
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or
subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
To prepare for the emergency, they built an
auxiliary power station.
368
369
A368
A369
avalanche
avantgarde
great mass of falling snow and ice
group of artists whose work is based on the
newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
370
A370
avarice
greediness for wealth
371
A371
avenge
take vengence for something or on behalf of
someone; Ex. They avenged his death by
burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his
brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their
enemy.
372
373
A372
A373
aver
averse
state confidently; declare as true
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex.
averse to cats/doing the house work
I wish to aver that I am certain of success.
He was averse to revealing the sources of his
information.
374
A374
aversion
firm dislike
Their mutual aversion was so great that they
refused to speak to one another.
375
A375
avert
prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex.
An accident was averted by his quick thinking;
Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
She averted her eyes from the dead cat on
the highway.
376
377
A376
A377
aviary
avid
enclosure for birds; large cage
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N.
avidity
The aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds.
He was avid for learning and read everything
he could get.
378
A378
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
379
380
A379
A380
avow
avuncular
declare openly; N. avowal
of or like an uncle
His hobby proved to be so fascinating and
profitable that gradually he abandoned his
regular occupation and concentrated on his
avocation.
I must avow that I am innocent.
Avuncular pride did not prevent him from
noticing his nephew's shortcomings.
381
A381
awe
The tourists gazed with awe at the
tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon.
382
383
A382
A383
awful
awl
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with
wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ.
awesome
terrible; very bad
pointed tool used for piercing
384
A384
awry
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have
gone awry.
385
A385
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
He held his head awry, giving the impression
that he had caught cold in his neck during the
night.
Before a student can begin to think along the
lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept
certain principles or axioms.
386
387
A386
B1
azure
babble
azure skies are indicative of good weather.
The little girl babbled about her doll.
388
389
B2
B3
bacchanal
bacchanalia
sky blue
chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous
sounds like water running gently over rounded
stone; N.
noisy party with a lot of drinking
the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
390
B4
bacchanalian
drunken
Emperor Nero attended the bacchanalian
orgy.
391
B5
backslide
revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
King Midas's avarice has been famous for
centuries.
She used an awl to punch additional holes in
the leather belt she had bought.
16
392
B6
backwards
and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by
inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal
relationship; mutual interchange of advantages
between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading
rights
393
B7
badger
pester; annoy continually with demands;
persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The
children badgered me into taking them into the
cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal
She was forced to change her telephone
number because she was badgered by
obscene phone calls.
394
B8
badinage
teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
Her friends at work greeted the news of her
engagement with cheerful badinage.
395
396
B9
B10
baffle
bait
frustrate; perplex
harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N:
food or other lure used to catch fish or trap
animals
The new code baffled the enemy agents.
The soldiers baited the prisoners, terrorizing
them.
397
B11
baleful
evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having
a malign influence; portending evil; ominous;
threatening; Ex. baleful look
Casting a baleful eye at his successful rival,
the rejected suitor stole off, vowing to have
his revenge.
398
B12
balk
stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and
refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of;
frustrate
When the warden learned that several
inmates were planning to escape, he took
steps to balk their attempt.
399
B13
ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weight;
V. supply with 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.
400
B14
balm
something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a
pleasant smell from trees
Friendship is the finest balm for the pangs of
disappointed love.
401
B15
balmy
soft and mild (of air); fragrant
402
B16
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking
originality; clich\'ed
A balmy breeze refreshed us after the sultry
blast.
His frequent use of cliches made his essay
seem banal.
403
B17
bandy
discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous
manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel;
Ex. bandy words with
The president refused to bandy words with
reporters at the press conference.
404
B18
bane
posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful;
poisonous
Lack of public transportation is the bane of
urban life.
405
B19
bank
heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting
(as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect
with a bank; tilt in turning
406
B20
bantering
joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V.
banter
407
B21
bar
railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical
line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex.
prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars;
forbid; exclude; CF. barrister
408
B22
barb
sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other
object; openly cutting remark
The barb from the fishhook caught in his
finger as he grabbed the fish.
409
B23
bard
poet
410
B24
barefaced
shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold;
unconcealed; having no covering on the face;
Ex. barefaced lie
The ancient bard Homer sang of the fall of
Troy.
Shocked by Huck Finn's barefaced lies, Miss
Watson prayed the good Lord would give him
a sense of his unregenerate wickedness.
411
B25
bargain
agreement between two groups or people;
something for sale at a price advantageous to
the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining
power
412
B26
baroque
highly ornate
413
B27
barrage
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming
profusion; large number of questions or
statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
They resented his bantering remarks
because they misinterpreted his teasing as
sarcasm.
Accustomed to the severe, angular lines of
modern skyscrapers, they found the
flamboyance of baroque architecture
amusing.
The company was forced to retreat through
the barrage of heavy canyons.
17
414
B28
barrister
counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of
law; CF. bar
Galsworthy started as a barrister, but when
he found the practice of law boring, turned to
writing.
The barterer exchanged trinkets for the
natives' furs.
415
B29
barterer
trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other
goods rather than money
416
B30
base
contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or
quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base
metal such as iron
417
B31
bask
luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
418
419
B32
B33
bastard
bastion
illegitimate child
stronghold; something seen as a source of
protection; Ex. the last bastion of male
chauvinism
The villagers fortified the town hall, hoping
this improvised bastion could protect them
from the guerrila raids.
420
B34
bate
let down; lessen the force of; moderate;
restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate
Until it was time to open the presents, the
children had to bate their curiosity.
421
422
B35
B36
battalion
bauble
army unit made up of four or more companies
trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
423
B37
bawdy
indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny
way; CF. bawd
424
425
B38
B39
bearing
beatific
deportment; connection
giving or showing bliss; blissful
426
B40
beatitude
blessedness; state of great happiness
Growing closer to God each day, the mystic
achieved a state of indescribable beatitude.
427
B41
bedizen
dress with vulgar finery
The witch doctors were bedizened in their
gaudiest costumes.
428
B42
bedraggle
wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
We were so bedraggled by the severe storm
that we had to change into dry clothing.
429
430
B43
B44
beeline
befuddle
direct quick route
confuse thoroughly
431
B45
beget
father; become the father of; produce; give rise
to
One good turn may deserve another; it does
not necessarily beget another.
432
B46
begrudge
envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We
shouldn't begrudge him his success.
I begrudge every minute I have to spend
attending meetings.
433
B47
beguile
deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time
pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
I beguiled himself during the long hours by
playing solitaire.
434
B48
behemoth
huge creature; something of monstrous size or
power
Sportcasters nicknamed the linebacker "The
Behemoth."
435
B49
beholden
obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or
indebted from gratitude
Since I do not wish to be beholden to anyone,
I cannot accept this favor.
436
B50
behoove(behove)
be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and
necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.
437
B51
belabor
harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over
excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail
verbally; beat severely; attack physically
The debate coach warned her student not to
bore the audience by belaboring his point.
438
B52
belated
delayed
439
B53
beleaguer
besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
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.
As soon as the city was beleaguered, the life
became more subdued as the citizens began
their long wait for outside assitance.
440
B54
belie
contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex.
The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her
smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.
His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his
innate sensitivity.
441
B55
belittle
disparage; depreciate
Parents should not belittle their children's
early attempts at drawing, but should
encourage their efforts.
442
B56
bellicose
warlike
His bellicose disposition alienated his friends.
basking on the beach, she relaxed so
completely that she fell asleep.
The child was delighted with the bauble she
had won in the grab bag.
She took offense at his bawdy remarks.
The beatific smile on the child's face made us
very happy.
His attempts to clarify the situation
succeeded only on befuddling her further.
18
443
B57
belligerent
quarrelsome
Whenever he had too much to drink, he
became belligerent and tried to pick fights
with strangers.
444
B58
bemoan
lament; moan for; express sorrow or
disapproval of
445
B59
bemused
confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
Jill studied the garbled instructions with a
bemused look on her face.
446
B60
benediction
blessing
The appearance of the sun after the many
rainy days was like a benediction.
447
B61
benefactor
gift giver; patron; person who does good or who
gives money for a good purpose
Scrooge later became Tiny Tim's benefactor
and gave him a benediction.
448
B62
beneficent
kindly; doing good
The overgenerous philanthropist had to curb
his beneficent impulses before he gave away
all his money and left himself with nothing.
449
450
B63
B64
beneficial
beneficiary
helpful; useful; advantageous
person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an
insurance policy or will
451
B65
benefit
advantage; anything that brings helpl,
advantage, or profit; money provided by the
government to the people; fund-raising public
entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V:
receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits
452
B66
benevolent
generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
His benevolent nature prevented him from
refusing any beggar who accosted him.
453
B67
benign
kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex.
benign tumor
454
B68
benison
blessing
455
B69
bent
determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the
business; N: natural talent or inclination
The old man was well liked because of his
benign attitude toward friend and stranger
alike.
Let us pray that the benison of peace once
more shall prevail among the nations of the
world.
bent on advancing in the business world, the
secretary heroine of Working Girl had a true
bent for high finance.
456
B70
bequeath
leave to someone by means of a will; hand
down in his will; N. bequest
457
B71
berate
scold strongly
458
459
B72
B73
bereaved
bereavement
deprived of (someone beloved through death)
state of being deprived of something valuable or
beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
460
B74
bereft
deprived of (something valuable); lacking
The foolish gambler soon found himself bereft
of funds.
461
B75
berserk
mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
Angered, he went berserk and began to
wreck the room.
462
463
B76
B77
beseech
beset
beg; plead with
harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
464
B78
besiege
surround with armed forces; harass (with
requests); annoy continually
465
B79
besmirch
soil; defile; make dirty
466
B80
bestial
beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
467
B81
bestow
confer
468
469
B82
B83
betoken
betray
signify; indicate; be a sign of
be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or
unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her
anxiety.
470
B84
betroth
become engaged to marry
You may change your beneficiary as often as
you wish.
In his will, Father bequeathed his watch to
Phillip; the bequest meant a great deal to the
boy.
He feared she would berate him for his
forgetfulness.
His friends gathered to console him upon his
sudden bereavement.
Many problems beset the American public
school system.
The scandalous remarks in the newspaper
besmirch the reputations of every member of
the society.
The Red Cross sought to put an end to the
bestial treatment of prisoners of war.
He wished to bestow great honors upon the
hero.
The announcement that they had become
betrothed surprised their friends who had not
suspected any romance.
19
471
B85
bevy
large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
472
473
474
B86
B87
B88
beware
bewitch
bicameral
be cautious (of)
cast a spell over; captivate completely
two-chambered as a legislative body
475
B89
bicker
quarrel
476
B90
bid
command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N:
offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to
gain something; Ex. bid for freedom
477
B91
biennial
every two years
The group held biennial meetings instead of
annual ones.
478
B92
bifurcated
divided into two branches; forked
With a bifurcated branch and a piece of
elastic rubber, he made a crude but effective
slingshot.
479
B93
bigot
one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or
politics)
480
B94
bigotry
stubborn intolerance
481
B95
bilious
suffering from indigestion; sick from having too
much bile; irritable; easily irritated
482
B96
bilk
swindle; cheat
483
B97
billow
large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of
smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows
484
485
B98
B99
billowing
biting
swelling out in waves; surging
sharply painful to the body or mind; Ex. biting
wind/remarks
486
B100
bitter
having a sharp biting taste; ¾´; causing sharp
pain to the body or mind; filled with resentment,
disappointment, or other unpleasant feelings;
Ex. bitter wind/sorrow/tears
487
B101
bivouac
temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
While in bivouac, we spent the night in our
sleeping bags under the stars.
488
B102
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd;
strikingly unconventional
The plot of the novel was too bizarre to be
believed.
489
B103
blackball
vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N:
negative vote
490
B104
blanch
bleach; whiten; make white or pale
Although age had blanched his hair, he was
still vigorous and energetic.
491
B105
bland
soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no
trouble or offence
She used a bland ointment for her sunburn.
492
B106
blandishment
flattery
Despite the salesperson's blandishments, the
customer did not buy the outfit.
493
B107
blare
loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of
light
494
B108
blase
495
B109
blasphemy
irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language
about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ.
blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
496
B110
blatant
extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly
offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
497
B111
bleak
cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be
favorable; depressing
498
B112
blemish
mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or
defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in
the crystal; CF. unblemished
499
B113
blight
plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
bo
The movie actor was surrounded by a bevy of
startlets.
The United States Congress is a bicameral
body.
The children bickered morning, noon, and
night, exasperating their parents.
Brought up in a democratic atmosphere,
student was shocked by the bigotry and
narrowness expressed by several of his
classmates.
His bilious temperament was apparent to all
who heard him rant about his difficulties.
The con man specialized in bilking insurance
companies.
red with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or
bored
Caught in a blatant lie, the scoundrel had only
one regret: he wished that he had lied more
subtly.
The Aleutian Islands are bleak military
outposts.
20
500
B114
blighted
suffering from a disease; destroyed
The extent of the blighted areas could be
seen only when viewed from the air.
501
502
B115
B116
bliss
blithe(blithesome
complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
) gay; joyous
503
B117
bloated
(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water
or air
504
505
B118
B119
blotch
blowhard
spot; blot; CF. blot+botch
talkative boaster; braggart
506
B120
bludgeon
club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
507
508
B121
B122
blue
blues
gloomy; depressed
state of depression or melancholy; style of slow,
mournful music (evolved from southern Black
American songs)
509
B123
bluff
pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff;
ADJ: rough but good-natured
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.
510
511
B124
B125
blunder
blunt
error; stupid mistake
having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech
or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt
The criminal's fatal blunder led to his capture.
512
B126
blurt
utter impulsively from nervousness or
excitement
Before she could stop him, he blurted out the
news.
513
B127
blush
become red in the face (from embarrassment or
shame); become red or rosy; N.
514
B128
bluster
blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully;
speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF.
breeze, gust, gale
515
B129
bode
foreshadow; portend
516
B130
bog
soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex.
bogged down in the mud
517
B131
bogus
counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex.
bogus interview
518
519
B132
B133
Bohemian
boisterous
unconventional (in an artistic way)
violent; rough; noisy
520
B134
bolster
support; reinforce
521
B135
bolt
door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of
fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off;
fasten (a | door); gobble down
522
B136
bombardment
attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard
523
B137
bombast
grandiloquent, pompous speech
524
525
526
B138
B139
B140
bombastic
bookish
boon
pompous; using inflated language
fond of books and reading
blessing; benefit; something very helpful
527
528
B141
B142
boor
boorish
rude, insensitive person
rude; insensitive
Shelley called the skylark a "blithe spirit"
because of its happy song.
Her bloated stomach came from drinking so
much water.
After all Sol's talk about his big show
business connections led nowhere, Sally
decided he was just another blowhard.
His walking stick served him as a bludgeon
on many occasions.
The gloomy skies and the sulfurious odors
from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil
to those who settled in the area.
The police quickly found the distributors of
the bogus twenty-dollar bills.
The unruly crowd became even more
boisterous when he tried to quiet them.
The debaters amassed file boxes full of
evidence to bolster their arguments.
Filled with bombast, the orator's speech left
the audience more impressed with his
pomposity than with his logic.
The recent rains that filled our empty
reservoirs were a boon to the whole
community.
Though Mr. Potts constantly interrupted his
wife, she ignored his boorish behavior, for
she had lost hope of teaching him courtesy.
21
529
B143
boost
lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N:
push upward; increase
530
531
B144
B145
botch
bouillon
mismanage; blow
clear beef (or meat) soup
532
B146
bound
leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the
limit of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or
jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty
to do something (legally or morally); confined by
bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late; Ex. I am
bound to say my opi
533
B147
bountiful
generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
She distributed gifts in a bountiful and
gracious manner.
534
B148
bourgeois
middle class; selfishly materialistic; too
interested in material possessions
The French Revolution was inspired by the
bourgeois, who resented the aristocracy.
535
B149
bout
match; short period of great activity; Ex.
wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu
536
B150
bovine
cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm
537
B151
bowdlerize
expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
538
B152
brackish
somewhat saline
539
540
B153
B154
brag
braggadocio
boast
boasting
541
B155
braggart
boaster; bragger
542
B156
braid
plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by
weaving strands together; N: braided segment
(as of hair)
543
B157
brand
trademark; mark burned on the hide of an
animal; mark burned into the flesh of criminals;
mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a
lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press
branded him a liar.
544
545
B158
B159
brandish
bravado
wave around (a weapon); flourish
swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show
of bravery
546
547
548
B160
B161
B162
brave
brawl
brawn
face courageously; Ex. brave the storm
noisy quarrel
human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
549
550
B163
B164
brawny
brazen
muscular; having well-developed muscles
insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V:
face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed
confidence
Her brazen contempt for authority angered
the officials.
551
B165
breach
breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap;
opening; V.
They found a breach in the enemy's
fortifications and penetrated their lines.
552
B166
breadth
width; extent
We were impressed by the breadth of her
knowledge.
553
B167
breed
produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an
undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal
or plant
554
B168
brevity
conciseness; shortness of duration
The cup of bouillon served by the stewards
was welcomed by those who had been chilled
by the cold ocean breezes.
Nothing excites Esther; even when she won
the state lottery, she still preserved her air of
bovine calm.
After the film editors had bowdlerized the
language in the script, the motion picture's
rating was changed from "R" to "PG."
He found the only wells in the area were
brackish; drinking the water made him
nauseous.
He was disliked because his manner was
always full of braggadocio.
Modest by nature, she was no braggart,
preferring to let her accomplishments speak
for themselves.
The bravado of the young criminal
disappeared when he was confronted by the
victims of his brutal attack.
It takes brawn to become a champion weightlifter.
brevity is essential when you send a telegram
or cablegram; you are charged for every
word.
22
555
B169
bridle
harness fitted about a horse's head (used to
restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control
or restrain; show anger
556
B170
brim
uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on
a hat); Ex. The glass was full to the brim; V: be
full to the brim
557
B171
brindled
tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of
animals)
558
B172
brink
edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of
the Grand Canyon
559
560
561
562
B173
B174
B175
B176
brisk
bristle
bristling
brittle
quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
rising like bristles; showing irritation
hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex.
brittle situation
563
B177
broach
introduce as a subject; moot; open up
564
B178
brocade
rich, figured(patterned) fabric
565
B179
brochure
pamphlet
566
567
B180
B181
broil
bromide
cook by direct heat; N.
platitude; chemical compound used to calm
excitement
568
B182
brooch
ornamental clasp; pin
569
B183
brood
sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry
anxiously; N: the young of certain animals;
group of young birds hatched at one time
570
B184
brook
tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N:
small stream
The dean would brook no interference with
his disciplinary actions.
571
B185
browbeat
bully; intimidate
Billy resisted Ted's attempts to browbeat him
into handing over his lunch money.
572
B186
browse
graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at
casually
573
574
B187
B188
bruise
brunt
injure without breaking the skin; N.
main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex.
brunt of the argument
575
B189
brusque
blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time
being nice
576
577
578
B190
B191
B192
buccaneer
bucolic
buffet
pirate
rustic; pastoral
strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table
with food set out for people to server
themselves; meal at which people help
themselves to food that's been set
579
580
B193
B194
buffoon
buffoonery
stupid person; clown
clowning
581
B195
bugaboo
bugbear; object of baseless terror
582
B196
bulge
protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The
apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell
outward; protrude
583
B197
bulk
size or volume (esp. when very large); main
part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been
done; ADJ. bulky: having great size
584
B198
bullion
gold and silver in the form of bars
585
B199
bully
one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.
He was disappointed in the litter because the
puppies were brindled; he had hoped for
animals of uniform color.
The dog stood there, bristling with anger.
My employer's brittle personality made it
difficult for me to get along with her.
He did not even try to broach the subject of
poetry.
The sofa was covered with expensive
brocade.
This brochure on farming was issued by the
Department of Agriculture.
She treasured the brooch because it was an
heirloom.
She was offended by his brusque reply.
The meadow was the scene of bucolic gaiety.
John Candy's buffoonery in Uncle Buck was
hilarious.
If we become frightened by such bugaboos,
we are no wiser than the birds who fear
scarecrows.
Much bullion is stored in the vaults at Fort
Knox.
23
586
B200
bulwark
strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other
strong defense; person who defends
The navy is our principal bulwark against
invasion.
587
588
B201
B202
bump
bungle
hit or knock against with force; N.
mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by
clumsy behavior
I was afraid you would bungle his assignment
but I had no one else to send.
589
B203
buoyant
able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N.
buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of
wood/water/American market
590
B204
bureaucracy
overregulated administrative system marked by
red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic
Many people fear that the constant
introduction of federal agencies will create a
government by bureaucracy.
591
B205
burgeon
grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex.
burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon
In the spring, the plants that burgeon are a
promise of the beauty that is to come.
592
B206
burlesque
give an imitation that ridicules; imitate
mockingly
In his caricature, he burlesqued the
mannerisms of his adversary.
593
B207
burnish
make shiny by rubbing; polish
The maid burnished the brass fixtures until
they reflected the lamplight.
594
B208
bust
piece of sculpture showing a person's head,
shoulders, and upper chest; V: break up; arrest;
Ex. crimebuster
595
B209
buttress
support; prop up; N. stationary structure to
support wall; Ex. flying buttress
Just as architects buttress the walls of
cathedrals with flying buttresses, debates
buttress their arguments with facts.
596
B210
buxom
full-bosomed; plump; jolly
High fashion models usually are slender
rather than buxom.
597
C1
cabal
small group of persons secretly united to
promote their own interests
The cabal was defeated when its scheme
was discovered.
598
C2
cache
hiding place; V.
The detectives followed the suspects until he
led them to the cache where he had stored
his loot.
599
C3
cacophonous
discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony:
unpleasant mixture of loud sounds
600
C4
cadaver
corpse; dead human body
601
C5
cadaverous
like a corpse; pale
602
C6
cadence
rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds);
beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
Marching down the road, the troops sang out,
following the cadence set by the sergeant.
603
604
C7
C8
cadet
cajole
student at a military school
persuade by praise or false promise; coax;
wheedle
I will not be cajoled into granting your wish.
605
C9
calamity
disaster; misery
606
607
C10
C11
calculated
caldron(cauldron)
deliberately planned; likely
large kettle
608
C12
caliber
ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round
cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber
A man of such caliber should not be assigned
such menial tasks.
609
C13
calligraphy
beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
610
C14
callous
hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the
sufferings of others; unkind
611
C15
callow
youthful; immature; inexperienced
As we examine ancient manuscripts, we
became impressed with the calligraphy of the
scribes.
He had worked in the hospital for so many
years that he was callous to the suffering in
the wards.
In that youthful movement, the leaders were
only a little less callow than their immature
followers.
612
613
614
C16
C17
C18
callus
calorific
calumny
area of thick hard skin
heat-producing; N. calorie
malicious misrepresentation; slander
In some states, it is illegal to dissect
cadavers.
From his cadaverous appearance, we could
see how the disease had ravaged him.
As news of the calamity spread, offers of
relief poured in to the stricken community.
Coal is much more calorific than green wood.
He could endure his financial failure, but he
could not bear the calumny that his foes
heaped upon him.
24
615
C19
camaraderie
good-fellowship; CF. comrade
What he loved best about his job was the
sense of camaraderie he and his co-workers
shared.
Tourists are advised not to purchase cameos
from the street peddlers of Rome who sell
poor specimens of the carver's art.
616
C20
cameo
shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special
appearance in a minor role in a film
617
618
C21
C22
camp
canard
group sharing a common cause or opinion
unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false
report
619
C23
candor
frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
620
C24
canine
related to dogs; doglike
621
C25
canker
any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
622
C26
canny
shrewd in money matters; thrifty
The canny Scotsman was more than a match
for the swindlers.
623
C27
cant
insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon
of thieves; special words used by a particular
group of people
Angry that the president had slashed the
education budget, we dismissed his speech
on the importance of education as mere cant.
624
C28
cantankerous
ill-humored; irritable
Constantly complaining about his treatment
and refusing to cooperate with the hospital
staff, he was a cantankerous patient.
625
C29
cantata
story set to music to be sung by a chorus
(shorter than an oratorio)
The choral society sang the new cantata
composed by its leader.
626
C30
canter
slow gallop; V. CF. trot
Because the racehorse had outdistanced its
competition so easily, the reporter wrote that
the race was won in a canter.
627
C31
canto
division of a long poem
Dante's poetic masterpiece The Divine
Comedy is divided into cantos.
628
C32
canvass
determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go
through (a region) to solicit votes or orders;
conduct a survey; N.
629
C33
capacious
spacious
After canvassing the sentiments of his
constituents, the congressman was confident
that he represented the majority opinion of his
district.
In the capacious areas of the railroad
terminal, thousands of travelers lingered
while waiting for their train.
630
C34
capacity
mental or physical ability; role; position or duty;
ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as
president
631
C35
capillary
having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine
and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine
hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
The changes in surface tension of liquids in
capillary vessels is of special interest to
physicists.
632
C36
capitulate
surrender; give up all resistance
The enemy was warned to capitulate or face
annihilation.
633
C37
caprice
whim; sudden change of mind without any real
cause
634
C38
capricious
unpredictable; fickle
She was an unpredictable creature, acting on
caprice, never taking thought of the
consequences.
The storm was capricious and changed
course constantly.
635
636
C39
C40
capsize
caption
(of a boat) turn over
title; chapter heading; text under illustration
637
C41
captious
faultfinding; too critical
638
C42
carafe
glass water bottle; decanter
639
C43
carapace
shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise,
crab, etc.)
It is almost impossible to protect oneself from
such a base canard.
The candor and simplicity of his speech
impressed all, it was all clear he held nothing
back.
Some days the canine population of Berkeley
seems almost to outnumber the human
population.
Poverty is a canker in the body politic; it must
be cured.
I find the captions that accompany these
cartoons very clever and humorous.
His criticisms were always captious and
frivolous, never offering constructive
suggestions.
With each dinner, the patron receives a
carafe of red or white wine.
At the children's zoo, Richard perched on top
of the giant turtle's hard carapace as it slowly
made its way around the enclosure.
25
640
C44
carat(karat)
unit of weight for precious stones; measure of
the purity of gold
641
C45
carcinogenic
causing cancer; N. carcinogen
Many supposedly harmless substances have
been revealed to be carcinogenic.
642
C46
cardinal
If you want to increase your word power, the
cardinal rule of vocabulary-building is to read.
643
644
C47
C48
cardiologist
careen
chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal
number: number that shows quantity rather
thatn order
doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
lurch; sway from side to side; move with
irregular swinging movement; stagger
645
646
647
C49
C50
C51
career
carefree
caricature
rush wildly; go at full speed
free from worries; having no problems
distortion; burlesque
648
C52
carillon
a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being
played
649
C53
carnage
destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large
numbers of people or animals
650
C54
carnal
fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the
body
651
652
653
C55
C56
C57
carnivorous
carousal
carping
meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
drunken revel; V. carouse
petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining;
quibble
654
C58
carrion
rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
655
C59
cartographer
map-maker
656
C60
cascade
small waterfall
657
C61
caste
one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society;
social stratification; prestige
The differences created by caste in India
must be wiped out if true democracy is to
prevail in that country.
658
C62
castigation
punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
Sensitive even to mild criticism, Woolf could
not bear castigation that she found in certain
reviews.
659
C63
castrate
remove the sex organs (of a male animal or
person)
660
C64
casual
happening by chance; irregular; occasional;
informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex.
casual reader/labor/remark
It can be argued that physical laws can be
casual as well as inveterate, since it is based
on an induction.
661
C65
casualty
serious or fatal accident; person killed or
wounded in an accident or battle
The number of automotive casualties on this
holiday weekend was high.
662
C66
cataclysm
deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and
sudden event or change
A cataclysm such as the French Revolution
affects all countries.
663
C67
catalyst
agent which brings about a chemical change
while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF.
catalysis
Many chemical reactions cannot take place
without the presence of a catalyst.
664
C68
catapult
slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
Airplanes are sometimes launched from
battleships by catapults.
665
C69
cataract
great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a
gradual loss of eyesight)
She gazed with awe at the mighty cataract
known as Niagara Falls.
666
667
C70
C71
catastrophe
catcall
calamity ; disaster
shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at
the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
The Johnstown flood was a catastrophe.
The taxicab careened wildly as it rounded the
corner.
The caricatures he drew always emphasized
personal weaknesses of the people he
burlesqued.
The carillon in the bell tower of the Coca-Cola
pavilion at the New York World's Fair
provided musical entertainment every hour.
The carnage that can be caused by atomic
warfare adds to the responsibilities of our
statesmen.
The public was more interested in carnal
pleasures than in spiritual matters.
The lion is a carnivorous animal.
The party degenerated into an ugly carousal.
Welcoming constructive criticism, Lexy
appreciated her editor's comments, finding
them free of carping.
Buzzards are nature's scavengers; they eat
the carrion left behind by other predators.
Though not a professional cartographer,
Tolkien was able to construct a map of the
fictional world.
We could not appreciate the beauty of the
many cascades as we made detours around
each of them to avoid getting wet.
26
668
C72
catechism
book for religious instruction in question-andanswer form; religious instruction by question
and answer; V. catechize
He taught by engaging his pupils in a
catechism until they gave him the correct
answer.
669
C73
categorical
without exceptions; made without any doubt in
mind; unqualified; absolute
Though the captain claimed he was never,
never sick at sea, he finally qualified his
categorical denial; he was hardly ever sick at
sea.
670
C74
cater
provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to
satisfy (desires of a bad kind)
671
C75
catharsis
Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a
catharsis by purging the soul of base
concepts.
672
C76
cathartic
purging or cleansing of any passage of the
body; purging and weakening of strong
emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic
work of art
purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to
empty; ADJ.
673
C77
catholic
(of likings and interests) universal; general;
broad; including many different parts; wideranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes
He was extremely catholic in his taste and
read everything he could find in the library.
674
C78
caucus
private meeting of a group of people in a
political party to select officers or determine
policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston
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.
675
C79
caulk(calk)
make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a
ship)
676
C80
causal
implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N.
causality
677
C81
caustic
burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical
action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks)
intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless
678
C82
cauterize
burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron
or caustic substance to stop bleeding and
prevent infection
In order to prevent infection, the doctor
cauterized the wound.
679
C83
cavalcade
procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages;
parade; CF. cavalry
As described by Chaucer, the cavalcade of
Canterbury pilgrims was motley group.
680
C84
cavalier
casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
Sensitive about having her ideas taken lightly,
Marcia felt insulted by Mark's cavalier
dismissal of her suggestion.
681
C85
cavil
quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault
unnecessarily
I respect your sensible criticisms, but I dislike
the way you cavil about unimportant details.
682
C86
cede
yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a
war); surrender formally; N. cession
I intend to cede this property to the city.
683
C87
celerity
speed; rapidity
684
C88
celestial
heavenly
Hamlet resented his mother's celerity in
remarrying within a month after his father's
death.
She spoke of the celestial joys that awaited
virtuous souls in the hereafter.
685
C89
celibate
abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried;
N. celibacy
686
687
C90
C91
cemetery
censor
place for burying the dead
(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also
taking the census); person who eliminates
inappropriate matter; V.
Soldiers dislike having their mail read by a
censor but understand the need for this
precaution.
688
689
C92
C93
censorious
censure
severely critical
blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N:
severe criticism; strong disapproval
censorious people delight in casting blame.
He was censured for his inappropriate
behavior.
690
C94
centaur
mythical figure, half man and half horse
I was particularly impressed by the statue of
the centaur in the Roman Hall of the
museum.
Some drugs act as laxatives when taken in
small doses but act as cathartics when taken
in much larger doses.
The psychologist maintained there was a
causal relationship between the nature of
one's early childhood experiences and one's
adult personality.
The critic's caustic remarks angered the
hapless actors who were the subjects of his
sarcasm.
Though the late Havelock Ellis wrote
extensively about sexual customs and was
considered an expert in such matters, recent
studies maintain he was celibate throughout
his life.
27
691
C95
centigrade
denoting a widely used temperature scale
(basically same as Celsius)
On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing
point of water is zero degrees.
692
C96
centrifugal
radiating; departing from the center
693
C97
centrifuge
machine that separates substances by whirling
them
Many automatic drying machines remove
excess moisture from clothing by centrifugal
force.
At the dairy, we employ a centrifuge to
separate cream from milk.
694
C98
centripetal
tending toward the center
Does centripetal force or the force of gravity
bring orbiting bodies to the earth's surface?
695
C99
centurion
Roman army officer (commanding a company
of about 100 soldiers)
696
C100
cerebral
pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual
rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum
Because he was in command of a company
of one hundred soldiers, he was called a
centurion.
The content of philosophical works is cerebral
in nature and requires much thought.
697
C101
cerebration
thought; working of the brain
Mathematics problems sometimes require
much cerebration.
698
C102
ceremonious
Ordinary dress would be in appropriate at so
ceremonious an affair.
699
700
C103
C104
certitude
cessation
marked by formality; extremely formal and
polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social
courtesy
certainty
stoppage
701
C105
cession
yielding to another; ceding
The cession of Alaska to the United States is
discussed in this chapter.
702
703
C106
C107
chafe
chaff
warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer
seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate
the wheat from the chaff
The collar chafed his neck.
When you separate the wheat from the chaff,
be sure you throw out the chaff.
704
C108
chaffing
bantering; joking
Sometimes his flippant and chaffing remarks
annoy us.
705
C109
chagrin
annoyance and disappointment; vexation
(caused by humiliation or injured pride)
Her refusal to go with us filled us with
chagrin.
706
C110
chalice
goblet; consecrated cup
707
C111
chameleon
lizard that changes color in different situations
In a small room adjoining the cathedral, many
ornately decorated chalices made by the
most famous European goldsmiths were on
display.
Like the chameleon, he assumed the political
coloration of every group he met.
708
C112
champion
support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights
for or supports strongly (a principle, movement,
person, etc.)
709
C113
championship
position of champion; defense or support;
competition held to determine a champion
710
C114
chancellor
711
C115
chant
legal official of high rank; CF.
chancellery(chancellory): position of a
chancellor
tune(melody) in which a number of words are
sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter
(a slogan) in the manner of a chant
712
C116
chaotic
in utter disorder
713
714
C117
C118
chapel
chaperon
small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)
older person who accompanies and supervises
a young unmarried woman
715
716
C119
C120
chaplain
char
clergyman attached to a chapel
make or become black by burning; reduce or be
reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance
made by burning wood) by incomplete
combustion
717
C121
charisma
divine gift; great popular charm or appeal;
magnetism
The workers threatened a cessation of all
activities if their demands were not met.
Martin Luther King, Jr., won the Nobel Peace
Prize because he championed the oppressed
in their struggle for equality.
He tried to bring order into the chaotic state of
affairs.
Political commentators have deplored the
importance of a candidate's charisma in
these days of television campaigning.
28
718
C122
charlatan
quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in
medicine)
When they realized that the Wizard didn't
know how to get them back to Kansas,
Dorothy and her friends were sure they'd
been duped by a charlatan.
719
C123
charm
quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula
thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract;
cast a spell on; bewitch
720
C124
chary
cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or
restrained about giving; OP. bold
721
C125
chase
ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow
rapidly to catch
722
723
C126
C127
chasm
chassis
abyss; very deep crack
framework and working parts of an automobile;
framework to which components are attached
724
C128
chaste
morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit
sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of
writing); not highly decorated; austere
Her chaste and decorous garb was
appropriately selected for the solemnity of the
occasion.
725
C129
chasten
discipline; punish in order to correct; CF.
castigate
Whom God loves, God chastens.
726
727
C130
C131
chastise
chauvinist
punish as by beating; criticize severely
blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a
group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF.
chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin
I must chastise you for this offense.
A chauvinist cannot recognize any faults in
his country, no matter how flagrant they may
be.
728
C132
check
stop motion; curb or restrain
Thrusting out her arm, Grandma checked
Bobby's lunge at his sister. "Young man," she
said, "you'd better check your temper."
729
C133
checkered(chequ
er
ed) marked by great changes in fortune; with
many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having
a pattern of squares
730
C134
cherubic
angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF.
seraph: winged angel of the highest order
With her cheerful smile and rosy cheeks, she
was a particularly cherubic child.
731
C135
chicanery
trickery; deception
Your deceitful tactics in this case are
indications of chicanery.
732
733
C136
C137
chide
chimerical
scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N.
chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female
creature
Grandma began to chide Steven for his lying.
Poe's chimerical stories are sometimes too
morbid for reading in bed.
734
C138
chip
lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N:
small piece broken off something; CF. French
fry; Potato chip/crisp
735
736
C139
C140
chisel
chivalrous
swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting
courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry
737
738
C141
C142
choice
choir
delicate; of very fine quality
group of people who sing together (esp. during
religious services); place for choir
739
C143
choleric
hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily
angered; CF. cholera
740
C144
chore
daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking,
and shopping); unpleasant task
741
C145
choreography
art of representing dances in written symbols;
arrangement of dances
742
743
744
C146
C147
C148
chortle
chorus
chronic
chuckle with delight; N.
phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
long established as a disease
A prudent, thrifty New Englander, DeWitt was
as chary of investing money in junk bonds as
he was chary of paying people unnecessary
compliments.
With his hammer, he carefully chased an
intricate design onto the surface of the
chalice.
They could not see the bottom of the chasm.
Examining the car after the accident, the
owner discovered that the body had been
ruined but that the chassis was unharmed.
chivalrous behavior involves noble words
and good deeds.
His flushed, angry face indicated a choleric
nature.
Martha Graham introduced a form of
choreography that seemed awkward and
alien to those who had been brought up on
classic ballet.
The doctors were finally able to attribute his
chronic headaches and nausea to traces of
formaldehyde gas in his apartment.
29
745
C149
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order)
The gossip columnist was paid to chronicle
the latest escapades of the socially prominent
celebrities.
746
747
C150
C151
chuckle
churlish
laugh quietly
boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
748
C152
ciliated
having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia:
eyelash
Dismayed by his churlish manners at the
party, the girls vowed never to invite him
again.
The paramecium is a ciliated, one-celled
animal.
749
C153
cipher
nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero;
secret code; V.
Lacking his code book, the spy was unable to
decode the message sent to him in cipher.
750
C154
circlet
small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn
on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)
This tiny circlet is very costly because it is set
with precious stones.
751
C155
circuit
closed circular line around an area;
circumference; regularly repeated journey from
place to place
752
C156
circuitous
roundabout
Because of the traffic congestion on the main
highways, she took a circuitous route.
753
C157
circumlocution
indirect or roundabout expression (by using an
uncecessarily large number of words esp. when
trying to avoid answering a difficult question
directly)
He was afraid to call spade a spade and
resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct
reference to his subject.
754
C158
circumscribe
limit; confine; draw a line around
Although I do not wish to circumscribe your
activities, I must insist that you complete this
assignment before you start anything else.
755
C159
circumspect
prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
Investigating before acting, she tried always
to be circumspect.
756
C160
circumvent
outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly;
outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around
In order to circumvent the enemy, we will
make two preliminary attacks in other
sections before starting our major campaign.
757
758
C161
C162
cistern
citadel
reservoir or water tank
fortress
759
C163
cite
quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an
official record
760
C164
civil
having to do with citizens; not military or
religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a
civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N.
civility; CF. civic
Although internal Revenue Service agents
are civil servants, they are not always civil to
suspected tax evaders.
761
C165
clairvoyant
having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
Cassandra's clairvoyant warning was not
heeded by the Trojans.
762
763
C166
C167
clamber
clamor
climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
loud continous noise; continuous demand or
complaint made by a large number of people; V:
make a clamor; express (a demand) continually
and loudly; ADJ. clamorous
She clambered over the wall.
The clamor of the children at play outside
made it impossible for her to take a nap.
764
C168
clandestine
secret
After avoiding their chaperon, the lovers had
a clandestine meeting.
765
C169
clangor
loud resounding noise; sound of repeated
clanging
The blacksmith was accustomed to the
clangor of hammers on steel.
766
C170
clap
strike the palms of the hands together with a
sudden explosive sound; come together
suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send
promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping;
loud or explosive sound; CF. applause
767
C171
clapper
striker (tongue) of a bell
768
C172
clarion
shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in
former times
769
770
C173
C174
clasp
claustrophobia
hold firmly within arms
fear of being locked in
The citadel overlooked the city like a
protecting angel.
She could cite passages in the Bible from
memory.
Wishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale
wound his scarf around the clapper to muffle
its striking.
We woke to the clarion to muffle its striking.
His fellow classmates laughed at his
claustrophobia and often threatened to lock
30
him in his room.
771
C175
clavicle
collarbone
Even though he wore shoulder pads, the
football player broke his clavicle during a
practice scrimmage.
772
C176
cleave
split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N.
cleavage; ADJ. cloven
The lightening cleaves the tree in two.
773
774
C177
C178
cleft
clemency
N: split
disposition to be lenient in deciding
punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ.
clement
Erosion caused a cleft in the huge boulder.
The lawyer was pleased when the case was
sent to Judge Smith's chambers because
Smith was noted for her clemency toward first
offenders.
775
C179
clich\'e
phrase dulled in meaning by repetition;
platitude; ADJ. clich\'ed
776
C180
clientele
body of customers
777
C181
climactic
relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF.
climatic
778
C182
clime
climate
779
C183
clip
780
781
C184
C185
clipper
clique
cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped
off (as a short extract from film); clasp or
fastener
sailing vessel built for great speed
small exclusive group of people
782
783
C186
C187
cloister
clot
monastery or convent
half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood);
V.
The nuns lived in the cloister.
784
C188
clout
great influence (especially political or social);
hard blow with fist
Gatsby wondered whether he had enough
clout to be admitted to the exclusive club.
785
786
C189
C190
clown
cloying
act stupidly; play the fool; N.
distasteful (because excessive); excessively
sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become
unpleasant through too much sweetness or
excess
Disliking the cloying sweetness of standard
wedding cakes, Jody and Tom chose a
homemade carrot cake for their reception.
787
C191
coagulate
congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant
788
789
C192
C193
coalesce
coalition
combine; fuse; N. coalescence
partnership; league; union of separate political
parties
790
791
C194
C195
coax
coda
persuade by flattery
concluding section of a musical or literary
composition
792
C196
coddle
treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper;
mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below
boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs
Don't coddle the children to much; they need
a taste of discipline.
793
C197
codicil
supplement to the body of a will; later addition
to a will
This codicil was drawn up five years after the
writing of the original will.
794
C198
codify
arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N.
code: system of words used instead of ordinary
writing; collection of laws, rules, established
social customs
We need to take the varying rules and
regulations of the different health agencies
and codify them into a national health code.
795
C199
coercion
use of force to get someone to object;
compelling; V. coerce
They forced him to obey, but only by great
coercion.
796
C200
coeval
living at the same time as; existing during the
same period of time; contemporary; of the same
age
coeval with the dinosaur, the pterodactyl
flourished during the Mesozoic era.
797
C201
cog
tooth projecting from a wheel
A bicycle chain moves through a series of
cogs in order to propel the bike.
798
799
C202
C203
cogent
cogitate
convincing
think over; ponder
She presented cogent arguments to the jury.
cogitate on this problem; the solution will
The rock club attracted a young, stylish
clientele.
When he reached the climactic portions of the
book, he could not stop reading.
His doctors advised him to move to a milder
clime.
She charged that a clique had assumed
control of school affairs.
Even after you remove the pudding from the
burner, it will continue to coagulate as it
stands.
The brooks coalesce into one large river.
The piece concluded with a distinctive coda
that strikingly brought together various motifs.
31
800
C204
cognate
having a common origin; related linguistically;
allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex.
cognate languages; N.
come.
The English word "mother" cognate to the
Latin word "mater," whose influence is visible
in the words "maternal" and "maternity."
801
C205
cognitive
having to do with knowing or perceiving related
to the mental processes; N. cognition: the
mental process of knowing
Though Jack was emotionally immature, his
cognitive development was admirable; he
was very advanced intellectually.
802
C206
cognizance
knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge;
aware
During the election campaign, the two
candidates were kept in full cognizance of the
international situation.
803
804
C207
C208
cohabit
cohere
live together
stick together
805
C209
cohesion
tendency to keep together
806
C210
cohorts
group of people who share some common
quality; armed band; a group of between 300
and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the
ancient Rome)
807
C211
coiffure
hairstyle
808
C212
coin
make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or
phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently
invented
809
C213
coincidence
the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two
or more seemingly connected events; V.
coincide: happen at the same time; be in
agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental
810
C214
colander
utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
Before serving the spaghetti, place it in a
colander to drain it.
811
C215
collaborate
work together; cooperate treasonably with the
enemy
Two writers collaborated in preparing this
book.
812
C216
collage
work of art put together from fragments
Scraps of cloth, paper doilies, and old
photographs all went into her collage.
813
C217
collate
examine and compare in order to verify
authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a
book before they are bound)
They collated the newly found manuscripts to
determine their age.
814
C218
collateral
security given for loan; ADJ: secondary;
descended from the same person but through
different sons or daughters
The sum you wish to borrow is so large that it
must be secured by collateral.
815
C219
collation
a light meal; collating
Tea sandwiches and cookies were offered at
the collation.
816
817
C220
C221
collected
colloquial
composed; calm; self-possessed
pertaining to conversational or common speech;
informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression
818
C222
colloquy
informal discussion; conversation
819
C223
collusion
conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or
deceive others; V. collude
820
821
C224
C225
colossal
colossus
huge
gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or
importance
822
C226
coma
deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by
disease, poison, or a severe blow
Solids have a greater tendency to cohere
than liquids.
A firm believer in the maxim "Divide and
conquer," the emperor, by lies and trickery,
sought to disrupt the cohesion ofthe free
nations.
Caesar and his Roman cohorts conquered
almost all of the known world.
You can make a statement with your choice
of coiffure: in the 60's many AfricanAmericans affirmed their racial heritage by
wearing their hair in Afros.
Your use of colloquial expressions in a formal
essay such as the one you have presented
spoils the effect you hope to achieve.
I enjoy our colloquies but I sometimes wish
that they could be made more formal and
more searching.
The swindlers were found guilty of collusion.
Radio City Music Hall has a colossal stage.
The legendary Colossus of Rhodes, bronze
statue of the sun god that dominated the
harbor of the Greek seaport, was one of the
Seven Wonders of the World.
32
823
C227
comatose
in a coma; extremely sleepy
The long-winded orator soon had his
audience in a comatose state.
824
C228
combustible
easily burned; N. CF. combustion
After the recent outbreak of fires in private
homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all
combustible materials be kept in safe
containers.
825
826
C229
C230
comeback
comely
retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing
appearance
827
C231
comestible
something fit to be eaten
The roast turkey and other comestibles, the
wines, and the excellent service made this
Thanksgiving dinner particularly memorable.
828
C232
comeuppance
deserts; well-deserved punishment or
misfortune; rebuke
After his earlier rudeness, we were delighted
to see him get his comeuppance.
829
830
C233
C234
comity
commandeer
courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
take (private property) for military use without
needing permission or giving payment; draft for
military purposes
A spirit of comity should exist among nations.
The policeman commandeered the first car
that approached and ordered the driver to go
to the nearest hospital.
831
C235
commemorate
honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to;
Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those
who died in the war
832
C236
commemorative
remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex.
commemorative stamp
The new commemorative stamp honors the
late Martin Luther King, Jr.
833
C237
commensurate
equal in extent; of the same size
Your reward will be commensurate with your
effort.
834
C238
commiserate
feel or express pity or sympathy for
Her friends commiserated with the widow.
835
C239
commodious
spacious and comfortable
After sleeping in a small roadside cabins,
they found their hotel suite commodious.
836
C240
commonplace
ordinary; N: something ordinary or common;
trite remark
837
C241
commonwealth
nation governed by the people; republic; people
of a nation
838
C242
communal
held in common; public; of a group of people; of
a commune
839
C243
commune
small (often rural) community whose members
share work and income; V: exchange thoughts
or feelings; Ex. commune with nature
840
C244
compact
agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm;
brief; concise; Ex. compact statement
841
C245
compartment
one of the parts into which an enclosed space is
divided
842
C246
compassion
sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ.
compassionate
843
C247
compatible
harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist
together
They were compatible neighbors, never
quarreling over unimportant matters.
844
C248
compelling
overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's
attention; that compels one to do something;
Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel
The prosecutor presented a well-reasoned
case, but the defense attorney's compelling
arguments for leniency won over the jury.
845
C249
compendium
brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ.
compendious
This text can serve as a compendium of the
tremendous amount of new material being
developed in this field.
846
C250
compensatory
making up for; repaying
Can a compensatory education program
make up for the inadequate schooling he
received in earlier years?
847
C251
compilation
listing of information in tabular or book form;
compiling
The compilation of available scholarships
serves a very valuable purpose.
848
C252
compile
assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report
or a book) from facts and information found in
various places; Ex. compile a dictionary
849
C253
complacency
self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
I would rather have a poor and comely wife
than a rich and homely one.
When they were divorced, they had trouble
dividing their communal property.
His short, compact body was better suited to
wrestling than to basketball.
33
850
C254
complaisant
trying to please; obliging; willing to please
others
The courtier obeyed the king's orders in a
complaisant manner.
851
C255
complement
complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
The waiter recommended a glass of port to
complement the cheese.
852
C256
complementary
serving to complete something
853
C257
compliance
conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness
to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply
The design for the new school had to be in
compliance with the local building code.
854
C258
compliant
readily acting in accordance with a rule, order,
or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to
requirements
He was compliant and ready to go along with
his friends' desires.
855
C259
complicity
participation; involvement (in a questionable act
or a crime)
You cannot keep your complicity in this affair
secret very long; you would be wise to admit
your involvement immediately.
856
C260
component
element; ingredient
I wish all the components of my stereo
system were working at the same time.
857
C261
comport
bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N.
comportment
He comported himself with great dignity.
858
C262
compost
mixture of decaying organic matter used as
fertilizer; V: put or make compost
859
C263
composure
mental calmness
Even the latest work crisis failed to shake her
composure.
860
C264
compound
combine; produce by combining; increase;
make worse by adding to or increasing;
exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ:
consisting of two or more parts; N: combination
of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall
containing a group of buildings; Ex. fac
The makers of the popular cold remedy
compounded a nasal decongestant with an
antihistamine.
861
C265
comprehend
include; understand
862
C266
comprehensive
broad; including a lot or everything; thorough;
inclusive
This book provides a comprehensive review
of verbal and math skills for the SAT.
863
C267
compress
force into less space; squeeze; contract; put
into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed
to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling,
reduce fever, etc.
She compressed the package under her arm.
864
C268
comprise
include; consist of
If the District of Columbia were to be granted
a statehood, the United States of America
would comprise fifty-onestates, not just fifty.
865
C269
compromise
adjust or settle by making mutual concessions;
endanger the interests or reputation of; put into
danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position;
Ex. compromise one's principle; N.
Your presence at the scene of the dispute
compromises our claim to neutrality in this
matter.
866
C270
compulsion
compelling; strong desire that is difficult to
control; irresistible impulse
867
868
869
C271
C272
C273
compulsive
compulsory
compunction
resulting from compulsion
obligatory; that must be done
remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
870
C274
compute
reckon; calculate
871
C275
concatenate
link as in a chain
872
C276
concave
hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
873
C277
concede
admit; acknowledge as being true (often
reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal
The judge was especially severe in this
sentencing because he felt that the criminal
had shown no compunction for his heinous
crime.
He failed to compute the interest, so his bank
balance was not accurate.
It is difficult to understand how these events
could concatenate as they did without outside
assistance.
The back-packers found partial shelter from
the storm by huddling against the concave
wall of the cliff.
Despite all the evidence Monica had
assembled, Mark refused to concede that she
was right.
34
874
C278
conceit
vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own
value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)
He was an entertaining companion, always
expressing himself in amusing conceits and
witty turns of phrase.
875
876
C279
C280
concentric
conception
having a common center
beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V.
conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise;
become pregnant; CF. inception
The target was made of concentric circles.
At the first conception of the work, he was
consulted.
877
C281
concerted
mutually agreed on; done together by
agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert:
working together
878
C282
concession
an act of yielding; conceding; something
conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly;
privilege of maintaining a business in a certain
place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF.
concessionaire
The girl scouts in the troop made a concerted
effort to raise funds for their annual outing,
and emitted a concerted sigh when their
leader announced that they had reached their
goal.
Before they could reach an agreement, both
sides had to make certain concessions.
879
C283
conciliatory
reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile;
soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing
anger)
She was still angry despite his conciliatory
words.
880
C284
concise
brief and compact
881
C285
conclave
private secret meeting
When you define a new word, be concise; the
shorter the definition, the easier it is to
remember.
He was present at all their conclaves as an
unofficial observer.
882
C286
conclusive
decisive; ending all debate
When the stolen books turned up in John's
locker, we finally had conclusive evidence of
the identity of the mysterious thief.
883
C287
concoct
prepare by mixing or combining; make up in
concert; devise (something false) so as to
deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for
being late; N. concoction
How did the inventive chef ever concoct such
strange dish?
884
C288
concomitant
that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a
frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing
or happening together with something else
Culture is not always a concomitant of wealth.
885
C289
concord
harmony; accord
Watching Tweediedum and Tweedledee
battle, Alice wondered why the two brothers
could not manage to life in concord.
886
887
C290
C291
concordat
concur
formal agreement
agree; coincide; happen at the same time
888
C292
concurrent
happening at the same time; in agreement
In America, the colonists were resisting the
demands of the mother contry; at the
concurrent moment in France, the middle
class was sowing the seeds of rebellion.
889
C293
condescend
(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air;
descend to the level of one considered inferior
The king condescended to grant an audience
to the friends of the condemned man.
890
C294
condign
adequate; (of punishment) severe and well
deserved
The public approved the condign punishment
for the crime.
891
892
C295
C296
condiments
condole
seasonings; spices
express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy
for someone who has experienced great sorrow
Spanish food is full of condiments.
His friends gathered to condole with him over
his loss.
893
C297
condone
overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
894
C298
conducive
helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce
to/towards
Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned
Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did
nothing but scold.
Rest and proper diet are conducive to good
health.
895
C299
conduit
aqueduct; passageway for fluids
896
C300
confidant(confida
nte) trusted friend (to whom one tells one's
secret)
Did you concur with the decision of the court
or did you find it unfair?
Water was brought to the army in the desert
by an improvised conduit from the adjoining
mountain.
35
897
C301
confide
tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be
confident about
898
C302
confidence
899
C303
confidential
self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based
on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief
in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in
a person or thing; something confided; secret;
Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling you
thi
spoken or written in secret; trusted with private
matters; Ex. confidential secretary
900
C304
confine
shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within
limits; N. confinement
901
C305
confiscate
seize; take possession of (private property) by
official order (usu. as a punishment);
commandeer
The army confiscated all available supplies of
uranium.
902
C306
conflagration
great fire
903
C307
confluence
flowing together; the place where two rivers flow
together; crowd; gathering together
In the conflagration that followed the 1906
earthquake, much of San Francisco was
destroyed.
They built the city at the confluence of two
rivers.
904
C308
conformist
person who uncritically conforms to the customs
of a group; OP. nonconformist: one who does
not conform to accepted beliefs of norms
905
C309
conformity
In conformity with our rules and regulations, I
am calling a meeting of our organization.
906
C310
confound
harmony; agreement with established rules or
customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity
with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement;
comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF.
conformance
confuse; puzzle
907
C311
congeal
freeze; coagulate
His blood congealed in his veins as he saw
the dread monster rush toward him.
908
C312
congenial
pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's
tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
My father loved to go out for a meal with
congenial companions.
909
C313
congenital
existing at birth
His congenital deformity disturbed his
parents.
910
C314
conglomerate
corporation made up of several different
companies in diversified fields; mass of various
material gathered together; rock consisting of
small stones held together by clay; V.
911
C315
conglomeration
mass of material sticking together
In such a conglomeration of miscellaneous
statistics, it was impossible to find a single
area of analysis.
912
C316
congruence
correspondence of parts; harmonious
relationship; CF. congruity
The student demonstrated the congruence of
the two triangles by using the hypotenusearm theorem.
913
C317
congruent
in agreement; harmonious; corresponding;
coinciding exactly; CF. congruous
914
C318
conifer
pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree;
ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen
According to geologists, the conifers were the
first plants to bear flowers.
915
C319
conjecture
surmise; guess; V.
I will end all your conjectures; I admit I am
guilty as charged.
916
C320
conjugal
pertaining to marriage
Their dreams of conjugal bliss were shattered
as soon as their temperaments clashed.
917
C321
conjure
cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or
a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp.
by very quick movement of the hands); evoke;
conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The
magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.
He conjured up an image of a reformed city
and had the voters completely under his
spell.
918
C322
connivance
pretense of ignorance of something wrong;
assistance; permission to offend; V. connive:
feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly
in an illegal action; conspire
With the connivance of his friends, he plotted
to embarrass the teacher.
No mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes
for long.
36
919
C323
connoisseur
person competent to act as a judge of art, etc.
(whose judgments are respected); a lover of an
art
She had developed into a connoisseur of fine
china.
920
C324
connotation
suggested or implied meaning of an expression;
V. connote
Foreigners frequently are unaware of the
connotations of the words they use.
921
C325
connubial
pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
In his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a
lifetime of connubial bliss.
922
C326
consanguineous(c
o
nsanguine) having a common ancestor
923
C327
consanguinity
kinship; relationship by birth
The lawsuit developed into a test of the
consanguinity of the claimant to the estate.
924
C328
conscientious
scrupulous; through and careful; Ex.
conscientious worker
A conscientious editor checked every
definition for its accuracy.
925
C329
conscript
draftee; person forced into military service; V.
Did Rambo volunteer to fight in Vietnam, or
was he a conscript, drafted against his will?
926
C330
consecrate
dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex.
consecrate one's life to helping the poor
We shall consecrate our lives to this noble
purpose.
927
C331
consensus
general agreement; opinion reached by a group
The consensus indicates that we are
opposed to entering into this pact.
928
C332
consequential
self-important; significant; consequent; following
as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF.
subsequent
Convinced of his own importance, the actor
strutted about the dressing room with a
consequential air.
929
C333
conservatory(con
s
ervatoire) school of the fine arts (especially
music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF.
conservancy
930
C334
consign
send to a person or place for sale; deliver
officially; entrust; put into the care of another;
set apart (for a special purpose); N.
consignment; CF. consignor, consignee
The court consigned the child to her paternal
grandmother's care.
931
C335
consistency
absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of
thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick
cream; CF. viscous
932
C336
console
lessen sadness or disappointment; give
comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation
Holmes judged puddings and explanations on
their consistency; he liked his puddings
without lumps and his explanations without
improbabilities.
When her father died, Marius did his best to
console Cosette.
933
C337
consolidation
unification; process of becoming firmer or
stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen
934
C338
consonance
harmony; agreement
935
936
C339
C340
consonant
consort
harmonious; in agreement; N.
associate with; keep company; N: husband or
wife (or a ruler)
The search for a consort for the young Queen
Victoria ended happily.
937
C341
conspiracy
treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by
two or more people)
Brutus and Cassius joined in the conspiracy
to kill Julius Caesar.
938
C342
conspire
take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work
together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to
produce great difficulties.
939
C343
consternation
great shock; dismay
940
C344
constituency
voters represented by an elected official; district
so represented; group of supporters (or
constituents)
941
C345
constituent
supporter; voter; member of a constituency;
component
942
C346
constitution
constituting; system of laws; composition of
something; physical makeup or structure of a
person; Ex. men with strong constitutions
943
C347
constraint
restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings;
reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain;
compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison
Her agitation seemed out of consonance with
her usual calm.
Lincoln is famous for saying that the
consternations during the civil war had left
him decrepit.
The congressman received hundreds of
letters from angry constituents after the Equal
Rights Amendment failed to pass.
There was a feeling of constraint in the room
because no one dared to criticize the
speaker.
37
944
C348
construe
explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as
meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
If I construe your remarks correctly, you
disagree with the theory already advanced.
945
C349
consummate
complete; V.
I have never seem anyone who makes as
many stupid errors as you do; you must be a
consummate idiot.
946
C350
contagion
infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF.
infectious: that can be passed by infection in the
air
Fearing contagion, they took drastic steps to
prevent the spread of the disease.
947
C351
contaminate
pollute
948
C352
contempt
scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF.
contemptible, having no respect
The sewage system of the city so
contaminated the water that swimming was
forbidden.
Even if you feel superior to others, it is
unwise to show your contempt for them.
949
C353
contend
struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state
strongly
950
951
C354
C355
contention
contentious
assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause
arguments
952
C356
contest
dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete
for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results;
Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.
The defeated candidate attempted to contest
the election results.
953
C357
context
writings preceding and following the passage
quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs
954
C358
contiguous
adjacent to; touching upon
Because these lines are taken out of context,
they do not convey the message the author
intended.
The two countries are contiguous for a few
miles; then they are separated by the gulf.
955
C359
continence
self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual
abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and
bowel functions; ADJ. continent
She vowed to lead a life of continence.
956
C360
contingent
dependent on something uncertain or in the
future; conditional; happening by chance;
accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a
larger force; CF. contingency: future event that
may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare
for every contingency
The continuation of this contract is contingent
on the quality of your first output.
957
C361
contortions
twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently
out of shape; CF. contortionist
958
C362
contraband
illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
As the effects of the opiate wore away, the
contortions of the patient became more
violent and demonstrated how much pain she
was enduring.
The coast guard tries to prevent contraband
in U.S. waters.
959
C363
contravene
contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or
custom); N. contravention
Mr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter
Elizabeth to contravene his will by eloping
with Robert Browning.
960
C364
contrite
penitent; repentant; N. contrition
Her contrite tears did not influence the judge
when he imposed sentence.
961
C365
contrivance
something contrived; machine or apparatus;
clever deceitful plan; scheme
962
C366
contrive
invent or fabricate in a clever way (by
improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract
his attention
963
C367
contrived
unnatural and forced; artificial; not
spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather
contrived.
Feeling ill at ease with his new in-laws;
James made a few contrived attempts at
conversation and then retreated into silence.
964
C368
controvert
oppose with arguments; attempt to refute;
contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
To controvert your theory will require much
time but it is essential that we disprove it.
965
C369
contumacious
stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority
(esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
The contumacious mob shouted defiantly at
the police.
966
C370
contusion
bruise
She was treated for contusions and
abrasions.
In Revolt of the Black Athlete, sociologist
Harry Edwards contends that young black
athletes have been exploited by some college
recruiters.
We heard loud and contentious noises in the
next room.
38
967
C371
conundrum
riddle; difficult problem
During the long car ride, she invented
conundrums to entertain the children.
968
C372
convene
come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex.
convene the council
969
C373
convention
social or moral custom; established practice;
formal meeting; international agreement
970
C374
conventional
ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional
weapons
Because much is needed legislation had to
be enacted, the governor ordered the
legislature to convene in special session by
January 15.
Flying in the face of convention, George Sand
(Amandine Dudevant) shocked her
contemporaries by taking lovers and wearing
men's clothes.
His conventional upbringing left him wholly
unprepared for his wife's eccentric family.
971
C375
converge
approach; tend to meet; come together
972
C376
conversant
familiar with; having knowledge of
973
C377
converse
opposite; ADJ.
974
C378
convert
one who has adopted a different religion or
opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade
to) adopt a particular religion or belief
975
976
C379
C380
convex
conveyance
curving outward
vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public
conveyance
On his trip to Japan, though the President
spoke at length about the merits of American
automobiles, he made few converts to his
beliefs.
He polished the convex lens of his telescope.
During the transit strike, commuters used
various kinds of conveyances.
977
C381
conviction
judgment that someone is guilty of a crime;
strongly held belief
Nothing could shake his conviction that she
was innocent.
978
C382
convivial
pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay;
characterized by joviality; jovial
The convivial celebrators of the victory sang
their college songs.
979
C383
convoke
call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N.
convocation
Congress was convoked at the outbreak of
the emergency.
980
C384
convoluted
coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated;
intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of
the convex folds of the surface of the brain
His argument was so convoluted that few of
us could follow a it intelligently.
981
C385
convulsion
982
C386
copious
violent uncontrollable shaking movement
(caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ.
convulsive
plentiful
983
C387
coquette
flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to
attract the admiration of men without sincere
feelings; V.
She had copious reasons for rejecting the
proposal.
Because she refused to give him an answer
to his proposal of marriage, he called her a
coquette.
