abase v. lower, humiliate His refusal to abase himself in the eyes of his followers irritated the king who wanted to humiliate the proud leader. 50abash v. embarrass He was not at all abashed by her open admiration. 56abdicate v. renounce, give up When Edward VIII abdicated the British throne, he surprised the entire world. 57abettor n. encourager He was accused of being an aider and abettor of the criminal. abet v. 51abeyance n. suspended action The deal was held abeyance until his arrival. 50abhor v. detest, hate He abhorred all forms of bigotry. abhorrence n. 50abjure v. renounce upon oath He abjured his allegiance to the king. abjuration N. 50ablution n. washing His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises which he humorously labeled `Opera in the Bath.' 53abominate v. loathe; hate Moses abominated idol worship. 50aboriginal adj. being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native His studies of the primitive art forms of the aboriginal Indians were widely reported in the scientific journals. aborigines, n. 50abortive adj. unsuccessful; fruitless We had to abandon our abortive attempts. 53abrade v. wear away by friction; erode The skin of his leg was abraded by the sharp rocks. abrasion n. 50abrogate v. abolish He intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor. 51abscond v. depart secretly and hide The teller absconded with the bonds and was not found. 50absolve v. pardon (an offense) The father confessor absolved him of his sins. absolution n. 50abstemious adj. temperate; sparing in drink, etc. The drunkards mocked him because of his abstemious habits. 51abstinence n. restraint from eating or drinking The doctor recommended total abstinence from alcoholic beverages. 50abstruse adj. obscure; profound; difficult to understand He read abstruse works in philosophy. 51accelerate v. move faster In our science class, we learn how falling bodies accelerate. acceleration, n. 51accessory n. additional object; useful but not essential thing The accessories she bought cost more than the dress. also adj. 51acclivity n. sharp upslope of a hill The car could not go up the acclivity in high gear. 51accolade n. award of merit In Hollywood, an `Oscar' is the highest accolade. 50accomplice n. partner in crime She was his accomplice in the murder. 50accord n. agreement He was in complete accord with the verdict. 50accost v. approach and speak first to a person The salesman accosted the young lady. 50accoutre v. equip The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply. accoutrements, n. 51accretion n. growth; increase The accretion of wealth marked the family's rise in power. 50accrue v. come about by addition You must pay the interest which has accrued your debt as well as the principal sum. accrual, n. 51acetic adj. vinegary The salad had an exceedingly acetic flavor. 50acidulous adj. slightly sour; sharp, caustic The spinster spurned him with an acidulous retort. 51acknowledge v. recognize; admit When pressed for an answer, he acknowledged the existence of another motive for the crime. 51acme n. top; pinnacle His success in this role marked his acme as an actor. 50acoustics n. science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in Carnegie Hall is liked by music lovers because of its fine acoustics. 51acquiescent adj. accepting passively His acquiescent manner did not indicate the extent of his reluctance to join the group. acquiesce, v. 51acquittal n. deliverance from a charge His acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty. 50acrid adj. sharp, bitterly pungent The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired. 51acrimonious adj. stinging; caustic His tendency to utter acrimonious remarks alienated his audience. acrimony. n. 51actuarial adj. calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago. 51actuate v. motivate I fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily. 51acumen n. mental keenness His business acumen helped him to succeed where others had failed. 50adage n. wise saying; proverb There is much truth in the old adage about fools and their money. 51adamant adj. hard; inflexible He was adamant in his determination to punish the wrongdoer. adamantine . adj. 50adapt v. alter; modify This play was adapted from the French novel. 50addiction n. compulsive, habitual need His addiction to drugs caused his friends much grief. 51addle adj. rotten; muddled; crazy This addle-headed plan is so preposterous that it does not deserve any consideration. also v. 50adduce v. present as evidence When you adduce evidence of this nature, you must be sure of your sources. 51adept adj. expert at He was adept at the fine art of irritating people. 50adhere v. stick fast to I will adhere to this opinion until proof that I am wrong is presented. adhesion, n. 50adipose adj. fatty Excess adipose tissue should be avoided by middle-aged people. 51adjuration n. solemn urging His adjuration to tell the truth did not change the witnesses' testimony. adjure, v. 51admonish v. warn; reprove He admonished his listeners to change their wicked ways. admonition, n. 54adroit adj. skillful His adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased his employers. 51adulation n. flattery; admiration He thrived on the adulation of his henchmen. 50adulterate v. make impure by mixing with baser substances It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer. 54adumbration n. foreshadowing; outlining The adumbration of the future in science fiction is often extremely fantastic. 51adventitious adj. accidental; casual He found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate. 51adverse adj. unfavorable; hostile Adverse circumstances compelled him to close his business. 54adversity n. poverty; misfortune We must learn to meet adversity gracefully. 54advocate v. urge; plead for The abolitionists advocated freedom for the slaves. advocate, n. 51aesthetic adj. artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful Because of his aesthetic nature, he was emotionally disturbed by ugly things. aesthete. n. 53affected adj. artificial; pretend His affected mannerisms irritated many of us who had known him before his promotion. affectation, n. 54affiliation n. joining; associating with His affiliation with the political party was of short duration for he soon disagreed with his colleagues. 50affinity n. kinship He felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were his pains. 54affirmation n. solemn pledge by one who refuses take an oath The Constitution of this country provides for oath or affirmation by officeholders. 53affluence n. abundance; wealth Foreigners are amazed by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life. 53affray n. public brawl He was badly mauled by the fighters in the affray. 54agape adj. open-mouthed He stared, agape, at the many strange animals in the zoo. 50agglomeration n. collection; heap It took weeks to assort the agglomeration of miscellaneous items he had collected on his trip. 54aggrandize v. increase or intensify The history of the past century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to act aggressively in international affairs without considering the wishes of Congress. 53aggregate adj. sum; total The aggregate wealth of this country is staggering to the imagination. aggregate. v. 51aghast adj. horrified He was aghast at the nerve of the speaker who had insulted his host. 54agility n. nimbleness The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience. 51agitate v. stir up; disturb His fiery remarks agitated the already angry mob. 51agnostic. n. one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality The agnostic demanded proof before he would accept the statement of the minister. also adj. 51alacrity n. cheerful promptness He demonstrated his eagerness to serve by his alacrity in executing the orders of his master. 50albeit conj.although Albeit fair, she was not sought after. 50alchemy n. medieval chemistry The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy. alchemist, n. 51alias n. an assumed name John Smith's alias was Bob Jones. 51alienate v. make hostile; separate His attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith. 51alimentary adj. supplying nourishment The alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods occurs there. 51alimony n. payment by a husband to his divorced wife Mrs. Jones was awarded $200.00 monthly alimony by the court when she was divorced from her husband. 51allay v. calm; pacify The crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled. 51allege v. state without proof It is alleged that he had worked for the enemy. allegation, n. 51allegory n. story in which characters are used as symbols; fable `Pilgrim's Progress' is an allegory of the temptations and victories of man's soul. 51alleviate v. relieve This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs. 50allocate v. assign Even though the Red Cross had allocated a large sum for the relief of the sufferers of the disaster, many people perished. 50alloy n. a mixture as of metals Alloys of gold are more frequently used than the pure metal. 51allude v. refer indirectly Try not to allude to this matter in his presence because it annoys him to hear of it. 51allusion n. indirect reference The allusions to mythological characters in Milton's poems bewilder the reader who has not studied Latin. 51alluvial adj. pertaining to soil deposit left by rivers, etc. The farmers found the alluvial deposits at the mouth of the river very fertile. 50aloof adj. apart; reserved He remained aloof while all the rest conversed. 51altercation n. wordy quarrel Throughout the entire altercation, not one sensible word was uttered. 51altruism n. unselfish aid to others; generosity The philanthropist was noted for his altruism. altruistic, adj. 50amalgamate n. combine; unite in one body The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body. 51amass v. collect The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible. 51ambiguous adj. doubtful in meaning His ambiguous directions misled us; we did not know which road to take, ambiguity, n. 50amble v. move at an easy pace When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble. 50ambrosia n. food of the gods Ambrosia was supposed to give immortality to any human who ate it. 51ambulatory adj. walking He was described as an ambulatory patient because he was not confined to his bed. 51ameliorate v. improve Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums. 50amenable adj. readily managed; willing to be led He was amenable to any suggestions which came from those he looked up to; he resented advice from his inferiors. 50amenities n. agreeable manners; courtesies He observed the social amenities. 53amicable adj. friendly The dispute was settled in an amicable manner with no harsh words. 50amiable adj. agreeable; lovable His amiable disposition pleased all who had dealings with him. 53amnesty n. pardon When his first child was born, the king granted amnesty to all in prison. 53amnesia n. loss of memory Because she was suffering from amnesia, the police could not get the young lady to identify herself. 53amorphous adj. shapeless She was frightened by the amorphous mass which had floated from the sea. 53amphibian adj. able to live both on land and in water Frogs are classified as amphibian. also n. 53amphitheater n. oval building with tiers of seats The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators. 53ample adj. abundant He had ample opportunity to dispose of his loot before the police caught up with him. 53amplify v. enlarge His attempts to amplify his remarks were drowned out by the jeers of the audience. 50amputate v. cut off part of body; prune When the doctors decided to amputate his leg to prevent the spread of gangrene, he cried that he preferred death to incapacity. 53amuck adv. in a state of rage The police had to be called in to restrain him from after he ran amuck in the department store. 53amulet n. charm; talisman Around his neck he wore the amulet which the witch doctor had given him. 53anaesthetic n. substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness His monotonous voice acted like an anaesthetic; his audience was soon asleep. anaesthesia, n. 51analogous adj. comparable He called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same. 50analogy n. similarity; parallelism Your analogy is not a good one because the two situations are not similar. 53anarchy n. absence of governing body; state of disorder The assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy. 53anathema n. solemn curse He heaped anathema upon his foe. 53ancillary adj. serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary In an ancillary capacity he was helpful; however, he could not be entrusted with leadership. 53andirons n. metal supports in a fireplace for cooking utensils or logs She spent many hours in the department stores looking for a pair of ornamental andirons for her fireplace. 53anemia n. condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles The doctor ascribes his tiredness to anemia. anemic, adj. 53animadversion n. critical remark He resented the animadversions of his critics, particularly because he realized they were true. 53animated adj. lively Her animated expression indicated a keenness of intellect. animation, n. 50animosity n. active enmity He incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power. 53annals n. records; history In the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements. 53annihilate v. destroy The enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate the entire population. 53annuity n. yearly allowance The annuity he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he can live very comfortably without working. 53annul v. make void The parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage. annulment,n. 50anomalous adj. abnormal; irregular He was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures which he despised. 53anomaly n. irregularity A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly. 50anonymous adj. having no name He tried to ascertain the identity of the writer of the anonymous letter. 50antagonism n. active resistance We shall have to overcome the antagonism of the natives before our plans for settling this area can succeed. 50antediluvian adj. antiquated; ancient The antediluvian customs had apparently not changed for thousands of years. 53anthropoid adj. manlike The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals. 53anthropologist n. a student of the history and science of mankind Anthropologists have discovered several relics of prehistoric man in this area. 50anticlimax n. let-down in thought or emotion After the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax. anticlimactic, adj. 53antipathy n. aversion; dislike His extreme antipathy to dispute caused him to avoid argumentative discussions with his friends. 50antiseptic n. substance that prevents infection It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound, no matter how slight or insignificant. 53antithesis n. contrast; direct opposite of or to This tyranny was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for and he fought it with all his strength. 53apathetic adj. indifferent He felt apathetic about the conditions he had observed and did not care to fight against them. 49aperture n. opening; hole He discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room. 53apex n. top; summit; climax He was at the apex of his career. 53aphorism n. pithy maxim An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific. aphoristic, adj. 50aplomb n. poise His nonchalance and aplomb in times of trouble always encouraged his followers. 53apocryphal adj. not genuine; sham His apocryphal tears misled no one. 53apostate n. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate. 51apothegm n. pithy, compact saying Proverbs are apothegms that have become familiar sayings. 50apothecary n. druggist In the apothecaries' weight, twelve ounces equal one pound. 51apotheosis n. deification; glorification The apotheosis of a Roman emperor was designed to insure his eternal greatness. 53apparition n. ghost; phantom Hamlet was uncertain about the identity of the apparition that had appeared and spoken to him. 53appease v. pacify; soothe We have discovered that, when we try to appease our enemies, we encourage them to make additional demands. 53appellation n. name; title He was amazed when the witches hailed him with his correct appellation. 53append v. attach I shall append this chart to my report. 53apposite adj. appropriate; fitting He was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion. 53appraise v. estimate value of It is difficult to appraise the value of old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless. 53apprehend v. arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive The police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long. 53apprehensive adj. fearful; discerning His apprehensive glances at the people who were walking in the street revealed his nervousness. 53apprise v. inform When he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip. 53appurtenances n. subordinate possessions He bought the estate and all its appurtenances. 53aptitude n. fitness; talent The counselor gave him an aptitude test before advising him about the career he should follow. 53aquiline adj. curved, hooked He can be recognized by is aquiline nose, curved like the beak if the eagle. 50arable adj. fit for plowing The land was no longer arable; erosion had removed the valuable top soil. 50arbiter n. a person with power to decide a dispute; judge As an arbiter in labor disputes, he has won the confidence of the workers and the employers. 53arbitrary adj. fixed or decided; despotic Any arbitrary action on your part will be resented by the members of the board whom you do not consult. 53arcade n. a covered passageway, usually lined with shops The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain. 53archaeology n. study of artifacts and relics of early mankind The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins. 53archaic adj. antiquated `Proven' is the archaic form of the past participle of `prove' and should not be used. 50archipelago n. group of closely located islands When he looked at the map and saw the archipelagoes in the South Seas, he longed to visit them. 53ardor n. heat; passion; zeal His ardor was contagious; soon everyone was eagerly working. 53arduous adj. hard; strenuous His arduous efforts had sapped his energy. 53argot n. slang In the argot of the underworld, he `was taken for a ride.' 53aromatic adj. fragrant Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe. 53arraign v. charge in court; indict After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court. arraignment, n. 53arrant adj. thorough; complete; unmitigated `Arrant knave,' an epithet found in books dealing with the age of chivalry, is a term of condemnation. 53arrogance n. haughtiness The arrogance of the nobility was resented by the middle class. 53artifacts n. products of primitive culture Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor and came to no conclusion. 51artifice n. deception; trickery The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than military might. 53artisan n. a manually skilled worker Artists and artisans alike are necessary to the development of a culture. 53ascertain v. find out for certain Please ascertain his present address. 53asceticism n. doctrine of self-denial We find asceticism carried on in many parts of the world. 53ascetic adj. practicing self-denial; austere The cavalier could not understand the ascetic life led by the monks. 51ascribe v. refer; attribute; assign I can ascribe no motive for his acts. 50ashen adj. ash-colored His face was ashen with fear. 53asinine adj. stupid Your asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration. 53askance adv. with a sideways or indirect look Looking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn. 53askew adv. crookedly; slanted; at an angle When he placed his hat askew upon his head, his observers laughed. 50asperity n. sharpness (of temper) These remarks, spoken with asperity stung the boys to whom they had been directed. 53aspersion n. slanderous remark Do not cast aspersions on his character. 53aspirant n. seeker after position or status Although I am an aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses. 53aspiration n. noble ambition Man's aspirations should be as lofty as the stars. 53assail v. assault He was assailed with questions after his lecture. 51asseverate v. make a positive statement or solemn declaration I will asseverate my conviction that he is guilty. 53assay v. analyze; evaluate When they assayed the ore, they found that they had discovered a very rich vein. assay, n. 53assiduous adj. done with diligence He worked assiduously at this task for weeks before he felt satisfied with his results. assiduity, n. 51assuage v. ease; lessen (pain) Your messages of cheer should assuage his suffering. assuagement, n. 50asteroid n. small planet Asteroids have become commonplace to the readers of interstellar travel stories in science fiction magazines. 50astral adj. relating to the stars He was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed. 53astringent adj. binding; causing contraction The astringent quality of the unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult. 53astute adj. wise; shrewd That was a very astute observation. I shall heed it. 55atheistic adj. denying the existence of God His atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers. 50athwart adv. across; in opposition His tendency toward violence was athwart the philosophy of the peace movement. 55atrocity n. brutal deed In time of war, many atrocities are committed by invading armies. 54atrophy n. cause to waste away Infantile paralysis victims need physiotherapy to prevent the atrophy of affected limbs. 55attenuate v. made thin; weaken By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines. 55attest v. testify, bear witness Having served as a member of the Grand Jury, I can attest that our system of indicting individuals is in need of improvement. 55attrition n. gradual wearing down They decided to wage a war of attrition rather than to rely on an all-out attack. 55attribute n. essential quality His outstanding attribute was his kindness. 55atypical adj. not normal You have taken an atypical case. It does not prove anything. 55audacity n. boldness His audacity in his critical moment encouraged us. 55audit n. examination of accounts When the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the embezzlements of the chief cashier. 50augment v. increase How can we hope to augment our forces when our allies are deserting us? 55augury n. omen; prophecy He interpreted the departure of the birds as an augury of evil. augur, v. 55uspicious adj. favoring success With favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail. 54austerity n. sternness The austerity and dignity of the court were maintained by the new justice. 55authenticate v. prove genuine An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting from its imitation. 55autocrat n. monarch with supreme power The nobles tried to limit the powers of the autocrat without success. autocracy, n. 55automaton n. mechanism which imitates actions of humans Long before science fiction readers became aware of robots, writers were presenting stories of automatons who could outperform men. 55autonomous adj. self-governing This island is a colony; however, in most matters, it is autonomous and receives no orders from the mother country. autonomy, n. 55autopsy n. examination of a dead body; post-mortem The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. 55auxiliary n. helper, additional or subsidiary To prepare for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station. 55avarice n. greediness for wealth King Midas's avarice has been famous for centuries. avaricious, adj. 55aver v. state confidently I wish to aver that I am certain of success. 55averse adj. reluctant He was averse to revealing the sources of his information. 55avid adj. greedy; eager for He was avid for learning and read everything he could get. avidity, n. 55avouch v. affirm; proclaim I am willing to employ your friend if you will avouch for his integrity. 55avow v. declare openly I must avow that I am innocent. 55avuncular adj. like an uncle Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings. 55awe n. solemn wonder The tourists gazed with awe at the tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon. 55awry adv. distorted; crooked He held his head awry, giving the impression that he had caught cold in his neck during the night. 50axiom n. self-evident truth requiring no proof Before a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certain principles or axioms. 54azure adj. sky blue Azure skies are indicative of good weather. 55babble v. chatter idly The little girl babbled about her doll. 55bacchanalian adj. drunken Emperor Nero attended the bacchanalian orgy. 55badger v. pester; annoy The drunkard began to badger the bartender. 55baffle v. frustrate; perplex The new code baffled the enemy agents. 55baleful adj. deadly; destructive The drought was a baleful omen. 55balk v. foil He tried to balk the escape. 50balmy adj. mild; fragrant A balmy breeze refreshed us after the sultry blast. 50banal adj. hackneyed; commonplace; trite His frequent use of cliches made his essay seem banal. banality, n. 55bandanna n. large, bright-colored handkerchief She could be identified by the gaudy bandanna she wore as a head covering. 55baneful adj. ruinous; poisonous His baneful influence was feared by all. 55bantering adj. good-natured ridiculing They resented his bantering remarks because they thought he was being sarcastic. 55barb n. sharp projection from fishhook, etc. The barb from the fishhook caught in his finger as he grabbed the fish. barbed, adj. 55baroque adj. highly ornate They found the baroque architecture amusing. 50barrage n. barrier laid down by artillery fire The company was forced to retreat through the barrage of heavy cannons. 55barrister n. counselor-at-law Galsworthy started as a barrister, but, when he found the practice of law boring, turned to writing. 55barterer n. trader The barterer exchanged trinkets for the natives' furs. 55bate v. let down; restrain Until it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity. bated, adj. 55batten v. grow far; thrive upon others We cannot accept a system where a favored few can batten in extreme comfort while others toil. 55bauble n. trinket; trifle The child was delighted with the bauble she had won in the grab-bag. 55beatific adj. giving bliss; blissful The beatific smile on the child's face made us very happy. 55bedizen v. dress with vulgar finery The witch doctors were bedizened in all their gaudiest costumes. 55bedraggle v. wet thoroughly The little ducklings were bedraggled after the hurricane. bedraggled, adj. 55beguile v. delude; cheat; amuse He beguiled himself during the long hours by playing solitaire. 55behoove v. suited to; incumbent upon In this time of crises, it behooves all of us to remain calm and await the instructions of our superiors. 55belabor v. beat soundly; assail verbally He was belaboring his opponent. 55belated adj. delayed He sent belated greetings. 55beleaguer v. besiege As soon as the city was beleaguered, life became more subdued as the citizens began their long wait for outside assistance. beleaguered, adj. 55bellicose adj. warlike His bellicose disposition alienated his friends. 55benediction n. blessing The appearance of the sun after the many rainy days was like a benediction. 55benefactor n. gift giver; patron Scrooge later became Tiny Tim's benefactor. 55beneficiary n. person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will You may change your beneficiary as often as you wish. 55benevolent adj. generous; charitable His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him. 55benighted adj. overcome by darkness In the benighted Middle Ages, intellectual curiosity was discouraged by the authorities. 55benign adj. kindly; favorable; not malignant The old man was well-liked because of his benign attitude toward friend and stranger alike. 55berate v. scold strongly He feared she would berate him for his forgetfulness. 55bereft adj. deprived of; lacking The foolish gambler soon found himself bereft of funds. 55berserk adv. frenzied Angered, he went berserk and began to wreck the room. 55besmirch v. soil, defile The scandalous remarks in the newspaper besmirch the reputations of every member of the society. 55bestow v. confer He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero. 55bete noire n. aversion; person or thing strongly disliked or avoided Going to the opera was his personal bete noire because high-pitched sounds irritated him. 55betroth v. become engaged to marry The announcement that they had become betrothed surprised their friends who had not suspected any romance. betrothal, n. 50bicameral adj. two-chambered, as a legislative body The United States Congress is a bicameral body. 55biennial adj. every two years The plant bore flowers biennially. 55bigotry n. stubborn intolerance Brought up in a democratic atmosphere, the student was shocked by the bigotry and narrowness expressed by several of his classmates. 55bilious adj. suffering from indigestion; irritable His bilious temperament was apparent to all who heard him rant about his difficulties. 55bivouac n. temporary encampment While in bivouac, we spent the night in our sleeping bags under the stars. 55bizarre adj. fantastic; violently contrasting The plot of the novel was too bizarre to be believed. 55bland adj. soothing; mild She used a bland ointment for her sunburn. 55blandishment n. flattery Despite his blandishments, the young lady rejected his companionship. 50blasphemous adj. profane; impious The people in the room were shocked by his blasphemous language. 55blatant adj. loudly offensive I regard your remarks as blatant and ill-mannered. blatancy, n. 55blazon v. decorate with a heraldic coat of arms Blazoned on his shield were the two lambs and the lion, the traditional coat of arms of his family. 50bleak adj. cold; cheerless The Aleutian Islands are bleak military outposts. 55blighted adj. suffering from a disease; destroyed The extent of the blighted areas could be seen only when viewed from the air. 55blithe adj. gay; joyous Shelley called the skylark a `blithe spirit' because of its happy song. 55bloated adj. swollen or puffed as with water or air The bloated corpse was taken from the river. 55bludgeon n. club; heavy-headed weapon His walking stick served him as a bludgeon on many occasions. 50bode v. foreshadow; portend The gloomy skies and the sulphurous odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil to those who settled in the area. 50bogus adj. counterfeit; not authentic The police quickly found the distributors of the bogus twenty dollar bills. 55boisterous adj. violent; rough; noisy The unruly crowd became even more boisterous when he tried to quiet them. 50bolster v. support; prop up I do not intend to bolster your hopes with false reports of outside assistance; the truth is that we must face the enemy alone. 55bombastic adj. pompous; using inflated language The orator spoke in a bombastic manner. 50bootless adj. useless I `trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries.' 55bouillon n. clear beef soup The cup of bouillon served by the stewards was welcomed by those who had been chilled by the cold ocean breezes. 55bourgeois n. middle class The French Revolution was inspired by the bourgeois. also adj. 55bountiful adj. generous; showing bounty She distributed gifts in a bountiful and gracious manner. 55braggadocio n. boasting He was disliked because his manner was always full of braggadocio. 55bravado n. swagger; assumed air of defiance The bravado of the young criminal disappeared when he was confronted by the victims of his brutal attack. 56brazen adj. insolent Her brazen contempt for authority angered the officials. 56brazier n. open pan in which live coals are burned On chilly nights, the room was warmed by coals burning in braziers set in the corners of the room. 56breach n. breaking of contract or duty; fissure; gap They found a breach in the enemy's fortifications and penetrated their lines. 56brevity n. conciseness `Brevity is the soul of wit.' 50bristling adj. rising like bristles; showing irritation The dog stood there, bristling with anger. 56broach v. open up He did not even try to broach the subject of poetry. 56brocade n. rich, figured fabric The sofa was covered with expensive brocade. 50brochure n. pamphlet This brochure on farming was issued by the Department of Agriculture. 50brooch n. ornamental clasp She treasured the brooch because it was an heirloom. 56brusque adj. blunt; abrupt She was offended by his brusque reply. 56bucolic adj. rustic; pastoral The meadow was the scene of bucolic gaiety . 55buffoonery n. clowning Jimmy Durante's buffoonery is hilarious. 50bullion n. gold and silver in the form of bars Much bullion is stored in the vaults at Fort Knox. 56bulwark n. earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends The navy is our principal bulwark against invasion. 56bumptious adj. self-assertive His classmates called him a `show-off' because of his bumptious airs. 56bungle v. spoil by clumsy behavior I was afraid you would bungle this assignment but I had no one else to send. 56burgeon v. grow forth; send out buds In the spring, the burgeoning plants are a promise of the beauty that is to come. 56burlesque v. give an imitation that ridicules In his caricature, he burlesqued the mannerisms of his adversary. also n. 50burnish v. make shiny by rubbing; polish The burnished metal reflected the lamplight. 50buttress n. support or prop The huge cathedral walls were supported by flying buttresses. 56buxom adj. plump; vigorous; jolly The soldiers remembered the buxom nurse who had always been so pleasant to them. 56cabal n. small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests The cabal was defeated when their scheme was discovered. 56cache n. hiding place The detectives followed the suspect until he led them to the cache where he had stored his loot. 56cacophony n. discord Some people seem to enjoy the cacophony of an orchestra that is tuning up. 56cadaver n. corpse In some states, it is illegal to dissect cadavers. 56cadaverous adj. like a corpse; pale By his cadaverous appearance, we could see how the disease had ravaged him. 50cajole v. coax; wheedle I will not be cajoled into granting you your wish. 56caliber n. ability; capacity A man of such caliber should not be assigned such menial tasks. 56callous adj. hardened; unfeeling He had worked in the hospital for so many years that he was callous to the suffering in the wards. callus, n. 56calorific adj. heat producing Coal is much more calorific than green wood. 56calumniate v. slander Shakespeare wrote that love and friendship were subject to envious and calumniating time. 56calumny n. malicious misrepresentation; slander He could endure his financial failure, but he could not bear the calumny that his foes heaped upon him. 50cameo n. shell or jewel carved in relief Tourists are advised not to purchase cameos from the street peddlers of Rome who sell poor specimens of the carver's art. 56canard n. unfounded rumor; exaggerated report It is almost impossible to protect oneself from such a base canard. 56candor n. frankness The candor and simplicity of his speech impressed all. candid, adj. 56canker n. any ulcerous sore; any evil Poverty is a canker in the body politic; it must be cured. 56canny adj. shrewd; thrifty The canny Scotsman was more than a match for the swindlers. 56cant n. jargon of thieves; pious phraseology Many listeners were fooled by the cant and hypocrisy of his speech. 56cantata n. story set to music, to be sung by a chorus The choral society sang the new cantata composed by its leader. 56canter n. slow gallop Because the race horse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the race was won in a canter. 56canto n. division of a long poem In `The Man without a Country', Philip Nolan is upset when he reads one of Sir Walter Scott's cantos. 56canvass v. determine votes, etc. After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident that he represented the majority opinion of his district. 56capacious adj. spacious In the capacious areas of the railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting for their train. 56caparison n.v.ashowy harness or ornamentation for a horse; put showy ornamentation on a horse The gaily caparisoned horses made their entrance into the circus ring to the accompaniment of a lively march played by the band. 56capitulate v. surrender The enemy was warned to capitulate or face annihilation. 56caprice n. whim Do not act on caprice. Study your problem. 56capricious adj. fickle; incalculable He found her capricious; she changed her mind constantly without reason. 56caption n. title; chapter heading; text under illustration I find the captions which accompany these cartoons very clever and humorous. 56captious adj. fault-finding His criticisms were always captious and frivolous, never offering constructive suggestions. 56carat n. unit of weight for precious stones; measure of fineness of gold He gave her a three carat diamond mounted in an eighteen carat gold band. 50caricature n. distortion; burlesque The caricatures he drew always emphasized a personal weakness of the people he burlesqued. 50carmine adj. rich red Her carmine painted lips appeared black on the photograph. 50carnage n. destruction of life The carnage that can be caused by atomic warfare adds to the responsibilities of our statesmen. 56carnal adj. fleshly The general public was more interested in carnal pleasures than in spiritual matters. 50carnivorous adj. meat-eating The lion is a carnivorous animal. carnivore, n. 56carousal n. drunken revel The party degenerated into an ugly carousal. 56carping adj. finding fault A carping critic disturbs sensitive people. 56carrion n. rotting flesh of a dead body The buzzards ate the carrion. 56carte blanche n. unlimited authority or freedom Use your own discretion in this matter; I give you carte blanche. 56cascade n. small waterfall We could not appreciate the beauty of the many cascades as we were forced to make detours around each of them. 56castigate v. punish He decided to castigate the culprit personally. 56casualty n. serious or fatal accident The number of casualties on this holiday weekend was high. 56cataclysm n. deluge; upheaval A cataclysm such as the French Revolution affects all countries. cataclysmic, adj. 56catapult n. slingshot; a hurling machine Airplanes are sometimes launched from battleships by catapults. 56catastrophe n. calamity The Johnstown flood was a catastrophe. 56catechism n. book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answer He taught by engaging his pupils in a catechism until they gave him the correct answer. 56cathartic n. purgative Some drugs act as laxatives when taken in small doses, but act as cathartics when taken in much larger doses. 50catholic adj. broadly sympathetic; liberal He was extremely catholic in his reading tastes. 56caustic adj. burning; sarcastically biting The critic's caustic remarks angered the hapless actors who were the subjects of his sarcasm. 50cauterize v. burn with hot iron or caustic In order to prevent infection, the doctor cauterized the wound. 56cavalcade n. procession; parade As described by Chaucer, the cavalcade of Canterbury pilgrims was a motley group. 56cavil v. make frivolous objections I respect your sensible criticisms, but I dislike the way you cavil about unimportant details. 56cede v. transfer; yield title to I intend to cede this property to the city . 56celestial adj. heavenly He wrote about the music of `celestial spheres.' 56celibate adj. unmarried; abstaining from sexual intercourse He vowed to remain celibate.celibacy, n. 56censure v. blame; criticize He was censured for his ill-advised act. also n. 56censor n. overseer of morals; person who reads to eliminate inappropriate remarks Soldiers dislike having their mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution. 56centaur n. mythical figure, half man and half horse I was particularly impressed by the statue of the centaur in the Roman Hall of the museum. 56centigrade adj. measure of temperature used widely in Europe On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing point of water is zero degrees. 50centrifugal adj. radiating; departing from the center Many automatic drying machines remove excess moisture from clothing by centrifugal force. 50centurion n. Roman army officer Because he was in command of a company of one hundred soldiers, he was called a centurion. 56cerebral adj. pertaining to the brain or intellect The content of philosophical works is cerebral in nature and requires much thought. 56cessation n. stopping The workers threatened a cessation of all activities if their demands were not met. 56cerebration n. thought Mathematics problems sometimes require much cerebration. 56cession n. yielding to another; ceding The cession of Alaska to the United States is discussed in this chapter. 56chafe v. warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing The collar chafed his neck. 56chaffing adj. bantering; joking Sometimes his flippant and chaffing remarks annoy us. 56chagrin n. vexation; disappointment His refusal to go with us filled us with chagrin. 56chalice n. goblet; consecrated cup In a small room adjoining the cathedral, many ornately decorated chalices made by the most famous European goldsmiths were on display. 56chameleon n. lizard that changes color in different situations Like the chameleon, he assumed the political thinking of every group he met. 50champ v. chew noisily His dining companions were amused by the way he champed his food. 56chaotic adj. in utter disorder He tried to bring order into the chaotic state of affairs. 56charisma n. divine gift; great popular charm or appeal of a political leader Political commentators have deplored the importance of a candidate's charisma in these days of television campaigning. 56charlatan n. quack; pretender to knowledge This advertisement is the work of a charlatan. 50chary adj. cautiously watchful She was chary of her favors. 50chasm n. abyss They could not see the bottom of the chasm. 