GRE WORDLIST

1. abase - (v) Degrade or humble; to lower in rank, status, or esteem.

2. abate - to decrease; reduce.

3. abdicate - to give up a position, right, or power.

4. aberrant - deviating from what is normal.

5. abeyance - temporary suppression or suspension.

6. abhor - (v) detest, regard with disgust.

7. abject - miserable; pitiful.

8. abjure - to reject; abandon formally.

9. ablution - act of cleansing.

10. abnegation - renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation.

11. abrasive - (adj) rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as sandpaper);
causing irritation or annoyance.

12. abreast - (adj) Side-by-side. The more common "abreast of" means keeping
up with, staying aware of, or remaining equal in progress with..

13. abridge - (v) reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while
retaining the main idea.

14. abrogate - abolish.

15. abscission - the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a
plant.

16. abscond - to depart secretly.

17. abstain - (v) hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy);
decline to vote.

18. abstemious - moderate in appetite.

19. abstinence - the giving up of certain pleasures.

20. abstruse - difficult to comprehend.

21. abut - to touch, to be in contact with.

22. abysmal - very bad, limitless.

23. abyss - (n) A deep and vast space or cavity; anything profound or infinite.

24. accede - (v) Agree, give consent; assume power (usually as "accede to").

25. accretion - growth in size or increase in amount.

26. accrue - to accumulate; grow by additions.

27. acerbic - bitter, sharp in taste.

28. acidulous - (adj) Slightly acid or sour; sharp or caustic.

29. acme - highest point, summit.

30. acquiesce - to agree or comply in silence.

31. activism - (n) the practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous
action, often including protests and demonstrations.

32. acumen - (n) Keen, quick, accurate insight or judgment.

33. adamant - uncompromising; unyielding.

34. adhere - (v) stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief.

35. adjunct - something added to another thing but not an essential part of it.

36. admonish - to caution or reprimand.

37. adroit - skillful, accomplished, highly competent.

38. adulterate - to corrupt or make impure.

39. adumbrate - to sketch, outline in a shadowy way.

40. adverse - (adj) opposing, harmful.

41. advocate - (v, n) speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a
cause or on behalf of another person (noun).
42. aerie - nook or nest built high in the air.

43. aesthetic - relating to beauty or the arts.

44. affable - (adj) warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable.

45. affectation - (n) fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to give a
certain impression.

46. affected - pretentious; phony.

47. affinity - fondness; liking; similarity.

48. aggrandize - to make larger or greater.

49. aggregate - amounting to a whole; total.

50. alacrity - cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed.

51. albeit - (conj) Although, even though.

52. alchemy - medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; a
seemingly magical power or process of transmutation.

53. alienate - (v) cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant.

54. allay - to lessen; ease; soothe.

55. alleviate - to relieve; improve partially.

56. alloy - a combination; a mixture of two or more metals.

57. allure - the power to entice by charm.

58. aloof - (adj) Distant physically or emotionally; reserved; indifferent.

59. altruism - unselfish concern for others welfare.

60. amalgamate - to combine into a unified whole.

61. ambiguous - unclear or doubtful in meaning.

62. ambivalence - the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes.

63. ambivalent - (adj) uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two
contradictory things at once.

64. ambrosia - something delicious; the food of the gods.

65. ambulatory - itinerant, walking around.

66. ameliorate - to improve.

67. amenable - agreeable; cooperative; suited.

68. amenity - something that increases comfort.

69. amortize - to diminish by installment payments.

70. amulet - ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits.

71. anachronism - something out of the proper time.

72. analgesia - (n) Pain relief; inability to feel pain.

73. analgesic - medication that reduces or eliminates pain.

74. analogous - comparable.

75. anarchy - absence of government; state of disorder.

76. ancillary - accessory, subordinate, helping.

77. annul - (v) Make void or null, cancel, abolish (usually of laws or other
established rules).

78. anodyne - something that calms or soothes pain.

79. anoint - (v) rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by ceremony that
includes applying oil to someone.

80. anomalous - irregular; deviating from the norm.

81. anomaly - (n) deviation from what is common; inconsistency.

82. antagonize - (v) make hostile or unfriendly.

83. antecedent - something that comes before.

84. antedate - (v) Be older than, precede in time; assign to an earlier date.
85. antediluvian - prehistoric.

86. anthropomorphic - attributing human qualities to non humans, having human

qualities.

87. antipathy - dislike; hostility.

88. antithetical - (adj) Directly opposed, opposite; involving antithesis (the

rhetorical act of placing two phrases opposite one another for contrast, as in love
me or hate me).

89. apathy - indifference.

90. apex - the highest point.

91. aplomb - poise, confidence.

92. apocryphal - (adj) of questionable authenticity; false.

93. apogee - the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the
highest point.

94. apostate - one who renounces a religious faith.

95. apostle - (n) Pioneer of a reform movement (originally, an early follower of

Jesus).

96. apothegm - a terse, witty saying.

97. apotheosis - glorification, glorified ideal.

98. appease - to calm, pacify, placate.

99. appellation - name.

100. apposite - strikingly appropriate and relevant.

101. appreciable - (adj.) enough to be perceived, considerable.

102. apprise - to inform.

103. approbation - praise, approval.

104. appropriate - to take possession of for one's own use; confiscate.

105. apropos - relevant.

106. arabesque - ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position

in which one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the
body.

107. arbiter - (n) Judge, umpire, person empowered to decide matters at

hand.

108. arbitrary - (adj.) based entirely on one's discretion; capricious,

unreasonable, or having no basis.

109. arboreal - Relating to trees; living in trees.

110. arcane - (adj) known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret.

111. archaic - (adj) characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive.

112. archeology - the study of material evidence of past human life.

113. ardent - (adj) Very passionate, devoted, or enthusiastic.

114. ardor - great emotion or passion.

115. arduous - extremely difficult; laborious.

116. argot - a specialized vocabulary used by a group.

117. arrest - to stop; to seize.

118. arrogate - (v) Claim or take presumptuously or without the right to do

so.

119. articulate - (adj, verb) using language in a clear, fluent way (adj); speak
distinctly or give clarity to an idea (verb).

120. artifact - item made by human craft.

121. artless - guileless; natural.

122. ascertain - (v) find out with certainty.

123. ascetic - one who practices self-denial.

124. ascribe - (v) Assign or credit to a certain cause or source.

125. aseptic - (adj) Free from germs.

126. asperity - severity; harshness; irritability.

127. aspersion - slander; false rumor.

128. aspersions - (n) Damaging remarks, defamation, slander.

129. assail - (v) Attack violently, assault.

130. assiduous - diligent; hard-working.

131. assuage - to make less severe.

132. astringent - harsh; severe.

133. asylum - place of refuge or shelter.

134. atavism - in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an

organism after several generations of absence; individual or a part that exhibits
atavism; return of a trait after a period of absence.

135. attenuate - to weaken.

136. attuned - (adj) In harmony; in sympathetic relationship.

137. audacious - bold; daring.

138. augment - (v) make larger.

139. augury - (n) Telling the future, such as through supernatural means.

140. august - (adj) Venerable, majestic; inspiring admiration.

141. austere - stern; unadorned; simple.

142. autonomous - self-governing; independent.

143. avarice - greed.

144. aver - to affirm; declare to be true.

145. avid - (adj) enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous.

146. avocation - secondary occupation.

147. avuncular - like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant.

148. axiom - (n) Self-evident truth requiring no proof; universally or generally

accepted principle.

149. axiomatic - taken for granted; self-evident truth.

150. bacchanalian - pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to

revelry.

151. balk - to shirk, refuse, prevent.

152. balloon - (v) Swell or puff out; increase rapidly.

153. banal - commonplace; trite.

154. bane - (n) Something that ruins or spoils.

155. banter - playful conversation.

156. bard - poet.

157. base - (adj) morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or no value; crude
and unrefined; counterfeit.

158. bawdy - obscene.

159. baying - (adj) Howling in a deep way, like a dog or wolf.

160. beatific - saintly, angelic.

161. beatify - to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to.

162. bedizen - to dress in a vulgar, showy manner.

163. behemoth - huge creature; anything very large and powerful.

164. belie - to contradict; misrepresent; give a false impression.

165. beneficent - kindly; doing good.

166. benign - (adj) harmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, or beneficial; not

cancerous.

167. benison - blessing.

168. bent - (n) Personal inclination or tendency.

169. besiege - (v) Attack, overwhelm, crowd in on or surround.

170. bevy - (n) Group of birds or other animals that stay close together; any
large group.

171. bifurcate - to divide into two parts.

172. bilious - easily irritated, relating to bile.

173. bilk - (v) Cheat or defraud.

174. blandishment - flattery.

175. blasé - bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned.

176. blight - Disease that kills plants rapidly, or any cause of decay or
destruction (noun); ruin or cause to wither (verb).

177. blithe - (adj) Joyous, merry; excessively carefree (so as to ignore more
important concerns).

178. bogus - (adj) fake, fraudulent.

179. bolster - to give a boost to; prop up; support.

180. bombastic - pompous; using inflated language.

181. bonhomie - good-natured geniality, atmosphere of good cheer.

182. boor - (n) rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a peasant or country

bumpkin.

183. boorish - rude; insensitive.

184. bovine - cow like.

185. brandish - (v) Shake, wave, or flourish, as a weapon.

186. brazen - bold; shameless.

187. broach - to mention for the first time.

188. brook - (v) Suffer or tolerate.

189. bucolic - characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral.

190. buffer - (n) something that shields, protects, absorbs shock, or

cushions.

191. bulwark - defense wall, anything serving as defense.

192. bureaucracy - (n) government characterized by many bureaus and petty

administrators or by excessive, seemingly meaningless requirements.

193. burgeon - to grow and flourish.

194. burnish - to polish.

195. buttress - to reinforce; support.

196. bygone - (adj, n) past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually
plural noun).

197. cacophonous - unpleasant or harsh-sounding.

198. cacophony - (n) harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds.

199. cadge - to beg; sponge.

200. cajole - to flatter, coax, persuade.

201. calamitous - disastrous, catastrophic.

202. callous - thick-skinned; insensitive.

203. calumny - false and malicious accusation; slander.

204. canard - false; deliberately misleading story.

205. candid - (adj) open, sincere, honest.

206. canon - an established set of principles; a basis or standard for

judgment; a group of literary works.

207. canonical - (adj) authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or

body of accepted rules, standards or artistic works.

208. cant - insincere talk; language of a particular group.

209. cantankerous - irritable; ill-humored.

210. capricious - unpredictable; fickle.

211. captious - faultfinding; intended to entrap, as in an argument.

212. cardinal - of foremost importance.

213. carnal - of the flesh or body; related to physical appetites.

214. carom - to strike and rebound.

215. carping - to find fault; complain.

216. cartography - science of making maps.

217. caste - any of the hereditary social classes in Hindu society; social
stratification.

218. castigate - (v) criticize severely; punish in order to correct.

219. castigation - punishment; chastisement; criticism.

220. cataclysm - a violent upheaval that causes great destruction and

change.

221. catalyst - something that causes change.

