Flashcards: LSAT Vocab 2
All 439 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 abate | reduce in amount, lessen, put an end to, suspend |
| abeyance | temporary inactive, cessation, a state or condition of a real property in which title is not yet vested in a known titleholder; estate is in abeyance |
| abhor | regard with extreme repugnance or aversion, detest utterly |
| abject | utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, abject poverty or an abject coward |
| abrogate | abolish by formal or official means, repeal, put aside abrogate a law |
| absolve | free from guilt or blame, set free from |
| abstemious | sparing or moderate in eating and drinking an abstemious diet |
| abstruse | hard to understand, recondite, obsolete, ex abstruse theories |
| abysmal | immeasurably deep or great, extremely or hopelessly bad or severe,ex abysmal poverty |
| acclimate | accustom or become accustomed to a new climate |
| accolade | any award, honor |
| accretion | increase by natural growth, increase of poverty by gradual additions |
| acerbity | sourness, harshness |
| acme | highest point, peak, empire was at the acme of its power |
| acquiescence | act or condition of acquiescing, neglect to take legal proceedings for such a long time as to imply the abandonment of a right |
| acrimonious | caustic, stinging, bitter in nature, ex an acrimonious answer or dispute |
| acumen | keen in sight, shrewdness, remarkable acumen in business matters |
| adage | traditional saying expressing a common experience or observation |
| admonish | caution, advise, counsel, urge, ex admonish them about their obligations |
| adroit | expert or nimble in the use of hands or body, extremely skillful, ex an adroit debater |
| advert | remark or comment, refer, turn attention to |
| aegis | classical mythology, protection, support under the imperial aegis |
| affectation | effort to appear to have a quality not really or fully possessed, |
| affidavit | written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official |
| affinity | natural liking for or attraction, inherent likeness or agreement |
| agnostic | a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, person denies the possibility of ultimate knowledge in same area of study |
| agrarian | relating to land, rural, growing in fields |
| alias | false name used to conceal identity |
| allegory | representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms, emblem, symbolic narrative |
| alleviate | make easier, endure, lessen |
| alliteration | commencement of two or more words of a word group with the same letter, ex apt alliteration artful aid |
| ameliorate | to make or become better, more bearable |
| amoral | not involving questions of right or wrong, no moral standards |
| amortization | act or instance of amortizing a debt or other obligation, sums devoted to this purpose |
| anagram | word, phrase or sentence formed by rearranging its letters |
| analogy | form of reasoning in which one thing is inferred to be similar to another in a certain aspect |
| anathema | person or thing detested or loathed |
| animadversion | unfavorable or censorious comment, criticizing |
| animosity | feelings of strong dislike, ill will |
| animus | strong dislike, enmity |
| annotate | supply with critical or explanatory notes, annotations |
| antediluvian | very old, old fashioned, belonging to a period before flood |
| anthology | book or collection of selected writings by various authors or by one |
| anthropology | science of humans and their works and origins |
| anticlimax | event, conclusion, statement |
| apathetic | having or showing little or no emotion |
| aphorism | terse saying embodying a general truth |
| apotheosis | elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of god |
| appellation | name, title or designation, act of naming |
| appendage | subordinate part attached to something, or dependent position |
| apportion | distribute, allocate proportionally |
| apprise | give notice to, inform, advise |
| apropos | fitting, at the right time, to the purpose |
| arable | capable of producing crops for farming |
| arbiter | person empowered to decide matters at issue; judge |
| archaic | earlier period, primitive, old, ancient |
| arraign | call or bring before court to answer to an indictment, accuse or charge in general |
| arrears | usually, being behind or later esp in fulfillment of duty, promise, obligation etc or overdue on payment |
| artifice | clever trick or stratagem, cunning, skillful |
| askance | suspicion, mistrust, disapproval, side glance |
| asperity | harshness or sharpness of tone, temper, manner, hardship |
| assiduous | constant, unremitting, ex assiduous reading |
| assimilate | take in and incorporate as ones own, cause to resemble, compare to |
| assuage | make milder or less severe, appease, satisfy, soothe, calm |
| atavism | reversion to an earlier type, throwback |
| atrophy | degeneration, decline, decrease, disuse |
