Shared Flashcard Set

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GRE
GRE
230
English
Beginner
04/30/2019

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
ABATE
Definition
v. to diminish in intensity v. to cause to diminish in intensity
Term
  • aberrant
Definition
adj. diverging from the standard type
Term
abjure
Definition
v. to reject or renounce
Term
abscond
Definition
v. to leave secretly, evading detection
Term
abstain
Definition
v. to voluntarily refrain from doing something
Term
acumen
Definition
n. keen judgment and perception
Term
admonish
Definition
v. scold or to advise firmly
Term
adulterate
Definition
v. to contaminate or make impure by introducing inferior elements
Term
advocate
Definition

v. to recommend, support, or advise

n. one who advocates

Term
aesthetic
Definition
adj. concerned with the nature of beauty and art
Term
affectation
Definition
n. fake or artificial behavior, often meant to impress or conceal the truth
Term
aggrandize
Definition
v. enlarge or increase, esp. wealth, power, reputation
Term
alacrity
Definition
n. promptness and eagerness
Term
alleviate
Definition
v. to relieve a problem or ease a burden
Term
amalgamate
Definition
v. to combine to or mix together
Term
ambiguous
Definition

adj. unclear

adj. open to multiple interpretations 

Term
ambivalent
Definition
adj. having mixed or contradictory feelings about someone or something
Term
ameliorate
Definition
v. to improve or mitigate a situation
Term
amenable
Definition
adj. easily convinced or persuaded
Term
anachronism
Definition

n. something old-fashioned

n. something appearing in a time period where it does not belong

Term
analogous
Definition

n. comparable

n. appropriate for analogy

Term
anoint
Definition

v. to choose for a particular office or position

v. to use oil on a person in a religious ceremony

Term
anomaly
Definition
n. an exception or unusual case
Term
antipathy
Definition
n. strong dislike or hatred
Term
antithetical
Definition
adj. contrary to the very nature of
Term
apathy
Definition
n. state of total disinterest or unenthusiasm
Term
appease
Definition

v. to placate

v. to satisfy (an appetite, a need)

Term
arbitrary
Definition
adj. seemingly chosen or designated without reason or purpose
Term
arcane
Definition
adj. secret or known only to a select group
Term
archaic
Definition

adj. old-fashioned

adj. no longer in the common usage

Term
arduous
Definition
adj. difficult, taxing, requiring considerable effort
Term
articulate
Definition
adj. exhibiting considerable communication skills, well-spoken
Term
artless
Definition

adj. without artifice

adj. natural, untrained

Term
ascetic
Definition
adj. austere or self-denying
Term
assuage
Definition

v. to provide relief from an unpleasant feeling

v. to satisfy a need or appetite

Term
astonishment
Definition
n. total surprise, shock
Term
audacious
Definition
adj. very bold or presumptuous
Term
austere
Definition
adj. severe, unadorned
Term
avarice
Definition
n. greed
Term
aver
Definition
v. to assert or allege
Term
banal
Definition
adj. boring, cliché
Term
belie
Definition
v. give a false impression (intentional or unintentional) in word, appearance, or deed
Term
benign
Definition
adj. gentle, harmless
Term
biased
Definition
adj. prejudiced, displaying partiality
Term
bolster
Definition
v. to shore up or support
Term
bombastic
Definition
adj. overblown, theatrical
Term
brazen
Definition

adj. bold or open to the point of shocking

adj. shameless

Term
bucolic
Definition
adj. pastoral, rustic, countrified
Term
burgeon
Definition
v. flourish, bloom, expand or increase quickly
Term
cacophony
Definition
n. loud and chaotic noise
Term
calumny
Definition
n. lie or slander
Term
candid
Definition
adj. honest, open
Term
canon
Definition

n. accepted rules and tenets of a discipline

n. sacred works/scripture; in this sense, it is also used to refer to notable literary and artistic works of a culture or discipline