222. categorical - absolute; without exception.

223. catholic - (adj) Universal, broad-minded.

224. caucus - smaller group within an organization.

225. causal - involving a cause.

226. caustic - burning; stinging; causing corrosion.

227. cavalcade - a procession.

228. celestial - concerned with sky or heavens; sublime.

229. censure - (n, v) strong disapproval or official reprimand (noun); to issue

such disapproval or reprimand (verb).

230. centrifugal - moving away from a center.

231. centripetal - moving or directed toward a center.

232. crescendo - (n) steady increase in force, intensity, or the loudness of a

musical passage; a climactic moment or peak.

233. chagrin - shame, embarrassment, humiliation.

234. champion - to defend or support.

235. charlatan - quack, fake.

236. chasten - to correct by punishment or reproof; to restrain or subdue.

237. chattel - piece of personal property.

238. chauvinism - (n) fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military

glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc..

239. chicanery - trickery; fraud.

240. chimerical - fanciful, imaginary, visionary, impossible.

241. chivalry - the qualities idealized by knighthood such as bravery and

gallantry toward women.

242. choleric - easily angered, short tempered.

243. chronological - (adj) arranged in or relating to time order.

244. churlish - rude; boorish.

245. circuitous - roundabout.

246. circumscribe - (v) Strictly limit a role, range of activity, or area; in math,
to be constructed around so as to touch as many points as possible.

247. circumspect - (adj) Cautious, prudent; careful to consider the

circumstances and consequences.

248. cistern - tank for rainwater.

249. clairvoyant - one who can predict the future; psychic.

250. clamber - (v) Climb awkwardly or with difficulty, scramble.

251. clamor - noisy outcry.

252. clinch - (v) make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together.

253. clique - a small, exclusive group.

254. cloister - to confine; seclude.

255. cloying - (adj) Disgustingly or distastefully sweet.

256. coagulate - thicken; congeal.

257. coalesce - to cause to become one.

258. coda - concluding part of a literary or musical composition; something

that summarizes or concludes.

259. codify - to systematize.

260. coffer - strongbox, large chest for money.

261. cogent - convincing.

262. cognizant - informed; conscious; aware.

263. cognomen - family name, especially a nickname.

264. collage - artistic composition of materials pasted over a surface; an

assemblage of diverse elements.

265. collude - (v) Conspire; cooperate for illegal or fraudulent purposes.

266. comeliness - physical grace and beauty.

267. commensurate - proportional.

268. commodious - roomy, spacious.

269. compendium - brief, comprehensive summary.

270. complacent - self-satisfied.

271. complaisant - overly polite; willingness to comply with the wishes of

others.

272. complement - something that completes or makes up a whole.

273. complementary - (adj) completing; fitting together well; filling mutual
needs.

274. compliant - yielding.

275. compunction - uneasiness caused by guilt.

276. compunctious - feeling guilty or having misgivings.

277. concave - curving inward.

278. concede - (v) give in, admit, yield; acknowledge reluctantly; grant or
give up (such as giving up land after losing a war).

279. conciliatory - overcoming distrust or hostility.

280. concoct - to invent.

281. concomitant - existing concurrently.

282. concur - (v) approve, agree.

283. condone - to overlook voluntarily; forgive.

284. confer - (v) consult, compare views; bestow or give.

285. conflagration - big, destructive fire.

286. confound - to baffle; perplex; mix up.

287. congenial - similar in tastes and habits; friendly; suited to.

288. conjugal - pertaining to marriage agreement.

289. connoisseur - expert in matters of taste; expert knowledge or training.

290. connote - (v) Suggest or imply in addition to the precise, literal meaning.

291. consanguineous - of same origin, related by blood.

292. conscript - a person compulsorily enrolled for military service.

293. consecrate - to declare sacred.

294. console - (v, n) lessen the suffering or grief of (verb); a control panel, or
small table or cabinet (noun).
295. consolidate - (v) unite, combine, solidify, make coherent.

296. constrict - (v) squeeze, compress; restrict the freedom of.

297. construe - (v) interpret or translate.

298. contend - to assert.

299. contention - claim; thesis.

300. contentious - quarrelsome; causing quarrels.

301. contextualize - (v) place in context, such as by giving the background or

circumstances.

302. contiguous - touching; neighboring; connecting without a break.

303. continence - self-control; abstention from sexual activity.

304. contraries - (n) Things that are opposing; either of two opposite things.

305. contrite - very sorrowful for a wrong; seeking forgiveness.

306. contumacious - disobedient; rebellious.

307. conundrum - riddle; puzzle with no solution.

308. convention - practice widely observed in a group; custom; accepted

technique or device.

309. converge - to approach; come together; tend to meet.

310. conversant - (adj) knowledgeable about or experienced with.

311. conversely - (adv.) in an opposite way; on the other hand.

312. convex - curved outward.

313. convivial - sociable.

314. convoke - (v) Call together, as to a meeting.

315. convoluted - twisted; complicated.

316. copious - abundant; plentiful.

317. coquette - woman who flirts.

318. cornucopia - horn overflowing with fruit and grain; state of abundance.

319. corpulence - obesity, fatness, bulkiness.

320. corroborate - (v) support, add evidence to.

321. corrugate - to mold in a shape with parallel groves and ridges.

322. cosmology - study of the universe as a totality; theory of the origin and
structure of the universe.

323. cosmopolitan - (adj) belonging to the entire world, at home globally; free
from local or national prejudices or attachments.

324. cosset - to pamper.

325. coterie - small group of persons with similar purpose.

326. countenance - (n, v) facial expression or face (noun); approve or

tolerate (verb).

327. counterintuitive - (adj) against what one would intuitively expect.

328. counterpoint - (n) contrasting item, opposite; a complement; the use of

contrast or interplay in a work of art.

329. counterproductive - (adj) defeating the purpose; preventing the intended

goal.

330. coven - group of witches.

331. covert - hidden; secret.

332. covetous - desiring something owned by another.

333. cozen - to mislead by trick or fraud; deceive.

334. crafty - (adj) cunning, skillful in deception or underhanded schemes.

335. craven - cowardly.

336. credence - acceptance of something as true.

337. credibility - (n) believability, trustworthiness.

338. credo - statement of belief or principle; creed.

339. credulous - (adj) gullible; prone to believing or trusting too easily or

without enough evidence.

340. culminate - (v) reach the highest point or final stage.

341. cupidity - (n) Greed, great or excessive desire.

342. curmudgeon - cranky person.

343. cynical - (adj) thinking the worst of others' motivations; bitterly

pessimistic.

344. daunt - to discourage; intimidate; dishearten.

345. dearth - scarcity.

346. debase - (v) degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral
quality.

347. debauchery - corruption.

348. debunk - (v) expose, ridicule, or disprove false or exaggerated claims.

349. declaim - (v) Speak in an impassioned, pompous, or oratorical manner;

give a formal speech.

350. declivity - downward slope.

351. decorous - (adj) behaving with propriety and good taste; polite.

352. decorum - proper behavior.

353. deem - (v) judge; consider.

354. deface - (v) vandalize, mar the appearance of.

355. defamatory - (adj.) slanderous, injurious to someone's reputation.

356. defame - to malign; harm someone's reputation.

357. default - to fail to act.

358. deference - respect; regard for another's wish.

359. deflect - (v) cause to curve; turn aside, esp. from a straight course;
avoid.

360. defunct - no longer existing.

361. deleterious - harmful, destructive, detrimental.

362. delimit - (v) Fix, mark, or define the boundaries of.

363. delineate - to represent or depict.

364. deluge - flood.

365. demagogue - leader or rabble-rouser who usually appeals to emotion or

prejudice.

366. demographic - related to population balance.

367. demotic - pertaining to people.

368. demur - to express doubt; question or oppose.

369. denigrate - to slur someone's reputation.

370. denizen - an inhabitant; a regular visitor.

371. denote - (v) be a name or symbol for.

372. denouement - outcome; unraveling of the plot of a play or work of

literature.

373. deride - to mock.

374. derivative - something derived; unoriginal.

375. descry - to discover or reveal.

376. desiccate - to dry completely.

377. desuetude - state of disuse.

378. desultory - random; disconnected; rambling.

379. detached - (adj) impartial, disinterested; unconcerned, distant, aloof.

380. deterrent - something that discourages or hinders.

381. detraction - the act of taking away.

382. diaphanous - transparent; vague; insubstantial.

383. diatribe - bitter verbal attack.

384. dichotomy - division into two usually contradictory parts.

385. dictum - authoritative statement, popular saying.

386. didactic - excessively instructive.

387. diffidence - shyness; lack of confidence.

388. diffident - (adj) Lacking confidence, shy.

389. diffuse - to spread out.

390. digress - (v) go off-topic when speaking or writing.

391. digression - act of straying from the main point.

392. dilate - (v) To become wider or make wider, cause to expand; to speak
or write at length, elaborate upon.

393. dilatory - (adj) Slow, late; procrastinating or stalling for time.

394. dilettante - (n) Person who takes up an art or activity for amusement
only or in a superficial way.

395. diluvial - relating to a flood.

396. diminutive - small.

397. din - (n) loud, confused noise, esp. for a long period of time.

398. dirge - funeral hymn.

399. disabuse - free from a misconception.

400. discerning - perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgment.

401. discomfit - to make uneasy; disconcert.

402. discomfiting - (adj) Disconcerting, confusing, frustrating.

403. discordant - not in tune.

404. discredit - to dishonor; disgrace.

405. discrepancy - difference between.

406. discrete - constituting a separate thing; distinct.

407. discretion - quality of showing self-restraint in speech or actions.

408. discriminating - (adj) judicious, discerning, having good judgment or

insight.

409. disingenuous - not candid, crafty.

410. disinterested - unprejudiced; objective.

411. disjointed - lacking order or coherence; dislocated.

412. dismiss - put away from consideration; reject.

413. disparage - to belittle.

414. disparate - dissimilar.

415. dispassionate - (adj) unbiased, not having a selfish or personal

motivation; calm, lacking emotion.

416. dispatch - (n, v) speed, promptness; send off or deal with in a speedy
way.

417. disperse - (v) scatter, spread widely, cause to vanish.

418. disposition - (n) a person's general or natural mood; tendency.

419. disquieting - (adj) disturbing, causing anxiety.

420. dissemble - to pretend; disguise one's motives.

421. disseminate - to spread; scatter; disperse.

422. dissent - (v, n) disagree or take an opposing view, esp. in relation to a

formal body such as a government, political party, or church; such a view.
423. dissident - person who disagrees about beliefs.

424. dissolution - disintegration; debauchery.

425. dissonance - discord; lack of harmony.

426. distaff - female branch of the family.

427. distend - to expand; swell out.

428. distill - extract the essential elements.

429. distrait - inattentive; preoccupied.

430. dither - to move or act confusedly or without purpose.

431. diurnal - daily.

432. diverge - to vary; go in different directions from the same point.

433. divest - to strip; deprive; rid.

434. divine - (v) discover through divination or supernatural means; perceive

by insight.

435. divulge - to make known something that is secret.

436. doctrinaire - dogmatic; unyielding.

