 | Term | Definition |
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languid |
(adj.) sluggish from fatigue or weakness (In the summer months, the great heat makes people languid and lazy |
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larceny |
(n.) obtaining another's property by theft or trickery (When my car was not where I had left it, I realized that I was a victim of larceny |
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largess |
(n.) the generous giving of lavish gifts (My boss demonstrated great largess by giving me a new car |
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latent |
(adj.) hidden, but capable of being exposed (Sigmund's dream represented his latent paranoid obsession with other people's shoes |
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lavish |
1. (adj.) given without limits (Because they had worked very hard, the performers appreciated the critic's lavish praise.) 2. (v.) to give without limits (Because the performers had worked hard, they deserved the praise that the critic lavished on them |
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legerdemain |
(n.) deception, slight-of-hand (Smuggling the French plants through customs by claiming that they were fake was a remarkable bit of legerdemain |
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lenient |
(adj.) demonstrating tolerance or gentleness (Because Professor Oglethorpe allowed his students to choose their final grades, the other teachers believed that he was excessively lenient |
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lethargic |
(adj.) in a state of sluggishness or apathy (When Jean Claude explained to his boss that he was lethargic and didn't feel like working that day, the boss fired him |
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liability |
1. (n.) something for which one is legally responsible, usually involving a disadvantage or risk (The bungee-jumping tower was a great liability for the owners of the carnival.) 2. (n.) a handicap, burden (Because she often lost her concentration and didn't play defense, Marcy was a liability to the team |
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libertarian |
(adj.) advocating principles of liberty and free will (The dissatisfied subjects overthrew the monarch and replaced him with a libertarian ruler who respected their democratic principles |
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limpid |
(adj.) clear, transparent (Mr. Johnson's limpid writing style greatly pleased readers who disliked complicated novels |
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linchpin |
(n.) something that holds separate parts together (The linchpin in the prosecution's case was the hair from the defendant's head, which was found at the scene of the crime |
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lithe |
(adj.) graceful, flexible, supple (Although the dancers were all outstanding, Jae Sun's control of her lithe body was particularly impressive |
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litigant |
(n.) someone engaged in a lawsuit (When the litigants began screaming at each other, Judge Koch ordered them to be silent |
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lucid |
(adj.) clear, easily understandable (Because Guenevere's essay was so lucid, I only had to read it once to understand her reasoning |
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lurid |
(adj.) ghastly, sensational (Gideon's story, in which he described a character torturing his sister's dolls, was judged too lurid to be printed in the school's literary magazine |
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maelstrom |
(n.) a destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects (Little did the explorers know that as they turned the next bend of the calm river a vicious maelstrom would catch their boat |
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magnanimous |
(adj.) noble, generous (Although I had already broken most of her dishes, Jacqueline was magnanimous enough to continue letting me use them |
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malediction |
(n.) a curse (When I was arrested for speeding, I screamed maledictions against the policeman and the entire police department |
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malevolent |
(adj.) wanting harm to befall others (The malevolent old man sat in the park all day, tripping unsuspecting passersby with his cane |
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malleable |
(adj.) capable of being shaped or transformed (Maximillian's political opinions were so malleable that anyone he talked to was able to change his mind instantly |
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mandate |
(n.) an authoritative command (In the Old Testament, God mandates that no one should steal |
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manifest |
1. (adj.) easily understandable, obvious (When I wrote the wrong sum on the chalkboard, my mistake was so manifest that the entire class burst into laughter.) 2. (v.) to show plainly (His illness first manifested itself with particularly violent hiccups |
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manifold |
(adj.) diverse, varied (The popularity of Dante's Inferno is partly due to the fact that the work allows for manifold interpretations |
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maudlin |
(adj.) weakly sentimental (Although many people enjoy romantic comedies, I usually find them maudlin and shallow |
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maverick |
(n.) an independent, nonconformist person (Andreas is a real maverick and always does things his own way |
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mawkish |
(adj.) characterized by sick sentimentality (Although some nineteenth-century critics viewed Dickens's writing as mawkish, contemporary readers have found great emotional depth in his works |
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meager |
(adj.) deficient in size or quality (My meager portion of food did nothing to satisfy my appetite |
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medley |
(n.) a mixture of differing things (Susannah's wardrobe contained an astonishing medley of colors, from olive green to fluorescent pink |
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mendacious |
(adj.) having a lying, false character (The mendacious content of the tabloid magazines is at least entertaining |
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mercurial |
(adj.) characterized by rapid change or temperamentality (Though he was widely respected for his mathematical proofs, the mercurial genius was impossible to live with |
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meritorious |
(adj.) worthy of esteem or reward (Manfred was given the congressional medal of honor for his meritorious actions |
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metamorphosis |
(n.) the change of form, shape, substance (Winnifred went to the gym every day for a year and underwent a metamorphosis from a waiflike girl to an athletic woman |
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mitigate |
(v.) to make less violent, alleviate (When I had an awful sore throat, only warm tea would mitigate the pain |
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moderate |
