|
abate*
|
to
reduce in amount, degree or severity
|
To abate is to reduce in amount, degree or severity.
|
|
abdicate
|
to
renounce or relinquish a throne
|
Implies a giving up of sovereign power
to give up (as a position of authority) formally<the revolutionary government forced Nicholas II to abdicate the Russian throne>
|
|
aberrant
|
abnormal
or deviant
|
Deviation from usual or natural type <aberrant behavior can be a sign of rabies in a wild animal>
|
|
abeyance
|
suspended
action
|
Temporary inactivity
|
|
abject
|
utterly
hopeless, humiliating or wretched
|
<abject surrender><abject apology>
|
|
abjure
|
to
renounce on oath
|
Implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath <abjured the errors of his former faith> |
|
ablution
|
act
of cleansing
|
|
|
abrogate
|
to
abolish by formal means
|
To abolish by authoritative action <the U.S. Congress can abrogate old treaties that are unfair to Native Americans> |
|
abscond*
|
depart
secretly and hide
|
|
|
abstemious*
|
sparing
in eating and drinking; temperate
|
marked by restraint especially in the consumption of food or alcohol <an abstemious diet>
|
|
abstruse
|
hard
to understand; secret, hidden
|
<the abstruse calculations of mathematics>
|
|
accretion
|
an
increase by natural growth
|
<accretions of lime have thickened the cave s stalactites and stalagmites over the centuries> |
|
acerbic
|
sour
or astringent in taste, harsh in temper
|
acid in temper, mood, or tone <acerbic commentary> <an acerbic reviewer> |
|
acquiesce
|
to
comply, give in
|
|
|
acrid
|
sharp
or biting to the taste or smell
|
|
|
acrimonious
|
caustic,
stinging or bitter in nature
|
|
|
adjoin*
|
to
be close or in contact with
|
|
|
adjure
|
to
beg or command
|
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority<in light of the seriousness of the gas explosion, the authorities have adjured all residents to evacuate the area> |
|
admonish
|
to
counsel against something; caution; warn; reprove
|
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault<admonished her for tossing her candy wrapper on the sidewalk> |
|
adulterate*
|
to
make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances
|
|
|
adventitious
|
accidental
|
|
|
aesthetic
|
artistic;
dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful
|
|
|
affable
|
friendly,
courteous
|
|
|
aggrandize
|
to
increase in power, influence and reputation
|
|
|
aggregate
|
gather;
accumulate
|
|
|
alacrity
|
cheerful
promptness; eagerness
|
|
|
alleviate
|
relieve
|
|
|
altruist
|
a
person unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others
|
|
|
amalgamate
|
combine;
unite in one body
|
|
|
amatory
|
of
or pertaining to lovers or lovemaking
|
|
|
ambiguous
|
unclear
or doubtful in meaning
|
|
|
ambivalence
|
the
state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
|
|
|
ameliorate
|
to
make better; to improve
|
|
|
amity
|
friendship;
peaceful harmony
|
|
|
anachronism*
|
something
or someone misplaced in time; an obsolete or archaic form
|
|
|
analogous
|
comparable
|
|
|
anarchy
|
absence
of governing body; state of disorder
|
|
|
androgen
|
any
substance that promotes masculine characteristics
|
|
|
androgynous
|
being
both male and female
|
|
|
animus
|
hostile
feeling or attitude
|
|
|
anomalous
|
abnormal;
irregular
|
|
|
antipathy*
|
aversion;
dislike
|
|
|
apartheid
|
any
system or caste that separates people according to race
|
|
|
apathy*
|
lack
of interest or emotion; uncaring; indifference
|
|
|
apogee
|
the
highest or most distant point
|
|
|
apostasy*
|
renunciation
of one’s previous loyalty; a total desertion of one’s religion, principles,
cause, etc.
