GRE Deck 5 Flashcards
(400 cards)
1
Q
accretion
A
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
2
Q
adamant
A
hard; inflexible
3
Q
adverse
A
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
4
Q
adversity
A
great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
5
Q
agog
A
highly excited; intensely curious
6
Q
amity
A
friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
7
Q
amorphous
A
formless; lacking shape or definition
8
Q
animus
A
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
9
Q
antagonism
A
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
10
Q
anthropomorphic
A
having human form or characteristics
11
Q
ape
A
imitate or mimic (a person’s behavior or manner)
12
Q
apogee
A
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
13
Q
apolitical
A
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
14
Q
apparition
A
ghost; phantom
15
Q
archipelago
A
group of closely located islands
16
Q
ardor
A
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
17
Q
arduous
A
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
18
Q
aristocracy
A
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
19
Q
aromatic
A
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
20
Q
arroyo
A
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
21
Q
authoritative
A
having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
22
Q
autocratic
A
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
23
Q
avalanche
A
great mass of falling snow and ice
24
Q
avantgarde
A
group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
25
avarice
greediness for wealth
26
avid
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
27
baffle
frustrate; perplex
28
bait
harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
29
ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
30
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed
31
bank
heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning
32
baroque
highly ornate
33
bastard
illegitimate child
34
beatific
giving or showing bliss; blissful
35
behemoth
huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
36
belabor
harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically
37
benefactor
gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
38
beneficial
helpful; useful; advantageous
39
benevolent
generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
40
beset
harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
41
blithe(blithesome)
gay; joyous
42
blue
gloomy; depressed
43
blunt
having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt
44
bode
foreshadow; portend
45
bombast
grandiloquent, pompous speech
46
bountiful
generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
47
brawn
human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
48
bridle
harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger
49
brittle
hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation
50
browse
graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
51
bullion
gold and silver in the form of bars
52
bump
hit or knock against with force; N.
53
burgeon
grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon
54
burlesque
give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly
55
buxom
full-bosomed; plump; jolly
56
cache
hiding place; V.
57
callous
hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
58
calorific
heat-producing; N. calorie
59
camaraderie
good-fellowship; CF. comrade
60
camp
group sharing a common cause or opinion
61
candor
frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
62
cantankerous
ill-humored; irritable
63
capillary
having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
64
carafe
glass water bottle; decanter
65
carefree
free from worries; having no problems
66
casual
happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark
67
cataract
great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
68
celestial
heavenly
69
chalice
goblet; consecrated cup
70
chassis
framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
71
choir
group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services); place for choir
72
choleric
hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera
73
ciliated
having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
74
citadel
fortress
75
civil
having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic
76
clairvoyant
having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
77
clasp
hold firmly within arms
78
clot
half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
79
clout
great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist
80
cognate
having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
81
cognitive
having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing
82
cohorts
group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
83
coiffure
hairstyle
84
colossal
huge
85
colossus
gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance
86
commemorate
honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war
87
communal
held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
88
compatible
harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together
89
concave
hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
90
concentric
having a common center
91
concord
harmony; accord
92
concordat
formal agreement
93
concurrent
happening at the same time; in agreement
94
conducive
helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
95
conflagration
great fire
96
conformity
harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance
97
congeal
freeze; coagulate
98
consanguineous(consanguine)
having a common ancestor
99
consensus
general agreement; opinion reached by a group
100
consonance
harmony; agreement
101
consonant
harmonious; in agreement; N.
102
consternation
great shock; dismay
103
contraband
illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
104
cornucopia
horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty
105
coterie
group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
106
coup
highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills
107
crone
hag; ugly old woman
108
crossbreed
hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
109
crust
hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
110
culmination
highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
111
cumbersome
heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
112
cumulative
growing by addition; accumulative
113
cupidity
greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
114
defame
harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
115
defer
give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
116
degradation
humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
117
deleterious
harmful
118
desperate
having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
119
determinate
having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
120
detrimental
harmful; damaging; N. detriment
121
dirge
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
122
discomfit
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
123
disconsolate
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
124
disquisition
formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
125
dissertation
formal essay; treatise
126
distinction
honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
127
domicile
home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
128
drone
idle person who lives on other people's work; male bee
129
drudgery
hard unpleasant work; menial work
130
dummy
imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy
131
dynamo
generator for producing electricity; energetic person
132
effeminate
having womanly traits
133
effete
having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted
134
embody
give a bodily form to; incorporate; include
135
embrace
hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet
136
emulate
imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)
137
encroachment
gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another's possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon
138
enmity
ill will; hatred; hostility
139
enormity
hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous
140
enterprising
full of initiative; showing enterprise
141
entourage
group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround
142
esoteric
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica
143
evenhanded
impartial; fair
144
eventual
happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory
145
expedite
hasten; make go faster
146
extricate
free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle
147
facade(fa\c{c}ade)
front or face (of building); superficial or false appearance
148
facilitate
help bring about; make less difficult
149
factotum
handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything
150
falter
hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or move unsteadily through weakness; N.