437. document - to provide with written evidence to support.

438. doff - (v) Take off (such as clothes), put aside; remove one's hat as a
gesture.

439. doggerel - poor verse.

440. dogma - (n) a system of principles laid down by an authority;

established belief.

441. dogmatic - stating opinions without proof.

442. dolor - sadness.

443. dormant - inactive.

444. doughty - courageous.

445. dovetail - (v) Join or fit together.

446. droll - amusing in wry, subtle way.

447. dross - waste; worthless matter.

448. dubious - (adj) doubtful, questionable, suspect.

449. dupe - to deceive; trick.

450. duplicity - (n) Deceit, double-dealing, acting in two different ways for the
purpose of deception.

451. dyspeptic - suffering from indigestion, gloomy and irritable.

452. e.g. - (abbre.) for example, such as.

453. ebullient - exhilarated; overly enthusiastic.

454. eccentric - (adj) peculiar, odd, deviating from the norm esp. in a
whimsical way.

455. echelon - (n) A level, rank or grade; the people at that level.

456. eclectic - selecting from various sources.

457. eclipse - (n, v) the obscuring of one thing by another, such as the sun
by the moon or a person by a more famous or talented person (noun); to
obscure, darken, make less important (verb).

458. edify - (v) Uplift, enlighten, instruct or improve in a spiritual or moral

way.

459. effervescence - state of high spirits or liveliness; process of bubbling as

gas escapes.

460. effete - depleted of vitality; overrefined; decadent.

461. efficacy - effectiveness; efficiency.

462. effigy - (n) Representation or image of a person, esp. a crude facsimile

used to mock a hated person.

463. effluvia - outpouring of gases or vapors.

464. effrontery - shameless boldness; presumptuousness.

465. effulgent - brilliantly shining.

466. egalitarian - (adj) related to the belief in the equality of all people, esp.
in political, economic, or social spheres.

467. egoism - the tendency to see things in relation to oneself; self-

centeredness.

468. egotistical - excessively self-centered; conceited.

469. egregious - contemptuously bad.

470. egress - (v,n) An exit or the action of exiting.

471. elated - (adj) very happy, in high spirits.

472. elegy - poem or song expressing lamentation.

473. elevate - (v) raise, lift up; lift the spirits of; move up to a higher rank or
status or raise up to a higher spiritual or intellectual plane.

474. elicit - to provoke; draw out.

475. elixir - a substance believed to have the power to cure ills.

476. eloquent - (adj) marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech; expressive,

emotionally moving.

477. Elysian - delightful; blissful.

478. emaciate - (v) Make abnormally thin, cause to physically waste away.

479. emaciated - thin and wasted.

480. embellish - to adorn; enhance.

481. emend - to correct a text.

482. eminent - (adj) prominent, distinguished, of high rank.

483. emollient - soothing; mollifying.

484. empirical - derived from observation or experiment.

485. emulate - to imitate; copy.

486. encomium - a formal expression of praise.

487. endemic - inherent; belonging to an area.

488. enervate - to weaken.

489. engender - to cause; produce.

490. enhance - to increase; improve.

491. enigma - (n) puzzle, mystery, riddle; mysterious or contradictory person.

492. ennui - boredom, lack of interest and energy.

493. entitlement - (n) having the right to certain privileges; believing,

sometimes without cause, that one deserves or has a right to certain privileges.

494. entomology - the scientific study of insects.

495. enumerate - (v) count or list; specify one-by-one.

496. enunciate - to pronounce clearly.

497. ephemeral - short-lived; fleeting.

498. epicure - person with refined taste in food and wine.

499. epistemology - branch of philosophy that examines the nature of

knowledge.

500. epitome - representative of an entire group, summary.

501. equable - steady; unvarying; serene.

502. equanimity - composure; calmness.

503. equitable - (adj) fair, equal, just.

504. equivocate - intentionally use vague language.

505. errant - mistaken; straying from the proper course.

506. erratic - (adj) inconsistent, wandering, having no fixed course.

507. erroneous - (adj) mistaken, in error; improper, morally incorrect.

508. ersatz - fake.

509. erstwhile - Former, previous (adj); in the past, formerly (adv.).

510. erudite - learned; scholarly.

511. eschew - to abstain from, avoid.

512. esoteric - hard to understand; known only to a few.

513. essay - to make an attempt; subject to a test.

514. estimable - admirable; possible to estimate.

515. ethnocentric - based on the attitude that one's group is superior.

516. ethos - (n) The character, personality, or moral values specific to a

person, group, time period, etc..

517. etiology - causes or origins.

518. etymology - origin an history of a word.

519. eugenics - study of factors that influence the hereditary qualities of the
human race and ways to improve those qualities.

520. eulogy - high praise to a death person.

521. euphemism - use of agreeable or inoffensive language in place of

offensive language.

522. euphony - (n) Pleasing or sweet sound, especially as formed by a

harmonious use of words.

523. euphoria - feeling of extreme happiness.

524. euthanasia - mercy killing.

525. evince - to show plainly; be an indication of.

526. evocative - tending to call to mind or produce a reaction.

527. exacerbate - to aggravate; make worse.

528. exact - to force the payment of; demand and obtain by authority.

529. exacting - (adj) very severe in making demands; requiring precise

attention.

530. exculpate - to clear of blame; vindicate.

531. execrable - detestable; abhorrent.

532. exhaustive - (adj) comprehensive, thorough, exhausting a topic or

subject, accounting for all possibilities; draining, tending to exhaust.

533. exhort - to urge by strong appeals.

534. exigency - crisis; urgent requirements.

535. exigent - (adj) Requiring immediate attention, action, or aid; excessively

demanding.

536. existential - having to do with existence.

537. exonerate - (v) Clear from blame or accusation; free from a

responsibility.

538. exorcise - to expel evil spirits; free from bad influences.

539. expatiate - to speak or write at length.

540. expatriate - to send into exile.

541. expedient - (adj) Suitable, proper; effective, often at the expense of

ethics or other considerations.

542. expiate - to atone for.

543. explicate - to explain; interpret; clarify.

544. explicit - (adj) direct, clear, fully revealed; clearly depicting sex or nudity.

545. exponent - (n) person who expounds or explains; champion, advocate,

or representative.

546. expository - explanatory.

547. expunge - to erase, eliminate completely.

548. expurgate - to censor.

549. extant - in existence; not lost.

550. extemporaneous - unrehearsed.

551. extirpate - to root up; to destroy.

552. extol - to praise.

553. extraneous - not essential.

554. extrapolate - to estimate.

555. extrapolation - the act of estimation by projecting known information.

556. extrinsic - not inherent of essential.

557. facetious - humorous.

558. facilitate - to make less difficult.

559. faction - (n) Group or clique within a larger organization; party strife and
dissension.

560. factotum - a person who does all sorts of work; a handyman.

561. fallacious - based on a false idea or fact; misleading.

562. fallow - plowed but not sowed; uncultivated.

563. fanatical - (adj) excessively devoted, enthusiastic, or zealous in an

uncritical way.

564. fanciful - (adj) whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely imaginative rather

than based on reason or reality.

565. fastidious - (adj) Excessively particular, difficult to please; painstaking,

meticulous, requiring excessive attention to detail.

566. fathom - (v) measure the depth of (usually of water) as with a sounding
line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand.

567. fatuous - foolishly self-satisfied.

568. fauna - animals of a period o region.

569. fawn - (v) Show affection or try to please in the manner of a dog; try to
win favor through flattery and submissive behavior.

570. fawning - seeking flavor by flattering.

571. fealty - intensely loyal.

572. feasible - (adj) possible; logical or likely; suitable.

573. fecund - fertile, fruitful, productive.

574. felicitous - suitable expressed; wee-chose; appropriate.

575. feral - existing in a wild or untamed state.

576. fervid - (adj) Very hot; heated in passion or enthusiasm.

577. fervor - warmth and intensity of emotion.

578. fetid - having a bad smell.

579. fetter - to bind; confine.

580. fey - doomed.

581. fiat - arbitrary order; authorization.

582. fidelity - loyalty; exact correspondence.

583. figurative - (adj) metaphorical, based on figures of speech; containing

many figures of speech (as fancy-sounding writing); related to portraying human
or animals figures.

584. filch - to steal.

585. filial - appropriate for a child.

586. filibuster - use of obstructive tactics in a legislature to block passage of

a law.

587. finesse - to handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy; refined in

performance.

588. fissure - crevice.

589. flaccid - limp, flabby, weak.

590. flag - to droop; grow weak.

591. fledging - beginner; novice.

592. fledgling - inexperienced.

593. fleeting - (adj) passing quickly, transitory.

594. flora - plants of a region or era.

595. florid - ruddy; reddish; flowery.

596. flourish - en embellishment or ornamentation.

597. flout - to treat scornfully.

598. fluke - (n) Stroke of luck, something accidentally successful.

599. flux - flowing; a continuous moving.

600. foliate - to grow, sprout leaves.

601. foment - to incite; arouse.

602. forage - (v) Wander in search of; rummage, hunt, make a raid.

603. forbearance - patience.

604. ford - Place where a river or similar body of water is shallow enough to
walk or ride a vehicle across (noun); to cross at such a place (verb).

605. foreshadow - (v) indicate or suggest beforehand, presage.

606. forestall - to prevent; delay.

607. forfeit - (v) surrender or lose as a result of an error, crime, or failure to

fulfill an obligation.

608. formidable - menacing; threatening.

609. forswear - renounce; repudiate.

610. fortify - (v) strengthen, invigorate, encourage.

611. fortuitous - (adj) Happening by chance; lucky.

612. founder - to sink; fail; collapse.

613. fracas - a loud quarrel; brawl.

614. fractious - quarrelsome; unruly; rebellious.

615. frenetic - wildly frantic, frenzied, hectic.

616. fresco - a painting done on plaster.

617. frieze - ornamental band on a wall.

618. fringe - (n, adj) on the margin, periphery (adj); the people in a group
who hold the most extreme views (noun).

619. froward - stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient.

620. frugal - (adj) economically, thrifty, not wasteful with money; inexpensive.

621. frugality - thrift.

622. fulminate - to attack loudly; denounce.

623. fulsome - so excessive as to be disgusting.

624. furtive - secret, stealthy.

625. fusion - union; synthesis.

626. futile - ineffective; useless; fruitless.

627. gainsay - to deny; dispute; oppose.

628. gambol - to frolic; leap playfully.

629. garner - (v) Gather and store; amass, collect.

630. garrulous - very talkative; wordy.

631. gauche - coarse and uncouth; clumsy.

632. gawky - (adj) physically awkward (esp. of a tall, skinny person, often
used to describe teenagers).
633. geniality - cheerfulness; kindliness; sociability.

634. germane - (adj) relevant and appropriate, on topic.

635. germinate - to begin to grow (as a seed or idea).

636. gerrymander - to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favors
a political party.

637. gestation - (n) Pregnancy; the period from conception until birth of an
animal or (metaphorically) of an idea or plan.

638. gibe - to make taunting remarks.

639. gist - (n) main idea, essence.

