Vocabulary

Question 1

Profligate

Answer 1

Adjective and noun
Opposite of frugal/frugal person

Think: prodigal son

Question 2

Parsimonious

Answer 2

Opposite of profligate

Extremely frugal, miserly

Question 3

Calumny

Answer 3

Noun: the act of making a false statement to injure a person’s reputation; slander

Think: tabloids

Question 4

Ingenious vs ingenuous

Answer 4

Ingenious: clever, original, and inventive
Ingenuous: naive and innocent; genuine; unable to mask feelings

Question 5

Prevaricate

Answer 5

To speak in an evasive way

Think: politician evading a difficult question

Question 6

Extant

Answer 6

Still in existence (usually referring to documents)

Question 7

Demur

Answer 7

To object or show resistance

Question 8

Laconic

Answer 8

Using very few words

Question 9

Equivocal

Answer 9

Confusing, ambiguous

Question 10

Maintain

Answer 10

To assert

Question 11

Censure

Answer 11

To express strong disapproval

Think: to (c)ensure that a behavior does not occur

Question 12

Harangue

Answer 12

Noun or a verb

Either a long pompous speech/tirade or deliver a long pompous speech/tirade

Question 13

Qualify

Answer 13

verb: to make less severe; to limit (a statement)

Chris qualified his love for San Francisco, adding he didn’t like the weather there as much as he liked the weather in Los Angeles.

Question 14

Involved

Answer 14

Complicated and difficult to understand

Question 15

Venality

Answer 15

Noun: being susceptible to corruption or bribes

Question 16

Belie

Answer 16

To misrepresent

The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel after the death of her husband

Question 17

Parochial

Answer 17

narrowly restricted in scope or outlook

Think: parochial schools aka religion

Question 18

Abjure

Answer 18

Renounce, repudiate, recant, shun

Question 19

Acme

Answer 19

Summit, peak, highest point

Question 20

Aggrandize

Answer 20

Make greater, exaggerate

“Luke had aggrandized his credentials so much that he was fired on the spot when it was discovered that he was just a novice.”

Question 21

Alacrity

Answer 21

Cheerful or speedy willingness

Question 22

Apocryphal

Answer 22

Of questionable authenticity, false

Question 23

Assuage

Answer 23

Make milder, relieve, soothe, pacify

Question 24

Aver

Answer 24

Declare or affirm with confidence

To declare as true

When interviewed, Susan’s friends all averred that she was a trustworthy person

Question 25

Balk

Answer 25

Refuse to proceed or to do something

Question 26

Caustic

Answer 26

1) capable of corroding metal or burning the skin | 2) very critical or sarcastic

Question 27

Chauvinism

Answer 27

Fanatical patriotism, undue or biased devotion to any group/cause

Question 28

Confer

Answer 28

1) consult | 2) bestow

Question 29

Constringe

Answer 29

Cause to shrink

Question 30

Construe

Answer 30

Interpret

Question 31

Conversant

Answer 31

Knowledgeable about

Question 32

Countenance

Answer 32

1) (n) Facial expression or face | 2) (v) Approve or tolerate

Question 33

Craven

Answer 33

Cowardly

Question 34

Credulous

Answer 34

Gullible, trusting too easily

Question 35

Debase

Answer 35

Degrade, lower in quality

Question 36

Default

Answer 36

Failure to act/fulfill an obligation

Question 37

Delineate

Answer 37

1) Describe in detail | 2) Mark outline of

Question 38

Desiccate

Answer 38

Thoroughly dried up, dehydrated

Question 39

Diatribe

Answer 39

Bitter anger rant or criticism

Question 40

Disabuse

Answer 40

Free someone from a mistake in thinking

Question 41

Discriminating

Answer 41

Discerning, having good judgement or insight

Question 42

Dissembling

Answer 42

misleading; concealing the truth

Question 43

Dispatch

Answer 43

1) (v) send off 2) (n) speed, promptness aka "Need to approach every delivery with dispatch"

Question 44

Gainsay

Answer 44

- deny or contradict (a fact or statement) | - refute, oppose

Question 45

Sedition

Answer 45

Incitement of dissent against a government; promoting rebellion by speech or writing "The federal prosecutor argued that the journalist's article could be interpreted as an act of sedition since it strongly suggested that the government should be overturned"

Question 46

Distill

Answer 46

Purify; extract the essential elements of "Jules, it's not necessary to read your entire PowerPoint presentation to us. Can you just distill it down to the main point?"

Question 47

Divest

Answer 47

Deprive or strip of; to sell off holdings Think: opposite of invest

Question 48

Divine

Answer 48

1) Discover through divination 2) Of or like a god 3) To perceive by insight (ascertain) aka "I read online reviews of the spa to divine whether I should go there"

Question 49

Abeyance

Answer 49

Temporary suspension, inactivity

Question 50

Occult

Answer 50

1) (adj) supernatural, mysterious, arcane | 2) (v) to hide from view, to obscure (aka eclipse)

Question 51

Blithe

Answer 51

Joyous, merry, excessively carefree

Question 52

Eloquent

Answer 52

1) Marked by fluid, apt speech 2) Expressive and emotionally moving aka "when Mom suggested that everyone might enjoy a museum instead of the each, she was met with the children's eloquent looks of disgust"

Question 53

Esoteric

Answer 53

Understood or intended for only a few; secret

Question 54

Estimable

Answer 54

Worthy of esteem, admirable; able to be estimated

Question 55

Exacting

Answer 55

Very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention

Question 56

Flag

Answer 56

Get tired, lose enthusiasm; hang limply or droop

Question 57

Foment

Answer 57

Incite, instigate, stir up; apply medicated liquid to a body part "The revolutionary group was quietly fomenting a rebellion"

Question 58

Garrulous

Answer 58

Talkative, wordy, rambling

Question 59

Gauche

Answer 59

Tactless, lacking social grace, unsophisticated "Linda kept to herself at her boss's cocktail party, lest she say something gauche and embarrass herself"

Question 60

Germane

Answer 60

Relevant and appropriate; on-topic

Question 61

Hearken

Answer 61

Listen, pay attention to

Question 62

Bewail vs. bemoan

Answer 62

Bewail: lament Bemoan: grief or disapproval

Question 63

Hearken

Answer 63

Listen, pay attention to

Question 64

Illiberality

Answer 64

Narrow mindedness; strictness/lack of generosity

Question 65

Inasmuch

Answer 65

Considering that

Question 66

Inchoate

Answer 66

Just begun, underdeveloped, unorganized

Question 67

Incipient

Answer 67

Just beginning; in a very early stage

Question 68

Incorporate

Answer 68

Incarnate (give physical form to; embody); form a legal corporation

Question 69

Intractable

Answer 69

Difficult to control, manage, manipulate; stubborn

Question 70

Judicious

Answer 70

Prudent; using good judgment

Question 71

Keen

Answer 71

1) Sharp, piercing 2) Very perceptive or mentally sharp 3) Intense 4) Wailing or moaning

Question 72

Langurous

Answer 72

Dreamy relaxation

Question 73

Indolent

Answer 73

Habitually lazy

Question 74

Lassitude

Answer 74

Tiredness, weariness; lazy indifference

Question 75

Encomium

Answer 75

Warm, glowing praise esp. a formal expression of praise

Question 76

Panegyric

Answer 76

Formal, lofty, or elaborate praise The mayor extended a panegyric to all of the citizens who were fighting overseas

Question 77

Levy

Answer 77

Collect tax from, wage war on, enlist for military service (v) Collection of taxes, waging of war, and enlisting for military service (n)

Question 78

Libertine

Answer 78

Morally or sexually unrestrained person; free thinking "Don Juan is a legendary, archetypal libertine whose story has been told by many poets, such as lord Byron"

Question 79

Maverick

Answer 79

Rebel, individualist, dissenter

Question 80

Mendacious

Answer 80

Lying, habitually dishonest

Question 81

Capricious

Answer 81

adj. acting on impulse, erratic; fickle n. is caprice (inclination to change one's mind compulsively) Usually used in a negative way "It is a postulate of science that the laws of nature are not capricious and that the universe is not chaotic" "Styles in high fashion seem governed by caprice as much as anything else"

Question 82

Obviate

Answer 82

Prevent, eliminate; make unnecessary

Question 83

Officious

Answer 83

Meddlesome, pushy; excessively eager in giving unwanted advice or intruding

Question 84

Outstrip

Answer 84

Surpass, exceed; be larger or better than

Question 85

Partisan

Answer 85

(n) or (v) | devoted/devotee to a particular group, cause, etc.

Question 86

Patent

Answer 86

Blatant, obvious

Question 87

Pecadillo

Answer 87

Small sin or fault

Question 88

Ponderous

Answer 88

Heavy; bulky, unwieldy; boring, labored; difficult to make your way through

Question 89

Potentate

Answer 89

Ruler, person of great power

Question 90

Preempt

Answer 90

Prevent; take the place of; take before someone else can "The movie was preempted for the president's emergency address to the nation"

Question 91

Presumptive

Answer 91

Do not confuse with presumptuous; based on inference or assumption; providing reasonable grounds for belief

Question 92

Probity

Answer 92

Honesty; integrity "No one questioned the probity of the judge being considered for elevation to the US Supreme Court"

Question 93

Prodigious

Answer 93

Extraordinarily large; impressive

Question 94

Disperse vs disseminate

Answer 94

Disperse: something that spreads out and disappears Disseminate: something that spreads out and remains significant

Question 95

Proscribe

Answer 95

1) Prohibit, outlaw 2) Denounce 3) Exile or banish

Question 96

Relegate

Answer 96

Send or commit to an inferior place, rank, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task) to someone

Question 97

Remedial

Answer 97

1) Providing a remedy, curative | 2) Correcting a deficient skill

Question 98

Render

Answer 98

1) Give, submit, surrender 2) Translate 3) Declare formally 4) Cause to become

Question 99

Requite

Answer 99

1) Reciprocate 2) Repay 3) Revenge

Question 100

Sanction

Answer 100

Can be negative or positive (negative connotation usually applies to international actions) 1) Permission or approval, something that gives support or authority to something else 2) Legal action by one or more countries against another country to get it to comply 3) To penalize

Question 101

Sanguine

Answer 101

1) Cheerfully optimistic, hopeful | 2) Reddish, ruddy

Question 102

Sap

Answer 102

1) Inner fluid of a plant or any essential body fluid 2) Energy, vitality 3) A person taken advantage of 4) Undermine, weaken, tire out

Question 103

Sedulous

Answer 103

Persevering, persistent, diligent in one's efforts "The detective was sedulous in collecting evidence to prove his client's innocence"

Question 104

Solicitious

Answer 104

1) Concerned or anxious about another, expressing care 2) Eager or desirous 3) Very careful

Question 105

Specious

Answer 105

Seemingly true but actually false; deceptively attractive "The article systematically rebuts the specious argument advanced by the so-called expert in the field"

