George Washington 1789 – 1797
John Adams 1797 – 1801
Thomas Jefferson 1801 – 1809
James Madison 1809 – 1817
James Monroe 1817 – 1825
John Quincy Adams 1825 – 1829
Andrew Jackson 1829 – 1837
Martin Van Buren 1837 – 1841
William Henry Harrison 1841
John Tyler 1841 – 1845
James Knox Polk 1845 – 1849
Zachary Taylor 1849 – 1850
Millard Fillmore 1850 – 1853
Franklin Pierce 1853 – 1857
James Buchanan 1857 – 1861
Abraham Lincoln 1861 – 1865
Andrew Johnson 1865 – 1869
Ulysses Simpson Grant 1869 – 1877
Rutherford Birchard Hayes 1877 – 1881
James Abram Garfield 1881
Chester Alan Arthur 1881 - 1885
Grover Cleveland 1885 – 1889
Benjamin Harrison 1889 – 1893
Grover Cleveland 1893 – 1897
William McKinley 1897 – 1901
Theodore Roosevelt 1901 – 1909
William Howard Taft 1909 – 1913
Woodrow Wilson 1913 – 1921
Warren Gamaliel Harding 1921 – 1923
Calvin Coolidge 1923 – 1925
Charles G. Dawes 1925 – 1929
Franklin Delano Roosevelt 1933 – 1945
Harry S. Truman 1945 – 1953
Dwight David Eisenhower 1953 – 1961
John Fitzgerald Kennedy 1961 – 1963
Lyndon Baines Johnson 1963 – 1969
Richard Milhous Nixon 1969 – 1974
Gerald Rudolph Ford 1974 – 1977
James Earl Carter 1977 – 1981
Ronald Reagan 1981 – 1989
George Herbert Walker Bush 1989 – 1993
William Jefferson Clinton 1993 – 2001
George Walker Bush 2001 – Now

Best artist Abdul Rehman Chughtai
Best UN speaker Ahmed Shah Pitras Bukhari
First Adam Jee Literary Prize Shaukat Siddiqui (“Khuda-Ki-Basti”)
First AIDS patient in Pakistan 1987
First ambassador to USA M. A. H. Isfahani
First amendment in the constitution 1974 (Allowed citizens to form political parties)
First announcer of world service of Radio Pakistan Safia Kazim
First Asian Deputy Secretary General UNO Pir Syed Ahmed Shah Patras Bukhari
First Atomic Reactor Islamabad
First Autobiography in Urdu Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
First Baloch Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Ch
First bank Habib Bank (25th August 1947)
First bio plant 1974
First Biography of Quaid-e-Azam Hector Bolitho
First book of Allama Iqbal * “Israr-e-Khudi”
First British Ruler of India Lord Clive
First broadcasting of national anthem ** 13th Aug 1954
First cabinet (15th Aug, 1947) Liaquat Ali Khan (Prime Minister, Defence, Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations), Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar (Trade, Industry and Construction), Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Finance), Sardar Abdul Rab Nishtar (Transports), Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan (Food, Agriculture and Health), Jugindarnath Mandal (Law and Labour) and Fazal-ur-Rehman (Interior, Information and Education)
First Capital Karachi
First capital of Sind Hyderabad
First Captain of Hockey Iqtidar Ali Shah Dara
First Caretaker Prime Minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (6th Aug 1990 – 6th Nov 1990)
First Cartoon Film of Pakistan “Keya Aalmi Zamir So Raha Hay”
First Census 9th Feb 1951 (34.8 million population)
First Chairman FPSC Mian Afzal Hussain (1947 – 1952)
First Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman (2005)
First Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen. Muhammad Sharif (1976 – 1978)
First Chairman Senate Habib-ullah Khan
First Chairman Federal Shariat Court Justice Salah-ud-Din
First Chairman NAB Lt. Gen. Amjad Hussain (1999)
First chancellor of Karachi University Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din
First Chief Ehtesab Commissioner Justice (r) Ghulam Mujaddid Mirza
First Chief Election Commissioner Mr. F. M. Khan
First Chief Executive General Musharraf (12th Oct 1999 – 21st June 2001)
First Chief Justice Justice Mian Abdul Rasheed
First Chief Justice Baluchistan High Court Justice Khuda Bux Murree (1976 – 1977)
First Chief Minister Baluchistan Sardar Ata Ullah Khan Mengal
First Chief Minister NWFP Khan Abdul Qayyoom Khan
First Chief Minister Punjab Mian Iftikhar Hussain Mamdot
First Chief Minister Sindh Muhammad Ayub Khoro
First Chief Minister West Pakistan Dr. Khan Abdul Star Khan
First Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Zafar Ahmed Chaudry
First Chief of Army Staff General Tikka Khan
First Chief of army staff to resign Gen. Jahangir Karamat
First Chief of Army Staff to suspend the Constitution twice Gen. Parvez Musharraf (2nd Nov 2007)
First Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Sharif
First Children Film of Pakistan “Wattan-Ka-Sipahi”
First Civilian Chief Marshal Law Administrator Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
First Commander-in-Chief Pakistan Air Force Air Vice Marshal Paery Cane
First C-in-C Pakistan Army General Frank Maservy
First C-in-C Pakistan Navy Rear Admiral Jafford James Wilfred
First Coin 3rd July 1948
First colour film “Sangam”
First coloured program of PTV “Parchhaian”
First Constitution 23rd March 1956 (Presidential form)
First country to recognize Pakistan Iran
First Cricket Captain Abdul Hafeez Karadar
First Cricket test match of Pakistan 1952 against India (Pakistan won this match)
First Cricketer of Pakistan scoring 4000 in test Zaheer Abbas
First Cricket World Cup to be held in Pakistan 1987 (4th World Cup)
First deep water port Gawadar Port
First Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan Noor Ul Amin
First Director General Radio Pakistan Z. A. Bukhari
First educational conference 1947
First elected prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
First Embassy in Pakistan Egypt
First embassy of Pakistan In Iran
First English Film of Pakistan “Beyond the last mountain”
First Expedition of Pakistan landed in Antarctica 15th Jan 1991
First Federal Minister Defence Liaquat Ali Khan
First Federal Ombudsman Justice Sardar Muhammad Iqbal (June 1983)
First film of Pakistan “Teri-Yaad”
First film to celebrate diamond jubilee “Dosti”
First film to celebrate golden jubilee “Sassi”
First film to celebrate silver jubilee (25 weeks) “Do Ansoo”
First Finance Minister Malik Ghulam Muhammad
First Five years plan 1955 – 1 960
First Foreign Minister of Pakistan Sir Zafar-ullah Khan
First general elections * 7th Dec 1970
First gold medal of Pakistan in Olympics 1960 in Rome
First government in Azad Kashmir 24th Oct 1947
First Governor Baluchistan Lt. Gen. Riaz Hussain
First Governor General Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
First Governor NWFP Sir George Cunningham
First Governor Punjab Robert Francis Moody
First Governor Sindh Sheikh Ghulam Hussain Hidayat Ullah
First Governor State Bank Zahid Hussain
First Governor West Pakistan Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani
First High Commissioner in Britton Habib Ibrahim Rehmat-ullah
First Hockey gold medal of Pakistan in Asian Games 1958
First hockey team to visit Pakistan West Germany
First hoisting of Pakistani flag in a foreign country France
First Indian President of League of Nations General Assembly Sir Muhammad Shah Aga Khan (13 Sep 1937 - 6 Oct 1937)
First indigenously designed car “Revo”
First indigenously designed jeep “Nissan”
First indigenously designed Ship Al-Abbas
First King George VI
First literary criticism in Urdu Muqaddama-e-Shi’ro-Sha’iri
First Local Bodies election 25th Sep 1979
First local language translation of Quran Sindhi
First loan from IMF 1st Jan 1984
First man to introduce human rights concept in Pakistan Syed Ansar Ahmed Burney
First Marshal Law 7th Oct 1958
First meeting of Constituent Assembly 10th Aug 1947
First meeting of National Security Council 18th Oct 2004
First Metrological rocket of Pakistan Rahbar I (11th Dec 1979)
First Modern Railway Station Larkana
First mounting of K2 31st July 1954 at 60 Pm (By an Italian Team)
First Museum Karachi
First Muslim Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Justice Sir Abdul Rasheed (1946 – 1948)
First Muslim Commander-in-Chief Air Force Air Marshal Asghar Khan
First Muslim Commander-in-Chief Army General Ayub Khan (17th Jan 1951)
First Muslim Commander-in-Chief Navy Haji Muhammad Siddique Chaudry
First Muslim Governor NWFP Sahibzada Muhammad Khurshid
First Muslim Governor Punjab Sardar Abdul Rab Nishtar
First News Agency Star News Agency
First Nishan-e-Haider Capt. Muhammad Sarwar (23rd Mar 1950)
First Nishan-e-Imtiaz Begum Waqar-un-Nisa Noon
First Nobel Prize 1979 (Dr. Abdul Salam of Jhang)
First Non-commissioned Nishan-e-Haider recipient Sawar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed
First Non-Party elections 25th Feb 1985 (National Assembly) and 28th Feb 1985 (Provincial Assemblies)
First nuclear power station 1971 (KANUPP)
First Nuclear Test 28 May 1999 at Chaghi (Baluchistan)
First official activity of Quaid-e-Azam in Pakistan Presiding over of the Constituent Assembly
First Pakistani cricketer to have 400 test wickets Wasim Akram (4th in the world)
First Pakistani cricketer to have 500 one-day wickets Wasim Akram
First Pakistani in British Parliament Ghulam Sarwar from Faisalabad
First Pakistani in Canadian Parliament Wajid Ali Khan (July 2004)
First Pakistani President of International Court of Justice Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan (19 Feb 1970 - 8 Feb 1973)
First Pakistani Secretary General of Cento Mirza O.A. Baig
First Pakistani Secretary General of OIC Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada (1 Jan 1985 - 31 Dec 1988) 4th
First Pakistani to hoist Pakistani flag on North Pole Numaira Salim (April 2007)
First Pakistani to scale Mount Everest Nazeer Sabir (17 May 2000)
First Pakistani to win a match in Wimbledon Tennis Haroon Rahim (1976)
First Pakistani Judge of International Court of Justice Ch. Zafar-ullah Khan
First Pakistani Lenin Prize winner Faiz Ahmed Faiz
First Pakistani Nobel Prize winner Dr. Abdul Salam of Jhang in Physics (15th Oct 1979)
First Pakistani President of UN General Assembly Sir Mohammad Zafrulla Khan (18 Sep 1962 - 17 Sep 1963)
First Pakistani President of World Squash Federation Jahangir Khan
First Pakistan Secretary General of SAARC Naeem-ud-Din Hassan (5th)
First participation of Pakistan Hockey team in Olympic games 1948 in London
First Pashto book * “Patta-Khazana” in 8th Century
First Pay Commission * Feb 1948
First person to scale K-2 Ardito Desio and Mario Puchoz July 29, 1954
First person to scale Nanga Parbat Albert F. Mummery (UK) in 1895
First person to sign currency notes of Pakistan Sir Victor Turner
First pictorial newspaper Al-Hilal of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar
First poet of Pashto poems Ameer Crore
First postage stamp 9th July, 1948
First President of Azad Kashmir Sardar Ibrahim Khan
First President of Constituent Assembly Muhammad Ali Jinnah (11th Aug 1947)
First President of Pakistan Sikandar Mirza
First President of Pakistan Hockey Federation Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan
First president to visit Pakistan President of Indonesia
First Prime Minister from Baluchistan Mir Zafar-ullah Jamali
First Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Abdul Hamid Khan
First Prime Minister to seek unanimous vote of confidence Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani (29th Mar 2008)
First Private Airline Hajveri Airlines
First private TV channel Peoples Television Network Islamabad (15th July 1990)
First professional boxer of Pakistan Hussain Shah
First Quaid-e-Azam Trophy winner Bahawalpur team
First railway track 1861 (Karachi to Kotri 169 km)
First reference against a chief justice Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudri (9 Mar 2007)
First reference against a judge Justice Hassan Ali Agha (1951)
First round table conference * 12th Nov 1930 – 19th Jan 1931
First same-sex marriage Shumail Raj with Shahzina Tariq
First Satellite into orbit Badr-1 (16th July 1990) atop a Chinese built rocket
First science fiction film “Shani” (Hero was Sheri Malik of Chakwal)
First Secretary General of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Asma Jahangir (1985)
First session of Constituent assembly 10 – 14 Aug 1947 in Sindh Assembly building, presided over by Law Minister Jogindar Nath Mandal
First silver medal in Olympics 1956 (Melbourne)
First Sindi Film “Umar Marvi”
First Sitara-e-Jurrat Muhammad Mehboob Alam
First SOS village Near Lahore
First South Asian recipient of “Victoria Cross” Sub. Khuda Dad Khan of Chakwal (Pakistan) in 1914
First Speaker Baluchistan Assembly Sardar Muhammad Khan Barozai (1972 – 1976)
First Speaker of the Constitutional Assembly Maulvi Tamizuddin
First speaker of National Assembly Abdul Wahab
First submarine of Pakistan Agoda (Aug 2002)
First suicide attack in Pakistan 6th Nov 2000 in Karachi
First surveyor of K2 H. H Godwin Austin
First Suspense Novelist Zafar Zubairi
First Telephone Factory Haripur
First test century for Pakistan Nazar Muhammad (against India)
First test catch for Pakistan Nazar Muhammad
First test cricket wicket keeper Hanif Muhammad
First test match of Pakistan 16th Oct 1952, at Feroze Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi
First test wicket for Pakistan Khan Muhammad (against India)
First Tractor of Pakistan “Baghban”
First triple century from Pakistan Hanif Muhammad
First University of Northern Areas Karakuram International University Gilgit (2002)
First Urdu Dictionary Mullan Abdul Wasih Hansvi
First Urdu Journal “Khair-Khawh-e-Hind”
First Urdu Newspaper “Jahan-Numa”
First Urdu Novelist Deputy Nazir Ahmed
First use of Jinnah cap by Quaid-e-Azam Oct 1937
First wicket in first test match Intikhab Alam
First woman chief Scout Zubaida Jalal
First woman deputy speaker of National Assembly Dr. Ashraf Abbasi
First woman MNA elected to National Assembly Begum Nasim Wali Khan
First Women Federal Minister Begum Waqar-Un-Nisa Noon (Tourism)
First Woman Film Director Noor Jahan (Film “Chan Way”)
First woman Governor State Bank Dr. Shamshad Akhtar (January 2006)
First Woman in space Numera Salim (July 2008)
First Woman Jet Pilot Ayesha Rubina Naveed
First woman Major General Maj. Gen. (r) Dr. Shahida Malik
First woman martyr of 1965 war Abida Tusi
First women members of constituent Assembly Begum Shaista Ikram-ullah
First woman minister Begum Waqar-un-Nisa Noon
First Woman Pilot Shukria Khanam
First Woman Presidential candidate Fatimah Jinnah
First woman representative of Pakistan in UN Begum Salma Tassadaq Hussain
First woman sentenced to death Sardaran
First woman Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza (Mar 2008)
First woman to win a world Squash title for Pakistan Carla Khan (Grand-daughter of Azam Khan)
First woman tried under Hadood Laws Safia Bi-Bi of Punjab (a gang rape victim)
First woman Vice Chancellor Dr. Kaneez Yousaf
Highest city from sea level Quetta
Highest Civil Award Nishan-e-Pakistan
Highest Dam Wali-Tangi Dam (Baluchistan)
Highest mountain pass Muztagh Pass
Highest peak K2 8611 m (Also named Chogori, Godwin Austin and Dap sang)
Highest peak of Himalaya Mount Everest (29028 feet / 8848 m)
Highest peak of Hindukush Tirich Mir (7690 m)
Highest peak of Karakoram K-2 (Skardu)
Highest peak of Suleiman Mountains Takht-e-Sulaiman (3374 m)
Highest Railway Station Khan Mehtarzai
Highest Radio Station Gilgit
Highest Road Shahrah-e-Korakaram, or Silk Route
Largest Air Port Quaid-e-Azam International Airport Karachi
Largest Artificial Lake Keenjhar Lake (Near Thatta)
Largest Athletics Stadium Islamabad
Largest Atomic Energy research Institute Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology at Nilore in Islamabad
Largest Bank State Bank of Pakistan
Largest Barrage of the world Sukkur Barrage
Largest Canal Lloyd Barrage Canal
Largest city along Indus River Hyderabad
Largest Commercial Bank Habib Bank Ltd.
Largest cantonment Kharian
Largest cant of combined India Rawalpindi
Largest Cricket Stadium National Stadium Karachi
Largest Dam Tarbela Dam (Volume 148 million cubic meters)
Largest Desert Thar Desert (Sind)
Largest District Khuzdar (Baluchistan)
Largest district of Punjab Dera Ghazi Khan
Largest Division Qalat Division
Largest English Newspaper “The News”
Largest Fort Rani Kot (Sind)
largest freshwater lake in Pakistan Manchhar Lake (Sindh)
Largest graveyard Makli (Thatta)
Largest Hockey Stadium National Hockey Stadium Lahore
Largest Hydro Electric Power Station Tarbela (3, 478 Megawatt)
Largest Industrial Unit Pakistan Steel Mills Karachi
Largest Industry Textile Industry
Largest Island Manora (Karachi)
Largest Jungle Chhanga Manga (Qasoor)
Largest lake of Asia Manchhar Lake (Dadu District)
Largest Library Punjab Public Library Lahore
Largest Mausoleum Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum Karachi
Largest Mine Salt mines Khewra (Jhelum)
Largest Monument Minar-e-Pakistan
Largest Mosque Faisal Mosque Islamabad
Largest Museum Lok-Virsa Museum Islamabad (60, 000 sq feet), National Museum in Karachi is second largest.
Largest Natural Lake Manchhar Lake, Dadu (Sind)
Largest Nuclear Reactor Karachi Nuclear Power Plant
Largest Oilfield Dhurnal Oilfield
Largest power station Mangla Power Station
Largest radio station Islamabad
Largest Railway Station Lahore
Largest Railway Workshop Mughal Pura Lahore
Largest River Indus River
Largest River of Baluchistan Hangol
Largest Seaport Karachi
Largest TV booster Tandiani (Punjab)
Largest TV station Islamabad
Largest town of Northern Areas Gilgit (administrative capital)
Largest University Punjab University Lahore
Largest Urdu Newspaper Jang
Largest zoo Lahore
Last Chief Minister of West Pakistan Nawab Muzaffar Ali Qazilbash
Last Commander-in-Chief Air Force Air Marshal A Rahim Khan
Last Commander-in-Chief Pak Army Lt. Gen. Gul Hassan
Last Commander-in-Chief Navy Vice Admiral Hassan Hafeez Ahmed
Last Governor General of Pakistan Sikandar Mirza
Last Governor West Pakistan Lt. Gen. Attiq-ur-Rehman
Last Nawab of Bahawalpur Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi
Last poem of Allama Iqbal “Hazrat-e-Insan”
Last words of Quaid-e-Azam “Allah-Pakistan”
Longest barrage Sukkur Barrage
Longest boundary Afghanistan
Longest frontier Pak-Afghan Border (2, 252 km)
Longest Pass Bolan Pass (Baluchistan)
Longest Railway Platform Rohri (9th largest platform of the world)
Longest Railway Track Karachi to Landi Kotal
Longest Railway Tunnel Khojak (Baluchistan)
Longest river Indus (1, 790 miles)
Longest Road Karachi to Peshawar (Pakistan Highway)
Longest Road Tunnel Lowari (5 miles)
Longest rule General Zia (11 years and 43 days)
Longest tenure as Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad (19th October 1951 – 5th October 1955)
Longest Water Tunnel Warsak Dam tunnel (3.5 miles)
Oldest cantonment Kohat
Oldest city Multan
Oldest recipient of Nishan-e-Haider Major Tufail Muhammad (44 years)
Oldest ruined city Mohenjo Daro (Larkana District) 5000 years old
Oldest university Punjab University (1882)
Only Recipient of Nishan-e-Haider for 1965 War Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed
Only Vice President of Pakistan Noor-ul-Amin (22nd Dec 1971 – 21st Apr 1972)
Second Care-taker Prime Minister Mir Balgh Sher Baz Mazari
Second Chairman Senate Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Second Chief Minister Baluchistan Jam Mir Ghulam Qadir Khan
Second Chief Minister NWFP Sardar Abdur Rasheed
Second Chief Minister Punjab Mian Mumtaz Daultana
Second Chief Minister Sind Pir Ilahi Bux
Second Cricket World Cup to be held in Pakistan 1996 (6th World Cup)
Second Governor Baluchistan Sir Ambrose Dandas Flux
Second Governor General Pakistan Khawaja Nazimuddin (14th Sept. 1948 – 17th Oct. 1951)
Second Governor NWFP Ambrose Dandas Flux
Second Governor Punjab Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar
Second Governor Sind Sheikh Din Muhammad
Second highest military award “Hilal-e-Jurrat”
Second Highest Peak of Pakistan Nanga Parbat (8125 m) (26660 feet)
Second largest Dam of World Tarbela Dam
Second Nishan-e-Haider Major Tufail Muhammad (7th November 1959)
Second President Ayub Khan
Second Prime Minister Khawaja Nazimuddin (19th Oct. 1951 – 17th April 1953)
Second Speaker National Assembly Abdul Wahab Khan
Shortest river Ravi (710 miles)
Shortest tenure as Governor General Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Shortest tenure as President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
Shortest tenure as Prime Minister *** Ayub Khan and Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar
Three pillars of state Legislature, Executive and Judiciary

