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GRE Vocab 898

Question	Answer
aberrant	adj. deviating from normal or correct.
advocate	to speak, plead, or argue for a cause, or in another￢ﾀﾙs behalf. (n) -- one who advocates.
ambrosial	extremely pleasing to the senses, divine (as related to the gods) or delicious (n: ambrosia)
anachronism	a person or artifact appearing after its own time or out of chronological order (adj: anachronistic)
anomalous	peculiar; unique, contrary to the norm (n: anomaly)
antipathy	hostility toward, objection, or aversion to
arbitrate	to settle a dispute by impulse (n: arbitration)
attenuate	weaken (adj: attenuated)
barefaced	unconcealed, shameless, or brazen
burgeon	to grow or flourish; a bud or new growth (adj: burgeoning )
buttress	to support. a support
cadge	to get something by taking advantage of someone
caprice	impulse (adj: capricious)
catalyst	an agent of change (adj: catalytic; v. catalyze)
complaisant	willingly compliant or accepting of the status quo (n: complaisance)
corporal	of the body: "corporal punishment." a non-commissioned officer ranked between a sergeant and a private.
corroborate	to strengthen or support: "The witness corroborted his story." (n: corroboration)
craven	cowardly; a coward
culpable	deserving of blame (n: culpability)
deference	submission or courteous yielding: "He held his tongue in deference to his father." (n: deferential. v. defer)
depict	to show, create a picture of.
deprecation	belittlement. (v. deprecate)
depredation	the act of preying upon or plundering: "The depredations of the invaders demoralized the population."
desiccate	to dry out thoroughly (adj: desiccated)
disabuse	to free a person from falsehood or error: "We had to disabuse her of the notion that she was invited."
disparaging	belittling (n: disparagement. v. disparage)
dispassionate	calm; objective; unbiased
dogged	stubborn or determined: "Her dogged pursuit of the degree eventually paid off."
eclectic	selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources: "Many modern decorators prefer an eclectic style." (n: eclecticism)
effluent	the quality of flowing out. something that flows out, such as a stream from a river (n: effluence)
emollient	softening; something that softens
emulate	to strive to equal or excel (n: emulation)
ephemeral	lasting for only a brief time, fleeting (n: ephemera)
esoteric	intended for or understood by only a few: "The esoteric discussion confused some people." (n: esoterica)
explicit	fully and clearly expressed
fathom	a measure of length (six feet) used in nautical settings. to penetrate to the depths of something in order to understand it: "I couldn't fathom her reasoning on that issue."
feign	to give false appearance or impression: "He feigned illness to avoid going to school." (adj: feigned)
fervid, fervent	highly emotional; hot: "The partisans displayed a fervent patriotism." (n: fervor)
fledgling	a baby bird; an inexperienced person; inexperienced.
floundering	struggling: "We tried to save the floundering business."
guileless	honest; straightforward (n: guilelessness)
hapless	unfortunate
headlong	headfirst; impulsive; hasty. impulsively; hastily; without forethought: "They rushed headlong into marriage."
homogenous	similar in nature or kind; uniform: "a homogeneous society."
implication	insinuation or connotation (v. implicate)
imply	to suggest indirectly; to entail: "She implied she didn't believe his story." (n: implication)
improvidence	an absence of foresight; a failure to provide for future needs or events: "Their improvidence resulted in the loss of their home."
incorrigible	not capable of being corrected: "The school board finally decided the James was incorrigible and expelled him from school."
infer	to deduce: "New genetic evidence led some zoologists to infer that the red wolf is actually a hybrid of the coyote and the gray wolf."
ingenious	clever: "She developed an ingenious method for testing her hypothesis."(n: ingenuity)
inhibit	to hold back, prohibit, forbid, or restrain (n: inhibition, adj: inhibited)
insular	of or pertaining to an island, thus, excessively exclusive: "Newcomers found it difficult to make friends in the insular community."
laconic	using few words; terse: "a laconic reply."
leviathan	giant whale, therefore, something very large
lucid	clear; translucent: "He made a lucid argument to support his theory."
magnanimity	generosity and nobility. (adj: magnanimous)
malevolent	malicious; evil; having or showing ill will: "Some early American colonists saw the wilderness as malevolent and sought to control it."
misanthrope	one who hates people: "He was a true misanthrope and hated even himself."
misogynist	one who hates women
mitigate	to make less forceful; to become more moderate; to make less harsh or undesirable: "He was trying to mitigate the damage he had done." (n: mitigation)
occlude	to close or shut off; to obstruct (n: occlusion)
opaque	not transparent or transluscent; dense; difficult to comprehend, as inopaque reasoning
ossified	turned to bone; hardened like bone; Inflexible: "The ossified culture failed to adapt to new economic conditions and died out."
pedantic	showing a narrow concern for rules or formal book learning; making an excessive display of one's own learning: "We quickly tired of his pedantic conversation." (n: pedant, pedantry).
perfidious	deliberately treacherous; dishonest (n: perfidy)
philanthropy	tendency or action for the benefit of others, as in donating money or property to a charitible organization
plastic	related to being shaped or molded; capable of being molded. (n: plasticity n: plastic)
pragmatic	concerned with facts; practical, as opposed to highly principled or traditional: "His pragmatic approach often offended idealists." (n: pragmatism)
precipice	cliff with a vertical or nearly vertical face; a dangerous place from which one is likely to fall; metaphorically, a very risky circumstance
precipitate	to fall; to fall downward suddenly and dramatically; to bring about or hasten the occurrence of something: "Old World diseases precipitated a massive decline in the American Indian population."
precursor	something (or someone) that precedes another: "The assasination of the Archduke was a precursor to the war."
propitiate	to conciliate; to appease: "They made sacrifices to propitiate angry gods."
