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GRE
GRE Vocabulary
138
Other
Graduate
08/17/2011

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Term
Anomaly
Definition
noun; a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form.
Term
Assuage
Definition
verb (used with object), -suaged, -suag·ing.
1.
to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate: to assuage one's grief; to assuage one's pain.
Term
Enigma
Definition
noun, plural -mas, -ma·ta  [-muh-tuh] Show IPA.
1.
a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation: His disappearance is an enigma that has given rise to much speculation.
Term
Equivocal
Definition
adjective
1.
allowing the possibility of several different meanings, as a word or phrase, especially with intent to deceive or misguide; susceptible of double interpretation; deliberately ambiguous: an equivocal answer.
2.
of doubtful nature or character; questionable; dubious; suspicious: aliens of equivocal loyalty.
Term
Erudite
Definition
adjective
characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly: an erudite professor; an erudite commentary.
Term
Fervid
Definition
adjective
1.
heated or vehement in spirit, enthusiasm, etc.: a fervid orator.
2.
burning; glowing; intensely hot.
Term
Lucid
Definition
adjective
1.
easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible: a lucid explanation.
Term
Opaque
Definition
adjective
1.
not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.
Term
Placate
Definition
verb (used with object), -cat·ed, -cat·ing.
to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures: to placate an outraged citizenry.
Term
Precipitate
Definition
verb (used with object)
1.
to hasten the occurrence of; bring about prematurely, hastily, or suddenly: to precipitate an international crisis.
2.
to cast down headlong; fling or hurl down.
Term
Prodigal
Definition
adjective
1.
wastefully or recklessly extravagant: prodigal expenditure.
Term
Zeal
Definition
noun
fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.
Term
Abstain
Definition
verb (used without object)
1.
to hold oneself back voluntarily, especially from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usually followed by from ): to abstain from eating meat.
2.
to refrain from casting one's vote: a referendum in which two delegates abstained.
Term
Adulterate
Definition
verb (used with object)
1.
to debase or make impure by adding inferior materials or elements; use cheaper, inferior, or less desirable goods in the production of (any professedly genuine article): to adulterate food.
Term
Apathy
Definition
noun, plural -thies.
1.
absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
2.
lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.
Term
Audacious
Definition
adjective
1.
extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless: an audacious explorer.
2.
extremely original; without restriction to prior ideas; highly inventive: an audacious vision of the city's bright future.
Term
Capricious
Definition
adjective
1.
subject to, led by, or indicative of caprice or whim; erratic: He's such a capricious boss I never know how he'll react.
2.
Obsolete . fanciful or witty.
Term
Corroborate
Definition
verb (used with object)
1.
to make more certain; confirm: He corroborated my account of the accident.
Term
Desiccate
Definition
verb (used with object)
1.
to dry thoroughly; dry up.
2.
to preserve (food) by removing moisture; dehydrate.
Term
Engender
Definition
verb (used with object)
1.
to produce, cause, or give rise to: Hatred engenders violence.
2.
to beget; procreate.
Term
Ephemeral
Definition
adjective
1.
lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory: the ephemeral joys of childhood.
Term
Gullible
Definition
adjective
easily deceived or cheated.
Term
Homogenous
Definition
adjective
1.
Biology . corresponding in structure because of a common origin.
Term
Laconic
Definition
adjective
using few words; expressing much in few words; concise: a laconic reply.
Term
Laudable
Definition
adjective
1.
deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable: Reorganizing the files was a laudable idea.
2.
Medicine/Medical Obsolete . healthy; wholesome; not noxious.
Term
Loquacious
Definition
adjective
1.
talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest.
Term
Mitigate
Definition
verb (used with object)
1.
to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.
Term
Pedant
Definition
noun
1.
a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.
2.
a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.
3.
a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.
Term
Pragmatic
Definition
adjective Also, prag·mat·i·cal ( for defs. 1, 2, 5 ) .
1.
of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations.
Term
Propriety
Definition
noun, plural -ties.
1.
conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior or manners.
2.
appropriateness to the purpose or circumstances; suitability.
3.
rightness or justness.
Term
Vacillate
Definition
verb (used without object), -lat·ed, -lat·ing.
1.
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute: His tendency to vacillate makes him a poor leader.
