Abase

lower, humiliate

Abash

humiliate, embarrass

Abdicate

give up power or position

Aberration

different from normal or usual

Abettor

encourager

Abeyance

postponement, temporary suspension

Abhor

detest, loathe

Abjure

renounce, to formally reject or abandon

Ablution

cleansing, washing

Abnegation

repudiation, self-sacrifice

Abominate

to hate

Abortive

unsuccessful, interruptive while incomplete

Abrade

to rub off a surface

Abrogate

cancel, to abolish by authority

Absolve

acquit, to forgive or free from blame

Abstemious

Characterized by self denial or abstinence

Abstruse

difficult to comprehend

Abut

touch, border on

Abysmal

deficient, sub par

Accede

yield, express approval, agree to

Acclimate

accustom oneself to a climate

Acclivity

ascent, incline

Accolade

applause, praise

Accost

to approach and speak to someone

Accouter (British = accouter)

equip

Accretion

grow in size or increase in amount

Acerbity

bitterness of speech or temper

Acetic

related to vinegar

Acidulous

sour in taste or manner

Acme

summit, highest point

Acquiesce

to agree, comply passively

Acquiescence

Passive consent

Acquittal

release from blame (as by a court)

Acrid

harsh, bitter, pungent, caustic

Acrimonious

caustic, bitter

Actuarial

calculating

Actuate

induce, start

Acuity

sharpness

Acumen

sharpness of insight

Adamant

insistent, uncompromising, unyielding

Addiction

compulsive, habitual need

Addle

to make inefficient or unable to think

Adduce

offer as example

Adjunct

addition, something added, attached, or joined

Adjuration

solemn urging

Adjure

to request solemnly

Admonish

warn gently, caution, or reprimand

Admonition

genteelly point out mistake

Adroit

skillful, accomplished, highly competent

Adulation

applause, high praise

Advent

arrival

Adventitious

accidental

Aegis

that which protects

Affect

influence

Affray

public brawl

Agape

openmouthed, wonder

Aggrandize

exaggerate, to make larger or greater in power

Aghast

horrified

Agility

nimbleness

Agitation

excitement, uneasiness

Alacrity

swiftness, speed, cheerful willingness, eagerness

Alimentary

supplying nourishment

Allay

to reassure; to lessen, ease, or soothe

Allege

assert without proof

Allegory

fable, symbolic representation

Alliteration

repetition of the same sound

Allude

refer to indirectly

Allure

appeal, attract

Allusion

indirect reference

Alluvial

soil deposits left by rivers

Amalgamate

to mix or join together to become one

Amazon

female warrior

Ambrosia

food of the Greek gods that provided immortal youth &

beauty, anything sweet and pleasing

Amenable

agreeable

Amiss

wrong, out of place

Amity

Friendship

Amorous

strongly attracted to love; showing love

Amorphous

shapeless

Amortize

to diminish by installment payments

Amphibian

creature that lives on land and water

Amphitheater
amphitheatre)

(British

oval-shaped theater

Ample

enough, specious, abundant

Amplify

enlarge, increase, intensify

Amuck

murderous frenzy

Anachronism

anything occurring or existing out of its proper time

Anarchist

terrorist

Anathema

curse, ban

Ancillary

supplementary, subsidiary, subordinate

Andirons

metal supports in a fireplace

Angular

Sharp-cornered or sharp angled

Animadversion

critical remark

Animus

hate

Annals

historical records

Anneal

to gradually heat and cool in order to soften, reduce

brittleness

Annuity

an annual payment or income

Annul

cancel, nullify

Anodyne

pain soothing

Anoint

consecrate, to apply oil, especially as a sacred rite

Anomaly

deviation from the rule, irregularity

Anonymity

state of being anonymous, having no name

Antecede

to precede

Antediluvian

ancient, obsolete, pre historic

Anthropoid

manlike

Anthropomorphous

Nonhuman having or resembling human form or quality

Antithesis

direct opposite

Apathetic

unconcerned, indifferent

Aphasia

inability to speak or use words

Aphorism

maxim, old saying

Apiary

A place where bees are kept

Aplomb

poise, confidence

Apocalyptic

ominous, doomed

Apocryphal

a doubtful authenticity, not genuine, fictional

Apogee

the climax

Apoplexy

stroke

Apostate

one who abandons one's faith

Apothecary

One who keeps drugs for sale and puts up prescriptions

Apothegm

a short saying

Apotheosis

Deification, glorification

Appall (British = appall)

horrify

Apparition

phantom

Appellation

title, name

Apposite

apt

Appraise

assess, evaluate the value

Approbation

praise, official approval

Appurtenances

subordinate possessions

Apropos

Appropriate

Aquiline

like an eagle, bent, booked, curved

Arable

suitable for cultivation

Arbiter

judge

Arcade

a roofed passage between shops

Archaeology

the study of ancient cultures by looking for and

examining their buildings, tools

Archaic

Antiquated, from an earlier time

Archetype

original model

Archipelago

group of islands

Ardor (British = ardor)

great emotion or passion

Argot

slang

Aria

operatic song

Aromatic

fragrant

Arraign

indict, to call to court to answer a charge

Arrant

notoriously bad

Array

arrangement

Arrogate

seize without right, to demand or claim arrogantly

Arroyo

gully

Artifact (British = artifact)

