Word List 32

Question 1

riotous

Answer 1

of the nature of a riot; turbulent
participating in riot
abundant, exuberant

e.g. a riotous profusion of flowers
His riotous mugging always has everyone in hysterics.

Question 2

ripple

Answer 2

to become lightly ruffled or covered with small waves
to flow with a light rise and fall of sound or inflection
to have or produce a ripple effect; spread
also

e.g. The scarf rippled to the floor.
Laughter rippled over the audience.
A cool breeze rippled the water.
a ripple of laughter

Question 3

rive

Answer 3

to wrench open or tear apart or to pieces; rend
to divide into pieces

e.g. road pavement that had been riven by the annual freeze-and-thaw cycle
nations riven by civil war

Question 4

rivet

Answer 4

a special kind of metal bolt or pin that is used to hold pieces of metal together
to fasten with or as if with rivets
to attract and hold (as the attention) completely

e.g. The iron plates are riveted rather than welded.
stood riveted by fright
Everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage.

Question 5

riveting

Answer 5

having the power to fix the attention; engrossing, fascinating

Question 6

rivulet

Answer 6

a small stream

e.g. Small rivulets trickled down the side of the cliff.

Question 7

roe

Answer 7

the eggs of a fish especially when still enclosed in the ovarian membrane

Question 8

roil

Answer 8

to stir up; disturb, disorder
to make agitated and angry; upset, rile

e.g. Financial markets have been roiled by the banking crisis.
The waters of the gulf tossed and roiled as the hurricane surged toward the shore.

Question 9

rostrum

Answer 9

a small raised platform on a stage

Question 10

royalty

Answer 10

royal status or power; sovereignty
a payment to an author or composer for each copy of a work sold or to an inventor for each item sold under a patent
a share of the product or profit reserved by the grantor especially of an oil or mining lease

Question 11

rubicund

Answer 11

having a healthy reddish color; ruddy

e.g. the rubicund face of a man who clearly got a lot of fresh air and exercise

Question 12

rudder

Answer 12

a flat, movable piece usually of wood or metal that is attached to a ship, boat, airplane, etc., and is used in steering
a guiding force or strategy

e.g. His ideas provided a rudder for the new company.
The captain turned the rudder sharply to avoid hitting the rock.

Question 13

rudimentary

Answer 13

consisting in first principles; fundamental
of a primitive kind
very imperfectly developed or represented only a vestige

e.g. only a rudimentary formal education
When baseball was in its rudimentary stages, different teams played by different rules.
the rudimentary tail of a hyrax

Question 14

rue

Answer 14

regret, sorrow
to feel penitence, remorse, or regret for

e.g. With rue my heart is laden.
ruing his decision
I rue the day I agreed to this stupid plan.

Question 15

ruffian

Answer 15

a brutal person; bully

e.g. a gang of ruffians preying upon people who ventured into that section of town

Question 16

ruffle

Answer 16

roughen, abrade; trouble, vex
to flip through (as pages)
shuffle

e.g. Her hair was ruffled by the wind.
He ruffled some people with his constant complaining.

Question 17

ruminant

Answer 17

an animal (such as a cow or sheep) that has more than one stomach and that swallows food and then brings it back up again to continue chewing it
 given to or engaged in contemplation; meditative

e.g. I wandered around campus all day in a ruminant mood.
in this attitude of ruminant relish

Question 18

rumple

Answer 18

fold, wrinkle
wrinkle, crumple
to make unkempt; tousle

e.g. He rumpled her hair affectionately.

Question 19

rung

Answer 19

a rounded crosspiece between the legs of a chair
one of the crosspieces of a ladder
a level in hierarchy

e.g. on the bottom rung on the corporate ladder
the top rung of society

Question 20

runic

Answer 20

consisting or set down in runes (a ancient set of characters)
having some secret or mysterious meaning

e.g. runic inscription

Question 21

ruse

Answer 21

a wily subterfuge; a trick or act that is used to fool someone

e.g. His act was just a clever ruse to get me to go out with him.

Question 22

rustic

Answer 22

rural
characteristic of or resembling country people; lacking in social graces or polish
appropriate to the country

e.g. rustic rolling farmland
rustic yokels whose first impulse was to smirk gawkily at anyone not of their own kind

Question 23

sabotage

Answer 23

the act of destroying or damaging something deliberately so that it does not work properly
to practice sabotage on

e.g. Officials have not yet ruled out sabotage as a possible cause of the crash.
people trying to sabotage this opportunity of peace

Question 24

saboteur

Answer 24

one that practices sabotage

e.g. The car’s tires were slashed by saboteurs.

