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Barron's Word List                      GRE HOME
abase lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
n abash embarrass; n abate subside or moderate; abbreviate shorten

abject (of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
abjure renounce upon oath
ablution washingabnegation renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
abolish cancel; put an end to
abominate loathe; hate
abominable detestable; extremely unpleasant
aboriginal being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
abortive unsuccessful; fruitless
abrasive rubbing away; tending to grind down
abridge condense or shorten
abrogate abolish
n abscission cutting off; separation
abscond depart secretly and hide
absolute complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
absolve pardon (an offense)
abstain refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote; ±â±ÇÇÏ´Ù
abstemious sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
abstinence restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
abstract theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
s representational (of a style of art) showing things as they actually appear in real life
abstruse obscure; profound; difficult to understand
abusive coarsely insulting; physically harmful
n abut border upon; adjoin
abysmal bottomless
abyss enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
academic related to a school; not practical or directly useful
accede agree
accelerate move faster
accessible easy to approach; obtainable
accessory additional object; useful but not essential thing
acclaim applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise
acclimate adjust to climate or environment; adapt
n acclivity sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
accolade award of merit; strong praise and approval
s merit good quality deserving praise; merits: aspect of character or behavior deserving approval or disapproval; Ex. judge each plan on its own merits; V: deserve; earn
s demerit fault; bad quality
s earn gain for the performance of service or labor; gain (something that one deserves); deserve
accommodate oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
accomplice partner in crime
accord agreement
accost approach and speak first to a person
n accoutre equip; N. accoutrement
accretion growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
accrue come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
n acerbity bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
s bitter having a sharp biting taste; ¾´; causing sharp pain to the body or mind; filled with resentment, disappointment, or other unpleasant feelings; Ex. bitter wind/sorrow/tears
s biting sharply painful to the body or mind; Ex. biting wind/remarks
n acetic vinegary
n acidulous slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
acknowledge recognize; admit
n acme peak; pinnacle; highest point
acoustics science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
acquiesce assent; agree passively; comply without protest
acquittal deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
n acrid bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
n acrimonious stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
acrophobia fear of heights
actuarial calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
actuary someone who advises insurance companies
n actuate motivate; activate; cause to act
acuity sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
acumen mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
acute (of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
n adage wise saying; proverb
s proverb adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially
adamant hard; inflexible
adapt make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
n addendum addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
addiction compulsive habitual need
n addle make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
address direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
adept expert at; very skilled
adhere stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
adherent supporter; follower
adjacent adjoining; neighboring; close by
s adjoin be next to
s adjourn suspend until a later time; move from one place to another
adjunct something attached to but holding an inferior position
adjuration solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
n adjutant staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
admonish warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
s adore love deeply and respect highly
adorn decorate
adroit skillful (in using mind or hand)
h 2
adulation flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
adulterate make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
advent arrival
adventitious accidental; casual; happening by chance
adversary opponent; enemy
adverse going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
adversity great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
n advert refer
advocacy support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
advocate speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
n aegis shield; protection; defense
n aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry) nest of a large bird of prey
aesthetic artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
affable easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
affected artificial; pretended
affidavit written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
affiliation joining; associating with
affinity feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
affirmation positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
affliction state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
affluence abundance; wealth
affront insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
n agape openmouthed
n agenda items of business at a meeting
n agglomeration collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
aggrandize make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
aggregate sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
aghast filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
agility nimbleness; ability to move quickly
agitate stir up; disturb
agnostic one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
n agog highly excited; intensely curious
agrarian pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
alacrity cheerful promptness without reluctance
alchemy medieval chemistry
n alcove nook; recess
alias an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
alienate make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
alimentary supplying nourishment
n alimony payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
allay calm; pacify
allege state without proof
allegiance loyalty
n allegory story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable
alleviate relieve (pain)
alliteration repetition of beginning sound in poetry
allocate assign; set apart for a particular purpose
s earmark set aside (money or time) for a particular purpose
alloy mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
allude refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
allure entice; attract; tempt
s siren apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
alluvial pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
n aloof apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
n aloft upward; high up in the air
altercation noisy quarrel
altruistic unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
n amalgamate (of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
n amalgam combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
n amass collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
amazon female warrior
ambidextrous capable of using either hand with equal ease
ambience environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
ambiguous unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
ambivalence the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
amble walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
n ambrosia food of the gods
s nectar drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
ambulatory able to walk
ameliorate improve
amenable obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
amend correct; change ; generally for the better
h 3
amenities convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
amiable agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
amicable peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
n amiss wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
amity friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
amnesia loss of memory
amnesty pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
amoral nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
amorous moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
amorphous formless; lacking shape or definition
amphibian able to live both on land and in water; N.