| attenuate | weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, make thin |
| attrition | reduction, decrease in numbers, size or strength, wearing down, weakening, gradual reduction |
| augury | art of practice of an augur, omen, token, indication |
| auspicious | promising success, propitious, opportune, favored by fortune |
| austerity | austere quality, severity of manner, sternness |
| automation | technique, method, or system of operating or controlling a process by highly automatic means |
| avid | enthusiastic, ardent, dedicated |
| awry | with a turn or twist to one side |
| axiom | self- evident truth that requires no proof, universally accepted rule etc |
| bagatelle | little or no importance, trifle, game, pinball, short light musical composition |
| banal | devoid of freshness or originality |
| bathos | ludicrous descent from the exalted or lofty to the commonplace, insincere pathos, triteness |
| bayou | outlet of a lake, slow moving still water |
| belles-lettres | literature regarded as fine art, esp purely aesthetic function |
| bellicose | inclined or eager to fight, aggressive |
| bellwether | wether or other male sheep that leads the flock, leadership position - bellwether of the industry, leads a mob, conspiracy |
| benevolent | characterized by expressing goodwill or kindly feelings, desire to help other |
| benignant | kind esp to inferiors, gracious |
| bereavement | deprive and make desolate |
| bestial | form of a beast, without reason or intelligence, beastlike |
| billingsgate | vulgar language |
| blase | indifferent, bored with life, unimpressed |
| bowlderize | expurgate by removing passages considered vulgar |
| broach | machinery, spit for roasting meat, tapping casks, etc |
| burgeoning | grow or develop quickly, flourish, begin to grow |
| cabal | small group of secret plotters against government, clique |
| cache | hiding place esp one in ground for treasures, food, ammunition etc, |
| cacophony | harsh discordance of sounds, mixture of sounds meaningless |
| cajole | to persuade by flattery or promises |
| calumny | false and malicious statement designed to injure someones reputation, slander |
| canard | false, baseless store, usually derogatory, rumor |
| carping | fussy or petulant faultfinding, querulous |
| cataclysm | violent upheaval esp one of a social/political nature, extensive flood |
| catechism | ecclesiastical, book of instructions, series of formal questions for politicians |
| catharsis | purging of emotions or relieving emotional tension |
| celestial | pertaining to sky, heaven |
| centaur | classical mythology, astronomy, skillful horsemen |
| centrifugal | directed outward from the center |
| chameleon | lizard, changeable, fickle |
| charlatan | person who pretends or claims to have more knowledge then she really possesses |
| chimera | fire-breathing monster, horrible unreal creature |
| circumspect | watchful, discreet, cautious |
| circumvent | go around, bypass, avoid |
| clandestine | secrecy, concealment, private |
| cogent | convincing or believable by virtue or forcible |
| cognizance | awareness, realization, judicial notice by court in dealing with a cause. |
| cognomen | surname, nickname, lastname etc |
| colloquial | familiar conversation not formal |
| comity | mutual courtesy, civility |
| commiserate | feel or express sorrow or sympathy for |
| compendium | brief treatment or account of a subject, summary |
| complacent | pleased, with ones self, advantages |
| complaisant | inclined to please, obliging, agreeable, |
| compunction | feeling of uneasiness, anxiety about rightness of an action |
| conative | nature of conation- mental life with striving, desire, volition |
| concentric | having common center, as circles or spheres |
| concomitant | existing or occurring with something else, in a lesser way |
| conduit | pipe, tube, similar passage |
| congenial | agreeable, suitable, pleasing in nature |
| conjecture | formation, expression of opinion or theory, conclude, suppose |
| connotation | attributes constituting the meaning of a term |
| contingency | dependence on chance or on the fulfillment of a condition, accident, possibility, ex he was prepared for every contingency |
| contretemps | inopportune occurrence, embarrassing mischance |
| contravene | conflict, go against, oppose |
| contumacious | stubbornly perverse, rebellious, disobedient |
| convivial | friendly, agreeable, fond of feasting/drinking |
| copious | large in number, abundant, ex copious amounts of food |
| corollary | immediate/natural consequence |
| corporeal | nature of physical body, bodily, tangible |
| corpulent | large or bulky of body, portly, fat |
| cosset | treat as pet, pamper, coddle |
| coterie | group of people who associate closely, clique |
| cozen | cheat, deceive, trick |
| crass | without refinement, delicacy, sensitivity |
| credence | belief as to the truth, ex letter of credence |
| credible | capable of being believed |
| credo | creed, set of beliefs |
| credulous | willing to believe or trust too easily |
