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Barron's Essential Words
Unmastered during 1st pass
312
English
Graduate
07/19/2012
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Term
Abjure
 Definition
to formally reject or abandon
Term
Abscission
 Definition
small cut; natural separation of a leaf
Term
Abstemious
 Definition
moderate in appetite
Term
Affected
 Definition
pretentious or phony
Term
Affected
 Definition
pretentious or phony
Term
Ambrosia
 Definition
something delicious; food of the gods
Term
Anodyne
 Definition
substance that calms or soothes pain
Term
Antediluvian
 Definition
prehistoric
Term
Apogee
 Definition
highest point; point in an orbit most distant from central body
Term
Apogee
 Definition
point in an orbit most distant from central body; highest point
Term
Apothegm
 Definition
a terse, witty syaing
Term
Appellation
 Definition
name
Term
Apposite
 Definition
strikingly appropriate or relevant
Term
Arabesque
 Definition
ornate design with intertwined curves; ballet position with one leg extended back
Term
Argot
 Definition
a specialized vocabulary used by a group
Term
Asperity
 Definition
severity or harshness
Term
Aspersion
 Definition
slander or false rumor
Term
Assiduous
 Definition
diligent or hard-working
Term
Astringent
 Definition
harsh or severe
Term
Atavism
 Definition
reapparance of a characteristic after a period of absence
Term
Attenuate
 Definition
weaken
Term
Auspicious
 Definition
favorable or promising
Term
Aver
 Definition
to affirm or declare
Term
Avidity
 Definition
eagerness
("avid reader")
Term
Avocation
 Definition
secondary occupation
Term
Avuncular
 Definition
like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
Term
Bacchanalian
 Definition
pertaining to drunken festivity
Term
Bawdy
 Definition
obscene
Term
Beatify
 Definition
to sanctify or bless
Term
Bedizen
 Definition
to dress in a vulgar or showy manner
Term
Blandishment
 Definition
flattery
Term
Blase
 Definition
bored from frequent indulgence
Term
Blunt
 Definition
to weaken; to dull
Term
Broach
 Definition
mention for the first time
Term
Bucolic
 Definition
characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral
Term
Bumptious
 Definition
Pushy or overly-assertive; conceited
Term
Burgeon
 Definition
to fluorish
Term
Burnish
 Definition
to polish
Term
Cadge
 Definition
to beg
Term
Calumny
 Definition
slander; false and malicious accusation
Term
Canard
 Definition
false, deliberately misleading story
Term
Canon
 Definition
group of literary works; standard for judgment
Term
Cant
 Definition
insincere talk; language of a particular group
Term
Captious
 Definition
faultfinding; intended to entrap in an argument
Term
Carping
 Definition
to find fault or complain
Term
Caucus
 Definition
smaller group within an organization
Term
Centrifugal
 Definition
moving away from the center
Term
Centripetal
 Definition
moving toward the center
Term
Chicanery
 Definition
trickery or fraud
Term
Churlish
 Definition
rude or boorish
Term
Cloister
 Definition
to confine or seclude
Term
Coda
 Definition
concluding part of a literary or musical composition
Term
Compendium
 Definition
brief, comprehensive summary
Term
Complaisant
 Definition
overly polite or obliging
Term
Compunction
 Definition
uneasiness caused by guilt
Term
Concomitant
 Definition
existing concurrently
Term
Condone
 Definition
to overlook or forgive
Term
Congenial
 Definition
friendly toward or suited for
Term
Contumacious
 Definition
disobedient or rebellious
Term
Convival
 Definition
sociable
Term
Coquette
 Definition
woman who flirts
Term
Cozen
 Definition
to deceive by trick or fraud
Term
Craven
 Definition
cowardly
Term
Dearth
 Definition
scarcity
Term
Defame
 Definition
to malign someone's reputation
Term
Defunct
 Definition
no longer existing
Term
Demotic
 Definition
pertaining to people
Term
Demur
 Definition
to express doubt
Term
Denizen
 Definition
an inhabitant or regular visitor
Term
Denouement
 Definition
outcome; unraveling of the plot
Term
Desuetude
 Definition
state of disuse
Term
Desultory
 Definition
random, disconnected, or rambling
Term
Diaphonous
 Definition
transparent; fine-textured; insubstantial; vague
Term
Dirge
 Definition