amphitheater oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
n ample enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
amplify increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
n amputate cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
n amok(amuck) in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
n amulet charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
anachronism an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
n analgesic causing insensitivity to pain; N.
s analgesia condition of being unable to feel pain
analogous comparable; similar
analogy similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
anarchist person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
anarchy absence of governing body; state of disorder
n anathema solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
ancestry family descent; ADJ. ancestral
anchor secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
ancillary serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
anecdote short story of an amusing or interesting event
anemia condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
anesthetic substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
anguish acute pain; extreme suffering
angular sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
animadversion critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
animated lively; spirited
animosity active enmity
n animus hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
annals records arranged in yearly parts; history
anneal reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
annex attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
annihilate destroy
annotate comment; make explanatory notes
annuity yearly allowance
annul make void
s elope run away secretly with the intention of getting married
n anodyne drug that relieves pain or trouble; ÁøÅëÁ¦; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
anoint consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
anomalous abnormal; irregular
anomaly irregularity
anonymity state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
antagonism hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
s protagonist leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief character in a play or story
antecede precede
antecedents preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
antediluvian antiquated; extremely ancient
n anthem song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
n anthology book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
anthropoid manlike; resembling a human being; N.
anthropologist student of the history and science of humankind
anthropomorphic having human form or characteristics
anticlimax letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
antidote remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
antipathy aversion; dislike or opposition
n antiquated obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
s antique made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare or valuable
s antiquity quality of being very old; ancient times; °í´ë
antiseptic substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
antithesis contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
s antler bony growth on the head of a deer
n anvil iron block used in hammering out metals
apathy lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
n ape imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
n aperture opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
n apex tip; summit; climax; highest point
aphasia loss of speech due to injury or illness
aphorism pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
n apiary a place where bees are kept
s hive box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
s apiculture bee-keeping
s apiarist person who keeps bees
n aplomb poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
s poise good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
apocalyptic prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
n apocryphal (of a story) widely believed but untrue
apogee highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
n apolitical having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
n apologist one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
n apoplexy stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
n apostate one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
n apothecary druggist; pharmacist
h 4
n apothegm(apophthegm) pithy, compact saying
n apotheosis elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
appall dismay; shock deeply
apparition ghost; phantom
appease pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
n appellation name; title
append attach
n application diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
apposite appropriate; fitting
appraise estimate value of; N. appraisal
appreciate be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
apprehend arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
n apprehensive fearful; discerning
apprise inform
approbation approval
appropriate acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
n appurtenances subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
n apropos with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
aptitude fitness; talent
n aquiline curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
n arable fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
arbiter person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
arbitrary unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
arbitrate act as judge (at the request of both sides)
n arboretum place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
s arboreal of or living in trees
arcade a covered passageway usually lined with shops
arcane esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
archaeology study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
n archaic antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
n archetype prototype; primitive pattern
arch- chief; first; Ex. archbishop
n archipelago group of closely located islands
n archives public records; place where public records are kept
ardor heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
n arduous hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
n argot slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
aria operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
n arid (of land) dry; barren; unproductive
aristocracy hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
armada fleet of warships
aromatic fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
arraign charge in court; indict
n array marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
arrears being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
n arrhythmic lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
arrogance pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
n arroyo gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
s artery blood-vessel; CF. vein
articulate effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
arsenal storage place for military equipment
artifacts object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
n artifice deception; trickery
artisan a manually skilled worker
n artless without guile; open and honest
ascendancy controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
ascertain find out for certain; make certain
ascetic practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
ascribe refer; attribute; assign
aseptic preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
n ashen ash-colored; deadly pale
n asinine stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
n askance with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
n askew crookedly; slanted; at an angle
asperity sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
aspersion slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
aspirant seeker after position or status
aspire seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
assail assault
n assay analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
assent agree; accept; N. assessment
n assert state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
assiduous diligent
assimilate absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
assuage mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
assumption something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
s regent a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
assurance firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty
asteroid small planet
n astigmatism eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
h 5
n astral relating to the stars
astringent binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
astronomical enormously large or extensive
astute wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
n asunder into parts; apart; V. sunder
asylum place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
asymmetric not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
n atavism resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
atheistic denying the existence of God; N. atheism
atone make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
atrocity brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
atrophy wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
attentive alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
attenuate make thin; weaken
attest testify; bear witness
attribute essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
attrition rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
n atypical not normal; not typical
audacious daring; bold; N. audacity
audit examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
augment increase; add to
n augury omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
august impressive; majestic
n aureole sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
n auroral pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
auspicious favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
austere forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
authenticate prove genuine
authoritarian subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
authoritative having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
autocratic having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
automaton mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
autonomous self-governing; N. autonomy
autopsy examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
auxiliary offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
avalanche great mass of falling snow and ice
avarice greediness for wealth
avenge take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.
