| abase | lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self |
| aberrant | abnormal or deviant |
| abet | assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage |
| abject | (of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self |
| abjure | renounce upon oath |
| ablution | washing |
| abnegation | renunciation; self |
| abominate | loathe; hate |
| abortive | unsuccessful; fruitless |
| abrogate | abolish |
| abscission | cutting off; separation |
| abstemious | sparing in eating and drinking; temperate |
| abut | border upon; adjoin |
| acclivity | sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity |
| accoutre | equip; N. accoutrement |
| 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 |
| acidulous | slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic |
| acquiesce | assent; agree passively; comply without protest |
| acrophobia | fear of heights |
| actuate | motivate; activate; cause to act |
| addle | make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg) |
| adjuration | solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly |
| adjutant | staff officer assisting the commander; assistant |
| adroit | skillful (in using mind or hand) |
| agog | highly excited; intensely curious |
| alacrity | cheerful promptness without reluctance |
| ambrosia | food of the gods |
| ambulatory | able to walk |
| amiss | wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV. |
| animus | hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition |
| anneal | reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass) |
| aphasia | loss of speech due to injury or illness |
| apiary | a place where bees are kept |
| apiculture | bee |
| aplomb | poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self |
| apocryphal | (of a story) widely believed but untrue |
| apogee | highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee |
| 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 |
| apothegm(apophthegm) | pithy, compact saying |
| apotheosis | elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something |
| appellation | name; title |
| apprehensive | fearful; discerning |
| apprise | inform |
| approbation | approval |
| appurtenances | subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing |
| apropos | with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV. |
| arcade | a covered passageway usually lined with shops |
| argot | slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people |
| aria | operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio |
| arraign | charge in court; indict |
| arroyo | gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater |
| artifice | deception; trickery |
| artless | without guile; open and honest |
| asperity | sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter |
| aspersion | slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on |
| assay | analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore) |
| astigmatism | eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism |
| astringent | binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism |
| attenuate | make thin; weaken |
| aver | state confidently; declare as true |
| avuncular | of or like an uncle |
| awl | pointed tool used for piercing |
| ballast | heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast |
| bauble | trinket; cheap jewel; trifle |
| bawdy | indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd |
| beatific | giving or showing bliss; blissful |
| beatitude | blessedness; state of great happiness |
| begrudge | envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success. |
| beguile | deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile |
| behoove | #N/A |
| bemused | confused; lost in thought; preoccupied |
| besmirch | soil; defile; make dirty |
| betoken | signify; indicate; be a sign of |
| bigotry | stubborn intolerance |
| bilious | suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated |
| bilk | swindle; cheat |
| blandishment | flattery |
| blithe | #N/A |
| bogus | counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview |
| boor | rude, insensitive person |
| braggart | boaster; bragger |
| brindled | tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals) |
| bromide | platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement |
| brusque | blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice |
| 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 |
| burgeon | grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon |
| buxom | full |
| cadence | rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm |
| cajole | persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle |
| callow | youthful; immature; inexperienced |
| calumny | malicious misrepresentation; slander |
| canard | unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report |
| canny | shrewd in money matters; thrifty |
| carafe | glass water bottle; decanter |
| careen | lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger |
| career | rush wildly; go at full speed |
| caste | one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige |
| catcall | shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V. |
| catechism | book for religious instruction in question |
| caulk(calk) | make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship) |
| 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 |
| cavil | quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily |
| celerity | speed; rapidity |
| censor | (in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V. |
| censure | blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval |
| chaffing | bantering; joking |
| chagrin | annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride) |
| chary | cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold |
| chauvinist | blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin |
| churlish | boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo |
| cipher | nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V. |
| circumspect | prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought |
| clangor | loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging |
| clavicle | collarbone |
| cloister | monastery or convent |
| cogent | convincing |
| cogitate | think over; ponder |
| cognate | having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N. |
| collation | a light meal; collating |
| comely | attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance |
| comestible | something fit to be eaten |
| comity | courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations |
| commiserate | feel or express pity or sympathy for |
| commodious | spacious and comfortable |
| complaisant | trying to please; obliging; willing to please others |
| comport | bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment |
| conclave | private secret meeting |
| condign | adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved |
| confound | confuse; puzzle |
| congenial | pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather |
| congenital | existing at birth |
| consanguinity | kinship; relationship by birth |
| consternation | great shock; dismay |
| continence | self |
| contumacious | stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court) |
| convivial | pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial |
| coquette | flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V. |
| covetous | avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions) |
| cow | terrorize; intimidate |
| cozen | cheat; hoodwink; swindle |
| crass | very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior |
| craven | cowardly |
| crestfallen | dejected; dispirited |
| crone | hag; ugly old woman |
| cynosure | object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor |
| d\'enouement | #N/A |
