1
abate
subside or moderate
Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate.
2
abbreviate
shorten
Because we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.
3
abortive
unsuccessful; fruitless
We had to abandon our abortive attempts.
4
absolute
complete; totally unlimited; certain
Although the King of Siam was an absolute monarch, he did not want to behead his unfaithful wife without absolute evidence of her infidelity.
5
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; non-representational
To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he had never missed a meal.
6
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmful
An abusive parent damages a child both mentally and physically.
7
accelerate
move faster
In our science class, we learn how falling bodies accelerate.
8
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
We asked our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot.
9
accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing
She bought an attractive handbag as an accessory for her dress.
10
abscond
depart secretly and hide
The teller absconded with the bonds and was not found.
11
aberrant
abnormal or deviant
Given the aberrant nature of the data, we came to doubt the validity of the entire experiment.
12
abeyance
suspended action
The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival.
13
adamant
hard, inflexible
He was adamant in his determination to punish the wrongdoer.
14
adulterate
make impure by mixing with baser substances
It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer.
15
adversity
poverty, misfortune
We must learn to meet adversity gracefully.
16
abase
lower; degrade; humiliate
Anna expected to have to curtsy to the King of Siam; when told to cast herself down on the ground before him, however she refused to abase herself.
17
abash
embarrass
He was not at all abashed by her open admiration.
18
abdicate
renounce; give up
When Edward VII abdicated the British throne, he surprised the entire world.
19
abet
assist, usually in doing something wrong
She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned.
20
abject
wretched; lacking pride
On the streets of New York the homeless live in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find shelter from the wind.
21
abjure
renounce upon oath
He abjured his allegiance to the king.
22
ablution
washing
His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled "Opera in the Bath."
23
abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice
Though Rudolph and Duchess Flavia loved one another, their love was doomed, for she had to wed the king; their act of abnegation was necessary to preserve the kingdom.
24
abominate
loathe; hate
Moses scolded the idol worshippers in the tribe because he abominated the custom.
25
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down
Just as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can wear away a listener's patience.
26
abrogate
abolish
He intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor.
27
absolve
pardon (an offense)
The father confessor absolved him of his sins.
28
abstain
refrain; withhold from participation
After considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race.
29
abut
border upon; adjoin
Where our estates abut, we must build a fence.
30
abysmal
bottomless
His arrogance is exceeded only by his abysmal ignorance.
31
accede
agree
If I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands.
32
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment
One of the difficulties of our present air age is the need of travellers to acclimate themselves to their new and often strange environments.
33
acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill
The car could not go up the acclivity in high gear.
34
accolade
award of merit
In Hollywood, an "Oscar" is the highest accolade.
35
accord
agreement
She was in complete accord with the verdict.
36
accost
approach and speak first to a person
When the two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I thought they were going to attack me.
37
accoutre
equip
The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply 
38
accretion
growth; increase
The accretion of wealth marked the family's rise in power.
39
accrue
come about by addition
You must pay the interest that has accrued on your debt as well as the principal sum.
40
acidulous
slightly sour; sharp; caustic
James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks.
41
acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
Welles's success in Citizen Kane marked the acme of his career as an actor; never again did he achieve such popular acclaim.
42
acquiesce
assent; agree passively
Although she appeared to acquiesce to her employer's suggestions, I could tell she had reservations about the changes he wanted made.
43
acquittal
deliverance from a charge
His acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty.
44
acrid
sharp; bitterly pungent
The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired.
45
acrimonious
stinging, caustic
His tendency to utter acrimonious remarks alienated his audience.
46
actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago.
47
actuate
motivate
I fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily.
48
acuity
sharpness
In time his youthful acuity of vision failed him, and he needed glasses.
49
acumen
mental keenness
His business acumen helped him to succeed where others had failed.
50
adage
wise saying; proverb
There is much truth in the old adage about fools and their money.
51
addendum
addition; appendix to book
Jane's editor approved her new comparative literature text but thought it would be even better with an addendum on recent developments in literary criticism.
52
addle
muddle; drive crazy
This idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle anyone.
53
adherent
supporter; follower
In the wake of the scandal, the senator's one-time adherent quietly deserted him.
54
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position
I will entertain this concept as an adjunct to the main proposal.
55
adjuration
solemn urging
Her adjuration to tell the truth did not change the witnesses' testimony.
56
adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
Though Wellington delegated many tasks to his chief adjutant, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Somerset was in no doubt as to who made all major decisions.
57
admonish
warn; reprove
He admonished his listeners to change their wicked ways.
58
adorn
decorate
Wall paintings and carved statues adorned the temple.
59
adroit
skillful
His adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased his employers.
60
adulation
flattery; admiration
The rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes-men.
61
advent
arrival
Most Americans were unaware of the advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima reached them.
62
adventitious
accidental; casual
He found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate.
63
adversary
opponent; enemy
Batman struggled to save Gotham City from the machinations of his wicked adversary, the Joker.
64
adverse
unfavorable; hostile
adverse circumstances compelled him to close his business.
65
advert
refer to
Since you advert to this matter so frequently, you must regard it as important.
66
advocate
urge; plead for
The abolitionists advocated freedom for the slaves.
67
aegis
shield; defense
Under the aegis of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy our most treasured freedoms.
68
affable
courteous
Although he held a position of responsibility, he was an affable individual and could be reached by anyone with a complaint.
69
affected
artificial; pretended
His affected mannerisms irritated may of us who had known him before his promotion.
70
affidavit
written statement made under oath
The court refused to accept his statement unless he presented it in the form of an affidavit.
71
affiliation
joining; associating with
His affiliation with the political party was of short duration for he soon disagreed with his colleagues.
72
affinity
kinship
She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains.
73
affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath
Despite Tom's affirmation of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie.
74
affix
attach or add on; fasten
First the registrar had to affix his signature to the license; then he had to affix his official seal.
75
affluence
abundance; wealth
Foreigners are amazed by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life.
76
affront
insult; offend
Accustomed to being treated with respect, Miss Challoner was affronted by Vidal's offensive behavior.
77
agape
openmouthed
She stared, agape, at the many strange animals in the zoo.
78
agenda
items of business at a meeting
We had so much difficulty agreeing upon an agenda that there was very little time for the meeting.
79
agglomeration
collection; heap
It took weeks to assort the agglomeration of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip.
80
aggrandize
increase or intensify; raise in power, wealth, rank or honor
The history of the past quarter century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to act aggressively in international affairs without considering the wishes of Congress.
81
aggregate
sum; total
The aggregate wealth of this country is staggering to the imagination.
82
aghast
horrified
He was aghast at the nerve of the speaker who had insulted his host.
83
agility
nimbleness
The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience.
84
agitate
stir up; disturb
Her fiery remarks agitated the already angry mob.
85
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence of knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
The agnostic demanded proof before she would accept the statement of the minister.
86
agog
highly excited; intensely curious
We were all agog at the news that the celebrated movie star was giving up his career in order to enter a monastery.
87
agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivation
As a result of its recent industrialization, the country is gradually losing its agrarian traditions.
88
alacrity
cheerful promptness
He demonstrated his eagerness to serve by his alacrity in executing the orders of his master.
89
alchemy
medieval chemistry
The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy.
90
alcove
nook; recess
Though their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an alcove adjacent to the living room made an adequate breakfast nook for the young couple.
91
alias
an assumed name
John Smith's alias was Bob Jones.
92
alienate
make hostile; separate
Her attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith in each other.
93
alimentary
supplying nourishment
The alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods occurs there.
94
alimony
payments make to an ex-spouse after divorce
Because Tony had supported Tina through medical school, on their divorce he asked the court to award him $500 a month in alimony.
95
allay
calm; pacify
The crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled.
96
allege
state without proof
It is alleged that she had worked for the enemy.
97
allegory
story in which characters are used as symbols; fable
Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of the human soul.
98
alleviate
relieve
This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs.
99
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
"The furrow followed free" is an example of alliteration.
100
alloy
mixture as of metals
alloy of gold are used more frequently than the pure metal.
101
allude
refer indirectly
Try not to allude to this matter in his presence because the topic annoys him.
102
allure
entice; attract
allured by the song of the sirens, the helmsman steered the ship toward the reef.
103
allusion
indirect reference
the allusions to mythological characters in Milton's poems bewilder the reader who has not studied Latin.
104
alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
The farmers found the alluvial deposits at the mouth of the river very fertile.
105
aloof
apart; reserved
Shy by nature, she remained aloof while all the rest conversed.
106
aloft
upward
The sailor climbed aloft into the rigging.
107
altercation
noisy quarrel
Throughout the altercation, not one sensible word was uttered.
108
altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others
In providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships to hundreds of economically disadvantaged youths, Eugene Lang performed a truly altruistic deed.
109
amalgamate
combine; unite in one body
The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body.
110
amass
collect
The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible.
111
amazon
female warrior
Ever since the days of Greek mythology we refer to strong and aggressive women as amazons.
112
ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease
A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous.
113
ambience
environment; atmosphere
She went to the restaurant not for the food but for the ambience.
114
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning
His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take.
115
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
Torn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by the ambivalence of her feelings.
116
amble
moving at an easy pace
When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble.
117
ambrosia
food of the gods
ambrosia was supposed to give immortality to any human who ate it.
118
ambulatory
able to walk
He was described as an ambulatory patient because he was not confined to his bed.
119
ameliorate
improve
Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums.
120
amenable
readily managed; willing to be led
He was amenable to any suggestions that came from those he looked up to; he resented advice from his inferiors.
121
amend
correct; change, generally for the better
Hoping to amend his condition, he left Vietnam for the United States.
122
amenities
convenient features; courtesies
In addition to the customary amenities for the business traveler -- fax machines, modems, a health club -- the hotel offers the services of a butler versed in social amenities.
123
amiable
agreeable; lovable
His amiable disposition pleased all who had dealings with him.
124
amicable
friendly
The dispute was settled in an amicable manner with no harsh words.
125
amiss
wrong; faulty
Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything were amiss.
126
amity
friendship
Student exchange programs such as the Experiment in International Living were established to promote international amity.
127
amnesia
loss of memory
Because she was suffering from amnesia, the police could not get the young girl to identify herself.
128
amnesty
pardon
When his first child was born, the king granted amnesty to all in prison.
129
amoral
non-moral
The amoral individual lacks a code of ethics; he should not be classified as immoral.
130
amorous
moved by sexual love; loving
Don Juan was known for his amorous adventures.
131
amorphous
shapeless; vague; indeterminate
John was subject to panic attacks that left him prey to vague, amorphous fears: he knew he was terrified, but could neither define nor explain the cause of his terror.
132
amphibian
able to live both on land and in water
Frogs are classified as amphibian.
133
amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seats
The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators.
134
ample
abundant
He had ample opportunity to dispose of his loot before his police caught up with him.
135
amplify
enlarge
Her attempts to amplify her remarks were drowned out by the jeers of the audience.
136
amputate
cut off part of body; prune
When the doctors had to amputate Ted Kennedy's leg to prevent the spread of cancer, he did not let the loss of his leg keep him from participating in sports.
137
amok
in a state of rage
The police had to be called in to restrain him after he ran amok in the department store.
138
amulet
charm; talisman
Around her neck she wore the amulet that the witch doctor had given her.
139
anachronism
something or someone misplaced in time
Shakespeare's reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is an anachronism; no clocks existed in Caesar's time.
140
analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain
The analgesic qualities of his lotion will provide temporary relief.
141
analogous
comparable
She called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same.
142
analogy
similarity; parallelism
Your analogy is not a good one because the two situations are not similar.
143
anarchist
person who rebels against the established order
Only the total overthrow of all governmental regulations would satisfy the anarchist.
144
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder
The assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy.
145
anathema
solemn curse; someone or something that is despised
He heaped anathema upon his foe.
146
anathematize
curse
The high priest anathematized the heretic.
147
anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place
We set the post in concrete to anchor it in place.
148
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary
In an ancillary capacity Doctor Watson was helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the good doctor to solve a perplexing case on his own.
149
anecdote
short account of an amusing or interesting event
Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Raegan told anecdotes about poor people who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds.
150
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles
The doctor ascribes her tiredness to anemia.
151
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness
His monotonous voice acted like an anesthetic; his audience was soon asleep.
152
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering
Visiting the site of explosion, Premier Gorbachev wept to see the anguish of the victims and their families.
153
angular
sharp-cornered; stiff in manner
His features, though angular, were curiously attractive.
154
animadversion
critical remark
He resented the animadversions of his critics, particularly because he realized they were true.
155
animated
lively
Her animated expression indicated a keenness of intellect.
156
animosity
active enmity
He incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power.
157
animus
hostile feeling or intent
The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks.
158
annals
records; history
In the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements.
159
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling
After the glass is annealed, it will be less subject to chipping and cracking.
160
annihilate
destroy
The enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate the entire population.
161
annotate
comment; make explanatory notes
In the appendix to the novel, the critic sought to annotate many of the more esoteric references.
162
annuity
yearly allowance
The annuity he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he can live very comfortably without working.
163
annul
make void
The parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage.
164
anodyne
drug that relieves pain; opiate
His pain was so great that no anodyne could relieve it.
165
anoint
consecrate
The prophet Samuel anointed David with oil, crowning him king of Israel.
166
anomalous
abnormal; irregular
He was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures that he despised.
167
anomaly
irregularity
A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly.
168
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness
The donor of the gift asked the college not to mention him by name; the dean readily agreed to respect his anonymity.
169
antagonistic
hostile; opposed
Despite his lawyers' best efforts to stop him, the angry prisoner continued to make antagonistic remarks to the judge.
170
antecede
precede
The invention of the radiotelegraph anteceded the development of television by a quarter of a century.
171
antecedents
preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; early life; ancestors
Before giving permission for Drummie to marry Estella, Miss Havisham had a few questions about the young man's birth and antecedents.
172
antediluvian
antiquated; ancient
The antediluvian customs had apparently not changed for thousands of years.
173
anthropoid
manlike
The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals.
174
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankind
Anthropologists have discovered several relics of prehistoric humans in this area.
175
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics.
176
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion
After the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax.
177
antipathy
aversion; dislike
His extreme antipathy to dispute caused him to avoid argumentative discussions with his friends.
178
antiquated
obsolete; outdated
Accustomed to editing his papers on word processors, Philip thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to use.
179
antiseptic
substance that prevents infection
It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound, no matter how slight or insignificant.
180
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to
This tyranny was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for, and he fought it with all his strength.
181
anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals
After heating the iron horseshoe in the forge, the blacksmith picked it up with his tongs and set it on the anvil.
182
apathetic
indifferent
He felt apathetic about the conditions he had observed and did not care to fight against them.
183
apathy
lack of caring; indifference
A firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote.
184
ape
imitate or mimic
He was suspended for a week because he had aped the principal in front of the whole school.
185
aperture
opening; hole
She discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room.
186
apex
tip; summit; climax
He was at the apex of his career.
187
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently.
188
aphorism
pithy maxim
An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific.
189
apiary
a place where bees are kept
Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee.
190
aplomb
poise; composure
Wellington's nonchalance and aplomb in the heat of battle always heartened his followers.
191
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations; especially of disaster
His apocalyptic remarks were dismissed by his audience as wild surmises.
192
apocryphal
untrue; made up
To impress his friends, Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city.
193
apogee
highest point
When the moon in its orbit is furthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee.
194
apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness followed by paralysis
He was crippled by an attack of apoplexy.
195
apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs
Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate.
196
apothecary
druggist
In Holland, apothecaries still sell spices as well as ointments and pills.
197
apothegm
pithy, compact saying
Proverbs are apothegms that have become familiar sayings.
198
apotheosis
deification; glorification
The Roman empress Livia envied the late emperor his apotheosis; she hoped that on her death she, too, would be exalted to the rank of a god.
199
appal
dismay; shock
We were appalled by the horrifying conditions in the city's jails.
200
apparition
ghost; phantom
Hamlet was uncertain about the identity of the apparition that had appeared and spoken to him.
201
appease
pacify; soothe
We have discovered that, when we try to appease our enemies, we encourage them to make additional demands.
202
appellation
name; title
He was amazed when the witches hailed him with his correct appellation.
203
append
attach
I shall append this chart to my report.
204
application
diligent attention; (secondary meaning) apply
Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application.
205
apposite
appropriate; fitting
He was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion.
206
appraise
estimate the value of
It is difficult to appraise old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless.
207
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of
Little Orphan Annie truly appreciated the stocks Daddy Warbucks ave her, whose value appreciated considerably over the years.
208
apprehend
arrest ( a criminal); dread; perceive
The police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long.
209
apprehensive
fearful; discerning
His apprehensive glances at the people who were walking in the street revealed his nervousness.
210
apprise
inform
When he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip.
211
approbation
approval
Wanting her parents' regard, she looked for some sign of their approbation.
212
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one's own use
The ranch owners appropriated the lands that had originally been set aside for the Indians' use.
213
appurtenances
subordinate possessions
He bought the estate and all its appurtenances.
214
apropos
with reference to; regarding
I find your remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent.
215
aptitude
fitness; talent
The counselor evaluated his aptitudes before advising him about the career he should follow.
216
aquiline
curved, hooked
He can be recognized by his aquiline nose, curved like the beak of the eagle.
217
arable
fit for plowing
The land was no longer arable; erosion had removed the valuable topsoil.
218
arbiter
person with power to decide a matter in a dispute; judge
As an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won the confidence of the workers and the employers.
219
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; tyrannical
The coach claimed the team lost because the umpire made some arbitrary calls.
220
arbitrate
act as judge
She was called upon to arbitrate the dispute between the union and the management.
221
arboretum
place where different varieties of trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
Walking along the treelined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly fine sycamores.
222
arcade
a covered passageway, usually lined with shops
The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain.
223
arcane
secret; mysterious
What was arcane to us was clear to the psychologist.
224
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins.
225
archaic
antiquated
"Methinks," "thee," and "thou" are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary.
226
archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey.
227
archipelago
group of closely located islands
When he looked at the map and saw the archipelagoes in the South Seas, he longed to visit them.
228
archives
public records; place where public records are kept
These documents should be part of the archives so that historians may be able to evaluate them in the future.
229
ardor
heat; passion; zeal
Katya's ardor was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
230
arduous
hard; strenuous
Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy.
231
argot
slang
In the argot of the underworld, she "was taken for a ride."
232
aria
operatic solo
At her Metropolitan Opera audition, Marian Anderson sang an aria from Norma.
233
arid
dry; barren
The cactus had adapted to survive in an arid environment.
234
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class
Americans have mixed feelings about hereditary aristocracy: 
235
armada
fleet of warships
Queen Elizabeth's navy was able to defeat the mighty armada that threatened the English coast.
236
aromatic
fragrant
Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe.
237
arraign
charge in court; indict
After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court.
238
array
marshal; draw up in order
His actions were bound to array public sentiment against him.
239
array
clothe; adorn
She liked to watch her motherarray herself in her finest clothes before going out for the evening.
240
arrears
being in debt
He was in arrears with his payments on the car.
241
arrogance
pride, haughtiness
The arrogance of the nobility was resented by the middle class.
242
arroyo
gully
Until the heavy rains of the past spring, this arroyo had been a dry bed.
243
articulate
effective; distinct
Her articulate presentation of the advertising campaign impressed her employers.
244
artifacts
products of primitive culture
Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor and came to no conclusion.
245
artifice
deception; trickery
The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than military might.
246
artisan
a manually skilled worker
Artists and artisans alike are necessary to the development of a culture.
247
artless
without guile; open and honest
Red Riding Hood's artless comment, "Grandma, what big eyes you have!" indicates the child's innocent surprises at her "grandmother's" changed appearance.
248
ascendancy
controlling influence
President Marcos failed to maintain his ascendency over Philippines.
249
ascetic
practicing self-denial; austere
The wealthy young man could not understand the ascetic life led by the monks.
250
asceticism
doctrine of self-denial
We find asceticism practiced in many monastries.
251
ascribe
refer; attribute; assign
I can ascribe no motive for her acts.
252
aseptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced asceptic conditions.
253
ashen
ash-colored; deadly pale
Her face was ashen with fear.
254
asinine
stupid
Your asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration.
255
askance
with a sideways or indirect look
Looking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn.
256
askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
When he placed his hat askew upon his head, his observers laughed.
257
asperity
sharpness (of temper)
These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed.
258
aspersion
slanderous remark
Do not cast aspersions on her character.
259
aspirant
seeker after position or status
Although I am as aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses.
260
aspiration
noble ambition
Youth's aspirations should be as lofty as the stars.
261
assail
assault
He was assailed with questions after his lecture.
262
assay
analyze; evaluate
When they assayed the ore, they found that they had discovered a very rich vein.
263
assent
agree; accept
It gives me great pleasure to assent to your request.
264
assert
state strongly or positively; insist on or demand  recognition of (rights, claims, etc).
When Jill asserted that nobody else in the junior class had such an early curfew, her parents Asserted themselves, telling her that if she didn't get home by nine o'clock she would be grounded for the week.
265
assessment
estimation; appraisal
I would like to have your assessment of the situation in South Africa.
266
assiduous
diligent
It took Rembrandt weeks of assiduous labor before he was satisfied with his portrait of his son.
267
assimilate
absorb; cause to become homogenous
The manner in which the United States was able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants during the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth centuries will always be a source of pride.
268
assuage
ease; lessen(pain)
Your messages of cheer should assuage her suffering.
269
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of
The young princess made the foolish assumption that the regent would not object to her Assumption of power.
270
assurance
promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence
When Gutherie gave Guiness his assurance that rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurance that Guiness was convinced.
271
asteroid
small planet
asteroids have become commonplace to the readers of interstellar travel stories in science fiction magazines.
272
astigmatism
eye defect that prevents proper focus
As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses.
273
astral
relating to the stars
She was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed.
274
astringent
acerbic; binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe
The astringent quality of unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult.
275
astronomical
enormously large or extensive
The government seemed willing to spend astronomical sums on weapons development.
276
astute
wise; shrewd
That was a very astute observation.
277
asunder
into parts; apart
Their points of view are poles asunder.
278
asylum
place of refuge or shelter; protection
The refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new land.
279
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
Because one eyebrow was set markedly higher than the other, William's face had a particularly asymmetric appearance.
280
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback
Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan ancestors who lavished great care on their small plots of soil.
281
atheistic
denying the existence of God
His atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers.
282
atone
make amends for; pay for
He knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime.
283
atrocity
brutal deed
In time of war, many atrocities are committed by invading armies.
284
atrophy
wasting away
Polio victims need physiotherapy to prevent the atrophy of affected limbs.
285
attenuate
make thin; weaken
By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines.
286
attest
testify; bear witness
Having served as a member of a grand jury, I can attest that our system of indicting individuals is in need of improvement.
287
attribute
essential quality
His outstanding attribute was his kindness.
288
attribute
ascribe; explain
I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
289
attrition
gradual wearing down
They decided to wage a war of attrition rather than to rely on all-out attack.
290
audacious
daring; bold
Audiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, death-defying leap to freedom and escaped Darth Vader's troops.
291
audit
examination of accounts
When the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the embezzlements of the chief cashier.
292
augment
increase
How can we hope to augment our forces when our allies are deserting us?
293
augury
omen; prophecy
He interpreted the departures of the birds as an augury of evil.
294
august
impressive; majestic
Visiting the palace at Versailes, she was impressed by the august surroundings in which she found herself.
295
aureole
sun's corona; halo
Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureols around their heads.
296
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis
The auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening.
297
auspicious
favoring success
With favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail.
298
austere
strict, stern
His austere demeanor prevented us from engaging in our usual frivolous activities.
299
austerity
sternness; severity; lack of luxuries
The austerity and dignity of the court were maintained by the new justices, who were a strict and solemn group.
300
authenticate
prove genuine
An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting, distinguishing it from its imitation.
301
authoritarian
favoring or exercising total control; non-democratic
The people had no control over their destiny; they were forced to obey the dictates of the authoritarian regime.
302
authoritative
having the weight of authority; dictatorial
We accepted her analysis of the situation as authoritative.
303
autocrat
monarch with supreme power
He ran his office like an autocrat, giving no one else any authority.
304
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans
Long before science fiction readers became aware of robots, writers were creating stories of automation who could outperform humans.
305
autonomous
self-governing
This island is a colony; however, in most matters, it is autonomous and receives no orders from the mother country.
306
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem
The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
307
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or sub-sidiary
To prepare for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station.
308
avarice
greed for wealth
King Midas's avarice has been famous for centuries.
309
aver
state confidently
I wish to aver that I am certain of success.
310
averse
reluctant
He was averse to revealing the sources of his information.
311
aversion
firm dislike
Their mutual aversion was so great that they refused to speak to one another.
312
avert
prevent; turn away
She averted her eyes from the dead cat on the highway.
313
aviary
enclosure for birds
The aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds.
314
avid
greedy; eager for
He was avid for learning and read everything he could get.
315
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation.
316
avow
declare openly
I must avow that I am innocent.
317
avuncular
like an uncle
Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings.
318
awe
solemn wonder
The tourists gazed with awe at the tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon.
319
awl
pointed tool used for piercing
She used an awl to punch additional holes in the leather belt she had bought.
320
awry
distorted; crooked
He held his head awry, giving the impression that he had caught cold in his neck during the night.
321
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
Before a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certain principles or axioms.
322
azure
sky blue
azure skies are indicative of good weather.
323
babble
chatter idly
The little girl babbled about her doll.
324
bacchanalian
drunken
Emperor Nero attended the bacchanalian orgy.
325
badger
pester; annoy
She was forced to change her telephone number because she was badgered by obscene phone calls.
326
badinage
teasing conversation
Her friends at work greeted the news of her engagement with cheerful badinage.
327
baffle
frustrate; perplex
The new code baffled the enemy agents.
328
bait
harass; tease
The soldiers baited the prisoners, terrorizing them.
329
baleful
menacing; deadly
Casting a baleful eye at his successful rival, the rejected suitor stole off, vowing to have his revenge.
330
balk
stoop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue
The chief of police balked at sending his officers into the riot-torn area.
331
balk
foil
When the warden learned that several inmates were planning to escape, he took steps to balk their attempt.
332
ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weight
The ship was listing badly to one side; it was necessary to shift the ballast in the hold to get her back on an even keel.
333
balm
something that relieves pain
Friendship is the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.
334
balmy
mild; fragrant
A balmy breeze refreshed us after the sultry blast.
335
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite
His frequent use of cliches made his essay seem banal.
336
bandy
discuss lightly; exchange blows or words
The president refused to bandy words with reporters at the press conference.
337
bane
cause of ruin
Lack of public transportation is the bane of urban life.
338
bantering
good-naturedly ridiculing
They resented his bantering remarks because they misinterpreted his teasing as sarcasm.
339
barb
sharp projection form fishhook, etc.; pointed comment
The barb from the fishhook caught in his finger as he grabbed the fish.
340
bard
poet
The ancient bard Homer sang of the fall of Troy.
341
barefaced
shameless; bold; unconcealed
Shocked by Huck Finn's barefaced lies, Miss Watson prayed the good Lord would give him a sense of his unregenerate wickedness.
342
baroque
highly ornate
Accustomed to the severe, angular lines of modern skyscrapers, they found the flamboyance of baroque architecture amusing.
343
barrage
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion
The company was forced to retreat through the barrage of heavy canyons.
344
barrister
counselor-at-law
Galsworthy started as a barrister, but when he found the practice of law boring, turned to writing.
345
barterer
trader
The barterer exchanged trinkets for the natives' furs.
346
bask
luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
basking on the beach, she relaxed so completely that she fell asleep.
347
bastion
stronghold; something seen as a source of protection
The villagers fortified the town hall, hoping this improvised bastion could protect them from the guerrila raids.
348
bate
let down; restrain
Until it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity.
349
bauble
trinket; trifle
The child was delighted with the bauble she had won in the grab bag.
350
bawdy
indecent; obscene
She took offense at his bawdy remarks.
351
beatific
giving bliss; blissful
The beatific smile on the child's face made us very happy.
352
beatitude
blessedness; state of bliss
Growing closer to God each day, the mystic achieved a state of indescribable beatitude.
353
bedizen
dress with vulgar finery
The witch doctors were bedizened in their gaudiest costumes.
354
bedraggle
wet thoroughly
We were so bedraggled by the severe storm that we had to change into dry clothing.
355
befuddle
confuse thoroughly
His attempts to clarify the situation succeeded only on befuddling her further.
356
beget
father; produce; give rise to
One good turn may deserve another; it does not necessarily beget another.
357
begrudge
resent
I begrudge every minute I have to spend attending meetings.
358
beguile
amuse; delude; cheat
I beguiled himself during the long hours by playing solitaire.
359
behemoth
huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
Sportcasters nicknamed the linebacker "The Behemoth."
360
beholden
obligated; indebted
Since I do not wish to be beholden to anyone, I cannot accept this favor.
361
behoove
be suited to; be incumbent upon
In this time of crisis, it behooves all of us to remain calm and await the instructions of our superiors.
362
belabor
explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally
The debate coach warned her student not to bore the audience by belaboring his point.
363
belated
delayed
He apologized for his belated note of condolence to the widow of his friend and explained that he had just learned of her husband's untimely death.
364
beleaguer
besiege
As soon as the city was beleaguered, the life became more subdued as the citizens began their long wait for outside assitance.
365
belie
contradict; give a false impression
His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his innate sensitivity.
366
belittle
disparage; depreciate
Parents should not belittle their children's early attempts at drawing, but should encourage their efforts.
367
bellicose
warlike
His bellicose disposition alienated his friends.
368
belligerent
quarrelsome
Whenever he had too much to drink, he became belligerent and tried to pick fights with strangers.
369
bemused
confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
Jill studied the garbled instructions with a bemused look on her face.
370
benediction
blessing
The appearance of the sun after the many rainy days was like a benediction.
371
benefactor
gift giver; patron
Scrooge later became Tiny Tim's benefactor and gave him a benediction.
372
beneficent
kindly; doing good
The overgenerous philanthropist had to curb his beneficent impulses before he gave away all his money and left himself with nothing.
373
beneficiary
person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy
You may change your beneficiary as often as you wish.
374
benevolent
generous; charitable
His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him.
375
benign
kindly; favorable; not malignant
The old man was well liked because of his benign attitude toward friend and stranger alike.
376
benison
blessing
Let us pray that the benison of peace once more shall prevail among the nations of the world.
377
bent
determined; natural talent or inclination
bent on advancing in the business world, the secretary heroine of Working Girl had a true bent for high finance.
378
bequeath
leave to someone by means of a will; hand down
In his will, Father bequeathed his watch to Phillip; the bequest meant a great deal to the boy.
379
berate
scold strongly
He feared she would berate him for his forgetfulness.
380
bereavement
state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved
His friends gathered to console him upon his sudden bereavement.
381
bereft
deprived of; lacking
The foolish gambler soon found himself bereft of funds.
382
berserk
frenzied
Angered, he went berserk and began to wreck the room.
383
beset
harass; trouble
Many problems beset the American public school system.
384
besmirch
soil, defile
The scandalous remarks in the newspaper besmirch the reputations of every member of the society.
385
bestial
beastlike; brutal; inhuman
The Red Cross sought to put an end to the bestial treatment of prisoners of war.
386
bestow
confer
He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.
387
betroth
become engaged to marry
The announcement that they had become betrothed surprised their friends who had not suspected any romance.
388
bevy
large group
The movie actor was surrounded by a bevy of startlets.
389
bicameral
two-chambered, as a legislative body
The United States Congress is a bicameral body.
390
bicker
quarrel
The children bickered morning, noon, and night, exasperating their parents.
391
biennial
every two years
The group held biennial meetings instead of annual ones.
392
bifurcated
divided into two branches; forked
With a bifurcated branch and a piece of elastic rubber, he made a crude but effective slingshot.
393
bigotry
stubborn intolerance
Brought up in a democratic atmosphere, student was shocked by the bigotry and narrowness expressed by several of his classmates.
394
bilious
suffering from indigestion; irritable
His bilious temperament was apparent to all who heard him rant about his difficulties.
395
bilk
swindle; cheat
The con man specialized in bilking insurance companies.
396
bivouac
temporary encampment
While in bivouac, we spent the night in our sleeping bags under the stars.
397
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting
The plot of the novel was too bizarre to be believed.
398
blanch
bleach; whiten
Although age had blanched his hair, he was still vigorous and energetic.
399
bland
soothing; mild
She used a bland ointment for her sunburn.
400
blandishment
flattery
Despite the salesperson's blandishments, the customer did not buy the outfit.
401
blase
bored with pleasure or dissipation
Your blase attitude gives your students an erroneous impression of the joys of scholarship.
402
blasphemous
profane; impious
The people in the room were shocked by his his blasphemous language.
403
blatant
extremely obvious; loudly offensive
Caught in a blatant lie, the scoundrel had only one regret: he wished that he had lied more subtly.
404
bleak
cold; cheerless
The Aleutian Islands are bleak military outposts.
405
blighted
suffering from a disease; destroyed
The extent of the blighted areas could be seen only when viewed from the air.
406
blithe
gay; joyous; careless
Shelley called the skylark a "blithe spirit" because of its happy song.
407
bloated
swollen or puffed as with water or air
Her bloated stomach came from drinking so much water.
408
blowhard
talkative boaster
After all Sol's talk about his big show business connections led nowhere, Sally decided he was just another blowhard.
409
bludgeon
club; heavy-headed weapon
His walking stick served him as a bludgeon on many occasions.
410
bluff
pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff
Claire thought Lord Byron's boast that he would swim the Hellespont was just a bluff, she was astounded when he dove from the high bluff into the waters below.
411
blunder
error
The criminal's fatal blunder led to his capture.
412
blurt
utter impulsively
Before she could stop him, he blurted out the news.
413
bode
foreshadow; portend
The gloomy skies and the sulfurious odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil to those who settled in the area.
414
bogus
counterfeit; not authentic
The police quickly found the distributors of the bogus twenty-dollar bills.
415
boisterous
violent; rough; noisy
The unruly crowd became even more boisterous when he tried to quiet them.
416
bolster
support; reinforce
The debaters amassed file boxes full of evidence to bolster their arguments.
417
bombast
pompous, inflated language
Filled with bombast, the orator's speech left the audience more impressed with his pomposity than with his logic.
418
boon
blessing; benefit
The recent rains that filled our empty reservoirs were a boon to the whole community.
419
boorish
rude; insensitive
Though Mr. Potts constantly interrupted his wife, she ignored his boorish behavior, for she had lost hope of teaching him courtesy.
420
bouillon
clear beef soup
The cup of bouillon served by the stewards was welcomed by those who had been chilled by the cold ocean breezes.
421
bountiful
generous; showing bounty
She distributed gifts in a bountiful and gracious manner.
422
bourgeois
middle class
The French Revolution was inspired by the bourgeois, who resented the aristocracy.
423
bovine
cowlike; placid and dull
Nothing excites Esther; even when she won the state lottery, she still preserved her air of bovine calm.
424
bowdlerize
expurgate
After the film editors had bowdlerized the language in the script, the motion picture's rating was changed from "R" to "PG."
425
brackish
somewhat saline
He found the only wells in the area were brackish; drinking the water made him nauseous.
426
braggadocio
boasting
He was disliked because his manner was always full of braggadocio.
427
braggart
boaster
Modest by nature, she was no braggart, preferring to let her accomplishments speak for themselves.
428
bravado
swagger; assumed air of defiance
The bravado of the young criminal disappeared when he was confronted by the victims of his brutal attack.
429
brawn
muscular strength; sturdiness
It takes brawn to become a champion weight-lifter.
430
brazen
insolent
Her brazen contempt for authority angered the officials.
431
breach
breaking of contract or duty; fissure; gap
They found a breach in the enemy's fortifications and penetrated their lines.
432
breadth
width; extent
We were impressed by the breadth of her knowledge.
433
brevity
conciseness
brevity is essential when you send a telegram or cablegram; you are charged for every word.
434
brindled
tawny or grayish with streaks or spots
He was disappointed in the litter because the puppies were brindled; he had hoped for animals of uniform color.
435
bristling
rising like bristles; showing irritation
The dog stood there, bristling with anger.
436
brittle
easily broken; difficult
My employer's brittle personality made it difficult for me to get along with her.
437
broach
open up
He did not even try to broach the subject of poetry.
438
brocade
rich, figured fabric
The sofa was covered with expensive brocade.
439
brochure
pamphlet
This brochure on farming was issued by the Department of Agriculture.
440
brooch
ornamental clasp
She treasured the brooch because it was an heirloom.
441
brook
tolerate; endure
The dean would brook no interference with his disciplinary actions.
442
browbeat
bully; intimidate
Billy resisted Ted's attempts to browbeat him into handing over his lunch money.
443
brusque
blunt; abrupt
She was offended by his brusque reply.
444
bucolic
rustic; pastoral
The meadow was the scene of bucolic gaiety.
445
buffoonery
clowning
John Candy's buffoonery in Uncle Buck was hilarious.
446
bugaboo
bugbear; object of baseless terror
If we become frightened by such bugaboos, we are no wiser than the birds who fear scarecrows.
447
bullion
gold and silver in the form of bars
Much  bullion is stored in the vaults at Fort Knox.
448
bulwark
earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends
The navy is our principal bulwark against invasion.
449
bungle
spoil by clumsy behavior
I was afraid you would bungle his assignment but I had no one else to send.
450
bureaucracy
government by bureaus
Many people fear that the constant introduction of federal agencies will create a government by bureaucracy.
451
burgeon
grow forth; send out buds
In the spring, the plants that burgeon are a promise of the beauty that is to come.
452
burlesque
give an imitation that ridicules
In his caricature, he burlesqued the mannerisms of his adversary.
453
burly
husky; muscular
The burly mover lifted the packing crate with ease.
454
burnish
make shiny by rubbing; polish
The maid burnished the brass fixtures until they reflected the lamplight.
455
buttress
support; prop up
Just as architects buttress the walls of cathedrals with flying buttresses, debates buttress their arguments with facts.
456
buxom
full-bosomed; plump; jolly
High fashion models usually are slender rather than buxom.
457
cabal
small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
The cabal was defeated when its scheme was discovered.
458
cache
hiding place
The detectives followed the suspects until he led them to the cache where he had stored his loot.
459
cacophony
discord
Some people seem to enjoy the cacophony of an orchestra that is tuning up.
460
cadaver
corpse
In some states, it is illegal to dissect cadavers.
461
cadaverous
like a corpse; pale
From his cadaverous appearance, we could see how the disease had ravaged him.
462
cadence
rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat
Marching down the road, the troops sang out, following the cadence set by the sergeant.
463
cajole
coax; wheedle
I will not be cajoled into granting your wish.
464
calamity
disaster; misery
As news of the calamity spread, offers of relief poured in to the stricken community.
465
caliber
ability; capacity
A man of such caliber should not be assigned such menial tasks.
466
calligraphy
beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
As we examine ancient manuscripts, we became impressed with the calligraphy of the scribes.
467
callous
hardened; unfeeling
He had worked in the hospital for so many years that he was callous to the suffering in the wards.
468
callow
youthful; immature
In that youthful movement, the leaders were only a little less callow than their immature followers.
469
calorific
heat-producing
Coal is much more calorific than green wood.
470
calumny
malicious misrepresentation
He could endure his financial failure, but he could not bear the calumny that his foes heaped upon him.
471
camaraderie
good-fellowship
What he loved best about his job was the sense of camaraderie he and his co-workers shared.
472
cameo
shell or jewel carved in relief
Tourists are advised not to purchase cameos from the street peddlers of Rome who sell poor specimens of the carver's art.
473
canard
unfounded rumor
It is almost impossible to protect oneself from such a base canard.
474
candor
frankness
The candor and simplicity of his speech impressed all, it was all clear he held nothing back.
475
canine
related to dogs; doglike
Some days the canine population of Berkeley seems almost to outnumber the human population.
476
canker
any ulcerous sore; any evil
Poverty is a canker in the body politic; it must be cured.
477
canny
shrewd; thrifty
The canny Scotsman was more than a match for the swindlers.
478
cant
pious phraseology; jargon of criminals
Angry that the president had slashed the education budget, we dismissed his speech on the importance of education as mere cant.
479
cantankerous
ill-humored; irritable
Constantly complaining about his treatment and refusing to cooperate with the hospital staff, he was a cantankerous patient.
480
cantata
story set to music, to be sung by a chorus
The choral society sang the new cantata composed by its leader.
481
canter
slow gallop
Because the racehorse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the race was won in a canter.
482
canto
division of a long poem
Dante's poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy is divided into cantos.
483
canvass
determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.
After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident that he represented the majority opinion of his district.
484
capacious
spacious
In the capacious areas of the railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting for their train.
485
capillary
having a very fine bore
The changes in surface tension of liquids in capillary vessels is of special interest to physicists.
486
capitulate
surrender
The enemy was warned to capitulate or face annihilation.
487
caprice
whim
She was an unpredictable creature, acting on caprice, never taking thought of the consequences.
488
capricious
fickle; incalculable
The storm was capricious and changed course constantly.
489
caption
title; chapter heading; text under illustration
I find the captions that accompany these cartoons very clever and humorous.
490
captious
faultfinding
His criticisms were always captious and frivolous, never offering constructive suggestions.
491
carafe
glass water bottle
With each dinner, the patron receives a carafe of red or white wine.
492
carapace
shell covering the back (of a turtle, crab, etc)
At the children's zoo, Richard perched on top of the giant turtle's hard carapace as it slowly made its way around the enclosure.
493
carat
unit of weight for precious stones; measure of fineness of gold
He gave her a diamond that weighed three carats and was mounted in an eighteen-carat gold band.
494
carcinogenic
causing cancer
Many supposedly harmless substances have been revealed to be carcinogenic.
495
cardinal
chief
If you want to increase your word power, the cardinal rule of vocabulary-building is to read.
496
careen
lurch; sway from side to side
The taxicab careened wildly as it rounded the corner.
497
caricature
distortion; burlesque
The caricatures he drew always emphasized personal weaknesses of the people he burlesqued.
498
carillon
set of bells capable of being played
The carillon in the bell tower of the Coca-Cola pavilion at the New York World's Fair provided musical entertainment every hour.
499
carnage
destruction of life
The carnage that can be caused by atomic warfare adds to the responsibilities of our statesmen.
500
carnal
fleshly
The public was more interested in carnal pleasures than in spiritual matters.
501
carnivorous
meat-eating
The lion is a carnivorous animal.
502
carousal
drunken revel
The party degenerated into an ugly carousal.
503
carping
petty criticism; fault-finding
Welcoming constructive criticism, Lexy appreciated her editor's comments, finding them free of carping.
504
carrion
rotting flesh of a dead body
Buzzards are nature's scavengers; they eat the carrion left behind by other predators.
505
cartographer
map-maker
Though not a professional cartographer, Tolkien was able to construct a map of the fictional world.
506
cascade
small waterfall
We could not appreciate the beauty of the many cascades as we made detours around each of them to avoid getting wet.
507
caste
one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society, social stratification; prestige
The differences created by caste in India must be wiped out if true democracy is to prevail in that country.
508
castigation
punishment; severe criticism
Sensitive even to mild criticism, Woolf could not bear castigation that she found in certain reviews.
509
casualty
serious or fatal accident
The number of automotive casualties on this holiday weekend was high.
510
cataclysm
deluge; upheaval
A cataclysm such as the French Revolution affects all countries.
511
catalyst
agent that brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged
Many chemical reactions cannot take place without the presence of a catalyst.
512
catapult
slingshot; hurling machine
Airplanes are sometimes launched from battleships by catapults.
513
cataract
great waterfall; eye abnormality
She gazed with awe at the mighty cataract known as Niagara Falls.
514
catastrophe
calamity
The Johnstown flood was a catastrophe.
515
catechism
book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answer
He taught by engaging his pupils in a catechism until they gave him the correct answer.
516
categorical
without exceptions; unqualified; absolute
Though the captain claimed he was never, never sick at sea, he finally qualified his categorical denial; he was hardly ever sick at sea.
517
catharsis
purging or cleansing of any passage of the body
Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a catharsis by purging the soul of base concepts.
518
cathartic
purgative
Some drugs act as laxatives when taken in small doses but act as cathartics when taken in much larger doses.
519
catholic
universal; wide-ranging liberal
He was extremely catholic in his taste and read everything he could find in the library.
520
caucus
private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy
At the opening of Congress the members of the Democratic Party held a caucus to elect the majority leader of the House and the party whip.
521
caulk
to make watertight (by plugging seams)
When water from the shower leaked into the basement, we knew it was time to caulk the tiles at the edges of the shower stall.
522
causal
implying a cause-and-effect relationship
The psychologist maintained there was a causal relationship between the nature of one's early childhood experiences and one's adult personality.
523
caustic
burning; sarcastically biting
The critic's caustic remarks angered the hapless actors who were the subjects of his sarcasm.
524
cauterize
burn with hot iron or caustic
In order to prevent infection, the doctor cauterized the wound.
525
cavalcade
procession; parade
As described by Chaucer, the cavalcade of Canterbury pilgrims was motley group.
526
cavalier
casual and offhand; arrogant
Sensitive about having her ideas taken lightly, Marcia felt insulted by Mark's cavalier dismissal of her suggestion.
527
cavil
make frivolous objections
I respect your sensible criticisms, but I dislike the way you cavil about unimportant details.
528
cede
transfer; yield title to
I intend to cede this property to the city.
529
celerity
speed; rapidity
Hamlet resented his mother's celerity in remarrying within a month after his father's death.
530
celestial
heavenly
She spoke of the celestial joys that awaited virtuous souls in the hereafter.
531
celibate
abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried
Though the late Havelock Ellis wrote extensively about sexual customs and was considered an expert in such matters, recent studies maintain he was celibate throughout his life.                                                                           
532
censor
overseer of morals; person who eliminates inappropriate matter
Soldiers dislike having their mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution.
533
censorious
critical
censorious people delight in casting blame.
534
censure
blame; criticize
He was censured for his inappropriate behavior.
535
centaur
mythical figure, half man and half horse
I was particularly impressed by the statue of the centaur in the Roman Hall of the museum.
536
centigrade
denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)
On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing point of water is zero degrees.
537
centrifugal
radiating; departing from the center
Many automatic drying machines remove excess moisture from clothing by centrifugal force.
538
centrifuge
machine that separates substances by whirling them
At the dairy, we employ a centrifuge to separate cream from milk.
539
centripetal
tending toward the center
Does centripetal force or the force of gravity bring orbiting bodies to the earth's surface?
540
centurion
Roman army officer
Because he was in command of a company of one hundred soldiers, he was called a centurion.
541
cerebral
pertaining to the brain or intellect
The content of philosophical works is cerebral in nature and requires much thought.
542
cerebration
thought
Mathematics problems sometimes require much cerebration.
543
ceremonious
marked by formality
Ordinary dress would be in appropriate at so ceremonious an affair.
544
cessation
stopping
The workers threatened a cessation of all activities if their demands were not met.
