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Level 4
Level 4 GRE Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
abacus | Outmoded device used for calculating basic arithmetic |
abase | To lower in rank or esteem |
accretion | A gradual increase in size by external addition |
admonition | Gentle reproof; warning |
ado | Bustle, fuss, bother |
alloy | A solid mixture of two or more metals; a mixture; something added that lowers value or purity |
angst | Anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression |
apropos | With reference to, speaking of |
archetype | An ideal example of a type; a quintessence or prototype |
assail | To attack (with violent blows) |
assuage | To cause to be less harsh, violent, or severe, as excitement, appetite, pain, or disease |
astringent | Harsh or severe in nature; sharp and penetrating |
astute | Shrewd in judgment |
atonement | Amends, reparation, or expiation made for a wrong or injury |
attune | To bring into a harmonious relationship |
barrage | An artificial obstruction built in a waterway; a wall of artillery fire |
belabor | To assail verbally; to discuss repeatedly or at excessive length |
berate | To rebuke or scold at length |
bewilder | To confuse or befuddle; to disorient |
bolster | To support or prop up; to buoy |
breach | A rupture, gap or hole |
buoy | To keep afloat; to uplift; a float |
capricious | Characterized by or subject to whim |
cavalier | Carefree and nonchalant; dismissive in an offhand manner |
centurion | A captain of one hundred infantry in the ancient Roman army |
cessation | A ceasing or stopping |
clandestine | Kept or done in secret, often to conceal an illegal purpose |
cogitate | To think carefully about; to ponder |
cognizant | Fully aware of |
collateral | Parallel or accompanying; secondary or subordinate; property acceptable as security for a loan |
collude | To act together to achieve a deceitful purpose; to conspire |
complacence | Self-satisfaction |
complaisance | The inclination to comply willingly with the wishes of others |
conciliate | To overcome distrust or animosity; to appease |
confluence | The flowing together of two or more streams |
connotation | An idea or meaning associated with a word or thing |
consternation | A state of paralyzing dismay |
constrict | To make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing |
cornucopia | The horn of plenty, symbolizing prosperity and abundance |
corpulence | Obesity |
correlate | To put in some relation of connection or correspondence |
corroborate | To strengthen or support with other evidence |
countenance | The appearance or expression of a face |
coy | Reserved; flirtatiously shy or modest |
cull | To pick out from others or select; to gather or collect |
culpable | Deserving of blame; at fault |
curmudgeon | An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions |
curriculum | The course of study offered by an institution |
daunt | To discourage |
defer | To put off or postpone; to commit or entrust to another |
deprave | To debase (esp. morally) |
dilapidate | To decay or fall into a state of disrepair |
din | A loud jumble of noise |
disconcert | To frustrate by throwing into disorder |
disconsolate | Beyond consolation; very sad, cheerless |
discourse | Conversation, speech or writing |
divestiture | An act of divesting; the sale or liquidation of an asset |
divulge | To make known (esp. a secret) |
dolt | A person regarded as stupid |
dote | To show excessive love or fondness |
drawl | To speak with lengthened vowels; the speech or manner of one who drawls |
dupe | To deceive an unwary person; one who has been deceived |
duplicity | Double-dealing |
earthenware | Anything made of clay and baked in a kiln or dried in the sun |
eddy | A current moving in a circular motion or against the main current |
edible | Fit to be eaten |
egomania | Obsessive self-interest |
élan | Enthusiastic vigor and liveliness; distinctive style or flair |
empirical | Derived from observation or experiment; verifiable |
encumbrance | A heavy, burdensome load |
engulf | To swallow or overwhelm by overflowing or enclosing |
enigma | A riddle or mystery |
enunciate | To pronounce carefully; to articulate |
ephemeral | Living or lasting for a brief time |
epitome | A representation or example of a class of type |
equivocate | To avoid making an explicit statement |
errant | Straying from the proper course or standards; roving, esp. in search of adventure |
explicate | To make clear or explain |
explicit | Fully and clearly expressed |
extralegal | Not permitted by law |
extricate | To release from an entanglement; to disentangle |
felicitous | Agreeably suited; happy or fortunate |
ferment | To undergo fermentation, a process by which yeast converts sugar to carbon dioxide and alcohol; to excite, agitate or seethe |
fervid | Intensely zealous |
flinch | To wince involuntarily; to recoil or shrink |
fluster | To make or become nervous or upset |
fodder | Feed for livestock; raw material |
foible | A personal weakness or failing |
fracas | A noisy, disorderly fight or quarrel; a brawl |
garble | To mix up or distort so as to make incomprehensible |
garner | To gather and store; to amass |
glean | To collect bit by bit (esp. information or understanding) |