Question 106

Speculate

Answer 106

1) Contemplate | 2) Engage in a risky business transaction, gamble

Question 107

Stolid

Answer 107

Stoic Unemotional, showing little emotion

Question 108

Supplicate

Answer 108

Ask, beg, or seek in a humble way; pray humbly

Question 109

Table

Answer 109

Lay aside to discuss later

Question 110

Torrid

Answer 110

adj. very hot, parching, burning | adj. passionate

Question 111

Transitory

Answer 111

Temporary, short-lived, not lasting

Question 112

Unseemly

Answer 112

Improper, inappropriate

Question 113

Viable

Answer 113

1) Capable of living | 2) Practical, workable

Question 114

Zenith

Answer 114

Acme, pinnacle, culmination

Question 115

Equivocate

Answer 115

Use unclear language to deceive or avoid committing to a position

Question 116

Tergiversate

Answer 116

Repeatedly change one's position; equivocate

Question 117

Guile

Answer 117

Clever deceit, cunning, craftiness

Question 118

Hardy

Answer 118

Bold, brave, capable of withstanding hardship

Question 119

Implicit

Answer 119

1) Implied 2) Involved in the very essence of something, unquestionable eg. "In such a dangerous situations, it's important to have a partner you trust implicitly"

Question 120

Log

Answer 120

1) Keep record of; written record | 2) Travel for or at a certain distance or speed

Question 121

Erroneous

Answer 121

1) Mistaken, in error 2) Improper 3) Morally incorrect

Question 122

For all

Answer 122

Despite

Question 123

All but

Answer 123

Essentially

Question 124

Abeyance

Answer 124

Temporary suspension, hiatus "The baseball players's contract negotiations are in abeyance while doctors try to determine whether his injuries will heal in time for the season"

Question 125

Abscission

Answer 125

Cutting off; sudden termination; separation of parts from a plant or animal

Question 126

Abscond

Answer 126

Depart suddenly and secretively

Question 127

Accede

Answer 127

Agree, give consent; assume power

Question 128

Acidulous

Answer 128

1) Slightly acid or sour | 2) Sharp or caustic

Question 129

Accretion

Answer 129

Gradual increase; an added part or addition

Question 130

Adumbrate

Answer 130

1) Give a rough outline of 2) foreshadow 3) reveal only partially 4) obscure

Question 131

Aerie

Answer 131

Dwelling or fortress built on a high place; the nest of a bird of prey

Question 132

Amalgamate (v)

Answer 132

Blend, merge, unite

Question 133

Amortize

Answer 133

Gradually pay off debt

Question 134

Anodyne

Answer 134

Medicine that relieves pain; soothing, relieving pain

Question 135

Apostate

Answer 135

Person who deserts a party, cause, religion, etc.

Question 136

Apposite

Answer 136

Apt Appropriate, suitable, or relevant

Question 137

Apprise

Answer 137

Inform, give notice to Think: apprendre (to learn)

Question 138

Approbation

Answer 138

Praise or approval v. approbate: to approve

Question 139

Arrogate

Answer 139

Claim or take presumptuously/without the right to do so

Question 140

Aseptic

Answer 140

1) Free from germs | 2) With little or no emotion

Question 141

Asperity

Answer 141

1) Rigor, severity 2) Harshness or sharpness of tone 3) Roughness of surface

Question 142

Aspersions

Answer 142

Slander

Question 143

Assiduous

Answer 143

Persevering, diligent, constant

Question 144

Augury

Answer 144

Telling the future, such as through supernatural means

Question 145

August

Answer 145

Venerable, majestic; inspiring admiration

Question 146

Avarice

Answer 146

Insatiable greed; miserly desire to hoard wealth

Question 147

Axiom

Answer 147

Self-evident truth requiring no poof; universally or generally accepted principle adj. axiomatic (taken for granted) "Women in non-polygamous societies often express amazement that several women could share one husband without friction, taking it as axiomatic that couples are the norm, and that any departure from it must be wrong"

Question 148

Baying

Answer 148

Howling in a deep way

Question 149

Bent

Answer 149

Personal inclination or tendency "He had a pedantic bent- he was just naturally inclined to correct people's grammar"

Question 150

Bevy

Answer 150

Any large group "The bar owner cringed when a bevy of women in plastic tiaras came in. 'Another drunken bachelorette party,' he sighed"

Question 151

Bifurcate

Answer 151

1) (v) to fork into two branches or divide into two halves | 2) (adj) split or forked

Question 152

Bilk

Answer 152

Cheat or defraud

Question 153

Blight

Answer 153

1) Disease that kills plants rapidly 2) Any cause of of decay or destruction 3) (v) ruin or cause to wither

Question 154

Blithe

Answer 154

Joyous, merry; excessively carefree (so as to ignore more important concerns)

Question 155

Bonhomie

Answer 155

Friendliness, good heartedness

Question 156

Brandish

Answer 156

Shake, wave, or flourish, as a weapon

Question 157

Brook

Answer 157

Suffer or tolerate "I will brook no disobeying of the rules"

Question 158

Bucolic

Answer 158

Suggesting a peaceful and pleasant view of rural life

Question 159

Burnish

Answer 159

1) (v) Polish, make smooth and lustrous 2) (n) luster or shine "The burnish of an Ivy League university"

Question 160

Canard

Answer 160

Rumor, false or baseless story "Most politicians do not want to be associated with the old canard that big government in Washington can solve all of America's problems"

Question 161

Catholic

Answer 161

Universal, broad-minded

Question 162

Cloying

Answer 162

Disgustingly or distastefully sweet

Question 163

Coagulate

Answer 163

Cause a liquid to become solid or semisolid

Question 164

Coda

Answer 164

Final part of a musical composition; an ending

Question 165

Coffer

Answer 165

1) chest for storing valuables | 2) financial resources, a treasury

Question 166

Compendium

Answer 166

n. concise but complete summary; a list or collection "This movie review is unusually compendious--although a scant 500 words, it tells every single thing that happens in the entire film" "I bought a lightweight poetry compendium containing a few selections each from 30 or so poets thought to represent various styles and eras"

Question 167

Contumacious

Answer 167

Rebellious; stubbornly disobedient

Question 168

Convoke

Answer 168

Call together, as to a meeting. Convene "The dean has convoked this gathering to discuss the Honor Code"

Question 169

Cosset

Answer 169

To pamper, coddle, treat as a pet

Question 170

Coterie

Answer 170

a clique

Question 171

Declaim

Answer 171

Speak in an impassioned, pompous, or oratorical manner "After a drink of two, Gabe will declaim all night about campaign finance reform--you won't be able to get a word in edgewise in between all his grandstanding and "expertise"

Question 172

Cupidity

Answer 172

Greed, great or excessive desire

Question 173

Declivity

Answer 173

Downward slope "Not just any declivity can serve as a wheelchair ramp--I'm pretty sure this thing is too steep to pass regulations"

Question 174

Delimit

Answer 174

Define the boundaries of

Question 175

Demagogue

Answer 175

A leader who lies and gains power by arousing the passions and especially prejudices of the people

Question 176

Desultory

Answer 176

Inconsistent, random, sporadic; going off topic The desultory thoughts running through Mick's mind prevented him from concentrating on the essay he had to write.

Question 177

Diaphenous

Answer 177

Sheer, fine, translucent

Question 178

Dictum

Answer 178

Formal pronouncement; saying or proverb

Question 179

Dilate

Answer 179

1) Cause to expand | 2) To speak or write at length, elaborate upon

Question 180

Dilatory

Answer 180

Slow, later; procrastinating/stalling for time

Question 181

Dilettante

Answer 181

Person who takes up an art or activity for amusement only or in a superficial way

Question 182

Dirge

Answer 182

Funeral or mourning song/poem "It was supposed to be a wedding march, but when the organism started playing, the reluctant bride thought the song sounded more like a dirge for her former carefree life"

Question 183

Disparate

Answer 183

Distinct, different

Question 184

Dissemble

Answer 184

Mislead, put on a false appearance of, conceal the truth "He won so much money at pool halls by dissembling inexperience" "Roxanne was used to dissembling in job interviews; when asked about the gap on her resume from 1999-2003, she would say "Oh, I was out of the workforce fulfilling some obligations"--a somewhat misleading way to describe a prison stint"

Question 185

Dissolution

Answer 185

1) Dissolving 2) Breaking bonds/breaking up a group of people 3) Sinking into extreme vice, degradation

Question 186

Distend

Answer 186

Swell, expand, stretch, bloat

Question 187

Dither

Answer 187

1) Act indecisively | 2) A state of fear or trembling excitement

Question 188

Diurnal

Answer 188

1) Occurring every day | 2) Happening in the daytime

Question 189

Doctrinaire

Answer 189

Person who applies doctrine in an impractical or rigid/close-minded way; merely theoretical, impractical, or fanatic about other people accepting one's idea

Question 190

Distaff

Answer 190

Female, maternal side of the family Women or women's work A staff that has wool for spinning

Question 191

Dovetail

Answer 191

Join or fit together | Converge

Question 192

Droll

Answer 192

Funny in an odd way

Question 193

Dyspeptic

Answer 193

Grump, pessimistic, irritable "The dyspeptic professor was so angered by a question from a student who hadn't done the homework that he actually stomped out of class"

Question 194

Edify

Answer 194

Uplift, enlighten, instruct or improve in a spiritual or moral way

Question 195

Effigy

Answer 195

Representation or image of a person, esp. Used to mock a hated person Think: voodoo doll

Question 196

Effrontery

Answer 196

Shameless boldness "Mr. Hou thought his daughter's boyfriend guilty of the worst effrontery when he asked for her hand in marriage--and, as soon as Mr. Hou gave his blessing, followed up by asking for a job at Mr. Hou's company"

Question 197

Egress

Answer 197

n. exit v. to exit "It was thought that the prisoner, seeking egress from his cell before the spreading fire consumed it, had managed to slip out between the warping floorboards."

Question 198

Encomium

Answer 198

Warm glowing praise

Question 199

Engender

Answer 199

1) give rise to | 2) procreate

Question 200

Epicure

Answer 200

Person with cultivated, refined taste

Question 201

Equanimity

Answer 201

Composure, mental or emotional stability. Even-tempered "Having worked for many years in mental hospitals, her equanimity was unparalleled--you could throw a chair or a bowl of spaghetti at her, and she would just say, 'Settle down, now" Think: zen

Question 202

Ersatz

Answer 202

Artificial, synthetic; inferior substitute

Question 203

Erstwhile

Answer 203

Former, previous; formerly

Question 204

Exigent

Answer 204

Requiring immediate attention; excessively demanding "My boss said she would take me out to lunch and mentor me, but that idea always gets tossed aside in favor of more exigent matters"

Question 205

Expedient

Answer 205

1) Suitable, proper 2) Effective, often at the expense of ethics or other considerations "When invited to a wedding you cannot attend, it is expedient to send a gift"

Question 206

Expurgate

Answer 206

v. censor "The expurgated version of the album had a more family-friendly rating."

Question 207

Extemporaneous

Answer 207

Done without preparation; improvised "Lost in the jungle, the hikers fashioned an extemporaneous shelter from palm leaves"

Question 208

Fatuous

Answer 208

Foolish, silly, in a smug or complacent manner "Sadly, every philosophy class seems to have one person who responds to every discussion, from metaphysics to ethics, with the fatuous question, "But what if we don't really exist?"

Question 209

Inculcate

Answer 209

Teach persistently, implant (an idea) in a person "Parents spend years trying to inculcate morality in their children, constantly teaching and correcting them"

Question 210

Indigence

Answer 210

Extreme poverty indigent is the adj form "The city government has several agencies that provide shelter, food, and other assistance to help relieve indigence"

Question 211

Inexorable

Answer 211

Relentless, unyielding "Many people fled Europe in the face of Hitler's inexorable march across the continent"

Question 212

Impute

Answer 212

Credit, attribute; lay blame or responsibility for "The ineffectual CEO was nevertheless a master of public relations--he made sure that all successes were imputed to him, and all of the failures were imputed to others"

Question 213

Idolatry

Answer 213

1) Idol worship | 2) Excessive/unthinking devotion or adoration

Question 214

Impecunious

Answer 214

Poor, without money "Having grown up with impecunious parents who would barely keep the electricity on in the house, she was now obsessed with wealth and security" Hint: pecunia is Latin for money

Question 215

Imperious

Answer 215

1) Commanding, domineering; arrogant 2) Urgent "It's imperious that we discuss the future of this company!"

