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Barrons GRE Wordlist 4,759 words

Terms in this set (4759)

lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect

subside or moderate

renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)

abnormal or deviant

deviation from the normal; mental disorder

assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

suspended action

(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology

renounce upon oath

renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation

cancel; put an end to

detestable; extremely unpleasant

being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine

unsuccessful; fruitless

rubbing away; tending to grind down

condense or shorten

cutting off; separation

depart secretly and hide

complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism

pardon (an offense)

refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote

sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote

theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

coarsely insulting; physically harmful

border upon; adjoin

enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit

related to a school; not practical or directly useful

easy to approach; obtainable

additional object; useful but not essential thing

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

adjust to climate or environment; adapt

sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity

award of merit; strong praise and approval

oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging

partner in crime

approach and speak first to a person

equip; N. accoutrement

growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete

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

bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)

slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic

recognize; admit

peak; pinnacle; highest point

science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in

assent; agree passively; comply without protest

deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner

bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent

stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior

fear of heights

calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics

someone who advises insurance companies

motivate; activate; cause to act

sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)

mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen

(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain

wise saying; proverb

adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially

hard; inflexible

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.

addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)

compulsive habitual need

make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)

direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech

expert at; very skilled

stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality

supporter; follower

adjoining; neighboring; close by

something attached to but holding an inferior position

solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly

staff officer assisting the commander; assistant

warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove

skillful (in using mind or hand)

flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved

make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances

accidental; casual; happening by chance

opponent; enemy

going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile

great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event

support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something

speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for

shield; protection; defense

aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)

nest of a large bird of prey

artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics

easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly

artificial; pretended

written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)

joining; associating with

feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages

positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination

state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on

abundance; wealth

insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally

items of business at a meeting

collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap

make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement

sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars

filled with great surprise or fear; horrified

nimbleness; ability to move quickly

stir up; disturb

one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality

highly excited; intensely curious

pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform

cheerful promptness without reluctance

medieval chemistry

an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias

make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of

supplying nourishment

payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce

state without proof

story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable

repetition of beginning sound in poetry

assign; set apart for a particular purpose

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

refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference

entice; attract; tempt

apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature

pertaining to soil deposits left by running water

apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.

upward; high up in the air

unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism

(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body

combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth

collect (gradually, in a very large amount)

capable of using either hand with equal ease

environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature

unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation

the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions

walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly

food of the gods

drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees

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

correct; change ; generally for the better

convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies

agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly

peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement

wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.

friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations

pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)

nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong

moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances

formless; lacking shape or definition

able to live both on land and in water; N.

oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena

enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space

increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph

cut off part of body; prune (a limb)

in a state of rage; Ex. run amok

charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck

an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic

causing insensitivity to pain; N.

condition of being unable to feel pain

comparable; similar

similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things

person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority

absence of governing body; state of disorder

solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize

family descent; ADJ. ancestral

secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage

serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.

short story of an amusing or interesting event

condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic

substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia

acute pain; extreme suffering

sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner

critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval

lively; spirited

hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition

records arranged in yearly parts; history

reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)

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

comment; make explanatory notes

yearly allowance

run away secretly with the intention of getting married

drug that relieves pain or trouble; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement

consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)

abnormal; irregular

state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous

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

preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background

antiquated; extremely ancient

song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem

book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus

manlike; resembling a human being; N.

student of the history and science of humankind

anthropomorphic

having human form or characteristics

letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting

remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles

aversion; dislike or opposition

obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated

substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.

contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical

iron block used in hammering out metals

lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic

imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)

opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light

tip; summit; climax; highest point

loss of speech due to injury or illness

pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic

a place where bees are kept

box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive

person who keeps bees

poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence

good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position

prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse

(of a story) widely believed but untrue

highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee

having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs

one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia

stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain

one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy

druggist; pharmacist

apothegm(apophthegm)

pithy, compact saying

elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something

dismay; shock deeply

pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement

diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself

appropriate; fitting

estimate value of; N. appraisal

be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference

arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension

fearful; discerning

acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate

subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing

with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.

fitness; talent

curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose

fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land

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

unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler

act as judge (at the request of both sides)

place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited

of or living in trees

a covered passageway usually lined with shops

esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener

study of artifacts and relics of early mankind

antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.

