| Palindrome | n. a word or phrase which reads the same backward and forward |
| Adage | n. an old saying now accepted as being truthful |
| Hackneyed | adj. made common by overuse |
| Hyperbole | n. exaggeration, not to be taken seriously |
| Lurid | adj.1.glowing through haze; 2. shocking; sensational |
| Throe | n. spasm or pang |
| Vitiate | v. 1. to spoil; 2. to cause moral weakness |
| Precipitate | 1. v.; 2. adj. 1. to cause to happen; 2. happening quickly |
| Edify | v. to instruct and improve the mind |
| Livid | adj. 1. discolored, as if bruised; 2. extremely angry; furious |
| Eminence | n. 1. a lofty place; 2. superiority |
| Vehement | adj. 1. using great force; 2. described by strong feelings |
| Amorphous | adj. 1. with no shape; 2. unorganized |
| Perquisite | n. a tip in addition to regular income |
| Cloying | adj. causing digust or aversion through excess |
| Termagant | n. a constantly quarrelsome woman; a shrew |
| Connotative | adj. containing associated meanings in addition to the primary one |
| Reciprocal | n. mutual; having the same relationship to each other |
| Callow | adj. immature |
| Amiable | adj. friendly |
| Knavery | n. a dishonest act |
| Parse | v. to separate (a sentence) into parts and describe the function of each |
| Improvident | adj. not providing for the future |
| Indolent | adj. not wanting to work |
| Usury | n. the leading of money with an excessively high interest rate |
| Intractable | adj. stubborn; not easily taught or disciplined |
| Unalloyed | adj. pure, high quality |
| Artifice | n. an artful device |
| Epicure | n. a person who has good taste in food and drink |
| Obeisance | n. a gesture of respect or reverence |
| Banal | adj. trite; without freshness or originality |
| Resonant | adj. resounding; re-echoing |
| Heretic | n. one who holds opinions contary to that which is generally accepted |
| Verbose | adj. wordy verbal communication |
| Consort | 1. n. 2. v. 1. a companion; a spouse; 2. to associate |
| Immaculate | adj. prefectly clean; correct |
| Untoward | adj. Unfortunate |
| Astringent | 1. n.; 2. adj 1. a substance that contracts bodily tissues; 2. harsh; biting |
| Chary | adj. cautious |
| Educe | v. 1. to draw out; 2. to infer from infromation |
| Whet | v. 1. to sharpen by rubbing; 2. to stimulate |
| Deposition | n. 1. a removal from office or power; 2. a testimony |
| Relegated | v. 1. to assign to an inferior position; 2. to commit to an action |
| Lucid | adj. 1. shiny; 2. clear-minded |
| Modulate | v. 1. to regulate or adjust; 2. to vary the pitch |
| Hone | 1. n.; 2. v. 1. something used to sharpen; 2. to sharpen |
| Cascade | n. 1. a small series of waterfalls; 2. something falling in a descending arrangement similar to a waterfall |
| Coy | adj. 1. modest; bashful; 2. pretending shyness to attract |
| Effervescence | n. 1. liveliness; spirit; enthusiasm; 2. bubbliness |
| Fervid | adj. 1. intensely hot; 2. fervent; impassioned |
| Imperious | adj. 1. arrogant; 2. urgent |
| Miscreant | a. adj.; 2. n. 1. evil; 2. an evil person; villain |
| Chafe | v. 1. to annoy; to irritate; 2. to wear away or make sore by rubbing |
| Duress | n. 1. imprisonment; 2. the use of threats |
| Goad | 1. n.; 2. v. 1. a driving impulse; 2. to push into action |
| Ideology | n. 1. speculation; 2. representative way of thinking |
| Salient | adj. 1. projecting; 2. noticeable |
| Recluse | 1. adj.; 2. n. 1. solitary; 2. a person who lives in seclusion |
| Censure | n. a strong expression of disapproval |
| Servile | adj. a slave-like manner |
| Burlesque | 1. v.; 2. n. 1. to imitate in a non-serious manner; 2. a comical imitation |
| Visionary | adj. not realistic; impractical |
| Waive | v. 1. to give up; 2. to put off until later |
| Prattle | 1. n.; 2. v. 1. childish babble; 2. to babble while speaking |
| Auspicious | adj. 1. of good omen; 2. successful |
| Fathom | 1. v.; 2. n. 1. to understand; 2. a nautical unit of depth equal to 6 feet |
| Ken | 1. v.; 2. n. 1. to know; 2. one's understanding |
| Covetous | adj. 1. greedy; 2. eagerly desirous |
| Malign | 1. adj.; 2. v. 1. having an evil disposition toward others (opposite: benign); 2. to speak evil of |
| Pensive | adj. 1. engaged in deep thought; 2. expressing thoughtfulness with some sadness |
| Tether | n. 1. the range or limit of one's abilities; 2. rope or chain used to keep a boat from drifting or animal from wandering |