aver state confidently; declare as true
averse reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
aversion firm dislike
avert prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
aviary enclosure for birds; large cage
n avid greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
avocation secondary or minor occupation
avow declare openly; N. avowal
avuncular of or like an uncle
awe solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
s awful terrible; very bad
n awl pointed tool used for piercing
n awry distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
axiom self-evident truth requiring no proof
n azure sky blue
n babble chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
n bacchanalian drunken
s bacchanal noisy party with a lot of drinking
s Bacchanalia the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
n badger pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal
n badinage teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
baffle frustrate; perplex
n bait harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
n baleful evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
n balk stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate
n ballast heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
n balm something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
s pang sudden sharp feeling of pain
n balmy soft and mild (of air); fragrant
banal hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed
n bandy discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with
bane posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
bantering joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
barb sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark
h 6
n bard poet
n barefaced shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
s unregenerate making no attempt to change one's bad practices
n baroque highly ornate
barrage barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
barrister counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar
s solicitor lawyer in the lower court of law
barterer trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money
n bask luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
s luxuriate take pleasure in great comfort
n bastion stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
n bate let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate
n bauble trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
n bawdy indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
n beatific giving or showing bliss; blissful
s bliss complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
n beatitude blessedness; state of great happiness
s mystic of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
n bedizen dress with vulgar finery
s finery beautiful clothes for a special occasion
n bedraggle wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
n beeline direct quick route
n befuddle confuse thoroughly
s fuddle make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused
beget father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
n begrudge envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.
s grudge deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.
n beguile deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
n behemoth huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
n beholden obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
n behoove(behove) be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.
n belabor harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically
n belated delayed
n beleaguer besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
n belie contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.
belittle disparage; depreciate
bellicose warlike
belligerent quarrelsome
n bemoan lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of
n bemused confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
benediction blessing
benefactor gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
beneficent kindly; doing good
beneficial helpful; useful; advantageous
beneficiary person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
n benefit advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits
benevolent generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
benign kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor
benison blessing
bent determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination
bequeath leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest
n berate scold strongly
n bereavement state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
n bereaved deprived of (someone beloved through death)
n bereft deprived of (something valuable); lacking
n berserk mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
beseech beg; plead with
n beset harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
s hem surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.
besiege surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually
n besmirch soil; defile; make dirty
n bestial beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
bestow confer
n betoken signify; indicate; be a sign of
s token outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude
n betray be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
n betroth become engaged to marry
n bevy large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
bicameral two-chambered as a legislative body
bicker quarrel
biennial every two years
n bifurcated divided into two branches; forked
n bigotry stubborn intolerance
s bigot one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)
s intolerant not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one's own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate
n bilious suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated
n bilk swindle; cheat
n billowing swelling out in waves; surging
s billow large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows
s swell long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.
s surge powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
n bivouac temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
bizarre fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
n blanch bleach; whiten; make white or pale
n bland soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
n blandishment flattery
n blare loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light
s screech unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.
s dazzle make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder
n blas\'e bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored
n blasphemy irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
n blatant extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
n bleak cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing
n blighted suffering from a disease; destroyed
s blight plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
n blithe(blithesome) gay; joyous
n bloated (unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air
n blowhard talkative boaster; braggart
n bludgeon club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
n bluff pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured
h 7
blunder error; stupid mistake
n blurt utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement
n bluster blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale
s bully one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.
bode foreshadow; portend
bogus counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview
n bohemian unconventional (in an artistic way)
boisterous violent; rough; noisy
n bolster support; reinforce
n bolt door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a door); gobble down
s dart move or throw suddenly and quickly
s gobble eat very quickly
n bombardment attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard
n bombastic pompous; using inflated language
s bombast grandiloquent, pompous speech
n boon blessing; benefit; something very helpful
n boorish rude; insensitive
s boor rude, insensitive person
n bouillon clear beef (or meat) soup
n bountiful generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
s gracious kind in a generous way (to someone less important)
bourgeois middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions
bovine cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm
n bowdlerize expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
n brackish somewhat saline
n braggadocio boasting
s brag boast
n braggart boaster; bragger
n brandish wave around (a weapon); flourish
n bravado swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery
s swagger walk or behave with an over-confident manner
n brawn human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
s brawny muscular; having well-developed muscles
s sturdy strong and firm (in the body)
n brazen insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence
s brawl noisy quarrel
n breach breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.
