1.

aggrandize
embellish; increase the scope, power, or importance of
Louis XIV. was growing increasingly ambitious of enlarging his domains and
aggrandizing his power.Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
2. agile
moving quickly and lightly
Are not many beasts physically stronger, more nimble and agile than man?Nordau, Max
Simon
3. agrarian
relating to rural matters
We’re not an agrarian society any longer, where more hands help farm the land.New
York Times (Jun 20, 2011)
4. alacrity
liveliness and eagerness
The men obeyed with alacrity, as all were glad to go, lying in camp so long.Terrill, J.
Newton
5. alienate
arouse hostility or indifference in
Keeping schools closed and blocking certain public services is not a strategy we
support and couldalienate public opinion and play into the governor’s hand.New York
Times (Feb 18, 2011)
6. allege
report or maintain
David is alleged to have written several Psalms, but of this there is little evidence beyond pious
assertion.Bradlaugh, Charles
7. allegiance
the act of binding yourself to a course of action
Notwithstanding this good fortune, Pontiac daily saw his followers dropping off from
theirallegiance; for even the boldest had lost heart.Parkman, Francis
8. allegory
a style that describes a subject by suggestive resemblances
Achingly beautiful, quiet and graceful, his award-winning novel Waiting is a love story
superimposed on a political allegory.
9. alleviate
provide physical relief, as from pain
Lewis said he got a Synvisc shot – an injection commonly used to alleviate arthritic symptoms –
in his left knee on Monday.Washington Post (Mar 7, 2012)
10. allude
make an indirect reference to
In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Mr. Obama turned up the heat, alluding to the
plan without fleshing out details.New York Times (Jan 27, 2012)
11. aloof
remote in manner
Too much focus on official duties can make an incumbent look isolated and aloof.New York
Times (Mar 12, 2012)
12. altruistic
showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
The gesture was not necessarily altruistic; he was hoping for a donation in return.New York
Times (Jan 24, 2011)
13. ambiguous
having more than one possible meaning
"The election law in New York is written in an ill-defined, ambiguous way," Goldfeder said, adding
that he did not believe any laws were broken.
14. ambivalent
uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
"If managers are ambivalent, or wavering, then investor uncertainty increases and the stocks
 become more volatile."
15. ameliorate
make better
Possessed of broadly humanitarian sympathies, he became interested in ameliorating the
conditions of imprisoned debtors.Bolton, Herbert Eugene
16. amiable
diffusing warmth and friendliness
He was also remarkable for his amiable and cheerful manners.Anonymous
17. benign
not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive
But its images cannot distinguish malignant tumors from benign growths filled with
harmless breast tissue.Scientific American (May 10, 2011)
18. bequeath
leave or give, especially by will after one's death
The widow lived for a few years, and, at her death, he bequeathed upon the daughter
of his adoption all that his mother possessed.Various
19. berate
censure severely or angrily
At almost every move through the drill he beratedthem caustically, though in such
faultless military language of reproof as to keep him from censure.Hancock, H. Irving
(Harrie Irving)
20. bereavement
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
The team also helps the patients' families, instructing them in caring techniques and
providing bereavement counseling after death.Washington Post (Sep 7, 2010)
21. beseech
ask for or request earnestly
Mr. Binney pleaded and besought, but all to no avail, and left his Tutor's presence at
last, a disgraced and despairing man.Marshall, Archibald
22. besiege
surround so as to force to give up
The troops in the Potomac army were all lying in front of Petersburg, under fire day and
night, preparing to besiege the place.Terrill, J. Newton
23. besmirch
smear so as to make dirty or stained
Because the dealer, widely respected in the Zurich art world, did not want his
reputationbesmirched, he agreed to settle the claim out of court.New York Times (Sep
24, 2010)
24. bestow
present
There was stillness in the room—utter stillness as at last Percivale laid his sleeping wife
down, and, bending over her, bestowed a parting kiss.Reynolds, Mrs. Baillie
25. betrothed
the person to whom you are engaged
Perhaps he thinks an engaged young lady should be demure and dutiful, having no
eyes or ears for any one except her betrothed.Harland, Marion
26. bewildered
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
Only the most commonplace things were said, and yet she puzzled him, bewildered
him.Hocking, Joseph
27. bias
influence in an unfair way
Analytical thinking happens in the left hemisphere of the brain and is essential to
making more objective, less biased decisions.
