aback adv. by surprise abase v. to lower in rank or prestige abash v. to embarrass abate v.

to lessen in amount, intensity or strength abberation n. a departure from what is right, true, correct abdicate v. to willingly give up the position of king, queen, etc.; to ch oose not to fulfill a role or duty abet v. to encourage, assist, or support, usually in wrongdoing abeyance n. a suspension of activity abhor v. to detest; to shrink from in disgust abide v. to tolerate abject adj. of the lowest degree, brought low in condition abjure v. to renounce under oath; to give up or deny abolish v. to put to an end to abound v. to be plentiful aboveboard adj. without dishonesty or concealment abrade v. to wear down a surface by or as if by scraping abridge v. to reduce in slope abrogate v. to cancel or repeal by authority abscond v. to go away hastily and secretively; to hide abstemious adj. moderate, especially in eating and drinking abstract adj. without reference to specific instance or comcrete existenc e; theoretical; v. to remove abstruse adj. difficult to understand abundant adj. in great supply abyss n. a deep, bottomless chasm; immeasurable depth accede v. to agree to something accelerate v. to increase speed acclaim v. to praise enthusiastically, esp. publicly accolade n. an award or honor; a sign of great respect accomodate v. to oblige; to provide a service or favor; to fit accord n. agreement accost v. to approach and speak to, usually aggressive accrue v. to come as a gain; to increase acerbic adj. sharp in smell and taste; harsh in tone acme n. the highest point, as of perfection acoustics n. science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to h ear in acquiesce v. to agree without protest acquit v. to declare free of guilt; to clear acrid adj. harsh; sarcastic; bitter to the taste acrimony n. bitter, shape hostility in speech or behavior acronym n. a word created by initials acumen n. quickness and accuracy of judgement or insight acute adj. sharp; clever; severe ad hoc adj. for a specific purpose and no other; improvised ad infinitum adv. lasting forever; continuously adage n. a familiar saying; a proverb adamant adj. stubbornly unyielding; impervious to pleas, appeals, or reason adapt v. to adjust to a new situation or environment; to change adduce v. to show as an example or means of proving something adept adj. very skilled, esp. natural talent improved by practice adhere v. to stick to; to be a firm follower adjunct n. something attached to another in a subordinate position admonish v. to warn so a fault can be corrected or a danger avoided ado n. trouble; fuss adorn v. add beauty; to decorate adroit adj. naturally skillful, esp. dealing with difficult circumstances adulation n. excessive flattery or admiration adulterate v. to make impure

adumbrate v. to give a sketchy outline; to foreshadow advent n. a coming or an arrival, esp. of something very important adverse adj. opposed, difficult advocate v. to speak in support of something aegis n. a protection; sponsorship aesthetic adj. relating to beauty affable adj. friendly; easy to talk to affected adj. behaving in an artificial way to impress people affinity n. a natural attraction or feeling of kinship; an inherent simli arity affliction n. pain; suffering; anything causing pain affluence n. wealth agape adj. wide open agenda n. a list of things to be done aggrandize v. to enlarge; increase in size, power or rank aggravate v. to worsen agitate v. to move violently; to disturb agrarian adj. related to farming alacrity n. cheerful willingness; swiftness alchemy n. medieval chemistry, esp. the attempt to change common metals into gol d allay v. to reduce the intensity of; to calm allege v. to assert to be true, esp. without or before proof alleviate v. to reduce pain, esp. temporarily or without removing its caus e alloy n. a mixture, esp. of two or more metals allude v. to refer to indirectly allure n. the power to attract with something desirable aloof adj. distant or removed in attitude or manner altercation n. a heated or noisy argument altruistic adj. unselfish; benevolent; caring more for others than oneself amalgamate v. to blend together into one; to unite ambiance n. environment ambivalence n. simultaneous existence of opposing feelings; uncertainty as t o what to do amble v. to walk slowly or leisurely ameliorate v. to improve; to become better amenable adj. responsive to advice or authority amend v. to improve through change or correction amiable adj. friendly and agreeable; sociable amicable adj. showing friendliness or good will amorphous adj. without definite shape; shapeless; unorganized ample adj. enough, or more than enough; plentiful amplify v. to make larger amuck adj. frenzied, esp. violently anachronism n. something not belonging to a certain time period analogy n. a smiliarity between things that are otherwise dissimilar anathema n. someone or something that is hatred androgynous adj. having both male female characteristics android n. an automaton that resembles a human being anecdote n. a brief story, oft. humorous anesthesia n. unawareness of pain or other situation; drugs that cause this state anodyne n. a pain-killer or anesthetic anomaly n. a departure from the regular pattern anonymous adj. having an unknown or unacknowledged name antediluvian adj. very old; outdated anterior adj. placed before or in front; earlier anthropocentric adj. interpreting everything in terms of human experience and va lues

anthropology n. study of the origin, behavior, and culture of human beings anthropomorphism n. the attribution of human characteristics to animals o r inanimate objects antidote n. a cure for a disease or poison antithesis n. a direct contrast; opposition apex n. the highest point apocryphal adj. probably untrue or true; of questionable authorship apotheosis n. the ideal example; the elevation of a person to the rank of a god appall v. to horrify appease v. to satisfy or attempt to satisfy demands by granting concessions appellation n. name; title apprehend v. to become aware of through the senses apprehension n. worry or unease approbation n. official approval appropriate v. to set apart for a specific use; to take possession of, often without permission apt adj. appropriate; having a natural tendency aptitude n. an inherent capacity for learning, understanding, or performi ng aquiline adj. resembling or relating to eagles; curved (like an eagle's b eak) arable adj. suitable for growing crops (of land) arbitrate v. to settle a dispute or a fight between two parties archaic adj. of a much earlier, often more primitive period archetype n. the original pattern or model; a perfect example archive n. records or documents of a government or institution; the place where such records are kept arduous adj. very hard; laborious argot n. specialized vocabulary unique to a particular group arrogate v. to claim for one's self unjustly articulate adj, able to express oneself clearly and effectively artifact n. an object produced by human work, esp. one of historical or a rchaeological interest ascetic adj. self-denying ascribe v. to attribute to a specific source aspersion n. a remark that attacks one's reputation aspiration n. a strong desire for achievement assail v. to attack; to assault assert v. to state confidently assess v. to estimate assiduous adj. diligent; hard-working; constant assuage v. to lessen pain or distress astute adj. showing clever awareness, esp. with respect to one's own concerns atrophy n. wasting away, esp. of body tissue attenuate v. to make thin; to reduce in force attract v. to pull towards; to stimulate interest attrition n. gradual reduction audacious adj. fearlessy, often recklessly bold; insolent audible adj. able to be heard auditory adj. relating to the sense of hearing augment v. to make greater, in size, extent, or quantity august adj. inspiring awe or admiration, esp. because of high rank or character auspicious adj. marked by favorable circumstances austere adj. stern or severe in appearance; without luxury authoritarian n. demanding unquestioning obedience autocracy n. rule by one person with unlimited power autonomy n. independence; self-government avant-garde n. a group active in inventing and applying new techniques, esp. in the arts

avarice n. excessive desire for wealth averse adj. opposed, relutant; repelled avert v. to turn away avid adj. having a passionate desire avocation n. hobby awry adv. away from the correct course; wrong; deviant axiom n. premise; true statement; a saying badger v. to nag baffle v. to frustrate, as by confusing baleful adj. harmful or threatening harm or evil balk v. to stop short and refuse to continue balm n. anything healing or soothing balmy adj. soothing, mild, pleasant banal adj. dull or stale; commonplace bandy v. to pass (gossip, rumor, etc.) about freely and carelessly banish v. to drive away; to force to leave a place by official decree bar to keep out; exclude baroque adj. fantastically over-decorated; gaudily ornate bask v. to enjoy a warm or pleasant feeling bathos n. excessive or trivial sentimentality; and abrupt transition in style f rom the elevated to the commonplace, producing a laughable effect bawdy adj. indecent or humorously coarse; lewd bazaar n. a market consisting of a street lined with shops; a place where misce llaneous items are sold beckon v. to signal or summon, as by nodding or waving become v. to be appropriate or suitable to; to look good with bedlam n. any place or condition of noise and confusion beget v. to produce; to father offspring beguile v. to deceive by charm behoove v. to be necessary or proper for belated adj. delayed; postponed; detained beleaguered adj. harassed; besieged belie v. to picture falsely; to contradict bellicose adj. warlike belligerent adj. eager to fight; aggresive; engaged in warfare bellow v. to yell very loudly; to shout bemuse v. to confuse or stupefy benediction n. blessing benefactor n. one who helps and supports others benevolent adj. characterized by doing good benign adj. kindly; creating a favorable influence; (in medicine) not dangerous to one's health bequeath v. to pass down to; to hand down, esp. in a will berate v. to scold severely and at length bereaved adj. suffering the loss of a loved one berserk adj. dangerously destructive; frenzied beset v. to attack from all sides; to trouble persistently best v. to defeat bevy n. a group, esp. of women or birds biennial adj. happening every two years bifurcate v. to divide into two parts bilious adj. bad-tempered; cross bilk v. to swindle; to cheat bivouac n. temporary encampment, often in an unsheltered area bizarre adj. very odd in manner; grotesque; strange blandishment n. a flattering act or remark; allurement; enticement blanket adj. applying to all conditions or instances blase adj. indifferent or bored with life; unimpressed as if because of too mu ch worldly experience blatant adj. offensively obvious; unpleasantly noisy

bliss n. perfect happiness blunder v. to move carelessly boisterous adj. noisy and wild; unruly bolster v. to support or strengthen bombast n. pompous speech bona fide adj. genuine bourgeoisie n. the middle class bovine adj. resembling a cow; stolid bow n. forward part of a ship; prow bowdlerize v. to censor, esp. prudishly boycott v. to refuse to buy, sell, or use brandish v. to display with menace bravura n. a showy display brazen adj. showing shameless, insolent boldness; made of brass breach n. some sort of violation; a gap brevity n. briefness bristle v. to react in an angry or offended manner broach v. to raise for discussion bromide n. commonplace remark intended to calm; platitude brooch n. a large, decorative pin brood v. to be deep in thought; to think over moodily and at length brusque adj. abrupt and curt of manner bulwark n. a wall or embankment used for a defensive fortification; something se rving as a defense or safeguard, oft. figurative bungle v. to handle badly; to botch or mess up buoy v. to keep afloat; to raise the spirits of bureaucracy n. a group of officials and administrators, esp. of a government burgeon v. to sprout or grow rapidly burnish v. to polish bustle n. energetic, often noisy, activity; a stir; v. to move about energetica lly buttress v. to prop up or support byzantine adj. highly complicated or intricate; characterized by devious p lotting cabal n. a small group of secret plotters, i.e., against a government or autho rity cache n. a hiding place for storage of provisions or valuables cachet n. a mark of distinction cacophony n. a harsh, jarring sound cadaver n. a dead body, esp. a human body to be dissected cadence n. a rhythmic beat cadre n. a group of trained, highly skilled people of training others cajole v. to attempt to persuade with flattery or insincere talk calamity n. an event causing extreme trouble and misery caliber n. degree of worth or value callous adj. lacking pity or mercy; unfeeling callow adj. inexperienced; not developed; immature calumny n. a false and maclicious statement; slander camaraderie n. loyalty; a warm, friendly feeling among members of a group canard n. a false report candor n. frankness or sincerity of expression canine adj. resembling or relating to dogs (or wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes) canny adj. clever and cautious canon n. a law or body of laws, esp. religious; an established principle or ba sis for judgement; The works of a writer that have been accepted as authentic cantankerous adj. bad-tempered; quarrelsome canvass v. to ask for votes, opinions, etc.; to examine or discuss in detail capacious adj. able to contain or hold much capitulate v. to surrender under specific conditions; to give up all resist ance