| Ulterior | adj. 1. regarding the future; 2. undisclosed |
| Wanton | adj. 1. unmanageable; 2. unjustifiably malicious |
| Odium | n. 1. hatred; 2. the disgrace from a hateful action |
| Superfluous | adj. 1. excessive; 2. unnecessary |
| Accrue | v. 1. to come to person or thing by way of gain or increment; 2. to increse through natural growth |
| Lacerate | v. 1. to tear or mangle; 2. to wound or hurt |
| Demur | 1. v.; 2. n. 1. to hesitate due to doubts; 2. an objection raised |
| Prodigal | adj. 1. wasteful; 2. generous |
| Virile | adj. masculine; manly |
| Ignominious | adj. 1. contemptible; disgraceful; degrading |
| Impiety | n. 1. irreverence toward God; 2. lack or respect |
| Casustic | adj. 1. eating away at; 2. sarcastic words |
| Obloquy | n. verbal condemnation or abuse of a person or thing |
| Implicit | adj. 1. understood but not plainly stated; 2. without doubt |
| Colloquial | adj. 1. having to do with conversation; 2. informal speech |
| Problematic | adj. 1. being hard to deal with; 2. unsolve situation |
| Nemesis | n. 1. a person who inflicts just punishment; 2. a rival |
| Dearth | n. 1. costliness; 2. scarcity of food |
| Effluvium | n. 1. an outflow of vapor of invisible particles; 2. a noxious odor |
| Endemic | adj. 1. native to a particular area; 2. constantly present in a particular country or locality |
| Esoteric | adj. 1. understood by only a chosen few; 2. confidential |
| Ethereal | adj. 1. very light; airy; 2. heavenly; not earthly |
| Execute | v. 1. to put to death; kill; 2. to carry out; fulfill |
| Exigent | adj. 1. calling for immediate attention; 2. needing more than is reasonable |
| Travail | n. 1. very hard work; 2. intense pain or agony |
| Fastidious | adj. 1. difficult to please; 2. excessive care or delicacy; painstaking |
| Fatuous | adj. 1. lacking in seriousness; 2. vain and silly |
| Feint | 1. v.; 2. n. 1. to pretend to throw a punch, as in boxing; 2. a fake show intended to deceive |
| Sodden | adj. 1. soggy; 2. dull in action as if from alcohol |
| Subsidiary | adj. 1. giving a service; 2. being in a subordinate position |
| Sanction | v. 1. to give authoritative permission; 2. to pernalize by way of discipline |
| Manifest | v. 1. to show clearly; 2. to appear |
| Impetuous | adj. 1. moving with great force; 2. characterized by a sudden or rash action |
| Obtrude | v. 1. to force oneself or one's ideas upon another; 2. to thruse forward; to eject |
| Ignoble | adj. 1. ordinary; 2. dishonorable |
| Laggard | 1. n.; 2. adj. 1. a person who has fallen behind; 2. moving slowly |
| Languid | adj. 1. lacking vitality; 2. indifferent |
| Haggard | adj. 1. untamed; 2. having a worn look |
| Levity | n. 1. lack of seriousness; 2. instability |
| Bereft | adj. 1. to be deprived of; 2. to be in a sad manner |
| Repudiate | v. 1. to disown; 2. to deny support for |
| Expedient | adj. 1. convenient in obtaining a result; 1. guided by self-interest |
| Palliate | v. 1. to alleviate or ease pain but not cure; 2. to make appear less serious |
| Mite | n. 1. a very small sum of money; 2. a very small creature |
| Dubious | adj. 1. causing doubt; 2. hesitating; 2. an undecided outcome |
| Teem | v. 1. to be stocked to overflowing; 2. to pour out; to empty |
| Noisome | adj. 1. harmful to health; 2. having a foul ordor |
| Occult | 1. adj.; 2. n. 1. mysterious, beyond the range of ordinary knowledge; 2. supernatural agencies and affairs considered as a whole |
| Austere | adj. 1. having a stern look; 2. having strict self-discipline |
| Substantive | adj. 1. existing independently of others; 2. a large quantity; 3. essential |
| Oscillate | v. 1. to move back and forth; 2. to have a wavering opinion |
| Vouchsafe | v. 1. to grant or give , as by favor or graciousness; 2. to allow or permit |
| Parapet | n. 1. a wall for protection; 2. a low wall or railing |
| Peremptory | adj. 1. barring future action; 2. that which cannot be denied, or changed; final |
| Peripheral | adj. 1. the outer part of; 2. slightly connected to what is important |
| Platonic | adj. 1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Plato's philosophy |
| Enfranchised | v. 1. to free from obligation; 2. to admit to citizenship |
| Quirk | n. 1. a twist; 2. a peculiar trait |