breadth width; extent
brevity conciseness; shortness of duration
n brindled tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
s tawny brownish yellow
n bristling rising like bristles; showing irritation
s bristle short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
n brittle hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation
n broach introduce as a subject; moot; open up
n brocade rich, figured(patterned) fabric
brochure pamphlet
n brooch ornamental clasp; pin
s clasp hold firmly within arms
n brook tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream
n browbeat bully; intimidate
n browse graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
s graze (of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an animal) to feed on grass; scrape (esp. the skin) or touch lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can't graze the cattle till summer; N: surface wound
s skim read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
n brunt main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument
n brusque blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice
n buccaneer pirate
n bucolic rustic; pastoral
n buffet strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set
s slap hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
n buffoonery clowning
s buffoon stupid person; clown
s clown act stupidly; play the fool; N.
n bugaboo bugbear; object of baseless terror
n bullion gold and silver in the form of bars
n bulwark strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends
n bungle mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior
s botch mismanage; blow
buoyant able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market
bureaucracy overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic
n burgeon grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon
n burlesque give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly
n burnish make shiny by rubbing; polish
n buttress support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress
s prop support placed under or against something; V.
n buxom full-bosomed; plump; jolly
s plump pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
n cabal small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
cache hiding place; V.
cacophonous discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds
cadaver corpse; dead human body
cadaverous like a corpse; pale
n cadence rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
n cajole persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
s coax persuade by flattery
calamity disaster; misery
calculated deliberately planned; likely
n caldron(cauldron) large kettle
n caliber ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber
calligraphy beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
n callous hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
s callus area of thick hard skin
n callow youthful; immature; inexperienced
n calorific heat-producing; N. calorie
calumny malicious misrepresentation; slander
n camaraderie good-fellowship; CF. comrade
n cameo shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film
n canard unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
n candor frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
n canine related to dogs; doglike
n canker any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
s ulcer sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate
n canny shrewd in money matters; thrifty
n cant insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people
cantankerous ill-humored; irritable
n cantata story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)
n canter slow gallop; V. CF. trot
h 8
n canto division of a long poem
n canvass determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.
capacious spacious
n capacity mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president
n capillary having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
n capitulate surrender; give up all resistance
caprice whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause
capricious unpredictable; fickle
caption title; chapter heading; text under illustration
n captious faultfinding; too critical
n carafe glass water bottle; decanter
n carapace shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)
n carat(karat) unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold
n carcinogenic causing cancer; N. carcinogen
n cardinal chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order
cardiologist doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
n careen lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
s career rush wildly; go at full speed
s sway swing from side to side; influence (someone) to change one's opinion; N.
caricature distortion; burlesque
carillon a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played
carnage destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals
carnal fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
carnivorous meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
n carousal drunken revel; V. carouse
n carping petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble
n carrion rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
n cartographer map-maker
cascade small waterfall
n caste one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige
castigation punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
casualty serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle
s casual happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark
n cataclysm deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change
n catalyst agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis
catapult slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
s hurl throw forcefully; shout out violently
n cataract great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
catastrophe calamity ; disaster
n catcall shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
n catechism book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize
categorical without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
s qualify reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of something stated
catharsis purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art
cathartic purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
n catholic (of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes
n caucus private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston
n caulk(calk) make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
causal implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality
caustic burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless
n cauterize burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
n cavalcade procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry
n cavalier casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
n cavil quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
n cede yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession
celerity speed; rapidity
celestial heavenly
s hereafter life after death
s afterlife life after death; later part of one's life
n celibate abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy
censor (in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.
n censorious severely critical
censure blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval
centaur mythical figure, half man and half horse
centigrade denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)
centrifugal radiating; departing from the center
centrifuge machine that separates substances by whirling them
centripetal tending toward the center
centurion Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)
cerebral pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum
cerebration thought; working of the brain
n ceremonious marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
s unceremonious not done politely without due formalities
n certitude certainty
cessation stoppage
n cession yielding to another; ceding
n chafe warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
n chaff worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff
n chaffing bantering; joking
n chagrin annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)
n chalice goblet; consecrated cup
chameleon lizard that changes color in different situations
h 9
champion support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)
s championship position of champion; defense or support; competition held to determine a champion
chaotic in utter disorder
charisma divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism
n charlatan quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)
n chary cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold
n chase ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch
chasm abyss; very deep crack
n chassis framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
chaste morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere
n chasten discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
n chastise punish as by beating; criticize severely
chauvinist blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin
check stop motion; curb or restrain
n checkered(chequered) marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares
n cherubic angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order
n chicanery trickery; deception
n chide scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
n chimerical fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
n chisel swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting
s chip lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp
chivalrous courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry
n choleric hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera
n choreography art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances
s chore daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task
n chortle chuckle with delight; N.