151
fancied
imagined; unreal
152
fancy
imagination (of a whimsical or fantastic nature); capricious liking; V: imagine; be fond of; ADJ. decorative; elaborate
153
fashion
give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay
154
felicity
happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being felicitous
155
fervor
glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
156
fete(f\^ete)
honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a feast; N. (outdoor) festival or feast; CF. feast
157
fictitious
imaginary; non-existent; purposely invented to deceive; untrue; Ex. fictitious name/boyfriend; CF. fictional
158
flinch
hesitate; shrink back (in fear of something unpleasant); Ex. She did not flinch in the face of danger.
159
flourish
grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave; brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the sun. N: showy movement or gesture; embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in handwriting)
160
flowery
full of flowers; full of ornate expressions
161
fluted
having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column
162
foreshadow
give an indication beforehand; be a sign of (what is coming); portend; prefigure
163
forgo(forego)
give up; do without
164
forthcoming
happening in the near future; ready; willing to help; Ex. No answer was forthcoming.
165
frenetic(phrenetic)
frenzied; frantic
166
furor
frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury
167
gallows
framework from which a noose is suspended (used for execution by hanging)
168
gargantuan
huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel
169
garner
gather; store up; amass
170
gavel
hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.
171
gerontocracy
government ruled by old people
172
ghastly
horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast
173
glean
gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty
174
granulate
form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle
175
gratis
free; without charge; ADJ.
176
gratuitous
given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done without good reason; Ex. gratuitous comment
177
grisly
ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies
178
gruesome
grisly; horrible
179
hackles
hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone's hackles rise
180
hail
frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate hail
181
hale
healthy
182
halting
hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act with uncertainty; falter; hesitate; waver; stop
183
harbor
give protection (by giving food and shelter); provide a refuge for; hide; keep in mind (thoughts or feelings); Ex. harbor a grudge/criminal; N: place of shelter; refuge
184
harry
harass, annoy, torment (by repeated attacks); raid
185
headlong
hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.
186
herbivorous
grain-eating; CF. herbivore
187
hermitage
home of a hermit
188
hiatus
gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break
189
high-flown
highly pretentious or inflated
190
hindmost
furthest behind; farthest to the rear
191
hirsute
hairy; having a lot of hair
192
homage
honor; tribute; great respect; Ex. pay/do homage to
193
hover
hang about; (of birds or aircraft) stay in the air in one place; (of people) wait nearby; stay around one place; waver; be in an uncertain state
194
hull
husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship
195
humility
humbleness of spirit
196
husbandry
frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF. husbandman
197
illicit
illegal
198
illusory
illusive; deceptive; not real
199
imminent
impending; near at hand
200
impart
grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart
201
impede
hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block
202
impediment
hindrance; stumbling-block; speech defect preventing clear articulation; Ex. speech impediment
203
impervious
impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being affected (in one's opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism
204
impunity
freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish
205
incrustation
hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust
206
incubate
hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal environment conditions for development; be holding in one's body an infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF. incubation:disease
207
indulgent
humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence
208
inebriated
habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety
209
injurious
harmful; causing injury
210
inkling
hint; slight indication
211
innocuous
harmless
212
insinuate
hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce or insert (oneself) by artful means; Ex. insinuate himself into the boss's favor; CF. ingratiate
213
integrity
honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being whole and undivided; completeness
214
intellect
higher mental powers; person of great intellectual ability
215
intimate
hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship; familiar; private; personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or confidant; CF. intimacy
216
intimidate
frighten; N. intimidation
217
intuition
immediate insight; power of knowing without reasoning; ADJ. intuitive; V. intuit: know by intuition
218
irony
hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to mean the opposite of what they actually mean; use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning
219
jocose
given to(having a tendency of) joking
220
jollity
gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay
221
jovial
good-natured; merry; cheerful
222
junta
group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)
223
killjoy
grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others
224
kneel
go down on one's knee(s)
225
kudos
honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement
226
lament
grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
227
largess
generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)
228
latitude
freedom from narrow limitations
229
lechery
gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
230
legacy
gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor
231
loiter
hang about/around; stand idly about; linger
232
lope
gallop slowly
233
lopsided
heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
234
macabre
gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death
235
magnanimity
generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous
236
magnitude
greatness (in size or extent); extent
237
malady
illness
238
malicious
hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite
239
malodorous
foul-smelling
240
mammoth
gigantic; enormous
241
maul
handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer
242
melancholy
gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia
243
mesmerize
hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer
244
mimicry
imitation
245
mischance
ill luck
246
misconduct
immoral behavior; bad management; V.
247
misogamy
hatred of marriage
248
misogynist
hater of woman; CF. misogyny
249
monarchy
government under a single ruler
250
monochromatic
having only one color
251
morbid
given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease
252
morose
ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
253
mortify
humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die
254
multiform
having many forms
255
multilingual
having many languages; fluent in several languages
256
musky
having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer
257
muster
gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.