capricious adj. erratic; tending to change abruptly capsize v. to overturn captious adj. critically faultfinding captivate v. to capture the attention or affection of, as by beauty, excel lence, etc. carcass n. the dead body of an animal, esp. one slaughtered for food (also used figuratively) cardinal adj. of main importance; principal careen v. to lean to one side or swerve while in motion (of a vehicle) caricature n. a drawing or description that ridiculously exaggerates featur es carnage n. massacre; slaughter; bloodshed carouse n. to participate in a loud, drunken party carp v. to complain; to seek fault, esp. over unimportant matters carte blanche n. unrestricted power to act at one's own discretion cascade n. a waterfall of series of small waterfalls; a succession of stages, pr ocesses, or units caste n. a rigid and hereditary social class castigate v. to criticize severely, esp. in public cataclysm n. a disastrous event, usually one that brings about great chang e catastrophe n. disaster; sudden misfortune catharsis n. purging of the emotions caustic adj. capable of burning or corroding by chemical action; bitingly sarcas tic, cutting cavalcade n. an order of events; a procession cavalier adj. casual, disdainful caveat n. a warning cavil v. to argue in a petty fashion; make trifling objections cavort v. to leap about in a lively manner; to have lively or boisterous fun cede v. to give or formally surrender to another censure v. to criticize severely cerebral adj. pertaining to the brain; intellectual chaos n. complete disorder charade n. an obvious pretense or deception charlatan n. a fake; one who pretends to have expert knowledge chary adj. very cautious chasm n. a large gap chaste adj. pure; not engaging in sexual activity chasten v. to correct by punishment or criticism; to restrain chastise v. to punish by beating; to scold or condemn sharply chauvinism n. unreasoning and boastful devotion to one's country or sex check v. to restrain or block cherish v. to hold in great affection chic adj. smartly elegant in style and manner chicanery n. deception by trickery choleric adj. easily angered; bad-tempered chronic adj. continuing for a long time; recurrent chronicle n. a recording of events in order of time chronology n. arrangement of events in time circumlocution n. an indirect or wordy way of expressing an idea circumscribe v. to define the limits of circumspect adj. showing discretion and careful judgment circumvent v. to go around; bypass; to surround cite v. to refer to or quote civic adj. pertaining to a city or citizen civil adj. observing accepted social customs; not rude clairvoyant adj. having the supposed power to see objects or events that can not be perceived by the senses clamber v. to crawl or climb with difficulty, esp. on all fours

clandestine adj. done in secret, esp. to conceal something improper claustrophobia n. fear of confined spaces clemency n. mercy, or leniency towards an offender cliche n. an overused expression climax n. the point of greatest intesity, which marks the end of an ascending p rocess clique n. exclusive group of people coalesce v. to grow together; to merge into a single body coax v. to persuade or obtain by pleading or flattery coddle v. to treat indulgently codify v. to organize something (such as laws or rules) into a system coerce v. to force by threat or intimidation cogent adj. appealing forcibly to the mind; convincing cognition n. the process of knowing; perception cognizant adj. aware (with "of") coherent adj. logically consistent and orderly cohesion n. the act or state of uniting or sticking together coin v. to devise a new word or phrase coincide v. to occur at the same time or be at the same place; to agree e xactly collaborate v. to work together, esp. at an intellectual effort collage n. an assembly of diverse elements collateral adj. parallel; serving to support; of a secondary nature colloquial adj. appropriate to spoken, as opposed to written, language; inf ormal colloquy n. conversation, esp. a formal one collude v. to plot secretly for a deceitful or illegal purpose colossal adj. very large comely adj. attractive or pleasing in appearance; pretty; handsome commence v. to begin commensurate adj. equal in proportion; having the same size, duration, etc. commiserate v. to express sympathy commodity n. an item of trade or commerce, esp. as distinguished from a se rvice compass n. area; range; scope compel v. to cause to occur by pressure; to force compendium n. a short, complete summary complacent adj. too pleased with oneself; self-satisfied complaisant adj. showing a desire to please; cheerfully obliging complicity n. association or participation in a wrongful act comply v. to yield or act in accordance with requests, conditions, etc. comport v. to conduct or behave oneself; to be compatible in agreement with comprehensive adj. complete; covering broadly and all-inclusively comprise v. to include; to contain; to be composed of compunction n. a feeling uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt concede v. to acknowledge as true conceit n. a fanciful idea or image, esp. an exxagerated poetic comparison; an e xtravagant construction conception n. formation of an idea in the mind; the start of pregnancy concerted adj. planned or accomplished together concoct v. to invent; to create by combining ingredients, as in cooking concur v. to agree condescend v. to lower oneself to a less formal or less dignified level condign adj. deserved (usu. of punishment) condone v. to pardon or overlook voluntarily conducive adj. tending to be bring about confer v. to consult; to present as a gift or honor confide v. to tell something in secret conflagration n. large, disastrous fire confluence n. joining together of different streams

confound v. to mix up or lump together indiscriminately; to confuse congenial adj. suited to one's needs or nature; friendly; sympathetic congenital adj. present since birth; being an essential characteristic congregate v. to assemble into a group conjecture n. an inference or conclusion based on incomplete evidence conjure v. to summon or influence by, or as if by, magic connive v. to cooperate secretly in wrongful action connote v. to imply something beyond the literal meaning conscript v. to draft compulsorily, esp into military service; n. a drafte e consecrate v. to make or set apart as sacred consensus n. a position reached by a group as a whole or by majority will; general agreement consign v. to give to the care of another; to set apart consort v. to associate; to keep company conspicuous adj. easy to notice; obvious; apparent conspire v. to plan secretly together consternation n. a sudden feeling of anxiety, shock, or confusion construe v. to interpret consul n. official residing in a foreign country contemplate v. to look at or think about carefully; to consider as a possibi lity contemporary adj. of the same time or period contempt adj. a feeling that something is low or disgusting contentious adj. always ready to argue; quarrelsome context n. the circumstances in which something occurs contiguous adj. sharing a common boundary; adjoining contingent adj. unpredictable because dependent on chance; dependent on som ething uncertain contract v. to reduce in size by drawing together contradict v. to assert the opposite of (a statement) contravene v. to act counter to; violate contumacious adj. stubbornly disobedient; rebellious; insubordinate conundrum n. a riddle or puzzle, esp. one without a solution convalesce v. to recover from illness; to recuperate conventional adj. following ordinary practice; unoriginal convey v. to carry or transmit; to communicate conviction n. a strong belief or opinion convivial adj. sociable; festive convoluted adj. intricate; complicated copious adj. very plentiful cordial adj. warm and friendly; hearty cornucopia n. an abundance corps n. a group of persons working together or related by a common associatio n corpulent adj. very fat; obese correlate v. to correspond; to be mutually related corroborate v. to strengthen; comfort; support corrupt adj. marked by immorality; dishonest; containing errors (as in a text) cosmopolitan adj. having worldwide scope; so sophisticated as to be home in a ll parts of the world coterie n. a small, often exclusive group of people who associate with one anoth er frequently couch v. to phrase in a particular way countenance n. appearance, esp. the expression of the face; v. to tolerate court v. to attempt to gain, esp. love or favor; to behave so as to invite courteous adj. polite and gracious; considerate toward others; well-manner ed coven n. a group of witches, usually 13 covenant n. a binding agreement

covert adj. concealed or disguised; not openly practiced covet v. to desire strongly coy adj. bashful; shy; quiet; pretending to be shy crass adj. dull-witted; unrefined craven adj. cowardly; contemptibly timid credible adj. capable of being believed credit v. to believe; to trust credulous adj. tending to believe too easily crestfallen adj. feeling disappointment; feeling shame or humiliation criterion n. a measurable value; a standard for judging crony n. a long-time friend or close companion crop v. to cut or bite the ends off; to trim crux n. an essential or pivotal point; a perplexing difficulty cue n. a hint culminate v. to reach the highest point culpable adj. deserving blame or punishment cultivate v. to promote growth, to nurture cumbersome adj. clumsy or difficult to manage cupidity n, strong desire for wealth; greed curfew n. a regulation requiring people to be inside at a certain time cursory adj. superficially done; performed rapidly curtail v. to cut short, abbreviate cynical adj. distrusting others from a sense that everyone's motives are selfish dais n. to raised platform dally v. to waste time; loiter dapper adj. neat and trim in appearance dappled adj. spotted daunt v. to make afraid; intimidate dauntless adj. incapable of being intimidated de facto adj. in reality; in fact deadlock n. a tie; a standstill deadpan adj. showing no expression debacle n. an overwhelming defeat or rout debase v. to make lower in value, quality, or character debilitated adj. showing impairment of energy or strength debonair adj. easy and carefree in manner debris n. bits and pieces of rubbish debunk v. to expose the falsehood of debut n. first appearance before the public decadence n. a period of decline, as in morals decapitate v. to cut off the head decimate v. to destroy or kill a large part of (a group) decipher v. to read or interpret something confusing or illegible; to con vert from a code decisive adj. conclusive; beyond doubt; showing determination declaim v. to recite a speech, poem etc; to announce formally decor n. a decorative style or scheme, as of a room decorum n. polite behavior decree v. to order with the force of law; n. an official order decry v. to speak out against strongly or openly deem v. to have as an opinion; to consider defame v. to attack a person's reputation; to slander defer v. to delay; to put off deference n. yielding an opinion, desire, or position to another out of re spect deficient adj. lacking an essential quality; inadequate in amount or degre e deficit n. an inadequancy; an unfavorable condition or position defile v. to corrupt; to desecrate or sully definitive adj. complete