| Ferret | 1. v.; 2. v.; 3. n. 1. to force out hiding; 2. to search for; 3. a small, weasel-like mammal |
| Precarious | adj. 1. depending upon another; 2. risky; uncertain |
| Prodigious | adj. 1. wonderful; 2. enormous |
| Profusion | n. 1. great wastefulness; 2. a large abundance |
| Propinquity | n. 1. closeness in time or place; 2. closeness of relationship |
| Pungent | adj. 1. sharp and piercing; 2. expressive |
| Harbor | 1. n.; 2. v. 1. a place of safety or shelter; 2. to give shelter or protect |
| Rampart | 1. n.; 2. v. 1. a defense; 2. to defend |
| Virulent | adj. 1. poisonous; 2. full of hate |
| Redolent | adj. sweet-smelling |
| Redundant | adj. 1. wordy; repetitive; 2. unnecessary to the meaning |
| Innocuous | adj. 1. harmless; 2. dull |
| Repugnant | adj. 1. distasteful; offensive; 2. opposed to |
| Encumber | v. 1. to hold back; to hinder; 2. to burden; load down |
| Exhume | v. 1. to unearth; 2. to reveal |
| Sedentary | adj. 1. characterized by sitting; 2. remaining in one locality |
| Sedulous | adj. 1. working diligently; 2. persistent |
| Flag | v. 1. to become weak; 2. to send a message |
| Succinct | adj. 1. clearly stated; 2. characterized by conciseness |
| Pious | adj. 1. having a religious devotion; 2. sacred |
| Meander | 1. v.; 1. to wind; to wander; 2. winding; wandering aimlessly |
| Zenith | n. 1. the point directly above in the sky; 2. the highest point |
| Reprobate | v. 1. to condemn; 2. to reject |
| Sufeit | 1. v.; 2. n. 1. to indulge excessively; 2. overindulgence |
| Diffuse | adj. 1. spread out; 2. wordy; not focused |
| Tumid | adj. 1. swollen; 2. pompous |
| Tumult | n. 1. a noisy commotion; 2. disturbance |
| Plumb | 1. adj.; 2. v. 1. perfectly straight down; 2. to solve |
| Gamut | n. 1. a complete range; 2. any complete musical scale |
| Veneer | n. 1. a thin surface layer; 2. any attractive but superficial appearance |
| Flippant | adj. 1. talkative; 2. disrespectful |
| Dogmatic | adj. 1. of belief; 2. suggested without proof; 3. making assertions with an arrogant manner |
| Opaque | adj. 1. dull or dark; 2. not allowing light to pass through |
| Presage | n. 1. an omen; 2. a freshadowing characteristic |
| Skulk | v. 1. to move in a stealthy way; 2. to avoid respnsibility |
| Diminutive | adj. smaller than averge |
| Sundry | adj. 1. various; miscellaneous; 2. separate; distinct |
| Deference | n. 1. a yielding of opinion; 2. courteous respect for |
| Jettison | v. 1. to throw goods overboard to lighten a vehicle; 2. to discard |
| Quandary | n. 1. a state of uncertainty; 2. difficult situation |
| Surmise | 1. n.; 2. v. 1. guess; 2. to guess |
| Attenuate | 1. v.; 2. adj. 1. to thin out; 2. weakened; diminishing |
| Rivet | v. 1. to secure; 2. to hold firmly or to be engrossed |
| Harangue | 1. n.; 2. v. 1. a lengthy, heartfelt speech; 2. to talk excitedly |
| Consecrate | v. 1. to declare sacred; 2. to dedicate |
| Torpid | adj. 1. being dormant; 2. slow, sluggish |
| Rabid | adj. 1. violent; 2. fanatic about a belief |
| Tenacious | adj. 1. holding firmly; 2. persistent |
| Flux | n. 1. a flow; 2. a continual change |
| Malediction | n. 1. putting a curse on someone; 2. talking negatively about another |
| Trenchant | adj. 1. cutting; 2. keen or incisive |
| Eclectic | adj. 1. pickung from various possibilities; 2. made up of material from various sources |
| Beneficent | adj. confering benefits; kindly; doing good |
| Captious | adj. diposed to find fault |
| Circumspect | adj. considering all circumstances |
| Guffaw | n. boisterous laughter |
| Ameliorate | v. to improve or make better |
| Contrite | adj. repentant |
| Meretricious | adj. attractive by a show of flashy or vulgar qualities; tawdry |
| Derision | n. ridicule |
| Disinterested | adj. neutral; unbiased (alternate meaning: uninterested) |
| Quaff | v. to drink heartily |
| Faction | n. a number of people in an organization working for a common cause against the main body |
| Fetter | n. a chain to bind the feet together |
| Frenetic | adj. frenzied |
| Gourmand | n. one who eats heartily |
| Innate | adj. existing from birth |
| Allocate | v.to set a side; to designate; to assign |
| Litigate | v. to involve a lawsuit |
| Paean | n. a song of praise or triumph |
| Partisan | n. a person who strongly support one view |
| Quiescence | n. a state of being at rest or without motion; stillness |
| Jaded | adj. worn-out |