| crescent | emblem of turkey, islam, segment of a ring with points at ends |
| curator | person in charge, law- guardian of minor or incompetant with regard to property. |
| crux | pivotal point, cross, puzzling |
| cupidity | eager or excessive desire esp to possess something, greed |
| cursory | going rapidly over something, without noticing details |
| cynosure | strongly attracts attention by its brilliance, interest |
| debenture | certificate of indebtness |
| debilitating | to make wear or feeble, |
| decimate | destroy a great number or proportion of, obsolete |
| decollete | low neck garment |
| decorum | propriety of behavior, speech, dress, orderliness |
| defection | desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty or the like, failure, lack loss |
| deleterious | injurious to health, harmful |
| demagogue | person esp. political leader who gains power and popularity by arousing emotions, passions and prejudices of people |
| denotation | explicit or direct meaning or set of meaning of a word or expression |
| denouement | final resolution of a plot, outcome or resolution of doubtful series of occurrences |
| deprecate | express earnest disapproval, urge reasons against |
| desiccate | dry, perserve |
| desideratum | something wanted or needed |
| desultory | lacking in consistency, disconnected, digressing from ex desultory remark |
| dexterous | skillful or adroit, clever |
| diatribe | bitter, sharply abusiveness denunciation |
| diction | style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words ex good diction |
| didactic | intended for instruction didactic poetry, inclined to teach lecture others, didactic speaker |
| dilatory | tending to delay or procrastinate |
| discursive | passing aimlessly, digressive, |
| dishabille | dressed in careless, disheveled, disorderly, comfort, loose dress |
| disparage | speak or treat slightingly, depreciate, belittle |
| dissimulation | feigning, hypocrisy, act of dissimulating |
| dissonant | disagreeing or harsh in sound |
| dolorous | full of, expressing, causing pain or sorrow, grievous, mournful |
| eclat | brilliance of success, reputation, showy or elaborate display |
| effete | lacking in wholesome vigor, degenerate ex an effete, overrefined society |
| egregious | extraordinary in some bad way, glaring, flagrant ex an egregious mistake, egregious liar |
| eleemosynary | pertaining to alms, charity, |
| emanate | flow out, issue, proceed, |
| emeritus | retired, honorable discharged from active professional duty, |
| emolument | profit, salary, fees from office or employment |
| empirical | derived from experiment or experience |
| enclave | country, outlying portion of a country, mostly surrounded by territory of another country |
| encomium | formal expression of high praise, eulogy, ex an encomium by the president greeted returning solider |
| enervate | deprive of force or strength, destroy the vigor of, weaken |
| enigma | puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation ex his disappearance is an enigma that has caused speculation |
| enmity | feeling or condition of hostility |
| ennui | feeling of utter weariness and discontent, lack of interest; boredom |
| enormity | outrageous or heinous character, atrociousness, as an offense |
| entomology | branch of zoology dealing with insects |
| epicurean | adapted to luxury, indulgence in sensual pleasures, |
| epigram | any witty, ingenious, or point saying, expression ex oscar hard a genius for epigram |
| epithet | word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe actual attributed quality ex mans best friend for dog |
| epitome | person or thing that is typical of or possessess to a high degree the feature of the whole class ex, he is the epitome of goodness |
| equanimity | mental or emotional stability or composure esp under tension, strain etc |
| equine | resembling a horse |
| equitable | characterized by equity or fairness ,law- pertaining to or valid in equity, system of equity distinguised from common law ex equitable treatment of all citizens |
| equivocate | use ambiguous or unclear expressions, to avoid commitment or in order to mislead ex, the candidate only equivocated when asked about his opinion |
| etymology | derivation of a word, history of words linguistic |
| eugenics | study or belief in possibility of improving quality human species or population, ex encourage or discouraging reproduction based on favorable or infavorable genes |
| evanescent | vanishing, fading away, fleeting, scarcely perceptible |
| excoriate | denounce or berate severely, flay verbally, - he was excoriated for his mistakes, or to remove the skin from |
| execrable | utterly detestable, abhorrent |
| exegesis | critical explanation of a text, esp the bible |
| exhortation | exhorting- urge, advise or caution earnestly, urgent advice |
| exhume | dig something buried esp a body, or to revive or restore after period of neglect |
| ex officio | virtue of office or official position |
