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Unit 1-15
GRE Test Study Flashcards
150
English
Undergraduate 4
05/15/2008

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Cards

Term
Abate
Definition
To decrease; reduce
Term
Abdicate
Definition
To give up a position, right, or power
Term
Aberrant
Definition
Deviating from what is normal
Term
Abeyance
Definition
Temporary suppression or suspension
Term
Abject
Definition
Miserable; pitiful
Term
Abjure
Definition
To reject; abandon formally
Term
Abscission
Definition
The act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant
Term
Abscond
Definition
To depart secretly
Term
Abstemious
Definition
Moderate in appetite
Term
Abstinence
Definition
The giving up of certain pleasures
Term
Abysmal
Definition
Very bad
Term
Accretion
Definition
Growth in size or increase in amount
Term
Accrue
Definition
To accumulate; to grow by additions
Term
Adamant
Definition
Uncompromising; unyielding
Term
Adjunct
Definition
Something added, attached, or joined
Term
Admonish
Definition
To caution or reprimand
Term
Adulterate
Definition
To corrupt of make impure
Term
Aesthetic
Definition
Relating to beauty or art
Term
Affected
Definition
Pretentious, phony
Term
Affinity
Definition
Fondness; liking; similarity
Term
Aggrandize
Definition
To make larger or greater
Term
Aggregate
Definition
Amounting to a whole; total
Term
Alacrity
Definition
Cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed
Term
Alchemy
Definition
Medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; a seemingly magical power or process of transmutation
Term
Allay
Definition
To lessen; ease; soothe
Term
Alleviate
Definition
To relieve; improve partially
Term
Alloy
Definition
A combination; a mixture of two or more metals
Term
Allure
Definition
The power to entice by charm OR to entice by charm
Term
Amalgamate
Definition
To combine into a unified whole
Term
Ambiguous
Definition
Unclear or doubtful in meaning
Term
Ambivalence
Definition
The state of having conflicting emotional attitudes
Term
Ambrosia
Definition
Something delicious; the food of the gods
Term
Ameliorate
Definition
To improve
Term
Amenable
Definition
Agreeable; cooperative; suited
Term
Amenity
Definition
Something that increases comfort
Term
Amulet
Definition
Ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
Term
Anachronism
Definition
Something out of proper time
Term
Analgesic
Definition
Medication that reduces or eliminates pain
Term
Analogous
Definition
Comparable
Term
Anarchy
Definition
Absence of government; state of disorder
Term
Anodyne
Definition
Something that calms or soothes pain
Term
Anomalous
Definition
Irregular; deviating from the norm
Term
Antecedent
Definition
Something that comes before
Term
Antediluvian
Definition
Prehistoric
Term
Antipathy
Definition
Dislike; hostility
Term
Apathy
Definition
Indifference
Term
Apex
Definition
The highest point
Term
Apogee
Definition
The point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point
Term
Apothegm
Definition
A terse, witty saying
Term
Appease
Definition
To calm; pacify; placate
Term
Appellation
Definition
Name
Term
Apposite
Definition
Strikingly appropriate; relevant
Term
Apprise
Definition
To inform
Term
Approbation
Definition
Praise; approval
Term
Appropriate
Definition
To take possession for one’s own use; confiscate
Term
Apropos
Definition
Relevant
Term
Arabesque
Definition
Ordinate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the body
Term
Archeology
Definition
The study of material evidence of past human life
Term
Ardor
Definition
Great emotion or passion
Term
Arduous
Definition
Extremely difficult; laborious
Term
Argot
Definition
A specialized vocabulary used by a group
Term
Arrest
Definition
To stop; to seize
Term
Artifact
Definition
Item made by human craft
Term
Artless
Definition
Guileless; natural
Term
Ascetic
Definition
One who practices self-denial
Term
Asperity
Definition
Severity; harshness; irritability
Term
Aspersion
Definition
Slander; false rumor
Term
Assiduous
Definition
Diligent; hard working
Term
Assuage
Definition
To make less severe
Term
Astringent
Definition
Harsh; Severe
Term
Asylum
Definition
Place of refuge or shelter
Term
Atavism
Definition
In biology, the reappearance of characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence; return of a trait after a period of absence
Term
Attenuate
Definition
To weaken
Term
Audacious
Definition