545
cession
yielding to another; ceding
The cession of Alaska to the United States is discussed in this chapter.
546
chafe
warm by rubbing
The collar chafed his neck.
547
chaff
worthless products of an endeavor
When you separate the wheat from the chaff, be sure you throw out the chaff.
548
chaffing
bantering; joking
Sometimes his flippant and chaffing remarks annoy us.
549
chagrin
vexation; disappointment
Her refusal to go with us filled us with chagrin.
550
chalice
goblet; consecrated cup
In a small room adjoining the cathedral, many ornately decorated chalices made by the most famous European goldsmiths were on display.
551
chameleon
lizard that changes color in different situations
Like the chameleon, he assumed the political coloration of every group he met.
552
champion
support militantly
Martin Luther King, Jr., won the Nobel Peace Prize because he championed the oppressed in their struggle for equality.
553
chaotic
in utter disorder
He tried to bring order into the chaotic state of affairs.
554
charisma
divine gift; great popular charm or appeal
Political commentators have deplored the importance of a candidate's charisma in these days of television campaigning.
555
charlatan
quack; pretender to knowledge
When they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get them back to Kansas, Dorothy and her friends were sure they'd been duped by a charlatan.
556
chary
cautious; sparing or restrained about giving
A prudent, thrifty New Englander, DeWitt was as chary of investing money in junk bonds as he was chary of paying people unnecessary compliments.
557
chase
ornament a metal surface by indenting
With his hammer, he carefully chased an intricate design onto the surface of the chalice.
558
chasm
abyss
They could not see the bottom of the chasm.
559
chassis
framework and working parts of an automobile
Examining the car after the accident, the owner discovered that the body had been ruined but that the chassis was unharmed.
560
chaste
pure
Her chaste and decorous garb was appropriately selected for the solemnity of the occasion.
561
chasten
discipline; punish in order to correct
Whom God loves, God chastens.
562
chastise
punish
I must chastise you for this offense.
563
chauvinist
blindly devoted patriot
A chauvinist cannot recognize any faults in his country, no matter how flagrant they may be.
564
check
stop  motion; curb or restrain
Thrusting out her arm, Grandma checked Bobby's lunge at his sister. "Young man," she said, "you'd better check your temper."
565
checkered
marked by changes in fortune
During his checkered career he had lived in palatial mansions and in dreary boardinghouses.
566
cherubic
angelic; innocent-looking
With her cheerful smile and rosy cheeks, she was a particularly cherubic child.
567
chicanery
trickery
Your deceitful tactics in this case are indications of chicanery.
568
chide
scold
Grandma began to chide Steven for his lying.
569
chimerical
fantastic; highly imaginative
Poe's chimerical stories are sometimes too morbid for reading in bed.
570
chivalrous
courteous; faithful; brave
chivalrous behavior  involves noble words and good deeds.
571
choleric
hot-tempered
His flushed, angry face indicated a choleric nature.
572
choreography
art of dancing
Martha Graham introduced a form of choreography that seemed awkward and alien to those who had been brought up on classic ballet.
573
chronic
long established, as a disease
The doctors were finally able to attribute his chronic headaches and nausea to traces of formaldehyde gas in his apartment.
574
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order)
The gossip columnist was paid to chronicle the latest escapades of the socially prominent celebrities.
575
churlish
boorish; rude
Dismayed by his churlish manners at the party, the girls vowed never to invite him again.
576
ciliated
having minute hairs
The paramecium is a ciliated, one-celled animal.
577
cipher
nonentity; worthless person or thing
She claimed her ex-husband was a total cipher and wondered why she had ever married him.
578
cipher
secret code
Lacking his code book, the spy was unable to decode the message sent to him in cipher.
579
circlet
small ring; band
This tiny circlet is very costly because it is set with precious stones.
580
circuitous
roundabout
Because of the traffic congestion on the main highways, she took a circuitous route.
581
circumlocution
indirect or roundabout expression
He was afraid to call spade a spade and resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct reference to his subject.
582
circumscribe
limit; confine
Although I do not wish to circumscribe your activities, I must insist that you complete this assignment before you start anything else.
583
circumspect
prudent; cautious
Investigating before acting, she tried always to be circumspect.
584
circumvent
outwit; baffle
In order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign.
585
citadel
fortress
The citadel overlooked the city like a protecting angel.
586
cite
quote; commend
She could cite passages in the Bible from memory.
587
civil
having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and polite
Although internal Revenue Service agents are civil servants, they are not always civil to suspected tax evaders.
588
clairvoyant
having foresight; fortuneteller
Cassandra's clairvoyant warning was not heeded by the Trojans.
589
clamber
climb by crawling
She clambered over the wall.
590
clamor
noise
The clamor of the children at play outside made it impossible for her to take a nap.
591
clandestine
secret
After avoiding their chaperon, the lovers had a clandestine meeting.
592
clangor
loud, resounding noise
The blacksmith was accustomed to the clangor of hammers on steel.
593
clapper
striker (tongue) of a bell
Wishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale wound his scarf around the clapper to muffle its striking.
594
clarion
shrill, trumpetlike sound
We woke to the clarion to muffle its striking.
595
claustrophobia
fear of being locked in
His fellow classmates laughed at his claustrophobia and often threatened to lock him in his room.
596
clavicle
collarbone
Even though he wore shoulder pads, the football player broke his clavicle during a practice scrimmage.
597
cleave
split asunder
The lightening cleaves the tree in two.
598
cleft
split
Erosion caused a cleft in the huge boulder.
599
clemency
disposition ot be lenient; mildness, as of the weather
The lawyer was pleased when the case was sent to Judge Smith's chambers because Smith was noted for her clemency toward first offenders.
600
cliche
phrase culled in meaning by repetition
High school compositions are often marred by such cliches as "strong as an ox."
601
clientele
body of customers
The rock club attracted a young, stylish clientele.
602
climactic
relating to the highest point
When he reached the climactic portions of the book, he could not stop reading.
603
clime
region; climate
His doctors advised him to move to a milder clime.
604
clique
small, exclusive group
She charged that a clique had assumed control of school affairs.
605
cloister
monastery or convent
The nuns lived in the cloister.
606
clout
great influence (especially political or social)
Gatsby wondered whether he had enough clout to be admitted to the exclusive club.
607
cloying
distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental
Disliking the cloying sweetness of standard wedding cakes, Jody and Tom chose a homemade carrot cake for their reception.
608
coagulate
thicken; congeal; clot
Even after you remove the pudding from the burner, it will continue to coagulate as it stands.
609
coalesce
combine; fuse
The brooks coalesce into one large river.
610
coda
concluding section of a musical or literary composition
The piece concluded with a distinctive coda that strikingly brought together various motifs.
611
coddle
treat gently; pamper
Don't coddle the children to much; they need a taste of discipline.
612
codicil
supplement to the body of a will
This codicil was drawn up five years after the writing of the original will.
613
codify
arrange (laws, rules) as a code; classify
We need to take the varying rules and regulations of the different health agencies and codify them into a national health code.
614
coercion
use of force
They forced him to obey, but only by great coercion.
615
coeval
living at the same time as; contemporary
coeval with the dinosaur, the pterodactyl flourished during the Mesozoic era.
616
cog
tooth projecting from a wheel
A bicycle chain moves through a series of cogs in order to propel the bike.
617
cogent
convincing
She presented cogent arguments to the jury.
618
cogitate
think over
cogitate on this problem; the solution will come.
619
cognate
related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature
The English word "mother" cognate to the Latin word "mater," whose influence is visible in the words "maternal" and "maternity."
620
cognitive
having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental precesses
Though Jack was emotionally immature, his cognitive development was admirable; he was very advanced intellectually.
621
cognizance
knowledge
During the election campaign, the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the international situation.
622
cohere
stick together
Solids have a greater tendency to cohere than liquids.
623
cohesion
tendency to keep together
A firm believer in the maxim "Divide and conquer," the emperor, by lies and trickery, sought to disrupt the cohesion ofthe free nations.
624
cohorts
armed band
Caesar and his Roman cohorts conquered almost all of the known world.
625
coiffure
hairstyle
You can make a statement with your choice of coiffure: in the 60's many African-Americans affirmed their racial heritage by wearing their hair in Afros.
626
coincident
occurring at the same time
Some people find the coincident events in Hardy's novels annoyingly improbable.
627
colander
utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
Before serving the spaghetti, place it in a colander to drain it.
628
collaborate
work together
Two writers collaborated in preparing this book.
629
collage
work of art put together from fragments
Scraps of cloth, paper doilies, and old photographs all went into her collage.
630
collate
examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order
They collated the newly found manuscripts to determine their age.
631
collateral
security given for loan
The sum you wish to borrow is so large that it must be secured by collateral.
632
collation
a light meal
Tea sandwiches and cookies were offered at the collation.
633
colloquial
pertaining to conversational or common speech
Your use of colloquial expressions in a formal essay such as the one you have presented spoils the effect you hope to achieve.
634
colloquy
informal discussion
I enjoy our colloquies but I sometimes wish that they could be made more formal and more searching.
635
collusion
conspiring in a fraudulent scheme
The swindlers were found guilty of collusion.
636
colossal
huge
Radio City Music Hall has a colossal stage.
637
colossus
gigantic statue
The legendary Colossus of Rhodes, bronze statue of the sun god that dominated the harbor of the Greek seaport, was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
638
comatose
in a coma; extremely sleepy
The long-winded orator soon had his audience in a comatose state.
639
combustible
easily burned
After the recent outbreak of fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all combustible materials be kept in safe containers.
640
comely
attractive; agreeable
I would rather have a poor and comely wife than a rich and homely one.
641
comestible
something fit to be eaten
The roast turkey and other comestibles, the wines, and the excellent service made this Thanksgiving dinner particularly memorable.
642
comeuppance
rebuke; deserts
After his earlier rudeness, we were delighted to see him get his comeuppance.
643
comity
courtesy; civility
A spirit of comity should exist among nations.
644
commandeer
to draft for military purposes; to take for public use
The policeman commandeered the first car that approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearest hospital.
645
commemorative
remembering; honoring
The new commemorative stamp honors the late Martin Luther King, Jr.
646
commensurate
equal in extent
Your reward will be commensurate with your effort.
647
commiserate
feel or express pity or sympathy for
Her friends commiserated with the widow.
648
commodious
spacious and comfortable
After sleeping in a small roadside cabins, they found their hotel suite commodious.
649
communal
held in common; of a group of people
When they were divorced, they had trouble dividing their communal property.
650
compact
agreement; contract
The signers of the Mayflower Compact were establishing a form of government.
651
compact
tightly packed; firm; brief
His short, compact body was better suited to wrestling than to basketball.
652
compatible
harmonious; in harmony with
They were compatible neighbors, never quarreling over unimportant matters.
653
compelling
overpowering; irresistible in effect
The prosecutor presented a well-reasoned case, but the defense attorney's compelling arguments for leniency won over the jury.
654
compendium
brief, comprehensive summary
This text can serve as a compendium of the tremendous amount of new material being developed in this field.
655
compensatory
making up for; repaying
Can a compensatory education program make up for the inadequate schooling he received in earlier years?
656
compilation
listing of statistical information in tabular or book form
The compilation of available scholarships serves a very valuable purpose.
657
complacent
self-satisfied
There was a complacent look on his face as he examined his paintings.
658
complaisant
trying to please; obliging
The courtier obeyed the king's orders in a complaisant manner.
659
complement
complete; consummate; make perfect
The waiter recommended a glass of port to complement the cheese.
660
compliance
conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield
The design for the new school had to be in compliance with the local building code.
661
compliant
yielding
He was compliant and ready to go along with his friends' desires.
662
complicity
participation; involvement
You cannot keep your complicity in this affair secret very long; you would be wise to admit your involvement immediately.
663
component
element; ingredient
I wish all the components of my stereo system were working at the same time.
664
comport
bear one's self; behave
He comported himself with great dignity.
665
composure
mental calmness
Even the latest work crisis failed to shake her composure.
666
compound
combine; constitute; pay interest; increase
The makers of the popular cold remedy compounded a nasal decongestant with an antihistamine.
667
comprehensive
thorough; inclusive
This book provides a comprehensive review of verbal and math skills for the SAT.
668
compress
close; squeeze; contract
She compressed the package under her arm.
669
comprise
include; consist of
If the District of Columbia were to be granted a statehood, the United States of America would comprise fifty-onestates, not just fifty.
670
compromise
adjust; endanger the interests or reputation of
Your presence at the scene of the dispute compromises our claim to neutrality in this matter.
671
compunction
remorse
The judge was especially severe in this sentencing because he felt that the criminal had shown no compunction for his heinous crime.
672
compute
reckon; calculate
He failed to compute the interest, so his bank balance was not accurate.
673
concatenate
link as in a chain
It is difficult to understand how these events could concatenate as they did without outside assistance.
674
concave
hollow
The back-packers found partial shelter from the storm by huddling against the concave wall of the cliff.
675
concede
admit; hield
Despite all the evidence Monica had assembled, Mark refused to concede that she was right.
676
conceit
whimsical idea; extravagant metaphor
He was an entertaining companion, always expressing himself in amusing conceits and witty turns of phrase.
677
concentric
having a common center
The target was made of concentric circles.
678
conception
beginning; forming of a idea
At the first conception of the work, he was consulted.
679
concerted
mutually agreed on; done together
The girl scouts in the troop made a concerted effort to raise funds for their annual outing, and emitted a concerted sigh when their leader announced that they had reached their goal.
680
concession
an act of yielding
Before they could reach an agreement, both sides had to make certain concessions.
681
conciliatory
reconciling; soothing
She was still angry despite his conciliatory words.
682
concise
brief and compact
When you define a new word, be concise; the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember.
683
conclave
private meeting
He was present at all their conclaves as an unofficial observer.
684
conclusive
decisive; ending all debate
When the stolen books turned up in John's locker, we finally had conclusive evidence of the identity of the mysterious thief.
685
concoct
prepare by combining; make up in concert
How did the inventive chef ever concoct such strange dish?
686
concomitant
that which accompanies
Culture is not always a concomitant of wealth.
687
concord
harmony
Watching Tweediedum and Tweedledee battle, Alice wondered why the two brothers could not manage to life in concord.
688
concur
agree
Did you concur with the decision of the court or did you find it unfair?
689
concurrent
happening at the same time
In America, the colonists were resisting the demands of the mother contry; at the concurrent moment in France, the middle class was sowing the seeds of rebellion.
690
condescend
bestow courtesies with a superior air
The king condescended to grant an audience to the friends of the condemned man.
691
condign
adequate; deservedly severe
The public approved the condign punishment for the crime.
692
condiments
seasonings; spices
Spanish food is full of condiments.
693
condole
express sympathetic sorrow
His friends gathered to condole with him over his loss.
694
condone
overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold.
695
conducive
helpful; contributive
Rest and proper diet are conducive to good health.
696
conduit
aqueduct; passageway for fluids
Water was brought to the army in the desert by an improvised conduit from the adjoining mountain.
697
confidant
trusted friend
He had no confidants with whom he could discuss his problems at home.
698
confiscate
seize; commandeer
The army confiscated all available supplies of uranium.
699
conflagration
great fire
In the conflagration that followed the 1906 earthquake, much of San Francisco was destroyed.
700
confluence
flowing together; crowd
They built the city at the confluence of two rivers.
701
conformity
harmony; agreement
In conformity with our rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization.
702
confound
confuse; puzzle
No mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes for long.
703
congeal
freeze; coagulate
His blood congealed in his veins as he saw the dread monster rush toward him.
704
congenial
pleasant; friendly
My father loved to go out for a meal with congenial companions.
705
congenital
existing at birth
His congenital deformity disturbed his parents.
706
conglomeration
mass of material sticking together
In such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was impossible to find a single area of analysis. 
707
congruence
correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship
The student demonstrated the congruence of the two triangles by using the hypotenuse-arm theorem.
708
conifer
pine tree; cone-bearing tree
According to geologists, the conifers were the first plants to bear flowers.
709
conjecture
surmise; guess
I will end all your conjectures; I admit I am guilty as charged.
710
conjugal
pertaining to marriage
Their dreams of conjugal bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed.
711
conjure
summon a devil; proactive magic; imagine; invent
He conjured up an image of a reformed city and had the voters completely under his spell.
712
connivance
pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend
With the connivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher.
713
connoisseur
person competent to act as judge of art, ect.; a lover of an art
She had developed into a connoisseur of fine china.
714
connotation
suggested or implied meaning of an expression
Foreigners frequently are unaware of the connotations of the words they use.
715
connubial
pertaining to maffige or the matrimonial state
In his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of connubial bliss.
716
consanguinity
kinship
The lawsuit developed into a test of the consanguinity of the claimant to the estate.
717
conscientious
scrupulous; careful
A conscientious editor checked every definition for its accuracy.
718
conscript
draftee; person forced into military service
Did Rambo volunteer to fight in Vietnam, or was he a conscript, drafted against his will?
719
consecrate
dedicate; sanctify
We shall consecrate our lives to this noble purpose.
720
consensus
general agreement
The consensus indicates that we are opposed to entering into this pact.
721
consequential
pompous; self-important
Convinced of his own importance, the actor strutted about the dressing room with a consequential air.
722
conservatory
school of the fine arts (especiallymusic or drama)
A gifted violinist, Marya was selected to study at the conservatory.
723
consign
deliver officially; entrust; set apart
The court consigned the child to her paternal grandmother's care.
724
consistency
absence of contradictions; dependability; uniformity; degree of thickness
Holmes judged puddings and explanations on their consistency; he liked his puddings without lumps and his explanations without improbabilities.
725
console
lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort
When her father died, Marius did his best to console Cosette.
726
consonance
harmony; agreement
Her agitation seemed out of consonance with her usual calm.
727
consort
associate with
We frequently judge people by the company with whom they consort.
728
consort
husband or wife
The search for a consort for the young Queen Victoria ended happily.
729
conspiracy
treacherous plot
Brutus and Cassius joined in the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar.
730
constituent
supporter
The congressman received hundreds of letters from angry constituents after the Equal Rights Amendment failed to pass.
731
constraint
compulsion; repression of feelings
There was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one dared to criticize the speaker.
732
construe
explain; interpret
If I construe your remarks correctly, you disagree with the theory already advanced.
733
consummate
complete
I have never seem anyone who makes as many stupid errors as you do; you must be a consummate idiot.
734
contagion
infection
Fearing contagion, they took drastic steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
735
contaminate
pollute
The sewage system of the city so contaminated the water that swimming was forbidden.
736
contempt
scorn; disdain
Even if you feel superior to others, it is unwise to show your contempt for them.
737
contend
struggle; compete; assert earnestly
In Revolt of the Black Athlete, sociologist Harry Edwards contends that young black athletes have been exploited by some college recruiters.
738
contentious
quarrelsome
We heard loud and contentious noises in the next room.
739
contest
dispute
The defeated candidate attempted to contest the election results.
740
context
writings preceding and following the passage quoted
Because these lines are taken out of context, they do not convey the message the author intended.
741
contiguous
adjacent to; touching upon
The two countries are contiguous for a few miles; then they are separated by the gulf.
742
continence
self-restraint; sexual chastity
She vowed to lead a life of continence.
743
contingent
conditional
The continuation of this contract is contingent on the quality of your first output.
744
contortions
twistings; distortions
As the effects of the opiate wore away, the contortions of the patient became more violent and demonstrated how much pain she was enduring.
745
contraband
illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods
The coast guard tries to prevent contraband in U.S. waters.
746
contravene
contradict; oppose: infringe on or transgress
Mr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth to contravene his will by eloping with Robert Browning.
747
contrite
penitent
Her contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence.
748
contrived
forced; artificial; not spontaneous
Feeling ill at ease with his new in-laws; James made a few contrived attempts at conversation and then retreated into silence.
749
controvert
oppose with arguments; contradict
To controvert your theory will require much time but it is essential that we disprove it.
750
contumacious
disobedient; resisting authority
The contumacious mob shouted defiantly at the police.
751
contusion
bruise
She was treated for contusions and abrasions.
752
conundrum
riddle; difficult problem
During the long car ride, she invented conundrums to entertain the children.
753
convene
assemble
Because much is needed legislation had to be enacted, the governor ordered the legislature to convene in special session by January 15.
754
convention
social or moral custom; established practice
Flying in the face of convention, George Sand (Amandine Dudevant) shocked her contemporaries by taking lovers and wearing men's clothes.
755
conventional
ordinary; typical
His conventional upbringing left him wholly unprepared for his wife's eccentric family.
756
converge
come together
Marchers converged on Washington for the great Save Our Cities-Save Our Children March.
757
conversant
familiar with
The lawyer is conversant with all the evidence.
758
converse
opposite
The inevitable converse of peace is not war but annihilation.
759
convert
one who has adopted a different religion or opinion
On his trip to Japan, though the President spoke at length about the merits of American automobiles, he made few converts to his beliefs.
760
convex
curving outward
He polished the convex lens of his telescope.
761
conveyance
vehicle; transfer
During the transit strike, commuters used various kinds of conveyances.
762
conviction
strongly held belief
Nothing could shake his conviction that she was innocent.
763
convivial
festive; gay; characterized by joviality
The convivial celebrators of the victory sang their college songs.
764
convoke
call together
Congress was convoked at the outbreak of the emergency.
765
convoluted
coiled around; involved; intricate
His argument was so convoluted that few of us could follow a it intelligently.
766
copious
plentiful
She had copious reasons for rejecting the proposal.
767
coquette
flirt
Because she refused to give him an answer to his proposal of marriage, he called her a coquette.
768
cordial
gracious; heartfelt
Our hosts greeted us at the airport with a cordial welcome and a hearty hug.
769
cordon
extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress
The police cordon was so tight that the criminals could not leave the area.
770
cornice
projecting molding on building (usually above columns)
Because the stones forming the cornice had been loosened by the storms, the police closed the building until repairs could be made.
771
cornucopia
horn overflowing wiht fruit and grain; symbol of abundance
The encyclopedia salesman claimed the new edition was a veritable cornucopia of information, an inexhaustible source of knowledge for the entire family.
772
corollary
consequence; accompaniment
Brotherly love is a complex emotion, with a sibling rivalry its natural corollary.
773
corporeal
bodily; material
He was not a churchgoer; he was interested only in corporeal matters.
774
corpulent
very fat
The corpulent man resolved to reduce.
775
correlation
mutual relationship
He sought to determine the correlation that existed between ability in algebra and ability to interpret reading exercises.
776
corroborate
confirm
Unless we find a witness to corroborate your evidence, it will not stand up in court.
777
corrosive
eating away by chemicals or disease
Stainless steel is able to withstand the effects of corrosive chemicals.
778
corrugated
wrinkled; ridged
She wished she could smooth away the wrinkles from his corrugated brow.
779
cosmic
pertaining to the universe; vast
cosmic rays derive their name from the fact that they bombard the earth's atmosphere from outer space.
780
coterie
group that meets socially; select circle
After his book had been published, he was invited to join the literary coteri that lunched daily at the hotel.
781
countenance
approve; tolerate
He refused to countenance such rude behavior on their part.
782
countenance
face
Whe Jose saw his newborn daughter, a proud smile spread across his countenance.
783
countermand
cancel; revoke
The general countermand the orders issued in his absence.
784
counterpart
a thing that completes another; things very much alike
Night and day are counterparts.
785
coup
highly successful action or sudden attack
As the news of his coup spread throughout Wall Street, his fellow brokers dropped by to congratulate him.
786
couple
join; unite
The Flying Karamazovs couple expert juggling and amateur joking in their nightclub act.
787
courier
messenger
The publisher sent a special courier to pick up the manuscript.
788
covenant
agreement
We must comply with the terms of the covenant.
789
covert
secret; hidden; implied
She could understand the covert threat in the letter.
790
covetous
avaricious; eagerly desirous of
The child was covetous by nature and wanted to take the toys belonging to his classmates.
791
cow
terrorize; intimidate
The little boy was so cowed by the hulking bully that he gave up his lunch money without a word of protest.
792
cower
shrink quivering, as from fear
The frightened child cowered in the corner of the room.
793
coy
shy; modest; coquettish
She was coy in her answers to his offer.
794
cozen
cheat; hoodwink; swindle
He was the kind of individual who would cozen his friends in a cheap card game but remain eminently ethical in all his business dealings.
795
crabbed
sour; peevish
The children avoided the crabbed old man because he scolded them when they made noise.
796
crass
very unrefined; grossly insensible
The philosophers deplored the crass commercialism.
797
craven
cowardly
When he saw the enemy troops advancing, he had a craven impulse to run for his life.
798
credence
belief
Do not place any credence in his promises.
799
credo
creed
I believe we may best describe his credo by saying that it approximates the Goldren Rule.
800
credulity
belief on slight evidence
The witch doctor took advantage of the credulity of the superstitious natives.
801
creed
system of religious or ethical belief
In any loyal American's creed, love of democracy must be emphasized.
802
crescendo
increase in the volume or intensity, as in a musical passage; climax
The overture suddenly changed from a quiet pastoral theme to a crescendo featuring blaring trumpets and clashing cymbols.
803
crestfallen
dejected; dispirited
We were surprised at his reaction to the failure of his project; instead of being crestfallen, he was busily engaged in planning new activities.
804
crevice
crack; fissure
The mountain climbers found footholds in the tiny crevices in the mountainside.
805
cringe
shrink back, as if in fear
The dog cringed, expecting a blow.
806
criteria
standards used in judging
What criteria did you use when you selected this essay as the prize winner?
807
crone
hag
The toothless crone frightened us when she smiled.
808
crotchety
eccentric; whimsical
Although he was reputed to be a crochety old gentleman, I found his ideas substantially sound and sensible.
809
crux
crucial point
This is the crux of the entire problem.
810
crypt
secret recess or vault usually used for burial
Until recently only bodies of rulers and leading statesmen were interred in this crypt.
811
cryptic
mysterious; hidden; secret
His cryptic remarks could not be interpreted.
812
cubicle
small chamberused for sleeping
After his many hours of intensive study in the library he retired to his cubicle.
813
cuisine
style of cooking
French cuisine is noted for its use of sauces and wines.
814
culinary
relating to cooking
Many chefs attribute their culinary skill to the wise use of spices.
815
cull
pick out; reject
Every month the farmer culls the nonplaying hens from his flock and sells them to the local butcher.
816
culmination
attainment of highest point
His inauguration as President of the United States marked the culmination of his political career.
817
culpable
deserving blame
Corrupt politicians who condone the activities of the gamblers are equally culpable.
818
culvert
artificial channel for water
If we build a culvert under the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of the road's being flooded during the rainy season.
819
cumbersome
heavy; hard to manage
He was burdened down with cumbersome parcels.
820
cumulative
growing by addition
Vocabulary building is a cumulative process: as you go through your flash cards, you will add new words to your vocabulary, one by one.
821
cupidity
greed
The defeated people could not satisfy the cupidity of the conquerors, who demanded excessive tribute.
822
curator
superintendent; manager
The members of the board of trustees of the museum expected the new curator to plan events and exhibitions that would make the museum more popular.
823
curmudgeon
churlish, miserly individual
Although he was regarded by many as a curmudgeon, a few of us were aware of the many kindnesses and acts of charity that he secretly performed.
824
cursive
flowing, running
In normal writing we run our letters together in cursive form; in printing, we separate the letters.
825
cursory
casual; hastily done
A cursory examination of the ruins indicates the possibility of arson; a more extensive study should be undertaken.
826
curtail
shorten; reduce
During the coal shortage, we must curtail our use of this vital commodity.
827
cynical
skeptical or distrustful of human motives
cynical at all times, he was suspicious of all altruistic actions of others.
828
cynosure
object of general attention
As soon as the movie star entered the room, she became the cynosure of all eyes.
829
consternation
anxiety, dismay
Lincoln is famous for saying that the consternations during the civil war had left him decrepit.
830
casual
accidental; not regular or permanent; careless; informal
It can be argued that physical laws can be casual as well as inveterate, since it is based on an induction.
831
dais
raised platform for guests of honor
When he approached the dais, he was greeted by cheers from the people who had come to honor him.
832
dally
trifle with; procrastinate
Laertes told Ophelia that Hamlet could only dally with her affections.
833
dank
damp
The walls of the dungeon were dank and slimy.
834
dapper
neat and trim
In "The Odd Couple," Tony Randall played Felix Unger, an excessively dapper soul who could not stand to have a hair out of place.
835
dappled
spotted
The sunlight filtering though the screens created a dappled effect on the wall.
836
daub
smear (as with paint)
From the way he daubed his paint on the canvas, I could tell he knew nothing of oils.
837
daunt
intimidate
Your threats cannot daunt me.
838
dauntless
bold
Despite the dangerous nature of the undertaking, the dauntless soldier volunteered for the assignment.
839
dawdle
loiter; waste time
Inasmuch as we must meet a deadline, do not dawdle over this work.
840
deadlock
standstill; stalemate
The negotiations had reached a deadlock.
841
deadpan
wooden; impassive
We wanted to see how long he could maintain his deadpan expression.
842
dearth
scarcity
The dearth of skilled labor compelled the employers to open trade schools.
843
debacle
breaking up; downfall
This debacle in the government can only result in anarchy.
844
debase
reduce to lower state
Do not debase youself by becoming maudlin.
845
debauch
corrupt; make intemperate
A vicious newspaper can debauch public ideals.
846
debilitate
weaken; enfeeble
Overindulgence debilitates character as well as physical stamina.
847
debonair
friendly; aiming to please
The debonair youth was liked by all who met him, because of his cheerful and obliging manner.
848
debris
rubble
A full year after the earthquake in Mexico City, workers were still carting away the debris.
849
debunk
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
Pointing out that he conhsistently had voted afainst strenghtening antipollution legislation, reporters debunked the candidate's claim that he was a fervent environmentalist.
850
debutante
yound woman making formal entrance into society
As a debutante, she was often mentioned in the society columns of the newspapers.
851
decadence
decay
The moral decadence of the people was reflected in the lewd literature of the period.
852
decant
pour off gently
Be sure to decant this wine before serving it.
853
decapitate
behead
They did not hang Lady Jane Grey; they decapitated her.
854
decelerate
slow down
Seeing the emergency blinkers in the road ahead, he decelerated quickly.
855
deciduous
falling off, as of leaves
The oak is a deciduous tree.
856
decimate
kill, usually one out of ten
We do more to decimate our population in automobile accidents than we do in war.
857
decipher
decode
I could not decipher the doctor's handwriting.
858
declivity
downward slope
The children loved to ski down the declivity.
859
decollete
having a low-cut neckline
Fashion decrees that evening gowns be decollete this season; bare shoulders are again the vogue.
860
decomposition
decay
Despite the body's advanced state of decomposition, the police were able to identify the murdered man.
861
decorum
propriety; seemliness
Shocked by the unruly behavior, the teacher criticized the class for its lack of decorum.
862
decoy
lure or bait
The wild ducks were not fooled by the decoy.
863
decrepitude
state of collagse caused by illness or old age
I was unprepared for the state of decrepitude in which I had found my old friend; he seemed to have aged twenty years in six months.
864
decry
express strong disapproval of ; disparage
The founder of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, strongly decries the lack of financial and moral support for children in America today.
865
deducible
derived byreasoning
If we accept your premise, your conclusions are easily deducible.
866
deface
mar; disfigure
If you deface a library book, you will have to pay a hefty fine.
867
defamation
harming a person's reputation
Such defamation of character may result in a slander suit.
868
default
failure to do
As a result of her husband's failure to appear in court, she was granted a divorce by default.
869
defeatist
resigned to defeat; accepting defeat as a natural outcome
If you maintain your defeatist attitude, you will never succeed.
870
defection
desertion
The children, who had made him an idol, were hurt most by his defection from our cause.
871
deference
courteous regard for another's wish
In deference to his desires, the employers granted him a holiday.
872
defile
pollute; profane
The hoodlums defiled the church with their scurrilous writing.
873
definitive
most reliable or complee
Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln may be regarded as the definitive work on the life of the Great Emancipator.
874
deflect
turn aside
His life was saved when his cigarette case deflected the bullet.
875
defoliate
destroy leaves
In Vietnam the army made extensive use of chemical agents to defoliate the woodlands.
876
defray
provide ofr the payment of
Her employer offered to defray the costs of her postgraduate education.
877
defrock
to strip a priest or minister of church authority
We knew the minister had violated church regulations, but we had not realized his offense was serious enough to cause him to be defrocked.
878
deft
neat; skillful
The deft waiter uncorked the champagne without spilling a drop.
879
defunct
dead; no longer in use or existence
The lawyers sought to examine the books of the defunct corporation.
880
degenerate
become worse; deteriorate
As the fight dragged on, the champion's style degenerated until he could barely keep on his feet.
881
degraded
lowered in rank; debased
The degraded wretch spoke only of his past glories and honors. 
882
dehydrate
remove water from; dry out
Vigorous dancing quickly dehydrates the body; between dances, be sure to drink more water than normal.
883
deify
turn into a god; idolize
Admire the rock star all you want; just don't deify him.
884
deign
condescend
He felt that he would debase himself if he deigned to answer his critics.
885
delete
erase; strike out
If you delete this paragraph, the composition will have more appeal.
886
deleterious
harmful
Workers in nuclear research must avoid the deleterious effects of radioactive substances.
887
deliberate
consider; ponder; unhurried
Offered the new job, she asked for time to deliberate before she made her decision.
888
delineate
portray
He is weakest when he attempts to delineate character.
889
delirium
mental disorder marked by confusion
The drunkard in his delirium saw strange animals.
890
delta
flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
His dissertation discussed the effect of intermittent flooding on the fertility of the Nile delta.
891
delude
deceive
Do not delude yourself into believing that he will relent.
892
deluge
flood; rush
When we advertised the position, we received a deluge of applications.
893
delusion
false belief; hallucination
This scheme is a snare and a delusion.
894
delusive
deceptive; raising vain hopes
Do not raise your hopes on the basis of his delusive promises.
895
delve
dig; investigate
delving into old books and manuscripts is part of a researcher's job.
896
demagogue
person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader
He was accused of being a demogogue because he made promises that aroused futile hopes in his listeners.
897
demean
degrade; humiliate
He felt that he would demean himself if he replied to the scurrilous letter.
898
demeanor
behavior; bearing
His sober demeanor quieted the noisy revelers.
899
demented
insane
She became increasingly demented and had to be hospitalized.
900
demise
death
Upon the demise of the dictator, a bitter dispute about succession to power developed.
901
demographic
related to population balance
In conducting a survey, one should take into account demographic trends in the region.
902
demolition
destruction
One of the major aims of the air force was the complete demolition of all means of transportation by the bombing of rail lines and the terminals.
903
demoniac
fiendish
The Spanish Inquisition devised many demoniac means of torture.
904
demotic
pertaining to the people
He lamented the passing of aristocratic society and maintained that a demotic society would lower the nation's standards.
905
demur
delay; object
To demur at this time will only worsen the already serious situation; now is the time for action.
906
demure
grave; serius; coy
She was demure and reserved.
907
denigrate
blacken
All attempts to denigrate the character of our late President have failed; the people still love him and cherish his memory.
908
denizen
inhabitant of
Ghosts are denizens of the land of the dead who return to earth.
909
denotation
meaning; distinguishing by name
A dictionary will always give us the denotation of a word; frequently, it will always give us its connotation.
910
denouement
outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work
The play was childishly written; the denouement was obvious to sophisticated theatergoers as early as the middle of the first act.
911
denounce
condemn; critcize
The reform candidate denounced the corrupt city officers for having betrayed the public's trust.
912
depict
portray
In this book, the author depicts the slave owners as kind and benevolent masters.
913
deplete
reduce; exhaust
We must wait until we deplete our present inventory before we order replacements.
914
deplore
regret
Although I deplore the vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express yourself freely.
915
deploy
move troops so that the battle line is extended at the expense of depth
The general ordered the battalion to deploy in order to meet the offensive of the enemy.
916
depose
dethrone; remove form office
The army attempted to depose the king and set up a military government.
917
deposition
testimony under oath
He made his deposition in the judge's chamber.
918
depravity
corruption; wickedness
The depravity of the tyrant's behavior shocked us all.
919
deprecate
express disapproval of; protest against; belittle
A firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy, Miss Post deprecated the modern tendency to address new acquaintances by their first names.
920
depreciate
lessen in value
If you neglect this properly, it will depreciate.
921
depredation
plundering
After the depredations of the invaders, the people were penniless.
922
deranged
insane
He had to be institutionalized because he was deranged.
923
derelict
neglectful of duty; abandoned
The corporal who fell asleep while on watch was thrown into the guardhouse for being derelic in his duty.
924
deride
scoff at
The people derided his grandiose schemes.
925
derision
ridicule
They greeted his proposal with derision and refused to consider it seriously.
926
derivative
unoriginal; obtained from another source
Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature, the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice.
927
dermatologist
one who studies the skin and its diseases
I advise you to consult a dermatologist about your acne.
928
derogatory
expressing a low opinion
I resent your derogatory remarks.
929
descry
catch sight of
In the distance, we could barely descry the enemy vessels.
930
desecrate
profane; violate the sanctity of
The soldiers desecrated the temple.
931
desiccate
dry up
A tour of this smokehouse will give you an idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate food in order to preserve it.
932
desolate
rob of joy; lay waste to; forsake
The bandits desolated the countryside, burning farms and carrying off the harvest.
933
desperado
reckless outlaw
Butch Cassidy was a bold desperado with a price on his head.
934
despicable
contemptible
Your despicable remarks call for no reply.
935
despise
scorn
I despise your attempts at a reconciliation at this time and refuse to meet you.
936
despoil
plunder
If you do not yield, I am afraid the enemy will despoil the countryside.
937
despondent
depressed; gloomy
To the dismay of his parents, he became more and more depondent every day.
938
despotism
tyranny
The people rebelled against the despotism of the king.
939
destitute
extremely poor
The costs of the father's illness left the family destitute.
940
desultory
aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
In prison Malcolm X set himself the task of reading straight through the dictionary; to him reading was purposeful, not desultory.
941
detached
emotionally removed; calm and objective; indifferent
A psychoanalyst must maintain a detached point of view and stay uninvolved with her patients' perssonal lives.
942
determinate
having a fixed order of procedure; invariable
At the royal wedding, the procession of the nobles followed a determinate order of precedence.
943
deterrent
something that discourages; hindrance
Does the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers?
944
detonation
explosion
The detonation of the bomb could be heard miles away.
945
detraction
slandering; aspersion
He is offended by your frequent detractions of his ability as a leader.
946
detrimental
harmful; damaging
Your acceptance of her support will ultimately prove detrimental rather than helpful to your cause.
947
deviate
turn away from
Do not deviate from the truth; you must face the facts.
948
devious
going astray; erratic
Your devious behavior in this matter puzzles me since you are usually direct and straightforward.
949
devoid
lacking
He was devoid of any personal desire for gain in his endeavor to secure improvement in the community.
950
devolve
deputize; pass to others
It devolved upon us, the survivors, to arrange peace terms with the enemy.
951
devotee
enthusiastic follower
A devotee of the opera, he bought season tickets every year.
952
devout
pious
The devout man prayed daily.
953
dexterous
skillful
The magician was so dexterous that we could not follow his movements as he performed his tricks.
954
diabolical
devilish
This scheme is so diabolical that I must reject it.
955
diadem
crown
The king's diadem was on display at the museum.
956
dialectic
art of debate
I am not skilled in dialectic and therefore, cannot answer your arguments as forcefully as I wish.
957
diaphanous
sheer; transparent
They saw the burglar clearly through the diaphanous curtain.
958
diatribe
bitter scolding; invective
During the lengthy diatribe delivered by his opponent he remained calm and self-controlled.
959
dichotomy
branching into two parts
The dichotomy of our legislative system provides us with many safeguards.
960
dictum
arthoritative and weighty statement
She repeated the statement as though it were the dictum of the most expert worker in the group.
961
didactic
teaching; instructional; preaching or moralizing
The didactic qualities of his poetry overshadow its literary qualities; the lesson he teaches is more memorable than the lines.
962
die
device for stamping or impressing; mold
In coining pennies, workers at the old mint squeezed sheets of softened copper between two dies.
963
diffidence
shyness
You must overcome your diffidence if you intend to become a salesperson.
964
diffusion
wordiness; spreading in all directions like a gas
Your composition suffers from a diffusion of ideas; try to be more compact.
965
digression
wandering away from the subject
Nobody minded when Professor Renoir's lectures wandered away from their offical theme; his digressions were always more fascinating than the topic of the day.
966
dilapidated
ruined because of neglect
We felt that the dilapidated  building needed several coats of paint.
967
dilate
expand
In the dark, the pupils of your eyes dilate.
968
dilatory
delaying
Your dilatory tactics may compel me to cancel the contract.
969
dilemma
problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
In this dilemma, he knew no one to whom he could turn for advice.
970
dilettante
aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler
He was not serious in his painting; he was rather a dilettante.
971
diligence
steadiness of effort; persisten hard work
Her employers were greatly impressed by her diligence and offered her a partnership in the firm.
972
dilute
make less concentrated; reduce in strength
She preferred her coffee diluted with milk.
973
diminution
lessening; reduction in size
The blockaders hoped to achieve victory as soon as the diminution of the enemy's supplies became serious.
974
din
continued loud noise
The din of the jackhammers outside the classroom window drowned out the lecturer's voice.
975
dinghy
small boat (often ship's boat)
In the film Lifeboat, an ill-assorted group of passengers from a sunken ocean liner are marooned at sea in a dinghy.
976
dingy
dull; not fresh; cheerless
Refusing to be depressed by her dingy studio apartment, Bea spent the weekend polishing the floors and windows and hanging bright posters on the walls.
977
dint
means; effort
By dint of much hard work, the volunteers were able to control the raging forest fire.
978
diorama
like-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history
Because they dramatically pose actual stuffed animals against realistic painted landscapes, the dioramas at the Museum of Natural History particularly impress high school biology students.
979
dire
disastrous
People ignored her dire predictions of an approaching depression.
980
dirge
lament with music
The funeral dirge stirred us to tears.
981
disabuse
correct a false impression; undeceive
I will attempt to diabuse you of your impression of my client's guilt; I know he is innocent.
982
disaffected
disloyal
Once the most loyal of Gorbachev's supporters, Shverdnaze found himself becoming increasingly disaffected.
983
disapprobation
disapproval; condemnation
The conservative father viewed his daughter's radical boyfriend with disapprobation.
984
disarray
a disorderly or untidy state
After the New Year's party, the once orderly house was in total disarray.
985
disavowal
denial; disclaiming
His disavowal of his part in the conspiracy was not believed by the jury.
986
disband
dissolve; disperse
The chess club disbanded after its disastrous initial season.
987
disburse
pay out
When you disburse money on the company's behalf, be sure to get a receipt.
988
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable
The ships in the harbor were not discernible in the fog.
989
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having insight
Because he was considered the most discerning member of the firm, he was assigned the most difficult cases.
990
disclaim
disown; renounce claim to
If I grant you this previlege, will you disclaim all other rights?
991
disclose
reveal
Although competitors offered him bribes, he refused to disclose any information about his company's forthcoming product.
992
discombobulated
confused; discomposed
The novice square dancer became so discombobulated that he wandered into wrong set.
993
discomfit
put to rout; defeat; disconcert
This ruse will discomfit the enemy.
994
disconcert
confuse; upset; embarrass
The lawyer was disconcerted by the evidence produced by her adversary.
995
disconcolate
sad
The death of his wife left him disconsolate.
996
discordant
inharmonious; conflicting
She tried to unite the discordant factions.
997
discount
disregard
Be prepared to discount what he has to say about his ex-wife.
998
discourse
formal disscussion; conversation
The young Plato was drawn to the Agora to hear the philosophical discourse of Socrates and his followers.
999
discredit
defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve
The campaign was highly negative in tone; each candidate tried to discredit the other.
1000
discrepancy
lack of consistency; difference
The police noticed some discrepancies in his description of the crime and did not believe him.
1001
discrete
separate; unconnected
The universe is composed of discrete bodies.
1002
discretion
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances
Use your discretion in this matter and do not discuss it with anyone.
1003
discrimination
ability to see differences; prejudice
They feared he lacked sufficient discrimination to judge complex works of modern art.
1004
discursive
digressing; rambling
They were annoyed and bored by her discursive remarks.
1005
disdain
treat with scorn or contempt
You make enemies of all you disdain.
1006
disembark
go ashore; unload cargo from a ship
Before the passengers could disembark, they had to pick up their passports from the ship's purser.
1007
disenfranchise
deprive of a civil right
The imposition if the poll tax effectively disenfranchised poor Southern blacks, who lost their right to vote.
1008
disengage
uncouple; separate; disconnect
A standard movie routine involves the hero's desperate attempt to disengage a railroad car from a moving train.
1009
disfigure
mar the appearance of; spoil
An ugly frown disfigured his normally pleasant face.
1010
disgorge
surrender something; efect; vomit
Unwilling to disgorge the cash he had stolen from the pension fund, the embezzler tried to run away.
1011
disgruntle
make discontented
The passengers were disgruntled by the numerous delays.
1012
dishearten
discourage
His failure to pass the bar exam disheartened him.
1013
disheveled
untidy
Your disheveled appearance will hurt your chances in this interview.
1014
disinclination
unwilingness
Some mornings I feel a great disinclination to get out of bed.
1015
disingenuous
not naive; sophisticated
Although he was young, his remarks indicated that he was disingenous.
1016
disinter
dig up; unearth
They disinterred the body and held an autopsy.
1017
disinterested
unprejudiced
The only disinterested person in the room was the judge.
1018
disjointed
disconnected
His remarks were so disjointed that we could not follow his reasoning.
1019
dislodge
remove (forcible)
Thrusting her fist up under the choking man's lower ribs, Margaret used the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food caught in this throat.
1020
dismantle
take apart
When the show closed, they dismantled the scenery before restoring it.
1021
dismember
cut into small parts
When the Austrian Empire was dismembered, several new countries were established.
1022
dismiss
eliminate from consideration; reject
Believing in John's love for her, she dismissed the notion that he might be unfaithful.
1023
disparage
belittle
Do not disparage anyone's contribution; these little gifts add up to large sums.
1024
disparate
basically different; unrelated
It is difficult, if not impossible, to organize these disparate elements into a coherent whole.
1025
disparity
difference; condition of inequality
The disparity in their ages made no difference at all.
1026
dispassionate
calm; impartial
In a dispassionate analysis of the problem, he carefully examined the causes of the conflict and proceeded to suggest suitable remedies.
1027
dispatch
speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed
Young Napoleon defeated the enemy with all possible dispatch; he then sent a dispatch to headquarters, informing his commander of the great victory.
1028
dispel
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
The bright sunlight eventually dispelled the morning mist.
1029
disperse
scatter
The police fired tear gas into crowd to disperse the protesters.
1030
dispirited
lacking in spirit
The coach used all the tricks at his command to buoy up the enthusiasm of his team, which I had become dispirited at the loss of the star player.
1031
disport
amuse
The popularity of Florida as a winter resort is constantly increasing; each year, thousands more disport themselves at Miami and Palm Beach.