1. (adj.) not extreme (Luckily, the restaurant we chose had moderate prices; none of us have any money.) 2. (n.) one who expresses moderate opinions (Because he found both the liberal and conservative proposals too excessive, Mr. Park sided with the moderates |
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modicum |
(n.) a small amount of something (Refusing to display even a modicum of sensitivity, Henrietta announced her boss's affair in front of the entire office |
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modulate |
(v.) to pass from one state to another, especially in music (The composer wrote a piece that modulated between minor and major keys |
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mollify |
(v.) to soften in temper (The police officer mollified the angry woman by giving her a warning instead of a ticket |
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morass |
(n.) a wet swampy bog; figuratively, something that traps and confuses (When Theresa lost her job, she could not get out of her financial morass |
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mores |
(n.) the moral attitudes and fixed customs of a group of people. (Mores change over time; many things that were tolerated in 1975 are no longer seen as being socially acceptable |
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morose |
(adj.) gloomy or sullen (Jason's morose nature made him very unpleasant to talk to |
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multifarious |
(adj.) having great diversity or variety (This Swiss Army knife has multifarious functions and capabilities. Among other things, it can act as a knife, a saw, a toothpick, and a slingshot |
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mundane |
(adj.) concerned with the world rather than with heaven, commonplace (He is more concerned with the mundane issues of day-to-day life than with spiritual topics |
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munificence |
(n.) generosity in giving (The royal family's munificence made everyone else in their country rich |
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mutable |
(adj.) able to change (Because fashion is so mutable, what is trendy today will look outdated in five years |
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myriad |
(adj.) consisting of a very great number (It was difficult to decide what to do Friday night because the city presented us with myriad possibilities for fun |
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nadir |
(n.) the lowest point of something (My day was boring, but the nadir came when I accidentally spilled a bowl of spaghetti on my head |
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nefarious |
(adj.) heinously villainous (Although Dr. Meanman's nefarious plot to melt the polar icecaps was terrifying, it was so impractical that nobody really worried about it |
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negligent |
(adj.) habitually careless, neglectful (Jessie's grandfather called me a negligent fool after I left the door to his apartment unlocked even though there had been a recent string of robberies |
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neophyte |
(n.) someone who is young or inexperienced (As a neophyte in the literary world, Malik had trouble finding a publisher for his first novel |
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noisome |
(adj.) unpleasant, offensive, especially to the sense of smell (Nobody would enter the stalls until the horse's noisome leavings were taken away |
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nomadic |
(adj.) wandering from place to place (In the first six months after college, Jose led a nomadic life, living in New York, California, and Idaho |
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nominal |
(adj.) trifling, insignificant (Because he was moving the following week and needed to get rid of his furniture more than he needed money, Jordan sold everything for a nominal fee |
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nonchalant |
(adj.) having a lack of concern, indifference (Although deep down she was very angry, Marsha acted in a nonchalant manner when she found out that her best friend had used her clothing without asking |
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nondescript |
(adj.) lacking a distinctive character (I was surprised when I saw the movie star in person because she looked nondescript |
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notorious |
(adj.) widely and unfavorably known (Jacob was notorious for always arriving late at parties |
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noxious |
(adj.) harmful, unwholesome (Environmentalists showed that the noxious weeds were destroying the insects' natural habitats |
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nuance |
(n.) a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression (The nuances of the poem were not obvious to the casual reader, but the professor was able to point them out |
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obdurate |
(adj.) unyielding to persuasion or moral influences (The obdurate old man refused to take pity on the kittens |
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obfuscate |
(v.) to render incomprehensible (The detective did want to answer the newspaperman's questions, so he obfuscated the truth |
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oblique |
(adj.) diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward (Martin's oblique language confused those who listened to him |
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oblivious |
(adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something (Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late |
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obscure |
(adj.) unclear, partially hidden (Because he was standing in the shadows, his features were obscure |
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obsequious |
(adj.) excessively compliant or submissive (Mark acted like Janet's servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner |
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obsolete |
(adj.) no longer used, out of date (With the inventions of tape decks and CDs, which both have better sound and are easier to use, eight-track players are now entirely obsolete |
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obstinate |
(adj.) not yielding easily, stubborn (The obstinate child refused to leave the store until his mother bought him a candy bar |
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obstreperous |
(adj.) noisy, unruly (Billy's obstreperous behavior prompted the librarian to ask him to leave the reading room |
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obtuse |
(adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect (Political opponents warned that the prime minister's obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war |
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officious |
(adj.) offering one's services when they are neither wanted nor needed (Brenda resented Allan's officious behavior when he selected colors that might best improve her artwork |
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ominous |
(adj.) foreboding or foreshadowing evil (The fortuneteller's ominous words flashed through my mind as the hooded figure approached me in the alley |