1. Aberration *
2. Abet Encourage or assist (an offender or offence)
3. Abjure State publicly to give up a belief or way of life
4. Acclimation Habituate to a new climate or environment
5. Acrimonious Bitter in manner or temper
6. Addle * Become rotten
7. Admonitory Admonishing, warning
8. Adulation Obsequious flattery
9. Adroit Quick and skilful
10. Agnostic A person who believes that existence of God is not provable.
11. Agonising Suffer or cause to suffer agony
12. Allusion Indirect or vague reference
13. Analogous Similar
14. Annuity
15. Antidote Chemical substance that stops the effect of a poison
16. Antioxidant
17. Aptitude Natural talent
18. Arbitration Settlement of a dispute by an impartial third party
19. Attain Achieve
20. Aviary
21. Avid
22. Balmy Mild and pleasant
23. Baroque Architecture or art in Europe from the late 16th to the early 18th century.
24. Beaver
25. Bellicose Eager to fight
26. Berate Rebuke
27. Bereft of Deprived of
28. Bette-noire
29. Bivouac Temporary open encampment without tents
30. Blandishment Flatter
31. Blink Shut and open the eyes quickly
32. Boisterous Noisy, lively
33. Brazen Shameless
34. Breviary Book containing the Roman Catholic daily offices or prayers
35. Brittle Hard but easily broken
36. Caldron Large deep vessel used for boiling
37. Callisthenics Exercises for fitness and grace
38. Carnivorous Animals which eat meat
39. Cater
40. Celerity
41. Charlatan Person falsely claiming knowledge or skill
42. Choreography Design or arrangement of a ballet etc
43. Churlish Unfriendly, bad-tempered
44. Collage A picture made by sticking pieces of paper and cloth onto paper
45. Condor A large South American bird that eats the meat of dead animals
46. Conscientious Diligent
47. Conscious Aware of
48. Credible Worthy of belief
49. Credulous Ready to believe
50. Crevice A narrow opening or fissure especially in a rock etc
51. Crouch Lower the body with limbs close to the chest
52. Culinary Concerned with cooking
53. Cytology
54. Debut First public performance or recording
55. Decimate
56. Desiccate
57. Defuse Reduce tension
58. Deleterious Harmful
59. Dependant Person supported, esp. financially, by another
60. Dependent Depending
61. Diffuse Spread out
62. Digress Deviate
63. Dispense with?
64. Eerie Weird, Frightening
65. Effete Worn, Exhausted
66. Egregious * Rude
67. Eligible Suitable
68. Elysium Place of ideal happiness
69. Emanating from?
70. Emigrant A person who has left his own country to live in another country
71. Eminent Distinguished
72. Encumbered Into?
73. Endow
74. Enervate Deprive of vigour or vitality
75. Entomology
76. Ephemeral **
77. Epistle Letter
78. Equable Calm and reasonable person
79. Equalize Make equal
80. Ergonomics Study of the relationship between people and their working environment
81. Eschew
82. Ethics Moral principles
83. Exculpate
84. Explicit Expressed clearly and openly
85. Expunge
86. Exterminate Destroy utterly
87. Extrinsic Not inherent
88. Extrovert A person who is active, lively, and sociable
89. Exuberant High-spirited
90. Facsimile Exact copy
91. Fastidious * Fussy
92. Ferocious Fierce, savage
93. Fiasco Humiliating failure
94. Fickle Inconstant, changeable, disloyal
95. Flint A very hard, greyish-black stone which produces sparks when struck
96. Friskily Lively
97. Frolicsome Playful, Happy
98. Garrulous Talkative
99. Gaudy Narrow opening
100. Giggle Laugh in half-suppressed spasms
101. Goatee Small pointed beard
102. Grumble Complain peevishly
103. Gutsy * Brave
104. Habeas Corpus
105. Hackneyed (Of a phrase etc) Made trite by overuse
106. Hideous Extremely unpleasant or ugly
107. Hike Go on long country walks for pleasure
108. Hoax A trick in which someone tells people something that is not true
109. Hone
110. Hobson’s Choice To have only one thing to choose
111. Illegible Not legible
112. Illusion False idea or belief
113. Immaculate Perfectly clean and tidy
114. Immigrant A person who has come to live in a country from another country
115. Imminent About to happen very soon
116. Imperial Relating to an empire
117. Imperious Domineering
118. Impetuous A person who acts quickly and suddenly without thinking
119. Impugn
120. Indite
121. Industrious
122. Infraction Violation
123. Infringe Violate
124. Inoffensive Harmless
125. Innovative Renewed, Inventive
126. Innuendo * Hint, Indication
127. Insular Resident of an island, Narrow-minded
128. Ironic Displaying irony
129. Kindle Inspire
130. Knapsack Canvas bag carried on the back
131. Kulak A wealthy peasant
132. Infallible Never wrong
133. Labyrinth Complicated network of passages etc
134. Laceration A bad cut on skin
135. Languor
136. Lapidate Stone to death
137. Leeward Direction toward which the wind blows
138. Lesion Injury
139. Lexicography Compiling of dictionaries
140. Lipid Fatlike substances that are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents, including fatty acids, oils, waxes, and steroids
141. Litter Rubbish
142. Lob Hit or throw (a ball etc.) slowly or in a high arc
143. Locution Word, phrase, or idiom
144. Meagre Scant in amount or quality
145. Mercurial Of or in mercury, Quick, Changeable
146. Mirage
147. Nodule
148. Numb Deprived of feeling
149. Obdurate Stubborn
150. Obsequious Very eager to help or agree with people
151. Obsolete No longer used
152. Ogle
153. Opulence ** Wealth
154. Opulent Luxurious
155. Paediatric Branch of medicine dealing with children and their diseases
156. Pedagogy Science of teaching
157. Penchant Special liking
158. Penurious Very poor
159. Pernicious Very harmful
160. Persecute Treat cruelly
161. Peroration Concluding part of a speech
162. Pervious Permeable / an affording passage
163. Philanthropy Love of mankind
164. Podiatry A branch of chiropody that deals esp. with the bones of the foot and the mechanics of walking
165. Postulate Suggest it as the basis for a theory, argument or calculation
166. Precede Happen before
167. Precipice
168. Preservation
169. Pretence Pretending
170. Preventive Serving to prevent
171. Prim Stiffly formal and precise
172. Proceed Go forward
173. Prodigy Exceptionally gifted or able person
174. Profuse
175. Pro rata Proportional
176. Prosecute Institute legal proceedings against
177. Puny Undersized
178. Putative Reputed, supposed
179. Ransack Pillage or plunder
180. Ransom Money demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner
181. Rave Talk in an excited and uncontrolled way
182. Recession Temporary decline in economic activity or prosperity
183. Repudiating Refuse dealings with
184. Reticence Disposition to silence
185. Retro Backward
186. Revel Have a good time
187. Ribcage Wall of bones formed by the ribs
188. Ruling Passion
189. Sabbatical Leave granted at intervals to a university teacher for study or travel
190. Sagacity Good judgement
191. Sarcastic Mock
192. Scad *
193. Scorch Burn slightly or damaged by heat
194. Sedative A drug that calms or makes sleep
195. Sedentary (Of work etc) done while sitting
196. Sedulous Persevering in effort or endeavour
197. Shield Protect
198. Shrug Slightly and momentarily raise (the shoulders)
199. Sieve Perforated or meshed utensil for separating solids or coarse material from liquids or fine particles
200. Sift Put through a sieve
201. Skew
202. Slack (Of rope etc) not taut
203. Slake Satisfy (thirst, a desire etc)
204. Sorcerer Wizard
205. Sordanity
206. Sphere Globe
207. Stationary Not moving
208. Stationery Writing materials
209. Sturdy Strongly built
210. Sty Inflamed swelling on the edge of an eyelid
211. Sulk Silent and bad-tempered for a while
212. Suppress Prevent forcibly
213. Surreptitiously Done secretly
214. Syndicate
215. Syntax Grammatical arrangement of words
216. Temerity Rashness
217. Tangible Perceptible by touch
218. Tepid Unenthusiastic
219. Thermal
220. Triturate
221. Toll Cost or damage caused by a disaster etc
222. Tornado
223. Tranquil Serene / undisturbed
224. Tremulous Trembling
225. Truculent Aggressively defiant
226. Unearth Discover by searching or digging
227. Vagary
228. Validate Ratify
229. Valediction Bidding farewell
230. Venal Corrupt
231. Venial Pardonable
232. Veracious Truthful by nature
233. Viaduct Long, high bridge that carries a road or railway across a valley
234. Vindicate Clear of blame or suspicion
235. Vindictive Vengeful
236. Vintage Wine of high quality from a particular year and district
237. Vivacious Lively
238. Volatile Unstable
239. Voluptuous
240. Voracious
241. Wistful Yearning
242. Wrack Destruction
243. Wreck Sinking or running aground of a ship
244. Wrench Violent twist
245. Wretched Very unhappy
246. Xenophobia Hatred or fear of foreigners
247. Zulus

