Term
|
Definition
to leave secretly
The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without payig his bill by sneaking the back door |
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Term
|
Definition
to choose not to do something
During Lent, practicing Catholics ABSTAIN from eating meat |
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Term
|
Definition
to reduce in amount,degree, or severity,
As the huricane's force ABATED the winds dropped and the sea became calm |
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Term
| Adulterate, Adultery, (Unadulterated Ant.) |
|
Definition
to make impure, an illicit relationship
The restaurateur made his ketchup last longer by ADULTERATING it wih water |
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Term
|
Definition
to speak in favor of, active support for
the vegetarian ADVOCATED a diet containing no meat |
|
|
Term
| Aesthetic, Aesthete, Aestheticism |
|
Definition
concerning the appreciation of beauty, someone sensitve to beauty, concern for beauty
Followers of the AESTETIC movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only tru purpose of art |
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Term
|
Definition
to increase in power, influence and reputation
the supervisor sought to AGGRANDIZE himself by claiming that the achievements of his staff were actually his own |
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Term
|
Definition
to make more bearable
Taking aspirin helps to ALLEVIATE a headache |
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Term
|
Definition
to combine, to mix together, a mixture
Giant Industries AMALGAMATED with MEga Products to form Giant Mega Products Incorporated |
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Term
|
Definition
doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
The directions he gave were so AMBIGUOUS that we disagreed on which way to turn |
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Term
|
Definition
something out of place in time
the aged hippie used ANACHRONISTIC phrases like groovy and far out that had not been popular for years |
|
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Term
| Analogous, Analogy, Analogue |
|
Definition
similar or alike in some way; equivalent to a similary between things that are otherwise dissimilar,
In a famous argument for the existence of God, the universe is ANALOGOUS to a mechanical timepiece, the create on a divinely intelligent "clockmaker" |
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Term
|
Definition
deviation from what is normal,
albino animal may display too gran an ANOMALY in their coloring to attract normally colored mates |
|
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Term
| Antagonize, Antagonistic, Antagonist |
|
Definition
to annoy or provoke to anger, tending to provoke conflict, someone who fights another
the child discovered the he could ANTAGONIZE the cat by pulling its tail |
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Term
|
Definition
extreme dislike
the ANTIPATHY between the french and english regularly erupt into open warfare |
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Term
|
Definition
lack of interest or emotion
The APATHY of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so |
|
|
Term
| Arbitrate, Arbitration, Arbitrator |
|
Definition
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties, a process by which a conflict is resolved
Sice the couple could not come to agreement, a judge was forced to ARBITRATE their divorce proceedigs |
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Term
|
Definition
ancient old-fashioned
Her ARCHAIC commodore computer could not runthe latest softward |
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Term
|
Definition
intense and passionate feeling, expressing passion
Bishop's ARDPR for landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic hudson valley |
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Term
|
Definition
able to speak clearly and expressively
She is such an ARTICULATE defender of labor that unions are among her strongest supporters |
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Term
|
Definition
to make something unpleasant less severe
Like many people, Philip Larkin used alcohol to ASSUAGE his sense of meaninglessness and despair |
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Term
|
Definition
to reduce in fore or degree; to weaken
The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of government to change las at will |
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Term
|
Definition
fearless and daring
"And you, your majesty, may kiss my bum!" replied the AUDACIOUS peasant |
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Term
|
Definition
Sever or stern in appearance; undecrated
The lack of decoration makes zen temples seem AUSTERE to the untrained eye |
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Term
|
Definition
Predictable, cliche, boring
He used BANAL phrases like Have a nice day or Another day another dollar |
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Term
|
Definition
to support; to prop up
the presence of giant footprints BOLSTERED the argument that Sasqauatch was in the area |
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Term
|
Definition
Pompous in speech and manner
Mussolini's speeches were mostly BOMBASTIC; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact |
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Term
|
Definition
harsh, jarring noise
the junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable Cacophy as the y tried to tune their instruments |
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Term
|
Definition
changing one's mind quickly and often
Queen elizabeth was quite CAPRICIOUS; her courtiers would never be sure which of their number would catch her fancy |
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Term
|
Definition
an extremely deep hole, pertaining to a great depth, extremely bad
The submarine dove in the the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths |
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Term
|
Definition
impartial and honest speech