640. glacial - (adj) Pertaining to glaciers; cold, icy, slow, unsympathetic.

641. glib - fluent in an insincere way; offhand.

642. glower - (v) Stare in an angry, sullen way.

643. gnostic - having to do with knowledge.

644. goad - to prod; urge on.

645. goosebumps - (n) the bumps created by hairs standing up on the skin in
response to cold, fear, etc..

646. gossamer - sheer; light and delicate; like cobwebs.

647. gouge - to tear out; scoop out; overcharge.

648. gradation - (n) a progression, a process taking place gradually, in

stages; one of these stages.

649. graft - Insert part of a plant into another plant, where it continues to
grow; join living tissue (such as skin) to part of the body where it will continue to
live and grow; attach as if by grafting (verb); the part so grafted (as in a graft of
skin); the act of acquiring money or other benefits through illegal means, esp. by
abusing one's power (noun).

650. grandiloquence - pompous talk, fancy but meaningless language.

651. grandiloquent - pompous; bombastic.

652. grandstand - (v) Perform showily in an attempt to impress onlookers.

653. grating - (adj) Irritating; harsh or discordant (of a noise); scraping.

654. gratuitous - free, voluntary, unnecessary and unjustified.

655. gregarious - outgoing; sociable.

656. grievous - (adj) Causing grief or suffering; very serious, grave; flagrant,
outrageous.

657. grouse - to complain.

658. grovel - (v) Creep or crawl with one's face to the ground, prostrate
oneself as a token of subservience, degrade or abase oneself.

659. guile - (n) clever deceit, cunning, craftiness.

660. guileless - free of cunning or deceit; artless.

661. guise - outward appearance; false appearance.

662. gullible - easily deceived.

663. gustatory - affecting the sense of taste.

664. hackneyed - worn out by over use.

665. halcyon - calm and peaceful; happy; golden; prosperous.

666. hallmark - (n) A mark indicating quality, purity, genuineness, etc.; any
distinguishing characteristic.

667. hallowed - holy; sacred.

668. hand-wringing - (n) Grasping, squeezing, etc. of the hands as an

expression of nervousness, guilt, etc.; extend debate over what to do about an
issue.

669. hapless - (adj) Unlucky, unfortunate.

670. harangue - long, pompous speech; tirade.

671. hardy - (adj) bold, brave, capable of enduring hardship, fatigue, cold,
etc..
672. harrow - (n,v) Farming tool that breaks up soil (noun); painfully disturb
or distress (verb).

673. harrowing - extremely distressing; terrifying.

674. haven - (adj) harbor or port; refuge, safe place.

675. hearken - (v) listen, pay attention to.

676. hedge - (v) Avoid commitment by leaving provisions for withdrawal or

changing one's mind; protect a bet by also betting on the other side.

677. hedonist - (n) person devoted to pleasure.

678. hegemony - leadership, domination, usually by a country.

679. herbivorous - an animal that feeds mainly on plants.

680. heretical - opposed to an established religious orthodoxy.

681. hermetic - tightly sealed; magical.

682. heterodox - not widely accepted.

683. heterogeneous - (adj) different in type, incongruous; composed of

different types of elements.

684. hew - (v) Strike, chop, or hack (as with an axe, sword. etc.); make or
shape something (such as a statue) with a cutting tool.

685. hierarchy - (n) a ranked series; a classification of people according to

rank, ability, etc.; a ruling body.

686. hieroglyphics - a system of writing in which pictorial symbols represent

meanings or sounds; writing or symbols that are difficult to decipher.

687. hirsute - covered with hair.

688. histrionic - relating to exaggerated emotional behavior calculated for

effect; theatrical acts or performances.

689. hoary - very old, whitish or gray from age.

690. hodgepodge - (n) mixture of different kinds of things, jumble.

691. homage - (n) Honor or respect demonstrated publicly.

692. homeostasis - automatic maintenance by an organism in balance with

itself.

693. homily - sermon; tedious moralizing lecture.

694. homogeneous - composed of identical parts; uniform in composition.

695. homogenous - of the same kind.

696. hoodwink - (v) Trick, deceive.

697. hotly - (adv.) In an intense, fiery, or heated way.

698. husband - to farm, manage carefully and thrifty.

699. hyperbole - purposeful exaggeration for effect.

700. iconoclast - attacking cherished traditions.

701. iconoclastic - attacking cherished traditions.

702. idiosyncrasy - peculiarity of temperament, eccentricity.

703. idolatry - idol worship; blind or excessive devotion.

704. idyllic - (adj) Presenting a positive, peaceful view of rural life (as poetry
or prose); pleasant in a natural, simple way.

705. igneous - produced by fire; volcanic.

706. ignoble - (adj) Not noble; having mean, base, low motives; low quality.

707. ignominious - disgraceful and dishonorable.

708. ilk - type of kind.

709. illiberality - (n) narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of

generosity.

710. illusory - unreal, deceptive.

711. imbroglio - complicated situation; an entanglement.

712. imbue - to infuse, dye, wet, moisten.

713. imminent - (adj) ready to occur, impending.

714. immutable - unchangeable.

715. impair - to damage; injure.

716. impartial - (adj) unbiased, fair.

717. impasse - (n) Position or road from which there is no escape; deadlock.

718. impassive - showing no emotion.

719. impecunious - poor; having no money.

720. impede - to hinder; block.

721. imperious - arrogantly self-assured, domineering overbearing.

722. impermeable - impossible to permeate.

723. imperturbable - not easily disturbed.

724. impervious - incapable of being affected; impossible to penetrate.

725. impetuous - (adj) Passionately impulsive, marked by sudden, hasty

emotion; forceful, violent.

726. impinge - to strike; encroach.

727. impious - (adj) Not religious, lacking reverence, ungodly.

728. implacable - inflexible; incapable of being pleased or calmed down.

729. implausible - unlikely; unbelievable.

730. implication - (n) act of implying or that which is implied; close

connection, esp. in an incriminating way.

731. implicit - implied; understood but not stated.

732. implode - collapse inward violently.

733. impolitic - unwise.

734. imprecation - curse; damnation.

735. impromptu - spontaneous, without rehearsal.

736. impugn - to call into question, attack verbally.

737. impute - to attribute the fault to; relate to a particular cause or source.

738. inadvertently - carelessly; unintentionally.

739. inadvertent - (adj) unintentional; characterized by a lack of attention,

careless.

740. inasmuch - (adv.) in like manner, considering that (contradiction of "in

as much," generally followed by "as").

741. incarnadine - (adj, n) Blood red or flesh-colored.

742. incarnate - having bodily form.

743. incendiary - combustible, flammable, burning easily.

744. incentive - (n) something that encourages greater action or effort, such
as a reward.

745. inchoate - imperfectly formed or formulated.

746. incipient - (adj) just beginning; in a very early stage.

747. incongruity - state of not fitting.

748. incongruous - (adj) out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious.

749. inconsequential - insignificant; unimportant.

750. inconstancy - (n) Fickleness, unreliability; the state of changing without

good reason.

751. incorporate - introduce something into another thing already in

existence.

752. inculcate - to teach, impress in the mind.

753. inculpate - to blame, charge with a crime.

754. incursion - sudden invasion.

755. indefatigable - never tired.

756. indeterminate - uncertain; indefinite.

757. indifferent - (adj) not caring, having no interest; unbiased, impartial.

758. indigence - poverty.

759. indigent - very poor.

760. indolent - habitually lazy; idle.

761. indubitable - unquestionable.

762. ineluctable - not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable.

763. inert - unable to move; sluggish.

764. inexorable - (adj) Relentless, unyielding; not moved by pleading.

765. infallible - incapable of making a mistake.

766. inform - (v) inspire, animate; give substance, essence, or context to; be
the characteristic quality of.

767. ingenious - original, clever, inventive.

768. ingenuous - naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated.

769. ingrained - (adj) deep-rooted, forming part of the very essence; worked
into the fiber.

770. ingrate - (n) Ungrateful person.

771. ingratiate - to bring oneself purposely into another's good graces.

772. ingress - entrance.

773. inherent - firmly established by nature or habit.

774. inimical - (adj) Hostile, adverse, harmful.

775. iniquity - (n) Injustice, wickedness, sin.

776. innocuous - harmless.

777. innuendo - indirect and subtle criticism, insinuation.

778. inordinate - (adj) Excessive, not within proper limits, unrestrained.

779. inquest - (n) Legal or judicial inquiry, especially before a jury and
especially made by a coroner into the cause of someone's death; the results of
such an inquiry.

780. insensible - unconscious; unresponsive.

781. insidious - sly, treacherous, devious.

782. insinuate - to suggest; say indirectly; imply.

783. insipid - lacking in flavor; dull.

784. insouciant - indifferent; lacking concern or care.

785. insular - (adj) Pertaining to an island; detached, standing alone; narrow-

minded, provincial.

786. insularity - narrow-mindedness; isolation.

787. insuperable - insurmountable; unconquerable.

788. insurrection - (n) Rebellion or revolt against a government or similarly

established authority.

789. intangible - not material.

790. intelligible - (adj) able to understood, clear.

791. inter - (v) Bury (a dead body) or place in a tomb.

792. interdict - to forbid; prohibit.

793. interlocutor - someone taking part in a dialogue.

794. interloper - trespasser, meddler in others' affairs.

795. internecine - deadly to both sides.

796. interplay - (n) Interaction, reciprocal relationship or influence.

797. interpolate - to insert; change by adding new words or material.

798. interregnum - interval between reigns; gap in continuity.

799. interstice - a space between things.

800. intimate - marked by close acquaintance.

801. intimation - clue, suggestion.

802. intractable - not easily managed.

803. intransigence - stubbornness; refusal to compromise.

804. intransigent - (adj) Refusing to compromise, inflexible, having extreme

attitudes.

805. intrepid - fearless.

806. intrinsic - inherent, internal.

807. introspective - contemplating one's own thoughts and feelings.

808. inundate - to cover with water, overwhelm.

809. inure - to harden, accustom, become used to.

810. inured - hardened; accustomed; used to.

811. invective - verbal abuse.

812. inveigh - to disapprove; protest vehemently.

813. inveigle - to win over by flattering or coaxing.

814. investiture - (n) Investing; formally giving someone a right or title.

815. inveterate - confirmed; long standing.

816. invidious - likely to provoke ill will.

817. irascible - easily angered.

818. irresolute - unsure of how to act; weak.

819. itinerant - wandering from place to place; unsettled.

820. itinerary - route of a traveler's journey.

821. jargon - (n) vocabulary specific to a group or occupation; convoluted or
unintelligible language.

822. jaundiced - having a yellowish discoloration of the skin; affected by

envy.

823. jettison - (v) Discard, cast off; throw items overboard in order to lighten
a ship in an emergency.

824. jibe - to be in agreement.

825. jingoism - belligerent support of one's country.

826. jocose - fond of joking; jocular.

827. jocular - jovial, playful, humorous.

828. judicious - (adj) using good judgment; wise, sensible.

829. juggernaut - huge force destroying everything in its path.

830. juncture - (n) critical point in time, such as a crisis or a time when a
decision is necessary; a place where two things are joined together.

