click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
barrons letter i
barrons letter i words
Term | Definition |
---|---|
ichthyology | study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish |
icon(ikon) | religious image; idol; image or representation |
iconoclastic | attacking cherished traditions; N. iconoclast: one who attacks traditional ideas; one who destroys sacred images |
ideology | system of ideas characteristic of a group or culture |
idiom | expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic |
idiosyncrasy | individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral peculiarity; eccentricity; attitude, behavior, or opinion peculiar to a person; anything highly individual or eccentric; ADJ. idiosyncratic |
idolatry | worship of idols; excessive admiration or devotion; ADJ. idolatrous |
idyllic | charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene |
idyll(idyl) | short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy period of life (in the country); scene from such a time; Ex. idyll of two young lovers |
igneous | produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks) formed from lava; Ex. igneous meteorite |
ignite | kindle; light; catch fire or set fire to |
ignoble | unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed |
ignominy | deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat |
illicit | illegal |
illimitable | infinite; limitless |
illuminate | brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten; enable to understand; Ex. illuminating remarks |
illusion | misleading vision or visual image; false idea or belief; CF. delusion |
illusive | deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive |
illusory | illusive; deceptive; not real |
imbalance | lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion |
disproportion | lack of proportion (between the parts); ADJ. disproportionate |
imbecility | weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N. imbecile: stupid person; fool |
imbibe | drink in |
imbroglio | complicated situation (as in a play); painful or complex misunderstanding (as in a play); entanglement; confused mass (as of papers); V. embroil |
imbue | saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings |
immaculate | spotless; flawless; absolutely clean |
tenant | one that pays rent to use property owned by another |
tenancy | possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant's occupancy |
imminent | impending; near at hand |
immobility | state of being immovable |
immolate | offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire) |
immune | resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity |
immure | imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall |
immutable | unchangeable |
impair | injure; hurt; damage |
impale | pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear |
impalpable | imperceptible(not easily understood); intangible; OP. palpable: tangible; easily perceptible |
impartial | not biased; fair; N. impartiality |
impart | grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart |
impassable | not able to be traveled or crossed |
impasse | predicament(dangerous condition) from which there is no escape; situation allowing for no further progress |
impassive | without feeling; expressionless; imperturbable; stoical; Ex. impassive face |
impeach | charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise doubts about; indict; Ex. impeach a witness's credibility |
impeccable | faultless |
credential | evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court. |
impecunious | without money |
impede | hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block |
retard | delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a child) slower in development |
impediment | hindrance; stumbling-block; speech defect preventing clear articulation; Ex. speech impediment |
impel | drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action |
impending | nearing; approaching; about to happen |
impenetrable | not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding; impossible to understand; Ex. impenetrable mystery |
impenitent | not repentant |
imperative | absolutely necessary; that must be done; critically important; expressing command; Ex. It is imperative that; N: something that must be done |
imperceptible | unnoticeable; impossible to perceive; undetectable |
imperial | like an emperor; related to an empire; CF. imperialism |
imperil | put in danger |
imperious | domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor |
impermeable | impervious; not permitting passage through its substance; impossible to permeate |
impertinent | insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence |
imperturbable | unshakably calm; placid |
collected | composed; calm; self-possessed |
impervious | impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being affected (in one's opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism |
impetuous | violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful thought; Ex. impetuous decision |
impetus | moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse |
impiety | irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety |
impinge | infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with; Ex. The effects are impinging on every aspect of our lives. |
impious | irreverent |
implacable | incapable of being pacified; impossible to appease; Ex. implacable enemy |
implausible | unlikely (to be true); unbelievable; Ex. implausible alibi |
implement | put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with tools; Ex. implement the plan/suggestion; N: tool or instrument |
implicate | incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be involved (in a crime); Ex. implicate someone in the crime |
implication | something hinted at or suggested; implying; implicating |
implicit | understood but not stated; implied; unquestioning and complete; Ex. implicit trust |
implode | burst inward; CF. vaccum tube |
implore | beg |
imply | suggest a meaning not expressed; signify |
impolitic | not wise; not expedient; not politic |
imponderable | weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound |
import | significance; importance; meaning |
significant | expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N. significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean; signal; make known; matter; be significant |
importunate | urging; always demanding; troublesomely urgent or persistent |
importune | beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way) |
