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GRE Vocabulary Practice
Most Common Words found on GRE (per review books)
426
Other
Post-Graduate
03/18/2007

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Cards

Term
Abscond
Definition
(Verb)

To depart clendestinely; to steal off and hide.

Pearl, now an orphan (her father having absconded shortly after her conception), has been taken to live with her great-aunt Margaret in the north of England.
Term
Aberrant
Definition
(adjective) deviating from the norm (noun form: aberration)

These characters are so wild and aberrant they are close to appearing lunatics.
Term
Alacrity
Definition
(Noun)
Eager and enthusiastic willingness.
_______________________________________
As for his homemade meatloaf sandwich with green tomato ketchup, a condiment he developed while working in New York, I devoured it with an alacrity unbecoming in someone who gets paid to taste carefully.
Term
anomaly
Definition
(noun) deviation from the normal order, form , or rule.
_______________________________________
With his quiet nature, he was an anomaly in his exuberant family
Term
approbation
Definition
(noun) an expression of approval or praise.
______________________________________
Term
arduous
Definition
(adj) Strenuous, taxing; requiring significant effort
_______________________________________
a long, arduous, and exhausting war
Term
Assuage
Definition
(V) To ease or lessen; to appease or pacify.
_______________________________________
assuage her grief.
Term
audacious
Definition
(adj) daring and fearless; recklessly bold (noun form: audacity)
_______________________________________
"an audacious trick to pull";
Term
Austere
Definition
(adj) without adornment;bare; severly simple (noun form: austerity)
_______________________________________
Term
axiomatic
Definition
(adj) taken as a given; possesing self evident truth (noun form: axiom)
_______________________________________
Remember the old axiom-
Term
canonical
Definition
(adj) following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards (noun form: canon)
Term
capricious
Definition
(adj) inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic, unpredictable
_______________________________________ Mathematics is logical; people are erratic, capricious, and barely comprehensible.
Term
censure
Definition
noun, verb, -sured, -sur·ing.
–noun 1. strong or vehement expression of disapproval: The newspapers were unanimous in their censure of the tax proposal.
2. an official reprimand, as by a legislative body of one of its members.
–verb (used with object) 3. to criticize or reproach in a harsh or vehement manner: She is more to be pitied than censured.
–verb (used without object) 4. to give censure, adverse criticism, disapproval, or blame.
Term
chicanery
Definition
(n) trickery or subterfuge
Term
connoisseur
Definition
(n) an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert
Term
convoluted
Definition
–adjective 1. twisted; coiled.
2. complicated; intricately involved: a convoluted way of describing a simple device
Term
disabuse
Definition
To free from a falsehood or misconception: I must disabuse you of your feelings of grandeur.
Term
discordant
Definition
adjective
1. not in agreement or harmony; "views discordant with present-day ideas" [ant: accordant]
2. lacking in harmony
Term
disparate
Definition
adj.
Fundamentally distinct or different in kind; entirely dissimilar: "This mixture of apparently disparate materials—scandal and spiritualism, current events and eternal recurrences—is not promising on the face of it" (Gary Wills).
Containing or composed of dissimilar or opposing elements: a disparate group of people who represented a cross section of the city.
Term
effrontery
Definition
–noun, plural -ter·ies. 1. shameless or impudent boldness; barefaced audacity: She had the effrontery to ask for two free samples.
2. an act or instance of this.
Term
eloquent
Definition
adj.
Characterized by persuasive, powerful discourse: an eloquent speaker; an eloquent sermon.
Vividly or movingly expressive: a look eloquent with compassion. See Synonyms at expressive.
Term
enervate
Definition
–verb (used with object) 1. to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.
–adjective 2. enervated.

[Origin: 1595–1605; < L énervātus weakened (ptp. of énervāre) equiv. to é- e- + nerv(us) sinew (see nerve) + -ātus -ate1; cf. AF enervir, F énerver]

—Related forms
en·er·va·tion, noun
en·er·va·tive, adjective
en·er·va·tor, noun

—Synonyms 1. enfeeble, debilitate, sap, exhaust.
Term
ennui
Definition
–noun a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom: The endless lecture produced an unbearable ennui.