|
abandonment of previous loyalty
|
|
apotheosis
|
glorification,
glorified ideal
|
|
|
appease
|
pacify
or soothe; relieve
|
<appeased my hunger>
|
|
apprise
|
inform
|
<they apprised him of his rights>
|
|
approbation*
|
approval;
praise, consideration
|
|
|
appropriate
|
acquire;
take possession of for one’s own use
|
|
|
arduous
|
hard;
strenuous
|
<years of arduous training>
|
|
arrogate
|
to
claim unwarrantably or presumptuously
|
to claim or sieze without justifications
|
|
artless
|
without
guile; open and honest
|
|
|
ascetic
|
practicing
self-denial; austere
|
|
|
assiduous*
|
diligent,
persistent, hardworking
|
<tended her garden with assiduous attention>
|
|
assuage
|
to
make less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
|
<assuage her grief after losing her husband> |
|
atrophy
|
to
waste away; wither or deteriorate; the wasting away of body tissue
|
|
|
attenuate
|
make
thinner
|
<attenuate leaves>
|
|
audacious
|
daring;
bold
|
<an audacious mountain climber>
|
|
austere*
|
forbiddingly
stern in appearance; severely simple and unornamented
|
|
|
autonomous*
|
self-governing;
independent
|
|
|
aver*
|
assert
confidently or declare; as used in law, state formally as a fact
|
<he averred his innocence> |
|
avocation
|
something
one does in addition to a principle occupation
|
|
|
banal
|
boring;
commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clichéd; hackneyed
|
|
|
belie
|
contradict;
give a false impression
|
<his bright smile belied his actual mood, which was really one of great sadness> |
|
belligerent
|
warlike,
given to waging war
|
|
|
bemoan
|
to
express pity for
|
|
|
beneficent
|
kindly;
doing good
|
|
|
benevolent
|
desiring
to do good to others
|
<a benevolent businessman who has donated money and time to helping inner-city youths> |
|
benign
|
having
a kindly disposition
|
|
|
bilateral
|
pertaining
to or affecting two or both sides
|
|
|
bolster
|
support;
reinforce
|
|
|
bombastic*
|
pompous
in speech and manner ; using inflated language
|
|
|
boorish
|
rude;
insensitive
|
|
|
burgeon
|
grow
forth; send out buds
|
<the spring flowers burgeoned once the warm weather set in for good>
|
|
burnish
|
make
shiny by rubbing; polish
|
|
|
buttress
|
support;
prop up
|
<my mother has always been the buttress of our family in trying times> |
|
capitulate
|
to
surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms
|
<the city capitulated to the invaders after a three-day siege> |
|
capricious*
|
unpredictable;
fickle; changing one’s mind quickly and often
|
<capricious weather that was balmy one day and freezing cold the next> |
|
castigate*
|
to
punish or criticize harshly
|
<a newspaper editorial castigating the city council for approving the project in the first place> |
|
catalyst
|
agent
that increases the rate of a chemical action; person or thing that causes
action
|
|
|
caustic
|
burning;
sarcastically biting
|
|
|
chicanery*
|
trickery;
deception by means of craft or guile
|
|
|
circuitous
|
roundabout,
indirect
|
|
|
circumambulate
|
to
walk about or around
|
|
|
circumscribe
|
to
draw a line around
|
|
|
circumspect
|
watchful
and discreet
|
|
|
coagulate
|
thicken;
congeal; clot
|
|
|
coda
|
concluding
section of a musical or literary composition; something that summarizes
or concludes
|
|
|
cogent*
|
convincing
and well reasoned
|
<the results of the DNA fingerprinting were the most cogent evidence for acquittal> |
|
commensurate
|
corresponding
in extent, degree, etc.; proportionate
|
<was given a job commensurate with her abilities> |
|
compendium
|
brief,
comprehensive summary
|
|
|
complacent
|
self-satisfied,
unconcerned
|
<they grew complacent and reacted badly to unexpected events> <complacent smile>
|
|
complaisant*
|
trying
to please; overly polite; obliging
|
<the most complaisant student I've ever met> |
|
compliant
|
yielding;
conforming to requirements
|
|
|
compunction
|
a
feeling of uneasiness for doing wrong
|
<throughout her school years she cheated without compunction> |
|
concentric
|
having
a common center
|
|
|
conciliate
|
to
placate, win over
|
<a principal trying to conciliate the parents who did not receive their tickets to graduation ceremonies> |
|
conciliatory
|
reconciling;
soothing
|
<eased the tension with conciliatory remarks> |
|
condone
|
overlook;
forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
|
to overlook or dismiss as of little importance <Roger is too quick to condone his friend's faults> |
|
conflagration
|
a
large destructive fire
|
|
|
confluence
|
merging
into one
|
<a happy confluence of beautiful weather and spectacular scenery during our vacation> |
|
confound
|
confuse;
puzzle
|
<we were confounded by the unexpectedly difficult questions on the quiz> |
|
congenital
|
existing
or as such from birth
|
|
|
connoisseur
|
person
competent to act as a judge of art; a lover of art
|
|
|
contention
|
claim;
thesis
|
<my contention is that today s lower batting averages are the result of better pitching> |
|
contentious
|
quarrelsome
|
<the Tartars were a contentious people who terrorized much of Asia and eastern Europe during the Middle Ages> |
|
contravene
|
to
come into conflict with
|
<contravene a law> |
|
contrite
|
feeling
regret and sorrow for one’s sins or offenses; penitent
|
<a contrite apology>
|
|
conundrum
|
riddle;
difficult problem
|
<the conundrum of how ancient people were able to build such massive structures without the benefit of today s knowledge and technology> |
|
convalescent
|
recovering
from illness
|
<the long months that the soldier spent in the hospital slowly convalescing> |
|
converge
|
approach;
tend to meet; come together
|
|
|
convoke
|
to
call together
|
|
|
convoluted*
|
intricate
and complicated
|
|
|
corroborate
|
to
provide supporting evidence
|
|
|
craven
|
cowardly
|
<a craven refusal to deliver the unwelcome news personally> |
|
credulous*
|
too
trusting; gullible
|
<accused of swindling credulous investors> |
|
cursory
|
going
rapidly over something; hasty; superficial
|
|
|
daunt
|
intimidate;
frighten
|
<the raging inferno didn t daunt the firefighters for a moment> |
|
decadent
|
decaying;
deteriorating
|
<decadent relationship>
|
|
decorum
|
propriety;
orderliness and good taste in manners
|
|
|
default
|
failure
to act
|
|
|
deference*
|
respect;
courteous regard for another’s wishes
|
|
|
deferential
|
respectful;
to yield judgment to
|
|
|
deign
|
to
think fit or in accordance with one’s dignity
|
<I wouldn t deign to answer that absurd accusation> |
|
delineate
|
portray;
depict; sketch
|
|
|
delude
|
to
mislead the mind of judgment of, deceive
|
<we deluded ourselves into thinking that the ice cream wouldn t affect our diet> |
|
denigrate
|
blacken
|
<denigrate their achievements> |
|
deride
|
ridicule;
make fun of
|
<my brothers derided our efforts, but were forced to eat their words when we won first place> |
|
derision
|
contemptuous
or jeering laughter; ridicule.
