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GRE Vocab 4
Hit Parade 4
72
English
Graduate
07/16/2008

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Term
acerbic
Definition
having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
Term
aggrandize
Definition
to increase in power or prestige
Term
alchemy
Definition
a medieval science aimed as the trandmutation of metals
Term
amenable
Definition
agreeable, responsive to suggestion
Term
anachronism
Definition
something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
Term
astringent
Definition
having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe; something with a tightening effect on tissue
Term
contiguous
Definition
sharing a border; touching; adjacent
Term
convention
Definition
a generally agreed upon practice or attitude
Term
credulous
Definition
tending to beleive too readily; gullible
Term
cynicism
Definition
an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
Term
decorum
Definition
polite or appropriate conduct or behavior
Term
derision
Definition
scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment
Term
desiccate
Definition
to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
Term
dilettante
Definition
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
Term
disparage
Definition
to slight or belittle
Term
divulge
Definition
to disclose something secret
Term
fawn
Definition
to flatter or praise excessively
Term
flout
Definition
to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention
Term
garrulous
Definition
pointlessly talkative talking too much
Term
glib
Definition
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
Term
hubris
Definition
ovverbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
Term
imminent
Definition
about to happen; impending
Term
immutable
Definition
not capable of change
Term
impetuous
Definition
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
Term
indifferent
Definition
having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
Term
inimical
Definition
damaging; harmful; injurious
Term
intractable
Definition
not easly managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
Term
intrepid
Definition
steadfast and courageous
Term
laconic
Definition
using few words; terse
Term
maverick
Definition
an independend individual who does not go along with a group or party
Term
mercurial
Definition
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
Term
mollify
Definition
to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
Term
neophyte
Definition
a recent convert; a beginner; novice
Term
obfuscate
Definition
to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
Term
obstinate
Definition
stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising
Term
ostentatious
Definition
characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
Term
pervade
Definition
to permeate throughout
Term
phlegmatic
Definition
calm; sluggish; unemotional
Term
plethora
Definition
an overabundance; a surplus
Term
pragmatic
Definition
pratical rather than idealistic
Term
presumptuous
Definition
overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
Term
pristine
Definition
pure; uncorrupted; clean
Term
probity
Definition
adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integreity; uprightness
Term
proclivity
Definition
a natural predisposition or inclination
Term
profligate
Definition
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
Term
propensity
Definition
a natural inclination or tendency; penchant
Term
prosaic
Definition
dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
Term
pungent
Definition
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
Term
quixotic
Definition
foolighly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
Term
quotidian
Definition
occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
Term
rarefy
Definition
to make or become thing, less dense, to refine
Term
recondite
Definition
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
Term
refulgent
Definition
radiant; shiny; brillant
Term
renege
Definition
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
Term
sedulous
Definition
diligent; persistent; hard-working
Term
shard
Definition
a piece of broken pottery or glass
Term
soporific
Definition
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
Term
sparse
Definition
then; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
Term
spendthrift
Definition
one who spends money wastefully
Term
subtle
Definition
not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
Term
tacit
Definition
implied; not explicitly stated
Term
terse
Definition
brief and concise in wording
Term
tout
Definition
to publicly praise or promote
Term
trenchant
Definition
sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
Term
unfeigned
Definition
genuine; not false or hypocritical
Term
untenable
Definition
indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
Term
vacillate
Definition
to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another; waver
Term
variegated
Definition
multicolored characterized by a variety of patches of different color
Term
vexation
Definition
annoyance; irritation
Term
vigilant
Definition
alertly watchful
Term
vituperate
Definition
to use harsh, condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or absuively; berate
Term
volatile
Definition
readily changing to a vapor; changable; fickle; explosive
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