BARRONS GRE MATERIAL

1
2 abase lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself)
lose self-respect
 abash embarrass
 abate subside or moderate
2 abbreviate shorten
2 abdicate renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
2 aberrant abnormal or deviant
2 aberration deviation from the normal; mental disorder
 abet assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
 abeyance suspended action
2 abhor detest; hate
2 abject (of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking
pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject
apology
2 abjure renounce upon oath
2 ablution washing
2 abnegation renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
2 abolish cancel; put an end to
2 abominate loathe; hate
2 abominable detestable; extremely unpleasant
2 aboriginal being the first of its kind in a region; primitive;
native; indigenous; N. aborigine
2 abortive unsuccessful; fruitless
2 abrasive rubbing away; tending to grind down
2 abridge condense or shorten
2 abrogate abolish
 abscission cutting off; separation
2 abscond depart secretly and hide
2 absolute complete; totally unlimited; having complete
power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler;
CF. absolutism
2 absolve pardon (an offense)
2 abstain refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally
not use one’s vote;
2 abstemious sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
2 abstinence restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or
drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
2 abstract theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
~ representational (of a style of art) showing things as they
actually appear in real life
2 abstruse obscure; profound; difficult to understand
2 abusive coarsely insulting; physically harmful
 abut border upon; adjoin
2 abysmal bottomless
2 abyss enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
2 academic related to a school; not practical or directly useful
2 accede agree
2 accelerate move faster
2 accessible easy to approach; obtainable
2 accessory additional object; useful but not essential thing
2 acclaim applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce
with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been
acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N:
strong expression of approval and praise
2 acclimate adjust to climate or environment; adapt
 acclivity sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
2 accolade award of merit; strong praise and approval
~ merit good quality deserving praise; merits: aspect of character
or behavior deserving approval or disapproval; Ex.
judge each plan on its own merits; V: deserve; earn
~ demerit fault; bad quality
~ earn gain for the performance of service or labor; gain
(something that one deserves); deserve
2 accommodate oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into
harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative;
CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
2 accomplice partner in crime
2 accord agreement
2 accost approach and speak first to a person
 accoutre equip; N. accoutrement
2 accretion growth or increase in size by gradual addition;
growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers
and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
2 accrue come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come
about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific
research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
 acerbity bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic:
bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
~ bitter having a sharp biting taste; ; causing sharp pain to
the body or mind; filled with resentment, disappointment,
or other unpleasant feelings; Ex. bitter wind/sorrow/tears
~ biting sharply painful to the body or mind; Ex. biting
wind/remarks
 acetic vinegary
 acidulous slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
2 acknowledge recognize; admit
 acme peak; pinnacle; highest point
2 acoustics science of sound; quality that makes a room easy
or hard to hear in
2 acquiesce assent; agree passively; comply without protest
1
2 acquittal deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a
charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself)
in a specified manner
 acrid bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
 acrimonious stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner;
N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
2 acrophobia fear of heights
2 actuarial calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
2 actuary someone who advises insurance companies
 actuate motivate; activate; cause to act
2 acuity sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
2 acumen mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to
judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
2 acute (of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen;
penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of
smell/analysis/pain
 adage wise saying; proverb
~ proverb adage; someone or something well known for notoriety;
ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV.
proverbially
2 adamant hard; inflexible
2 adapt make or become suitable for a specific use; alter;
modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition
recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of
a short novel.
 addendum addition; appendix to book; something that is
added (as at the end of a speech or book)
2 addiction compulsive habitual need
 addle make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become
rotten (egg)
2 address direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss;
direct one’s efforts or attention to; make with a destination;
N: formal speech
2 adept expert at; very skilled
2 adhere stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering;
devotion; loyality
2 adherent supporter; follower
2 adjacent adjoining; neighboring; close by
~ adjoin be next to
~ adjourn suspend until a later time; move from one place to
another
2 adjunct something attached to but holding an inferior position
2 adjuration solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin
solemnly
 adjutant staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
2 admonish warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
~ adore love deeply and respect highly
2 adorn decorate
2 adroit skillful (in using mind or hand)
2
2 adulation flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary
or deserved
2 adulterate make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior
or tainted(contaminated) substances
2 advent arrival
2 adventitious accidental; casual; happening by chance
2 adversary opponent; enemy
2 adverse going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
2 adversity great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous
event
 advert refer
2 advocacy support; active pleading on behalf of someone or
something
2 advocate speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge;
plead for
 aegis shield; protection; defense
 aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry) nest of a large bird of prey
2 aesthetic artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating
the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF.
aesthetics
2 affable easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
2 affected artificial; pretended
2 affidavit written statement made under oath (for use as
proof in a court of law)
2 affiliation joining; associating with
2 affinity feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for
her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
2 affirmation positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge
by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative;
CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
2 affliction state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering;
V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
2 affluence abundance; wealth
2 affront insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult
or hurt the feelings of intentionally
 agape openmouthed
 agenda items of business at a meeting
 agglomeration collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather
into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
2 aggrandize make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank,
or honor; N. aggrandizement
2 aggregate sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole;
accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
2
2 aghast filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
2 agility nimbleness; ability to move quickly
2 agitate stir up; disturb
2 agnostic one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability
of a god or any ultimate reality
 agog highly excited; intensely curious
2 agrarian pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian
reform
2 alacrity cheerful promptness without reluctance
2 alchemy medieval chemistry
 alcove nook; recess
2 alias an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead
people); ADV. alias
2 alienate make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate;
change the ownership of
2 alimentary supplying nourishment
 alimony payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
2 allay calm; pacify
2 allege state without proof
2 allegiance loyalty
 allegory story, play, or picture in which characters are used
as symbols; fable
2 alleviate relieve (pain)
2 alliteration repetition of beginning sound in poetry
2 allocate assign; set apart for a particular purpose
~ earmark set aside (money or time) for a particular purpose
2 alloy mixture as of metals; something added that lowers
in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value
or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other
maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
2 allude refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
2 allure entice; attract; tempt
~ siren apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
2 alluvial pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
 aloof apart; not open in one’s relationship with other people;
reserved; ADV.
 aloft upward; high up in the air
2 altercation noisy quarrel
2 altruistic unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism:
unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness;
OP. egoism
 amalgamate (of societies or groups) combine; unite in one
body
 amalgam combination of different things; mixture of metals
(containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
 amass collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
2 amazon female warrior
2 ambidextrous capable of using either hand with equal ease
2 ambience environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with
a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding;
Ex. ambient temperature
2 ambiguous unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more
than one possible interpretation
2 ambivalence the state of having contradictory or conflicting
emotional attitudes or opinions
2 amble walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly
and aimlessly
 ambrosia food of the gods
~ nectar drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
2 ambulatory able to walk
2 ameliorate improve
2 amenable obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive;
willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally;
responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible
suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the
usual tests
2 amend correct; change ; generally for the better
3
2 amenities convenient features that helps to make life pleasant;
social courtesies
2 amiable agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
2 amicable peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex.
amicable settlement
 amiss wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
2 amity friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
2 amnesia loss of memory
2 amnesty pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
2 amoral nonmoral; having no understanding of right and
wrong
2 amorous moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex.
amorous advances
2 amorphous formless; lacking shape or definition
2 amphibian able to live both on land and in water; N.
2 amphitheater oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
 ample enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample
opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample;
abundance; largeness of space
2 amplify increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify
by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one’s
remarks with a graph
 amputate cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
 amok(amuck) in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
3
 amulet charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect
against evil, bad luck
2 anachronism an error involving time in a story; something
or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
 analgesic causing insensitivity to pain; N.
~ analgesia condition of being unable to feel pain
2 analogous comparable; similar
2 analogy similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar
things
2 anarchist person who seeks to overturn the established government;
advocate of abolishing authority
2 anarchy absence of governing body; state of disorder
 anathema solemn curse; someone or something regarded
as a curse; V. anathematize
2 ancestry family descent; ADJ. ancestral
2 anchor secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
2 ancillary serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
2 anecdote short story of an amusing or interesting event
2 anemia condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ.
anemic
2 anesthetic substance that removes sensation with or without
loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
2 anguish acute pain; extreme suffering
2 angular sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded
(body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
2 animadversion critical remark; V. animadvert: comment
critically with disapproval
2 animated lively; spirited
2 animosity active enmity
 animus hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
2 annals records arranged in yearly parts; history
2 anneal reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating
and cooling (metal or glass)
2 annex attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate
(territory) into a larger existing political unit (by
force); N: building added to a large one
2 annihilate destroy
2 annotate comment; make explanatory notes
2 annuity yearly allowance
2 annul make void
~ elope run away secretly with the intention of getting married
 anodyne drug that relieves pain or trouble; ; opiate; ADJ.
Ex. anodyne statement
2 anoint consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
2 anomalous abnormal; irregular
2 anomaly irregularity
2 anonymity state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ.
anonymous
2 antagonism hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize:
cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is
opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character
in oppostion to the protagonist
~ protagonist leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief
character in a play or story
2 antecede precede
2 antecedents preceding events that influence what comes
later; ancestors or early background
2 antediluvian antiquated; extremely ancient
 anthem song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
 anthology book of literary selections by various authors;
CF. omnibus
2 anthropoid manlike; resembling a human being; N.
2 anthropologist student of the history and science of humankind
2 anthropomorphic having human form or characteristics
2 anticlimax letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting,
ordinary, or disappointing coming after something
important or exciting
2 antidote remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote
to the economic troubles
2 antipathy aversion; dislike or opposition
 antiquated obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
~ antique made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N:
object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare
or valuable
~ antiquity quality of being very old; ancient times;
2 antiseptic substance that prevents infection in a wound;
ADJ.
2 antithesis contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic
or antithetical
~ antler bony growth on the head of a deer
 anvil iron block used in hammering out metals
2 apathy lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest
in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after
his failure; ADJ. apathetic
 ape imitate or mimic (a person’s behavior or manner)
 aperture opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera
that limits the amount of light
 apex tip; summit; climax; highest point
2 aphasia loss of speech due to injury or illness
2 aphorism pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
 apiary a place where bees are kept
~ hive box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
~ apiculture bee-keeping
~ apiarist person who keeps bees
4
 aplomb poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance;
self-confidence
~ poise good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in
a carefully balanced position
2 apocalyptic prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially
of disaster; N. apocalypse
 apocryphal (of a story) widely believed but untrue
2 apogee highest point; the point farthest from the earth;
OP. perigee
 apolitical having an aversion or lack of concern for political
affairs
 apologist one who writes in defense of a cause or institution;
N. apologia
 apoplexy stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much
blood in the brain
 apostate one who abandons his religious faith or political
beliefs; N. apostasy
 apothecary druggist; pharmacist
4
 apothegm(apophthegm) pithy, compact saying
 apotheosis elevation to godhood; an ideal example of
something
2 appall dismay; shock deeply
2 apparition ghost; phantom
2 appease pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N.
appeasement
 appellation name; title
2 append attach
 application diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
2 apposite appropriate; fitting
2 appraise estimate value of; N. appraisal
2 appreciate be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly
conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt;
Ex. appreciable difference
2 apprehend arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
 apprehensive fearful; discerning
2 apprise inform
2 approbation approval
2 appropriate acquire; take possession of for one’s own use
without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate;
CF. misappropriate
 appurtenances subordinate possessions; something added
to a more important thing
 apropos with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos
(of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
2 aptitude fitness; talent
 aquiline curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline
nose
 arable fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
2 arbiter person with power to decide a matter in dispute;
judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments;
Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
2 arbitrary unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical;
Ex. arbitrary ruler
2 arbitrate act as judge (at the request of both sides)
 arboretum place where different trees and shrubs are studied
and exhibited
~ arboreal of or living in trees
2 arcade a covered passageway usually lined with shops
2 arcane esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated;
Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the
uninitiated listener
2 archaeology study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
 archaic antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past;
N.
 archetype prototype; primitive pattern
2 arch- chief; first; Ex. archbishop
 archipelago group of closely located islands
 archives public records; place where public records are kept
2 ardor heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
 arduous hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
 argot slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
2 aria operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera
or oratorio
 arid (of land) dry; barren; unproductive
2 aristocracy hereditary nobility; privileged class; government
by nobility; N. aristocrat
2 armada fleet of warships
2 aromatic fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong
pleasant smell
2 arraign charge in court; indict
 array marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe
splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in
battle array
2 arrears being in debt; money that should have been paid;
work that should have been done
 arrhythmic lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
2 arrogance pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly
self-important (with a strong confidence in one’s own
importance and a lack of respect for other people)
 arroyo gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
~ artery blood-vessel; CF. vein
2 articulate effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having
clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express
thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite
by joints
5
2 arsenal storage place for military equipment
2 artifacts object made by human beings, either hand-made
or mass-produced
 artifice deception; trickery
2 artisan a manually skilled worker
 artless without guile; open and honest
2 ascendancy controlling influence; position of controlling
influence; CF. in the ascendant
2 ascertain find out for certain; make certain
2 ascetic practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures
and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks;
N. asceticism
2 ascribe refer; attribute; assign
2 aseptic preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
 ashen ash-colored; deadly pale
 asinine stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
 askance with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval
or distruct); Ex. look askance at
 askew crookedly; slanted; at an angle
2 asperity sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or
weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
2 aspersion slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
2 aspirant seeker after position or status
2 aspire seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire
to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
2 assail assault
 assay analyze (to discover what materials are present);
evaluate (soil or ore)
2 assent agree; accept; N. assessment
 assert state strongly or positively; demand recognition of
(rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action);
Ex. assert one’s independence
2 assiduous diligent
2 assimilate absorb; take (food) into the body and digest
it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use
properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a
country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
2 assuage mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy
(hunger); soothe (anger)
2 assumption something taken for granted; the taking over
or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V.
assume
~ regent a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill,
absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
2 assurance firm statement that something is certainly true;
promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one’s own ability;
self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he
did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The
teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell
firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to
heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ.
assured: self-assured; confident in one’s own ability; showing
certainty
2 asteroid small planet
 astigmatism eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP.
stigmatism
5
 astral relating to the stars
2 astringent binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding);
harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
2 astronomical enormously large or extensive
2 astute wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is
to one’s advantage
 asunder into parts; apart; V. sunder
2 asylum place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or
political)
2 asymmetric not identical on both sides of a dividing central
line
 atavism resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to
parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ.
atavistic
2 atheistic denying the existence of God; N. atheism
2 atone make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
2 atrocity brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
2 atrophy wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle
(through lack of blood or lack of use)
2 attentive alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention;
considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive
audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N.
attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
2 attenuate make thin; weaken
2 attest testify; bear witness
2 attribute essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
2 attrition rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in
numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without
firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of
harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
 atypical not normal; not typical
2 audacious daring; bold; N. audacity
2 audit examination of accounts of a business; official examination;
V.
2 augment increase; add to
 augury omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur:
predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
2 august impressive; majestic
 aureole sun’s corona; halo; bright circle of light
 auroral pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
6
2 auspicious favoring success; giving signs of future success;
Cf. auspices
2 austere forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment;
severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk’s
austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
2 authenticate prove genuine
2 authoritarian subordinating the individual to the state;
completely dominating another’s will; Ex. authoritarian
regime/father
2 authoritative having the weight of authority; regarded as
providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory
and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner;
CF. definitive
2 autocratic having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial;
N. autocrat, autocracy
2 automaton mechanism that imitates actions of humans;
machine that works by itself
2 autonomous self-governing; N. autonomy
2 autopsy examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
2 auxiliary offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary;
N: helper; assistant
2 avalanche great mass of falling snow and ice
2 avarice greediness for wealth
2 avenge take vengence for something or on behalf of someone;
Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village;
Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged
themselves on their enemy.
2 aver state confidently; declare as true
2 averse reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex.
averse to cats/doing the house work
2 aversion firm dislike
2 avert prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An
accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted
her eyes from the terrible sight.
2 aviary enclosure for birds; large cage
 avid greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
2 avocation secondary or minor occupation
2 avow declare openly; N. avowal
2 avuncular of or like an uncle
2 awe solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder
and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
~ awful terrible; very bad
 awl pointed tool used for piercing
 awry distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone
awry.
2 axiom self-evident truth requiring no proof
 azure sky blue
 babble chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds
like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
 bacchanalian drunken
~ bacchanal noisy party with a lot of drinking
~ Bacchanalia the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
 badger pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade
by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me
into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain
animal
 badinage teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
2 baffle frustrate; perplex
 bait harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or
other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
 baleful evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a
malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex.
baleful look
 balk stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to
continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate
 ballast heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V.
supply with ballast
 balm something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant
smell from trees
~ pang sudden sharp feeling of pain
 balmy soft and mild (of air); fragrant
2 banal hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality;
clich´ed
 bandy discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner;
exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words
with
2 bane posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
2 bantering joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V.
banter
2 barb sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object;
openly cutting remark
6
 bard poet
 barefaced shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed;
having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
~ unregenerate making no attempt to change one’s bad
practices
 baroque highly ornate
2 barrage barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming
profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a
barrage of criticism
2 barrister counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of
law; CF. bar
~ solicitor lawyer in the lower court of law
2 barterer trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other
goods rather than money
7
 bask luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
~ luxuriate take pleasure in great comfort
 bastion stronghold; something seen as a source of protection;
Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
 bate let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex.
with bated breath; CF. abate
 bauble trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
 bawdy indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way;
CF. bawd
 beatific giving or showing bliss; blissful
~ bliss complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
 beatitude blessedness; state of great happiness
~ mystic of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic
ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
 bedizen dress with vulgar finery
~ finery beautiful clothes for a special occasion
 bedraggle wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
 beeline direct quick route
 befuddle confuse thoroughly
~ fuddle make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N.
in a fuddle: confused
2 beget father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
 begrudge envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We
shouldn’t begrudge him his success.
~ grudge deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.
 beguile deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly;
charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
 behemoth huge creature; something of monstrous size or
power
 beholden obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted
from gratitude
 behoove(behove) be suited to; be incumbent upon; be
right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.
 belabor harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over
excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat
severely; attack physically
 belated delayed
 beleaguer besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
 belie contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The
poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her
true feeling of displeasure.
2 belittle disparage; depreciate
2 bellicose warlike
2 belligerent quarrelsome
 bemoan lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval
of
 bemused confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
2 benediction blessing
2 benefactor gift giver; patron; person who does good or who
gives money for a good purpose
2 beneficent kindly; doing good
2 beneficial helpful; useful; advantageous
2 beneficiary person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an
insurance policy or will
 benefit advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage,
or profit; money provided by the government to the people;
fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment
benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits
2 benevolent generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
2 benign kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign
tumor
2 benison blessing
2 bent determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business;
N: natural talent or inclination
2 bequeath leave to someone by means of a will; hand down
in his will; N. bequest
 berate scold strongly
 bereavement state of being deprived of something valuable
or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
 bereaved deprived of (someone beloved through death)
 bereft deprived of (something valuable); lacking
 berserk mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
2 beseech beg; plead with
 beset harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
~ hem surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex.
hem in; N.
2 besiege surround with armed forces; harass (with requests);
annoy continually
 besmirch soil; defile; make dirty
 bestial beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
2 bestow confer
 betoken signify; indicate; be a sign of
~ token outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude
 betray be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly);
Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
 betroth become engaged to marry
 bevy large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
2 bicameral two-chambered as a legislative body
2 bicker quarrel
2 biennial every two years
 bifurcated divided into two branches; forked
 bigotry stubborn intolerance
~ bigot one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)
8
~ intolerant not willing to accept ways of thinking different
from one’s own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate
 bilious suffering from indigestion; sick from having too
much bile; irritable; easily irritated
 bilk swindle; cheat
 billowing swelling out in waves; surging
~ billow large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke);
V: surge, swell, roll in billows
~ swell long wave of water that moves continuously without
breaking; V.
~ surge powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
 bivouac temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
2 bizarre fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd;
strikingly unconventional
 blanch bleach; whiten; make white or pale
 bland soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble
or offence
 blandishment flattery
 blare loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light
~ screech unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.
~ dazzle make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill
with wonder
 blas´e bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or
bored
 blasphemy irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language
about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous;
CF. sacrilege
 blatant extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive;
Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
 bleak cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing
 blighted suffering from a disease; destroyed
~ blight plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
 blithe(blithesome) gay; joyous
 bloated (unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or
air
 blowhard talkative boaster; braggart
 bludgeon club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
 bluff pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ:
rough but good-natured
7
2 blunder error; stupid mistake
 blurt utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement
 bluster blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak
in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale
~ bully one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.
2 bode foreshadow; portend
2 bogus counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex.
bogus interview
 bohemian unconventional (in an artistic way)
2 boisterous violent; rough; noisy
 bolster support; reinforce
 bolt door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large
roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a door); gobble
down
~ dart move or throw suddenly and quickly
~ gobble eat very quickly
 bombardment attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard
 bombastic pompous; using inflated language
~ bombast grandiloquent, pompous speech
 boon blessing; benefit; something very helpful
 boorish rude; insensitive
~ boor rude, insensitive person
 bouillon clear beef (or meat) soup
 bountiful generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
~ gracious kind in a generous way (to someone less important)
2 bourgeois middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested
in material possessions
2 bovine cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm
 bowdlerize expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
 brackish somewhat saline
 braggadocio boasting
~ brag boast
 braggart boaster; bragger
 brandish wave around (a weapon); flourish
 bravado swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of
bravery
~ swagger walk or behave with an over-confident manner
 brawn human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
~ brawny muscular; having well-developed muscles
~ sturdy strong and firm (in the body)
 brazen insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V:
face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence
~ brawl noisy quarrel
 breach breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening;
V.
2 breadth width; extent
2 brevity conciseness; shortness of duration
 brindled tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
~ tawny brownish yellow
 bristling rising like bristles; showing irritation
9
~ bristle short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
 brittle hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle
situation
 broach introduce as a subject; moot; open up
 brocade rich, figured(patterned) fabric
2 brochure pamphlet
 brooch ornamental clasp; pin
~ clasp hold firmly within arms
 brook tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small
stream
 browbeat bully; intimidate
 browse graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
~ graze (of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an animal)
to feed on grass; scrape (esp. the skin) or touch lightly
in passing; brush; Ex. We can’t graze the cattle till summer;
N: surface wound
~ skim read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing;
brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
 brunt main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex.
brunt of the argument
 brusque blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time
being nice
 buccaneer pirate
 bucolic rustic; pastoral
 buffet strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table
with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at
which people help themselves to food that’s been set
~ slap hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
 buffoonery clowning
~ buffoon stupid person; clown
~ clown act stupidly; play the fool; N.
 bugaboo bugbear; object of baseless terror
 bullion gold and silver in the form of bars
 bulwark strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other
strong defense; person who defends
 bungle mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy
behavior
~ botch mismanage; blow
2 buoyant able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy;
Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market
2 bureaucracy overregulated administrative system marked
by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic
 burgeon grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning
computer industry; CF. bludgeon
 burlesque give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly
 burnish make shiny by rubbing; polish
 buttress support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support
wall; Ex. flying buttress
~ prop support placed under or against something; V.
 buxom full-bosomed; plump; jolly
~ plump pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
 cabal small group of persons secretly united to promote
their own interests
2 cache hiding place; V.
2 cacophonous discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony:
unpleasant mixture of loud sounds
2 cadaver corpse; dead human body
2 cadaverous like a corpse; pale
 cadence rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat;
regular beat of sound; rhythm
 cajole persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
~ coax persuade by flattery
2 calamity disaster; misery
2 calculated deliberately planned; likely
 caldron(cauldron) large kettle
 caliber ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round
cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber
2 calligraphy beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
 callous hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings
of others; unkind
~ callus area of thick hard skin
 callow youthful; immature; inexperienced
 calorific heat-producing; N. calorie
2 calumny malicious misrepresentation; slander
 camaraderie good-fellowship; CF. comrade
 cameo shell or jewel carved in relief; star’s special appearance
in a minor role in a film
 canard unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
 candor frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
 canine related to dogs; doglike
 canker any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
~ ulcer sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the
body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate
 canny shrewd in money matters; thrifty
 cant insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of
thieves; special words used by a particular group of people
2 cantankerous ill-humored; irritable
 cantata story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter
than an oratorio)
 canter slow gallop; V. CF. trot
8
 canto division of a long poem
10
 canvass determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through
(a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.
2 capacious spacious
 capacity mental or physical ability; role; position or duty;
ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president
 capillary having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine
and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike
tube; CF. capillarity
 capitulate surrender; give up all resistance
2 caprice whim; sudden change of mind without any real
cause
2 capricious unpredictable; fickle
2 caption title; chapter heading; text under illustration
 captious faultfinding; too critical
 carafe glass water bottle; decanter
 carapace shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab,
etc.)
 carat(karat) unit of weight for precious stones; measure of
the purity of gold
 carcinogenic causing cancer; N. carcinogen
 cardinal chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number:
number that shows quantity rather thatn order
2 cardiologist doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
 careen lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular
swinging movement; stagger
~ career rush wildly; go at full speed
~ sway swing from side to side; influence (someone) to change
one’s opinion; N.
2 caricature distortion; burlesque
2 carillon a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being
played
2 carnage destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers
of people or animals
2 carnal fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
2 carnivorous meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
 carousal drunken revel; V. carouse
 carping petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining;
quibble
 carrion rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
 cartographer map-maker
2 cascade small waterfall
 caste one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social
stratification; prestige
2 castigation punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
2 casualty serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded
in an accident or battle
~ casual happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal;
showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual
reader/labor/remark
 cataclysm deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden
event or change
 catalyst agent which brings about a chemical change while
it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis
2 catapult slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
~ hurl throw forcefully; shout out violently
 cataract great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual
loss of eyesight)
2 catastrophe calamity ; disaster
 catcall shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the
theater or a sports match); boo; V.
 catechism book for religious instruction in question-andanswer
form; religious instruction by question and answer;
V. catechize
2 categorical without exceptions; made without any doubt
in mind; unqualified; absolute
~ qualify reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of
something stated
2 catharsis purging or cleansing of any passage of the body;
purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing
a dramatic work of art
2 cathartic purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to
empty; ADJ.
 catholic (of likings and interests) universal; general; broad;
including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex.
catholic opinions/tastes
 caucus private meeting of a group of people in a political
party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus
club of Boston
 caulk(calk) make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in
a ship)
2 causal implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality
2 caustic burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action;
sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter;
harmful; OP. harmless
 cauterize burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron
or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
 cavalcade procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade;
CF. cavalry
 cavalier casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
 cavil quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
 cede yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war);
surrender formally; N. cession
2 celerity speed; rapidity
2 celestial heavenly
~ hereafter life after death
~ afterlife life after death; later part of one’s life
 celibate abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N.
celibacy
11
2 censor (in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking
the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.
 censorious severely critical
2 censure blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe
criticism; strong disapproval
2 centaur mythical figure, half man and half horse
2 centigrade denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically
same as Celsius)
2 centrifugal radiating; departing from the center
2 centrifuge machine that separates substances by whirling
them
2 centripetal tending toward the center
2 centurion Roman army officer (commanding a company of
about 100 soldiers)
2 cerebral pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual
rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum
2 cerebration thought; working of the brain
 ceremonious marked by formality; extremely formal and
polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
~ unceremonious not done politely without due formalities
 certitude certainty
2 cessation stoppage
 cession yielding to another; ceding
 chafe warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
 chaff worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed
cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from
the chaff
 chaffing bantering; joking
 chagrin annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused
by humiliation or injured pride)
 chalice goblet; consecrated cup
2 chameleon lizard that changes color in different situations
9
2 champion support militantly; fight for; N: person who
fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person,
etc.)
~ championship position of champion; defense or support;
competition held to determine a champion
2 chaotic in utter disorder
2 charisma divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism
 charlatan quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in
medicine)
 chary cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained
about giving; OP. bold
 chase ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly
to catch
2 chasm abyss; very deep crack
 chassis framework and working parts of an automobile;
framework to which components are attached
2 chaste morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual
acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly
decorated; austere
 chasten discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
 chastise punish as by beating; criticize severely
2 chauvinist blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a
group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism;
Nicolas Chauvin
2 check stop motion; curb or restrain
 checkered(chequered) marked by great changes in fortune;
with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having
a pattern of squares
 cherubic angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph:
winged angel of the highest order
 chicanery trickery; deception
 chide scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
 chimerical fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N.
chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
 chisel swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting
~ chip lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N:
small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato
chip/crisp
2 chivalrous courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry
 choleric hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered;
CF. cholera
 choreography art of representing dances in written symbols;
arrangement of dances
~ chore daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and
shopping); unpleasant task
 chortle chuckle with delight; N.
~ chuckle laugh quietly
2 chronic long established as a disease
2 chronicle report; record (in chronological order)
 churlish boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
 ciliated having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
2 cipher nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret
code; V.