the observation of a cihld can be charming since they are CANDID and unpretentious |
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Term
|
Definition
to punish or criticize harshly
Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in singapore CASTIGATE perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the United States |
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Term
|
Definition
something that brings about a change in something else
The imposition of harsh taxes was the catalyst that finally brought on the revolution |
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Term
|
Definition
Biting in wit
Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for CAUSTIC wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults |
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Term
|
Definition
Great disorder or confusion, jumbled confused
in most religious traditions, God Created an ordered universe from CHAOS |
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Term
|
Definition
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
The attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefore must be obeyed is common among male CHAUVINISTS |
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Term
|
Definition
deception by means of craft or guile
Dishonest used car salesmen often use CHICANERY to sell their beat up old cars |
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Term
|
Definition
convincing and well reasoned, to think deeply
Swayed by the COGENT argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant |
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Term
|
Definition
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
Some theorist that a failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as CONDONING and air of lawlessness |
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Term
|
Definition
Intricate and complicated
Although many people bought A brief History of Time few could follow its CONVOLUTED ideas and theories |
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Term
|
Definition
to provide supporting evidence
Fingerprints CORROBORATED the witness's testimny that he saw the defendant in the victim's apartment |
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Term
|
Definition
too trusting, gullible
Although some 4-year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny, only the most Credulous also believe in him |
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Term
|
Definition
steadily increasing volume or force
The CRESCENDO of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to ump his motorcycle over the school buses. |
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Term
|
Definition
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
the countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the DECORUM appropriate for a visit to the palace |
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|
Term
| Deference, Defer, Deferent |
|
Definition
respect courtesy, to delay, to be courteous
the respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost DEFERENCE |
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|
Term
| Deride, Derision, Derisive |
|
Definition
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
The awkward child was often DERIDED by his "cooler" peers |
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Term
|
Definition
to dry out thoroughly, something that removes water from another substance
After a few wees of lying on the desert's baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely DESICCATED |
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Term
|
Definition
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
Diane had a DESULTORY academic record; sh had changed majors 12 times in 3 years |
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Term
|
Definition
an abusive, condemnatory speech
the trucker bellowed a DIATRIBE at the drive who had cut him off |
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Term
|
Definition
lacking self-confidence
Steve's DIFFIDENT manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field |
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Term
|
Definition
to make larger; to expand
When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes DILATE to let in more light |
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Term
|
Definition
intended to delay
The congressman used DILATORY measures to delay the passage of the bill |
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Term
|
Definition
Someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
Jerry's friends were such DILETTANTES that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week |
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Term
|
Definition
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
Melville wrote the poem a DIRGE for James Mcpherson for the funeral of a Union general who was killed in 1864 |
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Term
|
Definition
to perceive; to recognize
It is easy to DISCERN the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping |
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Term
|
Definition
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
Although the twins to be identical physically, their personality are DISPARATE |
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Term
|
Definition
to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
The villain could DISSEMBLE to the police no longer-he admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man |
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Term
|
Definition
a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
Cognitive DISSONANCE is the inner conflict produces when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence |
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Term
|
Definition
a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
Linus's central DOGMA was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be rewarded |
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Term
|
Definition
dictatorial in one's opinions
The dictator was DOGMATIC he, and only he, was right. |
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Term
|
Definition