imposture | assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor |
masquerade | wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume party or ball at which masks are worn; pretense; disguise |
impotent | weak; ineffective; lacking in physical strength or power |
crave | desire; want intensely |
imprecation | curse; swearword |
impregnable | invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable fort/argument; CF. take |
impregnate | make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate |
impromptu | without previous preparation; off the cuff(end of a sleeve); on the spur of the moment |
impropriety | improperness; unsuitableness |
improvident | thriftless; not providing for the future |
improvise | compose on the spur of the moment |
imprudent | lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious |
impudence | impertinence; insolence |
impugn | dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight |
impuissance | powerlessness; feebleness |
impunity | freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish |
impute | attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation |
inadvertently | unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly |
oversee | watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight: unintentional failure to notice or do something; supervision |
inalienable | not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex. inalienable rights |
inane | silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity |
inanimate | lifeless; not animate |
inarticulate | speechless; producing indistinct speech; not articulate; not expressing oneself clearly |
speechless | unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex. speechless with anger |
inaugurate | begin formally; install in office; induct into office by a formal ceremony; N. inauguration; ADJ. inaugural |
incandescent | strikingly bright; shining with intense heat; emitting visible light when heated; Ex. incandescent light bulb; CF. candle |
incantation | singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words used in magic; CF. enchant |
chant | tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant |
charm | quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch |
bewitch | cast a spell over; captivate completely |
recite | repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation |
recital | act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer) |
incapacitate | disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity |
incarcerate | imprison |
incarnate | endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody |
incarnation | act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex. previous incarnation/reincarnation |
personify | represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification |
incendiary | arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb |
incense | enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely angry; outrage; N: aromatic substance burned to produce a pleasant odor |
incentive | spur; motive; something which encourages one to greater activity |
inception | start; beginning |
incessant | uninterrupted; unceasing |
inchoate | (of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not explicit; at the beginning of development; rudimentary; elementary; Ex. inchoate mass |
incidence | rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex. high incidence of infant mortality |
incidental | not essential; minor; N: something incidental |
incident | event; event that causes a crisis |
incinerate | burn to ashes |
incipient | beginning; in an early stage |
incisive | (appreciatively) cutting; sharp; Ex. incisive remarks; V. incise: make a cut into |
incite | arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist; Ex. incite a riot/the crowd to rebellion |
inclement | stormy; unkind; unmerciful; CF. clement |
incline | slope; slant; Ex. steep incline |
inclined | tending or leaning toward; bent; V. incline: slant; dispose; be disposed; tend |
tend | have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply one's attention; attend |
inclusive | tending to include all; all-inclusive; Ex. inclusive charge |
incognito | with identity concealed; using an assumed name; ADJ. |
incoherent | unintelligible; muddled; unable to express one's thoughts in an orderly manner; illogical; lacking cohesion; not coherent |
incommodious | not spacious; inconvenient |
incompatible | inharmonious; N. incompatibility |
incongruity | lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous: lacking in harmony; inappropriate |
attire | clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel |
inconsequential | insignificant; unimportant |
inconsistency | state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness; ADJ. inconsistent: displaying a lack of consistency; erratic; contradictory; incompatible |
incontinent | lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious |
incontrovertible | indisputable; impossible to dispute; not open to question; unquestionable |
incorporate | introduce something into a larger whole; include; embody; give material form to; ADJ. |
incorporeal | without a material body; insubstantial |
incorrigible | uncorrectable |
incredulity | tendency to disbelief |
incredulous | withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief |
increment | increase |
incriminate | accuse of or implicate in a crime; serve as evidence against; cause to seem or make guilty of a crime; Ex. incriminating evidence |
incrustation | hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust |
incubate | hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for development; be holding in one's body an infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:disease |
inasmuch_as | since; owing to the fact that |
incubus | burden; very worriying problem; mental care; nightmare; male devil; CF. succubus |
inculcate | teach (ideas or principles); instill |
incumbent | obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently holding an office; N: person who holds an office |
incur | bring upon oneself |
incursion | temporary invasion; CF. excursion: short journey |
indefatigable | tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting tired |
indelible | not able to be erased |
indemnify | make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF. make uninjured |
indentation | notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth |
indenture | bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind by indenture; N: contract binding one party into the service of another for a specified time (as between an apprentice and his master) |