258
noisome
foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
259
nostalgia
homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
260
noxious
harmful; CF. obnoxious
261
obsequy
funeral ceremony
262
odoriferous
giving off an odor
263
odorous
having an odor
264
oligarchy
government by a privileged few
265
orient
get one's bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate
266
outlaw
fugitive from the law (excluded from legal protection); V: declare (someone) to be an outlaw; deprive of the protection of the law; declare illegal; Ex. Drinking has been outlawed.
267
outskirts
fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston
268
panegyric
formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.
269
paramour
illicit lover
270
parody
humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.
271
pastiche
imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists
272
patina
green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting
273
peerless
having no equal; incomparable
274
pendant(pendent)
hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
275
pendulous
hanging; suspended
276
pertinacious
holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent
277
phalanx
formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)
278
pitfall
hidden danger; concealed trap
279
placebo
harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
280
poise
good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
281
ponderous
having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
282
porous
full of pores; like a sieve
283
portend
foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning
284
potpourri
heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)
285
precipitate
hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden
286
precursor
forerunner; predecessor
287
predecessor
former occupant of a post
288
predispose
give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition
289
premonition
forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
290
presage
foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen
291
presumptuous
going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties
292
primate
group of mammals including humans
293
primp
groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
294
prodigy
highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder
295
profusion
great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
296
proliferate
grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation
297
promontory
headland
298
prosperity
good fortune and financial success; physical well-being
299
prurient
having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire
300
pucker
gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
301
pudding
hot sweet dish
302
purveyor
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide
303
quadruped
four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped
304
querulous
given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining
305
quixotic
idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote
306
rake
immoral or dissolute person
307
rampant
growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed
308
rancid
having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
309
rapture
great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
310
rationale
fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
311
recidivism
habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
312
recluse
hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
313
redoubtable
formidable; causing fear
314
relevant
having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
315
relinquish
give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm
316
render
give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully
317
repine
fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
318
replete
fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
319
repress
hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion
320
requisition
formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
321
resign
give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively
322
restive
impatiently restless (induced by external coercion or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; CF. not a general synonym for `restless'
323
retentive
holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory
324
retrograde
go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.
325
rigid
hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule
326
riveting
holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing
327
rubble
fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)
328
salubrious
healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health
329
satire
form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly
330
satyr
half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus (resembling a goat), portrayed as wanton(unrestrained) and cunning; lecher; CF. faun; CF. goat: lecherous man
331
scavenge
hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food; search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who scavenges; animal that feeds on refuse and carrion
332
scowl
frown angrily; N: angry frown
333
scruple
hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience
334
sensuous
giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin
335
serendipity
gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck; CF. The Three Princes of Serendip
336
serrated
having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
337
severity
harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense
338
Shangri-la
imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost Horizon
339
shard
fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay bowl, or cup)
340
slag
glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
341
slap
hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
342
slapdash
hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)
343
snicker
half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
344
snub
ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she snubbed me; N.
345
somnolent
half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
346
sophomoric
immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
347
sour
having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.
348
spare
give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life; Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time
349
spectral
ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
350
stately
formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
351
static
having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state
352
studious
given to diligent study
353
suckle
give or take milk at the breast or udder
354
sumptuous
grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
355
supercilious
haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium
356
surmise
guess; N.
357
swipe
hit with a sweeping motion; N.
358
taciturn
habitually silent; talking little
359
temporize
gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself
360
tenacious
holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
361
tend
have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply one's attention; attend
362
tenure
holding of an office or real estate; time during which such an office is held
363
theocracy
government run by religious leaders
364
tiller
handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer)
365
tinge
give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N: slight degree of a color or quality; Ex. tinged with grey/jealousy
366
titanic
gigantic; N. titan
367
trance
hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition
368
transcendental
going beyond common thought or ideas; impossible to understand by practical experiences or practices; known only by studying thoughts or intuition; OP. empirical; CF. transcendentalism
369
transition
going from one state of action to another
370
traverse
go through or across
371
trilogy
group of three related works (connected by a shared subject but each complete in itself)
372
trite
hackneyed; commonplace
373
tutelage
guardianship; training; function of a tutor; instruction
374
undertaker
funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials
375
unfeigned
genuine; real
376
unfledged
immature; not having the feathers necessary to fly; CF. fledgling
377
uninhibited
having no inhibitions; free in behavior and feelings
378
unprecedented
having no previous example; novel; unparalleled
379
utopia
ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian
380
vagrant
homeless wanderer
381
vain
full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity
382
vampire
ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
383
vanguard
forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard
384
verdant
green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows
385
verdigris
green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather
386
verisimilar
having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible
387
versatile
having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility
388
vertebrate
having a backbone or spinal column; N: group of animals having a segmented spinal column
389
vibrant
full of vigor or energy; vibrating
390
virtue
goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity
391
virtuoso
highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso
392
vital
full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize
393
voluminous
having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large
394
vouch
give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher
395
vouchsafe
grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
396
waggish
humorous; mischievous; tricky
397
waif
homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
398
waive
give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim
399
wan
having a pale or sickly color; pallid
400
warranty
guarantee; assurance by seller