2 circlet small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on
the head, arms, or neck as decoration)
2 circuitous roundabout
~ circuit closed circular line around an area; circumference;
regularly repeated journey from place to place
2 circumlocution indirect or roundabout expression (by using
an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying
to avoid answering a difficult question directly)
12
2 circumscribe limit; confine; draw a line around
 circumspect prudent; cautious; acting after careful
thought
2 circumvent outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart;
baffle; avoid; get around
 cistern reservoir or water tank
2 citadel fortress
2 cite quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official
record
2 civil having to do with citizens; not military or religious;
courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex.
civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic
2 clairvoyant having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
~ hindsight understanding the nature of an event after it has
actually happened
 clamber climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
2 clamor loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint
made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor;
express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous
2 clandestine secret
~ chaperon older person who accompanies and supervises a
young unmarried woman
 clangor loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
 clapper striker (tongue) of a bell
~ clap strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden
explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound;
put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping;
loud or explosive sound; CF. applause
 clarion shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in
former times
2 claustrophobia fear of being locked in
 clavicle collarbone
~ scrimmage disorderly fight between two or more people
2 cleave split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage;
ADJ. cloven
 cleft N: split
 clemency disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments;
mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
2 clich´e phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude;
ADJ. clich´ed
~ bromide platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
 clientele body of customers
2 climactic relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
 clime climate
 clique small exclusive group of people
2 cloister monastery or convent
 clout great influence (especially political or social); hard
blow with fist
2 cloying distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or
sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much
sweetness or excess
 coagulate congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant
~ clot half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
~ pudding hot sweet dish
2 coalesce combine; fuse; N. coalescence
2 coalition partnership; league; union of separate political
parties
 coda concluding section of a musical or literary composition
 coddle treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle;
baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled
eggs
 codicil supplement to the body of a will; later addition to
a will
2 codify arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code:
system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection
of laws, rules, established social customs
2 coercion use of force to get someone to object; compelling;
V. coerce
 coeval living at the same time as; existing during the same
period of time; contemporary; of the same age
 cog tooth projecting from a wheel
2 cogent convincing
2 cogitate think over; ponder
2 cognate having a common origin; related linguistically; allied
by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages;
N.
2 cognitive having to do with knowing or perceiving related
to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of
knowing
2 cognizance knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge;
aware
 cohabit live together
2 cohere stick together
2 cohesion tendency to keep together
 cohorts group of people who share some common quality;
armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under
one commander (in the ancient Rome)
 coiffure hairstyle
2 coin make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N.
coinage: word or phrase recently invented
2 coincidence the chance occurrence, at the same time, of
two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen
at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF.
coincidental
 colander utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
13
10
2 collaborate work together; cooperate treasonably with the
enemy
 collage work of art put together from fragments
~ scrap small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight;
Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal;
discard as worthless; fight; quarrel
~ scraps leftover food
~ scrappy quarrelsome
2 collate examine and compare in order to verify authenticity;
arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are
bound)
2 collateral security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended
from the same person but through different sons
or daughters
 collation a light meal; collating
2 colloquial pertaining to conversational or common speech;
informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression
2 colloquy informal discussion; conversation
2 collusion conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive
others; V. collude
2 colossal huge
2 colossus gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or
importance
 comatose in a coma; extremely sleepy
~ coma deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease,
poison, or a severe blow
2 combustible easily burned; N. CF. combustion
2 comely attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
~ homely not good-looking; unattractive
2 comestible something fit to be eaten
 comeuppance deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune;
rebuke
~ deserts what someone deserves
 comity courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
2 commandeer take (private property) for military use without
needing permission or giving payment; draft for military
purposes
~ draft first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a
draft of; conscript
~ draught current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of
pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid
swallowed at a time
 commemorative remembering; honoring the memory of;
Ex. commemorative stamp
~ commemorate honor the memory of; serve as a memorial
to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died
in the war
2 commensurate equal in extent; of the same size
2 commiserate feel or express pity or sympathy for
2 commodious spacious and comfortable
 communal held in common; public; of a group of people;
of a commune
~ commune small (often rural) community whose members
share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings;
Ex. commune with nature
2 compact agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm;
brief; concise; Ex. compact statement
2 compatible harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist
together
2 compelling overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding
one’s attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a
compelling adventure story; V. compel
~ compulsion compelling; strong desire that is difficult to
control; irresistible impulse
~ compulsory obligatory; that must be done
~ compulsive resulting from compulsion
2 compendium brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious
2 compensatory making up for; repaying
2 compilation listing of information in tabular or book form;
compiling
2 compile assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or
a book) from facts and information found in various places;
Ex. compile a dictionary
2 complacency self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
~ smug self-satisfied; complacent
2 complaisant trying to please; obliging; willing to please
others
2 complement complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
2 complementary serving to complete something
2 compliance conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness
to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply
2 compliant readily acting in accordance with a rule, order,
or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements
2 complicity participation; involvement (in a questionable
act or a crime)
2 component element; ingredient
 comport bear one’s self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N.
comportment
~ deport send out of the country; behave; N. deportation,
deportment
~ bearing deportment; connection
2 composure mental calmness
2 compound combine; produce by combining; increase; make
worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound
an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination
of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing
a group of buildings; Ex. factory compound; CF. complex
14
2 comprehensive broad; including a lot or everything; thorough;
inclusive
~ comprehend include; understand
2 compress force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into
fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the
body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.
2 comprise include; consist of
 compromise adjust or settle by making mutual concessions;
endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger,
disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise
one’s principle; N.
2 compunction remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
2 compute reckon; calculate
~ reckon count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose
2 concatenate link as in a chain
2 concave hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
2 concede admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly);
yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal
2 conceit vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one’s own
value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)
~ vain full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful;
N. vanity
2 concentric having a common center
2 conception beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V.
conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant;
CF. inception
 concerted mutually agreed on; done together by agreement;
Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together
2 concession an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded;
point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining
a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in
the North sea; CF. concessionaire
2 conciliatory reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile;
soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)
2 concise brief and compact
 conclave private secret meeting
2 conclusive decisive; ending all debate
2 concoct prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert;
devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct
an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction
2 concomitant that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a
frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening
together with something else
2 concord harmony; accord
~ concordat formal agreement
2 concur agree; coincide; happen at the same time
2 concurrent happening at the same time; in agreement
2 condescend (derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air;
descend to the level of one considered inferior
2 condign adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
2 condiments seasonings; spices
2 condole express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for
someone who has experienced great sorrow
2 condone overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
2 conducive helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce
to/towards
2 conduit aqueduct; passageway for fluids
 confidant(confidante) trusted friend (to whom one tells
one’s secret)
~ confide tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident
about
~ confidence self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on
a strong belief in one’s abilities; strong belief in the ability of
a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something
confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex.
I’m telling you this in confidence; Ex. exchange confidences
about their boyfriends; ADJ. confident
~ confidential spoken or written in secret; trusted with private
matters; Ex. confidential secretary
2 confine shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits;
N. confinement
2 confiscate seize; take possession of (private property) by
official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer
2 conflagration great fire
2 confluence flowing together; the place where two rivers
flow together; crowd; gathering together
2 conformity harmony; agreement with established rules or
customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform:
be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to
the rule; CF. conformance
~ conformist person who uncritically conforms to the customs
of a group; OP. nonconformist: one who does not conform
to accepted beliefs of norms
 confound confuse; puzzle
2 congeal freeze; coagulate
2 congenial pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one’s tastes
and nature; Ex. congenial weather
2 congenital existing at birth
11
2 conglomeration mass of material sticking together
~ conglomerate corporation made up of several different
companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered
together; rock consisting of small stones held together
by clay; V.
2 congruence correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship;
CF. congruity
2 congruent in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding
exactly; CF. congruous
15
 conifer pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ.
coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen
2 conjecture surmise; guess; V.
2 conjugal pertaining to marriage
2 conjure cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a
spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick
movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the
mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.
2 connivance pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance;
permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance
(of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire
2 connoisseur person competent to act as a judge of art, etc.
(whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art
2 connotation suggested or implied meaning of an expression;
V. connote
2 connubial pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
~ matrimony state of being married
~ patrimony property inherited from a father
2 consanguinity kinship; relationship by birth
~ consanguineous(consanguine) having a common ancestor
2 conscientious scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious
worker
2 conscript draftee; person forced into military service; V.
2 consecrate dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate
one’s life to helping the poor
2 consensus general agreement; opinion reached by a group
2 consequential self-important; significant; consequent; following
as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
2 conservatory(conservatoire) school of the fine arts (especially
music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
2 consign send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially;
entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special
purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee
2 consistency absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree
of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF.
viscous
2 console lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay
the sorrow of; N. consolation
2 consolidation unification; process of becoming firmer or
stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen
2 consonance harmony; agreement
~ consonant harmonious; in agreement; N.
2 consort associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife
(or a ruler)
2 conspiracy treacherous plot; secret plan against the law
(by two or more people)
~ conspire take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together;
combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great
difficulties.
~ consternation great shock; dismay
2 constituent supporter; voter; member of a constituency;
component
~ constituency voters represented by an elected official; district
so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)
~ constitution constituting; system of laws; composition of
something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex.
men with strong constitutions
2 constraint restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings;
reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige;
confine forcibly; imprison
2 construe explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as
meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
2 consummate complete; V.
2 contagion infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious:
that can be passed by infection in the air
~ drastic strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic
changes/measures
2 contaminate pollute
2 contempt scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible
2 contend struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly
2 contention assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
~ thesis opinion put forward and supported by reasoned arguments
~ boost lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N:
push upward; increase
2 contentious quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
2 contest dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for;
try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a
seat in Parliament; N.
2 context writings preceding and following the passage
quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs
2 contiguous adjacent to; touching upon
 continence self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence;
voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions;
ADJ. continent
 contingent dependent on something uncertain or in the
future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a
group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency:
future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex.
prepare for every contingency
2 contortions twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently
out of shape; CF. contortionist
 contraband illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods;
ADJ.
16
 contravene contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom);
N. contravention
2 contrite penitent; repentant; N. contrition
 contrived unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous;
Ex. The ending was rather contrived.
~ contrive invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation);
manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention
~ contrivance something contrived; machine or apparatus;
clever deceitful plan; scheme
2 controvert oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict;
ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
2 contumacious stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority
(esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
2 contusion bruise
~ bruise injure without breaking the skin; N.
 conundrum riddle; difficult problem
2 convene come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene
the council
2 convention social or moral custom; established practice;
formal meeting; international agreement
2 conventional ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional
weapons
2 converge approach; tend to meet; come together
2 conversant familiar with; having knowledge of
2 converse opposite; ADJ.
2 convert one who has adopted a different religion or opinion;
V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a
particular religion or belief
2 convex curving outward
2 conveyance vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public
conveyance
2 conviction judgment that someone is guilty of a crime;
strongly held belief
2 convivial pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized
by joviality; jovial
2 convoke call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
2 convoluted coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated;
intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex
folds of the surface of the brain
~ convulsion violent uncontrollable
shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ.
convulsive
 copious plentiful
 coquette flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract
the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
~ flirt behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal
triflingly with; N: one (or woman) given to flirting; ADJ.
flirtatious
2 cordial warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial
welcome
 cordon extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access
or egress; ( ) ; V.
 cornice projecting molding on building (usually above
columns or pillars);
 cornucopia horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing
with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty
2 corollary natural consequence (which naturally follows
from something else)
 corporeal bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form;
material; tangible
2 corpulent very fat; N. corpulence
~ corpus collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus
of Shakespear’s works; Cf. corpse
~ corpuscle red or white cell in the blood
2 correlation mutual relationship
~ correlate either of the correlated things; V.
2 corroborate confirm; support; strengthen
2 corrode destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action
(over a long period)
2 corrosive eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language)
fierce
 corrugated wrinkled; ridged
~ wrinkle small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.
~ crinkle wrinkle
2 cosmic pertaining to the universe; vast
 coterie group that meets socially; select circle; close group
of people with shared interests
2 countenance approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance
his rude behavior; N: face; appearance
 countermand cancel; revoke (an order)
12
2 counterpart thing that completes another; things very
much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different
system
 coup highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s)
d’´etat; CF. coup de grˆace: deathblow or shot which kills
2 couple join; unite; OP. uncouple
 courier messenger
 covenant binding agreement between two groups or people;
compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise
~ bargain agreement between two groups or people; something
for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate;
trade; Ex. bargaining power
2 covert secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
 covetous avaricious; desirous of (someone else’s possessions);
V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else’s possessions)
17
 cow terrorize; intimidate
 cower shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
 coy shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of selfconfidence;
modest; coquettish; CF. job offer
 cozen cheat; hoodwink; swindle
 crabbed sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as
handwriting
~ peevish bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry
 crass very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating;
Ex. crass behavior
2 craven cowardly
2 credence belief
 credo creed
2 credulity belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet´e;
ADJ. credulous
2 creed system of religious or ethical belief
2 crescendo increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical
passage; climax; CF. crescent
~ far-fetched too improbable to be believed; implausible; Ex.
far-fetched story
~ overture musical introduction to a long musical piece; first
offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of reaching an
agreement); Ex. overtures for peace
 crestfallen dejected; dispirited
~ crest top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head
of a bird
 crevice crack; fissure
2 cringe shrink back as if in fear; cower
2 criteria standards used in judging; CF. criterion
 crone hag; ugly old woman
 crotchety (of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; badtempered;
N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
 crux essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem;
ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
2 crypt secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground
room (under a church)
2 cryptic mysterious; hidden; secret
 cubicle small chamber used for sleeping or work
~ compartment one of the parts into which an enclosed
space is divided
 cuisine style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
 culinary relating to cooking or kitchen
 cull pick out from others (to kill the weakest members);
reject; select; collect (information); N.
2 culmination highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach
the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes
culminating in war
2 culpable deserving blame; blameworthy
~ culprit one guilty of a crime
 culvert artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a
road
2 cumbersome heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome;
Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
2 cumulative growing by addition; accumulative
2 cupidity greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
2 curator superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum
or a library)
 curmudgeon churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered
old person
 cursive (of writing) flowing; running; having the successive
letters joined
2 cursory casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
2 curtail shorten; reduce
2 cynical skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism;
CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated
by selfishness
 cynosure object of general attention; person or thing that
is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
 dabble work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around;
move noisily in a liquid
 dais raised platform for speakers or other important people
 dally trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness;
procrastinate; waste time
 dank damp; unpleasantly wet
 dapper neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat
in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
 dappled spotted
 daub smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky;
Ex. daub one’s clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of
sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
~ smear spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark
made by smearing
~ smudge dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing;
V.
2 daunt intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
2 dauntless bold; fearless
2 dawdle loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
2 deadlock standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting
forces; stalemate
~ standstill condition of no movement or activity; stop
 deadpan wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with
an expressionless face
2 dearth scarcity
2 d´ebˆacle sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
2 debase degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate;
lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
~ kneel go down on one’s knee(s)
18
 debauch corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery:
wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
~ seduce lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive
2 debilitate weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble
~ bout match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling
bout; bout of drinking/flu
 debonair (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably
dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
2 d´ebris rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something
broken or destroyed
 debunk expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.;
ridicule
 debutante young woman making formal entrance into society
~ debut d´ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation
of a young woman to society
2 decadence decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization,
or art); ADJ. decadent
2 decant pour off gently (wine or liquid)
2 decapitate behead
2 decelerate slow down
13
 deciduous falling off at a specific season or stage of growth
as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
2 decimate kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man);
destroy or kill a large part of
2 decipher decode; CF. indecipherable
 declivity downward slope
 d´ecollet´e (of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF.
d´ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
~ decree authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of
law; V: order or judge by decree
 decomposition decay; V. decompose: decay; break and
separate into simple parts
2 decorum propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners;
appropriateness of behavior or conduct
~ decorous proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
2 decoy lure or bait; V.
2 decrepitude state of collapse or weakness caused by illness
or old age
~ decrepit weak and in bad condition from old age or hard
use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
 decry express strong disapproval of; condemn openly
(something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry
the violence of modern films
2 deducible derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive
by reasoning
2 deface mar; disfigure
~ mar spoil the appearance of
2 defame harm someone’s reputation; malign; speak evil of;
slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
2 default failure to act; failure to perform a task or be
present; V.
 defeatist resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or
failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
2 defection desertion
~ defect shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite
one)
2 defer give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt
temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with,
courteous
2 deference courteous regard for another’s wish; courteous
yielding to another’s wish or opinion (showing respect);
ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
2 defiance refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
2 defile pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane;
desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
2 definitive most reliable; authorative and complete; that
cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex.
definitive decision by the supreme court
2 deflect turn aside; turn away from a straight course
 defoliate destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of
chemicals); N. defoliant
 defray provide for the payment of; undertake the payment
of; pay
 defrock strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
~ frock long loose garment (worn by monks)
2 deft neat; skillful
2 defunct dead; no longer in use or existence
2 degenerate become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ:
having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved
or corrupt person
2 degradation humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V.
degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something)
in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
~ dishonor disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
 dehydrate remove water from; dry out
2 deify turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings
were deified; CF. deity
 deign condescend; stoop
~ stoop bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall
to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend;
Ex. stoop to lying
2 delete erase; strike out
 deleterious harmful
2 deliberate consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
19
2 delineate portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
2 delirium mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled
excitement; ADJ. delirious
2 delta flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
2 delude deceive
2 deluge flood; rush; V.
2 delusion false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions
of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
2 delusive deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising
vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
 delve dig; search deeply; investigate
2 demagogue person who appeals to people’s prejudice; false
leader of people; CF. demagoguery
2 demean disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
2 demeanor behavior; bearing
2 demented insane
2 demise death
 demographic related to population balance; N. demography:
statistical study of human population
2 demolition destruction; V. demolish
 demoniac(demoniacal) fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil
supernatural being; devil
~ fiend evil spirit; devil
 demotic of or pertaining to the people
 demur object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection
(showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of
working on Sunday
 demure (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy;
pretending to be demure
2 denigrate blacken; defame
2 denizen (animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident
of a particular place; regular visitor
2 denotation meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote:
indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
 d´enouement final outcome; final development of the plot
of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when
everything is explained
2 denounce condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
2 depict portray
~ expos´e public revelation of something discreditable
2 deplete reduce; exhaust
2 deplore regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for
something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ.
deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable
living condition
2 deploy spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow
battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or
strategically
~ battalion army unit made up of four or more companies
2 depose dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
2 deposition testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
2 depravity extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
2 deprecate express disapproval of; deplore; protest against;
belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
2 depreciate lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little
value
2 depredation plundering; destruction
2 deranged insane
~ institute organization for a special purpose; V: establish
~ institution instituting; (building for the) organization; established
custom, practice, or relationship in a society; mental
hospital; Ex. institution of marriage
~ institutionalize make into an institution; put or confine in
an institution
2 derelict negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of
something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned
property; homeless or vagrant person
~ dereliction neglect of duty; abandonment
2 deride ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
2 derision ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
2 derivative unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex.
derivative prose style; N.
~ derivation deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the
derivation of the word
2 dermatologist one who studies the skin and its diseases
~ acne skin disease (on the face)
14
2 derogatory expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate:
detract; disparage
 descry catch sight of (something distant)
2 desecrate profane; violate the sanctity of
~ violate break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually;
Ex. violate graves
2 desiccate dry up
2 desolate (of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person)
lonely; forlorn; joyless
2 desolate make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
 desperado reckless, desperate outlaw
~ desperate having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent
because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last
resort
2 despise look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful;
ADJ. despicable: contemptible
2 despoil plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
2 despondent without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy;
N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
20
2 despot tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
2 destitute extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly
lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
~ impoverish make poor; deprive of natural strength or
something important; Ex. impoverished soil
2 desultory aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
 detached emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement;
calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment;
CF. attachment
~ detain keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
 determinate having a fixed order of procedure; precisely
defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
 determination resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement
or calculation; decision
2 deterrent something that discourages or deters
2 detonation explosion
2 detraction slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
2 detrimental harmful; damaging; N. detriment
2 deviate turn away from (a principle, norm); move away
from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation;
Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism
 devious roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight
course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious
route
2 devise think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
2 devoid empty; lacking
 devolve deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work,
or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
~ deputize work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person
who has the power to take charge when the leading person
is away
2 devotee enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of
Bach
2 devout pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my
devout hope
~ religious of religion; (of a person) pious; having reverence
for a deity
2 dexterous skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
2 diabolical diabolic; devilish; fiendish
 diadem crown
2 dialectical relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal;
Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at
the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
2 diaphanous sheer; transparent
 diatribe bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
2 dichotomy division into two opposite parts; split; branching
into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
 dictum authoritative and weighty statement (made by a
judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental,
nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
 didactic (of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral
lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
 die metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for
stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
2 diffidence shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ.
diffident
 diffuse wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas);
V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF.
suffuse
2 digression wandering away from the subject; V. digress
2 dilapidated falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined
because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
2 dilate expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on
(a subject)
2 dilatory delaying; tending to delay
2 dilemma situation that requires a choice between equally
unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory
alternatives
 dilettante aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge
(not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
2 diligence steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
2 dilute make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength;
Ex. dilute the influence of the president
2 diminution lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
2 din continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying
repetition
~ weary tired after long work; V.
 dinghy small boat (often ship’s boat)
~ maroon leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ.
red brown
 dingy (of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy
street/curtain
~ dull (of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring;
(of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow
in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.
 dint means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
 diorama life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature
or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures
against a painted background
 dire warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers)
very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
 dirge funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over
a dead person)
2 disabuse correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a
wrong belief
 disaffected disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to
lose affection or loyalty
21
2 disapprobation disapproval; condemnation
 disarray state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex.
with her clothes in disarray
 disavowal denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V.
disavow; CF. disclaim
 disband dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate;
Ex. The club has disbanded.
 disburse pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF.
purse
2 discernible distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible
improvement
2 discerning mentally quick and observant; having insight;
perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
 disclaim disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
2 disclose reveal; N. disclosure
 discombobulated discomposed; confused
~ discompose disturb the composure of; confuse
2 discomfit frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass;
perturb
 disconcert confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
2 disconsolate hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
2 discord conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical
notes are played)
2 discordant not harmonious; conflicting
 discount disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant;
deduct from a cost
2 discourse serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal
discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.
2 discredit defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve;
N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful
2 discrepancy lack of consistency or agreement as between
facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
2 discrete separate; unconnected
2 discretion prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances;
freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF.
discretionary
2 discriminating able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced;
N. discrimination
~ discriminate distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of
preference
~ brisk quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
 discursive (of a person or writing) digressing; rambling
(without any clear plan)
2 disdain treat with scorn or contempt
 disembark debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo
from a ship; CF. embark
2 disenfranchise disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP.
enfranchise
 disengage uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting;
OP. engage
2 disfigure mar the appearance of; spoil
 disgorge surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP.
gorge
 disgruntle make discontented
15
2 dishearten discourage
 disheveled untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
2 disinclination unwillingness
 disingenuous not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly
wise; OP. ingenuous
 disinter dig up; unearth; OP. inter
2 disinterested unprejudiced; free from bias and selfinterest;
objective
2 disjointed disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint:
disconnect; disjoin
2 disjunction act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive:
expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction;
CF. conjunctive
 dislodge remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge
the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
 dismantle take apart; disassemble
~ mantle loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something
that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the
crust and the core
~ crust hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
2 dismember cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb
from limb
 dismiss eliminate from consideration; no longer consider;
put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge
from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal
2 disparage belittle
2 maneuver(manoeuver) strategic military or naval movement
(done for training purposes); carefully planned process;
stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers
in gaining an end
2 disparate basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
2 disparity difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
2 dispassionate calm; impartial; not influenced by personal
feelings
2 dispatch speediness; prompt execution; message sent with
all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish
promptly; kill
2 dispel scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
~ dispense distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N.
dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption
from an obligation or a rule
22
2 disperse scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
 dispirited lacking in spirit
 disport amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
2 disputatious argumentative; fond of argument
2 disquietude uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
 disquisition formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the
results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written
report
2 dissection analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
 dissemble disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
2 disseminate distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
2 dissent disagree
2 dissertation formal essay; treatise
2 dissident dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government);
rebellious; N.
 dissimulate pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
2 dissipate squander; waste foolishly; scatter
 dissolution disintegration; reduction to a liquid form;
looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ.
dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
~ reduce diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition;
demote; lower in rank; separate into components by
analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to
rubble; N. reduction
2 dissuade persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
~ dissonance discord
 distant reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting;
ADV. distantly
2 distend expand; swell out
2 distill refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation);
concentrate; separate the most important parts
from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew
 distinction honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination;
Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real
distinction
~ distinct clearly different; clearly noticed
~ distinctive clearly different from others of the same kind
2 distort twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent;
N. distortion
 distrait absentminded; distracted
 distraught upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and
troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught
with grief/worry
~ distract take (one’s attention) off something; upset emotionally;
make anxious; ADJ. distracted
2 diurnal daily; occurring during the daytime
2 diva operatic singer; prima donna
2 diverge vary; go in different directions from the same point;
ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
2 diverse differing in some characteristics (from each other);
various; N. diversity: variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance
2 diversion act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn
aside from a course; distract; amuse
2 divest strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess;
N. divestiture(divestment)
2 divine perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee
the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
~ dowse use a divining rod to search for underground water
or minerals
2 divulge reveal
2 docile obedient; easily managed; submissive
~ ferocious fierce; violent; N. ferocity
 docket program as for trial; book where such entries are
made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a
package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket
 doctrinaire unable to compromise about points of doctrine;
dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment
to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
2 doctrine teachings in general; particular principle (religious,
legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal
~ indoctrinate cause to accept a doctrine without questioning
it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism
 document provide written evidence (for a claim); record
with documents; N.
 doddering shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
~ merit deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or
praise
 doff take off; OP. don
 dogged determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering;
tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert’s dogged pursuit of Jean
Valjean
~ persevere continue steadily in spite of difficulties
 doggerel poor verse
2 dogmatic opinionated; holding stubbornly to one’s opinion;
arbitrary; doctrinal
 doldrums blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy);
slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near
the equator where ships cannot move because there is no
wind; Ex. in the doldrums
~ blues state of depression or melancholy; style of slow,
mournful music (evolved from southern Black American
songs)
2 dolorous sorrowful; N. dolor
 dolt slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
 domicile home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one’s domicile;
Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
23
 domineer rule over tyrannically
~ dominate control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in;
overlook from a height;
~ dominant exercising the most influence; high and easily
seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive
 don put on; OP. doff
~ outfit clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy
outfit
2 dormant sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
 dormer window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping
room
2 dorsal relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
 dossier file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF.
bundle of papers labeled on the back
 dotage senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one’s
dotage
 dote be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
 dour sullen; gloomy; stubborn
~ sullen silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark;
gloomy
~ brood sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously;
N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds
hatched at one time
 douse plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench;
wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse
 dowdy untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in
an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
 downcast disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
 drab dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
 draconian extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment;
CF. Draco: Athenian politician
 dregs sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
 drivel nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
~ nonsense speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior
or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause
to fail
~ dribble flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from
the mouth; move a ball; N.
~ drip fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound
of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
~ trickle flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
 droll queer and amusing
~ queer strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal
 drone idle person who lives on other people’s work; male
bee
 drone talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
~ murmur low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
 dross waste matter; worthless impurities
2 drudgery hard unpleasant work; menial work
~ drudge do drudgery; N: person who drudges
 dubious questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of
someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
 ductile malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into
shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
 dulcet sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
 dumbfound(dumfound) astonish (making dumb); ADJ.
dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck
 dupe someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
 duplicity double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and
deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
16
2 duration length of time something lasts
 duress forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by
threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
 dutiful(duteous) (of people or their behavior) respectful;
obedient (filled with a sense of duty)
 dwindle shrink; reduce gradually
2 dynamic energetic; vigorously active
~ dynamo generator for producing electricity; energetic person
 dyspeptic suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion;
difficulty in digesting food
~ dys- abnormal; impaired
~ dyslexia word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment
of the ability to read
~ dysentery inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal
tract
 earthy unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP.
ethereal
~ earthly of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible;
Ex. no earthly reason
2 ebb (of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise
of tide
2 ebullient showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm;
boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling
2 eccentric irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical;
bizarre; not concentric
2 eccentricity oddity; idiosyncrasy
2 ecclesiastic ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister;
priest; cleric; clergyman
~ chapel small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)
~ chaplain clergyman attached to a chapel
~ padre chaplain (in the armed forces)
2 eclectic selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate
sources; selecting individual elements from a variety
of sources; N. eclecticism
24
~ selective careful in choosing; having an effect only on certain
things; not general; Ex. eclectic weed killer
2 eclipse darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an
eclipse
~ ecliptic path of the sun and the planets
2 ecologist person concerned with the interrelationship between
living organisms and their environment; person concerned
with the detrimental effects of human civilization on
the environment; CF. ecology
~ ecosystem ecological community together with its environment
2 economy efficiency or conciseness in using something;
thrifty management of resources
2 ecstasy rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness;
any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing
ecstasy
~ rapture great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
 eddy swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.
2 edict decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official
command
~ sovereign ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent
and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme;
excellent
~ sovereignty complete independence and self-government
(of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern
 edify instruct; correct morally
~ edifice building (of imposing size)
2 eerie weird; causing fear because strange
2 efface rub out; remove the surface of
2 effectual able to produce a desired effect; valid
~ effective effectual; producing a strong response; striking;
in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph
~ effectuate effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation
2 effeminate having womanly traits
~ emasculate weaken; castrate
~ castrate remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
 effervescence inner excitement or exuberance; showing
high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from
fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce
2 effete having lost one’s original power; barren; worn out;
exhausted
2 efficacy power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious:
effectual
2 effigy dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or
stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President
~ dummy imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy
 effluvium noxious(harmful) smell
2 effrontery rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless
boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
~ effulgent shining brightly; brilliant
2 effusion pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling;
V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing
~ gush (of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole;
make an excessive display of feeling (without true feeling);
Ex. Blood gushed from the wound.