|
<her absurd behavior on the awards show became a source of derision for comedians> |
|
derivative
|
unoriginal;
obtained from another source
|
|
|
desiccate*
|
to
dry out thoroughly
|
|
|
desultory*
|
aimless;
haphazard; digressing at random
|
<a desultory search for something of interest on TV> |
|
deterrent
|
something
that discourages; hindrance
|
|
|
diatribe
|
bitter
scolding; invective
|
|
|
dichotomy*
|
split;
branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
|
|
|
diffident*
|
lacking
or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid.
|
<for someone who makes a living performing for other people, the actress is remarkably diffident in real life> |
|
diffuse*
|
to
spread widely or thinly
|
|
|
digression
|
wandering
away from the subject
|
<the teacher s digression took up half of the allotted class time> |
|
dilatory*
|
inclined
to delay or procrastinate
|
<he was dilatory in delivering the message> |
|
dilettante
|
someone
with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
|
<many dilettante efforts to be seen at the sidewalk art show> |
|
dirge
|
lament
with music
|
|
|
disabuse*
|
correct
a false impression; to set right; to
free from error
|
<let me disabuse you of your foolish notions about married life> |
|
discerning
|
mentally
quick and observant; having insight
|
<a discerning critic of modern art> |
|
discordant
|
not
harmonious; conflicting
|
|
|
discredit
|
defame;
destroy confidence in; disbelieve
|
<attempted to discredit her political opponents by deliberately spreading false rumors> |
|
discrepancy
|
lack
of consistency; difference
|
|
|
discrete
|
separate;
unconnected; consisting of distinct parts
|
|
|
disingenuous
|
lacking
genuine candor; insincere
|
|
|
disinterested
|
unprejudiced
|
|
|
disjointed
|
lacking
coherence; separated at the joints
|
|
|
dismiss
|
eliminate
from consideration; reject
|
|
|
disparage
|
belittle,
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
|
<disparaged polo as a game for the idle rich> |
|
disparate
|
fundamentally
distinct or different in kind; entirely dissimilar
|
|
|
disport
|
to
divert or amuse oneself
|
<children disporting in the playground at a variety of games> |
|
disquiet
|
a
lack of calm or peace
|
|
|
dissemble*
|
disguise;
pretend; to disguise one’s real intentions or character
|
<children learn to dissemble at a surprisingly early age> |
|
disseminate*
|
distribute;
spread widely; scatter (like seeds)
|
<missionaries sent by their church to disseminate their faith> |
|
dissolution
|
disintegration;
looseness in morals
|
<the dissolution of the empire into a patchwork of kingdoms> <dissolute side of human nature>
|
|
dissonance
|
discord;
opposite of harmony
|
|
|
distend
|
to
expand by stretching; swell out
|
|
|
distill
|
purify;
refine; concentrate
|
|
|
diverge
|
vary;
go in different directions from the same point
|
|
|
divest
|
strip;
deprive
|
<she was divested of her clothes>
|
|
doctrine
|
a
principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief;
dogma
|
|
|
document
|
provide
written evidence
|
|
|
dogma
|
a
firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
|
|
|
dogmatic*
|
opinionated;
arbitrary; doctrinal
|
|
|
doleful
|
sorrowful,
mournful
|
|
|
dormant
|
sleeping;
lethargic; latent
|
|
|
dour
|
sullen,
gloomy
|
|
|
dupe*
|
to
deceive; a person who is easily deceived
|
|
|
duplicity
|
deceitfulness
in speech or conduct; double-dealing
|
|
|
dystrophy
|
faulty
or inadequate nutrition or development
|
|
|
ebullient
|
showing
excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm
|
<ebullient performers>
|
|
eclectic*
|
selective;
composed of elements from a variety of sources
|
<his eclectic essay was very comprehensive and informative> |
|
efficacy*
|
effectiveness
; power to produce desired effect
|
<questioned the efficacy of the alarms in actually preventing auto theft> |
|
effigy
|
a
dummy; a likeness or image, especially of a person.