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
Bugs Bunny was able to DUPE Elmer Fudd by dress up as a lady rabbit |
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Term
|
Definition
selecting from or made p from a variety of sources
Budapest's arcitecture is an ECLECTIC mix of eastern and western styles |
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Term
|
Definition
Effectiveness
The EFFICACY of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduce; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infection for which it was administered |
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Term
|
Definition
A sorrowful poem or speech, mournful
Although Thomas gray's "ELEGY Written in a Country Churchyard" is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life, and to trust in spirituality |
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Term
|
Definition
Persuasive and moving, especially in speech
The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but also because of its ELOQUENT words |
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Term
|
Definition
to copy; to try to equal or excel
The graduate student sought to EMULATE his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught, but also how she conducted herself outside of class |
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Term
|
Definition
to reduce in strength, to deprive of strength or courage
The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would ENERVATE the regular army |
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Term
|
Definition
to produce, cause, or bring about
His fear and hatred of clowns was ENGENDERED when he witness the death of his father at the hands of a clown |
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Term
|
Definition
a puzzle; a mystery
Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of an ENIGMA |
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Term
|
Definition
to count, list, or itemize
Moses returned from the mountain with tablets on which the commandments were ENUMERATED |
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Term
|
Definition
lasting a short time
The lives of mayflies seem EPHEMERAL to use, since the flies' average life span is a matter of hours |
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Term
|
Definition
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
When faced with criticism of his policies, the politician EQUIVOCATED and left all parties thinking he agreed with them |
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Term
|
Definition
wandering and unpredictable
The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of ERRATIC turns that surprised the audience |
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Term
|
Definition
learned, scholarly, bookish, extensive knowledge
The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering o the most ERUDITE, well-published individuals in the field |
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Term
|
Definition
known or understood by only a few
Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the ESOTERIC world of particle physics |
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Term
|
Definition
admirable, high regard
Most people consider it ESTIMABLE that Mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India |
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Term
|
Definition
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
The funeral director preferred to use the EUPHEMISM "sleeping" instead of the word "dead" |
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Term
|
Definition
to make worse
It is unwise to take aspirin to try and relieve heartburn; instead of providing relief the drug will only EXACERBATE the problem |
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Term
|
Definition
to clear from blame; prove innocent
The adversarial legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to EXCULPATE those who are innocent |
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Term
|
Definition
urgent; requiring immediate action
The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was EXIGENT to stop the source of bleeding |
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Term
|
Definition
to clear of blame
The fugitive was EXONERATED when another criminal confessed to committing the crime |
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|
Term
| Explicit, explicable, explicate |
|
Definition
clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
The owners of the house left a list of EXPLICIT instruction detailing their house-sitters' duties, including a schedule for watering the house plants |
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Term
|
Definition
speech in priase of someone
His best friend gave the EULOGY, outline his many achievements and talest |
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Term
|
Definition
acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme unquestioning devotion
The stormtroopers were FANATICAL in their devotion to the Emperor readily sacrificing their lives for him |
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Term
|
Definition
to grovel
The understudy FAWND over the director in hopes of being cast in the part on a permanent basis |
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Term
|
Definition
intensely emotional; feverish
the fans of Maria Callas per particularly FERVID, doing anyhing to catch a glimpse of the great opera siner |
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Term
|
Definition
ecessively decorated or embellished
The palace had been decorated in an excessively FLORID style, every surface had been carved and gilded |
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Term
|
Definition
to arouse or incite
The protesters tried to FOMENT feelings against the war thorough their speeches and demonstrations |
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Term
|
Definition
a tendency to be thrifty or cheep
Scrooge McDuck's FRUGALITY was so great that he accumulated enough wealth to fill a giant storehouse with money |
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Term
|
Definition
tending to talk a lot
The GARRALOUS parakeet distractedits owner with its continous talking |