[Origin: 1660–70; < F: boredom; OF enui displeasure; see annoy]


—Synonyms listlessness, tedium, lassitude, languor.
Term
exculpate
Definition
–verb (used with object), -pat·ed, -pat·ing. to clear from a charge of guilt or fault; free from blame; vindicate.
Term
exigent
Definition
adjective 1. requiring immediate action or aid; urgent; pressing.
2. requiring a great deal, or more than is reasonable.
Term
extemporaneous
Definition
–adjective 1. done, spoken, performed, etc., without special advance preparation; impromptu: an extemporaneous speech.
2. previously planned but delivered with the help of few or no notes: extemporaneous lectures.
3. speaking or performing with little or no advance preparation: extemporaneous actors.
4. made for the occasion, as a shelter.
Term
filibuster
Definition
–noun 1. U.S. Politics. a. the use of irregular or obstructive tactics by a member of a legislative assembly to prevent the adoption of a measure generally favored or to force a decision against the will of the majority.
b. an exceptionally long speech, as one lasting for a day or days, or a series of such speeches to accomplish this purpose.
c. a member of a legislature who makes such a speech.

2. an irregular military adventurer, esp. one who engages in an unauthorized military expedition into a foreign country to foment or support a revolution.
–verb (used without object) 3. U.S. Politics. to impede legislation by irregular or obstructive tactics, esp. by making long speeches.
4. to act as an irregular military adventurer, esp. for revolutionary purposes.
Term
fulminate
Definition
–verb (used without object) 1. to explode with a loud noise; detonate.
2. to issue denunciations or the like (usually fol. by against): The minister fulminated against legalized vice.
–verb (used with object) 3. to cause to explode.
4. to issue or pronounce with vehement denunciation, condemnation, or the like.
–noun 5. one of a group of unstable, explosive compounds derived from fulminic acid, esp. the mercury salt of fulminic acid, which is a powerful detonating agent.
Term
inured
Definition
verb (used with object) 1. to accustom to hardship, difficulty, pain, etc.; toughen or harden; habituate (usually fol. by to): inured to cold.
–verb (used without object) 2. to come into use; take or have effect.
3. to become beneficial or advantageous.
Term
magnanimity
Definition
The quality of being generously noble in mind and heart. Especially in forgiving.
Term
martial
Definition
associated with war and the armed forces.
Term
Mundane
Definition
of the world; typical of or concerned with the ordinary
Term
nascent
Definition
adj. coming into being; in early developmental stages.
Term
nebulous
Definition
adj. vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form.
Term
neologism
Definition
n. a new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses.
Term
noxious
Definition
adj. harmful, injurious
Term
obtuse
Definition
lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression.
Term
obviate
Definition
v. to anticipate and make unnecessary

1. do away with
2. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a strike"
Term
onerous
Definition
adj. troubling; burdensome
Term
paean
Definition
n. a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving.
Term
parody
Definition
n. a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect. Especially in literature and art.
Term
perennial
Definition
adj. recurrent through the year or many years; happening repeatedly
Term
perfidy
Definition
n. intentional breach of faith; treachery
Term
perfunctory
Definition
adj. cursory; done without care or interest.

—Synonyms 1, 2. negligent, heedless, thoughtless, uninterested.
Term
perspicacious
Definition
adj. acutely perceptive; having keep discernment.

—Synonyms 1. perceptive, acute, shrewd, penetrating
Term
prattle
Definition
v. to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner.
Term
precipitate
Definition
adj. acting with excessive haste or impulse.

v. to cause or happen before anticipated or required.
Term
predilection
Definition
n. a disposition in favor of something; preference.
Term
prescience
Definition
n. foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring.

(adj. form: prescient)
Term
prevaricate
Definition
v. to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead.
Term
qualms
Definition
n. misgivings; reservations; causes for hesitancy
Term
recant
Definition
v. to retract, especially a previously held belief.
Term
refute
Definition
v. to disprove; to successfully argue against
Term
relegate
Definition
v. to forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position.
Term
reticent
Definition
adj. quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings
Term
solicitous
Definition
adj. concerned and attentive; eager
Term
sordid
Definition
adj. characterized by filth, grime, or squalor; foul
Term
sporadic
Definition
adj. occurring only occasionally, or in scattered instances
Term
squander
Definition
v. to waste by spending or using irresponsibly.
Term
static
Definition
adj. not moving, active, or in motion; at rest
Term
stupefy
Definition
v. to stun, baffle, or amaze
Term
stymie
Definition
v. to block; thwart
Term
synthesis
Definition
n. the combination of parts to make a whole (v. form: synthesize)
Term
torque
Definition
n. a force that causes rotation
Term
tortuous
Definition
adj. winding, twisting, excessively complicated
Term
truculent
Definition
adj. fierce and cruel; eager to fight
Term
veracity
Definition
n. truthfulness, honesty
Term
virulent
Definition
adj. extremely harmful or poisonous;bitterly hostile or antagonistic
Term
voracious
Definition
adj. having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; ravenous
Term
waver
Definition
v. to move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion
Term
abate
Definition
v. to lessen in intensity or degree
Term
accolade
Definition
n. an expression of praise
Term
adulation
Definition
n. excessive praise; intense adoration
Term
aesthetic
Definition
adj. dealing with , appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
Term
ameliorate
Definition
v. to make better or more tolerable
Term
ascetic
Definition
n. one who practices rigid self denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
Term
avarice
Definition
n. greed, especially for wealth