56chassis n. framework and working parts of an automobile Examining the car after the accident, the owner discovered that the body had been ruined but that the chassis was unharmed. 56chaste adj. pure Her chaste and decorous garb was appropriately selected for the solemnity of the occasion. chastity, n. 56chastise v. punish I must chastise you for this offense. 56chattel n. personal property When he bought his furniture on the installment plan, he signed a chattel mortgage. 56chauvinist n. blindly devoted patriot A chauvinist cannot recognize any faults on his country, no matter how flagrant they may be. 56checkered adj. marked by changes in fortune During his checkered career he had lived in palatial mansions and in dreary boarding houses. 50chicanery n. trickery The lawyer was guilty of chicanery in freeing his client. 50chide v. scold Grandma began to chide Junior for his lying. chimerical adj. fantastic; highly imaginative Poe's chimerical stories are sometimes too morbid for reading in bed. chimera, n. 56chiropodist n. one who treats disorders of the feet The chiropodist treated the ingrown nail on the boy's foot. 56choleric adj. hot-tempered His flushed, angry face indicated a choleric nature. chronic adj. long-established as a disease His chronic headaches worried the doctors. 56churlish adj. boorish; rude Dismayed by his churlish manners at the party, the girls vowed never to invite him again. ciliated adj. having minute hairs The paramecium is a ciliated, one-celled animal. 24circlet n. small ring; band This tiny circlet is very costly because it is set with precious stones. circuitous adj. roundabout Because of the traffic congestion on the main highways, he took a circuitous route. circumscribe v. limit; confine Although I do not wish to circumscribe your activities, I must insist that you complete this assignment before you start anything else. 50circumspect adj. prudent; cautious Investigating before acting, he tried always to be circumspect. circumvent v. outwit; baffle In order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign. 50citadel n. fortress The citadel overlooked the city like a protecting angel. cite v. quote; commend He could cite passages in the Bible from memory. clairvoyant n. a.having foresight; fortuneteller Cassandra's clairvoyant warning was not heeded by the Trojans. clairvoyance, n. clamber v. climb by crawling He clambered over the wall. clandestine adj. secret After avoiding their chaperone, the lovers had a clandestine meeting. 50clarion adj. shrill trumper-like sound We woke to the clarion call of the bugle. claustrophobia n. fear of being locked in His fellow classmates laughed at his claustrophobia and often threatened to lock him in his room. clavicle n. collarbone He broke his clavicle in the football game. 50cleave v. split asunder The lightning cleaves the tree in two. cleavage, n. cleft n. split There was a cleft in the huge boulder. clemency n. disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the weather The judge was noted for his clemency towards first offenders. 50cliche n. phrase dulled in meaning by repetition High school compositions are often marred by such cliches as `strong as an ox.' climactic adj. relating to the highest point When he reached the climactic portions of the book, he could not stop reading. clique n. small exclusive group He charged that a clique had assumed control of school affairs. cloister n. monastery or convent The nuns lived in the cloister. coadjutor n. assistant; colleague He was assigned as coadjutor of the bishop. 50coalesce v. combine; fuse The brooks coalesce into one large river. 50cockade n. decoration worn on hat Members of that brigade can be recognized by the green and white cockade in their helmets. coerce v. force; repress Do not coerce me into doing this; I hate force. cog n. a.tooth projecting from a wheel On steep slopes, cog railways are frequently used to prevent slipping. cogent adj. convincing He presented cogent arguments to the jury. cogitate v. think over Cogitate over this problem; the solution will come. cognate adj. allied by blood; of the same or kindred nature In the phrase, `die a thousand deaths,' the word `death' is a cognate object. 50cognizance n. knowledge During the election campaign, the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the international situation. 21cognomen n. family name He asked the court to change his cognomen to a more American-sounding name. 50cohere v. stick together Solids have a greater tendency to cohere than liquids. cohesion n. force which keeps parts together In order to preserve our cohesion, we must not let minor differences interfere with our major purposes. cohorts n. armed band Caesar and his Roman cohorts conquered almost all of the known world. coincident adj. occurring at the same time Some people find the coincident events in Hardy's novels annoying. collaborate v. work together Two writers collaborated in preparing this book. collate v. examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order They collated the newly found manuscripts to determine their age. collateral n. security given for loan The sum you wish to borrow is so large that it must be secured by collateral. collation n. a light meal The ladies were served canapes at the collation. collier n. worker in coal mine; ship carrying coal The extended cold spell has prevented the colliers from delivering the coal to the docks as scheduled. colloquy n. informal discussion I enjoy our colloquies, but I sometimes wish that they could be made more formal and more searching. collusion n. conspiring in a fraudulent scheme The swindlers were found guilty of collusion. colossal adj. huge Radio City Music Hall has a colossal stage. combustible adj. easily burned After the recent outbreak of fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all combustible materials be kept in safe containers. comely adj. attractive; agreeable I would rather have a comely wife than a rich one . comestible n. something fit to be eaten The roast turkey and other comestibles, the wines, and the excellent service made this Thanksgiving dinner particularly memorable. comity n. courtesy; civility A spirit of comity should exist among nations. 43commandeer v. to draft for military purposes; to take for public use The policeman commandeered the first car that approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearest hospital. commensurate adj. equal in extent Your reward will be commensurate with your effort. commiserate v. feel or express pity or sympathy for Her friends commiserated with the widow. 50commodious adj. spacious and comfortable After sleeping in small roadside cabins, they found their hotel suite commodious. compact n. agreement; contract The signers of the Mayflower Compact were establishing a form of government. 25compatible adj. harmonious; in harmony with They were compatible neighbors, never quarreling over unimportant matters. compilation n. listing of statistical information in tabular or book form The compilation of available scholarships serves a very valuable purpose. complacent adj. self-satisfied There was a complacent look on his face as he examined his paintings. complacency, n. complaisant adj. trying to please; obliging The courtier obeyed the king's orders in a complaisant manner. complement n. that which completes A predicate complement completes the meaning of the subject. 21compliant adj. yielding He was compliant and ready to conform to the pattern set by his friends. 21comport v. bear one's self; behave He comported himself with great dignity. compunction n. remorse Have you no compunctions when you see the results of your act? 50compute v. reckon; calculate He failed to compute the interest. concatenate v. link as in chain It is difficult to understand how these events could concatenate as they did without outside assistance. concentric adj. having a common center The target was made of concentric circles. 50conception n. beginning; forming of an idea At the first conception of the work, he was consulted. conciliate v. pacify; win over She tried to conciliate me with a gift. conclave n. private meeting He was present at all their conclaves as a sort of unofficial observer. concise adj. brief and compact The essay was concise and explicit. concoct v. prepare by combining; make up in concert How did you ever concoct such a strange dish? concomitant n. that which accompanies Culture is not always a concomitant of wealth. 25concurrent adj. happening at the same time In America, the colonists were resisting the demands of the mother country; at the concurrent moment in France, the middle class was sowing the seeds of rebellion. 21condescend v. bestow courtesies with a superior air The king condescended to grant an audience to the friends of the condemned man. condescension, n. condign adj. adequate; deservedly severe The public approved the condign punishment. condiments n. seasonings; spices Spanish food is full of condiments. condole v. express sympathetic sorrow His friends gathered to condole with him over his loss. 43condone v. overlook; forgive We cannot condone your recent criminal cooperation with the gamblers. confiscate v. seize; commandeer The army confiscated all available supplies of uranium. conformity n. harmony; agreement In conformity with our rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization. 24congeal v. freeze; coagulate His blood congealed in his veins as he saw the dread monster rush toward him. congenital adj. existing at birth His congenital deformity disturbed his parents. conglomeration n. mass of material sticking together In such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was impossible to find a single area of analysis. congruence n. correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship The student demonstrated the congruence of the two triangles by using the hypotenuse-arm theorem. conifer n. pine tree; cone-bearing tree According to geologists, the conifers were the first plants to bear flowers. conjugal adj. pertaining to marriage Their dreams of conjugal bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed. connivance n. pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend With the connivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher. connoisseur n. person competent to act as a judge of art, etc.; a lover of an art He had developed into a connoisseur of fine china. 50connotation n. suggested or implied meaning of an expression Foreigners frequently are unaware of the connotations of the words they use. connubial adj. pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state In his telegram. he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of connubial bliss. consanguinity n. kinship The lawsuit developed into a test of the consanguinity of the claimant to the estate. consecrate v. dedicate; sanctify We shall consecrate our lives to this noble purpose. consensus n. general agreement The consensus of opinion indicates that we are opposed to our entrance into this pact. consort v. associate with We frequently judge people by the company with whom they consort. also n. 50constraint n. compulsion; repression of feelings There was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one dared to criticize the speaker. construe v. explain; interpret If I construe your remarks correctly, you disagree with the theory already advanced. consummate adj. complete You are a consummate idiot. also v. contaminate v. pollute The sewage system of the city so contaminated the water that swimming was forbidden. contemn v. regard with contempt; disregard I will not tolerate those who contemn the sincere efforts of this group. contentious adj. quarrelsome We heard loud and contentious noises in the next room. 43context n. writings preceding and following the passage quoted Because these lines are taken out of context, they do not convey the message the author intended. contiguous adj. adjacent to; touching upon The two countries are contiguous for a few miles; then they are separated by the gulf. continence n. self-restraint; sexual chastity He vowed to lead a life of continence. continent, adj. contingent adj. conditional The continuation of this contract is contingent on the quality of your first output. contingency, n. contortions n. twistings; distortions As the effects of the opiate wore away, the contortions of the patient became more violent and demonstrated how much pain he was enduring. contraband n. a.illegal trade; smuggling The Coast Guard tries to prevent traffic in contraband goods. contravene v. contradict; infringe on I will not attempt to contravene your argument for it does not affect the situation. contrite adj. penitent Her contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence. contrition, n. 50controvert v. oppose with arguments; contradict To controvert your theory will require much time but it is essential that we disprove it. contumacious adj. disobedient; resisting authority The contumacious mob shouted defiantly at the police. contumely n. scornful insolence; insult The `proud man's contumely' is distasteful to Hamlet. 50contusion n. bruise He was treated for contusions and abrasions. convene v. assemble The assembly will convene in Jan. conversant adj. familiar with The lawyer is conversant with all the evidence. 50conveyance n. vehicle; transfer During the transit strike, commuters used various kinds of conveyances. 50convivial adj. festive; gay; characterized by joviality The convivial celebrators of the victory sang their college songs. 43convoke v. call together Congress was convoked at the outbreak of the emergency. copious adj. plentiful He had copious reasons for rejecting the proposal. coquette n. flirt Because she refused to give him any answer to his proposal of marriage, he called her a coquette. 50cornice n. projecting moulding on building (usually above columns) Because the cornice stones had been loosened by the storms, the police closed the building until repairs could be made. corporeal adj. bodily; material He was not a churchgoer; he was interested only in corporeal matters. corpulent adj. very fat The corpulent man resolved to reduce. corroborate v. confirm Unless we find a witness to corroborate your evidence, it will not stand up in court. corrosive adj. eating away by chemicals or disease Stainless steel is able to withstand the effects of corrosive chemicals. corsair n. pirate; pirate ship The corsairs, preying on shipping in the Mediterranean, were often inspired by racial and religious hatreds as well as by the desire for money and booty. cortege n. procession The funeral cortege proceeded slowly down the avenue. cosmic adj. pertaining to the universe; vast Cosmic rays derive their name from the fact that they bombard the earth's atmosphere from outer space. 21coterie n. group that meets socially; select circle After his book had been published, he was invited to join the literary coterie that lunched daily at the hotel. counterpart n. a thing that completes another; things very much alike Night and day are counterparts. countermand v. cancel; revoke The general countermanded the orders issued in his absence. covenant n. agreement We must comply with the terms of the covenant. covert adj. secret; hidden; implied He could understand the covert threat in the letter. covetous adj. avaricious; eagerly desirous of He was covetous of fame. cower v. shrink quivering, as from fear The frightened child cowered in the corner of the room. coy adj. shy; modest; coquettish She was coy in her answers to his offer. crabbed adj. sour; peevish The crabbed old man was avoided by the children as he scolded them when they made noise. craven adj. cowardly His craven behavior in this critical period was criticized. crass adj. very unrefined; grossly insensible The philosophers deplored the crass commercialism. credence n. belief Do not place any credence in his promises. credulity n. belief on slight evidence The witch doctor took advantage of the credulity of the superstitious natives. credulous, adj. creed n. system of religious or ethical belief In any loyal American's creed, love of democracy must be emphasized. crestfallen adj. dejected; dispirited We were surprised at his reaction to the failure of his project; instead of being crestfallen, he was busily engaged in planning new activities. crevice n. crack; fissure The mountain climbers found footholds in the tiny crevices in the mountainside. criterion n. standard used in judging What criterion did you use when you selected this essay as the prize winner? criteria, pl. crone n. hag The toothless crone frightened us when she smiled. crux n. crucial point This is the crux of the entire problem. cryptic adj. mysterious; hidden; secret His cryptic remarks could not be interpreted. cuisine n. style of cooking French cuisine is noted for its use of sauces and wines. culinary adj. relating to cooking Many chefs attribute their culinary skill to the wise use of spices. cull v. pick out; reject Every month the farmer culls his non-laying hens from his flock and sells them to the local butcher. culmination n. attainment of highest point His inauguration as President of the United States marked the culmination of his political career. culpable adj. deserving blame Corrupt politicians who condone the activities of the gamblers are equally culpable. cupidity n. greed The defeated people could not satisfy the cupidity of the conquerors who demanded excessive tribute. 43curry v. dress; treat leather; seek favor The courtier curried favors of the king. cursory adj. casual; hastily done A cursory glance revealed no trace of the missing book. curtail v. shorten; reduce During the coal shortage, we must curtail our use of this vital commodity. 21cynic n. one who is skeptical or distrustful of human motives A cynic at all times, he was suspicious of all altruistic actions of others. cynical, adj. dais n. raised platform for guests of honor When he approached the dais, he was greeted by cheers from the people who had come to honor him. dally v. trifle with; procrastinate Laertes told Ophelia that Hamlet could only dally with her affections. dank adj. damp The walls of the dungeon were dank and slimy. dastard n. coward This sneak attack is the work of a dastard. daunt v. intimidate Your threats can not daunt me. dauntless adj. bold Despite the dangerous nature of the undertaking, the dauntless soldier volunteered for the assignment. dawdle v. loiter; waste time Inasmuch as we must meet a deadline, do not dawdle over this work. dearth n. scarcity The dearth of skilled labor compelled the employers to open trade schools. 43debase v. reduce to lower state Do not debase yourself by becoming maudlin. debauch v. corrupt; make intemperate A vicious newspaper can debauch public ideals. debilitate v. weaken; enfeeble Overindulgence debilitates character as well as physical stamina. debonair adj. friendly; aiming to please The debonair youth was liked by all who met him because of his cheerful and obliging manner. debutante n. young lady during her first year in society As a debutante, she was often mentioned in the society columns of the newspapers. decadence n. decay The moral decadence of the people was reflected in the lewd literature of the period. decant v. pour off gently Be sure to decant this wine before serving it. decorous adj. proper Her decorous behavior was praised by her teachers. decorum,n. deciduous adj. falling off as of leaves The oak is a deciduous tree. declivity n. downward slope The children loved to ski down the declivity. decoy n. lure or bait The wild ducks were not fooled by the decoy. also v. decrepit adj. worn out by age The decrepit car blocked traffic on the highway. decry v. disparage Do not attempt to increase your stature by decrying the efforts of your opponents. deducible adj. derived by reasoning If we accept your premise, your conclusions are easily deducible. defalcate v. misuse money held in trust Legislation was passed to punish brokers who defalcated their clients' funds. defamation n. harming a person's reputation Such defamation of character may result in a slander suit. default n. failure to do As a result of her husband's failure to appear in court, she was granted a divorce by default. also v. defeatist adj. attitude of one who is ready to accept defeat as a natural outcome If you maintain your defeatist attitude, you will never succeed. also n. defection n. desertion The children, who had made him an idol, were hurt most by his defection from our cause. deference n. courteous regard for another's wish In deference to his desires, the employers granted him a holiday. defile v. pollute; profane The hoodlums defiled the church with their scurrilous writing. definitive adj. final; complete Carl Sandburg's `Abraham Lincoln' may be regarded as the definitive work on the life of the Great Emancipator. deflect v. turn aside His life was saved when his cigarette case deflected the bullet. 49defunct adj. dead; no longer in use or existence The lawyers sought to examine the books of the defunct corporation. deign v. condescend Will he deign to answer your letter? delete v. erase; strike out If you delete this paragraph, the composition will have more appeal. deleterious adj. harmful Workers in nuclear research must avoid the deleterious effects of radioactive substances. delineation n. portrayal He is a powerful story teller, but he is weakest in his delineation of character. delirium n. mental disorder marked by confusion The drunkard in his delirium saw strange animals. delude v. deceive Do not delude yourself into believing that he will relent. delusion n. false belief; hallucination This scheme is a snare and a delusion. delusive adj. deceptive; raising vain hopes Do not raise your hopes on the basis of his delusive promises. demagogue n. person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people He was accused of being a demagogue because he made promises which aroused futile hopes in his listeners. demean v. degrade; condescend to do He could not demean himself in this matter. demeanor n. behavior; bearing His sober demeanor quieted the noisy revelers. demise n. death Upon the demise of the dictator, a bitter dispute about succession to power developed. 43demolition n. destruction One of the major aims of the air force was the complete demolition of all means of transportation by bombing of rail lines and terminals. demoniac adj. fiendish The Spanish Inquisition devised many demoniac means of torture. demur v. delay; object Do not demur at my request. demure adj. grave; serious; coy She was demure and reserved. 18denizen n. inhabitant of Ghosts are denizens of the land of the dead who return to earth. depict v. portray In this book, the author depicts the slave owners as kind and benevolent masters. depilate v. remove hair Many women depilate their legs. deplete v. reduce; exhaust We must wait until we deplete our present inventory before we order replacements. 43deploy v. move troops so that the battle line is extended at the expense of depth The general ordered the battalion to deploy in order to meet the offensive of the enemy. deposition n. testimony under oath He made his deposition in the judge's chamber. depravity n. corruption; wickedness The depravity of his behavior shocked all. deprecate v. disapprove regretfully I must deprecate your attitude and hope that you will change your mind. deprecatory adj. disapproving Your deprecatory criticism has offended the author. depreciate v. lessen in value If you neglect this property, it will depreciate. 21depredation n. plundering After the depredations of the invaders, the people were penniless. deranged adj. insane He was mentally deranged. derelict adj. abandoned The derelict craft was a menace to navigation. also n. deride v. scoff at The people derided his grandiose schemes. derision n. ridicule They greeted his proposal with derision and refused to consider it seriously. dermatologist n. one who studies the skin and its diseases I advise you to consult a dermatologist about your acne. derogatory adj. expressing a low opinion I resent your derogatory remarks. descant v. discuss fully He was willing to descant upon any topic of conversation, even when he knew very little about the subject under discussion. descry v. catch sight of In the distance, we could barely descry the enemy vessels. desiccate v. dry up A tour of this smokehouse will give you an idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate food in order to preserve it. desecrate v. profane; violate the sanctity of The soldiers desecrated the temple. despicable adj. contemptible Your despicable remarks call for no reply. despise v. scorn I despise your attempts at a reconciliation at this time. 49despoil v. plunder If you do not yield, I am afraid the enemy will despoil the buildings. despotism n. tyranny The people rebelled against the despotism of the king. destitute adj. extremely poor The illness left the family destitute. desuetude n. disused condition The machinery in the idle factory was in a state of desuetude. desultory adj. aimless; jumping around The animals' desultory behavior indicated that they had no awareness of their predicament. detergent n. cleansing agent Many new detergents have replaced soap. detonation n. explosion The detonation could be heard miles away. detraction n. slandering; aspersion He is offended by your frequent detractions of his ability as a leader. detriment n. harm; damage Your acceptance of his support will ultimately prove to be a detriment rather than an aid to your cause. deviate v. turn away from Do not deviate from the truth. devious adj. going astray; erratic His devious behavior puzzled his friends. devoid adj. lacking He was devoid of any personal desire for gain in his endeavor to secure improvement in the community. devolve v. deputize; pass to others It devolved upon us, the survivors, to arrange peace terms with the enemy. devout adj. pious The devout man prayed daily. dexterous adj. skillful The magician was so dexterous that we could not follow him as he performed his tricks. diabolical adj. devilish This scheme is so diabolical that I must reject it. 18diadem n. crown The king's diadem was on display at the museum. dialectic n. art of debate I am not skilled in dialectic and, therefore, cannot answer your arguments as forcefully as I wish. diaphanous adj. sheer; transparent They admired her diaphanous and colorful dress. dichotomy n. branching into two parts The dichotomy of our legislative system provides us with many safeguards. dictum n. authoritative and weighty statement She repeated the statement as though it were the dictum of the most expert worker in the group. diffidence n. shyness You must overcome your diffidence if you intend to become a salesperson. diffusion n. wordiness; spreading in all directions like a gas Your composition suffers from a diffusion of ideas; try to be more compact. diffuse, adj. and v. digressive adj. wandering away from the subject His book was marred by his many digressive remarks. dilapidation n. ruin because of neglec. We felt that the dilapidation of the building could be corrected by several coats of paint. dilate v. expand In the dark, the pupils of your eyes dilate. dilatory adj. delaying Your dilatory tactics may compel me to cancel the contract. dilemma n. problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives In this dilemma, he knew no one to whom he could turn for advice. 36dilettante n. aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler He was not serious in his painting; he was rather a dilettante. 24diminution n. lessening; reduction in size The blockaders hoped to achieve victory as soon as the diminution of the enemy's supplies became serious. 24dint n. means; effort By dint of much hard work, the volunteers were able to place the raging forest fire under control. dipsomaniac n. one who has a strong craving for intoxicating liquor The picture The Lost Weekend was an excellent portrayal of the struggles of the dipsomaniac. dire adj. disastrous People ignored her dire predictions of an approaching depression. dirge n. lament with music The funeral dirge stirred us to tears. disapprobation n. disapproval; condemnation The conservative father viewed his daughter's radical boyfriend with disapprobation. 49disarray n. a disorderly or untidy state After the New Year's party, the once orderly house was in total disarray. 49disavowal n. denial; disclaiming His disavowal of his part in the conspiracy was not believed by the jury. 24discernible adj. distinguishable; perceivable The ships in the harbor were not discernible in the fog. discerning adj. mentally quick and observant; having insight Because he was considered the most discerning member of the firm, he was assigned the most difficult cases. disclaim v. disown; renounce claim to If I grant you this privilege, will you disclaim all other rights? discomfit v. put to rout; defeat; disconcert This ruse will discomfit the enemy. discomfiture, n. disconcert v. confuse; upset; embarrass The lawyer was disconcerted by the evidence produced by her adversary. disconsolate adj. sad The death of his wife left him disconsolate. discordant adj. inharmonious; conflicting She tried to undo the discordant factions. discrete adj. separate; unconnected The universe is composed of discrete bodies. discretion n. prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances Use your discretion in this matter. discursive adj. digressing; rambling They were annoyed and bored by her discursive remarks. disdain v. treat with scorn or contempt You make enemies of all you disdain. also n. disgruntle v. make discontented The passengers were disgruntled by the numerous delays. disheartened adj. lacking courage and hope His failure to pass the bar exam disheartened him. disheveled adj. untidy Your disheveled appearance will hurt your chances in this interview. disingenuous adj. not naive; sophisticated Although he was young, his remarks indicated that he was disingenuous. disinterested adj. unprejudiced The only disinterested person in the room was the judge. disjointed adj. disconnected His remarks were so disjointed that we could not follow his reasoning. dismember v. cut into small parts when the Austrian Empire was dismembered, several new countries were established. disparage v. belittle Do not disparage anyone's contribution; these little gifts add up to large sums. disparate adj. basically different; unrelated It is difficult, if not impossible, to organize these disparate elements into a coherent whole. disparity n. difference; condition of inequality The disparity in their ages made no difference at all. dispersion n. scattering The dispersion of this group throughout the world may be explained by their expulsion from their homeland. dispirited adj. lacking in spirit The coach used all the tricks at his command to buoy up the enthusiasm of his team, which had become dispirited at the loss of the star player. disport v. amuse The popularity of Florida as a winter resort is constantly increasing; each year, thousands more disport themselves at Miami and Palm Beach. disputatious adj. argumentative; fond of argument People avoided discussing contemporary problems with him because of his disputatious manner. disquisition n. a formal systematic inquiry; an explanation of the results of a formal inquiry In his disquisition, he outlined the steps he had taken in reaching his conclusions. dissection n. analysis; cutting apart in order to examine The dissection of frogs in the laboratory is particularly unpleasant to some students. dissemble v. disguise; pretend Even though you are trying to dissemble your motive in joining this group, we can see through your pretense. disseminate v. scatter (like seeds) The invention of the radio has helped propagandists to disseminate their favorite doctrines very easily. dissertation n. formal essay In order to earn a graduate degree from many of our universities, a candidate is frequently required to prepare a dissertation on some scholarly subject. dissimulate v. pretend; conceal by feigning She tried to dissimulate her grief by her gay attitude. 24dissipate v. squander The young man quickly dissipated his inheritance. dissolute adj. loose in morals The dissolute life led by these people is indeed shocking. dissonance n. discord Some contemporary musicians deliberately use dissonance to achieve certain effects. dissuade v. advise against He could not dissuade his friend from joining the conspirators. dissuasion n. advice against All his powers of dissuasion were useless. distend v. expand; swell out I can tell when he is under stress by the way the veins distend on his forehead. distortion n. twisting out of shape It is difficult to believe the newspaper accounts of this event because of the distortions and exaggerations written by the reporters. distrait adj. absentminded Because of his concentration on the problem, the professor often appeared distrait and unconcerned about routine. distraught adj. upset; distracted by anxiety The distraught parents searched the ravine for their lost child. diurnal adj. daily A farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks at any time; cows, for example, must be milked regularly. diva n. operatic singer; prima donna Although world famous as a diva, she did not indulge in fits of temperament. diverge v. vary; go in different directions from the same point The spokes of the wheel diverge from the hub. divers adj. several; differing We could hear divers opinions of his ability. diverse adj. differing in some characteristics; various There are diverse ways of approaching this problem. diversity n. variety; dissimilitude The diversity of colleges in this country indicates that many levels of ability are being cared for. divest v. strip; deprive He was divested of his power to act. divination n. foreseeing the future with aid of magic I base my opinions not on any special gift of divination but on the laws of probability. divulge v. reveal I will not tell you this news because I am sure you will divulge it prematurely. docile adj. obedient; easily managed As docile as he seems today, that old lion was once a ferocious, snarling beast. docket n. program as for trial; book where such entries are made The case of Smith vs. Jones was entered in the docket for July 15. also v. doff v. take off He doffed his hat to the lady. doggerel n. poor verse Although we find occasional snatches of genuine poetry in her work, most of her writing is mere doggerel. dogmatic adj. positive; arbitrary Do not be so dogmatic about that statement; it can be easily refuted. dolorous adj. sorrowful He found the dolorous lamentations of the bereaved family emotionally disturbing and he left as quickly as he could. 20dolt n. stupid person I thought I was talking to a mature audience; instead, I find myself addressing a pack of dolts and idiots. 20domicile n. home Although his legal domicile was in New York City, his work kept him away from his residence for many years. also v. dormant adj. sleeping; lethargic; torpid Sometimes dormant talents in our friends surprise those of us who never realized how gifted our acquaintances really are. dormancy, n. dorsal adj. relating to the back of an animal A shark may be identified by its dorsal fin, which projects above the surface of the ocean. dotage n. senility In his dotage, the old man bored us with long tales of events in his childhood. doughty adj. courageous Many folk tales have sprung up about this doughty pioneer who opened up the New World for his followers. dowdy adj. slovenly; untidy She tried to change her dowdy image by buying a new fashionable wardrobe. dour adj. sullen; stubborn The man was dour and taciturn. dregs n. sediment; worthless residue The dregs of society may be observed in this slum area of the city. droll adj. queer and amusing He was a popular guest because his droll anecdotes were always amusing. dross n. waste matter; worthless impurities Many methods have been devised to separate the valuable metal from the dross. drudgery n. menial work Cinderella's fairy godmother rescued her from a life of drudgery. dubious adj. doubtful He has the dubious distinction of being the lowest man in his class. duplicity n. double-dealing; hypocrisy People were shocked and dismayed when they learned of his duplicity in this affair for he had always seemed honest and straight forward. duress n. forcible restraint, especially unlawfully The hostages were held under duress until the prisoners' demands were met. earthy adj. unrefined; coarse His earthy remarks often embarrassed the women in his audience. ebullient adj. showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm His ebullient nature could not be repressed; he was always laughing and gay. ebullience, n. eccentricity n. oddity; idiosyncrasy Some of his friends tried to account for his rudeness to strangers as the eccentricity of genius. eccentric, adj. ecclesiastic adj. pertaining to the church The minister donned his ecclesiastic garb and walked to the pulpit. also n. ecstasy n. rapture; joy; any overpowering emotion The announcement that the war had ended brought on an ecstasy of joy that resulted in many uncontrolled celebrations. edify v. instruct; correct morally Although his purpose was to edify and not to entertain his audience, many of his listeners were amused and not enlightened. educe v. draw forth; elicit She could not educe a principle that would encompass all the data. eerie adj. weird In that eerie setting, it was easy to believe in ghosts and other supernatural beings. efface v. rub out The coin had been handled so many times that its date had been effaced. effectual adj. efficient If we are to succeed in this endeavor, we must seek effectual means of securing our goals. effete adj. worn out; exhausted; barren The literature of the age reflected the effete condition of the writers; no new ideas were forthcoming. effeminate adj. having womanly traits His voice was high-pitched and effeminate. effervesce v. bubble over; show excitement Some of us cannot stand the way she effervesces over trifles. efficacy n. power to produce desired effect The efficacy of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage. effigy n. dummy The mob showed its irritation by hanging the judge in effigy. efflorescent adj. flowering Greenhouse gardeners are concerned with the coinciding of the plants' efflorescent period with certain holidays. effrontery n. shameless boldness She had the effrontery to insult the guest. effulgent adj. brilliantly radiant The effulgent rays of the rising sun lit the sky. effusion n. pouring forth The critics objected to her literary effusion because it was too flowery. 36effusive adj. pouring forth; gushing Her effusive manner of greeting her friends finally began to irritate them. egoism n. excessive interest in one's self belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others. His egoism prevented him from seeing the needs of his colleagues. egotism n. conceit; vanity We found her egotism unwarranted and irritating. egregious adj. gross; shocking She was an egregious liar. egress n. exit Barnum's sight `To the Egress' fooled many people who thought they were going to see an animal and instead found themselves in the street. ejaculation n. exclamation He could not repress an ejaculation of surprise when he heard the news. elation n. a rise in spirits; exaltation She felt no elation at finding the purse. elegiacal adj. like an elegy; mournful The essay on the lost crew was elegiacal in mood. elegy, n. elicit v. draw out by discussion The detectives tried to elicit where he had hidden his loot. elucidate v. explain; enlighten He was called upon to elucidate the disputed points in his article. elusive adj. evasive; baffling; hard to grasp His elusive dreams of wealth were costly to those of his friends who supported him financially. elusory adj. tending to deceive expectations; elusive He argued that the project was an elusory one and would bring disappointment to all. emaciated adj. thin and wasted His long period of starvation had left him wan and emaciated. emanate v. issue forth A strong odor of sulphur emanated from the spring. 50emancipate v. set free At first, the attempts of the Abolitionists to emancipate the slaves were unpopular in New England as well as in the South. embellish v. adorn His handwriting was embellished with flourishes. embezzlement n. stealing The bank teller confessed his embezzlement of the funds. emblazon v. deck in brilliant colors Emblazoned on his shield was his family coat of arms. embroil v. throw into confusion; involve in strife; entangle He became embroiled in the heated discussion when he tried to arbitrate the dispute. emend v. correct; correct by a critic The critic emended the book by selecting the passages which he thought most appropriate to the text. emetic n. substance causing vomiting The use of an emetic like mustard is useful in cases of poisoning. eminent adj. high; lofty After his appointment to this eminent position, he seldom had time for his former friends. emolument n. salary; compensation In addition to the emolument this position offers, you must consider the social prestige it carries with it. emulate v. rival; imitate As long as our political leaders emulate the virtues of the great leaders of this country, we shall flourish. enamored adj. in love Narcissus became enamored of his own beauty. enclave n. territory enclosed within an alien land The Vatican is an independent enclave in Italy. encomiastic adj. praising; eulogistic Some critics believe that his encomiastic statements about Napoleon were inspired by his desire for material advancement rather than by an honest belief in the Emperor's genius. encompass v. surround Although we were encompassed by enemy forces, we were cheerful for we were well stocked and could withstand a siege until our allies joined us. encroachment n. gradual intrusion The encroachment of the factories upon the neighborhood lowered the value of the real estate. encumber v. burden Some people encumber themselves with too much luggage when they take short trips. endearment n. fond statement Your gifts and endearments cannot make me forget your earlier insolence. endive n. species of leafy plant used in salads The salad contained endive in addition to the ingredients she usually used. endue v. provide with some quality; endow He was endued with a lion's courage. energize v. invigorate; make forceful and active We shall have to re-energize our activities by getting new members to carry on. enervate v. weaken The hot days of August are enervating. engender v. cause; produce This editorial will engender racial intolerance unless it is denounced. 