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1500 words with meanings


Abhor
hate
.................................................. .
Bigot
narrow-minded, prejudiced person
.................................................. .
Counterfeit
fake; false
.................................................. .
Enfranchise
give voting rights
.................................................. .
Hamper
hinder; obstruct
.................................................. .
Kindle
to start a fire
.................................................. .
Noxious
harmful; poisonous; lethal
.................................................. .
Placid
calm; peaceful
.................................................. .
Remuneration
payment for work done
.................................................. .
Talisman
lucky charm
.................................................. .
Abrasive
rough; coarse; harsh
.................................................. .
Bilk
cheat; defraud
.................................................. .
Covert
hidden; undercover
.................................................. .
Engender
cause
.................................................. .
Hangar
storage area (like garage) for a plane
.................................................. .
Knotty
complex; difficult to solve
.................................................. .
Nuance
something subtle; a fine shade of meaning
.................................................. .
Plagiarism
taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas
.................................................. .
Renown
fame
.................................................. .
Tangent
going off the main subject
.................................................. .
Abasement
humiliation; degradation
.................................................. .
Billowing
swelling; fluttering; waving
.................................................. .
Cower
recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from
.................................................. .
Enhance
improve; make better or clearer
.................................................. .
Harangue
noisy, attacking speech
.................................................. .
Labyrinth
a maze
.................................................. .
Nullify
to counter; make unimportant
.................................................. .
Plaintiff
petitioner (in court of law)
.................................................. .
Replete
full
.................................................. .
Tangible
can be touched
.................................................. .
Abrogate
cancel; deny; repeal
.................................................. .
Blasphemy
speech which offends religious sentiments
.................................................. .
Credible
believable
.................................................. .
Enigma
puzzle; mystery
.................................................. .
Harbingers
indicators; bringers of warnings
.................................................. .
Labyrinthine
complicated; highly convoluted
.................................................. .
Nuzzle
cuddle; snuggle
.................................................. .
Plaudit
statement giving strong praise
.................................................. .
Reprehensible
shameful; very bad
.................................................. .
Tardy
slow; late; overdue; delayed
.................................................. .
Absolution
forgiveness; pardon; release
.................................................. .
Blatant
obvious
.................................................. .
Creditable
praiseworthy
.................................................. .
Ensconce
establish firmly in a position
.................................................. .
Hasten
hurry; accelerate; rush
.................................................. .
Laceration
a cut
.................................................. .
Obdurate
stubborn
.................................................. .
Plausible
can be believed; reasonable
.................................................. .
Reprieve
a respite; postponement of a sentence
.................................................. .
Tawdry
of little value; gaudy
.................................................. .
Abstain
desist; go without; withdraw
.................................................. .
Blighted
damaged; destroyed; ruined
.................................................. .
Credulous
gullible; ready to believe anything
.................................................. .
Enshroud
cover
.................................................. .
Haughtiness
arrogance; pride
.................................................. .
Lachrymose
tearful; sad
.................................................. .
Obfuscate
deliberately make something difficult to understand
.................................................. .
Plethora
an excess
.................................................. .
Repudiate
shun; eschew
.................................................. .
Tedium
boredom
.................................................. .
Abstemious
self denying; refraining from indulging
.................................................. .
Blithe
free-spirited; carefree
.................................................. .
Crepuscular
active at dawn and dusk
.................................................. .
Enunciation
clear pronunciation; accent; articulation
.................................................. .
Headstrong
stubborn; willful
.................................................. .
Lackluster
dull; monotonous; bland
.................................................. .
Objective
unbiased; not subjective
.................................................. .
Pliable
flexible; not stubborn
.................................................. .
Rescind
retract; repeal
.................................................. .
Temper
to moderate; soften
.................................................. .
Abstruse
difficult to understand; obscure
.................................................. .
Blunderbuss
1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2. a clumsy person
.................................................. .
Cringe
recoil; flinch; shy away
.................................................. .
Envenom
to cause bitterness and bad feeling
.................................................. .
Hedonism
self indulgence; pleasure-seeking
.................................................. .
Laconic
using few words; brief; to the point
.................................................. .
Oblique
indirect; slanting
.................................................. .
Plumage
feathers of a bird
.................................................. .
Resignation
acceptance of fate
.................................................. .
Tenacious
stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose
.................................................. .
Accolade
tribute; honor; praise
.................................................. .
Bolster
support; prop up
.................................................. .
Cryptic
puzzling; enigmatic
.................................................. .
Ephemeral
short-lived
.................................................. .
Hedonist
a pleasure seeker
.................................................. .
Lamentation
expression of regret or sorrow
.................................................. .
Obliterate
destroy; demolish; eradicate
.................................................. .
Plummet
fall suddenly and steeply
.................................................. .
Resolution
determination
.................................................. .
Tentative
not certain
.................................................. .
Acquiesce
to agree to; give in to
.................................................. .
Bombast
arrogant, pompous language
.................................................. .
Curtail
cut short
.................................................. .
Epicure
someone who appreciates good food and drink
.................................................. .
Heed
listen to
.................................................. .
Lampoon
ridicule; spoof
.................................................. .
Oblivious
totally unaware
.................................................. .
Podium
raised platform
.................................................. .
Resonant
echoing
.................................................. .
Tenuous
flimsy; not solid
.................................................. .
Acrid
sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes)
.................................................. .
Boorish
ill-mannered
.................................................. .
Cynical
believing that people act only out of selfish motives
.................................................. .
Epistle
a letter (form of communication)
.................................................. .
Heresy
against orthodox opinion
.................................................. .
Lance
spear; spike; javelin
.................................................. .
Obscure
difficult to understand; partially hidden
.................................................. .
Poignant
deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions
.................................................. .
Respite
a break; intermission
.................................................. .
Terse
concise; to the point
.................................................. .
Acrophobia
fear of heights
.................................................. .
Bourgeois
middle class
.................................................. .
Debility
weakness; incapacity
.................................................. .
Epistolary
concerned with letters; through correspondence
.................................................. .
Hiatus
interruption; pause
.................................................. .
Languid
tired; slow
.................................................. .
Obscured
hidden; covered; buried
.................................................. .
Poised
calm; collected; self-possessed
.................................................. .
Resplendent
shining; glowing
.................................................. .
Therapeutic
medicinal; curative
.................................................. .
Acuity
sharpness (mental or visual)
.................................................. .
Braggart
someone who boasts
.................................................. .
Debunking
exposing false claims or myths
.................................................. .
Epitomized
typified; characterized; personified
.................................................. .
Hidebound
rigid in opinions
.................................................. .
Languish
decay; fade away; get weaker
.................................................. .
Obsequious
servile; submissive
.................................................. .
Polemical
causing debate or argument
.................................................. .
Restorative
a tonic
.................................................. .
Thwart
prevent; frustrate
.................................................. .
Adamant
forceful; inflexible
.................................................. .
Brawny
muscular
.................................................. .
Decathlon
an athletic competition with ten events
.................................................. .
Equivocate
speak ambiguously; avoid telling the truth
.................................................. .
Hieroglyphics
1. picture writing; 2. writing which is difficult to read or enigmatic
.................................................. .
Larceny
theft; robbery; stealing
.................................................. .
Obsession
a dominating concern
.................................................. .
Ponderous
weighty; slow and heavy
.................................................. .
Retention
preservation; withholding
.................................................. .
Timorous
cowardly; fearful
.................................................. .
Adroit
skilful
.................................................. .
Brevity
being brief
.................................................. .
Decorum
dignified, correct behavior [decorous (a)]
.................................................. .
Err
make a mistake
.................................................. .
Hinder
obstruct
.................................................. .
Largess
generosity
.................................................. .
Obsolete
no longer valid
.................................................. .
Pontificate
speak pompously or dogmatically
.................................................. .
Reticent
restrained; holding something back; uncommunicative
.................................................. .
Tirade
stream of verbal abuse
.................................................. .
Adulation
strong admiration; worship
.................................................. .
Bristle
to show irritation
.................................................. .
Decoy
lure; trap; trick
.................................................. .
Erratic
wandering; irregular
.................................................. .
Histrionic
theatrical; exaggerated
.................................................. .
Laud
praise
.................................................. .
Obstreperous
noisy and boisterous
.................................................. .
Portend
foretell
.................................................. .
Retraction
withdrawal; cancellation of a statement
.................................................. .
Titter
giggle quietly
.................................................. .
Adversity
hardship
.................................................. .
Broach
start to discuss; approach
.................................................. .
Deference
respect
.................................................. .
Esoteric
obscure and difficult to understand
.................................................. .
Hoary
old
.................................................. .
Lavish
on a grand scale; wasteful
.................................................. .
Obtuse
mentally dull
.................................................. .
Portent
a warning sign; omen
.................................................. .
Revere
worship
.................................................. .
Tome
large book
.................................................. .
Advocate
support
.................................................. .
Brusque
blunt; abrupt
.................................................. .
Defoliate
cause leaves to fall off
.................................................. .
Espouse
promote; take up; support
.................................................. .
Hone
sharpen; increase; whet
.................................................. .
Lax
careless; not strict
.................................................. .
Obviate
avoid; make unnecessary
.................................................. .
Poseur
someone who puts on an act
.................................................. .
Riddled
full of (usually full of holes)
.................................................. .
Torpid
inactive; lazy; stagnant
.................................................. .
Aesthetic
concerning art or beauty
.................................................. .
Bulwark
fortification; barricade; wall
.................................................. .
Defunct
no longer in existence
.................................................. .
Etymology
the study of word origins
.................................................. .
Hyperbole
grossly exaggerated speech
.................................................. .
Legend
1. key to map; 2. myth or story
.................................................. .
Odious
hateful
.................................................. .
Posterity
future generations
.................................................. .
Rife
common
.................................................. .
Torpor
dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity
.................................................. .
Affable
friendly; social; easygoing
.................................................. .
Bureaucracy
officialdom
.................................................. .
Degradation
deprivation; poverty; debasement
.................................................. .
Eulogy
praise
.................................................. .
Hypochondriac
a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses
.................................................. .
Legion
in large numbers
.................................................. .
Officious
domineering; intrusive; meddlesome
.................................................. .
Posthumous
after death
.................................................. .
Rigor
thoroughness
.................................................. .
Totter
walk unsteadily
.................................................. .
Alacrity
eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness
.................................................. .
Burgeon
grow; flourish; put forth new shoots
.................................................. .
Deleterious
harmful
.................................................. .
Euphemism
a polite phrase to cover something unpleasant
.................................................. .
Hypocritical
insincere
.................................................. .
Lethargic
tired; without energy
.................................................. .
Ogle
stare at; observe in an obvious manner
.................................................. .
Postulate
hypothesize; propose
.................................................. .
Robust
strong; healthy; tough
.................................................. .
Tractable
obedient; dutiful; polite
.................................................. .
Alchemy
medieval chemistry; attempt to change base metal into gold
.................................................. .
Burnish
polish
.................................................. .
Deliberate
to think over deeply
.................................................. .
Euphony
pleasant sounds
.................................................. .
Iconoclast
person who opposes orthodoxy
.................................................. .
Levity
flippancy; joking about serious matters
.................................................. .
Olfactory
concerned with the sense of smell
.................................................. .
Potable
suitable for drinking
.................................................. .
Rotund
round
.................................................. .
Tranquil
peaceful
.................................................. .
Alibi
an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene
.................................................. .
Buttress
strengthen; support
.................................................. .
Delineation
demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining
.................................................. .
Evacuate
vacate; empty; abandon
.................................................. .
Idiosyncrasy
a personal peculiarity; something unique to an individual
.................................................. .
Libertarian
someone who opposes tyranny
.................................................. .
Ominous
threatening
.................................................. .
Potent
powerful; compelling; strong
.................................................. .
Ruminate
think over something; ponder
.................................................. .
Transcribe
copy
.................................................. .
Allay
to lessen
.................................................. .
Byline
the line that tells you who wrote an article
.................................................. .
Demur
hesitate; refuse
.................................................. .
Exacerbate
make worse
.................................................. .
Ignominious
shameful
.................................................. .
Liniment
soothing lotion
.................................................. .
Omnipotent
all-powerful
.................................................. .
Pragmatic
practical
.................................................. .
Ruse
trick; stratagem
.................................................. .
Transgress
go astray; disobey; commit a sin
.................................................. .
Alleviate
make less severe
.................................................. .
Cacophony
discordant loud noises
.................................................. .
Denounce
condemn; speak out against
.................................................. .
Exasperated
frustrated; annoyed
.................................................. .
Ignominy
shame [ignominious (a) = shameful]
.................................................. .
Lithe
flexible; supple
.................................................. .
Omniscient
all-knowing
.................................................. .
Pragmatist
practical person; one who is concerned with usefulness
.................................................. .
Saccharin
falsely sweet
.................................................. .
Transient
short-lived; ephemeral
.................................................. .
Aloof
distant; detached; cold
.................................................. .
Cajole
coax
.................................................. .
Deplete
use up; lessen
.................................................. .
Exceptionable
very bad (something which we should object to)
.................................................. .
Illuminate
to light up or make clear
.................................................. .
Livid
very angry
.................................................. .
Onerous
burdensome; hard to undertake
.................................................. .
Preamble
introductory material
.................................................. .
Sacrosanct
very holy; inviolable
.................................................. .
Traverse
to move across
.................................................. .
Altruism
putting others first; being self-sacrificing
.................................................. .
Caldron
huge cooking pot
.................................................. .
Deplore
regret
.................................................. .
Exculpate
free someone from blame; pardon; acquit
.................................................. .
Illusory
deceptive; false; misleading
.................................................. .
Lobbyist
person who tries to persuade someone to support a particular cause
.................................................. .
Onus
burden
.................................................. .
Precarious
unstable; risky
.................................................. .
Sagacious
wise
.................................................. .
Trepidation
fear
.................................................. .
Amass
accumulate
.................................................. .
Callow
immature
.................................................. .
Depravity
moral corruption
.................................................. .
Execrable
very, very bad
.................................................. .
Immoderate
excessive; extreme
.................................................. .
Lofty
snooty; arrogant; haughty
.................................................. .
Opaque
does not let light through
.................................................. .
Precedent
a previous occurrence used as a guide
.................................................. .
Sage
a wise person
.................................................. .
Trinket
something of little value; knick-knack
.................................................. .
Ambiguity
uncertainty; vagueness
.................................................. .
Candid
frank; honest
.................................................. .
Deprecate
criticize; denounce
.................................................. .
Exegesis
scholarly explanation or interpretation
.................................................. .
Immutable
unchanging; permanent
.................................................. .
Longevity
long life
.................................................. .
Opulent
wealthy; rich; magnificent
.................................................. .
Precept
guiding principle
.................................................. .
Salacious
lecherous; erotic
.................................................. .
Trite
unoriginal; dull
.................................................. .
Ambiguous
unclear in meaning; can be interpreted in different ways
.................................................. .
Candor
frankness; openness
.................................................. .
Deride
ridicule; make fun of; mock
.................................................. .
Exemplary
outstandingly good; setting a fine example
.................................................. .
Impartial
unbiased; neutral
.................................................. .
Loquacious
talkative
.................................................. .
Ordain
1. destine; 2. confer holy orders on a priest
.................................................. .
Precinct
district of a city
.................................................. .
Sallow
yellowish
.................................................. .
Trivial
unimportant
.................................................. .
Ambivalence
lack of clarity; wavering; being undecided
.................................................. .
Cantankerous
bad-tempered; quarrelsome
.................................................. .
Derogatory
uncomplimentary
.................................................. .
Exemplify
to serve as a good example
.................................................. .
Impecunious
having no money
.................................................. .
Lucid
clear
.................................................. .
Ornate
highly decorated
.................................................. .
Precipice
steep slope
.................................................. .
Salubrious
health-giving
.................................................. .
Truant
shirker; someone absent without permission
.................................................. .
Ambulatory
able to walk around (used of hospital patients)
.................................................. .
Capacious
spacious
.................................................. .
Desecrate
to damage or pollute a holy place
.................................................. .
Exhaustive
complete and thorough
.................................................. .
Impious
wicked; profane
.................................................. .
Ludicrous
ridiculous; silly
.................................................. .
Orthodox
conventional
.................................................. .
Precipitous
done in a hurry
.................................................. .
Salutary
something which teaches you a lesson; beneficial
.................................................. .
Truncate
cut short
.................................................. .
Ameliorate
make better
.................................................. .
Capitulate
surrender; give in to
.................................................. .
Desecration
spoiling something holy
.................................................. .
Exonerates
acquits; absolves; removes blame
.................................................. .
Impoverished
destitute; poor
.................................................. .
Lukewarm
1. unenthusiastic; 2. neither hot nor cold
.................................................. .
Ossify
1. turn to bone; 2. become fixed and rigid
.................................................. .
Preclude
prevent or make impossible
.................................................. .
Sanctimonious
hypocritically holy
.................................................. .
Tumult
uproar; noise
.................................................. .
Amelioration
improvement
.................................................. .
Carping
constant criticism
.................................................. .
Desist
stop; discontinue; cease
.................................................. .
Exorcism
getting free/rid of; eliminating (especially demons)
.................................................. .
Impromptu
unrehearsed; spontaneous
.................................................. .
Lummox
clumsy person
.................................................. .
Ostentatious
showy
.................................................. .
Precocious
developing early
.................................................. .
Sanction
give approval to
.................................................. .
Turpitude
depravity
.................................................. .
Amiable
friendly
.................................................. .
Cartographer
person who makes maps
.................................................. .
Despondent
having no hope; miserable
.................................................. .
Expatriate
refugee; emigrant; someone living away from his own country
.................................................. .
Inadvertent
not intentional
.................................................. .
Luscious
juicy; moist; succulent
.................................................. .
Oust
push out of a position
.................................................. .
Predecessor
one who came before
.................................................. .
Sanguinary
bloodthirsty; bloody
.................................................. .
Tyro
novice; beginner
.................................................. .
Amity
friendship
.................................................. .
Castigate
scold strongly
.................................................. .
Destitution
hardship; poverty; misery
.................................................. .
Expedient
convenient; practical
.................................................. .
Incantation
chant; invocation; prayer
.................................................. .
Lynch
assassinate; kill; illegal hanging
.................................................. .
Overt
obvious; not hidden
.................................................. .
Predicament
dilemma; difficult situation
.................................................. .
Sanguine
optimistic; cheerful
.................................................. .
Ubiquitous
found everywhere; omnipresent
.................................................. .
Amorphous
lacking in shape
.................................................. .
Catharsis
purging of pent-up emotions
.................................................. .
Deter
put off; prevent
.................................................. .
Expedite
make faster
.................................................. .
Incarceration
putting in prison
.................................................. .
Machinations
plots and plans
.................................................. .
Overwrought
worked up; in an emotional state
.................................................. .
Preeminent
famous; outstanding
.................................................. .
Sardonic
mocking
.................................................. .
Unalloyed
undiluted; total
.................................................. .
Analgesic
medicine to combat pain
.................................................. .
Caucus
type of private political meeting
.................................................. .
Deteriorate
worsen; decline
.................................................. .
Exposition
clear explanation
.................................................. .
Incessant
without stopping
.................................................. .
Maelstrom
whirlpool; storm in the ocean
.................................................. .
Palatable
good to eat; agreeable
.................................................. .
Prerogative
right or privilege
.................................................. .
Savant
person with knowledge
.................................................. .
Unctuous
oily; using excessive flattery
.................................................. .
Analogous
comparable
.................................................. .
Caustic
burning
.................................................. .
Detrimental
harmful
.................................................. .
Extol
praise
.................................................. .
Incipient
just beginning
.................................................. .
Magnanimous
generous; big-hearted
.................................................. .
Palisade
fence made of posts
.................................................. .
Prescient
having fore-knowledge
.................................................. .
Scale
to climb
.................................................. .
Undermined
damaged; attacked