(adj. form: avaricious)

Synonyms: avidity, close-fistedness*, covetousness, cupidity, frugality, grabbiness, greediness, miserliness, niggardliness, parsimony, penny-pinching, penuriousness, rapacity, stinginess, thrift
Antonyms: benevolence, charity, generosity, philanthropy
Term
axiom
Definition
n. a universially recognized principle

(adj. form: axiomatic)
Term
burgeon
Definition
v. to grow rapidly or flourish
Term
bucolic
Definition
adj. rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants.
Term
cacophony
Definition
n. harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance (adj. form: cacophonous)
Term
canon
Definition
n. an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature

(adj. form: canonical)
Term
castigation
Definition
n. severe criticism or punishment.
Term
catalyst
Definition
n. a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes change.
Term
caustic
Definition
adj. burning or stinging; causing corrosion
Term
chary
Definition
adj. wary; cautious; sparing
Term
cogent
Definition
adj. appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
Term
complaisance
Definition
n. The inclination to comply willingly with the wishes of others; amiability.
Term
contentious
Definition
adj. argumentative; quarrlesome; causing controversy or disagreement
Term
contrite
Definition
adj. regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness

(n. contrition)
Term
culpable
Definition
adj. deserving blame

(n. culpability)

She was the one who committed the crime but he was culpable also.
Term
dearth
Definition
n. smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack

There is a dearth of good engineers.
—Synonyms 1. shortage, want, paucity, insufficiency.
Term
demur
Definition
v. to question or oppose
Term
didactic
Definition
adj. intended to teach or instruct
Term
discretion
Definition
noun 1. the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment; freedom of judgment or choice: It is entirely within my discretion whether I will go or stay.
Term
disinterested
Definition
adj. free of bias or self interest; impartial
Term
dogmatic
Definition
adj. expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles. (n. form: dogma)
Term
ebulliance
Definition
adj. the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression and feelings.

(adj. form: ebullient)
Term
eclectic
Definition
adj. composed of elements drawn from various sources
Term
elegy
Definition
n. a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead

(adj. form: elegiac)
Term
emollient
Definition
adj/n. soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens the skin
Term
empirical
Definition
adj. based on observation or experiment
Term
enigmatic
Definition
adj. mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand

(n. form: enigma)
Term
ephemeral
Definition
adj. brief/fleeting
Term
esoteric
Definition
adj. intended for or understood by a small, specific group
Term
eulogy
Definition
n. a speech honoring the dead

(v. form: eulogize)
Term
exonerate
Definition
v. to remove blame
Term
facetioius
Definition
adj. playful; humorous
Term
fallacy
Definition
n. an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief

(adj. form: fallacious)
Term
furtive
Definition
adj. marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
Term
gregarious
Definition
adj. sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
Term
harangue
Definition
v./n. to deliver a pompous speech or tirade; a long pompous speech
Term
heretical
Definition
adj. violating accepted dogma or convention (n. form: heresy)
Term
hyperbole
Definition
n. an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech

(adj. form: hyperbolic)
Term
impecunious
Definition
adj. lacking funds; without money
Term
incipient
Definition
adj. beginning to come into being or to become apparent.
Term
inert
Definition
adj. unmoving;lethargic;sluggish
Term
innocuous
Definition
adj. harmless; causing no damage
Term
intransigent
Definition
adj. refusing to compromise

(n. form: intransigence)
Term
inveigle
Definition
v. to obtain by deception or flattery
Term
morose
Definition
adj. sad;sullen; melancholy
Term
odious
Definition
adj. evoking intense aversion or dislike
Term
opaque
Definition
adj. impenetrable by light; not reflecting light
Term
oscillation
Definition
n. the act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm (v. form: oscillate)
Term
penurious
Definition
adj. penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
Term
pernicious
Definition
adj. extremely harmful; potentially causing death.
Term
peruse
Definition
v. to examine with great care

(n. form: perusal)
Term
pious
Definition
adj. extrememly reverent or devout; showing strong religious devotion

(n. form: piety)
Term
precursor
Definition
n. one that precedes and indicates or announces another
Term
preen
Definition
v. to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care
Term
prodigious
Definition
adj. abundant in size,force, or extent; extraordinary
Term
prolific
Definition
adj. producing large volumes or amounts; productive
Term
putrefy
Definition
v. to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor

(adj. form: putrid
Term
quaff
Definition
v. to drink deeply
Term
quiescence
Definition
n. stillness;motionlessness; quality of being at rest.