18engross v. occupy fully John was so engrossed in his studies that he did not hear his mother call. enhance v. advance; improve Your chances for promotion in this department will be enhanced if you take some more courses in evening school. enigma n. puzzle Despite all attempts to decipher the code, it remained an enigma. enigmatic, adj. ennui n. boredom The monotonous routine of hospital life induced a feeling of ennui which made him moody and irritable. enormity n. hugeness (in a bad sense) He did not realize the enormity of his crime until he saw what suffering he had caused. enrapture v. please intensely The audience was enraptured by the freshness of the voices and the excellent orchestration. ensconce v. settle comfortably The parents thought that their children were ensconced safely in the private school and decided to leave for Europe. enthrall v. capture; enslave From the moment he saw her picture, he was enthralled by her beauty. entity n. real being As soon as the Charter was adopted, the United Nations became an entity and had to be considered as a factor in world diplomacy. entree n. entrance Because of his wealth and social position, he had entree into the most exclusive circles. entrepreneur n. businessman; contractor Opponents of our present tax program argue that it discourages entrepreneurs from trying new fields of business activity. environ v. enclose; surround In medieval days, Paris was environed by a wall. environs, n. ephemeral adj. short-lived; fleeting The mayfly is an ephemeral creature. epicure n. connoisseur of food and drink Epicures frequent this restaurant because it features exotic wines and dishes. epicurean n. person who devotes himself to pleasures of the senses, especially to food This restaurant is famous for its menu, which can cater to the most exotic whim of the epicurean. also adj. epigram n. witty thought or saying, usually short Poor Richard's epigrams made Benjamin Franklin famous. epilogue n. short speech at conclusion of dramatic work The audience was so disappointed in the play that many did not remain to hear the epilogue. epitaph n. inscription in memory of a dead person In his will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted placed on his tombstone. 24epithet n. descriptive word or phrase Homer's writings were featured by the use of such epithets as `rosy-fingered dawn.' epitome n. summary; concise abstract This final book is the epitome of all his previous books. epitomize, v. epoch n. period of time The glacial epoch lasted for thousands of years. equable adj. tranquil; steady; uniform After the hot summers and cold winters of New England, he found the climate of the West Indies equable and pleasant. equanimity n. calmness of temperament In his later years, he could look upon the foolishness of the world with equanimity and humor. equestrian n. rider on horseback These paths in the park are reserved for equestrians and their steeds. also adj. equinox n. period of equal days and nights; the beginning of Spring and Autumn The vernal equinox is usually marked by heavy rainstorms. 25equipage n. horse-drawn carriage The equipage drew up before the inn. equity n. fairness; justice Our courts guarantee equity to all. equivocal adj. doubtful; ambiguous Macbeth was misled by the equivocal statements of the witches. equivocate v. lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth The audience saw through his attempts to equivocate on the subject under discussion and ridiculed his remarks. erode v. eat away The limestone was eroded by the dripping water. errant adj. wandering Many a charming tale has been written about the knights-errant who helped the weak and punished the guilty during the Age of Chivalry. erudite adj. learned; scholarly His erudite writing was difficult to read because of the many allusions which were unfamiliar to most readers. erudition, n. escapade n. prank; flighty conduct The headmaster could not regard this latest escapade as a boyish joke and expelled the young man. eschew v. avoid He tried to eschew all display of temper. escutcheon n. shield-shaped surface on which coat of arms is placed His traitorous acts placed a shameful blot on the family escutcheon. esoteric adj. known only to the chosen few Those students who had access to his esoteric discussions were impressed by the scope of his thinking. espionage n. spying In order to maintain its power, the government developed a system of espionage which penetrated every household. esprit de corps n. comradeship; spirit West Point cadets are proud of their esprit de corps. estranged adj. separated The estranged wife sought a divorce. ethereal adj. light; heavenly; fine Visitors were impressed by her ethereal beauty, her delicate charm. ethnic adj. relating to races Intolerance between ethnic groups is deplorable and usually is based on lack of information. ethnology, n. eulogistic adj. praising To everyone's surprise, the speech was eulogistic rather than critical in tone. eulogy n. praise All the eulogies of his friends could not remove the sting of the calumny heaped upon him by his enemies. euphemism n. mild expression in place of an unpleasant one The expression `He passed away' is a euphemism for `He died.' euphonious adj. pleasing in sound Italian and Spanish are euphonious languages and therefore easily sung. evanescent adj. fleeting; vanishing For a brief moment, the entire skyline was bathed in an orange-red hue in the evanescent rays of the sunset. evasive adj. not frank; eluding Your evasive answers convinced the judge that you were withholding important evidence. evade, v. evince v. show clearly When he tried to answer the questions, he evinced his ignorance of the subject matter. evoke v. call forth He evoked much criticism by his hostile manner. ewer n. water pitcher The primitive conditions of the period were symbolized by the porcelain ewer and basin in the bedroom. exaction n. exorbitant demand; extortion The colonies rebelled against the exactions of the mother country. exasperate v. vex Johnny often exasperates his mother with his pranks. exchequer n. treasury He had been Chancellor of the Exchequer before his promotion to the high office he now holds. exculpate v. clear from blame He was exculpated of the crime when the real criminal confessed. execrable adj. very bad The anecdote was in execrable taste. exemplary adj. serving as a model; outstanding Her exemplary behavior was praised at Commencement. exertion n. effort; expenditure of much physical work The exertion spent in unscrewing the rusty bolt left her exhausted. 50exhort v. urge The evangelist will exhort all sinners in his audience to reform. exhume v. dig out of the ground; remove from a grave Because of the rumor that he had been poisoned, his body was exhumed in order that an autopsy might be performed. exigency n. urgent situation In this exigency, we must look for aid from our allies. exiguous adj. small; minute Grass grew there, an exiguous outcropping among the rocks. exodus n. departure The exodus from the hot and stuffy city was particularly noticeable on Friday evenings. exonerate v. acquit; exculpate I am sure this letter will exonerate you. exorbitant adj. excessive The people grumbled at his exorbitant prices but paid them because he had a monopoly. exotic adj. not native; strange Because of his exotic headdress, he was followed in the streets by small children who laughed at his strange appearance. expatiate v. talk at length At this time, please give us a brief resume of your work; we shall permit you to expatiate later. expatriate n. exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land Henry James was an American expatriate who settled in England. expediency n. that which is advisable or practical He was guided by expediency rather than by ethical considerations. expeditiously adv. rapidly and efficiently Please adjust this matter as expeditiously as possible as it is delaying important work. expiate v. make amends for (a sin) He tried to expiate his crimes by a full confession to the authorities. expostulation n. remonstrance Despite the teacher's scoldings and expostulations, the class remained unruly. expunge v. cancel; remove If you behave, I will expunge this notation from your record. expurgate v. clean; remove offensive parts of a book The editors felt that certain passages in the book had to be expurgated before it could be used in the classroom. extant adj. still in existence Although the authorities suppressed the book, many copies are extant and may be purchased at exorbitant prices. extenuate v. weaken; mitigate It is easier for us to extenuate our own shortcomings than those of others. extirpate v. root up We must extirpate and destroy this monstrous philosophy. extol v. praise; glorify The astronauts were extolled as the pioneers of the Space Age. extort v. wring from; get money by threats, etc The blackmailer extorted money from his victim. 43extradition n. surrender of prisoner by one state to another The lawyers opposed the extradition of their client on the grounds that for more than five years he had been a model citizen. extraneous adj. not essential; external Do not pad your paper with extraneous matters; stick to essential items only. 21extricate v. free; disentangle He found that he could not extricate himself from the trap. extrinsic adj. external; not inherent; foreign Do not be fooled by extrinsic causes. We must look for the intrinsic reason. extrovert n. person interested mostly in external objects and actions A good salesman is usually an extrovert, who likes to mingle with people. 50extrude v. force or push out Much pressure is required to extrude these plastics. exuberant adj. abundant; effusive; lavish His speeches were famous for his exuberant language and vivid imagery. exude v. discharge; give forth The maple syrup is obtained from the sap that exudes from the trees in early spring. exudation, n. fabricate v. build; lie If we prefabricate the buildings in this project, we can reduce the cost considerably. facade n. front of the building The facade of the church had often been photographed by tourists. facet n. small plane surface (of a gem); a side The stonecutter decided to improve the rough diamond by providing it with several facets. facetious adj. humorous; jocular Your facetious remarks are not appropriate at this serious moment. 43facile adj. easy; expert Because he was a facile speaker, he never refused a request to address an organization. facilitate v. make less difficult He tried to facilitate matters at home by getting a part-time job. faction n. party; clique; dissension The quarrels and bickering of the two small factions within the club disturbed the majority of the members. factious adj. inclined to form factions; causing dissension Your statement is factious and will upset the harmony that now exists. factitious adj. artificial; sham Hollywood actresses often create factitious tears by using glycerine. factotum n. handyman; person who does all kinds of work Although we had hired him as a messenger, we soon began to use him as a general factotum around the office. fain adv. gladly The knight said, `I would fain be your protector.' fallacious adj. misleading Your reasoning must be fallacious because it leads to a ridiculous answer. fallible adj. liable to err I know I am fallible, but I feel confident that I am right this time. fallow adj. plowed but not sowed; uncultivated Farmers have learned that it is advisable to permit land to lie fallow every few years. fanaticism n. excessive zeal The leader of the group was held responsible even though he could not control the fanaticism of his followers. fancied adj. imagined; unreal You are resenting fancied insults. No one has ever said such things about you. fancier n. breeder or dealer of animals The dog fancier exhibited her prize collie at the annual Kennel Club show. fanciful adj. whimsical; visionary This is a fanciful scheme because it does not consider the facts. fantastic adj. unreal; grotesque; whimsical Your fears are fantastic because no such animal as you have described exists. 25fastidious adj. difficult to please; squeamish The waitresses disliked serving him dinner because of his very fastidious taste. fatalism n. belief that events are determined by forces beyond one's control With fatalism, he accepted the hardships which beset him. fatalistic, adj. 49fatuous adj. foolish; inane He is far too intelligent to utter such fatuous remarks. fauna n. animals of a period or region The scientist could visualize the fauna of the period by examining the skeletal remains and the fossils. faux pas n. an error or slip ( in manners or behavior) Your tactless remarks during dinner were a faux pas. fawning adj. courting favor by cringing and flattering She was constantly surrounded by a group of fawning admirers who hoped to win some favor. fealty n. loyalty; faithfulness The feudal lord demanded fealty of his vassals. 21feasible adj. practical This is an entirely feasible proposal. I suggest we adopt it. fecundity n. fertility; fruitfulness The fecundity of his mind is illustrated by the many vivid images in his poems. feign v. pretend Lady Macbeth feigned illness in the courtyard. feint n. trick; shift; sham blow The pugilist was fooled by his opponent's feint and dropped his guard. felicitous adj. apt; suitably expressed; well-chosen He was famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at many a banquet. fell adj. cruel; deadly Henley writes of the `fell clutch of circumstance' in his poem, `Invictus.' ferment n. agitation; commotion The entire country was in a state of ferment. ferret v. drive or hunt out of hiding He ferreted out their secret. fervent adj. ardent; hot She laughed at his fervent love letters. 43fervid adj. ardent His fervid enthusiasm inspired all of us to undertake the dangerous mission. fervor n. glowing ardor Their kiss was full of the fervor of first love. fester v. generate pus The wound from the splinter in her finger began to fester. fete v. honor at a festival The returning hero was feted at a community supper and dance. also n. fetid adj. malodorous The neglected wound became fetid. fetish n. object supposed to possess magical powers; an object of special devotion The native wore a fetish around his neck to ward off evil spirits. fetter v. shackle The prisoner was fettered to wall. fiasco n. total failure Our ambitious venture ended in a fiasco. fiat n. command I cannot accept government by fiat; I feel that I must be consulted. fickle adj. changeable; faithless He discovered she was fickle. fictitious adj. imaginary Although this book purports to be a biography of George Washington, many of the incidents are fictitious. fidelity n. loyalty A dog's fidelity to his master is one of the reasons why that animal is a favorite household pet. figment n. invention; imaginary thing That incident is a figment of your imagination. filch v. steal The boys filched apples from the fruit-stand. filial adj. pertaining to a son or daughter Many children forget their filial obligations and disregard the wishes of their parents. finale n. conclusion It is not until we reach the finale of this play that we can understand the author's message. finesse n. delicate skill The finesse and adroitness of the surgeon impressed the observers in the operating room. finicky adj. too particular; fussy The old lady was finicky about her food. finite adj. limited It is difficult for humanity with its finite existence to grasp the infinite. fissure n. crevice The mountain climbers secured foot-holds in tiny fissures in the rock. fitful adj. spasmodic; intermittent After several fitful attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project until he felt more energetic. flaccid v. flabby His sedentary life had left him with flaccid muscles. flagellate v. flog; whip The Romans used to flagellate criminals with a whip that had three knotted strands. flagging adj. weak; drooping The cross-country runners forced their flagging bodies up the last hill before the finish line. flagrant adj. conspicuously wicked We cannot condone such flagrant violations of the rules. flail v. thresh grain by hand; strike or slap In medieval times, warriors flailed their foe with a metal ball attached to a handle. flair n. talent He has an uncanny flair for discovering new artists before the public has become aware of their existence. flamboyant adj. ornate Modern architecture has discarded the flamboyant trimming on buildings and emphasizes simplicity of line. flaunt v. display ostentatiously She is not one of those actresses who flaunt their physical charms; she can act. flay v. strip off skin; plunder To my mind, no crime justifies the punishment that the criminal be flayed alive. fleck v. spot Her eyes, flecked with blood, were testimony to the hours of weeping. fledgling adj. inexperienced While it is necessary to provide these fledgling poets with an opportunity to present their work, it is not essential that we admire everything they write. flick n. light stroke as with a whip The horse needed no encouragement; only one flick of the whip was all the jockey had to apply to get the animal to run at top speed. 24flippancy n. trifling gaiety Your flippancy at this serious moment is offensive. flora n. plants of a region or era Because she was a botanist, she spent most of her time studying the flora of the desert. florid adj. flowery; ruddy His complexion was even more florid than usual because of his anger. 18flotilla n. small fleet It is always an exciting and interesting moment when the fishing flotilla returns to port. flotsam n. drifting wreckage Beachcombers eke out a living by salvaging the flotsam and jetsam of the sea. flout v. reject; mock The headstrong youth flouted all authority; he refused to be curbed. fluctuation n. wavering Meteorologists watch the fluctuations of the barometer in order to predict the weather. fluency n. smoothness of speech He spoke French with fluency and ease. fluster v. confuse; befuddle with liquor The teacher's sudden question flustered him and he stammered his reply. flux n. flowing; series of changes While conditions are in such a state of flux, I do not wish to commit myself too deeply in this affair. foible n. weakness; slight fault We can overlook the foibles of our friends. foist v. insert improperly; palm off I will not permit you to foist such ridiculous ideas upon the membership of this group. foment v. stir up; instigate This report will foment dissension in the club. 50foolhardy adj. rash Don't be foolhardy. Get the advice of experienced people before undertaking this venture. 25foppish adj. vain about dress and appearance He tried to imitate the foppish manner of the young men of the court. foray n. raid The company staged a midnight foray against the enemy outpost. 43forbearance n. patience We must use forbearance in dealing with him because he is still weak from his illness. foreboding n. premonition of evil Caesar ridiculed his wife's forebodings about the Ides of March. forensic adj. suitable to debate or courts of law In his best forensic manner, the lawyer addressed the jury. formidable adj. menacing; threatening We must not treat the battle lightly for we are facing a formidable foe. forte n. strong point or special talent I am not eager to play this rather serious role, for my forte is comedy. fortitude n. bravery; courage He was awarded the medal for his fortitude in the battle. fortuitous adj. accidental; by chance There is no connection between these two events; their timing is extremely fortuitous. foster v. rear; encourage According to the legend. Romulus and Remus were fostered by a she-wolf. fractious adj. unruly The fractious horse unseated its rider. frailty n. weakness Hamlet says, `Frailty, thy name is woman.' franchise n. right granted by government The city issued a franchise to the company to operate surface transit lines on the streets for ninety-nine years. frantic adj. wild At the time of the collision, many people became frantic with fear. fraudulent adj. cheating; deceitful The government seeks to prevent fraudulent and misleading advertising. fraught adj. filled Since this enterprise is fraught with danger, I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks. fray n. brawl The three musketeers were in the thick of the fray. freebooter n. buccaneer This town is a rather dangerous place to visit as it is frequented by pirates, freebooters, and other plunderers. frenetic adj. frenzied; frantic His frenetic activities convinced us that he had no organized plan of operation. frenzied adj. madly excited As soon as they smelled smoke, the frenzied animals milled about in their cages. fresco n. painting on plaster (usually fresh) The cathedral is visited by many tourists who wish to admire the frescoes by Giotto. freshet n. sudden flood Motorists were warned that spring freshets had washed away several small bridges and that long detours would be necessary. friction n. clash in opinion; rubbing against At this time when harmony is essential, we cannot afford to have any friction in our group. frieze n. ornamental band in a wall The frieze of the church was adorned with sculpture. frigid adj. intensely cold Alaska is in the frigid zone. fritter v. waste He could not apply himself to any task and frittered away his time in idle conversation. frolicsome adj. prankish; gay The frolicsome puppy tried to lick the face of its master. froward adj. disobedient; perverse; stubborn Your froward behavior has alienated many of us who might have been your supporters. frowzy adj. slovenly; unkempt; dirty Her frowzy appearance and her cheap decorations made her appear ludicrous in this group. fructify v. bear fruit This tree should fructify in three years. frugality n. thrift In these difficult days, we must live with frugality. fruition n. bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization This building marks the fruition of all our aspirations and years of hard work. frustrate v. thwart; defeat We must frustrate this dictator's plan to seize control of the government. fulminate v. thunder; explode The people against whom he fulminated were innocent of any wrongdoing. fulsome adj. disgustingly excessive His fulsome praise of the dictator annoyed his listeners. functionary n. official As his case was transferred from one functionary to another, he began to despair of ever reaching a settlement. funereal adj. sad; solemn I fail to understand why there is such a funereal atmosphere; we have lost a battle, not a war. 21furor n. frenzy; great excitement The story of his embezzlement of the funds created a furor on the Stock Exchange. 14furtive adj. stealthy The boy agave a furtive look at his classmate's test paper. 43fusion n. union; coalition The opponents of the political party in power organized a fusion movement. fustian adj. pompous; bombastic Several in the audience were deceived by his fustian style; they mistook pomposity for erudition. gadfly n. animal-biting fly; an irritating person Like a gadfly, he irritated all the guests at the hotel; within forty-eight hours, everyone regarded him as an annoying busybody. gaff n. hook; barbed fishing spear When he attempted to land the sailfish, he was so nervous that he dropped the gaff into the sea. also v. gainsay v. deny He could not gainsay the truth of the report. galleon n. large sailing ship The Spaniards pinned their hopes on the galleon, the large warship; the British on the smaller and faster pinnace. 21galvanize v. stimulate by shock; stir up The entire nation was galvanized into strong military activity by the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. gambol v. skip; leap playfully Watching children gamboling in the park is a pleasant experience. 14gamester n. gambler An inveterate gamester, he was willing to wager on the outcome of any event, even one which involved the behavior of insects. 14gamut n. entire range In this performance, the leading lady was able to demonstrate the complete gamut of her acting ability. 14gape v. open widely The huge pit gaped before him; if he stumbled, he would fall in. garbled adj. mixed up; based on false or unfair selection The garbled report confused many readers who were not familiar with the facts. garish adj. gaudy She wore a garish rhinestone necklace. 14garner v. gather; store up He hoped to garner the world's literature in one library. garnish v. decorate Parsley was used to garnish the boiled potato. garrulity n. talkativeness The man who married a dumb wife asked the doctor to make him deaf because of his wife's garrulity after her cure. garrulous, adj. gauntlet n. leather glove Now that we have been challenged, we must take up the gauntlet and meet our adversary fearlessly. gazette n. official periodical publication He read the gazettes regularly for the announcement of his promotion. geniality n. cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy This restaurant is famous and popular because of the geniality of the proprietor who tries to make everyone happy. genre n. style of art illustrating scenes of common life His painting of fisher folk at their daily tasks is an excellent illustration of genre art. genteel adj. well-bred; elegant We are looking for a man with a genteel appearance who can inspire confidence by his cultivated manner. gentility n. those of gentle birth; refinement Her family was proud of its gentility. gentry n. people of standing; class of people just below nobility The local gentry did not welcome the visits of the summer tourists and tried to ignore their presence in the community. germane adj. pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand The lawyer objected that the testimony being offered was not germane to the case at hand. gesticulation n. motion; gesture Operatic performers are trained to make exaggerated gesticulations because of the large auditoriums in which they appear. gibbet n. gallows The bodies of the highwaymen were left dangling from the gibbet as a warning to other would-be transgressors. ghastly adj. horrible The murdered man was a ghastly sight. gibber v. speak foolishly The demented man gibbered incoherently. 36gibe v. mock As you gibe at their superstitious beliefs, do you realize that you, too, are guilty of similarly foolish thoughts? gig n. two-wheeled carriage As they drove down the street in their new gig, drawn by the dappled mare, they were cheered by the people who recognized them. gist n. essence She was asked to give the gist of the essay in two sentences. glaze v. cover with a thin and shiny surface The freezing rain glazed the streets and made driving hazardous. glean v. gather leavings After the crops had been harvested by the machines, the peasants were permitted to glean the wheat left in the fields. 35glib adj. fluent He is a glib speaker. gloaming n. twilight The snow began to fall in the gloaming and continued all through the night. 35gloat v. express evil satisfaction; view malevolently As you gloat over your ill-gotten wealth, do you think of the many victims you have defrauded? glossy adj. smooth and shining I want this photograph printed on glossy paper. glut v. overstock; fill to excess The many manufacturers glutted the market and could not find purchasers for the many articles they had produced. glutinous adj. sticky; viscous Molasses is a glutinous substance. gluttonous adj. greedy for food The gluttonous boy ate all the cookies. gnarled adj. twisted The gnarled oak tree had been a landmark for years and was mentioned in several deeds. gnome n. dwarf, underground spirit In medieval mythology, gnomes were the special guardians and inhabitants of subterranean mines. goad v. urge on He was goaded by his friends until he yielded to their wishes. gory adj. bloody The audience shuddered as they listened to the details of the gory massacre. gorge v. stuff oneself The gluttonous guest gorged himself with food as though he had not eaten for days. gossamer adj. sheer; like cobwebs Nylon can be woven into gossamer or thick fabrics. gouge v. tear out In that fight, all the rules were forgotten; the adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to gouge each other's eyes out. gourmand n. epicure; person who takes pleasure in fine food The gourmand liked the French cuisine. gourmet n. connoisseur of food and drink The gourmet stated that this was the best onion soup he had ever tasted. granary n. storehouse for grain We have reason to be thankful for our crops were good and our granaries are full. grandiloquent adj. pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language The politician could never speak simply; he was always grandiloquent. grandiose adj. imposing; impressive His grandiose manner impressed those who met him for the first time. granulate v. form into grains Sugar that has been granulated dissolves more readily than lump sugar. graphic adj. pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described I was particularly impressed by the graphic presentation of the storm. 43gratis adj. free The company offered to give one package gratis to every purchaser of one of their products. gratuitous adj. given freely; unwarranted I resent your gratuitous remarks because no one asked for them. gratuity, n. gregarious adj. flocking together He was not gregarious and preferred to be alone most of the time. grisly adj. ghastly She shuddered at the grisly sight. grotto n. small cavern The Blue Grotto in Capri can be entered only by small boats rowed by natives through a natural opening in the rocks. gruel n. liquid food made by boiling oatmeal, etc., in milk or water Our daily allotment of gruel made the meal not only monotonous but also unpalatable. grueling adj. exhausting The marathon is a grueling race. gruesome adj. grisly People screamed when his gruesome appearance was flashed on the screen. gruff adj. rough-mannered Although he was blunt and gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children. 43guffaw n. boisterous laughter The loud guffaws that came from the closed room indicated that the members of the committee had not yet settled down to serious business. guile n. deceit; duplicity He achieved his high position by guile and treachery. guileless adj. without deceit He is naive, simple and guileless; he cannot be guilty of fraud. guise n. appearance; costume In the guise of a plumber, the detective investigated the murder case. gullible adj. easily deceived He preyed upon the gullible who believed his stories of easy wealth. 43gustatory adj. affecting the sense of taste This food is particularly gustatory because of the spices it contains. gusto n. enjoyment; enthusiasm He accepted the assignment with such gusto that I feel he would have been satisfied with a smaller salary. gusty adj. windy The gusty weather made sailing precarious. guttural adj. pertaining to the throat Guttural sounds are produced in the throat or in the back of the tongue and palate. habiliments n. garb; clothing Although not a minister, David Belasco used to wear clerical habiliments. hackneyed adj. commonplace; trite The English teacher criticized his story because of its hackneyed plot. haggard adj. wasted away; gaunt After his long illness, he was pale and haggard. haggle v. argue about prices I prefer to shop in a store that has a one price policy because, whenever I haggle with a shopkeeper, I am never certain that I paid a fair price for the articles I purchased. halcyon adj. calm; peaceful In those halcyon days, people were not worried about sneak attacks and bombings. hallowed adj. blessed; consecrated He was laid to rest in hallowed ground. hallucination n. delusion I think you were frightened by an hallucination which you created in your own mind. hamper v. obstruct The minority party agreed not to hamper the efforts of the leaders to secure a lasting peace. hap n. chance; luck In his poem, Hap, Thomas Hardy objects to the part chance plays in our lives. 43haphazard adj. random; by chance His haphazard reading left him unacquainted with authors of the books. hapless adj. unfortunate This hapless creature had never known a moment's pleasure. harangue n. noisy speech In his lengthy harangue, the principal berated the offenders. harass v. to annoy by repeated attacks She used to harass her husband by her continual demands for fine attire. 21harbinger n. forerunner The crocus is an early harbinger of spring. harping n. tiresome dwelling on a subject Her constant harping on the good time she had had before her marriage angered her husband. harridan n. shrewish hag Most people avoided the harridan because they feared her abusive and vicious language. harrow v. break up ground after plowing; torture I don't want to harrow you at this time by asking you to recall the details of your unpleasant experience. harry v. raid The guerilla band harried the enemy nightly. haughtiness n. pride; arrogance I resent his haughtiness because he is no better than we are. hauteur n. haughtiness His snobbishness is obvious to all who witness his hauteur when he talks to those whom he considers his social inferiors. hawser n. large rope The ship was tied to the pier by a hawser. hazardous adj. dangerous Your occupation is too hazardous for insurance companies to consider your application. hazy adj. slightly obscure In hazy weather, you cannot see the top of this mountain. hedonism n. belief that pleasure is the sole aim in life Hedonism and asceticism are opposing philosophies of human behavior. heedless adj. not noticing; disregarding He drove on heedless of the warnings placed at the side of the road that it was dangerous. heinous adj. atrocious; hatefully bad Hitler's heinous crimes will never be forgotten. heresy n. opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion Your remarks are pure heresy. heretic n. person who maintains opinions contrary to the doctrines of the church She was punished by the Spanish Inquisition because she was a heretic. hermitage n. home of hermit Even in his remote hermitage he could not escape completely from the world. heterogeneous adj. dissimilar In heterogeneous groupings, we have an unassorted grouping, while in homogeneous groupings we have people or things which have common traits. hiatus n. gap; pause There was a hiatus of twenty years in the life of Rip van Winkle. hibernal adj. wintry Bears prepare for their long hibernal sleep by overeating. hibernate v. sleep throughout the winter Bears are one of the many species of animals that hibernate. 50hierarchy n. body divided into ranks It was difficult ot step out of one's place in this hierarchy. hieroglyphic n. picture writing of ancient Egyptians The discovery of the Rosetta Stone enabled scholars to read the ancient hieroglyphics. hilarity n. boisterous mirth This hilarity is improper on this solemn day of mourning. hindmost adj. furthest behind You could always find him in the hindmost lines when a battle was being waged. hireling n. one who serves for hire (usually contemptuously) In a matter of such importance, I do not wish to deal with hirelings; I must meet with the chief. hirsute adj. hairy He was a hirsute individual with a heavy black beard. histrionic adj. theatrical He was proud of his histrionic ability and wanted to play the role of Hamlet. hoary adj. white with age The man was hoary and wrinkled. hogshead n. large barrel On the trip to England, the ship carried munitions; on its return trip, hogsheads filled with French wines and Scotch liquors. holocaust n. destruction by fire Citizens of San Francisco remember that the destruction of the city was caused not by the earthquake but by the holocaust that followed. holster n. pistol case Even when he was not in uniform, he carried a holster and pistol under his arm. homespun adj. domestic; made at home Homespun wit like homespun cloth was often coarse and plain. homily n. sermon; serious warning His speeches were always homilies, advising his listeners to repent and reform. homogeneous adj. of the same kind Educators try to put pupils of similar abilities into classes because they believe that this homogeneous grouping is advisable. homogeneity, n. homonym n. word similar in sound but different in meaning and spelling Pear and pair are homonyms. 25horticultural adj. pertaining to cultivation of gardens When he bought his house, he began to look for flowers and decorative shrubs, and began to read books dealing with horticultural matters. hostelry n. inn Travelers interested in economy should stay at hostelries and pensions rather than fashionable hotels. hubbub n. confused uproar The market place was a scene of hubbub and excitement; in all the noise, we could not distinguish particular voices. humane adj. kind His humane and considerate treatment of the unfortunate endeared him to all. humdrum adj. dull; monotonous After his years of adventure, he could not settle down to a humdrum existence. humid adj. damp He could not stand the humid climate and moved to a drier area. 43humility n. humbleness of spirit He spoke with a humility and lack of pride which impressed his listeners. humus n. substance formed by decaying vegetable matter In order to improve his garden, he spread humus over his lawn and flower beds. hybrid n. mongrel; mixed breed Mendel's formula explains the appearance of hybrids and pure species in breeding. also adj. hypercritical adj. excessively exacting You are hypercritical in your demands for perfection; we all make mistakes. hypochondriac n. person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness The doctor prescribed chocolate pills for his patient who was a hypochondriac. hypocritical adj. pretending to be virtuous; deceiving I resent his hypocritical posing as a friend for I know he is interested only in his own advancement. hypothetical adj. based on assumptions or hypotheses Why do we have to consider hypothetical cases when we have actual case histories which we may examine? hypothesis, n. iconoclastic adj. attacking cherished traditions George Bernard Shaw's iconoclastic plays often startled people. ideology n. ideas of a group of people That ideology is dangerous to this country because it embraces undemocratic philosophies. idiom n. special usage in language I could not understand their idiom because literal translation made no sense. idiosyncrasy n. peculiarity; eccentricity One of his personal idiosyncrasies was his habit of rinsing all cutlery given him in a restaurant. idolatry n. worship of idols; excessive admiration Such idolatry of singers of popular ballads is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth. igneous adj. produced by fire; volcanic Lave, pumice and other igneous ricks are found in great abundance around Mount Vesuvius near Naples. ignominious adj. disgraceful The country smarted under the ignominious defeat and dreamed of the day when it would be victorious. ignoble adj. of lowly origin; unworthy This plan is inspired by ignoble motives and I must, therefore, oppose it. illimitable adj. infinite Man, having explored the far reaches of the earth, is preparing to reach out into illimitable space. illusion n. misleading vision It is easy to create an optical illusion in which lines of equal length appear different. illusory, adj. imbecility n. weakness of mind I am amazed at the imbecility of the readers of these trashy magazines. imbibe v. drink in The dry soil imbibed the rain quickly. imbroglio n. a complicated situation; perplexity; entanglement He was called in to settle the imbroglio but failed to bring harmony into the situation. imbue v. saturate, fill His visits to the famous Gothic cathedrals imbued him with feelings of awe and reverence. immaculate adj. pure; spotless The West Point cadets were immaculate as they lined up for inspection. imminent adj. impending; near at hand The imminent battle will determine our success or failure in this conflict. 21immobility n. state of being immovable Modern armies cannot afford the luxury of immobility as they are vulnerable to attack while standing still. immolate v. offer as a sacrifice The tribal king offered to immolate his daughter to quiet the angry gods. immune adj. exempt He was fortunately immune from the disease and could take care of the sick. immutable adj. unchangeable Scientists are constantly seeking to discover the immutable laws of nature. 24impair v. worsen; diminish in value This arrest will impair his reputation in the community. impale v. pierce He was impaled by the spear hurled by his adversary. impasse n. predicament from which there is no escape In this impasse, all turned to prayer as their last hope. impassive adj. without feeling; not affected by pain The American Indian has been depicted as an impassive individual, undemonstrative and stoical. impeach v. charge with crime in office; indict The angry Congressman wanted to impeach the President. impeccable adj. faultless He was proud of his impeccable manners. impecunious adj. without money Now that he was wealthy, he gladly contributed to funds to assist the impecunious and the disabled. impending adj. nearing; approaching The entire country was saddened by the news of his impending death. imperious adj. domineering His imperious manner indicated that he had long been accustomed to assuming command. impermeable adj. impervious; not permitting passage through its substance This new material is impermeable to liquids. impertinent adj. insolent I regard your remarks as impertinent and resent them. 25imperturbability n. calmness We are impressed by his imperturbability in this critical moment and are calmed by it. impervious adj. not penetrable; not permitting passage through You cannot change their habits for their minds are impervious to reasoning. impetuous adj. violent; hasty; rash We tried to curb his impetuous behavior because we felt that in his haste he might offend some people. impetus n. moving force It is a miracle that there were any survivors since the two automobiles that collided were traveling with great impetus. impiety n. irreverence; wickedness We cannot forgive such an act of impiety. impious adj. irreverent The congregation was offended by his impious remarks. implacable adj. incapable of being pacified Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family. implication n. that which is hinted at or suggested If I understand the implications of your remark, you do not trust our captain. implicit adj. understood but not stated It is implicit that you will come to our aid if we are attacked. import n. significance I feel that you have not grasped th full import of the message sent to us by the enemy. importune v. beg earnestly I must importune you to work for peace at this time. importunate, adj. imprecate v. curse; pray that evil will befall To imprecate Hitler's atrocities is not enough; we must insure against any future practice of genocide. 