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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Wane
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to decrease gradually
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Fraught
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teeming with; laden; full; involving; accompanied by
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Chasm
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a deep opening in the earth's surface; a gorge; differences of opinion, interests, loyalties
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Erudite
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deeply learned, scholarly
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Also-ran
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one who is defeated in a race, election, or other competition; loser
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Elfin
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small and sprightly; mischievous, fairylike
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Aggrandize
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to exaggerate, to cause to appear greater in power, influence
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Ensemble
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a coordinated outfit or costume; a musical group
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Tether
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a rope or chain that allows limited movement; the limit of one's resources or strength
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Claimant
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a person making a claim
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Entice
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to lure, to attract, to tempt in a pleasing fashion
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Philanthropy
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love of mankind, especially through charitable gifts and deeds
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Misanthropy
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someone who hates mankind
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Mirage
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unreal reflection; an optical illusion
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Noisome
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stinking; offensive; disgusting
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Coup
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the violent overthrow of a government by a small group; a victorious accomplishment
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Hoard
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to accumulate for future use; stockpile
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Languish
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to become weak or feeble; sag with loss of strength
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Cloister
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a tranquil, secluded place
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Oust
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to eject; to force out; to banish
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Creditor
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a person to whom money is owed
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Pillage
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to rob of goods by violent seizure, plunder; to take as spoils
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antecedent
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going before; preceding; an occurrence or event preceding another
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embody
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to give bodily form to; to personify; to make part of a system
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verbatim
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using exactly the same words, word for word
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truncate
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to shorten by cutting off
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remorse
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a strong feeling of sadness or guilt for having done something wrong
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forsake
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to abandon, to give up, to renounce
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deft
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dexterous, skillful
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deft
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dexterous, skillful
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ubiquitous
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the quality of being everywhere (or seeming to) at the same time
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insouciant
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calm and carefree; lighthearted
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sundry
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various, several, miscellaneous
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callous
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unfeeling, insensitive; having calluses
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dearth
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scarcity; lack
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revere
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to regard with great devotion or respect, to honor
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prowess
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exceptional skill and bravery
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generalize
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general rather than specific; to form a general conclusion
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legacy
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something handed down from one who has gone before or from the past; a bequest
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phobia
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a persistent, illogical fear
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somber
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depressing, gloomy, dark
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edifice
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a building, especially one of imposing appearance or size
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paradox
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a statement that seems true but at the same time seems to also have an opposite truth
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penitent
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sorrow and remorse for past misdeeds
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muse
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to ponder; meditate; think about at length
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gloat
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to brag greatly
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pique
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irritation, resentment stemming from wounded pride; also to arouse curiosity
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dispel
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to drive away; to dissipate
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ramification
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a branching out; a development growing out of and often complicating a problem or pain
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allure
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to entice with something desirable; tempt
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commodious
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spacious, roomy, capacious
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orthodox
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conventional, doing it by the book, sticking to established principles
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fawn
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exhibit affection; seek favor through slave-like flattery; to "suck up" to something
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lethargy
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laziness, tiredness; languor
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masticate
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to chew
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archaic
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belonging to an earlier time, ancient; outdated
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gazebo
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an outdoor structure with a roof and open sides
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abhor
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to hate very much, to detest utterly
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plight
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a condition of situation, especially a distressing one
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callow
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immature and inexperienced
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euphonious
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pleasing to the ear
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quirk
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a peculiarity of behaviour; an unaccountable act or event
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mores
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customary cultural standards; moral attitudes, manners, habits
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comprise
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to consist of; to include, to contain, to be made up of
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cache
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a hiding place, or the objects hidden in a hiding place
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bucolic
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rural or rustic in nature, country-like
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affidavit
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a sworn written statement
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abstruse
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hard to understand
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oblique
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at an angle; indirect or evasive
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dilemma
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a difficult situation where one must choose between two or more choices that seem unfavorable; any problem or predicament
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vertigo
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the sensation of dizziness
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intervene
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to come between; to mediate, to occur between times
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stupefy
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to make numb with amazement; to stun into helplessness
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bleak
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depressing, discouraging, harsh, cold, barren, raw
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ajar
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partially open
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demur
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to object, to make exception
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catharsis
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an emotional or psychological cleansing that brings relief or renewal
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alleviate
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to make less severe; to relieve, to lessen
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domain
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a territory over which one rules, has influence or powers
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candor
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truthfulness, sincere honesty
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aftermath
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events following some occurrence; a consequence of
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affinity
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a natural attraction; kinship; similarity