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Term
|
Definition
outgoing, soiable
She was so GREGARIOUS that when she found herself alone she felt quite sad |
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Term
|
Definition
deciet or trickery
Since he was not fast enough to catch the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to GUILE in an effort to trap his enemy |
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Term
|
Definition
Easily deceived
The con man pretended to be a band officer as to foll GULLIBLE bank customers into giving him their account information |
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Term
|
Definition
of a similar kind
The class was fairly HOMOGENOUS, since almost all of the students were senior journalism majors |
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Term
|
Definition
one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an ICONOCLAST. |
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|
Term
| Imperturbable (Perturb Ant.) |
|
Definition
| not capable of being disturbed, The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she seemed IMPERTURBABLE, even when faced with the wildest tantrums |
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Term
|
Definition
impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
A good raincoat will be IMPERVIOUS to moisture |
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Term
|
Definition
quick to act without thinking, impulsive
It is not good for an investiment broker to be IMPETUOUS, since much thought should be given to all the possible options |
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|
Term
| Implacable (Placate Ant.) |
|
Definition
unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained IMPLACABLE for weeks. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
not fully formed; disorganized
The ideas expressed in Nietsche's mature work also appear in an INCHOATE form in his earliest writing |
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|
Term
| Ingenuous, ingenue (Disingenuous Ant.) |
|
Definition
showing innocence or childlike simplicity, a naive girl or young woman
She was so INGENUOUS that her friends feared that her innocence and trustfulness would be exploited when she visited the big city. |
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Term
|
Definition
hostile, unfriendly
Even though a cease-fire had been in place for months, the two sides were still INIMICAL to each other |
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Term
|
Definition
Harmless
Some snakes are poisonous, but most species are INNOCUOUS and pose no danger to humans |
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Term
|
Definition
lacking interest or flavor
The critic claimed that the painting was INSIPID, containing no interesting qualities at all |
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Term
|
Definition
uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
The professor was INTRANSIGENT on the deadline, insisting that everyone turn the assignment in at the same time |
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Term
|
Definition
to overwhelm; to cover with water
The tidal wave INUNDATED Atlantis, which was lost beneath the water |
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Term
|
Definition
easily made angry
Attila the Hun's IRASCIBLE and violent nature made all who dealth with him fear for their lives |
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Term
|
Definition
using few words
She was a LACONIC poet who built her reputation on using words as sparingly as possible |
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Term
|
Definition
to express sorrow; to grieve
The children continued to LAMENT the death of the goldfish weeks after its demise |
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|
Term
| Laud, Laudable, Laudatory |
|
Definition
to give praise, to gorify, worth of praise, expressing praise
Parades and fireworks were staged to LAUD the success of the rebels |
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Term
|
Definition
to give unsparingly, extremely generous or extravagant
She LAVISHED the puppy with so many treats that it soon became overwheight and spoiled. |
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Term
|
Definition
Acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner
The clerk was so LETHARGIC that, even when the store was slow, he always had a long line in front of him |
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|
Term
| Loquacious, Eloquence, Loquacity |
|
Definition
talkative, convincing speaking,
She was naturally LOQUACIOUS, which was a problem in situations in which listening was more important than talking |
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|
Term
|
Definition
clear and easily understood, clarity
The explanations were written in a simple and LUCID manner so that students were immediately able to apply what the learned |
|
|
Term
| Luminous,Illuminate, Luminary |
|
Definition
bright brilliant, glowing, to shine light on, and inspiring person
The park was bathed in LUMINOUS sunshine that warmed the bodies and the souls of the visitors |
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|
Term
|
Definition
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill, to be slow in leaving
A common way to avoid the draft was by MALINGERING pretending to be mentally or physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the Army |
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Term
|
Definition
capable of being shaped
Gold is the most MALLEABLE of precious metals; it can easily be formed into almost any shape. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
a figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol
The METAPHOR "a sea of troubles" suggest a lot of troubles by comparing their number to the vastness of the sea |
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Term
|
Definition
extremely careful about details
To find all the clues at the crime scene, the investigators METICULOUSLY examined every inch of the area. |
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Term
|
Definition
a person who dislikes others