43impregnable adj. invulnerable Until the development of the airplane as a military weapon, the fort was considered impregnable. impromptu adj. without previous preparation His listeners were amazed that such a thorough presentation could be made in an impromptu speech. impropriety n. state of being inappropriate Because of the impropriety of his costume, he was denied entrance into the dining room. improvident adj. thriftless He was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to `save for a rainy day.' improvise v. compose on the spur of the moment He would sit at the piano and improvise for hours on themes from Bach and Handel. impugn v. doubt; challenge; gainsay I cannot impugn your honesty without evidence. impunity n. freedom from punishment The bully mistreated everyone in the class with impunity for he felt that no one would dare retaliate. 44imputation n. charging; reproaching; giving blame for You cannot ignore the imputations in his speech that you are the guilty party. 24inanimate adj. lifeless She was asked to identify the still and inanimate body. inadvertence n. oversight; carelessness By inadvertence, he omitted two questions on the examination. inalienable adj. not to be taken away; non-transferable The Declaration of Independence mentions the inalienable rights that all of us possess. 50inane adj. silly; senseless Such comments are inane because they do not help us solve our problem. inanity, n. inarticulate adj. speechless; producing indistinct speech He became inarticulate with rage and uttered sounds without meaning. incapacitate v. disable During the winter, many people were incapacitated by respiratory ailments. incarcerate v. imprison The warden will incarcerate the felon. incarnate adj. endowed with flesh; personified Your attitude is so fiendish that you must be a devil incarnate. incendiary n. arsonist The fire spread in such an unusual manner that the fire department chiefs were certain that it had been set by an incendiary. incentive n. spur; motive Pupils who dislike school must be given an incentive to learn. incessant adj. uninterrupted The crickets kept up an incessant chirping which disturbed our attempts to fall asleep. inchoate adj. recently begun; rudimentary; elementary Before the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass. incipient adj. beginning; in an early stage I will go to sleep early for I want to break an incipient cold. incisive adj. cutting; sharp His incisive remarks made us see the fallacy in our plans. incite v. arouse to action The demagogue incited the mob to take action into its own hands. inclement adj. stormy; unkind I like to read a good book in inclement weather. inclusive adj. tending to include all This meeting will run from January 10 to February 15 inclusive. incognito adj. with identity concealed; using an assumed name The monarch enjoyed traveling through the town incognito and mingling with the populace. 18incommodious adj. not spacious In their incommodious quarters, they had to improvise for closet space. incompatible adj. inharmonious The married couple argued incessantly and finally decided to separate because they were incompatible. 50incongruity n. lack of harmony; absurdity The incongruity of his wearing sneakers with his formal attire amused the observers. inconsequential adj. of trifling significance Your objections are inconsequential and may be disregarded. incontrovertible adj. indisputable We must yield to the incontrovertible evidence which you have presented and free your client. incorporeal adj. immaterial; without a material body We must devote time to the needs of our incorporeal mind ad well as our corporeal body. incorrigible adj. uncorrectable Because he was an incorrigible criminal, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. 49incredulity n. a tendency to disbelief Your incredulity in the face of all the evidence is hard to understand. increment n. increase This job has an annual increment in salary until you reach the maximum of $18,000 a year. incriminate v. accuse The evidence gathered against the racketeers incriminates some high public officials as well. 18incubate v. hatch; scheme Inasmuch as our supply of electricity is cut off, we shall have to rely on the hens to incubate these eggs. incubus n. burden; mental care; nightmare The incubus of financial worry helped bring on his nervous breakdown. inculcate v. teach In an effort to inculcate religious devotion, the officials ordered that the school day begin with the singing of a hymn. incumbent n. office holder The newly elected public official received valuable advice from the present incumbent. also adj. incursion n. temporary invasion The nightly incursions and hit-and-run raids of our neighbors across the border tried the patience of the country to the point where we decided to retaliate in force. indefatigable adj. tireless He was indefatigable in his constant efforts to raise funds for the Red Cross. indemnify v. make secure against loss; compensate for loss The city will indemnify all home owners whose property is spoiled by this project. 25indenture v. bind servant or apprentice to master Many immigrants could come to America only after they had indentured themselves for several years. also n. indict v. charge If the grand jury indicts the suspect, he will go to trial. indigenous adj. native Tobacco is one of the indigenous plants which the early explorers found in this country. indigent adj. poor Because he was indigent, he was sent to the county poor-house. indignity n. offensive or insulting treatment Although he seemed to accept the indignities heaped upon him cheerfully, he was inwardly very angry. indisputable adj. too certain to be disputed In the face of these indisputable statements, I withdraw my complaint. indite v. write; compose Cyrano indited many letters for Christian. indolence n. laziness The sultry weather in the tropics encourages a life of indolence. indomitable adj. unconquerable The founders of our country had indomitable will power. indubitably adv. beyond a doubt Because his argument was indubitably valid, the judge accepted it. indulgent adj. humoring; yielding; lenient An over-indulgent parent may spoil his child. ineffable adj. unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech Such ineffable joy must be experienced; it cannot be described. inept adj. unsuited; absurd; incompetent The constant turmoil in the office proved that he was an inept administrator. inexorable adj. relentless; unyielding; implacable The governor is inexorable; he will not suspend the sentence. infallible adj. unerring We must remember that none of us is infallible. infamous adj. notoriously bad Jesse James was an infamous outlaw. inference n. conclusion drawn from data I want you to check this inference because it may have been based on insufficient information. infinitesimal adj. very small In the twentieth century, physicists have made their greatest discoveries about the characteristics of infinitesimal objects like the atom and its parts. infirmity n. weakness His greatest infirmity was lack of will power . inflated adj. enlarged (with air or gas) After the balloons were inflated, they were distributed among the children. influx n. flowing into The influx of refugees into the country has taxed the relief agencies severely. infraction n. violation Because of his many infractions of school regulations, he was suspended by the dean. infringe v. violate; encroach I think your machine infringes on my patent. ingenuous adj. naive; young; unsophisticated These remarks indicate that you are ingenuous and unaware of life's harsher realities. ingrate n. ungrateful person You are an ingrate since you have treated my gifts with scorn. ingratiate v. to become popular with He tried to ingratiate himself into her parents' good graces. inherent adj. firmly established by nature or habit His inherent love of justice compelled him to come to their aid. 25inhibit v. prohibit; restrain The child was not inhibited in his responses. inhibition, n. inimical adj. unfriendly; hostile She felt that they were inimical and were hoping for her downfall. iniquitous adj. unjust; wicked I cannot approve of the iniquitous methods you used to gain your present position. iniquity, n. inkling n. hint This came as a complete surprise to me as I did not have the slightest inkling of your plans. innocuous adj. harmless Let him drink it; it is innocuous. innate adj. inborn His innate love of music was soon recognized by his parents. innovation n. change; introduction of something new He loved innovations just because they were new. innuendo n. hint; insinuation I resent the innuendoes in your statement more than the statement itself. inordinate adj. unrestrained; excessive She had an inordinate fondness for candy. insatiable adj. not easily satisfied; greedy His thirst for knowledge was insatiable; he was always in the library. inscrutable adj. incomprehensible; not to be discovered Your motives are inscrutable. insensate adj. without feeling He lay there as insensate as a log. insidious adj. treacherous; stealthy; sly The fifth column is insidious because it works secretly within our territory for our defeat. insinuate v. hint; imply What are you trying to insinuate by that remark? insipid adj. tasteless; dull I am bored by your insipid talk. insolent adj. haughty and comtemptuous I resent your insolent manner insolvency n. bankruptcy; lack of ability to repay debts When rumors of his insolvency reached his creditors, they began to press him for payment of the money due them. insomnia n. wakefulness; inability to sleep He refused to join us in a midnight cup of coffee because he claimed it gave him insomnia. instigate v. urge; start; provoke I am afraid that this statement will instigate a revolt. insular adj. like an island; narrow-minded In an age of such rapid means of communication, we cannot afford to be hemmed in by such insular ideas. insuperable adj. insurmountable; invincible In the face of insuperable difficulties they maintained their courage and will to resist. insurgent adj. rebellious We will not discuss reforms until the insurgent troops have returned to their homes. integrate v. make whole; combine; make into one unit He tried to integrate all their activities into one program. integrity n. wholeness; purity; uprightness He was a man of great integrity. intellect n. higher mental powers He thought college would develop his intellect. intelligentsia n. the intelligent and educated classes (often used derogatorily) He preferred discussions about sports and politics to the literary conversations of the intelligentsia. 25inter v. bury They are going to inter the body tomorrow. interim n. meantime The company will not consider our proposal until next week; in the interim, let us proceed as we have in the past. 25interment n. burial Interment will take place in the church cemetery at 2 p.m. Wednesday. interminable adj. endless Her telephone conversation seemed interminable. 25intermittent adj. periodic; on and off Our picnic was marred by intermittent rains. intimate v. hint She intimated rather than stated her preferences. intimidation n. fear The dictator ruled by intimidation. intransigent adj. refusing any compromise The strike settlement has collapsed because both sides are intransigent. intrepid adj. fearless For his intrepid conduct in battle, he was promoted. 50intrinsic adj. belonging to a thing in itself; inherent Although the intrinsic value of this award is small, I shall always cherish it. introvert n. one who is introspective; inclined to think more about oneself In his poetry, he reveals that he is an introvert by his intense interest in his own problems. intrude v. trespass; enter as an uninvited person He hesitated to intrude on their conversation. intuition n. power of knowing without reasoning She claimed to know the truth by intuition. intuitive, adj. inundate v. overflow; flood The tremendous waves inundated the town. inveigle v. lead astray; wheedle He was inveigled into joining the club. inured adj. accustomed; hardened He became inured to the Alaskan cold. invective n. abuse He had expected criticism but not the invective which greeted his proposal. inverse adj. opposite There is an inverse ratio between the strength of light and its distance. 25inveterate adj. deep-rooted; habitual He is an inveterate smoker. 43invidious adj. designed to create ill-will or envy We disregarded her invidious remarks because we realized how jealous she was. inviolability n. security from being destroyed, corrupted or profaned They respected the inviolability of her faith and did not try to change her manner of living. invulnerable adj. incapable of injury Achilles was invulnerable except in his heel. iota n. very small quantity He hadn't an iota of common sense. irascible adj. irritable; easily angered His irascible temper frightened me. ironical adj. resulting in an unexpected and contrary manner It is ironical that his success came when he least wanted it. irony, n. iridescent adj. exhibiting rainbow-like colors He admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water. irreconcilable adj. incompatible; not able to be resolved The separated couple was irreconcilable. irrelevant adj. not applicable; unrelated This statement is irrelevant and should be disregarded by the jury. irremediable adj. incurable; uncorrectable The error he made was irremediable. irreparable adj. not able to be corrected or repaired Your apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have done to his reputation. irreverent adj. lacking proper respect The worshippers resented his irreverent remarks about their faith. 24irrevocable adj. unalterable Let us not brood over past mistakes since they are irrevocable. iterate v. utter a second time; repeat I will iterate the warning I have previously given to you. itinerant adj. wandering; traveling He was an itinerant peddler. jaded adj. fatigued; surfeited He looked for exotic foods to stimulate his jaded appetite. 43jargon n. language used by special group; gibberish We tried to understand the jargon of the peddlers in the market place but could not find any basis for comprehension. jaundiced adj. yellowed; prejudiced; envious He gazed at the painting with jaundiced eyes. jeopardy n. exposure to death or danger He cannot be placed in double jeopardy. jettison v. throw overboard In order to enable the ship to ride safely through the storm. the captain had to jettison much of his cargo. jingoism n. extremely aggressive and militant patriotism We must be careful to prevent a spirit of jingoism from spreading at this time; the danger of disastrous war is too great. jocose adj. given to joking The salesman was a jocose person. jocular adj. said or done in jest Do not take my jocular remarks seriously. jocund adj. merry Santa Claus is always gay and jocund. jubilation n. rejoicing There was great jubilation when the armistice was announced. judicious adj. wise; determined by sound judgment I believe that this plan is not judicious; it is too risky. junket n. merry feast or picnic The opposition claimed that his trip to Europe was merely a political junket. 50junto n. group of men joined in political intrigue; cabal As soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the execution of all of the members of the junto. ken n. range of knowledge I cannot answer your question since this matter is beyond my ken. kiosk n. summer-house; open pavilion She waited at the subway kiosk. kismet n. fate Kismet is the Arabic word for `fate.' 25kith n. familiar friends He always helped both his kith and kin. kleptomaniac n. a person who has a compulsive desire to steal They discovered that the wealthy customer was a kleptomaniac when they caught her stealing some cheap trinkets. knavery n. rascality We cannot condone such knavery in public officials. knell n. tolling of a bell at a funeral; sound of the funeral bell `The curfew tolls the knell of parting day.' knoll n. little round hill Robert Louis Stevenson's grave is on a knoll in Samoa. labyrinth n. maze Tom and Betty were lost in the labyrinth of secret caves. lacerate v. mangle; tear Her body was lacerated in the automobile crash. lackadaisical adj. affectedly languid He was lackadaisical and indifferent about his part in the affair. lackey n. footman; toady The duke was followed by his lackeys. laconic adj. brief and to the point Will Rogers' laconic comments on the news made him world-famous. laggard adj. slow; sluggish The sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders. lagniappe n. trifling present given to a customer The butcher threw in some bones for the dog as a lagniappe. lagoon n. shallow body of water near a sea; lake They enjoyed their swim in the calm lagoon. laity n. laymen; persons not connected with the clergy The laity does not always understand the clergy's problems. lambent adj. flickering; softly radiant They sat quietly before the lambent glow of the fireplace. laminated adj. made of thin plates or scales Banded gneiss is a laminated rock. lampoon v. ridicule This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls. also n. languid adj. weary; sluggish; listless Her siege of illness left her languid and pallid. languish v. lose animation; lose strength In stories, lovelorn damsels used to languish and pine away. lapidary n. worker in precious stones He employed a lapidary to cut the large diamond. largess n. generous gift Lady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor. lascivious adj. lustful The lascivious books were confiscated and destroyed. lassitude n. languor; weariness The hot, tropical weather created a feeling of lassitude and encouraged drowsiness. latent adj. dormant; hidden His latent talent was discovered by accident. lateral adj. coming from the side In order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots. latitude n. freedom from narrow limitations I think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter. laudatory adj. expressing praise The critics' laudatory comments helped to make her a star. lave v. wash The running water will lave away all stains. lavish adj. liberal; wasteful The actor's lavish gifts pleased her. lecherous adj. impure in thought and act; lustful; unchaste He is a lecherous and wicked old man. lesion n. unhealthy change in structure; injury Many lesions are the result of disease. lethal adj. deadly It is unwise to leave lethal weapons where children may find them. lethargic adj. drowsy; dull The stuffy room made him lethargic. levity n. lightness Such levity is improper on this serious occasion. lewd adj. lustful They found his lewd stories objectionable. lexicon n. dictionary I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library. lexicographer, n. 43liaison adj. officer who acts as go-between for two armies As liaison officer, he had to avoid offending the leaders of the two armies. 21libelous adj. defamatory; injurious to the good name of a person He sued the newspaper because of its libelous story. libertine n. debauched person, roue Although she was aware of his reputation as a libertine, she felt she could reform him and help him break his dissolute way of life. libidinous adj. lustful They objected to his libidinous behavior. libretto n. text of an opera The composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its libretto. licentious adj. wanton; lewd; dissolute The licentious monarch helped bring about his country's downfall. lieu n. instead of They accepted his check in lieu of cash. limn v. portray; describe vividly He was never satisfied with his attempts to limn her beauty on canvas. limpid adj. clear A limpid stream ran through his property. linguistic adj. pertaining to language The modern tourist will encounter very little linguistic difficulty as English has become an almost universal language. liquidate v. settle accounts; clear up He was able to liquidate all his debts in a short period of time. lithe adj. flexible; supple Her figure was lithe and willowy. litigation n. lawsuit Try to settle this amicably; I do not want to start litigation. livid adj. lead-colored; black and blue; enraged His face was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might have an attack of apoplexy. loath adj. averse; reluctant They were both loath him to go. loathe v. detest We loathed the wicked villain. lode n. metal-bearing vein If this lode which we have discovered extends for any distance, we have found a fortune. longevity n. long life The old man was proud of his longevity. lope v. gallop slowly As the horses loped along, we had an opportunity to admire the ever-changing scenery. loquacious adj. talkative She is very loquacious and can speak on the telephone for hours. lout n. clumsy person The delivery boy is an awkward lout. lucent adj. shining The moon's lucent rays silvered the river. lucid adj. bright; easily understood His explanation was lucid and to the point. lucrative adj. profitable He turned his hobby into a lucrative profession. lucre n. money Preferring lucre to fame, he wrote stories of popular appeal. lugubrious adj. mournful The lugubrious howling of the dogs added to our sadness. lunar adj. pertaining to the moon Lunar craters can be plainly seen with the aid of a small telescope. luminous adj. shining; issuing light The sun is a luminous body. 24lurid adj. wild; sensational The lurid stories he told shocked his listeners. 24luscious adj. pleasing to taste or smell The ripe peach was luscious. luster n. shine; gloss The soft luster of the silk in the dim light was pleasing. lustrous adj. shining Her large and lustrous eyes gave a touch of beauty to an otherwise drab face. macabre adj. gruesome; grisly The City Morgue is a macabre spot for the uninitiated. luxuriant adj. fertile; abundant; ornate Farming was easy in this luxuriant soil. Machiavellian adj. crafty; double dealing I do not think he will be a good ambassador because he is not accustomed to the Machiavellian maneuverings of foreign diplomats. machinations n. schemes I can see through your wily machinations. madrigal n. pastoral song His program of folk songs included several madrigals which he sang to the accompaniment of a lute. maelstrom n. whirlpool The canoe was tossed about in the maelstrom. magnanimous adj. generous The philanthropist was most magnanimous. magnate n. person of prominence or influence The steel magnate decided to devote more time to city politics. magniloquent adj. boastful, pompous In their stories of the trial, the reporters ridiculed the magniloquent speeches of the defense attorney. 43magnitude n. greatness; extent It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of his crime. maim v. mutilate; injure The hospital could not take care of all who had been wounded or maimed in the railroad accident. malediction n. curse The witch uttered maledictions against her captors. malefactor n. criminal We must try to bring these malefactors to justice. malevolent adj. wishing evil We must thwart his malevolent schemes. malicious adj. dictated by hatred or spite The malicious neighbor spread the gossip. malign v. speak evil of; defame Because of her hatred of the family, she maligns all who are friendly to them. malignant adj. having an evil influence; virulent This is a malignant disease; we may have to use drastic measures to stop its spread. 43malingerer n. one who feigns illness to escape duty The captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers. 24mall n. public walk The Mall in Central Park has always been a favorite spot for Sunday strollers. malleable adj. capable of being shaped by pounding Gold is a malleable metal. mammoth adj. gigantic The mammoth corporations of the twentieth century are a mixed blessing. mandatory adj. obligatory These instructions are mandatory; any violation will be severely punished. maniacal adj. raving mad His maniacal laughter frightened us. manifest adj. understandable; clear His evil intentions were manifest and yet we could not stop him. manifesto n. declaration; statement of policy This statement may be regarded as the manifesto of the party's policy. 43manipulate v. operate with the hands How do you manipulate these puppets? marauder n. raider; intruder The sounding of the alarm frightened the marauders. marital adj. pertaining to marriage After the publication of his book on marital affairs, he was often consulted by married people on the verge of divorce. maritime adj. bordering on the sea; nautical The Maritime Provinces depend on the sea for their wealth. marrow n. soft tissue filling the bones The frigid cold chilled the traveler to the marrow. martial adj. war-like The sound of martial music is always inspiring. martinet n. strict disciplinarian The commanding officer was a martinet who observed each regulation to the letter. masticate v. chew We must masticate our food carefully and slowly in order to avoid stomach disorders. maternal adj. motherly Many animals display maternal instincts only while their offspring are young and helpless. matricide n. murder of a mother by a child A crime such as matricide is inconceivable. 43matrix n. mold or die The case around the matrix was cracked. maudlin adj. effusively sentimental I do not like such maudlin pictures. I call them tear-jerkers. mausoleum n. monumental tomb His body was placed in the family mausoleum. mauve adj. pale purple The mauve tint in the lilac bush was another indication that Spring had finally arrived. maxim n. proverb; a truth pithily stated Aesop's fables illustrate moral maxims. meander v. to wind or turn in its course It is difficult to sail up this stream because of the way it meanders through the countryside. meddlesome adj. interfering He felt his marriage was suffering because of his meddlesome mother-in-law. mediate v. settle a dispute though the services of an outsider Let us mediate our differences rather than engage in a costly strike. mediocre adj. ordinary; commonplace We were disappointed because he gave a rather mediocre performance in this role. meditation n. reflection; thought She reached her decision only after much meditation. medley n. mixture The band played a medley of Gershwin tunes. melee n. fight The captain tried to ascertain the cause of the melee which had broken out among the crew members. mellifluous adj. flowing smoothly; smooth Italian is a mellifluous language. 43memento n. token; reminder Take this book as a memento of your visit. mendacious adj. lying; false People soon learned to discount his mendacious stories. memorialize v. commemorate Let us memorialize his great contribution by dedicating this library in his honor. mendicant n. beggar From the moment we left the ship, we were surrounded by mendicants and peddlers. menial adj. suitable for servants; low I can not understand why a person of your ability and talent should engage in such menial activities. also n. mentor n. teacher During this very trying period, he could not have had a better mentor for the teacher was sympathetic and understanding. mercantile adj. concerning trade I am more interested in the opportunities available in the mercantile field than I am in the legal profession. 43mercenary adj. interested in money or gain I am certain that your action was prompted by mercenary motives. also n. mercurial adj. fickle; changing He was of a mercurial temperament and therefore unpredictable. meretricious adj. flashy; tawdry Her jewels were inexpensive but not meretricious. 50meringue n. a pastry decoration made of white of eggs The lemon meringue pie is one of our specialties. mesa n. high, flat-topped hill The mesa, rising above the surrounding countryside, was the most conspicuous feature of the area. metallurgical adj. pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores During the course of his metallurgical research, the scientist developed a steel alloy of tremendous strength. metamorphosis n. change of form The metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly is typical of many such changes in animal life. metaphysical adj. pertaining to speculative philosophy The modern poets have gone back to the fanciful poems of the metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century for many of their images. metaphysics, n. mete v. measure; distribute He tried to be impartial in his efforts to mete out justice. meticulous adj. excessively careful He was meticulous in checking his accounts. metropolis n. large city Every evening this terminal is filled with the thousands of commuters who are going from this metropolis to their homes in the suburbs. mettle n. courage; spirit When challenged by the other horses in the race, the thoroughbred proved its mettle by its determination to hold the lead. mews n. group of stables built around a courtyard Let us visit the mews to inspect the newly purchased horse. mien n. demeanor; bearing She had the gracious mien of a queen. migrant adj. changing its habitat; wandering These migrant birds return every spring. migratory adj. wandering The return of the migratory birds to the northern sections of this country is a harbinger of spring. militate v. work against Your record of lateness and absence will militate against your chances of promotion. mincing adj. affectedly dainty Yum-Yum walked across the stage with mincing steps. mirage n. unreal reflection; optical illusion The lost prospector was fooled by a mirage in the desert. misadventure n. mischance; ill luck The young explorer met death by misadventure. misanthrope n. one who hates mankind We thought the hermit was a misanthrope because he shunned our society. misapprehension n. error; misunderstanding To avoid misapprehension, I am going to ask all of you to repeat the instructions I have given. miscegenation n. intermarriage between Negro and white Some states passed laws against miscegenation. miscellany n. mixture of writings on various subjects This is an interesting miscellany of nineteenth century prose. mischance n. ill luck By mischance, he lost his week's salary. miscreant n. wretch; villain His kindness to the miscreant amazed all of us who had expected to hear severe punishment pronounced. misdemeanor n. minor crime The culprit pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor rather than face trial for a felony. misgivings n. doubts Hamlet described his misgivings to Horatio but decided to fence with Laertes despite his foreboding of evil. mishap n. accident With a little care you could have avoided this mishap. misnomer n. wrong name; incorrect designation His tyrannical conduct proved to all that his nickname, King Eric the Just, was a misnomer. misogynist n. hater of women She accused him of being a misogynist because he had been a bachelor all his life. missile n. object to be thrown Scientists are experimenting with guided missiles. mite n. very small object or creature; small coin The criminal was so heartless that he even stole the widow's mite. mitigate v. appease He did nothing to mitigate her wrath. mobile adj. movable; not fixed The mobile blood bank operated by the Red Cross visited our neighborhood today. mobility, n. mode n. prevailing style She was not used to their lavish mode of living. modicum n. limited quantity His story is based on a modicum of truth. modish adj. fashionable She always discarded all garments which were no longer modish. modulation n. toning down; changing from one key to another When she spoke, it was with quiet modulation of voice. 18moiety n. half; part There is a slight moiety of the savage in her personality which is not easily perceived by those who do not know her well. mollify v. soothe We tried to mollify the hysterical child by promising her many gifts. molt v. shed or cast off hair or feathers The male robin molted in the spring. molten adj. melted The city of Pompeii was destroyed by volcanic ash rather than by molten lava flowing from Mount Vesuvius. momentous adj. very important On this momentous occasion, we must be very solemn. monetary adj. pertaining to money She was in complete charge of all monetary matters affecting the household. monotheism n. belief in one God Abraham was the first to proclaim his belief in monotheism. moodiness n. fits of depression or gloom We could not discover the cause of his recurrent moodiness. moot adj. debatable Our tariff policy is a moot subject. morbid adj. given to unwholesome thought; gloomy These morbid speculations are dangerous; we must lighten our thinking by emphasis on more pleasant matters. mordant adj. biting; sarcastic; stinging Actors feared the critic's mordant pen. mores n. customs The mores of Mexico are those of Spain with slight modifications. moribund adj. at the point of death The doctors called the family to the bedside of the moribund patient. mortify v. humiliate; punish the flesh She was so mortified by her blunder that she ran to her room in tears. mortician n. undertaker The mortician prepared the corpse for burial. 18morose adj. ill-humored; sullen When we first meet Hamlet, we find him morose and depressed. mote n. small speck The tiniest mote in the eye is very painful. 25motif n. theme This simple motif runs throughout the entire score. motley adj. parti-colored; mixed The captain had gathered a motley crew to sail the vessel. mountebank n. charlatan; boastful pretender The patent medicine man was a mountebank. muddle v. confuse; mix up His thoughts were muddled and chaotic. muggy adj. warm and damp August in New York City is often muggy. mulct v. defraud a person of something The lawyer was accused of trying to mulct the boy of his legacy multiform adj. having many forms Snowflakes are multiform but always hexagonal. multilingual adj. having many languages Because they are bordered by so many countries, the Swiss people are multilingual. multiplicity n. state of being numerous He was appalled by the multiplicity of details he had to complete before setting out on his mission. mundane adj. worldly as opposed to spiritual He was concerned only with mundane matters, especially the daily stock market quotations. munificent adj. very generous The munificent gift was presented to the bride. murkiness n. darkness; gloom The murkiness and fog of the waterfront that evening depressed me. muse v. ponder He mused about the beauty of the statue. musky adj. having the odor of musk She left a trace of musky perfume behind her. musty adj. stale; spoiled by age The attic was dark and musty. mutable adj. changing in form; fickle His opinions were mutable and easily influenced by anyone who had any powers of persuasion. mutilate v. maim The torturer threatened to mutilate his victim. mutinous adj. unruly; rebellious The captain had to use force to quiet his mutinous crew. myriad n. very large number Myriads of mosquitoes from the swamps invaded our village every twilight. nadir n. lowest point The cold spell reached its nadir yesterday. naivete n. quality of being unsophisticated I can not believe that such naivete is unassumed in a person of her age and experience. natal adj. pertaining to birth He refused to celebrate his natal day because it reminded him of the few years he could look forward to. natation n. swimming The Red Cross emphasizes the need for courses in natation. nauseate v. cause to become sick; fill with disgust The foul smells began to nauseate him. nave n. main body of a church The nave of the cathedral was empty at this hour. nebulous adj. cloudy; hazy Your theories are too nebulous; please clarify them. necromancy n. black magic; dealings with the dead Because he was able to perform feats of necromancy, the natives thought he was in league with the devil. nefarious adj. very wicked He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds. 43negation n. denial I must accept his argument since you have been unable to present any negation of his evidence. nemesis n. revenging agent Captain Bligh vowed to be Christian's nemesis. neophyte n. recent convert; beginner This mountain slope contains slides that will challenge experts as well as neophytes. nepotism n. favoritism (to a relative) John left his position with the company because he felt that advancement was based on nepotism rather than ability. nettle v. annoy; vex Do not let him nettle you with his sarcastic remarks. nexus n. connection I fail to see the nexus which binds these two widely separated events. nib n. beak; pen-point The nibs of post office pens are often clotted and corroded. nicety n. precision; minute distinction I cannot distinguish between such niceties of reasoning. niggardly adj. meanly stingy; parsimonious The niggardly pittance the widow receives from the government cannot keep her from poverty. nocturnal adj. done at night Mr. Jones obtained a watchdog to prevent the nocturnal raids on his chicken coops. noisome adj. foul smelling; unwholesome I never could stand the noisome atmosphere surrounding the slaughter houses. 24nomadic adj. wandering Several nomadic tribes of Indians would hunt in this area each year. nonchalance n. indifference; lack of interest He heard the news of the tragedy with complete nonchalance. noncommittal adj. neutral; unpledged; undecided We were annoyed by his noncommittal reply for we had been led to expect definite assurances of his approval. nonentity n. nonexistence; person of no importance Of course you are a nonentity; you will continue to be one until you prove your value to the community. non sequitur n. a conclusion that does not follow from the facts stated Your term paper is full of non sequitur; I cannot see how you reached the conclusions you state. nosegay n. fragrant bouquet These spring flowers will make an attractive nosegay. nostalgia n. home-sickness; longing for the past The first settlers found so much work to do that they had little time for nostalgia. notorious adj. outstandingly bad; unfavorably known Captain Kidd was a notorious pirate. novice n. beginner Even a novice can do good work if he follows these simple directions. 25noxious adj. harmful We must trace the source of these noxious gases. nugatory adj. futile; worthless This agreement is nugatory for no court will enforce it. numismatist n. person who collects coins The numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins. nurture v. bring up; feed; educate We must nurture the young so that they will develop into good citizens. nutrient adj. providing nourishment During the convalescent period, the patient must be provided with nutrient foods. oaf n. stupid, awkward person He called the unfortunate waiter a clumsy oaf. obdurate adj. stubborn He was obdurate in his refusal to listen to our complaints. obeisance n. bow She made an obeisance as the king and queen entered the room. obelisk n. tall column tapering and ending in a pyramid Cleopatra's Needle is an obelisk in Central Park, New York City. obese adj. fat It is advisable that obese people try to lose weight. obfuscate v. confuse; muddle Do not obfuscate the issues by dragging in irrelevant arguments. obituary adj. death notice I first learned of his death when I read the obituary column in the newspaper. objurgate v. scold; rebuke severely I am afraid he will objurgate us publicly for this offense. oblique adj. slanting; deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line The sergeant ordered the men to march `Oblique Right.' obliquity n. departure from right principles; perversity His moral decadence was marked by his obliquity from the ways of integrity and honesty. obliterate v. destroy completely The tidal wave obliterated several island villages. oblivion n. forgetfulness His works had fallen into a state of oblivion; no one bothered to read them. obloquy n. slander; disgrace; infamy I resent the obloquy that you are casting upon my reputation. obnoxious adj. offensive I find your behavior obnoxious; please amend your ways. obsequious adj. slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic Nothing is more disgusting to me than the obsequious demeanor of the people who wait upon you. obsession n. fixed idea; continued brooding This obsession with the supernatural has made him unpopular with his neighbors. obsolete adj. out-moded That word is obsolete; do not use it. obtrude v. push into prominence The other members of the group object to the manner in which you obtrude your opinions into matters of no concern to you. obtrusive adj. pushing forward I found him a very obtrusive person, constantly seeking the center of the stage. obtuse adj. blunt; stupid Because he was so obtuse, he could not follow the teacher's reasoning and asked foolish questions. obviate v. make unnecessary; get rid of I hope this contribution will obviate any need for further collections of funds. 49occult adj. mysterious; secret; supernatural The occult rites of the organization were revealed only to members. oculist n. physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes In many states, an oculist is the only one who may apply medicinal drops to the eyes for the purpose of examining them. odious adj. hateful I find the task of punishing you most odious. odium. n. odorous adj. fragrant This variety of hybrid tea rose is more odorous than the one you have in your garden. odoriferous adj. giving off an odor The odoriferous spices stimulated his jaded appetite. officious adj. meddlesome; excessively trying to please Browning informs us that the Duke resented the bough of cherries some officious fool brought to the Duchess. ogle v. glance coquettishly at; make eyes at It is improper to ogle the passers-by. olfactory adj. concerning the sense of smell The olfactory organ is the nose. oligarchy n. government by a few The feudal oligarchy was supplanted by an autocracy. ominous adj. threatening The dog growled ominously at the stranger. omnipotent adj. all-powerful The monarch regarded himself as omnipotent and responsible to no one for his acts. 50omniscient adj. all-knowing I do not pretend to be omniscient, but I am positive about this item. omnivorous adj. eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything Man is an omnivorous animal. 