Dawn Word List

Many junior members are disconcert regarding the selection of prolific vocabulary. We are often advised to go through the Dawn news-paper vocabulary. Consequently, This thread contains the words frequently published in Dawn. Members are requested to add their contribution too.

Aberration: deviation; abnormality
Abstruse: Difficult to comprehend
Acumen: sharpness of mind
Adroit: skill-ful (Maladroit = clumsy)
Adulation: worship; great praise
Advocate: support
Affability: friendliness; cordiality
Affinity: kinship
Affluence: wealth; oppulence
Agnostic: unsure of the existence of god
Alacrity: speed & eagerness; promptness
Alleviate: make less serve; reduce
Altruism: self-sacrifice
Amalgam: mixture
Amassed: accumulated
Ambiguous: vague; doubtful; equivocal
Ameliorate: make better; improve
Amiable: friendly; lovable
Anachronistic: out of normal time range (Root -- chron always implies the time)
Animosity: hostility; hatred; ill-will
Apathetic: lacking energy or interest; indifference
Arable: cab be cultivated; fit for pillowing (example: arable land)
Arbitration: mediating between disputing sides
Arboreal: living in trees (Root -- Arbor always relates to trees)
Arcane: esoteric; obscure; known only to few people
Archaic: old-fashioned
Articulation: joining; speaking clearly; distinct
Ascertain: find out; make sure
Astute: wise; mentally sharp
Augment: increase in size or number
Aural: through the sense of hearing
Autocrat: absolute ruler; dictator
Autonomy: self-government
Barrage: bombardment; stream (of abuse etc.); continous attack
Belabor: over-emphasizing
Belied: contradicted
Belitters: people who criticize/disparage
Benevolent: kindly; cheritable
Boorishness: rudeness; ill-mannered behavior
Bountiful: generous
Brevity: briefness
Bypass: avoid; find a way around
Byzantine: excessive; decadent
Cacophony: noise; din
Callous: cruel & unfeeling
Candid: truthful; straight forward; free from prejudice
Capricious: whimsical; changeable
Censure: criticize; blame
Cerebral: concerned with thinking
Circumstantial: accidental; indirect
Insightful: perceptive; can be understood
Insipid: flavourless; bland
Insolence: lack of respect; rudeness; impudence
Insolvent: bankrupt
Insufferable: can not be tolerated
Insular: narrow-minded
Insurrectionist: rebel; combative
Integrity: honor; honesty
Intemperate: not moderate; excessive
Intermittent: on & off; not continous; spasmodic
Intonation: tone of voice
intrigued: interested and curious
Intuition: sixth sense; gut feeling
Invocation: prayer
Irony: something unexpected; words to convey opposite meaning
Irreproachable: can not be criticized; blameless (Reproach = critize)
Irresolute: lacking firmness of purpose; hesitant
Irreverence: lack of respect
Jaded: tired; bored
Jeopardize: put at risk; endanger
Judicious: fair; wise
Juxtaposition: placing two things next to each other
Knack: trick; skill
Lackadaisical: lazy; careless; lax
Lamentable: regrettable
Languid: Lacking energy; weak
Lavish: to spend freely(v); costing alot; opulent(adj)
Legitimate: to make legal; give approval to
Libelous: open to prosecution forr libel (libel = written slander)
Lithe: flexible; supple
Litigious: seeking legal remedies
Lobby: to try to persuade; entrance hall
Lucid: clear; explained
Magnanimous: generous minded; big-hearted
Mandate: permission
Mandatory: compulsory
Manifesto: statement of values
Manipulative: deceptive; skill-ful at handling people
Marred: spoiled; ruined
Meager: small; scanty; unimportant
Mercenary: seeking money above all else; interested in money and gain
Meticulous: thorough; taking care of details
Miffed: annoyed; vex
Mitigate: moderate; reduce intensity
Modicum: tiny amount
Momentous: of great importance
Monotonous: dull; repetitive
Morbidity: concern with death and disease
Motley: varied; miscellaneous
Circumvent: avoid; outwit; baffle
Coalition: a union of two parts
Ceorce: compel; force
Cognitions: mental knowledge
Compendious: containing a lot in a small space/few words
Conciliatory: bringing together; ending a dispute; soothing
Concord: agreement
Condone: tolerate
Conflagration: great fire
Congenial: friendly; sociable; suitable
Connoisseur: expert with good taste/ judgement
Consecrate: dedicate; make holy
Consummate: supremely good
Contagious: passed on through touch; infectious
Convergence: coming together
Convivial: sociable
Copious: in large amount
Corollary: consequence; inference
Corpulence: very fat-ness
Corroborated: supported; given supporting evidence
Credulity: belief on slight evidence
Cumulative: building up
Cursory: superficial
Curtail: cut short
Dalliance: non-serious involvement; toying or playing
Dearth: shortage; lacking
Debacle: disaster
Debilitate: weaken
Debunk: throw out old indeas
Deferment: putting off
Deleterious: harmful
Deliberation: careful thought
Delineate: outline
Demagogue: mob leader; agitator
Demonstrative: expressing emotions freely
Denuded: stripped
Depreciatory: devaluing; criticizing
Derelict: rundown; abandoned
Derided: mocked
Despoiled: plunder; rob; deprive
Devious: cunning
Didactic: intending to preach or teach; an act of teaching
Dilatory: slow; sluggish
Disarming: charming; unthreatening
Discernment: judgement
Discrepancy: inconsistency
Disillusioned: freed from wrong ideas
Disingenuous: crafy; double dealing
Disparaging: critical
Distension: swelling; distend; expand