Quizlet Baron's GRE

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  1. abase: lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
  2. abash: embarrass
  3. abate: subside or moderate
  4. abbreviate: shorten
  5. abdicate: renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
  6. aberrant: abnormal or deviant
  7. aberration: deviation from the normal; mental disorder
  8. abet: assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
  9. abeyance: suspended action
  10. abhor: detest; hate
  11. abide: dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.
  12. abject: (of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
  13. abjure: renounce upon oath
  14. ablution: washing
  15. abnegation: renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
  16. abode: dwelling place; home
  17. abolish cancel;: put an end to
  18. abolish: cancel; put an end to
  19. abominable: detestable; extremely unpleasant
  20. abominate: loathe; hate
  21. aboriginal: being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
  22. abortive: unsuccessful; fruitless
  23. abrasive: rubbing away; tending to grind down
  24. abridge condense: or shorten
  25. abridge: condense or shorten
  26. abrogate: abolish
  27. abscission: cutting off; separation
  28. abscond depart: secretly and hide
  29. abscond: depart secretly and hide
  30. absolute: complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
  31. absolve pardon: (an offense)
  32. absolve: pardon (an offense)
  33. abstain refrain;: withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;
  34. abstain: refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;
  35. abstemious: sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
  36. abstinence: restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
  37. abstract: theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
  38. abstruse: obscure; profound; difficult to understand
  39. abusive coarsely: insulting; physically harmful
  40. abusive: coarsely insulting; physically harmful
  41. abut: border upon; adjoin
  42. abysmal: bottomless
  43. abyss: enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
  44. academic: related to a school; not practical or directly useful
  45. accede: agree
  46. accelerate: move faster
  47. accessible: easy to approach; obtainable
  48. accessory: additional object; useful but not essential thing
  49. acclaim: applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise
  50. acclimate: adjust to climate or environment; adapt
  51. acclivity: sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
  52. accolade: award of merit; strong praise and approval
  53. accommodate: oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
  54. accomplice: partner in crime
  55. accord: agreement
  56. accost: approach and speak first to a person
  57. accoutre: equip; N. accoutrement
  58. 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
  59. accrue: come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
  60. acerbity: bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
  61. acetic: vinegary
  62. acidulous: slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
  63. acknowledge: recognize; admit
  64. acme: peak; pinnacle; highest point
  65. acne: skin disease (on the face)
  66. acoustics: science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
  67. acquiesce: assent; agree passively; comply without protest
  68. acquittal: deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
  69. acrid: bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
  70. acrimonious: stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
  71. acrophobia: fear of heights
  72. actuarial: calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
  73. actuary: someone who advises insurance companies
  74. actuate: motivate; activate; cause to act
  75. acuity: sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
  76. acumen: mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
  77. acute: (of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
  78. adage: wise saying; proverb
  79. adamant: hard; inflexible
  80. adapt: make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
  81. addendum: addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
  82. addiction: compulsive habitual need
  83. addle: make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
  84. address: direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
  85. adept: expert at; very skilled
  86. adhere: stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
  87. adherent: supporter; follower
  88. adjacent: adjoining; neighboring; close by
  89. adjoin: be next to
  90. adjourn: suspend until a later time; move from one place to another
  91. adjunct: something attached to but holding an inferior position
  92. adjuration: solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
  93. adjutant: staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
  94. admonish: warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
  95. adore: love deeply and respect highly
  96. adorn: decorate
  97. adroit: skillful (in using mind or hand)
  98. adulation: flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
  99. adulterate: make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
  100. Advent: arrival
  101. adventitious: accidental; casual; happening by chance
  102. adversary: opponent; enemy
  103. adverse: going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
  104. adversity: great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
  105. advert: refer
  106. advocacy: support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
  107. advocate: speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
  108. aegis: shield; protection; defense
  109. aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry): nest of a large bird of prey
  110. aesthetic: artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
  111. affable: easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
  112. affected: artificial; pretended
  113. affidavit: written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
  114. affiliation: joining; associating with
  115. affinity: feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
  116. affirmation: positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
  117. affliction: state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
  118. affluence: abundance; wealth
  119. affront: insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
  120. afterlife: life after death; later part of one's life
  121. agape: openmouthed
  122. agenda: items of business at a meeting
  123. agglomeration: collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
  124. aggrandize: make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
  125. aggregate: sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
  126. aghast: filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
  127. agility: nimbleness; ability to move quickly
  128. agitate: stir up; disturb
  129. agnostic: one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
  130. agog: highly excited; intensely curious
  131. agrarian: pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
  132. airy: of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
  133. alacrity: cheerful promptness without reluctance
  134. alchemy: medieval chemistry
  135. alcove: nook; recess
  136. alias: an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
  137. alienate: make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
  138. alimentary: supplying nourishment
  139. alimony: payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
  140. allay: calm; pacify
  141. allege: state without proof
  142. allegiance: loyalty
  143. allegory: story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable
  144. alleviate: relieve (pain)
  145. alliteration: repetition of beginning sound in poetry
  146. allocate: assign; set apart for a particular purpose
  147. alloy: mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
  148. allude: refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
  149. allure: entice; attract; tempt
  150. alluvial: pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
  151. alms: money or goods given to the poor
  152. aloft: upward; high up in the air
  153. aloof: apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
  154. altercation: noisy quarrel
  155. altruistic: unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
  156. amalgam: combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
  157. amalgamate: (of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
  158. amass: collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
  159. amazon: female warrior
  160. ambidextrous: capable of using either hand with equal ease
  161. ambience: environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
  162. ambiguous: unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
  163. ambivalence: the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
  164. amble: walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
  165. ambrosia: food of the gods
  166. ambulatory: able to walk
  167. ambush: act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.
