| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Permeate | To spread throughout |
| Etymology | The study of words and word origins |
| Prevaricator | A liar |
| Nefarious | Wicked or evil |
| Gregarious | Friendly, outgoing, social |
| Ostracize | To banish or exclude |
| Diurnal | Of the daytime; during the daytime (opposite of nocturnal) |
| Officious | Like a busybody; meddlesome |
| Stereotyped | A preconceived idea |
| Stilted | Overly formal; pompous |
| Askance | Disapprovingly or suspiciously (always used with the verb look) |
| Inscrutable | Difficult to understand; mysterious |
| Insidious | Harmful but hardly noticeable |
| Insouciance | A lack of concern; apathy; indifference (always bad) |
| Intercessor | A mediation; a go-between |
| Interstices | Gaps or spaces |
| Intransigent | Stubborn |
| Intrepid | Brave |
| Foment | To cause; to stir up; to make happen (always bad) |
| Fortuitous | Lucky; fortunate (always something good) |
| Aphorism | A "wise, old saying" |
| Aplomb | Self-confidence; composure |
| Maudlin | Overly sentimental (like chick-flicks) |
| Apocryphal | Of uncertain authenticity; suspicious; suspect |
| Appurtenances | Accessories |
| Arabesque | Intricate design of fine lines |
| Archaic | Old; ancient |
| Archipelago | A large chain of islands |
| Grandiloquent | Overly formal |
| Pandemonium | Tumult or chaos |
| Panegyric | A speech in praise |
| Fraught | Full of; filled with (always negative) |
| Fructify | To make more productive |
| Arterial | Serving as a major carrier |
| Nemesis | A main enemy or rival |
| Nepotism | Favoritism shown to relatives |
| Niggardly | Stingy; cheap |
| Noisome | Stinky (as in an odor) |
| Peripatetic | Nomadic; wandering |
| Nominal | Small in value |
| Nonplussed | Confused and upset |
| Grotesque | Bizarre; hideous |
| Habiliments | Clothes or clothing |
| Hackneyed | Trite or overused |
| Haggard | Exhausted appearance |
| Panoramic | Wide-ranging |
| Paradox | A contradiction |
| Verbatim | Word for word |
| Verbiage | Wordiness |
| Polyglot | Multilingual; a person who is multilingual |
| Verbose | Wordy |
| Exorbitant | Excessive; unreasonable |
| Verdant | Lush or rich |
| Aridity | Dryness or bareness |
| Modicum | A small amount |
| Momentous | Very important |
| Monograph | A long, formal written work |
| Modulate | To adjust |
| Mollify | To calm or soothe |
| Buttress | To strengthen or reinforce |
| Cacophony | Noise |
| Descry | To catch sight of; to glimpse |
| Shoddy | Inferior; poorly-made |
| Shibboleth | A catch-phrase |
| Shrew | A harsh, bitter woman |
| Discursive | Rambling or digressive |
| Feign | To pretend |
| Sidle | To side-step |
| Disparaging | Insulting; belittling |
| Disheveled | Messy |
| Disparity | Vast difference or inequality |
| Sinecure | Well-paid position with little work |
| Sinister | Threatening or evil |
| Dispersion | A scattering |
| Dissemble | To fake; to pretend; to disguise |
| Skeptical | Doubting; questioning |
| Skittish | Easily frightened |
| Sober | Serious-minded |
| Soiree | An evening party |
| Solicitous | Overly-protective |
| Disseminate | To broadcast |
| Dissent | To disagree or to argue against |
| Dissonance | 1. Noise 2. Disagreement |
| Dissuade | To persuade against; to convince against |
| Distraught | Hysterical; extremely upset |
| Divulge | To reveal |
| Sophisticated | Refined or cultured |
| Soporific | Causing sleepiness; causing drowsiness |
| Spasmodic | Intermittent or convulsive |
| Specious | Suspect or suspicious |
| Doleful | Sad or melancholy |
| Flout | To show contempt for |
| Dogma | A system of principles |
| Ductile | Malleable; flexible (EDIT) |
| Dulcet | Pleasant to the ear |
| Duplicity | Lying or Deceit (Note: This has been changed after consulting Danforth) |
| Whimsical | Capricious |
| Spurious | Counterfeit; Not genuine |
| Squalid | Neglected of filthy |
| Ebullient | Overflowing with fervour; High-spirited |
| Ecstatic | Very happy; Very excited |
| Edict | Official order or decree |
| Edification | Improvement or enlightenment |
| Staid | Serious or serious-minded |
| Stark | Plain or bleak |
| Stentorian | Very loud |
| Precocious | Overly-mature |
| Sheen | A shine; a lustre; a brightness |
| Scathing | Very harsh; critical; severe |
| Deviation | A change; a difference |
| Devoid | Empty; lacking |
| Diaphanous | Shiny and transparent |
| Diatribe | An abusive speech |
| Didactic | Teaching and entertaining |
| Diffident | Shy; timid |
| Reticent | Reluctant to speak |
| Retract | To take back; to withdraw |
| Retrench | To economise; to cut back |
| Dilatory | Late or tardy |
| Dilettante | An amateur; a "poser" |
| Diminutive | Small; little |
| Discordant | Disagreeing; conflicting |
| Anathema | Someone or something that is hated |
| Retrograde | To worsen or decline |
| Animadversion | The act of criticising |
| Animated | Lively |
| Anomaly | Abnormality; irregularity |
| Chronic | Constant; habitual; frequent |
| Reverie | A day-dream |
| Lucid | Clear-minded or clear-thinking |
| Ludicrous | Ridiculous; absurd |
| Malign | To put down; to mock; to slander |
| Rococo | Overly decorated; ornate |
| Homogeneous | The same of similar |
| Writhe | To squirm or twist (in pleasure or pain) |
| Zenith | The highest point or peak |
| Desideratum | A goal; an aim; an intention |
| Despicable | Revolting; disgusting; terrible (action) |
| Destitution | Poverty |
| Desuetude | Uselessness |
| Apparition | A ghost; a phantom |
| Gouge | To dig out or force out |
| Preclude | To make impossible |
| Derogatory | Insulting or belittling |
| Parochial | Narrow-minded; narrow in focus |
| Trepidation | A fear or dread |
| Trenchant | Intelligent; insightful |
| Truncated | Cut short or shortened |
| Truculent | Fierce; aggressive; hostile |
| Sinuous | Curvy or winding |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace
!