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285 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
abrogate
|
n
to abolish, repeal, or nullify |
|
abstruse
|
adj
difficult to understand |
|
abysmal
|
adj
extremely hopeless or wretched; bottomless |
|
accolade
|
n
an award or honor |
|
acerbic
|
adj
bitter, sour, severe |
|
acumen
|
n
keenness of judgment; mental sharpness |
|
affable
|
adj
easy to talk to; friendly |
|
afford
|
n
to permit or allow; to enable |
|
aggregate
|
n, adj
collection of things mixed together, the sum total |
|
allocate
|
v
to distribute, assign, or allot |
|
aloof
|
adj
standoffish, uninvolved, keeping one's distance |
|
ameliorate
|
v
to make better or more tolerable |
|
anachronistic
|
adj
out of place in time or history |
|
anathema
|
n
something or someone loathed or detested |
|
ancillary
|
adj
subordinate; providing assistance |
|
annul
|
v
to make void; usually refers to marriage |
|
anomaly
|
n
an aberration, deviation, or irregularity |
|
anthropology
|
n
the study of human cultures |
|
antithetical
|
adj
in opposition, contrary to |
|
apostate
|
n
one who deserts his or her professed principles or faith |
|
apotheosis
|
n
elevation to divine status; the perfect example of something |
|
appropriate
|
v
to take without permission; to set aside for a particular use |
|
archetype
|
n
an original model or pattern |
|
ardent
|
adj
passionate |
|
arsenal
|
n
a storehouse of weapons |
|
ascertain
|
v
to determine with certainty; to find out definitely |
|
ascetic
|
adj
hermitlike; practicing self-denial |
|
assiduous
|
adj
hardworking, diligent, busy |
|
assuage
|
v
to soothe, pacify, or relieve |
|
attrition
|
n
gradual wearing away; a natural or expected decrease in size or number |
|
augury
|
n
an omen, especially a good omen |
|
auspices
|
n
protection, support; sponsorship |
|
avarice
|
n
greed |
|
avuncular
|
adj
kind, helpful, generous; like a nice uncle |
|
barometer
|
n
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure |
|
beguile
|
v
to delude by guile or craft; to mislead, divert |
|
behest
|
n
a command or order |
|
beleaguer
|
v
to surround, besiege, or harass |
|
belie
|
v
to give a false impression; to contradict |
|
bellicose
|
adj
warlike, belligerent |
|
bequest
|
n
something left to someone in a will |
|
blithe
|
adj
carefree, cheerful |
|
broach
|
v
to open up a subject, often a delicate one, for discussion |
|
brusque
|
adj
rough and short in manner, blunt, abrupt |
|
burgeon
|
v
to expand; to flourish |
|
buttress
|
n, v
a support for a bulding or structure; to support |
|
cabal
|
n
a group of conspirators; the acts of such a group; a clique |
|
cajole
|
v
to persuade with flattery or gentle urging |
|
calipers
|
n
a pinching instrument used for determining the thickness of objects or the distance between surfaces |
|
candor
|
n
sincerty, honesty |
|
canon
|
n
a rule or law, especially a religious one; a body of rules or laws; an authoritative list; the set of works by an author that are accepted as authentic |
|
cantankerous
|
adj
ill-natured, contentious |
|
canvass
|
v
to campaign; to seek or solicit orders, votes, etc |
|
capacitor
|
n
a device that stores energy |
|
capitulate
|
v
to surrender, give up, or give in |
|
capricious
|
adj
unpredictable, likely to change at any moment |
|
captious
|
adj
ill-natured, quarrelsome |
|
carp
|
v
to complain or find fault with someone |
|
cartography
|
n
the study and creation of maps |
|
castigate
|
v
to criticize severely; to chastise |
|
catalyst
|
n
anyone or anything that makes something happen without being drectly involved |
|
catharsis
|
n
purification that brings emotional relief or renewal |
|
cavil
|
v
to quibble; to raise trivial objections |
|
censure
|
v
to condemn severely for doing something bad |
|
chagrin
|
n
humiliation; embarrassed disappointment |
|
chicanery
|
n
trickery, deceitfulness, artifice(especially legal or political) |
|
chimerical
|
adj
imaginary, given to fantasy |
