Word List 10

Question 1

cumbersome

Answer 1

unwieldy because of heaviness and bulk
slow-moving; ponderous

e.g. The application process is cumbersome and time-consuming.

Question 2

cumbersome

Answer 2

unwieldy because of heaviness and bulk
slow-moving; ponderous

e.g. The application process is cumbersome and time-consuming.

Question 3

cumber

Answer 3

to hinder or encumber by being in the way
to clutter up

e.g. cumbered with heavy clothing
rocks cumbering the yard

Question 4

cumulus

Answer 4

heap, accumulation
a dense puffy cloud form having a flat base and rounded outlines often piled up like a mountain

e.g. the cumulus of sundry things that fill up one’s attic and somehow sum up a lifetime of experiences

Question 5

cupidity

Answer 5

inordinate desire for wealth; avarice, greed
strong desire; lust

e.g. Reports of great treasure in the Indies inflamed the cupidity of Columbus’s crew.

Question 6

curator

Answer 6

one who has the care and superintendence of something, especially of a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit

Question 7

curate

Answer 7

to act as the curator of

e.g. curate a museum
an exhibit curated by the museum’s director

Question 8

curb

Answer 8

to check or control with or as if with a curb
also

e.g. The legislation is intended to curb price and wage increase.
These international regulations act as a curb on the plundering of a nation’s archaeological treasures.

Question 9

curdle

Answer 9

to form curds; also to congeal as if by forming curds
to go bad or wrong; spoil

e.g. A scream curdled in her throat.
Too much heat will curdle the custard.

Question 10

curmudgeon

Answer 10

a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man

e.g Only a curmudgeon would object to the nursing home’s holiday decorations.

Question 11

goad

Answer 11

something that pains as if by pricking; thorn
something that urges or stimulates into reaction; spur
also

e.g. The threat of skin cancer - not to mention the prospect of wrinkles - should be sufficient goad for using sunscreen,
The threat of legal actions should goad them into complying.

Question 12

cursory

Answer 12

rapidly and often superficially performed or produced; hasty

e.g. Only a cursory inspection of the building’s electrical wiring was done.

Question 13

cursory

Question 14

cumber

Answer 14

to hinder or encumber by being in the way
to clutter up

e.g. cumbered with heavy clothing
rocks cumbering the yard

Question 15

cumulus

Answer 15

heap, accumulation
a dense puffy cloud form having a flat base and rounded outlines often piled up like a mountain

e.g. the cumulus of sundry things that fill up one’s attic and somehow sum up a lifetime of experiences

Question 16

cupidity

Answer 16

inordinate desire for wealth; avarice, greed
strong desire; lust

e.g. Reports of great treasure in the Indies inflamed the cupidity of Columbus’s crew.

Question 17

cyclone

Answer 17

a storm or system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric pressure, often bringing heavy rain

Question 18

curate

Answer 18

to act as the curator of

e.g. curate a museum
an exhibit curated by the museum’s director

Question 19

curb

Answer 19

to check or control with or as if with a curb
also

e.g. The legislation is intended to curb price and wage increase.
These international regulations act as a curb on the plundering of a nation’s archaeological treasures.

Question 20

curdle

Answer 20

to form curds; also to congeal as if by forming curds
to go bad or wrong; spoil

e.g. A scream curdled in her throat.
Too much heat will curdle the custard.

Question 21

curmudgeon

Answer 21

a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man

e.g Only a curmudgeon would object to the nursing home’s holiday decorations.

Question 22

goad

Answer 22

something that pains as if by pricking; thorn
something that urges or stimulates into reaction; spur
also

e.g. The threat of skin cancer - not to mention the prospect of wrinkles - should be sufficient goad for using sunscreen,
The threat of legal actions should goad them into complying.

Question 23

curt

Answer 23

sparing of words; terse
marked by rude or peremptory shortness; brusque

e.g. wrote curt precise sentences
a curt refusal
She was offended by the curt reply to her well-meaning question.