(adj form: quiescent)
Term
redoubtable
Definition
adj. awe inspiring; worthy of honor
Term
sanction
Definition
n/v authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance; to give permission or authority to .
Term
satire
Definition
n. a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision

(adj form: satirical)
Term
squalid
Definition
adj. sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect.

(n. form: squalor)
Term
stoic
Definition
adj. indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast.
Term
supplant
Definition
v. to take the place of; supersede
Term
torpid
Definition
adj. lethargic; sluggish;dormant;

(n. form: torpor)
Term
ubiquitous
Definition
adj. existing everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread
Term
urbane
Definition
adj. sophisticated; refined; elegant

(n. form: urbanity)
Term
vilify
Definition
v. to defame; to characterize harshly
Term
viscous
Definition
adj. thick; sticky
Term
acumen
Definition
n. keen, accuarat judgment or insight
Term
adulterate
Definition
v. to reduce purity by combining with inferior ingregients.
Term
amalgamate
Definition
v. to combine several elements into a whole

(n. form: amalgamation)
Term
archaic
Definition
adj. outdated; associated with an earlier, perhaps more primitive, time.
Term
aver
Definition
v. to state as a fact; to declare or assert
Term
bolster
Definition
v. to provide support or reinforcement
Term
bombastic
Definition
adj. pompous, grandiloquent

(n. form: bombast)
Term
diatribe
Definition
n. a harsh denunciation
Term
dissemble
Definition
v. to disguise or conceal
Term
eccentric
Definition
adj. departing from norms or conventions
Term
endemic
Definition
adj. characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region, or people.
Term
evanescent
Definition
adj. tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing
Term
exacerbate
Definition
v. to make worse or severe
Term
fervent
Definition
adj. greatly emotional or zealous

(n. form: fervor)
Term
fortuitous
Definition
adj. happening by accident or chance
Term
germane
Definition
adj. relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter
Term
grandiloquence
Definition
n. pompous speech or expression

(adj form: grandiloquent)
Term
hackneyed
Definition
adj. rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage.
Term
halcyon
Definition
adj. calm and peaceful
Term
hedonism
Definition
n. devotion to pleasurable pursuits, especially to the pleasures of the senses.

(a hedonist is someone who pursues pleasure)
Term
hegemony
Definition
n. the consistent dominance of one state or ideology over others
Term
iconoclast
Definition
n. one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions
Term
idolatrous
Definition
adj. given to intense or excessive devotion to something

(n. form: idolatry)
Term
impassive
Definition
adj. revealing to emotion
Term
imperturbable
Definition
adj. marked by extreme calm, impassivity and steadiness
Term
implacable
Definition
adj. not capable of being appeased or significantly changed
Term
impunity
Definition
n. immunity from punishment or penalty
Term
inchoate
Definition
adj. in an initial stage; not fully formed
Term
infelicitous
Definition
adj. unfortunate; inappropriate
Term
insipid
Definition
adj. without taste or flavor; lacking in spirit; bland
Term
loquacious
Definition
adj. extremely talkative

(n. form: loquacity)
Term
luminous
Definition
adj. characterized by brightness and the emission of light
Term
malevolent
Definition
adj. having or showing often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred

(n. form: malevolence)
Term
malleable
Definition
adj. capable of being shaped or formed; tractable; pliable
Term
mendacity
Definition
n. the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty

(adj. form: mendacious)
Term
meticulous
Definition
adj. characterized by extreme care and precision; attentive to detail
Term
misanthrope
Definition
n. one who hates all other humans

(adj. form: misanthropic)
Term
mitigate
Definition
v. to make or become less severe or intense; to moderate
Term
obdurate
Definition
adj. unyielding;hardhearted; intractable
Term
obsequious
Definition
adj. exhibiting a fawning attentiveness
Term
occlude
Definition
v. to obstruct or block
Term
opprobrium
Definition
n. disgrace; contempt; scorn
Term
pedagogy
Definition
n. the profession or principles of teaching, or instructing
Term
pedantic
Definition
adj. overly concerned with the trivial details of learning or education; show-offish about one's knowledge
Term
penury
Definition
n. poverty; destitution
Term
pervasive
Definition
adj. having the tendency to permeate or spread through
Term
pine
Definition
v. to yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor
Term
pirate
Definition
v. to illegally use or reproduce
Term
pith
Definition
n. the essential or central part
Term
pithy
Definition
adj. precise and brief
Term
placate
Definition
v. to appease; to calm by making concessions
Term
platitude
Definition
n. a superficial remark, especially one offered as meaningful
Term
plummet
Definition
v. to plunge or drop straight down
Term
polemical
Definition
adj. controversial; argumentative
Term
prodigal
Definition
adj. recklessly wasteful; extravagant;profuse; lavish
Term
profuse
Definition
adj. given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant
Term
proliferate
Definition
v. to grow or increase swiftly and abundantly
Term
quiries
Definition
n. questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind; reservations
Term
querulous
Definition
adj. prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish
Term
rancorous
Definition
adj. characterized by bitter, long lasting resentment