an object made by human, of historical interest

Artifice

trick

Artisan

a skilled handicraftsman

Ascendancy

powerful state

Asceticism

doctrine of self-denial

Ascribe

to attribute

Aseptic

sterile

Ashen

resembling ashes, or deathly pale

Asinine

stupid

Askance

to view with suspicion, scornfully

Askew

crooked, tilted

Asperity

roughness of temper

Aspersion

slander, false rumor, damaging report

Assail

attack

Assay

to analyze or estimate

Assent

to express agreement

Assessment

estimation

Assiduous

hard-working, diligent, persistent

Assuage

lessen (pain), to make less severe, ease

Astringent

causing contraction, severe, harsh

Astronomical

enormously large or extensive

Asunder

apart, into different parts

Atelier

workshop

Athwart

across, opposition

Atone

make amends for a wrong

Audit

formal examination of final records

Augury

prophecy or prediction of events

August

noble, dignified, awe-inspiring, venerable

Aureole

sun's corona, halo

Aurora

pertaining to the aurora borealis

Auscultation

act of listening to the heart or lungs to discover

abnormalities

Austerity

quality of being self disciplined

Authoritarian

dictator, extremely strict, bossy

Autocrat

dictator or a high ranking government officer

Aver

to declare to be true

Aversion

intense dislike

Aviary

cage where birds are kept

Avow

declare

Avuncular

like an uncle

Awry

crooked, askew, amiss

Axiom

self-evident truth, premise, postulate

Azure

sky blue

Bacchanal

orgy, drunkenly festive

Badger

to pester

Badinage

banter, teasing conversation

Baffle

to frustrate or unable to understand

Bagatelle

nonentity, trifle

Baleful

hostile, malignant, harmful with evil intentions

Balk

hesitate, refuse, shirk, prevent

Banal

trite, overly common

Bandanna

large, bright-colored handkerchief

Bandy

discuss lightly

Bane

poison, nuisance, something causing ruin

Banter

to tease playfully and in good humor

Barb

sharp projection from fishhook

Bard

poet

Baroque

ornate

Barrage

a lot of questions or criticism

Barter

to give in exchange rather than paying money

Bask

take pleasure in, sun

Bassoon

reed instrument of the woodwind family

Bastion

fort, fortification, stronghold

Bate

let down, restrain

Bauble

A trinket, trifle

Bawdy

indecent, obscene

Beatific

supremely happy, angelic, saintly

Beatitude

state of bliss

Bedizen

dress with vulgar finery

Bedraggle

wet thoroughly

Befuddle

confuse thoroughly

Begrudge

resent, envy

Beguile

deceive, seduce, mislead

Behemoth

monster, huge creature

Beholden

in debt

Behoove

to be fit, to be right

Beleaguer

besiege, to harass, plague

Benighted

UN enlightened

Benignant

Benevolent in feeling, character

Benison

Blessing

Berate

to scold harshly

Bereavement

state of being deprived of something valuable or

beloved

Bereft

deprived of

Beset

harass, surround

Besmirch

slander, sully

Bestial

beast-like, brutal

Bestow

to give as a gift, grant

Bte noire

aversion

Betrothal

Engagement to marry

Bevy

group

Bibulous

Fond of drinking

Bicameral

having two legislative branches

Bicker

quarrel, to have a petty argument

Bifurcated

divided into two branches, forked

Bigotry

discrimination, prejudice

Bilious

ill-tempered

Bilk

swindle, cheat, defraud

Bivouac

encampment

Blanch

bleach, whiten, to take the color out

Blandish

to coax with flattering, grovel

Blas

bored with life

Blasphemous

profane, impious

Blatant

glaring, obvious, showy

Blazon

print or decorate something in a very noticeable way

Blight

decay, afflict, destroy

Blithe

Joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought

Bludgeon

to hit someone several times with a heavy object

Blurt

to say something suddenly and without thinking,

especially when you are excited or nervous

Bode

portend

Bogus

forged, false

Bolster

to support or make something strong

Bombast

pompous speech

Boorish

Rude

Bouillon

clear beef soup

Bountiful

abundant, plentiful

Bourgeois

middle class

Bowdlerize

to expurgate in editing

Brackish

salty

Braggadocio

someone who boasts

Brazen

bold, shameless, impudent

Brazier

an open pan or basin for holding live coals

Breach

breaking of a rule, agreement, or law

Brindled

tawny or grayish with streaks or spots

Brittle

Fragile

broach

bring up a topic of conversation

Brocade

rich, gaudy fabric

Brooch

a piece of jewelry for women which is fastened onto

clothes with a pin

brusque

curt, rough and abrupt in manner

Bucolic

rustic

Buffoonery

coarse jokes, etc

Bugaboo

bugbear, object of baseless terror

bulwark

fortification

Bumptious

full of offensive self-conceit

Bungle

to do something wrong in a very careless or stupid way

burgeon

sprout or flourish

Burlesque

farce

burly

husky, brawny

Burnish

to make brilliant or shining

Buskin

thick-soled half boot worn by actors of Greek tragedy

Buxom

plump, vigorous, jolly

Cabal

plot, a secret group seeking to overturn something

Cache

hiding place

cadaver

corpse, dead body

Cadaverous

haggard

cajole

encourage, coax, flatter

Callow

inexperienced

calumny

Slander, false and malicious accusation

Cameo

when someone famous appears for a short time in a

film or play

canard

hoax, a lie

candor (british

candour) = frankness, honesty of expression

Canine

pertaining to dogs

Canker

any ulcerous sore, any evil

Canny

clever and able to think quickly, especially about money

or business

Canto

part of an extended poem

canvass

survey, examine thoroughly

Caparison

showy harnesser, ornamentation for a horse

Caprice

A whim

capricious

fickle, impulsive, whimsical, without much thought

Captious

fond of finding fault in others

Carafe

bottle

Cardinal

chief

careen

swerve, to lean on one side

Caricature

cartoon, exaggerated portrait

Carillon

a set of bells capable of being played

Carmine

rich red

Carnal

of the flesh, sensual

Carnivorous

meat-eating

Carousal

to drink deeply and in boisterous or jovial manner

Carp

to find faults, complain constantly

Carrion

decaying flesh

Carte blanche

complete freedom to do what you want

Caryatid

sculptured column of a female figure

Cascade

small waterfall

Caste

one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society

castigate

criticize, punish, chastise

Casuistry

clever argument to trick people

cataclysm

catastrophe, disaster

Catalyst

something that causes change without being changed

Catapult

slingshot

Catechism

book for religious instruction

Cathartic

purgative, purifying, cleansing

Catholic

universal, worldly

Caucus

a small group within an organization or a meeting of

such a group

Cauterize

(British

= to sear

cauterize)
Cavalcade

a procession or sequence

Cavil

quibble, raise trivial objections

Cede

transfer ownership,
something

Celerity

quick moving or acting

Censor

to prohibit publication by law

Censorious

condemning speech, severely critical

Centaur

mythical figure, half man and half horse

Centripetal

tending toward the center

Cerebration

thought

Cession

Surrender, as of possessions or rights

Chafe

abrade

Chaff

worthless products of an endeavor

Chagrin

shame, embarrassment, humiliation

Chalice

goblet, cup

Champ

to chew noisily

Chaotic

in utter disorder

Chary

cautious, watchful, extremely shy

Chasm

a long, deep, narrow hole in rock or ice

Chaste

pure, virgin

Chasten

castigate

Chastise

to criticize or punish someone

Chattel

piece of personal property

Chauvinist

a man who thinks men are better than women

Cherubic

sweet, innocent

Chicanery

trickery, fraud, deception

Chide

scold, express disapproval

Chimerical

imaginary, impossible

Chiropodist

one who treats disorders of the feet

Chivalrous

courteous to ladies

Choleric

easily angered, short-tempered

Churlish

rude, ungracious

Ciliated

having minute hairs, one-celled animal

Cipher

zero

Circlet

small ring, band

Circumlocution

roundabout expression

to

surrender

possession

of

Circumscribe

to confine within bounds

Circumspect

cautious, wary

Circumvent

evade, avoid, to go around

Citadel

fortress or stronghold

Clairvoyant

who can see the future, having ESP

Clamor (British = clamor)

noisy outcry

Clangor (British = clangor)