1032
disputatious
argumentative; fond of argument
People avoided discussing contemporary problems with him because of his disputatious manner.
1033
disquisition
a formal systematic inquiry; an explanation of the results of a formal inquiry
In his disquisition, he outlined the steps he had taken in reaching his conclusions.
1034
dissection
analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
The dissection of frogs on the laboratory is particularly unpleasant to some students.
1035
dissemble
disguise; pretend
Even though John tried to dissemble his motive for taking modern dance, we all knew there not to dance but to meet girls.
1036
disseminate
scatter (like seeds)
The invention of the radio helped propagandists to disseminate their favorite doctrines very easily.
1037
dissent
disagree
In a landmark Supreme Court decision, Justice Marshall dissented from the majority opinion.
1038
dissertation
formal essay
In order to earn a graduate degree from many of our universities, a candidate is frequently required to prepare a dissertation on some scholarly subject.
1039
dissident
dissenting; rebellious
In the purge that followed the student demonstrations at Tianamen Square, the government hunted down the dissident students and their supporters.
1040
dissimulate
pretend; conceal by feigning
She tried to dissimulate her grief by her exuberant attitude.
1041
dissipate
squander
The young man quickly dissipated his inheritance and was soon broke.
1042
dissolution
disintegration; looseness in morals
The profligacy and dissolution of life in Caligula's Rome appall some historians.
1043
dissonance
discord
Some contemporary musicians deliberately use dissonance to achieve certain effects.
1044
dissuade
advise against
He could not dissuade his friend from joining the conspirators.
1045
distant
reserved or aloof; cold in manner
His distant greeting made me feel unwelcome from the start.
1046
distend
expand;swell out
I can tell when he is under stress by the way the veins distend on his forehead.
1047
distill
purify; refine; concentrate
A moonshiner distills mash into whiskey; an epigrammatist distills thoughts into quips.
1048
distortion
twisting out of shape
It is difficult to believe the newspaper accounts of this event because of the distortions and exaggerations of the reporters.
1049
distrait
absentminded
Because of his concentration on the problem, the professor often appeared distrait and unconcerned about routine.
1050
distraught
upset; distracted by anxiety
The distraught parents frantically searched the ravine for their lost child.
1051
diurnal
daily
A farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks at any time; cows, for example, must be milked regularly.
1052
diva
operatic singer; prima donna
Although world famous as a diva, she did not indulge in fits of temerament.
1053
diverge
vary; go in different directionsfrom the same point
The spokes of the wheel diverge from the hub.
1054
divergent
differing; deviating
The two witnesses presented the jury with remarkably divergent accounts of the same epipode.
1055
diverse
differing in some characteristics; various
There are diverse ways of approaching this problem.
1056
diversion
act of turning aside; pastime
After studying for several hours, he needed a diversion from work.
1057
diversity
variety; dissimilitude
The diversity of colleges in this country indicates that many levels of ability are being served.
1058
divest
strip; deprive
He was divested of his power to act and could no longer govern.
1059
divine
perceive intuitively; foresee the future
Nothing infuriated Tom more than Aunt Polly's ability to divine when he was not telling the truth.
1060
divulge
reveal
I will not tell you this news because I am sure you will divulge it prematurely.
1061
docile
obedient; easily managed
As docile as he seems today, that old lion was once a ferocious, snarling beast.
1062
docket
program asfor trial; book where such entries are made
The case of Smith v. Jones was entered in the docket for July 15.
1063
doctrinaire
unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding
Weng had hoped that the student-led democracy movement might bring about change in China, but the repressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners crushed his dreams of democracy.
1064
document
provide written evidence
She kept all the receipts from her business trip in order to document her expenses for the firm.
1065
doddering
shaky; infirm from old age
Although he is not as yet a doddering and senile old man, his ideas and opinions no longer can merit the respect we gave them years ago.
1066
doff
take off
A gentleman used to doff his hat to a lady.
1067
dogged
determined;stubborn
Les Miserables tells of Inspector Javert's long, dogged pursuit of the criminal Jean Valjean.
1068
doggerel
poorverse
Although we find occasional snatches of genuine poetry in her work, most of her writing is mere doggerel.
1069
dogmatic
positive; arbitrary
Do not be so dogmatic about that statement; it can be easily refuted.
1070
doldrums
blues; listlessness; slack period
Once the excitement of meeting her deadline was over, she found herself in the doldrums.
1071
dolorous
sorrowfrl
He found the dolorous lamentations of the bereaved family emotionally disturbing and he left as quickly as he could.
1072
dolt
stupid person
I thought I was talking to a mature audience; instead, I find myself addressing a pack of dolts.
1073
domicile
home
Althoughhis legal domicile was in New York City, his work kept him away from his residence for many years.
1074
domineer
rule over tyrannically
Students prefer teachers who guide, not ones who domineer.
1075
don
put on
When Clark Kent had to don his Superman outfit, he changed clothes in a convenient phone booth.
1076
dormant
sleeping; lethargic; torpid
Sometimes dormant talents in our friends surprise those of us who never realize how gifted our acquaintances really are.
1077
dormer
window projecting from roof
In remodeling the attic into a bedroom, we decided that we needed to put in dormers to provide sufficient ventilation for the new room.
1078
dorsal
relating to the back of an animal
A shark may be identified by its dorsal fin, which projects above the surface of the ocean.
1079
dossier
file of documents on a subject
Ordered by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate the senator, the FBI compiled a complete dossier.
1080
dotage
senility
In his dotage, the old man bored us with long tales of events in his childhood.
1081
dote
be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
Not only grandmothers bore you with stories about their brilliant grandchildren; grandfathers dote on the littel rascals, too.
1082
dour
sullen; stubborn
The man was dour abd taciturn.
1083
douse
plunge into water; drench; extinguish
They doused each other with hoses and balloons.
1084
dowdy
slovenly; untidy
She tried to change her dowdy image by buying a fashionable new wardrobe.
1085
downcast
disheartened; sad
Cheerful and optimistic by nature, Beth was never downcast despite the difficulties she faced.
1086
drab
dull; lacking color; cheerless
The Dutch woman's drab winter coat contrasted with the distinctive, colorful native costume she wore beneath it.
1087
dregs
sediment; worthless residue
David poured the wine carefully to avoid stirring up the dregs.
1088
droll
queer and amusing
He was a popular guest because his droll anecdotes were always entertaining.
1089
drone
idle person; male bee
Content to let his wife support him, the would-be writer was in reality nothing but a drone.
1090
drone
talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee
On a gorgeous day, who wants to be stuck in a classroom listening to the teacher drone?
1091
dross
waste matter; worhtless impurities
Many methods have been devised to separate the valuable metal from the dross.
1092
drudgery
menial work
Cinderella's fairy godmother rescued her from a life of drudgery.
1093
dubious
doubtful
He has the dubious distinction of being the lowest man in his class.
1094
ductility
malleability; flexibility; ability to be drawn out
Copper wire has many industrial uses because of its extreme ductility.
1095
dulcet
sweet sounding
The dulcet sounds of the birds at dawn were soon drowned out by the roar of traffic passing our motel.
1096
dupe
someone easily fooled
While the gullible Watson often was made a dupe by unscrupulous parties, Sherlock Holmes was far more difficult to fool.
1097
deplicity
double-dealing; hypocrisy
People were shocked and dismayed when they learned of his duplicity in this affair, as he had always seemed honest and straightforward.
1098
duress
forcible restraint, especially unlawfully
The hostages were held under duress until the prisoners' demands were met.
1099
dutiful
respectful; obedient
The dutiful child grew up to be a conscientious adult aware of his civic obligations.
1100
dwindle
shrink; reduce
They spent so much money that their funds dwindled to nothing.
1101
dynamic
active; efficient
A dynamic government is necessary to meet the demands of a changing society.
1102
dyspeptic
suffering from indigestion
All the talk about rich food made him feel dyspeptic.
1103
earthy
unrefined; coarse
His earthy remarks often embarrassed the women in the audience.
1104
ebb
recede; lessen
His fortunes began to ebb during the recession.
1105
ebullient
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm
His ebullient nature could not be repressed.
1106
eccentric
odd; whimsical; irregular
The comet passed close by the earth in its eccentric orbit.
1107
eccentricity
oddity; idiosyncrasy
Some of his friends tried to account for his rudeness to strangers as the eccentricity of genius.
1108
ecclesiastic
pertaining to the church
The minister donned his ecclesiastic garb and walked to the pulpit.
1109
eclectic
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources
His style of interior decoration was eclectic: bits and pieces of furnishings from widely divergent periods, strikingly juxtaposed to create a unique color.
1110
eclipse
darken; extinguish; surpass
The new stock market high eclipsed the previous record set in 1985.
1111
ecologist
person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment
The ecologist was concerned that the new dam would upset the natural balance of the creatures living in Glen Canyon.
1112
economy
efficiency or conciseness in using something
Reading the epigrams of Pope, I admire the economy of his verse: in few words he conveys worlds of meaning.
1113
ecstasy
rapture, joy; any overpowering emotion
The announcement that the war had ended brought on an ecstasy that resulted in many uncontrolled celebrations.
1114
eddy
swirling current of water, air, etc.
The water in the tide pool was still, except for an occasional eddy.
1115
edify
instruct; correct morally
Although his purpose was to edify and not to entertain his audience, many of his listeners were amused and not enlightened.
1116
eerie
weird
In that eerie setting, it was easy to believe in ghosts and other supernatural beings.
1117
efface
rub out
The coin had been handled so many times that its data had been effaced.
1118
effectual
efficient
If we are to succeed, we must seek effectual means of securing our goals.
1119
effeminate
having womanly traits
His voice was high-pitched and effeminate.
1120
effervescence
inner excitement; exuberance
Nothing depressed her for long; her natural effervescence soon reasserted itself.
1121
effete
worn out; exhausted; barren
The literature of the age reflected the effete condition of the writers; no new ideas were forthcoming.
1122
efficacy
power to produce desired effect
The efficacy of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage.
1123
effigy
dummy
The mob showed its irritation by hanging the judge in effigy.
1124
effluvium
noxious smell
Air pollution has become a serious problem in our major cities; the effluvium and the poisons in the air are hazards to life.
1125
effrontery
shameless boldness
She had the effrontery to insult the guest.
1126
effusion
pouring forth
The critics objected to her literary effusion because it was too flowery.
1127
effusive
pouring forth; gushing
Her effusive manner of greeting her friends finally began to irritate them.
1128
egoism
excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others
His egoism  prevented him from seeing the needs of his colleagues.
1129
egotism
conceit; vanity
She thought so much of herself that we found her egotism unwarranted and irritating.
1130
egregious
notorious; conspicuously bad; shocking
She was an egregious liar; we all knew better than to believe a word she said.
1131
egress
exit
Barnum's sign "To the Egress" fooled many people who thought they were going to see an animal and instead found themselves in the street.
1132
ejaculation
exclamation
He could not repress an ejaculation of surprise when he heard the news.
1133
elaboration
addition of details; intricacy
Tell what happened simply, without any elaboration.
1134
elated
overjoyed; in high spirits
Grinning from ear to ear, Bonnie Blair was clearly elated by her Olympic victory.
1135
elegy
poem or song expressing lamentation
On the death of Edward King, Milton composed the elegy "Lycidas."
1136
elicit
draw out by discussion
The detectives tried to elicit where he had hidden his loot.
1137
elixir
cure-all; something invigorating
The news of her chance to go abroad acted on her like an elixir.
1138
ellipsis
omission of words from a text
Sometimes an ellipsis can lead to a dangling modifier, as in the sentence "Once dressed, you should refrigerate the potato salad.
1139
elliptical
oval; ambiguous, either purposely or because key words have been left out
An elliptical billiad ball wobbles because it is not perfectly round; an elliptical remark baffles because it is not perfectly clear.
1140
eloquence
expressiveness; persuasive speech
The crowds were stirred by Martin Luther King's eloquence.
1141
elucidate
explain; enlighten
He was called upon to elucidate the disputed points in his article.
1142
elusive
evasive; baffling; hard to grasp
His elusive dreams of wealth were costly to those of his friends who supported him financially.
1143
elysian
relating to paradise; blissful
An afternoon sail on the bay was for her an elysian journey.
1144
emaciated
thin and wasted
His long period of starvation had left him emaciated.
1145
emanate
issue forth
A strong odor of sulfur emanated from the spring.
1146
emancipate
set free
At first, the attempts of the Abolitioninst to emancipate the slaves were unpopular in New England as well as in the South.
1147
embargo
ban on commerce or other activity
As a result of the embargo, trade with colonies was at a standstill.
1148
embark
commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey
In devoting herself to the study of gorillas, Dian Fossey embarked on a course of action that was to cost her her life.
1149
embed
enclose; place in something
Tales of actual historical figures like King Alfred have become embedded in legends.
1150
embellish
adorn
My mother-in-law's stories about her journey from Russia made us laugh because she embellished the bare facts of her travels with humourous acecdotes.
1151
embezzlement
stealing
The bank teller confessed his embezzlement of the funds.
1152
embroil
throw into confusion
He became embroiled in the heated discussion when he tried to arbitrate the dispute.
1153
embryonic
undeveloped; rudimentary
The evil of class and race hatred must be eliminated while it is still in an embryonic state; otherwise, it may grow to dangerous proportions.
1154
emend
correct, usually a text
The critic emended the book by retranslating several passages.
1155
emendation
correction of errors; improvement
Please initial all the emendations you have made in this contract.
1156
emetic
substance causing vomiting
The use of an emetic like mustard is useful in cases of poisoning.
1157
eminent
high; lofty
After his appointment to this emiment position, he seldom had time for his former friends.
1158
emissary
agent; messenger
The secretary of State was sent as the President's special emissary to the conference on disarmament.
1159
emollient
soothing or softening remedy
He applied an emollient to the inflamed area.
1160
emolument
salary; compensation
In addition to the emolument this position offers, you must consider the social prestige it carries with it.
1161
empathy
ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc
What made Ann such a fine counselor was her empathy, her ability to put herself in her client's place and feel his emotions as if they were her own.
1162
empirical
based on experience
He distrusted hunches and intuitive flashes; he placed his reliance entirely on empirical data.
1163
emulate
rival; imitate
As long as our political leaders emulate the virtues of the great leaders of this country, we shall flourish.
1164
enamored
in love
Narcissus became enamored of his own beauty.
1165
enclave
territory enclosed within an alien land
The Vatican is an independent enclave in Italy.
1166
encomiastic
praising; eulogistic
Some critics believe that his encomiastic statements about Napoleon were inspired by his desire for material advancement rather than by an honest belief in the Emperor's genius.
1167
encomium
high praise; eulogy
Uneasy with the encomiums expressed by his supporters, Tolkien felt unworthy of such high praise.
1168
encompass
surround
Although we were encompassed by enemy forces, we were cheerful for we were well stocked and could withstand a siege until our allies joined us.
1169
encroachment
gradual intrusion
The encroachment of the factories upon the neighborhood lowered the value of the real estate.
1170
encumber
burden
Some people encumber themselves with too much luggage, when they take short trips.
1171
endearment
fond word or act
Your gifts and endearments cannot make me forget your earlier insolence.
1172
endemic
prevailinig among a specific group of people or in a specific are or country
This disease is endemic in this part of the world; more than 80 percent of the population are at one time or another affected by it.
1173
endorse
approve; support
Everyone waited to see which one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor would endorse.
1174
endue
provide with some quality; endow
He was endued with a lion's courage.
1175
enduring
lasting; surviving
Keats believed in the enduring power of great art, which outlast its creator's brief lives.
1176
energize
invigorate; make forceful and active
Rather than exhausting Maggie, dancing energized her.
1177
enervate
weaken
She was slow to recover from her illness; even a short walk to the window evervated her.
1178
enfranchise
admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote)
Although blacks were enfranchised shortly after the Civil War, women did not receive the right to vote until 1920.
1179
engage
attract; hire; pledge oneself; confront
"Your case has engaged my interest, my lord," said Holmes, "You many engage my services."
1180
engender
cause; produce
To receive praise for real accomplishments engenders self-confidence in a child.
1181
engross
occupy fully
John was so engrossed in his studies that he did not hear his mother call.
1182
enhance
advance; improve
Your chances for promotion in this department will be enhanced if you take some more courses in evening school.
1183
enigma
puzzle
Depite all attempts to decipher the code, it remained an enigma.
1184
enigmatic
obscure; puzzling
Many have sought to fathom the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa.
1185
enjoin
command; order; forbid
The owners of the company asked the court to enjoin the union from picketing the plant.
1186
enmity
ill will; hatred
At Camp David President Carter labored to bring an end to the enmity that prevented Egypt and Israel from living in peace.
1187
ennui
boredom
The monotonous routine of hopital life induced a feeling of ennui which made him moody and irritable.
1188
enormity
hugeness (in a bad sense)
He did not realize the enormity of his crime until he saw what suffering he had caused.
1189
enrapture 
please intensely
The audience was enraptured by the freshness of the voices and the excellent orchestration.
1190
ensconce
settle comfortably
The parents thought that their children were ensconced safely in the private school and decided to leave for Europe.
1191
ensue
follow
The evils that ensued were the direct result of the miscalculations of the leaders.
1192
enthrall
capture; enslave
From the moment he saw her picture, he was enthralled by her beauty.
1193
entice
lure; attract; tempt
She always tried to entice her baby brother into mischief.
1194
entity
real being
As soon as the charter was adopted, the United Nations became an entity and had to be considered as a factor in world diplomacy.
1195
entomology
study of insects
I found entomology the least interesting part of my course in biology; studying insects bored me.
1196
entrance
put under a spell; carry away with emotion
Shafts of sunlight on a wall could entrance her and leave her spellbound.
1197
entreat
plead; ask earnestly
She entreated her father to let her stay out till midnight.
1198
entree
entrance; a way in
Because of his wealth and social position, he had entree into the most exclusive circles.
1199
entrepreneur
businessperson; contractor
Opponents of our present tax program argue that it discourages entrepreneurs from trying new fields of business activity.
1200
enumerate
list; mention one by one
Huck hung his head in shame as Miss Watson enumerated his many flaws.
1201
enunciate
speak distinctly
How will people understand you if you do not enunciate?
1202
environ
enclose; surround
Paris was environed by a wall
1203
eon
long period of time; an age
It has taken eons for our civilization to develop.
1204
epaulet
ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)
The shoulder loops on Sam Spade's trench coat are the nonmilitary counterparts of the fringed epaulets on George Washington's uniform.
1205
ephemeral
short-lived; fleeting
The mayfly is an ephemeral creature.
1206
epic
long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art
Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai is an epic portraying the struggle of seven warriors to destroy a band of robbers.
1207
epicure
connoisseur of food and drink
epicures frequent this restaurant because it features exotic wines and dishes.
1208
epigram
witty thought or saying, usually short 
Poor Richard's epigrams made Benjamin Franklin famous.
1209
epilogue
short speech at conclusion of dramatic work
The audience was so disappointed in the play that many did not remain to hear the epilogue.
1210
episodic
loosely connected
Though he tried to follow the plot of Gravity's Rainbow, John found the novel too episodic.
1211
epistemologist
philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge
"What is more important, a knowledge of nature of the nature of knowledge?" the epistemologist asked the naturalist.
1212
epitaph
inscription in memory of a dead person
In his will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted placed on his tombstone.
1213
epithet
word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing
So many kings of France were named Charles that modern students need epithets to tell them apart: Charles the Wise, for example, was someone far different from Charles the Fat.
1214
epitome
perfect example or embodiment
Singing "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" in The Pirates of Penzance, Major-General Stanley proclaimed himself the epitome of an officer and a gentleman.
1215
epoch
period of time
The glacial epoch lasted for thousands of years.
1216
equable
tranquil; steady; uniform
After the hot summers and cold winters of New England, he found the climate of the West Indies equable and pleasant.
1217
equanimity
calmness of temperament
In his later years, he could look upon the foolishness of the world with equanimity and humor.
1218
equestrian
rider on horseback
These paths in the park are reserved for equestrians and their steeds.
1219
equilibrium
balance
After the divorce, he needed some time to regain his equilibrium.
1220
equine
resembling a horse
His long, bony face had an equine look to it.
1221
equinox
period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn
The vernal equinox is usually marked by heavy rainstorms.
1222
equipoise
balance; balancing force; equilibrium
The high-wire acrobat used his pole as an equipose to overcome the swaying caused by the wind.
1223
equitable
fair; impartial
I am seeking an equitable solution to this dispute, one which will be fair and acceptable to both sides.
1224
equity
fairness; justice
Our courts guarantee equity to all.
1225
equivocal
doubtful; ambiguous
Macbeth was misled by the equivocal statements of the witches.
1226
equivocate
lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth
The audience saw through his attempts to equivocate on the subject under discussion and ridiculed his remarks.
1227
erode
eat away
The limestone was eroded by the dripping water
1228
erotic
pertaining to passionate love
The erotic passages in this novel should be removed as they are merely pornographic.
1229
errant
wandering
Many a charming tale has been written about the knights-errant who helped the weak and punished the guilty during the Age of Chivalry.
1230
erratic
odd; unpredictable
Investors become anxious when the stock market appears erratic.
1231
erroneous
mistaken; wrong
I thought my answer was correct, but it was erroneous.
1232
erudite
learned; scholarly
His erudite writing was difficult to read because of the many allusions which were unfamiliar to most readers.
1233
escapade
prank; flighty conduct
The headmaster could not regard this latest escapade as a boyish joke and expelled the young man.
1234
eschew
avoid
He tried to eschew all display of temper.
1235
esoteric
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few
New Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and events: the implication is if you are in the in-crowd, you'll get the reference; if you come from Cleveland, you won't.
1236
espionage
spying
In order to maintain its power, the government developed a system of espionage that penetrated every hosehold.
1237
espouse
adopt; support
She was always ready to espouse a worthy cause.
1238
esteem
repect; value; judge
I esteem Ezra Pound both for his exciting poetry and for his acute comments on literature.
1239
estranged
separated; alienated
The estranged wife sought a divorce.
1240
ethereal 
light; heavenly; fine
Visitors were impressed by her ethereal beauty, her delicate charm.
1241
ethnic
relating to races
Intolerance between ethnic groups is deplorable and usually is based on lack of information.
1242
ethnology
study of mankind
Sociology is one aspect of the science of ethnology.
1243
ethos
underlying character of a culture, group, etc.
Seeing how tenderly Spaniards treated her small daughter made author Barbara Kingsolver aware of how greatly children were valued in the Spanish ethos.
1244
etymology
study of word parts
A knowledge of etymology can help you on many English tests.
1245
eugenic
pertaining to the improvement of race
It is easier to apply eugenic principles to the raising of racehorses or prize cattle than t the development of human beings.
1246
eulogistic
praising
To everyone's surprise, the speech was eulogistic rather than critical in tone.
1247
eulogy
praise
All the eulogies of his friends could not remove the sting of the calumny heaped upon him by his enemies.
1248
euphemism
mild expression in place of an unpleasant one
The expression "he passed away" is a euphemism for "he died."
1249
euphony
sweet sound
Noted for its euphony even when it is spoken, the Italian language is particularly pleasing to the ear when sung.
1250
euphoria
feeling of exaggerated (or unfounded) well-being
"Jill's been on cloud nine ever since Jacj asked her out," said Betty, dismissing her friend's euphoria.
1251
euthanasia
mercy killing
Many people support euthanasia for terminally ill patients who wish to die.
1252
evanescent
fleeting; vanishing
For a brief moment, the entire skyline was bathed in an orange-red hue in the evanescent rays of the sunset.
1253
evasive
not frank; eluding
Your evasive answers convinced the judge that you were witholding important evidence.
1254
evince
show clearly
When he tried to answer the questions, he evinced his ignorance of the subject matter.
1255
evenhanded
impartial; fair
Do men and women receive evenhanded treatment from their teachers, or, as recent studies suggest, do teachers pay more attention to male students than to females?
1256
evoke
call forth
He evoked much criticism by his hostile manner.
1257
ewe
female sheep
The flock of sheep was made up of dozens of ewes, together with only a handful of rams.
1258
exacerbate
worsen; embitter
This latest arrest will exacerbate the already existing discontent of the people and enrage them.
1259
exacting
extremely demanding
The colonies rebelled against the exacting financial claims of the mother country.
1260
exalt
raise in rank or dignity; praise
The actor Alec Guinness was exalted to the rank of knighthood by the Queen; he now is known as Sir Alec Guinness.
1261
exasperate
vex
Johnny often exasperates his mother with his pranks.
1262
excerpt 
selected passage (written or musical)
The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a novel is a clip from a film.
1263
exchequer
treasury
He had been Chancellor of the exchequer before his promotion to the office he now holds.
1264
excise
cut away; cut out
When you excise the dead and dying limbs of a tree, you not only improve its appearance but also enhance its chances of bearing fruit.
1265
excoriate
flay; abrade
These shoes are so ill-fitting that they will excoriate the feet and create blisters.
1266
exculpate
clear from blame
He was exculpated of the crime when the real criminal confessed.
1267
execrable
very bad
The anecdote was in execrable taste and shocked the audience.
1268
execrate
curse; express abhorrence for
The world execrates the memory of Hitler and hopes that genocide will never again be the policy of any nation.
1269
execute
put into effect; carry out
The choreographer wanted to see how well she could execute a pirouette.
1270
exegesis
explanation, especially of biblical passages
I can follow your exegesis of this passage to a limited degree; some of your reasoning eludes me.
1271
exemplary
serving as a model; outstanding
Her exemplary behavior was praised at commencement.
1272
exemplify
show by example; furnish an example
Three-time winner of the Super Bowl, Joe Montana exemplifies the ideal quarterback.
1273
exertion
effort; expenditure of much physical work
The exertion involved in unscrewing the rusty bolt left her exhausted.
1274
exhort
urge
The evangelist will exhort all sinners in his audience to reform.
1275
exhume
dig out of the ground; remove from a grave
Because of the rumor that he had been poisoned, his body was exhumed in order that an autopsy might be performed.
1276
exigency
urgent situation
In this exigency, we must look for aid from our allies.
1277
exiguous
small; minute
Grass grew there, an exiguous outcropping among the rocks.
1278
existential
pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism
To the existential philosopher, human reason is inadequate to explain an irrational, meaningless universe.
1279
exodus
departure
The exodus from the hot and stuffy city was particularly noticeable on Friday evenings.
1280
exonerate
acquit; exculpate
I am sure this letter naming the actual culprit will exonerate you.
1281
exorbitant
excessive
The people grumbled at his exorbitant prices but paid them because he had a monopoly.
1282
exorcise
drive our evil spirits
By incantation and prayer, the medicine man sought to exorcise the evil spirits that had taken possession of the young warrior.
1283
exotic
not native; strange
Because of his exotic headdress, he was followed in the streets by small children who laughed at his strange appearance.
1284
expatiate
talk at length
At this time, please give us a brief resume of your work; we shall permit you to expatiate later.
1285
expatriate
exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land
Henry James was an American expatriate who settled in England.
1286
expedient
suitable; practical; politic
A pragmatic politician, he was guided by what was expedient rather than by what was ethical.
1287
expedite
hasten
We hope you will be able to expedite delivery because of our tight schedule.
1288
expertise
specialized knowledge; expert skill
Although she was knowledgeable in a number of fields, she was hired for her particular expertise in computer programming.
1289
expiate
make amends for (a sin)
He tried to expiate his crimes by a full confession to the authorities.
1290
expletive
interjection; profane oath
The sergeant's remarks were filled with expletives that offended the new recruits.
1291
explicate
explain; interpret; clarify
Harry Levin explicated James Joyce's novels with such clarity that even Finnegan's Wake seemed comprehensible to his students.
1292
explicit
totally clear; definite; outspoken
Don't just hint around that you're dissatisfied: be explicit about what's bugging you.
1293
exploit
deed or action, particularly a brave deed
Raoul Wallenberg was noted for his exploits in rescuing Jews from Hitler's forces.
1294
exploit
make use of, sometimes unjustly
Caesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit migrant farmworkers in California.
1295
expository
explanatory; serving to explain
The mannual that came with my VCR was no masterpiece of expository prose: its explanations were so garbled that I couldn't even figure out how to rewind a tape.
1296
expostulation
protest; remonstrance
Despite the teacher's scoldings and expostulations, the class remained unruly.
1297
exposure
risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open
Exposure to sun and wind had dried out her hair and weathered her face.
1298
expunge
cancel; remove
If you behave, I will expunge this notation from your record.
1299
expurgate
clean; remove offensive parts of a book
The editors felt that certain passages in the book had to be expurgated before it could be used in the classroom.
1300
extant
still in existence
Although the authorities suppressed the book, many copies are extant and may be purchased at exorbitant prices.
1301
extemporaneous
not planned; impromptu
Because his extemporaneous remarks were misinterpreted, he decided to write all his speeches in advance.
1302
extenuate
weaken; mitigate
It is easier for us to extenuate our own shortcomings than those of others.
1303
extirpate
root up
The Salem witch trials were a misguided attempt to extirpate superstition and heresy.
1304
extol
praise; glorify
The astronauts were extolled as the pioneers of the Space Age.
1305
extort
wring from; get money by threats, etc.
The blackmailer extorted money from his victim.
1306
extradition
surrender of prisoner by one state to another
The lawyers opposed the extradition of their client on the grounds that for more than five years he had been a model citizen.
1307
extraneous
not essential; external
Do not pad your paper with extraneous matters; stick to essential items only.
1308
extrapolation
projection; conjecture
Based on their extrapolation from the results of the primaries on Super Tuesday, the networks predicted that George Bush would be the Republican candidate for the presidency.
1309
extricate
free; disentangle
He found that he could not extricate himself from the trap.
1310
extrinsic
external; not inherent; foreign
Do not be fooled by extrinsic causes. We must look for the intrinsic reason.
1311
extrovert
person interested mostly in external objects and actions
A good salesperson in usually an extrovert, who likes to mingle with people.
1312
extrude
force or push out
Much pressure is required to extrude these plastics.
1313
exuberant
abundant; effusive; lavish
His speeches were famous for his exuberant language and vivid imagery.
1314
exude
discharge; give forth
The maple syrup is obtained from the sap that the trees exude in early spring.
1315
exult
rejoice
We exulted when our team won the victory.
1316
fabricate
build; lie
Because of the child's tendency to fabricate, we had trouble believing her.
1317
facade
front of the building
The facade of the church had often been photographed by tourists because it was more interesting than the rear.
1318
facet
small plane surface (of a gem); a side
The stonecutter decided to improve the rough diamond by providing it with several facets.
1319
facetious
humorous; jocular
Your facetious remarks are not appropriate at this serious moment.
1320
facile
easy; expert
Because he was a facile speaker, he never refused a request to address an organization.
1321
facilitate
make less difficult
He tried to facilitate repayment of the loan by getting a part-time job.
1322
facsimilie
copy 
Many museums sell facsimilies of the works of art on display.
1323
faction
party; clique; dissension
The quarrels and bickering of the two small factions within the club disturbed the majority of the members.
1324
factious
inclined to form factions; causing dissension. 
Your statement is factious and will upset the harmony that now exists.
1325
factitous
artificial; sham
Hollywood actresses often create factitious tears by using glycerine.
1326
factotum
handyman; person who does all kinds of work
Although we had hired him as a messenger, we soon began to use him as a general factotum around the office.
1327
faculty
mental or bodily powers; teaching staff
As he grew old, he feared he might lose his faculties and become useless to his employer.
1328
fallacious
misleading
Your reasoning must be fallacious because it leads to a ridiculous answer.
1329
fallible
liable to err
I know I am fallible, but I feel confident that I am right this time.
1330
fallow
plowed but sowed; uncultivated
Farmers have learned that it is advisable to permit land to le fallow every few years.
1331
falter
hesitate
When told to dive off the high board, she did not falter, but proceeded at once.
1332
fanaticism
excessive zeal
The leader of the group was held responsible even though he could not control the fanaticism of his followers.
1333
fancied
imagined; unreal
You are resenting fancied insults. No one has ever said such things about you.
1334
fancier
breeder or dealer of animals
The dog fancier exhibited her prize collie at the annual Kennel Club show.
1335
fanciful
whimsical; visionary
This is a fanciful scheme because it does not consider the facts.
1336
fanfare
call by bugles or trumpets; showy display
The exposition was opened with fanfare of trumpets and the firing of cannon.
1337
fantastic
unreal; grotesque; whimsical
Your fears are fantastic because no such animal as you have described exists.
1338
farce
broad comedy; mockery
Nothing went right; the entire interview degenerated into a farce.
1339
fastidious
difficult to please; squeamish
The waitresses disliked serving him dinner because of his very fastidious taste.
1340
fatalism
belief that events are determined by forces beyond one's control
With fatalism, he accepted the hardships that beset him.
1341
fathom
comprehend; investigate
I find his motives impossible to fathom.
1342
fatuous
foolish; inane
He is far too intelligent to utter such fatuous remarks.
1343
fauna
animals of a period or region
The scientist could visualize the fauna of the period by examining the skeletal remains and the fossils.
1344
fawning
courting favor by cringing and flattering
She was constantly surrounded by a group of fawning admirers who had hoped to win some favor.
1345
faze
disconcert; dismay
No crisis could faze the resourceful hotel manager.
1346
feasible
practical
This is an entirely feasible proposal. I suggest we adopt it.
1347
febrile
feverish
In his febrile condition, he was subject to nightmares and hallucinations.
1348
fecundity
fertility; fruitfulness
The fecundity of his mind is illustrated by the many vivid images in his poems.
1349
feign
pretend
Lady Macbeth feigned illness in the courtyard although she was actually healthy.
1350
feint
trick; shift; sham blow
The boxer was fooled by his opponent's feint and dropped his guard.
1351
felicitous
apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
He was famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at many banquet.
1352
felicity
happines; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.)
She wrote a note to the newlyweds wishing them great felicity in their wedded life.
1353
fell
cruel; deadly
The newspapers told of the tragic spread of the fell disease
1354
felon
person convicted of a grave crime
A convicted felon loses the right to vote
1355
ferment
agitation; commotion
With the breakup of the Soviet Union, much of Eastern Europe was in a state of ferment.
1356
ferret
drive or hunt out of hiding
She was ferreted out their secret.
1357
fervent
ardent; hot
She felt that the fervent praise was excessive and somewhat undeserved.
1358
fervid
ardent
Her fervid enthusiasm inspired all of us to undertake the dangerous mission.
1359
fervor
glowing ardor
Their kiss was full of the fervor of first love.
1360
fester
generate pus
When her finger began to fester, the doctor lanced it and removed the splinter that had caused the pus to form.
1361
fester
rankle, produce irritation or resentment
Joe's insult festered in Anne's mind for days, and made her too angry to speak to him.
1362
festive
joyous; celebratory
Their wedding in the park was a festive occasion.
1363
fete
honor at a festival
The returning hero was feted at a community supper and dance.
1364
fetid
malodorous
The neglected wound became fetid.
1365
fetter
shackle
The prisoner was fettered to the wall.
1366
fiasco
total failure
Our ambitious venture ended in a fiasco and we were forced to flee.
1367
fiat
command
I cannot accept government by fiat; I feel that I must be consulted.
1368
fickle
changeable; faithless
He discovered his supposedly faithful girlfriend was fickle
1369
fictitious
imaginary
Although this book purports to be a biography of George Washington, many of the incidents are fictitious.
1370
fidelity
loyalty
A dog's fidelity to its owner is one of the reasons why that animal is a favorite household pet.
1371
figment
invention; imaginary thing
That incident never took place; it is a figment of your imagination.
1372
figurative
not literal, but metaphorical; using a figure of speech
"To lose one's marbles" is a figurative expression; if you're told Jack has lost his marbles, no one expects you to rush out to buy him a replacement set.
1373
figurine
small ornamental statuette
In the Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade  was hired to trace the missing figurine of a black bird.
1374
filch
steal
The boys filched apples from the fruit stand.
1375
filial
pertaining to a son or daughter
Many children forget their filial obligations and disregard the wishes of their parents.
1376
filibuster
block legislation by making long speeches
Even though we disapproved of Senator Foghorn's political goals, we were impressed by his ability to filibuster endlessly to keep an issue from coming to a vote.
1377
filigree
delicate, lacelike metalwork
The pendant with gold filigree that she wore round her neck trembled with each breath she took.
1378
finale
conclusion
It is not until we reach the finale of this play that we can understand the author's message.
1379
finesse
delicate skill
The finesse and adroitness of the surgeon impressed the observers in the operating room.
1380
finicky
too particular; fussy
The old lady was finicky about her food and ate very little.
1381
finite
limited
It is difficult for humanity with its finite existence to grasp the infinite.
1382
firebrand
hothead; troublemaker
The police tried to keep track of all the local firebrands when the President came to town.
1383
fissure
crevice
The mountain climbers secured footholds in tiny fissures in the rock.
1384
fitful
spasmodic; intermittent
After several fitful attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project until he felt more energetic.
1385
flaccid
flabby
His sedentary life had left him with flaccid muscles.
1386
flag
droop; grow feeble
When the opposing hockey team scored its third goal only minutes into the first period, the home team's spirits flagged.
1387
flagrant
conspicuously wicked
We cannot condone such flagrant violations of the rules.
1388
flail
thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about
In medieval times, warriors flailed their foe with a metal ball attached to a handle.
1389
flair
talent
She has an uncanny flair for discovering new artists before the public has become aware of their existence.
1390
flamboyant
ornate
Modern architecture has discarded the flamboyant trimming on buildings and emphasizes simplicity of line.
1391
flaunt
display ostentatiously
She is not the one of those actresses who flaunt their physical charms; she can act.
1392
flay
strip off skin; plunder
The criminal was condemned to be flayed alive.
1393
fleck
spot
Her cheeks flecked with tears, were testimony to the hours of weeping.
1394
fledgling
inexperienced
While it is necessary to provide these fledgling poets with an opportunity to present their work, it is not essential that we admire everything they write.
1395
fleece
wool coat of a sheep
They shear sheep of their fleece, which they then comb into separate strands of wool.
1396
fleece
rob; plunder
The tricksters fleeced him of his inheritance.
1397
flick
light stroke as with a whip
The horse needed no encouragement; only one flick of the whip was all the jockey had to apply to get the animal to run at top speed.
1398
flinch
hesitate; shrink
He did not flinch in the face of danger but fought back bravely.
1399
flippancy
trifling gaiety
Your flippancy at this serious moment is offensive.
1400
flit
fly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by
Like a bee flitting from flower to flower, Rose flitted from one boyfriend to the next.
1401
floe
mass of floating ice
The ship made slow progress as it battered its way through the ice floes.
1402
flora
plants of a region or era
Because she was a botanist, she spent most of her time studying the flora of the desert.
1403
florid
flowery; ruddy
His complexion was even more florid than usual because of his anger.
1404
flotsam
drifting wreckage
Beachcombers eke out a living by salvaging the flotsam and jetsam of the sea.
1405
flourish
grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures
The orange trees flourished in the sun.
1406
flout
reject; mock
The headstrong youth flouted all authority; he refused to be curbed.
1407
fluctuation
wavering
Meteorologists watch the fluctuations of the barometer in order to predict the weather.
1408
fluency
smoothness of speech
He spoke French with fluency and ease.
1409
fluke
unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune
When Douglass defeated Tyson for the heavyweight championship, some sportscasters dismissed his victory as a fluke.
1410
fluster
confuse
The teacher's sudden question flustered him and he stammered his reply.
1411
fluted
having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar)
All that remained of the ancient building were the fluted columns.
1412
flux
flowing; series of changes
While conditions are in such a state of flux, I do not wish to commit myself too deeply in this affair.
1413
fodder
coarse food for cattle, horses etc.
One of Nancy's chores ar the ranch was to put fresh supplies of fodder in the horses' stalls.
1414
foible
weakness; slight fault
We can overlook the foibles of our friends; no one is perfect.
1415
foil
contrast
In "Star Wars," dark, evil Darth Vader is a perfect foil for fair-haired, naive Luke Skywalker.
1416
foil
defeat; frustrate
In the end, Skywalker is able to foil Vader's diabolical schemes.
1417
foist
insert improperly; palm off
I will not permit you to foist such ridiculous ideas upon the membership of this group.
1418
foliage
masses of leaves
Every autumn before the leaves fell he promised himself he would drive though the New England to admire the colorful fall foliage.
1419
foment
stir up; instigate
This report will foment disssension in the club.
1420
foolhardy
rash
Don't be foolhardy. Get the advice of experienced people before undertaking this venture.
1421
foppish
vain about dress and appearance
He tried to imitate the foppish manner of the young men of the court.
1422
foray
raid
The company staged a midnight foray against the enemy outpost.
1423
forberance
patience
We must use forbearance in dealing with him because he is still weak from his illness.
1424
ford
place where a river can be crossed on foot
Rather than risk using the shaky rope bridge, David walked a half-mile downstream until he came to the neartest ford.
1425
forebears
ancestors
Reverence for one's forebears (sometimes referred to as ancestor worship) plays an important part in many Oriental cultures.
1426
foreboding
premonition of evil
Caeser ridiculed his wife's foreboding about the Ides of March.
1427
forensic
suitable to debate or courts of law
In her best forensic manner, the lawyer addressed the jury.
1428
foreshadow
give an indication beforehand; portend; prefigure
In retrospect, political analysts realized that Yeltsin's defiance of the attempted coup foreshadowed his emergence as the dominant figure of the new Russian republic.
1429
foresight
ability to foresee future happenings; prudence
A wise investor, she had the foresight to buy land just before the current real estate boom.
1430
forestall
prevent by taking action in advance
By setting up a prenuptial agreement, the prospective bride and groom hoped to forestall any potential arguments about money in the event of a divorce.
1431
forgo
give up; do without
Determined to lose weight for the summer, Ida decided to forgo dessert until she could fit into a size eight again.
1432
formality
adherence to established rules or procedures
Signing this petition is a mere formality; it does not obligate you in any way.
1433
formidable
menacing; threatening
We must not treat the battle lightly for we are facing a formidable foe.
1434
forsake
desert; abandon; renounce
No one expected Foster to forsake his wife and children and run off with another woman.
1435
forswear
renounce; abandon
The captured knight could escape death only if he agreed to forswear Christianity and embrace Islam as the one true faith.
1436
forte
strong point or special talent
I am not eager to play this rather seious role, for my forte is comedy.
1437
forthright
straightforward; direct; frank
I prefer Jill's forthright approach to Jack's tendency to beat around the bush.
1438
fortitude
bravery; courage
He was awarded the medal for his fortitude in the battle.
1439
fortuitous
accidental; by chance
There is no connection between these two events; their timing is entirely fortuitous.
1440
foster
rear; encourage
According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were fostered by a she-wolf that raised the abandoned infants as her own.
1441
founder
fail completely; sink
After hitting the submerged iceberg, the Titanic started taking in water rapidly and soon foundered.
1442
founder
person who establishes (an organization, business)
Among those drowned when the Titanic sank was the founder of the Abraham & Straus chain.
1443
fracas
brawl; melee
The military police stopped the fracas in the bar and arrested the belligerents.
1444
fractious
unruly
The fractious horse unseated its rider.
1445
frailty
weakness
The doctor prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements for the sick old woman because of her frailty.
1446
franchise
right granted by authority
The city issued a franchise to the company to operate surface transit lines on the  streets for ninety-nine years.
1447
frantic
wild
At the time of the collision, many people became frantic with fear.
1448
fraudulent
cheating; deceitful
The government seeks to prevent fraudulent and misleading advertising.
1449
fraught
filled
Since this enterprise is fraught with danger, I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks.
1450
fray
brawl
The three musketeers were in the thick of fray.
1451
frenetic
frenzied; frantic
His frenetic activities convinced us that he had no organized plan of operation.
1452
frenzied
madly excited
As soon as they smelled smoke, the frenzied animals milled about in their cages.
1453
fresco
painting in plaste (usually fresh)
The cathedral is visited by many tourists who wish to admire the frescoes by Glotto.
1454
fret
to be annonyed or vexed
To fret over your poor grades is foolish; instead, decide to work harder in the future.
1455
friction
clash in opinion; rubbing against
At this time when harmony is essential, we cannot afford to have any friction in our group.
1456
frieze
ornamental band on a wall
The frieze of the church  was adorned with sculpture.
1457
frigid
intensely cold
Alaska is in the frigid zone.
1458
fritter
waste
He could not apply himself to any task and frittered away his time in idle conversation.
1459
frivolous
lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant
Though Nancy enjoyed Bill's frivolous, lighthearted companionship, she sometimes wondered whether he could ever be serious.
1460
frolicsome
prankish; gay
The frolicsome puppy tried to lick the face of its master.
1461
frond
fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
After the storm the beach was littered with the fronds of palm trees.
1462
fructify
bear fruit  
This peach tree should fructify in three years.
1463
frugality
thrift; economy
In these economically difficult days businesses must practice frugality or risk bankruptcy.
1464
fruition
bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization
This building marks the fruition of all our aspirations and years of hard work.
1465
fugitive
fleeting or transitory; roving
The film brought a few fugitive images to her mind, but on the whole it made no lasting impression upon her.
1466
fulcrum
support on which a lever rests
If we use this stone as a fulcrum and the crowbar as a lever, we may be able to move this boulder.
1467
fulminate
thunder; explode
The people against whom she fulminated were innocent of any wrongdoing.
1468
fulsome
disgustingly excessive
His fulsome praise of the dictator annoyed his listeners.
1469
functionary
official
As his case was transferred from one functionary to another, he began to despair of ever reaching a settlement.
1470
fundamental
basic; primary; essential
The committee discussed all sorts of side issues without ever getting down to addressing the fundamental problem.
1471
funereal
sad; solemn
I fail to understand why there is such a funereal atmosphere; we have lost a battle, not a war.
1472
furor
frenzy; great excitement
The story of her embezzlement of the funds created a furor on the stock exchange.
1473
furtive
stealthy; sneaky
The boy gave a furtive look at his classmate's test paper.
1474
fusilade
simultaneous firing or outburs (of missiles, questions, etc.)
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture concludes with a thunderous fusilade of cannon fire.
1475
fusion
union; coalition
The opponents of the political party in power organized a fusion of disgruntled groups and became an important element in the election.
1476
futile
ineffective; fruitless
Why waste your time on futile pursuits?
1477
feckless
feeble, ineffective; unthinking, irresponsible
Einstein was noted for his extraordinary inspirations; on the other hand, he was noted for being feckless in his daily chores.
1478
gadfly
animal-biting fly; an irritating person
Like a gadfly, he irritated all the guests at the hotel; within forty eight hours, everyone regarded him as an annoying busybody.
1479
gaffe
social blunder
According to Miss Manners, to call your husband by your lover's name is worse than a mere gaffe; it is a tactical mistake.
1480
gainsay
deny
She was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report.
1481
gait
manner of walking or running; speed
The lame man walked with an uneven gait.
1482
galaxy
the Milky Way; any collection of brilliant personalities
The deaths of such famous actors as Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, and Marlene Dietrich demonstrate that the galaxy of Hollywood superstars is rapidly disppearing.
1483
gall
bitterness; nerve
The knowledge of his failure filled him with gall.