Question 216

Impetuous

Answer 216

1) impulsive; hasty and lacking in thought 2) moving forcefully or rapidly; violent "impetuous winds" "His impetuous and eager nature led him to take on more projects than he could realistically complete."

Question 217

Implacable

Answer 217

1) Relentless 2) Not able to be appeased, calmed, satisfied "A good detective is absolutely implacable--refusing to give up until the culprit in question is behind bars"

Question 218

Fervid

Answer 218

1) Very hot | 2) Heated in passion/enthusiasm

Question 219

Fetid

Answer 219

Smelly

Question 220

Florid

Answer 220

1) Reddish or rosy (healthy-looking) 2) Flowery, showy, or excessively fancy "The author's florid prose did not impress the critics, who found her work pretentious"

Question 221

Flout

Answer 221

v. treat with disdain, demonstrate contempt for, scorn (usually of rules) "She flouted convention with her bizarre style of dress"

Question 222

Ford

Answer 222

1) (n) place where a river or body of water is shallow enough to walk/ride vehicle across 2) (v) to cross at such a place

Question 223

Forestall

Answer 223

Prevent/delay by taking action beforehand "The mayor called the police before the protest even began in order to forestall rioting"

Question 224

Fracas

Answer 224

1) Noisy disturbance | 2) Fight/brawl

Question 225

Fractious

Answer 225

Unruly, troublemaking; irritable

Question 226

Fulminate

Answer 226

Attack verbally in a vehement, thunderous way "Please don't bring up anything related to gun control around my family, or my dad will fulminate for hours about his right to bear arms"

Question 227

Gambol

Answer 227

Frolic "Watching the children gambol in the park like frisky little lambs, she wondered how they could have so much energy"

Question 228

Graft

Answer 228

1) Join a part to a larger part where it will live/grow 2) (n) Acquiring money or other benefits through illegal means, esp. by abusing one's power "It's not cool for your boss to pressure you into buying Girl Scout cookies from his daughter. If she were selling something larger, we'd call that graft"

Question 229

Grandstand

Answer 229

Perform showily in an attempt to impress onlookers

Question 230

Grouse

Answer 230

1) (v) complain or grumble 2) (n) reason for complaint "Don't be offended, but I've got a grouse about the way you're handling this project" "By the end of the trip, everyone was annoying by Lena's grousing; the bus ride was too bumpy, the food was too spicy, etc."

Question 231

Imprecation

Answer 231

Curse "The haunted house features a 'wicked witch' chanting imprecations at all who pass through"

Question 232

Impugn

Answer 232

Attack the truth or integrity of "I hate to impugn the motives of the volunteers, but I think that some of them are here for personal gain, not to help"

Question 233

Fecund

Answer 233

1) Fruitful, fertile | 2) Capable of abundantly producing offspring

Question 234

Fortuitous

Answer 234

1) Appropriate (apt) 2) Pleasant, fortunate, marked by happiness Same definition as felicitous

Question 235

Ingrate

Answer 235

Ungrateful person

Question 236

Inimical

Answer 236

Hostile, harmful

Question 237

Iniquity

Answer 237

Injustice, wickedness, sin (adj form is iniquitous) NOT same as inequity (lack of equality, fairness)

Question 238

Insensible

Answer 238

Incapable of feeling; unconscious, unresponsive

Question 239

Insipid

Answer 239

Dull, stale, lacking taste/interest

Question 240

Inter

Answer 240

Bury (a dead body) or place in a tomb "After the funeral, the body will be interred in the cemetery"

Question 241

Interregnum

Answer 241

1) Time between two reigns or regimes where there is no ruler 2) Any period of freedom from authority 3) Period during which government does not function 4) Break or interruption in a series

Question 242

Intransigent

Answer 242

Refusing to compromise, inflexible, having extreme attitudes

Question 243

Inure

Answer 243

Toughen up, accustom or habituate to hardship/pain

Question 244

Inveigle

Answer 244

Entice, lure, get something by flattery, cleverness, etc.

Question 245

Investiture

Answer 245

1) Investing 2) Formally giving someone a right or title "The former dean had her academic robes dry cleaned in preparation for her investiture as university president"

Question 246

Invidious

Answer 246

Hateful, offensive, injurious "School bullying has become a serious problem, with ongoing invidious behavior driving students to suicide"

Question 247

Irascible

Answer 247

Irritable, easily angered

Question 248

Irresolute

Answer 248

Wavering, not sure how to proceed, not firm in one's decision making "The president admonished Congress, saying that although it faced difficult choices it must not be irresolute"

Question 249

Itinerant

Answer 249

Traveling from place to place, esp. for a job

Question 250

Jettison

Answer 250

Discard, cast off

Question 251

Knell

Answer 251

The sound made by a bell for a funeral; any sad sound or signal of a failure, ending

Question 252

Lachrymose

Answer 252

Tearful, mournful

Question 253

Largess/largesse

Answer 253

Generosity

Question 254

Latent

Answer 254

Existing but not visible or active; potential

Question 255

Leery

Answer 255

Suspicious or wary

Question 256

Legerdemain

Answer 256

Slight-of-hand Think: French

Question 257

Licentious

Answer 257

Sexually unrestrained; immoral; ignoring the rules

Question 258

Limpid

Answer 258

1) Completely calm | 2) Clear, transparent

Question 259

Lissome

Answer 259

Flexible, supple, agile

Question 260

Lugubrious

Answer 260

Mournful, gloomy (sometimes in an exaggerated way)

Question 261

Lurid

Answer 261

1) Gruesome, excessively vivid | 2) Sensational, shocking

Question 262

Machination

Answer 262

Crafty scheme

Question 263

Maelstrom

Answer 263

1) Chaotic, turbulent situation | 2) Violent whirlpool

Question 264

Malinger

Answer 264

Pretend to be sick

Question 265

Mannered

Answer 265

Having a peculiar manner, esp. an artificial one Think: affectation

Question 266

Martinet

Answer 266

1) Strict disciplinarian | 2) Person who adheres to rules extremely closely

Question 267

Maudlin

Answer 267

Excessively sentimental "The teacher insisted on taking a maudlin picture with each one of her students every year."

Question 268

Mendicant

Answer 268

Beggar

Question 269

Meretricious

Answer 269

Attractive in a vulgar or flashy way; deceptive "The singer performed her concert draped in what looked from far away like precious jewels, Up close, though, the fan could see that the accessories were just meretricious plastic, like what little girls buy at the mall"

Question 270

Metaphysical

Answer 270

1) Concerned with abstract thought | 2) Subtle or abstruse

Question 271

Milieu

Answer 271

Environment, atmosphere

Question 272

Militate

Answer 272

Have a great effect, weight heavily (usually against) "While his resume was stellar, his speech impediment militated against his performance in job interviews"

Question 273

Mirth

Answer 273

Amusement or laughter, merriment

Question 274

Modicum

Answer 274

A little bit, or limited quality "In her first five years in Hollywood, she experienced only a modicum of success as an actress, appearing twice in commercials" Think: moderate

Question 275

Modish

Answer 275

Stylish, contemporary

Question 276

Molt

Answer 276

Shed or cast off

Question 277

Monastic

Answer 277

Quiet, secluded, contemplative, lacking luxuries Think: austere, ascetic

Question 278

Albeit

Answer 278

Although, even though "The village leader was illiterate albeit highly intelligent"

Question 279

Multifarious

Answer 279

Diverse

Question 280

Nadir

Answer 280

Lowest point Think: opposite of apex

Question 281

Neophyte

Answer 281

Beginner; someone newly converted to a religion

Question 282

Nettle

Answer 282

Annoy, sting

Question 283

Noisome

Answer 283

1) Having an extremely offensive odor, disgusting | 2) Harmful

Question 284

Nominal

Answer 284

In name only; trivial

Question 285

Normative

Answer 285

1) Implying or attempting to establish a norm | 2) Expressing value judgments (rightness or wrongness of something) or telling people what to do

Question 286

Obdurate

Answer 286

1) Stubborn | 2) Hardened in wrongdoing

Question 287

Oblique

Answer 287

1) Slanting or sloping | 2) Indirect, evasive, misleading

Question 288

Occlude

Answer 288

Shut in/off, stop up, close

Question 289

Opine

Answer 289

Express an opinion

Question 290

Expatiate

Answer 290

To expand or elaborate on a topic; to discuss or write about at great length

Question 291

Excogitate

Answer 291

Think through in detail

Question 292

Opprobrium

Answer 292

Disgrace and disapproval that results from outrageously shameful actions "Drunk driving deserves opprobrium"

Question 293

Orotund

Answer 293

1) Rich, full, or clear in speech | 2) Bombastic

Question 294

Ossify

Answer 294

1) Become inflexible in attitudes | 2) Become bone or harden like bone

Question 295

Ostensible

Answer 295

Outwardly appearing; professed, evident, pretended

Question 296

Overwrought

Answer 296

1) Overly nervous, agitate, or excited 2) Overdone 3) Too ornate, elaborate

Question 297

Panache

Answer 297

Flair, style; flamboyant or grand way of acting

Question 298

Panoply

Answer 298

Splendid, wide-ranging, impressive display Think: pan (all) --> diverse array

Question 299

Pare

Answer 299

1) Peel or cut off the outer layer 2) Reduce or trim "She simplified her life by paring commitments from her schedule"

Question 300

Parley

Answer 300

(n) or (v) Discussion, negotiation, esp. between enemies

Question 301

Parry

Answer 301

Skillfully evade, defect or avoid

Question 302

Pastiche

Answer 302

1) Mix of incongruous parts | 2) Artistic work imitating the work of other artists, often satirically

Question 303

Pathogenic

Answer 303

Capable of causing disease

Question 304

Pedant

Answer 304

1) Person who pays excessive attention to book learning/rules 2) Person who uses learning to show off

Question 305

Peddle

Answer 305

1) Give out or disseminate: "I don't want these people peddling lies to our children" 2) Travel around while selling 3) Sell illegally

Question 306

Pellucid

Answer 306

1) Transparent, translucent | 2) Easy to understand

Question 307

Penumbra

Answer 307

1) Any area where something "sort of" exists (by implication) 2) Surrounding region, fringe, periphery 3) Outer part of a shadow from an eclipse

Question 308

Penury

Answer 308

Extreme poverty or scarcity

Question 309

Insolvent

Answer 309

Unable to meet one's financial obligations, bankrupt Opposite is solvent (able to meet financial obligations)

Question 310

Peregrinate

Answer 310

Travel from place to place, usually on foot Peripatetic is the noun form (someone who travels from place to place)

Question 311

Perfunctory

Answer 311

Done superficially, without much care

Question 312

Peripatetic

Answer 312

Someone who travels from place to place usually on foot

Question 313

Perspicacious

Answer 313

Having penetrating insight or good discernment n. is perspicacity (sharp powers of observation) "The writer's perspicacity made it easy for her to understand and write about human nature" Think: perceptive