  168. ameliorate: improve
  169. amenable: obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
  170. amend: correct; change ; generally for the better
  171. amenities: convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
  172. amiable: agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
  173. amicable: peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
  174. amiss: wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
  175. amity: friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
  176. amnesia: loss of memory
  177. amnesty: pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
  178. amok(amuck): in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
  179. amoral: nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
  180. amorous: moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
  181. amorphous: formless; lacking shape or definition
  182. amphibian: able to live both on land and in water; N.
  183. amphitheater: oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
  184. ample: enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
  185. amplify: increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
  186. amputate: cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
  187. amulet: charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
  188. anachronism: an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
  189. analgesia: condition of being unable to feel pain
  190. analgesic: causing insensitivity to pain; N.
  191. analogous: comparable; similar
  192. analogy: similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
  193. anarchist: person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
  194. anarchy: absence of governing body; state of disorder
  195. anathema: solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
  196. ancestry: family descent; ADJ. ancestral
  197. anchor: secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
  198. ancillary: serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
  199. anecdote: short story of an amusing or interesting event
  200. anemia: condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
  201. anesthetic: substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
  202. anguish: acute pain; extreme suffering
  203. angular: sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
  204. animadversion: critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
  205. animated: lively; spirited
  206. animosity: active enmity
  207. animus: hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
  208. annals: records arranged in yearly parts; history
  209. anneal: reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
  210. annex: attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
  211. annihilate: destroy
  212. annotate: comment; make explanatory notes
  213. annuity: yearly allowance
  214. annul: make void
  215. anodyne: drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
  216. anoint: consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
  217. anomalous: abnormal; irregular
  218. anomaly: irregularity
  219. anonymity: state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
  220. antagonism: hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
  221. antecede: precede
  222. antecedents: preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
  223. antediluvian: antiquated; extremely ancient
  224. anthem: song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
  225. anthology: book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
  226. anthropoid: manlike; resembling a human being; N.
  227. anthropologist: student of the history and science of humankind
  228. anthropomorphic: having human form or characteristics
  229. anticlimax: letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
  230. antidote: remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
  231. antipathy: aversion; dislike or opposition
  232. antiquated: obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
  233. antique: made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare or valuable
  234. antiquity: quality of being very old; ancient times;
  235. antiseptic: substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
  236. antithesis: contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
  237. antler: bony growth on the head of a deer
  238. anvil: iron block used in hammering out metals
  239. apathy: lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
  240. ape: imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
  241. aperture: opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
  242. apex: tip; summit; climax; highest point
  243. aphasia: loss of speech due to injury or illness
  244. aphorism: pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
  245. apiarist: person who keeps bees
  246. apiary: a place where bees are kept
  247. apiculture: bee-keeping
  248. aplomb: poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
  249. apocalyptic: prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
  250. apocryphal: (of a story) widely believed but untrue
  251. apogee: highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
  252. apolitical: having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
  253. apologist: one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
  254. apoplexy: stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
  255. apostate: one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
  256. apothecary: druggist; pharmacist
  257. apothegm(apophthegm): pithy, compact saying
  258. apotheosis: elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
  259. appall: dismay; shock deeply
  260. apparent: evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
  261. apparition: ghost; phantom
  262. appease: pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
  263. appellation: name; title
  264. append: attach
  265. application: diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
  266. apposite: appropriate; fitting
  267. appraise: estimate value of; N. appraisal
  268. appreciate: be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
  269. apprehend: arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
  270. apprehensive: fearful; discerning
  271. apprise: inform
  272. approbation: approval
  273. appropriate: acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
  274. appurtenances: subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
  275. apropos: with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
  276. aptitude: fitness; talent
  277. aquiline: curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
  278. arable: fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
  279. arbiter: person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
  280. arbitrary: unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
  281. arbitrate: act as judge (at the request of both sides)
  282. arboreal: of or living in trees
  283. arboretum: place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
  284. arcade: a covered passageway usually lined with shops
  285. arcane: esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
  286. arch-: chief; first; Ex. archbishop
  287. archaeology: study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
  288. archaic: antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
  289. archetype: prototype; primitive pattern
  290. archipelago: group of closely located islands
  291. archives: public records; place where public records are kept
  292. ardor: heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
  293. arduous: hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
  294. argot: slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
  295. aria: operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
  296. arid: (of land) dry; barren; unproductive
  297. aristocracy: hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
  298. armada: fleet of warships
  299. aromatic: fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
  300. arraign: charge in court; indict
  301. array: marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
  302. arrears: being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
  303. arrhythmic: lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
  304. arrogance: pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
  305. arroyo: gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
  306. arsenal: storage place for military equipment
  307. artery: blood-vessel; CF. vein