1484
gall
annoy; chafe
Their taunts galled him.
1485
galleon
large sailing ship
The Spaniards pinned their hopes on the galleon, the large warship; the British, on the smaller and faster pinnace.
1486
galvanize
stimulate by shock; stir up
The entire nation was galvanized into strong military activity by the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
1487
gambit
opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed
The player was afraid to accept his opponent's gambit because he feared a trap which as yet he could not see.
1488
gambol
skip; leap playfully
Watching children gamboling in the park is a pleasant experience
1489
gamely
in a spirited manner; with courage
Because he had fought gamely against a much superior boxer, the crowd gave him a standing ovation when he left the arena.
1490
gamut
entire range
In this performance, the leading lady was able to demonstrate the complete gamut of her acting ability.
1491
gape
open widely
The huge pit gaped before him; if he stumbled, he would fall in.
1492
garbled
mixed up; jumbled; distorted
A favorite party game involves passing a whispered message from one person to another; by the time it reaches the last player, the message has become totally garbled.
1493
gargantuan
huge; enormous
The gargantuan wrestler was terrified of mice.
1494
gargolye
waterspout carved in groteque figures on a building
The gargoyles adorning the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris are amusing in their grotesqueness.
1495
garish
gaudy
She wore a garish rhinestone necklace.
1496
garner
gather; store up
She hoped to garner the world's literature in one library.
1497
garnish
decorate
Parsley was used to garnish the boiled potato.
1498
garrulity
talkativeness
The man who married a dumb wife asked the doctor to make him deaf because of his wife's garrulity after her cure.
1499
garrulous
excessively talkative, especially about unimportant subjects; loquacious; wordy
Many club members avoided the company of the garrulous junior executive because his contant chatter bored them to tears.
1500
gastronomy
science of preparing and serving good food
One of the by-products of his trip to Europe was his interest in gastronomy; he enjoyed preparing and serving foreign dishes to his friends.
1501
gauche
clumsy; boorish
Such remarks are gauche and out of place; you should apologize for making them.
1502
gaudy
flashy; showy
Her gaudy taste in clothes apalled us.
1503
gaunt
lean and angular; barren
His once-round face looked surprisingly gaunt after he had lost weight.
1504
gawk
stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe
The country boy gawked at the skyscrapers and neon lights of the big city.
1505
gazette
official publication
He read the gazettes regularly for announcement of his promotion.
1506
genealogy
record of descent; lineage
He was proud of his genealogy and constantly referred to the achievements of his ancestors.
1507
generality
vague statement
This report is filled with generalities; you must be more specific in you statements.
1508
generic
characteristic of an entire class or species
Sue knew so many computer programmers who spent their spare time playing fantasy games that she began to think that playing Dungeon & Dragons was a generic trait.
1509
genesis
beginning; origin
Tracing the genesis of a family is the theme of "Roots."
1510
geniality
cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy
This restaurant is famous and popular because of the geniality of the proprietor, who tries to make  everyone happy.
1511
genre
particular variety of art or literature
Both a short story writer and a poet, Langston Hughes proved himself equally skilled in either genre.
1512
genteel
well-bred; elegant
We are looking for a man with a genteel apperance who can inspire confidence by his cultivated manner.
1513
gentility
those of gentle birth; refinement
Her family was proud of its gentility and elegance.
1514
gentry
people of standing; class of people just below nobility
The local gentry did not welcome the visits of the summer tourists and tried to ignore their presence in the community.
1515
genuflect
bend the knee as in worship
A proud denocrat, he refused to genuflect to any man.
1516
germane
pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand
The lawyer objected that the testimony being offered was not germane to the case at hand.
1517
germinal
pertaining to a germ; creative
Such an idea is germinal; I am certain that it will influence thinkers and philosophers for many generations.
1518
germinate
cause to sprout; sprout
After the seeds germinate and develop their permanent leaves, the plants may be removed from the cold frames and transplanted to the garden.
1519
gerontocracy
government ruled by old people
Gulliver visited a gerontocracy in which the young people acted as servants to their elders, all the while dreaming of the day they would be old enough to have servants of their own.
1520
gerrymander
change in voting district lines in order to favor a political party
The illogical pattern of the map of this congressional district is proof that the state legislature gerrymandered this area in order to favor the majority party.
1521
gestate
evolve, as in prenatal growth
While this scheme was being gestated by the conspirators, they maintained complete silence about their intentions.
1522
gesticulation
motion; gesture
Operatic performers are trained to make exaggerated gesticulations because of the large auditoriums in whic they appear.
1523
ghastly
horrible
The murdered man was a ghastly sight.
1524
gibberish
nonsense; babbling
Did you hear that foolish boy spouting gibberish about monsters from outer space?
1525
gibe
mock
As you gibe at their superstitious beliefs, do you realize that you, too, are guilty of similarly foolish thoughts?
1526
giddy
light-hearted; dizzy
He felt his giddy youth was past.
1527
gingerly
very carefully
To separate egg whites, first crack the egg gingerly.
1528
girth
distance around something; circunference
It took an extra-large cummerbund to fit around Andrew Carnegie's considerable girth.
1529
gist
essence
she was asked to give the gist of the essay in two sentence.
1530
glacial
like a glacier; extremely cold
Never a warm person, when offended hugo could seem positively glacial.
1531
glaring
highly conspicuous; harshly bright
glaring spelling or grammatical errors in your resume will unfavorably impress potential employers.
1532
glaze
cover with a thin and shiny surface
The freezing rain glazed the streets and made driving hazardous.
1533
glean
gather leavings
After the crops had been harvested by the machines, the peasants were permitted to glean the wheat left in the fields.
1534
glib
fluent
He is a glib and articulate speaker.
1535
glimmer
shine erratically; twinkle
In the darkness of the cavern, the glowworms hanging from the cavern roof glimmered like distant stars.
1536
gloat
express evil satisfaction; view malevolently
As you gloat over your ill-gotten wealth, do you think of the many victims you have defrauded?
1537
gloss over
explain away
No matter how hard he tried to talk around the issue, President Bush could not gloss over the fact that he had raised the taxes after all.
1538
glossary
brief explanation of words used in the text
I have found the glossary in this book very useful; it has eliminated many trips to the dictionary.
1539
glossy
smooth and shining
I want this photograph printed on glossy paper, not matte.
1540
glower
scowl
The angry boy glowered at his father.
1541
glut
overstock; fill to excess
The many manufacturers glutted the market and could not find purchasers for the many articles they had produced.
1542
glutinous
sticky; viscous
Molasses is a glutinous substance.
1543
glutton
someone who eats too much
When Mother saw that Bobby had eaten all the cookies, she called him a little glutton.
1544
gnarled
twisted
The gnarled oak tree had been a landmark for years and was mentioned in several deeds.
1545
gnome
dwarf; underground spirit
In medieval mythology, gnomes were the special guardians and inhabitants of subterranean mines.
1546
goad
urge on
He was goaded by his friends until he yielded to their wishes.
1547
gorge
narrow canyon; steep, rocky cleft
Terrified of heights, George could not bring himself to peer down into the gorge to see the rapids below.
1548
gorge
stuff oneself
The gluttonous guest gorged himself with food as though he had not eaten for days.
1549
gory
bloody
The audience shuddered as they listened to the details of the gory massacre.
1550
gossamer
sheer; like cobwebs
Nylon can be woven into gossaner or thick fabrics.
1551
gouge
tear out
In that fight, all the rules were forgotten; the adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to gouge each other's eyes out.
1552
gourmand
epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food  and drink
goumands lack self-restraint; if they enjoy a particular cuisine, they eat far too much of it.
1553
gourmet
connoisseur of food and drink
The gourmet stated that this was the best onion soup she had ever tasted.
1554
graduated
arraged by degree (of height, difficulty, etc.)
Margaret loved her graduated set of Russian hollow wooden dolls; she spent hours happily putting the smaller dolls into their larger counterparts.
1555
granary
storehouse for grain
We have reason to be thankful, for our crops were good and our granaries are full.
1556
grandeur
impressiveness; stateliness; majesty
No matter how often he hiked through the mountains, David never failed to be struck by the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada range.
1557
grandiloquent
pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language
The politician could bever speak simply; she was always grandiloquent.
1558
grandiose
imposing; impressive
His grandiose manner impressed those who met him for the first time.
1559
granulate
form into grains
Sugar that has been granulated dissolves more readily than lump sugar.
1560
graphic
pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described
I was particularly impressed by the graphic presentation of the storm.
1561
grapple
wrestle; come to grips with
He grappled with the burglar and overpowered him.
1562
grate
make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred
The screams of the quarreling children grated on her nerves.
1563
gratify
please
Her parents were gratified by her success.
1564
gratis
free
The company offered to give one package gratis to every purchaser of one of their products.
1565
gratuitous
given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for
Quit making gratuitous comments about my driving; no one asked you for your opinion.
1566
gratuity
tip
Many service employees rely more on gratuities than on salaries for their livelihood.
1567
gravity
seriousness
We could tell we were in serious trouble from the gravity of her expression.
1568
gregarious
sociable
Typically, party-throwers are gregarious; hermits are not.
1569
grievance
cause of complaint
When her supervisor ignored her complaint, she took her grievance to the union.
1570
grill 
question severely
In violation of the Miranda law, the police grilled the suspect for several hours before reading him his rights.
1571
grimace
a facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc.
Even though he remained silent, his grimace indicated his displeasure.
1572
grisly
ghastly
She shuddered at the grisly sight.
1573
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideous
On Halloween people enjoy wearing groteque costumes.
1574
grotto
small cavern
The Blue Grotto in Capri can be entered only by small boats rowed by natives through a natural opening in the rocks.
1575
grouse
complain; fuss
Students traditionally grouse about the abysmal quality of "mystery meat" and similar dornitory food.
1576
grovel
crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate
Even though we have been defeated, we do not have to grovel before our conquerors.
1577
grudging
unwilling; reluctant; stingy
We received only grudging support from the mayor despite his earlier promises of aid.
1578
gruel
thin, liquid porridge
Our daily allotment of gruel made the meal not only monotonous but also unpalatable.
1579
grueling
exhausting
The marathon is a grueling race.
1580
gruesome
grisly
People screamed when her gruesome appearance was flashed on the screen.
1581
gruff
rough-mannered
Although he was blunt and gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children.
1582
guffaw
boisterous laughter
The loud guffaws that came from the closed room indicated that the members of the committe had not yet settled down to a serious business.
1583
guile
deceit; duplicity
She achieved her high position by guile and treachery.
1584
guileless
without deceit
He is naive, simple, and guileless; he cannot be guilty of fraud.
1585
guise
appearance; costume
In the guise of a plumber, the detective investigated the murder case.
1586
gullible
easily deceived
He preyed upon gullible people, who believed his stories of easy wealth.
1587
gustatory
affecting the sense of taste
The Thai restaurant offered an unusual gustatory experience for those used in a bland cuisine.
1588
gusto
enjoyment; enthusiasm
He accepted the assignment with such gusto that I feel he would have been satisfied with a smaller salary.
1589
gusty
windy
The gusty weather made sailing precarious.
1590
gyroscope
apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.
By using a rotating gyroscope, they were able to stabilize the vessel, counteracting the rolling movements of the sea.
1591
hackles
hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog
The dog's hackles rose and he began to growl as the sound of footsteps grew louder.
1592
hackneyed
commonplace; trite
The English teacher criticized her story because of its hackneyed and unoriginal plot.
1593
haggard
wasted away; gaunt
After his long illness, he was pale and haggard.
1594
haggle
argue about prices
I prefer to shop in a store that has a one-price policy because, whenever I haggle with a shopkeeper, I am never certain that I paid a fair price for the articles I purchased.
1595
halcyon
calm; peaceful
In those halcyon days, people were not worried about sneak attacks and bombings.
1596
hale
healthy
After a brief illness, he was soon hale.
1597
hallowed
blessed; consecrated
She was laid to rest in hallowed ground.
1598
hallucination
delusion
I think you were frightened by a hallucination that you created in you own mind.
1599
halting
hesitant; faltering
Novice extemporaneous speakers often talk in a halting fashion as they grope for the right words.
1600
hamper
obstruct
The minority party agreed not to hamper the efforts of the leaders to secure a lasting peace.
1601
hap
chance; luck
In his poem hap, Thomas Hardy objects to the part chance plays in our lives.
1602
haphazard
random; by chance
His haphazard reading left him unaquainted with the authors of the books.
1603
hapless
unfortunate
This hapless creature had never known a moment's pleasure.
1604
harangue
long, passionate, and vehement speech
In her lengthy harangue, the principal berated the offenders.
1605
harass
annoy by repeated attacks
When he could not pay his bills as quickly as he had promised, he was harrassed by his creditors.
1606
harbinger
forerunner
The crocus is an early harbinger of spring.
1607
harbor
provide a refuge for; hide
The church harbored illegal aliens who were political refugees.
1608
hardy
sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weather
We asked the gardening expert to recommend particularly hardy plants that could withstand our harsh New England winters.
1609
harping
tiresome dwelling on a subject
After he had reminded me several times about what he had done for me I told him to stop his harping on my indebtedness to him.
1610
harrow
break up ground after plowing; torture
I don't want to harrow you at this time by asking you to recall the details of your unpleasant experience.
1611
harry
harass, annoy, torment; raid
The guerrilla band harried the enemy nightly.
1612
hatch
deck opening; lid covering a deck opening
The latch on the hatch failed to catch, so the hatch remained unlatched.
1613
haughtiness
pride; arrogance
I resent his haughtiness because he is no better than we are.
1614
hazardous
dangerous
Your occupation is too hazardous for insurance companies to consider your application.
1615
hazy
slightly obscure
In hazy weather, you cannot see the top of this mountain.
1616
headlong
hasty; rash
The slave seized the unexpected chance to make a headlong dash across the border to freedom.
1617
headstrong
stubborn; willful; unyielding
Because she refused to marry the man her parents had chosen for her, everyone scolded Minna and called her a foolish, headstrong girl.
1618
heckler
person who verbally harasses others
The heckler  kept interrupting the speaker with rude remarks.
1619
hedonism
belief that pleasure is the sole aim in life
hedonism and asceticism are opposing philosophies of human behavior.
1620
heedless
not noticing; disregarding
He drove on, heedless of the warnings that the road was dangerous.
1621
hegemony
dominance, especially of one nation over others
As one Eastern European nation after another declared its independence, commentators marveled at the sudden breakdown of the once monolithic Soviet hegemony.
1622
heinous
atrocious; hatefully bad
Hitler's heinous crimes will never be forgotten.
1623
herbivorous
grain-eating
Some herbivorous animals have two stomachs for digesting their food.
1624
heresy
opinion contrary to popular belief or to accepted religion
He was threatened with excommunication because his remarks were considered to be pure heresy.
1625
heretic
person who maintains opinions contrary to the doctrines of the church
She was punished by the Spanish Inquisition because she was a heretic.
1626
hermetic
sealed by fusion so as to be airtight
After these bandages are sterilized, they are placed in hermetic containers.
1627
hermetic
obscure and mysterious; occult
It is strange to consider that modern chemistry originated in the hermetic teachings of the ancient alchemists.
1628
hermitage
home of a hermit
Even in his remote hermitage he could not escape completely  from the world.
1629
herpetologist
one who studies reptiles
As a boy, Indiana Jones had a traumatic experience involving snakes; sensibly enough, he studies to be archaeologist, not a herpetologist.
1630
heterodox
unorthodox; unconventional
To those who upheld the belief that the earth did not move, Galileo's theory  that the earth circled the sun was disturbingly heterodox.
1631
heterogeneous
dissimilar
In a heterogeneous group, we have an unassorted assemblage, while in a homogeneous group we have people or things that have common traits.
1632
hew
cut to pieces with ax or sword
The cavalry rushed into melee and hewed the enemy with their swords.
1633
heyday
time of greatest success; prime
In their heyday, the San Francisco Forty-Niners won the Super Bowl two years running.
1634
hiatus
gap; pause
Except for a brief two-year hiatus, during which she enrolled in the Peace Corps, Ms. Clements has devoted herself to her medical career.
1635
hibernal
wintry
Bears prepare for their long hibernal sleep by overeating.
1636
hibernate
sleep throughout the winter
Bears are one of the many species of animals that hibernate.
1637
hierarchy
body divided into ranks
It was difficult to step out of one's place in this hierarchy.
1638
hieroglyphic
picture writing
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone enabled scholars to read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
1639
hilarity
boisterous mirth
The hilarity is improper on this solemn day of mourning.
1640
hindmost
furthest behind
The coward could always be found in the hindmost lines whenever a battle was being waged.
1641
hindrance
block; obstacle
Stalled cars along the highway are a hindrance to traffic that tow trucks should remove without delay.
1642
hinterlands
back country
They seldom had visitors, living as they did way out in the hinderlands.
1643
hireling
one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously)
In a matter of such importance, I do not wish to deal with hirelings; I must meet with the chief.
1644
hirsute
hairy
He was a hitsute individual with a heavy black beard.
1645
histrionic
theatrical
He was proud of his histrionic ability and wanted to paly the role of Hamlet.
1646
hoard
stockpile; accumulate for future use
Whenever there are rumors of a food shortage, people are tempted to hoard food.
1647
hoary
white with age
The man was hoary and wrinkled when he was 70.
1648
hoax
trick; practical joke
Embarrassed by the hoax, he reddened and left the room.
1649
holocaust
destruction by fire
Citizens of San Francisco remember that the destruction of the city was caused not by the earthquake but by the holocaust that followed.
1650
holster
pistol case
Even when he was not in uniform, he carried a holster and pistol under his arm.
1651
homage
honor; tribute
In her speech she tried to pay homage to a great man.
1652
homeostasis
tendency of a system to maintain relative stability
A breakdown of the body's immune system severely undermines the body's ability to maintain homeostasis.
1653
homespun
domestic; made at home
homespun wit, like homespun cloth, was often coarse and plain.
1654
homily
sermon; serious warning
His speeches were always homilies, advising his listeners to repent and reform.
1655
homogeneous
of the same kind
Many educators try to put pupils of similar abilities in the same class because they believe that his homogeneous grouping is advisable.
1656
hone
sharpen
To make shaving easier, he honed his razor with great care.
1657
hoodwink
deceive; delude
Having been hoodwinked once by the fast-talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went to purchase a used car.
1658
horde
crowd
Just before Christmas the stores are filled with hordes of shoppers.
1659
hortatory
encouraging; exhortive
The crowd listened to his hortatory statements with ever-growing excitement; finally they rushed from the hall to carry to his suggestions.
1660
horticultural
pertaining to cultivation of gardens
When he bought his house, he beganto look for flowers and decorative shrubs, and began to read books dealing with horticultural matters.
1661
hovel
shack; small, wretched house
He wondered how poor people could stand living in such a hovel.
1662
hover
hang about; wait nearby
The police helicopter hovered above the accident.
1663
hubbub
confused uproar
The marketplace was a scene of hubbub and excitement.
1664
hubris
arrogance; excessive self-conceit
Filled with hubris, Lear refused to heed his friends' warnings.
1665
hue
color; aspect
The aviary contained birds of every possible hue.
1666
hue
outcry
When her purse was snatched, she raised such a hue and cry that the thief was captured.
1667
humane
kind
His humane and considerate treatment of the unfortunate endeared him to all.
1668
humdrum
dull; monotonous
After years of adventure, he could not settle down to a humdrum existence.
1669
humid
damp
She could not stand the humid climate and moved to a drier area.
1670
humility
humbleness of spirit
He spoke with a humility and lack of pride that impressed his listeners.
1671
hummock
small hill
The ascent of the hummock is not difficult and the view from the hilltop is ample reward tor the effort.
1672
humus
substance formed by decaying vegetable matter
In order to improve his garden, he spread humus over his lawn and flower beds.
1673
hurtle
crash; rush
The runaway train hurtled toward disaster.
1674
husbandry
frugality; thrift; agriculture
He accumulated his small fortune by diligence and husbandry.
1675
hybrid
mongrel; mixed breed
Mendel's formula explains the appearance of hybrids and pure species in breeding.
1676
hydrophobia
fear of water; rabies
A dog that bites a human being must be observed for symptoms of hydrophobia.
1677
hyperbole
exaggeration; overstatement
This salesman is guilty of hyperbole in describing his product; it is wise to discount his claims.
1678
hypercritical
excessively exacting
You are hypercritical in your demands for perfection; we all make mistakes.
1679
hypochondriac
person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness
The doctor prescribed chocolate pills for his patient who was a hypocondriac.
1680
hypocritical
pretending to be virtuous; deceiving
I resent his hypocritical posing as a friend for I know he is interested only in his own advancement.
1681
hypothetical
based on assumptions or hypotheses
Why do we have to consider hypothetical cases when we have actual case histories that we may examine?
1682
ichthyology
study of fish
Jacques Cousteau's rpograms about sea life have advanced the cause of ichthyology.
1683
icon
religious image; idol
The icons on the walls of the church were painted in the 13th century.
1684
iconoclastic
attacking cherished traditions
George Bernard Shaw's iconoclastic plays often startled more conventional people.
1685
ideology
ideas of a group of people
That ideology is dangerous to this country because it embraces undemocratic philosophies.
1686
idiom
spcial usage in language
I could not understand their idioms because literal translation made no sense.
1687
idiosyncrasy
peculiarity; eccentricity
One of his personal idiosyncrasies was his habit of rinsing all cutlery given him in a restaurant.
1688
idiosyncratic
private; peculiar to an individual
Such behavior is idiosyncratic, it is as easily identifiable as a signature.
1689
idolatry
worship of idols; excessive admiration
Such idolatry of singers of country music is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth.
1690
idyllic
charmingly carefree; simple
Far from the city, she led an idyllic existence in her rural retreat.
1691
igneous
produced by fire; volcanic
Lava, pumice, and other igneous rocks are found in great abundance around Mount Vesuvius near Naples.
1692
ignite
kindle; light
When Desi crooned, "Baby, light my fire," literal-minded Lucy looked around for some paper to ignite.
1693
ignoble
of lowly origin; unworthy
This plan is inspired by ignoble motives and I must, therefore, oppose it.
1694
ignominious
disgraceful
The country smarted under the ignominious defeat and dreamed of the day when it would be victorious.
1695
illicit
illegal
The defense attorney claimed that the police had entrapped his client; that is, they had elicited the illicit action of which they now accuse of him.
1696
illimitable
infinite
Human beings, having explored the far corners of the earth, are now reaching out into illimitable space.
1697
illuminate
brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten
Just as a lamp can illuminate a dark room, a perceptive comment can illuminate a knotty problem.
1698
illusion
misleading vision
It is easy to create an optical illusion in which lines of equal length appear different.
1699
illusive
deceiving
This is only a mirage; let us not be fooled by its illusive effect.
1700
illusory
deceptive; not real
Unfortunately, the costs of running the lemonade stand were so high that Tom's profits proved illusory.
1701
imbalance
lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion
Because of the great imbalance between the number of men and women invited, the dance was unsuccessful.
1702
imbecility
weakness of mind
I am amazed at the imbecility of the readers of these trashy magazines.
1703
imbibe
drink in
The dry soil imbibed the rain quickly.
1704
imbroglio
complicated situation; perplexity; entanglement
He was called in to settle the imbroglio but failed to bring harmony into the situation.
1705
imbue
saturate, fill
His visits to the famous Gothic cathedrals imbued him with feelings of awe and reverence.
1706
immaculate
pure; spotless
The West Point cadets were immaculate as they lined up for inspection.
1707
imminent
near at hand; impending
Rosa was such a last-minute worker that she could never start writing a paper till the deadline was imminent.
1708
immobility
state of being immovable
Modern armies cannot afford the luxury of immobility, as they are vulnerable to attack while standing still.
1709
immolate
offer as a sacrifice
The tribal kind offered to immolate his daughter to quiet the angry gods.
1710
immure
imprison; shut up in confinement
For the two weeks before the examination, the student immureed himself in his room and concentrated upon his studies.
1711
immutable
unchangeable
Scientists are constantly seeking to discover the immutable laws of nature.
1712
impair
worsen; diminish in value
This arrest will impair her reputation in the community.
1713
impale
pierce
He was impaled by the spear hurled by his adversary.
1714
impalpable
imperceptible; intangible
The ash is so fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a fine layer covering the window ledge.
1715
impasse
predicament from which there is no escape
In this impasse, all turned to prayer as their last hope.
1716
impassive
without feeling; not affected by pain
The Native American has been incorrectly depicted as an impassive individual, undemonstrative and stoical.
1717
impeach
charge with crime in office; indict
The angry congressman wanted to impeach the President for his misdeeds.
1718
impeccable
faultless
He was proud of his impeccable manners.
1719
impecunious
without money
Now that he was wealthy, he gladly contributed to funds to assist impecunious and disbled persons.
1720
impede
hinder; block
The special prosecutor determined that the Attorney General, though inept, had not intentionally set out to impede the progress of the investigation.
1721
impediment
hindrance; stumbling-block
She had a speech impediment that prevented her from speaking clearly.
1722
impending
nearing; approaching
The entire country was saddened by the news of his impending death.
1723
impenetrable
not able to be pierced or entered
How could the murderer  have gotten into the locked room? To Watson, the mystery, like the room, was impenetrable.
1724
impenitent
not repentant
We could see by his brazen attitude that he was impenitent.
1725
imperial
like an emperor; related to an empire
When hotel owner Leona Helmsley appeared in ads as Queen Leona standing guard over the Palace Hotel, her critics  mocked her imperial fancies.
1726
imperiousness
lordliness; domineering manner; arrogance
His imperiousness indicated that he had long been accustomed to assuming command.
1727
impermeable
impervious; not permitting passage through its substance
This new material is impermeable to liquids.
1728
impertinent
insolent
I regard your remarks as impertinent and I resent them.
1729
imperturbable
calm; placid
Wellington remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation in spite of the hyteria and panic all around him.
1730
impervious
not penetrable; not permitting passage through
You cannot change their habits for their minds are impervious to reasoning.
1731
impetuous
violent; hasty; rash
We tried to curb his impetuous behavior because we felt that in his haste he might offend some people.
1732
impetus
moving force; incentive; stimulus
A new federal highway program would create jobs and five added impetus to our economic recovery.
1733
impiety
irreverence; wickedness
We must regard your blasphemy as an act of impiety.
1734
impinge
infringe; touch; collide with
How could they be married without impinging on one another's freedom?
1735
impious
irreverent
The congregation was offended by her impious remarks.
1736
implacable
incapable of being pacified
Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family.
1737
implausible
unlikely; unbelievable
Though her alibi seened implausible, it in fact turned out to be true.
1738
implement
put into effect; supply with tools
The mayor was unwilling to implement the plan until she was sure it had the governor's backing.
1739
implication
that which is hinted at or suggested
If I understand the implications of your remark, you do not trust our captain.
1740
implicit
understood but not stated
Jack never told Jill he adored her; he believed his love was implicit in his deeds.
1741
implore
beg
He implored her to give him a second chance.
1742
imply
suggest a meaning not expressed
Even though your statement does not declare that you are at war with that country, your actions imply that that is the actual situation.
1743
impolitic
not wise
I think it is impolitic to raise this issue at the present time because the public is too angry.
1744
imponderable
weightless
I can evaluate the data gathered in this study; the imponderable items are not so easily analyzed.
1745
import
significance
I feel that you have not grasped the full import of the message sent tous by the enemy.
1746
importunate
urging; demanding
He tried to hide from his importunate creditors until his allowance arrived.
1747
importune
beg persistently
Democratic and Republican phone solicitors importuned her for contributions so frequently that she decided to give nothing to either party.
1748
imposture
assuming a false identity; masquerade
She was imprisoned for her imposture of a doctor.
1749
impotent
weak; ineffective
Although he wished to break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent in resisisting the craving for a cigarette.
1750
imprecation
curse
Roused from the bed at what he considered an ungodly hour, Roy muttered imprecations under his breath.
1751
impregnable
invulnerable
Until the development of the airplane as a military weapon, the fort was considered impregnable.
1752
impromptu
without previous preparation
Her listeners were amazed that such a thorough presentation could be made in an impromptu speech.
1753
impropriety
state of being inappropriate
Because of the impropriety of his costume, he was denied entrance into the dining room.
1754
improvident
thriftless
He was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to "save for a rainy day."
1755
improvise
compose on the spur of the moment
She would sit at the piano and improvise for hours on themes from Bach and Handel.
1756
imprudent
lacking caution; injudicious
It is imprudent to exercise vigorously and become overheated when you are unwell.
1757
impugn
doubt; challenge; gainsay
I cannot impugn your honesty without evidence.
1758
impuissance
powerlessness; feebleness
The lame duck President was frustrated by his shift from enormous power to relative impuissance.
1759
impunity
freedom from punishment
The bully mistreated everyone in the class with impunity for he felt that no one would dare retaliate.
1760
impute
attribute; ascribe
If I wished to impute blame to the officers in charge of this program, I would state my feelings definitely and immediately.
1761
inadvertently
carelessly; unintentionally; by oversight
She inadvertently omitted two questions on the examination and mismarked her answer sheet.
1762
inalienable
not to be taken away; nontransferable
The Declaration of Independence mentions the inalienable rights that all of us possess.
1763
inane
silly; senseless
Such comments are inane because they do not help us solve our program.
1764
inanimate
lifeless
she was asked to identify the still and inanimate body.
1765
inarticulate
speechless; producing indistinct speech
He became inarticulate with rage and uttered sounds without meaning.
1766
inaugurate
begin formally; install in office
The candidate promised that he would inaugurate a new nationwide health care plan as soon as he was inaugurated as president.
1767
incandescent
stikingly bright; shining with intense heat
If you leave on an incandescent light bulb, it quickly grows too hot to touch.
1768
incantation
singing or chanting of magical formula
Uttering incantations to make the brew more potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron.
1769
incapacitate
disable
During the winter, many people were incapacitated by respiratory ailments.
1770
incarcerate
imprison
The warden will incarcerate the felon after conviction.
1771
incarnate
endowed with flesh; personified
Your attitude is so fiendish that you must be a devil incarnate.
1772
incarnation
act of assuming a human body and human nature
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a basic tenet of Christian theology.
1773
incendiary
arsonist
The fire spread in such an unusual manner that the fire department chiefs were certain that it had been set by an incendiary.
1774
incense
enrage; infuriate
Unkindness to children incensed her.
1775
incentive
spur; motive
Students who dislike school must be given an incentive to learn.
1776
inception
start; beginning
She was involved with the project from its inception.
1777
incessant
uninterrupted
The crickets kept up an incessant chirping that disturbed our attempts to fall asleep.
1778
inchoate
recently begun; rudimentary; elementary
Before the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass.
1779
incidence
rate of occurrence; particular occurrence
Health professionals expressed great concern over the high incidence of infant mortality in major urban areas.
1780
incidental
not essential; minor
The scholarship covered his major expenses at college and some of his incidental expenses as well.
1781
incipient
beginning; in an early stage
I will go to sleep early for I want to break an incipient cold.
1782
incisive
cutting; sharp
His incisive remarks made us see the fallacy in our plans.
1783
incite
arouse to action
The demogogue incited the mob to take action into its own hands.
1784
inclement
stormy; unkind
I like to read a good book in inclement weather.
1785
incline
slope; slant
The architect recommended that the nursing home's ramp be rebuilt because its incline was too steep for wheelchairs.
1786
inclined
tending or leaning toward; bent
Though I am inclined to be skeptical, the witness's manner inclines me to believe his story.
1787
inclusive
tending to include all
The comedian turned down the invitation to join the Player's Club, saying any club that would let him in was too inclusive for him.
1788
incognito
with identity concealed; using an assumed name
The monarch enjoyed traveling throughthe town incognito and mingling with the populace.
1789
incoherent
unintelligible; muddled; illogical
The bereaved father sobbed and stammered, his words becoming almost incoherent in his grief.
1790
incommodious
not spacious; inconvenient
In their incommodious quarters, they had to improvise for closet space.
1791
incompatible
inharmonious
The married couple argued incessantly and finally decided to separate because they were incompatible.
1792
incongruity
lack of harmony; absurdity
The incongruity of his wearing sneakers with formal attire amused the observers.
1793
inconsequential
insignificant; unimportant
Brushing off Ali's apologies for having broken the wine glass, Tamara said, "Don't worry about it; it's inconsequential."
1794
inconsistency
state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness
How are lawyers different from agricultural inspectors? Where lawyers check inconsistencies in witnesses' statements, agricultural inspectors check inconsistencies in Grade A eggs.
1795
incontinent
lacking self-restraint
His incontinent behavior off stage shocked many people and they refused to attend the plays and movies in which he appeared.
1796
incontrovertible
indisputable
We must yield to the incontrovertible evidence that you have presented and free your client.
1797
incorporate
introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite
Breaking with precedent, President Truman ordered the military to incorporate blacks into every branch of the armed services.
1798
incorporeal
immaterial; without a material body
We must devote time to the needs of our incorporeal mind as well as our corporeal body.
1799
incorrigible
uncorrectable
Though Widow Douglass hoped to reform Huck, Miss Watson pronounced him incorrigible and said he would come to no good end.
1800
incredulity
a tendency to disbelief
Your incredulity in the face of all the evidence is hard to understand.
1801
incredulous
withholding belief; skeptical
When Jack claimed he hadn't eaten the jelly doughnut, Jill took an incredulous look at his smeared face and laughed.
1802
increment
increase
The new contract calls for a 10 percent increment in salary for each employee for the next two years.
1803
incriminate
accuse; serve as evidence against
The witness's testimony against the racketeers incriminates some high public officials as well.
1804
incubate
hatch; scheme
Inasmuch as our supply of electricity is cut off, we shall have to rely on the hens to incubate these eggs.
1805
incubus
burden; mental care; nightmare
The incubus of financial worry helped bring on her nervous breakdown.
1806
incumbent
officeholder
The newly elected public official received valuable advice from the present incumbent.
1807
incur
bring upon oneself
His parents refused to pay any future debts he might incur.
1808
incursion
temporary invasion
The nightly incursions and hit-and-run raids of our neighbors across the border tried the patience of the country to the point where we decided to retaliate in force.
1809
indefatigable
tireless
He was indefatigable in his constant efforts to raise funds for the Red Cross.
1810
indemnify
make secure against loss; compensate for loss
The city will indemnify all home owners whose property is spoiled by this project.
1811
indenture
bind as servant or apprentice to master
Many immigrants could come to America only after they had indentured themselves for several years.
1812
indeterminate
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
That interest rates shall rise appears certain; when they will do so, however, remains indeterminate.
1813
indicative
suggestive; implying
A lack of appetite may be indicative of a major mental or physical disorder.
1814
indict
charge
If the grand jury indicts the suspect, he will go to trial.
1815
indifferent
unmoved; lacking concern
Because she felt no desire to marry, she was indifferent to his constant proposals.
1816
indigence
poverty
Neither the economists nor the political scientists have found a way to wipe out the inequities of wealth and eliminate indigence from our society.
1817
indigenous
native
Tobacco is one of the indigenous plants that the early explorers found in this country.
1818
indignation
anger ar an injustice
He felt indignation at the ill-treatment of the helpless animals.
1819
indignity
offensive or insulting treatment
Although he seemed to accept cheerfully the indignities heaped upon him, he was inwardly very angry.
1820
indiscriminate
choosing at random; confused
She disapproved of her son's indiscriminate television viewing and decided to restrict him to educational programs.
1821
indisputable
too certain to be disputed
In the face of these indisputable statements, I withdraw my complaint.
1822
indissoluble
permanent
The indissoluble bonds of marriage are all too often being dissolved.
1823
indite
write; compose
Cyrano indited many letters for Christian.
1824
indolence
laziness
He outgrew his youthful indolence to become a model of industry and alertness on the job.
1825
indomitable
unconquerable
The founders of our country had indomitable willpower.
1826
indubitably
beyond a doubt
Because her argument was indubitably valid, the judge accepted it.
1827
induce
persuade; bring about
After the quarrel, Tina said nothing could induce her to talk to Tony again.
1828
inductive
pertaining to induction or preceeding from the specific to the general
The discovery of the planet Pluto is an excellent example of the results that can be obtained from inductive reasoning.
1829
indulgent
humoring; yielding; lenient
indulgent parents spoil their children by giving in to their every whim.
1830
inebriety
habitual intoxication
Because of his inebriety, he was discharged from his position as family chauffeur.
1831
ineffable
unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech
Such ineffable joy must be experienced; it cannot be described.
1832
ineffectual
not effective; weak
Because the candidate failed to get across his message to the public, his campaign was ineffectual.
1833
ineluctable
irresistable; not to be escaped
He felt that his fate was ineluctible and refused to make any attempt to improve his lot.
1834
inept
lacking skill; inadequate; inappropriate
inept as a carpenter, Ira was all thumbs.
1835
inequity
unfairness
In demanding equal pay for equal work, women protest the basic inequity of a system that allots greater financial rewards to men.
1836
inerrancy
infallibility
Jane refused to believe in the pope's inerrancy, reasoning: "All human beings are capable of error. The pope is a human being. Therefore, he pope is capable of error.
1837
inertia
state of being inert or indisposed to move
Our inertia in this matter may prove disastrous; we must move to aid our allies immediately.
1838
inevitable
unavoidable
Death and taxes are both inevitable.
1839
inexorable
relentless; unyielding; implacable
After listening to the pleas for clemency, the judge was inexorable and gave the convicted man the maximum punishment allowed by law.
1840
infallible
unerring
We must remember that none of us is infallible; we all make mistakes.
1841
infamous
notoriously bad
Jesse James was an infamous outlaw.
1842
infantile
childish; infantlike
When will he outgrow such infantile behavior?
1843
infer
deduce; conclude
We must be particularly cautious when we infer that a person is guilty on the basis of circumstantial evidence.
1844
infernal
pertaining to hell; devilish
They could think of no way to hinder his infernal scheme.
1845
infidel
unbeliever
The Saracens made war against tne infidels.
1846
infiltrate
pass into or through; penetrate (an organization) sneakily
In order to infiltrate enemy lines at night without being seen, the scouts darkened their faces and wore black coveralls.
1847
infinitesimal
very small
In the twentieth century, physicists have made their greatest discoveries about the characteristics of infinitesimal objects like the atom and its parts.
1848
infirmity
weakness
Her greatest infirmity was lack of willpower.
1849
inflated
exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)
His claims about the new product were inflated; it did not work as well as he had promised.
1850
influx
flowing into
The influx of refugees into the country has taxed the relief agencies severely.
1851
infraction
violation
Because of his many infractions of school regulations, he was suspended by the dean.
1852
infringe
violate; encroach
I think your machine infringes on my patent and intend to sue.
1853
ingenious
clever
He came up with a use for Styrofoam packing balls that was so ingenious that his business school professors declared it was marketable.
1854
ingenuous
naive; young and unsophisticated
Although she was over forty, the movie star still insisted that she be cast as an ingenuous sweet young thing.
1855
ingrained
deeply established; firmly rooted
Try as they would, the missionaries were unable to uproot the ingrained superstitions of the natives.
1856
ingrate
ungrateful person
That ingrate Bob sneered at the tie I gave him.
1857
ingratiate
become popular with
He tried to ingratiate himself into her parents' good graces.
1858
inherent
firmly established by nature or habit
His inherent love of justice compelled him to come to their aid.
1859
inhibit
prohibit; restrain
The child was not inhibited in her responses.
1860
inimical
unfriendly; hostile
She felt that they were inimical and were hoping for her downfall.
1861
inimitable
matchless; not able to be imitated
We admire Auden for his inimitable use of language; he is one of a kind.
1862
iniquitous
unjust; wicked
I cannot approve of the iniquitous methods you used to gain your present position.
1863
initiate
begin; originate; receive into a group
The college is about to initiate a program for reducing math anxiety among students.
1864
injurious
harmful
Smoking cigarettes can be injurious to your health.
1865
inkling
hint
This came as a complete surprise to me as I did not have the slightest inkling of your plans.
1866
innate
inborn
His innate talent for music was soon recognized by his parents.
1867
innocuous
harmless
Let him drink it; it is innocuous and will have no ill effect.
1868
innovation
change; introduction of something new
She loved innovatins just because they were new.
1869
innuendo
hint; insinuation
I can defend myself against direct accusations; innuendos and oblique attacks on my character are what trouble me.
1870
inopportune
untimely; poorly chosen
A rock concert is an inopportune  setting for a quiet conversation.
1871
inordinate
unrestrained; excessive
She had an inordinate fondness for candy.
1872
inquisitor
questioner (specially harsh); investigator
Fearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret police, Marsha faced her inquisitors with trepidation.
1873
insalubrious
unwholesome; not healthful
The mosquito-ridden swamp was an insalubrious place, a breeding ground for malarial contagion.
1874
insatiable
not easily satisfied; greedy
Welty's thirst for knowledge was insatiable; she was in the library day and night.
1875
inscrutable
impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious
Experienced poker players try to keep their expressions inscrutable, hiding their reactions to the cards  behind a so-called poker face.
1876
insensate
without feeling
She lay there as insensate as a log.
1877
insensible
unconscious; unresponsive
Sherry and I are very different; at times when I would be covered with embarrassment, she seems insensible to shame.
1878
insidious
treacherous; stealthy; sly
The fifth column is insidious because it works secretly within our territory for our defeat.
1879
insinuate
hint; imply
What are you trying to insinuate by that remark?
1880
insipid
lacking in flavor; dull
Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid: both lack sparkle.
1881
insolence
imprudent disrespect; haughtiness
How dare you treat me so rudely! The manager will hear of you insolence.
1882
insolvent
bankrupt; lacking money to pay
When rumors that he was insolvent reached his creditors, they began to press him for payment of the money due them.
1883
insomnia
wakefulness; inability to sleep
He refused to join us in a midnight cup of coffee because he claimed it gave him insomnia.
1884
insouciant
indifferent; without concern or care
Your insouciant attitude at such a critical moment indicates that you do not understand the gravity of the situation.
1885
instigate
urge; start; provoke
I am afraid that this statement will instigate a revolt.
1886
insubordinate
disobedient
The insubordinate private was confined to the barracks.
1887
insubstantial
lacking substance; insignificant; frail
His hopes for a career in acting proved insubstantial; no one would cast him, even in an insubstantial role.
1888
insularity
narrow-mindedness; isolation
The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anyuthing foreign.
1889
insuperable
insurmountable; invincible
In the face of insuperable difficulties they maintained their courage and will to resist.
1890
insurgent
rebellious
We will not discuss reforms until the insurgent troops have returned to their homes.
1891
insurrection
rebellion; uprising
Given the current state of affairs in South Africa, an insurrection seems unavoidable.
1892
intangible
not able to be perceived by touch; vague
Though the financial benefits of his Oxford post were meager, Lewis was drawn to it by its intangible rewards: prestige, intellectual freedom, the fellowship of his peers.
1893
integral
complete; necessary for completeness
Physical education is an integral part of our curriculum; a sound mind and a sound body are complementary.
1894
integrate
make whole; combine; make into one unit
She tried to integrate all their activities into one program.
1895
integrity
uprightness; wholeness
Lincoln, whose personal integrity has inspired millions, fought a civil war to maintain the integrity of the republic, that these United States might remain undivided for all time.
1896
intellect
higher mental powers
He thought college would develop his intellect.
1897
intelligentsia
intellectuals; members of the educated elite
She preferred discussions about sports and politics to the literary conversations of the intelligentsia.
1898
inter
bury
They are going to inter the body tomorrow ar Broadlawn Cemetry.
1899
interdict
prohibit; forbid
Civilized nations must interdict the use of nuclear weapons if we expect out society to live.
1900
interim
meantime
The company will not consider our proposal until next week; in the interim, let us proceed as we have in the past.
1901
interloper
intruder
The merchant thought of his competitors as interlopers who were stealing away his trade.
1902
interminable
endless
Although his speech lasted for only twenty minutes, it seemed interminable to his bored audience.
1903
intermittent
periodic; on and off
Our picnic was marred by intermittent rains.
1904
internecine
mutually destructive
The rising death toll on both sides indicates the internecine natire of his conflict.
1905
interpolate
insert between
She talked so much that I could not interpolate a single remark.
1906
interregnum
period between two reigns
Henry VIII desperately sought a male heir because he feared the civil strife that might occur if any prolonged interregum succeeded his death.
1907
interrogate
question closely; cross-examine
Knowing that the Nazis would interrogate him about his background, the secret agent invented a cover story that would help him meet their quesions.
1908
intervene
come between
She intervened in the argument between her two sons.
1909
intimate
hint
She intimated rather than stated her preferences.
1910
intimidation
fear
A ruler who maintains his power by intimidation is bound to develop clandestine resistance.
1911
intractable
unruly; refractory
The horse was intractable and refused to enter the starting gate.
1912
intransigence
state of stubborn unwillingness to compromise
The intransigence of both parties in the dispute makes an early settlement almost impossible to obtain.
1913
intrepid
fearless
For his intrepid conduct in battle, he was promoted.
1914
intrinsically
essentially; inherently; naturally
Although my grandmother's china has intrinsically little value, I shall always cherish it for the memories it evokes.
1915
introspective
looking within oneself
We all have our introspective moments during which we examine our souls.
1916
introvert
one who is introspective; inclined to think more about oneself
In his poetry, he reveals that he is an introvert by his intense interest in his own problems.
1917
intrude
trespass; enter as an uninvited person
She hesitated to intrude on their conversation.
1918
intuition
power of knowing without reasoning
She claimed to know the truth by intuition.
1919
inundate
overflow; flood
The tremendous waves inundated the town.
1920
inured
accustomed; hardened
She became inured to the Alaskan cold.
1921
invalidate
weaken; destroy
The relatives who received little or nothing sought to invalidate the will by claiming that the deceased had not been in his right mind when he signed the document.
1922
invective
abuse
He had expected criticism but not the invective that greeted his proposal.
1923
inveigh
denounce; utter censure or invective
He inveighed against the demagoguery of the previous speaker and urged that the audience reject his philosophy as dangerous.
1924
inveigle
lead astray; wheedle
She was inveigled into joining the club after an initial reluctance.
1925
inverse
opposite
There is an inverse ratio between the strength of light and its distance.
1926
invert
turn upside down or inside out
When he inverted his body in a hand stand, he felt the blood rush to his head.
1927
inveterate
deep-rooted; habitual
She is an inveterate smoker and cannot break the habit.
1928
invidious
designed to create ill will or envy
We disregarded her invidious remarks because we realized how jealous she was.
1929
invincible
unconquerable
Superman is invincible.
1930
inviolability
security from being destroyed, corrupted or profaned
They respected the inviolability of her faith and did not try to change her manner of living.
1931
invoke
call upon; ask for
She invoked her advisor's aid in filling out her financial aid forms.
1932
invulnerable
incapable of injury
Achilles was invulnerable except in his heel.
1933
iota
very small quantity
She hadn't an iota of common sense.
1934
irascible
irritable; easily angered
Her irascible temper frightened me.
1935
irate
angry
When John's mother found out that he had overthrown his checking account for the third month in a row, she was so irate that she could scarcely speak to him.
1936
iridescent
exhibiting rainbowlike colors
She admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water.
