 | Term | Definition |
| |
exigency |
N an emergency; an urgency |
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existential |
Adj having to do with existence; having to do with the body of thought called existentialism which basically holds that human beings are responsible for their own actions but is otherwise too complicated to summarize in a single sentence |
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exonerate |
V to free completely from blame; to exculpate |
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expatriate |
V to throw someone out of his or her native land; to move away from ones native land; to emigrate |
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expedient |
Adj providing an immediate advantage; serving ones immediate self-interest; practical |
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expedite |
V to speed up or ease the progress of |
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explicit |
Adj clearly and directly expressed |
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extol |
V to praise highly; to laud |
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extraneous |
Adj unnecessary; irrelevant; extra |
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extrapolate |
V to protect or deduce from something known; to infer |
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extricate |
V to free from difficulty |
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extrovert |
N an open outgoing person; a person whose attention is focused on others rather than on himself or herself |
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exult |
V to rejoice; to celebrate |
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fabrication |
N a lie; something made up |
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facetious |
Adj humorous; not serious; clumsily humorous |
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facile |
Adj fluent; skillful in a superficial way; easy |
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faction |
N a group usually a small part of a larger group united around some cause; disagreement within an organization |
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farcical |
Adj absurd; ludicrous |
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fastidious |
Adj meticulous; demanding; finicky |
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fatalist |
N someone who believes that future events are already determined and that humans are powerless to change them |
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fatuous |
Adj foolish; silly; idiotic ; |
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fauna |
N animals cf flora animal |
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fecund |
Adj fertile; productive |
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felicity |
N happiness; skillfulness especially at expressing things; adeptness |
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fervor |
N great warmth or earnestness; ardor; zeal ardor |
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fetter |
V to restrain; to hamper |
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fidelity |
N faithfulness; loyalty |
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figurative |
Adj based on figures of speech; expressing something in terms usually for something else; metaphorical |
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finesse |
N skillful maneuvering; subtlety; craftiness |
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flagrant |
Adj glaringly bad; notorious; scandalous |
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flaunt |
V show off; to display ostentatiously |
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flout |
V to disregard something out of disrespect |
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foible |
N a minor character flaw |
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foment |
V to stir up; to instigate |
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forbear |
v to refrain from ; to abstain |
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forgo |
v to do without ; to forbear |
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forsake |
v to abandon ; to renounce ; to relinquish |
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fortuitous |
a accidental ; occurring by chance |
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founder |
v to fail ; to collapse ; to sink |
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fraternal |
a like brothers |
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frenetic |
a frantic ; frenzied |
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frugal |
a economical ; penny-pinching |
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furtive |
a secretive ; sly |
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futile |
a useless ; hopeless ; |
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garrulous |
a talkative; chatty |
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genre |
n a type or category especially of art or writing |
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genteel |
a refined ; polite ; aristocratic ; affecting refinement |
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gesticulate |
v to make gestures especially when speaking or in place of speaking |
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glut |
n surplus ; an overabundance |
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grandiloquent |
a pompous ; using a lot of big fancy words in an attempt to sound impressive |
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grandiose |
a absurdly exaggerated |
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gratuitous |
a given freely said of something bad ; unjustified ; unprovoked ; uncalled for |
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gravity |
n seriousness |
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gregarious |
a sociable ; enjoying the company of others |
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guile |
n cunning ; duplicity ; artfulness |
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hackneyed |
a overused ; trite ; stale |
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hapless |
a unlucky unlucky |
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harbinger |
n a forerunner ; a signal of ; |
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hedonism |
n the pursuit of pleasure as a way of life |
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hegemony |
n leadership especially of one nation over another |
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heresy |
n any belief that is strongly opposed to established beliefs |
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hermetic |
a impervious to external influence ; airtight |
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heyday |
n golden age ; prime prime |
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hiatus |
n a break or interruption often from work ; |
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hierarchy |
n an organization based on rank or degree ; pecking order |
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histrionic |
a overly dramatic ; theatrical ; |
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homily |
n a sermon |
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homogeneous |
a uniform ; made entirely of one thing uniform |
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husbandry |
n thrifty management of resources ; livestock farming |
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hyperbole |
n an exaggeration used as a figure of speech ; exaggeration exaggeration |
