GRE - Manhattan Essential Word List - L8

Question 1

Abridge

Answer 1

Reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while retaining the main idea

Question 2

Affectation

Answer 2

Fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to give a certain impression

Question 3

Anomaly

Answer 3

Deviation from what is common; inconsistency

Question 4

Ascertain

Answer 4

Find out with certainty

Question 5

Base

Answer 5

Morally low, mean, dishonorable; or little or no value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit

Question 6

Bygone

Answer 6

Past, former (adj.); that which is in the past (usually plural noun)

Question 7

Chauvinism

Answer 7

Fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.

Question 8

Concede

Answer 8

Give in, admit, yield; acknowledge reluctantly; grant or give up (such as giving up land after losing a war)

Question 9

Contentious

Answer 9

Controversial; prone to causing arguments, especially gratuitous or petty ones

Question 10

Countenance

Answer 10

Facial expression or face (n); approve or tolerate (v)

Question 11

Culminate

Answer 11

Reach the highest point or final stage

Question 12

Deflect

Answer 12

Cause to curve; turn aside, esp. from a sstraight course; avoid

Question 13

Diatribe

Answer 13

Bitter, abusive attack or criticism; rant

Question 14

Disinterested

Answer 14

Unbiased, impartial; not interested

Question 15

Dissonance

Answer 15

Harsh, inharmonious sound; cacophony; disagreement

Question 16

Eccentric

Answer 16

Peculiar, odd, deviating from the norm esp. in a whimsical way

Question 17

Embellish

Answer 17

Decorate, add ornamentation; enhance (a story) with fictional or fanciful details

Question 18

Equitable

Answer 18

Fair, equal, just

Question 19

Exculpate

Answer 19

Clear from guilt or blame

Question 20

Fathom

Answer 20

Measure the depth of (usually of water)as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand

Question 21

Fortify

Answer 21

Strengthen, invigorate, encourage

Question 22

Glib

Answer 22

Fluent and easy in a way that suggests superficially or insincerity

Question 23

Heterogenous

Answer 23

Different in type, incongruous; composed of different types of elements

Question 24

Impede

Answer 24

Hold back, obstruct the progress of

Question 25

Incongruous

Answer 25

Out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious

Question 26

Intelligible

Answer 26

Able to be understood, clear

Question 27

Lackluster

Answer 27

Not shiny; dull, mediocre; lacking brilliance or vitality

Question 28

Levity

Answer 28

Lightness (of mind, spirit, or mood) or lack of seriousness, sometimes in an inappropriate way

Question 29

Malleable

Answer 29

Able to be bent, shaped, or adapted

Question 30

Moreover

Answer 30

Besides; in addition to what was just stated

Question 31

Nuance

Answer 31

A subtle difference in tone, meaning, expression, etc.

Question 32

Onerous

Answer 32

Burdensome, oppressive, hard to endure

Question 33

Partial

Answer 33

Biased, prejudiced, favoring one over others; having a special liking for something or someone (usually partial to)

Question 34

Peripheral

Answer 34

Relating to or making up an outer boundary or region; not of primary importance, fringe

Question 35

Plausible

Answer 35

Believable; having the appearance of truth

Question 36

Predisposed

Answer 36

Having an inclination or tendency beforehand; subscribe

Question 37

Profligate

Answer 37

Completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely wasteful

Question 38

Prospective

Answer 38

Potential, in the future

Question 39

Refute

Answer 39

Prove to be false

Question 40

Resolve

Answer 40

Find a solution to; firmly decide to do something; decide by formal vote(v); firmness of purpose (n)

Question 41

Sacrosanct

Answer 41

Sacred, inviolable, not to be trespassed on or violated; above any criticism

Question 42

Scathing

Answer 42

Severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical (as a remark)

Question 43

Solicitous

Answer 43

Concerned or anxious (about another person), expressing care; eager or desirous; very careful

Question 44

Sportive

Answer 44

Playful, merry, joking around, done "in sport" (rather than intended seriously)

Question 45

Subside

Answer 45

Sink, settle down, become less active, return to a normal level

Question 46

Tacit

Answer 46

Understood without being said; implied, not stated directly; silent

Question 47

Tractable

Answer 47

Easily controlled or managed, docile; easily shaped or molded

Question 48

Unseemly

Answer 48

Improper, inappropriate, against the rules of taste or politeness

Question 49

Warranted

Answer 49

Justified, authorized (warrant can mean to justify or a justification, but can also mean to vouch for or guarantee)