defunct adj. having ceased to exist or live degenerate v. to decline to an inferior state, oft. in mental or moral qual ity deity n. a god deleterious adj. harmful; destructive delineate v. to draw the outline of; describe in words or gestures delude v. to make someone believe something that is untrue; to deceive deluge n. a great flood delve v. to look for; to search; to investigate demagogue n. a leader who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and p assions of others demeanor n. outward behavior, esp. that reveals one's personality or atti tude demographics n. the distribution of human population groups demote v. to reduce to lower in rank demur v. to object; to disagree with something demure adj. coy; modest; reserved denigrate v. to disgrace a reputation; to blacken; to belittle denouement n. conclusion; resolution; the falling action of a story after i ts climax dentriment n. injury or damage depict v. to represent; to portray deplore v. to feel or express strong disapproval of deprecate v. to express disapproval of depreciate v. to reduce in price or value deprive v. to take or keep something away from someone deranged adj. mentally disturbed derelict adj. abandoned; negligent deride v. to ridicule derive v. to obtain from a specified source derogatory adj. belittling; tending to diminsh desecrate v. to violate the religious quality of something desiccate v. to dry completely desideratum n. something needed and wanted desolate adj. left alone; lonely; deserted despoil v. to deprive something of value despondent adj. so sad as to lack all hope destitution n. the lack of any means of subsistence desultory adj. lacking a plan or purpose; unmethodical detract v. to take away a desirable part; to diminish deviate v. to depart from the norm devour v. to eat up greedily devout adj. devoted to religion; sincere dexterous adj. skillful with the hands or mind diatribe n. prolonged and bitter speech or writing dichotomy n. division with two contradictory parts diction n. word choice in speech or writeing; degree of clarity in speaking dictum n. an authroitative, often formal, pronouncement didactic adj. intended to teach; inclined to teach excessively diffident adj. lacking self-confidence; timid; shy diffuse v. to spread around or scatter; adj. widely scattered digest n. a collection of previously published material, usu. In condensed form dilate v. to make wider; to expand dilatory adj. characterized by delay; tardy dilemma n. a situation in which one must choose between two equally bad alternat ives dilettante n. one who engages an art with only superficial skill; an amateu r diligent adj. painstaking and steady dilute v. to lessen the concentration, force or purity of by adding something

dirge n. slow, sad music, esp. a funeral hymn disabuse v. to free from error or falsehood disaffected adj. resentful and rebellious, esp. against authority disarming adj. reducing or preventing critism with charm discard v. to throw out disciple n. a follower of another who helps to spread teachings disclose v. to reveal disconcert v. to make confused or uneasy discord n. conflict or disargeement discreet adj. careful about what one says or does; prudent discrepancy n. lack of agreement; difference discrete adj. individually distinct or separate discriminate v. to make a clear distinction discursive adj. covering a wide range of subjects; rambling disdain n. a feeling of contempt disheveled adj. disarranged; untidy; rumpled disingenuous adj. not straightforward or candid; crafty disinterested adj. free from bias dismal adj. causing gloom or depression dismantle v. to take apart dismay v. to destroy courage or resolution; to cause to lose enthusiasm, to dis illusion disparate adj. entirely unlike dispatch v. to send off promptly; n. efficient speed; a message, esp. off icial or from a journalist dispense v. to administer; to distribute; (with prep. 'with'): to do with out dispirited adj. sad disposition n. personality; temperament dissemble v. to deceive or conceal; to hide one's motives; to simulate disseminate v. to scatter widely; (of information) to make known dissent v. to disagree dissipate v. to scatter; to spend wastefully dissociate v. to break ties dissonant adj. harsh and disagreeable in sound dissuade v. to discourage from a course of action distend v. to stretch out; to expand distort v. to alter; to change into an unusual form distraction n. mental distress; that which amuses or entertains distraught adj. anxious or agitated diurnal adj. daily; occuring during the daytime diverge v. to depart from a sect course or opinion divulge v. to reveal or make known docile adj. easy to teach; submissive doctrinaire adj. inflexibly maintaining an idea without regard to practicall y doctrine n. a set or principles (religious, political, etc.); a rule of l aw, esp. as established by precedent dogged adj. refusing to give up despite difficulties dogma n. a specific set of ideas or beliefs, esp. religious or asserted to be absolutely true dogmatic adj. arrogantly asserting unproved principles doldrums n. an area in the ocean of calm wings; a state of boredom or lis tlessness domain n. a territory or range of rule or control domineer v. to rule over arbitrarily or tyrannically dormant adj. inactive, but capable of being active dote v. to show excessive love or fondness dour adj. stern and humorless; silently ill-humored douse v. to wet thoroughly

dovetail v. to combine or interlock into a unified whole dowdy adj. lacking in neatness or style; shabby downtrodden adj. badly and unfairly treated; oppressed draconian adj. extremely harsh and severe dreary adj. depressing and boring dregs n. the worst part; the sediment in a liquid dross n. impurities formed on the surface of metals during melting; worthless, commonplace or trivial material dual adj. composed of two parts dubious adj. causing doubt; questionable ductile adj. easily shaped; capable of being persuaded easily duel n. a prearranged combat between two persons dupe v. to deceive; to trick; n. a person easily tricked duplicity n. deception; deceitfulness; double-dealing duress n. strain or hardship, often illegally applied dwindle v. to decrease gradually until little remains dynasty n. a succession of rulers or people in power from the same ruler earshot n. the distance within a sound can be heard ebullient adj. in high spirits; boiling or seeming to boil eccentric adj. unconventional; odd ecclesiastical adj. relating to the church eclat n. great brilliance, as of performance or achievement; conspicuous succe ss eclectic adj. composed of material from various sources eclipse v. to overshadow ecstacy n. state of overwhelming joy; rapture eddy n. a current, as of water or air, moving contrary to the direction of th e main current, esp. in a circular motion edict n. an authoritative order issued publicly; a decree edification n. intellectual or moral improvement; enlightenment edifice n. a building; architectural monument educe v. to draw out; elicit eerie adj. causing inexplicable fear for uneasiness, oft. because of an appare ntly supernatural origin efface v. to rub out, as from a surface; to erase effect v. to bring about effervescent adj. giving off gas bubbles; showing high spirits or excitement efficacy n. the power to produce the desired effect effigy n. a representation of a person or group used esp. to demonstrate hatred effrontery n. bold and insulting behavior effusive adj, overflowing; excessively emotional egalitarian adj. of the belief that all people should have equal rights egregious adj. outstanding for undesirable qualities; remarkably bad egress going out; to right to go out or exit eke out v. to add to with difficulty; to make just enough to continue elated adj. in high spirits; joyful elicit v. to draw out; to invoke ellipses n. in a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by th ree periods elocution n. the art of public speaking, with attention to delivery eloquent adj. articulate; convincing and effective in speech elucidate v. to make something clear; to clarify elude v. to escape from, as by daring or skill; to escape the understanding of elysian adj. heavenly or delightful emaciated adj. made thin unnaturally; abnormally thin due to starvation emanate v. to send forth; to come forth emancipate v. to give freedom; to set loose embed v. to fix in a surrounding mass embellish v. to decorate; to add ornamental or fictitious details to embezzle v. to take money for one's own use, in violation of a trust

emblematic adj. symbolic, representative of more embroil v. to engage in trouble; to complicate embryonic adj. not yet developed; at an early stage eminent adj. outstanding, distinguished, towering above others emissary n. a person sent on a mission to represent another emollient adj. having a softening, smoothing effect; n. an agent that soft ens, esp. the skin emolument n. payment for an office or employment empathy n. ability to understand and identify with another's feelings and emotio ns emphatic adj. done or expressed with force empirical adj. based on experience rather than a theory enclave n. a country or other distinctly bounded area wholly surrounded by anoth er area encomium n. high praise encompass v. to surround; to include encore n. again, once more; a second performance; an audience's call for a seco nd performance encroach v. to infringe; to intrude; to trespass encrypt v. to put into code encumber v. to burden or weigh down endemic adj. native to a particular country endorse v. to give approval or support to endow v. to provide with material goods, talents, or qualities engender v. to beget; to cause; to promote engross v. to occupy completely enigma n. a preplexing, usually ambiguous puzzle enmity n. the bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or of mutual enemies enormity n. great wickedness; an evil act ensconce v. to settle securely or snugly ensemble n. a group, esp. of performers, working as a unified whole ensue v. to happen subsequently entail v. to have as a necessary result entrenched adj. dug in entrepreneur n. a person who starts and manages a business enumerate v. to count off or list enunciation n. clear pronunciation; articulation envelop v. to enclose or surround eon n. a long period of time ephemeral adj. lasting for a short time; fleeting epicure n. one with refined tastes, esp. in food and wine epidemiology n. the branch of medicine that studies the causes, spread, and c ontrol of disease in populations epigram n. a short, cleverly-worded statement epiphany n. a sudden flash or understanding epithet n. a descriptive term for a person or thing epitome n. a representative example of a type eponym n. a person after whom a place, people, disease, etc. is named equanimity n. evenness of temper, esp. as a characteristic state equilibrium n. a state of balance or equality between opposing forces equivocal adj. capable of multiple interpretations; unclear erode v. to wear away slowly err v. to make a mistake erratic adj. inconsistent, unpredictable ersatz adj. inferior imitation or substitute erstwhile adj. former; of an earlier time erudite adj. well-educated escapade n. a reckless adventure eschew v. to avoid; to shun esoteric adj. known by or confined to a small number of people

espouse v. to give loyalty or support to; to adopt esteem n. high regard; respect; v. to regard highly estrange v. to make hostile or indifferent, usu., between two persons estuary n. the part of a river that meets a sea ethereal adj. delicate; soft; airy; intangible ethics n. the standards or rules governing proper conduct etiquette n. the forms of behavior of polite society etymology n. the study of origins or words eugenics n. the study of hereditary improvement of human beings by contro lled breeding eulogy n. a speech or written tribute in praise of someone who has died euphemism n. the substitution of an agreeable word or phrase to replace on e that might offend euphony n. pleasing sound, esp. of words euphoria n. a feeling of great happiness evanescent adj. fading from sight; transient evince v. to give outward evidence of; to display clearly evoke v. to call forth or call to mind ewe n. a female sheep, esp. when full grown exacerbate v. to make more violent, bitter or severe exact v. to demand and obtain by force or authority exalt v. to raise in status or character; to increase the effect or intensity of exasperate v. to make very impatient; to annoy greatly excavate v. to expose to view by digging out excoriate v. to denounce sharply; to tear or wear the skin off excruciating adj. severely painful exculpate v. to clear from blame or guilt exemplary adj. worthy to serve as a model exert v. to bring forth or bring to bear exhaustive adj. thorough exhort v. to urge strongly exhume v. to dig up out of the ground exigent adj. requiring immediate action exiguous adj. scanty; meager; small; slender exonerate v. to find blameless exorbitant adj. excessive expatriate v. to send into exile; n. one who has moved to a foreign country expedite v. to speed up explicit adj. fully revealed or made clear exposition n. a statement intended to give background information or to exp lain something difficult expound v. to explain in detail expunge v. to erase; to eliminate completely extant adj. currently or actually existing extemporaneous adj. done with little or no preperation extenuate v. to lessen the seriousness of, esp. by giving partial excuses extol v. to praise highly and lavishly extortion n. taking (orioerty or money) by force or threat or force extract v. to remove, esp. with effort extradite v. to deliver someone (e.g., a fugitive) to the authority of ano ther government or jurisdiction extraneous adj. not an essential part of; unimportant extrapolate v. to predict by extending known information exuberant adj. lively, happy, full of good spirits exude v. to give off; to emit; to radiate exult v. to rejoice greatly fabricate v. to make, build; to lie facade n. outward behavior; the face of a building facetious adj. playfully humorous