984
C388
cordial
warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial
welcome
Our hosts greeted us at the airport with a
cordial welcome and a hearty hug.
985
C389
cordon
extended line of men or fortifications to prevent
access or egress; V.
The police cordon was so tight that the
criminals could not leave the area.
986
C390
cornice
projecting molding on building (usually above
columns or pillars);
987
C391
cornucopia
horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing
with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn
of plenty
Because the stones forming the cornice had
been loosened by the storms, the police
closed the building until repairs could be
made.
The encyclopedia salesman claimed the new
edition was a veritable cornucopia of
information, an inexhaustible source of
knowledge for the entire family.
988
C392
corollary
natural consequence (which naturally follows
from something else)
989
C393
coroner
public official who investigates any death
thought to be of other than natural causes
990
C394
corporeal
bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form;
material; tangible
He was not a churchgoer; he was interested
only in corporeal matters.
991
992
C395
C396
corpulent
corpus
very fat; N. corpulence
collection (of writings or information); Ex. the
corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse
The corpulent man resolved to reduce.
993
C397
corpuscle
red or white cell in the blood
Marchers converged on Washington for the
great Save Our Cities-Save Our Children
March.
The lawyer is conversant with all the
evidence.
The inevitable converse of peace is not war
but annihilation.
Brotherly love is a complex emotion, with a
sibling rivalry its natural corollary.
39
994
995
C398
C399
correlate
correlation
either of the correlated things; V.
mutual relationship
996
C400
corroborate
confirm; support; strengthen
997
C401
corrode
destroy or wear away gradually by chemical
action (over a long period)
998
C402
corrosive
eating away by chemicals or disease; (of
language) fierce
Stainless steel is able to withstand the effects
of corrosive chemicals.
999
C403
corrugated
wrinkled; ridged
She wished she could smooth away the
wrinkles from his corrugated brow.
1000
C404
cosmic
pertaining to the universe; vast
1001
C405
coterie
group that meets socially; select circle; close
group of people with shared interests
1002
C406
countenance
approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his
rude behavior; N: face; appearance
cosmic rays derive their name from the fact
that they bombard the earth's atmosphere
from outer space.
After his book had been published, he was
invited to join the literary coteri that lunched
daily at the hotel.
Whe Jose saw his newborn daughter, a
proud smile spread across his countenance.
1003
C407
countermand
cancel; revoke (an order)
The general countermand the orders issued
in his absence.
1004
C408
counterpart
thing that completes another; things very much
alike; thing that has the same purpose in a
different system
Night and day are counterparts.
1005
C409
coup
highly successful action or sudden attack;
coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow
or shot which kills
As the news of his coup spread throughout
Wall Street, his fellow brokers dropped by to
congratulate him.
1006
C410
couple
join; unite; OP. uncouple
1007
C411
courier
messenger
The Flying Karamazovs couple expert
juggling and amateur joking in their nightclub
act.
The publisher sent a special courier to pick
up the manuscript.
1008
C412
court
attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as
to invite; attempt to gain the favor of by
attention; Ex. court disaster
1009
C413
covenant
binding agreement between two groups or
people; compact; V: enter into a covenant;
promise
We must comply with the terms of the
covenant.
1010
C414
covert
secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
1011
C415
covetous
avaricious; desirous of (someone else's
possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly
(someone else's possessions)
She could understand the covert threat in the
letter.
The child was covetous by nature and wanted
to take the toys belonging to his classmates.
1012
C416
cow
terrorize; intimidate
The little boy was so cowed by the hulking
bully that he gave up his lunch money without
a word of protest.
1013
C417
cower
shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
The frightened child cowered in the corner of
the room.
1014
C418
coy
shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of
self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job
offer
She was coy in her answers to his offer.
1015
C419
cozen
cheat; hoodwink; swindle
1016
C420
crabbed
sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as
handwriting
He was the kind of individual who would
cozen his friends in a cheap card game but
remain eminently ethical in all his business
dealings.
The children avoided the crabbed old man
because he scolded them when they made
noise.
1017
C421
craft
skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving
people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful;
cunning
1018
C422
crass
very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and
undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
He sought to determine the correlation that
existed between ability in algebra and ability
to interpret reading exercises.
Unless we find a witness to corroborate your
evidence, it will not stand up in court.
The philosophers deplored the crass
commercialism.
40
1019
1020
C423
C424
crave
craven
desire; want intensely
cowardly
1021
1022
C425
C426
credence
credential
belief
evidence concerning one's authority; written
proof of a person's position; Ex. The new
ambassador presented his credentials to the
court.
Do not place any credence in his promises.
1023
C427
credo
creed
I believe we may best describe his credo by
saying that it approximates the Goldren Rule.
1024
C428
credulity
belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e;
ADJ. credulous
The witch doctor took advantage of the
credulity of the superstitious natives.
1025
C429
creed
system of religious or ethical belief
In any loyal American's creed, love of
democracy must be emphasized.
1026
C430
creep
move with body close to the ground; move
stealthily or slowly; N.
1027
C431
cremate
1028
C432
crescendo
incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory,
crematorium
increase in the volume or intensity as in a
musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
1029
C433
crest
top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the
head of a bird
1030
C434
crestfallen
dejected; dispirited
1031
C435
crevice
crack; fissure
1032
1033
1034
C436
C437
C438
cringe
crinkle
criteria
shrink back as if in fear; cower
wrinkle
standards used in judging; CF. criterion
1035
C439
crochet
make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread
with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet
1036
C440
crone
hag; ugly old woman
1037
1038
1039
C441
C442
C443
cross
crossbreed
crotchety
bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical;
bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical
notion
1040
1041
C444
C445
crust
crux
hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the
problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
This is the crux of the entire problem.
1042
C446
crypt
secret recess or vault usually used for burial;
underground room (under a church)
Until recently only bodies of rulers and
leading statesmen were interred in this crypt.
1043
1044
C447
C448
cryptic
cubicle
mysterious; hidden; secret
small chamber used for sleeping or work
His cryptic remarks could not be interpreted.
After his many hours of intensive study in the
library he retired to his cubicle.
1045
C449
cue
word or signal (as in a play to prompt another
actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V:
give a cue to
1046
C450
cuisine
style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
French cuisine is noted for its use of sauces
and wines.
1047
C451
culinary
relating to cooking or kitchen
Many chefs attribute their culinary skill to the
wise use of spices.
1048
C452
cull
pick out from others (to kill the weakest
members); reject; select; collect (information);
N.
Every month the farmer culls the nonplaying
hens from his flock and sells them to the local
butcher.
When he saw the enemy troops advancing,
he had a craven impulse to run for his life.
The overture suddenly changed from a quiet
pastoral theme to a crescendo featuring
blaring trumpets and clashing cymbols.
We were surprised at his reaction to the
failure of his project; instead of being
crestfallen, he was busily engaged in
planning new activities.
The mountain climbers found footholds in the
tiny crevices in the mountainside.
The dog cringed, expecting a blow.
What criteria did you use when you selected
this essay as the prize winner?
The toothless crone frightened us when she
smiled.
Although he was reputed to be a crochety old
gentleman, I found his ideas substantially
sound and sensible.
41
1049
C453
culmination
highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the
highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor
clashes culminating in war
His inauguration as President of the United
States marked the culmination of his political
career.
1050
C454
culpable
deserving blame; blameworthy
Corrupt politicians who condone the activities
of the gamblers are equally culpable.
1051
1052
C455
C456
culprit
culvert
one guilty of a crime
artificial channel for water; drain crossing under
a road
1053
C457
cumbersome
heavy and awkward to carry or wear;
burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
1054
C458
cumulative
growing by addition; accumulative
1055
C459
cunning
clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in
deceiving; deceit
1056
C460
cupidity
greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
1057
C461
curator
superintendent; manager (in charge of a
museum or a library)
1058
C462
curb
chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a
horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain
1059
C463
curfew
regulation requiring all people to leave the
streets at stated times; signal (as a bell)
announcing the hour of a curfew
1060
C464
curmudgeon
churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old
person
Although he was regarded by many as a
curmudgeon, a few of us were aware of the
many kindnesses and acts of charity that he
secretly performed.
1061
C465
cursive
(of writing) flowing; running; having the
successive letters joined
1062
C466
cursory
casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
In normal writing we run our letters together
in cursive form; in printing, we separate the
letters.
A cursory examination of the ruins indicates
the possibility of arson; a more extensive
study should be undertaken.
1063
C467
curtail
shorten; reduce
During the coal shortage, we must curtail our
use of this vital commodity.
1064
C468
cynical
skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N.
cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all
people are motivated by selfishness
cynical at all times, he was suspicious of all
altruistic actions of others.
1065
C469
cynosure
object of general attention; person or thing that
is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
As soon as the movie star entered the room,
she became the cynosure of all eyes.
1066
D1
debacle
sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete
disaster
This debacle in the government can only
result in anarchy.
1067
D2
debris
rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of
something broken or destroyed
1068
D3
decollete
(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF.
d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
1069
D4
denouement
final outcome; final development of the plot of a
play or other literary work; the end of a story
when everything is explained
1070
D5
dabble
work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around;
move noisily in a liquid
A full year after the earthquake in Mexico
City, workers were still carting away the
debris.
Fashion decrees that evening gowns be
decollete this season; bare shoulders are
again the vogue.
The play was childishly written; the
denouement was obvious to sophisticated
theatergoers as early as the middle of the first
act.
He first dabbled in politics when he was at
law school.
1071
D6
dainty
delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not
easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress
If we build a culvert under the road at this
point, we will reduce the possibility of the
road at this point, we will reduce the
possibility of the road's being flooded during
the rainy season.
He was burdened down with cumbersome
parcels.
Vocabulary building is a cumulative process:
as you go through your flash cards, you will
add new words to your vocabulary, one by
one.
The defeated people could not satisfy the
cupidity of the conquerors, who demanded
excessive tribute.
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.
We were given tea, and some dainty cakes.
42
1072
D7
dais
raised platform for speakers or other important
people
When he approached the dais, he was
greeted by cheers from the people who had
come to honor him.
Laertes told Ophelia that Hamlet could only
dally with her affections.
1073
D8
dally
trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary
seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
1074
D9
damn
condemn; criticize severely; condemn to
everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N.
damnation
1075
D10
dank
damp; unpleasantly wet
1076
D11
dapper
neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men)
neat in appearance and quick in movements;
neat; spry
1077
D12
dappled
spotted
1078
1079
D13
D14
dart
daub
1080
1081
D15
D16
daunt
dauntless
move or throw suddenly and quickly
smear (as with paint); cover with something
sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint;
N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of
paint
intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
bold; fearless
1082
D17
dawdle
loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
1083
D18
daze
stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb;
N.
She was wandering around in a daze this
morning.
1084
D19
dazzle
make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze;
fill with wonder
I was dazzled by the sunlight.
1085
D20
deadlock
standstill resulting from the opposition of two
unrelenting forces; stalemate
The negotiations had reached a deadlock.
1086
D21
deadpan
wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling;
with an expressionless face
We wanted to see how long he could
maintain his deadpan expression.
1087
D22
dearth
scarcity
The dearth of skilled labor compelled the
employers to open trade schools.
1088
D23
debar
bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury
services
1089
D24
debase
degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate;
lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
Do not debase youself by becoming maudlin.
1090
D25
debauch
A vicious newspaper can debauch public
ideals.
1091
D26
debilitate
corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N.
debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and
alcohol)
weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness);
enfeeble
1092
D27
debonair
(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably
dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good
disposition
The debonair youth was liked by all who met
him, because of his cheerful and obliging
manner.
1093
D28
debunk
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.;
ridicule
Pointing out that he conhsistently had voted
afainst strenghtening antipollution legislation,
reporters debunked the candidate's claim that
he was a fervent environmentalist.
1094
D29
debut
d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal
presentation of a young woman to society
1095
D30
debutante
young woman making formal entrance into
society
As a debutante, she was often mentioned in
the society columns of the newspapers.
1096
D31
decadence
decay; fall to a lower level (of morality,
civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
The moral decadence of the people was
reflected in the lewd literature of the period.
1097
1098
D32
D33
decant
decapitate
pour off gently (wine or liquid)
behead
Be sure to decant this wine before serving it.
They did not hang Lady Jane Grey; they
decapitated her.
1099
D34
decelerate
slow down
Seeing the emergency blinkers in the road
ahead, he decelerated quickly.
The walls of the dungeon were dank and
slimy.
In "The Odd Couple," Tony Randall played
Felix Unger, an excessively dapper soul who
could not stand to have a hair out of place.
The sunlight filtering though the screens
created a dappled effect on the wall.
From the way he daubed his paint on the
canvas, I could tell he knew nothing of oils.
Your threats cannot daunt me.
Despite the dangerous nature of the
undertaking, the dauntless soldier
volunteered for the assignment.
Inasmuch as we must meet a deadline, do
not dawdle over this work.
Overindulgence debilitates character as well
as physical stamina.
43
1100
D35
deciduous
falling off at a specific season or stage of
growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
The oak is a deciduous tree.
1101
D36
decimate
kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man);
destroy or kill a large part of
We do more to decimate our population in
automobile accidents than we do in war.
1102
1103
1104
D37
D38
D39
decipher
declivity
decomposition
decode; CF. indecipherable
downward slope
decay; V. decompose: decay; break and
separate into simple parts
I could not decipher the doctor's handwriting.
The children loved to ski down the declivity.
Despite the body's advanced state of
decomposition, the police were able to
identify the murdered man.
1105
1106
D40
D41
decorous
decorum
proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
propriety; orderliness and good taste in
manners; appropriateness of behavior or
conduct
1107
1108
D42
D43
decoy
decree
lure or bait; V.
authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of
law; V: order or judge by decree
1109
D44
decrepit
weak and in bad condition from old age or hard
use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
1110
D45
decrepitude
state of collapse or weakness caused by illness
or old age
1111
D46
decry
express strong disapproval of; condemn openly
(something dangerous to the public); disparage;
Ex. decry the violence of modern films
1112
D47
deducible
derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive
by reasoning
1113
D48
deface
mar; disfigure
If you deface a library book, you will have to
pay a hefty fine.
1114
D49
defalcate
embezzle
She embezzled thousands of dollars from the
charity.
1115
D50
defame
harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil
of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
1116
D51
default
failure to act; failure to perform a task or be
present; V.
1117
D52
defeatist
resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or
failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
1118
D53
defect
shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the
opposite one)
1119
D54
defection
desertion
1120
D55
defer
give in respectfully; submit; delay till later;
exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show
respect, comply with, courteous
1121
D56
deference
courteous regard for another's wish; courteous
yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing
respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
1122
1123
D57
D58
defiance
defile
refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally;
profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge
through mountains
1124
D59
definitive
most reliable; authorative and complete; that
cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive;
definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme
court
Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln may be
regarded as the definitive work on the life of
the Great Emancipator.
1125
D60
deflect
turn aside; turn away from a straight course
His life was saved when his cigarette case
deflected the bullet.
1126
D61
defoliate
destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of
chemicals); N. defoliant
In Vietnam the army made extensive use of
chemical agents to defoliate the woodlands.
1127
D62
defray
provide for the payment of; undertake the
payment of; pay
Her employer offered to defray the costs of
her postgraduate education.
Shocked by the unruly behavior, the teacher
criticized the class for its lack of decorum.
The wild ducks were not fooled by the decoy.
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.
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.
If we accept your premise, your conclusions
are easily deducible.
As a result of her husband's failure to appear
in court, she was granted a divorce by
default.
If you maintain your defeatist attitude, you will
never succeed.
The children, who had made him an idol,
were hurt most by his defection from our
cause.
In deference to his desires, the employers
granted him a holiday.
The hoodlums defiled the church with their
scurrilous writing.
44
1128
D63
defrock
strip a priest or minister of church authority;
unfrock
We knew the minister had violated church
regulations, but we had not realized his
offense was serious enough to cause him to
be defrocked.
The deft waiter uncorked the champagne
without spilling a drop.
1129
D64
deft
neat; skillful
1130
D65
defunct
dead; no longer in use or existence
The lawyers sought to examine the books of
the defunct corporation.
1131
D66
degenerate
become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ:
having become worse; Ex. a degenerate
species; N: depraved or corrupt person
As the fight dragged on, the champion's style
degenerated until he could barely keep on his
feet.
1132
D67
degradation
humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V.
degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce
(something) in worth; demote (someone);
reduce in rank
1133
D68
dehydrate
remove water from; dry out
Vigorous dancing quickly dehydrates the
body; between dances, be sure to drink more
water than normal.
1134
D69
deify
turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex.
Kings were deified; CF. deity
Admire the rock star all you want; just don't
deify him.
1135
D70
deign
condescend; stoop
He felt that he would debase himself if he
deigned to answer his critics.
1136
D71
delete
erase; strike out
If you delete this paragraph, the composition
will have more appeal.
1137
D72
deleterious
harmful
Workers in nuclear research must avoid the
deleterious effects of radioactive substances.
1138
D73
deliberate
consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
Offered the new job, she asked for time to
deliberate before she made her decision.
1139
D74
delineate
portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
He is weakest when he attempts to delineate
character.
1140
D75
delirium
mental disorder marked by confusion;
uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
The drunkard in his delirium saw strange
animals.
1141
D76
delta
flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a
river
1142
D77
delude
deceive
His dissertation discussed the effect of
intermittent flooding on the fertility of the Nile
delta.
Do not delude yourself into believing that he
will relent.
1143
D78
deluge
flood; rush; V.
When we advertised the position, we
received a deluge of applications.
1144
D79
delusion
false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex.
delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion
that
This scheme is a snare and a delusion.
1145
D80
delusive
deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising
vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
Do not raise your hopes on the basis of his
delusive promises.
1146
D81
delve
dig; search deeply; investigate
delving into old books and manuscripts is part
of a researcher's job.
1147
D82
demagogue
person who appeals to people's prejudice; false
leader of people; CF. demagoguery
He was accused of being a demogogue
because he made promises that aroused
futile hopes in his listeners.
1148
D83
demean
disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
He felt that he would demean himself if he
replied to the scurrilous letter.
1149
D84
demeanor
behavior; bearing
1150
D85
demented
insane
His sober demeanor quieted the noisy
revelers.
She became increasingly demented and had
to be hospitalized.
1151
1152
D86
D87
demerit
demise
fault; bad quality
death
1153
D88
demographic
related to population balance; N. demography:
statistical study of human population
Upon the demise of the dictator, a bitter
dispute about succession to power
developed.
In conducting a survey, one should take into
account demographic trends in the region.
45
1154
D89
demolition
destruction; V. demolish
One of the major aims of the air force was the
complete demolition of all means of
transportation by the bombing of rail lines and
the terminals.
1155
D90
demoniac(demoni
ac
al) fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural
being; devil
1156
D91
demotic
of or pertaining to the people
He lamented the passing of aristocratic
society and maintained that a demotic society
would lower the nation's standards.
1157
D92
demur
object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an
objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur
at the idea of working on Sunday
To demur at this time will only worsen the
already serious situation; now is the time for
action.
1158
D93
demure
(of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious;
coy; pretending to be demure
She was demure and reserved.
1159
D94
denigrate
blacken; defame
All attempts to denigrate the character of our
late President have failed; the people still love
him and cherish his memory.
1160
D95
denizen
(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident
of a particular place; regular visitor
Ghosts are denizens of the land of the dead
who return to earth.
1161
D96
denomination
religious group; unit in a system; name or
designation; CF. denominator: common trait or
characteristic
1162
D97
denotation
meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote:
indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
1163
D98
denounce
condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
1164
D99
depict
portray
1165
D100
deplete
reduce; exhaust
We must wait until we deplete our present
inventory before we order replacements.
1166
D101
deplore
regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval
for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent
behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving
severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living
condition
Although I deplore the vulgarity of your
language, I defend your right to express
yourself freely.
1167
D102
deploy
spread out (troops) in an extended though
shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces)
systematically or strategically
The general ordered the battalion to deploy in
order to meet the offensive of the enemy.
1168
D103
deport
send out of the country; behave; N. deportation,
deportment
1169
D104
depose
dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition;
testify
The army attempted to depose the king and
set up a military government.
1170
D105
deposition
testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
1171
D106
depravity
extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
1172
D107
deprecate
express disapproval of; deplore; protest against;
belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
1173
D108
depreciate
lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little
value
He made his deposition in the judge's
chamber.
The depravity of the tyrant's behavior
shocked us all.
A firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy,
Miss Post deprecated the modern tendency
to address new acquaintances by their first
names.
If you neglect this properly, it will depreciate.
1174
D109
depredation
plundering; destruction
1175
D110
deputize
work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person
who has the power to take charge when the
leading person is away
1176
D111
deranged
insane
A dictionary will always give us the denotation
of a word; frequently, it will always give us its
connotation.
The reform candidate denounced the corrupt
city officers for having betrayed the public's
trust.
In this book, the author depicts the slave
owners as kind and benevolent masters.
After the depredations of the invaders, the
people were penniless.
He had to be institutionalized because he
was deranged.
46
1177
D112
derelict
negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of
something) deserted by an owner; abandoned;
N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant
person
The corporal who fell asleep while on watch
was thrown into the guardhouse for being
derelic in his duty.
1178
1179
D113
D114
dereliction
deride
neglect of duty; abandonment
ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP.
respect
1180
D115
derision
ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
1181
D116
derivation
deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the
derivation of the word
1182
D117
derivative
unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex.
derivative prose style; N.
1183
D118
dermatologist
one who studies the skin and its diseases
1184
D119
derogatory
expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V.
derogate: detract; disparage
I resent your derogatory remarks.
1185
D120
descry
catch sight of (something distant)
In the distance, we could barely descry the
enemy vessels.
1186
1187
1188
D121
D122
D123
desecrate
deserts
desiccate
profane; violate the sanctity of
what someone deserves
dry up
The soldiers desecrated the temple.
1189
D124
desolate
make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
The bandits desolated the countryside,
burning farms and carrying off the harvest.
1190
D125
desperado
reckless, desperate outlaw
Butch Cassidy was a bold desperado with a
price on his head.
1191
D126
desperate
having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and
violent because of loss of hope or despair;
undertaken as a last resort
1192
D127
despise
look on with scorn; regard as worthless or
distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
I despise your attempts at a reconciliation at
this time and refuse to meet you.
1193
D128
despoil
plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
If you do not yield, I am afraid the enemy will
despoil the countryside.
1194
D129
despondent
without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy;
N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom;
dejection
To the dismay of his parents, he became
more and more depondent every day.
1195
1196
D130
D131
despot
destitute
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence;
utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any
experience
1197
D132
desultory
aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
In prison Malcolm X set himself the task of
reading straight through the dictionary; to him
reading was purposeful, not desultory.
1198
D133
detached
emotionally removed; free from emotional
involvement; calm and objective; physically
separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
A psychoanalyst must maintain a detached
point of view and stay uninvolved with her
patients' perssonal lives.
1199
D134
detain
keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N.
detention
1200
D135
determinate
having a fixed order of procedure; precisely
defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
1201
D136
determination
resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or
calculation; decision
1202
D137
deterrent
something that discourages or deters
Does the threat of capital punishment serve
as a deterrent to potential killers?
1203
D138
detonation
explosion
The detonation of the bomb could be heard
miles away.
The people derided his grandiose schemes.
They greeted his proposal with derision and
refused to consider it seriously.
Although her early poetry was clearly
derivative in nature, the critics thought she
had promise and eventually would find her
own voice.
I advise you to consult a dermatologist about
your acne.
A tour of this smokehouse will give you an
idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate
food in order to preserve it.
The costs of the father's illness left the family
destitute.
At the royal wedding, the procession of the
nobles followed a determinate order of
precedence.
47
1204
D139
detraction
slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
He is offended by your frequent detractions of
his ability as a leader.
1205
D140
detrimental
harmful; damaging; N. detriment
1206
D141
deviate
turn away from (a principle, norm); move away
from an accepted standard; swerve; depart;
diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path
of light by a prism
Your acceptance of her support will ultimately
prove detrimental rather than helpful to your
cause.
Do not deviate from the truth; you must face
the facts.
1207
D142
devious
roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight
course; not straightforward; not completely
honest; Ex. devious route
1208
1209
D143
D144
devise
devoid
think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
empty; lacking
1210
D145
devolve
deputize; pass or be passed to others (power,
work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
He was devoid of any personal desire for gain
in his endeavor to secure improvement in the
community.
It devolved upon us, the survivors, to arrange
peace terms with the enemy.
1211
D146
devotee
enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of
Bach
A devotee of the opera, he bought season
tickets every year.
1212
D147
devout
pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my
devout hope
The devout man prayed daily.
1213
D148
dexterous
skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
1214
D149
diabolical
diabolic; devilish; fiendish
1215
D150
diadem
crown
The magician was so dexterous that we could
not follow his movements as he performed
his tricks.
This scheme is so diabolical that I must reject
it.
The king's diadem was on display at the
museum.
1216
D151
dialectical
1217
D152
diaphanous
relating to the art of debate; mutual or
reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic:
art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of
logical arguments
sheer; transparent
1218
D153
diatribe
bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
1219
D154
dichotomy
division into two opposite parts; split; branching
into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
1220
D155
dictum
authoritative and weighty statement (made by a
judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter
dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark
(something said in passing)
She repeated the statement as though it were
the dictum of the most expert worker in the
group.
1221
D156
didactic
(of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral
lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
The didactic qualities of his poetry
overshadow its literary qualities; the lesson
he teaches is more memorable than the lines.
1222
D157
die
metal block used for shaping metal or plastic;
device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF.
dice
In coining pennies, workers at the old mint
squeezed sheets of softened copper between
two dies.
1223
D158
diffidence
shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ.
diffident
You must overcome your diffidence if you
intend to become a salesperson.
1224
D159
diffuse
wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a
gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N.
diffusion; CF. suffuse
1225
1226
D160
D161
dignitary
digression
person of high rank or position
wandering away from the subject; V. digress
1227
D162
dilapidated
falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined
because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old
car/castle; N. dilapidation
Your devious behavior in this matter puzzles
me since you are usually direct and
straightforward.
They saw the burglar clearly through the
diaphanous curtain.
During the lengthy diatribe delivered by his
opponent he remained calm and selfcontrolled.
The dichotomy of our legislative system
provides us with many safeguards.
Nobody minded when Professor Renoir's
lectures wandered away from their offical
theme; his digressions were always more
fascinating than the topic of the day.
We felt that the dilapidated building needed
several coats of paint.
48
1228
D163
dilate
expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length
on (a subject)
In the dark, the pupils of your eyes dilate.
1229
D164
dilatory
delaying; tending to delay
Your dilatory tactics may compel me to
cancel the contract.
1230
D165
dilemma
situation that requires a choice between equally
unfavorable options; problem; choice of two
unsatisfactory alternatives
In this dilemma, he knew no one to whom he
could turn for advice.
1231
D166
dilettante
aimless follower of an art or a field of
knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur;
dabbler; CF. delight
He was not serious in his painting; he was
rather a dilettante.
1232
D167
diligence
steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
1233
D168
dilute
1234
D169
diminution
make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in
strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the
president
lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
Her employers were greatly impressed by her
diligence and offered her a partnership in the
firm.
She preferred her coffee diluted with milk.
1235
D170
din
continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by
wearying repetition
1236
D171
dinghy
small boat (often ship's boat)
1237
D172
dingy
(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy
street/curtain
Refusing to be depressed by her dingy studio
apartment, Bea spent the weekend polishing
the floors and windows and hanging bright
posters on the walls.
1238
D173
dint
means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
By dint of much hard work, the volunteers
were able to control the raging forest fire.
1239
D174
diorama
life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature
or history; three-dimensional scene with
modeled figures against a painted background
1240
D175
dire
warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and
dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire
prediction/need of food
Because they dramatically pose actual
stuffed animals against realistic painted
landscapes, the dioramas at the Museum of
Natural History particularly impress high
school biology students.
People ignored her dire predictions of an
approaching depression.
1241
D176
dirge
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music
(sung over a dead person)
The funeral dirge stirred us to tears.
1242
D177
disabuse
correct a false impression; undeceive; free from
a wrong belief
1243
D178
disaffected
disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to
lose affection or loyalty
I will attempt to diabuse you of your
impression of my client's guilt; I know he is
innocent.
Once the most loyal of Gorbachev's
supporters, Shverdnaze found himself
becoming increasingly disaffected.
1244
D179
disapprobation
disapproval; condemnation
1245
D180
disarray
state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state;
Ex. with her clothes in disarray
The conservative father viewed his
daughter's radical boyfriend with
disapprobation.
After the New Year's party, the once orderly
house was in total disarray.
1246
D181
disavowal
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V.
disavow; CF. disclaim
His disavowal of his part in the conspiracy
was not believed by the jury.
1247
D182
disband
dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and
separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
The chess club disbanded after its disastrous
initial season.
1248
D183
disbar
make (a lawyer) leave the bar or the legal
profession
1249
D184
disburse
pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF.
purse
When you disburse money on the company's
behalf, be sure to get a receipt.
1250
D185
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible
improvement
The ships in the harbor were not discernible
in the fog.
The blockaders hoped to achieve victory as
soon as the diminution of the enemy's
supplies became serious.
The din of the jackhammers outside the
classroom window drowned out the lecturer's
voice.
In the film Lifeboat, an ill-assorted group of
passengers from a sunken ocean liner are
marooned at sea in a dinghy.
49
1251
D186
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having insight;
perceptive; able to make good judgments; V.
discern: perceive
Because he was considered the most
discerning member of the firm, he was
assigned the most difficult cases.
1252
D187
disclaim
disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
If I grant you this previlege, will you disclaim
all other rights?
1253
D188
disclose
reveal; N. disclosure
Although competitors offered him bribes, he
refused to disclose any information about his
company's forthcoming product.
1254
D189
discombobulated
discomposed; confused
1255
D190
discomfit
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert;
embarrass; perturb
The novice square dancer became so
discombobulated that he wandered into
wrong set.
This ruse will discomfit the enemy.
1256
D191
discompose
disturb the composure of; confuse
1257
D192
disconcert
confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
1258
D193
disconsolate
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
1259
D194
discord
conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when
musical notes are played)
1260
1261
D195
D196
discordant
discount
not harmonious; conflicting
disregard; regard (a story or news) as
unimportant; deduct from a cost
She tried to unite the discordant factions.
Be prepared to discount what he has to say
about his ex-wife.
1262
D197
discourse
serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal
discussion (either written or spoken);
conversation; V.
The young Plato was drawn to the Agora to
hear the philosophical discourse of Socrates
and his followers.
1263
D198
discredit
defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in;
disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing
discredit; shameful
The campaign was highly negative in tone;
each candidate tried to discredit the other.
1264
D199
discrepancy
lack of consistency or agreement as between
facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two
descriptions
The police noticed some discrepancies in his
description of the crime and did not believe
him.
1265
1266
D200
D201
discrete
discretion
separate; unconnected
prudence; ability to adjust actions to
circumstances; freedom of action or judgment;
ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
The universe is composed of discrete bodies.
Use your discretion in this matter and do not
discuss it with anyone.
1267
D202
discriminate
distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of
preference
1268
D203
discriminating
able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced;
N. discrimination
1269
D204
discursive
(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling
(without any clear plan)
They were annoyed and bored by her
discursive remarks.
1270
1271
D205
D206
disdain
disembark
treat with scorn or contempt
debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo
from a ship; CF. embark
1272
D207
disenfranchise
disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP.
enfranchise
You make enemies of all you disdain.
Before the passengers could disembark, they
had to pick up their passports from the ship's
purser.
The imposition if the poll tax effectively
disenfranchised poor Southern blacks, who
lost their right to vote.
1273
D208
disengage
uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting;
OP. engage
A standard movie routine involves the hero's
desperate attempt to disengage a railroad car
from a moving train.
1274
D209
disfigure
mar the appearance of; spoil
1275
D210
disgorge
surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP.
gorge
1276
D211
disgruntle
make discontented
An ugly frown disfigured his normally
pleasant face.
Unwilling to disgorge the cash he had stolen
from the pension fund, the embezzler tried to
run away.
The passengers were disgruntled by the
numerous delays.
1277
D212
dishearten
discourage
The lawyer was disconcerted by the evidence
produced by her adversary.
His failure to pass the bar exam disheartened
him.
50
1278
D213
disheveled
untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
Your disheveled appearance will hurt your
chances in this interview.
1279
1280
D214
D215
dishonor
disinclination
disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
unwillingness
1281
D216
disingenuous
not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly
wise; OP. ingenuous
Although he was young, his remarks
indicated that he was disingenous.
1282
D217
disinter
dig up; unearth; OP. inter
1283
D218
disinterested
unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest;
objective
They disinterred the body and held an
autopsy.
The only disinterested person in the room
was the judge.
1284
D219
disjointed
disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint:
disconnect; disjoin
His remarks were so disjointed that we could
not follow his reasoning.
1285
D220
disjunction
act or state of separation; disunity; CF.
disjunctive: expressing a choice between two
ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
1286
D221
dislodge
remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex.
dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
1287
D222
dismantle
take apart; disassemble
1288
D223
dismember
cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from
limb
1289
D224
dismiss
eliminate from consideration; no longer
consider; put out of court without further
hearing; reject; discharge from employment;
direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal
1290
D225
disparage
belittle
Do not disparage anyone's contribution;
these little gifts add up to large sums.
1291
D226
disparate
basically different; impossible to compare;
unrelated
1292
D227
disparity
difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
1293
D228
dispassionate
calm; impartial; not influenced by personal
feelings
It is difficult, if not impossible, to organize
these disparate elements into a coherent
whole.
The disparity in their ages made no difference
at all.
In a dispassionate analysis of the problem, he
carefully examined the causes of the conflict
and proceeded to suggest suitable remedies.
1294
D229
dispatch
speediness; prompt execution; message sent
with all due speed; V: send to a specified
destination; finish promptly; kill
Young Napoleon defeated the enemy with all
possible dispatch; he then sent a dispatch to
headquarters, informing his commander of
the great victory.
1295
D230
dispel
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
The bright sunlight eventually dispelled the
morning mist.
1296
D231
dispense
distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N.
dispensation: dispensing; religious system;
official exemption from an obligation or a rule
1297
D232
disperse
scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
The police fired tear gas into crowd to
disperse the protesters.
1298
D233
dispirited
lacking in spirit
1299
D234
disport
amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
The coach used all the tricks at his command
to buoy up the enthusiasm of his team, which
I had become dispirited at the loss of the star
player.
The popularity of Florida as a winter resort is
constantly increasing; each year, thousands
more disport themselves at Miami and Palm
Beach.
1300
D235
disproportion
lack of proportion (between the parts); ADJ.
disproportionate
1301
D236
disputatious
argumentative; fond of argument
1302
D237
disquietude
uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
Some mornings I feel a great disinclination to
get out of bed.
Thrusting her fist up under the choking man's
lower ribs, Margaret used the Heimlich
maneuver to dislodge the food caught in this
throat.
When the show closed, they dismantled the
scenery before restoring it.
When the Austrian Empire was
dismembered, several new countries were
established.
Believing in John's love for her, she
dismissed the notion that he might be
unfaithful.
People avoided discussing contemporary
problems with him because of his
disputatious manner.
51
1303
D238
disquisition
formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the
results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech
or written report
In his disquisition, he outlined the steps he
had taken in reaching his conclusions.
1304
D239
dissection
analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
The dissection of frogs on the laboratory is
particularly unpleasant to some students.
1305
D240
dissemble
disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
Even though John tried to dissemble his
motive for taking modern dance, we all knew
there not to dance but to meet girls.
1306
D241
disseminate
distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
The invention of the radio helped
propagandists to disseminate their favorite
doctrines very easily.
1307
D242
dissension
disagreement of opinions causing strife within a
group
1308
D243
dissent
disagree
1309
D244
dissertation
formal essay; treatise
1310
D245
dissident
dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a
government); rebellious; N.
1311
D246
dissimulate
pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
1312
D247
dissipate
squander; waste foolishly; scatter
The young man quickly dissipated his
inheritance and was soon broke.
1313
D248
dissolution
disintegration; reduction to a liquid form;
looseness in morals; sensual indulgence;
debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral
restraint; leading an immoral life
The profligacy and dissolution of life in
Caligula's Rome appall some historians.
1314
D249
dissonance
discord
Some contemporary musicians deliberately
use dissonance to achieve certain effects.
1315
D250
dissuade
persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
He could not dissuade his friend from joining
the conspirators.
1316
D251
distant
reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant
greeting; ADV. distantly
His distant greeting made me feel unwelcome
from the start.
1317
D252
distend
expand; swell out
I can tell when he is under stress by the way
the veins distend on his forehead.
1318
D253
distill
refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent
condensation); concentrate; separate the most
important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from
sea water; CF. brew
A moonshiner distills mash into whiskey; an
epigrammatist distills thoughts into quips.
1319
1320
D254
D255
distinct
distinction
clearly different; clearly noticed
honor; excellence; difference; contrast;
discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction;
Ex. a writer of real distinction
1321
1322
D256
D257
distinctive
distort
clearly different from others of the same kind
twist out of shape; give a false account of;
misrepresent; N. distortion
1323
D258
distract
take (one's attention) off something; upset
emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted
1324
D259
distrait
absentminded; distracted
Because of his concentration on the problem,
the professor often appeared distrait and
unconcerned about routine.
1325
D260
distraught
upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and
troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex.
distraught with grief/worry
The distraught parents frantically searched
the ravine for their lost child.
1326
D261
diurnal
daily; occurring during the daytime
A farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks at
any time; cows, for example, must be milked
regularly.
In a landmark Supreme Court decision,
Justice Marshall dissented from the majority
opinion.
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.
In the purge that followed the student
demonstrations at Tianamen Square, the
government hunted down the dissident
students and their supporters.
She tried to dissimulate her grief by her
exuberant attitude.
52
1327
D262
diva
operatic singer; prima donna
Although world famous as a diva, she did not
indulge in fits of temerament.
1328
D263
diverge
vary; go in different directions from the same
point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
The spokes of the wheel diverge from the
hub.
1329
D264
diverse
differing in some characteristics (from each
other); various; N. diversity: | variety;
dissimilitude; lack of resemblance
There are diverse ways of approaching this
problem.
1330
D265
diversion
act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn
aside from a course; distract; amuse
After studying for several hours, he needed a
diversion from work.
1331
D266
divest
strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights);
dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)
He was divested of his power to act and
could no longer govern.
1332
D267
divine
1333
D268
divulge
perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic);
foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N.
divination
reveal
Nothing infuriated Tom more than Aunt
Polly's ability to divine when he was not
telling the truth.
I will not tell you this news because I am sure
you will divulge it prematurely.
1334
D269
docile
obedient; easily managed; submissive
As docile as he seems today, that old lion
was once a ferocious, snarling beast.
1335
D270
docket
program as for trial; book where such entries
are made; list of things to be done; agenda;
label fixed to a package listing contents or
directions; V: describe in a docket
The case of Smith v. Jones was entered in
the docket for July 15.
1336
D271
doctrinaire
unable to compromise about points of doctrine;
dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible
attachment to a doctrine without regard to its
practical difficulties
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.
1337
D272
doctrine
teachings in general; particular principle
(religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet;
ADJ. doctrinal
1338
D273
document
provide written evidence (for a claim); record
with documents; N.
1339
D274
doddering
shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
1340
1341
D275
D276
doff
dogged
take off; OP. don
determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering;
tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit
of Jean Valjean
1342
D277
doggerel
poor verse
Although we find occasional snatches of
genuine poetry in her work, most of her
writing is mere doggerel.
1343
D278
dogmatic
opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's
opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal
Do not be so dogmatic about that statement;
it can be easily refuted.
1344
D279
doldrums
blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy);
slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation;
ocean area near the equator where ships
cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in
the doldrums
Once the excitement of meeting her deadline
was over, she found herself in the doldrums.
1345
D280
dolorous
sorrowful; N. dolor
He found the dolorous lamentations of the
bereaved family emotionally disturbing and
he left as quickly as he could.
1346
D281
dolt
slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
1347
D282
domicile
home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's
domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
I thought I was talking to a mature audience;
instead, I find myself addressing a pack of
dolts.
Althoughhis legal domicile was in New York
City, his work kept him away from his
residence for many years.
1348
D283
dominant
exercising the most influence; high and easily
seen; stronger than the other part of a system;
not recessive
She kept all the receipts from her business
trip in order to document her expenses for the
firm.
Although he is not as yet a doddering and
senile old man, his ideas and opinions no
longer can merit the respect we gave them
years ago.
A gentleman used to doff his hat to a lady.
Les Miserables tells of Inspector Javert's
long, dogged pursuit of the criminal Jean
Valjean.
53
1349
D284
dominate
control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in;
overlook from a height; ³»·Á´Ùº¸´Ù
1350
D285
domineer
rule over tyrannically
Students prefer teachers who guide, not ones
who domineer.
1351
D286
don
put on; OP. doff
When Clark Kent had to don his Superman
outfit, he changed clothes in a convenient
phone booth.
1352
D287
doom
condemnation to a severe penalty; ruin; fate
(esp. a tragic or ruinous one); V.
1353
D288
dormant
sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
Sometimes dormant talents in our friends
surprise those of us who never realize how
gifted our acquaintances really are.
1354
D289
dormer
window projecting upright from roof; CF.
sleeping room
1355
D290
dorsal
relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
1356
D291
dossier
file of documents on a subject or person; file;
CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
1357
D292
dotage
senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In
one's dotage
In remodeling the attic into a bedroom, we
decided that we needed to put in dormers to
provide sufficient ventilation for the new
room.
A shark may be identified by its dorsal fin,
which projects above the surface of the
ocean.
Ordered by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate
the senator, the FBI compiled a complete
dossier.
In his dotage, the old man bored us with long
tales of events in his childhood.
1358
D293
dote
be excessively fond of; show signs of mental
decline
Not only grandmothers bore you with stories
about their brilliant grandchildren;
grandfathers dote on the littel rascals, too.
1359
1360
D294
D295
dour
douse
sullen; gloomy; stubborn
plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse;
drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water
over; dowse
The man was dour abd taciturn.
They doused each other with hoses and
balloons.
1361
D296
dowdy
untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly;
dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF.
unattractive woman
She tried to change her dowdy image by
buying a fashionable new wardrobe.
1362
D297
downcast
disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
Cheerful and optimistic by nature, Beth was
never downcast despite the difficulties she
faced.
1363
D298
dowry
money or property brought by a bride to her
husband at marriage
1364
D299
dowse
use a divining rod to search for underground
water or minerals
1365
1366
D300
D301
doze
drab
sleep lightly; nap
dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
1367
D302
draconian
extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment;
CF. Draco: Athenian politician
1368
D303
draft
first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make
a draft of; conscript
1369
D304
drama
prose or verse composition to be performed by
actors; play; exciting and unusual situation
1370
D305
drastic
strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic
changes/measures
1371
D306
draught
current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of
pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount
of liquid swallowed at a time
1372
1373
D307
D308
draw
dregs
choosing of a lot or card
sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
1374
D309
dribble
flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly
from the mouth; move a ball; N.
1375
D310
drip
fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or
sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
The Dutch woman's drab winter coat
contrasted with the distinctive, colorful native
costume she wore beneath it.
David poured the wine carefully to avoid
stirring up the dregs.
54
1376
1377
D311
D312
drivel
droll
nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
queer and amusing
1378
D313
drone
talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
1379
D314
droop
bend or hang downward; become weakened;
Ex. His shoulders drooped with tiredness; N.
1380
D315
dross
waste matter; worthless impurities
1381
1382
D316
D317
drudge
drudgery
do drudgery; N: person who drudges
hard unpleasant work; menial work
1383
D318
dubious
questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of
someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
1384
D319
ductile
malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into
shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced
or controlled
1385
D320
dulcet
sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
1386
D321
dull
(of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy;
overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp;
not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and
understanding; stupid; V.
1387
D322
dumbfound(dumfo
un
d) astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded,
dumfounded, dumbstruck
1388
D323
dummy
imitation of a real object used as a substitute;
effigy
1389
D324
dupe
someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
1390
D325
duplicity
double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and
deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
1391
1392
D326
D327
duration
duress
length of time something lasts
forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion
by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made
under duress
1393
D328
dutiful(duteous)
(of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient
(filled with a sense of duty)
1394
D329
dwindle
shrink; reduce gradually
They spent so much money that their funds
dwindled to nothing.
1395
D330
dynamic
energetic; vigorously active
A dynamic government is necessary to meet
the demands of a changing society.
1396
D331
dynamo
generator for producing electricity; energetic
person
1397
1398
D332
D333
dysdysentery
1399
D334
dyslexia
abnormal; impaired
inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal
tract
word blindness; learning disorder marked by
impairment of the ability to read
1400
D335
dyspeptic
suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia:
indigestion; difficulty in digesting food
1401
E1
earmark
set aside (money or time) for a particular
purpose
1402
E2
earn
gain for the performance of service or labor;
gain (something that one deserves); deserve
1403
E3
earthly
of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine;
possible; Ex. no earthly reason
1404
E4
earthy
unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks;
OP. ethereal
His earthy remarks often embarrassed the
women in the audience.
1405
E5
ebb
(of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP.
flow: rise of tide
His fortunes began to ebb during the
recession.
He was a popular guest because his droll
anecdotes were always entertaining.
On a gorgeous day, who wants to be stuck in
a classroom listening to the teacher drone?
Many methods have been devised to
separate the valuable metal from the dross.
Cinderella's fairy godmother rescued her from
a life of drudgery.
He has the dubious distinction of being the
lowest man in his class.
The dulcet sounds of the birds at dawn were
soon drowned out by the roar of traffic
passing our motel.
While the gullible Watson often was made a
dupe by unscrupulous parties, Sherlock
Holmes was far more difficult to fool.
The hostages were held under duress until
the prisoners' demands were met.
All the talk about rich food made him feel
dyspeptic.
55
1406
E6
ebullient
showing excitement; overflowing with
enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition:
state of boiling
His ebullient nature could not be repressed.
1407
E7
eccentric
irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical;
bizarre; not concentric
The comet passed close by the earth in its
eccentric orbit.
1408
E8
eccentricity
oddity; idiosyncrasy
1409
E9
ecclesiastic
ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N:
minister; priest; cleric; clergyman
Some of his friends tried to account for his
rudeness to strangers as the eccentricity of
genius.
The minister donned his ecclesiastic garb and
walked to the pulpit.
1410
E10
eclectic
selective; composed of elements drawn from
disparate sources; selecting individual elements
from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism
1411
E11
eclipse
darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an
eclipse
1412
1413
E12
E13
ecliptic
ecologist
path of the sun and the planets
person concerned with the interrelationship
between living organisms and their
environment; person concerned with the
detrimental effects of human civilization on the
environment; CF. ecology
1414
E14
economy
efficiency or conciseness in using something;
thrifty management of resources
1415
E15
ecosystem
ecological community together with its
environment
1416
E16
ecstasy
rapture; very strong feeling of joy and
happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ.
ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy
The announcement that the war had ended
brought on an ecstasy that resulted in many
uncontrolled celebrations.
1417
E17
eddy
swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.
The water in the tide pool was still, except for
an occasional eddy.
1418
E18
edict
decree (especially one issued by a sovereign);
official command
1419
1420
E19
E20
edifice
edify
building (of imposing size)
instruct; correct morally
1421
E21
eerie
weird; causing fear because strange
In that eerie setting, it was easy to believe in
ghosts and other supernatural beings.
1422
E22
efface
rub out; remove the surface of
The coin had been handled so many times
that its data had been effaced.
1423
E23
effective
effectual; producing a strong response; striking;
in operation; in effect; Ex. effective
speech/photograph
1424
E24
effectual
able to produce a desired effect; valid
1425
E25
effectuate
effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a
reconciliation
1426
1427
E26
E27
effeminate
effervescence
having womanly traits
inner excitement or exuberance; showing high
spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling
from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ.
effervescent; V. effervesce
His voice was high-pitched and effeminate.
Nothing depressed her for long; her natural
effervescence soon reasserted itself.
1428
E28
effete
having lost one's original power; barren; worn
out; exhausted
1429
E29
efficacy
power to produce desired effect; ADJ.
efficacious: effectual
The literature of the age reflected the effete
condition of the writers; no new ideas were
forthcoming.
The efficacy of this drug depends on the
regularity of the dosage.
1430
E30
effigy
dummy; likeness of a person made of wood,
paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the
President
His style of interior decoration was eclectic:
bits and pieces of furnishings from widely
divergent periods, strikingly juxtaposed to
create a unique color.
The new stock market high eclipsed the
previous record set in 1985.
The ecologist was concerned that the new
dam would upset the natural balance of the
creatures living in Glen Canyon.
Reading the epigrams of Pope, I admire the
economy of his verse: in few words he
conveys worlds of meaning.
Although his purpose was to edify and not to
entertain his audience, many of his listeners
were amused and not enlightened.
If we are to succeed, we must seek effectual
means of securing our goals.
The mob showed its irritation by hanging the
judge in effigy.
56
1431
E31
effluvium
noxious(harmful) smell
Air pollution has become a serious problem in
our major cities; the effluvium and the
poisons in the air are hazards to life.
1432
E32
effrontery
rudeness without any sense of shame;
shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve;
cheek
She had the effrontery to insult the guest.
1433
1434
E33
E34
effulgent
effusion
shining brightly; brilliant
pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of
feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive:
pouring forth; gushing
The critics objected to her literary effusion
because it was too flowery.
1435
1436
E35
E36
ego
egoism
one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem
excessive interest in one's self; belief that one
should be interested in one's self rather than in
others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical
His egoism prevented him from seeing the
needs of his colleagues.
1437
E37
egotism
tendency to speak or write of oneself
excessively; conceit; self-importance
She thought so much of herself that we found
her egotism unwarranted and irritating.
1438
E38
egotistical
egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric);
self-important; conceited
1439
E39
egregious
notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking
She was an egregious liar; we all knew better
than to believe a word she said.
1440
E40
egress
exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP.
ingress
1441
E41
ejaculation
exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge
sperm); V. ejaculate
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.
He could not repress an ejaculation of
surprise when he heard the news.
1442
E42
elaborate
work out carefully; add more detail or
information; ADJ.
1443
E43
elaboration
addition of details; intricacy
1444
E44
elastic
able to spring back into shape; quick to recover
(as from disappointment); able to adapt to
change; Ex. elastic plans; N: elastic material
1445
E45
elated
filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in
high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd;
V. elate; N. elation
Grinning from ear to ear, Bonnie Blair was
clearly elated by her Olympic victory.
1446
E46
elegy
poem or song expressing lamentation (for the
dead); ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac
On the death of Edward King, Milton
composed the elegy "Lycidas."
1447
E47
elevation
elevated position; altitude; height; flat upright
side of a building; angle made by pointing a
gun; Ex. The elevation of her style is much
admired; Ex. front elevation of the house
1448
E48
elicit
draw out fact or information (by discussion or
from someone)
The detectives tried to elicit where he had
hidden his loot.
1449
E49
elixir
cure-all; panacea; something invigorating
The news of her chance to go abroad acted
on her like an elixir.
1450
E50
ellipsis
omission of words from a text; mark used to
indicate an omission (when the meaning can be
understood without them); PL. ellipses
Sometimes an ellipsis can lead to a dangling
modifier, as in the sentence "Once dressed,
you should refrigerate the potato salad.
1451
E51
elliptical
elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis;
ambiguous either purposely or because key
words have been left out
An elliptical billiad ball wobbles because it is
not perfectly round; an elliptical remark
baffles because it is not perfectly clear.
1452
E52
elope
run away secretly with the intention of getting
married
1453
E53
eloquence
1454
E54
elucidate
expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ.
eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing
ideas well so that the hearers can be
influeneced
explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid
Tell what happened simply, without any
elaboration.
The crowds were stirred by Martin Luther
King's eloquence.
He was called upon to elucidate the disputed
points in his article.
57
1455
E55
elusive
evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch,
or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape
the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the
hunter; Ex. His name eludes me.
His elusive dreams of wealth were costly to
those of his friends who supported him
financially.
1456
E56
elysian
relating to paradise; blissful
An afternoon sail on the bay was for her an
elysian journey.
1457
1458
E57
E58
Elysium
emaciated
place or condition of bliss
thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)
1459
E59
emanate
issue forth; come out
1460
E60
emancipate
set free; liberate
1461
1462
E61
E62
emasculate
embargo
weaken; castrate
ban on commerce or other activity
1463
E63
embark
commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey
1464
E64
embed(imbed)
enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a
surrounding mass
1465
E65
embellish
adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding
fictitious details)
My mother-in-law's stories about her journey
from Russia made us laugh because she
embellished the bare facts of her travels with
humourous acecdotes.
1466
E66
embezzlement
taking for one's own use in violation of trust;
stealing (of money placed in one's care)
The bank teller confessed his embezzlement
of the funds.
1467
E67
embitter
make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings;
make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by
many disappointments.
1468
E68
emblazon
ornament richly (a shield or flag); N.
emblazonment
1469
1470
E69
E70
embody
emboss
give a bodily form to; incorporate; include
produce a design in raised relief; decorate with
a raised design
1471
E71
embrace
hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse;
accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace
the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF.
brace; CF. bracelet
1472
E72
embroider
decorate with needlework; ornament (a story)
with fancy or fictitious details; embellish
1473
E73
embroil
throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or
quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio
1474
E74
embryonic
undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo:
organism in the early stage of development
1475
E75
emend
correct (usually a text); N. emendation:
correction of errors; improvement
1476
E76
emetic
substance causing vomiting; ADJ.
The use of an emetic like mustard is useful in
cases of poisoning.
1477
E77
eminent
rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished;
Ex. eminent position
1478
E78
emissary
agent (sent on a mission to represent another);
messenger
1479
E79
emollient
1480
E80
emolument
soothing or softening remedy (for the skin);
ADJ.
salary; payment for an office; compensation
After his appointment to this emiment
position, he seldom had time for his former
friends.
The secretary of State was sent as the
President's special emissary to the
conference on disarmament.
He applied an emollient to the inflamed area.
His long period of starvation had left him
emaciated.
A strong odor of sulfur emanated from the
spring.
At first, the attempts of the Abolitioninst to
emancipate the slaves were unpopular in
New England as well as in the South.
As a result of the embargo, trade with
colonies was at a standstill.
In devoting herself to the study of gorillas,
Dian Fossey embarked on a course of action
that was to cost her her life.
He became embroiled in the heated
discussion when he tried to arbitrate the
dispute.
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.
The critic emended the book by retranslating
several passages.
In addition to the emolument this position
offers, you must consider the social prestige it
carries with it.
58
1481
E81
empathy
ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas,
etc.; identification with and understanding of
another's feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy
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.
He distrusted hunches and intuitive flashes;
he placed his reliance entirely on empirical
data.
As long as our political leaders emulate the
virtues of the great leaders of this country, we
shall flourish.
1482
E82
empirical
based on experience
1483
E83
emulate
imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through
imitation)
1484
1485
E84
E85
enact
enamored
make (a bill) into law
in love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V.
enamor: inspire with love
1486
E86
encipher
encode; convert a message into code; put into
cipher
1487
1488
E87
E88
encircle
enclave
surround
territory enclosed within an alien land
1489
E89
encomiastic
praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high
praise; eulogy
1490
E90
encompass
surround; include; Ex. His activities encompass
publishing and computers.
1491
E91
encroachment
gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these
encroachments on my valuable time; V.
encroach: take another's possessions or right
gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach
on/upon
1492
E92
encumber
burden; N. encumbrance
1493
E93
endear
make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone;
ADJ. dear: loved; cherished; high-priced
1494
E94
endearment
fond word or act; expression of affection
Your gifts and endearments cannot make me
forget your earlier insolence.
1495
E95
endemic
prevailing among a specific group of people or
in a specific area or country; peculiar to a
particular region or people; CF. pandemic
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.
1496
E96
endorse
approve; support; write one's signature on the
back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal
Everyone waited to see which one of the rival
candidates for the city council the mayor
would endorse.
1497
1498
E97
E98
endue
enduring
provide with some quality; endow
lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or
suffering) for a long time; remain alive (in spite
of difficulties); last; survive
He was endued with a lion's courage.
Keats believed in the enduring power of great
art, which outlast its creator's brief lives.
1499
E99
energize
invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and
active
Rather than exhausting Maggie, dancing
energized her.
1500
E100
enervate
weaken; take away energy from
1501
E101
enfranchise
admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the
right to vote); CF. franchise
She was slow to recover from her illness;
even a short walk to the window evervated
her.
Although blacks were enfranchised shortly
after the Civil War, women did not receive the
right to vote until 1920.
1502
E102
engage
attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront;
fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock
together; participate; N. engagement:
agreement to marry; arrangement to meet
someone or to do something; battle
1503
1504
E103
E104
engaged
engaging
employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict
charming; attractive
Narcissus became enamored of his own
beauty.
The Vatican is an independent enclave in
Italy.
Some critics believe that his encomiastic
statements about Napoleon were inspired by
his desire for material advancement rather
than by an honest belief in the Emperor's
genius.
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.
The encroachment of the factories upon the
neighborhood lowered the value of the real
estate.
Some people encumber themselves with too
much luggage, when they take short trips.
Your case has engaged my interest, my lord,
said Holmes, "You many engage my
services."
59
1505
E105
engender
cause; produce; give rise to
To receive praise for real accomplishments
engenders self-confidence in a child.
1506
E106
engross
occupy fully; absorb
John was so engrossed in his studies that he
did not hear his mother call.
1507
1508
E107
E108
engulf
enhance
surround and swallow up
increase; make greater (as in value, reputation,
or usefulness); improve
1509
E109
enigma
puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure;
puzzling
Depite all attempts to decipher the code, it
remained an enigma.
1510
E110
enjoin
command; order; forbid
The owners of the company asked the court
to enjoin the union from picketing the plant.
1511
E111
enlist
(cause to) join the armed forces; obtain (help,
sympathy, or support)
1512
1513
E112
E113
enliven
enmity
make lively or spirited; animate
ill will; hatred; hostility
1514
E114
ennui
boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction
resulting from lack of interest; CF. annoy
1515
E115
enormity
hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive
wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ.
enormous
1516
E116
enrapture
please intensely; fill with rapture and delight
1517
E117
ensconce
settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a
secure place)
1518
E118
ensue
follow (as a result)
1519
E119
entail
make necessary; require; necessitate; involve;
limit the inheritance of (property) to a specified
succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B
1520
E120
enterprise
willingness to take new ventures; initiative;
business organization; plan (that is difficult or
daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round
the world in a small boat
1521
E121
enterprising
full of initiative; showing enterprise
1522
E122
enthrall
capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete
attention of (as if magic); hold spellbound
From the moment he saw her picture, he was
enthralled by her beauty.
1523
E123
entice
lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract;
tempt
She always tried to entice her baby brother
into mischief.
1524
E124
entity
real being
As soon as the charter was adopted, the
United Nations became an entity and had to
be considered as a factor in world diplomacy.
1525
E125
entomology
study of insects
I found entomology the least interesting part
of my course in biology; studying insects
bored me.
1526
1527
E126
E127
entourage
entrance
group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround
put under a spell(condition caused by magical
power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with
emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight
1528
E128
entreat
plead; ask earnestly
1529
E129
entree(entr\'ee)
entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a
meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle
1530
E130
entrepreneur
businessperson (who assumes the risk of a
business venture); contractor; ADJ.
entrepreneurial
Your chances for promotion in this
department will be enhanced if you take
some more courses in evening school.
At Camp David President Carter labored to
bring an end to the enmity that prevented
Egypt and Israel from living in peace.
The monotonous routine of hopital life
induced a feeling of ennui which made him
moody and irritable.
He did not realize the enormity of his crime
until he saw what suffering he had caused.
The audience was enraptured by the
freshness of the voices and the excellent
orchestration.
The parents thought that their children were
ensconced safely in the private school and
decided to leave for Europe.
The evils that ensued were the direct result of
the miscalculations of the leaders.
Shafts of sunlight on a wall could entrance
her and leave her spellbound.
She entreated her father to let her stay out till
midnight.
Opponents of our present tax program argue
that it discourages entrepreneurs from trying
new fields of business activity.
60
1531
E131
enumerate
list; mention one by one
Huck hung his head in shame as Miss
Watson enumerated his many flaws.
1532
E132
enunciate
announce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially
distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This
theory was first enunciated by him.
How will people understand you if you do not
enunciate?
1533
E133
environ
enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding
area (as of a city)
Paris was environed by a wall
1534
E134
eon(aeon)
long period of time; an age; longest division of
geologic time containing two or more eras
1535
E135
epaulet(epaulette
) ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform,
etc.)
1536
1537
E136
E137
ephemeral
epic
short-lived; fleeting
long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art
(celebrating the feats of a hero); ADJ: (of stories
or events) resembling an epic; grand
The mayfly is an ephemeral creature.
Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai is an epic
portraying the struggle of seven warriors to
destroy a band of robbers.
1538
E138
epicure
connoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ.
epicurean; CF. Epicurus
epicures frequent this restaurant because it
features exotic wines and dishes.
1539
E139
epicurean
believing that pleasure is good and suffering is
bad and should be avoided; N.
1540
E140
epigram
witty thought or saying, usually short
Poor Richard's epigrams made Benjamin
Franklin famous.
1541
E141
epilogue
short speech at conclusion of dramatic work
1542
E142
episodic
(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up
of separate and loosely connected parts; N.
episode: incident in the course of an experience
The audience was so disappointed in the play
that many did not remain to hear the
epilogue.
Though he tried to follow the plot of Gravity's
Rainbow, John found the novel too episodic.
1543
E143
epistemologist
philosopher who studies the nature of
knowledge; N. epistemology
What is more important, a knowledge of
nature of the nature of knowledge? the
epistemologist asked the naturalist.
1544
E144
epitaph
inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a
tombstone)
In his will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted
placed on his tombstone.
1545
E145
epithet
word or phrase characteristically used to
describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase
to characterize a person (often contemptous)
1546
E146
epitome
perfect example or embodiment; brief summary;
Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize:
make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody
So many kings of France were named
Charles that modern students need epithets
to tell them apart: Charles the Wise, for
example, was someone far different from
Charles the Fat.
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.
1547
E147
epoch
period of time
1548
E148
equable
tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature)
steady; uniform
1549
E149
equanimity
calmness of temperament; composure
1550
E150
equestrian
rider on horseback; ADJ.
1551
E151
equilibrium
balance of opposing forces; balance of the
mind; equanimity
After the divorce, he needed some time to
regain his equilibrium.
1552
1553
E152
E153
equine
equinox
resembling a horse; Ex. equine face
period of equal days and nights; the beginning
of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal
equinox; ADJ. equinoctial
His long, bony face had an equine look to it.
The vernal equinox is usually marked by
heavy rainstorms.
1554
E154
equipoise
balance; balancing force; equilibrium
1555
E155
equitable
fair; impartial; OP. inequitable
1556
E156
equity
fairness; justice; OP. inequity
The high-wire acrobat used his pole as an
equipose to overcome the swaying caused by
the wind.
I am seeking an equitable solution to this
dispute, one which will be fair and acceptable
to both sides.
Our courts guarantee equity to all.
The glacial epoch lasted for thousands of
years.
After the hot summers and cold winters of
New England, he found the climate of the
West Indies equable and pleasant.
In his later years, he could look upon the
foolishness of the world with equanimity and
humor.
These paths in the park are reserved for
equestrians and their steeds.
61
1557
E157
equivocal
(of words or statements) ambiguous;
intentionally misleading; (of behavior)
questionable; OP. unequivocal
Macbeth was misled by the equivocal
statements of the witches.
1558
E158
equivocate
use equivocal language to deceive people; lie;
mislead; attempt to conceal the truth; N.
equivocation
The audience saw through his attempts to
equivocate on the subject under discussion
and ridiculed his remarks.
1559
E159
erode
eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex.
The sea erodes the rocks.
The limestone was eroded by the dripping
water
1560
E160
erotic
pertaining to passionate love or sexual love
The erotic passages in this novel should be
removed as they are merely pornographic.
1561
E161
errant
wandering (esp. in search of adventure);
straying from proper moral standards; Ex.
knight-errant
1562
E162
erratic
odd; irregular in movement or behavior;
unpredictable
Many a charming tale has been written about
the knights-errant who helped the weak and
punished the guilty during the Age of
Chivalry.