|
choleric
|
adj
hot-tempered, quick to anger |
|
circumvent
|
v
to go around |
|
closefisted
|
adj
stingy |
|
coalesce
|
v
to come together as one, to fuse, to unite |
|
cogitate
|
v
to ponder; to mediate; to think carefully about |
|
colloquial
|
adj
ordinary, informal in relationship to speech |
|
conscript
|
v
enlisted, drafted, or enrolled; usually refers to mandatory military service |
|
corroborate
|
v
to confirm; to back up with evidence |
|
coterie
|
n
a group of close associates; a circle of friends |
|
coy
|
adj
shy, reluctant to make a commitment |
|
cracen
|
adj
cowardly, afraid |
|
curmudgeon
|
n
an irascible, crotchety old person |
|
dearth
|
n
a shortage or scarcity of something |
|
debacle
|
n
a big disaster |
|
deft
|
adj
very skillful |
|
dehydrate
|
v
to remove water |
|
deleterious
|
adj
harmful |
|
demagogue
|
n
a leader of the people, but more a rabble-rouser |
|
demography
|
n
the statistical study of the characteristics of populations |
|
desalinate
|
v
to remove salt from something |
|
desiccate
|
v
to dry out |
|
diplomatic
|
adj
tactful; good at negotiating |
|
discomfit
|
v
to frustrate, to confuse |
|
dither
|
v
to vacillate between choices; to tremble with excitement |
|
diurnal
|
adj
ocurring every day; ovurring during the daytime |
|
divisive
|
adj
creating conflict and disagreement |
|
draconian
|
adj
severe, harsh, cruel |
|
ebullient
|
adj
bubbling with excitement, exuberant |
|
eclectic
|
adj
drawn from many sources |
|
effigy
|
n
a likeness of a perso, usually one used to express hatred for that person |
|
egregious
|
adj
extremely bad, flagrant |
|
elliptical
|
adj
oval; missing a word or words; obscure |
|
endemic
|
adj
native, restricted to a particular region or area, indigenous |
|
ephemeral
|
adj
lasting a very short time |
|
equine
|
adj
relating to horses, horselike |
|
equivocal
|
adj
embiguous, intentionally confusing, capable of beng interpreted many ways |
|
ersatz
|
adj
serving as a substitute, synthetic, artificial |
|
ethereal
|
adj
heavenly, light, insubstantial |
|
etymology
|
n
the study of words and their meanings |
|
euphonious
|
adj
pleasant-sounding, opposite of cacophonous; melodious |
|
evanescent
|
adj
fleeting, vanishing, happening only for the briefest period |
|
evince
|
v
to demonstrate convinvingly; to prove |
|
execrate
|
v
to curse, denounce |
|
exhume
|
v
to unbury; to dig out of the ground |
|
exonerate
|
v
to free conpletely from blame |
|
expeditious
|
adj, v
prompt, speedy; to expedite |
|
expiate
|
v
to make amends, to atone |
|
expunge
|
v
to erse, obliterate, to blot out |
|
facile
|
adj
fluent, skillful in a superficial way |
|
fecund
|
adj
fertile, productive |
|
fervent
|
adj
having intense feeling, enthusiastic; fervid |
|
feign
|
v
to pretend; to make a false representation of something |
|
flaccid
|
adj
soft and limp |
|
florid
|
adj
very fancy; ususally refers to intangible things |
|
flout
|
v
to disregard something or someone out of disrespect |
|
ford
|
n,v
the shallow part of a river; to cross a river at the shallow part |
|
forensics
|
n
the art or study of argumentation and formal debate |
|
fortuitous
|
adj
accidental, occurrng by chance |
|
fracas
|
n
a big fight |
|
furrow
|
n, v
a narrow groove made in the ground; to make wrinkles in the face |
|
gaffe
|
n
a social blunder, an embarrassing mistake, a faux pas |
|
galvanize
|
v
to starte into sudden activity; to revitalize |
|
gastronomy
|
n
the art of eating well |
|
germane
|
adj
relevant, applicable, pertinent |
|
glower
|
v
to look or stare with sullen dislike or anger |
|
goldbrick
|
v,n
to swindle, to sell something worthless as if it were valuable; a swindle |
|
grandiloquent
|
adj
using a lot of big, fancy words to sound impressive |
|
gratuitous
|
adj
given freely; uncalled for; unjustified; unprovoked |
|
glut
|
n
surplus, overabundance |
|
hackneyed
|
adj
overused, trite, stale |
|
halcyon
|
adj
peaceful, serene; carefree |
|
garbinger
|
n