28. bicker
argue over petty things
 At times it felt like the candidates had already talked themselves out on the big themes
and could only bicker over table scraps.Slate (Feb 23, 2012)
29. bifurcated
divided into or made up of two parts
Like Lost, it’s story, at least at first, is bifurcated, taking place half in the magical world,
half in ours.
30. bilateral
affecting or undertaken by two parties
Economic issues took up about half of the bilateral talks between the two leaders, said
a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
31. billowing
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
It was here that the Army cooked up chemical weapons, launched poison-packed
mortar shells and sent gas clouds billowing over the fields.
32. coercion
using force to cause something to occur
Authorities are still trying to determine whether Savannah was forced to run by physical
coercionor by verbal commands.Time (Feb 23, 2012)
33. cogent
powerfully persuasive
The supposition is so very probable, that nothing short of very cogent reasons could
induce us to abandon it.Hengstenberg, Ernst Wilhelm
34. cognizant
having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization
“You have to be cognizant of the evidence out there and learn from what has been
published.New York Times (Jan 4, 2011)
35. colloquial
characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
Perhaps not elegant classical Latin, but good, everyday, useful, colloquial stuff.”Fenn,
George Manville
36. collusion
secret agreement
Then, unless there were collusion on the part of the sentries, he must have slipped
through some window, said Davies to himself.Cox, C. B.
37. colossal
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
In the galleries are colossal figures of dragons, gods, goddesses, and heroes, groups
being often carved out of one gigantic monolith.Child-Villiers, Margaret Elizabeth Leigh
38. commence
set in motion, cause to start
Reaching this just at evening, he encamped there all night, and the next morning
commencedcrossing.Headley, Joel Tyler
39. commiserate
feel or express sympathy or compassion
We had spent countless hours together drinking wine and commiserating about child-
rearing, long Wisconsin winters and interrupted sleep.New York Times (Mar 24, 2011)
40. commodious
large and roomy
When done their building was quitecommodious, being twenty-two feet by
fourteen.Mudge, Zachariah Atwell
41. compelling
driving or forcing
The South African site has some compellingadvantages: construction costs are lower,
and it sits at a higher altitude.Scientific American (Mar 12, 2012)
42. compensation
something given or received as payment or reparation
 The Home Office is understood to have paid more than £1m in compensation to 40
children wrongly held in adult detention centres while seeking asylum.
43. complacent
contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
He added: "Like being a pioneer in anything, I suppose, you get complacent...We're
waking up to the fact that we are lagging behind."
44. compliant
disposed to act in accordance with someone's wishes
Romar said the freshmen are "such a compliantgroup" and "willing learner" more than
any other incoming class he's had at Washington.Seattle Times (Oct 19, 2011)
45. composure
steadiness of mind under stress
His heart was beating furiously under his waistcoat, but, taken aback as he was, he
maintained outward composure.Weyman, Stanley J.
46. compulsory
required by rule
While military service is compulsory on all Mohammedans over eighteen years of age,
there are some exemptions, and substitution is allowed.Alden, John B.
47. diaphanous
so thin as to transmit light
Watercolour, being transparent but visible, is made for the insubstantial: for painting
water, reflection, vapour, sky, the hazy, diaphanous and remote.
48. diatribe
thunderous verbal attack
The grotesquely violent diatribes that the characters sometimes hurl at each other
parody the vicious language Lear heaps on his ungrateful daughters, for instance.New
York Times (Jan 15, 2010)
49. dichotomy
a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
The stark dichotomy between their own lives and the projections on the televisions in
their living rooms becomes more pronounced.New York Times (Jan 2, 2012)
50. didactic
instructive, especially excessively
Min is nothing if not didactic, lecturing to the point of hectoring the reader.Seattle Times
(Apr 8, 2010)
51. diffident
lacking self-confidence
He had exceedingly good parts, but was somewhatdiffident and bashful.Rameur, E.
52. dilettante
an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
For the rest, in practice I am an idler, adilettante, and a good deal else that is pleasant
and utterly useless.Griffith, George Chetwynd
53. dire
fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
In Florida, the demand for foster homes was sodire that children were sleeping in child
welfare offices as recently as a few years ago.Washington Post (Dec 31, 2011)
54. disconcerting
causing an emotional disturbance
There was no drooping of fringed lids, nodisconcerting silences; she chatted with ease
and piquancy.Rives, Hallie Erminie
55. discord
lack of agreement or harmony
For all the alleged discord in this country, there’s an amazing amount of real agreement
on what “a better America” would look like.