Investors become anxious when the stock
market appears erratic.
1563
E163
erroneous
mistaken; wrong; incorrect
I thought my answer was correct, but it was
erroneous.
1564
E164
erudite
(of a person or book) learned; full of learning;
scholarly; N. erudition
His erudite writing was difficult to read
because of the many allusions which were
unfamiliar to most readers.
1565
E165
escapade
prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that
disobeys rules
The headmaster could not regard this latest
escapade as a boyish joke and expelled the
young man.
1566
1567
E166
E167
eschew
esoteric
avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks
hard to understand; known only to the chosen
few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica
1568
E168
espionage
spying
He tried to eschew all display of temper.
New Yorker short stories often include
esoteric allusions to obscure people and
events: the implication is if you are in the incrowd, you'll get the reference; if you come
from Cleveland, you won't.
In order to maintain its power, the
government developed a system of
espionage that penetrated every hosehold.
1569
E169
espouse
adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N.
espousal
She was always ready to espouse a worthy
cause.
1570
E170
esteem
respect; value; judge; N.
I esteem Ezra Pound both for his exciting
poetry and for his acute comments on
literature.
1571
E171
estimable
(of a person) worthy of esteem; admirable;
deserving esteem; possible to estimate
1572
E172
estranged
separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate
(people in a family); N. estrangement
The estranged wife sought a divorce.
1573
E173
ethereal
like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly;
unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal
beauty; CF. ether: upper air
Visitors were impressed by her ethereal
beauty, her delicate charm.
1574
E174
ethnic
relating to races
1575
E175
ethnology
study of humankind; study of the different races
of human beings; CF. anthropology
Intolerance between ethnic groups is
deplorable and usually is based on lack of
information.
Sociology is one aspect of the science of
ethnology.
1576
E176
ethos
underlying character of a culture, group, etc.;
character or ideas peculiar to a specific person,
group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos
Seeing how tenderly Spaniards treated her
small daughter made author Barbara
Kingsolver aware of how greatly children
were valued in the Spanish ethos.
1577
E177
etymology
study of word parts; study of the origins of
words
A knowledge of etymology can help you on
many English tests.
1578
E178
eugenic
pertaining to the improvement of race; N.
eugenics: study of hereditary improvement of
the human race
It is easier to apply eugenic principles to the
raising of racehorses or prize cattle than t the
development of human beings.
1579
E179
eulogistic
praising; full of eulogy
To everyone's surprise, the speech was
eulogistic rather than critical in tone.
62
1580
E180
eulogy
expression of praise, often on the occasion of
someone's death; V. eulogize
All the eulogies of his friends could not
remove the sting of the calumny heaped upon
him by his enemies.
1581
E181
euphemism
mild expression in place of an unpleasant one;
ADJ. euphemistic
The expression "he passed away" is a
euphemism for "he died."
1582
E182
euphony
sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
Noted for its euphony even when it is spoken,
the Italian language is particularly pleasing to
the ear when sung.
1583
E183
euphoria
feeling of exaggerated or
unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being;
feeling of great happiness or well-being (when
unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric
Jill's been on cloud nine ever since Jacj
asked her out, said Betty, dismissing her
friend's euphoria.
1584
E184
euthanasia
mercy killing
Many people support euthanasia for
terminally ill patients who wish to die.
1585
E185
evanescent
fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V.
evanesce
For a brief moment, the entire skyline was
bathed in an orange-red hue in the
evanescent rays of the sunset.
1586
E186
evasive
not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding;
evading; V. evade: avoid (a duty or
responsibility) or escape from by deceit
Your evasive answers convinced the judge
that you were witholding important evidence.
1587
E187
evenhanded
impartial; fair
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?
1588
E188
eventual
1589
E189
evince
happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual
victory
show clearly
1590
1591
E190
E191
evocative
evoke
tending to call up (emotions, memories)
call forth (memory or feeling); Ex. That old film
evoked memories of my childhood; N. evocation
1592
E192
ewe
female sheep
The flock of sheep was made up of dozens of
ewes, together with only a handful of rams.
1593
E193
exacerbate
worsen; aggravate; embitter
This latest arrest will exacerbate the already
existing discontent of the people and enrage
them.
1594
E194
exact
demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a
promise from him; N. exaction
1595
E195
exacting
extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of
safety
The colonies rebelled against the exacting
financial claims of the mother country.
1596
E196
exalt
raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire;
Ex. exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N.
exaltation
The actor Alec Guinness was exalted to the
rank of knighthood by the Queen; he now is
known as Sir Alec Guinness.
1597
E197
exasperate
vex; annoy or make angry (by testing the
patience)
Johnny often exasperates his mother with his
pranks.
1598
E198
except
1599
E199
exceptionable
exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion;
ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high
quality
objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive;
CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable
1600
E200
excerpt
selected passage (written or musical) taken
from a longer work; V.
The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a
novel is a clip from a film.
1601
E201
exchequer
treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer
1602
E202
excise
cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good
produced and used inside a country; N. excision
He had been Chancellor of the exchequer
before his promotion to the office he now
holds.
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.
1603
E203
exclaim
cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ.
exclamatory
1604
E204
excoriate
scold with biting harshness; censure strongly;
strip the skin off
When he tried to answer the questions, he
evinced his ignorance of the subject matter.
He evoked much criticism by his hostile
manner.
These shoes are so ill-fitting that they will
excoriate the feet and create blisters.
63
1605
E205
exculpate
clear from blame or guilt
He was exculpated of the crime when the real
criminal confessed.
1606
E206
execrable
very bad; detestable
The anecdote was in execrable taste and
shocked the audience.
1607
E207
execrate
curse; express abhorrence for; detest
The world execrates the memory of Hitler and
hopes that genocide will never again be the
policy of any nation.
1608
E208
execute
put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful
punishment; N. execution
The choreographer wanted to see how well
she could execute a pirouette.
1609
1610
E209
E210
executioner
executive
person administering capital punishment
person having administrative authority; one
branch of government executing laws; ADJ:
relating to executing
1611
E211
executor
1612
E212
exegesis
person designated to execute the terms of a
will;
explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible)
passages
1613
E213
exemplary
serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary
punishment/behavior; N. exemplar: typical
example; model
1614
E214
exemplify
show by example; furnish an example; serve as
an example of; Ex. His pictures exemplify that
sort of painting.
1615
E215
exempt
not subject to a duty or obligation; free from a
duty; V.
1616
E216
exertion
effort; expenditure of much physical work; V.
exert oneself: make a great effort
1617
1618
E217
E218
exhale
exhilarating
breathe out; OP. inhale
invigorating and refreshing; cheering; V.
exhilarate: make cheerful and excited; Ex.
exhilarated by the ride in the sports car
1619
E219
exhort
urge (by strong argument or advice); Ex. The
general exhorted his men to fight bravely; N.
exhortation
The evangelist will exhort all sinners in his
audience to reform.
1620
E220
exhume
dig out of the ground; remove from a grave
Because of the rumor that he had been
poisoned, his body was exhumed in order
that an autopsy might be performed.
1621
E221
exigency
urgent situation; ADJ. exigent
1622
E222
exiguous
small in amount; minute
In this exigency, we must look for aid from
our allies.
Grass grew there, an exiguous outcropping
among the rocks.
1623
E223
existential
pertaining to existence; pertaining to the
philosophy of existentialism
To the existential philosopher, human reason
is inadequate to explain an irrational,
meaningless universe.
1624
E224
exodus
departure (of a large number of people)
The exodus from the hot and stuffy city was
particularly noticeable on Friday evenings.
1625
E225
exonerate
acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
I am sure this letter naming the actual culprit
will exonerate you.
1626
E226
exorbitant
(of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding
reasonable bounds
The people grumbled at his exorbitant prices
but paid them because he had a monopoly.
1627
E227
exorcise
drive out evil spirits
By incantation and prayer, the medicine man
sought to exorcise the evil spirits that had
taken possession of the young warrior.
1628
E228
exotic
not native; from another part of the world;
strange; intriguingly unusual; Ex. exotic
flower/dress
Because of his exotic headdress, he was
followed in the streets by small children who
laughed at his strange appearance.
1629
E229
expansive
(of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and
extensive; able to increase in size
1630
E230
expatiate
talk at length; speak or write in detail
I can follow your exegesis of this passage to
a limited degree; some of your reasoning
eludes me.
Her exemplary behavior was praised at
commencement.
Three-time winner of the Super Bowl, Joe
Montana exemplifies the ideal quarterback.
The exertion involved in unscrewing the rusty
bolt left her exhausted.
At this time, please give us a brief resume of
your work; we shall permit you to expatiate
later.
64
1631
E231
expatriate
exile; someone who has withdrawn from his
native land; V: exile; banish; leave one's
country
suitable (for a particular purpose although not
necessarily morally correct); practical;
politic(prudent); N: something expedient
Henry James was an American expatriate
who settled in England.
1632
E232
expedient
1633
E233
expedite
hasten; make go faster
We hope you will be able to expedite delivery
because of our tight schedule.
1634
1635
E234
E235
expeditious
expenditure
done with speed; quick; N. expedition
payment or expense; expending; something
expended; output; Ex. receipt for the
expenditure; Ex. expenditure of all the energy
1636
E236
expertise
specialized knowledge (in a particular field);
expert skill
1637
E237
expiate
make amends for (a sin)
1638
E238
expletive
meaningless word; interjection; profane oath;
swear-word
The sergeant's remarks were filled with
expletives that offended the new recruits.
1639
E239
explicate
explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable
Harry Levin explicated James Joyce's novels
with such clarity that even Finnegan's Wake
seemed comprehensible to his students.
1640
E240
explicit
totally clear; definite; outspoken
Don't just hint around that you're dissatisfied:
be explicit about what's bugging you.
1641
E241
exploit
make use of, sometimes unjustly; N.
exploitation
Caesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit
migrant farmworkers in California.
1642
1643
E242
E243
expos\'e
expository
public revelation of something discreditable
explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition:
explaining; exhibition
1644
E244
expostulation
protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone
to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate
Despite the teacher's scoldings and
expostulations, the class remained unruly.
1645
E245
exposure
risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or
to the elements; unmasking; act of laying
something open; Ex. exposure of governmental
corruption
Exposure to sun and wind had dried out her
hair and weathered her face.
1646
1647
E246
E247
expound
expropriate
explain
take possession of (often for public use and
without payment)
1648
E248
expunge
cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or
list); erase
If you behave, I will expunge this notation
from your record.
1649
E249
expurgate
clean; remove offensive parts of a book
The editors felt that certain passages in the
book had to be expurgated before it could be
used in the classroom.
1650
E250
exquisite
delicate; very finely made; extremely beautiful;
Ex. exquisite piece of jewelry
1651
E251
extant
(of something written or painted) still in
existence
Although the authorities suppressed the
book, many copies are extant and may be
purchased at exorbitant prices.
1652
E252
extemporaneous
not planned; impromptu; extempore
Because his extemporaneous remarks were
misinterpreted, he decided to write all his
speeches in advance.
1653
E253
extenuate
weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of
(bad behavior)
It is easier for us to extenuate our own
shortcomings than those of others.
1654
E254
extirpate
root up; uproot; destroy completely
The Salem witch trials were a misguided
attempt to extirpate superstition and heresy.
1655
E255
extol
praise very highly; glorify
The astronauts were extolled as the pioneers
of the Space Age.
1656
E256
extort
wring from; get money by threats, etc.; obtain
by force or threats; CF. extortionate: exorbitant
The blackmailer extorted money from his
victim.
A pragmatic politician, he was guided by what
was expedient rather than by what was
ethical.
Although she was knowledgeable in a
number of fields, she was hired for her
particular expertise in computer
programming.
He tried to expiate his crimes by a full
confession to the authorities.
The mannual that came with my VCR was no
masterpiece of expository prose: its
explanations were so garbled that I couldn't
even figure out how to rewind a tape.
65
1657
E257
extradition
surrender of prisoner by one state to another;
Ex. extradition treaty; V. extradite
The lawyers opposed the extradition of their
client on the grounds that for more than five
years he had been a model citizen.
1658
E258
extraneous
not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external;
coming from the outside; Ex. extraneous
details/noise/to the subject
Do not pad your paper with extraneous
matters; stick to essential items only.
1659
E259
extrapolation
projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer
(unknown information) from known information
1660
E260
extricate
free from an entanglement or difficulty;
disentangle
Based on their extrapolation from the results
of the primaries on Super Tuesday, the
networks predicted that George Bush would
be the Republican candidate for the
presidency.
He found that he could not extricate himself
from the trap.
1661
E261
extrinsic
external; not essential or inherent; extraneous;
OP. intrinsic
Do not be fooled by extrinsic causes. We
must look for the intrinsic reason.
1662
E262
extrovert
person interested mostly in external objects and
actions
A good salesperson in usually an extrovert,
who likes to mingle with people.
1663
E263
extrude
force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or
metal) by forcing through a die
Much pressure is required to extrude these
plastics.
1664
E264
exuberance
overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm;
flamboyance; lavishness; ADJ. exuberant: highspirited and lively; growing abundantly and
strongly
1665
E265
exude
flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth;
N. exudation
The maple syrup is obtained from the sap
that the trees exude in early spring.
1666
1667
E266
F1
exult
fabricate
rejoice
build; lie; make up (a story) in order to deceive;
Ex. fabricate the whole story; CF. fabric:
underlying structure; Ex. fabric of society
We exulted when our team won the victory.
Because of the child's tendency to fabricate,
we had trouble believing her.
1668
F2
facade(fa\c{c}ade
) front or face (of building); superficial or false
appearance
1669
F3
facet
small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone));
a side
The stonecutter decided to improve the rough
diamond by providing it with several facets.
1670
F4
facetious
joking (often inappropriately); unserious;
humorous
Your facetious remarks are not appropriate at
this serious moment.
1671
F5
facile
easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial;
not deep; Ex. facile solution to a complex
problem; Ex. facile speaker; N. facility: ability to
do something easily and well; ease in doing
resulting from skill or aptitude; something that
facilitates an
Because he was a facile speaker, he never
refused a request to address an organization.
1672
F6
facilitate
help bring about; make less difficult
He tried to facilitate repayment of the loan by
getting a part-time job.
1673
1674
F7
F8
facsimile
faction
copy
party; clique (within a large group); dissension
1675
F9
factious
inclined to form factions; causing dissension
1676
F10
factitious
artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex.
factitious tears
1677
F11
factotum
handyman; person who does all kinds of work;
CF. do everything
Although we had hired him as a messenger,
we soon began to use him as a general
factotum around the office.
1678
F12
faculty
mental or bodily powers; teaching staff
As he grew old, he feared he might lose his
faculties and become useless to his
employer.
1679
F13
fake
not genuine; N: one that is not genuine;
impostor; sham; V: counterfeit; Ex. fake the
results of the experiment/the signature
The quarrels and bickering of the two small
factions within the club disturbed the majority
of the members.
Your statement is factious and will upset the
harmony that now exists.
66
1680
F14
fallacious
false; based on a fallacy; misleading; N. fallacy:
false idea or notion; false reasoning; Ex.
popular fallacy; Ex. fallacy of the argument
Your reasoning must be fallacious because it
leads to a ridiculous answer.
1681
F15
fallible
liable to err
I know I am fallible, but I feel confident that I
am right this time.
1682
F16
fallow
(of land) plowed but not sowed (to improve the
quality); uncultivated
Farmers have learned that it is advisable to
permit land to le fallow every few years.
1683
1684
F17
F18
falsify
falter
make (something written) false by changing
hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or
move unsteadily through weakness; N.
When told to dive off the high board, she did
not falter, but proceeded at once.
1685
F19
fanaticism
excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or
cause; N. fanatic; ADJ. fanatic
The leader of the group was held responsible
even though he could not control the
fanaticism of his followers.
1686
F20
fancied
imagined; unreal
You are resenting fancied insults. No one has
ever said such things about you.
1687
F21
fancier
breeder or dealer of animals; one who has a
special interest, as for raising specific plant or
animal
The dog fancier exhibited her prize collie at
the annual Kennel Club show.
1688
F22
fanciful
whimsical; visionary; imaginary; produced by
imagination; Ex. fanciful scheme
This is a fanciful scheme because it does not
consider the facts.
1689
F23
fancy
imagination (of a whimsical or fantastic nature);
capricious liking; V: imagine; be fond of; ADJ.
decorative; elaborate
1690
F24
fanfare
call by bugles or trumpets; showy display;
spectacular public display
1691
F25
farce
broad comedy; mockery; humorous play full of
silly things happening; ADJ. farcical
1692
F26
far-fetched
too improbable to be believed; implausible; Ex.
far-fetched story
1693
F27
fashion
give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of
clay
1694
F28
fastidious
difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky
The waitresses disliked serving him dinner
because of his very fastidious taste.
1695
F29
fatalism
belief that events are determined by forces or
fates beyond one's control; ADJ. fatalistic; CF.
fatal: causing death
With fatalism, he accepted the hardships that
beset him.
1696
F30
fathom
I find his motives impossible to fathom.
1697
F31
fathomless
comprehend; investigate; determine the depth
of; N. unit of measurement for the depth of
water
too deep to be measured or understood;
unfathomable
1698
F32
fatuous
smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly;
N. fatuity, fatuousness
He is far too intelligent to utter such fatuous
remarks.
1699
F33
fauna
animals of a period or region; CF. flora
The scientist could visualize the fauna of the
period by examining the skeletal remains and
the fossils.
1700
1701
F34
F35
favoritism
fawning
display of partiality toward a favored person
courting favor by cringing and flattering; V.
fawn: exhibit affection as a dog; seek favor or
attention by obsequiousness
1702
F36
faze
disconcert; dismay; embarrass
1703
F37
feasible
practical; able to be carried out; practicable
1704
F38
feature
distinctive part of the faces (as the eyes or
mouth); features: overall appearance of the
face; prominent or distinctive quality; prominent
article; film; V: make prominent
1705
F39
febrile
feverish
In his febrile condition, he was subject to
nightmares and hallucinations.
1706
F40
fecundity
fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very
productive of crops or young
The fecundity of his mind is illustrated by the
many vivid images in his poems.
The exposition was opened with fanfare of
trumpets and the firing of cannon.
Nothing went right; the entire interview
degenerated into a farce.
She was constantly surrounded by a group of
fawning admirers who had hoped to win
some favor.
No crisis could faze the resourceful hotel
manager.
This is an entirely feasible proposal. I suggest
we adopt it.
67
1707
F41
feebleminded
deficient in intelligence; very stupid
1708
F42
feign
pretend
Lady Macbeth feigned illness in the courtyard
although she was actually healthy.
1709
F43
feint
trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw
away defensive action; V.
The boxer was fooled by his opponent's feint
and dropped his guard.
1710
F44
felicitous
(of a word or remark) apt; suitably expressed;
well chosen
He was famous for his felicitous remarks and
was called upon to serve as master-ofceremonies at many banquet.
1711
F45
felicity
happiness; appropriateness (of a remark,
choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous
She wrote a note to the newlyweds wishing
them great felicity in their wedded life.
1712
1713
F46
F47
feline
fell
of a member of the cat family; N.
cut or knock down (a tree or a person); bring
down (with a missile)
The newspapers told of the tragic spread of
the fell disease
1714
F48
felon
person convicted of a grave crime; CF. felony:
serious crime
1715
1716
F49
F50
feral
ferment
(of an animal) not domestic; wild
agitation; commotion(noisy and excited activity);
unrest (of a political kind); V. produce by
fermentation; undergo fermentation; cause (a
state of trouble)
1717
F51
fermentation
chemical reaction that splits complex organic
compounds; unrest; agitation
1718
1719
F52
F53
ferocious
ferret
fierce; violent; N. ferocity
drive or hunt out of hiding; hunt with ferrets;
drive out (as from a hiding place); expel;
uncover or discover by searching; Ex. ferret out
the secret; N. small fierce animal which catches
rats and rabbits by going into their holes
1720
F54
fertile
producing many young, fruits, or seeds; (of
land) producing good crops; V. fertilize
1721
F55
fervent
ardent; zealous; hot
She felt that the fervent praise was excessive
and somewhat undeserved.
1722
F56
fervid
ardent; zealous; hot
Her fervid enthusiasm inspired all of us to
undertake the dangerous mission.
1723
F57
fervor
glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of
being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
Their kiss was full of the fervor of first love.
1724
F58
fester
rankle; produce irritation or resentment; (of a
cut or wound) generate pus or rot; Ex. His insult
festered in my mind for days.
Joe's insult festered in Anne's mind for days,
and made her too angry to speak to him.
1725
F59
festive
joyous; celebratory; relating to a feast or festival
Their wedding in the park was a festive
occasion.
1726
F60
fete(f\^ete)
honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a
feast; N. (outdoor) festival or feast; CF. feast
1727
1728
F61
F62
fetid(foetid)
fetish(fetich)
malodorous; foul
object believed to have spiritual powers; object
of excessive attention or reverence; CF.
fetishism
1729
F63
fetter
shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or
shackle for the foot of a prisoner; CF. foot
1730
F64
feud
bitter prolonged quarrel (usually between two
peoples or families); V. CF. Romeo and Juliet;
CF. feudal, feudalism
1731
F65
fiasco
total failure; CF. bottle
Our ambitious venture ended in a fiasco and
we were forced to flee.
1732
F66
fiat
command; arbitrary order; Ex. presidential fiat;
CF. let it be done
I cannot accept government by fiat; I feel that
I must be consulted.
1733
F67
fickle
changeable (in affections or friendship);
faithless
He discovered his supposedly faithful
girlfriend was fickle
A convicted felon loses the right to vote
With the breakup of the Soviet Union, much
of Eastern Europe was in a state of ferment.
She was ferreted out their secret.
The prisoner was fettered to the wall.
68
1734
F68
fictitious
imaginary; non-existent; purposely invented to
deceive; untrue; Ex. fictitious name/boyfriend;
CF. fictional
Although this book purports to be a biography
of George Washington, many of the incidents
are fictitious.
1735
F69
fidelity
loyalty; accuracy
A dog's fidelity to its owner is one of the
reasons why that animal is a favorite
household pet.
1736
1737
F70
F71
fiend
figment
evil spirit; devil
invention; something invented; imaginary thing;
Ex. figment of your imagination
1738
F72
figurative
not literal but metaphorical; using a
figure(impression) of speech
1739
F73
figure
written symbols; number; amount represented
in numbers; outline or silhouette of a thing or
human body; person (well-known); impression;
diagram; pattern; group in a dance; Ex. figure of
speech; V. calculate with numbers; adorn with
figures; appear; cons
1740
F74
figurine
small ornamental statuette(very small statue)
In the Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade was hired
to trace the missing figurine of a black bird.
1741
1742
F75
F76
filch
filial
steal (things of small value)
pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter; Ex.
filial respect
The boys filched apples from the fruit stand.
Many children forget their filial obligations and
disregard the wishes of their parents.
1743
F77
filibuster
block legislation or prevent action in a
lawmaking body by making very slow long
speeches; N; freebooter
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.
1744
F78
filigree
delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork
The pendant with gold filigree that she wore
round her neck trembled with each breath
she took.
1745
1746
1747
F79
F80
F81
filing
filth
finale
particle removed by a file
dirty matter; ADJ. filthy
conclusion; concluding part
1748
1749
F82
F83
finery
finesse
beautiful clothes for a special occasion
delicate skill; V: handle with finesse
1750
F84
finicky
too particular; fussy; difficult to please; too
concerned with unimportant details or quality;
Ex. finicky about her food
1751
1752
F85
F86
finish
finished
surface texture; completeness of execution
properly made and complete; Ex. finished
product/performance
1753
F87
finite
limited
It is difficult for humanity with its finite
existence to grasp the infinite.
1754
F88
firebrand
piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker;
person who stirs up trouble
The police triedto keep track of all the local
firebrands when the President came to town.
1755
F89
fissure
crevice; crack
The mountain climbers secured footholds in
tiny fissures in the rock.
1756
F90
fit
sudden outburst of an illness or feeling;
convulsion caused by epilepsy
1757
F91
fitful
spasmodic; intermittent; irregular
1758
F92
flaccid
flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid
muscles
1759
F93
flag
droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength;
ADJ. flagging; CF. unflagging
When the opposing hockey team scored its
third goal only minutes into the first period,
the home team's spirits flagged.
1760
F94
flagrant
conspicuously wicked, bad, or offensive;
blatant; outrageous
We cannot condone such flagrant violations
of the rules.
That incident never took place; it is a figment
of your imagination.
To lose one's marbles is a figurative
expression; if you're told Jack has lost his
marbles, no one expects you to rush out to
buy him a replacement set.
It is not until we reach the finale of this play
that we can understand the author's
message.
The finesse and adroitness of the surgeon
impressed the observers in the operating
room.
The old lady was finicky about her food and
ate very little.
After several fitful attempts, he decided to
postpone the start of the project until he felt
more energetic.
His sedentary life had left him with flaccid
muscles.
69
1761
F95
flail
beat with or as if with a flail; move wildly; thresh
grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about; N:
threshing tool consisting of a stick swinging
from the end of a long handle
In medieval times, warriors flailed their foe
with a metal ball attached to a handle.
1762
F96
flair
talent
She has an uncanny flair for discovering new
artists before the public has become aware of
their existence.
1763
F97
flamboyant
ornate; highly elaborate; richly colored;
ostentatious; showy; CF. flame
Modern architecture has discarded the
flamboyant trimming on buildings and
emphasizes simplicity of line.
1764
1765
F98
F99
flashy
flaunt
showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance
display ostentatiously; Ex. ``Honey, if you've got
it, flaunt it !''
She is not the one of those actresses who
flaunt their physical charms; she can act.
1766
F100
flay
strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from;
criticize harshly
The criminal was condemned to be flayed
alive.
1767
F101
fleck
spot; mark with flecks; N: small mark or spot
Her cheeks flecked with tears, were
testimony to the hours of weeping.
1768
F102
fledgling(fledgel
ing) inexperienced; N: young bird that has
acquired wing feathers and is learning to fly;
inexperienced person
1769
F103
fleece
wool coat of a sheep; V: shear the fleece from;
rob by a trick; swindle; plunder
1770
F104
fleet
fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly;
ephemeral
1771
F105
flick
light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light
quick blow; strike with a light quick blow (as
from a whip); Ex. flick the switch
1772
F106
flicker
burn unsteadily or fitfully; move waveringly; N:
flickering movement or light; brief sensation; Ex.
flicker of excitement
1773
F107
flighty
(esp. of a woman's behavior) capricious; often
changing, esp. from one lover to another;
impulsive
1774
F108
flinch
hesitate; shrink back (in fear of something
unpleasant); Ex. She did not flinch in the face of
danger.
1775
F109
flip
send (something) spinning, often into the air, by
striking with a light quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip
over
1776
F110
flippant
lacking proper seriousness; Ex. flippant remarks
about death; N. flippancy
1777
F111
flirt
behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention;
deal triflingly with; N: one (or woman) given to
flirting; ADJ. flirtatious
1778
F112
flit
Like a bee flitting from flower to flower, Rose
flitted from one boyfriend to the next.
1779
F113
floe
fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly;
pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to
flower
flat mass of floating ice
1780
F114
flora
plants of a region or era
Because she was a botanist, she spent most
of her time studying the flora of the desert.
1781
1782
F115
F116
florescence
florid
condition or period of flowering
ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very
ornate; CF. rose
1783
F117
flotsam
drifting wreckage
1784
F118
flounder
struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or
falter (as in water, mud, snow, etc.); proceed in
confusion
The tricksters fleeced him of his inheritance.
The horse needed no encouragement; only
one flick of the whip was all the jockey had to
apply to get the animal to run at top speed.
He did not flinch in the face of danger but
fought back bravely.
The ship made slow progress as it battered
its way through the ice floes.
His complexion was even more florid than
usual because of his anger.
Beachcombers eke out a living by salvaging
the flotsam and jetsam of the sea.
70
1785
F119
flourish
grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures;
wave; brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the
sun. N: showy movement or gesture;
embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in
handwriting)
The orange trees flourished in the sun.
1786
F120
flout
reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout
the rules
The headstrong youth flouted all authority; he
refused to be curbed.
1787
1788
F121
F122
flowery
fluctuate
full of flowers; full of ornate expressions
waver; shift; rise and fall as if in waves; change
or vary irregularly
1789
1790
F123
F124
fluency
fluke
smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent
unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune;
accidental stroke of good luck; ADJ. fluky
1791
F125
flush
redden; blush; flow suddenly and abundantly;
wash out by a rapid brief flow of water; N:
reddish tinge; blush; brief rush; rush of strong
feeling; Ex. flush of pride; ADJ: having surfaces
in the same plane; even; blushing
1792
F126
fluster
confuse; make nervous and confused; N.
The teacher's sudden question flustered him
and he stammered his reply.
1793
F127
fluted
having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar);
V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N.
flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft
of a column
All that remained of the ancient building were
the fluted columns.
1794
F128
flutter
(of a bird with large wings) wave (the wings)
lightly, rapidly, and irregularly; vibrate rapidly or
erratically; fly by waving quickly; flitter; N.
1795
F129
flux
flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a
state of flux
1796
F130
fodder
coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for
livestock; CF. food
1797
F131
foible
small weakness of character; slight fault; CF.
feeble
While conditions are in such a state of flux, I
do not wish to commit myself too deeply in
this affair.
One of Nancy's chores ar the ranch was to
put fresh supplies of fodder in the horses'
stalls.
We can overlook the foibles of our friends; no
one is perfect.
1798
F132
foil
defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful;
thwart; CF. fail
In the end, Skywalker is able to foil Vader's
diabolical schemes.
1799
F133
foist
insert improperly; impose upon another by
coercion; palm off; pass off as genuine or
worthy; CF. fist
I will not permit you to foist such ridiculous
ideas upon the membership of this group.
1800
F134
foliage
masses of leaves; CF. defoliate
1801
F135
foment
stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of
(something evil or unpleasant)
Every autumn before the leaves fell he
promised himself he would drive though the
New England to admire the colorful fall
foliage.
This report will foment disssension in the
club.
1802
F136
foolhardy
rash; reckless; foolishly daring
1803
F137
foppish
vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man
who takes too much interest in his clothes and
appearance
1804
F138
foray
raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.
1805
F139
forbearance
patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from
(in a generous and forgiving way); be patient;
Ex. forbear to send him to prison
1806
F140
ford
place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.
1807
F141
forebears(forbear
s) ancestors
He spoke French with fluency and ease.
When Douglass defeated Tyson for the
heavyweight championship, some
sportscasters dismissed his victory as a fluke.
Don't be foolhardy. Get the advice of
experienced people before undertaking this
venture.
He tried to imitate the foppish manner of the
young men of the court.
The company staged a midnight foray against
the enemy outpost.
Rather than risk using the shaky rope bridge,
David walked a half-mile downstream until he
came to the neartest ford.
71
1808
F142
foreboding
premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V.
forebode: be a warning of (something
unpleasant)
Caeser ridiculed his wife's foreboding about
the Ides of March.
1809
F143
forensic
suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in
legal proceedings and the tracking of criminals;
Ex. forensic science/medicine
In her best forensic manner, the lawyer
addressed the jury.
1810
F144
forerunner
predecessor; one that comes before and
indicates the approach of another
1811
F145
foreshadow
give an indication beforehand; be a sign of
(what is coming); portend; prefigure
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.
1812
F146
foresight
ability to foresee future happenings; prudence
in providing for the future
A wise investor, she had the foresight to buy
land just before the current real estate boom.
1813
F147
forestall
prevent by taking action in advance
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.
1814
F148
forfeit
something surrendered as punishment for a
crime or breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit;
N. forfeiture
1815
F149
forge
counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by
heating in a forge and hammering into shape;
move with a sudden increase of speed or
power; Ex. forged ahead in the last two years;
N: furnace where metals are heated
1816
F150
forgo(forego)
give up; do without
1817
1818
F151
F152
forlorn
formality
sad and lonely; wretched; desolate
ceremonious quality; ceremonious adherence to
rules; something done just for form's sake; Ex.
mere formality
Signing this petition is a mere formality; it
does not obligate you in any way.
1819
F153
formidable
menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to
defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question
We must not treat the battle lightly for we are
facing a formidable foe.
1820
F154
forsake
desert; abandon; renounce
No one expected Foster to forsake his wife
and children and run off with another woman.
1821
F155
forswear
renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn
promise to give up; CF. abjure
The captured knight could escape death only
if he agreed to forswear Christianity and
embrace Islam as the one true faith.
1822
F156
forte
strong point or special talent in a person's
character
I am not eager to play this rather seious role,
for my forte is comedy.
1823
F157
forthcoming
happening in the near future; ready; willing to
help; Ex. No answer was forthcoming.
1824
F158
forthright
straightforward; direct; frank
I prefer Jill's forthright approach to Jack's
tendency to beat around the bush.
1825
F159
fortitude
bravery; courage; strength of mind
He was awarded the medal for his fortitude in
the battle.
1826
F160
fortuitous
accidental; by chance; N. fortuity
There is no connection between these two
events; their timing is entirely fortuitous.
1827
F161
forum
public square of an ancient Roman city; public
place for open discussion; court of law
1828
1829
F162
F163
forward
foster
presumptuous or bold
rear; bring up (for a certain period only);
encourage; promote the development of
(feelings or ideas); Ex. help foster friendly
relations; ADJ: giving parental care although not
related by blood; Ex. foster parents
1830
F164
foul
very bad or disagreeable; very dirty; Ex. foul
smell/flavor/temper/language/air/deed/weather/
means; N. act against the rules; V. make or
become foul; commit a foul
According to the legend, Romulus and
Remus were fostered by a she-wolf that
raised the abandoned infants as her own.
72
1831
F165
founder
person who establishes (an organization or
business)
Among those drowned when the Titanic sank
was the founder of the Abraham & Straus
chain.
The military police stopped the fracas in the
bar and arrested the belligerents.
1832
F166
fracas
brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number
of people take part; melee
1833
F167
fractious
unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex.
fractious horse
1834
1835
F168
F169
frail
franchise
weak; N. frailty
right or privilege granted by authority; right to
vote; license to sell a product in a particular
territory
The city issued a franchise to the company to
operate surface transit lines on the streets
for ninety-nine years.
1836
F170
frantic
wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic
with fear
At the time of the collision, many people
became frantic with fear.
1837
F171
fraudulent
cheating; deceitful; Ex. fraudulent means; N.
fraud: deception; swindle
The government seeks to prevent fraudulent
and misleading advertising.
1838
F172
fraught
filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex.
fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight
1839
F173
fray
brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by
rubbing; have loose threads developing; cause
to become worn out (a person's temper or
nerves); CF. rub
Since this enterprise is fraught with danger, I
will ask for volunteers who are willing to
assume the risks.
The three musketeers were in the thick of
fray.
1840
F174
freebooter
pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to
grow rich
1841
F175
frenetic(phreneti
c) frenzied; frantic
1842
F176
frenzied
madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement
As soon as they smelled smoke, the frenzied
animals milled about in their cages.
1843
F177
fresco
painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)
The cathedral is visited by many tourists who
wish to admire the frescoes by Glotto.
1844
F178
fret
be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor
grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful
To fret over your poor grades is foolish;
instead, decide to work harder in the future.
1845
F179
friction
clash or conflict in opinion; rubbing against
1846
F180
frieze
ornamental horizontal band on a wall
1847
1848
1849
1850
F181
F182
F183
F184
frigid
fringe
frisk
fritter
intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone
decorative edge of hanging threads; edge
move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful
waste (time or money on unimportant things)
At this time when harmony is essential, we
cannot afford to have any friction in our
group.
The frieze of the church was adorned with
sculpture.
Alaska is in the frigid zone.
1851
F185
frivolous
lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently
carefree; unworthy of serious attention;
relatively unimportant; trivial
1852
1853
F186
F187
frock
frolic
long loose garment (worn by monks)
play and jump about happily; frisk; Ex. frolicking
young lambs
1854
F188
frolicsome
prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky
The frolicsome puppy tried to lick the face of
its master.
1855
F189
frond
fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
After the storm the beach was littered with the
fronds of palm trees.
1856
1857
F190
F191
fructify
frugality
bear fruit; produce fruit
thrift; economy; ADJ. frugal: practicing
economy; costing little; inexpensive
This peach tree should fructify in three years.
In these economically difficult days
businesses must practice frugality or risk
bankruptcy.
1858
F192
fruitful
producing results; profitable; prolific; producing
in abundance
1859
F193
fruition
bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization; Ex. come
to/be brought to fruition
1860
F194
frustrate
thwart; defeat; prevent from accomplishing a
purpose
The fractious horse unseated its rider.
He could not apply himself to any task and
frittered away his time in idle conversation.
Though Nancy enjoyed Bill's frivolous,
lighthearted companionship, she sometimes
wondered whether he could ever be serious.
This building marks the fruition of all our
aspirations and years of hard work.
73
1861
F195
fuddle
make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink;
N. in a fuddle: confused
1862
F196
fugitive
fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time;
roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as
from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at
large
The film brought a few fugitive images to her
mind, but on the whole it made no lasting
impression upon her.
1863
F197
fulcrum
support on which a lever rests or pivots
1864
F198
fulminate
thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation
If we use this stone as a fulcrum and the
crowbar as a lever, we may be able to move
this boulder.
The people against whom she fulminated
were innocent of any wrongdoing.
1865
F199
fulsome
disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex.
fulsome praise/expressions of admire
1866
F200
fumble
move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in
search of something); mishandle or drop a ball
that is in play; bungle; botch; spoil by
mishandling; N.
1867
F201
functional
made for practical use only (without decoration);
functioning; Ex. functional modern furniture; CF.
functionalism
1868
F202
functionary
official (who performs a particular function)
As his case was transferred from one
functionary to another, he began to despair of
ever reaching a settlement.
1869
F203
fundamental
basic; primary; essential
The committee discussed all sorts of side
issues without ever getting down to
addressing the fundamental problem.
1870
F204
funereal
sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
1871
F205
furor
frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury
I fail to understand why there is such a
funereal atmosphere; we have lost a battle,
not a war.
The story of her embezzlement of the funds
created a furor on the stock exchange.
1872
F206
furrow
long shallow trench made by a plow; deep
wrinkle in the skin; V.
1873
F207
furtive
stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape
notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive glance
1874
F208
fusillade
simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles,
questions, etc.)
1875
F209
fusion
union; coalition; V. fuse
1876
F210
fuss:
trouble or worry over trifles; make nervous; pay
too much attention to; N: needless concern or
worry (about a trivial thing); anxious nervous
condition; display of attention; Ex. make a fuss
over the baby
1877
1878
1879
F211
F212
G1
fussy
futile
gadfly
fastidious; finicky; easily upset
useless; hopeless; ineffectual
animal-biting fly; irritating person
1880
G2
gaffe
social blunder
According to Miss Manners, to call your
husband by your lover's name is worse than
a mere gaffe; it is a tactical mistake.
1881
G3
gainsay
deny
1882
1883
G4
G5
gait
galaxy
manner of walking or running; speed
large isolated system of stars, such as the Milky
Way; collection of brilliant personalities
She was too honest to gainsay the truth of
the report.
The lame man walked with an uneven gait.
The deaths of such famous actors as Clark
Gable, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, and
Marlene Dietrich demonstrate that the galaxy
of Hollywood superstars is rapidly
disppearing.
1884
G6
gale
windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst
(laughters, tears); Ex. gale of laughter
His fulsome praise of the dictator annoyed his
listeners.
The boy gave a furtive look at his classmate's
test paper.
The opponents of the political party in power
organized a fusion of disgruntled groups and
became an important element in the election.
Why waste your time on futile pursuits?
Like a gadfly, he irritated all the guests at the
hotel; within forty eight hours, everyone
regarded him as an annoying busybody.
74
1885
G7
gall
annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused
by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse);
exasperation
Their taunts galled him.
1886
G8
galleon
large three-masted sailing ship
The Spaniards pinned their hopes on the
galleon, the large warship; the British, on the
smaller and faster pinnace.
1887
1888
G9
G10
galley
gallows
low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
framework from which a noose is suspended
(used for execution by hanging)
1889
G11
galvanic
of the production of electricity by the action of
an acid on a metal; having the effect of an
electric shock; Ex. galvanic cell; galvanic effect;
CF. Luigi Galvani
1890
G12
galvanize
stimulate or shock by an electric current;
stimulate by shock; shock into action; stir up;
coat with rust-resistant zinc by using electricity
The entire nation was galvanized into strong
military activity by the news of the attack on
Pearl Harbor.
1891
G13
gambit
opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed;
action made to produce a future advantage
The player was afraid to accept his
opponent's gambit because he feared a trap
which as yet he could not see.
1892
G14
gambol
romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
Watching children gamboling in the park is a
pleasant experience
1893
G15
gamely
in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight
gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game
Because he had fought gamely against a
much superior boxer, the crowd gave him a
standing ovation when he left the arena.
1894
G16
gamut
entire range
In this performance, the leading lady was
able to demonstrate the complete gamut of
her acting ability.
1895
G17
gangrene
decay of body tissue caused by insufficient
blood supply (usually following injury); ADJ.
gangrenous
1896
G18
gape
open widely; open the mouth wide; stare
wonderingly with the mouth open; CF. agape
The huge pit gaped before him; if he
stumbled, he would fall in.
1897
G19
garbled
mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up
or distort (a message) to such an extent as to
make misleading or unintelligible
A favorite party game involves passing a
whispered message from one person to
another; by the time it reaches the last player,
the message has become totally garbled.
1898
G20
gargantuan
huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of
Gargantua and Pantagruel
The gargantuan wrestler was terrified of mice.
1899
G21
gargoyle
waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a
building
1900
1901
G22
G23
garish
garner
overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
gather; store up; amass
She wore a garish rhinestone necklace.
She hoped to garner the world's literature in
one library.
1902
G24
garnish
decorate; add a garnish to; decorate (food or
drink) with small items such as lemon slices; N.
Parsley was used to garnish the boiled
potato.
1903
G25
garrulous
loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity
Many club members avoided the company of
the garrulous junior executive because his
contant chatter bored them to tears.
1904
G26
gastronomy
art and science of preparing and serving good
food; CF. gastronome
1905
G27
gauche
clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth
One of the by-products of his trip to Europe
was his interest in gastronomy; he enjoyed
preparing and serving foreign dishes to his
friends.
Such remarks are gauche and out of place;
you should apologize for making them.
1906
1907
G28
G29
gaudy
gaunt
flashy; showy
lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated;
barren
1908
G30
gavel
hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used
by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.
1909
G31
gawk
stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe
Her gaudy taste in clothes apalled us.
His once-round face looked surprisingly gaunt
after he had lost weight.
The country boy gawked at the skyscrapers
and neon lights of the big city.
75
1910
G32
gazette
official periodical publication; newspaper
He read the gazettes regularly for
announcement of his promotion.
1911
G33
genealogy
record of descent; lineage; ancestry; study of
ancestry
1912
G34
generality
vague statement; general statement which is
not detailed; quality of being general; greater
part; most; Ex. generality of people
He was proud of his genealogy and
constantly referred to the achievements of his
ancestors.
This report is filled with generalities; you must
be more specific in you statements.
1913
1914
G35
G36
generate
generic
cause; produce; create
characteristic of an entire class or species; of a
genus
1915
G37
genesis
beginning; origin
Tracing the genesis of a family is the theme
of "Roots."
1916
G38
geniality
cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy; ADJ.
genial: cheerful and good-tempered
This restaurant is famous and popular
because of the geniality of the proprietor, who
tries to make everyone happy.
1917
G39
genre
particular variety of art or literature
Both a short story writer and a poet, Langston
Hughes proved himself equally skilled in
either genre.
1918
G40
genteel
well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an
appearance of refinement; Ex. genteel poverty
1919
G41
gentility
those of gentle birth; high social class;
refinement; quality of being genteel
We are looking for a man with a genteel
apperance who can inspire confidence by his
cultivated manner.
Her family was proud of its gentility and
elegance.
1920
1921
G42
G43
gentle
gentry
kindly; soft; mild; of good family
people of standing(rank or position); people of
good family or high social position; class of
people just below nobility
The local gentry did not welcome the visits of
the summer tourists and tried to ignore their
presence in the community.
1922
G44
genuflect
bend the knee as in worship
1923
G45
genus
division of animals or plants, below a family and
above a species
1924
1925
G46
G47
geriatrics
germ
medical treatment and care of old age
earliest form of an organism; seed or bud;
something that may develop into something
larger or more important; microbe
1926
G48
germane
pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with)
the case at hand; appropriate
The lawyer objected that the testimony being
offered was not germane to the case at hand.
1927
G49
germinal
pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea
Such an idea is germinal; I am certain that it
will influence thinkers and philosophers for
many generations.
1928
G50
germinate
cause to sprout; sprout
1929
G51
gerontocracy
government ruled by old people
After the seeds germinate and develop their
permanent leaves, the plants may be
removed from the cold frames and
transplanted to the garden.
Gulliver visited a gerontocracy in which the
young people acted as servants to their
elders, all the while dreaming of the day they
would be old enough to have servants of their
own.
1930
G52
gerontology
study of the sociological phenomena associated
with old age
1931
G53
gerrymander
change voting district lines in order to favor a
political party; N. CF. Elbridge Gerry +
(sala)mander
The illogical pattern of the map of this
congressional district is proof that the state
legislature gerrymandered this area in order
to favor the majority party.
1932
G54
gestate
evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation:
period of development from conception until
birth
While this scheme was being gestated by the
conspirators, they maintained complete
silence about their intentions.
Sue knew so many computer programmers
who spent their spare time playing fantasy
games that she began to think that playing
Dungeon & Dragons was a generic trait.
A proud denocrat, he refused to genuflect to
any man.
76
1933
G55
gesticulation
motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures
(while speaking)
Operatic performers are trained to make
exaggerated gesticulations because of the
large auditoriums in whic they appear.
1934
G56
ghastly
horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF.
aghast
The murdered man was a ghastly sight.
1935
G57
gibberish
nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or
writing; babbling
Did you hear that foolish boy spouting
gibberish about monsters from outer space?
1936
G58
gibe
mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks
As you gibe at their superstitious beliefs, do
you realize that you, too, are guilty of similarly
foolish thoughts?
1937
G59
giddy
light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy;
causing dizziness; Ex. giddy youth; Ex. giddy
climb/height
He felt his giddy youth was past.
1938
1939
G60
G61
gild
gingerly
cover with a thin layer of gold
very carefully; ADJ.
1940
G62
girth
distance around something; circumference
1941
G63
gist
essence; main point; substance
she was asked to give the gist of the essay in
two sentence.
1942
G64
glacial
like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex.
glacial epoch; CF. iceberg
Never a warm person, when offended hugo
could seem positively glacial.
1943
1944
G65
G66
glamor
glare
compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous
shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and
angrily; N.
1945
G67
glaring
(of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly
bright; shining intensely and blindingly
glaring spelling or grammatical errors in your
resume will unfavorably impress potential
employers.
1946
G68
glaze
cover with a thin and shiny surface; apply a
glaze to; N: thin, smooth, shiny coating (as for
pottery); Ex. unglazed pottery
The freezing rain glazed the streets and
made driving hazardous.
1947
1948
G69
G70
gleam
glean
brief flash of light; glow; V.
gather leavings; gather grain left behind by
reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information)
often with difficulty
1949
G71
glib
fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile;
slick
He is a glib and articulate speaker.
1950
G72
glimmer
shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady
light; faint indication; Ex. glimmer of hope
In the darkness of the cavern, the glowworms
hanging from the cavern roof glimmered like
distant stars.
1951
G73
glitter
shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex.
glittering diamond ring; N: sparkling light;
attractiveness; glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on
the waves
1952
G74
gloat
express evil satisfaction; look at or think about
with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The
thief gloated over the stolen jewels.
1953
G75
gloss
brief explanation note or translation of a difficult
expression; V.
1954
G76
gloss_over
explain away with the intention of deceiving or
hiding faults
1955
G77
glossary
brief explanation of words used in the text
1956
G78
glossy
smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness
on a surface; superficially attractive
appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners
1957
G79
glow
shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or
metals); show redness and heat (in the face)
after hard work or because of strong feelings;
N: light produced by a heated body; brilliance of
a color
To separate egg whites, first crack the egg
gingerly.
It took an extra-large cummerbund to fit
around Andrew Carnegie's considerable girth.
After the crops had been harvested by the
machines, the peasants were permitted to
glean the wheat left in the fields.
As you gloat over your ill-gotten wealth, do
you think of the many victims you have
defrauded?
I have found the glossary in this book very
useful; it has eliminated many trips to the
dictionary.
I want this photograph printed on glossy
paper, not matte.
77
1958
1959
G80
G81
glower
glut
scowl; glare; look or stare angrily
overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to
excess; N: oversupply
The angry boy glowered at his father.
The many manufacturers glutted the market
and could not find purchasers for the many
articles they had produced.
1960
1961
G82
G83
glutinous
glutton
sticky; viscous; gluey
someone who eats too much; ADJ. gluttonous:
given to gluttony; greedy; CF. gluttony: habit of
eating too much
Molasses is a glutinous substance.
When Mother saw that Bobby had eaten all
the cookies, she called him a little glutton.
1962
1963
G84
G85
gnarl
gnarled
protruding knot on a tree; V.
twisted
1964
G86
gnome
dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure
hoards
1965
G87
goad
urge on; drive with a goad; cause (someone) to
do something by continued annoyance; Ex.
They goaded him into doing it by saying he was
a coward; N: sharp-pointed stick for driving
cattle; stimulus; CF. annoy continually
1966
1967
G88
G89
gobble
gorge
eat very quickly
stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous:
dazzlingly beautiful
1968
G90
gory
bloody; N. gore: blood (from a wound)
The audience shuddered as they listened to
the details of the gory massacre.
1969
G91
gossamer
sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and
sheer fabric; cobweb
Nylon can be woven into gossaner or thick
fabrics.
1970
G92
gouge
overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex.
gouge the public; CF. usury
In that fight, all the rules were forgotten; the
adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to gouge
each other's eyes out.
1971
G93
gourmand
epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure
in food and drink
goumands lack self-restraint; if they enjoy a
particular cuisine, they eat far too much of it.
1972
G94
gourmet
connoisseur of food and drink; epicure
The gourmet stated that this was the best
onion soup she had ever tasted.
1973
G95
gracious
kind in a generous way (to someone less
important)
1974
G96
gradation
series of gradual stages; degree in such a
progression
1975
G97
graduate
arrange into categories or grades; divide into
marked intervals (for use in measurement); Ex.
graduated ruler
1976
G98
graduated
arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc.)
1977
G99
granary
storehouse for grain
1978
G100
grandeur
impressiveness; stateliness; majesty
No matter how often he hiked through the
mountains, David never failed to be struck by
the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada range.
1979
G101
grandiloquent
(of a person or speech) using high sounding or
important-sounding language; pompous;
bombastic
The politician could bever speak simply; she
was always grandiloquent.
1980
G102
grandiose
affectedly grand; pretentious; high-flown;
ridiculously exaggerated; impressive; great in
size or scope; grand; Ex. grandiose ideas
His grandiose manner impressed those who
met him for the first time.
1981
G103
granulate
form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or
particle
Sugar that has been granulated dissolves
more readily than lump sugar.
1982
G104
graphic
pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly
described
I was particularly impressed by the graphic
presentation of the storm.
1983
G105
graphite
black form of carbon used in lead pencils
The gnarled oak tree had been a landmark
for years and was mentioned in several
deeds.
In medieval mythology, gnomes were the
special guardians and inhabitants of
subterranean mines.
He was goaded by his friends until he yielded
to their wishes.
The gluttonous guest gorged himself with
food as though he had not eaten for days.
Margaret loved her graduated set of Russian
hollow wooden dolls; she spent hours happily
putting the smaller dolls into their larger
counterparts.
We have reason to be thankful, for our crops
were good and our granaries are full.
78
1984
G106
grapple
wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and
struggle with; Ex. grapple with the burglar
He grappled with the burglar and
overpowered him.
1985
G107
grate
make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect;
shred by rubbing against a rough surface; Ex.
grated cheese N: framework of metal bars to
hold fuel in a fireplace
The screams of the quarreling children grated
on her nerves.
1986
1987
G108
G109
gratify
gratis
please; satisfy; Ex. gratify a desire
free; without charge; ADJ.
1988
G110
gratuitous
given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done
without good reason; Ex. gratuitous comment
Her parents were gratified by her success.
The company offered to give one package
gratis to every purchaser of one of their
products.
Quit making gratuitous comments about my
driving; no one asked you for your opinion.
1989
G111
gratuity
n. money given to sb who has done one a
service; tip ;
Many service employees rely more on
gratuities than on salaries for their livelihood.
1990
G112
gravity
seriousness; ADJ. grave
We could tell we were in serious trouble from
the gravity of her expression.
1991
G113
graze
(of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an
animal) to feed on grass; scrape (esp. the skin)
or touch lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can't
graze the cattle till summer; N: surface wound
1992
G114
gregarious
sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group
Typically, party-throwers are gregarious;
hermits are not.
1993
G115
grievance
cause of complaint; complaint
When her supervisor ignored her complaint,
she took her grievance to the union.
1994
G116
grill
question severely; cook on a grill; broil; N:
cooking surface of parallel metal bars
In violation of the Miranda law, the police
grilled the suspect for several hours before
reading him his rights.
1995
G117
grim
causing great fear; unrelenting; determined in
spite of fear; Ex. grim smile
1996
G118
grimace
facial distortion to show feeling such as pain,
disgust, etc; V.
Even though he remained silent, his grimace
indicated his displeasure.
1997
G119
grisly
ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the
bodies
She shuddered at the grisly sight.
1998
G120
groom
man employed to take care of horses; V: make
neat and trim; clean and brush (an animal)
1999
G121
groove
long narrow channel made in a surface to guide
the movement of something; Ex. groove of the
record
2000
G122
gross
total; fragrant; clearly wrong; (of people's
behavior) coarse; corpulent; Ex. gross
insolence/behavior; V: earn as a total amount;
N: 12 dozens
2001
G123
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideous; strange and
unnatural (causing fear or amusement)
On Halloween people enjoy wearing groteque
costumes.
2002
G124
grotto
small cavern
The Blue Grotto in Capri can be entered only
by small boats rowed by natives through a
natural opening in the rocks.
2003
G125
grouch
bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps
complaining; V: complain; grumble
2004
G126
grouse
complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump
chickenlike game bird
2005
G127
grovel
crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate;
behave in a servile manner
2006
2007
2008
G128
G129
G130
growl
grudge
grudging
low, guttural, menacing sound (as of a dog)
deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.
unwilling; reluctant; stingy(giving reluctantly)
2009
G131
gruel
thin liquid porridge
Our daily allotment of gruel made the meal
not only monotonous but also unpalatable.
2010
G132
grueling
exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race
The marathon is a grueling race.
Students traditionally grouse about the
abysmal quality of "mystery meat" and similar
dornitory food.
Even though we have been defeated, we do
not have to grovel before our conquerors.
We received only grudging support from the
mayor despite his earlier promises of aid.
79
2011
G133
gruesome
grisly; horrible
People screamed when her gruesome
appearance was flashed on the screen.
2012
G134
gruff
rough-mannered; (of a voice) rough; hoarse
Although he was blunt and gruff with most
people, he was always gentle with children.
2013
2014
2015
G135
G136
G137
grumble
grunt
guffaw
complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.
utter a deep guttural sound (as a pig does); N.
boisterous laughter; V.
2016
G138
guile
deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning; Ex.
persuade her by guile
2017
G139
guileless
without deceit
He is naive, simple, and guileless; he cannot
be guilty of fraud.
2018
G140
guise
outward appearance; costume; Ex. in a new
guise
In the guise of a plumber, the detective
investigated the murder case.
2019
G141
gull
trick; deceive; hoodwink; N: person who is
easily tricked; dupe
2020
G142
gullible
easily deceived
2021
G143
gush
(of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a
hole; make an excessive display of feeling
(without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from
the wound.
2022
2023
G144
G145
gust
gustatory
strong abrupt rush of wind; V. CF. bluster
affecting or relating to the sense of taste
2024
G146
gusto
eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm
2025
2026
G147
G148
gusty
guy
windy
cable or chain attached to something that needs
to be braced or steadied; CF. guide
The gusty weather made sailing precarious.
2027
G149
gyroscope
apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain
direction, etc.
By using a rotating gyroscope, they were able
to stabilize the vessel, counteracting the
rolling movements of the sea.
2028
H1
habitat
2029
2030
H2
H3
habituate
hackles
natural home of a plant or animal; CF.
habitation
accustom or familiarize; addict
hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex.
make someone's hackles rise
2031
H4
hackneyed
commonplace; trite
The English teacher criticized her story
because of its hackneyed and unoriginal plot.
2032
H5
haggard
wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the
rescued miners
After his long illness, he was pale and
haggard.
2033
H6
haggle
argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain)
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.
2034
H7
hail
frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate
hail
2035
H8
halcyon
calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days
In those halcyon days, people were not
worried about sneak attacks and bombings.
2036
2037
2038
H9
H10
H11
hale
halfhearted
hallowed
healthy
exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm
blessed; consecrated; Ex. hallowed ground; V.
hallow: set apart as holy
After a brief illness, he was soon hale.
2039
H12
hallucination
delusion; false idea; false perception of objects
with a compelling sense of their reality; objects
so perceived; V. hallucinate; ADJ. hallucinatory
I think you were frightened by a hallucination
that you created in you own mind.
The loud guffaws that came from the closed
room indicated that the members of the
committe had not yet settled down to a
serious business.
She achieved her high position by guile and
treachery.
He preyed upon gullible people, who believed
his stories of easy wealth.
The Thai restaurant offered an unusual
gustatory experience for those used in a
bland cuisine.
He accepted the assignment with such gusto
that I feel he would have been satisfied with a
smaller salary.
The dog's hackles rose and he began to
growl as the sound of footsteps grew louder.
She was laid to rest in hallowed ground.
80
2040
H13
halting
hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting
steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act with
uncertainty; falter; hesitate; waver; stop
Novice extemporaneous speakers often talk
in a halting fashion as they grope for the right
words.
2041
H14
hamper
obstruct; prevent the free movement of;
The minority party agreed not to hamper the
efforts of the leaders to secure a lasting
peace.
2042
H15
handsome
large in quantity; generous; Ex. handsome
reward
2043
H16
hap
chance; luck
In his poem hap, Thomas Hardy objects to
the part chance plays in our lives.
2044
H17
haphazard
random; by chance; happening in an unplanned
manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town
His haphazard reading left him unaquainted
with the authors of the books.
2045
H18
hapless
unfortunate; luckless
This hapless creature had never known a
moment's pleasure.
2046
H19
harangue
long, passionate, and vehement speech; V.
In her lengthy harangue, the principal berated
the offenders.
2047
H20
harass
annoy by repeated attacks
2048
2049
H21
H22
harbinger
harbor
forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
give protection (by giving food and shelter);
provide a refuge for; hide; keep in mind
(thoughts or feelings); Ex. harbor a
grudge/criminal; N: place of shelter; refuge
When he could not pay his bills as quickly as
he had promised, he was harrassed by his
creditors.
The crocus is an early harbinger of spring.
The church harbored illegal aliens who were
political refugees.
2050
H23
hardy
(of people or animals) sturdy; robust; (of plants)
able to stand inclement(stormy) weather
2051
H24
harping
tiresome dwelling on a subject; V. harp: dwell
on(think or speak a lot about) tediously
2052
H25
harrowing
agonizing; distressing; traumatic; V. harrow:
break up and level (soil) with a harrow; inflict
great distress on; agonize; N: farming machine
to break up the earth
2053
H26
harry
harass, annoy, torment (by repeated attacks);
raid
The guerrilla band harried the enemy nightly.
2054
H27
hatch
deck opening; lid covering a deck opening; V:
emerge from an egg; produce (young) from an
egg
The latch on the hatch failed to catch, so the
hatch remained unlatched.
2055
H28
haughtiness
pride; arrogance; ADJ. haughty
I resent his haughtiness because he is no
better than we are.
2056
H29
haunt
(of a spirit) visit (a place); come to mind
continually; visit (a place) regularly; frequent;
Ex. haunted house; Ex. haunted by his last
words; N: place much frequented
2057
2058
2059
H30
H31
H32
haven
havoc
hazard
place of safety; refuge; harbor; Ex. tax haven
widespread damage; disorder; chaos
venture; put in danger; risk; Ex. hazard a guess;
N: possible source of danger
2060
H33
hazardous
dangerous
2061
H34
hazy
slightly obscure; misty; unclear; N. haze: light
mist or smoke; confused state of mind
2062
2063
H35
H36
headfirst
headlong
moving with the head leading; headlong
hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.
2064
H37
headstrong
willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to have
one's own way; CF. no 'excessive'
We asked the gardening expert to
recommend particularly hardy plants that
could withstand our harsh New England
winters.
After he had reminded me several times
about what he had done for me I told him to
stop his harping on my indebtedness to him.
Your occupation is too hazardous for
insurance companies to consider your
application.
In hazy weather, you cannot see the top of
this mountain.
The slave seized the unexpected chance to
make a headlong dash across the border to
freedom.
Because she refused to marry the man her
parents had chosen for her, everyone
scolded Minna and called her a foolish,
headstrong girl.
81
2065
H38
healthful
conducive to good health; Ex. healthful
mountain air
2066
2067
H39
H40
healthy
heckler
possessing good health; healthful
person who verbally harasses others; V. heckle:
verbally harass as with gibes (by interrupting a
speaker or speech)
2068
H41
hedonist
one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim
in life; CF. hedonism: practice of living one's life
purely for pleasure
2069
2070
H42
H43
heed
heedless
pay attention to; N: close attention
not noticing; disregarding
2071
H44
hegemony
dominance especially of one nation over others
2072
H45
heinous
atrocious; wicked; hatefully bad; Ex. heinous
crime
2073
2074
H46
H47
helm
hem
steering wheel of a ship; position of control
surround tightly so that movement is
impossible; Ex. hem in; N.
2075
H48
herald
messenger; sign of something to come; V:
announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher
2076
H49
herbivorous
grain-eating; CF. herbivore
2077
H50
herd
group of animals; crowd; one who looks after a
herd; Ex. shepherd/goatherd; Ex. herd instinct;
Ex. herdsman; V: come together in a herd; look
after a herd; Ex. herd cattle
2078
2079
H51
H52
hereafter
heresy
life after death
opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion
contrary to accepted religion; ADJ. heretical;
CF. heretic
2080
H53
hermetic
concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and
mysterious; occult
It is strange to consider that modern
chemistry originated in the hermetic
teachings of the ancient alchemists.
2081
H54
hermitage
home of a hermit
Even in his remote hermitage he could not
escape completely from the world.
2082
H55
herpetologist
one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology:
branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and
amphibians
2083
H56
heterodox
(of beliefs) against accepted opinion;
unorthodox; unconventional
As a boy, Indiana Jones had a traumatic
experience involving snakes; sensibly
enough, he studies to be archaeologist, not a
herpetologist.
To those who upheld the belief that the earth
did not move, Galileo's theory that the earth
circled the sun was disturbingly heterodox.
2084
H57
heterogeneous
dissimilar; mixed; not homogeneous; consisting
of dissimilar elements or plants
2085
H58
hew
cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.
2086
H59
heyday
time of greatest success or power; prime
2087
H60
hiatus
gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time;
break
2088
H61
hibernal
wintry; wintery; of or like winter
2089
H62
hibernate
sleep throughout the winter; N. hibernation
2090
H63
hide
skin of an animal
The heckler kept interrupting the speaker
with rude remarks.
He drove on, heedless of the warnings that
the road was dangerous.
As one Eastern European nation after
another declared its independence,
commentators marveled at the sudden
breakdown of the once monolithic Soviet
hegemony.
Hitler's heinous crimes will never be
forgotten.
Some herbivorous animals have two
stomachs for digesting their food.
He was threatened with excommunication
because his remarks were considered to be
pure heresy.
In a heterogeneous group, we have an
unassorted assemblage, while in a
homogeneous group we have people or
things that have common traits.
The cavalry rushed into melee and hewed the
enemy with their swords.
In their heyday, the San Francisco FortyNiners won the Super Bowl two years
running.
Except for a brief two-year hiatus, during
which she enrolled in the Peace Corps, Ms.
Clements has devoted herself to her medical
career.
Bears prepare for their long hibernal sleep by
overeating.
Bears are one of the many species of animals
that hibernate.