| expatiate | enlarge in discourse or writing, copious in description ex to expatiate upon a theme, archaic- move about imaginatively |
| expedite | to speed up, accomplish promptly, issue or dispatch |
| expiate | atone for, make amends or reparation for ex expiate ones crimes |
| extant | still existing, not destroyed or lost |
| extirpate | remove or destroy totally, do away with, exterminate, or to pull from roots- hair. |
| extradite | to give up an alleged criminal or fugitive or another state, nation or authority, |
| facet | aspect, phase ex the examined every facet of the argument |
| fallible | liable to error esp in deceiving or mistaking, erroneous or false, not accurate |
| fastidious | excessively particular, critical, demanding, hard to please - fastidious eater or delicacy |
| fecund | capable of producing offspring, fruit vegetation, productive, creative |
| fiduciary | law- person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another |
| foible | minor weakness or failing of character- an all too human foible- or weak part of blade opposed to forte |
| formidable | causing fear, apprehension, dread, discouraging or awesome strength, size, force etc |
| forte | a strong point, as of a person, in which one excels, or stronger part of blade |
| fortuitous | happening or produced by chance, accidental- a fortuitous encounter, lucky, fortunate |
| gamut | entire scale or range- the gamut of dramatic emotion from grief to joy |
| garnishment | law - warning,which summons third party to appear in litigation pending between creditor and debtor |
| garnishee | attach ( money or property) by garnishment, or to serve with garnishment |
| gaucherie | lack of social grace, sensitivity, acuteness, awkwardness, |
| genealogy | record of ancestry and family of person, study of ancestry |
| genuflect | bend the knee or touching the one knee down for worship, servile attitude |
| germane | closely or significantly related, pertinent - please keep your statements germane to the issue |
| gesticulate | to make or use gestures |
| grimace | facial expression, ugly or contorted, indicated disapproval or pain |
| hackneyed | made commonplace or trite, stale; banal - the hackneyed images of his poetry |
| harbinger | person who makes known the approach of another; herald or anything foreshadowing future event, omen, or person sent ahead of troops |
| herald | royal or official messenger esp one representing a monarch or person or thing comes before another |
| hiatus | break or interruption in continuity of a work, series, action, missing part, gap or opening |
| hirsute | hairy, shaggy, pertaining to, characteristic of hair |
| histrionic | pertaining to actors or acting, deliberately affected, overly dramatic |
| husbandry | cultivation and production of crops or animals for food. |
| iconoclast | breaker or destroyer of images esp those set up for religious venveration, attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions |
| idiom | expression whose meaning is not predictable from usual meaning ex- kick the bucket |
| idiosyncrasy | characteristic, habit, mannerism peculiar to an individual |
| ignominious | marked by or attended with ignominy, discreditable, humiliating, - ignominious retreat |
| ignominy | disgrace, dishonor, public contempt, shameful |
| imbibe | consume liquids by drinking, absorb or soak up- he imbibed great quantities of iced tea |
| immolation | sacrifice, kill, destroy |
| impasse | position or situation from which there is no escape, road or way with no outlet, ex cul de sac |
| impeach | accuse (public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office, challenge credibility of, bring accusation against |
| imperturbable | incapable of being upset or agitated, not easily excited, calm |
| impervious | not permitting penetration or passage, impenetrable; the coat is impervious to rain or incapable of being injured or impaired or influenced |
| importune | press or best with solicitations, demand with urgency or persistence, make improper advances toward, obsolete- to annoy |
| impotent | not potent- lacking power or ability, utterly unable, without force or effectiveness, sterile, without restraint |
| improvident | not provident, lacking foresight, incautious, unwary, neglecting to provide for future needs |
| impugn | challenge as false, cast doubt upon, attack, asperse |
| inchoate | not fully developed, rudimentary, just begin, incipient, not organized |
| incisive | penetrating, cutting, biting, remarkably clear and direct, keen, |
| incognito | having ones identity concealed |
| incredulous | not credulous, skeptical, unbelief- incredulous smile |
| incredulity | incredulous, inability to believe |
| incriminate | accuse or present proof of a crime or fault- he incriminated both men to grand jury or to implicate |
| inculcate | to implant by repeated statement or admonition, teach persistently - inculcate virtue in the young |
| incumbent | holding an indicated position, role, office - the incumbent officers of the club, obligatory |