.................................................. .
Anarchy
chaos; lack of government
.................................................. .
Cavalcade
procession of vehicles
.................................................. .
Devoured
greedily eaten/consumed
.................................................. .
Extradite
deport from one country back to the home country
.................................................. .
Inclination
tendency; a leaning toward
.................................................. .
Magnate
powerful businessman
.................................................. .
Palliative
a remedy that improves but doesn't cure
.................................................. .
Presentiment
a feeling that something might happen
.................................................. .
Scapegoat
person on whom blame is placed for faults of others
.................................................. .
Underscore
emphasize
.................................................. .
Anecdote
a brief amusing story
.................................................. .
Celerity
speed
.................................................. .
Dexterous
skilful with hands
.................................................. .
Extraneous
irrelevant
.................................................. .
Incoherent
not clear
.................................................. .
Maladroit
clumsy; unskillful
.................................................. .
Pallid
pale
.................................................. .
Presumptuous
assuming too much; arrogant
.................................................. .
Scrupulous
careful; diligent; painstaking
.................................................. .
Unequivocal
clear; obvious
.................................................. .
Animosity
hatred; antagonism
.................................................. .
Censorious
disapproving; critical
.................................................. .
Dichotomy
a division into two parts
.................................................. .
Extrapolate
extend; predict on the basis of known data
.................................................. .
Incongruous
not fitting in; out of place
.................................................. .
Malady
illness
.................................................. .
Palpable
easily felt; easily perceived
.................................................. .
Pretentious
pompous; self-important
.................................................. .
Scrutinize
examine carefully
.................................................. .
Unfetter
set free
.................................................. .
Annex (n)
a building which is an addition to an existing building
.................................................. .
Censure
blame
.................................................. .
Didactic
intended to teach; instructive
.................................................. .
Extrinsic
irrelevant; on the outside
.................................................. .
Inconsequential
unimportant; insignificant; negligible
.................................................. .
Malediction
a curse
.................................................. .
Panacea
remedy for all ills
.................................................. .
Prevaricate
speak misleadingly and evasively
.................................................. .
Scuttle
sink
.................................................. .
Unfrock
to remove a priest from his position
.................................................. .
Annex (v)
take possession of; seize; capture
.................................................. .
Cerebral
intellectual
.................................................. .
Diffident
lacking confidence
.................................................. .
Fallacious
false
.................................................. .
Inconspicuous
not easily seen; subtle; not noticeable
.................................................. .
Malefactor
a wrong-doer
.................................................. .
Paradigm
1. example; 2. model; 3. way of looking at things
.................................................. .
Pristine
unspoiled
.................................................. .
Seminary
an institution in which priests are trained
.................................................. .
Unprecedented
never having happened before
.................................................. .
Anomaly
something which does not fit in a pattern; irregularity
.................................................. .
Certitude
certainty
.................................................. .
Digress
wander off the subject
.................................................. .
Falter
hesitate; waver
.................................................. .
Indelible
cannot be wiped out
.................................................. .
Malinger
deliberately avoid work; shirk
.................................................. .
Paradox
apparently contradictory statement
.................................................. .
Proclivity
tendency towards
.................................................. .
Sensuous
appealing to the senses
.................................................. .
Unscathed
unharmed; intact; without a scratch
.................................................. .
Antagonism
hostility; strong opposition
.................................................. .
Charlatan
trickster who claims knowledge he doesn't have
.................................................. .
Dike
dam; embankment
.................................................. .
Fanatical
obsessive; fixated
.................................................. .
Indifferent
1. neutral; 2. not outstanding
.................................................. .
Malingerer
person who deliberately tries to avoid work
.................................................. .
Paragon
a perfect example
.................................................. .
Procrastinate
delay; put off
.................................................. .
Sentinel
guard; sentry
.................................................. .
Unwitting
not deliberate; unconscious
.................................................. .
Antagonistic
opposed; hostile; aggressive
.................................................. .
Chary
wary of; cautious about; reluctant to give
.................................................. .
Dilatory
slow; falling behind with one's work
.................................................. .
Fanaticism
passion; excessive devotion
.................................................. .
Indigenous
native to a particular area
.................................................. .
Malleable
flexible; can be shaped
.................................................. .
Paramount
of supreme importance
.................................................. .
Prodigal
wasteful; extravagant
.................................................. .
Sequester
isolate
.................................................. .
Upbraid
scold; tell off; reprimand
.................................................. .
Antediluvian
outdated; prehistoric; very old-fashioned
.................................................. .
Chastises
punishes
.................................................. .
Dilemma
puzzling situation
.................................................. .
Fastidious
overly particular; finicky
.................................................. .
Indolence
laziness
.................................................. .
Mallet
1. wooden hammer; 2. stick used for polo
.................................................. .
Parasite
1. scrounger; 2. animal which takes digested food from another
.................................................. .
Prodigious
very large
.................................................. .
Serendipity
fortunate coincidence; unsought discovery
.................................................. .
Uproarious
hilarious; hysterical; very funny
.................................................. .
Anthology
a book which is a collection of poems or stories
.................................................. .
Chicanery
trickery
.................................................. .
Dilettante
person who dabbles in a subject without serious study
.................................................. .
Fatuous
silly; foolish
.................................................. .
Inductee
novice; beginner
.................................................. .
Manipulatable
influencable; controllable
.................................................. .
Parched
dried up
.................................................. .
Profane
unholy
.................................................. .
Serene
calm; peaceful
.................................................. .
Upshot
outcome
.................................................. .
Anthropocentrism
putting man at the center of one's philosophy
.................................................. .
Chimerical
changeable; unstable
.................................................. .
Diligent
hard-working
.................................................. .
Feasible
possible and practicable
.................................................. .
Indulgent
pampering; satisfying desires
.................................................. .
Marred
damaged; spoiled
.................................................. .
Pariah
an outcast from society
.................................................. .
Profanity
swearing; cursing
.................................................. .
Serrated
jagged; saw-like
.................................................. .
Urbane
sophisticated; suave
.................................................. .
Antiquated
outdated; old fashioned
.................................................. .
Choleric
easily angered
.................................................. .
Diorama
model of a scene
.................................................. .
Fecund
fertile
.................................................. .
Inebriation
drunkenness; intoxication
.................................................. .
Marshal
to gather together
.................................................. .
Parity
equality
.................................................. .
Profound
having deep meaning
.................................................. .
Servile
overly submissive; groveling
.................................................. .
Usurp
take someone's position (usually by force)
.................................................. .
Apathetic
indifferent; uninterested; lethargic
.................................................. .
Chronicler
person who records historical information
.................................................. .
Dirge
mournful song
.................................................. .
Felicitous
apt
.................................................. .
Ineffable
cannot be expressed in words
.................................................. .
Marsupial
pouched mammal (like a kangaroo)
.................................................. .
Parochial
narrow-minded; concerned only with local matters
.................................................. .
Profundity
depth
.................................................. .
Skeptical
doubting; not gullible
.................................................. .
Utilitarian
useful
.................................................. .
Apathy
lack of interest or emotion
.................................................. .
Circuitous
indirect
.................................................. .
Disapprobation
disapproval
.................................................. .
Fervor
passion; enthusiasm
.................................................. .
Inept
incompetent; unskilled; useless
.................................................. .
Martinet
person who believes in strict discipline
.................................................. .
Parody
a mockery; imitation for ridicule; spoof
.................................................. .
Proletarian
member of the working class
.................................................. .
Skirmish
minor battle
.................................................. .
Utopian
a believer in an ideal world
.................................................. .
Apocryphal
of doubtful origin
.................................................. .
Circumlocution
using too many words; long-windedness
.................................................. .
Discern
to distinguish one thing from another
.................................................. .
Fickle
unpredictable; whimsical; easily swayed
.................................................. .
Inertia
inactivity; lethargy
.................................................. .
Masochist
person who intentionally inflicts pain on himself
.................................................. .
Parry
ward off; avoid
.................................................. .
Prolific
producing a lot
.................................................. .
Sluggard
slow-moving; lethargic person
.................................................. .
Vacillate
waver; hesitate
.................................................. .
Appease
pacify; soothe; calm down; make peace with
.................................................. .
Circumscribe
limit
.................................................. .
Discord
disagreement
.................................................. .
Finesse
skill
.................................................. .
Inevitable
cannot be avoided
.................................................. .
Matriarchy
society governed by women
.................................................. .
Parsimonious
economical; frugal; thrifty
.................................................. .
Proponents
promoters; supporters
.................................................. .
Smelt
refine an ore
.................................................. .
Vacuous
empty; silly; meaningless
.................................................. .
Apprehensive
worried; fearful
.................................................. .
Circumspect
cautious; considering all sides
.................................................. .
Discordancy
cacophony; harshness; jarring
.................................................. .
Fitful
not continuous; stopping and starting
.................................................. .
Inexorable
relentless
.................................................. .
Maverick
a loner
.................................................. .
Parsimony
stinginess; frugality; cost-cutting
.................................................. .
Prosaic
dull; boring; ordinary
.................................................. .
Smorgasbord
a Swedish buffet of cold dishes
.................................................. .
Vagrant
person wandering without a home
.................................................. .
Arable
can be cultivated
.................................................. .
Circumvent
avoid
.................................................. .
Discrepancy
something which does not match up; inconsistency
.................................................. .
Flagrant
clearly wrong
.................................................. .
Inexpedient
not advisable
.................................................. .
Meager
in short supply
.................................................. .
Partisan
biased; one-sided; committed to one group
.................................................. .
Proscribe
forbid
.................................................. .
Solace
comfort for grief
.................................................. .
Vapid
dull; uninspiring
.................................................. .
Arbitrary
random; for no definite reason
.................................................. .
Clairvoyant
psychic; mystic
.................................................. .
Discriminate
to make a clear distinction; see the difference
.................................................. .
Flamboyant
showy; ornate
.................................................. .
Infallible
perfect; flawless; cannot make mistakes
.................................................. .
Meander
wander from side to side
.................................................. .
Pathos
evoking sadness or pity
.................................................. .
Prosody
study of versification
.................................................. .
Solicit
to ask for; seek
.................................................. .
Variegated
multicolored; speckled
.................................................. .
Arcane
obscure; known only to a few people
.................................................. .
Clamor
shout; scream
.................................................. .
Discursiveness
long windedness; indirectness
.................................................. .
Flaunt
show off; display in a showy manner
.................................................. .
Infamous
famous for something bad
.................................................. .
Mellow
soft; melodious; ripe
.................................................. .
Patron
one who give support (usually financial)
.................................................. .
Prostration
1. lying face down; 2. be overcome with extreme weakness
.................................................. .
Somnambulist
sleepwalker
.................................................. .
Vehemence
violence; fervor; forcefulness
.................................................. .
Archaic
ancient; outdated; old fashioned
.................................................. .
Clandestine
secret; covert; stealthy
.................................................. .
Disdain
contempt; strong dislike
.................................................. .
Flippant
making jokes about serious matters
.................................................. .
Infer
deduce; conclude
.................................................. .
Menagerie
collection of animals
.................................................. .
Patronize
condescend to; behave in an arrogant manner towards
.................................................. .
Protagonist
main character in film, book, play etc.
.................................................. .
Soothsayer
fortuneteller
.................................................. .
Vehement
forceful
.................................................. .
Archetype
classic example of
.................................................. .
Clemency
mercy
.................................................. .
Disinterested
unbiased
.................................................. .
Flout
defy; reject
.................................................. .
Ingénue
naïve, unsophisticated person
.................................................. .
Mendacious
given to lying
.................................................. .
Paucity
shortage
.................................................. .
Protean
changeable
.................................................. .
Sophomoric
juvenile; immature
.................................................. .
Venal
corrupt; can be bribed
.................................................. .
Archives
collections of old records; place of storage of old documents
.................................................. .
Cliché
overused expression; something unoriginal
.................................................. .
Disparage
criticize; belittle
.................................................. .
Flustered
worked-up; not calm
.................................................. .
Ingrate
ungrateful person
.................................................. .
Mercenary
concerned only with money
.................................................. .
Peccadillo
minor weakness; trivial offence
.................................................. .
Protégé
person under protection of, or guided by another
.................................................. .
Soporific
inducing sleep
.................................................. .
Veneer
surface coating
.................................................. .
Articulate
clear; lucid; eloquent
.................................................. .
Clientele
customers
.................................................. .
Disparity
an inequality
.................................................. .
Fly-by-night
unreliable; disreputable
.................................................. .
Inimical
hostile
.................................................. .
Mercurial
volatile; changeable
.................................................. .
Pedant
person who insists on strict adherence to rules or narrow learning
.................................................. .
Protocol
procedure; code of behavior
.................................................. .
Sparse
spare; bare; meager
.................................................. .
Venerate
revere; worship
.................................................. .
Artifice
deception; trickery
.................................................. .
Coalesce
come together; merge
.................................................. .
Dispassionate
neutral; objective
.................................................. .
Forensic
concerned with argument or debate (esp. for legal evidence)
.................................................. .
Innate
inherited; inborn
.................................................. .
Merge
come together
.................................................. .
Pedestrian
common; mundane; banal
.................................................. .
Provincial
unsophisticated; narrow-minded
.................................................. .
Specious
false
.................................................. .
Venial
minor; unimportant
.................................................. .
Artisan
craftsman
.................................................. .
Coddle
pamper; fuss over; indulge
.................................................. .
Disseminating
circulating; broadcasting; spreading (information)
.................................................. .
Fortitude
bravery
.................................................. .
Innocuous
harmless; inoffensive
.................................................. .
Metaphorically
symbolically; figuratively
.................................................. .
Peerless
without equal
.................................................. .
Prudent
cautious; wise
.................................................. .
Speckled
spotted; freckled; dotted
.................................................. .
Veracity
truthfulness
.................................................. .
Ascetic
without luxuries; severely simple
.................................................. .
Coercion
force
.................................................. .
Diurnal
active in daytime
.................................................. .
Fortuitous
happening by chance
.................................................. .
Innovate
create; introduce something new
.................................................. .
Meticulous
very careful; painstaking
.................................................. .
Pejorative
derogatory
.................................................. .
Puerile
childish
.................................................. .
Sporadic
not continuous; intermittent
.................................................. .
Verbose
talkative; long-winded; rambling
.................................................. .
Assiduous
thorough; diligent
.................................................. .
Cogent
lucid; well argued
.................................................. .
Divert
1. entertain; 2. distract; 3. cause a detour
.................................................. .
Fractious
irritable; difficult to control
.................................................. .
Inscrutable
mysterious; impenetrable
.................................................. .
Mettle
courage; bravery; valor
.................................................. .
Pellucid
transparently clear
.................................................. .
Punctilious
paying attention to small details
.................................................. .
Spurious
false
.................................................. .
Verbosity
using too many words
.................................................. .
Assuage
to calm
.................................................. .
Cogitate
think over something; ponder
.................................................. .
Docile
gentle and easily lead
.................................................. .
Fraudulent
fake; false
.................................................. .
Insentient
unfeeling
.................................................. .
Milieu
environment
.................................................. .
Pensive
in a thoughtful mood; thinking deeply
.................................................. .
Purloin
steal
.................................................. .
Stagnant
still; not moving
.................................................. .
Vertigo
dizziness
.................................................. .
Astute
perceptive; sharp-witted
.................................................. .
Collage
picture made from fragments of other pictures
.................................................. .
Dogmatic
having stubbornly held opinions
.................................................. .
Frivolous
not serious
.................................................. .
Insipid
dull; bland; boring
.................................................. .
Mire
swamp; muddy ground
.................................................. .
Penury
poverty
.................................................. .
Pusillanimous
cowardly
.................................................. .
Staid
dull; sober; serious
.................................................. .
Vestigial
not developed
.................................................. .
Asylum
place of refuge or safety
.................................................. .
Collate
arrange in order
.................................................. .
Dolt
stupid person
.................................................. .
Frugal
economical; not wasting anything
.................................................. .
Instigate
to start; provoke
.................................................. .
Misanthrope
hater of the rest of mankind
.................................................. .
Perceptive
observant
.................................................. .
Pyromania
compulsion to start fires
.................................................. .
Stanza
section of a poem
.................................................. .
Vignette
small sketch
.................................................. .
Atheist
person who does not believe in God
.................................................. .
Colloquial
local and informal (used of language)
.................................................. .
Dotard
foolish old man
.................................................. .
Furrow
groove
.................................................. .
Instigator
troublemaker; person who entices others to do something
.................................................. .
Misnomer
wrong name
.................................................. .
Percipient
perceptive; insightful
.................................................. .
Quaff
drink down quickly
.................................................. .
Staunch
loyal; faithful; dependable
.................................................. .
Vilification
blackening someone's name
.................................................. .
Atrophy
waste away from lack of use
.................................................. .
Collusion
plotting and planning
.................................................. .
Drawl
speak slowly with words running together
.................................................. .
Furtive
hidden and secret
.................................................. .
Insurgent
a rebel
.................................................. .
Misogynist
hater of women
.................................................. .
Perdition
damnation
.................................................. .
Quagmire
marsh; bog
.................................................. .
Stereotype
fixed image
.................................................. .
Vindicate
prove right; remove blame
.................................................. .
Attenuate
weaken
.................................................. .
Commandeer
take possession of
.................................................. .
Drivel
nonsense
.................................................. .
Futile
useless; hopeless
.................................................. .
Interminable
never-ending
.................................................. .
Misrepresentation
deliberately deceiving
.................................................. .
Peremptory
in a commanding manner
.................................................. .
Quaint
picturesque
.................................................. .
Stevedore
dockworker
.................................................. .
Virtuoso
an accomplished musician
.................................................. .
Augment
increase; make bigger
.................................................. .
Complacent
self-satisfied; smug
.................................................. .
Droll
dryly amusing
.................................................. .
Galleon
ancient type of sailing ship
.................................................. .
Intermittent
sporadic; irregular
.................................................. .
Mitigate
lessen; make less severe
.................................................. .
Perfidy
treachery
.................................................. .
Quandary
dilemma; puzzle
.................................................. .
Stifle
suppress
.................................................. .
Virulent
dangerous; harmful
.................................................. .
Auspicious
favorable; promising to turn out well
.................................................. .
Compliant
easy to control; submissive
.................................................. .
Drone
1. monotonous noise (n); 2. to speak with no emotion (v); 3.male bee
.................................................. .
Gambol
frolic; leap; bound
.................................................. .
Intransigence
stubbornness
.................................................. .
Modicum
small amount
.................................................. .
Perfunctory
superficial; cursory
.................................................. .
Quarantine
isolation to prevent the spread of disease
.................................................. .
Stoic
known for fortitude; indifferent to pleasure or pain
.................................................. .
Vital
essential; alive; important
.................................................. .
Austere
severely plain
.................................................. .
Concatenate
link together
.................................................. .
Dubious
doubtful
.................................................. .
Garble
distort; confuse; muddle
.................................................. .
Intransigent
stubborn; unyielding
.................................................. .
Momentous
very important
.................................................. .
Peripatetic
nomadic; moving from place to place
.................................................. .
Quarry
1. something that is hunted; 2. mine for stone
.................................................. .
Stoke
add fuel to; strengthen
.................................................. .
Vitriolic
corrosive; strongly attacking
.................................................. .
Aversion
a dislike of
.................................................. .
Concatenation
linking into chains
.................................................. .
Dupe
to fool someone
.................................................. .
Garish
gaudy
.................................................. .
Intrepid
brave
.................................................. .
Monotonous
dull; unvarying
.................................................. .
Peripheral
on the edge; not important
.................................................. .
Querulous
always complaining
.................................................. .
Stolid
impassive; dull; indifferent
.................................................. .
Vivacity
liveliness; animation
.................................................. .
Balk
hinder and prevent; hesitate over
.................................................. .
Conciliate
to bring together; end a dispute
.................................................. .
Dynamic
lively; vibrant; energetic
.................................................. .
Garner
gather; collect
.................................................. .
Inveterate
habitual
.................................................. .
Moratorium
temporary prohibition or halt to activity
.................................................. .
Perjury
telling lies under oath
.................................................. .
Quirk
oddity