indeterminate | uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite |
indicative | suggestive; implying; serving to indicate |
indices | signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student's potential; CF. index: something that reveals or indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index |
indict | charge; N. indictment |
indifferent | unmoved or unconcerned by; having no interest in; mediocre; neither good nor bad |
indigence | poverty |
indigenous | native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World |
indigent | poor; destitute |
indignation | anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation; ADJ. indignant |
righteous | morally upright; just |
rightful | legally correct; Ex. rightful owner |
indignity | treatment or situation that causes shame or loss of dignity, respect; offensive or insulting treatment; humiliating or degrading treatment; Ex. I suffered the indignity of having to say that in front of them. |
indiscriminate | choosing at random; confused; not based on careful distinctions |
indisputable | too certain to be disputed; beyond doubt |
indissoluble | permanent; impossible to dissolve or disintegrate |
indite | write; compose |
indolent | lazy |
indomitable | unconquerable; unyielding |
indubitable | unable to be doubted; which cannot be doubted; unquestionable |
induce | persuade; lead to do something; bring about; N. inducement |
inductive | pertaining to induction or proceeding from the specific to the general |
induct | place formally in office; install; admit as a member; initiate; N. induction: inducting; process of deriving general principles from particular facts |
indulgent | humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence |
indulge | yield to; gratify; allow oneself a special pleasure; Ex. indulge one's every whim/a child/in a big cigarette; N. indulgence |
humor | indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality that makes something amusing; state of mind; mood; Ex. in a bad humor; Ex. out of humor |
industrious | diligent; hard-working; N. industry |
inebriated | habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety |
inebriate | make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person |
intoxicate | make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated by all the money he might win |
ineffable | unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy |
ineffectual | not effective; not having a desired effect; weak |
ineluctable | irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable |
inept | unsuited; inappropriate; lacking skill; incompetent; CF. inapt: (of statements or ideas) inappropriate |
inequity | unfairness; ADJ. inequitable |
inerrancy | infallibility |
inert | inactive; lacking power to move; unable to move or act; Ex. chemically inert; N. inertia: state of being inert; force which keeps a thing in the position or state |
inevitable | unavoidable |
inexorable | relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable price rises |
infallible | unerring; never making mistakes |
infamous | notoriously bad; notorious; well known for being bad; Ex. infamous behavior; N: infamy: infamous act; evil fame or reputation |
infantile | childish; infantlike |
infer | deduce; conclude; N. inference |
infernal | pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of fiery heat or destruction |
infidel | unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion) |
infiltrate | pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an organization) sneakily; Ex. infiltrate the troops into enemy territory; CF. infiltrator |
penetrate | enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand |
infinitesimal | very small |
infirmity | weakness |
inflated | exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas) |
influx | flowing into |
infraction | violation (of a rule or regulation); breach |
infringe | violate (a law); encroach (the right of another person) |
ingenious | marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N. ingenuity |
resourceful | clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource, resourcefulness |
ingenuous | naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid |
ingenue | ing\'enue; young innocent girl |
ingrained | deeply established; firmly rooted; Ex. ingrained dirt/prejudice |
ingrate | ungrateful person (not expressing thanks) |
ingratiate | become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss |
inherent | firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic |
inhibit | restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent; N. inhibition |
inhibited | (of a person) unable to express what one really feels |
uninhibited | having no inhibitions; free in behavior and feelings |
inimical | (of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF. enemy |
inimitable | matchless; not able to be imitated |
iniquitous | wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity |
initiate | begin; originate; receive into a group; introduce to a new field or activity; Ex. initiate someone into the mysteries of a secret religion; N: one who has been initiated |
injurious | harmful; causing injury |
inkling | hint; slight indication |
innate | inborn |
innocuous | harmless |
innovation | change; something newly introduced; introduction of something new; V. innovate: begin or introduce (something new); be creative; ADJ. innovative |
innuendo | indirect or subtle (derogatory) hint; insinuation; Ex. sexual innuendo |
inopportune | untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly chosen |
inordinate | beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive; Ex. inordinate demands |
inquisitor | questioner (especially harsh); investigator; person making an inquisition |
inquisitive | eager for knowledge; unduly curious |
insalubrious | unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place |
healthful | conducive to good health; Ex. healthful mountain air |
healthy | possessing good health; healthful |
wholesome | conducive to mental or physical health; healthful |
insatiable | not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex. insatiable appetite |
inscrutable | difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious |
insensate | without feeling; lacking sense; foolish |
insensible | unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible |
insidious | treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading harmfully in a stealthy manner; Ex. insidious spreading of dry rot |
insightful | discerning; perceptive |
insinuate | hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex. insinuate himself into the boss's favor; CF. ingratiate |