|
|
|
effluence
|
flowing
out of
|
<the effluence of pus from the wound is disgusting>
|
|
effrontery
|
impudence;
shameless boldness; sheer nerve; presumptuousness
|
<it s a little presumptuous of you to assume that I m your new best friend just because I invited you along> |
|
elegy*
|
a
sorrowful poem or speech
|
|
|
elicit
|
draw
out by discussion
|
<the role elicited the actress s flair for comedy that previous directors had overlooked> |
|
elocution
|
art
of clear and expressive speaking
|
|
|
embellish
|
adorn;
ornament; enhance, as a story
|
<the walls of the French restaurant are embellished with scenes of Parisian life> |
|
empathy
|
the
identification with the feelings or thoughts of others
|
the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and
vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of
another of either the past or present without having the feelings,
thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit
manner |
|
empirical
|
based
on experience
|
|
|
emulate
|
imitate;
rival
|
|
|
endemic
|
prevailing
among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country
|
|
|
enervate*
|
weaken;
to reduce in strength
|
<the surgery really enervated me for weeks afterwards> |
|
engender*
|
to
produce, cause or bring about
|
<a suggestion to go out for pizza that didn t seem to engender any interest> |
|
enhance
|
increase;
improve
|
|
|
enigma
|
a
puzzle; a mystery
|
|
|
ephemeral*
|
short-lived;
fleeting
|
|
|
epigram
|
a
witty or pointed saying tersely expressed
|
|
|
epithet
|
a
word or phrase characteristically used to characterize a person or thing, an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
|
<King Richard I of England was given the very laudatory epithet “the Lion-Hearted”>
<the school has a strict ban against the use of racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual epithets>
|
|
equanimity
|
calmness
of temperament; composure
|
<an Olympic diver who always displays remarkable equanimity on the platform> |
|
equivocate*
|
lie;
mislead; attempt to conceal the truth
|
<the candidate equivocated as long as he could on controversial issues> |
|
erudite*
|
learned,
scholarly, bookish
|
<the most erudite people in medical research attended the conference>
<the erudite language of a textbook on philosophy>
|
|
esoteric*
|
hard
to understand; known only to the chosen few
|
<metaphysics is such an esoteric subject that most people are content to leave it to the philosophers> |
|
estimable
|
admirable
|
<an estimable adversary> |
|
eugenics
|
improvement
of qualities of race by control of inherited characteristics
|
|
|
eulogy*
|
expression
of praise, often on the occasion of someone’s death
|
<several eulogies were given at the special assembly marking the retirement of the school s principal> |
|
euphemism
|
an
inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered
offensive
|
|
|
euphony
|
pleasantness
of sound
|
|
|
exacerbate*
|
worsen;
to increase bitterness or violence
|
<the proposed shutdown…would exacerbate unemployment problems
— Science> |
|
exculpate*
|
to
clear from blame; prove innocent
|
<the teacher exculpated the new student from the mishap>
|
|
execrable
|
abominable
|
<execrable hotel food> |
|
exigency
|
urgent
situation; pressing needs or demands; state of requiring immediate attention
|
<exceptionally quick in responding to the exigencies of modern warfare
— D. B. Ottaway> |
|
exigent
|
urgent;
requiring immediate action
|
<an exigent client>, <exigent circumstances>
|
|
expound
|
to
set forth in detail
|
<at the start of the trial the judge expounded the legal difference between libel and slander to the jury> |
|
extrapolation
|
projection;
conjecture
|
|
|
exult
|
to
show or feel triumphant joy
|
<the winners of the Super Bowl spent the next week exulting in their victory> |
|
facetious
|