(noun form: rancor)
Term
recalcitrant
Definition
adj. obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage
Term
repudiate
Definition
v. to refuse to have anything to do with ; disown
Term
rescind
Definition
v. to invalidate; to repeal; to retract
Term
reverent
Definition
adj. marked by feeling, or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect.

(n. form: reverence)
Term
rhetoric
Definition
n. the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion
Term
salubrious
Definition
adj. promoting health or well-being
Term
solvent
Definition
adj. able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance
Term
specious
Definition
adj. seeming true, but actually being fallicious; misleadingly attractive; plausible but false
Term
spurious
Definition
adj. lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit
Term
subpoena
Definition
n. a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony
Term
succinct
Definition
adj; brief; concise
Term
superfluous
Definition
adj. exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
Term
surfeit
Definition
n/v: an overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply excess
Term
tenacity
Definition
n. the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued; persistent determination

(adj. form: tenacious)
Term
tenuous
Definition
adj. having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak
Term
tirade
Definition
n. a long and extremely critical speech; a harch denunciation
Term
transient
Definition
adj. fleeting; passing quickly; brief
Term
zealous
Definition
adj. fervent; ardent; impassioned, devoted to cause

(a zealot is a zealous person)
Term
acerbic
Definition
adj. having a sour taste or character; sharp; biting
Term
aggrandize
Definition
v. to increase in intensity, power, influence or prestige
Term
alchemy
Definition
n. a medieval science aimed as the transmutation of metals, especially base metals into gold. (an alchemist is one who practices alchemy)
Term
amenable
Definition
adj. agreeable; responsive to suggestion
Term
anachronism
Definition
n. something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context

The sword is an anachronism in modern warfare.
Term
astringent
Definition
adj./n. having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe; something with a tightening effect on tissue
Term
contiguous
Definition
adj. sharing a border; touching; adjacent
Term
convention
Definition
n. a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
Term
credulous
Definition
adj. tending to believe too readily; gullible (n. form: credulity)
Term
cynicism
Definition
n. an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness (adj. form: cynical)
Term
decorum
Definition
n. polite or appropriate conduct or behavior (adj. form: decorous)
Term
derision
Definition
n. scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment (adj. form: derisive, verb form: deride)
Term
desiccate
Definition
v. to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
Term
dillettante
Definition
n. one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
Term
disparage
Definition
v. to slight or belittle
Term
divulge
Definition
v. to disclose something secret
Term
fawn
Definition
v. to flatter or praise excessively
Term
flout
Definition
v. to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention

"flout the rules" [syn: scoff]
Term
garrulous
Definition
adj. pointlessly talkative, talking too much
Term
glib
Definition
adj. marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
Term
hubris
Definition
n. overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
Term
imminent
Definition
adj. about to happen; impending
Term
immutable
Definition
adj. not capable of change
Term
impetuous
Definition
adj. hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
Term
indifferent
Definition
adj. having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
Term
inimical
Definition
adj. damaging; harmful; inurious
Term
intractable
Definition
adj. not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate.
Term
intrepid
Definition
adj. steadfast and courageous
Term
laconic
Definition
adj. using few words; terse
Term
maverick
Definition
n. an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
Term
mercurial
Definition
adj. characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
Term
mollify
Definition
v. to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
Term
neophyte
Definition
n. a recent convert; a beginner; novice
Term
neophyte
Definition
n. a recent convert; a beginner; novice
Term
obfuscate
Definition
adj. to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
Term
obstinate
Definition
adj. stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising
Term
ostentatious
Definition
adj. characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
Term
pervade
Definition
v. to permeate throughout

(adj. form pervasive)
Term
phlegmatic
Definition
adj. calm;sluggish; unemotional

1. not easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish.
2. self-possessed, calm, or composed.
Term
plethora
Definition
n. an overabundance; a surplus
Term
pragmatic
Definition
adj. practical rather than idealistic
Term
presumptuous
Definition
adj. overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
Term
pristine
Definition
adj. pure; uncorrupted; clean
Term
probity
Definition
n. adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
Term
proclivity
Definition
n. a natural predisposition or inclination
Term
profligate
Definition
adj. excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant

(n. form: profligacy)
Term
propensity
Definition
n. a natural inclination or tendency, penchant
Term
prosaic
Definition
adj. dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
Term
pungent
Definition
adj. characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
Term
quixotic
Definition
adj. foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
Term
quotidian
Definition
adj. occuring or recurring daily; commonplace
Term
rarefy
Definition
v. to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
Term
recondite
Definition
adj. hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
Term
refulgent
Definition
adj. radiant; shiny; brilliant
Term
renege
Definition
v. to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
Term
sedulous
Definition
adj. diligent; persistent; hard-working
Term
shard
Definition
n. a peice of broken pottery or glass
Term
soporific
Definition
adj. causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
Term
sparse
Definition
adj. thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
Term
spendthrift
Definition
n. one who spends money wastefully
Term
subtle
Definition
adj. not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
Term
tacit
Definition
adj. implied; not explicitly stated
Term
terse
Definition
adj. brief and concise in wording
Term
tout
Definition
v. to publicly praise or promote
Term
trenchant
Definition
adj. sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
Term
unfeigned
Definition
adj. genuine; not false or hypocritical
Term
untenable
Definition
adj. indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
Term
vacillate
Definition
v. to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another; waver
Term
variegated
Definition
adj. multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color
Term
vexation
Definition
n. annoyance; irritation

(n. form: vex)
Term
vigilant
Definition
adj. alertly watchful

(n. form: vigilance)
Term
vituperate
Definition
v. to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; berate
Term
volatile
Definition
adj. readlily changing to a vopor; changealbe; fickle; explosive

(n. form: volatility)
Term
alloy
Definition
v. to commingle; to debase by mixing with something inferior; unalloyed means pure.
Term
appropriate
Definition
v. to take for one's own use, confiscate
Term
arrest, arresting
Definition
v/adj. to suspend; to engage; holding one's attention; as in arrested adolescence, an arresting protrait
Term
august
Definition
adj. majestic, venerable
Term
bent
Definition
n. leaning, inclination, proclivity, tendency; he ahd a naturally artistic bent.
Term
broach
Definition
v. bring up, announce, begin to talk about.
Term
brook
Definition
v. to tolerate, endure, countenance
Term
cardinal
Definition
adj. major, as in cardinal sin or cardinal rule
Term
chauvinist
Definition
n. a blindly devoted patriot
Term
color
Definition
v. to change as if by dyeing, ie to distort, gloss of affect (usually the first)

Yellow journalism colored the truth.
Term
consequential
Definition
adj. pompous, self important

(primary definitions are: logically following; important)
Term
damp
Definition
v. to diminish the intensity or check the vibration of sound.
Term
die
Definition
n. a tool used for shaping, as in a tool and die shop
Term
essay
Definition
v. to test or try; attempt, experiment:

The newly born fawn essayed a few wobbly steps.
Term
exact
Definition
v. to demand, call for , require, take:

Even victorious war exacts a heavy price.
Term
Fell
Definition
v. to cause to fall by striking

The lumberjacks arrived and felled many trees.

adj. inhumanely cruel

Fell beasts surrounded the explorers
Term
flag
Definition
v. to sag or droop, to become spiritless, to decline:

Think of a flag on a windless day, as in her flagging spirits.
Term
flip
Definition
adj. sarcastic, impertinent, as in flippant; a flip remark
Term
ford
Definition
v. to wade across the shallow part of a river or stream.
Term
grouse
Definition
v. to complain or grumble
Term
guy
Definition
n/v a rope or cord, or cable attached to something as a brace or guide; to steady or reinforce using a guy.
Term
intimate
Definition
v. to imply, suggest, or insinuate;

Are you intimating that I cannot be trusted?
Term
list
Definition
v. to tilt or lean to one side;

The ship's broken mast listed helplessly in the wind.
Term
lumber
Definition
v. to move heavily and clumsily
Term
meet
Definition
adj. fitting, proper;

It is altogether meet that Jackie Robinson is in the baseball hall of fame.
Term
milk
Definition
v. to exploit, to squeeze every last ounce of
Term
mince
Definition
v. pronounce or speak affectedly, euphemize, speak to carefully;

Don't mince words.