Question 25

saccharin

Answer 25

a very sweet, white substance that does not have any calories and that is used instead of sugar to sweeten food

Question 26

saccharine

Answer 26

overly or sickishly sweet ingratiatingly or affectedly agreeable or friendly overly sentimental; mawkish e.g. The movie was funny, but it had a saccharine ending in which everyone lives happily ever after.

Question 27

sacrilege

Answer 27

a technical and not necessarily intrinsically outrageous violation (as improper reception of a sacrament) of what is sacred because consecrated to God gross irreverence toward a hallowed person, place, or thing e.g. His gesture is so bold it has whiff of sacrilege, not just of art-world rebellion.

Question 28

saddle

Answer 28

a leather-covered seat that is put on the back of a horse; a seat on a bicycle or motorcycle to put a saddle on to place under a burden or encumbrance to place (an onerous responsibility) on e.g. To the social worker it seems as though her supervisor had once again saddled her with a truly hopeless case.

Question 29

sagacious

Answer 29

of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment; discerning caused by or indicating acute discernment e.g. a sagacious critique of the current social climate in our nation

Question 30

salient

Answer 30

moving by leaps or springs; jumping jetting upward standing out conspicuously; prominent; especially, of notable significance e.g. a salient fountain salient differences

Question 31

salubrious

Answer 31

favorable to or promoting health or well-being e.g. Fresh air and exercise are always salubrious.

Question 32

salutary

Answer 32

producing a beneficial effect; remedial promoting health; curative e.g. The accident should be a salutary lesson to be more careful. The low interest rates should have a salutary effect on business.

Question 33

salvage

Answer 33

the act of saving or rescuing property in danger to rescue or save especially from wreckage or ruin e.g. The ship was beyond salvage. the salvage from the wrecked ship

Question 34

salvable

Answer 34

capable of being saved or salvaged

Question 35

salve

Answer 35

an unctuous adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores; s remedial or soothing influence or agency to remedy with or as if with a salve quiet, assuage e.g. a salve to their hurt feelings give him a raise in salary to salve his feelings

Question 36

sanctify

Answer 36

consecrate to free from sin; purify to give moral or social sanction to e.g. sanctify every act of life and bring the humblest obligation into relationship with God sanctify a vow

Question 37

sanctimonious

Answer 37

hypocritically pious or devout e.g. Some of the most cunning fellows known to the police have had quite a sanctimonious appearance.

Question 38

sanction

Answer 38

to make valid or binding usually by a formal procedure (as ratification) to give effective or authoritative approval or consent to also e.g. an expression now sanctioned by educated usage sanction a law The country acted without the sanction of the other nations.

Question 39

sanguine

Answer 39

bloodred confident, optimistic e.g. sanguine about the company's future

Question 40

sap

Answer 40

the fluid part of a plant; bodily health and vigor a foolish gullible person to gradually diminish the supply or intensity of to weaken or exhaust e.g. The illness sapped him of his stamina.

Question 41

sapient

Answer 41

possessing or expressing great sagacity e.g. valuable insights and sapient advice

Question 42

sartorial

Answer 42

of or relating to a tailor or tailored clothes; broadly, of or relating to clothes e.g. poor sartorial taste The wedding party arrived in sartorial splendor.

Question 43

sash

Answer 43

a band worn about the waist or over one shoulder and used as a dress accessory or the emblem of an honorary or military order the framework in which panes of glasses are set in a window or door

Question 44

sate

Answer 44

``` to cloy with overabundance; glut to appease (as a thirst) by indulging to the full ``` e.g. sate the appetite of vampire-starved fans

Question 45

satiety

Answer 45

the quality or state of being fed or gratified to or beyond capacity; surfeit, fullness the revulsion or disgust caused by overindulgence or excess e.g. eating beyond the point of satiety

Question 46

satiate

Answer 46

``` filled to satiety to satisfy (as a need or desire) fully or to excess ``` e.g. A couple of satiate dinner guests had ensconced themselves on the living room sofa. eager to satiate the needs of the rich and the foreign

Question 47

satirize

Answer 47

to utter or write satire to censure or ridicule by means of satire e.g. The book satirizes contemporary life.