  308. artful: exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
  309. articulate: effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
  310. artifacts: object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
  311. artifice: deception; trickery
  312. artisan: a manually skilled worker
  313. artless: without guile; open and honest
  314. ascendancy: controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
  315. ascertain: find out for certain; make certain
  316. ascetic: practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
  317. ascribe: refer; attribute; assign
  318. aseptic: preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
  319. ashen: ash-colored; deadly pale
  320. asinine: stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
  321. askance: with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
  322. askew: crookedly; slanted; at an angle
  323. asperity: sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
  324. aspersion: slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
  325. aspirant: seeker after position or status
  326. aspire: seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
  327. assail: assault
  328. assay: analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
  329. assent: agree; accept; N. assessment
  330. assert: state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
  331. assiduous: diligent
  332. assimilate: absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
  333. assuage: mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
  334. assumption: something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
  335. assurance: firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in f
  336. asteroid: small planet
  337. astigmatism: eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
  338. astral: relating to the stars
  339. astringent: binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
  340. astronomical: enormously large or extensive
  341. astute: wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
  342. asunder: into parts; apart; V. sunder
  343. asylum: place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
  344. asymmetric: not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
  345. atavism: resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
  346. atheistic: denying the existence of God; N. atheism
  347. atone: make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
  348. atrocity: brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
  349. atrophy: wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
  350. attentive: alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
  351. attenuate: make thin; weaken
  352. attest: testify; bear witness
  353. attire: clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
  354. attribute: essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
  355. attrition: rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
  356. atypical: not normal; not typical
  357. audacious: daring; bold; N. audacity
  358. audit: examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
  359. augment: increase; add to
  360. augury: omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
  361. august: impressive; majestic
  362. aureole: sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
  363. auroral: pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
  364. auspicious: favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
  365. austere: forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
  366. authenticate: prove genuine
  367. authoritarian: subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
  368. authoritative: having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
  369. autocratic: having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
  370. automaton: mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
  371. autonomous: self-governing; N. autonomy
  372. autopsy: examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
  373. auxiliary: offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
  374. avalanche: great mass of falling snow and ice
  375. avantgarde: group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
  376. avarice: greediness for wealth
  377. avenge: take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.
  378. aver: state confidently; declare as true
  379. averse: reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
  380. aversion: firm dislike
  381. avert: prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
  382. aviary: enclosure for birds; large cage
  383. avid: greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
  384. avocation: secondary or minor occupation
  385. avow: declare openly; N. avowal
  386. avuncular: of or like an uncle
  387. awe: solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
  388. awful: terrible; very bad
  389. awl: pointed tool used for piercing
  390. awry: distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
  391. axiom: self-evident truth requiring no proof
  392. azure: sky blue
  393. babble: chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
  394. bacchanal: noisy party with a lot of drinking
  395. bacchanalia: the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
  396. bacchanalian: drunken
  397. backslide: revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
  398. backwards: and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights
  399. badger: pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal
  400. badinage: teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
  401. baffle: frustrate; perplex
  402. bait: harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
  403. baleful: evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
  404. balk: stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate
  405. ballast: heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
  406. balm: something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
  407. balmy: soft and mild (of air); fragrant
  408. banal: hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed
  409. bandy: discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with
  410. bane: posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
  411. bank: heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning
  412. bantering: joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
  413. bar: railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister
  414. barb: sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark
  415. bard: poet
  416. barefaced: shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
  417. bargain: agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power
  418. baroque: highly ornate
  419. barrage: barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
  420. barrister: counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar
  421. barterer: trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money
  422. base: contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron
  423. bask: luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
  424. bastard: illegitimate child
  425. bastion: stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
  426. bate: let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate
  427. battalion: army unit made up of four or more companies
  428. bauble: trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
  429. bawdy: indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
  430. bearing: deportment; connection
  431. beatific: giving or showing bliss; blissful
  432. beatitude: blessedness; state of great happiness
  433. bedizen: dress with vulgar finery
  434. bedraggle: wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
  435. beeline: direct quick route
  436. befuddle: confuse thoroughly
  437. beget: father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
  438. begrudge: envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.
  439. beguile: deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
  440. behemoth: huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
  441. beholden: obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
  442. behoove(behove): be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.
  443. belabor: harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically
  444. belated: delayed
  445. beleaguer: besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
  446. belie: contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.