Question 314

Phalanx

Answer 314

1) Formation of soldiers carrying shields close together for defense 2) A very close group of people "To even enter the embassy, the diplomats had to make their way through a phalanx of protestors"

Question 315

Philistine

Answer 315

Person deficient in or hostile to culture "She decided her date was an absolute philistine when he said that the Best Picture Oscar should go to Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D"

Question 316

Phlegmatic

Answer 316

Apathetic, sluggish, not easily made emotional Think: phlegm--> sticks to your throat, moves slowly

Question 317

Plutocracy

Answer 317

Rule by the wealthy

Question 318

Politic

Answer 318

Tactful or diplomatic; pragmatic, shrewd

Question 319

Polyglot

Answer 319

Speaking or composed of many languages

Question 320

Precipitate

Answer 320

1) Cause to happen suddenly or prematurely (cause or hasten an event) "They had been considering a move to Florida for years, but the sudden destruction of their home in a hurricane precipitated their decision to finally make the move" 2) Fling, plunge, or hurl down (think: precipice) 3) (adj): acting with haste or impulse (precipitous also means hasty) "The officer took precipitate action and wound up making the situation worse"

Question 321

Precis

Answer 321

Concise summary, abstract

Question 322

Predilection

Answer 322

Preference, tendency or favorability towards

Question 323

Preternatural

Answer 323

Exceptional, supernatural

Question 324

Prolix

Answer 324

Verbose, excessively long and wordy

Question 325

Propitiate

Answer 325

Appease, placate, attempt to reconcile with "The ancient Greeks would often attempt to propitiate angry gods by sacrificing animals to them"

Question 326

Propitious

Answer 326

1) Favorable, giving good signs for the future | 2) Kind or forgiving

Question 327

Complaisant

Answer 327

Eager to please; cheerfully complying Although France and Germany have a close relationship, neither would consider the other a complaisant ally

Question 328

Diffuse

Answer 328

1) Spread widely, disseminate | 2) Wordy and going off-topic

Question 329

Discordant

Answer 329

1) Harsh or inharmonious in sound | 2) Disagreeing, incongruous

Question 330

Providential

Answer 330

Lucky, fortunate, relating to divine care "Every time their religious sister ran out of money, help always arrived! She viewed this as God's providential hand, but her family members viewed it as their always having to bail her out, and it was getting annoying"

Question 331

Puerile

Answer 331

Juvenile, immature "The retiring film critic decried the puerile humor common in so many modern American movies, pointing out that the classic comedies of the '40s were so much smarter and less reliant on jokes about bodily functions"

Question 332

Pungent

Answer 332

1) Having a sharp taste or smell 2) Biting, stimulating, sharp "The new assistant chef received some rather pungent criticism from the head chef for her idea to make feta cheese soup, which the customers found much too pungent"

Question 333

Pusillanimous

Answer 333

Cowardly, timid

Question 334

Querulous

Answer 334

Given to complaining, grumbling

Question 335

Quiescent

Answer 335

Quiet, still, inactive "After hours of moaning and shaking from his illness, the child finally exhausted himself and grew quiescent" "Although malignant tumors may remain quiescent for a period of time, they never become benign"

Question 336

Raconteur

Answer 336

Witty storyteller

Question 337

Rarefied

Answer 337

1) Lofty, elevated (in a metaphorical way) 2) Exclusive 3) Thin, pure, or less dense (as air at the top of a mountain) "Among the rarefied ranks of conference attendees, she counted two Nobel Prize Winners"

Question 338

Recalcitrant

Answer 338

Intractable. Not obedient, hard to manage "She was no prepared for a roomful of 20 recalcitrant children who wouldn't even sit down, much less learn the words to 'Holding Hands around the World'"

Question 339

Recondite

Answer 339

Not easily understood, hidden, dealing with an obscure topic "Professor Salazar's office is full of books, every single one of which is more than 400 years old and written in ancient Greek. He deals in some seriously recondite information

Question 340

Recrudescent

Answer 340

Revival, breaking out into renewed activity (usually used for the reappearance of disease) "The recrudescence of his psoriasis came at the worst possible time"

Question 341

Redound

Answer 341

To have a good or bad effect, esp. as a result of a person's efforts or actions (usually used with to, on, or upon) "Cramming vocabulary words probably won't be very effective, but studying a little every day will redound to your success" Hint: similar to militate

Question 342

Refractory

Answer 342

Intractable. Stubbornly disobedient, hard to manage

Question 343

Refulgent

Answer 343

Shining, radiant "Her new engagement ring was refulgent. I'll bet she polished it every night"

Question 344

Rejoinder

Answer 344

Response or reply, esp. a witty comeback

Question 345

Rend

Answer 345

1) Tear violently; pull apart, split, or tear away | 2) To forcibly take

Question 346

Repast

Answer 346

A meal; to eat or feast

Question 347

Repose

Answer 347

The act or state of resting; peacefulness, tranquility; lying dead in a grave

Question 348

Reprobate

Answer 348

Disreputable or unprincipled person; shameless, depraved "The police joked that they had so many mug shots of the old reprobate that they could assemble them into a photography book called, 'Faces of Petty Crime, 1976-2011'"

Question 349

Ribald

Answer 349

Using or relating to obscene or vulgar humor

Question 350

Rue

Answer 350

Regret, remorse; to feel regret, remorse

Question 351

Sardonic

Answer 351

Scornfully or ironically mocking, cynically derisive

Question 352

Scintilla

Answer 352

A tiny bit or trace, modicum

Question 353

Scurvy

Answer 353

Contemptible, mean; not admirable

Question 354

Searchingly

Answer 354

In a searching or penetrating manner; while examining closely or probing for answers

Question 355

Seraphic

Answer 355

Like an angel; serene, spiritually carried off or transported

Question 356

Stem

Answer 356

1) To branch out from, originate from | 2) To stop, hold back, or limit

Question 357

Sinecure

Answer 357

A job or position that pays while requiring little or no work "It's sort of understood that professors who relocate to campus are rewarded with sinecures for their spouses, whether those spouses have any qualifications or not"

Question 358

Slake

Answer 358

1) Satisfy 2) Make less active The way to resolve those two contrasting definitions: if you slake your thirst (satisfy it), your thirst has weakened or gone away "The teacher's harsh, demanding attitude soon slake the girls' enthusiasm for the ballet class"

Question 359

Sobriquet

Answer 359

A nickname

Question 360

Solecism

Answer 360

1) Nonstandard use of grammar or words 2) Mistake, esp. in etiquette "'I could care less' is a solecism-- what the speaker really means to say is 'I couldn't care less'"

Question 361

Squelch

Answer 361

1) Crush, squash 2) Suppress or silence 3) Walk through ooze or in wet shoes, making a smacking sound

Question 362

Stentorian

Answer 362

Very loud and powerful (generally of a human voice) "the football coach shut down the chaos immediately with a stentorian "sit down and shut up!"

Question 363

Stint

Answer 363

1) Period of time spent doing something 2) To be frugal, to get by on little; to be sparing "After watching him stint on ketchup, his wife said 'Honey, seriously, here you can use all you want!" "Stinting on funding for education strikes many people as shortsighted"

Question 364

Strategem

Answer 364

1) Military maneuver to deceive or surprise | 2) Crafty scheme

Question 365

Strut

Answer 365

A structural support or brace "Looking out the window of the small biplane, Elena could see the struts, the vertical connectors between the lower and upper set of wings"

Question 366

Supposition

Answer 366

Assumption, hypothesis

Question 367

Sybarite

Answer 367

Person devoted to pleasure and luxury

Question 368

Symbiosis

Answer 368

Mutually dependent relationship between two organism, groups, etc.

Question 369

Tendentious

Answer 369

Marked by a strong point of view, biased Think: if you are tendentious, you are tending towards a particular thing "It's hard to become absorbed in the world of a fantasy novel when the author is so tendentious--the planet of Xerxon is clearly meant to mimic the United States, and the author's politics intrude on the story on every page"

Question 370

Toady

Answer 370

Obsequious, sycophantic (someone who flatters for self-serving reasons)

Question 371

Tortuous

Answer 371

1) Complex, not straightforward 2) Twisting, winding, complex "The children found the tortuous path of the roller coaster both terrifying and exciting"

Question 372

Travesty

Answer 372

Exaggerated, debased, or grotesque imitations "The sketch was a pretty good travesty of the election scandal"

Question 373

Trenchant

Answer 373

1) Forceful, and effective 2) Extremely perceptive 3) Caustic, sharp "The school's trenchant new antitruancy policy immediately increased class attendance" "She would have made excuses for hours had Juan not trenchantly stepped in and asked, 'you want to quit, right?'" The experienced CEO offered trenchant criticisms of the young company

Question 374

Truculent

Answer 374

1) Belligerent 2) Fierce, cruel, savage Think: truck hitting you "That guy is too truculent to work in customer service; when the customers are already angry, the last thing this store needs is someone prone to blow up at any moment!"

Question 375

Turgid

Answer 375

1) Swollen, inflated 2) Metaphorically: overdone, pompous "His prose was so turgid he used the phrase 'synchronous repast' to mean a lunch break" "He carried the turgid water balloons to the balcony, ready for a splash attack on those below"

Question 376

Turpitude

Answer 376

Depravity, baseness of character His turpitude was evidenced by his constant detentions and a three-day stay in a juvenile jail"

Question 377

Tyro

Answer 377

Beginner

Question 378

Umbrage

Answer 378

Offense or annoyance (usually as take umbrage, meaning become offended or annoyed "The executive took umbrage when a coworker suggested that he was good to have around to remind others of ancient history"

Question 379

Usury

Answer 379

Charging interest on a loan, esp. excessive interest adj. is usurious "The consumer advocate's group complained about the bank's usurious interest rates"

Question 380

Vanguard

Answer 380

Leaders or forefront of a trend/movement "While Google has won the search engine wards, in 1994, Yahoo was on the vanguard of search technology"

Question 381

Variegated

Answer 381

Varied in color, diverse

Question 382

Verdant

Answer 382

1) Green, such as with vegetation 2) Young and inexperienced "The first year associate was a little too verdant to be assigned to the big case" "Dabir loved the lushness of the verdant forests in rainy Oregon"

Question 383

Verisimilar

Answer 383

The appearance of being true or real "The film manages to retain verisimilitude even though the plot is about a bunch of space aliens coming through a wormhole and enslaving humanity"

Question 384

Vernal

Answer 384

1) Relating to the spring 2) Fresh, youthful "Almas's favorite part of gardening was the vernal reawakening that followed a frozen winter"

Question 385

Vicissitude

Answer 385

Changes or variations over time, esp. from one thing to another "She pondered the vicissitudes of life-- she once had a house full of servants, and now was a maid herself" "John found inner strength and confronted the vicissitudes of a troubled life admirably" Think: s"ciss"ors cutting paper, thus changing the shape over time

Question 386

Vim

Answer 386

Pep, enthusiasm, vitality, lively spirit "'I'm old, not dead!" said grandpa, full of vim and ready for his first bungee jump"

Question 387

Virulent

Answer 387

1) Infectious, poisonous 2) Hateful, bitterly hostile "Discipline in the classroom is one thing, but the teacher's virulence towards misbehaving students was enough to get her suspended from teaching"

Question 388

Viscid

Answer 388

Viscous, thick, adhesive "Ugh, what did you spill on this floor? It's too viscid to be absorbed by these paper towels"

Question 389

Vociferous

Answer 389

Nosily crying out, as in protest "He has always been a vociferous opponent of the estate tax, appearing on numerous news programs to rail against 'double taxation'"