creep | move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N. |
artful | exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice |
insipid | lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character |
insolence | impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ. insolent; CF. haughty + rude |
insolvent | bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency |
insomnia | wakefulness; inability to sleep |
insouciant | without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent |
instigate | start; urge; provoke; incite; Ex. instigate a search/quarrel |
insubordination | disobedience; rebelliousness; ADJ. insubordinate |
insubstantial | lacking substance; insignificant; frail; immaterial |
insularity | narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-minded; CF. peninsula |
insuperable | insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties |
odds | chances; probability; disagreement; Ex. The odds are that it will rain. Ex. at odds with |
insurgent | rebellious; N. |
insurmountable | overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable |
insurrection | rebellion; uprising |
intangible | not able to be perceived by touch; vague |
integral | complete; necessary for completeness; Ex. integral part |
integrate | make whole; combine; make into one unit |
integrity | honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being whole and undivided; completeness |
upright | (sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral |
intellect | higher mental powers; person of great intellectual ability |
intelligentsia | intellectuals; members of the educated elite (often used derogatorily) |
inter | bury; N. interment |
cemetery | place for burying the dead |
interdict | prohibit; forbid; N. |
interim | meantime; Ex. in the interim; ADJ. taking place during an interim; Ex. interim paper |
interloper | intruder; one who interferes |
interminable | endless |
intermittent | periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at intervals |
internecine | mutually destructive |
interpolate | insert between |
interregnum | period between two successive reigns or governments |
interrogate | question closely; cross-examine; cross-question |
intervene | come between; interfere; Ex. intervened to prevent a fight; N. intervention |
intimate | hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship; familiar; private; personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or confidant; CF. intimacy |
intimidate | frighten; N. intimidation |
intractable | unruly; difficult to manage; Ex. intractable problem/child |
intransigence | refusal of any compromise; stubbornness; ADJ. intransigent: uncompromising |
intrepid | fearless |
intrinsic | essential; inherent; built-in |
introspective | looking within oneself; N. introspection: self-examination |
introvert | one who is introspective or inclined to think more about oneself; ADJ. introverted |
intrude | put or force in without being asked; trespass; enter as an uninvited person; Ex. intrude one's own opinion into the report; CF. thrust in |
intuition | immediate insight; power of knowing without reasoning; ADJ. intuitive; V. intuit: know by intuition |
inundate | flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work |
overwhelm | (of water) cover completely; defeat completely by much greater force; Ex. overwhelmed by grief |
submerge | place under water; dip; go under water; cover completely (as with water); Ex. submerged in work |
engulf | surround and swallow up |
inured | accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling |
invalidate | weaken; destroy; make invalid; nullify |
invalid | one incapacitated(disabled) by a chronic illness; ADJ: incapacitated by illness; not valid; null; V: allow to leave (a military force) because of ill-health |
invective | abuse |
inveigh | denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh against the evils of drink |
inveigle | deceive; lead astray by deception; wheedle(cajole); Ex. inveigle her into joining the club; CF. interest dishonestly |
inverse | opposite |
invert | turn upside down or inside out; reverse the position or condition of |
inveterate | deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old |
invidious | designed to create ill will or envy; tending to rouse ill will or envy; Ex. invidious comparison |
invincible | unconquerable |
inviolable | secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or profanation); unassailable; Ex. inviolable oath/rights; N. inviolability |
invocation | prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon as a reference or support; act of invoking |
invoke | call and bring into use (a right or law); call on/upon (a higher power or god) for help; ask for; beg for; conjure (a spirit); Ex. invoke the veto power; Ex. invoke one's advisor/God |
invulnerable | incapable of injury; impossible to damage or injure |
iota | very small quantity |
irascible | irritable; easily angered |
irate | angry; CF. ire: anger; wrath |
iridescent | exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil slick; N. iridescence |
irksome | annoying; tedious; V. irk: annoy |
ironic | expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner |
irony | hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean; use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning |
irreconcilable | impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able to be resolved |
irrefutable | indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable |
irrelevant | not applicable; unrelated |
irremediable | incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy |
irreparable | not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible to repair |
irrepressible | unable to be restrained or held back; impossible to hold back |
irreproachable | beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex. irreproachable conduct |
irresolute | uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in resolution; indecisive; N. irresolution |
indecisive | marked by indecision; inconclusive; Ex. indecisive battle |
indecision | irresolution; inability to make up one's mind |
irretrievable | impossible to recover or regain; CF. retrieve |
irreverence | lack of proper respect or reverence; ADJ. irreverent |
irrevocable | unalterable; irreversible; impossible to revoke |
isotope | varying from of an element |
isthmus | narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land |
itinerant | wandering; traveling from place to place (to perform work); Ex. itinerant preacher |
itinerary | plan of a trip; record of a trip |