2.
to sway unsteadily; waver; totter; stagger.
Term
Volatile
Definition
adjective
1.
evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor: Acetone is a volatile solvent.
2.
tending or threatening to break out into open violence; explosive: a volatile political situation.
Term
Myriad
Definition
noun
1.
a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things.
2.
ten thousand.
adjective
3.
of an indefinitely great number; innumerable: the myriad stars of a summer night.
Term
Quixotic
Definition
adjective
1.
( sometimes initial capital letter ) resembling or befitting Don Quixote.
2.
extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.
3.
impulsive and often rashly unpredictable.
Term
Derision
Definition
noun
1.
ridicule; mockery: The inept performance elicited derision from the audience.
2.
an object of ridicule.
Term
Provocation
Definition
noun
1.
the act of provoking.
2.
something that incites, instigates, angers, or irritates.
Term
Calumny
Definition
noun, plural -nies.
1.
a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something: The speech was considered a calumny of the administration.
2.
the act of uttering calumnies; slander; defamation.
Term
Commendation
Definition
noun
1.
the act of commending; recommendation; praise: commendation for a job well done.
2.
something that commends, as a formal recommendation or an official citation or award: a commendation for bravery.
3.
Feudal Law . the placing of oneself or one's land under the protection of a lord so as to become his vassal.
Term
Vicissitude
Definition
noun
1.
a change or variation occurring in the course of something.
2.
interchange or alternation, as of states or things.
Term
Salient
Definition
adjective
1.
prominent or conspicuous: salient traits.
2.
projecting or pointing outward: a salient angle.
3.
leaping or jumping: a salient animal.
Term
Salubrious
Definition
adjective
favorable to or promoting health; healthful: salubrious air.
Term
Opprobrious
Definition
adjective
1.
conveying or expressing opprobrium, as language or a speaker: opprobrious invectives.
2.
outrageously disgraceful or shameful: opprobrious conduct.
Term
Endemic
Definition
adjective Also, en·dem·i·cal.
1.
natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous: endemic folkways; countries where high unemployment is endemic.
2.
belonging exclusively or confined to a particular place: a fever endemic to the tropics.
Term
Dearth
Definition
noun
1.
an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack: There is a dearth of good engineers.
Term
Succinct
Definition
adjective
1.
expressed in few words; concise; terse.
2.
characterized by conciseness or verbal brevity.
Term
Petulant
Definition
adjective
moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance: a petulant toss of the head.
Term
Mercurial
Definition
adjective
1.
changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic: a mercurial nature.
2.
animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
Term
Pliant
Definition
adjective
1.
bending readily; flexible; supple; adaptable: She manipulated the pliant clay.
2.
easily influenced; yielding to others; compliant: He has a pliant nature.
Term
Ephemeral
Definition
adjective
1.
lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory: the ephemeral joys of childhood.
Term
Arrogates
Definition
ar·ro·gate
   [ar-uh-geyt] Show IPA
verb (used with object), -gat·ed, -gat·ing.
1.
to claim unwarrantably or presumptuously; assume or appropriate to oneself without right: to arrogate the right to make decisions.
2.
to attribute or assign to another; ascribe.
Term
Eschew
Definition
verb (used with object)
to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid: to eschew evil.
Term
Imbue
Definition
verb (used with object), -bued, -bu·ing.
1.
to impregnate or inspire, as with feelings, opinions, etc.: The new political leader was imbued with the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
2.
to saturate or impregnate with moisture, color, etc.
Term
Ebullience
Definition
noun
1.
high spirits; exhilaration; exuberance.
2.
a boiling over; overflow.
Term
Compendium
Definition
noun, plural -di·ums, -di·a  [-dee-uh] Show IPA.
1.
a brief treatment or account of a subject, especially an extensive subject; concise treatise: a compendium of medicine.
Term
Cursory
Definition
adjective
going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hasty; superficial: a cursory glance at a newspaper article.
Term
Terse
Definition
adjective ters·er, ters·est.
1.
neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy, as language.
2.
abruptly concise; curt; brusque.
Term
Abscond
Definition
verb (used without object)
to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and legal prosecution: The cashier absconded with the money.