| indigent | lacking food, clothing or other necessities of life bc of poverty |
| indolent | having showing a disposition to avoid exertion, slothful - indolent person or inactive, relatively benign |
| ineffable | incapable of being expressed or described in words, inexpressible, ex - ineffable joy |
| inept | without skill or aptitude for task or assignment, awkward or clumsy, inappropriate, unsuitable, foolish ex - inept remark, she is inept at dealing with people |
| inexorable | unyielding, unalterable, inexorable truth/justice, not to persuaded, moved or affected |
| infallible | absolutely trustworthy or sure, infallible rule, unfailing in effectiveness or operation |
| ingenue | artless, innocent unworldly girl esp represented on stage |
| ingratiate | establish onself in the facor or good graces of other esp by deliberate effort ex- he ingratiated himself with all the guests |
| inimical | adverse in tendency or effect, unfavorable, ex- a climate inimical to health or unfriendly |
| adverse | unfavorable or antagonistic in purpose or effect |
| iniquitous | characterized by injustice or wickedness, sinful |
| innate | existing from birth, native, ex -innate musical talent or inherent in the essential character of something- innate defect in the hypothesis |
| inherent | existing in someone or something as a permanent element |
| innocuous | not harmful or injurious, harmless - an innocuous home remedy or not likely to irritate or offend, inoffensive - innocuous remark |
| innuendo | law- elucidation (explain) of the words alleged to be defamatory in a slander or libel case |
| defamatory | injurious to reputation, slanderous, libelous- she claimed the article was defamatory |
| inorganic | not having the structure or organization characteristic of living bodies, not fundamental or related |
| insatiable | incapable of being satisfied or appeased - insatiable hunger for knowledge |
| satiable | capable of being satisfied |
| inscrutable | incapable of being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized, not easily understood |
| insidious | intended to entrap or beguile- insidious plan, treacherous or deceitful- insidious enemy |
| insipid | without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities, insipid personality or with out sufficient taste |
| insolvent | unable to satisfy creditors or discharge liabilities, bankrupt person |
| insouciance | lack of care or concern |
| insouciant | free from concern, worry or anxiety |
| insular | situated on an island, pertaining to an island, detached, standing alone |
| integral | belonging as part of the whole, integral parts, necessary to complete the whole, the point is integral to his plan, |
| intelligentsia | intellectuals considered as a group or class |
| interim | intervening time, interval, meantime, in the interim |
| internecine | pertaining to conflict or struggle within a group, mutually destructive ex- internecine feud among people |
| inundate | flood, cover with water, overwhelm- inundated with letters of protest |
| invective | vehement or violent denunciation, censure, railing accusation, vituperation- abusive lang |
| vehement | zealous, ardent, impassioned,- vehement defense |
| denunciation | instance of denouncing, public censure, accusation of crime, |
| vituperation | verbal abuse |
| inveigh | protest strongly or attack with words, rail |
| inveterate | settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling or the like - inveterate gambler |
| invidious | ill will or resentment or give offense- invidious remarks- |
| inviolate | free from violating, injury, desecration or outrage, undisturbed, untouched |
| irascible | easily provoked to anger, very irritable,- irascible old man |
| irrevocable | not able to be revoked or recalled- irrevocable decree |
| decree | judicial decision or order, - presidential decree |
| jeremiad | prolonged lamentation or mournful complaint |
| lamentation | expressing grief, lament - lamentations- book of bible |
| jingo | person who professes his/her patriotism loudly and excessively favoring vigilant preparedness for war and aggressive foreign policy |
| journeyman | person who has served as apprenticeship at a trade or handicraft, routine worker or performer |
| judicious | using/showing judgment as to action or practical expediency, discreet - judicious use of ones money - well sensible, wise, - judicious selection of documents |
| jurisprudence | science philosophy of law, |
| tribunal | court of justice, place or seat of judgment, |
| civil law | body of laws of a state/nation regulating ordinary private matters as distinct from laws regulating criminal, political or military matters |
| juxtaposition | close or side by side |
| lachrymose | suggestive of or tending to cause tears, mournful |
| larceny | law- taking and carrying away of personal good from someone for takers own use |
| largess | generous bestowal of gifts |