funeral hymn
Term
Discomfit
 Definition
to make uneasy
Term
Disgorge
 Definition
to eject or vomit
Term
Dissemble
 Definition
to pretend or disguise one's motives
Term
Dissolution
 Definition
disintegration or debauchery
Term
Distrait
 Definition
inattentive or preoccupied
Term
Divest
 Definition
to strip or deprive
Term
Doggerel
 Definition
poor verse
Term
Ebullient
 Definition
exhilarated or enthusiastic
Term
Effete
 Definition
depleted of vitality; overrefined or decadent
Term
Effigy
 Definition
crude representation of someone
Term
Effrontery
 Definition
shameless boldness or presumptuousness
Term
Elegy
 Definition
poem or song expressing lamentation
Term
Elysian
 Definition
blissful or delightful
Term
Emollient
 Definition
soothing or mollifying
Term
Encomium
 Definition
formal expression of praise
Term
Enervate
 Definition
to weaken
Term
Ephemeral
 Definition
short-lived or fleeting
Term
Equable
 Definition
steady or unvarying
Term
Equanimity
 Definition
composure or calmness
Term
Essay
 Definition
to subject to a test; to make an attempt
Term
Evince
 Definition
to show plainly
Term
Exculpate
 Definition
to clear of blame or vindicate
Term
Execrable
 Definition
detestable or abhorrent
Term
Expatiate
 Definition
to speak or write at length
Term
Expatriate
 Definition
to send into exhile
Term
Expiate
 Definition
to atone for
Term
Expository
 Definition
explanatory
Term
Extirpate
 Definition
to root up; to destroy
Term
Factotum
 Definition
handyman; person who does many types of work
Term
Fatuous
 Definition
foolish or dumb
Term
Fauna
 Definition
animals of a period or region
Term
Felicitous
 Definition
appropriate or well-chosen
Term
Fetid
 Definition
possessing a bad smell
Term
Fetter
 Definition
to bind or confine
Term
Fiat
 Definition
arbitrary order
Term
Flag
 Definition
to droop; to grow weak
Term
Fledgling
 Definition
beginner or novice
Term
Florid
 Definition
reddish; flowery
Term
Flourish
 Definition
an embellishment or ornamentation
Term
Flout
 Definition
to treat scornfully
Term
Foment
 Definition
to incite
Term
Forbearance
 Definition
patience
Term
Forswear
 Definition
to renounce or repudiate
Term
Founder
 Definition
to sink or collapse; to fail
Term
Fracas
 Definition
a loud quarrel
Term
Fractious
 Definition
quarrelsome; unruly; rebellious
Term
Froward
 Definition
stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient
Term
Fulminate
 Definition
to attack loundly
Term
Fulsome
 Definition
disgustingly excessive
Term
Gainsay
 Definition
to deny or oppose
Term
Gambol
 Definition
to frolic or leap playfully
Term
Garrulous
 Definition
talkative or wordy
Term
Gauche
 Definition
coarse and uncouth; clumsy
Term
Goad
 Definition
to urge on
Term
Gossamer
 Definition
sheer and delicate
Term
Grandiloquent
 Definition
pompous or bombastic
Term
Grouse
 Definition
to complain
Term
Halcyon
 Definition
calm and peaceful; golden age of prosperity
Term
Harangue
 Definition
long, scolding lecture; diatribe
Term
Hermetic
 Definition
tightly sealed; magical
Term
Hirsute
 Definition
covered with hair
Term
Homily
 Definition
sermon or moralizing lecture; platitude
Term
Imbroglio
 Definition
an entanglement; complicated situation
Term
Impassive
 Definition
showing no emotion
Term
Impassive
 Definition
unemotional; imperturbable
("impassive face")
Term
Impecunious
 Definition
poor
Term
Impinge
 Definition
to encroach
Term
Implacable
 Definition
inflexible; incapable of being pleased
Term
Imprecation
 Definition
curse
Term
Impute
 Definition
to attribute to a particular cause
Term
Inchoate
 Definition
imperfectly formed or formulated
Term
Indigence
 Definition
poverty
Term
Ineluctable
 Definition
unavoidable or inevitable
Term
Ingenuous
 Definition
naive and trusting
Term
Insensible
 Definition
unconscious; unresponsive
Term
Insipid
 Definition
lacking flavor; dull
Term
Insouciant
 Definition
indifferent or lacking concern
Term
Insuperable
 Definition
insurmountable or unconquerable
Term
Interdict
 Definition
to forbid or prohibit; to halt the activities or entrance of something
Term
Internecine
 Definition
deadly to both sides
Term
Interpolate
 Definition
to insert or change by adding new words or materials
Term
