aberration n. a departure from the norm or what is considered right, natural, or normal; a flaw or defect |
abominate v. to hate or loathe intensely |
abridge v. to shorten in duration or extent; to diminish |
accolade n. an expression of approval or respect for special merit; a award |
accost v. to approach and speak to in an aggressive or challenging way |
acoustic adj. relating to sound or hearing |
acrimony n. bitterness or sharpness of temper, manner, or speech; hostility |
adamant adj. not yielding; firm |
adjacent adj. near or next to; adjoining |
adjudicate v. to hear and decide judicially; to judge |
adjunct n. something or someone joined or added to something else but not essentially a part of it |
adulate v. to flatter or admire excessively; to idolize |
affinity n. attraction for someone or something with which one feels a closeness or kinship |
aftermath n. a consequence or result, often a negative one |
aggregate n. a group of things gathered into a whole; sum total |
agrarian adj. having to do with farming or agriculture |
allocate v. to set aside for a specific purpose; to allot |
altercation n. a loud and determined dispute; a noisy quarrel |
ambivalent adj. having mixed, often opposing, feeling about something or someone; indecisive |
ameliorate v. to make better; to become better; to improve |
amenable adj. responsive; willing to be controlled or to take advice |
animosity n. intense ill will |
annals n. a historical record of events, often arranged in a yearly sequence |
antiquated adj. grown old; out-of-date |
aphorism n. a short of truth or principle; an adage |
ascribe v. to attribute to a source or a cause |
asperity n. sharpness or harshness of manner |
assemblage n. a collection or gathering of people or things |
assiduous adj. diligent and persistent |
attest v. to declare or be evidence of something as true, genuine, or accurate |
augur v. to predict future events, especially from omens |
august adj. inspiring great respect or admiration; noble |
aura n. a distinctive atmosphere or feeling that seems to surround someone or something; a distinctive appearance or impression |
auspices n. protection, support, or guidance; patronage |
auspicious adj. favorable, promising |
avarice n. greed for wealth |
axiom n. a statement or principle that requires no proof because ints truth is obvious |
baleful adj. expressing hatred or evil; harmful, ominous |
banal adj. lacking freshness; trite |
bane n. a person or thing that destroys or causes harm |
bastion n. a fortified area or position; a person, place, or thing that is a source of strength |
beleaguer v. to surround with troubles; to harass |
belie v. to give a false impression of; to contradict |
bemuse v. to confuse or bewilder |
berate v. to criticize vigorously; to scold vehemently |
beset v. to surround or attack repeatedly |
bilk v. to cheat our of what is due |
buffoon n. a person who often makes attempts to be funny; a clown; a fool |
burgeon v. to grow and expand rapidly; to flourish |
carnage n. great destruction of life; slaughter |
castigate v. to punish by criticizing sharply; to berate |
cataclysm n. a sudden and violent change; a catastrophe |
catharsis n. a releasing of the emotions, often through the arts, that brings about spiritual renewal or a relieving of tension |
cautionary adj. offering or serving as a warning |
cavil n. a minor criticism |
cede v. to give up or transfer, especially by treaty or formal agreement |
celestial adj. of or relating to the skies or heavens |
centennial n. a one-hundredth anniversary or its celebration |
certitude n. the state of being certain of the truth or rightness of something |
cessation n. a stopping, either final or temporary |
charisma n. a special quality in a person that inspires devotion or fascination in others |
chary adj. exercising caution; hesitant |
churlish adj. lacking good manners; rude, impolite |
circuitous adj. roundabout; indirect |
circumvent v. to avoid through craftiness |
clique n. a small, exclusive group; a group held together by like interests or purpose |
cognizant adj. fully aware; taking notice |
cohort n. one who assists another, especially in a dubious or criminal activity; an accomplice |
colloquial adj. characterized by informal language |
compunction n. a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety caused by guilt |
concoct v. to make up, prepare, or invent |
condone v. to overlook or accept without punishment; to pardon or excuse |
confidant n. a person to whom secrets are told |
constituent n. one of the parts that make up a whole |
constrain v. to confine, inhibit, or hold back by force or necessity |