loud, resounding noise

Clarion

shrill, trumpet like sound

Clavicle

collarbone

Cleave

to split or separate, to stick, adhere

Cleft

split

Clemency

forgiveness, merciful leniency

Climactic

relating to the highest point

Clime

region, climate

Clique

a small group

Cloister

refuge, to confine, seclude

Cloven

split

Coadjutor

assistant, colleague

Coalesce

combine, to grow together

Cockade

decoration worn on hat

Coddle

to pamper, baby, treat indulgently

Codicil

supplement to a will

Coeval

living at the same time as contemporary

Cog

a spoke in a wheel, a small and unimportant person

Cogent

well-put, convincing, logically forceful

Cogitate

ponder

Cognate

from the same source, related

Cognizant

aware

Cognomen

family name, any name, nickname

Cohere

to stick together

Cohesion

consistency

Cohort

an associate

Colander

utensil with perforated bottom used for straining

Collage

a picture made by sticking small pieces of paper or

other materials

Collate

to sort or put in proper order

Collier

worker in coal mine, ship carrying coal

Colloquy

conference

Collusion

conspiracy, collaboration, complicity

Colossal

huge

Comely

a woman who is attractive in appearance

Comestible

something fit to be eaten

Comeuppance

rebuke, one's deserved fate or punishment

Comity

courteousness, civility

Commodious

spacious

Complaisant

Agreeable, friendly

Complement

to make complete, perfect

Complicity

guilt by association, knowing partnership in wrong

doing

Comport

to conduct oneself

Composure

Calmness of appearance

Compress

to reduce, squeeze

Compunction

remorse, regret

Conch

spiral shell

Conclave

private meeting

Concordat

Agreement

Concur

to agree

Condescend

patronize, talk down to, to treat someone as though

you are better

Condign

adequate, deservedly severe

Condiment

seasoning

Condolence

sympathy for the family or friends of a person who has

recently died

Conflagration

large fire, big, destructive fire

Confluence

flowing together, meeting of two streams, meeting

place

Confound

bewilder, to baffle, perplex

Congeal

solidify, as a liquid freezing, to become thick or solid

Coniferous

bearing cones

Conjecture

hypothesis, speculation, prediction

Conjure

summon, to evoke a spirit, cast a spell

Connivance

pretence of ignorance of something wrong, assistance

or permission to offend

Connubial

related to marriage or matrimony

Consanguinity

related by blood, kinship

Consecrate

make holy, dedicate to a goal, to declare sacred

Consequential

important

Consort

spouse

Constituent

electorate, component, part

Constraint

something that limits what you can do

Construe

interpret or to explain

Contagion

infectious agent

Continence

self-control, self-restraint

Contingent

conditional

Contort

twist

Contrite

apologetic, deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong

Controvert

dispute

Contumacious

rebellious

Contusion

A bruise

Conundrum

enigma, puzzle or problem with no solution, riddle

Convivial

sociable, festive, fond of eating, drinking, and people

Convoke

convene, summon, to call together

Coquette

woman who flirts

Cordon

bond, chain

Cormorant

greedy, rapacious bird

Cornice

a decorative border around the walls of a room close to

the ceiling

Corollary

consequence

Corpulent

fat

Correlation

mutual relationship, association

Corroborate

to confirm, verify

Corrugate

to wrinkle or draw into folds

Corsair

pirate ship

Cortege

procession

Coruscate

sparkle

Coterie

small group, group of people with a common interest or

purpose

Countenance

facial expression, to favor, support

Covenant

agreement, pact

Covetous

very desirous of something, avaricious, greedy

Cower

showing fear, to cringe in fear

Coy

shy, modest

Cozen

cheat, hoodwink, swindle

Crabbed

sour, peevish

Crass

crude, unrefined

Craven

cowardly

Credence

Belief, acceptance of something as true or real

Credo

a set of beliefs

Creed

Belief or principle

Crepuscular

pertaining to twilight

Crestfallen

dejected

Crevice

crack

Cringe

cower, to shrink in fear

Crone

hag

Crotchet

a fancy, a whim, an eccentricity

Cruet

small bottle

Cuisine

cookery, style of cooking

Cul-de-sac

a blind alley, a trap

Cull

pick out, select

Culmination

climax, final stage

Culpable

blameworthy, guilty, responsible for wrong

Culvert

drain

Cupidity

greed

Curator

in charge of a library or museum

Curmudgeon

boor, cranky person

Curry

seek favor by flattery

Cynosure

celebrity

Dally

procrastinate, to act playfully or waste time

Dank

damp

Dappled

spotted

Dastard

A base coward

Daub

to paint carelessly, to smear

Daunt

to frighten, subdue

Dauntless

courageous

Dawdle

to waste time by trifling, to move slowly

Deadpan

expressionless

Debase

to degrade, or lower in quality or stature

Debauch

to corrupt, seduce from virtue or duty

Debenture

bond issued to secure a loan

Debonair

sophisticated, affable

Debutante

a girl debuting into society

Decadence

deterioration, decay (e.g. moral or cultural)

Decant

pour

Decapitate

kill by beheading

Deciduous

shedding leaves, short-lived, temporary

Declivity

a place that declines or slopes downwards

Dcollet

having a low-necked dress

Decorous

seemly, proper, tasteful, socially correct

Decrepit

Enfeebled, as by old age or some chronic infirmity

Decrepitude

enfeeblement

Decry

castigate, to belittle, openly condemn

Deducible

derived by reasoning

Defalcate

to misuse money put in trust

Defamation

slander

Defection

desertion

Deference

courteously yielding to another, respect, honor

Defile

pollute, to make unclean or dishonor

Deflect

turn aside

Defray

pay

Deft

skillful, dexterous

Defunct

extinct, no longer existing, dead

Deify

to regard as a god

Deign

condescend

Deleterious

harmful, destructive, detrimental

Deliquescent

capable of absorbing moisture from air and becoming

liquid

Delirium

mental confusion, ecstasy

Deluge

a flood, to submerge, overwhelm

Delusion

Mistaken conviction

Delusive

deceptive, raising vain hopes

Delve

dig, explore (of ideas)

Demagogue

an unprincipled politician, leader

Demean

to degrade, humiliate, humble

Demeanor
demeanor)