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hypothetical |
a uncertain ; unproven |
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iconoclast |
n one who attacks popular beliefs or institutions |
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ideology |
n a system of social or political ideas |
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idiosyncrasy |
n a peculiarity ; an eccentricity |
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idyllic |
a charming in a rustic way ; naturally peaceful |
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ignominy |
n deep disgrace |
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illicit |
a illegal ; not permitted |
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imminent |
a just about to happen |
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immutable |
a unchangeable |
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impartial |
a fair ; not favoring one side or the other ; unbiased |
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impeccable |
a flawless ; entirely without sin |
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Imperial` |
a like an emperor or an empire |
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impervious |
a not allowing anything to pass through ; impenetrable |
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impetuous |
a impulsive ; extremely impatient ; |
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implement |
v to carry out |
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impotent |
a powerless ; helpless ; unable to perform sexual intercourse |
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impugn |
v to attack especially to attack the truth or integrity of something |
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inane |
a silly ; senseless |
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inaugurate |
v to begin officially ; to induct formally into office |
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incandescent |
a brilliant ; giving off heat or light |
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incantation |
n a chant ; the repetition of statements or phrases in a way reminiscent of a chant |
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incense |
a make very angry |
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incessant |
a unceasing |
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incipient |
a beginning ; emerging |
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incisive |
a cutting right to the heart of the matter |
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incongruous |
a not harmonious ; not consistent ; not appropriate not fitting in |
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incorrigible |
a incapable of being reformed |
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increment |
n an increase ; one in a series of increases |
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indifferent |
a not caring one way or the other ; apathetic ; mediocre |
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indigenous |
a native ; originating in that area |
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indigent |
a poor |
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indignant |
a angry especially as a result of something unjust or unworthy ; insulted |
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indolent |
a lazy ; |
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indulgent |
lenient ; yielding to desire |
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ineffable |
a incapable of being expressed or described |
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inept |
a clumsy ; incompetent ; gauche |
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inert |
a inactive ; sluggish ; not reacting chemically |
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inexorable |
a relentless ; inevitable ; unavoidable |
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infamous |
a shamefully wicked ; having an extremely bad reputation ; disgraceful |
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infatuated |
a foolish ; foolishly passionate or attracted ; made foolish ; foolishly in love |
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infer |
v to conclude ; to deduce |
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infinitesimal |
a very very very small ; infinitely small ; |
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ingenuous |
a frank ; without deception ; simple ; artless ; charmingly na ve |
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inherent |
a part of the essential nature of something ; intrinsic |
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injunction |
n a command or order especially a court order |
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innate |
a existing since birth ; inborn ; inherent |
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innocuous |
a harmless ; banal |
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inordinate |
a excessive ; unreasonable |
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insatiable |
a hard or impossible to satisfy ; greedy ; avaricious |
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insidious |
a treacherous ; sneaky ; |
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insinuate |
v to hint ; to creep in hind |
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insipid |
a dull ; bland ; banal |
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insolent |
a arrogant ; insulting |
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instigate |
v to provoke ; to stir up |
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insular |
a like an island ; isolated |
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insurgent |
n a rebel ; someone who revolts against a government |
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integral |
a essential |
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intractable |
a uncontrollable ; stubborn ; disobedient |
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intransigent |
a uncompromising ; stubborn |
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intrinsic |
a part of the essential nature of something ; inherent |
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introspective |
a tending to think about oneself ; examining ones feelings |
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inundate |
v to flood ; to cover completely with water ; to overwhelm |
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invective |
n insulting or abusive speech |
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inveterate |
a habitual ; firm in habit ; deeply rooted |
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irascible |
a easily angered or provoked ; irritable |
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ironic |
a meaning the opposite of what you seem to say ; using words to mean something other than what they seem to mean |
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irrevocable |
a irreversible |
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itinerant |
a moving from place to place |
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judicious |
a exercising sound judgment |
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juxtapose |
v to place side by side |
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kinetic |
a having to do with motion ; lively ; active |
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labyrinth |
n a maze ; something like a maze maze |
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laconic |
a using few words especially to the point of seeming rude |