Also, to take tiny steps, tiptoe
Term
nice
Definition
adj. exacting, fastidious, extremely precise;

He made a nice distinction between two cases.
Term
obtain
Definition
adj. to be established, accepted or customary: Those standards no longer obtain
Term
occult
Definition
adj. hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension
Term
pedestrian
Definition
adj. commonplace, trite, unremarkable, quotidian
Term
pied
Definition
adj. multicolored, usually in blotches
Term
pine
Definition
v. to lose vigor (as through grief); to yearn
Term
plastic
Definition
adj. moldable, pliable, not rigid
Term
pluck
Definition
n. courage, spunk, fortitude.

Churchill's speeches insprired the pluck of his countrymen during the war.
Term
prize
Definition
v. to pry, to press or force with a lever; something taken by force, spoils;

The information was prized from him.
Term
rail
Definition
v. to complain about bitterly;

Early American progressives railed against the railroad against the railroad barons.
Term
rent
Definition
v/n torn, past of rend; He rent his garments; an opening or tear caused by such: a large rent in fabric
Term
quail
Definition
v. to lose courage, turn frightened
Term
qualify
Definition
v. to limit:

Let me qualify that statement.
Term
sap
Definition
v. to enervate or weaken the vitality of.

(n. form: a fool or nitwit: don't be a sap!)
Term
scurvy
Definition
adj. cotemptible, despicable:

He was a scurvy old reprobate
Term
singular
Definition
adj. exceptional, unusual, odd: He was singularly well-suited for the job.
Term
stand
Definition
n. a group of trees
Term
steep
Definition
v. to saturate or completely soak, as in to let a tea bag steep;

She was steeped in esoteric knowledge.
Term
strut
Definition
n. the supporting structural cross-part of a wing
Term
table
Definition
v. to remove (as a parliamentary motion) from consideration:

The tabled the motion and will consider it again later.
Term
tender
Definition
v. to proffer or offer:

He tendered his resignation
Term
waffle
Definition
v. to equivocate; to change one's position:

His detractors say that the President waffles too much; he can never make up his mind.
Term
wag
Definition
n. wit, joker: Groucho Marx was a well-known wag.
Term
abjure
Definition
v. to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant; to avoid
Term
adumbrate
Definition
v. to foreshadow vaguely or intimate; to suggest or outline sketchily; to obscure or overshadow
Term
antathema
Definition
n. a solemn or ecclesiastical (religious) curse; accursed or thouroughly loathed person or thing

–noun, plural -mas. 1. a person or thing detested or loathed: That subject is anathema to him.
2. a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction.
3. a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication.
4. any imprecation of divine punishment.
5. a curse; execration.
Term
anodyne
Definition
adj. n. soothing, something that assuages or allays pain or comforts.
Term
apogee
Definition
n. farthest or highest point; culmination; zenith
Term
apostate
Definition
n. one who abandons long held religous or political convictions
Term
apotheosis
Definition
n. deification, glorification to godliness, an exalted example, a model of excellence or perfection

–noun, plural -ses /-siz, -ˌsiz/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-seez, -seez] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation. 1. the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god.
2. the ideal example; epitome; quintessence: This poem is the apotheosis of lyric expression.
Term
asperity
Definition
n. severity, rigor; roughness, harshness; acrimony, irritability
Term
asseverate
Definition
v. to aver, allege, assert

To declare seriously or positively; affirm.
Term
assiduous
Definition
adj. diligent, hard-working, sedulous
Term
augury
Definition
n. omen, portent
Term
bellicose
Definition
adj. belligerent, pugnacious, warlike
Term
calumniate
Definition
v. to slander, make a false accusation; calumny means slander, aspersion
Term
captious
Definition
adj. disposed to point out trivial faults, calculated to confuse or entrap in argument

adjective 1. apt to notice and make much of trivial faults or defects; faultfinding; difficult to please.
2. proceeding from a faultfinding or caviling disposition: He could never praise without adding a captious remark.
3. apt or designed to ensnare or perplex, esp. in argument: captious questions
Term
cavil
Definition
v. to find fault without good reason
Term
celerity
Definition
n. speed, alacrity, swiftness
Term
chimera
Definition
n. an illusion; originally, an imaginary fire-breathing she-monster
Term
contumacious
Definition
adj. insubordinate, rebellious
Term
debacle
Definition
n. rout, fiasco, complete failure.
Term
denoument
Definition
n. an outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot
Term
descry
Definition
v. to discriminate or discern
Term
desuetude
Definition
n. disuse: After years of desuetude, my french skills were finally put to use.
Term
desultory
Definition
adj. random; aimless; marked by a lack of plan or purpose; Her desultory performance impressed no one.
Term
diaphanous
Definition
adj. transparent, gauzy
Term
diffident
Definition
adj. reserved, shy, unassuming; lacking in self confidence
Term
dirge
Definition
n. a song of grief or lamentation; We listened to the slow, funeral dirge.
Term
encomium
Definition
n. glowing and enthusiastic praise;
Term
eschew
Definition
v. to shun or avoid: She chose to eschew the movie theater, preferring to watch DVD's at home.
Term
excoriate
Definition
v. to censure scathingly, to upbraid
Term
execrate
Definition
v. denounce, feel loathing for, cures, declare to be evil
Term
exegesis
Definition
n. critical examination, explication