  447. belittle: disparage; depreciate
  448. bellicose: warlike
  449. belligerent: quarrelsome
  450. bemoan: lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of
  451. bemused: confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
  452. benediction: blessing
  453. benefactor: gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
  454. beneficent: kindly; doing good
  455. beneficial: helpful; useful; advantageous
  456. beneficiary: person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
  457. benefit: advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits
  458. benevolent: generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
  459. benign: kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor
  460. benison: blessing
  461. bent: determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination
  462. bequeath: leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest
  463. berate: scold strongly
  464. bereaved: deprived of (someone beloved through death)
  465. bereavement: state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
  466. bereft: deprived of (something valuable); lacking
  467. berserk: mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
  468. beseech: beg; plead with
  469. beset: harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
  470. besiege: surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually
  471. besmirch: soil; defile; make dirty
  472. bestial: beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
  473. bestow: confer
  474. betoken: signify; indicate; be a sign of
  475. betray: be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
  476. betroth: become engaged to marry
  477. bevy: large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
  478. beware: be cautious (of)
  479. bewitch: cast a spell over; captivate completely
  480. bicameral: two-chambered as a legislative body
  481. bicker: quarrel
  482. bid: command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom
  483. biennial: every two years
  484. bifurcated: divided into two branches; forked
  485. bigot: one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)
  486. bigotry: stubborn intolerance
  487. bilious: suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated
  488. bilk: swindle; cheat
  489. billow: large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows
  490. billowing: swelling out in waves; surging
  491. biting: sharply painful to the body or mind; Ex. biting wind/remarks
  492. bitter: having a sharp biting taste; ¾´; causing sharp pain to the body or mind; filled with resentment, disappointment, or other unpleasant feelings; Ex. bitter wind/sorrow/tears
  493. bivouac: temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
  494. bizarre: fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
  495. blackball: vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote
  496. blanch: bleach; whiten; make white or pale
  497. bland: soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
  498. blandishment: flattery
  499. blare: loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light
  500. blase: bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored
  501. blasphemy: irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
  502. blatant: extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
  503. bleak: cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing
  504. blemish: mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished
  505. blight: plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
  506. blighted: suffering from a disease; destroyed
  507. bliss: complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
  508. blithe(blithesome): gay; joyous
  509. bloated: (unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air
  510. blotch: spot; blot; CF. blot+botch
  511. blowhard: talkative boaster; braggart
  512. bludgeon: club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
  513. blue: gloomy; depressed
  514. blues: state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)
  515. bluff: pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured
  516. blunder: error; stupid mistake
  517. blunt: having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt
  518. blurt: utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement
  519. blush: become red in the face (from embarrassment or shame); become red or rosy; N.
  520. bluster: blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale
  521. bode: foreshadow; portend
  522. bog: soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud
  523. bogus: counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview
  524. Bohemian: unconventional (in an artistic way)
  525. boisterous: violent; rough; noisy
  526. bolster: support; reinforce
  527. bolt: door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a | door); gobble down
  528. bombardment: attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard
  529. bombast: grandiloquent, pompous speech
  530. bombastic: pompous; using inflated language
  531. bookish: fond of books and reading
  532. boon: blessing; benefit; something very helpful
  533. boor: rude, insensitive person
  534. boorish: rude; insensitive
  535. boost: lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase
  536. botch: mismanage; blow
  537. bouillon: clear beef (or meat) soup
  538. bound: leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty to do something (legally or morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late; Ex. I am bound to say my opi
  539. bountiful: generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
  540. bourgeois: middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions
  541. bout: match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu
  542. bovine: cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm
  543. bowdlerize: expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
  544. brackish: somewhat saline
  545. brag: boast
  546. braggadocio: boasting
  547. braggart: boaster; bragger
  548. braid: plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; N: braided segment (as of hair)
  549. brand: trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar.
  550. brandish: wave around (a weapon); flourish
  551. bravado: swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery
  552. brave: face courageously; Ex. brave the storm
  553. brawl: noisy quarrel
  554. brawn: human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
  555. brawny: muscular; having well-developed muscles
  556. brazen: insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence
  557. breach: breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.
  558. breadth: width; extent
  559. breed: produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant
  560. brevity: conciseness; shortness of duration
  561. bridle: harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger
  562. brim: uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat); Ex. The glass was full to the brim; V: be full to the brim
  563. brindled: tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
  564. brink: edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon
  565. brisk: quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
  566. bristle: short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
  567. bristling: rising like bristles; showing irritation
  568. brittle: hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation
  569. broach: introduce as a subject; moot; open up
  570. brocade: rich, figured(patterned) fabric
  571. brochure: pamphlet
  572. broil: cook by direct heat; N.
  573. bromide: platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
  574. brooch: ornamental clasp; pin
  575. brood: sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time
  576. brook: tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream
  577. browbeat: bully; intimidate
  578. browse: graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
  579. bruise: injure without breaking the skin; N.
  580. brunt: main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument
  581. brusque: blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice
  582. buccaneer: pirate
  583. bucolic: rustic; pastoral
  584. 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
  585. buffoon: stupid person; clown
  586. buffoonery: clowning
  587. bugaboo: bugbear; object of baseless terror
  588. bulge: protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude
  589. bulk: size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size
  590. bullion: gold and silver in the form of bars
  591. bully: one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.
  592. bulwark: strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends
  593. bump: hit or knock against with force; N.