1937
irksome
annoying; tedious
He found working on the assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the operation he had to perform.
1938
ironic
occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner
It is ironic that his success came when he least wanted it.
1939
irony
hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning
Gradually his listeners began to realize that the excessive praise he was lavishing  was merely irony; he was actually denouncing his opponent.
1940
irreconsilable
incompatible; not able to be resolved
Because the separated couple were irreconcilable, the marriage counselor recommended a divorce.
1941
irrelevant
not applicable; unrelated
This statement is irrelevant and should be disregarded by the jury.
1942
irremediable
incurable; uncorrectable
The error she made was irremediable; she could see no way to repair it.
1943
irreparable
not able to be corrected or repaired
Your apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have done to her reputation.
1944
irrepressible
unable to be restrained or held back
Her high spirits were irrepressible.
1945
irresolute
uncertain how to act; weak
She had no respect for him because he seemed weak-willed and irresolute.
1946
irreverent
lacking proper respect
The worshippers resented her irreverent remarks about their faith.
1947
irrevocable
unalterable
Let us not brood over past mistakes since they are irrevocable.
1948
isotope
varying form of an element
The study of the isotopes of uranium led to the development of the nuclear bomb.
1949
isthmus
narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land
In a magnificent feat of engineering, Goethals and his men cut through the isthmus of Panama in constructing the Panama Canal.
1950
itinerant
wandering; traveling
He was an itinerant peddler and traveled through Pennsylvania and Virginia selling his wares.
1951
itinerary
plan of a trip
Before leaving for his first visit to France and England, he discussed his itinerary with people who had been there and with his travel agent.
1952
intersperse
scatter
The molecules will intersperse throughout the space according to the second law of thermodynamics.
1953
inquisitive
unduly curious; prying; seeking knowledge
We need more inquisitive students in this school; lectures are dull.
1954
jaded
fatigued; surfeited
He looked for exotic foods to stimulate his jaded appetite.
1955
jargon
language used by special group; gibberish
We tried to understand the jargon of the peddlers in the market place but could not find any basis for comprehension.
1956
jaundiced
yellowed; prejudiced; envious
She gazed at the painting with jaundiced eyes; she knew it was better than hers.
1957
jaunt
trip; short journey
He took a quick jaunt to Atlantic City.
1958
jaunty
lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree
In Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly sang and danced his way throughtthe lighthearted title number in a properly jaunty style.
1959
jeopardy
exposure to death or danger
Legally, one cannot be placed in double jeopardy.
1960
jettison
throw overboard
In order to enable the ship to ride safely through the storm, the captain had to jettison much of his cargo.
1961
jingoism
extremely aggressive and militant patriotism
We must be careful to prevent a spirit of jingoism from spreading at this time.
1962
jocose
given to joking
The salesman was so jocose that many of his customers suggested that he become a stand-up comic.
1963
jocular
said or done in jest
Do not take my jocular remarks seriously.
1964
jocund
merry
Santa Claus is always vivacious and jocund.
1965
jollity
gaiety; cheerfulness
The festive Christmas dinner was a merry one, and old and young alike joined in the general jollity.
1966
jostle
shove; bump
In the subway he was jostled by the crowds.
1967
jovial
good natured; merry
A frown seemed out of place on his invariably jovial face.
1968
jubilation
rejoicing
There was great jubilitation when the armistice was announced.
1969
judicious
sound in judgment; wise
At a key moment in his life, he made a judicious investment that was the foundation of his later wealth.
1970
juggernaut
irresistible crushing force
Nothing could survive in the path of the juggernaut.
1971
juncture
crisis;joining point
At this critical juncture, let us think carefully before determining the course we shall follow.
1972
junket
trip, especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense
Though she maintained she had gone abroad to collect firsthand data on the Common Market, the opposition claimed that her trip was merely a political junket.
1973
junta
group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal
As soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the execution of all of the members of the junta.
1974
jurisprudence
science of law
He was more a student of jurisprudence than a practitioner of the law.
1975
juxtapose
place side by side
Comparison will be easier if you juxtapose the two objects.
1976
kaleidoscope
tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc., produce interesting symmetrical effects
People found a new source of entertainment while peering through the kaleidoscope; they found the ever-changing patterns fascinating.
1977
ken
range of knowledge
I cannot answer your question since this matter is beyond my ken.
1978
killjoy
grouch; spoilsport
At breakfast we had all been enjoying our bacon and eggs until that killjoy John started talking about how bad animal fats and cholesterol were for our health.
1979
kindle
start a fire; inspire
Her teacher's praise kindled a spark a hope inside her.
1980
kindred
related; similar in nature or character
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were two kindred spirits.
1981
kinetic
producing motion
Designers of the electric automobile find that their greatest obstacle lies in the development of light and efficient storage batteries, the source of the kinetic energy needed to propel the vehicle.
1982
kismet
fate
kismet is the Arabic word for "fate."
1983
kleptomaniac
person who has a compulsive desire to steal
They discovered that the wealthy customer was a kleptomaniac when they caught her stealing some cheap trinkets.
1984
knavery
rascality
We cannot condone such knavery in public officials.
1985
knead
mix; work dough
Her hands grew strong from kneading bread.
1986
knell
tolling of a bell, especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell
"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day."
1987
knit
contract into wrinkles
Whenever David worries, his brow knits in a frown.
1988
knoll
little, round hill
Robert Louis Stevenson's grave is on a knoll in Samoa; to reach the grave site, you must climb uphill and walk a short distance along a marked path.
1989
knotty
intricate; difficult; tangled
What to Watson had been a knotty problem to Sherlock Holmes was simplicity itself.
1990
kudos
honor; glory; praise
The singer complacently received kudos on his performance from his entourage.
1991
labile
likely to change; unstable
Because the hormonal changes they undergo affect their spirits, adolescents may become emotionally labile and experience sudden shifts of mood.
1992
laborious
demanding much work or care; tedious
In putting together his dictionary of the English language, Doctor Johnson undertook a laborious task.
1993
labyrinth
maze
Tom and Becky were lost in the labyrinth of secret caves.
1994
lacerate
mangle; tear
Her body was lacerated in the automobile crash.
1995
lachrymose
producing tears
His voice has a lachrymose quality that is more appropriate at a funeral than a class reunion.
1996
lackadaisical
affectedly languid
He was lackadaisical and indifferent about his part in the affair.
1997
lackluster
dull
We were disappointed by the lackluster performance.
1998
laconic
brief and to the point
Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words.
1999
laggard
slow; sluggish
The sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders.
2000
lagoon
shallow body of water near a sea; lake
They enjoyed their swim in the calm lagoon.
2001
laity
laypersons; persons not connected with the clergy
The laity does not always understand the clergy's problems.
2002
lambaste
beat; thrash verbally or physically
It was painful to watch the champion lambaste his opponent, tearing into him mercilessly.
2003
lament
grieve; express sorrow
Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat.
2004
lampoon
ridicule
This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls.
2005
languid
weary; sluggish; listless
Her siege of illness left her languid and pallid.
2006
languish
lose animation; lose strength
In stories, lovelorn damsels used to languish and pine away.
2007
languor
lassitude; depression
His friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to the theater.
2008
lank
long and thin
lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln was a striking figure.
2009
larceny
theft
Because of the prisoner's record, the district attorney refused to reduce the charge from grand larceny to petite larceny.
2010
larder
pantry; place where food is kept
The first thing Bill did on returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in the larder.
2011
largess
generous gift
Lady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor.
2012
lascivious
lustful
Because they might arouse lascivious impulses in their readers, the lewd books were banned by the clergy.
2013
lassitude
languor; weariness
The hot, tropical weather created a feeling of lassitude and encouraged drowsiness.
2014
latent
dormant; hidden
Her latent talent was discovered by accident.
2015
lateral
coming from the side
In order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots.
2016
latitude
freedom from narrow limitations
I think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter.
2017
laudable
praiseworthy; commendable
His laudable deeds will be remarked by all whom he aided.
2018
laudatory
expressing praise
The critics' laudatory comments helped to make her a star.
2019
lavish
liberal; wasteful
The actor's lavish gifts pleased her.
2020
lax
careless
We dislike restaurants where the service is lax and inattentive.
2021
leaven
cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven
As bread dough is leavened, it puffs up, expanding in volume.
2022
lechery
gross lewdness; lustfulness
In his youth he led a life of lechery and debauchery; he did not mend his ways until middle age.
2023
lectern
reading desk
The chaplain delivered his sermon from a hastily improvised lectern.
2024
leery
suspicious; cautious
Don't eat sushi at this restaurant; I'm a bit leery about how fresh it is.
2025
leeway
room to move; margin
When you set a deadline, allow a little leeway.
2026
legacy
a gift made by a will
Part of my legacy from my parents is an album of family photographs.
2027
legend
explanatory list of symbols on a map
The legend at the bottom of the map made it clear which symbols stood for rest areas along the highway and which stood for public camp sites.
2028
legerdemain
sleight of hand
The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain.
2029
leniency
mildness; permissiveness
Considering the gravity of the offense, we were surprised by the leniency of the sentence.
2030
leonine
like a lion
He was leonine in his rage.
2031
lethal
deadly
It is unwise to leave lethal weapons where children may find them.
2032
lethargic
drowsy; dull
The stuffy room made her lethargic; she felt as if she was about to nod off.
2033
levee
earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding
As the river rose and threatened to overflow the levee, emergency workers rushed to reinforce the walls with sandbags.
2034
levitate
float in the air (especially by magical means)
As the magician passed his hands over the recumbent body of his assistant, she appeared to rise and levitate about three feet above the table.
2035
levity
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity
Stop giggling abd wriggling around in the pew; such levity is improper in church.
2036
levy
impose (a fine); collect (a payment)
Crying "No taxation withouth representation," the colonists demonstrated against England's power to levy taxes.
2037
lewd
lustful
They found his lewd stories objectionable.
2038
lexicographer
compiler of a dictionary
The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compiling and editing the work.
2039
lexicon
dictionary
I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library.
2040
liability
drawback; debts
Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was able to overcome.
2041
liaison
officer who acts as go-between for two armies; intermediary
As the liason, he had to avoid offending the leaders of the two armies.
2042
libelous
defamatory; injurious to the good name of a person
He sued the newspaper because of its libelous story.
2043
libertine
debauched person, roue
Although she was aware of his reputation as a libertine, she felt she could reform him and help him break his dissolute way of life.
2044
libidinous
lustful
They objected to his libidinous behavior.
2045
libido
emotional urges behind human activity
The psychiatrist maintained that suppression of the libido often resulted in maladjustment and neuroses.
2046
libretto
text of an opera
The composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its libretto.
2047
licentious
wanton; lewd; dissolute
The licentious monarch helped bring about his country's downfall.
2048
lien
legal claim on a property
There was a delay before Ralph could take possession of his late uncle's home; apparently, another claimant had a lien upon the estate.
2049
ligneous
like wood
Petrified wood may be ligneous in appearance, but it is stonelike in composition.
2050
lilliputian
extremely small
Tiny and delicate, the model was built on a lilliputian scale.
2051
limber
flexible
Hours of ballet classes kept him limber.
2052
limbo
region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept
Among the divisions of Hell are Purgatory and limbo.
2053
limn
draw; outline; describe
Parodoxically, the more realistic the details this artist chooses, the better able to limn her fantastic, other-worldly landscapes.
2054
limpid
clear
A limpid stream ran through his property.
2055
lineage
descent; ancestry
He traced his lineage back to Mayflower days.
2056
lineaments
features, especially of the face
She quickly sketched the lineaments of his face.
2057
linguistic
pertaining to language
The modern tourist will encounter very little linguistic difficulty as English has become an almost universal language.
2058
lionize
treat as a celebrity
She enjoyed being lionized and adored by the public.
2059
liquidate
settle accounts; clear up
He was able to liquidate all his debts in short period of time.
2060
list
tilt; lean over
That flagpole should be absolutely vertical; instead, it lists to one side.
2061
listless
lacking in spirit or energy
We had expected him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude.
2062
litany
supplicatory prayer
On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity.
2063
lithe
flexible; supple
Her figure was lithe and willowy.
2064
litigation
lawsuit
Try to settle this amicably; I do not want to start litigation.
2065
litotes
understatement for emphasis
To say, "He little realizes," when we mean that he does not realize at all, is an example of the kind of understatement we call litotes.
2066
livid
lead-coloredl; black and blue; ashen; enraged
His face was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might have an attack of apoplexy.
2067
loath
averse; reluctant
They were both loath for him to go.
2068
loathe
detest
We loathed the wicked villain.
2069
lode
metal-bearing vein
If this lode that we have discovered extends for any distance, we have found a fortune.
2070
lofty
very high
They used to tease him about his lofty ambitions.
2071
loiter
hang around; linger
The policeman told him not to loiter in the alley.
2072
loll
lounge about
They lolled around in their chairs watching television.
2073
longevity
long life
When he reached ninety, the old man was proud of his longevity.
2074
lope
gallop slowly
As the horses loped along, we had an opportunity to admire the ever-changing scenery.
2075
loquacious
talkative
She is very loquacious and can speak on the telephone for hours.
2076
lout
clumsy person
The delivery boy is an awkward lout.
2077
low
moo
From the hilltop, they could see the herd like ants in the distance; they could barely hear the cattle low.
2078
lucid
easily understood; clear; intelligible
Her explanation was lucid enought for a child to grasp.
2079
lucrative
profitable
He turned his hobby into a lucrative profession.
2080
lucre
money
Preferring lucre to undying fame, he wrote stories of popular appeal.
2081
ludicrous
laughable; trifling
Let us be serious; this is not a ludicrous issue.
2082
lugubrious
mournful
The lugabrious howling of the dogs added to our sadness.
2083
lull
moment of calm
Not wanting to get wet, they waited under the awning for a lull in the rain.
2084
lumber
move heavily of clumsily
Still somewhat torpid after its long hibernation, the bear lumbered through the woods.
2085
lumen
unit of light energy (one candle's worth)
In buying light bulbs, she checked not only their power, as measured in watts, but their brightness, as measured in lumens.
2086
luminary
celebrity; dignitary
A leading light of the American stage, Ethel Barrymore was a theatrical luminary whose name lives on.
2087
luminous
shining; issuing light
The sun is a luminous body.
2088
lunar
pertaining to the moon
lunar craters can be plainly seen with the aid of a small telescope.
2089
lurid
wild; sensational
The lurid stories he told shocked his listeners.
2090
lurk
stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived 
"Who knows what evils lurk in the hearts of men? The shadow knows."
2091
luscious
pleasing to taste or smell
The ripe peach was luscious.
2092
luster
shine; gloss
The soft luster of the silk in the dim light was pleasing.
2093
lustrous
shining
Her large and lustrous eyes gave a touch of beauty to an otherwise drab face.
2094
luxuriant
fertile; abundant; ornate
Farming was easy in this luxuriant soil.
2095
laxative
facilitating evacuation of the bowels
The effect of the constipation medicine is laxative; it empties the bowels.
2096
macabre
gruesome; grisly
The city morgue is a macabre spot for the uninitiated.
2097
mace
ceremonial staff; clublike medieval weapon
The Grand Marshal of the parade raised his mace to signal that it was time for the procession to begin.
2098
macerate
soften by soaking in liquid; waste away
The strawberries had been soaking in the champagn for so long that they had begun to macerate: they literally fell apart at the touch of a spoon.
2099
machiavellian
crafty; double-dealing
I do not think he will be a good embassador because he is not accustomed to the machiavellian maneuverings of foreign diplomats.
2100
machinations
schemes
I can see through your wily machinations.
2101
maculated
spotted; stained
Instead of writing that Gorbachev had a birthmark on his forehead, the pompous young poet sang of the former premier's maculated brow.
2102
madrigal
pastoral song
His program of folk songs included several madrigals which he sang to the accompaniment of a lute.
2103
maelstrom
whirlpool
The canoe was tossed about in the maelstrom.
2104
magisterial
authoritative; imperious
The learned doctor laid down the law to his patient in a magisterial tone of voice.
2105
magnanimity
generosity
Noted for his magnanimity, philanthropist Eugene Lang donated millions to charity.
2106
magnate
person of prominence or influence
The steel magnate decided to devote more time to city politics.
2107
magniloquent
boastful, pompous
In their stories of the trial, the reporters ridiculed the magniloquent  speeches of the defense attorney.
2108
magnitude
greatness; extent
It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of his crime.
2109
maim
mutilate; injure
The hospital could not take care of all who had been mangled or maimed in the railroad accident.
2110
maladroit
clumsy; bungling
In his usual maladroit way, he managed to upset the cart and spill the food.
2111
malaise
uneasiness; distress
She felt a sudden vague malaise when she heard sounds at the door.
2112
malapropism
comic misuse of a word
When Mrs. Malaprop criticizes Lydia for being "as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile," she confuses "allegory" and "allegator" in a typical malapropism.
2113
malcontent
person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs
He was one of the few malcontents in the Congress; he constantly voiced his objections to the Presidential program.
2114
malediction
curse
The witch uttered maledictions against her captors.
2115
malefactor
criminal
We must try to bring these malefactors to justice.
2116
malevolent
wishing evil
We must thwart his malevolent schemes.
2117
malfeasance
wrongdoing
The authorities did not discover the campaign manager's malfeasance until after he had spent most of the money he had embezzled.
2118
malicious
dictated by hatred or spite
The malicious neighbor spread the gossip.
2119
malign
speak evil of; defame
Because of her hatred of the family, she maligns all who are friendly to them.
2120
malignant
having an evil influence; virulent
This is a malignant disease; we must have to use drastic measures to stop its spread.
2121
malingerer
one who feigns illness to escape duty
The captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers and force them to work.
2122
malleable
capable of being shaped by pounding
Gold is a malleable metal.
2123
malodorous
foul-smelling
The component heap was most malodorous in summer.
2124
mammal
vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young
Many people regard the whale as a fish and do not realize that it is a mammal.
2125
mammoth
gigantic
The mammoth corporations of the twentieth century are a mixed blessing
2126
manacle
restrain; handcuff
The police immediately manacled the prisoner so he could not escape.
2127
mandate
order; charge
In his inaugural address, the President stated that he had a mandate from the people to seek an end to social evils such as poverty and poor housing.
2128
mandatory
obligatory
These instructions are mandatory; any violation will be severely punished.
2129
mangy
shabby; wretched
We finally thew out the mangy rug that the dog had destroyed.
2130
maniacal
raving mad
His maniacal laughter frightened us.
2131
manifest
understandable; clear
His evil intentions were manifest and yet we could not stop him.
2132
manifestation
outward demonstration; indication
Mozart's early attraction to the harsichord was the first manifestation of his pronounced musical bent.
2133
manifesto
declaration; statement of policy
The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels proclaimed the principles of modern communism.
2134
manifold
numerous; varied
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your manifold kindnesses.
2135
manipulate
operate with the hands; control or change by artful means
How do you manipulate these puppets?
2136
mannered
affected; not natural
Attempting to copy the style of his wealthy neighbors, Gatsby adopted a mannered, artificial way of speech.
2137
manumit
emancipate; free from bondage
Enlightened slave owners were willing to manumit their slaves and thus put an end to the evil slavery in the country.
2138
marital
pertaining to marriage
After the publication of his book on marital affairs, he was often consulted by married people on the verge of divorce.
2139
maritime
bordering on the sea; nautical
The maritime Provinces depend on the sea for their wealth.
2140
marked
noticeable; targeted for vengeance
He walked with a marked limp, a souvenir of an old IRA attack. As British ambassador, he knew he was a marked man.
2141
marred
damaged; disfigured
She had to refinish the marred surface of the table.
2142
marshal
put in order
At a debate tournament, extemporaneous speakers have only a minute or two to marshal their thoughts before addressing their audience.
2143
marsupial
one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch
The most common marsupial in North America is the opposum.
2144
martial
warlike
The sound of marital music was always inspiring to the young poet.
2145
martinet
strict disciplinarian
The commanding officer was a martinet who observed each regulation to the ltter.
2146
masochist
person who enjoys his own pain
The masochist begs, "Hit me." The sadist smiles and says, "I won't."
2147
masticate
chew
We must masticate our food carefully and slowly in order to avoid digestive disorders.
2148
materialism
preoccupation with physical comforts and things
By its nature, materialism is opposed to idealism, for where the materialist emphasizes the needs of the body, the idealist emphasizes the needs of the soul.
2149
maternal
motherly
Many animals display maternal instincts only while their offspring are young and helpless.
2150
matriarch
woman who rules a family or larger social group
The matriarch ruled her gypsy tribe with a firm hand.
2151
martrix
point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die
Some historians claim the Nile Valley was the matrix of the Western civilization.
2152
maudlin
effusively sentimental
I do not like such maudlin pictures. I call them tearjerkers.
2153
maul
handle roughly
The rock star was mauled by his overexcited fans.
2154
mausoleum
monumental tomb
His body was placed in the family mausolem.
2155
mauve
pale purple
The mauve tint in the lilac bush was another indication that spring had finally arrived.
2156
maverick
rebel; nonconformist
To the masculine literary establishment, George Sand with her insistence on wearing trousers and smoking cigars was clearly a maverick who fought her proper womanly role.
2157
mawkish
sickening; insipid
Your mawkish sighs fill me with disgust.
2158
maxim
proverb; a truth pithily stated
Aesop's fables illustrate moral maxims.
2159
mayhem
injury to the body
The riot was marked not only by mayhem, with its attendant loss of life and limb, but also by arson and pillage.
2160
meager
scanty; inadequate
His salary was far too meager for him to afford to buy a new car.
2161
mealymouthed
indirect speech; hypocritical; evasive
Rather than tell Jill directly what he disliked, Jack made a few mealymouthed comments and tried to change the subject.
2162
meander
to wind or turn in its course
It is difficult to sail up this stream because of the way it meanders through the countryside.
2163
meddlesome
interfering
He felt his marriage was suffering because of his meddlesome mother-in-law.
2164
mediate
settle a dispute through the services of an outsider
Let us mediate out differences rather than engage in a costly strike.
2165
mediocre
ordinary; commonplace
We were disappointed because he gave a rather mediocre performance in this role.
2166
meditation
reflection; thought
She reached her decision only after much meditation.
2167
medley
mixture
The band played a medley of Gershwin tunes.
2168
meek
submissive; patient and long-suffering
Mr. Barrett never expected his meek daughter would dare to defy him by eloping with her suitor.
2169
megalomania
mania for doing grandiose things
Developers who spend millions trying to build the world's tallest skyscraper suffer from megalomania.
2170
melee
fight
The captain tried to ascertain the cause of the melee that had broken out among the crew members.
2171
mellifluous
flowing smoothly; smooth
Italian is a mellifluous language.
2172
memento
token; reminder
Take this book as a memento of your visit.
2173
memorialize
commemorate
Let us memorialize his great contribution by dedicating this library in his honor.
2174
mendacious
lying; false
He was pathological liar, and his friends learned to discount his mendacious stories.
2175
mendicant
beggar
From the moment we left the ship, we were surrounded by mendicants and peddlers.
2176
menial
suitable for sevants; low
I cannot understand why a person of your ability and talent should engage in such menial activities.
2177
mentor
counselor; teacher
During this very trying period, she could not have had a better mentor, for the teacher was sympathetic and understanding.
2178
mercantile
concerning trade
I am more interested in the opportunites available in the mercantile field than I am in those in the legal profession.
2179
mercenary
motivated solely by money or gain
"I'm not in this war because I get my kicks waving flags," said the mercenary soldier. "I'm in it for the dough."
2180
mercurial
fickle; changing
He was of a mercurial temperament and therefore unpredictable.
2181
meretricious
flashy; tawdry; falsely attractive
Her jewels were inexpensive but not meretricious.
2182
merger
combination (of two business corporations)
When the firm's president married the director of financial planning, the office joke was that it wasn't a marriage, it was a merger.
2183
mesmerize
hypnotize
The incessant drone seemed to mesmerize him and place him in a trance.
2184
metallurgical
pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores
During the course of his metallurgical research, the scientist developed a steel alloy of tremendous strength.
2185
metamorphosis
change of form
The metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly is typical of many such changes in animal life.
2186
metaphor
implied comparison
"He soared like an eagle" is an example of a simile; "He is an eagle in flight," is a metaphor.
2187
metaphysical
pertaining to speculative philosophy
The modern poets have gone back to the fanciful poems of the metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century for many of their images.
2188
mete
measure; distribute
He tried to be impartial in his efforts to mete out justice.
2189
meteoric
swift; momentarily brilliant
We all wondered at his meteoric rise to fame.
2190
methodical
systematic
An accountant must be methodical and maintain order among his financial records.
2191
meticulous
excessively careful
He was meticulous in checking his accounts and never made mistakes.
2192
metropolis
large city
Every evening this terminal is filled with the thousands of commuters who are going from this metropolis to their homes in the suburbs.
2193
mettle
courage; spirit
When challenged by the other horses in the race, the thoroughbred proved its mettle by its determination to hold the lead.
2194
miasma
swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere, often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence
The smog hung over Victorian London like a dark cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was a visible miasma.
2195
microcosm
small world
In the microcosm of our rural village, we find illustrations of all the evils that beset the universe.
2196
migrant
changing its habitat; wandering
These migrant birds return every spring.
2197
migratory
wandering
The return of the migratory birds to the northern sections of this country is a harbinger of spring.
2198
milieu
environment; means of expression
His milieu is watercolors, although he has produced excellent oil paintings and lithographs.
2199
militant
combative; bellicose
Althoughat this time he was advocating a policy of neutrality, one could usually find him adopting a more militant attitude.
2200
militate
work against
Your record of lateness and absence will militate against your chances of promotion.
2201
millenium
thousand-year period; period of happiness and prosperity
I do not expect the milennium to come during my lifetime.
2202
mimicry
imitation
Her gift for mimicry was so great that her friends said that she should be in the theater.
2203
minatory
menacing; threatening
Jabbing a minatory forefinger at Dorothy, the Wicked Witch cried, "I'll get you, and your little dog, too!"
2204
mincing
affectedly dainty
Yum-Yum walked across the stage with mincing steps.
2205
minion
a servile dependent
He was always accompanied by several of his minions because he enjoyed their subservience and flattery.
2206
minuscule
extremely small
Why should I involve myself with a project with so minuscule a chance for success?
2207
minute
extremely small
The twins resembled one another closely; only minute differences set them apart.
2208
minutiae
petty details
She would have liked to ignore the minutiae of daily living.
2209
mirage
unreal reflection; optical illusion
The lost prospector was fooled by a mirage in the desert.
2210
mire
entangle; stick in swampy ground
Their rear wheels became mired in mud.
2211
mirth
merriment; laughter
Sober Malvolio found Sir Toby's mirth improper.
2212
misadventure
mischance; ill luck
The young explorer met death by misadventure.
2213
misanthrope
one who hates mankind
We thought the hermit was a miantrope because he shunned our society.
2214
misapprehension
error; misunderstanding
To avoid msapprehension, I am going to ask all of you to repeat the instructions I have given.
2215
miscellany
mixture of writings on various subjects
This is an interesting miscellany of nineteenth-century prose and poetry.
2216
mischance
ill luck
By mischance, he lost his week's salary.
2217
misconstrue
interpret incorrectly; misjudge
She took the passage seriously rather than humourously because she misconstrued the author's ironic tone.
2218
miscreant
wretch; villain
His kindness to the miscreant amazed all of us who had expected to hear severe punishment pronounced.
2219
misdemeanor
minor crime
The culprit pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor rather than face trial for a felony.
2220
miserly
stingy; mean
The miserly old man hoarded his coins not out of prudence but out of greed.
2221
misgivings
doubts
Hamlet described his misgivings to Horatio but decided to fence with Laertes despite his foreboding of evil.
2222
mishap
accident
With a little care you could have avoided this mishap.
2223
misnomer
wrong name; incorrect designation
His tyrannical conduct proved to all that his nickname, King Eric the Just, was a misnomer.
2224
misogamy
hatred of marriage
He remained a bachelor not because of misogamy but because of ill fate: his fiancee died before the wedding.
2225
misogynist
hater of women
She accused him of being a misogynist because he had been a bachelor all his life.
2226
missile
object to be thrown or projected
Scientists are experimenting with guided missiles.
2227
missive
letter
The ambassador received a missive from the Secretary of State.
2228
mite
very small object or creature; small coin
Gnats are annoying mites that sing.
2229
mitigate
appease
Nothing he did could mitigate her wrath; she was unforgiving.
2230
mnemonic
pertaining to memory
He used mnemonic tricks to master new words.
2231
mobile
movable; not fixed
The mobile blood bank operated by the Red Cross visited our neighborhood today.
2232
mode
prevailing style
She was not used to their lavish mode of living.
2233
modicum
limited quantity
Although his story is based on a modicum of truth, most of the events he describes are fictitious.
2234
modish
fashionable
She always discarded all garments that were no longer modish.
2235
modulation
toning down; changing from one key to another
When we she spoke, it was with quiet modulation of voice.
2236
mogul
powerful person
The oil moguls made great profits when the price of gasoline rose.
2237
molecule
the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance
In chemistry, we study how atoms and molcules react to form new substances.
2238
mollify
soothe
We tried to mollify the hysterical child by promising her many gifts.
2239
mollycoddle
pamper; indulge excessively
Don't mollycoddle the boy, Maud! You'll spoil him.
2240
molt
shed or cast off hair or feathers
The male robin molted in the spring.
2241
molten
melted
The city of Pompeii was destroyed by volcanic ash rather than by molten lava flowing from Mount Vesuvius.
2242
momentous
very important
On this momentous occasion, we must be very solemn.
2243
momentum
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus
The car lost momentum as it tried to ascend the steep hill.
2244
monarchy
government under a single hereditary ruler with varying degrees of power
England today remains a monarchy.
2245
monastic
related to monks
Wanting to live a religious life, he took his monastic vows.
2246
monetary
pertaining to money
Jane held the family purse strings: she made all monetary decisions affecting the household.
2247
monochromatic
having only one color
Most people who are color blind actually can distinguish several colors; some, however, have a truly monochromatic view of a world all in shades of gray.
2248
monolithic
solidly uniform; unyielding
Knowing the importance of appearing resolute, the patriots sought to present a monolithic front.
2249
monotheism
belief in one God
Abraham was the first to proclaim his belief in monotheism.
2250
monotony
sameness leading to boredom
He took a clerical job, but soon grew to hate the monotony of his daily routine.
2251
monumental
massive
Writing a dictionary is a monumental task.
2252
moodiness
fits of depression or gloom
We could not discover the cause of her recurrent moodiness.
2253
moratorium
legal delay of payment
If we declare a moratorium and delay collection of debts for six months, I am sure the farmers will be able to meet their bills.
2254
morbid
given to unwholesome thought; gloomy
These morbid speculations are dangerous; we must lighten our spirits by emphasizing more pleasant matters.
2255
mordant
biting; sarcastic; stinging
Actors feared the critic's mordant pen.
2256
mores
customs
The mores of Mexico are those of Spain with some modifications.
2257
moribund
at the point of death
The doctors called the family to the bedside of the moribund patient.
2258
morose
ill-humored; sullen
When we first meet Hamlet, we find him morose and depressed.
2259
mortician
undertaker
The mortician prepared the corpse for burial.
2260
mortify
humiliate; punish the flesh
She was so mortified by her blunder that she ran to her room in tears.
2261
mosaic
picture made of smell, colorful inlaid tiles
The mayor compared the ciry to a beautiful mosaic made up of people of every race and religion on earth.
2262
mote
small speck
The tiniest mote in the eye is very painful.
2263
motif
theme
This simple motif runs throughout the score.
2264
motility
ability to move spontaneously
Certain organisms exhibit remarkable motility; motile spores, for example, may travel for miles before coming to rest.
2265
motley
parti-colored; mixed
The captain had gathered a motley crew to sail the vessel.
2266
mottled
spotted
When he blushed, his face took on a mottled hue.
2267
mountebank
charlatan; boastful pretender
The patent medicine man was a mountebank.
2268
muddle
confuse; mix up
His thoughts were muddled and chaotic.
2269
muggy
warm and damp
August in New York City is often muggy.
2270
mulct
defraud a person of something
The lawyer was accused of trying to mulct the boy of his legacy.
2271
multifarious
varied; greatly diversified
A career woman and mother, she was constantly busy with the multifarious activities of her daily life.
2272
multiform
having many forms
Snowflakes are multiform but always hexagonal.
2273
multilingual
having many languages
Because they are bordered by so many countries, the Swiss people are multilingual.
2274
multiplicity
state of being numerous
He was appalled by the multuplicity of details he had to complete before setting out on his mission.
2275
mundane
worldly as opposed to spiritual
He was concerned only with mundane matters, especially the daily stock market quotations.
2276
munificent
very generous
The munificent gift was presented to the bride by her rich uncle.
2277
murkiness
darkness; gloom
The murkiness and fog of the waterfront that evening depressed me.
2278
muse
ponder
For a moment he mused about the beauty of the scene, but his thought soon changed as he recalled his own personal problems.
2279
musky
having the odor of musk
She left a trace of musky perfume behind her.
2280
muster
gather; assemble
Washington mustered his forces at Trenton.
2281
musty
stale; spoiled by age
The attic was dark and musty.
2282
mutable
changing in form; fickle
His opinion were mutable and easily influenced by anyone who had any powers of persuasion.
2283
muted
silent; muffled; toned down
In the funeral parlor, the mourners' voices had a muted quality.
2284
mutilate
maim
The torturer threatened to mutilate his victim.
2285
mutinous
unruly; rebellious
The captain had to use force to quiet his mutinous crew.
2286
myopic
nearsighted
In thinking only of your present needs and ignoring the future, you are being rather myopic.
2287
myriad
very large number
myriads of mosquitoes from the swamps invaded our village every twilight.
2288
mutter
murmur or grumble
The child muttered at the doll.
2289
millinery
person who makes or sells women's hats
The millinery displayed fashionable hats in the street where many women passed by.
2290
nadir
lowest point
Although few people realized it, the Dow-Jones averages had reached their nadir and would soon begin an upward surge.
2291
naivete
quality of being unsophisticated
I cannot believe that such naivete is unassumed in a person of her age and experience.
2292
narcissist
conceited person
A narcissist is his own best friend.
2293
narrative
related to telling a story
A born teller of tales, Olsen used her impressive narrative skills to advantage in her story "I Stand Here Ironing."
2294
nascent
incipient; coming into being
If we could identify these revolutionary movements in their nascent state, we would be able to eliminate serious trouble in later years.
2295
natation
swimming
The Red Cross emphasizes the need for courses in natation.
2296
natty
neatly or smartly dresssed
Priding himself on being a natty dresser, the gangster Bugsy Siegel collected a wardrobe of imported suits and ties.
2297
nauseate
cause to become sick; fill with disgust
The foul smells began to nauseate him.
2298
nautical
pertaining to ships or navigation
The Maritime Museum contains many models of clipper ships, logbooks, anchors and many other items of a nautical nature.
2299
nebulous
vague; hazy; cloudy
She had only a nebulous memory of her grandmother's face.
2300
necromancy
black magic; dealings with the dead
Because he was able to perform feats of necromancy, the natives thought he was in league with the devil.
2301
nefarious
very wicked
He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds.
2302
negation
denial
I must accept his argument since you have been unable to present any negation of his evidence.
2303
negligence
carelessness
negligence can prove costly near complicated machinery.
2304
negligible
so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded
Because the damage to his car had been negligible, Michael decided he wouldn't bother to report the matter to his insurance company.
2305
nemesis
revenging agent
Captain Bligh vowed to be Christian's nemesis.
2306
neologism
new or newly coined word or phrase
As we invent new techniques and professions, we must also invent neologisms such as "microcomputer" and "astronaut" to describe them.
2307
neophyte
recent convert; beginner
This monuntain slope contains slides that will challenge esperts as well as neophytes.
2308
nepotism
favoritism (to a relative)
John left his position with the company because he felt that advancement was based on nepotism rather than ability.
2309
nether
lower
Tradition locates hell in the nether regions.
2310
nettle
annoy; vex
Do not let him nettle you with his sarcastic remarks.
2311
nexus
connection
I fail to see the nexus that binds these two widely separated events.
2312
nib
beak; pen point
The nibs of fountain pens often become clotted and corroded.
2313
nicety
precision; minute distinction
I cannot distinguish between such niceties of reasoning.
2314
niggardly
meanly stingy; parsimonious
The niggardly pittance the widow receives from the government cannot keep her from poverty.
2315
niggle
spend too much time on minor points; carp
Let's not niggle over details.
2316
nihilism
denial of traditional values; total skepticism
nihilism holds that existence has no meaning.
2317
nirvana
Buddihist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude
Despite his desire to achieve nirvana, the young Buddhist found that even the buzzing of a fly could distract him from his meditation.
2318
nocturnal
done at night
Mr. Jones obtained a watchdog to prevent the nocturnal raids on his chicken coops.
2319
noisome
foul smelling; unwholesome
I never could stand the noisome atmosphere surrounding the slaughter houses.
2320
nomadic
wandering
Several nomadic tribes of Indians would hunt in this area each year.
2321
nomenclature
terminology; system of names
She struggled to master scientific nomenclature.
2322
nominal
in name only; trifling
He offered to drive her to the airport for only a nominal fee.
2323
nonchalance
indifference; lack of interest
Few people could understand how he could listen to the news of the tragedy with such nonchalance; the mahority regarded him as callous and unsympathetic.
2324
noncommittal
neutral; unpledged; undecided
We were annoyed by his noncommittal reply for we had been led to expect definite assurances of his approval.
2325
nondescript
undistinctive; ordinary
The private detective was a short, nondescript fellow with no outstanding features, the sort of person one would never notice in a crowd.
2326
nonentity
person of no importance; nonexistence
Don't dismiss John as a nonentity; in his quiet way, he's very important to the firm.
2327
nonplus
bring to a halt by confusion; perplex
Jack's uncharacteristic rudeness nonplussed Jill, leaving her uncertain how to react.
2328
nostalgia
homesickness; longing for the past
The first settlers found so much work to do that they had little time for nostalgia.
2329
nostrum
questionable medicine
No quack selling nostrums is going to cheat me.
2330
notoriety
disrepute; ill fame
To the starlet, any publicity was good publicity: if she couldn't have a good reputation, she'd settle for notoriety.
2331
novelty
something new; newness
The computer is no longer a novelty around the office.
2332
novice
beginner
Even a novice can do good work if he follows these simple directions.
2333
noxious
harmful
We must trace the source of these noxious gases before they asphyxiate us.
2334
nuance
shade of difference in meaning or color
The unskilled eye of the layperson has difficulty in dicerning the nuances of color in the paintings.
2335
nubile
marrigeable
Mrs. Bennet, in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, was worried about finding suitable husbands for her five nubile daughters.
2336
nugatory
futile; worthless
This agreement is nugatory for no court will enforce it.
2337
nullify
to make invalid
Once the contract was nullified, it no longer had any legal force.
2338
numismatist
person who collects coins
The numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins.
2339
nuptial
related to marriage
Their nuptial ceremony was performed in Golden Gate Park.
2340
nurture
nourish; educate; foster
The head Start program attempts to nurture prekindergarten children so that they will do well when they enter public school.
2341
nutrient
nourishing substance
As a budding nutritionist, Kim has learned to design diets that contain foods rich in important basic nutrients.
2342
oaf
stupid, awkward person
He called the unfortunate waiter a clumsy oaf.
2343
obdurate
stubborn
He was obdurate in his refusal to listen to our complaints.
2344
obeisance
bow
She made an obeisance as the king and queen entered the room.
2345
obelisk
tall column tapering and ending in a pyramid
Cleopatra's Needle is an obelisk in New York City's Central Park.
2346
obese
excessively fat
It is advisable that obese people try to lose weight.
2347
obfuscate
confuse; muddle
Do not obfuscate the issues by dragging in irrelevant arguments.
2348
obituary
dealth notice
I first learned of her death when I read the obituary in the newspaper.
2349
objective
not influenced by emotions; fair
Even though he was her son, she tried to be objective about his behavior.
2350
objective
goal; aim
A degree in medicine was her ultimate objective.
2351
obligatory
binding; required
It is obligatory that books borrowed from the library be returned within two weeks.
2352
oblique
slanting; deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line
The sergeant ordered the men to march "oblique right."
2353
obliterate
destroy completely
The tidal wave obliterated several island villages.
2354
oblivion
forgetfulness
Her work had fallen into a state of oblivion; no one bothered to read them.
2355
obloquy
slander; disgrace; infamy
I resent the obloquy that you are casting upon my reputation.
2356
obnoxious
offensive
I find your behavior obnoxious; please mend your ways.
2357
obscure
dark; vague; unclear
Even after I read the poem a fourth time, its meaning was still obscure.
2358
obscure
darken; make unclear
At times he seemed purposely to obscure his meaning, preferring mystery to clarity.
2359
obsequious
slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic
Helen valued people who behaved as if they respected themselves; nothing irritated her more than an excessively obsequious waiter or a fawning salesclerk.
2360
obsequy
funeral ceremony
Hundreads paid their last respects at his obsequies.
2361
obsession
fixed idea; continued brooding
This obsession with the supernatural has made him unpopular with his neighbors.
2362
obsidian
clak volcanic rock
The deposits of obsidian on the mountain slopes were an indiacation that volcano had erupted in ancient times.
2363
obsolete
outmoded
"Hip" is an obsolete expression; it went out with love beads and tie-dye shirts.
2364
obstetrician
physician specializing in delivery of babies
Unlike midwives, who care for women giving birth at home, obstetricians generally work in a hospital setting.
2365
obstinate
stubborn
We tried to persuade him to give up smoking, but he was obstinate and refused to change.
2366
obstreperous
boisterous; noisy
The crowd became obstreperous and shouted their disapproval of the proposals made by the speaker.
2367
obtrusive
pushing forward
I found her a very obstrusive person, constantly seeking the center of the stage.
2368
obtuse
blunt; stupid
Because he was so obtuse, he could not follow the teacher's reasoning and asked foolish questions.
2369
obviate
make unnecessary; get rid of
I hope this contribution will obviate any need for further collections of funds.
2370
occident
the West
It will take occident to understand the ways and customs of the orient.
2371
occlude
shut; close
A blood clot occluded an artery to the heart.
2372
occult
mysterious; secret; supernatural
The occult rites of the organization were revealed only to members.
2373
oculist
physician who specialized in treatment of the eyes
In many states, an oculist is the only one who may apply medicinal drops to the eyes for the purpose of examining them.
2374
odious
hateful
I find the task of punishing you most odious.
2375
odium
repugnance; dislike
I cannot express the odium I feel at your heinous actions.
2376
odoriferous
giving off an odor
The odoriferous spices stimulated her jaded appetite.
2377
odorous
having an odor
This variety of hybrid tea rose is more odorous than the one you have in your garden.
2378
odyssey
long, evenful journey
The refugee's journey from Cambodia was a terrifying odyssey.
2379
offensive
attacking; insulting; distasteful
Getting into street brawls is no minor offense for professional boxers, who are required by law to restrict their offensive impulses to the ring.
2380
offhand
casual; done without prior thought
Expecting to be treated with due propriety by her costs, Great-Aunt Maud was offended by their offhand manner.
2381
officious
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services
After her long flight, Jill just wanted to nap, but the officious bellboy was intent on showing her all the special features of the deluxe suite.
2382
ogle
glance coquettishly at; make eyes at
Sitting for hours at the sidewalk cafe, the old gentleman would oggle the young girls and recall his youthful romances.
2383
olfactory
concerning the sense of smell
The olfactory organ is the nose.
2384
oligarchy
government by a few
The feudal oligarchy was supplanted by an autocracy.
2385
ominous
threatening
Those clouds are ominous; they suggest that a severe storm is on the way.
2386
omnipotent
all-powerful
The monarch regarded himself as omnipotent and responsible to no one for his acts.
2387
omnipresent
universally present; ubiquitous
On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is omnipotent.
2388
omniscient
all-knowing
I do not pretend to be omniscient, but I am positive about this fact.
2389
omnivorous
eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything
Some animals, including humans, are omnivorous and eat both meat and vegetables; others are either carnivorous or herbivorous.
2390
onerous
burdensome
He asked for an assistant because his work load was too onerous.
2391
onomatopoeia
words formed in imitation of natural sounds
Words like "rustle" and "gargle" are illustrations of onomatopoeia.
2392
onslaught
vicious assault
We suffered many casualties during unexpected onslaght of the enemy troops.
2393
onus
burden; responsibility
The emperor was spared the onus of signing the surrender papers; instead, he relegated the assignment to his generals.
2394
opalescent
iridescent
The Ancient Mariner admired the opalescent sheen on the water.
2395
opaque
dark; not transparent
The opaque window kept the sunlight out of the room.
2396
opiate
sleep producer; deadener of pain
By such opiates, she made the people forget their difficulties and accept their unpleasant circumstances.
2397
opportune
timely; well chosen
You have come at an opportune moment for I need a new secretary.
2398
opportunist
individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances
Forget about ethics! He's such an opportunist that he'll vote in favor of any deal that will give him a break.
2399
opprobrium
infamy; vilification
He refused to defend himself against the slander and opprobrium hurled against him by the newspapers; he preferred to rely on his record.
2400
optician
maker and seller of eyeglasses
The patient took the prescription given him by his oculist to the optician.
2401
optimist
person who looks on the bright side
The pessimist says the glass is half-empty; the optimist says it is half-full.
2402
optimum
most favorable
If you wait for the optimum moment to act, you may never begin your project .
2403
optional
not compulsory; left to one's choice
I was impressed by the range of optional accessories for my microcomputer that were available.
2404
optometrist
one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects
Although an optometrist is qualified to treat many eye disorders, she may not use medicinesor surgery in her examinations.
2405
opulence
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance
The glitter and opulence of the ballroom took Cinderella's breath away.
2406
opus
work
Although many critics hailed his Fifth Symphony, he did not regard it as his major opus.
2407
oracular
foretelling; mysterious
Oedipus could not understand the oracular warning he received.
2408
oratorio
dramatic poem set to music
The Glee Club decided to present an oratorio during their recital.
2409
ordain
command; arrange; consecrate
The king ordained that no foreigner should be allowed to enter the city.
2410
ordeal
severe trial or affliction
Terry Anderson spoke movingly of his long ordeal as a hostage in Lebanon.
2411
ordinance
decree
Passing a red light is a violation of a city ordinance.
2412
ordination
ceremony conferring holy orders
The candidate for ordination had to meet with the bishop and the diocean officers before being judged ready to be ordained a deacon.
2413
orient
get one's bearings; adjust
Philip spent his first day in Denver orienting himself to the city.
2414
orientation
act of finding oneself in society
Freshman orientation provides the incoming students with an opportunity to learn about their new environment and their place in it.
2415
orifice
mouthlike opening; small opening
The Howe Caverns were discovered when someone observed that a cold wind was issuing from an orifice in the hillside.
2416
ornate
excessively or elaborately decorated
Furniture of the Baroque period can be recognized by its ornate carvings.
2417
ornithologist
scientific student of birds
Auduborn's drawings of American bird life have been of interest not only to the ornithologists but also to the general public.