s chuckle laugh quietly
chronic long established as a disease
chronicle report; record (in chronological order)
n churlish boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
n ciliated having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
cipher nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
circlet small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)
circuitous roundabout
s circuit closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place
circumlocution indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)
circumscribe limit; confine; draw a line around
n circumspect prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
circumvent outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around
n cistern reservoir or water tank
citadel fortress
cite quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record
civil having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic
clairvoyant having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
s hindsight understanding the nature of an event after it has actually happened
n clamber climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
clamor loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous
clandestine secret
s chaperon older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman
n clangor loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
n clapper striker (tongue) of a bell
s clap strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause
n clarion shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times
claustrophobia fear of being locked in
n clavicle collarbone
s scrimmage disorderly fight between two or more people
cleave split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven
n cleft N: split
n clemency disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
clich\'e phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich\'ed
s bromide platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
n clientele body of customers
climactic relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
n clime climate
n clique small exclusive group of people
cloister monastery or convent
n clout great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist
cloying distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess
n coagulate congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant
s clot half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
s pudding hot sweet dish
coalesce combine; fuse; N. coalescence
coalition partnership; league; union of separate political parties
n coda concluding section of a musical or literary composition
n coddle treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs
n codicil supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
codify arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs
coercion use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce
n coeval living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age
n cog tooth projecting from a wheel
cogent convincing
cogitate think over; ponder
cognate having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
cognitive having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing
cognizance knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware
n cohabit live together
cohere stick together
cohesion tendency to keep together
n cohorts group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
n coiffure hairstyle
coin make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented
coincidence the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental
n colander utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
h 10
collaborate work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy
n collage work of art put together from fragments
s scrap small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel
s scraps leftover food
s scrappy quarrelsome
collate examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)
collateral security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters
n collation a light meal; collating
colloquial pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression
colloquy informal discussion; conversation
collusion conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude
colossal huge
colossus gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance
n comatose in a coma; extremely sleepy
s coma deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow
combustible easily burned; N. CF. combustion
comely attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
s homely not good-looking; unattractive
comestible something fit to be eaten
n comeuppance deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke
s deserts what someone deserves
n comity courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
commandeer take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes
s draft first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript
s draught current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid swallowed at a time
n commemorative remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp
s commemorate honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war
commensurate equal in extent; of the same size
commiserate feel or express pity or sympathy for
commodious spacious and comfortable
n communal held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
s commune small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature
compact agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement
compatible harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together
compelling overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel
s compulsion compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse
s compulsory obligatory; that must be done
s compulsive resulting from compulsion
compendium brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious
compensatory making up for; repaying
compilation listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling
compile assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary
complacency self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
s smug self-satisfied; complacent
complaisant trying to please; obliging; willing to please others
complement complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
complementary serving to complete something
compliance conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply
compliant readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements
complicity participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
component element; ingredient
n comport bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
s deport send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment
s bearing deportment; connection
composure mental calmness
compound combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex. factory compound; CF. complex
comprehensive broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive
s comprehend include; understand
compress force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.
comprise include; consist of
n compromise adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one's principle; N.
compunction remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
compute reckon; calculate
s reckon count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose
concatenate link as in a chain
concave hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
concede admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal
conceit vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)
s vain full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity
concentric having a common center
conception beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception
n concerted mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together
concession an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire
conciliatory reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)
concise brief and compact
n conclave private secret meeting
conclusive decisive; ending all debate
concoct prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction
concomitant that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else
concord harmony; accord
s concordat formal agreement
concur agree; coincide; happen at the same time
concurrent happening at the same time; in agreement
condescend (derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior
condign adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
condiments seasonings; spices
condole express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow
condone overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
conducive helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
conduit aqueduct; passageway for fluids
n confidant(confidante) trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)
s confide tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about
s confidence self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling you this in confidence; Ex. exchange confidences about their boyfriends; ADJ. confident
s confidential spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary
confine shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement
confiscate seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer
conflagration great fire
confluence flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together
conformity harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance
s conformist person who uncritically conforms to the customs of a group; OP. nonconformist: one who does not conform to accepted beliefs of norms
n confound confuse; puzzle
congeal freeze; coagulate
congenial pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
congenital existing at birth
h 11
conglomeration mass of material sticking together
s conglomerate corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.