Pulchritudinous	beautiful (n: pulchritude)
rarefy	to make or become thin; to purify or refine (n: rarefaction, adj: rarefied)
reproof	the act of censuring, scolding, or rebuking. (v. reprove).
sate	to satisfy fully or to excess
saturnine	having a gloomy or morose temperament
savant	a very knowledgable person; a genious
superficial	only covering the surface: "A superficial treatment of the topic was all they wanted."
tacit	unspoken: "Katie and carmella had a tacit agreement that they would not mention the dented fender to their parents."
temperate	exercising moderation and self-denial; calm or mild (n: temperance)
tirade (diatribe)	an angry speech: "His tirade had gone on long enough."
vacuous	empty; without contents; without ideas or intelligence:: "She flashed a vacuous smile."
venerate	great respect or reverence: "The Chinese traditionally venerated their ancestors; ancestor worship is merely a popular misnomer for this tradition." (n: veneration, adj: venerable)
vex	to annoy; to bother; to perplex; to puzzle; to debate at length: "Franklin vexed his brother with his controversial writings."
viscous	slow moving; highly resistant to flow: "Heintz commercials imply that their catsup is more viscous than others'." (n: viscosity)
voracious	craving or devouring large quantities of food, drink, or other things. She is a voracious reader.
waver	to hesitate or to tremble
wretched	extremely pitiful or unfortunate (n: wretch)
zeal	enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal (n: zealot; zealoutry. adj: zealous)
aberration	Deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course.
abet	To aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense).
abeyance	A state of suspension or temporary inaction.
abjure	To recant, renounce, repudiate under oath.
ablution	A washing or cleansing, especially of the body.
abrogate	To abolish, repeal.
abstemious	Characterized by self denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food.
abstruse	Dealing with matters difficult to be understood.
abut	To touch at the end or boundary line.
accede	To agree.
acquiesce	To comply; submit.
acrid	Harshly pungent or bitter.
acumen	Quickness of intellectual insight, or discernment; keenness of discrimination.
adage	An old saying.
adamant	Any substance of exceeding hardness or impenetrability.
admonition	Gentle reproof.
adumbrate	To represent beforehand in outline or by emblem.
affable	Easy to approach.
aggravate	To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome.
agile	Able to move or act quickly, physically, or mentally.
agog	In eager desire.
alacrity	Cheerful willingness.
alcove	A covered recess connected with or at the side of a larger room.
alleviate	To make less burdensome or less hard to bear.
aloof	Not in sympathy with or desiring to associate with others.
ambidextrous	Having the ability of using both hands with equal skill or ease.
ameliorate	To relieve, as from pain or hardship
anathema	Anything forbidden, as by social usage.
animadversion	The utterance of criticism or censure.
animosity	Hatred.
antidote	Anything that will counteract or remove the effects of poison, disease, or the like.
aplomb	Confidence; coolness.
apocryphal	Of doubtful authority or authenticity.
apogee	The climax.
apostate	False.
apotheosis	Deification.
apparition	Ghost.
appease	To soothe by quieting anger or indignation.
apposite	Appropriate.
apprise	To give notice to; to inform.
approbation	Sanction.
arboreal	Of or pertaining to a tree or trees.
ardor	Intensity of passion or affection.
argot	A specialized vocabulary peculiar to a particular group.
arrant	Notoriously bad.
ascetic	Given to severe self-denial and practicing excessive abstinence and devotion.
ascribe	To assign as a quality or attribute.
asperity	Harshness or roughness of temper.
assiduous	Unceasing; persistent
astringent	Harsh in disposition or character.
astute	Keen in discernment.
atonement	Amends, reparation, or expiation made from wrong or injury.
augury	Omen
auspicious	Favorable omen
austere	Severely simple; unadorned.
autocrat	Any one who claims or wields unrestricted or undisputed authority or influence.
auxiliary	One who or that which aids or helps, especially when regarded as subsidiary or accessory.
avarice	Passion for getting and keeping riches.
aversion	A mental condition of fixed opposition to or dislike of some particular thing.
avow	To declare openly.
baleful	Malignant.
bask	To make warm by genial heat.
beatify	To make supremely happy.
bedaub	To smear over, as with something oily or sticky.
bellicose	Warlike.
belligerent	Manifesting a warlike spirit.
benefactor	A doer of kindly and charitable acts.
benevolence	Any act of kindness or well-doing.
benign	Good and kind of heart.
berate	To scold severely.
bewilder	To confuse the perceptions or judgment of.
blatant	Noisily or offensively loud or clamorous.
blithe	Joyous.
boisterous	Unchecked merriment or animal spirits.
bolster	To support, as something wrong.
boorish	Rude.
brittle	Fragile.
broach	To mention, for the first time.
bumptious	Full of offensive and aggressive self-conceit.
buoyant	Having the power or tendency to float or keep afloat.
burnish	To make brilliant or shining.
cabal	A number of persons secretly united for effecting by intrigue some private purpose.
cacophony	A disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or combination of sounds or tones.
cajole	To impose on or dupe by flattering speech.
callow	Without experience of the world.
calumny	Slander.
candid	Straightforward.
cant	To talk in a singsong, preaching tone with affected solemnity.
capacious	Roomy.
capitulate	To surrender or stipulate terms.
captious	Hypercritical.
cataract	Opacity of the lens of the eye resulting in complete or partial blindness.