2418
orthodox
traditional; conservative in belief
Faced with a problem, he preferred to take an orthodox approach rather than shock anyone.
2419
orthography
correct spelling
Many of us find English orthography difficult to master because so many of our words are written phonetically.
2420
oscillate
vibrate pendulumlike; waver
It is interesting to note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism.
2421
osseus
made of bone; bony
The hollow "soft spot" found at the top of the infant's skull gradually closes as new osseus tissue fills in the gap.
2422
ossify
change or harden into bone
When he called his opponent a "bonehead," he implied that his adversary's brain had ossified and that he was not capable of clear thinking.
2423
ostensible
apparent; professed; pretended
Although the ostensible purpose of this expedition is to discover new lands, we are really interested in finding new markets for our products.
2424
ostentatious
showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention
Trump's latest casino in Atlantic City is the most ostentatious gambling place in the East: it easily outglitters its competitors.
2425
ostracize
exclude from public favor; ban 
As soon as the newspapers carried the story of his connection with the criminals, his friends began to ostracize him.
2426
oust
expel; drive out
The world wondered if Aquino would be able to oust Marcos from office.
2427
outlandish
bizzare; peculiar; unconventional
The eccentric professor who engages in markedly outlandish behavior is a stock figure in novels with an academic setting.
2428
outmoded
no longer stylish; old-fahioned
Unconcerned about keeping in style, Lenore was perfectly happy to wear outmoded clothes as long as they were clean and unfrayed.
2429
outskirts
fringes; outer borders
Living outskirts of Boston, Sarah sometimes felt as if she were cut off from the cultural heart of the city.
2430
outspoken
candid; blunt
The candidate was too outspoken to be a successful politician; he had not yet learned to weigh his words carefully.
2431
outsrtip
surpass; outdo
Jesse Owens easily outstripped his competitors to win the gold metal at the Olympic Games.
2432
outwit
outsmart; trick
By disguising himself as an old woman, Holmes was able to outwit his pursuers and escape capture.
2433
ovation
enthusiastic applause
When Placido Domingo came on stage in the first act of La Boheme, he was greeted by a tremendous ovation.
2434
overbearing
bossy; arrogant; decisively important
Certain of her own importance and of the unimportance of everyone else, Lady Bracknell was intolerably overbearing in manner. "In choosing a husband," she said, "good birth is of overbearing importance; compared to that, neither wealth nor talent signifie
2435
overt
open to view
According to the United States Constitution, a person must commit an overt act before he may be tried for treason.
2436
overweening
presumptuous; arrogant
His overweening pride in his accomplishments was not justified.
2437
overwrought
extremely agitated; hysterical
When Kate heard the news of the sudden tragedy, she became too overwrought to work and had to leave the office early.
2438
ovoid
egg-shaped
At Easter she had to cut out hundreds of brightly colored ovoid shapes.
2439
overhaul
thoroughly examine the condition of and repair if necessary
It is necessary for the engineers of NASA to overhaul the rocket everyday; otherwise, an incident similar to that of Challenger accident might happen.
2440
pachyderm
thick-skinned animal
The elephant is probably the best-known pachyderm.
2441
pacifist
one opposed to force; antimilitarist
The pacifists urged that we reduce our military budget and recall our troops stationed overseas.
2442
pacify
soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue
Dentists criticize the practice of giving fussy children sweets to pacify them.
2443
paean
song of praise or joy
paeans celebrating the victory filled the air.
2444
painstaking
showing hard work; taking great care
The new high-frequency word list is the result of painstaking efforts on the part of our research staff.
2445
palatable
agreeable; pleasing to the taste
Neither Jack's underbaked opinions nor his overcooked casseroles were palatable to me.
2446
palatial
magnificent
He proudly showed us through his palatial home.
2447
paleontology
study of prehistoric life
The professor of paleontology had a superb collection of fossils.
2448
palette
board on which a painter mixes pigments
At the present time, art supply stores are selling a paper palette that may be discarded after use.
2449
palimpsest
parchment used for second time after original writing has been erased
Using chemical reagents, scientists have been able to restore the original writings on many palimpsests.
2450
pall
grow tiresome
The study of word lists can eventually pall and put one to sleep.
2451
pallet
small, poor bed
The weary traveler went to sleep on his straw pallet.
2452
palliate
ease pain; make less severe or offensive
If we cannot cure this disease at present, we can, at least try to palliate the symptoms.
2453
pallid
pale; wan
Because his occupation required that he work at night and sleep during the day, he had an exceptionally pallid complexion.
2454
palpable
tangible; easily perceptible
I cannot understand how you could overlook such a palpable blunder.
2455
palpitate
throb; flutter
As he became excited, his heart began to palpitate more and more erratically.
2456
paltry
insignificant; petty
This is a paltry sum to pay for such a masterpiece.
2457
pan
criticize harshly
Hoping for a rave review of his new show, the playwright was miserable when the critics panned it unanimously.
2458
panacea
cure-all; remedy for all diseases
There is no easy panacea that will solve our complicated international situation.
2459
panache
flair; flamboyance
Many performers imitate Noel Coward, but few have his panache and sense of style.
2460
pandemic
widespread; affecting the majority of people
They feared the AIDS epidemic would soon reach pandemic proportions.
2461
pandemonium
wild tumult
When the ships collided in the harbor, pandemonium broke out among the passengers.
2462
pander
cater to the low desires of others
The reviewer accused the makers of Lethal Weapon of pandering to the masses' taste of violence.
2463
panegyric
formal praise
The modest hero blushed to hear the speakers delivering panegyrics about his valorous act.
2464
panoramic
denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view
On a clear day, from the top of the World Trade Center you can get a panoramic view of New York City and neighboring stretches of New Jersey and Long Island.
2465
pantomime
acting without dialogue
Because he worked in pantomime, the clown could be understood wherever he appeared.
2466
papyrus
ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant
The ancient Egyptians were among the first to write on papyrus.
2467
parable
short, simple story teaching a moral
Let us apply to our own conduct the lesson that this parable teaches.
2468
paradigm
model; example; pattern
Pavlov's experiment in which he trains a dog to salivate on hearing a bell is a paradigm of the conditioned-response experiment in behavioal psychology.
2469
paradox
statement that looks false but is actually correct; a contradictory statement
Wordworth's "The child is father to the man" is an example of paradox.
2470
paragon
model of perfection
The class disliked him because the teacher was always pointing him out as a paragon of virtue.
2471
parallelism
state of being parallel; similarity
There is a striking parallelism between the twins.
2472
parameter
limit; independent variable
We need to define the parameters of the problem.
2473
paramount
foremost in importance; supreme
Proper nutrition and hygiene are of paramount importance in adolescent development and growth.
2474
paramour
illicit lover
She sought a divorce on the grounds that her husband had a paramour in another town.
2475
paranoia
psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution
Suffering from paranois, he claimed everyone was out to get him; ironically, his claim was accurate; even paranoids have enemies.
2476
paraphernalia
equipment; odds and ends
His desk was cluttered with paper, pen, ink, dictionary and other paraphernalia of the writing craft.
2477
paraphrase
restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author
In 250 words or less, paraphrase this article.
2478
parasite
animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant
The tapeworm is an example of the kind of parasite that may infest the human body.
2479
parched
extremely dry; very thirsty
The parched desert landscape seemed hostile to life.
2480
pariah
social outcast
I am not a pariah to be shunned and ostracized.
2481
parity
equality; close resemblance
I find your analogy inaccurate because I do not see the parity between the two illustrations.
2482
parlance
language; idiom
All this legal parlance confuses me; I need an interpreter.
2483
parley
conference
The peace parley has not produced the anticipated truce.
2484
parochial
narrow in outlook; provincial; related to parishes
Although Jane Austen writes novels set in small rural communities, her concerns are universal, not parochial.
2485
parody
humorous imitation; travesty
We enjoyed the clever parodies of popular songs that the chorus sang.
2486
paroxysm
fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage
When he heared of his son's misdeeds, he was seized by a paroxysm of rage.
2487
parquet
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosic-like pattern.
In laying the floor, the carpenters combined redwood and oak in an elegant parquet.
2488
parry
ward off a blow
He was content to wage a defensive battle and tried to parry his opponent's thrusts.
2489
parsimonious
stingy; excessively frugal
His parsimonious nature did not permit him to enjoy any luxuries.
2490
partial
incomplete
In this issue we have published only a partial list of contributors because we lack space to acknowledge everyone.
2491
partial
biased; having a liking for something
I am extremely partial to chocolate eclairs.
2492
partiality
inclination; bias
As a judge, not only must I be unbiased, but I must also avoid any evidence of partiality when I award the prize.
2493
partisan
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party
On certain issues of conscience, she refused to take a partisan stand.
2494
passe
old-fashioned; past the prime
Her style is passe and reminiscent of the Victorian era.
2495
passive
not active; acted upon
Mahatma Gandhi urged his followers to pursue a program of passive resistance as he felt that it was more effective than violence and acts of terrorism.
2496
pastiche
imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing
We cannot even say that her music is a pastiche of this or that composer; it is rather, reminiscent of many musicians.
2497
pastoral
rural
In these stories of pastoral life, we find an understanding of the daily tasks of country folk.
2498
patent
open for the public to read; obvious
It was patent to everyone that the witness spoke the truth.
2499
pathetic
causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching
Everyone in the auditorium was weeping by the time he finished his pathetic tale about the orphaned boy.
2500
pathological
pertaining to disease
As we study the pathological aspects of this disease, we must not overlook the psychological elements.
2501
pathos
tender to sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings.
The quiet tone of pathos that ran through the novel never degenerated into the maudlin or the overly sentimental.
2502
patina
green crust on old bronze works; tone slowly taken by varnished painting
Judging by the patina on this bronze statue, we can conclude that this is the work of a medieval artist.
2503
patois
local or provincial dialect
His years of study of the language at the university did not enable him to understand the patois of the natives.
2504
patriarch
father and ruler of a family or tribe
In many primitive tribes, the leader and lawmaker was the patriarch.
2505
patrician
noble; aristocratic
We greatly admired her well-bred, patrician elegance
2506
patronize
support; act superior toward
Experts in a field sometimes appear to patronize people who are less knowledgeable of the subject.
2507
paucity
scarcity
They closed the restaurant because the paucity of customers made it uneconomical to operate.
2508
pauper
very poor person
Though Widow Brown was living on a reduced income, she was by no means a pauper.
2509
peccadillo
slight offense
If we examine these escapades carefully, we will realize that they are mere peccadilloes rather than major crimes.
2510
pecuniary
pertaining to money
I never expected a pecuniary reward for my work in this activity.
2511
pedagogue
teacher
He could never be a stuffy pedagogue; his classes were always lively and filled with humor.
2512
pedagogy
teaching; art of education
Though Maria Montessori gained fame for her innovations in pedagogy, it took years before her teaching techniques became common practice in American schools.
2513
pedant
scholar who overemphasizes book learning or technicalities
Her insistence that the book be memorized marked the teacher as a pedant rather than a scholar.
2514
pedantic
showing off learning; bookish
Leaving his decisions with humorous, down-to-earth anecdotes, Judge Walker was not at all pedantic legal scholar.
2515
pedestrian
ordinary; unimaginative
Unintentionally boring, he wrote page after page of pedestrian prose.
2516
pediatrician
physician specializing in children's diseases.
The family doctor advised the parents to consult a pediatrician about their child's ailment.
2517
pejorative
negative in connotation; having a belittling effect.
Instead of criticizing Clinton's policies, the Republicans made pejorative remarks about his character.
2518
pellmell
in confusion; disorderly
The excited students dashed pellmell into the stadium to celebrate the victory.
2519
pellucid
transparent; limpid; easy to understand
After reading these stodgy philosophers, I find his pellucid style very enjoyable.
2520
penance
self-imposed punishment for sin
The Ancient Mariner said, "I have penance done and penance more will do," to atone for the sin of killing the albatross.
2521
penchant
strong inclination; liking
He had a strong penchant for sculpture and owned many statues.
2522
pendant
hanging down from something
Her pendant earrings glistened in the light.
2523
pendant
ornament (hanging from a necklace, etc.)
The grateful team presented the coach with a silver chain and pendant engraved with the school's motto.
2524
pendulous
hanging; suspended
The pendulous chandeliers swayed in the breeze as if they were about to fall from the ceiling.
2525
penitent
repentant
When he realized the enormity of his crime, he became remorseful and penitent.
2526
pensive
dreamily thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness
The pensive youth gazed at the painting for a long time and then sighed.
2527
penumbra
partial shadow (in an eclipse)
During an eclipse, we can see an area of total darkness and a lighter area, which is the penumbra.
2528
penurious
stingy; parsimonious
He was a penurious man, averse to spending money even for the necessities of life.
2529
penury
extreme poverty
When his pension fund failed, George feared he would end his days in penury.
2530
peon
landless agricultural worker; bond servant
The land reformers sought to liberate the peons and establish them as independent farmers.
2531
perceptive
insightful; aware; wise
Although Maud was a generally perceptive critic, she had her blind sports: she could never see flaws in the work of her friends.
2532
percussion
striking one object against another sharply
The drum is a percussion instrument.
2533
perdition
damnation; complete ruin
Praying for salvation, young Daedalus feared he was damned to eternal perdition.
2534
peregrination
journey
Auntie Mame was a world traveler whose peregrinations took her from Tiajuana to Timbuctoo.
2535
peremptory
demanding and leaving no choice
From Jack's peremptory knock on the door, Jill could tell he would not give up until she let him in.
2536
perennial
something long-lasting
Tese plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for many years.
2537
perifidious
treacherous; disloyal
When Caesar realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend.
2538
perforate
pierce; put a hole through
Before you can open the aspirin bottle, you must first perforate the plastic safety seal that covers the cap.
2539
perfunctory
superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm
The auditor's perfunctory inspection of the books overlooked many errors.
2540
perigee
point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth
The rocket which was designed to take photographs of the moon was launched as the moon approached its perigee.
2541
perimeter
outer boundary
To find the perimeter of any quadrilateral, we add the lengths of the four sides.
2542
peripatetic
walking about; moving
The peripatetic school of philosophy derives its name from the fact that Aristotle walked with his pupils while discussing philosophy with them.
2543
peripheral
marginal; outer
We lived, not in central London, but in one of those peripheral suburbs that spring up on the outskirts of the great city.
2544
periphery
edge, especially of a round surface
He sensed that there was something just beyond the periphery of his vision.
2545
perjury
false testimony while under oath
When several witnesses appeared to challenge his story, he was indicted for perjury.
2546
permeable
porous; allowing passage through
Glass is permeable to light.
2547
pernicious
very destructive, harmful
He argued that these books had a pernicious effect on young and susceptible minds.
2548
peroration
conclusion of an oration
The peroration was largely hortatory and brought the audience to its feet clamoring for action at its close.
2549
perpetrate
commit an offense
Only an insane person could perpetrate such a horrible crime.
2550
perpetual
everlasting
Ponce de Leon hoped to find perpetual youth.
2551
perquisite
any gain above stipulated salary
The perquisites attached to this job make it even more attractive than the salary indicates.
2552
personable
attractive
The man I am seeking to fill this position must be personable since he will be representing us before the public.
2553
perspicacious
having insight; penetrating; astute
The brillant lawyer was known for his perspicacious deductions.
2554
perspicuity
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
One of the outstanding features of this book is the perspicuity of its author; her meaning is always clear.
2555
perspicuous
plainly expressed
Her perspicuous comments eliminated all posibility of misinterpretation.
2556
pert
impertinent; forward
I think your pert and impudent remarks call for an apology.
2557
pertinacious
stubborn; persistent
He is bound to succeed because his pertinacious nature will not permit him to quit.
2558
pertinent
suitable; to the point
The lawyer wanted to know all the pertinent details.
2559
perturb
disturb greatly
I am afraid this news will perturb him and cause him grief.
2560
perusal
reading
I am certain that you have missed important details in your rapid perusal of this document.
2561
pervasive
spread throughout
Despite airing them for several hours, she could not rid her clothes of the pervasive odor of mothbals that clung to them.
2562
perverse
stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and unacceptable
When Hannibal Lecter was in a perverse mood, he ate the flesh of his victims.
2563
perversion
corruption; turning from right to wrong
Inasmuch as he had no motive for his crimes, we could not understand his perversion.
2564
pessimism
belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess
The good news we have been receiving lately indicates that there is little reason for your pessimism.
2565
pestilential
causing plague; baneful
People were afraid to explore the pestilential swap.
2566
pestle
tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl
From the way in which the elderly pharmacist pounded the drug with his pestle, young George could tell that his employer was agitated about something.
2567
petrify
turn to stone
His sudden and unexpected appearance seemed to petrify her.
2568
petty
trivial; unimportant; very small
She had no major complaints to make about his work, only a few petty quibbles that were almost too minor to state.
2569
petulant
touchy; peevish
The feverish patient was petulant and restless.
2570
pharisaical
pertaining to Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical
Walter Lippmann has pointed out that moralists who do not attempt to explain the moral code they advocate are often regarded as pharisaical and ignored.
2571
phenomena
observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation
We kept careful records of the phenomena we noted in the course of these experiments.
2572
philanderer
faithless lover; flirt
Swearing he had never so much as looked at another woman, Jack assured Jill he was no philanderer.
2573
philanthropist
lover of mankind; doer of good
As he grew older, he became famous as a philanthropist and benefactor of the needy.
2574
philatelist
stamp-collector
When she heard the value of the Penny Black stamp, Phyllis was inspired to become a philatelist.
2575
philistine
narrow-minded person, uncultured and exculsively interested in material gain
We need more men of culture and enlightenment; we have too many philistines among us.
2576
philology
study of language
The professor of philology advocated the use of Esperanto as an international language.
2577
phlegmatic
calm; not easily disturbed
The nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic person, unexcited in the face of sudden emergencies.
2578
phobia
morbid fear
Her fear of flying was more than mere nervousness; it was a real phobia.
2579
physiognomy
face
He prided himself on his ability to analyze a person's character by studying his physiognomy.
2580
physiological
pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms
To understand this disease fully, we must examine not only its physiological aspects but also its psychological elements.
2581
piebald
of different colors; motled; spotted
You should be able to identify Polka Dot in this race; he is the only piebald horse running.
2582
pied
variegated; multicolored
The pied piper of Hamelin got his name from the multicolored clothing he wore.
2583
piety
devoutness; reverence for God
Living her life in prayer and good works, Mother Teresa exemplifies the true sprit of piety.
2584
pigment
coloring matter
Van Gogh mixed various pigments with linseed oil to create his paints.
2585
pillage
plunder
The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it in ruins.
2586
pillory
punish by placing in a wooden frame; subject to criticism and ridicule
Even though he was mocked and pilloried, he maintained that he was correct in his beliefs.
2587
pine
languish, decline; long for, yearn
Though she tried to be happy living with Clara in the city, Heidi pined for the mountains and for her gruff but loving grandfather.
2588
pinion
restrain
They pinioned his arms against his body but left his legs free so that he could move about.
2589
pinnacle
peak
We could see the morning sunlight illuminate the pinnacle while the rest of the mountain lay in shadow.
2590
pious
devout
The pious parents gave their children a religious upbringing.
2591
piquant
pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating
The piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of the meal.
2592
pique
irritation; resentment
She showed her pique by her refusal to appear with the other contestants at the end of the contest.
2593
piscatorial
pertaining to fishing
He spent many happy hours at the lake in his piscatorial activities.
2594
pithy
concise; meaty
I enjoy reading his essays because they are always compact and pithy.
2595
pittance
a small allowance or wage
He could not live on the pittance he received as a pension and had to look for an additional source of revenue.
2596
pivotal
central; critical
De Klerk's decision to set Nelson Mandela free was pivotal; without Mandela's release, there was no possibility that the African National Cogress would entertain talks with the South African government.
2597
placate
pacify; conciliate
The teacher tried to placate the angry mother.
2598
placebo
harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
In a controlled experiment, fifty volunteers were given erythromycin tablets; the control group received only placebos.
2599
placid
peaceful; calm
After his vacation in this placid section, he felt soothed and rested.
2600
plagiarize
steal another's ideas and pass them off as one's own
The editor could tell that the writer had plagiarized parts of the article; he could recognize whole paragraphs from the original source.
2601
plaintive
mournful
The dove has a plaintive and melancholy call
2602
plasticity
ability to be molded
When clay dries out, it loses its plasticity and becomes less malleable.
2603
platitude
trite remark; commonplace statement
The platitudes in his speech were applauded by the vast majority in his audience; only a few people perceived how trite his remarks were.
2604
platonic
purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
Accused of impropriety in his dealings with female students, the professor maintained he had only a platonic interest in the women involved.
2605
plauditory
approving; applauding
The theatrical company reprinted the plauditory comments of the critics in its advertisement.
2606
plausible
having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious
Even though your argument is plausible, I still would like to have more proof.
2607
plebeian
common; pertaining to the common people
His speeches were aimed at the plebeian minds and emotions; they disgusted the more refined.
2608
plenary
complete; full
The union leader was given plenary power to negotiate a new contract with the employers.
2609
plenitude
abundance; completeness
Looking in the pantry, we admired the plenitude of fruits and pickles we had preserved during the summer.
2610
plethora
excess; overabundance
She offered a plethora of excuses for her shortcomings.
2611
pliable
flexible; yielding; adaptable
In remodeling the bathroom, we replaced all the old, rigid lead pipes with new, pliable copper tubing.
2612
pliant
flexible; easily influenced
Catherine's disposition was pliant; she was like putty in her suitor's hands.
2613
pluck
courage
Even the adversaries of young Indiana Jones were impressed by the boy's pluck in trying to rescue the archeological treasure they had stolen.
2614
plumb
vertical
Before hanging wallpaper it is advisable to drop a plumb line from the ceiling as a guide.
2615
plummet
fall sharply
Stock prices plummeted as Wall Street reacted to the rise in interest rates.
2616
plutocracy
society ruled by the wealthy
From the way the government caters to the rich, you might think our society is a plutocracy rather than a democracy.
2617
podiatrist
doctor who treats ailments of the feet
He consulted a podiatrist about his fallen arches.
2618
podium
pedestal; raised platform
The audience applauded as the conductor made his way to the podium.
2619
poignancy
quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion
Watching the tearful reunion of the long-separated mother and child, the social worker was touched by the poignancy of the scene.
2620
polarize
split into opposite extremes or camps
The abortion issue has polarized the country into pro-choice and anti-abortion camps.
2621
polemic
controversy; argument in support of point of view
Her essays were, for the main part, polemics for the party's policy.
2622
politic
expedient; prudent; well devised
Even though he was disappointed, he did not think it politic to refuse the offer.
2623
polity
form of government of nation or state
Our polity should be devoted to the concept that the government should strive for the good of all citizens.
2624
polygamist
one who has more than one spouse at a time
He was arrested as a polygamist when his two wives filed complaints about him.
2625
polyglot
speaking several languages
New York City is a polyglot community because of the thousands of immigrants who settle there.
2626
pomposity
self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt
Although the commencement speaker had some good things to say, we had to laugh at his pomposity and general air of parading his own dignity.
2627
ponderous
weighty; unwieldy
His humor lacked the light touch; his jokes were always ponderous.
2628
pontifical
pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious
From the very beginning of his ministry it was clear from his pontifical pronouncements that John was destined for a high pontifical office.
2629
pore
study industriously; ponder; scrutinize
Determined to become a physician, Beth spends hours poring over her anatomy text.
2630
porous
full of pores; like a sieve
Dancers like to wear porous clothing because it allows the ready passage of water and air.
2631
portend
foretell; presage
The king did not know what these omens might portend and asked his soothsayers to interpret them.
2632
portent
sign; omen; forewarning
He regarded the black cloud as a portent of evil.
2633
portly
stout; corpulent
The salesclerk tactfully referred to the overweight customer as portly rather than fat.
2634
poseur
person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others
Some thought Dali was a brillant painter; others dismissed him as a poseur.
2635
posterity
descendants; future generations
We hope to leave a better world to posterity.
2636
posthumous
after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death)
The critics ignored his works during his lifetime; it was only after the posthumous publication of his last novel that they recognized his great talent.
2637
postulate
self-evident truth
We must accept these statements as postulates before pursuing our discussions any further.
2638
posture
assume an affected pose; act artificially
No matter how much Arnold boasted or postured, I could not believe he was as important as he pretended to be.
2639
potable
suitable for drinking
The recent drought in the Middle Atlantic States has emphasized the need for extensive research in ways of making sea water potable.
2640
potent
powerful; persuasive; greatly influential
The jury was swayed by the highly potent testimony of the crime's sole eyewitness.
2641
potentate
monarch; sovereign
The potentate spent more time at Monte Carlo than he did at home on his throne.
2642
potential
expressing possibility; latent
The juvenile delinquent is a potential murderer.
2643
potion
dose (of liquid)
Tristan and Lsolde drink a love potion in the first act of the opera.
2644
potpourri
heterogeneous mixture; medley
He offered a potpourri of folk songs from many lands.
2645
poultice
soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
He was advised to apply a flaxseed poultice to the inflammation.
2646
practicable
feasible
The board of directors decided that the plan was practicable and agreed to undertake the project.
2647
practical
based on experience; useful
He was a practical man, opposed to theory
2648
pragmatic
practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something
This coming trip to France should provide me with a pragmatic test of the value of my conversational French class.
2649
pragmatist
practical person
No pragmatist enjoys becoming involved in a game that he can never win
2650
prate
speak foolishly; boast idly
Let us not prate about our qualities; rather, let our virtues speak for themselves.
2651
prattle
babble
The children prattle endlessly about their new toys.
2652
preamble
introductory statement
In the preamble to the Constitution, the purpose of the document is set forth.
2653
precarious
uncertain; risky
I think this stock is a precarious investment and advise against its purchase.
2654
precedent
something preceding in time that may be used as an authority or guide for future action
This decision sets a precedent for future cases of a similar nature.
2655
precedent
preceding in time, rank, etc.
Our discussions, precedent to this event, certainly did not give you any reason to believe that we would adopt your proposal.
2656
precept
practical rule guiding conduct
"Love thy neighbor as thyself" is a worthwhile precept.
2657
precipice
cliff; dangerous position
Suddenly Indiana Jones found himself dangling from the edge of a precipice.
2658
precipitate
headlong; rash
Do not be precipitate in this matter; investigate further.
2659
precipitate
throw headlong; hasten
The removal of American political support appeared to have precipitated the downfall of the Marcos regime.
2660
precipitous
steep; overhasty
This hill is difficult to climb because it is so precipitous; one slip, and our descent will be precipitous as well.
2661
precise
exact
If you don't give me precise directions and a map, I'll never find your place.
2662
preclude
make impossible; eliminate
This contract does not preclude my being employed by others at the same time that I am working for you.
2663
precocious
advanced in development
By her rather adult manner of discussing serious topics, the child demonstrated that she was precocious.
2664
precursor
forerunner
Though Gray and Burns share many traits with the Romantic poets who followed them, most critics consider them precursors of the Romantic Movement, not true Romantics.
2665
predatory
plundering
The hawk is a predatory bird.
2666
predecessor
former occupant of a post
I hope I can live up to the fine example set by my late predecessor in this office.
2667
predilection
partiality; preference
Although the artist used various media from time to time, she had a predilection for watercolors.
2668
preeminent
outstanding; superior
The king traveled to Boston because he wanted the preeminent surgeon in the field to perform the operation.
2669
preempt
head off; forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself; supplant
Hoping to preempt any attempts by the opposition to make educational reform a hot political issue, the candidate set out her own plan to revitalize the public schools.
2670
preen
make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction
As Kitty preened before the mirror, carefully smoothing her shining hair, she couldn't help preening herself on her good looks.
2671
prefactory
introductory
The chairman made a few prefactory remarks before he called on the first speaker.
2672
prehensile
capable of grasping or holding
Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but also their prehensile tails in traveling through the trees.
2673
prelate
church dignitary
The archbishop of Moscow and other high-ranking prelates visited the Russian Orthodox seminary.
2674
prelude
introduction; forerunner
I am afraid that this border raid is the prelude to more serious attacks.
2675
premeditate
plan in advance
She had premeditated the murder for months, reading about common poisons and buying weed killer that contained arsenic.
2676
premise
assumption; postulate
Because Jack had based his argument upon a faulty premise, his opponent cheerfully pointed out the holes in his logic.
2677
premonition
forewarning
We ignored these premonitions of disaster because they appeared to be based on childish fears.
2678
premonitory
serving to warn
You should have visited a doctor as soon as you felt these premonitory chest pains.
2679
preponderance
superiority of power, quantity, etc.
The rebels sought to overcome the preponderance of strength of the government forces by engaging in guerrilla tactics.
2680
preposterous
absurd; ridiculous
When the candidate tried to downplay his youthful experiments with marijuana by saying he hadn't inhaled, we all thought, "What a preposterous excuse!"
2681
prerogative
privilege; unquestionable right
The President cannot levy taxes; that is the prerogative of the legislative branch of government.
2682
presage
foretell
The vultures flying overhead presaged the discovery of the corpse in the desert.
2683
prescience
ability to foretell the future
Given the current wave of Japan-bashing, it does not take prescience for me to foresee problems in our future trade relations with Japan.
2684
presentiment
premonition; foreboding
Hamlet felt a presentiment about his meeting with Laertes.
2685
prestige
impression produced by achievements or reputation
The wealthy man sought to obtain social prestige by contributing to popular charities.
2686
presumptous
arrogant; taking liberties
It seems presumptous for one so relatively new to the field to challenge the conclusions of its leading experts.
2687
pretentious
ostentatious; ambitious
I do not feel that your limited resources will permit you to carry out such a pretentious program.
2688
preternatural
beyond that which is normal in nature
John's mother's total ability to tell when he was lying struck him as almost preternatural.
2689
pretext
excuse
He looked for a good pretext to get out of paying a visit to his aunt.
2690
prevail
induce; triumph over
He tried to prevail on her to type his essays for him.
2691
prevalent
widespread; generally accepted
A radical committed to social change, Reed had no patience with the conservative views prevalent in the America of his day.
2692
prevaricate
lie
Some people believe that to prevaricate in a good cause is justifiable and regard the statement as a "white lie."
2693
prey
target of a hunt; victim
In Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Euell Gibbons has as his prey not wild beasts but wild plants.
2694
prim
very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
Many people commented on the contrast between the prim attire of the young lady and the inappropriate clothing worn by her escort.
2695
primogeniture
seniority by birth
By virtue of primogeniture, in some cultures the first-born child has many privileges denied his brothers and sisters.
2696
primordial
existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial ancestors.
2697
primp
dress or groom oneself with care
She primps for hours before a dance.
2698
pristine
characteristic of earlier times; primitive, unspoiled
This area has been preserved in all its pristine wildness.
2699
privation
hardship; want
In his youth, he knew hunger and privation.
2700
privy
secret; hidden; not public
We do not care for privy chamber of government.
2701
probe
explore with tools
The surgeon probed the wound for foreign matter before suturing it.
2702
probity
uprightness; incorruptibility
Everyone took his probity for granted; his defalcations, therefore, shocked us all.
2703
problematic
perplexing; unsettled: questionable
Given the many areas of conflict still awaiting resolution, the outcome of the peace talks remains problematic.
2704
proclivity
inclination; natural tendency
The cross old lady has a proclivity to grumble.
2705
procrastinate
postpone; delay
It is wise not to procrastinate; otherwise, we find ourselves bogged down in a mass of work that should have been finished long ago.
2706
procurement
obtaining
The personnel department handles the procurement of new employees.
2707
prod
poke; stir up; urge
If you prod him hard enough, he'll eventually clean his room.
2708
prodigal
wasteful; reckless with money
The prodigal son squandered his inheritance.
2709
prodigious
enormous; marvelous
He marveled at her prodigious appetite when he saw all the food she ate.
2710
prodigy
highly gifted child; marvel
Menuhin was a prodigy, performing wonders on his violin when he was barely eight years old.
2711
profane
violate; desecrate
Tourists are urged not to profane the sanctity of holy places by wearing improper garb.
2712
profilgate
dissipated; wasteful; licentious
In this profilgate company, she lost all sense of decency.
2713
profound
deep; not superficial; complete
Freud's remarkable insights into human behavior caused his fellow scientists to honor him as a profound thinker.
2714
profusion
lavish expenditure; overabundant condition
Seldom have I seen food and drink served in such profusion as at the wedding feast.
2715
progenitor
ancestor
The Roth family, whose progenitors emigrated from Germany early in the nineteenth century, settled in Peru, Illinois.
2716
progeny
children; offspring
He was proud of his progeny but regarded George as the most promising of all his children.
2717
prognosis
forecasted course of a disease; prediction
If the doctor's prognosis is correct, the patient will be in a coma for at least twenty-four hours.
2718
prognosticate
predict
I prognosticate disaster unless we change our wasteful ways.
2719
projectile
missile
Man has always hurled projectiles at his enemy whether in the form of stones or of highly explosive shells.
2720
proletarian
member of the working class
The aristocrats feared mob rule and gave the right to vote only to the wealthy, thus depending the proletarians of a voice in government.
2721
proliferate
grow rapidly; spread; multiply
Times of economic hardship inevitably encourage countless get-rich-quick schemes to proliferate
2722
prolific
abundantly fruitful
She was a prolific writer who produced as many as three books a year.
2723
prolix
verbose; drawn out
Her prolix arguments irritated and bored the jury.
2724
prolong
extend; draw out; lengthen
In their determination to discover ways to prolong human life, doctors fail to take into account that longer lives are not always happier ones.
2725
prominent
conspicuous; notable; protruding
Have you ever noticed that Prince Charles's prominent ears make him resemble the big-eared character in Mad comics?
2726
promiscuous
mixed indiscriminately; haphazard; irregular, particularly sexually
In the opera La Boheme, we get a picture of the promiscuous life led by the young artists of Paris.
2727
promontory
headland
They erected a lighthouse on the promontory to warn approaching ships of their nearness to the shore.
2728
prompt
cause; provoke; provide a cue for an actor
Whatever prompted you to ask for such a big piece of cake when you're on a diet?
2729
promulgate
make known by official proclamation or publication
As soon as the Civil Service Commission promulgates the names of the successful candidates, we shall begin to hire members of our staff.
2730
prone
inclined to; prostrate
She was prone to sudden fits of anger.
2731
propagate
multiply; spread
Since bacteria propagate more quickly in unsanitary environments, it is important to keep hospital rooms clean.
2732
propellant
substance that propels or drives forward
The development of our missile program has forced our scientists to seek more powerful propellants.
2733
propensity
natural inclination
Convinced of his own talent, Sol has an unfortunate propensity to belittle the talents of others.
2734
prophetic
having to do with predicting the future
In interpreting Pharaoh's prophetic dream, Joseph said that the seven fat cows eaten by the seven lean cows represented seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
2735
prophylactic
used to prevent disease
Despite all prophylactic measures introduced by the authorities, the epidemic raged until cool weather set in.
2736
propinquity
nearness; kinship
Their relationship could not be explained as being based on mere propinquity: they were more than relatives; they were true friends.
2737
propitiate
appease
The natives offered sacrifices to propitiate the gods.
2738
propitious
favorable; kindly
I think it is advisable that we wait for a more propitious occasion to announce our plans; this is not a good time.
2739
proponent
person who supports or proposes (an idea)
After the bill had been amended and re-amended in committee, even its original proponents didn't want to vote in its favor.
2740
propound
put forth for analysis
In you discussion, you have propounded several questions; let us consider each one separately.
2741
propriety
fitness; correct conduct
I want you to behave at this dinner with propriety; don't embarass me.
2742
propulsive
driving forward
The jet plane has a greater propulsive power than the engine-driven plane.
2743
prosaic
dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factual
Though the ad writers had come up with a highly creative campaign to publicize the company's newest product, the head office rejected it for a more prosaic, down-to-earth approach.
2744
proscenium
part of stage in front of curtain
In the theater-in-the-round there can be no proscenium or proscenium arch.
2745
proscribe
ostracize; banish; outlaw
Antony, Octavius and Lepidus proscribed all those who had conspired against Julius Caesar.
2746
proselytize
induce someone to convert to religion or belief
In these interfaith meetings, there must be no attempt to proselytize; we must respect all points of view.
2747
prosody
the art of versification
This book on prosody contains a rhyming dictionary as well as samples of the various verse forms.
2748
prosperity
good fortune; financial success; physical well-being
Promising to stay together "for richer, for poorer," the newlyweds vowed to be true to one another in prosperity and hardship alike.
2749
prostrate
stretch out full on ground
He prostrated himself before the idol.
2750
protean
versatile; able to take on many forms
A remarkably protean actor, Alec Guinness could take on any role.
2751
protocol
diplomatic etiquette
We must run this state dinner according to protocol if we are to avoid offending any of our guests.
2752
prototype
original work used as a model by others
The crude typewriter on display in this museum is the prototype of the elaborate machines in use today.
2753
protract
prolong
Seeking to delay the union members' vote, the management team tried to protract the negotiations endlessly, but the union representatives saw through their strategy.
2754
protrude
stick out
His fingers protruded from the holes in his gloves.
2755
protuberance
protrusion; bulge
A ganglionic cyst is a fluid-filled tumor (generally benign) that develops near a joint membrane or tendon sheath, and that bulges beneath the skin, forming a protuberance.
2756
provenance
origin or source of something
I am not interested in its provenance; I am more concerned with its usefulness than with its source.
2757
provender
dry food; fodder
I am afraid of a severe winter because I have stored a large quantity of provender for the cattle.
2758
provident
displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies
In his usual provident manner, he had insured himself against this type of loss.
2759
provincial
pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated
As provincial governor, Sir Henry administered the Queen's law in his remote corner of Canada.
2760
provisional
tentative
The appointment is provisional; only on the approval of the board of directors will it be made permanent.
2761
proviso
stipulation
I am ready to accept your proposal with the two proviso that you meet your obligations within the next two weeks.
2762
provoke
stir up anger; cause retaliation
In order to prevent a sudden outbreak of hostilities, we must not provoke our foe.
2763
proximity
nearness
The deer sensed the hunter's proximity and bounded away.
2764
proxy
authorized agent
Please act as my proxy and vote for this slate of candidates in my absence.
2765
prude
excessively modest or proper person
The X-rated film was definitely not for prudes.
2766
prudent
cautious; careful
A miser hoards money not because he is prudent but because he is greedy.
2767
prune
cut away; trim
With the help of her editor, she was able to prune her manuscript into publishable form.
2768
pseudonym
pen name
Samuel Clemens' pseudonym was Mark Twain.
2769
psychiatrist
a doctor who treats mental diseases
A psychiatrist often needs long conferences with his patient before a diagnosis can be made.
2770
psychopathic
pertaining to mental derangement
The psychopathic patient suffers more frequently from a disorder of the nervous system than from a diseased brain.
2771
psychosis
mental disorder
We must endeavor to find an outlet for the patient's repressed desires if we hope to combat this psychosis.
2772
pterodactyl
extinct flying reptile
The remains of pterodactyls indicate that these flying reptiles had a wingspan of as much as twenty feet.
2773
puerile
childish
His puerile pranks sometimes offended his more mature friends.
2774
pugilist
boxer
The famous pugilist Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammed Ali.
2775
pugnacious
combative; disposed to fight
As a child he was pugnacious and fought with everyone.
2776
puissant
powerful; strong; potent
We must keep his friendship for he will make a puissant ally.
2777
pulchritude
beauty; comeliness
I do not envy the judges who have to select this year's Miss America from this collection of female pulchritude.
2778
pulmonary
pertaining to the lungs
In his researches on pulmonary diseases, he discovered many facts about the lungs of animals and human beings.
2779
pulsate
throb
We could see the blood vessels in his temple pulsate as he became more angry.
2780
pulverize
crush or grind into very small particles
Before sprinkling the dried herbs into the stew, Michael first pulverized them into a fine powder.
2781
pummel
beat
The severity with which he was pummeled was indicated by the bruises he displayed on his head and face.
2782
punctilious
laying stress on niceties of conduct or form; precise
We must be punctilious in our planning of this affair, for any error may be regarded as a personal affront.
2783
pundit
learned Hindu; any learned person; authority on a subject
Even though he discourses on the matter like a pundit, he is actually rather ignorant about this topic.
2784
pungency
sharpness; stinging quality
The pungency of the cigarette smoke made me cough.
2785
punitive
punishing
He asked for punitive measures against the offender.
2786
puny
insignificant; tiny; weak
Our puny efforts to stop the flood were futile.
2787
purchase
firm grasp or footing
The mountaineer struggled to get a proper purchase on the slippery rock.
2788
purgatory
place of spiritual expiation
In this purgatory, he could expect no help from his comrades.
2789
purge
clean by removing impurities; clear of changes
If you are to be purged of the charge of contempt of Congress, you must be willing to answer the questions previously asked.
2790
purport
intention; meaning
If the purport of your speech was to arouse the rabble, you succeeded admirably.
2791
purveyor
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer
As purveyor of rare wines and viands, he traveled through France and Italy every year in search of new products to sell.
2792
pusillanimous
cowardly; fainthearted
You should be ashamed of your pusillanimous conduct during this dispute.
2793
putative
supposed; reputed
Although there are some doubts, the putative author of this work is Massinger.
2794
putrid
foul; rotten; decayed
The gangrenous condition of the wound was indicated by the putrid smell when the bandages were removed.
2795
pyromaniac
person with an insane desire to set things on fire
The detectives searched the area for the pyromaniac who had set these costly fires.
2796
pyre
heap of combustible material, esp. for burning a corpse.
The mortician put pyre on the corpse before burning a corpse.
2797
pest
troublesome or annoying person
He was a pest; always bothering people.
2798
prohibitive
extremely high (of prices etc.)
The super computer's price was prohibitive.
2799
quack
charlatan; impostor
Do not be misled by the exorbitant claims of this quack; he cannot cure you.
2800
quadruped
four-footed animal
Most mammals are quadrupeds.
2801
quaff
drink with relish
As we quaffed our ale, we listened to the gay songs of the students in the tavern.
2802
quagmire
soft, wet, boggy land; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself
Up to her knees in mud, Myra wondered how on earth she was going to extricate herself from this quagmire.
2803
quail
cower; lose heart
He was afraid that he would quail in the face of danger.
2804
quaint
odd; old-fashioned; picturesque
Her quaint clothes and old-fashioned language marked her as an eccentric.
2805
qualified
limited; restricted
Unable to give the candidate full support, the mayor gave him only a qualified endorsement.
2806
qualms
misgivings
His qualms of conscience had become so great that he decided to abandon his plans.
2807
quandary
dilemma
When the two colleges to which he had applied accepted him, he was in a quandary as to which one he should attend.
2808
quarantine
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection
We will have to place this house under quarantine until we determine the nature of the disease.
2809
quarry
victim; object of a hunt
The police closed in on their quarry.
2810
quarry
dig into
They quarried blocks of marble out of the hillside.
2811
quash
subdue; crush; squash
The authorities acted quickly to quash the student rebellion, sending in tanks to cow the demonstrators.
2812
quay
dock; landing place
Because of the captain's carelessness, the ship crashed into the quay.
2813
queasy
easily nauseated; squeamish
As the ship left the harbor, he became queasy and thought that he was going to suffer from seasickness.
2814
quell
put down; quiet
The police used fire hoses and teat gas to quell the rioters.
2815
querulous
fretful; whining
His classmates were repelled by his querulous and complaining statements.
2816
queue
line
They stood patiently in the queue outside the movie theatre.
2817
quibble
equivocate; play on words
Do not quibble; I want a straightforward and definite answer.
2818
quiescent
at rest; dormant
After this geyser erupts, it will remain quiescent for twenty-four hours.
2819
quietude
tranquillity
He was impressed by the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the valley.
2820
quintessence
purest and highest embodiment
Noel Coward displayed the quintessence of wit.
2821
quip
taunt
You are unpopular because you are too free with your quips and sarcastic comments.
2822
quirk
startling twise; caprice
By a quirk of fate, he found himself working for the man whom he had discharged years before.
2823
quisling
traitor who aids invaders
In his conquest of Europe, Hitler was aided by the quislings who betrayed their own people and served in the puppet governments established by the Nazis.
2824
quiver
case for arrows
Robin Hood reached back and plucked one last arrow from his quiver.
2825
quixotic
idealistic but impractical
His head is in the clouds; he is constantly presenting these quixotic schemes.
2826
quizzical
bantering; comical; humorously serious
Will Rogers' quizzical remarks endeared him to his audiences.
2827
quorum
number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
The senator asked for a roll call to determine whether a quorum was present.
2828
quotidian
daily; commonplace; customary
To Philip, each new day of his internship was filled with excitement; he could not dismiss his rounds as merely quotidian routine.
2829
rabid
like a fanatic; furious
He was a rabid follower of the Dodgers and watched them play whenever he could go to the ball park.
2830
raconteur
story-teller
My father was a gifted raconteur with an unlimited supply of anecdotes.
2831
ragamuffin
person wearing tattered clothes
He felt sorry for the ragamuffin who was begging for food and gave him money to buy a meal.
2832
rail
scold; rant
You may rail at him all you want; you will never change him.
2833
raiment
clothing
"How can I go to the ball?" asked Cinderella. "I have no raiment fit to wear."
2834
rakish
stylish; sporty
He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
2835
ramble
wander aimlessly (physically or mentally)
Listening to the teacher ramble, Judy wondered whether he'd ever get to his point.
2836
ramification
branching out; subdivision
We must examine all the ramifications of this problem.
2837
ramify
divide into branches or subdivisions
When the plant begins to ramify, it is advisable to nip off most of the new branches.
2838
ramp
slope; inclined plane
The house was built with ramps instead of stairs in order to enable the man in the wheelchair to move easily from room to room and floor to floor.
2839
rampant
rearing up on hind legs; unrestrained
The rampant weeds in the garden killed all the flowers that had been planted in the spring.
2840
rampart
defensive mound on earth
"From the ramparts we watched" as the fighting continued.
2841
ramshackle
rickety; falling apart
The boys propped up the ramshackle clubhouse with a couple of boards.
2842
rancid
having the odor of stale fat
A rancid odor filled the ship's galley and nauseated the crew.
2843
rancor
bitterness; hatred
Let us forget out rancor and cooperate in this new endeavor.
2844
random
without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard
Although the sponsor of the raffle claimed all winners were chosen at random, people had their suspicions when the grand prize went to the sponsor's brother-in-law.
2845
rankle
irritate; fester
The memory of having been jilted rankled him for years.
2846
rant
rave; speak bombastically
As we heard him rant on the platform, we could not understand his strange popularity with many people.
2847
rapacious
excessively grasping; plundering
Hawks and other rapacious birds prey on variety of small animals.
2848
rapport
emotional closeness; harmony
In team teaching, it is important that all teachers in the group have good rapport with one another.
2849
rarefied
made less dense [of a gas]
The mountain climbers had difficulty breathing in the rarefied atmosphere.
2850
raspy
grating; harsh
The sergeant's raspy voice grated on the recruits' ears.
2851
ratify
approve formally; verify
Before the treaty could go into effect, it had to be ratified by the president.