Question 24

cursory

Question 25

curtail

Answer 25

to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part

e.g. curtail the power of the executive branch
curtail inflation

Question 26

customary

Answer 26

based on or established by custom
commonly practiced, used, or observed

e.g. It is customary to hold the door open.
She dressed in her customary fashion.

Question 27

cuticle

Answer 27

an outer covering layer

dead or horny epidermis

Question 28

damp

Answer 28

to diminish the activity or intensity of
dampen
moisture; humidity, dampness
discouragement, check

e.d refused to let the setbacks damp his drive for success

Question 29

cyclone

Answer 29

a storm or system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric pressure, often bringing heavy rain

Question 30

cyclamate

Answer 30

an artificially prepared salt of sodium or calcium used especially formerly as a sweetener

Question 31

cyclopedia

Answer 31

encyclopedia

Question 32

cynic

Answer 32

a faultfinding captious critic, especially one who believes that human conflict is motivated wholly by self-interest

e.g. A cynic might think that the governor visited the hospital just to gain votes.

Question 33

cypress

Answer 33

any of a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs with small overlapping leaves resembling scales
any of several coniferous trees of the cypress family or the bald cypress family

Question 34

cytology

Answer 34

a branch of biology dealing with the structure, function, multiplication, pathology, and life history of cells

Question 35

dabble

Answer 35

to wet by splashing or by little dips or strokes; spatter
to work or involve oneself superficially or intermittently especially in a secondary activity or interest

e.g. dabbles in art

Question 36

daft

Answer 36

silly, foolish

mad, insane

Question 37

daguerreotype

Answer 37

an early photograph produced on a silver or a silver-covered copper plate; also the process of producing such photographs

Question 38

dainty

Answer 38

something delicious to the taste; something choice or pleasing
tasting good; attractively prepared and served
marked by delicate or diminutive beauty, form, or grace
marked by fastidious discrimination or finicky taste

e.g. The widow plied her suitor with dainties and endless glasses of sherry.
dainty teacups

Question 39

dally

Answer 39

to act playfully, especially to play amorously
to deal lightly; toy
to waste time; linger, dawdle

e.g. accused of dallying with a serious problem
The two of us dallied over our coffee that morning.
dally time away

Question 40

deadlock

Answer 40

a state of inaction or neutralization resulting from the opposition of equally powerful uncompromising persons or factions; standstill
a tie score

e.g. The deadlock was broken with a key compromise.

Question 41

dampen

Answer 41

to check or diminish the activity or vigor of; deaden

e.g. We wouldn’t let the bad weather dampen our excitement.

Question 42

dandy

Answer 42

a man who gives exaggerated attention to personal appearance
something excellent in its class
of, relating to, or suggestive of a dandy
very good; first-rate

e.g. a dandy place

Question 43

dapper

Answer 43

neat and trim in appearance; very spruce and stylish
alert and lively in movement and manners

e.g. The dapper gentlemen drew admiring glances from all over the ballroom.

Question 44

dappled

Answer 44

marked with small spots or patches contrasting with the background

e.g. a forest that was vibrant with the dappled foliage of autumn

Question 45

daredevil

Answer 45

recklessly and often ostentatiously daring
a recklessly bold person

e.g. daredevil stunts/ a daredevil driver

Question 46

dart

Answer 46

to throw with a sudden movement
to thrust or move with sudden speed
to shoot with a dart containing a usually tranquilizing drug
also

e.g. The frog darted its tongue at a fly.
He darted across the street.

Question 47

daunt

Answer 47

the lessen the courage of; cow, subdue

e.g. The raging inferno didn’t daunt the firefighters for a moment.

Question 48

gaunt

Answer 48

excessively thin and angular
barren, desolate

e.g. He left the hospital looking tired and gaunt.
a gaunt factory on the edge of town

Question 49

vaunt

Answer 49

to make a vain display of one’s own worth or attainments; brag
to call attention to pridefully and often boastfully

e.g. Even the noblest of fellows have been known to vaunt a bit.
people who vaunt their ingenuity

Question 50

dawdle

Answer 50

to spend time idly; to move lackadaisically

e.g. Hurry up! There’s no time to dawdle.
dawdles the day away

Question 51

hie

Answer 51

to go quickly; hasten
to cause (oneself) to go quickly

e.g. We had best hie home before the snow gets worse.