Question 390

Voluble

Answer 390

Easily fluent in regards to speech "The journalist's new book is a voluble tome, covering three centuries of history with numerous flowing, almost conversational asides into the scientific discoveries and cultural advances of various time periods"

Question 391

Wan

Answer 391

1) Unnaturally pale, or showing other indication of sickness 2) Weak, lacking forcefulness "Juhn's wan attempt at asking for a raise was easily brushed off by his boss"

Question 392

Wanton

Answer 392

1) Reckless, vicious, without regard for what is right 2) Sexually unrestrained or excessively luxurious 3) Unjustifiable, deliberately done for no reason at all "Many hip-hop videos depict a wanton lifestyle that is attractive to some, but unattainable (and possibly illegal!)" "Kids like to play pranks on Halloween, but driving an SUV into people's mailboxes isn't a prank--it's wanton destruction of property"

Question 393

Welter

Answer 393

1) (n) confused mass or pile, confusion or turmoil 2) (v) roll around, wallow, writhe "It said 'thrift store,' but inside it was just a welter of used clothing, draped everywhere and even lying in piles" "By the time the teacher broke up the fight, it was already pretty much over--the loser was weltering on the floor" "They struggled to keep the sailboat afloat on the weltering sea"

Question 394

Whet

Answer 394

Stimulate, make keen or eager To pique one's interest, curiosity, etc. is to stimulate that emotion

Question 395

Whitewash

Answer 395

1) Substance used to whiten | 2) Deception, covering up of wrongs, errors, etc. (eg. gloss over)

Question 396

Winnow

Answer 396

Sift, analyze critically, separate the useful part from the worthless part "We got 120 resumes for this job. It's going to take me a while just to winnow this down to a reasonable stack of people we want to interview"

Question 397

Winsome

Answer 397

Charming, esp. in a sweet and innocent way

Question 398

Yoke

Answer 398

1) A burden or something that oppresses 2) A frame for attaching animals to each other and to a plow 3) To unite together or to burden "The speaker argued that humanity had traded the yoke of servitude to kings and tyrants for the yoke of consumerism"

Question 399

Ingratiate

Answer 399

Make an effort to gain favor with

Question 400

Sapid/sipid

Answer 400

Opposite of insipid Tasty, agreeably distinct

Question 401

Luminous

Answer 401

1) Shining, radiant | 2) Brilliant or enlightening

Question 402

Turbid

Answer 402

adj. turbulent adj. muddy, opaque adj. in a state of confusion "The poem captures the restless and turbid state of the soldier's mind the night before the decisive battle was set to begin"

Question 403

Unsparing

Answer 403

1) unmerciful, harsh (not sparing any criticism) 2) generous, lavish (not sparing any help or gifts) "The mother was unsparing in praising her son, so he was in for quite a shock when his new teacher told him his work was substandard"

Question 404

Vex

Answer 404

1) annoy or bother | 2) puzzle or distress

Question 405

Immutable

Answer 405

Unchangeable

Question 406

Incarnadine

Answer 406

Blood red or flesh-colored "The police took the body to the morgue; all that was left at the murder scene was an incarnadine stain on a pillow"

Question 407

Defatigate

Answer 407

To make tired Think: opposite of indefatigable

Question 408

Derivative

Answer 408

Not original; secondary

Question 409

Feckless

Answer 409

lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible

Question 410

Punctilious

Answer 410

showing great attention to detail or correct behavior "The prime minister reminded his staff that they must be punctilious in following protocol"

Question 411

Abstruse

Answer 411

difficult to understand; obscure

Question 412

Hortatory

Answer 412

tending or aiming to exhort

Question 413

Canny

Answer 413

having or showing shrewdness and good judgment

Question 414

Bridle

Answer 414

Anything that restrains or curbs

Question 415

Indemnify

Answer 415

Compensate for harm or loss

Question 416

Manacle

Answer 416

To hamper, restrain

Question 417

Rein

Answer 417

As in rein in (not to be confused with reign) To restrain or control

Question 418

Vigorous

Answer 418

1) Strong, healthy, full of energy; robust 2) Characterized by involving strength, effort 3) forceful (in terms of language)

Question 419

Robust

Answer 419

1) strong and healthy; vigorous 2) sturdy in construction 3) able to withstand adverse conditions

Question 420

Ineffable

Answer 420

Incapable of being described in words

Question 421

Sublimate

Answer 421

1) to change state of matter between solid and gaseous form without passing through a liquid stage 2) to modify expression of instinctual drive into a socially acceptable form

Question 422

Propound

Answer 422

To propose or offer for consideration

Question 423

Precipitous

Answer 423

1) dangerously high or steep | 2) done hastily and without care

Question 424

Necromancy

Answer 424

1) communication with the dead | 2) black magic

Question 425

Entreat

Answer 425

To plead

Question 426

Internecine

Answer 426

1) mutually destructive 2) characterized by bloodshed 3) relating to intragroup struggle

Question 427

Advert

Answer 427

To call or direct attention towards (think: opposite of avert)

Question 428

Extirpate

Answer 428

1) to destroy/annihilate | 2) to cut out by the roots

Question 429

Prone

Answer 429

1) tending to behave in a certain way | 2) lying face or front downward

Question 430

Excoriate

Answer 430

Condemn scathingly

Question 431

Aseptic

Answer 431

1) Free of pathogens/germs | 2) with little or no emotion

Question 432

Picaresque

Answer 432

Involving clever rogues in episodes of adventure/comedy (eg. Huck Finn) Type of fiction involving a dishonest but appealing hero

Question 433

Antipodal

Answer 433

Polar opposite

Question 434

Pillory

Answer 434

To punish; to hold up for public scorning (like the wooden object with two holes for criminals, by the same name)

Question 435

Infelicitous

Answer 435

Unfortunate, inappropriate

Question 436

Overweening

Answer 436

Presumptuously arrogant or conceited; overbearing "The ancient Greeks believed that overweening pride- what they called hubris- would be punished, eventually, by the gods"

Question 437

Locution

Answer 437

Style of speaking; particular word/phrase/style used by a person or group

Question 438

Jocose

Answer 438

Like jocular Characterized by a joking or humorous manner

Question 439

Stanch

Answer 439

To cease the flow of a liquid (esp. blood) "The doctor's attempt to stanch the flow of blood eventually succeeded, and the patient's blood pressure stabilized"

Question 440

Solder

Answer 440

To weld, fuse, or join (esp. metals) "Harry soldered the bits of scrap metal together to make a pet door"

Question 441

Demur vs demure

Answer 441

Demur: to object or show reluctance Demure: modest, shy

Question 442

Mellifluous

Answer 442

Sweetly flowing (esp. of words or sounds) "Lucy's mellifluous voice was noted by her interviewer"

Question 443

Inveterate

Answer 443

Established, habitual, deep-rooted

Question 444

Pedagogy

Answer 444

Profession/art of training, teaching, or instructing

Question 445

Guy

Answer 445

A rope or cord attached to something as a brace

Question 446

Sallow

Answer 446

Of sickly yellowing complexion

Question 447

Plangent

Answer 447

Thundering, resounding "The plangent honking of geese flying overhead jolted me awake"

Question 448

Macerate

Answer 448

1) to starve 2) to soften by steeping in a liquid

Question 449

Callow

Answer 449

Immature; lacking maturity or experience

Question 450

Innervate

Answer 450

Animate, invigorate, give nervous energy to

Question 451

Epicurean

Answer 451

Characterized by luxury

Question 452

Hirsute

Answer 452

Hairy, shaggy

Question 453

Execrate

Answer 453

1) to loathe 2) to curse 3) to denounce, declare abhorent

Question 454

Sempiternal

Answer 454

Eternal, infinite

Question 455

Plumb

Answer 455

1) to examine critically, deply 2) to measure the depth I think she is the only architect working today who has the courage to truly plumb the possibilities of recycled construction materials.

Question 456

Decadent

Answer 456

1) in a state of decline | 2) self-indulgent

Question 457

Artless

Answer 457

1) simple and natural 2) unable to mask true feelings 3) crudely made, without artistic merit Without skill or finesse; without guile or deception

Question 458

Rapacious

Answer 458

Greedy, plundering

Question 459

Recumbent

Answer 459

Lying down, leaning

Question 460

Frangible

Answer 460

Fragile

Question 461

Ebb

Answer 461

1) (v): to decrease, recede 2) (n): a decline 3) (n): outward flow of the tide

Question 462

Countermand

Answer 462

To annul, cancel, make contrary order

Question 463

Ebullient

Answer 463

Very enthusiastic, excited

Question 464

Apogee

Answer 464

The highest point

Question 465

Alloy

Answer 465

1) (n): a mixture of superior and inferior ingredients 2) (v) to debase by mixing with something inferior "The heroism one sees nowadays is often alloyed with some degree of self-interest"

Question 466

Baleful

Answer 466

adj. threatening harm, menacing, having a harmful/destructive effect "Drug money has had a baleful impact on the country" "The basilisk's baleful glare is lethal"

Question 467

Hallow

Answer 467

To set apart as holy, to sanctify

Question 468

Unctuous

Answer 468

1) adj. oily, greasy | 2) adj. characterized by insincere earnestness (sycophantic, toady)

Question 469

Arrant

Answer 469

1) Thorough, utter: "what an arrant disaster!" | 2) Impudent: not showing due respect for another; impertinent

Question 470

Vaunt

Answer 470

To boast or brag about "The head coach warned her players not to vaunt their undefeated record"

Question 471

Whit

Answer 471

Smallest part or fraction "The bank robber did not have a whit of self-respect"

Question 472

Blandish

Answer 472

To coax or influence with flattery n. blandishment "Steve blandished her into going out with him" "Despite the salesperson's blandishments, Donna did not buy the car"

Question 473

Peremptory

Answer 473

1) admitting of no contradiction, putting an end to further debate 2) haughty, imperious "'Just do it!' came the peremptory reply"

Question 474

Delectation

Answer 474

Enjoyment They played wiffleball for the delectation of it, not for the competition

Question 475

Fission

Answer 475

The act of separating into parts "The controversial legislation led to the fission of the administration"

Question 476

Forbear

Answer 476

To refrain from doing something Although I know Adam likes to crack jokes, I would have liked him to forbear silliness in such a serious situation

Question 477

Quail

Answer 477

To shrink with fear "The puppy quailed at my angry tone"

Question 478

Frenetic

Answer 478

Frenzied, frantic

Question 479

Importune

Answer 479

To beg persistently Kate importuned her father every day to teach her how to sail

Question 480

Impregnable

Answer 480

Able to withstand attack "The fortress was surrounded by a moat so as to make it impregnable"

Question 481

Impudent

Answer 481

Impertinent; disrespectful (not showing due respect) "The girl was forced to apologize in front of the class for her impudent attitude towards her teachers"

Question 482

Bedizen

Answer 482

To adorn or dress, usually in a gaudy way

Question 483

Salacious

Answer 483

Causing sexual desire, lewd, bawdy

Question 484

Gossamer

Answer 484

adj. delicate, insubstantial, flimsy The gossamer kite broke in two at the first gust of wind.

Question 485

Indelible

Answer 485

Impossible to remove or to forget The memory of that day had become indelible in his mind.

