GRE Vocabulary 6 Flashcards
(78 cards)
abjure
(v.) to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant; to avoid
adumbrate
(v.) to foreshadow vaguely or intimate; to suggest or outline sketchily; to obscure or overshadow
anathena
(n.) a solemn or ecclesiastical (religious) curse; accursed or thoroughly loathed person or thing
anodyne
(adj./n.) soothing; something that assuages or allays pain or comforts
apogee
(n.) farthest or highest point; culmination; zenith
apostate
(adj.) one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions
apotheosis
(n.) deifcation; glorification to godliness; an exalted example; a model of excellence or perfection
asperity
(n.) severity, rigor; roughness, harshness; acrimony; irritability
asseverate
(v.) to aver, allege, or assert
assiduous
(adj.) diligent, hard-working, sedulous
augury
(n.) omen, portent
bellicose
(adj.) belligerent, pugnacious, warlike
calumniate
(v.) to slander; to make a false accusation (calumny: slander, aspersion)
captious
(adj.) disposed to point out trivial faults; calculated to confuse or entrap in argument
cavil
(v.) to find fault without good reason
celerity
(n.) speed; alacrity (think accelerate)
chimera
(n.) an illusion; originally, and imaginary fire-breathing she-monster
contumacious
(adj.) insubordinate, rebellious (contumely: insult, scorn, aspersion)
debacle
(n.) rout, fiasco, complete failure
denouement
(n.) an outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot
descry
(v.) to discriminate or discern
desuetude
(n.) disuse
desultory
(adj.) random; aimless; marked by a lack of plan or purpose
diaphanous
(adj.) transparent; gauzy