831. junta - group of people united in political intrigue.

832. jurisprudence - philosophy of the law.

833. juxtapose - place side by side.

834. keen - (adj) sharp, piercing; very perceptive or mentally sharp; intense
(of a feeling).

835. kindle - (v) Ignite, cause to begin burning; incite, arouse, inflame.

836. kinetic - (adj) Pertaining to motion.

837. kismet - fate.

838. knell - sound of a funeral bell, omen of death or failure.

839. kudos - fame; glory; honor.

840. labile - likely to change.

841. lachrymose - tearful.

842. lackluster - (adj) not shiny; dull, mediocre, lacking brilliance or vitality.

843. laconic - using few words.

844. lambaste - to trash verbally or physically.

845. lament - (v, n) mourn; express grief, sorrow, or regret (verb); an

expression of grief, esp. as a song or poem (noun).

846. lampoon - (n, v) a harsh satire (noun); ridicule or satirize (verb).

847. landmark - (n, adj) object (such as a building) that stands out and can
be used to navigate by; very important place, event, etc..

848. languid - (adj) drooping from exhaustion, sluggish, slow; lacking in spirit.

849. lapidary - relating to precious stones.

850. larceny - (n) Theft.

851. largess - generosity, gift.

852. largess or largesse - (n) Generosity, the giving of money or gifts (esp.
with the implication that the giver is a bit superior to the recipient).

853. lascivious - lustful.

854. lassitude - lethargy; sluggishness.

855. latent - dormant; potential not apparent.

856. laud - praise.

857. laudable - (adj) worthy of praise.

858. lavish - (adj, v) abundant or giving in abundance; marked by excess

(adj); give very generously (verb).

859. lax - (adj) Not strict; careless, loose, slack.

860. layperson - (n) a person who is not a member of the clergy or not a
member of a particular profession (such as medicine, law, etc.).

861. leery - (adj) Suspicious or wary.

862. legerdemain - trickery.

863. lethargic - inactive.

864. levee - en embankment that prevents a river from overflowing.

865. levity - light manner or attitude.

866. levy - (v, n) collect tax from, wage war on, or enlist for military service
(verb); act of collecting tax or amount owed, or the drafting of troops into military
service (noun).

867. lexicon - dictionary, list of words.

868. liberal - tolerant; broad-minded.

869. libertine - one without moral restraint.

870. libidinous - lustful.

871. libido - sexual desire.

872. licentious - immoral, unrestrained by society.

873. likewise - (adv.) also, in addition to; similarly, in the same way.

874. lilliputian - extremely small.

875. limn - to draw, describe.

876. limpid - clear; transparent.

877. linguistic - pertaining to language.

878. liniment - medicinal liquid used externally to ease pain.

879. lionize - to treat as a celebrity.

880. lissome - easily flexed, limber, agile.

881. listless - (adj) Spiritless, lacking interest or energy.

882. litany - lengthy recitation; repetitive chant.

883. literati - scholarly of learned persons.

884. litigation - legal proceedings.

885. livid - (adj) Furiously angry, enraged.

886. log - record of a voyage; record of daily activities.

887. loquacious - talkative.

888. lucid - bright; clear; intelligible.

889. lucre - money or profits.

890. lugubrious - sorrowful, mournful.

891. lull - (n, v) soothe or cause to fall asleep (as in a lullaby); quiet down;
make to feel secure, sometimes falsely (verb); a period of calm or quiet (noun).

892. lumber - (v) Walk in a heavy or clumsy way, sometimes due to being
weighed down.

893. luminous - bright; brilliant; glowing.

894. lurid - (adj) Gruesome or excessively vivid; sensational, shocking,

unrestrained.

895. lustrous - shining.

896. macabre - gruesome, producing horror.

897. machiavellian - crafty; double-dealing.

898. machination - plot or scheme.

899. maelstrom - whirlpool; turmoil.

900. magnanimity - generosity.

901. magnanimous - (adj) High-minded, noble, lofty; generous in forgiving

others, free of resentment.

902. magnate - (n) Very important or influential person, esp. in business.

903. makeshift - (n, adj) a temporary, often improvised, substitute (noun);

improvised for temporary use (adj).
904. malapropism - humorous misuse of a word.

905. malediction - (n) A curse.

906. malevolent - ill-willed, causing evil or harm to others.

907. malign - to speak evil of.

908. malinger - to feign illness to escape duty.

909. malingerer - one who feigns illness to escape duty.

910. malleable - capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable.

911. manifest - Obvious, apparent, perceptible to the eye (adj); to show,

make clear, or prove (verb).

912. manifold - diverse, varied, comprised of many parts.

913. mannered - (adj) Having a particular manner, esp. an artificial one.

914. mar - (v) Damage, spoil, ruin.

915. martinet - strict disciplinarian, one who rigidly follows rules.

916. maudlin - overly sentimental.

917. maverick - dissenter.

918. mawkish - sickeningly sentimental.

919. maxim - (n) A general truth or fundamental principle, esp. expressed as

a proverb or saying.

920. megalomania - delusions of power or importance.

921. menagerie - a variety of animals kept together.

922. mendacious - dishonest.

923. mendicant - beggar.

924. mercurial - quick, shrewd, and unpredictable.

925. meretricious - gaudy; specious; falsely attractive.

926. meritorious - deserving reward or praise.

927. mesmerize - to hypnotize.

928. metamorphosis - change; transformation.

929. metaphysical - (adj) Concerned with abstract thought, related to

metaphysics (branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the nature of being
and of the world); very subtle or abstruse.

930. metaphysics - a branch of philosophy that investigates the ultimate

nature of reality.

931. meteorological - concerned with the weather.

932. meticulous - very careful; picky; fastidious.

933. mettle - courage; endurance.

934. mettlesome - full of courage and fortitude.

935. microcosm - a small system having analogies to a larger system.

936. milieu - (n) Environment, atmosphere; the environmental setting in

which something happens or develops.

937. militate - to work against.

938. minatory - threatening; menacing.

939. minuscule - very small.

940. minutia - petty details.

941. mired - (adj) Stuck, entangled (in something, like a swamp or muddy
area), soiled.

942. mirth - (n) Jollity, merriment; amusement or laughter.

943. misanthrope - one who hates humanity; one who dislikes others.

944. misanthrope or misanthropist - (n) Hater of humankind.

945. miscellany - mixture of writings on various subjects.

946. miscreant - villain; criminal.

947. misogynist - one who hates women.

948. missive - (n) Letter, written message.

949. mitigate - alleviate; to become less severe.

950. mnemonic - related to memory; assisting memory.

951. modest - (adj) humble; simple rather than showy; decent (esp. "covering
up" in terms of dress); small, limited.

952. modicum - limited quantity.

953. modish - (adj) Stylish, contemporary.

954. mollify - to soothe.

955. molt - to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically.

956. monastic - (adj) Relating to or resembling a monastery (where monks or

nuns live), esp. by being quiet, secluded, contemplative, strict, and/or lacking
luxuries.

957. monolithic - solid and uniform; constituting a single, unified whole.

958. monotony - (n) sameness or repetitiousness to the point of being

boring; lack of variation, uniformity, esp. repetition in sound.

959. mordacious - caustic, biting.

960. moreover - (adv.) besides; in addition to what was just stated.

961. mores - (n) customs, manners, or morals of a particular group.

962. morose - ill-humored; sullen.

963. mote - small particle, speck.

964. motley - many colored; made up of many parts.

965. multifarious - diverse.

966. mundane - worldly as opposed to spiritual; concerned with the ordinary.

967. munificent - generous.

968. myopic - (adj) Near-sighted; lacking long-term thinking, short-sighted.

969. nadir - lowest point.

970. naive - (adj) simple and unsophisticated, unsuspecting, lacking worldly

experience and critical judgment.

971. nascent - starting to develop.

972. nebulous - vague, cloudy.

973. necromancy - black magic.

974. nefarious - vicious, evil.

975. negate - to cancel out; nullify.

976. neologism - new word or expression.

977. neophyte - novice; beginner.

978. net - (adj, v) remaining after expenses or other factors have been
deducted; ultimate (adj); to bring in as profit or to catch as in a net (verb).

979. nettle - (v) Irritate, sting, or annoy.

980. nevertheless/nonetheless - (adv.) however, even so, despite that.

981. nexus - a means of connection; a center.

982. nihilism - belief that existence and all traditional values are
meaningless.

983. noisome - stinking putrid.

984. nominal - (adj) Trivial, so small as to be unimportant; in name only, so-

called.

985. nonplussed - bewildered.

986. nontrivial - (adj) Important or big enough to matter.

987. normative - (adj) Implying or attempting to establish a norm; expressing

value judgments or telling people what to do (rather than merely describing that
which is happening).
988. nostalgia - sentimental longing for a past time.

989. nostrum - medicine or remedy of doubtful effectiveness.

990. notoriety - (n) ill fame; the state of being well-known for a disgraceful
reason.

991. novel - (adj) new, fresh, original.

992. noxious - harmful, unwholesome.

993. nuance - (n) a subtle difference in tone, meaning, and expression.

994. nugatory - trifling; invalid.

995. numismatics - coin collecting.

996. obdurate - stubborn.

997. obfuscate - to confuse, obscure.

998. objective - (adj) factual, related to reality or physical objects; not

influenced by emotions, unbiased.

999. oblique - (adj) Slanting or sloping; indirect, misleading, or evasive.

1000. obsequious - overly submissive.

1001. obsequy - funeral ceremony.

1002. obsolete - (adj) out of date, no longer in use.

1003. obstinate - (adj) stubborn or hard to control.

1004. obstreperous - troublesome, boisterous, unruly.

1005. obviate - to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent.

1006. occlude - to shut; block.

1007. occult - relating to practices connected with supernatural phenomena.

1008. odyssey - a long, adventurous voyage; a quest.

1009. offhand - (adj) casual, informal; done without preparation or forethought;
rude in a short way, brusque.

1010. officious - too helpful; meddlesome.

1011. offset - (v, n) counteract, compensate for (verb); a counterbalance

(noun).

1012. olfactory - concerning the sense of smell.

1013. oligarchy - form of government in which power belongs to only a few

leaders.

1014. omnipotent - having unlimited power.

1015. omniscient - having infinite knowledge.

1016. onerous - burdensome.

1017. onomatopoeia - formation or use of words that imitate sounds of the

actions they refer to.

1018. opaque - (adj) not translucent; not allowing light, hear, etc. to pass
through; dark, dull, unclear or stupid.

1019. opine - (v) Express an opinion.

1020. opprobrium - public disgrace; contempt.

1021. optimal/optimum - (adj) best, most desirable or favorable.

1022. ornithologist - scientist who studies birds.

1023. orotund - (adj) Full, rich, and clear (of the voice or speaking); pompous,
bombastic.

1024. orthodox - (adj) adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to

anything customary or commonly accepted.

1025. oscillate - to move back and forth.

1026. ossify - (v) Become bone or become hard like bone; become inflexible
in attitudes, opinions, etc..

1027. ostensible or ostensive - (adj) Professed, evident, or pretended;

outwardly appearing in a certain way.
1028. ostentatious - showy; pretentious.