Interregnum
 Definition
interval between reigns; gap in continuity
Term
Intractable
 Definition
not easily managed
Term
Intransigence
 Definition
stubbornness or refusal to compromise
Term
Inundate
 Definition
to cover with water; to overwhelm
Term
Inured
 Definition
hardened or accustomed to
Term
Invective
 Definition
verbal abuse
Term
Inveigh
 Definition
to disapprove or protest vehemently
Term
Inveigle
 Definition
to win over by flattery or coaxing
Term
Inveterate
 Definition
confirmed; long-standing; deeply rooted
Term
Invidious
 Definition
offensive or likely to provoke ill-will
Term
Irascible
 Definition
easily angered
Term
Jaundiced
 Definition
yellowish discoloration of the skin; affected by envy, resentment, or hostility
Term
Jibe
 Definition
to be in agreement
Term
Jocose
 Definition
fond of joking; playful
Term
Junta
 Definition
group of people united in political intrigue
Term
Kudos
 Definition
glory or honor
Term
Labile
 Definition
likely to change
Term
Laconic
 Definition
using few words
Term
Lambaste
 Definition
to verbally thrash
Term
Lassitude
 Definition
lethargy or sluggishness
Term
Libertine
 Definition
without moral restraint
Term
Lilliputian
 Definition
extremely small
Term
Limn
 Definition
to draw or describe
Term
Limpid
 Definition
clear or transparent
Term
Limpid
 Definition
lucid or clear
("limpid pond")
Term
Literati
 Definition
scholarly or learned persons
Term
Machinations
 Definition
plots or schemes
Term
Mendacious
 Definition
dishonest
Term
Mendicant
 Definition
beggar
Term
Meretricious
 Definition
gaudy; specious
Term
Mettle
 Definition
courage or endurance
Term
Militate
 Definition
to work against
Term
Minatory
 Definition
menacing or threatening
Term
Morose
 Definition
sullen or ill-humored
Term
Motley
 Definition
many-colored; composed of many parts
Term
Multifarious
 Definition
diverse
Term
Munificent
 Definition
generous
("munificent gift")
Term
Nonplussed
 Definition
bewildered
Term
Nostrum
 Definition
medicine of doubtful effectiveness
Term
Nugatory
 Definition
trifling; invalid
Term
Obdurate
 Definition
stubborn
Term
Obsequy
 Definition
funeral ceremony
Term
Officious
 Definition
overly helpful or meddlesome
Term
Opprobrium
 Definition
disgrace or contempt
Term
Overweening
 Definition
presumptuous; arrogant; overbearing
Term
Paean
 Definition
song of joy or triumph
Term
Palliate
 Definition
to alleviate or mitigate
("palliate excuse")
Term
Pallid
 Definition
lacking color or liveliness
Term
Panegyric
 Definition
elaborate praise
Term
Patois
 Definition
regional dialect
Term
Pedantic
 Definition
showing off learning
Term
Pellucid
 Definition
transparent; easily understood
Term
Penury
 Definition
extreme poverty
Term
Peregrination
 Definition
wandering from place to place
Term
Peremptory
 Definition
imperative; leaving no choice
Term
Perfidious
 Definition
disloyal or untrustworthy
Term
Perigee
 Definition
point in an orbit that is closest to central body
Term
Petulant
 Definition
rude or peevish
Term
Phlegmatic
 Definition
calm in temperament; sluggish
Term
Physiognomy
 Definition
facial features
Term
Piquant
 Definition
pleasant smell; appealingly stimulating
Term
Pique
 Definition
fleeting feeling of hurt pride (noun); to arouse interest (verb)
Term
Placid
 Definition
calm
Term
Plaintive
 Definition
melancholy or mournful
Term
Plume
 Definition
to congratulate oneself in a self-satisfied way
Term
Plutocracy
 Definition
society ruled by the wealthy
Term
Poseur
 Definition
person who affects an attitude to impress others
Term
Prate
 Definition
to talk idly
Term
Prattle
 Definition
meaningless, foolish talk
Term
Precipitate
 Definition
hasty or rash; sudden
Term
Preempt
 Definition
to supersede; to appropriate for oneself
Term
Prehensile
 Definition
capable of grasping
Term
Preternatural
 Definition
supernatural
Term
Prevaricate
 Definition
to quibble or evade the truth
Term
Probidty
 Definition
honesty; high-mindedness
Term
Propitiate
 Definition
to appease or win over
Term
Propitious
 Definition
favorable or gracious
Term
Proscribe
 Definition
to condemn or forbid
Term
Provident
 Definition
providing for future needs; frugal
Term
Puissant
 Definition
powerful
Term
Punctilious