| Plenary | adj. full; entire; absolute |
| Pragmatic | adj. practical |
| Resurgent | adj. rising tending to rise again |
| Scrupulous | adj. making sure all details are perfect |
| Coterie | n. a clique; a group who meets frequently, usually socially |
| Sumptuous | adj. invoving great expense; splendid; lavish |
| Ubiquitous | adj. present everywhere |
| Fallacious | adj. misleading; deceptive |
| Peruse | v. to read carefully; to study |
| Vestige | n. a trace of something that no longer exists |
| Imprecate | v. to pray for evil; to invoke a curse |
| Abjure | v. to give up |
| Accolade | n. approving or praising mention |
| Embellish | v. to improve by addition details |
| Rudimentary | adj. elementary |
| Catharsis | n. a purging or relieving of the body or soul |
| Altruism | n. unselfish devotion to the welfare of others |
| Laconic | adj. sparing of words; terse; pithy |
| Abstemious | adj. sparing in use of food or drinks |
| Disheartened | adj. discouraged; depressed |
| Vertigo | n. a sensation of dizziness |
| Cloture | n. a parliamentary procedure to end debate and begin to vote |
| Voracious | adj. greedy in eating |
| Reverie | n. daydream |
| Adamant | adj. not yielding, firm |
| Misanthrope | n. a person who hates or distrusts everything |
| Foster | v. encourage; nuture; support |
| Morose | adj. gloomy |
| Wane | v. to gradually become less; to grow dim |
| Nugatory | adj. trifling; futile; worthless; insignificant |
| Chaste | adj. virtuous; free of obscenity |
| Inured | adj. accustomed to pain |
| Discerning | adj. having good judgment |
| Thrifty | adj. frugal; careful with money |
| Tutelage | n. the condition of being under a gurdian or a tutor |
| Expunge | v. to blot out; to delete |
| Broach | v. to introduce into conversation |
| Myriad | n. a large number |
| Fallible | adj. liable to be mistaken or erroneous |
| Coda | n. in music, a concluding passage |
| Seethe | v. to be violently disturbed |
| Guile | n. slyness in dealing with others |
| Gaffe | n. a blunder |
| Supplant | v. to take the place of |
| Aggrandize | v. to make more powerful |
| Tedious | adj. wearisome; tiresome |
| Cognitive | adj. possessing the power to think or meditate; meditative; capable of perception |
| Arduous | adj. laborious; difficult; strenuous |
| Compliant | adj. complying; obeying; yielding |
| Doggerel | n. trivial, inartistic, weakly constructed verse, usually of a comic nature |
| Craven | adj. cowardly |
| Transmute | v. to to transform |
| Terrestrial | adj. pertaining to the earth |
| Deleterious | adj. harmful; hurtful; noxious |
| Apposite | adj. suitable; apt; relevant |
| Flout | v. to mock or jeer |
| Extraneous | adj. irrelevant; not related; not essential |
| Trite | adj. becoming unoriginal through too much use |
| Ecclesiastic | adj. pertaining ot relation to a church |
| Anarchist | n. one who believes that a formal government is unnecessary |
| Anomaly | n. an oddity; an inconsistency; a deviation from the norm |
| Sloth | n. aversion to work or exertion; laziness; sluggishness |
| Ennui | n. boredom; apathy |
| Equanimity | n. the quality of remaining calm and undisturbed |
| Eschew | v. to shum; to avoid |
| Recidivism | n. habitual or chronic relapse of criminal or antisocial offenses |
| Elusive | adj. hard to catch |
| Aloof | adj. distant in interest; reserved; cool |
| Quiescent | adj. inactive; quiet; at rest |
| Preclude | v. to prevent |
| Exultation | n. the act of rejoicing |
| Fortuitous | adj. happening accidentally |
| Reprehend | v. to reprimand; to find with |
| Deign | v. to lower one's self in order to do something believed to be beneath one's dignity |
| Putrefy | v. to decompose; to rot |
| Adroit | adj. expert or skillful |
| Libertine | n. one who indulges his desires without moral restraint |
| Fractious | adj. rebellious; apt to quarrel; unruly |
| Humility | n. lack of pride; modesty |
| Proliferate | v. to reproduce quickly |
| Abase | v. to degrade; to humuliate; to disgrace |
| Mundane | adj. ordinary |
| Gregarious | adj. fond of the company of others |
| Sardonic | adj. having a sarcastic quality |
| Emanate | v. to emit |
| Assay | v. to determine the quality of a substance |
| Odious | adj. hateful; disgusting |
| Facade | n. front view; false appearance |
| Volition | n. the act of willing |