56. discreet
marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
 Sarkozy has attempted to tone down his image, becoming more discreet about his
private life.
57. discrepancy
a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions
The historical discrepancies are sufficiently glaring to make the story more than
questionable.Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
58. disenfranchise
deprive of voting rights
European Union observers said the vote was “marred by avoidable and logistical
failures, which led to an unacceptable number of Ugandan citizens being
disenfranchised.”
59. disfigure
mar or spoil the appearance of
A darker scowl changed and disfigured his brow, as he lost hope of gaining
me.Weyman, Stanley John
60. disgruntled
in a state of sulky dissatisfaction
PA Parenteau breakaway goal less than two minutes later stretched New York's lead
and caused a cascade of boos from disgruntledMaple Leafs fans.Seattle Times (Mar 21,
2012)
61. disheveled
in disarray; extremely disorderly
The fierce winds blew some walls off some rooms, leaving disheveled beds and
misplaced furniture but miraculously no injuries.
62. erudite
having or showing profound knowledge
In countless deft, darting, erudite essays, it has enabled him to explain the unexpected
continuities and awkward breaks of literary history.
63. eschew
avoid and stay away from deliberately
Vegans eschew all animal products, including dairy and eggs, so their iodine sources
may be few.
64. esoteric
understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
But researchers can get lost in their genius, drilling into ever more esoteric
questions.Scientific American (Feb 7, 2012)
65. etymology
a history of a word
Its “suggested” etymology or word origin is Latin serpens meaning “a snake” and French
sortir meaning “come out of, to leave.”New York Times (May 17, 2010)
66. euphemism
an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one
It is an oddly polite term—a euphemism—that conceals varying degrees of fear,
loathing, and admiration.New York Times (Mar 30, 2010)
67. euphoria
a feeling of great elation
Popular euphoria and joy at their leaders' departure has given way to frustration,
grievance and fear.
68. evanescent
tending to vanish like vapor
Time seems stopped but it is moving on, and every glimmer of light is evanescent,
flitting.
69. evasive
deliberately vague or ambiguous
I anticipated finding them deceitful and evasive: furtive people, wandering in devious
ways and disappearing into mysterious houses, at dead of night.Street, Julian
70. evince
give expression to
Together, the performers evince an easy, humorous energy, like affectionate but
mischievous siblings.New York Times (Mar 16, 2012)
71. evoke
call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
Tropical fish tanks in restaurants, hospitals and homes evoke feelings of tranquility and
beauty.Scientific American (Apr 6, 2012)
72. evolve
undergo development
In its 166+ year history, Scientific American has changed and evolved in different
directions many times.Scientific American (Apr 2, 2012)
73. exacerbate
make worse
Politicians have argued that further austerity will only exacerbate the country's economic
death spiral by deepening its worse than expected recession.
74. exalt
fill with sublime emotion
But this woman's beauty was glorified by eyes that spoke of exalted thoughts,
passionate longings, lofty emotions.Hocking, Joseph
75. excavate
recover through digging
With many of Caligula's monuments destroyed after he was killed by his Praetorian
guard at 28, archaeologists are eager to excavate for his remains.
76. excoriate
express strong disapproval of
The landlord had another excoriating remark, which he might have flung at the young
man and finished him up, but he magnanimously forbore.
77. Fragil easily
broken or damaged or destroyed Larvae lack mouths, eyes and guts and are sofragile
that colliding with an air bubble could kill them.
78. fragrant
pleasant-smelling
Michael found himself wrapped in a cloud of filmy linen fragrant with feminine
perfumes.Blasco Ib??ez, Vicente
79. frail
physically weak
He had been frail for years, using a walker to get around.Seattle Times (Oct 9, 2011)
80. fraud
intentional deception resulting in injury to another person
Despite claims of sporadic vote rigging in Sunday’s presidential election, it is becoming
increasingly clear that Mr. Putin had enough support to win without fraud.New York
Times (Mar 8, 2012)
81. fraught
marked by distress
His girlfriend’s parents are divorced, and her family situation is fraught.New York Times
(Mar 16, 2012)
82. frenetic
excessively agitated
But the Rams mimic the frenetic nature of their mentor; they run, press, take charges
and go at least nine players deep.New York Times (Jan 31, 2010)
83. frenzy
state of violent mental agitation
Inside the store, glassy-eyed staff were whipped up into a frenzy of excitement, jumping
up and down, clapping and shouting.