joking
(often inappropriately); humorous
|
<a facetious and tasteless remark about people in famine-stricken countries being spared the problem of overeating> |
|
facilitate
|
help
bring about; make less difficult
|
|
|
fallacious
|
false;
misleading
|
<consumers who harbor the fallacious belief that credit-card spending will never catch up with them> |
|
fatuous
|
brainless;
inane; foolish, yet smug
|
<ignoring the avalanche warnings, the fatuous skiers continued on their course> |
|
fawning*
|
trying
to please by behaving obsequiously, flattering, or cringing
|
a student who could not wait to fawn over the new teacher> |
|
felicitous
|
apt;
suitably expressed; well chosen
|
<the museum s restaurant is featuring a French menu as a felicitous complement to the current show on French Impressionism> |
|
fervor
|
glowing
ardor; intensity of feeling
|
<surprised by the fervor that her parents old love letters contained when she discovered them in the attic> |
|
fiduciary
|
of
a trust; held or given in trust
|
<a fiduciary contract>
|
|
flag
|
droop;
grow feeble; to decline in vigor or strength
|
<the conversation flagged>
|
|
fledgling
|
inexperienced
|
<a fledgling enterprise> |
|
flout
|
reject;
mock; show contempt for
|
<behaviour that flouted convention>
|
|
foment*
|
to
arouse or incite
|
<he was accused of fomenting unrest>
|
|
forestall*
|
prevent
by taking action in advance
|
<an action forestalling any further talks>
|
|
fractious
|
irritable,
peevish
|
<an incorrigibly fractious young man> |
|
frugality
|
thrifty;
economy
|
<Scots are famous for their frugality> |
|
fusillade
|
continuous
discharge of firearms or outburst of criticism
|
<A fusillade of insults> |
|
futile
|
useless;
hopeless; ineffectual
|
|
|
gainsay
|
deny
|
|
|
garrulous
|
loquacious;
talkative; wordy
|
|
|
goad
|
urge
on
|
|
|
gouge
|
overcharge
|
|
|
grandiloquent*
|
pompous
or inflated in language; bombastic; using high-sounding language
|
|
|
gregarious
|
sociable
|
|
|
guile
|
deceit
or trickery
|
|
|
guileless
|
without
deceit
|
|
|
gullible
|
easily
deceived
|
|
|
harangue
|
long,
passionate, and vehement speech
|
|
|
heterodox
|
different
from acknowledged standard; holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines
|
|
|
heterogeneous
|
of
other origin; not originating in the body
|
|
|
homogeneous
|
of
the same kind
|
|
|
hyperbole
|
exaggeration;
overstatement
|
|
|
hypocritical
|
affecting
virtues or qualities one does not have
|
|
|
iconoclast*
|
one
who opposes established beliefs, customs and institutions
|
|
|
idolatry
|
worship
of idols; excessive admiration
|
|
|
immutable
|
unchangeable
|
|
|
impair
|
injure;
hurt
|
|
|
impassive*
|
without
feeling; imperturbable; showing or feeling no emotion
|
|
|
impede
|
hinder;
block
|
|
|
impermeable
|
impervious;
not permitting passage through its substance
|
|
|
imperturbable
|
calm;
placid
|
|
|
impervious*
|
impenetrable;
incapable of being damaged or distressed
|
|
|
impetuous*
|
quick
to act without thinking
|
|
|
implacable
|
incapable
of being pacified
|
|
|
implicit
|
understood
but not stated
|
|
|
implode
|
burst
inward
|
|
|
importune
|
to
urge or press with excessive persistence
|
|
|
impugn
|
to
attack as false or questionable; challenge in argument
|
|
|
inadvertently
|
unintentionally;
by oversight; carelessly
|
|
|
inamorata
|
a
female lover
|
|
|
inchoate*
|
not
fully formed; disorganized; rudimentary; elementary
|
|
|
incongruity
|
lack
of harmony; absurdity
|
|
|
inconsequential
|
insignificant;
unimportant
|
|
|
incorporate
|
introduce
something into a larger whole; combine; unite
|
|
|
inculpate
|
to
charge with fault
|
|
|
incursion
|
a
hostile entrance into a place
|
|
|
indeterminate
|
uncertain;
not clearly fixed; indefinite
|
|
|
indigence
|
poverty
|
|
|
indigent
|
experiencing
want or need; impoverished.