| Vicissitude | n. unpredictable change occurring in life |
| Forbearance | n. patience; self-restraint |
| Vindicate | v. to clear or defend against criticism or blame |
| Fickle | adj. changeable; unpredictable |
| Mettle | n. spirit; courage; ardor |
| Vantage | n. favorable position; position allowing a clear view or understanding |
| Bumptious | adj. arrogant |
| Haphazard | adj. unplanned |
| Indignant | adj. expressing anger to an injustice |
| Quixotic | adj. romantically idealistic; extravagantly chivalrous |
| Vitriolic | adj. bitter |
| Denigrate | v. to defame; to blacken or sully; to belittle |
| Copious | adj. abundant; in great quantities |
| Germane | adj. relevant to the point |
| Impassive | adj. showing no emotion |
| Wan | adj. lacking color; sickly pale |
| Guise | n. appearance |
| Intrepid | adj. fearless; bold |
| Abhor | v. to hate |
| Mien | n. appearance, bearing, or manner |
| Mordane | adj. cutting; sarcastic |
| Opalescent | adj. iridescent |
| Rancor | n. strong ill will; enmity |
| Strident | adj. creaking; harsh; grating |
| Suppliant | adj. asking earnestly and submissively |
| Idiosyncrasy | n. any personal peculiarity; mannerism |
| Unfeigned | adj. genuine; real; sincere |
| Efface | v. to erase; to make inconspicuous |
| Traduce | v. to defame or slander |
| Purview | n. the extent of something |
| Fester | v. to become more and more virulent and fixed |
| Hindrance | n. blockage; obstacle |
| Blasphemous | adj. speaking ill of; using profane language |
| Brusque | adj. abrupt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt |
| Hypocritical | adj. two-faced; deceptive |
| Conviviality | n. a fondness for festiveness or joviality |
| Facetious | adj. joking in an awkward or improper manner |
| Fidelity | n. faithfulness; honesty |
| Incisive | adj. getting to the heart of things; to the point |
| Ingenious | adj. clever; resourceful |
| Slovenly | adv. sloppy |
| Preponderant | adj. to outweight; to be superior in amount |
| Qualm | n. a sudden feeling of uneasiness or doubt |
| Vagary | n. an odd or eccentric action |
| Verity | n. truth |
| Winsome | adj. charming; sweetly attractive |
| Hedonistic | adj. pleasure seeking |
| Parry | v. to avoid; to ward off |
| Verbiage | n. wordiness |
| Calumny | n. slander |
| Penchant | n. a strong liking |
| Propensity | n. an inclination; a natural tendency toward |
| Conundrum | n. a puzzle or riddle |
| Specious | adj. plausible, apparently good or right through lacking real merit |
| Condone | v. to forgive |
| Inculcate | v. to impress upon the mind by persistent urging |
| Parley | v. to speak with another; to discourse |
| Impugn | v. to attack verbally; to criticize; to refute |
| Propitiate | v. to win the goodwill of |
| Lambaste | to beat harshly or scold |
| Amalgamate | v. to mix; to merge; to combine |
| Heed | v. to obey; to yield to |
| Impolitic | adj. unwise; imprudent |
| Reiterate | v. to say again |
| Articulate | adj. clear; disinct; expressed with clarity; skillful with words |
| Adulterate | v. to corrupt, debase, or make impure |
| Impudent | adj. disrespectful; shameless; rude |
| Brindled | adj. streaked or spotted with a darker color; said especially of animals' coats |
| Elucidate | v. to make clear; to explain |
| Behoove | v. to be necessary; to be incumbent upon |
| Lithe | adj. easily bent; pliable; supple |
| Deride | v. to laugh at with contempt; to mock |
| Fulminate | v. to issue denunciations; to condemn |
| Indemify | v. to insure against or pay for loss or damage |
| Pedantic | adj. emphasizing trivial points of learning |
| Aseptic | adj. germ free |
| Assiduous | adj. carefully attentive; industrious |
| Cogitate | v. to think hard; ponder; meditate |
| Fortitude | n. firm courage; strength |
| Stanch | v. to stop or check the flow of; to staunch |
| Revile | v. to be abusive in speech |
| Feign | v. to pretend |
| Prate | v. to talk foolishly; chatter |
| Purloin | v. to steal |
| Encroach | v. to trespass or intrude |
| Constrain | v. to force; to compel; to restrain |
| Exhaustive | adj. thorough; complete |
| Futile | adj. worthless; unprofitable |
| Illusive | adj. deceiving; misleading |
| Reticent | adj. reserved; typically quiet |
| Finite | adj. measurable; limited; not everlasing |
| Comport | v. to behave in a specified manner in order to fit in |