a forerunner, a signal of |
|
hedonism
|
n
the pursuit of pleasure as a way of life |
|
hegemony
|
n
leadership, especiall of one nation over another |
|
hermetic
|
adj
airtight, impervious to external influence |
|
homily
|
n
a sermon |
|
hubris
|
n
excessive pride |
|
humanist
|
n
one who has great concern for human welfare, values, and dignity; a student of the classics |
|
hybrid
|
n
formed, bred, or composed from different elements |
|
hypodermic
|
adj
beneath the skin |
|
idiosyncratic
|
adj
quirky, peculiar, eccentric |
|
ignominy
|
n
shame, disrepute, disgrace |
|
importune
|
v
to beg, urge, or insist persistently |
|
inane
|
adj
silly, senseless |
|
incantation
|
n
a chant |
|
incarnate
|
adj
in the flash |
|
incensed
|
adj
very angry |
|
inchoate
|
adj
incomplete; only partially formed |
|
indignant
|
adj
angry or insulted, especially as a result of something unjust or unworthy |
|
indolent
|
adj
averse to activity; habitually lazy |
|
ineffable
|
adj
incapable of being expressed or described |
|
inexorable
|
adj
relentless, inevitable, unavoidable |
|
inoculate
|
v
to protect against disease |
|
insouciant
|
adj
nonchalant, lighthearted, carefree |
|
irascible
|
adj
easily angered or provoked; irritable |
|
jaunt
|
n
a short pleasure trip |
|
jejune
|
adj
lacking maturity or significance; irrelevant |
|
jettison
|
v
to throw or cast off |
|
jingoist
|
n
an excessively vigilant patriot; a bellicose chauvinist; a war-mongering nationalist |
|
jurisprudence
|
n
the study of law |
|
karma
|
n
consequences of one's actions; fate, destiny |
|
kudos
|
n
honor, glory, acclaim, compliment |
|
lambaste
|
v
to assault violently with words |
|
lament
|
v
to mourn |
|
laudatory
|
adj
praising |
|
lax
|
adj
not strict; careless or negligent |
|
lexicon
|
n
a glossary or dictionary |
|
limpid
|
adj
transparent, clear, lucid |
|
liniment
|
n
a medicinal liquid or salve for rubbing on the skin |
|
liquidate
|
v
to get rid of; to settle a debt |
|
lugubrious
|
adj
exaggeratedly mournful |
|
luminary
|
n
a person who has attained eminence in his or her field |
|
maudlin
|
adj
silly and overly sentimental |
|
maverick
|
n
a nonconformist; a rebel |
|
mellifluous
|
adj
flowing sweetly; usually refers to sounds or voices |
|
mendacious
|
adj
lying, dishonest |
|
meritorious
|
adj
deserving praise or reward |
|
mirth
|
n
amusement or laughter |
|
misanthrope
|
n
one who hates people |
|
mollify
|
v
to soften, soothe, pacify |
|
moribund
|
adj
dying |
|
narcissism
|
n
excessive love of one's body or oneself |
|
nebulous
|
adj
vague, hazy, indistinct |
|
neologism
|
n
a new word or phrase; a new usage of a word |
|
neophyte
|
n
a novice or beginner |
|
noisome
|
adj
affensive or disgusting; stinking, noxious |
|
noxious
|
adj
harmful, offensive |
|
nuance
|
n
a subtle difference or distinction |
|
numerology
|
n
the study or numbers for the purposes of predicting the future |
|
obdurate
|
adj
stubborn, insensitive, unyielding, resistant to persuasion |
|
obeisance
|
n
deep reverence; a bow or curtsy |
|
obfuscate
|
v
to darken or confuse |
|
obsequious
|
adj
fawning, subservient, servile, excessively deferential |
|
odometer
|
n
instrument that measures how many miles one has traveled |
|
olfactory
|
adj
pertaining to the sense of smell |
|
oligarchy
|
n
government by only a very few people |
|
ornate
|
adj
very fancy; usually refers to tangible things |
|
palliative
|
adj.,n
something that provides temporary relief without getting rid of the problem |
|
paltry
|
adj
insignificant; worthless |
|
panacea
|
n
something that cures everything |
|
panache
|
n
flair, verve; dashing elegance |
|
paragon
|
n
a model of excellence |
|
peccadillo
|
n
a minor offense or error |
|
pedantic
|
adj
boringly scholarly or academic; overconcerned with details |
|
penurious
|
adj
extremely stingy, poor, or miserly |
|
perfidy
|
n
treachery |
|
perfunctory
|
adj
unenthusiastic, careless |
|
pernicious
|
adj
deadly, extremely evil |
|
perquisite