| laudable | deserving praise, praiseworthy, commendable - reorganizing the files was a laudable idea |
| lecherous | lechery, lustful- lecherous photos |
| lethargy | drowsy, dull, unenergetic, lazy |
| lexicon | workbook or dictionary esp greek, latin, hebrew- vocab of language |
| libel | law- defamation by written or printed words- act of crime of publishing it, formal written declaration of statement |
| libretto | text or words or book of opera or musical composition |
| litany | ceremonial form of prayer |
| liturgic | public worship |
| literati | intellectuals |
| litigation | lawsuit, act or process of it- matter that is still in litigation |
| lucrative | profitable, moneymaking - lucrative business |
| lugubrious | mournful, dismal, gloomy esp in exaggerated unrelieved manner |
| macadam | broken stone to make such or pavement |
| machinate | contrive or plot, artfully with evil purpose- to machinate the overthrow of the government |
| maelstrom | large, violent whirlpool, or restless, disordered state of affairs- maelstrom of early traffic |
| magnanimous | generous in forgiving an insult or injury, free from resentfulness or vindictiveness- magnanimous toward ones enemies |
| maladroit | lacking in adroitness, unskillful, awkward, handling a diplomatic crisis in a very maladroit way |
| adroit | expert or nimble with hands, cleverly skillful, ingenious- adroit debater |
| malapropism | the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar ex- lead the way and we'll precede |
| malcontent | a person who is discontented or disgusted |
| malefactor | someone who has committed (or been legally convicted of) a crime |
| malign | speak harmful untruths about, speak evil of, slander, defame- to malign an honorable man |
| malignant | disposed to cause harm, suffering, distress deliberately, ill will |
| lascivious | inclined to lustfulness, wanton, LEWD, - lascivious girl chasing old man, |
| malingerer | pretend illness, esp in order to shirk ones duty, avoid work |
| manifest | readily perceived by the eye of the understand, evident, obvious- manifest error |
| manifesto | public declaration of intentions, opinions, or motives |
| maudlin | tearfully or weakly emotional, foolishly sentimental- a maudlin story of a little orphan and her lost dog |
| maxim | expression of a general truth or principle |
| mayhem | law- the crime of willfully inflicting bodily injury on another so as to make the victim less capable of self defense, or to cripple or mutilate victim |
| meander | proceed by or take winding or indirect course - the stream meandered through the valley- or to wander aimlessly, ramble |
| melee | confused hand to hand fight or struggle among several people, confusion, turmoil, jumble |
| mendacity | lying, falsehood, untruthfulness, mendacious- habitually lying |
| mercurial | changeable, volatile, fickle, flighty, erratic- mercurial nature |
| meretricious | alluring by a show or flashy, vulgar attractions, pretense, deception, insincerity |
| mesa | land formation, similar but less extensive to a plateau |
| metaphysical | abstract, subtle, nature of metaphysics |
| miasma | noxious exhalations, poisonous effluvia or germs in atmosphere, dangerous |
| microcosm | little world, world in miniature opposed to macrocosm- |
| milieu | surroundings esp of social or culture nature- snobbish milieu |
| militant | vigorously active and aggressive esp in support of a cause- militant reformers- engaged in warfare; fighting |
| minutiae | precise details, small or trifling matters- minutiae of his craft |
| misapprehension | misunderstanding |
| miscreant | depraved, villainous, or base |
| misogynist | hatred, dislike, mistrust of women |
| mitigate | lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, - mitigate a punishment |
| modicum | moderate or small amount - he hasnt even a modicum of common sense |
| moor | tract of open, peaty, wasteland |
| moratorium | suspension of activity - moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons- or authorized period of delay or waiting |
| moribund | dying state, near death, on verge of extinction or termination or not progressing or advancing- moribund political party |
| motley | exhibiting great diversity of elements- motley group |
| mugwump | person unable to make up their mind on issue esp in politics- person who is neutral |
| munificent | liberal in giving, generous- munificent bequest |
| mutable | liable or subject to change or alteration, given to changing |
| myopic | nearsighted, unable to unwilling to act prudently; shortsighted, lacking tolerance or understanding; narrow minded |
| myriad | very great or indefinitely great number of person or things |
| mystic | characterized by esoteric, otherworldly, |
| nascent | beginning to exist or develop - the nascent republic |
| natal | persons birth- natal day |
| nebulous | hazy, vague, indistinct or confused- nebulous recollection of the meeting, cloudy etc |
| necromancy | magic in general esp by witch or sorcerer, black art |
