GRE Vocabulary 9

Question 1

Mendacity (n)

Answer 1

Dishonesty.

People publicly castigated for past mendacity.

Question 2

Consequential (adj)

Answer 2

Pompous self importance.

The new congress lacked consequential leaders.

Question 3

Tremulous (adj)

Answer 3

Fearful.

Barbara’s voice was tremulous.

Question 4

Mendicant (n)

Answer 4

Beggar.

Question 5

Egress (v)

Answer 5

The act or an instance of going, especially from an enclosed place.

Direct means of access and egress for passengers.

Question 6

Preternatural (adj)

Answer 6

Out of the ordinary.

Autumn had arrived with preternatural speed.

Question 7

Fulminate (v)

Answer 7

To issue or pronounce with vehement denunciation, condemnation

The minister fulminated against legalized vice.

Question 8

Gull (v)

Answer 8

To deceive, trick, or cheat.

He had been gulled into believing that the documents were authentic.

Question 9

Rebus (n)

Answer 9

A representation of a word or phrase by pictures, symbols, etc.

Two gates and a head is a rebus for Gateshead.

Question 10

Pedestrian (adj)

Answer 10

Commonplace or dull.

Disenchantment with their pedestrian lives.

Question 11

Distrait (adj)

Answer 11

Inattentive because of distracting worries, fears, etc.

Irene was grave and distrait this morning, with a chilly reserve about her

Question 12

Nefarious (adj)

Answer 12

Harmful, deceitful.

The nefarious activities of the organized-crime syndicates.

Question 13

Factious (adj)

[fak-shuh s]

Answer 13

Given to causing factions.

A factious group was trying to undermine the government.

Question 14

Ignoble (adj)

Answer 14

Of low character, aims.

His ignoble purposes.

Question 15

Epithet (n)

Answer 15

Any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality.

“Richard the Lion-Hearted” is an epithet of Richard I.

Question 16

Anodyne (n)

Answer 16

A medicine that relieves or allays pain.

She had even refused anodynes.

Question 17

Jejune (adj)

Answer 17

Juvenile, immature, childish

Jejune behavior.

Question 18

Conciliatory

Answer 18

Intended or likely to placate or pacify.

A conciliatory approach.

Question 19

Diaspora (n)

Answer 19

The settlement of a native people away from the homeland.

Question 20

Welter (n)

Answer 20

A confused mass, a jumble or muddle

A welter of anxious faces.

Question 21

Ruminate (v)

Answer 21

To meditate or muse, ponder.

We sat ruminating on the nature of existence.

Question 22

Maudlin (adj)

Answer 22

Tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental.

A maudlin story of a little orphan.

Question 23

Convoke (v)

Answer 23

To come together in a conference.

She sent messages convoking a Council of Ministers.

Question 24

Effluence (v)

Answer 24

The act of flowing out especially of a liquid.

Question 25

Eschew (v)

Answer 25

To abstain or keep away from, shun. To eschew evil.

Question 26

Ambulatory (adj)

Answer 26

Related to walking or capable of walking. An ambulatory ophthalmic service.

Question 27

Rigmarole (n)

Answer 27

Tedious, exacting procedure He went through the rigmarole of securing the front door.

Question 28

Forswear (v)

Answer 28

To reject or renounce under oath. To forswear an injurious habit.

Question 29

Gastronomy (n)

Answer 29

The art or science of good eating. Traditional American gastronomy.

Question 30

Jibe (v)

Answer 30

To taunt, deride. A jibe at his old rival.

Question 31

Stentorian (adj)

Answer 31

Very loud or powerful in sound. A stentorian voice.

Question 32

Lachrymose (adj)

Answer 32

Tearful. She was pink-eyed and lachrymose.

Question 33

Abrogate (n)

Answer 33

To abolish by formal or official means To abrogate a law.

Question 34

Bemuse (v)

Answer 34

Confuse, bewilder. Her bemused expression.

Question 35

Expurgate (v)

Answer 35

To purge or cleanse of moral offensiveness. An expurgated English translation.

Question 36

Tumid (adj)

Answer 36

Swollen, or affected with swelling, as a part of the body. A tumid belly.

Question 37

Natty (adj)

Answer 37

Neatly or trimly smart in dress or appearance A natty white uniform.

Question 38

Sentinel (n)

Answer 38

A person or thing that watches or stands as if watching. Soldiers stood sentinel with their muskets.

Question 39

Winsome (adj)

Answer 39

Sweetly or innocently charming, engaging. A winsome smile.

Question 40

Reconnoiter (v)

Answer 40

To inspect, observe, or survey. We are to reconnoiter along this road and down toward that bridge.

Question 41

Malfeasance (n)

Answer 41

Bad public behavior.

Question 42

Halcyon (adj)

Answer 42

Idyllic happy and peaceful. The halcyon days of the mid 1980s, when profits were soaring.

Question 43

Plenipotentiary (n)

Answer 43

A body or individual with proxy powers to act on behalf of another especially a government.

Question 44

Filch (v)

Answer 44

To steal (especially something of small value), pilfer. To filch ashtrays from fancy restaurants.

Question 45

Fastness (adj)

Answer 45

The state of being fixed or firm. The fastness of democratic institutions.

Question 46

Bellwether (adj)

Answer 46

A person or thing that assumes the leadership or forefront, as of a profession or industry. Paris is a bellwether of the fashion industry.

Question 47

Camarilla (n)

Answer 47

A group of unofficial or private advisers to a person of authority, especially a group much given to intrigues and secret plots.

Question 48

Interregnum (n)

Answer 48

Any period during which a state has no ruler or only a temporary executive.