.................................................. .
Stratagem
plot; plan; trick
.................................................. .
Vivify
enliven
.................................................. .
Banal
common; dull
.................................................. .
Concise
stated in few words
.................................................. .
Ebullient
very lively; cheerful; jovial; happy
.................................................. .
Garrulous
talkative
.................................................. .
Invidious
arousing envy
.................................................. .
Moribund
on the point of death
.................................................. .
Pernicious
destructive; harmful
.................................................. .
Ramble
wander aimlessly
.................................................. .
Strident
loud and harsh
.................................................. .
Vociferous
noisy; loud in speech
.................................................. .
Banality
ordinariness; dullness
.................................................. .
Condescend
talk down to
.................................................. .
Eccentric
unusual; quirky; odd
.................................................. .
Gaunt
emaciated; bony and angular
.................................................. .
Inviolable
cannot be invaded
.................................................. .
Morose
gloomy; bad tempered
.................................................. .
Persnickety
fastidious; fussy
.................................................. .
Ramifications
branches; subdivisions of a complex system; outcomes
.................................................. .
Stringent
strict or severe
.................................................. .
Volatile
dangerously unstable; evaporates easily
.................................................. .
Bane
troublesome influence
.................................................. .
Condone
tacitly support; overlook
.................................................. .
Eclectic
taking things from different sources
.................................................. .
Genre
a category; type
.................................................. .
Irascible
easily angered
.................................................. .
Mundane
ordinary; worldly
.................................................. .
Perpetuated
caused to continue
.................................................. .
Rancor
resentment; animosity; bad feeling
.................................................. .
Strut
swagger; show off
.................................................. .
Voluble
talkative
.................................................. .
Bard
poet
.................................................. .
Condoning
overlooking; disregarding; ignoring
.................................................. .
Edifice
building; structure; construction
.................................................. .
Germane
relevant
.................................................. .
Ire
anger [irate (a) = very angry]
.................................................. .
Munificent
generous; charitable
.................................................. .
Perpetuity
eternity
.................................................. .
Rant
use bombastic language
.................................................. .
Stupefying
astonishing; shocking; stunning into silence
.................................................. .
Voluminous
very large; spacious
.................................................. .
Bastion
fortress; stronghold
.................................................. .
Conflagration
big fire
.................................................. .
Efface
wipe out; remove all trace of
.................................................. .
Germinal
just growing; not developed; immature
.................................................. .
Irksome
annoying; infuriating
.................................................. .
Mutinous
very rebellious
.................................................. .
Personable
attractive
.................................................. .
Ratify
approve; consent
.................................................. .
Subpoena
summons to court
.................................................. .
Voracious
ravenous
.................................................. .
Befuddle
confuse
.................................................. .
Confound
confuse
.................................................. .
Effigy
a model of a person
.................................................. .
Gibbering
making meaningless noises
.................................................. .
Ironic
satiric; unexpected
.................................................. .
Myriad
in large numbers
.................................................. .
Perspicacious
insightful; sharp; wise
.................................................. .
Raucous
rough and unpleasant (of sounds)
.................................................. .
Substantiate
give supporting evidence
.................................................. .
Waive
surrender; give up
.................................................. .
Begrudge
resent
.................................................. .
Congeal
to solidify
.................................................. .
Effusive
gushing; demonstrative
.................................................. .
Glacial
hostile; unfriendly; cold; icy
.................................................. .
Irrational
unreasonable; absurd
.................................................. .
Navigable
suitable for sailing
.................................................. .
Perspicacity
insight
.................................................. .
Raze
destroy; demolish; tear down
.................................................. .
Subterfuge
a trick
.................................................. .
Wane
grow less
.................................................. .
Beguile
mislead; lure
.................................................. .
Congenital
present from birth
.................................................. .
Egalitarianism
belief in equality
.................................................. .
Goad
prod; urge
.................................................. .
Irreproachable
cannot be criticized; perfect
.................................................. .
Nebulous
vague
.................................................. .
Pertinent
relevant
.................................................. .
Rebuttal
denial
.................................................. .
Subtle
not obvious
.................................................. .
Wary
hesitant; cautious
.................................................. .
Belabor
explain in unnecessary detail
.................................................. .
Connoisseur
person with refined taste and good judgment
.................................................. .
Egregious
outstandingly, obviously bad
.................................................. .
Grate (v)
1. to annoy; aggravate; vex; 2. shred
.................................................. .
Irrevocable
cannot be cancelled; unchangeable
.................................................. .
Nefarious
wicked; immoral; disreputable
.................................................. .
Peruse
read carefully
.................................................. .
Recant
disclaim; retract statement
.................................................. .
Subversive
rebellious; revolutionary
.................................................. .
Wax
to increase; to grow
.................................................. .
Beleaguer
besiege; attack
.................................................. .
Consecrate
dedicate
.................................................. .
Egress
exit
.................................................. .
Gratis
free of charge; without payment
.................................................. .
Itinerant
nomadic; wandering from place to place
.................................................. .
Negate
cancel; deny
.................................................. .
Pervasive
spreading everywhere
.................................................. .
Recapitulate
summarize
.................................................. .
Succinct
concise
.................................................. .
Waylay
accost; stop; approach; hinder
.................................................. .
Belie
contradict
.................................................. .
Consensus
general agreement
.................................................. .
Eloquent
fluent and persuasive in speech
.................................................. .
Gratuitous
unwarranted
.................................................. .
Jaded
tired; bored; worn out
.................................................. .
Negligence
carelessness
.................................................. .
Petrify
1. terrify; 2. turn to stone
.................................................. .
Receptacle
container; vessel; holder
.................................................. .
Suffragist
someone who campaigns for voting rights
.................................................. .
Weighty
serious
.................................................. .
Belittle
to demean
.................................................. .
Conspicuous
easily seen; prominent
.................................................. .
Elucidate
make clear
.................................................. .
Gravity
seriousness
.................................................. .
Jargon
specialized language used by experts
.................................................. .
Neologism
newly coined word
.................................................. .
Petulant
sulky; peevish
.................................................. .
Recluse
someone who cuts himself off from life
.................................................. .
Supercilious
proud and haughty
.................................................. .
Whelp
young dog
.................................................. .
Bellicose
war-like; aggressive
.................................................. .
Consummate
complete; total; supremely good
.................................................. .
Elusive
hard to pin down
.................................................. .
Gregarious
extroverted; sociable; outgoing
.................................................. .
Jaundiced
cynical; pessimistic
.................................................. .
Nettle
annoy
.................................................. .
Phenomenon
an event or happening (plural: phenomena)
.................................................. .
Recuperate
get better after illness
.................................................. .
Superlative
extremely good; the best
.................................................. .
Whet
sharpen
.................................................. .
Belligerent
aggressive; ready to fight
.................................................. .
Contemporary
living or happening at the same time
.................................................. .
Emaciated
very thin; withered
.................................................. .
Gritty
coarse; granular
.................................................. .
Jaunt
short pleasure trip
.................................................. .
Niggardly
miserly; stingy
.................................................. .
Philanthropy
charity; love of mankind
.................................................. .
Red tape
formalities; paperwork; official procedure
.................................................. .
Surly
grumpy; rude
.................................................. .
Whimsical
capricious; changeable
.................................................. .
Bemoan
complain about
.................................................. .
Contrite
sorry
.................................................. .
Emancipate
set free
.................................................. .
Guffaw
sudden loud laughter
.................................................. .
Jeopardize
put at risk; endanger
.................................................. .
Nomadic
wandering from place to place
.................................................. .
Philistine
uncultured person
.................................................. .
Redolent
smelling of; giving off odors
.................................................. .
Surreptitious
secret; sneaky; stealthy
.................................................. .
Willful
stubborn
.................................................. .
Benevolent
kindly
.................................................. .
Contrition
sorrow and repentance
.................................................. .
Embezzle
defraud; steal
.................................................. .
Guile
cunning; craftiness
.................................................. .
Jingoistic
extremely patriotic; nationalistic
.................................................. .
Nonchalance
an appearance of indifference; calm and composed
.................................................. .
Phlegmatic
calm; imperturbable
.................................................. .
Redress
put right something that was wrong
.................................................. .
Surreptitiously
secretly; furtively; stealthily
.................................................. .
Wily
cunning
.................................................. .
Benign
kindly; harmless
.................................................. .
Contumacious
stubborn
.................................................. .
Embroil
involve in hostility or argument
.................................................. .
Guileless
frank; straightforward; honest
.................................................. .
Jocular
in a joking manner
.................................................. .
Nondescript
having no special features; dull and ordinary
.................................................. .
Pillage
plunder
.................................................. .
Redundant
unnecessary; superfluous
.................................................. .
Susceptible
vulnerable
.................................................. .
Wispy
flimsy; frail; delicate
.................................................. .
Benignity
compassion; gentleness; fondness
.................................................. .
Contusion
a bruise
.................................................. .
Emerge
come out; appear
.................................................. .
Gullibility
unwariness; trustfulness; being easily fooled
.................................................. .
Jollity
gaiety; happiness
.................................................. .
Nonentity
a person of no importance; not famous
.................................................. .
Pinnacle
topmost point
.................................................. .
Referendum
public vote
.................................................. .
Suspect
doubtful
.................................................. .
Wistful
melancholy; pensive; expressing a longing for
.................................................. .
Bequeath
leave something in one's will to be given after one's death
.................................................. .
Conundrum
a puzzle
.................................................. .
Emulate
to imitate something admired
.................................................. .
Gullible
easily fooled
.................................................. .
Jubilant
ecstatic; delighted; rejoicing
.................................................. .
Nostalgia
longing for the past
.................................................. .
Pious
very religious
.................................................. .
Refute
disprove
.................................................. .
Sybarite
lover of luxury
.................................................. .
Zany
crazy; wacky
.................................................. .
Berate
scold; criticize
.................................................. .
Conventional
usual; customary; common
.................................................. .
Endorse
give support or approval to
.................................................. .
Gustatory
concerned with the sense of taste
.................................................. .
Judicious
correct in judgment; wise
.................................................. .
Notoriety
infamy; known for wrong doing
.................................................. .
Pivotal
of central importance
.................................................. .
Regale
entertain
.................................................. .
Sycophant
bootlicker; flatterer
.................................................. .
Zeal
enthusiasm
.................................................. .
Beret
type of cap
.................................................. .
Corpulent
fat
.................................................. .
Endurance
staying power; patience; stamina
.................................................. .
Hackneyed
common and over-used
.................................................. .
Jurisprudence
science or study of law
.................................................. .
Novel
new; unusual
.................................................. .
Placate
pacify; soothe; calm
.................................................. .
Relegate
dismiss to a lower position
.................................................. .
Taciturn
quiet; saying little
.................................................. .
Zealot
fanatic
.................................................. .
Bestial
behaving like a beast; brutal
.................................................. .
Corrugated
highly folded
.................................................. .
Enduring
lasting
.................................................. .
Hallowed
worshipped; consecrated
.................................................. .
Juxtapose
place next to
.................................................. .
Novice
a beginner; tyro
.................................................. .
Placebo
harmless medicine with no effect; dummy medicine
.................................................. .
Remorse
regret; sorrow; contrition
.................................................. .
Tactile
concerned with the sense of touch
.................................................. .
Zenith
summit
.................................................. .
Abate
reduce in intensity
.................................................. .
Abjure
renounce; swear to refrain from something
.................................................. .
Blandishment
words used to coax or flatter [blandish (v)]
.................................................. .
Boor
ill-mannered person [boorish (a)]
.................................................. .
Cardinal
1. high ranking church official; 2. major, important
.................................................. .
Deliberate
1. slow (a); 2. to think over (v); 3. on purpose (a)
.................................................. .
Equivocation
speaking ambiguously [equivocate (v), equivocal (a)]
.................................................. .
Feckless
feeble; helpless; lacking in initiative
.................................................. .
Imperturbability
quality of being calm and not easily disturbed [imperturbable (a)]
.................................................. .
Meretricious
falsely attractive; tawdry
.................................................. .
Augury
prediction, looking for omens [auger (v)]
.................................................. .
Boycott
refuse to have dealings with
.................................................. .
Glib
slick; superficial esp. in speech
.................................................. .
Incise
cut into [incision (n); incisive (a)]
.................................................. .
Moralistic
concerned with morals [moralize (v)]
.................................................. .
Ostracism
shunning; social isolation [ostracize (v)]
.................................................. .
Penchant
inclination; leaning; tendency; predilection
.................................................. .
Rarefy
make less dense [rarefaction (n)]
.................................................. .
Repine
fret; be discontented
.................................................. .
Stipulate
specify [stipulation (n)]
.................................................. .
Diaphanous
transparent; thin and delicate
.................................................. .
Feint
pretended attack; a move intended to deceive
.................................................. .
Inured
hardened; habituated
.................................................. .
Mettlesome
spirited [mettle (n)]
.................................................. .
Puissance
power
.................................................. .
Recondite
obscure
.................................................. .
Stygian
very dark
.................................................. .
Touting
advertising; supporting [tout (v)]
.................................................. .
Virtuosity
skill, expertise [virtuoso (n); virtuosi (n.pl)]
.................................................. .
Volubility
excessive talkativeness [voluble (a)]
.................................................. .
Caret
punctuation mark signifying omission
.................................................. .
Contiguous
adjacent; touching; abutting [contiguity (n)]
.................................................. .
Damp
(used of vibration) reduce in extent
.................................................. .
Ellipsis
omission of essential words
.................................................. .
Extirpation
wiping out; complete destruction [extirpate (v)]
.................................................. .
Foppish
behaving or dressing like a dandy; excessively concerned with fashion
.................................................. .
Gaffe
blunder; social mistake
.................................................. .
Hortatory
encouraging; exhorting
.................................................. .
Opprobrious
expressing great scorn [opprobrium (n)]
.................................................. .
Recumbent
reclining; lying down
.................................................. .
Ambidextrous
able to use both left and right hands equally well
.................................................. .
Culpability
guilt [culpable = blameworthy]
.................................................. .
Discernment
judgment; perceptiveness
.................................................. .
Encomium
praise
.................................................. .
Inveigle
coax; cajole; wheedle; entice
.................................................. .
Minatory
threatening
.................................................. .
Ossified
turned to bone; become rigid [ossification (n)]
.................................................. .
Plumb
measure depth of (v); exact (a. slang)
.................................................. .
Quintessential
most typical; the perfect example of [quintessence (n)]
.................................................. .
Runic
mysterious; magical
.................................................. .
Accretion
accumulation of matter; growth produced by adding from the outside
.................................................. .
Anachronistic
occurring in the wrong time period [anachronism (n)]
.................................................. .
Chronic
long lasting (often used for diseases in which case the opposite is acute)
.................................................. .
Churlishness
rudeness; ill-mannered behavior
.................................................. .
Demagogue
mob leader (who appeals to base instincts) [demagogy/demagoguery (n)]
.................................................. .
Effrontery
daring; audacity (has a negative connotation)
.................................................. .
Idyll
story or incident in peaceful or ideal setting [idyllic (a)]
.................................................. .
Interregnum
interval between reigns or governments
.................................................. .
Nugatory
of minor significance; futile
.................................................. .
Sinecure
job which pays salary but requiring little effort
.................................................. .
Anodized
electroplated; coated with thin layer of metal
.................................................. .
Aphoristic
expressed tersely [aphorism (n) = short statement; maxim]
.................................................. .
Canonical
orthodox [canon (n) = set of accepted works]
.................................................. .
Commensurate
equal in significance
.................................................. .
Dexterity
skill, esp. with hands [dexterous (a)]
.................................................. .
Extant
still in existence (opposite of extinct)
.................................................. .
Impugned
challenged; called into question
.................................................. .
Probity
uprightness; honesty
.................................................. .
Raconteur
person who relates a story
.................................................. .
Solicitous
kindly; expressing care and concern
.................................................. .
Amalgamate
join; consolidate [amalgamation (n)]
.................................................. .
Baleful
evil
.................................................. .
Coerce
force [coercion (n); coercing (a)]
.................................................. .
Inchoate
undeveloped; nascent
.................................................. .
Iniquitous
evil; unjust [iniquity (n)]
.................................................. .
Libertine
dissolute person; prodigal
.................................................. .
Millinery
hats and hat-making
.................................................. .
Natty
neat; dapper; smart
.................................................. .
Occluded
obscured; blocked
.................................................. .
Sidereal
of or related to stars
.................................................. .
Avaricious
greedy for money
.................................................. .
Extirpate
wipe out totally
.................................................. .
Halcyon
peaceful and happy; calm (esp. of summer weather)
.................................................. .
List (v)
1. to lean to one side; 2. to write in order
.................................................. .
Maudlin
sad; sentimental; inclined to weep
.................................................. .
Refulgent
glowing; radiant
.................................................. .
Subliminal
below the threshold of consciousness
.................................................. .
Testiness
irritability; irascibility [testy (a)]
.................................................. .
Vituperate
attack bitterly
.................................................. .
Whittle
1. carve with knife; 2. reduce step by step
.................................................. .
Caricature
ridicule (v); cartoon intended to ridicule (n)
.................................................. .
Colander
bowl with holes used to drain vegetables etc.
.................................................. .
Cumbersome
bulky; difficult to carry [encumber = to burden]
.................................................. .
Dispatch
1. send (v); 2. speed; celerity (n)
.................................................. .
Epistemology
theory of knowledge
.................................................. .
Froward
stubborn; wayward; disobedient
.................................................. .
Supine
lying flat on one’s back
.................................................. .
Throwback
exhibiting primitive, or ancestral, traits
.................................................. .
Untoward
unexpected
.................................................. .
Verisimilar
true to life; giving the appearance of reality
.................................................. .
Abysmal
very deep; very bad
.................................................. .
Approbation
approval [opp. disapprobation]
.................................................. .
Bent (n)
inclination; aptitude
.................................................. .
Cadge
get by begging
.................................................. .
Debacle
disaster
.................................................. .
Extemporize
speak without preparation or rehearsal [extemporaneous (a)]
.................................................. .
Incumbents
occupiers of a job or position
.................................................. .
Lambaste
attack verbally
.................................................. .
Noisome
disgusting
.................................................. .
Pastiche
work (usually artistic) which imitates, or is composed of parts taken from varied sources
.................................................. .
Arboreal
living in trees; concerned with trees
.................................................. .
Centrifuge
device to separate substances by spinning them at high speed
.................................................. .
Cloistered
isolated
.................................................. .
Disabuse
make someone aware of an error in thinking
.................................................. .
Engendering
causing; bringing into being [engender (v)]
.................................................. .
Intemperate
excessive; immoderate [intemperance (n)]
.................................................. .
Lugubrious
sad; gloomy
.................................................. .
Nonplussed
confused
.................................................. .
Pedagogy
science of education; teaching
.................................................. .
Satiate
satisfy; fill completely [satiable (a); satiation (n)]
.................................................. .
Artless
without effort; without trickery; simple
.................................................. .
Comeliness
beauty; prettiness [comely (a)]
.................................................. .
Doff
take off (esp. of a hat)
.................................................. .
Don
put on (esp. of clothes)
.................................................. .
Erudition
learning; scholarly knowledge [erudite (a)]
.................................................. .
Plaintive
sad; mournful
.................................................. .
Suborn
bribe
.................................................. .
Tendentious
dogmatic; biased
.................................................. .
Tortuous
indirect; winding
.................................................. .
Verbiage
excessive or meaningless wordiness
.................................................. .
Atonement
making amends for sin or crime [atone (v)]
.................................................. .
Complaisance
flexibility; willingness to please [complaisant (a)]
.................................................. .
Daguerreotype
forerunner of the photograph
.................................................. .
Fawn
behave in a sycophantic way; grovel [fawning (a)]
.................................................. .
Gregariousness
sociability; liking for crowds [gregarious (a)]
.................................................. .
Nascent
emerging; newly formed
.................................................. .
Paean
praise; tribute (esp. in song)
.................................................. .
Reproof
scolding; criticism [reprove (v)]
.................................................. .
Scurvy
1. disease due to lack of vitamin C; 2. contemptible; rascally
.................................................. .
Tutelary
serving as a guardian [tutelage (n)]
.................................................. .
Abscission
cutting; process causing leaves to fall off
.................................................. .
Contentious
causing argument [contention (n); contend (v)]
.................................................. .
Debilitating
weakening [debilitate (v)]
.................................................. .
Foible
quirk; minor weakness
.................................................. .
Importune
beg; solicit [importunate (a)]
.................................................. .
Pertain
be relevant to [pertinent (a)]
.................................................. .
Slew
glut; excess
.................................................. .
Toady
sycophant; flatterer
.................................................. .
Torrid
hot and steamy
.................................................. .
Veracious
true [veracity (n)]
.................................................. .
Asperity
using harsh or critical tone
.................................................. .
Blowhard
boastful person
.................................................. .
Disingenuous
naïve
.................................................. .
Evanescent
short-lived [evanescence (n)]
.................................................. .