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inveigle
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to tempt or persuade by using deception or flattery
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demagogue
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a leader who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the people
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bizarre
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extremely unconventional or far-fetched
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lax
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careless, negligent; not tense, slack
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circa
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about; at an estimated historical time period
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pied
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multi-colored, especially of more than one color in patches
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herbicide
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a substance used to destroy plants, especially weeds
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melancholy
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depression of spirits, gloomy, weary
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anterior
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situated in front
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embellish
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to beautify by adding ornaments; to add fanciful or fictitious details to
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petulant
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ill humor, irritable, cranky
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assuage
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to soothe; to make less severe; to satisfy, ease, lessen
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castigate
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to criticize harshly, usually with the intention of correcting wrongdoing
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wrest
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pull away, take by violence
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perverse
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stubborn; contrary; intractable
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serpentine
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snakelike in shape or movement; winding as a snake
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abut
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border upon; to adjoin
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segregate
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to separate or keep apart from others
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wither
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shriveled, shrunken, dried-up
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grandiose
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grand and impressive, especially flashy and showy
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surfeit
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an overabundant amount, especially overindulgence in eating and drinking
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unbridled
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violent, unbounded, unrestrained
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fortuitous
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occurring by accident or chance
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enrapture
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to delight, to thrill or give pleasure
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guile
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craft, cunning, deceitfulness; arfulness
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marshal
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to assemble together for the purpose of doing something; also an officer in the police or military
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desiccate
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to dry out completely; dehydrate
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photogenic
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suitable, especially attractive for photography
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relinquish
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to give up doing, professing, or intending; to surrender, give in
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tyro
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a beginner; a novice
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idiosyncrasy
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a behavioral quirk; a person's idea about behavior different from others
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adjunct
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something connected or added to another in a subordinate position; an assistant
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yore
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former days, an era long past
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abyss
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bottomless pit; a yawning gulf; a profound depth or void
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emulate
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to attempt to equal or surpass; especially through imitation
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atypical
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not typical, abnormal
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cajole
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to wheedle, coax, or persuade someone to do something they didn't want to
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bereave
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to be left alone, especially through the death of another
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loiter
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hand around; linger
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lieu
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instead of; in place of
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evoke
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to summon forth, call to mind, awaken, produce, suggest
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maim
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to disable or disfugure, to cripple
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deduce
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to come to a conclusion by reasoning from the evidence
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lexicon
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a dictionary; vocabulary terms used in or of a particular profession, subject or style
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menagerie
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a collection of live wild animals on exhibit
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permeate
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to flow or spread through; penetrate
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amplify
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to make larger, louder, or more powerful
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certify
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to confirm formally; verify
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partition
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the division of something into parts; an interior structure dividing a larger area
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joust
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a combat with lances between two knights, a tilting match; any combat suggestive of a joust
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infamy
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having an evil reputation; extreme disgrace
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nepotism
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favors shown by those in high positions to relatives and friends
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fleece
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to defraud, swindle; also the wool of a sheep or similar animal
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parry
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to ward off a blow; to turn aside; to avoid skillfully, to evade
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periphery
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the outermost part within a boundary, the outside edge
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entomology
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the scientific study of insects
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ostracize
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to exclude from a group; to shun
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capacious
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roomy, able to hold much
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fickle
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often changing for no reason; not loyal or consistent
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marauder
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raider, intruder
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emit
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to send or give out; to express, utter; to put in circulation as money
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engulf
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to surround or enclose completely
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umbrage
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sense of injury or insult; to take offense, displeasure
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abominate
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extreme hatred, loathing; something despised
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rivet
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something that fastens two parts together; also to hold the attention of
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rudimentary
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basic, crude, undeveloped; fundamental principles or skills
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abridge
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to shorten; to condense; to dimish; to curtail
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fester
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to generate pus; to become a source of resentment or irritation
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entomb
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to place in or as if in a tomb, or a grave
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exhume
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to dig up from a grave; to bring to light, uncover
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laudable
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worthy or deserving of praise
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altercation
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to argue vehemently, a heated quarrel
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decree
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an order having the force of law
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gamin
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a neglected boy left to run about in the streets
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debase
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lower in quality, character or value
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dauntless
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to be fearless; unintimidated
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chide
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scold; reprove
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spurn
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to reject with disdain
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feign
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to give a false appearance; to pretend
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damper
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one that depresses or restrains
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scapegoat
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one who is made an object of blame for others
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husbandry
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management of resources, expecially in agriculture