congruence correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity
congruent in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous
n conifer pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen
conjecture surmise; guess; V.
conjugal pertaining to marriage
conjure cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.
connivance pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire
connoisseur person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art
connotation suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote
connubial pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
s matrimony state of being married
s patrimony property inherited from a father
consanguinity kinship; relationship by birth
s consanguineous(consanguine) having a common ancestor
conscientious scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
conscript draftee; person forced into military service; V.
consecrate dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor
consensus general agreement; opinion reached by a group
consequential self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
conservatory(conservatoire) school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
consign send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee
consistency absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous
console lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation
consolidation unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen
consonance harmony; agreement
s consonant harmonious; in agreement; N.
consort associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)
conspiracy treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)
s conspire take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.
s consternation great shock; dismay
constituent supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component
s constituency voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)
s constitution constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions
constraint restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison
construe explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
consummate complete; V.
contagion infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air
s drastic strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures
contaminate pollute
contempt scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible
contend struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly
contention assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
s thesis opinion put forward and supported by reasoned arguments
s boost lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase
contentious quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
contest dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.
context writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs
contiguous adjacent to; touching upon
n continence self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent
n contingent dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency
contortions twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist
n contraband illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
n contravene contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention
contrite penitent; repentant; N. contrition
n contrived unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.
s contrive invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention
s contrivance something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme
controvert oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
contumacious stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
contusion bruise
s bruise injure without breaking the skin; N.
n conundrum riddle; difficult problem
convene come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council
convention social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement
conventional ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons
converge approach; tend to meet; come together
conversant familiar with; having knowledge of
converse opposite; ADJ.
convert one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief
convex curving outward
conveyance vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance
conviction judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief
convivial pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
convoke call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
convoluted coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain
s convulsion violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive
n copious plentiful
n coquette flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
s flirt behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal triflingly with; N: one (or woman) given to flirting; ADJ. flirtatious
cordial warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome
n cordon extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; (¾î±ú¿¡¼­ °Üµå¶û ¹ØÀ¸·Î °ÉÄ¡´Â) Àå½Ä ¸®º»; V.
n cornice projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars); ó¸¶ Àå½Ä
n cornucopia horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty
corollary natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
n corporeal bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible
corpulent very fat; N. corpulence
s corpus collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse
s corpuscle red or white cell in the blood
correlation mutual relationship
s correlate either of the correlated things; V.
corroborate confirm; support; strengthen
corrode destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)
corrosive eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
n corrugated wrinkled; ridged
s wrinkle small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.
s crinkle wrinkle
cosmic pertaining to the universe; vast
n coterie group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
countenance approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance
n countermand cancel; revoke (an order)
h 12
counterpart thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system
n coup highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills
couple join; unite; OP. uncouple
n courier messenger
n covenant binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise
s bargain agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power
covert secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
n covetous avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)
n cow terrorize; intimidate
n cower shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
n coy shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer¸¦ ¹Þ¾ÒÀ» ¶§
n cozen cheat; hoodwink; swindle
n crabbed sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
s peevish bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry
n crass very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
craven cowardly
credence belief
n credo creed
credulity belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous
creed system of religious or ethical belief
crescendo increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
s far-fetched too improbable to be believed; implausible; Ex. far-fetched story
s overture musical introduction to a long musical piece; first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace
n crestfallen dejected; dispirited
s crest top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird
n crevice crack; fissure
cringe shrink back as if in fear; cower
criteria standards used in judging; CF. criterion
n crone hag; ugly old woman
n crotchety (of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
n crux essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
crypt secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)
cryptic mysterious; hidden; secret
n cubicle small chamber used for sleeping or work
s compartment one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided
n cuisine style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
n culinary relating to cooking or kitchen
n cull pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.