1029. ouster - explosion.

1030. outstrip - (v) surpass, exceed; be larger or better than; leave behind.

1031. overshadow - (v) cast a shadow over, darken; dominate, make to seem
less important.

1032. overweening - presumptuous; arrogant.

1033. overwrought - (adj) Overly nervous, agitated, or excited; too ornate,

elaborate, or fussy; overdone.

1034. paean - song of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy.

1035. palatial - (adj) Suitable for or resembling a palace, magnificent.

1036. paleontology - study of past geological eras through fossil remains.

1037. palliate - to make less serious, ease.

1038. pallid - lacking color or liveliness.

1039. panacea - cure-all.

1040. panache - (n) Flair, style, swagger; a flamboyant or grand way of acting.

1041. panegyric - elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise.

1042. panoply - impressive array.

1043. paradigm - (n) model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions,

values, etc..

1044. paradox - (n) contradiction, or seeming contradiction that is actually

true.

1045. paragon - model of perfection or excellence.

1046. pare - (v) Peel or cut off the outer layer (such as peeling fruit with a
knife), reduce or trim as if cutting off the outer parts.

1047. pariah - (n) social outcast, untouchable.

1048. parley - discussion, usually between enemies.

1049. parochial - of limited scope or outlook, provincial.

1050. parry - (v) Deflect or avoid (esp. a blow or attack); skillfully evade (a
question).

1051. parsimony - stinginess.

1052. partial - (adj) biased, prejudiced, favoring one over the others; having a
special liking for something or someone (usually partial to).

1053. partisan - one-sided; committed to a party, group or cause.

1054. pastiche - piece of literature or music imitating other works.

1055. patent - (adj, n) obvious, apparent, plain to see (adj); a letter from the
government guaranteeing an inventor rights to his or her invention (noun).

1056. pathogenic - (adj) Capable of producing disease.

1057. pathological - departing from normal condition.

1058. patois - jargon; a regional dialect.

1059. patronizing - (adj) condescending, having a superior manner, treating

as an inferior.

1060. paucity - scarcity.

1061. peccadillo - minor sin or offense.

1062. peculation - theft of money or goods.

1063. pedant - (n) Person who pays excessive attention to book learning and
rules, or who uses his or her learning to show off.

1064. pedantic - showing off learning.

1065. peddle - (v) Travel around while selling; sell illegally; give out or
disseminate.

1066. pedestrian - (adj) ordinary, dull, commonplace.

1067. pejorative - Disparaging, derogatory, belittling (adj); a name or word that

is disparaging (noun).
1068. pellucid - transparent; easily understood.

1069. penchant - inclination.

1070. penitent - Regretful, feeling remorse for one's sins or misdeeds (adj); a
person who feels this way (noun).

1071. penultimate - next to last.

1072. penumbra - partial shadow.

1073. penury - extreme poverty.

1074. per se - (adv.) Intrinsically; by itself; in itself.

1075. perambulate - walk about.

1076. peregrinate - (v) Travel from place to place, esp. on foot.

1077. peregrination - wandering from place to place.

1078. peremptory - imperative; leaving no choice.

1079. perennial - present throughout the years; persistent.

1080. perfidious - faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy.

1081. perfunctory - superficial; performed really as a duty.

1082. perigee - point in an orbit that is closest to the earth.

1083. peripatetic - (adj) Journeying from place to place; traveling on foot.

1084. peripheral - (adj) relating to or making up an outer boundary or region;

not of primary importance.

1085. periphrastic - using circumlocution.

1086. permeable - penetrable.

1087. permeate - (v) spread or penetrate throughout.

1088. pernicious - very harmful.

1089. perspicacious - shrewd, astute, keen-witted.

1090. pertinacious - persistent, stubborn.

1091. perturb - to disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious.

1092. pervasive - spread throughout every part.

1093. petulant - rude; peevish.

1094. phalanx - massed group of solders, people, or things.

1095. philanthropy - (n) efforts to improve the well-being of humankind,

generally through giving money.

1096. philistine - narrow-minded person, someone lacking appreciation for art

or culture.

1097. phlegmatic - unemotional; calm in temperament.

1098. phoenix - anything that is restored after suffering great destruction.

1099. phony - (adj) fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine.

1100. physiognomy - facial features.

1101. piety - devoutness.

1102. pious - (adj) devout; religiously reverent and dutiful.

1103. piquant - pleasantly pungent; attractive.

1104. pique - fleeting feeling or hurt pride.

1105. pith - (n) core, essence; significance or weight.

1106. placate - soothe; pacify.

1107. placid - calm.

1108. plaintive - melancholy; mournful.

1109. plait - to braid.

1110. plangent - resounding, plaintive.

1111. plastic - (adj) able to be shaped or formed; easily influenced.

1112. plasticity - pliability; condition of being able to be shaped or formed.

1113. platitude - stale; overused expression.

1114. platonic - spiritual; theoretical.

1115. plaudit - applause.

1116. plausible - (n) believable; having the appearance of truth.

1117. plebian - (adj) Of the common people.

1118. plethora - excess; overabundance.

1119. plucky - (adj) Brave, spirited.

1120. plumb - to examine deeply; determine the depth.

1121. plummet - to fall; plunge.

1122. plutocracy - society ruled by the wealthy.

1123. pneumatic - relating to air, worked by compressed air.

1124. polarized - (adj) divided into sharply opposed groups.

1125. polemic - controversy, argument, verbal attack.

1126. politic - (adj) Shrewd, pragmatic; tactful or diplomatic.

1127. polyglot - speaker of many languages.

1128. ponderous - (adj) heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored.

1129. porous - full of holes; permeable to liquids.

1130. poseur - person who affects an attitude to impress others.

1131. posit - to put in position, to suggest an idea.

1132. posthumous - (adj) happening or continuing after death.

1133. potentate - (n) ruler, person of great power.

1134. pragmatic - practical.

1135. prate - to talk idly; chatter.

1136. prattle - meaningless, foolish talk.

1137. preamble - preliminary statement.

1138. precarious - uncertain.

1139. precept - principle; law.

1140. precipitate - rash; hasty; sudden; done without deliberation.

1141. précis - (n) Concise summary, abstract.

1142. precursor - forerunner; predecessor.

1143. predilection - preference, liking.

1144. predisposed - (adj) having an inclination or tendency beforehand;

susceptible.

1145. preempt - to supersede; appropriate for oneself.

1146. pre-empt - (v) prevent; take the place of, supplant; take before someone
else can.

1147. prehensile - capable of grasping.

1148. premonition - forewarning; presentiment.

1149. presage - to foretell; indicate in advance.

1150. prescient - having foresight.

1151. presumptive - (adj) based on inference or assumption; providing

reasonable grounds for belief.

1152. presumptuous - rude; improperly bold.

1153. pretentious - (adj) claiming or demanding a position of importance or

dignity, esp. when unjustified; showing off creating deceptive, false show of
worth.

1154. preternatural - supernatural; beyond the normal use of nature.

1155. prevaricate - to quibble; evade the truth.

1156. primacy - (n) The state of being first or most important.

1157. primordial - original; existing from the beginning.

1158. principled - (adj) having high moral standards.

1159. pristine - untouched; uncorrupted.

1160. privation - lack of usual necessities or comforts.

1161. probity - honesty; high-mindedness.

1162. problematic - posing a problem; doubtful.

1163. proclivity - (n) Inclination, natural tendency.

1164. prodigal - wasteful; extravagant; lavish.

1165. prodigious - (adj) extraordinarily large, impressive, etc..

1166. profligate - (adj) completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely

wasteful.

1167. profound - deep, not superficial.

1168. profuse - (adj) abundant, extravagant, giving or given freely.

1169. progenitor - originator, forefather, ancestor, in a direct line.

1170. prognosticate - to predict.

1171. prohibitive - so high as to prevent the purchase or use of, forbidding.

1172. proliferate - to increase rapidly.

1173. prolific - productive, fertile.

1174. prolix - tedious, wordy.

1175. prologue - (n) introductory part to a book, play, etc..

1176. promulgate - to make known publicly.

1177. pronounced - (adj) distinct, strong, clearly indicated.

1178. propagate - (v) Reproduce, spread, increase.

1179. propensity - inclination, tendency.

1180. prophetic - (adj) Relating to prophesy, predicting, ominous.

1181. propinquity - nearness.

1182. propitiate - to win over, appease.

1183. propitious - favorable, advantageous.

1184. propriety - correct conduct, fitness.

1185. prosaic - (adj) dull, ordinary.

1186. proscribe - to condemn, forbid, outlaw.

1187. proselytize - to induce someone to convert to a particular belief or

religion.

1188. prospective - (adj) potential, in the future.

1189. prostrate - lying face downward, lying flat on the ground.

1190. protagonist - main character in a play or story, hero.

1191. provident - providing for future need, frugal.

1192. providential - (adj) Lucky, fortunate, or relating to divine care (the idea
that a deity has helped or cared for a person).

1193. provincial - rustic, unsophisticated, limited in scope.

1194. proxy - (n) Agent, substitute, person authorized to act on behalf of

another.

1195. prudent - (adj) wise in practical matters, carefully providing for the
future.

1196. prurient - lustful, exhibiting lewd desires.

1197. puerile - childish, immature, silly.

1198. pugilism - (n) boxing, fighting with the fists.

1199. pugnacious - (adj) inclined to fight, combative.

1200. puissance - (n) Power, might.

1201. puissant - powerful.

1202. pulchritude - beauty.

1203. punctilious - careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony.

1204. pundit - authority or critic.

1205. pungent - penetrating, caustic, to the point.

1206. purport - to profess, suppose, claim.

1207. pusillanimous - cowardly.

1208. quagmire - marsh, difficult situation.

1209. quail - to cower, lose heart.

1210. qualified - limited, restricted.

1211. qualm - sudden feeling of faintness or nausea.

1212. quandary - (n) uncertainty or confusion about what to do, dilemma.

1213. querulous - inclined to complain, irritable.

1214. query - question.

1215. quibble - to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details.

1216. quiescent - inactive, still.

1217. quixotic - (adj) Extremely impractical but very romantic, chivalrous, or

idealistic; impulsive.

1218. quorum - number of members necessary to conduct a meeting.

1219. quotidian - occurring daily, commonplace.

1220. raconteur - witty, skillful storyteller.

1221. rail - to scold with bitter or abusive language.

1222. raillery - lighthearted jesting.

1223. raiment - clothing.

1224. ramification - implication, consequence.

1225. rancor - bitter hatred.

1226. ranks - (n) personnel; a group of people considered all together.

1227. rapacious - greedy, predatory.

1228. rapprochement - reestablishing a cordial relationship.

1229. rarefied - refined.

1230. rationale - fundamental reason.

1231. raze - to tear down, demolish.

1232. reactant - (n) Something that reacts; a substance that undergoes a

change in a chemical reaction.

1233. reap - (v) harvest, such as by cutting; gather; get as a result of one's
effort.

1234. rebus - puzzle in which pictures or symbols represent words.

1235. recalcitrant - resisting authority or control.