  594. bungle: mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior
  595. buoyant: able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market
  596. bureaucracy: overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic
  597. burgeon: grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon
  598. burlesque: give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly
  599. burnish: make shiny by rubbing; polish
  600. bust: piece of sculpture showing a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest; V: break up; arrest; Ex. crimebuster
  601. buttress: support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress
  602. buxom: full-bosomed; plump; jolly
  603. cabal: small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
  604. cache: hiding place; V.
  605. cacophonous: discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds
  606. cadaver: corpse; dead human body
  607. cadaverous: like a corpse; pale
  608. cadence: rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
  609. cadet: student at a military school
  610. cajole: persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
  611. calamity: disaster; misery
  612. calculated: deliberately planned; likely
  613. caldron(cauldron): large kettle
  614. caliber: ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber
  615. calligraphy: beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
  616. callous: hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
  617. callow: youthful; immature; inexperienced
  618. callus: area of thick hard skin
  619. calorific: heat-producing; N. calorie
  620. calumny: malicious misrepresentation; slander
  621. camaraderie: good-fellowship; CF. comrade
  622. cameo: shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film
  623. camp: group sharing a common cause or opinion
  624. canard: unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
  625. candor: frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
  626. canine: related to dogs; doglike
  627. canker: any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
  628. canny: shrewd in money matters; thrifty
  629. cant: insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people
  630. cantankerous: ill-humored; irritable
  631. cantata: story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)
  632. canter: slow gallop; V. CF. trot
  633. canto: division of a long poem
  634. canvass: determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.
  635. capacious: spacious
  636. capacity: mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president
  637. capillary: having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
  638. capitulate: surrender; give up all resistance
  639. caprice: whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause
  640. capricious: unpredictable; fickle
  641. capsize: (of a boat) turn over
  642. caption: title; chapter heading; text under illustration
  643. captious: faultfinding; too critical
  644. carafe: glass water bottle; decanter
  645. carapace: shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)
  646. carat(karat): unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold
  647. carcinogenic: causing cancer; N. carcinogen
  648. cardinal: chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order
  649. cardiologist: doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
  650. careen: lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
  651. career: rush wildly; go at full speed
  652. carefree: free from worries; having no problems
  653. caricature: distortion; burlesque
  654. carillon: a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played
  655. carnage: destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals
  656. carnal: fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
  657. carnivorous: meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
  658. carousal: drunken revel; V. carouse
  659. carping: petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble
  660. carrion: rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
  661. cartographer: map-maker
  662. cascade: small waterfall
  663. caste: one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige
  664. castigation: punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
  665. castrate: remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
  666. casual: happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark
  667. casualty: serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle
  668. cataclysm: deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change
  669. catalyst: agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis
  670. catapult: slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
  671. cataract: great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
  672. catastrophe: calamity ; disaster
  673. catcall: shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
  674. catechism: book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize
  675. categorical: without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
  676. cater: provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)
  677. catharsis: purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art
  678. cathartic: purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
  679. catholic: (of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes
  680. caucus: private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston
  681. caulk(calk): make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
  682. causal: implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality
  683. caustic: burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless
  684. cauterize: burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
  685. cavalcade: procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry
  686. cavalier: casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
  687. cavil: quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
  688. cede: yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession
  689. celerity: speed; rapidity
  690. celestial: heavenly
  691. celibate: abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy
  692. cemetery: place for burying the dead
  693. censor: (in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.
  694. censorious: severely critical
  695. censure: blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval
  696. centaur: mythical figure, half man and half horse
  697. centigrade: denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)
  698. centrifugal: radiating; departing from the center
  699. centrifuge: machine that separates substances by whirling them
  700. centripetal: tending toward the center
  701. centurion: Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)
  702. cerebral: pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum
  703. cerebration: thought; working of the brain
  704. ceremonious: marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
  705. certitude: certainty
  706. cessation: stoppage
  707. cession: yielding to another; ceding
  708. chafe: warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
  709. chaff: worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff
  710. chaffing: bantering; joking
  711. chagrin: annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)
  712. chalice: goblet; consecrated cup
  713. chameleon: lizard that changes color in different situations
  714. champion: support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)
  715. championship: position of champion; defense or support; competition held to determine a champion
  716. chancellor: legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor
  717. chant: tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant
  718. chaotic: in utter disorder
  719. chapel: small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)
  720. chaperon: older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman
  721. chaplain: clergyman attached to a chapel
  722. char: make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion
  723. charisma: divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism
  724. charlatan: quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)
  725. charm: quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch
  726. chary: cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold
  727. chase: ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch
  728. chasm: abyss; very deep crack
  729. chassis: framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
  730. chaste: morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere
  731. chasten: discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
  732. chastise: punish as by beating; criticize severely
  733. chauvinist: blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin
  734. check: stop motion; curb or restrain
  735. checkered(chequered): marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares
  736. cherubic: angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order
  737. chicanery: trickery; deception
  738. chide: scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
  739. chimerical: fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
  740. chip: lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp
  741. chisel: swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting
  742. chivalrous: courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry
  743. choice: delicate; of very fine quality
  744. choir: group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services); place for choir
  745. choleric: hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera
  746. chore: daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task
  747. choreography: art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances
  748. chortle: chuckle with delight; N.