an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible)
Term
expiate
Definition
v. to atone or make amends for; Pia Zadora has expiated her movie career by good works and charity
Term
extirpate
Definition
v. to destroy, exterminate, cut out, exscind
Term
fatuous
Definition
adj. silly, inanely foolish: I would ignore such a fatuous comment.

—Synonyms 1. dense, dull, dim-witted. See foolish.
Term
fractious
Definition
adj. quarrelsome, rebellious, unruly, refractory, irritable
Term
gainsay
Definition
v. to deny, dispute, contradict, oppose
Term
heterodox
Definition
adj. unorthodox, heretical, iconoclastic
Term
imbroglio
Definition
n. difficult or embarrasing situation
Term
indefatigable
Definition
adj. not easily exhaustible; tireless, dogged
Term
ineluctable
Definition
adj. certain, inevitable
Term
inimitable
Definition
adj. one of a kind, peerless
Term
insouciant
Definition
adj. unconcerned, carefree, heedless
Term
inveterate
Definition
adj. deep rooted, ingrained, habitual
Term
jejune
Definition
adj. vapid, uninteresting, nugatory; childish, immature, puerile
Term
lubricious
Definition
adj. lewd, wanton, greasy, slippery
Term
mendicant
Definition
n. a beggar, suplicant
Term
meretricious
Definition
adj. cheap, gaudy, tawdry, flashy, showy; attracting by false show
Term
minatory
Definition
adj. menacing, threatening
Term
nadir
Definition
n. low point, perigee
Term
nonplussed
Definition
adj. baffled, bewildered, at a loss for what to do or think
Term
obstreperous
Definition
adj. noisily and stubbornly defiant, aggressively boisterous
Term
ossified
Definition
adj. tending to become more rigid, conventional, sterile, and reactionary with age; literally, turned into bone.
Term
palliate
Definition
v. to make something seem less serious, to gloss over, to make less severe or intense.
Term
panegyric
Definition
n. formal prasie, eulogy, encomium; pnaegyrical means expressing elaborate praise
Term
parsimonious
Definition
adj. cheap, miserly
Term
pellucid
Definition
adj. transparent, easy to understand, limpid
Term
peroration
Definition
n. the concluding part of a speech; flowery, rhetorical speech
Term
plangent
Definition
adj. pounding, thundering, resounding
Term
prolix
Definition
adj. long winded, verbose; prolixity means verbosity: Michael Gorbochev is famous for his prolixity
Term
propitiate
Definition
v. to appease; to concilliate; propitious means auspicious, favorable
Term
puerile
Definition
adj. childish, immature, jejune, nugatory
Term
puissance
Definition
n. power, strength; puissant means powerful, strong: The senator delivered a puissant speech to the convention
Term
pusillanimous
Definition
adj. cowardly, craven
Term
remonstrate
Definition
v. to protest, object
Term
sagacious
Definition
adj. having sound judgement; perceptive, wise; like a sage
Term
salacious
Definition
adj. lustful, lascivious, bawdy
Term
salutary
Definition
adj. remedial, wholesome, causing improvement

1. favorable to or promoting health; healthful.
2. promoting or conducive to some beneficial purpose; wholesome.
Term
sanguine
Definition
adj. cheerful, confident, optimistic
Term
santurnine
Definition
adj. gloomy, dark, sullen, morose
Term
sententious
Definition
adj. aphoristic or moralistic; tending to moralize excessively

adjective 1. abounding in pithy aphorisms or maxims: a sententious book.
2. given to excessive moralizing; self-righteous.
3. given to or using pithy sayings or maxims: a sententious poet.
4. of the nature of a maxim; pithy.
Term
stentorian
Definition
adj. extremely loud and powerful
Term
stygian
Definition
gloomy, dark
Term
sycophant
Definition
n. toady, servile, self-seeking flatterer; parasite
Term
tendentious
Definition
adj. biased; showing marked tendencies
Term
timorous
Definition
adj. timid, fearful, diffident
Term
tyro
Definition
n. novice, greehorn, rank amateur
Term
vitiate
Definition
v. to corrupt, debase, spoil,make ineffective
Term
voluble
Definition
adj. fluent, verbal, having easy use of spoken language
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