Question 52

debrief

Answer 52

to interrogate (as a pilot) usually upon return (as from a mission) in order to obtain useful information
to carefully review upon completion

e.g. Police debriefed the hostages upon their return.
debrief the flight

Question 53

dealing

Answer 53

method of business; manner of conduct
(pl.) friendly or business interaction

e.g. There were reports of shady dealings between the two sides.

Question 54

dearth

Answer 54

. scarcity that makes dear, specifically famine
an inadequate supply; lack

e.g. a dearth of evidence

Question 55

glut

Answer 55

to fill especially with food to satiety
to flood (the market) with goods so that supply exceeds demand
also oversupply

Question 56

debacle

Answer 56

a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river
a violent disruption (as of an army); rout
a great disaster; a complete failure, fiasco

Question 57

debark

Answer 57

disembark

to remove bark from

Question 58

debase

Answer 58

to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character

e.g. The holiday has been debased by commercialism.

Question 59

rebate

Answer 59

to reduce the force or activity of; diminish
to reduce the sharpness of; blunt
to make a rebate of; to give a rebate to
a return of a part of a payment

e.g. a $50 rebate offered with the printer
a rebate on the taxes

Question 60

debilitate

Answer 60

to impair the strength of; enfeeble

e.g. The virus debilitates the body’s immune system.

Question 61

debouch

Answer 61

to cause to emerge; discharge
to mark out into open ground
emerge, issue

e.g. troops debouching from the town
rivers debouching into the sea

Question 62

debauch

Answer 62

to lead away from virtue or excellence
to corrupt by intemperance or sensuality

e.g. The long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship’s crew to the point where they no longer acted liked naval professionals.

Question 63

debrief

Answer 63

to interrogate (as a pilot) usually upon return (as from a mission) in order to obtain useful information
to carefully review upon completion

e.g. Police debriefed the hostages upon their return.
debrief the flight

Question 64

debunk

Answer 64

to expose the sham or falseness of

e.g. debunk a theory

Question 65

decadent

Answer 65

marked by decay or decline
of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the decadents
characterized by or appealing to self-indulgence
one of a group of late 19th century French and English writers tending toward artificial and unconventional subjects and subtilized style

e.g. a wealthy and decadent lifestyle

Question 66

default

Answer 66

failure to do something required by duty or law; neglect
failure to pay financial debts
a selection made usually automatically or without active consideration due to lack of a viable alternative

e.g. The defendant has made no appearance in the case and is in default.

Question 67

declaim

Answer 67

to speak rhetorically, specifically to recite something as an exercise in elocution
to speak pompously or bombastically; harangue

e.g. The actress declaimed her lines with passion.

Question 68

decorum

Answer 68

literary and dramatic propriety; fitness
propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance
orderliness
(pl.) the conventions of polite behavior

Question 69

decorous

Answer 69

marked by propriety and good taste; correct

e.g. decorous conduct

Question 70

decrepit

Answer 70

wasted and weakened by or as if by the infirmities of old age
impaired by use or wear; worn-out
fallen into ruin or disrepair
dilapidated, run-down

Question 71

decry

Answer 71

to depreciate (as a coin) officially or public
to express strong disapproval of

e.g. Violence on television is generally decried as harmful to children.

Question 72

deduce

Answer 72

to determine by deduction; specifically to infer from a general principle
to trace the course of

Question 73

deduct

Answer 73

to take away (an amount) from a total; subtract

deduce, infer

Question 74

defile

Answer 74

to make unclean or impure (as debase or make physically unclean)
to violate the sanctity of; desecrate
sully, dishonor
a narrow passage or gorge

e.g. the countryside defiled by billboards
boots defiled with blood
defile a sanctuary
The cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up.

Question 75

deface

Answer 75

to mar the appearance of; injure by effacing significant details
impair

e.g. deface an inscription

Question 76

boldfaced

Answer 76

bold in manner or conduct; impudent

Question 77

default

Answer 77

failure to do something required by duty or law; neglect
failure to pay financial debts
a selection made usually automatically or without active consideration due to lack of a viable alternative

e.g. The defendant has made no appearance in the case and is in default.