  749. chorus: phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
  750. chronic: long established as a disease
  751. chronicle: report; record (in chronological order)
  752. chuckle: laugh quietly
  753. churlish: boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
  754. ciliated: having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
  755. cipher: nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
  756. circlet: small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)
  757. circuit: closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place
  758. circuitous: roundabout
  759. circumlocution: indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)
  760. circumscribe: limit; confine; draw a line around
  761. circumspect: prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
  762. circumvent: outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around
  763. cistern: reservoir or water tank
  764. citadel: fortress
  765. cite: quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record
  766. civil: having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic
  767. clairvoyant: having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
  768. clamber: climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
  769. clamor: loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous
  770. clandestine: secret
  771. clangor: loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
  772. clap: strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause
  773. clapper: striker (tongue) of a bell
  774. clarion: shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times
  775. clasp: hold firmly within arms
  776. claustrophobia: fear of being locked in
  777. clavicle: collarbone
  778. cleave: split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven
  779. cleft: N: split
  780. clemency: disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
  781. clich\'e: phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich\'ed
  782. clientele: body of customers
  783. climactic: relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
  784. clime: climate
  785. clip: cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener
  786. clipper: sailing vessel built for great speed
  787. clique: small exclusive group of people
  788. cloister: monastery or convent
  789. clot: half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
  790. clout: great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist
  791. clown: act stupidly; play the fool; N.
  792. cloying: distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess
  793. coagulate: congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant
  794. coalesce: combine; fuse; N. coalescence
  795. coalition: partnership; league; union of separate political parties
  796. coax: persuade by flattery
  797. coda: concluding section of a musical or literary composition
  798. coddle: treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs
  799. codicil: supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
  800. codify: arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs
  801. coercion: use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce
  802. coeval: living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age
  803. cog: tooth projecting from a wheel
  804. cogent: convincing
  805. cogitate: think over; ponder
  806. cognate: having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
  807. cognitive: having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing
  808. cognizance: knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware
  809. cohabit: live together
  810. cohere: stick together
  811. cohesion: tendency to keep together
  812. cohorts: group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
  813. coiffure: hairstyle
  814. coin: make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented
  815. coincidence: the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental
  816. colander: utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
  817. collaborate: work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy
  818. collage: work of art put together from fragments
  819. collate: examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)
  820. collateral: security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters
  821. collation: a light meal; collating
  822. collected: composed; calm; self-possessed
  823. colloquial: pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression
  824. colloquy: informal discussion; conversation
  825. collusion: conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude
  826. colossal: huge
  827. colossus: gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance
  828. coma: deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow
  829. comatose: in a coma; extremely sleepy
  830. combustible: easily burned; N. CF. combustion
  831. comeback: retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
  832. comely: attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
  833. comestible: something fit to be eaten
  834. comeuppance: deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke
  835. comity: courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
  836. commandeer: take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes
  837. commemorate: honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war
  838. commemorative: remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp
  839. commensurate: equal in extent; of the same size
  840. commiserate: feel or express pity or sympathy for
  841. commodious: spacious and comfortable
  842. commonplace: ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark
  843. commonwealth: nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation
  844. communal: held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
  845. commune: small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature
  846. compact: agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement
  847. compartment: one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided
  848. compassion: sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate
  849. compatible: harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together
  850. compelling: overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel
  851. compendium: brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious
  852. compensatory: making up for; repaying
  853. compilation: listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling
  854. compile: assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary
  855. complacency: self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
  856. complaisant: trying to please; obliging; willing to please others
  857. complement: complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
  858. complementary: serving to complete something
  859. compliance: conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply
  860. compliant: readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements
  861. complicity: participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
  862. component: element; ingredient
  863. comport: bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
  864. compost: mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put or make compost
  865. composure: mental calmness
  866. compound: combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex. fac
  867. comprehend: include; understand
  868. comprehensive: broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive
  869. compress: force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.
  870. comprise: include; consist of
  871. compromise: adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one's principle; N.
  872. compulsion: compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse
  873. compulsive: resulting from compulsion
  874. compulsory: obligatory; that must be done
  875. compunction: remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
  876. compute: reckon; calculate
  877. concatenate: link as in a chain
  878. concave: hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
  879. concede: admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal
  880. conceit: vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)
  881. concentric: having a common center
  882. conception: beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception
  883. concerted: mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together
  884. concession: an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire
  885. conciliatory: reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)
  886. concise: brief and compact
  887. conclave: private secret meeting
  888. conclusive: decisive; ending all debate
  889. concoct: prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction
  890. concomitant: that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else
  891. concord: harmony; accord
  892. concordat: formal agreement
  893. concur: agree; coincide; happen at the same time
  894. concurrent: happening at the same time; in agreement
  895. condescend: (derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior
  896. condign: adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
  897. condiments: seasonings; spices
  898. condole: express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow
  899. condone: overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
  900. conducive: helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
  901. conduit: aqueduct; passageway for fluids
  902. confidant(confidante): trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)
  903. confide: tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about
  904. confidence: self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling you thi
  905. confidential: spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary
  906. confine: shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement
  907. confiscate: seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer
  908. conflagration: great fire
  909. confluence: flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together
  910. conformist: person who uncritically conforms to the customs of a group; OP. nonconformist: one who does not conform to accepted beliefs of norms
  911. conformity: harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance
  912. confound: confuse; puzzle
  913. congeal: freeze; coagulate
  914. congenial: pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
  915. congenital: existing at birth
  916. conglomerate: corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.