(British

behavior

Demented

deranged

Demesne

domain

Demolition

destruction

Demoniacal

related to evil spirits, devilish

Demur

take exception, to express doubts or objections

Demure

sedate, reserved

Denigrate

defame, to slur or blacken someone's reputation

Denizen

dweller

Denotation

the exact literary meaning of a word, designation,

definition

Denouement

resolution

Depilate

remove hair

Depose

testify, to remove from a high position

Deposition

testimony

Depravity

immorality, sinfulness

Deprecate

belittle, disparage

Depreciate

to lessen the worth of

Depredation

preying on, plunder

Deranged

insane, delirious, maniacal

Derelict

negligent

Deride

to ridicule, to mock, make fun of

Derision

Ridicule

Derivative

copied or adapted, not original

Dermatologist

one who studies the skin and its diseases

Descant

discuss fully

Descry

to discern, to discover or reveal

Desecrate

profane, to abuse something sacred

Desiccate

dehydrate, to dry completely

Desideratum

that which is desired

Desolate

forsaken

Despoil

to bereave, rob, plunder, strip of possessions

Despondent

depressed, feeling discouraged and dejected

Despotism

any severe and strict rule

Desuetude

disuse

Desultory

without direction
unmethodical

Detergent

cleansing agent

Determinate

definitely limited or fixed, conclusive

Detonation

explosion

Devolve

to roll down, to hand down

Dexterous

skillful, adroit

Diadem

crown

in

life,

at

random,

rambling,

Dialectic

pertaining to debate

Diatribe

long denunciation, bitter verbal attack

Dichotomy

a division into two parts

Didactic

instructional

Diffidence

shyness, lack of confidence

Dilettante

amateur, dabbler

Diminution

Reduction

Dint

means, effort

Dipsomaniac

a person having an uncontrollable desire for alcohol,

inebriate

Dirge

lament with music, funeral hymn

Disabuse

correct, to free from a misconception

Disapprobation

rejection, disapproval

Disavowal

Denial

Disburse

pay out

Discomfit

to put to confusion, discomfort

Disconcert

confuse

Disconsolate

inconsolable, unable to be consoled, extremely sad

Discordant

harsh-sounding, badly out of tune

Discrete

separate, distinct

Discretion

prudence

Discursive

rambling, wandering from topic to topic

Disdain

to regard with scorn and contempt

Dishabille

in a state of undress

Dishearten

discourage, lose spirit

Dishevel

muss

Disingenuous

deceptive, sly and crafty

Disinter

unearth

Disinterested

Impartial

Disjointed

disconnected, incoherent, being separated

Dismember

cut into small parts

Disparage

belittle, speak disrespectfully about

Disparate

various, dissimilar, different in kind

Disparity

difference, contrast, dissimilarity

Dispirit

discourage, to dishearten, make dejected

Disport

amuse

Disputatious

fond of arguing

Disquisition

elaborate treatise

Dissimulate

to disguise

Dissipate

scatter

Dissolute

profligate, immoral

Dissonance

Discord

Dissuasion

advise against

Distaff

the female branch of a family

Distend

swell, inflate, bloat

Distrait

preoccupied, absent-minded

Distraught

distressed, very worried

Divergent

Tending in different directions

Divination

the forecast of future events or discovery of what is lost

or hidden

Docile

domesticated, trained, tame

Docket

a list of cases to be dealt with

Doddering

shaky, infirm from old age

Doff

take off

Doggerel

poor verse

Dolorous

gloomy

Dolt

a stupid person

Domineer

to rule over something in a tyrannical way

Dorsal

belonging to the back side, posterior, tail

Dotage

senility, mental decline

Doughty

brave, dauntless

Dour

sullen and gloomy, stern and severe

Douse

to plunge into water, to extinguish

Dowdy

slovenly, untidy

Dregs

residue, riffraff

Droll

amusing in a wry

Drone

speak in a monotonic voice

Dross

waste matter, worthless impurities

Drudgery

Hard and constant work in any dull occupation

Duenna

governess

Dulcet

melodious, pleasant sounding

Duplicity

deceit, treachery, dishonesty, double-dealing

Durance

confinement

Duress

coercion, imprisonment

Dwindle

to diminish or become less

Dyspeptic

suffering from indigestion, gloomy and irritable

Earthy

crude

Ebb

recede, to fade away

Ebullient

exuberant, full of enthusiasm and high spirits

Ecclesiastical

churchly

clat

brilliance

Eclectic

joyful

Eclipse

the obstruction of Sun by moon, or of moon by earth

Edify

instruct morally and spiritually

Educe

draw forth, evoke

Eerie

weird

Efface

to obliterate

Effete

worn out

Efflorescent

opening in flower

Effluvium

noxious smells

Effrontery

insolence

Effulgent

brilliant

Effusion

pouring forth

Effusive

expressing emotion without restraint

Elation

exhilaration, joy

Elegiac

sad

Elicit

provoke

Eloquence

fluent and effective speech

Elucidate

make clear, clarify

Elusory

tending to deceive expectations

Elysian

relating to paradise, blissful

Emaciated

underfed, gaunt

Emanate

to express a feeling or quality through the way one

looks

Emblazon

imprint, brand

Embroil

involve, cause to fall into disorder

Embryonic

rudimentary

Emend

correct

Emendation

corrections of errors

Emeritus

retired, but retaining title

Emetic

a medicine that causes vomiting

Emollient

cream for softening, making supple

Emolument

salary or fees for a job, remuneration, pay scale

Empyreal

celestial, fiery

Enamored
enamored)

(British

charmed, captivated

Enclave

area enclosed within another region

Encomiastic

praising, eulogistic

Encomium

warm praise

Encumber

burden, to hinder, restrict motion

Endemic

Peculiar to some specified country or people

Enervate

weaken, sap strength from

Engender

generate, to produce

Engross

captivate

Enigmatic

puzzling, inexplicable

Enjoin

urge, order, command

Ennui

boredom, lack of interest and energy

Ensconce

to hide safely, settle comfortably

Enthrall (British = enthrall)

mesmerize, to captivate, enchant

Entity

being, existence

Entreat

plead, beg

Enunciate

verbalize, articulate

Epicure

gourmet, person with refined taste in food and wine

Epigram

saying, short, witty saying or poem

Epilogue

the close of a narrative or poem

Epithet

name, appellation, phrase

Epitome

A simplified representation

Epoch

era

Equestrian

one who rides on horseback

Equine

pertaining to horses

Equity

impartiality, justice

Equivocal

Ambiguous, open to two interpretations

Erode

wear away, to diminish

Errant

wandering, mistaken

Escapade

adventure

Eschew

avoid, to abstain from

Espouse

to support or advocate

Estranged

alienated, separated

Eulogy

high praise

Euthanasia

mercy-killing

Evanescent

fleeting, very brief, short-lived

Evince

attest, demonstrate, to show clearly

Eviscerate

disembowel

Ex officio

by virtue of position

Exacerbate

worsen

Exasperate

irritate, vex

Excision

removal

Excoriate

to denounce

Exculpate

to clear of blame or fault

Execrable

very bad, abominable, utterly detestable

Exegesis

interpretation

Exemplary

outstanding, serving as an example

Exhort

strongly urge

Exhume

uncover, to remove from a grave

Exigency

urgency

Exiguous

scanty

Exonerate

free from blame

Exorcise

to expel evil spirits

Exotic

Foreign, romantic

Expatiate

to discuss in detail, elaborate

Expatriate

who does not live in one's own country

Expedient

advantageous, convenient, efficient

Expiate

atone, make amends for

Expletive

oath

Expunge

erase, eliminate completely

Expurgate

to purify by removing obscenities

Extant

existing

Extemporaneous

unrehearsed

Extenuate

to diminish the gravity or importance of

Extirpate

seek out and destroy

Extol

praise highly

Extraneous

not essential, unnecessary

Extricate

Disentangle, free

Extrinsic

not inherent or essential, coming from without

Extrovert

an outgoing person

Extrude

force out

Exuberant

joyous, happy

Exude

emit, ooze

Exult

rejoice

Fabricate

construct

Facet

aspect

Facetious

joking, sarcastic, witty

Facile

very easy

Factious

causing disagreement

Factitious

artificial

Factotum

handyman

Fallible

Capable of erring

Fallow

unproductive, unplowed

Fastidious

meticulous, careful with details

Fathom

understand, to measure the depth of

Fatuous

inane, stupid

Faux pas

false step, mistake

Fealty

Loyalty

Febrile

feverish, delirious

Fecund

fertile, fruitful, productive

Feign

pretend, give a false impression

Felicitous

very appropriate, pertinent

Fell

to chop, cut down

Ferment

turmoil

Ferret

rummage through

Fervid

fervent, passionate

Fervor (British = fervor)

intensity

Fester

decay

Festive

joyous

Fete

to honor

Fetid

foul-smelling, putrid, stinking

Fetter

to restrain, to bind

Fiat

decree

Fickle

always changing one's mind

Fidelity

Loyalty

Filch

steal something of little value

Filial

of a son or daughter

Finicky

meticulous, fussy

Firebrand

agitator

Fissure

a crack or break

Fitful

irregular

Flaccid

limp, flabby, weak

Flagellate

whip

Flagrant

outrageous, shameless

Flail

whip

Flair

a natural aptitude

Flamboyant

Characterized by extravagance

Flaunt

to show off

Fledgling

just beginning, struggling

Flippant

having a light, pert, trifling disposition

Flora

plants

Florid

ruddy, with too much decoration

Flout

to show disregard for the law or rules

Fluster

confuse

Foible

weakness, minor fault

Foist

palm off a fake

Foment

instigate

Foray

raid

Forbearance

Patient endurance or toleration of offenses

Forte

A strong point

Fortitude

patience, courage

Fortuitous

happening by luck, fortunate

Foster

encourage

Fracas

noisy fight

Fractious

wayward, unruly, disorderly

Fraudulent

Counterfeit

Fraught

filled

Frenetic

harried, neurotic

Frenzied

feverishly fast, hectic

Fret

worry

Fritter

squander

Frivolity

playfulness

Frond

bending tree

Fruition

realization, completion

Fulminate

denounce, menace

Fulsome

excessive, insincere

Funereal

mournful, appropriate to a funeral

Furtive

stealthy

Fusion

union, coalition

Gainsay

to deny

Gall

bitterness, nerve

Galvanize

excite to action

Gambol

Playful leaping or frisking

Gamut

range

Gargantuan

large

Garner

gather

Garnish

decorate

Garrulous

talkative, loquacious, wordy

Gauche

awkward, crude

Gaunt

thin, emaciated

Genealogy

ancestry

Genesis

beginning

Genre

kind, category

Genuflect

kneel in reverence

Germinate

to begin to develop into an embryo or higher form

Ghastly

horrible

Gibe

heckle

Glean

gather

Glib

insincere manner

Glower

stare angrily

Gnome

dwarf-like being

Goad

encourage

Gorge

stuff, satiate

Gory

bloody

Gossamer

thin and flimsy

Gouge

overcharge, scoop out

Grapple

struggle

Grimace

expression of disgust

Grisly

gruesome

Grovel

crawl, obey

Guffaw

laughter

Guile

deceit, trickery

Gustatory

relevant to the sense of tasting

Gusto

Keen enjoyment

Guttural

throaty

Hackneyed

trite

Haggard

gaunt

Halcyon

serene

Hale

healthy

Hallow

to make holy

Hamper

obstruct

Hapless

unlucky

Harangue

a pompous speech

Harbinger

forerunner

Harbor (British = harbor)