2 egoism excessive interest in one’s self; belief that one should
be interested in one’s self rather than in others; selfishness;
ADJ. egoistic, egoistical
~ ego one’s opinion of oneself; self-esteem
2 egotistical egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric);
self-important; conceited
~ egotism tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively;
conceit; self-importance
2 egregious notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking
 egress exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP.
ingress
 ejaculation exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge
sperm); V. ejaculate
 elaboration addition of details; intricacy
~ elaborate work out carefully; add more detail or information;
ADJ.
2 elated filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high
spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N.
elation
 elegy poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead);
ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac
2 elicit draw out fact or information (by discussion or from
someone)
 elixir cure-all; panacea; something invigorating
2 ellipsis omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate
an omission (when the meaning can be understood without
them); PL. ellipses
2 elliptical elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis;
ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been
left out
2 eloquence expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent:
movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that
the hearers can be influeneced
2 elucidate explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid
2 elusive evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or
understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding
or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes
me.
 elysian relating to paradise; blissful
~ Elysium place or condition of bliss
2 emaciated thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)
2 emanate issue forth; come out
25
2 emancipate set free; liberate
2 embargo ban on commerce or other activity
2 embark commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey
2 embed(imbed) enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a
surrounding mass
2 embellish adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding
fictitious details)
2 embezzlement taking for one’s own use in violation of
trust; stealing (of money placed in one’s care)
~ emblazon ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment
~ embody give a bodily form to; incorporate; include
 emboss produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a
raised design
2 embrace hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept
readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism;
Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet
~ encircle surround
2 embroider decorate with needlework; ornament (a story)
with fancy or fictitious details; embellish
2 embroil throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or
quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio
2 embryonic undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism
in the early stage of development
2 emend correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction
of errors; improvement
 emetic substance causing vomiting; ADJ.
 eminent rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex.
eminent position
2 emissary agent (sent on a mission to represent another);
messenger
2 emollient soothing or softening remedy (for the skin);
ADJ.
2 emolument salary; payment for an office; compensation
 empathy ability to identify with another’s feelings, ideas,
etc.; identification with and understanding of another’s feelings;
V. empathize; CF. sympathy
~ compassion sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ.
compassionate
2 empirical based on experience
 emulate imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)
 enamored in love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V.
enamor: inspire with love
2 encipher encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher
2 enclave territory enclosed within an alien land
2 encomiastic praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high
praise; eulogy
2 encompass surround; include; Ex. His activities encompass
publishing and computers.
2 encroachment gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these
encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another’s
possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude;
Ex. encroach on/upon
17
2 encumber burden; N. encumbrance
 endearment fond word or act; expression of affection
~ endear make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone; ADJ.
dear: loved; cherished; high-priced
2 endemic prevailing among a specific group of people or in
a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or
people; CF. pandemic
2 endorse approve; support; write one’s signature on the
back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal
2 endue provide with some quality; endow
2 enduring lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering)
for a long time; remain alive (in spite of difficulties);
last; survive
2 energize invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active
2 enervate weaken; take away energy from
2 enfranchise admit to the rights of citizenship (especially
the right to vote); CF. franchise
 engage attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront;
fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate;
N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement
to meet someone or to do something; battle
2 engaging charming; attractive
~ engaged employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict
2 engender cause; produce; give rise to
2 engross occupy fully; absorb
2 enhance increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or
usefulness); improve
2 enigma puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling
~ puzzle baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over
a problem in an effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning;
Ex. puzzle out the answer; N.
2 enjoin command; order; forbid
2 enmity ill will; hatred; hostility
 ennui boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting
from lack of interest; CF. annoy
2 enormity hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness;
Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous
 enrapture please intensely; fill with rapture and delight
 ensconce settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure
place)
2 ensue follow (as a result)
26
2 entail make necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit
the inheritance of (property) to a specified succession of
heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B
 enterprising full of initiative; showing enterprise
~ enterprise willingness to take new ventures; initiative;
business organization; plan (that is difficult or daring); Ex.
their latest enterprise to sail round the world in a small boat
2 enthrall capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention
of (as if magic); hold spellbound
2 entice lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract;
tempt
~ mischief behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious
harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ.
mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome
2 entity real being
2 entomology study of insects
 entrance put under a spell(condition caused by magical
power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion;
put into a trance; fill with delight
~ trance hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from
one’s physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming);
CF. transition
~ hypnosis induced sleeping state; ADJ. hypnotic; V. hypnotize
2 entreat plead; ask earnestly
 entree(entr´ee) entrance; a way in; right to enter; main
dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle
2 entrepreneur businessperson (who assumes the risk of a
business venture); contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial
2 enumerate list; mention one by one
 enunciate announce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially
distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory
was first enunciated by him.
2 environ enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area
(as of a city)
 eon(aeon) long period of time; an age; longest division of
geologic time containing two or more eras
 epaulet(epaulette) ornament worn on the shoulder (of a
uniform, etc.)
~ fringe decorative edge of hanging threads; edge
2 ephemeral short-lived; fleeting
~ fleet fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly;
ephemeral
2 epic long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art (celebrating
the feats of a hero); ADJ: (of stories or events)
resembling an epic; grand
2 epicure connoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ. epicurean;
CF. Epicurus
~ Epicurean believing that pleasure is good and suffering is
bad and should be avoided; N.
 epigram witty thought or saying, usually short
2 epilogue short speech at conclusion of dramatic work
 episodic (of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of
separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident
in the course of an experience
 epistemologist philosopher who studies the nature of
knowledge; N. epistemology
 epitaph inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a
tombstone)
 epithet word or phrase characteristically used to describe a
person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person
(often contemptous)
2 epitome perfect example or embodiment; brief summary;
Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome
of; be an epitome of; embody
2 epoch period of time
2 equable tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature)
steady; uniform
2 equanimity calmness of temperament; composure
 equestrian rider on horseback; ADJ.
2 equilibrium balance of opposing forces; balance of the
mind; equanimity
 equine resembling a horse; Ex. equine face
2 equinox period of equal days and nights; the beginning of
spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ.
equinoctial
 equipoise balance; balancing force; equilibrium
2 equitable fair; impartial; OP. inequitable
2 equity fairness; justice; OP. inequity
 equivocal (of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally
misleading; (of behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal
 equivocate use equivocal language to deceive people; lie;
mislead; attempt to conceal the truth; N. equivocation
2 erode eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The
sea erodes the rocks.
2 erotic pertaining to passionate love or sexual love
 errant wandering (esp. in search of adventure); straying
from proper moral standards; Ex. knight-errant
 erratic odd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable
2 erroneous mistaken; wrong; incorrect
2 erudite (of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly;
N. erudition
~ scholarly full of learning; erudite; like a scholar; Ex. scholarly
journal
2 escapade prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that
disobeys rules
~ prank mischievous trick
~ flighty (esp. of a woman’s behavior) capricious; often
changing, esp. from one lover to another; impulsive
27
 eschew avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks
 esoteric hard to understand; known only to the chosen few,
esp. initiates; N. esoterica
2 espionage spying
 espouse adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N. espousal
2 esteem respect; value; judge; N.
~ estimable (of a person) worthy of esteem; admirable; deserving
esteem; possible to estimate
~ inestimable impossible to estimate; (apprec) invaluable; of
immeasurable worth
2 estranged separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people
in a family); N. estrangement
 ethereal like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually
refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether:
upper air
~ airy of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
 ethnic relating to races
 ethnology study of humankind; study of the different races
of human beings; CF. anthropology
 ethos underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character
or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture;
Ex. the company ethos
2 etymology study of word parts; study of the origins of
words
2 eugenic pertaining to the improvement of race; N. eugenics:
study of hereditary improvement of the human race
2 eulogistic praising; full of eulogy
18
 eulogy expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone’s
death; V. eulogize
2 euphemism mild expression in place of an unpleasant one;
ADJ. euphemistic
2 euphony sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
 euphoria feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded;
baseless) well-being; feeling of great happiness or well-being
(when unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric
2 euthanasia mercy killing
2 evanescent fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V.
evanesce
 evasive not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading;
V. evade: avoid (a duty or responsibility) or escape from
by deceit
2 evince show clearly
 evenhanded impartial; fair
2 evocative tending to call up (emotions, memories)
2 evoke call forth (memory or feeling); Ex. That old film
evoked memories of my childhood; N. evocation
 ewe female sheep
~ ram male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy
impact
2 exacerbate worsen; aggravate; embitter
~ embitter make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings;
make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.
2 exacting extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of
safety
~ exact demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise
from him; N. exaction
2 exalt raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex.
exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation
 exasperate vex; annoy or make angry (by testing the patience)
 exceptionable objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive;
CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable
~ except exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ.
exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality
 excerpt selected passage (written or musical) taken from a
longer work; V.
 exchequer treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer
~ chancellor legal official
of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position
of a chancellor
~ treasure keep as precious; cherish
2 excise cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good produced
and used inside a country; N. excision
2 exclaim cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory
 excoriate scold with biting harshness; censure strongly;
strip the skin off
2 exculpate clear from blame or guilt
 execrable very bad; detestable
2 execrate curse; express abhorrence for; detest
2 execute put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment;
N. execution
~ executor person designated to execute the terms of a will;
~ executioner person administering capital punishment
~ executive person having administrative authority; one
branch of government executing laws; ADJ: relating to executing
~ legislature legislating branch of government; CF. legislate:
make laws
~ judiciary judicial branch of government
 exegesis explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible)
passages
2 exemplary serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary
punishment/behavior; N. exemplar: typical example;
model
28
2 exemplify show by example; furnish an example; serve as
an example of; Ex. His pictures exemplify that sort of painting.
2 exempt not subject to a duty or obligation; free from a
duty; V.
2 exertion effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert
oneself: make a great effort
~ exhale breathe out; OP. inhale
2 exhilarating invigorating and refreshing; cheering; V. exhilarate:
make cheerful and excited; Ex. exhilarated by the
ride in the sports car
 exhort urge (by strong argument or advice); Ex. The general
exhorted his men to fight bravely; N. exhortation
~ urge drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to
take action; impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N:
impulse that prompts action
~ urgent compelling immediate action; pressing; persistent;
importunate; Ex. urgent in his demands
2 exhume dig out of the ground; remove from a grave
~ coroner public official who investigates any death thought
to be of other than natural causes
2 exigency urgent situation; ADJ. exigent
2 exiguous small in amount; minute
 existential pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy
of existentialism
2 exodus departure (of a large number of people)
2 exonerate acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
2 exorbitant (of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable
bounds
2 exorcise drive out evil spirits
2 exotic not native; from another part of the world; strange;
intriguingly unusual; Ex. exotic flower/dress
~ intrigue make secret plans; plot; arouse the curiosity of; N:
secret scheme; plot; secret love affair
 expansive (of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and
extensive; able to increase in size
~ outgoing sociable; eager to mix socially with others
 expatiate talk at length; speak or write in detail
2 expatriate exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native
land; V: exile; banish; leave one’s country
2 expedient suitable (for a particular purpose although not
necessarily morally correct); practical; politic(prudent); N:
something expedient
2 expedite hasten; make go faster
~ expeditious done with speed; quick; N. expedition
2 expenditure payment or expense; expending; something
expended; output; Ex. receipt for the expenditure; Ex. expenditure
of all the energy
2 expertise specialized knowledge (in a particular field); expert
skill
2 expiate make amends for (a sin)
 expletive meaningless word; interjection; profane oath;
swear-word
~ interjection exclamation; Ex. “Ouch”
~ swear vow; promise; use profane oaths; use offensive words
~ swear-word word considered offensive; Ex. “bloody”
~ oath solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to
express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. “For Christ’s sake”
2 explicate explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable
2 explicit totally clear; definite; outspoken
2 exploit brave and successful act; deed or action, particularly
a brave deed; CF. crossing the Atlantic ocean
2 exploit make use of, sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation
2 expository explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition:
explaining; exhibition
 expostulation protest; remonstrance; reasoning with
someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate
2 exposure risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or
to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open;
Ex. exposure of governmental corruption
2 expound explain
 expropriate take possession of (often for public use and
without payment)
 expunge cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or
list); erase
2 expurgate clean; remove offensive parts of a book
2 extant (of something written or painted) still in existence
2 extemporaneous not planned; impromptu; extempore
 extenuate weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of (bad
behavior)
2 extirpate root up; uproot; destroy completely
 extol praise very highly; glorify
2 extort wring from; get money by threats, etc.; obtain by
force or threats; CF. extortionate: exorbitant
~ wring twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting; wrench
painfully (necks or hands)
 extradition surrender of prisoner by one state to another;
Ex. extradition treaty; V. extradite
 extraneous not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external;
coming from the outside; Ex. extraneous details/noise/to
the subject
 extrapolation projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer
(unknown information) from known information
2 extricate free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle
~ inextricable from which it is impossible to get free; that
cannot be untied; Ex. inextricable troubles; Ex. inextricable
two histories
29
2 extrinsic external; not essential or inherent; extraneous;
OP. intrinsic
2 extrovert person interested mostly in external objects and
actions
~ mingle mix together in close association
 extrude force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or
metal) by forcing through a die
 exuberance overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm;
flamboyance; lavishness; ADJ. exuberant: high-spirited and
lively; growing abundantly and strongly
~ glow shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals);
show redness and heat (in the face) after hard work or because
of strong feelings; N: light produced by a heated body;
brilliance of a color
 exude flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N.
exudation
~ ooze (of a thick liquid) pass or flow slowly; N: mud or thick
liquid as at the bottom of a river
2 exult rejoice
2 fabricate build; lie; make up (a story) in order to deceive;
Ex. fabricate the whole story; CF. fabric: underlying structure;
Ex. fabric of society
 facade(fa¸cade) front or face (of building); superficial or
false appearance
2 facet small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side
 facetious joking (often inappropriately); unserious; humorous
 facile easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial; not
deep; Ex. facile solution to a complex problem; Ex. facile
speaker; N. facility: ability to do something easily and well;
ease in doing resulting from skill or aptitude; something that
facilitates an action; amenity; Ex. with great facility
2 facilitate help bring about; make less difficult
2 facsimile copy
 faction party; clique (within a large group); dissension
~ dissension disagreement of opinions causing strife within a
group
 factious inclined to form factions; causing dissension
 factitious artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex.
factitious tears
 factotum handyman; person who does all kinds of work;
CF. do everything
2 faculty mental or bodily powers; teaching staff
19
2 fallacious false; based on a fallacy; misleading; N. fallacy:
false idea or notion; false reasoning; Ex. popular fallacy; Ex.
fallacy of the argument
2 fallible liable to err
~ falsify make (something written) false by changing
 fallow (of land) plowed but not sowed (to improve the quality);
uncultivated
~ sow plant or scatter seed
 falter hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or move
unsteadily through weakness; N.
~ stumble trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act falteringly;
N.
2 fanaticism excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or
cause; N. fanatic; ADJ. fanatic
2 fancied imagined; unreal
 fancier breeder or dealer of animals; one who has a special
interest, as for raising specific plant or animal
 fanciful whimsical; visionary; imaginary; produced by
imagination; Ex. fanciful scheme
~ fancy imagination (of a whimsical or fantastic nature);
capricious liking; V: imagine; be fond of; ADJ. decorative;
elaborate
 fanfare call by bugles or trumpets; showy display; spectacular
public display
 farce broad comedy; mockery; humorous play full of silly
things happening; ADJ. farcical
 fastidious difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky
~ squeamish easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things;
fastidious; Ex. A nurse should not be squeamish.
 fatalism belief that events are determined by forces or fates
beyond one’s control; ADJ. fatalistic; CF. fatal: causing
death
2 fathom comprehend; investigate; determine the depth of;
N. unit of measurement for the depth of water
~ fathomless too deep to be measured or understood; unfathomable
 fatuous smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N.
fatuity, fatuousness
2 fauna animals of a period or region; CF. flora
 fawning courting favor by cringing and flattering; V. fawn:
exhibit affection as a dog; seek favor or attention by obsequiousness
~ court attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to
invite; attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court
disaster
 faze disconcert; dismay; embarrass
2 feasible practical; able to be carried out; practicable
 febrile feverish
 fecundity fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive
of crops or young
~ fertile producing many young, fruits, or seeds; (of land)
producing good crops; V. fertilize
~ fruitful producing results; profitable; prolific; producing in
abundance
2 feign pretend
30
 feint trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw away
defensive action; V.
~ shift change position or place; exchange (one thing) for another;
change in direction or position; Ex. shift the stolen
goods; N. group of workers which takes turns with other
groups; working period of such a group
 felicitous (of a word or remark) apt; suitably expressed;
well chosen
 felicity happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice,
etc.); quality of being felicitous
~ feline of a member of the cat family; N.
 fell cruel; (of a disease) deadly
 fell cut or knock down (a tree or a person); bring down
(with a missile)
2 felon person convicted of a grave crime; CF. felony: serious
crime
 feral (of an animal) not domestic; wild
 ferment agitation; commotion(noisy and excited activity);
unrest (of a political kind); V. produce by fermentation; undergo
fermentation; cause (a state of trouble)
~ fermentation chemical reaction that splits complex organic
compounds; unrest; agitation
 ferret drive or hunt out of hiding; hunt with ferrets; drive
out (as from a hiding place); expel; uncover or discover by
searching; Ex. ferret out the secret; N. small fierce animal
which catches rats and rabbits by going into their holes
 fervent ardent; zealous; hot
 fervid ardent; zealous; hot
~ impassioned (of speech) filled with passion; fervent
 fervor glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being
fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
 fester rankle; produce irritation or resentment; (of a cut or
wound) generate pus or rot; Ex. His insult festered in my
mind for days.
2 festive joyous; celebratory; relating to a feast or festival
 fete(fˆete) honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a
feast; N. (outdoor) festival or feast; CF. feast
 fetid(foetid) malodorous; foul
~ foul very bad or disagreeable; very dirty; Ex. foul
smell/flavor/temper/language/air/deed/weather/means; N.
act against the rules; V. make or become foul; commit a foul
~ fetish(fetich) object believed to have spiritual powers; object
of excessive attention or reverence; CF. fetishism
 fetter shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or shackle
for the foot of a prisoner; CF. foot
 fiasco total failure; CF. bottle
 fiat command; arbitrary order; Ex. presidential fiat; CF.
let it be done
2 fickle changeable (in affections or friendship); faithless
 fictitious imaginary; non-existent; purposely invented to
deceive; untrue; Ex. fictitious name/boyfriend; CF. fictional
2 fidelity loyalty; accuracy
 figment invention; something invented; imaginary thing;
Ex. figment of your imagination
2 figurative not literal but metaphorical; using a figure(
impression) of speech
~ figure written symbols; number; amount represented in
numbers; outline or silhouette of a thing or human body;
person (well-known); impression; diagram; pattern; group
in a dance; Ex. figure of speech; V. calculate with numbers;
adorn with figures; appear; consider; Ex. My name did not
figure in the list.
 figurine small ornamental statuette(very small statue)
 filch steal (things of small value)
~ pilfer steal things of small value; filch; snitch
 filial pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter; Ex. filial
respect
 filibuster block legislation or prevent action in a lawmaking
body by making very slow long speeches; N; freebooter
~ freebooter pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to
grow rich
~ bust piece of sculpture showing a person’s head, shoulders,
and upper chest; V: break up; arrest; Ex. crimebuster
 filigree delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork
~ lace cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges
(as of a shoe); delicate fabric made of fine threads; V: draw
together by tying a lace
 filing particle removed by a file
2 finale conclusion; concluding part
 finesse delicate skill; V: handle with finesse
 finicky too particular; fussy; difficult to please; too concerned
with unimportant details or quality; Ex. finicky
about her food
~ fussy fastidious; finicky; easily upset
~ fuss: trouble or worry over trifles; make nervous; pay too
much attention to; N: needless concern or worry (about a
trivial thing); anxious nervous condition; display of attention;
Ex. make a fuss over the baby
2 finite limited
 firebrand piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker;
person who stirs up trouble
~ hothead person who does things too quickly without thinking;
ADJ. hotheaded
2 fissure crevice; crack
 fitful spasmodic; intermittent; irregular
~ fit sudden outburst of an illness or feeling; convulsion
caused by epilepsy
 flaccid flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles
~ limp walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak
31
 flag droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ.
flagging; CF. unflagging
~ droop bend or hang downward; become weakened; Ex. His
shoulders drooped with tiredness; N.
2 flagrant conspicuously wicked, bad, or offensive; blatant;
outrageous
2 outrage act of extreme violence or viciousness; resentful
anger; V: commit an outrage on; produce anger in; ADJ.
outrageous: offensive
 flail beat with or as if with a flail; move wildly; thresh grain
by hand; strike or slap; toss about; N: threshing tool consisting
of a stick swinging from the end of a long handle
~ thresh beat (cereal plants) with a machine or flail to separate
the grains from the straw
~ toss throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a sudden
motion; flip (a coin) to decide something
 flair talent
 flamboyant ornate; highly elaborate; richly colored; ostentatious;
showy; CF. flame
 flaunt display ostentatiously; Ex. “Honey, if you’ve got it,
flaunt it !”
 flay strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize
harshly
 fleck spot; mark with flecks; N: small mark or spot
 fledgling(fledgeling) inexperienced; N: young bird that
has acquired wing feathers and is learning to fly; inexperienced
person
 fleece wool coat of a sheep; V: shear the fleece from; rob by
a trick; swindle; plunder
~ shear remove (fleece or hair) by cutting; remove the hair or
fleece from; cut with or as if with shears; N: shears; pair of
scissors
~ trickster person who cheats people
 flick light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light quick
blow; strike with a light quick blow (as from a whip); Ex.
flick the switch
~ flicker burn unsteadily or fitfully; move waveringly; N: flickering
movement or light; brief sensation; Ex. flicker of excitement
~ flutter (of a bird with large wings) wave (the wings) lightly,
rapidly, and irregularly; vibrate rapidly or erratically; fly by
waving quickly; flitter; N.
 flinch hesitate; shrink back (in fear of something unpleasant);
Ex. She did not flinch in the face of danger.
20
 flippant lacking proper seriousness; Ex. flippant remarks
about death; N. flippancy
~ flip send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking
with a light quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip over
 flit fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass
swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
 floe flat mass of floating ice
2 flora plants of a region or era
~ florescence condition or period of flowering
 florid ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate;
CF. rose
~ flush redden; blush; flow suddenly and abundantly; wash
out by a rapid brief flow of water; N: reddish tinge; blush;
brief rush; rush of strong feeling; Ex. flush of pride; ADJ:
having surfaces in the same plane; even; blushing
~ blush become red in the face (from embarrassment or
shame); become red or rosy; N.
~ tinge give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N: slight
degree of a color or quality; Ex. tinged with grey/jealousy
~ tint slight degree of color; V: give a tint to
~ flowery full of flowers; full of ornate expressions
 flotsam drifting wreckage
~ jetsam things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)
 flounder struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or
falter (as in water, mud, snow, etc.); proceed in confusion
~ thrash beat with a whip or flail; defeat utterly; talk about
thoroughly in order to find the answer; move wildly or violently;
Ex. The fishes thrashed about in the net.
2 flourish grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave;
brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the sun. N: showy
movement or gesture; embellishment or ornamentation (esp.
in handwriting)
 flout reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the
rules
~ curb chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse;
something that checks; V: check; restrain
2 fluctuate waver; shift; rise and fall as if in waves; change
or vary irregularly
2 fluency smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent
 fluke unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune; accidental
stroke of good luck; ADJ. fluky
 fluster confuse; make nervous and confused; N.
 fluted having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V.
flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long
rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column
~ groove long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the
movement of something; Ex. groove of the record
~ stammer speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
 flux flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of
flux
 fodder coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock;
CF. food
 foible small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble
 foil contrast; one that by contrast enhances the distinctive
characteristics of another
 foil defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart;
CF. fail
32
 foist insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion;
palm off; pass off as genuine or worthy; CF. fist
~ palm conceal in the palm of the hand; palm off: pass off;
Ex. palm off some bad oranges onto the lady/the painting
as a real Renoir
~ pass off present falsely; represent falsely to be
 foliage masses of leaves; CF. defoliate
 foment stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of
(something evil or unpleasant)
 foolhardy rash; reckless; foolishly daring
 foppish vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who
takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance
 foray raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.
 forbearance patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from
(in a generous and forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear
to send him to prison
 ford place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.
 forebears(forbears) ancestors
2 foreboding premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V.
forebode: be a warning of (something unpleasant)
 forensic suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in
legal proceedings and the tracking of criminals; Ex. forensic
science/medicine
~ forum public square of an ancient Roman city; public place
for open discussion; court of law
2 foreshadow give an indication beforehand; be a sign of
(what is coming); portend; prefigure
~ prefigure be a sign of; foreshadow
~ forerunner predecessor; one that comes before and indicates
the approach of another
2 foresight ability to foresee future happenings; prudence in
providing for the future
2 forestall prevent by taking action in advance
~ nuptial of marriage or the wedding ceremony; N; nuptials;
wedding ceremony
~ forfeit something surrendered as punishment for a crime or
breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture
~ forge counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by heating
in a forge and hammering into shape; move with a sudden
increase of speed or power; Ex. forged ahead in the last two
years; N: furnace where metals are heated
2 forgo(forego) give up; do without
2 forlorn sad and lonely; wretched; desolate
2 formality ceremonious quality; ceremonious adherence to
rules; something done just for form’s sake; Ex. mere formality
2 formidable menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult
to defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question
~ menace threat; V: threaten
 forsake desert; abandon; renounce
 forswear renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn
promise to give up; CF. abjure
2 forte strong point or special talent in a person’s character
 forthright straightforward; direct; frank
~ forthcoming happening in the near future; ready; willing
to help; Ex. No answer was forthcoming.
2 fortitude bravery; courage; strength of mind
 fortuitous accidental; by chance; N. fortuity
 foster rear; bring up (for a certain period only); encourage;
promote the development of (feelings or ideas); Ex. help
foster friendly relations; ADJ: giving parental care although
not related by blood; Ex. foster parents
 founder fail completely; sink; CF. flounder
2 founder person who establishes (an organization or business)
 fracas brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number of
people take part; melee
 fractious unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex. fractious
horse
2 frail weak; N. frailty
2 franchise right or privilege granted by authority; right to
vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory
 frantic wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic
with fear
2 fraudulent cheating; deceitful; Ex. fraudulent means; N.
fraud: deception; swindle
 fraught filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex.
fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight
 fray brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have
loose threads developing; cause to become worn out (a person’s
temper or nerves); CF. rub
 frenetic(phrenetic) frenzied; frantic
 frenzied madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement
 fresco painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)
~ paste smooth viscous mixture as of flour(powder made by
crushing grain) and water (used as an adhesive); V: cause to
adhere by applying paste
~ pastry paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)
~ plaster paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used
for coating walls; V.
 fret be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades;
N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful
2 friction clash or conflict in opinion; rubbing against
 frieze ornamental horizontal band on a wall
2 frigid intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone
 fritter waste (time or money on unimportant things)
2 frivolous lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently
carefree; unworthy of serious attention; relatively unimportant;
trivial
33
~ self-indulgence excessive indulgence of one’s own desire
~ carefree free from worries; having no problems
 frolicsome prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky
~ frolic play and jump about happily; frisk; Ex. frolicking
young lambs
 frond fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
~ litter waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered
untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter
 fructify bear fruit; produce fruit
2 frugality thrift; economy; ADJ. frugal: practicing economy;
costing little; inexpensive
2 fruition bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization; Ex. come
to/be brought to fruition
2 frustrate thwart; defeat; prevent from accomplishing a
purpose
2 fugitive fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time;
roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law;
N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large
 fulcrum support on which a lever rests or pivots
 fulminate thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation
 fulsome disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex.
fulsome praise/expressions of admire
2 fumble move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in search of
something); mishandle or drop a ball that is in play; bungle;
botch; spoil by mishandling; N.
 functionary official (who performs a particular function)
~ functional made for practical use only (without decoration);
functioning; Ex. functional modern furniture; CF.
functionalism
2 fundamental basic; primary; essential
 funereal sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
 furor frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury
 furtive stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice);
sneaky; Ex. furtive glance
~ sneak move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one
who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky
~ underhand(underhanded) done slyly and secretly (being
dishonest)
~ sly clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one’s intentions
 fusillade simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions,
etc.)
2 fusion union; coalition; V. fuse
2 futile useless; hopeless; ineffectual
 gadfly animal-biting fly; irritating person
 gaffe social blunder
21
 gainsay deny
 gait manner of walking or running; speed
2 galaxy large isolated system of stars, such as the Milky
Way; collection of brilliant personalities
2 gale windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughters,
tears); Ex. gale of laughter
 gall bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; (bile); CF. gall
bladder
 gall annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing
(as on the skin of a horse); exasperation
2 galleon large three-masted sailing ship
~ galley low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
~ clipper sailing vessel built for great speed
~ pinnace small boat
~ clip cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as
a short extract from film); clasp or fastener
 galvanize stimulate or shock by an electric current; stimulate
by shock; shock into action; stir up; coat with rustresistant
zinc by using electricity
~ galvanic of the production of electricity by the action of an
acid on a metal; having the effect of an electric shock; Ex.
galvanic cell; galvanic effect; CF. Luigi Galvani
 gambit opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action
made to produce a future advantage
~ ploy strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management
ploy
 gambol romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
~ romp play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N.