1236. recant - retract a statement of opinion.

1237. recapitulate - (v) Summarize, repeat in a concise way.

1238. recidivism - tendency to repeat previous behavior.

1239. recluse - person who lives in seclusion and often in solitude.

1240. recondite - abstruse, profound.

1241. recreant - disloyal, cowardly.

1242. recrudescent - (adj) Revival, breaking out into renewed activity.

1243. redoubtable - formidable, arousing fear.

1244. redound - (v) To have a good or bad effect, esp. as a result of a

person's efforts or actions (usually used with to, on, or upon).

1245. redress - relief from wrong or injury.

1246. refractory - stubborn, resisting ordinary methods of treatment.

1247. refulgent - brightly shining, resplendent.

1248. refute - to contradict, disprove.

1249. regale - to entertain.

1250. rejoinder - response.

1251. relegate - to consign to an inferior position.

1252. remedial - (adj) providing a remedy, curative; correcting a deficient skill.

1253. remonstrate - to object or protest.

1254. rend - (v) Tear violently, esp. to tear one's clothing or hair out of grief;
pull apart, split, or tear away.

1255. render - (v) give, submit, surrender; translate; declare formally; cause to
become.

1256. renege - to go back on one's word.

1257. renitent - resisting pressure, obstinate.

1258. reparation - amends, compensation.

1259. repast - meal.

1260. repertorial - (adj) Pertaining to a repertory or repertoire, a stock of

available things or a number of theatrical performances presented regularly or in
sequence.

1261. repine - fret, complain.

1262. replete - (adj) supplied in abundance, filled, gorged (used with with).
1263. repose - (n) The act or state of resting; peacefulness, tranquility; lying
dead in a grave.

1264. reprise - repetition, especially of a piece of music.

1265. reproach - to find fault with, blame.

1266. reprobate - morally unprincipled person.

1267. repudiate - to reject as having no authority.

1268. requite - to return or repay.

1269. rescind - to cancel.

1270. resolution - determination, resolve.

1271. resolve - determination, firmness of purpose.

1272. respectively - (adv.) in the order given.

1273. respite - interval of relief.

1274. restive - impatient, uneasy, restless.

1275. resurgent - (adj) Having a revival, renewing, rising or surging again.

1276. reticent - nor speaking freely, reserved, reluctant.

1277. retinue - group of attendants with and important person.

1278. retrospective - (adj, n) looking to the past or backward; applying to the

past, retroactive (adj); an art exhibit of an artist's work over a long period of time
(n).

1279. revamp - Renovate, redo, revise (verb); a restructuring, upgrade, etc.

(noun).

1280. revelry - boisterous festivity.

1281. reverent - expressing deep respect, worshipful.

1282. rhetoric - (n) the art or study of persuasion through speaking or writing;
language that is elaborate or pretentious but actually empty, meaning little.

1283. ribald - humorous in a vulgar way.

1284. ridden - (adj) Dominated or burdened by.

1285. rife - (adj) happening frequently, abundant, currently being reported.

1286. rift - (n) A gap or fissure (such as in rock), a break in friendly relations.

1287. riposte - retaliatory action or retort.

1288. rococo - excessively ornate.

1289. rotund - round in shape, fat.

1290. rubric - protocol, title or heading.

1291. rudimentary - (adj) elementary, relating to the basics; undeveloped,

primitive.

1292. rue - regret.

1293. ruminate - to contemplate, reflect upon.

1294. ruse - trick, crafty stratagem.

1295. rustic - (adj, n) relating to country life, unsophisticated; primitive; made

of rough wood (adj); a rural or uncultured person (noun).

1296. sacrosanct - extremely sacred, beyond criticism.

1297. sagacious - shrewd, wise.

1298. sage - wise.

1299. salacious - lascivious, lustful.

1300. salient - (adj) Obvious, standing out; projecting, protruding, jutting out.

1301. salubrious - healthful.

1302. salutary - expecting an improvement, favorable to health.

1303. sanction - to approve, ratify, permit.

1304. sanguine - ruddy; cheerfully optimistic.

1305. sap - (n, v) the inner fluid of a plant or any essential body fluid; energy,
vitality; a person taken advantage of (noun); undermine, weaken, tire out (verb).

1306. sapient - wise.

1307. sardonic - cynical, scornfully mocking.

1308. sartorial - pertaining to tailors.

1309. satiate - to satisfy.

1310. satiate or sate - (v) to fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying to the point of
excess (possibly inducing disgust, tiredness, etc.).

1311. saturate - imbue throughout, soak thoroughly.

1312. saturnine - gloomy.

1313. satyr - a creature that is half-man, half beast, with the horns and legs of
a goat.

1314. savant - (n) Learned person, scholar, someone admitted to membership

in a scholarly field; a person with amazing mental abilities despite having a
cognitive difference or disability.

1315. savor - to enjoy, have a distinctive flavor or smell.

1316. scabbard - sheath for sword or dagger.

1317. scant - (adj) not enough or barely enough.

1318. scathing - (adj) severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical (as a remark).

1319. schematic - relating to or in the form of an outline or diagram.

1320. scintilla - very small amount.

1321. scintillate - to sparkle, flash.

1322. scurrilous - vulgar, low, indecent.

1323. scurvy - (adj) Contemptible, mean.

1324. searchingly - (adv.) In a searching or penetrating manner; while

examining closely or probing for answers.
1325. secrete - produce and release substance into organism.

1326. secular - (adj) not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things.

1327. sedition - behavior prompting rebellion.

1328. sedulous - diligent, assiduous.

1329. seismic - relating to earthquakes.

1330. semantic - (adj) Relating to the different meanings of words or other

symbols.

1331. senescent - aging, growing old.

1332. sensual - relating to the senses, gratifying the physical (sexual) senses.

1333. sensuous - relating to the senses.

1334. sentient - aware, conscious, able to perceive.

1335. sepulchral - typical of a place of burial.

1336. seraphic - angelic, pure, sublime.

1337. servile - submissive, obedient.

1338. sextant - navigation tool that determines latitude and longitude.

1339. shard - a piece of broken glass or pottery.

1340. shirk - to avoid a task due to laziness or fear.

1341. sidereal - relating to the stars.

1342. simian - apelike, relating to apes.

1343. simile - comparison of one thing with another using "like" or "as".

1344. simper - to smirk, smile foolishly.

1345. simultaneous - (adj) at the same time.

1346. sinecure - well-paying job that requires little or no work.

1347. singular - unique, extraordinary, odd.

1348. sinuous - intricate, complex.

1349. skeptic - one who doubts.

1350. skirt - (v) border, lie along the edge of , go around; evade.

1351. skittish - (adj) Shy, fickle, uncertain, or prone to act suddenly due to
nervousness; lively in a restless or excessive way.

1352. slack - (adj, v, n) loose, negligent, lazy, weak (adj); neglect to so one's
duties; loosen up, relax (verb); period of little work (noun).

1353. slake - to quench or moderate.

1354. slew - (n) a large number or quantity.

1355. slight - (adj, v, n) small, not very important, slender or delicate (adj);
treat as though not very important; snub, ignore (verb); an act of treating in this
way, a discourtesy (noun).

1356. slovenly - untidy, messy.

1357. sobriety - seriousness.

1358. sobriquet - (n) A nickname.

1359. sodden - thoroughly soaked, saturated.

1360. sojourn - visit, stay.

1361. solecism - grammatical mistake.

1362. solicitous - concerned, attentive, eager.

1363. solidarity - (n) Fellowship in interests, feelings, responsibilities, etc.,

such as among a group of people or among classes, nations, etc..

1364. soliloquy - literary or dramatic speech by one character, not addressed

to others.

1365. solipsism - belief that the self is the only reality.

1366. solvent - able to meet financial obligations.

1367. somatic - relating to or affecting the body, corporeal.

1368. somnambulist - sleepwalker.

1369. sonorous - producing a full, rich sound.

1370. sophist - person good at arguing deviously.

1371. soporific - sleep producing.

1372. sordid - filthy, contemptible and corrupt.

1373. sound - (v) measure the depth of (usually water) as with a sounding
line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand (usually as sound the
depths).

1374. spartan - (adj) very disciplined and stern; frugal, living simply, austere;
suggestive of the ancient Spartans.

1375. spate - (n) sudden outpouring or rush; flood.

1376. spearhead - (v) be the leader of.

1377. specious - seeming to be logical and sound, but not really so.

1378. spectrum - band of color, broad range of related ideas or objects.

1379. speculate - (v) contemplate; make a guess or educated guess about;

engage in a risky business transaction, gamble.

1380. spendthrift - person who spends money recklessly.

1381. sporadic - irregular.

1382. sportive - frolicsome, playful.

1383. squalid - filthy, morally repulsive.

1384. squalor - filthy, wretched condition.

1385. squelch - (v) Crush, squash; suppress or silence; walk through ooze or
in wet shoes, making a smacking or sucking sound.

1386. staccato - marked by abrupt, clear-cut sounds.

1387. staid - self-restrained.

1388. stanch - to stop or check the flow of.

1389. standing - (n, adj) status, rank, reputation (noun); existing indefinitely,
not movable (adj).

1390. stark - (adj) complete, total, utter; harsh or grim; extremely simple,
severe, blunt, or plain.

1391. stasis - (n) Equilibrium, a state of balance or inactivity, esp. caused by

equal but opposing forces.

1392. static - (adj) fixed, not moving or changing, lacking vitality.

1393. status quo - (n) existing state or condition.

1394. steeped - (adj) Immersed (in), saturated (with).

1395. stentorian - extremely loud.

1396. stigma - mark of disgrace or inferiority.

1397. stingy - (adj) not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give.

1398. stint - to be sparing.

1399. stipulate - to specify as an essential condition.

1400. stoic or stoical - (adj, n) indifferent to pleasure or pain, enduring without

complaint (adj); person indifferent to pleasure or pain (noun).

1401. stolid - having or showing little emotion.

1402. stratagem - (n) Military maneuver to deceive or surprise; crafty scheme.

1403. stratified - arranged in layers.

1404. stratum - (n) One of many layers (such as in a rock formation or in the
classes of a society).

1405. striated - marked with thin, narrow grooves or channels.

1406. stricture - something that restrains, negative criticism.

1407. strident - loud, harsh, unpleasantly noisy.

1408. stringent - imposing severe, rigorous standards.

1409. strut - to swagger, display to impress others.

1410. stultify - to impair or reduce to uselessness.

1411. stupefy - to dull the senses of, stun, astonish.

1412. stygian - dark and gloomy, hellish.

1413. stymie - to block or thwart.

1414. stymie or stymy - (v, n) block, hinder, or thwart (verb); an obstacle

(noun).

1415. subjective - (adj) existing in the mind or relating to one's own thoughts,
opinions, emotions, etc.; personal, individual, based on feelings.

1416. sublime - (adj) Lofty or elevated, inspiring reverence or awe; excellent,

majestic; complete, utter.

1417. subpoena - notice ordering someone to appear in court.

1418. subside - to settle down, grow quiet.

1419. substantiate - to support with proof or evidence.

1420. substantive - essential.

1421. subsume - to include, incorporate.