Question 78

defect

Answer 78

to forsake one cause, party, or nation for another often because of a change in ideology
to leave one situation (as a job) often to go over to a rival

e.g. She defected from the conservative party.
The reporter defected to another network.

Question 79

defendant

Answer 79

a person required to make answer in a legal action or suit

Question 80

plaintiff

Answer 80

a person who brings a legal action

Question 81

defer

Answer 81

put off, delay [deferment]
to delegate to another
to submit to another’s wishes, opinion, or governance usually through deference or respect

e.g. deferred buying a car until spring
deferred to her father’s wishes

Question 82

deference

Answer 82

respect and esteem due to a superior or an elder; also affected or ingratiating regard for another’s wishes

e.g. He is shown much deference by his colleagues.

Question 83

deferential

Answer 83

• deference

e. g. The man had the deferential attitude of someone who had been a servant his entire life.

Question 84

deficit

Answer 84

deficiency in amount or quality; a lack or impairment in a functional capacity
disadvantage
an excess or expenditure over revenue; a loss in business operation

e.g. a deficit in rainfall
cognitive deficits
a deficit of $3 billion

Question 85

defile

Answer 85

to make unclean or impure (as debase or make physically unclean)
to violate the sanctity of; desecrate
sully, dishonor
a narrow passage or gorge

e.g. the countryside defiled by billboards
boots defiled with blood
defile a sanctuary
The cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up.

Question 86

provisional

Answer 86

serving for the time being; temporary

e.g. a provisional government

Question 87

deflate

Answer 87

to release air or gas from
to reduce in size, importance, or effectiveness
to reduce or cause to contract

e.g. The harsh criticism left him utterly deflated.
deflate his ego with cutting remarks

Question 88

flatus

Answer 88

gas generated in the stomach or bowels

Question 89

deliberate

Answer 89

to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully
characterized by or resulting from careful and thorough consideration
characterized by awareness of the consequences
slow, unhurried, and steady as though allowing time for decision on each individual action involved

e.g. The jury deliberated for two days before reaching a verdict.
a deliberate decision/ deliberate falsehood
He advocates a slow and deliberate approach to the problem.

Question 90

defraud

Answer 90

to deprive of something by deception or fraud

e.g. Dishonest employees defrauded the firm of millions of dollars.

Question 91

precipitate

Answer 91

to throw violently; hurl
to bring about especially abruptly
to cause to separate from solution or suspension
also
falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent; precipitous, steep
exhibiting violent or unwise speed

e.g. Her death precipitated a family crisis.
The exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances.
the army’s precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle

Question 92

foment

Answer 92

to promote the growth or development of; rouse, incite

e.g. foment a rebellion

Question 93

deign

Answer 93

to condescend reluctantly and with a strong sense of the affront to one’s superiority that is involved; stoop

e.g. I would not deign to answer that absurd question.

Question 94

dejected

Answer 94

cast down in spirits; depressed

Question 95

delectable

Answer 95

highly pleasing, delightful
delicious

e.g. a delectable melody/gentleman
a delectable meal

Question 96

delegate

Answer 96

a person acting for another
to entrust to another
to appoint as one’s representative

e.g. the U.N. delegated from African countries
A manager should delegate authority to the best employees.

Question 97

deleterious

Answer 97

harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way

e.g. deleterious effects
deleterious to health

Question 98

salutary

Answer 98

producing a beneficial effect; remedial
promoting health; curative

e.g. salutary influences

Question 99

salubrious

Answer 99

favorable to or promoting health or well-being

e.g. salubrious habits

Question 100

deliberate

Question 101

impetuous

Answer 101

marked by impulsive vehemence or passion
marked by force and violence of movement or action

e.g. an impetuous temperament
an impetuous wind/young man

Question 102

precipitate

Answer 102

to throw violently; hurl
to bring about especially abruptly
to cause to separate from solution or suspension
also
falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent; precipitous, steep
exhibiting violent or unwise speed

e.g. Her death precipitated a family crisis.
The exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances.
the army;s precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle

Question 103

delimit

Answer 103

to fix or define the limits of

e.g. Strict guidelines delimit his responsibilities.
The highway delimits the eastern edge of the downtown area.