82
2091
H64
hideous
repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex.
hideous face/scream
2092
H65
hierarchy
arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian
body divided into ranks; body of persons having
authority
It was difficult to step out of one's place in this
hierarchy.
2093
H66
hieroglyphic
picture writing; ADJ.
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone enabled
scholars to read the ancient Egyptian
hieroglyphics.
2094
2095
H67
H68
high-flown
hilarity
highly pretentious or inflated
boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ.
hilarious: full of laughter
2096
H69
hindmost
furthest behind; farthest to the rear
2097
H70
hindrance
block; obstacle; V. hinder
2098
H71
hindsight
understanding the nature of an event after it has
actually happened
2099
H72
hinterlands
back country; inner part of a country; OP.
foreland
They seldom had visitors, living as they did
way out in the hinderlands.
2100
H73
hireling
one who serves for hire (usually used
contemptuously); one who works solely for
compensation; Ex. hireling politician
In a matter of such importance, I do not wish
to deal with hirelings; I must meet with the
chief.
2101
H74
hirsute
hairy; having a lot of hair
He was a hitsute individual with a heavy black
beard.
2102
2103
H75
H76
historic
historical
important in history; Ex. historic battle
connected with history; based on events in
history (whether regarded as important or not)
2104
H77
histrionic
theatrical; excessively dramatic or emotional;
affected; of actors or acting; N. histrionics:
histrionic behavior
2105
2106
H78
H79
hive
hoard
box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
stockpile; accumulate for future use; N: supply
stored for future use
2107
H80
hoary
white with age
2108
H81
hoax
trick which makes someone take action;
practical joke; Ex. hoax mail; V.
2109
H82
holocaust
destruction by fire; CF. burnt whole; CF.
Holocaust
2110
H83
holster
leather pistol case (that hangs on a belt around
the waist)
Citizens of San Francisco remember that the
destruction of the city was caused not by the
earthquake but by the holocaust that
followed.
Even when he was not in uniform, he carried
a holster and pistol under his arm.
2111
H84
homage
honor; tribute; great respect; Ex. pay/do
homage to
In her speech she tried to pay homage to a
great man.
2112
2113
H85
H86
homely
homeostasis
not good-looking; unattractive
tendency of a system or organism to maintain
relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF.
homeo-: constant; Ex. homeotherm
A breakdown of the body's immune system
severely undermines the body's ability to
maintain homeostasis.
2114
H87
homespun
domestic; made at home; spun or woven at
home; simple and ordinary; Ex. homespun
philosophy
homespun wit, like homespun cloth, was
often coarse and plain.
2115
H88
homily
sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious
warning; ADJ. homiletic
His speeches were always homilies, advising
his listeners to repent and reform.
2116
H89
homogeneous
of the same kind; uniform in composition
throughout
2117
H90
hone
sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a
tool
Many educators try to put pupils of similar
abilities in the same class because they
believe that his homogeneous grouping is
advisable.
To make shaving easier, he honed his razor
with great care.
The hilarity is improper on this solemn day of
mourning.
The coward could always be found in the
hindmost lines whenever a battle was being
waged.
Stalled cars along the highway are a
hindrance to traffic that tow trucks should
remove without delay.
He was proud of his histrionic ability and
wanted to paly the role of Hamlet.
Whenever there are rumors of a food
shortage, people are tempted to hoard food.
The man was hoary and wrinkled when he
was 70.
Embarrassed by the hoax, he reddened and
left the room.
83
2118
H91
hoodwink
deceive; delude
Having been hoodwinked once by the fasttalking salesman, he was extremely cautious
when he went to purchase a used car.
2119
H92
horde
crowd; swarm
Just before Christmas the stores are filled
with hordes of shoppers.
2120
H93
horoscope
diagram of the positions of stars at a given
moment (eg. of a person's birth) used by
astrologers
2121
H94
hortatory
encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation;
CF. exhort
2122
H95
horticultural
pertaining to cultivation of gardens; N.
horticulture: science or art of cultivating fruits,
vegetables, or ornamental plants; CF.
agriculture: science or art of farming or growing
crops
2123
H96
hostage
person who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy
so that the other side will do what the enemy
demands
2124
2125
H97
H98
hostility
hothead
unfriendliness; hatred; enmity; ADJ. hostile
person who does things too quickly without
thinking; ADJ. hotheaded
2126
H99
hovel
shack; small wretched house
He wondered how poor people could stand
living in such a hovel.
2127
H100
hover
hang about; (of birds or aircraft) stay in the air in
one place; (of people) wait nearby; stay around
one place; waver; be in an uncertain state
The police helicopter hovered above the
accident.
2128
H101
hubbub
confused uproar; loud noise; din
The marketplace was a scene of hubbub and
excitement.
2129
H102
hubris
arrogance; excessive self-conceit
Filled with hubris, Lear refused to heed his
friends' warnings.
2130
H103
hue
color; aspect; Ex. opinions of every hue
When her purse was snatched, she raised
such a hue and cry that the thief was
captured.
2131
H104
hue_and_cry
outcry; loud cry or clamor; strong protest; Ex.
hue and cry against the new rule
2132
H105
hull
husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or
body of a ship
2133
H106
humane
marked by kindness or consideration; kind and
compassionate; humanitarian
2134
H107
humanitarian
one devoted to the promotion of human welfare;
CF. humanism
2135
H108
humble
of low rank or position; modest; having a low
opinion of oneself and a high opinion of others;
unassuming; not proud; V. humiliate: make
humble; cause to feel ashamed or to lose the
respect of others
2136
H109
humdrum
dull; monotonous
After years of adventure, he could not settle
down to a humdrum existence.
2137
H110
humid
damp; N. humidity
She could not stand the humid climate and
moved to a drier area.
2138
H111
humility
humbleness of spirit
He spoke with a humility and lack of pride
that impressed his listeners.
2139
H112
hummock
small hill; hillock
The ascent of the hummock is not difficult
and the view from the hilltop is ample reward
tor the effort.
2140
H113
humor
indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality
that makes something amusing; state of mind;
mood; Ex. in a bad humor; Ex. out of humor
2141
H114
humus
substance or rich soil formed by decaying
vegetable matter; CF. soil
The crowd listened to his hortatory
statements with ever-growing excitement;
finally they rushed from the hall to carry to his
suggestions.
When he bought his house, he beganto look
for flowers and decorative shrubs, and began
to read books dealing with horticultural
matters.
His humane and considerate treatment of the
unfortunate endeared him to all.
In order to improve his garden, he spread
humus over his lawn and flower beds.
84
2142
2143
H115
H116
hurl
hurtle
throw forcefully; shout out violently
crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling
runaway train
2144
H117
husband
use sparingly; conserve; save; Ex. husband
one's energy; CF. house holder
2145
H118
husbandry
frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming;
Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman
2146
2147
H119
H120
hut
hybrid
crude dwelling; shack
mongrel; mixed breed; V. hybridize
2148
H121
hydrophobia
fear of water; rabies
2149
H122
hygiene
science and practice of the promotion and
preservation of health; ADJ. hygienic: showing
careful attention to cleanness (to prevent
disease); Ex. hygienic condition
2150
H123
hyperbole
exaggeration; overstatement; ADJ. hyperbolic:
of hyperbole; of a hyperbola
2151
H124
hypercritical
excessively exacting; too critical (without
noticing good qualities)
2152
H125
hypnosis
induced sleeping state; ADJ. hypnotic; V.
hypnotize
2153
H126
hypochondriac
person unduly worried about his health; worrier
without cause about illness; ADJ. CF.
hypochondria: neurosis that one is or is
becoming ill; CF. abdomen
The doctor prescribed chocolate pills for his
patient who was a hypocondriac.
2154
H127
hypocritical
pretending to be virtuous; deceiving; N.
hypocrisy: profession of beliefs one does not
possess; CF. hypocrite
I resent his hypocritical posing as a friend for
I know he is interested only in his own
advancement.
2155
H128
hypothetical
based on assumptions or hypotheses;
supposed; N. hypothesis
Why do we have to consider hypothetical
cases when we have actual case histories
that we may examine?
2156
H129
hysteria
excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N.
hysteric: person suffering from hysteria; CF.
hysterics: attack of hysteria
2157
I1
ichthyology
study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish
2158
2159
I2
I3
icon(ikon)
iconoclastic
religious image; idol; image or representation
attacking cherished traditions; N. iconoclast:
one who attacks traditional ideas; one who
destroys sacred images
2160
I4
ideology
system of ideas characteristic of a group or
culture
2161
I5
idiom
expression whose meaning as a whole differs
from the meanings of its individual words;
distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the
modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic
2162
I6
idiosyncrasy
individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral
peculiarity; eccentricity; attitude, behavior, or
opinion peculiar to a person; anything highly
individual or eccentric; ADJ. idiosyncratic
2163
I7
idle
2164
I8
idolatry
not working; not employed or busy; lazy; without
purpose; useless; lacking substance; baseless;
not based on truth; Ex. idle worker; Ex. talk idly;
V.
worship of idols; excessive admiration or
devotion; ADJ. idolatrous
2165
I9
idyll(idyl)
short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy
period of life (in the country); scene from such a
time; Ex. idyll of two young lovers
The runaway train hurtled toward disaster.
He accumulated his small fortune by
diligence and husbandry.
Mendel's formula explains the appearance of
hybrids and pure species in breeding.
A dog that bites a human being must be
observed for symptoms of hydrophobia.
This salesman is guilty of hyperbole in
describing his product; it is wise to discount
his claims.
You are hypercritical in your demands for
perfection; we all make mistakes.
Jacques Cousteau's rpograms about sea life
have advanced the cause of ichthyology.
George Bernard Shaw's iconoclastic plays
often startled more conventional people.
That ideology is dangerous to this country
because it embraces undemocratic
philosophies.
I could not understand their idioms because
literal translation made no sense.
One of his personal idiosyncrasies was his
habit of rinsing all cutlery given him in a
restaurant.
Such idolatry of singers of country music is
typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth.
85
2166
I10
idyllic
charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex.
idyllic scene
Far from the city, she led an idyllic existence
in her rural retreat.
2167
I11
igneous
produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks)
formed from lava; Ex. igneous meteorite
Lava, pumice, and other igneous rocks are
found in great abundance around Mount
Vesuvius near Naples.
2168
I12
ignite
kindle; light; catch fire or set fire to
2169
I13
ignoble
unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble
deed
When Desi crooned, "Baby, light my fire,"
literal-minded Lucy looked around for some
paper to ignite.
This plan is inspired by ignoble motives and I
must, therefore, oppose it.
2170
I14
ignominy
deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ.
ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat
2171
I15
illicit
illegal
2172
I16
illimitable
infinite; limitless
2173
I17
illuminate
brighten; clear up or make understandable;
enlighten; enable to understand; Ex. illuminating
remarks
The defense attorney claimed that the police
had entrapped his client; that is, they had
elicited the illicit action of which they now
accuse of him.
Human beings, having explored the far
corners of the earth, are now reaching out
into illimitable space.
Just as a lamp can illuminate a dark room, a
perceptive comment can illuminate a knotty
problem.
2174
I18
illusion
misleading vision or visual image; false idea or
belief; CF. delusion
It is easy to create an optical illusion in which
lines of equal length appear different.
2175
I19
illusive
deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion;
deceptive
This is only a mirage; let us not be fooled by
its illusive effect.
2176
I20
illusory
illusive; deceptive; not real
2177
I21
imbalance
lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion
Unfortunately, the costs of running the
lemonade stand were so high that Tom's
profits proved illusory.
Because of the great imbalance between the
number of men and women invited, the dance
was unsuccessful.
2178
I22
imbecility
weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile;
N. imbecile: stupid person; fool
I am amazed at the imbecility of the readers
of these trashy magazines.
2179
2180
I23
I24
imbibe
imbroglio
drink in
complicated situation (as in a play); painful or
complex misunderstanding (as in a play);
entanglement; confused mass (as of papers); V.
embroil
The dry soil imbibed the rain quickly.
He was called in to settle the imbroglio but
failed to bring harmony into the situation.
2181
I25
imbue
saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue
someone with feelings
2182
I26
immaculate
spotless; flawless; absolutely clean
His visits to the famous Gothic cathedrals
imbued him with feelings of awe and
reverence.
The West Point cadets were immaculate as
they lined up for inspection.
2183
I27
imminent
impending; near at hand
Rosa was such a last-minute worker that she
could never start writing a paper till the
deadline was imminent.
2184
I28
immobility
state of being immovable
2185
I29
immolate
offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)
Modern armies cannot afford the luxury of
immobility, as they are vulnerable to attack
while standing still.
The tribal kind offered to immolate his
daughter to quiet the angry gods.
2186
2187
I30
I31
immune
immure
resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity
imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall
2188
I32
immutable
unchangeable
Scientists are constantly seeking to discover
the immutable laws of nature.
2189
I33
impair
injure; hurt; damage
This arrest will impair her reputation in the
community.
2190
I34
impale
pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the
spear
He was impaled by the spear hurled by his
adversary.
For the two weeks before the examination,
the student immureed himself in his room and
concentrated upon his studies.
86
2191
I35
impalpable
imperceptible(not easily understood); intangible;
OP. palpable: tangible; easily perceptible
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.
2192
I36
impart
grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to
impart
2193
2194
I37
I38
impartial
impassable
not biased; fair; N. impartiality
not able to be traveled or crossed
2195
I39
impasse
predicament(dangerous condition) from which
there is no escape; situation allowing for no
further progress
2196
I40
impassioned
(of speech) filled with passion; fervent
2197
I41
impassive
without feeling; expressionless; imperturbable;
stoical; Ex. impassive face
The Native American has been incorrectly
depicted as an impassive individual,
undemonstrative and stoical.
2198
I42
impeach
charge (a public official) with crime in office;
raise doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a
witness's credibility
The angry congressman wanted to impeach
the President for his misdeeds.
2199
2200
I43
I44
impeccable
impecunious
faultless
without money
2201
I45
impede
hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block
2202
I46
impediment
hindrance; stumbling-block; speech defect
preventing clear articulation; Ex. speech
impediment
He was proud of his impeccable manners.
Now that he was wealthy, he gladly
contributed to funds to assist impecunious
and disbled persons.
The special prosecutor determined that the
Attorney General, though inept, had not
intentionally set out to impede the progress of
the investigation.
She had a speech impediment that prevented
her from speaking clearly.
2203
I47
impel
drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge
to action
2204
I48
impending
nearing; approaching; about to happen
The entire country was saddened by the
news of his impending death.
2205
I49
impenetrable
not able to be pierced or entered; beyond
understanding; impossible to understand; Ex.
impenetrable mystery
How could the murderer have gotten into the
locked room? To Watson, the mystery, like
the room, was impenetrable.
2206
I50
impenitent
not repentant
We could see by his brazen attitude that he
was impenitent.
2207
I51
imperative
absolutely necessary; that must be done;
critically important; expressing command; Ex. It
is imperative that; N: something that must be
done
2208
I52
imperceptible
unnoticeable; impossible to perceive;
undetectable
2209
I53
imperial
like an emperor; related to an empire; CF.
imperialism
2210
2211
I54
I55
imperil
imperious
put in danger
domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF.
imperial/emperor
2212
I56
impermeable
impervious; not permitting passage through its
substance; impossible to permeate
2213
I57
impersonal
not being a person; not showing personal
feelings; Ex. impersonal
force/manner/organization
2214
I58
impertinent
insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence
I regard your remarks as impertinent and I
resent them.
2215
I59
imperturbable
unshakably calm; placid
Wellington remained imperturbable and in full
command of the situation in spite of the
hyteria and panic all around him.
In this impasse, all turned to prayer as their
last hope.
When hotel owner Leona Helmsley appeared
in ads as Queen Leona standing guard over
the Palace Hotel, her critics mocked her
imperial fancies.
This new material is impermeable to liquids.
87
2216
I60
impervious
impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or
distressed; incapable of being affected (in one's
opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism
You cannot change their habits for their
minds are impervious to reasoning.
2217
I61
impetuous
violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful
thought; Ex. impetuous decision
2218
I62
impetus
moving force; momentum; force of a moving
body; incentive; stimulus; impulse
2219
I63
impiety
irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety
2220
I64
impinge
infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with;
Ex. The effects are impinging on every aspect
of our lives.
We tried to curb his impetuous behavior
because we felt that in his haste he might
offend some people.
A new federal highway program would create
jobs and five added impetus to our economic
recovery.
We must regard your blasphemy as an act of
impiety.
How could they be married without impinging
on one another's freedom?
2221
I65
impious
irreverent
The congregation was offended by her
impious remarks.
2222
I66
implacable
incapable of being pacified; impossible to
appease; Ex. implacable enemy
Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy
of the Evremonde family.
2223
I67
implausible
unlikely (to be true); unbelievable; Ex.
implausible alibi
Though her alibi seened implausible, it in fact
turned out to be true.
2224
I68
implement
put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with
tools; Ex. implement the plan/suggestion; N:
tool or instrument
The mayor was unwilling to implement the
plan until she was sure it had the governor's
backing.
2225
I69
implicate
incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be
involved (in a crime); Ex. implicate someone in
the crime
2226
I70
implication
something hinted at or suggested; implying;
implicating
If I understand the implications of your
remark, you do not trust our captain.
2227
I71
implicit
understood but not stated; implied;
unquestioning and complete; Ex. implicit trust
Jack never told Jill he adored her; he
believed his love was implicit in his deeds.
2228
2229
I72
I73
implode
implore
burst inward; CF. vaccum tube
v. ask or beg earnestly; beseech
2230
I74
imply
suggest a meaning not expressed; signify
2231
I75
impolitic
not wise; not expedient; not politic
I think it is impolitic to raise this issue at the
present time because the public is too angry.
2232
I76
imponderable
weightless; that cannot undergo precise
evaluation; CF. pound
2233
I77
import
significance; importance; meaning
I can evaluate the data gathered in this study;
the imponderable items are not so easily
analyzed.
I feel that you have not grasped the full import
of the message sent tous by the enemy.
2234
I78
importunate
urging; always demanding; troublesomely
urgent or persistent
He tried to hide from his importunate creditors
until his allowance arrived.
2235
I79
importune
beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an
annoying way)
2236
I80
imposture
assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF.
impostor
Democratic and Republican phone solicitors
importuned her for contributions so frequently
that she decided to give nothing to either
party.
She was imprisoned for her imposture of a
doctor.
2237
I81
impotent
weak; ineffective; lacking in physical strength or
power
2238
I82
impoverish
make poor; deprive of natural strength or
something important; Ex. impoverished soil
2239
I83
imprecation
curse; swearword
Roused from the bed at what he considered
an ungodly hour, Roy muttered imprecations
under his breath.
2240
I84
impregnable
invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by
force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take
Until the development of the airplane as a
military weapon, the fort was considered
impregnable.
2241
I85
impregnate
make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate
He implored her to give him a second
chance.
Even though your statement does not declare
that you are at war with that country, your
actions imply that that is the actual situation.
Although he wished to break the nicotine
habit, he found himself impotent in resisisting
the craving for a cigarette.
88
2242
I86
impromptu
without previous preparation; off the cuff(end of
a sleeve); on the spur of the moment
Her listeners were amazed that such a
thorough presentation could be made in an
impromptu speech.
2243
I87
impropriety
improperness; unsuitableness
Because of the impropriety of his costume, he
was denied entrance into the dining room.
2244
I88
improvident
thriftless; not providing for the future
2245
I89
improvise
compose on the spur of the moment
He was constantly being warned to mend his
improvident ways and begin to "save for a
rainy day."
She would sit at the piano and improvise for
hours on themes from Bach and Handel.
2246
I90
imprudent
lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious
2247
2248
I91
I92
impudence
impugn
impertinence; insolence
dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way);
attack as false or questionable; challenge;
gainsay; CF. fight
2249
I93
impuissance
powerlessness; feebleness
2250
I94
impunity
freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish
2251
I95
impute
attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation
2252
I96
inadvertently
unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
2253
I97
inalienable
not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex.
inalienable rights
2254
2255
I98
I99
inamorata
inane
woman whom a man loves
silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity
2256
I100
inanimate
lifeless; not animate
she was asked to identify the still and
inanimate body.
2257
I101
inarticulate
speechless; producing indistinct speech; not
articulate; not expressing oneself clearly
He became inarticulate with rage and uttered
sounds without meaning.
2258
I102
inasmuch_as
since; owing to the fact that
2259
I103
inaugurate
begin formally; install in office; induct into office
by a formal ceremony; N. inauguration; ADJ.
inaugural
The candidate promised that he would
inaugurate a new nationwide health care plan
as soon as he was inaugurated as president.
2260
I104
incandescent
strikingly bright; shining with intense heat;
emitting visible light when heated; Ex.
incandescent light bulb; CF. candle
If you leave on an incandescent light bulb, it
quickly grows too hot to touch.
2261
I105
incantation
singing or chanting of magic spells; magical
formula; (the saying of) words used in magic;
CF. enchant
Uttering incantations to make the brew more
potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in
the caldron.
2262
I106
incapacitate
disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity
During the winter, many people were
incapacitated by respiratory ailments.
2263
I107
incarcerate
imprison
2264
I108
incarnate
endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form;
personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily
form to; embody
The warden will incarcerate the felon after
conviction.
Your attitude is so fiendish that you must be a
devil incarnate.
2265
I109
incarnation
act of assuming a human body and human
nature; one who personifies something;
personification; Ex. previous
incarnation/reincarnation
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a basic
tenet of Christian theology.
2266
I110
incendiary
arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex.
incendiary bomb
The fire spread in such an unusual manner
that the fire department chiefs were certain
that it had been set by an incendiary.
It is imprudent to exercise vigorously and
become overheated when you are unwell.
I cannot impugn your honesty without
evidence.
The lame duck President was frustrated by
his shift from enormous power to relative
impuissance.
The bully mistreated everyone in the class
with impunity for he felt that no one would
dare retaliate.
If I wished to impute blame to the officers in
charge of this program, I would state my
feelings definitely and immediately.
She inadvertently omitted two questions on
the examination and mismarked her answer
sheet.
The Declaration of Independence mentions
the inalienable rights that all of us possess.
Such comments are inane because they do
not help us solve our program.
89
2267
I111
incense
enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely
angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned
to produce a pleasant odor
Unkindness to children incensed her.
2268
I112
incentive
spur; motive; something which encourages one
to greater activity
Students who dislike school must be given an
incentive to learn.
2269
I113
inception
start; beginning
2270
I114
incessant
uninterrupted; unceasing
She was involved with the project from its
inception.
The crickets kept up an incessant chirping
that disturbed our attempts to fall asleep.
2271
I115
inchoate
(of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not
explicit; at the beginning of development;
rudimentary; elementary; Ex. inchoate mass
Before the Creation, the world was an
inchoate mass.
2272
I116
incidence
rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex.
high incidence of infant mortality
Health professionals expressed great
concern over the high incidence of infant
mortality in major urban areas.
2273
2274
I117
I118
incident
incidental
event; event that causes a crisis
not essential; minor; N: something incidental
2275
2276
I119
I120
incinerate
incipient
burn to ashes
beginning; in an early stage
2277
I121
incisive
(appreciatively) cutting; sharp; Ex. incisive
remarks; V. incise: make a cut into
His incisive remarks made us see the fallacy
in our plans.
2278
I122
incite
arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to
exist; Ex. incite a riot/the crowd to rebellion
The demogogue incited the mob to take
action into its own hands.
2279
I123
inclement
stormy; unkind; unmerciful; CF. clement
2280
I124
incline
slope; slant; Ex. steep incline
I like to read a good book in inclement
weather.
The architect recommended that the nursing
home's ramp be rebuilt because its incline
was too steep for wheelchairs.
2281
I125
inclined
tending or leaning toward; bent; V. incline: slant;
dispose; be disposed; tend
2282
I126
inclusive
tending to include all; all-inclusive; Ex. inclusive
charge
2283
I127
incognito
with identity concealed; using an assumed
name; ADJ.
2284
I128
incoherent
unintelligible; muddled; unable to express one's
thoughts in an orderly manner; illogical; lacking
cohesion; not coherent
2285
I129
incommodious
not spacious; inconvenient
In their incommodious quarters, they had to
improvise for closet space.
2286
I130
incompatible
inharmonious; N. incompatibility
The married couple argued incessantly and
finally decided to separate because they were
incompatible.
2287
I131
incongruity
lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous:
lacking in harmony; inappropriate
The incongruity of his wearing sneakers with
formal attire amused the observers.
2288
I132
inconsequential
insignificant; unimportant
Brushing off Ali's apologies for having broken
the wine glass, Tamara said, "Don't worry
about it; it's inconsequential."
2289
I133
inconsistency
state of being self-contradictory; lack of
uniformity or steadiness; ADJ. inconsistent:
displaying a lack of consistency; erratic;
contradictory; incompatible
2290
I134
incontinent
lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious
How are lawyers different from agricultural
inspectors? Where lawyers check
inconsistencies in witnesses' statements,
agricultural inspectors check inconsistencies
in Grade A eggs.
His incontinent behavior off stage shocked
many people and they refused to attend the
plays and movies in which he appeared.
2291
I135
incontrovertible
indisputable; impossible to dispute; not open to
question; unquestionable
The scholarship covered his major expenses
at college and some of his incidental
expenses as well.
I will go to sleep early for I want to break an
incipient cold.
Though I am inclined to be skeptical, the
witness's manner inclines me to believe his
story.
The comedian turned down the invitation to
join the Player's Club, saying any club that
would let him in was too inclusive for him.
The monarch enjoyed traveling throughthe
town incognito and mingling with the
populace.
The bereaved father sobbed and stammered,
his words becoming almost incoherent in his
grief.
We must yield to the incontrovertible
evidence that you have presented and free
your client.
90
2292
I136
incorporate
introduce something into a larger whole;
include; embody; give material form to; ADJ.
Breaking with precedent, President Truman
ordered the military to incorporate blacks into
every branch of the armed services.
2293
I137
incorporeal
without a material body; insubstantial
2294
I138
incorrigible
uncorrectable
2295
I139
incredulity
tendency to disbelief
We must devote time to the needs of our
incorporeal mind as well as our corporeal
body.
Though Widow Douglass hoped to reform
Huck, Miss Watson pronounced him
incorrigible and said he would come to no
good end.
Your incredulity in the face of all the evidence
is hard to understand.
2296
I140
incredulous
withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief
When Jack claimed he hadn't eaten the jelly
doughnut, Jill took an incredulous look at his
smeared face and laughed.
2297
I141
increment
increase
2298
I142
incriminate
accuse of or implicate in a crime; serve as
evidence against; cause to seem or make guilty
of a crime; Ex. incriminating evidence
The new contract calls for a 10 percent
increment in salary for each employee for the
next two years.
The witness's testimony against the
racketeers incriminates some high public
officials as well.
2299
I143
incrustation
hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover
with a crust
2300
I144
incubate
2301
I145
incubus
hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote
hatching; maintain at optimal environment
conditions for development; be holding in one's
body an infection which is going to develop into
a disease; N. incubation; CF.
incubation:disease
burden; very worriying problem; mental care;
nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus
2302
2303
I146
I147
inculcate
incumbent
teach (ideas or principles); instill
obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently
holding an office; N: person who holds an office
2304
I148
incur
bring upon oneself
His parents refused to pay any future debts
he might incur.
2305
I149
incursion
temporary invasion; CF. excursion: short
journey
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.
2306
2307
I150
I151
indecision
indecisive
irresolution; inability to make up one's mind
marked by indecision; inconclusive; Ex.
indecisive battle
2308
I152
indefatigable
tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting
tired
He was indefatigable in his constant efforts to
raise funds for the Red Cross.
2309
2310
I153
I154
indelible
indemnify
not able to be erased
make secure against damage or loss;
compensate for damage or loss; CF. make
uninjured
The city will indemnify all home owners
whose property is spoiled by this project.
2311
2312
I155
I156
indentation
indenture
notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth
bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind by
indenture; N: contract binding one party into the
service of another for a specified time (as
between an apprentice and his master)
Many immigrants could come to America only
after they had indentured themselves for
several years.
2313
I157
indeterminate
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
2314
I158
indicative
suggestive; implying; serving to indicate
2315
I159
indices
signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student's
potential; CF. index: something that reveals or
indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index
2316
I160
indict
charge; N. indictment
Inasmuch as our supply of electricity is cut
off, we shall have to rely on the hens to
incubate these eggs.
The incubus of financial worry helped bring
on her nervous breakdown.
The newly elected public official received
valuable advice from the present incumbent.
That interest rates shall rise appears certain;
when they will do so, however, remains
indeterminate.
A lack of appetite may be indicative of a
major mental or physical disorder.
If the grand jury indicts the suspect, he will go
to trial.
91
2317
I161
indifferent
unmoved or unconcerned by; having no interest
in; mediocre; neither good nor bad
Because she felt no desire to marry, she was
indifferent to his constant proposals.
2318
I162
indigence
poverty
2319
I163
indigenous
native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World
Neither the economists nor the political
scientists have found a way to wipe out the
inequities of wealth and eliminate indigence
from our society.
Tobacco is one of the indigenous plants that
the early explorers found in this country.
2320
2321
I164
I165
indigent
indignation
poor; destitute
anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation;
ADJ. indignant
2322
I166
indignity
treatment or situation that causes shame or loss
of dignity, respect; offensive or insulting
treatment; humiliating or degrading treatment;
Ex. I suffered the indignity of having to say that
in front of them.
Although he seemed to accept cheerfully the
indignities heaped upon him, he was inwardly
very angry.
2323
I167
indiscriminate
choosing at random; confused; not based on
careful distinctions
She disapproved of her son's indiscriminate
television viewing and decided to restrict him
to educational programs.
2324
I168
indisputable
too certain to be disputed; beyond doubt
In the face of these indisputable statements, I
withdraw my complaint.
2325
I169
indissoluble
permanent; impossible to dissolve or
disintegrate
The indissoluble bonds of marriage are all too
often being dissolved.
2326
2327
I170
I171
indite
indoctrinate
write; compose
cause to accept a doctrine without questioning
it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anticommunism
Cyrano indited many letters for Christian.
2328
2329
I172
I173
indolent
indomitable
lazy
unconquerable; unyielding
2330
I174
indubitable
unable to be doubted; which cannot be
doubted; unquestionable
2331
I175
induce
persuade; lead to do something; bring about; N.
inducement
2332
I176
induct
place formally in office; install; admit as a
member; initiate; N. induction: inducting;
process of deriving general principles from
particular facts
2333
I177
inductive
pertaining to induction or proceeding from the
specific to the general
2334
I178
indulge
yield to; gratify; allow oneself a special
pleasure; Ex. indulge one's every whim/a
child/in a big cigarette; N. indulgence
2335
I179
indulgent
humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence
2336
2337
2338
2339
I180
I181
I182
I183
industrious
inebriate
inebriated
ineffable
diligent; hard-working; N. industry
make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person
habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety
unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that
cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable;
unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable
name/joy
2340
I184
ineffectual
not effective; not having a desired effect; weak
2341
I185
ineluctable
irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable
2342
I186
inept
unsuited; inappropriate; lacking skill;
incompetent; CF. inapt: (of statements or ideas)
inappropriate
He felt indignation at the ill-treatment of the
helpless animals.
The founders of our country had indomitable
willpower.
After the quarrel, Tina said nothing could
induce her to talk to Tony again.
The discovery of the planet Pluto is an
excellent example of the results that can be
obtained from inductive reasoning.
indulgent parents spoil their children by giving
in to their every whim.
Such ineffable joy must be experienced; it
cannot be described.
Because the candidate failed to get across
his message to the public, his campaign was
ineffectual.
He felt that his fate was ineluctible and
refused to make any attempt to improve his
lot.
inept as a carpenter, Ira was all thumbs.
92
2343
I187
inequity
unfairness; ADJ. inequitable
In demanding equal pay for equal work,
women protest the basic inequity of a system
that allots greater financial rewards to men.
2344
I188
inerrancy
infallibility
Jane refused to believe in the pope's
inerrancy, reasoning: "All human beings are
capable of error. The pope is a human being.
Therefore, he pope is capable of error.
2345
I189
inert
inactive; lacking power to move; unable to move
or act; Ex. chemically inert; N. inertia: state of
being inert; force which keeps a thing in the
position or state
2346
I190
inestimable
impossible to estimate; (apprec) invaluable; of
immeasurable worth
2347
2348
I191
I192
inevitable
inexorable
unavoidable
relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable
of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex.
inexorable price rises
2349
I193
inextricable
from which it is impossible to get free; that
cannot be untied; Ex. inextricable troubles; Ex.
inextricable two histories
2350
I194
infallible
unerring; never making mistakes
We must remember that none of us is
infallible; we all make mistakes.
2351
I195
infamous
notoriously bad; notorious; well known for being
bad; Ex. infamous behavior; N: infamy:
infamous act; evil fame or reputation
Jesse James was an infamous outlaw.
2352
2353
I196
I197
infantile
infer
childish; infantlike
deduce; conclude; N. inference
When will he outgrow such infantile behavior?
We must be particularly cautious when we
infer that a person is guilty on the basis of
circumstantial evidence.
2354
I198
infernal
pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of
fiery heat or destruction
They could think of no way to hinder his
infernal scheme.
2355
I199
infest
inhabit in numbers large enough to be harmful;
Ex. Mice infested the house; Ex. shark-infested
waters
2356
2357
I200
I201
infidel
infiltrate
unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion)
pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an
organization) sneakily; Ex. infiltrate the troops
into enemy territory; CF. infiltrator
The Saracens made war against tne infidels.
In order to infiltrate enemy lines at night
without being seen, the scouts darkened their
faces and wore black coveralls.
2358
I202
infinitesimal
very small
2359
2360
I203
I204
infirmity
inflated
weakness
exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or
gas)
2361
I205
influx
flowing into
In the twentieth century, physicists have
made their greatest discoveries about the
characteristics of infinitesimal objects like the
atom and its parts.
Her greatest infirmity was lack of willpower.
His claims about the new product were
inflated; it did not work as well as he had
promised.
The influx of refugees into the country has
taxed the relief agencies severely.
2362
I206
infraction
violation (of a rule or regulation); breach
Because of his many infractions of school
regulations, he was suspended by the dean.
2363
I207
infringe
violate (a law); encroach (the right of another
person)
I think your machine infringes on my patent
and intend to sue.
2364
I208
ingenious
marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N.
ingenuity
He came up with a use for Styrofoam packing
balls that was so ingenious that his business
school professors declared it was marketable.
2365
2366
I209
I210
ingenue
ingenuous
ing\'enue; young innocent girl
naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated;
candid
2367
I211
ingrained
deeply established; firmly rooted; Ex. ingrained
dirt/prejudice
Death and taxes are both inevitable.
After listening to the pleas for clemency, the
judge was inexorable and gave the convicted
man the maximum punishment allowed by
law.
Although she was over forty, the movie star
still insisted that she be cast as an ingenuous
sweet young thing.
Try as they would, the missionaries were
unable to uproot the ingrained superstitions of
the natives.
93
2368
I212
ingrate
ungrateful person (not expressing thanks)
That ingrate Bob sneered at the tie I gave
him.
He tried to ingratiate himself into her parents'
good graces.
2369
I213
ingratiate
become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of
another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss
2370
I214
inherent
firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic
His inherent love of justice compelled him to
come to their aid.
2371
2372
I215
I216
inhibit
inhibited
restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent; N. inhibition
(of a person) unable to express what one really
feels
The child was not inhibited in her responses.
2373
I217
inimical
(of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something)
harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy
She felt that they were inimical and were
hoping for her downfall.
2374
I218
inimitable
matchless; not able to be imitated
We admire Auden for his inimitable use of
language; he is one of a kind.
2375
I219
iniquitous
wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex.
den of iniquity
I cannot approve of the iniquitous methods
you used to gain your present position.
2376
I220
initiate
begin; originate; receive into a group; introduce
to a new field or activity; Ex. initiate someone
into the mysteries of a secret religion; N: one
who has been initiated
The college is about to initiate a program for
reducing math anxiety among students.
2377
I221
injurious
harmful; causing injury
2378
I222
inkling
hint; slight indication
2379
I223
innate
inborn
Smoking cigarettes can be injurious to your
health.
This came as a complete surprise to me as I
did not have the slightest inkling of your
plans.
His innate talent for music was soon
recognized by his parents.
2380
I224
innocuous
harmless
Let him drink it; it is innocuous and will have
no ill effect.
2381
I225
innovation
change; something newly introduced;
introduction of something new; V. innovate:
begin or introduce (something new); be
creative; ADJ. innovative
She loved innovatins just because they were
new.
2382
I226
innuendo
indirect or subtle (derogatory) hint; insinuation;
Ex. sexual innuendo
I can defend myself against direct
accusations; innuendos and oblique attacks
on my character are what trouble me.
2383
I227
inopportune
untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly
chosen
A rock concert is an inopportune setting for a
quiet conversation.
2384
I228
inordinate
beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained;
excessive; Ex. inordinate demands
She had an inordinate fondness for candy.
2385
I229
inquisitive
eager for knowledge; unduly curious
We need more inquisitive students in this
school; lectures are dull.
2386
I230
inquisitor
questioner (especially harsh); investigator;
person making an inquisition
Fearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret
police, Marsha faced her inquisitors with
trepidation.
2387
I231
inroad
hostile invasion; advance that lessens the
quantity or difficulty of something; Ex. The long
illness made serious inroads on his savings;
CF. raid
2388
I232
insalubrious
unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious
place
2389
I233
insatiable
not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex.
insatiable appetite
2390
I234
inscrutable
difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily
understood; mysterious
Experienced poker players try to keep their
expressions inscrutable, hiding their reactions
to the cards behind a so-called poker face.
2391
2392
I235
I236
insensate
insensible
without feeling; lacking sense; foolish
unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive;
unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his
danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not
the opposite of sensible
She lay there as insensate as a log.
Sherry and I are very different; at times when
I would be covered with embarrassment, she
seems insensible to shame.
The mosquito-ridden swamp was an
insalubrious place, a breeding ground for
malarial contagion.
Welty's thirst for knowledge was insatiable;
she was in the library day and night.
94
2393
I237
insidious
treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading
harmfully in a stealthy manner; Ex. insidious
spreading of dry rot
The fifth column is insidious because it works
secretly within our territory for our defeat.
2394
2395
I238
I239
insightful
insinuate
2396
I240
insipid
discerning; perceptive
hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in;
introduce or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex.
insinuate himself into the boss's favor; CF.
ingratiate
lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex.
insipid food/character
2397
I241
insolence
impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ.
insolent; CF. haughty + rude
How dare you treat me so rudely! The
manager will hear of you insolence.
2398
I242
insolvent
bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency
When rumors that he was insolvent reached
his creditors, they began to press him for
payment of the money due them.
2399
I243
insomnia
wakefulness; inability to sleep
2400
I244
insouciant
without concern or care; unconcerned;
indifferent
He refused to join us in a midnight cup of
coffee because he claimed it gave him
insomnia.
Your insouciant attitude at such a critical
moment indicates that you do not understand
the gravity of the situation.
2401
I245
instigate
start; urge; provoke; incite; Ex. instigate a
search/quarrel
2402
2403
I246
I247
institute
institution
organization for a special purpose; V: establish
instituting; (building for the) organization;
established custom, practice, or relationship in
a society; mental hospital; Ex. institution of
marriage
2404
I248
institutionalize
make into an institution; put or confine in an
institution
2405
I249
insubordination
disobedience; rebelliousness; ADJ.
insubordinate
2406
I250
insubstantial
lacking substance; insignificant; frail; immaterial
2407
I251
insularity
narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of
an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF.
peninsula
2408
I252
insuperable
insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable
difficulties
In the face of insuperable difficulties they
maintained their courage and will to resist.
2409
I253
insurgent
rebellious; N.
We will not discuss reforms until the insurgent
troops have returned to their homes.
2410
I254
insurmountable
overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable
2411
I255
insurrection
rebellion; uprising
Given the current state of affairs in South
Africa, an insurrection seems unavoidable.
2412
I256
intangible
not able to be perceived by touch; vague
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.
2413
I257
integral
complete; necessary for completeness; Ex.
integral part
Physical education is an integral part of our
curriculum; a sound mind and a sound body
are complementary.
2414
I258
integrate
make whole; combine; make into one unit
She tried to integrate all their activities into
one program.
2415
I259
integrity
honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being
whole and undivided; completeness
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.
2416
I260
intellect
higher mental powers; person of great
intellectual ability
He thought college would develop his
intellect.
What are you trying to insinuate by that
remark?
Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally
insipid: both lack sparkle.
I am afraid that this statement will instigate a
revolt.
His hopes for a career in acting proved
insubstantial; no one would cast him, even in
an insubstantial role.
The insularity of the islanders manifested
itself in their suspicion of anyuthing foreign.
95
2417
I261
intelligentsia
intellectuals; members of the educated elite
(often used derogatorily)
She preferred discussions about sports and
politics to the literary conversations of the
intelligentsia.
They are going to inter the body tomorrow ar
Broadlawn Cemetry.
2418
I262
inter
bury; N. interment
2419
I263
interdict
prohibit; forbid; N.
2420
I264
interim
meantime; Ex. in the interim; ADJ. taking place
during an interim; Ex. interim paper
2421
2422
I265
I266
interjection
interloper
exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch''
intruder; one who interferes
2423
I267
intermediary
intermediate; acting as a mediator; N: mediator;
go-between
2424
I268
interminable
endless
2425
I269
intermittent
periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at
intervals
2426
I270
internecine
mutually destructive
The rising death toll on both sides indicates
the internecine natire of his conflict.
2427
I271
interpolate
insert between
She talked so much that I could not
interpolate a single remark.
2428
I272
interregnum
period between two successive reigns or
governments
2429
I273
interrogate
question closely; cross-examine; cross-question
Henry VIII desperately sought a male heir
because he feared the civil strife that might
occur if any prolonged interregum succeeded
his death.
Knowing that the Nazis would interrogate him
about his background, the secret agent
invented a cover story that would help him
meet their quesions.
2430
2431
I274
I275
interstice
intervene
narrow space between things
come between; interfere; Ex. intervened to
prevent a fight; N. intervention
2432
I276
intimate
hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close
relationship; familiar; private; personal; Ex.
intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N:
close friend or confidant; CF. intimacy
2433
2434
I277
I278
intimidate
intolerant
frighten; N. intimidation
not willing to accept ways of thinking different
from one's own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate
2435
I279
intoxicate
make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated
by all the money he might win
2436
I280
intractable
unruly; difficult to manage; Ex. intractable
problem/child
The horse was intractable and refused to
enter the starting gate.
2437
I281
intransigence
refusal of any compromise; stubbornness; ADJ.
intransigent: uncompromising
The intransigence of both parties in the
dispute makes an early settlement almost
impossible to obtain.
2438
I282
intrepid
fearless
For his intrepid conduct in battle, he was
promoted.
2439
I283
intrigue
make secret plans; plot; arouse the curiosity of;
N: secret scheme; plot; secret love affair
2440
2441
I284
I285
intrinsic
introspective
essential; inherent; built-in
looking within oneself; N. introspection: selfexamination
We all have our introspective moments during
which we examine our souls.
2442
I286
introvert
one who is introspective or inclined to think
more about oneself; ADJ. introverted
In his poetry, he reveals that he is an introvert
by his intense interest in his own problems.
2443
I287
intrude
put or force in without being asked; trespass;
enter as an uninvited person; Ex. intrude one's
own opinion into the report; CF. thrust in
She hesitated to intrude on their
conversation.
Civilized nations must interdict the use of
nuclear weapons if we expect out society to
live.
The company will not consider our proposal
until next week; in the interim, let us proceed
as we have in the past.
The merchant thought of his competitors as
interlopers who were stealing away his trade.
Although his speech lasted for only twenty
minutes, it seemed interminable to his bored
audience.
Our picnic was marred by intermittent rains.
She intervened in the argument between her
two sons.
She intimated rather than stated her
preferences.
96
2444
I288
intuition
immediate insight; power of knowing without
reasoning; ADJ. intuitive; V. intuit: know by
intuition
She claimed to know the truth by intuition.
2445
I289
inundate
flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely;
Ex. inundated with work
The tremendous waves inundated the town.
2446
I290
inured
accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the
Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something
undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling
She became inured to the Alaskan cold.
2447
I291
invalid
one incapacitated(disabled) by a chronic illness;
ADJ: incapacitated by illness; not valid; null; V:
allow to leave (a military force) because of illhealth
2448
I292
invalidate
weaken; destroy; make invalid; nullify
The relatives who received little or nothing
sought to invalidate the will by claiming that
the deceased had not been in his right mind
when he signed the document.
2449
I293
invective
abuse
He had expected criticism but not the
invective that greeted his proposal.
2450
I294
inveigh
denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex.
inveigh against the evils of drink
He inveighed against the demagoguery of the
previous speaker and urged that the
audience reject his philosophy as dangerous.
2451
I295
inveigle
deceive; lead astray by deception;
wheedle(cajole); Ex. inveigle her into joining the
club; CF. interest dishonestly
She was inveigled into joining the club after
an initial reluctance.
2452
I296
inverse
opposite
There is an inverse ratio between the
strength of light and its distance.
2453
I297
invert
turn upside down or inside out; reverse the
position or condition of
When he inverted his body in a hand stand,
he felt the blood rush to his head.
2454
I298
inveterate
deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old
She is an inveterate smoker and cannot
break the habit.
2455
I299
invidious
designed to create ill will or envy; tending to
rouse ill will or envy; Ex. invidious comparison
We disregarded her invidious remarks
because we realized how jealous she was.
2456
2457
I300
I301
invincible
inviolable
unconquerable
secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or
profanation); unassailable; Ex. inviolable
oath/rights; N. inviolability
Superman is invincible.
2458
I302
invocation
prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon
as a reference or support; act of invoking
2459
I303
invoke
call and bring into use (a right or law); call
on/upon (a higher power or god) for help; ask
for; beg for; conjure (a spirit); Ex. invoke the
veto power; Ex. invoke one's advisor/God
She invoked her advisor's aid in filling out her
financial aid forms.
2460
I304
invulnerable
incapable of injury; impossible to damage or
injure
Achilles was invulnerable except in his heel.
2461
2462
2463
I305
I306
I307
iota
irascible
irate
very small quantity
irritable; easily angered
angry; CF. ire: anger; wrath
She hadn't an iota of common sense.
Her irascible temper frightened me.
When John's mother found out that he had
overthrown his checking account for the third
month in a row, she was so irate that she
could scarcely speak to him.
2464
I308
iridescent
exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil
slick; N. iridescence
She admired the iridescent hues of the oil
that floated on the surface of the water.
2465
I309
irksome
annoying; tedious; V. irk: annoy
He found working on the assembly line
irksome because of the monotony of the
operation he had to perform.
2466
I310
ironic
expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected
and contrary manner
It is ironic that his success came when he
least wanted it.
2467
I311
irony
hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that
seem to mean the opposite of what they
actually mean; use of words to convey the
opposite of their literal meaning
Gradually his listeners began to realize that
the excessive praise he was lavishing was
merely irony; he was actually denouncing his
opponent.
97
2468
I312
irreconcilable
impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able
to be resolved
2469
2470
I313
I314
irrefutable
irrelevant
indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable
not applicable; unrelated
2471
I315
irremediable
incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy
The error she made was irremediable; she
could see no way to repair it.
2472
I316
irreparable
not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible
to repair
Your apology cannot atone for the irreparable
damage you have done to her reputation.
2473
I317
irrepressible
unable to be restrained or held back; impossible
to hold back
Her high spirits were irrepressible.
2474
I318
irreproachable
beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex.
irreproachable conduct
2475
I319
irresolute
uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in
resolution; indecisive; N. irresolution
2476
2477
I320
I321
irretrievable
irreverence
impossible to recover or regain; CF. retrieve
lack of proper respect or reverence; ADJ.
irreverent
2478
I322
irrevocable
unalterable; irreversible; impossible to revoke
Let us not brood over past mistakes since
they are irrevocable.
2479
I323
isotope
varying from of an element
The study of the isotopes of uranium led to
the development of the nuclear bomb.
2480
I324
isthmus
narrow neck of land connecting two larger
bodies of land
In a magnificent feat of engineering, Goethals
and his men cut through the isthmus of
Panama in constructing the Panama Canal.
2481
I325
itinerant
wandering; traveling from place to place (to
perform work); Ex. itinerant preacher
2482
I326
itinerary
plan of a trip; record of a trip
He was an itinerant peddler and traveled
through Pennsylvania and Virginia selling his
wares.
Before leaving for his first visit to France and
England, he discussed his itinerary with
people who had been there and with his
travel agent.
2483
J1
jab
poke abruptly with something sharp; punch with
short blows
2484
2485
J2
J3
jabber
jaded
chatter rapidly or unintelligibly
tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued;
surfeited; worn out; wearied; Ex. jaded appetite
He looked for exotic foods to stimulate his
jaded appetite.
2486
J4
jargon
language used by special group; technical
terminology; gibberish; nonsensical or
incoherent talk
We tried to understand the jargon of the
peddlers in the market place but could not
find any basis for comprehension.
2487
J5
jaundice
medical condition in which the skin, the white
part of the eyes, etc. turn yellow; V: affect with
jaundice; affect with prejudice, envy, or hostility;
bias
2488
J6
jaundiced
yellowed; prejudiced (envious, hostile, or
resentful) from long and disappointing
experience of human affairs; Ex. with a
jaundiced eye
She gazed at the painting with jaundiced
eyes; she knew it was better than hers.
2489
2490
J7
J8
jaunt
jaunty
trip; short journey
cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted;
animated; easy and carefree; dapper in
appearance; Ex. jaunty person/hat
He took a quick jaunt to Atlantic City.
In Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly sang and
danced his way throughtthe lighthearted title
number in a properly jaunty style.
2491
J9
jeopardize
endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy:
danger
2492
2493
2494
J10
J11
J12
jest
jetsam
jettison
playful remark or act; V. act or speak playfully
things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)
throw overboard (from a ship or plane)
2495
2496
J13
J14
jibe
jingoist
agree; be in harmony with; gibe
extremely aggressive and militant patriot;
warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme
nationalism
This statement is irrelevant and should be
disregarded by the jury.
She had no respect for him because he
seemed weak-willed and irresolute.
In order to enable the ship to ride safely
through the storm, the captain had to jettison
much of his cargo.
98
2497
J15
jocose
given to(having a tendency of) joking
The salesman was so jocose that many of his
customers suggested that he become a
stand-up comic.
2498
J16
jocular
Do not take my jocular remarks seriously.
2499
2500
J17
J18
jocund
jollity
said or done in jest or playfully; marked by
joking
merry
gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay
2501
J19
jostle
shove; bump; push against (someone) rather
roughly; Ex. jostled by the crowds
2502
J20
jovial
good-natured; merry; cheerful
A frown seemed out of place on his invariably
jovial face.
2503
J21
jubilation
rejoicing; great joy
There was great jubilitation when the
armistice was announced.
2504
2505
J22
J23
judiciary
judicious
judicial branch of government
sound on judgment; wise
2506
2507
J24
J25
jug
juggernaut
pitcher; container for holding liquids
irresistible crushing force; overwhelming
advancing force that crushes everything in its
path
2508
2509
J26
J27
jumble
juncture
mix in a confused way
crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of
joining
2510
J28
junket
trip especially one taken for pleasure by an
official at public expense
Though she maintained she had gone abroad
to collect firsthand data on the Common
Market, the opposition claimed that her trip
was merely a political junket.
2511
J29
junta
group of persons joined in political intrigue;
cabal; group of military officers ruling a country
after seizing power (by force)
As soon as he learned of its existence, the
dictator ordered the execution of all of the
members of the junta.
2512
J30
juridical
of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of
courts of law; CF. judiciary
2513
2514
J31
J32
jurisdiction
jurisprudence
right and power to apply the law; authority
science of law
2515
J33
juxtapose
place side by side; CF. next
Comparison will be easier if you juxtapose
the two objects.
2516
K1
kaleidoscope
tube in which patterns made by the reflection in
mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce
interesting symmetrical effects; series of
changing events; Ex. kaleidoscope of European
history; CF. beautiful
People found a new source of entertainment
while peering through the kaleidoscope; they
found the ever-changing patterns fascinating.
2517
K2
ken
range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken
I cannot answer your question since this
matter is beyond my ken.
2518
K3
kernel
2519
K4
killjoy
central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of
corn)
grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils
the pleasure of others
2520
K5
kindle
start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse
2521
K6
kindred
related; belonging to the same group; similar in
nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N:
relative; kin; kinship
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were two kindred
spirits.
2522
K7
kinetic
producing motion; of motion
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.
Santa Claus is always vivacious and jocund.
The festive Christmas dinner was a merry
one, and old and young alike joined in the
general jollity.
In the subway he was jostled by the crowds.
At a key moment in his life, he made a
judicious investment that was the foundation
of his later wealth.
Nothing could survive in the path of the
juggernaut.
At this critical juncture, let us think carefully
before determining the course we shall follow.
He was more a student of jurisprudence than
a practitioner of the law.
At breakfast we had all been enjoying our
bacon and eggs until that killjoy John started
talking about how bad animal fats and
cholesterol were for our health.
Her teacher's praise kindled a spark a hope
inside her.
99
2523
K8
kismet
fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for
fate.
kismet is the Arabic word for "fate."
2524
K9
kleptomaniac
person who has a compulsive desire to steal
They discovered that the wealthy customer
was a kleptomaniac when they caught her
stealing some cheap trinkets.
2525
2526
K10
K11
knack
knave
special talent; art
untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N.
knavery
2527
K12
knead
mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform
mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough
2528
2529
K13
K14
kneel
knell
go down on one's knee(s)
tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral,
disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.
2530
K15
knit
contract into wrinkles; grow together; join
together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by
interwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex.
The bones should knit together in a few weeks.
Whenever David worries, his brow knits in a
frown.
2531
K16
knoll
little round hill; hillock
2532
K17
knotty
intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot
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.
What to Watson had been a knotty problem
to Sherlock Holmes was simplicity itself.
2533
K18
kudos
honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional
achievement
The singer complacently received kudos on
his performance from his entourage.
2534
L1
labile
likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally
labile; N. lability
2535
L2
laborious
demanding much work or care; tedious
Because the hormonal changes they undergo
affect their spirits, adolescents may become
emotionally labile and experience sudden
shifts of mood.
In putting together his dictionary of the
English language, Doctor Johnson undertook
a laborious task.
2536
L3
labyrinth
maze
2537
L4
lace
cord used to draw and tie together two opposite
edges (as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of
fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace
2538
L5
laceration
torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin
as with broken glass); wound
2539
L6
lachrymose
producing tears; tearful
2540
L7
lackadaisical
lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or
zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
2541
L8
lackluster
lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull
2542
L9
laconic
brief and to the point; using few words; terse
2543
L10
lag
move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag
behind the rest; N.
2544
L11
laggard
slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler
The sailor had been taught not to be laggard
in carrying out orders.
2545
L12
lagoon
shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake
separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs
They enjoyed their swim in the calm lagoon.
2546
L13
laity
laypersons; laymen; persons not connected
with the clergy
The laity does not always understand the
clergy's problems.
2547
L14
lament
grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
Even advocates of the war lamented the loss
of so many lives in combat.
2548
L15
lampoon
ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing
a person, group, or institution
This article lampoons the pretensions of
some movie moguls.
2549
L16
lance
pierce with a lance; cut into; N: spearlike
weapon
Her hands grew strong from kneading bread.
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day.
Tom and Becky were lost in the labyrinth of
secret caves.
His voice has a lachrymose quality that is
more appropriate at a funeral than a class
reunion.
He was lackadaisical and indifferent about his
part in the affair.
We were disappointed by the lackluster
performance.
Many of the characters portrayed by Clint
Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of
few words.
100
2550
2551
L17
L18
lancet
languid
small surgical tool for making incisions
lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish;
listless
lose animation or strength
2552
L19
languish
2553
L20
languor
lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude;
depression
His friends tried to overcome the languor into
which he had fallen by taking him to parties
and to the theater.
2554
L21
lank
long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln
lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln was a striking
figure.
2555
L22
lap
2556
L23
larceny
take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash
gently; Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front
area from the waist to the knees of a seated
person
theft; Ex. petit larceny
2557
L24
larder
pantry; place where food is kept
The first thing Bill did on returning home from
school was to check what snacks his mother
had in the larder.
2558
L25
largess
generous gift (given to people who do not have
enough)
Lady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor.
2559
L26
lascivious
lustful
Because they might arouse lascivious
impulses in their readers, the lewd books
were banned by the clergy.
2560
L27
lassitude
languor; weariness; listlessness
The hot, tropical weather created a feeling of
lassitude and encouraged drowsiness.
2561
L28
latch
fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar
that fits into a notch; V: close with a latch
2562
L29
latent
present but not yet noticeable or active;
dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF. potential
Her latent talent was discovered by accident.
2563
L30
lateral
of or coming from the side
In order to get good plant growth, the
gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots.
2564
L31
latitude
freedom from narrow limitations
I think you have permitted your son too much
latitude in this matter.
2565
L32
laud
praise; N. ADJ. laudable: praiseworthy; ADJ.
laudatory: expressing praise
2566
L33
lavish
liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving
or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex.
decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance
The actor's lavish gifts pleased her.
2567
L34
lax
careless; negligent; not paying enough
attention; Ex. lax service
We dislike restaurants where the service is
lax and inattentive.
2568
L35
layman
man who is not a cleric; man who is
nonprofessional
2569
L36
leash
restraining rope fastened to the collar of an
animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
2570
L37
leaven
add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter;
enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes
dough to rise (by fermentation); element that
lightens or enlivens
2571
L38
leave-taking
farewell or departure
As bread dough is leavened, it puffs up,
expanding in volume.
2572
L39
lechery
gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N.
lecher: lecherous man
2573
L40
lectern
reading desk or stand for a public speaker
In his youth he led a life of lechery and
debauchery; he did not mend his ways until
middle age.
The chaplain delivered his sermon from a
hastily improvised lectern.
2574
L41
leery
(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious
Don't eat sushi at this restaurant; I'm a bit
leery about how fresh it is.
2575
L42
leeway
room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for
the deadline
When you set a deadline, allow a little
leeway.
2576
L43
legacy
gift made by a will; something handed down
from an ancestor
Part of my legacy from my parents is an
album of family photographs.
Her siege of illness left her languid and pallid.
In stories, lovelorn damsels used to languish
and pine away.
Because of the prisoner's record, the district
attorney refused to reduce the charge from
grand larceny to petit larceny.
101
2577
2578
L44
L45
legato
legend
(of music) played smoothly
explanatory list of symbols on a map
2579
L46
legerdemain
sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
2580
L47
legislature
legislating branch of government; CF. legislate:
make laws
2581
L48
leniency
mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not
severe in judgment or punishment
2582
2583
L49
L50
leonine
lethal
like a lion
deadly
2584
L51
lethargic
drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness
and inactivity
The stuffy room made her lethargic; she felt
as if she was about to nod off.
2585
L52
levee
earthen or stone embankment to prevent
flooding; CF. raise
As the river rose and threatened to overflow
the levee, emergency workers rushed to
reinforce the walls with sandbags.
2586
L53
levitate
rise and float in the air (especially by magical
means); CF. light
2587
L54
levity
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity;
lightness of manner
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.
Stop giggling abd wriggling around in the
pew; such levity is improper in church.
2588
L55
levy
impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or
collect (a tax); Ex. levy a tax on tobacco
Crying "No taxation withouth representation,"
the colonists demonstrated against England's
power to levy taxes.
2589
2590
L56
L57
lewd
lexicographer
lustful
compiler of a dictionary; CF. lexicography: work
of compiling a dictionary
They found his lewd stories objectionable.
The new dictionary is the work of many
lexicographers who spent years compiling
and editing the work.
2591
L58
lexicon
dictionary
2592
L59
liability
drawback; handicap; debts; obligation;
responsibility; condition of being liable; ADJ.
liable: likely; responsible (for paying)
I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the
library.
Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a
liability that she was able to overcome.
2593
L60
liaison
contact that keeps parties in communication;
communication between groups; one that
maintains communication; go-between; secret
love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection
2594
L61
libel
defamatory written statement; act of writing
something that smears a person's character; V.
ADJ. libelous
2595
L62
libertine
debauched person; dissolute or licentious
person; rou\'e; CF. free
Although she was aware of his reputation as
a libertine, she felt she could reform him and
help him break his dissolute way of life.
2596
2597
L63
L64
libidinous
libido
lustful
psychic and emotional energy or urges behind
human activity; sexual desire
2598
L65
libretto
text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
They objected to his libidinous behavior.
The psychiatrist maintained that suppression
of the libido often resulted in maladjustment
and neuroses.
The composer of an opera's music is
remembered more frequently than the author
of its libretto.
2599
L66
license
official or legal permission; latitude of action or
speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or
damage; V.
2600
L67
licentious
amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
The licentious monarch helped bring about
his country's downfall.
2601
L68
lien
legal claim or right on a property
There was a delay before Ralph could take
possession of his late uncle's home;
apparently, another claimant had a lien upon
the estate.
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.
The magician demonstrated his renowned
legerdemain.
Considering the gravity of the offense, we
were surprised by the leniency of the
sentence.
He was leonine in his rage.
It is unwise to leave lethal weapons where
children may find them.
As the liason, he had to avoid offending the
leaders of the two armies.
102
2602
L69
ligneous
like wood
Petrified wood may be ligneous in
appearance, but it is stonelike in composition.
2603
L70
lilliputian
extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels
Tiny and delicate, the model was built on a
lilliputian scale.
2604
2605
L71
L72
limber
limbo
Hours of ballet classes kept him limber.
Among the divisions of Hell are Purgatory
and limbo.
2606
L73
limn
flexible; supple; pliable; V.
region near heaven or hell where certain souls
are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and
Limbo
draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
2607
2608
2609
L74
L75
L76
limp
limpid
lineage
walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak
crystal clear
descent; ancestry
2610
L77
lineaments
features especially of the face; distinctive shape
or contour of the face; CF. line
2611
L78
linger
loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going;
continue or persist; be slow to disappear; Ex.
The smell lingered for days.
2612
L79
linguistic
pertaining to language
The modern tourist will encounter very little
linguistic difficulty as English has become an
almost universal language.
2613
L80
lionize
treat (a person) as a celebrity
2614
L81
liquidate
settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up;
eliminate; kill or abolish
She enjoyed being lionized and adored by the
public.
He was able to liquidate all his debts in short
period of time.
2615
L82
list
tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
That flagpole should be absolutely vertical;
instead, it lists to one side.
2616
L83
listless
lacking in spirit or energy; languid
We had expected him to be full of enthusiasm
and were surprised by his listless attitude.
2617
L84
litany
supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest
calls out and the people replies in the same
words
On this solemn day, the congregation
responded to the prayers of the priest during
the litany with fervor and intensity.
2618
2619
L85
L86
lithe
litigation
flexible; supple; CF. limber
lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V.
litigate
Her figure was lithe and willowy.
Try to settle this amicably; I do not want to
start litigation.
2620
L87
litotes
understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not
bad(=pretty good)''
To say, "He little realizes," when we mean
that he does not realize at all, is an example
of the kind of understatement we call litotes.
2621
L88
litter
waste material thrown away (as bits of paper
scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with
scattered litter
2622
L89
livid
lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise);
ashen; enraged; extremely angry
2623
L90
loath
reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and
Juliet were both loath for him to go.
2624
L91
loathe
detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing;
offensive; Ex. loathsome smell
We loathed the wicked villain.
2625
L92
lode
metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)
If this lode that we have discovered extends
for any distance, we have found a fortune.
2626
2627
L93
L94
loft
lofty
room or space under the roof; attic
very high
2628
L95
log
record of a voyage or flight; record of day-today activities; section of a trunk; V.
2629
L96
loiter
hang about/around; stand idly about; linger
2630
L97
loll
lounge about
2631
L98
longevity
long life; long duration
Parodoxically, the more realistic the details
this artist chooses, the better able to limn her
fantastic, other-worldly landscapes.
A limpid stream ran through his property.
He traced his lineage back to Mayflower
days.
She quickly sketched the lineaments of his
face.
His face was so livid with rage that we were
afraid that he might have an attack of
apoplexy.
They were both loath for him to go.
They used to tease him about his lofty
ambitions.
The policeman told him not to loiter in the
alley.
They lolled around in their chairs watching
television.
When he reached ninety, the old man was
proud of his longevity.