| dank | damp; unpleasantly wet |
| dawdle | loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing |
| debase | degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement |
| debonair | (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition |
| declivity | downward slope |
| decorum | propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct |
| defrock | strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock |
| deify | turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity |
| deign | condescend; stoop |
| 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 |
| depravity | extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave |
| depredation | plundering; destruction |
| descry | catch sight of (something distant) |
| despoil | plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village |
| desultory | aimless; haphazard; digressing at random |
| diadem | crown |
| die | metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice |
| diffidence | shyness; lack of self |
| dilettante | aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight |
| diminution | lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish |
| dinghy | small boat (often ship's boat) |
| dingy | (of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain |
| dint | means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work |
| dire | warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food |
| disabuse | correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief |
| disaffected | disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty |
| disapprobation | disapproval; condemnation |
| discombobulated | discomposed; confused |
| discomfit | frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb |
| disconcert | confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb |
| disconsolate | hopelessly sad (at the loss of something) |
| discrete | separate; unconnected |
| disgorge | surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge |
| disinclination | unwillingness |
| disingenuous | not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous |
| disinter | dig up; unearth; OP. inter |
| dispassionate | calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings |
| disport | amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert |
| disputatious | argumentative; fond of argument |
| disquisition | formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report |
| dissemble | disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend |
| dissimulate | pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble |
| 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 |
| dissuade | persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion |
| distend | expand; swell out |
| distrait | absentminded; distracted |
| doff | take off; OP. don |
| doggerel | poor verse |
| dolorous | sorrowful; N. dolor |
| dormer | window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room |
| 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 |
| dowdy | untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman |
| dowse | use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals |
| drivel | nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense |
| droll | queer and amusing |
| dross | waste matter; worthless impurities |
| dyspeptic | suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food |
| eddy | swirling current of water, air, etc.; V. |
| effectual | able to produce a desired effect; valid |
| effete | having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted |
| effluvium | noxious(harmful) smell |
| effrontery | rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek |
| effulgent | shining brightly; brilliant |
| effusion | pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing |
| egress | exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress |
| emasculate | weaken; castrate |
| embitter | make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments. |
| embroil | throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio |
| emend | correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement |
| emetic | substance causing vomiting; ADJ. |
| emollient | soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ. |
| emolument | salary; payment for an office; compensation |
| encomiastic | praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy |
| encumber | burden; N. encumbrance |
| enervate | weaken; take away energy from |
| enjoin | command; order; forbid |
| enliven | make lively or spirited; animate |
| ensconce | settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place) |
| entomology | study of insects |
| epithet | word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous) |
| equable | tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform |
| eschew | avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks |
| etymology | study of word parts; study of the origins of words |
| euphony | sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious |
| evince | show clearly |
| exacting | extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety |
| excoriate | scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off |
| exculpate | clear from blame or guilt |
| execrable | very bad; detestable |
| execrate | curse; express abhorrence for; detest |
| exegesis | explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages |
| exonerate | acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt |
| expatiate | talk at length; speak or write in detail |
| expiate | make amends for (a sin) |
| expository | explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition |
| expostulation | protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate |
| expunge | cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase |
| expurgate | clean; remove offensive parts of a book |
| extant | (of something written or painted) still in existence |
| extirpate | root up; uproot; destroy completely |
| facet | small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side |
| facetious | joking (often inappropriately); unserious; humorous |
| factitious | artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears |
| factotum | handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything |
| fallible | liable to err |
| fastidious | difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky |
| fatuous | smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity, fatuousness |
| faze | disconcert; dismay; embarrass |
| febrile | feverish |
| fecundity | fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young |
| feign | pretend |
| feint | trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw away defensive action; V. |
| felicitous | (of a word or remark) apt; suitably expressed; well chosen |
| felicity | happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous |
| feral | (of an animal) not domestic; wild |
| fervent | ardent; zealous; hot |
| fervid | ardent; zealous; hot |
| fervor | glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat |
| fetid(foetid) | malodorous; foul |
| fiat | command; arbitrary order; Ex. presidential fiat; CF. let it be done |
| fidelity | loyalty; accuracy |
| fiend | evil spirit; devil |
| filch | steal (things of small value) |
| 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 |
| filigree | delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork |
| firebrand | piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker; person who stirs up trouble |
| fitful | spasmodic; intermittent; irregular |
| flag | droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ. flagging; CF. unflagging |
| 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 |
| flay | strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly |
| 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 |