Intangible
cannot be touched; abstract [intangibility (n)]
.................................................. .
Labile
changing rapidly; unstable
.................................................. .
Malapropism
use of similar sounding but incorrect word
.................................................. .
Posture (v)
to put on an act
.................................................. .
Proximate
immediate; nearest
.................................................. .
Pugnacious
aggressive, ready to fight [pugnacity (n)]
.................................................. .
Foreshadowed
indicated a future event [foreshadow (v)]
.................................................. .
Gaucherie
awkwardness [gauche (a)]
.................................................. .
Heterodox
unorthodox
.................................................. .
Inscrutability
quality of being difficult to comprehend [inscrutable (a)]
.................................................. .
Limerick
short amusing poem
.................................................. .
Mannered
stylized; pretentious
.................................................. .
Pluck (n)
courage
.................................................. .
Sedulous
persevering; eager and thorough
.................................................. .
Syllogism
type of logical reasoning
.................................................. .
Vicissitude
unexpected change in fortune or circumstances
.................................................. .
Acolyte
disciple; follower or attendant
.................................................. .
Admonitory
scolding [admonition (n)]
.................................................. .
Caprices
whimsies; fancies
.................................................. .
Cornucopia
symbol (horn filled with fruit etc.) denoting natural abundance
.................................................. .
Deferential
showing respect [deference (n); defer (v)]
.................................................. .
Intractability
stubbornness; resistance [intractable (a)]
.................................................. .
Luminary
eminent person
.................................................. .
Minion
underling; servant
.................................................. .
Undergird
support; strengthen
.................................................. .
Vitiate
weaken; sap energy
.................................................. .
Coterie
clique; small group with common interests
.................................................. .
Denigrate
decry; criticize; belittle
.................................................. .
Empirical
found by experiment or practice
.................................................. .
Gainsay
contradict
.................................................. .
Hyperbole
exaggeration [hyperbolic (a)]
.................................................. .
Modest
1. bashful; unpretentious; 2. not excessive
.................................................. .
Prolixity
wordiness [prolix (a)]
.................................................. .
Rebus
puzzle in which pictures give clues
.................................................. .
Sere
withered; old
.................................................. .
Vulpine
like a fox [compare with bovine (cow-like); porcine (pig-like), etc.]
.................................................. .
Corroborate
give supporting evidence [corroboration (n)]
.................................................. .
Exacerbated
made worse [exacerbate (v); exacerbation (n)]
.................................................. .
Exact (v)
to demand; extort
.................................................. .
Faddish
whimsical; following a fashion
.................................................. .
Hapless
unlucky
.................................................. .
Misconstrue
put a wrong interpretation on something
.................................................. .
Perennial
long-lasting
.................................................. .
Rent
torn (past participle of the verb to rend)
.................................................. .
Shard
fragment of pottery
.................................................. .
Xenophobe
person afraid of foreigners
.................................................. .
Alleviated
made less severe [alleviation (n); alleviate (v)]
.................................................. .
Apostrophe
1. punctuation mark; 2. appeal to someone not present (a figure of speech)
.................................................. .
Centurion
roman soldier (commander of a company of 100 soldiers)
.................................................. .
Emollient
softening (a); something which softens (n)
.................................................. .
Fusillade
long burst of gunfire
.................................................. .
Inerrancy
infallibility; inability to make mistakes [inerrant (a)]
.................................................. .
Mince
1. chop into small pieces; 2. walk with tiny steps, 3. speak in an affected manner
.................................................. .
Palpate
medical term meaning to examine with the hands
.................................................. .
Platitude
unoriginal, obvious saying
.................................................. .
Quibble
1. (v) to argue about minor matters; to play on words when finding fault; 2. (n) a minor verbal point in an argument
.................................................. .
Apprehension
slight fear; sense of something unfavorable
.................................................. .
Conniving
cunning; scheming [connive (v)]
.................................................. .
Derision
mockery [deride (v)]
.................................................. .
Epigram
short, witty saying
.................................................. .
Lassitude
lack of energy; weariness
.................................................. .
Pedantic
over-insistent on matters of book-learning [pedant (n)]
.................................................. .
Phenomenology
branch of science concerned with things as they are perceived; not directly derived from theory
.................................................. .
Precipitate
1. hurried (a); 2. insoluble product of a reaction in chemistry (n), 3. to instigate or speed up an action (v)
.................................................. .
Renege
go back on promise or retract statement
.................................................. .
Apprehension
slight fear; sense of something unfavorable
.................................................. .
Armada
fleet of ships
.................................................. .
Dawdler
slow person who falls behind others [dawdle (v)]
.................................................. .
Dross
something worthless; impurities left after refining
.................................................. .
Expiate
atone; make amends for
.................................................. .
Hack
1. chop roughly; 2. person who writes to earn money, 3. hired horse
.................................................. .
Prone
1. vulnerable to; 2. horizontal
.................................................. .
Propensity
tendency; inclination
.................................................. .
Scabbard
cover for a sword
.................................................. .
Skiff
small boat
.................................................. .
Umbrage
1. shadow; 2. offence; sense of injury
.................................................. .
Dilettantism
dabbling esp. in the arts [dilettante (n) = person who dabbles]
.................................................. .
Enervate
weaken
.................................................. .
Malevolent
having evil intentions [malevolence (n)]
.................................................. .
Neophyte
new convert; tyro
.................................................. .
Panegyric
speech praising someone; laudatory words
.................................................. .
Presage
forewarn of; indicate
.................................................. .
Serration
jagged edge
.................................................. .
Slight
1. minor (a); 2. perceived insult (v) and (n)
.................................................. .
Tare
1. weed; 2. allowance made for container when weighing
.................................................. .
Unprepossessing
unattractive
.................................................. .
Aberration
deviation from the normal
.................................................. .
Cant
insincere talk
.................................................. .
Disinter
dig up [opposite inter = bury]
.................................................. .
Façade
1. front elevation of building, 2. false appearance or demeanor
.................................................. .
Impeding
hindering [impede (v); impediment (n)]
.................................................. .
Lacuna
gap; missing part [plural = lacunae]
.................................................. .
Monolithic
united in purpose; forming a single unit
.................................................. .
Pied
multicolored
.................................................. .
Roster
list of names
.................................................. .
Seemly
appropriate (of behavior); decorous
.................................................. .
Analogue
1. something similar; 2. output proportional to input (engineering)
.................................................. .
Coda
piece of music at the end of a musical work; finale; final part of document
.................................................. .
Commingle
mix
.................................................. .
Equivocal
ambiguous; open to interpretation [equivocate (v), equivocation (n)]
.................................................. .
Fallible
capable of making mistakes [fallibility (n)]
.................................................. .
Hallow
respect; worship
.................................................. .
Indigence
poverty
.................................................. .
Papyrus
material used for writing on before paper was invented
.................................................. .
Pique
1. annoyance (n); 2. to stimulate interest; to annoy (v)
.................................................. .
Sap
1. liquid inside plants (n); 2. to drain; to undermine (v); 3. a fool (n)
.................................................. .
Arbitrator
mediator; person appointed to judge a dispute [arbitrate (v)]
.................................................. .
Descry
to see (esp. at a distance); catch sight of
.................................................. .
Facetious
not intended to be taken seriously
.................................................. .
Indecorous
unseemly; inappropriate (of behavior)
.................................................. .
Proliferate
grow and spread [proliferation (n)]
.................................................. .
Scotch (v)
to prevent; stop; disable
.................................................. .
Strut
1. supporting rod (n); 2. to walk in an arrogant manner; show off (v)
.................................................. .
Toy (v)
to play with
.................................................. .
Usury
lending money at high interest rates
.................................................. .
Wag (n)
a witty person
.................................................. .
Atavism
reappearance of ancestral traits; regression [atavistic (a)]
.................................................. .
Filibuster
delaying tactics
.................................................. .
Gambit
opening move; transaction
.................................................. .
Mitigation
making less severe [mitigate (v)]
.................................................. .
Obligate
compulsory
.................................................. .
Predilection
leaning; interest; talent
.................................................. .
Propitiate
appease; try to gain favor [propitiation (n)]
.................................................. .
Stanch
to stop
.................................................. .
Travesty
parody; ridiculous error
.................................................. .
Waft
drift smoothly (v); whiff; smell (n)
.................................................. .
Forage
search for food
.................................................. .
Lumber
1. walk in an ungainly way; 2. timber (wood)
.................................................. .
Muse
1. think; meditate (v); 2. a source of inspiration (n) [in mythology, a goddess who gives inspiration]
.................................................. .
Prescience
foreknowledge
.................................................. .
Prune
1. to trim; 2. a dried plum
.................................................. .
Ready
(used of wit) quick
.................................................. .
Resolve
firmness (n)
.................................................. .
Squalid
dirty and demeaning
.................................................. .
Sullied
made dirty or impure [opposite unsullied; sully (v)]
.................................................. .
Veneration
worship; respect [venerable (a), venerate (v)]
.................................................. .
Demur
object; hesitate to accept
.................................................. .
Duplicity
cunning; deception; double dealing
.................................................. .
Exigency
urgent matter; pressing need
.................................................. .
Expostulate
offer strong objections; remonstrate
.................................................. .
Gossamer
delicate; filmy; like gauze
.................................................. .
Inefficacious
ineffective
.................................................. .
Pine
1. type of evergreen tree; 2. grieve
.................................................. .
Prudish
narrow-minded; excessively concerned with morals [prudery (n), prude (n)]
.................................................. .
Quixotic
impractically idealistic
.................................................. .
Stipple
cover with dots of paint etc.
.................................................. .
Abrasion
1. damage to skin caused by scraping; 2. process of scraping or rubbing [abrade (v)]
.................................................. .
Adumbrate
outline; indicate
.................................................. .
Cognitive
concerned with thinking or perceiving [cognition (n)]
.................................................. .
Deign
condescend
.................................................. .
Fervid
passionate
.................................................. .
Gall
1. bitterness (bad feeling); 2. confidence; 3. abnormal growth on a plant
.................................................. .
Levee
1. raised bank of a river; 2. morning reception held by a monarch
.................................................. .
Preternatural
unnatural; abnormal
.................................................. .
Quell
suppress
.................................................. .
Score (n)
written form of music
.................................................. .
Abut
to adjoin
.................................................. .
Consternation
worry and concern
.................................................. .
Gavel
judge’s hammer
.................................................. .
Lien
right to sell property held as a security; legal hold on job etc.
.................................................. .
Parenthesis
remarks deviating from the main point [parentheses are round brackets in punctuation]
.................................................. .
Sinewy
vigorous; having well-developed muscles [a sinew is a tendon]
.................................................. .
Steep (v)
to soak in water
.................................................. .
Tamp
to plug; press loose matter down tightly (e.g. pack explosives into a hole)
.................................................. .
Venturing
1. hazarding; risking; putting forward; 2. going somewhere [venturesome means courageous or willing to take risks]
.................................................. .
Wry
1. twisted or bent to one side; 2. dryly humorous
.................................................. .
Arduous
hard
.................................................. .
Decimated
kill or destroy a large part of (originally one tenth)
.................................................. .
Fledge
1. grow feathers; 2. leave nest [fledgling (n) = an inexperienced person or a baby bird]
.................................................. .
Gouge
cut or dig out
.................................................. .
Picayune
insignificant; of little value
.................................................. .
Riveting
fascinating [to rivet literally means to fix metal plates using metal pins]
.................................................. .
Soliloquy
solo speech
.................................................. .
Supplicant
person who requests or begs for something [supplicate (v)]
.................................................. .
Transcendental
supernatural; going beyond normal experience [transcendent (a)]
.................................................. .
Veritable
true; genuine [verity (n)]
.................................................. .
Condescension
talking down to someone [condescending (a)]
.................................................. .
Divest
remove; take off
.................................................. .
Eddy
circular current
.................................................. .
Epaulet
shoulder decoration
.................................................. .
Fallacy
wrong idea [fallacious (a)]
.................................................. .
Fringe
1. decorative border with tassels (n); 2. to form an edge (v)
.................................................. .
Leaven
to make light; modify; cause bread to rise using yeast etc.
.................................................. .
Patronize
1. to talk down to; condescend; 2. to be a customer of
.................................................. .
Prominent
1. eminent; 2. protruding; 3. obvious
.................................................. .
Statute
law [statutory (a)]
.................................................. .
Antipathy
hatred
.................................................. .
Aver
affirm
.................................................. .
Expatiate
speak or write at great length
.................................................. .
Flag (v)
1. to lose energy; 2. to signal
.................................................. .
Flail
1. tool used to thresh grain; 2. to thresh (separate grain from chaff); 3. to wave arms about wildly
.................................................. .
Indicted
accused (of crime)
.................................................. .
Loll
laze around; hang out (when used of the tongue)
.................................................. .
Malign
slander
.................................................. .
Secure (v)
1. to fix firmly; 2. to obtain
.................................................. .
Talon
long pointed nail or claw
.................................................. .
Abeyance
state of inactivity; disuse
.................................................. .
Disarm
1. take away weapons; 2. win over to one’s side [disarming (a)]
.................................................. .
Elaborate
1. complex and detailed (a); 2. to expand on (v)
.................................................. .
Foment
1. stir up; 2. bathe with hot liquids (medical)
.................................................. .
Jockeying
maneuvering; struggling to get ahead of others [jockey (v)]
.................................................. .
Minutiae
small details
.................................................. .
Rue
regret [rueful (a)]
.................................................. .
Somatic
concerned with the body
.................................................. .
Stinting
holding back; limiting the supply (of supplies/money etc.) [stint (v)]
.................................................. .
Temperate
moderate
.................................................. .
Allure
1. attraction (n); 2. to attract (v)
.................................................. .
Caulk
treat with substance such as tar to make water-tight
.................................................. .
Conscript
1. person enlisted compulsorily into the armed forces; 2. (v) to enlist compulsorily
.................................................. .
Desultory
aimless; inconsistent in effort
.................................................. .
Elegy
poem concerned with death; praise of a dead person
.................................................. .
Fallow
uncultivated
.................................................. .
Forbearing
tolerant [forbear (v); forbearance (n)]
.................................................. .
Hegemony
political domination; complete authority
.................................................. .
Improbity
lack of honesty or integrity
.................................................. .
Qualm
hesitation or fear
.................................................. .
Assay
1. try; 2. assess purity
.................................................. .
Chauvinist
someone excessively patriotic [chauvinism (n)]
.................................................. .
Discrete
separate; discontinuous (not to be confused with discreet - prudent; diplomatic]
.................................................. .
Enlist
1. sign up for the army; 2. obtain
.................................................. .
Fabricated
made up; false; manufactured [fabricate (v); fabrication(n)]
.................................................. .
Fulminate
1. attack loudly in words; denounce thunderously; 2. explode noisily
.................................................. .
Hawser
thick rope or cable
.................................................. .
Jibe
agree with; complement; match up with (in British usage jibe means mock)
.................................................. .
Peer
1. an equal; 2. to stare at; 3. nobleman
.................................................. .
Stickler
one who is strict about rules or details
.................................................. .
Cloture
closure; terminating a debate by voting
.................................................. .
Congruent
matching [congruency (n)]
.................................................. .
Dally
waste time; flirt
.................................................. .
Dissemble
avoid the truth
.................................................. .
Dote
be excessively fond of [doting (a)]
.................................................. .
Errant
1. wandering; 2. wrong; 3. straying from accepted standards
.................................................. .
Fervent
passionate
.................................................. .
Stomach (v)
to tolerate
.................................................. .
Synapse
junction between two nerve cells
.................................................. .
Undercutting
offering a lower price; undermining
.................................................. .
Arson
deliberate, criminal starting of fires
.................................................. .
Carrion
dead flesh; carcasses
.................................................. .
Intelligible
can be understood
.................................................. .
Ironclad
cannot be altered; firm
.................................................. .
Lint
fluff; soft material used to cover wounds
.................................................. .
Pretension
assumed attitude of superiority; arrogance
.................................................. .
Pundit
expert
.................................................. .
Pyre
ceremonial fire
.................................................. .
Sate
satisfy
.................................................. .
Syncopation
type of musical rhythm with missed beats
.................................................. .
Abraded
worn away; eroded [abrade (v); abrasion (n)]
.................................................. .
Apposite
fitting; suitable
.................................................. .
Diatribe
tirade; violent denunciation; stream of criticism
.................................................. .
Gerontocracy
government by the aged
.................................................. .
Maculated
spotted
.................................................. .
Quisling
traitor
.................................................. .
Sedulity
thoroughness; perseverance [sedulous (a)]
.................................................. .
Seine
type of fishing net
.................................................. .
Tender
to offer
.................................................. .
Waffle
talk nonsense
.................................................. .
Burlesque
1. comic play; 2. lampoon
.................................................. .
Exemplar
model type [exemplary (a)]
.................................................. .
Homiletics
art of preaching and giving sermons
.................................................. .
Impugn
challenge; question someone’s honor etc.
.................................................. .
Incubus
encumbrance; nightmarish thing
.................................................. .
Lope
run with long strides
.................................................. .
Macerate
chop into tiny pieces
.................................................. .
Nostrum
remedy
.................................................. .
Saw
1. tool for cutting; 2. wise saying
.................................................. .
Sibyl
prophetess
.................................................. .
Brook
1. small stream; 2. tolerate
.................................................. .
Emboss
decorate with a raised design
.................................................. .
Eschew
shun; avoid
.................................................. .
Limpid
transparently clear
.................................................. .
Liturgy
form of worship
.................................................. .
Nexus
connection
.................................................. .
Odometer
instrument to measure distance covered
.................................................. .
Purchase
1. grip; 2. buy
.................................................. .
Quotidian
daily; routine
.................................................. .
Seminal
essential; formative
.................................................. .
Agog
amazed; wide-eyed with enthusiasm
.................................................. .
Amortize
pay off a debt in installments
.................................................. .
Curmudgeon
grumpy person
.................................................. .
Dormancy
state of inactivity
.................................................. .
Efficacy
effectiveness
.................................................. .
Epithet
phrase used as a label or to express the essential nature of
.................................................. .
Figurehead
symbol of power; nominal leader
.................................................. .
Fracas
fight; disturbance
.................................................. .
Jamb
door post
.................................................. .
Milk
to squeeze; obtain by application of pressure
.................................................. .
Chorales
simple hymns
.................................................. .
Dissonance
discord; disagreement
.................................................. .
Frieze
decorative border
.................................................. .
Gist
essence; main point
.................................................. .
Latent
hidden; real but undeveloped
.................................................. .
Partiality
bias
.................................................. .
Plodding
walking slowly and heavily; uninspired
.................................................. .
Rekindle
relight; revive
.................................................. .
Symphony
type of musical composition
.................................................. .
Tarnished
made dull; spoil (reputation)
.................................................. .
Compromised
1. damaged or put in doubt (esp. of reputation); 2. reached an agreement by giving up part of a claim
.................................................. .
Drabness
dullness
.................................................. .
Endow
give gift; provide with money etc.
.................................................. .
Esoterica
obscure details
.................................................. .
Falters
hesitates
.................................................. .
Prattle
mindless talk
.................................................. .
Prohibitive
1. prohibiting; 2. exorbitantly expensive
.................................................. .
Purist
conservative; one who insists on correct forms of language etc.
.................................................. .
Quack
charlatan; fake
.................................................. .
Taunt
mock; tease
.................................................. .
Arresting (a)
attracting attention; striking
.................................................. .
Barrage
extended gunfire to cover an attack; dam across river; deluge or information etc.
.................................................. .
Chantey
type of song sung by sailors
.................................................. .
Ferrous
concerned with iron or its compounds
.................................................. .
Manipulative
scheming
.................................................. .
Orate
speak in a pompous manner
.................................................. .
Psychosis
severe mental disturbance
.................................................. .
Savor
enjoy
.................................................. .
Table (v)
put down for future discussion
.................................................. .
Underwrite
give guarantee, insure
.................................................. .
Dissident
person who disagrees [dissidence (n)]
.................................................. .
Enigmatic
puzzling [enigma (n)]
.................................................. .
Foolhardy
reckless [foolhardiness (n)]
.................................................. .
Homogeneity
evenness; uniformity
.................................................. .
Personification
1. represent something as a person; 2. a concrete example of
.................................................. .
Plaque
1. surface deposit on teeth or in artery etc.; 2. decorative plate or sign
.................................................. .
Plausibility
believability [plausible (a)]
.................................................. .
Resilience
resistance; ability to spring back [resilience (a)]
.................................................. .
Trilogy
set of three (literary works etc.); tetralogy = set of four
.................................................. .
Vagary
something unaccountable; freak
.................................................. .
Aisle
corridor; passageway (esp. between rows of seats)
.................................................. .
Discountenance
disallow
.................................................. .
Imperative
must be obeyed
.................................................. .
Indigent
poor; needy [indigence (n)]
.................................................. .
Nadir
lowest point
.................................................. .
Paranoia
mental state characterized by delusions or excessive fear
.................................................. .
Prudence
caution; wisdom
.................................................. .
Resuscitation
revival from unconsciousness [resuscitate (v)]
.................................................. .
Shirk
avoid (esp. work)
.................................................. .
Teetotalism
total abstinence from alcohol
.................................................. .
Balm
soothing ointment or anything soothing [balmy (a)]
.................................................. .
Calibrate
mark an accurate scale on a device
.................................................. .
Cataclysmic
violently disruptive [cataclysm (n)]
.................................................. .
Impropriety
inappropriate behavior
.................................................. .
Pith
center; soft part of stem; essence
.................................................. .
Primordial
present from the beginning of time
.................................................. .
Reconnaissance
examination or survey conducted in advance [reconnoiter (v)]
.................................................. .
Sinistral
left-handed (or counterclockwise) [dextral - right handed]
.................................................. .
Tempers
moderates
.................................................. .
Undermine
subvert; attempt to overthrow
.................................................. .