  917. conglomeration: mass of material sticking together
  918. congruence: correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity
  919. congruent: in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous
  920. conifer: pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen
  921. conjecture: surmise; guess; V.
  922. conjugal: pertaining to marriage
  923. conjure: cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.
  924. connivance: pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire
  925. connoisseur: person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art
  926. connotation: suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote
  927. connubial: pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
  928. consanguineous(consanguine): having a common ancestor
  929. consanguinity: kinship; relationship by birth
  930. conscientious: scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
  931. conscript: draftee; person forced into military service; V.
  932. consecrate: dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor
  933. consensus: general agreement; opinion reached by a group
  934. consequential: self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
  935. conservatory(conservatoire): school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
  936. consign: send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee
  937. consistency: absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous
  938. console: lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation
  939. consolidation: unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen
  940. consonance: harmony; agreement
  941. consonant: harmonious; in agreement; N.
  942. consort: associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)
  943. conspiracy: treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)
  944. conspire: take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.
  945. consternation: great shock; dismay
  946. constituency: voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)
  947. constituent: supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component
  948. constitution: constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions
  949. constraint: restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison
  950. construe: explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
  951. consummate: complete; V.
  952. contagion: infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air
  953. contaminate: pollute
  954. contempt: scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible
  955. contend: struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly
  956. contention: assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
  957. contentious: quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
  958. contest: dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.
  959. context: writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs
  960. contiguous: adjacent to; touching upon
  961. continence: self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent
  962. contingent: dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency
  963. contortions: twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist
  964. contraband: illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
  965. contravene: contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention
  966. contrite: penitent; repentant; N. contrition
  967. contrivance: something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme
  968. contrive: invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention
  969. contrived: unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.
  970. controvert: oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
  971. contumacious: stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
  972. contusion: bruise
  973. conundrum: riddle; difficult problem
  974. convene: come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council
  975. convention: social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement
  976. conventional: ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons
  977. converge: approach; tend to meet; come together
  978. conversant: familiar with; having knowledge of
  979. converse: opposite; ADJ.
  980. convert: one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief
  981. convex: curving outward
  982. conveyance: vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance
  983. conviction: judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief
  984. convivial: pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
  985. convoke: call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
  986. convoluted: coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain
  987. convulsion: violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive
  988. copious: plentiful
  989. coquette: flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
  990. cordial: warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome
  991. cordon: extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; V.
  992. cornice: projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars);
  993. cornucopia: horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty
  994. corollary: natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
  995. coroner: public official who investigates any death thought to be of other than natural causes
  996. corporeal: bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible
  997. corpulent: very fat; N. corpulence
  998. corpus: collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse
  999. corpuscle: red or white cell in the blood
  1000. correlate: either of the correlated things; V.
  1001. correlation: mutual relationship
  1002. corroborate: confirm; support; strengthen
  1003. corrode: destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)
  1004. corrosive: eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
  1005. corrugated: wrinkled; ridged
  1006. cosmic: pertaining to the universe; vast
  1007. coterie: group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
  1008. countenance: approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance
  1009. countermand: cancel; revoke (an order)
  1010. counterpart: thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system
  1011. coup: highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills
  1012. couple: join; unite; OP. uncouple
  1013. courier: messenger
  1014. court: attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite; attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster
  1015. covenant: binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise
  1016. covert: secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
  1017. covetous: avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)
  1018. cow: terrorize; intimidate
  1019. cower: shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
  1020. coy: shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer
  1021. cozen: cheat; hoodwink; swindle
  1022. crabbed: sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
  1023. craft: skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning
  1024. crass: very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
  1025. crave: desire; want intensely
  1026. craven: cowardly
  1027. credence: belief
  1028. credential: evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.
  1029. credo: creed
  1030. credulity: belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous
  1031. creed: system of religious or ethical belief
  1032. creep: move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.
  1033. cremate: incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium
  1034. crescendo: increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
  1035. crest: top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird
  1036. crestfallen: dejected; dispirited
  1037. crevice: crack; fissure
  1038. cringe: shrink back as if in fear; cower
  1039. crinkle: wrinkle
  1040. criteria: standards used in judging; CF. criterion
  1041. crochet: make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet
  1042. crone: hag; ugly old woman
  1043. cross: bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
  1044. crossbreed: hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
  1045. crotchety: (of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
  1046. crust: hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
  1047. crux: essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
  1048. crypt: secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)
  1049. cryptic: mysterious; hidden; secret
  1050. cubicle: small chamber used for sleeping or work
  1051. cue: word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to
  1052. cuisine: style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
  1053. culinary: relating to cooking or kitchen
  1054. cull: pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.