| florid | ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose |
| flotsam | drifting wreckage |
| flout | reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules |
| 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 |
| foible | small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble |
| foist | insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion; palm off; pass off as genuine or worthy; CF. fist |
| foppish | vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance |
| forbearance | patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from (in a generous and forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear to send him to prison |
| forestall | prevent by taking action in advance |
| forswear | renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure |
| fortitude | bravery; courage; strength of mind |
| 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 |
| freebooter | pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich |
| fret | be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful |
| frieze | ornamental horizontal band on a wall |
| frolicsome | prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky |
| fuddle | make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused |
| fulminate | thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation |
| fulsome | disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome praise/expressions of admire |
| furtive | stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive glance |
| fusillade | simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.) |
| gainsay | deny |
| gait | manner of walking or running; speed |
| gall | annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse); exasperation |
| gambol | romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N. |
| garish | overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy |
| gastronomy | art and science of preparing and serving good food; CF. gastronome |
| gauche | clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth |
| gavel | hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V. |
| genteel | well |
| gentility | those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel |
| genuflect | bend the knee as in worship |
| germane | pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; appropriate |
| gibe | mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks |
| girth | distance around something; circumference |
| glean | gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty |
| glib | fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick |
| glutinous | sticky; viscous; gluey |
| gnarl | protruding knot on a tree; V. |
| gossamer | sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb |
| gourmand | epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink |
| grotto | small cavern |
| grovel | crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate; behave in a servile manner |
| guffaw | boisterous laughter; V. |
| gull | trick; deceive; hoodwink; N: person who is easily tricked; dupe |
| gustatory | affecting or relating to the sense of taste |
| hackles | hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone's hackles rise |
| haggard | wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the rescued miners |
| halcyon | calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days |
| hale | healthy |
| hapless | unfortunate; luckless |
| harangue | long, passionate, and vehement speech; V. |
| harbinger | forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come) |
| herald | messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher |
| hermetic | concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult |
| herpetologist | one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians |
| hew | cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N. |
| hirsute | hairy; having a lot of hair |
| histrionic | theatrical; excessively dramatic or emotional; affected; of actors or acting; N. histrionics: histrionic behavior |
| homely | not good |
| homily | sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic |
| hortatory | encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort |
| hull | husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship |
| hummock | small hill; hillock |
| hurtle | crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling runaway train |
| ichthyology | study of fish; CF. ichthyo |
| idyllic | charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene |
| ignoble | unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed |
| ignominy | deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat |
| imbecility | weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N. imbecile: stupid person; fool |
| 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 |
| immolate | offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire) |
| immutable | unchangeable |
| impale | pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear |
| impalpable | imperceptible(not easily understood); intangible; OP. palpable: tangible; easily perceptible |
| impassioned | (of speech) filled with passion; fervent |
| impeach | charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a witness's credibility |
| impeccable | faultless |
| impecunious | without money |
| impel | drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action |
| impenitent | not repentant |
| imperious | domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor |
| impertinent | insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence |
| imperturbable | unshakably calm; placid |
| impetuous | violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful thought; Ex. impetuous decision |
| impolitic | not wise; not expedient; not politic |
| imponderable | weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound |
| importunate | urging; always demanding; troublesomely urgent or persistent |
| importune | beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way) |
| imposture | assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor |
| imprecation | curse; swearword |
| impregnable | invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take |
| impropriety | improperness; unsuitableness |
| improvident | thriftless; not providing for the future |
| imprudent | lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious |
| impudence | impertinence; insolence |
| impugn | dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight |
| impuissance | powerlessness; feebleness |
| incendiary | arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb |
| inchoate | (of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not explicit; at the beginning of development; rudimentary; elementary; Ex. inchoate mass |
| inclement | stormy; unkind; unmerciful; CF. clement |
| incommodious | not spacious; inconvenient |
| incontinent | lacking self |
| incorporeal | without a material body; insubstantial |
| incorrigible | uncorrectable |
| incredulity | tendency to disbelief |
| incredulous | withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief |
| incubus | burden; very worriying problem; mental care; nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus |
| indelible | not able to be erased |
| indemnify | make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured |
| indigence | poverty |
| indignation | anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation; ADJ. indignant |
| indite | write; compose |
| indolent | lazy |
| ineffable | unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy |
| ineluctable | irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable |
| inerrancy | infallibility |
| inexorable | relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable price rises |
| infidel | unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion) |
| ingenue | ing\'enue; young innocent girl |