84. fresco
 a mural done with watercolors on wet plaster
"She's an unmitigated nuisance," declared an artist, proceeding to Natal in order to paint
somefrescoes for one of the important buildings.Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)
85. frolic
play boisterously
More nimble now than when he was young, hefrolics about, cuts capers, and leaps from
the bottom of a large pitcher.Michelet, Jules
86. frontier
an international boundary or the area immediately inside it
Thus threatened with invasion on her German and Italian frontiers, France was disabled
by anarchy within.Various
87. frugal
avoiding waste
Such banking represents the kind of “ frugalinnovation” that India has become known for
in recent years — finding inexpensive solutions to its development challenges.New York
Times (Sep 29, 2011)
88. fulminate
criticize severely
Mr. Cameron has fulminated publicly about cutting public sector pay and decreed that
members of Parliament themselves take a 5 percent pay cut.New York Times (May 25,
2010)
89. fulsome
unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating
Fulsome, fool′sum, adj. cloying or causing surfeit: nauseous: offensive: gross:
disgustingly fawning.—adj.Various
90. furtive
secret and sly or sordid
I anticipated finding them deceitful and evasive:furtive people, wandering in devious
ways and disappearing into mysterious houses, at dead of night.Street, Julian
91. futile
producing no result or effect
He took up elocution lessons for a while, but eventually concluded that his efforts to
become an Englishman were futile.
92. gaffe
a socially awkward or tactless act
Later, Mr. Perry made a minor gaffe by misstating the voting age, which is 18.New York
Times (Nov 30, 2011)
93. gallant
unflinching in battle or action
Now straining up steep ascents, and now swimming deep rivers, the fearless and
gallantband pressed forward.Headley, Joel Tyler
94. galvanize
stimulate to action
“It’s going to galvanize people” and inspire more to attend today’s events, he said by
telephone.
95. gamut
a complete extent or range
The program spans the entire cultural gamut, encompassing fine art, sculpture, dance,
music, cinema, literature and theater.New York Times (Jan 24, 2011)
96. garb
provide with clothes or put clothes on
Some are garbed in burgundy monks’ robes, others in jeans and trucker hats.New York
Times (Jan 28, 2012)
97. garish
tastelessly showy
The garish colors, fabrics, trim and gaudy interior looks like it was done by a 12 year
 old.
98. garment
an article of clothing
He and two of his sisters work at a nearby tailoring shop, cutting off loose threads from
nearly finished garments.New York Times (Dec 2, 2011)
99. garnish
something added to a dish for flavor or decoration
Lemon, hard-boiled egg and capers may also be used as garnish for chicken
salad.Richards, Lenore
100. garrulous
full of trivial conversation
He was not in the best of spirits, for the drink was dying out of him; but his garrulous,
inconsequent talk amused me mightily.Bullen, Frank T.
101. gastronomy
the art and practice of preparing and eating good food
Cooking is there esteemed a service of especial merit, hence France ranks all nations
ingastronomy.Ronald, Mary
102. gaudy
tastelessly showy
In fact, he seemed incapable of using any colors but gaudy or resplendent ones, and is
nothing if not exaggerated, and using heaps of words.Mitchell, Donald G.
103. gaunt
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
Gaunt, starved, and ragged, the men marched northwards, leaving the Touat country
upon their left hand.Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)
104. genealogy
the study or investigation of ancestry and family history
The genealogies and family histories are excellent, and many particulars are given of
the lives and works of authors not easily found elsewhere.Various
105. gerrymander
divide voting districts unfairly and to one's advantage
In practice, though, officials in both parties often try to gerrymander districts to help
themselves and their parties win more elections.New York Times (Sep 7, 2010)
106. gestate
be pregnant with
In her womb they were gestated and formed.
107. herculean
extremely difficult; requiring great strength
He made herculean efforts to get on terms with his examination subjects, and worked
harder than he had ever done in his life before.Marshall, Archibald
108. hereditary
passed on by established rules of descent
From the way in which his eldest son Osman is being brought up, it is evident that
Abdullah seeks to establish an hereditary succession.Wingate, F. R.
109. heresy
any opinions at variance with the official position
It wished still to dominate over the faith of its disciples and to persecute as heresy
every deviation from its convictions.Freytag, Gustav
110. heritage
that which is inherited
SAT-SUN Celebrating Japan's cultural heritagewith performing arts, martial arts
demonstrations, tea ceremony demonstrations, exhibits, food vendors, workshops, Koi
Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Seattle Times (Sep 7, 2011)
111.hermetic
completely sealed or airtight
The hermetic isolation which during the world war divided Europe into two separate
 worlds made this doubly urgent.Czernin von und zu Chudenitz, Ottokar Theobald Otto
Maria, Graf
112. hermitage
the abode of a recluse
In his sorrow and remorse the knight withdrew into a hermitage, where he spent six
years in constant penance and prayer.Guerber, H. A. (Hélène Adeline)
113. heterodox
characterized by departure from accepted standards
You will think these ideas horribly heterodox, but if we all thought alike there would be
nothing to write about and nothing to learn.Marchant, James
114. heterogeneous
consisting of elements not of the same kind or nature
Mine layers were here with mine sweepers and hospital ships—a heterogeneous
collection of well-nigh every kind of ship that floats.Farnol, Jeffery
115. heuristic
a commonsense rule to help solve some problem
He was swayed by the "familiarity" heuristic, which basically says that humans trust
what is familiar.
116. hew
strike with an axe; cut down, strike
But the swords are active and clearly seen "smiting", " hewing", "chopping."
117. hiatus
an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
Real estate prices are skyrocketing because of all the international organizations
coming back to Mogadishu after a 20-year hiatus.New York Times (Apr 3, 2012)
118. hibernate
be in an inactive or dormant state
In winter they hibernate like our squirrels, passing several months underground in a
kind of slow and nearly motionless existence.Clarke, J. Erskine (John Erskine)
119. hierarchy
a series of ordered groupings within a system
After enough trials, the conventionally raised pigeons inferred a hierarchy of the most
fruitful colors: red > blue > green > yellow > violet.Scientific American (Mar 8, 2012)
120. hieroglyphic
belonging to a writing system using pictorial symbols
Hieroglyphic writing is really picture writing, and is the oldest means man has
employed to enable him to communicate with his fellows.Kelly, R. Talbot (Robert Talbot)
121. hilarious
marked by boisterous merriment or convulsive laughter
Soames saw, too, at least one hilarious group of college-age boys who might have
been organized by a college humor magazine.Leinster, Murray
122. impetuous
marked by violent force
There are times when all these Yorkshire rivers become impetuous torrents, roaring
along in resistless might and majesty.White, Walter
123. implicit
being without doubt or reserve
He was accustomed to implicit obedience and was not used to seeing men smile when
he uttered a threat.Marshall, Edison
124. implode
burst inward
As the graph shows, growth actually slowed and then the whole system imploded into
a catastrophic crisis.
125. implore
beg or call upon in supplication
The poor woman continued to implore mercy; and coming nearer to the Lord, "She fell
 down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me!"Ross, Lady Mary
126. imply
express or state indirectly
Smoothing planes are, as the name implies, used to simply smoothen the work surface
after it has been trued.Rose, Joshua
127. impregnable
incapable of being attacked or tampered with
At the same time, the United States would be safeguarded against internal dangers and
madeimpregnable against attack or invasion by any foreign power.Maxwell, George
Hebard
128. impromptu
without advance preparation
Bauer proposed to Shourd while both were in prison, fashioning an impromptu ring out
of threads from his shirt.Washington Post (Nov 14, 2011)
129. impudence
the trait of being rude and impertinent
Ichikawa conceded that his "arrogance andimpudence" may have brought on the
attack, adding: "I won't feel like having a drink for a while."
130. impunity
exemption from punishment or loss
According to Amnesty, some groups of former rebels are committing human rights
violations with impunity, unchecked by the interim government.