give shelter, conceal

Harridan

hag or an ugly old woman

Harry

harass

Haughty

arrogant

Hedonism

the pursuit of pleasure in life

Heedless

careless

Hegira

a journey to a more pleasant place

Heinous

shocking, wicked

Hermetic

airtight, sealed

Heterogeneous

composed of unlike parts, different

Hew

to cut with an ax

Hiatus

interruption

Hibernal

wintry

Histrionic

overly dramatic

Hoary

white, old

Holocaust

widespread destruction

Homily

sermon

Hone

sharpen

Horde

group

Hortatory

inspiring good deeds

Hovel

shanty, cabin

Hoyden

tomboy, boisterous girl

Hubris

arrogance

Hummock

knoll, mound

Humus

soil

Hypothetical

theoretical, speculative

Ichthyology

study of fish

Idyllic

natural, picturesque

Ignominious

Shameful

Illimitable

limitless

Imbue

infuse, dye, wet

Immolate

sacrifice

Immune

Exempt, as from disease

Immure

build a wall around

Impair

injure

Impale

pierce

Impassive

calm, without feeling

Impeccable

faultless

Impecunious

indigent, having no money

Imperious

domineering

Impertinent

insolent, rude

Imperturbable

calm

Impervious

Impenetrable

Impetuous

quick to act without thinking

Impetus

stimulus, spark

Impinge

encroach, touch

Impious

not devout in religion

Implacable

doubtful, dubious

Implausible

unlikely, inconceivable

Impolitic

unwise

Imponderable

difficult to estimate

Importune

urgent request

Impregnable

totally safe from attack

Imprimatur

sanction

Improvident

lacking foresight or thrift

Imprudent

unwise

Impugn

criticize

Impunity

exemption from harm

Impute

charge

Inadvertent

unintentional

Inalienable

that which cannot be taken away

Inane

vacuous, stupid

Incandescent

brilliant

Incantation

chant

Incapacitate

disable

Incarcerate

to put in a jail

Incarnadine

blood-red in color

Incendiary

burning easily, flammable

Inception

the beginning

Inchoate

just begun

Incipient

beginning to exist

Incisive

keen, penetrating

Inclement

harsh

Incognito

disguised

Incommunicado

unable to communicate with others

Inconsequential

Valueless

Incontrovertible

Indisputable

Incriminate

accuse

Incubus

nightmare

Inculcate

instill, indoctrinate, to teach

Incumbent

obligatory, required

Incursion

raid

Indefatigable

never getting tired

Indenture

bound to another by contract

Indicative

suggestive, implying

Indict

charge with a crime

Indigenous

Native

Indigent

very poor

Indisputable

not disputed, unquestioned

Indolent

lazy

Indomitable

invincible, fearless

Indubitable

unquestionable

Ineffable

inexpressible

Ineluctable

inescapable

Inexorable

relentless, inflexible

Infallible

incapable of making a mistake

Infantile

childish, immature

Infernal

hellish

Infidel

nonbeliever

Infirmity

ailment, disease

Influx

inflow

Infraction

violation

Ingenuous

nave and unsophisticated

Ingrate

ungrateful person

Ingratiate

pleasing, flattering, endearing

Inimical

adverse, hostile, unfriendly

Inimitable

peerless

Iniquitous

unjust, wicked

Injurious

harmful

Innocuous

Harmless

Innovate

to invent, modernize

Innuendo

indirect and subtle criticism

Inopportune

untimely

Inordinate

excessive

Inscrutable

cannot be fully understood

Insensate

without feeling

Insinuate

to suggest, imply, say indirectly

Insipid

flat, dull, lacking flavor

Insolent

insulting

Insouciant

nonchalant

Insubordinate

disobedient

Insular

narrow-minded, isolated

Insuperable

insurmountable

Insurgent

rebellious

Insurrection

uprising, rebellion

Integrity

decency, honest, wholeness

Integument

a covering

Inter

bury

Interdict

prohibit

Interloper

intruder, meddler in others' affairs

Interminable

unending

Intermittent

starting and stopping

Internecine

mutually destructive

Interstice

a small space between things

Intransigent

uncompromising

Intrepid

fearless

Introspective

looking within oneself

Introvert

to turn within

Inundate

flood

Invective

verbal insult

Inveigh

to rail against, protest strongly

Inveigle

lure

Inveterate

habitual, chronic, long-standing

Invidious

incurring ill-will

Invoke

request assistance or protection

Iota

A small mark or part

Irascible

irritable

Iridescent

showing many colors

Irresolute

hesitant, uncertain

Irreverent

disrespectful

Itinerant

Wandering, unsettled

Jaded

spent, bored with one's situation

Jaundice

disease of yellowish discoloration of skin

Jejune

barren

Jettison

to throw overboard, abandon

Jingoism

extremely aggressive and militant patriotism

Jostle

push, brush against

Juggernaut

unstoppable force

Ken

range of comprehension

Kismet

fate

Knave

con man

Knead

massage

Knell

sound of a funeral bell

Lacerate

tear, cut

Lachrymose

tearful

Lackadaisical

Listless, idle

Lackey

servant

Lackluster
lackluster)

(British

dull, dreary, colorless

Laity

laymen

Lambent

softly radiant

Lampoon

satirize, to attack with satire

Languor

Lassitude of body or depression

Lapidary

relating to precious stones

Larceny

theft of property

Largess

generous donation

Latitude

freedom from narrow limitations

Laudable

Praiseworthy

Lave

wash

Lax

loose, careless

Lectern

reading desk

Legerdemain

trickery

Levity

Frivolity, humor

Lexicon

A dictionary

Libertine

one without moral restraint

Licentious

lewd, immoral

Limn

portray, describe

Limpid

transparent, clearly understood

Lionize

treat as a celebrity

Lissome (British = lissome)