|
|
|
indoctrinate
|
to
imbue someone with learning
|
|
|
indolence*
|
state
of being lazy or slothful
|
|
|
induce
|
to
move or lead by influence
|
|
|
ineffable
|
too
great for description
|
|
|
inert
|
inactive;
lacking power to move
|
|
|
infusion
|
liquid
extract so obtained
|
|
|
ingenuous*
|
naive
and trusting; young; unsophisticated
|
|
|
inherent
|
firmly
established by nature or habit
|
|
|
inimical
|
hostile,
unfriendly
|
|
|
innocuous
|
harmless
|
|
|
insensate
|
without
feeling or sensitivity
|
|
|
insensible
|
unconscious;
unresponsive
|
|
|
insidious
|
intended
to trap or beguile
|
|
|
insinuate
|
hint;
imply; creep in
|
|
|
insipid*
|
lacking
in interest or flavor; dull
|
|
|
insolent
|
boldly
rude or disrespectful
|
|
|
insularity
|
narrow-mindedness;
isolation
|
|
|
interloper
|
someone
who intrudes in the domain of others
|
|
|
intractable
|
unruly;
stubborn; unyielding
|
|
|
intransigence
|
refusal
of any compromise; stubbornness
|
|
|
intransigent*
|
refusing
to agree or compromise
|
|
|
inundate
|
overwhelm;
flood; submerge
|
|
|
inured
|
accustomed;
hardened
|
|
|
invective*
|
of,
relating to, or characterized by insult or abuse
|
|
|
irascible*
|
irritable;
easily angered
|
|
|
irresolute
|
uncertain
how to act; weak
|
|
|
itinerary
|
plan
of a trip
|
|
|
laconic
|
brief
and to the point; using few words
|
|
|
lassitude
|
languor;
weariness
|
|
|
latent
|
potential
but undeveloped; dormant; hidden
|
|
|
laud
|
praise
|
|
|
lethargic
|
drowsy;
dull
|
|
|
levee
|
earth
or stone embankment to prevent flooding
|
|
|
levity
|
lack
of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity
|
|
|
litigate
|
to
make the subject of a lawsuit
|
|
|
log
|
record
of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities
|
|
|
loquacious
|
talkative
|
|
|
lucid
|
easily
understood; clear; intelligible
|
|
|
luminous
|
shining;
issuing light
|
|
|
magnanimity
|
generosity
|
|
|
magnanimous
|
generous
in forgiving an insult or injury
|
|
|
magnate
|
a
powerful or influential person
|
|
|
maladroit
|
clumsy,
tactless
|
|
|
malevolent
|
characterized
by or expressing bad will
|
|
|
malfeasance
|
misconduct
or wrongdoing often committed by a public official
|
|
|
malign
|
to
speak harmful untruths about, to slander
|
|
|
malinger
|
to
evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
|
|
|
malingerer
|
one
who feigns illness to escape duty
|
|
|
malleable
|
capable
of being shaped by pounding; impressionable
|
|
|
maverick
|
rebel;
nonconformist
|
|
|
maxim
|
an
expression of general truth or principle
|
|
|
mendacious
|
lying;
habitually dishonest
|
|
|
metamorphosis
|
change
of form
|
|
|
meticulous
|
excessively
careful; painstaking; scrupulous
|
|
|
minatory
|
menacing,
threatening
|
|
|
misanthrope*
|
one
who hates mankind
|
|
|
miscegenation
|
interbreeding
of races
|
|
|
mitigate*
|
to
soften, to lessen
|
|
|
mollify*
|
to
calm or make less severe; soothe
|
|
|
morose
|
ill-humored;
sullen; melancholy
|
|
|
mundane
|
worldly
as opposed to spiritual; everyday
|
|
|
nascent
|
starting
to develop
|
|
|
negate
|
cancel
out; nullify; deny
|
|
|
neophyte*
|
recent
convert; beginner
|
|
|
obdurate
|
stubborn,
hardened in feelings; resistant to persuasion
|
|
|
obfuscate
|
to
render indistinct or dim
|
|
|
oblique
|
having
a slanting or sloping direction
|
|
|
obsequious*
|
overly
submissive and eager to please; servile; sycophantic
|
|
|
obsolescent
|
becoming
obsolete
|
|
|
obstreperous
|
noisily
defiant, unruly
|
|
|
obtuse
|
not
sharp, pointed or acute
|
|
|
obviate
|
to
prevent; make unnecessary; get rid of
|
|
|
occlude
|
to
stop; close; to prevent the passage of
|
|
|
officious
|
meddlesome;
excessively pushy in offering one’s services
|
|
|
omnivorous
|
eating
or absorbing everything
|
|
|
onerous*
|
troublesome
and oppressive; burdensome
|
|
|
opprobrium*
|
public
disgrace; infamy; vilification
|
|
|
oscillate
|
vibrate;
waver
|
|
|
ostentatious
|
showy;
pretentious; trying to attract attention
|
|
|
panegyric
|
formal
or elaborate praise at an assembly
|
|
|
panoply
|
a
wide-ranging and impressive array or display
|
|
|
paragon*
|
model
of excellence or perfection
|
|
|
partisan
|
one-sided;
prejudiced; committed to a party
|
|
|
pathogenic
|
causing
disease
|
|
|
pathological
|
pertaining
to disease
|
|
|
paucity*
|
smallness
of quantity; scarcity; scantiness
|
|
|
pedantic
|
showing
off learning; bookish
|
|
|
penchant
|
strong
inclination; liking
|
|
|
penury
|
severe
poverty; stinginess
|
|
|
percipient
|
having
perception; discerning; discriminating
|
|
|
perennial
|
something
long-lasting
|
|
|
perfidious*
|
treacherous;
disloyal; willing to betray one’s trust
|
|
|
perfidious
|
willing
to betray one’s trust
|
|
|
perfunctory*
|
superficial;
not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; done in a routine
way;
|
|
|
peripatetic
|
walking
or traveling about; itinerant
|
|
|
permeable
|
penetrable;
porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through
|
|
|
permutation
|
a
complete change; transformation
|
|
|
perquisite
|
a
gratuity, tip
|
|
|
perspicacious
|
having
keen mental perception and understanding; shrewd; astute
|
|
|
pertinacious
|
resolute;
persistent, stubborn
|
|
|
pervasive
|
spread
throughout
|
|
|
petulant
|
showing
sudden irritation, esp. over some annoyance
|
|
|
philanderer
|
one
who carries on flirtations
|
|
|
philanthropy
|
charity;
a desire or effort to promote goodness
|
|
|
philology
|
the
study of literary texts to establish their authenticity and determine
their meaning
|
|
|
phlegmatic
|
calm;
not easily disturbed
|
|
|
piety
|
devoutness;
reverence for God
|
|
|
placate
|
pacify;
conciliate
|
|
|
plasticity
|
ability
to be molded
|
|
|
platitude
|
trite
remark; commonplace statement
|
|
|
plethora*
|
excess;
overabundance
|
|
|
plummet
|
fall
sharply
|
|
|
porous
|
full
of pores; like a sieve
|
|
|
pragmatic
|
practical
(as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact
of something
|
|
|
preamble
|
introductory
statement
|
|
|
precarious
|
uncertain;
risky
|
|
|
precept
|
a
commandment given as a rule of action or conduct
|
|
|
precipitate
|
n.
to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
|
|
|
precipitate
|
adj.
rash, premature, hasty, sudden
|
|
|
preclude
|
to
prevent the presence of
|
|
|
precocious
|
unusually
advanced or mature in mental development or talent
|
|
|
precursor
|
forerunner
|
|
|
predilection
|
preference,
liking
|
|
|
prescient
|
having
knowledge of things before they happen
|
|
|
presentiment
|
a
feeling of anticipation over a future event
|
|
|
presumptuous
|
arrogant;
taking liberties
|
|
|
prevaricate*
|
to
lie or deviate from the truth
|
|
|
pristine
|
characteristic
of earlier times; primitive; unspoiled
|
|
|
probity*
|
honesty;
uprightness; incorruptibility
|
|
|
problematic
|
doubtful;
unsettled; questionable; perplexing
|
|
|
prodigal*
|
lavish;
wasteful; reckless with money
|
|
|
profound
|
deep;
not superficial; complete
|
|
|
prohibitive
|
tending
to prevent the purchase or use of something; inclined to prevent or
forbid
|
|
|
proliferate*
|
grow
rapidly; spread; multiply
|
|
|
promulgate
|
to
make known by open declaration
|
|
|
propensity
|
natural
inclination
|
|
|
propitiate*
|
to
conciliate; to appease
|
|
|
propound
|
to
set forth for consideration
|
|
|
propriety*
|
correct
behavior or conduct, obedience to rules and customs
|
|
|
proscribe*
|
to
condemn as harmful or odious; ostracize; banish; outlaw
|
|
|
proselytize
|
to
convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another
|
|
|
protract
|
to
prolong, draw out, extend
|
|
|
provident
|
having
or showing foresight
|
|
|
prudence
|
wisdom,
caution or restraint
|
|
|
puerile
|
childish,
immature
|
|
|
pugnacious
|
to
quarrel or fight readily
|
|
|
punctilious
|
strict
or exact in the observance of formalities
|
|
|
pungent
|
stinging;
sharp in taste or smell; caustic
|
|
|
pusillanimous
|
lacking
courage or resolution
|
|
|
qualified
|
limited;
restricted
|
|
|
querulous
|
full
of complaints
|
|
|
quibble
|
minor
objection or complaint
|
|
|
quiescence
|
n.
the condition of being at rest, still, inactive
|
|
|
quiescent*
|
adj.
at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive; motionless
|
|
|
rarefied
|
made
less dense (of a gas)
|
|
|
recalcitrant
|
obstinately
stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly
|
|
|
recant
|
disclaim
or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error
|
|
|
recluse
|
hermit;
loner
|
|
|
recondite
|
abstruse;
profound; secret
|
|
|
recumbent
|
lying
down; reclining; leaning
|
|
|
refractory*
|
stubborn;
unmanageable; rebellious
|
|
|
refute
|
disprove
|
|
|
rejoinder
|
to
reply, retort
|
|
|
relegate
|
banish
to an inferior position; delegate; assign
|
|
|
remonstrate
|
to
say or plead in protest, objection, or reproof
|
|
|
reprehensible
|
deserving
rebuke or censure; blameworthy.