131. inalienable
not subject to forfeiture
Men's natural rights are all inherent andinalienable; and therefore cannot be parted
with, or delegated, by one person to another.Spooner, Lysander
132. inane
devoid of intelligence
And then, again, his asking me his stupid, inanequestions, as if I cared what man, and
how many.Hutcheson, John C. (John Conroy)
133. inanimate
belonging to the class of nouns denoting nonliving things
The moment when the first living beings arose from inanimate matter almost four billion
years ago is still shrouded in mystery.Scientific American (Oct 10, 2011)
134. inaugurate
commence officially
Continental has ordered 25 Dreamliners and plans to inaugurate them in November
2011 on new, nonstop flights to Auckland, New Zealand, and Lagos, Nigeria.New York
Times (Aug 25, 2010)
135. incarnation
time passed in a particular bodily form
When America Online came out, that was a very early incarnation of social networking
with the instant messaging.
136. incendiary
a criminal who illegally sets fire to property
While there the depot was set on fire and burned down, supposed to be the work of an
incendiary.Terrill, J. Newton
137. jaded
bored or apathetic after experiencing too much of something
After so long on the road, beaches and ruins might have left me jaded, and
breathtaking views might no longer take my breath away.New York Times (Jul 26, 2011)
138. jargon
technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject
He has complained that officials' speeches and writings were clogged with Party jargon
and demanded more plain speaking.
139. jaunt
 a journey taken for pleasure
He got the idea during afternoon jaunts around the neighborhood with his daughter, Iris,
then 9, who rode her bicycle while Mr. Cronin jogged.New York Times (Jun 2, 2010)
140. jaunty
having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
Yet his mood was jaunty and he cheerfully claimed to have achieved his ambition, thus
far, of getting through February without touching alcohol.
141. jeer
laugh at with contempt and derision
The mob jeered, and derided, and insulted her in every conceivable way.Abbott, John
S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
142. jejune
lacking interest or significance or impact
The works called good are dry and jejune, soon consummated, often of questionable
value, and leaving behind them when finished a sense of vacuity.Jefferies, Richard
143. jeopardize
pose a threat to; present a danger to
Furthermore, Facebook could jeopardizeGoogle’s online dominance by developing its
own search capabilities. Forbes (Dec 30, 2011)
144. jest
activity characterized by good humor
Everybody was in the highest spirits; every jest or bit of fun was caught, bandied back
and forth, and passed on with new trimmings.Kelly, Florence Finch
145. jettison
throw away, of something encumbering
In the editing room, they jettisoned material they had once deemed essential but came
to view as extraneous.Seattle Times (Feb 20, 2012)
146. jibe
an aggressive remark directed at a person
We would jibe one another, laugh at a fellow to his chagrin, and when we were angry
bawl each other out unmercifully.Davis, James J. (James John)
147. jingoist
an extreme bellicose nationalist
And, hell, I'm no jingoist, but surely we can do better in this country than importing our
drugs from Mexico, right?
148. jocular
characterized by jokes and good humor
Maria saw every thing, and marked well the expression of Mr. Stokes's face, so serious,
so unlike his usual jocular tone.Newby, Emma
149. jollity
feeling jovial and full of good humor
Smiling faces, mirth, and jollity abound everywhere, and good feeling unites all men as
brethren on this most popular of all the Dutch festivals.Hough, P. M.
150. jostle
make one's way by pushing or shoving
"This morning there was a lot of people trying tojostle and barge into the queue, but
fortunately everyone had a number," he said.
151. jovial
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
He looked a gentleman all over, and his merry laugh and jovial manner made one
certain at once that he was a general favourite.Brereton, F. S. (Frederick Sadleir)
152. keen
demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
His keen eyes had detected a small, swiftly moving object on the horizon--the expected
patrol boat.Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)
153. ken
 range of what one can know or understand
Ah, but the Eyes Divine look long and see far; things beyond the human ken are all
revealed.Brady, Cyrus Townsend
154. kindle
cause to start burning
At a little distance a fire had been quickly kindledand cooking was already going
on.Stoddard, William O.
155. kinetic
characterized by motion
But when the can is opened, the potential energy quickly converts to kinetic energy as
the fake snake jumps out.Scientific American (Apr 5, 2012)
156. kinship
relatedness or connection by blood or marriage or adoption
Alexander the Great extended his conquests as far eastward as India, whose native
inhabitants claimkinship with European peoples through a common Aryan
ancestry.Whitney, Orson F.