culmination highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
culpable deserving blame; blameworthy
s culprit one guilty of a crime
n culvert artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
cumbersome heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
cumulative growing by addition; accumulative
cupidity greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
curator superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)
n curmudgeon churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person
n cursive (of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined
cursory casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
curtail shorten; reduce
cynical skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness
n cynosure object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
n dabble work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
n dais raised platform for speakers or other important people
n dally trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
n dank damp; unpleasantly wet
n dapper neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
n dappled spotted
n daub smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
s smear spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing
s smudge dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
daunt intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
dauntless bold; fearless
dawdle loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
deadlock standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
s standstill condition of no movement or activity; stop
n deadpan wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
dearth scarcity
d\'eb\^acle sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
debase degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
s kneel go down on one's knee(s)
n debauch corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
s seduce lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive
debilitate weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble
s bout match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu
n debonair (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
d\'ebris rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
n debunk expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
n debutante young woman making formal entrance into society
s debut d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society
decadence decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
decant pour off gently (wine or liquid)
decapitate behead
decelerate slow down
h 13
n deciduous falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
decimate kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
decipher decode; CF. indecipherable
n declivity downward slope
n d\'ecollet\'e (of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
s decree authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree
n decomposition decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
decorum propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
s decorous proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
decoy lure or bait; V.
decrepitude state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
s decrepit weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
n decry express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
deducible derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
deface mar; disfigure
s mar spoil the appearance of
defame harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
default failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
n defeatist resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
defection desertion
s defect shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
defer give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
deference courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
defiance refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
defile pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
definitive most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
deflect turn aside; turn away from a straight course
n defoliate destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
n defray provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
n defrock strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
s frock long loose garment (worn by monks)
deft neat; skillful
defunct dead; no longer in use or existence
degenerate become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
degradation humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
s dishonor disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
n dehydrate remove water from; dry out
deify turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
n deign condescend; stoop
s stoop bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying
delete erase; strike out
n deleterious harmful
deliberate consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
delineate portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
delirium mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
delta flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
delude deceive
deluge flood; rush; V.
delusion false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
delusive deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
n delve dig; search deeply; investigate
demagogue person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
demean disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
demeanor behavior; bearing
demented insane
demise death
n demographic related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
demolition destruction; V. demolish
n demoniac(demoniacal) fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
s fiend evil spirit; devil
n demotic of or pertaining to the people
n demur object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
n demure (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
denigrate blacken; defame
denizen (animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
denotation meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
n d\'enouement final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
denounce condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
depict portray
s expos\'e public revelation of something discreditable
deplete reduce; exhaust
deplore regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition
deploy spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
s battalion army unit made up of four or more companies
depose dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
deposition testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
depravity extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
deprecate express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
depreciate lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
depredation plundering; destruction
deranged insane
s institute organization for a special purpose; V: establish
s institution instituting; (building for the) organization; established custom, practice, or relationship in a society; mental hospital; Ex. institution of marriage
s institutionalize make into an institution; put or confine in an institution
derelict negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
s dereliction neglect of duty; abandonment
deride ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
derision ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
derivative unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
s derivation deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word
dermatologist one who studies the skin and its diseases
s acne skin disease (on the face)
h 14
derogatory expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
n descry catch sight of (something distant)
desecrate profane; violate the sanctity of
s violate break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually; Ex. violate graves
desiccate dry up
desolate (of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless
desolate make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
n desperado reckless, desperate outlaw
s desperate having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
despise look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
despoil plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
despondent without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
despot tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
destitute extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
s impoverish make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil
desultory aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
n detached emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
s detain keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
n determinate having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
n determination resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
deterrent something that discourages or deters
detonation explosion
detraction slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
detrimental harmful; damaging; N. detriment
deviate turn away from (a principle, norm); move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism
n devious roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
devise think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
devoid empty; lacking
n devolve deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
s deputize work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away
devotee enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
devout pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
s religious of religion; (of a person) pious; having reverence for a deity
dexterous skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
diabolical diabolic; devilish; fiendish
n diadem crown
dialectical relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
diaphanous sheer; transparent
n diatribe bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
dichotomy division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
n dictum authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
n didactic (of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
n die metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
diffidence shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
n diffuse wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
digression wandering away from the subject; V. digress
dilapidated falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
dilate expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
dilatory delaying; tending to delay
dilemma situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
n dilettante aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
diligence steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
dilute make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president
diminution lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
din continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
s weary tired after long work; V.
n dinghy small boat (often ship's boat)
s maroon leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
n dingy (of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
s dull (of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.
n dint means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
n diorama life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
n dire warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
n dirge funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
disabuse correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
n disaffected disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
disapprobation disapproval; condemnation
n disarray state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray
n disavowal denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
n disband dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
n disburse pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse
discernible distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
discerning mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
n disclaim disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
disclose reveal; N. disclosure
n discombobulated discomposed; confused
s discompose disturb the composure of; confuse
discomfit frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
n disconcert confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
disconsolate hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
discord conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
discordant not harmonious; conflicting
n discount disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost
discourse serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.