consummate adj. extremely skilled; complete or perfect |
conundrum n. a riddle whose answer is a play on words |
conversant adj. having knowledge or experience; well-informed |
countenance n. a person’s face; the expression on a person’s face |
credulous adj. willing to believe things with only slight or no evidence; easily conviced |
culinary adj. having to do with cooking |
culpable adj. deserving blame or censure |
curator n. a person in charge of an exhibition; an overseer of a museum or library collection |
curtail v. to cut short or reduce |
dearth n. scarcity; a shortage |
decorum n. suitable, proper behavior or speech |
decrepit adj. worn-out with use; broken-down |
defunct adj. no longer existing or functioning |
demoralize v. to destroy the morals or morale of someone; to weaken the spirit or courage of someone |
denigrate v. to attack the reputation of; to criticize in a derogatory manner |
derivative n. something that grows out of or results from an earlier form or condition |
desultory adj. proceeding or carried out in an aimless or random way |
diabolical adj. devilish; wicked or evil |
differentiate v. to see the difference; to distinguish |
dilemma n. a problem that seems to have no satisfactory solution; a difficult choice |
diminutive adj. very small; tiny |
disarray n. a lack or order; confusion |
discriminate v. the act of making a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group or category rather tan according to actual merit |
disgruntle v. to make dissatisfied; to put in a bad mood |
disparage v. to criticize in a negative, disrespectful manner |
dissipate v. to break up and spread out so thinly as to disappear; to scatter or be scattered |
diverse adj. differing from one another; having various or distinct parts |
doleful adj. mournful or full of sorrow; causing grief |
ebullient adj. bubbling with enthusiasm or high spirits |
emaciated adj. very thin or wasted away, especially from lack of nourishment; scrawny |
enclave n. a distinct region or community enclosed within a larger territory |
endow v. to provide with a quality, a thing, or a gift or money |
engender v. to bring into being, to produce |
enormity n. the state or quality of being monstrous or outrageous |
entrepreneur n. an individual who manages and takes the risk of a business |
ephemeral adj. lasting a very short time |
epitaph n. the words carved on a tombstone in memory of the deceased |
equilibrium n. a state of balance |
eradicate v. to get rid of; to uproot |
esoteric adj. not generally known or understood; familiar to only a relatively small number of people |
espionage n. the act of spying, especially a government spy obtaining secrets of another government |
euphemism n. a polite term used to avoid directly naming something considered offensive or unpleasant |
evanescent adj. short-lived; staying temporarily |
exacerbate v. to make more severe, bitter, or violent |
exodus n. a mass departure |
expedite v. to speed up a process; to facilitate |
expendable adj. able to be used up and then discarded or replaced |
extant adj. still existing; not lost or destroyed |
extrovert n. a person whose attention is focused on others and on what is going on around her or him, rather than on her or his own feels |
factotum n. a helper or assistant with a wide range of duties and responsibilities |
fatuous adj. foolish; silly; stupid |
flotilla n. a fleet of boats or small ships |
flout v. to ignore in a disrespectful or scornful way |
foment v. to stir up, to rouse; to instigate |
fortuitous adj. happening by lucky chance; accidental |
galaxy n. a vast cluster of stars and other matter, billions of which make up the known universe |
galvanize v. to excite or arouse action |
gamut n. the entire range of something |
garish adj. excessively bright and flashy; tastelessly glaring |
gibe v. to utter taunting, sarcastic words |
gird v. to encircle, bind, or surround |
gossamer n. thin, sheer fabric resembling gauze |
gourmet n. a person who likes fine food an is a good judge of its quality |
grandiloquent adj. using lofty or pompous speech or expression |
grandiose adj. impressive because of large size or scope |
gratuitous adj. no called for; unnecessary |
halcyon adj. calm, peaceful, and happy; prosperous |
harbinger n. a person or thing that is a symbol of what is to come |
heresy n. the expression of shocking or unacceptable views |
hierarchy n. a group or system in which potions of power are ranked, usually from lowest to highest |
homily n. a lecture usually long, on how to behave morally |