Question 104

limn

Answer 104

to draw or paint on a surface
to outline in clear sharp detail; delineate
describe

e.g. He limned the scene in the courtroom so perfectly that I could practically see it.

Question 105

delinquent

Answer 105

a delinquent person
offending by neglect or violation of duty or law
being overdue in payment

e.g. delinquent behavior
a delinquent charge account

Question 106

delude

Answer 106

to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive, trick

e.g. We deluded ourselves into thinking that the ice cream wouldn’t affect our diet.

Question 107

deluge

Answer 107

an overflowing of the land by water; a drenching rain
an overwhelming amount of number
also

e.g. a deluge of thanks and appreciation for the returning troops
Heavy rain deluged the region.
deluged with requests for help

Question 108

deluvial

Answer 108

• deluge

Question 109

delve

Answer 109

to dig or labor with or as if with a spade
to make a careful or detailed search for information; to examine a subject in detail

e.g. He tried to delve inside his memory for clues about what had happened.

Question 110

demean

Answer 110

to conduct or behave (oneself) usually in a proper manner

to lower in character, status, or reputation

Question 111

demise

Answer 111

to convey (as an estate by will or lease)
to transmit by succession or inheritance
die, decease
also

e.g. The property has demised to the king’s heirs.
The musician met an untimely demise.

Question 112

demography

Answer 112

the statistical study of human populations especially with reference to size and density, distribution, and vital statistics

Question 113

demonstrate

Answer 113

to show clearly
to make a demonstration

e.g. Each student must demonstrate mastery of the subject matter in order to pass the class.
crowds demonstrating for the right to vote

Question 114

demonstrative

Answer 114

demonstrating as real or true
characterized or established by demonstration
marked by display of feeling; inclined to display feelings openly

Question 115

demoralize

Answer 115

to corrupt the morals of
to weaken the morale of; discourage, dispirit
to upset or destroy the normal functioning of; to throw into disorder

e.g. We refused to be demoralized by our humiliating defeat and vowed to come roaring back.

Question 116

demote

Answer 116

to reduce to a lower grade or rank

to relegate to a less important position

Question 117

demotic

Answer 117

popular, common

e.g. demotic idiom

Question 118

demur

Answer 118

to file a demurrer
to take exception; object (usually used with to or at)

e.g. Don’t hesitate to demur to the idea if you have any qualms.

Question 119

demure

Answer 119

reserved, modest
affectedly modest, reserved, or serious; coy

e.g. the demure charm of the cottage

Question 120

denigrate

Answer 120

to attack the reputation of; defame
to deny the importance or validity of; belittle

e.g. denigrate one’s opponent
denigrate their achievements

Question 121

denizen

Answer 121

inhabitant
a person admitted to residence in a foreign country, especially an alien admitted to rights of citizenship
one of frequents a place

e.g. nightclub denizens
The polar bear is an iconic denizen of the snowy Arctic.

Question 122

denomination

Answer 122

an act of denominating
a value or size of a series of values or sizes (as of money)
name, designation, especially a general name for a category
a religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its belief and practices

Question 123

denote

Answer 123

to serve as an indication of; betoken
to serve as an arbitrary mark for
to make known; announce
to serve as a linguistic expression of the notion of; mean

e.g. The swollen bellies denote starvation.
red flares denoting danger
His crestfallen look denoted his distress.

Question 124

connote

Answer 124

to be associated with or inseparable from as a consequence of concomitant
to convey in addition to exact explicit meaning

e.g. the remorse so often connoted by guilt
all the misery that poverty connotes

Question 125

denouement

Answer 125

the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work
the outcome of a complex sequence of events

e.g. In the play’s denouement, the two lovers kill themselves.

Question 126

denounce

Answer 126

to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil
to inform against; accuse

e.g. The film was denounced for the way it portrayed its female characters.