discredit defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful
discrepancy lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
discrete separate; unconnected
discretion prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
discriminating able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
s discriminate distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference
s brisk quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
n discursive (of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)
disdain treat with scorn or contempt
n disembark debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
disenfranchise disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
n disengage uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage
disfigure mar the appearance of; spoil
n disgorge surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
n disgruntle make discontented
h 15
dishearten discourage
n disheveled untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
disinclination unwillingness
n disingenuous not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
n disinter dig up; unearth; OP. inter
disinterested unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
disjointed disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin
disjunction act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
n dislodge remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
n dismantle take apart; disassemble
s mantle loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
s crust hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
dismember cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb
n dismiss eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal
disparage belittle
maneuver(manoeuver) strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end
disparate basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
disparity difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
dispassionate calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
dispatch speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
dispel scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
s dispense distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule
disperse scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
n dispirited lacking in spirit
n disport amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
disputatious argumentative; fond of argument
disquietude uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
n disquisition formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
dissection analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
n dissemble disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
disseminate distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
dissent disagree
dissertation formal essay; treatise
dissident dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.
n dissimulate pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
dissipate squander; waste foolishly; scatter
n dissolution disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
s reduce diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction
dissuade persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
s dissonance discord
n distant reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
distend expand; swell out
distill refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew
n distinction honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
s distinct clearly different; clearly noticed
s distinctive clearly different from others of the same kind
distort twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion
n distrait absentminded; distracted
n distraught upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry
s distract take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted
diurnal daily; occurring during the daytime
diva operatic singer; prima donna
diverge vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
diverse differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N. diversity: variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance
diversion act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse
divest strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)
divine perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
s dowse use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals
divulge reveal
docile obedient; easily managed; submissive
s ferocious fierce; violent; N. ferocity
n docket program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket
n doctrinaire unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
doctrine teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal
s indoctrinate cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism
n document provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.
n doddering shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
s merit deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
n doff take off; OP. don
n dogged determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
s persevere continue steadily in spite of difficulties
n doggerel poor verse
dogmatic opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal
n doldrums blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums
s blues state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)
dolorous sorrowful; N. dolor
n dolt slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
n domicile home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
n domineer rule over tyrannically
s dominate control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height; ³»·Á´Ùº¸´Ù
s dominant exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive
n don put on; OP. doff
s outfit clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy outfit
dormant sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
n dormer window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room
dorsal relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
n dossier file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
n dotage senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage
n dote be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
n dour sullen; gloomy; stubborn
s sullen silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
s brood sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time
n douse plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse
n dowdy untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
n downcast disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
n drab dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
n draconian extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
n dregs sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
n drivel nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
s nonsense speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
s dribble flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
s drip fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
s trickle flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
n droll queer and amusing
s queer strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal
n drone idle person who lives on other people's work; male bee
n drone talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
s murmur low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
n dross waste matter; worthless impurities
drudgery hard unpleasant work; menial work
s drudge do drudgery; N: person who drudges
n dubious questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
n ductile malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
n dulcet sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
n dumbfound(dumfound) astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck
n dupe someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
n duplicity double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
h 16
duration length of time something lasts
n duress forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
n dutiful(duteous) (of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)
n dwindle shrink; reduce gradually
dynamic energetic; vigorously active
s dynamo generator for producing electricity; energetic person
n dyspeptic suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food
s dys- abnormal; impaired
s dyslexia word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read
s dysentery inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract
n earthy unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal
s earthly of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason
ebb (of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide
ebullient showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling
eccentric irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric
eccentricity oddity; idiosyncrasy
ecclesiastic ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman
s chapel small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)
s chaplain clergyman attached to a chapel
s padre chaplain (in the armed forces)
eclectic selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism
s selective careful in choosing; having an effect only on certain things; not general; Ex. eclectic weed killer
eclipse darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse
s ecliptic path of the sun and the planets
ecologist person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology
s ecosystem ecological community together with its environment
economy efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources
ecstasy rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy
s rapture great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
n eddy swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.
edict decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command
s sovereign ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent
s sovereignty complete independence and self-government (of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern
n edify instruct; correct morally
s edifice building (of imposing size)
eerie weird; causing fear because strange
efface rub out; remove the surface of
effectual able to produce a desired effect; valid
s effective effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph
s effectuate effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation
effeminate having womanly traits
s emasculate weaken; castrate
s castrate remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
n effervescence inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce
effete having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted
efficacy power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual
effigy dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President
s dummy imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy
n effluvium noxious(harmful) smell
effrontery rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
s effulgent shining brightly; brilliant
effusion pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V.