Term
capacity
Definition

n. the capability to perform a particular action or fulfill a given function

n. the total amount a container can hold

n. a particular position or role (i.e. “she served in an advisory capacity”)

Term
capricious
Definition
adj. mercurial, unpredictable, whimsical
Term
castigate
Definition
v. to scold or berate strongly
Term
catalyst
Definition
n. something that speeds up a process or causes action
Term
caustic
Definition

adj. corrosive

adj. bitterly sarcastic

Term
censure
Definition
v. to express intense condemnation
Term
chauvinist
Definition
n. someone who believes prejudicially that their own group is the superior one
Term
chicanery
Definition
n. trickery or deception
Term
chronological
Definition
adj. ordered by time
Term
coalesce
Definition
v. to come together, esp. from disparate parts
Term
cogent
Definition
adj. clearly laid out and persuasive
Term
commensurate
Definition
adj. in accordance with, proportional
Term
compelling
Definition

adj. captivating

adj. very persuasive

Term
comprehensive
Definition
adj. complete and thorough
Term
condone
Definition
v. to approve or allow
Term
confound
Definition
v. to confuse or astonish
Term
connoisseur
Definition
n. an expert in a particular subject matter area, usually relating to the fine arts or cultural pursuits
Term
consequential
Definition

adj. as a result of

adj. significant or memorable

Term
construe
Definition
v. to interpret
Term
consumption
Definition
n. utilization (esp. of a resource
Term
contend
Definition

v. assert or claim

v. grapple with

Term
contentious
Definition

adj. controversial

adj. involving conflict

Term
contrite
Definition
adj. remorseful
Term
convoluted
Definition
adj. roundabout, not straightforward
Term
copious
Definition
adj. plentiful or abundant
Term
cosmopolitan
Definition

adj. of or relating to a city or urban area

adj. sophisticated

Term
covet
Definition
v. to desire something that does not belong to you
Term
craft
Definition

n. cunning

n. skill

Term
craven
Definition
adj. cowardly to the point of being shameful
Term
credence
Definition
n. belief or trust
Term
credulous
Definition
adj. gullible, naïve
Term
decorum
Definition
n. appropriate behavior or good manners
Term
deference
Definition
n. respect or polite submission
Term
deflect
Definition
v. divert or cause to ricochet
Term
deftness
Definition

adj. skill, acumen

adj. manual dexterity

Term
delineate
Definition

v. to describe very accurately

v. to clearly demarcate a boundary

v. to render an outline

Term
demur
Definition
v. to object or raise concerns
Term
denigrate
Definition
v. say negative things about, particularly in a defamatory way
Term
deride
Definition
v. to mock or ridicule
Term
derivative
Definition
adj. imitates another work in a way that is unoriginal or uninspiring
Term
desiccate
Definition

v. to dry out completely

v. to suck out the vitality and passion

Term
desultory
Definition

adj. halfhearted

adj. inconsistent or random

Term
detachment
Definition
n. objectivity or aloofness
Term
determinant
Definition
n. a strong factor in an outcome
Term
diatribe
Definition
n. a rant or angry speech denouncing someone or something
Term
didactic
Definition
adj. educational or with an instructive purpose; often includes an element of moralizing
Term
diffident
Definition
adj. shy, timid, or reserved due to a lack of confidence
Term
dilettante
Definition
n. someone with an amateur, nonserious interest in something
Term
dirge
Definition

n. funeral or mourning lament

n. any sad, slow song

Term
disabuse
Definition
v. to dispel someone's illusions or false impressions about something
Term
discern
Definition
v. to perceive
Term
discrepancy
Definition
n. inconsistency
Term
disinterested
Definition