~ zest outer skin of an orange used for giving a special taste
to food; spice; interest; flavor; spirited enjoyment; Ex. add
a certain zest to the affair; Ex. zest for life
 gamely in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight
gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game
 gamut entire range
 gape open widely; open the mouth wide; stare wonderingly
with the mouth open; CF. agape
 garbled mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up or
distort (a message) to such an extent as to make misleading
or unintelligible
~ jumble mix in a confused way
 gargantuan huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua
and Pantagruel
2 gargoyle waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building
 garish overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
~ trim make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by removing
what is unnecessary; ornament; decorate (round the edges);
Ex. trim the cost; Ex. jacket trimmed with fur; N. ADJ:
tidy; in good order
 garner gather; store up; amass
 garnish decorate; add a garnish to; decorate (food or drink)
with small items such as lemon slices; N.
34
 garrulous loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity
 gastronomy art and science of preparing and serving good
food; CF. gastronome
2 gauche clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth
 gaudy flashy; showy
~ flashy showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance
~ gild cover with a thin layer of gold
 gaunt lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren
 gavel hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a
presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.
~ bid command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer
of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something;
Ex. bid for freedom
 gawk stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe
 gazette official periodical publication; newspaper
2 genealogy record of descent; lineage; ancestry; study of
ancestry
2 generality vague statement; general statement which is not
detailed; quality of being general; greater part; most; Ex.
generality of people
2 generate cause; produce; create
2 generic characteristic of an entire class or species; of a
genus
~ genus division of animals or plants, below a family and
above a species
2 genesis beginning; origin
 geniality cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy; ADJ. genial:
cheerful and good-tempered
2 genre particular variety of art or literature
 genteel well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance
of refinement; Ex. genteel poverty
 gentility those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement;
quality of being genteel
~ breed produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable
condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant
~ crossbreed hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
~ well-bred of good upbringing; well-mannered and refined
 gentry people of standing(rank or position); people of good
family or high social position; class of people just below nobility
~ gentle kindly; soft; mild; of good family
 genuflect bend the knee as in worship
2 germane pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with)
the case at hand; appropriate
 germinal pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea
~ germ earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something
that may develop into something larger or more important;
microbe
2 germinate cause to sprout; sprout
~ sprout begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new
growth on a plant; shoot
~ shoot new growth from a plant
2 gerontocracy government ruled by old people
~ gerontology study of the sociological phenomena associated
with old age
~ geriatrics medical treatment and care of old age
 gerrymander change voting district lines in order to favor
a political party; N. CF. Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander
 gestate evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period
of development from conception until birth
~ natal connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF. postnatal
 gesticulation motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures
(while speaking)
 ghastly horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast
 gibberish nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or
writing; babbling
 gibe mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks
 giddy light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy; causing
dizziness; Ex. giddy youth; Ex. giddy climb/height
 gingerly very carefully; ADJ.
 girth distance around something; circumference
 gist essence; main point; substance
2 glacial like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex.
glacial epoch; CF. iceberg
 glaring (of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly
bright; shining intensely and blindingly
~ glare shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily;
N.
 glaze cover with a thin and shiny surface; apply a glaze to;
N: thin, smooth, shiny coating (as for pottery); Ex. unglazed
pottery
 glean gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers;
gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty
2 glib fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick
~ slick make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil
slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib
~ sleek smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
 glimmer shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady
light; faint indication; Ex. glimmer of hope
~ glitter shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex.
glittering diamond ring; N: sparkling light; attractiveness;
glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on the waves
~ glamor compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous
 gloat express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with
evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated
over the stolen jewels.
35
 gloss over explain away with the intention of deceiving or
hiding faults
~ gloss brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression;
V.
2 glossary brief explanation of words used in the text
 glossy smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on
a surface; superficially attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of
good manners
~ mat not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of
material used as a floor covering; V.
~ finish surface texture; completeness of execution
~ finished properly made and complete; Ex. finished product/
performance
 glower scowl; glare; look or stare angrily
~ scowl frown angrily; N: angry frown
 glut overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess;
N: oversupply
 glutinous sticky; viscous; gluey
2 glutton someone who eats too much; ADJ. gluttonous:
given to gluttony; greedy; CF. gluttony: habit of eating too
much
 gnarled twisted
~ gnarl protruding knot on a tree; V.
2 gnome dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure
hoards
2 goad urge on; drive with a goad; cause (someone) to do
something by continued annoyance; Ex. They goaded him
into doing it by saying he was a coward; N: sharp-pointed
stick for driving cattle; stimulus; CF. annoy continually
 gorge narrow canyon; steep rocky cleft; ravine (made by a
stream which runs through it)
 gorge stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly
beautiful
 gory bloody; N. gore: blood (from a wound)
~ shudder shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
 gossamer sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer
fabric; cobweb
~ sheer pure; thin and transparent; very steep
22
 gouge tear out; cut out (as if with a gouge); Ex. gouge his
eyes out; N: chisel for cutting out hollow areas in wood
 gouge overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex. gouge
the public; CF. usury
 gourmand epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in
food and drink
 gourmet connoisseur of food and drink; epicure
2 graduated arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc.)
~ graduate arrange into categories or grades; divide into
marked intervals (for use in measurement); Ex. graduated
ruler
 granary storehouse for grain
2 grandeur impressiveness; stateliness; majesty
~ stately formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
2 grandiloquent (of a person or speech) using high sounding
or important-sounding language; pompous; bombastic
2 grandiose affectedly grand; pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously
exaggerated; impressive; great in size or scope; grand;
Ex. grandiose ideas
~ high-flown highly pretentious or inflated
~ matin´ee(matinee) dramatic or musical performance given
in the afternoon
 granulate form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain
or particle
2 graphic pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described
~ vivid (of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking lifelike
mental images; Ex. vivid red hair/description
~ graphite black form of carbon used in lead pencils
 grapple wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and struggle
with; Ex. grapple with the burglar
 grate make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred
by rubbing against a rough surface; Ex. grated cheese N:
framework of metal bars to hold fuel in a fireplace
2 gratify please; satisfy; Ex. gratify a desire
 gratis free; without charge; ADJ.
2 gratuitous given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done
without good reason; Ex. gratuitous comment
2 gratuity tip
2 gravity seriousness; ADJ. grave
2 gregarious sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group
2 grievance cause of complaint; complaint
 grill question severely; cook on a grill; broil; N: cooking
surface of parallel metal bars
~ broil cook by direct heat; N.
~ grim causing great fear; unrelenting; determined in spite of
fear; Ex. grim smile
 grimace facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust,
etc; V.
 grisly ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies
~ groom man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat
and trim; clean and brush (an animal)
2 grotesque fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural
(causing fear or amusement)
~ hideous repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex.
hideous face/scream
 grotto small cavern
 grouse complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump chickenlike
game bird
36
~ grumble complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.
~ mutter utter (complaining words) indistinctly in low tones
~ rumble make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder
or stomach)
 grovel crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate; behave
in a servile manner
2 grudging unwilling; reluctant; stingy(giving reluctantly)
 gruel thin liquid porridge
~ porridge soft food made by boiling oatmeal
~ oatmeal crushed oats used for making porridge
 grueling exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race
 gruesome grisly; horrible
 gruff rough-mannered; (of a voice) rough; hoarse
~ grunt utter a deep guttural sound (as a pig does); N.
 guffaw boisterous laughter; V.
2 guile deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning; Ex. persuade her
by guile
~ cunning clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving;
deceit
2 guileless without deceit
2 guise outward appearance; costume; Ex. in a new guise
 gull trick; deceive; hoodwink; N: person who is easily
tricked; dupe
2 gullible easily deceived
 gustatory affecting or relating to the sense of taste
 gusto eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm
2 gusty windy
~ gust strong abrupt rush of wind; V. CF. bluster
 guy cable or chain attached to something that needs to be
braced or steadied; CF. guide
~ topple become unsteady and fall down
~ overthrow topple; N.
~ overturn turn over; capsize; topple
~ capsize (of a boat) turn over
2 gyroscope apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain
direction, etc.
 habituate accustom or familiarize; addict
 hackles hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex.
make someone’s hackles rise
~ growl low, guttural, menacing sound (as of a dog)
2 hackneyed commonplace; trite
 haggard wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the
rescued miners
 haggle argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain)
 halcyon calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days
 hale healthy
~ hail frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate hail
 hallowed blessed; consecrated; Ex. hallowed ground; V.
hallow: set apart as holy
2 hallucination delusion; false idea; false perception of objects
with a compelling sense of their reality; objects so perceived;
V. hallucinate; ADJ. hallucinatory
 halting hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting
steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act with uncertainty; falter;
hesitate; waver; stop
~ waver move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady
in decision or movement; Ex. wavering between accepting
and refusing
2 hamper obstruct; prevent the free movement of; N:
 hap chance; luck
2 haphazard random; by chance; happening in an unplanned
manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town
 hapless unfortunate; luckless
 harangue long, passionate, and vehement speech; V.
2 harass annoy by repeated attacks
2 harbinger forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
2 harbor give protection (by giving food and shelter); provide
a refuge for; hide; keep in mind (thoughts or feelings); Ex.
harbor a grudge/criminal; N: place of shelter; refuge
~ habitat natural home of a plant or animal; CF. habitation
 hardy (of people or animals) sturdy; robust; (of plants)
able to stand inclement(stormy) weather
 harping tiresome dwelling on a subject; V. harp: dwell
on(think or speak a lot about) tediously
 harrowing agonizing; distressing; traumatic; V. harrow:
break up and level (soil) with a harrow; inflict great distress
on; agonize; N: farming machine to break up the earth
2 harry harass, annoy, torment (by repeated attacks); raid
2 hatch deck opening; lid covering a deck opening; V: emerge
from an egg; produce (young) from an egg
~ latch fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits
into a notch; V: close with a latch
~ notch V-shaped cut in a surface; V.
2 haughtiness pride; arrogance; ADJ. haughty
~ haunt (of a spirit) visit (a place); come to mind continually;
visit (a place) regularly; frequent; Ex. haunted house; Ex.
haunted by his last words; N: place much frequented
 haven place of safety; refuge; harbor; Ex. tax haven
~ havoc widespread damage; disorder; chaos
2 hazardous dangerous
~ hazard venture; put in danger; risk; Ex. hazard a guess;
N: possible source of danger
2 hazy slightly obscure; misty; unclear; N. haze: light mist or
smoke; confused state of mind
37
 headlong hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.
~ headfirst moving with the head leading; headlong
 headstrong willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to
have one’s own way; CF. no ’excessive’
 heckler person who verbally harasses others; V. heckle:
verbally harass as with gibes (by interrupting a speaker or
speech)
2 hedonist one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in
life; CF. hedonism: practice of living one’s life purely for
pleasure
2 heedless not noticing; disregarding
~ heed pay attention to; N: close attention
 hegemony dominance especially of one nation over others
 heinous atrocious; wicked; hatefully bad; Ex. heinous
crime
~ gross total; fragrant; clearly wrong; (of people’s behavior)
coarse; corpulent; Ex. gross insolence/behavior; V: earn as
a total amount; N: 12 dozens
~ helm steering wheel of a ship; position of control
2 herbivorous grain-eating; CF. herbivore
2 heresy opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary
to accepted religion; ADJ. heretical; CF. heretic
 hermetic sealed by fusion so as to be airtight; airtight
 hermetic concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious;
occult
~ sterile incapable of producing young; free from microorganism;
V. sterilize
 hermitage home of a hermit
 herpetologist one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology:
branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians
 heterodox (of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox;
unconventional
2 heterogeneous dissimilar; mixed; not homogeneous; consisting
of dissimilar elements or plants
 hew cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.
 heyday time of greatest success or power; prime
~ prime period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning
stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the
year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V: make
ready; prepare
~ primary first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in
time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first
~ primal first in rank or importance; being first in time; original;
Ex. man’s primal innocence
~ primate group of mammals including humans
 hiatus gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time;
break
23
 hibernal wintry; wintery; of or like winter
2 hibernate sleep throughout the winter; N. hibernation
2 hierarchy arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian
body divided into ranks; body of persons having authority
~ totem animal, plant, or natural object serving as a symbol
of a clan or family; representation of this; Ex. totem pole
2 hieroglyphic picture writing; ADJ.
 hilarity boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ. hilarious:
full of laughter
 hindmost furthest behind; farthest to the rear
~ wage begin and continue (a war)
2 hindrance block; obstacle; V. hinder
 hinterlands back country; inner part of a country; OP.
foreland
 hireling one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously);
one who works solely for compensation; Ex. hireling
politician
 hirsute hairy; having a lot of hair
 histrionic theatrical; excessively dramatic or emotional; affected;
of actors or acting; N. histrionics: histrionic behavior
~ historic important in history; Ex. historic battle
~ historical connected with history; based on events in history
(whether regarded as important or not)
 hoard stockpile; accumulate for future use; N: supply
stored for future use
 hoary white with age
 hoax trick which makes someone take action; practical joke;
Ex. hoax mail; V.
 holocaust destruction by fire; CF. burnt whole; CF. Holocaust
 holster leather pistol case (that hangs on a belt around the
waist)
2 homage honor; tribute; great respect; Ex. pay/do homage
to
 homeostasis tendency of a system or organism to maintain
relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF. homeo-:
constant; Ex. homeotherm
2 homespun domestic; made at home; spun or woven at
home; simple and ordinary; Ex. homespun philosophy
~ spin rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton,
wool, etc.); N.
 homily sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning;
ADJ. homiletic
2 homogeneous of the same kind; uniform in composition
throughout
 hone sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a tool
 hoodwink deceive; delude
 horde crowd; swarm
~ swarm large group of insects moving in a mass; crowd of
people or animals; V: move in a crowd or mass
38
 hortatory encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation;
CF. exhort
 horticultural pertaining to cultivation of gardens; N. horticulture:
science or art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, or
ornamental plants; CF. agriculture: science or art of farming
or growing crops
2 hostility unfriendliness; hatred; enmity; ADJ. hostile
 hovel shack; small wretched house
~ hut crude dwelling; shack
~ shack crude cabin
~ shed small roofed structure for storage and shelter;
V: pour forth; lose by natural process; repel without
allowing penetration; radiate; cast; Ex. shed
tears/light/water/skin/leaves
 hover hang about; (of birds or aircraft) stay in the air in
one place; (of people) wait nearby; stay around one place;
waver; be in an uncertain state
 hubbub confused uproar; loud noise; din
 hubris arrogance; excessive self-conceit
 hue color; aspect; Ex. opinions of every hue
 hue and cry outcry; loud cry or clamor; strong protest;
Ex. hue and cry against the new rule
2 humane marked by kindness or consideration; kind and
compassionate; humanitarian
2 humanitarian one devoted to the promotion of human welfare;
CF. humanism
 humdrum dull; monotonous
2 humid damp; N. humidity
 humility humbleness of spirit
~ humble of low rank or position; modest; having a low opinion
of oneself and a high opinion of others; unassuming; not
proud; V. humiliate: make humble; cause to feel ashamed or
to lose the respect of others
 hummock small hill; hillock
 humus substance or rich soil formed by decaying vegetable
matter; CF. soil
 hurtle crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling
runaway train
 husband use sparingly; conserve; save; Ex. husband one’s
energy; CF. house holder
 husbandry frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming;
Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman
2 hybrid mongrel; mixed breed; V. hybridize
~ mongrel plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.
~ pedigree line of ancestors; ancestry; lineage; ADJ. (of an
animal) descended from of a chosen family; Ex. pedigree
dog; CF. crane’s foot
 hydrophobia fear of water; rabies
~ rabies disease passed on by the bite of an infected animal
(causing madness and death)
~ hygiene science and practice of the promotion and preservation
of health; ADJ. hygienic: showing careful attention
to cleanness (to prevent disease); Ex. hygienic condition
 hyperbole exaggeration; overstatement; ADJ. hyperbolic:
of hyperbole; of a hyperbola
2 hypercritical excessively exacting; too critical (without
noticing good qualities)
 hypochondriac person unduly worried about his health;
worrier without cause about illness; ADJ. CF. hypochondria:
neurosis that one is or is becoming ill; CF. abdomen
2 hypocritical pretending to be virtuous; deceiving; N.
hypocrisy: profession of beliefs one does not possess; CF.
hypocrite
2 hypothetical based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed;
N. hypothesis
 ichthyology study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish
2 icon(ikon) religious image; idol; image or representation
 iconoclastic attacking cherished traditions; N. iconoclast:
one who attacks traditional ideas; one who destroys sacred
images
2 ideology system of ideas characteristic of a group or culture
 idiom expression whose meaning as a whole differs from
the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of
expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ.
idiomatic
2 idiosyncrasy individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral
peculiarity; eccentricity; attitude, behavior, or opinion
peculiar to a person; anything highly individual or eccentric;
ADJ. idiosyncratic
 idolatry worship of idols; excessive admiration or devotion;
ADJ. idolatrous
 idyllic charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic
scene
~ idyll(idyl) short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy
period of life (in the country); scene from such a time; Ex.
idyll of two young lovers
 igneous produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks) formed
from lava; Ex. igneous meteorite
2 ignite kindle; light; catch fire or set fire to
 ignoble unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble
deed
 ignominy deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious;
Ex. ignominous defeat
2 illicit illegal
 illimitable infinite; limitless
2 illuminate brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten;
enable to understand; Ex. illuminating remarks
2 illusion misleading vision or visual image; false idea or belief;
CF. delusion
2 illusive deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive
39
2 illusory illusive; deceptive; not real
2 imbalance lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion
~ disproportion lack of proportion (between the parts);
ADJ. disproportionate
 imbecility weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N.
imbecile: stupid person; fool
2 imbibe drink in
 imbroglio complicated situation (as in a play); painful or
complex misunderstanding (as in a play); entanglement; confused
mass (as of papers); V. embroil
 imbue saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone
with feelings
24
2 immaculate spotless; flawless; absolutely clean
~ tenant one that pays rent to use property owned by another
~ tenancy possession of land or building by rent; period of a
tenant’s occupancy
2 imminent impending; near at hand
2 immobility state of being immovable
 immolate offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)
2 immune resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity
 immure imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall
2 immutable unchangeable
2 impair injure; hurt; damage
 impale pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the
spear
2 impalpable imperceptible(not easily understood); intangible;
OP. palpable: tangible; easily perceptible
2 impartial not biased; fair; N. impartiality
~ impart grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart
2 impassable not able to be traveled or crossed
2 impasse predicament(dangerous condition) from which
there is no escape; situation allowing for no further progress
2 impassive without feeling; expressionless; imperturbable;
stoical; Ex. impassive face
 impeach charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise
doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a witness’s credibility
 impeccable faultless
~ credential evidence concerning one’s authority; written
proof of a person’s position; Ex. The new ambassador presented
his credentials to the court.
2 impecunious without money
2 impede hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block
~ retard delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a
child) slower in development
2 impediment hindrance; stumbling-block; speech defect
preventing clear articulation; Ex. speech impediment
2 impel drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to
action
2 impending nearing; approaching; about to happen
2 impenetrable not able to be pierced or entered; beyond
understanding; impossible to understand; Ex. impenetrable
mystery
2 impenitent not repentant
2 imperative absolutely necessary; that must be done; critically
important; expressing command; Ex. It is imperative
that; N: something that must be done
2 imperceptible unnoticeable; impossible to perceive; undetectable
2 imperial like an emperor; related to an empire; CF. imperialism
~ imperil put in danger
 imperious domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF.
imperial/emperor
2 impermeable impervious; not permitting passage through
its substance; impossible to permeate
2 impertinent insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence
2 imperturbable unshakably calm; placid
~ collected composed; calm; self-possessed
 impervious impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or
distressed; incapable of being affected (in one’s opinions);
Ex. impervious to water/criticism
2 impetuous violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful
thought; Ex. impetuous decision
2 impetus moving force; momentum; force of a moving body;
incentive; stimulus; impulse
2 impiety irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety
 impinge infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with;
Ex. The effects are impinging on every aspect of our lives.
2 impious irreverent
2 implacable incapable of being pacified; impossible to appease;
Ex. implacable enemy
2 implausible unlikely (to be true); unbelievable; Ex. implausible
alibi
2 implement put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with
tools; Ex. implement the plan/suggestion; N: tool or instrument
2 implicate incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be
involved (in a crime); Ex. implicate someone in the crime
2 implication something hinted at or suggested; implying;
implicating
2 implicit understood but not stated; implied; unquestioning
and complete; Ex. implicit trust
2 implode burst inward; CF. vaccum tube
2 implore beg
40
2 imply suggest a meaning not expressed; signify
 impolitic not wise; not expedient; not politic
2 imponderable weightless; that cannot undergo precise
evaluation; CF. pound
2 import significance; importance; meaning
~ significant expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant
smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify:
denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant
 importunate urging; always demanding; troublesomely
urgent or persistent
 importune beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an
annoying way)
2 imposture assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor
~ masquerade wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume
party or ball at which masks are worn; pretense; disguise
2 impotent weak; ineffective; lacking in physical strength or
power
~ crave desire; want intensely
 imprecation curse; swearword
 impregnable invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter
by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take
~ impregnate make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate
2 impromptu without previous preparation; off the cuff(end
of a sleeve); on the spur of the moment
2 impropriety improperness; unsuitableness
2 improvident thriftless; not providing for the future
2 improvise compose on the spur of the moment
2 imprudent lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious
2 impudence impertinence; insolence
 impugn dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way);
attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight
 impuissance powerlessness; feebleness
2 impunity freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish
 impute attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation
2 inadvertently unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
~ oversee watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight: unintentional
failure to notice or do something; supervision
2 inalienable not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex. inalienable
rights
 inane silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity
2 inanimate lifeless; not animate
 inarticulate speechless; producing indistinct speech; not
articulate; not expressing oneself clearly
~ speechless unable for the moment to speak (because of
strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger
2 inaugurate begin formally; install in office; induct into office
by a formal ceremony; N. inauguration; ADJ. inaugural
 incandescent strikingly bright; shining with intense heat;
emitting visible light when heated; Ex. incandescent light
bulb; CF. candle
 incantation singing or chanting of magic spells; magical
formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant
~ chant tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung
on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the
manner of a chant
~ charm quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula
thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell
on; bewitch
~ bewitch cast a spell over; captivate completely
~ recite repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite
his complaints; N. recitation
~ recital act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance
of music or dance (by a solo performer)
 incapacitate disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity
2 incarcerate imprison
2 incarnate endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form;
personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to;
embody
2 incarnation act of assuming a human body and human
nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex.
previous incarnation/reincarnation
~ personify represent (an inanimate object) as a person;
be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is
evil/patience personified; N. personification
2 incendiary arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary
bomb
2 incense enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely
angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned to produce
a pleasant odor
2 incentive spur; motive; something which encourages one to
greater activity
2 inception start; beginning
2 incessant uninterrupted; unceasing
25
 inchoate (of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not explicit;
at the beginning of development; rudimentary; elementary;
Ex. inchoate mass
2 incidence rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex.
high incidence of infant mortality
2 incidental not essential; minor; N: something incidental
~ incident event; event that causes a crisis
~ incinerate burn to ashes
2 incipient beginning; in an early stage
2 incisive (appreciatively) cutting; sharp; Ex. incisive remarks;
V. incise: make a cut into
2 incite arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist; Ex.
incite a riot/the crowd to rebellion
41
 inclement stormy; unkind; unmerciful; CF. clement
2 incline slope; slant; Ex. steep incline
2 inclined tending or leaning toward; bent; V. incline: slant;
dispose; be disposed; tend
~ tend have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply
one’s attention; attend
2 inclusive tending to include all; all-inclusive; Ex. inclusive
charge
2 incognito with identity concealed; using an assumed name;
ADJ.
2 incoherent unintelligible; muddled; unable to express one’s
thoughts in an orderly manner; illogical; lacking cohesion;
not coherent
2 incommodious not spacious; inconvenient
2 incompatible inharmonious; N. incompatibility
2 incongruity lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous:
lacking in harmony; inappropriate
~ attire clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
2 inconsequential insignificant; unimportant
2 inconsistency state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity
or steadiness; ADJ. inconsistent: displaying a lack
of consistency; erratic; contradictory; incompatible
2 incontinent lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious
2 incontrovertible indisputable; impossible to dispute; not
open to question; unquestionable
2 incorporate introduce something into a larger whole; include;
embody; give material form to; ADJ.
 incorporeal without a material body; insubstantial
2 incorrigible uncorrectable
2 incredulity tendency to disbelief
2 incredulous withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief
2 increment increase
2 incriminate accuse of or implicate in a crime; serve as evidence
against; cause to seem or make guilty of a crime; Ex.
incriminating evidence
 incrustation hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust;
cover with a crust
2 incubate hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote
hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for
development; be holding in one’s body an infection which is
going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:
disease
~ inasmuch as since; owing to the fact that
2 incubus burden; very worriying problem; mental care;
nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus
2 inculcate teach (ideas or principles); instill
2 incumbent obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently
holding an office; N: person who holds an office
2 incur bring upon oneself
2 incursion temporary invasion; CF. excursion: short journey
~ inroad hostile invasion; advance that lessens the quantity
or difficulty of something; Ex. The long illness made serious
inroads on his savings; CF. raid
2 indefatigable tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting
tired
2 indelible not able to be erased
 indemnify make secure against damage or loss; compensate
for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured
2 indentation notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth
 indenture bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind by
indenture; N: contract binding one party into the service of
another for a specified time (as between an apprentice and
his master)
2 indeterminate uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
2 indicative suggestive; implying; serving to indicate
2 indices signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student’s potential;
CF. index: something that reveals or indicates; sign;
Ex. cost-of-living index
2 indict charge; N. indictment
2 indifferent unmoved or unconcerned by; having no interest
in; mediocre; neither good nor bad
2 indigence poverty
2 indigenous native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World
2 indigent poor; destitute
2 indignation anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation;
ADJ. indignant
~ righteous morally upright; just
~ rightful legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
2 indignity treatment or situation that causes shame or loss
of dignity, respect; offensive or insulting treatment; humiliating
or degrading treatment; Ex. I suffered the indignity of
having to say that in front of them.
2 indiscriminate choosing at random; confused; not based
on careful distinctions
2 indisputable too certain to be disputed; beyond doubt
2 indissoluble permanent; impossible to dissolve or disintegrate
2 indite write; compose
2 indolent lazy
2 indomitable unconquerable; unyielding
 indubitable unable to be doubted; which cannot be
doubted; unquestionable
2 induce persuade; lead to do something; bring about; N.
inducement
2 inductive pertaining to induction or proceeding from the
specific to the general
42
~ induct place formally in office; install; admit as a member;
initiate; N. induction: inducting; process of deriving general
principles from particular facts
2 indulgent humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence
~ indulge yield to; gratify; allow oneself a special pleasure;
Ex. indulge one’s every whim/a child/in a big cigarette; N.
indulgence
~ humor indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality that
makes something amusing; state of mind; mood; Ex. in a
bad humor; Ex. out of humor
2 industrious diligent; hard-working; N. industry
 inebriated habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety
~ inebriate make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person
~ intoxicate make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated
by all the money he might win
 ineffable unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot
be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible;
Ex. ineffable name/joy
2 ineffectual not effective; not having a desired effect; weak
 ineluctable irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable
2 inept unsuited; inappropriate; lacking skill; incompetent;
CF. inapt: (of statements or ideas) inappropriate
2 inequity unfairness; ADJ. inequitable
 inerrancy infallibility
 inert inactive; lacking power to move; unable to move or
act; Ex. chemically inert; N. inertia: state of being inert;
force which keeps a thing in the position or state
2 inevitable unavoidable
 inexorable relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable
of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable price
rises
2 infallible unerring; never making mistakes
2 infamous notoriously bad; notorious; well known for being
bad; Ex. infamous behavior; N: infamy: infamous act; evil
fame or reputation
2 infantile childish; infantlike
2 infer deduce; conclude; N. inference
 infernal pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of
fiery heat or destruction
 infidel unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion)
2 infiltrate pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an organization)
sneakily; Ex. infiltrate the troops into enemy
territory; CF. infiltrator
~ penetrate enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp
the inner significance of; understand
2 infinitesimal very small
2 infirmity weakness
2 inflated exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)
2 influx flowing into
2 infraction violation (of a rule or regulation); breach
26
2 infringe violate (a law); encroach (the right of another person)
2 ingenious marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N.
ingenuity
~ resourceful clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult
situations); N. resource, resourcefulness
2 ingenuous naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated;
candid
~ ingenue ing´enue; young innocent girl
2 ingrained deeply established; firmly rooted; Ex. ingrained
dirt/prejudice
2 ingrate ungrateful person (not expressing thanks)
 ingratiate become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of
another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss
2 inherent firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic
2 inhibit restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent; N. inhibition
~ inhibited (of a person) unable to express what one really
feels
~ uninhibited having no inhibitions; free in behavior and
feelings
 inimical (of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something)
harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy
2 inimitable matchless; not able to be imitated
2 iniquitous wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex.
den of iniquity
2 initiate begin; originate; receive into a group; introduce
to a new field or activity; Ex. initiate someone into the
mysteries of a secret religion; N: one who has been initiated
2 injurious harmful; causing injury
 inkling hint; slight indication
2 innate inborn
2 innocuous harmless
2 innovation change; something newly introduced; introduction
of something new; V. innovate: begin or introduce
(something new); be creative; ADJ. innovative
 innuendo indirect or subtle (derogatory) hint; insinuation;
Ex. sexual innuendo
2 inopportune untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly
chosen
 inordinate beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive;
Ex. inordinate demands
2 inquisitor questioner (especially harsh); investigator; person
making an inquisition
~ inquisitive eager for knowledge; unduly curious
 insalubrious unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious
place
43
~ healthful conducive to good health; Ex. healthful mountain
air
~ healthy possessing good health; healthful
~ wholesome conducive to mental or physical health; healthful
2 insatiable not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex. insatiable
appetite
 inscrutable difficult to understand; impenetrable; not
readily understood; mysterious
 insensate without feeling; lacking sense; foolish
 insensible unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware;
imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain;
Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible
 insidious treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading
harmfully in a stealthy manner; Ex. insidious spreading of
dry rot
2 insightful discerning; perceptive
 insinuate hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce
or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex. insinuate himself
into the boss’s favor; CF. ingratiate
~ creep move with body close to the ground; move stealthily
or slowly; N.