censure	To criticize severely; also, an expression of disapproval.
centurion	A captain of a company of one hundred infantry in the ancient Roman army.
chagrin	Keen vexation, annoyance, or mortification, as at one's failures or errors.
chary	Careful; wary; cautious.
circumlocution	Indirect or roundabout expression.
coddle	To treat as a baby or an invalid.
coerce	To force.
coeval	Existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary.
cogent	Appealing strongly to the reason or conscience.
cogitate	Consider carefully and deeply; ponder.
cognizant	Taking notice.
colloquial	Pertaining or peculiar to common speech as distinguished from literary.
collusion	A secret agreement for a wrongful purpose.
comestible	Fit to be eaten.
commemorate	To serve as a remembrance of.
complaisance	Politeness.
complement	To make complete.
comport	To conduct or behave (oneself).
compunction	Remorseful feeling.
conceit	Self-flattering opinion.
conciliatory	Tending to reconcile.
concord	Harmony.
concur	To agree.
condense	To abridge.
confluence	The place where streams meet.
congeal	To coagulate.
conjoin	To unite.
connoisseur	A critical judge of art, especially one with thorough knowledge and sound judgment of art.
console	To comfort.
conspicuous	Clearly visible.
consternation	Panic.
constrict	To bind.
consummate	To bring to completion.
contiguous	Touching or joining at the edge or boundary.
contrite	Broken in spirit because of a sense of sin.
contumacious	Rebellious.
copious	Plenteous.
cornucopia	The horn of plenty, symbolizing peace and prosperity.
correlate	To put in some relation of connection or correspondence.
corroboration	Confirmation.
counterfeit	Made to resemble something else.
countervail	To offset.
covert	Concealed, especially for an evil purpose.
cower	To crouch down tremblingly, as through fear or shame.
crass	Coarse or thick in nature or structure, as opposed to thin or fine.
credulous	Easily deceived.
cupidity	Avarice.
cursory	Rapid and superficial.
curtail	To cut off or cut short.
cynosure	That to which general interest or attention is directed.
defer	To delay or put off to some other time.
deign	To deem worthy of notice or account.
deleterious	Hurtful, morally or physically.
delineate	To represent by sketch or diagram.
deluge	To overwhelm with a flood of water.
demagogue	An unprincipled politician.
denizen	Inhabitant.
denouement	That part of a play or story in which the mystery is cleared up.
deplete	To reduce or lessen, as by use, exhaustion, or waste.
deposition	Testimony legally taken on interrogatories and reduced to writing, for use as evidence in court.
deprave	To render bad, especially morally bad.
deprecate	To express disapproval or regret for, with hope for the opposite.
deride	To ridicule.
derision	Ridicule.
derivative	Coming or acquired from some origin.
desiccant	Any remedy which, when applied externally, dries up or absorbs moisture, as that of wounds.
desuetude	A state of disuse or inactivity.
desultory	Not connected with what precedes.
deter	To frighten away.
dexterity	Readiness, precision, efficiency, and ease in any physical activity or in any mechanical work.
diaphanous	Transparent.
didactic	Pertaining to teaching.
diffidence	Self-distrust.
dilate	To enlarge in all directions.
dilatory	Tending to cause delay.
disallow	To withhold permission or sanction.
discomfit	To embarrass greatly; to confuse. To defeat the plans or hopes of; to frustrate.
disconcert	To disturb the composure of.
disconsolate	Hopelessly sad; also, saddening; cheerless.
discountenance	To look upon with disfavor.
discredit	To injure the reputation of.
discreet	Judicious.
disheveled	Disordered; disorderly; untidy.
disseminate	To sow or scatter abroad, as seed is sown.
dissent	Disagreement.
dissolution	A breaking up of a union of persons.
distraught	Bewildered.
divulge	To tell or make known, as something previously private or secret.
dormant	Being in a state of or resembling sleep.
dubious	Doubtful.
duplicity	Double-dealing.
earthenware	Anything made of clay and baked in a kiln or dried in the sun.
ebullient	Showing enthusiasm or exhilaration of feeling.
edacious	Given to eating.
edible	Suitable to be eaten.
educe	To draw out.
effete	Exhausted, as having performed its functions.
effrontery	Unblushing impudence.
effulgence	Splendor.
egregious	Extreme.
egress	Any place of exit.
elegy	A lyric poem lamenting the dead.
elicit	To educe or extract gradually or without violence.
elucidate	To bring out more clearly the facts concerning.
emaciate	To waste away in flesh.
embellish	To make beautiful or elegant by adding attractive or ornamental features.
embezzle	To misappropriate secretly.
emblazon	To set forth publicly or in glowing terms.
encumbrance	A burdensome and troublesome load.
engrave	To cut or carve in or upon some surface.
enmity	Hatred.
entangle	To involve in difficulties, confusion, or complications.
entreat	To ask for or request earnestly.
Epicurean	Indulging, ministering, or pertaining to daintiness of appetite.
epithet	Word used adjectivally to describe some quality or attribute of is objects, as in "Father Aeneas".
epitome	A simplified representation.
equable	Equal and uniform; also, serene.
equilibrium	A state of balance.
equivocate	To use words of double meaning.
eradicate	To destroy thoroughly.
errant	Roving or wandering, as in search of adventure or opportunity for gallant deeds.
erratic	Irregular.
erroneous	Incorrect.
eschew	To keep clear of.
espy	To keep close watch.
euphonious	Characterized by agreeableness of sound.
evanescent	Fleeting.
evince	To make manifest or evident.
evoke	To call or summon forth.
exhaustive	Thorough and complete in execution.
expatiate	To speak or write at some length.
expedient	Contributing to personal advantage.
expiate	To make satisfaction or amends for.
explicate	To clear from involvement.
expostulate	To discuss.
expropriate	To deprive of possession; also, to transfer (another's property) to oneself.
extempore	Without studied or special preparation.
extenuate	To diminish the gravity or importance of.
extinct	Being no longer in existence.
extinguish	To render extinct.
extirpate	To root out; to eradicate.
extol	To praise in the highest terms.
extort	To obtain by violence, threats, compulsion, or the subjection of another to some necessity.
extraneous	Having no essential relation to a subject.
exuberance	Rich supply.
facetious	Amusing.
facile	Not difficult to do.
factious	Turbulent.
fallacious	Illogical.
fatuous	Idiotic
feint	Any sham, pretense, or deceptive movement.
felon	A criminal or depraved person.
ferocity	Savageness.
fervid	Intense.
fervor	Ardor or intensity of feeling.
fidelity	Loyalty.
finesse	Subtle contrivance used to gain a point.
flamboyant	Characterized by extravagance and in general by want of good taste.
flippant	Having a light, pert, trifling disposition.
flout	To treat with contempt.
foible	A personal weakness or failing.
foment	To nurse to life or activity; to encourage.
foppish	Characteristic of one who is unduly devoted to dress and the niceties of manners.
forbearance	Patient endurance or toleration of offenses.
forfeit	To lose possession of through failure to fulfill some obligation.
forgery	Counterfeiting.
forswear	To renounce upon oath.
fragile	Easily broken.
frantic	Frenzied.
frugal	Economical.
fugacious	Fleeting.
fulminate	To cause to explode.
fulsome	Offensive from excess of praise or commendation.
gainsay	To contradict; to deny.
gamut	The whole range or sequence.
germane	Relevant.
gesticulate	To make gestures or motions, as in speaking, or in place of speech.
glimmer	A faint, wavering, unsteady light.
gourmand	A connoisseur in the delicacies of the table.
grandiloquent	Speaking in or characterized by a pompous or bombastic style.
gregarious	Sociable, outgoing
grievous	Creating affliction.
gullible	Credulous.
halcyon	Calm.
harangue	A tirade.
harbinger	One who or that which foreruns and announces the coming of any person or thing.
head	Adv. Precipitately, as in diving.
heinous	Odiously sinful.
heresy	An opinion or doctrine subversive of settled beliefs or accepted principles.
heterogeneous	Consisting of dissimilar elements or ingredients of different kinds.
hirsute	Having a hairy covering.
hoodwink	To deceive.
hospitable	Disposed to treat strangers or guests with generous kindness.
hypocrisy	Extreme insincerity.
idiosyncrasy	A mental quality or habit peculiar to an individual.
ignoble	Low in character or purpose.
ignominious	Shameful.
illicit	Unlawful.
imbroglio	A misunderstanding attended by ill feeling, perplexity, or strife.
imbue	To dye; to instill profoundly.
immaculate	Without spot or blemish.
imminent	Dangerous and close at hand.
immutable	Unchangeable.
impair	To cause to become less or worse.
impassive	Unmoved by or not exhibiting feeling.
impede	To be an obstacle or to place obstacles in the way of.
imperative	Obligatory.
imperturbable	Calm.
impervious	Impenetrable.
impetuous	Impulsive.
impiety	Irreverence toward God.
implacable	Incapable of being pacified.
implicate	To show or prove to be involved in or concerned
implicit	Implied.
importunate	Urgent in character, request, or demand.
importune	To harass with persistent demands or entreaties.
impromptu	Anything done or said on the impulse of the moment.
improvident	Lacking foresight or thrift.
impugn	To assail with arguments, insinuations, or accusations.
impute	To attribute.
inadvertent	Accidental.
inane	Silly.
incessant	Unceasing.
incipient	Initial.
incite	To rouse to a particular action.
incongruous	Unsuitable for the time, place, or occasion.
inculcate	To teach by frequent repetitions.
indigence	Poverty.
indigenous	Native.
indistinct	Vague.
indolence	Laziness.
indolent	Habitually inactive or idle.
indomitable	Unconquerable.
indulgent	Yielding to the desires or humor of oneself or those under one's care.
ineluctable	Impossible to avoid.
inept	Not fit or suitable.
inexorable	Unrelenting.
infuse	To instill, introduce, or inculcate, as principles or qualities.
inimical	Adverse.
inscrutable	Impenetrably mysterious or profound.
insinuate	To imply.
insouciant	Nonchalant.
insurrection	The state of being in active resistance to authority.
interdict	Authoritative act of prohibition.
interim	Time between acts or periods.
intrepid	Fearless and bold.
introspection	The act of observing and analyzing one's own thoughts and feelings.
inundate	To fill with an overflowing abundance.
inure	To harden or toughen by use, exercise, or exposure.
invalid	One who is disabled by illness or injury.
invective	An utterance intended to cast censure, or reproach.
inveigh	To utter vehement censure or invective.
inveterate	Habitual.
invidious	Showing or feeling envy.
invincible	Not to be conquered, subdued, or overcome.
iota	A small or insignificant mark or part.
irate	Moved to anger.
ire	Wrath.
irksome	Wearisome.
itinerant	Wandering.
itinerate	To wander from place to place.
jocular	Inclined to joke.
jovial	Merry.
judicious	Prudent.
junta	A council or assembly that deliberates in secret upon the affairs of government.
lachrymose	Given to shedding tears.
lackadaisical	Listless.
languid	Relaxed.
lascivious	Lustful.
lassitude	Lack of vitality or energy.
laudatory	Pertaining to, expressing, or containing praise.
legacy	A bequest.
levee	An embankment beside a river or stream or an arm of the sea, to prevent overflow.
levity	Frivolity.
lexicon	A dictionary.
libel	Defamation.
licentious	Wanton.
lien	A legal claim or hold on property, as security for a debt or charge.
listless	Inattentive.
lithe	Supple.
luminary	One of the heavenly bodies as a source of light.
lustrous	Shining.
malaise	A condition of uneasiness or ill-being.
malcontent	One who is dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs.
malevolence	Ill will.
malign	To speak evil of, especially to do so falsely and severely.
malleable	Pliant.
massacre	The unnecessary and indiscriminate killing of human beings.
maudlin	Foolishly and tearfully affectionate.
mawkish	Sickening or insipid.
mellifluous	Sweetly or smoothly flowing.
mendacious	Untrue.
mendicant	A beggar.
meretricious	Alluring by false or gaudy show.
mesmerize	To hypnotize.
meticulous	Over-cautious.
mettle	Courage.
mettlesome	Having courage or spirit.
microcosm	The world or universe on a small scale.
mien	The external appearance or manner of a person.
mischievous	Fond of tricks.
miscreant	A villain.
miser	A person given to saving and hoarding unduly.
moderation	Temperance.
modicum	A small or token amount.
mollify	To soothe.
molt	To cast off, as hair, feathers, etc.
monomania	The unreasonable pursuit of one idea.
morbid	Caused by or denoting a diseased or unsound condition of body or mind.
mordant	Biting.
moribund	On the point of dying.
morose	Gloomy.
multifarious	Having great diversity or variety.
mundane	Worldly, as opposed to spiritual or celestial.
munificent	Extraordinarily generous.
myriad	A vast indefinite number.
nadir	The lowest point.
negligent	Apt to omit what ought to be done.
neophyte	Having the character of a beginner.
nostrum	Any scheme or recipe of a charlatan character.
noxious	Hurtful.
nugatory	Having no power or force.
obfuscate	To darken; to obscure.
oblique	Slanting; said of lines.
obsequious	Showing a servile readiness to fall in with the wishes or will of another.
obstreperous	Boisterous.
obtrude	To be pushed or to push oneself into undue prominence.
obtrusive	Tending to be pushed or to push oneself into undue prominence.
odious	Hateful.
odium	A feeling of extreme repugnance, or of dislike and disgust.
officious	Intermeddling with what is not one's concern.
ominous	Portentous.
onerous	Burdensome or oppressive.
onus	A burden or responsibility.
opprobrium	The state of being scornfully reproached or accused of evil.
ossify	To convert into bone.
ostentation	A display dictated by vanity and intended to invite applause or flattery.
ostracism	Exclusion from intercourse or favor, as in society or politics.
ostracize	To exclude from public or private favor.
palate	The roof of the mouth.
palatial	Magnificent.
palliate	To cause to appear less guilty.
palpable	Perceptible by feeling or touch.
panacea	A remedy or medicine proposed for or professing to cure all diseases.
panoply	A full set of armor.
paragon	A model of excellence.
Pariah	A member of a degraded class; a social outcast.
paroxysm	A sudden outburst of any kind of activity.
parsimonious	Unduly sparing in the use or expenditure of money.
partisan	Characterized by or exhibiting undue or unreasoning devotion to a party.
pathos	The quality in any form of representation that rouses emotion or sympathy.
paucity	Fewness.
pedestrian	One who journeys on foot.
pellucid	Translucent.
penchant	A bias in favor of something.
penurious	Excessively sparing in the use of money.
penury	Indigence.
peregrination	A wandering.
peremptory	Precluding question or appeal.
perfidy	Treachery.
perfunctory	Half-hearted.
peripatetic	Walking about.
perjury	A solemn assertion of a falsity.
permeate	To pervade.
pernicious	Tending to kill or hurt.
persiflage	Banter.
perspicacity	Acuteness or discernment.
perturbation	Mental excitement or confusion.
petrify	To convert into a substance of stony hardness and character.
physiognomy	The external appearance merely.
pious	Religious.
pique	To excite a slight degree of anger in.
platitude	A written or spoken statement that is flat, dull, or commonplace.
plea	An argument to obtain some desired action.
plenary	Entire.
plumb	A weight suspended by a line to test the verticality of something.
plummet	A piece of lead for making soundings, adjusting walls to the vertical.
poignant	Severely painful or acute to the spirit.
polyglot	Speaking several tongues.
portend	To indicate as being about to happen, especially by previous signs.
portent	Anything that indicates what is to happen.
precarious	Perilous.
preclude	To prevent.
precocious	Having the mental faculties prematurely developed.
predominate	To be chief in importance, quantity, or degree.
premature	Coming too soon.
presage	To foretell.
prescience	Knowledge of events before they take place.
presumption	That which may be logically assumed to be true until disproved.
preternatural	Extraordinary.
prevalent	Of wide extent or frequent occurrence.
prim	Stiffly proper.
pristine	Primitive.
probity	Virtue or integrity tested and confirmed.
proclivity	A natural inclination.
procrastination	Delay.
prodigious	Immense.
profligacy	Shameless viciousness.
profligate	Recklessly wasteful
profuse	Produced or displayed in overabundance.
prolix	Verbose.
propinquity	Nearness.
propitious	Kindly disposed.
prosaic	Unimaginative.
proscribe	To reject, as a teaching or a practice, with condemnation or denunciation.
protuberant	Bulging.
provident	Anticipating and making ready for future wants or emergencies.
prudence	Caution.
puerile	Childish.
pugnacious	Quarrelsome.
punctilious	Strictly observant of the rules or forms prescribed by law or custom.
pungency	The quality of affecting the sense of smell.
pyre	A heap of combustibles arranged for burning a dead body.
qualm	A fit of nausea.
quandary	A puzzling predicament.
quibble	An utterly trivial distinction or objection.
quiescent	Being in a state of repose or inaction.
Quixotic	Chivalrous or romantic to a ridiculous or extravagant degree.
quotidian	Of an everyday character; ordinary.
raconteur	A person skilled in telling stories.
ramify	To divide or subdivide into branches or subdivisions.
rapacious	Sieze by force, avaricious
raucous	Harsh.
reactionary	Pertaining to, of the nature of, causing, or favoring reaction.
rebuff	A peremptory or unexpected rejection of advances or approaches.
recalcitrant	Marked by stubborn resistance.
recant	To withdraw formally one's belief (in something previously believed or maintained).
reciprocity	Equal mutual rights and benefits granted and enjoyed.
recluse	One who lives in retirement or seclusion.
recondite	Incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding.
recrudescent	Becoming raw or sore again.
recuperate	To recover.
redoubtable	Formidable.
redress	To set right, as a wrong by compensation or the punishment of the wrong-doer.
refractory	Not amenable to control.
regale	To give unusual pleasure.
regicide	The killing of a king or sovereign.
reiterate	To say or do again and again.
relapse	To suffer a return of a disease after partial recovery.
remonstrate	To present a verbal or written protest to those who have power to right or prevent a wrong.
renovate	To restore after deterioration, as a building.
repast	A meal; figuratively, any refreshment.
repel	To force or keep back in a manner, physically or mentally.
repine	To indulge in fretfulness and faultfinding.
reprobate	One abandoned to depravity and sin.
repudiate	To refuse to have anything to do with.
repulsive	Grossly offensive.
requisite	Necessary.
requite	To repay either good or evil to, as to a person.
resilience	The power of springing back to a former position
resonance	Able to reinforce sound by sympathetic vibrations.
respite	Interval of rest.
restive	Resisting control.
retinue	The group of people who accompany an important person during travels.
revere	To regard with worshipful veneration.
reverent	Humble.
ribald	Indulging in or manifesting coarse indecency or obscenity.
risible	Capable of exciting laughter.
rotund	Round from fullness or plumpness.
ruffian	A lawless or recklessly brutal fellow.
ruminate	To chew over again, as food previously swallowed and regurgitated.
salacious	Having strong sexual desires.
salient	Standing out prominently.
salubrious	Healthful; promoting health.
salutary	Beneficial.
sanction	To approve authoritatively.
sardonic	Scornfully or bitterly sarcastic.
satiate	To satisfy fully the appetite or desire of.
satyr	A very lascivious person.
savor	To perceive by taste or smell.
scabbard	The sheath of a sword or similar bladed weapon.
scintilla	The faintest ray.
scribble	Hasty, careless writing.
sequence	The order in which a number or persons, things, or events follow one another in space or time.
severance	Separation.
shrewd	Characterized by skill at understanding and profiting by circumstances.
sinecure	Any position having emoluments with few or no duties.
sinuous	Curving in and out.
skiff	Usually, a small light boat propelled by oars.
sluggard	A person habitually lazy or idle.
solace	Comfort in grief, trouble, or calamity.
solvent	Having sufficient funds to pay all debts.
somniferous	Tending to produce sleep.
somnolent	Sleepy.
sonorous	Resonant.
sophistry	Reasoning sound in appearance only, especially when designedly deceptive.
soporific	Causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep.
sordid	Filthy, morally degraded
spurious	Not genuine.
squalid	Having a dirty, mean, poverty-stricken appearance.
stanch	To stop the flowing of; to check.
stigma	A mark of infamy or token of disgrace attaching to a person as the result of evil-doing.
stingy	Cheap, unwilling to spend money.
stolid	Expressing no power of feeling or perceiving.
submerge	To place or plunge under water.
subterfuge	Evasion.
succinct	Concise.
sumptuous	Rich and costly.
supercilious	Exhibiting haughty and careless contempt.
superfluous	Being more than is needed.
supernumerary	Superfluous.
supersede	To displace.
supine	Lying on the back.
supplicate	To beg.
suppress	To prevent from being disclosed or punished.
surcharge	An additional amount charged.
surfeit	To feed to fullness or to satiety.
susceptibility	A specific capability of feeling or emotion.
sybarite	A luxurious person.
sycophant	A servile flatterer, especially of those in authority or influence.
synopsis	A syllabus or summary.
taut	Stretched tight.
temerity	Foolhardy disregard of danger; recklessness.
terse	Pithy.
timorous	Lacking courage.
torpid	Dull; sluggish; inactive.
torrid	Excessively hot.
transgress	To break a law.
transient	One who or that which is only of temporary existence.
transitory	Existing for a short time only.
travail	Hard or agonizing labor.
travesty	A grotesque imitation.
trenchant	Cutting deeply and quickly.
trepidation	Nervous uncertainty of feeling.
trite	Made commonplace by frequent repetition.
truculence	Ferocity.
truculent	Having the character or the spirit of a savage.
turbid	In a state of turmoil; muddled
turgid	Swollen.
tutelage	The act of training or the state of being under instruction.
ubiquitous	Being present everywhere.
ulterior	1. beyond what is obvious or evident<br>2. being intentionally concealed so as to deceive <br>3. happening later; subsequent
umbrage	A sense of injury.
unctuous	Oily.
undermine	To subvert in an underhand way.
undulate	To move like a wave or in waves.
untoward	Causing annoyance or hindrance.
upbraid	To reproach as deserving blame.
vagary	A sudden desire or action
vainglory	Excessive, pretentious, and demonstrative vanity.
valorous	Courageous.
vapid	Having lost sparkling quality and flavor.
variegated	Having marks or patches of different colors; also, varied.
vehement	Very eager or urgent.
venal	Mercenary, corrupt.
veneer	Outside show or elegance.
venial	That may be pardoned or forgiven, a forgivable sin.
veracious	Habitually disposed to speak the truth.
veracity	Truthfulness.
verbiage	Use of many words without necessity.
verdant	Green with vegetation.
veritable	Real; true; genuine.
vestige	A visible trace, mark, or impression, of something absent, lost, or gone.
vicissitude	A change, especially a complete change, of condition or circumstances, as of fortune.
vigilance	Alert and intent mental watchfulness in guarding against danger.
vigilant	Being on the alert to discover and ward off danger or insure safety.
virago	Loud talkative women, strong statured women
virtu	Rare, curious, or beautiful quality.
visage	The face, countenance, or look of a person.
vitiate	To contaminate.
vituperate	To overwhelm with wordy abuse.
vivify	To endue with life.
vociferous	Making a loud outcry.
voluble	Having great fluency in speaking.
wean	To transfer (the young) from dependence on mother's milk to another form of nourishment.
whimsical	Capricious.
winsome	Attractive.
Zeitgeist	The intellectual and moral tendencies that characterize any age or epoch.
breach	a lapse, gap or break, as in a fortress wall. To break or break through
eulogy	a spoken or written tribute to the deceased (v. eulogize) / A spoken or written laudation of a person's life or character.
assuage	to make less severe; to appease or satisfy / To cause to be less harsh, violent, or severe, as excitement, appetite, pain, or disease.
placate	to Pacify; to calm or reduce anger by making concessions; To bring from a state of angry or hostile feeling to one of patience or friendliness.
quiescence	motionless; inactivity; stillness; dormancy (adj: quiescent) / Being quiet, still, or at rest; inactive
taciturn	habitually untalkative or silent (n: taciturnity) / Disinclined to conversation.
enervate	to weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of; To render ineffective or inoperative.
encomium	a formal eulogy or speech of praise
audacious	extremely bold; fearless; daring
descry	to make clear, to say / To discern.
insensible	numb; unconscious: "Wayne was rendered insensible by a blow to the head." unfeeling; insensitive: "They were insensibile to the suffering of others.: / Imperceptible.
loquacious	talkative
ingenuous	Childlike or innocnent simplicity; unsophisticated; artless; straightforward; candid
impecunious	penniless; poor
verbose	wordy
phlegmatic	not easily excited; cool; sluggish / Not easily roused to feeling or action.
extant	in existence, still existing and known
corporeal	of or having to do with material, as opposed to spiritual; tangible; Of a material nature; physical.
engender	to give rise to, to propagate, to cause
blandishment	speech or action intended to coax someone into doing something / Flattery intended to persuade.
dogmatic	Dictatorial in one's opinion; relying upon doctrine or dogma, as opposed to evidence / Making statements without argument or evidence.
ambiguous	doubtful or uncertain; vague; subject to more than one interpretation / Having a double meaning.
obdurate	hardened against influence or feeling; resistant to persuasion; intractable. / Impassive to feelings of humanity or pity.
aggrandize	To increase in power, influence, and reputation; v. to make greater, to increase, thus, to exaggerate. / to make greater, to increase, thus, to exaggerate. / To cause to appear greatly.
antediluvian	ancient; outmoded; (literally,before the flood) / Of or pertaining to the times, things, events before the great flood in the days of Noah.
tortuous	twisted; excessively complicated: "Despite public complaints, tax laws and forms have become increasingly tortuous." Note: Don't confuse this with torturous. / Abounding in irregular bends or turns.
lugubrious	weighty, mournful, or gloomy, especially to an excessive degree: "Jake's lugubrious monologues depressed his friends." / Indicating sorrow, often ridiculously.
tractable	ability to be easily managed or controlled: "Her mother wished she were more tractable." (n: tractibility) / Easily led or controlled.
fawn	to grovel; to seek favor or attention; to act subserviantly (n, adj: fawning) / A young deer.
exorbitant	exceeding customary or normal limits, esp. in quantity or price: "The cab fare was exorbitant." / Going beyond usual and proper limits.
abscond	v. to leave secretly and hide, often to avoid the law. / to leave secretly and hide, often to avoid the law. / To depart suddenly and secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest.
prodigal	lavish; rashly wasteful: "Americans' prodigal devotion to the automobile is unique." / One wasteful or extravagant, especially in the use of money or property.
garrulous	verbose; talkative; rambling: "We tried to avoid our garrulous neighbor." / Given to constant trivial talking.
tyro	beginner; person lacking experience in a specific endeavor: "They easily took advantage of the tyro." / One slightly skilled in or acquainted with any trade or profession.
chicanery	deception by trickery / The use of trickery to deceive.
banal	boring; predicable; cliche; commonplace or trite (n: banality) / Commonplace.
laudable	praiseworthy; commendable (v. laud) / Praiseworthy.
endemic	prevalent in or native to a certain region, locality, or people: "The disease was endemic to the region." Don't confuse this word with epidemic. / Peculiar to some specified country or people.
bombast	pompous speech (adj: bombastic) / Inflated or extravagant language, especially on unimportant subjects.
caustic	capable of dissolving by chemical action; <br>Biting in wit; <br>highly critical: "His caustic remarks spoiled the mood of the party." / Sarcastic and severe.
conflagration	a great fire / A great fire, as of many buildings, a forest, or the like.
volatile	explosive; fickle (n: volatility). / Changeable.
exigency	A critical period or condition. / State of requiring immediate action; also, an urgent situation; also, that which is required in a
exacerbate	to make worse; to increase the bitterness or violence of; to aggravate: "The decision to fortify the border exacerbated tensions." / To make more sharp, severe, or virulent.
petulant	easily or frequently annoyed, especially over trivial matters; childishly irritable / Displaying impatience.
rescind	to repeal or annul / To make void, as an act, by the enacting authority or a superior authority.
gossamer	fine cobweb on foliage; fine gauzy fabric; very fine: "She wore a gossamer robe." / Flimsy.
sanguine	cheerful; confident: "Her sanguine attitude put everyone at ease."(Sangfroid (noun) is a related French word meaning unflappibility. Literally, it means cold blood) / Cheerfully confident; optimistic.
exculpate	to demonstrate or prove to be blameless: "The evidence tended to exculpate the defendant."(adj: exculpatory) / To relieve of blame.
prevaricate	to stray away from or evade the truth: "When we asked him what his intentions were, he prevaricated."(n: prevarication; prevaricator) / To use ambiguous or evasive language for the purpose of deceiving or diverting attention.
latent	present or potential but not evident or active (n: latency) / Dormant.
enigma	puzzle; mystery: "Math is an enigma to me." (adj: enigmatic) / A riddle.
noisome	harmful, offensive, destructive: "The noisome odor of the dump carried for miles." / Very offensive, particularly to the sense of smell.
equivocal	ambiguous; unclear; subject to more than one interpretation -- often intentionally so: "Republicans complained that Bill Clinton's answers were equivocal." (v. equivocate) / Ambiguous.
iconoclast	one who attacks traditional ideas or institutions or one who destroys sacred images (adj: iconoclastic) / An image-breaker.
imperious	commanding / Insisting on obedience.
sedulous	diligent; persevering; persistent: "Her sedulous devotion to overcoming her background impressed many." (n: sedulity; sedulousness; adv. sedulously) / Persevering in effort or endeavor.
inchoate	in an initial or early stage; incomplete; disorganized: "The act of writing forces one to clarify incohate thoughts." / Incipient.
castigate	to chastise or criticize severely / To punish.
insipid	lacking zest or excitement; dull / Tasteless.
diatribe	a bitter abusive denunciation. / A bitter or malicious criticism.
intransigent	stubborn; immovable; unwilling to change: "She was so intransigent we finally gave up trying to convince her." (n: intransigence) / Not capable of being swayed or diverted from a course.
peccadillo	a small sin or fault / A small breach of propriety or principle.
equanimity	Evenness of mind or temper. / Calmness; composure.
irascible	prone to outbursts of temper, easily angered / Prone to anger.
efficacy	effectiveness; capability to produce a desired effect / The power to produce an intended effect as shown in the production of it.
panegyric	a writing or speech in praise of a person or thing / A formal and elaborate eulogy, written or spoken, of a person or of an act.
nefarious	wicked, evil: "a nefarious plot." / Wicked in the extreme.
florid	flushed with a rosy color, as in complexion; very ornate and flowery: "florid prose." / Flushed with red.
pusillanimous	cowardly, timid, or irreselute; petty: "The pusillanimous leader soon lost the respect of his people." / Without spirit or bravery.
aver	to declare / To avouch, justify or prove
amalgamate	v. to unite or mix. (n) -- amalgamation. / to unite or mix. (n) -- amalgamation. / To mix or blend together in a homogeneous body.
obviate	to prevent by anticipatory measures; to make unnecessary: / To clear away or provide for, as an objection or difficulty.
turpitude	depravity; baseness: "Mr. Castor was fired for moral turpitude." / Depravity.
ineffable	undescribable; inexpressible in words; unspeakable / Unutterable.
misnomer	incorrect name or word for something / A name wrongly or mistakenly applied.
sagacious	having a sharp or powerful intellect or discernment. (n: sagacity). / Able to discern and distinguish with wise perception.
diffident	lacking self-confidence, modest (n: diffidence) / Affected or possessed with self-distrust.
ponderous	heavy; massive; awkward; dull: "A ponderous book is better than a sleeping pill." / Unusually weighty or forcible.
dissemble	to conceal one's real motive, to feign / To hide by pretending something different.
specious	seemingly true but really false; deceptively convincing or attractive: "Her argument, though specious, was readily accepted by many." / Plausible.
erudite	scholarly; displaying deep intensive learning. (n: erudition) / Very-learned.
innocuous	harmless; having no adverse affect; not likely to provoke strong emotion / Harmless.
dearth	lack, scarcity: "The prosecutor complained about the dearth of concrete evidence against the suspect." / Scarcity, as of something customary, essential,or desirable.
plethora	excessively large quantity; overabundance: "We received a p lethora of applications for the position." / Excess; superabundance.
indelible	permanent; unerasable; strong: "The Queen made an indelible impression on her subjects." / That can not be blotted out, effaced, destroyed, or removed.
guile	skillful deceit: "He was well known for his guile." (v. bequile; adj: beguiling. Note, however, that these two words have an additional meaning: to charm (v.) or charming (adj:), while the word guile does not generally have any such positive connotations)

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