| Term | Definition |
|---|
| permeate | to spread throughout |
| etymology | study of word origins |
| prevaricator | liar |
| nefarious | extremely wicked, evil |
| gregarious | outgoing, friendly, sociable |
| ostracize | to banish, or exclude |
| diurnal | of the day time |
| officious | like a busybody, meddlesome |
| stereotyped | pre-conceived idea |
| stilted | overly formal, pompous |
| askance | disapprovingly |
| inscrutable | difficult to understand |
| insidious | harmful, but hardly noticeable |
| insouciance | lack of concern, apathy |
| intercessor | mediator, go between |
| interstices | gaps or spaces |
| intransigent | stubborn |
| intrepid | brave |
| foment | to cause, stir up |
| fortuitous | lucky |
| aphorism | wise old saying |
| aplomb | self-confidence |
| maudlin | overly sentimental |
| apocryphal | suspicious, suspect |
| appurtenances | gear, equipment |
| arabesque | intricate design of lines |
| archaic | old fashioned |
| archipelago | chain of islands |
| grandiloquent | pompous |
| pandemonium | chaos |
| panegyric | a speech in praise |
| fraught | filled with |
| fructify | to make more productive, to make fruitful |
| arterial | a major carrier |
| nemesis | archenemy |
| nepotism | favoritism shown towards relatives |
| niggardly | cheap, stingy |
| noisome | stinky |
| peripatetic | nomadic |
| nominal | small in value |
| nonplussed | confused and upset |
| grotesque | bizarre |
| habiliments | clothing |
| hackneyed | overused, trite |
| haggard | exhausted |
| panoramic | wide, far-ranging |
| paradox | two opposing truths |
| verbatim | word-for-word |
| verbiage | wordiness |
| polyglot | multilingual (one who is) |
| verbose | wordy |
| exorbitant | excessive |
| verdant | lush, rich, or green |
| aridity | dryness |
| modicum | small amount |
| momentous | critical, very important |
| monograph | long, formal written work |
| modulate | to adjust |
| mollify | soothe |
| buttress | to strengthen, reinforce |
| cacophony | noise |
| descry | glimpse, catch sight of |
| shoddy | inferior, or poorly made |
| shibboleth | catch-phrase |
| shrew | harsh, bitter woman |
| discursive | rambling |
| sidle | to side-step |
| feign | to pretend |
| disheveled | messy |
| disparaging | belittling |
| disparity | vast difference or inequality |
| sinecure | well paid position with little work |
| sinister | threatening or evil |
| dispersion | a scattering |
| dissemble | to pretend, to disguise |
| skeptical | questioning |
| skittish | easily frightened |
| sober | serious or serious minded |
| soiree | evening party |
| solicitous | overly protective |
| disseminate | to broadcast |
| dissent | to disagree |
| dissonance | noise, or disagreement |
| dissuade | to persuade against |
| distraught | extremely upset, hysterical |
| divulge | to reveal |
| sophisticated | refined, or cultured |
| soporific | causing sleepiness |
| spasmodic | intermittent, or convulsive |
| specious | suspect, suspicious |
| doleful | sad or mournful |
| flout | to defy openly |
| dogma | doctrine |
| ductile | malleable |
| dulcet | sweet-sounding |
| duplicity | deception |
| whimsical | unplanned |
| spurious | fake |
| squalid | filthy |
| ebullient | very happy |
| ecstatic | very excited |
| edict | official order |
| edification | improvement |
| staid | serious |
| stark | bleak or plain |
| stentorian | very loud |
| precocious | overly mature |
| sheen | a shine |
| scathing | harsh, severe |
| deviation | a change, or difference |
| devoid | empty |
| diaphonous | shiny |
| diatribe | abusive speech |
| didactic | instructive and entertaining |
| diffident | shy |
| reticent | reluctant to speak |
| retract | to take back |
| retrench | to cut back |
| dilatory | late |
| dilettante | "poser" |
| diminutive | small, little |
| discordant | disagreeing |
| ludicrous | absurd |
| malign | to slander |
| rococo | ornate |
| homogeneous | the same or similar |
| writhe | to squirm (in pain or pleasure) |
| zenith | the peak |
| desideratum | a goal |
| despicable | revolting (action) |
| destitution | poverty |
| desuetude | uselessness |
| anathema | someone or something that is hated |
| retrograde | to worsen or decline |
| animadversion | insult or put down |
| animated | lively |
| anomaly | abnormality |
| reverie | a daydream |
| lucid | clear-minded |
| chronic | constant |
| apparition | ghost or phantom |
| gouge | dig out, force out |
| preclude | to make impossible |
| derogatory | belittling or insulting |
| parochial | narrow minded, narrow focus |
| trepidation | fear or dread |
| trenchant | intelligent, keen |
| truncated | shortened |
| truculent | fierce, aggressive |
| sinuous | curvy, twisty |
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