103
2632
L99
lookout
act of keeping watch; high place commanding a
wide view; person who keeps watch
2633
L100
loom
appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged,
indistinct, or distorted form); Ex. The shadow of
the gallows loomed threateningly. N: apparatus
for making thread into cloth
2634
L101
lope
gallop slowly
2635
L102
lopsided
heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex.
lopsided way of walking
2636
L103
loquacious
talkative; N. loquacity
2637
L104
lot
object used in making a determination at
random; fate; piece of land
2638
L105
lottery
contest in which winners are selected in a
drawing of lots
2639
2640
L106
L107
lounge
lout
stand, sit, or lie in a lazy, relaxed way
clumsy person; ADJ. loutish; CF. from
countrysides ?
2641
L108
low
moo; make the sound of a cow
2642
L109
lubricate
apply a lubricant to; N. lubricant: substance that
reduces friction
2643
L110
lucid
easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity
Her explanation was lucid enought for a child
to grasp.
2644
L111
lucrative
profitable; producing wealth
2645
L112
lucre
money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre
He turned his hobby into a lucrative
profession.
Preferring lucre to undying fame, he wrote
stories of popular appeal.
2646
L113
ludicrous
laughable; ridiculous; trifling
2647
L114
lugubrious
mournful; sorrowful
2648
L115
lull
2649
L116
lumber
moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex.
a lull in the rain; V: cause to become less
active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the
opponents into a false sense of security; CF.
lullaby
move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear
lumbered through the woods; N: timber
2650
L117
lumen
unit of light energy (one candle's worth)
2651
L118
luminary
celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object
that gives light (as a celestial body)
A leading light of the American stage, Ethel
Barrymore was a theatrical luminary whose
name lives on.
2652
L119
luminous
shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light; Ex.
luminous paint/road signs
The sun is a luminous body.
2653
L120
lunar
pertaining to the moon
lunar craters can be plainly seen with the aid
of a small telescope.
2654
2655
L121
L122
lunatic
lurid
insane; Ex. lunatic asylum
wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible;
Ex. lurid details of the murder
2656
L123
lurk
stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived
Who knows what evils lurk in the hearts of
men? The shadow knows.
2657
2658
2659
2660
L124
L125
L126
L127
luscious
lush
lust
luster
pleasing to taste or smell; delicious
(of a plant or grass) growing very well
intense sexual desire; intense eagerness; V.
shine; gloss (of a polished surface)
The ripe peach was luscious.
As the horses loped along, we had an
opportunity to admire the ever-changing
scenery.
She is very loquacious and can speak on the
telephone for hours.
The delivery boy is an awkward lout.
From the hilltop, they could see the herd like
ants in the distance; they could barely hear
the cattle low.
Let us be serious; this is not a ludicrous
issue.
The lugabrious howling of the dogs added to
our sadness.
Not wanting to get wet, they waited under the
awning for a lull in the rain.
Still somewhat torpid after its long
hibernation, the bear lumbered through the
woods.
In buying light bulbs, she checked not only
their power, as measured in watts, but their
brightness, as measured in lumens.
The lurid stories he told shocked his listeners.
The soft luster of the silk in the dim light was
pleasing.
104
2661
L128
lustrous
shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair
Her large and lustrous eyes gave a touch of
beauty to an otherwise drab face.
2662
L129
luxuriant
abundant; growing healthily and in large
amounts; excessively ornate; rich and splendid;
fertile; Ex. luxuriant forests/prose; CF. luxurious,
luxuriate
Farming was easy in this luxuriant soil.
2663
2664
L130
M1
luxuriate
macabre
take pleasure in great comfort
gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
2665
M2
mace
ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority;
clublike medieval weapon
2666
M3
macerate
soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex.
macerate powdered wood to make paper
2667
M4
Machiavellian
crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of
Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit
are justified in pursuing political power
2668
M5
machinations
evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to
achieve an evil end; V. machinate
2669
M6
maculated
spotted; stained; CF. immaculate
2670
M7
madrigal
pastoral song; song for several singers without
instruments
2671
M8
maelstrom
violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF.
stream
The canoe was tossed about in the
maelstrom.
2672
M9
magisterial
authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a
magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law;
Ex. magisterial manner
The learned doctor laid down the law to his
patient in a magisterial tone of voice.
2673
2674
M10
M11
magistrate
magnanimity
official with power to administer the law
generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous
2675
M12
magnate
person of prominence or influence; powerful or
influential person (in business or industry); Ex.
oil magnate
The steel magnate decided to devote more
time to city politics.
2676
M13
magniloquent
boastful; pompous
2677
M14
magnitude
greatness (in size or extent); extent
In their stories of the trial, the reporters
ridiculed the magniloquent speeches of the
defense attorney.
It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of
his crime.
2678
M15
maim
mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex.
maimed for life
2679
M16
makeshift
temporary expedient or substitute (in the case
of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
2680
M17
maladroit
clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling
2681
2682
M18
M19
malady
malaise
illness
uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without
any particular pain or appearance of disease)
2683
M20
malapropism
comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop
2684
M21
malapropos
inappropriate; ADV.
2685
M22
malcontent
person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs;
discontented person; ADJ: discontented
The city morgue is a macabre spot for the
uninitiated.
The Grand Marshal of the parade raised his
mace to signal that it was time for the
procession to begin.
The strawberries had been soaking in the
champagn for so long that they had begun to
macerate: they literally fell apart at the touch
of a spoon.
I do not think he will be a good embassador
because he is not accustomed to the
machiavellian maneuverings of foreign
diplomats.
I can see through your wily machinations.
Instead of writing that Gorbachev had a
birthmark on his forehead, the pompous
young poet sang of the former premier's
maculated brow.
His program of folk songs included several
madrigals which he sang to the
accompaniment of a lute.
Noted for his magnanimity, philanthropist
Eugene Lang donated millions to charity.
The hospital could not take care of all who
had been mangled or maimed in the railroad
accident.
In his usual maladroit way, he managed to
upset the cart and spill the food.
She felt a sudden vague malaise when she
heard sounds at the door.
When Mrs. Malaprop criticizes Lydia for being
"as headstrong as an allegory on the banks
of the Nile," she confuses "allegory" and
"allegator" in a typical malapropism.
He was one of the few malcontents in the
Congress; he constantly voiced his objections
to the Presidential program.
105
2686
M23
malediction
curse
The witch uttered maledictions against her
captors.
We must try to bring these malefactors to
justice.
2687
M24
malefactor
evildoer; criminal
2688
2689
2690
M25
M26
M27
maleficient
malevolent
malfeasance
doing evil; N. maleficience
wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence
wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)
2691
M28
malicious
hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice:
desire to harm others; spite
The malicious neighbor spread the gossip.
2692
M29
malign
speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully);
defame; ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence
Because of her hatred of the family, she
maligns all who are friendly to them.
2693
M30
malignant
tending to cause death; highly injurious;
aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor
This is a malignant disease; we must have to
use drastic measures to stop its spread.
2694
M31
malingerer
one who feigns illness to escape duty; V.
malinger: feign illness to avoid work
The captain ordered the sergeant to punish
all malingerers and force them to work.
2695
M32
malleable
(of a metal) capable of being shaped by
pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone)
impressionable(easily influenced); easily
controlled; tractable
Gold is a malleable metal.
2696
M33
malodorous
foul-smelling
The component heap was most malodorous
in summer.
2697
M34
mammal
vertebrate animal whose female suckles its
young
Many people regard the whale as a fish and
do not realize that it is a mammal.
2698
M35
mammoth
gigantic; enormous
The mammoth corporations of the twentieth
century are a mixed blessing
2699
M36
manacle
restrain; handcuff; N.
The police immediately manacled the
prisoner so he could not escape.
2700
M37
mandate
order; charge; authoritative command; power to
govern another country; power to given to a
government; region under administration; V:
give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex.
mandated territory
In his inaugural address, the President stated
that he had a mandate from the people to
seek an end to social evils such as poverty
and poor housing.
2701
M38
mandatory
obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
These instructions are mandatory; any
violation will be severely punished.
2702
M39
maneuver(manoe
uve
r) strategic military or naval movement (done for
training purposes); carefully planned process;
stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use
maneuvers in gaining an end
2703
M40
mange
skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked
by loss of hair
2704
M41
mangle
tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex.
badly mangled bodies
2705
M42
mangy
shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad
appearance
We finally thew out the mangy rug that the
dog had destroyed.
2706
M43
maniacal
raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person;
CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense
enthusiasm
His maniacal laughter frightened us.
2707
M44
manifest
evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly
His evil intentions were manifest and yet we
could not stop him.
2708
M45
manifestation
outward demonstration; manifesting; indication
of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation
of his pronounced musical bent
Mozart's early attraction to the harsichord
was the first manifestation of his pronounced
musical bent.
2709
M46
manifesto
public declaration of principles; statement of
policy
2710
M47
manifold
many in number or kind; numerous; varied
The Communist Manifesto by Marx and
Engels proclaimed the principles of modern
communism.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I
appreciate your manifold kindnesses.
We must thwart his malevolent schemes.
The authorities did not discover the campaign
manager's malfeasance until after he had
spent most of the money he had embezzled.
106
2711
M48
manipulate
operate with one's hands; control or play upon
(people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex.
how to manipulate publicity and men; ADJ.
manipulative
How do you manipulate these puppets?
2712
M49
mannered
affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of
speech
Attempting to copy the style of his wealthy
neighbors, Gatsby adopted a mannered,
artificial way of speech.
2713
M50
mannerism
distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art
(according to a set of styles)
2714
M51
mantle
loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak;
something that covers or envelops; the layer of
the earth between the crust and the core
2715
M52
manumit
emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
2716
2717
2718
M53
M54
M55
mar
maraud
margin
spoil the appearance of
move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
border; room; allowance beyond what is
needed; Ex. margin of safety
2719
M56
marginal
of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal
effect/writing ability
2720
M57
marital
pertaining to marriage
After the publication of his book on marital
affairs, he was often consulted by married
people on the verge of divorce.
2721
M58
maritime
bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of
the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces
The maritime Provinces depend on the sea
for their wealth.
2722
M59
marked
noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack;
Ex. marked improvement/man
He walked with a marked limp, a souvenir of
an old IRA attack. As British ambassador, he
knew he was a marked man.
2723
M60
maroon
leave helpless on a deserted island or coast;
ADJ. red brown
2724
M61
marred
damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure
2725
M62
marrow
soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and
is the source of blood cells
2726
M63
marshal
put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct
place; Ex. marshal the children into the
museum; N: military officer; official
2727
M64
marsupial
one of a family of mammals that nurse their
offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather);
CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat
2728
M65
martial
warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law
The sound of marital music was always
inspiring to the young poet.
2729
M66
martinet
The commanding officer was a martinet who
observed each regulation to the ltter.
2730
M67
martyr
strict disciplinarian; person who demands total
obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean
Martinet
one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her
religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to
his rheumatism
2731
M68
mash
crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture
of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock
and fowl
2732
M69
masochist
person who enjoys his own pain; CF.
masochism
2733
M70
mason
one who builds or works with stone or brick; N.
masonry: work of a mason; stonework or
brickwork
2734
M71
masquerade
wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume
party or ball at which masks are worn; pretense;
disguise
2735
M72
mass
Christian religious ceremony; CF. Mass:
ceremony of the Eucharist
Enlightened slave owners were willing to
manumit their slaves and thus put an end to
the evil slavery in the country.
She had to refinish the marred surface of the
table.
At a debate tournament, extemporaneous
speakers have only a minute or two to
marshal their thoughts before addressing
their audience.
The most common marsupial in North
America is the opposum.
The masochist begs, "Hit me." The sadist
smiles and says, "I won't."
107
2736
M73
masticate
chew
We must masticate our food carefully and
slowly in order to avoid digestive disorders.
2737
M74
mat
not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat
piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
2738
M75
materialism
preoccupation with physical comforts and
things; excessive regard for worldly concerns
(rather than spiritual matters)
2739
M76
maternal
motherly; N. maternity: motherhood
2740
M77
matin\'ee(matinee
) dramatic or musical performance given in the
afternoon
2741
M78
matriarch
woman who rules a family or larger social group
2742
M79
matriculate
2743
2744
M80
M81
matrimony
matrix
enroll (in college or graduate school); CF.
matrix
state of being married
point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic
symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western
civilization
2745
M82
maudlin
effusively sentimental
I do not like such maudlin pictures. I call them
tearjerkers.
2746
M83
maul
handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex.
mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy longhandled hammer
The rock star was mauled by his overexcited
fans.
2747
M84
mausoleum
monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF.
Mausolos
His body was placed in the family mausolem.
2748
M85
mauve
pale purple
The mauve tint in the lilac bush was another
indication that spring had finally arrived.
2749
M86
maverick
rebel; nonconformist (in a group)
2750
M87
mawkish
mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky
sentimental; excessively and objectionably
sentimental
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.
Your mawkish sighs fill me with disgust.
2751
2752
M88
M89
maxim
mayhem
proverb; truth pithily stated
injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or
crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex.
mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim
Aesop's fables illustrate moral maxims.
The riot was marked not only by mayhem,
with its attendant loss of life and limb, but
also by arson and pillage.
2753
M90
meager
scanty; inadequate
His salary was far too meager for him to
afford to buy a new car.
2754
M91
mealymouthed
indirect in speech (when something unpleasant
must be said); hypocritical; evasive
Rather than tell Jill directly what he disliked,
Jack made a few mealymouthed comments
and tried to change the subject.
2755
M92
meander
wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or
turning course; move aimlessly and idly
It is difficult to sail up this stream because of
the way it meanders through the countryside.
2756
M93
meddlesome
interfering; V. meddle: interfere
He felt his marriage was suffering because of
his meddlesome mother-in-law.
2757
M94
mediate
settle a dispute through the services of an
outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by
mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire
Let us mediate out differences rather than
engage in a costly strike.
2758
M95
mediocre
ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad
We were disappointed because he gave a
rather mediocre performance in this role.
2759
M96
meditation
reflection; thought; V. meditate
She reached her decision only after much
meditation.
2760
M97
medium
element that is a creature's natural
environment; nutrient setting in which
microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate
occupation or means of expression; channel of
communication; compromise; middle position
between extremes; intervening substance
throug
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.
Many animals display maternal instincts only
while their offspring are young and helpless.
The matriarch ruled her gypsy tribe with a
firm hand.
108
2761
M98
medley
mixture
The band played a medley of Gershwin
tunes.
Mr. Barrett never expected his meek
daughter would dare to defy him by eloping
with her suitor.
Developers who spend millions trying to build
the world's tallest skyscraper suffer from
megalomania.
2762
M99
meek
submissive; patient and long-suffering
2763
M100
megalomania
mania for doing grandiose things; mental
disorder characterized by delusions of wealth,
power, or importance
2764
M101
melancholy
gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF.
melancholia
2765
M102
melee
fight
2766
M103
mellifluous
(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly
flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune
2767
M104
memento
token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex.
memento of your visit
2768
2769
M105
M106
memoir
memorial
memoirs; autobiography; biography
something, such as a monument or holiday,
intended to honor the memory of a person or
event; ADJ: commemorative
2770
M107
memorialize
commemorate
2771
2772
2773
M108
M109
M110
menace
menagerie
mendacious
threat; V: threaten
collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo
lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity
2774
M111
mendicant
beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
From the moment we left the ship, we were
surrounded by mendicants and peddlers.
2775
M112
menial
suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone
who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)
2776
M113
mentor
counselor; teacher
I cannot understand why a person of your
ability and talent should engage in such
menial activities.
During this very trying period, she could not
have had a better mentor, for the teacher was
sympathetic and understanding.
2777
M114
mercantile
concerning trade or merchants
I am more interested in the opportunites
available in the mercantile field than I am in
those in the legal profession.
2778
M115
mercenary
motivated solely by money or gain; N.
I'm not in this war because I get my kicks
waving flags, said the mercenary soldier. "I'm
in it for the dough."
2779
M116
mercurial
capricious; quick and changing; fickle;
containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial
temper; CF. mood
He was of a mercurial temperament and
therefore unpredictable.
2780
M117
meretricious
flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of
no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel;
CF. prostitute
Her jewels were inexpensive but not
meretricious.
2781
M118
merger
combination (of two business corporations); act
of merging
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.
2782
M119
merit
deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or
praise
2783
M120
mesmerize
hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer
The incessant drone seemed to mesmerize
him and place him in a trance.
2784
M121
metallurgical
pertaining to the art of removing metals from
ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with
extracting metals from ores
During the course of his metallurgical
research, the scientist developed a steel alloy
of tremendous strength.
2785
M122
metamorphosis
change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of
caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose:
change by metamorphosis
The metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly
is typical of many such changes in animal life.
2786
M123
metaphor
implied comparison; CF. simile
He soared like an eagle is an example of a
simile; "He is an eagle in flight," is a
metaphor.
The captain tried to ascertain the cause of the
melee that had broken out among the crew
members.
Italian is a mellifluous language.
Take this book as a memento of your visit.
Let us memorialize his great contribution by
dedicating this library in his honor.
He was pathological liar, and his friends
learned to discount his mendacious stories.
109
2787
M124
metaphysical
pertaining to speculative philosophy; of
metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of
philosophy that examines the nature of reality
The modern poets have gone back to the
fanciful poems of the metaphysical poets of
the seventeenth century for many of their
images.
He tried to be impartial in his efforts to mete
out justice.
2788
M125
mete
measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out
justice/punishment
2789
M126
meteoric
like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex.
meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor
2790
M127
meter
arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by
accentual rhythm)
2791
M128
methodical
systematic; N. method: systematic method of
procedure
An accountant must be methodical and
maintain order among his financial records.
2792
M129
meticulous
excessively careful (with great attention to
detail); painstaking; scrupulous
He was meticulous in checking his accounts
and never made mistakes.
2793
M130
metrical
metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical
translation of Homer
2794
M131
metropolis
large city
Every evening this terminal is filled with the
thousands of commuters who are going from
this metropolis to their homes in the suburbs.
2795
M132
mettle
courage (to continue bravely in spite of
difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome
When challenged by the other horses in the
race, the thoroughbred proved its mettle by
its determination to hold the lead.
2796
M133
miasma
swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often
emanating from decaying matter; pervasive
corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or
influence
The smog hung over Victorian London like a
dark cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was
a visible miasma.
2797
M134
microcosm
small representative world; world in miniature;
Ex. microcosm of English society
2798
M135
migrant
changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant
birds/workers; N: one that migrates
In the microcosm of our rural village, we find
illustrations of all the evils that beset the
universe.
These migrant birds return every spring.
2799
M136
migratory
wandering; V. migrate: move from one region
and settle in another; move periodically from
one region to another
The return of the migratory birds to the
northern sections of this country is a
harbinger of spring.
2800
M137
milieu
social environment; means of expression; Ex.
feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is
watercolor.
His milieu is watercolors, although he has
produced excellent oil paintings and
lithographs.
2801
M138
militant
combative; bellicose; N.
Althoughat this time he was advocating a
policy of neutrality, one could usually find him
adopting a more militant attitude.
2802
M139
militate
work against; Ex. militate against the chances
of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier
Your record of lateness and absence will
militate against your chances of promotion.
2803
M140
militia
army composed of ordinary citizens rather than
professional soldiers
2804
M141
millennium
thousand-year period (as in the New
Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and
prosperity
2805
M142
mime
pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry;
mimer; V: mimic; pantomime
2806
M143
mimicry
imitation
Her gift for mimicry was so great that her
friends said that she should be in the theater.
2807
M144
minatory
menacing; threatening
2808
M145
mincing
affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp.
meat) into very small pieces; walk with
exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural
way, taking little short steps; Ex. The actor
minced across the stage; CF. mincemeat; CF.
mincer
Jabbing a minatory forefinger at Dorothy, the
Wicked Witch cried, "I'll get you, and your
little dog, too!"
Yum-Yum walked across the stage with
mincing steps.
2809
2810
M146
M147
mingle
miniature
mix together in close association
small model; small painting; ADJ: small
We all wondered at his meteoric rise to fame.
110
2811
M148
minion
servile dependent; obsequious follower
He was always accompanied by several of
his minions because he enjoyed their
subservience and flattery.
2812
M149
minuscule(minisc
u
le) extremely small
2813
M150
minute
extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of
the proceedings at a meeting
The twins resembled one another closely;
only minute differences set them apart.
2814
M151
minutiae
petty or trivial details; CF. minutia
She would have liked to ignore the minutiae
of daily living.
2815
M152
mirage
unreal reflection; optical illusion
The lost prospector was fooled by a mirage in
the desert.
2816
M153
mire
entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink
in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper
into the mire
Their rear wheels became mired in mud.
2817
M154
mirth
merriment; laughter
2818
M155
misadventure
mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
Sober Malvolio found Sir Toby's mirth
improper.
The young explorer met death by
misadventure.
2819
M156
misanthrope
one who hates mankind; misanthropist
We thought the hermit was a miantrope
because he shunned our society.
2820
M157
misapprehension
error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
To avoid msapprehension, I am going to ask
all of you to repeat the instructions I have
given.
2821
M158
miscellaneous
made up of a variety of parts
2822
M159
miscellany
mixture of writings on various subjects;
collection of various items
This is an interesting miscellany of
nineteenth-century prose and poetry.
2823
2824
M160
M161
mischance
mischief
ill luck
behavior (of children) causing trouble with no
serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to
the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief;
playfully troublesome
By mischance, he lost his week's salary.
2825
2826
M162
M163
misconduct
misconstrue
immoral behavior; bad management; V.
interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge
2827
M164
miscreant
wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the
miscreant; CF. believe
His kindness to the miscreant amazed all of
us who had expected to hear severe
punishment pronounced.
2828
M165
misdemeanor
minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing
The culprit pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor
rather than face trial for a felony.
2829
M166
miserly
stingy; mean
The miserly old man hoarded his coins not
out of prudence but out of greed.
2830
M167
misgivings
doubts
Hamlet described his misgivings to Horatio
but decided to fence with Laertes despite his
foreboding of evil.
2831
M168
mishap
unfortunate accident
2832
M169
misnomer
wrong or improper name; incorrect designation
2833
M170
misogamy
hatred of marriage
With a little care you could have avoided this
mishap.
His tyrannical conduct proved to all that his
nickname, King Eric the Just, was a
misnomer.
He remained a bachelor not because of
misogamy but because of ill fate: his fiancee
died before the wedding.
2834
M171
misogynist
hater of woman; CF. misogyny
She accused him of being a misogynist
because he had been a bachelor all his life.
2835
M172
missile
object to be thrown or projected
2836
M173
missive
letter; written statement; CF. sent
Scientists are experimenting with guided
missiles.
The ambassador received a missive from the
Secretary of State.
2837
M174
mite
very small object or insect-like creature; small
coin
She took the passage seriously rather than
humourously because she misconstrued the
author's ironic tone.
Gnats are annoying mites that sing.
111
2838
M175
mitigate
appease; moderate; make or become less in
force or intensity
Nothing he did could mitigate her wrath; she
was unforgiving.
2839
M176
mnemonic
pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N:
device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a
mnemonic aid
He used mnemonic tricks to master new
words.
2840
M177
mobile
movable; not fixed; N. mobility
The mobile blood bank operated by the Red
Cross visited our neighborhood today.
2841
2842
M178
M179
mock
mode
ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision
prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of
doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex.
simple mode of life
2843
M180
modicum
limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not
have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate
2844
M181
modish
fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
2845
M182
modulate
tone down in intensity; change the intensity or
tone of; regulate; change from one musical key
to another; Ex. modulate from E to G
2846
M183
mogul
powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol,
Moghul; CF. Mongolian
The oil moguls made great profits when the
price of gasoline rose.
2847
M184
molecule
the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a
substance that has all the properties of that
substance
In chemistry, we study how atoms and
molcules react to form new substances.
2848
M185
mollify
soothe an angry person
We tried to mollify the hysterical child by
promising her many gifts.
2849
M186
mollycoddle
pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively
Don't mollycoddle the boy, Maud! You'll spoil
him.
2850
M187
molt(moult)
periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers
(for replacement by a new growth)
2851
M188
molten
melted; Ex. molten lava
The city of Pompeii was destroyed by
volcanic ash rather than by molten lava
flowing from Mount Vesuvius.
2852
M189
momentous
very important; N. moment; CF. momentary
On this momentous occasion, we must be
very solemn.
2853
M190
momentum
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus;
moving force
The car lost momentum as it tried to ascend
the steep hill.
2854
2855
M191
M192
monarchy
monastic
government under a single ruler
related to monks or monasteries; removed from
worldly concerns
England today remains a monarchy.
Wanting to live a religious life, he took his
monastic vows.
2856
M193
monetary
pertaining to money
Jane held the family purse strings: she made
all monetary decisions affecting the
household.
2857
M194
mongrel
2858
M195
monochromatic
plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed;
ADJ.
having only one color
2859
M196
monochrome
painting in only one color; ADJ.
2860
M197
monogram
design composed of one or more initials of a
name; V.
2861
2862
M198
M199
monograph
monolithic
scholarly article
solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N.
monolith: large block of stone
2863
M200
monotheism
belief in one God
2864
M201
monotony
sameness leading to boredom;
monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF.
monotone
She was not used to their lavish mode of
living.
Although his story is based on a modicum of
truth, most of the events he describes are
fictitious.
She always discarded all garments that were
no longer modish.
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.
Knowing the importance of appearing
resolute, the patriots sought to present a
monolithic front.
Abraham was the first to proclaim his belief in
monotheism.
He took a clerical job, but soon grew to hate
the monotony of his daily routine.
112
2865
M202
monumental
massive; impressively large; built as a
monument
Writing a dictionary is a monumental task.
2866
M203
moodiness
fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given
to changeable moods; subject to periods of
depression; gloomy CF. mood: | state of mind
or emotion
We could not discover the cause of her
recurrent moodiness.
2867
M204
moratorium
legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare
moratorium on the building of new houses
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.
2868
M205
morbid
given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought;
moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid
curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
These morbid speculations are dangerous;
we must lighten our spirits by emphasizing
more pleasant matters.
2869
M206
mordant
biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive;
cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit
Actors feared the critic's mordant pen.
2870
M207
mores
conventions; moral standards; moral customs
The mores of Mexico are those of Spain with
some modifications.
2871
M208
morgue
mortuary; place where bodies are kept before
burial or cremation
2872
M209
moribund
dying; at the point of death; CF. death
The doctors called the family to the bedside
of the moribund patient.
2873
M210
morose
ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
When we first meet Hamlet, we find him
morose and depressed.
2874
M211
mortar
vessel in which substances are crushed with a
pestle
2875
2876
M212
M213
mortician
mortify
undertaker; CF. death
humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame;
punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by selfdenial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify
the flesh; CF. cause to die
The mortician prepared the corpse for burial.
She was so mortified by her blunder that she
ran to her room in tears.
2877
M214
mosaic
picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.
The mayor compared the ciry to a beautiful
mosaic made up of people of every race and
religion on earth.
2878
2879
M215
M216
mote
motif
The tiniest mote in the eye is very painful.
This simple motif runs throughout the score.
2880
M217
motility
small speck (esp. of dust)
theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical
or literary work; single or repeated pattern;
figure
ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile:
moving spontaneously
2881
M218
motley
multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester);
mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who
jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)
The captain had gathered a motley crew to
sail the vessel.
2882
M219
mottled
blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face;
V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors
When he blushed, his face took on a mottled
hue.
2883
2884
M220
M221
motto
mountebank
brief statement used to express a principle
charlatan; boastful pretender
The patent medicine man was a mountebank.
2885
M222
muddle
His thoughts were muddled and chaotic.
2886
2887
M223
M224
muggy
mulct
confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of
confusion
(of weather) warm and damp
defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex.
mulct the boy of his legacy
2888
M225
multifarious
varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious
activities
2889
M226
multiform
having many forms
2890
M227
multilingual
having many languages; fluent in several
languages
A career woman and mother, she was
constantly busy with the multifarious activities
of her daily life.
Snowflakes are multiform but always
hexagonal.
Because they are bordered by so many
countries, the Swiss people are multilingual.
2891
M228
multiplicity
state of being numerous or multiple; large
number; Ex. multiplicity of details; ADJ. multiple:
of more than one element
He was appalled by the multuplicity of details
he had to complete before setting out on his
mission.
Certain organisms exhibit remarkable motility;
motile spores, for example, may travel for
miles before coming to rest.
August in New York City is often muggy.
The lawyer was accused of trying to mulct the
boy of his legacy.
113
2892
M229
mundane
worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the
ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world
2893
M230
munificent
very generous in giving; Ex. munificent
benefactor; N. munificience
2894
2895
M231
M232
mural
murky
wall painting
dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex.
murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete
darkness; gloom
2896
M233
murmur
2897
M234
muse
low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF.
mumble
ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp.
of a poet)
2898
M235
musky
having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous
substance secreted by an Asian deer
She left a trace of musky perfume behind her.
2899
M236
muster
gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's
strength for the ordeal; N.
Washington mustered his forces at Trenton.
2900
M237
musty
The attic was dark and musty.
2901
M238
mutablility
stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF.
moist
ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ.
mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF.
mutant
2902
M239
mute
silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable
to speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V:
soften the sound, color, shade of
2903
M240
muted
silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic
noise
In the funeral parlor, the mourners' voices
had a muted quality.
2904
M241
mutilate
maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an
essential part
The torturer threatened to mutilate his victim.
2905
M242
mutinous
unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N.
mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer
The captain had to use force to quiet his
mutinous crew.
2906
M243
mutter
utter (complaining words) indistinctly in low
tones
The child muttered at the doll.
2907
M244
myopic
nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia
2908
M245
myriad
very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand
In thinking only of your present needs and
ignoring the future, you are being rather
myopic.
myriads of mosquitoes from the swamps
invaded our village every twilight.
2909
M246
mystic
of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex.
mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
2910
N1
nadir
lowest point; point on the celestial sphere
diametrically opposite the zenith
2911
N2
naivet\'e(naivety
) quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity;
artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na\"ive):
ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple;
credulous
2912
2913
N3
N4
narcissist
narrative
conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus
related to telling a story; N: narrated account;
story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration
A narcissist is his own best friend.
A born teller of tales, Olsen used her
impressive narrative skills to advantage in her
story "I Stand Here Ironing."
2914
N5
nascent
incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex.
nascent ability in music
If we could identify these revolutionary
movements in their nascent state, we would
be able to eliminate serious trouble in later
years.
2915
N6
natal
2916
N7
natation
connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF.
postnatal
swimming
2917
N8
natty
neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex.
natty dresser
He was concerned only with mundane
matters, especially the daily stock market
quotations.
The munificent gift was presented to the bride
by her rich uncle.
For a moment he mused about the beauty of
the scene, but his thought soon changed as
he recalled his own personal problems.
Although few people realized it, the DowJones averages had reached their nadir and
would soon begin an upward surge.
The Red Cross emphasizes the need for
courses in natation.
Priding himself on being a natty dresser, the
gangster Bugsy Siegel collected a wardrobe
of imported suits and ties.
114
2918
N9
nausea
feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust;
CF. seasickness
2919
N10
nauseate
cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill
nausea
2920
2921
N11
N12
nauseous
nautical
causing nausea; feeling nausea
pertaining to ships or navigation
2922
N13
navigable
(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to
allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or
aircraft) able to be steered
2923
2924
N14
N15
nebula
nebulous
diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy
vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous
proposal
2925
N16
necromancy
black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead;
art that professes to communicate with the
spirits of the dead so as to predict the future;
CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF.
necro-: death; Ex. necropolis
2926
2927
N17
N18
nectar
nefarious
drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
very wicked
2928
N19
negate
cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect;
deny; N. negation
2929
N20
negligence
2930
N21
negligible
neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ.
negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough
care
so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily
disregarded
2931
N22
nemesis
someone seeking revenge; source of downfall
or ruin; CF. Nemesis
2932
N23
neologism
new or newly coined word or phrase
2933
N24
neophyte
recent convert; new member of a religious
group; beginner; CF. plant
2934
N25
nepotism
favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
John left his position with the company
because he felt that advancement was based
on nepotism rather than ability.
2935
2936
N26
N27
nether
nettle
lower; Ex. nether garments/regions
irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
2937
N28
nexus
connection
Tradition locates hell in the nether regions.
Do not let him nettle you with his sarcastic
remarks.
I fail to see the nexus that binds these two
widely separated events.
2938
N29
nib
beak(bill); pen point
The nibs of fountain pens often become
clotted and corroded.
2939
N30
nicety
precision; accuracy; minute distinction or
difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely;
Ex. distinguish between niceties
I cannot distinguish between such niceties of
reasoning.
2940
N31
niggardly
meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy
person
2941
N32
niggle
spend too much time on minor points (esp.
when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over
details; ADJ. niggling
The niggardly pittance the widow receives
from the government cannot keep her from
poverty.
Let's not niggle over details.
The foul smells began to nauseate him.
The Maritime Museum contains many models
of clipper ships, logbooks, anchors and many
other items of a nautical nature.
She had only a nebulous memory of her
grandmother's face.
Because he was able to perform feats of
necromancy, the natives thought he was in
league with the devil.
He was universally feared because of his
many nefarious deeds.
negligence can prove costly near complicated
machinery.
Because the damage to his car had been
negligible, Michael decided he wouldn't
bother to report the matter to his insurance
company.
Captain Bligh vowed to be Christian's
nemesis.
As we invent new techniques and
professions, we must also invent neologisms
such as "microcomputer" and "astronaut" to
describe them.
This monuntain slope contains slides that will
challenge esperts as well as neophytes.
115
2942
N33
nihilist
one who considers traditional beliefs to be
groundless and existence meaningless;
absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF.
nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or
value; belief that destruction of existing political
or social institutions is n
2943
N34
nimble
quick in movement; agile; quick in
understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
2944
N35
nip
snip off; stop something's growth or
development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex.
nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the
postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
2945
N36
nirvana
in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which
the individual loses himself in the attainment of
an impersonal beatitude
Despite his desire to achieve nirvana, the
young Buddhist found that even the buzzing
of a fly could distract him from his meditation.
2946
N37
nocturnal
done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal
animals/raids; CF. nocturne
Mr. Jones obtained a watchdog to prevent the
nocturnal raids on his chicken coops.
2947
N38
noisome
foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
I never could stand the noisome atmosphere
surrounding the slaughter houses.
2948
N39
nomadic
wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from
place to place
Several nomadic tribes of Indians would hunt
in this area each year.
2949
N40
nomenclature
terminology(system of specialized words);
system of names or naming things
She struggled to master scientific
nomenclature.
2950
N41
nominal
in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of
money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a
candidate; appoint
He offered to drive her to the airport for only a
nominal fee.
2951
N42
nonchalance
indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ.
nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex.
nonchalant attitude to his debts
Few people could understand how he could
listen to the news of the tragedy with such
nonchalance; the mahority regarded him as
callous and unsympathetic.
2952
N43
noncommittal
neutral; refusing commitment to a particular
opinion; unpledged; undecided
We were annoyed by his noncommittal reply
for we had been led to expect definite
assurances of his approval.
2953
N44
nondescript
undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex.
nondescript fellow in a crowd
2954
N45
nonentity
person of no importance; nonexistence
The private detective was a short,
nondescript fellow with no ourstanding
features, the sort of person one would never
notice in a crowd.
Don't dismiss John as a nonentity; in his quiet
way, he's very important to the firm.
2955
N46
nonplus
put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion;
perplex; CF. no more
2956
N47
nonsense
speech or writing with no meaning; foolish
behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense
of: spoil; cause to fail
2957
2958
N48
N49
noose
nostalgia
2959
N50
nostrum
loop formed in a rope
homesickness; longing for the past; Ex.
nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ.
nostalgic
questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF.
our (remedy)
2960
N51
notable
conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable;
important; distinguished; noted
2961
2962
N52
N53
notch
notoriety
V-shaped cut in a surface; V.
disrepute; ill fame
2963
2964
N54
N55
nourish
nourishment
provide with food necessary for life and growth
something that nourishes; food
2965
N56
nova
star that suddenly becomes much brighter and
then returns to its original brightness
Jack's uncharacteristic rudeness nonplussed
Jill, leaving her uncertain how to react.
The first settlers found so much work to do
that they had little time for nostalgia.
No quack selling nostrums is going to cheat
me.
To the starlet, any publicity was good
publicity: if she couldn't have a good
reputation, she'd settle for notoriety.
116
2966
N57
novelty
something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new;
original
The computer is no longer a novelty around
the office.
2967
N58
novice
beginner
Even a novice can do good work if he follows
these simple directions.
2968
N59
noxious
harmful; CF. obnoxious
We must trace the source of these noxious
gases before they asphyxiate us.
2969
N60
nuance
shade of slight difference in meaning or color;
subtle distinction
2970
N61
nubile
marriageable; of marriageable age; CF.
connubial
The unskilled eye of the layperson has
difficulty in dicerning the nuances of color in
the paintings.
Mrs. Bennet, in Pride and Prejudice by Jane
Austen, was worried about finding suitable
husbands for her five nubile daughters.
2971
N62
nugatory
worthless; futile
2972
N63
nullify
make invalid; make null; invalidate
2973
N64
numismatist
person who collects coins; N. numismatics:
study or collection of money, coins, and medals
The numismatist had a splendid collection of
antique coins.
2974
N65
nuptial
related to marriage or the wedding ceremony;
N. nuptials: wedding ceremony
Their nuptial ceremony was performed in
Golden Gate Park.
2975
N66
nurse
suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind;
Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge
against someone
2976
N67
nurture
nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is
growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N:
something that nourishes; rearing
The head Start program attempts to nurture
prekindergarten children so that they will do
well when they enter public school.
2977
N68
nutrient
nourishing substance; ADJ: providing
nourishment
As a budding nutritionist, Kim has learned to
design diets that contain foods rich in
important basic nutrients.
2978
N69
nutrition
process of nourishing or being nourished; CF.
malnutrition
2979
2980
2981
N70
O1
O2
nutritious
oaf
oath
providing nourishment
stupid awkward person; CF. elf
solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred
words to express strong feelings; swear-word;
Ex. ``For Christ's sake''
2982
2983
O3
O4
oatmeal
obdurate
crushed oats used for making porridge
stubborn; refusing to change one's belief
2984
O5
obeisance
bow (to show respect and obedience)
She made an obeisance as the king and
queen entered the room.
2985
O6
obelisk
tall column tapering(becoming gradually
narrower toward the end) and ending in a
pyramid
Cleopatra's Needle is an obelisk in New York
City's Central Park.
2986
O7
obese
excessively fat; N. obesity
2987
O8
obfuscate
confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make
needlessly complex; make so confused as to be
difficult to understand
It is advisable that obese people try to lose
weight.
Do not obfuscate the issues by dragging in
irrelevant arguments.
2988
O9
obituary
death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.
I first learned of her death when I read the
obituary in the newspaper.
2989
O10
objective
not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim
2990
O11
obligatory
binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige:
constrain; make grateful; do a favor;
accommodate
A degree in medicine was her ultimate
objective.
It is obligatory that books borrowed from the
library be returned within two weeks.
2991
O12
oblique
indirect; slanting (deviating from the
perpendicular or from a straight line); Ex.
oblique reference
The sergeant ordered the men to march
"oblique right."
2992
O13
obliterate
destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the
village
The tidal wave obliterated several island
villages.
This agreement is nugatory for no court will
enforce it.
Once the contract was nullified, it no longer
had any legal force.
He called the unfortunate waiter a clumsy oaf.
He was obdurate in his refusal to listen to our
complaints.
117
2993
O14
oblivion
obscurity; condition of being completely
forgotten; forgetfulness
Her work had fallen into a state of oblivion; no
one bothered to read them.
2994
O15
oblivious
2995
O16
obloquy
inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly
absorbed; forgetful(having the habit of
forgetting)
slander; disgrace; infamy
2996
O17
obnoxious
offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell
I find your behavior obnoxious; please mend
your ways.
2997
O18
obscure
dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex.
obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover;
make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning
At times he seemed purposely to obscure his
meaning, preferring mystery to clarity.
2998
O19
obsequious
slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile
compliance; sycophantic
Helen valued people who behaved as if they
respected themselves; nothing irritated her
more than an excessively obsequious waiter
or a fawning salesclerk.
2999
O20
obsequy
funeral ceremony
Hundreads paid their last respects at his
obsequies.
3000
O21
obsessive
related to thinking about something constantly;
of an obsession; preoccupying; N. obsession:
compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea;
compulsive idea; V. obsess: preoccupy the
mind of excessively
3001
O22
obsidian
black volcanic rock
The deposits of obsidian on the mountain
slopes were an indiacation that volcano had
erupted in ancient times.
3002
O23
obsolete
outmoded; no longer used
Hip is an obsolete expression; it went out with
love beads and tie-dye shirts.
3003
O24
obstetrician
physician specializing in delivery(assisting in
giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF.
midwife
Unlike midwives, who care for women giving
birth at home, obstetricians generally work in
a hospital setting.
3004
O25
obstinate
stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate
cough; N. obstinacy
We tried to persuade him to give up smoking,
but he was obstinate and refused to change.
3005
O26
obstreperous
boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable
The crowd became obstreperous and
shouted their disapproval of the proposals
made by the speaker.
3006
O27
obtrude
push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude;
impose (oneself or one's ideas) on others; butt
in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A
on B; ADJ. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; CF.
unobtrusive
3007
O28
obtuse
blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding
3008
O29
obviate
make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the
need
3009
O30
Occident
the West
It will take occident to understand the ways
and customs of the orient.
3010
O31
occlude
shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded
an artery.
A blood clot occluded an artery to the heart.
3011
O32
occult
mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond
human comprehension; CF. mysterious to
human ?; OP. bare
The occult rites of the organization were
revealed only to members.
3012
O33
oculist
physician who specializes in treatment of the
eyes
In many states, an oculist is the only one who
may apply medicinal drops to the eyes for the
purpose of examining them.
3013
O34
odds
chances; probability; disagreement; Ex. The
odds are that it will rain. Ex. at odds with
3014
O35
odious
arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred);
vile
I find the task of punishing you most odious.
3015
O36
odium
detestation; quality of being odious;
hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful
conduct)
I cannot express the odium I feel at your
heinous actions.
I resent the obloquy that you are casting upon
my reputation.
Because he was so obtuse, he could not
follow the teacher's reasoning and asked
foolish questions.
I hope this contribution will obviate any need
for further collections of funds.
118
3016
O37
odoriferous
giving off an odor
The odoriferous spices stimulated her jaded
appetite.
3017
O38
odorous
having an odor
3018
O39
odyssey
long, eventful, adventurous journey
This variety of hybrid tea rose is more
odorous than the one you have in your
garden.
The refugee's journey from Cambodia was a
terrifying odyssey.
3019
O40
offensive
attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend:
violate; hurt the feelings of; N. offense:
offending; violating of a moral or social code;
crime; attack; Ex. first offense
Getting into street brawls is no minor offense
for professional boxers, who are required by
law to restrict their offensive impulses to the
ring.
3020
O41
offhand
casual; done without prior thought or
preparation
Expecting to be treated with due propriety by
her costs, Great-Aunt Maud was offended by
their offhand manner.
3021
O42
officious
3022
O43
ogle
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering
one's services; overly eager in offering
unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious
bellboy
look at amorously; make eyes at; Ex. old men
ogling young girls
After her long flight, Jill just wanted to nap,
but the officious bellboy was intent on
showing her all the special features of the
deluxe suite.
Sitting for hours at the sidewalk cafe, the old
gentleman would oggle the young girls and
recall his youthful romances.
3023
3024
O44
O45
olfactory
oligarchy
concerning the sense of smell
government by a privileged few
3025
O46
ominous
threatening; of an evil omen
The olfactory organ is the nose.
The feudal oligarchy was supplanted by an
autocracy.
Those clouds are ominous; they suggest that
a severe storm is on the way.
3026
O47
omnipotent
all-powerful; having unlimited power
The monarch regarded himself as omnipotent
and responsible to no one for his acts.
3027
O48
omnipresent
universally present; ubiquitous
On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is
omnipotent.
3028
O49
omniscient
all-knowing
I do not pretend to be omniscient, but I am
positive about this fact.
3029
O50
omnivorous
eating both plant and animal food; devouring
everything
3030
O51
onerous
burdensome
Some animals, including humans, are
omnivorous and eat both meat and
vegetables; others are either carnivorous or
herbivorous.
He asked for an assistant because his work
load was too onerous.
3031
O52
onomatopoeia
words formed in imitation of natural sounds
Words like "rustle" and "gargle" are
illustrations of onomatopoeia.
3032
O53
onslaught
vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected
onslaught of the enemy
We suffered many casualties during
unexpected onslaght of the enemy troops.
3033
O54
onus
burden; responsibility
The emperor was spared the onus of signing
the surrender papers; instead, he relegated
the assignment to his generals.
3034
O55
ooze
(of a thick liquid) pass or flow slowly; N: mud or
thick liquid as at the bottom of a river
3035
O56
opalescent
iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N.
opalescence
The Ancient Mariner admired the opalescent
sheen on the water.
3036
O57
opaque
dark; not transparent; N. opacity
The opaque window kept the sunlight out of
the room.
3037
O58
opiate
medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain;
something that relieves emotions or causes
inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium
By such opiates, she made the people forget
their difficulties and accept their unpleasant
circumstances.
3038
O59
opportune
timely; well-chosen
You have come at an opportune moment for I
need a new secretary.
3039
O60
opportunist
individual who sacrifices principles for
expediency by taking advantage of
circumstances; N. opportunism
Forget about ethics! He's such an opportunist
that he'll vote in favor of any deal that will
give him a break.
119
3040
O61
opprobrium
infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct;
vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex.
opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ.
opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or
infamous
He refused to defend himself against the
slander and opprobrium hurled against him
by the newspapers; he preferred to rely on
his record.
3041
O62
optician
maker and seller of eyeglasses
The patient took the prescription given him by
his oculist to the optician.
3042
O63
optimist
person who looks on the bright side; N.
optimism
The pessimist says the glass is half-empty;
the optimist says it is half-full.
3043
O64
optimum
most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable
condition
If you wait for the optimum moment to act,
you may never begin your project .
3044
O65
optional
not compulsory; left to one's choice; N. option:
act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to
choose; something available as a choice; Ex.
have no option; Ex. two options
I was impressed by the range of optional
accessories for my microcomputer that were
available.
3045
O66
optometrist
one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects
Although an optometrist is qualified to treat
many eye disorders, she may not use
medicinesor surgery in her examinations.
3046
O67
opulence
The glitter and opulence of the ballroom took
Cinderella's breath away.
3047
O68
opus
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance;
ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth;
abundant
work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum
opus: masterpiece; CF. opera
3048
O69
oracular
of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine
authority; mysterious or ambiguous; hard to
understand; N. oracle: wiser person; prophecy
made by an oracle
3049
3050
O70
O71
orator
oratorio
public speaker
dramatic poem set to music; long musical work
with singing but without acting; CF. cantata
3051
O72
ordain
decree or command; grant holy orders;
predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi;
N. ordainment; CF. ordination
The king ordained that no foreigner should be
allowed to enter the city.
3052
O73
ordeal
severe trial or affliction; difficult experience;
trial(test of patience or endurance); affliction
Terry Anderson spoke movingly of his long
ordeal as a hostage in Lebanon.
3053
O74
ordinance
decree; authoritative order
3054
O75
ordination
ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of
ordaining a priest
Passing a red light is a violation of a city
ordinance.
The candidate for ordination had to meet with
the bishop and the diocean officers before
being judged ready to be ordained a deacon.
3055
O76
orgy
wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in
an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping
3056
O77
orient
get one's bearings; adjust; make familiar with a
situation; orientate
Philip spent his first day in Denver orienting
himself to the city.
3057
O78
orientation
act of finding oneself in society; orienting
Freshman orientation provides the incoming
students with an opportunity to learn about
their new environment and their place in it.
3058
O79
orifice
mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a
cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth
The Howe Caverns were discovered when
someone observed that a cold wind was
issuing from an orifice in the hillside.
3059
O80
ornate
excessively or elaborately decorated
Furniture of the Baroque period can be
recognized by its ornate carvings.
3060
O81
ornithologist
scientific student of birds; N. ornithology:
scientific study of birds
Auduborn's drawings of American bird life
have been of interest not only to the
ornithologists but also to the general public.
3061
O82
orthodox
traditional; (of someone) conservative in belief;
adhering to an established doctrine
Faced with a problem, he preferred to take an
orthodox approach rather than shock anyone.
3062
O83
orthography
correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex.
orthodontics
Many of us find English orthography difficult
to master because so many of our words are
written phonetically.
Although many critics hailed his Fifth
Symphony, he did not regard it as his major
opus.
Oedipus could not understand the oracular
warning he received.
The Glee Club decided to present an oratorio
during their recital.
120
3063
O84
oscillate
vibrate pendulumlike; waver
It is interesting to note how public opinion
oscillates between the extremes of optimism
and pessimism.
3064
3065
O85
O86
osseous
ossify
made of bone; bony
change or harden into bone; become hard and
unchanging in one's ideas
3066
O87
ostensible
apparent; appearing as such;
professed(pretended); pretended; Ex.
ostensible purpose of the expedition
3067
O88
ostentatious
showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N.
ostentation: showy display
3068
O89
ostracize
banish from a group; exclude from public favor;
ban; Ex. His friends ostracized him. N.
ostracism
As soon as the newspapers carried the story
of his connection with the criminals, his
friends began to ostracize him.
3069
O90
oust
expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting
The world wondered if Aquino would be able
to oust Marcos from office.
3070
O91
outcast
3071
O92
outfit
one that has been excluded from a society;
ADJ.
clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex.
cowboy outfit
3072
3073
O93
O94
outgoing
outlandish
sociable; eager to mix socially with others
bizzare; peculiar; unconventional
3074
O95
outlaw
fugitive from the law (excluded from legal
protection); V: declare (someone) to be an
outlaw; deprive of the protection of the law;
declare illegal; Ex. Drinking has been outlawed.
3075
O96
outlook
3076
O97
outmoded
point of view; view from a particular place;
expectation for the future; prospect; Ex. outlook
on life; Ex. pleasing outlook; Ex. weather
outlook
no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish;
old-fashioned
3077
O98
outrage
act of extreme violence or viciousness; resentful
anger; V: commit an outrage on; produce anger
in; ADJ. outrageous: offensive
3078
O99
outskirts
fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts
of Boston
3079
O100
outspoken
candid; blunt
3080
3081
O101
O102
outstrip
outwit
outrun; surpass; outdo
outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly
3082
O103
ovation
enthusiastic applause
3083
O104
overbearing
bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively
important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance;
V. overbear: dominate
3084
O105
overblown
inflated; exaggerated
When he called his opponent a "bonehead,"
he implied that his adversary's brain had
ossified and that he was not capable of clear
thinking.
Although the ostensible purpose of this
expedition is to discover new lands, we are
really interested in finding new markets for
our products.
Trump's latest casino in Atlantic City is the
most ostentatious gambling place in the East:
it easily outglitters its competitors.
The eccentric professor who engages in
markedly outlandish behavior is a stock figure
in novels with an academic setting.
Unconcerned about keeping in style, Lenore
was perfectly happy to wear outmoded
clothes as long as they were clean and
unfrayed.
Living outskirts of Boston, Sarah sometimes
felt as if she were cut off from the cultural
heart of the city.
The candidate was too outspoken to be a
successful politician; he had not yet learned
to weigh his words carefully.
By disguising himself as an old woman,
Holmes was able to outwit his pursuers and
escape capture.
When Placido Domingo came on stage in the
first act of La Boheme, he was greeted by a
tremendous ovation.
Certain of her own importance and of the
unimportance of everyone else, Lady
Bracknell was intolerably overbearing in
manner. "In choosing a husband," she said,
"good birth is of overbearing importance;
compared to that, neither wealth nor talent
signifie
121
3085
O106
oversee
watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight:
unintentional failure to notice or do something;
supervision
3086
O107
overt
open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert
3087
3088
O108
O109
overthrow
overture
topple; N.
musical introduction to a long musical piece;
first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope
of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for
peace
3089
3090
O110
O111
overturn
overweening
turn over; capsize; topple
arrogant; presumptuous
3091
O112
overwhelm
3092
O113
overwrought
(of water) cover completely; defeat completely
by much greater force; Ex. overwhelmed by
grief
nervous or excited; extremely agitated;
hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or
done
3093
O114
ovoid
egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate
At Easter she had to cut out hundreds of
brightly colored ovoid shapes.
3094
P1
pachyderm
thick-skinned animal
3095
P2
pacifist
one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N.
pacifism: opposition to war as a means of
resolving disputes
The elephant is probably the best-known
pachyderm.
The pacifists urged that we reduce our
military budget and recall our troops stationed
overseas.
3096
P3
pacify
soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring
peace to
Dentists criticize the practice of giving fussy
children sweets to pacify them.
3097
3098
P4
P5
padre
paean
chaplain (in the armed forces)
song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating
the victory
paeans celebrating the victory filled the air.
3099
P6
painstaking
taking pains; showing hard work; taking great
care; very careful and through
3100
P7
palatable
agreeable; pleasing to the taste
3101
3102
P8
P9
palate
palatial
roof of the mouth; sense of the taste
of or suitable for a palace; magnificent
3103
P10
paleontology
study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-:
ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of
ancient written documents
3104
P11
palette
board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring
matters)
3105
P12
palimpsest
parchment or piece of writing material used for
second time after original writing has been
erased
3106
P13
pall
become boring; grow tiresome
The study of word lists can eventually pall
and put one to sleep.
3107
P14
pallet
small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet
3108
P15
palliate
ease pain (without curing); make less severe or
offensive (a crime or illness)
The weary traveler went to sleep on his straw
pallet.
If we cannot cure this disease at present, we
can, at least try to palliate the symptoms.
3109
P16
pallid
pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion
3110
P17
palm
conceal in the palm of the hand; palm off: pass
off; Ex. palm off some bad oranges onto the
lady/the painting as a real Renoir
3111
P18
palpable
tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible;
obvious; Ex. palpable blunder
According to the United States Constitution, a
person must commit an overt act before he
may be tried for treason.
His overweening pride in his
accomplishments was not justified.
When Kate heard the news of the sudden
tragedy, she became too overwrought to work
and had to leave the office early.
The new high-frequency word list is the result
of painstaking efforts on the part of our
research staff.
Neither Jack's underbaked opinions nor his
overcooked casseroles were palatable to me.
He proudly showed us through his palatial
home.
The professor of paleontology had a superb
collection of fossils.
At the present time, art supply stores are
selling a paper palette that may be discarded
after use.
Using chemical reagents, scientists have
been able to restore the original writings on
many palimpsests.
Because his occupation required that he work
at night and sleep during the day, he had an
exceptionally pallid complexion.
I cannot understand how you could overlook
such a palpable blunder.
122
3112
P19
palpitate
throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her
heart began to palpitate.
As he became excited, his heart began to
palpitate more and more erratically.
3113
P20
paltry
insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex.
paltry sum; CF. trash
This is a paltry sum to pay for such a
masterpiece.
3114
P21
pan
criticize harshly
Hoping for a rave review of his new show, the
playwright was miserable when the critics
panned it unanimously.
3115
P22
panacea
cure-all; remedy for all diseases
There is no easy panacea that will solve our
complicated international situation.
3116
P23
panache
Many performers imitate Noel Coward, but
few have his panache and sense of style.
3117
P24
pandemic
flair; manner of doing things without any
difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance;
bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great
panache;
widespread; affecting the majority of people; N:
pandemic disease; CF. all people
3118
P25
Pandemonium
wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF.
Paradise Lost
3119
P26
pander
cater to (the low desires of others)
3120
P27
panegyric
formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve
such panegyrics.
When the ships collided in the harbor,
pandemonium broke out among the
passengers.
The reviewer accused the makers of Lethal
Weapon of pandering to the masses' taste of
violence.
The modest hero blushed to hear the
speakers delivering panegyrics about his
valorous act.
3121
3122
P28
P29
pang
panoramic
sudden sharp feeling of pain
denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive
view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide
area
3123
P30
pantomime
acting without dialogue; V.
Because he worked in pantomime, the clown
could be understood wherever he appeared.
3124
P31
papyrus
ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant
The ancient Egyptians were among the first
to write on papyrus.
3125
P32
parable
short simple story teaching a moral
Let us apply to our own conduct the lesson
that this parable teaches.
3126
P33
paradigm
model; example that serves as a model;
pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word
Pavlov's experiment in which he trains a dog
to salivate on hearing a bell is a paradigm of
the conditioned-response experiment in
behavioal psychology.
3127
P34
paradox
something apparently contradictory in nature
(that may nonetheless be true); statement that
looks false but is actually correct
Wordworth's "The child is father to the man"
is an example of paradox.
3128
P35
paragon
model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue
The class disliked him because the teacher
was always pointing him out as a paragon of
virtue.
3129
P36
parallel
similar; analogous; corresponding; N: parallel
line; person or thing that is parallel (to another);
similarity; Ex. know of no parallel to the case;
Ex. without parallel; V: be similar to; make
parallel; Ex. Your experience parallels mine;
CF. unparallel
3130
P37
parallelism
state of being parallel; similarity; analogy
3131
P38
parameter
3132
P39
paramount
limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of
the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the
budget
foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-:
beyond; above; Ex. paranormal
3133
P40
paramour
illicit lover
3134
P41
paranoia
psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or
persecution; N: ADJ: paranoid, paranoiac
They feared the AIDS epidemic would soon
reach pandemic proportions.
On a clear day, from the top of the World
Trade Center you can get a panoramic view
of New York City and neighboring stretches
of New Jersey and Long Island.
There is a striking parallelism between the
twins.
We need to define the parameters of the
problem.
Proper nutrition and hygiene are of
paramount importance in adolescent
development and growth.
She sought a divorce on the grounds that her
husband had a paramour in another town.
Suffering from paranois, he claimed everyone
was out to get him; ironically, his claim was
accurate; even paranoids have enemies.
123
3135
P42
paraphernalia
equipment; odds and ends used in a particular
activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic
paraphernalia; CF. married woman's property
exclusive of her dowry
His desk was cluttered with paper, pen, ink,
dictionary and other paraphernalia of the
writing craft.
3136
P43
paraphrase
restate a passage in one's own words while
retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a
text in other words
In 250 words or less, paraphrase this article.
3137
P44
parasite
animal or plant living on another; toady;
sycophant; CF. para-: beside
The tapeworm is an example of the kind of
parasite that may infest the human body.
3138
P45
parched
extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or
become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)
The parched desert landscape seemed
hostile to life.
3139
P46
parchment
writing material made from the skin of a sheep
or goat
3140
P47
pare
cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a
knife); trim; Ex. pare apples/expenses
3141
P48
pariah
social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah
3142
P49
parish
area in the care of a single priest and served by
one main church
3143
P50
parity
equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate
3144
P51
parlance
language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in
legal/common parlance
3145
P52
parley
conference (between opponents); CF. speak
The peace parley has not produced the
anticipated truce.
3146
P53
parochial
narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to
parishes
Although Jane Austen writes novels set in
small rural communities, her concerns are
universal, not parochial.
3147
P54
parody
humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.
We enjoyed the clever parodies of popular
songs that the chorus sang.
3148
P55
paroxysm
fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden
outburst
When he heared of his son's misdeeds, he
was seized by a paroxysm of rage.
3149
P56
parquet
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like
matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece
In laying the floor, the carpenters combined
redwood and oak in an elegant parquet.
3150
P57
parry
ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the
unwelcome question very skillfully; N.
He was content to wage a defensive battle
and tried to parry his opponent's thrusts.
3151
P58
parsimony
stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ.
parsimonious
3152
P59
partial
incomplete; favoring one side over another;
having a liking for something
I am extremely partial to chocolate eclairs.
3153
P60
partiality
state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias;
special fondness; preference
As a judge, not only must I be unbiased, but I
must also avoid any evidence of partiality
when I award the prize.
3154
P61
partisan
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party
(with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter
of a party; guerrilla
On certain issues of conscience, she refused
to take a partisan stand.
3155
3156
3157
3158
3159
P62
P63
P64
P65
P66
partition
parvenu
pass\'e
pass_off
passive
divide into parts
upstart; newly rich person
old-fashioned; past the prime
present falsely; represent falsely to be
not active; acted upon; receiving an action
without acting in return; accepting without
resistance
3160
P67
paste
3161
P68
pastiche
smooth viscous mixture as of flour(powder
made by crushing grain) and water (used as an
adhesive); V: cause to adhere by applying
paste
imitation of another's style in musical
composition or in writing; work of art openly
imitating the works of other artists
I am not a pariah to be shunned and
ostracized.
I find your analogy inaccurate because I do
not see the parity between the two
illustrations.
All this legal parlance confuses me; I need an
interpreter.
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.
We cannot even say that her music is a
pastiche of this or that composer; it is rather,
reminiscent of many musicians.
124
3162
P69
pastoral
rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor
In these stories of pastoral life, we find an
understanding of the daily tasks of country
folk.
3163
3164
P70
P71
pastry
patent
paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)
obvious; easily seen; open for the public to
read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to
everyone; N.
3165
P72
pathetic
causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching
3166
P73
pathological
pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of
disease
3167
P74
pathos
tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature
that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that
runs through the novel
3168
P75
patina
green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone
slowly taken by varnished painting
3169
P76
patois
local or provincial dialect
3170
P77
patriarch
father and ruler of a family or tribe
In many primitive tribes, the leader and
lawmaker was the patriarch.
3171
P78
patrician
noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank;
aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes
in ancient Rome; CF. plebian
We greatly admired her well-bred, patrician
elegance
3172
3173
P79
P80
patrimony
patronize
property inherited from a father
support; act superior toward; treat in a
condescending manner; be a customer of; N.
patron: one that supports; regular customer; N.
patronage; CF. boycott
3174
P81
paucity
scarcity; dearth
3175
P82
pauper
very poor person
3176
P83
peccadillo
slight offense or fault; CF. sin
3177
P84
pecuniary
pertaining to money
I never expected a pecuniary reward for my
work in this activity.
3178
P85
pedagogue
teacher; CF. child leader
3179
P86
pedagogy
teaching; art of education
He could never be a stuffy pedagogue; his
classes were always lively and filled with
humor.
Though Maria Montessori gained fame for her
innovations in pedagogy, it took years before
her teaching techniques became common
practice in American schools.
3180
P87
pedant
scholar who overemphasizes book learning,
trivial details of learning, or technicalities
3181
P88
pedantic
bookish; showing off learning; marked by an
excessive ostentatious concern for book
learning; N. pedantry
3182
3183
3184
P89
P90
P91
peddle
pedestal
pedestrian
travel about selling (wares); CF. foot
support or base as for a pillar or statue
ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in
imagination); going on foot; Ex. pedestrian
prose; N.
3185
P92
pediatrician
physician specializing in children's diseases; N.
pediatrics
3186
P93
pedigree
ancestry; lineage
It was patent to everyone that the witness
spoke the truth.
Everyone in the auditorium was weeping by
the time he finished his pathetic tale about
the orphaned boy.
As we study the pathological aspects of this
disease, we must not overlook the
psychological elements.
The quiet tone of pathos that ran through the
novel never degenerated into the maudlin or
the overly sentimental.
Judging by the patina on this bronze statue,
we can conclude that this is the work of a
medieval artist.
His years of study of the language at the
university did not enable him to understand
the patois of the natives.
Experts in a field sometimes appear to
patronize people who are less knowledgeable
of the subject.
They closed the restaurant because the
paucity of customers made it uneconomical to
operate.
Though Widow Brown was living on a
reduced income, she was by no means a
pauper.
If we examine these escapades carefully, we
will realize that they are mere peccadilloes
rather than major crimes.
Her insistence that the book be memorized
marked the teacher as a pedant rather than a
scholar.
Leaving his decisions with humorous, downto-earth anecdotes, Judge Walker was not at
all pedantic legal scholar.
Unintentionally boring, he wrote page after
page of pedestrian prose.
The family doctor advised the parents to
consult a pediatrician about their child's
ailment.
125
3187
P94
peer
one who has equal standing with another;
nobleman; V: look intently; N. peerage; CF.
peeress
3188
3189
3190
P95
P96
P97
peerless
peevish
pejorative
having no equal; incomparable
bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry
(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone
is of little value; negative in connotation; having
a belittling effect; Ex. Many women now
considers ``housewife'' a pejorative expression,
because it patronized them.
