mire v. cause to sink or become stuck in; hinder, entrap, or entangle |
misconception n. mistaken thought, idea, or notion; erroneous conception; false opinion |
momentum n. product of a body's mass and its velocity; impelling force or strength; impetus |
morbid a. caused by disease; pathological or diseased; unhealthy or unwholesome |
mutation n. change; alteration, either in form or qualities. |
mystical a. having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding |
narcotic n. addictive drug, such as opium, that reduces pain, alters mood and behavior; inducing sleep |
narrate v. to give an account or tell the story of |
necessitate v. make necessary or indispensable; render unavoidable |
nefarious a. very wicked; infamous by being extremely wicked |
negotiate v. discuss the terms of an arrangement |
neural a. of or relating to neurons; relating to a nerve or the nervous system |
nucleus n. central or essential part around which other parts are gathered or grouped; core |
obituary n. death notice; list of dead |
oblique a. having slanting or sloping direction, course, or position; inclined |
oblivion n. condition or quality of being completely forgotten; official overlooking of offenses; amnesty |
obnoxious a. causing disapproval or protest; very annoying or objectionable; offensive |
obscene n. offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty; repulsive; disgusting |
obtuse a. lacking in insight or discernment; stupid |
opaque a. impenetrable by light; not transparent; not reflecting light; having no luster |
optics n. the branch of physics that studies the physical properties of ligh; optical properties |
opulent a. rich and superior in quality |
oratory n. place of orisons, or prayer; chapel or small room set apart for private devotions |
ordinance n. decree; authoritative command or order |
organic a. simple and healthful and close to nature |
organism n. living being; system considered analogous in structure or function to a living body |
overture n. an opening or aperture; recess; introductory section or part, as of a poem |
pacify v. ease anger or agitation of; make calm or quiet; end war or violence |
panorama v. complete view in every direction. |
parry v. avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing |
parse v. analyze syntactically by assigning a constituent structure to a sentence |
passive a. lacking in energy or will; peacefully resistant in response to injustice |
patron n. a person who gives financial or other support to people or activity; regular customer |
pensive a. deeply, often dreamily thoughtful; engaged in serious thought or reflection; contemplative |
permeate v. spread or flow throughout; pervade |
personage n. form, appearance, or belongings of a person; external appearance, stature, figure, air |
perspective n. appearance of things; view, outlook, or vista |
pertinent a. having precise or logical relevance; pertaining or relating |
pervasive a. pervading; spread throughout every part |
pessimistic a. expecting the worst possible outcome |
phenomenal a. exceedingly or unbelievably great |
pictorial a. evoking lifelike images within the mind; pertaining to or consisting of pictures |
pigment n. substance used as coloring; dry coloring matter |
pilgrimage n. a journey to a sacred place |
pinnacle n. peak; tall pointed formation, such as mountain peak |
piteous a. deserving or inciting pity; causing feelings of sympathy |
plebeian a. crude or coarse; unrefined or coarse in nature or manner; common or vulgar |
pliable a. flexible; yielding; easily bent or shaped |
populate v. inhabit or live in; be an inhabitant of; fill with inhabitants |
portal n. a grand and imposing entrance; a short vein that carries blood into the liver |
portly a. inoffensive expression of fat; stout |
precept n. rule or principle prescribing particular action or conduct; authorized direction or order |
precinct n. district or division of city; place or enclosure by definite limits |
pregnant a. expecting a baby; carrying within the body or being about to produce new life |
prelude n. introduction; forerunner; preliminary or preface |
preoccupy v. occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance |
prestige n. impression produced by achievements or reputation; recognized distinction or importance |
profess v. state freely; practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about; confess one's faith in, or allegiance to |
proficient a. skilled; expert; having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude |
progression n. sequence; act of moving forward toward a goal |
prophylactic a. defending or protecting from disease or infection |
prose n. essay; ordinary speech or writing; commonplace expression or quality |