facile adj. with effortless ease; without proper care; superficial facilitate v. to make easier facsimile n. an exact copy factious adj. causing dissension factitious adj. produced artificially; not genuine fallacy n. a false notion, esp. one based on incorrect reasoning fanfare n. a showy public display fastidious adj. not easy to please; very critical or discriminating fatalistic adj. believing that all events are predestined and unavoidable fathom v. to measure the depth of; to understand fatuous adj. smugly foolish; complacently stupid fauna n. animals as a group, esp. of a specified region or time faux pas n. a social blunder feasible adj. capable of being done feat n. an act or accomplishment showing skills feckless adj. careless; irresponsible feign v. to pretend; to fake feisty adj. irritable; quarrelsom; full of spirit felicitous adj. well chosen; appropriate feline adj. cat-like feral adj. existing in a wild or untamed state fertile adj. producing abundantly; prolific fervent adj. passionate; eager; ernest fervid adj. extremely emotional; passionate fete n. lavish entertainment; a festival fetter v. to confine, to restrain, or keep down; n. chains; shackles feud n. a bitter, prolonged quarrel fiasco n. a major disaster fiat n. an authoritative order; an arbitrary decree fictitious adj. not real; false fidelity n. strict faithfulness to vows or promises; exact correspondence with fact figment n. something that is created; something that is imagined figurehead n. a person with apparent but no real authority filament n. a fine wire or thread filibuster v. to use a prolonged speech to delay legislative action; n. a s peech that delays legislative action finesse n. subtle skill in performance or in handling a situation finite adj. measurable; having an end firebrand n. one who stirs up trouble or revolt fitful adj, occurring in irregular outbursts; occurring in spurts flabbergast v. to overcome with astonishment flaccid adj. lacking firmness flagrant adj. conspicuously bad or offensive flamboyant adj. extravagant; showy flank n. the side flaunt v. to display ostentatiously; to show off; to boast fledgling n. a young inexperience person; a young bird just growing feathe rs fleet adj. moving swiftly flighty adj. unstable or easily excited flora n. plants as a group, esp. of a specified region or time florid adj. flushed with rosy color; over decorated flotsam n. wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on the sea flounder v. to proceed with clumsiness and confusion flourish v. to blossom; to grow vigorously; prosper flout v. to intentionally and obviously disobey flower v. to reach the best or most vigorous stage fluctuate v. to move back and forth or up and down, esp. unpredictably fluent adj. easy; graceful

fluster v. to make nervous or upset flux n. flow; continuous change or movement foal n. a young horse, esp. under one year old fodder n. feed for livestock; a resource foible n. a minor weakness of character foliage n. leaves foment v. to stir up negative feelings, esp. those that lead to violent action foolhardy adj. reckless; bold without judgement fop n. a man who is preoccupied with his clothes and manners forage v. to search for food or provisions forbear v. to be patient or avoid doing forbidding adj. disagreeable; menacing forebear n. a person from whom one is descended; an ancestor (usu. plural ) foreboding n. a sense of impending evil, esp. one without definite cause forensic adj. related to the law or debate forestall v. to prevent or delay beforehand forfeit v. to surrender or be forced to surrender forge v. to give form or shape to; to advance gradually forgery n. something counterfeit; an illegally produced imitation forlorn adj. appearing sad because abandoned; in pitiful condition; almost witho ut hope formidable adj. inspiring fear or dread forte n. something at which a person excels forthcoming adj. about to appear; available when needed; communicative forthright adj. direct and without evasion; honest fortitude n. strength of mind that allows one to endure adversity fortuitous adj. occuring by chance foster v. to bring up or nurture fracas n. a noisy fight fractious adj. disruptive or irritable fraternize v. to associate in a friendly manner fraught adj. full of a particular quality fray n. a fight or brawl freelance adj. without long-term commitment to any employer frivolous adj. of little importance frolic v. to behave playfully and without inhibition frugal adj. careful in spending money or resource fruitless adj. without results; unprofitable fulcrum n. the point on which a lever pivots; a crucial point or agent fulminate v. to issue a strong verbal attack fulsome adj. disgusting because excessive or insincere; replusive furrow n. a trench in the earth made by a plow; a wrinkle furtive adj. characterized by secretive behavior futile adj. having no useful result gainsay v. to deny; declare false gait n. manner of moving on foot; rate or manner or proceeding gallant adj. brave and noble galvanize v. to rouse; stir; spur gambit n. a calculated, risky opening move gamut n. an entire range or series gangly adj. awkwardly tall gape v. to open wide; to stare with the mouth open gargantuan adj. of huge size or capacity garish adj. marked by unpleasantly bright colors or excessive ornamentation garner v. to get or earn; collect or gather garrulous adj. talking too much, esp. about trivial things gauche adj. socially awkward gaudy adj. characterized by tasteless or showy colors gauge n. an instrument for measuring or testing; v. to measure

gender n. sexual identity, esp. in relation to society or culture genealogy n. the science or study of family descent generic adj. without a trademark; general genesis n. birth; beginning; origin genial adj. cheerful; friendly genocide n. killing of a whole national or ethnic group genre n. a kind, or type germane adj. fitting and appropriate gestate v. evolve, as in prenatal growth gesticulate v. to make gestures, esp. while speaking giddy adj. dizzy; lightheaded gingerly adv. very carefully; cautiously gist n. the main objective, or point glean v. to gather bit by bit glee n. joy; happiness glower v. to frown; to glare with anger glut n. an oversupply glutton n. one who eats too much gnarled adj. twisted; knotty goad n. a long stick used to prod animals; something used to urge on; v. to p rod or urge, as if with a pointed stick gourmand n. a glutton; one who delights in eating well gradient n. a ramp or slope grandeur n. magnificence; splendor grandiloquent adj, using excessively fancy or pompous words graphic adj. described in vivid and explicit detail grapple v. to struggle with something; to grip and hold gratuitous adj. unnecessary or inappropriate grave adj. serious; dignified; formal gregarious adj. seeking and enjoying the company of others; tending to move in a group grimace n. a facial expression that shows disapproval or pain; v. to make such a n expression grisly adj. inspiring horror because of appalling crudity or inhumanity; grueso me groggy adj. confused, sluggish, or dizzy, as from lack of sleep or drunkenness gross adj. total, entire; glaringly obvious, flagrant grotesque adj. strangely or absurdly distorted grovel v. to beg; to lower oneself to please another gullible adj. easily deceived; credulous gustatory adj. relating to the sense of taste haggard n. appearing tired and thin, as from anxiety, disease, hunger, etc. halcyon adj. calm; peaceful hallmark n. any mark or symbol of genuineness or high quality hallucination n. a false perception of reality; a delusion hamper v. to keep from moving or acting freely hangar n. a structure used for housing aircraft haphazard adj. mere chance; accident hapless adj. unfortunate; unlucky harangue n. a long pompous speech; a speech or piece of writing expressin g strong emotion; a tirade harrowing adj. very distressing; painful haunt v. to visit often or continually haven n. a safe place havoc n. great destruction and devastation hearsay n. rumor; gossip hedge v. to protect against possible loss by taking compensatory measures; to avoid making a direct statement hedonist n. someone who seeks only pleasure heed v. to pay attention to

hefty adj. heavy hegemoney n. strong influence; domination heinous adj. extremely wicked; abominable herald v. to bear news; to announce heresy n. deviation from church doctrine or from an established belief hermetic adj. completely sealed, esp. from entry or escape of air heterodox adj. not in agreement with accepted beliefs, esp. religious dogm a heterogeneous adj. not similar; very different; mixed together heyday n. a time or success or popularity hiatus n. an interruption in activity or progress hibernate v. sleep throughout the winter hidebound adj. narrow-minded hierarchy n. a ranking according to status or ability; a group having auth ority hirsute adj. having excessive body hair histrionic adj. overly dramatic, theatrical hoax n. an act meant to trick or fool hodgepodge adj. mixture; combination holistic adj. dealing with something as a whole rather than by its indivi sual parts homely adj. unattractive, plain looking homogeneous adj. uniform; of the same kind hone v. to sharpen; to make more effective hoodwink v. to deceive; to mislead hospitable adj. friendly, kind, and solicitous toward guests; receptive or open hovel n. a living place that is very filthy and dirty hover v. to float as if suspended; to be in a state of uncertainty hubris adj. excessive pride hue n. a shade of color humane adj. kind; compassionate humdrum adj. dull; routine; commonplace humus n. fertilizer; black soil for fertilizing husband v. to use sparingly; to conserve hymn n. a religious song; a song of praise hyperbole n. exaggeration hypocrisy n. the pretense of having virtues or beliefs that one does not r eally have hypothesis n. a tentative explanation; something assumed true for the sake of argument or investigation hysteria n. a sudden outburst of uncontrolled emotion such as fear, excit ement, etc. icon n. an image; a symbole; a representation of a holy person, esp. in the O rthodox Christian churches iconoclast n. one who attacks and seeks to destroy widely accepted ideas idiosyncrasy n. a particular, peculiar, or eccentric trait igonminy n. shame; dishonor ilk n. kind; sort; class illuminate v. to light up imbecile n. a stupid or silly person imbroglio n. a confused misunderstanding or disagreement imbue v. to inspire; to permeate; to fill with a mood or tone immaculate adj. perfectly clean immerse v. to cover completely in a liquid; to engage wholly imminent adj. impending; threatening; likely to happen immune adj. not subject to an obligation imposed on others; not affected by an influence impale v. to pierce with something sharp; to make helpless impalpable adj. that which cannot be felt by touching; not easily understoo