  1055. culmination: highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
  1056. culpable: deserving blame; blameworthy
  1057. culprit: one guilty of a crime
  1058. culvert: artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
  1059. cumbersome: heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
  1060. cumulative: growing by addition; accumulative
  1061. cunning: clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit
  1062. cupidity: greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
  1063. curator: superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)
  1064. curb: chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain
  1065. curfew: regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew
  1066. curmudgeon: churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person
  1067. cursive: (of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined
  1068. cursory: casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
  1069. curtail: shorten; reduce
  1070. cynical: skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness
  1071. cynosure: object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
  1072. dabble: work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
  1073. dainty: delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress
  1074. dais: raised platform for speakers or other important people
  1075. dally: trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
  1076. damn: condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation
  1077. dank: damp; unpleasantly wet
  1078. dapper: neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
  1079. dappled: spotted
  1080. dart: move or throw suddenly and quickly
  1081. daub: smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
  1082. daunt: intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
  1083. dauntless: bold; fearless
  1084. dawdle: loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
  1085. daze: stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
  1086. dazzle: make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder
  1087. deadlock: standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
  1088. deadpan: wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
  1089. dearth: scarcity
  1090. debacle: sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
  1091. debar: bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services
  1092. debase: degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
  1093. debauch: corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
  1094. debilitate: weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble
  1095. debonair: (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
  1096. debris: rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
  1097. debunk: expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
  1098. debut: d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society
  1099. debutante: young woman making formal entrance into society
  1100. decadence: decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
  1101. decant: pour off gently (wine or liquid)
  1102. decapitate: behead
  1103. decelerate: slow down
  1104. deciduous: falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
  1105. decimate: kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
  1106. decipher: decode; CF. indecipherable
  1107. declivity: downward slope
  1108. decollete: (of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
  1109. decomposition: decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
  1110. decorous: proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
  1111. decorum: propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
  1112. decoy: lure or bait; V.
  1113. decree: authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree
  1114. decrepit: weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
  1115. decrepitude: state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
  1116. decry: express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
  1117. deducible: derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
  1118. deface: mar; disfigure
  1119. defalcate: embezzle
  1120. defame: harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
  1121. default: failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
  1122. defeatist: resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
  1123. defect: shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
  1124. defection: desertion
  1125. defer: give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
  1126. deference: courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
  1127. defiance: refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
  1128. defile: pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
  1129. definitive: most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
  1130. deflect: turn aside; turn away from a straight course
  1131. defoliate: destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
  1132. defray: provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
  1133. defrock: strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
  1134. deft: neat; skillful
  1135. defunct: dead; no longer in use or existence
  1136. degenerate: become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
  1137. degradation: humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
  1138. dehydrate: remove water from; dry out
  1139. deify: turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
  1140. deign: condescend; stoop
  1141. delete: erase; strike out
  1142. deleterious: harmful
  1143. deliberate: consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
  1144. delineate: portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
  1145. delirium: mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
  1146. delta: flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
  1147. delude: deceive
  1148. deluge: flood; rush; V.
  1149. delusion: false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
  1150. delusive: deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
  1151. delve: dig; search deeply; investigate
  1152. demagogue: person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
  1153. demean: disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
  1154. demeanor: behavior; bearing
  1155. demented: insane
  1156. demerit: fault; bad quality
  1157. demise: death
  1158. demographic: related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
  1159. demolition: destruction; V. demolish
  1160. demoniac(demoniacal): fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
  1161. demotic: of or pertaining to the people
  1162. demur: object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
  1163. demure: (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
  1164. denigrate: blacken; defame
  1165. denizen: (animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
  1166. denomination: religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic
  1167. denotation: meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
  1168. denouement: final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
  1169. denounce: condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
  1170. depict: portray
  1171. deplete: reduce; exhaust
  1172. deplore: regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition
  1173. deploy: spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
  1174. deport: send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment
  1175. depose: dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
  1176. deposition: testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
  1177. depravity: extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
  1178. deprecate: express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
  1179. depreciate: lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
  1180. depredation: plundering; destruction
  1181. deputize: work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away
  1182. deranged: insane
  1183. derelict: negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
  1184. dereliction: neglect of duty; abandonment
  1185. deride: ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
  1186. derision: ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
  1187. derivation: deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word
  1188. derivative: unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
  1189. dermatologist: one who studies the skin and its diseases
  1190. derogatory: expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
  1191. descry: catch sight of (something distant)
  1192. desecrate: profane; violate the sanctity of
  1193. deserts: what someone deserves
  1194. desiccate: dry up
  1195. desolate: make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
  1196. desperado: reckless, desperate outlaw
  1197. desperate: having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
  1198. despise: look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
  1199. despoil: plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
  1200. despondent: without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
  1201. despot: tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism