abase@abase
V. lower; degrade; humiliate.
Anna expected to have to curtsy to the King of Siam; when told to cast herself down on the ground before him, however, she refused to abase herself.
abasement, n.
abash@abash
V. embarrass.
He was not at all abashed by her open admiration.
abate@abate
V. subside or moderate.
Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate.
abbreviate@abbreviate
V. shorten.
Because we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.
abdicate@abdicate
V. renounce; give up.
When Edward VII abdicated the British throne, he surprised the entire world.
aberrant@aberrant
ADJ. abnormal or deviant.
Given the aberrant nature of the data, we came to doubt the validity of the entire experiment.
aberration@aberration
N. deviation from the expected or the normal; mental irregularity or disorder.
Survivors of a major catastrophe are likely to exhibit aberrations of behavior because of the trauma they have experienced.
abet@abet
V. assist, usually in doing something wrong; encourage.
She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned.
abeyance@abeyance
N. suspended action.
The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival.
abhor@abhor
V. detest; hate.
She abhorred all forms of bigotry.
abhorrence, n.
abject@abject
ADJ. wretched; lacking pride.
On the streets of New York the homeless live in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find shelter from the wind.
abjure@abjure
V. renounce upon oath.
He abjured his allegiance to the king.
abjuration, n.
ablution@ablution
N. washing.
His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled "Opera In the Bath."
abnegation@abnegation
N. renunciation; self-sacrifice.
Though Rudolph and Duchess Flavia loved one another, their love was doomed, for she had to wed the king; their act of abnegation was necessary to preserve the kingdom.
abolish@abolish
V. cancel; put an end to.
The president of the college refused to abolish the physical education requirement.
abolition, n.
abominable@abominable
ADJ. detestable; extremely unpleasant; very bad.
Mary liked John until she learned he was also dating Susan; then she called him an abominable young man, with abominable taste in women.
abominate@abominate
V. loathe; hate.
Moses scolded the idol worshippers in the tribe because he abominated the custom.
aboriginal@aboriginal
ADJ. being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native.
Her studies of the primitive art forms of the aboriginal Indians were widely reported in the scientific journals.
aborigine, n.
abortive@abortive
ADJ. unsuccessful; fruitless.
Attacked by armed troops, the Chinese students had to abandon their abortive attempt to democratize Beijing peacefully.
abort, v.
abrasive@abrasive
ADJ. rubbing away; tending to grind down.
Just as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can wear away a listener's patience.
abrade, v.
abridge@abridge
V. condense or shorten.
Because the publishers felt the public wanted a shorter version of War and Peace, they proceeded to abridge the novel.
abrogate@abrogate
V. abolish.
The king intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor.
abscission@abscission
N. cutting off; separation.
When a flower or leaf separates naturally from the parent plant, this process is called abscission.
abscond@abscond
V. depart secretly and hide.
The teller who absconded with the bonds went uncaptured until someone recognized him from his photograph on America's Most Wanted.
absolute@absolute
ADJ. complete; totally unlimited; certain.
Although the King of Siam was an absolute monarch, he did not want to behead his unfaithful wife without absolute evidence of her infidelity.
absolve@absolve
V. pardon (an offense).
The father confessor absolved him of his sins.
absolution, n.
abstain@abstain
V. refrain; withhold from participation.
After considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race.
abstemious@abstemious
ADJ. sparing in eating and drinking; temperate.
Concerned whether her vegetarian son's abstemious diet provided him with sufficient protein, the worried mother pressed food on him.
abstinence@abstinence
N. restraint from eating or drinking.
The doctor recommended total abstinence from salted foods.
abstain, v.
abstract@abstract
ADJ. theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational.
To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he had never missed a meal.
abstruse@abstruse
ADJ. obscure; profound; difficult to understand.
Baffled by the abstruse philosophical texts assigned in class, Dave asked Lexy to explain Kant's Critique of Pure Reason.
abusive@abusive
ADJ. coarsely insulting; physically harmful.
An abusive parent damages a child both mentally and physically.
abut@abut
V. border upon; adjoin.
Where our estates abut, we must build a fence.
abysmal@abysmal
ADJ. bottomless.
His arrogance is exceeded only by his abysmal ignorance.
abyss@abyss
N. enormous chasm; vast, bottomless pit.
Darth Vader seized the evil emperor and hurled him into the abyss.
academic@academic
ADJ. related to a school; not practical or directly useful.
The dean's talk about reforming academic policies was only an academic discussion: we knew little, if anything, would change.
accede@accede
V. agree.
If I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands.
accelerate@accelerate
V. move faster.
In our science class, we learn how falling bodies accelerate.
accessible@accessible
ADJ. easy to approach; obtainable.
We asked our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot.
accessory@accessory
N. additional object; useful but not essential thing.
She bought an attractive handbag as an accessory for her dress.
also adj.
acclaim@acclaim
V. applaud; announce with great approval.
The sportscasters acclaimed every American victory in the Olympics and decried every American defeat.
acclamation, n.
acclimate@acclimate
V. adjust to climate or environment; adapt.
One of the difficulties of our present air age is the need of travelers to acclimate themselves to their new and often strange environments.
acclivity@acclivity
N. sharp upslope of a hill.
The car could not go up the acclivity in high gear.
accolade@accolade
N. award of merit.
In Hollywood, an "Oscar" is the highest accolade.
accommodate@accommodate
V. oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt.
Mitch always did everythiqg possible to accommodate his elderly relatives, from driving them to medical appointments to helping them with paperwork. (secondary meaning)
accomplice@accomplice
N. partner in crime.
Because he had provided the criminal with the lethal weapon, he was arrested as an accomplice in the murder.
accord@accord
N. agreement.
She was in complete accord with the verdict.
accost@accost
V. approach and speak first to a person.
When the two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I thought they were going to attack me.
accoutre@accoutre
V. equip.
The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply.
accoutrement, n.
accretion@accretion
N. growth; increase.
Over the years Bob put on weight; because of this accretion of flesh, he went from size M to size XL.
accrete, v.
accrue@accrue
V. come about by addition.
You must pay the interest that has accrued on your debt as well as the principal sum.
accrual, n.
acerbity@acerbity
N. bitterness of speech and temper.
The meeting of the United Nations Assembly was marked with such acerbity that observers held little hope of reaching any useful settlement of the problem.
acerbic, adj.
acetic@acetic
ADJ. vinegary.
The salad had an exceedingly acetic flavor.
acidulous@acidulous
ADJ. slightly sour; sharp; caustic.
James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks.
acknowledge@acknowledge
V. recognize; admit.
Although I acknowledge that the Beatles' tunes sound pretty dated nowadays, I still prefer them to the gangsta rap songs my brothers play.
acme@acme
N. peak; pinnacle; highest point.
Welles's success in Citizen Kane marked the acme of his career as an actor; never again did he achieve such popular acclaim.
acoustics@acoustics
N. science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in.
Carnegie Hall is liked by music lovers because of its fine acoustics.
acquiesce@acquiesce
V. assent; agree passively.
Although she appeared to acquiesce to her employer's suggestions, I could tell she had reservations about the changes he wanted made.
acquiescence, n.; acquiescent, adj.
acquittal@acquittal
N. deliverance from a charge.
His acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty.
acquit, v.
acrid@acrid
ADJ. sharp; bitterly pungent.
The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired.
acrimonious@acrimonious
ADJ. bitter in words or manner.
The candidate attacked his opponent in highly acrimonious terms.
acrimony, n.
acrophobia@acrophobia
N. fear of heights.
A born salesman, he could convince someone with a bad case of acrophobia to sign up for a life membership in a sky-diving club.
actuarial@actuarial
ADJ. calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics.
According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago.
actuate@actuate
V. motivate.
I fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily.
acuity@acuity
N. sharpness.
In time his youthful acuity of vision failed him, and he needed glasses.
acumen@acumen
N. mental keenness.
Her business acumen helped her to succeed where others had failed.
acute@acute
ADJ. quickly perceptive; keen; brief and severe.
The acute young doctor realized immediately that the gradual deterioration of her patient's once-acute hearing was due to a chronic illness, not an acute one.
adage@adage
N. wise saying; proverb.
There is much truth in the old adage about fools and their money.
adamant@adamant
ADJ. hard; inflexible.
In this movie Bronson played the part of a revenge-driven man, adamant in his determination to punish the criminals who destroyed his family.
adamancy, n.
adapt@adapt
V. alter; modify.
Some species of animals have become extinct because they could not adapt to a changing environment.
addendum@addendum
N. addition; appendix to book.
Jane's editor approved her new comparative literature text but thought it would be even better with an addendum on recent developments in literary criticism.
addiction@addiction
N. compulsive, habitual need.
His addiction to drugs caused his friends much grief.
addle@addle
V. muddle; drive crazy; become rotten.
This idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle anyone.
addled adj.
address@address
V. direct a speech to; deal with or discuss.
Due to address the convention in July, Brown planned to address fhe issue of low-income housing in his speech.
adept@adept
ADJ. expert at.
She was adept at the fine art of irritating people.
also n.
adhere@adhere
V. stick fast.
I will adhere to this opinion until proof that I am wrong is presented.
adhesion, n.; adherence, n.
adherent@adherent
N. supporter; follower.
In the wake of the scandal, the senator's one-time adherents quietly deserted him.
adjacent@adjacent
ADJ. adjoining; neighboring; close by.
Philip's best friend Jason lived only four houses down the block, near but not immediately adjacent.
adjunct@adjunct
N. something (generally nonessential or inferior) added on or attached.
Although I don't absolutely need a second computer, I plan to buy a laptop to serve as an adjunct to my desktop model.
also adj.
adjuration@adjuration
N. solemn urging.
Her adjuration to tell the truth did not change the witnesses' testimony.
adjure, v.
adjutant@adjutant
N. staff officer assisting the commander; assistant.
Though Wellington delegated many tasks to his chief adjutant, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Somerset was in no doubt as to who made all major decisions.
admonish@admonish
V. warn; reprove.
He admonished his listeners to change their wicked ways.
admonition, n.
adorn@adorn
V. decorate.
Wall paintings and carved statues adorned the temple.
adornment, n.
adroit@adroit
ADJ. skillfull.
Her adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased her employers.
adulation@adulation
N. flattery; admiration.
The rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes-men.
adulate, v.
adulterate@adulterate
V. make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances.
It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer; when consumers learned that Beechnut had adulterated its apple juice by mixing the juice with water, they protested vigorously.
adulteration, n.
advent@advent
N. arrival.
Most Americans were unaware of the advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima reached them.
adventitious@adventitious
ADJ. accidental; casual.
She found this adventitious meeting with her friend extremely fortunate.
adversary@adversary
N. opponent; enemy.
Batman struggled to save Gotham City from the machinations of his wicked adversary, the Joker.
adverse@adverse
ADJ. unfavorable; hostile.
The recession had a highly adverse effect on Father's investment portfolio: he lost so much money that he could no longer afford the butler and the upstairs maid.
adversity@adversity
N. poverty; misfortune.
We must learn to meet adversity gracefully.
advert@advert
V. refer (to).
Since you advert to this matter so frequently, you must regard it as important.
advocacy@advocacy
N. support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something.
No threats could dissuade Bishop Desmond Tutu from his advocacy of the human rights of black South Africans.
advocate@advocate
V. urge; plead for.
The abolitionists advocated freedom for the slaves.
also n.
aegis@aegis
N. shield; defense.
Under the aegis of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy our most treasured freedoms.
aerie@aerie
N. nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk).
The mother eagle swooped down on the rabbit and bore it off to her aerie high in the Rocky Mountains.
aesthetic@aesthetic
ADJ. artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful.
The beauty of Tiffany's stained glass appealed to Alice's aesthetic sense.
aesthete, n.
affable@affable
ADJ. easily approachable; warmly friendly.
Accustomed to cold, aloof supervisors, Nicholas was amazed at how affable his new employer was.
affability, n.
affected@affected
ADJ. artificial; pretended; assumed in order to impress.
His affected mannerisms-his "Harvard" accent, his air of boredom, his use of obscure foreign words bugged us: He acted as if he thought he was too good for his old high school friends.
affectation, n.
affidavit@affidavit
N. written statement made under oath.
The court refused to accept her statement unless she presented it in the form of an affidavit.
affiliation@affiliation
N. joining; associating with.
His affiliation with the political party was of short duration for he soon disagreed with his colleagues.
affinity@affinity
N. kinship.
She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains.
affirmation@affirmation
N. positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath.
Despite Tom's affirmations of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie.
affix@affix
V. attach or add on: fasten.
First the registrar had to affix his signature to the license; then he had to affix his official seal.
affliction@affliction
N. state of distress; cause of suffering.
Even in the midst of her affliction, Elizabeth tried to keep up the spirits of those around her.
affluence@affluence
N. abundance; wealth.
Foreigners are amazed by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life.
affront@affront
N. insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect.
When Mrs. Proudie was not seated beside the Archdeacon at the head table, she took it as a personal affront and refused to speak to her hosts for a week.
also v.
agape@agape
ADJ. openmouthed.
She stared agape at the many strange animals In the zoo.
agenda@agenda
N. items of business at a meeting.
We had so much difficulty agreeing upon an agenda that there was very little time for the meeting.
agglomeration@agglomeration
N. collection; heap.
It took weeks to assort the agglomeration of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip.
aggrandize@aggrandize
V. increase or intensify; raise in power, wealth, rank or honor.
The history of the past quarter century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to act aggressively in international affairs without considering the wishes of Congress.
aggregate@aggregate
V. gather; accumulate.
Before the Wall Street scandals, dealers in so-called junk bonds managed to aggregate great wealth in short periods of time.
also adj. aggregation, n.
aggressor@aggressor
N. attacker.
Before you punish both boys for fighting, see whether you can determine which one was the aggressor.
aghast@aghast
ADJ. horrified; dumbfounded.
Miss Manners was aghast at the crude behavior of the fraternity brothers at the annual toga party.
agility@agility
N. nimbleness.
The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience.
agitate@agitate
V. stir up; disturb.
Her fiery remarks agitated the already angry mob.
agnostic@agnostic
N. one who is skeptical of the existence of a god or any ultimate reality.
Agnostics say we can neither prove nor disprove the existence of god; we simply have no way to know.
also adj.
agog@agog
ADJ. highly excited; intensely curious.
We were all agog at the news that the celebrated movie star was giving up his career in order to enter a monastery.
agrarian@agrarian
ADJ. pertaining to land or its cultivation.
As a result of its recent industrialization, the country is gradually losing its agrarian traditions.
alacrity@alacrity
N. cheerful promptness; eagerness.
Phil and Dave were raring to get off to the mountains; they packed up their ski gear and climbed into the van with alacrity.
alchemy@alchemy
N. medieval chemistry.
The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy.
alchemist, n.
alcove@alcove
N. nook; recess.
Though their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an alcove adjacent to the living room made an adequate breakfast nook for the young couple.
alias@alias
N. an assumed name.
John Smith's alias was Bob Jones.
also adv.
alienate@alienate
V. make hostile; separate.
Her attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith in each other.
alimentary@alimentary
ADJ. supplying nourishment.
The alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods occurs there. When asked for the name of the digestive tract, Sherlock Holmes replied, "Alimentary, my dear Watson."
alimony@alimony
N. payments made to an ex-spouse after divorce.
Because Tony had supported Tina through medical school, on their divorce he asked the court to award him 500 a month in alimony.
allay@allay
V. calm; pacify.
The crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled.
allege@allege
V. state without proof.
Although it is alleged that she has worked for the enemy, she denies the allegation and, legally, we can take no action against her without proof.
allegation, n.
allegiance@allegiance
N. loyalty.
Not even a term in prison could shake Lech Walesa's allegiance to Solidarity, the Polish trade union he had helped to found.
allegory@allegory
N. story in which characters are used as symbols; fable.
Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of the human soul.
allegorical, adj.
alleviate@alleviate
V. relieve.
This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs.
alliteration@alliteration
N. repetition of beginning sound in poetry.
"The furrow followed free" is an example of alliteration.
allocate@allocate
V. assign.
Even though the Red Cross had allocated a large sum for the relief of the sufferers of the disaster, many people perished.
alloy@alloy
N. a mixture as of metals.
Alloys of gold are used more frequently than the pure metal.
V. mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate.
Our delight at the Mets' victory was alloyed by our concern for Dwight Gooden, who injured his pitching arm in the game.
allude@allude
V. refer indirectly.
Try not to mention divorce in Jack's presence because he will think you are alluding to his marital problems with Jill.
allure@allure
V. entice; attract.
Allured by the song of the sirens, the helmsman steered the ship toward the reef.
also n.
allusion@allusion
N. indirect reference.
When Amanda said to the ticket scalper, "One hundred bucks? What do you want, a pound of flesh?" she was making an allusion to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
alluvial@alluvial
ADJ. pertaining to soil deposits left by running water.
The farmers found the alluvial deposits at the mouth of the river very fertile.
aloof@aloof
ADJ. apart; reserved.
Shy by nature, she remained aloof while all the rest conversed.
aloft@aloft
ADV. upward.
The sailor climbed aloft into the rigging.
altercation@altercation
N. noisy quarrel; heated dispute.
In that hot-tempered household, no meal ever came to a peaceful conclusion; the inevitable altercation sometimes even ended in blows.
altruistic@altruistic
ADJ. unselfishly generous; concerned for others.
In providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships for hundreds of economically disadvantaged youths, Eugene Lang performed a truly altruistic deed.
altruism, n.
amalgamate@amalgamate
V. combine; unite in one body.
The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body.
amass@amass
V. collect.
The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible.
amazon@amazon
N. female warrior.
Ever since the days of Greek mythology we refer to strong and aggressive women as amazons.
ambidextrous@ambidextrous
ADJ. capable of using either hand with equal ease.
A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous.
ambience@ambience
N. environment; atmosphere.
She went to the restaurant not for the food but for the ambience.
ambiguous@ambiguous
ADJ. unclear or doubtful in meaning.
His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take.
ambiguity, n.
ambivalence@ambivalence
N. the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes.
Torn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by the ambivalence of her feelings.
ambivalent, adj.
amble@amble
N. moving at an easy pace.
When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble.
also v.
ambrosia@ambrosia
N. food of the gods.
Ambrosia was supposed to give immortality to any human who ate it.
ambulatory@ambulatory
ADJ. able to walk; not bedridden.
Calvin was a highly ambulatory patient; not only did he refuse to be confined to bed, but also he insisted on riding his skateboard up and down the halls.
ameliorate@ameliorate
V. improve.
Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums.
amenable@amenable
ADJ. readily managed or willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally.
Although the ambassador was usually amenable to friendly suggestions, he balked when we hinted he should pay his parking tickets. As a foreign diplomat, he claimed he was not amenable to minor local laws.
amend@amend
V. correct; change, generally for the better.
Hoping to amend his condition, he left Vietnam for the United States.
amenities@amenities
N. convenient features; courtesies.
In addition to the customary amenities for the business traveler fax machines, modems, a health club-the hotel offers the services of a butler versed in the social amenities.
amiable@amiable
ADJ. agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly.
In Little Women, Beth is the amiable daughter whose loving disposition endears her to all who know her.
amicable@amicable
ADJ. politely friendly; not quarrelsome.
Beth's sister Jo is the hot-tempered tomboy who has a hard time maintaining amicable relationships with those around her. Jo's quarrel with her friend Laurie finally reaches an amicable settlement, but not because Jo turns amiable overnight.
amiss@amiss
ADJ. wrong; faulty.
Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything were amiss.
also adv.
amity@amity
N. friendship.
Student exchange programs such as the Experiment in International Living were established to promote international amity.
amnesia@amnesia
N. loss of memory.
Because she was suffering from amnesia, the police could not get the young girl to identify herself.
amnesty@amnesty
N. pardon.
When his first child was born, the king granted amnesty to all in prison.
amoral@amoral
ADJ. nonmoral.
The amoral individual lacks a code of ethics; he cannot tell right from wrong. The immoral person can tell right from wrong; he chooses to do something he knows is wrong.
amorous@amorous
ADJ. moved by sexual love; loving.
"Love them and leave them" was the motto of the amorous Don Juan.
amorphous@amorphous
ADJ. formless; lacking shape or definition.
As soon as we have decided on our itinerary, we shall send you a copy; right now, our plans are still amorphous.
amphibian@amphibian
ADJ. able to live both on land and in water.
Frogs are classified as amphibian.
also n.
amphitheater@amphitheater
N. oval building with tiers of seats.
The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators.
ample@ample
ADJ. abundant.
Bond had ample opportunity to escape. Why, then, did he let us capture him?
amplify@amplify
V. broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger.
Charlie Brown tried to amplify his remarks, but he was drowned out by jeers from the audience. Lucy was smarter: she used a loudspeaker to amplify her voice.
amputate@amputate
V. cut off part of body; prune.
When the doctors had to amputate Ted Kennedy's leg to prevent the spread of cancer, he did not let the loss of his leg keep him from participating in sports.
amok@amok
ADV. in a state of rage.
The police had to be called in to restrain him after he ran amok in the department store.
amulet@amulet
N. charm; talisman.
Around her neck she wore the amulet that the witch doctor had given her.
anachronism@anachronism
N. something or someone misplaced in time.
Shakespeare's reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is an anachronism; no clocks existed in Caesar's time.
anachronistic, adj.
analgesic@analgesic
ADJ. calking insensitivity to pain.
The analgesic qualities of this lotion will provide temporary relief.
analogous@analogous
ADJ. comparable.
She called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same.
analogy@analogy
N. similarity; parallelism.
A well-known analogy compares the body's immune system with an army whose defending troops are the lymphocytes or white blood cells.
anarchist@anarchist
N. person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority.
Denying she was an anarchist, Katya maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it entirely.
anarchy@anarchy
N. absence of governing body; state of disorder.
The assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy.
anathema@anathema
N. solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse.
The Ayatolla Khomeini heaped anathema upon "the Great Satan," that is, the United States. To the Ayatolla, America and the West were anathema; he loathed the democratic nations, cursing them in his dying words.
anathematize, v.
ancestry@ancestry
N. family descent.
David can trace his ancestry as far back as the seventeenth century, when one of his ancestors was a court trumpeter somewhere in Germany.
ancestral, adj.
anchor@anchor
V. secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place.
We set the post in concrete to anchor it in place.
anchorage, n.
ancillary@ancillary
ADJ. serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary.
In an ancillary capacity Doctor Watson was helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the good doctor to solve a perplexing case on his own.
also n.
anecdote@anecdote
N. short account of an amusing or interesting event.
Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Reagan told anecdotes about poor people who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds.
anemia@anemia
N. condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles.
The doctor ascribes her tiredness to anemia.
anemic, adj.
anesthetic@anesthetic
N. substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness.
His monotonous voice acted like an anesthetic; his audience was soon asleep.
anesthesia, n.
anguish@anguish
N. acute pain; extreme suffering.
Visiting the site of the explosion, the president wept to see the anguish of the victims and their families.
angular@angular
ADJ. sharp-cornered; stiff in manner.
Mr. Spock's features, though angular, were curiously attractive, in a Vulcan way.
animadversion@animadversion
N. critical remark.
He resented the animadversions of his critics, particularly because he realized they were true.
animated@animated
ADJ. lively; spirited.
Jim Carrey's facial expressions are highly animated: when he played Ace Ventura, he was practically rubber-faced.
animosity@animosity
N. active enmity.
He incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power.
animus@animus
N. hostile feeling or intent.
The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks.
annals@annals
N. records; history.
In the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements.
anneal@anneal
V. reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling.
After the glass is annealed, it will be less subject to chipping and cracking.
annex@annex
V. attach; take possession of.
Mexico objected to the United States' attempts to annex the territory that later became the state of Texas.
annihilate@annihilate
V. destroy.
The enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate the entire population.
annotate@annotate
V. comment; make explanatory notes.
In the appendix to the novel, the critic sought to annotate , many of the more esoteric references.
annuity@annuity
N. yearly allowance.
The annuity she set up with the insurance company supplements her social security benefits so that she can live very comfortably without working.
annul@annul
V. make void.
The parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage.
anodyne@anodyne
N. drug that relieves pain; opiate.
His pain was so great that no anodyne could relieve it.
anoint@anoint
V. consecrate.
The prophet Samuel anointed David with oil, crowning him king of Israel.
anomalous@anomalous
ADJ. abnormal; irregular.
She was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures that she despised.
anomaly@anomaly
N. irregularity.
A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly.
anonymity@anonymity
N. state of being nameless; anonymousness.
The donor of the gift asked the college not to mention her by name; the dean readily agreed to respect her anonymity.
anonymous, adj.
antagonism@antagonism
N. hostility; active resistance.
Barry showed his antagonism toward his new stepmother by ignoring her whenever she tried talking to him.
antagonistic, adj.
antecede@antecede
V. precede.
The invention of the radiotelegraph anteceded the development of television by a quarter of a century.
antecedents@antecedents
N. preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background.
Susi Bechhofer's ignorance of her Jewish background had its antecedents in the chaos of World War II. Smuggled out of Germany and adopted by a Christian family, she knew nothing of her birth and antecedents until she was reunited with her Jewish family in 1989.
antediluvian@antediluvian
ADJ. antiquated; extremely ancient.
Looking at his great-aunt's antique furniture, which must have been cluttering up her attic since before Noah's flood, the young heir exclaimed, "Heavens! How positively antediluvian!"
anthem@anthem
N. song of praise or patriotism.
Let us now all join in singing the national anthem.
anthology@anthology
N. book of literary selections by various authors.
This anthology of science fiction was compiled by the late Isaac Asimov.
anthologize, v.
anthropoid@anthropoid
ADJ. manlike.
The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals.
also n.
anthropologist@anthropologist
N. student of the history and science of humankind.
Anthropologists have discovered several relics of prehistoric humans in this area.
anthropomorphic@anthropomorphic
ADJ. having human form or characteristics.
Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics.
anticlimax@anticlimax
N. letdown in thought or emotion.
After the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax.
anticlimactic, adj.
antidote@antidote
N. remedy to counteract a poison or disease.
When Marge's child accidentally swallowed some cleaning fluid, the local poison control hotline instructed Marge how to administer the antidote.
antipathy@antipathy
N. aversion; dislike.
Tom's extreme antipathy for disputes keeps him from getting into arguments with his temperamental wife. Noise in any form is antipathetic to him. Among his other antipathies are honking cars, boom boxes, and heavy metal rock.
antiquated@antiquated
ADJ. obsolete; outdated.
Accustomed to editing his papers on word processors, Philip thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to use.
antiseptic@antiseptic
N. substance that prevents infection.
It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound, no matter how slight or insignificant.
also adj.
antithesis@antithesis
N. contrast; direct opposite of or to.
This tyranny was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for, and he fought it with all his strength.
antithetical or antithetic, adj.
anvil@anvil
N. iron block used in hammering out metals.
After heating the iron horseshoe in the forge, the blacksmith picked it up with his tongs and set it on the anvil.
apathy@apathy
N. lack of caring; indifference.
A firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote.
apathetic, adj.
ape@ape
V. imitate or mimic.
In the comedy Young Frankenstein, when the servant Igor limps off, saying, "Walk this way," the hero apes him, hobbling after Igor in an imitation of his walk.
aperture@aperture
N. opening; hole.
She discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room.
apex@apex
N. tip; summit; climax.
At the apex of his career, the star received offers of leading roles daily; two years later, he was reduced to taking bit parts in B-movies.
aphasia@aphasia
N. loss of speech due to injury or illness.
After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently.
aphorism@aphorism
N. pithy maxim or saying.
An aphorism is usually philosophic or scientific, as compared to an adage, which is usually more homely and concrete. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" is an aphorism. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" is an adage.
aphoristic, adj.
apiary@apiary
N. a place where bees are kept.
Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee.
aplomb@aplomb
N. poise; assurance.
Gwen's aplomb in handling potentially embarrassing moments was legendary around the office; when one of her clients broke a piece of her best crystal, she coolly picked up her own goblet and hurled it into the fireplace.
apocalyptic@apocalyptic
ADJ. prophetic; pertaining to revelations.
The crowd jeered at the street preacher's apocalyptic predictions of doom. The Apocalypse or Book of Revelations of Saint John prophesies the end of the world as we know it and foretells marvels and prodigies that signal the coming doom.
apocalypse, n.
apocryphal@apocryphal
ADJ. untrue; made up.
To impress his friends, Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city.
apogee@apogee
N. highest point.
When the moon in its orbit is furthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee.
apolitical@apolitical
ADJ. having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs.
It was hard to remain apolitical during the Vietnam War; even people who generally ignored public issues felt they had to take political stands.
apologist@apologist
N. one who writes in defense of a cause or institution.
Rather than act as an apologist for the current regime in Beijing and defend its brutal actions, the young diplomat decided to defect to the West.
apostate@apostate
N. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs.
Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate.
apostasy, n.
apothecary@apothecary
N. druggist.
In Holland, apothecaries still sell spices as well as ointments and pills.
apothegm@apothegm
N. pithy, compact saying.
Proverbs are apothegms that have become familiar sayings.
apotheosis@apotheosis
N. elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something.
The apotheosis of a Roman emperor was designed to insure his eternal greatness: people would worship at his altar forever. On Family Ties, Alex Keaton was the apotheosis of yuppieness: he was the perfect upwardly bound young man on the make.
appall@appall
V. dismay; shock.
We were appalled by the horrifying conditions in the city's jails.
apparition@apparition
N. ghost; phantom.
On the castle battlements, an apparition materialized and spoke to Hamlet, warning him of his uncle's treachery. In Ghostbusters, hordes of apparitions materialized, only to be dematerialized by the specialized apparatus wielded by Bill Murray.
appease@appease
V. pacify or soothe; relieve.
Tom and Jody tried to appease the crying baby by offering him one toy after another. However, he would not calm down until they appeased his hunger by giving him a bottle.
appeasement, n.
appellation@appellation
N. name; title.
Macbeth was startled when the witches greeted him with an incorrect appellation. Why did they call him Thane of Cawdor, he wondered, when the holder of that title still lived?
append@append
V. attach.
When you append a bibliography to a text, you have created an appendix.
application@application
N. diligent attention.
Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application.
(secondary meaning) apply, v.
apposite@apposite
ADJ. appropriate; fitting.
She was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion.
appraise@appraise
V. estimate value of.
It is difficult to appraise old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless.
appraisal, n.
appreciate@appreciate
V. be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of.
Little Orphan Annie truly appreciated the stocks Daddy Warbucks gave her, whose value appreciated considerably over the years.
apprehend@apprehend
V. arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive.
The police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long.
apprehensive@apprehensive
ADJ. fearful; discerning.
His apprehensive glances at the people who were walking in the street revealed his nervousness.
apprise@apprise
V. inform.
When she was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, she decided to postpone her trip.
approbation@approbation
N. approval.
Wanting her parents' regard, she looked for some sign of their approbation.
appropriate@appropriate
V. acquire; take possession of for one's own use.
The ranch owners appropriated the lands that had originally been set aside for the Indians' use.
appurtenances@appurtenances
N. subordinate possessions.
He bought the estate and all its appurtenances.
apropos@apropos
PREP. with reference to; regarding.
I find your remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent.
also adj. and adv.
aptitude@aptitude
N. fitness; talent.
The counselor evaluated his aptitudes before advising him about the career he should follow.
aquiline@aquiline
ADJ. curved, hooked.
He can be recognized by his aquiline nose, curved like the beak of the eagle.
arable@arable
ADJ. fit for growing crops.
The first settlers wrote home glowing reports of the New World, praising its vast acres of arable land ready for the plow.
arbiter@arbiter
N. person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge.
As an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won the confidence of the workers and the employers.
arbitrary@arbitrary
ADJ. unreasonable or capricious; tyrannical.
The coach claimed the team lost because the umpire made some arbitrary calls.
arbitrate@arbitrate
V. act as judge.
She was called upon to arbitrate the dispute between the union and the management.
arboretum@arboretum
N. place where different varieties of trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited.
Walking along the tree-lined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly fine sycamores.
arcade@arcade
N. a covered passageway, usually lined with shops.
The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain.
arcane@arcane
ADJ. secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated.
Secret brotherhoods surround themselves with arcane rituals and trappings to mystify outsiders. So do doctors. Consider the arcane terminology they use and the impression they try to give that what is arcane to us is obvious to them.
archaeology@archaeology
N. study of artifacts and relics of early mankind.
The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins.
archaic@archaic
ADJ. antiquated.
"Methinks," "thee," and "thou" are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary.
archetype@archetype
N. prototype; primitive pattern.
The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long island and New Jersey.
archipelago@archipelago
N. group of closely located islands.
When he looked at the map and saw the archipelagoes in the South Seas, he longed to visit them.
archives@archives
N. public records; place where public records are kept.
These documents should be part of the archives so that historians may be able to evaluate them in the future.
ardor@ardor
N. heat; passion; zeal.
Katya's ardor was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
ardent, adj.
arduous@arduous
ADJ. hard; strenuous.
Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy.
argot@argot
N. slang.
In the argot of the underworld, she "was taken for a ride."
aria@aria
N. operatic solo.
At her Metropolitan Opera audition, Marian Anderson sang an aria from Norma.
arid@arid
ADJ. dry; barren.
The cactus has adapted to survive in an arid environment.
aristocracy@aristocracy
N. hereditary nobility; privileged class.
Americans have mixed feelings about hereditary aristocracy we say all men are created equal, but we describe particularly outstanding people as natural aristocrats.
armada@armada
N. fleet of warships.
Queen Elizabeth's navy was able to defeat the mighty armada that threatened the English coast.
aromatic@aromatic
ADJ. fragrant.
Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe.
arraign@arraign
V. charge in court; indict.
After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court.
array@array
V. marshal; draw up in order.
His actions were bound to array public sentiment against him.
V. clothe; adorn.
She liked to watch her mother array herself in her finest clothes before going out for the evening.
also n.
arrears@arrears
N. being in debt.
He was in arrears with his payments on the car.
arrhythmic@arrhythmic
ADJ. lacking rhythm or regularity.
The doctors feared his arrhythmic heartbeat might be the first symptom of an imminent heart attack.
arrhythmia, n.
arrogance@arrogance
N. pride; haughtiness.
Convinced that Emma thought she was better than anyone else in the class, Ed rebuked her for her arrogance.
arroyo@arroyo
N. gully.
Until the heavy rains of the past spring, this arroyo had been a dry bed.
arsenal@arsenal
N. storage place for military equipment.
People are forbidden to smoke in the arsenal lest a stray spark set off the munitions stored there.
articulate@articulate
ADJ. effective; distinct.
Her articulate presentation of the advertising campaign impressed her employers.
also v.
artifact@artifact
N. object made by human beings, either handmade or mass-produced.
Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor but came to no conclusion about the culture they represented.
artifice@artifice
N. deception; trickery.
The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than military might.
artisan@artisan
N. a manually skilled worker.
Artists and artisans alike are necessary to the development of a culture.
artless@artless
ADJ. without guile; open and honest.
Red Riding Hood's artless comment, "Grandma, what big eyes you have!" indicates the child's innocent surprise at her "grandmother's" changed appearance.
ascendancy@ascendancy
N. controlling influence.
President Marcos failed to maintain his ascendancy over the Philippines.
ascertain@ascertain
V. find out for certain.
Please ascertain her present address.
ascetic@ascetic
ADJ. practicing self-denial; austere.
The wealthy, self-indulgent young man felt oddly drawn to the strict, ascetic life led by members of some monastic orders.
also n. asceticism, n.
ascribe@ascribe
V. refer; attribute; assign.
I can ascribe no motive for her acts.
aseptic@aseptic
ADJ. preventing infection; having a cleansing effect.
Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced aseptic conditions.
ashen@ashen
ADJ. ash-colored; deadly pale.
Her face was ashen with fear.
asinine@asinine
ADJ. stupid.
Your asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration.
askance@askance
ADV. with a sideways or indirect look.
Looking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn.
askew@askew
ADV. crookedly; slanted; at an angle.
When the clown placed his hat askew upon his head, the children in the audience laughed.
asperity@asperity
N. sharpness (of temper).
These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed.
aspersion@aspersion
N. slanderous remark.
Do not cast aspersions on her character.
aspirant@aspirant
N. seeker after position or status.
Although I am an aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses.
also adj.
aspire@aspire
V. seek to attain; long for.
Because he aspired to a career in professional sports, Philip enrolled in a graduate program in sports management.
aspiration, n.
assail@assail
V. assault.
He was assailed with questions after his lecture.
assay@assay
V. analyze; evaluate.
When they assayed the ore, they found that they had discovered a very rich vein.
also n.
assent@assent
V. agree; accept.
It gives me great pleasure to assent to your request.
also n.
assert@assert
V. state strongly or positively; insist on or demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.).
When Jill asserted that nobody else in the junior class had such an early curfew, her parents asserted themselves, telling her that if she didn't get home by nine o'clock she would be grounded for the week.
assertion, n.
assessment@assessment
N. estimation; appraisal.
I would like to have your assessment of the situation in South Africa.
assiduous@assiduous
ADJ. diligent.
It took Rembrandt weeks of assiduous labor before he was satisfied with his portrait of his son.
assimilate@assimilate
V. absorb; cause to become homogenous.
The manner in which the United States was able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants during the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth centuries will always be a source of pride.
assuage@assuage
V. ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger).
Jilted by Jane, Dick tried to assuage his heartache by indulging in ice cream. One gallon later, he had assuaged his appetite but not his grief.
assuagement, n.
assumption@assumption
N. something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of.
The young princess made the foolish assumption that the regent would not object to her assumption of power.
assume, v.
assurance@assurance
N. promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence.
When Guthrie gave Guinness his assurance that rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurance that Guinness was convinced.
assure, v.; assured, adj.
asteroid@asteroid
N. small planet.
Asteroids have become commonplace to the readers of interstellar travel stories in science fiction magazines.
astigmatism@astigmatism
N. eye defect that prevents proper focus.
As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses.
astral@astral
ADJ. relating to the stars.
She was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed.
astringent@astringent
ADJ. binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe.
The astringent quality of the unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult.
also n.
astronomical@astronomical
ADJ. enormously large or extensive.
The government seemed willing to spend astronomical sums on weapons development.
astute@astute
ADJ. wise; shrewd; keen.
The painter was an astute observer, noticing every tiny detail of her model's appearance and knowing exactly how important each one was.
asunder@asunder
ADV. into parts; apart.
A fierce quarrel split the partnership asunder: the two partners finally sundered their connections because their points of view were poles asunder.
asylum@asylum
N. place of refuge or shelter; protection.
The refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new land.
asymmetric@asymmetric
ADJ. not identical on both sides of a dividing central line.
Because one eyebrow was set markedly higher than the other, William's face had a particularly asymmetric appearance.
asymmetry, n.
atavism@atavism
N. resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback.
In his love for gardening, Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan ancestors who lavished great care on their small plots of soil.
atavistic, adj.
atheistic@atheistic
ADJ. denying the existence of God.
His atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers.
atone@atone
V. make amends for; pay for.
He knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime.
atrocity@atrocity
N. brutal deed.
In time of war, many atrocities are committed by invading armies.
atrophy@atrophy
N. wasting away.
Polio victims need physiotherapy to prevent the atrophy of affected limbs.
also v.
attentive@attentive
ADJ. alert and watchful; considerate; thoughtful.
Spellbound, the attentive audience watched the final game of the tennis match, never taking their eyes from the ball. A cold wind sprang up; Stan's attentive daughter slipped a sweater over his shoulders without distracting his attention from the game.
attenuate@attenuate
V. make thin; weaken.
By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines.
attest@attest
V. testify; bear witness.
Having served as a member of a grand jury, I can attest that our system of indicting individuals is in need of improvement.
attribute@attribute
N. essential quality.
His outstanding attribute was his kindness.
V. ascribe; explain.
I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
attrition@attrition
N. gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment.
In the 1960s urban churches suffered from attrition as members moved from the cities to the suburbs. Rather than fire staff members, church leaders followed a policy of attrition, allowing elderly workers to retire without replacing them.
atypical@atypical
ADJ. not normal.
The child psychiatrist reassured Mrs. Keaton that playing doctor was not atypical behavior for a child of young Alex's age. "Perhaps not," she replied, "but charging for house calls is!"
audacious@audacious
ADJ. daring; bold.
Audiences cheered as Luke skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, deathdefying leap to freedom and escaped Darth Vader's troops.
audacity, n.
audit@audit
N. examination of accounts.
When the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the embezzlements of the chief cashier.
also v.
augment@augment
V. increase; add to.
Armies augment their forces by calling up reinforcements; teachers augment their salaries by taking odd jobs.
augury@augury
N. omen; prophecy.
He interpreted the departure of the birds as an augury of evil.
augur, v.
august@august
ADJ. impressive; majestic.
Visiting the palace at Versailles, she was impressed by the august surroundings in which she found herself.
aureole@aureole
N. sun's corona; halo.
Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureoles around their heads.
auroral@auroral
ADJ. pertaining to the aurora borealis.
The auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening.
auspicious@auspicious
ADJ. favoring success.
With favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail. Thomas, however, had doubts about sailing: a paranoid, he became suspicious whenever conditions seemed auspicious.
austere@austere
ADJ. forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented.
The headmaster's austere demeanor tended to scare off the more timid students, who never visited his study willingly. The room reflected the man, austere and bare, like a monk's cell, with no touches of luxury to moderate its austerity.
authenticate@authenticate
V. prove genuine.
An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting, distinguishing it from its imitation.
authoritarian@authoritarian
ADJ. subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will.
The leaders of the authoritarian regime ordered the suppression of the democratic protest movement. After years of submitting to the will of her authoritarian father, Elizabeth Barrett ran away from home with the poet Robert Browning.
authoritative@authoritative
ADJ. having the weight of authority; peremptory and dictatorial.
Impressed by the young researcher's well-documented presentation, we accepted her analysis of the experiment as authoritative.
autocratic@autocratic
ADJ. having absolute, unchecked power; dictatorial.
A person accustomed to exercising authority may become autocratic if his or her power is unchecked. Dictators by definition are autocrats. Bosses who dictate behavior as well as letters can be autocrats too.
autocracy, n.
automaton@automaton
N. mechanism that imitates actions of humans.
Long before science fiction readers became aware of robots, writers were creating stories of automatons who could outperform humans.
autonomous@autonomous
ADJ. self-governing.
Although the University of California at Berkeley is just one part of the state university system, in many ways Cal Berkeley is autonomous, for it runs several programs that are not subject to outside control.
autonomy, n.
autopsy@autopsy
N. examination of a dead body; postmortem.
The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
also v.
auxiliary@auxiliary
ADJ. offering or proviging help; additional or subsidiary.
To prepare for the emergency, thw built an auxiliary power station.
also n.
avalanche@avalanche
N. great mass of falling snow and ice.
The park ranger warned the skiers to stay on the main trails, where they would be in no danger of being buried beneath a sudden avalanche.
avarice@avarice
N. greediness for wealth.
King Midas is a perfect example of avarice; he was so greedy that he wished everything he touched would turn to gold.
avenge@avenge
V. take vengeance for something (or on behalf of someone).
Hamlet vowed he would avenge his father's murder and punish Claudius for his horrible crime.
aver@aver
V. state confidently.
I wish to aver that I am certain of success.
averse@averse
ADJ. reluctant; disinclined.
The reporter was averse to revealing the sources of his information.
aversion@aversion
N. firm dislike.
Bert had an aversion to yuppies; Alex had an aversion to punks. Their mutual aversion was so great that they refused to speak to one another.
avert@avert
V. prevent; turn away.
She averted her eyes from the dead cat on the highway.
aviary@aviary
N. enclosure for birds.
The aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds.
avid@avid
ADJ. greedy; eager for.
He was avid for learning and read everything he could get.
avidity, n.
avocation@avocation
N. secondary or minor occupation.
His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation.
avow@avow
V. declare openly.
Lana avowed that she never meant to steal Debbie's boyfriend, but no one believed her avowal of innocence.
avuncular@avuncular
ADJ. like an uncle.
Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings.
awe@awe
N. solemn wonder.
The tourists gazed with awe at the tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon.
awl@awl
N. pointed tool used for piercing.
She used an awl to punch additional holes in the leather belt she had bought.
awry@awry
ADV. distorted; crooked.
He held his head awry, giving the impression that he had caught cold in his neck during the night.
also adj.
axiom@axiom
N. self-evident truth requiring no proof.
Before a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certain principles or axioms.
axiomatic, adj.
azure@azure
ADJ. sky blue.
Azure skies are indicative of good weather.
babble@babble
V. chatter idly.
The little girl babbled about her doll.
also n.
bacchanalian@bacchanalian
ADJ. drunken.
Emperor Nero attended the bacchanalian orgy.
badger@badger
V. pester; annoy.
She was forced to change her telephone number because she was badgered by obscene phone calls.
badinage@badinage
N. teasing conversation.
Her friends at work greeted the news of her engagement with cheerful badinage.
baffle@baffle
V. frustrate; perplex.
The new code baffled the enemy agents.
bait@bait
V. harass; tease.
The school bully baited the smaller children, terrorizing them.
baleful@baleful
ADJ. deadly; having a malign influence; ominous.
The fortune teller made baleful predictions of terrible things to come.
balk@balk
V. stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue.
The chief of police balked at sending his officers into the riot-torn area.
V. fail.
When the warden learned that several inmates Were planning to escape, he took steps to balk their attempt.
ballast@ballast
N. heavy substance used to add stability or weight.
The ship was listing badly to one side; it was necessary to shift the ballast in the hold to get her back on an even keel.
also v.
balm@balm
N. something that relieves pain.
Friendship is the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.
balmy@balmy
ADJ. mild; fragrant.
A balmy breeze refreshed us after the sultry blast.
banal@banal
ADJ. hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality.
The hack writer's worn-out cliches made his comic sketch seem banal. He even resorted to the banality of having someone slip on a banana peel!
bandy@bandy
V. discuss lightly or glibly; exchange (words) heatedly.
While the president was happy to bandy patriotic generalizations with anyone who would listen to him, he refused to bandy words with unfriendly reporters at the press conference.
bane@bane
N. cause of ruin; curse.
Lucy's little brother was the bane of her existence: his attempts to make her life miserable worked so well that she could have poisoned him with ratsbane for having such a baneful effect.
bantering@bantering
ADJ. good-naturedly ridiculing.
They resented his bantering remarks because they misinterpreted his teasing as sarcasm.
barb@barb
N. sharp projection from fishhook or other object; openly cutting remark.
If you were a politician, which would you prefer, being caught on the barb of a fishhook or being subjected to malicious verbal barbs? Who can blame the president if he's happier fishing in Maine than being back in Washington listening to his critics' barbed remarks?
bard@bard
N. poet.
The ancient bard Homer sang of the fall of Troy.
barefaced@barefaced
ADJ. shameless; bold; unconcealed.
Shocked by Huck Finn's barefaced lies, Miss Watson prayed the good Lord would give him a sense of his unregenerate wickedness.
baroque@baroque
ADJ. highly ornate.
Accustomed to the severe, angular lines of modern skyscrapers, they found the flamboyance of baroque architecture amusing.
barrage@barrage
N. barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion.
The company was forced to retreat through the barrage of heavy cannons.
barrister@barrister
N. counselor-at-law.
Galsworthy started as a barrister, but, when he found the practice of law boring, turned to writing.
barterer@barterer
N. trader.
The barterer exchanged trinkets for the natives' furs.
bask@bask
V. luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth.
Basking on the beach, she relaxed so completely that she fell asleep.
bastion@bastion
N. stronghold; something seen as a source of protection.
The villagers fortified the town hall, hoping this improvised bastion could protect them from the guerrilla raids.
bate@bate
V. let down; restrain.
Until it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity.
bated, adj.
bauble@bauble
N. trinket; trifle.
The child was delighted with the bauble she had won in the grab bag.
bawdy@bawdy
ADJ. indecent; obscene.
Jack took offense at Jill's bawdy remarks. What kind of young man did she think he was?
beatific@beatific
ADJ. giving bliss; blissful.
The beatific smile on the child's face made us very happy.
beatitude@beatitude
N. blessedness; state of bliss.
Growing closer to God each day, the mystic achieved a state of indescribable beatitude.
bedizen@bedizen
V. dress with vulgar finery.
The witch doctors were bedizened in their gaudiest costumes.
bedraggle@bedraggle
V. wet thoroughly.
We were so bedraggled by the severe storm that we had to change into dry clothing.
bedraggled, adj.
beeline@beeline
N. direct, quick route.
As soon as the movie was over, Jim made a beeline for the exit.
befuddle@befuddle
V. confuse thoroughly.
His attempts to clarify the situation succeeded only in befuddling her further.
beget@beget
V. father; produce; give rise to.
One good turn may deserve another; it does not necessarily beget another.
begrudge@begrudge
V. resent.
I begrudge every minute I have to spend attending meetings.
beguile@beguile
V. mislead or delude; cheat; pass time.
With flattery and big talk of easy money, the con men beguiled Kyle into betting his allowance on the shell game. The men quickly beguiled poor Kyle of his money. Broke, he beguiled himself during the long hours by playing solitaire.
behemoth@behemoth
N. huge creature; something of monstrous size or power.
Sportscasters nicknamed the linebacker "The Behemoth."
beholden@beholden
ADJ. obligated; indebted.
Since I do not wish to be beholden to anyone, I cannot accept this favor.
behoove@behoove
V. be suited to; be incumbent upon.
In this time of crisis, it behooves all of us to remain calm and await the instructions of our superiors.
belabor@belabor
V. explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally.
The debate coach warned her student not to bore the audience by belaboring his point.
belated@belated
ADJ. delayed.
He apologized for his belated note of condolence to the widow of his friend and explained that he had just learned of her husband's untimely death.
beleaguer@beleaguer
V. besiege or attack; harass.
The babysitter was surrounded by a crowd of unmanageable brats who relentlessly beleaguered her.
belie@belie
V. contradict; give a false impression.
His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his innate sensitivity.
belittle@belittle
V. disparage; depreciate.
Parents should not belittle their children's early attempts at drawing, but should encourage their efforts.
bellicose@bellicose
ADJ. warlike.
His bellicose disposition alienated his friends.
bellicosity, n.
belligerent@belligerent
ADJ. quarrelsome.
Whenever he had too much to drink, he became belligerent and tried to pick fights with strangers.
belligerence, n.
bemoan@bemoan
V. lament; express disapproval of.
The widow bemoaned the death of her beloved husband. Although critics bemoaned the serious flaws in the author's novels, each year his latest book topped the best-seller list.
bemused@bemused
ADJ. confused; lost in thought; preoccupied.
Jill studied the garbled instructions with a bemused look on her face.
benediction@benediction
N. blessing.
The appearance of the sun after the many rainy days was like a benediction.
benefactor@benefactor
N. gift giver; patron.
Scrooge later became Tiny Tim's benefactor and gave him gifts.
beneficent@beneficent
ADJ. kindly; doing good.
The overgenerous philanthropist had to curb his beneficent impulses before he gave away all his money and left himself with nothing.
beneficial@beneficial
ADJ. helpful; useful.
Tiny Tim's cheerful good nature had a beneficial influence on Scrooge's once uncharitable disposition.
beneficiary@beneficiary
N. person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will.
In Scrooge's will, he made Tiny Tim his beneficiary: everything he left would go to young Tim.
benevolent@benevolent
ADJ. generous; charitable.
Mr. Fezziwig was a benevolent employer who wished to make Christmas merrier for young Scrooge and his other employees.
benevolence. n.
benign@benign
ADJ. kindly; favorable; not malignant.
Though her benign smile and gentle bearing made Miss Marple seem a sweet little old lady, in reality she was a tough-minded, shrewd observer of human nature.
benignity, n.
benison@benison
N. blessing.
Let us pray that the benison of peace once more shall prevail among the nations of the world.
bent@bent
ADJ.; n. determined; natural talent or inclination.
Bent on advancing in the business world, the secretary heroine of Working Girl had a true bent for high finance.
bequeath@bequeath
V. leave to someone by means of a will; hand down.
In his will, Father bequeathed his watch to Philip; the bequest meant a great deal to the boy.
bequest, n.
berate@berate
V. scold strongly.
He feared she would berate him for his forgetfulness.
bereavement@bereavement
N. state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved.
His friends gathered to console him upon his sudden bereavement.
bereft@bereft
ADJ. deprived of; lacking.
The foolish gambler soon found himself bereft of funds.
berserk@berserk
ADV. frenzied.
Angered, he went berserk and began to wreck the room.
beseech@beseech
V. beg; plead with.
The workaholic executive's wife beseeched him to spend more time with their son.
beset@beset
V. harass or trouble; hem in.
Many vexing problems beset the American public school system. Sleeping Beauty's castle was beset on all sides by dense thickets that hid it from view.
besiege@besiege
V. surround with armed forces; harass (with requests).
When the bandits besieged the village, the villagers holed up in the town hall and prepared to withstand a long siege. Members of the new administration were besieged with job applications from people who had worked on the campaign.
besmirch@besmirch
V. soil, defile.
The scandalous remarks in the newspaper besmirch the reputations of every member of the society.
bestial@bestial
ADJ. beastlike; brutal; inhuman.
According to legend, the werewolf was able to abandon its human shape and assume a bestial form. The Red Cross sought to put an end to the bestial treatment of prisoners of war.
bestow@bestow
V. confer.
He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.
betoken@betoken
V. signify; indicate.
The well-equipped docks, tall piles of cargo containers, and numerous vessels being loaded all betoken Oakland's importance as a port.
betray@betray
V. be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly).
The spy betrayed his country by selling military secrets to the enemy. When he was taken in for questioning, the tightness of his lips betrayed his fear of incriminating himself.
betrayal , n.
betroth@betroth
V. become engaged to marry.
The announcement that they had become betrothed surprised their friends who had not suspected any romance.
betrothal, n.
bevy@bevy
N. large group.
The movie actor was surrounded by a bevy of starlets.
bicameral@bicameral
ADJ. two-chambered, as a legislative body.
The United States Congress is a bicameral body.
bicker@bicker
V. quarrel.
The children bickered morning, noon and night, exasperating their parents.
biennial@biennial
ADJ. every two years.
Seeing no need to meet more frequently, the group held biennial meetings instead of annual ones. Plants that bear flowers biennially are known as biennials.
bifurcated@bifurcated
ADJ. divided into two branches; forked.
With a bifurcated branch and a piece of elastic rubber, he made a crude but effective slingshot.
bigotry@bigotry
N. stubborn intolerance.
Brought up in a democratic atmosphere, the student was shocked by the bigotry and narrowness expressed by several of his classmates.
bilious@bilious
ADJ. suffering from indigestion; irritable.
His bilious temperament was apparent to all who heard him rant about his difficulties.
bilk@bilk
V. swindle; cheat.
The con man specialized in bilking insurance companies.
billowing@billowing
ADJ. swelling out in waves; surging.
Standing over the air vent, Marilyn Monroe tried vainly to control her billowing skirts.
bivouac@bivouac
N. temporary encampment.
While in bivouac, we spent the night in our sleeping bags under the stars.
also v.
bizarre@bizarre
ADJ. fantastic; violently contrasting.
The plot of the novel was too bizarre to be believed.
blanch@blanch
V. bleach; whiten.
Although age had blanched his hair, he was still vigorous and energetic.
bland@bland
ADJ. soothing or mild; agreeable.
Jill tried a bland ointment for her sunburn. However, when Jack absentmindedly patted her on the sunburned shoulder, she couldn't maintain her bland persona.
blandishment@blandishment
N. flattery.
Despite the salesperson's blandishments, the customer did not buy the outfit.
blare@blare
N. loud, harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light.
I don't know which is worse: the steady blare of a boom box deafening your ears or a sudden blare of flashbulbs dazzling your eyes.
also v.
blase@blase
ADJ. bored with pleasure or dissipation.
Although Beth was as thrilled with the idea of a trip to Paris as her classmates were, she tried to act supercool and blase, as if she'd been abroad hundreds of times.
blasphemy@blasphemy
N. irreverence; sacrilege; cursing.
In my father's house, the Dodgers were the holiest of holies; to cheer for another team was to utter words of blasphemy.
blasphemous, adj.
blatant@blatant
ADJ. extremely obvious; loudly offensive.
Caught in a blatant lie, the scoundrel had only one regret: he wished that he had lied more subtly.
blatancy, n.
bleak@bleak
ADJ. cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorable.
The frigid, inhospitable Aleutian Islands are bleak military outposts. It's no wonder that soldiers assigned there have a bleak attitude toward their posting.
blighted@blighted
ADJ. suffering from a disease; destroyed.
The extent of the blighted areas could be seen only when viewed from the air.
blithe@blithe
ADJ. gay; joyous.
Shelley called the skylark a "blithe spirit" because of its happy song.
bloated@bloated
ADJ. swollen or puffed as with water or air.
Her bloated stomach came from drinking so much water.
blowhard@blowhard
N. talkative boaster.
After all Sol's talk about his big show business connections led nowhere, Sally decided he was just another blowhard.
bludgeon@bludgeon
N. club; heavy-headed weapon.
Attacked by Dr. Moriarty, Holmes used his walking stick as a bludgeon to defend himself. "Watson," he said, "I fear I may have bludgeoned Moriarty to death."
bluff@bluff
ADJ. rough but good-natured.
Jack had a bluff and hearty manner that belied his actual sensitivity; he never let people know how thin-skinned he really was.
N. pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff.
Claire thought Lord Byron's boast that he would swim the Hellespont was just a bluff; she was astounded when he dove from the high bluff into the waters below.
blunder@blunder
N. error.
The criminal's fatal blunder led to his capture.
also v.
blurt@blurt
V. utter impulsively.
Before she could stop him, he blurted out the news.
bluster@bluster
V. blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully.
"Let the stormy winds bluster," cried Jack, "we'll set sail tonight." Jill let Jack bluster: she wasn't going anywhere, no matter what he said.
also n.
bode@bode
V. foreshadow; portend.
The gloomy skies and the sulfurous odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil to those who settled in the area.
bogus@bogus
ADJ. counterfeit; not authentic.
The police quickly found the distributors of the bogus twenty-dollar bills.
bohemian@bohemian
ADJ. unconventional (in an artistic way).
Gertrude Stein ran off to Paris to live an eccentric, bohemian life with her writer friends. Oakland was not bohemian: it was too bourgeois, too middle-class.
boisterous@boisterous
ADJ. violent; rough; noisy.
The unruly crowd became even more boisterous when he tried to quiet them.
bolster@bolster
V. support; reinforce.
The debaters amassed file boxes full of evidence to bolster their arguments.
bolt@bolt
N. door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric.
The carpenter shut the workshop door, sliding the heavy metal bolt into place. He sorted through his toolbox for the nuts and bolts and nails required for the job. Before he cut into the bolt of canvas, he measured how much fabric he would need.
V. dash or dart off; fasten (a door); gobble down.
Jack was set to bolt out the front door, but Jill bolted the door. "Eat your breakfast," she said, "don't bolt your food."
bombardment@bombardment
N. attack (as with missiles).
The enemy bombardment demolished the town. Members of the opposition party bombarded the prime minister with questions about the enemy attack.
bombastic@bombastic
ADJ. pompous; using inflated language.
Puffed up with conceit, the orator spoke in such a bombastic manner that we longed to deflate him.
bombast, n.
boon@boon
N. blessing; benefit.
The recent rains that filled our empty reservoirs were a boon to the whole community.
boorish@boorish
ADJ. rude; insensitive.
Though Mr. Potts constantly interrupted his wife, she ignored his boorish behavior, for she had lost hope of teaching him courtesy.
bouillon@bouillon
N. clear beef soup.
The cup of bouillon served by the stewards was welcomed by those who had been chilled by the cold ocean breezes.
bountiful@bountiful
ADJ. abundant; graciously generous.
Thanks to the good harvest, we had a bountiful supply of food and we could be as bountiful as we liked in distributing food to the needy.
bourgeois@bourgeois
ADJ. middle class; selfishly materialistic; dully conventional.
Technically, anyone who belongs to the middle class is bourgeois, but, given the word's connotations, most people resent it if you call them that.
bovine@bovine
ADJ. cowlike; placid and dull.
Nothing excites Esther; even when she won the state lottery, she still preserved her air of bovine calm.
bowdlerize@bowdlerize
V. expurgate.
After the film editors had bowdlerized the language in the script, the motion picture's rating was changed from "R" to "PG."
boycott@boycott
V. refrain from buying or using.
To put pressure on grape growers to stop using pesticides that harmed the farm workers' health, Cesar Chavez called for consumers to boycott grapes.
also n.
brackish@brackish
ADJ. somewhat saline.
He found the only wells in the area were brackish; drinking the water made him nauseous.
braggadocio@braggadocio
N. boasting.
He was disliked because his manner was always full of braggadocio.
braggart@braggart
N. boaster.
Modest by nature, she was no braggart, preferring to let her accomplishments speak for themselves.
brandish@brandish
V. wave around; flourish.
Alarmed, Doctor Watson wildly brandished his gun until Holmes told him to put the thing away before he shot himself.
bravado@bravado
N. swagger; assumed air of defiance.
The bravado of the young criminal disappeared when he was confronted by the victims of his brutal attack.
brawn@brawn
N. muscular strength; sturdiness.
It takes brawn to become a champion weight-lifter.
brawny, adj.
brazen@brazen
ADJ. insolent.
Her brazen contempt for authority angered the officials.
breach@breach
N. breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap.
Jill sued Jack for breach of promise, claiming he had broken their engagement. The attackers found a breach in the enemy's fortifications and penetrated their lines.
also v.
breadth@breadth
N. width; extent.
We were impressed by the breadth of her knowledge.
brevity@brevity
N. conciseness.
Brevity is essential when you send a telegram or cablegram; you are charged for every word.
brindled@brindled
ADJ. tawny or grayish with streaks or spots.
He was disappointed in the litter because the puppies were brindled; he had hoped for animals of a uniform color.
bristling@bristling
ADJ. rising like bristles; showing irritation.
The dog stood there, bristling with anger.
brittle@brittle
ADJ. easily broken; difficult.
My employer's brittle personality made it difficult for me to get along with her.
broach@broach
V. introduce; open up.
Jack did not even try to broach the subject of religion with his in-laws. If you broach a touchy subject, the result may be a breach.
brocade@brocade
N. rich, figured fabric.
The sofa was covered with expensive brocade.
brochure@brochure
N. pamphlet.
This brochure on farming was issued by the Department of Agriculture.
brooch@brooch
N. ornamental clasp.
She treasured the brooch because it was an heirloom.
brook@brook
V. tolerate; endure.
The dean would brook no interference with his disciplinary actions.
browbeat@browbeat
V. bully; intimidate.
Billy resisted Ted's attempts to browbeat him into handing over his lunch money.
browse@browse
V. graze; skim or glance at casually.
"How now, brown cow, browsing in the green, green grass." I remember lines of verse that I came across while browsing through the poetry section of the local bookstore.
brunt@brunt
N. main impact or shock.
Tom Sawyer claimed credit for painting the fence, but the brunt of the work fell on others. However, Tom bore the brunt of Aunt Polly's complaints when the paint began to peel.
brusque@brusque
ADJ. blunt; abrupt.
She was offended by his brusque reply.
buccaneer@buccaneer
N. pirate.
At Disneyland the Pirates of the Caribbean sing a song about their lives as bloody buccaneers.
bucolic@bucolic
ADJ. rustic; pastoral.
Filled with browsing cows and bleating sheep, the meadow was a charmingly bucolic sight.
buffet@buffet
N. table with food set out for people to serve themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set out.
(Buffet rhymes with tray) Please convey the souffl6 on the tray to the buffet.
V. slap; batter; knock about.
To buffet something is to rough it up. (Buffet rhymes with Muffett.) Was Miss Muffett buffeted by the crowd on the way to the buffet tray?
buffoonery@buffoonery
N. clowning.
In the Ace Ventura movies, Jim Carrey's buffoonery was hilarious: like Bozo the Clown, he's a natural buffoon.
bugaboo@bugaboo
N. bugbear; object of baseless terror.
If we become frightened by such bugaboos, we are no wiser than the birds who fear scarecrows.
bullion@bullion
N. gold and silver in the form of bars.
Much bullion is stored in the vaults at Fort Knox.
bulwark@bulwark
N. earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends.
The navy is our principal bulwark against invasion.
bungle@bungle
V. mismanage; blunder.
Don't botch this assignment, Bumstead; if you bungle the job, you're fired!
buoyant@buoyant
ADJ. able to float; cheerful and optimistic.
When the boat capsized, her buoyant life jacket kept Jody afloat. Scrambling back on board, she was still in a buoyant mood, certain that despite the delay she'd win the race.
buoyancy, n.
bureaucracy@bureaucracy
N. overregulated administrative system marked by red tape.
The Internal Revenue Service is the ultimate bureaucracy: taxpayers wasted so much paper filling out IRS forms that the IRS bureaucrats printed up a new set of rules requiring taxpayers to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act.
bureaucratic, adj.
burgeon@burgeon
V. grow forth; send out buds.
In the spring, the plants that burgeon are a promise of the beauty that is to come.
burlesque@burlesque
V. give an imitation that ridicules.
In Spaceballs, Rick Moranis burlesques Darth Vader of Star Wars, outrageously parodying Vaderls stiff walk and hollow voice.
also n.
burnish@burnish
V. make shiny by rubbing; polish.
The maid burnished the brass fixtures until they reflected the lamplight.
buttress@buttress
V. support; prop up.
Just as architects buttress the walls of cathedrals with flying buttresses, debaters buttress their arguments with facts.
also n.
buxom@buxom
ADJ. full-bosomed; plump; jolly.
High-fashion models usually are slender rather than buxom.
cabal@cabal
N. small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests.
The cabal was defeated when its scheme was discovered.
cache@cache
N. hiding place.
The detectives followed the suspect until he led them to the cache where he had stored his loot.
also v.
cacophonous@cacophonous
ADJ. discordant; inharmonious.
Do the students in the orchestra enjoy the cacophonous sounds they make when they're tuning up? I don't know how they can stand the racket.
cacophony, n.
cadaver@cadaver
N. corpse.
In some states, it is illegal to dissect cadavers.
cadaverous@cadaverous
ADJ. like a corpse; pale.
From his cadaverous appearance, we could see how the disease had ravaged him.
cadence@cadence
N. rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat.
Marching down the road, the troops sang out, following the cadence set by the sergeant.
cajole@cajole
V. coax; wheedle.
Cher tried to cajole her father into letting her drive the family car.
cajolery, n.
calamity@calamity
N. disaster; misery.
As news of the calamity spread, offers of relief poured in to the stricken community.
calculated@calculated
ADJ. deliberately planned; likely.
Lexy's choice of clothes to wear to the debate tournament was carefully calculated. Her conventional suit was calculated to appeal to the conservative judges.
caldron@caldron
N. large kettle.
"Why, Mr. Crusoe," said the savage heating the giant caldron, "we'd love to have you for dinner!"
caliber@caliber
N. ability; quality.
Einstein's cleaning the blackboards again? Albert, quit it! A man of your caliber shouldn't have to do such menial tasks.
calligraphy@calligraphy
N. beautiful writing; excellent penmanship.
As we examine ancient manuscripts, we become impressed with the calligraphy of the scribes.
callous@callous
ADJ. hardened; unfeeling.
He had worked in the hospital for so many years that he was callous to the suffering in the wards.
callus, n.
callow@callow
ADJ. youthful; immature; inexperienced.
As a freshman, Jack was sure he was a man of the world; as a sophomore, he made fun of freshmen as callow youths. In both cases, his judgment showed just how callow he was.
calorific@calorific
ADJ. heat-producing.
Coal is much more calorific than green wood.
calumny@calumny
N. malicious misrepresentation; slander.
He could endure his financial failure, but he could not bear the calumny that his foes heaped upon him.
camaraderie@camaraderie
N. good-fellowship.
What he loved best about his job was the sense of camaraderie he and his coworkers shared.
cameo@cameo
N. shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film.
Don't bother buying cameos from the street peddlers in Rome: the carvings they sell are clumsy jobs. Did you enjoy Bill Murray's cameo in Little Shop of Horrors? He was onscreen for only a minute, but he cracked me up.
camouflage@camouflage
V. disguise; conceal.
In order to rescue Han Solo, Princess Leia camouflaged herself in the helmet and cloak of a space bandit.
also n.
canard@canard
N. unfounded rumor; exaggerated report.
It is almost impossible to protect oneself from such a base canard.
candor@candor
N. frankness; open honesty.
Jack Cah carry candor too far: when he told Jill his honest opinion of her, she nearly slapped his face.
candid, adj.
canine@canine
ADJ. related to dogs; doglike.
Some days the canine population of Berkeley seems almost to outnumber the human population.
canker@canker
N. any ulcerous sore; any evil.
Poverty is a canker in the body politic; it must be cured.
canny@canny
ADJ. shrewd; thrifty.
The canny Scotsman was more than a match for the swindlers.
canon@canon
N. collection or authoritative list of books (e.g., by an author, or accepted as scripture); rule or standard set by ecclesiastical authority.
Scholars hotly debated whether the newly discovered sonnet should be accepted as part of the Shakespearean canon.
cant@cant
N. insincere expressions of piety; jargon of thieves.
Shocked by news of the minister's extramarital love affairs, the worshippers dismissed his talk about the sacredness of marriage as mere cant. Cant is a form of hypocrisy: those who can, pray; those who cant, pretend.
cantankerous@cantankerous
ADJ. ill-humored; irritable.
Constantly complaining about his treatment and refusing to cooperate with the hospital staff, he was a cantankerous patient.
cantata@cantata
N. story set to music, to be sung by a chorus.
The choral society sang the new cantata composed by its leader.
canter@canter
N. slow gallop.
Because the racehorse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the race was won in a canter.
also v.
canto@canto
N. division of a long poem.
Dante's poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy is divided into cantos.
canvass@canvass
V. determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.
After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident that he represented the majority opinion of his district.
also n.
capacious@capacious
ADJ. spacious.
In the capacious areas of the railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting for their train.
capacity@capacity
N. mental or physical ability; role; ability to accommodate.
Mike had the capacity to handle several jobs at once. In his capacity as president of SelecTronics he marketed an electronic dictionary with a capacity of 200,000 words.
capillary@capillary
ADJ. having a very fine bore.
The changes in surface tension of liquids in capillary vessels is of special interest to physicists.
also n.
capitulate@capitulate
V. surrender.
The enemy was warned to capitulate or face annihilation.
caprice@caprice
N. whim.
She was an unpredictable creature, acting on caprice, never taking thought of the consequences.
capricious@capricious
ADJ. unpredictable; fickle.
The storm was capricious: It changed course constantly. Jill was capricious, too: She changed boyfriends almost as often as she changed clothes.
caption@caption
N. title; chapter heading; text under illustration.
The captions that accompany The Far Side cartoons are almost as funny as the pictures.
also v.
captious@captious
ADJ. faultfinding.
His criticisms were always captious and frivolous, never offering constructive suggestions.
carafe@carafe
N. glass water bottle; decanter.
With each dinner, the patron receives a carafe of red or white wine.
carapace@carapace
N. shell covering the back (of a turtle, crab, etc.).
At the children's zoo, Richard perched on top of the giant turtle's hard carapace as it slowly made its way around the enclosure.
carat@carat
N. unit of weight for precious stones; measure of fineness of gold.
He gave her a diamond that weighed three carats and was mounted in an eighteen-carat gold band.
carcinogenic@carcinogenic
ADJ. causing cancer.
Many supposedly harmless substances have been revealed to be carcinogenic.
cardinal@cardinal
ADJ. chief.
If you want to increase your word power, the cardinal rule of vocabulary-building is to read.
cardiologist@cardiologist
N. doctor specializing in ailments of the heart.
When the pediatrician noticed Philip had a slight heart murmur, she referred him to a cardiologist for further tests.
careen@careen
V. lurch; sway from side to side.
The taxicab careened wildly as it rounded the corner.
caricature@caricature
N. distortion; burlesque.
The caricatures he drew always emphasized personal weaknesses of the people he burlesqued.
also v.
carillon@carillon
N. a set of bells capable of being played.
The carillon in the bell tower of the Coca-Cola pavilion at the New York World's Fair provided musical entertainment every hour.
carnage@carnage
N. destruction of life.
The film The Killing Fields vividly depicts the carnage wreaked by Pol Pot's followers in Cambodia.
carnal@carnal
ADJ. fleshly.
Is the public more interested in carnal pleasures than in spiritual matters? Compare the number of people who read Playboy b daily to the number of those who read the Bible every day.
carnivorous@carnivorous
ADJ. meat-eating.
The lion's a carnivorous beast; a hunk of meat makes up his feast. A cow is not a carnivore; she likes the taste of grain, not gore.
carousal@carousal
N. drunken revel.
The party degenerated into an ugly carousal.
carping@carping
N. petty criticism; fault-finding.
Welcoming constructive criticism, Lexy appreciated her editor's comments, finding them free of carping.
also adj.
carrion@carrion
N. rotting flesh of a dead body.
Buzzards are nature's scavengers; they eat the carrion left behind by other predators.
cartographer@cartographer
N. map-maker.
Though not a professional cartographer, Tolkien was able to construct a map of his fictional world.
cascade@cascade
N. small waterfall.
We were too tired to appreciate the beauty of the many cascades because we had to detour around them to avoid being drenched by the torrents cascading down.
caste@caste
N. one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society, social stratification; prestige.
The differences created by caste in India must be wiped out if true democracy is to prevail in that country.
castigation@castigation
N. punishment; severe criticism.
Sensitive even to mild criticism, Woolf could not bear the castigation that she found in certain reviews.
castigate, v.
casualty@casualty
N. serious or fatal accident.
The number of automotive casualties on this holiday weekend was high.
cataclysm@cataclysm
N. deluge; upheaval.
A cataclysm such as the French Revolution affects all countries.
cataclysmic, adj.
catalyst@catalyst
N. agent that brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged.
Many chemical reactions cannot take place without the presence of a catalyst.
catapult@catapult
N. slingshot; hurling machine.
Airplanes are sometimes launched from battleships by catapults.
also v.
cataract@cataract
N. great waterfall; eye abnormality.
She gazed with awe at the mighty cataract known as Niagara Falls.
catastrophe@catastrophe
N. calamity; disaster.
The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was a catastrophe that destroyed most of the city. A similar earthquake striking today could have even more catastrophic results.
catcall@catcall
N. shout of disapproval; boo.
Every major league pitcher has off days during which he must learn to ignore catcalls and angry hisses from the crowd.
catechism@catechism
N. book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answer.
He taught by engaging his pupils in a catechism until they gave him the correct answer.
categorical@categorical
ADJ. without exceptions; unqualified; absolute.
Though the captain claimed he was never, never sick at sea, he finally qualified his categorical denial: he was "hardly ever" sick at sea.
catharsis@catharsis
N. purging or cleansing of any passage of the body.
Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a catharsis by purging the soul of base concepts.
cathartic@cathartic
N. purgative.
Some drugs act as laxatives when taken in small doses but act as cathartics when taken in much larger doses.adj.
catholic@catholic
ADJ. universal; wide-ranging liberal.
He was extremely catholic in his taste and read everything he could find in the library.
caucus@caucus
N. private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy.
At the opening of Congress the members of the Democratic Party held a caucus to elect the majority leader of the House and the party whip.
caulk@caulk
V. to make watertight (by plugging seams).
When water from the shower leaked into the basement, we knew it was time to caulk the tiles at the edges of the shower stall.
causal@causal
ADJ. implying a cause-and-effect relationship.
The psychologist maintained there was a causal relationship between the nature of one's early childhood experiences and one's adult personality.
causality, n.
caustic@caustic
ADJ. burning; sarcastically biting.
The critic's caustic remarks angered the hapless actors who were the subjects of his sarcasm.
cauterize@cauterize
V. bum with hot iron or caustic.
In order to prevent infection, the doctor cauterized the wound.
cavalcade@cavalcade
N. procession; parade.
As described by Chaucer, the cavalcade of Canterbury pilgrims was a motley group.
cavalier@cavalier
ADJ. casual and offhand; arrogant.
Sensitive about having her ideas taken lightly, Marcia felt insulted by Mark's cavalier dismissal of her suggestion.
cavil@cavil
V. make frivolous objections.
I respect your sensible criticisms, but I dislike the way you cavil about unimportant details.
also n.
cede@cede
V. yield (title, territory) to; surrender formally.
Eventually the descendants of England's Henry II were forced to cede their French territories to the King of France.
cession, n.
celerity@celerity
N. speed; rapidity.
Hamlet resented his mother's celerity in remarrying within a month after his father's death.
celestial@celestial
ADJ. heavenly.
She spoke of the celestial joys that awaited virtuous souls in the hereafter.
celibate@celibate
ADJ. abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried.
Though the late Havelock Ellis wrote extensively about sexual customs and was considered an expert in such matters, recent studies maintain he was celibate throughout his life.
celibacy, n.
censor@censor
N. overseer of morals; person who eliminates inappropriate matter.
Soldiers dislike having their mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution.
also v.
censorious@censorious
ADJ. critical.
Censorious people delight in casting blame.
censure@censure
V. blame; criticize.
The senator was censured for behavior inappropriate to a member of Congress.
also n.
centaur@centaur
N. mythical figure, half man and half horse.
I was particularly impressed by the statue of the centaur in the Roman Hall of the museum.
centigrade@centigrade
ADJ. denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius).
On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing point of water is zero degrees.
centrifugal@centrifugal
ADJ. radiating; departing from the center.
Many automatic drying machines remove excess moisture from clothing by centrifugal force.
centrifuge@centrifuge
N. machine that separates substances by whirling them.
At the dairy, we employ a centrifuge to separate cream from milk.
also v.
centripetal@centripetal
ADJ. tending toward the center.
Does centripetal force or the force of gravity bring orbiting bodies to the earth's surface?
centurion@centurion
N. Roman army officer.
Because he was in command of a company of one hundred soldiers, he was called a centurion.
cerebral@cerebral
ADJ. pertaining to the brain or intellect.
The content of philosophical works is cerebral in nature and requires much thought.
cerebration@cerebration
N. thought.
Mathematics problems sometimes require much cerebration.
ceremonious@ceremonious
ADJ. marked by formality.
Ordinary dress would be inappropriate at so ceremonious an affair.
certitude@certitude
N. certainty.
Though there was no certitude of his getting the job, Lou thought he had a good chance of being hired.
cessation@cessation
N. stoppage.
The airline's employees threatened a cessation of all work if management failed to meet their demands.
cease, v.
cession@cession
N. yielding to another; ceding.
The cession of Alaska to the United States is discussed in this chapter.
chafe@chafe
V. warm by rubbing; make sore (by rubbing).
Chilled, he chafed his hands before the fire. The collar of his school uniform chafed Tom's neck, but not as much the school's strict rules chafed his spirit.
also n.
chaff@chaff
N. worthless products of an endeavor.
When you separate the wheat from the chaff, be sure you throw out the chaff.
chaffing@chaffing
ADJ. bantering; joking.
Sometimes Chad's flippant, chaffing remarks annoy us. Still, Chad's chafing keeps us laughing.
chagrin@chagrin
N. vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride); disappointment.
Embarrassed by his parents' shabby, working-class appearance, Doug felt their visit to his school would bring him nothing but chagrin. A person filled with chagrin doesn't grin: he's too mortified.
N. A person filled with chagrin doesn't grin: he's too mortified.
chalice@chalice
N. goblet; consecrated cup.
In a small room adjoining the cathedral, many ornately decorated chalices made by the most famous European goldsmiths were on display.
chameleon@chameleon
N. lizard that changes color in different situations.
Like the chameleon, he assumed the political coloration of every group he met.
champion@champion
V. support militantly.
Martin Luther King, Jr., won the Nobel Peace Prize because he championed the oppressed in their struggle for equality.
also n.
chaotic@chaotic
ADJ. in utter disorder.
He tried to bring order into the chaotic state of affairs.
chaos, n.
charisma@charisma
N. divine gift; great popular charm or appeal.
Political commentators have deplored the importance of a candidate's charisma in these days of television campaigning.
charlatan@charlatan
N. quack; pretender to knowledge.
When they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get them back to Kansas, Dorothy and her friends were sure they'd been duped by a charlatan.
chary@chary
ADJ. cautious; sparing or restrained about giving.
A prudent, thrifty New Englander, DeWitt was as chary of investing money in junk bonds as he was chary of paying people unnecessary compliments.
chase@chase
V. ornament a metal surface by indenting.
With his hammer, he carefully chased an intricate design onto the surface of the chalice.
(secondary meaning)
chasm@chasm
N. abyss.
They could not see the bottom of the chasm.
chassis@chassis
N. framework and working parts of an automobile.
Examining the car after the accident, the owner discovered that the body had been ruined but that the chassis was unharmed.
chaste@chaste
ADJ. pure; virginal; modest.
To ensure that his bride would stay chaste while he was off to the wars, the crusader had her fitted out with a chastity belt.
chastity, n.
chasten@chasten
V. discipline; punish in order to correct.
Whom God loves. God chastens.
chastise@chastise
V. punish.
I must chastise you for this offense.
chauvinist@chauvinist
N. blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group or cause.
A chauvinist cannot recognize any faults in his country, no matter how flagrant they may be. Likewise, a male chauvinist cannot recognize how biased he is in favor of his own sex, no matter how flagrant that bias may be.
chauvinistic, adj.
check@check
V. stop motion; curb or restrain.
Thrusting out her arm, Grandma checked Bobby's lunge at his sister. "Young man," she said, "you'd better check your temper.
checkered@checkered
ADJ. marked by changes in fortune.
During his checkered career he had lived in palatial mansions and in dreary boardinghouses.
cherubic@cherubic
ADJ. angelic; innocent-looking.
With her cheerful smile and rosy cheeks, she was a particularly cherubic child.
chicanery@chicanery
N. trickery; deception.
Those sneaky lawyers misrepresented what occurred, made up all sorts of implausible alternative scenarios to confuse the jurors, and in general depended on chicanery to win the case.
chide@chide
V. scold.
Grandma began to chide Steven for his lying.
chimerical@chimerical
ADJ. fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; imaginative.
As everyone expected, Ted's chimerical scheme to make a fortune by raising ermines in his backyard proved a dismal failure.
chimera, n.
chisel@chisel
N. wedgelike tool for cutting.
With his hammer and chisel, the sculptor chipped away at the block of marble.
V. swindle or cheat; cut with a chisel.
That crook chiseled me out of a hundred dollars when he sold me that "marble" statue he'd chiseled out of some cheap hunk of rock.
chivalrous@chivalrous
ADJ. courteous; faithful; brave.
Chivalrous behavior involves noble words and good deeds.
choleric@choleric
ADJ. hot-tempered.
His flushed, angry face indicated a choleric nature.
choreography@choreography
N. art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances.
Merce Cunningham has begun to use a computer in designing choreography: a software program allows him to compose arrangements of possible moves and immediately view them onscreen.
chortle@chortle
V. chuckle with delight.
When she heard that her rival had just been jailed for embezzlement, she chortled with joy. She was not a nice lady.
chronic@chronic
ADJ. long established, as a disease.
The doctors were finally able to attribute his chronic headaches and nausea to traces of formaldehyde gas in his apartment.
chronicle@chronicle
V. report; record (in chronological order).
The gossip columnist was paid to chronicle the latest escapades of the socially prominent celebrities.
also n.
churlish@churlish
ADJ. boorish; rude.
Dismayed by his churlish manners at the party, the girls vowed never to invite him again.
ciliated@ciliated
ADJ. having minute hairs.
The paramecium is a ciliated, one-celled animal.
cipher@cipher
N. nonentity; worthless person or thing.
She claimed her ex-husband was a total cipher and wondered why she had ever married him.
N. secret code.
Lacking his code book, the spy was unable to decode the message sent to him in cipher.
circlet@circlet
N. small ring; band.
This tiny circlet is very costly because it is set with precious stones.
circuitous@circuitous
ADJ. roundabout.
Because of the traffic congestion on the main highways, she took a circuitous route.
circuit, n.
circumlocution@circumlocution
N. indirect or roundabout expression.
He was afraid to call a spade a spade and resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct reference to his subject.
circumscribe@circumscribe
V. limit; confine.
Although I do not wish to circumscribe your activities, I must insist that you complete this assignment before you start anything else.
circumspect@circumspect
ADJ. prudent; cautious.
Investigating before acting, she tried always to be circumspect.
circumvent@circumvent
V. outwit; baffle.
In order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign.
cistern@cistern
N. reservoir or water tank.
The farmers were able to withstand the dry season by using rainwater they had stored in an underground cistern.
citadel@citadel
N. fortress.
The citadel overlooked the city like a protecting angel.
cite@cite
V. quote; commend.
She could cite passages in the Bible from memory.
civil@civil
ADJ. having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and polite.
Although Internal Revenue Service agents are civil servants, they are not always civil to suspected tax evaders.
clairvoyant@clairvoyant
ADJ. N. having foresight; fortuneteller.
Cassandra's clairvoyant warning was not heeded by the Trojans.
clamber@clamber
V. climb by crawling.
She clambered over the wall.
clamor@clamor
N. noise.
The clamor of the children at play outside made it impossible for her to take a nap.
also v.
clandestine@clandestine
ADJ. secret.
After avoiding their chaperon, the lovers had a clandestine meeting.
clangor@clangor
N. loud, resounding noise.
The blacksmith was accustomed to the clangor of hammers on steel.
clapper@clapper
N. striker (tongue) of a bell.
Wishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale wound his scarf around the clapper to muffle its striking.
clarion@clarion
ADJ. shrill, trumpet-like sound.
We woke to the clarion call of the bugle.
claustrophobia@claustrophobia
N. fear of being locked in.
HIS fellow classmates laughed at his claustrophobia and often threatened to lock him in his room.
clavicle@clavicle
N. collarbone.
Even though he wore shoulder pads, the football player broke his clavicle during a practice scrimmage.
cleave@cleave
V. split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to.
With her heavy cleaver, Julia Child can cleave a whole roast duck in two. Soaked through, the soldier tugged at the uniform that cleaved annoyingly to his body. He would cleave to his post, come rain or shine.
cleavage, n.; cloven, adj.
cleft@cleft
N. split.
Trying for a fresh handhold, the mountain climber grasped the edge of a cleft in the sheer rockface.
also adj.
clemency@clemency
N. disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the weather.
The lawyer was pleased when the case was sent to Judge Smith's chambers because Smith was noted for her clemency toward first offenders.
cliche@cliche
N. phrase dulled in meaning by repetition.
High school compositions are often marred by such cliches as "strong as an ox."
clientele@clientele
N. body of customers.
The rock club attracted a young, stylish clientele.
climactic@climactic
ADJ. relating to the highest point.
When he reached the climactic portions of the book, he could not stop reading.
climax, n.
clime@clime
N. region; climate.
His doctor advised him to move to a milder clime.
clique@clique
N. small, exclusive group.
Fitzgerald wished that he belonged to the clique of popular athletes and big men on campus who seemed to run Princeton's social life.
cloister@cloister
N. monastery or convent.
The nuns lived in the cloister.
clout@clout
N. great influence (especially political or social).
Gatsby wondered whether he had enough clout to be admitted to the exclusive club.
cloying@cloying
ADJ. distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental.
Disliking the cloying sweetness of standard wedding cakes, Jody and Tom chose a homemade carrot cake for their reception.
cloy, v.
coagulate@coagulate
V. thicken; congeal; clot.
Even after you remove the pudding from the burner, it will continue to coagulate as it stands.
coagulant, n.
coalesce@coalesce
V. combine; fuse.
The brooks coalesce into one large river. When minor political parties coalesce, their coalescence may create a major coalition.
coalition@coalition
N. partnership; league; union.
The Rainbow Coalition united people of all races in a common cause.
coda@coda
N. concluding section of a musical or literary composition.
The piece concluded with a distinctive coda that strikingly brought together various motifs.
coddle@coddle
V. treat gently; pamper.
Don't coddle the children so much; they need a taste of discipline.
codicil@codicil
N. supplement to the body of a will.
Miss Havisham kept her lawyers busy drawing up codicils to her already complicated will.
codify@codify
V. arrange (laws, rules) as a code; classify.
We need to take the varying rules and regulations of the different health agencies and codify them into a national health code.
coercion@coercion
N. use of force to get someone to obey.
The inquisitors used both physical and psychological coercion to force Joan of Arc to recant her assertions that her visions were sent by God.
coerce, v.
coeval@coeval
ADJ. living at the same time as; contemporary Coeval with the dinosaur, the pterodactyl flourished during the Mesozoic era.
cog@cog
N. tooth projecting from a wheel.
A bicycle chain moves through a series of cogs in order to propel the bike.
cogent@cogent
ADJ. convincing.
It was inevitable that David chose to go to Harvard: he had several cogent reasons for doing so, including a full-tuition scholarship. Katya argued her case with such cogency that the jury had to decide in favor of her client.
cogitate@cogitate
V. think over.
Cogitate on this problem; the solution will come.
cognate@cognate
ADJ. related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature.
The English word "mother" is cognate to the Latin word "mater," whose influence is visible in the words "maternal" and "maternity."
also n.
cognitive@cognitive
ADJ. having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes.
Though Jack was emotionally immature, his cognitive development was admirable; he was very advanced intellectually.
cognizance@cognizance
N. knowledge.
During the election campaign, the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the international situation.
cohabit@cohabit
V. live together.
Many unwed couples who cohabit peacefully for years wind up fighting night and day once they marry.
cohere@cohere
V. stick together.
Solids have a greater tendency to cohere than liquids.
cohesion@cohesion
N. tendency to keep together.
A firm believer in the maxim "Divide and conquer," the emperor, by lies and trickery, sought to disrupt the cohesion of the free nations.
cohorts@cohorts
N. armed band.
Caesar and his Roman cohorts conquered almost all of the known world.
coiffure@coiffure
N. hairstyle.
You can make a statement with your choice of coiffure: in the 60's many African-Americans affirmed their racial heritage by wearing their hair in Afros.
coin@coin
V. make coins; invent or fabricate.
Mints coin good money; counterfeiters coin fakes. Slanderers coin nasty rumors; writers coin words. A neologism is a newly coined expression.
coincidence@coincidence
N. the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events.
Was it just a coincidence that John and she had met at the market for three days running, or was he deliberately trying to seek her out?
coincidental, adj.
colander@colander
N. utensil with perforated bottom used for straining.
Before serving the spaghetti, place it in a colander to drain it.
collaborate@collaborate
V. work together.
Two writers collaborated in preparing this book.
collage@collage
N. work of art put together from fragments.
Scraps of cloth, paper doilies, and old photographs all went into her collage.
collate@collate
V. examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order.
They collated the newly found manuscripts to determine their age.
collateral@collateral
N. security given for loan.
The sum you wish to borrow is so large that it must be secured by collateral.
collation@collation
N. a light meal.
Tea sandwiches and cookies were offered at the collation.
colloquial@colloquial
ADJ. pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal.
Some of the new, colloquial reading passages on standardized tests have a conversational tone intended to make them more appealing to test-takers.
colloquy@colloquy
N. informal discussion.
I enjoy our colloquies, but I sometimes wish that they could be made more formal and more searching.
collusion@collusion
N. conspiring in a fraudulent scheme.
The swindlers were found guilty of collusion.
colossal@colossal
ADJ. huge.
Radio City Music Hall has a colossal stage.
colossus@colossus
N. gigantic statue.
The legendary Colossus of Rhodes, a bronze statue of the sun god that dominated the harbor of the Greek seaport, was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
comatose@comatose
ADJ. in a coma; extremely sleepy.
The longwinded orator soon had his audience in a comatose state.
combustible@combustible
ADJ. easily burned.
After the recent outbreak of fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all combustible materials be kept in safe containers.
also n.
comely@comely
ADJ. attractive; agreeable.
I would rather have a poor and comely wife than a rich and homely one.
comestible@comestible
N. something fit to be eaten.
The roast turkey and other comestibles, the wines, and the excellent service made this Thanksgiving dinner particularly memorable.
comeuppance@comeuppance
N. rebuke; deserts.
After his earlier rudeness, we were delighted to see him get his comeuppance.
comity@comity
N. courtesy; civility.
A spirit of comity should exist among nations.
commandeer@commandeer
V. to draft for military purposes; to take for public use.
The policeman commandeered the first car that approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearest hospital.
commemorative@commemorative
ADJ. remembering; honoring.
The new commemorative stamp honors the late Martin Luther King, Jr.
commensurate@commensurate
ADJ. equal in extent.
Your reward will be commensurate with your effort.
commiserate@commiserate
V. feel or express pity or sympathy for.
Her friends commiserated with the widow.
commodious@commodious
ADJ. spacious and comfortable.
After sleeping in small roadside cabins, they found their hotel suite commodious.
communal@communal
ADJ. held in common; of a group of people.
When they were divorced, they had trouble dividing their communal property.
compact@compact
N. agreement; contract.
The signers of the Mayflower Compact were establishing a form of government.
ADJ. tightly packed; firm; brief.
His short, compact body was better suited to wrestling than to basketball.
compatible@compatible
ADJ. harmonious; in harmony with.
They were compatible neighbors, never quarreling over unimportant matters.
compatibility, n.
compelling@compelling
ADJ. overpowering; irresistible in effect.
The prosecutor presented a well-reasoned case, but the defense attorney's compelling arguments for leniency won over the jury.
compendium@compendium
V. brief, comprehensive summary.
This text can serve as a compendium of the tremendous amount of new material being developed in this field.
compensatory@compensatory
ADJ. making up for; repaying.
Can a compensatory education program make up for the inadequate schooling he received in earlier years?
compilation@compilation
N. listing of statistical information in tabular or book form.
The compilation of available scholarships serves a very valuable purpose.
compile@compile
V. assemble; gather; accumulate.
We planned to compile a list of the words most frequently used on the GRE.
complacency@complacency
N. self-satisfaction; smugness.
Full of complacency about his latest victories, he looked smugly at the row of trophies on his mantelpiece.
complacent, adj.
complaisant@complaisant
ADJ. trying to please; obliging.
The courtier obeyed the king's orders in a complaisant manner.
complement@complement
V. complete; consummate; make perfect.
The waiter recommended a glass of port to complement the cheese.
also n.
complementary@complementary
ADJ. serving to complete something.
John and Lexy's skills are complementary: he's good at following a daily routine, while she's great at improvising and handling emergencies. Together they make a great team.
compliance@compliance
N. readiness to yield; conformity in fulfilling requirements.
Bullheaded Bill was not noted for his easy compliance to the demands of others. As an architect, however, Bill recognized that his design for the new school had to be in compliance with the local building code.
compliant@compliant
ADJ. yielding; conforming to requirements.
Because Joel usually gave in and went along with whatever his friends desired, his mother worried that he might be too compliant.
complicity@complicity
N. participation; involvement.
You cannot keep your complicity in this affair secret very long; you would be wise to admit your involvement immediately.
component@component
N. element; ingredient.
I wish all the components of my stereo system were working at the same time.
comport@comport
V. bear one's self; behave.
He comported himself with great dignity.
composure@composure
N. mental calmness.
Even the latest work crisis failed to shake her composure.
compound@compound
V. combine; constitute; pay interest; increase.
The makers of the popular cold remedy compounded a nasal decongestant with an antihistamine.
also n.
comprehensive@comprehensive
ADJ. thorough; inclusive.
This book provides a comprehensive review of verbal and math skills for the SAT.
compress@compress
V. close; squeeze; con tract.
She compressed the package under her arm.
comprise@comprise
V. include; consist of.
If the District of Columbia were to be granted statehood, the United States of America would comprise fifty-one states, not just fifty.
compromise@compromise
V. adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of.
Sometimes the presence of a neutral third party can help adversaries compromise their differences. Unfortunately, you're not neutral. Therefore, your presence here compromises our chances of reaching an agreement.
also n.
compunction@compunction
N. remorse.
The judge was especially severe in his sentencing because he felt that the criminal had shown no compunction for his heinous crime.
compute@compute
V. reckon; calculate.
He failed to compute the interest, so his bank balance was not accurate.
concatenate@concatenate
V. link as in a chain.
It is difficult to understand how these events could concatenate as they did without outside assistance.
concave@concave
ADJ. hollow.
The back-packers found partial shelter from the storm by huddling against the concave wall of the cliff.
concede@concede
V. admit; yield.
Despite all the evidence Monica had assembled, Mark refused to concede that she was right.
conceit@conceit
N. vanity or self-love; whimsical idea; extravagant metaphor.
Although Jack was smug and puffed up with conceit, he was an entertaining companion, always expressing himself in amusing conceits and witty turns of phrase.
concentric@concentric
ADJ. having a common center.
The target was made of concentric circles.
conception@conception
N. beginning; forming of an idea.
At the first conception of the work, he was consulted.
conceive, v.
concerted@concerted
ADJ. mutually agreed on; done together.
All the Girl Scouts made a concerted effort to raise funds for their annual outing. When the movie star appeared, his fans let out a concerted sigh.
concession@concession
N. an act of yielding.
Before they could reach an agreement, both sides had to make certain concessions.
conciliatory@conciliatory
ADJ. reconciling; soothing.
She was still angry despite his conciliatory words.
conciliate, v.
concise@concise
ADJ. brief and compact.
When you define a new word, be concise: the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember.
conclave@conclave
N. private meeting.
He was present at all their conclaves as an unofficial observer.
conclusive@conclusive
ADJ. decisive; ending all debate.
When the stolen books turned up in John's locker, we finally bad conclusive evidence of the identity of the mysterious thief.
concoct@concoct
V. prepare by combining; make up in concert.
How did the inventive chef ever concoct such a strange dish?
concoction, n.
concomitant@concomitant
N. that which accompanies.
Culture is not always a concomitant of wealth.
also adj.
concord@concord
N. harmony.
Watching Tweedledum and Tweedledee battle, Alice wondered why the two brothers could not manage to live in concord.
concur@concur
V. agree.
Did you concur with the decision of the court or did you find it unfair?
concurrent@concurrent
ADJ. happening at the same time.
In America, the colonists were resisting the demands of the mother country; at the concurrent moment in France, the middle class was sowing the seeds of rebellion.
condescend@condescend
V. bestow courtesies with a superior air.
The king condescended to grant an audience to the friends of the condemned man.
condescension, n.
condign@condign
ADJ. adequate; deservedly severe.
The public approved the condign punishment for the crime.
condiments@condiments
N. seasonings; spices.
Spanish food is full of condiments.
condole@condole
V. express sympathetic sorrow.
His friends gathered to condole with him over his loss.
condolence, n.
condone@condone
V. overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse.
Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold.
conducive@conducive
ADJ. helpful; contributive.
Rest and proper diet are conducive to good health.
conduit@conduit
N. aqueduct; passageway for fluids.
Water was brought to the army in the desert by an improvised conduit from the adjoining mountain.
confidant@confidant
N. trusted friend.
He had no confidants with whom he could discuss his problems at home.
confine@confine
V. shut in; restrict.
The terrorists had confined their prisoner in a small room. However, they had not chained him to the wall or done anything else to confine his movements.
confinement, n.
confiscate@confiscate
V. seize; commandeer.
The army confiscated all available supplies of uranium.
conflagration@conflagration
N. great fire.
In the conflagration that followed the 1906 earthquake, much of San Francisco was destroyed.
confluence@confluence
N. flowing together; crowd.
They built the city at the confluence of two rivers.
conformity@conformity
N. harmony; agreement.
In conformity with our rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization.
confound@confound
V. confuse; puzzle.
No mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes for long.
congeal@congeal
V. freeze; coagulate.
His blood congealed in his veins as he saw the dread monster rush toward him.
congenial@congenial
ADJ. pleasant; friendly.
My father loved to go out for a meal with congenial companions.
congenital@congenital
ADJ. existing at birth.
Doctors are able to cure some congenital deformities such as cleft palates by performing operations on infants.
conglomeration.@conglomeration.
N. mass of material sticking together.
In such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was impossible to find a single area of analysis.
congruence@congruence
N. correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship.
The student demonstrated the congruence of the two triangles by using the hypotenuse-leg theorem.
congruent@congruent
ADJ. in agreement; corresponding.
In formulating a hypothesis, we must keep it congruent with what we know of the real world; it cannot disagree with our experience.
conifer@conifer
N. pine tree; cone-bearing tree.
According to geologists, the conifers were the first plants to bear flowers.
conjecture@conjecture
N. surmise; guess.
I will end all your conjectures; I admit I am guilty as charged.
also v.
conjugal@conjugal
ADJ. pertaining to marriage.
Their dreams of conjugal bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed.
conjure@conjure
V. summon a devil; practice magic; imagine or invent.
Sorcerers conjure devils to appear. Magicians conjure white rabbits out of hats. Political candidates conjure up images of reformed cities and a world at peace.
connivance@connivance
N. pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend.
With the connivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher.
connive v.
connoisseur@connoisseur
N. person competent to act as a judge of art, etc.; a lover of an art.
She had developed into a connoisseur of fine china.
connotation@connotation
N. suggested or implied meaning of an expression.
Foreigners frequently are unaware of the connotations of the words they use.
connubial@connubial
ADJ. pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state.
In his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of connubial bliss.
consanguinity@consanguinity
N. kinship.
The lawsuit developed into a test of the consanguinity of the claimant to the estate.
conscientious@conscientious
ADJ. scrupulous; careful.
A conscientious editor, she checked every definition for its accuracy.
conscript@conscript
N. draftee; person forced into military service.
Did Rambo volunteer to fight in Vietnam, or was he a conscript, drafted against his will?
also v.
consecrate@consecrate
V. dedicate; sanctify.
We shall consecrate our lives to this noble purpose.
consensus@consensus
N. general agreement.
The consensus indicates that we are opposed to entering into this pact.
consequential@consequential
ADJ. pompous; self-important.
Convinced of his own importance, the actor strutted about the dressing room with a consequential air.
conservatory@conservatory
N. school of the fine arts (especially music or drama).
A gifted violinist, Marya was selected to study at the conservatory.
consign@consign
V. deliver officially; entrust; set apart.
The court consigned the child to her paternal grandmother's care.
consignment n.
consistency@consistency
N. absence of contradictions; dependability; uniformity; degree of thickness.
Holmes judged puddings and explanations on their consistency he liked his puddings without lumps and his explanations without improbabilities.
console@console
V. lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort.
When her father died, Marius did his best to console Cosette.
consolation, n.
consolidation@consolidation
N. unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger.
The recent consolidation of several small airlines into one major company has left observers of the industry wondering whether room still exists for the "little guy" in aviation.
consolidate, v.
consonance@consonance
N. harmony; agreement.
Her agitation seemed out of consonance with her usual calm.
consort@consort
V. associate with.
We frequently judge people by the company with whom they consort.
N. husband or wife.
The search for a consort for the young Queen Victoria ended happily.
conspiracy@conspiracy
N. treacherous plot.
Brutus and Cassius joined in the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar.
constituent@constituent
N. supporter.
The congressman received hundreds of letters from angry constituents after the Equal Rights Amendment failed to pass.
constraint@constraint
N. compulsion; repression of feelings.
There was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one dared to criticize the speaker.
constrain, v.
construe@construe
V. explain; interpret.
If I construe your remarks correctly, you disagree with the theory already advanced.
consummate@consummate
ADJ. complete.
I have never seen anyone who makes as many stupid errors as you do; you must be a consummate idiot.
also v.
contagion@contagion
N. infection.
Fearing contagion, they took drastic steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
contaminate@contaminate
V. pollute.
The sewage system of the city so contaminated the water that swimming was forbidden.
contempt@contempt
N. scorn; disdain.
The heavyweight boxer looked on ordinary people with contempt, scorning them as weaklings who couldn't hurt a fly. We thought it was contemptible of him to be contemptuous of people for being weak.
contend@contend
V. struggle; compete; assert earnestly.
In Revolt of the Black Athlete, sociologist Harry Edwards contends that young black athletes have been exploited by some college recruiters.
contention@contention
N. claim; thesis.
It is our contention that, if you follow our tactics, you will boost your score on the GRE.
contentious@contentious
ADJ. quarrelsome.
Disagreeing violently with the referees' ruling, the coach became so contentious that the referees threw him out of the game.
contest@contest
V. dispute.
The defeated candidate attempted to contest the election results.
context@context
N. writings preceding and following the passage quoted.
Because these lines are taken out of context, they do not convey the message the author intended.
contiguous@contiguous
ADJ. adjacent to; touching upon.
The two countries are contiguous for a few miles; then they are separated by the gulf.
continence@continence
N. self-restraint; sexual chastity.
At the convent, Connie vowed to lead a life of continence. The question was, could Connie be content with always being continent?
ADJ. dependent on; conditional.
Cher's father informed her that any increase in her allowance was contingent on the quality of her final grades.
contingent@contingent
N. group that makes up part of a gathering.
The New York contingent of delegates at the Democratic National Convention was a boisterous, sometimes rowdy lot.
contortions@contortions
N. twistings; distortions.
As the effects of the opiate wore away, the contortions of the patient became more violent and demonstrated how much pain she was enduring.
contraband@contraband
N. illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods.
The Coast Guard tries to prevent contraband in U.S. waters.
also adj.
contravene@contravene
V. contradict; oppose: infringe on or transgress.
Mr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth to contravene his will by eloping with Robert Browning.
contrite@contrite
ADJ. penitent.
Her contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence.
contrition, n.
contrived@contrived
ADJ. forced; artificial; not spontaneous.
Feeling ill at ease with his new in-laws, James made a few contrived attempts at conversation and then retreated into silence.
controvert@controvert
V. oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict.
The witness's testimony was so clear and her reputation for honesty so well established that the defense attorney decided it was wiser to make no attempt to controvert what she said.
contumacious@contumacious
ADJ. disobedient; resisting authority.
The contumacious mob shouted defiantly at the police.
contumacy, n.
contusion@contusion
N. bruise.
Black and blue after her fall, Sue was treated for contusions and abrasions.
conundrum@conundrum
N. riddle; difficult problem.
During the long car ride, she invented conundrums to entertain the children.
convene@convene
V. assemble.
Because much needed legislation had to be enacted, the governor ordered the legislature to convene in special session by January 15.
convention@convention
N. social or moral custom; established practice.
Flying in the face of convention, George Sand (Amandine Dudevant) shocked her contemporaries by taking lovers and wearing men's clothes.
conventional@conventional
ADJ. ordinary; typical.
His conventional upbringing left him wholly unprepared (or his wife's eccentric family.
converge@converge
V. approach; tend to meet; come together.
African-American men from all over the United States converged on Washington to take part in the historic Million Man March.
convergence, n.
conversant@conversant
ADJ. familiar with.
The lawyer is conversant with all the evidence.
converse@converse
N. opposite.
The inevitable converse of peace is not war but annihilation.
convert@convert
N. one who has adopted a different religion or opinion.
On his trip to Japan, though the President spoke at length about the merits of American automobiles, he made few converts to his beliefs.
also v.
convex@convex
ADJ. curving outward.
She polished the convex lens of her telescope.
conveyance@conveyance
N. vehicle; transfer.
During the transit strike, commuters used various kinds of conveyances.
conviction@conviction
N. judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief.
Even her conviction for murder did not shake Lord Peter's conviction that Harriet was innocent of the crime.
convivial@convivial
ADJ. festive; gay; characterized by joviality.
The convivial celebrators of the victory sang their college songs.
convoke@convoke
V. call together.
Congress was convoked at the outbreak of the emergency.
convocation, n.
convoluted@convoluted
ADJ. coiled around; involved; intricate.
His argument was so convoluted that few of us could follow it intelligently.
copious@copious
ADJ. plentiful.
She had copious reasons for rejecting the proposal.
coquette@coquette
N. flirt.
Because she refused to give him an answer to his proposal of marriage, he called her a coquette.
also v.
cordial@cordial
ADJ. gracious; heartfelt.
Our hosts greeted us at the airport with a cordial welcome and a hearty hug.
cordon@cordon
N. extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress.
The police cordon was so tight that the criminals could not leave the area.
also v.
cornice@cornice
N. projecting molding on building (usually above columns).
Because the stones forming the cornice had been loosened by the storms, the police closed the building until repairs could be made.
cornucopia@cornucopia
N. horn overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance.
The encyclopedia salesman claimed the new edition was a veritable cornucopia of information, an inexhaustible source of knowledge for the entire family.
corollary@corollary
N. consequence; accompaniment.
Brotherly love is a complex emotion, with sibling rivalry its natural corollary.
corporeal@corporeal
ADJ. bodily; material.
The doctor had no patience with spiritual matters: his job was to attend to his patients' corporeal problems, not to minister to their souls.
corpulent@corpulent
ADJ. very fat.
The corpulent man resolved to reduce.
corpulence, n.
correlation@correlation
N. mutual relationship.
He sought to determine the correlation that existed between ability in algebra and ability to interpret reading exercises.
correlate, v.
corroborate@corroborate
V. confirm; support.
Though Huck was quite willing to corroborate Tom's story, Aunt Polly knew better than to believe either of them.
corrode@corrode
V. destroy by chemical action.
The girders supporting the bridge corroded so gradually that no one suspected any danger until the bridge suddenly collapsed.
corrosion, n.
corrosive@corrosive
ADJ. eating away by chemicals or disease.
Stainless steel is able to withstand the effects of corrosive chemicals.
corrugated@corrugated
ADJ. wrinkled; ridged.
She wished she could smooth away the wrinkles from his corrugated brow.
cosmic@cosmic
ADJ. pertaining to the universe; vast.
Cosmic rays derive their name from the fact that they bombard the earth's atmosphere from outer space.
cosmos, n.
coterie@coterie
N. group that meets socially; select circle.
After his book had been published, he was invited to join the literary coterie that lunched daily at the hotel.
countenance@countenance
V. approve; tolerate.
Miss Manners refused to countenance such rude behavior on their part.
N. face.
When Jose saw his newborn daughter, a proud smile spread across his countenance.
countermand@countermand
V. cancel; revoke.
The general countermanded the orders issued in his absence.
counterpart@counterpart
N. a thing that completes another; things very much alike.
Night and day are counterparts.
coup@coup
N. highly successful action or sudden attack.
As the news of his coup spread throughout Wall Street, his fellow brokers dropped by to congratulate him.
couple@couple
V. join; unite.
The Flying Karamazovs couple expert juggling and amateur joking in their nightclub act.
courier@courier
N. messenger.
The publisher sent a special courier to pick up the manuscript.
covenant@covenant
N. agreement.
We must comply with the terms of the covenant.
covert@covert
ADJ. secret; hidden; implied.
Investigations of the Central Intelligence Agency and other secret service networks reveal that such covert operations can get out of control.
covetous@covetous
ADJ. avaricious; eagerly desirous of.
The child was covetous by nature and wanted to take the toys belonging to his classmates.
covet, v.
cow@cow
V. terrorize; intimidate.
The little boy was so cowed by the hulking bully that he gave up his lunch money without a word of protest.
cower@cower
V. shrink quivering, as from fear.
The frightened child cowered in the corner of the room.
coy@coy
ADJ. shy; modest; coquettish.
Reluctant to commit herself so early in the game, Kay was coy in her answers to Ken's offer.
cozen@cozen
V. cheat: hoodwink: swindle.
He was the kind of individual who would cozen his friends in a cheap card game but remain eminently ethical in all his business dealings.
crabbed@crabbed
ADJ. sour; peevish.
The children avoided the crabbed old man because he scolded them when they made noise.
crass@crass
ADJ. very unrefined; grossly insensible.
The film critic deplored the crass commercialism of movie-makers who abandon artistic standards in order to make a quick buck.
craven@craven
ADJ. cowardly.
Lillian's craven refusal to join the protest was criticized by her comrades, who had expected her to be brave enough to stand up for her beliefs.
credence@credence
N. belief.
Do not place any credence in his promises.
credo@credo
N. creed.
I believe we may best describe her credo by saying that it approximates the Golden Rule.
credulity@credulity
N. belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete.
Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors to swindle them out of their savings.
credulous, adj.
creed@creed
N. system of religious or ethical belief.
Any loyal American's creed must emphasize love of democracy.
crescendo@crescendo
N. increase in the volume or intensity, as in a musical passage; climax.
The overture suddenly changed from a quiet pastoral theme to a crescendo featuring blaring trumpets and clashing cymbals.
crestfallen@crestfallen
ADJ. dejected; dispirited.
We were surprised at his reaction to the failure of his project; instead of being crestfallen, he was busily engaged in planning new activities.
crevice@crevice
N. crack; fissure.
The mountain climbers found footholds in the tiny crevices in the mountainside.
cringe@cringe
V. shrink back, as if in fear.
The dog cringed, expecting a blow.
criteria@criteria
N. standards used in judging.
What criteria did you use when you selected this essay as the prize winner?
criterion, sing.
crone@crone
N. hag.
The toothless crone frightened us when she smiled.
crotchety@crotchety
ADJ. eccentric; whimsical.
Although he was reputed to be a crotchety old gentleman, I found his ideas substantially sound and sensible.
crux@crux
N. essential or main point.
This is the crux of the entire problem: everything centers on its being resolved.
crucial, adj.
crypt@crypt
N. secret recess or vault usually used for burial.
Until recently only bodies of rulers and leading statesmen were interred in this crypt.
cryptic@cryptic
ADJ. mysterious; hidden; secret.
Thoroughly baffled by Holmes's cryptic remarks, Watson wondered whether Holmes was intentionally concealing his thoughts about the crime.
cubicle@cubicle
N. small chamber used for sleeping.
After her many hours of intensive study in the library, she retired to her cubicle.
cuisine@cuisine
N. style of cooking.
French cuisine is noted for its use of sauces and wines.
culinary@culinary
ADJ. relating to cooking.
Many chefs attribute their culinary skill to the wise use of spices.
cull@cull
V. pick out; reject.
Every month the farmer culls the nonlaying hens from his flock and sells them to the local butcher.
also n.
culmination@culmination
N. attainment of highest point.
His inauguration as President of the United States marked the culmination of his political career.
culpable@culpable
ADJ. deserving blame.
Corrupt politicians who condone the activities of the gamblers are equally culpable.
culvert@culvert
N. artificial channel for water.
If we build a culvert under the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of the road's being flooded during the rainy season.
cumbersome@cumbersome
ADJ. heavy; hard to manage.
She was burdened down with cumbersome parcels.
cumulative@cumulative
ADJ. growing by addition.
Vocabulary-building is a cumulative process: as you go through your flash cards, you will add new words to your vocabulary, one by one.
cupidity@cupidity
N. greed.
The defeated people could not satisfy the cupidity of the conquerors, who demanded excessive tribute.
curator@curator
N. superintendent; manager.
The members of the board of trustees of the museum expected the new curator to plan events and exhibitions that would make the museum more popular.
curmudgeon@curmudgeon
N. churlish, miserly individual.
Although many regarded him as a curmudgeon, a few of us were aware of the many kindnesses and acts of charity that he secretly performed.
cursive@cursive
ADJ. flowing, running.
In normal writing we run our letters together in cursive form; in printing, we separate the letters.
cursory@cursory
ADJ. casual; hastily done.
Because a cursory examination of the ruins indicates the possibility of arson, we believe the insurance agency should undertake a more extensive investigation of the fire's cause.
curtail@curtail
V. shorten; reduce.
When Elton asked Cher for a date, she said she was really sorry she couldn't go out with him, but her dad had ordered her to curtail her social life.
cynical@cynical
ADJ. skeptical or distrustful of human motives.
Cynical from birth, Sidney was suspicious whenever anyone gave him a gift "with no strings attached."
cynic, n.; cynicism, n.
cynosure@cynosure
N. object of general attention.
As soon as the movie star entered the room, she became the cynosure of all eyes.
dabble@dabble
V. work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around.
The amateur painter dabbled at art, but seldom produced a finished piece. The children dabbled their hands in the bird bath, splashing one another gleefully.
dais@dais
N. raised platform for guests of honor.
When she approached the dais, she was greeted by cheers from the people who had come to honor her.
dally@dally
V. trifle with; procrastinate.
Laertes told Ophelia that Hamlet could only dally with her affections.
dank@dank
ADJ. damp.
The walls of the dungeon were dank and slimy.
dapper@dapper
ADJ. neat and trim.
In "The Odd Couple," Tony Randall played Felix Unger, an excessively dapper soul who could not stand to have a hair out of place.
dappled@dappled
ADJ. spotted.
The sunlight filtering through the screens created a dappled effect on the wall.
daub@daub
V. smear (as with paint).
From the way he daubed his paint on the canvas, I could tell he knew nothing of oils.
n.
daunt@daunt
V. intimidate; frighten.
"Boast all you like of your prowess. Mere words cannot daunt me," the hero answered the villain.
dauntless@dauntless
ADJ. bold.
Despite the dangerous nature of the undertaking, the dauntless soldier volunteered for the assignment.
dawdle@dawdle
V. loiter; waste time.
We have to meet a deadline: don't dawdle; just get down to work.
deadlock@deadlock
N. standstill; stalemate.
Because negotiations had reached a deadlock, some of the delegates had begun to mutter about breaking off the talks.
also v.
deadpan@deadpan
ADJ. wooden; impassive.
We wanted to see how long he could maintain his deadpan expression.
dearth@dearth
N. scarcity.
The dearth of skilled labor compelled the employers to open trade schools.
debacle@debacle
N. sudden downfall; complete disaster.
In the Airplane movies, every flight turns into a debacle, with passengers and crew members collapsing, engines falling apart, and carry-on baggage popping out of the overhead bins.
debase@debase
V. reduce in quality or value; lower in esteem; degrade.
In The King and I, Anna refuses to kneel down and prostrate herself before the king; she feels that to do so would debase her position, and she will not submit to such debasement.
debauch@debauch
V. corrupt; seduce from virtue.
Did Socrates' teachings lead the young men of Athens to be virtuous citizens, or did they debauch the young men, causing them to question the customs of their fathers? Clearly, Socrates' philosophical talks were nothing like the wild debauchery of the toga parties in Animal House.
debilitate@debilitate
V. weaken; enfeeble.
Michael's severe bout of the flu debilitated him so much that he was too tired to go to work for a week.
debonair@debonair
ADJ. friendly; aiming to please.
The debonair youth was liked by all who met him, because of his cheerful and obliging manner.
debris@debris
N. rubble.
A full year after the earthquake in Mexico City, workers were still carting away the debris.
debunk@debunk
V. expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule.
Pointing out that he consistently had voted against strengthening antipollution legislation, reporters debunked the candidate's claim that he was a fervent environmentalist.
debutante@debutante
N. young woman making formal entrance into society.
As a debutante, she was often mentioned in the society columns of the newspapers.
decadence@decadence
N. decay.
The moral decadence of the people was rejected in the lewd literature of the period.
decant@decant
V. pour off gently.
Be sure to decant this wine before serving it.
decapitate@decapitate
V. behead.
They did not hang Lady Jane Grey; they decapitated her. "Off with her head!" cried the Duchess, eager to decapitate poor Alice.
decelerate@decelerate
V. slow down.
Seeing the emergency blinkers in the road ahead, he decelerated quickly.
deciduous@deciduous
ADJ. falling off, as of leaves.
The oak is a deciduous tree.
decimate@decimate
V. kill, usually one out of ten.
We do more to decimate our population in automobile accidents than we do in war.
decipher@decipher
V. decode.
I could not decipher the doctor's handwriting.
declivity@declivity
N. downward slope.
The children loved to ski down the declivity.
decollete@decollete
ADJ. having a low-cut neckline.
Fashion decrees that evening gowns be decollete this season; bare shoulders are again the vogue.
decomposition@decomposition
N. decay.
Despite the body's advanced state of decomposition, the police were able to identify the murdered man.
decorum@decorum
N. propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners.
Even the best-mannered students have trouble behaving with decorum on the last day of school.
decorous, adj.
decoy@decoy
N. lure or bait.
The wild ducks were not fooled by the decoy.
also v.
decrepitude@decrepitude
N. state of collapse caused by illness or old age.
I was unprepared for the state of decrepitude in which I had found my old friend; he seemed to have aged twenty years in six months.
decry@decry
V. express strong disapproval of; disparage.
The founder of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, strongly decries the lack of financial and moral support for children in America today.
deducible@deducible
ADJ. derived by reasoning.
If we accept your premise, your conclusions are easily deducible.
deface@deface
V. mar; disfigure.
If you deface a library book, you will have to pay a hefty fine.
defame@defame
V. harm someone's reputation; malign; slander.
If you try to defame my good name, my lawyers will see you in court. If rival candidates persist in defaming one another, the voters may conclude that all politicians are crooks.
defamation, n.
default@default
N. failure to act.
When the visiting team failed to show up for the big game, they lost the game by default. When Jack failed to make the payments on his Jaguar, the dealership took back the car because he had defaulted on his debt.
defeatist@defeatist
ADJ. resigned to defeat; accepting defeat as a natural outcome.
If you maintain your defeatist attitude, you will never succeed.
also n.
defection@defection
N. desertion.
The children, who had made him an idol, were hurt most by his defection from our cause.
defer@defer
V. delay till later; exempt temporarily.
In wartime, some young men immediately volunteer to serve; others defer making plans until they hear from their draft boards. During the Vietnam War, many young men, hoping to be deferred, requested student deferments.
V. give in respectfully; submit.
When it comes to making decisions about purchasing software, we must defer to Michael, our computer guru; he has the final word. Michael, however, can defer these questions to no one; only he can decide.
deference@deference
N. courteous regard for another's wish.
In deference to the minister's request, please do not take photographs during the wedding service.
defiance@defiance
N. refusal to yield; resistance.
When John reached the "terrible two's," he responded to every parental request with howls of defiance.
defy, v.; defiant, adj.
defile@defile
V. pollute; profane.
The hoodlums defiled the church with their scurrilous writing.
definitive@definitive
ADJ. most reliable or complete.
Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln may be regarded as the definitive work on the life of the Great Emancipator.
deflect@deflect
V. turn aside.
His life was saved when his cigarette case deflected the bullet.
defoliate@defoliate
V. destroy leaves.
In Vietnam the army made extensive use of chemical agents to defoliate the woodlands.
defray@defray
V. provide for the payment of.
Her employer offered to defray the costs of her postgraduate education.
defrock@defrock
V. to strip a priest or minister of church authority.
We knew the minister had violated church regulations, but we had not realized his offense was serious enough to cause him to be defrocked.
deft@deft
ADJ. neat; skillful.
The deft waiter uncorked the champagne without spilling a drop.
defunct@defunct
ADJ. dead; no longer in use or existence.
The lawyers sought to examine the books of the defunct corporation.
degenerate@degenerate
V. become worse; deteriorate.
As the fight dragged on, the champion's style degenerated until he could barely keep on his feet.
degradation@degradation
N. humiliation; debasement; degeneration.
Some secretaries object to fetching the boss a cup of coffee because they resent the degradation of being made to perform such lowly tasks.
degrade, v.
dehydrate@dehydrate
V. remove water from; dry out.
Running under a hot sun quickly dehydrates the body; joggers avoid dehydration by carrying water bottles and drinking from them frequently.
deify@deify
V. turn into a god; idolize.
Admire the rock star all you want; just don't deify him.
deign@deign
V. condescend; stoop.
The celebrated fashion designer would not deign to speak to a mere seamstress; his overburdened assistant had to convey the master's wishes to the lowly workers assembling his great designs.
delete@delete
V. erase; strike out.
If you delete this paragraph, the composition will have more appeal.
deleterious@deleterious
ADJ. harmful.
If you believe that smoking is deleterious to your health (and the Surgeon General surely does), then quit!
deliberate@deliberate
V. consider; ponder.
Offered the new job, she asked for time to deliberate before she made her decision.
delineate@delineate
V. portray; depict; sketch.
Using only a few descriptive phrases, Austen delineates the character of Mr. Collins so well that we can predict his every move.
delineation, n.
delirium@delirium
N. mental disorder marked by confusion.
In his delirium, the drunkard saw pink panthers and talking pigs. Perhaps he wasn't delirious: he might just have wandered into a movie house.
delta@delta
N. flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river.
His dissertation discussed the effect of intermittent flooding on the fertility of the Nile delta.
delude@delude
V. deceive.
The mistress deludes herself into believing that her lover will leave his wife and marry her.
N. flood; rush.
When we advertised the position, we received a deluge of applications.
delusion@delusion
N. false belief; hallucination.
Don suffers from delusions of grandeur: he thinks he's a world-famous author when he's published just one paperback book.
delusive@delusive
ADJ. deceptive; raising vain hopes.
Do not raise your hopes on the basis of his delusive promises.
delve@delve
V. dig; investigate.
Delving into old books and manuscripts is part of a researcher's job.
demagogue@demagogue
N. person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader.
He was accused of being a demagogue because he made promises that aroused futile hopes in his listeners.
demean@demean
V. degrade; humiliate.
Standing on his dignity, he refused to demean himself by replying to the offensive letter. If you truly believed in the dignity of labor, you would not think it would demean you to work as a janitor.
demeanor@demeanor
N. behavior; bearing.
His sober demeanor quieted the noisy revelers.
demented@demented
ADJ. insane.
Doctor Demento was a radio personality who liked to act as if he were truly demented. If you're demented, your mental state is out of whack; in other words, you're wacky.
demise@demise
N. death.
Upon the demise of the dictator, a bitter dispute about succession to power developed.
demographic@demographic
ADJ. related to population balance.
In conducting a survey, one should take into account demographic trends in the region.
demography, n.
demolition@demolition
N. destruction.
One of the major aims of the air force was the complete demolition of all means of transportation by the bombing of rail lines and terminals.
demolish, v.
demoniac@demoniac
ADJ. fiendish.
The Spanish Inquisition devised many demoniac means of torture.
demon, n.
demotic@demotic
ADJ. pertaining to the people.
He lamented the passing of aristocratic society and maintained that a demotic society would lower the nation's standards.
demur@demur
V. object (because of doubts, scruples); hesitate.
When offered a post on the board of directors, David demurred: he had scruples about taking on the job because he was unsure he could handle it in addition to his other responsibilities.
demure@demure
ADJ. grave; serious; coy.
She was demure and reserved, a nice modest girl whom any young man would be proud to take home to his mother.
denigrate@denigrate
V. blacken.
All attempts to denigrate the character of our late President have failed; the people still love him and cherish his memory.
denizen@denizen
N. inhabitant or resident; regular visitor.
In The Untouchables, Eliot Ness fights Al Capone and the other denizens of Chicago's underworld. Ness's fight against corruption was the talk of all the denizens of the local bars.
denotation@denotation
N. meaning; distinguishing by name.
A dictionary will always give us the denotation of a word; frequently, it will also give us its connotation.
denouement@denouement
N. outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work.
The play was childishly written; the denouement was obvious to sophisticated theatergoers as early as the middle of the first act.
denounce@denounce
V. condemn; criticize.
The reform candidate denounced the corrupt city officers for having betrayed the public's trust.
denunciation, n.
depict@depict
V. portray.
In this sensational expose, the author depicts Beatle John Lennon as a drug-crazed neurotic. Do you question the accuracy of this depiction of Lennon?
deplete@deplete
V. reduce; exhaust.
We must wait until we deplete our present inventory before we order replacements.
deplore@deplore
V. regret.
Although I deplore the vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express yourself freely.
deploy@deploy
V. spread out [troops] in an extended though shallow battle line.
The general ordered the battalion to deploy in order to meet the enemy offensive.
depose@depose
V. dethrone; remove from office.
The army attempted to depose the king and set up a military government.
deposition@deposition
N. testimony under oath.
She made her deposition in the judge's chamber.
depravity@depravity
N. extreme corruption; wickedness.
The depravity of Caligula's behavior eventually sickened even those who had willingly participated in his earlier, comparatively innocent orgies.
deprave, v.
deprecate@deprecate
V. express disapproval of; protest against; belittle.
A firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy, Miss Post deprecated the modern tendency to address new acquaintances by their first names.
deprecatory, adj.
depreciate@depreciate
V. lessen in value.
If you neglect this property, it will depreciate.
depredation@depredation
N. plundering.
After the depredations of the invaders, the people were penniless.
deranged@deranged
ADJ. insane.
He had to be institutionalized because he was deranged.
derelict@derelict
ADJ. abandoned; negligent.
The derelict craft was a menace to navigation. Whoever abandoned it in the middle of the harbor was derelict in living up to his responsibilities as a boat owner.
also n.
N. Whoever abandoned it in the middle of the harbor was derelict in living up to his responsibilities as a boat owner.
also n.
deride@deride
V. ridicule; make fun of.
The critics derided his pretentious dialogue and refused to consider his play seriously.
derision@derision
N. ridicule.
They greeted her proposal with derision and refused to consider it seriously.
derisive, a.
derivative@derivative
ADJ. unoriginal; obtained from another source.
Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature, the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice.
dermatologist@dermatologist
N. one who studies the skin and its diseases.
I advise you to consult a dermatologist about your acne.
derogatory@derogatory
ADJ. expressing a low opinion.
I resent your derogatory remarks.
descry@descry
V. catch sight of.
In the distance, we could barely descry the enemy vessels.
desecrate@desecrate
V. profane; violate the sanctity of.
Shattering the altar and trampling the holy objects underfoot, the invaders desecrated the sanctuary.
desiccate@desiccate
V. dry up.
A tour of this smokehouse will give you an idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate food in order to preserve it.
desolate@desolate
ADJ. unpopulated; joyless.
After six months in the crowded, bustling metropolis, David was so sick of people that he was ready to head for the most desolate patch of wilderness he could find.
V. rob of joy; lay waste to; forsake.
The bandits desolated the countryside, burning farms and carrying off the harvest.
desperado@desperado
N. reckless outlaw.
Butch Cassidy was a bold desperado with a price on his head.
despise@despise
V. look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful.
Mr. Bond, I despise spies; I look down on them as mean, despicable, honorless men, whom I would wipe from the face of the earth with as little concern as I would scrape dog droppings from the bottom of my shoe.
despoil@despoil
V. plunder.
If you do not yield, I am afraid the enemy will despoil the countryside.
despondent@despondent
ADJ. depressed; gloomy.
To the distress of his parents, William became seriously despondent after he broke up with Jan.
despondency, n.
despot@despot
N. tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler.
How could a benevolent king turn overnight into a despot?
despotism, n.
destitute@destitute
ADJ. extremely poor.
Because they had no health insurance, the father's costly illness left the family destitute.
destitution, n.
desultory@desultory
ADJ. aimless; haphazard; digressing at random.
In prison Malcolm X set himself the task of reading straight through the dictionary; to him, reading was purposeful, not desultory.
detached@detached
ADJ. emotionally removed; calm and objective; physically separate.
A psychoanalyst must maintain a detached point of view and stay uninvolved with her patients' personal lives. To a child growing up in an apartment or a row house, to live in a detached house was an unattainable dream.
detachment, n. (secondary meaning)
determinate@determinate
ADJ. having a fixed order of procedure; invariable.
At the royal wedding, the procession of the nobles followed a determinate order of precedence.
determination@determination
N. resolve; measurement or calculation; decision.
Nothing could shake his determination that his children would get the best education that money could buy. Thanks to my pocket calculator, my determination of the answer to the problem took only seconds of my time.
deterrent@deterrent
N. something that discourages; hindrance.
Does the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers?
so adj.
detonation@detonation
N. explosion.
The detonation of the bomb could be heard miles away.
detraction@detraction
N. slandering; aspersion.
He is offended by your frequent detractions of his ability as a leader.
detrimental@detrimental
ADJ. harmful; damaging.
The candidate's acceptance of major financial contributions from a well-known racist ultimately proved detrimental to his campaign, for he lost the backing of many of his early grassroots supporters.
detriment, n.
deviate@deviate
V. turn away from (a principle, norm); depart; diverge.
Richard never deviated from his daily routine: every day he set off for work at eight o'clock, had his sack lunch at noon, and headed home at the stroke of five.
devious@devious
ADJ. roundabout; erratic; not straightforward.
The Joker's plan was so devious that it was only with great difficulty we could follow its shifts and dodges.
devise@devise
V. think up; invent; plan.
How clever he must be to have devised such a devious plan! What ingenious inventions might he have devised if he had turned his mind to science rather than crime.
devoid@devoid
ADJ. lacking.
You may think Cher's mind is a total void, but she's actually not devoid of intelligence. She just sounds like an airhead.
devolve@devolve
V. deputize; pass to others.
It devolved upon us. the survivors, to arrange peace terms with the enemy.
devotee@devotee
N. enthusiastic follower.
A devotee of the opera, she bought season tickets every year.
devout@devout
ADJ. pious.
The devout man prayed daily.
dexterous@dexterous
ADJ. skillful.
The magician was so dexterous that we could not follow his movements as he performed his tricks.
diabolical@diabolical
ADJ. devilish.
"What a fiend I am, to devise such a diabolical scheme to destroy Gotham City," chortled the Joker.
diadem@diadem
N. crown.
The king's diadem was on display at the museum.
dialectical@dialectical
ADJ. relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal.
The debate coach's students grew to develop great forensic and dialectical skill. Teaching, however, is inherently a dialectical situation: the coach learned at least as much from her students as they learned from her.
dialectics, n.
diaphanous@diaphanous
ADJ. sheer; transparent.
They saw the burglar clearly through the diaphanous curtain.
diatribe@diatribe
N. bitter scolding; invective.
During the lengthy diatribe delivered by his opponent he remained calm and self-controlled.
dichotomy@dichotomy
N. split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones).
Willie didn't know how to resolve the dichotomy between his ambition to go to college and his childhood longing to run away and join the circus. Then he heard about Ringling Brothers Circus College, and he knew he'd found his school.
dictum@dictum
N. authoritative and weighty statement; saying; maxim.
University administrations still follow the old dictum "Publish or perish." They don't care how good a teacher you are; if you don't publish enough papers, you're out of a job.
didactic@didactic
ADJ. teaching; instructional.
Pope's lengthy poem An Essay on Man is too didactic for my taste: I dislike it when poets turn preachy and moralize.
didacticism, n.
die@die
N. device for stamping or impressing; mold.
In coining pennies, workers at the old mint squeezed sheets of softened copper between two dies.
diffidence@diffidence
N. shyness.
You must overcome your diffidence if you intend to become a salesperson.
diffuse@diffuse
ADJ. wordy; rambling; spread out (like a gas).
If you pay authors by the word, you tempt them to produce diffuse manuscripts rather than brief ones.
also v.; diffusion, n.
digression@digression
N. wandering away from the subject.
Nobody minded when Professor Renoir's lectures wandered away from their official theme; his digressions were always more fascinating than the topic of the day.
digress, v.
dilapidated@dilapidated
ADJ. ruined because of neglect.
The dilapidated old budding needed far more work than just a new coat of paint.
dilapidation, n.
dilate@dilate
V. expand.
In the dark, the pupils of your eyes dilate.
dilatory@dilatory
ADJ. delaying.
Your dilatory tactics may compel me to cancel the contract.
dilemma@dilemma
N. problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives.
In this dilemma, he knew no one to whom he could turn for advice.
dilettante@dilettante
N. aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler.
He was not serious in his painting; he was rather a dilettante.
diligence@diligence
N. steadiness of effort; persistent hard work.
Her employers were greatly impressed by her diligence and offered her a partnership in the firm.
dilute@dilute
V. make less concentrated; reduce in strength.
She preferred her coffee diluted with milk.
diminution@diminution
N. lessening; reduction in size.
Old Jack was as sharp at eighty as he had been at fifty; increasing age led to no diminution of his mental acuity.
din@din
N. continued loud noise.
The din of the jackhammers outside the classroom window drowned out the lecturer's voice.
also v.
dinghy@dinghy
N. small boat (often ship's boat).
In the film Lifeboat, an ill-assorted group of passengers from a sunken ocean liner are marooned at sea in a dinghy.
dingy@dingy
ADJ. dull; not fresh; cheerless.
Refusing to be depressed by her dingy studio apartment, Bea spent the weekend polishing the floors and windows and hanging bright posters on the walls.
dint@dint
N. means; effort.
By dint of much hard work, the volunteers were able to control the raging forest fire.
diorama@diorama
N. life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history.
Because they dramatically pose actual stuffed animals against realistic painted landscapes, the dioramas at the Museum of Natural History particularly impress high school biology students.
dire@dire
ADJ. disastrous.
People ignored her dire predictions of an approaching depression.
dirge@dirge
N. lament with music.
The funeral dirge stirred us to tears.
disabuse@disabuse
V. correct a false impression; undeceive.
I will attempt to disabuse you of your impression of my client's guilt; I know he is innocent.
disaffected@disaffected
ADJ. disloyal.
Once the most loyal of Gorbachev's supporters, Sheverdnaze found himself becoming increasingly disaffected.
disapprobation@disapprobation
N. disapproval; condemnation.
The conservative father viewed his daughter's radical boyfriend with disapprobation.
disarray@disarray
N. a disorderly or untidy state.
After the New Year's party, the once orderly house was in total disarray.
disavowal@disavowal
N. denial; disclaiming.
His disavowal of his part in the conspiracy was not believed by the jury.
disavow, v.
disband@disband
V. dissolve; disperse.
The chess club disbanded after its disastrous initial season.
disburse@disburse
V. pay out.
When you disburse money on the company's behalf, be sure to get a receipt.
discernible@discernible
ADJ. distinguishable; perceivable.
The ships in the harbor were not discernible in the fog.
discerning@discerning
ADJ. mentally quick and observant; having insight.
Though no genius, the star was sufficiently discerning to distinguish her true friends from the countless phonies who flattered her.
discern, v.; discernment, n.
disclaim@disclaim
V. disown; renounce claim to.
If I grant you this privilege, will you disclaim all other rights?
disclose@disclose
V. reveal.
Although competitors offered him bribes, he refused to disclose any information about his company's forthcoming product.
disclosure, n.
discombobulated@discombobulated
ADJ. confused; discomposed.
The novice square dancer became so discombobulated that he wandered into the wrong set.
discomfit@discomfit
V. put to rout; defeat; disconcert.
This ruse will discomfit the enemy.
discomfiture, n.; discomfited, adj.
disconcert@disconcert
V. confuse; upset; embarrass.
The lawyer was disconcerted by the evidence produced by her adversary.
disconsolate@disconsolate
ADJ. sad.
The death of his wife left him disconsolate.
discord@discord
N. conflict; lack of harmony.
Watching Tweedledum battle Tweedledee, Alice wondered what had caused this pointless discord.
discordant@discordant
ADJ. not harmonious; conflicting.
Nothing is quite so discordant as the sound of a junior high school orchestra tuning up.
discount@discount
V. disregards.
Be prepared to discount what he has to say about his ex-wife.
discourse@discourse
N. formal discussion; conversation.
The young Plato was drawn to the Agora to hear the philosophical discourse of Socrates and his followers.
also v.
discredit@discredit
V. defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve.
The campaign was highly negative in tone; each candidate tried to discredit the other.
discrepancy@discrepancy
N. lack of consistency; difference.
The police noticed some discrepancies in his description of the crime and did not believe him.
discrete@discrete
ADJ. separate; unconnected.
The universe is composed of discrete bodies.
discretion@discretion
N. prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances.
Use your discretion in this matter and do not discuss it with anyone.
discreet, adj.
discriminating@discriminating
ADJ. able to see differences; prejudiced.
A superb interpreter of Picasso, she was sufficiently discriminating to judge the most complex works of modern art.
(secondary meaning) discrimination, n.
discursive@discursive
ADJ. digressing; rambling.
As the lecturer wandered from topic to topic, we wondered what if any point there was to his discursive remarks.
disdain@disdain
V. view with scorn or contempt.
In the film Funny Face, the bookish heroine disdained fashion models for their lack of intellectual interests.
also n.
disembark@disembark
V. go ashore; unload cargo from a ship.
Before the passengers could disembark, they had to pick up their passports from the ship's purser.
disenfranchise@disenfranchise
V. deprive of a civil right.
The imposition of the poll tax effectively disenfranchised poor Southern blacks, who lost their right to vote.
disengage@disengage
V. uncouple; separate; disconnect.
A standard movie routine involves the hero's desperate attempt to disengage a railroad car from a moving train.
disfigure@disfigure
V. mar the appearance of; spoil.
An ugly frown disfigured her normally pleasant face.
disgorge@disgorge
V. surrender something; eject; vomit.
Unwilling to disgorge the cash he had stolen from the pension fund, the embezzler tried to run away.
disgruntle@disgruntle
V. make discontented.
The passengers were disgruntled by the numerous delays.
dishearten@dishearten
V. discourage.
His failure to pass the bar exam disheartened him.
disheveled@disheveled
ADJ. untidy.
Your disheveled appearance will hurt your chances in this interview.
disinclination@disinclination
N. unwillingness.
Some mornings I feel a great disinclination to get out of bed.
disingenuous@disingenuous
ADJ. not naive; sophisticated.
Although he was young, his remarks indicated that he was disingenuous.
disinter@disinter
V. dig up; unearth.
They disinterred the body and held an autopsy.
disinterested@disinterested
ADJ. unprejudiced.
Given the judge's political ambitions and the lawyers' financial interest in the case, the only disinterested person in the courtroom may have been the court reporter.
disjointed@disjointed
ADJ. disconnected.
His remarks were so disjointed that we could not follow his reasoning.
disjunction@disjunction
N. act or state of separation; disunity.
Believing the mind could greatly affect the body's health, the holistic doctor rejected the notion of a necessary disjunction of mind and body.
dislodge@dislodge
V. remove (forcibly).
Thrusting her fist up under the choking man's lower ribs, Margaret used the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food caught in his throat.
dismantle@dismantle
V. take apart.
When the show closed, they dismantled the scenery before storing it.
dismember@dismember
V. cut into small parts.
When the Austrian Empire was dismembered, several new countries were established.
dismiss@dismiss
V. eliminate from consideration; reject.
Believing in John's love for her, she dismissed the notion that he might be unfaithful.
(secondary meaning)
disparage@disparage
V. belittle.
A doting mother, Emma was more likely to praise her son's crude attempts at art than to disparage them.
disparate@disparate
ADJ. basically different; unrelated.
Unfortunately, Tony and Tina have disparate notions of marriage: Tony sees it as a carefree extended love affair, while Tina sees it as a solemn commitment to build a family and a home.
disparity@disparity
N. difference; condition of inequality.
Their disparity in rank made no difference at all to the prince and Cinderella.
dispassionate@dispassionate
ADJ. calm; impartial.
Known in the company for his cool judgment, Bill could impartially examine the causes of a problem, giving a dispassionate analysis of what had gone wrong, and go on to suggest how to correct the mess.
dispatch@dispatch
N. speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed.
Young Napoleon defeated the enemy with all possible dispatch; he then sent a dispatch to headquarters, informing his commander of the great victory.
also v.
dispel@dispel
V. scatter; drive away; cause to vanish.
The bright sunlight eventually dispelled the morning mist.
disperse@disperse
V. scatter.
The police fired tear gas into the crowd to disperse the protesters.
dispersion, n.
dispirited@dispirited
ADJ. lacking in spirit.
The coach used all the tricks at his command to buoy up the enthusiasm of his team, which had become dispirited at the loss of the star player.
disport@disport
V. amuse.
The popularity of Florida as a winter resort is constantly increasing; each year, thousands more disport themselves at Miami and Palm Beach.
disputatious@disputatious
ADJ. argumentative; fond of arguing.
Convinced he knew more than his lawyers, Tony was a disputatious client, ready to argue about the best way to conduct the case.
disquietude@disquietude
N. uneasiness; anxiety.
When Holmes had been gone for a day, Watson felt only a slight sense of disquietude, but after a week with no word, Watson's uneasiness about his missing friend had grown into a deep fear for Holmes's safety.
disquiet, v., n.
disquisition@disquisition
N. a formal systematic inquiry; an explanation of the results of a formal inquiry.
In his disquisition, he outlined the steps he had taken in reaching his conclusions.
dissection@dissection
N. analysis; cutting apart in order to examine.
The dissection of frogs in the laboratory is particularly unpleasant to some students.
dissemble@dissemble
V. disguise; pretend.
Even though John tried to dissemble his motive for taking modern dance, we all knew he was there not to dance but to meet girls.
disseminate@disseminate
V. distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds).
By their use of the Internet, propagandists have been able to disseminate their pet doctrines to new audiences around the globe.
dissent@dissent
V. disagree.
In the recent Supreme Court decision, Justice O'Connor dissented from the majority opinion.
also n.
dissertation@dissertation
N. formal essay.
In order to earn a graduate degree from many of our universities, a candidate is frequently required to prepare a dissertation on some scholarly subject.
dissident@dissident
ADJ. dissenting; rebellious.
In the purge that followed the student demonstrations at Tiananmen Square, the government hunted down the dissident students and their supporters.
also n.
dissimulate@dissimulate
V. pretend; conceal by feigning.
She tried to dissimulate her grief by her exuberant attitude.
dissipate@dissipate
V. squander; waste; scatter.
He is a fine artist, but I fear he may dissipate his gifts if he keeps wasting his time playing Trivial Pursuit.
dissolution@dissolution
N. disintegration; looseness in morals.
The profligacy and dissolution of life in Caligula's Rome appall some historians.
dissolute, adj.
dissonance@dissonance
N. discord; opposite of harmony.
Composer Charles Ives often used dissonance-clashing or unresolved chords-for special effects in his musical works.
dissonant, adj.
dissuade@dissuade
V. persuade not to do; discourage.
Since Tom could not dissuade Huck from running away from home, he decided to run away with his friend.
dissuasion, n.
distant@distant
ADJ. reserved or aloof; cold in manner.
Her distant greeting made me feel unwelcome from the start.
(secondary meaning)
distend@distend
V. expand; swell out.
I can tell when he is under stress by the way the veins distend on his forehead.
distill@distill
V. purify; refine; concentrate.
A moonshiner distills mash into whiskey; an epigrammatist distills thoughts into quips.
distinction@distinction
N. honor; contrast; discrimination.
A holder of the Medal of Honor, George served with great distinction in World War II. He made a distinction, however, between World War II and Vietnam, which he considered an immoral conflict.
distort@distort
V. twist out of shape.
It is difficult to believe the newspaper accounts of the riots because of the way some reporters distort and exaggerate the actual events.
distortion, n.
distrait@distrait
ADJ. absentminded.
Because of his concentration on the problem, the professor often appeared distrait and unconcerned about routine.
distraught@distraught
ADJ. upset; distracted by anxiety.
The distraught parents frantically searched the ravine for their lost child.
diurnal@diurnal
ADJ. daily.
A farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks at any time; cows, for example, must be milked regularly.
diva@diva
N. operatic singer; prima donna.
Although world famous as a diva, she did not indulge in fits of temperament.
diverge@diverge
V. vary; go in different directions from the same point.
The spokes of the wheel diverge from the hub.
divergent@divergent
ADJ. differing; deviating.
Since graduating from medical school, the two doctors have followed divergent paths, the one going on to become a nationally prominent surgeon, the other dedicating himself to a small family practice in his home town.
divergence, n.
diverse@diverse
ADJ. differing in some characteristics; various.
The professor suggested diverse ways of approaching the assignment and recommended that we choose one of them.
diversion@diversion
N. act of turning aside; pastime.
After studying for several hours, he needed a diversion from work.
divert, v.
diversity@diversity
N. variety; dissimilitude.
The diversity of colleges in this country indicates that many levels of ability are being served.
divest@divest
V. strip; deprive.
He was divested of his power to act and could no longer govern.
divestiture, n.
divine@divine
V. perceive intuitively; foresee the future.
Nothing infuriated Tom more than Aunt Polly's ability to divine when he was not telling the truth.
divulge@divulge
V. reveal.
No lover of gossip, Charlotte would never divulge anything that a friend told her in confidence.
docile@docile
ADJ. obedient; easily managed.
As docile as he seems today, that old lion was once a ferocious, snarling beast.
docility, n.
docket@docket
N. program as for trial; book where such entries are made.
The case of Smith Jones was entered in the docket for July 15.
also v.
doctrinaire@doctrinaire
ADJ. unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding.
Weng had hoped that the student-led democracy movement might bring about change in China, but the repressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners crushed his dreams of democracy.
doctrine@doctrine
N. teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught.
He was so committed to the doctrines of his faith that he was unable to evaluate them impartially.
document@document
V. provide written evidence.
She kept all the receipts from her business trip in order to document her expenses for the firm.
also n.
doddering@doddering
ADJ. shaky; infirm from old age.
Although he is not as yet a doddering and senile old man, his ideas and opinions no longer can merit the respect we gave them years ago.
doff@doff
V. take off.
A gentleman used to doff his hat to a lady.
dogged@dogged
ADJ. determined; stubborn.
Les Miserables tells of Inspector Javert's long, dogged pursuit of the criminal Jean Valjean.
doggerel@doggerel
N. poor verse.
Although we find occasional snatches of genuine poetry in her work, most of her writing is mere doggerel.
dogmatic@dogmatic
ADJ. opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal.
We tried to discourage Doug from being so dogmatic, but never could convince him that his opinions might be wrong.
doldrums@doldrums
N. blues; listlessness; slack period.
Once the excitement of meeting her deadline was over, she found herself in the doldrums.
dolorous@dolorous
ADJ. sorrowful.
He found the dolorous lamentations of the bereaved family emotionally disturbing and he left as quickly as he could.
dolt@dolt
N. stupid person.
I thought I was talking to a mature audience; instead, I find myself addressing a pack of dolts.
domicile@domicile
N. home.
Although his legal domicile was in New York City, his work kept him away from his residence for many years.
also v.
domineer@domineer
V. rule over tyrannically.
Students prefer teachers who guide, not ones who domineer.
don@don
V. put on.
When Clark Kent had to don his Superman outfit, he changed clothes in a convenient phone booth.
dormant@dormant
ADJ. sleeping; lethargic; latent.
At fifty her long-dormant ambition to write flared up once more; within a year she had completed the first of her great historical novels.
dormancy, n.
dormer@dormer
N. window projecting from roof.
In remodeling the attic into a bedroom, we decided that we needed to put in dormers to provide sufficient ventilation for the new room.
dorsal@dorsal
ADJ. relating to the back of an animal.
A shark may be identified by its dorsal fin, which projects above the surface of the ocean.
dossier@dossier
N. file of documents on a subject.
Ordered by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate the senator, the FBI compiled a complete dossier on him.
dotage@dotage
N. senility.
In his dotage, the old man bored us with long tales of events in his childhood.
dote@dote
V. be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline.
Not only grandmothers bore you with stories about their brilliant grandchildren; grandfathers dote on the little rascals, too.
dour@dour
ADJ. sullen; stubborn.
The man was dour and taciturn.
douse@douse
V. plunge into water; drench; extinguish.
They doused each other with hoses and water balloons.
dowdy@dowdy
ADJ. slovenly; untidy.
She tried to change her dowdy image by buying a fashionable new wardrobe.
downcast@downcast
ADJ. disheartened; sad.
Cheerful and optimistic by nature, Beth was never downcast despite the difficulties she faced.
drab@drab
ADJ. dull; lacking color; cheerless.
The Dutch woman's drab winter coat contrasted with the distinctive, colorful native costume she wore beneath it.
draconian@draconian
ADJ. extremely severe.
When the principal canceled the senior prom because some seniors had been late to school that week, we thought the draconian punishment was far too harsh for such a minor violation of the rules.
dregs@dregs
N. sediment; worthless residue.
David poured the wine carefully to avoid stirring up the dregs.
drivel@drivel
N. nonsense; foolishness.
Why do I have to spend my days listening to such idiotic drivel? Drivel is related to dribble: think of a dribbling, driveling idiot.
droll@droll
ADJ. queer and amusing.
He was a popular guest because his droll anecdotes were always entertaining.
drone@drone
N. idle person; male bee.
Content to let his wife support him, the would-be writer was in reality nothing but a drone.
V. talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee.
On a gorgeous day, who wants to be stuck in a classroom listening to the teacher drone?
dross@dross
N. waste matter; worthless impurities.
Many methods have been devised to separate the valuable metal from the dross.
drudgery@drudgery
N. menial work.
Cinderella's fairy godmother rescued her from a life of drudgery.
dubious@dubious
ADJ. questionable: filled with doubt.
Some critics of the GRE contend the test is of dubious worth. Tony claimed he could get a perfect score on the test, but Tina was dubious: she knew he hadn't cracked a book in three years.
dubiety, n.
ductile@ductile
ADJ. malleable; flexible; pliable.
Copper is an extremely ductile material: you can stretch it into the thinnest of wires, bend it, even wind it into loops.
ductility, n.
dulcet@dulcet
ADJ. sweet sounding.
The dulcet sounds of the birds at dawn were soon drowned out by the roar of traffic passing our motel.
dumbfound@dumbfound
V. astonish.
Egbert's perfect score on the GRE dumbfounded his classmates, who had always considered him to be utterly dumb.
dupe@dupe
N. someone easily fooled.
While the gullible Watson often was made a dupe by unscrupulous parties, Sherlock Holmes was far more difficult to fool.
duplicity@duplicity
N. double-dealing; hypocrisy.
When Tanya learned that Mark had been two-timing her, she was furious at his duplicity.
duplicitous, adj.
duration@duration
N. length of time something lasts.
Because she wanted the children to make a good impression on the dinner guests, Mother promised them a treat if they'd behave well for the duration of the meal.
duress@duress
N. forcible restraint, especially unlawfully.
The hostages were held under duress until the prisoners' demands were met.
dutiful@dutiful
ADJ. respectful; obedient.
When Mother told Billy to kiss Great-Aunt Hattie, the boy obediently gave the old woman a dutiful peck on her cheek.
dwindle@dwindle
V. shrink; reduce.
The food in the lifeboat gradually dwindled away to nothing.
dynamic@dynamic
ADJ. energetic; vigorously active.
The dynamic aerobics instructor kept her students on the run; she was a little dynamo.
dyspeptic@dyspeptic
ADJ. suffering from indigestion.
All the talk about rich food made him feel dyspeptic.
dyspepsia, n.
earthy@earthy
ADJ. unrefined; coarse.
His earthy remarks often embarrassed the women-in his audience.
ebb@ebb
V. recede; lessen.
Sitting on the beach, Mrs. Dalloway watched the tide ebb: the waters receded, drawing away from her as she sat there all alone.
also n.
ebullient@ebullient
ADJ. showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm.
Amy's ebullient nature could not be repressed; she was always bubbling over with excitement.
ebullience, n.
eccentric@eccentric
ADJ. irregular; odd; whimsical; bizarre.
The comet veered dangerously close to the earth in its eccentric orbit. People came up with some eccentric ideas for dealing with the emergency: one kook suggested tying a knot in the comet's tail!
eccentricity@eccentricity
N. oddity; idiosyncrasy.
Some of his friends tried to account for his rudeness to strangers as the eccentricity of genius.
ecclesiastic@ecclesiastic
ADJ. pertaining to the church.
The minister donned his ecclesiastic garb and walked to the pulpit.
also n.
eclectic@eclectic
ADJ. selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources.
His style of interior decoration was eclectic: bits and pieces of furnishings from widely divergent periods, strikingly juxtaposed to create a unique decor.
eclecticism, n.
eclipse@eclipse
V. darken; extinguish; surpass.
The new stock market high eclipsed the previous record set in 1985.
ecologist@ecologist
N. person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment.
The ecologist was concerned that the new dam would upset the natural balance of the creatures living in Glen Canyon.
economy@economy
N. efficiency or conciseness in using something.
Reading the epigrams of Pope, I admire the economy of his verse: in few words he conveys worlds of meaning.
(secondary meaning)
ecstasy@ecstasy
N. rapture; joy; any overpowering emotion.
When Allison received her long-hoped-for letter of acceptance from Harvard, she was in ecstasy.
ecstatic, adj.
eddy@eddy
N. swirling current of water, air, etc.
The water in the tide pool was still, except for an occasional eddy.
also v.
edict@edict
N. decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command.
The emperor issued an edict decreeing that everyone should come see him model his magnificent new clothes.
edify@edify
V. instruct; correct morally.
Although his purpose was to edify and not to entertain his audience, many of his listeners were amused and not enlightened.
eerie@eerie
ADJ. weird.
In that eerie setting, it was easy to believe in ghosts and other supernatural beings.
efface@efface
V. rub out.
The coin had been handled so many times that its date had been effaced.
effectual@effectual
ADJ. able to produce a desired effect; valid.
Medical researchers are concerned because of the development of drug-resistant strains of bacteria; many once-useful antibiotics are no longer effectual in curing bacterial infections.
effeminate@effeminate
ADJ. having womanly traits.
His voice was high-pitched and effeminate.
effervescence@effervescence
N. inner excitement or exuberance; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation.
Nothing depressed Sue for long; her natural effervescence soon reasserted itself. Soda that loses its effervescence goes flat.
effervescent, adj.; effervesce, v.
effete@effete
ADJ. worn out; exhausted; barren.
The literature of the age reflected the effete condition of the writers; no new ideas were forthcoming.
efficacy@efficacy
N. power to produce desired effect.
The efficacy of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage.
efficacious, adj.
effigy@effigy
N. dummy.
The mob showed its irritation by hanging the judge in effigy.
effluvium@effluvium
N. noxious smell.
Air pollution has become a serious problem in our major cities; the effluvium and the poisons in the air are hazards to life.
effluvia, pl.
effrontery@effrontery
N. shameless boldness.
She had the effrontery to insult the guest.
effusion@effusion
N. pouring forth.
The critics objected to her literary effusion because it was too flowery.
effusive@effusive
ADJ. pouring forth; gushing.
Her effusive manner of greeting her friends finally began to irritate them.
egoism@egoism
N. excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others.
His egoism prevented him from seeing the needs of his colleagues.
egotistical@egotistical
ADJ. excessively self-centered; self-important; conceited.
Typical egotistical remark: "But enough of this chitchat about you and your little problems. Let's talk about what's really important: me!"
egotistic, adj.; egotism, n.
egregious@egregious
ADJ. notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking.
She was an egregious liar; we all knew better than to believe a word she said. Ed's housekeeping was egregious: he let his dirty dishes pile up so long that they were stuck together with last week's food.
egress@egress
N. exit.
Barnum's sign "To the Egress" fooled many people who thought they were going to see an animal and instead found themselves in the street.
ejaculation@ejaculation
N. exclamation.
He could not repress an ejaculation of surprise when he heard the news.
elaboration@elaboration
N. addition of details; intricacy.
Tell what happened simply, without any elaboration.
elaborate, v.
elated@elated
ADJ. overjoyed; in high spirits.
Grinning from ear to ear, Bonnie Blair was clearly elated by her fifth Olympic gold medal.
elation, n.
elegy@elegy
N. poem or song expressing lamentation.
On the death of Edward King, Milton composed the elegy "Lycidas."
elegiacal, adj.
elicit@elicit
V. draw out by discussion.
The detectives tried to elicit where he had hidden his loot.
elixir@elixir
N. cure-all; something invigorating.
The news of her chance to go abroad acted on her like an elixir.
ellipsis@ellipsis
N. omission of words from a text.
Sometimes an ellipsis can lead to a dangling modifier, as in the sentence "Once dressed, you should refrigerate the potato salad."
elliptical@elliptical
ADJ. oval; ambiguous, either purposely or because key words have been left out.
An elliptical billiard ball wobbles because it is not perfectly round; an elliptical remark baffles because it is not perfectly clear.
eloquence@eloquence
N. expressiveness; persuasive speech.
The crowds were stirred by Martin Luther King's eloquence.
elucidate@elucidate
V. explain; enlighten.
He was called upon to elucidate the disputed points in his article.
elusive@elusive
ADJ. evasive; baffling; hard to grasp.
Trying to pin down exactly when the contractors would be done remodeling the house, Nancy was frustrated by their elusive replies.
elude, v.
elysian@elysian
ADJ. relating to paradise; blissful.
An afternoon sail on the bay was for her an elysian journey.
emaciated@emaciated
ADJ. thin and wasted.
His long period of starvation had left him emaciated.
emanate@emanate
V. issue forth.
A strong odor of sulfur emanated from the spring.
emancipate@emancipate
V. set free.
At first, the attempts of the Abolitionists to emancipate the slaves were unpopular in New England as well as in the South.
embargo@embargo
N. ban on commerce or other activity.
As a result of the embargo, trade with the colonies was at a standstill.
embark@embark
V. commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey.
In devoting herself to the study of gorillas, Dian Fossey embarked on a course of action that was to cost her her life.
embed@embed
V. enclose; place in something.
Tales of actual historical figures like King Alfred have become embedded in legends.
embellish@embellish
V. adorn; ornament; enhance, as a story.
The costume designer embellished the leading lady's ball gown with yards and yards of ribbon and lace.
embezzlement@embezzlement
N. stealing.
The bank teller confessed his embezzlement of the funds.
emboss@emboss
V. produce a design in raised relief.
The secretary of the corporation uses a special stamp to emboss the corporate seal on all official documents.
embrace@embrace
V. hug; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include.
Clasping Maid Marian in his arms, Robin Hood embraced her lovingly. In joining the outlaws in Sherwood Forest, she had openly embraced their cause.
also n.
embroider@embroider
V. decorate with needlework; ornament with fancy or fictitious details.
For her mother's birthday, Beth embroidered a lovely design on a handkerchief. When asked what made her late getting home, Jo embroidered her account with tales of runaway horses and rescuing people from a ditch.
embroidery, n.
embroil@embroil
V. throw into confusion; involve in strife; entangle.
He became embroiled in the heated discussion when he tried to arbitrate the dispute.
embryonic@embryonic
ADJ. undeveloped; rudimentary.
The evil of class and race hatred must be eliminated while it is still in an embryonic state; otherwise, it may grow to dangerous proportions.
emend@emend
V. correct, usually a text.
The critic emended the book by retranslating several passages.
emendation@emendation
N. correction of errors; improvement.
Please initial all the emendations you have made in this contract.
emetic@emetic
N. substance causing vomiting.
The use of an emetic like mustard is useful in cases of poisoning.
eminent@eminent
ADJ. high; lofty.
After her appointment to this eminent position, she seldom had time for her former friends.
emissary@emissary
ADJ. agent; messenger.
The Secretary of State was sent as the President's special emissary to the conference on disarmament.
emollient@emollient
N. soothing or softening remedy.
He applied an emollient to the inflamed area.
Also adj.
emolument@emolument
N. salary; compensation.
In addition to the emolument this position offers, you must consider the social prestige it carries with it.
empathy@empathy
N. ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc.
What made Ann such a fine counselor was her empathy, her ability to put herself in her client's place and feel his emotions as if they were her own.
empathize, v.
empirical@empirical
ADJ. based on experience.
He distrusted hunches and intuitive flashes; he placed his reliance entirely on empirical data.
emulate@emulate
V. imitate; rival.
In a brief essay, describe a person you admire, someone whose virtues you would like to emulate.
enamored@enamored
ADJ. in love.
Narcissus became enamored of his own beauty.
encipher@encipher
V. encode: convert a message into code.
In one of Bond's first lessons he learned how to encipher the messages he sent to Miss Moneypenny so that none of his other lady friends could read them.
enclave@enclave
N. territory enclosed within an alien land.
The Vatican is an independent enclave in Italy.
encomiastic@encomiastic
ADJ. praising; eulogistic.
Some critics believe that his encomiastic statements about Napoleon were inspired by his desire for material advancement rather than by an honest belief in the Emperor's genius.
encomium@encomium
N. high praise; eulogy.
Uneasy with the encomiums expressed by his supporters, Tolkien felt unworthy of such high praise.
encompass@encompass
V. surround.
Although we were encompassed by enemy forces, we were cheerful for we were well, stocked and could withstand a siege until our allies joined us.
encroachment@encroachment
N. gradual intrusion.
The encroachment of the factories upon the neighborhood lowered the value of the real estate.
encumber@encumber
V. burden.
Some people encumber themselves with too much luggage when they take short trips.
endearment@endearment
N. fond word or act.
Your gifts and endearments cannot make me forget your earlier insolence.
endemic@endemic
ADJ. prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country.
This disease is endemic in this part of the world; more than 80 percent of the population are at one time or another affected by it.
endorse@endorse
V. approve: support.
Everyone waited to see which one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor would endorse.
(secondary meaning) endorsement, n.
endue@endue
V. provide with some quality; endow.
He was endued with a lion's courage.
enduring@enduring
ADJ. lasting; surviving.
Keats believed in the enduring power of great art, which would outlast its creators' brief lives.
energize@energize
V. invigorate; make forceful and active.
Rather than exhausting Maggie, dancing energized her.
enervate@enervate
V. weaken.
She was slow to recover from her illness; even a short walk to the window enervated her.
enervation, n.
enfranchise@enfranchise
V. admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote).
Although blacks were enfranchised shortly after the Civil War, women did not receive the right to vote until 1920.
engage@engage
V. attract; hire; pledge oneself; confront.
"Your case has engaged my interest, my lord," said Holmes. "You may engage my services."
engaging@engaging
ADJ. charming; attractive.
Everyone liked Nancy's pleasant manners and engaging personality.
engender@engender
V. cause; produce.
To receive praise for real accomplishments engenders self-confidence in a child.
engross@engross
V. occupy fully.
John was so engrossed in his studies that he did not hear his mother call.
enhance@enhance
V. increase; improve.
You can enhance your chances of being admitted to the college of your choice by learning to write well; an excellent essay will enhance any application.
enigma@enigma
N. puzzle; mystery.
"What do women want." asked Dr. Sigmund Freud. Their behavior was an enigma to him.
enigmatic@enigmatic
ADJ. obscure; puzzling.
Many have sought to fathom the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa.
enjoin@enjoin
V. command; order; forbid.
The owners of the company asked the court to enjoin the union from picketing the plant.
enmity@enmity
N. ill will; hatred.
At Camp David President Carter labored to bring an end to the enmity that prevented Egypt and Israel from living in peace.
ennui@ennui
N. boredom.
The monotonous routine of hospital life induced a feeling of ennui which made her moody and irritable.
enormity@enormity
N. hugeness (in a bad sense).
He did not realize the enormity of his crime until he saw what suffering he had caused.
enrapture@enrapture
V. please intensely.
The audience was enraptured by the freshness of the voices and the excellent orchestration.
ensconce@ensconce
V. settle comfortably.
Now that their children were ensconced safely in the private school, the jet-setting parents decided to leave for Europe.
ensue@ensue
V. follow.
The evils that ensued were the direct result of the miscalculations of the leaders.
entail@entail
V. require; necessitate; involve.
Building a college-level vocabulary will entail some work on your part.
enterprising@enterprising
ADJ. full of initiative.
By coming up with fresh ways to market the company's products, Mike proved himself to be an enterprising businessman.
enthrall@enthrall
V. capture; enslave.
From the moment he saw her picture, he was enthralled by her beauty.
entice@entice
V. lure; attract; tempt.
She always tried to entice her baby brother into mischief.
entity@entity
N. real being.
As soon as the charter was adopted, the United Nations became an entity and had to be considered as a factor in world diplomacy.
entomology@entomology
N. study of insects.
Kent found entomology the most annoying part of his biology course; studying insects bugged him.
entrance@entrance
V. put under a spell; carry away with emotion.
Shafts of sunlight on a wall could entrance her and leave her spellbound.
entreat@entreat
V. plead; ask earnestly.
She entreated her father to let her stay out till midnight.
entree@entree
N. entrance; a way in.
Because of his wealth and social position, he had entree into the most exclusive circles.
entrepreneur@entrepreneur
N. businessperson; contractor.
Opponents of our present tax program argue that it discourages entrepreneurs from trying new fields of business activity.
enumerate@enumerate
V. list; mention one by one.
Huck hung his head in shame as Miss Watson enumerated his many flaws.
enunciate@enunciate
V. utter or speak, especially distinctly.
Stop mumbling! How will people understand you if you do not enunciate clearly?
environ@environ
V. enclose; surround.
In medieval days, Paris was environed by a wall.
environs, n.
eon@eon
N. long period of time; an age.
It has taken eons for our civilization to develop.
epaulet@epaulet
N. ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.).
The shoulder loops on Sam Spade's trench coat are the nonmilitary counterparts of the fringed epaulets on George Washington's uniform.
ephemeral@ephemeral
ADJ. short-lived; fleeting.
The mayfly is an ephemeral creature: its adult life lasts little more than a day.
epic@epic
N. long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art.
Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai is an epic portraying the struggle of seven warriors to destroy a band of robbers.
also adj.
epicure@epicure
N. connoisseur of food and drink.
Epicures frequent this restaurant because it features exotic wines and dishes.
epicurean, adj.
epigram@epigram
N. witty thought or saying, usually short.
Poor Richard's epigrams made Benjamin Franklin famous.
epilogue@epilogue
N. short speech at conclusion of dramatic work.
The audience was so disappointed in the play that many did not remain to hear the epilogue.
episodic@episodic
ADJ. loosely connected.
Though he tried to follow the plot of Gravity's Rainbow, John found the novel too episodic.
epistemologist@epistemologist
N. philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge.
"What is more important, a knowledge of nature or the nature of knowledge?" the epistemologist asked the naturalist.
epitaph@epitaph
N. inscription in memory of a dead person.
In his will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted placed on his tombstone.
epithet@epithet
N. word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing.
So many kings of France were named Charles that modern students need epithets to tell them apart: Charles the Wise, for example, was someone far different from Charles the Fat.
epitome@epitome
N. perfect example or embodiment.
Singing "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" in The Pirates of Penzance, Major-General Stanley proclaimed himself the epitome of an officer and a gentleman.
epitomize, v.
epoch@epoch
N. period of time.
The glacial epoch lasted for thousands of years.
equable@equable
ADJ. tranquil; steady; uniform.
After the hot summers and cold winters of New England, she found the climate of the West Indies equable and pleasant.
equanimity@equanimity
N. calmness of temperament; composure.
Even the inevitable strains of caring for an ailing mother did not disturb Bea's equanimity.
equestrian@equestrian
N. rider on horseback.
These paths in the park are reserved for equestrians and their steeds.
also adj.
equilibrium@equilibrium
N. balance.
After the divorce, he needed some time to regain his equilibrium.
equine@equine
ADJ. resembling a horse.
Her long, bony face had an equine look to it.
equinox@equinox
N. period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn.
The vernal equinox is usually marked by heavy rainstorms.
equipoise@equipoise
N. balance; balancing force; equilibrium.
The high-wire acrobat used his pole as an equipoise to overcome the swaying caused by the wind.
equitable@equitable
ADJ. fair; impartial.
I am seeking an equitable solution to this dispute, one that will be fair and acceptable to both sides.
equity@equity
N. fairness; justice.
Our courts guarantee equity to all.
equivocal@equivocal
ADJ. ambiguous; intentionally misleading.
Rejecting the candidate's equivocal comments on tax reform, the reporters pressed him to state clearly where he stood on the issue.
equivocation, n.
equivocate@equivocate
V. lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth.
The audience saw through his attempts to equivocate on the subject under discussion and ridiculed his remarks.
erode@erode
V. eat away.
The limestone was eroded by the dripping water until only a thin shell remained.
erosion, n.
erotic@erotic
ADJ. pertaining to passionate love.
The erotic passages in this novel should be removed as they are merely pornographic.
errant@errant
ADJ. wandering.
Many a charming tale has been written about the knights-errant who helped the weak and punished the guilty during the Age of Chivalry.
erratic@erratic
ADJ. odd; unpredictable.
Investors become anxious when the stock market appears erratic.
erroneous@erroneous
ADJ. mistaken; wrong.
I thought my answer was correct, but it was erroneous.
erudite@erudite
ADJ. learned; scholarly.
Though his fellow students thought him erudite, Paul knew he would have to spend many years in serious study before he could consider himself a scholar.
erudition, n.
escapade@escapade
N. prank; flighty conduct.
The headmaster could not regard this latest escapade as a boyish joke and expelled the young man.
eschew@eschew
V. avoid.
Hoping to present himself to his girlfriend as a totally reformed character, he tried to eschew all the vices, especially chewing tobacco and drinking bathtub gin.
esoteric@esoteric
ADJ. hard to understand; known only to the chosen few.
New Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and events: the implication is, if you are in the in-crowd, you'll get the reference; if you come from Cleveland, you won't.
esoterica, n.
espionage@espionage
N. spying.
In order to maintain its power, the government developed a system of espionage that penetrated every household.
espouse@espouse
V. adopt; support.
She was always ready to espouse a worthy cause.
esteem@esteem
V. respect; value.
Jill esteemed Jack's taste in music, but she deplored his taste in clothes.
also n.
estranged@estranged
ADJ. separated; alienated.
The estranged wife sought a divorce.
estrangement, n.
ethereal@ethereal
ADJ. light; heavenly; unusually refined.
In Shakespeare's The Tempest, the spirit Ariel is an ethereal creature, too airy and unearthly for our mortal world.
ethnic@ethnic
ADJ. relating to races.
Intolerance between ethnic groups is deplorable and usually is based on lack of information.
ethnology@ethnology
N. study of humankind.
Sociology is one aspect of the science of ethnology.
ethos@ethos
N. underlying character of a culture, group, etc.
Seeing how tenderly Spaniards treated her small daughter made author Barbara Kingsolver aware of how greatly children were valued in the Spanish ethos.
etymology@etymology
N. study of word parts.
A knowledge of etymology can help you on many English tests: if you know what the roots and prefixes mean, you can determine the meanings of unfamiliar words.
eugenic@eugenic
ADJ. pertaining to the improvement of race.
It is easier to apply eugenic principles to the raising of racehorses or prize cattle than to the development of human beings.
eulogistic@eulogistic
ADJ. praising.
To everyone's surprise, the speech was eulogistic rather than critical in tone.
eulogy@eulogy
N. expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death.
Instead of delivering a spoken eulogy at Genny's memorial service, Jeff sang a song he had written in her honor.
eulogize, v.
euphemism@euphemism
N. mild expression in place of an unpleasant one.
The expression "he passed away" is a euphemism for "he died."
euphony@euphony
N. sweet sound.
Noted for its euphony even when it is spoken, the Italian language is particularly pleasing to the ear when sung.
euphonious, adj.
euphoria@euphoria
N. feeling of exaggerated (or unfounded) well-being.
"Jill's been on cloud nine ever since Jack asked her out," said Betty, dismissing her friend's euphoria.
euthanasia@euthanasia
N. mercy killing.
Many people support euthanasia for terminally ill patients who wish to die.
evanescent@evanescent
ADJ. fleeting; vanishing.
For a brief moment, the entire skyline was bathed in an orange-red hue in the evanescent rays of the sunset.
evasive@evasive
ADJ. not frank; eluding.
Your evasive answers convinced the judge that you were withholding important evidence.
evade, v.
evince@evince
V. show clearly.
When he tried to answer the questions, he evinced his ignorance of the subject matter.
evenhanded@evenhanded
ADJ. impartial; fair.
Do men and women receive evenhanded treatment from their teachers, or, as recent studies suggest, do teachers pay more attention to male students than to females?
evocative@evocative
ADJ. tending to call up (emotions, memories).
Scent can be remarkably evocative: the aroma of pipe tobacco evokes the memory of my father; a whiff of talcum powder calls up images of my daughter as a child.
evoke@evoke
V. call forth.
He evoked much criticism by his hostile manner.
evocation, n.
ewe@ewe
N. female sheep.
The flock of sheep was made up of dozens of ewes, together with only a handful of rams.
exacerbate@exacerbate
V. worsen; embitter.
The latest bombing exacerbated England's already existing bitterness against the IRA, causing the Prime Minister to break off the peace talks abruptly.
exacerbation, n.
exacting@exacting
ADJ. extremely demanding.
Cleaning the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was an exacting task, one that demanded extremely meticulous care on the part of the restorers.
exaction, n.
exalt@exalt
V. raise in rank or dignity; praise.
The actor Alec Guinness was exalted to the rank of knighthood by the Queen; he now is known as Sir Alec Guinness.
exasperate@exasperate
V. vex.
Johnny often exasperates his mother with his pranks.
exceptionable@exceptionable
ADJ. objectionable.
Do you find the punk rock band Green Day a highly exceptionable, thoroughly distasteful group, or do you think they are exceptionally talented performers?
excerpt@excerpt
N. selected passage (written or musical).
The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a novel is a clip from a film.
also v.
exchequer@exchequer
N. treasury.
He had been Chancellor of the Exchequer before his promotion to the office he now holds.
excise@excise
V. cut away; cut out.
When you excise the dead and dying limbs of a tree, you not only improve its appearance but also enhance its chances of bearing fruit.
excision, n.
exclaim@exclaim
V. cry out suddenly.
"Watson! Behind you!" Holmes exclaimed, seeing the assassin hurl himself on his friend.
exclamation, n.; exclamatory, adj.
excoriate@excoriate
V. scold with biting harshness: strip the skin off.
Seeing the rips in Bill's new pants, his mother furiously excoriated him for ruining his good clothes. The tight, starched collar chafed and excoriated his neck, rubbing it raw.
exculpate@exculpate
V. clear from blame.
She was exculpated of the crime when the real criminal confessed.
execrable@execrable
ADJ. very bad.
The anecdote was in such execrable taste that the audience was revolted.
execrate@execrate
V. curse; express abhorrence for.
The world execrates the memory of Hitter and hopes that genocide will never again be the policy of any nation.
execute@execute
V. put into effect; carry out.
The choreographer wanted to see how well she could execute a pirouette.
(secondary meaning) execution, n.
exegesis@exegesis
N. explanation, especially of biblical passages.
I can follow your exegesis of this passage to a limited degree; some of your reasoning eludes me.
exemplary@exemplary
ADJ. serving as a model; outstanding.
At commencement the dean praised Ellen for her exemplary behavior as class president.
exemplify@exemplify
V. show by example: furnish an example.
Three-time winner of the Super Bowl, Joe Montana exemplifies the ideal quarterback.
exempt@exempt
ADJ. not subject to a duty or obligation.
Because of his flat feet, Foster was exempt from serving in the armed forces.
also v.
exertion@exertion
N. effort; expenditure of much physical work.
The exertion involved in unscrewing the rusty bolt left her exhausted.
exhilarating@exhilarating
ADJ. invigorating and refreshing; cheering.
Though some of the hikers found tramping through the snow tiring, Jeffrey found the walk on the cold, crisp day exhilarating. His exhilaration was so great that, at the hike's end, he wanted to walk another five miles.
exhort@exhort
V. urge.
The evangelist exhorted all the sinners in the audience to reform.
exhortation, n.
exhume@exhume
V. dig out of the ground; remove from the grave.
Could evidence that might identify the serial killer have been buried with his victim? To answer this question, the police asked the authorities for permission to exhume the victim's body.
exigency@exigency
N. urgent situation.
In this exigency, we must Look for aid from our allies.
exigent, adj.
exiguous@exiguous
ADJ. small; minute.
Grass grew there, an exiguous outcropping among the rocks.
existential@existential
ADJ. pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism.
To the existential philosopher, human reason is inadequate to explain an irrational, meaningless universe.
exodus@exodus
N. departure.
The exodus from the hot and stuffy city was particularly noticeable on Friday evenings.
exonerate@exonerate
V. acquit; exculpate.
The defense team feverishly sought fresh evidence that might exonerate their client.
exorbitant@exorbitant
ADJ. excessive.
The people grumbled at his exorbitant prices but paid them because he had a monopoly.
exorcise@exorcise
V. drive out evil spirits.
By incantation and prayer, the medicine man sought to exorcise the evil spirits that had taken possession of the young warrior.
exotic@exotic
ADJ. not native; strange.
Because of his exotic headdress, he was followed in the streets by small children who laughed at his strange appearance.
expansive@expansive
ADJ. outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size.
Mr. Fezziwig was in an expansive humor, cheerfully urging his guests to join in the Christmas feast. Looking down on his expansive paunch, he sighed: if his belly expanded any further, he'd need an expansive waistline for his pants.
expatiate@expatiate
V. talk at length.
At this time, please give us a brief resume of your work; we shall permit you to expatiate later.
expatriate@expatriate
N. exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land.
Henry James was an American expatriate who settled in England.
expedient@expedient
ADJ. suitable; practical; politic.
A pragmatic politician, she was guided by what was expedient rather than by what was ethical.
expediency, n.
expedite@expedite
V. hasten.
Because we are on a tight schedule, we hope you will be able to expedite the delivery of our order. The more expeditious your response is, the happier we'll be.
expenditure@expenditure
N. payment or expense; output.
When you are operating on an expense account, you must keep receipts for all your expenditures. If you don't save your receipts, you won't get repaid without the expenditure of a lot of energy arguing with the firm's accountants.
expertise@expertise
N. specialized knowledge; expert skill.
Although she was knowledgeable in a number of fields, she was hired for her particular expertise in computer programming.
expiate@expiate
V. make amends for (a sin).
He tried to expiate his crimes by a full confession to the authorities.
expletive@expletive
N. interjection; profane oath.
The sergeant's remarks were filled with expletives that offended the new recruits.
explicate@explicate
V. explain; interpret; clarify.
Harry Levin explicated James Joyce's novels with such clarity that even Finnegan's Wake seemed comprehensible to his students.
explicit@explicit
ADJ. totally clear; definite; outspoken.
Don't just hint around that you're dissatisfied: be explicit about what's bugging you.
exploit@exploit
N. deed or action, particularly a brave deed.
Raoul Wallenberg was noted for his exploits in rescuing Jews from Hitler's forces.
V. make use of, sometimes unjustly.
Cesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit migrant farm-workers in California.
exploitation, n.
expository@expository
ADJ. explanatory; serving to explain.
The manual that came with my VCR was no masterpiece of expository prose: its explanations were so garbled that I couldn't even figure out how to rewind a tape.
expostulation@expostulation
N. protest; remonstrance.
Despite the teacher's scoldings and expostulations, the class remained unruly.
exposure@exposure
N. risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements: unmasking; act of laying something open.
Exposure to sun and wind had dried out her hair and weathered her face. She looked so changed that she no longer feared exposure as the notorious Irene Adler, one-time antagonist of Sherlock Holmes.
expropriate@expropriate
V. take possession of.
He questioned the government's right to expropriate his land to create a wildlife preserve.
expunge@expunge
V. cancel; remove.
If you behave, I will expunge this notation from your record.
expurgate@expurgate
V. clean; remove offensive parts of a book.
The editors felt that certain passages in the book had to be expurgated before it could be used in the classroom.
extant@extant
ADJ. still in existence.
Although the book is out of print, some copies are still extant. Unfortunately, all of them are in libraries or private collections; none is for sale.
extemporaneous@extemporaneous
ADJ. not planned; impromptu.
Because her extemporaneous remarks were misinterpreted, she decided to write all her speeches in advance.
extenuate@extenuate
V. weaken; mitigate.
It is easier for us to extenuate our own shortcomings than those of others.
extirpate@extirpate
V. root up.
The Salem witch trials were a misguided attempt to extirpate superstition and heresy.
extol@extol
V. praise; glorify.
The president extolled the astronauts, calling them the pioneers of the Space Age.
extort@extort
V. wring from; get money by threats, etc.
The blackmailer extorted money from his victim.
extradition@extradition
N. surrender of prisoner by one state to another.
The lawyers opposed the extradition of their client on the grounds that for more than five years he had been a model citizen.
extraneous@extraneous
ADJ. not essential; superfluous.
No wonder Ted can't think straight! His mind is so cluttered up with extraneous details, he can't concentrate on the essentials.
extrapolation@extrapolation
N. projection; conjecture.
Based on their extrapolation from the results of the primaries on Super Tuesday, the networks predicted that George Bush would be the Republican candidate for the presidency.
extrapolate, v.
extricate@extricate
V. free; disentangle.
Icebreakers were needed to extricate the trapped whales from the icy floes that closed them in.
extrinsic@extrinsic
ADJ. external; not essential; extraneous.
A critically acclaimed extrinsic feature of the Chrysler Building is its ornate spire. The judge would not admit the testimony, ruling that it was extrinsic to the matter at hand.
extrovert@extrovert
N. person interested mostly in external objects and actions.
A good salesperson is usually an extrovert who likes to mingle with people.
extrude@extrude
V. force or push out.
Much pressure is required to extrude these plastics.
exuberance@exuberance
N. overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm: flamboyance; lavishness.
I was bowled over by the exuberance of Amy's welcome. Cheeks glowing, she was the picture of exuberant good health.
exude@exude
V. discharge; give forth.
The maple syrup is obtained from the sap that the trees exude in early spring.
exudation, n.
exult@exult
V. rejoice.
We exulted when our team won the victory.
fabricate@fabricate
V. build; lie.
If we fabricate the buildings in this project out of standardized sections, we can reduce construction costs considerably. Because of Jack's tendency to fabricate, Jill had trouble believing a word he said.
facade@facade
N. front (of building); superficial or false appearance.
The ornate facade of the church was often photographed by tourists, who never bothered to walk around the building to view its other sides. Cher's outward show of confidence was just a facade she assumed to hide her insecurity.
facet@facet
N. small plane surface (of a gem); a side.
The stonecutter decided to improve the rough diamond by providing it with several facets.
facetious@facetious
ADJ. joking (often inappropriately); humorous.
I'm serious about this project; I don't need any facetious, smart-alecky cracks about do-good little rich girls.
facile@facile
ADJ. easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial.
Words came easily to Jonathan: he was a facile speaker and prided himself on being ready to make a speech at a moment's notice.
facility, n.
facilitate@facilitate
V. help bring about; make less difficult.
Rest and proper nourishment should facilitate the patient's recovery.
facsimile@facsimile
N. copy.
Many museums sell facsimiles of the works of art on display.
faction@faction
N. party; clique; dissension.
The quarrels and bickering of the two small factions within the club disturbed the majority of the members.
factious@factious
ADJ. inclined to form factions; causing dissension.
Your statement is factious and will upset the harmony that now exists.
factitious@factitious
ADJ. artificial; sham.
Hollywood actresses often create factitious tears by using glycerine.
factotum@factotum
N. handyman; person who does all kinds of work..
Although we had hired him as a messenger, we soon began to use him as a general factotum around the off ice.
faculty@faculty
N. mental or bodily powers; teaching staff.
As he grew old, Professor Twiggly feared he might lose his faculties and become unfit to teach. However, while he was in full possession of his faculties, the school couldn't kick him off the faculty.
fallacious@fallacious
ADJ. false; misleading.
Paradoxically, fallacious reasoning does not always yield erroneous results: even though your logic may be faulty, the answer you get may be correct.
fallacy, n.
fallible@fallible
ADJ. liable to err.
I know I am fallible, but I feel confident that I am right this time.
fallow@fallow
ADJ. plowed but not sowed; uncultivated.
Farmers have learned that it is advisable to permit land to lie fallow every few years.
falter@falter
V. hesitate.
When told to dive off the high board, she did not falter, but proceeded at once.
fanaticism@fanaticism
N. excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause.
When Islamic fundamentalists demanded the death of Salman Rushdie because his novel questioned their faith, world opinion condemned them for their fanaticism.
fanatic, adj., n.
fancied@fancied
ADJ. imagined; unreal.
You are resenting fancied insults. No one has ever said such things about you.
fancier@fancier
N. breeder or dealer of animals.
The dog fancier exhibited her prize collie at the annual Kennel Club show.
fanciful@fanciful
ADJ. whimsical; visionary.
This is a fanciful scheme because it does not consider the facts.
fanfare@fanfare
N. call by bugles or trumpets; showy display.
The exposition was opened with a fanfare of trumpets and the firing of cannon.
farce@farce
N. broad comedy; mockery.
Nothing went right; the entire interview degenerated into a farce.
farcical, adj.
fastidious@fastidious
ADJ. difficult to please; squeamish.
Bobby was such a fastidious eater that he would eat a sandwich only if his mother first cut off every scrap of crust.
fatalism@fatalism
N. belief that events are determined by forces beyond one's control.
With fatalism, he accepted the hardships that beset him.
fatalistic, adj.
fathom@fathom
V. comprehend; investigate.
I find his motives impossible to fathom; in fact, I'm totally clueless about what goes on in his mind.
fatuous@fatuous
ADJ. foolish; inane.
She is far too intelligent to utter such fatuous remarks.
fauna@fauna
N. animals of a period or region.
The scientist could visualize the fauna of the period by examining the skeletal remains and the fossils.
fawning@fawning
ADJ. courting favor by cringing and flattering.
She was constantly surrounded by a group of fawning admirers who hoped to win some favor.
fawn, v.
faze@faze
V. disconcert; dismay.
No crisis could faze the resourceful hotel manager.
feasible@feasible
ADJ. practical.
Is it feasible to build a new stadium for the Yankees on New York's West Side? Without additional funding, the project is clearly unrealistic.
febrile@febrile
ADJ. feverish.
In his febrile condition, he was subject to nightmares and hallucinations.
fecundity@fecundity
N. fertility; fruitfulness.
The fecundity of her mind is illustrated by the many vivid images in her poems.
feign@feign
V. pretend.
Lady Macbeth feigned illness in the courtyard although she was actually healthy.
feint@feint
N. trick; shift; sham blow.
The boxer was fooled by his opponent's feint and dropped his guard.
also v.
felicitous@felicitous
ADJ. apt; suitably expressed; well chosen.
He was famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at many a banquet.
felicity@felicity
N. happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.).
She wrote a note to the newlyweds wishing them great felicity in their wedded life.
fell@fell
ADJ. cruel; deadly.
The newspapers told of the tragic spread of the fell disease.
V. cut or knock down; bring down (with a missile).
Crying "Timber!," Paul Bunyan felled the mighty redwood tree. Robin Hood loosed his arrow and felled the king's deer.
felon@felon
N. person convicted of a grave crime.
A convicted felon loses the right to vote.
feral@feral
ADJ. not domestic; wild.
Abandoned by their owners, dogs may revert to their feral state, roaming the woods in packs.
ferment@ferment
N. agitation; commotion.
With the breakup of the Soviet Union, much of Eastern Europe was in a state of ferment.
also v.
ferret@ferret
V. drive or hunt out of hiding.
She ferreted out their secret.
fervent@fervent
ADJ. ardent; hot.
She felt that the fervent praise was excessive and somewhat undeserved.
fervid@fervid
ADJ. ardent.
Her fervid enthusiasm inspired all of us to undertake the dangerous mission.
fervor@fervor
N. glowing ardor; intensity of feeling.
At the protest rally, the students cheered the strikers and booed the dean with equal fervor.
fester@fester
V. rankle; produce irritation or resentment.
Joe's insult festered in Anne's mind for days, and made her too angry to speak to him.
festive@festive
ADJ. joyous; celebratory.
Their wedding in the park was a festive occasion.
fete@fete
V. honor at a festival.
The returning hero was feted at a community supper and dance.
also n.
fetid@fetid
ADJ. malodorous.
The neglected wound became fetid.
fetter@fetter
V. shackle.
The prisoner was fettered to the wall.
fiasco@fiasco
N. total failure.
Our ambitious venture ended in a fiasco and we were forced to flee.
fiat@fiat
N. command.
I cannot accept government by fiat; I feel that the wishes of the citizens must be consulted.
fickle@fickle
ADJ. changeable; faithless.
As soon as Romeo saw Juliet, he forgot all about his old girlfriend Rosaline. Was Romeo fickle?
fictitious@fictitious
ADJ. imaginary.
Although this book purports to be a biography of George Washington, many of the incidents are fictitious.
fidelity@fidelity
N. loyalty.
A dog's fidelity to its owner is one of the reasons why that animal is a favorite household pet.
figment@figment
N. invention; imaginary thing.
That incident never took place; it is a figment of your imagination.
figurative@figurative
ADJ. not literal, but metaphorical; using a figure of speech.
"To lose one's marbles" is a figurative expression; if you're told Jack has lost his marbles, no one expects you to rush out to buy him a replacement set.
figurine@figurine
N. small ornamental statuette.
In The Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade was hired to trace the missing figurine of a black bird.
filch@filch
V. steal.
The boys filched apples from the fruit stand.
filial@filial
ADJ. pertaining to a son or daughter.
Many children forget their filial obligations and disregard the wishes of their parents.
filibuster@filibuster
V. block legislation by making long speeches.
Even though we disapproved of Senator Foghorn's political goals, we were impressed by his ability to filibuster endlessly to keep an issue from coming to a vote.
filigree@filigree
N. delicate, lacelike metalwork.
The pendant with gold filigree that she wore round her neck trembled with each breath she took.
filing@filing
N. particle removed by a file.
As the prisoner filed away at the iron bar on the cell window, a small heap of filings accumulated on the window sill.
finale@finale
N. conclusion.
It is not until we reach the finale of this play that we can understand the author's message.
finesse@finesse
N. delicate skill.
The finesse and adroitness of the surgeon impressed the observers in the operating room.
finicky@finicky
ADJ. too particular; fussy.
The little girl was finicky about her food, leaving anything that wasn't to her taste.
finite@finite
ADJ. limited.
It is difficult for humanity with its finite existence to grasp the infinite.
firebrand@firebrand
N. hothead; troublemaker.
The police tried td keep track of all the local firebrands when the president came to town.
fissure@fissure
N. crevice.
The mountain climbers secured footholds in tiny fissures in the rock.
fitful@fitful
ADJ. spasmodic; intermittent.
After several fitful attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project until he felt more energetic.
flaccid@flaccid
ADJ. flabby.
His sedentary life had left him with flaccid muscles.
flag@flag
V. droop; grow feeble.
When the opposing hockey team scored its third goal only minutes into the first period, the home team's spirits flagged.
flagging, adj.
flagrant@flagrant
ADJ. conspicuously wicked: blatant; outrageous.
The governor's appointment of his brother-in-law to the state Supreme Court was a flagrant violation of the state laws against nepotism (favoritism based on kinship).
flail@flail
V. thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about.
In medieval times, warriors flailed their foe with a metal ball attached to a handle.
flair@flair
N. talent.
She has an uncanny flair for discovering new artists before the public has become aware of their existence.
flamboyant@flamboyant
ADJ. ornate.
Modern architecture has discarded the flamboyant trimming on buildings and emphasizes simplicity of line.
flaunt@flaunt
V. display ostentatiously.
Mae West saw nothing wrong with showing off her considerable physical charms, saying, "Honey, if you've got it, flaunt it!"
flay@flay
V. strip off skin; plunder.
The criminal was condemned to be flayed alive.
fleck@fleck
V. spot.
Her cheeks, flecked with tears, were testimony to the hours of weeping.
fledgling@fledgling
ADJ. inexperienced.
While it is necessary to provide these fledgling poets with an opportunity to present their work, it is not essential that we admire everything they write.
also n.
fleece@fleece
N. wool coat of a sheep.
They shear sheep of their fleece, which they then comb into separate strands of wool.
V. rob; plunder.
The tricksters fleeced him of his inheritance.
flick@flick
N. light stroke as with a whip.
The horse needed no encouragement; only one flick of the whip was all the jockey had to apply to get the animal to run at top speed.
flinch@flinch
V. hesitate; shrink.
She did not flinch in the face of danger but fought back bravely.
flippant@flippant
ADJ. lacking proper seriousness.
When Mark told Mona he loved her, she dismissed his earnest declaration with a flippant "Oh, you say that to all the girls!"
flippancy, n.
flit@flit
V. fly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by.
Like a bee flitting from flower to flower, Rose flitted from one boyfriend to the next.
floe@floe
N. mass of floating ice.
The ship made slow progress as it battered its way through the ice floes.
flora@flora
N. plants of a region or era.
Because she was a botanist, she spent most of her time studying the flora of the desert.
florid@florid
ADJ. ruddy; reddish; flowery.
If you go to Florida and get a sunburn, your complexion will look florid. If your postcards about your trip praise it in flowery words, your prose will be florid, too.
flotsam@flotsam
N. drifting wreckage.
Beachcombers eke out a living by salvaging the flotsam and jetsam of the sea.
flounder@flounder
V. struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter.
Up to his knees in the bog, Floyd floundered about, trying to regain his footing. Bewildered by the new software, Flo floundered until Jan showed her how to get started.
flourish@flourish
V. grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures.
The orange trees flourished in the sun.
flout@flout
V. reject; mock.
The headstrong youth flouted all authority; he refused to be curbed.
fluctuate@fluctuate
V. waver; shift.
The water pressure in our shower fluctuates wildly; you start rinsing yourself off with a trickle, and two minutes later a blast of water nearly knocks you off your feet. I'll never get used to these fluctuations.
fluency@fluency
N. smoothness of speech.
She spoke French with fluency and ease.
fluke@fluke
N. unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune.
When Douglas defeated Tyson for the heavyweight championship, some sportscasters dismissed his victory as a fluke.
fluster@fluster
V. confuse.
The teacher's sudden question flustered him and he stammered his reply.
fluted@fluted
ADJ. having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar).
All that remained of the ancient building were the fluted columns.
flux@flux
N. flowing; series of changes.
While conditions are in such a state of flux, I do not wish to commit myself too deeply in this affair.
fodder@fodder
N. coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.
One of Nancy's chores at the ranch was to put fresh supplies of fodder in the horses' stalls.
foible@foible
N. weakness; slight fault.
We can overlook the foibles of our friends; no one is perfect.
foil@foil
N. contrast.
In Star Wars, dark, evil Darth Vader is a perfect foil for fair-haired, naive Luke Skywalker.
V. defeat; frustrate.
In the end, Skywalker is able to foil Vader's diabolical schemes.
foist@foist
V. insert improperly; palm off.
I will not permit you to foist such ridiculous ideas upon the membership of this group.
foliage@foliage
N. masses of leaves.
Every autumn before the leaves fell he promised himself he would drive through New England to admire the colorful fall foliage.
foment@foment
V. stir up; instigate.
Cher's archenemy Heather spread some nasty rumors that fomented trouble in the club. Do you think Cher's foe meant to foment such discord?
foolhardy@foolhardy
ADJ. rash.
Don't be foolhardy Get the advice of experienced people before undertaking this venture.
foppish@foppish
ADJ. vain about dress and appearance.
He tried to imitate the foppish manner of the young men of the court.
foray@foray
N. raid.
The company staged a midnight foray against the enemy outpost.
forbearance@forbearance
N. patience.
We must use forbearance in dealing with him because he is still weak from his illness.
ford@ford
N. place where a river can be crossed on foot.
Rather than risk using the shaky rope bridge, David walked a half-mile downstream until he came to the nearest ford.
also v.
forebears@forebears
N. ancestors.
Reverence for one's forebears (sometimes referred to as ancestor worship) plays an important part in many Oriental cultures.
foreboding@foreboding
N. premonition of evil.
Suspecting no conspiracies against him, Caesar gently ridiculed his wife's forebodings about the Ides of March.
forensic@forensic
ADJ. suitable to debate or courts of law.
In her best forensic manner, the lawyer addressed the jury.
foreshadow@foreshadow
V. give an indication beforehand; portend; prefigure.
In retrospect, political analysts realized that Yeltsin's defiance of the attempted coup foreshadowed his emergence as the dominant figure of the new Russian republic.
foresight@foresight
N. ability to foresee future happenings; prudence.
A wise investor, she had the foresight to buy land just before the current real estate boom.
forestall@forestall
V. prevent by taking action in advance.
By setting up a prenuptial agreement, the prospective bride and groom hoped to forestall any potential arguments about money in the event of a divorce.
forgo@forgo
V. give up; do without.
Determined to lose weight for the summer, Ida decided to forgo dessert until she could fit Into a size eight again.
forlorn@forlorn
ADJ. sad and lonely; wretched.
Deserted by her big sisters and her friends, the forlorn child sat sadly on the steps awaiting their return.
formality@formality
N. ceremonious quality; something done just for form's sake.
The president received the visiting heads of state with due formality: flags waving, honor guards standing at attention, bands playing anthems at full blast. Signing this petition is a mere formality; it does not obligate you in any way.
formidable@formidable
ADJ. menacing; threatening.
We must not treat the battle lightly for we are facing a formidable foe.
forsake@forsake
V. desert; abandon; renounce.
No one expected Foster to forsake his wife and children and run off with another woman.
forswear@forswear
V. renounce; abandon.
The captured knight could escape death only if he agreed to forswear Christianity and embrace Islam as the one true faith.
forte@forte
N. strong point or special talent.
I am not eager to play this rather serious role, for my forte is comedy.
forthright@forthright
ADJ. straightforward; direct; frank.
I prefer Jill's forthright approach to Jack's tendency to beat around the bush.
fortitude@fortitude
N. bravery; courage.
He was awarded the medal for his fortitude in the battle.
fortuitous@fortuitous
ADJ. accidental; by chance.
Though he pretended their encounter was fortuitous, he'd actually been hanging around her usual haunts for the past two weeks, hoping she'd turn up.
foster@foster
V. rear; encourage.
According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were fostered by a she-wolf that raised the abandoned infants as her own.
also adj.
founder@founder
V. fail completely; sink.
After hitting the submerged iceberg, the Titanic started taking in water rapidly and soon foundered.
fracas@fracas
N. brawl, melee.
The military police stopped the fracas in the bar and arrested the belligerents.
fractious@fractious
ADJ. unruly.
The fractious horse unseated its rider.
frail@frail
ADJ. weak.
The delicate child seemed too frail to lift the heavy carton.
frailty, n.
franchise@franchise
N. right granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory.
The city issued a franchise to the company to operate surface transit lines on the streets for 99 years.
For most of American history women lacked the right to vote: not until the early twentieth century was the franchise granted to women.
Stan owns a Carvel's ice cream franchise in Chinatown.
frantic@frantic
ADJ. wild.
At the time of the collision, many people became frantic with fear.
fraudulent@fraudulent
ADJ. cheating; deceitful.
The government seeks to prevent fraudulent and misleading advertising.
fraught@fraught
ADJ. filled.
Since this enterprise is fraught with danger, I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks.
fray@fray
N. brawl.
The three musketeers were in the thick of the fray.
frenetic@frenetic
ADJ. frenzied; frantic.
His frenetic activities convinced us that he had no organized plan of operation.
frenzied@frenzied
ADJ. madly excited.
As soon as they smelled smoke, the frenzied animals milled about in their cages.
fresco@fresco
N. painting on plaster (usually fresh).
The cathedral is visited by many tourists who wish to admire the frescoes by Giotto.
fret@fret
V. to be annoyed or vexed.
To fret over your poor grades is foolish; instead, decide to work harder in the future.
friction@friction
N. clash in opinion; rubbing against.
At this time when harmony is essential, we cannot afford to have any friction in our group.
frieze@frieze
N. ornamental band on a wall.
The frieze of the church was adorned with sculpture.
frigid@frigid
ADJ. intensely cold.
Alaska is in the frigid zone.
fritter@fritter
V. waste.
He could not apply himself to any task and frittered away his time in idle conversation.
frivolous@frivolous
ADJ. lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant.
Though Nancy enjoyed Bill's frivolous, lighthearted companionship, she sometimes wondered whether he could ever be serious.
frivolity, n.
frolicsome@frolicsome
ADJ. prankish; gay.
The frolicsome puppy tried to lick the face of its master.
frond@frond
N. fern leaf; palm or banana leaf.
After the storm the beach was littered with the fronds of palm trees.
fructify@fructify
V. bear fruit.
This peach tree should fructify in three years.
frugality@frugality
N. thrift; economy.
In these economically difficult days businesses must practice frugality or risk bankruptcy.
frugal, adj.
fruition@fruition
N. bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization.
This building marks the fruition of all our aspirations and years of hard work.
frustrate@frustrate
V. thwart; defeat.
We must frustrate this dictator's plan to seize control of the government.
fugitive@fugitive
ADJ. fleeting or transitory; roving.
The film brought a few fugitive images to her mind, but on the whole it made no lasting impression upon her.
fulcrum@fulcrum
N. support on which a lever rests.
If we use this stone as a fulcrum and the crowbar as a lever, we may be able to move this boulder.
fulminate@fulminate
V. thunder; explode.
The people against whom she fulminated were innocent of any wrongdoing.
fulsome@fulsome
ADJ. disgustingly excessive.
His fulsome praise of the dictator annoyed his listeners.
functionary@functionary
N. official.
As his case was transferred from one functionary to another, he began to despair of ever reaching a settlement.
fundamental@fundamental
V. basic; primary; essential.
The committee discussed all sorts of side issues without ever getting down to addressing the fundamental problem.
funereal@funereal
ADJ. sad; solemn.
I fail to understand why there is such a funereal atmosphere; we have lost a battle, not a war.
furor@furor
N. frenzy; great excitement.
The story of her embezzlement of the funds created a furor on the stock exchange.
furtive@furtive
ADJ. stealthy; sneaky.
Noticing the furtive glance the customer gave the diamond bracelet on the counter, the jeweler wondered whether he had a potential shoplifter on his hands.
fusillade@fusillade
N. simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.).
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture concludes with a thunderous fusillade of cannon fire.
fusion@fusion
N. union; coalition.
The opponents of the political party in power organized a fusion of disgruntled groups and became an important element in the election.
futile@futile
ADJ. useless; hopeless; ineffectual.
It is futile for me to try to get any work done around here while the telephone is ringing every 30 seconds.
futility, n.
gadfly@gadfly
N. animal-biting fly; an irritating person.
Like a gadfly, he irritated all the guests at the hotel; within forty-eight hours, everyone regarded him as an annoying busybody.
gaffe@gaffe
N. social blunder.
According to Miss Manners, to call your husband by your lover's name is worse than a mere gaffe; it is a tactical mistake.
gainsay@gainsay
V. deny.
She was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report.
gait@gait
N. manner of walking or running; speed.
The lame man walked with an uneven gait.
galaxy@galaxy
N. large, isolated system of stars, such as the Milky Way; a collection of brilliant personalities.
Science fiction speculates about the possible existence of life in other galaxies. The deaths of such famous actors as John Candy and George Burns tells us that the galaxy of Hollywood superstars is rapidly disappearing.
gale@gale
N. windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughter, tears).
The Weather Channel warned viewers about a rising gale, with winds of up to 60 miles per hour.
gall@gall
N. bitterness; nerve.
The knowledge of his failure filled him with gall.
V. annoy; chafe.
Their taunts galled him.
galleon@galleon
N. large sailing ship.
The Spaniards pinned their hopes on the galleon, the large warship; the British, on the smaller and faster pinnace.
galvanize@galvanize
V. stimulate by shock; stir up; revitalize.
News that the prince was almost at their door galvanized the ugly stepsisters into a frenzy of combing and primping.
gambit@gambit
N. opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed.
The player was afraid to accept his opponent's gambit because he feared a trap which as yet he could not see.
gambol@gambol
V. romp; skip about; leap playfully.
Watching the children gambol in the park, Betty marveled at their youthful energy and zest.
also n.
gamely@gamely
ADV. in a spirited manner; with courage.
Because he had fought gamely against a much superior boxer, the crowd gave him a standing ovation when he left the arena.
gamut@gamut
N. entire range.
In this performance, the leading lady was able to demonstrate the complete gamut of her acting ability.
gape@gape
V. open widely.
The huge pit gaped before him; if he stumbled, he would fall in. Slack-jawed in wonder, Huck gaped at the huge stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the limestone cavern.
garbled@garbled
ADJ. mixed up; jumbled; distorted.
A favorite party game involves passing a whispered message from one person to another; by the time it reaches the last player, the message has become totally garbled.
garble, v.
gargantuan@gargantuan
ADJ. huge; enormous.
The gargantuan wrestler was terrified of mice.
gargoyle@gargoyle
N. waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building.
The gargoyles adorning the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris are amusing in their grotesqueness.
garish@garish
ADJ. overbright in color; gaudy.
She wore a rhinestone necklace with a garish red and gold dress trimmed with sequins.
garner@garner
V. gather; store up.
She hoped to garner the world's literature in one library.
garnish@garnish
V. decorate.
Parsley was used to garnish the boiled potato.
also n.
garrulous@garrulous
ADJ. loquacious; wordy; talkative.
My Uncle Henry can out-talk any other three people I know. He is the most garrulous person in Cayuga County.
garrulity, n.
gastronomy@gastronomy
N. science of preparing and serving good food.
One of the by-products of his trip to Europe was his interest in gastronomy; he enjoyed preparing and serving foreign dishes to his friends.
gauche@gauche
ADJ. clumsy; coarse and uncouth.
Compared to the sophisticated young ladies in their elegant gowns, tomboyish Jo felt gauche and out of place.
gaudy@gaudy
ADJ. flashy; showy.
The newest Trump skyscraper is typically gaudy, covered in gilded panels that gleam in the sun.
gaunt@gaunt
ADJ. lean and angular; barren.
His once-round face looked surprisingly gaunt after he had lost weight.
gavel@gavel
N. hammer-like tool; mallet.
"Sold!" cried the auctioneer, banging her gavel on the table to indicate she'd accepted the final bid.
also v.
gawk@gawk
V. stare foolishly; look open-mouthed awe.
The country boy gawked at the skyscrapers and neon lights of the big city.
gazette@gazette
N. official periodical publication.
He read the gazettes regularly for the announcement of his promotion.
genealogy@genealogy
N. record of descent; lineage.
He was proud of his genealogy and constantly referred to the achievements of his ancestors.
generality@generality
N. vague statement.
This report is filled with generalities; you must be more specific in your statements.
generate@generate
V. cause; produce; create.
In his first days in office, President Clinton managed to generate a new mood of optimism; we hoped he could also generate a few new jobs.
generic@generic
ADJ. characteristic of an entire class or species.
Sue knew so many computer programmers who spent their spare time playing fantasy games that she began to think that playing Dungeons & Dragons was a generic trait.
genesis@genesis
N. beginning; origin.
Tracing the genesis of a family is the theme of "Roots."
geniality@geniality
N. cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy.
This restaurant is famous and popular because of the geniality of the proprietor, who tries to make everyone happy.
genial, adj.
genre@genre
N. particular variety of art or literature.
Both a short story writer and a poet, Langston Hughes proved himself equally skilled in either genre.
genteel@genteel
ADJ. well-bred; elegant.
We are looking for a man with a genteel appearance who can inspire confidence by his cultivated manner.
gentility@gentility
N. those of gentle birth; refinement.
Her family was proud of its gentility and elegance.
gentry@gentry
N. people of standing; class of people just below nobility.
The local gentry did not welcome the visits of the summer tourists and tried to ignore their presence in the community.
genuflect@genuflect
V. bend the knee as in worship.
A proud democrat, he refused to genuflect to any man.
germane@germane
ADJ. pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand.
The lawyer objected that the testimony being offered was not germane to the case at hand.
germinal@germinal
ADJ. pertaining to a germ; creative.
Such an idea is germinal; I am certain that it will influence thinkers and philosophers for many generations.
germmate@germmate
V. cause to sprout; sprout.
After the seeds germinate and develop their permanent leaves, the plants may be removed from the cold frames and transplanted to the garden.
gerontocracy@gerontocracy
N. government ruled by old people.
Gulliver visited a gerontocracy in which the young people acted as servants td their elders, all the while dreaming of the day they would be old enough to have servants of their own.
gerrymander@gerrymander
V. change voting district lines in order to favor a political party.
The illogical pattern of the map of this congressional district is proof that the state legislature gerrymandered this area in order to favor the majority party.
also n.
gestate@gestate
V. evolve, as in prenatal growth.
While this scheme was being gestated by the conspirators, they maintained complete silence about their intentions.
gesticulation@gesticulation
N. motion; gesture.
Operatic performers are trained to make exaggerated gesticulations because of the large auditoriums in which they appear.
ghastly@ghastly
ADJ. horrible.
The murdered man was a ghastly sight.
gibberish@gibberish
N. nonsense; babbling.
Did you hear that foolish boy spouting gibberish about monsters from outer space?
gibe@gibe
V. mock.
As you gibe at their superstitious beliefs, do you realize that you, too, are guilty of similarly foolish thoughts?
giddy@giddy
ADJ. light-hearted; dizzy.
He felt his giddy youth was past.
gingerly@gingerly
ADV. very carefully.
To separate egg whites, first crack the egg gingerly.
also adj.
girth@girth
N. distance around something; circumference.
It took an extra-large cummerbund to fit around Andrew Carnegie's considerable girth.
gist@gist
N. essence.
She was asked to give the gist of the m a y in two sentences.
glacial@glacial
ADJ. like a glacier: extremely cold.
Never a warm person, when offended Hugo could seem positively glacial.
glaring@glaring
ADJ. highly conspicuous; harshly bright.
Glaring spelling or grammatical errors in your resume will unfavorably impress potential employers.
glaze@glaze
V. cover with a thin and shiny surface.
The freezing rain glazed the streets and made driving hazardous.
also n.
glean@glean
V. gather leavings.
After the crops had been harvested by the machines, the peasants were permitted to glean the wheat left in the fields.
glib@glib
ADJ. fluent; facile; slick.
Keeping up a steady patter to entertain his customers, the kitchen gadget salesman was a glib speaker, never at a loss for a word.
glimmer@glimmer
V. shine erratically; twinkle.
In the darkness of the cavern, the glowworms hanging from the cavern roof glimmered like distant stars.
gloat@gloat
V. express evil satisfaction; view malevolently.
As you gloat over your ill-gotten wealth, do you think of the many victims you have defrauded?
gloss over@gloss over
V. explain away.
No matter how hard he tried to talk around the issue, President Bush could not gloss over the fact that he had raised taxes after all.
glossary@glossary
N. brief explanation of words used in the text.
I have found the glossary in this book very useful; it has eliminated many trips to the dictionary.
glossy@glossy
ADJ. smooth and shining.
I want this photograph printed on glossy paper, not matte.
glower@glower
V. scowl.
The angry boy glowered at his father.
glut@glut
V. overstock; fill to excess.
The many manufacturers glutted the market and could not find purchasers for the many articles they had produced.
also n.
glutinous@glutinous
ADJ. sticky; viscous.
Molasses is a glutinous substance.
glutton@glutton
N. someone who eats too much.
When Mother saw that Bobby had eaten all the cookies, she called him a little glutton.
gluttonous, adj.
gnarled@gnarled
ADJ. twisted.
The gnarled oak tree had been a landmark for years and was mentioned in several deeds.
gnome@gnome
N. dwarf; underground spirit.
In medieval mythology, gnomes were the special guardians and inhabitants of subterranean mines.
goad@goad
V. urge on.
She was goaded by her friends until she yielded to their wishes.
also n.
gorge@gorge
N. narrow canyon; steep, rocky cleft.
Terrified of heights, George could not bring himself to peer down into the gorge to see the rapids below.
V. stuff oneself.
The gluttonous guest gorged himself with food as though he had not eaten for days.
gory@gory
ADJ. bloody.
The audience shuddered as they listened to the details of the gory massacre.
gore, n.
gossamer@gossamer
ADJ. sheer; like cobwebs.
Nylon can be woven into gossamer or thick fabrics.
also n.
gouge@gouge
V. tear out.
In that fight, all the rules were forgotten; the adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to gouge each other's eyes out.
V. overcharge.
During the World Series, ticket scalpers tried to gouge the public, asking astronomical prices even for bleacher seats.
gourmand@gourmand
N. epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink.
Gourmands lack self-restraint; if they enjoy a particular cuisine, they eat far too much of it.
gourmet@gourmet
N. connoisseur of food and drink.
The gourmet stated that this was the best onion soup she had ever tasted.
graduated@graduated
ADJ. arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc.).
Margaret loved her graduated set of Russian hollow wooden dolls; she spent hours happily putting the smaller dolls into their larger counterparts.
granary@granary
N. storehouse for grain.
We have reason to be thankful, for our crops were good and our granaries are full.
grandeur@grandeur
N. impressiveness; stateliness; majesty.
No matter how often he hiked through the mountains, David never failed to be struck by the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada range.
grandiloquent@grandiloquent
ADJ. pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language.
The politician could never speak simply; she was always grandiloquent.
grandiose@grandiose
ADJ. pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously exaggerated; impressive.
The aged matinee idol still had grandiose notions of his supposed importance in the theatrical world.
granulate@granulate
V. form into grains.
Sugar that has been granulated dissolves more readily than lump sugar.
granule, n.
graphic@graphic
ADJ. pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described.
I was particularly impressed by the graphic presentation of the storm.
grapple@grapple
V. wrestle; come to grips with.
He grappled with the burglar and overpowered him.
grate@grate
V. make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred.
The screams of the quarreling children grated on her nerves.
gratify@gratify
V. please.
Lori's parents were gratified by her successful performance on the GRE.
gratis@gratis
ADV. free.
The company offered to give one package gratis to every purchaser of one of their products.
also adj.
gratuitous@gratuitous
ADJ. given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for.
Quit making gratuitous comments about my driving; no one asked you for your opinion.
gratuity@gratuity
N. tip.
Many service employees rely more on gratuities than on salaries for their livelihood.
gravity@gravity
N. seriousness.
We could tell we were in serious trouble from the gravity of her expression.
(secondary meaning) grave, adj.
gregarious@gregarious
ADJ. sociable.
Typically, party-throwers are gregarious; hermits are not.
grievance@grievance
N. cause of complaint.
When her supervisor ignored her complaint, she took her grievance to the union.
grill@grill
V. question severely.
In violation of the Miranda law, the police grilled the suspect for several hours before reading him his rights.
(secondary meaning)
grimace@grimace
N. a facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc.
Even though he remained silent, his grimace indicated his displeasure.
also v.
grisly@grisly
ADJ. ghastly.
She shuddered at the grisly sight.
grotesque@grotesque
ADJ. fantastic; comically hideous.
On Halloween people enjoy wearing grotesque costumes.
grotto@grotto
N. small cavern.
The Blue Grotto in Capri can be entered only by small boats rowed by natives through a natural opening in the rocks.
grouse@grouse
V. complain; fuss.
Students traditionally grouse about the abysmal quality of "mystery meat" and similar dormitory food.
grovel@grovel
V. crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate.
Even though we have been defeated, we do not have to grovel before our conquerors.
grudging@grudging
ADJ. unwilling; reluctant; stingy.
We received only grudging support from the mayor despite his earlier promises of aid.
gruel@gruel
N. thin, liquid porridge.
Our daily allotment of gruel made the meal not only monotonous but also unpalatable.
grueling@grueling
ADJ. exhausting.
The marathon is a grueling race.
gruesome@gruesome
ADJ. grisly; horrible.
His face was the stuff of nightmares: all the children in the audience screamed when Freddy Kruger's gruesome countenance was flashed on the screen.
gruff@gruff
ADJ. rough-mannered.
Although he was blunt and gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children.
guffaw@guffaw
N. boisterous laughter.
The loud guffaws that came from the closed room indicated that the members of the committee had not yet settled down to serious business.
also v.
guile@guile
N. deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning.
Iago uses considerable guile to trick Othello into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful.
guileless@guileless
ADJ. without deceit.
He is naive, simple, and guileless; he cannot be guilty of fraud.
guise@guise
N. appearance; costume.
In the guise of a plumber, the detective investigated the murder case.
gull@gull
V. trick; hoodwink.
Confident no one could gull him, Paul prided himself on his skeptical disposition.
gullible@gullible
ADJ. easily deceived.
Gullible people have only themselves to blame if they fall for con artists repeatedly. As the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
gustatory@gustatory
ADJ. affecting the sense of taste.
The Thai restaurant offered an unusual gustatory experience for those used to a bland cuisine.
gusto@gusto
N. enjoyment; enthusiasm.
He accepted the assignment with such gusto that I feel he would have been satisfied with a smaller salary.
gusty@gusty
ADJ. windy.
The gusty weather made sailing precarious.
guy@guy
N. cable or chain attached to something that needs to be braced or steadied.
If the guys holding up the mast on that derrick snap, the mast will topple.
gyroscope@gyroscope
N. apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.
By using a rotating gyroscope, they were able to stabilize the vessel, counteracting the rolling movements of the sea.
habituate@habituate
V. accustom or familiarize; addict.
Macbeth gradually habituated himself to murder, shedding his scruples as he grew accustomed to his bloody deeds.
hackles@hackles
N. hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog.
The dog's hackles rose and he began to growl as the sound of footsteps grew louder.
hackneyed@hackneyed
ADJ. commonplace; trite.
When the reviewer criticized the movie for its hackneyed plot, we agreed; we had seen similar stories hundreds of times before.
haggard@haggard
ADJ. wasted away; gaunt.
After his long illness he was pale and haggard.
haggle@haggle
V. argue about prices.
I prefer to shop in a store that has a one-price policy because, whenever I haggle with a shopkeeper, I am never certain that I paid a fair price for the articles I purchased.
halcyon@halcyon
ADJ. calm; peaceful.
In those halcyon days, people were not worried about sneak attacks and bombings.
hale@hale
ADJ. healthy.
After a brief illness, he was soon hale.
hallowed@hallowed
ADJ. blessed; consecrated.
Although the dead girl's parents had never been active churchgoers, they insisted that their daughter be buried in hallowed ground.
hallucination@hallucination
N. delusion.
I think you were frightened by a hallucination that you created in your own mind.
halting@halting
ADJ. hesitant; faltering.
Novice extemporaneous speakers often talk in a halting fashion as they grope for the right words.
hamper@hamper
V. obstruct.
The new mother hadn't realized how much the effort of caring for an infant would hamper her ability to keep an immaculate house.
hap@hap
N. chance; luck.
In his poem Hap, Thomas Hardy objects to the part chance plays in our lives.
also v.
haphazard@haphazard
ADJ. random; by chance.
His haphazard reading left him unacquainted with many classic books.
hapless@hapless
ADJ. unfortunate.
This hapless creature had never known a moment's pleasure.
harangue@harangue
N. long, passionate, and vehement speech.
In her lengthy harangue, the principal berated the offenders.
also v.
harass@harass
V. annoy by repeated attacks.
When he could not pay his bills as quickly as he had-promised, he was harassed by his creditors.
harbinger@harbinger
N. forerunner.
The crocus is an early harbinger of spring.
harbor@harbor
V. provide a refuge for; hide.
The church harbored illegal aliens who were political refugees.
also n.
hardy@hardy
ADJ. sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weather.
We asked the gardening expert to recommend particularly hardy plants that could withstand our harsh New England winters.
harping@harping
N. tiresome dwelling on a subject.
After he had reminded me several times about what he had done for me, I told him to stop his harping on my indebtedness to him.
harp, v.
harrowing@harrowing
ADJ. agonizing; distressing; traumatic.
At first Terry Anderson did not wish to discuss his harrowing months of captivity as a political hostage.
harrow, v.
harry@harry
V. harass, annoy, torment; raid.
The guerrilla band harried the enemy nightly.
hatch@hatch
N. deck opening; lid covering a deck opening.
The latch on the hatch failed to catch, so the hatch remained unlatched.
haughtiness@haughtiness
N. pride; arrogance.
When she realized that Darcy believed himself too good to dance with his inferiors, Elizabeth took great offense at his haughtiness.
haven@haven
N. place of safety; refuge.
For Ricardo, the school library became his haven, a place to which he could retreat during chaotic times.
hazardous@hazardous
ADJ. dangerous.
Your occupation is too hazardous for insurance companies to consider your application.
hazy@hazy
ADJ. slightly obscure.
In hazy weather, you cannot see the top of this mountain.
headlong@headlong
ADJ. hasty; rash.
The slave seized the unexpected chance to make a headlong dash across the border to freedom.
headstrong@headstrong
ADJ. stubborn; willful; unyielding.
Because she refused to marry the man her parents had chosen for her, everyone scolded Minna and called her a foolish, headstrong girl.
heckler@heckler
N. person who verbally harasses others.
The heckler kept interrupting the speaker with rude remarks.
heckle, v.
hedonist@hedonist
N. one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life.
A thoroughgoing hedonist, he considered only his own pleasure and ignored any claims others had on his money or time.
hedonism, n.
heedless@heedless
ADJ. not noticing; disregarding.
She drove on, heedless of the warnings that the road was dangerous.
heed, v.
hegemony@hegemony
N. dominance, especially of one nation over others.
As one Eastern European nation after another declared its independence, commentators marveled at the sudden breakdown of the once m0nolithic Soviet hegemony.
heinous@heinous
ADJ. atrocious; hatefully bad.
Hitler's heinous crimes will never be forgotten.
herbivorous@herbivorous
ADJ. grain-eating.
Some herbivorous animals have two stomachs for digesting their food.
heresy@heresy
N. opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion.
Galileo's assertion that the earth moved around the sun directly contradicted the religious teachings of his day; as a result, he was tried for heresy.
heretic, n.; heretical, adj.
hermetic@hermetic
ADJ. sealed by fusion so as to be airtight.
After you sterilize the bandages, place them in a container and seal it with a hermetic seal to protect them from contamination by airborne bacteria.
ADJ. obscure and mysterious; occult.
It is strange to consider that modern chemistry originated in the hermetic teachings of the ancient alchemists.
hermitage@hermitage
N. home of a hermit.
Even in his remote hermitage he could not escape completely from the world.
herpetologist@herpetologist
N. one who studies reptiles.
As a boy, Indiana Jones had a traumatic experience involving snakes; sensibly enough, he studied to be an archaeologist, not a herpetologist.
heterodox@heterodox
ADJ. unorthodox; unconventional.
To those who upheld the belief that the earth did not move, Galileo's theory that the earth circled the sun was disturbingly heterodox.
heterogeneous@heterogeneous
ADJ. dissimilar; mixed.
This year's entering class is a remarkably heterogeneous body: it includes students from 40 different states and 26 foreign countries, some the children of billionaires, others the offspring of welfare families.
heterogeneity, n.
hew@hew
V. cut to pieces with ax or sword.
The cavalry rushed into the melee and hewed the enemy with their swords.
n.
heyday@heyday
N. time of greatest success; prime.
In their heyday, the San Francisco Forty-Niners won the Super Bowl two years running.
hiatus@hiatus
N. gap; pause.
Except for a brief two-year hiatus, during which she enrolled in the Peace Corps, Ms. Clements has devoted herself to her medical career.
hibernal@hibernal
ADJ. wintry.
Bears prepare for their long hibernal sleep by overeating.
hibernate@hibernate
V. sleep throughout the winter.
Bears are one of the many species of animals that hibernate.
hibernation, n.
hierarchy@hierarchy
N. arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks.
To be low man on the totem pole is to have an inferior place in the hierarchy.
hierarchical, adj.
hieroglyphic@hieroglyphic
N. picture writing.
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone enabled scholars to read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
hilarity@hilarity
N. boisterous mirth.
This hilarity is improper on this solemn day of mourning.
hilarious, adj.
hindmost@hindmost
ADJ. furthest behind.
The coward could always be found in the hindmost lines whenever a battle was being waged.
hindrance@hindrance
N. block; obstacle.
Stalled cars along the highway are a hindrance to traffic that tow trucks should remove without delay.
hinder, v.
hinterlands@hinterlands
N. back country.
They seldom had visitors, living as they did way out in the hinterlands.
hireling@hireling
N. one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously).
In a matter of such importance, I do not wish to deal with hirelings; I must meet with the chief.
hirsute@hirsute
ADJ. hairy.
He was a hirsute individual with a heavy black beard.
histrionic@histrionic
ADJ. theatrical.
He was proud of his histrionic ability and wanted to play the role of Hamlet.
histrionics, n.
hoard@hoard
V. stockpile; accumulate for future use.
Whenever there are rumors of a food shortage, people are tempted to hoard food.
also n.
hoary@hoary
ADJ. white with age.
The man was hoary and wrinkled when he was 70.
hoax@hoax
N. trick; practical joke.
Embarrassed by the hoax, she reddened and left the room.
also v.
holocaust@holocaust
N. destruction by fire.
Citizens of San Francisco remember that the destruction of the city was caused not by the earthquake but by the holocaust that followed.
holster@holster
N. pistol case.
Even when he was not in uniform, he carried a holster and pistol under his arm.
homage@homage
N. honor; tribute.
In her speech she tried to pay homage to a great man.
homeostasis@homeostasis
N. tendency of a system to maintain relative stability.
A breakdown of the body's immune system severely undermines the body's ability to maintain homeostasis.
homespun@homespun
ADJ. domestic; made at home.
Homespun wit, like homespun cloth, was often coarse and plain.
homily@homily
N. sermon; serious warning.
His speeches were always homilies, advising his listeners to repent and reform.
homiletic, adj.
homogeneous@homogeneous
ADJ. of the same kind.
Because the student body at Elite Prep was so homogeneous, Sara and James decided to send their daughter to a school that offered greater cultural diversity.
homogeneity, n.
hone@hone
V. sharpen.
To make shaving easier, he honed his razor with great care.
hoodwink@hoodwink
V. deceive; delude.
Having been hoodwinked once by the fast-talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went to purchase a used car.
horde@horde
N. crowd.
Just before Christmas the stores are filled with hordes of shoppers.
hortatory@hortatory
ADJ. encouraging; exhortive.
The crowd listened to his hortatory statements with ever-growing excitement; finally they rushed from the hall to carry out his suggestions.
horticultural@horticultural
ADJ. pertaining to cultivation of gardens.
When he bought his house, he began to look for flowers and decorative shrubs, and began to read books dealing with horticultural matters.
hostility@hostility
N. unfriendliness; hatred.
A child who has been the sole object of his parents' affection often feels hostility toward a new baby in the family, resenting the newcomer who has taken his place.
hostile, adj.
hovel@hovel
N. shack; small, wretched house.
She wondered how poor people could stand living in such a hovel.
hover@hover
V. hang about; wait nearby.
The police helicopter hovered above the accident.
hubbub@hubbub
N. confused uproar.
The marketplace was a scene of hubbub and excitement; in all the noise, we could not distinguish particular voices.
hubris@hubris
N. arrogance; excessive self-conceit.
Filled with hubris, Lear refused to heed his friends' warnings.
hue@hue
N. color; aspect.
The aviary contained birds of every possible hue.
hue and cry@hue and cry
N. outcry.
When her purse was snatched, she raised such a hue and cry that the thief was captured.
humane@humane
ADJ. marked by kindness or consideration.
It is ironic that the Humane Society sometimes must show its compassion toward mistreated animals by killing them to end their misery.
humdrum@humdrum
ADJ. dull; monotonous.
After her years of adventure, she could not settle down to a humdrum existence.
humid@humid
ADJ. damp.
She could not stand the humid climate and moved to a drier area.
humility@humility
N. humbleness of spirit.
He spoke with a humility and lack of pride that impressed his listeners.
hummock@hummock
N. small hill.
The ascent of the hummock is not difficult and the view from the hilltop is ample reward for the effort.
humus@humus
N. substance formed by decaying vegetable matter.
In order to improve his garden, he spread humus over his lawn and flower beds.
hurtle@hurtle
V. crash; rush.
The runaway train hurtled toward disaster.
husband@husband
V. use sparingly; conserve; save.
Marathon runners must husband their energy so that they can keep going for the entire distance.
husbandry@husbandry
N. frugality; thrift; agriculture.
He accumulated his small fortune by diligence and husbandry husband.
v.
hybrid@hybrid
N. mongrel; mixed breed.
Mendel's formula explains the appearance of hybrids and pure species in breeding.
also adj.
hydrophobia@hydrophobia
N. fear of water; rabies.
A dog that bites a human being must be observed for symptoms of hydrophobia.
hyperbole@hyperbole
N. exaggeration; overstatement.
As far as I'm concerned, Apple's claims about the new computer are pure hyperbole: no machine is that good!
hyperbolic, adj.
hypercritical@hypercritical
ADJ. excessively exacting.
You are hypercritical in your demands for perfection; we all make mistakes.
hypochondriac@hypochondriac
N. person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness.
The doctor prescribed chocolate pills for her patient who was a hypochondriac.
hypocritical@hypocritical
ADJ. pretending to be virtuous; deceiving.
Because he believed Eddie to be interested only in his own advancement, Greg resented Eddie's hypocritical protestations of friendship.
hypocrisy, n.
hypothetical@hypothetical
ADJ. based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed.
Suppose you are accepted by Harvard, Stanford, and Yale. Which graduate school will you choose to attend? Remember, this is only a hypothetical situation.
hypothesis, n.
ichthyology@ichthyology
N. study of fish.
Jacques Cousteau's programs about sea life have advanced the cause of ichthyology.
icon@icon
N. religious image; idol.
The icons on the walls of the church were painted in the 13th century.
iconoclastic@iconoclastic
ADJ. attacking cherished traditions.
Deeply iconoclastic, Jean Genet deliberately set out to shock conventional theatergoers with his radical plays.
iconoclasm, n.
ideology@ideology
N. system of ideas characteristic of a group or culture.
For people who had, grown up believing in the Communist ideology, )t was hard to adjust to capitalism.
idiom@idiom
N. expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style.
The phrase "to lose one's marbles" is an idiom: if I say that Joe has lost his marbles I'm not asking you to find them for him. I'm telling you idiomatically that he's crazy.
idiosyncrasy@idiosyncrasy
N. individual trait, usually odd in nature; eccentricity.
One of Richard Nixon's little idiosyncrasies was his liking for ketchup on cottage cheese. One of Hannibal Lecter's little idiosyncrasies was his liking for human flesh.
idiosyncratic, adj.
idolatry@idolatry
N. worship of idols; excessive admiration.
Such idolatry of singers of country music is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth.
idyllic@idyllic
ADJ. charmingly carefree; simple.
Far from the city, she led an idyllic existence in her rural retreat.
igneous@igneous
ADJ. produced by fire; volcanic.
Lava, pumice, and other igneous rocks are found in great abundance around Mount Vesuvius near Naples.
ignite@ignite
V. kindle; light.
When Desi crooned, "Baby, light my fire," literal-minded Lucy looked around for some paper to ignite.
ignoble@ignoble
ADJ. unworthy; not noble.
A true knight, Sir Galahad never stooped to perform an ignoble deed.
ignominy@ignominy
N. deep disgrace; shame or dishonor.
To lose the Ping-Pong match to a trained chimpanzee! How could Rollo endure the ignominy of his defeat?
ignominious, adj.
illicit@illicit
ADJ. illegal.
The defense attorney claimed that the police had entrapped his client; that is, they had elicited the illicit action of which they now accused him.
illimitable@illimitable
ADJ. infinite.
Human beings, having explored the far corners of the earth, are now reaching out into illimitable space.
illuminate@illuminate
V. brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten.
Just as a lamp can illuminate a dark room, a perceptive comment can illuminate a knotty problem.
illusion@illusion
N. misleading vision.
It is easy to create an optical illusion in which lines of equal length appear different.
illusive@illusive
ADJ. deceiving.
This is only a mirage; let us not be fooled by its illusive effect.
illusory@illusory
ADV. deceptive; not real.
Unfortunately, the costs of running the lemonade stand were so high that Tom's profits proved illusory.
imbalance@imbalance
N. lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion.
To correct racial imbalance in the schools, school boards have bused black children into white neighborhoods and white children into black ones.
imbecility@imbecility
N. weakness of mind.
I am amazed at the imbecility of the readers of these trashy magazines.
imbibe@imbibe
V. drink in.
The dry soil imbibed the rain quickly.
imbroglio@imbroglio
N. complicated situation; painful or complex misunderstanding; entanglement; confused mass (as of papers).
The humor of Shakespearean comedies often depends on cases of mistaken identity that involve the perplexed protagonists in one comic imbroglio after another.
embroil, v.
imbue@imbue
V. saturate, fill.
His visits to the famous Gothic cathedrals imbued him with feelings of awe and reverence.
immaculate@immaculate
ADJ. spotless; flawless; absolutely clean.
Ken and Jessica were wonderful tenants who left the apartment in immaculate condition when they moved out.
imminent@imminent
ADJ. near at hand; impending.
Rosa was such a last-minute worker that she could never start writing a paper till the deadline was imminent.
immobility@immobility
N. state of being immovable.
Modern armies cannot afford the luxury of immobility, as they are vulnerable to attack while standing still.
immolate@immolate
V. offer as a sacrifice.
The tribal king offered to immolate his daughter to quiet the angry gods.
immune@immune
ADJ. resistant to: free or exempt from.
Fortunately, Florence had contracted chicken pox as a child and was immune to it when her baby came down with spots.
immunity, n.
immure@immure
V. imprison; shut up in confinement.
For the two weeks before the examination, the student immured himself in his room and concentrated upon his studies.
immutable@immutable
ADJ. unchangeable.
All things change over time; nothing is immutable.
impair@impair
V. injure; hurt.
Drinking alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely; if you're going to drink, don't drive.
impale@impale
V. pierce.
He was impaled by the spear hurled by his adversary.
impalpable@impalpable
ADJ. imperceptible; intangible.
The ash is so fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a fine layer covering the window ledge.
impartial@impartial
ADJ. not biased; fair.
Knowing she could not be impartial about her own child, Jo refused to judge any match in which Billy was competing.
impartiality, n.
impassable@impassable
ADJ. not able to be traveled or crossed.
A giant redwood had fallen across the highway, blocking all four lanes: the road was impassable.
impasse@impasse
N. predicament from which there is no escape.
In this impasse, all turned to prayer as their last hope.
impassive@impassive
ADJ. without feeling; imperturbable; stoical.
Refusing to let the enemy see how deeply shaken he was by his capture, the prisoner kept his face impassive.
impeach@impeach
V. charge with crime in office; indict.
The angry congressman wanted to impeach the President for his misdeeds.
impeccable@impeccable
ADJ. faultless.
The uncrowned queen of the fashion industry, Diana was acclaimed for her impeccable taste.
impecunious@impecunious
ADJ. without money.
Though Scrooge claimed he was too impecunious to give alms, he easily could have afforded to be charitable..
impede@impede
V. hinder; block.
The special prosecutor determined that the Attorney General, though inept, had not intentionally set out to impede the progress of the investigation.
impediment@impediment
N. hindrance; stumbling-block.
She had a speech impediment that prevented her from speaking clearly.
impel@impel
V. drive or force onward.
A strong feeling of urgency impelled her; if she failed to finish the project right then, she knew that she would never get it done.
impending@impending
ADJ. nearing; approaching.
The entire country was saddened by the news of his impending death.
impenetrable@impenetrable
ADJ. not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding.
How could the murderer have gotten into the locked room? To Watson, the mystery, like the room, was impenetrable.
impenitent@impenitent
ADJ. not repentant.
We could see by his brazen attitude that he was impenitent.
imperative@imperative
ADJ. absolutely necessary; critically important.
It is imperative that you be extremely agreeable to Great-Aunt Maud when she comes to tea: otherwise she may not leave you that million dollars in her will.
also n.
imperceptible@imperceptible
ADJ. unnoticeable; undetectable.
Fortunately, the stain on the blouse was imperceptible after the garment had gone through the wash.
imperial@imperial
ADJ. like an emperor; related to an empire.
When hotel owner Leona Helmsley appeared in ads as Queen Leona standing guard over the Palace Hotel, her critics mocked her imperial fancies.
imperious@imperious
ADJ. domineering: haughty.
Jane rather liked a man to be masterful, but Mr. Rochester seemed so bent on getting his own way that he was actually imperious!
imperiousness, n.
impermeable@impermeable
ADJ. impervious; not permitting passage through its substance.
This new material is impermeable to liquids,.
impertinent@impertinent
ADJ. insolent; rude.
His neighbors' impertinent curiosity about his lack of dates angered Ted. It was downright rude of them to ask him such personal questions.
impertinence, n.
imperturbable@imperturbable
ADJ. calm: placid.
Wellington remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation in spite of the hysteria and panic all around him.
imperturbability, n.
impervious@impervious
ADJ. impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed.
The carpet salesman told Simone that his most expensive brand of floor covering was warranted to be impervious to ordinary wear and tear. Having read so many negative reviews of his acting, the movie star had learned to ignore them, and was now impervious to criticism.
impetuous@impetuous
ADJ. violent; hasty; rash.
"Leap before you look" was the motto suggested by one particularly impetuous young man.
impetus@impetus
N. moving force; incentive; stimulus.
A new federal highway program would create jobs and give added impetus to our economic recovery.
impiety@impiety
N. irreverence; lack of respect for God.
When members of the youth group draped the church in toilet paper one Halloween, the minister reprimanded them for their impiety.
impious, adj.
impinge@impinge
V. infringe; touch; collide with.
How could they be married without impinging on one another's freedom?
impious@impious
ADJ. irreverent.
The congregation was offended by her impious remarks.
implacable@implacable
ADJ. incapable of being pacified.
Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family.
implausible@implausible
ADJ. unlikely; unbelievable.
Though her alibi seemed implausible, it in fact turned out to be true.
implement@implement
V. put into effect; supply with tools.
The mayor was unwilling to implement the plan until she was sure it had the governor's backing.
also n.
implicate@implicate
V. incriminate; show to be involved.
Here's the deal: if you agree to take the witness stand and implicate your partners in crime, the prosecution will recommend that the judge go easy in sentencing you.
implication@implication
N. something hinted at or suggested.
When Miss Watson said she hadn't seen her purse since the last time Jim was in the house, the implication was that she suspected Jim had taken it.
implicit@implicit
ADJ. understood but not stated.
Jack never told Jill he adored her; he believed his love was implicit in his deeds.
implode@implode
V. burst inward.
If you break a vacuum tube, the glass tube implodes.
implosion, n.
implore@implore
V. beg.
He implored her to give him a second chance.
imply@imply
V. suggest a meaning not expressed: signify.
When Aunt Millie said, "My! That's a big piece of pie, young man!" was she implying that Bobby was being a glutton in helping himself to such a huge piece?
impolitic@impolitic
ADJ. not wise.
I think it is impolitic to raise this issue at the present time because the public is too angry.
imponderable@imponderable
ADJ. weightless.
I can evaluate the data gathered in this study: the imponderable items are not so easily analyzed.
import@import
N. significance.
I feel that you have not grasped the full import of the message sent to us by the enemy.
importunate@importunate
ADJ. urging; demanding.
He tried to hide from his importunate creditors until his allowance arrived.
importune@importune
V. beg persistently.
Democratic and Republican phone solicitors importuned her for contributions so frequently that she decided to give nothing to either party.
imposture@imposture
N. assuming a false identity; masquerade.
She was imprisoned for her imposture of a doctor.
impotent@impotent
ADJ. weak; ineffective.
Although he wished to break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent in resisting the craving for a cigarette.
imprecation@imprecation
N. curse.
Roused from bed at what he considered an ungodly hour, Roy muttered imprecations under his breath.
impregnable@impregnable
ADJ. invulnerable.
Until the development of the airplane as a military weapon, the fort was considered impregnable.
impromptu@impromptu
ADJ. without previous preparation; off the cuff; on the spur of the moment.
The judges were amazed that she could make such a thorough, well-supported presentation in an impromptu speech.
impropriety@impropriety
N. Improperness; unsuitableness.
Because of the impropriety of the punk rocker's slashed T-shirt and jeans, the management refused to admit him to the hotel's very formal dining room.
improvident@improvident
ADJ. thriftless.
He was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to "save for a rainy day."
improvidence, n.
improvise@improvise
V. compose on the spur of the moment.
She would sit at the piano and improvise for hours on themes from Bach and Handel.
imprudent@imprudent
ADJ. lacking caution; injudicious.
It is imprudent to exercise vigorously and become overheated when you are unwell.
impudence@impudence
N. impertinence; insolence.
Kissed on the cheek by a perfect stranger, Lady Catherine exclaimed, "Of all the nerve! Young man, I should have you horsewhipped for your impudence."
impugn@impugn
V. dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); challenge: gainsay.
Our treasurer was furious when the finance committee's report impugned the accuracy of his financial records and recommended that he take bonehead math.
impuissance@impuissance
N. powerlessness; feebleness.
The lame duck President was frustrated by his shift from enormous power to relative impuissance.
impunity@impunity
N. freedom from punishment or harm.
A 98pound weakling can't attack a beachfront bully with impunity: the poor, puny guy is sure to get mashed.
impute@impute
V. attribute; ascribe.
If I wished to impute blame to the officers in charge of this program, I would state my feelings definitely and immediately.
inadvertently@inadvertently
ADJ. unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly.
Judy's great fear was that she might inadvertently omit a question on the exam and mismark her whole answer sheet.
inalienable@inalienable
ADJ. not to be taken away; nontransferable.
The Declaration of Independence mentions the inalienable rights that all of us possess.
inane@inane
ADJ. silly; senseless.
There's no point in what you're saying. Why are you bothering to make such inane remarks?
inanity, n.
inanimate@inanimate
ADJ. lifeless.
She was asked to identify the still and inanimate body.
inarticulate@inarticulate
ADJ. speechless; producing indistinct speech.
She became inarticulate with rage and uttered sounds without meaning.
inaugurate@inaugurate
V. begin formally; install in office.
The candidate promised that he would inaugurate a new nationwide health care plan as soon as he was inaugurated as president.
inauguration, n.
incandescent@incandescent
ADJ. strikingly bright; shining with intense heat.
If you leave on an incandescent light bulb, it quickly grows too hot to touch.
incantation@incantation
N. singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula.
Uttering incantations to make the brew more potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron.
incapacitate@incapacitate
V. disable.
During the winter, many people were incapacitated by respiratory ailments.
incarcerate@incarcerate
V. imprison.
The civil rights workers were willing to be arrested and even incarcerated if by their imprisonment they could serve the cause.
incarnate@incarnate
ADJ. endowed with flesh; personified.
Your attitude is so fiendish that you must be a devil incarnate.
incarnation@incarnation
N. act of assuming a human body and human nature.
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a basic tenet of Christian theology.
incendiary@incendiary
N. arsonist.
The fire spread in such an unusual manner that the fire department chiefs were certain that it had been set by an incendiary.
also adj.
incense@incense
V. enrage; infuriate.
Cruelty to defenseless animals incensed Kit: the very idea brought tears of anger to her eyes.
incentive@incentive
N. spur; motive.
Mike's strong desire to outshine his big sister was all the incentive he needed to do well in school.
inception@inception
N. start; beginning.
She was involved with the project from its inception.
incessant@incessant
ADJ. uninterrupted; unceasing.
In a famous TV commercial, the frogs' incessant croaking goes on and on until eventually it turns into a single word: "Bud-weis-er."
inchoate@inchoate
ADJ. recently begun; rudimentary; elementary.
Before the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass.
incidence@incidence
N. rate of occurrence; particular occurrence.
Health professionals expressed great concern over the high incidence of infant mortality in major urban areas.
incidental@incidental
ADJ. not essential; minor.
The scholarship covered his major expenses at college and some of his incidental expenses as well.
incipient@incipient
ADJ. beginning; in an early stage.
I will go to sleep early for I want to break an incipient cold.
incisive@incisive
ADJ. cutting; sharp.
Her incisive remarks made us see the fallacy in our plans.
incision, n.
incite@incite
V. arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist.
In a fiery speech, Mario incited his fellow students to go out on strike to protest the university's anti-affirmative-action stand.
inclement@inclement
ADJ. stormy; unkind.
In inclement weather, I like to curl up on the sofa with a good book and listen to the storm blowing outside.
incline@incline
N. slope; slant.
The architect recommended that the nursing home's ramp be rebuilt because its incline was too steep for wheelchairs.
inclined@inclined
ADJ. tending or leaning toward; bent.
Though I am inclined to be skeptical, the witness's manner inclines me to believe his story.
also v.
inclusive@inclusive
ADJ. tending to include all.
The comedian turned down the invitation to join the Players' Club, saying any club that would let him in was too inclusive for him.
incognito@incognito
ADV. with identity concealed; using an assumed name.
The monarch enjoyed traveling through the town incognito and mingling with the populace.
also adj.
incoherent@incoherent
ADJ. unintelligible; muddled; illogical.
The excited fan blushed and stammered, her words becoming almost incoherent in the thrill of meeting her favorite rock star face to face.
incoherence, n.
incommodious@incommodious
ADJ., not spacious; inconvenient.
In their incommodious quarters, they had to improvise for closet space.
incompatible@incompatible
ADJ. inharmonious.
The married couple argued incessantly and finally decided to separate because they were incompatible.
incompatibility, n.
incongruity@incongruity
N. lack of harmony; absurdity.
The incongruity of his wearing sneakers with formal attire amused the observers.
incongruous, adj.
inconsequential@inconsequential
ADJ. insignificant; unimportant.
Brushing off Ali's apologies for having broken the wine glass, Tamara said, "Don't worry about it; it's inconsequential."
inconsistency@inconsistency
N. state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness.
How are lawyers different from agricultural inspectors? Where lawyers check inconsistencies in witnesses' statements, agricultural inspectors check inconsistencies in Grade A eggs.
inconsistent, adj.
incontinent@incontinent
ADJ. lacking self-restraint; licentious.
His incontinent behavior off stage shocked many people and they refused to attend the plays and movies in which he appeared.
incontrovertible@incontrovertible
ADJ. indisputable; not open to question.
Unless you find the evidence against my client absolutely incontrovertible, you must declare her not guilty of this charge.
incorporate@incorporate
V. introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite.
Breaking with precedent, President Truman ordered the military to incorporate blacks into every branch of the armed services.
also adj.
incorporeal@incorporeal
ADJ. lacking a material body; insubstantial.
Although Casper the friendly ghost is an incorporeal being, he and his fellow ghosts make quite an impact on the physical world.
incorrigible@incorrigible
ADJ. uncorrectable.
Though Widow Douglass hoped to reform Huck, Miss Watson pronounced him incorrigible and said he would come to no good end.
incredulity@incredulity
N. a tendency to disbelief.
Your incredulity in the face of all the evidence is hard to understand.
incredulous@incredulous
ADJ. withholding belief; skeptical.
When Jack claimed he hadn't eaten the jelly doughnut, Jill took an incredulous look at his smeared face and laughed.
increment@increment
N. increase.
The new contract calls for a 10 percent increment in salary for each employee for the next two years.
incriminate@incriminate
V. accuse; serve as evidence against.
The witness's testimony against the racketeers incriminates some high public officials as well.
incrustation@incrustation
N. hard coating or crust.
In dry dock, we scraped off the incrustation of dirt and barnacles that covered the hull of the ship.
incubate@incubate
V. hatch; scheme.
Inasmuch as our supply of electricity is cut off, we shall have to rely on the hens to incubate these eggs.
incubus@incubus
N. burden; mental care; nightmare.
The incubus of financial worry helped bring on her nervous breakdown.
inculcate@inculcate
V. teach.
In an effort to inculcate religious devotion, the officials ordered that the school day begin with the singing of a hymn.
incumbent@incumbent
ADJ. obligatory; currently holding an office.
It is incumbent upon all incumbent elected officials to keep accurate records of expenses incurred in office.
also n.
incur@incur
V. bring upon oneself.
His parents refused to pay any future debts he might incur.
incursion@incursion
N. temporary invasion.
The nightly incursions and hit-and-run raids of our neighbors across the border tried the patience of the country to the point where we decided to retaliate in force.
indefatigable@indefatigable
ADJ. tireless.
Although the effort of taking out the garbage exhausted Wayne for the entire morning, when it came to partying, he was indefatigable.
indelible@indelible
ADJ. not able to be erased.
The indelible ink left a permanent mark on my shirt. Young Bill Clinton's meeting with President Kennedy made an indelible impression on the youth.
indemnify@indemnify
V. make secure against loss; compensate for loss.
The city will indemnify all home owners whose property is spoiled by this project.
indentation@indentation
N. notch; deep recess.
You can tell one tree from another by noting the differences in the indentations along the edges of the leaves.
indent, v.
indenture@indenture
V. bind as servant or apprentice to master.
Many immigrants could come to America only after they had indentured themselves for several years.
also n.
indeterminate@indeterminate
ADJ. uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite.
That interest rates shall rise appears certain; when they will do so, however, remains indeterminate.
indicative@indicative
ADJ. suggestive, implying.
A lack of appetite may be indicative of a major mental or physical disorder.
indices@indices
N. pl. signs; indications.
Many college admissions officers believe that SAT scores and high school grades are the best indices of a student's potential to succeed in college.
indict@indict
V. charge.
The district attorney didn't want to indict the suspect until she was sure she had a strong enough case to convince a jury.
indictment, n.
indifferent@indifferent
ADJ. unmoved or unconcerned by; mediocre.
Because Ann felt no desire to marry, she was indifferent to Carl's constant proposals. Not only was she indifferent to him personally, but she felt that, given his general inanity, he would make an indifferent husband.
indigence@indigence
N. poverty.
Neither the economists nor the political scientists have found a way to wipe out the inequities of wealth and eliminate indigence from our society.
indigenous@indigenous
ADJ. native.
Cigarettes are made of tobacco, a plant indigenous to the New World.
indigent@indigent
ADJ. poor; destitute.
Someone who is truly indigent can't even afford to buy a pack of cigarettes.
[Don't mix up indigent and indigenous. See preceding entry.] also n.
indignation@indignation
N. anger at an injustice.
She felt indignation at the ill-treatment of the helpless animals.
indignity@indignity
N. offensive or insulting treatment.
Although he seemed to accept cheerfully the indignities heaped upon him, he was inwardly very angry.
indiscriminate@indiscriminate
ADJ. choosing at random; confused.
She disapproved of her son's indiscriminate television viewing and decided to restrict him to educational programs.
indisputable@indisputable
ADJ. too certain to be disputed.
In the face of these indisputable statements, I withdraw my complaint.
indissoluble@indissoluble
ADJ. permanent.
The indissoluble bonds of marriage are all too often being dissolved.
indite@indite
V. write: compose.
Cyrano indited many letters for Christian.
indolent@indolent
ADJ. lazy.
Couch potatoes lead an indolent life lying back in their Lazyboy recliners watching TV.
indolence, n.
indomitable@indomitable
ADJ. unconquerable; unyielding.
Focusing on her game despite all her personal problems, tennis champion Steffi Graf displayed an indomitable will to win.
indubitable@indubitable
ADJ. unable to be doubted; unquestionable.
Auditioning for the chorus line, Molly was an indubitable hit: the director fired the leading lady and hired Molly in her place!
induce@induce
V. persuade; bring about.
After the quarrel, Tina said nothing could induce her to talk to Tony again.
inducement, n.
inductive@inductive
ADJ. pertaining to induction or proceeding from the specific to the general.
The discovery of the planet Pluto is an excellent example of the results that can be obtained from inductive reasoning.
indulgent@indulgent
ADJ. humoring; yielding; lenient.
Jay's mom was excessively indulgent: she bought him every Nintendo cartridge and video game on the market. In fact, she indulged Jay so much, she spoiled him rotten.
industrious@industrious
ADJ. diligent; hard-working.
Look busy when the boss walks by your desk; it never hurts to appear industrious.
industry, n.
inebriated@inebriated
ADJ. habitually intoxicated; drunk.
Abe was inebriated more often than he was sober. Because of his inebriety, he was discharged from his job as a bus driver.
ineffable@ineffable
ADJ. unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech.
Such ineffable joy must be experienced; it cannot be described.
ineffectual@ineffectual
ADJ. not effective; weak.
Because the candidate failed to get across her message to the public, her campaign was ineffectual.
ineluctable@ineluctable
ADJ. irresistible; not to be escaped.
He felt that his fate was ineluctable and refused to make any attempt to improve his lot.
inept@inept
ADJ. lacking skill; unsuited; incompetent.
The inept glovemaker was all thumbs.
ineptness, n.
inequity@inequity
N. unfairness.
In demanding equal pay for equal work, women protest the basic inequity of a system that allots greater financial rewards to men.
inequitable, adj.
inerrancy@inerrancy
N. infallibility.
Jane refused to believe in the pope's inerrancy, reasoning: "All human beings are capable of error. The pope is a human being. Therefore, the pope is capable of error."
inert@inert
ADJ. inactive; lacking power to move.
"Get up, you lazybones," Tina cried to Tony, who lay in bed inert.
inertia, n.
inevitable@inevitable
ADJ. unavoidable.
Though death and taxes are both supposedly inevitable, some people avoid paying taxes for years.
inexorable@inexorable
ADJ. relentless; unyielding; implacable.
After listening to the pleas for clemency, the judge was inexorable and gave the convicted man the maximum punishment allowed by law.
infallible@infallible
ADJ. unerring.
We must remember that none of us is infallible; we all make mistakes.
infamous@infamous
ADJ. notoriously bad.
Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer are two examples of infamous killers.
infantile@infantile
ADJ. childish; infant-like.
When will he outgrow such infantile behavior?
infer@infer
V. deduce; conclude.
From the students' glazed looks, it was easy for me to infer that they were bored out of their minds.
inference, n.
infernal@infernal
ADJ. pertaining to hell; devilish.
Batman was baffled: he could think of no way to hinder the Joker's infernal scheme to destroy the city.
infidel@infidel
N. unbeliever.
The Saracens made war against the infidels.
infiltrate@infiltrate
V. pass into or Through; penetrate (an organization) sneakily.
In order to infiltrate enemy lines at night without being seen, the scouts darkened their faces and wore black coveralls.
infiltrator, n.
infinitesimal@infinitesimal
ADJ. very small.
In the twentieth century, physicists have made their greatest discoveries about the characteristics of infinitesimal objects like the atom and its parts.
infirmity@infirmity
N. weakness.
Her greatest infirmity was lack of willpower.
inflated@inflated
ADJ. exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas).
His claims about the new product were inflated; it did not work as well as he had promised.
influx@influx
N. flowing into.
The influx of refugees into the country has taxed the relief agencies severely.
infraction@infraction
N. violation (of a rule or regulation); breach.
When basketball star Dennis Rodman butted heads with the referee, he committed a clear infraction of NBA rules.
infringe@infringe
V. violate; encroach.
I think your machine infringes on my patent and I intend to sue.
ingenious@ingenious
ADJ. clever; resourceful.
Kit admired the ingenious way that her computer keyboard opened up to reveal the built-in CD-ROM below.
ingenuity, n.
ingenuous@ingenuous
ADJ. naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated.
The woodsman did not realize how ingenuous Little Red Riding Hood was until he heard that she had gone off for a walk in the woods with the Big Bad Wolf.
ingenue, n.
ingrained@ingrained
ADJ. deeply established; firmly rooted.
Try as they would, the missionaries were unable to uproot the ingrained superstitions of the natives.
ingrate@ingrate
N. ungrateful person.
That ingrate Bob sneered at the tie I gave him.
ingratiate@ingratiate
V. become popular with.
He tried to ingratiate himself into her parents' good graces.
inherent@inherent
ADJ. firmly established by nature or habit.
Katya's inherent love of justice caused her to champion anyone she considered to be treated unfairly by society.
inhibit@inhibit
V. restrain; retard or prevent.
Only two things inhibited him from taking a punch at Mike Tyson: Tyson's left hook, and Tyson's right jab. The protective undercoating on my car inhibits the formation of rust.
inhibition, n.
inimical@inimical
ADJ. unfriendly; hostile; harmful; detrimental.
I've always been friendly to Martha. Why is she so inimical to me?
inimitable@inimitable
ADJ. matchless; not able to be imitated.
We admire Auden for his inimitable use of language; he is one of a kind.
iniquitous@iniquitous
ADJ. wicked; immoral; unrighteous.
Whether or not King Richard Ill was responsible for the murder of the two young princes in the Tower, it was an iniquitous deed.
iniquity, n.
initiate@initiate
V. begin; originate; receive into a group.
The college is about to initiate a program for reducing math anxiety among students.
injurious@injurious
ADJ. harmful.
Smoking cigarettes can be injurious to your health.
inkling@inkling
N. hint.
This came as a complete surprise to me as I did not have the slightest inkling of your plans.
innate@innate
ADJ. inborn.
Mozart's parents soon recognized young Wolfgang's innate talent for music.
innocuous@innocuous
ADJ. harmless.
An occasional glass of wine with dinner is relatively innocuous and should have no ill effect on most people.
innovation@innovation
N. change; introduction of something new.
Although Richard liked to keep up with all the latest technological innovations, he didn't always abandon tried and true techniques in favor of something new.
innovate, v.; innovative, adj.
innuendo@innuendo
N. hint; insinuation.
I can defend myself against direct accusations; innuendos and oblique attacks on my character are what trouble me.
inopportune@inopportune
ADJ. untimely; poorly chosen.
A rock concert is an inopportune setting for a quiet conversation.
inordinate@inordinate
ADJ. unrestrained; excessive.
She had an inordinate fondness for candy, eating two or three boxes in a single day.
inquisitor@inquisitor
N. questioner (especially harsh); investigator.
Fearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret police, Marsha faced her inquisitors with trepidation.
insalubrious@insalubrious
ADJ. unwholesome; not healthful.
The mosquito-ridden swamp was an insalubrious place, a breeding ground for malarial contagion.
insatiable@insatiable
ADJ. not easily satisfied; unquenchable; greedy.
The young writer's thirst for knowledge was insatiable: she was always in the library.
inscrutable@inscrutable
ADJ. impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious.
Experienced poker players try to keep their expressions inscrutable, hiding their reactions to the cards behind a so-called poker face.
insensate@insensate
ADJ. without feeling.
She lay there as insensate as a log.
insensible@insensible
ADJ. unconscious; unresponsive.
Sherry and I are very different; at times when I would be covered with embarrassment, she seems insensible to shame.
insidious@insidious
ADJ. treacherous; stealthy; sly.
The fifth column is insidious because it works secretly within our territory for our defeat.
insightful@insightful
ADJ. discerning; perceptive.
Sol thought he was very insightful about human behavior, but actually he was clueless as to why people acted the way they did.
insinuate@insinuate
V. hint; imply; creep in.
When you said I looked robust, did you mean to insinuate that I'm getting fat?
insipid@insipid
ADJ. lacking in flavor; dull.
Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid: both lack sparkle.
insolence@insolence
N. impudent disrespect; haughtiness.
How dare you treat me so rudely! The manager will hear of your insolence.
insolent, adj.
insolvent@insolvent
ADJ. bankrupt; lacking money to pay.
When rumors that he was insolvent reached his creditors, they began to press him for payment of the money due them.
insolvency, n.
insomnia@insomnia
N. wakefulness; inability to sleep.
She refused to join us in a midnight cup of coffee because she claimed it gave her insomnia.
insouciant@insouciant
ADJ. indifferent; without concern or care.
Your insouciant attitude at such a critical moment indicates that you do not understand the gravity of the situation.
instigate@instigate
V. urge; start; provoke.
Delighting in making mischief, Sir Toby sets out to instigate a quarrel between Sir Andrew and Cesario.
insubordination@insubordination
N. disobedience; rebelliousness.
At the slightest hint of insubordination from the sailors on the Bounty. Captain Bligh had them flogged; finally, they mutinied.
insubordinate, adj.
insubstantial@insubstantial
ADJ. lacking substance: insignificant; frail.
His hopes for a career in acting proved insubstantial; no one would cast him, even in an insubstantial role.
insularity@insularity
N. narrow-mindedness; isolation.
The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anything foreign.
insular, adj.
insuperable@insuperable
ADJ., insurmountable; unbeatable.
Though the odds against their survival seemed insuperable, the Apollo 13 astronauts reached earth safely.
insurgent@insurgent
ADJ. rebellious.
Because the insurgent forces had occupied the capital and had gained control of the railway lines, several of the war correspondents covering the uprising predicted a rebel victory.
also n.; insurgency, n.
insurmountable@insurmountable
ADJ. overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable.
Facing almost insurmountable obstacles, the members of the underground maintained their courage and will to resist.
insurrection@insurrection
N. rebellion; uprising.
In retrospect, given how badly the British treated the American colonists, the eventual insurrection seems inevitable.
intangible@intangible
ADJ. not able to be perceived by touch; vague.
Though the financial benefits of his Oxford post were meager, Lewis was drawn to it by its intangible rewards: prestige, intellectual freedom, the fellowship of his peers.
integral@integral
ADJ. complete; necessary for completeness.
Physical education is an integral part of our curriculum; a sound mind and a sound body are complementary.
integrate@integrate
V. make whole; combine; make into one unit.
She tried to integrate all their activities-into one program.
integrity@integrity
N. uprightness; wholeness.
Lincoln, whose personal integrity has inspired millions, fought a civil war to maintain the integrity of the republic, that these United States might remain undivided for all time.
intellect@intellect
N. higher mental powers.
He thought college would develop his intellect.
intelligentsia@intelligentsia
N. intellectuals; members of the educated elite [often used derogatorily].
She preferred discussions about sports and politics to the literary conversations of the intelligentsia.
inter@inter
V. bury.
They are going to inter the body tomorrow at Broadlawn Cemetry.
interment, n.
interdict@interdict
V. prohibit; forbid.
Civilized nations must interdict the use of nuclear weapons if we expect our society to live.
interim@interim
N. meantime.
The company will not consider our proposal until next week; in the interim, let us proceed as we have in the past.
interloper@interloper
N. intruder.
The merchant thought of his competitors as interlopers who were stealing away his trade.
interminable@interminable
ADJ. endless.
Although his speech lasted for only twenty minutes, it seemed interminable to his bored audience.
intermittent@intermittent
ADJ. periodic; on and off.
The outdoor wedding reception had to be moved indoors to avoid the intermittent showers that fell on and off all afternoon.
internecine@internecine
ADJ. mutually destructive.
The rising death toll on both sides indicates the internecine nature of this conflict.
interpolate@interpolate
V. insert between.
She talked so much that I could not interpolate a single remark.
interregnum@interregnum
N. period between two reigns.
Henry VIII desperately sought a male heir because he feared the civil strife that might occur if any prolonged interregnum succeeded his death.
interrogate@interrogate
V. question closely; cross-examine.
Knowing that the Nazis would interrogate him about his background, the secret agent invented a cover story that would help him meet their questions.
intervene@intervene
V. come between.
When two close friends get into a fight, be careful if you try to intervene; they may join forces and gang up on you.
intervention, n.
intimate@intimate
V. hint.
She intimated rather than stated her preferences.
intimidate@intimidate
V. frighten.
I'll learn karate and then those big bullies won't be able to intimidate me anymore.
intimidation, n.
intractable@intractable
ADJ. unruly; stubborn; unyielding.
Charlie Brown's friend Pigpen was intractable: he absolutely refused to take a bath.
intransigence@intransigence
N. refusal of any compromise; stubbornness.
The negotiating team had not expected such intransigence from the striking workers, who rejected any hint of a compromise.
intransigent, adj.
intrepid@intrepid
ADJ. fearless.
For her intrepid conduct nursing the wounded during the war, Florence Nightingale was honored by Queen Victoria.
intrinsic@intrinsic
ADJ. essential; inherent; built-in.
Although my grandmother's china has little intrinsic value, I shall always cherish it for the memories it evokes.
introspective@introspective
ADJ. looking within oneself.
Though young Francis of Assisi led a wild and worldly life, even he had introspective moments during which he examined his soul.
introspection, n.
introvert@introvert
N. one who is introspective; inclined to think more about oneself.
In his poetry, he reveals that he is an introvert by his intense interest in his own problems.
intrude@intrude
V. trespass; enter as an uninvited person.
She hesitated to intrude on their conversation.
intuition@intuition
N. immediate insight; power of knowing without reasoning.
Even though Tony denied that anything was wrong, Tina trusted her intuition that something was bothering him.
intuitive, adj.; intuit, v.
inundate@inundate
V. overwhelm; flood; submerge.
This semester I am inundated with work: you should see the piles of paperwork flooding my desk. Until the great dam was built, the waters of the Nile used to inundate the river valley every year.
inured@inured
ADJ. accustomed; hardened.
She became inured to the Alaskan cold.
invalidate@invalidate
V. weaken; destroy.
The relatives who received little or nothing sought to invalidate the will by claiming that the deceased had not been in his right mind when he signed the document.
invective@invective
N. abuse.
He had expected criticism but not the invective that greeted his proposal.
inveigh@inveigh
V. denounce; utter censure or invective.
He inveighed against the demagoguery of the previous speaker and urged that the audience reject his philosophy as dangerous.
inveigle@inveigle
V. lead astray; wheedle.
She was inveigled into joining the club after an initial reluctance.
inverse@inverse
ADJ. opposite.
There is an inverse ratio between the strength of light and its distance.
invert@invert
V. turn upside down or inside out.
When he inverted his body in a hand stand, he felt the blood rush to his head.
inveterate@inveterate
ADJ. deep-rooted; habitual.
She is an inveterate smoker and cannot break the habit.
invidious@invidious
ADJ. designed to create ill will or envy.
We disregarded her invidious remarks because we realized how jealous she was.
invincible@invincible
ADJ. unconquerable.
Superman is invincible.
inviolable@inviolable
ADJ. secure from corruption, attack, or violation; unassailable.
Batman considered his oath to keep the people of Gotham City safe inviolable: nothing on earth could make him break this promise.
inviolability, n.
invocation@invocation
N. prayer for help; calling upon as a reference or support.
The service of Morning Prager opens with an invocation during which we ask God to hear our prayers.
invoke@invoke
V. call upon; ask for.
She invoked her advisor's aid in filling out her financial aid forms.
invulnerable@invulnerable
ADJ. incapable of injury.
Achilles was invulnerable except in his heel.
iota@iota
N. very small quantity.
She hadn't an iota of common sense.
irascible@irascible
ADJ. irritable; easily angered.
Miss Minchin's irascible temper intimidated the younger schoolgirls, who feared she'd burst into a rage at any moment.
irate@irate
ADJ. angry.
When John's mother found out that he had overdrawn his checking account for the third month in a row, she was so irate that she could scarcely speak to him.
iridescent@iridescent
ADJ. exhibiting rainbow-like colors.
She admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water.
iridescence, n.
irksome@irksome
ADJ. annoying; tedious.
He found working on the assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the operation he had to perform.
irk, v.
ironic@ironic
ADJ. occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner.
It is ironic that his success came when he least wanted it.
irony@irony
N. hidden sarcasm or satire: use of words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean.
Gradually his listeners began to realize that the excessive praise he was lavishing on his opponent was actually irony; he was, in fact, ridiculing the poor fool.
irreconcilable@irreconcilable
ADJ. incompatible; not able to be resolved.
Because the separated couple were irreconcilable, the marriage counselor recommended a divorce.
irrefutable@irrefutable
ADJ. indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable.
No matter how hard I tried to find a good comeback for her argument, I couldn't think of one: her logic was irrefutable.
irrelevant@irrelevant
ADJ. not applicable; unrelated.
No matter how irrelevant the patient's mumblings may seem, they give us some indications of what is on his mind.
irrelevancy, n.
irremediable@irremediable
ADJ. incurable; uncorrectable.
The error she made was irremediable; she could see no way to repair it.
irreparable@irreparable
ADJ. not able to be corrected or repaired.
Your apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have done to her reputation.
irrepressible@irrepressible
ADJ. unable to be restrained or held back.
My friend Kitty's curiosity was irrepressible: she poked her nose into everybody's business and just laughed when I warned her that curiosity killed the cat.
irreproachable@irreproachable
ADJ. blameless; impeccable.
Homer's conduct at the office party was irreproachable; even Marge had nothing bad to say about how he behaved.
irresolute@irresolute
ADJ. uncertain how to act; weak.
Once you have made your decision, don't waver; a leader should never appear irresolute.
irretrievable@irretrievable
ADJ. impossible to recover or regain; irreparable.
The left fielder tried to retrieve the ball, but it flew over the fence, bounced off a wall, and fell into the sewer: it was irretrievable.
irreverence@irreverence
N. lack of proper respect.
Some people in the audience were amused by the irreverence of the comedian's jokes about the Pope: others felt offended by his lack of respect for their faith.
irreverent, adj.
irrevocable@irrevocable
ADJ. unalterable; irreversible.
As Sue dropped the "Dear John" letter into the mailbox, she suddenly had second thoughts and wanted to take it back, but she could not: her action was irrevocable.
isotope@isotope
N. wrying form of an element.
The study of the isotopes of uranium led to the development of the nuclear bomb.
isthmus@isthmus
N. narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land.
In a magnificent feat of engineering, Goethals and his men cut through the isthmus of Panama in constructing the Panama Canal.
itinerant@itinerant
ADJ. wandering; traveling.
He was an itinerant peddler and traveled through Pennsylvania and Virginia selling his wares.
also n.
itinerary@itinerary
N. plan of a trip.
Disliking sudden changes in plans when she traveled abroad, Ethel refused to make any alterations in her itinerary.
jabber@jabber
V. chatter rapidly or unintelligibly.
Why does the fellow insist on jabbering away in French when I can't understand a word he says?
jaded@jaded
ADJ. fatigued; surfeited.
He looked for exotic foods to stimulate his jaded appetite.
jargon@jargon
N. language used by a special group; technical terminology; gibberish.
The computer salesmen at the store used a jargon of their own that we simply couldn't follow; we had no idea what they were jabbering about.
jaundiced@jaundiced
ADJ. prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful); yellowed.
Because Sue disliked Carolyn, she looked at Carolyn's paintings with a jaundiced eye, calling them formless smears. Newborn infants afflicted with jaundice look slightly yellow: they have jaundiced skin.
jaunt@jaunt
N. trip; short journey.
He took a quick jaunt to Atlantic City.
jaunty@jaunty
ADJ. lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree.
In Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly sang and danced his way through the lighthearted title number in a properly jaunty style.
jeopardize@jeopardize
V. endanger; imperil; put at risk.
You can't give me a D in chemistry: you'll jeopardize my chances of being admitted to M.I.T.
jeopardy, n.
jettison@jettison
V. throw overboard.
In order to enable the ship to ride safely through the storm, the captain had to jettison much of his cargo.
jibe@jibe
V. agree; be in harmony with.
Moe says Curly started the fight; Curly insists it was Moe. Their stories just don't jibe.
jingoist@jingoist
N. extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist.
Always bellowing "America first!," the congressman was such a jingoist you could almost hear the sabers rattling as he marched down the halls.
jingoism, n.
jocose@jocose
ADJ. given to joking.
The salesman was so jocose that many of his customers suggested that he become a stand-up comic.
jocular@jocular
ADJ. said or done in jest.
Although Bill knew the boss hated jokes, he couldn't resist making one jocular remark; his jocularity cost him the job.
jocund@jocund
ADJ. merry.
Santa Claus is always cheerful and jocund.
jollity@jollity
N. gaiety; cheerfulness.
The festive Christmas dinner was a merry one, and old and young alike joined in the general jollity.
jostle@jostle
V. shove; bump.
In the subway he was jostled by the crowds.
jovial@jovial
ADJ. good-natured; merry.
A frown seemed out of place on his invariably jovial face.
jubilation@jubilation
N. rejoicing.
There was great jubilation when the armistice was announced.
judicious@judicious
ADJ. sound in judgment; wise.
At a key moment in his life, he made a judicious investment that was the foundation of his later wealth.
juggernaut@juggernaut
N. irresistible crushing force.
Nothing could survive in the path of the juggernaut.
juncture@juncture
N. crisis; joining point.
At this critical juncture, let us think carefully before determining the course we shall follow.
junket@junket
N. trip, especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense.
Though she maintained she had gone abroad to collect firsthand data on the Common Market, the opposition claimed that her trip was merely a political junket.
junta@junta
N. group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal.
As soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the execution of all of the members of the junta.
jurisprudence@jurisprudence
N. science of law.
She was more a student of jurisprudence than a practitioner of the law.
justification@justification
N. good or just reason; defense; excuse.
The jury found him guilty of the more serious charge because they could see no possible justification for his actions.
juxtapose@juxtapose
V. place side by side.
Comparison will be easier if you juxtapose the two objects.
kaleidoscope@kaleidoscope
N. tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc., produce interesting symmetrical effects.
People found a new source of entertainment while peering through the kaleidoscope; they found the ever-changing patterns fascinating.
ken@ken
N. range of knowledge.
I cannot answer your question since this matter is beyond my ken.
kernel@kernel
N. central or vital part; whole seed (as of corn).
"Watson, buried within this tissue of lies there is a kernel of truth; when I find it, the mystery will be solved."
killjoy@killjoy
N. grouch; spoilsport.
At breakfast we had all been enjoying our bacon and eggs until that killjoy John started talking about how bad animal fats and cholesterol were for our health.
kindle@kindle
V. start a fire; inspire.
One of the first things Ben learned in the Boy Scouts was how to kindle a fire by rubbing two dry sticks together. Her teacher's praise for her poetry kindled a spark of hope inside Maya.
kindred@kindred
ADJ. related; similar in nature or character.
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were two kindred spirits.
also n.
kinetic@kinetic
ADJ. producing motion.
Designers of the electric automobile find that their greatest obstacle lies in the development of light and efficient storage batteries, the source of the kinetic energy needed to propel the vehicle.
kismet@kismet
N. fate.
Kismet is the Arabic word for "fate."
kleptomaniac@kleptomaniac
N. person who has a compulsive desire to steal.
They discovered that the wealthy customer was a kleptomaniac when they caught her stealing some cheap trinkets.
knave@knave
N. untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel.
Any politician nicknamed Tricky Dick clearly has the reputation of a knave.
knavery, n.
knead@knead
V. mix; work dough.
Her hands grew strong from kneading bread.
knell@knell
N. tolling of a bell, especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell.
"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day."
also v.
knit@knit
V. contract into wrinkles; grow together.
Whenever David worries, his brow knits in a frown. When he broke his leg, he sat around the house all day waiting for the bones to knit.
knoll@knoll
N. little, round hill.
Robert Louis Stevenson's grave is on a knoll in Samoa; to reach the grave site, you must climb uphill and walk a short distance along a marked path.
knotty@knotty
ADJ. intricate; difficult; tangled.
What to Watson had been a knotty problem to Sherlock Holmes was simplicity itself.
kudos@kudos
N. honor; glory; praise.
The singer complacently received kudos on his performance from his entourage.
labile@labile
ADJ. likely to change; unstable.
Because the hormonal changes they undergo affect their spirits, adolescents may become emotionally labile and experience sudden shifts of mood.
lability, n.
laborious@laborious
ADJ. demanding much work or care; tedious.
In putting together his dictionary of the English language, Doctor Johnson undertook a laborious task.
labyrinth@labyrinth
N. maze.
Hiding from Indian Joe, Tom and Becky soon lost themselves in the labyrinth of secret underground caves.
laceration@laceration
N. torn, ragged wound.
The stock-car driver needed stitches to close the lacerations he received in the car crash.
lacerate, v.
lachrymose@lachrymose
ADJ. producing tears.
His voice has a lachrymose quality that is more appropriate at a funeral than a class reunion.
lackadaisical@lackadaisical
ADJ. lacking purpose or zest; halfhearted; languid.
Because Gatsby had his mind more on his love life than on his finances, he did a very lackadaisical job of managing his money.
lackluster@lackluster
ADJ. dull.
We were disappointed by the lackluster performance.
laconic@laconic
ADJ. brief and to the point.
Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words.
laggard@laggard
ADJ. slow; sluggish.
The sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders.
lag, n., v.
lagoon@lagoon
N. shallow body of water near a sea; lake.
They enjoyed their swim in the calm lagoon.
laity@laity
N. laypersons; persons not connected with the clergy.
The laity does not always understand the clergy's problems.
lambaste@lambaste
V. beat; thrash verbally or physically.
It was painful to watch the champion lambaste his opponent, tearing into him mercilessly.
lament@lament
V. grieve; express sorrow.
Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat.
lamentation, n.
lampoon@lampoon
V. ridicule.
This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls.
also n.
lancet@lancet
N. small surgical tool for making incisions.
With the sharp tip of her lancet, Doctor Wheeler cut into the abscess, opening it to let it drain.
languid@languid
ADJ. weary; sluggish; listless.
Her siege of illness left her languid and pallid.
languish@languish
V. lose animation or strength.
Left at Miss Minchin's school for girls while her father went off to war, Sarah Crewe refused to languish; instead, she hid her grief and actively befriended her less fortunate classmates.
languor@languor
N. lassitude; depression.
His friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to the theater.
lank@lank
ADJ. long and thin.
Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln was a striking figure.
lap@lap
V. take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently.
The kitten neatly lapped up her milk. The waves softly lapped against the pier.
larceny@larceny
N. theft.
Because of the prisoner's record, the district attorney refused to reduce the charge from grand larceny to petit larceny.
larder@larder
N. pantry; place where food is kept.
The first thing Bill did on returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in the larder.
largess@largess
N. generous gift.
Lady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor.
lascivious@lascivious
ADJ. lustful.
Because they might arouse lascivious impulses in their readers, the lewd books were banned by the clergy.
lassitude@lassitude
N. languor; weariness.
After a massage and a long soak in the hot tub, I surrendered to my growing lassitude and lay down for a nap.
latent@latent
ADJ. potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden.
Polaroid pictures are popular at parties because you can see the latent photographic image gradually appear before your eyes.
latency, n.
lateral@lateral
ADJ. coming from the side.
In order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots.
latitude@latitude
N. freedom from narrow limitations.
I think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter.
laud@laud
V. praise.
The NFL lauded Boomer Esiason's efforts to raise money to combat cystic fibrosis.
also n.; laudable, laudatory, adj.
lavish@lavish
ADJ. liberal; wasteful.
The actor's lavish gifts pleased her.
also v.
lax@lax
ADJ. careless.
We dislike restaurants where the service is lax and inattentive.
leaven@leaven
V. cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven.
As bread dough is leavened, it puffs up, expanding in volume.
lechery@lechery
N. gross lewdness; lustfulness.
In his youth he led a life of lechery and debauchery; he did not mend his ways until middle age.
lecherous, adj.
lectern@lectern
N. reading desk.
The chaplain delivered his sermon from a hastily improvised lectern.
leery@leery
ADJ. suspicious; cautious.
Don't eat the sushi at this restaurant; I'm a bit leery about how fresh it is.
leeway@leeway
N. room to move; margin.
When you set a deadline, allow a little leeway.
legacy@legacy
N. a gift made by a will.
Part of my legacy from my parents is an album of family photographs.
legend@legend
N. explanatory list of symbols on a map.
The legend at the bottom of the map made it clear which symbols stood for rest areas along the highway and which stood for public camp sites.
(secondary meaning)
legerdemain@legerdemain
N. sleight of hand.
The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain.
leniency@leniency
N. mildness; permissiveness.
Considering the gravity of the offense, we were surprised by the leniency of the sentence.
lenient, adj.
leonine@leonine
ADJ. like a lion.
He was leonine in his rage.
lethal@lethal
ADJ. deadly.
It is unwise to leave lethal weapons where children may find them.
lethargic@lethargic
ADJ. drowsy; dull.
The stuffy room made her lethargic: she felt as if she was about to nod off.
lethargy, n.
levee@levee
N. earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding.
As the river rose and threatened to overflow the levee, emergency workers rushed to reinforce the walls with sandbags.
levitate@levitate
V. float in the air (especially by magical means).
As the magician passed his hands over the recumbent body of his assistant, she appeared to rise and levitate about three feet above the table.
levity@levity
N. lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity.
Stop giggling and wriggling around in the pew: such levity is improper in church.
levy@levy
V. impose (a fine); collect (a payment).
Crying "No taxation without representation!," the colonists demonstrated against England's power to levy taxes.
also n.
lewd@lewd
ADJ. lustful.
They found his lewd stories objectionable.
lexicographer@lexicographer
N. compiler of a dictionary.
The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compiling and editing the work.
lexicon@lexicon
N. dictionary.
I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library.
liability@liability
N. drawback; debts.
Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was able to overcome.
liaison@liaison
N. contact that keeps parties in communication: go-between; secret love affair.
As the liaison between the American and British forces during World War II the colonel had to ease tensions between the leaders of the two armies. Romeo's romantic liaison with Juliet ended in tragedy.
also adj.
libel@libel
N. defamatory statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character.
If Batman wrote that the Joker was a dirty, rotten, mass-murdering criminal, could the Joker sue Batman for libel?
libelous, adj.
libertine@libertine
N. debauched person, roue.
Although she was aware of his reputation as a libertine, she felt she could reform him and help him break his dissolute way of life.
libidinous@libidinous
ADJ. lustful.
They objected to his libidinous behavior.
libido@libido
N. emotional urges behind human activity.
The psychiatrist maintained that suppression of the libido often resulted in maladjustment and neuroses.
libretto@libretto
N. text of an opera.
The composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its libretto.
licentious@licentious
ADJ. amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained.
Unscrupulously seducing the daughter of his host, Don Juan felt no qualms about the immorality of his licentious behavior.
lien@lien
N. legal claim on a property.
There was a delay before Ralph could take possession of his late uncle's home; apparently, another claimant had a lien upon the estate.
ligneous@ligneous
ADJ. like wood.
Petrified wood may be ligneous in appearance, but it is stone-like in composition.
lilliputian@lilliputian
ADJ. extremely small.
Tiny and delicate, the model was built on a lilliputian scale.
also n.
limber@limber
ADJ. flexible.
Hours of ballet classes kept him limber.
limbo@limbo
N. region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; a prison (slang).
Among the divisions of Hell are Purgatory and Limbo.
limn@limn
V. draw; outline; describe.
Paradoxically, the more realistic the details this artist chooses, the better able she is to limn her fantastic, other-worldly landscapes.
limpid@limpid
ADJ. clear.
A limpid stream ran through his property.
lineage@lineage
N. descent; ancestry.
He traced his lineage back to Mayflower days.
lineaments@lineaments
N. features, especially of the face.
She quickly sketched the lineaments of his face.
linger@linger
V. loiter or dawdle; continue or persist.
Hoping to see Juliet pass by, Romeo lingered outside the Capulet house for hours. Though Mother made stuffed cabbage on Monday, the smell lingered around the house for days.
linguistic@linguistic
ADJ. pertaining to language.
The modern tourist will encounter very little linguistic difficulty as English has become an almost universal language.
lionize@lionize
V. treat as a celebrity.
She enjoyed being lionized and adored by the public.
liquidate@liquidate
V. settle accounts; clear up.
He was able to liquidate all his debts in a short period of time.
list@list
V. tilt; lean over.
That flagpole should be absolutely vertical; instead, it lists to one side.
(secondary meaning) also n.
listless@listless
ADJ. lacking in spirit or energy.
We had expected her to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by her listless attitude.
litany@litany
N. supplicatory prayer.
On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity.
lithe@lithe
ADJ. flexible; supple.
Her figure was lithe and willowy.
litigation@litigation
N. lawsuit.
Try to settle this amicably; I do not want to start litigation.
litigant, n.
litotes@litotes
N. understatement for emphasis.
To say, "He little realizes," when we mean that he does not realize at all, is an example of the kind of understatement we call litotes.
livid@livid
ADJ. lead-colored; black and blue; ashen; enraged.
His face was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might have an attack of apoplexy.
loath@loath
ADJ. reluctant; disinclined.
Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go.
loathe@loathe
V. detest.
Booing and hissing, the audience showed how much they loathed the villain.
loathsome, adj.
lode@lode
N. metal-bearing vein.
If this lode that we have discovered extends for any distance, we have found a fortune.
lofty@lofty
ADJ. very high.
Though Barbara Jordan's fellow students used to tease her about her lofty ambitions, she rose to hold one of the highest positions in the land.
log@log
N. record of a voyage or flight; record of day-today activities.
"Flogged two seamen today for insubordination," wrote Captain Bligh in the Bounty's log. To see how much work I've accomplished recently, just take a look at the number of new files listed on my computer log.
also v.
loiter@loiter
V. hang around; linger.
The policeman told him not to loiter in the alley.
loll@loll
V. lounge about.
They lolled around in their chairs watching television.
longevity@longevity
N. long life.
When he reached ninety, the old man was proud of his longevity.
loom@loom
V. appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged or distorted form).
The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly above the small boy.
lope@lope
V. gallop slowly.
As the horses loped along, we had an opportunity to admire the ever-changing scenery.
loquacious@loquacious
ADJ. talkative.
Though our daughter barely says a word to us these days, put a phone in her hand and see how loquacious she can be: our phone bills are out of sight!
loquacity, n.
lout@lout
N. clumsy person.
The delivery boy is an awkward lout.
loutish, adj.
low@low
V. moo.
From the hilltop, they could see the herd like ants in the distance; they could barely hear the cattle low.
lucid@lucid
ADJ. easily understood; clear; intelligible.
Lexy makes an excellent teacher: her explanations of technical points are lucid enough for a child to grasp.
lucidity, n.
lucrative@lucrative
ADJ. profitable.
He turned his hobby into a lucrative profession.
lucre@lucre
N. money.
Preferring lucre to undying fame, he wrote stories of popular appeal.
ludicrous@ludicrous
ADJ. laughable; trifling.
Let us be serious; this is not a ludicrous issue.
lugubrious@lugubrious
ADJ. mournful.
The lugubrious howling of the dogs added to our sadness.
lull@lull
N. moment of calm.
Not wanting to get wet, they waited under the awning for a lull in the rain.
lumber@lumber
V. move heavily or clumsily.
Still somewhat torpid after its long hibernation, the bear lumbered through the woods.
lumen@lumen
N. unit of light energy (one candle's worth).
In buying light bulbs, she checked not only their power, as measured in watts, but their brightness, as measured in lumens.
luminary@luminary
N. celebrity; dignitary.
A leading light of the American stage, Ethel Barrymore was a theatrical luminary whose name lives on.
luminous@luminous
ADJ. shining; issuing light.
The sun is a luminolrs body.
lunar@lunar
ADJ. pertaining to the moon.
Lunar craters can be plainly seen with the aid of a small telescope.
lunge@lunge
V. make a quick forward dive or reach; thrust.
The wide receiver lunged forward to grab the football. With his sword, Dartagnan lunged at his adversary.
also n.
lurid@lurid
ADJ. wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome.
Do the lurid cover stories in the Enquirer actually influence people to buy that trashy tabloid?
lurk@lurk
V. stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived.
"Who knows what evils lurk in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows."
luscious@luscious
ADJ. pleasing to taste or smell.
The ripe peach was luscious.
luster@luster
N. shine; gloss.
The soft luster of the silk in the dim light was pleasing.
lustrous@lustrous
ADJ. shining.
Her large and lustrous eyes gave a touch of beauty to an otherwise drab face.
luxuriant@luxuriant
ADJ. abundant; rich and splendid; fertile.
Lady Godiva was completely covered by her luxuriant hair.
macabre@macabre
ADJ. gruesome; grisly.
The city morgue is a macabre spot for the uninitiated.
mace@mace
N. ceremonial staff; club-like medieval weapon.
The Grand Marshal of the parade raised his mace to signal that it was time for the procession to begin.
macerate@macerate
V. soften by soaking in liquid; waste away.
The strawberries had been soaking in the champagne for so long that they had begun to macerate: they literally fell apart at the touch of a spoon.
Machiavellian@Machiavellian
ADJ. crafty; double-dealing.
I do not think he will be a good ambassador because he is not accustomed to the Machiavellian maneuverings of foreign diplomats.
machinations@machinations
N. evil schemes or plots.
Fortunately, Batman saw through the wily machinations of the Riddler and saved Gotham City from destruction by the forces of evil.
maculated@maculated
ADJ. spotted; stained.
Instead of writing that Gorbachev had a birthmark on his forehead, the pompous young poet sang of the former premier's maculated brow.
madrigal@madrigal
N. pastoral song.
Her program of folk songs included several madrigals that she sang to the accompaniment of a lute.
maelstrom@maelstrom
N. whirlpool.
The canoe was tossed about in the maelstrom.
magisterial@magisterial
ADJ. authoritative; imperious.
The learned doctor laid down the law to his patient in a magisterial tone of voice.
magnanimity@magnanimity
N. generosity.
Noted for his magnanimity, philanthropist Eugene Lang donated millions to charity.
magnanimous, adj.
magnate@magnate
N. person of prominence or influence.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Annie Dillard was surrounded by the mansions of the great steel and coal magnates who set their mark on that city.
magniloquent@magniloquent
ADJ. boastful, pompous.
In their stories of the trial, the reporters ridiculed the magniloquent speeches of the defense attorney.
magnitude@magnitude
N. greatness; extent.
It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of his crime.
maim@maim
V. mutilate; injure.
The hospital could not take care of all who had been mangled or maimed in the railroad accident.
maladroit@maladroit
ADJ. clumsy; bungling.
"Oh! My stupid tongue!" exclaimed Jane, embarrassed at having said anything so maladroit.
malady@malady
N. illness.
A mysterious malady swept the country, filling doctors' offices with feverish, purple-spotted patients.
malaise@malaise
N. uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health.
Feeling slightly queasy before going onstage, Carol realized that this touch of malaise was merely stage fright.
malapropism@malapropism
N. comic misuse of a word.
When Mrs. Malaprop criticizes Lydia for being "as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile, she confuses "allegory" and "alligator" in a typical malapropism.
malcontent@malcontent
N. person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs.
He was one of the few malcontents in Congress; he constantly voiced his objections to the Presidential program.
also adj.
malediction@malediction
N. curse.
When the magic mirror revealed that Snow White was still alive, the wicked queen cried out in rage and uttered dreadful maledictions.
malefactor@malefactor
N. evildoer; criminal.
Mighty Mouse will save the day, hunting down malefactors and rescuing innocent mice from peril.
malevolent@malevolent
ADJ. wishing evil.
Iago is a malevolent villain who takes pleasure in ruining Othello.
malevolence, n.
malfeasance@malfeasance
N. wrongdoing.
The authorities did not discover the campaign manager's malfeasance until after he had spent most of the money he had embezzled.
malicious@malicious
ADJ. hateful: spiteful.
Jealous of Cindereila's beauty; her malicious stepsisters expressed their spite by forcing her to do menial tasks.
malice, n.
malign@malign
V. speak evil of; bad-mouth; defame.
Putting her hands over her ears, Rose refused to listen to Betty malign her friend Susan.
malignant@malignant
ADJ. injurious; tending to cause death; aggressively malevolent.
Though many tumors are benign, some are malignant, growing out of control and endangering the life of the patient.
malignancy, n.
malingerer@malingerer
N. one who feigns illness to escape duty.
The captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers and force them to work.
malinger, v.
malleable@malleable
ADJ. capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable.
Gold is a malleable metal, easily shaped into bracelets and rings. Fagin hoped Oliver was a malleable lad, easily shaped into a thief.
malodorous@malodorous
ADJ. foul-smelling.
The compost heap was most malodorous in summer.
mammal@mammal
N. vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young.
Many people regard the whale as a fish and do not realize that it is a mammal.
mammoth@mammoth
ADJ. gigantic; enormous.
To try to memorlze every word on this vocabulary list would be a mammoth undertaking; take on projects that are more manqgeable in size.
manacle@manacle
V. restrain; handcuff.
The police immmiately manacled the prisoner so he could not escape.
also n.
mandate@mandate
N. order; charge.
In his inaugural address, the President stated that he had a mandate from the people to seek an end to social evils such as poverty and poor housing.
also v.
mandatory@mandatory
ADJ. obligatory.
These instructions are mandatory; any violation will be severely punished.
mangy@mangy
ADJ. shabby; wretched.
We finally threw out the mangy rug that the dog had destroyed.
maniacal@maniacal
ADJ. raging mad; insane.
Though Mr. Rochester had locked his mad wife in the attic, he could still hear her maniacal laughter echoing throughout the house.
maniac, n.
manifest@manifest
ADJ. evident; visible; obvious.
Digby's embarrassment when he met Madonna was manifest: his ears turned bright pink, he kept scuffing one shoe in the dirt, and he couldn't look her in the eye.
manifestation@manifestation
N. outward demonstration; indication.
Mozart's early attraction to the harpsichord was the first manifestation of his pronounced musical bent.
manifesto@manifesto
N. declaration: statement of policy.
The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels proclaimed the principles of modern communism.
manifold@manifold
ADJ. numerous; varied.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your manifold kindnesses.
manipulate@manipulate
V. operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.) artfully.
Jim Henson understood how to manipulate the Muppets. Madonna understands how to manipulate publicity (and men).
mannered@mannered
ADJ. affected: not natural.
Attempting to copy the style of his wealthy neighbors, Gatsby adopted a mannered, artificial way of speech.
manumit@manumit
V. emancipate; free from bondage.
Enlightened slave owners were willing to manumit their slaves and thus put an end to the evil of slavery in the country.
marital@marital
ADJ. pertaining to marriage.
After the publication of his book on marital affairs, he was often consulted by married people on the verge of divorce.
maritime@maritime
ADJ. bordering on the sea; nautical.
The Maritime Provinces depend on the sea for their wealth.
marked@marked
ADJ. noticeable; targeted for vengeance.
He walked with a marked limp, a souvenir of an old IRA attack. As British ambassador, he knew he was a marked man.
marred@marred
ADJ. damaged; disfigured.
She had to refinish the marred surface of the table.
mar, v.
marshal@marshal
V. put in order.
At a debate tournament, extemporaneous speakers have only a minute or two to marshal their thoughts before addressing their audience.
marsupial@marsupial
N. one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch.
The most common marsupial in North America is the opossum.
martial@martial
ADJ. warlike.
The sound of martial music inspired the young cadet with dreams of military glory.
martinet@martinet
N. rigid disciplinarian; strict military officer.
No talking at meals! No mingling with the servants! Miss Minchin was a martinet who insisted that the schoolgirls in her charge observe each regulation to the letter.
martyr@martyr
N. one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer.
By burning her at the stake, the English made Joan of Arc a martyr for her faith. Mother played the martyr by staying home to clean the house while the rest of the family went off to the beach.
masochist@masochist
N. person who enjoys his own pain.
The masochist begs. "Hit me." The sadist smiles and says, "I won't."
masticate@masticate
V. chew.
We must masticate our food carefully and slowly in order to avoid digestive disorders.
materialism@materialism
N. preoccupation with physical comforts and things.
By its nature, materialism is opposed to idealism, for where the materialist emphasizes the needs of the body, the idealist emphasizes the needs of the soul.
maternal@maternal
ADJ. motherly.
Many animals display maternal instincts only while their offspring are young and helpless.
maternity, n.
matriarch@matriarch
N. woman who rules a family or larger social group.
The matriarch ruled her gypsy tribe with a firm hand.
matriculate@matriculate
V. enroll (in college or graduate school).
Incoming students formally matriculate at our college in a special ceremony during which they sign the official register of students.
matrix@matrix
N. point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die.
Some historians claim the Nile Valley was the matrix of Western civilization.
maudlin@maudlin
ADJ. effusively sentimental.
Whenever a particularly maudlin tearjerker was playing at the movies, Marvin would embarrass himself by weeping copiously.
maul@maul
V. handle roughly.
The rock star was mauled by his overexcited fans.
mausoleum@mausoleum
N. monumental tomb.
His body was placed in the family mausoleum.
mauve@mauve
ADJ. pale purple.
The mauve tint in the lilac bush was another indication that spring had finally arrived.
maverick@maverick
N. rebel; nonconformist.
To the masculine literary establishment, George Sand with her insistence on wearing trousers and smoking cigars was clearly a maverick who fought her proper womanly role.
mawkish@mawkish
ADJ. mushy and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; maudlin.
Whenever Gigi and her boyfriend would sigh and get all lovey-dovey, her little brother would shout, "Yuck! ," protesting their mawkish behavior.
maxim@maxim
N. proverb; a truth pithily stated.
Aesop's fables illustrate moral maxims.
mayhem@mayhem
N. injury to body.
The riot was marked not only by mayhem, with its attendant loss of life and limb, but also by arson and pillage.
meager@meager
ADJ. scanty; inadequate.
Still hungry after his meager serving of porridge, Oliver Twist asked for a second helping.
mealymouthed@mealymouthed
ADJ. indirect in speech; hypocritical; evasive.
Rather than tell Jill directly what he disliked, Jack made a few mealymouthed comments and tried to change the subject.
meander@meander
V. wind or turn in its course.
Needing to stay close to a source of water, he followed every twist and turn of the stream as it meandered through the countryside.
meddlesome@meddlesome
ADJ. interfering.
He felt his marriage was suffering because of his meddlesome mother-in-law.
mediate@mediate
V. settle a dispute through the services of an outsider.
King Solomon was asked to mediate a dispute between two women, each of whom claimed to be the mother of the same child.
mediocre@mediocre
ADJ. ordinary; commonplace.
We were disappointed because he gave a rather mediocre performance in this role.
meditation@meditation
N. reflection: thought.
She reached her decision only after much meditation.
medium@medium
N. element that is a creature's natural environment: nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated.
We watched the dolphins sporting in the sea and marveled at their grace in their proper medium. The bacteriologist carefully observed the microorganisms' rapid growth in the culture medium.
N. appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise.
Film was Anna's medium: she expressed herself through her cinematography. However, she never watched television, claiming she despised the medium. For Anna, it was all or nothing: she could never strike a happy medium.
medley@medley
N. mixture.
To avoid boring dancers by playing any one tune for too long, bands may combine three or four tunes into a medley.
meek@meek
ADJ. submissive; patient and long-suffering.
Mr. Barrett never expected his meek daughter would dare to defy him by eloping with her suitor.
megalomania@megalomania
N. mania for doing grandiose things.
Developers who spend millions trying to build the world's tallest skyscraper suffer from megalomania.
melancholy@melancholy
ADJ. gloomy; morose; blue.
To Eugene, stuck in his small town, a train whistle was a melancholy sound, for it made him think of all the places he would never get to see.
melee@melee
N. fight.
The captain tried to ascertain the cause of the melee that had broken out among the crew members.
mellifluous@mellifluous
ADJ. sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious.
Italian is a mellifluous language, especially suited to being sung.
memento@memento
N. token; reminder.
Take this book as a memento of your visit.
memorialize@memorialize
V. commemorate.
Let us memorialize his great contribution by dedicating this library in his honor.
menagerie@menagerie
N. collection of wild animals.
Whenever the children run wild around the house, Mom shouts, "Calm down! I'm not running a menagerie!"
mendacious@mendacious
ADJ. lying; habitually dishonest.
Distrusting Huck from the start, Miss Watson assumed he was mendacious and refused to believe a word he said.
mendacity, n.
mendicant@mendicant
N. beggar.
"O noble sir, give alms to the poor," cried Aladdin, playing the mendicant.
mendicancy, n.
menial@menial
ADJ. suitable for servants; lowly; mean.
Her wicked stepmother forced Cinderella to do menial tasks around the house while her ugly stepsisters lolled around painting their toenails.
also n.
mentor@mentor
N. counselor; teacher.
During this very trying period, she could not have had a better mentor, for the teacher was sympathetic and understanding.
mercantile@mercantile
ADJ. concerning trade.
I am more interested in the opportunities available in the mercantile field than I am in those in the legal profession.
mercenary@mercenary
ADJ. motivated solely by money or gain.
"I'm not in this war because I get my kicks waving flags," said the mercenary soldier. "I'm in it for the dough."
also n.
mercurial@mercurial
ADJ. capricious; changing; fickle.
Quick as quicksilver to change, he was mercurial in nature and therefore unreliable.
meretricious@meretricious
ADJ. flashy; tawdry.
Her jewels were inexpensive but not meretricious.
merger@merger
N. combination (of two business corporations).
When the firm's president married the director of financial planning, the office joke was that it wasn't a marriage, it was a merger.
mesmerize@mesmerize
V. hypnotize.
The incessant drone seemed to mesmerize him and place him in a trance.
metallurgical@metallurgical
ADJ. pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores.
During the course of his metallurgical research, the scientist developed a steel alloy of tremendous strength.
metamorphosis@metamorphosis
N. change of form.
The metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly is typical of many such changes in animal life.
metamorphose, v.
metaphor@metaphor
N. implied comparison.
"He soared like an eagle" is an example of a simile; "He is an eagle in flight," a metaphor.
metaphysical@metaphysical
ADJ. pertaining to speculative philosophy.
The modern poets have gone back to the fanciful poems of the metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century for many of their images.
metaphysics, n.
mete@mete
V. measure; distribute.
He tried to be impartial in his efforts to mete out justice.
meteoric@meteoric
ADJ. swift; momentarily brilliant.
We all wondered at his meteoric rise to fame.
methodical@methodical
ADJ. systematic.
An accountant must be methodical and maintain order among his financial records.
meticulous@meticulous
ADJ. excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous.
Martha Stewart was a meticulous housekeeper, fussing about each and every detail that went into making up her perfect home.
metropolis@metropolis
N. large city.
Every evening this terminal is filled with the thousands of commuters who are going from this metropolis to their homes in the suburbs.
mettle@mettle
N. courage; spirit.
When challenged by the other horses in the race, the thoroughbred proved its mettle by its determination to hold the lead.
mettlesome, adj.
miasma@miasma
N. swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere, often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence.
The smog hung over Victorian London like a dark cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was a visible miasma.
microcosm@microcosm
N. small world; the world in miniature.
The village community that Jane Austen depicts serves as a microcosm of English society in her time, for in this small world we see all the social classes meeting and mingling.
migrant@migrant
ADJ. changing its habitat; wandering.
These migrant birds return every spring.
also n.
migratory@migratory
ADJ. wandering.
The return of the migratory birds to the northern sections of this country is a harbinger of spring.
milieu@milieu
N. environment; means of expression.
Surrounded by smooth preppies and arty bohemians, the country boy from Smalltown, USA, felt out of his milieu. Although he has produced excellent oil paintings and lithographs, his proper milieu is watercolor.
militant@militant
ADJ. combative; bellicose.
Although at this time he was advocating a policy of neutrality, one could usually find him adopting a more militant attitude.
also n.
militate@militate
V. work against.
Your record of lateness and absence will militate against your chances of promotion.
millennium@millennium
N. thousand-year period; period of happiness and prosperity.
I do not expect the millennium to come during my lifetime.
mimicry@mimicry
N. imitation.
Her gift for mimicry was so great that her friends said that she should be in the theater.
minatory@minatory
ADJ. menacing; threatening.
Jabbing a minatory forefinger at Dorothy, the Wicked Witch cried, "I'll gel you, and your little dog, too!"
mincing@mincing
ADJ. affectedly dainty.
Yum-Yum walked across the stage with mincing steps.
minion@minion
N. a servile dependent.
He was always accompanied by several of his minions because he enjoyed their subservience and flattery.
minuscule@minuscule
ADJ. extremely small.
Why should I involve myself with a project with so minuscule a chance for success?
minute@minute
ADJ. extremely small.
The twins resembled one another closely; only minute differences set them apart.
minutiae@minutiae
N., petty details.
She would have liked to ignore the minutiae of daily living.
mirage@mirage
N. unreal reflection; optical illusion.
The lost prospector was fooled by a mirage in the desert.
mire@mire
V. entangle; stick in swampy ground.
Their rear wheels became mired in mud.
also n.
mirth@mirth
N. merriment; laughter.
Sober Malvolio found Sir Toby's mirth improper.
misadventure@misadventure
N. mischance; ill luck.
The young explorer met death by misadventure.
misanthrope@misanthrope
N. one who hates mankind.
In Gulliver's Travels, Swift portrays human beings as vile, degraded beasts; for this reason, various critics consider him a misanthrope.
misanthropic, adj.
misapprehension@misapprehension
N. error; misunderstanding.
To avoid misapprehension, I am going to ask all of you to repeat the instructions I have given.
miscellany@miscellany
N. mixture of writings on various subjects.
This is an interesting miscellany of nineteenth-century prose and poetry.
mischance@mischance
N. ill luck.
By mischance, he lost his week's salary.
misconstrue@misconstrue
V. interpret incorrectly; misjudge.
She took the passage seriously rather than humorously because she misconstrued the author's ironic tone.
miscreant@miscreant
N. wretch; villain.
His kindness to the miscreant amazed all of us who had expected to hear severe punishment pronounced.
misdemeanor@misdemeanor
N. minor crime.
The culprit pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor rather than face trial for a felony.
miserly@miserly
ADJ. stingy; mean.
Transformed by his vision or; Christmas Eve; mean old Scrooge ceased being miserly and became a generous, kind old man.
miser, n.
misgivings@misgivings
N. doubts.
Hamlet described his misgivings to Horatio but decided to fence with Laertes despite his foreboding of evil.
mishap@mishap
N. accident.
With a little care you could have avoided this mishap.
misnomer@misnomer
N. wrong name; incorrect designation.
His tyrannical conduct proved to all that his nickname, King Eric the Just, was a misnomer.
misogamy@misogamy
N. hatred of marriage.
He remained a bachelor not because of misogamy but because of ill fate: his fiancee died before the wedding.
misogynist@misogynist
N. hater of women.
She accused him of being a misogynist because he had been a bachelor all his life.
missile@missile
N. object to be thrown or projected.
After carefully folding his book report into a paper airplane, Beavis threw the missile across the classroom at Butthead. Rocket scientists are building guided missiles; Beavis and Butthead car) barely make unguided ones.
missive@missive
N. letter.
The ambassador received a missive from the Secretary of State.
mite@mite
N. very small object or creature; small coin.
Gnats are annoying mites that sting.
mitigate@mitigate
V. appease; moderate.
Nothing Jason did could mitigate Medea's anger; she refused to forgive him for betraying her.
mnemonic@mnemonic
ADJ. pertaining to memory.
She used mnemonic tricks to master new words.
mobile@mobile
ADJ. movable; not fixed.
The mobile blood bank operated by the Red Cross visited our neighborhood today.
mobility, n.
mock@mock
V. ridicule; imitate, often in derision.
It is unkind to mock anyone; it is stupid to mock anyone significantly bigger than you.
mockery, n.
mode@mode
N. prevailing style; manner; way of doing something.
The rock star had to have her hair done in the latest mode: frizzed, with occasional moussed spikes for variety. Henry plans to adopt a simpler mode of life: he is going to become a mushroom hunter and live off the land.
modicum@modicum
N. limited quantity.
Although his story is based on a modicum of truth, most of the events he describes are fictitious.
modish@modish
ADJ. fashionable.
She always discarded all garments that were no longer modish.
modulate@modulate
V. tone down in intensity; regulate: change from one key to another.
Always singing at the top of her lungs, the budding Brunhilde never learned to modulate her voice.
modulation, n.
mogul@mogul
N. powerful person.
The oil moguls made great profits when the price of gasoline rose.
molecule@molecule
N. the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance.
In chemistry, we study how atoms and molecules react to form new substances.
mollify@mollify
V. soothe.
The airline customer service representative tried to mollify the angry passenger by offering her a seat in first class.
mollycoddle@mollycoddle
V. pamper; indulge excessively.
Don't mollycoddle the boy, Maud! You'll spoil him.
molt@molt
V. shed or cast off hair or feathers.
When Molly's canary molted, he shed feathers all over the house.
molten@molten
ADJ. melted.
The city of Pompeii was destroyed by volcanic ash rather than by molten lava flowing from Mount Vesuvius.
momentous@momentous
ADJ. very important.
When Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium, they had no idea of the momentous impact their discovery would have upon society.
momentum@momentum
N. quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus.
The car lost momentum as it tried to ascend the steep hill.
monarchy@monarchy
N. government under a single ruler.
Though England today is a monarchy, there is some question whether it will be one in 20 years, given the present discontent at the prospect of Prince Charles as king.
monastic@monastic
ADJ. related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns.
Withdrawing from the world, Thomas Merton joined a contemplative religious order and adopted the monastic life.
monetary@monetary
ADJ. pertaining to money.
Jane held the family purse strings: she made all monetary decisions affecting the household.
monochromatic@monochromatic
ADJ. having only one color.
Most people who are color blind actually can distinguish several colors; some, however, have a truly monochromatic view of a world all in shades of gray.
monolithic@monolithic
ADJ. solidly uniform; unyielding.
Knowing the importance of appearing resolute, the patriots sought to present a monolithic front.
monotheism@monotheism
N. belief in one God.
Abraham was the first to proclaim his belief in monotheism.
monotony@monotony
N. sameness leading to boredom.
What could be more deadly dull than the monotony of punching numbers into a computer hour after hour?
monotonous, adj.
monumental@monumental
ADJ. massive.
Writing a dictionary is a monumental task.
moodiness@moodiness
N. fits of depression or gloom.
We could not discover the cause of her recurrent moodiness.
moratorium@moratorium
N. legal delay of payment.
If we declare a moratorium and delay collection of debts for six months, I am sure the farmers will be able to meet their bills.
morbid@morbid
ADJ. given to unwholesome thought; moody; characteristic of disease.
People who come to disaster sites just to peer at the grisly wreckage are indulging their morbid curiosity.
morbidity, n.
mordant@mordant
ADJ. biting; sarcastic; stinging.
Actors feared the critic's mordant pen.
mores@mores
N. conventions; moral standards; customs.
In America, Benazir Bhutto dressed as Western women did; in Pakistan, however, she followed the mores of her people, dressing in traditional veil and robes.
moribund@moribund
ADJ. dying.
Hearst took a moribund, failing weekly newspaper and transformed it into one of the liveliest, most profitable daily papers around.
morose@morose
ADJ. ill-humored; sullen; melancholy.
Forced to take early retirement, Bill acted morose for months; then, all of a sudden, he shook off his gloom and was his usual cheerful self.
mortician@mortician
N. undertaker.
The mortician prepared the corpse for burial.
mortify@mortify
V. humiliate; punish the flesh.
She was so mortified by her blunder that she ran to her room in tears.
mosaic@mosaic
N. picture made of small, colorful inlaid tiles.
The mayor compared the city to a beautiful mosaic made up of people of every race and religion on earth.
also adj.
mote@mote
N. small speck.
The tiniest mote in the eye is very painful.
motif@motif
N. theme.
This simple motif runs throughout the score.
motility@motility
N. ability to move spontaneously.
Certain organisms exhibit remarkable motility; motile spores, for example, may travel for miles before coming to rest.
motile, adj.
motley@motley
ADJ. multicolored; mixed.
The jester wore a motley tunic, red and green and blue and gold all patched together haphazardly. Captain Ahab had gathered a motley crew to sail the vessel: old sea dogs and runaway boys, pillars of the church and drunkards, even a tattooed islander who terrified the rest of the crew.
mottled@mottled
ADJ. blotched in coloring; spotted.
When old Falstaff blushed, his face became mottled, all pink and purple and red.
mountebank@mountebank
N. charlatan; boastful pretender.
The patent medicine man was a mountebank.
muddle@muddle
V. confuse; mix up.
Her thoughts were muddled and chaotic.
also n.
muggy@muggy
ADJ. warm and damp.
August in New York City is often muggy.
mulct@mulct
V. defraud a person of something.
The lawyer was accused of trying to mulct the boy of his legacy.
multifarious@multifarious
ADJ. varied; greatly diversified.
A career woman and mother, she was constantly busy with the multifarious activities of her daily life.
multiform@multiform
ADJ. having many forms.
Snowflakes are multiform but always hexagonal.
multilingual@multilingual
ADJ. having many languages.
Because they are bordered by so many countries, the Swiss people are multilingual.
multiplicity@multiplicity
N. state of being numerous.
She was appalled by the multiplicity of details she had to complete before setting out on her mission.
mundane@mundane
ADJ. worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday.
Uninterested in philosophical or spiritual discussions, Tom talked only of mundane matters such as the daily weather forecast or the latest basketball results.
munificent@munificent
ADJ. very generous.
Shamelessly fawning over a particularly generous donor, the dean kept referring to her as "our munificent benefactor."
munificence, n.
mural@mural
N. wall painting.
The walls of the Chicano Community Center are covered with murals painted in the style of Diego Rivera, the great Mexican artist.
murky@murky
ADJ. dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague.
The murky depths of the swamp were so dark that you couldn't tell the vines and branches from the snakes.
murkiness, n.
muse@muse
V. ponder.
For a moment he mused about the beauty of the scene, but his thoughts soon changed as he recalled his own personal problems.
also n.
musky@musky
ADJ. having the odor of musk.
She left a trace of musky perfume behind her.
muster@muster
V. gather; assemble.
Washington mustered his forces at Trenton.
musty@musty
ADJ. stale; spoiled by age.
The attic was dark and musty.
mutability@mutability
N. ability to change in form: fickleness.
Going from rags to riches, and then back to rags again, the bankrupt financier was a victim of the mutability of fortune.
mutable, adj.
muted@muted
ADJ. silent; muffled; toned down.
Thanks to the thick, sound-absorbing walls of the cathedral, only muted traffic noise reached the worshippers within.
mute, v., n.
mutilate@mutilate
V. maim.
The torturer threatened to mutilate his victim.
mutinous@mutinous
ADJ. unruly; rebellious.
The captain had to use force to quiet his mutinous crew.
mutiny, n.
myopic@myopic
ADJ. nearsighted; lacking foresight.
Stumbling into doors despite the coke-bottle lenses on his glasses, the nearsighted Mr. Magoo is markedly myopic. In playing all summer long and failing to store up food for winter, the grasshopper in Aesop's fable was myopic as well.
myopia, n.
myriad@myriad
N. very large number.
Myriads of mosquitoes from the swamps invaded our village every twilight.
also adj.
nadir@nadir
N. lowest point.
Although few people realized it, the Dow-Jones averages had reached their nadir and would soon begin an upward surge.
naivete@naivete
N. quality of being unsophisticated: simplicity; artlessness; gullibility.
Touched by the naivete of sweet convent-trained Cosette, Marius pledges himself to protect her innocence.
naive, adj.
narcissist@narcissist
N. conceited person.
A narcissist is his own best friend.
narrative@narrative
ADJ. related to telling a story.
A born teller of tales, Olsen used her impressive narrative skills to advantage in her story "I Stand Here Ironing."
also n.; narration, n.
nascent@nascent
ADJ. incipient: coming into being.
If we could identify these revolutionary movements in their nascent state, we would be able to eliminate serious trouble in later years.
natation@natation
N. swimming.
The Red Cross emphasizes the need for courses in natation.
natty@natty
ADJ. neatly or smartly dressed.
Priding himself on being a natty dresser, the gangster Bugsy Siegel collected a wardrobe of imported suits and ties.
nauseate@nauseate
V. cause to become sick; fill with disgust.
The foul smells began to nauseate her.
nautical@nautical
ADJ. pertaining to ships or navigation.
The Maritime Museum contains many models of clipper ships, logbooks, anchors and many other items of a nautical nature.
navigable@navigable
ADJ. wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; able to be steered.
So much sand had built up at the bottom of the canal that the waterway was barely navigable.
nebulous@nebulous
ADJ. vague; hazy; cloudy.
Phil and Dave tried to come up with a clear, intelligible business plan, not some hazy, nebulous proposal.
necromancy@necromancy
N. black magic; dealings with the dead.
The evil sorcerer performed feats of necromancy, calling on the spirits of the dead to tell the future.
necromancer, n.
nefarious@nefarious
ADJ. very wicked.
The villain's crimes, though various, were one and all nefarious.
negate@negate
V. cancel out; nullify; deny.
A sudden surge of adrenalin can negate the effects of fatigue: there's nothing like a good shock to wake you up.
negation, n.
negligence@negligence
N. neglect; failure to take reasonable care.
Tommy failed to put back the cover on the well after he fetched his pail of water; because of his negligence, Kitty fell in.
negligent, adj.
negligible@negligible
ADJ. so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded.
Because the damage to his car had been negligible, Michael decided he wouldn't bother to report the matter to his insurance company.
nemesis@nemesis
N. someone seeking revenge.
Abandoned at sea in a small boat, the vengeful Captain Bligh vowed to be the nemesis of Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers.
neologism@neologism
N. new or newly coined word or phrase.
As we invent new techniques and professions, we must also invent neologisms such as "microcomputer" and "astronaut" to describe them.
neophyte@neophyte
N. recent convert; beginner.
This mountain slope contains slides that will challenge experts as well as neophytes.
nepotism@nepotism
N. favoritism (to a relative).
John left his position with the company because he felt that advancement was based on nepotism rather than ability.
nether@nether
ADJ. lower.
Tradition locates hell in the nether regions.
nettle@nettle
V. annoy; vex.
Do not let her nettle you with her sarcastic remarks.
nexus@nexus
N. connection.
I fail to see the nexus that binds these two widely separated events.
nib@nib
N. beak; pen point.
The nibs of fountain pens often become clotted and corroded.
nicety@nicety
N. precision; minute distinction.
I cannot distinguish between such niceties of reasoning.
nice, adj. (secondary meaning)
niggardly@niggardly
ADJ. meanly stingy; parsimonious.
The niggardly pittance the widow receives from the government cannot keep her from poverty.
niggle@niggle
V. spend too much time on minor points; carp.
Let's not niggle over details.
niggling, adj.
nihilist@nihilist
N. one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist.
In his final days, Hitler revealed himself a power-mad nihilist, ready to annihilate all of Western Europe, even to destroy Germany itself, in order that his will might prevail.
The root of the word nihilist is nihil, Latin for "nothing." nihilism, n.
nip@nip
V. stop something's growth or development; snip off: bite; make numb with cold.
The twins were plotting mischief, but Mother intervened and nipped their plan in the bud. The gardener nipped off a lovely rose and gave it to me. Last week a guard dog nipped the postman in the leg; this week the extreme chill nipped his fingers till he could barely hold the mail.
nirvana@nirvana
N. in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude.
Despite his desire to achieve nirvana, the young Buddhist found that even the buzzing of a fly could distract him from his meditation.
nocturnal@nocturnal
ADJ. done at night.
Mr. Jones obtained a watchdog to prevent the nocturnal raids on his chicken coops.
noisome@noisome
ADJ. foul-smelling; unwholesome.
The noisome atmosphere downwind of the oil refinery not only stank but also damaged the lungs of everyone living in the area.
nomadic@nomadic
ADJ. wandering.
Several nomadic tribes of Indians would hunt in this area each year.
nomad, n.
nomenclature@nomenclature
N. terminology; system of names.
Sharon found Latin word parts useful in translating medical nomenclature: when her son had to have a bilateral myringotomy, she figured out that he needed a hole in each of his eardrums to end his earaches.
nominal@nominal
ADJ. in name only; trifling.
He offered to drive her to the airport for only a nominal fee.
nonchalance@nonchalance
N. indifference; lack of concern: composure.
Cool, calm, and collected under fire, James Bond shows remarkable nonchalance in the face of danger.
nonchalant, adj.
noncommittal@noncommittal
ADJ. neutral; unpledged; undecided.
We were annoyed by his noncommittal reply for we had been led to expect definite assurances of his approval.
nondescript@nondescript
ADJ. undistinctive; ordinary.
The private detective was a short, nondescript fellow with no outstanding features, the sort of person one would never notice in a crowd.
nonentity@nonentity
N. person of no importance; nonexistence.
Because the two older princes dismissed their youngest brother as a nonentity, they did not realize that he was quietly plotting to seize the throne.
nonplus@nonplus
V. bring to a halt by confusion; perplex.
Jack's uncharacteristic rudeness nonplussed Jill, leaving her uncertain how to react.
nostalgia@nostalgia
N. homesickness; longing for the past.
My grandfather seldom spoke of life in the old country; he had little patience with nostalgia.
nostalgic, adj.
nostrum@nostrum
N. questionable medicine.
No quack selling nostrums is going to cheat me.
notable@notable
ADJ. conspicuous; important; distinguished.
Normally notable for his calm in the kitchen, today the head cook was shaking, for the notable chef Julia Child was coming to dinner.
also n.
notoriety@notoriety
N. disrepute; ill fame.
To the starlet, any publicity was good publicity: if she couldn't have a good reputation, she'd settle for notoriety.
notorious, adj.
novelty@novelty
N. something new; newness.
The computer is no longer a novelty around the office.
novel, adj.
novice@novice
N. beginner.
Even a novice at working with computers can install Barron's Computer Study Program for the SAT by following the easy steps outlined in the user's manual.
noxious@noxious
ADJ. harmful.
We must trace the source of these noxious gases before they asphyxiate us.
nuance@nuance
N. shade of difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction.
Jody gazed at the Monet landscape for an hour, appreciating every subtle nuance of color in the painting.
nubile@nubile
ADJ. marriageable.
Mrs. Bennet, in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, was worried about finding suitable husbands for her five nubile daughters.
nugatory@nugatory
ADJ. futile; worthless.
This agreement is nugatory for no court will enforce it.
nullify@nullify
V. to make invalid.
Once the contract was nullifled, it no longer had any legal force.
numismatist@numismatist
N. person who collects coins.
The numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins.
nuptial@nuptial
ADJ. related to marriage.
Reluctant to be married in a traditional setting, they decided to hold their nuptial ceremony at the carousel in Golden Gate Park.
also n. pl.
nurture@nurture
V. nourish; educate; foster.
The Head Start program attempts to nurture pre-kindergarten children so that they will do well when they enter public school.
also n.
nutrient@nutrient
N. nourishing substance.
As a budding nutritionist, Kim has learned to design diets that contain foods rich in important basic nutrients.
also adj.
oaf@oaf
N. stupid, awkward person.
"Watch what you're doing, you clumsy oaf!" Bill shouted at the waiter who had drenched him with iced coffee.
obdurate@obdurate
ADJ. stubborn.
He was obdurate in his refusal to listen to our complaints.
obeisance@obeisance
N. bow.
She made an obeisance as the king and queen entered the room.
obelisk@obelisk
N. tall column tapering and ending in a pyramid.
Cleopatra's Needle is an obelisk in New York City's Central Park.
obese@obese
ADJ. excessively fat.
It is advisable that obese people try to lose weight.
obesity, n.
obfuscate@obfuscate
V. confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex.
Was the President's spokesman trying to clarify the Whitewater mystery, or was he trying to obfuscate the issue so the voters would never figure out what went on?
obituary@obituary
N. death notice.
I first learned of her death when I read the obituary in the newspaper.
also adj.
objective@objective
ADJ. not influenced by emotions; fair.
Even though he was her son, she tried to be objective about his behavior.
N. goal; aim.
A degree in medicine was her ultimate objective.
obligatory@obligatory
ADJ. binding; required.
It is obligatory that books borrowed from the library be returned within two weeks.
oblique@oblique
ADJ. indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line).
Casting a quick, oblique glance at the reviewing stand, the sergeant ordered the company to march "Oblique Right."
obliterate@obliterate
V. destroy completely.
The tidal wave obliterated several island villages.
oblivion@oblivion
N. obscurity; forgetfulness.
After a decade of popularity, Hurston's works had fallen into oblivion; no one bothered to read them any more.
oblivious@oblivious
ADJ. inattentive or unmindful; wholly absorbed.
Deep in her book, Nancy was oblivious of the noisy squabbles of her brother and his friends.
obloquy@obloquy
N. slander: disgrace; infamy.
I resent the obloquy that you are casting upon my reputation.
obnoxious@obnoxious
ADJ. offensive.
I find your behavior obnoxious; please mend your ways.
obscure@obscure
ADJ. dark; vague; unclear.
Even after I read the poem a fourth time, its meaning was still obscure.
V. darken; make unclear.
At times he seemed purposely to obscure his meaning, preferring mystery to clarity.
obsequious@obsequious
ADJ. slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic.
Helen valued people who behaved as if they respected themselves; nothing irritated her more than an excessively obsequious waiter or a fawning salesclerk.
obsequy@obsequy
N. funeral ceremony.
Hundreds paid their last respects at his obsequies.
obsessive@obsessive
ADJ. related to thinking about something constantly; preoccupying.
Ballet, which had been a hobby, began to dominate his life: his love of dancing became obsessive.
obsession, n.
obsidian@obsidian
N. black volcanic rock.
The deposits of obsidian on the mountain slopes were an indication that the volcano had erupted in ancient times.
obsolete@obsolete
ADJ. outmoded.
"Hip" is an obsolete expression; it went out with love beads and tie-dye shirts.
obstetrician@obstetrician
N. physician specializing in delivery of babies.
Unlike midwives, who care for women giving birth at home, obstetricians generally work in a hospital setting.
obstinate@obstinate
ADJ. stubborn; hard to control or treat.
We tried to persuade him to give up smoking, but he was obstinate and refused to change. Blackberry stickers are the most obstinate weeds I know: once established in a yard, they're extremely hard to root out.
obstinacy, n.
obstreperous@obstreperous
ADJ. boisterous; noisy.
What do you do when an obstreperous horde of drunken policemen carouses through your hotel, crashing into potted plants and singing vulgar songs?
obtrude@obtrude
V. push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; butt in; stick out or extrude.
Because Fanny was reluctant to obtrude her opinions about child-raising upon her daughter-in-law, she kept a close watch on her tongue.
obtrusive, adj.; obtrusion, n.
obtuse@obtuse
ADJ. blunt; stupid.
What can you do with somebody who's so obtuse that he can't even tell that you're insulting him?
obviate@obviate
V. make unnecessary; get rid of.
I hope this contribution will obviate any need for further collections of funds.
Occident@Occident
N. the West.
It will take time for the Occident to understand the ways and customs of the Orient.
occlude@occlude
V. shut; close.
A blood clot occluded an artery to the heart.
occlusion, n.
occult@occult
ADJ. mysterious; secret; supernatural.
The occult rites of the organization were revealed only to members.
also n.
oculist@oculist
N. physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes.
In many states, an oculist is the only one who may apply medicinal drops to the eyes for the purpose of examining them.
odious@odious
ADJ. hateful; vile.
Cinderella's ugly stepsisters had the odious habit of popping their zits in public.
odium@odium
N. detestation; hatefulness; disrepute.
Prince Charming could not express the odium he felt toward Cinderella's stepsisters because of their mistreatment of poor Cinderella.
odoriferous@odoriferous
ADJ. giving off an odor.
The odoriferous spices stimulated her jaded appetite.
odorous@odorous
ADJ. having an odor.
This variety of hybrid tea rose is more odorous than the one you have in your garden.
odyssey@odyssey
N. long, eventful journey.
The refugee's journey from Cambodia was a terrifying odyssey.
offensive@offensive
ADJ. attacking; insulting; distasteful.
Getting into street brawls is no minor offense for professional boxers, who are required by law to restrict their offensive impulses to the ring.
offhand@offhand
ADJ. casual; done without prior thought.
Expecting to be treated with due propriety by her hosts, Great-Aunt Maud was offended by their offhand manner.
officious@officious
ADJ. meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services.
After her long flight, Jill just wanted to nap, but the officious bellboy was intent on showing her all the special features of the deluxe suite.
ogle@ogle
V. look at amorously; make eyes at.
At the coffee house, Walter was too shy to ogle the pretty girls openly; instead, he peeked out at them from behind a rubber plant.
olfactory@olfactory
ADJ. concerning the sense of smell.
A wine taster must have a discriminating palate and a keen olfactory sense, for a good wine appeals both to the taste buds and to the nose.
oligarchy@oligarchy
N. government by a privileged few.
One small clique ran the student council: what had been intended as a democratic governing body had turned into an oligarchy.
ominous@ominous
ADJ. threatening.
Those clouds are ominous; they suggest that a severe storm is on the way.
omnipotent@omnipotent
ADJ. all-powerful.
The monarch regarded himself as omnipotent and responsible to no one for his acts.
omnipresent@omnipresent
ADJ. universally present; ubiquitous.
On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is omnipresent.
omniscient@omniscient
ADJ. all-knowing.
I do not pretend to be omniscient, but I am positive about this fact.
omnivorous@omnivorous
ADJ. eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything.
Some animals, including humans, are omnivorous and eat both meat and vegetables; others are either carnivorous or herbivorous.
onerous@onerous
ADJ. burdensome.
She asked for an assistant because her work load was too onerous.
onomatopoeia@onomatopoeia
N. words formed in imitation of natural sounds.
Words like "rustle" and "gargle" are illustrations of onomatopoeia.
onslaught@onslaught
N. vicious assault.
We suffered many casualties during the unexpected onslaught of the enemy troops.
onus@onus
N. burden; responsibility.
The emperor was spared the onus of signing the surrender papers; instead, he relegated the assignment to his generals.
opalescent@opalescent
ADJ. iridescent; lustrous.
The oil slick on the water had an opalescent, rainbow-like sheen.
opalescence, n.
opaque@opaque
ADJ. dark; not transparent.
The opaque window kept the sunlight out of the room.
opacity, n.
opiate@opiate
N. medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction.
To say that religion is the opiate of the people is to condemn religion as a drug that keeps the people quiet and submissive to those in power.
opportune@opportune
ADJ. timely; well-chosen.
Cher looked at her father struggling to balance his checkbook; clearly this would not be an opportune moment to ask him for an increase in her allowance.
opportunist@opportunist
N. individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances.
Forget about ethics! He's such an opportunist that he'll vote in favor of any deal that will give him a break.
opprobrium@opprobrium
N. infamy; vilification.
He refused to defend himself against the slander and opprobrium hurled against him by the newspapers; he preferred to rely on his record.
optician@optician
N. maker and seller of eyeglasses.
The patient took the prescription given him by his oculist to the optician.
optimist@optimist
N. person who looks on the bright side.
The pessimist says the glass is half-empty ; the optimist says it is half-full.
optimum@optimum
ADJ. most favorable.
If you wait for the optimum moment to act, you may never begin your project.
also n.
optional@optional
ADJ. not compulsory; left to one's choice.
I was impressed by the range of optional accessories for my microcomputer that were available.
option, n.
optometrist@optometrist
N. one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects.
Although an optometrist is qualified to treat many eye disorders, she may not use medicines or surgery in her examinations.
opulence@opulence
N. extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance.
The glitter and opulence of the ballroom took Cinderella's breath away.
opulent, adj.
opus@opus
N. work.
Although many critics hailed his Fifth Symphony, he did not regard it as his major opus.
oracular@oracular
ADJ. prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous.
Like many others who sought divine guidance from the oracle at Delphi, Oedipus could not understand the enigmatic oracular warning he received.
oracle, n.
orator@orator
N. public speaker.
The abolitionist Frederick Douglass was a brilliant orator whose speeches brought home to his audience the evils of slavery.
oratorio@oratorio
N. dramatic poem set to music.
The Glee Club decided to present an oratorio during their recital.
ordain@ordain
V. decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine.
The king ordained that no foreigner should be allowed to enter the city. The Bishop of Michigan ordained David a deacon in the Episcopal Church. The young lovers felt that fate had ordained their meeting.
ordeal@ordeal
N. severe trial or affliction.
June was so painfully shy that it was an ordeal for her to speak up when the teacher called on her in class.
ordinance@ordinance
N. decree.
Passing a red light is a violation of a city ordinance.
ordination@ordination
N. ceremony conferring holy orders.
The candidate for ordination had to meet with the bishop and the diocesan officers before being judged ready to be ordained a deacon.
orgy@orgy
N. wild, drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence.
The Roman emperor's orgies were far wilder than the toga party in the movie Animal House. When her income tax refund check finally arrived, Sally indulged in an orgy of shopping.
orient@orient
V. get one's bearings; adjust.
Philip spent his first day in Denver orienting himself to the city.
orientation@orientation
N. act of finding oneself in society.
Freshman orientation provides the incoming students with an opportunity to learn about their new environment and their place in it.
orifice@orifice
N. mouth-like opening; small opening.
The Howe Caverns were discovered when someone observed that a cold wind was issuing from an orifice in the hillside.
ornate@ornate
ADJ. excessively or elaborately decorated.
With its elaborately carved, convoluted lines, furniture of the Baroque period was highly ornate.
ornithologist@ornithologist
N. scientific student of birds.
Audubon's drawings of American bird life have been of interest not only to the ornithologists but also to the general public.
orthodox@orthodox
ADJ. traditional; conservative in belief.
Faced with a problem, she preferred to take an orthodox approach rather than shock anyone.
orthodoxy, n.
orthography@orthography
N. correct spelling.
Many of us find English orthography a difficult to master because so many of our words are not written phonetically.
oscillate@oscillate
V. vibrate pendulumlike: waver.
It is interesting to note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism.
osseous@osseous
ADJ. made of bone; bony.
The hollow "soft spot" found at the top of the infant's skull gradually closes as new osseous tissue fills in the gap.
ossify@ossify
V. change or harden into bone.
When he called his opponent a "bonehead," he implied that his adversary's brain had ossified and that he was not capable of clear thinking.
ostensible@ostensible
ADJ. apparent; professed; pretended.
Although the ostensible purpose of this expedition is to discover new lands, we are really interested in finding new markets for our products.
ostentatious@ostentatious
ADJ. showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention.
Trump's latest casino in Atlantic City is the most ostentatious gambling palace in the East: it easily out-glitters its competitors.
ostentation, n.
ostracize@ostracize
V. exclude from public favor; ban.
As soon as the newspapers carried the story of his connection with the criminals, his friends began to ostracize him.
ostracism, n.
oust@oust
V. expel; drive out.
The world wondered if Aquino would be able to oust Marcos from office.
outlandish@outlandish
ADJ. bizarre; peculiar; unconventional.
The eccentric professor who engages in markedly outlandish behavior is a stock figure in novels with an academic setting.
outmoded@outmoded
ADJ. no longer stylish; old-fashioned.
Unconcerned about keeping in style, Lenore was perfectly happy to wear outmoded clothes as long as they were clean and unfrayed.
outskirts@outskirts
N. fringes; outer borders.
Living on the outskirts of Boston, Sarah sometimes felt as if she were cut off from the cultural heart of the city.
outspoken@outspoken
ADJ. candid; blunt.
The candidate was too outspoken to be a successful politician; he had not yet learned to weigh his words carefully.
outstrip@outstrip
V. surpass; outdo.
Jesse Owens easily outstripped his competitors to win the gold medal at the Olympic Games.
outwit@outwit
V. outsmart; trick.
By disguising himself as an old woman, Holmes was able to outwit his pursuers and escape capture.
ovation@ovation
N. enthusiastic applause.
When Placido Domingo came on stage in the first act of La Boheme, he was greeted by a tremendous ovation.
overbearing@overbearing
ADJ. bossy; arrogant; decisively important.
Certain of her own importance and of the unimportance of everyone else, Lady Bracknell was intolerably overbearing in manner. "In choosing a husband," she said, "good birth is of overbearing importance; compared to that, neither wealth nor talent signifies."
overt@overt
ADJ. open to view.
According to the United States Constitution, a person must commit an overt act before he may be tried for treason.
overweening@overweening
ADJ. presumptuous: arrogant.
His overweening pride in his accomplishments was not justified.
overwrought@overwrought
ADJ. extremely agitated; hysterical.
When Kate heard the news of the sudden tragedy, she became too overwrought to work and had to leave the office early.
ovoid@ovoid
ADJ. egg-shaped.
At Easter she had to cut out hundreds of brightly colored ovoid shapes.
pachyderm@pachyderm
N. thick-skinned animal.
The elephant is probably the best-known pachyderm.
pacifist@pacifist
N. one opposed to force; antimilitarist.
During the war, pacifists, though they refused to bear arms, served in the front lines as ambulance drivers and medical corpsmen.
also adj.; pacifism, n.
pacify@pacify
V. soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue.
Dentists criticize the practice of giving fussy children sweets to pacify them.
paean@paean
N. song of praise or joy.
Paeans celebrating the victory filled the air.
painstaking@painstaking
ADJ. showing hard work; taking great care.
The new high-frequency word list is the result of painstaking efforts on the part of our research staff.
palatable@palatable
ADJ. agreeable; pleasing to the taste.
Neither Jack's underbaked opinions nor his overcooked casseroles were palatable to me.
palate@palate
N. roof of the mouth; sense of taste.
When you sound out the letter "d," your tongue curves up to touch the edge of your palate. When Alice was sick, her mother made special meals to tempt her palate.
palatial@palatial
ADJ. magnificent.
He proudly showed us through his palatial home.
paleontology@paleontology
N. study of prehistoric life.
The professor of paleontology had a superb collection of fossils.
palette@palette
N. board on which a painter mixes pigments.
At the present time, art supply stores are selling a paper palette that may be discarded after use.
palimpsest@palimpsest
N. parchment used for second time after original writing has been erased.
Using chemical reagents, scientists have been able to restore the original writings on many palimpsests.
pall@pall
V. grow tiresome.
The study of word lists can eventually pall and put one to sleep.
pallet@pallet
N. small, poor bed.
The weary traveler went to sleep on his straw pallet.
palliate@palliate
V. ease pain; make less severe or offensive.
If we cannot cure this disease at present, we can, at least, try to palliate the symptoms.
palliation, n.
pallid@pallid
ADJ. pale: wan.
Because his occupation required that he work at night and sleep during the day, he had an exceptionally pallid complexion.
palpable@palpable
ADJ. tangible; easily perceptible.
I cannot understand how you could overlook such a palpable blunder.
palpitate@palpitate
V. throb; flutter.
As she became excited, her heart began to palpitate more and more erratically.
paltry@paltry
ADJ. insignificant; petty; trifling.
"One hundred dollars for a genuine imitation Rolex watch! Lady, this is a paltry sum to pay for such a high-class piece of jewelry."
pan@pan
V. criticize harshly.
Hoping for a rave review of his new show, the playwright was miserable when the critics panned it unanimously.
panacea@panacea
N. cure-all; remedy for all diseases.
There is no easy panacea that will solve our complicated international situation.
panache@panache
N. flair; flamboyance.
Many performers imitate Noel Coward, but few have his panache and sense of style.
pandemic@pandemic
ADJ. widespread; affecting the majority of people.
They feared the AIDS epidemic would soon reach pandemic proportions.
pandemonium@pandemonium
N. wild tumult.
When the ships collided in the harbor, pandemonium broke out among the passengers.
pander@pander
V. cater to the low desires of others.
The reviewer accused the makers of Lethal Weapon of pandering to the masses' taste for violence.
panegyric@panegyric
N. formal praise.
Blushing at all the praise heaped upon him by the speakers, the modest hero said, "I don't deserve such panegyrics."
panoramic@panoramic
ADJ. denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view.
On a clear day, from the top of the World Trade Center you can get a panoramic view of New York City and neighboring stretches of New Jersey and Long Island.
panorama, n.
pantomime@pantomime
N. acting without dialogue.
Because he worked in pantomime, the clown could be understood wherever he appeared.
also v.
papyrus@papyrus
N. ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant.
The ancient Egyptians were among the first to write on papyrus.
parable@parable
N. short, simple story teaching a moral.
Let us apply to our own conduct the lesson that this parable teaches.
paradigm@paradigm
N. model; example; pattern.
Pavlov's experiment in which he trains a dog to salivate on hearing a bell is a paradigm of the conditioned-response experiment in behavioral psychology.
paradigmatic, adj.
paradox@paradox
N. something apparently contradictory in nature; statement that looks false but is actually correct.
Richard presents a bit of a paradox, for he is a card-carrying member of both the National Rifle Association and the relatively pacifist American Civil Liberties Union.
paradoxical, adj.
paragon@paragon
N. model of perfection.
Her fellow students disliked Lavinia because Miss Minchin always pointed her out as a paragon of virtue.
parallelism@parallelism
N. state of being parallel; similarity.
Although the twins were separated at birth and grew up in different adoptive families, a striking parallelism exists between their lives.
parameter@parameter
N. limit; independent variable.
We need to define the parameters of the problem.
paramount@paramount
ADJ. foremost in importance; supreme.
Proper nutrition and hygiene are of paramount importance in adolescent development and growth.
paramour@paramour
N. illicit lover.
She sought a divorce on the grounds that her husband had a paramour in another town.
paranoia@paranoia
N. psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution.
Suffering from paranoia, he claimed everyone was out to get him; ironically, his claim was accurate: even paranoids have enemies.
paranoid, paranoiac, n. and adj.
paraphernalia@paraphernalia
N. equipment; odds and ends.
Her desk was cluttered with paper, pen, ink, dictionary and other paraphernalia of the writing craft.
paraphrase@paraphrase
V. restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author.
In 250 words or less, paraphrase this article.
also n.
parasite@parasite
N. animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant.
The tapeworm is an example of the kind of parasite that may infest the human body.
parched@parched
ADJ. extremely dry; very thirsty.
The parched desert landscape seemed hostile to life.
pariah@pariah
N. social outcast.
If everyone ostracized singer Mariah Carey, would she then be Mariah the pariah?
parity@parity
N. equality; close resemblance.
I find your analogy inaccurate because I do not see the parity between the two illustrations.
parlance@parlance
N. language; idiom.
All this legal parlance confuses me; I need an interpreter.
parley@parley
N. conference.
The peace parley has not produced the anticipated truce.
also v.
parochial@parochial
ADJ. narrow in outlook; provincial; related to parishes.
Although Jane Austen writes novels set in small rural communities, her concerns are universal, not parochial.
parody@parody
N. humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty.
The show Forbidden Broadway presents parodies spoofing the year's new productions playing on Broadway.
also v.
paroxysm@paroxysm
N. fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage.
When he heard of his son's misdeeds, he was seized by a paroxysm of rage.
parquet@parquet
N. floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic-like pattern.
In laying the floor, the carpenters combined redwood and oak in an elegant parquet.
parry@parry
V. ward off a blow; deflect.
Unwilling to injure his opponent in such a pointless clash, Dartagnan simply tried to parry his rival's thrusts. What fun it was to watch Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy parry each other's verbal thrusts in their classic screwball comedies!
also n.
parsimony@parsimony
N. stinginess; excessive frugality.
Silas Marner's parsimony did not allow him to indulge in any luxuries.
parsimonious, adj.
partial@partial
ADJ. incomplete; having a liking for something.
In this issue we have published only a partial list of contributors because we lack space to acknowledge everyone. I am extremely partial to chocolate eclairs.
partiality n.
partiality@partiality
N. inclination; bias.
As a judge, not only must I be unbiased, but I must also avoid any evidence of partiality when I award the prize.
partisan@partisan
ADJ. one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party.
Rather than joining forces to solve our nation's problems, the Democrats and Republicans spend their time on partisan struggles.
also n.
partition@partition
V. divide into parts.
Before their second daughter was born, Jason and Lizzie decided each child needed a room of her own, and so they partitioned a large bedroom into two small but separate rooms.
also n.
passe@passe
ADJ. old-fashioned; past the prime.
Her style is passe and reminiscent of the Victorian era.
passive@passive
ADJ. not active; acted upon.
Mahatma Gandhi urged his followers to pursue a program of passive resistance as he felt that it was more effective than violence and acts of terrorism.
pastiche@pastiche
N. imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing.
We cannot even say that her music is a pastiche of this or that composer; it is, rather, reminiscent of many musicians.
pastoral@pastoral
ADJ. rural.
In these stories of pastoral life, we find an understanding of the daily tasks of country folk.
patent@patent
ADJ. open for the public to read; obvious.
It was patent to everyone that the witness spoke the truth.
pathetic@pathetic
ADJ. causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching.
Everyone in the auditorium was weeping by the time she finished her pathetic tale about the orphaned boy.
pathological@pathological
ADJ. pertaining to disease.
As we study the pathological aspects of this disease, we must pa' overlook the psychological elements.
pathos@pathos
N. tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings.
The quiet tone of pathos that ran through the novel never degenerated into the maudlin or the overly sentimental.
patina@patina
N. green crust on old bronze works; tone slowly taken by varnished painting.
Judging by the patina on this bronze statue, we can conclude that this is the work of a medieval artist.
patois@patois
N. local or provincial dialect.
His years of study of the language at the university did not enable him to understand the patois of the natives.
patriarch@patriarch
N. father and ruler of a family or tribe.
In many primitive tribes, the leader and lawmaker was the patriarch.
patrician@patrician
ADJ. noble; aristocratic.
We greatly admired her well-bred, patrician elegance.
also n.
patronize@patronize
V. support; act superior toward; be a customer of.
Penniless artists hope to find some wealthy art lover who will patronize them. If some condescending wine steward patronized me because he saw I knew nothing about fine wine, I'd refuse to patronize his restaurant.
paucity@paucity
N. scarcity.
They closed the restaurant because the paucity of customers made it uneconomical to operate.
pauper@pauper
N. very poor person.
Though Widow Brown was living on a reduced income, she was by no means a pauper.
peccadillo@peccadillo
N. slight offense.
Whenever Huck swiped a cookie from the jar, Miss Watson reacted as if he were guilty of armed robbery, not of some mere peccadillo.
pecuniary@pecuniary
ADJ. pertaining to money.
Seldom earning enough to cover their expenses, folk-dance teachers work because they love dancing, not because they expect any pecuniary reward.
pedagogue@pedagogue
N. teacher.
He could never be a stuffy pedagogue; his classes were always lively and filled with humor.
pedagogy@pedagogy
N. teaching; art of education.
Though Maria Montessori gained fame for her innovations in pedagogy, it took years before her teaching techniques became common practice in American schools.
pedant@pedant
N. scholar who overemphasizes book learning or technicalities.
Her insistence that the book be memorized marked the teacher as a pedant rather than a scholar.
pedantic@pedantic
ADJ. showing off learning; bookish.
Leavening his decisions with humorous, down-to-earth anecdotes, Judge Walker was not at all the pedantic legal scholar.
pedantry, n.
pedestrian@pedestrian
ADJ. ordinary; unimaginative.
Unintentionally boring, he wrote page after page of pedestrian prose.
pediatrician@pediatrician
N. physician specializing in children's diseases.
The family doctor advised the parents to consult a pediatrician about their child's ailment.
peerless@peerless
ADJ. having no equal; incomparable.
The reigning operatic tenor of his generation, to his admirers Luciano Pavarotti was peerless: no one could compare with him.
pejorative@pejorative
ADJ. negative in connotation; having a belittling effect.
Instead of criticizing Clinton's policies, the Republicans made pejorative remarks about his character.
pell-mell@pell-mell
ADV. in confusion; disorderly.
The excited students dashed pell-mell into the stadium to celebrate the victory.
pellucid@pellucid
ADJ. transparent; limpid; easy to understand.
After reading these stodgy philosophers, I find his pellucid style very enjoyable.
penance@penance
N. self-imposed punishment for sin.
The Ancient Mariner said, "I have penance done and penance more will do," to atone for the sin of killing the albatross.
penchant@penchant
N. strong inclination; liking.
Dave has a penchant for taking risks: one semester he went steady with three girls, two of whom were stars on the school karate team.
pendant@pendant
ADJ. hanging down from something.
Her pendant earrings glistened in the light.
N. ornament (hanging from a necklace, etc.).
The grateful team presented the coach with a silver chain and pendant engraved with the school's motto.
pendulous@pendulous
ADJ. hanging; suspended.
The pendulous chandeliers swayed in the breeze as if they were about to fall from the ceiling.
penitent@penitent
ADJ. repentant.
When he realized the enormity of his crime, he became remorseful and penitent.
also n.
pensive@pensive
ADJ. dreamily thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative.
The pensive lover gazed at the portrait of his beloved and sighed deeply.
penumbra@penumbra
N. partial shadow (in an eclipse).
During an eclipse, we can see an area of total darkness and a lighter area, which is the penumbra.
penury@penury
N. severe poverty; stinginess.
When his pension fund failed, George feared he would end his days in penury. He became such a penny-pincher that he turned into a closefisted, penurious miser.
peon@peon
N. landless agricultural worker; bond servant.
The land reformers sought to liberate the peons and establish them as independent farmers.
peonage, n.
perceptive@perceptive
ADJ. insightful; aware; wise.
Although Maud was a generally perceptive critic, she had her blind spots: she could never see flaws in the work of her friends.
percussion@percussion
ADJ. striking one object against another sharply.
The drum is a percussion instrument.
also n.
perdition@perdition
N. damnation; complete ruin.
Praying for salvation, young Daedalus feared he was damned to eternal perdition.
peregrination@peregrination
N. journey.
Auntie Mame was a world traveler whose peregrinations took her from Tijuana to Timbuctoo.
peremptory@peremptory
ADJ. demanding and leaving no choice.
From Jack's peremptory knock on the door, Jill could tell he would not give up until she let him in.
perennial@perennial
N. something long-lasting.
These plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for many years.
also adj.
perfidious@perfidious
ADJ. treacherous; disloyal.
When Caesar realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend.
perfidy, n.
perforate@perforate
V. pierce; put a hole through.
Before you can open the aspirin bottle, you must first perforate the plastic safety seal that covers the cap.
perfunctory@perfunctory
ADJ. superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm.
The auditor's perfunctory inspection of the books overlooked many errors.
perigee@perigee
N. point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth.
The rocket which was designed to take photographs of the moon was launched as the moon approached its perigee.
perimeter@perimeter
N. outer boundary.
To find the perimeter of any quadrilateral, we add the lengths of the four sides.
peripatetic@peripatetic
ADJ. walking about; moving.
The peripatetic school of philosophy derives its name from the fact that Aristotle walked with his pupils while discussing philosophy with them.
peripheral@peripheral
ADJ. marginal; outer.
We lived, not in central London, but in one of those peripheral suburbs that spring up on the outskirts of a great city.
periphery@periphery
N. edge, especially of a round surface.
He sensed that there was something just beyond the periphery of his vision.
perjury@perjury
N. false testimony while under oath.
Rather than lie under oath and perhaps be indicted for perjury, the witness chose to take the Fifth Amendment, refusing to answer any questions on the grounds that he might incriminate himself.
permeable@permeable
ADJ. penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through.
If your jogging clothes weren't made out of permeable fabric, you'd drown in your own sweat (figuratively speaking).
permeate, v.
pernicious@pernicious
ADJ. very destructive.
The Athenians argued that Socrates's teachings had a pernicious effect on young and susceptible minds; therefore, they condemned him to death.
peroration@peroration
N. conclusion of an oration.
The peroration was largely hortatory and brought the audience to its feet clamoring for action at its close.
perpetrate@perpetrate
V. commit an offense.
Only an insane person could perpetrate such a horrible crime.
perpetual@perpetual
ADJ. everlasting.
Ponce de Leon hoped to find the legendary fountain of perpetual youth.
perpetuate@perpetuate
V. make something last; preserve from extinction.
Some critics attack The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because they believe Twain's book perpetuates a false image of blacks in this country.
perpetuity, n.
perquisite@perquisite
N. any gain above stipulated salary.
The perquisites attached to this job make it even more attractive than the salary indicates.
personable@personable
ADJ. attractive.
The individual I am seeking to fill this position must be personable since he or she will be representing us before the public.
perspicacious@perspicacious
ADJ. having insight; penetrating; astute.
The brilliant lawyer was known for his perspicacious deductions.
perspicuity@perspicuity
N. clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity.
One of the outstanding features of this book is the perspicuity of its author; her meaning is always clear.
perspicuous@perspicuous
ADJ. plainly expressed.
Her perspicuous comments eliminated all possibility of misinterpretation.
pert@pert
ADJ. impertinent; forward.
I think your pert and impudent remarks call for an apology.
pertinacious@pertinacious
ADJ. stubborn; persistent.
She is bound to succeed because her pertinacious nature will not permit her to quit.
pertinent@pertinent
ADJ. suitable; to the point.
The lawyer wanted to know all the pertinent details.
perturb@perturb
V. disturb greatly.
The thought that electricity might be leaking out of the empty light-bulb sockets perturbed my aunt so much that at night she crept about the house screwing fresh bulbs in the vacant spots.
perturbation, n.
peruse@peruse
V. read with care.
After the conflagration that burned down her house, Joan closely perused her home insurance policy to discover exactly what benefits her coverage provided.
perusal, n.
pervasive@pervasive
ADJ. spread throughout.
Despite airing them for several hours, she could not rid her clothes of the pervasive odor of mothballs that clung to them.
pervade, v.
perverse@perverse
ADJ. stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and unacceptable.
When Jack was in a perverse mood, he would do the opposite of whatever Jill asked him. When Hannibal Lecter was in a perverse mood, he ate the flesh of his victims.
perversity, n.
perversion@perversion
N. corruption; turning from right to wrong.
Inasmuch as he had no motive for his crimes, we could not understand his perversion.
pessimism@pessimism
N. belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess.
Considering how well you have done in the course so far, you have no real reason for such pessimism about your final grade.
pessimistic, adj.
pestilential@pestilential
ADJ. causing plague; baneful.
People were afraid to explore the pestilential swamp.
pestilence, n.
pestle@pestle
N. tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl.
From the way in which the elderly pharmacist pounded the drug with his pestle, young George could tell that his employer was agitated about something.
petrify@petrify
V. turn to stone.
His sudden and unexpected appearance seemed to petrify her.
petty@petty
ADJ. trivial; unimportant; very small.
She had no major complaints to make about his work, only a few petty quibbles that were almost too minor to state.
petulant@petulant
ADJ. touchy; peevish.
If you'd had hardly any sleep for three nights and people kept on phoning and waking you up, you'd sound petulant, too.
petulance, n.
pharisaical@pharisaical
ADJ. pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical.
Walter Lippmann has pointed out that moralists who do not attempt to explain the moral code they advocate are often regarded as pharisaical and ignored.
phenomena@phenomena
N. pl. observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation.
We kept careful records of the phenomena we noted in the course of these experiments.
phenomenon, sg.
philanderer@philanderer
N. faithless lover; flirt.
Swearing he had never so much as looked at another woman, Jack assured Jill he was no philanderer.
philanthropist@philanthropist
N. lover of mankind; doer of good.
In his role as philanthropist and public benefactor, John D. Rockefeller, Sr., donated millions to charity; as an individual, however, he was a tight-fisted old man.
philatelist@philatelist
N. stamp-collector.
When she heard the value of the Penny Black stamp, Phyllis was inspired to become a philatelist.
philistine@philistine
N. narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain.
We need more men and women of culture and enlightenment; we have too many philistines among us.
philology@philology
N. study of language.
The professor of philology advocated the use of Esperanto as an international language.
phlegmatic@phlegmatic
ADJ. calm; not easily disturbed.
The nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic person, unexcited in the face of sudden emergencies.
phobia@phobia
N. morbid fear.
Her fear of flying was more than mere nervousness; it was a real phobia.
phoenix@phoenix
N. symbol of immortality or rebirth.
Like the legendary phoenix rising from its ashes, the city of San Francisco rose again after its destruction during the 1906 earthquake.
phylum@phylum
N. major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; division.
In sorting out her hundreds of packets of seeds, Katya decided to file them by phylum.
physiognomy@physiognomy
N. face.
He prided himself on his ability to analyze a person's character by studying his physiognomy.
physiological@physiological
ADJ. pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms.
To understand this disease fully, we must examine not only its physiological aspects but also its psychological elements.
piebald@piebald
ADJ. of different colors; mottled; spotted.
You should be able to identify Polka Dot in this race; he is the only piebald horse running.
piecemeal@piecemeal
ADV. one part at a time; gradually.
Tolstoy's War and Peace is too huge to finish in one sitting; I'll have to read it piecemeal.
pied@pied
ADJ. variegated; multicolored.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin got his name from the multicolored clothing he wore.
piety@piety
N. devoutness; reverence for God.
Living her life in prayer and good works, Mother Teresa exemplifies the true spirit of piety.
pious, adj.
pigment@pigment
N. coloring matter.
Van Gogh mixed various pigments with linseed oil to create his paints.
pillage@pillage
V. plunder.
The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it in ruins.
also n.
pillory@pillory
V. punish by placing in a wooden frame; subject to criticism and ridicule.
Even though he was mocked and pilloried, he maintained that he was correct in his beliefs.
also n.
pine@pine
V. languish, decline; long for, yearn.
Though she tried to be happy living with Clara in the city, Heidi pined for the mountains and for her gruff but loving grandfather.
pinion@pinion
V. restrain.
They pinioned his arms against his body but left his legs free so that he could move about.
also n.
pinnacle@pinnacle
N. peak.
We could see the morning sunlight illuminate the pinnacle while the rest of the mountain lay in shadow.
pious@pious
ADJ. devout; religious.
The challenge for church people today is how to be pious in the best sense, that is, to be devout without becoming hypocritical or sanctimonious.
piety, n.
piquant@piquant
ADJ. pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating.
The piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of the meal.
piquancy, n.
pique@pique
N. irritation; resentment.
She showed her pique at her loss by refusing to appear with the other contestants at the end of the competition.
V. provoke or arouse; annoy.
"I know something you don't know," said Lucy, trying to pique Ethel's interest.
piscatorial@piscatorial
ADJ. pertaining to fishing.
He spent many happy hours at the lake in his piscatorial activities.
pitfall@pitfall
N. hidden danger; concealed trap.
The preacher warned his flock to beware the pitfall of excessive pride, for pride brought on the angels' fall.
pith@pith
N. core or marrow; essence; substance.
In preparing a pineapple for the table, first slice it in half and remove the woody central pith.
pithy@pithy
ADJ. concise; meaningful; substantial; meaty.
While other girls might have gone on and on about how uncool Elton was, Cher summed it up in one pithy remark: "He's bogus!"
pittance@pittance
N. a small allowance or wage.
He could not live on the pittance he received as a pension and had to look for an additional source of revenue.
pivotal@pivotal
ADJ. central; critical.
De Klerk's decision to set Nelson Mandela free was pivotal; without Mandela's release, there was no possibility that the African National Congress would entertain talks with the South African government.
placate@placate
V. pacify; conciliate.
The store manager tried to placate the angry customer, offering to replace the damaged merchandise or to give back her money.
placebo@placebo
N. harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill.
In a controlled experiment, fifty volunteers were given erythromycin tablets; the control group received only placebos.
placid@placid
ADJ. peaceful; calm.
After his vacation in this placid section, he felt soothed and rested.
plagiarize@plagiarize
V. steal another's ideas and pass them off as one's own.
The teacher could tell that the student had plagiarized parts of his essay; she recognized whole paragraphs straight from Barron's Book Notes.
plagiarism, n.
plaintive@plaintive
ADJ. mournful.
The dove has a plaintive and melancholy call.
plait@plait
V. braid; intertwine.
The maypole dancers plaited bright green ribbons in their hair.
also n.
plasticity@plasticity
N. ability to be molded.
When clay dries out, it loses its plasticity and becomes less malleable.
platitude@platitude
N. trite remark; commonplace statement.
In giving advice to his son, old Polonius expressed himself only in platitudes; every word out of his mouth was a truism.
platonic@platonic
ADJ. purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire.
Accused of impropriety in his dealings with female students, the professor maintained he had only a platonic interest in the women involved.
plaudit@plaudit
N. enthusiastic approval: round of applause.
The theatrical company reprinted the plaudits of the critics in its advertisements.
plauditory, adj.
plausible@plausible
ADJ. having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious.
Your mother made you stay home from school because she needed you to program the VCR? I'm sorry, you'll have to come up with a more plausible excuse than that.
plebeian@plebeian
ADJ. common; pertaining to the common people.
His speeches were aimed at the plebeian minds and emotions; they disgusted the more refined.
plenary@plenary
ADJ. complete; full.
The union leader was given plenary power to negotiate a new contract with the employers.
plenitude@plenitude
N. abundance; completeness.
Looking in the pantry, we admired the plenitude of fruits and pickles we had preserved during the summer.
plethora@plethora
N. excess; overabundance.
She offered a plethora of excuses for her shortcomings.
pliable@pliable
ADJ. flexible; yielding; adaptable.
In remodeling the bathroom, we replaced all the old, rigid lead pipes with new, pliable copper tubing.
pliant@pliant
ADJ. flexible; easily influenced.
Pinocchio's disposition was pliant; he was like putty in his tempters' hands.
plight@plight
N. condition, state (especially a bad state or condition); predicament.
Loggers, unmoved by the plight of the spotted owl, plan to keep on felling trees whether or not they ruin the bird's habitat.
pluck@pluck
N. courage.
Even the adversaries of young Indiana Jones were impressed by the boy's pluck in trying to rescue the archeological treasure they had stolen.
plumage@plumage
N. feathers of a bird.
Bird watchers identify different species of birds by their characteristic songs and distinctive plumage.
plumb@plumb
V. examine critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding).
Try as he would, Watson could never fully plumb the depths of Holmes's thought processes.
ADJ. vertical.
Before hanging wallpaper it is advisable to drop a plumb line from the ceiling as a guide.
plummet@plummet
V. fall sharply.
Stock prices plummeted as Wall Street reacted to the rise in interest rates.
plutocracy@plutocracy
N. society ruled by the wealthy.
From the way the government caters to the rich, you might think our society is a plutocracy rather than a democracy.
podiatrist@podiatrist
N. doctor who treats ailments of the feet.
He consulted a podiatrist about his fallen arches.
podium@podium
N. pedestal; raised platform.
The audience applauded as the conductor made her way to the podium.
poignancy@poignancy
N. quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion.
Watching the tearful reunion of the long-separated mother and child, the social worker was touched by the poignancy of the scene.
poignant, adj.
polarize@polarize
V. split into opposite extremes or camps.
The abortion issue has polarized the country into pro-choice and anti-abortion camps.
polemic@polemic
N. controversy; argument in support of point of view.
Her essays were, for the main part, polemics for the party's policy.
polemical@polemical
ADJ. aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious.
Lexy was a master of polemical rhetoric; she should have worn a T-shirt with the slogan "Born to Debate."
politic@politic
ADJ. expedient; prudent; well devised.
Even though he was disappointed, he did not think it politic to refuse this offer.
polity@polity
N. form of government of nation or state.
Our polity should be devoted to the concept that the government should strive for the good of all citizens.
polygamist@polygamist
N. one who has more than one spouse at a time.
He was arrested as a polygamist when his two wives filed complaints about him.
polyglot@polyglot
ADJ. speaking several languages.
New York City is a polyglot community because of the thousands of immigrants who settle there.
pomposity@pomposity
N. self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt.
Although the commencement speaker had some good things to say, we had to laugh at his pomposity and general air of parading his own dignity.
pompous, adj.
ponderous@ponderous
ADJ. weighty; unwieldy.
His humor lacked the light touch; his jokes were always ponderous.
pontifical@pontifical
ADJ. pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious.
From the very beginning of his ministry it was clear from his pontifical pronouncements that John was destined for a high pontifical office.
pore@pore
V. study industriously; ponder; scrutinize.
Determined to become a physician. Beth spends hours poring over her anatomy text.
porous@porous
ADJ. full of pores; like a sieve.
Dancers like to wear porous clothing because it allows the ready passage of water and air.
portend@portend
V. foretell; presage.
The king did not know what these omens might portend and asked his soothsayers to interpret them.
portent@portent
N. sign; omen; forewarning.
He regarded the black cloud as a portent of evil.
portly@portly
ADJ. stout: corpulent.
The salesclerk tactfully referred to the overweight customer as portly rather than fat.
poseur@poseur
N. person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others.
Some thought Dali was a brilliant painter; others dismissed him as a poseur.
posterity@posterity
N. descendants; future generations.
We hope to leave a better world to posterity.
posthumous@posthumous
ADJ. after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death).
The critics ignored his works during his lifetime; it was only after the posthumous publication of his last novel that they recognized his great talent.
postulate@postulate
N. self-evident truth.
We must accept these statements as postulates before pursuing our discussions any further.
also v.
posture@posture
V. assume an affected pose; act artificially.
No matter how much Arnold boasted or postured, I could not believe he was as important as he pretended to be.
potable@potable
ADJ. suitable for drinking.
The recent drought in the Middle Atlantic States has emphasized the need for extensive research in ways of making sea water potable.
also n.
potent@potent
ADJ. powerful; persuasive; greatly influential.
Looking at the expiration date on the cough syrup bottle, we wondered whether the medication would still be potent.
potency, n.
potentate@potentate
N. monarch; sovereign.
The potentate spent more time at Monte Carlo than he did at home on his throne.
potential@potential
ADJ. expressing possibility; latent.
This juvenile delinquent is a potential murderer.
also n.
potion@potion
N. dose (of liquid).
Tristan and Isolde drink a love potion in the first act of the opera.
potpourri@potpourri
N. heterogeneous mixture; medley.
The folk singer offered a potpourri of songs from many lands.
poultice@poultice
N. soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body.
She was advised to apply a flaxseed poultice to the inflammation.
practicable@practicable
ADJ. feasible.
The board of directors decided that the plan was practicable and agreed to undertake the project.
practical@practical
ADJ. based on experience; useful.
He was a practical man, opposed to theory.
pragmatic@pragmatic
ADJ. practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something.
This coming trip to France should provide me with a pragmatic test of the value of my conversational French class.
pragmatist@pragmatist
N. practical person.
No pragmatist enjoys becoming involved in a game that he can never win.
prate@prate
V. speak foolishly; boast idly.
Let us not prate about our qualities; rather, let our virtues speak for themselves.
prattle@prattle
V. babble.
Baby John prattled on and on about the cats and his ball and the Cookie Monster.
also n.
preamble@preamble
N. introductory statement.
In the Preamble to the Constitution, the purpose of the document is set forth.
precarious@precarious
ADJ. uncertain: risky.
Saying the stock was currently overpriced and would be a precarious investment, the broker advised her client against purchasing it.
precedent@precedent
N. something preceding in time that may be used as an authority or guide for future action; an earlier occurrence.
The law professor asked Jill to state which famous case served as a precedent for the court's decision in Brown II.
ADJ. preceding in time, rank, etc.
Our discussions, precedent to this event, certainly did not give you any reason to believe that we would adopt your proposal.
precept@precept
N. practical rule guiding conduct.
"Love thy neighbor as thyself" is a worthwhile precept.
precipice@precipice
N. cliff; dangerous position.
Suddenly Indiana Jones found himself dangling from the edge of a precipice.
precipitant@precipitant
N. something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form.
Solvents by definition dissolve; precipitants, however, cause solids to precipitate or form.
precipitate, v.
precipitate@precipitate
ADJ. rash; premature; hasty; sudden.
Though I was angry enough to resign on the spot, I had enough sense to keep myself from quitting a job in such a precipitate fashion.
V. throw headlong; hasten.
The removal of American political support appeared to have precipitated the downfall of the Marcos regime.
precipitous@precipitous
ADJ. steep; overhasty.
This hill is difficult to climb because it is so precipitous; One slip, and our descent will be precipitous as well.
precis@precis
N. concise summing up of main points.
Before making her presentation at the conference, Ellen wrote a neat precis of the major elements she would cover.
precise@precise
ADJ. exact.
If you don't give me precise directions and a map, I'll never find your place.
preclude@preclude
V. make impossible; eliminate.
The fact that the band was already booked to play in Hollywood on New Year's Eve precluded their accepting the offer of a New Year's Eve gig in London.
precocious@precocious
ADJ. advanced in development.
Listening to the grown-up way the child discussed serious topics, we couldn't help remarking how precocious she was.
precocity, n.
precursor@precursor
N. forerunner.
Though Gray and Burns share many traits with the Romantic poets who followed them, most critics consider them precursors of the Romantic Movement, not true Romantics.
predator@predator
N. creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others.
Not just cats, but a wide variety of predators-owls, hawks, weasels, foxes-catch mice for dinner. A carnivore is by definition predatory, for he preys on weaker creatures.
predation, n.
predecessor@predecessor
N. former occupant of a post.
I hope I can live up to the fine example set by my late predecessor in this office.
predetermine@predetermine
V. predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly.
Romeo and Juliet believed that Fate had predetermined their meeting. Bea gathered estimates from caterers, florists, and stationers so that she could predetermine the costs of holding a catered buffet. Philip's love of athletics predetermined his choice of a career in sports marketing.
predicament@predicament
N. tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma.
Tied to the railroad tracks by the villain, Pauline strained against her bonds. How would she escape from this terrible predicament?
predilection@predilection
N. partiality; preference.
Although the artist used various media from time to time, she had a predilection for watercolors.
predispose@predispose
V. give an inclination toward; make susceptible to.
Oleg's love of dressing up his big sister's Barbie doll may have predisposed him to become a fashion designer. Genetic influences apparently predispose people to certain forms of cancer.
predisposition, n.
preeminent@preeminent
ADJ. outstanding; superior.
The king traveled to Boston because he wanted the preeminent surgeon in the field to perform the operation.
preempt@preempt
V. head off; forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself; supplant.
Hoping to preempt any attempts by the opposition to make educational reform a hot political issue, the candidate set out her own plan to revitalize the public schools.
preemptive, adj.
preen@preen
V. make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction.
As Kitty preened before the mirror, carefully smoothing her shining hair, she couldn't help preening herself on her good looks.
prefatory@prefatory
ADJ. introductory.
The chairman made a few prefatory remarks before he called on the first speaker.
prehensile@prehensile
ADJ. capable of grasping or holding.
Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but also their prehensile tails in traveling through the trees.
prelate@prelate
N. church dignitary.
The archbishop of Moscow and other high-ranking prelates visited the Russian Orthodox seminary.
prelude@prelude
N. introduction; forerunner.
I am afraid that this border raid is the prelude to more serious attacks.
premeditate@premeditate
V. plan in advance.
She had premeditated the murder for months, reading about common poisons and buying weed killer that contained arsenic.
premise@premise
N. assumption; postulate.
On the premise that there's no fool like an old fool, P. T. Barnum hired a 90-year-old clown for his circus.
premonition@premonition
N. forewarning.
We ignored these premonitions of disaster because they appeared to be based on childish fears.
premonitory@premonitory
ADJ. serving to warn.
You should have visited a doctor as soon as you felt these premonitory chest pains.
preponderance@preponderance
N. superiority of power, quantity, etc.
The rebels sought to overcome the preponderance of strength of the government forces by engaging in guerrilla tactics.
preponderate, v.; preponderant, adj.
preposterous@preposterous
ADJ. absurd; ridiculous.
When the candidate tried to downplay his youthful experiments with marijuana by saying he hadn't inhaled, we all thought.
"What a preposterous excuse! "
prerogative@prerogative
N. privilege; unquestionable right.
The President cannot levy taxes; that is the prerogative of the legislative branch of government.
presage@presage
V. foretell.
The vultures flying overhead presaged the discovery of the corpse in the desert.
prescience@prescience
N. ability to foretell the future.
Given the current wave of Japan-bashing, it does not take prescience for me to foresee problems in our future trade relations with Japan.
presentiment@presentiment
N. feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear; premonition.
Saying goodbye at the airport, Jack had a sudden presentiment that this was the last time he would see Jill.
prestige@prestige
N. impression produced by achievements or reputation.
Many students want to go to Harvard University, not for the education offered, but for the prestige of Harvard's name.
prestigious, adj.
presumptuous@presumptuous
ADJ. arrogant; taking liberties.
It seems presumptuous for one so relatively new to the field to challenge the conclusions of its leading experts.
presumption n.
pretentious@pretentious
ADJ. ostentatious; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious.
The other prize winner isn't wearing her medal; isn't it a bit pretentious of you to wear yours?
preternatural@preternatural
ADJ. beyond that which is normal in nature.
John's mother's total ability to tell when he was lying struck him as almost preternatural.
pretext@pretext
N. excuse.
She looked for a good pretext to get out of paying a visit to her aunt.
prevail@prevail
V. induce; triumph over.
He tried to prevail on her to type his essay for him.
prevalent@prevalent
ADJ. widespread; generally accepted.
A radical committed to social change, Reed had no patience with the conservative views prevalent in the America of his day.
prevaricate@prevaricate
V. lie.
Some people believe that to prevaricate in a good cause is justifiable and regard the statement as a "white lie."
prey@prey
N. target of a hunt; victim.
In Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Euell Gibbons has as his prey not wild beasts but wild plants.
also v.
prim@prim
ADJ. very precise and formal; exceedingly proper.
Many people commented on the contrast between the prim attire of the young lady and the inappropriate clothing worn by her escort.
primogeniture@primogeniture
N. seniority by birth.
By virtue of primogeniture, in some cultures the first-born child has many privileges denied his brothers and sisters.
primordial@primordial
ADJ. existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary.
The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial ancestors.
primp@primp
V. groom oneself with care; adorn oneself.
The groom stood by idly while his nervous bride-to-be primped one last time before the mirror.
pristine@pristine
ADJ. characteristic of earlier times; primitive, unspoiled.
This area has been preserved in all its pristine wildness.
privation@privation
N. hardship; want.
In his youth, he knew hunger and privation.
privy@privy
ADJ. secret; hidden; not public.
We do not care for privy chamber government.
probe@probe
V. explore with tools.
The surgeon probed the wound for foreign matter before suturing it.
also n.
probity@probity
N. uprightness; incorruptibility.
Everyone took his probity for granted; his defalcations, therefore, shocked us all.
problematic@problematic
ADJ. doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing.
Given the way building costs have exceeded estimates for the job, whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.
proclivity@proclivity
N. inclination; natural tendency.
Watching the two-year-old voluntarily put away his toys, I was amazed by his proclivity for neatness.
procrastinate@procrastinate
V. postpone; delay or put off.
Looking at four years of receipts and checks he still had to sort through, Bob was truly sorry he had procrastinated for so long and had not finished filing his taxes long ago.
procurement@procurement
N. obtaining.
The personnel department handles the procurement of new employees.
prod@prod
V. poke; stir up; urge.
If you prod him hard enough, he'll eventually clean his room.
prodigal@prodigal
ADJ. wasteful; reckless with money.
Don't be so prodigal spending my money; when you've earned some money, you can waste as much of it as you want!
also n.
prodigious@prodigious
ADJ. marvelous; enormous.
Watching the champion weight lifter heave the weighty barbell to shoulder height and then boost it overhead, we marveled at his prodigious strength.
prodigy@prodigy
N. highly gifted child; marvel.
Menuhin was a prodigy, performing wonders on his violin when he was barely eight years old.
profane@profane
V. violate; desecrate; treat unworthily.
The members of the mysterious Far Eastern cult sought to kill the British explorer because he had profaned the sanctity of their holy goblet by using it as an ashtray.
also adj.
profligate@profligate
ADJ. dissipated; wasteful; wildly immoral.
Although surrounded by wild and profligate companions, she managed to retain some sense of decency.
also n.; profligacy, n.
profound@profound
ADJ. deep; not superficial; complete.
Freud's remarkable insights into human behavior caused his fellow scientists to honor him as a profound thinker.
profundity, n.
profusion@profusion
N. overabundance; lavish expenditure; excess.
Freddy was so overwhelmed by the profusion of choices on the menu that he knocked over his wine glass and soaked his host. He made profuse apologies to his host, the waiter, the bus boy, the people at the next table, and the man in the men's room giving out paper towels.
progenitor@progenitor
N. ancestor.
The Roth family, whose progenitors emigrated from Germany early in the nineteenth century, settled in Peru, Illinois.
progeny@progeny
N. children; offspring.
He was proud of his progeny but regarded George as the most promising of all his children.
prognosis@prognosis
N. forecasted course of a disease; prediction.
If the doctor's prognosis is correct, the patient will be in a coma for at least twenty-four hours.
prognosticate@prognosticate
V. predict.
I prognosticate disaster unless we change our wasteful ways.
prohibitive@prohibitive
ADJ. tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; inclined to prevent or forbid.
Susie wanted to buy a new Volvo but had to settle for a used Dodge because the new car's price was prohibitive.
prohibition, n.
projectile@projectile
N. missile.
Man has always hurled projectiles at his enemy whether in the form of stones or of highly explosive shells.
proletarian@proletarian
N. member of the working class; blue collar guy.
"Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains" is addressed to proletarians, not preppies.
also adj.; proletariat, n.
proliferate@proliferate
V. grow rapidly; spread; multiply.
Times of economic hardship inevitably encourage countless get-rich-quick schemes to proliferate.
proliferation, n.
prolific@prolific
ADJ. abundantly fruitful.
She was a prolific writer who produced as many as three books a year.
prolixity@prolixity
N. tedious wordiness; verbosity.
A writer who suffers from prolixity tells his readers everything they never wanted to know about his subject (or were too bored to ask).
prolix, adj.
prologue@prologue
N. introduction (to a poem or play).
In the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare introduces the audience to the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets.
prolong@prolong
V. extend; draw out; lengthen.
In their determination to discover ways to prolong human life, doctors fail to take into account that longer lives are not always happier ones.
prominent@prominent
ADJ. conspicuous; notable; protruding.
Have you ever noticed that Prince Charles's prominent ears make him resemble the big-eared character in Mad comics?
promiscuous@promiscuous
ADJ. mixed indiscriminately; haphazard; irregular, particularly sexually.
In the opera La Boheme, we get a picture of the promiscuous life led by the young artists of Paris.
promiscuity, n.
promontory@promontory
N. headland.
They erected a lighthouse on the promontory to warn approaching ships of their nearness to the shore.
promote@promote
V. help to flourish; advance in rank; publicize.
Founder of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman ceaselessly promotes the welfare of young people everywhere.
prompt@prompt
V. cause; provoke; provide a cue for an actor.
Whatever prompted you to ask for such a big piece of cake when you're on a diet?
promulgate@promulgate
V. proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication.
When Moses came down from the mountaintop prepared to promulgate God's commandments, he was appalled to discover his followers worshipping a golden calf.
prone@prone
ADJ. inclined to; prostrate.
She was prone to sudden fits of anger during which she would lie prone on the floor, screaming and kicking her heels.
propagate@propagate
V. multiple; spread.
Since bacteria propagate more quickly in unsanitary environments, it is important to keep hospital rooms clean.
propellant@propellant
N. substance that propels or drives forward.
The development of our missile program has forced our scientists to seek more powerful propellants.
also adj.
propensity@propensity
N. natural inclination.
Convinced of his own talent, Sol has an unfortunate propensity to belittle the talents of others.
prophetic@prophetic
ADJ. having to do with predicting the future.
In interpreting pharaoh's prophetic dream, Joseph said that the seven fat cows eaten by the seven lean cows represented seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
prophecy, n.
prophylactic@prophylactic
ADJ. used to prevent disease.
Despite all prophylactic measures introduced by the authorities, the epidemic raged until cool weather set in.
prophylaxis, n.
propinquity@propinquity
N. nearness; kinship.
Their relationship could not be explained as being based on mere propinquity: they were more than relatives; they were true friends.
propitiate@propitiate
V. appease.
The natives offered sacrifices to propitiate the gods.
propitious@propitious
ADJ. favorable; fortunate; advantageous.
Chloe consulted her horoscope to see whether Tuesday would be a propitious day to dump her boyfriend.
proponent@proponent
N. supporter; backer; opposite of opponent.
In the Senate, proponents of the universal health care measure lobbied to gain additional support for the controversial legislation.
propound@propound
V. put forth for analysis.
In your discussion, you have propounded several questions; let us consider each m e separately.
propriety@propriety
N. fitness; correct conduct.
Miss Manners counsels her readers so that they may behave with propriety in any social situation and not embarrass themselves.
propulsive@propulsive
ADJ. driving forward.
The jet plane has a greater propulsive power than the engine-driven plane.
prosaic@prosaic
ADJ. dull and unimaginative: matter-of-fact; factual.
Though the ad writers had come up with a highly creative campaign to publicize the company's newest product, the head off ice rejected it for a more prosaic, down-to-earth approach.
proscenium@proscenium
N. part of stage in front of curtain.
In the theater-in-the-round there can be no proscenium or proscenium arch.
also adj.
proscribe@proscribe
V. ostracize; banish; outlaw.
Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus proscribed all those who had conspired against Julius Caesar.
proselytize@proselytize
V. induce someone to convert to a religion or belief.
In these interfaith meetings, there must be no attempt to proselytize; we must respect all points of view.
prosody@prosody
N. the art of versification.
This book on prosody contains a rhyming dictionary as well as samples of the various verse forms.
prosperity@prosperity
N. good fortune; financial success; physical well-being.
Promising to stay together "for richer, for poorer," the newlyweds vowed to be true to one another in prosperity and hardship alike.
prostrate@prostrate
V. stretch out full on ground.
He prostrated himself before the idol.
also adj.
protean@protean
ADJ. versatile; able to take on many forms.
A remarkably protean actor, Alec Guinness could take on any role.
protege@protege
N. person receiving protection and support from a patron.
Born with an independent spirit, Cyrano de Bergerac refused to be a protege of Cardinal Richelieu.
protocol@protocol
N. diplomatic etiquette.
We must run this state dinner according to protocol if we are to avoid offending any of our guests.
prototype@prototype
N. original work used as a model by others.
The crude typewriter on display in this museum is the prototype of the elaborate machines in use today.
protract@protract
V. prolong.
Seeking to delay the union members' vote, the management team tried to protract the negotiations endlessly, but the union representatives saw through their strategy.
protrude@protrude
V. stick out.
His fingers protruded from the holes in his gloves.
protuberance@protuberance
N. protrusion; bulge.
A ganglionic cyst is a fluid-filled tumor (generally benign) that develops near a joint membrane or tendon sheath, and that bulges beneath the skin, forming a protuberance.
provenance@provenance
N. origin or source of something.
I am not interested in its provenance; I am more concerned with its usefulness than with its source.
provender@provender
N. dry food; fodder.
I am not afraid of a severe winter because I have stored a large quantity of provender for the cattle.
provident@provident
ADJ. displaying foresight: thrifty; preparing for emergencies.
In his usual provident manner, he had insured himself against this type of loss.
provincial@provincial
ADJ. pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated.
As provincial governor, Sir Henry administered the Queen's law in his remote corner of Canada. Caught up in local problems, out of touch with London news, he became sadly provincial.
provisional@provisional
ADJ. tentative.
Kim's acceptance as an American Express cardholder was provisional: before issuing her a card, American Express wanted to check her employment record and credit history.
provisa@provisa
N. stipulation.
I am ready to accept your proposal with the proviso that you meet your obligations within the next two weeks.
provocative@provocative
ADJ. arousing anger or interest; annoying.
In a typically provocative act, the bully kicked sand into the weaker man's face.
provoke, v.; provocation, n.
prowess@prowess
N. extraordinary ability; military bravery.
Performing triple axels and double lutzes at the age of six, the young figure skater was world famous for her prowess on the ice.
proximity@proximity
N. nearness.
Blind people sometimes develop a compensatory ability to sense the proximity of objects around them.
proxy@proxy
N. authorized agent.
Please act as my proxy and vote for this slate of candidates in my absence.
prude@prude
N. excessively modest or proper person.
The X-rated film was definitely not for prudes.
prudent@prudent
ADJ. cautious; careful.
A miser hoards money not because he is prudent but because he is greedy.
prudence, n.
prune@prune
V. cut away; trim.
With the help of her editor, she was able to prune her manuscript into publishable form.
prurient@prurient
ADJ. having or causing lustful thoughts and desires.
Aroused by his prurient impulses, the dirty old man leered at the sweet young thing and offered to give her a sample of his "prowess"; his prurience appalled her.
pry@pry
V. inquire impertinently; use leverage to raise or open something.
Though Nora claimed she didn't mean to pry, everyone knew she was just plain nosy. With a crowbar Long John Silver pried up the lid of the treasure chest.
pseudonym@pseudonym
N. pen name.
Samuel Clemens' pseudonym was Mark Twain.
psyche@psyche
N. soul; mind.
It is difficult to delve into the psyche of a human being.
psychiatrist@psychiatrist
N. a doctor who treats mental diseases.
A psychiatrist often needs long conferences with his patient before a diagnosis can be made.
psychopathic@psychopathic
ADJ. pertaining to mental derangement.
The psychopathic patient suffers more frequently from a disorder of the nervous system than from a diseased brain.
psychosis@psychosis
N. mental disorder.
We must endeavor to find an outlet for the patient's repressed desires if we hope to combat this psychosis.
psychotic, adj.
pterodactyl@pterodactyl
N. extinct flying reptile.
The remains of pterodactyls indicate that these flying reptiles had a wingspan of as much as twenty feet.
puerile@puerile
ADJ. childish.
His puerile pranks sometimes off ended his more mature friends.
pugilist@pugilist
N. boxer.
The famous pugilist Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammed Ali.
pugnacity@pugnacity
N. combativeness; disposition to fight.
"Put up your dukes!" he cried, making a fist to show his pugnacity.
pugnacious, adj.
puissant@puissant
ADJ. powerful; strong; potent.
We must keep his friendship for he will make a puissant ally.
pulchritude@pulchritude
N. beauty; comeliness.
I do not envy the judges who have to select this year's Miss America from this collection of female pulchritude.
pulmonary@pulmonary
ADJ. pertaining to the lungs.
In his research-es on pulmonary diseases, he discovered many facts about the lungs of animals and human beings.
pulsate@pulsate
V. throb.
We could see the blood vessels in his temple pulsate as he became more angry.
pulverize@pulverize
V. crush or grind into very small particles.
Before sprinkling the dried herbs into the stew, Michael first pulverized them into a fine powder.
pummel@pummel
V. beat or pound with fists.
Swinging wildly, Pammy pummeled her brother around the head and shoulders.
punctilious@punctilious
ADJ. stressing niceties of conduct or form; minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points.
Percy is punctilious about observing the rules of etiquette whenever Miss Manners invites him to stay.
punctiliousness, n.
pundit@pundit
N. authority on a subject; learned person; expert.
Some authors who write about SAT-I as if they are pundits actually know very little about the test.
pungent@pungent
ADJ. stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic.
The pungent odor of ripe Limburger cheese appealed to Simone but made Stanley gag.
pungency, n.
punitive@punitive
ADJ. punishing.
He asked for punitive measures against the offender.
puny@puny
ADJ. insignificant; tiny; weak.
Our puny efforts to stop the flood were futile.
purchase@purchase
N. firm grasp or footing.
The mountaineer struggled to get a proper purchase on the slippery rock.
purgatory@purgatory
N. place of spiritual expiation.
In this purgatory, he could expect no help from his comrades.
purge@purge
V. remove or get rid of something unwanted: free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify.
The Communist government purged the party to get rid of members suspected of capitalist sympathies, sending those believed to be disloyal to labor camps in Siberia.
also n.
purport@purport
N. intention; meaning.
If the purport of your speech was to arouse the rabble, you succeeded admirably.
also v.
purported@purported
ADJ. alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored.
The purported Satanists sacrificing live roosters in the park turned out to be a party of Shriners holding a chicken barbecue.
purse@purse
V. pucker; contract into wrinkles.
Miss Watson pursed her lips to show her disapproval of Huck's bedraggled.appearance.
purveyor@purveyor
N. furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer.
As purveyor of rare wines and viands, he traveled through France and Italy every year in search of new products to sell.
pusillanimous@pusillanimous
ADJ. cowardly; fainthearted.
You should be ashamed of your pusillanimous conduct during this dispute.
pusillanimity, n.
putative@putative
ADJ. supposed; reputed.
Although there are some doubts, the putative author of this work is Massinger.
putrid@putrid
ADJ. foul; rotten; decayed.
When the doctor removed the bandages, the putrid smell indicated that the wound had turned gangrenous.
putrescence, putrefaction, n.
pylon@pylon
N. marking post to guide aviators; steel tower supporting cables or telephone lines.
Amelia Earhart carefully banked her airplane as she followed the line of pylons set up to mark the course of the Great Plane Race.
pyromaniac@pyromaniac
N. person with an insane desire to set things on fire.
The detectives searched the area for the pyromaniac who had set these costly fires.
quack@quack
N. charlatan; impostor.
Do not be misled by the exorbitant claims of this quack; he cannot cure you.
quadruped@quadruped
N. four-footed animal.
Most, mammals are quadrupeds.
quaff@quaff
V. drink with relish.
As we quaffed our ale, we listened to the gay songs of the students in the tavern.
quagmire@quagmire
N. soft, wet, boggy land; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself.
Up to her knees in mud, Myra wondered how on earth she was going to extricate herself from this quagmire.
quail@quail
V. cower; lose heart.
He was afraid that he would quail in the face of danger.
quaint@quaint
ADJ. odd; old-fashioned; picturesque.
Her quaint clothes and old-fashioned language marked her as an eccentric.
qualified@qualified
ADJ. limited; restricted.
Unable to give the candidate full support, the mayor gave him only a qualified endorsement.
(secondary meaning)
qualms@qualms
N. misgivings; uneasy fears, especially about matters of conscience.
I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen; I know she will handle it admirably.
quandary@quandary
N. dilemma.
When both Harvard and Stanford accepted Laura, she was in a quandary as to which school she should attend.
quarantine@quarantine
N. isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection.
We will have to place this house under quarantine until we determine the exact nature of the disease.
also v.
quarry@quarry
N. victim; object of a hunt.
The police closed in on their quarry.
V. dig into.
They quarried blocks of marble out of the hillside.
quash@quash
V. subdue; crush; squash.
The authorities acted quickly to quash the student rebellion, sending in tanks to cow the demonstrators.
quay@quay
N. dock; landing place.
Because of the captain's carelessness, the ship crashed into the quay.
queasy@queasy
ADJ. easily nauseated; squeamish.
Remember that great chase movie, the one with the carsick passenger? That's right: Queasy Rider!
quell@quell
V. extinguish; put down; quiet.
Miss Minchin's demeanor was so stern and forbidding that she could quell any unrest among her students with one intimidating glance.
quench@quench
V. douse or extinguish; assuage or satisfy.
What's the favorite song of the Fire Department? "Baby, Quench My Fire!" After Bob ate the heavily salted popcorn, he had to drink a pitcherful of water to quench his thirst.
querulous@querulous
ADJ. fretful; whining.
Even the most agreeable toddlers can begin to act querulous if they miss their nap.
query@query
N. inquiry; question.
In her column "Ask Beth," the columnist invites young readers to send their queries about life and love to her.
also v.
queue@queue
N. line.
They stood patiently in the queue outside the movie theatre.
quibble@quibble
N. minor objection or complaint.
Aside from a few hundred teensy-weensy quibbles about the set, the script, the actors, the director, the costumes, the lighting, and the props, the hypercritical critic loved the play.
also v.
quiescent@quiescent
ADJ. at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive.
After the devastating eruption, fear of Mount Etna was great; people did not return to cultivate its rich hillside lands until the volcano had been quiescent for a full two years.
quiescence, n.
quietude@quietude
N. tranquillity.
He was impressed by the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the valley.
quintessence@quintessence
N. purest and highest embodiment.
Noel Coward displayed the quintessence of wit.
quip@quip
N. taunt.
You are unpopular because you are too free with your quips and sarcastic comments.
also v.
quirk@quirk
N. startling twist; caprice.
By a quirk of fate, he found himself working for the man whom he had discharged years before.
quisling@quisling
N. traitor who aids invaders.
In his conquest of Europe, Hitler was aided by the quislings who betrayed their own people and served in the puppet governments established by the Nazis.
quiver@quiver
N. case for arrows.
Robin Hood reached back and plucked one last arrow from his quiver.
V. tremble; shake.
The bird dog's nose twitched and his whiskers quivered as he strained eagerly against the leash.
also n.
quixotic@quixotic
ADJ. idealistic but impractical.
Constantly corning up with quixotic, unworkable schemes to save the world, Simon has his heart in the right place, but his head is somewhere off in the clouds.
quizzical@quizzical
ADJ. teasing; bantering; mocking; curious.
When the skinny teenager tripped over his own feet stepping into the bullpen, Coach raised one quizzical eyebrow, shook his head, and said, "Okay, kid. You're here; let's see what you've got."
quorum@quorum
N. number of members necessary to conduct a meeting.
The senator asked for a roll call to determine whether a quorum was present.
quotidian@quotidian
ADJ. daily; commonplace: customary.
To Philip, each new day of his internship was filled with excitement; he could not dismiss his rounds as merely quotidian routine.
rabid@rabid
ADJ. like a fanatic; furious.
He was a rabid follower of the Dodgers and watched them play whenever he could go to the ballpark.
raconteur@raconteur
N. story-teller.
My father was a gifted raconteur with an unlimited supply of anecdotes.
ragamuffin@ragamuffin
N. person wearing tattered clothes.
He felt sorry for the ragamuffin who was begging for food and gave him money to buy a meal.
rail@rail
V. scold; rant.
You may rail at him all you want; you will never change him.
raiment@raiment
N. clothing.
"How can I go to the ball?" asked Cinderella. "I have no raiment fit to wear."
rakish@rakish
ADJ. stylish; sporty.
He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
rally@rally
V. call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate.
Washington quickly rallied his troops to fight off the British attack. The patient had been sinking throughout the night, but at dawn she rallied and made a complete recovery.
also n.
ramble@ramble
V. wander aimlessly (physically or mentally).
Listening to the teacher ramble, Judy wondered whether he'd ever get to his point.
also n.
ramification@ramification
N. branching out; subdivision.
We must examine all the ramifications of this problem.
ramify@ramify
V. divide into branches or subdivisions.
When the plant begins to ramify, it is advisable to nip off most of the new branches.
ramp@ramp
N. slope; inclined plane.
The house was built with ramps instead of stairs in order to enable the man in the wheelchair to move easily from room to room and floor to floor.
rampant@rampant
ADJ. growing in profusion; unrestrained.
The rampant weeds in the garden choked the asters and marigolds until the flowers died.
rampancy, n.
rampart@rampart
N. defensive mound of earth.
"From the ramparts we watched" as the fighting continued.
ramshackle@ramshackle
ADJ. rickety; falling apart.
The boys propped up the ramshackle clubhouse with a couple of boards.
rancid@rancid
ADJ. having the odor of stale fat.
A rancid odor filled the ship's galley and nauseated the crew.
rancor@rancor
N. bitterness; hatred.
Thirty years after the war, she could not let go of the past but was still consumed with rancor against the foe.
rancorous, adj.
random@random
ADJ. without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard.
Although the sponsor of the raffle claimed all winners were chosen at random, people had their suspicions when the grand prize went to the sponsor's brother-in-law.
rankle@rankle
V. irritate; fester.
The memory of having been jilted rankled him for years.
rant@rant
V. rave; talk excitedly; scold; make a grandiloquent speech.
When he heard that I'd totaled the family car, Dad began to rant at me like a complete madman.
rapacious@rapacious
ADJ. excessively grasping; plundering.
Hawks and other rapacious birds prey on a variety of small animals.
rapport@rapport
N. emotional closeness; harmony.
In team teaching, it is important that all teachers in the group have good rapport with one another.
rapt@rapt
ADJ. absorbed; enchanted.
Caught up in the wonder of the storyteller's tale, the rapt listeners sat motionless, hanging on his every word.
rarefied@rarefied
ADJ. made less dense [of a gas].
The mountain climbers had difficulty breathing in the rarefied atmosphere.
rarefy, v.; rarefaction, n.
raspy@raspy
ADJ. grating; harsh.
The sergeant's raspy voice grated on the recruits' ears.
ratify@ratify
V. approve formally; confirm; verify.
Party leaders doubted that they had enough votes in both houses of Congress to ratify the constitutional amendment.
ratiocination@ratiocination
N. reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises.
While Watson was a man of average intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift for ratiocination made him a superb detective.
rationale@rationale
N. fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action.
Her need for a vehicle large enough to accommodate five children and a Saint Bernard was Judy's rationale for buying a minivan.
rationalize@rationalize
V. give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable one; offer an excuse.
When David refused gabby Gabrielle a ride to the dance because, he said, he had no room in the car, he was rationalizing; actually, he couldn't stand being cooped up in a car with anyone who talked as much as she did.
rationalization, n.
raucous@raucous
ADJ. harsh and shrill; disorderly and boisterous.
The raucous crowd of New Year's Eve revelers grew progressively noisier as midnight drew near.
ravage@ravage
V. plunder; despoil.
The marauding army ravaged the countryside.
rave@rave
N. overwhelmingly favorable review.
Though critic John Simon seldom has a good word to say about contemporary plays, his review of All in the Timing was a total rave.
ravel@ravel
V. fall apart into tangles; unravel or untwist; entangle.
A single thread pulled loose, and the entire scarf started to ravel.
ravenous@ravenous
ADJ. extremely hungry.
The ravenous dog upset several garbage pails in its search for food.
ravine@ravine
N. narrow valley with steep sides.
Steeper than a gully, less precipitous than a canyon, a ravine is, like them, the product of years of erosion.
raze@raze
V. destroy completely.
Spelling matters: to raise a building is to put it up; to raze a building is to tear it down.
reactionary@reactionary
ADJ. opposing progress; politically ultraconservative.
Opposing the use of English in worship services, reactionary forces in the church fought to reinstate the mass in Latin.
also n.
realm@realm
N., kingdom; field or sphere.
In the animal realm, the lion is the king of beasts.
reaper@reaper
N. one who harvests grain.
Death, the Grim Reaper, cuts down mortal men and women, just as a farmer cuts down the ripened grain.
rebate@rebate
N. discount.
We offer a rebate of ten percent to those who pay cash.
rebuff@rebuff
V. snub; beat back.
She rebuffed his invitation so smoothly that he did not realize he had been snubbed.
also n.
rebuke@rebuke
V. scold harshly; criticize severely.
No matter how sharply Miss Watson rebuked Huck for his misconduct, he never talked back but just stood there like a stump.
also n.
rebus@rebus
N. puzzle in which pictures stand for words.
A coven of witches beside a tree is a possible rebus for the town Coventry.
rebuttal@rebuttal
N. refutation; response with contrary evidence.
The defense lawyer confidently listened to the prosecutor sum up his case, sure that she could answer his arguments in her rebuttal.
recalcitrant@recalcitrant
ADJ. obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly.
Which animal do you think is more recalcitrant, a pig or a mule?
recant@recant
V. disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error.
Hoping to make Joan of Arc recant her sworn testimony, her English captors tried to convince her that her visions had been sent to her by the Devi I.
recapitulate@recapitulate
V. summarize.
Let us recapitulate what has been said thus far before going ahead.
recast@recast
V. reconstruct (a sentence, story, etc.); fashion again.
Let me recast this sentence in terms your feeble brain can grasp: in words of one syllable, you are a fool.
receptive@receptive
ADJ. quick or willing to receive ideas, suggestions, etc.
Adventure-loving Huck Finn proved a receptive audience for Tom's tales of buried treasure and piracy.
recession@recession
N. withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity.
The slow recession of the flood waters created problems for the crews working to restore power to the area.
recidivism@recidivism
N. habitual return to crime.
Prison reformers in the United States are disturbed by the high rate of recidivism; the number of persons serving second and third terms indicates the failure of the prisons to rehabilitate the inmates.
recipient@recipient
N. receiver.
Although he had been the recipient of many favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor.
reciprocal@reciprocal
ADJ. mutual; exchangeable; interacting.
The two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement.
reciprocate@reciprocate
V. repay in kind.
If they attack us, we shall be compelled to reciprocate and bomb their territory.
reciprocity, n.
recluse@recluse
N. hermit; loner.
Disappointed in love, Miss Emily became a recluse; she shut herself away in her empty mansion and refused to see another living soul.
reclusive, adj.
reconcile@reconcile
V. correct inconsistencies, become friendly after a quarrel.
Every time we try to reconcile our checkbook with the bank statement, we quarrel. However, despite these monthly lovers' quarrels, we always manage to reconcile.
recondite@recondite
ADJ. abstruse; profound; secret.
He read many recondite books in order to obtain the material for his scholarly thesis.
reconnaissance@reconnaissance
N. survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering.
If you encounter any enemy soldiers during your reconnaissance, capture them for questioning.
recount@recount
V. narrate or tell; count over again.
About to recount the latest adventure of Sherlock Holmes, Watson lost track of exactly how many cases Holmes had solved and refused to begin his tale until he'd recounted them one by one.
recourse@recourse
N. resorting to help when in trouble.
The boy's only recourse was to appeal to his father for aid.
recrimination@recrimination
N. countercharges.
Loud and angry recriminations were her answer to his accusations.
rectify@rectify
V. set right; correct.
You had better send a check to rectify your account before American Express cancels your credit card.
rectitude@rectitude
N. uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment.
The Eagle Scout was a model of rectitude; smugness was the only flaw he needed to correct.
recumbent@recumbent
ADJ. reclining; lying down completely or in part.
The command "AT EASE" does not permit you to take a recumbent position.
recuperate@recuperate
V. recover.
The doctors were worried because the patient did not recuperate as rapidly as they had expected.
recurrent@recurrent
ADJ. occurring again and again.
These recurrent attacks disturbed us and we consulted a physician.
redolent@redolent
ADJ. fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor.
Even though it is February, the air is redolent of spring.
redoubtable@redoubtable
ADJ. formidable; causing fear.
During the Cold War period, neighboring countries tried not to offend the Russians because they could be redoubtable foes.
redress@redress
N. remedy; compensation.
Do you mean to tell me that I can get no redress for my injuries?
also v.
redundant@redundant
ADJ. superfluous; repetitious; excessively wordy.
The bottle of wine I brought to Bob's party was certainly redundant how was I to know Bob owned a winery? In your essay, you repeat several points unnecessarily; try to avoid redundancy in the future.
reek@reek
V. emit (odor).
The room reeked with stale tobacco smoke.
also n.
refectory@refectory
N. dining hall.
In this huge refectory, we can feed the entire student body at one sitting.
refraction@refraction
N. bending of a ray of light.
When you look at a stick inserted in water, it looks bent because of the refraction of the light by the water.
refractory@refractory
ADJ. stubborn; unmanageable.
The refractory horse was eliminated from the race when he refused to obey the jockey.
refrain@refrain
V. abstain from; resist.
N. chorus.
Whenever he heard a song with a lively chorus, Sol could never refrain from joining in on the refrain.
refulgent@refulgent
ADJ. brightly shining; gleaming.
The squire polished the knight's armor until it gleamed in the light like the refulgent moon.
refurbish@refurbish
V. renovate; make bright by polishing.
The flood left a deposit of mud on everything; it was necessary to refurbish our belongings.
refute@refute
V. disprove.
The defense called several respectable witnesses who were able to refute the false testimony of the prosecution's only witness.
refutation, n.
regal@regal
ADJ. royal.
Prince Albert had a regal manner.
regale@regale
V. entertain.
John regaled us with tales of his adventures in Africa.
regatta@regatta
N. boat or yacht race.
Many boating enthusiasts followed the regatta in their own yachts.
regeneration@regeneration
N. spiritual rebirth.
Modern penologists strive for the regeneration of the prisoners.
regicide@regicide
N. murder of a king or queen.
The beheading of Mary Queen of Scots was an act of regicide.
regime@regime
N. method or system of government.
When a Frenchman mentions the Old Regime, he refers to the government existing before the revolution.
regimen@regimen
N. prescribed diet and habits.
I doubt whether the results warrant our living under such a strict regimen.
rehabilitate@rehabilitate
V. restore to proper condition.
We must rehabilitate those whom we send to prison.
reimburse@reimburse
V. repay.
Let me know what you have spent and I will reimburse you.
reiterate@reiterate
V. repeat.
She reiterated the warning to make sure everyone understood it.
rejoinder@rejoinder
N. retort; comeback; reply.
When someone has been rude to me, I find it particularly satisfying to come up with a quick rejoinder.
rejuvenate@rejuvenate
V. make young again.
The charlatan claimed that his elixir would rejuvenate the aged and weary.
relegate@relegate
V. banish to an inferior position; delegate: assign.
After Ralph dropped his second tray of drinks that week, the manager swiftly relegated him to a minor post cleaning up behind the bar.
relent@relent
V. give in.
When her stern father would not relent and allow her to marry Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett eloped with her suitor.
relentless, adj.
relevant@relevant
ADJ. pertinent; referring to the case in hand.
Teri was impressed by how relevant Virginia Woolf's remarks were to her as a woman writer; it was as if Woolf had been writing with Teri's situation in mind.
relevance, n.; relevancy, n.
relic@relic
N. surviving remnant; memento.
Egypt's Department of Antiquities prohibits tourists from taking mummies and other ancient relics out of the country. Mike keeps his photos of his trip to Egypt in a box with other relics of his travels.
relinquish@relinquish
V. give up something with reluctance; yield.
Once you get used to fringe benefits like expense account meals and a company car, it's very hard to relinquish them.
relish@relish
V. savor; enjoy.
Watching Peter enthusiastically chow down, I thought, "Now there's a man who relishes a good dinner!"
also n.
remediable@remediable
ADJ. reparable.
Let us be grateful that the damage is remediable.
reminiscence@reminiscence
N. recollection.
Her reminiscences of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book.
remiss@remiss
ADJ. negligent.
When the prisoner escaped, the guard was accused of being remiss in his duty.
remission@remission
N. temporary moderation of disease symptoms; cancellation of a debt; forgiveness or pardon.
Though Senator Tsongas had been treated for cancer, his symptoms were in remission, and he was considered fit to handle the strains of a presidential race.
remnant@remnant
N. remainder.
I suggest that you wait until the store places the remnants of these goods on sale.
remonstrance@remonstrance
N. protest; objection.
The authorities were deaf to the pastor's remonstrances about the lack of police protection in the area.
remonstrate, v.
remorse@remorse
N. guilt; self-reproach.
The murderer felt no remorse for his crime.
remunerative@remunerative
ADJ. compensating; rewarding.
I find my new work so remunerative that I may not return to my previous employment.
remuneration. n.
rend@rend
V. split; tear apart.
In his grief, he tried to rend his garments.
rent, n.
render@render
V. deliver; provide; represent.
He rendered aid to the needy and indigent.
rendezvous@rendezvous
N. meeting place.
The two fleets met at the rendezvous at the appointed time.
also v.
rendition@rendition
N. translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc.
The audience cheered enthusiastically as she completed her rendition of the aria.
renegade@renegade
N. deserter; traitor.
Because he had abandoned his post and joined forces with the Indians, his fellow officers considered the hero of Dances with Wolves a renegade.
also adj.
renege@renege
V. deny; go back on.
He reneged on paying off his debt.
renounce@renounce
V. abandon; disown; repudiate.
Even though she knew she would be burned at the stake as a witch, Joan of Arc refused to renounce her belief that her voices came from God.
renunciation. n.
renovate@renovate
V. restore to good condition; renew.
They claim that they can renovate worn shoes so that they look like new ones.
renown@renown
N. fame.
For many years an unheralded researcher, Barbara McClintock gained international renown when she won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.
renowned, adj.
rent@rent
N. rip; split.
Kit did an excellent job of mending the rent in the lining of her coat.
rend, v.
reparable@reparable
ADJ. capable of being repaired.
Fortunately, the damages we suffered in the accident were reparable and our car looks brand new.
reparation@reparation
N. amends: compensation.
At the peace conference, the defeated country promised to pay reparations to the victors.
repartee@repartee
N. clever reply.
He was famous for his witty repartee and his sarcasm.
repast@repast
N. meal; feast; banquet.
The caterers prepared a delicious repast for Fred and Judy's wedding day.
repeal@repeal
V. revoke; annul.
What would the effect on our society be if we decriminalized drug use by repealing the laws against the possession and sale of narcotics?
repel@repel
V. drive away; disgust.
At first, the Beast's ferocious appearance repelled Beauty, but she came to love the tender heart hidden behind that beastly exterior.
repellent@repellent
ADJ. driving away; unattractive.
Mosquitoes find the odor so repellent that they leave any spot where this liquid has been sprayed.
also n.
repercussion@repercussion
N. rebound; reverberation; reaction.
I am afraid that this event will have serious repercussions.
repertoire@repertoire
N. list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present.
The opera company decided to include Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the following season.
repine@repine
V. fret; complain.
There is no sense repining over the work you have left undone.
replenish@replenish
V. fill up again.
Before she could take another backpacking trip, Carla had to replenish her stock of freeze-dried foods.
replete@replete
ADJ. filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied.
The movie star's memoir was replete with juicy details about the love life of half of Hollywood.
replica@replica
N. copy.
Are you going to hang this replica of the Declaration of Independence in the classroom or in the auditorium?
replicate@replicate
V. reproduce; duplicate.
Because he had always wanted a palace, Donald decided to replicate the Taj Mahal in miniature on his estate.
repository@repository
N. storehouse.
Libraries are repositories of the world's best thoughts.
reprehensible@reprehensible
ADJ. deserving blame.
Shocked by the viciousness of the bombing, politicians of every party uniformly condemned the terrorists' reprehensible deed.
repress@repress
V. restrain; crush; oppress.
Anne's parents tried to curb her impetuosity without repressing her boundless high spirits.
reprieve@reprieve
N. temporary stay.
During the twenty-four-hour reprieve, the lawyers sought to make the stay of execution permanent.
also v.
reprimand@reprimand
V. reprove severely; rebuke.
Every time Ermengarde made a mistake in class, she was afraid that Miss Minchin would reprimand her and tell her father how badly she was doing in school.
also n.
reprisal@reprisal
N. retaliation.
I am confident that we are ready for any reprisals the enemy may undertake.
reprise@reprise
N. musical repetition; repeat performance; recurrent action.
We enjoyed the soprano's solo in Act I so much that we were delighted by its reprise in the finale. At Waterloo, it was not the effect of any one skirmish that exhausted Colonel Audley; rather, it was the cumulative effect of the constant reprises that left him spent.
reproach@reproach
V. express disapproval or disappointment.
He never could do anything wrong without imagining how the look on his mother's face would reproach him afterwards.
also n.; reproachful, adj.
reprobate@reprobate
N. person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency.
I cannot understand why he has so many.admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is.
reprobation@reprobation
N. severe disapproval.
The students showed their reprobation of his act by refusing to talk with him.
reprove@reprove
V. censure; rebuke.
Though Aunt Bea at times would reprove Opie for inattention in church, she believed he was at heart a God-fearing lad.
reproof, n.
repudiate@repudiate
V. disown; disavow.
On separating from Tony, Tina announced that she would repudiate all debts incurred by her soon-to-be ex-husband.
repugnance@repugnance
N. loathing.
She looked at the snake with repugnance.
repulsion@repulsion
N. distaste; act of driving back.
Hating bloodshed, she viewed war with repulsion. Even defensive battles distressed her, for the repulsion of enemy forces is never accomplished bloodlessly.
repulse, v.
N. Even defensive battles distressed her, for the repulsion of enemy forces is never accomplished bloodlessly.
repulse, v.
reputable@reputable
ADJ. respectable.
If you want to buy antiques, look for a reputable dealer; far too many dealers today pass off fakes as genuine antiques.
reputed@reputed
ADJ. supposed.
He is the reputed father of the child.
repute, v.; repute, n.
requiem@requiem
N. mass for the dead; dirge.
They played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral.
requisite@requisite
N. necessary requirement.
Many colleges state that a student must offer three years of a language as a requisite for admission.
requite@requite
V. repay; revenge.
The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them.
rescind@rescind
V. cancel.
Because of the public outcry against the new taxes, the senator proposed a bill to rescind the unpopular financial measure.
resentment@resentment
N. indignation; bitterness; displeasure.
Not wanting to appear a sore loser, Bill tried to hide his resentment of Barry's success.
reserve@reserve
N. self-control; formal but distant manner.
Although some girls were attracted by Mark's reserve, Judy was put off by it, for she felt his aloofness indicated a lack of openness.
reserved, adj.
residue@residue
N. remainder; balance.
In his will, he requested that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the residue be given to his wife.
resignation@resignation
N. patient submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job.
If Bob Cratchit had not accepted Scrooge's bullying with timid resignation, he might have gotten up the nerve to hand in his resignation.
resigned, adj.
resilient@resilient
ADJ. elastic; having the power of springing back.
Highly resilient, steel makes excellent bedsprings.
resilience, n.
resolution@resolution
N. determination.
Nothing could shake his resolution to succeed despite all difficulties.
resolute, adj.
resolve@resolve
N. determination; firmness of purpose.
How dare you question my resolve to take up sky-diving! Of course I haven't changed my mind!
V. decide; settle; solve.
Homes resolved to travel to Bohemia to resolve the dispute between Irene Adler and the King.
resonant@resonant
ADJ. echoing; resounding; deep and full in sound.
The deep, resonant voice of the actor James Earl Jones makes him particularly effective when he appears on stage.
respiration@respiration
N. breathing; exhalation.
The doctor found that the patient's years of smoking had adversely affected both his lung capacity and his rate of respiration.
respite@respite
N. interval of relief; time for rest; delay in punishment.
For David, the two weeks vacationing in New Zealand were a delightful respite from the pressures of his job.
resplendent@resplendent
ADJ. dazzling; glorious; brilliant.
While all the adults were commenting how glorious the emperor looked in his resplendent new clothes, one little boy was heard to say, "But he's naked!"
responsiveness@responsiveness
N. state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.
The audience cheered and applauded, delighting the performers by its responsiveness.
restitution@restitution
N. reparation; indemnification.
He offered to make restitution for the window broken by his son.
restive@restive
ADJ. restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control.
Waiting impatiently in line to see Santa Claus, even the best-behaved children grow restive and start to fidget.
restraint@restraint
N. moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction.
Show some restraint young lady! Three desserts is quite enough!
resumption@resumption
N. taking up again; recommencement.
During the summer break, Don had not realized how much he missed university life: at the resumption of classes, however, he felt marked excitement and pleasure.
resume, v.
resurge@resurge
V. rise again; flow to and fro.
It was startling to see the spirit of nationalism resurge as the Soviet Union disintegrated into a loose federation of ethnic and national groups.
resurgence, n.; resurgent, adj.
resuscitate@resuscitate
V. revive.
The lifeguard tried to resuscitate the drowned child by applying artificial respiration.
retain@retain
V. keep; employ.
Fighting to retain his seat in Congress, Senator Foghorn retained a new manager to head his reelection campaign.
retaliation@retaliation
V. repayment in kind (usually for bad treatment).
Because everyone knew the Princeton band had stolen Brown's mascot, the whole Princeton student body expected some sort of retaliation from Brown.
retaliate, v.
retentive@retentive
ADJ. holding; having a good memory.
The pupil did not need to spend much time in study as he had a retentive mind.
reticent@reticent
ADJ. reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence.
Fearing his competitors might get advance word about his plans from talkative staff members, Hughes preferred reticent employees to loquacious ones.
reticence, n.
retinue@retinue
N. following; attendants.
The queen's retinue followed her down the aisle.
retiring@retiring
ADJ. modest: shy.
Given Susan's retiring personality, no one expected her to take up public speaking; surprisingly enough, she became a star of the school debate team.
retort@retort
N. quick, sharp reply.
Even when it was advisable for her to keep her mouth shut, she was always ready with a retort.
also v.
retract@retract
V. withdraw; take back.
When I saw how Fred and his fraternity brothers had trashed the frat house, I decided to retract my offer to let them use our summer cottage for the weekend.
retraction, n.
retrench@retrench
V. cut down; economize.
If they were to be able to send their children to college, they would have to retrench.
retribution@retribution
N. vengeance; compensation; punishment for offenses.
The evangelist maintained that an angry deity would exact retribution from the sinners.
retrieve@retrieve
V. recover; find and bring in.
The dog was intelligent and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter.
retrieval, n.
retroactive@retroactive
ADJ. taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax).
Because the new pension law was retroactive to the first of the year, even though Martha had retired in February she was eligible for the pension.
retrograde@retrograde
V. go backwards; degenerate.
Instead of advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in ethics and culture.
also adj.
retrospective@retrospective
ADJ. looking back on the past.
The Museum of Graphic Arts is holding a retrospective showing of the paintings of Michael Whelan over the past two decades.
also n.; retrospection, n.
revelry@revelry
N. boisterous merrymaking.
New Year's Eve is a night of revelry.
reverberate@reverberate
V. echo; resound.
The entire valley reverberated with the sound of the church bells.
reverent@reverent
ADJ. respectful; worshipful.
Though I bow my head in church and recite the prayers, sometimes I don't feel properly reverent.
revere, v.; reverence, n.
reverie@reverie
N. daydream; musing.
She was awakened from her reverie by the teacher's question.
revert@revert
V. relapse: backslide; turn back to.
Most of the time Andy seemed sensitive and mature, but occasionally he would revert to his smart-alecky, macho, adolescent self.
reversion, n.
revile@revile
V. attack with abusive language; vilify.
Though most of his contemporaries reviled Captain Kidd as a notorious, bloody-handed pirate, some of his fellow merchant-captains believed him innocent of his alleged crimes.
revoke@revoke
V. cancel; retract.
Repeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol face having their driver's licenses permanently revoked.
revocation, n.
revulsion@revulsion
N. sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction.
Many people in this country who admired dictatorships underwent a revulsion when they realized what Hitler and Mussolini were trying to do.
rhapsodize@rhapsodize
V. to speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner.
She greatly enjoyed her Hawaiian vacation and rhapsodized about it for weeks.
rhetoric@rhetoric
N. art of effective communication; insincere or grandiloquent language.
All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric.
rhetorical, adj.
ribald@ribald
ADJ. wanton; profane.
He sang a ribald song that offended many of the more prudish listeners.
ribaldry, n.
riddle@riddle
V. pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout.
With his machine gun, Tracy riddled the car with bullets till it looked like a slice of Swiss cheese. During the proofreaders' strike, the newspaper was riddled with typos.
rider@rider
N. amendment or clause added to a legislative bill.
Senator Foghorn said he would support Senator Filibuster's tax reform bill only if Filibuster agreed to add an antipollution rider to the bill.
rife@rife
ADJ. abundant; current.
In the face of the many rumors of scandal, which are rife at the moment, it is best to remain silent.
riff@riff
N. opening; break.
The plane was lost in the stormy sky until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds.
rig@rig
V. fix or manipulate.
The ward boss was able to rig the election by bribing people to stuff the ballot boxes with ballots marked in his candidate's favor.
rigid@rigid
ADJ. stiff and unyielding; strict; hard and unbending.
By living with a man to whom she was not married, George Eliot broke Victorian society's most rigid rule of respectable behavior.
rigor@rigor
N. severity.
Many settlers could not stand the rigors of the New England winters.
rile@rile
V. vex; irritate; muddy.
Red had a hair-trigger temper: he was an easy man to rile.
riveting@riveting
ADJ. absorbing; engrossing.
The reviewer described Byatt's novel Possession as a riveting tale: absorbed in the story, she had finished it in a single evening.
rivulet@rivulet
N. small stream.
As the rains continued, the trickle of water running down the hillside grew into a rivulet that threatened to wash away a portion of the slope.
robust@robust
ADJ. vigorous; strong.
After pumping iron and taking karate for six months, the little old lady was far more robust in health and could break a plank with her fist.
rococo@rococo
ADJ. ornate; highly decorated.
The rococo style in furniture and architecture, marked by scrollwork and excessive decoration, flourished during the middle of the eighteenth century.
roil@roil
V. to make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; to disturb.
Be careful when you pour not to roil the wine; if you stir up the sediment you'll destroy the flavor.
roseate@roseate
ADJ. rosy; optimistic.
I am afraid you will have to alter your roseate views in the light of the distressing news that has just arrived.
roster@roster
N. list.
They print the roster of players in the season's program.
rostrum@rostrum
N. platform for speech-making; pulpit.
The crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum.
rote@rote
N. repetition.
He recited the passage by rote and gave no indication he understood what he was saying.
also adj.
rotunda@rotunda
N. circular building or hall covered with a dome.
His body lay in state in the rotunda of the Capitol.
rotundity@rotundity
N. roundness; sonorousness of speech.
Washington Irving emphasized the rotundity of the governor by describing his height and circumference.
rousing@rousing
ADJ. lively; stirring.
"And now, let's have a rousing welcome for TV's own Roseanne Arnold, who'll lead us in a rousing rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner."
rout@rout
V. stampede; drive out.
The reinforcements were able to rout the enemy.
also n.
rubble@rubble
N. fragments.
Ten years after World War II, some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be seen.
rubric@rubric
N. title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol.
In ordaining the new priests, the bishop carefully observed all the rubrics for the ordination service.
ruddy@ruddy
ADJ. reddish; healthy-looking.
Santa Claus's ruddy cheeks nicely complement Rudolph the Reindeer's bright red nose.
rudimentary@rudimentary
ADJ. not developed; elementary; crude.
Although my grandmother's English vocabulary was limited to a few rudimentary phrases, she always could make herself understood.
rue@rue
V. regret; lament; mourn.
Tina rued the night she met Tony and wondered how she ever fell for such a jerk.
also n.; rueful, adj.
ruffian@ruffian
N. bully; scoundrel.
The ruffians threw stones at the police.
ruminate@ruminate
V. chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically); mull over; ponder.
Unable to digest quickly the baffling events of the day, Reuben ruminated about them till four in the morning.
rummage@rummage
V. ransack; thoroughly search.
When we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days.
also n.
runic@runic
ADJ. mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet.
Tolkien's use of Old English words and inscriptions in the runic alphabet give The Lord of the Rings its atmosphere of antiquity.
ruse@ruse
N. trick; stratagem.
You will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ruse.
rustic@rustic
ADJ. pertaining to country people; uncouth.
The backwoodsman looked out of place in his rustic attire.
rusticate@rusticate
V. banish to the country; dwell in the country.
I like city life so much that I can never understand how people can rusticate in the suburbs.
ruthless@ruthless
ADJ. pitiless; cruel.
Captain Hook was a dangerous, ruthless villain who would stop at nothing to destroy Peter Pan.
saboteur@saboteur
N. one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property.
Members of the Resistance acted as saboteurs, blowing up train lines to prevent supplies from reaching the Nazi army.
saccharine@saccharine
ADJ. cloyingly sweet.
She tried to ingratiate herself, speaking sweetly and smiling a saccharine smile.
sacrilegious@sacrilegious
ADJ. desecrating; profane.
His stealing of the altar cloth was a very sacrilegious act.
sacrosanct@sacrosanct
ADJ. most sacred; inviolable.
The brash insurance salesman invaded the sacrosanct privacy of the office of the president of the company.
sadistic@sadistic
ADJ. inclined to cruelty.
If we are to improve conditions in this prison, we must first get rid of the sadistic warden.
sadism, n.
saga@saga
N. Scandinavian myth; any legend.
This is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it.
sagacious@sagacious
ADJ. perceptive; shrewd; having insight.
My father was a sagacious judge of character: he could spot a phony a mile away.
sagacity, n.
sage@sage
N. person celebrated for wisdom.
Hearing tales of a mysterious Master of All Knowledge who lived in the hills of Tibet, Sandy was possessed with a burning desire to consult the legendary sage.
also adj.
salacious@salacious
ADJ. lascivious; lustful.
Chaucer's monk is not pious but salacious, a teller of lewd tales and ribald jests.
salient@salient
ADJ. prominent.
One of the salient features of that newspaper is its excellent editorial page.
saline@saline
ADJ. salty.
The slightly saline taste of this mineral water is pleasant.
sallow@sallow
ADJ. yellowish; sickly in color.
We were disturbed by her sallow complexion, which was due to jaundice.
salubrious@salubrious
ADJ. healthful.
Many people with hay fever move to more salubrious sections of the country during the months of August and September.
salutary@salutary
ADJ. tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome.
The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy, as he became a model student.
salvage@salvage
V. rescue from loss.
All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.
also n.
sanctimonious@sanctimonious
ADJ. displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness.
You do not have to be so sanctimonious to prove that you are devout.
sanction@sanction
V. approve; ratify.
Nothing will convince me to sanction the engagement of my daughter to such a worthless young man.
sanctuary@sanctuary
N. refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place.
The tiny attic was Helen's sanctuary to which she fled when she had to get away from her bickering parents and brothers.
sanguinary@sanguinary
ADJ. bloody.
The battle of two Jima was unexpectedly sanguinary with many casualties.
sanguine@sanguine
ADJ. cheerful; hopeful.
Let us not be too sanguine about the outcome; something could go wrong.
sap@sap
V. diminish; undermine.
The element kryptonite had an unhealthy effect on Superman: it sapped his strength.
sarcasm@sarcasm
N. scornful remark; stinging rebuke.
Though Ralph pretended to ignore the mocking comments of his supposed friends, their sarcasm wounded him deeply.
sarcastic, adj.
sardonic@sardonic
ADJ. disdainful; sarcastic; cynical.
The sardonic humor of nightclub comedians who satirize or ridicule patrons in the audience strikes some people as amusing and others as rude.
sartorial@sartorial
ADJ. pertaining to tailors.
He was as famous for the sartorial splendor of his attire as he was for his acting.
sate@sate
V. satisfy to the full; cloy.
Its hunger sated, the lion dozed.
satellite@satellite
N. small body revolving around a larger one.
During the first few years of the Space Age, hundreds of satellites were launched by Russia and the United States.
satiate@satiate
V. satisfy fully.
Having stuffed themselves with goodies until they were satiated, the guests were so full they were ready for a nap.
satiety, n.
satire@satire
N. form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack vice and folly.
Gulliver's Travels, which is regarded by many as a tale for children, is actually a bitter satire attacking human folly.
satirical@satirical
ADJ. mocking.
The humor of cartoonist Gary Trudeau often is satirical; through the comments of the Doonesbury characters, Trudeau ridicules political corruption and folly.
saturate@saturate
V. soak thoroughly.
Thorough watering is the key to lawn care: you must saturate your new lawn well to encourage its growth.
saturnine@saturnine
ADJ. gloomy.
Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance: he is not as gloomy as he looks.
satyr@satyr
N. half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus, portrayed as wanton and cunning.
He was like a satyr in his lustful conduct.
saunter@saunter
V. stroll slowly.
As we sauntered through the park, we stopped frequently to admire the spring flowers.
savant@savant
N. scholar.
Our faculty includes many world-famous savants.
savor@savor
V. enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality.
Relishing his triumph, Costner especially savored the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure.
savory@savory
ADJ. tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable.
Julia Child's recipes enable amateur chefs to create savory delicacies for their guests.
scabbard@scabbard
N. case for a sword blade; sheath.
The drill master told the recruit to wipe the blood from his sword before slipping it back into the scabbard.
scad@scad
N. a great quantity.
Refusing Dave's offer to lend him a shirt. Phil replied, "No, thanks; I've got scads of clothes."
scaffold@scaffold
N. temporary platform for workers; bracing framework; platform for execution.
Before painting the house, the workers put up a scaffold to allow them to work on the second story.
scale@scale
V. climb up; ascend.
To locate a book on the top shelf of the stacks, Lee had to scale an exceptionally rickety ladder.
scanty@scanty
ADJ. meager; insufficient.
Thinking his helping of food was scanty, Oliver Twist asked for more.
scapegoat@scapegoat
N. someone who bears the blame for others.
After the Challenger disaster, NASA searched for scapegoats on whom they could cast the blame.
scavenge@scavenge
V. hunt through discarded materials for usable items; search, especially for food.
If you need car parts that the dealers no longer stock, try scavenging for odd bits and pieces at the auto wreckers' yards.
scavenger, n.
scenario@scenario
N. plot outline; screenplay; opera libretto.
Scaramouche startled the other actors in the commedia troupe when he suddenly departed from their customary scenario and began to improvise.
schematic@schematic
ADJ. relating to an outline or diagram: using a system of symbols.
In working out the solution to an analytical logic question, you may find it helpful to construct a simple schematic diagram illustrating the relationships between the items of information given in the question.
schema, n.
schism@schism
N. division; split.
Let us not widen the schism by further bickering.
scintilla@scintilla
N. shred; least bit.
You have not produced a scintilla of evidence to support your argument.
scintillate@scintillate
V. sparkle; flash.
I enjoy her dinner parties because the food is excellent and the conversation scintillates.
scoff@scoff
V. mock; ridicule.
He scoffed at dentists until he had his first toothache.
scotch@scotch
V. stamp out; thwart; hinder.
Heather tried to scotch the rumor that she had stolen her best friend's fiance.
scourge@scourge
N. lash; whip; severe punishment.
They feared the plague and regarded it as a deadly scourge.
also v.
scruple@scruple
V. fret about; hesitate, for ethical reasons.
Fearing that her husband had become involved in an affair, she did not scruple to read his diary.
also n.
scrupulous@scrupulous
ADJ. conscientious; extremely thorough.
Though Alfred is scrupulous in fulfilling his duties at work, he is less conscientious about his obligations to his family and friends.
scrutinize@scrutinize
V. examine closely and critically.
Searching for flaws, the sergeant scrutinized every detail of the private's uniform.
scuffle@scuffle
V. struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry.
The twins briefly scuffled, wrestling to see which of them would get the toy. When their big brother yelled, "Let go of my Gameboy!" they scuffled off down the hall.
scurrilous@scurrilous
ADJ. obscene; indecent.
Your scurrilous remarks are especially offensive because they are untrue.
scurry@scurry
V. move briskly.
The White Rabbit had to scurry to get to his appointment on time.
scurvy@scurvy
ADJ. despicable; contemptible.
Peter Pan sneered at Captain Hook and his scurvy crew.
scuttle@scuttle
V. sink.
The sailors decided to scuttle their vessel rather than surrender it to the enemy.
seamy@seamy
ADJ. sordid; unwholesome.
In The Godfather, Michael Corleone is unwilling to expose his wife and children to the seamy side of his life as the son of a Mafia don.
sear@sear
V. char or burn; brand.
Accidentally brushing against the hot grill, she seared her hand badly.
seasoned@seasoned
ADJ. experienced.
Though pleased with her new batch of rookies, the basketball coach wished she had a few more seasoned players on the team.
secession@secession
N. withdrawal.
The secession of the Southern states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his inauguration.
secede, v.
seclusion@seclusion
N. isolation; solitude.
One moment she loved crowds; the next, she sought seclusion.
secrete@secrete
V. hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism.
The pack rat secretes odds and ends in its nest; the pancreas secretes insulin in the islets of Langerhans.
sect@sect
N. separate religious body; faction.
As university chaplain, she sought to address universal religious issues and not limit herself to the concerns of any one sect.
sectarian, adj.
secular@secular
ADJ. worldly; not pertaining to church matters; temporal.
The church leaders decided not to interfere in secular matters.
sedate@sedate
ADJ. composed; grave.
The parents were worried because they felt their son was too quiet and sedate.
sedentary@sedentary
ADJ. requiring sitting.
Sitting all day at the computer, Sharon grew to resent the sedentary nature of her job.
sedition@sedition
N. resistance to authority; insubordination.
Her words, though not treasonous in themselves, were calculated to arouse thoughts of sedition.
sedulous@sedulous
ADJ. diligent.
The young woman was so sedulous that she received a commendation for her hard work.
sedulity, n.
seedy@seedy
ADJ. run-down; decrepit; disreputable.
I would rather stay in dormitory lodgings in a decent youth hostel than have a room of my own in a seedy downtown hotel.
seemly@seemly
ADJ. proper; appropriate.
Lady Bracknell did not think it was seemly for Ernest to lack a proper family: no baby abandoned on a doorstep could grow up to marry her daughter.
seep@seep
V. ooze; trickle.
During the rainstorm, water seeped through the crack in the basement wall and damaged the floor boards.
seepage, n.
seethe@seethe
V. be disturbed; boil.
The nation was seething with discontent as the noblemen continued their arrogant ways.
seine@seine
N. net for catching fish.
When the shad run during the spring, you may see fishermen with seines along the banks of our coastal rivers.
seismic@seismic
ADJ. pertaining to earthquakes.
The Richter scale is a measurement of seismic disturbances.
semblance@semblance
N. outward appearance; guise.
Although this book has a semblance of wisdom and scholarship, a careful examination will reveal many errors and omissions.
seminal@seminal
ADJ. germinal; influencing future developments; related to seed or semen.
Although Freud has generally been regarded as a seminal thinker who shaped the course of psychology, his psychoanalytic methods have come under attack recently.
seminary@seminary
N. school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women.
Sure of his priestly vocation, Terrence planned to pursue his theological training at the local Roman Catholic seminary.
senility@senility
N. old age; feeblemindedness of old age.
Most of the decisions are being made by the junior members of the company because of the senility of the President.
senile, adj.
sensitization@sensitization
N. process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance.
The paint fumes triggered a bad allergic response in Vicky; even now, her extreme sensitization to these chemicals causes her to faint whenever she is around wet paint.
sensual@sensual
ADJ. devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptuous.
I cannot understand what caused him to drop his sensual way of life and become so ascetic.
sensuous@sensuous
ADJ. pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses.
She was stimulated by the sights, sounds, and smells about her; she was enjoying her sensuous experience.
sententious@sententious
ADJ. terse; concise; aphoristic.
After reading so many redundant speeches, I find his sententious style particularly pleasing.
sentient@sentient
ADJ. capable of sensation; aware; sensitive.
In the science fiction story, the hero had to discover a way to prove that the rocklike extraterrestrial creature was actually a sentient, intelligent creature.
sentience, n.
sentinel@sentinel
N. sentry; lookout.
Though camped in enemy territory, Bledsoe ignored the elementary precaution of posting sentinels around the encampment.
septic@septic
ADJ. putrid; producing putrefaction.
The hospital was in such a filthy state that we were afraid that many of the patients would suffer from septic poisoning.
sepsis, n.
sepulcher@sepulcher
N. tomb.
Annabel Lee was buried in a sepulcher by the sea.
sequester@sequester
V. isolate; retire from public life; segregate; seclude.
To prevent the jurors from hearing news broadcasts about the case, the judge decided to sequester the Jury.
sere@sere
ADJ. parched; dry.
After the unseasonably dry winter the Berkeley hills looked dusty and sere.
serendipity@serendipity
N. gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck.
Many scientific discoveries are a matter of serendipity: Newton was not sitting there thinking about gravity when the apple dropped on his head.
serenity@serenity
N. calmness, placidity.
The serenity of the sleepy town was shattered by a tremendous explosion.
serpentine@serpentine
ADJ. winding; twisting.
The car swerved at every curve in the serpentine road.
serrated@serrated
ADJ. having a saw-toothed edge.
The beech tree is one of many plants that have serrated leaves.
servile@servile
ADJ. slavish; cringing.
Constantly fawning on his employer, humble Uriah Heap was a servile creature.
servility, n.
servitude@servitude
N. slavery; compulsory labor.
Born a slave, Douglass resented his life of servitude and plotted to escape to the North.
sever@sever
V. cut; separate.
Dr. Guillotin invented a machine that could neatly sever an aristocratic head from its equally aristocratic body. Unfortunately, he couldn't collect any severance pay.
severity@severity
N. harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity.
The severity of Jane's migraine attack was so great that she took to her bed for a week.
severe, adj.
sextant@sextant
N. navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude.
Given a clear night, with the aid of his sextant and compass he could keep the ship safely on course.
shackle@shackle
V. chain; fetter.
The criminal's ankles were shackled to prevent his escape.
also n.
sham@sham
V. pretend.
She shammed sickness to get out of going to school.
also n.
shambles@shambles
N. wreck; mess.
After the hurricane, the Carolina coast was a shambles. After the New Year's Eve party, the host's apartment was a shambles.
shard@shard
N. fragment, generally of pottery.
The archaeologist assigned several students the task of reassembling earthenware vessels from the shards he had brought back from the expedition.
shaving@shaving
N. very thin piece, usually of wood.
As the carpenter pared away at the edge of the board with his plane, a small pile of shavings began to accumulate on the floor.
sheaf@sheaf
N. bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together.
The lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as she rose to question the witness.
sheathe@sheathe
V. place into a case.
As soon as he recognized the approaching men, he sheathed his dagger and hailed them as friends.
sherbet@sherbet
N. flavored dessert ice.
I prefer raspberry sherbet to ice cream since it is less fattening.
shimmer@shimmer
V. glimmer intermittently.
The moonlight shimmered on the water as the moon broke through the clouds for a moment.
also n.
shirk@shirk
V. avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger.
Brian has a strong sense of duty; he would never shirk any responsibility.
shoddy@shoddy
ADJ. sham; not genuine: inferior.
You will never get the public to buy such shoddy material.
shrew@shrew
N. scolding woman.
No one wanted to marry Shakespeare's Kate because she was a shrew.
shrewd@shrewd
ADJ. clever; astute.
A shrewd investor, she took clever advantage of the fluctuations of the stock market.
shun@shun
V. keep away from.
Cherishing his solitude, the recluse shunned the company of other human beings.
shunt@shunt
V. turn aside; divert; sidetrack.
If the switchman failed to shunt the Silver Streak onto a side track, the train would plow right into Union Station.
shyster@shyster
N. lawyer using questionable methods.
On L.A. Law, respectable attorney Brackman was horrified to learn that his newly discovered half brother was a cheap shyster.
sibling@sibling
N. brother or sister.
We may not enjoy being siblings, but we cannot forget that we still belong to the same family.
sibylline@sibylline
ADJ. prophetic; oracular.
Until their destruction by fire in 83 B.C., the sibylline books were often consulted by the Romans.
sidereal@sidereal
ADJ. relating to the stars.
Although hampered by optical and mechanical flaws, the orbiting Hubble space telescope has relayed extraordinary images of distant sidereal bodies.
silt@silt
N. sediment deposited by running water.
The harbor channel must be dredged annually to remove the silt.
simian@simian
ADJ. monkeylike.
Lemurs are nocturnal mammals and have many simian characteristics, although they are less intelligent than monkeys.
simile@simile
N. comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as.
"My love is like a red, red rose" is a simile.
simper@simper
V. smirk; smile affectedly.
Complimented on her appearance. Stella self-consciously simpered.
simplistic@simplistic
ADJ. oversimplified.
Though Jack's solution dealt adequately with one aspect of the problem, it was simplistic in failing to consider various complicating factors that might arise.
simulate@simulate
V. feign.
She simulated insanity in order to avoid punishment for her crime.
sinecure@sinecure
N. well-paid position with little responsibility.
My job is no sinecure; I work long hours and have much responsibility.
sinewy@sinewy
ADJ. tough; strong and firm.
The steak was too sinewy to chew.
singular@singular
ADJ. unique; extraordinary; odd.
Though the young man tried to understand Father William's singular behavior, he still found it odd that the old man incessantly stood on his head.
sinister@sinister
ADJ. evil.
We must defeat the sinister forces that seek our downfall.
sinuous@sinuous
ADJ. winding; bending in and out; not morally honest.
The snake moved in a sinuous manner.
skeptic@skeptic
N. doubter; person who suspends judgment until having examined the evidence supporting a point of view.
I am a skeptic about the new health plan; I want some proof that it can work.
skeptical, adj.; skepticism, n.
skiff@skiff
N. small, light sailboat or rowboat.
Tom dreamed of owning an ocean-going yacht but had to settle for a skiff he could sail in the bay.
skimp@skimp
V. provide scantily; live very economically.
They were forced to skimp on necessities in order to make their limited supplies last the winter.
skinflint@skinflint
N. stingy person; miser.
Scrooge was an ungenerous old skinflint until he reformed his ways and became a notable philanthropist.
skirmish@skirmish
N. minor fight.
Custer's troops expected they might run into a skirmish or two on maneuvers; they did not expect to face a major battle.
also v.
skittish@skittish
ADJ. lively; frisky.
She is as skittish as a kitten playing with a piece of string.
skulduggery@skulduggery
N. dishonest behavior.
The investigation into municipal corruption turned up new instances of skulduggery daily.
skulk@skulk
V. move furtively and secretly.
He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid meeting any of his former friends.
slacken@slacken
V. slow up; loosen.
As they passed the finish line, the runners slackened their pace.
slag@slag
N. residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter.
The blast furnace had.a special opening at the bottom to allow the workers to remove the worthless slag.
slake@slake
V. quench; sate.
When we reached the oasis, we were able to slake our thirst.
slander@slander
N. defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements.
Considering the negative comments politicians make about each other, it's a wonder that more of them aren't sued for slander.
also v.; slanderous, adj.
slapdash@slapdash
ADJ. haphazard; careless; sloppy.
From the number of typos and misspellings I've found in it, it's clear that Mario proofread the report in a remarkably slapdash fashion.
sleazy@sleazy
ADJ. flimsy; unsubstantial.
This is a sleazy fabric; it will not wear well.
sleeper@sleeper
N. something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable.
Unnoticed by the critics at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Prize winner was a classic sleeper.
sleight@sleight
N. dexterity.
The magician amazed the audience with his sleight of hand.
slew@slew
N. large quantity or number.
Although Ellen had checked off a number of items on her "To Do" list, she still had a whole slew of errands left.
slight@slight
N. insult to one's dignity; snub.
Hypersensitive and ready to take offense at any discourtesy, Bertha was always on the lookout for real or imaginary slights.
also v.
slipshod@slipshod
ADJ. untidy or slovenly; shabby.
As a master craftsman, the carpenter prided himself on never doing slipshod work.
slither@slither
V. slip or slide.
During the recent ice storm, many people slithered down this hill as they walked to the station.
sloth@sloth
N. slow-moving tree-dwelling mammal.
Note how well the somewhat greenish coat of the sloth enables it to blend in with its arboreal surroundings.
(secondary meaning)
slothful@slothful
ADJ. lazy.
The British word "layabout" is a splendid descriptive term for someone slothful: What did the lazy bum do? He lay about the house all day.
sloth, n.
slough@slough
V. cast off.
Each spring, the snake sloughs off its skin.
also n.
slovenly@slovenly
ADJ. untidy; careless in work habits.
Unshaven, sitting around in his bathrobe all afternoon, Gus didn't care about the slovenly appearance he presented.
sloven, n.
sluggard@sluggard
N. lazy person.
"You are a sluggard, a drone, a parasite," the angry father shouted at his lazy son.
sluggish@sluggish
ADJ. slow; lazy; lethargic.
After two nights without sleep, she felt sluggish and incapable of exertion.
sluice@sluice
N. artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water.
In times of drought, this sluice enables farmers to obtain water for irrigation.
slur@slur
N. insult to one's character or reputation; slander.
Polls revealed that the front-runner's standing had been damaged by the slurs and innuendoes circulated by his opponent's staff.
also
V. speak indistinctly; mumble.
When Sol has too much to drink, he starts to slur his words: "Washamatter? Cansh you undershtand what I shay."
smattering@smattering
N. slight knowledge.
I don't know whether it is better to be ignorant of a subject or to have a mere smattering of information about it.
smelt@smelt
V. melt or blend ores, changing their chemical composition.
The furnaceman smelts tin with copper to create a special alloy used in making bells.
smirk@smirk
N. conceited smile.
Wipe that smirk off your face!
also v.
smolder@smolder
V. burn without flame; be liable to break out at any moment.
The rags smoldered for hours before they burst into flame.
snicker@snicker
N. half-stifled laugh.
The boy could not suppress a snicker when the teacher sat on the tack.
also v.
snivel@snivel
V. run at the nose; snuffle; whine.
Don't you come sniveling to me complaining about your big brother.
sobriety@sobriety
N. moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness.
Neither falling-down drunks nor Stand-up comics are noted for sobriety.
sober, adj.
sodden@sodden
ADJ. soaked; dull, as if from drink.
He set his sodden overcoat near the radiator to dry.
sojourn@sojourn
N. temporary stay.
After his sojourn in Florida, he began to long for the colder climate of his native New England home.
solace@solace
N. comfort in trouble.
I hope you will find solace in the thought that all of us share your loss.
solder@solder
V. repair or make whole by using a metal alloy.
The plumber fixed the leak in the pipes by soldering a couple of joints from which water had been oozing.
solecism@solecism
N. construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically.
I must give this paper a failing mark because it contains many solecisms.
solemnity@solemnity
N. seriousness; gravity.
The minister was concerned that nothing should disturb the solemnity of the marriage service.
solicit@solicit
V. request earnestly; seek.
Knowing she needed to have a solid majority for the budget to pass, the mayor telephoned all the members of the city council to solicit their votes.
solicitous@solicitous
ADJ. worried, concerned.
The employer was very solicitous about the health of her employees as replacements were difficult to get.
solicitude, n.
soliloquy@soliloquy
N. talking to oneself.
The soliloquy is a device used by the dramatist to reveal a character's innermost thoughts and emotions.
solitude@solitude
N. state of being alone; seclusion.
Much depends on how much you like your own company. What to one person seems fearful isolation to another is blessed solitude.
solitary, adj.
solstice@solstice
N. point at which the sun is farthest from the equator.
The winter solstice usually occurs on December 21.
soluble@soluble
ADJ. able to be dissolved; able to be worked out.
Sugar is soluble in water; put a sugar cube in water and it will quickly dissolve. Because the test-maker had left out some necessary data, the problem was not soluble.
ADJ. able to pay all debts.
By dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings.
solvent@solvent
N. substance that dissolves another.
Dip a cube of sugar into a cup of water; note how the water acts as a solvent, causing the cube to break down.
somatic@somatic
ADJ. pertaining to the body; physical.
Why do you ignore the spiritual aspects and emphasize only the corporeal and the somatic ones?
somber@somber
ADJ. gloomy; depressing.
From the doctor's grim expression, I could tell he had somber news.
somnambulist@somnambulist
N. sleepwalker.
The most famous somnambulist in literature is Lady Macbeth; her monologue in the sleepwalking scene is one of the highlights of Shakespare's play.
somnolent@somnolent
ADJ. half asleep.
The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker.
somnolence, n.
sonorous@sonorous
ADJ. resonant.
His sonorous voice resounded through the hall.
sophist@sophist
N. teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning.
You are using all the devices of a sophist in trying to prove your case; your argument is specious.
sophisticated@sophisticated
ADJ. worldly wise and urbane; complex.
When Sophy makes wisecracks, she thinks she sounds sophisticated, but instead she sounds sophomoric. The new IBM laptop with the butterfly keyboard and the built-in FAX modem is a pretty sophisticated machine.
sophistication, n.
sophistry@sophistry
N. seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning.
Instead of advancing valid arguments, he tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood of sophistries.
sophomoric@sophomoric
ADJ. immature; half-baked, like a sophomore.
Even if you're only a freshman, it's no compliment to be told your humor is sophomoric. The humor in Dumb and Dumber is sophomoric at best.
soporific@soporific
ADJ. sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness.
Professor Pringle's lectures were so soporific that even he fell asleep in class.
also n.
sordid@sordid
ADJ. filthy; base; vile.
The social worker was angered by the sordid housing provided for the homeless.
spangle@spangle
N. small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation.
The thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights.
sparse@sparse
ADJ. not thick; thinly scattered; scanty.
No matter how carefully Albert combed his hair to make it appear as full as possible, it still looked sparse.
spartan@spartan
ADJ. lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined.
Looking over the bare, unheated room with its hard cot, he wondered what he was doing in such spartan quarters. Only his spartan sense of duty kept him at his post.
spasmodic@spasmodic
ADJ. fitful; periodic.
The spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers.
spat@spat
N. squabble; minor dispute.
What had started out as a mere spat escalated into a full-blown argument.
spate@spate
N. sudden flood.
I am worried about the possibility af a spate if the rains do not diminish soon.
spatial@spatial
ADJ. relating to space.
Certain exercises test your sense of spatial relations by asking you to identify two views of an object seen from different points in space.
spatula@spatula
N. broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing.
The manufacturers of this frying pan recommend the use of a rubber spatula to avoid scratching the specially treated surface.
spawn@spawn
V. lay eggs.
Fish ladders had to be built in the dams to assist the salmon returning to spawn in their native streams.
also n.
specious@specious
ADJ. seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally).
To claim that, because houses and birds both have wings, both can fly is extremely specious reasoning.
spectral@spectral
ADJ. ghostly.
We were frightened by the spectral glow that filled the room.
spectrum@spectrum
N. colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism.
The visible portion of the spectrum includes red at one end and violet at the other.
spendthrift@spendthrift
N. someone who wastes money.
Easy access to credit encourages people to turn into spendthrifts who shop till they drop.
sphinx-like@sphinx-like
ADJ. enigmatic; mysterious.
The Mona Lisa's sphinx-like expression has puzzled art lovers for centuries.
splice@splice
V. fasten together; unite.
Before you splice two strips of tape together, be sure to line them up evenly.
also n.
spontaneity@spontaneity
N. lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint.
The cast over-rehearsed the play so much that the eventual performance lacked any spontaneity.
spontaneous, adj.
spoonerism@spoonerism
N. accidental transposition of sounds in successive words.
When the radio announcer introduced the President as Hoobert Herver, he was guilty of a spoonerism.
sporadic@sporadic
ADJ. occurring irregularly.
Although you can still hear sporadic outbursts of laughter and singing outside, the big Halloween parade has passed; the party's over till next year.
sportive@sportive
ADJ. playful.
Such a sportive attitude is surprising in a person as serious as you usually are.
spruce@spruce
ADJ. neat and trim.
Every button buttoned, tie firmly in place, young Alex Keaton looked spruce and tidy for his job interview at the bank.
also v.
spry@spry
ADJ. vigorously active; nimble.
She was eighty years old, yet still spry and alert.
spurious@spurious
ADJ. false; counterfeit; forged; illogical.
The hero of Jonathan Gash's mystery novels is an antique dealer who gives the reader advice on how to tell spurious antiques from the real thing.
spurn@spurn
V. reject; scorn.
The heroine spurned the villain's advances.
squabble@squabble
N. minor quarrel; bickering.
Children invariably get involved in petty squabbles; wise parents know when to interfere and when to let the children work things out on their own.
squalor@squalor
N. filth; degradation: dirty, neglected state.
Rusted, broken-down cars in the yard, trash piled on the porch, tar paper peeling from the roof-the shack was the picture of squalor.
squalid, adj.
squander@squander
V. waste.
If you squander your allowance on candy and comic books, you won't have any money left to buy the new box of crayons you want.
squat@squat
ADJ. stocky; short and thick.
Tolkien's hobbits are somewhat squat, sturdy little creatures, fond of good ale, good music, and good food.
staccato@staccato
ADJ. played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt, sharp sound.
His staccato speech reminded one of the sound of a machine gun.
stagnant@stagnant
ADJ. motionless; stale; dull.
Mosquitoes commonly breed in ponds of stagnant water. Mike's career was stagnant; it wasn't going anywhere, and neither was he!
stagnate, v.
staid@staid
ADJ. sober; sedate.
Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn.
stalemate@stalemate
N. deadlock.
Negotiations between the union and the employers have reached a stalemate; neither side is willing to budge from previously stated positions.
stalwart@stalwart
ADJ. strong, brawny; steadfast.
His consistent support of the party has proved that he is a stalwart and loyal member.
also n.
stamina@stamina
N. strength; staying power.
I doubt that she has the stamina to run the full distance of the marathon race.
stanch@stanch
V. check flow of blood.
It is imperative that we stanch the gushing wound before we attend to the other injuries.
stanza@stanza
N. division of a poem.
Do you know the last stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
static@static
ADJ. unchanging; lacking development.
Why do you watch chess on TV? I like watching a game with action, not something static where nothing seems to be going on.
stasis, n.
statute@statute
N. law enacted by the legislature.
The statute of limitations sets limits on how long you have to take legal action in specific cases.
statutory@statutory
ADJ. created by statute or legislative action.
The judicial courts review and try statutory crimes.
steadfast@steadfast
ADJ. loyal; unswerving.
Penelope was steadfast in her affections, faithfully waiting for Ulysses to return from his wanderings.
stealth@stealth
N. slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness.
Fearing detection by the sentries on duty, the scout inched his way toward the enemy camp with great stealth.
steep@steep
V. soak; saturate.
Be sure to steep the fabric in the dye bath for the full time prescribed.
stellar@stellar
ADJ. pertaining to the stars.
He was the stellar attraction of the entire performance.
stem@stem
V. check the flow.
The paramedic used a tourniquet to stem the bleeding from the slashed artery.
stem from@stem from
V. arise from.
Milton's problems in school stemmed from his poor study habits.
stentorian@stentorian
ADJ. extremely loud.
The town crier had a stentorian voice.
stereotype@stereotype
N. fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture, often reflecting prejudice.
Critics object to the character of Jim in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because he seems to reflect the stereotype of the happy, ignorant slave.
also v.
stickler@stickler
N. perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right.
The Internal Revenue Service agent was a stickler for accuracy; no approximations or rough estimates would satisfy him.
stifle@stifle
V. suppress; extinguish; inhibit.
Halfway through the boring lecture, Laura gave up trying to stifle her yawns.
stigma@stigma
N. token of disgrace; brand.
I do not attach any stigma to the fact that you were accused of this crime; the fact that you were acquitted clears you completely.
stigmatize, n.
stilted@stilted
ADJ. bombastic; stiffly pompous.
His stilted rhetoric did not impress the college audience; they were immune to bombastic utterances.
stint@stint
V. be thrifty; set limits.
"Spare no expense," the bride's father said, refusing to stint on the wedding arrangements.
N. supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work.
She performed her daily stint cheerfully and willingly.
stipend@stipend
N. pay for services.
There is a nominal stipend for this position.
stipple@stipple
V. paint or draw with dots.
Seurat carefully stippled dabs of pure color on the canvas, juxtaposing dots of blue and yellow that the viewer's eye would interpret as green.
stipulate@stipulate
V. make express conditions, specify.
Before agreeing to reduce American military forces in Europe, the president stipulated that NATO teams be allowed to inspect Soviet bases.
stock@stock
ADJ. typical; standard; kept regularly in supply.
Victorian melodramas portrayed stock characters-the rich but wicked villain, the sweet young ingenue, the poor but honest young man-in exaggerated situations. Although the stationery store kept only stock sizes of paper on hand, the staff would special-order any items not regularly in stock.
stockade@stockade
N. wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier.
The Indians are coming! Quick! Round up the horses and drive them into the stockade.
stodgy@stodgy
ADJ. stuffy; boringly conservative.
For a young person, Winston seems remarkably stodgy: you'd expect someone his age to have a little more life.
stoic@stoic
ADJ. impassive; unmoved by joy or grief.
I wasn't particularly stoic when I had my flu shot; I squealed like a stuck pig.
also n.; stoicism, n.
stoke@stoke
V. stir up a fire; feed plentifully.
As a Scout, Marisa learned how to light a fire, how to stoke it if it started to die down, and how to extinguish it completely.
stolid@stolid
ADJ. dull; impassive.
The earthquake shattered Stuart's usual stolid demeanor; trembling, he crouched on the no longer stable ground.
stolidity, n.
stratagem@stratagem
N. clever trick; deceptive scheme.
What a gem of a stratagem! Watson, I have the perfect plan to trick Moriarty into revealing himself.
stratified@stratified
ADJ. divided into classes; arranged into strata.
As the economic gap between the rich and the poor increased, Roman society grew increasingly stratified.
stratify, v.
stratum@stratum
N. layer of earth's surface; layer of society.
Unless we alleviate conditions in the lowest stratum of our society, we may expect grumbling and revolt.
strata, pl.
strew@strew
V. spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter.
Preceding the bride to the altar, the flower girl will strew rose petals along the aisle.
striated@striated
ADJ. marked with parallel bands; grooved.
The glacier left many striated rocks.
striate, v.
stricture@stricture
N. critical comments; severe and adverse criticism.
His strictures on the author's style are prejudiced and unwarranted.
strident@strident
ADJ. loud and harsh; insistent.
We could barely hear the speaker over the strident cries of the hecklers.
stridency, n.
stringent@stringent
ADJ. binding; rigid.
I think these regulations are too stringent.
strut@strut
N. pompous walk.
His strut as he marched about the parade ground revealed him for what he was: a pompous buffoon.
N. supporting bar.
The engineer calculated that the strut supporting the rafter needed to be reinforced.
(secondary meaning)
studied@studied
ADJ. unspontaneous; deliberate, thoughtful.
Given Jill's previous slights, Jack felt that the omission of his name from the guest list was a studied insult.
stultify@stultify
V. cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinder.
His long hours in the blacking factory left young Dickens numb and incurious, as if the menial labor had stultified his mind.
stupefy@stupefy
V. make numb; stun; amaze.
Disapproving of drugs in general, Laura refused to take sleeping pills or any other medicine that might stupefy her.
stupor@stupor
N. state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness.
In his stupor, the addict was unaware of the events taking place around him.
stygian@stygian
ADJ. gloomy; hellish: deathly.
Shielding the flickering candle from any threatening draft, Tom and Becky descended into the stygian darkness of the underground cavern. Stygian derives from Styx, the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead.
stymie@stymie
V. present an obstacle; stump.
The detective was stymied by the contradictory evidence in the robbery investigation.
suavity@suavity
N. urbanity; polish.
He is particularly good in roles that require suavity and sophistication.
suave, adj.
subaltern@subaltern
N. subordinate.
The captain treated his subalterns as though they were children rather than commissioned officers.
subdued@subdued
ADJ. less intense; quieter.
Bob liked the subdued lighting at the restaurant because he thought it was romantic. I just thought the place was dimly lit.
subjective@subjective
ADJ. occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal.
Your analysis is highly subjective; you have permitted your emotions and your opinions to color your thinking.
subjugate@subjugate
V. conquer; bring under control.
It is not our aim to subjugate our foe; we are interested only in establishing peaceful relations.
sublimate@sublimate
V. refine; purify.
We must strive to sublimate these desires and emotions into worthwhile activities.
sublime@sublime
ADJ. exalted; noble and uplifting; utter.
Lucy was in awe of Desi's sublime musicianship, while he was in awe of her sublime naivete.
subliminal@subliminal
ADJ. below the threshold.
We may not be aware of the subliminal influences that affect our thinking.
submissive@submissive
ADJ. yielding; timid.
When he refused to permit Elizabeth to marry her poet, Mr. Barrett expected her to be properly submissive; instead, she eloped with the guy!
subordinate@subordinate
ADJ. occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive.
Bishop Proudie's wife expected the subordinate clergy to behave with great deference to the wife of their superior.
also n.
suborn@suborn
V. persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury).
In The Godfather, the mobsters used bribery and threats to suborn the witnesses against Don Michael Corleone.
subpoena@subpoena
N. writ summoning a witness to appear.
The prosecutor's office was ready to serve a subpoena on the reluctant witness.
also v.
subsequent@subsequent
ADJ. following; later.
In subsequent lessons, we shall take up more difficult problems.
subservient@subservient
ADJ. behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious.
She was proud and dignified; she refused to be subservient to anyone.
subservience, n.
subside@subside
V. settle down; descend; grow quiet.
The doctor assured us that the fever would eventually subside.
subsidiary@subsidiary
ADJ. subordinate; secondary.
This information may be used as subsidiary evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument.
also n.
subsidy@subsidy
N. direct financial aid by government, etc.
Without this subsidy, American ship operators would not be able to compete in world markets.
subsistence@subsistence
N. existence; means of support; livelihood.
In those days of inflated prices, my salary provided a mere subsistence.
substantial@substantial
ADJ. ample; solid; essential or fundamental.
The generous scholarship represented a substantial sum of money. If you don't eat a more substantial dinner, you'll be hungry later on.
substantiate@substantiate
V. establish by evidence: verify; support.
These endorsements from satisfied customers substantiate our claim that Barron's How to Prepare for the GRE is the best GRE-prep book on the market.
substantive@substantive
ADJ. essential; pertaining to the substance.
Although the delegates were aware of the importance of the problem, they could not agree on the substantive issues.
subsume@subsume
V. include; encompass.
Does the general theory of relativity contradict Newtonian physics, or is Newton's law of gravity subsumed into Einstein's larger scheme?
subterfuge@subterfuge
N. pretense; evasion.
As soon as we realized that you had won our support by a subterfuge, we withdrew our endorsement of your candidacy.
subtlety@subtlety
N. perceptiveness: ingenuity; delicacy.
Never obvious, she expressed herself with such subtlety that her remarks went right over the heads of most of her audience.
subtle, adj.
subversive@subversive
ADJ. tending to overthrow; destructive.
At first glance, the notion that Styrofoam cups may actually be more ecologically sound than paper cups strikes most environmentalists as subversive.
succinct@succinct
ADJ. brief; terse; compact.
Don't bore your audience with excess verbiage: be succinct.
succor@succor
V. aid; assist; comfort.
If you believe that con man has come here to succor you in your hour of need, you're even a bigger sucker than I thought.
also n.
succulent@succulent
ADJ. juicy; full of richness.
To some people, Florida citrus fruits are more succulent than those from California.
also n.
succumb@succumb
V. yield; give in; die.
I succumb to temptation whenever it comes my way.
suffragist@suffragist
N. advocate of voting rights (for women).
In recognition of her efforts to win the vote for women, Congress authorized coining a silver dollar honoring the saffragist Susan B. Anthony.
suffuse@suffuse
V. spread over.
A blush suffused her cheeks when we teased her about her love affair.
sully@sully
V. tarnish; soil.
He felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully his hands in such menial labor.
sultry@sultry
ADJ. sweltering.
He could not adjust himself to the sultry climate of the tropics.
summation@summation
N. act of finding the total; summary.
In his summation, the lawyer emphasized the testimony given by the two witnesses.
sumptuous@sumptuous
ADJ. lavish; rich.
I cannot recall when I have had such a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.
sunder@sunder
V. separate; part.
Northern and southern Ireland are politically and religiously sundered.
sundry@sundry
ADJ. various; several.
My suspicions were aroused when I read sundry items in the newspapers about your behavior.
superannuated@superannuated
ADJ. retired or disqualified because of age.
The superannuated man was indignant because he felt that he could still perform a good day's work.
supercilious@supercilious
ADJ. arrogant: condescending; patronizing.
The supercilious headwaiter sneered at customers who he thought did not fit the image of a restaurant catering to an ultrafashionable crowd.
supererogatory@supererogatory
ADJ. superfluous; more than needed or demanded.
We have more than enough witnesses to corroborate your statement; to present any more would be supererogatory.
superficial@superficial
ADJ. trivial; shallow.
Since your report gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, I cannot give you more than a passing grade.
superfluous@superfluous
ADJ. excessive; overabundant, unnecessary.
Please try not to include so many superfluous details in your report; just give me the bare facts.
superfluity, n.
superimpose@superimpose
V. place over something else.
Your attempt to superimpose another agency in this field will merely increase the bureaucratic nature of our government.
supernumerary@supernumerary
N. person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extra.
His first appearance on the stage was as a supernumerary in a Shakespearean tragedy.
supersede@supersede
V. cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete.
Bulk mailing postal regulation 326D supersedes bulk mailing postal regulation 326C. If, in bundling your bulk mailing, you follow regulation 326C, your bulk mailing will be returned.
supersession, n.
supine@supine
ADJ. lying on back.
The defeated pugilist lay supine on the canvas.
supplant@supplant
V. replace; usurp.
Did the other woman actually supplant Princess Diana in Prince Charles's affections, or did Charles never love Diana at all? Bolingbroke, later to be known as King Henry IV, fought to supplant his cousin, Richard III, as King of England.
supple@supple
ADJ. flexible; pliant.
Years of yoga exercises made Grace's body supple.
suppliant@suppliant
ADJ. entreating; beseeching.
He could not resist the dog's suppliant whimpering, and he gave it some food.
also n.
supplicate@supplicate
V. petition humbly; pray to grant a favor.
We supplicate Your Majesty to grant him amnesty.
supposition@supposition
N. hypothesis; surmise.
I based my decision to confide in him on the supposition that he would be discreet.
suppose, v.
supposititious@supposititious
ADJ. assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical.
I find no similarity between your supposititious illustration and the problem we are facing.
suppress@suppress
V. stifle; overwhelm; subdue; inhibit.
Too polite to laugh in anyone's face, Roy did his best to suppress his amusement at Ed's inane remark.
surfeit@surfeit
V. satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything.
Every Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an overabundance of holiday treats.
also n.
surly@surly
ADJ. rude; cross.
Because of his surly attitude, many people avoided his company.
surmise@surmise
V. guess.
I surmise that he will be late for this meeting.
also n.
surmount@surmount
V. overcome.
I know you can surmount any difficulties that may stand in the way of your getting an education.
surpass@surpass
V. exceed.
Her SAT scores surpassed our expectations.
surreptitious@surreptitious
ADJ. secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden.
Hoping to discover where his mom had hidden the Christmas presents, Timmy took a surreptitious peek into the master bedroom closet.
surrogate@surrogate
N. substitute.
For a fatherless child, a male teacher may become a father surrogate.
surveillance@surveillance
N. watching; guarding.
The FBI kept the house under constant surveillance in the hope of capturing all the criminals at one time.
susceptible@susceptible
ADJ. impressionable; easily influenced: having little resistance, as to a disease; receptive to.
Said the patent medicine man to his very susceptible customer: "Buy this new miracle drug, and you will no longer be susceptible to the common cold."
susceptibility, n.
sustain@sustain
V. experience; support; nourish.
He sustained such a severe injury that the doctors feared he would be unable to work to sustain his growing family.
sustenance@sustenance
N. means of support, food, nourishment.
In the tropics, the natives find sustenance easy to obtain because of all the fruit trees.
suture@suture
N. stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing.
We will remove the sutures as soon as the wound heals.
also v.
swarthy@swarthy
ADJ. dark; dusky.
Despite the stereotype, not all Italians are swarthy; many are fair and blond.
swathe@swathe
V. wrap around; bandage.
When I visited him in the hospital, I found him swathed in bandages.
swelter@swelter
V. be oppressed by heat.
I am going to buy an air conditioning unit for my apartment as I do not intend to swelter through another hot and humid summer.
swerve@swerve
V. deviate; turn aside sharply.
The car swerved wildly as the driver struggled to regain control of the wheel.
swill@swill
V. drink greedily.
Singing "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum," Long John Silver and his fellow pirates swilled their grog.
swindler@swindler
N. cheat.
She was gullible and trusting, an easy victim for the first swindler who came along.
sybarite@sybarite
N. lover of luxury.
Rich people are not always sybarites; some of them have little taste for a life of luxury.
sycophant@sycophant
N. servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man.
Fed up with the toadies and brownnosers who made up his entourage, the star cried, "Get out, all of you! I'm sick of sycophants!"
sycophantic, adj.
syllogism@syllogism
N. logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument.
There must be a fallacy in this syllogism; I cannot accept its conclusion.
sylvan@sylvan
ADJ. pertaining to the woods; rustic.
His paintings of nymphs in sylvan backgrounds were criticized as over-sentimental.
symbiosis@symbiosis
N. interdependent relationship (between groups, species), often mutually beneficial.
Both the crocodile bird and the crocodile derive benefit from their symbiosis; pecking away at food particles embedded in the crocodile's teeth, the bird derives nourishment; the crocodile, meanwhile, derives proper dental hygiene.
symbiotic, adj.
symmetry@symmetry
N. arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity.
By definition, something lopsided lacks symmetry.
symmetrical, adj.
synchronous@synchronous
ADJ. similarly timed; simultaneous with.
We have many examples of scientists in different parts of the world who have made synchronous discoveries.
synoptic@synoptic
ADJ. providing a general overview; summary.
The professor turned to the latest issue of Dissertation Abstracts for a synoptic account of what was new in the field.
synopsis, n.
synthesis@synthesis
N. combining parts into a whole.
Now that we have succeeded in isolating this drug, our next problem is to plan its synthesis in the laboratory.
syntheses, pl., synthesize, v.
synthetic@synthetic
ADJ. artificial: resulting from synthesis.
During the twentieth century, many synthetic products have replaced the natural products.
also n.
tacit@tacit
ADJ. understood; not put into words.
We have a tacit agreement based on only a handshake.
taciturn@taciturn
ADJ. habitually silent; talking little.
The stereotypical cowboy is a taciturn soul, answering lengthy questions with a "Yep" or "Nope."
tactile@tactile
ADJ. pertaining to the organs or sense of touch.
His callused hands had lost their tactile sensitivity.
taint@taint
V. contaminate: cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad.
One speck of dirt on your utensils may contain enough germs to taint an entire batch of preserves.
also n.
talisman@talisman
N. charm.
She wore the talisman to ward off evil.
talon@talon
N. claw of bird.
The falconer wore a leather gauntlet to avoid being clawed by the hawk's talons.
tangential@tangential
ADJ. peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing.
Despite Clark's attempts to distract her with tangential remarks, Lois kept on coming back to her main question: why couldn't he come out to dinner with Superman and her?
tangible@tangible
ADJ. able to be touched; real; palpable.
Although Tom did not own a house, he had several tangible assets-a car, a television, a PC-that he could sell if he needed cash.
tanner@tanner
N. person who turns animal hides into leather.
Using a solution of tanbark, the tanner treated the cowhide, transforming it into supple leather.
tantalize@tantalize
V. tease; torture with disappointment.
Tom loved to tantalize his younger brother with candy; he knew the boy was forbidden to have it.
tantamount@tantamount
ADJ. equivalent in effect or value.
Because so few Southern blacks could afford to pay the poll tax, the imposition of this tax on prospective voters was tantamount to disenfranchisement for black voters.
tantrum@tantrum
N. fit of petulance; caprice.
The child learned that he could have almost anything if he went into tantrums.
taper@taper
N. candle.
She lit the taper on the windowsill.
tarantula@tarantula
N. venomous spider.
We need an antitoxin to counteract the bite of the tarantula.
tarry@tarry
V. delay; dawdle.
We can't tarry if we want to get to the airport on time.
taut@taut
ADJ. tight; ready.
The captain maintained that he ran a taut ship.
tautological@tautological
ADJ. needlessly repetitious.
In the sentence "It was visible to the eye," the phrase "to the eye" is tautological.
tautology, n.
tawdry@tawdry
ADJ. cheap and gaudy.
He won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island.
taxonomist@taxonomist
N. specialist in classifying (animals, etc.).
Dental patterns often enable the taxonomist to distinguish members of one rodent species from those of another.
tedium@tedium
N. boredom; weariness.
We hope this radio will help overcome the tedium of your stay in the hospital.
tedious, adj.
teetotalism@teetotalism
N. practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks.
Though the doctor warned Bert to cut down his booze intake, she didn't insist that he practice teetotalism.
teetotaler, n.
temerity@temerity
N. boldness; rashness.
Do you have the temerity to argue with me?
temper@temper
V. moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel).
Not even her supervisor's grumpiness could temper Nancy's enthusiasm for her new job.
temperament@temperament
N. characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess.
Although the twins look alike, they differ markedly in temperament: Tod is calm, but Rod is excitable.
temperate@temperate
ADJ. restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature.
Try to be temperate in your eating this holiday season; if you control your appetite, you won't gain too much weight. Goldilocks found San Francisco's temperate climate neither too hot nor too cold but just right.
tempestuous@tempestuous
ADJ. stormy; impassioned; violent.
Racket-throwing tennis star John McEnroe was famed for his displays of tempestuous temperament.
tempo@tempo
N. speed of music.
I find the conductor's tempo too slow for such a brilliant piece of music.
temporal@temporal
ADJ. not lasting forever; limited by time; secular.
At one time in our history, temporal rulers assumed that they had been given their thrones by divine right.
temporize@temporize
V. avoid committing oneself; gain time.
I cannot permit you to temporize any longer; I must have a definite answer today.
tenacious@tenacious
ADJ. holding fast.
I had to struggle to break his tenacious hold on my arm.
tenacity@tenacity
N. firmness; persistence.
Jean Valjean could not believe the tenacity of Inspector Javert. Here all Valjean had done was to steal a loaf of bread, and the inspector had pursued him doggedly for 20 years!
tendentious@tendentious
ADJ. having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause.
The editorials in this periodical are tendentious rather than truth-seeking.
tender@tender
V. offer; extend.
Although no formal charges had been made against him, in the wake of the recent scandal the mayor felt he should tender his resignation.
tenet@tenet
N. doctrine; dogma.
The agnostic did not accept the tenets of their faith.
tensile@tensile
ADJ. capable of being stretched.
Mountain climbers must know the tensile strength of their ropes.
tentative@tentative
ADJ. hesitant; not fully worked out or developed; experimental; not definite or positive.
Unsure of his welcome at the Christmas party, Scrooge took a tentative step into his nephew's drawing room.
tenuous@tenuous
ADJ. thin; rare; slim.
The allegiance of our allies is held by rather tenuous ties; let us hope they will remain loyal.
tenure@tenure
N. holding of an office; time during which such an office is held.
She has permanent tenure in this position and cannot be fired.
tepid@tepid
ADJ. lukewarm.
During the summer, I like to take a tepid bath, not a hot one.
termination@termination
N. end.
Though the time for termination of the project was near, we still had a lot of work to finish before we shut up shop.
terminate, v.
terminology@terminology
N. terms used in a science or art.
The special terminology developed by some authorities in the field has done more to confuse laypersons than to enlighten them.
terminus@terminus
N. last stop of railroad.
After we reached the railroad terminus, we continued our journey into the wilderness on saddle horses.
terrestrial@terrestrial
ADJ. on or relating to the earth.
We have been able to explore the terrestrial regions much more thoroughly than the aquatic or celestial regions.
terse@terse
ADJ. concise; abrupt; pithy.
There is a fine line between speech that is terse and to the point and speech that is too abrupt.
tertiary@tertiary
ADJ. third.
He is so thorough that he analyzes tertiary causes where other writers are content with primary and secondary reasons.
tesselated@tesselated
ADJ. inlaid; mosaic.
I recall Seeing a table with a tesselated top of bits of stone and glass in a very interesting pattern.
testator@testator
N. maker of a will.
The attorney called in his secretary and his partner to witness the signature of the testator.
testy@testy
ADJ. irritable; short-tempered.
My advice is to avoid discussing this problem with her today as she is rather testy and may shout at you.
testiness, n.
tether@tether
V. tie with a rope.
Before we went to sleep, we tethered the horses to prevent their wandering off during the night.
thematic@thematic
ADJ. relating to a unifying motif or idea.
Those who think of Moby Dick as a simple adventure story about whaling miss its underlying thematic import.
theocracy@theocracy
N. government run by religious leaders.
Though some Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower favored the establishment of a theocracy in New England, many of their fellow voyagers preferred a nonreligious form of government.
theoretical@theoretical
ADJ. not practical or applied; hypothetical.
Bob was better at applied engineering and computer programming than he was at theoretical physics and math. While I can still think of some theoretical objections to your plan, you've convinced me of its basic soundness.
therapeutic@therapeutic
ADJ. curative.
Now better known for its racetrack, Saratoga Springs first gained attention for the therapeutic qualities of its famous "healing waters."
thermal@thermal
ADJ. pertaining to heat.
The natives discovered that the hot springs gave excellent thermal baths and began to develop their community as a health resort.
also n.
thespian@thespian
ADJ. pertaining to drama.
Her success in the school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian career.
also n.
thrall@thrall
N. slave; bondage.
The captured soldier was held in thrall by the conquering army.
threadbare@threadbare
ADJ. worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor.
The poorly paid adjunct professor hid the threadbare spots on his jacket by sewing leather patches on his sleeves.
thrifty@thrifty
ADJ. careful about money; economical.
A thrift shopper compares prices before making major purchases.
thrive@thrive
V. prosper; flourish.
Despite the impact of recession on the restaurant trade, Philip's cafe thrived.
throes@throes
N. violent anguish.
The throes of despair can be as devastating as the spasms accompanying physical pain.
throng@throng
N. crowd.
Throngs of shoppers jammed the aisles.
alsov.
throttle@throttle
V. strangle.
The criminal tried to throttle the old man with his bare hands.
thwart@thwart
V. baffle; frustrate.
He felt that everyone was trying to thwart his plans and prevent his success.
tightwad@tightwad
N. excessively frugal person; miser.
Jill called Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the check.
tiller@tiller
N. handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer).
Fearing the wind might shift suddenly and capsize the skiff, Tom kept one hand on the tiller at all times.
timbre@timbre
N. quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument.
We identify the instrument producing a musical sound by its timbre.
timidity@timidity
N. lack of self-confidence or courage.
If you are to succeed as a salesperson, you must first lose your timidity and fear of failure.
timorous@timorous
ADJ. fearful; demonstrating fear.
Her timorous manner betrayed the anxiety she felt at the moment.
tipple@tipple
V. drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently.
He found that his most enjoyable evenings occurred when he tippled with his friends at the local pub.
n.
tirade@tirade
N. extended scolding; denunciation; harangue.
Every time the boss holds a meeting, he goes into a lengthy tirade, scolding us for everything from tardiness to padding our expenses.
titanic@titanic
ADJ. gigantic.
Titanic waves beat against the majestic S.S. Titanic, driving it against the concealed iceberg.
titan, n.
tithe@tithe
N. tax of one-tenth.
Because he was an agnostic he refused to pay his tithes to the clergy.
also v.
titillate@titillate
V. tickle.
I am here not to titillate my audience but to enlighten it.
title@title
N. right or claim to possession; mark of rank; name (of a book, film, etc.).
Though the penniless Duke of Ragwort no longer held title to the family estate, he still retained his title as head of one of England's oldest families.
titter@titter
N. nervous laugh.
Her aunt's constant titter nearly drove her mad.
also v.
titular@titular
ADJ. having the title of an office without the obligations.
Although he was the titular head of the company, the real decisions were made by his general manager.
toady@toady
N. servile flatterer; yes man.
Never tell the boss anything he doesn't wish to hear: he doesn't want an independent adviser, he just wants a toady.
also v.
toga@toga
N. Roman outer robe.
Marc Antony pointed to the slashes in Caesar's toga.
tome@tome
N. large volume.
She spent much time in the libraries poring over ancient tomes.
tonsure@tonsure
N. shaving of the head, especially by person entering religious orders.
His tonsure, even more than his monastic garb, indicated that he was a member of the religious order.
topography@topography
N. physical features of a region.
Before the generals gave the order to attack, they ordered a complete study of the topography of the region.
torpor@torpor
N. lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy.
Throughout the winter, nothing aroused the bear from his torpor he would not emerge from hibernation until spring.
torpid, adj.
torque@torque
N. twisting force; force producing rotation.
With her wrench she applied sufficient torque to the nut to loosen it.
torrent@torrent
N. rushing stream; flood.
Day after day of heavy rain saturated the hillside until the water ran downhill in torrents.
torrential, adj.
torrid@torrid
ADJ. passionate; hot or scorching.
The novels published by Harlequin Romances feature torrid love affairs, some set in torrid climates.
torso@torso
N. trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk.
This torso, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is now on exhibition in the museum in Naples.
tortuous@tortuous
ADJ. winding; full of curves.
Because this road is so tortuous, it is unwise to go faster than twenty miles an hour on it.
totter@totter
V. move unsteadily; sway, as if about to fall.
On unsteady feet, the drunk tottered down the hill to the nearest bar.
touchstone@touchstone
N. stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion.
What touchstone can be used to measure the character of a person?
touchy@touchy
ADJ. sensitive; irascible.
Do not discuss this phase of the problem as he is very touchy about it.
tout@tout
V. publicize; praise excessively.
I lost confidence in my broker after he touted some junk bonds that turned out to be a bad investment.
toxic@toxic
ADJ. poisonous.
We must seek an antidote for whatever toxic substance he has eaten.
toxicity, n.
tract@tract
N. pamphlet; a region of indefinite size.
The King granted William Penn a tract of land in the New World.
tractable@tractable
ADJ. docile; easily managed.
Although Susan seemed a tractable young woman, she had a stubborn streak of independence that occasionally led her to defy the powers-that-be when she felt they were in the wrong.
tractability, n.
traduce@traduce
V. expose to slander.
His opponents tried to traduce the candidate's reputation by spreading rumors about his past.
trajectory@trajectory
N. path taken by a projectile.
The police tried to locate the spot from which the assassin had fired the fatal shot by tracing the trajectory of the bullet.
tranquillity@tranquillity
N. calmness; peace.
After the commotion and excitement of the city, I appreciate the tranquillity of these fields and forests.
transcendent@transcendent
ADJ. surpassing; exceeding ordinary limits; superior.
Standing on the hillside watching the sunset through the Golden Gate was a transcendent experience for Lise: the sight was so beautiful it surpassed her wildest dreams.
transcend, v.; transcendency, n.
transcribe@transcribe
V. copy.
When you transcribe your notes, please send a copy to Mr. Smith and keep the original for our files.
transcription, n.
transgression@transgression
N. violation of a law; sin.
Forgive us our transgressions; we know not what we do.
transient@transient
ADJ. momentary; temporary; staying for a short time.
Lexy's joy at finding the perfect Christmas gift for Phil was transient; she still had to find presents for the cousins and Uncle Bob. Located near the airport, this hotel caters to the largely transient trade.
also n.
transition@transition
N. going from one state of action to another.
During the period of transition from oil heat to gas heat, the furnace will have to be shut off.
transitory@transitory
ADJ. impermanent; fleeting.
Fame is transitory today's rising star is all too soon tomorrow's washed-up has-been.
transitoriness, n.
translucent@translucent
ADJ. partly transparent.
We could not recognize the people in the next room because of the translucent curtains that separated us.
transmute@transmute
V. change: convert to something different.
He was unable to transmute his dreams into actualities.
transparent@transparent
ADJ. easily detected; permitting light to pass through freely.
John's pride in his son is transparent; no one who sees the two of them together can miss it.
transparency, n.
transpire@transpire
V. be revealed; happen.
When Austen writes the sentence "It had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him," her meaning is not that the debts had just been incurred, but that the shocking news had just leaked out.
transport@transport
N. strong emotion.
Margo was a creature of extremes, at one moment in transports of joy over a vivid sunset, at another moment in transports of grief over a dying bird.
also v. (secondary meaning)
trappings@trappings
N. outward decorations; ornaments.
He loved the trappings of success: the limousines, the stock options, the company jet.
traumatic@traumatic
ADJ. pertaining to an injury caused by violence.
In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle.
trauma, n.
travail@travail
N. painful labor.
How long do you think a man can endure such travail and degradation without rebelling?
traverse@traverse
V. go through or across.
When you traverse this field, be careful of the bull.
travesty@travesty
N. comical parody; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous.
The ridiculous decision the jury has arrived at is a travesty of justice.
treatise@treatise
N. article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly.
He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan playwrights for his graduate degree.
trek@trek
N. travel; journey.
The tribe made their trek further north that summer in search of game.
also v.
tremor@tremor
N. trembling; slight quiver.
She had a nervous tremor in her right hand.
tremulous@tremulous
ADJ. trembling; wavering.
She was tremulous more from excitement than from fear.
trenchant@trenchant
ADJ. cutting; keen.
I am afraid of his trenchant wit for it is so often sarcastic.
trepidation@trepidation
N. fear; nervous apprehension.
As she entered the office of the dean of admissions, Sharon felt some trepidation about how she would do in her interview.
tribulation@tribulation
N. distress; suffering.
After all the trials and tribulations we have gone through, we need this rest.
tribunal@tribunal
N. court of justice.
The decision of the tribunal was final and the prisoner was sentenced to death.
tribute@tribute
N. tax levied by a ruler; mark of respect.
The colonists refused to pay tribute to a foreign despot.
trident@trident
N. three-pronged spear.
Neptune is usually depicted as rising from the sea, carrying his trident on his shoulder.
trifling@trifling
ADJ. trivial; unimportant.
Why bother going to see a doctor for such a trifling, everyday cold?
trifle, n.
trigger@trigger
V. set off.
John is touchy today; say one word wrong and you'll trigger an explosion.
trilogy@trilogy
N. group of three works.
Romain Rolland's novel Jean Christophe was first published as a trilogy.
trinket@trinket
N. knickknack: bauble.
Whenever she traveled abroad, Ethel would pick up costume jewelry and other trinkets as souvenirs.
trite@trite
ADJ. hackneyed; commonplace.
The trite and predictable situations in many television programs turn off many viewers, who, in turn, turn off their sets.
trivia@trivia
N. trifles; unimportant matters.
Too many magazines ignore newsworthy subjects and feature trivia.
troth@troth
N. pledge of good faith especially in betrothal.
He gave her his troth and vowed to cherish her always.
trough@trough
N. container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.).
The hungry pigs struggled to get at the fresh swill in the trough. The surfer rode her board, coasting along in the trough between two waves.
truculence@truculence
N. aggressiveness; ferocity.
Tynan's reviews were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence.
truculent, adj.
truism@truism
N. self-evident truth.
Many a truism is summed up in a proverb; for example, "Marry in haste, repent at leisure."
truncate@truncate
V. cut the top off.
The top of the cone that has been truncated in a plane parallel to its base is a circle.
tryst@tryst
N. meeting.
The lovers kept their tryst even though they realized their danger.
also v.
tumid@tumid
ADJ. swollen; pompous; bombastic.
I especially dislike his tumid style; I prefer writing which is less swollen and bombastic.
tumult@tumult
N. commotion; riot; noise.
She could not make herself heard over the tumult of the mob.
tundra@tundra
N. rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America.
Despite the cold, many geologists are trying to discover valuable mineral deposits in the tundra.
turbid@turbid
ADJ. muddy; having the sediment disturbed.
The water was turbid after the children had waded through it.
turbulence@turbulence
N. state of violent agitation.
Warned of approaching turbulence in the atmosphere, the pilot told the passengers to fasten their seat belts.
tureen@tureen
N. deep dish for serving soup.
The waiters brought the soup to the tables in silver tureens.
turgid@turgid
ADJ. swollen; distended.
The turgid river threatened to overflow the levees and flood the countryside.
turmoil@turmoil
N. great commotion and confusion.
Lydia running off with a soldier! Mother fainting at the news! The Bennet household was in turmoil.
turncoat@turncoat
N. traitor.
The British considered Benedict Arnold a loyalist: the Americans considered him a turncoat.
turpitude@turpitude
N. depravity.
A visitor may be denied admittance to this country if she has been guilty of moral turpitude.
tutelage@tutelage
N. guardianship; training.
Under the tutelage of such masters of the instrument, she made rapid progress as a virtuoso.
tutelary@tutelary
ADJ. protective; pertaining to a guardianship.
I am acting in my tutelary capacity when I refuse to grant you permission to leave the campus.
tycoon@tycoon
N. wealthy leader.
John D. Rockefeller was a prominent tycoon.
typhoon@typhoon
N. tropical hurricane or cyclone.
If you liked Twister, you'll love Typhoon!
tyranny@tyranny
N. oppression; cruel government.
Frederick Douglass fought against the tyranny of slavery throughout his entire life.
tyro@tyro
N. beginner; novice.
For a mere tyro, you have produced some marvelous results.
ubiquitous@ubiquitous
ADJ. being everywhere; omnipresent.
That Christmas "The Little Drummer Boy" seemed ubiquitous: Justin heard the tune everywhere he went.
ubiquity, n.
ulterior@ulterior
ADJ. situated beyond; unstated and often questionable.
You must have an ulterior motive for your behavior, since there is no obvious reason for it.
ultimate@ultimate
ADJ. final; not susceptible to further analysis.
Scientists are searching for the ultimate truths.
ultimatum@ultimatum
N. last demand; warning.
Since they have ignored our ultimatum, our only recourse is to declare war.
umbrage@umbrage
N. resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult.
She took umbrage at his remarks and stormed away in a huff.
unaccountable@unaccountable
ADJ. inexplicable; unreasonable or mysterious.
I have taken an unaccountable dislike to my doctor: "I do not love thee, Doctor Fell. The reason why, I cannot tell."
unanimity@unanimity
N. complete agreement.
We were surprised by we unanimity with which our proposals were accepted by the different groups.
unanimous, adj.
unassailable@unassailable
ADJ. not subject to question; not open to attack.
Penelope's virtue was unassailable; while she waited for her husband to come back from the war, no other guy had a chance.
unassuaged@unassuaged
ADJ. unsatisfied; not soothed.
Her anger is unassuaged by your apology.
unassuming@unassuming
ADJ. modest.
He is so unassuming that some people fail to realize how great a man he really is.
unbridled@unbridled
ADJ. violent.
She had a sudden fit of unbridled rage.
uncanny@uncanny
ADJ. strange; mysterious.
You have the uncanny knack of reading my innermost thoughts.
unconscionable@unconscionable
ADJ. unscrupulous; excessive.
She found the loan shark's demands unconscionable and impossible to meet.
uncouth@uncouth
ADJ. outlandish; clumsy; boorish.
Most biographers portray Lincoln as an uncouth and ungainly young man.
unction@unction
N. the act of anointing with oil.
The anointing with oil of a person near death is called extreme unction.
unctuous@unctuous
ADJ. oily; bland; insincerely suave.
Uriah Heep disguised his nefarious actions by unctuous protestations of his "'umility."
underlying@underlying
ADJ. fundamental; lying below.
The underlying cause of the student riot was not the strict curfew rule but the moldy cafeteria food. Miss Marple seems a sweet little old lady at first, but an iron will underlies that soft and fluffy facade.
undermine@undermine
V. weaken; sap.
The recent corruption scandals have undermined many people's faith in the city government.
underscore@underscore
V. emphasize.
Addressing the jogging class, Kim underscored the importance to runners of good nutrition.
undulating@undulating
ADJ. moving with a wavelike motion.
The Hilo Hula Festival featured an undulating sea of grass skirts.
unearth@unearth
V. dig up.
When they unearthed the city, the archeologists found many relics of an ancient civilization.
unearthly@unearthly
ADJ. not earthly; weird.
There is an unearthly atmosphere in her work that amazes the casual obsever.
unequivocal@unequivocal
ADJ. plain; obvious.
My answer to your proposal is an unequivocal and absolute "No."
unerringly@unerringly
ADV. infallibly.
My teacher unerringly pounced on the one typographical error in my essay.
unexceptionable@unexceptionable
ADJ. not offering any basis for criticism: entirely acceptable.
Objecting to Jack's lack of a respectable family background, Lady Bracknell declared that Cecily could marry only a man of unexceptionable lineage and character.
unfaltering@unfaltering
ADJ. steadfast.
She approached the guillotine with unfaltering steps.
unfeigned@unfeigned
ADJ. genuine; real.
She turned so pale that I am sure her surprise was unfeigned.
unfettered@unfettered
ADJ. liberated; freed from chains.
Chained to the wall for months on end, the hostage despaired that he would ever be unfettered.
unfetter, v.
unfledged@unfledged
ADJ. immature.
It is hard for an unfledged writer to find a sympathetic publisher.
unfrock@unfrock
V. to strip a priest or minister of church authority.
To disbar a lawyer, to unfrock a priest, to suspend a doctor's license to practice-these are extreme steps that the authorities should take only after careful consideration.
ungainly@ungainly
ADJ. awkward; clumsy; unwieldy.
"If you want to know whether Nick's an ungainly dancer, check out my bruised feet," said Nora. Anyone who has ever tried to carry a bass fiddle knows it's an ungainly instrument.
unguent@unguent
N. ointment.
Apply this unguent to the sore muscles before retiring.
uniformity@uniformity
N. sameness; monotony.
At Persons magazine, we strive for uniformity of style; as a result, all our writers wind up sounding exactly alike.
uniform, adj.
unilateral@unilateral
ADJ. one-sided.
This legislation is unilateral since it binds only one party in the controversy.
unimpeachable@unimpeachable
ADJ. blameless and exemplary.
Her conduct in office was unimpeachable and her record is spotless.
uninhibited@uninhibited
ADJ. unrepressed.
The congregation was shocked by her uninhibited laughter during the sermon.
unintimidating@unintimidating
ADJ. unfrightening.
Though Phil had expected to feel overawed when he met Joe Montana, he found the world-famous quarterback friendly and unintimidating.
unique@unique
ADJ. without an equal; single in kind.
You have the unique distinction of being the first student whom I have had to fail in this course.
unison@unison
N. unity of pitch; complete accord.
The choir sang in unison.
universal@universal
ADJ. characterizing or affecting all; present everywhere.
At first, no one shared Christopher's opinions; his theory that the world was round was met with universal disdain.
unkempt@unkempt
ADJ. disheveled; uncared for in appearance.
Jeremy hated his neighbor's unkempt lawn: he thought its neglected appearance had a detrimental effect on neighborhood property values.
unmitigated@unmitigated
ADJ. unrelieved or immoderate; absolute.
After four days of unmitigated heat, I was ready to collapse from heat prostration. The congresswoman's husband was an unmitigated jerk: not only did he abandon her, but also he took her campaign funds!
unobtrusive@unobtrusive
ADJ. inconspicuous; not blatant.
Reluctant to attract notice, the governess took a chair in a far corner of the room and tried to be as unobtrusive as possible.
unprecedented@unprecedented
ADJ. novel; unparalleled.
Margaret Mitchell's book Gone with the Wind was an unprecedented success.
unprepossessing@unprepossessing
ADJ. unattractive.
During adolescence many attractive young people somehow acquire the false notion that their appearance is unprepossessing.
unravel@unravel
V. disentangle; solve.
With equal ease Miss Marple unraveled tangled balls of yarn and baffling murder mysteries.
unrequited@unrequited
ADJ. not reciprocated.
Suffering the pangs of unrequited love, Olivia rebukes Cesario for his hardheartedness.
unruly@unruly
ADJ. disobedient; lawless.
The only way to curb this unruly mob is to use tear gas.
unsavory@unsavory
ADJ. distasteful; morally offensive.
People with unsavory reputations should not be allowed to work with young children.
unscathed@unscathed
ADJ. unharmed.
They prayed he would come back from the war unscathed.
unseemly@unseemly
ADJ. unbecoming; indecent; in poor taste.
When Seymour put whoopee cushions on all the seats in the funeral parlor, his conduct was most unseemly.
unsightly@unsightly
ADJ. ugly.
Although James was an experienced emergency room nurse, he occasionally became queasy when faced with a particularly unsightly injury.
unsullied@unsullied
ADJ. untarnished.
I am happy that my reputation is unsullied.
untenable@untenable
ADJ. indefensible; not able to be maintained.
Wayne is so contrary that, the more untenable a position is, the harder he'll try to defend it.
untoward@untoward
ADJ. unfortunate or unlucky; adverse; unexpected.
Trying to sneak out of the house, Huck had a most untoward encounter with Miss Watson, who thwarted his escape.
unwarranted@unwarranted
ADJ. unjustified; groundless; undeserved.
We could not understand Martin's unwarranted rudeness to his mother's guests.
unwieldy@unwieldy
ADJ. awkward: cumbersome; unmanageable.
The large carton was so unwieldy that the movers had trouble getting it up the stairs.
unwitting@unwitting
ADJ. unintentional; not knowing.
She was the unwitting tool of the swindlers.
unwonted@unwonted
ADJ. unaccustomed.
He hesitated to assume the unwonted role of master of ceremonies at the dinner.
upbraid@upbraid
V. severely scold; reprimand.
Not only did Miss Minchin upbraid Ermengarde for her disobedience, but also she hung her up by her braids from a coat-rack in the classroom.
uproarious@uproarious
ADJ. marked by commotion; extremely funny; very noisy.
The uproarious comedy hit Ace Ventura: Pet Detective starred Jim Carrey, whose comic mugging provoked gales of uproarious laughter from audiences coast to coast.
upshot@upshot
N. outcome.
The upshot of the rematch was that the former champion proved that he still possessed all the skills of his youth.
urbane@urbane
ADJ. suave; refined; elegant.
The courtier was urbane and sophisticated.
urbanity, n.
urchin@urchin
N. mischievous child (usually a boy).
Get out! This store is no place for grubby urchins!
ursine@ursine
ADJ. bearlike; pertaining to a bear.
Because of its ursine appearance, the great panda has been identified with the bears; actually, it is closely related to the raccoon.
usurp@usurp
V. seize another's power or rank.
The revolution ended when the victorious rebel general succeeded in his attempt to usurp the throne.
usurpation, n.
usury@usury
N. lending money at illegal rates of interest.
The loan shark was found guilty of usury.
utopia@utopia
N. ideal place, state, or society.
Fed up with this imperfect universe, Don would have liked to run off to Shangri-la or some other imaginary utopia.
utopian, adj.
uxorious@uxorious
ADJ. excessively devoted to one's wife.
His friends laughed at him because he was so uxorious and submissive to his wife's desires.
vacillate@vacillate
V. waver; fluctuate.
Uncertain which suitor she ought to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one, now the other.
vacillation, n.
vacuous@vacuous
ADJ. empty; lacking in ideas; stupid.
The candidate's vacuous remarks annoyed the audience, who had hoped to hear more than empty platitudes.
vacuity, n.
vagabond@vagabond
N. wanderer; tramp.
In summer, college students wander the roads of Europe like carefree vagabonds.
also adj.
vagary@vagary
N. caprice; whim.
She followed every vagary of fashion.
vagrant@vagrant
ADJ. stray; random.
He tried to study, but could not collect his vagrant thoughts.
N. homeless wanderer.
Because he was a stranger in town with no visible means of support, Martin feared he would be jailed as a vagrant.
vainglorious@vainglorious
ADJ. boastful; excessively conceited.
She was a vainglorious and arrogant individual.
valedictory@valedictory
ADJ. pertaining to farewell.
I found the valedictory address too long; leave-taking should be brief.
valid@valid
ADJ. logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable.
You're going to have to come up with a better argument if you want to convince me that your reasoning is valid.
validate@validate
V. confirm; ratify.
I will not publish my findings until I validate my results.
valor@valor
N. bravery.
He received the Medal of Honor for his valor in battle.
vampire@vampire
N. ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living.
Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampires.
vanguard@vanguard
N. forerunners; advance forces.
We are the vanguard of a tremendous army that is following us.
vantage@vantage
N. position giving an advantage.
They fired upon the enemy from behind trees, walls and any other point of vantage they could find.
vapid@vapid
ADJ. dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless.
"Bor-ing!" said Cher, as she suffered through yet another vapid lecture about Dead White Male Poets.
vaporize@vaporize
V. turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.).
"Zap!" went Super Mario's atomic ray gun as he vaporized another deadly foe.
variegated@variegated
ADJ. many-colored.
Without her glasses, Gretchen saw the fields of tulips as a variegated blur.
vassal@vassal
N. in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord.
The lord demanded that his vassals contribute more to his military campaign.
vaunted@vaunted
ADJ. boasted; bragged; highly publicized.
This much vaunted project proved a disappointment when it collapsed.
veer@veer
V. change in direction.
After what seemed an eternity, the wind veered to the east and the storm abated.
vegetate@vegetate
V. live in a monotonous way.
I do not understand how you can vegetate in this quiet village after the adventurous life you have led.
vehement@vehement
ADJ. forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor.
Alfred became so vehement in describing what was wrong with the Internal Revenue Service that he began jumping up and down and gesticulating wildly.
vehemence, n.
velocity@velocity
N. speed.
The train went by at considerable velocity.
venal@venal
ADJ. capable of being bribed.
The venal policeman accepted the bribe offered him by the speeding motorist whom he had stopped.
vendetta@vendetta
N. blood feud.
The rival mobs engaged in a bitter vendetta.
vendor@vendor
N. seller.
The fruit vendor sold her wares from a stall on the sidewalk.
veneer@veneer
N. thin layer; cover.
Casual acquaintances were deceived by his veneer of sophistication and failed to recognize his fundamental shallowness.
venerable@venerable
ADJ. deserving high respect.
We do not mean to be disrespectful when we refuse to follow the advice of our venerable leader.
venerate@venerate
V. revere.
In Tibet today, the common people still venerate their traditional spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
venial@venial
ADJ. forgivable; trivial.
When Jean Valjean stole a loaf of bread to feed his starving sister, he committed a venial offense.
venison@venison
N. the meat of a deer.
The hunters dined on venison.
venom@venom
N. poison; hatred.
Bitten on his ankle by a venomous snake, the cowboy contortionist curled up like a pretzel and sucked the venom out of the wound.
vent@vent
N. small opening; outlet.
The wine did not flow because the air vent in the barrel was clogged.
V. express; utter.
He vented his wrath on his class.
ventral@ventral
V. abdominal.
We shall now examine the ventral plates of this serpent, not the dorsal side.
ventriloquist@ventriloquist
N. someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing.
This ventriloquist does an act in which she has a conversation with a wooden dummy.
venture@venture
V. risk; dare; undertake a risk.
Fearing to distress the actors, the timorous reviewer never ventured to criticize a performance in harsh terms.
also n.
venturesome@venturesome
ADJ. bold.
A group of venturesome women were the first to scale Mt. Annapurna.
venue@venue
N. location.
The attorney asked for a change of venue; he thought his client would do better if the trial were held in a less conservative county.
veracious@veracious
ADJ. truthful.
I can recommend him for this position-because I have always found him veracious and reliable.
veracity, n.
veracity@veracity
N. truthfulness.
Trying to prove Hill a liar, Senator Spector repeatedly questioned her veracity.
veracious, adj.
verbalize@verbalize
V. put into words.
I know you don't like to talk about these things, but please try to verbalize your feelings.
verbatim@verbatim
ADV. word for word.
He repeated the message verbatim.
also adj.
verbiage@verbiage
N. pompous array of words.
After we had waded through all the verbiage, we discovered that the writer had said very little.
verbose@verbose
ADJ. wordy.
We had to make some major cuts in Senator Foghorn's speech because it was far too verbose.
verbosity, n.
verdant@verdant
ADJ. green; lush in vegetation.
Monet's paintings of the verdant meadows were symphonies in green.
verdigris@verdigris
N. green coating on copper which has been exposed to the weather.
Despite all attempts to protect the statue from the elements, it became coated with verdigris.
verge@verge
N. border; edge.
Madame Curie knew she was on the verge of discovering the secrets of radioactive elements.
also v.
verisimilar@verisimilar
ADJ. probable or likely; having the appearance of truth.
Something verisimilar is very similar to the truth, or at least seems to be.
verisimilitude@verisimilitude
N. appearance of truth; likelihood.
Critics praised her for the verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth. She was completely believable.
veritable@veritable
ADJ. actual: being truly so: not false or imaginary.
At his computer, Pavel is a veritable wizard, treating graphic effects that seem magical to programmers less skilled than he.
verity@verity
N. quality of being true; lasting truth or principle.
Do you question the verity of Kato Kaelin's testimony about what he heard the night Nicole Brown Simpson was slain? TQ the skeptic, everything was relative: there were no eternal verities in which one could believe.
vernacular@vernacular
N. living language; natural style.
Cut out those old-fashioned "thee's" and "thou's" and write in the vernacular.
also adj.
vernal@vernal
ADJ. pertaining to spring.
We may expect vernal showers all during the month of April.
versatile@versatile
ADJ. having many talents; capable of working in many fields.
She was a versatile athlete, earning varsity letters in basketball, hockey, and track.
versatility, n.
vertex@vertex
N. summit.
Let us drop a perpendicular line from the vertex of the triangle to the base.
vertices, pl.
vertigo@vertigo
N. severe dizziness.
When you test potential plane pilots for susceptibility to spells of vertigo, be sure to hand out airsick bags.
verve@verve
N. enthusiasm; liveliness.
She approached her studies with such verve that it was impossible for her to do poorly.
vestige@vestige
N. trace; remains.
We discovered vestiges of early Indian life in the cave.
vex@vex
N. annoy; distress.
Please try not to vex your mother; she is doing the best she can.
viable@viable
ADJ. practical or workable; capable of maintaining life.
The plan to build a new baseball stadium, though missing a few details, is viable and stands a good chance of winning popular support.
viand@viand
N. food.
There was a variety of viands at the feast.
vicarious@vicarious
ADJ. acting as a substitute; done by a deputy.
Many people get a vicarious thrill at the movies by imagining they are the characters on the screen.
vicissitude@vicissitude
N. change df fortune.
Humbled by life's vicissitudes, the last emperor of China worked as a lowly gardener in the palace over which he had once ruled.
victuals@victuals
N. food.
I am very happy to be able to provide you with these victuals; I know you are hungry.
vie@vie
V. contend; compete.
Politicians vie with one another, competing for donations and votes.
vigilant@vigilant
ADJ. watchfully awake; alert to spot danger.
From the battlement, the vigilant sentry kept his eyes open for any sign of enemy troops approaching.
vigilance, n.
vigor@vigor
N. active strength.
Although he was over seventy years old, Jack had the vigor of a man in his prime.
vigorous, adj.
vignette@vignette
N. picture; short literary sketch.
The New Yorker published her latest vignette.
vilify@vilify
V. slander.
Waging a highly negative campaign, the candidate attempted to vilify his opponent's reputation.
vilification, n.
vindicate@vindicate
V. clear from blame; exonerate; justify or support.
The lawyer's goal was to vindicate her client and prove him innocent on all charges. The critics' extremely favorable reviews vindicate my opinion that The Madness of King George is a brilliant movie.
vindictive@vindictive
ADJ. out for revenge; malicious.
Divorce sometimes brings out a vindictive streak in people; when Tony told Tina he was getting a divorce, she poured green Jell-O into his aquarium and turned his tropical fish into dessert.
vintner@vintner
N. winemaker; seller of wine.
The poet wondered what the vintners could buy that would be half as precious as the wine they sold.
viper@viper
N. poisonous snake.
The habitat of the horned viper, a particularly venomous snake, is in sandy regions like the Sahara or the Sinai peninsula.
virile@virile
ADJ. manly.
I do not accept the premise that a man is virile only when he is belligerent.
virtual@virtual
ADJ. in essence; for practical purposes.
She is a virtual financial wizard when it comes to money matters.
virtue@virtue
N. goodness; moral excellence; good quality.
A virtue carried to extremes can turn into something resembling vice; humility, for example, can degenerate into servility and spinelessness.
virtuoso@virtuoso
N. highly skilled artist.
The child prodigy Yehudi Menuhin grew into a virtuoso whose virtuosity on the violin thrilled millions.
virtuosity, n.
virulent@virulent
ADJ. extremely poisonous; hostile; bitter.
Laid up with a virulent case of measles, Vera blamed her doctors because her recovery took so long. In fact, she became quite virulent on the subject of the quality of modern medical care.
virulence, n.
virus@virus
N. disease communicator.
The doctors are looking for a specific medicine to control this virus.
visage@visage
N. face; appearance.
The stern visage of the judge indicated that she had decided to impose a severe penalty.
visceral@visceral
ADJ. felt in one's inner organs.
She disliked the visceral sensations she had whenever she rode the roller coaster.
viscid@viscid
ADJ. adhesive; gluey.
The trunk of the maple tree was viscid with sap.
viscous@viscous
ADJ. sticky, gluey.
Melted tar is a viscous substance.
viscosity, n.
vise@vise
N. tool for holding work in place.
Before filing its edges, the keysmith took the blank key and fixed it firmly between the jaws of a vise.
visionary@visionary
ADJ. produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical.
She was given to visionary schemes that never materialized.
also n.
vital@vital
ADJ. vibrant and lively; critical; living, breathing.
The vital, highly energetic first aid instructor stressed that it was vital in examining accident victims to note their vital signs.
vitiate@vitiate
V. spoil the effect of; make inoperative.
Fraud will vitiate the contract.
vitreous@vitreous
ADJ. pertaining to or resembling glass.
Although this plastic has many vitreous qualities such as transparency, it is unbreakable.
vitriolic@vitriolic
ADJ. corrosive; sarcastic.
Such vitriolic criticism is uncalled for.
vituperative@vituperative
ADJ. abusive; scolding.
He became more vituperative as he realized that we were not going to grant him his wish.
vivacious@vivacious
ADJ. lively or animated; sprightly.
She had always been vivacious and sparkling.
vivisection@vivisection
N. act of dissecting living animals.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opposed vivisection and deplored the practice of using animals in scientific experiments.
vixen@vixen
N. female fox; ill-tempered woman.
Aware that she was right once again, he lost his temper and called her a shrew and a vixen.
vociferous@vociferous
ADJ. clamorous; noisy.
The crowd grew vociferous in its anger and threatened to take the law into its own hands.
vogue@vogue
N. popular fashion.
Jeans became the vogue on many college campuses.
volatile@volatile
ADJ. changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly.
The political climate today is extremely volatile: no one can predict what the electorate will do next. Maria Callas's temper was extremely volatile: the only thing you could predict was that she would blow up. Acetone is an extremely volatile liquid: it evaporates instantly.
volatility, n.
volition@volition
N. act of making a conscious choice.
She selected this dress of her own volition.
voluble@voluble
ADJ. fluent; glib; talkative.
An excessively voluble speaker suffers from logorrhea: he continually runs off at the mouth!
volubility, n.
voluminous@voluminous
ADJ. bulky; large.
A caftan is a voluminous garment; the average person wearing one looks as if he or she is draped in a small tent.
voracious@voracious
ADJ. ravenous.
The wolf is a voracious animal, its hunger never satisfied.
vortex@vortex
N. whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged.
Sucked into the vortex of the tornado, Dorothy and Toto were carried from Kansas to Oz.
vouchsafe@vouchsafe
V. grant condescendingly; guarantee.
I can safely vouchsafe you fair return on your investment.
voyeur@voyeur
N. Peeping Tom.
Jill called Jack a voyeur when she caught him aiming his binoculars at a bedroom window of the house next door.
vulnerable@vulnerable
ADJ. susceptible to wounds.
His opponents could not harm Achilles, who was vulnerable only in his heel.
vulnerability, n.
vulpine@vulpine
ADJ. like a fox; crafty.
She disliked his sly ways, but granted him a certain vulpine intelligence.
waffle@waffle
V. speak equivocally about an issue.
When asked directly about the governor's involvement in the savings and loan scandal, the press secretary waffled, talking all around the issue.
waft@waft
V. moved gently by wind or waves.
Daydreaming, he gazed at the leaves that wafted past his window.
waggish@waggish
ADJ. mischievous; humorous; tricky.
He was a prankster who, unfortunately, often overlooked the damage he could cause with his waggish tricks.
wag, n.
waif@waif
N. homeless child or animal.
Although he already had eight cats, he could not resist adopting yet another feline waif.
waive@waive
V. give up temporarily; yield.
I will waive my rights in this matter in order to expedite our reaching a proper decision.
wake@wake
N. trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before.
The wake of the swan gliding through the water glistened in the moonlight. Reporters and photographers converged on South Carolina in the wake of the hurricane that devastated much of the eastern seaboard.
wallow@wallow
V. roll in; indulge in; become helpless.
The hippopotamus loves to wallow in the mud.
wan@wan
ADJ. having a pale or sickly color; pallid.
Suckling asked, "Why so pale and wan, fond lover?"
wanderlust@wanderlust
N. strong longing to travel.
Don't set your heart on a traveling man. He's got too much wanderlust to settle down.
wane@wane
V. decrease in size or strength; draw gradually to an end.
To wane is the opposite of to wax or increase in size. When lit, does a wax candle wane?
wangle@wangle
V. wiggle out; fake.
She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
wanton@wanton
ADJ. unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste.
Pointing to the stack of bills, Sheldon criticized Sarah for her wanton expenditures. In response, Sara accused Sheldon of making an unfounded, wanton attack.
warble@warble
V. sing; babble.
Every morning the birds warbled outside her window.
also n.
warranted@warranted
ADJ. justified; authorized.
Before the judge issues the injunction, you must convince her this action is warranted.
warranty@warranty
N. guarantee; assurance by seller.
The purchaser of this automobile is protected by the manufacturer's warranty that he will replace any defective part for five years or 50,000 miles.
warren@warren
N. tunnels in which rabbits live; crowded conditions in which people live.
The tenement was a veritable warren, packed with people too poor to live elsewhere.
wary@wary
ADJ. very cautious.
The spies grew wary as they approached the sentry.
wastrel@wastrel
N. profligate.
He was denounced as a wastrel who had dissipated his inheritance.
wax@wax
V. increase; grow.
With proper handling, her fortunes waxed and she became rich.
waylay@waylay
V. ambush; lie in wait.
They agreed to waylay their victim as he passed through the dark alley going home.
wean@wean
V. accustom a baby not to nurse; give up a cherished activity.
He decided he would wean himself away from eating junk food and stick to fruits and vegetables.
weather@weather
V. endure the effects of weather or other forces.
He weathered the changes in his personal life with difficulty, as he had no one in whom to confide.
welt@welt
N. mark from a beating or whipping.
The evidence of child abuse was very clear; Jennifer's small body was covered with welts and bruises.
welter@welter
N. turmoil; bewildering jumble.
The existing welter of overlapping federal and state programs cries out for immediate reform.
V. wallow.
At the height of the battle, the casualties were so numerous that the victims weltered in their blood while waiting for medical attention.
wheedle@wheedle
V. cajole; coax; deceive by flattery.
She knows she can wheedle almost anything she wants from her father.
whelp@whelp
N. young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.
This collie whelp won't do for breeding, but he'd make a fine pet.
whet@whet
V. sharpen: stimulate.
The odors from the kitchen are whetting my appetite; I will be ravenous by the time the meal is served.
whiff@whiff
N. puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); hint.
The slightest whiff of Old Spice cologne brought memories of George to her mind.
whimsical@whimsical
N. capricious; fanciful.
In Mrs. Doubtfire, the hero is a playful, whimsical man who takes a notion to dress up as a woman so that he can look after his children, who are in the custody of his ex-wife.
whimsy, n.
whinny@whinny
V. neigh like a horse.
When he laughed through his nose, it sounded as if he whinnied.
whit@whit
N. smallest speck.
There is not a whit of intelligence or understanding in your observations.
whittle@whittle
V. pare; cut off bits.
As a present for Aunt Polly, Tom whittled some clothespins out of a chunk of wood.
whorl@whorl
N. ring of leaves around stem; ring.
Identification by fingerprints is based on the difference in shape and number of the whorls on the fingers.
willful@willful
ADJ. intentional; headstrong.
Donald had planned to kill his wife for months; clearly, her death was a case of deliberate, willful murder, not a crime of passion committed by a hasty, willful youth unable to foresee the consequences of his deeds.
wily@wily
ADJ. cunning; artful.
She is as wily as a fox in avoiding trouble.
wince@wince
V. shrink back; flinch.
The screech of the chalk on the blackboard made her wince.
windfall@windfall
N. fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event.
This huge tax refund is quite a windfall.
winnow@winnow
V. sift; separate good parts from bad.
This test will winnow out the students who study from those who don't bother.
winsome@winsome
ADJ. agreeable; gracious; engaging.
By her winsome manner, she made herself liked by everyone who met her.
wispy@wispy
ADJ. thin; slight; barely discernible.
Worried about preserving his few wispy tufts of hair, Walter carefully massaged his scalp and applied hair restorer every night.
wistful@wistful
ADJ. vaguely longing; sadly pensive.
With a last wistful glance at the happy couples dancing in the hall, Sue headed back to her room to study for her exam.
withdrawn@withdrawn
ADJ. introverted; remote.
Rebuffed by his colleagues, the initially outgoing young researcher became increasingly withdrawn.
wither@wither
V. shrivel; decay.
Cut flowers are beautiful for a day, but all too soon they wither.
withhold@withhold
V. refuse to give; hold back.
The tenants decided to withhold a portion of the rent until the landlord kept his promise to renovate the building.
withstand@withstand
V. stand up against; successfully resist.
If you can withstand all the peer pressure in high school to cut classes and goof off, you should survive college in fine shape.
witless@witless
ADJ. foolish; idiotic.
If Beavis is a half-wit, then Butthead is totally witless.
witticism@witticism
N. witty saying; wisecrack.
I don't mean any criticism, but your last supposed witticism really hurt my feelings.
wizardry@wizardry
N. sorcery; magic.
Merlin amazed the knights with his wizardry.
wizened@wizened
ADJ. withered; shriveled.
The wizened old man in the home for the aged was still active and energetic.
woe@woe
N. deep, inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering.
Pale and wan with grief, Wanda was bowed down beneath the burden of her woes.
wont@wont
N. custom; habitual procedure.
As was her wont, she jogged two miles every morning before going to work.
worldly@worldly
ADJ. engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual.
You must leave your worldly goods behind you when you go to meet your Maker.
wrangle@wrangle
V. quarrel; obtain through arguing; herd cattle.
They wrangled over their inheritance.
wrath@wrath
N. anger; fury.
She turned to him, full of wrath, and said, "What makes you think I'll accept lower pay for this job than you get?
"
wreak@wreak
V. inflict.
I am afraid he will wreak his vengeance on the innocent as well as the guilty.
wrench@wrench
V. pull; strain; twist.
She wrenched free of her attacker and landed a powerful kick to his kneecap.
wrest@wrest
V. pull away; take by violence.
With only ten seconds left to play, our team wrested victory from their grasp.
writ@writ
N. written command issued by a court.
The hero of Leonard's novel is a process server who invents unorthodox ways of serving writs on reluctant parties.
writhe@writhe
V. twist in coils; contort in pain.
In Dances with Snakes, the snake dancer wriggled sinuously as her boa constrictor writhed around her torso.
wry@wry
ADJ. twisted; with a humorous twist.
We enjoy Dorothy Parker's verse for its wry wit.
xenophobia@xenophobia
N. fear or hatred of foreigners.
When the refugee arrived in America, he was unprepared for the xenophobia he found there.
yen@yen
N. longing; urge.
She had a yen to get away and live on her own for a while.
yeoman@yeoman
N. man owning small estate; middle-class farmer.
It was not the aristocrat but the yeoman who determined the nation's policies.
yield@yield
N. amount produced; crop; income on investment.
An experienced farmer can estimate the annual yield of his acres with surprising accuracy.
V. give in; surrender.
The wounded knight refused to yield to his foe.
yoke@yoke
V. join together, unite.
I don't wish to be yoked to him in marriage, as if we were cattle pulling a plow.
also n.
yokel@yokel
N. country bumpkin.
At school, his classmates regarded him as a yokel and laughed at his rustic mannerisms.
yore@yore
N. time past.
She dreamed of the elegant homes of yore, but gave no thought to their inelegant plumbing.
zany@zany
ADJ. crazy; comic.
I can watch the Marx brothers' zany antics for hours.
zeal@zeal
N. eager enthusiasm.
Wang's zeal was contagious; soon all his fellow students were busily making posters, inspired by his ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
zealous, adj.
zealot@zealot
N. fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal.
Though Glenn was devout, he was no zealot; he never tried to force his religious beliefs on his friends.
zenith@zenith
N. point directly overhead in the sky; summit.
When the sun was a? its zenith, the glare was not as strong as at sunrise and sunset.
zephyr@zephyr
N. gentle breeze; west wind.
When these zephyrs blow, it is good to be in an open boat under a full sail.