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lament |
v to mourn |
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lampoon |
v to satirize ; to mock ; to parody |
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languish |
v to become weak listless or depressed ; |
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largess |
n generous giving of gifts or the gifts themselves ; generosity ; philanthropy |
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latent |
a present but not visible or apparent ; potential |
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laud |
v to praise ; to applaud ; to extol ; to celebrate |
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legacy |
n something handed down from the past ; a bequest |
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lethargy |
n sluggishness ; laziness ; drowsiness ; indifference |
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levity |
n lightness ; frivolity ; unseriousness |
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libel |
n a written or published falsehood that injures the reputation of or defames someone ; |
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litigate |
v to try in court ; to engage in legal proceedings |
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loquacious |
a talking a lot or too much |
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lucid |
a clear ; easy to understand ; |
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lugubrious |
a exaggeratedly mournful |
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luminous |
a giving off light ; glowing ; bright |
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machination |
n scheming activity for an evil purpose |
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magnanimous |
a forgiving ; unresentful ; noble in spirit ; generous |
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magnate |
n a rich powerful or very successful businessperson |
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malaise |
n a feeling of depression uneasiness or queasiness |
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malfeasance |
n an illegal act especially by a public official |
| |
malinger |
v to pretend to be sick to avoid doing work |
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malleable |
a easy to shape or bend |
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mandate |
n a command or authorization to do something ; the will of the voters as expressed by the results of an election |
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manifest |
a visible ; evident |
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manifesto |
n a public declaration of beliefs or principles usually political ones |
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marshal |
v to arrange in order ; to gather together for the purpose of doing something ; |
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martial |
a warlike ; having to do with combat |
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martyr |
n someone who gives up his or her life in pursuit of a cause especially a religious one ; one who suffers for a cause ; one who makes a show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy |
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matriculate |
v to enroll especially at a college |
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maudlin |
a silly and overly sentimental |
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maverick |
n a nonconformist ; a rebel |
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maxim |
n a fundamental principle ; an old saying |
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mediate |
v to help settle differences |
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mellifluous |
a sweetly flowing |
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mendacious |
a lying ; dishonest |
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mendicant |
n a beggar beggar |
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mentor |
n a teacher tutor counselor or coach ; especially in business an experienced person who shows an inexperienced person the ropes teacher tutor |
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mercenary |
n a hired soldier ; someone who will do anything for money |
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mercurial |
a emotionally unpredictable ; rapidly changing in mood |
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metamorphosis |
n a magical change in form ; a striking or sudden change |
| |
microcosm |
n the world in miniature |
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milieu |
n environment ; surroundings |
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minuscule |
a very tiny |
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misanthropic |
a hating mankind |
| |
mitigate |
v to moderate the effect of something |
| |
mollify |
v to soften ; to soothe ; to pacify |
| |
monolithic |
a massive solid uniform and unyielding |
| |
moribund |
a dying |
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morose |
a gloomy ; sullen gloomy sullen |
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mortify |
a to humiliate |
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mundane |
a ordinary ; pretty boring ; not heavenly and eternal |
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munificent |
a very generous ; lavish lavish |
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myopia |
a nearsightedness ; lack of foresight ; |
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myriad |
n a huge number ; |
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narcissism |
n excessive love of ones body or oneself |
| |
nebulous |
a vague ; hazy ; indistinct ; |
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nefarious |
a evil ; flagrantly wicked |
| |
neologism |
n a new word or phrase ; a new usage of a word |
| |
nepotism |
n showing favoritism to friends of family in business or politics |
| |
nihilism |
n the belief that there are no values or morals in the universe |
| |
nominal |
a in name only ; insignificant ; A-OK during rocket launches |
| |
nostalgia |
n sentimental longing for the past ; homesickness; homesickness |
| |
notorious |
a famous for something bad |
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novel |
a new ; original ; |
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noxious |
a harmful ; offensive ; |
| |
nuance |
n a subtle difference or distinction |
| |
obdurate |
a stubborn and insensitive |
| |
obfuscate |
v to darken ; to confuse ; to make confusing |
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oblique |
a indirect ; at an angle ; |
| |
oblivion |
n total forgetfulness ; the state of being forgotten ; |
| |
obscure |
a unknown ; hard to understand ; dark |
| |
obsequious |
a fawning ; subservient ; sucking up to |
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obtuse |
a insensitive ; blockheaded |
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officious |
a annoyingly eager to help or advise |
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onerous |
a burdensome ; oppressive |
| |
opaque |
a impossible to see through ; impossible to understand |
| |
opulent |
a luxurious |
| |
orthodox |
a conventional ; adhering to established principles or doctrines especially in religion ; by the book |
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ostensible |
a apparent but misleading ; professed |
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ostentatious |
a excessively conspicuous ; showing off |
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pacify |
v to calm someone down ; to placate |