 Definition
careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony
Term
Pusillanimous
 Definition
cowardly
Term
Quail
 Definition
to cower or lose courage
Term
Queue
 Definition
line of people
("store queue")
Term
Raconteur
 Definition
witty, skillful storyteller
Term
Rarefied
 Definition
refined
Term
Rebus
 Definition
puzzle with pictures that represent words
Term
Redoubtable
 Definition
formidable; arousing fear; worthy of respect
Term
Regale
 Definition
to entertain
Term
Remonstrate
 Definition
to object or protest
Term
Repine
 Definition
to fret or complain
Term
Reprise
 Definition
repetition of a piece of music
Term
Reproach
 Definition
to blame
Term
Reprobate
 Definition
morally unprincipled person
Term
Riposte
 Definition
a retaliatory action
Term
Rococo
 Definition
excessively ornate; highly decorated
Term
Rue
 Definition
to regret
Term
Salacious
 Definition
lascivious or lustful
Term
Salubrious
 Definition
healthful
Term
Salutary
 Definition
favorable to health; expecting an improvement
Term
Sardonic
 Definition
cynical; scornfully mocking
Term
Sartorial
 Definition
pertaining to tailors
Term
Saturnine
 Definition
gloomy
Term
Satyr
 Definition
creature that is half-man and half-beast
Term
Sedition
 Definition
behavior prompting rebellion
Term
Sedulous
 Definition
diligent
Term
Sextant
 Definition
navigation tool
Term
Sidereal
 Definition
relating to the stars
Term
Simian
 Definition
apelike
Term
Sinecure
 Definition
well-paying job that requires little work
Term
Sinuous
 Definition
winding; intricate; complex
Term
Sodden
 Definition
thoroughly soaked
Term
Solicitous
 Definition
concerned; attentive
Term
Spendthrift
 Definition
person who recklessly spends money
Term
Stanch
 Definition
to stop the flow of
Term
Stentorian
 Definition
extremely loud
Term
Stint
 Definition
to be sparing
Term
Stolid
 Definition
showing little emotion
Term
Stricture
 Definition
something that restrains; negative criticism
Term
Strident
 Definition
loud or harsh
Term
Stultify
 Definition
to impair or reduce to uselessness
Term
Stygian
 Definition
dark and gloomy
Term
Supine
 Definition
lying on the back; marked by lethargy
Term
Suppliant
 Definition
beseeching
Term
Surfeit
 Definition
surplus
("surfeit of food")
Term
Sylvan
 Definition
related to the woods or forest
Term
Taciturn
 Definition
reticent or untalkative
Term
Tendentious
 Definition
showing a definite tendency, bias, or purpose
Term
Toady
 Definition
flatterer; yes-man
Term
Torpor
 Definition
lethargy or sluggishness
Term
Torrid
 Definition
oppressively hot
("torrid weather")
Term
Tortuous
 Definition
having many twists and turns; highly complex
Term
Translucent
 Definition
partially transparent
Term
Travail
 Definition
arduous work; tribulation; anguish
Term
Travesty
 Definition
parody or exaggerated imitation; caricature
Term
Tremulous
 Definition
trembling or quivering; timid
Term
Trenchant
 Definition
vigorous, sweeping, or effective ("trenchant reforms"); sharp or incisive ("trenchant wit"); biting or cutting ("trenchant remarks")
Term
Truculence
 Definition
aggressiveness or ferocity
Term
Tryst
 Definition
rendezvous; agreement between lovers to meet
Term
Tumid
 Definition
swollen or distended
Term
Turbid
 Definition
muddy or opaque; state of confusion
Term
Turgid
 Definition
swollen or bloated; pompous
Term
Tutelary
 Definition
serving as a guardian
Term
Undulating
 Definition
moving in waves
Term
Untoward
 Definition
unfavorable; troublesome; unruly
Term
Valedictory
 Definition
pertaining to a farewell
Term
Vapid
 Definition
tasteless or dull
Term
Vaunt
 Definition
to boast or brag
Term
Venal
 Definition
bribable; mercenary; corruptible
Term
Veracious
 Definition
truthful or accurate
Term
Visage
 Definition
countenance or appearance
Term
Vitiate
 Definition
to impair the quality of something or make inoperative; to corrupt morally
Term
Vituperative
 Definition
using harsh, abusive censure
Term
Volubility
 Definition
talkative
("voluble spokesman")
Term
Welter
 Definition
to wallow or roll; to be in turmoil
Term
Whet
 Definition
to stimulate; to sharpen
Term
Wistful
 Definition
vaguely longing; sadly thoughtful
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