21onerous adj. burdensome He quit because he found the work too onerous. onus, n. onomatopoeia n. words formed in imitation of natural sounds Words like `rustle' and `gargle' are illustrations of onomatopoeia. onslaught n. vicious assault We suffered many casualties during the unexpected onslaught of the enemy troops. opalescent adj. iridescent The Ancient Mariner admired the opalescent sheen on the water. opaque adj. dark; not transparent I want something opaque placed in this window so that no one will be able to watch me. opiate n. sleep producer; deadener of pain By such opiates, he made the people forget their difficulties and accept their unpleasant circumstances. 43opportune adj. timely; well-chosen You have come at an opportune moment for I need a new secretary. 25opprobrious adj. disgraceful I find your conduct so opprobrious that I must exclude you from classes. optician n. maker and seller of eye-glasses The patient took the prescription given him by his oculist to the optician. 25optometrist n. one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects Although an optometrist is qualified to treat many eye disorders, he may not use medicines or surgery in his examinations. opulence n. wealth Visitors from Europe are amazed at the opulence of this country. oratorio n. dramatic poem set to music The Glee Club decided to present an oratorio during their recital. ordinance n. decree Passing a red light is a violation of a city ordinance. orifice n. mouthlike opening; small opening The Howe Caverns were discovered when someone observed that a cold wind was issuing from an orifice in the hillside. ornate adj. excessively decorated; highly decorated Furniture of the Baroque period can be recognized by its ornate carvings. ornithologist n. scientific student of birds Audubon's drawings of American bird life have been of interest not only to the ornithologists but also to the general public. oscillate v. vibrate pendulum-like; waver It is interesting to note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism. ostensible adj. apparent; professed; pretended Although the ostensible purpose of this expedition is to discover new lands. we are really interested in finding new markets for our products. ostentatious adj. showy; pretentious The real hero is never ostentatious. osteopath n. one who practices healing by manipulation The services of an osteopath may be helpful in treating severe cases of sciatica. ostracize v. exclude from public favor; ban As soon as the newspapers carried the story of his connection with the criminals, his friends began to ostracize him. ostracism. n. overt adj. open to view According to the United States Constitution, a person must commit an overt act before he may be tried for treason. pacifist n. one opposed to force; anti-militarist The pacifists urged that we reduce our military budget and recall our troops stationed overseas. paean n. song of praise or joy They sang paeans of praise. palatable adj. agreeable; pleasing to the taste Paying taxes can never be made palatable. palatial adj. magnificent He proudly showed us through his palatial home. palaver n. discussion; misleading speech; chatter In spite of all the palaver before the meeting, the delegates were able to conduct serious negotiations when they sat down at the conference table. palette n. board on which painter mixes pigments At the present time, art supply stores are selling a paper palette which may be discarded after use. pallet n. small, poor bed The weary traveler went to sleep on his straw pallet. palliate v. ease pain; make less guilty or offensive Doctors must palliate that which they cannot cure. pallid adj.,pale; wan Because his occupation required that he work at night and sleep during the day, he had an exceptionally pallid complexion. palpable adj. tangible; easily perceptible I cannot understand how you could overlook such a palpable blunder. palpitate v. throb; flutter As he became excited, his heart began to palpitate more and more erratically. paltry adj. insignificant; petty This is a paltry sum to pay for such a masterpiece. panacea n. cure-all; remedy for all diseases There is no easy panacea that will solve our complicated international situation. pandemonium n. wild tumult When the ships collided in the harbor, pandemonium broke out among the passengers. pander v. cater to the low desires of others Books which pander to man's lowest instincts should be banned. 49panegyric n. formal praise The modest hero blushed as he listened to the panegyrics uttered by the speakers about his valorous act. panorama n. comprehensive view; unobstructed view in all directions Tourists never forget the impact of their first panorama of the Grand Canyon. pantomime n. acting without dialogue Because he worked in pantomime, the clown could be understood wherever he appeared. papyrus n. ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant The ancient Egyptians were among the first to write on papyrus. parable n. short, simple story teaching a moral Let us apply the lesson that this parable teaches to our own conduct. paradox n. statement that looks false but is actually correct; a contradictory statement Wordsworth's `The child is father to the man' is an example of paradox. paragon n. model of perfection The class disliked him because the teacher was always pointing to him as a paragon of virtue. parallelism n. state of being parallel; similarity There is a striking parallelism between the two ages. paranoia n. chronic form of insanity marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution The psychiatrists analyzed his ailment as paranoia. paraphernalia n. equipment; odds-and-ends His desk was cluttered with paper, pen, ink, dictionary and other paraphernalia of the writing craft. paraphrase v. restate a passage in own words while retaining thought of author In 250 words or less, paraphrase this article. 25parasite n. animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant The tapeworm is an example of the kind of parasite that may infest the human body. paregoric n. medicine that eases pain the doctor prescribed a paregoric to alleviate his suffering. pariah n. social outcast I am not a pariah to be shunned and ostracized. parlance n. language; idiom All this legal parlance confuses me; I need an interpreter. parley n. conference The peace parley has not produced the anticipated truce. 43parody n. humorous imitation; travesty We enjoyed the clever parodies of popular songs which the chorus sang. paroxysm n. fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage When he heard of his son's misdeeds, he was seized by a paroxysm of rage. parricide n. person who murders his own father; murder of a father The jury was shocked by the details of this vicious parricide. parry v. ward off a blow He was content to wage a defensive battle and tried to parry his opponent's thrusts. parsimonious adj. stingy; excessively frugal His parsimonious nature did not permit him to enjoy any luxuries. partiality n. inclination; bias As a judge, I must avoid any evidence of partiality when I award the prize. parvenu n. upstart; newly-rich person Although extremely wealthy, he was regarded as a parvenu by the aristocratic members of society. passive adj. not active; acted upon Passive resistance proved a very effective weapon. 21pastoral adj. rural In these stories of pastoral life, we find an understanding of the daily tasks of country folk. patent adj. open for the public to read; obvious It was patent to everyone that the witness spoke the truth. pathetic adj. causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching Everyone in the auditorium was weeping by the time he finished his pathetic tale. pathos n. tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings A quiet tone of pathos ran through the novel. patriarch n. father and ruler of a family or tribe In many primitive tribes, the leader and lawmaker was the patriarch. patricide n. person who murders his father; murder of a father The words parricide and patricide have exactly the same meaning. patrimony n. inheritance from father As predicted by his critics, he spent his patrimony within two years of his father's death. paucity n. scarcity The poor test papers indicate that the members of this class have a paucity of intelligence. peccadillo n. slight offense If we examine these escapades carefully, we will realize that they are mere peccadilloes rather than major crimes. peculate v. steal; embezzle His crime of peculating public funds entrusted to his care is especially damnable. pecuniary adj. pertaining to money I never expected a pecuniary reward for my work in this activity. pedagogue n. teacher; dull and formal teacher He could never be a stuffy pedagogue; his classes were always lively and filled with humor. pedantic adj. showing off learning; bookish What you say is pedantic and reveals an unfamiliarity with the realities of life. pedant, n. pediatrician n. expert in children's diseases The family doctor advised the parents to consult a pediatrician about their child's ailment. pelf n. stolen property; money or wealth (in a contemptuous sense) Your possessions are only pelf; they will give you no lasting pleasure. pell-mell adv. in confusion; disorderly The excited students dashed pell-mell into the stadium to celebrate the victory. pellucid adj. transparent; limpid; easy to understand After reading these stodgy philosophers, I find his pellucid style very enjoyable. penance n. self-imposed punishment for sin The Ancient Mariner said, `I have penance done and penance more will do.' penchant n. strong inclination; liking He had a strong penchant for sculpture. pendant adj. hanging down from something Her pendant earrings glistened in the light. pendent adj. suspended; jutting; pending The pendent rock hid the entrance to the cave. penitent adj. repentant When he realized the enormity of his crime, he became remorseful and penitent. pensive adj. dreamily thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness The pensive youth gazed at the painting for a long time and then sighed. penumbra n. partial shadow (in an eclipse) During an eclipse, we can see an area of total darkness and a lighter area which is the penumbra. penurious adj. stingy; parsimonious He was a penurious man, averse to spending money even for the necessities of life. penury n. extreme poverty We find much penury and suffering in this slum area. percussion adj. striking one object against another sharply The drum is a percussion instrument. 43perdition n. damnation; complete ruin He was damned to eternal perdition. peremptory adj. demanding and leaving no choice I resent your peremptory attitude. perennial n. lasting These plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for many years. perfidious adj. basely false Your perfidious gossip is malicious and dangerous. perfidy n. violation of a trust When we learned of his perfidy, we were shocked and dismayed. perforce adv. of necessity I must perforce leave as my train is about to start. perfunctory adj. superficial; listless; not thorough He over-looked many weaknesses when he inspected the factory in his perfunctory manner. perimeter n. outer boundary To find the perimeter of any quadrilateral, we add the four sides. peripatetic adj. walking about; moving The peripatetic school of philosophy derives its name from the fact that Aristotle walked with his pupils while discussing philosophy with them. periphery n. edge, especially of a round surface He sensed that there was something just beyond the periphery of his vision. perjury n. false testimony while under oath When several witnesses appeared to challenge his story, he was indicted for perjury. permeable adj. porous; allowing passage through Glass is permeable to light. permeate v. pass through; spread The odor of frying onions permeated the air. pernicious adj. very destructive He argued that these books had a pernicious effect on young and susceptible minds. perpetrate v. commit an offense Only an insane person could perpetrate such a horrible crime. perpetual adj. everlasting Ponce de Leon hoped to find perpetual youth. persiflage n. flippant conversation; banter This persiflage is not appropriate when we have such serious problems to discuss. perspicacious adj. having insight; penetrating; astute We admired his perspicacious wisdom and sagacity. pert adj. impertinent; forward I think your pert and impudent remarks call for an apology. pertinacious adj. stubborn; persistent He is bound to succeed because his pertinacious nature will not permit him to quit. pertinent adj. suitable; to the point The lawyer wanted to know all the pertinent details. perturb v. disturb greatly I am afraid this news will perturb him. perturbation n. agitation I fail to understand why such an innocent remark should create such perturbation. perusal n. reading I am certain that you have missed important details in your rapid perusal of this document. peruse, v. pervade v. spread throughout As the news of the defeat pervaded the country, a feeling of anger directed at the rulers who had been the cause of the disaster grew. perverse adj. stubborn; intractable Because of your perverse attitude, I must rate you as deficient in cooperation. perversion n. corruption; turning from right to wrong Inasmuch as he had no motive for his crimes, we could not understand his perversion. perversity n. stubborn maintenance of a wrong cause I cannot forgive your perversity in repeating such an impossible story. pervious adj. penetrable He has a pervious mind and readily accepts new ideas. pessimism n. belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess There is no reason for your pessimism. pestilential adj. causing plague; baneful People were afraid to explore the pestilential swamp. pestilence. n. petrify v. turn to stone His sudden and unexpected appearance seemed to petrify her. petulant adj. touchy; peevish The feverish patient was petulant and restless. phial n. small bottle Even though it is small, this phial of perfume is expensive. philander v. make love lightly; flirt Do not philander with my affections because love is too serious. philanthropist n. lover of mankind; doer of good As he grew older, he became famous as a philanthropist and benefactor of the needy. 25philistine n. narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain We need more men of culture and enlightenment; we have too many philistines among us. philology n. study of language The professor of philology advocated the use of Esperanto as an international language. phlegmatic adj. calm; not easily disturbed The nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic person. physiognomy n. face He prided himself on his ability to analyze a person's character by studying his physiognomy. pied adj. variegated; multi-colored The pied-antelope may be recognized by its white face. pillage v. plunder The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it in ruins. pillory v. punish by placing in a wooden frame and subjecting to ridicule Even though he was mocked and pilloried, he maintained that he was correct in his beliefs. pinion v. restrain They pinioned his arms against his body but left his legs free so that he could move about. pinnacle n. peak We could see the morning sunlight illuminate the pinnacle while the rest of the mountain lay in shadow. pious adj. devout The pious parents gave their children a religious upbringing. piquant adj. pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating The piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of the meal. piquancy, n. pique n. irritation; resentment She showed her pique by her refusal to appear with the other contestants at the end of the contest. piscatorial adj. pertaining to fishing He spent many happy hours in his piscatorial activities. pithy adj. concise; meaty I enjoy reading his essays because they are always compact and pithy. pittance n. a small allowance or wage He could not live on the pittance he received as a pension and had to look for an additional source of revenue. placate v. pacify; conciliate The teacher tried to placate the angry mother. placid adj. peaceful; calm After his vacation in this placid section, he felt soothed and rested. plagiarism n. theft of another's ideas or writings passed off as original The editor recognized the plagiarism and rebuked the culprit who had presented the manuscript as original. plaintive adj. mournful The dove has a plaintive and melancholy call. platitude n. trite remark; commonplace statement His platitudes impressed the ignorant. plebeian adj. common; pertaining to the common people His speeches were aimed at the plebeian minds and emotions; they disgusted the more refined. plenary adj. complete; full The union leader was given plenary power to negotiate a new contract with the employers. plenipotentiary adj. fully empowered Since he was not given plenipotentiary powers by his government, he could not commit his country without consulting his superiors. plethora n. excess; overabundance She offered a plethora of reasons for her shortcomings. plumb adj. checking perpendicularity; vertical Before hanging wallpaper it is advisable to drop a plumb line from the ceiling as a guide. podiatrist n. doctor who treats ailments of the feet He consulted a podiatrist about his fallen arches. 18podium n. pedestal; raised platform The audience applauded as the conductor made his way to the podium. poignant adj. keen; piercing; severe Her poignant grief left her pale and weak. politic adj. expedient; prudent; well-devised Even though he was disappointed, he did not think it politic to refuse this offer. poltroon n. coward Only a poltroon would so betray his comrades at such a dangerous time. polygamist n. one who has more than one wife at a time He was arrested as a polygamist when his two wives filed complaints about him. polyglot adj. speaking several languages New York City is a polyglot community because of the thousands of immigrants who settle there. pommel v. beat The severity with which he was pommeled was indicated by the bruises he displayed on his head and face. portend v. foretell; presage The king did not know what these omens might portend and asked his soothsayers to interpret them. portent n. sign; omen; forewarning He regarded the black cloud as a portent of evil. portentous adj. ominous; serious I regard our present difficulties and dissatisfactions as portentous omens of future disaster. portly adj. stately; stout The wealthy financier was a portly gentleman. posterity n. descendants; future generations We hope to leave a better world to posterity. posthumous adj. after death(as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death) The critics acclaimed him after the posthumous publication of his novel. 18postulate n. self-evident truth We must accept these statements as postulates before pursuing our discussions any further. also v. potentate n. monarch; sovereign The potentate spent more time at Monte Carlo than he did at home with his people. potion n. dose (of liquid) Tristan and Isolde drink a love potion in the first act of the opera. potpourri n. heterogeneous mixture; medley He offered a potpourri of folk songs from many lands. poultice n. soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body He was advised to apply a flax-seed poultice to the inflammation. practicable adj. feasible The board of directors decided that the plan was practicable and agreed to undertake the project. practical adj. based on experience; useful He was a practical man and opposed to theory. 25pragmatic adj. practical; concerned with practical values This test should provide us with a pragmatic analysis of the value of this course. prate v. speak foolishly; boast idly Let us not prate about our virtues. 43prattle v. babble The little girl prattled endlessly about her dolls. preamble n. introductory statement In the Preamble to the Constitution, the purpose of the document is set forth. precarious adj. uncertain; risky I think this stock is a precarious investment and advise against its purchase. precedent n. something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action This decision sets a precedent for future cases of a similar nature. precedent adj. preceding in time, rank, etc. Our discussions, precedent to this event, certainly did not give you any reason to believe that we would adopt your proposal. 50precept n. practical rule guiding conduct `Love thy neighbor as thyself' is a worthwhile precept. precipitate adj. headlong; rash Do not be precipitate in this matter; investigate further. precipitate v. throw headlong; hasten We must be patient as we cannot precipitate these results. 28precipitous adj. steep This hill is difficult to climb because it is so precipitous. preclude v. make impossible; eliminate This contract does not preclude my being employed by others at the same time that I am working for you. precocious adj. developed ahead of time By his rather adult manner of discussing serious topics, the child demonstrated that he was precocious. precursor n. forerunner Gray and Burns were precursors of the Romantic Movement in English literature. predatory adj. plundering The hawk is a predatory bird. predilection n. partiality; preference Although the artist used various media from time to time, he had a predilection for water color. preeminent adj. outstanding:superior He was preeminent in the field of surgery. prefactory adj. introductory The chairman made a few prefatory remarks before he called on the first speaker. prelude n. introduction; forerunner I am afraid that this border raid is the prelude to more serious attacks. premonition n. forewarning We ignored these premonitions of disaster because they appeared to based on childish fears. preponderate v. be superior in power; outweigh I feel confident that the forces of justice will preponderate eventually in this dispute. preposterous adj. absurd; ridiculous The excuse he gave was preposterous. presage v. foretell The vultures flying overhead presaged the discovery of the corpse in the desert. presentiment n. premonition; foreboding Hamlet felt a presentiment about his meeting with Laertes. presumption n. arrogance; effrontery She had the presumption to disregard our advice. pretentious adj. ostentatious; ambitious I do not feel that your limited resources will permit you to carry out such a pretentious program. prevaricate v. lie he was forced to prevaricate to save his life. prim adj. very precise and formal; exceedingly proper The spinster was too prim to attract suitors. primordial adj. existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial ancestors. pristine adj. characteristic of earlier times; primitive; unspoiled The area has been preserved in all its pristine wildness. privy adj. secret; hidden; not public We do not care for privy chamber government. probity n. uprightness; incorruptibility Everyone took his probity for granted; his defalcations, therefore, shocked us all. proboscis n. long snout; nose The elephant uses his proboscis to handle things and carry them from place to place. proclivity n. inclination; natural tendency he has a proclivity to grumble. 43procrastinate v. postpone; delay It is wise not to procrastinate; otherwise, we find ourselves bogged down in a mass of work which should have been finished long ago. prodigal adj. wasteful; reckless with money The prodigal son squandered his inheritance. also n. 50prodigious adj. marvelous; enormous He marveled at her prodigious appetite. profane v. violate; desecrate Tourists are urged not to profane the sanctity of holy places by wearing improper garb. profligate adj. dissipated; wasteful; licentious In this profligate company, he lost all sense of decency. also n. profusion n. lavish expenditure; overabundant condition Seldom have I seen food and drink served in such profusion. progenitor n. ancestor We must not forget the teachings of our progenitors in our desire to appear modern. progeny n. children; offspring He was proud of his progeny but regarded George as the most promising of all his children. prognosis n. forecasted course of a disease; prediction If the doctor's prognosis is correct, the patient will be in a coma for at least twenty-four hours. prognosticate v. predict I prognosticate disaster unless we change our wasteful ways. prolific adj. abundantly fruitful He was a prolific writer and wrote as many as three books a year. prolix adj. verbose; drawn out His prolix arguments irritated the jury. prolixity, n. promiscuous adj. mixed indiscriminately; haphazard; irregular In the opera, `La Boheme,' we get a picture of the promiscuous life led by the young artists of Paris. promontory n. headland They erected a lighthouse on the promontory to warn approaching ships of their nearness to the shore. promulgate v. make known by official proclamation or publication As soon as the Civil Service Commission promulgates the names of the successful candidates, we shall begin to hire members of our staff. prone adj. inclined to; prostrate She was prone to sudden fits of anger. propagate v. multiply; spread I am sure disease must propagate in such unsanitary and crowded areas. propensity n. natural inclination I dislike your propensity to belittle every contribution he makes to our organization. propitiate v. appease The natives offered sacrifices to propitiate the gods. propitious adj. favorable; kindly I think it is advisable that we wait for a more propitious occasion to announce our plans. propound v. put forth for analysis In your discussion, you have propounded several questions; let us consider each one separately. propriety n. fitness; correct conduct I want you to behave at this dinner with propriety; don't embarrass me. 24propulsive adj. driving forward The jet plane has a greater propulsive power than the motor-driven plane. prorogue v. dismiss parliament; end officially It was agreed that the king could not prorogue parliament until it had been in session for at least fifty days. 50prosaic adj. commonplace; dull I do not like this author because he is so unimaginative and prosaic. proscribe v. ostracize; banish; outlaw Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus proscribed all those who had conspired against Julius Caesar. prosody n. the art of versification This book on prosody contains a rhyming dictionary as well as samples of the various verse forms. prostrate v. stretch out full on ground He prostrated himself before the idol. protege n. person under the protection and support of a patron Cyrano de Bergerac refused to be a protege of Cardinal Richelieu. protocol n. diplomatic etiquette We must run this state dinner according to protocol if we are to avoid offending any of our guests. protract v. prolong Do not protract this phone conversation as I expect an important business call within the next few minutes. protrude v. stick out His fingers protruded from the holes in his gloves. provender n. dry food; fodder I am not afraid of a severe winter because I have stored a large quantity of provender for the cattle. provident adj. displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies In his usual provident manner; he had insured himself against this type of loss. proviso n. stipulation I am ready to accept your proposal with the proviso that you meet your obligations within the next two weeks. provocation n. cause for anger or retaliation In order to prevent a sudden outbreak of hostilities, we must give our foe no provocation. proximity n. nearness The deer sensed the hunter's proximity and bounded away. proxy n. authorized agent Please act as my proxy and vote for this slate of candidates. prurient adj. based on lascivious thoughts The police attempted to close the theater where the prurient film was being presented. pseudonym n. pen name Samuel Clemens' pseudonym was Mark Twain. psyche n. soul; mind It is difficult to delve into the psyche of a human being. psychiatrist n. a doctor who treats mental diseases A psychiatrist often needs long conferences with his patient before a diagnosis can be made. 25puerile adj. childish His puerile pranks sometimes offended his serious-minded friends. pugnacious adj. combative; disposed to fight As a child he was pugnacious and fought with everyone. puissant adj. powerful; strong; potent We must keep his friendship for he will make a puissant ally. 24pulchritude n. beauty; comeliness I do not envy the judge who has to select the best from among this collection of feminine pulchritude. pulmonary adj. pertaining to the lungs In his researches on pulmonary diseases, he discovered many facts about the lungs of animals and human beings. pulsate v. throb We could see the blood vessels in his temple pulsate as he became more angry. punctilious adj. laying stress on niceties of conduct, form; precise We must be punctilious in our planning of this affair for any error may be regarded as a personal affront. pungent adj. stinging; caustic The pungent aroma of the smoke made me cough. punitive adj. punishing He asked for punitive measures against the offender. puny adj. insignificant; tiny; weak Our puny efforts to stop the flood were futile. purgatory n. place of spiritual expiation In this purgatory, he could expect no help from his comrades. purge v. clean by removing impurities; to clear of charges If you are to be purged of the charge of contempt of Congress, you must be willing to answer the questions previously asked. also n. purloin v. steal In the story, `The Purloined Letter,' Poe points out that the best hiding place is often the most obvious place. purport n. intention; meaning If the purport of your speech was to arouse the rabble, you succeeded admirably. purveyor n. furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer As purveyor of rare wines and viands, he traveled through France and Italy every year in search of new products to sell. purview n. scope The sociological implications of these inventions are beyond the purview of this book. pusillanimous adj. cowardly; faint-hearted You should be ashamed of your pusillanimous conduct during this dispute. putrid adj. foul; rotten; decayed The gangrenous condition of the wound was indicated by the putrid smell when the bandages were removed. putrescence, n. pyromaniac n. person with an insane desire to set things on fire The detectives searched the area for the pyromaniac who had set these costly fires. quack n. charlatan; impostor Do not be misled by the exorbitant claims of this quack. quaff v. drink with relish As we quaffed our ale, we listened to the gay songs of the students in the tavern. quail v. cower; lose heart He was afraid that he would quail in the face of danger. qualms n. misgivings His qualms of conscience had become so great that he decided to abandon his plans. quandary n. dilemma When the two colleges to which he had applied accepted him, he was in a quandary as to which one he should attend. quay n. dock; landing place Because of the captain's carelessness, the ship crashed into the quay. quell v. put down; quiet The police used fire hoses and tear gas to quell the rioters. querulous adj. fretful; whining His classmates were repelled by his querulous and complaining statements. quibble v. equivocate; play on words Do not quibble; I want a straightforward and definite answer. also n. quiescent adj. at rest; dormant After this geyser erupts, it will remain quiescent for twenty-four hours. 43quietude n. tranquillity He was impressed by the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the valley. quintessence n. purest and highest embodiment These books display the quintessence of wit. quip n. taunt You are unpopular because you are too free with your quips and sarcastic comments. quirk n. startling twist; caprice By a quirk of fate, he found himself working for the man whom he had discharged years before. qui vive n. wide awake; expectant Let us be on the qui vive. quixotic adj. idealistic but impractical he is constantly presenting these quixotic schemes. quizzical adj. bantering; comical; humorously serious Will Rogers' quizzical remarks endeared him to his audiences. rabid adj. like a fanatic; furious He was a rabid follower of the Dodgers and watched them play whenever he could go to the ball park. ragamuffin n. person wearing tattered clothes He felt sorry for the ragamuffin who was begging for food and gave him money to buy a meal. ramification n. branching out; subdivision We must examine all the ramifications of this problem. ramp n. slope; inclined plane The house was built with ramps instead of stairs in order to enable the man in the wheel chair to move easily from room to room and floor to floor. rampant adj. rearing up on hind legs; unrestrained The rampant weeds in the garden killed all the plants which had been planted in the spring. rancid adj. having the odor of stale fat A rancid odor filled the ship's galley. 24rancor n. bitterness; hatred Let us forget our rancor and cooperate in this new endeavor. rant v. rave; speak bombastically As we heard him rant on the platform. we could not understand his strange popularity with many people. rapacious adj. excessively grasping; plundering Hawks and other rapacious birds may be killed at any time. rapprochement n. reconciliation Both sides were eager to effect a rapprochement but did not know how to undertake a program designed to bring about harmony. rarefied adj. made less dense (of a gas) The mountain climbers had difficulty breathing in the rarefied atmosphere. ratiocination n. reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises Poe's `The Gold Bug' is a splendid example of the author's use of ratiocination. rationalize v. reason; justify an improper act Do not try to rationalize your behavior by blaming your companions. raucous adj. harsh and shrill His raucous laughter irritated me. ravage v. plunder; despoil The marauding army ravaged the countryside. ravenous adj. extremely hungry The ravenous dog upset several garbage pails in its search for food. ravening adj. rapacious; seeking prey We kept our fires burning all night to frighten the ravening wolves. raze v. destroy completely The owners intend to raze the hotel and erect an office building on the site. realm n. kingdom; sphere The realm of possibilities for the new invention was endless. 42rebate n. discount We offer a rebate of ten per cent to those who pay cash. recalcitrant adj. obstinately stubborn Donkeys are reputed to be the most recalcitrant of animals. recant v. repudiate; withdraw previous statement Unless you recant your confession, you will be punished severely. recapitulate v. summarize Let us recapitulate what has been said thus far before going ahead. 43recession n. withdrawal; retreat The recession of the troops from the combat area was completed in an orderly manner. recipient n. receiver Although he had been the recipient of many favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor. reciprocal adj. mutual; exchangeable; interacting The two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement. reciprocate v. repay in kind If they attack us, we shall be compelled to reciprocate and bomb their territory. recluse n. hermit The recluse lived in a hut in the forest. reconcile v. make friendly after quarrel; correct inconsistencies Each month me reconcile our check book with the bank statement. recondite adj. abstruse; profound; secret He read many recondite books in order to obtain the material for his scholarly thesis. reconnaissance n. survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering If you encounter any enemy soldiers during your reconnaissance, capture them for questioning. recourse n. resorting to help when in trouble The boy's only recourse was to appeal to his father for aid. recreant n. coward; betrayer of faith The religious people ostracized the recreant who had abandoned their faith. 21recrimination n. countercharges Loud and angry recriminations were her answer to his accusations. rectify v. correct I want to rectify my error before it is too late. rectitude n. uprightness He was renowned for his rectitude and integrity. recumbent adj. reclining; lying down completely or in part The command `AT EASE' does not permit you to take a recumbent position. recuperate v. recover The doctors were worried because the patient did not recuperate as rapidly as they had expected. recurrent adj. occurring again and again These recurrent attacks disturbed us and we consulted a physician. redolent adj. fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor Even though it is February, the air is redolent of spring. redoubtable adj. formidable; causing fear he was a redoubtable foe. redress n. remedy; compensation Do you mean to tell me that I can get no redress for my injuries? also v. redundant adj. superfluous; excessively wordy; repetitious Your composition is redundant; you can easily reduce its length. 24reek v. emit (odor) The room reeked with stale tobacco smoke. refection n. slight refreshment In our anxiety to reach our destination as rapidly as possible, we stopped on the road for only a slight refection. refectory n. dining hall In this huge refectory, we can feed the entire student body at one sitting. refulgent adj. radiant We admired the refulgent moon and watched it for a while. refutation n. disproof of opponents' arguments I will wait until I hear the refutation before deciding whom to favor. 34refraction n. bending of a ray of light When you look at a stick inserted in water, it looks bent because of the refraction of the light by the water. refractory adj. stubborn; unmanageable The refractory horse was eliminated from the race. regal adj. royal He has a regal manner. regatta n. boat or yacht race Many boating enthusiasts followed the regatta in their own yachts. regeneration n. spiritual rebirth Modern penologists strive for the regeneration of the prisoners. regime n. method or system of government When a Frenchman mentions the Old Regime, he refers to the government existing before the revolution. regimen n. prescribed diet and habits I doubt whether the results warrant our living under such a strict and inflexible regimen. rehabilitate v. restore to proper condition We must rehabilitate those whom we send to prison. reimburse v. repay Let me know what you have spent and I will reimburse you. reiterate v. repeat I shall reiterate this message until all have understood it. rejuvenate v. make young again The charlatan claimed that his elixir would rejuvenate the aged and weary. relegate v. banish; consign to inferior position If we relegate these experienced people to positions of unimportance because of their political persuasions, we shall lose the services of valuably trained personnel. relevancy n. pertinence; reference to the case in hand I was impressed by the relevancy of your remarks. relevant, adj. relinquish v. abandon I will relinquish my claims to this property if you promise to retain my employees. relish v. savor; enjoy I relish a good joke as much as anyone else. also n. remediable adj. reparable Let us be grateful that the damage is remediable. remedial adj. curative; corrective Because he was a slow reader, he decided to take a course in remedial reading. reminiscence n. recollection Her reminiscences of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book. remiss adj. negligent He was accused of being remiss in his duty. remnant n. remainder I suggest that you wait until the store places the remnants of these goods on sale. remonstrate v. protest I must remonstrate about the lack of police protection in this area. remunerative adj. compensating; rewarding I find my new work so remunerative that I may not return to my previous employment. remuneration, n. rend v. split; tear apart In his grief, he tried to rend his garments. render v. deliver; provide; represent He rendered aid to the needy and indigent. rendezvous n. meeting place The two fleets met at the rendezvous at the appointed time. renegade n. deserter; apostate Because he refused to support his fellow members in their drive, he was shunned as a renegade. renounce v. abandon; discontinue; disown; repudiate She refused to renounce her faith. renovate v. restore to good condition; renew They claim that they can renovate worn shoes so that they look like new ones. renunciation n. giving up; renouncing Do not sign this renunciation of your right to sue until you have consulted a lawyer. reparable adj. capable of being repaired Fortunately, the damages we suffered in the accident were reparable. reparation n. amends; compensation At the peace conference, the defeated country promised to pay reparations to the victors. repartee n. clever reply He was famous for his witty repartee and his sarcasm. repellent adj. driving away; unattractive Mosquitoes find the odor so repellent that they leave any spot where this liquid has been sprayed. repercussion n. rebound; reverberation; reaction I am afraid that this event will have serious repercussions. repertoire n. list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present The opera company decided to include Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the following season. replenish v. fill up again The end of rationing enabled us to replenish our supply of canned food. replete adj. filled to capacity; abundantly supplied This book is replete with humorous situations. replica n. copy Are you going to hang this replica of the Declaration of Independence in the classroom or in the auditorium? 