Bold; daring
Term
Austere
Definition
Stern; unadorned
Term
Autonomous
Definition
Self-governing; independent
Term
Avarice
Definition
Greed
Term
Aver
Definition
To affirm; to declare to be true
Term
Avocation
Definition
Secondary occupation
Term
Avuncular
Definition
Like and uncle, benevolent and tolerant
Term
Axiomatic
Definition
Taken for granted
Term
Bacchanalian
Definition
Pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry
Term
Banal
Definition
Commonplace; trite
Term
Banter
Definition
Playful conversation
Term
Bard
Definition
Poet
Term
Bawdy
Definition
Obscene
Term
Beatify
Definition
To sanctify; to bless; to ascribe virtue to
Term
Bedizen
Definition
To dress in a vulgar, showy manner
Term
Behemoth
Definition
Large creature; anything very large and powerful
Term
Belie
Definition
To contradict; misrepresent; to give false impression
Term
Beneficent
Definition
Kindly; doing good
Term
Bifurcate
Definition
To divide into two parts
Term
Blandishment
Definition
Flattery
Term
Blasé
Definition
Bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned
Term
Bolster
Definition
To give boost to; to prop up; support
Term
Bombastic
Definition
Pompous; using inflated language
Term
Boorish
Definition
Rude; insensitive
Term
Bovine
Definition
Cowlike
Term
Brazen
Definition
Bold; shameless
Term
Broach
Definition
To mention for the first time
Term
Bucolic
Definition
Characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral; idyllic
Term
Burgeon
Definition
To flourish
Term
Burnish
Definition
To polish
Term
Buttress
Definition
To reinforce; support
Term
Cacophonous
Definition
Unpleasant or harsh-sounding
Term
Cadge
Definition
To beg; sponge
Term
Callous
Definition
Thick-skinned; insensitive
Term
Calumny
Definition
False and malicious accusation; slander
Term
Canard
Definition
False; deliberately misleading story
Term
Canon
Definition
An established principle; A basis or standard for judgment; a group of literary works
Term
Cant
Definition
Insincere talk; language of a particular group
Term
Cantankerous
Definition
Ill-humored; irritable
Term
Capricious
Definition
Fickle
Term
Captious
Definition
Faultfinding, intended to entrap, an in an argument
Term
Cardinal
Definition
Of foremost importance
Term
Carnal
Definition
Of the body or flesh; related to physical appetites
Term
Carping
Definition
To find fault; complain
Term
Cartography
Definition
The science of making maps
Term
Caste
Definition
Any of the hereditary social classes of Hindu society; social stratification
Term
Castigation
Definition
Punishment; chastisement; criticism
Term
Cataclysm
Definition
A violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change
Term
Catalyst
Definition
Something causing change
Term
Categorical
Definition
Absolute; without exception
Term
Caucus
Definition
Smaller group within a larger organization
Term
Casual
Definition
Involving a cause
Term
Caustic
Definition
Satirically biting; burning
Term
Celestial
Definition
Concerning the sky or heavens; sublime
Term
Centrifugal
Definition
Moving away from a center
Term
Centripetal
Definition
Moving or directed toward a center
Term
Champion
Definition
To defend or support
Term
Chasten
Definition
To correct by punishment or reproof; to restrain or subdue
Term
Chicanery
Definition
Trickery; fraud
Term
Chivalry
Definition
The qualities idealized by knighthood such as bravery and gallantry toward women
Term
Churlish
Definition
Rude; boorish
Term
Circuitous
Definition
Roundabout
Term
Clairvoyant
Definition
One who can predict the future; psychic
Term
Clamor
Definition
Noisy outcry
Term
Clique
Definition
A small, exclusive group
Term
Cloister
Definition
To confine; seclude
Term
Coagulate
Definition
Thicken; congeal
Term
Coalesce
Definition
To cause to become one
Term
Coda
Definition
Concluding part of a literary or musical composition; something that summarizes or concludes
Term
Codify
Definition
Systemize
Term
Cognizant
Definition
Informed; conscious; aware
Term
Collage
Definition
Artistic composition of materials pasted over a surface; an assemblage of diverse elements
Term
Commensurate
Definition
Proportional
Term
Compendium
Definition
Brief, comprehensive summary
Term
Complacent
Definition
Self-satisfied
Term
Complaisant
Definition
Overly polite; willing to please; obliging
Term
Complement
Definition
Something that completes or makes up a whole
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