157. knave
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
The merchant subsequently turned out a very great knave, cheating Tom on various
occasions, and finally broke, very much in his debt. Borrow, George Henry
158. knead
use the hands to mix and work something into a uniform mass
He did not look at her as he spoke, but kept on diligently smoothing and kneading the
soft clay.Heyse, Paul
159. knell
the sound of a bell rung slowly to announce a death
"If she dies," he had said, and the words rang in my ears like a funeral knell.Boothby,
Guy
160. knit
make by needlework with interlacing yarn
Poor farming families took up extra work in the villages such as making gloves, knitting
stockings, or spinning yarn.Reilly, S. A.
161. knoll
a small natural hill
At the very base of the hill or knoll alluded to, they halted.Ellis, Edward Sylvester
162. knotty
highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious
I am, at this present writing, perplexed and plagued with two knotty problems in
politics.Adams, Abigail
163. labile
readily undergoing change or breakdown
We are rather like the labile chemical compounds: our molecules readily rearrange
themselves.Ellis, Havelock
164. lachrymose
showing sorrow
She had got rid of her tears before she came down to dinner, but still she was
melancholy and almostlachrymose.Trollope, Anthony
165. lackadaisical
idle or indolent especially in a dreamy way
She was rather listless and lackadaisical, but seemed to be well content so that she
could lie within sight of the Master and dream.Buxton, Robert Hugh
166. lackluster
not having brilliance or vitality
But his momentum dwindled just as quickly after a pair of lackluster debate
performances.Chicago Tribune (Feb 1, 2012)
167. laconic
 brief and to the point
I thought the circumstances warranted conciseness, and my being laconic, if
necessary.Waller, Mary E. (Mary Ella)
168. lament
express grief verbally
They went through the passages weeping andlamenting.Colum, Padraic
169. lampoon
a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style
Granted, all are outrageously exaggerated, but a discerning eye can detect the truth
that lurks behind any satire, parody, or lampoon.Anonymous
170. lancet
an acutely pointed Gothic arch
Nothing of the sacred edifice remained, however, but the Gothic front, with its deep
portal and grand lancet window, already described.Irving, Washington
171. languid
lacking spirit or liveliness
I felt languid, disinclined for all that was serious,—in fact, lazy.Mendelssohn-Bartholdy,
Felix
172. languish
lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief
He would have found production suspended, orlanguishing.Knight, Charles
173. languor
a feeling of lack of interest or energy
Now, on that evening an inexplicable languormade him dreamy; his eyes followed in
vain the text; his rebellious thoughts were scattered.Unknown
174. lassitude
weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy
He told by her very attitude that now there waslassitude, even weariness in
her.Blackwood, Algernon
175. latent
potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
But the whole future man is already hidden, not yet declared, but latent all the same in
the child's heart.Adler, Felix
176. latter
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned
More missiles were fired carefully—not to do damage, but to discourage the intruders;
thelatter were held at bay for another twelve hours.Gallun, Raymond Z.
177. laudable
worthy of high praise
In newspaper obituaries, it was long customary to lavish praise on the subjects, noting
laudabletraits of character.New York Times (Oct 25, 2010)
178. lavish
characterized by extravagance and profusion
In Colorado, Blagojevich — whose penchant for expensive suits and lavish spending
were outlined at his first trial — will have no luxuries.
179. martyr
one who suffers for the sake of principle
Despite the pounding summer sun, Protesters turned out to demand justice for those
killed during the revolution, who are seen as martyrsfor democracy.New York Times
(Jul 1, 2011)
180. materialistic
marked by a desire for wealth and possessions
Moreover, in contrast to the dominant thinking of our age, which is materialistic, King's
philosophy is spiritual and religious.King, Basil
181. materialize
come into being; become reality
 As ties warmed, the two countries discussed joint ventures, though most haven’t
materialized.
182. maternal
characteristic of a mother
Maternal mortality rates are also high, with 85 women dying in childbirth for every
100,000 live births, Tidey said.
183. matriarchy
social organization in which a female is the family head
In effect, however, women owned the country and women governed it; suddenly the
matriarchyexisted.Cox, Irving E.