3191
3192
P98
P99
pell-mell
pellucid
in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell
transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in
meaning; easy to understand
3193
P100
pen
fenced enclosure for animals; confining space;
Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
3194
P101
penance
self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do
penance for one's sins; CF. penitent
The Ancient Mariner said, "I have penance
done and penance more will do," to atone for
the sin of killing the albatross.
3195
P102
penchant
strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for
something that is disapproved of by other
people); Ex. penchant for fast cars
He had a strong penchant for sculpture and
owned many statues.
3196
P103
pendant(pendent)
hanging down from something; pending; N:
ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
3197
P104
pending
not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex.
pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until;
Ex. delay the decision pending his return
3198
P105
pendulous
hanging; suspended
3199
P106
penetrate
enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp
the inner significance of; understand
3200
P107
penitent
repentant; N.
3201
P108
penology
study of prison management and criminal
rehabilitation
3202
P109
pensive
dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful;
thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative;
CF. think over
The pensive youth gazed at the painting for a
long time and then sighed.
3203
P110
penumbra
partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost
shadow
3204
P111
penury
extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious:
very poor; stingy
During an eclipse, we can see an area of total
darkness and a lighter area, which is the
penumbra.
When his pension fund failed, George feared
he would end his days in penury.
3205
P112
peon
landless agricultural worker; bond servant;
menial worker; N. peonage
3206
P113
perceptive
insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving
and understanding; aware; wise; of perception
3207
P114
percussion
striking one object against another sharply; Ex.
percussion instrument; N: striking together of
two bodies; sound caused by percussion
The drum is a percussion instrument.
3208
P115
perdition
damnation; complete ruin; hell
Praying for salvation, young Daedalus feared
he was damned to eternal perdition.
3209
P116
peregrination
journey; V. peregrinate
3210
P117
peremptory
demanding and leaving no choice; imperative;
Ex. peremptory decree/knock
3211
P118
perennial
something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ:
lasting through the year or many years; lasting
for a long time; enduring
Auntie Mame was a world traveler whose
peregrinations took her from Tiajuana to
Timbuctoo.
From Jack's peremptory knock on the door,
Jill could tell he would not give up until she let
him in.
Tese plants are hardy perennials and will
bloom for many years.
Instead of criticizing Clinton's policies, the
Republicans made pejorative remarks about
his character.
After reading these stodgy philosophers, I
find his pellucid style very enjoyable.
The pendulous chandeliers swayed in the
breeze as if they were about to fall from the
ceiling.
When he realized the enormity of his crime,
he became remorseful and penitent.
The land reformers sought to liberate the
peons and establish them as independent
farmers.
Although Maud was a generally perceptive
critic, she had her blind sports: she could
never see flaws in the work of her friends.
126
3212
3213
P119
P120
perfidious
perforate
treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
pierce; put a hole through
3214
P121
perfunctory
done routinely and with little care; superficial;
not thorough; lacking interest, care, or
enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss
3215
P122
perigee
point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the
earth; CF. apogee
The rocket which was designed to take
photographs of the moon was launched as
the moon approached its perigee.
3216
P123
perimeter
outer boundary; length of the outer boundary;
circumference
To find the perimeter of any quadrilateral, we
add the lengths of the four sides.
3217
P124
peripatetic
walking about from place to place (to work);
moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy
3218
P125
peripheral
of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor
importance; not central; Ex. peripheral
nerve/interest
The peripatetic school of philosophy derives
its name from the fact that Aristotle walked
with his pupils while discussing philosophy
with them.
We lived, not in central London, but in one of
those peripheral suburbs that spring up on
the outskirts of the great city.
3219
P126
periphery
outside edge especially of a round surface;
perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town
He sensed that there was something just
beyond the periphery of his vision.
3220
P127
perjury
false testimony while under oath; V. perjure
oneself: testify falsely under oath
3221
P128
permeable
that can be permeated; penetrable; porous;
allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V.
permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge
When several witnesses appeared to
challenge his story, he was indicted for
perjury.
Glass is permeable to light.
3222
P129
permissive
allowing much freedom; lenient; Ex. permissive
society
3223
P130
pernicious
very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex.
pernicious effect/anemia
He argued that these books had a pernicious
effect on young and susceptible minds.
3224
P131
peroration
3225
P132
perpetrate
conclusion of an oration; perorating; V.
perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great
length
commit an offense; do (something wrong)
The peroration was largely hortatory and
brought the audience to its feet clamoring for
action at its close.
Only an insane person could perpetrate such
a horrible crime.
3226
3227
P133
P134
perpetual
perpetuate
everlasting
make perpetual; make something last for a long
time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity
Ponce de Leon hoped to find perpetual youth.
3228
P135
perquisite(perk)
any gain above stipulated salary; Ex.
perquisites such as free meals and a car
3229
3230
P136
P137
persevere
persist
continue steadily in spite of difficulties
continue in existence; last; continue in a course
of action in spite of opposition; Ex. persist
in/with something; ADJ. persistent
3231
P138
personable
attractive (in personality or appearance)
3232
P139
personify
represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be
the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She
is evil/patience personified; N. personification
3233
P140
perspicacious
(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute
The brillant lawyer was known for his
perspicacious deductions.
3234
P141
perspicuity
clearness of expression; freedom from
ambiguity
3235
P142
perspicuous
(of something) plainly expressed; easy to
understand; Ex. perspicuous comments
One of the outstanding features of this book
is the perspicuity of its author; her meaning is
always clear.
Her perspicuous comments eliminated all
posibility of misinterpretation.
3236
P143
pert
(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent;
forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat
I think your pert and impudent remarks call
for an apology.
3237
P144
pertinacious
holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn;
persistent
He is bound to succeed because his
pertinacious nature will not permit him to quit.
3238
P145
pertinent
suitable; to the point; relevant
The lawyer wanted to know all the pertinent
Before you can open the aspirin bottle, you
must first perforate the plastic safety seal that
covers the cap.
The auditor's perfunctory inspection of the
books overlooked many errors.
The man I am seeking to fill this position must
be personable since he will be representing
us before the public.
127
details.
I am afraid this news will perturb him and
cause him grief.
3239
P146
perturb
disturb greatly
3240
3241
P147
P148
peruse
pervasive
read through with care; N. perusal
spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells,
ideas, feelings) spread throughout; charge;
permeate
3242
P149
perverse
purposely continuing to do something wrong;
stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed
away from what is right; wicked and
unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex.
Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N.
perversity
When Hannibal Lecter was in a perverse
mood, he ate the flesh of his victims.
3243
P150
perversion
corruption; turning from right to wrong
Inasmuch as he had no motive for his crimes,
we could not understand his perversion.
3244
P151
pervert
corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex.
perverted sexual desire/scientific knowledge; N:
person whose sexual behavior is not natural
3245
P152
pessimism
belief that life is basically bad or evil;
gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest
possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic
3246
P153
pestilential(pest
ilent) causing plague; tending to cause death;
baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease
(esp. bubonic plague)
3247
P154
pestle
tool for mashing or grinding substances in a
hard bowl or mortar
From the way in which the elderly pharmacist
pounded the drug with his pestle, young
George could tell that his employer was
agitated about something.
3248
P155
petrify
turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun
or paralyze
His sudden and unexpected appearance
seemed to petrify her.
3249
P156
petty
trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded;
petty-minded
She had no major complaints to make about
his work, only a few petty quibbles that were
almost too minor to state.
3250
P157
petulant
touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
The feverish patient was petulant and
restless.
3251
P158
phalanx
formation of infantry carrying overlapping
shields and long spears; group of men packed
together (for attack or defense)
3252
P159
pharisaical
pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid
scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous;
hypocritical
3253
P160
pharisee
Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group
that emphasized strict observance of the
Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy);
hypocritical self-righteous person
3254
P161
phenomena
observable facts; subjects of scientific
investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable
fact; very unusual person, thing, or event;
marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ.
phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a
phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength
We kept careful records of the phenomena
we noted in the course of these experiments.
3255
P162
philanderer
faithless lover; flirt
Swearing he had never so much as looked at
another woman, Jack assured Jill he was no
philanderer.
3256
P163
philanthropist
lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy
As he grew older, he became famous as a
philanthropist and benefactor of the needy.
3257
P164
philatelist
stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
When she heard the value of the Penny Black
stamp, Phyllis was inspired to become a
philatelist.
Despite airing them for several hours, she
could not rid her clothes of the pervasive odor
of mothbals that clung to them.
The good news we have been receiving lately
indicates that there is little reason for your
pessimism.
Walter Lippmann has pointed out that
moralists who do not attempt to explain the
moral code they advocate are often regarded
as pharisaical and ignored.
128
3258
P165
Philistine
narrow-minded person, uncultured and
exclusively interested in material gain;
uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic
and cultural values; member of an ancient
people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
We need more men of culture and
enlightenment; we have too many philistines
among us.
3259
P166
philology
study of language or words
The professor of philology advocated the use
of Esperanto as an international language.
3260
P167
phlegmatic
calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF.
phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the
respiratory tract
The nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic
person, unexcited in the face of sudden
emergencies.
3261
P168
phobia
morbid fear
Her fear of flying was more than mere
nervousness; it was a real phobia.
3262
P169
phoenix
symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix
rising from its ashes
3263
P170
phylum
major classification, second to kingdom, of
plants and animals; category ranking below a
kingdom and above a class; division
3264
P171
physiognomy
face (as showing the character and the mind);
art of judging human character from facial
features
He prided himself on his ability to analyze a
person's character by studying his
physiognomy.
3265
P172
physiological
pertaining to the science of the function of living
organisms; N. physiology
To understand this disease fully, we must
examine not only its physiological aspects but
also its psychological elements.
3266
P173
piebald
of different colors; mottled; spotted in different
colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald
horse; CF. pie+bald
You should be able to identify Polka Dot in
this race; he is the only piebald horse
running.
3267
P174
piecemeal
one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read
a novel piecemeal
3268
P175
pied
piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
The pied piper of Hamelin got his name from
the multicolored clothing he wore.
3269
P176
piety
devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious
3270
P177
pigment
coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed
with water or oil)
Living her life in prayer and good works,
Mother Teresa exemplifies the true sprit of
piety.
Van Gogh mixed various pigments with
linseed oil to create his paints.
3271
3272
P178
P179
pilfer
pillage
steal things of small value; filch; snitch
plunder
3273
P180
pillory
punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory;
subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
3274
P181
pinch
squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or
other edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make
sure I wasn't dreaming. N: amount that can be
held between the thumb and a finger
3275
P182
pine
long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief;
decline
Though she tried to be happy living with Clara
in the city, Heidi pined for the mountains and
for her gruff but loving grandfather.
3276
P183
pinion
restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or
legs; N: bird's wing
They pinioned his arms against his body but
left his legs free so that he could move about.
3277
3278
P184
P185
pinnace
pinnacle
small boat
peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
3279
P186
pious
devout; religious; N. piety
The pious parents gave their children a
religious upbringing.
3280
P187
piquant
pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly
stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old
enemy asked for my help
The piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of
the meal.
3281
P188
pique
irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg.
loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy;
cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her
curiosity
She showed her pique by her refusal to
appear with the other contestants at the end
of the contest.
The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it
in ruins.
Even though he was mocked and pilloried, he
maintained that he was correct in his beliefs.
We could see the morning sunlight illuminate
the pinnacle while the rest of the mountain lay
in shadow.
129
3282
P189
piscatorial
pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
He spent many happy hours at the lake in his
piscatorial activities.
3283
3284
P190
P191
pitfall
pith
hidden danger; concealed trap
core or marrow; spongelike substance in the
center of stems; essence; substance
3285
P192
pithy
concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
I enjoy reading his essays because they are
always compact and pithy.
3286
P193
pittance
small amount (of money); small allowance or
wage
He could not live on the pittance he received
as a pension and had to look for an additional
source of revenue.
3287
P194
pivotal
of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
3288
3289
P195
P196
placate
placebo
pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease
harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
De Klerk's decision to set Nelson Mandela
free was pivotal; without Mandela's release,
there was no possibility that the African
National Cogress would entertain talks with
the South African government.
The teacher tried to placate the angry mother.
In a controlled experiment, fifty volunteers
were given erythromycin tablets; the control
group received only placebos.
3290
P197
placid
peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
After his vacation in this placid section, he felt
soothed and rested.
3291
P198
plagiarize
steal another's ideas or writings and pass them
off as one's own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my
article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap
3292
3293
P199
P200
plaintive
plait
expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths
of; make by weaving strands together; Ex.
plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric;
CF. pigtail, ponytail
The editor could tell that the writer had
plagiarized parts of the article; he could
recognize whole paragraphs from the original
source.
The dove has a plaintive and melancholy call
3294
P201
plane
carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling
wood; V. CF. flat
3295
P202
plaster
paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is
used for coating walls; V.
3296
P203
plasticity
ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of
being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material
such as clay
When clay dries out, it loses its plasticity and
becomes less malleable.
3297
P204
platitude
trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ.
platitudinous
3298
P205
platonic
purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual
desire
The platitudes in his speech were applauded
by the vast majority in his audience; only a
few people perceived how trite his remarks
were.
Accused of impropriety in his dealings with
female students, the professor maintained he
had only a platonic interest in the women
involved.
3299
P206
plaudit
praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession
or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF.
applaud
3300
P207
plausible
conceivably true; having a show of truth but
open to doubt; specious
Even though your argument is plausible, I still
would like to have more proof.
3301
P208
plebeian
common; vulgar; pertaining to the common
people; N: common people in ancient Rome;
CF. patrician
His speeches were aimed at the plebeian
minds and emotions; they disgusted the more
refined.
3302
P209
plebiscite
direct vote by the entire electorate (on an
important issue)
3303
P210
plenary
(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all
qualified members; Ex. plenary power
The union leader was given plenary power to
negotiate a new contract with the employers.
3304
P211
plenitude
abundance; plenty; great amount;
completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty
Looking in the pantry, we admired the
plenitude of fruits and pickles we had
preserved during the summer.
3305
P212
plethora
excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of
excuses
She offered a plethora of excuses for her
shortcomings.
130
3306
P213
pliable
flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
In remodeling the bathroom, we replaced all
the old, rigid lead pipes with new, pliable
copper tubing.
Catherine's disposition was pliant; she was
like putty in her suitor's hands.
3307
P214
pliant
flexible; easily influenced
3308
P215
plight
difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad
state or condition); predicament
3309
P216
ploy
strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex.
management ploy
3310
P217
pluck
courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or
feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave
3311
3312
P218
P219
plumage
plumb
feathers of a bird;
exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line;
V: examine very carefully or critically in order to
understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex.
plumb the depth of
3313
P220
plumber
one who installs and repairs pipes and
plumbing(pipes)
3314
P221
plume
feather, esp. large or showy one; something
that rises into the air (like the shape of a
feather); Ex. plume of smoke: ¹ö¼¸ ±¸¸§
3315
P222
plummet
fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices
plummeted.
3316
3317
P223
P224
plump
plutocracy
pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
society ruled by the wealthy
3318
P225
podiatrist
doctor who treats ailments of the feet;
chiropodist; N. podiatrics
He consulted a podiatrist about his fallen
arches.
3319
P226
podium
pedestal; raised platform
The audience applauded as the conductor
made his way to the podium.
3320
P227
poignancy
quality of being deeply moving; keenness of
emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply
moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly
distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant
memory/anxiety; CF. prick
Watching the tearful reunion of the longseparated mother and child, the social worker
was touched by the poignancy of the scene.
3321
P228
poise
good judgment with composure; balance; V:
place in a carefully balanced position
3322
P229
polar
of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes;
Ex. polar opposites
3323
3324
P230
P231
polarity
polarize
state of having two opposite qualities
split into opposite extremes or camps
3325
P232
polemic
attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or
refutation; argument in support of point of view;
N. polemics: art of debate or controversy
3326
P233
polemical(polemic
) aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious
(rather than simply expressing opinions)
3327
P234
politic
prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well
devised
Even though he was disappointed, he did not
think it politic to refuse the offer.
3328
P235
polity
(particular form of) political organization; form of
government of nation or state; Ex. student polity
3329
P236
polygamist
one who has more than one spouse at a time;
CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
Our polity should be devoted to the concept
that the government should strive for the
good of all citizens.
He was arrested as a polygamist when his
two wives filed complaints about him.
3330
P237
polyglot
speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex.
polyglot person/society; N.
3331
P238
pomposity
self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed
shirt(pompous person); ADJ. pompous: selfimportant
Even the adversaries of young Indiana Jones
were impressed by the boy's pluck in trying to
rescue the archeological treasure they had
stolen.
Before hanging wallpaper it is advisable to
drop a plumb line from the ceiling as a guide.
Stock prices plummeted as Wall Street
reacted to the rise in interest rates.
From the way the government caters to the
rich, you might think our society is a
plutocracy rather than a democracy.
The abortion issue has polarized the country
into pro-choice and anti-abortion camps.
Her essays were, for the main part, polemics
for the party's policy.
New York City is a polyglot community
because of the thousands of immigrants who
settle there.
Although the commencement speaker had
some good things to say, we had to laugh at
his pomposity and general air of parading his
131
own dignity.
3332
P239
ponderous
having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking
lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of
writing
His humor lacked the light touch; his jokes
were always ponderous.
3333
P240
pontifical
pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or
pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop
From the very beginning of his ministry it was
clear from his pontifical pronouncements that
John was destined for a high pontifical office.
3334
P241
pore
study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore
over the book; N.
Determined to become a physician, Beth
spends hours poring over her anatomy text.
3335
P242
porous
full of pores; like a sieve
Dancers like to wear porous clothing because
it allows the ready passage of water and air.
3336
3337
P243
P244
porridge
portend
soft food made by boiling oatmeal
foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N.
portent: sign; omen; forewarning
3338
P245
portly
stout; corpulent
3339
P246
pose
assume a particular posture; put forward;
present; affect a particular attitude (to impress
others); Ex. pose a threat; N.
3340
P247
poseur
person who pretends to be sophisticated,
elegant, etc., to impress others; person who
poses; CF. pose
Some thought Dali was a brillant painter;
others dismissed him as a poseur.
3341
P248
posterity
descendants; future generations; Ex. go down
to posterity; CF. posterior, anterior
We hope to leave a better world to posterity.
3342
P249
posthumous
after death (as of child born after father's death
or book published after author's death); coming
or occurring after one's death; Ex. posthumous
fame/novel
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.
3343
P250
postmortem
autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a
postmortem
3344
P251
postulate
self-evident truth; something assumed without
proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an
argument)
We must accept these statements as
postulates before pursuing our discussions
any further.
3345
P252
posture
assume an affected pose; act artificially; N:
pose; attitude
No matter how much Arnold boasted or
postured, I could not believe he was as
important as he pretended to be.
3346
P253
potable
suitable for drinking; drinkable
3347
P254
potent
powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly
influential
The recent drought in the Middle Atlantic
States has emphasized the need for
extensive research in ways of making sea
water potable.
The jury was swayed by the highly potent
testimony of the crime's sole eyewitness.
3348
P255
potentate
monarch; sovereign
The potentate spent more time at Monte
Carlo than he did at home on his throne.
3349
P256
potential
expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for
growth
The juvenile delinquent is a potential
murderer.
3350
P257
potion
dose (of liquids); liquid dose
Tristan and Lsolde drink a love potion in the
first act of the opera.
3351
P258
potpourri
heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of
dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant
smell to a room)
He offered a potpourri of folk songs from
many lands.
3352
P259
poultice
soothing application applied to sore and
inflamed portions of the body
He was advised to apply a flaxseed poultice
to the inflammation.
3353
P260
pr\'ecis
abstract; concise summing up of main points;
concise summary of a text
3354
P261
practicable
feasible
The king did not know what these omens
might portend and asked his soothsayers to
interpret them.
The salesclerk tactfully referred to the
overweight customer as portly rather than fat.
The board of directors decided that the plan
was practicable and agreed to undertake the
project.
132
3355
P262
practical
based on experience; of or acquired through
practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex.
practical man
He was a practical man, opposed to theory
3356
P263
pragmatic
practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned
with practical worth or impact of something; Ex.
pragmatic test of the skill
This coming trip to France should provide me
with a pragmatic test of the value of my
conversational French class.
3357
P264
pragmatist
practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way
of dealing with things
No pragmatist enjoys becoming involved in a
game that he can never win
3358
P265
prance
move about in a spirited manner (proudly and
confidently)
3359
3360
P266
P267
prank
prate
mischievous trick
talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
3361
P268
prattle
talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
3362
P269
preamble
introductory statement
3363
P270
precarious
unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex.
precarious living
I think this stock is a precarious investment
and advise against its purchase.
3364
P271
precedent
preceding (in time, rank, etc.)
Our discussions, precedent to this event,
certainly did not give you any reason to
believe that we would adopt your proposal.
3365
P272
precept
practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's
precept
Love thy neighbor as thyself is a worthwhile
precept.
3366
P273
precinct
division of a city for election or police purposes;
precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex.
precincts of the college
3367
P274
precipice
cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the
precipice
3368
P275
precipitant
something that causes a substance in a
chemical solution to separate out in solid form;
OP. solvent
3369
P276
precipitate
hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause
to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or
snow; cause (a solid substance) to be
separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash;
premature; sudden
The removal of American political support
appeared to have precipitated the downfall of
the Marcos regime.
3370
P277
precipitous
steep; overhasty; precipitate
This hill is difficult to climb because it is so
precipitous; one slip, and our descent will be
precipitous as well.
3371
P278
precise
exact
If you don't give me precise directions and a
map, I'll never find your place.
3372
P279
preclude
make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
3373
P280
precocious
advanced in development; N. precocity
This contract does not preclude my being
employed by others at the same time that I
am working for you.
By her rather adult manner of discussing
serious topics, the child demonstrated that
she was precocious.
3374
P281
precursor
forerunner; predecessor
3375
P282
predator
predatory animal or bird; predatory person;
creature that seizes and devours another
animal; person who robs or exploits others;
ADJ. predatory: living by preying on other
organisms; plundering; N. predation
3376
P283
predecessor
former occupant of a post
3377
P284
predetermine
determine in advance; predestine; settle or
decide beforehand; influence markedly
Let us not prate about our qualities; rather, let
our virtues speak for themselves.
The children prattle endlessly about their new
toys.
In the preamble to the Constitution, the
purpose of the document is set forth.
Suddenly Indiana Jones found himself
dangling from the edge of a precipice.
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.
I hope I can live up to the fine example set by
my late predecessor in this office.
133
3378
P285
predicament
difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation;
dilemma
3379
P286
predilection
preference; partiality
3380
P287
predispose
give an inclination toward (in advance); make
susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain
cancer; N. predisposition
3381
P288
preeminent
outstanding; superior
The king traveled to Boston because he
wanted the preeminent surgeon in the field to
perform the operation.
3382
P289
preempt
prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall
by acting first; appropriate for oneself before
others; supplant; take the place of; displace; Ex.
preempt any attempts; ADJ. preemptive
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.
3383
P290
preen
make oneself tidy in appearance; feel selfsatisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean
(feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on;
CF. prune
As Kitty preened before the mirror, carefully
smoothing her shining hair, she couldn't help
preening herself on her good looks.
3384
3385
3386
P291
P292
P293
prefatory
prefigure
prehensile
introductory; of a preface
be a sign of; foreshadow
capable of grasping or holding (esp. by
wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails
3387
P294
prelate
church dignitary; priest of high position in the
church (esp. bishop)
3388
P295
prelude
introduction; introductory performance or event;
forerunner
3389
P296
premeditate
plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
She had premeditated the murder for months,
reading about common poisons and buying
weed killer that contained arsenic.
3390
P297
premise
assumption; postulate; proposition upon which
an argument is based
Because Jack had based his argument upon
a faulty premise, his opponent cheerfully
pointed out the holes in his logic.
3391
P298
premonition
forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
3392
P299
premonitory
serving to warn
We ignored these premonitions of disaster
because they appeared to be based on
childish fears.
You should have visited a doctor as soon as
you felt these premonitory chest pains.
3393
P300
preponderance
superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V.
preponderate: be greater in power, weight, or
importance; ADJ. preponderant
3394
P301
prepossessing
attractive; CF. preoccupying ?
3395
P302
preposterous
absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
When the candidate tried to downplay his
youthful experiments with marijuana by
saying he hadn't inhaled, we all thought,
"What a preposterous excuse!"
3396
P303
prerogative
privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
3397
P304
presage
foretell; be a warning or sign of; N:
presentiment; foreboding; omen
The President cannot levy taxes; that is the
prerogative of the legislative branch of
government.
The vultures flying overhead presaged the
discovery of the corpse in the desert.
3398
P305
prescience
ability to foretell the future; knowledge of
actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient
3399
P306
presentiment
premonition; foreboding; feeling something will
happen; anticipatory fear
3400
P307
prestige
respect or admiration; impression produced by
achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing
admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
Although the artist used various media from
time to time, she had a predilection for
watercolors.
Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but
also their prehensile tails in traveling through
the trees.
The archbishop of Moscow and other highranking prelates visited the Russian Orthodox
seminary.
I am afraid that this border raid is the prelude
to more serious attacks.
The rebels sought to overcome the
preponderance of strength of the government
forces by engaging in guerrilla tactics.
Given the current wave of Japan-bashing, it
does not take prescience for me to foresee
problems in our future trade relations with
Japan.
Hamlet felt a presentiment about his meeting
with Laertes.
The wealthy man sought to obtain social
prestige by contributing to popular charities.
134
3401
P308
presume
take for granted; assume; act overconfidently;
take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair
advantage of (someone's kindness or
connection); N. presumption
3402
P309
presumptuous
going beyond what is right; excessively forward;
arrogant; taking liberties
3403
P310
pretend
feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make
pretensions to; Ex. I don't pretend to much
expertise; N. pretense
3404
P311
pretension
pretentiousness; claim (without foundation); Ex.
I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.
3405
P312
pretentious
ostentatious; showy; pompous; making
unjustified claims; overambitious; Ex.
pretentious films that claim to be art
I do not feel that your limited resources will
permit you to carry out such a pretentious
program.
3406
P313
preternatural
beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural;
Ex. preternatural strength/forces
John's mother's total ability to tell when he
was lying struck him as almost preternatural.
3407
P314
pretext
excuse
He looked for a good pretext to get out of
paying a visit to his aunt.
3408
P315
prevail
He tried to prevail on her to type his essays
for him.
3409
P316
prevalent
be widespread; triumph over; gain victory;
prevail on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has
prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do
something
widespread; generally accepted
3410
P317
prevaricate
lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
Some people believe that to prevaricate in a
good cause is justifiable and regard the
statement as a "white lie."
3411
P318
prey
target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey;
victimize; Ex. Cats prey on mice.
3412
P319
prim
proper to the point of affectation; very precise
and formal; exceedingly proper
In Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Euell
Gibbons has as his prey not wild beasts but
wild plants.
Many people commented on the contrast
between the prim attire of the young lady and
the inappropriate clothing worn by her escort.
3413
P320
primal
first in rank or importance; being first in time;
original; Ex. man's primal innocence
3414
P321
primary
first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in
time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first
3415
3416
P322
P323
primate
prime
3417
P324
primogeniture
group of mammals including humans
period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or
beginning stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex.
prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in
importance or rank; first; V: make ready;
prepare
seniority by birth; state of being the first-born
child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the
entire property of one or both parents)
3418
P325
primordial
existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial
ancestors.
3419
3420
P326
P327
primp
pristine
groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
unspoiled; remaining in a pure state;
characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an
old book in pristine condition
She primps for hours before a dance.
This area has been preserved in all its
pristine wildness.
3421
P328
privation
lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life;
hardship; want; CF. deprive
In his youth, he knew hunger and privation.
3422
P329
privy
secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in
something secret; Ex. privy chamber
government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF.
private
We do not care for privy chamber of
government.
3423
P330
prize
pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem;
Ex. his most prized possession; N: something
captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
A radical committed to social change, Reed
had no patience with the conservative views
prevalent in the America of his day.
By virtue of primogeniture, in some cultures
the first-born child has many privileges
denied his brothers and sisters.
135
3424
P331
probe
explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N:
slender instrument used to explore a wound or
body cavity; device designed to investigate an
unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex.
space probe
The surgeon probed the wound for foreign
matter before suturing it.
3425
P332
probity
uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
Everyone took his probity for granted; his
defalcations, therefore, shocked us all.
3426
P333
problematic
causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful;
unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena
will ever be completed is problematic.
Given the many areas of conflict still awaiting
resolution, the outcome of the peace talks
remains problematic.
3427
P334
proclivity
inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards
something bad)
The cross old lady has a proclivity to grumble.
3428
P335
procrastinate
postpone; delay or put off
3429
P336
procurement
obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a
prostitute) for another
It is wise not to procrastinate; otherwise, we
find ourselves bogged down in a mass of
work that should have been finished long
ago.
The personnel department handles the
procurement of new employees.
3430
P337
prod
poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad
to action; N: pointed object used to prod;
prodding
If you prod him hard enough, he'll eventually
clean his room.
3431
P338
prodigal
wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a
mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality
The prodigal son squandered his inheritance.
3432
P339
prodigious
enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex.
prodigious amount/memory
He marveled at her prodigious appetite when
he saw all the food she ate.
3433
P340
prodigy
highly gifted child; person with exceptional
talents; marvel; wonder
3434
P341
profane
violate; desecrate (something holy); treat
unworthily; be profane for; ADJ: secular;
nonreligious; irreverent for holy things
Menuhin was a prodigy, performing wonders
on his violin when he was barely eight years
old.
Tourists are urged not to profane the sanctity
of holy places by wearing improper garb.
3435
P342
profligate
wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral;
dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy
3436
P343
profound
deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound
thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity
Freud's remarkable insights into human
behavior caused his fellow scientists to honor
him as a profound thinker.
3437
P344
profusion
great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess;
lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices;
ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given
abundantly; extravagant
Seldom have I seen food and drink served in
such profusion as at the wedding feast.
3438
P345
progenitor
ancestor
The Roth family, whose progenitors
emigrated from Germany early in the
nineteenth century, settled in Peru, Illinois.
3439
P346
progeny
children; offspring; descendants
3440
P347
prognosis
forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF.
prognostic
3441
P348
prognosticate
predict (according to present indications)
He was proud of his progeny but regarded
George as the most promising of all his
children.
If the doctor's prognosis is correct, the patient
will be in a coma for at least twenty-four
hours.
I prognosticate disaster unless we change
our wasteful ways.
3442
P349
prohibitive
so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending
to prevent the purchase or use of something;
prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex.
prohibitive tax
The super computer's price was prohibitive.
3443
P350
projectile
missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or
bullet)
Man has always hurled projectiles at his
enemy whether in the form of stones or of
highly explosive shells.
3444
P351
proletarian
member of the working class; blue collar guy; N.
proletariat: working class (who have to work for
wages)
3445
P352
proliferate
grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N.
proliferation
The aristocrats feared mob rule and gave the
right to vote only to the wealthy, thus
depending the proletarians of a voice in
government.
Times of economic hardship inevitably
encourage countless get-rich-quick schemes
136
to proliferate
3446
P353
prolific
producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile;
fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant
works; Ex. prolific writer
3447
P354
prolixity
tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix:
wordy; verbose; diffuse
3448
3449
P355
P356
prologue
prolong
introduction (to a poem or play)
lengthen; extend; draw out
3450
P357
prominent
protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable;
eminent
3451
P358
promiscuous
3452
P359
promontory
mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not
choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice
of sexual partners; irregular, particularly
sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N.
promiscuity
headland
3453
P360
promote
3454
P361
prompt
3455
P362
promulgate
announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make
known by official publication
As soon as the Civil Service Commission
promulgates the names of the successful
candidates, we shall begin to hire members
of our staff.
3456
P363
prone
inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with
the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make
mistakes; Ex. accident-prone
She was prone to sudden fits of anger.
3457
3458
P364
P365
prong
pronounced
pointed projecting part
distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp
3459
3460
P366
P367
prop
propagate
support placed under or against something; V.
increase in number by producing young;
multiply; spread; Ex. Most plants propagate by
seed; Ex. newspaper propagating their ideas
3461
P368
propellant(propel
lent) substance which propels or drives forward
(such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)
3462
P369
propensity
natural inclination
3463
P370
prophetic
of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with
predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy;
N. prophet
3464
P371
prophylactic
used to prevent disease; N: something
prophylactic; condom; N. prophylaxis:
prevention of disease
3465
P372
propinquity
nearness (in space or relationship); proximity;
kinship
Their relationship could not be explained as
being based on mere propinquity: they were
more than relatives; they were true friends.
3466
P373
propitiate
appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ.
propitiatory
The natives offered sacrifices to propitiate the
gods.
advance in rank; advance; help to flourish;
advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or
popularize; Ex. Milk promotes health; Ex.
promote a match/bill; Ex. promote a new
product
cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an
actor); ADJ: done without delay; done at the
right time; punctual; on time; N: reminder or cue
She was a prolific writer who produced as
many as three books a year.
In their determination to discover ways to
prolong human life, doctors fail to take into
account that longer lives are not always
happier ones.
Have you ever noticed that Prince Charles's
prominent ears make him resemble the bigeared character in Mad comics?
In the opera La Boheme, we get a picture of
the promiscuous life led by the young artists
of Paris.
They erected a lighthouse on the promontory
to warn approaching ships of their nearness
to the shore.
Whatever prompted you to ask for such a big
piece of cake when you're on a diet?
Since bacteria propagate more quickly in
unsanitary environments, it is important to
keep hospital rooms clean.
Convinced of his own talent, Sol has an
unfortunate propensity to belittle the talents of
others.
In interpreting Pharaoh's prophetic dream,
Joseph said that the seven fat cows eaten by
the seven lean cows represented seven
years of plenty followed by seven years of
famine.
Despite all prophylactic measures introduced
by the authorities, the epidemic raged until
cool weather set in.
137
3467
P374
propitious
favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate;
Ex. propitious day/sign
I think it is advisable that we wait for a more
propitious occasion to announce our plans;
this is not a good time.
3468
P375
proponent
supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
After the bill had been amended and reamended in committee, even its original
proponents didn't want to vote in its favor.
3469
P376
propound
put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth;
Ex. propound a problem/theory
3470
P377
propriety
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct;
conformity to prevailing customs and usages;
CF. proprietor, proprietary
In you discussion, you have propounded
several questions; let us consider each one
separately.
I want you to behave at this dinner with
propriety; don't embarass me.
3471
P378
propulsive
driving forward; N. propulsion
The jet plane has a greater propulsive power
than the engine-driven plane.
3472
P379
prosaic
lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative;
matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not
imagination or feelings); factual; CF. prose
3473
P380
proscenium
part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a
stage
Though the ad writers had come up with a
highly creative campaign to publicize the
company's newest product, the head office
rejected it for a more prosaic, down-to-earth
approach.
In the theater-in-the-round there can be no
proscenium or proscenium arch.
3474
P381
proscribe
prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
3475
P382
proselytize
(induce someone to) convert to a religion or
belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or
religion
3476
P383
prosody
art of versification; study of the metrical
structure of verse
3477
P384
prosper
3478
P385
prosperity
become successful (esp. financially); thrive;
grow well; Ex. children prospering under his
care
good fortune and financial success; physical
well-being
3479
3480
P386
P387
prosperous
prostrate
successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off
stretch out full on ground; make prostrate;
enervate; Ex. prostrating illness; ADJ: lying face
down; having lost all strength
3481
P388
prot\'eg\'e
person receiving protection and support from a
patron
3482
P389
protagonist
leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief
character in a play or story
3483
P390
protean
able to take on many forms; versatile; CF.
Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
A remarkably protean actor, Alec Guinness
could take on any role.
3484
P391
protocol
diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette
observed by diplomats; first copy of a treaty
before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that
the queen meet him at the airport.
We must run this state dinner according to
protocol if we are to avoid offending any of
our guests.
3485
P392
prototype
original work used as a model by others
3486
P393
protract
prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
The crude typewriter on display in this
museum is the prototype of the elaborate
machines in use today.
Seeking to delay the union members' vote,
the management team tried to protract the
negotiations endlessly, but the union
representatives saw through their strategy.
3487
P394
protrude
stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth
3488
P395
protuberance
protrusion; swelling; bulge
Antony, Octavius and Lepidus proscribed all
those who had conspired against Julius
Caesar.
In these interfaith meetings, there must be no
attempt to proselytize; we must respect all
points of view.
This book on prosody contains a rhyming
dictionary as well as samples of the various
verse forms.
Promising to stay together "for richer, for
poorer," the newlyweds vowed to be true to
one another in prosperity and hardship alike.
He prostrated himself before the idol.
His fingers protruded from the holes in his
gloves.
A ganglionic cyst is a fluid-filled tumor
(generally benign) that develops near a joint
membrane or tendon sheath, and that bulges
beneath the skin, forming a protuberance.
138
3489
P396
provenance
place of origin; origin or source of something;
Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF.
come
dry food for livestock; fodder
I am not interested in its provenance; I am
more concerned with its usefulness than with
its source.
I am afraid of a severe winter because I have
stored a large quantity of provender for the
cattle.
3490
P397
provender
3491
P398
proverb
adage; someone or something well known for
notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely
known; ADV. proverbially
3492
P399
providence
3493
P400
provident
quality of being provident; divine care; god's
care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like
providence that the doctor happened to be
there; ADJ. providential: of divine providence;
fortunate
providing for future needs; displaying foresight;
thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP.
improvident
3494
P401
provincial
pertaining to a province; limited in outlook;
narrow; unsophisticated
3495
P402
provision
3496
P403
provisional
act of providing; something provided;
preparatory measure; provisions: necessary
supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in an
agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of
the agreement
tentative; temporary
3497
P404
proviso
stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision
3498
P405
provocative
arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex.
provocative in tight jeans; V. provoke: incite to
anger; cause (an unpleasant action or feeling);
N. provocation
3499
P406
prowess
extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex.
prowess in battle
3500
P407
proximity
nearness; ADJ. proximate
The deer sensed the hunter's proximity and
bounded away.
3501
P408
proxy
authorized agent; authority to act for another
Please act as my proxy and vote for this slate
of candidates in my absence.
3502
P409
prude
excessively modest or proper person (who is
easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a
sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish:
excessively concerned with propriety
The X-rated film was definitely not for prudes.
3503
P410
prudent
cautious; careful; prudential
A miser hoards money not because he is
prudent but because he is greedy.
3504
P411
prune
cut away; trim
With the help of her editor, she was able to
prune her manuscript into publishable form.
3505
P412
prurient
having or causing lustful desires and thoughts;
arousing immoderate sexual desire
3506
P413
pry
inquire impertinently (someone else's private
affairs); use leverage to raise or open
something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying
3507
P414
pseudonym
pen name; fictitious name assumed by an
author; ADJ. pseudonymous
3508
3509
P415
P416
psyche
psychiatrist
soul; mind
doctor who treats mental diseases
3510
P417
psychic
of psyche; mental; of or possessing
extraordinary mental powers
3511
P418
psychopathic
pertaining to mental dearrangement; N.
psychopath: person with an antisocial
personality disorder
In his usual provident manner, he had insured
himself against this type of loss.
As provincial governor, Sir Henry
administered the Queen's law in his remote
corner of Canada.
The appointment is provisional; only on the
approval of the board of directors will it be
made permanent.
I am ready to accept your proposal with the
two proviso that you meet your obligations
within the next two weeks.
Samuel Clemens' pseudonym was Mark
Twain.
A psychiatrist often needs long conferences
with his patient before a diagnosis can be
made.
The psychopathic patient suffers more
frequently from a disorder of the nervous
system than from a diseased brain.
139
3512
P419
psychosis
mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic
We must endeavor to find an outlet for the
patient's repressed desires if we hope to
combat this psychosis.
3513
P420
psychosomatic
of the influence of the mind on the body (esp.
with respect to disease)
3514
P421
pterodactyl
extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger
3515
3516
3517
P422
P423
P424
pucker
pudding
puerile
gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
hot sweet dish
childish; immature; CF. puer: boy
3518
P425
pugilist
boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing
3519
P426
pugnacity
combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ.
pugnacious: (of people) belligerent; combative
in nature
3520
P427
puissant
powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power
We must keep his friendship for he will make
a puissant ally.
3521
P428
pulchritude
beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous
I do not envy the judges who have to select
this year's Miss America from this collection
of female pulchritude.
3522
P429
pulmonary
pertaining to the lungs
In his researches on pulmonary diseases, he
discovered many facts about the lungs of
animals and human beings.
3523
3524
P430
P431
pulpit
pulsate
raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly
3525
P432
pulse
rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden
change in a normally constant quantity; V:
pulsate
3526
P433
pulverize
crush or grind into very small particles
3527
P434
pummel
pommel; beat or pound with fists
3528
P435
punctilious
minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine
points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N.
punctilio, punctiliousness: careful attention
payed to every small exact detail
We must be punctilious in our planning of this
affair, for any error may be regarded as a
personal affront.
3529
P436
pundit
authority on a subject; expert; learned person
Even though he discourses on the matter like
a pundit, he is actually rather ignorant about
this topic.
3530
P437
pungent
stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of
speech or writing) caustic; N. pungency
3531
P438
punitive
punishing; Ex. punitive measures
3532
3533
P439
P440
puny
purchase
tiny; weak; insignificant
secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
3534
P441
purgatory
place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or
place in which the souls must expiate their sins
In this purgatory, he could expect no help
from his comrades.
3535
P442
purge
remove or get rid of something or someone
unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt;
cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or
defilement); N.
If you are to be purged of the charge of
contempt of Congress, you must be willing to
answer the questions previously asked.
3536
P443
purport
intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess;
Ex. order which purports to be signed by the
general
If the purport of your speech was to arouse
the rabble, you succeeded admirably.
3537
P444
purported
alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex.
purported Satanists
3538
P445
purse
pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
The remains of pterodactyls indicate that
these flying reptiles had a wingspan of as
much as twenty feet.
His puerile pranks sometimes offended his
more mature friends.
The famous pugilist Cassius Clay changed
his name to Muhammed Ali.
We could see the blood vessels in his temple
pulsate as he became more angry.
Before sprinkling the dried herbs into the
stew, Michael first pulverized them into a fine
powder.
The severity with which he was pummeled
was indicated by the bruises he displayed on
his head and face.
He asked for punitive measures against the
offender.
Our puny efforts to stop the flood were futile.
The mountaineer struggled to get a proper
purchase on the slippery rock.
140
3539
P446
purveyor
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey:
supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide
As purveyor of rare wines and viands, he
traveled through France and Italy every year
in search of new products to sell.
3540
3541
P447
P448
pushy
pusillanimous
disagreeably aggressive
cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted
3542
P449
putative
supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such;
Ex. putative father of the child
3543
3544
3545
P450
P451
P452
putrefy
putrescent
putrid
make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
becoming putrid; putrefying
decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten;
decayed; N. putridity
3546
P453
puzzle
3547
P454
pyromaniac
baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder
over a problem in an effort to solve; clarify or
solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the answer;
N.
person with an insane desire to set things on
fire
3548
Q1
quack
charlatan; impostor
Do not be misled by the exorbitant claims of
this quack; he cannot cure you.
3549
3550
Q2
Q3
quadruped
quaff
four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped
drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty
enjoyment); CF. sip
Most mammals are quadrupeds.
As we quaffed our ale, we listened to the gay
songs of the students in the tavern.
3551
Q4
quagmire
bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament;
complex or dangerous situation from which it is
difficult to free oneself
Up to her knees in mud, Myra wondered how
on earth she was going to extricate herself
from this quagmire.
3552
Q5
quail
cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart
He was afraid that he would quail in the face
of danger.
3553
Q6
quaint
odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; oldfashioned; picturesque
Her quaint clothes and old-fashioned
language marked her as an eccentric.
3554
Q7
qualified
limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning
of; modify
Unable to give the candidate full support, the
mayor gave him only a qualified
endorsement.
3555
Q8
qualify
reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning
of something stated
3556
Q9
qualms
uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears
especially about matters of conscience; Ex. I
have no qualms about giving this assignment to
Helen.
His qualms of conscience had become so
great that he decided to abandon his plans.
3557
Q10
quandary
dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a
quandary about whether to go.
When the two colleges to which he had
applied accepted him, he was in a quandary
as to which one he should attend.
3558
Q11
quarantine
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent
spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine
3559
Q12
quarry
dig into (to get stone); N: mine;
3560
Q13
quash
crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex.
quash a rebellion/the decision of the low court
3561
Q14
quay
dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
We will have to place this house under
quarantine until we determine the nature of
the disease.
They quarried blocks of marble out of the
hillside.
The authorities acted quickly to quash the
student rebellion, sending in tanks to cow the
demonstrators.
Because of the captain's carelessness, the
ship crashed into the quay.
3562
Q15
queasy
experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily
nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy
3563
3564
Q16
Q17
queer
quell
strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal
suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly;
extinguish; quiet; Ex. ``Army Quells Rebellion''
in newspaper; CF. kill
3565
Q18
quench
assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or
extinguish; put out; suppress
You should be ashamed of your
pusillanimous conduct during this dispute.
Although there are some doubts, the putative
author of this work is Massinger.
The gangrenous condition of the wound was
indicated by the putrid smell when the
bandages were removed.
The detectives searched the area for the
pyromaniac who had set these costly fires.
As the ship left the harbor, he became
queasy and thought that he was going to
suffer from seasickness.
The police used fire hoses and teat gas to
quell the rioters.
141
3566
Q19
querulous
given to complaining; complaining; fretful;
whining
His classmates were repelled by his
querulous and complaining statements.
3567
3568
Q20
Q21
query
queue
inquiry; question; V.
line (of waiting people or vehicles)
3569
Q22
quibble
minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor
objections; carp; cavil
Do not quibble; I want a straightforward and
definite answer.
3570
3571
Q23
Q24
quicksilver
quiescent
mercury
dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N.
quiescence
After this geyser erupts, it will remain
quiescent for twenty-four hours.
3572
Q25
quietude
tranquillity; calmness
He was impressed by the air of quietude and
peace that pervaded the valley.
3573
Q26
quintessence
purest and highest embodiment; perfect
example; apotheosis; most essential element;
Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential;
CF. fifth essence
Noel Coward displayed the quintessence of
wit.
3574
Q27
quip
taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.
You are unpopular because you are too free
with your quips and sarcastic comments.
3575
Q28
quirk
sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist;
caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior;
Ex. by a quirk of fate
By a quirk of fate, he found himself working
for the man whom he had discharged years
before.
3576
Q29
quisling
traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling
3577
Q30
quiver
tremble; shake; N.
In his conquest of Europe, Hitler was aided
by the quislings who betrayed their own
people and served in the puppet
governments established by the Nazis.
Robin Hood reached back and plucked one
last arrow from his quiver.
3578
Q31
quixotic
idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
His head is in the clouds; he is constantly
presenting these quixotic schemes.
3579
Q32
quizzical
curious; suggesting puzzlement (without
saying); questioning; teasing; mocking;
bantering; Ex. quizzical glance
Will Rogers' quizzical remarks endeared him
to his audiences.
3580
Q33
quorum
minimal number of members necessary to
conduct a meeting
The senator asked for a roll call to determine
whether a quorum was present.
3581
Q34
quotidian
daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian
routine
To Philip, each new day of his internship was
filled with excitement; he could not dismiss
his rounds as merely quotidian routine.
3582
3583
R1
R2
rabble
rabid
mob; noisy crowd
of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely
zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
3584
R3
rabies
disease passed on by the bite of an infected
animal (causing madness and death)
3585
R4
raconteur
story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and
skill
3586
R5
raffle
lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle
off a new car
3587
R6
rag
scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn;
seeming unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged
debut/performance
3588
R7
ragamuffin
dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing
tattered clothes
3589
R8
rail
complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker
railing against injustices
He felt sorry for the ragamuffin who was
begging for food and gave him money to buy
a meal.
You may rail at him all you want; you will
never change him.
3590
R9
raiment
clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to
wear.
How can I go to the ball? asked Cinderella. "I
have no raiment fit to wear."
3591
3592
R10
R11
rake
rakish
immoral or dissolute person
jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute;
Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty
angle.
He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
They stood patiently in the queue outside the
movie theatre.
He was a rabid follower of the Dodgers and
watched them play whenever he could go to
the ball park.
My father was a gifted raconteur with an
unlimited supply of anecdotes.
142
3593
R12
rally
come or bring together; call up or summon
(forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate
(after illness or difficulty); N: act of rallying;
mass gathering
3594
R13
ram
male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a
heavy impact
3595
R14
ramble
wander aimlessly (physically or mentally);
digress
Listening to the teacher ramble, Judy
wondered whether he'd ever get to his point.
3596
R15
ramification
branching out; subdivision; one branch of a
system; one of the results following from an
action or decision; Ex. ramifications of a
business/the decision
We must examine all the ramifications of this
problem.
3597
R16
ramify
branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions
3598
R17
ramp
slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting
two levels)
3599
R18
rampant
growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in
profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant
lawlessness/weed
When the plant begins to ramify, it is
advisable to nip off most of the new
branches.
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.
The rampant weeds in the garden killed all
the flowers that had been planted in the
spring.
3600
R19
rampart
defensive mound of earth
From the ramparts we watched as the fighting
continued.
3601
R20
ramshackle
(of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed;
rickety; falling apart
The boys propped up the ramshackle
clubhouse with a couple of boards.
3602
R21
rancid
having the odor of stale or decomposing fat;
rank
A rancid odor filled the ship's galley and
nauseated the crew.
3603
R22
rancor
long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation
without rancor; ADJ. rancorous
Let us forget out rancor and cooperate in this
new endeavor.
3604
R23
random
without definite purpose, plan, or aim;
haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at
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.
3605
3606
R24
R25
rank
rankle
offensive in odor or flavor
irritate; fester; annoy
3607
R26
ransack
search thoroughly; pillage (going through a
place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
3608
R27
rant
speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly
showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent
speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.
As we heard him rant on the platform, we
could not understand his strange popularity
with many people.
3609
R28
rapacious
voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can;
excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on
live prey; Ex. rapacious birds
Hawks and other rapacious birds prey on
variety of small animals.
3610
R29
rapport
close relationship; emotional closeness;
harmony
In team teaching, it is important that all
teachers in the group have good rapport with
one another.
3611
R30
rapt
engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt
listener
3612
3613
R31
R32
rapture
rare
great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
(of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of
the mountains
3614
R33
rarefied
made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make
less dense; N. rarefaction
3615
R34
rasp
(of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a
harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; rub with
something rough; Ex. The cat's tongue rasped
my hand.
3616
R35
raspy
making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
The memory of having been jilted rankled him
for years.
The mountain climbers had difficulty
breathing in the rarefied atmosphere.
The sergeant's raspy voice grated on the
recruits' ears.
143
3617
R36
ratify
approve formally; confirm; verify
Before the treaty could go into effect, it had to
be ratified by the president.
3618
R37
ratiocination
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from
premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
While Watson was a man of average
intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift
for ratiocination made him a superb detective.
3619
3620
R38
R39
ration
rational
fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
(of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based
on reason; logical
3621
R40
rationale
fundamental reason or principle (on which a
system or principle is based); fundamental
reason or justification; grounds for an action
3622
R41
rationalize
make rational; devise false reasons for (one's
behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible
reason for an action in place of a true, less
admirable ones; N. rationalization
Do not try to rationalize your behavior by
blaming your companions.
3623
R42
raucous
(of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people)
disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts
His raucous laughter irritated me and grated
on my ears.
3624
R43
ravage
devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged
by storms
The marauding army ravaged the
countryside.
3625
R44
rave
overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly
as if mad; Ex. raving lunatic
Though critic John Simon seldom has a good
word to say about contemporary plays, his
review of All in the Timing was a total rave.
3626
R45
ravel
fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or
untwist
A sigle thread pulled loose, and the entire
scarf started to ravel.
3627
R46
ravenous
extremely hungry; voracious
The revenous dog upset several garbage
pails in its search for food.
3628
R47
ravine
narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully,
canyon
3629
R48
raze
destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the
ground
Steeper than a gully, less precipitous than a
canyon, a ravine is, like them, the product of
years of erosion.
The owners intend to raze the hotel and erect
an office building on the site.
3630
R49
reactionary
strongly opposed to social or political change;
opposing progress; politically ultraconservative;
N. OP. radical
His program was reactionary since it sought
to abolish many of the social reforms
instituted by the previous administration.
3631
R50
realm
kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the
realms of possibility
The realm of possibilities for the new
invention was endless.
3632
R51
reaper
one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper;
V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop
3633
R52
rebate
return of part of a payment; discount; V.
Death, the Grim Reaper, cuts down men and
women, just as a farmer cuts down the
ripened grain.
We offer a rebate of ten percent to those who
pay cash.
3634
R53
rebuff
reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed
his invitation; N.
She rebuffed his invitation so smoothly that
he did not realize he had been snubbed.
3635
3636
R54
R55
rebuke
rebus
scold harshly; criticize severely
representation of words in the form of pictures
or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters
stand for words; Ex. ``R U 18'' is a rebus for
``Are you 18''.
A coven of witches beside a tree is a possible
rebus for the town Coventry.
3637
R56
rebuttal
refutation; response with contrary evidence; V.
rebut: refute; disprove
The defense lawyer confidently listened to the
prosecutor sum up his case, sure that she
could answer his arguments in her rebuttal.
3638
R57
recalcitrant
disobedient or resisting authority even after
being punished; obstinately stubborn;
determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex.
recalcitrant child
Donkeys are reputed to be the most
recalcitrant of animals.
3639
R58
recant
disclaim or disavow; retract a previous
statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant
one's faith/a statement
Unless you recant your confession, you will
be punished severely.
3640
R59
recapitulate
summarize
Let us recapitulate what has been said thus
far before going ahead.
3641
R60
recast
reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.);
fashion again
144
3642
R61
receptive
quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions,
etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal
Adventure-loving Huck Finn proved a
receptive audience for Tom's tales of buried
treasure and piracy.
3643
R62
recess
3644
R63
recession
pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret
inner place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF.
recessive
withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic
activity
3645
R64
recidivism
habitual return to crime (even after being
punished); N. recidivist
3646
R65
recipient
receiver
3647
R66
reciprocal
mutual; given and received in return;
exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade
agreement
The two nations signed a reciprocal trade
agreement.
3648
R67
reciprocate
do or give something in return; repay in kind;
give or take mutually; interchange; move
If they attack us, we shall be compelled to
reciprocate and bomb their territory.
3649
R68
recital
act of reciting publicly; detailed account;
performance of music or dance (by a solo
performer)
3650
R69
recite
repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex.
recite his complaints; N. recitation
3651
3652
3653
3654
R70
R71
R72
R73
reckon
recline
recluse
reconcile
count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose
lie down
hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
make friendly again (after quarrel); make
consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct
inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one's political
principles with one's religious beliefs
The recluse lived in a hut in the forest.
Every time we try to reconcile our checkbook
with the bank statement, we quarrel.
However, despite these monthly lovers'
quarrels, we always manage to reconcile.
3655
R74
recondite
abstruse; not easily understood; profound;
secret
He read many recondite books in order to
obtain the material for the scholarly thesis.
3656
R75
reconnaissance
survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V.
reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of
(esp. to gather military information)
If you encounter any enemy soldiers during
your reconnaissance, capture them for
questioning.
3657
R76
recount
narrate or tell (a story); count over again
3658
R77
recourse
resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without
recourse to
About to recount the latest adventure of
Sherlock Holmes, Watson lost track of exactly
how many cases Holmes had solved and
refused to begin his tale until he'd recounted
them one by one.
The boy's only recourse was to appeal to his
father for aid.
3659
R78
recreant
disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly
person
3660
R79
recrimination
countercharges; V. recriminate
Loud and angry recriminations were her
answer to his accusations.
3661
3662
R80
R81
rectify
rectitude
set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral
virtue; correctness of judgment
I want to rectify my error before it is too late.
He was renowned for his rectitude and
integrity.
3663
R82
recumbent
reclining; lying down completely or in part
The command "AT EASE" does not permit
you to take a recumbent position.
3664
R83
recuperate
recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate
losses
3665
R84
recurrent
occurring again and again
The doctors were worried because the patient
did not recuperate as rapidly as they had
expected.
These recurrent attacks disturbed us and we
consulted a physician.
3666
R85
redolent
odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex.
redolent of onions/mystery
The slow recession of the flood waters
created problems for the crews working to
restore power to the area.
Prison reformers in the United States are
disturbed by the high rate of recidivism; the
number of persons serving second and third
terms indicates the failure of the prisons to
rehabilitate the inmates.
Although he had been the recipient of many
favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor.
Even though it is February, the air is redolent
of spring.
145
3667
R86
redoubtable
formidable; causing fear
During the Cold War period, neighboring
countries tried not to offend the Russians
because they could be redoubtable foes.
3668
R87
redress
remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the
damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or
rectify (a wrong); make amends for
Do you mean to tell me that I can get no
redress for my injuries?
3669
R88
reduce
diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult
condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into
components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the
ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N.
reduction
3670
R89
redundant
superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose;
excessively wordy; repetitious
Your composition is redundant; you can
easily reduce its length.
3671
R90
reek
emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an
unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking
chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench
The room reeked with stale tobacco smoke.
3672
R91
refectory
dining hall; room where meals are served (in a
school)
In this huge refectory, we can feed the entire
student body at one sitting.
3673
3674
R92
R93
referendum
refraction
direct vote by all the people
bending of a ray of light
3675
R94
refractory
unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex.
refractory horse
The refractory horse was eliminated from the
race when he refused to obey the jockey.
3676
R95
refrain
abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
Whenever he heard a song with a lively
chorus, Sol could never refrain from joining in
on the refrain.
3677
R96
refulgent
effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming;
Ex. refulgent moon
3678
R97
refurbish
renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make
new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex.
refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish
3679
R98
refuse
anything discarded or rejected as worthless;
trash
3680
R99
refute
disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
The defense called several respectable
witnesses who were able to refute the false
testimony of the prosecution's only witness.
3681
3682
R100
R101
regal
regale
royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
entertain
3683
R102
regatta
boat or yacht race
Prince Albert had a regal manner.
John regaled us with tales of his adventures
in Africa.
Many boating enthusiasts followed the
regatta in their own yachts.
3684
R103
regeneration
spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the
prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life;
reform spiritually
3685
R104
regent
a person who governs in place of a ruler who is
ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince
regent
3686
R105
regicide
murder of a king or queen
The beheading of Mary Queen of Scots was
an act of regicide.
3687
R106
regime
method of system or government
When a Frenchman mentions the Old
Regime, he refers to the government existing
before the revolution.
3688
R107
regimen
I doubt whether the results warrant our living
under such a strict regimen.
3689
R108
regiment
prescribed course of diet or exercise;
prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of
a dancer
military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex.
regimented society
3690
R109
rehabilitate
restore to proper condition (health or useful life);
restore the former rank of
We must rehabilitate those whom we send to
prison.
3691
R110
reimburse
repay; pay back
Let me know what you have spent and I will
reimburse you.
When you look at a stick inserted in water, it
looks bent because of the refraction of the
light by the water.
The flood left a deposit of mud on everything;
it was necessary to refurbish our belongings.
Modern penologists strive for the
regeneration of the prisoners.
146
3692
3693
R111
R112
reinstate
reiterate
restore to a previous condition or position
repeat
3694
R113
rejoinder
reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
When someone has been rude to me, I find it
particularly satisfying to come up with a quick
rejoinder.
3695
R114
rejuvenate
make young again
The charlatan claimed that his elixir would
rejuvenate the aged and weary.
3696
R115
relapse
return to a former state (esp. after
improvement); N.
The economy relapsed into a depression
from the peak.
3697
R116
relegate
put into a lower or worse place; banish to an
inferior position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate
the old furniture to the children's room; Ex.
relegated to the second division
If we relegate these experts to minor posts
because of their political persuasions, we
shall lose their valuable services.
3698
R117
relent
become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ.
relentless: unyielding; continuously severe
When her stern father would not relent and
allow her to marry Robert Browning,
Elizabeth Barrett eloped with her suitor.
3699
R118
relevant
having importance; pertinent; referring to the
case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
3700
R119
relic
surviving remnant (from an extinct culture);
memento; keepsake; relics: corpse; Ex. ancient
relics; Ex. relics of his travel; Ex. His relics are
buried at X.
Teri was impressed by how relevant Virginia
Woolf's remarks were to her as a woman
writer; it was as if Woolf had been writing with
Teri's situation in mind.
Egypt's Department of Antiquities prohibits
tourists from taking mummies and other
ancient relics out of the country.
3701
R120
religious
of religion; (of a person) pious; having
reverence for a deity
3702
R121
relinquish
give up something (with reluctance); yield;
release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the
land/his hold on my arm
I will relinquish my claims to this property if
you promise to retain my employees.
3703
3704
R122
R123
relish
remediable
enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
reparable
3705
R124
reminiscence
recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
I relish a good joke as much as anyone else.
Let us be grateful that the damage is
remediable.
Her reminiscences of her experiences are so
fascinating that she ought to write a book.
3706
R125
reminiscent
suggestive of something (in the past); of
reminiscence
3707
R126
remiss
negligent; careless about a duty
He was accused of being remiss in his duty
when the prisoner escaped.
3708
R127
remission
temporary moderation (of disease symptoms);
remitting of a debt or punishment; cancelation
of a debt; pardon; Ex. The disease went into
remission; Ex. Christians pray for the remission
of sins.
Though Senator Tsongas had been treated
for cancer, his symptoms were in remission,
and he was considered fit to handle the
strains of a Presidential race.
3709
R128
remit
transmit (money) in payment; free someone
from a debt or punishment
3710
3711
R129
R130
remittance
remnant
remitting of money; amount of money remitted
remainder
3712
R131
remonstrate
protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest
3713
3714
R132
R133
remorse
remunerative
deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach
(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable;
well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay
(someone) for work or trouble
The murderer felt no remorse for his crime.
I find my new work so renumerative that I
may not return to my previous employment.
3715
R134
rend
split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending:
causing deep sorrow
In his grief, he tried to rend his garments.
3716
R135
render
give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or
artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate;
Ex. render the song beautifully
He rendered aid to the needy and indigent.
3717
R136
rendezvous
meeting place; meeting at a set time or place;
V.
The two fleets met at the rendezvous at the
appointed time.
He reiterated the warning to make sure
everyone understood it.
I suggest that you wait until the store places
the remnants of these goods on sale.
147
3718
R137
rendition
rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a
song, etc
The audience cheered enthusiastically as she
completed her rendition of the aria.
3719
R138
renegade
deserter; traitor; ADJ.
3720
R139
renege
break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege
on the contract/paying off the debt
Because he had abandoned his post and
joined forces with the Indians, his fellow
officers considered the hero of Dances with
Wolves a renegade.
He reneged on paying off his debt.
3721
R140
renounce
abandon; give up (by formal announcement);
disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one's claim to
the property/one's religion; N. renunciation
3722
R141
renovate
restore to good condition; renew
3723
R142
renown
fame; ADJ. renowned
3724
R143
rent
tear made by rending; rip; split
3725
R144
reparable
capable of being repaired
3726
R145
reparation
compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex.
make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
3727
R146
repartee
quick clever reply
3728
3729
R147
R148
repast
repeal
meal; feast; banquet
revoke; annul
3730
R149
repel
drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the
attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room;
CF. repulsion
3731
R150
repellent
driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive;
unattractive; N.
3732
R151
repercussion
rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious
repercussion
3733
R152
repertoire
list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer
is prepared to present; CF. repertory
3734
R153
repine
fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the
undone work
3735
R154
replenish
fill up again
Before she could take another backpacking
trip, Carla had to replenish her stock of
freeze-dried foods.
3736
R155
replete
fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of
being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report
replete with errors
The book is replete with humorous situations.
3737
R156
replica
copy
Are you going to hang this replica of the
Declaration of Independence in the
classroom or in the auditorium?
3738
R157
replicate
reproduce; duplicate
To the chagrin of the scientists, they were
unable to replicate the results of their
controversial experiment.
3739
R158
repose
resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at
rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in
a single man
3740
R159
repository
storehouse
Libraries are repositories of the world's best
thoughts.