agile, supple

Litany

list

Lithe

moving and bending with ease

Litigation

lawsuit

Litotes

understatement for emphasis

Loathe

abhor, hate

Loiter

dawdle, loaf

Loquacious

Talkative

Lout

goon

Lugubrious

sad, sorrowful

Lull

moment of calm

Lunar

related to the moon

Lupine

wolf-like

Lurid

glowing, shocking

Luscious

Rich, sweet, and delicious

Luxuriant

lush

Macabre

gruesome

Machination

plot or scheme

Maelstrom

whirlpool, agitated state of mind

Maim

injure

Malapropism

comical misuse of a word

Malcontent

one who is forever dissatisfied

Malediction

curse

Malefactor

evildoer, culprit

Malodorous

fetid, foul-smelling

Manacle

shackle

Manifold

multiple, diverse

Marauder

plunderer

Maritime

Situated on or near the sea

Martial

warlike, pertaining to the military

Martinet

strict disciplinarian

Masochist

one who enjoys pain

Masticate

chew

Matriarch

matron

Maudlin

weepy, sentimental

Maul

rough up

Mausoleum

tomb

Maverick

a person who resists adherence to a group

Mawkish

sickeningly sentimental

Mayhem

mutilation

Meander

to wander aimlessly without direction

Medley

mixture

Megalomania

mental state with delusions of wealth and power

Melee

riot

Mellifluous

sweet sounding

Mendacious

Untrue

Mendicant

beggar

Menial

humble, degrading

Mercurial

changeable, volatile, quick

Meretricious

Alluring by false or gaudy show

Metaphor

figure of speech comparing two different things

Mete

distribute

Mettle

courage, capacity for bravery

Miasma

toxin

Microcosm

the world on a small scale

Mien

appearance, demeanor

Migratory

Wandering from place to place with the seasons

Minatory

threatening

Minion

subordinate

Minutiae

trivia

Mire

marsh

Mirth

jollity, laughter

Miscegenation

intermarriage between races

Miscellany

mixture of items

Miscreant

one who behaves criminally

Mishap

Misfortune

Missive

letter or note

Mnemonic

related to memory

Modicum

a small amount

Modish

chic

Mollify

to calm or make less severe

Molt

to shed hair, skin periodically

Molten

melted

Monastic

related to monks

Monolithic

large and uniform

Monotony

A lack of variation

Moot

disputable, previously decided

Morbid

abnormally gloomy

Mordant

biting, sarcastic

Mores

moral standards, customs

Moribund

near death

Mortify

humiliate

Mote

speck, small particle

Motley

diverse, many colored

Mottled

spotted

Mountebank

charlatan

Muffle

stifle, quiet

Mulct

defraud

Multifarious

diverse, many-sided

Munificent

generous

Muse

ponder

Muster

to gather one's forces

Myriad

innumerable

Naivet

a lack of worldly wisdom

Nascent

incipient, coming into existence

Natal

related to birth

Necromancy

sorcery, black magic

Nemesis

implacable foe, often victorious opponent

Neologism

new word or expression

Neophyte

beginner

Nether

located under or below

Nettle

irritate

Niggardly

stingy

Nihilism

a belief in nothing, extreme skepticism

Noisome

harmful, stinking

Nomadic

moving from place to place

Non sequitur

an irrelevant conclusion

Noncommittal

neutral, circumspect

Nonentity

person of no significance

Nonplus

bring to a halt by confusion

Nubile

marriageable

Nugatory

useless, worthless

Nuptial

relating to marri

Oaf

awkward person

Obdurate

unyielding

Obeisance

homage, deference

Obelisk

tall column, monument

Obfuscate

bewilder, muddle, to confuse

Obituary

eulogy

Objurgate

to chide, scold

Oblation

offering, sacrifice

Oblique

indirect

Obliquity

perversity

Obliterate

destroy

Obloquy

slander, abusive language

Obsequious

fawning, servile, overly submissive

Obsequy

funeral ceremony

Obstinate

stubborn

Obstreperous

noisy, unruly, troublesome

Obtuse

stupid, dull

Occlude

block, to shut

Odious

despicable, hateful

Odoriferous

pleasant odor

Offal

inedible parts of a butchered animal

Offertory

church collection

Ogle

flirt

Omnivorous

eating everything

Onerous

burdensome

Onus

burden

Opalescent

iridescent, displaying colors

Opportunist

One who takes advantage of circumstances

Opprobrious

abusive, disgraceful

Opprobrium

disgrace

Opus

literary work of musical composition

Ordain

appoint

Orifice

a small opening

Orison

prayer

Ornithologist

scientist who studies birds

Orotund

pompously said

Ossify

harden

Ostensible

apparent, seeming

Ostentatious

pretentious, showy

Overt

open to view

Overweening

arrogant, forward

Pacifist

one who opposes all violence

Paean

a song of praise

Palaver

babble, nonsense

Paleontologist
paleontologist)

(British

one who studies fossils

Palette

board for mixing paints

Pall

to become dull or weary

Palliate

to make less serious, ease

Pallid

pale, sallow, lacking color or liveliness

Palpable

touchable, obvious, real

Palpitate

beat, throb

Paltry

scarce, pitifully small or worthless

Panache

flamboyance, flair

Pandemic

spread over a whole area or country

Pandemonium

din, commotion

Pander

cater to people's baser instincts

Panegyric

praise

Panoply

full suit of armor

Pantomime

mime

Papyrus

paper

Paradox

seemingly in contradiction

Paragon

model of excellence or perfection

Paramour

lover

Parapet

rampart, defense

Parasite

one who lives at another's expense

Pariah

outcast

Parley

conference, discussion

Paroxysm

outburst, convulsion

Parry

avert, ward off, reflect

Parsimonious

stingy

Partisan

supporter

Parvenu

newcomer, social climber

Pass

outmoded

Pastiche

imitation of another's style

Pastoral

rustic

Patent

the right to make or sell a new invention

Pathos

emotion, feeling of sadness

Patrician

aristocrat

Patricide

murder of one's own father

Patrimony

inheritance or heritage derived from one's father

Peccadillo

a minor fault

Peculate

embezzle, steal

Peculation

theft of money or goods

Pedagogue

dull, formal teacher

Pedant

a person who is too interested in formal rules and small

unimportant details

Pedantic

bookish

Pediatrician
pediatrician)

(British

a child doctor

Pediment

triangular gable on a roof or faade

Pejorative

insulting, having bad connotations

Pell-mell

in a confused manner

Pellucid

transparent, easily understood

Penance

voluntary suffering to repent for a wrong

Penchant

inclination

Penitent

repentant

Pensive

sad

Penumbra

partial shadow in an eclipse

Penurious

stingy

Perdition

damnation, complete ruin

Peregrination

wandering

Peremptory

dictatorial

Perennial

enduring, lasting

Perfidious

treacherous (of a person)

Perforce

by necessity

Perfunctory

careless, done in a routine way

Perigee

point when moon is nearest to the earth

Peripatetic

moving from place to place

Perjury

lying

Permeable

penetrable

Pernicious

destructive

Peroration

conclusion of an oration

Pert

flippant, bold

Pertinacious

persevering

Pertinent

Relevant, applicable

Perusal

reading carefully

Petrify

calcify, shock

Petty

trivial

Petulant

irritable, peevish

Philistine

barbarian, narrow-minded person

Philology

study of words

Phlegmatic

sluggish, someone who is calm

Picaresque

roguish, adventurous

Pied

mottled, brindled

Pillory

punish by ridicule

Piquant

tart-tasting, spicy

Pique

sting, arouse interest

Pithy

concise, to the point

Pittance

alms, trifle

Placid

Serene, calm

Plaintiff

injured person in a lawsuit

Plangent

plaintive, resounding sadly

Platitude

trite remark, stale

Platonic

nonsexual

Plebeian

common, vulgar

Plebiscite

referendum

Plenitude

Abundance

Plethora

overabundance

Plumb

measure

Poignant

pungent, sharp, emotionally moving

Polemic

a controversy

Politic

expedient, prudent, well devised

Polity

methods of government

Poltroon

coward

Polyglot

Speaking several tongues

Portend

omen

Portend

signify, augur

Portly

large, dignified

Potable

suitable for drinking

Potentate

sovereign, king

Prate

babble

Prattle

chatter, foolish talk

Preamble

introduction

Precept

principle, law

Precipice

cliff, edge

Precipitous

steep

Precocious

advanced

Precursor

forerunner

Predilection

inclination, preference

Premeditate

plan in advance

Preponderance

predominance

Preposterous

ridiculous, illogical

Presage

omen, indicate in advance

Presentiment

sense of foreboding

Preternatural

abnormal

Prim

formal, prudish

Primogeniture

first-born child

Primordial

existing at the beginning, rudimentary

Primp

groom

Privation

lack of usual necessities or comforts

Probity

integrity, complete honesty

Proboscis

snout

Proclivity

inclination, tendency

Prod

urge

Prodigal

wasteful

Prodigious

marvelous, enormous

Profligate

licentious, prodigal, corrupt

Profusion

overabundance

Progenitor

ancestor

Progeny

children

Prognosis

forecast

Prognosticate

foretell

Prolix

long-winded, wordy

Promontory

headland, cape

Promulgate

publish, disseminate

Propagate

to spread

Propellant

rocket fuel

Propensity

inclination

Prophylactic

preventive

Propinquity

nearness, kinship

Propitiate

satisfy, to win over

Propitious

auspicious, favorable

Propound

propose

Prosaic

uninspired, flat, dull

Proscenium

platform, rostrum

Proscribe

prohibit, to condemn

Proselytize
proselytize)