|
n
a privilege that goes along with a job |
|
philistine
|
n
a smugly ignorant person with no appreciation for intellectuall or artistic matters |
|
piquant
|
adj
pleasantly sharp in flavor; interestingly provocative or stimulating |
|
pique
|
v
to excite; to arouse an emotion or provoke to action |
|
plebeian
|
adj
common, vulgar, low-class |
|
poignant
|
adj
painfully emotional, extremely moving; sharp or astute |
|
polemic
|
n
a powerful argument often made to attack or refute a controversial issue |
|
portent
|
n
an omen, a sign of something coming |
|
potentate
|
n
a person who possesses great power |
|
predilection
|
n
a natural preference for something |
|
preempt
|
v
to seize something by prior right |
|
prescient
|
adj
having knowledge of things before they exist or happen |
|
priggish
|
adj
very fussy, self-righteous, high-maintenance; usually refers to people |
|
profligate
|
adj
extravagantly wasteful; wildely immoral |
|
prolific
|
adj
abundantly productie, fruitful, or fertile |
|
promulgate
|
v
to publicly or formally declare something |
|
prosaic
|
adj
dull, unimaginative |
|
pugnacious
|
adj
quarrelsome, combative, always ready to fight |
|
pulchritude
|
n
physical beauty |
|
queue
|
n.,v
a line; to line up |
|
quiescent
|
adj
motionless; at rest; still |
|
quintessential
|
adj
most perfect |
|
quixotic
|
adj
idealistic to a foolish or impractical degree |
|
quotidian
|
adj
daily, everyday; ordinary |
|
raze
|
v
to completely destroy or level something |
|
rebuke
|
v
to criticize sharply |
|
recapitulate
|
v
to review or summarize |
|
recidivism
|
n
the act of repeating an offense |
|
redolent
|
adj
fragrant |
|
renege
|
v
to go back on a bet or promise |
|
retrenchment
|
n
cutting down or off, reduction |
|
rhetoric
|
n
the study or art of using language well; the use of undue exaggeration |
|
sacrosanct
|
adj
sacred, held to be inviolable |
|
sanguine
|
adj
cheerful, optimistic, hopeful |
|
sardonic
|
adj
mocking, scornful |
|
saturnine
|
adj
gloomy or taciturn |
|
scrupulous
|
adj
strict, careful; hesitant for ethical reasons |
|
semantic
|
n
pertaining to the meaning of words or symbols |
|
semaphore
|
n
a system of signaling, usually through the use of flags |
|
serendipity
|
n
accidental good fortune, the discovery of good things without looking for them |
|
skinflint
|
n
a mean, penny-pinching person |
|
smidgen
|
n
a very small amount |
|
somber
|
adj
depressing, dismal, gloomy |
|
specious
|
adj
deceptively plausible or attractive; misleading |
|
stand
|
n
a group of trees |
|
sublime
|
adj
of great intellectual, moral, or spiritual value |
|
subsidy
|
n
a gift of money |
|
subterfuge
|
n
deceptive strategy used to conceal, escape, or evade |
|
supercilious
|
adj
haughty, patronizing |
|
supplicate
|
v
to ask or beg humbly |
|
tenable
|
adj
valid, capable of being argued successfully |
|
threadbare
|
adj
falling apart, meager, poor, old |
|
truculent
|
adj
fierce, cruel, savagely brutal |
|
turbid
|
adj
unclear or opaque; lacking clarity or purity |
|
uncanny
|
adj
extraordinary, mysterious, uncomfortably strange |
|
unilateral
|
adj
involving one side only; done on behalf of one side only |
|
usury
|
n
the practice of lending money at a high rate of interest |
|
vacuous
|
adj
empty of content; lacking in ideas or intelligence |
|
vapid
|
adj
dull, spiritless |
|
verdant
|
adj
covered with green plants; leafy; inexperienced |
|
vernacular
|
n
everyday speech, slang, idiom |
|
vestige
|
n
everyday speech, slang, idiom |
|
vestige
|
n
a remaining bit of something, a last trace |
|
vilify
|
v
a remaining bit of something, a last trace |
|
vilify
|
v
to say vile things about; to defame |
|
wane
|
v
to decrease in strength or intensity; to fade away; to decline in power |
|
wanton
|
adj
malicious, unjustifiable, unprovoked, egregious |
|
wizened
|
adj
shriveled, withered, shrunken |
|
zeitgeist
|
n
the mood or spirit of the times |
|
zenith
|
n
the highest point; peak; pinnacle |