Question 486

Byzantine

Answer 486

adj. complex, intricate, labyrinthine The byzantine rules of the card game confused everyone

Question 487

Inveigh

Answer 487

v. to attack verbally, to deprecate The protesters were inveighing against government policies

Question 488

Quaff

Answer 488

To drink deeply He quaffed the pint in a three hearty gulps

Question 489

Essay

Answer 489

n. an attempt or trial v. to test, try, experiment, investigate My frequent essays at piano playing have only met with failure

Question 490

Incisive

Answer 490

adj. quick to understand, perceptive adj. clearly expressed, decisive The boy's incisive mind allowed him to excel in all of his classes

Question 491

Redolent

Answer 491

adj. strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something; evocative of adj. fragrant "Their pubs bear names redolent of the monarchy" "The fraternity house was redolent of stale beer and day-old pizza"

Question 492

Provident

Answer 492

adj. looking to the future | adj. frugal

Question 493

Paean

Answer 493

A song or expression of joy/praise

Question 494

Luxuriant

Answer 494

adj. growing in extreme abundance; lush | adj. luxurious/complexly detailed

Question 495

Tenacious

Answer 495

adj. sticking strongly to something adj. having greater than average longevity adj. stubborn

Question 496

Torpid

Answer 496

adj. lacking physical or mental energy The student was torpid and generally uninvolved in discussions, so the teacher had to speak with him about his participation

Question 497

Abstemious

Answer 497

Moderate, esp. when eating or drinking "Some research suggests that people with an abstemious lifestyle tend to live longer than people who indulge their appetites"

Question 498

Adulterate

Answer 498

v. to corrupt or make impure; debase, taint "Over the last 20 years or so, consumers have increasingly demanded food that is not adulterated with additives"

Question 499

Ambrosia

Answer 499

n. something delicious; the good of the gods adj is ambrosial "The combination of flavors in the Moroccan baked eggplant was pure ambrosia" "The food critic praised the chef for preparing what he called an 'ambrosial meal' "

Question 500

Antediluvean

Answer 500

Prehistoric "The teacher showed the class the classic film 'On the beach,' but many of the students had trouble appreciating it bc of what one student called its 'antideluvian black and white film tech'

Question 501

Apothegm

Answer 501

n. a terse, witty saying "One of the best-known political apothegms was written by the British historian Lord Acton: 'Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely'"

Question 502

Argot

Answer 502

n. jargon "Writers of crime fiction often use the argot of criminals and detectives to create a realistic atmosphere"

Question 503

Astringent

Answer 503

adj. harsh, severe Mate, a popular beverage in South America, is similar to tea but is less astringent and often contains more caffeine

Question 504

Atavism

Answer 504

n. return of a trait after a period of absence "Some modern political theorists reject nationalism as a tribal atavism"

Question 505

Avocation

Answer 505

n. secondary occupation "Dan became so proficient at his avocation--computer programming--that he is thinking of giving up his job as a teacher to do it full time"

Question 506

Avuncular

Answer 506

adj. like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant The anchorman had an avuncular manner that made him one of America's most trusted personalities

Question 507

Beatify

Answer 507

adj. to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to "The pope traveled to Portugal to beatify two of the three children who said they saw the appearance of the Virgin Mary"

Question 508

Behemoth

Answer 508

n. anything very large and powerful "First IBM, next Microsoft and then Google became the behemoths of the computer industry"

Question 509

Antipathy

Answer 509

Aversion, loathing

Question 510

Sundry

Answer 510

adj. various, miscellaneous, separate "The sundry items at the garage sale ranged from antique to almost brand new"

Question 511

Reprise

Answer 511

n. repetition of an action | v. to repeat or resume

Question 512

Harrow

Answer 512

v. to distress, torment Any talk of layoffs would always leave the entire division harrowed and unable to focus on their work

Question 513

Subterfuge

Answer 513

n. deception to avoid a consequence/punishment "Policemen who stop drunk drivers can see right through the subterfuge of hastily chewing a piece of gum"

Question 514

Controvert

Answer 514

v. to refute, deny the truth of "Recent experiments seem to controvert the predictions of previous theories"

Question 515

Hidebound

Answer 515

adj. rigid "The hidebound rules of organized religion have never appealed to me much"

Question 516

Chary

Answer 516

adj. very cautious; not giving or spending freely adj. shy Joe was chary of his praise for his daughters, but when he did congratulate them, they beamed

Question 517

Arabesque

Answer 517

n. a complex or ornate design The kimono was trimmed with an arabesque of tiny yellow curlicues

Question 518

Picayune

Answer 518

adj. of little value, petty n. something of little value "His craftsmanship wasn't worth a picayune" "I didn't want to seem picayune by criticizing"

Question 519

Ramify

Answer 519

v. to branch out, to be divided "The dispute ramified as more factions got involved"

Question 520

Sodden

Answer 520

adj. thoroughly soaked, saturated "The sodden field makes it difficult for the soccer players to move effective"

Question 521

Inimitable

Answer 521

adj. incapable of being imitated or duplicated The Broadway debut was a spellbinding performance thanks mainly to the inimitable stamina of the female lead

Question 522

Capacious

Answer 522

Having a lot of room Think: capacity The capacious living room often impressed their guests

Question 523

Capitulate

Answer 523

Surrender, give in "The mother capitulated after hours of tantrums and finally bought her son the toy"

Question 524

Carp

Answer 524

v. to raise trivial objections, to complain "She hated when her coworkers carped about the minimal work they had to do" "The band decided to continue to play in their new style despite the carping of critics who said it was a sell-out to commercial interest"

Question 525

Chimera

Answer 525

n. fanciful mental illusion The ability to make easy money is a chimera; it only works until the next economic downturn

Question 526

Convalesce

Answer 526

v. to recover After the accident, Tom was told to convalesce for at least two weeks

Question 527

Despond

Answer 527

v. to become dejected His campaign team desponded when they heard the official results of the election

Question 528

Boorish

Answer 528

adj. rude, insensitive Think: boar "Many people in the audience were annoyed at the boorish behavior of the two men who talked loudly to each other through the entire movie"

Question 529

Doggerel

Answer 529

n. poorly constructed verse adj. comic, burlesque; loose and irregular The doggerel found in some publications is often a result of lazy editing

Question 530

Nexus

Answer 530

n. a connected series; a link n. the center, focus "a nexus of ideas" "the nexus between industry and political power"

Question 531

Promulgate

Answer 531

v. to promote or make widely known v. to officially announce "These objectives have to be promulgated within the organization" "The governor promulgated the new building code by special courier to each of the state's municipalities"

Question 532

Dross

Answer 532

n. rubbish, impurity "There are bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross"

Question 533

Epigram

Answer 533

n. a witty saying "The comedian became famous for his instantly recognizable epigrams and one-liners"

Question 534

Erudite

Answer 534

adj. having profound knowledge or wisdom The erudite professor was extremely knowledgeable but difficult to understand in lectures

Question 535

Evanescent

Answer 535

adj. tending to vanish The evanescent beauty of cherry blossoms may have inspired the respect for short-lived pleasures evident in the Japanese psyche

Question 536

Cadge

Answer 536

v. to beg "An enduring image of the Great Depression in America is the out-of-work man cadging money with the line, 'Hey, mister, can you spare a dime for a cup of coffee?"

Question 537

Cant

Answer 537

n. insincere talk; language of a particular group "Many of the beat artists of the 1950s reacted against what they regarded as the cant of bourgeois society "Commentators dismissed the speech as the mere cant of someone desperately trying to be reelected"

Question 538

Captious

Answer 538

adj. faultfinding; intended to entrap, as in an argument "The pedantic and captious critic seems incapable of appreciating the merits of even the most highly regarded books" "The English teacher is so pedantic and captious in her marking that her students have become discouraged"

Question 539

Cataclysm

Answer 539

n. a violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change The French Revolution of 1789 was a cataclysm whose effects are still felt today

Question 540

Categorical

Answer 540

adj. absolute; without exception "My position is categorical," the CEO said. "I will not allow this company to be bought out" "Although incest is categorically forbidden by every state, recent evidence shows that marriage between cousins is no more likely to produce abnormal offspring than 'normal' marriages"

Question 541

Caucus

Answer 541

n. smaller group within an organization "The workers formed an informal caucus to discuss their difficulties"

Question 542

Centrifugal

Answer 542

adj. moving away from a center Think: centrifuge spinning "As the empire expanded, there was an ever-increasing centrifugal stress as remote colonies sought autonomy"

Question 543

Centripetal

Answer 543

adj. moving or directed toward a center "Astronomers calculate that the centripetal force exerted by the Earth's gravity on the Moon will keep the Moon in orbit around the Earth for billions of years"

Question 544

Chicanery

Answer 544

n. trickery, fraud "The governor ordered an audit to investigate alleged financial chicanery"

Question 545

Chasten

Answer 545

v. to correct by punishment/reproof v. to restrain or subdue "The dictator of the small country was chastened by the great power's show of naval strength in the harbor of his country's capital city"

Question 546

Churlish

Answer 546

adj. rude; boorish "According to the chivalric code, a knight was never supposed to be churlish, especially toward noble ladies, to whom he was supposed to be unfailingly gentle and courteous"

Question 547

Codify

Answer 547

v. to systematize n. is codification The state legislature voted to codify regulations governing banking fraud

Question 548

Supercilious

Answer 548

adj. haughtily disdainful or contemptuous | adj. behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

Question 549

Rectitude

Answer 549

n. moral righteousness n. the quality of being right "The priest praised him for his rectitude in the face of temptation"

Question 550

Glib

Answer 550

adj. fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow "The politician annoyed many journalists with his glib responses"

Question 551

Compuction

Answer 551

n. uneasiness caused by guilt "One of the main goals of military training is to train soldiers to kill without compunction"

Question 552

Concomitant

Answer 552

adj. existing concurrently "It appears that bureaucracies are today a necessary evil, a concomitant of modern society"

Question 553

Congenial

Answer 553

adj. opposite of inimical: suitable to adj. similar in tastes/habits, friendly "The physicist has expressed his awe at how congenial the universe is to intelligent life"

Question 554

Contiguous

Answer 554

Touching, neighboring; connection w/o a break "The landlord had the abandoned house contiguous to his house torn down"

Question 555

Continence

Answer 555

n. self control, abstinence | Think: incontinence as lack of control

Question 556

Convivial

Answer 556

Friendly, sociable "One of the jobs of an ambassador is to provide a convivial atmosphere for diplomats to meet"

Question 557

Coquette

Answer 557

A woman who flirts

Question 558

Covetous

Answer 558

The adj form of to covet: desiring something owned by another

Question 559

Cozen

Answer 559

v. to mislead by trick or fraud; deceive "The sales pitch cozens potential customers by omitting the fact that the product has been superseded by far superior products available at the same price"

Question 560

Demotic

Answer 560

adj. pertaining to people; popular or colloquial "The professor never watches movies which he calls 'demotic entertainment for the semiliterate'"

Question 561

Denizen

Answer 561

n. inhabitant; regular visitor "The US Census Bureau collects information about the denizens of the US"

Question 562

Desuetude

Answer 562

n. state of disuse "NASA is considering a plan to refurbish booster rockets from the Apollo Program that have fallen into desuetude"

Question 563

Discretion

Answer 563

n. quality of showing self-restrain (also: circumspection, freedom to act on one's own) "In 19th century Britain gentlemen were expected to behave with discretion"

Question 564

Distrait

Answer 564

adj. inattentive, preoccupied, distracted "The chairperson because distrait because his secretary was not sitting in her usual position"