| Extemporize | v. to improvise; to make it up as you go along |
| Macerate | v. to soften by steeping in liquid |
| Impenitent | adj. without regret, shame, or remorse |
| Provident | adj. prudent; economical; characterized by foresight |
| Latency | n. a period of inactivity |
| Abdicate | v. to reject, renounce, or abandon |
| Homeostasis | n. maintenance of stability |
| Lascivious | adj. characterized by lust |
| Stymie | v. to hinder or obstruct |
| Pseudonym | n. a borrowed of fictitious name |
| Ephemeral | adj. very short-lived; lasting only a short time |
| Perjury | n. lying while under oath |
| Sunder | v. to separate or break apart |
| Agrarian | adj. of the land |
| Sagacious | adj. wise |
| Insipid | adj. uninteresting; boring; flat; dull |
| Ascetic | adj. self-denying |
| Assuage | v. to relieve; to ease; to make less severe |
| Allusion | n. an indirect reference (often literary); a hint |
| Foible | n. a minor weakness of character |
| Crass | adj. stupid; unrefined; gross |
| Quarantine | n. isolation of a person to prevent spread of disease |
| Garrulous | adj. extremely talkative or wordy |
| Opprobrious | adj. abusive |
| Equinox | n. precise time when the day and night is of equal length |
| Quaint | adj. old-fashioned; unusual; odd |
| Ramification | n. consequence |
| Privy | adj. to know secret knowledge |
| Debonair | adj. having an affable manner; carefree; genial |
| Raconteur | n. a person skilled at telling stories |
| Kith | n. relatives and acquaintances |
| Amass | v. to collect together; to accumulate |
| Vital | adj. extremely improtant; crucial |
| Eccentric | adj. odd; peculiar; strange |
| Dally | v. to loiter; to waste time |
| Frugality | n. thrift |
| Judicious | adj. using sound judgment |
| Propagate | v. to reproduce or multiply |
| Rapacious | adj. given to seizing for plunder or the satifaction of greed |
| Idyll | n. a written piece of work describing a peaceful rural scene |
| Recusant | adj. disobedient of authority |
| Vaunted | adj. boastful |
| Salubrious | adj. promoting good health |
| Apocalyptic | adj. predicting or presaging universal destruction |
| Equivocal | adj. questionable; deliberately ambiguous |
| Evoke | v. to call forth; to provoke |
| Pedagogue | n. a teacher |
| Serendipity | n. an apparent aptitude for making fortunate discoveries accidentally |
| Cognizant | adj. aware of |
| Arcane | adj. obscure; secret; mysterious |
| Disdain | v. to reject with scorn |
| Ebullience | n. an overflowing of high spirits; effervescence |
| Aesthetic | adj. beauty; pertaining to taste in art and beauty |
| Sinuous | adj. full of curves; twisting and turning |
| Qualified | adj. experienced |
| Fundamental | adj. basic; necessary |
| Shoal | n. a large group or crowd |
| Rampant | adj. growing unchecked; widespread |
| Swathe | v. to wrap arounf something; to envelop |
| Decadence | n. a decline in morals or art |
| Eradication | n. the act of annihilating, destroying, or erasing |
| Extant | adj. still existing; refers especially to books, documents, species of animals |
| Hubris | n. arrogance |
| Aghast | adj. astonished; amazed; horrified; terrified; appalled |
| Succor | n. aid; assistance |
| Hiatus | n. interval; break; period of rest |
| Vex | v. to be troublesome to; to annoy |
| Temerity | n. foolhardiness; recklessness |
| Lassitude | n. weariness |
| Vacuous | adj. dull; stupid; empty-headed |
| Abyssal | adj. of or relating to the deepest portions of the oceans |
| Unequivocal | adj. clear and unambiguous |
| Aberrant | adj. abnormal; straying from the normal or usual path |
| Ellipsis | n. omission of words necessary for the complete synatactical construction of a sentence, but not necessary for understanding it |
| Subsume | v. to include within a larger group |
| Cacophony | n. a harsh, inharmonious collection of sounds; dissonance |
| Debacle | n. a disaster; a collapse; a rout |
| Dormant | adj. as if asleep |
| Euphemism | n. the use of a word or phrase in place of one that is distasteful |
| Incorporeal | adj. not consisting of matter |
| Amalgam | n. a mixture or combination ( often of metals) |
| Visage | n. face; appearance |
| Aspersion | slanderous statement; a damaging or derogatory criticism |
| Atrophy | n. wasting away, as from lack of use; failure to grow |
| Undermine | v. to weaken, often through subtle means |