3741
R160
reprehensible
deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend:
blame
Your vicious conduct in this situation is
reprehensible.
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.
They claim that they can renovate worn
shoes so that they look like new ones.
For many years an unheralded researcher,
Barbara McClintock gained international
renown when she won the Nobel Prize in
Physiology and Medicine.
The conflict over abortion threatens to split
our nation, creating a rent in the social fabric
that will be difficult to mend.
Fortunately, the damages we suffered in the
accident were reparable and our car looks
brand new.
At the peace conference, the defeated
country promised to pay reparations to the
victors.
He was famous for his witty repartee and his
sarcasm.
What would the effect on our society be if we
decriminalized drug use by repealing the laws
against the possession and sale of narcotics?
Mosquitoes find the odor so repellent that
they leave any spot where this liquid has
been sprayed.
I am afraid that this event will have serious
repercussions.
The opera company decided to include
Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the
following season.
There is no sense repining over the work you
have left undone.
148
3742
R161
representational
(of a style of art) showing things as they actually
appear in real life
3743
R162
repress
hold back (the natural expression of); restrain;
crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress
a laugh/rebellion
Anne's parents tried to curb her impetuosity
without repressing her boundless high spirits.
3744
R163
reprieve
postponement or cancelation of a punishment;
temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the
punishment of
During the twenty-four-hour reprieve, the
lawyers sought to make the stay of execution
permanent.
3745
R164
reprimand
reprove severely; rebuke; N.
I am afraid that my parents will reprimand me
when I show them my report card.
3746
R165
reprisal
retaliation
I am confident that we are ready for any
reprisals the enemy may undertake.
3747
R166
reprise
musical repetition; repeating of a piece of
music; repeat performance; recurrent action;
Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises
At Waterloo, it was not the effect of any one
skirmish that exhausted Colonel Audly; rather
it was the cumulative effect of the constant
reprises that left him spent.
3748
R167
reproach
blame (not angrily but sadly); express
disapproval or disappointment; N. ADJ.
reproachful
I want my work to be above reproach and
without error
3749
R168
reprobate
morally disapproved person; person hardened
in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF.
disapproved by God ?
I cannot understand why he has so many
admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is.
3750
R169
reprobation
severe disapproval; CF. approbation
The students showed their reprobation of his
act by refusing to talk with him.
3751
R170
reprove
censure; rebuke; N. reproof
The principal reproved the students when
they became unruly in the auditorium.
3752
R171
repudiate
disown; disavow; deny
He announced that he would repudiate all
debts incurred by his wife.
3753
R172
repugnance
disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ.
repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
She looked at the snake with repugnance.
3754
R173
repulse
reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or
friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF.
repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion
3755
R174
repulsion
distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ.
repulsive: causing disgust; tending to drive
away; V. repel (not `repulse')
3756
R175
reputable
respectable; having a good reputation
3757
R176
reputed
supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V.
repute: consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem
He is the reputed father of the child.
3758
3759
R177
R178
requiem
requisite
mass for the dead; dirge
necessary requirement; something required;
ADJ: required; necessary
They played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral.
Many colleges state that a student must offer
three years of a language as a requisite for
admission.
3760
R179
requisition
formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for
more computing equipment; V.
3761
R180
requite
make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N.
requittal
The wretch requited his benefactors by
betraying them.
3762
R181
rescind
repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or
agreement)
Because of public resentment, the king had to
rescind his order.
3763
R182
resentment
indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent:
feel anger about
3764
R183
reserve
self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant
manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely
and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and
uncommunicative
3765
3766
R184
R185
residual
residue
remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue
remainder; balance
The repulsion of the enemy forces was not
accomplished bloodlessly; many of the
defenders were wounded in driving the
enemy back.
If you want to buy antiques, look for a
reputable dealer; far too many dealers today
pass off fakes as genuine antiques.
Although some girls were attracted by Mark's
reserve, Judy was put off by it, for she felt his
aloofness indicated a lack of openness.
In his will, he requested that after payment of
debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the
residue be given to his wife.
149
3767
R186
resign
give up (a position, right, or claim); submit
(oneself) passively
3768
R187
resignation
patiently submissiveness; statement that one is
quitting a job; ADJ. resigned: acquiescent
If Bob Cratchit had not accepted Scrooge's
bullying with timid resignation, he might have
gotten up the nerve to hand in his resignation.
3769
R188
resilient
elastic; having the power of springing back; able
to recover quickly (as from misfortune)
Highly resilient, steel makes excellent
bedsprings.
3770
R189
resolution
determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute: firm
or determined in purpose
Nothing could shake his resolution to
succeed despite all difficulties.
3771
R190
resolve
decide; settle; solve; separate; make a
determined decision; N. resolution
3772
R191
resonant
(of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding
loudly); deep and full in sound; producing
resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance
Homes resolved to travel to Bohemia to
resolve the dispute between Irene Adler and
the King.
The deep, resonant voice of the actor James
Earl Jones makes him particulary effective
when he appears on stage.
3773
3774
R192
R193
resort
resound
turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
(of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound)
sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall
resounded with laughter
3775
R194
resourceful
clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult
situations); N. resource, resourcefulness
3776
R195
respiration
breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory
The doctor found that the patient's years of
smoking had adversely affected both his lung
capacity and his rate of respiration.
3777
R196
respite
time for rest; interval of relief; delay in
punishment; reprieve
3778
R197
resplendent
brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling;
glorious
The judge granted the condemned man a
respite to enable his attorneys to file an
appeal.
The toreador wore a resplendent costume
called a suit of lights.
3779
R198
responsiveness
state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.;
ADJ. responsive: readily reacting; Ex.
responsive to treatment
The audience cheered and applauded,
delighting the performers by its
responsiveness.
3780
R199
restitution
returning something (lost or stolen) to the
rightful owner; reparation; indemnification;
compensation for loss, damage, or injury
He offered to make restitution for the window
broken by his son.
3781
R200
restive
impatiently restless (induced by external
coercion or restriction); restlessly impatient;
obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses
because of wolves; CF. not a general synonym
for `restless'
Waiting impatiently in the line to see Santa
Claus, even the best-behaved children grow
restive and start to fidget.
3782
R201
restraint
moderation or self-control; controlling force;
restriction
She dreamt of living an independent life, free
of all restraints.
3783
R202
resumption
taking up again; recommencement; V. resume:
begin or take up again; take or occupy again;
Ex. Kindly resume your seats.
During the summer break, Don had not
realized how much he missed university life:
at the resumption of classes, however, he felt
marked excitement and pleasure.
3784
R203
resurge
rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ.
resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing
revival; surging again
3785
3786
R204
R205
resurrect
resuscitate
revive
revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex.
resuscitate the drowned child
The lifeguard tried to resuscitate the drowned
child by applying artificial respiration.
3787
R206
retain
keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a
lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid
to retain an advisor
Fighting to retain his seat in Congress,
Senator Foghorn retained a new manager to
head his reelection campaign.
3788
R207
retaliate
repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V.
retaliate
Fear that we will retaliate immediately deters
our foe from attacking us.
3789
R208
retard
delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a
child) slower in development
3790
R209
retentive
holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the
mind); having a good memory
The pupil did not need to spend much time in
study as he had a retentive mind.
150
3791
R210
reticent
inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved;
Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N.
reticence
Hughes preferred reticent employees to
loquacious ones, noting that the formers'
dislike of idle chatter might ensure their
discretion about his affairs.
The queen's retinue followed her down the
aisle.
Given Susan't retiring personality, no one
expected her to take up public speaking;
surprisingly enough, she became a star of the
school debate team.
Even when it was advisable for her to keep
her mouth shut, she was always ready with a
retort.
3792
R211
retinue
following; attendants
3793
R212
retiring
shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her
retiring personality
3794
R213
retort
quick sharp reply; V.
3795
R214
retract
withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a
statement/an offer/claws; N. retraction; CF.
retractile
3796
R215
retrench
cut down; cut down expenses; economize
If they were to be able to send their children
to college, they would have to retrench.
3797
R216
retribution
deserved punishment for wrongdoing;
punishment for offenses; compensation;
vengeance; CF. pay back
The evangelist maintained that an angry deity
would exact retribution from the sinners.
3798
R217
retrieve
recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex.
retrieve the situation
The dog was intelligent and quickly learned to
retrieve the game killed by the hunter.
3799
R218
retroactive
taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or
imposition (as a tax); (of a law) having effect on
the past as well as the future
3800
R219
retrograde
go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate;
ADJ.
Because the new pension law was retroactive
to the first of the year, even though Martha
had retired in February she was eligible for
the pension.
Instead of advancing, our civilization seems
to have retrograded in ethics and culture.
3801
R220
retrospective
looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V.
retrospect
It is only when we become retrospective that
we can appreciate the tremendous advances
made during this century.
3802
R221
revelry
boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage
boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N:
boisterous festivity or celebration
New Year's Eve is a night of revelry.
3803
R222
reverberate
echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder
reverberated across the valley.
The entire valley reverberated with the sound
of the church bells.
3804
3805
R223
R224
reverend
reverent
deserving reverence; N: priest
respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with
reverence; N. reverence: profound respect
His reverent attitude was appropriate in a
house of worship.
3806
R225
reverie
daydream; abstracted musing
3807
R226
revert
relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the
former owner; N. reversion
3808
R227
revile
attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)
3809
R228
revoke
cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable
3810
R229
revulsion
sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent
change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex.
revulsion from the scenes of torture
3811
R230
rhapsodize
speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic
manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the
scenery
3812
R231
rhapsody
excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling;
musical composition of irregular form (as if
made up as one plays it)
He was awakened from his reverie by the
teacher's question.
He was avoided by all who feared that he
would revile and abuse them if they
displeased him.
Repeat offenders who continue to drive under
the influence of alcohol face having their
driver's licenses permanently revoked.
Many people in this country who admired
dictatorships underwent a revulsion when
they realized what Hitler and Mussolini were
trying to do.
She greatly enjoyed her Hawaiian vacation
and rhapsodized about it for weeks.
151
3813
R232
rhetoric
art of effective communication; art of using
language effectively and persuasively; style of
speaking or writing; grandiloquent language;
Ex. political rhetoric; ADJ. rhetorical; CF.
rhetorical question: question to which no
answer is expected as ``Who k
All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in
rhetoric.
3814
R233
ribald
marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane;
N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
He sang a ribald song that offended many of
the more prudish listeners.
3815
R234
rickety
(of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of
rickets; CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D
3816
R235
riddle
pierce with holes; permeate or spread
throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled the car
with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with
errors; N. large sieve (separating earth from
stone)
3817
R236
rider
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
3818
R237
rife
(of something bad) widespread; abundant;
current
3819
R238
rift
narrow opening in a large mass; break in a
friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds;
OP. reconcilation
3820
R239
rig
arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a
ship) with rigging; ADJ. rigging: ropes that hold
up a ship's sails
3821
3822
3823
R240
R241
R242
righteous
rightful
rigid
morally upright; just
legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed
in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid
rule
3824
R243
rigor
severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
3825
R244
rile
irritate; vex; muddy
3826
R245
rip
tear or be torn quickly and violently; Ex. The sail
ripped under the force of the wind; N.
3827
R246
rivet
metal pin used for fastening metal plates
together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross
3828
R247
riveting
holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing
The reviewer described Byatt's novel
Possession as a riveting tale: absorbed in the
story, he had finished it in a single evening.
3829
R248
rivulet
small stream; CF. rill < rivulet < river
3830
R249
robust
strong; vigorous
As the rains continued, the trickle of water
running down the hillside grew into a rivulet
that threatened to wash away a portion of the
slope.
The candidate for the football team had a
robust physique.
3831
R250
rococo
ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
3832
R251
roil
make liquids murky by stirring up sediment;
disturb
3833
R252
rolling
(of land) rising and falling in long gentle slopes;
happening continuously by stages; Ex. rolling
devolution of power to local governments
3834
3835
R253
R254
romp
rooster
play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N.
cock; adult male chicken
Senator Foghorn said he would support
Senator Filibuster's tax reform bill only if
Filibuster agreed to add an antipollution rider
to the bill.
In the face of the many rumors of scandal,
which are rife at the moment, it is best to
remain silent.
The plane was lost in the stormy sky until the
pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds.
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.
By living with a man to whom she was not
married, George Eliot broke Victorian
society's most rigid rule of respectable
behavior.
Many settlers could not stand the rigors of the
New England winters.
Red had a hair-trigger temper: he was an
easy man to rile.
The rococo style in furniture and architecture,
marked by scrollwork and excessive
decoration, flourished during the middle of the
eighteenth century.
Be careful when you pour not to roil the wine;
if you stir up the sediment you'll destroy the
flavor.
152
3836
R255
roseate
rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
I am afraid you will have to alter your roseate
views in the light of the distressing news that
has just arrived.
They print the roster of players in the
season's program.
3837
R256
roster
list (of names)
3838
R257
rostrum
raised platform for speech-making; pulpit
The crowd murmured angrily and indicated
that they did not care to listen to the speaker
who was approaching the rostrum.
3839
R258
rote
repetition; memorization through repetition
without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
He recited the passage by rote and gave no
indication he understood what he was saying.
3840
3841
R259
R260
rotund
rotunda
(of a person) fat and round
circular building or hall covered with a dome
3842
R261
rotundity
roundness; sonorousness of speech
3843
3844
R262
R263
rou\'e
rousing
lecherous man
lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse:
waken; arouse from sleep or depression; excite;
stir up
3845
R264
rout
put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete
defeat and disorderly retreat
3846
R265
rubble
fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)
3847
R266
rubric
title or heading (in red print); directions for
religious ceremony; protocol
3848
R267
ruddy
reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthylooking
3849
R268
rudimentary
elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment:
fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments
of the language
3850
R269
rue
regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day;
N. ADJ. rueful
3851
3852
R270
R271
ruffian
rumble
violent scoundrel; bully
make or move with a deep rolling sound (as
thunder or stomach)
3853
3854
R272
R273
ruminant
ruminate
animal that ruminates; ADJ.
chew over and over (mentally or, like cows,
physically); mull over(ponder)
3855
R274
rummage
ransack; thoroughly search
3856
R275
run-down
(of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a
person) weak or exhausted
3857
R276
runic
mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N.
rune: one of the letters of an alphabet used by
ancient Germanic peoples (cut on stone or
wood); magic charm
Tolkien's use of Old English words and
inscriptions in the runic alphabet give The
Lord of the Rings its atmosphere of antiquity.
3858
R277
ruse
trick to deceive; stratagem
You will not be able to fool your friends with
such an obvious ruse.
3859
R278
rustic
pertaining to country people; unsophisticated;
simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with
the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person
The backwoodsman looked out place in his
rustic attire.
3860
R279
rusticate
banish to the country; dwell in the country
I like city life so much that I can never
understand how people can rusticate in the
suburbs.
3861
R280
rustle
make slight sounds like silk moving or being
rubbed together
3862
R281
ruthless
pitiless; merciless; cruel
His body lay in state in the rotunda of the
Capitol.
Washington Irving emphasized the rotundity
of the governor by describing his height and
circumference.
And now, let's have a rousing welcome for
TV's own Roseanne Arnold, who'll lead us in
a rousing rendition of 'The Star-Spangled
Banner.'
The reinforcements were able to rout the
enemy
Ten years after World War II, some of the
rubble left by enemy bombings could still be
seen.
In ordaining the new priests, the bishop
carefully observed all the rubrics for the
ordination service.
His ruddy features indicated that he had
spent much time in the open.
His dancing was limited to a few rudimentary
steps.
The ruffians threw stones at the police.
We cannot afford to wait while you ruminate
upon these plans.
When we rummaged through the trunks in the
attic, we found many souvenirs of our
childhood days.
The escaped convict was a dangerous and
ruthless murderer.
153
3863
S1
saboteur
one who commits sabotage; destroyer of
property; N. sabotage: destruction of property
(usually carried out secretly)
Members of the Resistance acted as
saboteurs, blowing up train lines to prevent
supplies from reaching the Nazi army.
3864
S2
saccharine
cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or
saccharin
She tried to ingratiate herself, speaking
sweetly and smiling a saccharine smile.
3865
S3
sacrilegious
desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration,
misuse, or theft of something sacred
His stealing of the altar cloth was a very
sacrilegious act.
3866
S4
sacrosanct
invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable
The brash insurance salesman invaded the
sacrosanct privacy of the office of the
president of the company.
3867
S5
sadistic
inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty
If we are to improve conditions in this prison,
we must first get rid of the sadistic warden.
3868
S6
saga
Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic
narrative
This is a saga of the sea and the men who
risk their lives on it.
3869
S7
sagacious
wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N.
sagacity
He is much too sagacious to be fooled by a
trick like that.
3870
S8
sage
person celebrated for wisdom; wise person;
ADJ: wise
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.
3871
S9
salacious
lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk
Chaucer's monk is not pious but salacious, a
teller of lewd tales and ribald jests.
3872
S10
salient
prominent; projecting beyond a line;
conspicuous; Ex. salient features
One of the salient features of that newspaper
is its excellent editorial page.
3873
S11
saline
salty
The slightly saline taste of this mineral water
is pleasant.
3874
S12
sallow
(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking;
sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to
jaundice
We were disturbed by his sallow complexion,
which was due to jaundice.
3875
S13
salubrious
healthful; conducive to health or well-being;
socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF.
health
Many people with hay fever move to more
salubrious sections of the country during the
months of August and September.
3876
S14
salutary
tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex.
The punishment had a salutary effect on the
boy; CF. health
The punishment had a salutary effect on the
boy, as he became a model student.
3877
S15
salvage
rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving;
property saved
All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship
failed.
3878
S16
sanctimonious
displaying ostentatious or hypocritical
devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety
You do not have to be so sanctimonious to
prove that you are devout.
3879
S17
sanction
approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended
to enforce compliance
Nothing will convince me to sanction the
engagement of my daughter to such a
worthless young man.
3880
S18
sanctuary
3881
S19
sanguinary
place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex.
The outlaw was granted sanctuary in the
church.
bloody; with much bloodshed
3882
S20
sanguine
optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of
blood; red
Let us not be too sanguine about the
outcome; something could go wrong.
3883
S21
sap
diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of
(a fortification); Ex. The element kryptonite
sapped his strength.
The element kryptonite had an unhealthy
effect on Superman: it sapped his strength.
3884
S22
sarcasm
cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging
rebuke; ADJ. sarcastic
His feelings were hurt by the sarcasm of his
supposed friends.
3885
S23
sardonic
scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic;
cynical; Ex. sardonic smile
3886
S24
sartorial
pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of
great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
The sardonic humor of nightclub comedians
who satirize or ridicule patrons in the
audience strikes some people as amusing
and others as rude.
He was as famous for the sartorial splendor
of his attire as he was for his acting.
3887
S25
sate
satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
Its hunger sated, the lion dozed.
The battle of lwo Jina was unexpectedly
sanguinary with many casualties.
154
3888
S26
satellite
small body revolving around a larger one
During the first few years of the Space Age,
hundreds of satellites were launched by
Russia and the United States.
3889
S27
satiate
satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger);
sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated
3890
S28
satire
form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and
ridicule are employed to attack human vice and
folly
The guests, having eaten until they were
satiated, now listened inattentively to the
speakers.
Gulliver's Travels, which is regarded by many
as a tale for children, is actually a bitter satire
attacking human folly.
3891
S29
satirical
using satire; mocking
The humor of cartoonists Gary Trudeau often
is satirical; though the comments of the
Doonesbury characters, Trudeau ridicules
political corruption and folly.
3892
S30
saturate
soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill
to capacity
Their clothes were saturated by the rain.
3893
S31
saturnine
morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his
saturnine countenance.
3894
S32
satyr
half-human, half-bestial being in the court of
Dionysus (resembling a goat), portrayed as
wanton(unrestrained) and cunning; lecher; CF.
faun; CF. goat: lecherous man
Do not be misled by his saturnine
countenance; he is not as gloomy as he
looks.
He was like a satyr in his lustful conduct.
3895
S33
saunter
stroll(go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.
3896
S34
savant
scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know
3897
S35
savor
enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality;
N: taste or smell; distinctive quality
3898
S36
savory
pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or
agreeable; Ex. savory reputation
Julia Child's recipes enable amateur chefs to
create savory delicacies for their guests.
3899
S37
scabbard
case for a sword blade; sheath
3900
S38
scad
a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes
3901
S39
scaffold
temporary platform for workers (to work at
heights above the ground); bracing framework;
platform for execution
The drill master told the recruit to wipe the
blood from his sword before slipping it back
into the scabbard.
Refusing Dave's offer to lend him a shirt, Phil
replied, "No, thanks: I've got scads of
clothes."
Before painting the house, the workers put up
a scaffold to allow them to work on the
second story.
3902
S40
scale
climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales;
N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending
series of musical tones
To locate a book on the top shelf of the
stacks, Lee had to scale an exceptionally
rickety ladder.
3903
S41
scanty
meager; insufficient
Thinking his helping of food was scanty,
Oliver Twist asked for more.
3904
S42
scapegoat
someone who bears the blame for others;
whipping boy; CF. escape+goat
3905
S43
scavenge
hunt through discarded materials for usable
items or food; search, especially for food; N.
scavenger: one who scavenges; animal that
feeds on refuse and carrion
After the Challenger disaster, NASA
searched for scapegoats on whom they could
cast the blame.
If you need car parts that the dealers no
longer stock, try scavenging for odd bits and
pieces at the auto wreckers' yards.
3906
S44
scenario
plot outline; screenplay(script for a movie);
opera libretto; outline of possible future events
3907
S45
schematic
of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or
diagram; using a system of symbols; N.
schema: diagrammatic representation; outline
As we sauntered through the park, we
stopped frequently to admire the spring
flowers.
Our faculty includes many worldfamous
savants.
Relishing his triumph, Costner especially
savored the chagrin of the critics who had
predicted his failure.
Scaramouche startled the other actors in the
commedia troupe when he suddenly departed
from their customary scenario and began to
improvise.
In working out the solution to an analytical
logic question, you may find it helpful to
construct a simple schematic diagram
illustrating the relationships between the
items of information given in the question.
155
3908
S46
scheme
systematic plan; plot; clever dishonest plan;
orderly arrangement of elements; Ex. health
insurance scheme; Ex. a scheme to escape
taxes; Ex. a color scheme; Ex. a story with no
scheme; V: contrive a scheme
3909
S47
schism
division into factions (esp. within a religious
body); split
3910
S48
scholarly
full of learning; erudite; like a scholar; Ex.
scholarly journal
3911
S49
scintilla
trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex.
There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark
You have not produced a scintilla of evidence
to support your argument.
3912
S50
scintillate
sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex.
scintillating conversation
I enjoy her dinner parties because the food is
excellent and the conversation scintillates.
3913
S51
scion
detached plant shoot used in grafting;
descendant
3914
S52
scoff
He scoffed at dentists until he had his first
toothache.
3915
3916
S53
S54
scorch
score
laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their
threats
sear; N.
number of points; written form of a musical
composition; reason; group of 20; notch or
incision; Ex. full/vocal score; Ex. Don't worry on
that score; V: mark with lines or notches; Ex.
score the paper to make it easy to fold
3917
S55
scotch
stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex.
scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF. È°µ¿À» ÁÙÀÌ´Â
ÀǹÌ
Heather tried to scotch the rumor that she
had stolen her best friend's fiance.
3918
S56
scourge
lash; whip (formerly used for punishment);
source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict
They feared the plague and regarded it as a
deadly scourge.
3919
3920
S57
S58
scowl
scrap
frown angrily; N: angry frown
small bit or fragment; discarded waste material;
fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into
parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight;
quarrel
3921
3922
3923
3924
3925
S59
S60
S61
S62
S63
scrappy
scraps
screech
scrimmage
scruple
quarrelsome
leftover food
unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.
disorderly fight between two or more people
hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She
did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy
feeling arising from conscience; conscience
3926
S64
scrupulous
conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex.
scrupulous worker
3927
S65
scrutinize
examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny
3928
S66
scuffle
struggle confusedly; move off in a confused
hurry; N. CF. scuffling twins ?
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.
3929
S67
scurrilous
abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous
remark
Your scurrilous remarks are especially
offensive because they are untrue.
3930
S68
scurry
move hastily; hurry; move briskly
The White Rabbit had to scurry to get to his
appointment on time.
3931
S69
scurvy
contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by
deficiency of Vitamin C
Peter Pan sneered at Captain Hook and his
scurvy crew.
3932
S70
scuttle
sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap;
discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull
The sailors decided to scuttle their vessel
rather than surrender it to the enemy.
3933
S71
seamy
sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy
side of city life
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.
Let us not widen the schism by further
bickering.
Fearing that her husband had become
involved in an affair, she did not scruple to
read his diary.
I can recommend him for a position of
responsibility for I have found him a very
scrupulous young man.
Searching for flaws, the sergeant scrutinized
every detail of the private's uniform.
156
3934
S72
sear
burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch;
cause (a plant) to wither
Accidentally brushing against the hot grill, she
seared her hand badly.
3935
S73
season
enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.;
inure; harden; N. seasoning: something used in
seasoning
3936
S74
seasonable
occurring at the proper time or season;
opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the
dispute
3937
S75
seasonal
of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in
employment
3938
S76
seasoned
experienced
Though pleased with her new batch of
rookies, the basketball coach wished she had
a few more seasoned players on the team.
3939
S77
secession
withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from
membership
The secession of the Southern states
provided Lincoln with his first major problem
after his inauguration.
3940
S78
seclusion
isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from
others; isolate
One moment she loved crowds; the next, she
sought seclusion.
3941
S79
secrete
conceal; hide away or cache; produce and
release a substance into an organism; CF.
secretive
The pack rat secretes odds and ends in its
nest; the pancreas secretes insulin in the
islets of Langerhans.
3942
S80
sect
3943
S81
sectarian
separate religious body; faction; group of
people with common beliefs within a larger
group
of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member
of a sect; narrow-minded person
3944
S82
secular
worldly; not pertaining to church matters or
religion; temporal
The church leaders decided not interfere in
secular matters.
3945
S83
sedate
composed (with no excitement); grave; V:
administer a sedative to; CF. sedative
The parents were worried because they felt
their son was too quiet and sedate.
3946
S84
sedentary
requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving
from one place to another; settled; Ex.
sedentary job/population
Because he had a sedentary occupation, he
decided to visit a gymnasium weekly.
3947
S85
sedition
conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion;
resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ.
seditious
His words, though not treasonous in
themselves, were calculated to arouse
thoughts of sedition.
3948
S86
seduce
lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ.
seductive
3949
S87
sedulous
diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity
The young woman was so sedulous that she
received a commendation for her hard work.
3950
S88
seedy
run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many
seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel
I would rather stay in dormitory lodgings in a
decent youth hostel than have a room of my
own in a seedy downtown hotel.
3951
S89
seemly
(of behavior) proper; appropriate
3952
S90
seep
pass slowly through small openings; ooze;
trickle; N. seepage
3953
S91
seethe
be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move
about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was
seething with discontent.
Lady Bracknell did not think it was seemly for
Ernest to lack a proper family; no baby
abandoned on a doorstep could grow up to
marry her daughter.
During the rainstorm, water seeped through
the crack in the basement wall and damaged
the floor boards.
The nation was seething with discontent as
the nobleman continued their arrogant ways.
3954
S92
seine
seine net; net for catching fish
When the shad run during the spring, you
may see fishermen with seines along the
banks of our coastal rivers.
3955
S93
seismic
pertaining to earthquakes
The Richter scale is a measurement of
seismic disturbances.
3956
S94
selective
careful in choosing; having an effect only on
certain things; not general; Ex. eclectic weed
killer
As university chaplain, she sought to address
universal religious issues and not limit herself
to mere sectarian concerns.
157
3957
S95
self-indulgence
excessive indulgence of one's own desire
3958
S96
self-righteous
sure of one's own righteousness; moralistic
3959
S97
semblance
outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in
the troops to bring a/some semblance of order
to the city.
3960
S98
seminal
related to seed or semen; germinal; creative;
providing a basis for further development;
influencing future developments; Ex. seminal
research in a new field
3961
S99
seminary
school for training future ministers; secondary
school, especially for young women
Sure of his priestly vocation, Terrence
planned to pursue his theological training at
the local Roman Catholic seminary.
3962
S100
senility
old age; feeblemindedness of old age; ADJ.
senile: resulting from old age; showing the
weakness of body or mind from old age; Ex.
senile dementia
Most of the decisions are being made by the
junior members of the company because of
the senility of the president.
3963
S101
sensitization
process of being made sensitive or acutely
responsive to an external agent or substance;
V. sensitize: make or become sensitive
3964
S102
sensual
devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal;
voluptuous; Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips
3965
S103
sensuous
giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the
physical senses; operating through the senses;
sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin
3966
S104
sententious
pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic
3967
S105
sentient
capable of sensation and conscious; aware;
sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience
3968
S106
sentimental
swayed by sentiment; appealing to the
sentiments
3969
S107
sentinel
sentry; lookout
Though camped in enemy territory, Bledsoe
ignored the elementary precaution of posting
sentinels around the encampment.
3970
S108
septic
of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing
putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the
body (producing pus)
The hospital was in such a filthy state that we
were afraid that many of the patients would
suffer from septic poisoning.
3971
S109
sepulcher
tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral
3972
S110
sequester
isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public
life
3973
S111
sere
sear; parched; dry
Annabel Lee was buried in a sepulcher by the
sea.
Although he had hoped for a long time to
sequester himself in a small community, he
never was able to drop his busy round of
activities in the city.
After the unseasonably dry winter the
Berkeley hills looked dusty and sere.
3974
S112
serendipity
gift for finding valuable things by accident;
accidental good fortune or luck; CF. The Three
Princes of Serendip
3975
S113
serenity
calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene
3976
S114
serpentine
The car swerved at every curve in the
serpentine road.
3977
S115
serrated
winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex.
serpentine course of the river; N. serpent:
snake
having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
3978
S116
servile
slavish; cringing; N. servility
Constantly fawning on his employer, humble
Uriah Heap was a servile creature.
3979
S117
servitude
slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a
punishment
Born a slave, Douglass resented his wife of
servitude and plotted to escape to the North.
Although this book has a semblance of
wisdom and scholarship, a careful
examination will reveal many errors and
omissions.
Although Freud has generally been regarded
as a seminal thinker who shaped the course
of psychology, his psychoanalytic methods
have come under attack recently.
I cannot understand what caused him to drop
his sensual way of life and become so
ascetic.
He was stimulated by the sights, sounds and
smells about him; he was enjoying his
sensuous experience.
After reading so many redundant speeches, I
find his sententious style particulary pleasing.
Many scientific discoveries are a matter of
serendipity: Newton was not sitting there
thinking about gravity when the apple
dropped on his head.
The serenity of the sleepy town was
shattered by a tremendous explosion.
The beech tree is one of many plants that
have serrated leaves.
158
3980
S118
sever
separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up
(a relationship); N. severance; CF. severance
pay: extra pay given an employee upon leaving
a position
3981
S119
severity
3982
S120
sextant
harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ.
severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or
intense
navigation tool used to determine a ship's
latitude and longitude (by measuring the
altitudes of stars)
3983
3984
S121
S122
shack
shackle
crude cabin
chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.
3985
S123
shade
slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of
color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey
3986
S124
sham
pretend; feign; ADJ: not genuine; fake; Ex.
sham jewelry; N: something that is not what it
appears; impostor; pretense; Ex. The
agreement was a sham.
He shammed sickness to get out of going to
school.
3987
S125
shambles
(place or scene of) complete disorder or ruin;
wreck; mess; Ex. After the hurricane, the coast
was a shambles.
By the time the police arrived, the room was a
shambles.
3988
S126
Shangri-la
imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost
Horizon
3989
S127
shard
fragment generally of broken pottery (glass,
clay bowl, or cup)
3990
S128
shaving
very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a
surface with a sharp blade)
3991
S129
sheaf
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things
tied together
3992
S130
shear
remove (fleece or hair) by cutting; remove the
hair or fleece from; cut with or as if with shears;
N: shears; pair of scissors
3993
S131
sheathe
place into a case; insert into or provide with a
sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath:
case for a blade
3994
S132
shed
small roofed structure for storage and shelter;
V: pour forth; lose by natural process; repel
without allowing penetration; radiate; cast; Ex.
shed tears/light/water/skin/leaves
3995
3996
S133
S134
sheer
sherbet
pure; thin and transparent; very steep
flavored dessert ice
3997
S135
shift
change position or place; exchange (one thing)
for another; change in direction or position; Ex.
shift the stolen goods; N. group of workers
which takes turns with other groups; working
period of such a group
3998
S136
shimmer
shine with a flickering light; glimmer
intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on
the water; N.
The moonlight shimmered on the water as
the moon broke through the clouds for a
moment.
3999
S137
shirk
avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger
Brian has a strong sense of duty; he would
never shirk any responsibility.
4000
S138
shoddy
made of inferior material; sham; not genuine;
inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick
You will never get the public to buy such
shoddy material.
4001
4002
S139
S140
shoot
shove
new growth from a plant
push forward; push roughly; Ex. pushing and
shoving to get on the bus; N.
4003
S141
shrew
scolding woman; very small mouselike animal
The newspapers disapproved of the severity
of the sentence.
Given a clear night, with the aid of his sextant
and compass, he could keep the ship safely
on course.
The criminal's ankles were shackled to
prevent his escape.
The archaeologist assigned several students
the task of reassembling earthenware vessels
from the shards he had brought back from the
expedition.
The lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as he
rose to question the witness.
As soon as he recognized the approaching
men, he sheathed his dagger and hailed
them as friends.
I prefer raspberry sherbet to ice cream since
it is less fattening.
No one wanted to marry Shakespeare's Kate
because she was a shrew.
159
4004
S142
shrewd
clever; astute
A shrewd investor, he took clever advantage
of the fluctuations of the stock market.
4005
S143
shrivel
make or become shrunken and wrinkled (often
by drying)
4006
4007
S144
S145
shudder
shuffle
shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
mix together; jumble; move (something) from
one place to another; slide (the feet) along the
ground while walking; Ex. shuffle papers from
one pile to another; N.
4008
S146
shun
keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She
has been shunned by her neighbors.
Cherishing his solitude, the recluse shunned
the company of other human beings.
4009
S147
shunt
move (a railway train) from one track to another;
turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic
around an accident; N.
If the switchman failed to shunt the Silver
Streak onto a side track, the train would plow
right into Union Station.
4010
S148
shyster
lawyer using questionable methods;
unscrupulous practioner
On L.A. Law, respectable attorney Brackman
was horrified to learn that his newly
discovered half brother was a cheap shyster.
4011
S149
sibling
brother or sister
4012
S150
sibylline
prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in
the ancient world)
4013
S151
sidereal
relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
We may not enjoy being siblings, but we
cannot forget that we still belong to the same
family.
Until their destruction by fire in 83 B.C., the
sibylline books were often consulted by the
Romans.
Although hampered by optical and
mechanical flaws, the orbiting Hubble space
telescope has relayed extraordinary images
of distant sidereal bodies.
4014
S152
sidetrack
switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from a
main issue; N. CF. siding: short section of
railroad track connected by switches with a
main track
4015
S153
sift
put through a sieve to separate fine from coarse
particles; sort or examine carefully
4016
S154
significant
expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant
smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V.
signify: denote; mean; signal; make known;
matter; be significant
4017
S155
silt
sediment deposited by running water (at the
entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
The harbor channel must be dredged
annually to remove the silt.
4018
S156
simian
monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
Lemurs are nocturnal mammals and have
many simian characteristics, although they
are less intelligent than monkeys.
4019
S157
simile
comparison of one thing with another, using the
word like or as
My love is like a red, red rose is a simile.
4020
S158
simper
smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
Complimented on her appearance, Stella
self-consciously simpered.
4021
S159
simplistic
oversimplified
Though Jack's solution dealt adequately with
one aspect of the problem, it was simplistic in
failing to consider various complicating
factors that might arise.
4022
S160
simulate
feign; imitate
He simulated insanity in order to avoid
punishment for his crime.
4023
S161
sinecure
well-paid position with little responsibility; CF.
sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
My job is no sinecure; I work long hours and
have much responsibility.
4024
S162
sinewy
(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N.
sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle
to a bone
The steak was too sinewy to chew
4025
S163
singular
being only one; individual; unique;
extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
4026
S164
sinister
evil; ominous
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.
We must defeat the sinister forces that seek
our downfall.
160
4027
S165
sinuous
twisting; winding; bending in and out; not
morally honest
The snake moved in a sinuous manner.
4028
S166
siren
apparatus for making sounds; womanlike
creature
4029
S167
skeptic
sceptic; doubter; person who suspends
judgment until he has examined the evidence
supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N.
skepticism; scepticism
In this matter, I am a skeptic; I want proof.
4030
S168
skiff
small light sailboat or rowboat
Tom dreamed of owning an ocean-going
yacht but had to settle for a skiff he could sail
in the bay.
4031
S169
skim
read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in
passing; brush; remove from the surface of a
liquid
4032
S170
skimp
provide or use scantily; live very economically;
Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy:
inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly
They were forced to skimp on necessities in
order to make their limited supplies last the
winter.
4033
4034
S171
S172
skinflint
skirmish
miser; stingy person
minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
The old skinflint refused to give her a raise.
Custer's troops expected they might run into
a skirmish or two on maneuvers; they did not
expect to face a major battle.
4035
S173
skittish
inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious;
Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
She is as skittish as a kitten playing with a
piece of string.
4036
S174
skulduggery(skull
duggery) dishonest behavior or action; Ex.
skulduggery in the election
4037
S175
skulk
move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked
through the less fashionable sections of the city.
4038
S176
slack
moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope)
loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex.
slack in one's work; N. V.
4039
S177
slacken
slow up; loosen; make or become slack
As they passed the finish line, the runners
slackened their pace.
4040
S178
slag
glassy residue from smelting metal; dross;
waste matter
The blast furnace had a special opening at
the bottom to allow the workers to remove the
worthless slag.
4041
S179
slake
satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
When we reached the oasis, we were able to
slake our thirst.
4042
S180
slander
defamation; utterance of false and malicious
statements; V. ADJ. slanderous
Unless you can prove your allegations, your
remarks constitute slander.
4043
S181
slap
hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF.
smack
4044
S182
slapdash
hasty and careless; haphazard;
sloppy(carelessly done)
4045
S183
slaughter
killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher
(animals) for food; kill in large numbers
4046
S184
slavish
of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality;
copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy
of the original
4047
S185
sleazy
shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex.
sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
4048
4049
4050
S186
S187
S188
sledge
sleek
sleeper
large sled drawn by work animals
smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
one that achieves unexpected success;
something originally of little value or importance
that in time becomes very valuable
Unnoticed by the critics at its publication, the
eventual Pulitzer Prize winner was a classic
sleeper.
4051
4052
S189
S190
sleigh
sleight
large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain;
quickness of the hands in doing tricks
The magician amazed the audience with his
sleight of hand.
4053
S191
slew
large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands
left
He skulked through the less fashionable
sections of the city in order to avoid meeting
any of his former friends.
From the number of typos and misspellings
I've found on it, it's clear that Mario proofread
the report in a remarkably slapdash fashion.
This is a sleazy fabric; it will not wear well.
161
4054
S192
slick
make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex.
oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed;
adroit; glib
4055
S193
slight
insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of
small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in
size; of small importance
4056
S194
slink
move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive;
sneaky (as in ambush)
4057
S195
slipshod
slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex.
slipshod work
4058
S196
slither
slip or slide
4059
S197
sloth
slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness;
ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
4060
S198
slough
(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin);
N: outer layer that is shed
Each spring, the snake sloughs off its skin.
4061
S199
slovenly
untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N.
sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless
Such slovenly work habits will never produce
good products.
4062
S200
sluggard
lazy person
You are a sluggard, a drone, a parasite, the
angry father shouted at his lazy son.
4063
S201
sluggish
lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with
no shell
After two nights without sleep, she felt
sluggish and incapable of exertion.
4064
S202
sluice
artificial channel for directing or controlling the
flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
In times of drought, this sluice enables
farmers to obtain water for irrigation.
4065
S203
slur
pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly;
mumble
Polls revealed that the front-runner's standing
had been damaged by the slurs and
innuendoes circulated by his opponent's staff.
4066
S204
sly
clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's
intentions
4067
S205
smart
intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex.
smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp
pain; N: smarting pain
4068
S206
smattering
slight knowledge; small scattered number or
amount; Ex. smattering of German
4069
S207
smear
spread or cover with a sticky substance; N:
mark made by smearing
4070
S208
smelt
melt (ore) for separating and removing the
metal; melt or blend ores changing their
chemical composition
4071
S209
smirk
conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile
(often at someone else's misfortune); V.
Wipe that smirk off your face!
4072
S210
smolder
smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to
break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed
state; Ex. smoldering anger
The rags smoldered for hours before they
burst into flame.
4073
S211
smother
kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex.
smothered in little stickers
4074
S212
smudge
dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing;
V.
4075
4076
S213
S214
smug
sneak
self-satisfied; complacent
move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N:
one who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky
4077
S215
snicker
half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
4078
S216
snip
4079
S217
snivel
short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with
scissors
complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose;
snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.
4080
S218
snub
ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a
suggestion but she snubbed me; N.
Hypersensitive and ready to take offense at
any discourtesy, Bertha was always on the
lookout for real or imaginary slights.
During the recent ice storm, many people
slithered down this hill as they walked to the
station.
Note how well the somewhat greenish coat of
the sloth enables it to blend in with its
arboreal surroundings.
I don't know whether it is better to be ignorant
of a subject or to have a mere smattering of
information about it.
The boy could not suppress a snicker when
the teacher sat on the tack.
Don't you come sniveling to me complaining
about your big brother.
162
4081
S219
snuffle
sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid
from running out of the nose)
4082
S220
soar
rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared
into the sky.
4083
S221
sober
serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or
temperate; V: make or become sober
4084
S222
sobriety
moderation (especially regarding indulgence in
alcohol); seriousness
Neither drunkards nor comics are noted for
sobriety.
4085
S223
sodden
thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
4086
S224
sojourn
temporary stay; V: stay for a time
4087
S225
solace
comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V:
comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble
He set his sodden overcoat near the radiator
to dry.
After his sojourn in Florida, he began to long
for the colder climate of his native New
England home.
I hope you will find solace in the thought that
all of us share your loss.
4088
S226
solder
repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N:
metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the
molten state to join metallic parts
The plumber fixed the leak in the pipes by
soldering a couple of joints from which water
had been oozing.
4089
S227
solecism
nonstandard grammatical construction;
construction that is flagrantly incorrect
grammatically; violation of social etiquette
I must give this paper a failing mark because
it contains many solecisms.
4090
S228
solemnity
seriousness; gravity
4091
S229
solicit
entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex.
solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief
law officer
The minister was concerned that nothing
should disturb the solemnity of the marriage
service.
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.
4092
4093
S230
S231
solicitor
solicitous
lawyer in the lower court of law
anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex.
solicitous to do something; N. solicitude
4094
S232
soliloquy
talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF.
monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one
person (often monopolizing a conversation)
4095
S233
solitude
state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary:
existing or living alone (esp. by choice); remote
or secluded; single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn;
Ex. no solitary piece of proof
4096
S234
solstice
point or time at which the sun is farthest from
the equator
4097
S235
soluble
able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be
worked out or solved
4098
S236
solvent
substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable
of dissolving another substance
4099
S237
somatic
pertaining to the body; bodily; physical
4100
S238
somber
dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF.
shadow
4101
S239
somnambulist
sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N.
somnambulism
4102
S240
somnolent
half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
4103
S241
sonic
of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic,
supersonic
4104
S242
sonnet
14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme
pattern
4105
S243
sonorous
resonant; producing a full deep sound;
producing sound
4106
S244
soothsayer
one who foretells the future
The employer was very solicitous about the
health of her employees as replacements
were difficult to get.
The soliloquy is a device used by the
dramatist to reveal a character's innermost
thoughts and emotions.
The winter solstice usually occurs on
December 21.
By dint of very frugal living, he was finally
able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy
proceedings.
Why do you ignore the spiritual aspects and
emphasize only the corporeal and the
somatic ones?
From the doctor's grim expression, I could tell
he had somber news.
The most famous somnambulist in literature
is Lady Macbeth; her monologue in the
sleepwalking scene is one of the highlights of
Shakespeare's play.
The heavy meal and the overheated room
made us all somnolent and indifferent to the
speaker.
His sonorous voice resounded through the
hall.
163
4107
S245
sophist
teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of
fallacious reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but
fallacious argument
You are using all the devices of a sophist in
trying to prove your case; your argument is
specious.
4108
S246
sophisticated
worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N.
sophistication; V. sophisticate
4109
S247
sophistry
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning;
sophism
4110
S248
sophomoric
immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
4111
S249
soporific
sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
I do not need a sedative when I listen to one
of his soporific speeches.
4112
S250
sordid
filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
The social worker was angered by the sordid
housing provided for the homeless.
4113
S251
sound
in good condition; showing good judgment or
good sense; thorough; complete; Ex. sound
mind/investment/training
4114
S252
sour
having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; badtempered; V.
4115
S253
sovereign
ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country)
independent and self-governing; having
supreme power; supreme; excellent
4116
S254
sovereignty
complete independence and self-government
(of a country); supremacy of authority; power to
govern
4117
4118
S255
S256
sow
spangle
plant or scatter seed
small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for
ornamentation
4119
S257
spare
give; use; refrain from harming; save from
experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes;
Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The
emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in
reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex.
spare time
4120
4121
S258
S259
sparse
Spartan
not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and
comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living
condition/life
4122
S260
spasmodic
fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm:
sudden involuntary muscular contraction;
sudden burst of energy or emotion
The spasmodic coughing in the auditorium
annoyed the performers.
4123
S261
spat
squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
What had started out as a mere spat
escalated into a full-blown argument.
4124
S262
spate
sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
I am worried about the possibility of a spate if
the rains do not diminish soon.
4125
S263
spatial
relating to space
It is difficult to visualize the spatial extent of
our universe.
4126
S264
spatula
broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or
mixing
The manufacturers of this frying pan
recommended the use of a rubber spatula to
avoid scratching the specially treated surface.
4127
S265
spawn
lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring
(in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals
4128
S266
specious
seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading
(often intentionally)
Fish ladders had to be built in the dams to
assist the salmon returning to spawn in their
native streams.
Let us not be misled by such specious
arguments.
4129
S267
speck
4130
S268
spectral
small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the
eye
ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
Instead of advancing valid arguments, he
tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood
of sophistries.
Your sophomoric remarks are a sign of your
youth and indicate that you have not given
much thought to the problem.
The thousands of spangles on her dress
sparkled in the glare of the stage lights.
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.
We were frightened by the spectral glow that
filled the room.
164
4131
S269
spectrum
colored band produced when a beam of light
passes through a prism; broad and continuous
range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts
The visible portion of the spectrum includes
red at one end and violet at the other.
4132
S270
speechless
unable for the moment to speak (because of
strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
4133
S271
spendthrift
someone who wastes money; CF. thrift:
accumulated wealth
4134
4135
S272
S273
sphinx-like
spin
enigmatic; mysterious
rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton,
wool, etc.); N.
4136
S274
splice
join together end to end to make one
continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex.
splice two strips of tape; N.
4137
4138
S275
S276
spoilsport
spontaneity
one who spoils the pleasure of others
lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom
from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: selfgenerated; unpremeditated; happening without
being planned
4139
4140
S277
S278
spoof
spoonerism
parody
accidental transposition of sounds in successive
words; Ex. ``Let me sew you to your sheet'' for
``Let me show you to your seat''; CF. William
Spooner
4141
S279
sporadic
occurring irregularly; intermittent
Although there are still sporadic outbursts of
shooting in the streets, the rebellion is
essentially over.
4142
S280
sportive
playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or
frolic; CF. sportsmanlike
Such a sportive attitude is surprising in a
person as serious as you usually are.
4143
S281
sprout
begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new
growth on a plant; shoot
4144
S282
spruce
neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be
spruce for your job interview; V.
Every button buttoned, tie firmly in place,
young Alex Keaton looked spruce and tidy for
his job interview at the bank.
4145
S283
spry
(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
4146
S284
spurious
false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious
arguments
4147
S285
spurn
reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all
offers of help.
She was eighty years old, yet still spry and
alert.
The hero of Jonathan Gash's mystery novels
is an antique dealer who gives the reader
advice on how to tell spurious antiques from
the real things.
The heroine spurned the villain's advances.
4148
S286
squabble
minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor
quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
4149
S287
squalor
condition of being squalid; filth; degradation;
dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid;
morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story
4150
S288
squander
waste; spend foolishly
4151
4152
S289
S290
squash
squat
crush; quash; suppress
short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V.
N.
4153
S291
squeamish
easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant
things; fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be
squeamish.
4154
S292
squelch
produce a splashing sound (when stepping
through mud); crush; squash;
4155
S293
staccato
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt
sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
Easy access to credit encourages people to
turn into spendthrifts who shop till they drop.
Before you splice two strips of tape together,
be sure to line them up evenly.
What I liked best about Dale's parties was
their spontaneity: a couple of friends would
drop by, someone would pull out a fiddle or
guitar, and before you knew it the party would
be in full swing.
When the radio announcer introduced the
President as Hoobert Herver, he was guilty of
spoonerism.
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.
The prodigal son squandered the family
estate.
Tolkien's hobbits are somewhat squat, sturdy
little creatures, fond of good ale, good music,
and good food.
His staccato speech reminded one of the
sound of a machine gun.
165
4156
S294
stagnant
(of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling);
motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull;
Ex. stagnant industrial output
The stagnant water was a breeding ground
for disease
4157
S295
staid
serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the
funeral ceremony
Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was
staid and solemn.
4158
S296
stalemate
deadlock; situation in which further action is
blocked
4159
S297
stalwart
physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in
mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter;
N: stalwart follower
Negotiations between the union and the
employers have reached a stalemate; neither
side is willing to budge from previously stated
positions.
His consistent support of the party has
proved that he is a stalwart and loyal
member.
4160
S298
stamina
power of endurance; strength; staying power
4161
4162
S299
S300
stammer
stamp
speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
step on heavily (so as to crush or extinguish);
put an end to; imprint or impress with a mark,
design, or seal; shape with a die; characterize;
Ex. machine stamping out car bodies; Ex.
newspaper stamping him as a liar; N. stamping;
implement used to stam
4163
S301
stampede
sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals
or people); V: participate in or cause stampede;
Ex. stampede before the price rises
4164
S302
stanch
stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the
gushing wound
It is imperative that we stanch the gushing
wound before we attend to the other injuries.
4165
4166
S303
S304
standstill
stanza
condition of no movement or activity; stop
division of a poem (composed of two or more
lines)
Do you know the last stanza of "The StarSpangled Banner"?
4167
S305
start
move suddenly or involuntarily; Ex. start at the
sight of a snake
4168
S306
stately
formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size;
majestic
4169
S307
static
having no motion; unchanging; lacking
development; N. stasis: stable state
Nothing had changed at home; things were
static there
4170
S308
statute
law enacted by the legislature
We have many statutes in our law books
which should be repealed.
4171
S309
statutory
created by statute or legislative action;
regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
The judicial courts review and try statutory
crimes.
4172
S310
steadfast
steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
4173
S311
stealth
action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness;
sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
Penelope was steadfast in her affections,
faithfully waiting for Ulysses to return from his
wanderings.
Fearing detection by the sentries on duty, the
scout inched his way toward the enemy camp
with great stealth.
4174
S312
steep
soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye
bath; ADJ: precipitous
Be sure to steep the fabric in the dye bath for
the full time prescribed.
4175
S313
stellar
pertaining to the stars; of a star performer;
outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire
performance
He was the stellar attraction of the entire
performance.
4176
S314
stem
stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the
bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis
of a plant; stalk
The paramedic used a tourniquet to stem the
bleeding from the slashed artery.
4177
4178
4179
S315
S316
S317
stem_from
stench
stentorian
arise from; originate from
strong foul odor; reek; stink
(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a
loud herald in the Iliad
I doubt that she has the stamina to run the full
distance of the marathon race.
The town crier had stentorian voice.
166
4180
S318
stereotype
one regarded as embodying a set image or
type; fixed and unvarying representation;
standardized mental picture often reflecting
prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V:
make a stereotype of; represent by a
stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to stereotyp
4181
S319
sterile
incapable of producing young; free from
microorganism; V. sterilize
4182
S320
stickler
perfectionist; person who insists things be
exactly right
The Internal Revenue Service agent was a
stickler for accuracy; no approximations or
rough estimates would satisfy him.
4183
S321
stifle
suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or
suffocate
Halfway through the boring lecture, Laura
gave up trying to stifle her yawns.
4184
S322
stigma
token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark
with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
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.
4185
S323
stilted
bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric;
CF. stiff: formal
His stilted rhetoric did not impress the college
audience; they were immune to bombastic
utterances.
4186
4187
S324
S325
stink
stint
stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
supply; allotted amount of work; assigned
portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in
the army; Ex. without stint
4188
4189
S326
S327
stipend
stipple
pay for services
paint or draw with dots or short strokes
4190
S328
stipulate
state as a necessary condition (of an
agreement); make express conditions; specify;
Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
4191
S329
stock
standard; kept regularly in stock or supply;
typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of
paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for
sale in a shop; OP. unique
4192
S330
stockade
wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts
used as defensive barrier
4193
S331
stodgy
dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy
book
For a young person, Winston seems
remarkably stodgy: you'd expect someone of
his age to have a little more life.
4194
S332
stoic
stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N.
CF. stoicism
The doctor called her patient a stoic because
he had borne the pain of the examination
without whimpering.
4195
S333
stoke
stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
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.
4196
S334
stolid
dull; impassive; showing little emotion when
strong feelings are expected
4197
S335
stoop
4198
S336
stout
bend forward and down; lower or debase
oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by
doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to
lying
rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute;
determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout
stick/supporter
4199
S337
straggle
stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out in
a scattered group; Ex. straggling marathon
racer; Ex. straggling branch
4200
4201
S338
S339
strangle
stratagem
kill by choking or suffocating; suppress
deceptive scheme; clever trick
He performed his daily stint cheerfully and
willingly.
There is a nominal stipend for this position.
Seurat carefully stippled dabs of pure color
on the canvas, juxtaposing dots of blue and
yellow that the viewer's eye would interpret
as green.
Before agreeing to reduce American military
forces in Europe, the president stipulated that
NATO teams be allowed to inspect Soviet
bases.
167
4202
S340
stratified
divided into classes; arranged into strata; V.
stratify
As the economic gap between the rich and
the poor increased, Roman society grew
increasingly stratified.
4203
S341
stratum
layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL.
strata
4204
S342
strew
spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower
girl strewing rose petals
Unless we alleviate conditions in the lowest
stratum of our society, we may expect
grumbling and revolt.
Preceding the bride to the altar, the flower girl
will strew rose petals along the aisle.
4205
S343
striated
marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved;
Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin
groove or line
The glacier left many striated rocks.
4206
S344
stricture
severe and adverse criticism; critical comments;
limit or restriction
His strictures on the author's style are
prejudiced and unwarranted.
4207
4208
S345
S346
strident
stringent
loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of
money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
She scolded him in a strident voice
I think these regulations are too stringent.
4209
S347
strut
supporting bar; CF. airplane wing building
support
The engineer calculated that the strut
supporting the rafter needed to be reinforced.
4210
S348
studied
carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous;
deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
Given Jill's previous slights, Jack felt that the
omission of his name from the guest list was
a studied insult.
4211
4212
S349
S350
studious
stultify
given to diligent study
make stupid in mind; cause to appear or
become stupid or inconsistent; suppress;
frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of
uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression
4213
S351
stumble
trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act
falteringly; N.
4214
S352
stump
base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been
cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle;
puzzle
4215
S353
stun
make unconscious or numb as by a blow;
amaze; astound
4216
S354
stupefy
stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
Disapproving of drugs in general, Laura
refused to take sleeping pills or any other
medicine that might stupefy her.
4217
S355
stupor
state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze;
lack of awareness
In his stupor, the addict was unaware of the
events taking place around him.
4218
4219
S356
S357
sturdy
stygian
strong and firm (in the body)
unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF.
Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of
the dead
No example
4220
S358
stymie
thwart; present an obstacle; stump
4221
S359
suavity
urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and
courteous
4222
S360
subaltern
subordinate
4223
S361
subdue
less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex.
subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex.
subdue one's anger
4224
S362
subjective
influenced by personal feelings; occurring or
taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex.
subjective sensation of the ghostly presence
Your analysis is highly subjective; you have
permitted your emotions and your opinions to
color your thinking.
4225
S363
subjugate
conquer; bring under control
4226
S364
sublimate
refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with
socially acceptable activities; change between a
solid state and a gaseous state
It is not our aim to subjugate our foe; we are
interested only in establishing peaceful
relations.
We must strive to sublimate these desires
and emotions into worthwhile activities.
His long hours in the blacking factory left
young Dickens numb and incurious, as if the
menial labor had stultified his mind.
The detective was stymied by the
contradictory evidence in the robbery
investigation.
He is particulary good in roles that require
suavity and sophistication.
The captain treated his subalterns as though
they were children rather than commissioned
officers.
168
4227
S365
sublime
causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect,
etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
Mother Teresa has been honored for her
sublime deeds.
4228
S366
subliminal
below the threshold of conscious perception;
Ex. subliminal advertisement
We may not be aware of the subliminal
influences that affect our thinking.
4229
S367
submerge
place under water; dip; go under water; cover
completely (as with water); Ex. submerged in
work
4230
S368
submissive
willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
4231
S369
subordinate
occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N.
V: put in a lower rank or class
4232
S370
suborn
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit
perjury); N. subornation
In the Godfather, the mobsters used bribery
and threats to suborn the witnesses against
Don Michael Corleone.
4233
S371
subpoena
writ(written command issued by a court)
summoning a witness to appear in court; V:
summon with a subpoena
The prosecutor's office was ready to serve a
subpoena on the reluctant witness.
4234
S372
subsequent
following in time or order; later
In subsequent lessons, we shall take up more
difficult problems.
4235
S373
subservient
behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious;
subordinate; N. subservience
He was proud and dignified; he refused to be
subservient to anyone.
4236
S374
subside
sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the
bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet;
become less; moderate; abate
The doctor assured us that the fever would
eventually subside.
4237
S375
subsidiary
serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a
subsidy; N.
This information may be used as subsidiary
evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove
your argument.
4238
S376
subsidy
direct financial aid by government, etc.; V.
subsidize: assist with a subsidy
4239
S377
subsistence
existence; means of subsisting; means of
support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain
life (at a meager level)
Without this subsidy, American ship operators
would not be able to compete in world
markets.
In those days of inflated prices, my salary
provided mere subsistence.
4240
S378
substantial
of substance; material; solid; essential or
fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do;
wealthy
4241
S379
substantiate
support (a claim) with evidence; establish with
evidence; verify
I intend to substantiate my statement by
producing witnesses.
4242
S380
substantive
substantial; essential; pertaining to the
substance; substantial; considerable; Ex.
substantive issues
Although the delegates were aware of the
importance of the problem, they could not
agree on the substantive issues.
4243
S381
subsume
include (as a member of a group); encompass
4244
S382
subterfuge
stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense;
evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
Does the general theory of relativity
contradict Newtonian physics, or is Newton's
law of gravity subsumed into Einstein's larger
scheme?
As soon as we realized that you had won our
support by a subterfuge we withdrew our
endorsement of your candidacy.
4245
S383
subtlety
perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ.
subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to
detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever;
Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning
The subtlety of his remarks was unnoticed by
most of his audience.
4246
S384
subversive
tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert:
overthrow completely (an established system);
destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
4247
S385
succor
assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
At first glance, the notion that Styrofoam cups
may actually be more ecologically sound than
paper cups strikes most environmentalists as
subversive.
We shall be ever grateful for the succor our
country gave us when we were in need.
4248
S386
succulent
juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N:
succulent plant such as a cactus
To some people, Florida citrus fruits are more
succulent than those from California.
4249
S387
succumb
yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die;
Ex. succumb to the illness
I succumb to temptation whenever it comes
my way.
Crushed by his authoritarian father, Will had
no defiance left in him; he was totally
submissive in the face of authority.
169
4250
4251
4252
S388
S389
S390
suckle
suffocate
suffragist
give or take milk at the breast or udder
die or kill from lack of air; suppress
advocate of the extension of voting rights (for
women); CF. suffrage
4253
S391
suffuse
spread through or over (with a color or liquid);
charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.
4254
4255
S392
S393
suitor
sullen
man who is courting a woman
silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark;
gloomy
4256
S394
sully
defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one's hands in
menial labor
He felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully
his hands in such menial labor.
4257
S395
sultry
(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual;
voluptuous
He could not adjust himself to the sultry
climate of the tropics.
4258
S396
summation
In his summation, the lawyer emphasized the
testimony given by the two witnesses.
4259
S397
sumptuous
act of finding the total; summing-up; summary
(esp. one given by the judge at the end of a
trial)
grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich;
Ex. sumptuous feast
4260
S398
sunder
separate; part; CF. asunder
Northern and southern Ireland are politically
and religiously sundered.
4261
S399
sundry
miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries:
small miscellaneous items
4262
S400
superannuated
retired or disqualified because of age;
outmoded; obsolete
4263
S401
supercilious
haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing;
CF. eyebrow, cilium
My suspicions were aroused when I read
sundry items in the newspapers about your
behavior.
The superannuated man was indignant
because he felt that he could still perform a
good day's work.
I prefer Jill's modesty to Jack's supercilious
and arrogant attitude.
4264
S402
supererogatory
superfluous; more than needed or demanded
We have more than enough witnesses to
corroborate your statement; to present any
more would be supererogatory.
4265
S403
superficial
of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough;
trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge
Since your report gave only a superficial
analysis of the problem, I cannot give you
more than a passing grade.
4266
S404
superfluous
excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N.
superfluity
4267
S405
superimpose
place over something else
Please try not to include so many superfluous
details in your report; just give me the bare
facts.
Your attempt to superimpose another agency
in this field will merely increase the
bureaucratic nature of our government.
4268
S406
supernumerary
person or thing excess of what is necessary;
extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary
number
His first appearance on the stage was as a
supernumerary in a Shakespearean tragedy.
4269
S407
supersede
replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete;
N. supersession
This regulation will supersede all previous
rules.
4270
S408
supine
lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The
defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine
acceptance of the decision
The defeated pugilist lay supine on the
canvas.
4271
S409
supplant
take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
Corazon Aquino supplanted Ferdinand
Marcos as president of the Philippines.
4272
S410
supple
flexible; limber; pliant
The angler found a supple limb and used it as
a fishing rod.
4273
S411
suppliant
entreating; beseeching; N.
He could not resist the dog's suppliant
whimpering, and he gave it some food.
4274
4275
S412
S413
supplicant
supplicate
one who supplicates; ADJ.
petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
4276
S414
supposition
assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
4277
S415
supposititious
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
In recognition of her efforts to win the vote for
women, Congress authorized coining a silver
dollar honoring the suffragist Susan B.
Anthony.
A blush suffused her cheeks when we teased
her about her love affair.
I cannot recall when I have had such a
sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.
We supplicate Your Majesty to grant him
amnesty.
I based my decision to confide in him on the
supposition that he would be discreet.
I find no similarity between your
supposititious illustration and the problem we
are facing.
170
4278
S416
suppress
put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle;
overwhelm; inhibit the expression of; check;
prevent from being published or made public;
Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress the
magazine/truth
satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge
to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive
amount; Ex. surfeit of food
4279
S417
surfeit
4280
4281
S418
S419
surge
surly
powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
bad-tempered; rude; cross
4282
4283
S420
S421
surmise
surmount
guess; N.
overcome
I surmise that he will be late for this meeting.
He had to surmount many obstacles in order
to succeed.
4284
4285
S422
S423
surpass
surreptitious
exceed
done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
Her SAT scores surpassed out expectations.
News of their surreptitious meeting gradually
leaked out.
4286
S424
surrogate
substitute; person or thing used in place of
another; Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.
For a fatherless child, a male teacher may
become a father surrogate.