goad | To prod our urge as if with a pointed stick; a prod |
gourmet | A connoisseur of fine food and drink |
havoc | Devastation; disorder or chaos |
heterogeneous | Consisting of dissimilar elements or parts |
hoodwink | To deceive |
hypocrisy | The act of professing beliefs, feelings or virtues which one does not practice |
ignominious | Marked by shame or disgrace; shameful |
imbue | To permeate or inspire |
immaculate | Without spot or blemish; impeccably clean |
impiety | The quality or state of lacking reverence or piety |
implacable | Incapable of being pacified or pleased |
implicate | To show or prove to be involved in or concerned |
incise | To cut into with a sharp instrument; to engrave |
indigenous | Native; intrinsic |
indulge | To yield to or gratify the desires or whims of |
inebriated | Drunk |
innocuous | Harmless |
inscrutable | Difficult to fathom or understand |
insensible | Imperceptible |
insurrection | Open revolt against a civil authority |
intersperse | To distribute among other things at intervals |
irate | Extremely angry |
irrevocable | Impossible to retract or revoke |
iterate | To repeat |
latent | Present or potential but not evident or active; hidden or dormant |
levee | An embankment raised to prevent a river from overflowing |
lexicon | A dictionary; a vocabulary |
lull | To cause to sleep or rest; a relatively calm interval of time |
luminary | An object, such as a celestial body, that gives off light; a star |
lustrous | Having a glow; radiant |
machination | A crafty scheme for the accomplishment of a sinister end |
manifest | Clearly apparent; to appear clearly |
manumit | To set free from slavery; to emancipate |
mettlesome | Having courage or spirit |
microcosm | A small-scale representation of (or analogy to) a larger system |
middling | Of medium size, position or quality |
mince | To cut or shop into small pieces; to walk with small steps; to speak in roundabout way so as to avoid being direct |
mirth | Gladness and gaiety (oft. expressed as laughter) |
misnomer | A name wrongly or unsuitably applied to a person or thing |
misogynist | One who hates or mistrusts women |
modicum | A small, moderate or token amount |
mollify | To soothe or soften |
myriad | Innumerable; a vast number |
nonchalant | Seeming to be coolly unconcerned or indifferent |
outmoded | Out of fashion or practice; obsolete |
penitent | Feeling or expressing remorse for one's sins or misdeeds |
pique | To provoke or arouse (esp. resentment or interest) |
plebian | Characteristic of commoners; unrefined or coarse in manner |
pliant | Easily bent; adaptable |
ponderous | Having great weight; lacking grace; bored and dull |
portend | To serve as an omen or a warning of |
predominate | To be of or have greater quantity, power or importance |
proclivity | A natural inclination or propensity |
profane | Marked by contempt or irreverence for what is sacred |
prone | Lying with the front or face downward; having a tendency to |
provincial | Unsophisticated or rural; narrow and self-centered |
pyre | A heap of combustibles arranged for burning a dead body |
rabble | The lowest or coarsest class of people; a mob |
rancor | Bitter, long-lasting resentment |
rarefy | To make thin or less dense; to become thin or less dense |
raucous | Rough-sounding and harsh; boisterous and disorderly |
reciprocity | A mutual exchange of favors or privileges |
recluse | One who withdraws from the world to live in seclusion |
recompense | To make compensation to |
recuperate | To recover |
regale | To provide with great entertainment; a choice food or delicacy |
resilience | The ability to recover quickly |
salient | Jutting out; strikingly conspicuous |
savor | To perceive by taste or smell; to enjoy or relish |
scabbard | The sheath of a sword or dagger |
solace | Comfort in grief, trouble, or calamity |
sophomoric | Exhibiting great immaturity and lack of judgment |
sordid | Filthy, dirty or foul (oft. morally) |
stigma | A mark or token of infamy or disgrace |
stingy | Cheap or unwilling to spend money |
subpoena | To serve a writ summoning a person to give legal testimony; such a writ |
substantiate | To support with evidence; to verify; to make or form a solid mass |
sully | To dirty, mar or taint |
tepid | Lukewarm |
transcend | To pass beyond the limits of; to be greater than |
transitory | Existing for a short time only |
translucent | Permitting light through, but with some diffusion; clear |
travesty | An exaggerated or grotesque imitation; to parody or ridicule |
trudge | To walk in a laborious, heavy-footed way; to plod |
turmoil | A state of extreme confusion or agitation; tumult |
tutelage | The act of training or the state of being under instruction |
undermine | To subvert in an underhand way |
unscathed | Unharmed or untouched |
vacuous | Empty; lacking intelligence; devoid of expression |
valorous | Marked by great personal bravery; valiant |
vanquish | To beat or conquer in battle; to subdue |
vend | To sell (oft. by peddling) |
vigilant | On the alert; watchful |
vigorous | Strong, energetic and active in body or mind; robust |
vindictive | Disposed to seeking revenge; spiteful |
warmonger | One who advocated or tries to stir up war |
writhe | To move or twist from pain or embarrassment |