| Collusion | n. a secret agreement for an illegal purpose |
| Autocracy | n. an absolute monarchy; government where one person holds power |
| Autocrat | n. an absolute ruler |
| Implacable | adj. unwiling to be pacified or appeased |
| Acerbic | adj. sour or bitter in taste or manner |
| Epitome | n. a part that is typical of the whole |
| Stipend | n. a fixed payment |
| Fealty | n. loyalty |
| Baroque | adj. embellished; ornate |
| Bellicose | adj. quarrelsome; warlike |
| Benevolent | adj. kindly |
| Bestial | adj. having the qualities of beast; brutal |
| Blighted | v. causing frustration or destruction |
| Blithe | adj. cheerful |
| Tractable | adj. easily managed (opposite: intractable) |
| Allegory | n. a literary, dramatic, or pictorial representation that is symbolic |
| Boor | n. a rude person |
| Realm | n. a region |
| Recalcitrant | adj. stubbornly rebellious |
| Nettle | v. to irritate |
| Anaphylaxis | n. an allergic reaction |
| Bilateral | adj. two-sided |
| Coalesce | v. to grow together; to combine |
| Bucolic | adj. having to do with shepherds or the country |
| Extrapolate | v. to estimate the value of somethin beyond the scale; to infer what is unknown from something known |
| Subjugate | v. to dominate or enslave |
| Cache | n. a safe place for hiding |
| Caliber | n. quality |
| Canard | n. a false statement or rumor |
| Umbrage | n. offense or resentment |
| Complacent | adj. self-satisfied; content |
| Caprice | n. a sudden, unpredictable, or whimiscal change |
| Biennial | adj. occurring every two year |
| Dank | adj. damp and chilly |
| Cessation | n. a ceasing; a stopping |
| Harmonious | adj. having proportionate and orderly parts |
| Charlatan | n. a person who pretends to have knowledge |
| Inimical | adj. hostile; unfriendly |
| Vigilance | n. watchfulness |
| Peccadillo | n. a slight fault or offense |
| Impervious | adj. impenetrable; not allowing anything to pass through; unaffected |
| Disputatious | adj. argumentative; inclined to disputes |
| Cavil | v. to bicker unnecessarily |
| Beholden | adj. indebted to |
| Choleric | adj. ill-tempered; easily angered |
| Solemnity | n. a deep, reverent feeling often associated with religious occasion |
| Churlishness | n. crude or surly behavior |
| Munificent | adj. showing great generosity |
| Clandestine | adj. secret |
| Conjoin | v. to combine |
| Fetish | n. anything to which one gives excessive devotion |
| Discomfit | v. to frustrate the expectations of |
| Cohesion | n. the act of holding together |
| Cohort | n. a group; a band |
| Antipathy | n. a strong dislike or repugnance |
| Comeliness | n. beauty; attractivess in appearance or behavior |
| Fraught | adj. loaded; charged |
| Lewd | adj. lustful; wicked |
| Evasion | n. the avoiding of duty |
| Complaisance | n. the quality of being agreeable or eager to please |
| Abstruse | adj. hard to understand |
| Conclave | n. any private meeting or closed assembly |
| Conglomeration | n. a collection or mixture of various things |
| Fecund | adj. productive |
| Contentious | adj. quarrelsome |
| Contiguous | adj. touching or adjoining and close, but not touching |
| Culpable | adj. deserving blame; guilty |
| Troth | n. belief; faith; fidelity |
| Amortize | v. to liquidate (a debt) at fixed intervals |
| Mendacious | adj. not truthful; lying |
| Coherent | adj. sticking together; connected; logical; consistent |
| Adept | adj. skilled; practiced |
| Sordid | adj. filthy; foul |
| Wheedle | v. to influence or persuade by flattery |
| Abaft | adv. on or toward the rear of a ship |
| Curmudgeon | n. an ill-tempered person |
| Dais | n. a raised platform at one end of a room |
| Irreparable | adj. that which cannot be repaired or regained |
| Dauntless | adj. fearless; not discouraged |
| Motif | n. a repeated figure or design in architecture or decoration |
| Decorous | adj. suitable; proper; seemly |
| Depravity | n. wickedness |
| Derisive | adj. showing disrespect or scorn for |
| Paucity | n. scarcity |
| Carte blanche | n. unlimited authority |
| Furtive | adj. secretive; sly |
| Cursory | adj. hasty |
| Dexterous | adj. skillful; quick mentally or physically |
| Diatribe | n. a bitter or abusive speech |
| Dichotomy | n. division into two parts |
| Dint | n. force; exertion |
| Conciliatory | adj. tending to reconcile |
| Diffident | adj. timid; lacking self-confidence |