4287
S425
surveillance
close observation of a person (esp. one under
suspicion); watching; guarding
4288
S426
susceptible
impressionable; easily influenced; sensitive;
having little resistance as to a disease; likely to
suffer; receptive to; capable of accepting; Ex.
susceptible to persuasion/colds; Ex. The
agreement is not susceptible of alteration; N.
susceptibility
The FBI kept the house under constant
surveillance in the hope of capturing all the
criminals at one time.
He was a very susceptible young man, and
so his parents worried that he might fall into
bad company.
4289
S427
suspend
cause to stop for a period; interrupt; hold in
abeyance; defer; hang from above; exclude for
a period from a position; Ex. suspended state;
Ex. suspend judgment; Ex. suspended from the
team; N. suspension
4290
S428
suspense
state of being undecided; anxiety or
apprehension resulting from uncertainty
4291
S429
sustain
He sustained such a severe injury that the
doctors feared he would be unable to work to
sustain his growing family.
4292
S430
sustenance
suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop;
maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to
maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the trapped
miners
sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food,
nourishment; something that maintains life; food
4293
S431
suture
stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound
or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew
together a wound
We will remove the sutures as soon as the
wound heals.
4294
4295
S432
S433
swagger
swamp
walk or behave with an over-confident manner
wetland; marsh; V: flood; overwhelm; drench in
with liquid
4296
S434
swarm
large group of insects moving in a mass; crowd
of people or animals; V: move in a crowd or
mass
4297
S435
swarthy
(of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex.
swarthy Italian ?
Despite the stereotype, not all Italians are
swarthy; many are fair and blond.
4298
S436
swathe
swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head
swathed in bandages
When I visited him in the hospital, I found him
swathed in bandages.
4299
S437
sway
swing from side to side; influence (someone) to
change one's opinion; N.
4300
S438
swear
vow; promise; use profane oaths; use offensive
words
4301
4302
S439
S440
swear-word
swell
word considered offensive; Ex. ``bloody''
long wave of water that moves continuously
without breaking; V.
Every Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an
overabundance of holiday treats.
Because of his surly attitude, many people
avoided his company.
In the tropics, the natives find sustenance
easy to obtain because of all the fruit trees.
171
4303
S441
swelter
(of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be
oppressed by heat
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.
4304
S442
swerve
deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight
course; Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The
car swerved to the right.
The car swerved wildly as the driver struggled
to regain control of the wheel.
4305
S443
swill
drink greedily
4306
S444
swindler
cheater
Singing, "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum,"
Long John Silver and his fellow pirates
swilled their grog.
She was gullible and trusting, an easy victim
for the first swindler who came along.
4307
4308
S445
S446
swipe
sybarite
4309
S447
sycophant
hit with a sweeping motion; N.
lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and
luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in
Italy
servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ.
sycophantic
4310
S448
syllogism
logical formula consisting of a major premise, a
minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or
specious argument
There must be a fallacy in this syllogism; I
cannot accept its conclusion.
4311
S449
sylvan
pertaining to the woods or the country
4312
S450
symbiosis
interdependent relationship (between groups,
species) often mutually beneficial; ADJ.
symbiotic; CF. together + life
4313
S451
symmetry
arrangement of parts so that balance is
obtained; congruity; ADJ. symmetrical
His paintings of nymphs in sylvan
backgrounds were criticized as
oversentimental.
Both the crocodile bird and the crocodile
derive benefit from their symbiosis; pecking
away at food particles embedded in the
crocodile's teeth, the bird derives
nourishment; the crocodile, meanwhile,
derives proper dental hygiene.
The addition of a second tower will give this
edifice the symmetry that it now lacks.
4314
S452
synchronous
similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring at
the same time; V. synchronize
We have many examples of scientists in
different parts of the world who have made
synchronous discoveries.
4315
S453
synoptic
providing a general overview; summary; N.
synopsis
The professor turned to the latest issue of
Dissertation Abstracts for a synoptic account
of what was new in the field.
4316
S454
synthesis
combining parts or separate things into a whole;
the whole so formed; PL. syntheses; V.
synthesize
Now that we have succeeded in isolating this
drug, our next problem is to plan its synthesis
in the laboratory.
4317
S455
synthetic
not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis;
Ex. synthetic fiber; N.
During the twentieth century, many synthetic
products have replaced the natural products.
4318
T1
tablet
small round piece of medicine; flat piece of
stone or metal bearing an inscription; Ex. stone
tablet on the wall
4319
T2
tacit
understood (without actually being expressed);
not put into words; Ex. tacit agreement
We have a tacit agreement based on only a
handshake.
4320
T3
taciturn
habitually silent; talking little
New Englanders are reputedly taciturn
people.
4321
T4
tact
skill or sensitivity in dealing with people without
causing offence
4322
4323
T5
T6
tactful
tactile
careful no to cause offence; OP. tactless
pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
4324
T7
taint
4325
4326
T8
T9
takeoff
talisman
contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a
trace of something bad; Ex. tainted reputation;
N: stain; touch of decay or bad influence; CF.
touch
burlesque; act of leaving the ground
charm; object believed to give supernatural
powers to or protect its bearer
4327
T10
talon
claw of bird
Rich people are not always sybarites; some
of them have little taste for a life of luxury.
The king enjoyed the servile compliments and
attentions of the sycophants in his retinue.
His callused hands had lost their tactile
sensitivity.
She wore the talisman to ward off evil.
The falconer wore a leather gauntlet to avoid
being clawed by the hawk's talons.
172
4328
T11
tan
convert (hide) into leather; make brown by
exposure to the sun
4329
T12
tangential
only slightly connected; not central; peripheral;
digressing; showing divergence; CF. tangent
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?
4330
T13
tangible
able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable;
possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible
proof
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.
4331
T14
tanner
person who turns animal hides into leather
4332
T15
tantalize
tease; excite by exposing something desirable
while keeping it out of reach; torture with
disappointment; CF. Tantalus: Greek
mythological figure
Using a solution of tanbark, the tanner treated
the cowhide, transforming it into supple
leather.
Tom loved to tantalize his younger brother
with candy; he knew the boy was forbidden to
have it.
4333
T16
tantamount
equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is
tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount
Your ignoring their pathetic condition is
tantamount to the murder.
4334
T17
tantrum
fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex.
The child went into tantrums.
The child learned that he could have almost
anything if he went into tantrums.
4335
T18
taper
very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width
of a long object; V. make or become gradually
narrower toward one end
He lit the taper on the windowsill.
4336
T19
tarantula
venomous spider
We need an antitoxin to counteract the bite of
the tarantula.
4337
T20
tardy
4338
4339
T21
T22
tarnish
tarry
slow; sluggish; not on time; late; Ex. tardy
arrival
make or become dull or discolored; N.
linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle
4340
T23
tart
sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic;
sarcastic; Ex. tart apple/reply
4341
T24
tatter
torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes)
old and torn; (of a person) dressed in old torn
clothes
4342
4343
T25
T26
taunt
taut
deride or provoke; challenge in derision; N.
tight; strained; tense; ready; OP. slack
4344
T27
tautological
needlessly repetitious; Ex. ``It was visible to the
eye''; N. tautology: needless repetition of the
same sense; statement that is always true
4345
4346
4347
T28
T29
T30
tawdry
tawny
taxonomist
cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry
brownish yellow
specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF.
taxonomy: science of classification
He won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island.
4348
T31
tedium
boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious
We hope this radio will help overcome the
tedium of your stay in the hospital.
4349
T32
teetotalism
4350
T33
temerity
practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic
drinks; N. teetotaler;; ADJ. teetotal; CF. T +
total
boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask
for a pay increase after only three day's work
4351
T34
temper
moderate; make less severe; tone down or
restrain; toughen (steel) as by alternate heating
and cooling
Not even her supervisor's grumpiness could
temper Nancy's enthusiasm for her new job.
4352
T35
temperament
characteristic frame of mind; disposition;
emotional excess; ADJ. temperamental: of
temperament; having frequent changes of
temper; Ex. temperamental dislike of sports; Ex.
temperamental actress
Although the twins look alike, they differ
markedly in temperament: Tod is calm, but
Rod is excitable.
We can't tarry if we want to get to the airport
on time.
The captain maintained that he ran a taut
ship.
In the sentence "It was visible to the eye," the
phrase "to the eye" is tautological.
Dental patterns often enable the taxonomist
to distinguish members of one rodent species
from those of another.
Do you have the temerity to argue with me?
173
4353
T36
temperate
moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate
in respect to temperature; CF. temperance:
moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of
alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society
Noted for his temperate appetite, he seldom
gained weight.
4354
T37
tempestuous
stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest:
violent storm
4355
T38
tempo
speed of music
I find the conductor's tempo too slow for such
a brilliant piece of music.
4356
T39
temporal
of time; not lasting forever; limited by time;
temporary; secular; worldly
4357
T40
temporize
gain time as by postponing an action; avoid
committing oneself
At one time in our history, temporal rulers
assumed that they had been given their
thrones by divine right.
I cannot permit you to temporize any longer; I
must have a definite answer today.
4358
T41
tenacious
holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
I had to struggle to break his tenacious hold
on my arm.
4359
T42
tenacity
firmness; persistence
It is extremely difficult to overcome the
tenacity of a habit such as smoking.
4360
T43
tenancy
possession of land or building by rent; period of
a tenant's occupancy
4361
T44
tenant
one that pays rent to use property owned by
another
4362
T45
tend
have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve
at; apply one's attention; attend
4363
T46
tendentious
promoting a particular point of view; biased;
having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex.
tendentious rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend:
move in a certain direction
The editorials in this periodical are
tendentious rather than truth-seeking.
4364
T47
tender
Although no formal changes had been made
against him, in the wake of the recent scandal
the mayor felt he should tender his
resignation.
4365
T48
tenet
offer formally; extend; Ex. tender one's
resignation/the exact fare; N: formal offer;
money; Ex. legal tender; ADJ: young and
vulnerable; sensitive to the touch; sore; soft;
delicate; Ex. child of tender years; Ex. tender
wound
doctrine; dogma
4366
T49
tensile
capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex.
tensile rubber
4367
T50
tension
stretching; condition of being stretched; mental
strain; strained relationship between groups or
people
4368
T51
tentative
not fully worked out or developed; provisional;
experimental; uncertain; hesitant; not definite or
positive; Ex. tentative agreement/reply
Your tentative plans sound plausible; let me
know when the final details are worked out.
4369
T52
tenuous
thin; slim; rare
4370
T53
tenure
holding of an office or real estate; time during
which such an office is held
The allegiance of our allies is held by rather
tenuous ties; let us hope they will remain
loyal.
He was permanent tenure in this position and
cannot be fired.
4371
T54
tepid
lukewarm; slightly warm; half-hearted; not
eager; Ex. tepid reaction to the new film; Ex.
tepid supporter
4372
T55
terminal
part that forms the end; railroad or bus station;
ADJ. forming an end; ending in death; fatal; Ex.
terminal cancer
4373
4374
T56
T57
termination
terminology
end; V. terminate
terms used in a science or art; study of
nomenclature
4375
T58
terminus
last stop of railroad; end
The agnostic did not accept the tenets of their
faith.
Mountain climbers must know the tensile
strength of their ropes.
During the summer, I like to take a tepid bath,
not a hot one.
The special terminology developed by some
authorities in the field has done more to
confuse laypersons than to enlighten them.
After we reached the railroad terminus, we
continued our journey into the wilderness on
saddle horses.
174
4376
T59
terrestrial
on or relating to the earth
We have been able to explore the terrestrial
regions much more thoroughly than the
aquatic or celestial regions.
4377
T60
terse
concise; abrupt; pithy
I admire his terse style of writing; he comes
directly to the point.
4378
T61
tertiary
third in order or rank
He is so thorough that he analyzes tertiary
causes where other writers are content with
primary and secondary reasons.
4379
4380
T62
T63
tessellated
testator
mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
maker of a will; CF. testatrix
4381
T64
testy
irritable; impatient and bad-tempered; shorttempered; N. testiness
4382
T65
tether
tie (an animal) with a rope or tether; N: rope or
chain to which an animal is tied; limit of one's
endurance; Ex. the end of one's tether
4383
T66
thematic
of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
Those who think of Moby Dick as a simple
adventure story about whaling miss is
underlying thematic import.
4384
T67
theocracy
government run by religious leaders
Some Pilgrims favored the establishment of a
theocracy in New England.
4385
T68
theoretical
based on theory; not practical or applied;
hypothetical
4386
T69
therapeutic
curative; N. therapy
4387
T70
thermal
pertaining to heat; producing heat; warm; Ex.
thermal bath; N: rising current of warm air
Bob was better at applied engineering and
computer programming than he was at
theoretical physics and math. While I can still
think of some theoretical objections to your
plan, you've convinced me of its basic
soundness.
Now better known for its racetrack, Saratoga
Springs first gained attention for the
therapeutic qualities of its famous "healing
waters."
The natives discovered that the host springs
gave excellent thermal baths and began to
develop their community as a health resort.
4388
T71
thesis
opinion put forward and supported by reasoned
arguments
4389
T72
thespian
pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress
Her success in the school play convinced her
she was destined for a thespian career.
4390
T73
thrall
slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held
him in thrall; CF. enthrall
The captured soldier was held in thrall by the
conquering army.
4391
T74
thrash
beat with a whip or flail; defeat utterly; talk
about thoroughly in order to find the answer;
move wildly or violently; Ex. The fishes thrashed
about in the net.
4392
T75
threadbare
worn through till the threads show; shabby and
poor; hackneyed; Ex. threadbare excuses
4393
T76
threat
sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat
of rain; V: express a threat; give warning of
(something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain.
4394
T77
thresh
beat (cereal plants) with a machine or flail to
separate the grains from the straw
4395
T78
thrifty
careful about money; economical; N. thrift
A thrifty shopper compares prices before
making major purchases.
4396
T79
thrive
prosper; flourish
Despite the impact of recession on the
restaurant trade, Philip's cafe thrived.
4397
T80
throb
(of a heart or machine) beat rapidly or violently;
N. Ex. hearthrob: heartbeat; sweetheart
4398
T81
throes
violent anguish
The throes of despair can be as devastating
as the spasms accompanying physical pain.
4399
T82
throng
crowd (of people or things); V.
Throngs of shoppers jammed the aisles.
The attorney called in his secretary and his
partner to witness the signature of the
testator.
My advice is to avoid discussing this problem
with him today as he is rather testy and may
shout at you.
Before we went to sleep, we tethered the
horses to prevent their wandering off during
the night.
175
4400
T83
throttle
strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N:
valve that regulates the flow; CF. throat ?
The criminal tried to throttle the old man with
his bare hands.
4401
T84
thwart
block or hinder; baffle; frustrate
He felt that everyone was trying to thwart his
plans and prevent his success.
4402
T85
tickle
touch (the body) lightly so as to cause laughter;
please
4403
T86
tightwad
miser; excessively frugal person
4404
4405
T87
T88
tiller
timbre
handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer)
quality of a musical tone produced by a musical
instrument (which distinguishes it from others of
the same pitch)
4406
T89
timidity
lack of self-confidence or courage
If you are to succeed as a salesperson, you
must first lose your timidity and fear of failure.
4407
T90
timorous
fearful; timid; demonstrating fear
His timorous manner betrayed the fear he felt
at the moment.
4408
T91
tinge
give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N:
slight degree of a color or quality; Ex. tinged
with grey/jealousy
4409
4410
T92
T93
tint
tipple
slight degree of color; V: give a tint to
drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N:
alcoholic drink
4411
T94
tirade
long angry denunciatory speech; diatribe;
harangue; extended scolding; denunciation
4412
T95
titanic
gigantic; N. titan
titanic waves beat aginst the shore during the
hurricane.
4413
T96
tithe
tax of one-tenth (contributed to a church); V:
pay a tithe
Because he was an agnostic, he refused to
pay his tithes to the clergy.
4414
T97
titillate
tickle; excite pleasantly; Ex. not to titillate the
audience but to enlighten it
I am here not to titillate my audience but to
enlighten it.
4415
T98
title
name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal
appellation as of rank or office (such as Lord or
General); right or claim to possession;
championship; Ex. title as head of the family;
Ex. title to the estate
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.
4416
T99
titter
nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
4417
T100
titular
of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title
of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular
head of the company
Her aunt's constant titter nearly drove her
mad.
Although he was the titular head of the
company, the real decisions were made by
his general manager.
4418
T101
toady
servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a
toady to; fawn
Never tell the boss anything he doesn't wish
to hear: he doesn't want an independent
adviser, he just wants a toady.
4419
T102
toga
Roman outer robe
Marc Antony pointed to the slashes in
Caesar's toga.
4420
4421
T103
T104
token
toll
outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude
sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals;
N: sound of a bell; fixed tax or charge
4422
T105
tome
large volume; book
He spent much time in the libraries poring
over ancient tomes.
4423
T106
tonsure
shaving of the head especially by person
entering religious orders; V.
His tonsure, even more than his monastic
garb, indicated that he was a member of the
religious order.
4424
T107
topography
physical features of a region (such as the shape
and height); CF. topo-: place
Before the generals gave the order to attack,
they ordered a complete study of the
topography of the region.
4425
4426
T108
T109
topple
torpedo
become unsteady and fall down
underwater explosive apparatus; V.
Jill called Jack a tightwad because he never
picked up the check.
We identify the instrument producing a
musical sound by its timbre.
He found that his most enjoyable evenings
occurred when he tippled with his friends at
the local pub.
Long before he had finished his tirade, we
were sufficiently aware of the seriousness of
our misconduct.
176
4427
T110
torpor
lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; ADJ. torpid:
lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of an animal) dormant;
hibernating
Nothing seemed to arouse him from his
torpor; he had wholly surrendered himself to
lethargy.
4428
T111
torque
twisting force; force producing rotation
With her wrench she applied sufficient torque
to the nut the loosen it.
4429
T112
torrent
rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in
torrents.
Day after day of heavy rain saturated the
hillside until the water ran downhill in torrents.
4430
T113
torrid
(of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex.
torrid love affairs
4431
T114
torso
trunk of statue with head and limbs missing;
human trunk
This torso, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is
now on exhibition in the museum in Naples.
4432
T115
tortuous
winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain
road
Because this road is so tortuous, it is unwise
to go faster than twenty miles an hour on it.
4433
T116
toss
throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a
sudden motion; flip (a coin) to decide something
4434
T117
totem
animal, plant, or natural object serving as a
symbol of a clan or family; representation of
this; Ex. totem pole
4435
T118
totter
4436
T119
touching
shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to
fall
causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic;
V. touch: cause to feel pity or sympathy; ADJ.
touched
4437
T120
touchstone
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys;
criterion; standard
What touchstone can be used to measure the
character of a person?
4438
T121
touchy
oversensitive; easily offended; irasible; delicate;
needing delicate handling; Ex. touchy situation
Do not discuss this phase of the problem as
he is very touchy about it.
4439
T122
tout
promote or publicize (one's goods or service);
praise excessively (as a form of advertisement);
CF. advertise
I lost confidence in my broker after he touted
some junk bonds that turned out to be a bad
investment.
4440
T123
toxic
poisonous; N. toxicity
We must seek an antidote for whatever toxic
substance he has eaten.
4441
T124
tract
propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or
political group); expanse of land; region of
indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex.
digestive tract
The King granted William Penn a tract of land
in the New World.
4442
T125
tractable
docile; easily managed; (of something) easily
changed or molded; N. tractability
You will find the children in this school very
tractable and willing to learn.
4443
T126
traduce
expose to slander
4444
T127
trajectory
path taken by a projectile; Ex. trajectory of a
bullet
His opponents tried to traduce the
candidate's reputation by spreading rumors
about his past.
The police tried to locate the spot from which
the assassin had fired the fatal shot by
tracing the trajectory of the bullet.
4445
T128
tramp
walk with a heavy step; travel on foot; N:
vagrant; one who travels aimlessly about; long
walk; sound of heavy walking
4446
4447
T129
T130
trample
trance
step heavily with the feet; crush under the feet
hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from
one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation
or daydreaming); CF. transition
4448
T131
tranquillity
calmness; peace
4449
T132
transcendent
exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing;
V. transcend: go beyond; exceed; surpass; N.
transcendancy
4450
T133
transcendental
going beyond common thought or ideas;
impossible to understand by practical
experiences or practices; known only by
studying thoughts or intuition; OP. empirical;
CF. transcendentalism
After the commotion and excitement of the
city, I appreciate the tranquillity of these fields
and forests.
177
4451
T134
transcribe
copy; write a copy of; N. transcription
When you transcribe your notes, please send
a copy to Mr.Smith and keep the original for
our files.
Forgive us our transgressions; we know not
what we do.
4452
T135
transgression
violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond
(a limit); violate; do wrong
4453
T136
transient
staying for a short time; momentary; temporary;
N: one that is transient
4454
T137
transition
going from one state of action to another
4455
T138
transitory
transient; impermanent; fleeting; N.
transitoriness
4456
T139
translucent
partly transparent
We could not recognize the people in the next
room because of the translucent curtains that
separated us.
4457
T140
transmute
transform; change; convert to something
different
He was unable to transmute his dreams into
actualities.
4458
T141
transparent
permitting light to pass through freely; easily
detected; obvious; clear; Ex. transparent lie
Your scheme is so transparent that it will fool
no one.
4459
T142
transpire
(of a fact) become known; be revealed; happen;
give off (watery waste matter) through pores
When Austen writes the sentence "It had just
transpired that he had left gaming debts
behind him," her meaning is not that the
debts had just been incurred, but the the
shocking news had just leaked out.
4460
T143
transport
strong emotion; rapture; Ex. in a
transport/transports of; V: move to strong
emotion; enrapture
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.
4461
4462
T144
T145
transpose
trappings
reverse the order or position of
outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward
sign of rank)
4463
T146
traumatic
(of an experience) deeply shocking; pertaining
to an injury caused by violence; N. trauma:
serious wound; emotional shock that causes
lasting psychological damage
4464
T147
travail
strenuous work; toil; painful labor; labor of
childbirth
4465
T148
traverse
go through or across
4466
T149
travesty
copy or example of something that completely
misrepresents the true nature of the real thing;
comical parody or imitation; treatment aimed at
making something appear ridiculous; Ex.
travesty of justice; OP. paragon
4467
T150
tread
walk; trample; N: grooved face of a tire;
horizontal part of a step
4468
4469
T151
T152
treasure
treatise
keep as precious; cherish
article treating a subject systematically and
thoroughly
4470
T153
trek
travel; journey; V: make a long difficult journey
The tribe made their trek further north that
summer in search of game.
4471
T154
tremor
trembling; slight quiver (as of the earth or from
nervous agitation)
She had a nervous tremor in her right hand.
4472
T155
tremulous
trembling; wavering
She was tremulous more from excitement
than from fear.
4473
T156
trenchant
cutting; incisive; keen
I am afraid of his trenchant wit for it is so
often sarcastic.
4474
T157
trepidation
fear; nervous apprehension
We must face the enemy without trepidation if
we are to win this battle.
Lexy's joy at finding the perfect Christmas gift
for Phil was transient; she still had to find
presents for the cousins and Uncle Bob.
Located near the airport, this hotel caters to
the largely transient trade.
During the period of transition from oil heat to
gas heat, the furnace will have to be shut off.
He loved the trappings of success: the
limousines, the stock options, the company
jet.
In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the
traumatic experience of being wounded in
battle.
How long do you think a man can endure
such travail and degradation without
rebelling?
When you traverse this field, be careful of the
bull.
The ridiculous decision the jury has arrived at
is a travesty of justice.
He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan
playwrights for his graduate degree.
178
4475
T158
tribulation
suffering; ordeal; distress; trial
After all the trials and tribulations we have
gone through, we need this rest.
4476
T159
tribunal
court of justice
The decision of the tribunal was final and the
prisoner was sentenced to death.
4477
T160
tribune
official of ancient Rome elected by the plebians
to protect their rights; protector of the people
4478
T161
tribute
tax levied by a ruler; payment made by one
nation to another in acknowledgment of
submission; mark of respect (such as praise or
gift); Ex. pay tribute to
4479
4480
4481
T162
T163
T164
trickle
trickster
trident
flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
person who cheats people
three-pronged spear
4482
T165
trifle
something of little importance or value; small
amount; Ex. a trifle; V: treat without
seriousness; flirt
4483
4484
T166
T167
trifling
trigger
trivial; unimportant
set off; start
4485
T168
trilogy
group of three related works (connected by a
shared subject but each complete in itself)
4486
T169
trim
make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by
removing what is unnecessary; ornament;
decorate (round the edges); Ex. trim the cost;
Ex. jacket trimmed with fur; N. ADJ: tidy; in
good order
4487
T170
trinket
knickknack; bauble; cheap jewelry
4488
T171
trite
hackneyed; commonplace
4489
T172
trivia
trifles; unimportant matters
Too many magazines ignore newsworthy
subjects and feature trivia.
4490
T173
troth
pledge of good faith especially in betrothal;
betrothal; Ex. by my troth
He gave her his troth and vowed to cherish
her always.
4491
T174
trough
long narrow container for feeding farm animals;
lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.);
long narrow depression as between waves
4492
T175
truculence
aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent:
aggressive; pugnacious; fierce
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.
Tynan's reviews were noted for their caustic
attacks and general tone of truculence.
4493
4494
T176
T177
truism
truncate
self-evident truth
cut the top off; shorten
4495
T178
trunk
main wooden stem of a tree; human body
excluding the head and limbs; torso; prehensile
nose of an elephant
4496
T179
tryst
meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement
between lovers to meet
The lovers kept their tryst even though they
realized their danger.
4497
T180
tumid
(of a part of the body) swollen; distended;
bombastic; pompous
I especially dislike his tumid style; I prefer
writing which is less swollen and bombastic.
4498
T181
tumult
commotion of a great crowd; riot; noise; uproar;
ADJ. tumultuous: noisy and disorderly
She could not make herself heard over the
tumult of the mob.
4499
T182
tundra
rolling treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North
America
4500
T183
turbid
(of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed;
muddy; thick
Despite the cold, many geologists are trying
to discover valuable mineral deposits in the
tundra.
The water was turbid after the children had
waded through it.
4501
T184
turbulence
state of violent agitation; ADJ. turbulent:
violently agitated or disturbed
We were frightened by the turbulence of the
ocean during the storm.
The colonists refused to pay tribute to a
foreign despot.
Neptune is usually depicted as rising from the
sea, carrying his trident on his shoulder.
John is touchy today; say one word wrong
and you'll trigger an explosion.
Romain Rolland's novel Jean Christophe was
first published as a trilogy.
Whenever she traveled abroad, Ethel would
pick up costume jewelry and other trinkets as
souvenirs.
Thr trite and predictable situations in many
television programs alienate many viewers.
Many a truism is well expressed in a proverb.
The top of the cone that has been truncated
in a plane parallel to its base is a circle.
179
4502
T185
tureen
deep dish for serving soup
The waiters brought the soup to the tables in
silver tureens.
4503
T186
turgid
swollen; distended (as from liquid)
The turgid river threatened to overflow the
levees and flood the contryside.
4504
T187
turmoil
extreme confusion; great commotion and
confusion; Ex. throw the country into turmoil
Conscious he had sinned, he was in a state
of spiritual turmoil.
4505
T188
turncoat
traitor
4506
T189
turpitude
depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude
4507
T190
tutelage
guardianship; training; function of a tutor;
instruction
4508
T191
tutelary
protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex.
tutelary deities
4509
T192
tycoon
wealthy and powerful businessperson; wealthy
leader; magnate; Ex. business tycoon
The British considered Benedict Arnold a
loyalist; the Americans considered him a
turncoat.
A visitor may be denied admittance to this
country if she has been guilty of moral
turpitude.
Under the tutelage of such masters of the
instrument, she made rapid progress as a
virtuoso.
I am acting in my tutelary capacity when I
refuse to grant you permission to leave the
campus.
John D. Rockefeller was a prominent tycoon.
4510
4511
T193
T194
typhoon
tyranny
tropical hurricane or cyclone
oppression; cruel government; ADJ. tyrannical:
of a tyrant or tyranny; despotic; V. tyrannize:
treat tyrannically; oppress
4512
T195
tyro
beginner; novice
For a mere tyro, you have produced some
marvelous results.
4513
U1
ubiquitous
being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity
That Christmas "The Little Drummer Boy"
seemed ubiquitous: Justin heard the tune
everywhere he went.
4514
U2
ulcer
sore place appearing on the skin inside or
outside the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ.
ulcerous; V. ulcerate
4515
U3
ulterior
intentionally hidden; beyond what is evident;
situated beyond; unstated and often
questionable; Ex. ulterior motive
You must have an ulterior motive for your
behavior, since there is no obvious reason for
it.
4516
U4
ultimate
final; not susceptible to further analysis;
fundamental; Ex. The sun is the ultimate source
of energy.
Scientists are searching for the ultimate
truths.
4517
U5
ultimatum
last demand; last warning; last statement of
conditions that must be met; Ex. They have
ignored our ultimatum.
Since they have ignored our ultimatum, our
only recourse is to declare war.
4518
U6
umbrage
resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex.
take umbrage at his rudeness
She took umbrage at his remarks and
stormed away in a huff.
4519
U7
unaccountable
unexplicable; impossible to account for;
unreasonable or mysterious
4520
U8
unanimity
complete agreement; ADJ. unanimous
4521
U9
unassailable
not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to
question
4522
U10
unassuaged
unsatisfied; not soothed
Her anger is unassuaged by your apology.
4523
U11
unassuming
modest; Ex. the champion's unassuming
manner
He is so unassuming that some people fail to
realize how great a man he really is.
4524
4525
U12
U13
unbridled
uncanny
violent; uncontrolled; Ex. unbridled rage/greed
strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack
She had a sudden fit of unbridled rage.
You have the uncanny knack of reading my
innermost thoughts.
4526
U14
unceremonious
not done politely without due formalities
4527
U15
unconscionable
unscrupulous; not guided by conscience;
excessive; beyond reason; Ex. unconscionable
demand
Frederick Douglass fought against the
tyranny of slavery throughout his entire life.
We were surprised by the unanimity with
which our proposals were accepted by the
different groups.
She found the load shark's demands
unconscionable and impossible to meet.
180
4528
U16
uncouth
boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior;
outlandish
Most biographers portray Lincoln as an
uncouth and ungainly young man.
4529
U17
unction
the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction
The anointing with oil of a person near death
is called extreme unction.
4530
4531
U18
U19
unctuous
underhand(under
ha
oily; bland; insincerely suave
nded) done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)
4532
4533
U20
U21
underlying
undermine
lying below; fundamental
weaken gradually; sap; dig a mine beneath
4534
U22
underscore
underline; emphasize
4535
U23
understate
state with less truth than seems warranted by
the facts; Ex. He understated the seriousness of
the crime; N. understatement; OP. overstate
4536
U24
undertaker
funeral director; one whose business is to
arrange burials
4537
U25
undulating
moving with a wavelike motion; V. undulate; CF.
und: wave
4538
U26
unearth
dig up; discover (facts) by careful searching; Ex.
He unearthed some secrets about her; OP.
conceal
When they unearthed the city, the
archeologists found many relics of an ancient
civilization.
4539
U27
unearthly
not earthly; supernatural; weird; ghostly
There is an unearthly atmosphere in her work
that amazes the casual observer.
4540
U28
unequivocal
plain; clear; obvious
My answer to your proposal is an unequivocal
and absolute "No."
4541
U29
unerringly
infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes
My teacher unerringly pounced on the one
typographical error in my essay.
4542
U30
unexceptionable
entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for
criticism
4543
U31
unfaltering
steadfast; firm; not changing
4544
U32
unfeigned
genuine; real
4545
4546
U33
U34
unfetter
unfledged
liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter
immature; not having the feathers necessary to
fly; CF. fledgling
4547
U35
unfrock
defrock; strip a priest or minister of church
authority
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.
4548
U36
ungainly
(of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy;
(of something) unwieldy; Ex. ungainly
dancer/instrument
He is an ungainly young man; he trips over
everything.
4549
U37
unguent
ointment
Apply this unguent to the sore muscles before
retiring.
4550
U38
uniformity
sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same
all over
After a while, the uniformity of TV situation
comedies becomes boring.
4551
U39
unilateral
one-sided; involving or affecting only one side;
Ex. unilateral declaration
This legislation is unilateral since it binds only
one party in the controversy.
4552
U40
unimpeachable
that cannot be impeached; beyond doubt or
question; blameless and exemplary
Her conduct in office was unimpeachable and
her record is spotless.
4553
U41
uninhibited
unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings
The congregation was shocked by her
uninhibited laughter during the sermon.
4554
U42
unintimating
unfrightening
4555
U43
unique
without an equal; single in kind
4556
U44
unison
unity of pitch (in musical performance);
complete accord; Ex. The choir sang in unison.
The recent corruption scandals have
undermined many people's faith in the city
government.
Adressing the jogging class, Kim underscored
the importance to runners of good nutrition.
She approached the guillotine with unfaltering
steps.
She turned so pale that I am sure her
surprise was unfeigned.
It is hard for an unfledged writer to find a
sympathetic publisher.
You have the unique distinction of being the
first student whom I have had to fail in this
course.
The choir sang in unison.
181
4557
U45
universal
characterizing or affecting all; general; present
everywhere; of the universe; cosmic; Ex.
universal agreement; Ex. a subject of universal
interest
At first, no one shared Christopher's opinions;
his theory that the world was round was met
with universal disdain.
4558
U46
unkempt
disheveled; uncared for in appearance; not
combed; CF. comb
The beggar was dirty and unkempt.
4559
U47
unmitigated
(of something bad) not moderated; unrelieved
or immoderate; without qualification; absolute;
Ex. unmitigated disaster
4560
U48
unobtrusive
inconspicuous; not blatant
4561
U49
unprecedented
having no previous example; novel;
unparalleled
4562
U50
unprepossessing
unattractive
During adolescence many attractive young
people somehow acquire the false notion that
their appearance is unprepossessing.
4563
U51
unravel
disentangle; solve
With equal ease Miss Marple unraveled
tangled balls of yarn and baffling murder
mysteries.
4564
U52
unregenerate
making no attempt to change one's bad
practices
4565
U53
unrequited
not requited; not reciprocated; Ex. unrequited
love
Suffering the pangs of unrequited love, Olivia
rebukes Cesario for his hard-heartedness.
4566
U54
unruly
disobedient; lawless; difficult to control
The only way to curb this unruly mob is to use
tear gas.
4567
U55
unsavory
distasteful; disagreeable; morally offensive; Ex.
unsavory activity/reputation
People with unsavory reputations should not
be allowed to work with young children.
4568
U56
unscathed
unharmed; Ex. escape the accident unscathed
They prayed he would come back from the
war unscathed.
4569
U57
unseemly
unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent;
Ex. leave with unseemly haste
Your levity is unseemly at this time of
mourning.
4570
U58
unsightly
ugly; unpleasant to look at
4571
4572
U59
U60
unsullied
untenable
untarnished; CF. sully
(of a position, esp. in an argument)
indefensible; not able to be maintained
Although James was an experienced
emergency room nurse, he occasionally
became queasy when faced with a
particularly unsightly injury.
I am happy that my reputation is unsullied.
I find your theory untenable and must reject it.
4573
U61
untoward
unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or
unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter
Untoward circumstances prevent me from
being with you on this festive occasion.
4574
U62
unwarranted
unjustified; having no justification; groundless;
baseless; undeserved
We could not understand Martin's
unwarranted rudeness to his mother's guests.
4575
U63
unwieldy
awkward (to carry or move); cumbersome;
unmanageable
The large carton was so unwieldy that the
movers had trouble getting it up the stairs.
4576
U64
unwitting
not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex. She
was their unwitting accomplice; Ex. unwitting
insult; CF. wit: know
She was the unwitting tool of the swindlers
4577
U65
unwonted
unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with
unwonted punctuality.
He hesitated to assume the unwonted role of
master of ceremonies at the dinner.
4578
4579
4580
4581
U66
U67
U68
U69
upbraid
upright
uproar
uproarious
reprimand; severely scold
(sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral
noisy confusion
marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy
(esp. with laughter); hilarious; causing loud
laughter; extremely funny
I must upbraid him for his unruly behavior.
4582
U70
upshot
outcome; final result
4583
U71
urbane
suave; refined in manner; elegant
The secret service agents in charge of
protecting the President tried to be as
unobtrusive as possible.
Margaret Mitchell's book Gone with the Wind
was an unprecedented success.
The uproarious comedy hit Home Alone
featured Macaulay Culkin, whose mugging
and comic antics provoked gales of
uproarious laughter from audiences coast to
coast.
The upshot of the rematch was that the
former champion proved that he still
possessed all the skills of his youth.
The courtier was urbane and sophisticated
182
4584
U72
urchin
mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin:
hedgehog; CF. porcupine: pig with spikes ?;
CF. sea urchin
Get out! This store is no place for grubby
urchins!
4585
U73
urge
drive or force forward (by causing impulses);
drive to take action; impel; entreat earnestly;
Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that prompts action
4586
U74
urgent
compelling immediate action; pressing;
persistent; importunate; Ex. urgent in his
demands
4587
U75
ursine
bearlike; pertaining to a bear
4588
U76
usage
act or manner of using; accepted practice; way
in which words are actually used
4589
U77
usurp
seize another's power or rank (without legal
authority); supplant; appropriate; N. usurpation;
CF. take for one's own use
The revolution ended when the victorious
rebel leader usurped the throne.
4590
4591
U78
U79
usury
utopia
lending money at illegal high rates of interest
ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian
The loan shark was found guilty of usury.
Shangri-la was the name of James Hilton's
Tibetan utopia.
4592
U80
uxorious
excessively submissive or devoted to one's
wife; CF. uxor: wife
4593
V1
vacillate
waver (in opinion); fluctuate; sway to and fro; N.
vacillation
4594
V2
vacuous
empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex.
vacuous expression; N. vacuity
His friends laughed at him because he was
so uxorious and submissive to his wife's
desires.
Uncertain which suitor she ought to marry,
the princess vacillated, saying now one, now
the other.
The candidate's vacuous remarks annoyed
the audience, who had hoped to hear more
than empty platitudes
4595
V3
vagabond
wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp
In summer, college students wander the
roads of Europe like carefree vagabonds.
4596
V4
vagary
capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF.
wander
She followed every vagary of fashion.
4597
V5
vagrant
homeless wanderer
Because he was a stranger in town with no
visible means of support, Martin feared he
would be jailed as a vagrant.
4598
V6
vain
full of self-admiration; conceited; without result;
unsuccessful; N. vanity
4599
V7
vainglorious
boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory:
great vanity
She was a vainglorious and arrogant
individual.
4600
4601
V8
V9
valediction
valedictory
saying farewell; expression of leave-taking
pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp.
at graduation exercises)
I found the valedictory address too long;
leave-taking should be brief.
4602
V10
valid
logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable;
effective; Ex. valid reasoning/passport
You're going to have to come up with a better
argument if you want to convince me that
your reasoning is valid.
4603
V11
validate
make valid; confirm; ratify
I will not publish my findings until I validate
my results.
4604
V12
valor
bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave
4605
V13
vampire
ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
He received the Medal of Honor for his valor
in battle.
Children were afraid to go to sleep at night
because of the many legends of vampires.
4606
V14
vanguard
forerunners; foremost position of an army;
advance forces; foremost position in a trend or
movement; CF. rearguard
We are the vanguard of a tremendous army
that is following us.
4607
V15
vantage
position giving an advantage (such as a
strategic point); CF. vantagepoint
4608
V16
vapid
lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative;
insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture
They fired upon the enemy from behind trees,
walls and any other point of vantage they
could find.
She delivered an uninspired and vapid
address.
4609
4610
V17
V18
vaporize
variegate
turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)
change the appearance of (by marking with
different colors)
Because of its ursine appearance, the great
panda has been identified with the bears;
actually, it is closely related to the raccoon.
183
4611
V19
variegated
(esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored
Without her glasses, Gretchen saw the fields
of tulips as a variegated blur.
4612
V20
varnish
paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film;
glossy coating produced by using this
substance; Ex. nail varnish; V.
4613
V21
vassal
in feudalism, one who held land of a superior
lord; subordinate or dependent
The lord demanded that his vassals
contribute more to his military campaign.
4614
V22
vaunted
boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt:
boast; brag
This much vaunted project proved a
disappointment when it collapsed.
4615
V23
veer
change in direction; swerve
After what seemed an eternity, the wind
veered to the east and the storm abated.
4616
V24
vegetate
live in a monotonous way (without interests or
activity); CF. vegetation: plants of an area; CF.
vegetarian; CF. vegan
I do not understand how you can vegetate in
this quiet village after the adventurous life you
have led.
4617
V25
vehement
forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor;
strong; N. vehemence
He spoke with vehement eloquence in
defense of his client.
4618
4619
V26
V27
velocity
venal
speed
capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal
4620
V28
vendetta
blood feud (esp. between two families); CF.
Nina Williams
The train went by at considerable velocity.
The venal policeman accepted the bribe
offered him by the speeding motorist whom
he had stopped.
The rival mobs engaged in a bitter vendetta.
4621
V29
vendor
seller
The fruit vendor sold her wares from a stall
on the sidewalk.
4622
V30
veneer
thin surface layer (of good quality wood, glued
to a base of inferior material); cover; surface
show; fa\c{c}ade; V.
Casual acquaintances were deceived by his
veneer of sophistication and failed to
recognize his fundamental shallowness.
4623
V31
venerable
deserving high respect; commanding respect;
CF. command: deserve and get
4624
4625
V32
V33
venerate
venial
revere; treat with great respect
(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial
We do not mean to be disrespectful when we
refuse to follow the advice of our venerable
leader.
In China, the people venerate their ancestors.
We may regard a hugry man's stealing as a
venial crime.
4626
V34
venison
meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork,
ham, bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton;
CF. lamb: lamb
4627
V35
venom
poison (of an animal); hatred; Ex. remarks full of
venom; ADJ. venomous
4628
V36
vent
release or discharge through a vent; express
(esp. unfairly); utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on
his family.
4629
4630
V37
V38
ventilate
ventral
admit fresh air into to replace stale air
abdominal
4631
V39
ventriloquist
someone who can make his or her voice seem
to come from another person or thing (without
moving lips or jaws); N. ventriloquism,
ventriloquy
4632
4633
V40
V41
venture
venturesome
risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
(of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an
action) risky
4634
V42
venue
location; place (of a crime, trial, gathering, etc.);
CF. come
The attorney asked for a change of venue; he
thought his client would do better if the trial
were held in a less conservative county.
4635
V43
veracious
(of a person) truthful
4636
V44
veracity
truthfulness; adherence to the truth
I can recommend him for this position
because I have always found him veracious
and reliable.
Trying to prove Hill a liar, Senator Spector
repeatedly questioned her veracity.
4637
V45
verbalize
put into words; ADJ. verbal: of words; spoken
rather than written; oral; of a verb
The hunters dined on venison.
He vented his wrath on his class.
We shall now examine the ventral plates of
this serpent, not the dorsal side.
This ventriloquist does an act in which she
has a conversation with a wooden dummy.
A group of venturesome women were the first
to scale Mt.Annapurna.
I know you don't like to talk about these
things, but please try to verbalize your
feelings.
184
4638
V46
verbatim
word for word; in the same words; repeating the
actual words exactly
He repeated the message verbatim.
4639
V47
verbiage
pompous array of words; too many
unnecessary words; wordiness
4640
4641
V48
V49
verbose
verdant
wordy; N. verbosity
green; covered with green plants or grass; lush
in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows
After we had waded through all the verbiage,
we discovered that the writer had said very
little.
This article is too verbose; we must edit it.
Monet's paintings of the verdant meadows
were symphonies in green.
4642
V50
verdigris
green coating or patina on copper which has
been exposed to the weather
Despite all attempts to protect the statue from
the elements, it became coated with verdigris.
4643
V51
verge
border; edge, rim, or margin; Ex. on the verge
of: very near to; V: border on
Madame Curie knew she was on the verge of
discovering the secrets of radioactive
elements.
4644
V52
verisimilar
having the appearance of truth or reality;
probable or likely to be true; plausible
4645
V53
verisimilitude
appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be
true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her
performance as Lady Macbeth
4646
V54
veritable
being truly so; real or genuine; actual; not false
or imaginary
4647
V55
verity
quality of being true; lasting truth or principle;
Ex. the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the
eternal verities
The four verities were revealed to Buddha
during his long meditation.
4648
V56
vernacular
Cut out those old-fashioned "thee's" and
"thou's" and write in the vernacular.
4649
V57
vernal
living language (as compared to the official
language); language spoken in a country or
region; natural style; Ex. lapse into the
vernacular
pertaining to spring
4650
V58
versatile
having many talents; capable of working in
many fields; having many uses or functions; N.
versatility
He was a versatile athlete; at college he had
earned varsity letters in baseball, football,
and track.
4651
V59
vertebrate
having a backbone or spinal column; N: group
of animals having a segmented spinal column
4652
V60
vertex
summit; highest point; PL. vertices
Let us drop a perpendicular line from the
vertex of the triangle to the base.
4653
V61
vertigo
severe dizziness; giddiness
We test potential plane pilots for susceptibility
to spells of vertigo.
4654
V62
verve
enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or
composition); liveliness; vigor
She approached her studies with such verve
that it was impossible for her to do poorly.
4655
V63
vestige
trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient
religion
We discovered vestiges of early Indian life in
the cave.
4656
V64
veto
vested power to reject a bill; exercise of this
right; V: prevent or forbid by exercising the
power of veto
4657
V65
vex
annoy; distress
Please try not to vex your mother; she is
doing the best she can.
4658
V66
viable
capable of maintaining life; feasible; practical or
workable; Ex. viable scheme
The infant, though prematurely born, is viable
and has a good chance to survive.
4659
4660
4661
4662
V67
V68
V69
V70
viand
vibrant
vicar
vicarious
food; CF. live
full of vigor or energy; vibrating
parish priest; representative
experienced as if one were taking part in the
experience of another; done by a deputy for
other people; acting as a substitute; Ex.
vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious
sufferings of Christ
There was a variety of viands at the feast.
4663
V71
vicissitude
change (esp. from good to bad); change of
fortune; CF. the last emperor of China
Humbled by life's vicissitudes, the last
emperor of China worked as a lowly gardener
in the palace over which he had once ruled.
4664
V72
victuals
food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food
I am very happy to be able to provide you
with these victuals; I know you are hungry.
Critics praised her for the verisimilitude of her
performance as Lady Macbeth. She was
completely believable.
We may expect vernal showers all during the
month of April.
Many people get a vicarious thrill at the
movies by imagining they are the characters
on the screen.
185
4665
V73
vie
contend; compete
Politicians vie with one another, competing
for donations and votes.
4666
V74
vigil
keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours);
Ex. all-night vigil
4667
V75
vigilant
watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to
spot danger; N. vigilance
4668
V76
vigilante
one who without authority assumes law
enforcement powers
4669
V77
vignette
small drawing placed at the beginning or end of
a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short
written description of a character or scene
The New Yorker published her latest vignette.
4670
V78
vigor
active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ.
vigorous
Although he was over seventy years old, Jack
had the vigor of a man in his prime.
4671
V79
vile
despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile
slander
4672
V80
vilify
slander; speak evil of; N. vilification
She is a liar and is always trying to vilify my
reputation.
4673
V81
vindicate
clear from blame; free from blame or accusation
(with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate;
justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one's
client; Ex. vindicate one's claim; CF. vindicator
I hope to vindicate my client and return him to
society as a free man.
4674
V82
vindictive
disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge;
spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex.
vindictive streak
She was very vindictive and never forgave an
injury.
4675
V83
vintner
wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine
The poet wondered what the vintners could
buy that would be half as precious as the
wine they sold.
4676
V84
violate
break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault
sexually; Ex. violate graves
4677
V85
viper
poisonous snake
The habitat of the horned viper, a particularly
venomous snake, is in sandy regions like the
Sahara or the Sinai peninsula.
4678
V86
virile
manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full
of strength
I do not accept the premise that a man is
virile only when he is belligerent.
4679
V87
virtual
in essence; existing in essence though not in
actual form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual
ruler/space
She is a virtual financial wizard when it
comes to money matters.
4680
V88
virtue
goodness; moral excellence; good quality;
advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of
necessity
4681
V89
virtuoso
highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano
virtuoso
4682
V90
virulent
(of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or
poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N.
virulence; CF. virus; CF. venom
A virtue carried to extremes can turn into
something resembling vice; humility, for
example, can degenerate into servility and
spinelessness.
The child prodigy Yehudi Menuhin grew into a
virtuoso whose virtuosity on the violin thrilled
millions.
The virus is highly virulent and has made
many of us ill for days.
4683
V91
virus
disease communicator
The doctors are looking for a specific
medicine to control this virus.
4684
V92
visage
face; appearance
The stern visage of the judge indicated that
she had decided to impose a severe penalty.
4685
V93
visceral
felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal
body organs; CF. eviscerate
She disliked the visceral sensations she had
whenever she rode the roller coaster.
4686
V94
viscid
adhesive; gluey
4687
V95
viscous
(of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF.
consistency
The trunk of the maple tree was viscid with
sap.
Melted tar is a viscous substance.
4688
V96
vise
vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping
device
4689
V97
vision
eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by
the imagination; experience of seeing the
supernatural
Before filling its edges, the keysmith took the
blank key and fixed it firmly between the jaws
of a vise.
186
4690
V98
visionary
produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical;
showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one
given to speculative impractical ideas
She was given to visionary schemes that
never materialized.
4691
V99
vital
full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical;
of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of
life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize
The vital, highly energetic first aid instructor
stressed that it was vital in examining
accident victims to note their vital signs.
4692
V100
vitiate
spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt
morally
Fraud will vitiate the contract.
4693
V101
vitreous
of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V.
vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify
4694
V102
vitriolic
4695
V103
vituperative
causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic;
corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol:
sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply);
bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression;
CF. glass
abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold;
rail against abusively
Although this plastic has many vitreous
qualties such as transparency, it is
unbreakable.
Such vitriolic criticism is uncalled for.
4696
V104
vivacious
lively or animated; sprightl sprightly/lively
4697
V105
vivid
(of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking
lifelike mental images; Ex. vivid red
hair/description
4698
V106
vivisection
act of dissecting living animals
4699
V107
vixen
female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew
4700
V108
vociferous
clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly
(when complaining)
4701
V109
vogue
popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.
Jeans became the vogue on many college
campuses.
4702
V110
volatile
changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of
temper); mercurial; tending to violence;
evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile
character/situation in the street
The political climate today is extremely
volatile: no one can predict what the
electorate will do next.
4703
V111
volition
act of using one's will; act of making a
conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress
of her own volition.
She selected this dress of her own volition.
4704
V112
volley
4705
V113
voluble
simultaneous discharge of a number of shots;
V.
fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility
4706
V114
voluminous
having great volume (as of a garment or
container); bulky; large
4707
V115
voluptuous
sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging
in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex.
voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary:
voluptuous person
4708
4709
V116
V117
voodoo
voracious
religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
ravenous; eating large quantities of food;
exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious
animal/reader
The wolf is a voracious animal, its hunger
never satisfied.
4710
V118
vortex
whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence;
predicament into which one is inexorably
plunged
Sucked into the vortex of the tornado,
Dorothy and Toto were carried from Kansas
to Oz.
4711
V119
vouch
give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for
his integrity; N. voucher
4712
V120
vouchsafe
grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex.
vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
He became more vituperative as he realized
that we were not going to grant him his wish.
She had always been vivacious and
sparkling.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals opposed vivisection and deplored
the practice of using animals in scientific
experiments.
Aware that she was right once again, he lost
his temper and called her a shrew and a
vixen.
The crowd grew vociferous in its anger and
threatened to take the law into its own hands.
She was a voluble speaker, always ready to
talk.
Despite her family burdens, she kept up a
voluminous correspondence with her friends.
The nobility during the Renaissance led
voluptuous lives.
I can safely vouchsafe you fair return on your
investment.
187
4713
V121
voyeur
Peeping Tom; person who derives sexual
gratification from observing the sexual acts of
others
Jill called Jack a voyeur when she caught him
aiming his binoculars at a bedroom window of
the house next door.
4714
V122
vulgar
of the common people; deficient in refinement;
not refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth;
N. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word;
CF. vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout
4715
4716
V123
V124
vulnerable
vulpine
susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability
like a fox; crafty
4717
4718
4719
V125
V126
W1
vulture
vying
wade
carrion-eating birds
contending; CF. vie
walk through a substance, such as water, that
impedes movement
4720
W2
waffle
speak equivocally about an issue; N.
4721
W3
waft
move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or
waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window
4722
W4
wag
shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog
wagged its tail; N: humorous person; wit
4723
4724
W5
W6
wage
waggish
begin and continue (a war)
humorous; mischievous; tricky
4725
W7
waif
homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
Although he already had eight cats, he could
not resist adopting yet another feline waif.
4726
W8
waive
give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a
right or claim; document that waives a right or
claim
I will waive my rights in this matter in order to
expedite our reaching a proper decision.
4727
W9
wake
trail of ship or other object through water; path
of something that has gone before; Ex. hunger
followed in the wake of the war
4728
W10
wallow
roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough
sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the
mud/luxury
The hippopotamus loves to wallow in the
mud.
4729
W11
wan
having a pale or sickly color; pallid
Suckling asked, "Why so pale and wan, fond
lover?"
4730
4731
W12
W13
wanderlust
wane
strong longing to travel
decrease in size or strength (after being full);
grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes
and wanes every month; N.
4732
W14
wangle
She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
4733
W15
wanton
achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake;
Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the
party.
unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully
malicious; unchaste; sexually improper;
promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF.
having no just cause
4734
W16
warble
(of a bird) sing; babble; N.
Every morning the birds warbled outside her
window.
4735
W17
ward
administrative division of a city; division in a
hospital or prison; incompetent person placed
under the protection of a guardian; V: guard;
ward off: avert
4736
4737
W18
W19
warp
warrant
twist out of shape; N.
justification; written order that serves as
authorization (esp. a judicial writ); Ex.
search/death warrant; V: justify; guarantee
4738
W20
warranted
justified; authorized
Achilles was vulnerable only in his heel.
She disliked his sly ways, but granted him a
certain vulpine intelligence.
When asked directly about the governor's
involvement in the savings and loan scandal,
the press secretary waffled, talking all around
the issue.
Daydreaming, he gazed at the leaves that
wafted past his window.
He was a prankster who, unfortunately, often
overlooked the damage he could cause with
his waggish tricks.
From now until December 21, the winter
solstice, the hours of daylight will wane.
Pointing to the stack of bills, Sheldon
criticized Sarah for her wanton expenditures.
In response, Sara accused Sheldon of
making an unfounded, wanton attack.
Before the judge issues the injunction, you
must convince her this action is warranted.
188
4739
W21
warranty
guarantee; assurance by seller
The purchaser of this automobile is protected
by the manufacturer's warranty that he will
replace any defective part for five years or
50,000 miles.
The tenement was a veritable warren, packed
with people too poor to live elsewhere.
4740
W22
warren
tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living
area; crowded conditions in which people live
4741
W23
wary
very cautious; watchful
4742
W24
wastrel
waster; profligate
4743
W25
waver
move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or
unsteady in decision or movement; Ex.
wavering between accepting and refusing
4744
W26
wax
increase gradually (as the moon); grow
With proper handling, his fortunes waxed and
he became rich.
4745
W27
waylay
ambush; lie in wait for and attack
They agreed to waylay their victim as he
passed through the dark alley going home.
4746
W28
wean
accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the
young of a mammal) to take nourishment other
than by suckling; give up a cherished activity;
cause to gradually leave (an interest or habit);
Ex. wean oneself from cigarettes
He decided he would wean himself away
from eating junk food and stick to fruits and
vegetables.
4747
4748
W29
W30
weary
weather
tired after long work; V.
pass safely through (a storm or difficult period);
endure the effects of weather or other forces
4749
4750
4751
W31
W32
W33
weird
well-bred
welt
eerie; strange; unnatural
of good upbringing; well-mannered and refined
raised mark from a beating or whipping
4752
W34
welter
wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as
in blood); Ex. The victims weltered in their
blood.
At the height of the battle, the casualties were
so numerous that the victims weltered in their
blood while waiting for medical attention.
4753
W35
wheedle
deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole;
coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her
She knows she can wheedle almost anything
she wants from her father.
4754
W36
whelp
young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family);
young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.
This collie whelp won't do for breeding, but
he'd make a fine pet.
4755
W37
whet
sharpen; stimulate; Ex. whet someone's
appetite
4756
W38
whiff
puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); short-lasting
smell; hint; Ex. whiff of perfume/scandal
The odors from the kitchen are whetting my
appetite; I will be ravenous by the time the
meal is served.
The slightest whiff of Old Spice cologne
brought memories of George to her mind.
4757
4758
W39
W40
whim
whimsical
sudden capricious idea; fancy
capricious; fanciful; amusingly strange
4759
W41
whimsy
whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely;
Ex. story full of whimsy
4760
W42
whine
complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad
sound (as in pain or supplication)
4761
W43
whinny
neigh like a horse; CF. neigh: make the sound
which horses make
When he laughed through his nose, it
sounded as if he whinnied.
4762
W44
whit
small amount; smallest speck; Ex. not a whit of
There is not a whit of intelligence or
understanding in your observations.
4763
W45
whittle
pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in
this way; reduce gradually; trim
As a present for Aunt Polly, Tom whittled
some clothespins out of a chunk of wood.
4764
4765
W46
W47
wholesome
whorl
conducive to mental or physical health; healthful
ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular
arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers
4766
W48
wiggle
wriggle; move from side to side with irregular
twisting motions
The spies grew wary as they approached the
sentry.
He was denounced as a wastrel who had
dissipated his inheritance.
He weathered the changes in his personal life
with difficulty, as he had no one in whom to
confide.
The evidence of child abuse was very clear;
Jennifer's small body was covered with welts
and bruises.
He dismissed his generous gift to his college
as a sentimental fancy, an old man's
whimsical gesture.
Identification by fingerprints is based on the
difference in shape and number of whorls on
the fingers.
189
4767
W49
willful
wilful; intentional; headstrong
Donald had planned to kill his wife for
months; clearly, her death was a case of
deliberate, willful murder, not a crime of
passion committed by a hasty, willful youth
unable to foresee the consequences of his
deeds.
4768
4769
4770
W50
W51
W52
willowy
wilt
wily
She is as wily as a fox in avoiding trouble.
4771
W53
wince
flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
loose freshness; droop
crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful
stratagem
move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex.
She winced as she touched the cold body.
4772
4773
W54
W55
windfall
winnow
fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event
sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing;
separate good parts from bad; CF. wind
This huge tax refund is quite a windfall.
This test will winnow out the students who
study from those who don't bother.
4774
W56
winsome
charming (in a childlike way); agreeable;
gracious; engaging
By her winsome manner, she made herself
liked by everyone who met her.
4775
4776
W57
W58
wisp
wispy
small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)
thin; slight; barely discernible
4777
W59
wistful
sadly thoughtful (because of desires or
memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing
With a last wistful glance at the happy
couples dancing in the hall, Sue headed back
to her room to study for her exam.
4778
W60
withdrawn
introverted; retiring; remote remote/distant in
manner; aloof
4779
W61
wither
(of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose
freshness; shrivel; decay
Rebuffed by his colleagues, the initially
outgoing young researcher became
increasingly withdrawn.
Cut flowers are beautiful for a day, but all too
soon they wither.
4780
4781
4782
W62
W63
W64
withhold
withstand
witless
refuse to give; hold back; Ex. withholding tax
stand up against; resist successfully
lacking intelligence or wit; foolish; idiotic
4783
W65
witticism
witty saying; wisecrack(clever joking remark)
4784
4785
W66
W67
wizardry
wizened
sorcery; magic
shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady
4786
W68
woe
great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction;
suffering; Ex. financial woes
4787
W69
woeful
sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably
bad; Ex. woeful housing conditions
4788
W70
wont
(the stated person's) habit or custom; habitual
procedure; ADJ. wonted: customary
As was his wont, he jogged two miles every
morning before going to work.
4789
W71
worldly
engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual;
of the material world
You must leave your worldly goods behind
you when you go to meet your Maker.
4790
W72
wrangle
quarrel noisily; obtain through arguing; herd
cattle; N.
They wrangled over their inheritance.
4791
W73
wrath
anger; fury
She turned to him, full of wrath, and said,
"What makes you think I'll accept lower pay
for this job than you get?"
4792
W74
wreak
inflict; Ex. wreak one's vengeance on
I am afraid he will wreak his vengeance on
the innocent as well as the guilty.
4793
W75
wrench
twist; pull; strain; Ex. He wrenched the gun out
of her hands.
She wrenched free of her attacker and landed
a powerful kick to his kneecap.
4794
W76
wrest
obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by
violence; Ex. wrest victory from their grasp
With only ten seconds left to play, our team
wrested victory from their grasp.
4795
W77
wretch
miserable person; bad or despicable person;
ADJ. wretched: miserable; bad; contemptible;
vile
4796
W78
wring
twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting;
wrench painfully (necks or hands)
The screech of the chalk on the blackboard
made her wince.
Worried about preserving his few wispy tufts
of hair, Walter carefully massaged his scalp
and applied hair restorer every night.
Such witless and fatuous statements will
create the impression that you are an
ignorant individual.
What you regard as witticisms are often
offensive to sensitive people.
Merlin amazed the knights with his wizardry.
The wizened old man in the home for the
aged was still active and energetic.
190
4797
W79
wrinkle
small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth);
V.
4798
W80
writ
written command issued by a court (telling
someone to do or not to do something)
The hero of Leonard's novel is a process
server who invents unorthodox ways of
serving writs on reluctant parties.
4799
W81
writhe
twist in coils; contort in pain
He was writhing in pain, desperate for the
drug his body required.
4800
W82
wrongheaded
stubbornly wrong
4801
W83
wry
(esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with
a humorous twist (expressing displeasure)
We enjoy Dorothy Parker's verse for its wry
wit.
4802
X1
xenophobia
fear or hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe
4803
Y1
yen
strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel
When the refugee arrived in America, he was
unprepared for the xenophobia he found
there.
She had a yen to get away and live on her
own for a while.
4804
Y2
yeoman
man or farmer owning small estate; middleclass farmer
It was not the aristocrat but the yeoman who
determined the nation's policies.
4805
Y3
yield
amount produced; crop; income on investment;
profit obtained from an investment; V: produce;
give in; surrender
The wounded knight refused to yield to his
foe.
4806
Y4
yoke
join together; unite; N: crossbar used to joining
two draft animals
I don't wish to be yoked to him in marriage,
as if we were cattle pulling a plow.
4807
Y5
yokel
rustic; country bumpkin;
At school, his classmates regarded him as a
yokel and laughed at his rustic mannerisms.
4808
Y6
yore
time long past; Ex. in the days of yore
4809
Z1
zany
comic; crazy; N: clown; comical person (given
to outlandish behavior)
He dreamed of the elegant homes of yore,
but gave no thought to their inelegant
plumbing.
I can watch the Marx brothers' zany antics for
hours.
4810
Z2
zeal
eager enthusiasm (to a cause or ideal); ADJ.
zealous
4811
Z3
zealot
one who is zealous; fanatic; person who shows
excessive zeal
Wang's zeal was contagious; soon all his
fellow students were busily making posters,
inspired by his ardent enthusiasm for the
cause.
It is good to have a few zealots in our group
for their enthusiasm is contagious.
4812
Z4
zenith
point directly overhead in the sky; summit;
acme; highest point
When the sun was at its zenith, the glare was
not as strong as at sunrise and sunset.
4813
Z5
zephyr
gentle breeze; west wind
When these zephyrs blow, it is good to be in
an open boat under a full sail.
4814
Z6
zest
outer skin of an orange used for giving a special
taste to food; spice; interest; flavor; spirited
enjoyment; Ex. add a certain zest to the affair;
Ex. zest for life
191
Word
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Count
386
210
469
335
266
212
149
129
326
33
18
130
246
70
114
454
34
281
455
195
80
126
83
1
6
6
Sum
First
1
387
597
1066
1401
1667
1879
2028
2157
2483
2516
2534
2664
2910
2980
3094
3548
3582
3863
4318
4513
4593
4719
4802
4803
4809
4814
Last
386
596
1065
1400
1666
1878
2027
2156
2482
2515
2533
2663
2909
2979
3093
3547
3581
3862
4317
4512
4592
4718
4801
4802
4808
4814