~ artful exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
 insipid lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid
food/character
2 insolence impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ. insolent;
CF. haughty + rude
2 insolvent bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency
2 insomnia wakefulness; inability to sleep
 insouciant without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent
 instigate start; urge; provoke; incite; Ex. instigate a
search/quarrel
2 insubordination disobedience; rebelliousness; ADJ. insubordinate
2 insubstantial lacking substance; insignificant; frail; immaterial
 insularity narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of
an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula
2 insuperable insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable
difficulties
~ odds chances; probability; disagreement; Ex. The odds are
that it will rain. Ex. at odds with
2 insurgent rebellious; N.
2 insurmountable overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable
2 insurrection rebellion; uprising
2 intangible not able to be perceived by touch; vague
2 integral complete; necessary for completeness; Ex. integral
part
2 integrate make whole; combine; make into one unit
2 integrity honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being
whole and undivided; completeness
~ upright (sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral
2 intellect higher mental powers; person of great intellectual
ability
2 intelligentsia intellectuals; members of the educated elite
(often used derogatorily)
2 inter bury; N. interment
~ cemetery place for burying the dead
2 interdict prohibit; forbid; N.
2 interim meantime; Ex. in the interim; ADJ. taking place
during an interim; Ex. interim paper
 interloper intruder; one who interferes
2 interminable endless
2 intermittent periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at
intervals
2 internecine mutually destructive
 interpolate insert between
 interregnum period between two successive reigns or governments
 interrogate question closely; cross-examine; cross-question
2 intervene come between; interfere; Ex. intervened to prevent
a fight; N. intervention
 intimate hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship;
familiar; private; personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/
thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or confidant; CF.
intimacy
2 intimidate frighten; N. intimidation
2 intractable unruly; difficult to manage; Ex. intractable
problem/child
2 intransigence refusal of any compromise; stubbornness;
ADJ. intransigent: uncompromising
2 intrepid fearless
2 intrinsic essential; inherent; built-in
 introspective looking within oneself; N. introspection:
self-examination
2 introvert one who is introspective or inclined to think more
about oneself; ADJ. introverted
 intrude put or force in without being asked; trespass; enter
as an uninvited person; Ex. intrude one’s own opinion into
the report; CF. thrust in
2 intuition immediate insight; power of knowing without reasoning;
ADJ. intuitive; V. intuit: know by intuition
2 inundate flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex.
inundated with work
~ overwhelm (of water) cover completely; defeat completely
by much greater force; Ex. overwhelmed by grief
44
~ submerge place under water; dip; go under water; cover
completely (as with water); Ex. submerged in work
~ engulf surround and swallow up
 inured accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan
cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden;
CF. unfeeling
2 invalidate weaken; destroy; make invalid; nullify
~ invalid one incapacitated(disabled) by a chronic illness;
ADJ: incapacitated by illness; not valid; null; V: allow to
leave (a military force) because of ill-health
2 invective abuse
 inveigh denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh
against the evils of drink
 inveigle deceive; lead astray by deception; wheedle(cajole);
Ex. inveigle her into joining the club; CF. interest dishonestly
2 inverse opposite
2 invert turn upside down or inside out; reverse the position
or condition of
27
2 inveterate deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old
 invidious designed to create ill will or envy; tending to
rouse ill will or envy; Ex. invidious comparison
2 invincible unconquerable
 inviolable secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or
profanation); unassailable; Ex. inviolable oath/rights; N.
inviolability
 invocation prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon
as a reference or support; act of invoking
 invoke call and bring into use (a right or law); call on/upon
(a higher power or god) for help; ask for; beg for; conjure
(a spirit); Ex. invoke the veto power; Ex. invoke one’s
advisor/God
2 invulnerable incapable of injury; impossible to damage or
injure
2 iota very small quantity
 irascible irritable; easily angered
 irate angry; CF. ire: anger; wrath
 iridescent exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil
slick; N. iridescence
2 irksome annoying; tedious; V. irk: annoy
2 ironic expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and
contrary manner
 irony hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to
mean the opposite of what they actually mean; use of words
to convey the opposite of their literal meaning
2 irreconcilable impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not
able to be resolved
2 irrefutable indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable
2 irrelevant not applicable; unrelated
2 irremediable incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy
2 irreparable not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible
to repair
2 irrepressible unable to be restrained or held back; impossible
to hold back
2 irreproachable beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable;
Ex. irreproachable conduct
2 irresolute uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in resolution;
indecisive; N. irresolution
~ indecisive marked by indecision; inconclusive; Ex. indecisive
battle
~ indecision irresolution; inability to make up one’s mind
2 irretrievable impossible to recover or regain; CF. retrieve
2 irreverence lack of proper respect or reverence; ADJ. irreverent
2 irrevocable unalterable; irreversible; impossible to revoke
2 isotope varying from of an element
 isthmus narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies
of land
 itinerant wandering; traveling from place to place (to perform
work); Ex. itinerant preacher
 itinerary plan of a trip; record of a trip
 jabber chatter rapidly or unintelligibly
~ jab poke abruptly with something sharp; punch with short
blows
 jaded tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued; surfeited;
worn out; wearied; Ex. jaded appetite
2 jargon language used by special group; technical terminology;
gibberish; nonsensical or incoherent talk
 jaundiced yellowed; prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful)
from long and disappointing experience of human affairs;
Ex. with a jaundiced eye
~ jaundice medical condition in which the skin, the white
part of the eyes, etc. turn yellow; V: affect with jaundice;
affect with prejudice, envy, or hostility; bias
 jaunt trip; short journey
 jaunty cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated;
easy and carefree; dapper in appearance; Ex. jaunty
person/hat
2 jeopardize endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy:
danger
 jettison throw overboard (from a ship or plane)
 jibe agree; be in harmony with; gibe
2 jingoist extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike
chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism
 jocose given to(having a tendency of) joking
 jocular said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking
~ jest playful remark or act; V. act or speak playfully
 jocund merry
45
 jollity gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay
 jostle shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly;
Ex. jostled by the crowds
~ shove push forward; push roughly; Ex. pushing and shoving
to get on the bus; N.
~ bump hit or knock against with force; N.
 jovial good-natured; merry; cheerful
2 jubilation rejoicing; great joy
2 judicious sound on judgment; wise
 juggernaut irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing
force that crushes everything in its path
~ jug pitcher; container for holding liquids
 juncture crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of
joining
 junket trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official
at public expense
 junta group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal;
group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power
(by force)
 jurisprudence science of law
~ jurisdiction right and power to apply the law; authority
~ juridical of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of
courts of law; CF. judiciary
 juxtapose place side by side; CF. next
 kaleidoscope tube in which patterns made by the reflection
in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce interesting
symmetrical effects; series of changing events; Ex.
kaleidoscope of European history; CF. beautiful
 ken range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one’s ken
2 kernel central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)
 killjoy grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the
pleasure of others
~ grouch bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining;
V: complain; grumble
~ spoilsport one who spoils the pleasure of others
2 kindle start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse
 kindred related; belonging to the same group; similar in
nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N: relative; kin;
kinship
2 kinetic producing motion; of motion
 kismet fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for
fate.
 kleptomaniac person who has a compulsive desire to steal
 knave untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N.
knavery
 knead mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass
(with the hands); Ex. knead dough
 knell tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster,
etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.
~ toll sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals; N: sound
of a bell; fixed tax or charge
~ curfew regulation requiring all people to leave the streets
at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a
curfew
 knit contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together
closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interwining yarn or
thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit together
in a few weeks.
~ crochet make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread
with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet
 knoll little round hill; hillock
 knotty intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot
 kudos honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional
achievement
~ entourage group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround
 labile likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N.
lability
2 laborious demanding much work or care; tedious
2 labyrinth maze
 laceration torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin
as with broken glass); wound
~ rip tear or be torn quickly and violently; Ex. The sail
ripped under the force of the wind; N.
~ rag scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming
unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance
 lachrymose producing tears; tearful
 lackadaisical lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or
zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
~ halfhearted exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm
 lackluster lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull
 laconic brief and to the point; using few words; terse
 laggard slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler
~ lag move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag behind
the rest; N.
~ straggle stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out
in a scattered group; Ex. straggling marathon racer; Ex.
straggling branch
28
 lagoon shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated
from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs
 laity laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the
clergy
~ layman man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional
2 lament grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
 lampoon ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing
a person, group, or institution
 lancet small surgical tool for making incisions
46
~ lance pierce with a lance; cut into; N: spearlike weapon
2 languid lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless
2 languish lose animation or strength
2 languor lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression
 lank long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln
 lap take in food or drink with one’s tongue; splash gently;
Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front area from the waist
to the knees of a seated person
 larceny theft; Ex. petit larceny
 larder pantry; place where food is kept
 largess generous gift (given to people who do not have
enough)
2 lascivious lustful
~ lust intense sexual desire; intense eagerness; V.
 lassitude languor; weariness; listlessness
2 latent present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant;
hidden; N. latency; CF. potential
2 lateral of or coming from the side
 latitude freedom from narrow limitations
2 laud praise; N. ADJ. laudable: praiseworthy; ADJ. laudatory:
expressing praise
 lavish liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or
using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V.
give in abundance
 lax careless; negligent; not paying enough attention; Ex.
lax service
 leaven add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven;
N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation);
element that lightens or enlivens
~ enliven make lively or spirited; animate
2 lechery gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N.
lecher: lecherous man
 lectern reading desk or stand for a public speaker
 leery (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious
 leeway room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the
deadline
~ margin border; room; allowance beyond what is needed;
Ex. margin of safety
~ marginal of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal
effect/writing ability
2 legacy gift made by a will; something handed down from
an ancestor
2 legend explanatory list of symbols on a map
 legerdemain sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
2 leniency mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe
in judgment or punishment
~ permissive allowing much freedom; lenient; Ex. permissive
society
2 leonine like a lion
2 lethal deadly
2 lethargic drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness
and inactivity
 levee earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding;
CF. raise
 levitate rise and float in the air (especially by magical
means); CF. light
2 levity lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness
of manner
 levy impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect
(a tax); Ex. levy a tax on tobacco
2 lewd lustful
 lexicographer compiler of a dictionary; CF. lexicography:
work of compiling a dictionary
 lexicon dictionary
 liability drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility;
condition of being liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible
(for paying)
2 liaison contact that keeps parties in communication; communication
between groups; one that maintains communication;
go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection
2 libel defamatory written statement; act of writing something
that smears a person’s character; V. ADJ. libelous
 libertine debauched person; dissolute or licentious person;
rou´e; CF. free
~ rou´e lecherous man
2 libidinous lustful
 libido psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human
activity; sexual desire
 libretto text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
2 licentious amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
~ license official or legal permission; latitude of action or
speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or damage; V.
 lien legal claim or right on a property
 ligneous like wood
 lilliputian extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver’s Travels
 limber flexible; supple; pliable; V.
 limbo region near heaven or hell where certain souls are
kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo
~ abode dwelling place; home
~ abide dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate;
Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can’t abide rude people.
 limn draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
 limpid crystal clear
2 lineage descent; ancestry
 lineaments features especially of the face; distinctive shape
or contour of the face; CF. line
47
~ feature distinctive part of the faces (as the eyes or mouth);
features: overall appearance of the face; prominent or distinctive
quality; prominent article; film; V: make prominent
~ linger loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going; continue
or persist; be slow to disappear; Ex. The smell lingered
for days.
~ persist continue in existence; last; continue in a course of
action in spite of opposition; Ex. persist in/with something;
ADJ. persistent
2 linguistic pertaining to language
~ lionize treat (a person) as a celebrity
~ liquidate settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate;
kill or abolish
~ list tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
2 listless lacking in spirit or energy; languid
 litany supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls
out and the people replies in the same words
 lithe flexible; supple; CF. limber
~ willowy flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
 litigation lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V.
litigate
 litotes understatement for emphasis; Ex. “not bad(=pretty
good)”
~ understate state with less truth than seems warranted by
the facts; Ex. He understated the seriousness of the crime;
N. understatement; OP. overstate
 livid lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen;
enraged; extremely angry
 loath reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and
Juliet were both loath for him to go.
2 loathe detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive;
Ex. loathsome smell
 lode metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)
2 lofty very high
~ loft room or space under the roof; attic
2 log record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities;
section of a trunk; V.
2 loiter hang about/around; stand idly about; linger
 loll lounge about
~ lounge stand, sit, or lie in a lazy, relaxed way
2 longevity long life; long duration
 loom appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct,
or distorted form); Ex. The shadow of the gallows
loomed threateningly. N: apparatus for making thread into
cloth
~ gallows framework from which a noose is suspended (used
for execution by hanging)
~ noose loop formed in a rope
 lope gallop slowly
2 loquacious talkative; N. loquacity
29
 lout clumsy person; ADJ. loutish; CF. from countrysides ?
 low moo; make the sound of a cow
~ lubricate apply a lubricant to; N. lubricant: substance that
reduces friction
2 lucid easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity
2 lucrative profitable; producing wealth
 lucre money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre
~ filth dirty matter; ADJ. filthy
 ludicrous laughable; ridiculous; trifling
 lugubrious mournful; sorrowful
 lull moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex. a lull
in the rain; V: cause to become less active; cause to sleep
or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false sense of security;
CF. lullaby
 lumber move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered
through the woods; N: timber
 lumen unit of light energy (one candle’s worth)
 luminary celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object
that gives light (as a celestial body)
~ dignitary person of high rank or position
 luminous shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light; Ex. luminous
paint/road signs
2 lunar pertaining to the moon
~ lunatic insane; Ex. lunatic asylum
 lurid wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; Ex.
lurid details of the murder
 lurk stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived
~ slink move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky
(as in ambush)
 luscious pleasing to taste or smell; delicious
 luster shine; gloss (of a polished surface)
 lustrous shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair
 luxuriant abundant; growing healthily and in large
amounts; excessively ornate; rich and splendid; fertile; Ex.
luxuriant forests/prose; CF. luxurious, luxuriate
 macabre gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
~ morgue mortuary; place where bodies are kept before
burial or cremation
~ cremate incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium
 mace ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike
medieval weapon
 macerate soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate
powdered wood to make paper
48
 Machiavellian crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine
of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are
justified in pursuing political power
 machinations evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to
achieve an evil end; V. machinate
 maculated spotted; stained; CF. immaculate
 madrigal pastoral song; song for several singers without
instruments
 maelstrom violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation;
CF. stream
 magisterial authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a
magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial
manner
~ magistrate official with power to administer the law
2 magnanimity generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous
 magnate person of prominence or influence; powerful or
influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate
2 magniloquent boastful; pompous
2 magnitude greatness (in size or extent); extent
 maim mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex.
maimed for life
~ mangle tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex.
badly mangled bodies
2 maladroit clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling
2 malady illness
 malaise uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any
particular pain or appearance of disease)
 malapropism comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop
~ malapropos inappropriate; ADV.
2 malcontent person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs;
discontented person; ADJ: discontented
2 malediction curse
2 malefactor evildoer; criminal
~ maleficient doing evil; N. maleficience
2 malevolent wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence
 malfeasance wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)
2 malicious hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice:
desire to harm others; spite
2 malign speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame;
ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence
2 malignant tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively
malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor
2 malingerer one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger:
feign illness to avoid work
 malleable (of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(
beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced);
easily controlled; tractable
2 malodorous foul-smelling
~ compost mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer;
V: put or make compost
2 mammal vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young
~ vertebrate having a backbone or spinal column; N: group
of animals having a segmented spinal column
~ suckle give or take milk at the breast or udder
~ nurse suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex.
nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone
2 mammoth gigantic; enormous
2 manacle restrain; handcuff; N.
 mandate order; charge; authoritative command; power to
govern another country; power to given to a government;
region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place
under a mandate; Ex. mandated territory
2 mandatory obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
 mangy shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance
~ mange skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by
loss of hair
2 maniacal raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person;
CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm
2 manifest evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly
 manifestation outward demonstration; manifesting; indication
of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation of
his pronounced musical bent
~ pronounced distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced
limp
2 manifesto public declaration of principles; statement of
policy
 manifold many in number or kind; numerous; varied
 manipulate operate with one’s hands; control or play upon
(people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate
publicity and men; ADJ. manipulative
 mannered affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of
speech
~ mannerism distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in
art (according to a set of styles)
 manumit emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
2 marital pertaining to marriage
 maritime bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of
the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces
2 marked noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex.
marked improvement/man
 marred damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure
 marshal put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct
place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military
officer; official
~ enlist (cause to) join the armed forces; obtain (help, sympathy,
or support)
49
 marsupial one of a family of mammals that nurse their
offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo,
opossum, wombat
2 martial warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law
~ cadet student at a military school
 martinet strict disciplinarian; person who demands total
obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet
2 martyr one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion
or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism
2 masochist person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism
 masticate chew
2 materialism preoccupation with physical comforts and
things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than
spiritual matters)
2 maternal motherly; N. maternity: motherhood
2 matriarch woman who rules a family or larger social group
 matriculate enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix
 matrix point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols;
mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization
 maudlin effusively sentimental
~ sentimental swayed by sentiment; appealing to the sentiments
 maul handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled
by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer
30
 mausoleum monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF.
Mausolos
 mauve pale purple
 maverick rebel; nonconformist (in a group)
 mawkish mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental;
excessively and objectionably sentimental
2 maxim proverb; truth pithily stated
 mayhem injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling
a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF.
maim
2 meager scanty; inadequate
 mealymouthed indirect in speech (when something unpleasant
must be said); hypocritical; evasive
 meander wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or
turning course; move aimlessly and idly
 meddlesome interfering; V. meddle: interfere
2 mediate settle a dispute through the services of an outsider;
act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate
a cease-fire
~ intermediary intermediate; acting as a mediator; N: mediator;
go-between
2 mediocre ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad
2 meditation reflection; thought; V. meditate
2 medium element that is a creature’s natural environment;
nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate
occupation or means of expression; channel of communication;
compromise; middle position between extremes;
intervening substance through which something else is transmitted
 medley mixture
 meek submissive; patient and long-suffering
~ suitor man who is courting a woman
 megalomania mania for doing grandiose things; mental
disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance
2 melancholy gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic;
CF. melancholia
~ blue gloomy; depressed
2 melee fight
 mellifluous (of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing;
melodious; having a pleasant tune
 memento token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento
of your visit
2 memorialize commemorate
~ memorial something, such as a monument or holiday, intended
to honor the memory of a person or event; ADJ:
commemorative
 menagerie collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo
 mendacious lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity
 mendicant beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
~ alms money or goods given to the poor
 menial suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who
does menial work (esp. servant in a house)
 mentor counselor; teacher
 mercantile concerning trade or merchants
2 mercenary motivated solely by money or gain; N.
 mercurial capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing
the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood
~ quicksilver mercury
 meretricious flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but
of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute
~ vulgar of the common people; deficient in refinement; not
refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth; N. vulgarism:
vulgarity; crudely indecent word; CF. vulgarian: vulgar person;
boor; lout
 merger combination (of two business corporations); act of
merging
50
 mesmerize hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer
 metallurgical pertaining to the art of removing metals
from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting
metals from ores
2 metamorphosis change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of
caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis
2 metaphor implied comparison; CF. simile
~ soar rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into
the sky.
2 metaphysical pertaining to speculative philosophy; of
metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines
the nature of reality
 mete measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/
punishment
2 meteoric like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex.
meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor
2 methodical systematic; N. method: systematic method of
procedure
2 meticulous excessively careful (with great attention to detail);
painstaking; scrupulous
2 metropolis large city
 mettle courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties);
spirit; ADJ. mettlesome
 miasma swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating
from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence;
noxious atmosphere or influence
~ swamp wetland; marsh; V: flood; overwhelm; drench in
with liquid
2 microcosm small representative world; world in miniature;
Ex. microcosm of English society
~ miniature small model; small painting; ADJ: small
2 migrant changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant
birds/workers; N: one that migrates
2 migratory wandering; V. migrate: move from one region
and settle in another; move periodically from one region to
another
 milieu social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel
out of one’s milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.
2 militant combative; bellicose; N.
 militate work against; Ex. militate against the chances of
promotion; CF. serve as a soldier
~ militia army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional
soldiers
2 millennium thousand-year period (as in the New Testament);
hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity
2 mimicry imitation
~ mime pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer;
V: mimic; pantomime
 minatory menacing; threatening
 mincing affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp.
meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness;
walk in an unnatural way, taking little short steps; Ex.
The actor minced across the stage; CF. mincemeat; CF.
mincer
~ dainty delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to
please; Ex. dainty movement/dress
~ exquisite delicate; very finely made; extremely beautiful;
Ex. exquisite piece of jewelry
~ choice delicate; of very fine quality
 minion servile dependent; obsequious follower
 minuscule(miniscule) extremely small
2 minute extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the
proceedings at a meeting
 minutiae petty or trivial details; CF. minutia
2 mirage unreal reflection; optical illusion
 mire entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in
mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire
 mirth merriment; laughter
 misadventure mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
2 misanthrope one who hates mankind; misanthropist
~ vile despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander
2 misapprehension error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
2 miscellany mixture of writings on various subjects; collection
of various items
~ miscellaneous made up of a variety of parts
 mischance ill luck
2 misconstrue interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge
 miscreant wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the
miscreant; CF. believe
~ wretch miserable person; bad or despicable person; ADJ.
wretched: miserable; bad; contemptible; vile
2 misdemeanor minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing
~ misconduct immoral behavior; bad management; V.
2 miserly stingy; mean
 misgivings doubts
 mishap unfortunate accident
 misnomer wrong or improper name; incorrect designation
31
2 misogamy hatred of marriage
2 misogynist hater of woman; CF. misogyny
2 missile object to be thrown or projected
 missive letter; written statement; CF. sent
 mite very small object or insect-like creature; small coin
51
2 mitigate appease; moderate; make or become less in force
or intensity
 mnemonic pertaining to memory; assisting the memory;
N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic
aid
2 mobile movable; not fixed; N. mobility
 mock ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision
2 mode prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing
something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of
life
 modicum limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not
have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate
 modish fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
 modulate tone down in intensity; change the intensity or
tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another;
Ex. modulate from E to G
 mogul powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol,
Moghul; CF. Mongolian
2 molecule the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a
substance that has all the properties of that substance
 mollify soothe an angry person
 mollycoddle pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively
 molt(moult) periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers
(for replacement by a new growth)
 molten melted; Ex. molten lava
2 momentous very important; N. moment; CF. momentary
2 momentum quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus;
moving force
2 monarchy government under a single ruler
2 monastic related to monks or monasteries; removed from
worldly concerns
2 monetary pertaining to money
2 monochromatic having only one color
~ monochrome painting in only one color; ADJ.
~ monogram design composed of one or more initials of a
name; V.
~ monograph scholarly article
 monolithic solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N.
monolith: large block of stone
2 monotheism belief in one God
2 monotony sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness;
ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone
 monumental massive; impressively large; built as a monument
 moodiness fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given
to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression;
gloomy CF. mood: state of mind or emotion
 moratorium legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare
moratorium on the building of new houses
 morbid given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought;
moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N.
morbidity; CF. disease
 mordant biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting;
Ex. mordant pen/wit
 mores conventions; moral standards; moral customs
 moribund dying; at the point of death; CF. death
 morose ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
 mortician undertaker; CF. death
~ undertaker funeral director; one whose business is to arrange
burials
 mortify humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish
the flesh; discipline (one’s body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified
by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die
2 mosaic picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.
 mote small speck (esp. of dust)
~ speck small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye
 motif theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or
literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure
 motility ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving
spontaneously
 motley multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester);
mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid
fool at medieval courts)
~ motto brief statement used to express a principle
 mottled blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face;
V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors
~ blotch spot; blot; CF. blot+botch
~ blemish mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or
defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal;
CF. unblemished
 mountebank charlatan; boastful pretender
~ peddle travel about selling (wares); CF. foot
 muddle confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion
 muggy (of weather) warm and damp
 mulct defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct
the boy of his legacy
 multifarious varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious
activities
2 multiform having many forms
2 multilingual having many languages; fluent in several languages
2 multiplicity state of being numerous or multiple; large
number; Ex. multiplicity of details; ADJ. multiple: of more
than one element
 mundane worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the
ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world
 munificent very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor;
N. munificience
52
 mural wall painting
 murky dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky
night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom
 muse ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a
poet)
 musky having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance
secreted by an Asian deer
 muster gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one’s
strength for the ordeal; N.
 musty stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist
2 mutablility ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable:
able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant
2 muted silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic noise
~ mute silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to
speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V: soften the
sound, color, shade of
 mutilate maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an
essential part
 mutinous unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N.
mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer
 myopic nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia
 myriad very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand
 nadir lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically
opposite the zenith
2 naivet´e(naivety) quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity;
artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na¨ıve): ingenuous;
lacking worldliness; simple; credulous
2 narcissist conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus
2 narrative related to telling a story; N: narrated account;
story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration
 nascent incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex.
nascent ability in music
32
2 natation swimming
 natty neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty
dresser
~ smart intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex.
smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N:
smarting pain
2 nauseate cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea
~ nausea feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF.
seasickness
~ nauseous causing nausea; feeling nausea
2 nautical pertaining to ships or navigation
 navigable (of a body of water) wide and deep enough to
allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be
steered
 nebulous vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous
proposal
~ nebula diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy
 necromancy black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead;
art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the
dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF.
necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis
 nefarious very wicked
2 negate cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N.
negation
2 negligence neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ.
negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care
2 negligible so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily
disregarded
2 nemesis someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or
ruin; CF. Nemesis
 neologism new or newly coined word or phrase
 neophyte recent convert; new member of a religious group;
beginner; CF. plant
 nepotism favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
~ favoritism display of partiality toward a favored person
 nether lower; Ex. nether garments/regions
 nettle irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
 nexus connection
 nib beak(bill); pen point
 nicety precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference;
Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between
niceties
 niggardly meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy
person
 niggle spend too much time on minor points (esp. when
finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling
 nihilist one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless
and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary
terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning
or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social
institutions is necessary for future improvement
 nip snip off; stop something’s growth or development; bite;
make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog
nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
~ snip short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors
~ pinch squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other
edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t
dreaming. N: amount that can be held between the thumb
and a finger
 nirvana in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the
individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal
beatitude
~ impersonal not being a person; not showing personal feelings;
Ex. impersonal force/manner/organization
53
2 nocturnal done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/
raids; CF. nocturne
 noisome foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
2 nomadic wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from
place to place
2 nomenclature terminology(system of specialized words);
system of names or naming things
2 nominal in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of
money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate;
appoint
 nonchalance indifference; lack of concern; composure;
ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant
attitude to his debts
2 noncommittal neutral; refusing commitment to a particular
opinion; unpledged; undecided
 nondescript undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex.
nondescript fellow in a crowd
2 nonentity person of no importance; nonexistence
 nonplus put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex;
CF. no more
2 nostalgia homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia
for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
 nostrum questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our
(remedy)
2 notable conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important;
distinguished; noted
2 notoriety disrepute; ill fame
~ nova star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then
returns to its original brightness
 novelty something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original
2 novice beginner
2 noxious harmful; CF. obnoxious
 nuance shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle
distinction
~ shade slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color;
Ex. shades of meaning/grey
~ gradation series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression
 nubile marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
 nugatory worthless; futile
2 nullify make invalid; make null; invalidate
 numismatist person who collects coins; N. numismatics:
study or collection of money, coins, and medals
 nuptial related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N.
nuptials: wedding ceremony
 nurture nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is
growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that
nourishes; rearing
 nutrient nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment
~ nutrition process of nourishing or being nourished; CF.
malnutrition
~ nutritious providing nourishment
~ nourish provide with food necessary for life and growth
~ nourishment something that nourishes; food
 oaf stupid awkward person; CF. elf
2 obdurate stubborn; refusing to change one’s belief
2 obeisance bow (to show respect and obedience)
2 obelisk tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower
toward the end) and ending in a pyramid
2 obese excessively fat; N. obesity
 obfuscate confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly
complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand
 obituary death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.