49repository n. storehouse Libraries are repositories of the world's best thoughts. reprehensible adj. deserving blame I find your present attitude reprehensible. reprieve n. temporary stay During the twenty-four hour reprieve,the lawyers sought to make the stay of execution permanent. reprimand v. reprove severely I am afraid that my parents will reprimand me when I show them my report card. also n. reprisal n. retaliation I am confident that we are ready for any reprisals the enemy may undertake. reprobation n. severe disapproval The students showed their reprobation of his act by refusing to talk with him. repudiate v. disown; disavow He announced that he would repudiate all debts incurred by his wife. repugnance n. loathing She looked at the snake with repugnance. requiem n. mass for the dead; dirge They played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral. requisite n. necessary requirement Many colleges state that a student must offer three years of a language as a requisite for admission. requite v. repay; revenge The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them. rescind v. cancel Because of public resentment, the king had to rescind his order. rescission n. abrogation; annulment The rescission of the unpopular law was urge by all political parties. resonant adj. echoing; resounding; possessing resonance His resonant voice was particularly pleasing. respite n. delay in punishment; interval of relief; rest The judge granted the condemned man a respite to enable his attorneys to file an appeal. resplendent adj. brilliant; lustrous The toreador wore a resplendent costume. restitution n. reparation; indemnification He offered to make restitution for the window broken by his son. restive adj. unmanageable; fretting under control We must quiet the restive animals. resuscitate v. revive The lifeguard tried to resuscitate the drowned child by applying artificial respiration. retaliate v. repay in kind (usually for bad treatment) Fear that we will retaliate immediately deters our foe from attacking us. retentive adj. holding; having a good memory The pupil did not need to spend much time in study as he had a retentive mind. 21reticence n. reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclination to be silent Because of the reticence of the key witness, the case against the defendant collapsed. retinue n. following; attendants The queen's retinue followed her down the aisle. retraction n. withdrawal He dropped his libel suit after the newspaper published a retraction of its statement. retribution n. vengeance; compensation; punishment for offenses The evangelist maintained that an angry Deity would exact retribution from the sinners. retrieve v. recover; find and bring in The dog was intelligent and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter. retroactive adj. of a law which dates back to a period before its enactment Because the law was retroactive to the first of the year, we found he was eligible for the pension. retrograde v. going backwards; degenerating Instead of advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in ethics and culture. retrogression, n. o retrospective adj. looking back on the past It is only when we become retrospective that we can appreciate the tremendous advances made during this century. revelry n. boisterous merrymaking New Year's Eve is a night of revelry. reverberate v. echo; resound the entire valley reverberated with the sound of the church bells. reverie n. day dream; musing He was awakened from his reverie by the teacher's question. revile v. slander; vilify He was avoided by all who feared that he would revile and abuse them if they displeased him. 50revulsion n. sudden violent change of feeling; reaction Many people in this country who admired dictatorships underwent a revulsion when they realized what Hitler and Mussolini were trying to do. rhetoric n. art of effective communication; insincere language All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric. rhetorical adj. rheumy adj. pertaining to a discharge from nose and eyes His rheumy eyes warned us that he was coming down with a cold. ribald adj. wanton; profane He sang a ribald song which offended many of us. rife adj. abundant; current In the face of the many rumors of scandal, which are rife at the moment, it is best to remain silent. rift n. opening; break The plane was lost in the stormy sky until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds. rigor n. severity Many settlers could not stand the rigors of the New England winters. rime n. white frost The early morning dew had frozen and everything was covered with a thin coat of rime. risible adj. inclined to laugh; ludicrous His remarks were so risible that the audience howled with laughter. risibility, n. risque adj. verging upon the improper; off-color Please do not tell your risque anecdotes at this party. roan adj. brown mixed with gray or white You can distinguish this horse in a race because it is roan while all the others are bay or chestnut. robust adj. vigorous; strong The candidate for the football team had a robust physique. rococo adj. ornate; highly decorated At the present time, architects avoid rococo designs. roseate adj. rosy; optimistic I am afraid you will have to alter your roseate views in the light of the distressing news that had just arrived. rostrum n. platform for speech-making; pulpit The crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum. rote n. repetition He recited the passage by rote and gave no indication he understood what he was saying. rotundity n. roundness; sonorousness of speech Washington Irving emphasized the rotundity of the governor by describing his height and circumference. rubble n. fragments Ten years after World War II, some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be seen. rubicund adj. having a healthy reddish color; ruddy; florid His rubicund complexion was the result of an active outdoor life. ruddy adj. reddish; healthy-looking His ruddy complexion indicated that he had spent much time in the open. rudimentary adj. not developed; elementary His dancing was limited to a few rudimentary steps. rueful adj. regretful; sorrowful; dejected The artist has captured the sadness of childhood in his portrait of the boy with the rueful countenance. 50ruminate v. chew the cud; ponder We cannot afford to wait while you ruminate upon these plans. rummage v. ransack; thoroughly search When we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days. ruse n. trick; stratagem You will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ruse. rusticate v. banish to the country; dwell in the country I like city life so much that I can never understand how people can rusticate in the suburbs. 50ruthless adj. pitiless The escaped convict was a dangerous and ruthless murderer. sacerdotal adj. priestly The priest decided to abandon his sacerdotal duties and enter the field of politics. 50sacrilegious adj. desecrating; profane His stealing of the altar cloth was a very sacrilegious act. sacrosanct adj. most sacred; inviolable The brash insurance salesman invaded the sacrosanct privacy of the office of the president of the company. sadistic adj. inclined to cruelty If we are to improve conditions in this prison, we must first get rid of the sadistic warden. saffron adj. orange-colored; colored like the autumn crocus The Halloween cake was decorated with saffron-colored icing. saga n. Scandinavian myth; any legend This is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it. sagacious adj. keen; shrewd; having insight He is much too sagacious to be fooled by a trick like that. salient adj. prominent One of the salient features of that newspaper is its excellent editorial page. saline adj. salty The slightly saline taste of this mineral water is pleasant. sallow adj. yellowish; sickly in color We were disturbed by his sallow complexion. salubrious adj. healthful Many people with hay fever move to more salubrious sections of the country during the months of August and September. salutary adj. tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy, as he became a model student. salvage v. rescue from loss All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed. also n. 43sangfroid n. coolness in a trying situation The captain's sangfroid helped to allay the fears of the passengers. sanguinary adj. bloody The battle of Iwo Jima was unexpectedly sanguinary. sanguine adj. cheerful; hopeful Let us not be too sanguine about the outcome. sapid adj. savory; tasty; relishable This chef has the knack of making most foods more sapid and appealing. sapient adj. wise; shrewd The students enjoyed the professor's sapient digressions more than his formal lectures. sardonic adj. disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; shrewd I cannot stand his sardonic wit. sate v. satisfy to the full; cloy Its hunger sated, the lion dozed. satiate v. surfeit; satisfy fully The guests, having eaten until they were satiated, now listened inattentively to the speakers. satiety n. condition of being crammed full; glutted state; repletion Shelley mentions `Love's sad satiety' in his `Ode to a Skylark.' saturate v. soak Their clothes were saturated by the rain. saturnine adj. gloomy The saturnine professor had few pupils. saunter v. stroll slowly As we sauntered through the park, we stopped frequently to admire the spring flowers. savant n. scholar Our faculty includes many world famous savants. savoir faire n. tact; poise; sophistication I envy his savoir faire; he always knows exactly what to do and say. savor v. have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality I think your choice of a successor savors of favoritism scavenger n. collector and disposer of refuse; animal that devours refuse and carrion The coyote is a scavenger. schism n. division; split Let us not widen the schism by further bickering. scintilla n. shred; least bit You have not produced a scintilla of evidence to support your argument. scintillate v. sparkle; flash I enjoy her dinner parties because the food is excellent and the conversation scintillates. scion n. offspring The farm boy felt out of place in the school attended by the scions of the wealthy and noble families. scourge n. lash; whip; severe punishment They feared the plague and regarded it as a deadly scourge. also v. scrupulous adj. conscientious; extremely thorough I can recommend him for a position of responsibility for I have found him a very scrupulous young man. scullion n. menial kitchen worker Lynette was angry because she thought she had been given a scullion to act as her defender. scurrilous adj. obscene; indecent I should horsewhip you for your scurrilous remarks about my daughter. scuttle v. sink The sailors decided to scuttle their vessel rather than surrender it to the enemy. sebaceous adj. oily; fatty The sebaceous glands secrete oil to the hair follicles. secession n. withdrawal The secession of the Southern states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his inauguration. secular adj. worldly; not pertaining to church matters; temporal The church leaders decided not to interfere in secular matters. sedate adj. composed; grave The parents were worried because they felt their son was too quiet and sedate. sedentary adj. requiring sitting Because he had a sedentary occupation, he decided to visit a gymnasium weekly. sedulous adj. diligent Stevenson said that he played the `sedulous ape` and diligently imitated the great writers of the past. seethe v. be disturbed; boil The nation was seething with discontent as the noblemen continued their arrogant ways. seine n. net for catching fish When the shad run during the spring, you may see fishermen with seines along the banks of our coastal rivers. semblance n. outward appearance; guise Although this book has a semblance of wisdom and scholarship, a careful examination will reveal many errors and omissions. senility n. old age; feeble-mindedness of old age Most of the decisions are being made by the junior members of the company because of the senility of the president. sensual adj. devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptuous I cannot understand what caused him to drop his sensual way of life and become so ascetic. sententious adj. terse; concise; aphoristic After reading so many wordy and redundant speeches, I find his sententious style particularly pleasing. sepulcher n. tomb Annabel Lee was buried in the sepulcher by the sea. sequester v. retire from public life; segregate; seclude Although he had hoped for a long time to sequester himself in a small community, he never was able to drop his busy round of activities in the city. serendipity n. gift for finding valuable things not searched for Many scientific discoveries are a matter of serendipity. serenity n. calmness; placidity The serenity of the sleepy town was shattered by a tremendous explosion. serrated adj. having a sawtoothed edge The beech tree is one of many plants that have serrated leaves. servile adj. slavish; cringing Uriah Heep was a very servile individual. severance n. division; partition; separation The severance of church and state is a basic principle of our government. shackle v. chain; fetter The criminal's ankles were shackled to prevent his escape. shambles n. slaughter house; scene of carnage By the time the police arrived, the room was a shambles. sheaf n. bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together The lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as he rose to question the witness. 25sheathe v. place into a case As soon as he recognized the approaching men, he sheathed his dagger and hailed them as friends. sherbet n. water-ice I prefer raspberry sherbet to ice cream since it is less fattening. shibboleth n. watchword; slogan We are often misled by shibboleths. shimmer v. glimmer intermittently The moonlight shimmered on the water as the moon broke through the clouds for a moment. also n. shoal n. shallow place The ship was stranded on a shoal and had to be pulled off by tugs. shoddy adj. sham; not genuine; inferior You will never get the public to buy such shoddy material. sidereal adj. relating to the stars The study of sidereal bodies has been greatly advanced by the new telescope. silt n. sediment deposited by running water The harbor channel must be dredged annually to remove the silt. simian adj. monkey-like This strange animal has simian characteristics. simile n. comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as We are constantly using similes and metaphors to convey our thoughts to others. simulate v. feign He simulated insanity in order to avoid punishment for his crime. sinecure n. well paid position with little responsibility My job is no sinecure; I work long hours and have much responsibility. sinister adj. evil We must defeat the sinister forces that seek our downfall. sinuous adj. winding; bending in and out; not morally honest The snake moved in a sinuous manner. skimp v. provide scantily; live very economically They were forced to skimp on necessities in order to make their limited supplies last the winter. skittish adj. lively; frisky She is as skittish as a kitten playing with a piece of string. skulk v. move furtively and secretly He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid meeting any of his former friends. slake v. quench; sate When we reached the oasis, we were able to slake our thirst. sleazy adj. flimsy; unsubstantial This is a sleazy material; it will not wear well. sleeper n. something originally of little value or importance which in time becomes very valuable Unnoticed by the critics at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Price winner was a classic sleeper. sloth n. laziness Such sloth in a young person is deplorable. slough v. cast off Each spring, the snake sloughs off its skin. 18slovenly adj. untidy; careless in work habits Such slovenly work habits will never produce good products. sluggard n. lazy person `You are a sluggard, a drone, a parasite,' the angry father shouted at his lazy son. 50sobriety n. soberness The solemnity of the occasion filled us with sobriety. sojourn n. temporary stay After his sojourn in Florida, he began to long for the colder climate of his native New England homeland. solecism n. construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically I must give this paper a failing mark because it contains many solecisms. solicitous adj. worried; concerned The employer was very solicitous about the health of his employees as replacements were difficult to get. soliloquy n. talking to oneself The soliloquy is a device used by the dramatist to reveal a character's innermost thoughts and emotions. solstice n. point at which the sun is farthest from the equator The winter solstice usually occurs on December 21. solvent adj. able to pay all debts By dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings. somnambulist n. sleepwalker Lady Macbeth became a somnambulist. somnolent adj. half asleep The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker. sonorous adj. resonant His sonorous voice resounded through the hall. soupcon n. suggestion; hint; taste A soupcon of garlic will improve this dish. spangle n. small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation The thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights. spasmodic adj. fitful; periodic the spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers. spatial adj. relating to space It is difficult to visualize the spatial extent of our universe. 50spawn v. lay eggs Fish ladders had to be built in the dams to assist the salmon returning to spawn in their native streams. also n. specious adj. seemingly reasonable but incorrect Let us not be misled by such specious arguments. spectral adj. ghostly We were frightened by the spectral glow that filled the room. splenetic adj. spiteful; irritable; peevish People shunned him because of his splenetic temper. spleen, n. sporadic adj. occurring irregularly Although there are sporadic outbursts of shooting, we may report that the major rebellion has been defeated. sportive adj. playful Such a sportive attitude is surprising in a person as serious as you usually are. spurious adj. false; counterfeit He tried to pay the bill with a spurious banknote. squalid adj. dirty; neglected; poor It is easy to see how crime can breed in such a squalid neighborhood. squander v. waste The prodigal son squandered the family estate. stagnant adj. motionless; stale; dull The stagnant water was a breeding ground for disease. stagnate, v. staid adj. sober; sedate His conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn. stamina n. strength; staying power I doubt that he has the stamina to run the full distance of the marathon race. stanch v. check flow of blood It is imperative that we stanch the gushing wound before we attend to the other injuries. statute n. law We have many statutes in our law books which should be repealed. stein n. beer mug He thought of college as a place where one drank beer from steins and sang songs of lost lambs. stellar adj. pertaining to the stars He was the stellar attraction of the entire performance. stentorian adj. extremely loud The town crier had a stentorian voice. stigmatize v. brand; mark as wicked I do not want to stigmatize this young offender for life by sending him to prison. stint n. supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work He performed his daily stint cheerfully and willingly. stipend n. pay for services There is a nominal stipend attached to this position. stoic n. person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain He bore the pain like a stoic. stoke v. to feed plentifully They swiftly stoked themselvs, knowing they would not have another meal until they reached camp. stolid adj. dull; impassive I am afraid that this imaginative poetry will not appeal to such a stolid person. stratagem n. deceptive scheme We saw through his clever stratagem. striated adj. marked with parallel bands The glacier left many striated rocks. stricture n. critical comments; severe and adverse criticism His strictures on the author's style are prejudiced and unwarranted. strident adj. loud and harsh She scolded him in a strident voice. stringent adj. binding; rigid I think these regulations are too stringent. stupor n. state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness In his stupor, the addict was unaware of the events taking place around him. stymie v. present an obstacle; stump The detective was stymied by the contradictory evidence in the robbery investigation. also n. suavity n. urbanity; polish He is particularly good in roles that require suavity and sophistication. subaltern n. subordinate The captain treated his subalterns as though they were children rather than commissioned officers. subjugate v. conquer; bring under control It is not our aim to subjugate our foe; we are interested only in establishing peaceful relations. sublimate v. refine; purify We must strive to sublimate these desires and emotions into worthwhile activities. sublime adj. exalted; noble; uplifting We must learn to recognize sublime truths. sub rosa adv. in strict confidence; privately I heard of this sub rosa and I cannot tell you about it. subsequent adj. following; later In subsequent lessons, we shall take up more difficult problems. subservient adj. behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious He was proud and dignified; he refused to be subservient to anyone. subsidiary adj. subordinate; secondary This information may be used as subsidiary evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument. subsistence n. existence; means of support; livelihood In these days of inflated prices, my salary provides a mere subsistence. substantiate v. verify; support I intend to substantiate my statement by producing witnesses. subterfuge n. pretense; evasion As soon as we realized that you had won our support by a subterfuge, we withdrew our endorsement of your candidacy. subtlety n. nicety; cunning; guile; delicacy The subtlety of his remarks was unnoticed by most of his audience. subversive adj. tending to overthrow or ruin We must destroy such subversive publications. succinct adj. brief; terse; compact His remarks are always succinct and pointed. succor n. aid; assistance; relief We shall be ever grateful for the succor your country gave us when we were in need. succulent adj. juicy; full of richness He developed the succulent theme fully. suffuse v. spread over A blush suffused her cheeks when we teased her about her love affair. sully v. tarnish; soil He felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully his hands in such menial labor. sultry adj. sweltering He could not adjust himself to the sultry climate of the tropics. summation n. act of finding the total; summary In his summation, the lawyer emphasized the testimony given by the two witnesses. sumptuous adj. lavish; rich I cannot recall when I have had such a sumptuous feast. sunder v. separate; part Northern and Southern Ireland are politically and religiously sundered. sundry adj. various; several My suspicions were aroused when I read sundry items in the newspapers about your behavior. superannuated adj. retired on pension because of age The superannuated man was indignant because he felt that he could still perform a good day's work. supercilious adj. contemptuous; haughty I resent your supercilious and arrogant attitude. superficial adj. trivial; shallow Since your report gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, I cannot give you more than a passing grade. superfluity n. excess; overabundance We have a definite lack of sincere workers and a superfluity of leaders. supersede v. cause to be set aside; replace This regulation will supersede all previous rules. supine adv. lying on back The defeated pugilist lay supine on the canvas. suppliant adj. entreating; beseeching He could not resist the dog's suppliant whimpering, and he gave it some food. also n. supplicate v. petition humbly; pray to grant a favor We supplicate your majesty to grant him amnesty. supposititious adj. assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical I find no similarity between your supposititious illustration and the problem we are facing. surcease n. cessation He begged the doctors to grant him surcease from his suffering. surfeit v. cloy; overfeed I am surfeited with the sentimentality of the average motion picture film. surly adj. rude; cross Because of his surly attitude, many people avoided his company. surmise v. guess I surmise that he will be late for this meeting. surreptitious adj. secret News of their surreptitious meeting gradually leaked out. surveillance n. watching; guarding The FBI kept the house under constant surveillance in the hope of capturing all the criminals at one time. sustenance n. means of support, food, nourishment In the tropics, the natives find sustenance easy to obtain. 43swathe v. wrap around; bandage When I visited him in the hospital, I found him swathed in bandages. swelter v. be oppressed by heat I am going to buy an air conditioning unit for my apartment as I do not intend to swelter through another hot and humid summer. sycophantic adj. servilely flattering The king enjoyed the sycophantic attentions of his followers. sylvan adj. pertaining to the woods; rustic His paintings of nymphs in sylvan backgrounds were criticized as overly-sentimental. synchronous adj. similarly timed; simultaneous with We have many examples of scientists in different parts of the world who have made synchronous discoveries. synthesis n. combining parts into a whole Now that we have succeeded in isolating this drug, our next problem is to plan its synthesis in the laboratory. synthetic adj. artificial; resulting from synthesis During the twentieth century, many synthetic products have replaced the natural products. also n. 25tacit adj. understood; not put into words We have a tacit agreement. taciturn adj. habitually silent; talking little New Englanders are reputedly taciturn people. tactile adj. pertaining to the organs or sense of touch His calloused hands had lost their tac4ile sensitivity. tainted adj. contaminated; corrupt We are constantly using similes and metaphors to convey our thoughts to others. simulate v. feign He simulated insanity in order to avoid punishment for his crime. sinecure n. well paid position with little responsibility My job is no sinecure; I work long hours and have much responsibility. sinister adj. evil We must defeat the sinister forces that seek our downfall. sinuous adj. winding; bending in and out; not morally honest The snake moved in a sinuous manner. skimp v. provide scantily; live very economically They were forced to skimp on necessities in order to make their limited supplies last the winter. skittish adj. lively; frisky She is as skittish as a kitten playing with a piece of string. skulk v. move furtively and secretly He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid meeting any of his former friends. slake v. quench; sate When we reached the oasis, we were able to slake our thirst. sleazy adj. flimsy; unsubstantial This is a sleazy material; it will not wear well. sleeper n. something originally of little value or importance which in time becomes very valuable Unnoticed by the critics at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Price winner was a classic sleeper. sloth n. laziness Such sloth in a young person is deplorable. slough v. cast off Each spring, the snake sloughs off its skin. 18slovenly adj. untidy; careless in work habits Such slovenly work habits will never produce good products. sluggard n. lazy person `You are a sluggard, a drone, a parasite,' the angry father shouted at his lazy son. sobriety n. soberness The solemnity of the occasion filled us with sobriety. sojourn n. temporary stay After his sojourn in Florida, he began to long for the colder climate of his native New England homeland. solecism n. construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically I must give this paper a failing mark because it contains many solecisms. solicitous adj. worried; concerned The employer was very solicitous about the health of his employees as replacements were difficult to get. soliloquy n. talking to oneself The soliloquy is a device used by the dramatist to reveal a character's innermost thoughts and emotions. solstice n. point at which the sun is farthest from the equator The winter solstice usually occurs on December 21. solvent adj. able to pay all debts By dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings. somnambulist n. sleepwalker Lady Macbeth became a somnambulist. somnolent adj. half asleep The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker. sonorous adj. resonant His sonorous voice resounded through the hall. soupcon n. suggestion; hint; taste A soupcon of garlic will improve this dish. spangle n. small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation The thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights. spasmodic adj. fitful; periodic the spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers. spatial adj. relating to space It is difficult to visualize the spatial extent of our universe. spawn v. lay eggs Fish ladders had to be built in the dams to assist the salmon returning to spawn in their native streams. also n. specious adj. seemingly reasonable but incorrect Let us not be misled by such specious arguments. spectral adj. ghostly We were frightened by the spectral glow that filled the room. splenetic adj. spiteful; irritable; peevish People shunned him because of his splenetic temper. spleen, n. sporadic adj. occurring irregularly Although there are sporadic outbursts of shooting, we may report that the major rebellion has been defeated. sportive adj. playful Such a sportive attitude is surprising in a person as serious as you usually are. spurious adj. false; counterfeit He tried to pay the bill with a spurious banknote. squalid adj. dirty; neglected; poor It is easy to see how crime can breed in such a squalid neighborhood. squander v. waste The prodigal son squandered the family estate. stagnant adj. motionless; stale; dull The stagnant water was a breeding ground for disease. stagnate, v. staid adj. sober; sedate His conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn. stamina n. strength; staying power I doubt that he has the stamina to run the full distance of the marathon race. stanch v. check flow 50 blood It is imperative that we stanch the gushing wound before we attend to the other injuries. statute n. law We have many statutes in our law books which should be repealed. stein n. beer mug He thought of college as a place where one drank beer from steins and sang songs of lost lambs. stellar adj. pertaining to the stars He was the stellar attraction of the entire performance. stentorian adj. extremely loud The town crier had a stentorian voice. stigmatize v. brand; mark as wicked I do not want to stigmatize this young offender for life by sending him to prison. stint n. supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work He performed his daily stint cheerfully and willingly. stipend n. pay for services There is a nominal stipend attached to this position. stoic n. person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain He bore the pain like a stoic. stoke v. to feed plentifully They swiftly stoked themselvs, knowing they would not have another meal until they reached camp. stolid adj. dull; impassive I am afraid that this imaginative poetry will not appeal to such a stolid person. stratagem n. deceptive scheme We saw through his clever stratagem. striated adj. marked with parallel bands The glacier left many striated rocks. stricture n. critical comments; severe and adverse criticism His strictures on the author's style are prejudiced and unwarranted. strident adj. loud and harsh She scolded him in a strident voice. stringent adj. binding; rigid I think these regulations are too stringent. stupor n. state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness In his stupor, the addict was unaware of the events taking place around him. stymie v. present an obstacle; stump The detective was stymied by the contradictory evidence in the robbery investigation. also n. suavity n. urbanity; polish He is particularly good in roles that require suavity and sophistication. subaltern n. subordinate The captain treated his subalterns as though they were children rather than commissioned officers. subjugate v. conquer; bring under control It is not our aim to subjugate our foe; we are interested only in establishing peaceful relations. sublimate v. refine; purify We must strive to sublimate these desires and emotions into worthwhile activities. sublime adj. exalted; noble; uplifting We must learn to recognize sublime truths. sub rosa adv. in strict confidence; privately I heard of this sub rosa and I cannot tell you about it. subsequent adj. following; later In subsequent lessons, we shall take up more difficult problems. subservient adj. behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious He was proud and dignified; he refused to be subservient to anyone. subsidiary adj. subordinate; secondary This information may be used as subsidiary evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument. subsistence n. existence; means of support; livelihood In these days of inflated prices, my salary provides a mere subsistence. substantiate v. verify; support I intend to substantiate my statement by producing witnesses. subterfuge n. pretense; evasion As soon as we realized that you had won our support by a subterfuge, we withdrew our endorsement of your candidacy. subtlety n. nicety; cunning; guile; delicacy The subtlety of his remarks was unnoticed by most of his audience. subversive adj. tending to overthrow or ruin We must destroy such subversive publications. succinct adj. brief; terse; compact His remarks are always succinct and pointed. succor n. aid; assistance; relief We shall be ever grateful for the succor your country gave us when we were in need. succulent adj. juicy; full of richness He developed the succulent theme fully. suffuse v. spread over A blush suffused her cheeks when we teased her about her love affair. sully v. tarnish; soil He felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully his hands in such menial labor. sultry adj. sweltering He could not adjust himself to the sultry climate of the tropics. summation n. act of finding the total; summary In his summation, the lawyer emphasized the testimony given by the two witnesses. sumptuous adj. lavish; rich I cannot recall when I have had such a sumptuous feast. sunder v. separate; part Northern and Southern Ireland are politically and religiously sundered. sundry adj. various; several My suspicions were aroused when I read sundry items in the newspapers about your behavior. superannuated adj. retired on pension because of age The superannuated man was indignant because he felt that he could still perform a good day's work. supercilious adj. contemptuous; haughty I resent your supercilious and arrogant attitude. superficial adj. trivial; sh43low Since your report gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, I cannot give you more than a passing grade. superfluity n. excess; overabundance We have a definite lack of sincere workers and a superfluity of leaders. supersede v. cause to be set aside; replace This regulation will supersede all previous rules. supine adv. lying on back The defeated pugilist lay supine on the canvas. suppliant adj. entreating; beseeching He could not resist the dog's suppliant whimpering, and he gave it some food. also n. supplicate v. petition humbly; pray to grant a favor We supplicate your majesty to grant him amnesty. supposititious adj. assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical I find no similarity between your supposititious illustration and the problem we are facing. surcease n. cessation He begged the doctors to grant him surcease from his suffering. reprisal n. retaliation I am confident that we are ready for any reprisals the enemy may undertake. reprobation n. severe disapproval The students showed their reprobation of his act by refusing to talk with him. repudiate v. disown; disavow He announced that he would repudiate all debts incurred by his wife. repugnance n. loathing She looked at the snake with repugnance. requiem n. mass for the dead; dirge They played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral. requisite n. necessary requirement Many colleges state that a student must offer three years of a language as a requisite for admission. requite v. repay; revenge The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them. rescind v. cancel Because of public resentment, the king had to rescind his order. rescission n. abrogation; annulment The rescission of the unpopular law was urge by all political parties. resonant adj. echoing; resounding; possessing resonance His resonant voice was particularly pleasing. respite n. delay in punishment; interval of relief; rest The judge granted the condemned man a respite to enable his attorneys to file an appeal. resplendent adj. brilliant; lustrous The toreador wore a resplendent costume. restitution n. reparation; indemnification He offered to make restitution for the window broken by his son. restive adj. unmanageable; fretting under control We must quiet the restive animals. resuscitate v. revive The lifeguard tried to resuscitate the drowned child by applying artificial respiration. retaliate v. repay in kind (usually for bad treatment) Fear that we will retaliate immediately deters our foe from attacking us. retentive adj. holding; having a good memory The pupil did not need to spend much time in study as he had a retentive mind. 21reticence n. reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclination to be silent Because of the reticence of the key witness, the case against the defendant collapsed. retinue n. following; attendants The queen's retinue followed her down the aisle. retraction n. withdrawal He dropped his libel suit after the newspaper published a retraction of its statement. retribution n. vengeance; compensation; punishment for offenses The evangelist maintained that an angry Deity would exact retribution from the sinners. retrieve v. recover; find and bring in The dog was intelligent and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter. retroactive adj. of a law which dates back to a period before its enactment Because the law was retroactive to the first of the year, we found he was eligible for the pension. retrograde v. going backwards; degenerating Instead of advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in ethics and culture. retrogression, n. o retrospective adj. looking back on the past It is only when we become retrospective that we can appreciate the tremendous advances made during this century. revelry n. boisterous merrymaking New Year's Eve is a night of revelry. reverberate v. echo; resound the entire valley reverberated with the sound of the church bells. reverie n. day dream; musing He was awakened from his reverie by the teacher's question. revile v. slander; vilify He was avoided by all who feared that he would revile and abuse them if they displeased him. revulsion n. sudden violent change of feeling; reaction Many people in this country who admired dictatorships underwent a revulsion when they realized what Hitler and Mussolini were trying to do. rhetoric n. art of effective communication; insincere language All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric. rhetorical adj. rheumy adj. pertaining to a discharge from nose and eyes His rheumy eyes warned us that he was coming down with a cold. ribald adj. wanton; profane He sang a ribald song which offended many of us. rife adj. abundant; current In the face of the many rumors of scandal, which are rife at the moment, it is best to remain silent. rift n. opening; break The plane was lost in the stormy sky until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds. rigor n. severity Many settlers could not stand the rigors of the New England winters. rime n. white frost The early morning dew had frozen and everything was covered with a thin coat of rime. risible adj. inclined to laugh; ludicrous His remarks were so risible that the audience howled with laughter. risibility, n. risque adj. verging upon the improper; off-color Please do not tell your risque anecdotes at this party. roan adj. brown mixed with gray or white You can distinguish this horse in a race because it is roan while all the others are bay or chestnut. robust adj. vigorous; strong The candidate for the football team had a robust physique. rococo adj. ornate; highly decorated At the present time, architects avoid rococo designs. roseate adj. rosy; optimistic I am afraid you will have to alter your roseate views in the light of the distressing news that had just arrived. rostrum n. platform for speech-making; pulpit The crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum. rote n. repetition He recited the passage by rote and gave no indication he understood what he was saying. rotundity n. roundness; sonorousness of speech Washington Irving emphasized the rotundity of the governor by describing his height and circumference. rubble n. fragments Ten years after World War II, some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be seen. rubicund adj. having a healthy reddish color; ruddy; florid His rubicund complexion was the result of an active outdoor life. ruddy adj. reddish; healthy-looking His ruddy complexion indicated that he had spent much time in the open. rudimentary adj. not developed; elementary His dancing was limited to a few rudimentary steps. rueful adj. regretful; sorrowful; dejected The artist has captured the sadness of childhood in his portrait of the boy with the rueful countenance. ruminate v. chew the cud; ponder We cannot afford to wait while you ruminate upon these plans. rummage v. ransack; thoroughly search When we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days. ruse n. trick; stratagem You will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ruse. rusticate v. banish to the country; dwell in the country I like city life so much that I can never understand how people can rusticate in the suburbs. ruthless adj. pitiless The escaped convict was a dangerous and ruthless murderer. sacerdotal adj. priestly The priest decided to abandon his sacerdotal duties and enter the field of politics. sacrilegious adj. desecrating; profane His stealing of the altar cloth was a very sacrilegious act. sacrosanct adj. most sacred; inviolable The brash insurance salesman invaded the sacrosanct privacy of the office of the president of the company. sadistic adj. inclined to cruelty If we are to improve conditions in this prison, we must first get rid of the sadistic warden. saffron adj. orange-colored; colored like the autumn crocus The Halloween cake was decorated with saffron-colored icing. saga n. Scandinavian myth; any legend This is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it. sagacious adj. keen; shrewd; having insight He i43much too sagacious to be fooled by a trick like that. salient adj. prominent One of the salient features of that newspaper is its excellent editorial page. saline adj. salty The slightly saline taste of this mineral water is pleasant. sallow adj. yellowish; sickly in color We were disturbed by his sallow complexion. salubrious adj. healthful Many people with hay fever move to more salubrious sections of the country during the months of August and September. salutary adj. tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy, as he became a model student. salvage v. rescue from loss All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed. also n. sangfroid n. coolness in a trying