2852
ratiocination
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises
While Watson was a man of average intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift for ratiocination made him a superb detective.
2853
rationalization
bringing into conformity with reason
All attempts at rationalization at this time are doomed to failure; tempers and emotions run too high for intelligent thought to prevail.
2854
rationalize
reason; justify an improper act
Do not try to rationalize your behavior by blaming your companions.
2855
raucous
harsh and shrill
His raucous laughter irritated me and grated on my ears.
2856
ravage
plunder; despoil
The marauding army ravaged the countryside.
2857
rave
overwhelmingly favorable review
Though critic John Simon seldom has a good word to say about contemporary plays, his review of All in the Timing was a total rave.
2858
ravel
fall apart into tangles; unravel or untwist; entangle
A sigle thread pulled loose, and the entire scarf started to ravel.
2859
ravenous
extremely hungry
The revenous dog upset several garbage pails in its search for food.
2860
ravine
narrow valley with steep sides
Steeper than a gully, less precipitous than a canyon, a ravine is, like them, the product of years of erosion.
2861
raze
destroy completely
The owners intend to raze the hotel and erect an office building on the site.
2862
reactionary
recoiling from progress; retrograde
His program was reactionary since it sought to abolish many of the social reforms instituted by the previous administration.
2863
realm
kingdom; sphere
The realm of possibilities for the new invention was endless.
2864
reaper
one who harvests grain
Death, the Grim Reaper, cuts down men and women, just as a farmer cuts down the ripened grain.
2865
rebate
discount
We offer a rebate of ten percent to those who pay cash.
2866
rebuff
snub; beat back
She rebuffed his invitation so smoothly that he did not realize he had been snubbed.
2867
rebus
puzzle in which pictures stand for words
A coven of witches beside a tree is a possible rebus for the town Coventry.
2868
rebuttal
refutation; response with contrary evidence
The defense lawyer confidently listened to the prosecutor sum up his case, sure that she could answer his arguments in her rebuttal.
2869
recalcitrant
obstinately stubborn
Donkeys are reputed to be the most recalcitrant of animals.
2870
recant
repudiate; withdraw previous statement
Unless you recant your confession, you will be punished severely.
2871
recapitulate
summarize
Let us recapitulate what has been said thus far before going ahead.
2872
receptive
quick or willing to receive ideas, suggestions, etc.
Adventure-loving Huck Finn proved a receptive audience for Tom's tales of buried treasure and piracy.
2873
recession
withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
The slow recession of the flood waters created problems for the crews working to restore power to the area.
2874
recidivism
habitual return to crime
Prison reformers in the United States are disturbed by the high rate of recidivism; the number of persons serving second and third terms indicates the failure of the prisons to rehabilitate the inmates.
2875
recipient
receiver
Although he had been the recipient of many favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor.
2876
reciprocal
mutual; exchangeable; interacting
The two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement.
2877
reciprocate
repay in kind
If they attack us, we shall be compelled to reciprocate and bomb their territory.
2878
recluse
hermit
The recluse lived in a hut in the forest.
2879
reconcile
correct inconsistencies; become friendly after a quarrel
Every time we try to reconcile our checkbook with the bank statement, we quarrel. However, despite these monthly lovers' quarrels, we always manage to reconcile.
2880
recondite
abstruse; profound; secret
He read many recondite books in order to obtain the material for the scholarly thesis.
2881
reconnaissance
survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering
If you encounter any enemy soldiers during your reconnaissance, capture them for questioning.
2882
recount
narrate or tell; count over again
About to recount the latest adventure of Sherlock Holmes, Watson lost track of exactly how many cases Holmes had solved and refused to begin his tale until he'd recounted them one by one.
2883
recourse
resorting to help when in trouble
The boy's only recourse was to appeal to his father for aid.
2884
recrimination
countercharges
Loud and angry recriminations were her answer to his accusations.
2885
rectify
correct
I want to rectify my error before it is too late.
2886
rectitude
uprightness
He was renowned for his rectitude and integrity.
2887
recumbent
reclining; lying down completely or in part
The command "AT EASE" does not permit you to take a recumbent position.
2888
recuperate
recover
The doctors were worried because the patient did not recuperate as rapidly as they had expected.
2889
recurrent
occurring again and again
These recurrent attacks disturbed us and we consulted a physician.
2890
redolent
fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor
Even though it is February, the air is redolent of spring.
2891
redoubtable
formidable; causing fear
During the Cold War period, neighboring countries tried not to offend the Russians because they could be redoubtable foes.
2892
redress
remedy; compensation
Do you mean to tell me that I can get no redress for my injuries?
2893
redundant
superfluous; excessively wordy; repetitious
Your composition is redundant; you can easily reduce its length.
2894
reek
emit (odor)
The room reeked with stale tobacco smoke.
2895
refectory
dining hall
In this huge refectory, we can feed the entire student body at one sitting.
2896
refraction
bending of a ray of light
When you look at a stick inserted in water, it looks bent because of the refraction of the light by the water.
2897
refractory
stubborn; unmanageable
The refractory horse was eliminated from the race when he refused to obey the jockey.
2898
refrain
v. abstain from; resist n. chorus
Whenever he heard a song with a lively chorus, Sol could never refrain from joining in on the refrain.
2899
refurbish
renovate; make bright by polishing
The flood left a deposit of mud on everything; it was necessary to refurbish our belongings.
2900
refute
disprove
The defense called several respectable witnesses who were able to refute the false testimony of the prosecution's only witness.
2901
regal
royal
Prince Albert had a regal manner.
2902
regale
entertain
John regaled us with tales of his adventures in Africa.
2903
regatta
boat or yacht race
Many boating enthusiasts followed the regatta in their own yachts.
2904
regeneration
spiritual rebirth
Modern penologists strive for the regeneration of the prisoners.
2905
regicide
murder of a king or queen
The beheading of Mary Queen of Scots was an act of regicide.
2906
regime
method or system of government
When a Frenchman mentions the Old Regime, he refers to the government existing before the revolution.
2907
regimen
prescribed diet and habits
I doubt whether the results warrant our living under such a strict regimen.
2908
rehabilitate
restore to proper condition
We must rehabilitate those whom we send to prison.
2909
reimburse
repay
Let me know what you have spent and I will reimburse you.
2910
reiterate
repeat
He reiterated the warning to make sure everyone understood it.
2911
rejoinder
retort; comeback; reply
When someone has been rude to me, I find it particularly satisfying to come up with a quick rejoinder.
2912
rejuvenate
make young again
The charlatan claimed that his elixir would rejuvenate the aged and weary.
2913
relegate
banish; consign to inferior position
If we relegate these experts to minor posts because of their political persuasions, we shall lose their valuable services.
2914
relent
give in
When her stern father would not relent and allow her to marry Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett eloped with her suitor.
2915
relevant
pertinent; referring to the case in hand
Teri was impressed by how relevant Virginia Woolf's remarks were to her as a woman writer; it was as if Woolf had been writing with Teri's situation in mind.
2916
relic
surviving remnant; memento
Egypt's Department of Antiquities prohibits tourists from taking mummies and other ancient relics out of the country.
2917
relinquish
abandon
I will relinquish my claims to this property if you promise to retain my employees.
2918
relish
savor; enjoy
I relish a good joke as much as anyone else.
2919
remediable
reparable
Let us be grateful that the damage is remediable.
2920
reminiscence
recollection
Her reminiscences of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book.
2921
remiss
negligent
He was accused of being remiss in his duty when the prisoner escaped.
2922
remission
temporary moderation of disease symptoms; cancellation of a debt; forgiveness or pardon
Though Senator Tsongas had been treated for cancer, his symptoms were in remission, and he was considered fit to handle the strains of a Presidential race.
2923
remnant
remainder
I suggest that you wait until the store places the remnants of these goods on sale.
2924
remonstrance
protest; objection
The authorities were deaf to the pastor's remonstrances about the lack of police protection in the area.
2925
remorse
guilt; self-reproach
The murderer felt no remorse for his crime.
2926
remunerative
compensating; rewarding
I find my new work so renumerative that I may not return to my previous employment.
2927
rend
split; tear apart
In his grief, he tried to rend his garments.
2928
render
deliver; provide; represent
He rendered aid to the needy and indigent.
2929
rendezvous
meeting place
The two fleets met at the rendezvous at the appointed time.
2930
rendition
translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc.
The audience cheered enthusiastically as she completed her rendition of the aria.
2931
renegade
deserter; traitor
Because he had abandoned his post and joined forces with the Indians, his fellow officers considered the hero of Dances with Wolves a renegade.
2932
renege
deny; go back on
He reneged on paying off his debt.
2933
renounce
abandon; disown; repudiate
Even though she knew she would be burned at the stake as a witch, Joan of Arc refused to renounce her belief that her voices came from God.
2934
renovate
restore to good condition; renew
They claim that they can renovate worn shoes so that they look like new ones.
2935
renown
fame
For many years an unheralded researcher, Barbara McClintock gained international renown when she won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.
2936
rent
tear or rip; split
The conflict over abortion threatens to split our nation, creating a rent in the social fabric that will be difficult to mend.
2937
reparable
capable of being repaired
Fortunately, the damages we suffered in the accident were reparable and our car looks brand new.
2938
reparation
amends; compensation
At the peace conference, the defeated country promised to pay reparations to the victors.
2939
repartee
clever reply
He was famous for his witty repartee and his sarcasm.
2940
repeal
revoke; annul
What would the effect on our society be if we decriminalized drug use by repealing the laws against the possession and sale of narcotics?
2941
repellent
driving away; unattractive
Mosquitoes find the odor so repellent that they leave any spot where this liquid has been sprayed.
2942
repercussion
rebound; reverberation; reaction
I am afraid that this event will have serious repercussions.
2943
repertoire
list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present
The opera company decided to include Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the following season.
2944
repine
fret; complain
There is no sense repining over the work you have left undone.
2945
replenish
fill up again
Before she could take another backpacking trip, Carla had to replenish her stock of freeze-dried foods.
2946
replete
filled to capacity; abundantly supplied
The book is replete with humorous situations.
2947
replica
copy
Are you going to hang this replica of the Declaration of Independence in the classroom or in the auditorium?
2948
replicate
reproduce; duplicate
To the chagrin of the scientists, they were unable to replicate the results of their controversial experiment.
2949
repository
storehouse
Libraries are repositories of the world's best thoughts.
2950
reprehensible
deserving blame
Your vicious conduct in this situation is reprehensible.
2951
repress
restrain; crush; oppress
Anne's parents tried to curb her impetuosity without repressing her boundless high spirits.
2952
reprieve
temporary stay
During the twenty-four-hour reprieve, the lawyers sought to make the stay of execution permanent.
2953
reprimand
reprove severely
I am afraid that my parents will reprimand me when I show them my report card.
2954
reprisal
retaliation
I am confident that we are ready for any reprisals the enemy may undertake.
2955
reprise
recurrent action; musical repetition; repeat performance
At Waterloo, it was not the effect of any one skirmish that exhausted Colonel Audly; rather it was the cumulative effect of the constant reprises that left him spent.
2956
reproach
blame; censure
I want my work to be above reproach and without error
2957
reprobate
person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency
I cannot understand why he has so many admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is.
2958
reprobation
severe disapproval
The students showed their reprobation of his act by refusing to talk with him.
2959
reprove
censure; rebuke
The principal reproved the students when they became unruly in the auditorium.
2960
repudiate
disown; disavow
He announced that he would repudiate all debts incurred by his wife.
2961
repugnance
loathing
She looked at the snake with repugnance.
2962
repulsion
act of driving back; distaste
The repulsion of the enemy forces was not accomplished bloodlessly; many of the defenders were wounded in driving the enemy back.
2963
reputable
respectable
If you want to buy antiques, look for a reputable dealer; far too many dealers today pass off fakes as genuine antiques.
2964
reputed
supposed
He is the reputed father of the child.
2965
requiem
mass for the dead; dirge
They played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral.
2966
requisite
necessary requirement
Many colleges state that a student must offer three years of a language as a requisite for admission.
2967
requite
repay; revenge
The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them.
2968
rescind
cancel
Because of public resentment, the king had to rescind his order.
2969
reserve
self-control; formal but distant manner
Although some girls were attracted by Mark's reserve, Judy was put off by it, for she felt his aloofness indicated a lack of openness.
2970
residue
remainder; balance
In his will, he requested that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the residue be given to his wife.
2971
resignation
patient submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job
If Bob Cratchit had not accepted Scrooge's bullying with timid resignation, he might have gotten up the nerve to hand in his resignation.
2972
resilient
elastic; having the power of springing back
Highly resilient, steel makes excellent bedsprings.
2973
resolution
determination
Nothing could shake his resolution to succeed despite all difficulties.
2974
resolve
determination
Nothing could shake his resolve that his children would get the best education that money could buy.
2975
resolve
decide; settle; solve
Homes resolved to travel to Bohemia to resolve the dispute between Irene Adler and the King.
2976
resonant
echoing; resounding; deep and full in sound
The deep, resonant voice of the actor James Earl Jones makes him particulary effective when he appears on stage.
2977
respiration
breathing; exhalation
The doctor found that the patient's years of smoking had adversely affected both his lung capacity and his rate of respiration.
2978
respite
delay in punishment; interval of relief; rest
The judge granted the condemned man a respite to enable his attorneys to file an appeal.
2979
resplendent
brilliant; lustrous
The toreador wore a resplendent costume called a suit of lights.
2980
responsiveness
state of reacting readily to appeals, order, etc.
The audience cheered and applauded, delighting the performers by its responsiveness.
2981
restitution
reparation; indemnification
He offered to make restitution for the window broken by his son.
2982
restive
restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control
Waiting impatiently in the line to see Santa Claus, even the best-behaved children grow restive and start to fidget.
2983
restraint
controlling force
She dreamt of living an independent life, free of all restraints.
2984
resumption
taking up again; recommencement
During the summer break, Don had not realized how much he missed university life: at the resumption of classes, however, he felt marked excitement and pleasure.
2985
resurgent
rising again after defeat, etc.
The resurgent nation surprised everyone by its quick recovery after total defeat.
2986
resuscitate
revive
The lifeguard tried to resuscitate the drowned child by applying artificial respiration.
2987
retain
keep; employ
Fighting to retain his seat in Congress, Senator Foghorn retained a new manager to head his reelection campaign.
2988
retaliate
repay in kind (usually for bad treatment)
Fear that we will retaliate immediately deters our foe from attacking us.
2989
retentive
holding; having a good memory
The pupil did not need to spend much time in study as he had a retentive mind.
2990
reticent
reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence
Hughes preferred reticent employees to loquacious ones, noting that the formers' dislike of idle chatter might ensure their discretion about his affairs.
2991
retinue
following; attendants
The queen's retinue followed her down the aisle.
2992
retiring
modest; shy
Given Susan't retiring personality, no one expected her to take up public speaking; surprisingly enough, she became a star of the school debate team.
2993
retort
quick, sharp reply
Even when it was advisable for her to keep her mouth shut, she was always ready with a retort.
2994
retraction
withdrawal
He dropped his libel suit after the newspaper published a retraction of its statement.
2995
retrench
cut down; economize
If they were to be able to send their children to college, they would have to retrench.
2996
retribution
vengeance; compensation; punishment for offenses
The evangelist maintained that an angry deity would exact retribution from the sinners.
2997
retrieve
recover; find and bring in
The dog was intelligent and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter.
2998
retroactive
taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax)
Because the new pension law was retroactive to the first of the year, even though Martha had retired in February she was eligible for the pension.
2999
retrograde
go backwards; degenerate
Instead of advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in ethics and culture.
3000
retrospective
looking back on the past
It is only when we become retrospective that we can appreciate the tremendous advances made during this century.
3001
revelry
boisterous merrymaking
New Year's Eve is a night of revelry.
3002
reverberate
echo; resound
The entire valley reverberated with the sound of the church bells.
3003
reverent
respectful
His reverent attitude was appropriate in a house of worship.
3004
reverie
daydream; musing
He was awakened from his reverie by the teacher's question.
3005
revile
slander; vilify
He was avoided by all who feared that he would revile and abuse them if they displeased him.
3006
revoke
cancel; retract
Repeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol face having their driver's licenses permanently revoked.
3007
revulsion
sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction
Many people in this country who admired dictatorships underwent a revulsion when they realized what Hitler and Mussolini were trying to do.
3008
rhapsodize
to speak or write in  an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner
She greatly enjoyed her Hawaiian vacation and rhapsodized about it for weeks.
3009
rhetoric
art of effective communication; insincere or grandiloquent language
All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric. 
3010
ribald
wanton; profane
He sang a ribald song that offended many of the more prudish listeners.
3011
rider
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
Senator Foghorn said he would support Senator Filibuster's tax reform bill only if Filibuster agreed to add an antipollution rider to the bill.
3012
rife
abundant; current
In the face of the many rumors of scandal, which are rife at the moment, it is best to remain silent.
3013
rift
opening; break
The plane was lost in the stormy sky until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds.
3014
rig
fix or manipulate
The ward boss was able to rig the election by bribing people to stuff the ballot boxes with ballots marked in his candidate's favor.
3015
rigid
stiff and unyielding; strict; hard and unbending
By living with a man to whom she was not married, George Eliot broke Victorian society's most rigid rule of respectable behavior.
3016
rigor
severity
Many settlers could not stand the rigors of the New England winters.
3017
rile
vex; irritate; muddy
Red had a hair-trigger temper: he was an easy man to rile.
3018
riveting
absorbing; engrossing
The reviewer described Byatt's novel Possession as a riveting tale: absorbed in the story, he had finished it in a single evening.
3019
rivulet
small stream
As the rains continued, the trickle of water running down the hillside grew into a rivulet that threatened to wash away a portion of the slope.
3020
robust
vigorous; strong
The candidate for the football team had a robust physique.
3021
rococo
ornate; highly decorated
The rococo style in furniture and architecture, marked by scrollwork and excessive decoration, flourished during the middle of the eighteenth century.
3022
roil
to make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; to disturb
Be careful when you pour not to roil the wine; if you stir up the sediment you'll destroy the flavor.
3023
roseate
rosy; optimistic
I am afraid you will have to alter your roseate views in the light of the distressing news that has just arrived.
3024
roster
list
They print the roster of players in the season's program.
3025
rostrum
platform for speech-making; pulpit
The crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum.
3026
rote
repetition
He recited the passage by rote and gave no indication he understood what he was saying.
3027
rotunda
circular building or hall covered with a dome
His body lay in state in the rotunda of the Capitol.
3028
rotundity
roundness; sonorousness of speech
Washington Irving emphasized the rotundity of the governor by describing his height and circumference.
3029
rousing
lively; stirring
"And now, let's have a rousing welcome for TV's own Roseanne Arnold, who'll lead us in a rousing rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'"
3030
rout
stampede; drive out
The reinforcements were able to rout the enemy
3031
rubble
fragments
Ten years after World War II, some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be seen.
3032
rubric
title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol
In ordaining the new priests, the bishop carefully observed all the rubrics for the ordination service.
3033
ruddy
reddish; healthy-looking
His ruddy features indicated that he had spent much time in the open.
3034
rudimentary
not developed; elementary
His dancing was limited to a few rudimentary steps.
3035
rueful
regretful; sorrowful; dejected
The artist has captured the sadness of childhood in his portrait of the boy with the rueful countenance.
3036
ruffian
bully; scoundrel
The ruffians threw stones at the police.
3037
ruminate
chew the cud; ponder
We cannot afford to wait while you ruminate upon these plans.
3038
rummage
ransack; thoroughly search
When we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days.
3039
runic
mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet
Tolkien's use of Old English words and inscriptions in the runic alphabet give The Lord of the Rings its atmosphere of antiquity.
3040
ruse
trick; stratagem
You will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ruse.
3041
rustic
pertaining to country people; uncouth
The backwoodsman looked out place in his rustic attire.
3042
rusticate
banish to the country; dwell in the country
I like city life so much that I can never understand how people can rusticate in the suburbs.
3043
ruthless
pitiless
The escaped convict was a dangerous and ruthless murderer.
3044
relapse
fall back or sink again
The economy relapsed into a depression from the peak.
3045
saboteur
one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property
Members of the Resistance acted as saboteurs, blowing up train lines to prevent supplies from reaching the Nazi army.
3046
saccharine
cloyingly sweet
She tried to ingratiate herself, speaking sweetly and smiling a saccharine smile.
3047
sacrilegious
desecrating; profane
His stealing of the altar cloth was a very sacrilegious act.
3048
sacrosanct
most sacred; inviolable
The brash insurance salesman invaded the sacrosanct privacy of the office of the president of the company.
3049
sadistic
inclined to cruelty
If we are to improve conditions in this prison, we must first get rid of the sadistic warden.
3050
saga
Scandinavian myth; any legend
This is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it.
3051
sagacious
keen; shrewd; having insight
He is much too sagacious to be fooled by a trick like that.
3052
sage
person celebrated for wisdom
Hearing tales of a mysterious Master of All Knowledge who lived in the hills of Tibet, Sandy was possessed with a burning desire to consult the legendary sage.
3053
salacious
lascivious; lustful
Chaucer's monk is not pious but salacious, a teller of lewd tales and ribald jests.
3054
salient
prominent
One of the salient features of that newspaper is its excellent editorial page.
3055
saline
salty
The slightly saline taste of this mineral water is pleasant.
3056
sallow
yellowish; sickly in color
We were disturbed by his sallow complexion, which was due to jaundice.
3057
salubrious
healthful
Many people with hay fever move to more salubrious sections of the country during the months of August and September.
3058
salutary
tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome
The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy, as he became a model student.
3059
salvage
rescue from loss
All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.
3060
sanctimonious
displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness
You do not have to be so sanctimonious to prove that you are devout.
3061
sanction
approve; ratify
Nothing will convince me to sanction the engagement of my daughter to such a worthless young man.
3062
sanguinary
bloody
The battle of lwo Jina was unexpectedly sanguinary with many casualties.
3063
sanguine
cheerful; hopeful
Let us not be too sanguine about the outcome; something could go wrong.
3064
sap
diminish; undermine
The element kryptonite had an unhealthy effect on Superman: it sapped his strength.
3065
sarcasm
scornful remarks, stinging rebuke
His feelings were hurt by the sarcasm of his supposed friends.
3066
sardonic
disdainful; sarcastic; cynical
The sardonic humor of nightclub comedians who satirize or ridicule patrons in the audience strikes some people as amusing and others as rude.
3067
sartorial
pertaining to tailors
He was as famous for the sartorial splendor of his attire as he was for his acting.
3068
sate
satisfy to the full; cloy
Its hunger sated, the lion dozed.
3069
satellite
small body revolving around a larger one
During the first few years of the Space Age, hundreds of satellites were launched by Russia and the United States.
3070
satiate
surfeit; satisfy fully
The guests, having eaten until they were satiated, now listened inattentively to the speakers.
3071
satire
form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack vice and folly
Gulliver's Travels, which is regarded by many as a tale for children, is actually a bitter satire attacking human folly.
3072
satirical
mocking
The humor of cartoonists Gary Trudeau often is satirical; though the comments of the Doonesbury characters, Trudeau ridicules political corruption and folly.
3073
saturate
soak
Their clothes were saturated by the rain.
3074
saturnine
gloomy
Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance; he is not as gloomy as he looks.
3075
satyr
half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus, portrayed as wanton and cunning
He was like a satyr in his lustful conduct.
3076
saunter
stroll slowly
As we sauntered through the park, we stopped frequently to admire the spring flowers.
3077
savant
scholar
Our faculty includes many worldfamous savants.
3078
savor
enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality
Relishing his triumph, Costner especially savored the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure.
3079
savory
tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable
Julia Child's recipes enable amateur chefs to create savory delicacies for their guests.
3080
scabbard
case for a sword blade; sheath
The drill master told the recruit to wipe the blood from his sword before slipping it back into the scabbard.
3081
scad
a great quantity
Refusing Dave's offer to lend him a shirt, Phil replied, "No, thanks: I've got scads of clothes."
3082
scaffold
temporary platform for workers; bracing framework; platform for execution
Before painting the house, the workers put up a scaffold to allow them to work on the second story.
3083
scale
climb up; ascend
To locate a book on the top shelf of the stacks, Lee had to scale an exceptionally rickety ladder.
3084
scanty
meager; insufficient
Thinking his helping of food was scanty, Oliver Twist asked for more.
3085
scapegoat
someone who bears the blame for others
After the Challenger disaster, NASA searched for scapegoats on whom they could cast the blame.
3086
scavenge
hunt through discarded materials for usable items; search, especially for food
If you need car parts that the dealers no longer stock, try scavenging for odd bits and pieces at the auto wreckers' yards.
3087
scenario
plot outline; screenplay; opera libretto
Scaramouche startled the other actors in the commedia troupe when he suddenly departed from their customary scenario and began to improvise.
3088
schematic
relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols
In working out the solution to an analytical logic question, you may find it helpful to construct a simple schematic diagram illustrating the relationships between the items of information given in the question.
3089
schism
division; split
Let us not widen the schism by further bickering.
3090
scintilla
shred; least bit
You have not produced a scintilla of evidence to support your argument.
3091
scintillate
sparkle; flash
I enjoy her dinner parties because the food is excellent and the conversation scintillates.
3092
scoff
mock; ridicule
He scoffed at dentists until he had his first toothache.
3093
scotch
stamp out; thwart; hinder
Heather tried to scotch the rumor that she had stolen her best friend's fiance.
3094
scourge
lash; whip; severe punishment
They feared the plague and regarded it as a deadly scourge.
3095
scruple
fret about; hesitate, for ethical reasons
Fearing that her husband had become involved in an affair, she did not scruple to read his diary.
3096
scrupulous
conscientious; extremely thorough
I can recommend him for a position of responsibility for I have found him a very scrupulous young man.
3097
scrutinize
examine closely and critically
Searching for flaws, the sergeant scrutinized every detail of the private's uniform.
3098
scuffle
struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry.
The twins briefly scuffled, wrestling to see which of them would get the toy. When their big brother yelled, "Let go of my Gameboy!" they scuffled off down the hall.
3099
scurrilous
obscene; indecent
Your scurrilous remarks are especially offensive because they are untrue.
3100
scurry
move briskly
The White Rabbit had to scurry to get to his appointment on time.
3101
scurvy
despicable; contemptible
Peter Pan sneered at Captain Hook and his scurvy crew.
3102
scuttle
sink
The sailors decided to scuttle their vessel rather than surrender it to the enemy.
3103
seamy
sordid; unwholesome
In the Godfather, Michael Corleone is unwilling to expose his wife and children to the seamy side of his life as the son of a Mafia don.
3104
sear
char or burn; brand
Accidentally brushing against the hot grill, she seared her hand badly.
3105
seasoned
experienced
Though pleased with her new batch of rookies, the basketball coach wished she had a few more seasoned players on the team.
3106
secession
withdrawal
The secession of the Southern states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his inauguration.
3107
seclusion
isolation; solitude
One moment she loved crowds; the next, she sought seclusion.
3108
secrete
hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism.
The pack rat secretes odds and ends in its nest; the pancreas secretes insulin in the islets of Langerhans.
3109
sectarian
narrow-minded; limited in scope
As university chaplain, she sought to address universal religious issues and not limit herself to mere sectarian concerns.
3110
secular
worldly; not pertaining to church matters; temporal
The church leaders decided not interfere in secular matters.
3111
sedate
composed; grave
The parents were worried because they felt their son was too quiet and sedate.
3112
sedentary
requiring sitting
Because he had a sedentary occupation, he decided to visit a gymnasium weekly.
3113
sedition
resistance to authority; insubordination
His words, though not treasonous in themselves, were calculated to arouse thoughts of sedition.
3114
sedulous
diligent
The young woman was so sedulous that she received a commendation for her hard work.
3115
seedy
run-down; decrepit; disreputable
I would rather stay in dormitory lodgings in a decent youth hostel than have a room of my own in a seedy downtown hotel.
3116
seemly
proper; appropriate
Lady Bracknell did not think it was seemly for Ernest to lack a proper family; no baby abandoned on a doorstep could grow up to marry her daughter.
3117
seep
ooze; trickle
During the rainstorm, water seeped through the crack in the basement wall and damaged the floor boards.
3118
seethe
be disturbed; boil
The nation was seething with discontent as the nobleman continued their arrogant ways.
3119
seine
net for catching fish
When the shad run during the spring, you may see fishermen with seines along the banks of our coastal rivers.
3120
seismic
pertaining to earthquakes
The Richter scale is a measurement of seismic disturbances.
3121
semblance
outward appearance; guise
Although this book has a semblance of wisdom and scholarship, a careful examination will reveal many errors and omissions.
3122
seminal
germinal; influencing future developments; related to seed or semen
Although Freud has generally been regarded as a seminal thinker who shaped the course of psychology, his psychoanalytic methods have come under attack recently.
3123
seminary
school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women
Sure of his priestly vocation, Terrence planned to pursue his theological training at the local Roman Catholic seminary.
3124
senility
old age; feeble mindedness of old age
Most of the decisions are being made by the junior members of the company because of the senility of the president.
3125
sensual
devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptous
I cannot understand what caused him to drop his sensual way of life and become so ascetic.
3126
sensuous
pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses
He was stimulated by the sights, sounds and smells about him; he was enjoying his sensuous experience.
3127
sententious
terse; concise; aphoristic
After reading so many redundant speeches, I find his sententious style particulary pleasing.
3128
sentinel
sentry; lookout
Though camped in enemy territory, Bledsoe ignored the elementary precaution of posting sentinels around the encampment.
3129
septic
putrid; producing putrefaction
The hospital was in such a filthy state that we were afraid that many of the patients would suffer from septic poisoning.
3130
sepulcher
tomb
Annabel Lee was buried in a sepulcher by the sea.
3131
sequester
retire from public life; segregate; seclude
Although he had hoped for a long time to sequester himself in a small community, he never was able to drop his busy round of activities in the city.
3132
sere
parched; dry
After the unseasonably dry winter the Berkeley hills looked dusty and sere.
3133
serendipity
gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck
Many scientific discoveries are a matter of serendipity: Newton was not sitting there thinking about gravity when the apple dropped on his head.
3134
serenity
calmness; placidity
The serenity of the sleepy town was shattered by a tremendous explosion.
3135
serpentine
winding; twisting
The car swerved at every curve in the serpentine road.
3136
serrated
having a sawtoothed edge
The beech tree is one of many plants that have serrated leaves.
3137
servile
slavish; cringing
Constantly fawning on his employer, humble Uriah Heap was a servile creature.
3138
servitude
slavery; compulsory labor
Born a slave, Douglass resented his wife of servitude and plotted to escape to the North.
3139
severance
division; partition; separation
The severance of church and state is a basic principle of our government.
3140
severity
harshness; plainness
The newspapers disapproved of the severity of the sentence.
3141
sextant
navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude
Given a clear night, with the aid of his sextant and compass, he could keep the ship safely on course.
3142
shackle
chain; fetter
The criminal's ankles were shackled to prevent his escape.
3143
sham
pretend
He shammed sickness to get out of going to school.
3144
shambles
slaughterhouse; scene of carnage
By the time the police arrived, the room was a shambles.
3145
shard
fragment, generally of pottery
The archaeologist assigned several students the task of reassembling earthenware vessels from the shards he had brought back from the expedition.
3146
sheaf
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
The lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as he rose to question the witness.
3147
sheathe
place into a case
As soon as he recognized the approaching men, he sheathed his dagger and hailed them as friends.
3148
sherbet
flavored dessert ice
I prefer raspberry sherbet to ice cream since it is less fattening.
3149
shimmer
glimmer intermittently
The moonlight shimmered on the water as the moon broke through the clouds for a moment.
3150
shirk
avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger
Brian has a strong sense of duty; he would never shirk any responsibility.
3151
shoddy
sham; not genuine; inferior
You will never get the public to buy such shoddy material.
3152
shrew
scolding woman
No one wanted to marry Shakespeare's Kate because she was a shrew.
3153
shrewd
clever; astute
A shrewd investor, he took clever advantage of the fluctuations of the stock market.
3154
shun
keep away from
Cherishing his solitude, the recluse shunned the company of other human beings.
3155
shunt
turn aside; divert; sidetrack
If the switchman failed to shunt the Silver Streak onto a side track, the train would plow right into Union Station.
3156
shyster
lawyer using questionable methods.
On L.A. Law, respectable attorney Brackman was horrified to learn that his newly discovered half brother was a cheap shyster.
3157
sibling
brother or sister
We may not enjoy being siblings, but we cannot forget that we still belong to the same family.
3158
sibylline
prophetic; oracular
Until their destruction by fire in 83 B.C., the sibylline books were often consulted by the Romans.
3159
sidereal
relating to the stars
Although hampered by optical and mechanical flaws, the orbiting Hubble space telescope has relayed extraordinary images of distant sidereal bodies.
3160
silt
sediment deposited by running water
The harbor channel must be dredged annually to remove the silt.
3161
simian
monkeylike
Lemurs are nocturnal mammals and have many simian characteristics, although they are less intelligent than monkeys.
3162
simile
comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as
"My love is like a red, red rose" is a simile.
3163
simper
smirk; smile affectedly
Complimented on her appearance, Stella self-consciously simpered.
3164
simplistic
oversimplified
Though Jack's solution dealt adequately with one aspect of the problem, it was simplistic in failing to consider various complicating factors that might arise.
3165
simulate
feign
He simulated insanity in order to avoid punishment for his crime.
3166
sinecure
well-paid position with little responsibility
My job is no sinecure; I work long hours and have much responsibility.
3167
sinewy
tough; strong and firm
The steak was too sinewy to chew
3168
singular
unique; extraordinary; odd
Though the young man tried to understand Father William's singular behavior, he still found it odd that the old man incessantly stood on his head.
3169
sinister
evil
We must defeat the sinister forces that seek our downfall.
3170
sinuous
winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
The snake moved in a sinuous manner.
3171
skeptic
doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view.
In this matter, I am a skeptic; I want proof.
3172
skiff
small, light sailboat or rowboat
Tom dreamed of owning an ocean-going yacht but had to settle for a skiff he could sail in the bay.
3173
skimp
provide scantily; live very economically
They were forced to skimp on necessities in order to make their limited supplies last the winter.
3174
skinflint
miser
The old skinflint refused to give her a raise.
3175
skirmish
minor fight
Custer's troops expected they might run into a skirmish or two on maneuvers; they did not expect to face a major battle.
3176
skittish
lively; frisky
She is as skittish as a kitten playing with a piece of string.
3177
skulduggery
dishonest behavior
The investigation into municipal corruption turned up new instances of skulduggery daily.
3178
skulk
move furtively and secretly
He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid meeting any of his former friends.
3179
slacken
slow up; loosen
As they passed the finish line, the runners slackened their pace.
3180
slag
residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
The blast furnace had a special opening at the bottom to allow the workers to remove the worthless slag.
3181
slake
quench; sate
When we reached the oasis, we were able to slake our thirst.
3182
slander
defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements
Unless you can prove your allegations, your remarks constitute slander.
3183
slapdash
haphazard; careless; sloppy
From the number of typos and misspellings I've found on it, it's clear that Mario proofread the report in a remarkably slapdash fashion.
3184
sleazy
flimsy; unsubstantial
This is a sleazy fabric; it will not wear well.
3185
sleeper
something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable
Unnoticed by the critics at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Prize winner was a classic sleeper.
3186
sleight
dexterity
The magician amazed the audience with his sleight of hand.
3187
slight
insult to one's dignity; snub
Hypersensitive and ready to take offense at any discourtesy, Bertha was always on the lookout for real or imaginary slights.
3188
slither
slip or slide
During the recent ice storm, many people slithered down this hill as they walked to the station.
3189
sloth
laziness
Such sloth in a young person is deplorable; go to work!
3190
sloth
slow-moving tree-dwelling mammal
Note how well the somewhat greenish coat of the sloth enables it to blend in with its arboreal surroundings.
3191
slough
cast off
Each spring, the snake sloughs off its skin.
3192
slovenly
untidy; slipshod
Such slovenly work habits will never produce good products.
3193
sluggard
lazy person
"You are a sluggard, a drone, a parasite," the angry father shouted at his lazy son.
3194
sluggish
slow; lazy; lethargic
After two nights without sleep, she felt sluggish and incapable of exertion.
3195
sluice
artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water
In times of drought, this sluice enables farmers to obtain water for irrigation.
3196
slur
insult to one's character or reputation; slander
Polls revealed that the front-runner's standing had been damaged by the slurs and innuendoes circulated by his opponent's staff.
3197
smattering
slight knowledge
I don't know whether it is better to be ignorant of a subject or to have a mere smattering of information about it.
3198
smirk
conceited smile
Wipe that smirk off your face!
3199
smolder
burn without flame; be liable to break out at any moment
The rags smoldered for hours before they burst into flame.
3200
snicker
half-stifled laugh
The boy could not suppress a snicker when the teacher sat on the tack.
3201
snivel
run at the nose; snuffle; whine
Don't you come sniveling to me complaining about your big brother.
3202
sobriety
moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
Neither drunkards nor comics are noted for sobriety.
3203
sodden
soaked; dull, as if from drink
He set his sodden overcoat near the radiator to dry.
3204
sojourn
temporary stay
After his sojourn in Florida, he began to long for the colder climate of his native New England home.
3205
solace
comfort in trouble
I hope you will find solace in the thought that all of us share your loss.
3206
solder
repair or make whole by using a metal alloy
The plumber fixed the leak in the pipes by soldering a couple of joints from which water had been oozing.
3207
solecism
construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically
I must give this paper a failing mark because it contains many solecisms.
3208
solemnity
seriousness; gravity
The minister was concerned that nothing should disturb the solemnity of the marriage service.
3209
solicit
request earnestly; seek
Knowing she needed to have a solid majority for the budget to pass, the mayor telephoned all the members of the city council to solicit their votes.
3210
solicitous
worried, concerned
The employer was very solicitous about the health of her employees as replacements were difficult to get.
3211
soliloquy
talking to oneself
The soliloquy is a device used by the dramatist to reveal a character's innermost thoughts and emotions.
3212
solstice
point at which the sun is farthest from the equator
The winter solstice usually occurs on December 21.
3213
solvent
able to pay all debts
By dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings.
3214
somatic
pertaining to the body; physical
Why do you ignore the spiritual aspects and emphasize only the corporeal and the somatic ones?
3215
somber
gloomy; depressing
From the doctor's grim expression, I could tell he had somber news.
3216
somnambulist
sleepwalker
The most famous somnambulist in literature is Lady Macbeth; her monologue in the sleepwalking scene is one of the highlights of Shakespeare's play.
3217
somnolent
half asleep
The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker.
3218
sonorous
resonant
His sonorous voice resounded through the hall.
3219
sophist
teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning
You are using all the devices of a sophist in trying to prove your case; your argument is specious.
3220
sophistication
artificiality; unnaturalness; act of employing sophistry in reasoning
Sophistication is an acquired characteristic, found more frequently among city dwellers than among residents of rural areas.
3221
sophistry
seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning
Instead of advancing valid arguments, he tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood of sophistries.
3222
sophomoric
immature; shallow
Your sophomoric remarks are a sign of your youth and indicate that you have not given much thought to the problem.
3223
soporific
sleep producing
I do not need a sedative when I listen to one of his soporific speeches.
3224
sordid
filthy; base; vile
The social worker was angered by the sordid housing provided for the homeless.
3225
spangle
small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
The thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights.
3226
spartan
lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined
Looking over the bare, unheated room with its hard cot, he wondered what he was doing in such spartan quarters. Only his spartan sense of duty kept him at his post.
3227
spasmodic
fitful; periodic
The spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers.
3228
spat
squabble; minor dispute
What had started out as a mere spat escalated into a full-blown argument.
3229
spate
sudden flood
I am worried about the possibility of a spate if the rains do not diminish soon.
3230
spatial
relating to space
It is difficult to visualize the spatial extent of our universe.
3231
spatula
broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
The manufacturers of this frying pan recommended the use of a rubber spatula to avoid scratching the specially treated surface.
3232
spawn
lay eggs
Fish ladders had to be built in the dams to assist the salmon returning to spawn in their native streams.
3233
specious
seemingly reasonable but incorrect
Let us not be misled by such specious arguments.
3234
spectral
ghostly
We were frightened by the spectral glow that filled the room.
3235
spectrum
colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism
The visible portion of the spectrum includes red at one end and violet at the other.
3236
spendthrift
someone who wastes money
Easy access to credit encourages people to turn into spendthrifts who shop till they drop.
3237
sphinxlike
enigmatic; mysterious
The Mona Lisa's sphinx-like expression has puzzled art lovers for centuries.
3238
splice
fasten together; unite
Before you splice two strips of tape together, be sure to line them up evenly.
3239
spontaneity
impulsiveness; absence of premeditation
What I liked best about Dale's parties was their spontaneity: a couple of friends would drop by, someone would pull out a fiddle or guitar, and before you knew it the party would be in full swing.
3240
spoonerism
accidental transposition of sounds in sucessive words
When the radio announcer introduced the President as Hoobert Herver, he was guilty of spoonerism.
3241
sporadic
occurring irregularly
Although there are still sporadic outbursts of shooting in the streets, the rebellion is essentially over.
3242
sportive
playful
Such a sportive attitude is surprising in a person as serious as you usually are.
3243
spruce
neat and trim
Every button buttoned, tie firmly in place, young Alex Keaton looked spruce and tidy for his job interview at the bank.
3244
spry
vigorously active; nimble
She was eighty years old, yet still spry and alert.
3245
spurious
false; counterfeit; forged; illogical
The hero of Jonathan Gash's mystery novels is an antique dealer who gives the reader advice on how to tell spurious antiques from the real things.
3246
spurn
reject; scorn
The heroine spurned the villain's advances.
3247
squabble
minor quarrel; bickering
Children invariably get involved in petty squabbles; wise parents know when to interfere and when to let the children work things out on their own.
3248
squalid
dirty; neglected; poor
It is easy to see how crime can breed in such a squalid neighborhood.
3249
squander
waste
The prodigal son squandered the family estate.
3250
squat
stocky; short and thick
Tolkien's hobbits are somewhat squat, sturdy little creatures, fond of good ale, good music, and good food.
3251
staccato
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt, sharp sound
His staccato speech reminded one of the sound of a machine gun.
3252
stagnant
motionless; stale; dull
The stagnant water was a breeding ground for disease
3253
staid
sober; sedate
Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn.
3254
stalemate
deadlock
Negotiations between the union and the employers have reached a stalemate; neither side is willing to budge from previously stated positions.
3255
stalwart
strong, brawny; steadfast
His consistent support of the party has proved that he is a stalwart and loyal member.
3256
stamina
strength; staying power
I doubt that she has the stamina to run the full distance of the marathon race.
3257
stanch
check flow of blood
It is imperative that we stanch the gushing wound before we attend to the other injuries.
3258
stanza
division of a poem
Do you know the last stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
3259
static
unchanging; lacking development
Nothing had changed at home; things were static there
3260
statute
law
We have many statutes in our law books which should be repealed.
3261
statutory
created by statute or legislative action
The judicial courts review and try statutory crimes.
3262
steadfast
loyal; unswerving
Penelope was steadfast in her affections, faithfully waiting for Ulysses to return from his wanderings.
3263
stealth
slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness
Fearing detection by the sentries on duty, the scout inched his way toward the enemy camp with great stealth.
3264
steep
soak; saturate
Be sure to steep the fabric in the dye bath for the full time prescribed.
3265
stellar
pertaining to the stars
He was the stellar attraction of the entire performance.
3266
stem
check the flow
The paramedic used a tourniquet to stem the bleeding from the slashed artery.
3267
stemfrom
arise from
Milton's problems in school stemmed from his poor study habits.
3268
stentorian
extremely loud
The town crier had stentorian voice.
3269
streotyped
oversimplified; lacking individuality; seen as a type
My chief objection to the book is that the characters are stereotyped; they come across as ethnic caricatures, not as real people with individual quirks, fears, and dreams.
3270
stickler
perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
The Internal Revenue Service agent was a stickler for accuracy; no approximations or rough estimates would satisfy him.
3271
stifle
suppress; extinguish; inhibit
Halfway through the boring lecture, Laura gave up trying to stifle her yawns.
3272
stigma
token of disgrace; brand
I do not attach any stigma to the fact that you were accused of this crime; the fact that you were acquitted clears you completely.
3273
stilted
bombastic; stiffly pompous
His stilted rhetoric did not impress the college audience; they were immune to bombastic utterances.
3274
stint
be thrifty; set limits
"Spare no expense," the bride's father said, refusing to stint on the wedding arrangements.
3275
stint
supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work
He performed his daily stint cheerfully and willingly.
3276
stipend
pay for services
There is a nominal stipend for this position.
3277
stipple
paint or draw with dots
Seurat carefully stippled dabs of pure color on the canvas, juxtaposing dots of blue and yellow that the viewer's eye would interpret as green.
3278
stipulate
make express conditions, specify
Before agreeing to reduce American military forces in Europe, the president stipulated that NATO teams be allowed to inspect Soviet bases.
3279
stodgy
stuffy; boringly conservative
For a young person, Winston seems remarkably stodgy: you'd expect someone of his age to have a little more life.
3280
stoic
person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain
The doctor called her patient a stoic because he had borne the pain of the examination without whimpering.
3281
stoke
stir up a fire; feed plentifully
As a Scout, Marisa learned how to light a fire, how to stoke it if it started to die down, and how to extinguish it completely.
3282
stolidity
dullness; impassivenss
The earthquake shattered his usual stolidity; trembling, he crouched on the no longer stable ground.
3283
stratified
divided into classes; arranged into strata
As the economic gap between the rich and the poor increased, Roman society grew increasingly stratified.
3284
stratum
layer of earth's surface; layer of society
Unless we alleviate conditions in the lowest stratum of our society, we may expect grumbling and revolt.
3285
strew
spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter
Preceding the bride to the altar, the flower girl will strew rose petals along the aisle.
3286
striated
marked with parallel bands; grooved
The glacier left many striated rocks.
3287
stricture
critical comments; severe and adverse criticism
His strictures on the author's style are prejudiced and unwarranted.
3288
strident
loud and harsh
She scolded him in a strident voice
3289
stringent
binding; rigid
I think these regulations are too stringent.
3290
strut
pompous walk
His strut as he marched about the parade ground revealed him for what he was: a pompous buffoon.
3291
strut
supporting bar
The engineer calculated that the strut supporting the rafter needed to be reinforced.
3292
studied
unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful
Given Jill's previous slights, Jack felt that the omission of his name from the guest list was a studied insult.
3293
stultify
cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinder
His long hours in the blacking factory left young Dickens numb and incurious, as if the menial labor had stultified his mind.
3294
stupefy
make numb; stun; amaze
Disapproving of drugs in general, Laura refused to take sleeping pills or any other medicine that might stupefy her.
3295
stupor
state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
In his stupor, the addict was unaware of the events taking place around him.
3296
stymie
present an obstacle; stump
The detective was stymied by the contradictory evidence in the robbery investigation.
3297
suavity
urbanity; polish
He is particulary good in roles that require suavity and sophistication.