2 objective not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim
2 obligatory binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain;
make grateful; do a favor; accommodate
2 oblique indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular
or from a straight line); Ex. oblique reference
2 obliterate destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the
village
2 oblivion obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten;
forgetfulness
 oblivious inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed;
forgetful(having the habit of forgetting)
2 obloquy slander; disgrace; infamy
 obnoxious offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell
2 obscure dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure
meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure
the moon/meaning
2 obsequious slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance;
sycophantic
~ slavish of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality;
copied very closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original
2 obsequy funeral ceremony
2 obsessive related to thinking about something constantly;
of an obsession; preoccupying; N. obsession: compulsive preoccupation
with a fixed idea; compulsive idea; V. obsess:
preoccupy the mind of excessively
2 obsidian black volcanic rock
~ scion detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant
33
2 obsolete outmoded; no longer used
2 obstetrician physician specializing in delivery(assisting in
giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF. midwife
2 obstinate stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate
cough; N. obstinacy
54
2 obstreperous boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable
 obtrude push (oneself or one’s ideas) forward or intrude;
impose (oneself or one’s ideas) on others; butt in; stick out
or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B; ADJ. obtrusive;
N. obtrusion; CF. unobtrusive
2 obtuse blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding
2 obviate make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need
2 Occident the West
 occlude shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded
an artery.
2 occult mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human
comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare
2 oculist physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes
 odious arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile
 odium detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness;
disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)
 odoriferous giving off an odor
2 odorous having an odor
 odyssey long, eventful, adventurous journey
2 offensive attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend: violate;
hurt the feelings of; N. offense: offending; violating of
a moral or social code; crime; attack; Ex. first offense
2 offhand casual; done without prior thought or preparation
 officious meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one’s
services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices;
Ex. officious bellboy
~ pushy disagreeably aggressive
 ogle look at amorously; make eyes at; Ex. old men ogling
young girls
 olfactory concerning the sense of smell
2 oligarchy government by a privileged few
2 ominous threatening; of an evil omen
~ threat sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of
rain; V: express a threat; give warning of (something bad);
Ex. The cloud threatens rain.
2 omnipotent all-powerful; having unlimited power
2 omnipresent universally present; ubiquitous
2 omniscient all-knowing
2 omnivorous eating both plant and animal food; devouring
everything
 onerous burdensome
 onomatopoeia words formed in imitation of natural
sounds
~ rustle make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed
together
2 onslaught vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected
onslaught of the enemy
~ slaughter killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher
(animals) for food; kill in large numbers
 onus burden; responsibility
~ spare give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing;
exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money
and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus;
ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex.
spare time
 opalescent iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence
2 opaque dark; not transparent; N. opacity
2 opiate medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something
that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing
drug containing opium
2 opportune timely; well-chosen
2 opportunist individual who sacrifices principles for expediency
by taking advantage of circumstances; N. opportunism
 opprobrium infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct;
vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; Ex. opprobrium
hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt;
shameful or infamous
2 optician maker and seller of eyeglasses
2 optimist person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism
2 optimum most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition
2 optional not compulsory; left to one’s choice; N. option:
act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to choose; something
available as a choice; Ex. have no option; Ex. two
options
2 optometrist one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects
2 opulence extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ.
opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant
 opus work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus:
masterpiece; CF. opera
 oracular of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine
authority; mysterious or ambiguous; hard to understand; N.
oracle: wiser person; prophecy made by an oracle
2 orator public speaker
2 oratorio dramatic poem set to music; long musical work
with singing but without acting; CF. cantata
 ordain decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine;
install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF.
ordination
2 ordeal severe trial or affliction; difficult experience;
trial(test of patience or endurance); affliction
2 ordinance decree; authoritative order
 ordination ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of
ordaining a priest
 orgy wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an
activity; Ex. orgy of shopping
55
2 orient get one’s bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation;
orientate
2 orientation act of finding oneself in society; orienting
 orifice mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern
or passage of the body); CF. mouth
2 ornate excessively or elaborately decorated
 ornithologist scientific student of birds; N. ornithology:
scientific study of birds
2 orthodox traditional; (of someone) conservative in belief;
adhering to an established doctrine
 orthography correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct;
Ex. orthodontics
2 oscillate vibrate pendulumlike; waver
 osseous made of bone; bony
 ossify change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging
in one’s ideas
2 ostensible apparent; appearing as such;
professed(pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible purpose of
the expedition
~ apparent evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as
such; Ex. apparent improvement
 ostentatious showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious;
N. ostentation: showy display
 ostracize banish from a group; exclude from public favor;
ban; Ex. His friends ostracized him. N. ostracism
~ blackball vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative
vote
 oust expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting
2 outlandish bizzare; peculiar; unconventional
2 outmoded no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish;
old-fashioned
 outskirts fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts
of Boston
2 outspoken candid; blunt
~ blunt having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or
manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt
 outstrip outrun; surpass; outdo
2 outwit outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly
 ovation enthusiastic applause
2 overbearing bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively
important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear:
dominate
2 overt open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert
 overweening arrogant; presumptuous
34
 overwrought nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical;
wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done
~ hysteria excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric:
person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack
of hysteria
2 ovoid egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate
2 pachyderm thick-skinned animal
2 pacifist one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N. pacifism:
opposition to war as a means of resolving disputes
2 pacify soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to
 paean song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the
victory
 painstaking taking pains; showing hard work; taking great
care; very careful and through
 palatable agreeable; pleasing to the taste
 palate roof of the mouth; sense of the taste
 palatial of or suitable for a palace; magnificent
 paleontology study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-
: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient
written documents
2 palette board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring
matters)
 palimpsest parchment or piece of writing material used for
second time after original writing has been erased
~ parchment writing material made from the skin of a sheep
or goat
 pall become boring; grow tiresome
 pallet small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet
 palliate ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive
(a crime or illness)
 pallid pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion
2 palpable tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible;
obvious; Ex. palpable blunder
 palpitate throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her
heart began to palpitate.
~ throb (of a heart or machine) beat rapidly or violently; N.
Ex. hearthrob: heartbeat; sweetheart
 paltry insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry
sum; CF. trash
 pan criticize harshly
2 panacea cure-all; remedy for all diseases
 panache flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty
(causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers
(on a helmet); Ex. with great panache; CF.
2 pandemic widespread; affecting the majority of people; N:
pandemic disease; CF. all people
2 pandemonium wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder;
CF. Paradise Lost
 pander cater to (the low desires of others)
~ cater provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy
(desires of a bad kind)
 panegyric formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don’t deserve
such panegyrics.
2 panoramic denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive
view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area
56
2 pantomime acting without dialogue; V.
2 papyrus ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant
 parable short simple story teaching a moral
2 paradigm model; example that serves as a model; pattern;
list of all the inflectional forms of a word
2 paradox something apparently contradictory in nature
(that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false
but is actually correct
2 paragon model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue
2 parallelism state of being parallel; similarity; analogy
~ parallel similar; analogous; corresponding; N: parallel line;
person or thing that is parallel (to another); similarity; Ex.
know of no parallel to the case; Ex. without parallel; V:
be similar to; make parallel; Ex. Your experience parallels
mine; CF. unparalleled
 parameter limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of
the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the budget
2 paramount foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-:
beyond; above; Ex. paranormal
2 paramour illicit lover
~ inamorata woman whom a man loves
2 paranoia psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution;
N: ADJ: paranoid, paranoiac
2 paraphernalia equipment; odds and ends used in a particular
activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia;
CF. married woman’s property exclusive of her
dowry
~ dowry money or property brought by a bride to her husband
at marriage
2 paraphrase restate a passage in one’s own words while retaining
thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other
words
2 parasite animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant;
CF. para-: beside
~ infest inhabit in numbers large enough to be harmful; Ex.
Mice infested the house; Ex. shark-infested waters
 parched extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or
become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)
 pariah social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah
~ outcast one that has been excluded from a society; ADJ.
2 parity equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate
 parlance language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/
common parlance
 parley conference (between opponents); CF. speak
 parochial narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related
to parishes
~ parish area in the care of a single priest and served by one
main church
~ outlook point of view; view from a particular place; expectation
for the future; prospect; Ex. outlook on life; Ex.
pleasing outlook; Ex. weather outlook
2 parody humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.
~ spoof parody
~ takeoff burlesque; act of leaving the ground
2 paroxysm fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst
 parquet floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like
matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece
2 parry ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome
question very skillfully; N. CF.
~ ward administrative division of a city; division in a hospital
or prison; incompetent person placed under the protection
of a guardian; V: guard; ward off: avert
2 parsimony stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious
2 partial incomplete; favoring one side over another; having
a liking for something
2 partiality state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias;
special fondness; preference
 partisan one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with
dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla
~ parvenu upstart; newly rich person
2 partition divide into parts
 pass´e old-fashioned; past the prime
2 passive not active; acted upon; receiving an action without
acting in return; accepting without resistance
 pastiche imitation of another’s style in musical composition
or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of
other artists
2 pastoral rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor
2 patent obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of
or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.
2 pathetic causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching
~ touching causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic;
V. touch: cause to feel pity or sympathy; ADJ. touched
2 pathological pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of
disease
 pathos tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that
produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the
novel
 patina green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone
slowly taken by varnished painting
~ varnish paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film;
glossy coating produced by using this substance; Ex. nail
varnish; V.
 patois local or provincial dialect
2 patriarch father and ruler of a family or tribe
 patrician noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat;
CF. member of the governing classes in ancient
Rome; CF. plebian
57
2 patronize support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending
manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that
supports; regular customer; N. patronage; CF. boycott
2 paucity scarcity; dearth
2 pauper very poor person
 peccadillo slight offense or fault; CF. sin
~ swipe hit with a sweeping motion; N.
35
2 pecuniary pertaining to money
2 pedagogue teacher; CF. child leader
2 pedagogy teaching; art of education
 pedant scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial
details of learning, or technicalities
 pedantic bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive
ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry
~ bookish fond of books and reading
~ studious given to diligent study
 pedestrian ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination);
going on foot; Ex. pedestrian prose; N.
~ precinct division of a city for election or police purposes;
precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of
the college
~ pedigree ancestry; lineage
2 pediatrician physician specializing in children’s diseases;
N. pediatrics
2 peerless having no equal; incomparable
~ peer one who has equal standing with another; nobleman;
V: look intently; N. peerage; CF. peeress
 pejorative (of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone
is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling
effect; Ex. Many women now considers “housewife” a
pejorative expression, because it patronized them.
 pell-mell in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell
 pellucid transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning;
easy to understand
 penance self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance
for one’s sins; CF. penitent
 penchant strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something
that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant
for fast cars
2 pendant(pendent) hanging down from something; pending;
N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
~ pending not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending
decision; PREP. while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the
decision pending his return
 pendulous hanging; suspended
~ suspend cause to stop for a period; interrupt; hold in
abeyance; defer; hang from above; exclude for a period from
a position; Ex. suspended state; Ex. suspend judgment; Ex.
suspended from the team; N. suspension
~ suspense state of being undecided; anxiety or apprehension
resulting from uncertainty
2 penitent repentant; N.
 pensive dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful;
thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think
over
 penumbra partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost
shadow
2 penury extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very
poor; stingy
 peon landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial
worker; N. peonage
2 perceptive insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving
and understanding; aware; wise; of perception
 percussion striking one object against another sharply;
Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies;
sound caused by percussion
 perdition damnation; complete ruin; hell
~ damn condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting
punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation
~ doom condemnation to a severe penalty; ruin; fate (esp. a
tragic or ruinous one); V.
2 peregrination journey; V. peregrinate
 peremptory demanding and leaving no choice; imperative;
Ex. peremptory decree/knock
2 perennial something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ:
lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long
time; enduring
2 perfidious treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
2 perforate pierce; put a hole through
2 perfunctory done routinely and with little care; superficial;
not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex.
perfunctory kiss
2 perigee point of moon’s orbit when it is nearest the earth;
CF. apogee
2 perimeter outer boundary; length of the outer boundary;
circumference
~ bound leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit
of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary;
ADJ: certain; having a duty to do something (legally or
morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late;
Ex. I am bound to say my opinion; CF. bounce, rebound
 peripatetic walking about from place to place (to work);
moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy
 peripheral of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance;
not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest
 periphery outside edge especially of a round surface;
perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town
2 perjury false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself:
testify falsely under oath
2 permeable that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing
liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread
or flow throughout; charge
58
 pernicious very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex.
pernicious effect/anemia
 peroration conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate:
conclude a speech; speak at great length
 perpetrate commit an offense; do (something wrong)
2 perpetual everlasting
2 perpetuate make perpetual; make something last for a
long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity
 perquisite(perk) any gain above stipulated salary; Ex.
perquisites such as free meals and a car
 personable attractive (in personality or appearance)
2 perspicacious (of someone) having insight; penetrating;
astute
2 perspicuity clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
2 perspicuous (of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand;
Ex. perspicuous comments
 pert (esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward;
trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat
~ forward presumptuous or bold
2 pertinacious holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn;
persistent
2 pertinent suitable; to the point; relevant
2 perturb disturb greatly
 peruse read through with care; N. perusal
2 pervasive spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells, ideas,
feelings) spread throughout; charge; permeate
 perverse purposely continuing to do something wrong;
stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from
what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction;
Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity
2 perversion corruption; turning from right to wrong
~ pervert corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex. perverted
sexual desire/scientific knowledge; N: person whose
sexual behavior is not natural
~ wrongheaded stubbornly wrong
2 pessimism belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess;
tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation;
ADJ. pessimistic
 pestilential(pestilent) causing plague; tending to cause
death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp.
bubonic plague)
 pestle tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard
bowl or mortar
~ mortar vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle
~ mash crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of
ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl
 petrify turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or
paralyze
2 petty trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded;
petty-minded
 petulant touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
~ phalanx formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields
and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack
or defense)
 pharisaical pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous
attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical
~ pharisee Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group
that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law (considering
themselves very holy); hypocritical self-righteous person
~ self-righteous sure of one’s own righteousness; moralistic
 phenomena observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation;
SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual
person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons;
ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon;
Ex. phenomenal strength
2 philanderer faithless lover; flirt
36
2 philanthropist lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy
 philatelist stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
 philistine narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively
interested in material gain; uncultured person who
is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an
ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
 philology study of language or words
 phlegmatic calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed;
CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract
2 phobia morbid fear
2 phoenix symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix
rising from its ashes
 phylum major classification, second to kingdom, of plants
and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above
a class; division
 physiognomy face (as showing the character and the
mind); art of judging human character from facial features
 physiological pertaining to the science of the function of
living organisms; N. physiology
 piebald of different colors; mottled; spotted in different
colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF.
pie+bald
 piecemeal one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex.
read a novel piecemeal
 pied piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
2 piety devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious
 pigment coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with
water or oil)
2 pillage plunder
59
2 pillory punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject
or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
 pine long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline
 pinion restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs;
N: bird’s wing
2 pinnacle peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
2 pious devout; religious; N. piety
 piquant pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating;
Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my
help
~ tart sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex.
tart apple/reply
~ sour having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered;
V.
2 pique irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss
in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment;
Ex. pique her curiosity
 piscatorial pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
2 pitfall hidden danger; concealed trap
~ beware be cautious (of)
 pith core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of
stems; essence; substance
~ marrow soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and
is the source of blood cells
2 pithy concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
 pittance small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
2 pivotal of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
2 placate pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease
 placebo harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
~ tablet small round piece of medicine; flat piece of stone or
metal bearing an inscription; Ex. stone tablet on the wall
2 placid peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
 plagiarize steal another’s ideas or writings and pass them
off as one’s own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N.
plagiarism; CF. kidnap
 plaintive expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
 plait braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of;
make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N:
braided length as of hair o fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail
 plasticity ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of
being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay
2 platitude trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ.
platitudinous
~ commonplace ordinary; N: something ordinary or common;
trite remark
~ commonwealth nation governed by the people; republic;
people of a nation
2 platonic purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
 plaudit praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or
series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud
2 plausible conceivably true; having a show of truth but open
to doubt; specious
 plebeian common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people;
N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician
~ plebiscite direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important
issue)
~ referendum direct vote by all the people
 plenary (of power) complete; full; fully attended by all
qualified members; Ex. plenary power
 plenitude abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness;
fullness; CF. plenary, plenty
 plethora excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
2 pliable flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
2 pliant flexible; easily influenced
2 plight difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad
state or condition); predicament
 pluck courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers
of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave
 plumage feathers of a bird;
~ plume feather, esp. large or showy one; something that
rises into the air (like the shape of a feather); Ex. plume of
smoke:
 plumb exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V:
examine very carefully or critically in order to understand;
measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of
~ plumber one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(
pipes)
 plummet fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices
plummeted.
2 plutocracy society ruled by the wealthy
2 podiatrist doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist;
N. podiatrics
2 podium pedestal; raised platform
~ pedestal support or base as for a pillar or statue
 poignancy quality of being deeply moving; keenness of
emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow,
grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex.
poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick
 polarize split into opposite extremes or camps
~ polarity state of having two opposite qualities
~ polar of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex.
polar opposites
~ camp group sharing a common cause or opinion
 polemic attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or
refutation; argument in support of point of view; N.
polemics: art of debate or controversy
 polemical(polemic) aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious
(rather than simply expressing opinions)
60
2 politic prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
2 polity (particular form of) political organization; form of
government of nation or state; Ex. student polity
2 polygamist one who has more than one spouse at a time;
CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
2 polyglot speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex.
polyglot person/society; N.
2 pomposity self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed
shirt(pompous person); ADJ. pompous: self-important
 ponderous having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking
lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
 pontifical pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious;
CF. pontiff: pope; bishop
 pore study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over
the book; N.
2 porous full of pores; like a sieve
~ interstice narrow space between things
2 portend foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent:
sign; omen; forewarning
~ soothsayer one who foretells the future
 portly stout; corpulent
~ stout rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined;
strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
 poseur person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant,
etc., to impress others; person who poses; CF. pose
~ pose assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect
a particular attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a
threat; N.
 posterity descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to
posterity; CF. posterior, anterior
 posthumous after death (as of child born after father’s
death or book published after author’s death); coming or
occurring after one’s death; Ex. posthumous fame/novel
~ postmortem autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a
postmortem
 postulate self-evident truth; something assumed without
proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)
 posture assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose;
attitude
 potable suitable for drinking; drinkable
2 potent powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
 potentate monarch; sovereign
2 potential expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for
growth
2 potion dose (of liquids); liquid dose
 potpourri heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of
dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)
 poultice soothing application applied to sore and inflamed
portions of the body
2 practicable feasible
2 practical based on experience; of or acquired through practice
(rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man
2 pragmatic practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned
with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic
test of the skill
2 pragmatist practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic
way of dealing with things
~ prance move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
 prate talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
 prattle talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
~ idle not working; not employed or busy; lazy; without purpose;
useless; lacking substance; baseless; not based on
truth; Ex. idle worker; Ex. talk idly; V.
2 preamble introductory statement
 precarious unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky;
Ex. precarious living
2 precedent something preceding in time which may be used
as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF.
unprecedented
2 precedent preceding (in time, rank, etc.)
37
2 precept practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother’s precept
2 precipice cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the
precipice
~ brink edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the
Grand Canyon
2 precipitant something that causes a substance in a chemical
solution to separate out in solid form; ; OP. solvent
2 precipitate hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause
to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause
(a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ.
hasty; rash; premature; sudden
2 precipitous steep; overhasty; precipitate
 pr´ecis abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise
summary of a text
2 precise exact
2 preclude make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
2 precocious advanced in development; N. precocity
2 precursor forerunner; predecessor
2 predator predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature
that seizes and devours another animal; person who
robs or exploits others; ADJ. predatory: living by preying
on other organisms; plundering; N. predation
2 predecessor former occupant of a post
61
2 predetermine determine in advance; predestine; settle or
decide beforehand; influence markedly
2 predicament difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation;
dilemma
 predilection preference; partiality
 predispose give an inclination toward (in advance); make
susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N.
predisposition
2 preeminent outstanding; superior
 preempt prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall
by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant;
take the place of; displace; Ex. preempt any attempts;
ADJ. preemptive
 preen make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction
or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak;
Ex. preen oneself on; CF. prune
2 prefatory introductory; of a preface
 prehensile capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping
around); Ex. prehensile tails
 prelate church dignitary; priest of high position in the
church (esp. bishop)
2 prelude introduction; introductory performance or event;
forerunner
2 premeditate plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
2 premise assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an
argument is based
2 premonition forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
2 premonitory serving to warn
2 preponderance superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V.
preponderate: be greater in power, weight, or importance;
ADJ. preponderant
2 preposterous absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
2 prerogative privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
2 presage foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment;
foreboding; omen
 prescience ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions
before they occur; ADJ. prescient
2 presentiment premonition; foreboding; feeling something
will happen; anticipatory fear
2 prestige respect or admiration; impression produced by
achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ.
prestigious: having prestige
 presumptuous going beyond what is right; excessively forward;
arrogant; taking liberties
~ presume take for granted; assume; act overconfidently;
take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of
(someone’s kindness or connection); N. presumption
 pretentious ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified
claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim
to be art
~ pretend feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions
to; Ex. I don’t pretend to much expertise; N. pretense
~ pretension pretentiousness; claim (without foundation);
Ex. I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.
 preternatural beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural;
Ex. preternatural strength/forces
2 pretext excuse
 prevail be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail
on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail
on someone to do something
2 prevalent widespread; generally accepted
 prevaricate lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
2 prey target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey;
victimize; Ex. Cats prey on mice.
 prim proper to the point of affectation; very precise and
formal; exceedingly proper
 primogeniture seniority by birth; state of being the firstborn
child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire
property of one or both parents)
2 primordial existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
 primp groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
 pristine unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic
of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine
condition
 privation lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life;
hardship; want; CF. deprive
 privy secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in
something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be
privy to a discussion; CF. private
2 probe explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender
instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device
designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation;
Ex. space probe
2 probity uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
~ defalcate embezzle
 problematic causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful;
unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be
completed is problematic.
2 proclivity inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards
something bad)
2 procrastinate postpone; delay or put off
2 procurement obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain
(a prostitute) for another
 prod poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to
action; N: pointed object used to prod; prodding
2 prodigal wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a
mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality
2 prodigious enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex.
prodigious amount/memory
62
2 prodigy highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents;
marvel; wonder
2 profane violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily;
be profane for; ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent
for holy things
 profligate wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral;
dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy
2 profound deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound
thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity
2 profusion great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess;
lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse:
plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
2 progenitor ancestor
 progeny children; offspring; descendants
2 prognosis forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF.
prognostic
2 prognosticate predict (according to present indications)
2 prohibitive so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending
to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting;
inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax
2 projectile missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or
bullet)
2 proletarian member of the working class; blue collar guy;
N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)
2 proliferate grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N.
proliferation
2 prolific producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile;
fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex.
prolific writer
 prolixity tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy;
verbose; diffuse
2 prologue introduction (to a poem or play)
~ feud bitter prolonged quarrel (usually between two peoples
or families); V. CF. Romeo and Juliet; CF. feudal, feudalism
2 prolong lengthen; extend; draw out
2 prominent protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable;
eminent
 promiscuous mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not
choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual
partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous
life/girl; N. promiscuity
2 promontory headland
 promote advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate;
help actively in forming; publicize or popularize; Ex.
Milk promotes health; Ex. promote a match/bill; Ex. promote
a new product
 prompt cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an actor);
ADJ: done without delay; done at the right time; punctual;
on time; N: reminder or cue
~ cue word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor’s
speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to
 promulgate announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make
known by official publication
2 prone inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with
the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes;
Ex. accident-prone
2 propagate increase in number by producing young; multiply;
spread; Ex. Most plants propagate by seed; Ex. newspaper
propagating their ideas
2 propellant(propellent) substance which propels or drives
forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)
2 propensity natural inclination
2 prophetic of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting
the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet
2 prophylactic used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic;
condom; N. prophylaxis: prevention of disease
 propinquity nearness (in space or relationship); proximity;
kinship
 propitiate appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
38
 propitious favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate;
Ex. propitious day/sign
~ horoscope diagram of the positions of stars at a given moment
(eg. of a person’s birth) used by astrologers
2 proponent supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
2 propound put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth;
Ex. propound a problem/theory
2 propriety fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct;
conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor,
proprietary
~ usage act or manner of using; accepted practice; way in
which words are actually used
2 propulsive driving forward; N. propulsion
 prosaic lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative;
matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings);
factual; CF. prose
 proscenium part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of
a stage
2 proscribe prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
~ outlaw fugitive from the law (excluded from legal protection);
V: declare (someone) to be an outlaw; deprive of the
protection of the law; declare illegal; Ex. Drinking has been
outlawed.
 proselytize (induce someone to) convert to a religion or
belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion
 prosody art of versification; study of the metrical structure
of verse
~ metrical metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical
translation of Homer
~ meter arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual
rhythm)
63
2 prosperity good fortune and financial success; physical
well-being
~ prosper become successful (esp. financially); thrive; grow
well; Ex. children prospering under his care
~ prosperous successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off
2 prostrate stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate;
Ex. prostrating illness; ADJ: lying face down; having
lost all strength
 protean able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus:
sea god to change his shape at will
2 prot´eg´e person receiving protection and support from a patron
 protocol diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed
by diplomats; first copy of a treaty before its ratification;
Ex. Protocol demands that the queen meet him at
the airport.
2 prototype original work used as a model by others
2 protract prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
2 protrude stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth
 protuberance protrusion; swelling; bulge
~ bulge protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple
made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude
 provenance place of origin; origin or source of something;
Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come
 provender dry food for livestock; fodder
2 provident providing for future needs; displaying foresight;
thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
~ providence quality of being provident; divine care; god’s
care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like providence that
the doctor happened to be there; ADJ. providential: of divine
providence; fortunate
2 provincial pertaining to a province; limited in outlook;
narrow; unsophisticated
2 provisional tentative; temporary
2 proviso stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision
~ provision act of providing; something provided; preparatory
measure; provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food);
stipulation; condition in an agreement; Ex. According to
the provisions of the agreement
2 provocative arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying;
Ex. provocative in tight jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger;
cause (an unpleasant action or feeling); N. provocation
 prowess extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex.
prowess in battle
2 proximity nearness; ADJ. proximate
2 proxy authorized agent; authority to act for another
 prude excessively modest or proper person (who is easily
shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N.
prudery; ADJ. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety
2 prudent cautious; careful; prudential
2 prune cut away; trim
 prurient having or causing lustful desires and thoughts;
arousing immoderate sexual desire
 pry inquire impertinently (someone else’s private affairs);
use leverage to raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool
for prying
~ prize pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his
most prized possession; N: something captured during wartime
(esp. an enemy ship)
2 pseudonym pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author;
ADJ. pseudonymous
2 psyche soul; mind
2 psychiatrist doctor who treats mental diseases
~ psychic of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary
mental powers
2 psychopathic pertaining to mental dearrangement; N.
psychopath: person with an antisocial personality disorder
2 psychosis mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic
~ psychosomatic of the influence of the mind on the body
(esp. with respect to disease)
 pterodactyl extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger
 puerile childish; immature; CF. puer: boy
2 pugilist boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing
 pugnacity combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious:
(of people) belligerent; combative in nature
 puissant powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power
 pulchritude beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous
 pulmonary pertaining to the lungs
 pulsate throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly
~ pulse rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change
in a normally constant quantity; V: pulsate
2 pulverize crush or grind into very small particles
 pummel pommel; beat or pound with fists
2 punctilious minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to
fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio,
punctiliousness: careful attention payed to every small
exact detail
 pundit authority on a subject; expert; learned person
2 pungent stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech
or writing) caustic; N. pungency
 punitive punishing; Ex. punitive measures
 puny tiny; weak; insignificant
 purchase secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
2 purgatory place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or
place in which the souls must expiate their sins
2 purge remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted;
eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp.
of sin, guilt, or defilement); N.
2 purport intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess;
Ex. order which purports to be signed by the general
64
2 purported alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported
Satanists
~ rooster cock; adult male chicken
~ rabble mob; noisy crowd
 purse pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
~ pucker gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
 purveyor furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply
(eg. food); furnish; CF. provide
 pusillanimous cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted
 putative supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such;
Ex. putative father of the child
 putrid decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N.
putridity
~ putrefy make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
~ putrescent becoming putrid; putrefying
~ gangrene decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood
supply (usually following injury); ADJ. gangrenous
2 pyromaniac person with an insane desire to set things on
fire
2 quack charlatan; impostor
 quadruped four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped
 quaff drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment);
; CF. sip
 quagmire bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament;
complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to
free oneself
~ bog soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged
down in the mud
 quail cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart
2 quaint odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned;
picturesque
2 qualified limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning
of; modify
 qualms uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially
about matters of conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about
giving this assignment to Helen.
 quandary dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a
quandary about whether to go.
 quarantine isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent
spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine
 quarry person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a
hunt; prey
 quarry dig into (to get stone); N: mine;
~ bank heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as
of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank;
tilt in turning
39
 quash crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a
rebellion/the decision of the low court
~ squash crush; quash; suppress
2 quay dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
 queasy experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated;
squeamish; Ex. feel a little queasy
 quell suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish;
quiet; Ex. “Army Quells Rebellion” in newspaper;
CF. kill
 quench assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish;
put out; suppress
~ squelch produce a splashing sound (when stepping through
mud); crush; squash; CF.
 querulous given to complaining; complaining; fretful;
whining
~ whine complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as
in pain or supplication)
2 query inquiry; question; V.