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onerous |
(adj.) burdensome (My parents lamented that the pleasures of living in a beautiful country estate no longer outweighed the onerous mortgage payments |
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opulent |
(adj.) characterized by rich abundance verging on ostentation (The opulent furnishings of the dictator's private compound contrasted harshly with the meager accommodations of her subjects |
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oration |
(n.) a speech delivered in a formal or ceremonious manner (The prime minister was visibly shaken when the unruly parliament interrupted his oration about failed domestic policies |
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orthodox |
(adj.) conventional, conforming to established protocol (The company's profits dwindled because the management pursued orthodox business policies that were incompatible with new industrial trends |
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oscillate |
(v.) to sway from one side to the other (My uncle oscillated between buying a station wagon to transport his family and buying a sports car to satisfy his boyhood fantasies |
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ostensible |
(adj.) appearing as such, seemingly (Jack's ostensible reason for driving was that airfare was too expensive, but in reality, he was afraid of flying |
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ostentatious |
(adj.) excessively showy, glitzy (On the palace tour, the guide focused on the ostentatious decorations and spoke little of the royal family's history |
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ostracism |
(n.) exclusion from a group (Beth risked ostracism if her roommates discovered her flatulence |
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pacific |
(adj.) soothing (The chemistry professor's pacific demeanor helped the class remain calm after the experiment exploded |
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palatable |
(adj.) agreeable to the taste or sensibilities (Despite the unpleasant smell, the exotic cheese was quite palatable |
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pallid |
(adj.) lacking color (Dr. Van Helsing feared that Lucy's pallid complexion was due to an unexplained loss of blood |
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panacea |
(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties (Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not |
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paradigm |
(n.) an example that is a perfect pattern or model (Because the new SUV was so popular, it became the paradigm upon which all others were modeled |
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paradox |
(n.) an apparently contradictory statement that is perhaps true (The diplomat refused to acknowledge the paradox that negotiating a peace treaty would demand more resources than waging war |
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paramount |
(adj.) greatest in importance, rank, character (It was paramount that the bomb squad disconnect the blue wire before removing the fuse |
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pariah |
(n.) an outcast (Following the discovery of his plagiarism, Professor Hurley was made a pariah in all academic circles |
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parody |
(n.) a satirical imitation (A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find Deborah acting out a parody of his teaching style |
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parsimony |
(n.) frugality, stinginess (Many relatives believed that my aunt's wealth resulted from her parsimony |
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partisan |
(n.) a follower, adherent (The king did not believe that his rival could round up enough partisans to overthrow the monarchy |
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patent |
(adj.) readily seen or understood, clear (The reason for Jim's abdominal pain was made patent after the doctor performed a sonogram |
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pathology |
(n.) a deviation from the normal (Dr. Hastings had difficulty identifying the precise nature of Brian's pathology |
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pejorative |
(adj.) derogatory, uncomplimentary (The evening's headline news covered an international scandal caused by a pejorative statement the famous senator had made in reference to a foreign leader |
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pellucid |
(adj.) easily intelligible, clear (Wishing his book to be pellucid to the common man, Albert Camus avoided using complicated grammar when composing The Stranger |
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penchant |
(n.) a tendency, partiality, preference (Jill's dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchant for Mexican dishes |
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penitent |
(adj.) remorseful, regretful (The jury's verdict may have been more lenient if the criminal had appeared penitent for his gruesome crimes |
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penultimate |
(adj.) next to last (Having smoked the penultimate cigarette remaining in the pack, Cybil discarded the last cigarette and resolved to quit smoking |
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perfidious |
(adj.) disloyal, unfaithful (After the official was caught selling government secrets to enemy agents, he was executed for his perfidious ways |
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perfunctory |
(adj.) showing little interest or enthusiasm (The radio broadcaster announced the news of the massacre in a surprisingly perfunctory manner |
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permeate |
(v.) to spread throughout, saturate (Mrs. Huxtable was annoyed that the wet dog's odor had permeated the furniture's upholstery |
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pernicious |
(adj.) extremely destructive or harmful (The new government feared that |
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perplex |
(v.) to confuse (Brad was perplexed by his girlfriend's suddenly distant manner |
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perspicacity |
(adj.) shrewdness, perceptiveness (The detective was too humble to acknowledge that his perspicacity was the reason for his professional success |
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pert |
(adj.) flippant, bold (My parents forgave Sandra's pert humor at the dinner table because it had been so long since they had last seen her |
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pertinacious |
(adj.) stubbornly persistent (Harry's parents were frustrated with his |
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petulance |
(n.) rudeness, irritability (The Nanny resigned after she could no longer tolerate the child's petulance |
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philanthropic |
(adj.) charitable, giving (Many people felt that the billionaire's decision to donate her fortune to house the homeless was the ultimate philanthropic act |
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phlegmatic |
(adj.) uninterested, unresponsive (Monique feared her dog was ill after the animal's phlegmatic response to his favorite chew toy |