Vocabulary Exercises 1

calligraphy - fine handwriting

cartography - mapmaking

epigram - short saying

graphic - evoking lifelike images

holography three - dimensional image

monogram - design composed of one or more initials

monograph - scholarly study

seismograph - instrument for measuring earthquake vibrations

stenography - short hand writing

typography - appearance of a printed page

ultimatum - final offer

canard - false report

inert - inactive

immemorial - extending back beyond memory

desolate - uninhabited

Vocabulary Exercises 2

deploy - place military troops

lassitude - weariness

haze - unclear

ply - address someone urgently

acuteness - quick mind

belligerent - seeking conflict

detonation - explosion

pinnacle - highest point

clamor - cry out

bevy - any group

lurid - glowing

bawl - to call out noisily

reins - controlling

commend - to express a good opinion

foreboding - prediction of something bad

Vocabulary Exercises 3

fusillade - simultaneous firing of weapons

contagion - spreading of a disease

precipitate - cause to happen

silhouette - figure seen against a light background

apparition - anything that appears unexpectedly

reverberation - reechoed sound

insensate - not capable of feeling sensation

exultant - triumphant

imminent - likely to happen soon

desist - stop

avail - take advantage of

torrent - very heavy fall of rain

repugnance - distaste

conveyance - a transport or carrier

Vocabulary Exercises 4

minute - small

colossus - huge

disgorge - empty

lethargy - great lack of energy

torpor - state of being inactive

obscurity - lack of clearness or visibility

perplexingly - with confusion or hesitancy

furtively - secretly

cowl - hood

scintillate - reflect brightly

consume - devour

gaunt - starved

indiscriminate - failing to clearly choose

battery - basic unit of military personnel

dissuade - persuade not to do something

Vocabulary Exercises 5

assiduously - carefully

expostulate - argue

vicar - a parish priest

formidable - inspiring fear

obliquely - with a change of direction

portmanteau - suitcase

exultation - celebration

decapitate - to remove one's head

intricate - full of elaborate detail

patent - obvious

intermittently - periodically

froth - churn

inaudibly - not able to be heard

confluence - where rivers join

Vocabulary Exercises 6

basin - low area on Earth's surface

salinity - saltiness

crest - highest point of a wave

trough - lowest point of a wave

breaker - ocean wave that collapses

tide - the rise and fall of the sea level

photosynthesis - compound produced through light

pollutant - a poison

radiation - method of transmitting or spreading something

stratosphere - atmosphere that contains ozone

dew point - temperature at which water vapor condenses

cirrus h - igh altitude clouds

cumulus - low-lying puffy white clouds

cumulonimbus - anvil shaped clouds

Vocabulary Exercises 7

dearth - scarce supply

gratify - satisfy

choleric - easily angered

threshold - entrance

wreak - inflict punishment upon

stoic - unemotional

vendetta - destructive feud

condone - excuse

robust - strong

panoply - striking array

confer - to present

poignant - touching

mettle - spirit

withhold - restrain

vindictive - revengeful

Vocabulary Exercises 8

travesty - humorous imitation

impose - to apply by force

piquant - spicy

diatribe - abusive denunciation

appease - quieten

sumptuous - lavish

hedonism - pursuit of

castigate - inflict severe punishment

orotund - full in sound

brink - edge

pluck - daring

wrest - obtain by pulling

brazen - shameless

harridan - vicious

encumber - to place a heavy load on

Vocabulary Exercises 9

wan - unnaturally pale

ploy - devious action

jostle - push

stringent - severe

catastrophe - a great calamity

nettle - stinging hairs

ostentatious - very showy display

glut - fill beyond capacity

incense - infuriate

severe - strict

precipice - steep cliff

retaliate - to pay back

peevish - contrary

verge - border

rehabilitate - restore to good health

Vocabulary Exercises 10

pacific - peaceful

toady - flatterer

endow - to give

obsequious - fawning

rectify - to set right

circumspection - carefully considering

remonstrance - protest

hem - surround

lethargic - lack of energy

rout - to cause to flee

aghast - horrified

manifest - obvious

radiate - to send out

timorous - timid

instantaneous - done immediately

Vocabulary Exercises 11

masonry - brick

scullery - room next to kitchen

rampart - defense against attack

aspect - point of view

agile - moving easily

rendering - drawing

dexterous - skillful

endeavor - to strive

convulsive - involuntary spasms

physiological - workings of the body

heterogeneous - make of different elements

fluctuation - unsteady motion

supersede - to make obsolete

defunct - no longer used

caricature - representation of a person

Vocabulary Exercises 12

incur - to bring on oneself

vitiate - weaken

efficacious - effective

importunity - persistent urgent demands

anemic - lacking vitality

elemental - most basic

contrivance - invention

oscillate - swing from side to side

impart - give

acute - sharp

enigma - perplexing

culminate - climax or end

atrocity - cruel action

vestige - sign

forethought - thinking ahead

Vocabulary Exercises 13

oust - force out

tussle - cuffle

cajole - coax

rudimentary - basic

paradoxical - full of contradictions

implore - ask

copiously - abundantly

intolerable - unbearable

parch - dry

ebb - decline

despondent - without hope

inconclusive - not leading to a definite result

phantasm - ghost

sumptuous - splendid

frond - palm

Vocabulary Exercises 14

covet - long for with envy

teeter - to rock

lurid - vivid or harsh

dominate - rule

dethronement - act of ousting

exuberance - excitement

succumb - yield

circuitously - indirectly

singularly - uniquely

dexterous - skillful

cell - small unit

organelles - tiny organs

cell wall - outermost boundary of a cell

nucleus - center of a cell

chromosomes - carries the traits of a cell

Vocabulary Exercises 15

chlorophyll - green substance in plants

enzyme - body protein

weight - measure of the force

cleavage - groove between parts

gravity - attractive force

fracture - to break

titanium - lightweight metal

pique - arouse

equivocate - lie

opulent - luxuriant

dandy - a dude concerned with his clothes

gesticulate - express through movement

diffident - shy

ruse - trickery

conjure - exaggerated dignity

Vocabulary Exercises 16

pompous - vain or stuck up

frippery - elegance

emit - to give off

resplendent - splendid

glint - sparkle

strut - walk proudly

vociferous - crying out loudly

perfidy - treachery

ravage - devastate

boorish - ill-mannered

myriad - innumerable

hoodwink - deceive

vocal - spoken

locution - word or phrase

devastate - destroy

Vocabulary Exercises 17

staid - great dignity

AD - Anno domini

BC - Before Christ

bicentennial - two hundredth anniversary

centennial - one hundredth anniversary

century - one hundred years

chronology - events in order

decade - ten years

generalization - broad conclusion

historian - studies the past

barometer - measures air pressure

bathysphere - sphere-shaped diving vessel

lens - transparent object that bends light

palpable - able to be handled

Vocabulary Exercises 18

vitality - energetic

indolently - lazily

slender - thin

doggedly - persistently

crags - uneven parts of cliffs

opaque - not able to be seen through

gargoyle - decorative monster

cultivated - refined

baronial - suitable for nobility

cossack - skilled Russian horsemen

lacerated - torn roughly

mantle - thickest layer inside Earth

tsunami - destructive tidal wave

Vocabulary Exercises 19

projectile - object thrown or shot

centripetal - tendency to move to the center

antibiotic - stops growth of microorganisms

biopsy - removal of living tissue

biosphere - atmosphere in which living things exist

microbe - tiny life form

symbiosis - beneficial relationship

vivacious - lively

vivid - intense

edifice - building

alleviate - make bearable

viable - practicable

agenda - a plan

infiltrate - to enter maliciously

sultry - hot

Vocabulary Exercises 20

itinerary - plan for a journey

sustain - support

transient - passing with time

levity - humor

quaff - to drink heartily

hardy - vigorous

valor - bravery

malign - to make untrue statements

demure - shy

edict - having the force of law

permeate - penetrate

audacious - outrageous

malaise - sense of unease

evict - expel

pugnacious - belligerent

Vocabulary Exercises 21

oration - formal speech

avert - to prevent

craven - cowardly

humility - meekness or a lack of pride

exhort - spur on

impediment - obstruction

embellish - decorate

pith - sponge-like inside of flower

luminous - bright or glowing

subside - sink to a lower level

homage to pay respect

rebuke - to reprimand

wiles - tricks

rant - emotional speech

snare - trap

Vocabulary Exercises 22

isthmus - narrow strip of land

lurk - wait out of sight

entice - lure

gorge - deep valley

assemble - to gather together

omnivorous - eating anything

sinister - wicked

clandestine - done in secret

strait - narrow passage of water

vivacious - lively

timorous - fearful

savory - tasty

role - an assumed character

bland - tasteless

gourmand - glutton

Vocabulary Exercises 23

covey - small flock of birds

waylay - ambush

indefatigable - unwearying

aplomb - great composure

stymie - stump

arduous - difficult

cistern - receptacle for holding water

flag - cloth with a distinct design

inscrutable - mysterious

quandary - perplexity

curtail - abbreviate

sheepish - embarrassed

surplus - excess amount

truncate - to shorten

garish - tacky

Vocabulary Exercises 24

chagrin - embarrassment

garrulous - wordy and rambling

enigma - riddle

deplete - empty out

sanctimonious - self-righteous

languish - lose strength

incessant - continuous

magnanimity - kind-heartedness

rainforest - forest with abundant rainfall

deforestation - large-scale cutting down of forests

dike - dam or levee

fallow - not cultivated

personification - giving human characteristics

exposition - explanation

setting - where a story takes place

Vocabulary Exercises 25

persistent - unrelenting

fatuous - foolish

petulant - impatient

ferocity - savage

dissentient - against the majority

satchel - small bag

drawl - speak very slowly

scheme - plan in a deceitful way

beckon - silent gesture

turbulent - wildly irregular motion

retch - vomit

perpetuate - cause to continue

affluence - abundance of riches

consent - give permission

lavish - give generously

Vocabulary Exercises 26

placid - calm

recoil - shrink back

meager - small amount

expanse - open area

degrade - bring to dishonor

blatant - brazenly obvious

imperceptible - difficult to detect

deteriorate - to become worse

perusal - casual reading

aggregation - group of people

unprecedented - never before seen

din - harsh noice

ruckus - noisy disturbance

hibernate - inactive state

archeologist - studies man's past

Vocabulary Exercises 27

incidental - accidental

predicament - situation that is hard to get out of

dietitian - specialist in nutrition

waders - waterproof boots

poacher - one that kills animals illegally

sloughs - places of deep mud

briar - thorny stem

haven - safe place

gauged - estimated

commute - travel back and forth

mystical - spiritual meaning

biologist - those who study living things

random - determined by chance

audible - heard

semi-dormant - half asleep

Vocabulary Exercises 28

frigid - intensely cold

refuge - shelter

unsociable - unfriendly

conservancy - preserve of natural resources

soberly - seriously

pointed - definite meaning

flank - fleshy part near the ribs

burly - heavily built

mannequin - plastic person

disfigure - to mar the appearance

stealthy - sneaky

fishtail - swing from side to side

intimidate - make fearful

gallivanting - roaming

data - information

Vocabulary Exercises 29

compel - to make someone do something

gingerly - carefully

cubicle - small space

skeptical - attitude of doubt

heart-wrenching - very emotional

microfiche - sheet of microfilm

honorary - having distinction

psychic - supernatural forces

laden - burdened

retreat - withdrawal

hypnotizing - mesmerizing

habitat - living environment

vivid - lively

ebony - dark

vicinity - near

Vocabulary Exercises 30

dedicated - committed to a goal

rafters - beams that support

shard - fragment of a brittle substance

sanctuary - protection

boycott - refusal to do something

simmer - stew gently

mute - to muffle or make quiet

resign - give up deliberately

manufacture - to make something

rivulets - small streams

dilemma - problem

cackle - to laugh harshly

trauma - disturbing event

sullen - depressed

hobgoblin - mischievous elf

Vocabulary Exercises 31




levering - prying

dentures - false set of teeth

sinewy - stringy

caterwauling - harsh crying

cockfight - fighting gamecocks

daubed - coated

cascade - small waterfall

score - account

throaty - sound uttered low and rasping

slog - hit hard

rogue - dishonest person

simper smile in a silly manner

taproot - root that grows downward

taunt - insult

meringue - sweet topping

Vocabulary Exercises 32

cantankerous - grouchy

catcall - loud cry

meandered - walk along without direction

abominable - disgusting

privy - outhouse

impudence - rudeness

dovecote - box for domestic pigeons

tunic - loose cloak

skeins - loosely coiled yarn

grievances - complaints

shamming - pretending

betrothal - engagement

wimple - cloth covering over the head

morose - gloomy

odious - extremely unlikable

Vocabulary Exercises 33

addled - confused

contemplating - deciding

spectacle - eye-catching

gibberish - foolish talk

tedious - repetitive

harrowing - vexing

rapturous - ecstatic

menagerie - collection of animals

babbling - talking excessively

cairn - marker

slather - a great amount

doleful - mournful

adage - wise saying

embroil - entangle

succinct - concise

Vocabulary Exercises 34

minutia - trivial detail

capsize - to overturn

frowzy - unkempt

peon - menial worker

ensnare - to catch

lavish - to give abundantly

finagle - to obtain

peripatetic - traveling on foot

lapse - to be no longer valid

excoriate - to tear

fluent - express oneself readily

charisma - personal appeal

regress - move backward

articulate - express oneself clearly

Vocabulary Exercises 35

beacon - guiding device

cajole - flatter

lucid - sane or rational

mentor - trusted counselor

retinue - body of assistants

burgeon - blossom

histrionic - melodramatic

psyche - having to do with the soul

advocate - to plead in favor

salutary - beneficial

conclave - private meeting

deflect - to turn aside

pernicious - wicked

missive - written communication

extol - praise highly

Vocabulary Exercises 36

whet - sharpen by rubbing

transient - passing quckly

complacency - quiet satisfaction

scrutinize - look at very carefully

serene - calm

assurance - confidence

terrestrial - of the earth

molten - liquefied by heat

animated - very lively

superficial - not deep

eloquent - expressive

palpitate - tremble

fertile - fruitful

unanimity - complete agreement

fluctuate - continually changing

Vocabulary Exercises 37

incandescent - very bright

velocity - speed

vigil - determined watchfulness

audible - can be heard

recede - move back

calamity - misery

scoff - express mocking contempt

adjacent - near or close

jubilant - triumphant

tranquil - calm

dun - dull grayish brown

incrustation - crust

circumference - boundary of a circular object

irresolute - wavering in purpose

diameter - width of a circular object

Vocabulary Exercises 38

ascribe - assign something to

consolation - making less sad

embed - set firmly

inanimate - not moving

evident - plain

rouse - awake

impediment - hinders a certain action

excavation - expose by digging

concussion - violent blow

cavity - hole

billowy - surge

inarticulate - speak poorly

petrify - paralyze with fear

deliberation - slowness and with care

aperture - opening

Vocabulary Exercises 39

renew - make new

impulse - sudden inclination

multitude - large number of persons

derelict - abandoned

accost - approach to speak

composition - makeup

derive - to receive

intermittent - stopping and starting

pallid - faint in color

drone - continuous buzzing sound

impinge - strike

inevitable - certain to happen

stupefy - stun

undulate - move as if in waves

verge - edge

Vocabulary Exercises 40

combustible - flammable

incontinently - able to restrain

trivial - insignificant

deter - discourage someone

smite - strike hard

perplexed - puzzled

detachment - separation

incongruity - having a lack of harmony

haggard - worn look

allay - lessen

albeit - even though

invigorate - energize

indisputably - unquestionably

dispense - do away with

exertion - energetic activity

Vocabulary Exercises 41

timidity - state of shyness

citizenship - conduct within the community

cooperation - working together

school pride - satisfaction in your school's achievements

respect - regard highly

self-respect - positive opinion of oneself

courage - bravery

commitment - binding oneself

loyalty - faithfulness

determination - firm of purpose

trustworthy - responsible

tolerance - permitting something

empathy - understand what another person is feeling

kindness - being friendly and sympathetic

gratitude - thankfulness

Vocabulary Exercises 42

generosity - unselfishness

diligence - steady manner

creativity - originality

initiative - first step

work ethic - positive attitude towards work

punctuality - promptness

perseverance - continuing in spite of difficulties

reliability - honoring commitments

courtesy - well-mannered

honesty - truthfulness

fairness - impartiality

patience - waiting calmly and quietly

cleanliness - free from dirt

self-control - mastering one's actions

compassion - showing pity

Vocabulary Exercises 43

independent - self-reliant

wisdom - accumulated learning

virtue - moral excellence

dependability - reliability

sportsmanship - winning or losing positively

cheerfulness - good humored

patriotism - love of country

absurd - unreasonable

access - approach

acclaim - to approve

acquiesce - to agree

advocate - to support

aloof - disinterested

ambiguous - unclear

Vocabulary Exercises 44

analogy - comparison

analysis - examination of something

anarchy - lawlessness

apathy - lack of emotion

arbitrary - whimsical

arrogant - overly proud

articulate - to speak distinctly

augment - to add to

authentic - genuine

baffle - to perplex

benevolent - intending to do good

bias - prejudice

censor - to ban

censure - an official reprimand

circumlocution - to evade with words

Vocabulary Exercises 45

coherent - logical

competent - fit

contempt - disdain

deference - respect

denounce - condemn

deter - discourage

deviate - turn aside from

discern - distinguish

discriminate - distinguish

disdain - despise

disparage - discredit

dispute - to call into question

distort - twist out of the true meaning

diverse - differing from one another

dogma - doctrine

Vocabulary Exercises 46

fluctuate - shift back and forth

futile - unproductive

hostile - unfriendly

hypocrite - who fakes virtue

hypothesis - tentative assumption

immense - enormous

impose - compel

indifferent - without interest

indulge - pamper

inevitable - incapable of being avoided

infer - hint

innocuous - inoffensive

innovate - introduce something new

intense - extreme

manipulate - to control skillfully

Vocabulary Exercises 47

pandemonium - chaos

benevolence - kindness

barter - to trade

culture - way of life of a group

whimsical - impulsive

lagoon - pool of water

tributary - small stream

delta - mouth of a river

longitude - east-west direction on the globe

equator - north-south line around the middle of the Eath

topographic - map that shows the relief of the land

contour lines - lines that connect points of equal elevation

epicenter - point directly above an earthquake

harbor - seaport

plains - flat land

Vocabulary Exercises 48

ocean - body of salt water

volcano - opening in the Earth

valley - low land between hills

reef - ridge that lies near the surface of a sea

rapids - fast moving part of a river

swamp - low, wet lands

floodplain - land that is flooded by a river

cape - land that extends into water

sea - body of salt water

lake - body of fresh water with land on all sides

range - chain of mountains

canyon - deep, narrow valley

mesa - flat-topped mountain

waterfall - steep drop from a high place

cave - hollow passage in the earth

Vocabulary Exercises 49

wetlands - land saturated with water

foothills - hilly area at the base of a mountain

gap - passage through mountains

inlet - narrow passage of water

marsh - lowland with moist soil

peak - pointed summit of a mountain

tributary - river that empties into a larger river

product - answer to a multiplication problem

quotient - answer to a division problem

square root - any number times itself

exponent - how many times a number is used as a factor

variable - letter that represents a number

consecutive - one after another

formula - mathematical equation

estimate - educated guess

Vocabulary Exercises 50

base - lowest point or number

integers - whole numbers

positive number - any number greater than zero

negative number - any number less than zero

opposite numbers - negative and positive of a number

absolute value - distance from zero on the number line

simplify - reduce completely

evaluate - find the value of a variable expression

substitution - put in place of

percent - number compared to one hundred

meter - basic unit of length in the metric system

gram - basic unit of mass

liter - basic unit of capacity

Vocabulary Exercises 51

deci 1/10

centi 1/100

milli 1/1000

metric - system of measurement

proper fraction - fraction whose numerator is less than its denominator

improper fraction - fraction whose numerator is greater that denominator

mixed number - whole number and a fraction

foot - 12 inches

yard - 3 feet

mile - 5,280 feet

pound - 16 ounces

Vocabulary Exercises 52

ton - 2,000 pounds

cup - 8 fluid ounces

pint - 2 cups

quart - 2 pints

gallon - 4 quarts

ratio - comparison of one number to another

quadrant - section of the coordinate plane

plot - mark points on a graph

trojan horse - hidden instructions inside a computer program

hacker - someone who breaks into a computer system

Vocabulary Exercises 53

reboot - restart

gigabyte - one billion bytes of information

tutorial - program of instruction

WYSIWYG - word-processing system

encrypt - scramble computerized information

header - information at the top margin

footer - information at the bottom of a page

executable - computer file that will perform a tast

buffer - used to store data

online - connected to a computer network

character - symbol such as a letter

byte - a small unit of measure of computer memory

upload - to transfer data from a computer

download - to transfer data to a computer

Vocabulary Exercises 54

command - causes a computer to do a task

delete - to remove

document - text file

file - stored document

format - to divide in sectors for data storage

graphics - pictures

hard copy - a document that is printed on paper

input - information given to a computer

insert - process of adding

memory - computer storage capacity

menu - list of functions that a computer performs

Vocabulary Exercises 55

word wrap - automatic movement of a word to the next line

output - the final document

printout - document printed on paper

proofreading - finding mistake or errors in your copy

software - set of programmed instructions

word processing - text data

edit - to modify data

e-mail - electronic mail

digital - camera a camera which uses a chip to store images

hard drive - magnetic metal disk that stores data

hardware - physical parts of the computer

Vocabulary Exercises 56

web site - a location on the world wide web

modem - device that connects the computer to a communications system

mouse - pointing device

multimedia - graphics and sound

online - connected to a computer network

PC - personal computer

scanner - device that copies an image

port - computer connection hardware

scroll - to move through text or graphics

software - computer programs

word processor - application that outputs text data

ply - provide insistently

decapitate - to remove one's head

Vocabulary Exercises 57

whinnies - horse sound

bridle - horse's harness for the head

stirrups - rings that a horse rider's feet fit in

gallop - to go very fast

straddle t - o sit with one leg on each side

meadow - grassy land

reluctant - holding back

skillets - frying pans

rodeo - riding and roping contest

utensils - tools used in cooking

satisfied - having no doubts

confidently - feeling sure of yourself

appearance - the way something looks

summoned - being called

progress - moving forward

Vocabulary Exercises 58

failure - not successful

conscious - being aware

resist - go against

remarkable - amazing

particularly - distinct or different

accord - being in agreement

request - ask for

immediately - right now

available - able to be used now

sensation - feeling

disaster - terrible loss

enchanted - magically delighted

acrobats - trapeze artists

agent - representing another

boardinghouse - furnished rooms and meals

Vocabulary Exercises 59

protegee - guided by someone

wavering - moving back and forth

trance - dreamlike state

Parliament - British legislature

allies - friends in war

taxes - money paid to the government

authority - control

tariff - tax on imported goods

represent - acting for someone else

treason - betraying one’s government

petitions - signed requests for

boycott - refusal to buy

congress - meeting of elected representatives

repealed - taken back

massacre - killing many defenseless people

Vocabulary Exercises 60

blockade - barring entry by ships

quarter - soldier's housing

rights - irrevocable freedoms

inutemen - soldiers available on short notice

patriots - loyal to one’s nation

dread - to wait with fear

recovery - return to being well

prospecting - looking for gold

citizen - member of a country

occupation - person's job

ransack - messy search

herb - useful plant

expression - look on the face

emigrant - person leaving his country

grant - something that is given

Vocabulary Exercises 61

impatient - unwillingness to wait

despair - loss of hope

succeed - complete

frontier - edge of an unknown land

determination - decided action

cautiously - carefully

supply - to give what is needed

appeal - to ask for

supervise - to watch over

settlers - pioneers in a new area

assure - to make confident

stunned - shocked

opportunities - chances to do something

demonstration - public disply

Vocabulary Exercises 62

muffle - to deaden sound

partition - something that divides

prowls - roams quietly

prose - anything not poetry

anxiously - nervously

nonchalant - unconcerned

sarcastically - in a mocking tone

laughingstock - object of ridicule

culprit - guilty person

privileges - special rights

groveling - crawling face-down

cringe - to shrink back

propeller - rotating blades

pneumonia - disease of the lungs

flustered - confused

Vocabulary Exercises 63

mariners - sailors

vessels - ships

provisions - supplies of food

unfurled - unfolded

mutiny - rebellion against authority

forfeited - given up

reckon - compute or calculate

orator - public speaker

spectators - persons watching an event

transfixed - motionless

vetoed - rejected by authority

resolutions - personal goals

adjourned - ended a session

astronomy - study of heavenly bodies

yield - produce

Vocabulary Exercises 64

unraveling - becoming undone

eclipse - complete or partial hiding

almanac - yearly book of facts

edition - copies printed at one time

abolitionist - slavery opponent

monarch - royal ruler

here - in this place

little - small

this - thing being mentioned

mother - female parent

play - to have fun

trunk - long snout

cake - baked dessert

Vocabulary Exercises 65

artist - one who paints or draws

meadow - grassy field

paintings - pictures not drawn with pen or pencil

brook - small stream

season - part of the year

real - not imagined

talking - speaking

stretching - spreading out

brilliant - bright

cover - hide under something

delighted - very happy

horrible - terrible

replied - answered

weaving - winding in and out

crawled - moved slowly

Vocabulary Exercises 66

tend - to take care of

finally - at last

disappear - to move out of sight

strange - unusual

through - into and out of

relatives - people in the same family