| Disingenuous | adj. not frank or candid; deceivingly simple (opposite; ingenuous) |
| Moot | adj. subject to or open for discussion or debate |
| Disparate | adj. unequal; dissimilar; different |
| Dissonance | n. musical discord; a mingling of inharmonious sounds; disagreement; lack of harmony |
| Dissonant | adj. not in harmony; in disagreement |
| Portend | v. to be an omen of; signify |
| Ruminate | v. to consider carefully |
| Nostrum | n. a questionable remedy |
| Egress | n. a way out; exit |
| Doughty | adj. brave |
| Dowdy | adj. shabby in appearance |
| Wreak | v. to vent; to inflict |
| Dregs | n. the unwanted part |
| Fissure | n. cleft or crack |
| Cataclysm | n. a great upheaval; violent change, such as an earthquake or a war |
| Earthy | adj. unrefined |
| Edifice | n. a large building |
| Anachronism | n. something out of place (e.g., a computer in medieval times) |
| Effrontery | n. shameless boldness |
| Effusive | adj. pouring out or forth; overflowing |
| Addled | adj. rotten |
| Egocentric | adj. self-centered; viewing everything in relation to oneself |
| Suave | adj. polished |
| Embarkation | n. the act of engaging or investing in |
| Urbane | adj. a polished way of acting |
| Enigmatic | adj. baffling |
| Endorse | v. to support; to approve of; to recommend |
| Placate | v. to appease or pacify |
| Epilogue | n. the closing section of a play or novel providing further comment |
| Epitaph | n. an inscription on a monument in honor or memory of a dead person |
| Equivocation | n. a purposely misleading statement |
| Estimable | adj. deserving respect |
| Eulogy | n. words of praise, especially for the dead |
| Euphony | n. pleasant sound |
| Evanescent | adj. vanishing quickly; disspiatinglike a vapor |
| Froward | adj. not willing to yield or comply with what is reasonable |
| Impromptu | adj. without advanced thought |
| Explicit | adj. specific; definite |
| Exposition | n. a setting forth of facts |
| Pied | adj. patchy in color |
| Facsimile | n. copy; reproduction; replica |
| Sojourn | v. to stay temporarily |
| Extol | v. to give great praise |
| Fetid | adj. having an offensive smell |
| Flagrant | adj. glaringly wrong |
| Flamboyant | adj. being too showy or ornate |
| Fledgling | n. inexperienced person; beginner |
| Hybrid | n. anything of mixed orgin |
| Lucent | adj. shining; translucent |
| Mellifluous | adj. having a sweet sound |
| Forensic | adj. pertaining to legal or public argument |
| Formidable | adj. causing dread or fear |
| Fustian | n. pompous talk or writing |
| Omniscient | adj. having knowledge of all things |
| Gauntlet | n. a protective glove |
| Genre | n. a type of film or book |
| Perfunctory | adj. done in a routine, mechanical way, without interest |
| Temperament | n. one's customary frame of mind |
| Objurgate | v. to chide vehemently |
| Garish | adj. gaudy; showy |
| Proviso | n. a clause stating a condition or stipulation |
| Indict | v. to formally accuse |
| Stigmatize | v. to characterize or mark as disgraceful |
| Acquiesce | v. to agree without protest |
| Engender | v. to bring about; to beget; to bring forth |
| Hapless | adj. unluck; unfortunate |
| Frivolity | adj. giddiness; lack of serious |
| Haughty | adj. proud of oneself and scornful of others |
| Delusion | n. a false belief or opinion |
| Pervasive | adj. spreading throughout |
| Exemplary | adj. serving as an example; outstanding |
| Staid | adj. marked by self-control |
| Despoil | v. to take everything; to plunder |
| Tenuous | adj. thin; slim; delicate; weak |
| Iconoclast | n. one who smashes revered images; an attacker of cherished beliefs |
| Debilitate | v. to make weak; to wear out |
| Enfeeble | v. to make weak |
| Fluency | n. smoothness of speech |
| Imperturbable | adj. calm; not easily excited |
| Imputation | n. charging or attributing a fault or misconduct to another |
| Inchoate | adj. not yet fully formed; rudimentary |
| Incommodious | adj. inconvenient |
| Incredulous | adj. skeptical |
| Incursion | n. an unfriendly entry; an invasion |
| Inept | adj. incompetent; clumsy |
| Infamous | adj. having a bad reputation |
| Inherent | adj. part of the essential character; intrinsic |
| Insolvent | adj. unable to pay debts |
| Insularity | n. having the characteristics of an island |
| Intermittent | adj. stopping and starting at intervals |