prototype; primitive pattern

chief; first; Ex. archbishop

group of closely located islands

public records; place where public records are kept

heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent

hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work

slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people

operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio

(of land) dry; barren; unproductive

hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat

fleet of warships

fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell

charge in court; indict

marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array

being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done

lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia

pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

blood-vessel; CF. vein

effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints

storage place for military equipment

object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced

deception; trickery

a manually skilled worker

without guile; open and honest

controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant

find out for certain; make certain

practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism

refer; attribute; assign

preventing infection; having a cleansing effect

ash-colored; deadly pale

stupid; Ex. asinine remarks

with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at

crookedly; slanted; at an angle

sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter

slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on

seeker after position or status

seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership

analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)

agree; accept; N. assessment

state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence

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)

mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)

something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume

a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent

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 fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty

eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism

relating to the stars

binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism

enormously large or extensive

wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage

into parts; apart; V. sunder

place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)

not identical on both sides of a dividing central line

resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic

denying the existence of God; N. atheism

make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for

brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious

wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)

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

make thin; weaken

testify; bear witness

essential quality; V: ascribe; explain

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

not normal; not typical

daring; bold; N. audacity

examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.

increase; add to

omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)

impressive; majestic

sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light

pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis

favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices

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

subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father

having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive

having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy

mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself

self-governing; N. autonomy

examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.

offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant

great mass of falling snow and ice

greediness for wealth

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.

state confidently; declare as true

reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work

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.

enclosure for birds; large cage

greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity

secondary or minor occupation

declare openly; N. avowal

of or like an uncle

solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome

terrible; very bad

pointed tool used for piercing

distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.

self-evident truth requiring no proof

chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.

noisy party with a lot of drinking

the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus

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

teasing conversation; banter; joking talk

frustrate; perplex

harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals

evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look

stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate

heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast

something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees

sudden sharp feeling of pain

soft and mild (of air); fragrant

hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed

discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with

posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous

joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter

sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark

shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie

making no attempt to change one's bad practices

barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism

counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar

lawyer in the lower court of law

trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money

luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth

take pleasure in great comfort

stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism

let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate

trinket; cheap jewel; trifle

indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd

giving or showing bliss; blissful

complete happiness; ADJ. blissful

blessedness; state of great happiness

of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism

dress with vulgar finery

beautiful clothes for a special occasion

wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled

direct quick route

confuse thoroughly

make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused

father; become the father of; produce; give rise to

envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.

deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.

deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile

huge creature; something of monstrous size or power

obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude

behoove(behove)

be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.

harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically

besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset

contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.

disparage; depreciate

lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of

confused; lost in thought; preoccupied

gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose

kindly; doing good

helpful; useful; advantageous

person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will

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

generous; charitable; having a wish to do good

kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor

determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination

leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest

state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft

deprived of (someone beloved through death)

deprived of (something valuable); lacking

mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited

beg; plead with

harass or trouble from all directions; hem in

surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.

surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually

soil; defile; make dirty

beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel

signify; indicate; be a sign of

outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude

be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.

become engaged to marry

large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets

two-chambered as a legislative body

every two years

divided into two branches; forked

stubborn intolerance

one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)

not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one's own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate

suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated

swelling out in waves; surging

large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows

long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.

powerful movement of or like a wave; V.

temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.

fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional

bleach; whiten; make white or pale

soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence

loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light

unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.

make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder

bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored

irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege

extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy

cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing

suffering from a disease; destroyed

plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy

blithe(blithesome)

(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air

talkative boaster; braggart

club; heavy-headed weapon; V.

pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured

error; stupid mistake

utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement

blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale

one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.

foreshadow; portend

counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview

unconventional (in an artistic way)

violent; rough; noisy

support; reinforce

door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a door); gobble down

move or throw suddenly and quickly

eat very quickly

attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard

pompous; using inflated language

grandiloquent, pompous speech

blessing; benefit; something very helpful

rude; insensitive

rude, insensitive person

clear beef (or meat) soup

generous; graciously generous; showing bounty

kind in a generous way (to someone less important)

middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions

cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm

expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler

somewhat saline

boaster; bragger

wave around (a weapon); flourish

swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery

walk or behave with an over-confident manner

human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness

muscular; having well-developed muscles

strong and firm (in the body)

insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence

breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.

conciseness; shortness of duration

tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)

brownish yellow

rising like bristles; showing irritation

short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly

hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation

introduce as a subject; moot; open up

rich, figured(patterned) fabric

ornamental clasp; pin

hold firmly within arms

tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream

bully; intimidate

graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually

(of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an animal) to feed on grass; scrape (esp. the skin) or touch lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can't graze the cattle till summer; N: surface wound

read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid

main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument

blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice

rustic; pastoral

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

hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack

stupid person; clown

act stupidly; play the fool; N.