Question 48

saturnine

Answer 48

cold and steady in mood; slow to act or change of a gloomy or surly disposition having a sardonic smile e.g. saturnine of countenance, liberal of heart

Question 49

saunter

Answer 49

to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner; stroll also e.g. saunter slowly down the street

Question 50

savage

Answer 50

``` not domesticated; untamed lacking the restraints normal to civilized human beings; fierce, ferocious wild, uncultivated boorish, rude also a person with such attributes ``` e.g. savage beast / a savage criminal / a savage country the savage bad manners of most motorists

Question 51

savant

Answer 51

a person of learning; especially, one with detailed knowledge in some specialized field e.g. a savant in the field of medical ethics

Question 52

savvy

Answer 52

understand practical know-how having or showing perception, comprehension, or shrewdness especially in practical matters e.g. She's an excellent scholar of political science, but lacks the kind of savvy needed to run for office. a savvy investors / savvy about computers

Question 53

sawdust

Answer 53

fine particles (as of wood) made by a saw in cutting

Question 54

scabbard

Answer 54

a sheath for a sword, dagger, or bayonet

Question 55

scad

Answer 55

a large number or quantity (oft. pl.) e.g. scads of money

Question 56

scalding

Answer 56

hot enough to scald having or producing the feeling of being burned scathing e.g. scalding water/sun/sand scalding criticism

Question 57

scant

Answer 57

barely or scarcely sufficient; especially, not quite coming up to a stated measure lacking in amplitude or quantity having a small or insufficient supply e.g. in scant supply a scant teaspoon / scant growth pay scant attention to the facts

Question 58

scathing

Answer 58

bitterly severe e.g. a scathing review of the book a scathing rebuttal of the latest theory concerning the assassination

Question 59

scheme

Answer 59

a graphic sketch or outline a concise statement or table; epitome a place or program of action; especially, a crafty or secret one a systematic or organized configuration; design e.g. a scheme to cheat people out of their money a scheme to improve the economy

Question 60

schism

Answer 60

division, separation; also, discord, disharmony e.g. a schism between leading members of the party

Question 61

scion

Answer 61

a piece of plant that is attached to part of another plant descendant, child; especially, a descendant of a wealthy, aristocratic, or influential family heir e.g. scion of a railroad empire scion of a powerful family

Question 62

scoff

Answer 62

an expression of scorn, derision, or contempt an object of scorn, mockery, or derision to show contempt by derisive acts or language to eat greedily seize (oft. used with up) e.g. scoffed at the idea scoffed dinner

Question 63

scotch

Answer 63

to put an end to e.g. scotched rumors of a military takeover

Question 64

scourge

Answer 64

whip; especially, one used for punishment an instrument of punishment or criticism a cause of wide or great affliction flog, whip; to punish severely afflict; chastise e.g. a city ravaged by the scourge of unemployment The disease continues to be a scourge in the developing world.

Question 65

scowl

Answer 65

to contract the brow in an expression of displeasure to exhibit a threatening aspect also e.g. scowled down at the misbehaving child respond to his question with a scowl

Question 66

scrap

Answer 66

(pl.) fragments of discarded or leftover food a small detached piece; the least bit to abandon or get rid of as no longer of enough worth or effectiveness to retain e.g. a scrap of paper / scraps of conversation not a scrap of evidence scrap outworn methods

Question 67

scrappy

Answer 67

consisting of scraps quarrelsome having an aggressive and determined spirit; feisty e.g. scrappy meals

Question 68

scrawl

Answer 68

to write or draw awkwardly, hastily, or carelessly e.g. scrawled a quick note

Question 69

screw

Answer 69

a person who bargains shrewdly; also, skinflint

Question 70

scrub

Answer 70

a stunted tree or shrub a person of insignificant size or standing to clean with hard rubbing cancel, eliminate e.g. scrub the game because of bad weather

Question 71

scruple

Answer 71

an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action; the quality or state of being scrupulous mental reservation to have scruples to show reluctance on grounds of conscience; hesitate e.g. do something without a scruple If I can help in any way, please don't scruple to tell me.

Question 72

scrupulous

Answer 72

having moral integrity; acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper punctiliously exact; painstaking e.g. Less scrupulous companies find ways to evade the law. working with scrupulous care / scrupulous attention to detail

Question 73

scrutable

Answer 73

capable of being deciphered; comprehensible e.g. She thinks that she is a sly and subtle schemer, but her machinations and motives are all too scrutable to those of us who know her.

Question 74

scrutinize

Answer 74

to examine closely and minutely e.g closely scrutinize the opponent's every move Her performance was carefully scrutinized by her employer.

Question 75

scuff

Answer 75

to walk without lifting the feet; shuffle to poke or shuffle a foot in exploration or embarrassment to become scratched, chipped, or roughened by wear e.g. She scuffed down the hall towards her room. scuff up her shoes by rubbing her feet under the rung of the chair

Question 76

scurrilous

Answer 76