2 queue line (of waiting people or vehicles)
 quibble minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections;
carp; cavil
 quiescent dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence
2 quietude tranquillity; calmness
 quintessence purest and highest embodiment; perfect example;
apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence
of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence
 quip taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.
~ taunt deride or provoke; challenge in derision; N.
 quirk sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice;
idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate
 quisling traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling
 quiver case for arrows
 quiver tremble; shake; N.
~ leash restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal
(to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
 quixotic idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
 quizzical curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying);
questioning; teasing; mocking; bantering; Ex. quizzical
glance
 quorum minimal number of members necessary to conduct
a meeting
 quotidian daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian
routine
 rabid of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous;
furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
 raconteur story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and
skill
 ragamuffin dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered
clothes
~ tatter torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes) old
and torn; (of a person) dressed in old torn clothes
65
 rail complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing
against injustices
 raiment clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to
wear.
 rakish jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute;
Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
~ rake angle of a slope; V: slant from the perpendicular
~ rake immoral or dissolute person
2 rally come or bring together; call up or summon (forces,
vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate (after illness or difficulty);
N: act of rallying; mass gathering
2 ramble wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress
2 ramification branching out; subdivision; one branch of a
system; one of the results following from an action or decision;
Ex. ramifications of a business/the decision
2 ramify branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions
 ramp slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
 rampant growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in
profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed
2 rampart defensive mound of earth
 ramshackle (of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed;
rickety; falling apart
~ rickety (of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets;
CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D
~ ransack search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place);
Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
 rancid having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
~ rank offensive in odor or flavor
 rancor long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation
without rancor; ADJ. rancorous
2 random without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard;
Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random
~ lot object used in making a determination at random; fate;
piece of land
~ draw choosing of a lot or card
~ lottery contest in which winners are selected in a drawing
of lots
~ raffle lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off
a new car
 rankle irritate; fester; annoy
 rant speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing
anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The
priest ranted about the devil.
 rapacious voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can;
excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex.
rapacious birds
2 rapport close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony
 rapt engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
 rarefied made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less
dense; N. rarefaction
~ rare (of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the
mountains
 raspy making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
~ rasp (of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a harsh noise;
have an unpleasant effect; rub with something rough; Ex.
The cat’s tongue rasped my hand.
2 ratify approve formally; confirm; verify
 ratiocination reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from
premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
2 rationale fundamental reason or principle (on which a system
or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification;
grounds for an action
2 rationalize make rational; devise false reasons for (one’s
behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action
in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization
~ rational (of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on
reason; logical
~ ration fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
 raucous (of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly
and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts
2 ravage devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by
storms
~ maraud move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
 rave overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as if
mad; Ex. raving lunatic
2 ravel fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
 ravenous extremely hungry; voracious
 ravine narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully,
canyon
2 raze destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground
2 reactionary strongly opposed to social or political change;
opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical
~ reinstate restore to a previous condition or position
2 realm kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms
of possibility
2 reaper one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V.
reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop
2 rebate return of part of a payment; discount; V.
 rebuff reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his
invitation; N.
~ snub ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion
but she snubbed me; N.
2 rebuke scold harshly; criticize severely
 rebus representation of words in the form of pictures or
symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words;
Ex. “R U 18” is a rebus for “Are you 18”.
 rebuttal refutation; response with contrary evidence; V.
rebut: refute; disprove
66
 recalcitrant disobedient or resisting authority even after
being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist
authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
2 recant disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement;
openly confess error; Ex. recant one’s faith/a statement
2 recapitulate summarize
 recast reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion
again
~ fashion give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of
clay
2 receptive quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions,
etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal
2 recession withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
~ recess pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner
place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive
2 recidivism habitual return to crime (even after being punished);
N. recidivist
2 recipient receiver
2 reciprocal mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable;
interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement
 reciprocate do or give something in return; repay in kind;
give or take mutually; interchange; move backwards and forwards;
Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N.
reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of
advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading
rights
2 recluse hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
2 reconcile make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent
(two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex.
reconcile one’s political principles with one’s religious beliefs
2 recondite abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
2 reconnaissance survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering;
V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp.
to gather military information)
 recount narrate or tell (a story); count over again
2 recourse resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without
recourse to
~ resort turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
~ makeshift temporary expedient or substitute (in the case
of urgent need); Ex. makeshift shelter
~ recreant disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
2 recrimination countercharges; V. recriminate
2 rectify set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
 rectitude moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral
virtue; correctness of judgment
2 recumbent reclining; lying down completely or in part
~ recline lie down
2 recuperate recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate
losses
2 recurrent occurring again and again
40
2 redolent odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex.
redolent of onions/mystery
 redoubtable formidable; causing fear
 redress remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the
damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a
wrong); make amends for
2 redundant superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose;
excessively wordy; repetitious
 reek emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant
odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N:
unpleasant odor; stench
~ stench strong foul odor; reek; stink
~ stink stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
 refectory dining hall; room where meals are served (in a
school)
2 refraction bending of a ray of light
 refractory unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex.
refractory horse
 refrain abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
~ chorus phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
2 refulgent effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming;
Ex. refulgent moon
~ gleam brief flash of light; glow; V.
 refurbish renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make
new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old
theater; CF. furbish: polish
2 refute disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
2 regal royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
 regale entertain
 regatta boat or yacht race
2 regeneration spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the
prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
~ penology study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation
2 regicide murder of a king or queen
2 regime method of system or government
 regimen prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed
diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer
 regiment military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented
society
2 rehabilitate restore to proper condition (health or useful
life); restore the former rank of
2 reimburse repay; pay back
2 reiterate repeat
67
 rejoinder reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
~ comeback retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
2 rejuvenate make young again
 relegate put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior
position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture
to the children’s room; Ex. relegated to the second division
2 relent become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless:
unyielding; continuously severe
2 relevant having importance; pertinent; referring to the case
in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
 relic surviving remnant (from an extinct culture); memento;
keepsake; relics: corpse; Ex. ancient relics; Ex. relics
of his travel; Ex. His relics are buried at X.
2 relinquish give up something (with reluctance); yield; release;
Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold
on my arm
 relish enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
2 remediable reparable
2 reminiscence recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
~ reminiscent suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence
2 remiss negligent; careless about a duty
2 remission temporary moderation (of disease symptoms);
remitting of a debt or punishment; cancelation of a debt;
pardon; Ex. The disease went into remission; Ex. Christians
pray for the remission of sins.
~ remit transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a
debt or punishment
~ remittance remitting of money; amount of money remitted
2 remnant remainder
2 remonstrate protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in
protest
2 remorse deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach
2 remunerative (of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable;
well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for
work or trouble
2 rend split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing
deep sorrow
2 render give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic
form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song
beautifully
2 rendezvous meeting place; meeting at a set time or place;
V.
2 rendition rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of
a song, etc
 renegade deserter; traitor; ADJ.
 renege break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on
the contract/paying off the debt
2 renounce abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown;
repudiate; Ex. renounce one’s claim to the property/
one’s religion; N. renunciation
2 renovate restore to good condition; renew
2 renown fame; ADJ. renowned
~ herald messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce;
proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher
 rent tear made by rending; rip; split
2 reparable capable of being repaired
 reparation compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex.
make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
2 repartee quick clever reply
 repast meal; feast; banquet
2 repeal revoke; annul
2 repel drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture;
Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion
2 repellent driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive;
unattractive; N.
2 repercussion rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious
repercussion
2 repertoire list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer
is prepared to present; CF. repertory
 repine fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the
undone work
2 replenish fill up again
2 replete fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being
stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
~ memoir memoirs; autobiography; biography
~ brim uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat);
Ex. The glass was full to the brim; V: be full to the brim
2 replica copy
2 replicate reproduce; duplicate
2 repository storehouse
~ repose resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at
rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single
man
2 reprehensible deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend:
blame
2 repress hold back (the natural expression of); restrain;
crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a
laugh/rebellion
2 reprieve postponement or cancelation of a punishment;
temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of
2 reprimand reprove severely; rebuke; N.
2 reprisal retaliation
 reprise musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music;
repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the
finale; Ex. constant reprises
68
2 reproach blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval
or disappointment; N. ADJ. reproachful
 reprobate morally disapproved person; person hardened in
sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?
2 reprobation severe disapproval; CF. approbation
2 reprove censure; rebuke; N. reproof
2 repudiate disown; disavow; deny
2 repugnance disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant:
arousing disgust; repulsive
2 repulsion distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ. repulsive:
causing disgust; tending to drive away; V. repel
(not ‘repulse’)
~ repulse reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship);
drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse 6= cause
repulsion
2 reputable respectable; having a good reputation
2 reputed supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute:
consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem
2 requiem mass for the dead; dirge
~ mass Christian religious ceremony; CF. Mass: ceremony of
the Eucharist
2 requisite necessary requirement; something required; ADJ:
required; necessary
~ requisition formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for
more computing equipment; V.
 requite make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N.
requittal
41
2 rescind repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)
2 resentment indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent:
feel anger about
2 reserve self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner;
reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ.
reserved: shy and uncommunicative
2 residue remainder; balance
~ residual remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue
2 resignation patiently submissiveness; statement that one
is quitting a job; ADJ. resigned: acquiescent
~ resign give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself)
passively
2 resilient elastic; having the power of springing back; able
to recover quickly (as from misfortune)
~ elastic able to spring back into shape; quick to recover (as
from disappointment); able to adapt to change; Ex. elastic
plans; N: elastic material
2 resolution determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute:
firm or determined in purpose
2 resolve determination; resolution; firmness of purpose
2 resolve decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined
decision; N. resolution
2 resonant (of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding
loudly); deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex.
resonant voice; N. resonance
~ resound (of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound)
sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with
laughter
2 respiration breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory
 respite time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment;
reprieve
2 resplendent brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling;
glorious
2 responsiveness state of reacting readily to appeals, orders,
etc.; ADJ. responsive: readily reacting; Ex. responsive to
treatment
 restitution returning something (lost or stolen) to the
rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation
for loss, damage, or injury
 restive impatiently restless (induced by external coercion
or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting
control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; CF. not a
general synonym for ‘restless’
2 restraint moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
2 resumption taking up again; recommencement; V. resume:
begin or take up again; take or occupy again; Ex. Kindly
resume your seats.
 resurge rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ.
resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging
again
~ resurrect revive
2 resuscitate revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex.
resuscitate the drowned child
2 retain keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer
or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor
2 retaliate repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
 retentive holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the
mind); having a good memory
 reticent inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved;
Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence
2 retinue following; attendants
 retiring shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her
retiring personality
2 retort quick sharp reply; V.
2 retract withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a
statement/an offer/claws; N. retraction; CF. retractile
 retrench cut down; cut down expenses; economize
 retribution deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment
for offenses; compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back
69
2 retrieve recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex.
retrieve the situation
 retroactive taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or
imposition (as a tax); (of a law) having effect on the past as
well as the future
~ enact make (a bill) into law
 retrograde go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate;
ADJ.
2 retrospective looking back on the past; N. retrospection;
V. retrospect
 revelry boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous
festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration
 reverberate echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder
reverberated across the valley.
2 reverent respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence;
N. reverence: profound respect
~ reverend deserving reverence; N: priest
 reverie daydream; abstracted musing
2 revert relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former
owner; N. reversion
~ relapse return to a former state (esp. after improvement);
N.
~ backslide revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
 revile attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)
2 revoke cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable
 revulsion sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent
change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the
scenes of torture
 rhapsodize speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic
manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery
~ rhapsody excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling;
musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one
plays it)
 rhetoric art of effective communication; art of using language
effectively and persuasively; style of speaking or writing;
grandiloquent language; Ex. political rhetoric; ADJ.
rhetorical; CF. rhetorical question: question to which no
answer is expected as “Who knows it ?”
 ribald marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N.
ribaldry: ribald language or joke
 riddle pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout;
Ex. The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole
report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating earth
from stone)
 rider amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
 rife (of something bad) widespread; abundant; current
 rift narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly
relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
 rig fix or manipulate; manipulate dishonestly for personal
gain; Ex. rig the election
~ rig arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a ship) with
rigging; ADJ. rigging: ropes that hold up a ship’s sails
2 rigid hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior
or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule
2 rigor severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
 rile irritate; vex; muddy
 riveting holding one’s attention; absorbing; engrossing
~ rivet metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V:
fasten with a rivet; engross
 rivulet small stream; CF. rill ¡ rivulet ¡ river
2 robust strong; vigorous
2 rococo ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
 roil make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
 roseate rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
 roster list (of names)
 rostrum raised platform for speech-making; pulpit
~ pulpit raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
 rote repetition; memorization through repetition without
understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
 rotunda circular building or hall covered with a dome
 rotundity roundness; sonorousness of speech
~ rotund (of a person) fat and round
 rousing lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse:
waken; arouse from sleep or depression; excite; stir up
2 rout put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat
and disorderly retreat
~ stampede sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals
or people); V: participate in or cause stampede; Ex. stampede
before the price rises
2 rubble fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)
~ mason one who builds or works with stone or brick; N.
masonry: work of a mason; stonework or brickwork
 rubric title or heading (in red print); directions for religious
ceremony; protocol
 ruddy reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking
2 rudimentary elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment:
fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of
the language
 rue regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N.
ADJ. rueful
 ruffian violent scoundrel; bully
 ruminate chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically);
mull over(ponder)
~ ruminant animal that ruminates; ADJ.
2 rummage ransack; thoroughly search
 runic mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune:
one of the letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic
peoples (cut on stone or wood); magic charm
 ruse trick to deceive; stratagem
70
2 rustic pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple;
crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left
on; N. rural person; rustic person
2 rusticate banish to the country; dwell in the country
2 ruthless pitiless; merciless; cruel
2 saboteur one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property;
N. sabotage: destruction of property (usually carried out
secretly)
2 saccharine cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin
2 sacrilegious desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration,
misuse, or theft of something sacred
 sacrosanct invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable
42
 sadistic inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty
2 saga Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
 sagacious wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N.
sagacity
 sage person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; ADJ: wise
 salacious lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk
 salient prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous;
Ex. salient features
2 saline salty
 sallow (of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly
in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice
 salubrious healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially
desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health
 salutary tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex.
The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health
2 salvage rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving;
property saved
 sanctimonious displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness;
N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety
2 sanction approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended
to enforce compliance
2 sanctuary place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex.
The outlaw was granted sanctuary in the church.
2 sanguinary bloody; with much bloodshed
2 sanguine optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of
blood; red
 sap diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification);
Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength.
2 sarcasm cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging
rebuke; ADJ. sarcastic
 sardonic scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical;
Ex. sardonic smile
 sartorial pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of
great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor
 sate satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
~ doze sleep lightly; nap
2 satellite small body revolving around a larger one
2 satiate satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate;
N. satiety: condition of being satiated
2 satire form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and
ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly
2 satirical using satire; mocking
2 saturate soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill
to capacity
 saturnine morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his
saturnine countenance.
 satyr half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus
(resembling a goat), portrayed as wanton(unrestrained)
and cunning; lecher; CF. faun; CF. goat: lecherous man
 saunter stroll(go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.
 savant scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know
 savor enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N:
taste or smell; distinctive quality
 savory pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or
agreeable; Ex. savory reputation
 scabbard case for a sword blade; sheath
 scad a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes
 scaffold temporary platform for workers (to work at heights
above the ground); bracing framework; platform for execution
2 scale climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N:
flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical
tones
2 scanty meager; insufficient
 scapegoat someone who bears the blame for others; whipping
boy; CF. escape+goat
 scavenge hunt through discarded materials for usable items
or food; search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who
scavenges; animal that feeds on refuse and carrion
~ refuse anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash
2 scenario plot outline; screenplay(script for a movie); opera
libretto; outline of possible future events
2 schematic of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or
diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic
representation; outline
~ scheme systematic plan; plot; clever dishonest plan; orderly
arrangement of elements; Ex. health insurance scheme;
Ex. a scheme to escape taxes; Ex. a color scheme; Ex. a
story with no scheme; V: contrive a scheme
 schism division into factions (esp. within a religious body);
split
 scintilla trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There
is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark
71
 scintillate sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex.
scintillating conversation
 scoff laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats
 scotch stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex.
scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF.
~ score number of points; written form of a musical composition;
reason; group of 20; notch or incision; Ex. full/vocal
score; Ex. Don’t worry on that score; V: mark with lines or
notches; Ex. score the paper to make it easy to fold
~ stamp step on heavily (so as to crush or extinguish); put
an end to; imprint or impress with a mark, design, or seal;
shape with a die; characterize; Ex. machine stamping out
car bodies; Ex. newspaper stamping him as a liar; N. stamping;
implement used to stamp; impression stamped; mark;
Ex. Her remarks bear the stamp of truth.
 scourge lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source
of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict
 scruple hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did
not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from
conscience; conscience
2 scrupulous
conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker
2 scrutinize examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny
 scuffle struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry;
N. CF. scuffling twins ?
~ shuffle mix together; jumble; move (something) from one
place to another; slide (the feet) along the ground while
walking; Ex. shuffle papers from one pile to another; N.
 scurrilous abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
 scurry move hastily; hurry; move briskly
 scurvy contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency
of Vitamin C
 scuttle sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap;
discard; N: small hatch in a ship’s deck or hull
~ hull husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a
ship
 seamy sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side
of city life
~ base contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality;
Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron
 sear burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause
(a plant) to wither
~ char make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced
to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning
wood) by incomplete combustion
~ scorch sear; N.
~ brand trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal;
mark burned into the flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace;
V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize;
Ex. The press branded him a liar.
~ hide skin of an animal
2 seasoned experienced
~ season enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure;
harden; N. seasoning: something used in seasoning
~ seasonal of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment
~ seasonable occurring at the proper time or season; opportune;
Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute
2 secession withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from
membership
2 seclusion isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from
others; isolate
 secrete conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a
substance into an organism; CF. secretive
2 sect separate religious body; faction; group of people with
common beliefs within a larger group
~ sectarian of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member
of a sect; narrow-minded person
~ denomination religious group; unit in a system; name or
designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic
2 secular worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion;
temporal
 sedate composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer
a sedative to; CF. sedative
2 sedentary requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving
from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary
job/population
2 sedition conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion;
resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious
 sedulous diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity
 seedy run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many
seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel
~ run-down (of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of
a person) weak or exhausted
 seemly (of behavior) proper; appropriate
 seep pass slowly through small openings; ooze; trickle; N.
seepage
 seethe be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about
wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.
 seine seine net; net for catching fish
2 seismic pertaining to earthquakes
 semblance outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in
the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.
2 seminal related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing
a basis for further development; influencing future
developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field
 seminary school for training future ministers; secondary
school, especially for young women
2 senility old age; feeblemindedness of old age; ADJ. senile:
resulting from old age; showing the weakness of body or
mind from old age; Ex. senile dementia
72
~ feebleminded deficient in intelligence; very stupid
 sensitization process of being made sensitive or acutely
responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize:
make or become sensitive
2 sensual devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous;
Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips
~ voluptuous sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging
in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex.
voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary: voluptuous
person
2 sensuous giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the
physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling
of soft velvet on the skin
 sententious pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic
 sentient capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive;
Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience
2 sentinel sentry; lookout
~ lookout act of keeping watch; high place commanding a
wide view; person who keeps watch
 septic of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction;
N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)
 sepulcher tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral
43
 sequester isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life
 sere sear; parched; dry
 serendipity gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental
good fortune or luck; CF. The Three Princes of
Serendip
2 serenity calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene
 serpentine winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine
course of the river; N. serpent: snake
 serrated having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
2 servile slavish; cringing; N. servility
2 servitude slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment
 sever separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up (a
relationship); N. severance; CF. severance pay: extra pay
given an employee upon leaving a position
2 severity harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe:
harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense
 sextant navigation tool used to determine a ship’s latitude
and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)
 shackle chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.
 sham pretend; feign; ADJ: not genuine; fake; Ex. sham
jewelry; N: something that is not what it appears; impostor;
pretense; Ex. The agreement was a sham.
 shambles (place or scene of) complete disorder or ruin;
wreck; mess; Ex. After the hurricane, the coast was a shambles.
 shard fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay
bowl, or cup)
 shaving very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface
with a sharp blade)
~ plane carpenter’s tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V.
CF. flat
 sheaf bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied
together
 sheathe place into a case; insert into or provide with a
sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a
blade
 sherbet flavored dessert ice
 shimmer shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently;
Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.
 shirk avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger
 shoddy made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior;
dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick
 shrew scolding woman; very small mouselike animal
2 shrewd clever; astute
 shun keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been
shunned by her neighbors.
 shunt move (a railway train) from one track to another;
turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an
accident; N.
~ sidetrack switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from
a main issue; N. CF. siding: short section of railroad track
connected by switches with a main track
 shyster lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous
practioner
2 sibling brother or sister
 sibylline prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in
the ancient world)
 sidereal relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
 silt sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance
to a harbor or by a bend in a river)
 simian monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
2 simile comparison of one thing with another, using the
word like or as
 simper smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
2 simplistic oversimplified
2 simulate feign; imitate
 sinecure well-paid position with little responsibility; CF.
sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif
 sinewy (of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N.
sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
2 singular being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary;
odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior
2 sinister evil; ominous
 sinuous twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally
honest
73
2 skeptic sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment
until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of
view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism
 skiff small light sailboat or rowboat
 skimp provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex.
skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount;
scanty; stingy; niggardly
 skinflint miser; stingy person
2 skirmish minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
 skittish inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex.
charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit
~ frisk move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful
 skulduggery(skullduggery) dishonest behavior or action;
Ex. skulduggery in the election
 skulk move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through
the less fashionable sections of the city.
 slacken slow up; loosen; make or become slack
~ slack moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose;
negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one’s work; N.
V.
 slag glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
2 slake satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
2 slander defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements;
V. ADJ. slanderous
 slapdash hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly
done)
 sleazy shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy
back-street hotel/fabric
 sleeper one that achieves unexpected success; something
originally of little value or importance that in time becomes
very valuable
2 sleight dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness
of the hands in doing tricks
 slew large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left
 slight insult to one’s dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small
importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance
 slipshod slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex.
slipshod work
 slither slip or slide
2 sloth slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ.
slothful: lazy; indolent
 slough (of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N:
outer layer that is shed
 slovenly untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N.
sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless
~ sledge large sled drawn by work animals
~ sleigh large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
 sluggard lazy person
2 sluggish lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with
no shell
 sluice artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow
of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)
 slur slander; insult to one’s character or reputation; V.
 slur pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble
 smattering slight knowledge; small scattered number or
amount; Ex. smattering of German
 smelt melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal;
melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition
 smirk conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often
at someone else’s misfortune); V.
 smolder smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to
break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex.
smoldering anger
 snicker half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
 snivel complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle;
Ex. Don’t come back sniveling to me.
~ snuffle sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from
running out of the nose)
2 sobriety moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol);
seriousness
~ sober serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate;
V: make or become sober
 sodden thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
 sojourn temporary stay; V: stay for a time
 solace comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort
or console in time of sorrow or trouble
 solder repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N:
metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state
to join metallic parts
 solecism nonstandard grammatical construction; construction
that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of
social etiquette
2 solemnity seriousness; gravity
2 solicit entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit
votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer
 solicitous anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous
to do something; N. solicitude
2 soliloquy talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue:
soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing
a conversation)
2 solitude state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary: existing
or living alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded;
single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of
proof
2 solstice point or time at which the sun is farthest from the
equator
2 soluble able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked
out or solved
2 solvent able to pay all depths; N. solvency
74
2 solvent substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of
dissolving another substance
2 somatic pertaining to the body; bodily; physical
44
 somber dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow
2 somnambulist sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
 somnolent half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
 sonorous resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing
sound
~ sonic of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic
~ sonnet 14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
2 sophist teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious
reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument
2 sophisticated worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex;
N. sophistication; V. sophisticate
2 sophistry seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning;
sophism
 sophomoric immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
 soporific sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
 sordid filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
 spangle small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
2 sparse not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
 spartan without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and
comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/
life
 spasmodic fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm:
sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of
energy or emotion
 spat squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
 spate sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
2 spatial relating to space
 spatula broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or
mixing
2 spawn lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in
large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals
2 specious seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading
(often intentionally)
2 spectral ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
2 spectrum colored band produced when a beam of light
passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex.
whole spectrum of modern thoughts
 spendthrift someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated
wealth
 sphinx-like enigmatic; mysterious
 splice join together end to end to make one continuous
length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape;
N.
2 spontaneity lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom
from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated;
happening without being planned
 spoonerism accidental transposition of sounds in successive
words; Ex. “Let me sew you to your sheet” for “Let me
show you to your seat”; CF. William Spooner
~ transpose reverse the order or position of
2 sporadic occurring irregularly; intermittent
 sportive playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or
frolic; CF. sportsmanlike
 spruce neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce
for your job interview; V.
 spry (esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
~ nimble quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding;
Ex. nimble climber/mind
 spurious false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious
arguments
 spurn reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers
of help.
 squabble minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor
quarrel; Ex. squabbling children
 squalor condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty
neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive;
Ex. squalid story
2 squander waste; spend foolishly
 squat short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
 staccato played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt
sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
~ legato (of music) played smoothly
2 stagnant (of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless;
stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant
industrial output
 staid serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral
ceremony
2 stalemate deadlock; situation in which further action is
blocked
 stalwart physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in
mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart
follower
2 stamina power of endurance; strength; staying power
 stanch stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing
wound
 stanza division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
2 static having no motion; unchanging; lacking development;
N. stasis: stable state
75
2 statute law enacted by the legislature
2 statutory created by statute or legislative action; regulated
by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
 steadfast steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
2 stealth action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness;
secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
 steep soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath;
ADJ: precipitous
2 stellar pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding;
Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance
 stem stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding
from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
2 stem from arise from; originate from
 stentorian (of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a
loud herald in the Iliad
2 stereotype one regarded as embodying a set image or type;
fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture
often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy
slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex.
It is wrong to stereotype people; Ex. stereotyped answer
 stickler perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly
right
 stifle suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
~ smother kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex.
smothered in little stickers
~ suffocate die or kill from lack of air; suppress
 stigma token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with
a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
 stilted bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric;
CF. stiff: formal
 stint set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting,
unstinting; CF. stint:savings
 stint supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of
work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without
stint
 stipend pay for services
 stipple paint or draw with dots or short strokes
2 stipulate state as a necessary condition (of an agreement);
make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment
in advance
 stock standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical;
routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/
character; N: goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique
 stockade wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used
as defensive barrier
~ pen fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex.
sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
 stodgy dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
2 stoic stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF.
stoicism
 stoke stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
 stolid dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong
feelings are expected
2 stratagem deceptive scheme; clever trick
2 stratified divided into classes; arranged into strata; V.
stratify
2 stratum layer of earth’s surface; layer of society; PL. strata
 strew spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl
strewing rose petals
 striated marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex.
striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
 stricture severe and adverse criticism; critical comments;
limit or restriction
 strident loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
2 stringent (of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of
money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
 strut pompous walk; V: walk in a self-important manner
 strut supporting bar; CF. airplane wing building support
 studied carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate;
thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
 stultify make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become
stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex.
stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression
 stupefy stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
 stupor state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack
of awareness
~ stun make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
~ daze stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
 stygian unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF.
Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
 stymie thwart; present an obstacle; stump
~ stump base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut
down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle
 suavity urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
 subaltern subordinate
2 subdue less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex.
subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one’s
anger
2 subjective influenced by personal feelings; occurring or
taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation
of the ghostly presence
2 subjugate conquer; bring under control
2 sublimate refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially
acceptable activities; change between a solid state and
a gaseous state
2 sublime causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.;
exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
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45
2 subliminal below the threshold of conscious perception;
Ex. subliminal advertisement
2 submissive willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
2 subordinate occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive;
N. V: put in a lower rank or class
 suborn persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit
perjury); N. subornation
 subpoena writ(written command issued by a court) summoning
a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a
subpoena
2 subsequent following in time or order; later
2 subservient behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate;
N. subservience
2 subside sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom
(as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate;
abate
2 subsidiary serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a
subsidy; N.
2 subsidy direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize:
assist with a subsidy
2 subsistence existence; means of subsisting; means of support;
livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager
level)
2 substantial of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental;
ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
2 substantiate support (a claim) with evidence; establish
with evidence; verify
 substantive substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance;
substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
 subsume include (as a member of a group); encompass
 subterfuge stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion;
Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
2 subtlety perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle:
delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make
fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in
meaning
 subversive tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow
completely (an established system); destroy completely;
CF. undermine ?