situation The captain's sangfroid helped to allay the fears of the passengers. sanguinary adj. bloody The battle of Iwo Jima was unexpectedly sanguinary. sanguine adj. cheerful; hopeful Let us not be too sanguine about the outcome. sapid adj. savory; tasty; relishable This chef has the knack of making most foods more sapid and appealing. sapient adj. wise; shrewd The students enjoyed the professor's sapient digressions more than his formal lectures. sardonic adj. disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; shrewd I cannot stand his sardonic wit. sate v. satisfy to the full; cloy Its hunger sated, the lion dozed. satiate v. surfeit; satisfy fully The guests, having eaten until they were satiated, now listened inattentively to the speakers. satiety n. condition of being crammed full; glutted state; repletion Shelley mentions `Love's sad satiety' in his `Ode to a Skylark.' saturate v. soak Their clothes were saturated by the rain. saturnine adj. gloomy The saturnine professor had few pupils. saunter v. stroll slowly As we sauntered through the park, we stopped frequently to admire the spring flowers. savant n. scholar Our faculty includes many world famous savants. savoir faire n. tact; poise; sophistication I envy his savoir faire; he always knows exactly what to do and say. savor v. have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality I think your choice of a successor savors of favoritism scavenger n. collector and disposer of refuse; animal that devours refuse and carrion The coyote is a scavenger. schism n. division; split Let us not widen the schism by further bickering. scintilla n. shred; least bit You have not produced a scintilla of evidence to support your argument. scintillate v. sparkle; flash I enjoy her dinner parties because the food is excellent and the conversation scintillates. scion n. offspring The farm boy felt out of place in the school attended by the scions of the wealthy and noble families. scourge n. lash; whip; severe punishment They feared the plague and regarded it as a deadly scourge. also v. scrupulous adj. conscientious; extremely thorough I can recommend him for a position of responsibility for I have found him a very scrupulous young man. scullion n. menial kitchen worker Lynette was angry because she thought she had been given a scullion to act as her defender. scurrilous adj. obscene; indecent I should horsewhip you for your scurrilous remarks about my daughter. scuttle v. sink The sailors decided to scuttle their vessel rather than surrender it to the enemy. sebaceous adj. oily; fatty The sebaceous glands secrete oil to the hair follicles. secession n. withdrawal The secession of the Southern states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his inauguration. secular adj. worldly; not pertaining to church matters; temporal The church leaders decided not to interfere in secular matters. sedate adj. composed; grave The parents were worried because they felt their son was too quiet and sedate. sedentary adj. requiring sitting Because he had a sedentary occupation, he decided to visit a gymnasium weekly. sedulous adj. diligent Stevenson said that he played the `sedulous ape` and diligently imitated the great writers of the past. seethe v. be disturbed; boil The 50tion was seething with discontent as the noblemen continued their arrogant ways. seine n. net for catching fish When the shad run during the spring, you may see fishermen with seines along the banks of our coastal rivers. semblance n. outward appearance; guise Although this book has a semblance of wisdom and scholarship, a careful examination will reveal many errors and omissions. senility n. old age; feeble-mindedness of old age Most of the decisions are being made by the junior members of the company because of the senility of the president. sensual adj. devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptuous I cannot understand what caused him to drop his sensual way of life and become so ascetic. sententious adj. terse; concise; aphoristic After reading so many wordy and redundant speeches, I find his sententious style particularly pleasing. sepulcher n. tomb Annabel Lee was buried in the sepulcher by the sea. sequester v. retire from public life; segregate; seclude Although he had hoped for a long time to sequester himself in a small community, he never was able to drop his busy round of activities in the city. serendipity n. gift for finding valuable things not searched for wheedle v. cajole; coax; deceive by flattery She knows she can wheedle almost anything she wants from her father. whet v. sharpen; stimulate The odors from the kitchen are whetting my appetite; I will be ravenous by the time the meal is served . whimsical adj. capricious; fanciful; quaint `Peter Pan' is a whimsical play. whit n. smallest speck There is not a whit of intelligence or understanding in your observations. wily adj. cunning; artful He is as wily as a fox in avoiding trouble. winsome adj. agreeable; gracious; engaging By her winsome manner, she made herself liked by everyone who met her. witless adj. foolish; idiotic Such witless and fatuous statements will create the impression that you are an ignorant individual. witticism n. witty saying; facetious remark What you regard as witticisms are often offensive to sensitive people. wizardry n. sorcery; magic Merlin amazed the knights with his wizardry. wizened adj. withered; shriveled The wizened old man in the home for the aged was still active and energetic. wont n. custom; habitual procedure As was his wont, he jogged two miles every morning before going to work. worldly adj. engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual You must leave your worldly goods behind you when you go to meet your Maker. wraith n. ghost; phantom of a living person It must be a horrible experience to see a ghost; it is even more horrible to see the wraith of a person we know to be alive. wreak v. inflict I am afraid he will wreak his wrath on the innocent as well as the guilty. wrest v. pull away; take by violence With only ten seconds left to play, our team wrested victory from their grasp. zealot n. fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal It is good to have a few zealots in our group for their enthusiasm is contagious. zenith n. point directly overhead in sky; summit The sun was at its zenith. zephyr n. soft gentle breeze; west wind When these zephyrs blow, it is good to be in an open boat under a full sail. aberration n. wandering or straying away; in optics, failure of rays to focus In designing a good lens for a camera, the problem of correcting chromatic and rectilinear aberration was a serious one. abnegation n. repudiation; self-sacrifice No act of abnegation was more pronounced than his refusal of any rewards for his discovery. abut v. border upon; adjoin Where our estates abut, we must build a fence. abysmal adj. bottomless His arrogance is exceeded only by his abysmal ignorance. accede v. agree If I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands. acclimate v. adjust to climate One of the difficulties of our present air age is the need of travelers to acclimate themselves to their new and often strange environments. acephalous adj. headless Because the country was in a state of anarchy and lacked a leader, it was described as an acephalous monstrosity. acerbity n. bitterness of speech and temper The meeting of the United Nations Assembly was marked with such acerbity that little hope of reaching any useful settlement of the problem could be held. acquiescence n. submission; compliance It is impossible to obtain their acquiescence to the proposal because it is abhorrent to their philosophy. adjunct n. something attached to but holding an inferior position I will entertain this concept as an adjunct to the main proposal. adjure v. request solemnly I must adjure you to consider this matter carefully as it is of utmost importance to all of us. admonition n. warning After repeated rejections of its admonitions, the country was forced to issue an ultimatum. advert v. refer to Since you advert to this matter so frequently, you must regard it as important. adulterated adj. made impure or spoiled by the addition of inferior materials The health authorities ordered the sale of the meat stopped because they found it adulterated. advent n. arrival Most Americans were unaware of the advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima reached them. aegis n. shield; defense Under the aegis of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy our most treasured freedoms. aeon n. long period of time; an age It has taken aeons for our civilization to develop. affable adj. courteous Although he held a position of responsibility, he was an affable individual and could be reached by anyone with a complaint. afferent adj. carrying toward the center The nerves that carry stimuli to the brain are called afferent; those that convey messages from the brain, efferent. affidavit n. written statement made under oath The court refused to accept his statement unless he presented it in the form of an affidavit. 18afflatus n. inspiration The poet boasted of his divine afflatus as the source of his greatness. agenda n. items of business at a meeting We had so much difficulty agreeing upon an agenda that there was very little time for the meeting. agitation n. strong feeling; excitement We felt that he was responsible for the agitation of the mob because of the inflammatory report he had issued. 43agrarian adj. pertaining to land or its cultivation The country is gradually losing its agrarian occupation and turning more and more to an industrial point of view. agronomist n. scientist engaged in the management of land Because the country failed to heed the warnings of its agronomists, it was faced with serious famine. alliteration n. repetition of beginning sound in poetry `The furrow followed free' is an example of alliteration. amazon n. female warrior Ever since the days of Greek mythology we refer to strong and aggressive women as amazons. ambivalence n. the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes Vacillating between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by the ambivalence of her feelings. amoral adj. nonmoral The amoral individual lacks a code of ethics; he should not be classified as immoral. amortization n. act of reducing a debt through partial payments Your monthly payments to the bank include provisions for taxes, interest on the principal, and amortization of the mortgage. anachronism n. an error involving time in a story The reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is an anachronism. analgesic adj. causing insensitivity to pain The analgesic qualities of this lotion will provide temporary relief. animus n. hostile feeling or intent The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks. 50anneal v. reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling After the glass is annealed, it will be less subject to shipping and cracking. anodyne n. drug that relieves pain; opiate His pain was so great that he felt no anodyne could relieve it. annotate v. comment; make explanatory notes In the appendix to the novel, the critic sought to annotate many of the more esoteric references. anthropomorphic adj. having human form or characteristics Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics. aphasia n. loss of speech due to injury After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently. apiary n. a place where bees are kept Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee. apocalyptic adj. prophetic; pertaining to revelations His apocalyptic remarks were dismissed by his audience as wild surmises. apologue n. moral fable Aesop's Fables are classic examples of the apologue. apropos prep.with reference to; properly I find your remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent. also adj. and adv. archetype n. prototype; primitive pattern The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey. archives n. public records; place where public records are kept These documents should be part of the archives so that historians may be able to evaluate them in the future. arrogate v. claim without reasonable grounds I am afraid that the manner in which he arrogates power to himself indicates that he is willing to ignore Constitutional limitations. arroyo n. gully Until the heavy rains of the past spring, this arroyo had been a dry bed. aseptic adj. preventing putrefaction or blood poisoning by killing bacteria Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced aseptic conditions. assimilate v. absorb; cause to become homogeneous The manner in which the United States was able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants during the 19th and the early part of the 20th centuries will always be a source of pride. astigmatism n. eye defect which prevents proper focus As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses. atavism n. resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents The doctors ascribed the child's deformity to an atavism. 24atelier n. workshop; studio Stories of Bohemian life in Paris are full of tales of artists' starving or freezing in their ateliers. aureole n. sun's corona; halo Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureoles around their heads. auroral adj. pertaining to the aurora borealis The auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening. auscultation n. act of listening to the heart or lungs to discover abnormalities The science of auscultation was enhanced with the development of the stethoscope. avatar n. incarnation In Hindu mythology, the avatar of Vishnu is thoroughly detailed. avocation n. secondary or minor occupation His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation. bassoon n. reed instrument of the woodwind family In the orchestra, the bassoon is related to the oboe and the clarinet. beholden adj. obligated; indebted Since I do not wish to be beholden to anyone, I cannot accept this favor. belittle v. disparage; depreciate Although I do not wish to belittle your contribution, I feel we must place it in its proper perspective. benignity n, state of being kind, benign, gracious We have endowed our Creator with a benignity which permits forgiveness of our sins and transgressions. benison n. blessing Let us pray that the benison of peace once more shall prevail among the nations of the world. bereavement n. state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved His friends gathered to console him upon his sudden bereavement. bestial adj. beastlike; brutal We must suppress our bestial desires and work for peaceful and civilized ends. bifurcated adj. divided into two branches; forked With a bifurcated branch and a piece of elastic rubber, he made a crude but effective slingshot. billingsgate n. vituperation; abusive language His attempts at pacifying the mob were met by angry hoots and billingsgate. blanch v. bleach; whiten Although age had blanched his hair, he was still vigorous and energetic. blase adj. bored with pleasure and dissipation Your blase attitude gives your students an erroneous impression of the joys of scholarship. boorish adj. rude; clownish Your boorish remarks to the driver of the other car were not warranted by the situation and served merely to enrage him. bowdlerize v. expurgate Mr. Bowdler's attempts to `clean up' Shakespeare have given us the word bowdlerize to describe any attempt to remove indelicacies of language by expurgation. brackish adj. somewhat saline He found the only wells in the area were brackish; drinking the water made him nauseated. breviary n. book containing the daily prayers The religious sect demanded daily recitals of the breviary as well as formal Sabbath services. brindled adj. tawny or grayish with streaks or spots He was disappointed in the litter because the puppies were brindled; he had hoped for animals of a uniform color. bugaboo n. bugbear; object of baseless terror If we become frightened by such bugaboos. we are no wiser than the birds who fear scarecrows. bureaucracy n. government by bureaus Many people fear that the constant introduction of federal agencies will create a government by bureaucracy. buskin n. thick-soled half boot worn by actors of Greek tragedy Wearing the buskin gave the Athenian tragic actor a larger-than-life appearance and enhanced the intensity of the play. calligraphy n. beautiful writing; excellent penmanship As we examine ancient manuscripts, we become impressed with the calligraphy of the scribes. callow adj. unfledged; youthful In that youthful movement, the leaders were only a little less callow than their immature followers. capillary adj. having a very fine bore The changes in surface tension of liquids in capillary vessels is of special interest to physicists. also n. carafe n. glass water-bottle; decanter With each dinner, the patron receives a carafe of red or white wine. carillon n. a set of bells capable of being played The carillon in the bell tower of the Coca Cola pavilion at the New York World's Fair provided musical entertainment every hour. cartographer n. maker of maps or charts Cartographers are unable to provide accurate maps of legal boundaries in the Near East because of the unsettled political situation in that part of the world. caryatid n. sculptured column of a female figure The caryatids supporting the entablature reminded the onlooker of the columns he had seen in the Acropolis at Athens. caste n. one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society The differences created by caste in India must be eradicated if true democracy is to prevail in that country. casuistry n. subtle or sophisticated reasoning resulting in minute distinctions You are using casuistry to justify your obvious violation of decent behavior. catalyst n. agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged Many chemical reactions cannot take place without the presence of a catalyst. catharsis n. purging or cleansing of any passage of the body Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a catharsis by purging the soul of base concepts. caucus n. private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy At the opening of Congress, the members of the Democratic Party held a caucus to elect the Majority Leader of the House and the Party Whip. celerity n. speed; rapidity Hamlet resented his mother's celerity in remarrying within a month after his father's death. centripetal adj. tending toward the center Does centripetal force or the force of gravity bring orbiting bodies to the earth's surface? chiromancy n. art of telling fortunes by reading the hand; palmistry The charlatans along the Midway claimed the ability to analyze character and predict the future by such means as handwriting analysis, phrenology and chiromancy. choreography n. art of dancing Martha Graham introduced a form of choreography which seemed awkward and alien to those who had been brought up on classic ballet. circumlocution n. indirect or roundabout expression He was afraid to `call a spade a spade' and resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct reference to his subject. codicil n. supplement to the body of a will This codicil was drawn up five years after the writing of the original will. colander n. utensil with perforated bottom used for straining Before serving the spaghetti, place it in a colander to drain it. colloquial adj. pertaining to conversational or common speech Your use of colloquial expressions in a formal essay such as the one you have presented spoils the effect you hope to achieve. 18comatose adj. in a coma; extremely sleepy The long-winded orator soon had his audience in a comatose state. compendium n. brief comprehensive summary This text can serve as a compendium of the tremendous amount of new material being developed in this field. complicity n. participation; involvement You cannot keep your complicity in this affair secret very long; you would be wise to admit your involvement immediately. compromise v. adjust; endanger the interests or reputation of Your presence at the scene of the dispute compromises our claim to neutrality in this matter. 50conch n. large sea shell In this painting we see a Triton blowing on his conch. concordat n. agreement, usually between the papal authority and the secular One of the most famous of the agreements between a Pope and an emperor was the Concordat of Worms in 1122. conduit n. aqueduct; passageway for fluids Water was brought to the army in the desert by an improvised conduit from the adjoining mountain. conjecture n. surmise; guess I will end all your conjectures, I admit I am guilty as charged. convoluted adj. coiled around; involved; intricate His argument was so convoluted that few of us could follow it intelligently. cordon n. extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress The police cordon was so tight that the criminals could not leave the area. cormorant n. greedy, rapacious bird The cormorants spend their time eating the fish which they catch by diving. also adj. 24correlation n. mutual relationship He sought to determine the correlation that existed between ability in algebra and ability to interpret reading exercises. coruscate v. glitter; scintillate His wit is the kind that coruscates and startles all his listeners. cozen v. cheat; hoodwink; swindle He was the kind of individual who would cozen his friends in a cheap card game but remain eminently ethical in all his business dealings. credo n. creed I believe we may best describe his credo by saying that it approximates the Golden Rule. crepuscular adj. pertaining to twilight Bats are crepuscular creatures since they begin their flights as soon as the sun begins to sink below the horizon. crescendo n. increase in the volume of sound in a musical passage The overture suddenly changed from a quiet pastoral theme to a crescendo featured by blaring trumpets and clashing cymbals. crotchety adj. eccentric; whimsical Although he was reputed to be a crotchety old gentleman, I found his ideas substantially sound and sensible. cruet n. small glass bottle for vinegar, oil, etc The waiter preparing the salad poured oil and vinegar from two cruets into the bowl. crypt n. secret recess or vault, usually used for burial Until recently, only bodies of rulers and leading statesmen were interred in this crypt. cubicle n. small chamber used for sleeping After his many hours of intensive study in the library, he retired to his cubicle. cul-de-sac n. blind alley; trap The soldiers were unaware that they were marching into a cul-de-sac when they entered the canyon. 54culvert n. artificial channel for water If we build a culvert under the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of the road's being flooded during the rainy season. curator n. superintendent; manager The members of the board of trustees of the museum expected the new curator to plan events and exhibitions which would make the museum more popular. curmudgeon n. churlish, miserly individual Although he was regarded by many as a curmudgeon, a few of us were aware of the many kindnesses and acts of charity which he secretly performed. cursive adj. flowing, running In normal writing we run our letters together in cursive form; in printing, we separate the letters. 24cynosure n. the object of general attention As soon as the movie star entered the room, she became the cynosure of all eyes. debacle n. breaking up; downfall This debacle in the government can only result in anarchy. debenture n. bond issued to secure a loan The manager of the company urged that the company try to raise money by issuing debentures rather than to try to sell stock. decimate v. kill, usually one out of ten We do more to decimate our population in automobile accidents than we do in war. decollete adj. having a low-necked dress Current fashion decrees that evening gowns be decollete this season; bare shoulders are again the vogue. decrepitude n. state of collapse caused by illness or old age I was unprepared for the state of decrepitude in which I had found my old friend; he seemed to have aged twenty years in six months. degraded adj. lowered in rank; debased The degraded wretch spoke only of his past glories and honors. deliquescent adj. capable of absorbing moisture from the air and becoming liquid Since this powder is extremely deliquescent, it must be kept in an hermetically sealed container until it is used. demesne n. domain; land over which a person has full sovereignty Keats is referring to epic poetry when he mentions Homer's `proud demesne.' demotic adj. pertaining to the people He lamented the passing of aristocratic society and maintained that a demotic society would lower the nation's standards. denigrate v. blacken All attempts to denigrate the character of our late President have failed; the people still love him and cherish his memory. denotation n. meaning; distinguishing by name A dictionary will always give us the denotation of a word; frequently, it will also give us its connotation. denouement n. outcome; final development of the plot of a play The play was childishly written; the denouement was obvious to sophisticated theatre goers as early as the middle of the first act. desideratum n. that which is desired Our first desideratum must be the establishment of peace; we can then attempt to remove the causes of the present conflict. diatribe n. bitter scolding; invectiv. During the lengthy diatribe delivered by his opponent he remained calm and self-controlled. didactic adj. teaching; instructional The didactic qualities of his poetry overshadow its literary qualities; the lesson he teaches is more memorable than the lines. disabuse v. correct a false impression; undeceive I will attempt to disabuse you of your impression of my client`s guilt; I know he is innocent. dishabille n. in a state of undress Because he was certain that he would have no visitors, he lounged around the house in a state of dishabille, wearing only his pajamas and a pair of old bedroom slippers. dispassionate adj. calm; impartial In a dispassionate analysis of the problem, he carefully examined the causes of the conflict and proceeded to suggest suitable remedies. distaff adj. female His ancestors on the distaff side were equally as famous as his father's progenitors; his mother's father and grandfather were both famous judges. 21doddering adj. shaky; infirm from old age Although he is not as yet a doddering and senile old man, his ideas and opinions no longer can merit the respect we gave them years ago. duenna n. attendant of young female; chaperone Their romance could not flourish because of the presence of her duenna. dulcet adj. sweet sounding The dulcet sounds of the birds at dawn were soon drowned out by the roar of traffic passing our motel. durance n. restraint; imprisonment The lecturer spoke of a `durance vile' to describe his years in the prison camp. dynamic adj. active; efficient A dynamic government is necessary to meet the demands of a changing society. eclat n. brilliance; glory To the delight of his audience, he completed his task with eclat and consummate ease. eclecticism n. selection of elements from various sets of opinions or systems The eclecticism of the group was demonstrated by their adoption of principles and practices of many forms of government. effluvium n. noxious smell Air pollution has become a serious problem in our major cities; the effluvium and the poisons in the air are hazards to life. embryonic adj. undeveloped; rudimentary The evil of class and race hatred must be eliminated while it is still in an embryonic state; otherwise, it may grow to dangerous proportions. emendation n. correction of errors; improvement Please initial all the emendations you have made in this contract. emeritus adj. retired but retained in an honorary capacity As professor emeritus, he retained all his honors without having to meet the obligations of daily assignments. emollient n. soothing or softening remedy He applied an emollient to the inflamed area. also adj. empirical adj. based on experience He distrusted hunches and intuitive flashes; he placed his reliance entirely on empirical data. empyreal adj. celestial; fiery The scientific advances of the twentieth century have enabled man to invade the empyreal realm of the eagle. encomium n. praise; eulogy He was sickened by the encomiums and panegyrics expressed by speakers who had previously been among the first to vilify the man they were now honoring. endemic adj. prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country This disease is endemic in this part of the world; more than 80% of the population are at one time or another affected by it. enigmatic adj. obscure; puzzling Many have sought to fathom the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa. 9enjoin v. command; order; forbid The owners of the company asked the court to enjoin the union from picketing the plant. ensue v. follow The evils that ensued were the direct result of the miscalculations of the leaders. entomology n. study of insects I found entomology the least interesting part of my course in biology; studying insects bored me. equitable adj. fair; impartial I am seeking an equitable solution to this dispute, one which will be fair and acceptable to both sides. erotic adj. pertaining to passionate love The erotic passages in this novel should be removed as they are merely pornographic. erudition n. high degree of knowledge and learning Although they respected his erudition, the populace refused to listen to his words of caution and turned to less learned leaders. ethnology n. study of man Sociology is one aspect of the science of ethnology. etymology n. study of derivation, structure and development of words To the student of etymology, the dictionary is a tremendous source of information. eugenic adj. pertaining to the improvement of race It is easier to apply eugenic principles to the raising of race horses or prize cattle than to the development of human beings. eviscerate v. disembowel; remove entrails The medicine man eviscerated the animal and offered the entrails to the angry gods. exacerbate v. worsen; embitter This latest arrest will exacerbate the already existing discontent of the people and enrage them. excision n. act of cutting away With the excision of the dead and dying limbs of this tree, you have not only improved its appearance but you have enhanced its chances of bearing fruit. excoriate v. flay; abrade These shoes are so ill-fitting that they will excoriate the feet and create blisters. execrate v. curse; express abhorrence for The world execrates the memory of Hitler and hopes that genocide will never again be the policy of any nation. exegesis n. explanation, especially of Biblical passages I can follow your exegesis of this passage to a limited degree; some of your reasoning eludes me. ex officio adv. by virtue of one's office The Mayor was ex officio chairman of the committee that decided the annual tax rate. exorcise v. drive out evil spirits By incantation and prayer, the medicine man sought to exorcise the evil spirits which had taken possession of the young warrior. expletive n. interjection; profane oath The sergeant's remarks were filled with expletives which reflected on the intelligence and character of the new recruits. explicit adj. definite; open Your remarks are explicit; no one can misinterpret them. fanfare n. call by bugles or trumpets The exposition was opened with a fanfare of trumpets and the firing of cannon. febrile adj. feverish In his febrile condition, he was subject to nightmares and hallucinations. fiduciary adj. pertaining to a position of trust In his will, he stipulated that the bank act in a fiduciary capacity and manage his estate until his children became of age. also n. flinch v. hesitate; shrink He did not flinch in the face of danger but fought back bravely. floe n. mass of floating ice The ship made slow progress as it battered its way through the ice floes. fluted adj. having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar) All that remained of the ancient building were the fluted columns. fracas n. brawl, melee The military police stopped the fracas in the bar and arrested the belligerents. frond n. fern leaf; palm or banana leaf After the storm the beach was littered with the fronds of palm trees. fulcrum n. support on which a lever rests If we use this stone as a fulcrum and the crowbar as a lever, we may be able to move this boulder. fulgent adj. beaming; radiant In the fulgent glow of the early sunrise everything seemed bright and gleaming. galaxy n. the Milky Way; any collection of brilliant personalities The deaths of such famous actors as Clark Gable, Gary Cooper and Spencer Tracy demonstrate that the galaxy of Hollywood superstars is rapidly disappearing. gambit n. opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed The player was afraid to accept his opponent's gambit because he feared a trap which as yet he could not see. gargoyle n. waterspout carve in grotesque figures on building The gargoyles adorning the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris are amusing in their grotesqueness. garrulous adj. loquacious; wordy Many members avoided the company of the garrulous old gentleman because his constant chatter on trivial matters bored them. gasconade n. bluster; boastfulness Behind his front of gasconade and pompous talk, he tried to hide his inherent uncertainty and nervousness. also v. gastronomy n. science of preparing and serving good food One of the byproducts of his trip to Europe was his interest in gastronomy; he enjoyed preparing and serving foreign dishes to his friends. gauche adj. clumsy; boorish Such remarks are gauche and out of place; you should apologize for making them. genealogy n. record of descent; lineage He was proud of his genealogy and constantly referred to the achievements of his ancestors. generic adj. characteristic of a class or species You have made the mistake of thinking that his behavior is generic; actually, very few of his group behave the way he does. genuflect v. bend the knee as in worship A proud democrat, he refused to genuflect to any man. germinal adj. pertaining to a germ; creative Such an idea is germinal; I amcertain that it will influence thinkers and philosophers for many generations. germinate v. cause to sprout; sprout After the seeds germinate and develop their permanent leaves, the plants may be removed from the cold frames and transplanted to the garden. 50gerrymander v. change voting district lines in order to favor a political party The illogical pattern of the map of this congressional district is proof that the State Legislature gerrymandered this area in order to favor the majority party. gestate v. evolve, as in pre-natal growth While this scheme was being gestated by the conspirators, they maintained complete silence about their intentions. glossary n. brief explanation of words used in the text I have found the glossary in this book very useful; it has eliminated many trips to the dictionary. gratuity n. tip Many service employees rely more on gratuities than on salaries for their livelihood. grimace n. a facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc. Even though he remained silent, his grimace indicated his displeasure. grovel v. crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate Even though we have been defeated, we do not have to grovel before our conquerors. hackles n. hairs on back and neck of a dog The dog's hackles rose and he began to growl as the sound of footsteps grew louder. 25hegira flight, especially Mohammed's flight from Mecca to Medina Mohammed began his hegira when he was 53 years old. hermetically adv. sealed by fusion so as to be air tight After these bandages are sterilized, they are placed in hermetically sealed containers. 50hew v. cut to pieces with ax or sword The cavalry rushed into the melee and hewed the enemy with their swords. hoax n. trick; practical joke Embarrassed by the hoax, he reddened and left the room. also v. hoodwink v. deceive; delude Having been hoodwinked once by the fast talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went to purchase a used car. hortatory adj. encouraging; exhortive The crowd listened to his hortatory statements with ever growing excitement; finally they rushed from the hall to carry out his suggestions. hoyden n. boisterous girl Although she is now a hoyden, I am sure she will outgrow her tomboyish ways and quiet down. hummock n. small hill The ascent of the hummock is not difficult and the view from the hilltop is ample reward for the effort. husbandry n. frugality; thrift; agriculture He accumulated his small fortune by diligence and husbandry. hustings n. meetings particularly to choose candidates Congress adjourned so that the members could attend to their political hustings. hyperbole n. exaggeration; overstatement This salesman is guilty of hyperbole in describing his product; it is wise to discount his claims. hyperborean adj. situated in extreme north; arctic; cold The hyperborean blasts brought snow and ice to the countryside. hypothecate v. mortgage; pledge as security I have no authority to hypothecate this property as security for the loan. idiosyncratic adj. private; peculiar to an individual Such behavior is idiosyncratic; it is as easily identifiable as a signature. illusive adj. deceiving This mirage is an illusion; let us not be fooled by its illusive effect. imbrue v. drench, stain, especially with blood As the instigator of this heinous murder, he is as much imbrued in blood as the actual assassin. immure v. imprison; shut up in confinement For the two weeks before the examination, the student immured himself in his room and concentrated upon his studies. impalpable adj. imperceptible; intangible The ash is so fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a fine layer covering the window ledge. imperturbable adj. calm; placid He remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation in spite of the hysteria and panic all around him. implement v. supply what is needed; furnish with tools I am unwilling to implement this plan until I have assurances that it has the full approval of your officials. 43imply v. suggest a meaning not expressed; signify Even though your statement does not declare that you are at war with that country, your actions imply that that is the actual situation. imponderable adj. weightless I can evaluate the data gathered in this study; the imponderable items are not so easily analyzed. importunate adj. urging; demanding He tried to hide from his importunate creditors until his allowance arrived. impotent adj. weak; ineffective Although he wished to break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent in resisting the craving for a cigarette. imprimatur n. permission to print or publish a book The publication of the book was delayed until the imprimatur of the State Education Committee was granted. impute v. attribute; ascribe If I wished to impute blame to the officers in charge of this program, I would come out and state it definitely and without hesitation. incantation n. singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula Uttering incantations to make the brew more potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron. incarnadine v. stain crimson or blood-color After killing Duncan, Macbeth cries that his hands are so bloodstained that they would `the multitudinous seas incarnadine.' incarnation n. act of assuming a human body and human nature The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a basic tenet of Christian theology. incidence n, falling on a body; a casual occurrence We must determine the angle of incidence of the rays of light. 21incongruous adj. not fitting; absurd These remarks do not have any relationship to the problem at hand; they are incongruous and should be stricken from the record. incontinent adj. lacking self-restraint; licentious His incontinent behavior off stage shocked many people and they refused to attend the plays and movies in which he appeared. incredulous adj. withholding belief; skeptical The incredulous judge refused to accept the statement of the defendant. inductive adj. pertaining to induction or proceeding from the specific to the general The discovery of the planet Pluto is an excellent example of the results that can be obtained from inductive reasoning. inebriety n. habitual intoxication Because of his inebriety, he was discharged from his position as family chauffeur. ineluctable adj. irresistible; not to be escaped He felt that his fate was ineluctable and refused to make any attempt to improve his lot. inertia n. state of being inert or indisposed to move Our inertia in this matter may prove disastrous; we must move to aid our allies immediately. infer v. deduce; conclude We must be particularly cautious when we infer that a person is guilty on the basis of circumstantial evidence. ingenue n. an artless girl; an actress who plays such parts Although she was forty, she still insisted that she be cast as an ingenue and refused to play more mature roles. 