3298
subaltern
subordinate
The captain treated his subalterns as though they were children rather than commissioned officers.
3299
subjective
occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal
Your analysis is highly subjective; you have permitted your emotions and your opinions to color your thinking.
3300
subjugate
conquer; bring under control
It is not our aim to subjugate our foe; we are interested only in establishing peaceful relations.
3301
sublimate
refine; purify
We must strive to sublimate these desires and emotions into worthwhile activities.
3302
sublime
exalted; noble; uplifting
Mother Teresa has been honored for her sublime deeds.
3303
subliminal
below the threshold
We may not be aware of the subliminal influences that affect our thinking.
3304
submissive
yielding; timid
Crushed by his authoritarian father, Will had no defiance left in him; he was totally submissive in the face of authority.
3305
suborn
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury)
In the Godfather, the mobsters used bribery and threats to suborn the witnesses against Don Michael Corleone.
3306
subpoena
writ summoning a witness to appear
The prosecutor's office was ready to serve a subpoena on the reluctant witness.
3307
subsequent
following; later
In subsequent lessons, we shall take up more difficult problems.
3308
subservient
behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious
He was proud and dignified; he refused to be subservient to anyone.
3309
subside
settle down; descend; grow quiet
The doctor assured us that the fever would eventually subside.
3310
subsidiary
subordinate; secondary
This information may be used as subsidiary evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument.
3311
subsidy
direct financial aid by government, etc.
Without this subsidy, American ship operators would not be able to compete in world markets.
3312
subsistence
existence; means of support; livelihood
In those days of inflated prices, my salary provided mere subsistence.
3313
substantiate
verify; support
I intend to substantiate my statement by producing witnesses.
3314
substantive
essential; pertaining to the substance
Although the delegates were aware of the importance of the problem, they could not agree on the substantive issues.
3315
subsume
include; encompass
Does the general theory of relativity contradict Newtonian physics, or is Newton's law of gravity subsumed into Einstein's larger scheme?
3316
subterfuge
pretense; evasion
As soon as we realized that you had won our support by a subterfuge we withdrew our endorsement of your candidacy.
3317
subtlety
nicety; cunning; guile; delicacy
The subtlety of his remarks was unnoticed by most of his audience.
3318
subversive
tending to overthrow; destructive
At first glance, the notion that Styrofoam cups may actually be more ecologically sound than paper cups strikes most environmentalists as subversive.
3319
succinct
brief; terse; compact
His remarks are always succinct and pointed.
3320
succor
aid; assistance; relief
We shall be ever grateful for the succor our country gave us when we were in need.
3321
succulent
juicy; full of richness
To some people, Florida citrus fruits are more succulent than those from California.
3322
succumb
yield; give in; die
I succumb to temptation whenever it comes my way.
3323
suffragist
advocate of voting rights (for women)
In recognition of her efforts to win the vote for women, Congress authorized coining a silver dollar honoring the suffragist Susan B. Anthony.
3324
suffuse
spread over
A blush suffused her cheeks when we teased her about her love affair.
3325
sully
tarnish; soil
He felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully his hands in such menial labor.
3326
sultry
sweltering
He could not adjust himself to the sultry climate of the tropics.
3327
summation
act of finding the total, summary
In his summation, the lawyer emphasized the testimony given by the two witnesses.
3328
sumptuous
lavish; rich
I cannot recall when I have had such a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.
3329
sunder
separate; part
Northern and southern Ireland are politically and religiously sundered.
3330
sundry
various; several
My suspicions were aroused when I read sundry items in the newspapers about your behavior.
3331
superannuated
retired or disqualified because of age
The superannuated man was indignant because he felt that he could still perform a good day's work.
3332
supercilious
contemptuous; haughty
I prefer Jill's modesty to Jack's supercilious and arrogant attitude.
3333
supererogatory
superfluous; more than needed or demanded
We have more than enough witnesses to corroborate your statement; to present any more would be supererogatory.
3334
superficial
trivial; shallow
Since your report gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, I cannot give you more than a passing grade.
3335
superfluous
excessive; overabundant, unnecessary
Please try not to include so many superfluous details in your report; just give me the bare facts.
3336
superimpose
place over something else
Your attempt to superimpose another agency in this field will merely increase the bureaucratic nature of our government.
3337
supernumerary
person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extra
His first appearance on the stage was as a supernumerary in a Shakespearean tragedy.
3338
supersede
cause to be set aside; replace
This regulation will supersede all previous rules.
3339
supine
lying on back
The defeated pugilist lay supine on the canvas.
3340
supplant
replace; usurp
Corazon Aquino supplanted Ferdinand Marcos as president of the Philippines.
3341
supple
flexible; pliant
The angler found a supple limb and used it as a fishing rod.
3342
suppliant
entreating; beseeching
He could not resist the dog's suppliant whimpering, and he gave it some food.
3343
supplicate
petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
We supplicate Your Majesty to grant him amnesty.
3344
supposition
hypothesis; surmise
I based my decision to confide in him on the supposition that he would be discreet.
3345
supposititious
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
I find no similarity between your supposititious illustration and the problem we are facing.
3346
surfeit
satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything
Every Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an overabundance of holiday treats.
3347
surly
rude; cross
Because of his surly attitude, many people avoided his company.
3348
surmise
guess
I surmise that he will be late for this meeting.
3349
surmount
overcome
He had to surmount many obstacles in order to succeed.
3350
surpass
exceed
Her SAT scores surpassed out expectations.
3351
surreptitious
secret
News of their surreptitious meeting gradually leaked out.
3352
surrogate
substitute
For a fatherless child, a male teacher may become a father surrogate.
3353
surveillance
watching; guarding
The FBI kept the house under constant surveillance in the hope of capturing all the criminals at one time.
3354
susceptible
impressionable; easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a disease
He was a very susceptible young man, and so his parents worried that he might fall into bad company.
3355
sustain
experience; support; nourish
He sustained such a severe injury that the doctors feared he would be unable to work to sustain his growing family.
3356
sustenance
means of support, food, nourishment
In the tropics, the natives find sustenance easy to obtain because of all the fruit trees.
3357
suture
stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing
We will remove the sutures as soon as the wound heals.
3358
swarthy
dark; dusky
Despite the stereotype, not all Italians are swarthy; many are fair and blond.
3359
swathe
wrap around; bandage
When I visited him in the hospital, I found him swathed in bandages.
3360
swelter
be oppressed by heat
I am going to buy an air conditioning unit for my apartment as I do not intend to swelter through another hot and humid summer.
3361
swerve
deviate; turn aside sharply
The car swerved wildly as the driver struggled to regain control of the wheel.
3362
swill
drink greedily
Singing, "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum," Long John Silver and his fellow pirates swilled their grog.
3363
swindler
cheat
She was gullible and trusting, an easy victim for the first swindler who came along.
3364
sybarite
lover of luxury
Rich people are not always sybarites; some of them have little taste for a life of luxury.
3365
sycophant
servile flatterer
The king enjoyed the servile compliments and attentions of the sycophants in his retinue.
3366
syllogism
logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
There must be a fallacy in this syllogism; I cannot accept its conclusion.
3367
sylvan
pertaining to the woods; rustic
His paintings of nymphs in sylvan backgrounds were criticized as oversentimental.
3368
symbiosis
interdependent relationship (between groups, species), often mutually beneficial
Both the crocodile bird and the crocodile derive benefit from their symbiosis; pecking away at food particles embedded in the crocodile's teeth, the bird derives nourishment; the crocodile, meanwhile, derives proper dental hygiene.
3369
symmetry
arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity
The addition of a second tower will give this edifice the symmetry that it now lacks.
3370
synchronous
similary timed; simultaneous with
We have many examples of scientists in different parts of the world who have made synchronous discoveries.
3371
synoptic
providing a general overview; summary
The professor turned to the latest issue of Dissertation Abstracts for a synoptic account of what was new in the field.
3372
synthesis
combining parts into a whole
Now that we have succeeded in isolating this drug, our next problem is to plan its synthesis in the laboratory.
3373
synthetic
artificial; resulting from synthesis
During the twentieth century, many synthetic products have replaced the natural products.
3374
sedative
calming drug or influence
It is dangerous to drive after taking the sedative; it brings drowsiness.
3375
stygian
literary dark
No example
3376
tacit
understood; not put into words
We have a tacit agreement based on only a handshake.
3377
taciturn
habitually silent; talking a little
New Englanders are reputedly taciturn people.
3378
tactile
pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
His callused hands had lost their tactile sensitivity.
3379
tainted
contaminated; corrupt
Health authorities are always trying to prevent the sale and use of tainted food.
3380
talisman
charm
She wore the talisman to ward off evil.
3381
talon
claw of bird
The falconer wore a leather gauntlet to avoid being clawed by the hawk's talons.
3382
tangential
peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing
Despite Clark's attempts to distract her with tangential remarks, Lois kept on coming back to her main question: why couldn't he come out to dinner with Superman and her?
3383
tangible
able to be touched; real; palpable
Although Tom did not own a house, he had several tangible assets--a car, a television, a PC--that he could sell if he needed cash.
3384
tanner
person who turns animal hides into leather
Using a solution of tanbark, the tanner treated the cowhide, transforming it into supple leather.
3385
tantalize
tease; torture with disappointment
Tom loved to tantalize his younger brother with candy; he knew the boy was forbidden to have it.
3386
tantamount
equal
Your ignoring their pathetic condition is tantamount to the murder.
3387
tantrum
fit of petulance; caprice
The child learned that he could have almost anything if he went into tantrums.
3388
taper
candle
He lit the taper on the windowsill.
3389
tarantula
venomous spider
We need an antitoxin to counteract the bite of the tarantula.
3390
tarry
delay; dawdle
We can't tarry if we want to get to the airport on time.
3391
taut
tight; ready
The captain maintained that he ran a taut ship.
3392
tautological
needlessly repetitious
In the sentence "It was visible to the eye," the phrase "to the eye" is tautological.
3393
tawdry
cheap and gaudy
He won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island.
3394
taxonomist
specialist in classifying (animals, etc.)
Dental patterns often enable the taxonomist to distinguish members of one rodent species from those of another.
3395
tedium
boredom; weariness
We hope this radio will help overcome the tedium of your stay in the hospital.
3396
temerity
boldness; rashness
Do you have the temerity to argue with me?
3397
temper
moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel)
Not even her supervisor's grumpiness could temper Nancy's enthusiasm for her new job.
3398
temperament
characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess
Although the twins look alike, they differ markedly in temperament: Tod is calm, but Rod is excitable.
3399
temperate
restrained; self-controlled
Noted for his temperate appetite, he seldom gained weight.
3400
tempo
speed of music
I find the conductor's tempo too slow for such a brilliant piece of music.
3401
temporal
not lasting forever; limited by time; secular
At one time in our history, temporal rulers assumed that they had been given their thrones by divine right.
3402
temporize
avoid committing oneself; gain time
I cannot permit you to temporize any longer; I must have a definite answer today.
3403
tenacious
holding fast
I had to struggle to break his tenacious hold on my arm.
3404
tenacity
firmness; persistency; adhesiveness
It is extremely difficult to overcome the tenacity of a habit such as smoking.
3405
tendentious
having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause
The editorials in this periodical are tendentious rather than truth-seeking.
3406
tender
offer; extend
Although no formal changes had been made against him, in the wake of the recent scandal the mayor felt he should tender his resignation.
3407
tenet
doctrine; dogma
The agnostic did not accept the tenets of their faith.
3408
tensile
capable of being stretched
Mountain climbers must know the tensile strength of their ropes.
3409
tentative
provisional; experimental
Your tentative plans sound plausible; let me know when the final details are worked out.
3410
tenuous
thin; rare; slim
The allegiance of our allies is held by rather tenuous ties; let us hope they will remain loyal.
3411
tenure
holding of an office; time during which such an office is held
He was permanent tenure in this position and cannot be fired.
3412
tepid
lukewarm
During the summer, I like to take a tepid bath, not a hot one.
3413
terminate
to bring to an end
When his contract was terminated unexpectedly, he desperately needed a new job.
3414
terminology
terms used in a science or art
The special terminology developed by some authorities in the field has done more to confuse laypersons than to enlighten them.
3415
terminus
last stop of railroad
After we reached the railroad terminus, we continued our journey into the wilderness on saddle horses.
3416
terrestrial
on or relating to the earth
We have been able to explore the terrestrial regions much more thoroughly than the aquatic or celestial regions.
3417
terse
concise; abrupt; pithy
I admire his terse style of writing; he comes directly to the point.
3418
tertiary
third
He is so thorough that he analyzes tertiary causes where other writers are content with primary and secondary reasons.
3419
tesselated
inlaid; mosaic
I recall seeing a table with a tesselated top of bits of stone and glass in a very interesting pattern.
3420
testator
maker of a will
The attorney called in his secretary and his partner to witness the signature of the testator.
3421
testy
irritable; short-tempered
My advice is to avoid discussing this problem with him today as he is rather testy and may shout at you.
3422
tether
tie with a rope
Before we went to sleep, we tethered the horses to prevent their wandering off during the night.
3423
thematic
relating to a unifying motif or idea
Those who think of Moby Dick as a simple adventure story about whaling miss is underlying thematic import.
3424
theocracy
government of a community by religious leaders
Some Pilgrims favored the establishment of a theocracy in New England.
3425
theoretical
not practical or applied; hypothetical
Bob was better at applied engineering and computer programming than he was at theoretical physics and math. While I can still think of some theoretical objections to your plan, you've convinced me of its basic soundness.
3426
therapeutic
curative
Now better known for its racetrack, Saratoga Springs first gained attention for the therapeutic qualities of its famous "healing waters."
3427
thermal
pertaining to heat
The natives discovered that the host springs gave excellent thermal baths and began to develop their community as a health resort.
3428
thespian
pertaining to drama
Her success in the school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian career.
3429
thrall
slave; bondage
The captured soldier was held in thrall by the conquering army.
3430
thrifty
careful about money; economical
A thrifty shopper compares prices before making major purchases.
3431
thrive
prosper; flourish
Despite the impact of recession on the restaurant trade, Philip's cafe thrived.
3432
throes
violent anguish
The throes of despair can be as devastating as the spasms accompanying physical pain.
3433
throng
crowd
Throngs of shoppers jammed the aisles.
3434
throttle
strangle
The criminal tried to throttle the old man with his bare hands.
3435
thwart
baffle; frustrate
He felt that everyone was trying to thwart his plans and prevent his success.
3436
tightwad
excessively frugal person; miser
Jill called Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the check.
3437
tilter
handle used to move the boat's rudder (to steer)
Fearing the wind might shift suddenly and capsize the skiff, Tom kept one hand on the tilter at all times.
3438
timbre
quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument
We identify the instrument producing a musical sound by its timbre.
3439
timidity
lack of self-confidence or courage
If you are to succeed as a salesperson, you must first lose your timidity and fear of failure.
3440
timorous
fearful; demonstrating fear
His timorous manner betrayed the fear he felt at the moment.
3441
tipple
drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently
He found that his most enjoyable evenings occurred when he tippled with his friends at the local pub.
3442
tirade
extended scolding; denunciation
Long before he had finished his tirade, we were sufficiently aware of the seriousness of our misconduct.
3443
titanic
gigantic
titanic waves beat aginst the shore during the hurricane.
3444
tithe
tax of one-tenth
Because he was an agnostic, he refused to pay his tithes to the clergy.
3445
titillate
tickle
I am here not to titillate my audience but to enlighten it.
3446
title
right or claim to possession; mark of rank; name (of a book, film, etc.)
Though the penniless Duke of Ragwort no longer held title to the family estate, he still retained his title as head of one of England's oldest families.
3447
titter
nervous laugh
Her aunt's constant titter nearly drove her mad.
3448
titular
having the title of an office without the obligations
Although he was the titular head of the company, the real decisions were made by his general manager.
3449
toady
servile flatterer; yes man
Never tell the boss anything he doesn't wish to hear: he doesn't want an independent adviser, he just wants a toady.
3450
toga
Roman outer robe
Marc Antony pointed to the slashes in Caesar's toga.
3451
tome
large volume
He spent much time in the libraries poring over ancient tomes.
3452
tonsure
shaving of the head, especially by person entering religious orders
His tonsure, even more than his monastic garb, indicated that he was  a member of the religious order.
3453
topography
physical features of a region
Before the generals gave the order to attack, they ordered a complete study of the topography of the region.
3454
torpor
lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy
Nothing seemed to arouse him from his torpor; he had wholly surrendered himself to lethargy.
3455
torque
twisting force; force producing rotation
With her wrench she applied sufficient torque to the nut the loosen it.
3456
torrent
rushing stream; flood
Day after day of heavy rain saturated the hillside until the water ran downhill in torrents.
3457
torso
trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk
This torso, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is now on exhibition in the museum in Naples.
3458
tortuous
winding; full of curves
Because this road is so tortuous, it is unwise to go faster than twenty miles an hour on it.
3459
touchstone
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion
What touchstone can be used to measure the character of a person?
3460
touchy
sensitive; irascible
Do not discuss this phase of the problem as he is very touchy about it.
3461
tout
publicize; praise excessively
I lost confidence in my broker after he touted some junk bonds that turned out to be a bad investment.
3462
toxic
poisonous
We must seek an antidote for whatever toxic substance he has eaten.
3463
tract
pamphlet; a region of indefinite size
The King granted William Penn a tract of land in the New World.
3464
tractable
docile
You will find the children in this school very tractable and willing to learn.
3465
traduce
expose to slander
His opponents tried to traduce the candidate's reputation by spreading rumors about his past.
3466
trajectory
path taken by a projectile
The police tried to locate the spot from which the assassin had fired the fatal shot by tracing the trajectory of the bullet.
3467
tranquillity
calmness; peace
After the commotion and excitement of the city, I appreciate the tranquillity of these fields and forests.
3468
transcend
exceed; surpass
This accomplishment transcends all our previous efforts.
3469
transcribe
copy
When you transcribe your notes, please send a copy to Mr.Smith and keep the original for our files.
3470
transgression
violation of a law; sin
Forgive us our transgressions; we know not what we do.
3471
transient
momentary; temporary; staying for a short time
Lexy's joy at finding the perfect Christmas gift for Phil was transient; she still had to find presents for the cousins and Uncle Bob. Located near the airport, this hotel caters to the largely transient trade.
3472
transition
going from one state of action to another
During the period of transition from oil heat to gas heat, the furnace will have to be shut off.
3473
transitoriness
impermanence
Conscious that all things pass, the psalmist relates the transitoriness of happiness and fame.
3474
translucent
partly transparent
We could not recognize the people in the next room because of the translucent curtains that separated us.
3475
transmute
change; convert to something different
He was unable to transmute his dreams into actualities.
3476
transparent
permitting to light to pass through freely; easily detected
Your scheme is so transparent that it will fool no one.
3477
transpire
be revealed; happen
When Austen writes the sentence "It had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him," her meaning is not that the debts had just been incurred, but the the shocking news had just leaked out.
3478
transport
strong emotion
Margo was a creature of extremes, at one moment in transports of joy over a vivid sunset, at another moment in transports of grief over a dying bird.
3479
trappings
outward decorations; ornaments
He loved the trappings of success: the limousines, the stock options, the company jet.
3480
traumatic
pertaining to an injury caused by violence
In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle.
3481
travail
painful labor
How long do you think a man can endure such travail and degradation without rebelling?
3482
traverse
go through or across
When you traverse this field, be careful of the bull.
3483
travesty
comical parody; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous
The ridiculous decision the jury has arrived at is a travesty of justice.
3484
treatise
article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly
He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan playwrights for his graduate degree.
3485
trek
travel; journey
The tribe made their trek further north that summer in search of game.
3486
tremor
trembling; slight quiver
She had a nervous tremor in her right hand.
3487
tremulous
trembling; wavering
She was tremulous more from excitement than from fear.
3488
trenchant
cutting; keen
I am afraid of his trenchant wit for it is so often sarcastic.
3489
trepidation
fear; trembling agitation
We must face the enemy without trepidation if we are to win this battle.
3490
tribulation
distress; suffering
After all the trials and tribulations we have gone through, we need this rest.
3491
tribunal
court of justice
The decision of the tribunal was final and the prisoner was sentenced to death.
3492
tribute
tax levied by a ruler; mark of respect
The colonists refused to pay tribute to a foreign despot.
3493
trident
three-pronged spear
Neptune is usually depicted as rising from the sea, carrying his trident on his shoulder.
3494
trigger
set off
John is touchy today; say one word wrong and you'll trigger an explosion.
3495
trilogy
group of three works
Romain Rolland's novel Jean Christophe was first published as a trilogy.
3496
trinket
knickknack; bauble
Whenever she traveled abroad, Ethel would pick up costume jewelry and other trinkets as souvenirs.
3497
trite
hackneyed; commonplace
Thr trite and predictable situations in many television programs alienate many viewers.
3498
trivia
trifles; unimportant matters
Too many magazines ignore newsworthy subjects and feature trivia.
3499
troth
pledge of good faith especially in betrothal
He gave her his troth and vowed to cherish her always.
3500
trough
container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.)
The hungry pigs struggled to get at the fresh swill in the trough. The surfer rode her board, coasting along in the trough between two waves.
3501
truculence
agressiveness; ferocity
Tynan's reviews were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence.
3502
truism
self-evident truth
Many a truism is well expressed in a proverb.
3503
truncate
cut the top off
The top of the cone that has been truncated in a plane parallel to its base is a circle.
3504
tryst
meeting
The lovers kept their tryst even though they realized their danger.
3505
tumid
swollen; pompous; bombastic
I especially dislike his tumid style; I prefer writing which is less swollen and bombastic.
3506
tumult
commotion; riot; noise
She could not make herself heard over the tumult of the mob.
3507
tundra
rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America
Despite the cold, many geologists are trying to discover valuable mineral deposits in the tundra.
3508
turbid
muddy; having the sediment disturbed
The water was turbid after the children had waded through it.
3509
turbulence
state of violent agitation
We were frightened by the turbulence of the ocean during the storm.
3510
tureen
deep dish for serving soup
The waiters brought the soup to the tables in silver tureens.
3511
turgid
swollen; distended
The turgid river threatened to overflow the levees and flood the contryside.
3512
turmoil
confusion; strife
Conscious he had sinned, he was in a state of spiritual turmoil.
3513
turncoat
traitor
The British considered Benedict Arnold a loyalist; the Americans considered him a turncoat.
3514
turpitude
depravity
A visitor may be denied admittance to this country if she has been guilty of moral turpitude.
3515
tutelage
guardianship; training
Under the tutelage of such masters of the instrument, she made rapid progress as a virtuoso.
3516
tutelary
protective; pertaining to a guardianship
I am acting in my tutelary capacity when I refuse to grant you permission to leave the campus.
3517
tycoon
wealthy leader
John D. Rockefeller was a prominent tycoon.
3518
tyranny
oppression; cruel government
Frederick Douglass fought against the tyranny of slavery throughout his entire life.
3519
tyro
beginner; novice
For a mere tyro, you have produced some marvelous results.
3520
timid
easily frightened; apprehensive
He was timid and cowardish; always backing up at daunting situations.
3521
tonic
invigorating medicine
The tonic water invigorated her, contrary to the enervating effect of the alcohol.
3522
toil
work laboriously; make slow painful progress
You must toil through 3500 words list in order to achieve a high score on GRE.
3523
ubiquitous
being everywhere; omnipresent
That Christmas "The Little Drummer Boy" seemed ubiquitous: Justin heard the tune everywhere he went.
3524
ulterior
situated beyond; unstated and often questionable
You must have an ulterior motive for your behavior, since there is no obvious reason for it.
3525
ultimate
final; not susceptible to further analysis
Scientists are searching for the ultimate truths.
3526
ultimatum
last demand; warning
Since they have ignored our ultimatum, our only recourse is to declare war.
3527
umbrage
resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult
She took umbrage at his remarks and stormed away in a huff.
3528
unanimity
complete agreement
We were surprised by the unanimity with which our proposals were accepted by the different groups.
3529
unassuaged
unsatisfied; not soothed
Her anger is unassuaged by your apology.
3530
unassuming
modest
He is so unassuming that some people fail to realize how great a man he really is.
3531
unbridled
violent
She had a sudden fit of unbridled rage.
3532
uncanny
strange; mysterious
You have the uncanny knack of reading my innermost thoughts.
3533
unconscionable
unscrupulous; excessive
She found the load shark's demands unconscionable and impossible to meet.
3534
uncouth
outlandish; clumsy; boorish
Most biographers portray Lincoln as an uncouth and ungainly young man.
3535
unction
the act of anointing with oil
The anointing with oil of a person near death is called extreme unction.
3536
unctous
oily; bland; insincerely suave
Uriah Heep disguised his nefarious actions by unctuous protestations of his "'umility."
3537
undermine
weaken; sap
The recent corruption scandals have undermined many people's faith in the city government.
3538
underscore
emphasize
Adressing the jogging class, Kim underscored the importance to runners of good nutrition.
3539
undulate
move with a wavelike motion
The flag undulated in the breeze.
3540
unearth
dig up
When they unearthed the city, the archeologists found many relics of an ancient civilization.
3541
unearthly
not earthly; weird
There is an unearthly atmosphere in her work that amazes the casual observer.
3542
unequivocal
plain; obvious
My answer to your proposal is an unequivocal and absolute "No."
3543
unerringly
infallibly
My teacher unerringly pounced on the one typographical error in my essay.
3544
unfaltering
steadfast
She approached the guillotine with unfaltering steps.
3545
unfeigned
genuine; real
She turned so pale that I am sure her surprise was unfeigned.
3546
unfettered
liberated; freed from chains
Chained to the wall for months on end, the hostage despaired that he would ever be unfettered.
3547
unfledged
immature
It is hard for an unfledged writer to find a sympathetic publisher.
3548
unfrock
to strip a priest or minister of church authority
To disbar a lawyer, to unfrock a priest, to suspend a doctor's license to practice--these are extreme steps that the authorities should take only after careful consideration.
3549
ungainly
awkward
He is an ungainly young man; he trips over everything.
3550
unguent
ointment
Apply this unguent to the sore muscles before retiring.
3551
uniformity
sameness; consistency; monotony
After a while, the uniformity of TV situation comedies becomes boring.
3552
unilateral
one-sided
This legislation is unilateral since it binds only one party in the controversy.
3553
unimpeachable
blameless and exemplary
Her conduct in office was unimpeachable and her record is spotless.
3554
uninhibited
unrepressed
The congregation was shocked by her uninhibited laughter during the sermon.
3555
unintimidating
unfrightening
Though Phil had expected to feel overawed when he met Joe Montana, he found the experience unintimidating and relaxing.
3556
unique
without an equal; single in kind
You have the unique distinction of being the first student whom I have had to fail in this course.
3557
unison
unity of pitch; complete accord
The choir sang in unison.
3558
universal
characterizing or affecting all; present everywhere
At first, no one shared Christopher's opinions; his theory that the world was round was met with universal disdain.
3559
unkempt
disheveled; with uncared-for appearance
The beggar was dirty and unkempt.
3560
unobtrusive
inconspicuous; not blatant
The secret service agents in charge of protecting the President tried to be as unobtrusive as possible.
3561
unprecedented
novel; unparalleled
Margaret Mitchell's book Gone with the Wind was an unprecedented success.
3562
unprepossessing
unattractive
During adolescence many attractive young people somehow acquire the false notion that their appearance is unprepossessing.
3563
unravel
disentangle; solve
With equal ease Miss Marple unraveled tangled balls of yarn and baffling murder mysteries.
3564
unrequited
not reciprocated
Suffering the pangs of unrequited love, Olivia rebukes Cesario for his hard-heartedness.
3565
unruly
disobedient; lawless
The only way to curb this unruly mob is to use tear gas.
3566
unsavory
distasteful; morally offensive
People with unsavory reputations should not be allowed to work with young children.
3567
unscathed
unharmed
They prayed he would come back from the war unscathed.
3568
unseemly
unbecoming; indecent
Your levity is unseemly at this time of mourning.
3569
unsightly
ugly
Although James was an experienced emergency room nurse, he occasionally became queasy when faced with a particularly unsightly injury.
3570
unsullied
untarnished
I am happy that my reputation is unsullied.
3571
untenable
unsupportable
I find your theory untenable and must reject it.
3572
untoward
unfortunate; annoying
Untoward circumstances prevent me from being with you on this festive occasion.
3573
unwarranted
unjustified; groundless; undeserved
We could not understand Martin's unwarranted rudeness to his mother's guests.
3574
unwieldy
awkward; cumbersome; unmanageable
The large carton was so unwieldy that the movers had trouble getting it up the stairs.
3575
unwitting
unintentional; not knowing
She was the unwitting tool of the swindlers
3576
unwonted
unaccustomed
He hesitated to assume the unwonted role of master of ceremonies at the dinner.
3577
upbraid
scold; reproach
I must upbraid him for his unruly behavior.
3578
uproarious
marked by commotion; extremely funny; very noisy
The uproarious comedy hit Home Alone featured Macaulay Culkin, whose mugging and comic antics provoked gales of uproarious laughter from audiences coast to coast.
3579
upshot
outcome
The upshot of the rematch was that the former champion proved that he still possessed all the skills of his youth.
3580
urbane
suave; refined; elegant
The courtier was urbane and sophisticated
3581
urchin
mischievous child (usually a boy)
Get out! This store is no place for grubby urchins!
3582
ursine
bearlike; pertaining to a bear
Because of its ursine appearance, the great panda has been identified with the bears; actually, it is closely related to the raccoon.
3583
usurp
seize power; supplant
The revolution ended when the victorious rebel leader usurped the throne.
3584
usury
lending money at illegal rates of interest
The loan shark was found guilty of usury.
3585
utopia
imaginary land with perfect social and political system
Shangri-la was the name of James Hilton's Tibetan utopia.
3586
uxorious
excessively devoted to one's wife
His friends laughed at him because he was so uxorious and submissive to his wife's desires.
3587
undergird
strengthen the base of
Whereas relativity theory undermined the Newtonian mechanics, cosmology was undergirded by it.
3588
vacillate
waver; fluctuate
Uncertain which suitor she ought to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one, now the other.
3589
vacuous
empty; lacking in ideas; stupid
The candidate's vacuous remarks annoyed the audience, who had hoped to hear more than empty platitudes
3590
vagabond
wanderer; tramp
In summer, college students wander the roads of Europe like carefree vagabonds.
3591
vagary
caprice; whim
She followed every vagary of fashion.
3592
vagrant
stray; random
He tried to study, but could not collect his vagrant thoughts.
3593
vagrant
homeless wanderer
Because he was a stranger in town with no visible means of support, Martin feared he would be jailed as a vagrant.
3594
vainglorious
boastful; excessively conceited
She was a vainglorious and arrogant individual.
3595
valedictory
pertaining to farewell
I found the valedictory address too long; leave-taking should be brief.
3596
valid
logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable
You're going to have to come up with a better argument if you want to convince me that your reasoning is valid.
3597
validate
confirm; ratify
I will not publish my findings until I validate my results.
3598
valor
bravery
He received the Medal of Honor for his valor in battle.
3599
vampire
ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampires.
3600
vanguard
forerunners; advance forces
We are the vanguard of a tremendous army that is following us.
3601
vantage
position giving an advantage
They fired upon the enemy from behind trees, walls and any other point of vantage they could find.
3602
vapid
insipid; inane
She delivered an uninspired and vapid address.
3603
variegated
many-colored
Without her glasses, Gretchen saw the fields of tulips as a variegated blur.
3604
vassal
in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord
The lord demanded that his vassals contribute more to his military campaign.
3605
vaunted
boasted; bragged; highly publicized
This much vaunted project proved a disappointment when it collapsed.
3606
veer
change in direction
After what seemed an eternity, the wind veered to the east and the storm abated. 
3607
vegetate
live in a monotonous way
I do not understand how you can vegetate in this quiet village after the adventurous life you have led.
3608
vehement
impetuous; with marked vigor
He spoke with vehement eloquence in defense of his client.
3609
velocity
speed
The train went by at considerable velocity.
3610
venal
capable of being bribed
The venal policeman accepted the bribe offered him by the speeding motorist whom he had stopped.
3611
vendetta
blood feud
The rival mobs engaged in a bitter vendetta.
3612
vendor
seller
The fruit vendor sold her wares from a stall on the sidewalk.
3613
veneer
thin layer; cover
Casual acquaintances were deceived by his veneer of sophistication and failed to recognize his fundamental shallowness.
3614
venerable
deserving high respect
We do not mean to be disrespectful when we refuse to follow the advice of our venerable leader.
3615
venerate
revere
In China, the people venerate their ancestors.
3616
venial
forgivable; trivial
We may regard a hugry man's stealing as a venial crime.
3617
venison
the meat of a deer
The hunters dined on venison.
3618
vent
small opening; outlet
The wine did not flow because the air vent in the barrel was clogged.
3619
vent
express; utter
He vented his wrath on his class.
3620
ventral
abdominal
We shall now examine the ventral plates of this serpent, not the dorsal side.
3621
ventriloquist
someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing
This ventriloquist does an act in which she has a conversation with a wooden dummy.
3622
venturesome
bold
A group of venturesome women were the first to scale Mt.Annapurna.
3623
venue
location
The attorney asked for a change of venue; he thought his client would do better if the trial were held in a less conservative county.
3624
veracious
truthful
I can recommend him for this position because I have always found him veracious and reliable.
3625
veracity
truthfulness
Trying to prove Hill a liar, Senator Spector repeatedly questioned her veracity.
3626
verbalize
put into words
I know you don't like to talk about these things, but please try to verbalize your feelings.
3627
verbatim
word for word
He repeated the message verbatim.
3628
verbiage
pompous array of words
After we had waded through all the verbiage, we discovered that the writer had said very little.
3629
verbose
wordy
This article is too verbose; we must edit it.
3630
verdant
green; lush in vegetation
Monet's paintings of the verdant meadows were symphonies in green.
3631
verdigris
green coating on copper which has been exposed to the weather
Despite all attempts to protect the statue from the elements, it became coated with verdigris.
3632
verge
border; edge
Madame Curie knew she was on the verge of discovering the secrets of radioactive elements.
3633
verisimilitude
appearance of truth; likelihood
Critics praised her for the verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth. She was completely believable.
3634
verity
truth; reality
The four verities were revealed to Buddha during his long meditation.
3635
vernacular
living language; natural style
Cut out those old-fashioned "thee's" and "thou's" and write in the vernacular.
3636
vernal
pertaining to spring
We may expect vernal showers all during the month of April.
3637
versatile
having many talents; capable of working in many fields
He was a versatile athlete; at college he had earned varsity letters in baseball, football, and track.
3638
vertex
summit
Let us drop a perpendicular line from the vertex of the triangle to the base.
3639
vertigo
dizziness
We test potential plane pilots for susceptibility to spells of vertigo.
3640
verve
enthusiasm; liveliness
She approached her studies with such verve that it was impossible for her to do poorly.
3641
vestige
trace; remains
We discovered vestiges of early Indian life in the cave.
3642
vex
annoy; distress
Please try not to vex your mother; she is doing the best she can.
3643
viable
capable of maintaining life; practicable; workable
The infant, though prematurely born, is viable and has a good chance to survive.
3644
viand
food
There was a variety of viands at the feast.
3645
vicarious
acting as a substitute; done by a deputy
Many people get a vicarious thrill at the movies by imagining they are the characters on the screen.
3646
vicissitude
change of fortune
Humbled by life's vicissitudes, the last emperor of China worked as a lowly gardener in the palace over which he had once ruled.
3647
victuals
food
I am very happy to be able to provide you with these victuals; I know you are hungry.
3648
vie
contend; compete
Politicians vie with one another, competing for donations and votes.
3649
vigilance
watchfulness
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
3650
vigor
active strength
Although he was over seventy years old, Jack had the vigor of a man in his prime.
3651
vignette
picture; short literary sketch
The New Yorker published her latest vignette.
3652
vilify
slander
She is a liar and is always trying to vilify my reputation.
3653
vindicate
clear of charges
I hope to vindicate my client and return him to society as a free man.
3654
vindictive
revengeful
She was very vindictive and never forgave an injury.
3655
vintner
winemaker; seller of wine
The poet wondered what the vintners could buy that would be half as precious as the wine they sold.
3656
viper
poisonous snake
The habitat of the horned viper, a particularly venomous snake, is in sandy regions like the Sahara or the Sinai peninsula.
3657
virile
manly
I do not accept the premise that a man is virile only when he is belligerent.
3658
virtual
in essence; for practical purposes
She is a virtual financial wizard when it comes to money matters.
3659
virtue
goodness; moral excellence; good quality
A virtue carried to extremes can turn into something resembling vice; humility, for example, can degenerate into servility and spinelessness.
3660
virtuoso
highly skilled artist
The child prodigy Yehudi Menuhin grew into a virtuoso whose virtuosity on the violin thrilled millions.
3661
virulent
extremely poisonous
The virus is highly virulent and has made many of us ill for days.
3662
virus
disease communicator
The doctors are looking for a specific medicine to control this virus.
3663
visage
face; appearance
The stern visage of the judge indicated that she had decided to impose a severe penalty.
3664
visceral
felt in one's inner organs
She disliked the visceral sensations she had whenever she rode the roller coaster.
3665
viscid
adhesive; gluey
The trunk of the maple tree was viscid with sap.
3666
viscous
sticky, gluey
Melted tar is a viscous substance.
3667
vise
tool for holding work in place
Before filling its edges, the keysmith took the blank key and fixed it firmly between the jaws of a vise.
3668
visionary
produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical
She was given to visionary schemes that never materialized.
3669
vital
vibrant and lively; critical; living, breathing
The vital, highly energetic first aid instructor stressed that it was vital in examining accident victims to note their vital signs.
3670
vitiate
spoil the effect of; make inoperative
Fraud will vitiate the contract.
3671
vitreous
pertaining to or resembling glass
Although this plastic has many vitreous qualties such as transparency, it is unbreakable.
3672
vitriolic
corrosive; sarcastic
Such vitriolic criticism is uncalled for.
3673
vituperative
abusive; scolding
He became more vituperative as he realized that we were not going to grant him his wish.
3674
vivacious
lively or animated; sprightly
She had always been vivacious and sparkling.
3675
vivisection
act of dissecting living animals
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opposed vivisection and deplored the practice of using animals in scientific experiments.
3676
vixen
female fox; ill-tempered woman
Aware that she was right once again, he lost his temper and called her a shrew and a vixen.
3677
vociferous
clamorous; noisy
The crowd grew vociferous in its anger and threatened to take the law into its own hands.
3678
vogue
popular fashion
Jeans became the vogue on many college campuses.
3679
volatile
changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly
The political climate today is extremely volatile: no one can predict what the electorate will do next.
3680
volition
act of making a conscious choice
She selected this dress of her own volition.
3681
voluble
fluent; glib
She was a voluble speaker, always ready to talk.
3682
voluminous
bulky; large
Despite her family burdens, she kept up a voluminous correspondence with her friends.
3683
voluptuous
gratifying the senses
The nobility during the Renaissance led voluptuous lives.
3684
voracious
ravenous
The wolf is a voracious animal, its hunger never satisfied.
3685
vortex
whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged
Sucked into the vortex of the tornado, Dorothy and Toto were carried from Kansas to Oz.
3686
vouchsafe
grant condescendingly; guarantee
I can safely vouchsafe you fair return on your investment.
3687
voyeur
Peeping
Jill called Jack a voyeur when she caught him aiming his binoculars at a bedroom window of the house next door.
3688
vulnerable
susceptible to wounds
Achilles was vulnerable only in his heel.
3689
vulpine
like a fox; crafty
She disliked his sly ways, but granted him a certain vulpine intelligence.
3690
waffle
speak equivocally about an issue
When asked directly about the governor's involvement in the savings and loan scandal, the press secretary waffled, talking all around the issue.
3691
waft
moved gently by wind or waves
Daydreaming, he gazed at the leaves that wafted past his window.
3692
waggish
mischievous; humorous; tricky
He was a prankster who, unfortunately, often overlooked the damage he could cause with his waggish tricks.
3693
waif
homeless child or animal
Although he already had eight cats, he could not resist adopting yet another feline waif.
3694
waive
give up temporarily; yield
I will waive my rights in this matter in order to expedite our reaching a proper decision.
3695
wallow
roll in; indulge in; become helpless
The hippopotamus loves to wallow in the mud.
3696
wan
having a pale or sickly color; pallid
Suckling asked, "Why so pale and wan, fond lover?"
3697
wane
grow gradually smaller
From now until December 21, the winter solstice, the hours of daylight will wane.
3698
wangle
wiggle out; fake
She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
3699
wanton
unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste
Pointing to the stack of bills, Sheldon criticized Sarah for her wanton expenditures. In response, Sara accused Sheldon of making an unfounded, wanton attack.
3700
warble
sing; babble
Every morning the birds warbled outside her window.
3701
warrant
justify; authorize
Before the judge issues the injunction, you must convince her this action is warranted.
3702
warranty
guarantee; assurance by seller
The purchaser of this automobile is protected by the manufacturer's warranty that he will replace any defective part for five years or 50,000 miles.
3703
warren
tunnels in which rabbits live; crowded conditions in which people live
The tenement was a veritable warren, packed with people too poor to live elsewhere.
3704
wary
very cautious
The spies grew wary as they approached the sentry.
3705
wastrel
profligate
He was denounced as a wastrel who had dissipated his inheritance.
3706
wax
increase; grow
With proper handling, his fortunes waxed and he became rich.
3707
waylay
ambush; lie in wait
They agreed to waylay their victim as he passed through the dark alley going home.
3708
wean
accustom a baby not to nurse; give up a cherished activity
He decided he would wean himself away from eating junk food and stick to fruits and vegetables.
3709
weather
endure the effects of weather or other forces
He weathered the changes in his personal life with difficulty, as he had no one in whom to confide.
3710
welt
mark from beating or whipping
The evidence of child abuse was very clear; Jennifer's small body was covered with welts and bruises.
3711
welter
turmoil; bewildering jumble
The existing welter of overlapping federal and state proclaims cries out for immediate reform.
3712
welter
wallow
At the height of the battle, the casualties were so numerous that the victims weltered in their blood while waiting for medical attention.
3713
wheedle
cajole; coax; deceive by flattery
She knows she can wheedle almost anything she wants from her father.
3714
whelp
young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.
This collie whelp won't do for breeding, but he'd make a fine pet.
3715
whet
sharpen; stimulate
The odors from the kitchen are whetting my appetite; I will be ravenous by the time the meal is served.
3716
whiff
puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); hint
The slightest whiff of Old Spice cologne brought memories of George to her mind.
3717
whimsical
capricious; fanciful
He dismissed his generous gift to his college as a sentimental fancy, an old man's whimsical gesture.
3718
whinny
neigh like a horse
When he laughed through his nose, it sounded as if he whinnied.
3719
whit
smallest speck
There is not a whit of intelligence or understanding in your observations.
3720
whittle
pare; cut off bits
As a present for Aunt Polly, Tom whittled some clothespins out of a chunk of wood.
3721
whorl
ring of leaves around stem; ring
Identification by fingerprints is based on the difference in shape and number of whorls on the fingers.
3722
willful
intentional; headstrong
Donald had planned to kill his wife for months; clearly, her death was a case of deliberate, willful murder, not a crime of passion committed by a hasty, willful youth unable to foresee the consequences of his deeds.
3723
wily
cunning; artful
She is as wily as a fox in avoiding trouble.
3724
wince
shrink back; flinch
The screech of the chalk on the blackboard made her wince.
3725
windfall
fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event
This huge tax refund is quite a windfall.
3726
winnow
sift; separate good parts from bad
This test will winnow out the students who study from those who don't bother.
3727
winsome
agreeable; gracious; engaging
By her winsome manner, she made herself liked by everyone who met her.
3728
wispy
thin; slight; barely discernible
Worried about preserving his few wispy tufts of hair, Walter carefully massaged his scalp and applied hair restorer every night.
3729
wistful
vaguely longing; sadly pensive
With a last wistful glance at the happy couples dancing in the hall, Sue headed back to her room to study for her exam.
3730
withdrawn
introverted; remote
Rebuffed by his colleagues, the initially outgoing young researcher became increasingly withdrawn.
3731
wither
shrivel; decay
Cut flowers are beautiful for a day, but all too soon they wither.
3732
witless
foolish; idiotic
Such witless and fatuous statements will create the impression that you are an ignorant individual.
3733
witticism
witty saying; facetious remark
What you regard as witticisms are often offensive to sensitive people.
3734
wizardry
sorcery; magic
Merlin amazed the knights with his wizardry.
3735
wizened
withered; shriveled
The wizened old man in the home for the aged was still active and energetic.
3736
wont
custom; habitual procedure
As was his wont, he jogged two miles every morning before going to work.
3737
worldly
engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual
You must leave your worldly goods behind you when you go to meet your Maker.
3738
wrangle
quarrel; obtain through arguing; herd cattle
They wrangled over their inheritance.
3739
wrath
anger; fury
She turned to him, full of wrath, and said, "What makes you think I'll accept lower pay for this job than you get?"
3740
wreak
inflict
I am afraid he will wreak his vengeance on the innocent as well as the guilty.
3741
wrench
pull; strain; twist
She wrenched free of her attacker and landed a powerful kick to his kneecap.
3742
wrest
pull away; take by violence
With only ten seconds left to play, our team wrested victory from their grasp.
3743
writ
written command issued by a court
The hero of Leonard's novel is a process server who invents unorthodox ways of serving writs on reluctant parties.
3744
writhe
squirm, twist
He was writhing in pain, desperate for the drug his body required.
3745
wry
twisted; with a humorous twist
We enjoy Dorothy Parker's verse for its wry wit.
3746
xenophobia
fear or hatred of foreigners
When the refugee arrived in America, he was unprepared for the xenophobia he found there.
3747
yen
longing; urge
She had a yen to get away and live on her own for a while.
3748
yeoman
man owing small estate; middle-class farmer
It was not the aristocrat but the yeoman who determined the nation's policies.
3749
yield
amount produced; crop; income on investment
An experienced farmer can estimate the annual yield of his acres with surprising accuracy.
3750
yield
give in; surrender
The wounded knight refused to yield to his foe.
3751
yoke
join together, unite
I don't wish to be yoked to him in marriage, as if we were cattle pulling a plow.
3752
yokel
country bumpkin
At school, his classmates regarded him as a yokel and laughed at his rustic mannerisms.
3753
yore
time past
He dreamed of the elegant homes of yore, but gave no thought to their inelegant plumbing.
3754
zany
crazy; comic
I can watch the Marx brothers' zany antics for hours.
3755
zeal
eager enthusiasm
Wang's zeal was contagious; soon all his fellow students were busily making posters, inspired by his ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
3756
zealot
fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
It is good to have a few zealots in our group for their enthusiasm is contagious.
3757
zenith
point directly overhead in the sky; summit
When the sun was at its zenith, the glare was not as strong as at sunrise and sunset.
3758
zephyr
gentle breeze; west wind
When these zephyrs blow, it is good to be in an open boat under a full sail.