2 succor assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
 succulent juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N:
succulent plant such as a cactus
2 succumb yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die;
Ex. succumb to the illness
 suffragist advocate of the extension of voting rights (for
women); CF. suffrage
 suffuse spread through or over (with a color or liquid);
charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.
 sully defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one’s hands in menial
labor
~ tarnish make or become dull or discolored; N.
2 sultry (of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous
2 summation act of finding the total; summing-up; summary
(esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)
 sumptuous grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich;
Ex. sumptuous feast
 sunder separate; part; CF. asunder
 sundry miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small
miscellaneous items
 superannuated retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded;
obsolete
2 supercilious haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing;
CF. eyebrow, cilium
 supererogatory superfluous; more than needed or demanded
2 superficial of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough;
trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge
2 superfluous excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity
2 superimpose place over something else
 supernumerary person or thing excess of what is necessary;
extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary number
2 supersede replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N.
supersession
 supine lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated
pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision
2 supplant take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
2 supple flexible; limber; pliant
2 suppliant entreating; beseeching; N.
2 supplicate petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
~ supplicant one who supplicates; ADJ.
2 supposition assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
 supposititious assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
2 suppress put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm;
inhibit the expression of; check; prevent from being published
or made public; Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress
the magazine/truth
 surfeit satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess
in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit
of food
 surly bad-tempered; rude; cross
~ cross bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
2 surmise guess; N.
2 surmount overcome
2 surpass exceed
2 surreptitious done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
 surrogate substitute; person or thing used in place of another;
Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.
77
2 surveillance close observation of a person (esp. one under
suspicion); watching; guarding
 susceptible impressionable; easily influenced; sensitive;
having little resistance as to a disease; likely to suffer; receptive
to; capable of accepting; Ex. susceptible to persuasion/
colds; Ex. The agreement is not susceptible of alteration;
N. susceptibility
2 sustain suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop;
maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex.
sustain the family/the trapped miners
2 sustenance sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food,
nourishment; something that maintains life; food
 suture stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or
incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound
 swarthy (of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex.
swarthy Italian ?
 swathe swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one’s head
swathed in bandages
 swelter (of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be oppressed
by heat
 swerve deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course;
Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the
right.
 swill drink greedily
2 swindler cheater
 sybarite lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and
luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy
2 sycophant servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ.
sycophantic
2 syllogism logical formula consisting of a major premise, a
minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
 sylvan pertaining to the woods or the country
 symbiosis interdependent relationship (between groups,
species) often mutually beneficial; ADJ. symbiotic; CF. together
+ life
2 symmetry arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained;
congruity; ADJ. symmetrical
~ lopsided heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex.
lopsided way of walking
2 synchronous similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring
at the same time; V. synchronize
2 synoptic providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis
2 synthesis combining parts or separate things into a whole;
the whole so formed; PL. syntheses; V. synthesize
2 synthetic not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis;
Ex. synthetic fiber; N.
2 tacit understood (without actually being expressed); not
put into words; Ex. tacit agreement
 taciturn habitually silent; talking little
2 tactile pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
~ tact skill or sensitivity in dealing with people without causing
offence
~ tactful careful no to cause offence; OP. tactless
 taint contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace
of something bad; Ex. tainted reputation; N: stain; touch of
decay or bad influence; CF. touch
 talisman charm; object believed to give supernatural powers
to or protect its bearer
 talon claw of bird
 tangential only slightly connected; not central; peripheral;
digressing; showing divergence; CF. tangent
2 tangible able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible
to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof
 tanner person who turns animal hides into leather
~ tan convert (hide) into leather; make brown by exposure to
the sun
 tantalize tease; excite by exposing something desirable
while keeping it out of reach; torture with disappointment;
CF. Tantalus: Greek mythological figure
 tantamount equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion
is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount
46
 tantrum fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex.
The child went into tantrums.
 taper very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a
long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward
one end
 tarantula venomous spider
 tarry linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle
 taut tight; strained; tense; ready; OP. slack
 tautological needlessly repetitious; Ex. “It was visible to
the eye”; N. tautology: needless repetition of the same sense;
statement that is always true
 tawdry cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry
2 taxonomist specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF.
taxonomy: science of classification
2 tedium boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious
 teetotalism practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic
drinks; N. teetotaler;; ADJ. teetotal; CF. T + total
2 temerity boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for
a pay increase after only three day’s work
2 temper moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain;
toughen (steel) as by alternate heating and cooling
2 temperament characteristic frame of mind; disposition;
emotional excess; ADJ. temperamental: of temperament;
having frequent changes of temper; Ex. temperamental dislike
of sports; Ex. temperamental actress
2 temperate moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate
in respect to temperature; CF. temperance: moderation and
self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance
society
78
 tempestuous stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest:
violent storm
2 tempo speed of music
 temporal of time; not lasting forever; limited by time; temporary;
secular; worldly
 temporize gain time as by postponing an action; avoid
committing oneself
2 tenacious holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
2 tenacity firmness; persistence
 tendentious promoting a particular point of view; biased;
having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious
rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend: move in a certain
direction
2 tender offer formally; extend; Ex. tender one’s resignation/
the exact fare; N: formal offer; money; Ex. legal tender;
ADJ: young and vulnerable; sensitive to the touch; sore;
soft; delicate; Ex. child of tender years; Ex. tender wound
2 tenet doctrine; dogma
 tensile capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. tensile
rubber
~ tension stretching; condition of being stretched; mental
strain; strained relationship between groups or people
 tentative not fully worked out or developed; provisional;
experimental; uncertain; hesitant; not definite or positive;
Ex. tentative agreement/reply
 tenuous thin; slim; rare
2 tenure holding of an office or real estate; time during which
such an office is held
 tepid lukewarm; slightly warm; ; half-hearted; not eager;
Ex. tepid reaction to the new film; Ex. tepid supporter
2 termination end; V. terminate
2 terminology terms used in a science or art; study of
nomenclature
 terminus last stop of railroad; end
~ terminal part that forms the end; railroad or bus station;
ADJ. forming an end; ending in death; fatal; Ex. terminal
cancer
2 terrestrial on or relating to the earth
2 terse concise; abrupt; pithy
 tertiary third in order or rank
 tessellated mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
 testator maker of a will; CF. testatrix
 testy irritable; impatient and bad-tempered; shorttempered;
N. testiness
 tether tie (an animal) with a rope or tether; N: rope or
chain to which an animal is tied; limit of one’s endurance;
Ex. the end of one’s tether
2 thematic of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
2 theocracy government run by religious leaders
2 theoretical based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical
2 therapeutic curative; N. therapy
 thermal pertaining to heat; producing heat; warm; Ex.
thermal bath; N: rising current of warm air
 thespian pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress
~ drama prose or verse composition to be performed by actors;
play; exciting and unusual situation
 thrall slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in
thrall; CF. enthrall
 threadbare worn through till the threads show; shabby
and poor; hackneyed; Ex. threadbare excuses
2 thrifty careful about money; economical; N. thrift
2 thrive prosper; flourish
2 throes violent anguish
 throng crowd (of people or things); V.
 throttle strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N:
valve that regulates the flow; CF. throat ?
~ strangle kill by choking or suffocating; suppress
2 thwart block or hinder; baffle; frustrate
 tightwad miser; excessively frugal person
 tiller handle used to move boat’s rudder (to steer)
 timbre quality of a musical tone produced by a musical
instrument (which distinguishes it from others of the same
pitch)
2 timidity lack of self-confidence or courage
2 timorous fearful; timid; demonstrating fear
 tipple drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic
drink
 tirade long angry denunciatory speech; diatribe; harangue;
extended scolding; denunciation
~ tardy slow; sluggish; not on time; late; Ex. tardy arrival
2 titanic gigantic; N. titan
 tithe tax of one-tenth (contributed to a church); V: pay a
tithe
 titillate tickle; excite pleasantly; Ex. not to titillate the
audience but to enlighten it
~ tickle touch (the body) lightly so as to cause laughter;
please
2 title name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation
as of rank or office (such as Lord or General); right
or claim to possession; championship; Ex. title as head of
the family; Ex. title to the estate
 titter nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
 titular of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title
of an office without the obligations; Ex. titular head of the
company
 toady servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady
to; fawn
 toga Roman outer robe
2 tome large volume; book
79
~ handsome large in quantity; generous; Ex. handsome reward
47
 tonsure shaving of the head especially by person entering
religious orders; V.
 topography physical features of a region (such as the shape
and height); CF. topo-: place
~ torpedo underwater explosive apparatus; V.
2 torpor lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; ADJ. torpid:
lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of an animal) dormant; hibernating
 torque twisting force; force producing rotation
 torrent rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.
 torrid (of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid
love affairs
 torso trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human
trunk
~ trunk main wooden stem of a tree; human body excluding
the head and limbs; torso; prehensile nose of an elephant
 tortuous winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain
road
 totter shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall
2 touchstone stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys;
criterion; standard
 touchy oversensitive; easily offended; irasible; delicate;
needing delicate handling; Ex. touchy situation
 tout promote or publicize (one’s goods or service); praise
excessively (as a form of advertisement); CF. advertise
2 toxic poisonous; N. toxicity
 tract propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political
group); expanse of land; region of indefinite size; system of
related organs; Ex. digestive tract
2 tractable docile; easily managed; (of something) easily
changed or molded; N. tractability
2 traduce expose to slander
2 trajectory path taken by a projectile; Ex. trajectory of a
bullet
~ elevation elevated position; altitude; height; flat upright
side of a building; angle made by pointing a gun; Ex. The
elevation of her style is much admired; Ex. front elevation
of the house
2 tranquillity calmness; peace
2 transcendent exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing;
V. transcend: go beyond; exceed; surpass; N. transcendancy
~ transcendental going beyond common thought or ideas;
impossible to understand by practical experiences or practices;
known only by studying thoughts or intuition; OP.
empirical; CF. transcendentalism
2 transcribe copy; write a copy of; N. transcription
2 transgression violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond
(a limit); violate; do wrong
2 transient staying for a short time; momentary; temporary;
N: one that is transient
2 transition going from one state of action to another
2 transitory transient; impermanent; fleeting; N. transitoriness
2 translucent partly transparent
2 transmute transform; change; convert to something different
2 transparent permitting light to pass through freely; easily
detected; obvious; clear; Ex. transparent lie
 transpire (of a fact) become known; be revealed; happen;
give off (watery waste matter) through pores
 transport strong emotion; rapture; Ex. in a transport/
transports of; V: move to strong emotion; enrapture
 trappings outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward
sign of rank)
 traumatic (of an experience) deeply shocking; pertaining
to an injury caused by violence; N. trauma: serious wound;
emotional shock that causes lasting psychological damage
 travail strenuous work; toil; painful labor; labor of childbirth
2 traverse go through or across
 travesty copy or example of something that completely
misrepresents the true nature of the real thing; comical parody
or imitation; treatment aimed at making something appear
ridiculous; Ex. travesty of justice; OP. paragon
2 treatise article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly
 trek travel; journey; V: make a long difficult journey
2 tremor trembling; slight quiver (as of the earth or from
nervous agitation)
2 tremulous trembling; wavering
2 trenchant cutting; incisive; keen
~ furrow long shallow trench made by a plow; deep wrinkle
in the skin; V.
2 trepidation fear; nervous apprehension
 tribulation suffering; ordeal; distress; trial
 tribunal court of justice
~ tribune official of ancient Rome elected by the plebians to
protect their rights; protector of the people
2 tribute tax levied by a ruler; payment made by one nation
to another in acknowledgment of submission; mark of respect
(such as praise or gift); Ex. pay tribute to
 trident three-pronged spear
~ prong pointed projecting part
2 trifling trivial; unimportant
~ trifle something of little importance or value; small amount;
Ex. a trifle; V: treat without seriousness; flirt
80
2 trigger set off; start
 trilogy group of three related works (connected by a shared
subject but each complete in itself)
 trinket knickknack; bauble; cheap jewelry
2 trite hackneyed; commonplace
2 trivia trifles; unimportant matters
 troth pledge of good faith especially in betrothal; betrothal;
Ex. by my troth
 trough long narrow container for feeding farm animals;
lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.); long narrow
depression as between waves
 truculence aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent: aggressive;
pugnacious; fierce
 truism self-evident truth
2 truncate cut the top off; shorten
 tryst meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between
lovers to meet
 tumid (of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic;
pompous
 overblown inflated; exaggerated
 tumult commotion of a great crowd; riot; noise; uproar;
ADJ. tumultuous: noisy and disorderly
2 tundra rolling treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North
America
~ rolling (of land) rising and falling in long gentle slopes;
happening continuously by stages; Ex. rolling devolution
of power to local governments
 turbid (of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy;
thick
2 turbulence state of violent agitation; ADJ. turbulent: violently
agitated or disturbed
 tureen deep dish for serving soup
 turgid swollen; distended (as from liquid)
 turmoil extreme confusion; great commotion and confusion;
Ex. throw the country into turmoil
 turncoat traitor
 turpitude depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude
 tutelage guardianship; training; function of a tutor; instruction
 tutelary protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex.
tutelary deities
 tycoon wealthy and powerful businessperson; wealthy
leader; magnate; Ex. business tycoon
2 typhoon tropical hurricane or cyclone
2 tyranny oppression; cruel government; ADJ. tyrannical: of
a tyrant or tyranny; despotic; V. tyrannize: treat tyrannically;
oppress
2 tyro beginner; novice
2 ubiquitous being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity
~ wade walk through a substance, such as water, that impedes
movement
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 ulterior intentionally hidden; beyond what is evident; situated
beyond; unstated and often questionable; Ex. ulterior
motive
2 ultimate final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental;
Ex. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.
~ eventual happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory
 ultimatum last demand; last warning; last statement of
conditions that must be met; Ex. They have ignored our
ultimatum.
 umbrage resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex.
take umbrage at his rudeness
2 unaccountable unexplicable; impossible to account for;
unreasonable or mysterious
2 unanimity complete agreement; ADJ. unanimous
2 unassailable not open to attack; impregnable; not subject
to question
2 unassuaged unsatisfied; not soothed
 unassuming modest; Ex. the champion’s unassuming
manner
 unbridled violent; uncontrolled; Ex. unbridled rage/greed
~ bridle harness fitted about a horse’s head (used to restrain);
curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show
anger
 uncanny strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack
~ knack special talent; art
 unconscionable unscrupulous; not guided by conscience;
excessive; beyond reason; Ex. unconscionable demand
 uncouth boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish
 unction the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction
 unctuous oily; bland; insincerely suave
2 underlying lying below; fundamental
2 undermine weaken gradually; sap; dig a mine beneath
2 underscore underline; emphasize
2 undulating moving with a wavelike motion; V. undulate;
CF. und: wave
 unearth dig up; discover (facts) by careful searching; Ex.
He unearthed some secrets about her; OP. conceal
 unearthly not earthly; supernatural; weird; ghostly
~ weird eerie; strange; unnatural
2 unequivocal plain; clear; obvious
2 unerringly infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes
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 unexceptionable entirely acceptable; not offering any basis
for criticism
2 unfaltering steadfast; firm; not changing
2 unfeigned genuine; real
2 unfetter liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter
~ hostage person who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy so
that the other side will do what the enemy demands
 unfledged immature; not having the feathers necessary to
fly; CF. fledgling
2 unfrock defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority
~ disbar make (a lawyer) leave the bar or the legal profession
~ debar bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services
~ bar railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line
dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar;
V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister
~ bastard illegitimate child
 ungainly (of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy; (of
something) unwieldy; Ex. ungainly dancer/instrument
 unguent ointment
2 uniformity sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same
all over
 unilateral one-sided; involving or affecting only one side;
Ex. unilateral declaration
 unimpeachable that cannot be impeached; beyond doubt
or question; blameless and exemplary
2 uninhibited unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings
2 unintimating unfrightening
2 unique without an equal; single in kind
 unison unity of pitch (in musical performance); complete
accord; Ex. The choir sang in unison.
~ choir group of people who sing together (esp. during religious
services); place for choir
2 universal characterizing or affecting all; general; present
everywhere; of the universe; cosmic; Ex. universal agreement;
Ex. a subject of universal interest
 unkempt disheveled; uncared for in appearance; not
combed; CF. comb
 unmitigated (of something bad) not moderated; unrelieved
or immoderate; without qualification; absolute; Ex.
unmitigated disaster
 unobtrusive inconspicuous; not blatant
2 unprecedented having no previous example; novel; unparalleled
 unprepossessing unattractive
~ prepossessing attractive; CF. preoccupying ?
2 unravel disentangle; solve
2 unrequited not requited; not reciprocated; Ex. unrequited
love
2 unruly disobedient; lawless; difficult to control
2 unsavory distasteful; disagreeable; morally offensive; Ex.
unsavory activity/reputation
 unscathed unharmed; Ex. escape the accident unscathed
 unseemly unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent;
Ex. leave with unseemly haste
 unsightly ugly; unpleasant to look at
 unsullied untarnished; CF. sully
 untenable (of a position, esp. in an argument) indefensible;
not able to be maintained
 untoward unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky;
Ex. untoward encounter
2 unwarranted unjustified; having no justification; groundless;
baseless; undeserved
2 unwieldy awkward (to carry or move); cumbersome; unmanageable
 unwitting not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex. She
was their unwitting accomplice; Ex. unwitting insult; CF.
wit: know
 unwonted unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with
unwonted punctuality.
 upbraid reprimand; severely scold
~ braid plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving
strands together; N: braided segment (as of hair)
 uproarious marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy
(esp. with laughter); hilarious; causing loud laughter; extremely
funny
~ uproar noisy confusion
 upshot outcome; final result
 urbane suave; refined in manner; elegant
 urchin mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin:
hedgehog; CF. porcupine: pig with spikes ?; CF. sea urchin
2 ursine bearlike; pertaining to a bear
 usurp seize another’s power or rank (without legal authority);
supplant; appropriate; N. usurpation; CF. take for one’s
own use
 usury lending money at illegal high rates of interest
2 utopia ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian
~ Shangri-la imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost
Horizon
 uxorious excessively submissive or devoted to one’s wife;
CF. uxor: wife
 vacillate waver (in opinion); fluctuate; sway to and fro; N.
vacillation
 vacuous empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous
expression; N. vacuity
2 vagabond wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp
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~ tramp walk with a heavy step; travel on foot; N: vagrant;
one who travels aimlessly about; long walk; sound of heavy
walking
~ trample step heavily with the feet; crush under the feet
~ tread walk; trample; N: grooved face of a tire; horizontal
part of a step
 vagary capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander
2 vagrant wandering from place to place; roving; stray; moving
in a random fashion; Ex. vagrant thoughts; N. vagrancy
2 vagrant homeless wanderer
 vainglorious boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory:
great vanity
2 valedictory pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp.
at graduation exercises)
~ valediction saying farewell; expression of leave-taking
~ leave-taking farewell or departure
2 valid logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable; effective;
Ex. valid reasoning/passport
~ sound in good condition; showing good judgment
or good sense; thorough; complete; Ex. sound
mind/investment/training
2 validate make valid; confirm; ratify
2 valor bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave
2 vampire ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
 vanguard forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance
forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF.
rearguard
~ avantgarde group of artists whose work is based on the
newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
2 vantage position giving an advantage (such as a strategic
point); CF. vantagepoint
 vapid lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and
flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture
2 vaporize turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)
 variegated (esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored
~ variegate change the appearance of (by marking with different
colors)
 vassal in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord;
subordinate or dependent
 vaunted boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt:
boast; brag
 veer change in direction; swerve
 vegetate live in a monotonous way (without interests or
activity); CF. vegetation: plants of an area; CF. vegetarian;
CF. vegan
2 vehement forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor;
strong; N. vehemence
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2 velocity speed
 venal capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal
 vendetta blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina
Williams
2 vendor seller
 veneer thin surface layer (of good quality wood, glued to a
base of inferior material); cover; surface show; fa¸cade; V.
 venerable deserving high respect; commanding respect;
CF. command: deserve and get
 venerate revere; treat with great respect
 venial (of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial
 venison meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork, ham,
bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton; CF. lamb: lamb
 venom poison (of an animal); hatred; Ex. remarks full of
venom; ADJ. venomous
 vent small opening; outlet (as of fumes or a gas); Ex. He
gave vent to his anger by kicking the chair.
 vent release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly);
utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on his family.
~ ventilate admit fresh air into to replace stale air
 ventral abdominal
2 ventriloquist someone who can make his or her voice seem
to come from another person or thing (without moving lips
or jaws); N. ventriloquism, ventriloquy
2 venture risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
~ brave face courageously; Ex. brave the storm
2 venturesome (of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of
an action) risky
 venue location; place (of a crime, trial, gathering, etc.);
CF. come
 veracious (of a person) truthful
 veracity truthfulness; adherence to the truth
2 verbalize put into words; ADJ. verbal: of words; spoken
rather than written; oral; of a verb
2 verbatim word for word; in the same words; repeating the
actual words exactly
2 verbiage pompous array of words; too many unnecessary
words; wordiness
2 verbose wordy; N. verbosity
 verdant green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in
vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows
~ lush (of a plant or grass) growing very well
 verdigris green coating or patina on copper which has been
exposed to the weather
2 verge border; edge, rim, or margin; Ex. on the verge of:
very near to; V: border on
 verisimilar having the appearance of truth or reality; probable
or likely to be true; plausible
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 verisimilitude appearance of truth; quality of appearing
to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance
as Lady Macbeth
 veritable being truly so; real or genuine; actual; not false
or imaginary
2 verity quality of being true; lasting truth or principle; Ex.
the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the eternal verities
 vernacular living language (as compared to the official language);
language spoken in a country or region; natural style;
Ex. lapse into the vernacular
 vernal pertaining to spring
2 versatile having many talents; capable of working in many
fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility
2 vertex summit; highest point; PL. vertices
2 vertigo severe dizziness; giddiness
 verve enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition);
liveliness; vigor
2 vestige trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion
~ veto vested power to reject a bill; exercise of this right; V:
prevent or forbid by exercising the power of veto
2 vex annoy; distress
2 viable capable of maintaining life; feasible; practical or
workable; Ex. viable scheme
 viand food; CF. live
 vicarious experienced as if one were taking part in the experience
of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting
as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex.
the vicarious sufferings of Christ
~ vicar parish priest; representative
 vicissitude change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune;
CF. the last emperor of China
 victuals food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food
2 vie contend; compete
2 vigilant watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to
spot danger; N. vigilance
~ vigil keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); Ex. allnight
vigil
~ vigilante one who without authority assumes law enforcement
powers
2 vigor active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous
 vignette small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a
chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description
of a character or scene
 vilify slander; speak evil of; N. vilification
 vindicate clear from blame; free from blame or accusation
(with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or
support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one’s client; Ex. vindicate
one’s claim; CF. vindicator
 vindictive disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge;
spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive
streak
 vintner wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine
2 viper poisonous snake
2 virile manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of
strength
2 virtual in essence; existing in essence though not in actual
form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual ruler/space
2 virtue goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage;
Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity
 virtuoso highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano
virtuoso
 virulent (of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous;
(of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N. virulence; CF. virus;
CF. venom
2 virus disease communicator
 visage face; appearance
 visceral felt in one’s inner organs; N. viscera: internal body
organs; CF. eviscerate
 viscid adhesive; gluey
2 viscous (of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF.
consistency
 vise vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device
 visionary produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical;
showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one given to speculative
impractical ideas
~ vision eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the
imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural
2 vital full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of
great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living;
breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize
~ vibrant full of vigor or energy; vibrating
 vitiate spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt
morally
 vitreous of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify:
change into glass; CF. petrify
 vitriolic causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive;
sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns
flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression;
CF. glass
 vituperative abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate;
scold; rail against abusively
 vivacious lively or animated; sprightly
~ sprightly lively
2 vivisection act of dissecting living animals
 vixen female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew
2 vociferous clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly
(when complaining)
 vogue popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.
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84
 volatile changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of
temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly;
Ex. volatile character/situation in the street
2 volition act of using one’s will; act of making a conscious
choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition.
2 voluble fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility
~ volley simultaneous discharge of a number of shots; V.
2 voluminous having great volume (as of a garment or container);
bulky; large
~ bulk size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex.
The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky:
having great size
~ voodoo religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
2 voracious ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly
eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader
2 vortex whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament
into which one is inexorably plunged
 vouchsafe grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe
your fair return on your investment
~ vouch give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his
integrity; N. voucher
 voyeur Peeping Tom; person who derives sexual gratification
from observing the sexual acts of others
2 vulnerable susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability
 vulpine like a fox; crafty
~ craft skill (esp. with one’s hands); skill in deceiving people;
guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning
~ vulture carrion-eating birds
~ vying contending; CF. vie
 waffle speak equivocally about an issue; N.
 waft move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex.
leaves wafting past the window
 waggish humorous; mischievous; tricky
~ wag shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog
wagged its tail; N: humorous person; wit
 waif homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
2 waive give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right
or claim; document that waives a right or claim
 wake trail of ship or other object through water; path of
something that has gone before; Ex. hunger followed in the
wake of the war
 wallow roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough
sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury
 wan having a pale or sickly color; pallid
 wanderlust strong longing to travel
 wane decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow
gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every
month; N.
 wangle achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex.
She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
~ wiggle wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting
motions
~ fake not genuine; N: one that is not genuine; impostor;
sham; V: counterfeit; Ex. fake the results of the experiment/
the signature
 wanton unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious;
unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton
spending/killing; CF. having no just cause
 warble (of a bird) sing; babble; N.
~ warp twist out of shape; N.
2 warranted justified; authorized
~ warrant justification; written order that serves as authorization
(esp. a judicial writ); Ex. search/death warrant; V:
justify; guarantee
2 warranty guarantee; assurance by seller
 warren tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living
area; crowded conditions in which people live
2 wary very cautious; watchful
 wastrel waster; profligate
 wax increase gradually (as the moon); grow
 waylay ambush; lie in wait for and attack
~ ambush act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden
attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush;
V.
 wean accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the young
of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling;
give up a cherished activity; cause to gradually leave (an
interest or habit); Ex. wean oneself from cigarettes
 weather pass safely through (a storm or difficult period);
endure the effects of weather or other forces
 welt raised mark from a beating or whipping
 welter confusion; turmoil; confused mass; bewildering jumble;
Ex. welter of data
 welter wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in
blood); Ex. The victims weltered in their blood.
 wheedle deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole;
coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her
 whelp young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young
wolf, dog, tiger, etc.
 whet sharpen; stimulate; Ex. whet someone’s appetite
 whiff puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); short-lasting smell;
hint; Ex. whiff of perfume/scandal
 whimsical capricious; fanciful; amusingly strange
~ whim sudden capricious idea; fancy
~ whimsy whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely;
Ex. story full of whimsy
 whinny neigh like a horse; CF. neigh: make the sound
which horses make
 whit small amount; smallest speck; Ex. not a whit of
 whittle pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in
this way; reduce gradually; trim
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~ pare cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a knife);
trim; Ex. pare apples/expenses
 whorl ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement;
Ex. whorls on the fingers
2 willful wilful; intentional; headstrong
~ wilt loose freshness; droop
2 wily crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem
 wince move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex. She
winced as she touched the cold body.
~ start move suddenly or involuntarily; Ex. start at the sight
of a snake
 windfall fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event
 winnow sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate
good parts from bad; CF. wind
~ sift put through a sieve to separate fine from coarse particles;
sort or examine carefully
 winsome charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious;
engaging
 wispy thin; slight; barely discernible
~ wisp small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)
 wistful sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories);
sadly pensive; vaguely longing
 withdrawn introverted; retiring; remote
~ remote distant in manner; aloof
 wither (of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness;
shrivel; decay
~ shrivel make or become shrunken and wrinkled (often by
drying)
 withhold refuse to give; hold back; Ex. withholding tax
2 withstand stand up against; resist successfully
2 witless lacking intelligence or wit; foolish; idiotic
 witticism witty saying; wisecrack(clever joking remark)
2 wizardry sorcery; magic
 wizened shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady
2 woe great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering;
Ex. financial woes
~ woeful sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably bad;
Ex. woeful housing conditions
 wont (the stated person’s) habit or custom; habitual procedure;
ADJ. wonted: customary
2 worldly engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual; of
the material world
 wrangle quarrel noisily; obtain through arguing; herd cattle;
N.
~ herd group of animals; crowd; one who looks after a herd;
Ex. shepherd/goatherd; Ex. herd instinct; Ex. herdsman;
V: come together in a herd; look after a herd; Ex. herd
cattle
2 wrath anger; fury
 wreak inflict; Ex. wreak one’s vengeance on
2 wrench twist; pull; strain; Ex. He wrenched the gun out of
her hands.
 wrest obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence;
Ex. wrest victory from their grasp
 writ written command issued by a court (telling someone
to do or not to do something)
 writhe twist in coils; contort in pain
 wry (esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous
twist (expressing displeasure)
2 xenophobia fear or hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe
 yen strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel
 yeoman man or farmer owning small estate; middle-class
farmer
2 yield amount produced; crop; income on investment; profit
obtained from an investment; V: produce; give in; surrender
 yoke join together; unite; N: crossbar used to joining two
draft animals
 yokel rustic; country bumpkin;
 yore time long past; Ex. in the days of yore
 zany comic; crazy; N: clown; comical person (given to outlandish
behavior)
2 zeal eager enthusiasm (to a cause or ideal); ADJ. zealous
2 zealot one who is zealous; fanatic; person who shows excessive
zeal
2 zenith point directly overhead in the sky; summit; acme;
highest point
 zephyr gentle breeze; west wind
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