adj. objective, unbiased

adj. not invested in the outcome 

Term
disparage
Definition
v. to belittle
Term
disseminate
Definition
v. to spread widely (esp. information)
Term
dissonance
Definition
n. a clash between two elements that don't blend well
Term
diverge
Definition
v. to split apart, esp. a road or path
Term
dogman
Definition
n. the official beliefs or tenets of particular sect or group
Term
dupe
Definition
v. to deceive or fool
Term
ebullient
Definition
t adj. cheerful, enthusiastic, excited
Term
eccentric
Definition
adj. quirky or unusual
Term
eclectic
Definition
adj. composed of a variety of styles, themes, motifs, etc
Term
efficacy
Definition
n. effectiveness
Term
elegy
Definition
n. sad poem or song, often in remembrance of someone deceased
Term
elicit
Definition
v. to provoke a response
Term
eloquence
Definition
adj. persuasive and articulate speech
Term
eminent
Definition
adj. well-known, respected, distinguished
Term
empirical
Definition
adj. based on evidence
Term
emulate
Definition
v. to imitate or attempt to equal in accomplishment
Term
enervate
Definition
v. to exhaust or drain of energy
Term
engender
Definition
v. to cause or give rise to
Term
enhance
Definition
v. intensify, increase, augment
Term
entitlement
Definition

n. belief that one deserves things one has not earned

n. the rights one is afforded under the law

Term
ephemeral
Definition
adj. short-lived or transient
Term
equable
Definition
adj. even-tempered adj. not given to much change or variation
Term
equivocate
Definition
e v. to use ambiguous language in order to mislead or deceive
Term
erroneous
Definition
adj. incorrect
Term
erudite
Definition
adj. learned
Term
eschew
Definition
v. avoid or abstain from
Term
esoteric
Definition
adj. obscure, arcane
Term
estimable
Definition
adj. deserving respect, esteem, and admiration
Term
eulogy
Definition
n. memorial speech for one who has passed, normally given at a funeral
Term
exacerbate
Definition
v. to make worse
Term
exacting
Definition
adj. challenging, demanding, grueling
Term
exculpate
Definition
v. to exonerate or vindicate
Term
exigent
Definition
adj. urgent or pressing
Term
exonerate
Definition
v. to clear of charges of wrongdoing
Term
expatiate
Definition
v. to elaborate on something in great detail
Term
explicate
Definition
v. to explain in detail
Term
exposition
Definition

n. a thorough explanation

n. a public show or fair

Term
extraneous
Definition
adj. irrelevant or superfluous
Term
extrapolate
Definition
v. to estimate or conjecture about the future based on presently available information or facts
Term
facetious
Definition
adj. glib or flippant
Term
facilitate
Definition
v. to make something easier or simpler
Term
fallacious
Definition
adj. relying on a fallacy and thus incorrect/misinformed
Term
fastidious
Definition

adj. meticulous

adj. invested in cleanliness

Term
fluctuate
Definition
v. to shift without apparent pattern
Term
foment
Definition
v. to foster unrest or discontent
Term
forestall
Definition
v. to hold off or try to prevent
Term
fortuitous
Definition
adj. fortunate and lucky
Term
frugal
Definition
adj. economical, thrifty
Term
gainsay
Definition
v. deny or oppose
Term
galvanize
Definition
v. to prod someone into action
Term
garrulous
Definition
adj. talkative
Term
gauche
Definition
adj. socially inept, inappropriate, or awkward
Term
germane
Definition
adj. relevant to the matter at hand
Term
glib
Definition
adj. talking volubly, but carelessly or insincerely
Term
gregarious
Definition
adj. sociable, genial
Term
guile
Definition
n. craftiness and cunning
Term
hackneyed
Definition
adj. cliché, trite, banal
Term
harangue
Definition
n. diatribe or rant
Term
hedonism
Definition
n. the pursuit of pleasure
Term
hierarchical
Definition
adj. arranged in rank order or hierarchy
Term
homogenous
Definition
adj. uniform, identical
Term
hyperbole
Definition
n. obvious exaggeration for effect
Term
iconoclast
Definition
n. a person who attacks traditional religious and cultural institutions
Term
ideological
Definition
l adj. relating to a particular belief system or theory
Term
imminent
Definition
adj. about to happen
Term
immutable
Definition
adj. unchangeable
Term
impair
Definition
v. to hinder or weaken someone or something
Term
impediment
Definition
n. barrier, hindrance, or obstruction
Term
imperturbable
Definition
adj. remaining calm under any circumstance
Term
implacable
Definition