d impasse n. a dead-end impassive adj. not feeling emotion; not showing emotion impeccable adj. flawless impede adj. not preparing for the future; incautious impel v. to push something into motion impending adj. about to happen imperative adj. impossible to deter or evade; urgently necessary impertinent adj. rude impervious adj. completely resistant to penetration; unaffected impetuous adj. characterized by sudden emotion, energy, etc.; impulsive an d passionate impetus n. an impelling or originating force impinge v. to have an effect on something, esp. a negative one; to enroach implacable adj. unable to be pacified; relentless implicate v. to inscriminate; to show or suggest involvement importune v. to beg desperately and repeatedly imposing adj. impressive by virtue of size, power or manner impostor n. a person using a false identity impotent adj. powerless; helpless; ineffective impromptu adj. without preparation improvident adj. not preparing for the future; incautious improvise v. to do without preparation impudent adj. rude, shameless impugn v. to challenge; call into question impute v. to assign credit, often of guilt or blame inadvertent adj. unintentional; accidental inaugurate v. to formally bring into office at the beginning of a term incapacitate adj. to make unable to function in normal activities; disable incarcerate v. to restrict by imprisonment; to keep in prison incarnate adj. in human form and shape inception n. commencement; beginning; origin incessant adj. never pausing; continuous; without a stop inchoate adj. at an early stage of development; not well developed incipient adj. beginning to appear or be noticed incisive adj. keen or penetrating in thought or expression incongruous adj. lacking agreement; incompatible inconsequential adj. unimportant incredulous adj. disbelieving; skeptical increment n. an increase in quantity; v. to increase inculcate v. to teach or impress by frequent repetition; to instill incumbent adj. necessary or obligatory; n. a person who currently holds a particular position incur v. to acquire or sustain something undesirable indelible adj. incapable of being removed or erased indict v. to formally accuse of criminal activity indigenous adj. native, occuring naturally indiscriminate adj. unselective; random; unrestrained indolent adj. lazy induce v. to influence, esp. by persuasion; to bring about; to infer by inducti ve reasoning indulgent adj. lenient; giving in to the desires of others ineffable adj. incapable of being expressed ineluctable adj. unable to be avoided; inescapable inept adj. without skill; absurd or foolish inert adj. unable to move or respond; sluggish inexorable adj. not able to be persuaded; unyielding; unalterable infatuated adj. experiencing an unreasonable passion or attraction infer v. to reason or conclude from evidence ingenious adj. inventive, cunning, clever

ingratiate v. to bring oneself into another's favor or good graces by consc ious effort inherent adj. included as an essential part; intrinsic inhibit v. to hold back iniquity n. extreme immorailty or injustice; wickedness innate adj. possessed at birth; inborn innocuous adj. harmless innovative adj. marked by a new or unusual way of doing things innuendo n. an indirect suggestion about someone or something, esp. of a negative nature inordinate adj. excessive, unrestrained inscribe v. to write, carve or engrave words or letters on or in a surfac e inscrutable adj. hard to understand; enigmatic insensible adj. not able to feel or perceive; unresponsive insidious adj. subtly harmful; stealthy, sneaky insinuate v. to hint insipid adj. uninteresting; having no flavor insolent adj. boldly disrespectful in speech or behavior; impertinent; im pudent insouciant adj. calm and untroubled; carefree; indifferent; instigate v. to stir up or arouse; to forment insular adj. narrow in outlook; provincial insurrection n. a rebellion intercept v. to stop something from reaching its intended destination interdict v. to forbid or stop the activities or entry of interlocutor n. someone who takes part in a conversation, esp. formally interloper n. one who interferes with the affairs of others; a meddler internecine adj. pertaining to conflict within a group; mutually destructive interstices n. small spaces between things intimate v. to make known subtly; to hint intransigent adj, refusing to compromise or agree intrepid adj. bold; fearless intricate adj. elaborately detailed intrinsic adj. relating to the esssential nature of a something inundate v. to flood invective n. language that abuses or denounces inveterate adj. established for a long time; habitual invidious adj. tending to arouse hostility or resentment ire n. anger irk v. to irritate or be wearisome irony n. a use of words in which the intended meaning is very different from t he literal sense; an incongruity between what might be expected and what actuall y occurs, esp. one that suggests a lesson about human folly itinerant adj. traveling from place to place, esp. for work itinerary n. a route or proposed route for a journey jargon n. the specialized terminology of a profession; incoherent speech jaundice n. prejudice; bias; a yellowish discoloration of the skin jeremiad n. an elaborate and lengthy tale of sadness jest v. to be playful in speech and actions; to joke jingoism n. an extreme patriotism jocular adj. characterized by joking jovial adj. full of hearty, playful good humor juggernaut n. a terrible, irresistible force juncture n. a point of time; a concurrence of events junta n. a group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power jurisdiction n. the extent of authority or control; the right and power to in terrupt and apply the law just adj. honorable and fair; consistent with what is right juxtapose v. to put side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast

keen adj. having a sharp edge; perceptive kennel n. a shelter or boarding house for dogs kin n. one's relative kindle v. to set on fire; ignite kindling n. dry sticks of used to start a fire kindred adj. related or similar in origin or nature knell v. to ring in a slow solemn way; n. the sound of a bell, esp. of one run at a funeral; an omen of death, failure, etc. knoll n. a small rounded hill kudos n. glory; fame labyrinthine adj. complicated; puzzling lachrymose adj. causing tears; weeping or inclined to weep lackadaisical adj. showing lack of interest or spirit laconic adj. brief in speech; using few words lacuna n. an empty space or missing portion laity n. all the people not belonging to a given profession, esp. the clergy lambent adj. flickering, e.g., of a flame or light reflected on a surface lament v. to grieve; to regret deeply; n. a mournful song lapse v. to decline from a previous level or standard; to come to an end largess n. generosity in giving gifts lassitude n. a feeling of weakness latent adj. present but hidden; dormant latitude n. freedom from normal limitations; room for movement or action laudable adj. worthy of praise leaven v. to add yeast; to fill (something) with a substance that changes it or makes it lighter leery adj. suspicious; distrustful leeway adj. margin; room for freedom of action legacy n. something passed down to a descendant legerdemain n. trickery; deception; sleight of hand lenient adj. inclined not to be strict leonine adj. authoritative; commanding; like a lion lethargic adj. dull; sluggish; moving slowly leviathan n. something enormous and powerful; a sea monster levitate v. to rise or cause to rise and float in the air lexicographer n. a person who writes or compiles dictionaries liable adj. legally obligated; likely (w/ reference to an unfavorable outcome) liberal adj. generous; giving freely libertine adj. one who lives an immoral life licentious adj. not moral; lawless; lewd ligament n. a connective tissue, joining bones or supporting internal org ans limpid adj. perfectly clear; tranparent linchpin n. a central element that holds other parts together lineage n. direct descent from an ancestor; derivation lineaments n. any of the features of the body, usually the face lionize v. to look upon or treat as a celebrity litigant n. one who is engaged in a lawsuit livid discolored, as from bruise; pale, ashen; extremely angry loath adj, unwilling, reluctant loathe v. to dislike something greatly lopsided adj. larger of shaped differently on one side than on another loquacious adj. very talkative lore n. knowledge about a particular subject, esp. of a traditional or popula r nature lucid adj. easily understood, clear lucrative adj. producing wealth; profitable ludicrous adj. ridiculous, or exaggerated as to cause or deserve laughter; absurd lugubrious adj. sad or mouthful, esp. in a way that seems exxagerated or ri

diculous lummox n. a clumsy person lurid adj. causing shock or horror; tastelessly vivid; glowing like fire throu gh a haze lycanthrope n. a werewolf macabre adj. suggesting the horror of death machination n. an artful or secret plot or scheme madarin n. a high government official; a member of an elite group, esp. having h igh status in intellectual or cultural circles maelstrom n. a violently confused state; a very large whirlpool maim v. to cripple; mutilate; disable malady n. a disease; illness; sickness malaise n. a vague feeling of physical discomfort or uneasiness malapropism n. a ridiculous misuse of words malediction n. evil talk about someone; slander; a curse malevolent adj. showing hatred; dangerous malicious adj. spiteful malign v. to talk badly of something or someone malignant adj. very harmful; threatening death; cancerous (of a tumor) malinger v. to act sick in order to avoid work malleable adj. able to be pounded; capable of being molded; adaptable mammoth adj. very large; of clumsy or unwieldy size mandate n. a command; an order manifest adj. obvious; very clear; evident manifesto n. a public declaration of principles, often political manifold adj. of many kinds; numerous and varied mannacles n. shackles; handcuffs manumit v. to grant freedom to slaves; to emancipate manuscript n. a book or other document written by hand; an author's origina l copy of a document submitted for publication mar v. to damage mare n. a female horse margin n. a border or edge; a limit in condition or ability; an amount or degre e of difference marquee n. a sign over the entrance to a public building marshal v. to arrange in order martial adj. warlike martinet n. one who is strict in discipline, and enjoys authority too muc h martyr n. one who chooses to die rather than to give up religious beliefs, or w ho suffers greatly to further a cause masquearde v. to wear a disguige; to put on a false appearance matriarchy n. a society where the mother is the head of the family and desc ent is traced through the mother's side of the family matriculate v. to admit or be admitted into a group, esp. a college or unive rsity maudlin adj. excessively sentimental maul v. to injure; mangle mausoleum n. a huge tomb maverick one who rebels; a nonconformist; an individualist maxim n. a short saying expressing a general principle mayhem n. deliberate injury of someone, especially maiming; a state of violent chaos mean adj. lowly, insignificant, petty meander v. to follow a winding course; to wander without any fixed destination mediocre adj. ordinary to inferior in quality; not standing out from the average medium n. a method or way of expressing something medley n. a mixture of things not usually placed together melancholy adj. sad, esp. a lingering or habitual state of mind

melange n. a mixture; a hodgepodge melee n. a noisy, confused fight mellifluous adj. smooth and sweet; flowing with sweetness memento n. a reminder or a souvenir menagerie n. a collection of wild and strange animals kept in cages mendacious adj. lying; false, esp. habitually mentor n. a counselor or teacher mercenary adj. greedy; motivated by desire for money mercurial adj. easily changeable; erratic meretricious adj. attracting attention in a vulgar way meritocracy n. a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement mesmerize v. to hypnotize or spellbind metamorphosis n. a transformation, as by magic; a marked change in appearance or function metaphysical adj. highly abstract or teoretical; lacking physical form meticulous adj. extremely or excessively careful about details; finicky mettle courage; strength of character miasma n. a noxious or poisonous atmosphere mien n. bearing or manner, esp. as revealing one's inner state of mind milestone n. an important event millennium n. a period of 1000 years mimic v. to copy closely, esp. with intent to ridicule mire n. a swamp or bog misanthrope n. one who hates or mistrusts mankind miser n. a greedy person who hoards money, even at the expense of personal dis comfort misogyny n. hatred of women mitigate v. to improve by lessening the severity of mnemonic adj. pertaining to or assisting the memory modicum n. a small quantity mogul n. a rich or powerful person mollify v. to soothe the temper; pacify; appease momentous adj. of extreme importance monolithic adj. massive, solid and uniform in appearance morass n. an area of swampy ground; something that hinders morbid adj. gruesome; awful mordant adj. bitingly sarcastic mores n. accepted rules of behavior moribund adj. approaching death; nearly obsolete morose adj. sour tempered and inclined to be silent mortal adj. subject to death; causing death mosaic n. an image created by the assembly of many small colored pieces, e.g. t iles mot juste n. exactly the right word or expression multifarious adj. having many different parts or forms; numerous and varied mundane adj. typical of this world; commonplace municipal adj. relating to local government munificent adj. generous muse v. to meditate; to consider thoughtfully myopic adj. near-sighted myraid n. an indifinitely large number nadir n. the lowest point; the bottom naive adj. simple; childlike; lacking worldy wisdom narcissistic adj. excessively interested in one's own appearance, comfort, im portance, etc. nascent adj. coming into being; being born nebulous adj. unclear; vague nefarious adj. very wicked; villainous negligible adj. of little value or importance