| ingenuous | naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid |
| ingratiate | become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss |
| inimical | (of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy |
| inimitable | matchless; not able to be imitated |
| iniquitous | wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity |
| insalubrious | unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place |
| insensate | without feeling; lacking sense; foolish |
| insipid | lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character |
| insouciant | without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent |
| insuperable | insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties |
| interloper | intruder; one who interferes |
| internecine | mutually destructive |
| interregnum | period between two successive reigns or governments |
| 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 |
| intrepid | fearless |
| inured | accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling |
| 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 |
| inveterate | deep |
| invidious | designed to create ill will or envy; tending to rouse ill will or envy; Ex. invidious comparison |
| irreproachable | beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex. irreproachable conduct |
| isthmus | narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land |
| itinerant | wandering; traveling from place to place (to perform work); Ex. itinerant preacher |
| jetsam | things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship) |
| 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 |
| jocund | merry |
| kismet | fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate. |
| 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. |
| labile | likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability |
| lachrymose | producing tears; tearful |
| lackadaisical | lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid |
| lackluster | lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull |
| laconic | brief and to the point; using few words; terse |
| laity | laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy |
| languor | lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression |
| lassitude | languor; weariness; listlessness |
| 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 |
| lechery | gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man |
| lectern | reading desk or stand for a public speaker |
| legato | (of music) played smoothly |
| legerdemain | sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand |
| leonine | like a lion |
| libertine | debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou\'e; CF. free |
| libidinous | lustful |
| libretto | text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book |
| licentious | amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained |
| lien | legal claim or right on a property |
| ligneous | like wood |
| limn | draw; outline; describe; CF. line ? |
| limpid | crystal clear |
| lineaments | features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line |
| list | tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side) |
| litany | supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words |
| lithe | flexible; supple; CF. limber |
| litotes | understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)'' |
| livid | lead |
| lode | metal |
| lope | gallop slowly |
| low | moo; make the sound of a cow |
| lucre | money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre |
| lugubrious | mournful; sorrowful |
| lumen | unit of light energy (one candle's worth) |
| macerate | soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper |
| maculated | spotted; stained; CF. immaculate |
| madrigal | pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments |
| maelstrom | violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream |
| magniloquent | boastful; pompous |
| maladroit | clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling |
| malapropism | comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop |
| malapropos | inappropriate; ADV. |
| malediction | curse |
| malefactor | evildoer; criminal |
| maleficient | doing evil; N. maleficience |
| malevolent | wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence |
| malfeasance | wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official) |
| malingerer | one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work |
| malodorous | foul |
| manacle | restrain; handcuff; N. |
| mange | skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair |
| manumit | emancipate; free from slavery or bondage |
| maraud | move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army |
| martinet | strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet |
| maudlin | effusively sentimental |
| mauve | pale purple |
| mawkish | mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky |
| mealymouthed | indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive |
| mellifluous | (of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune |
| menagerie | collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo |
| mendacious | lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity |
| mendicant | beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar |
| meretricious | flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute |
| mete | measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment |
| miasma | swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence |
| minatory | menacing; threatening |
| minutiae | petty or trivial details; CF. minutia |
| mirth | merriment; laughter |
| misanthrope | one who hates mankind; misanthropist |
| misogamy | hatred of marriage |
| misogynist | hater of woman; CF. misogyny |
| modicum | limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate |
| modish | fashionable; conforming to the current fashion |
| mollify | soothe an angry person |
| monochromatic | having only one color |
| 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 |
| moribund | dying; at the point of death; CF. death |
| morose | ill |
| motility | ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously |
| mountebank | charlatan; boastful pretender |
| mulct | defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy |
| mutablility | ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant |
| nefarious | very wicked |
| nettle | irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome |
| 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 |
| obsequious | slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic |
| obstreperous | boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable |
| occlude | shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery. |
| occult | mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare |
| odium | detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct) |
| odyssey | long, eventful, adventurous journey |
| officious | meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy |
| opalescent | iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence |
| overweening | arrogant; presumptuous |
| palate | roof of the mouth; sense of the taste |
| pallid | pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion |
| paltry | insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash |
| pare | cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a knife); trim; Ex. pare apples/expenses |
| peccadillo | slight offense or fault; CF. sin |
| pedagogue | teacher; CF. child leader |
| pedantic | bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry |
| peevish | bad |
| penance | self |
| penchant | strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars |
| perfidious | treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery |
| perjury | false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath |
| perspicacious | (of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute |
| philistine | narrow |
| phlegmatic | calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract |
| pilfer | steal things of small value; filch; snitch |
| pinnace | small boat |
| piquant | pleasantly tart |
| plane | carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat |
| 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 |
| precocious | advanced in development; N. precocity |
| predilection | preference; partiality |
| prepossessing | attractive; CF. preoccupying ? |
| prevaricate | lie; hide the truth (by equivocating) |
| prim | proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper |
| prolixity | tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse |
| proscribe | prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw |
| protean | able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will |
| protract | prolong; lengthen in time; draw out |
| provident | providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident |
| 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 |
| prudent | cautious; careful; prudential |
| puerile | childish; immature; CF. puer: boy |
| pulchritude | beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous |
| pulpit | raised platform used in preaching (in a church) |
| quaff | drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); ▓▄▓⌐▓▄▓⌐ ╕╢╜├┤┘; CF. sip |
| quail | cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart |
| quarry | person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey |
| quay | dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats) |
| querulous | given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining |
| quibble | minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil |
| quiescent | dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence |
| quintessence | purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence |
| quisling | traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling |
| quixotic | idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote |
| quotidian | daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine |
| raconteur | story |
| rail | complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices |
| raiment | clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear. |
| rake | immoral or dissolute person |
| rakish | jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle. |
| rampart | defensive mound of earth |
| ramshackle | (of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart |
| rancid | having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank |
| rancor | long |
| rankle | irritate; fester; annoy |
| rapacious | voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds |
| raspy | making a harsh noise; grating; harsh |
| ratiocination | reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically |
| raucous | (of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts |
| 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''. |
| recalcitrant | disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child |
| recapitulate | summarize |
| recidivism | habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist |
| recondite | abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret |
| recreant | disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person |
| recrimination | countercharges; V. recriminate |
| rectitude | moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment |
| recumbent | reclining; lying down completely or in part |
| redolent | odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery |
| redoubtable | formidable; causing fear |
| refectory | dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school) |
| refulgent | effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon |
| regale | entertain |
| regatta | boat or yacht race |
| remiss | negligent; careless about a duty |
| remit | transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment |
| remonstrate | protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest |
| remorse | deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self |
| rend | split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow |
| repartee | quick clever reply |
| repast | meal; feast; banquet |
| repine | fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work |
| replete | fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors |
| reprehensible | deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame |
| reprobate | morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ? |
| reprobation | severe disapproval; CF. approbation |
| reprove | censure; rebuke; N. reproof |
| repudiate | disown; disavow; deny |
| repugnance | disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive |
| repulse | reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion |
| requisition | formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V. |
| requite | make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal |
| resplendent | brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious |
| restitution | returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury |
| retinue | following; attendants |
| reverie | daydream; abstracted musing |
| ribald | marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke |
| rococo | ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century |
| roil | make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb |
| roseate | rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views |
| rou\'e | #N/A |
| rout | put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat |
| ruse | trick to deceive; stratagem |
| rusticate | banish to the country; dwell in the country |
| salutary | tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health |
| sanguine | optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red |
| sartorial | pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor |
| saturnine | morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance. |
| satyr | half |
| scabbard | case for a sword blade; sheath |
| scad | a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes |
| scintilla | trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark |
| scrupulous | conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker |
| scurrilous | abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark |
| scurvy | contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C |
| seamy | sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life |
| secular | worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal |
| sedulous | diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity |
| seemly | (of behavior) proper; appropriate |
| sheaf | bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together |
| shunt | move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N. |
| shyster | lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner |
| sibylline | prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world) |
| simper | smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly |
| sinecure | well |
| sinewy | (of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone |
| skiff | small light sailboat or rowboat |
| skinflint | miser; stingy person |
| skulk | move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city. |
| slake | satisfy (thirst); quench; sate |
| slink | move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in ambush) |
| slipshod | slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work |
| sloth | slow moving tree |
| sluice | artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow) |
| sodden | thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink |
| solecism | nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette |
| solemnity | seriousness; gravity |
| solicitous | anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude |
| somnambulist | sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism |
| somnolent | half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence |
| soporific | sleep |
| specious | seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally) |
| spry | (esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble |
| spurn | reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help. |
| squelch | produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush; squash; CF. ┴°╚δ└╗ └º┐í╝¡ ╣Γ└╗ ╢º |
| stilted | bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal |
| stipple | paint or draw with dots or short strokes |
| stockade | wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier |
| stolid | dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected |
| 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 |
| stupefy | stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze |
| suborn | persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation |
| subterfuge | stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge |
| succor | assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N. |
| sumptuous | grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast |
| superannuated | retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete |
| supercilious | haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium |
| supine | lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision |
| supplicate | petition humbly; pray to grant a favor |
| supposititious | assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical |
| surfeit | satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of 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 |
| sybarite | lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy |
| syllogism | logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument |
| synoptic | providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis |
| tactile | pertaining to the organs or sense of touch |
| tantamount | equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount |
| taper | very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward one end |
| tarry | linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle |
| tawdry | cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry |
| temerity | boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day's work |
| temporize | gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself |
| tendentious | promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth |
| tepid | lukewarm; slightly warm; ╣╠┴÷▒┘╟╤; half |
| terminus | last stop of railroad; end |
| terse | concise; abrupt; pithy |
| tessellated | mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern |
| testator | maker of a will; CF. testatrix |
| testy | irritable; impatient and bad |
| thespian | pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress |
| thrall | slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; CF. enthrall |
| timbre | quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument (which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch) |
| timorous | fearful; timid; demonstrating fear |
| tipple | drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink |
| 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 |
| tonsure | shaving of the head especially by person entering religious orders; V. |
| torrid | (of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid love affairs |
| totter | shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall |
| tract | propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political group); expanse of land; region of indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex. digestive tract |
| traduce | expose to slander |
| trappings | outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward sign of rank) |
| trenchant | cutting; incisive; keen |
| trepidation | fear; nervous apprehension |
| truculence | aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent: aggressive; pugnacious; fierce |
| tryst | meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet |
| tumid | (of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous |
| turbid | (of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick |
| tureen | deep dish for serving soup |
| turgid | swollen; distended (as from liquid) |
| turpitude | depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude |
| umbrage | resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at his rudeness |
| unassailable | not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question |
| unassuaged | unsatisfied; not soothed |
| uncanny | strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack |
| 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 |
| unerringly | infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes |
| unguent | ointment |
| unseemly | unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with unseemly haste |
| untoward | unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward encounter |
| unwonted | unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted punctuality. |
| upbraid | reprimand; severely scold |
| ursine | bearlike; pertaining to a bear |
| usury | lending money at illegal high rates of interest |
| vagary | capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander |
| valediction | saying farewell; expression of leave |
| vapid | lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture |
| vassal | in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord; subordinate or dependent |
| vehement | forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence |
| venerate | revere; treat with great respect |
| veracious | (of a person) truthful |
| verdigris | green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather |
| verisimilar | having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible |
| verisimilitude | appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth |
| vernal | pertaining to spring |
| 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 |
| vicissitude | change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China |
| victuals | food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food |
| 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 |
| vintner | wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine |
| visage | face; appearance |
| viscid | adhesive; gluey |
| vise | vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device |
| 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 |
| vouchsafe | grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment |
| vulpine | like a fox; crafty |
| waggish | humorous; mischievous; tricky |
| wan | having a pale or sickly color; pallid |
| wangle | achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the party. |
| wanton | unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause |
| warren | tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live |
| wastrel | waster; profligate |
| waylay | ambush; lie in wait for and attack |
| welter | confusion; turmoil; confused mass; bewildering jumble; Ex. welter of data |
| wheedle | deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her |
| 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 |
| whorl | ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers |
| willful | wilful; intentional; headstrong |
| willowy | flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow |
| winsome | charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging |
| wistful | sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing |
| wizened | shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady |
| wrench | twist; pull; strain; Ex. He wrenched the gun out of her hands. |
| writhe | twist in coils; contort in pain |
| yen | strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel |
| yeoman | man |