1422. subterfuge - trick or tactic used to avoid something.

1423. subversive - intended to undermine or underthrow, especially an

established government.

1424. succeeding - (adj) coming after or following.

1425. succor - relief, help in time of distress or want.

1426. suffrage - the right to vote.

1427. sully - to soil, stain, tarnish, taint.

1428. sundry - various.

1429. supercilious - arrogant, haughty, overbearing, condescending.

1430. supersede - to replace, especially to displace as inferior or antiquated.

1431. supine - lying in the back, marked by lethargy.

1432. supplant - to replace, substitute.

1433. suppliant - beseeching.

1434. supplicant - one who asks humbly and earnestly.

1435. supplicate - (v) pray humbly; ask, beg, or seek in a humble way.

1436. supposition - the act of assuming to be true or real.

1437. surfeit - (n) excess, excessive amount, overindulgence.

1438. surly - rude and bad tempered.

1439. surmise - (v) guess, infer, think, or make an opinion with incomplete
information.

1440. surreptitious - characterized by secrecy.

1441. surrogate - Substitute, person who acts for another (noun); acting as a
replacement (adj).

1442. sybarite - person devoted to pleasure and luxury.

1443. sycophant - self-serving flatterer, yes-man.

1444. syllogism - a form of deductive reasoning with a major premise, a minor

premise, and a conclusion.

1445. sylvan - related to the woods or forest.

1446. symbiosis - (n) Mutually dependent relationship between two

organisms, people, groups, etc..

1447. synchronous - (adj) happening at the same time; occurring at the same
rate and thus happening together repeatedly.

1448. syncopation - temporary irregularity in musical rhythm.

1449. synoptic - (adj) Relating to a synopsis or summary; giving a general

view.
1450. syntax - (adj) The rules governing grammar and how words join to make
sentences (or how words and symbols join in writing computer code), the study
of these rules, or any system or orderly arrangement.

1451. table - (v) lay aside to discuss later, often as a way to postpone
discussion indefinitely.

1452. tableau - vivid description, striking incident or scene.

1453. tacit - silently understood, implied.

1454. taciturn - (adj) not talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in
conversation.

1455. talisman - charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune.

1456. tangential - peripheral, irrelevant, digressing.

1457. tantamount - equivalent, in value or significance, amounting to.

1458. tautology - unnecessary repetition.

1459. tawdry - (adj) Gaudy, cheap or cheap-looking; indecent.

1460. taxonomy - science of classification.

1461. temerity - recklessness.

1462. temperance - (n) moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or

other desires or pleasures; total abstinence from alcohol.

1463. temporal - relating to time, chronological.

1464. tenable - defensible, reasonable.

1465. tendentious - (adj) Marked by a strong point of view, biased.

1466. tenet - belief, doctrine.

1467. tenuous - weak, insubstantial.

1468. terrestrial - earthly, commonplace.

1469. terse - (adj) Concise, brief and to the point (sometimes to the point of
rudeness).
1470. theocracy - government by priests representing a god.

1471. thespian - an actor or actress.

1472. threnody - a sad song or poem.

1473. timbre - voice tone color.

1474. timely - (adj) well-timed, happening at a suitable time.

1475. timorous - (adj) fearful, timid.

1476. tirade - long, violent speech, verbal assault.

1477. toady - flatterer, yes-man.

1478. token - (n,adj) Sign, symbol, mark, badge; souvenir, memento; coin-like
disk used as currency for subways, arcade games, etc.; sample, or person, thing,
idea taken to represent an entire group (noun); of very little or merely symbolic
value (adj).

1479. tome - book, usually large and academic.

1480. torpor - lethargy, dormancy, sluggishness.

1481. torque - a turning or twisting force.

1482. torrid - (adj) very hot, parching, burning; passionate.

1483. tortuous - having many twists and turns, highly complex.

1484. tout - to promote or praise energetically.

1485. tractable - obedient, yielding.

1486. trammel - to impede or hamper.

1487. transgression - act of trespassing or violating a law or rule.

1488. transient - temporary, fleeting.

1489. transitory - (adj) temporary, short-lived, not lasting.

1490. translucent - partially transparent.

1491. travail - work, especially arduous work.

1492. travesty - parody, exaggerated imitation, caricature.

1493. treacherous - (adj) Betraying trust, not faithful or trustworthy; not

dependable; dangerous or deceptive.

1494. treatise - article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly.

1495. tremulous - trembling, frugal, timid.

1496. trenchant - acute, sharp, inclusive, forceful, effective.

1497. trepidation - fear and anxiety.

1498. trifling - (adj) trivial, not very important; so small as to be unimportant;

frivolous, shallow.

1499. trite - shallow, superficial.

1500. truculence - aggressiveness, ferocity.

1501. truculent - savage and cruel, fierce, ready to fight.

1502. tryst - agreement between lovers to meet, rendezvous.

1503. tumid - swollen, distended.

1504. tumultuous - (adj) Riotous, violently agitated, marked by disturbance or

uproar; noisy, chaotic.

1505. turbid - muddy, opaque, in a state of great confusion.

1506. turgid - swollen, pompous.

1507. turpitude - inherent vileness, foulness, depravity.

1508. tutelary - serving as a guardian or protector.

1509. tyro - beginner, novice.

1510. ubiquitous - (adj) existing everywhere at the same time.

1511. umbrage - offense, resentment.

1512. uncanny - mysterious, strange.

1513. unconscionable - (adj) Not guided by conscience; morally wrong, unjust,
unreasonable.

1514. unctuous - greasy, oily, smug and falsely earnest.

1515. undermine - (v) weaken cause to collapse by digging away at the

foundation (of a building or an argument); injure or attack in a secretive or
underhanded way.

1516. underscore - (v) emphasize (or, literally, to underline text).

1517. undulating - moving in waves.

1518. unearth - (v) dig up, uncover, expose.

1519. unequivocal - (adj) unambiguous, clear, absolute; having only one

possible meaning.

1520. unfeigned - not false, genuine.

1521. unfettered - free, unrestrained.

1522. unprecedented - (adj) never before known or seen, without having

happened previously.

1523. unseemly - (adj) improper, inappropriate, against the rules of taste or

politeness.

1524. unsparing - (adj) Generous, lavish (as in not sparing any help or gifts to
others); unmerciful, harsh (as in not sparing any criticism).

1525. unsullied - clean.

1526. untempered - (adj) Not toned down; not moderated, controlled, or

counterbalanced.

1527. untenable - indefensible.

1528. untoward - not favorable, troublesome, unruly.

1529. upbraid - (v) Find fault with, criticize or scold severely.

1530. urbane - courteous, refined, suave.

1531. usury - a practice of lending money at exorbitant rates.

1532. vacillate - to waver, oscillate.

1533. vacuous - empty, void, lacking intelligence.

1534. valedictory - pertaining to a farewell.

1535. vanguard - (n) Leading units at the front of an army; leaders in a trend
or movement, people on the "cutting edge"; the forefront of a trend or movement.

1536. vapid - tasteless, dull.

1537. variegated - varied, marked with different colors.

1538. vaunt - to boast, drag.

1539. venal - mercenary, corruptible.

1540. vendetta - prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility.

1541. venerate - to adore, honor, respect.

1542. veracious - truthful, accurate.

1543. veracity - (n) truthfulness, accuracy; habitual adherence to the truth.

1544. verbose - wordy.

1545. verdant - (adj) Green, such as with vegetation, plants, grass, etc.;
young and inexperienced.

1546. verisimilar - (adj) Having the appearance of truth, probable.

1547. vernal - (adj) Relating to the spring; fresh, youthful.

1548. vertigo - dizziness.

1549. vestige - (n) Trace or sign of something that once existed.

1550. vex - (v) annoy or bother; puzzle or distress.

1551. vexation - irritation, annoyance.

1552. via - (prep) Through, by means of, by way of (by a route that goes
through or touches).
1553. viable - practicable, capable of developing.

1554. vicissitude - (n) Changes or variations over time, esp. regular changes
from one thing to another.

1555. vim - (n) Pep, enthusiasm, vitality, lively spirit.

1556. vindictive - vengeful, unforgiving.

1557. vintage - (adj, n) related to items of high quality from a previous era,
old-fashioned, antique (adj); the wine of a particular year (noun).

1558. virile - manly, having qualities of an adult male.

1559. virtual - (adj) existing only in the mind or by means of a computer

network; existing in results or in essence but not officially or in name.

1560. virtuoso - someone with master skills, expert musician.

1561. virulent - (adj) Extremely infectious, poisonous, etc.; hateful, bitterly

hostile.

1562. visage - appearance, aspect.

1563. viscid or viscous - (adj) Thick, adhesive, or covered in something sticky.

1564. viscous - thick, syrupy.

1565. vitiate - to impair the quality of, corrupt morally.

1566. vitriol - (n) Something highly caustic, such as criticism (literally, one of a
number of chemicals including sulfuric acid).

1567. vitriolic - burning, caustic, sharp, bitter.

1568. vituperate - to abuse verbally.

1569. vituperative - using or containing harsh, abusive censure.

1570. vivisection - dissection, surgery, or painful experiments performed on a

living animal for the purpose of scientific research.

1571. vociferous - loud, vocal, and noisy.

1572. vogue - prevailing fashion or practice.

1573. volatile - tending to vary frequently, fickle.

1574. voluble - speaking much and easily, talkative, glib.

1575. vortex - whirlpool, center of turbulence.

1576. wan - (adj) Unnaturally pale, or showing some other indication of

sickness, unhappiness, etc.; weak, lacking forcefulness.

1577. wanton - (adj) Reckless, vicious, without regard for what is right;
unjustifiable, deliberately done for no reason at all; sexually unrestrained or
excessively luxurious.

1578. warranted - justified.

1579. wary - careful, cautious.

1580. waspish - easily irritated.

1581. welter - wallow or roll, toss about, be in turmoil.

1582. whereas - (conjunction) while on the contrary, considering that.

1583. whet - (v) Stimulate, make keen or eager (esp. of an appetite).

1584. whimsical - fanciful, unpredictable.

1585. whitewash - A substance used to whiten walls, wood, etc. (noun);

deception, covering up of wrongs, errors, misdeeds, etc. (verb).

1586. wily - (adj) crafty, cunning, characterized by tricks or artifice.

1587. winnow - (v) Sift, analyze critically, separate the useful part from the
worthless part.

1588. winsome - (adj) Charming, engaging, esp. in a sweet and innocent way.

1589. wistful - vaguely longing, sadly thoughtful.

1590. wizened - withered, shriveled, wrinkled.

1591. wraith - a ghost.

1592. xenophobia - fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers.

1593. yoke - A burden or something that oppresses; a frame for attaching
animals (such as oxen) to each other and to a plow or other equipment to be
pulled, or a bar across a person's shoulders to help carry buckets of water, etc.
(noun); to unite together or to burden (verb).

1594. zeal - (n) great fervor or enthusiasm for a cause, person, etc.; tireless
diligence in furthering that cause; passion, ardor.

1595. zealot - one who is fanatically devoted to a cause.

1596. zenith - highest point, summit.