adj. unforgiving

adj. relentless

Term
implicit
Definition
adj. implied or insinuated without being directly stated
Term
imprudence
Definition
n. bad judgment
Term
impudent
Definition
adj. disrespectful
Term
inadvertent
Definition
adj. by accident or unintentional
Term
inchoate
Definition
adj. rudimentary, in the beginning stages
Term
inconclusive
Definition
adj. indeterminate or unresolved
Term
indebted
Definition

adj. owing money

adj. owing gratitude to someone or something

Term
indefatigable
Definition
adj. cannot be made tired
Term
indolent
Definition

adj. lazy

adj. idle

Term
infer
Definition
v. to conclude from implicit evidence (as opposed to explicit facts)
Term
infer
Definition
v. to conclude from implicit evidence (as opposed to explicit facts)
Term
ingenuous
Definition
adj. naïve or innocent
Term
inimical
Definition
adj. harmful or hostile
Term
innocuous
Definition
adj. harmless
Term
inscrutable
Definition
adj. enigmatic, incomprehensible
Term
insipid
Definition
adj. bland, uninspired, inane
Term
insular
Definition
adj. tight-knit and isolated; uninterested in matters outside one's immediate sphere
Term
intensive
Definition
adj. concentrated and in-depth
Term
intermediary
Definition
n. a go-between
Term
intimate
Definition

adj. close (as in a relationship)

adj. particularly private

v. to imply

Term
intractable
Definition

adj. unmanageable

adj. stubborn or obstinate

Term
intransigent
Definition
adj. uncompromising, obstinate
Term
intrepid
Definition
adj. bold and adventurous
Term
inveterate
Definition
adj. ingrained, habitual
Term
invulnerable
Definition
adj. indestructible, impervious to harm
Term
irascible
Definition
adj. irritable, testy, touchy
Term
irresolute
Definition
adj. wishy-washy, hesitant
Term
laconic
Definition
adj. taciturn, reserved, succinct
Term
laud
Definition
v. to praise
Term
laudable
Definition
adj. praiseworthy
Term
litigation
Definition
n. legal proceedings
Term
loquacious
Definition
adj. talkative
Term
lucid
Definition
adj. clear and coherent
Term
luminous
Definition
adj. full of light
Term
magnanimity
Definition
n. generosity and nobility of spirit
Term
maladroit
Definition
adj. clumsy, awkward, inept
Term
malign
Definition

adj. evil or harmful

v. to speak negatively about someone or something

Term
malleable
Definition

adj. pliant or pliable

adj. easily influenced

Term
maverick
Definition
n. an unorthodox person or rebel
Term
mendacity
Definition
n. untruthfulness, dishonesty
Term
mercurial
Definition
adj. easily changeable, fickle
Term
meticulous
Definition
adj. paying close attention to detail
Term
misanthrope
Definition
n. person who hates humanity
Term
mitigate
Definition
v. to improve a painful, unpleasant, or negative situation
Term
modest
Definition

adj. not boastful

adj. not overly showy

Term
mollify
Definition
v. placate
Term
monotony
Definition
n. boredom and repetition
Term
mundane
Definition
adj. everyday, boring
Term
munificent
Definition
adj. very generous
Term
naïve
Definition
adj. inexperienced or gullible
Term
nascent
Definition
adj. just beginning or in the early stages
Term
neglect
Definition
v. to abandon or leave uncared-for
Term
nonplussed
Definition
adj. confused and baffled
Term
notoriety
Definition
n. fame for doing something negative or criminal
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