using or given to coarse language vulgar and evil containing obscenities, abuse, or slander e.g. a scurrilous attack on the senator a scurrilous satire on the scandal

Question 77

scurry

Answer 77

to move in or as if in a brisk pace; scamper | to move around in an agitated, confused, or fluttering manner

Question 78

scurvy

Answer 78

a disease that is caused by not eating enough fruits or vegetables that contain vitamin C arousing disgust or scorn; contemptible, despicable e.g. After winning the lottery, she was beset by a whole scurvy swarm of con artists.

Question 79

scythe

Answer 79

a farming tool with a curved blade and long handle that is used for cutting grass, grain, etc.

Question 80

seamy

Answer 80

unpleasant degraded, sordid e.g. the seamy side or urban life a seamy corruption scandal

Question 81

seasoned

Answer 81

experienced

Question 82

secede

Answer 82

to withdraw from an organization

Question 83

secrete

Answer 83

to form and give off (a secretion) to deposit or conceal in a hiding place to appropriate secretly; abstract e.g. squirrels secreting nuts in a hollow tree trunk

Question 84

secular

Answer 84

of or relating to the worldly or temporal not overtly or specifically religious occurring once in an age or a century of or relating to a long term of indefinite duration e.g. secular concerns/music secular inflation

Question 85

security

Answer 85

an instrument of investment in the form of a document (as a stock certificate or bond) providing evidence of its ownership

Question 86

sedentary

Answer 86

not migratory; settled doing or requiring much sitting; not physically active permanently attached e.g. sedentary birds/civilizations a sedentary job/lifestyle sedentary barnacles

Question 87

sedulity

Answer 87

diligence

Question 88

sedulous

Answer 88

involving or accomplished with careful perseverance diligent in application or pursuit e.g. An impressive sedulous suitor, he was constantly sending her flowers and other tokens of his affection.

Question 89

seedling

Answer 89

a young plant grown from seed

Question 90

seemly

Answer 90

good-looking, handsome; attractive conventionally proper; decorous suited to the occasion, purpose, or person; fit e.g. a young man of seemly appearance, robust health, and keen intelligence It would not be seemly to use the memorial service as a forum for political views.

Question 91

seep

Answer 91

to flow or pass slowly through fine pores or small openings; ooze to enter or penetrate slowly to become diffused or spread e.g. water seeping in through a crack Fear of nuclear war had seeped into the national consciousness.

Question 92

seethe

Answer 92

(of a liquid) bubble up as a result of being boiled (of a person) be filled with intense but unexpressed anger (of a place) be crowded with people or things moving about in a rapid or hectic way (of a crowd of people) move in a rapid or hectic way e.g. The brew foamed and seethed. Inwardly he was seething at the slight to his authority. The entire cellar was seething with spiders. We cascaded down the stairs and seethed across the station.

Question 93

seine

Answer 93

a large net with sinkers on one edge and floats on the other that hangs vertically in the water and is used to enclose and catch fish when its ends are pulled together or are drawn ashore to fish with or catch fish with a seine

Question 94

seismic

Answer 94

of, subject to, or caused by an earthquake having a strong or widespread impact; earthshaking e.g. seismic social changes

Question 95

semblance

Answer 95

outward and often specious appearance or show a small amount; modicum aspect, countenance image, likeness; actual or apparent resemblance e.g. wrapped in a semblance of composure struggling to get some semblance of justice Her story bears some semblance to the truth.

Question 96

seminal

Answer 96

of, relating to, or consisting of seed or semen containing or contributing the seeds of later development; creative, original e.g. a seminal book / seminal ideas

Question 97

seminary

Answer 97

an environment in which something originates and from which it is propagated an institution of secondary or higher education an institution for the training of candidates for the priesthood, ministry, or rabbinate e.g. Some claimed that orphanages were seminaries of sin and petty crime, turning out juvenile delinquents by the score.

Question 98

sensible

Answer 98

of a kind to be felt or perceived receptive to external influences; sensitive emotionally aware and responsive having, containing, or indicative of good sense or reason; rational, reasonable practical ``` e.g. a sensible chill / the sensible world we live in sensible to pain / sensible of my error sensible of your problems sensible people / a sensible answer sensible shoes ```

Question 99

sentient

Answer 99

responsive to or conscious of sense impressions aware finely sensitive in perception or feeling e.g. sentient of the danger posed by the hurricane

Question 100

sepulcher

Answer 100

a place of burial; tomb a receptacle for religious relics especially in an altar e.g. a poem describing the forgotten the sepulcher of a valiant knight of the Middle Ages

Question 101

sequester

Answer 101

to set apart; separate seclude, withdraw to seize especially by a writ of sequestration to place in custody especially in sequestration e.g. The jury was sequestered until a verdict was reached. Widely spaced homes are forbiddingly grand and sequestered. Plants can sequester toxins and store them in the tissues.

Question 102

seraphic

Answer 102

angel-like

Question 103

sere

Answer 103

being dried and withered e.g. a sere region that cannot support agriculture