homogeneous adj. of a similar kind or nature; uniform throughout |
hybrid n. the offspring of two animals or plants of different species or varieties |
hyperbole n. extravagant exaggeration |
hypothetical adj. based on something that is not actual but assumed or supposed |
ignominious adj. marked by, deserving, or causing shame or disgrace |
illicit adj. not allowed, improper, or unlawful |
illusory adj. unreal or imagined; deceiving |
imbue v. to fill completely with a feeling or idea; to inspire |
implacable adj. incapable of being placated, soothed, or significantly changed; relentless |
implement v. to carry out |
importune v. to plead for persistently |
inalienable adj. not able to be taken or given away |
incarcerate v. to confine or to put in prison |
incoherent adj. not connected; confused; rambling |
inconsequential adj. lacking importance or worth; unable to make an impact; trivial |
incumbent n. one who occupies an office or position |
incur v. to bring upon oneself something undesirable, such as a debt |
indigenous adj. naturally living or growing in a certain area; native |
indignity n. an insult to one’s ride; offensive or humiliating treatment |
indiscriminate adj. not marked by careful distinctions; haphazard |
induce v. to influence or persuade |
ineffable adj. incapable of being expressed in words |
inexorable adj. not to be persuaded, stopped, or moved by entreaty or plea; relentless |
infamous adj. having a very mad reputation; notorious |
infatuated adj. filled with excessive, shallow, or foolish love or desire |
infirmity n. physical or mental weakness or defect |
ingratiate v. to work to gain the favor of someone |
iniquitous adj. unjust; wicked |
innocuous adj. harmless; unlikely to offend |
insatiable adj. never satisfied; greedy |
instigate v. to stir up or urge on; to provoke |
insurrection n. an open revolt against legal authority; a rebellion |
inter v. to put in a grave; to bury |
intercede v. to act or plead on another’s behalf; to try to smooth the differences between two parties |
intractable adj. hard to manage, tame, or control; stubborn; not easily cured |
intransigent adj. refusing to compromise or change one’s position on an issue |
inure v. to adjust to and accept unpleasant or undesirable conditions |
inveigh v. to complain or protest strongly |
juncture n. a joining or coming together; the place where such a connection occurs |
jurisdiction n. legal authority to govern of control |
juxtapose v. to place side by side |
lacerate v. to tear or cut roughly |
largesse n. the act of giving generously; gifts |
laudatory adj. full of praise |
liquidate v. to settle the affairs of a business; to convert into cash |
luminary n. a source of light, especially from the sky, such as the sun or moon |
maelstrom n. a large and violent whirlpool or something resembling a whirlpool |
magnate n. an important, often wealthy, person prominent in a large industry or business |
magnitude n. greatness of size, power, or influence |
malign v. to say negative and unfair things about; slander |
mandatory adj. ordered by an authority; required |
manifesto n. a public statement explaining the intentions, motives, or views of an individual or group |
manifold adj. having many different kinds, forms, or parts |
materialize v. to appear in physical form, especially suddenly |
matriarchy n. a society that is headed by a female |
mellifluous adj. sweetly flowing; pleasant to the ear |
mesmerize v. to fascinate or hypnotize |
mien n. a person’s manner, appearance, or expression; bearing |
minuscule adj. very small in size or importance |
misnomer n. a name that does not fit |
mitigate v. to make or become less serious or severe; to ameliorate |
muster v. to summon or call forth; to gather |
necessitate v. to require; to make necessary |
neophyte n. a beginner; a novice |
nonpareil n. a person or thing without an equal |
obituary n. a notice of someone’s death, such as in a newspaper, usually with a brief summary of that person’s life |
odyssey n. a long, adventurous journey |
olfactory adj. relating to the sense of small |
omnivorous adj. eating all kinds of food, including both animal and vegetable food |
onerous adj. burdensome; oppressive |
optimum adj. best or most favorable |
palatable adj. acceptable or pleasing, especially to the sense of taste |
panacea n. something that is supposed to cure all ills or difficulties; a cure-all |
panache n. dash or flamboyance in style or action |
pandemonium n. a state or place of great confusion or uproar |
pantheon n. a group of people held in high esteem for their great achievements |
partisan n. a strong supporter or advocate |