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spur
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to move to action; an incentive
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truculent
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inclined toward conflict; eager to fight
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debacle
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a sudden calamitous downfall; collapse or failure
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optimum
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the most advantageous; the best condition, degree, or amount
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couture
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fashion and fashion designers
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supplant
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to take the place of
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quandary
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state of perplexity; difficult or uncertain situation
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sonorous
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producing sound, especially deep and rich, resonant
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egalitarian
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advocating the doctrine of equal rights for all citizens
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duress
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hardship, restraint, confinement
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volition
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an act of choosing, using one's own will in a conscious choice
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entreat
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to ask earnestly; to implore, plead, beg
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potentate
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a powerful ruler; an important person
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disparage
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to belittle, say uncomplimentary things; to put down
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beset
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to harass; to surround
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appalling
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to fill with dismay; causing horror or consternation
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dormant
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asleep or inactive
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chattel
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an item of personal, movable property; slave
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austere
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stern, as in manner; without excess, unadorned, severely simple and plain
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lament
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to express sorrow or regret; to mourn
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aloof
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distant, reserved in manner; uninvolved
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cerebral
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of or relating to the brain; an intellectual person
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incongruous
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not appropriate, unsuited to the surroundings; not fitting in
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bulwark
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a defensive wall; something serving as a principal defense
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connoisseur
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an expert, particularly in matters of art and taste
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cacophony
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harsh sounds
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expunge
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to remove; to delete; to erase
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trenchant
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cutting, incisive, having a sharp point; caustic, sarcastic
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procrastinate
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to put off until a later time
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roster
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a list of names; especially of personnel available for duty
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impede
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to obstruct or interfere with; to delay
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forbear
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to refrain from; to abstain; to be patient or tolerant
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migratory
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roving, wandering, nomadic
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evade
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to elude or avoid by cunning; to flee from a pursuer
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efface
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to rub away
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asunder
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in separate parts; apart from each other in position
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incite
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to arouse to action
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quixotic
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idealistic and totally impractical
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beleaguer
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to besiege; beset, surround, harass
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milieu
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environment or surroundings
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histrionic
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overly dramatic, theatrical
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bludgeon
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a short heavy, thick club that has one end larger than the other
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arduous
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hard, difficult, tiresome
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reminisce
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the act or practice of recalling the past
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opportune
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occurring or coming at a good time
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dulcet
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melodious, soft, soothing
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porcine
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reminiscent of or pertaining to a pig; resembling a pig
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lassitude
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listlessness; torpor, weariness
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coterie
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a circle of close associates or friends
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ballistics
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the study of the dynamics or flight characteristics of projectiles
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ambiance
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mood, feeling; general atmosphere
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girth
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the distance around something; to encircle; to secure with a band that encircles the body of an animal
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askew
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to one side; crooked; awry; a sidelong look of contempt
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cubism
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a style of art in which the subject matter is portrayed by geometric forms, especially cubes
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cranny
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a small opening as in a wall or rock face
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enrage
|
to put in a rage; infuriate, anger
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propulsive
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the act or process of propelling; a propelling force
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laconic
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brief, using few words
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harrowing
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extremely distressed; disturbing or frightening
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aptitude
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capacity for learning; natural ability
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endure
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to carry on through despite hardships; to put up with
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chronic
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continuing for a long time; continuous
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giddy
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a light-headed sensation; dizzy, frivolous
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irascible
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easily angered, irritable
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cower
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cringe from fear; to shrink away
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gossamer
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delicate floating cobwebs; a sheer gauzy fabric; something delicate, light, flimsy
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queue
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to form or to wait in line
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myriad
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an extremely large number
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accolade
|
an award, an honor; approval, praise
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grandiloquent
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attempting to impress with big words or grand gestures
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caucus
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a meeting of the members of a political party to make decisions; to assemble in or hold a caucus
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dromedary
|
a one-humped domesticated camel
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demonic
|
one who works devilishly (a demon for work), a persistent person, force or drive; an evil person
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noxious
|
physically or mentally destructive, or harmful to human beings
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proficient
|
skillful; to be very good at something
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harangue
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to lecture, berate; a long bombastic speech
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atrophy
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to wither away
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catapult
|
slingshot
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glutton
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one who eats or consumes a great deal; having capacity to receive or withstand something
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muster
|
to collect or gather; the act of inspection or critical examination
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beget
|
to give birth to; to create
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curtail
|
to truncate or abridge; to lessen, usually by cutting away from
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paranoia
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a mental illness of unreasonable anxiety, especially believing someone is out to get you, or that you are an important person
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facilitate
|
to make easier, to help bring about
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craven
|
cowardly
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mode
|
a way or method of doing something; type, manner, fashion
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