bugbear; object of baseless terror

gold and silver in the form of bars

strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends

mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior

mismanage; blow

able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market

overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic

grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon

give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly

make shiny by rubbing; polish

support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress

support placed under or against something; V.

full-bosomed; plump; jolly

pleasantly fat; nicely rounded

small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests

hiding place; V.

discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds

corpse; dead human body

like a corpse; pale

rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm

persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle

persuade by flattery

disaster; misery

deliberately planned; likely

caldron(cauldron)

ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber

beautiful writing; excellent penmanship

hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind

area of thick hard skin

youthful; immature; inexperienced

heat-producing; N. calorie

malicious misrepresentation; slander

good-fellowship; CF. comrade

shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film

unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report

frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid

related to dogs; doglike

any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer

sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate

shrewd in money matters; thrifty

insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people

ill-humored; irritable

story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)

slow gallop; V. CF. trot

division of a long poem

determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.

mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president

having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity

surrender; give up all resistance

whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause

unpredictable; fickle

title; chapter heading; text under illustration

faultfinding; too critical

glass water bottle; decanter

shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)

unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold

causing cancer; N. carcinogen

chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order

doctor specializing in ailments of the heart

lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger

rush wildly; go at full speed

swing from side to side; influence (someone) to change one's opinion; N.

distortion; burlesque

a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played

destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals

fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body

meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore

drunken revel; V. carouse

petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble

rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture

small waterfall

one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige

punishment; severe criticism or disapproval

serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle

happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark

deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change

agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis

slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult

throw forcefully; shout out violently

great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)

calamity ; disaster

shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.

book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize

without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute

reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of something stated

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

purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.

(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes

private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston

make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)

implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality

burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless

burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection

procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry

casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight

quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily

yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession

speed; rapidity

life after death

life after death; later part of one's life

abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy

(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.

severely critical

blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval

mythical figure, half man and half horse

denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)

radiating; departing from the center

machine that separates substances by whirling them

tending toward the center

Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)

pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum

thought; working of the brain

marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy

not done politely without due formalities

yielding to another; ceding

warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.

worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff

bantering; joking

annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)

goblet; consecrated cup

lizard that changes color in different situations

support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)

position of champion; defense or support; competition held to determine a champion

in utter disorder

divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism

quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)

cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold

ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch

abyss; very deep crack

framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached

morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere

discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate

punish as by beating; criticize severely

blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin

stop motion; curb or restrain

checkered (chequered)

marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares

angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order

trickery; deception

scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)

fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature

swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting

lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp

courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry

hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera

art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances

daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task

chuckle with delight; N.

long established as a disease

report; record (in chronological order)

boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo

having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash

nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.

small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)

closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place

indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)

limit; confine; draw a line around

prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought

outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around

reservoir or water tank

quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record

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

having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance

understanding the nature of an event after it has actually happened

climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble

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

older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman

loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging

striker (tongue) of a bell

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

shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times

fear of being locked in

disorderly fight between two or more people

split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven

disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement

phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clichéd

platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement

body of customers

relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic

small exclusive group of people

monastery or convent

great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist

distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess

congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant

half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.

combine; fuse; N. coalescence

partnership; league; union of separate political parties

concluding section of a musical or literary composition

treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs

supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will

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

use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce

living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age

tooth projecting from a wheel

think over; ponder

having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.

having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing

knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware

tendency to keep together

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)

make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented

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

utensil with perforated bottom used for straining

work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy

work of art put together from fragments

small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel

examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)

security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters

a light meal; collating

pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression

informal discussion; conversation

conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude

gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance

in a coma; extremely sleepy

deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow

easily burned; N. CF. combustion

attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance

not good-looking; unattractive

something fit to be eaten

deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke

what someone deserves

courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations

take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes

first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript

current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid swallowed at a time

remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp

honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war

equal in extent; of the same size

feel or express pity or sympathy for

spacious and comfortable

held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune

small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature

agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement

harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together

overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel

compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse

obligatory; that must be done

resulting from compulsion

brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious

making up for; repaying

listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling

assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary

self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent

self-satisfied; complacent

trying to please; obliging; willing to please others

complete; consummate; make perfect; N.

serving to complete something

conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply

readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements

participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)

element; ingredient

bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment

send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment

deportment; connection

mental calmness

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. factory compound; CF. complex

broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive

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.

include; consist of

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.

remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt

reckon; calculate

count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose

link as in a chain

hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex

admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal

vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)

full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity

having a common center

beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception

mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together

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

reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)

brief and compact

private secret meeting

decisive; ending all debate

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

that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else

harmony; accord

formal agreement

agree; coincide; happen at the same time

happening at the same time; in agreement

(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior

adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved

seasonings; spices

express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow

overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse

helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards

aqueduct; passageway for fluids

confidant(confidante)

trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)

tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about

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 this in confidence; Ex. exchange confidences about their boyfriends; ADJ. confident

spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary

shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement

seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer

flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together

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

confuse; puzzle

freeze; coagulate

pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather

existing at birth

mass of material sticking together

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.

correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity

in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous

pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen

surmise; guess; V.

pertaining to marriage

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.

pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire

person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art

suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote

pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state

state of being married

property inherited from a father

kinship; relationship by birth

consanguineous(consanguine)

having a common ancestor

scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker

draftee; person forced into military service; V.

dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor

general agreement; opinion reached by a group

self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent

conservatory(conservatoire)

school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy

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

absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous

lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation

unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen

harmony; agreement

harmonious; in agreement; N.

associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)

treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)

take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.

great shock; dismay

supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component

voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)

constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions

restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison

explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue

infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air

strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures

scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible

struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly

assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition

opinion put forward and supported by reasoned arguments

lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase

quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments

dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.

writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs

adjacent to; touching upon

self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent

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

twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist

illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.

contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention

penitent; repentant; N. contrition

unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.

invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention

something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme

oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy

stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)

injure without breaking the skin; N.

riddle; difficult problem

come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council

social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement

ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons

approach; tend to meet; come together

familiar with; having knowledge of

one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief

curving outward

vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance

judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief

pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial

call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation

coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain

violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive

flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.

behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal triflingly with; N: one (or woman) given to flirting; ADJ. flirtatious

warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome

extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress;

projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars)

horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty

natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)

bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible

very fat; N. corpulence

collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse

red or white cell in the blood

mutual relationship

either of the correlated things; V.

confirm; support; strengthen

destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)

eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce

wrinkled; ridged

small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.

pertaining to the universe; vast

group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests

approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance

cancel; revoke (an order)

thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system

highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills

join; unite; OP. uncouple

binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise

agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power

secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt

avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)

terrorize; intimidate

shrink quivering as from fear; cringe

shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer

cheat; hoodwink; swindle

sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting

bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry

very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior

belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous

system of religious or ethical belief

increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent

too improbable to be believed; implausible; Ex. far-fetched story

musical introduction to a long musical piece; first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace

dejected; dispirited

top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird

shrink back as if in fear; cower

standards used in judging; CF. criterion

hag; ugly old woman

(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion

essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance

secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)

mysterious; hidden; secret

small chamber used for sleeping or work

one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided

style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine

relating to cooking or kitchen

pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.

highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war

deserving blame; blameworthy

one guilty of a crime

artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road

heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform

growing by addition; accumulative

greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid

superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)

churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person

(of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined

casual; hastily done with little attention to detail

shorten; reduce

skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness

object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor

work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid

raised platform for speakers or other important people

trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time

damp; unpleasantly wet

neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry

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

spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing

dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.

intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten

loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing

standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate

condition of no movement or activity; stop

wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face

sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster

degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement

go down on one's knee(s)

corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)

lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive

weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble

match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu

(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition

rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed

expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule

young woman making formal entrance into society

d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society

decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent

pour off gently (wine or liquid)

falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth

kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of

decode; CF. indecipherable

(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)

authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree

decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts

propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct

proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)

lure or bait; V.

state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age

weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man

express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films

derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning

spoil the appearance of

harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory

failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.

resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism

shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)

give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous

courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery

refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant

pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains

most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court

turn aside; turn away from a straight course

destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant

provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay

strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock

long loose garment (worn by monks)

dead; no longer in use or existence

become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person

humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank

disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable

remove water from; dry out

turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity

condescend; stoop

bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying

erase; strike out

consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow

portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation

mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious

flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river

flood; rush; V.

false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that

deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises

dig; search deeply; investigate

person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery

disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave

behavior; bearing

related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population

destruction; V. demolish

demoniac(demoniacal)

fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil

evil spirit; devil

of or pertaining to the people

object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday

(of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure

blacken; defame

(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor

meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation

final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained

condemn; criticize; N. denunciation

public revelation of something discreditable

reduce; exhaust

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

spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically

army unit made up of four or more companies

dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify

testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning

extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave

express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory

lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value

plundering; destruction

organization for a special purpose; V: establish

instituting; (building for the) organization; established custom, practice, or relationship in a society; mental hospital; Ex. institution of marriage

institutionalize

make into an institution; put or confine in an institution

negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person

neglect of duty; abandonment

ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect

ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory

unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.

deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word

one who studies the skin and its diseases

skin disease (on the face)

expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage

catch sight of (something distant)

profane; violate the sanctity of

break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually; Ex. violate graves

(of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless

make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert

reckless, desperate outlaw

having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort

look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible

plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village

without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection

tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism

extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience

make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil

aimless; haphazard; digressing at random

emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment

keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention

having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final

resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision

something that discourages or deters

slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor

harmful; damaging; N. detriment

turn away from (a principle, norm); move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism

roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route

think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest

deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to

work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away

enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach

pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope

skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity

diabolic; devilish; fiendish

relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments

sheer; transparent

bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse

division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)

authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)

(of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism

metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice

shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident

wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse

wandering away from the subject; V. digress

falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation

expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)

delaying; tending to delay

situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives

aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight

steadiness of effort; persistent hard work

make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president

lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish

continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition

tired after long work; V.

small boat (often ship's boat)

leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown

(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain

(of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.

means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work

life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background

warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food

funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)

correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief

disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty

disapproval; condemnation

state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray

denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim

dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.

pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse

distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement

mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive

disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer

reveal; N. disclosure

discombobulated

discomposed; confused

disturb the composure of; confuse

frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb

confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb

hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)

conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)

not harmonious; conflicting

disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost

serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.

defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful

lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions

separate; unconnected

prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary

able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination

distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference

quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor

(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)

treat with scorn or contempt

debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark

disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise

uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage

mar the appearance of; spoil

surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge

make discontented

untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel

not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous

dig up; unearth; OP. inter

unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective

disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin

act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive

remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge

take apart; disassemble

loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core

hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)

cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb

eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal

maneuver(manoeuver)

strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end

basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated

difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity

calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings

speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill

scatter; drive away; cause to vanish

distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule

scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd

lacking in spirit

amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert

argumentative; fond of argument

uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious

formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report

analysis; cutting apart in order to examine

disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend

distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)

formal essay; treatise

dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.

pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble

squander; waste foolishly; scatter

disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life

diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction

persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion

reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly

expand; swell out

refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew

honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction

clearly different; clearly noticed

clearly different from others of the same kind

twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion

absentminded; distracted

upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry

take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted

daily; occurring during the daytime

operatic singer; prima donna

vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating

differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N. diversity: variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance

act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse

strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)

perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination

use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals

obedient; easily managed; submissive

fierce; violent; N. ferocity

program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket

unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties

teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal

cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism

provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.

shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder

deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise

take off; OP. don

determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean

continue steadily in spite of difficulties

opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal

blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums

state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)

sorrowful; N. dolor

slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull

home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.

rule over tyrannically

control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height

exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive

put on; OP. doff

clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy outfit

sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent

window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room

relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin

file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back

senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage

be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline

sullen; gloomy; stubborn

silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy

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

plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse

untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman

disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward

dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life

extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician

sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue

nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense

speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail

flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.

fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops

flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.

queer and amusing

strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal

idle person who lives on other people's work; male bee

talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.

low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble

waste matter; worthless impurities

hard unpleasant work; menial work

do drudgery; N: person who drudges

questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety

malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled

sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious

dumbfound(dumfound)

astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck

someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive

double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous

length of time something lasts

forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress

dutiful(duteous)

(of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)

shrink; reduce gradually

energetic; vigorously active

generator for producing electricity; energetic person

suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food

abnormal; impaired

word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read

inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract

unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal

of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason

(of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide

showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling

irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric

oddity; idiosyncrasy

ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman

small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)

clergyman attached to a chapel

chaplain (in the armed forces)

selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism

darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse

path of the sun and the planets

person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology

ecological community together with its environment

efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources

rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy

great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous

swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.

decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command

ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent

complete independence and self-government (of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern

instruct; correct morally

building (of imposing size)

weird; causing fear because strange

rub out; remove the surface of

able to produce a desired effect; valid

effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph

effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation

having womanly traits

weaken; castrate

remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)

inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce

having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted

power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual

dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President

imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy

noxious(harmful) smell

rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek

shining brightly; brilliant

pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing

(of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole; make an excessive display of feeling (without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from the wound.

excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical

one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem

egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited

tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively; conceit; self-importance

notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking

exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress

exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate

addition of details; intricacy

work out carefully; add more detail or information; ADJ.

filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation

poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac

draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone)

cure-all; panacea; something invigorating

omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses

elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out

expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced

explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid

evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes me.

relating to paradise; blissful

place or condition of bliss

thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)

issue forth; come out

set free; liberate

ban on commerce or other activity

commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey

enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass

adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding fictitious details)

taking for one's own use in violation of trust; stealing (of money placed in one's care)

ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment

give a bodily form to; incorporate; include

produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design

hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet

decorate with needlework; ornament (a story) with fancy or fictitious details; embellish

throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio

undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of development

correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement

substance causing vomiting; ADJ.

rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position

agent (sent on a mission to represent another); messenger

soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.

salary; payment for an office; compensation

ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc.; identification with and understanding of another's feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy

sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate

based on experience

imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)

in love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V. enamor: inspire with love

encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher

territory enclosed within an alien land

praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy

surround; include; Ex. His activities encompass publishing and computers.

gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another's possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon

burden; N. encumbrance

fond word or act; expression of affection

make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone; ADJ. dear: loved; cherished; high-priced

prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic

approve; support; write one's signature on the back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal

provide with some quality; endow

lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering) for a long time; remain alive (in spite of difficulties); last; survive

invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active

weaken; take away energy from

admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise

attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle

charming; attractive

employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict

cause; produce; give rise to

occupy fully; absorb

increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or usefulness); improve

puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling

baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over a problem in an effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the answer; N.

command; order; forbid

ill will; hatred; hostility

boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; CF. annoy

hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous

please intensely; fill with rapture and delight

settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)

follow (as a result)

make necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit the inheritance of (property) to a specified succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B

full of initiative; showing enterprise

willingness to take new ventures; initiative; business organization; plan (that is difficult or daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round the world in a small boat

capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of (as if magic); hold spellbound

lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract; tempt

behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome

study of insects

put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight

hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition

induced sleeping state; ADJ. hypnotic; V. hypnotize

plead; ask earnestly

entree(entr\'ee)

entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle

businessperson (who assumes the risk of a business venture); contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial

list; mention one by one

announce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory was first enunciated by him.

enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city)

long period of time; an age; longest division of geologic time containing two or more eras

epaulet(epaulette)

ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)

decorative edge of hanging threads; edge

short-lived; fleeting

fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral

long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art (celebrating the feats of a hero); ADJ: (of stories or events) resembling an epic; grand

connoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ. epicurean; CF. Epicurus

believing that pleasure is good and suffering is bad and should be avoided; N.

witty thought or saying, usually short

short speech at conclusion of dramatic work

(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience

philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge; N. epistemology

inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a tombstone)

word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)

perfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody

tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform

calmness of temperament; composure

rider on horseback; ADJ.

balance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity

resembling a horse; Ex. equine face

period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial

balance; balancing force; equilibrium

fair; impartial; OP. inequitable

fairness; justice; OP. inequity

(of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally misleading; (of behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal

use equivocal language to deceive people; lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth; N. equivocation

eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks.

pertaining to passionate love or sexual love

wandering (esp. in search of adventure); straying from proper moral standards; Ex. knight-errant

odd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable

mistaken; wrong; incorrect

(of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition

prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that disobeys rules

mischievous trick

(esp. of a woman's behavior) capricious; often changing, esp. from one lover to another; impulsive

avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks

hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica

adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N. espousal

respect; value; judge; N.

separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N. estrangement

like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air

of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal

relating to races

study of humankind; study of the different races of human beings; CF. anthropology

underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos

study of word parts; study of the origins of words

pertaining to the improvement of race; N. eugenics: study of hereditary improvement of the human race

praising; full of eulogy

expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize

mild expression in place of an unpleasant one; ADJ. euphemistic

sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious

feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being; feeling of great happiness or well-being (when unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric

fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce

not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading; V. evade: avoid (a duty or responsibility) or escape from by deceit

impartial; fair

tending to call up (emotions, memories)

call forth (memory or feeling); Ex. That old film evoked memories of my childhood; N. evocation

male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact

worsen; aggravate; embitter

make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.

extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety

demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction

raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex. exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation

vex; annoy or make angry (by testing the patience)

objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable

exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality

selected passage (written or musical) taken from a longer work; V.

treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer

legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor

keep as precious; cherish

cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good produced and used inside a country; N. excision

cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory

scold with biting har