negotiate v. to succeed in going over, coping with, or accomplishing nemesis n. one who inflicts justified or great punishment; a source of harm or r uin neologism n. new word of phrase neophyte n. a beginner; an immature person who is yearning nepotism n. showing favoritism to relatives nettle v. to bother; to irritate nexus n. a connection or intersection niche n. a place or situation suited for a person or thing; a recess in a wall nihilism n. a belief that rejects all moral or religious values; the beli ef that the destruction of political or social institutions is necessary for fut ure improvement nimble adj. fast and light in motion nirvana n. a place of ideal peace and harmony nocturnal adj. occurring at night noisome adj. disgustingly offensive; foul nomenclature n. a specialized list of terms, words or names nonchalant adj. seemingly to be unconcerned or indifferent nondescript adj. lacking distinction or individual character nonpareil adj. having no equal nonplus v. to put at a loss what to do or think nostalgia n. a general longing for the past or to return home notorious adj. having a bad reputation; infamous novel adj. strikingly new noxious adj. harmful to health or the mind nuance n. variation of meaning; subtlety oaf n. a stupid, clumsy person oasis n. a fertile place in a desert due to the presence of water; any place o r thing offering relief from difficulty or dullness obdurate adj. not easily moved to pity or sympathy obeisance n. a gesture, such as curtsy, that expresses respect or obedienc e obese adj. very fat obfuscate v. to make diffucult to understand; to make indistinct obituary n. a newspaper account of a person's death, usually including bi ographical information objective adj. having actual existence or reality; not influenced by emoti on or personal prejudice obligatory adj. legally or morally required obliging adj. ready to do favors; helpful; courteous oblivious adj. unaware obscene adj. offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty obscure adj. lacking light; dim; dark obsequious adj. showing too great a willingness to serve or obey obstinate adj. unreasonably stubborn obstreperous adj. noisily and stubbornly defiant obtrude v. to push forward; to impose ( oneself or ideas) on others obtuse adj. slow in understanding; dull; stupid obviate v. to stop from occuring; to prevent or make unnecessary occasion v. to cause; to provide an appropriate opportunity for occult adj. relating to the supernatural; beyond human comprehension; mysteriou s ocular adj. relating to the eye or sense of sight odious adj. arousing strong dislike or disgust odyssey n. a long adventurous journey officious adj. interfering; trying to give unwanted advice olfactory adj. relating to the sense of smell oligarchy n. a government in which only few people have power ominous adj. threatening harm; showing evil omniscient adj. all-knowing

onerous adj. burdensome, hard to bear onus n. an unpleasant task or duty; a burden or obligation opaque adj. not letting in light; unintelligible opine v. to express an opinion opportunist n. one who takes advantage of every opportunity, whether or not it is moral to do so opprobrium n. bad reputation or disgrace gained after a specific action oppugn v. to oppose with argument; to contradict or call into question optimum adj. the most favorable point or condition opulence n. extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance oracle n. a person thought to be a source of wisdom or prophecy orient v. to establish one's location; n. the east ornate adj. highly, oft. excessively decorated orthodox adj. accepting the usual beliefs, esp. religious oscillate v. to move back and forth regularly ostensible adj. outwardly appearing as such ostentatious adj. showy; pretentious ostracize v. to shun oust v. to eject or expel outmoded adj. no longer in fashion ovation n. enthusiastic and lengthy applause overt adj. open; not hidden overweening adj. excessively arrogant; overbearing overwrought adj. extremely nervous or excited own v. to admit, esp. taking personal reponsibility for one's own actions or thoughts oxymoron n. a figure of speech combining apparently contradictory terms, e.g., "darkness visible" pacify v. to make peaceful; to restore calm paean n. a song of joy, triumph, or praise painstaking adj. very thorough; careful palatable adj. pleasant or acceptable to the taste palette n. a board which an artist can hold while painting and on which colors c an be mixed; the range of colors used in a particular painting or by a particula r artist pallet n. a narrow, hard bed or straw-filled mattress palliate v. to lessen the pain or severity pallid adj. faint in color; pale palpable adj. capable of being handled, touched , or felt; easily perceiv ed panacea n. a cure-all or an all-purpose solution pandemic n. general, widespread, oft. of disease pandemonium n. confusion; misunderstanding pantheon n. all the gods of a people; a group highly respected in a field paradigm n. an example; a model paradox n. a statement or situation that appears contradictory paramount adj. supreme; ranking higher than others in power or importance paraphrase v. to restate in different words; to summarize pariah n. a social outcast parisan n. a strong, often militant, supporter parochial adj. restricted; limited; narrow; local parody n. a humorous and ridiculous imitation paroxysm n. a sudden convulsion or outburst; a fit parrot v. to blindly repeat or copy parsimony n. excessive care in spending; stinginess passe adj. old fashioned; out-of-style pastiche n. something (esp. a work of art, literature, or music) created from many different sources patent adj. obvious; evident paternal adj. relating to or characteristic of a father

pathetic adj. arousing pity; arousing scornful pity patina n. thing greenish layer that forms on copper as a result of corrosion; t he sheen on any surface produced by age or use patriarch n. a man who rules a family clan; a very respected old man patron n. a sponsor; a supporter; a regular customer patronize v. to sponsor or support; to be kind or helpful in a snobbish wa y, as if dealing with an inferior paucity n. smallness of number; scarcity pauper n. one who is extremely poor, esp. one living on public charity peccadillo n. a minor sin pecuniary adj. of or involving money pedagogy n. the art or profession of teaching pedestrian adj. done on foot; ordinary; commonplace pejorative adj. downgrading, demeaning pellucid adj. transparently clear penchant adj. a strong liking pendantic adj. putting unnecessary stress on minor or purely academic know ledge penitent adj. feeling regret penury n. lack of money, property, necessities perennial adj. lasting through the years perfidious adj, marked by extreme treachery perfunctory adj. done without care or interest or merely as a form or routin e periphery n. a boundary line; perimeter; an outside surface permeate v. to spread or flow throughout pernicious adj. very harmful or destructive perpetuity n. a state of infinite or indefinately long duration perplex v. to puzzle, confuse, or bewilder persevere v. to remain constant despite obstacles persist v. to continue despite difficulty perspicacious adj. having keen perception or understanding pertinent adj. relevant peruse v. to read carefully pervade v. to spread through, or be present throughout petty adj. having secondary rank or importance petulant adj. impatient or irritable, esp. over a minor annoyance phase n. a stage in a process of change or development phenomenon n. an occurence that can be perceived by the senses; a remarkabl e person or event philander n. of a man, to engage in sexual affairs, esp. casually philanthropic adj. donating to charity philistine n. a narrow-minded person with no interest in the arts philology n. literary study, esp. as it involves the editing of texts and the history of languages phlegmatic adj. having a calm, sluggish temperament; unemotional pilfer v. to steal a small amount pinnacle n. the highest point; summit pious adj. exhibiting reverence and religious observation piquant adj. agreeably pungent or sharp in taste; tart; agreeably stimulating or interesting pique v. to arouse (interest, curiosity, etc.); to irritate pittance n. a small amount, esp. of money placate v. to make less angry placebo n. something presented as a drug, but having no actual effect placid adj. calm, undisturbed plastic adj. capable of being shaped or molded; easily influenced plausible adj. appearing worthy of belief or trust plebeian adj. common plenitude n. fullness in quantity or degree; the state of being full or co

mplete plethora n. an excessive amount pliant adj, easily bent; pliable; adaptable or compliant plight n. sad situation plucky adj. showing courage in unfavorable circumstances poignant adj. sharply painful to the feelings poise n. self-assurance; composure; equilibrium polemic n. a controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion polyglot adj. speaking many languages; n. one who speaks many languages ponder v. to think over with great care ponderous adj. clumsy and heavy; boring and labored pore v. to read or study carefully posit v. to assume as a fact or principle posterity n. future generations posthumous adj. done or occurring after death postscript n. additional information added to the end of a letter or other document potent adj. powerful; having a strong effect precarious adj. dangerously insecure or unstable precede v. to go before precept n. a rule of action or conduct precipitate adj. moving rapidly and without caution precis n. concise summary of a text preclude v. to make impossible; to prevent the occurrence of precursor n. someone or something that comes before another and announces or suggests what is to come predicament n. a troublesome or embarrassing situation predilection n. a preference predominant adj. surpassing all others; most common preempt v. to take place of; to have priority or precedence over premises n.land and the buildings that are on it premonition n. a sense of a future event; a warning in advance preponderance n. superiority in weight, force, importance or influence prerogative n. an exclusive right or privelege, esp. one that is the result of hereditary or official position prescribe v. to set down as a rule prestige n. fame or importance based on reputation or acheivements pretentious n. claiming dignity or importance, esp. when undeserved pretext n. an excuse; a strategy intended to conceal something prevail v. to triumph over; to be or become most common prevalent adj. dominant; widespread prevaricate n. to avoid telling the truth prim adj. overly proper; precise to the point of affection; prudish primate n. a bishop of highest rank in a country or province primeval adj. relating to the beginning of the first world ages primordial adj. living or existing at the very beginning primp v. to dress or groom with careful attention to detail pristine adj. remaining in a pure state privation n. lack of basic necessities proclivity n. a natural or habitual tendency or inclination procrastinate v. to delay; to put off procrustean adj. showing merciless disregard for individual differences or s pecial circumstances procure v. to obtain or acquire prodigal adj. exceedingly or recklessly wasteful prodigious adj. wonderful; amazing; very big prodigy n. one with exceptional talents proficient adj. very skillful, esp. through training profligate adj. immorally wasteful profound adj. very deep; penetrating beyond the superficial

progenitor n. a direct ancestor progeny n. children or descendants prognosis n. the anticipated progress of recovery prognosticate v. to predict proletariat n. the working class proliferate v. to grow or reproduce rapidly prolific adj. producing a lot prolix adj. wordy and tedious prominent adj. noticeable; widely known promulgate v. to make known by official announcement prone adj. disposed to an action; lying face down pronounced adj. strongly marked; clearly indicated propaganda n. a material distribution by those in favor of a specific cause and reflecting their point of view propensity n. a natural inclination; a tendency propitiate adj. to appease or placate propitious adj. presenting favorable circumstances propound v. to suggest for consideration; to propose propriety n. good manners; proper behavior prosaic adj. straightforward; lacking in imagination proscribe v. to prohibit or forbid; to denounce prospect n. the outlook for the future; a view, esp. of scenery prosperity n. wealth; good fortune prostrate adj. lying face down, esp. as asign of humility or worship; phys ically or emotional exhausted protean adj. easily taking on different forms protege n. one whose welfare, training, or career is promoted by another person protocol n. the customs and regulations dealing with formal behavior; the plan for carrying out a scientific study prototype n. the original model; someone or something that serves to illus trate the typical qualities of a class protract v. to extend the duration of; prolong proverbial adj. well-known because widely repeated prowess n. superior skill or ability proximity n. closeness prudent adj. marked by careful planning; discreet prurient adj. tending to have or cause lustful thoughts pseudonym n. a fictitious name assumed by an author puerile adj. complicated; puzzling pugilist n. a boxer pugnacious adj. belligerent, ready to fight pulpit n. a podium used for preaching pulverize v. to crush; to grind into powder or dust pummel v. to beat, as with the fists punctilious adj. careful about every detail of behavior pungent adj. sharp to the smell or taste punitive adj. inflicting or intended to inflict punishment purloin v. to steal, oft. In violation of a trust purport v. to claim, esp. falsely purvey v. to supply pusillanimous adj. cowardly putative adj. put forth or accepted as true on inadequate grounds; suppos ed quack n. an untrained person who pretends to be a physician and dispenses medi cal advice and treatment quaff v. to drink quickly or with enthusiasm quagmire n. wet, boggy ground; a difficult situation quail v. to draw back in fear; lose heart of courage quaint adj. odd, especially in an old-fashioned way qualify v. to modify, limit, or restrict, as by giving exceptions