wrinkle - crooked fold

hour - sixty minutes

few - not many

bullying - threatening

family - people related to each another

buy - to purchase

new - not old

grown - larger

weather - outside conditions

Vocabulary Exercises 67

knit - to made with yarn

barbecue - meat roasted on an open fire

jeans - tough cotton pants

adventure - an exciting experience

whole - complete or entire

harbor - sheltered body of water

soar - fly very high

surround - shut in on all sides

believe - to trust in

practice - training by repeating

remember - to keep in memory

cousin - child of your aunt or uncle

building - structure

country - land of a nation

say - to speak

Vocabulary Exercises 68

touch - physical contact

bore - make a hole

impatient - not wanting to wait

replied - answered

squeeze - press between something

thorn - sharp sticker on a plant

lazy - not willing to work

hungry - feeling a need for food

full - able to hold no more

angry - feeling or showing displeasure

ridiculous - foolish and comical

draw - to make a picture

thought - idea

music - pleasant expressive sounds

instrument - something making musical sounds

Vocabulary Exercises 69

squawk - shrill or harsh sound

poem - writing in verse

entertain - to amuse

performance - musical or theatrical presentation

foolish - not having good sense

feather - covering on bird's body

spread - to stretch out

balance - steady position

foot - lowest part of the leg

canyon - deep narrow valley

cringed - crouch in fear

consumer - user of goods or services

error - mistake

released - set free

lame - not able to walk well

Vocabulary Exercises 70

sly - sneaky or clever

sturdy - strong

astonishment - amazement

proud - feeling good about yourself

special - very important

knew - having the facts

borrow - temporary use something

enough - all that is needed

heard - listened to

dike - dam made of dirt

announced - said or told

blinding - hard to see through

flooded covered with water

village - small town

cranes - large water birds

Vocabulary Exercises 71

women - female humans

clever - sly and resourceful

greedy - wanting too much

tricky - sly

courage - overcoming fear

attempt - to make an effort

trees - large, woody plants

short - not long or tall

live - to exist

way - certain path

leaves - green parts of a plant

turn - to move in a different direction

soft - not hard

their - belonging to them

Vocabulary Exercises 72

feel - to know by touch

nervous - restless or tense

allowance - something granted

postcards - cards mailed without an envelope

yawn - expression of tiredness

knapsack - backpack

advice - guidance

realistic - showing things as they are

haze - fog or cloud

device - an instrument or tool

chemical - made from changed substances

ingredients - parts of a mixture

silo - storage tower

mechanical - like a machine

millennium - one thousand years

Vocabulary Exercises 73

descendant - person born from an ancestor

oppression - force or subjugation

discrimination - extreme favoritism in actions or attitude

nectar - sweet liquid made by flowers

production - process of making something

conquer - to overpower

current - flow of water

cycle - repeating set of events

endangered - threatened

installed - set up correctly

engineering - planning and building

cocoon - covering around a pupa

orphanage - place for homeless children

wigwam - Indian tent

Vocabulary Exercises 74

squaw - American Indian woman

papoose - Native American baby

legend - supernatural story

excavate - to dig up

dugout - Indian log boat

mesas - steep hills with flat tops

adobe - made of clay

cultivate - grow plants

accomplishment - achievement

founded - established

formal - following established customs

piety - religious devotion

ingenious - clever

compulsory - enforced

baritone - male voice above a bass

Vocabulary Exercises 75

entitled - having the right to something

landscape - stretch of natural scenery on land

pros - advantages

cons - disadvantages

bolster - support or strengthen

residential - used for homes

ancestors - people one is descended from

prosperous - having success

synthetic - man-made with chemicals

poultry - birds raised for food

communal - belonging to a group

harvest - gather a crop

perpetuate - cause to be continued

industrious - steadily working hard

competently - skillfully

Vocabulary Exercises 76

emphasize - give special attention to

deprive - keep from having

dialect - localized form of a language

tolerate - allow

monsoon - strong seasonal wind

sacrifice - giving up of something

commemorate - honor the memory of

restoration - act of bringing back

conservation - preserving something

inhabit - to live in

irrigation - supplying land with water

nutrients - substances that provide nourishment

distribution - area over which something is spread

ecosystems - specific environment

impact - effect of an action

Vocabulary Exercises 77

vegetation - plant life

desolate - barren or deserted

broadcaster - person sending messages electronically

exclusively - particular way

blackmail - to get something by threatening

evading - avoiding

mute - silent

impose - to enforce

stragglers - those lagging behind

violated - failed to follow

influence - ability to affect what others do

neutral - taking neither side

truce - temporary halt in fighting

recital - musical performance

stage fright - fear of performing

Vocabulary Exercises 78

kneaded - pressed with the hands

quartet - four musicians who perform together

ensemble - group of musicians who perform together

professional - specially trained

scales - series of musical tones

tempo - speed of music

intonation - ability to play notes in tune

symphony - long piece of music in four parts

inquire - investigate

dreadful - terrible

eccentricities - odd behaviors

peculiar - odd

uproar - noisy confusion

appreciate - show gratitude

congruent - same shape and size

Vocabulary Exercises 79

dodge - move quickly aside

rescue - save from danger

taunt - to tease

source - origin

eliminate - to get rid of

famished - starving

produce - to make

purchase - to buy something

discover - to find something

curtain - window covering

break - to crack into pieces

piece - part of a whole

wondered c - urious about something

rescue - save from harm

Vocabulary Exercises 80

strong - powerful

appear - come into sight

spare - extra

brought - carried with one

perfect - just right

company - with others

without - not having

sure - positive

enjoyed - pleased with

explained - told about something

sighed - long sad breath

lonely - sad about being by yourself

decided - made up one's mind

important - necessary or valuable

change - to make different

Vocabulary Exercises 81

dangling - swinging loosely

noise - loud sounds

coin - metal piece of money

tour - a trip visiting places

solar system - the Sun and the planets

aboard - on something

guide - person leading a trip

already - before now

dangerous - unsafe

thunder - loud noise in a storm

rotates - turns in a circle

orbit - planet’s path around a sun

astronomer - solar system expert

fiercest - wildest

bargain - a deal

Vocabulary Exercises 82

jungle - land thickly covered with plants

kind - type

mind - to care about or obey

group - number of things together

scare - make afraid

lie - to rest by not standing or to no tell the truth

planets - larger bodies that orbit a star

produce - to make

larger bigger in size

weigh - to measure weight

meteorite - an object striking the earth from space

crater - deep hole

comet - object of gas and dust orbiting the sun

future - time that hasn't happened yet

Vocabulary Exercises 83

discovered - found out

neighbors - people who live near one another

different - not the same

scratched - scraped

veterinarian - doctor that takes care of animals

people - persons

caught - captured

discover - find out

biography - story of a person's life

bald - having no hair on head

protect - guard

argument - disagreement

advantage - something that is helpful

between - space that separates

Vocabulary Exercises 84

pity - sympathy or sorrow

fair - not favoring more than another

quarrel - angry dispute

accept - take what is given

penalty - punishment

horizon - line where sky meets earth

jeer - to taunt

particular - specific or exact

underground - below the earth ‘s surface

layers - levels

shower - brief fall of rain

destroy - to ruin completely

pounded - hit hard repeatedly

eon - age in the earth's history

countless - too many to be counted

Vocabulary Exercises 85

raging - moving with violent force

mountain - high hill

sometimes - not always

air - gases that we breathe

against - in opposition

shoes - coverings for the feet

start - to begin

dough - mixture of flour and water

slowly - not fast

minute - short period of 60 seconds

presents - gifts

stomach - where food is digested in the body

delicious - very good to taste

mouthful - as much as can be held in the mouth at one time

bale - large bundle of material

Vocabulary Exercises 86

fault - blame or cause

pause - short stop

spare - to keep from harming

pouch - fold of skin like a bag

freight - goods transported

shove - push

busy f - ull of activity

shrieked - screamed

shoulder - part of the body below the neck

silly - ridiculous

couple - two

secure - safe

boast - to speak too well of yourself

commotion - excitement and confusion

demand - ask forcefully

Vocabulary Exercises 87

lose - not have any longer

tone - quality of sound

bore - to make a hole

loon - duck-like bird

nip - pinch

compose - make up

stockade - high, strong fence

howl - a long and sad cry

cause - to make something happen

duty - obligation

ferocious - savage

literate - able to read and write

minuscule - very small

nonfiction - prose works based on facts

fiction - an imagined story

Vocabulary Exercises 88

obstinate - stubborn

sibling - brother or sister

suspense - anxiety

vermin - animal pests

aviator - pilot

territory - land ruled by a nation

smuggling - illegally transporting goods

dire - terrible

condemned - strongly disapproved

dismal - gloomy or depressing

campus - grounds of a school

somberly - sadly

address - speech

establish - to set up

concoction - mixture of things

Vocabulary Exercises 89

scour - search extensively

maneuver - move skillfully

donation - contribution

landmark - outstanding or well-know object

turbulence - violent atmospheric condition

indicate - to show

visualize - to form a mental picture

transmission - sending a message

static - radio noises

vague - not distinct

abated - lessened

troupe - company or group

ruts - grooves in the ground

revived - returned to life

vanity - excessive pride

Vocabulary Exercises 90

source - point of origin

populated - filled with inhabitants

revolutionary - radical change

disarray - state of disorder

helter-skelter - haphazardly

assaults - attacks

camphor - smelly white powder

loll - rest in a lazy way

eddies - currents that move with the main current

reservoirs - storage place for liquid

elated - happy

perverse - opposite of right

indomitable - unconquerable

recede - to move away

falter - to loose force

Vocabulary Exercises 91

burly - muscular

perilous - full of dangers

cavernous - resembling a cave

enveloped - completely surrounded

homely - plain

kingfisher - fish eating bird

comprehend - understand

luxurious - something pleasurable

parson - clergyman

vigorous - lively

penetrate - pierce

infield - playing area of a baseball field

nonviolence - absence of violence

unable - cannot do

recite - to repeat from memory

Vocabulary Exercises 92

defrost - thaw

cherish - love

disturb - to make uneasy

lock - to bind tightly

multiply - increase in number

nourish - to feed

overcome - conquer

pause - stop for a short time

smudge - smear or blur

efficient - effective without waste

false - wrong

ignore - disregard

misery - great pain or suffering

Vocabulary Exercises 93

partition - divider

smooth - even and unwrinkled

telescope - instrument that magnifies distant objects

utensil - implement

bacteria - single-celled microscopic organisms

canyon - deep narrow valley

decibel - measure for sound volume

fertile - productive soil

noun - person, place, or thing

quarrel - argument

signature - written name of person

treaty - agreement

rent - money paid for use of property

Vocabulary Exercises 94

shear - cut wool off a sheep

debt - money that is owed

Vicar - preacher or priest

bluff - high bank or cliff

interpreter - person that translates languages

sentinel - guard

peg - wooden nail

abstain - do without

aquarium - container for fish

battle - fight or conflict

carpenter - person who builds things with wood

engineer - person who plans and builds structures

hobby - something a person does for fun

lumberjack - person who chops down trees

recruit - person who has recently joined

Vocabulary Exercises 95

politician - person who runs for a political office

bailiff - officer of a court

smoldering - burning and smoking with little flame

wondrous - marvelous

emerges - breaks through

generations - family members around the same age

pollen - fine powder from flowers

canopy - covering

humiliation - causing shame shame

heroine - main female character

abandon - to leave behind

translation - something changed to another language

breed - one partricular kind of animal

ramble - to go on and on

Vocabulary Exercises 96

passerby - person who is moving by

instinct - natural feeling

patrol - secure an area

talent - something someone can do well

avalanche - sliding of material down a hillside

victim - person who has been hurt

suffocate - to die from not breathing

conscious - awake and alert

audition - to try out for a part

applause - clapping of hands

volunteer person who freely gives time

scenery - stage backgrounds

hostility - hate or dislike

disgrace - to bring shame upon

Vocabulary Exercises 97

stalk - follow without being seen

wandering - traveling from place to place

adapt - adjust to

survival the act of staying alive

technique - special way to do something

disguising - changing appearance

surroundings - place around something

enables - allows

mimic - copy

resemble - to look like

noticeable - easily seen

Vocabulary Exercises 98

sculpted - carved by an artist

mantle - cape like covering

era - long period of time

reside - to live

rodents - animals such as mice

sparkling - gleaming or shining

jewel - valuable stone or gem

countryside - rural area

record - permanent evidence

aware - having knowledge

recall - to remember

drift - move along on a current of air or water

Vocabulary Exercises 99

capture - catch and hold

responsible - being the cause of something

drab - dull

impossible - unable to happen

imitate - follow the example of

achiever - someone who reaches a goal

success - achievement

career - profession

package - box used for delivery

pasture - grassy field for farm animals

ankles - joints where feet meet legs

damage - harm

advise - offer helpful suggestions

frightened - afraid

Vocabulary Exercises 100

lightning - visible discharge in the sky

electricity - energy from the flow of electrons

shiver - shake

realized - understood completely

stubborn - unwilling to change

shadow - area of darkness

frozen - turned to ice or motionless

crane - machine that lifts heavy objects

property - piece of land

program - plan

petition - request

sprinkling - spreading or scattering

cunning - clever

weave - to interlace

pluck - pick by pulling off

Vocabulary Exercises 101

sunset - time when the sun disappears

plump - chubby

dusk - time when darkness begins

escape - to break free or run away

desert - large region of sand

tumbleweeds - dead rolling plants

fortune - success

grazing - eating grass and other plants

swallow - transporting food from the mouth to the stomach

comfortable - relaxed without pain

ledge - shelf-like rock on a mountain

image - picture

curious - wanting to know more

view - what can be seen

echoes - repeated sounds

Vocabulary Exercises 102

spy - to see without being seen

peering - looking in a searching way

blind - unable to see

peculiar - unique

identified - named or discovered

creatures - living beings

exist - to live

extinction - when no member of a species survives

populations - certain living things in a certain place

underground - below the earth’s surface

tame - gentle and meek

energy - power to do work

affect - have an influence on

Vocabulary Exercises 103

theory - explanation backed by testing

gem - valuable mineral

ore - mineral containing a useful substance

luster - shininess

density - amount per unit of measure

properties - things that can be described about an object

atom - smallest component of an element

Vocabulary Exercises 104

electron - negative part of atom outside nucleus

proton - positive part of atom inside nucleus

characterization - vivid description

connotation - emotional added meaning to a word

denotation - exaction definition to a word

figurative - non-literal language

flashback - part of a story that already happened

imagery - language that describes something

inference - reasonable conclusion

inversion - reversal of the usual order

irony - sarcasm or an unexpected outcome

metaphor - comparison between two unlike things

cacophony - harsh jarring sound

coherent - consistent and logical

dilution - weakened substance

Vocabulary Exercises 105

drastically - extremely

enigmatic - perplexing

indigenous - native to an area

metabolism - chemical reactions in living things

ingestion - taking in food

digestion - breaking food down

respiration - breathing

excretion - getting rid of waste materials

available - ready for use

cater - to satisfy the needs of

customary - usual or expected

dissuade - persuade not to do something

firebrand - troublemaker

hazard - danger

homicide - murder

Vocabulary Exercises 106

humane - showing sympathy for others

indifference - lack of interest or concern

indignant - anger over something unjust

indispensable - absolutely necessary

lubricate - to apply oil or grease

mutual - shared equally

pelt - strike successively

plague - easily spread disease causing deaths

poised - balanced

regime - government in power

retard - to make slow

transparent - allowing light through

unscathed - wholly unharmed

polygon - closed figure with three or more sides

majority - greater part

Vocabulary Exercises 107

definite - precise

symbol - something that represents something else

doubtful - uncertain

navigator - person who charts the course

deny - refuse to give

twilight - time immediately after sunset

reliable - dependable

absent - not present

analyze - study

accidentally - not on purpose

embarrass - humiliate

misspell - spell incorrectly

adherent - supporter or follower

Vocabulary Exercises 108

daunt - frighten

tranquility - calmness

virago - quarrelsome woman

persecution - affliction

flagon - container for liquids

quaff - drink heartily

lore - traditional knowledge

morrow - the next day

surcease - to come to an end

entreat - ask earnestly

obeisance - deference or homage

beguile - to trick

countenance - appearance

craven - cowardly

discourse - long communication

Vocabulary Exercises 109

placid - peaceful

melancholy - gloomy state of mind

ominous - portending evil or harm

plutonian - like the underworld

pallid - pale

chamber - room

invest - to put into

dynasty - family of rulers

pagoda - tall Asian shrine

empire - groups of lands under the rule of one ruler

academic - relating to education

clarify - to make clear

confide - totell something in secret

disclose - to uncover

Vocabulary Exercises 110

enlighten - to inform

expound - to make a detailed statement on a topic

ingrained - impressed firmly on the mind

sage - wise and respected person

seminar - conference where a specific topic is discussed

abridge - to shorten

browse - to look casually

citation - quotation from a reliable source

compendium - short but complete summary

etymology - study of the origin of words

gazetteer - geographical dictionary

glossary - alphabetical list of words in the back of a book

abash - embarrass

Vocabulary Exercises 111

activate - start

adept - expert

adjacent - directly next to

advent - coming event

affliction - misery

allay - lessen

alliance - union for a common purpose

amity - friendliness

anecdote - brief story

appalling - terrible

anonymous - unidentified

appropriate - suitable

aristocrat - nobility

arrogance - excessive pride

Vocabulary Exercises 112

articulate - speak clearly

aspiration - strong desire

scenario - rough script

taunt - reproach with insults

expansion - act of expanding

emphatic - strongly expressive

deny - declare something to be untrue

intersect - meet at a point of crossing

insignia - emblem

sponsor - one who supports

publicity - bringing something to the public's attention

offensive - act of attacking

abandoned left behind

breeds - particular kinds of animals

companion - close associate

Vocabulary Exercises 113

rambles - going on and on

originated - came into being

instincts - natural tendencies

patrol - check for trouble

talent - special natural ability

avalanches - large mass sliding down a hillside

victim - someone who is injured

suffocate - to die from lack of air

conscious - awake

audition - to try out

father - male parent

pony - small horse

wanted - desired

Vocabulary Exercises 114

opportunitie - chance to do something

supply - furnish what is needed

dreaded - greatly feared

miniature - tiny version

quality - degree of excellence

nourish - keep alive and healthy

mechanical - operated by a machine

yield - amount produced

nectar - sweet liquid found in flowers

remedies - cures

production - process of making something

oppression - cruel and unfair treatment

untidy - messy

discovered - found out

Vocabulary Exercises 115

exclude - shut out

disapprove - show dislike

inactive - idle

inaccurate - wrong

dishonest - deceitful

expedition - journey for a purpose

extinct - no longer living

incomplete - not finished

untied - not fastened

incorrect - not right

unpack - to take things out

unseen - not visible

except - instead of

unhealthy - not well

universe - everything that exists

Vocabulary Exercises 116

exploration - travel for the purpose discovery

disinfectant - used to destroy germs

international - between nations

babble - make meaningless sounds

badge - distinctive emblem

baggage - luggage a traveler takes on a trip

bakery - place baked goods are made

ballot - form used to cast a vote

balance - equality between opposing forces

baton - wand used by a musical conductor

priest - religious leader

temple - place of worship

principal - highest in importance

Vocabulary Exercises 117

shinny - to climb

slimy - covered with filth

stationing - assigning a certain spot

venture - proceed in face of danger

pantry - closet where food is kept

reputation - how the public views a person

style - manner of doing something

exercises - training by repetition and review

sprint - race covering a short distance

gurgling - making a flowing or low sound

spade - digging tool

churn - to stir quickly

patchwork - many small pieces sewn together

umbrella - hand-held canopy

struggle - difficult task

Vocabulary Exercises 118

compass - direction determining device

tough - rugged

general - high officer

carnival - fair or festival

several - quite a few

ceramics - type of pottery

classical - arts in a past era

daub - apply paint with crude strokes

medley - mixture

melodious - pleasant to hear

orchestrate - organize

palette - thin board for mixing paints

pantomime - acting with gestures

texture - feel of the surface of an object

geologist - scientist who studies rocks

Vocabulary Exercises 119

mine - extracting minerals from the ground

forbidden - not allowed

accidental - happening by chance

vein - long deposit of underground metal

allusion - indirect mention of something

dialogue - conversation

foreshadow - foretell or bode

anthology - collection of writings

serialize - present one part of a story at a time

volume - relative amount

episode - part in a series

image - vivid description

pseudonym - pen name

literary - referring to books and writing

commission - share of the profit

Vocabulary Exercises 120

interest - charge for the use of money

principal - amount borrowed in a loan

flex - bend

mono - prefix meaning "one"

phonetics - study of the sounds of language

deign - condescend

pragmatic - practical

ambiance - special atmosphere

tout - publicize

obsequious - groveling

prospect - possibility

ingratiate - gain favor

Vocabulary Exercises 121

voracious - eating a lot

manifesto - declaration of principles

vaunt - brag about

cynical - showing scorn

apprehensive - uneasy

confide - to reveal in private

retrospective - contemplating

annals - chronological record of the events

implore - to beg for earnestly

fortuitous - fortunate

invective - abusive language

rue - feel regret

avarice - greed

trappings - articles of dress

Vocabulary Exercises 122

condescend - lower oneself

drivel - talk childishly

disseminate - to spread

lustrous - shiny

envelop - enclose with a covering

iridescent - display of lustrous colors

rancor - bitter

malignant - disposed to do evil

curmudgeon - ill-tempered person

degrade - demote

exalt - glorify, praise, or honor

slough - swamp

discern - detect

Vocabulary Exercises 123

baleful - ominous

pall - cover for a coffin

shimmer - glimmer

precarious - based on uncertain premises

misdemeanor - offense less serious than a felony

fester - to decay

sanguine - color of blood

maelstrom - violent situation

disclose - to make known

jaundice - yellowish coloring of the eyes and skin

toehold - slight advantage

void - emptiness

specter - ghost

destitute - lacking necessary things

implored - begged

Vocabulary Exercises 124

blemish - physical defect

misanthrope - someone who does not like people

ponderous - unyielding

trifle - something of little value

wrench - twist or pull

covetous - greedy

solemnize - honor or remember

bestow - give

dismal - gloomy and dark

resolute - determined

endeavor - to try

insomniac - person who is unable to sleep

deliquesce - melt away

homage - anything done to show honor

compulsion - feeling of having to do something

Vocabulary Exercises 125

wizened - old

preserve - maintain

astonish - surprise

confidentially - secretly

seethe - bubble or boil

consequence - result of an action

vacant - not occupied

wane - to become less

repent - feel sorry for

subcontinent - large landmass

jute - plant fiber used in making rope

teak - tropical wood used in furniture

beleaguer - beset with difficulties

Vocabulary Exercises 126

spasmodically - abruptly

ascetic - very self-disciplined person

fanatic - zealot

draught - long spell of dry weather

ruse - trick

remorse - torturing sense of guilt

concussion - shock from impact

acute - sharp and quick

conceive - develop in the mind

dissimulation - act of hiding

profound - marked by intellectual depth

sagacity - intelligence

stifle - hold back

Vocabulary Exercises 127

supposition - assumption

stalk - approach an stealthily

vex - trouble

suavity - graceful politeness

audacity - aggressive courage

vehemently - violently

derision - contempt or ridicule

anxiety - extreme nervousness

crevice - crack or narrow hole

fluently - clearly

hearkening - listening carefully

hypocritical - pretending

mockery - mean spirited joking

proceeded - went forward

pulsation - rhythmic beating

Vocabulary Exercises 128

refrained - kept from doing something

conceive - develop in the mind

trait - characteristic

genetics - study of heredity

heredity - passing of traits to offspring

genes - specific portion of DNA

dominant - stronger

hue - color

province - territorial district

surmount - overcome an obstacle

obsequious - servile and flattering

termagant - quarrelsome

impunity - freedom from punishment

aversion - definite dislike

frolic - lively recreation

Vocabulary Exercises 129

pestilent - very harmful

disposition - temperament

incessantly - never stopping

eloquence - polished speech

tranquility - calmness

reciprocate - to return

fancy - whimsical imagination

transient - temporary

azure - blue colored

countenance - facial expression

addle - to make confused

bewilderment - hopelessly confused

comely - attractive

corroborate - support

Vocabulary Exercises 130

beleaguer - beset with difficulties

invalid - sickly person

thicket - thick growth of plants

sanction - permit

incredulous - skeptical