25insouciant adj. indifferent; without concern or care Your insouciant attitude at such a critical moment indicates that you do not understand the gravity of the situation. integument n. outer covering or skin The turtle takes advantage of its hard integument and hides within its shell when threatened. interdict v. prohibit; forbid Civilized nations must interdict the use of nuclear weapons if we expect our society to live. interlocutory adj. conversational; intermediate, not final This interlocutory decree is only a temporary set-back; the case has not been settled. internecine adj. mutually destructive The rising death toll on both sides indicates the internecine nature of this conflict. interstices n. chinks; crevices The mountain climber sought to obtain a foothold in the interstices of the cliff. intractable adj. unruly; refractor The horse was intractable and refused to enter the starting gate. intransigence n. state of stubborn unwillingness to compromise The intransigence of both parties in the dispute makes an early settlement almost impossible to obtain. invalidate v. weaken; destroy The relatives who received little or nothing sought to invalidate the will by claiming that the deceased had not been in his right mind when he had signed the document. inveigh v. denounce; utter censure or invective He inveighed against the demagoguery of the previous speaker and urged that the audience reject his philosophy as dangerous. irksome adj. repetitious; tedious He found working on the assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the operation he had to perform. irony n. hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning Gradually his listeners began to realize that the excessive praise he was lavishing was merely irony; he was actually denouncing his opponent. irrefragable adj. not to be disproved; indisputable The testimonies provide irrefragable proof that my client is innocent; I demand that he be released at once. isotope n. varying form of an element The study of the isotopes of uranium led to the development of the nuclear bomb. itinerary n. plan of a trip Before leaving for his first visit to France and England, he discussed his itinerary with people who had been there and with his travel agent. jejune adj. lacking interest; barren; meager The plot of the play is jejune and fails to capture the interest of the audience. jeremiad n. lament; complaint His account of the event was a lengthy jeremiad, unrelieved by any light moments. juncture n. crisis; joining point At this critical juncture, let us think carefully before determining the course we shall follow. jurisprudence n. science of law He was more a student of jurisprudence than a practitioner of the law. juxtapose v. place side by side Comparison will be easier if you juxtapose the two objects. kaleidoscope n. tube in which patterns are made by the mirrors reflecting the colored pieces of glass People found a new source of entertainment peering through Sir David Brewster's invention, the kaleidoscope; they found the changing patterns fascinating. kinetic adj. producing motion Designers of the electric automobile find that their main obstacle is the development of efficient storage batteries, the source of the kinetic energy needed to propel the vehicle.21lachrymose adj. producing tears His voice has a lachrymose quality which is more appropriate at a funeral than a class reunion. languor n. lassitude; depression His friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to the theatre. larceny n. theft Because of the prisoner's record, the district attorney refused to reduce the charge from grand larceny to petit larceny. laudable adj. praiseworthy; commendable His laudable deeds will be remembered by all whom he aided. lechery n. gross lewdness; lustfulness In his youth he led a life of lechery and debauchery; he did not mend his ways until middle age. lectern n. reading desk The chaplain delivered his sermon from a hastily improvised lectern. lexicographer n. compiler of a dictionary The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compiling and editing the work. libido n. emotional urges behind human activity The psychiatrist maintained that suppression of the libido often resulted in maladjustment and neuroses. limbo n. region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; a prison (slang) Among the divisions of Hell are Purgatory and Limbo. lissom adj. agile; lithe As a young boy, he was lissom and graceful; he gave promise of developing into a fine athlete. litany n. supplicatory prayer On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity. litotes n. understatement for emphasis To say `he little realizes` when we mean that he does not realize at all is an example of the kind of understatement we call litotes. lubricity n. slipperiness; evasiveness He exasperated the reporters by his lubricity; they could not pin him down to a definite answer. ludicrous adj. laughable; trifling Let us be serious; this is not a ludicrous issue. maladroit adj. clumsy; bungling In his usual maladroit way, he managed to upset the cart and spill the food. malcontent n. person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs He was one of the few malcontents in Congress; he constantly voiced his objections to the Presidential program. also adj. mammal n. a vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young Many people regard the whale as a fish and do not realize that it is a mammal. 43mandate n. order; charge In his inaugural address, the President stated that he had a mandate from the people to seek an end to social evils such as poverty, poor housing, etc. manifold adj. numerous; varied I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your manifold kindnesses. manumit v. emancipate; free from bondage Enlightened slave owners were willing to manumit their slaves and thus put an end to th evil of slavery in the country. marsupial n. one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch The most common marsupial in North America is the opossum. maunder v. to talk incoherently; to utter drivel You do not make sense; you maunder and garble your words. mawkish adj. sickening; insipid Your mawkish sighs fill me with disgust. mayhem n. injury to body The riot was marked not only by mayhem with its attendant loss of life and limb but also by arson and pillage. melange n. medley; miscellany This anthology provides a melange of the author's output in the fields of satire, criticism and political analysis. mesmerize v. hypnotize The incessant drone seemed to mesmerize him and place him in a hypnotic trance. metaphor n. implied comparison `He soared like an eagle' is an example of a simile; `He is an eagle in flight,' a metaphor. miasma n. swamp-gas; odor of decaying matter I suspect that this area is infested with malaria as I can readily smell the miasma. microcosm n. small world In the microcosm of our small village, we find illustrations of all the evils that beset the universe. milieu n. environment; means of expression His milieu is water color although he has produced excellent oil paintings and lithographs. militant adj. combative; bellicose Although at this time he was advocating a policy of neutrality, one could usually find him adopting a more militant attitude. millennium n. thousand year period; period of happiness and prosperity I do not expect the millennium to come during my lifetime. minaret n. slender tower attached to a mosque From the balcony of the minaret we obtained an excellent view of the town and the neighboring countryside. minatory adj. threatening All abusive and minatory letters received by the mayor and other public officials were examined by the police. minion n. a servile dependent He was always accompanied by several of his minions because he enjoyed their subservience and flattery. molecule n. the smallest part of a homogeneous substance In chemistry, we study how atoms and molecules react to form new substances. 25momentum n. quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus The car lost momentum as it tried to ascend the steep hill. moor n. marshy wasteland These moors can only be used for hunting; they are too barren for agriculture. moratorium n. legal delay of payment If we declare a moratorium and delay collection of debts for six months, I am sure the farmers will be able to meet their bills. morganatic adj. describing a marriage between a member of a royal family and a commoner Refusing the suggestion of a morganatic marriage, the king abdicated from the throne when he could not marry the woman he loved. mugwump n. defector from a party When he refused to support his party's nominees, he was called a mugwump and deprived of his seniority privileges in Congress. murrain n. plague; cattle disease `A murrain on you' was a common malediction in that period. 49myopic adj. near-sighted In thinking only of your present needs and ignoring the future, you are being rather myopic. nascent adj. incipient; coming into being If we could identify these revolutionary movements in their nascent state, we would be able to eliminate serious trouble in later years. nautical adj. pertaining to ships or navigation The Maritime Museum contains many models of clipper ships, log books, anchors and many other items of a nautical nature. neap adj. lowest We shall have to navigate very cautiously over the reefs as we have a neap tide this time of the month. nirvana n. ideal state in which a person loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude He tried to explain the concept of nirvana to his skeptical students. nonplus v. bring to a halt by confusion In my efforts to correct this situation I felt nonplussed by the stupidity of my assistants. nuance n. shade of difference in meaning or color The unskilled eye of the layman has difficulty in discerning the nuances of color in the paintings. nubile adj. marriageable Mrs. Benner, in `Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, was worried about finding suitable husbands for her five nubile daughters. objurgation n. severe rebuke; scolding Objurgations and even threats of punishment did not deter the young hoodlums. oblation n. the Eucharist; pious donation The wealthy man offered oblations so that the Church might be able to provide for the needy. obligatory adj. binding; required It is obligatory that books borrowed from the library be returned within two weeks. obsidian n. black volcanic rock The deposits of obsidian on the mountain slopes were an indication that the volcano had erupted in ancient times. obstetrician n. physician specializing in delivery of babies In modern times, the delivery of children has passed from the midwife to the more scientifically trained obstetrician. obstreperous adj. boisterous; noisy The crowd became obstreperous and shouted their disapproval of the proposals made by the speaker. Occident n. the West It will take time for the Occident to understand the ways and customs of the Orient. odium n. repugnance; dislike I cannot express the odium I feel at your heinous actions. 25offal n. waste; garbage In America, we discard as offal that which could feed families in less fortunate parts of the world. offertory n. collection of money at religious ceremony; part of a Mass during which offerings are made The donations collected during the offertory will be assigned to our mission work abroad. omnipresent adj. universally present; ubiquitous On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is omnipresent. onus n. burden; responsibility The emperor was spared the onus of signing the surrender papers; instead, he relegated the assignment to his generals. opportunist n. individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances I do not know how he will vote on this question as he is an opportunist. 25opprobrium n. infamy; vilification He refused to defend himself against the slander and opprobrium hurled against him by the newspapers; he preferred to rely on his record. optimum adj. most favorable If you wait for the optimum moment to act, you may never begin your project. opus n. work Although many critics hailed his Fifth Symphony as his major work, he did not regard it as his major opus. orientation n. act of finding oneself in society Freshman Orientation Week provides the new student with an opportunity to learn about his new environment and his place in it. orison n. prayer Hamlet greets Ophelia with the request `Nymph, in thy orisons, be all my sins remembered.' ornithology n. study of birds Audubon's studies of American birds greatly influenced the course of ornithology in this country. orotund adj. having a round, resonant quality; inflated speech The politician found that his orotund voice was an asset when he spoke to his constituents. orthography n. correct spelling Many of us find English orthography difficult to master because so many of our words are not written phonetically. overweening adj. presumptuous; arrogant His overweening pride in his accomplishments was not justified. pachyderm n. thick-skinned animal The elephant is probably the best-known pachyderm. paddock n. saddling enclosure at race track; lot for exercising horses The paddock is located directly in front of the grandstand so that all may see the horses being saddled and the jockeys mounted. palimpsest n. parchment used for second time after original writing has been erased Using chemical reagents, scientists have been able to restore the original writings on many palimpsests. palliation n. act of making less severe or violent If we cannot find a cure for this disease at the present time, we can, at least, endeavor to seek its palliation. panoply n. full set of armor The medieval knight in full panoply found his movements limited by the weight of his armor. paramour n. illicit lover She sought a divorce on the grounds that her husband had a paramour in another town. paranoiac n. mentally unsound person suffering from delusions Although he is obviously suffering from delusions, I hesitate to call him a paranoiac. parapet n. low wall at edge of roof or balcony The best way to attack the soldiers fighting behind the parapets on the roof is by bombardment from the air. parity n. equality; close resemblance I find your analogy inaccurate because I do not see the parity between the two illustrations. 21parlous adj. dangerous; perilous In these parlous times, we must overcome the work of saboteurs and propagandists. parturition n. delivery; childbirth The difficulties anticipated by the obstetricians at parturition did not materialize; it was a normal delivery. passe adj. old-fashioned; past the prime His style is passe and reminiscent of the Victorian era. pastiche n. imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing We cannot even say that his music is a pastiche of this composer or that; it is, rather, reminiscent of many musicians. pathological adj. pertaining to disease As we study the pathological aspects of this disease, we must not overlook the psychological elements. patina n. green crust on old bronze works; tone slowly taken by varnished painting Judging by the patina on this bronze statue, we can conclude that this is the work of a medieval artist. patois n. local or provincial dialect His years of study of the language at the university did not enable him to understand the patois of the natives. peculation n. embezzlement; theft His peculations were not discovered until the auditors found discrepancies in the financial statements. pedant n. scholar who overemphasizes book learning or technicalities His insistence that the book be memorized marked the teacher as a pedant rather than a scholar. pediment n. triangular part above columns in Greek buildings The pediment of the building was filled with sculptures and adorned with elaborate scrollwork. pejorative adj. having a deteriorating or depreciating effect on the meaning of a word His use of pejorative language indicated his contempt for his audience. pendulous adj. hanging; suspended The pendulous chandeliers swayed in the breeze and gave the impression that they were about to fall from the ceiling. pennate adj. having wings or feathers The pennate leaves of the sumac remind us of feathers. peregrination n. journey His peregrinations in foreign lands did not bring understanding; he mingled only with fellow tourists and did not attempt to communicate with the native population. perigee n. point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth The rocket which was designed to take photographs of the moon was launched as the moon approached its perigee. peristyle n. series of columns surrounding a building or yard The cloister was surrounded by a peristyle reminiscent of the Parthenon. peroration n. conclusion of an oration The peroration was largely hortatory and brought the audience to its feet clamoring for action at its close. perquisite n. any gain above stipulated salary The perquisites attached to this job make it even more attractive than the salary indicates. personable adj. attractive The man I am seeking ot fill this position must be personable since he will be representing us before the public. perspicuity n. clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity One of the outstanding features of this book is the perspicuity of its author; his meaning is always clear. perspicuous adj. plainly expressed His perspicuous comments eliminated all possibility of misinterpretation. 18pharisaical adj. pertaining to the Pharisees who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous Walter Lippman has pointed out that moralists who do not attempt to explain the moral code they advocate are often regarded as pharisaical and ignored. phobia n. morbid fear His fear of flying was more than mere nervousness; it was a real phobia. physiological adj. pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms To understand this disease fully, we must examine not only its physiological aspects but also its psychological elements. picaresque adj. pertaining to rogues in literature `Tom Jones' has been hailed as one of the best picaresque novels in the English language. piebald adj. mottled; spotted You should be able to identify this horse easily as it is the only piebald horse in the race. plangent adj. plaintive; resounding sadly Although we could not understand the words of the song, we got the impression from the plangent tones of the singers that it was a lament of some kind. platonic adj. purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire Although a member of the political group, he took only a platonic interest in its ideals and goals. plausible adj. having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious Even though your argument is plausible, I still would like to have more proof. 21plebiscite n. expression of the will of a people by direct election I think this matter is so important that it should be decided not by a handful of legislators but by a plebiscite of the entire nation. plenitude n. abundance; completeness Looking in the pantry, we admired the plenitude of fruits and pickles we had preserved during the summer. polemic n. controversy; argument in support of point of view Her essays were, for the main part, polemics in support of the party's policy. polity n. form of government of nation or state Our polity should be devoted to the concept that the government should strive for the good of all citizens. porphyry n. igneous rock containing feldspar or quartz crystals The porphyry used by the Egyptians in their buildings was purplish in color. postprandial adj. after dinner The most objectionable feature of these formal banquets is the postprandial speech. potable adj. suitable for drinking The recent drought in the Middle Atlantic States has emphasized the need for extensive research in ways of making sea water potable. also n. preciosity n. overrefinement in art or speech Roxane, in the play Cyrano de Bergerac, illustrates the extent to which preciosity was carried in French society. 25preempt v. appropriate beforehand Your attempt to preempt this land before it is offered to the public must be resisted. prehensile adj. capable of grasping or holding Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but also their prehensile tails in traveling through the trees. premonitory adj. serving to warn You should have visited a doctor as soon as you felt these premonitory chest pains. preponderance n. superiority of power, quantity, etc. The rebels sought to overcome the preponderance of strength of the government forces by engaging in guerrilla tactics. 21prerogative n. privilege; unquestionable right The President cannot levy taxes; that is the prerogative of the legislative branch of government. prestige n. impression produced by achievements or reputation The wealthy man sought to obtain social prestige by contributing to popular charities. preternatural adj. beyond that which is normal in nature John's mother's total ability to tell when he was lying struck him as almost preternatural. primogeniture n. seniority by birth By virtue of primogeniture, the first-born child has many privileges denied his brothers and sisters. probe v. explore with tools The surgeon probed the wound for foreign matter before suturing it. also n. 18prognathous adj. having projecting jaws His prognathous face made him seem more determined than he actually was. projectile n. missile Man has always hurled projectiles at his enemy whether in the form of stones or of highly explosive shells. proletarian n. member of the working class The aristocrats feared mob rule and gave the right to vote only to the wealthy, thus depriving the proletarians of a voice in government. also adj. propellants n. substances which propel or drive forward The development of our missile program has forced our scientists to seek more powerful propellants. prophylactic adj. used to prevent disease Despite all prophylactic measures introduced by the authorities, the epidemic raged until cool weather set in. also n. propinquity n. nearness; kinship Their relationship could not be explained as being based on mere propinquity; they were more than relatives; they were true friends. proscenium n. part of stage in front of curtain In the theatre-in-round there can be no proscenium or proscenium arch. proselytize v. convert to a religion or belief In these interfaith meetings, there must be no attempt to proselytize; we must respect all points of view. prototype n. original work used as a model by others The crude typewriter on display in this museum is the prototype of the elaborate machines in use today. provenance n. origin or source of something I am not interested in its provenance; I am more concerned with its usefulness than with its source. provincial adj. pertaining to a province; limited We have to overcome their provincial attitude and get them to become more cognizant of world problems. psychopathic adj. pertaining to mental derangement The psychopathic patient suffers more frequently from a disorder of the nervous system than from a diseased brain. psychosis n. mental disorder We must endeavor to find an outlet for the patient's repressed desires if we hope to combat this psychosis. pterodactyl n. extinct flying reptile The remains of pterodactyls indicate that these flying reptiles had a wing span of as much as twenty feet. pundit n. learned Hindu; any learned man; authority on a subject Even though he discourses on the matter like a pundit, he is actually rather ignorant about this topic. purblind adj. dim-sighted; obtuse In his purblind condition, he could not identify the people he saw. putative adj. supposed; reputed Although there are some doubts, the putative author of this work is Massinger. quadruped n. four-footed animal Most mammals are quadrupeds. quagmire n. bog; marsh Our soldiers in Vietnam will never forget the drudgery of marching through the quagmires of the delta country. 24quarantine n. isolation of person or ship to prevent spread of infection We will have to place this house under quarantine until we determine the exact nature of the disease. queasy adj. easily nauseated; squeamish As the ship left the harbor, he became queasy and thought that he was going to suffer from sea-sickness. quorum n. number of members necessary to conduct a meeting The Senator asked for a roll call to determine whether a quorum was present. ramify v. divide into branches or subdivisions When the plant begins to ramify, it is advisable to nip off most of the new branches. rampart n. defensive mound of earth `From the ramparts we watched' as the fighting continued. rationalization n. bringing into conformity with reason All attempts at rationalization at this time are doomed to failure; tempers and emotions run too high for intelligent thought to prevail. recherche adj. choice, sought after; rare His language was peculiarly literary; he avoided common expressions and used recherche terminology as often as possible. reactionary adj. recoiling from progress; retrograde His program was reactionary since it sought to abolish many of the social reforms instituted by the previous administration. also n. recidivism n. habitual return to crime Prison reformers in the United States are disturbed by the high rate of recidivism. recrudescence n. reopening of a wound or sore Keep this wound bandaged until it has completely healed to prevent its recrudescence. recusant n. person who refuses to comply; individuals who refused to attend Anglican services In that religious community, the recusant was shunned as a pariah. refurbish v. renovate; make bright by polishing The flood left a deposit of mud on everything; it was necessary to refurbish our belongings. rendition n. translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc. The audience cheered enthusiastically as she completed her rendition of the aria. reprobate n. person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency I cannot understand why he has so many admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is. reprove v. censure; rebuke The principal reproved the students when they became unruly in the auditorium. residue n. remainder; balance In his will, he requested that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the residue be given to his wife. resilient adj. elastic; having the power of springing back Steel is highly resilient and therefore is used in the manufacture of springs. resurgent adj. rising again after defeat, etc. The resurgent nation surprised everyone by its quick recovery after total defeat. reticulated adj. covered with a network; having the appearance of a mesh She wore the reticulated stockings so popular with teen-agers at that time. rood n. crucifix `By the rood' used to be a strong oath. rotunda n. circular building or hall covered with a dome His body lay in state in the rotunda of the Capitol. rustic adj. pertaining to country people; uncouth The backwoodsman looked out of place in his rustic attire. saltatory adj. relating to leaping The male members of the ballet company were renowned for their saltatory exploits. salver n. tray The food was brought in by the waiters on silver salvers. sanctimonious adj. displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness You do not have to be so sanctimonious to prove that you are devout. sarcophagus n. stone coffin, often highly decorated The display of the sarcophagus in the art museum impresses me as a morbid exhibition. sartorial adj. pertaining to tailors He was as famous for the sartorial splendor of this attire as he was for his acting. 21satellite n. small body revolving around a larger one During the first few years of the Space Age, hundreds of satellites were launched by Russia and the United States. 21satire n. a literary work in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are used to attack vice and folly `Gulliver's Travels', which is regarded by many as a tale for children, is actually a bitter satire attacking man's folly. satrap n. petty ruler working for a superior despot The monarch and his satraps oppressed the citizens of the country. satyr n. half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysos, portrayed as wanton and cunning He was like a satyr in his lustful conduct. scarify v. make slight incisions in; scratch He was not severely cut; the flying glass had merely scarified him. sciolism n. quackery; superficial information His superficial scientific treatises were filled with sciolisms and outmoded data. screed n. long, tiresome harangue His letters were no more than screeds in which he listed his complaints. senescence n. state of growing old He did not show any signs of senescence until he was well past seventy. sensuous adj. pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses He was stimulated by the sights, sounds and smells about him; he was enjoying his sensuous experience. septic adj. putrid; producing putrefaction The hospital was in such a filthy state that we were afraid that many of the patients would suffer from septic poisoning. sequacious adj. eager to follow; ductile The sequacious members of Parliament were only too willing to do the bidding of their leader. 25seraph n. high ranking, six-winged angel In `Annabel Lee' Poe maintains that the `winged seraphs of Heaven' envied their great love. serried adj. standing shoulder to shoulder; crowded In these days of automatic weapons., it is suicidal for troops to charge in serried ranks against the foe. sibylline adj. prophetic; oracular Until their destruction by fire in 83 B.C., the sibylline books were often consulted by the Romans. similitude n. similarity; using comparisons such as similes, etc. Although the critics deplored his use of mixed metaphors, he continued to write in similitudes. simpering adj. smirking I can overlook his simpering manner, but I cannot ignore his stupidity. sirocco n. warm, sultry wind blown from Africa to southern Europe We can understand the popularity of the siesta in southern Spain; when the sirocco blows, the afternoon heat is unbearable. 50skeptic n. doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the supporting evidence In this matter, I am a skeptic; I want proof. 34slander n. defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements Unless you can prove your allegations, your remarks constitute slander. slattern n. untidy or slovenly person If you persist in wearing such sloppy clothes, people will call your slattern. sleight n. dexterity The magician amazed the audience with his sleight of hand. slither v. slip or slide During the recent ice storm, many people slithered down this hill as they walked to the station. sluice n. artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water This sluice gate is opened only in times of drought to provide water for irrigation. smattering n. slight knowledge I don't know whether it is better to be ignorant of a subject or to have a mere smattering of information about it. sobriquet n. nickname Despite all his protests, his classmates continued to call him by that unflattering sobriquet. solace n. comfort in trouble I hope you will find solace in the thought that all of us share your loss. somatic adj. pertaining to the body; physical Why do you ignore the spiritual aspects and emphasize only the corporeal and the somatic? sophist n. paid teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning You are using all the devices of a sophist in trying to prove your case; your argument is specious. sophistication n. artificiality; unnaturalness; act of employing sophistry in reasoning Sophistication is an acquired characteristic, found more frequently among city dwellers than among residents of rural areas. sophomoric adj. immature; shallow Your sophomoric remarks indicate that you have not given much thought to the problem. soporific n. sleep producer I do not need a soporific when I listen to one of his speeches. also adj. 42spate n. sudden river flood I am worried about the possibility of a spate if the rains do not diminish soon. spatula n. broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing The manufacturers of this frying pan recommend the use of a rubber spatula to avoid scratching the specially treated surface. spectrum n. colored band produced when beam of light passes through a prism The visible portion of the spectrum includes red at one end and violet at the other. spoliation n. pillaging; depredation We regard this unwarranted attack on a neutral nation as an act of spoliation and we demand that it cease at once and that proper restitution be made. spoonerism n. accidental transposition of sounds in successive words When the radio announcer introduced the President as Hoobert Herver, he was guilty of a spoonerism. spume n. froth; foam The spume at the base of the waterfall extended for a quarter of a mile downriver. staccato adj. played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound His staccato speech reminded one of the sound of a machine gun. stalemate n. deadlock Negotiations between the union and the employers have reached a stalemate; neither side is willing to budge from previously stated positions. stalwart adj. strong, brawny; steadfast His consistent support of the party has proved that he is a stalwart and loyal member. also n. 30statutory adj. created by statute or legislative action This is a statutory crime. stereotyped adj. fixed and unvarying representation My chief objection to the book is that the characters are stereotyped. stertorous adj. having a snoring sound He could not sleep because of the stertorous breathing of his roommates. stigma n. token of disgrace; brand I do not attach any stigma to the fact that you were accused of this crime; the fact that you were acquitted clears you completely. 25stilted adj. bombastic; inflated His stilted rhetoric did not impress the college audience; they were immune to bombastic utterances. stratum n. layer of earth's surface; layer of society Unless we alleviate conditions in the lowest stratum of our society, we may expect grumbling and revolt. stultify v. cause to appear foolish or inconsistent By changing your opinion at this time, you will stultify yourself. suave adj. smooth; bland He is the kind of individual who is more easily impressed by a suave approach than by threats or bluster. subjective adj. occurring or taking place within the subject; unreal Your analysis is highly subjective; you have permitted your emotions and your opinions to color your thinking. subliminal adj. below the threshold We may not be aware of the subliminal influences which affect our thinking. subsidy n. direct financial aid by government, etc. Without this subsidy, American ship operators would not be able to compete in world markets. substantive adj. essential; pertaining to the substance Although the delegates were aware of the importance of the problem. they could not agree on the substantive issues. sudorific adj. pertaining to perspiration Manufacturers of deodorants have made the public conscious of the need to avoid offending people with sudorific odors. sumptuary adj. limiting or regulating expenditures While no sumptuary law has been enacted, the public will never tolerate the expenditure of so large a sum. superimpose v. place over something else Your attempt to superimpose another agency in this field will merely increase the bureaucratic nature of our government. supernal adj. heavenly; celestial His tale of supernal beings was skeptically received. supernumerary n. person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extra His first appearance on the stage was as a supernumerary in a Shakespearean tragedy. supple adj. flexible; pliant The angler found a supple limb and used it as a fishing rod. 36suppurate v. create pus The surgeon refused to lance the abscess until it suppurated. suture n. stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing We will remove the sutures as soon as the wound heals. also v. syllogism n. logical formula utilizing a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion There must be a fallacy in this syllogism; I cannot accept the conclusion. symmetry n. arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity The addition of a second tower will give this edifice the symmetry which it now lacks. talon n. claw of bird The falconer wore a leather gauntlet to avoid being clawed by the hawk's talons. tantamount adj. equal Your ignoring their pathetic condition is tantamount to murder. tarantula n. venomous spider We need an antitoxin to counteract the bite of the tarantula. tarn n. small mountain lake This mountainous area is famous for its picturesque tarns and larger lakes. tatterdemalion n. ragged fellow Do you expect an army of tatterdemalions and beggars to put up a real fight? taut adj. tight; ready The captain maintained that he ran a taut ship. tautology n. unnecessary repetition; pleonasm `Joyful happiness' is an illustration of tautology. temerarious adj. rash Mountain climbing at this time of year is temerarious and foolhardy. tenacity n. firmness; persistency; adhesiveness It is extremely difficult to overcome the tenacity of a habit such as smoking. tendentious adj. having an aim; designed to further a cause The editorials in this periodical are tendentious rather than truth-seeking. tenebrous adj. dark; gloomy We were frightened as we entered the tenebrous passageways of the cave. 50tergiversation n. evasion; fickleness I cannot understand your tergiversation; I was certain that you were devoted to our cause. termagant n. shrew; scolding, brawling woman `The Taming of the Shrew' is one of many stories of the methods used in changing a termagant into a demure lady. 50terminology n. terms used in a science or art The special terminology developed by some authorities in the field has done more to confuse the layman than to enlighten him. terrapin n. American marsh tortoise The flesh of the diamondback terrapin is considered by many epicures to be a delicacy. tesselated adj. inlaid; mosaic I recall seeing a table with a tesselated top of bits of stone and glass in a very interesting pattern. testator n. maker of a will The attorney called in his secretary and his partner to witness the signature of the testator. thaumaturgist n. miracle worker; magician I would have to be a thaumaturgist and not a mere doctor to find a remedy for this disease. theosophy n. wisdom in divine things Theosophy seeks to embrace the essential truth in all religions. thyme n. aromatic plant used for seasoning The addition of a little thyme will enhance the flavor of the clam chowder. 50timbre n. quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument We identify the instrument producing a musical sound by its timbre. timorous adj. fearful; demonstrating fear His timorous manner betrayed the fear he felt at the moment. titillate v. tickle I am here not to titillate my audience but to enlighten it. tocsin n. alarm bell Awakened by the sound of the tocsin, we rushed to our positions to await the attack. tonsure n. shaving of the head, especially by person entering religious orders His tonsure, even more than his monastic garb, indicated that he was a member of the religious order. tortilla n. flat cake made of corn meal, etc. As we traveled through Mexico, we became more and more accustomed to the use of tortillas instead of bread. touchstone n. stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion What touchstone can be used to measure the character of a man? trajectory n. path taken by a projectile The police tried to locate the spot from which the assassin had fired the fatal shot by tracing the trajectory of the bullet. traumatic adj. pertaining to an injury caused by violence In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle. treacle n. syrup obtained in refining sugar Treacle is more highly refined than molasses. trencherman n. good eater He is not finicky about his food; he is a trencherman. triolet n. eight-line stanza with rhyme scheme a b aaa b a b The triolet is a difficult verse pattern because it utilizes only two rhymes in its eight lines. 25troglodyte n. cave dweller We know that the first men in this area were troglodytes by the artifacts we have discovered in the caves. trope n. figure of speech The poem abounds in tropes and alliterative expressions. truckle v. curry favor; act in an obsequious way If you truckle to the lord, you will be regarded as a sycophant; if you do not, you will be considered arrogant. truncate v. cut the top off The top of a cone which has been truncated in a plane parallel to its base is a circle. tundra n. rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America Despite the cold, many geologists are trying to discover valuable mineral deposits in the tundra. tureen n. deep table dish for holding soup The waiters brought the soup to the tables in silver tureens. tutelary adj. protective; pertaining to a guardianship I am acting in my tutelary capacity when I refuse to grant you permission to leave the campus. 50ukase n. official decree, usually Russian It was easy to flaunt the ukases issued from St. Petersburg; there was no one to enforce them. unilateral adj. one-sided This legislation is unilateral since it binds only one party in the controversy. untoward adj. unfortunate; annoying Untoward circumstances prevent me from being with you on this festive occasion. ursine adj. bear-like; pertaining to a bear Because of its ursine appearance, the great panda has been identified with the bears; actually, it is closely related to the raccoon. usufruct n. right of enjoying things belonging to another By contract, the tenant has the usufruct of all the livestock and machinery on the farm. usurpation n. act of seizing power and rank of another The revolution ended with the usurpation of the throne by the victorious rebel leader. utopia n. imaginary land with perfect social and political system Shangri-la was the name of James Hilton's Tibetan utopia. valance n. short drapery hanging above window frame The windows were curtainless; only the tops were covered with valances. valedictory adj. pertaining to farewell I found the valedictory address too long; leave-taking should be brief. valetudinarian n. invalid He enjoyed the attentions showered upon him while he was a valetudinarian and insisted that they be continued long after his recovery from his illness. 36vampire n. ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampires. vassal n. in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord The lord demanded that his vassals contribute more to his military campaign. vendetta n. feud; private warfare The vendetta continued for several generations despite all attempts by authorities to end the killings. verbatim adv. word for word He repeated the message verbatim. vermicular adj. pertaining to a worm The vermicular burrowing in the soil helps to aerate it. vertiginous adj. giddy; causing dizziness I do not like the rides in the amusement park because they have a vertiginous effect on me. viable adj. capable of maintaining life The infant, though prematurely born, is viable and has a good chance to survive. 24vitreous adj. pertaining to or resembling glass Although this plastic has many vitreous qualities such as transparency, it is unbreakable. vivisection n. act of dissecting living animals The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opposed vivisection and deplored the practice of using animals in scientific experiments. warranty n. guarantee; assurance by seller The purchaser of this automobile is protected by the manufacturer's warranty that he will replace any defective part for five years or 50,000 miles. wastrel n. profligate He was denounced as a wastrel who had dissipated his inheritance. welkin n. sky They made the welkin ring with their shouts. welter v. wallow At the height of the battle, the casualties were so numerous that the victims weltered in their blood while waiting for medical attention. whorl n. ring of leaves around stem; ring Identification by fingerprints is based on the difference in shape and number of the whorls on the fingers.