qualm n. a sudden feeling of sickness; an uneasy feeling about the moral right ness of an action quandary n. a state of uncertainty, esp. about what course of action to t ake quarantine n. enforced isolation to prevent the spread of disease; v. to is olate for such purpose queasy adj. sick to one's stomach; nauseated quell v. to ease; to calm down querulous adj. inclined to find fault; complaining; full of complaint quid pro quo n. an equal exchange or substitution quiescent adj. inactive, oft. Suggesting a temporary state quintessence n. a pure substance or essence of something quip n. a remark or reply that is witty or sarcastic quirk n. a rapid twist and turn; an indivisual mannerism quiver v. to shake; to tremble from fear or cold quixotic adj. foolishly idealistic; extravagantly chivalrous quizzical adj. puzzled, questioning quotidian adj. daily; customary raconteur n. one who tells stories with skill radical adj. favoring fundamental or extreme change; relating to roots or origin s rail v. to speak bitterly or reproachfully rambunctious adj. very loud and disorderly ramification n. a development or consequence resulting from a course of actio n rampant adj. unrestrained ramshackle adj. about to fall apart or fall down rancid adj. spoiled or rotten (esp. oils or fats) rancorous adj. bitter and resentful rapacious adj. excessively greedy; taking by force rapport n. concord; trustful relationship; harmony rapture n. the experience of great joy; ecstacy rationalize v. to come up with self-satisfying but incorrect excuses raucous adj. loud and harsh ravenous adj. very hungry ravine n. a deep, narrow gorge, especially one worn down with running water raze v. to demolish; to flatten to ground level realm n. a region; a kingdom rear v. to raise children rebuff v. to refuse someone; to reject an offer recalcitrant adj. marked by stubborn defiance of authority or guidance recapitulate v. to summarize; to paraphrase recede v. to go back; to withdraw recidivist n. one who returns to criminal habits reciprocate v. to give something in return recluse n. one who hides from the world recondite adj. not easily understood recount v. to tell in detail recreant adj. showing faithless disloyalty; n. a disloyal coward recrimination n. a reply to one charge with a countercharge rectify v. to set right; to correct rectitude n. conduct according to moral principles recumbent adj. lying down in a position of comfort recur v. to repeat; to occur again redeem v. to turn in and receive something in exchange; to make up for redolent adj. aromatic; fragrant; suggestive redoubtable adj. fearsome; formidable redress v. to set right; to remedy reek v. to give off a strong, unpleasant odor; to be pervaded with something unpleasant

referendum n. direct popular vote on a law or measure of public policy refractory adj. stubbornly resistant to control, authority, or treatment refuge n. a shelter or sanctuary refurbish v. to make clean or bright again refuse n. garbage refute v. to disprove regale v. to delight or entertain regimen n. a set of rules, usually followed for therapeutic effect regress v. to return for a previous state reimburse v. to repay reiterate v. to repeat rejoinder v. to answer, esp. to another answer relegate v. to assign to an obscure place or condition; to send away relent v. to become less severe; to give in relic n. a surviving trace of a culture or period that no longer exists relinquish v. to surrender or release reliquary n. a receptacle (such as a shrine) for displaying relics relish v. to enjoy reluctant adj. unwilling; disinclined reminisce v. to recall the past, esp. fondly remiss adj. careless in, or negligent about, attending to a task remonstrate v. to make objections renegade n. someone who rejects one group, cause,or allegiance for anothe r renege v. to fail to carry out a promise renumerate v. to pay or compensate repartee n. a quick witty reply; a series of such replies repast n. a meal repel v. to drive or force back; to drive off repertoire n. the range of pieces an artist is prepared to perform replete adj. well-filled; abundantly supplied replicate v. to copy, reproduce, or repeat repose n. relaxation; a state of rest reprehensible adj. deserving to be severely criticized reprieve v. to postpone or cancel punishment reproach v. to express disapproval for a fault, usu. out of sense of disa ppointment reproof n. an expression of disapproval; a rebuke repudiate v. to reject as invalid or untrue repugnant n. distasteful; offensive requisite adj. needed; necessary rescind v. to take back or cancel resent v. to feel hostlity because of a perceived insult of injury resign v. to accept a bad situation resilient adj. able to recover quickly (e.g., from bending or illness) resolve v. to decide; to bring into focus resonant adj. strong and deep in tone resonate v. to echo respite n. temporary relief resuscitate v. to revive, esp. from apparent death or unconsciousness reticence n. the quality or state of being silent or uncommunicative retire v. to retreat, as from battle retort v. to reply, esp. in a quick or witty manner retract v. to take back; to pull back retrench v. to reduce, esp. expenses retrospect n. the consideration of past events revel v. to delight, to enjoy (used with in) revere v. to honor reverie n. daydream revert v. to return to a former condition

revile v. to attack with harsh language rhapsody n. a state of great happiness; such a state expressed in speech or writing rhetoric n. persuasive or artful use of language ricochet v. to rebound at least once from a surface ridicule v. to make fun of rift n. a break in friendly relations rigor n. strictness or severity ritual n. a ceremonial act; a customary procedure rococo adj. elaborate or overdone rote n. mechanical memorization, oft. without full understanding rouse v. to wake or provoke rout n. a disorderly retreat or flight following a defeat; an overwhelming de feat; v. to defeat overwhemingly rue v. to regret ruminate v. to ponder at length rummage v. to search thoroughly by handling or disarranging the contents of rural adj. relating to the country or farming ruse n. an action or device intended to deceive ruthless adj. having no compassion or pity sacrosanct adj. very sacred, holy, or inviolable sadistic adj. getting pleasure from inflicting physical or psychological pain saga n. a long prose narrative, oft. telling of adventure or heroism; a long, detailed report salacious adj. lustful; obscene salient adj. important, prominent, most noticeable salubrious adj. favorable to good health salutary adj. beneficial; favorable to health sanctify v. to make holy; to make legitimate or binding sanctimonious adj. pretending holiness; hyprocritically devout sanction v. to give official approval sanctuary n. a holy place; a place of refuge sang-froid n. coolness and composure, esp. in difficult circumstances sanguine adj. optimistic, cheerful sarcasm n. harsh, often ironic ridicule, intended to hurt sardonic adj. bitterly sneezing; mocking; sarcastic sate v. to satisfy (any appetite or desire) fully saturate v. to soak or fill to capacity saturnine adj. of a gloomy temperament saunter v. to walk in a leisurely manner savant n. a well-educated person; a scholar savor v. to taste or smell, esp. with pleasure; n. the taste or smell scaffold n. a temporary platform used in work on a building scale v. to climb scapegoat n. one who takes blame scenario n. an outline for a planned series of events, either real of ima gined; a summary of a work of fiction schema n. an outline or model, often drawn as a diagram schism n. a division; a split; a break scintilla n. a small amount; a spark scintillate v. to give off sparks; to be animated or briliant scion n. an heir; a descendant scoff v. to make fun of; to ridicule scour v. to wash by scrubbing vigorously scourge n. a cause of widespread suffering scribe n. a professional copyist of manuscripts and documents, esp. in ancient times scrupulous adj. conscientious and exact; having principles scrutiny n. close examination; minute inspection; a careful watch

secede v. to withdraw formally from an alliance or membership secrete v. to put or keep in a hiding place; to conceal sect n. a small group, esp. religious, united by a specific set of beliefs secular adj. not religious, worldly sedate adj. calm; quiet sedentary adj. sitting down most of the time sediment n. a residue that settles in the bottom of something sedulous adj. working hard and steadily; diligent seemly adj. proper or fitting with respect to established customs seethe v. to be violently excited; to boil segregate v. to segregate into groups or parts segue n. an easy, effective, or uninterrupted transition self-abnegation n. the putting aside of personal interest for the sake of others seminal adj. original and inspiring further similarefforts senescent adj. aging; growing weak with age sensuous adj. appealing to the senses, esp. those involved in appreciatin g beauty sententious adj. expressing much in few words; given to pompous moralizing sentinel n. one who keeps watch sequester v. to move or set apart; to quarantine serendipity n. unexpected gift or discovery serene adj. calm and peaceful servile adj. slavish; abjectly submissive shade n. a small variation, a nuance; a small amount shambles n. utter disorder shard n. a fragment of a brittle substance, e.g., glass or pottery; a small pi ece of something shear v. to cut hair or wool from sheer adj. transparently thin; complete, unmixed; nearly vertical shibboleth n. a custom or phrase distinctive of a particular group, class, etc. shiftless adj. lazy; lacking ambition shoddy adj. inferior or cheap shrewd adj. clever in practical matters; cunning shroud v. to conceal; n. something that covers sinecure n. a paid position that requires little or no work skeptical adj. tending to question or doubt skirmish n. a minor conflict skirt v. to lie along the edge of; to pass nearby or around, rather than throu gh skittish adj. nervous; easily frightened skulk v. to lurk; to move secretively slipshod adj. marked by carelessness or casual attention to detail; slopp y sloth n. laziness slovenly adj. careless about one's own appearance smirk v. to smile in a self-satisfied or artificial way smug adj, showing offensive satisfaction with oneself sodden adj. thoroughly wet, drenched sojourn n. a brief visit solace n. comfort in a time of distress solemn adj. serious; grave solicit v. to ask for; to seek solicitous adj. showing anxious concern soliloquy n. a dramatic speech delivered by a character to himself somnolent adj. sleepy soporific adj. promoting sleep sparse adj. thinly spread or distributed; not dense or crowded specious adj. seeming to be truthful on the surface, but actually false specter n. a ghost; a disturbing image or prospect