Question 565

Effete

Answer 565

adj. depleted of vitality (weak, ineffectual) adj. mannered, affected "It is interesting to observe how some traditions remain strong, while others gradually become effete"

Question 566

Entomology

Answer 566

The scientific study of insects

Question 567

Equable

Answer 567

adj. steady, unvarying, serene Think: equanimity "Throughout the crisis the president remained equable"

Question 568

Etiology

Answer 568

Causes or origins "The etiology of mental illness is complex because of the diversity of factors that contribute to many disorders"

Question 569

Etymology

Answer 569

Origin and history of a word

Question 570

Evince

Answer 570

v. to show plainly, to indicate "The student's response to the teacher's question evinced his ignorance of the subject"

Question 571

Execrable

Answer 571

adj. abhorrent "When folk artists started using rock instruments, many traditionalists considered it an execrable travesty"

Question 572

Exhort

Answer 572

To urge by strong appeals "The principal exhorted the students to study hard for the final exams"

Question 573

Exigency

Answer 573

Crisis, urgent requirements "Astronauts must be prepared for exigencies such as damage to their spacecraft's life support system"

Question 574

Expatriate

Answer 574

v. or n. to send into exile Think: expat "People seeking asylum in another country are sometimes expatriated"

Question 575

Expiate

Answer 575

To atone for "The pilgrims undertook their long journey to expiate their sins"

Question 576

Expository

Answer 576

Explanatory

Question 577

Factotum

Answer 577

n. a person who does all sorts of work; a handyman "The general's aide-de-camp functions as the general's factotum"

Question 578

Fetter

Answer 578

v. to bind, confine "He refused to be fettered by the conventions of society"

Question 579

Fiat

Answer 579

Arbitrary order; authorization "The dictator rules almost entirely by fiat"

Question 580

Forbearance

Answer 580

n. patience "The governor urged the people of the state to show forbearance during the crisis"

Question 581

Forswear

Answer 581

v. renounce, repudiate "Peace activists are working to get governments to forswear the use of nuclear weapons"

Question 582

Founder

Answer 582

v. to sink; fail; collapse "The negotiations foundered when agreement could not be reached on the central issue"

Question 583

Heterodox

Answer 583

adj. unorthodox; not widely accepted "The theologian's heterodox conclusions were censured by the church"

Question 584

Igneous

Answer 584

Produced by fire; volcanic "The presence of igneous rocks on the beach suggests the occurrence of volcanic explosions millions of years ago"

Question 585

Imbroglio

Answer 585

n. complicated situation; an entanglement "The president warned Congress that the United States should not become involved in the diplomatic imbroglio"

Question 586

Impinge

Answer 586

v. to strike v. to encroach v. have an effect, esp. a negative one "Chimpanzees are territorial; individuals that are not members of a group impinging on the territory of that group are normally met with aggression"

Question 587

Incursion

Answer 587

n. sudden invasion "During an ice age, the polar ice caps make incursions into regions that are temperate at other times"

Question 588

Ineluctable

Answer 588

adj. not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable "No one can escape the ineluctable truth that every creature that is born will one day die"

Question 589

Insouciant

Answer 589

adj. indifferent; lacking concern or care "Considering the gravity of the situation, Nancy's colleagues could not understand her insouciant attitude"

Question 590

Insuperable

Answer 590

adj. insurmountable; unconquerable "Attempts to develop an antiballistic missile system have met with limited success because of the almost insuperable difficulties presented by the speed of the approaching warhead"

Question 591

Interdict

Answer 591

v. to forbid; prohibit; to confront and halt the activities, advance, or entry of "Under US law interdicted goods can be seized by customs officials" "Military intelligence officers played a major role in interdicting spies attempting to pass top-secret intelligence to the enemy"

Question 592

Interpolate

Answer 592

v. to insert; change by adding new words or material "Scholars disagree on whether the text is entirely the work of the original author or contains passages interpolated by later writers"

Question 593

Fidelity

Answer 593

n. exact correspondence | n. faithfulness

Question 594

Froward

Answer 594

adj. stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient "The teacher had no choice but to send the froward child to the vice-principal for disciplining"

Question 595

Fulsome

Answer 595

* adj. complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree* adj. of large size or quantity; generous or abundant "The actor was embarrassed by the fulsome praise he received after winning the Academy Award for best actor"

Question 596

Halcyon

Answer 596

adj. calm and peaceful; happy; golden; prosperous "The movie evokes the halcyon years immediately after World War II when America was at peace and the economy was booming"

Question 597

Jaundiced

Answer 597

adj. affected by envy, resentment, or hostility "Norman's experience as an infantryman during the war has given him a jaundiced view of human nature"

Question 598

Junta

Answer 598

a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force

Question 599

Labile

Answer 599

adj. likely to change Blood pressure in human beings is, to varying degrees, labile"

Question 600

Lambaste

Answer 600

v. to thrash verbally or physically "The critic lambasted the movie in her column, calling it 'the most insipid, jejune film made in our generation' "

Question 601

Lilliputian

Answer 601

adj. extremely small

Question 602

Limn

Answer 602

v. to draw; describe "The artist based his painting on a sketch he had limned several years earlier"

Question 603

Literati

Answer 603

n. scholarly or learned persons

Question 604

Loquatious

Answer 604

adj. talkative

Question 605

Lucre

Answer 605

n. money or profits "Many religions regard the pursuit of lucre for what it can do to help others as laudable"

Question 606

Lustrous

Answer 606

Shining

Question 607

Magnanimity

Answer 607

n. generosity, nobility

Question 608

Mettle

Answer 608

n. courage; endurance "In many cultures, young men are expected to test their mettle by performing difficult and dangerous tasks"

Question 609

Minatory

Answer 609

adj. threatening; menacing "The student stood silent as the teacher scolded him, her hand making minatory gestures"

Question 610

Nonplussed

Answer 610

adj. bewildered "The members of the football were nonplussed by the presence of a female reporter in the locker room"

Question 611

Nostrum

Answer 611

n. medicine or remedy of doubtful effectiveness "Although there are many nostrums urged on obese consumers, the only effective remedy for this condition is prosaic but nonetheless valid: eat less and exercise more"

Question 612

Nugatory

Answer 612

adj. trifling; of no value or importance; useless "The historian has a knack for focusing on information that appears nugatory but that, upon examination, illuminates the central issue"

Question 613

Obsequy

Answer 613

n. funeral ceremony

Question 614

Ornithologist

Answer 614

n. scientist who studies birds

Question 615

Paleontology

Answer 615

n. study of past geological eras through fossil remains

Question 616

Patois

Answer 616

n. a regional dialect; nonstandard speech; jargon "In Singapore the lingua franca is increasingly becoming Singapore English, widely regarded as a patois"

Question 617

Physiognomy

Answer 617

n. facial features

Question 618

Piquant

Answer 618

adj. appealingly stimulating; attractive "Many of the guests enjoyed the piquant barbecue sauce but others found it too spicy for their taste"

Question 619

Pique

Answer 619

n. fleeting feeling of hurt pride "Sally left the restaurant in a fit of pique after her date called to say he couldn't come because he was working late" v. to provoke or arouse "The geologist's curiosity was piqued by the unusual appearance of the rock formation"

Question 620

Plaintive

Answer 620

adj. melancholy, mournful "After the battle all that could be heard was the plaintive cries of women who had lost their husbands"

Question 621

Prate

Answer 621

v. to talk idly; chatter "The 'talk radio' program allows people to call in and prate about their pet peeves"

Question 622

Precept

Answer 622

n. principle; law "A good precept to follow in writing is to avoid redundancies"

Question 623

Prehensile

Answer 623

adj. capable of grasping "Prehensile tails help many arboreal animals to find and eat food as they move through the trees"

Question 624

Primordial

Answer 624

adj. original; existing from the beginning "Scholars are divided as to whether polytheism represents a degeneration from a primordial monotheism, or was a precursor to a more sophisticated view, monotheism"

Question 625

Quail

Answer 625

v. to cower; lose heart "The defendant quailed when the judge entered the room to announce the sentence"

Question 626

Quagmire

Answer 626

n. marsh n. difficult situation "The federal government's antitrust suit in the 1990s against Microsoft created a legal quagmire"

Question 627

Quorum

Answer 627

n. number of members necessary to conduct a meeting "Unable to obtain a quorum, leaders of the majority party had no choice but to postpone the vote on the legislation"

Question 628

Raiment

Answer 628

n. clothing "It took two hours for the princess' handmaidens to help her put on her splendid raiment for her coronation as queen"

Question 629

Redoubtable

Answer 629

adj. formidable; arousing fear; worthy of respect "As a result of winning 95% of her cases, the prosecutor has earned a reputation as a redoubtable attorney?"

Question 630

Remonstrate

Answer 630

v. to object or protest "Minority members of the committee remonstrated with the majority members, saying that the proposal was unjust"

Question 631

Repine

Answer 631

v. fret; complain "The president told the congressional representative he should stop repining over the lost opportunity and join the majority in exploring new ones"

Question 632

Riposte

Answer 632

n. a retaliatory action or retort "The commander decided that the enemy attack must be countered with a quick riposte" "The talk show host is always ready with a clever riposte to the barbs of her guests"

Question 633

Salubrious

Answer 633

adj. healthful "The salubrious effects of exercise on both physical and mental health have been well documented" "Many people from the Midwest retire to Arizona because of the salubrious climate"

Question 634

Salutary

Answer 634

adj. expecting an improvement; favorable to health "Advocates of Prohibition believed that it would have a salutary effect on people who enjoyed drinking alcoholic beverages" "Universal education is the most salutary feature of the spirit of enlightenment"

Question 635

Sartorial

Answer 635

adj. pertaining to tailors "Off-screen, the glamorous actress; sartorial style runs more to jeans and T-shirts than to elaborate gowns"

Question 636

Saturnine

Answer 636

adj. gloomy "When the long list of casualties from the battle were announced, the mood in the room was saturnine"

Question 637

Sensuous

Answer 637

adj. relating to the senses; operating through the senses

Question 638

Sidereal

Answer 638

adj. relating to the stars "The science fiction novel describes a sidereal adventure"

Question 639

Simian

Answer 639

adj. apelike; relating to apes

Question 640

Sinuous

Answer 640

adj. winding; intricate; complex "The students had trouble following the philosopher's sinuous line of reasoning"

Question 641

Spendthrift

Answer 641

n. person who spends money recklessly, profligate

Question 642

Stricture

Answer 642

n. something that restrains; negative criticism "As professionals, lawyers are expected to abide by a set of ethical strictures in their practice of the law"

Question 643

Strident

Answer 643

adj. loud adj. harsh, unpleasantly noisy "They sat silently in the room, listening to the telephone's strident ringing"

Question 644

Stultify

Answer 644

v. to impair or reduce to uselessness "The professor of education believes that overreliance on rote learning stultifies students' creativity"

Question 645

Stygian

Answer 645

adj. dark and gloomy; hellish "The news that the country was being invaded plunged it into a stygian gloom"

Question 646

Subsume

Answer 646

v. to include; incorporate "The philosopher described his work as an attempt to arrive at a final generalization that will subsume all previous generalizations about the nature of logic"

Question 647

Succor

Answer 647

n. relief; help in time of distress or want "The woman was accused of providing succor to the enemy in the form of food and medical help"

Question 648

Supine

Answer 648

adj. lying on the back; marked by lethargy "The captured robbery suspects were held supine on the floor"

Question 649

Syllogism

Answer 649

adj. form of deductive reasoning "The following syllogism is often taught: if a=b and b=c then a=c"

Question 650

Tautology

Answer 650

n. unnecessary repetition

Question 651

Taxonomy

Answer 651

n. science of classification

Question 652

Tumid

Answer 652

adj. swollen; distended synonym is turgid "The prose of writers discussing lofty subjects sometimes becomes tumid" "The river banks were tumid from the spring rain."