(British

recruit, convert

Prosody

study of poetic structure

Protean

changing readily

Protract

to prolong, extend

Provender

dry food, fodder

Provident

having foresight, thrifty

Proviso

stipulation

Prude

puritan

Prudent

cautious, careful

Prurient

exhibiting lewd desires

Puerile

Childish

Pugnacious

combative, quarrelsome

Puissant

strong

Pulchritude

beauty

Pummel

beat, attack

Punctilious

careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony

Pungent

sharp smell or taste

Purblind

obtuse, dim-sighted

Purgatory

limbo, netherworld

Purloin

to steal

Purport

claim to be

Purview

range, understanding

Pusillanimous

cowardly

Putative

reputed

Putrid

dirty, rotten

Quaff

to drink heartily

Quagmire

difficult situation

Quail

shrink, cower

Quaint

old-fashioned

Qualms

misgivings

Quandary

dilemma, difficulty

Quarry

prey, game

Quay

wharf

Queasy

squeamish

Quell

suppress, allay

Querulous

complaining

Quibble

to argue about insignificant and irrelevant details

Quiescent

still, motionless, at rest

Quintessence

the most essential part of anything

Quip

joke

Quirk

eccentricity

Quixotic

impractical, romantic

Quizzical

odd

Quorum

majority

Rabid

mad, furious

Raconteur

story teller

Raiment

clothing

Rampant

unbridled, raging

Ramshackle

dilapidated, falling to pieces

Rancor (British = rancor)

resentment, dislike

Rankle

cause bitterness, resentment

Rant

rage, scold

Rapacious

grasping, avaricious, greedy

Rapprochement

reconciliation

Ratiocination

reasoning

Raucous

Harsh sounding

Ravenous

extremely hungry

Raze

destroy

Reactionary

related to, or favoring reaction

Realm

kingdom, domain

Recalcitrant

resisting authority or control

Recant

retract a statement

Recidivism

habitual criminal activity

Reciprocate

to give and take mutually

Recondite

known to only a few

Reconnaissance

surveillance

Recreant

coward, betrayer of faith

Recrimination

countercharge, retaliation

Rectitude

moral uprightness

Recumbent

reclining

Redolent

fragrant

Redoubtable

formidable, steadfast

Redundant

repetitious

Reek

smell

Refectory

dining hall

Refraction

bending, deflection

Refractory

obstinate

Regal

royal

Regale

entertain

Regimen

government rule, systematic plan

Rehabilitate

to restore to a former status

Relegate

assign to an inferior position

Remediable

capable of being corrected

Reminiscence

remembrance of past events

Remiss

Negligent

Remnant

residue, fragment

Remonstrate

to protest or object

Remorse

guilt

Rend

to tear apart

Render

deliver, provide

Rendezvous

a meeting

Rendition

version, interpretation

Renegade

rebel, dissident

Renege

break a promise

Reparation

amends, atonement

Repartee

witty conversation

Repellent

causing aversion

Repercussion

consequence

Repine

fret

Replete

complete

Reprehensible

blameworthy, unacceptable

Reprieve

temporary suspension

Reprimand

rebuke

Reprisal

retaliation

Reproach

blame

Reprobate

morally unprincipled person

Reprove

to criticize or correct

Repudiate

to reject as having no authority

Requiem

rest, a mass for the dead

Requite

to return in kind

Rescind

revoke, cancel

Resilient

the quality of springing back

Respite

interval or relief

Resplendent

shining, splendid

Restitution

act of compensating for loss or damage

Restive

nervous, uneasy

Retaliate

revenge

Retinue

group of attendants

Retort

quick replay

Retrench

reorganize, to regroup

Retribution

reprisal

Retrieve

reclaim

Retroactive

applying to an earlier time

Retrograde

regress

Revelry

merrymaking

Revere

honor

Reverent

respectful

Reverie

daydream

Revile

to criticize with harsh language

Revulsion

aversion

Ribald

coarse, vulgar

Rife

widespread, abundant

Rigor

harshness

Rime

white frost

Risible

laughable

Risqu

off-color, racy

Rococo

ornate, highly decorated

Roil

to disturb or cause disorder

Roseate

rosy, optimistic

Roster

list of people

Rostrum

stage for public speaking

Rout

vanquish

Rubicund

ruddy, having healthy reddish color

Ruffian

brutal person, bully

Ruminate

reflect upon

Rummage

hunt

Sacerdotal

priestly

Sacrosanct

sacred

Sagacious

wise

Sallow

sickly yellow in color

Salubrious

healthy

Salutary

good, wholesome

Sanctimonious

self-righteous

Sang-froid

coolness under fire

Sanguinary

gory, murderous

Sanguine

cheerful

Sapid

interesting

Sapient

wise, shrewd

Sarcophagus

stone coffin

Sardonic

scornful

Sartorial

pertaining to clothes

Sate

satisfy fully

Saturnine

gloomy

Satyr

demigod, goat-man

Saunter

walk in a leisurely manner

Savant

scholar

Savoir-faire

tact, polish

Savor (British = savor)

enjoy

Scarify

criticize

Schism

a division or separation

Scintilla

very small amount

Scintillate

sparkle

Scoff

ridicule

Scurrilous

abusive, insulting

Scurry

move briskly

Scuttle

to sink

Sebaceous

like fat

Seclusion

solitude

Secular

worldly, nonreligious

Sedition

treason, resistance to authority

Sedulous

diligent

Seethe

fume, resent

Semblance

likeness

Senescence

old age

Sensual

related to the physical senses

Sententious

concise, trying to appear wise

Sepulcher
sepulcher)

(British

tomb

sequacious

eager to follow, ductile

Sequester

to remove or set apart

Seraphic

angelic, pure

Serendipity

making fortunate discoveries

Serenity

calm, peacefulness

Serrated

toothed, with a zigzag edge

Serried

saw-toothed

Servile

slavish, obedient

Shibboleth

password

Shoal

reef

Shrew

virago

Sidereal

pertaining to the stars

Simian

monkey like

Simper

smile foolishly, smirk

Sinecure

well paid position with little responsibility

Sinewy

fibrous, stringy

Sinuous

Curving in and out

Skinflint

miser

Skittish

excitable

Skulk

sneak about

Skullduggery
skullduggery)