speculate v. to think about the various aspects of a subject, especially s o as to make a prediction spendthrift n. one who spends money wastefully spontaneous adj. occuring naturally or without forethought sprightly adj. lively; animated; energetic spurious adj. not genuine; false squabble n. a noisy argument, esp. over an unimportant matter squalid adj. having a dirty or lowly appearance squander v. to spend wastefully stagnant adj. inactive; not moving stalwart adj. firm and resolute; having imposing physical strength stamina n. resistance to fatigue or hardship; endurance stanch v. to stop the flow of something stark adj. not ornamented; plain; absolute start v. to move suddenly or involuntarily static adj. not moving stationary adj. not moving status quo n. the existing state of affairs at a particular time staunch adj. strongly loyal steadfast adj. loyal; faithful stentorian n. extremely loud stifle v. to suffocate or smother stigma n. a sign of disgrace; a mark that lowers a reputation stimulate v. to rouse or excite to action or increased action; to spur on stoic adj. apparently indifferent to joy, grief, pleasure, or pain stratum n. a level or layer stricture n. a restraint or limit strident adj. loud and shrill or grating stringent adj. imposing strict standards of performance; constricted stultify v. to make absurdly useless, esp. by degrading; to make appear f oolish stymie v. to obstruct; to stump suave adj. effortlessly smooth and courteous in social situations subjective adj. based on personal experience or feeling, not from external evidence subjugate v. to bring under control; to conquer sublime adj. of high spritual or moral worth subordinate adj. occupying a lower position subsequent adj. happening afterward; following in order subservient adj. subordinate in function; obsequious subside v. to settle down subsidy n. monetary assistance subsist v. to maintain life subsume v. to include as part of a larger group subterfuge n. a sneaky or devious method for avoiding difficulty or unpleas antness subtle adj. not immediately obvious; hard to understand succulent adj. full of juice; highly enjoyable succumb v. to give in or yield suffrage n. the right to vote suffuse v. to spread through or over (as with light or color) sullen adj. showing silent anger and unwillingness to be pleasant to people sumptuous adj. of a size of splendor suggesting great expense; lavish supercilious adj. feeling or showing proud contempt superfluous adj. unnecessary; extra superlative adj. excellent; of the highest quality supersede v. to replace supplant v. to take the place of supplicate v. to request with great humility, as though by praying surfeit n. an excess

surly adj. sullen and rude surmise v. to infer something by intution or with slender evidence; n. such an i nference surmount v. to overcome (e.g., an obstacle); to climb to the top of surreptitious adj. done secretly, often of something unseemly or unethical surrogate n. to substitute svelte adj. slender and graceful in outline sweltering adj. oppressively hot and humid sybarite n. one devoted to luxury sycophant n. one who seeks favor by flatteing people of wealth or influenc e sylvan adj. characteristic of woods or forests symbiotic adj. involving a close relationship of mutual dependence symposium n. a meeting to discuss a topic, esp. where the participants for m the audience and make presentations synergy n. the interaction of two or more things where the combined effect is gr eater than the sum of their individual effects synopsis n. a short summary that outlines the main points of something synthesis n. the combination of separate parts into a unified whole table v. to postpone consideration of taboo n. something forbidden or prohibited tabulate v. to count tacit adj. unspoken but understood; silent tact n. skill in dealing with others, esp. in difficult situations tactile adj. of or related to the sense of touch talisman n. something thought to have magic power tally v. to count; add tamper v. to interfere, esp. in order to damage or weaken tangible adj. able to be touched or treated as real tantalize v. to torment or tease by showing something desirable while keep ing it out of reach tantamount adj. equivalent in effect or value tarry v. to delay; to linger taut adj. tense; very tight tautology n. needless repetition of an idea in different words (e.g., "wid ow woman") tawdry adj. tastelessy showy tax v. to make difficult or excessive demands upon teeming adj. overfilled; crowded; pouring out temerity adj. willingness to do or say something that shocks or upsets pe ople temper v. to bring down in tone; to moderate; to soften temperate adj. consistent; moderate; without extremes temporal adj. relating to time temporize v. to act evasively in order to gain time tenable adj. able to maintained or defended tendentious adj. having a bias; favoring a cause (usually in print) tender v. to offer formally; n. a legal tender; something, esp. money, offered in payment tentative adj. experimental; not sure tenuous adj. weak; thin tenure n. holding or possession of an office or property; guaranteed permanent emplyment, esp. as a teacher tepid adj. moderately warm; lacking force or enthusiasim terse adj. without unnecessary words; succinct testy adj. irritable; touchy theology n. the study of the nature of God and religious truth thespian adj. relating to drama; n. an actor threadbare adj. old and worn out throe n. a spasm of pain; a strong yearning

tightfisted adj. stingy; miserly till v. to prepare the soil for planting timbre n. the distinguishing quality of a sound timorous adj. full of fear toady n. a person who flatters others for self-serving reasons; a sycophant toddle v. to walk short, unsteady steps, like a child tome n. a large, orten scholarly book torpid adj. inactive; sluggish; dormant torrent n. a swift-flowing stream; an uncontrolled outpouring torrid adj. parched with heat; ardent or passionate tortuous adj. winding, twisted toxic adj. poisonous; dangerous tract n. an area of land or water; a brief written work, usu. on a religious o r political topic tractable adj. easily managed or controlled traction the ability (as of a tire or wheel) to stay on a surface without sliding; the act of pulling (esp. as a medical treatment) transcend v. to exceed; to go beyond or above the limits transfix v. to pierce, as with a pointed weapon; to render motionless, as with fear transient adj. passing with time; remaining only briefly transparent adj. obvious; undisguised trauma n. serious physical or emotional injury travail n. painfully difficult work; pain or suffering from mental or physical h ardship traverse v. to travel over or through travesty n. an imitation that makes a serious thing seem ridiculous treatise n. a formal piece of writing, usually long, on a particular subj ect trek v. to travel or migrate, esp. slowly or with great difficulty trenchant adj. keen and forceful; caustic trepidation n. strong fear or dread marked by trembling or hesitancy tribulation n. great misery or distress trifle n. something that lacks significance or worth trite adj. worn out, used too often trivial adj. of little worth or importance troupe n. a group of touring actors, singers, or performers trove n. a collection of valuable items truckle v. to submit in a subservient manner to a superior; fawn truculent adj. inclined to fight; expressing violence or hostility truncate v. to cut short tumult n. a great commotion or uproar turbid adj. cloudy, muddy; in a state of turmoil turbulence n. commotion or wild disorder turgid adj. swollen, as from fluid; excessively ornate or complex in style turmoil n. extreme confusion; uproar turpitude n. immoral behavior tyranny n. arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of author ity ubiquitous adj. present everywhere ulterior adj. lying beyond what is evident, revealed, or claimed ultimatum n. a final demand or statement of terms umbrage n. offense; resentment uncanny adj, strangely unsettling, as if of supernatural origin unconscionable adj. beyond reason; not restrained by conscience uncouth adj. uncultured; crude unctuous adj. oily; showing insincere earnestness undermine v. to weaken underscore v. to emphasive undulate v. to move in a wave-like motion

unfledged adj. not yet grown; immature; undeveloped unkempt adj. sloppy; messy; unclean unpretentious adj. modest; not showy unruly adj. difficult to control; disobedient unseemly adj. not decent or proper unwieldy adj. hard to handle or manage, esp. because of size or weight upbraid v. to criticize sharply, esp. by a figure of authority uproarious adj. extremely funny upshot n. the decisive or final result urban adj. relating to the city urbane adj. sophisticated usurp v. to take over by force (e.g., property or rights) without legal author ity utilitarian adj. stressing practical use over other values utopia n. an ideally perfect place vacillate v. to swing back and forth vacuous adj. lacking substance or intelligence vagary n. an erratic notion or action vagrant n. a person who wanders from place to place, esp. one who lives on the s treets and consitutes a public nuisance vain adj. not producing the desired outcome; worthless; proud or conceited valedictory n. a farewell speech valiant adj. courageous, brave, as in battle valid adj. based on truth or fact; having legal force valor n. marked courage or bravery vanguard adj. the leading position in army or fleet; the leading position in a movement or trend vantage n. a position that gives a wide view vapid adj. lacking interest, animation or flavor variegated adj. distinctly marked with different colors; diverse veer v. to change direction vehement adj. forceful; furious venal adj. capable of being bribed or corrupted vendetta n. a bitter feud or quarrel; fight veneer n. an attractive, ultimately misleading outward show; thin layer venerable adj. worthy of honor and respect by reason of dignity, age, etc. venerate v. to look upon with respect and honor venomous adj. malignant; spiteful; secreting poison venture v. to take a risk; to dare; to dare to go venturesome adj. adventurous, risky, daring venue n. the location where something takes place, esp. a trial verbatim adj. word for word verbose adj. wordy verisimilitude n. resemblance to the truth veritable adj. being truly named; real or genuine verity n. a widely-accepted truth vernacular n. informal speech; native language versatile adj. competent in many things vertiginous adj. causing dizziness, as from spinning or heights vestige n. a trace of something that once existed but has disappeared vex v. to disturb; to distress viable adj. able to live; capable of success vicarious adj. felt as if one were taking part in the experiences of anoth er vie v. to compete vigilant adj. alert and watchful, esp. for what is dangerous vignette n. a small design or portrait; a brief scene (as from a movie) o r literary sketch vigorous adj. energetic vindicate v. to clear of blame with supporting arguments or proof

vindictive adj. seeking revenge; marked by a desire to hurt virtuoso n. one with great skill, esp. in music or the arts virulent adj. extremely infectious or harmful; bitterly hostile visceral adj. instinctive; relating to the internal organs viscous adj. resistant to flow; thick (of a liquid) vitiate v. to make faulty or impure; to spoil vituperative adj. harshly critical vivacious adj. full of animation vocation n. a regular occupation, esp. one for which a person is particul arly suited vociferous adj. loud and vehement vogue n. prevailing fashion volatile adj. tending to vary widely; unstable; quickly evaporating volition n. a conscious choice or decision voluble adj. talkative voracious adj. devouring; extremely hungry vulgar adj. lacking refinement or taste; crude waggish adj. mischievous; playful waif n. a person without home or friends wallow v. to roll about lazily, in or as if in water, snow or mud; to revel wane v. to decrease; lessen warp v. to distort, as a twist or bend warrant v. to justify or deserve warren n. an enclosed space in which rabbits breed or are numerous watershed n. a critical point that marks a division waver v. to be uncertain of something; to sway wax v. to become larger wayward adj. stubbornly going against what is expected or required in order to s atisfy one's own desires weather v. to survive welter n. a confused mass or jumble whet v. to sharpen; to make keen wield v. to handle; to exert wily adj. full of cunning windfall n. unexpected good fortune winsome adj. charming, esp. in a childlike or innocent way wizened adj. wrinkled from aging woe n. deep distress or misery; misfortune wreak v. to inflict; to cause (something bad) wry adj. dryly humorous, with a touch of irony xenophobia n. fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners yelp n. a sharp cry expressing pain yen n. a strong longing or desire zeal n. intense passion or enthusiasm zeitgeist n. the trend or spirit of the times zenith n. maximum; the highest point zephyr n. a gentle, soft breeze zest n. hearty enjoyment; flavor or interest