The character scrooge in A Christmas Carol is such a MISANTHROPE that even the sight of children singing makes him angry |
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Term
|
Definition
to soften; to lessen
A judge may MITIGATE a sentence if she decides that a person committed a crime out of need |
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Term
|
Definition
to calm or make less severe
Their argument was so intense that it was difficult to believe any compromise would MOLLIFY them. |
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Term
|
Definition
Lack of variation,
The MONOTONY of the sound of the dripping faucet almost drove the research assistant crazy. |
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Term
|
Definition
lacking sophistication or experience
Having never traveled before, the hillbillies were more NAIVE than the people they met in Beverly Hills |
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Term
|
Definition
Hardened in feeling resistant to persuasion
The President was completely OBDURATE on the issues, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind. |
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Term
|
Definition
overly submissive and eager to please, a physical show of respect or submission
The OBSEQUIOUS new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor's tie and agree with him on every issue. |
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Term
|
Definition
stubborn, unyielding
The OBSTINATE child could not be made to eat any food that he disliked. |
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Term
|
Definition
to prevent to make unnecessary
The river was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which OBVIATED the need for a bridge. |
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Term
|
Definition
to stop up to prevent the passage of
A shadow is thrown across the Earth's surface during a solar eclipse, when the light from the sun is OCCLUDED by the moon. |
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Term
|
Definition
troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
The assignment was so extensive and difficult to manage that it proved ONEROUS to the team in charge of it |
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Term
|
Definition
impossible to see through, preventing the passage of light, indeciferable
The heavy buildup of dirt and grime on the windows almost made them OPAQUE. |
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Term
|
Definition
public disgrace
After the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter OPPROBRIUM. |
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Term
|
Definition
excessive showiness
The OSTENTATION of the Sun King's court is evident in the lavish decoration and luxiousness of his palace at Versailles |
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Term
|
Definition
a contradiction or dilemma
It is a PARADOX that those most in need of medical attention are often those least able to obtain it. |
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Term
|
Definition
model of excellence of perfection
She is the PARAGON of what a judge should be; honest intelligent, hardworking, and just |
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Term
|
Definition
someone who shows off learning
The graduate instructor's tedious and excessive commentary on the subject soon gained her a reputation as a PEDANT |
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Term
|
Definition
willing to betray one's trust, treachery
The actress's PERFIDIOUS companion revealed all of her intimate secrets to the gossip columnist. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
done in a routine way; indifferent
The machine like bank teller processed the transaction and gave the waiting customer a PERFUNCTORY smile. |
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|
Term
| Permeate (Impermeable Ant.) |
|
Definition
to penetrate
This miraculous new cleaning fluid is able to PERMEATE stains and dissolve them in minutes. |
|
|
Term
| Philanthropy, Philanthropist |
|
Definition
charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art owes much of its collection to the PHILANTHROPY of private collectors who willed their estates to the museum. |
|
|
Term
| Placate, Placid, (Implacable Ant.) |
|
Definition
to soothe of pacify
The burglar tried to PLACATE the snarling dog by saying "Nice doggy" and offering it a treat |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
able to be molded, altered or bent
The new material was very PLASTIC and could be formed into products of vastly different shape. |
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Term
|
Definition
excess
assuming that more was better, the defendant offered the judge a PLETHORA of excuses. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
practical as opposed to idealistic
While daydreaming gamblers think they can get rich by frequenting casinos, PRAGMATIC gamblers realize that the odds are heavily stacked against them. |
|
|
Term
| Precipitate, Precipitous, Precipice, Precipitation |
|
Definition
to thro violently or bring about abrubtly; lacking deliberation, very steep cliff or hill, weather pheomena
Upon learnging that the couple married after know each other only two months, friends and family members expeected such a PRECIPITATE marriage to end in divorce. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
to lie or deviate from the truth
Rather than admit that he had overslept again the employee PREVARICATED and claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
Lavish, wasteful
The Prodigal son quickly wasted all of his inheritance on lavish lifestyle devoted to pleasure. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
to increase in number quickly, very productive or highly able to reproduce rapidly
Although he only kept two guinea pigs initially, the PROLIFERATED to such an extent that he soon had dozens |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
to conciliate; to appease, advanageous
The management PROPITIATED the irate union by agreeing to raise wages for its members |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs, suitable for a particular occasion