(British

trickery

Slake

to calm down or moderate

Slander

defame

Sleight

dexterity

Slither

slide

Sloth

laziness

Slough

to discard or shed

Slovenly

sloppy

Sluggard

lazy, inactive person

Smattering

superficial knowledge

Smirk

smug look

Snivel

whine

Sobriety

composed

Sobriquet

nickname

Sodden

soaked

Sojourn

trip, visit

Solace

consolation

Solecism

ungrammatical construction

Solicitous

considerate, concerned

Soliloquy

A monologue

Solstice

furthest point

Solvent

financially sound

Somatic

pertaining to the body

Somber (British = somber)

Gloomy

Somnambulist

sleepwalker

Somnolent

Sleepy

Sophist

person good at arguing deviously

Sophomoric

immature and overconfident

Soporific

sleep inducing

Sordid

foul, ignoble, dirty and unpleasant

Spasmodic

intermittent

Spate

sudden outpouring

Spawn

produce

Specious

false but plausible

Spectral

ghostly

Splenetic

peevish

Sporadic

occurring irregularly

Sportive

playful

Spry

nimble

Spume

foam

Spurn

reject

Squalid

filthy

Staccato

marked by abrupt, clear-cut sounds

Staid

demure, sedate, boring

Stanza

division of a poem

Steadfast

loyal, immovable

Stentorian

extremely loud

Stigma

mark of disgrace

Stilted

formal, stiff, unnatural

Stoic

indifferent to pain or pleasure

Stoke

prod, fuel

Stolid

impassive

Stratagem

trick

Stratum

layer

Stricture

negative criticism

Strident

rough, harsh, caustic, loud

Stultify

inhibit, enfeeble

Stupor

lethargy

Stymie

hinder, thwart

Suave

smooth

Sub Rosa

in secret

Sublimate

to repress impulses

Sublime

lofty, excellent

Subliminal

subconscious, imperceptible

Substantiate

verify

Substantive

substantial

Subterfuge

cunning, ruse

Succinct

Concise

Succor (British = succor)

help, comfort

Succulent

juicy, delicious

Succumb

yield, submit

Suffuse

pervade, permeate

Sully

stain

Sultry

sweltering

Sunder

split

Sundry

various

Superannuated

retired

Supercilious

arrogant

Superficial

shallow and phony

Supernumerary

subordinate

Supplant

replace

Supple

easily bent

Surly

rude, crass

Surmise

to guess

Surmount

overcome

Surreptitious

secretive

Sustenance

supplying the necessities of life

Suture

surgical stitch

Swarthy

dark (as in complexion)

Sybarite

pleasure-seeker, lover of luxury

Sycophant

flatterer, flunky

Sylvan

rustic

Synchronous

happening at the same time

Synthetic

artificial, imitation

Taciturn

who does not talk much

Tainted

contaminated, corrupt

Talisman

an object supposed to bring good luck

Talon

claw of an animal

Tantalize

tease

Tantamount

equivalent

Taper

candle

Tarn

small lake

Tarry

linger

Taut

tight, stretched

Tawdry

gaudy, cheap

Temerity

boldness

Temperate

moderate

Tempo

speed

Temporal

limited by time, secular, not lasting forever

Tenacious

persistent

Tendentious

biased

Tenet

doctrine, principle

Tensile

capable of being stretched

Tentative

provisional

Tenuous

thin, insubstantial

Tenure

status given after a period of time

Tepid

lukewarm

Terrapin

turtle

Terse

concise, brief

Testy

petulant

Tether

tie down, tie with a rope

Theocracy

government by the priests

Therapeutic

medicinal

Thespian

actor

Thrall

slave

Threnody

a sad poem or song, dirge

Throes

anguish

Throng

crowd

Thwart

to block or prevent from happening

Timbre

tonal quality, resonance

Timorous

fearful, timid

Tirade

scolding speech

Titanic

huge

Tithe

donate one-tenth

Titular

in name only, figurehead

Toady

fawner, sycophant

Tocsin

alarm bell, signal

Torpid

lethargic, inactive

Tortuous

with bends or turns

Touchstone

standard

Traduce

slander

Transcend

to surpass

Transient

fleeting, temporary

Translucent

clear, lucid, almost transparent

Transmute

to change in nature or form

Travail

work, drudgery

Travesty

caricature, farce, parody

Tremulous

trembling, fearful

Trenchant

incisive, penetrating

Trepidation

fear

Tribunal

court

Tribute

a gift or statement showing respect

Trite

commonplace, insincere

Troglodyte

cave dweller

Truckle

yield

Truculent

fierce, savage, tending to argue a lot

Truism

self-evident truth

Tryst

meeting, rendezvous

Tumult

commotion

Tundra

treeless plain found in Arctic or sub arctic regions

Turbid

muddy, clouded

Turbine

bull-like

Turbulence

violent agitation

Turgid

Swollen, not flowing

Turpitude

Depravity, evil

Tutelage

guardianship

Tyranny

oppression

Tyro

beginner

Umbrage

resentment

Unassuming

modest

Uncouth

uncultured, crude

Unctuous

insincere

Undulate

surge, fluctuate

Uniformity

sameness

Unkempt

messy in appearance

Unobtrusive

inconspicuous, not blatant

Unsavory (British = unsavory) distasteful, offensive

Unscathed

unhurt

Unseemly

unbecoming, improper

Unsullied

spotless

Untenable

cannot be achieved

Upbraid

to scold sharply

Ursine

bear-like

Usurp

seize, to appropriate

Usury

overcharge, lending money at illegal rates of interest

Uxorious

a doting husband

Vacillate

to waver

Vacuous

inane, empty, not showing intelligence or purpose

Vagary

whim

Vagrant

an idle wanderer

Vainglorious

conceited

Valor (British = velour)

bravery

Vanguard

leading position

Vapid

vacuous, insipid

Variegated

many-colored

Vassal

subject

Vaunted

boasted, bragged

Vehement

adamant

Venal

willing to do wrong for money

Vendetta

grudge, feud

Veneer

false front, faade

Venerable

respected because of age

Venial

excusable

Vent

small opening, outlet

Venturesome

bold, risky

Veracious

truthful, accurate

Verdant

green, lush

Verisimilitude

appearance of being true

Verity

Truth

Vernal

related to spring

Versatile

adaptable, all-purpose

Vex

annoy, to irritate

Viand

food

Vicarious

substitute, surrogate

Vicissitude

changing fortunes

Victuals

food

Vie

compete

Vignette

scene, decorative design

Vilify

defame

Vindicate

free from blame

Virile

manly

Virulent

deadly, poisonous

Visage

facial expression

Viscid

thick, gummy

Viscous

sticky, gluey, thick

Vitiate

spoil, ruin

Vitreous

glassy

Vitriolic

scathing, burning

Vituperative

abusive

Vociferous

adamant, clamoring

Volition

free will

Voluminous

bulky, extensive, or great quantity

Votary

fan, aficionado

Vouchsafe

confer, bestow

Vulpine

fox-like

Waggish

playful

Wallow

indulge, luxuriate

Wan

sickly pale

Wane

dissipate, wither

Warranty

guarantee of a product's soundness

Wary

guarded, careful

Wastrel

spendthrift

Wax

increase, grow

Waylay

ambush

Wean

remove from nursing, break a habit

Weather

endure the effects of weather or other forces

Welter

confusion, hodgepodge

Wheedle

coax

Whet

stimulate, to sharpen

Whimsical

capricious

Wily

shrewd, clever

Wince

cringe

Winnow

separate

Winsome

charming

Wither

shrivel

Wizened

shriveled

Wont

custom

Wraith

ghost

Wrangle

loud quarrel

Wrath

anger, fury

Wreak

inflict

Wrest

snatch

Writhe

contort

Wry

twisted, amusing

Yen

desire

Yoke

join together, unite

Yore

long ag

Zephyr

gentle breeze, west wind