|
|
|
reprisals
|
retaliation
against an enemy
|
|
|
reproach
|
express
disapproval or disappointment
|
|
|
reprobate*
|
person
hardened in sin; wicked person; devoid of a sense of decency
|
|
|
repudiate*
|
disown;
disavow; to reject the validity of
|
|
|
rescind
|
cancel
|
|
|
resolution
|
n.
determination
|
|
|
resolve
|
v.
to make a firm decision about.
|
|
|
reticent*
|
silent;
reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence
|
|
|
reverent
|
respectful;
worshipful
|
|
|
revile
|
to
criticize with harsh language
|
|
|
sage
|
person
celebrated for wisdom
|
|
|
salient
|
prominent
or conspicuous
|
|
|
salubrious
|
conducive
or favorable to health or well-being
|
|
|
sanction
|
approve;
ratify
|
|
|
satiate
|
satisfy
fully
|
|
|
saturate
|
soak
thoroughly
|
|
|
savor
|
enjoy;
have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality
|
|
|
secrete
|
hide
away or cache; produce and release a substance
|
|
|
sedition
|
incitement
of discontent or rebellion against a government
|
|
|
shard
|
a
piece of broken pottery, especially one found in an archaeological dig;
a potsherd.
|
|
|
skeptic
|
doubter;
person who suspends judgment until having examined evidence supporting
a point of view
|
|
|
sociopath
|
a
person whose behavior is antisocial and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility
|
|
|
solicitous
|
worried;
concerned
|
|
|
soporific*
|
sleep-causing;
lethargy; marked by sleepiness
|
|
|
specious*
|
having
the ring of truth or plausibility but actually fallacious)
|
|
|
spectrum
|
colored
band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism
|
|
|
sporadic
|
occurring
irregularly
|
|
|
stigma*
|
a
mark of shame or discredit
|
|
|
stint
|
to
restrict or limit, as in amount or number; be sparing with
|
|
|
stipulate
|
to
lay down as a condition of an agreement; require by contract
|
|
|
stolid*
|
dull;
impassive; unemotional; lacking sensitivity
|
|
|
striated
|
marked
with parallel bands; grooved
|
|
|
strut
|
pompous
walk or supporting bar
|
|
|
subjugate
|
to
conquer
|
|
|
subpoena
|
a
writ requiring appearance in court to give testimony
|
|
|
subside
|
settle
down; descend; grow quiet
|
|
|
substantiate
|
establish
by evidence; verify; support
|
|
|
subterfuge
|
an
artifice or expedient used to evade a rule
|
|
|
supercilious
|
arrogant,
haughty, condescending
|
|
|
supersede
|
cause
to be set aside; replace; make obsolete
|
|
|
supplicate
|
to
make humble and earnest entreaty
|
|
|
supposition
|
hypothesis;
surmise
|
|
|
tacit
|
understood;
not put into words
|
|
|
taciturn
|
silent,
not talkative
|
|
|
tangential
|
peripheral;
only slightly connected; digressing
|
|
|
tenable
|
capable
of being held, maintained or defended
|
|
|
tenacious
|
holding
fast; holding or tending to hold persistently to something
|
|
|
tendentious
|
marked
by a strong implicit point of view; partisan
|
|
|
tenuous
|
thin;
rare; slim
|
|
|
tirade
|
extended
scolding; denunciation; harangue
|
|
|
torpor*
|
lethargy;
sluggishness; dormancy
|
|
|
tortuous
|
winding;
full of curves
|
|
|
tractable*
|
docile;
easily managed or controlled
|
|
|
transcendent
|
going
beyond ordinary limits
|
|
|
transgression
|
violation
of a law; sin
|
|
|
truculence
|
aggressiveness;
ferocity
|
|
|
unconscionable
|
not
restrained by conscience; unscrupulous
|
|
|
vacillate
|
waver;
fluctuate
|
|
|
venerate
|
revere
|
|
|
veracious*
|
truthful
|
|
|
veracity
|
filled
with trust and accuracy
|
|
|
verbose
|
wordy
|
|
|
verisimilitude
|
the
appearance or semblance of truth
|
|
|
verity
|
truthfulness
|
|
|
viable
|
practical
or workable
|
|
|
vicarious
|
performed,
exercised, received or suffered in place of another
|
|
|
vilify
|
to
slander, to defame
|
|
|
viscous
|
sticky,
gluey
|
|
|
vituperative
|
adj.
abusive; scolding
|
|
|
vociferous
|
crying
out noisily
|
|
|
volatile
|
changeable;
explosive; evaporation rapidly
|
|
|
volition
|
free
choice, free will; act of choosing
|
|
|
voracious
|
having
a great appetite
|
|
|
warranted
|
justified;
authorized
|
|
|
wary
|
very
cautious
|
|
|
welter
|
turmoil;
bewildering jumble
|
|
|
whimsical
|
capricious;
fanciful
|
|
|
zealot
|
fanatic;
person who shows excessive zeal
|
|