The aristocracy maintained a high level of PROPRIETY, adhering to even the most minor social rules. |
|
|
Term
| Prudence, (Prude, Prudish Neg. Con) |
|
Definition
wisdom, caution, or restraint, someone who es excessively concerned with propriety, prissy and puritanical
The college student exhibited PRUDENCE by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her resume. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
sharp and irritating to the senses
The smoke from the tires was extremely PUNGENT. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
motionless
Many animals are QUIESCENT over the winter months, minimizing activity in order to conserve energy |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
to make thinner or sparse
Since the atmosphere RAREFIES as altitude increases, the air at the top of a tall mountain is to othin to breath. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
to reject the validity of
The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was REPUDIATED when DNA tests showed she was of no relation to them. |
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Term
|
Definition
silent reserved
Physically small and RETICENT in her speech, Joan Didion often went unnoticed by those upon who she was reporting |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
effective writing or speaking
Lincoln's talent for Rhetoric was evident in his beautifully express Gettysburg Address. |
|
|
Term
| Satiate, Sate, (Insatiable Ant.) |
|
Definition
to satisfy fully or overindulge
His desire for power was so great that nothing less than complete control of the country could SATIATE it. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
causing sleep or lethargy
The movie proved to be so SOPORIFIC that soon loud snores were heard throughout the theater. |
|
|
Term
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Definition
deceptively attractice, seemingly plausible but fallacious
The student's SPECIOUS excuse for being late sounded legitimate, but was proved otherwise when his teacher called his home. |
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Mark of shame or discredit
In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne was required to wear the letter "A" on her clothes as a public STIGMA for her adultery. |
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unemotional, lacking sensitivity
The prisoner appeared STOLID and unaffected by the judge's harsh sentence |
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| Sublime, Sublimate, Subliminal |
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lofty or grand, elevate or convert into something higher, existing outside of conscious awareness
The music was so SUBLIME that it transformed the rude surrounding into a special place.
The music was so SUBLIME that it |
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done without using words
Although not a word had been said, everyone in the room knew that a TACIT agreement had been made about which course of action to take. |
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silent, not talkative
The clerk's TACITURN nature earned him the nickname "Silent Bob" |
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long harsh speech or verbal attack
Observers were shocked at the manager's TIRADE ver such a minor speech. |
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Extreme mental and physical sluggishness
After surgery, the patient experience TORPOR until the anesthesia wore off. |
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| Transitory, Transit, Transient |
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temporary, lasting a brief time, pass through to make a strasition
The reporter lived a TRANSITORY life, staying in one place only long enough to ocer the current story. |
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to sway physically to be indecisive
The customer held up the line as he VACILLATED between ordering chocolate chip or rocky road ice cream. |
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Fresh and clean, uncorrupted
Since concerted measures had been taken to prevent looting, the archeological site was still PRISTINE when researchers arrived |
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to respect deeply
IN traditional Confucian society,the young VENERATE their elders, deffering to the elders' wisdom and experience |
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| Veracity, Verity, Veracious |
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filled with truth and accuracy
She had a reputation for VERACITY,so everyone trusted her description of events. |
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| Verbose, Verbalize, Verbatim, Verbiage |
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wordy, superflous, to put into words, using exact words
The professor's answer was so VERBOSE that his student forgot what the original question was. |
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to annoy
The old man who loved his peace and quiet was VEXED by his neighbor's loud music. |
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Easily aroused or changeable lively or explosive
His VOLATILE personality made it difficult to predict his reaction to anything. |
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to fluctuate between choises
If you WAVER too long before making a decision about which testing site to register for, you may not get your first choice. |
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Acting in a fanciful or capricious manner, unpredictable
The ballet was WHIMSICAL, delighting the children with its imaginative characters and unpredictable sets |
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passion, excitement
She brought her typical ZEAL to the project, sparking enthusiasm in the other team members. |
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to make better; to improve
The doctor was able to AMELIORATE the patient's suffering using painkillers. |
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to set right; to free from error
Galileo's observations DISABUSED scholars of the notion that the SUN revolved around the earth. |
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