| nefarious | extremely wicked or villainous, iniquitous - nefarious plot |
| nemesis | something a person cannot conquer, acheive etc - the performance test proved to by my nemesis- or opponent, rival |
| nosegay | small bunch of flowers, bouquet, posy |
| nostalgia | desire for the happiness in a former place or time- nostalgia for college days |
| noxious | harmful or injurious to health or well being- noxious fumes or morally harmful, corrupting |
| obeisance | movement of the body expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy - bow curtsy etc |
| obfuscation | confuse, bewilder, stupefy, make obscure or unclear- obfuscate a problem with extraneous information |
| obsolete | no longer in general use- obsolete expression- |
| obstetrics | medical science of childbirth and care- obstetrician |
| obstreperous | resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner- unruly - noisy, boisterous- obstreperous children |
| odious | deserving or causing hatred, hateful, detestable, |
| odium | intense hatred or dislike esp toward a thing regarded as contemptible, despicable, repugnant |
| officious | very forward, aggressive in offering ones unrequested and unwanted services; meddlesome- an officious person |
| olfactory | sense of smell- olfactory organs |
| oligarchy | form of government in which all power is invested in a few people or dominant class |
| ominous | portending evil or harm, foreboding, threatening- ominous bank of dark clouds |
| omnipotent | almighty or infinite in power- god |
| omnipresent | present everywhere at the same time- omnipresent god |
| omniscient | having complete, unlimited knowledge, awareness. god |
| onerous | burdensome, oppressive, troublesome, onerous duties |
| onus | difficult or disagreeable obligation, task, burden |
| opprobrium | disgrace by conduct considered outrageously shameful, infamy |
| opus | musical composition |
| ornithology | branch of zoology that deals with birds |
| orthography | art of writing words with proper letters correct spelling etc |
| ostracize | exclude by general consent from society, friendship - his friends ostracized him after his fathers arrest |
| paean | song of praise, joy |
| palatable | acceptable or agreeable to the palate or taste- savory- palatable food |
| palliate | relieve or lessen without curing, mitigate, alleviate |
| palpable | readily or plainly seen, heard, perceived, obvious - palpable lie |
| panacea | remedy for all disease or ills- cure all |
| panache | grand or flamboyant manner, verve, style, flair- actor who play cyran must have panache |
| panegyric | lofty oration or writing in praise of person or thing; eulogy or formal or elaborate praise |
| panoply | wide- ranging and impressive array or display- dazzling panoply of the |
| parable | short story to teach truth, religious principle or moral lesson |
| paramour | illicit lover esp of a married person |
| parapet | defensive wall or elevation, in fortification |
| parish | ecclesiastical district having its own church and member of clergy |
| parity | equality , as in amount, status or character |
| parochial | parochial schools- private religious schools- parish or parishes |
| parody | satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing- parody of hamlet |
| parsimonious | frugal or stingy - parsimony- frugality |
| pathos | quality or power in an actual life experience or other forms of expression |
| patriarch | male head of family |
| patrimony | estate inherited from ones father or ancestors |
| estate | piece of landed property esp one of large extent with an elaborate house law- property of poessessions or legal position or status of an owner |
| paucity | smallness of quantity, scarcity, scantiness, - country with a paucity of resources |
| pecuniary | pertaining to money- pecuniary difficulties |
| pedagogue | teacher- schoolteacher |
| pediment | used to crown an opening, monument etc |
| penitent | feeling or expressing sorrow for sin or wrongdoing and disposed to atonement and amendment |
| pensive | dreamily or wistfully thoughtful, pensive mood- |
| penultimate | next to last- penultimate scene of play |
| penurious | extremely stingy, parsimonious, miserly |
| perdition | state of final spiritual ruin, loss of soul, damnation |
| peregrination | travel from one place to another, esp on foot |
| peremptory | leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal; imperative- a peremptory command- law- precludes or does not admit of debate, question etc- peremptory edict - decisive final- command is absolute and unconditional |
| perennial | lasting for an indefinitely long time, enduring, - perennial beauty |
| perfidious | deliberately faithless, treacherous, deceitful, perfidious lover |
| perfunctory | performed merely as routine duty, hasty and superficial- perfunctory courtesy or lacking interest, care, enthusiasm, indifferent- perfunctory speaker |
| peripatetic | walking or traveling about; itinerant - pertaining to aristotle |
| periphery | external boundary of any surface |