Term
Aggrandize
Definition
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
Term
Amalgamate
Definition
to combine, to mix
Term
Ameliorate
Definition
something out of place in time
Term
Arbitrate
Definition
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
Term
Ardor
Definition
intense and passionate feeling
Term
Attenuate
Definition
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
Term
Austere
Definition
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
Term
Banal
Definition
predictable, cliched, boring
Term
Cacophony
Definition
harsh; jarring noise
Term
Castigate
Definition
to punish or criticize harshly
Term
Caustic
Definition
biting in wit
Term
Chicanery
Definition
deception by means of craft or guile
Term
Cogent
Definition
convincing and well reasoned.
Term
Condone
Definition
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
Term
Credulous
Definition
too trusting, gullible
Term
Decorum
Definition
appropriateness of behavior or conduct;propriety
Term
Desultory
Definition
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
Term
Diatribe
Definition
an abusive, condemnatory speech
Term
Diffident
Definition
lacking self-confidence
Term
Dilatory
Definition
intended to delay
Term
Dilettante
Definition
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
Term
Dirge
Definition
a funeral hymm or mournful speech
Term
Disparate
Definition
Fundamentally different; entirely unlike
Term
Dissemble
Definition
to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
Term
Dissonance
Definition
a harsh and disagreeable combination, of ten of sounds
Term
Elegy
Definition
a sorrowful poem or speech
Term
Enervate
Definition
to reduce in strength
Term
Enumerate
Definition
to count, list, or itemize
Term
Equivocate
Definition
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
Term
Esoteric
Definition
known or understood by only a few
Term
Estimable
Definition
admirable
Term
Exculpate
Definition
to clear from blame; prove innocent
Term
Exigent
Definition
urgent; requiring immediate action
Term
Fawn
Definition
to grovel
Term
Florid
Definition
excessively decorated or embellished
Term
Foment
Definition
to arouse or incite
Term
Garrulous
Definition
tending to talk a lot
Term
Gregarious
Definition
outgoing, sociable
Term
Iconoclast
Definition
one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
Term
Impervious
Definition
impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
Term
Impetuous
Definition
quick to act without thinking
Term
Implacable
Definition
unable to be clmed down or made peaceful
Term
Inchoate
Definition
not fully formed; disorganized
Term
Inimical
Definition
hostile, unfriendly
Term
Innocuous
Definition
harmless
Term
Insipid
Definition
lacking interest or flavor
Term
Intransigent
Definition
uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
Term
Inundate
Definition
to overwhelm; to cover with water
Term
Irascible
Definition
easily made angry
Term
Lament
Definition
to express sorrow; to grieve
Term
Malinger
Definition
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
Term
Misanthrope
Definition
a person who dislikes others
Term
Mollify
Definition
to calm or make less severe
Term
Obdurate
Definition
hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion
Term
Obsequious
Definition
Overly submissive and eager to please
Term
Obstinate
Definition
stubborn, unyielding
Term
Obviate
Definition
to prevent; to make unnecessary
Term
Occlude
Definition
to stop up, to prevent the passage of
Term
Onerous
Definition
troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
Term
Opprobrium
Definition
public disgrace
Term
Ostentation
Definition
excessive showiness
Term
Paragon
Definition
model of excellence or perfection
Term
Perfidious
Definition
willing to betray one's trust
Term
Perfunctory
Definition
done in a routine way; indifferent
Term
Prevaricate
Definition
to lie or deviate from the truth
Term
Quiescent
Definition
motionless
Term
rarefy
Definition
to make thinner or sparser
Term
Reticent
Definition
silent, reserved
Term
Satiate
Definition
to satisfy fully or overindulge
Term
Soporific
Definition
causing sleep or lethargy
Term
Specious
Definition
deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
Term
Stolid
Definition
unemotional; lacking sensitivity
Term
Sublime
Definition
lofty or grand
Term
Tacit
Definition
done without using words
Term
Taciturn
Definition
silent; not talkative
Term
Torpor
Definition
extreme mental and physical sluggishness
Term
Transitory
Definition
temporary, lasting a brief time
Term
Vacillate
Definition
to sway physically; to be indecisive
Term
Veracity
Definition
filled with truth and accuracy
Term
Verbose
Definition
wordy
Term
Vex
Definition
to annoy
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