Question 653

Tutelary

Answer 653

adj. serving as a guardian or protector "Most of the people of ancient Rome believed in the existence of tutelary spirits"

Question 654

Valedictory

Answer 654

adj. pertaining to a farewell

Question 655

Vitiate

Answer 655

v. to impair the quality of; to corrupt; make inoperative "Unfortunately, one error in the study's methodology vitiates the entire body of work" "The tear in the painting vitiated its overall appeal and halved its appraisal cost."

Question 656

Vituperative

Answer 656

adj. using harsh, abusive censure "The young music critic's vituperative comments aroused the wrath of nearly every serious composer"

Question 657

Leaven

Answer 657

v. to have an enlivening or lightening influence "The few jokes he threw in did nothing to leaven his grim sermon." Thinked: leavened bread

Question 658

Mores

Answer 658

n. the accepted customs of a particular group "She went against the mores of her community when she decided to keep her maiden name."

Question 659

Morphology

Answer 659

n. the study of form or structure

Question 660

Crucible

Answer 660

n. a severe test

Question 661

Scruple

Answer 661

n. conscience

Question 662

Spurious

Answer 662

adj. intending to deceive adj. not valid or genuine The tabloid writers made up spurious accusations against the young actor.

Question 663

Condign

Answer 663

adj. deserved, adequate "Though I believe I am compassionate, I will not hesitate to mete out a condign punishment to wrongdoers."

Question 664

Mettlesome

Answer 664

not to be confused with meddlesome adj. courageous n is mettle

Question 665

Contravene

Answer 665

v. to violate, or to conflict with a rule or principle "Until recently, Americans could not visit that country without contravening federal law."

Question 666

Obloquy

Answer 666

n. abusive language; damage to one's reputation "The president earned obloquy for his tax hikes."

Question 667

Abrade

Answer 667

v. to erode or rub away "The statue's hand was abraded from all of the tourists rubbing it for luck."

Question 668

Adroit

Answer 668

adj. skillful, competent "The boy scout was an adroit survivalist and so managed to cling to life until a rescue team arrived"

Question 669

Adulate

Answer 669

v. to give excessive praise noun is adulation

Question 670

Petrous

Answer 670

n. rock hard, stony "The skull of the fetus has not yet become petrous; in fact, it is still translucent to x-rays at this stage"

Question 671

Tautology

Answer 671

n. a statement that is trivially true; unnecessary repetition It is no help to anybody when you spout tautologies like "Whatever will be will be".

Question 672

Consequential

Answer 672

adj. important adj. self-important "I am not prepared to accept such consequential airs from a journalist 20 years my junior"

Question 673

Gull

Answer 673

v. to fool or deceive "They gulled Akiko so well that she walked right into her own surprise party without suspecting a thing." Think: someone who is gullible is easily gulled

Question 674

Rebus

Answer 674

n. a riddle in which words are represented by pictures

Question 675

Factious

Answer 675

adj. inclined to make arguments, divisive, contentious "Many networks purposely select factious personalities to appear in their reality T.V. shows in the hopes that their bickering will attract viewers."

Question 676

Epithet

Answer 676

n. a characterizing phrase n. a disparaging word or phrase Eg. "Richard the Lion-Hearted" or "Lyin Ted"

Question 677

Jejune

Answer 677

adj. uninteresting, dull adj. immature adj. lacking in nutrition "It may be said that her verse is jejune, but I happen to find a sage sensibility in her later poems."

Question 678

Effluence

Answer 678

n. the act of flowing out n. something that flows out "An effluence of people from the stadium crowded the streets."

Question 679

Ambulatory

Answer 679

adj. of walking, adapted for walking "The ambulatory excursion drew few people because of the poor weather."

Question 680

Rigamarole

Answer 680

n. an extremely tedious and complicated process "The rigmarole I am subjected to every time I visit the DMV would be funny were it not so depressing."

Question 681

Abrogate

Answer 681

v. to abolish or annul by authority "The court ruling abrogated his rights to any profits."

Question 682

Natty

Answer 682

adj. trim, neat, or tidy "She was a natty dresser, with never a seam out of place."

Question 683

Sentinel

Answer 683

n. one who keeps guard v. to watch over "The sentinel at the city gates watched over the city."

Question 684

Reconnoiter

Answer 684

v. to engage in reconnaissance, to make a preliminary inspection of "We sent him to reconnoiter the party before we arrived, in case it turned out to be a dud".

Question 685

Plenipotentiary

Answer 685

adj. representing a country or other body with complete authority to act as its proxy "The ambassador is plenipotentiary; he does not need to consult with his home country to sign accords on its behalf."

Question 686

Fastness

Answer 686

n. a safe, fortified place The guerrillas retreated to their mountain fastness in order to regroup and consolidate their battered forces.

Question 687

Bellwether

Answer 687

n. an indicator, esp. one that predicts future outcomes "The Midwest is considered a bellwether for the political tide of the nation, since trends often become apparent there sooner than in other states."

Question 688

Camarilla

Answer 688

n. a group of counselors to a leader, esp. ones who plot or connive "The dictator was obsessed with the possibility of foreign attack, but it was his own disgruntled camarilla of aides who did him in in the end."

Question 689

Obdurate

Answer 689

adj. stubborn; inflexible and unyielding adj. emotionally cold; not compassionate "Even when the witness began to cry, the accused remained obdurate and detached."

Question 690

Discomfit

Answer 690

v. to unsettle v. to upset or prevent from succeeding "The presence of the victim's family at the trial discomfited the accused."

Question 691

Temerity

Answer 691

n. reckless boldness "The temerity of the pirate crew cost them their ship."

Question 692

Depredate

Answer 692

v. to plunder, pillage, destroy v. to exploit "The Vikings depredated the whole valley."

Question 693

Genuflect

Answer 693

v. to bend knee to ground (as in worship) v. to grovel "The king's subjects genuflected when he entered the room."

Question 694

Wend

Answer 694

v. to go, proceed, walk "We wended our way through the market."

Question 695

Pelagic

Answer 695

adj. relating to open seas rather than waters adjacent to land "The pelagic organism was only found in the deepest part of the ocean."

Question 696

Aphorism

Answer 696

n. a tersely phrased truth or opinion; adage; epigram n. a brief statement of principle; or general truth "The children had finally learned the meaning of the aphorism 'You can't have your cake and eat it too'."

Question 697

Purloin

Answer 697

v. to steal "The manipulative thief purloined the diamonds after gaining the confidence of their location."

Question 698

Protean

Answer 698

adj. readily assuming different forms or characters "Fans regarded the protean actress as capable of playing any role."

Question 699

Denouement

Answer 699

n. an outcome or solution to a complex series of events "Though public interest slackened after the arsonist was caught, the denouement of the case was just as interesting as the manhunt that had preceded it."

Question 700

Apoplectic

Answer 700

adj. furious; enraged; overcome with anger adj. relating to a stroke "When Jim found out he was fired, he apoplectically stormed out of the office."

Question 701

Simper

Answer 701

v. to say with a coy smile; to smirk "Dave simpered a feeble attempt at an apology."

Question 702

Miscegenation

Answer 702

n. any mixture or hybrid "The school cafeteria served an obscure miscegenation of ingredients as meatloaf."

Question 703

Covey

Answer 703

n. a family of partridges n. a small group "Outside the classroom was a covey of giggling schoolgirls."

Question 704

Supine

Answer 704

adj. inactive, lying on one's back apathetically adj. morally slack "The officials exhibited a supine acceptance of corruption."

Question 705

Pied

Answer 705

adj. containing patches of two or more colors, usually in blotches "The jester's pied coat was stitched together from scraps of blue and red fabric."

Question 706

Obstreperous

Answer 706

adj. unruly, noisy, loudly stubborn "The obstreperous two-year-old cried the entire train ride."

Question 707

Ambit

Answer 707

n. the extent, boundary or scope of something "Though I find her actions reprehensible, she was acting within the ambit of the law and so my hands are tied."

Question 708

Sophistry

Answer 708

n. fallacious reasoning; faulty, although plausible, logic ~similar to specious "The students were quickly convinced by the professor's sophistry and did not inquire further."

Question 709

Perspicuity

Answer 709

n. clarity or perceptiveness in speech, thought, or writing "The perspicuity of the writing made a complicated topic easy for all to understand."

Question 710

Enjoin

Answer 710

v. to command or direct an action with authority v. to prohibit or forbid an action "The captain enjoined his men to respect the local laws while on shore leave."

Question 711

Extenuate

Answer 711

v. to lessen the magnitude or seriousness of; to mitigate "The prisoner's illness may extenuate the conditions of his captivity, but it shall not lead me to order his early release."

Question 712

Pertinacious

Answer 712

adj. holding tenaciously to a belief adj. stubbornly unyielding "Her pertinacious devotion to the debunked theory led her to be marginalized in the scientific community."

Question 713

Recreant

Answer 713

adj. unfaithful, disloyal to belief or principle adj. cowardly or craven n. one who is a coward, unfaithful, or disloyal The recreant knight ran from the battle.

Question 714

Adduce

Answer 714

v. to offer as proof in an argument "Seth adduced several recent studies in support of his hypothesis."

Question 715

Scotch

Answer 715

v. decisively put an end to

Question 716

Perquisite

Answer 716

aka perk

Question 717

Inscrutable

Answer 717

adj. impossible to understand or interpret | think: scrutiny

Question 718

Windfall

Answer 718

n. a piece of unexpected good fortune

Question 719

Ecumenical

Answer 719

n. friendly relations between different religions

Question 720

Exiguous

Answer 720

adj. very small in size or amount

Question 721

Fealty

Answer 721

n. a feudal tenant's or vassal's sworn loyalty to a lord

Question 722

Flagitous

Answer 722

adj. criminal; villanous Think: flagrant

Question 723

Pleonastic

Answer 723

adj. redundancy; a redundant word or expression

Question 724

Mephitic

Answer 724

adj. foul smelling

Question 725

Obsequy vs obloquy

Answer 725

Obsequy: funeral ceremony Obloquy: abusive language; damage to one's reputation

Question 726

Innvervate vs. enervate

Answer 726

Innervate: animate, invigorate, give nervous energy to Enervate: cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken.

Question 727

Inveigh vs. inveigle

Answer 727

Inveigh: speak or write about (something) with great hostility Inveigle: persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery

Question 728

Astringent vs stringent

Answer 728

Astringent: harsh, severe (tone) Stringent: strict, precise, and exacting

Question 729

Centripetal vs. centrifugal

Answer 729

Centripetal: moving towards the center Centrifugal: moving away from the center

Question 730

Expatriate vs expatiate vs expiate

Answer 730

Expatriate: v. or n. to send into exile Expatiate: to expand or elaborate on a topic; to discuss or write about at great length Expiate: to atone for

Question 731

Repaste vs. repose

Answer 731

Repaste: meal Repose: the act or state of resting; peacefulness, tranquility; lying dead in a grave

Question 732

Forbear vs forswear

Answer 732

Forbear: to refrain from doing something Forswear: to renounce, repudiate