patina n. a green film that forms on copper exposed to the elements |
penchant n. a strong attraction or leaning |
permeate v. to spread throughout; to pass through |
perpetrate v. to commit, as a crime or other antisocial act |
perverse adj. turned away form what is right; wicked |
picayune adj. petty or insignificant; concerned with trifling maters |
pillory v. to expose to public scorn or contempt |
pleasantry n. an agreeable, casual remark |
plebeian adj. of or pertaining to the common people; common; unrefined |
plethora n. too great a number; an excess |
poignant adj. painfully moving, affecting, or touching |
posterity n. a person’s descendants; future generations |
precedent n. the act of statement that may serve as an example or justification for a later one |
predecessor n. a person or thing that has held a position or office before another |
predilection n. an inclination; preference |
premeditated adj. fully planned beforehand; deliberate |
prerogative n. a special right limited to a person, group, or office; a privilege |
pretext n. an effort to conceal the real intention or state of affairs; an excuse |
procrastinate v. to put off until later |
profane v. disrespectful of sacred things |
prohibitive adj. serving to restrain action or discourage use of |
proliferate v. to grow, expand, or multiply at a rapid rate |
promontory n. a high point of land that juts out into water |
proselytize v. to convert someone to a faith, belief, or cause |
qualm n. a feeling of uneasiness as to whether what one id doing is right or wise; a misgiving |
quixotic adj. romantic and idealistic, but impractical |
rambunctious adj. behaving in a wild and unruly manner |
rampant adj. threateningly wild, without restraint or control; widespread |
rancor n. a deep, long-held feeling of hatred or bitterness |
rapt adj. fully absorbed; engrossed |
recompense v. to pay or compensate |
refurbish v. to make like new; to renovate |
reminisce v. to think or talk about one’s past |
remiss adj. negligent; careless; lax |
rendition n. an interpretation or translation; a performance |
reparation n. a mending or repair |
repast n. food and drink; a meal |
repertoire n. the list of pieces an actor, musician, etc., is ready to perform; the skills or accomplishments of a person or group |
resurgence n. a rising again to life. use. acceptance. or prominence; a revival |
resuscitate v. to revive from unconsciousness or apparent death; to revive or restore to health or vigor |
rudiment n. a basic principle or skill |
ruminate v. to think over again and again; to ponder |
sabotage n. acts that intentionally damage, hinder, or seek to discredit |
sadistic adj. taking pleasure in causing pain |
scathing adj. harshly critical |
scourge n. something that causes great pain and suffering; a social evil |
scurrilous adj. vulgar; coarsely abusive |
secrete v. to produce and give off |
servitude n. a lack of freedom forced labor |
sibling n. one of two or more people who have the same parents; brother or sister |
singular adj. extraordinary; exceptional |
smattering n. a small amount |
somnolent adj. tending to cause sleepiness |
spurious adj. not genuine; false |
stalemate n. a halt in a struggle because both sides are equally strong and neither side will give in; a deadlock |
stalwart adj. strong; sturdy |
stereotype n. a generalization that is used to characterize a person without acknowledging individual differences |
stigma n. a mark of shame or disgrace |
stipend n. a regular and fixed amount of pay for work done or to help cover living or work expenses |
subservient adj. serving or acting in a subordinate manner; servile |
temerity n. reckless boldness without regard to danger or opposition |
temperate adj. mild, moderate; restrained |
tenacious adj. holding fast; persistent in adhering to something valued or habitual |
titanic adj. marked by great strength, size, or influence |
transpire v. to become apparent; to come to light |
tutelage n. instruction, protection. or guardianship |
undermine v. to attack by indirect, secret, or underhanded means |
unremitting adj. not stopping or slowing down; constant |
vagary n. a departure from the normal, expected course; a whim or unpredictable action |
vanguard n. the leading or forwards position in a movement |
vestige n. a trace of something that once was present |
visionary adj. able to see what might be accomplished in the future |
volatile adj. evaporating quickly |
winnow v. to separate and remove what is undesirable and leave what is desirable; to blow away the chaff from again |
zephyr n. a light, gently breeze |