184. matrix
an enclosure within which something originates or develops
Today, Web music services are spread across the entire range of the
price/convenience/permanencematrix.New York Times (Jul 27, 2011)
185. maturation
the process of an individual organism growing organically
Again, that is a very fast maturation rate, making it efficient for breeding in the
lab.Scientific American (Dec 28, 2011)
186. maudlin
effusively or insincerely emotional
He detested the florid sentimentality of some other universities, the maudlin old grads
singing of bright college years!Canfield, Dorothy
187. maul
injure badly
Or if Sleepless in Seattle ended with Meg Ryan being graphically mauled to death by
an escaped tiger.
188. maven
one who is very skilled in or knowledgeable about a field
The Deadhead community boasts any number of recording engineers, lighting experts,
rock videomavens, electronic technicians of all descriptions.Sterling, Bruce
189. maverick
independent in behavior or thought
He's still the same maverick, independent spirit he has always been.
190. mawkish
effusively or insincerely emotional
Herself full of mawkish sentimentality, her verses could not fail to be foolish, their whole
impulse being the ambition that springs from self-admiration.MacDonald, George
191. maxim
a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
As we are hastily reading books and papers we continually come across maxims,
epigrams, and short, pithy sayings that attract us.McCarty, Louis Philippe
192. mayhem
violent and needless disturbance
Although some graffiti had already been removed, evidence of the previous night's
mayhem was visible in broken display cases.Chicago Tribune (Jan 30, 2012)
193. meager
deficient in amount or quality or extent
Prime Minister John Key said he was spreading his Marmite more thinly to stretch his
meager and dwindling supply.
194. nexus
the means of connection between things linked in series
For many users, the Web site is an irreplaceablenexus of friends, relatives and
colleagues online, making it difficult to abandon.New York Times (May 24, 2010)
195. nib
the writing point of a pen
My father began writing with an abominably scratchy nib.Crawford, Jack
196. nicety
conformity with some standard of correctness or propriety
All the little niceties of platform procedure—bowings, exits, dealing with encores—are
out of the question.Warner, Frances Lester
197. niche
a position well suited to the person who occupies it
Carroll is skilled at finding specific roles and carving out niches for players.Seattle
Times (May 1, 2012)
198. niggle
worry unnecessarily or excessively
But investors are still jittery, thanks to theirniggling anxieties about the bad debts held
in Europe's financial institutions.
199. nihilism
the delusion that things do not exist
In her despair she succumbed to a sort ofnihilism that made her ask: “What is the
reason of anything?...Couperus, Louis
200. nihilist
someone who rejects all theories of morality
He allied himself with quite another class, making no secret of the fact that he was an
out-and-out Socialist, Anti-clerical, Syndicalist, Anarchist,Nihilist.Fisher, Dorothy
Canfield
201. nimble
moving quickly and lightly
Are not many beasts physically stronger, morenimble and agile than man?Nordau, Max
Simon
202. nirvana
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
The wisest among them could not teach him true peace, that profound inward rest,
which was already called Nirvana.Bulfinch, Thomas
203. noble
having high or elevated character
Honesty, frankness, generosity, and virtue arenoble traits.Hartley, Cecil B.
204. nocturnal
belonging to or active during the night
Bats are a top nocturnal predator, eating night-flying insects that feed on agricultural
crops.Washington Post (Mar 14, 2012)
205. noetic
of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
It is a sort of mental equivalent for them, their epistemological function, their value in
noeticterms.James, William
206. noisome
causing or able to cause nausea
Here the noisome smell of decaying vegetation nauseated us, for the air in those forest
depths is deadly.Le Queux, William
207. nomad
a member of a people who have no permanent home
These Indians lived the old nomad life, wandering from place to place, setting up their
tents like gypsies, wherever they could remain unmolested.Vandercook, Margaret
208. nomadic
migratory
They are a nomadic people living by collecting and hunting; the wilder ones will often
not remain longer than three days in one place.Haddon, Alfred Court
209. nomenclature
a system of words used to name things in a discipline
Technical names of fishes are those that seem to qualify under the International Rules
of ZoologicalNomenclature.Deacon, James Everett
210. orthogonal
meeting at right angles
His love of the orthogonal, which like 1980s dance moves once verged on the robotic,
is relaxing into less pure angles.
211. oscillate
move or swing from side to side regularly
When the polariton flow was excited with two laser beams, the quantum fluid began to
oscillatebackwards and forwards in ways predicted by quantum mechanics.Forbes
(Jan 9, 2012)
212. osseous
composed of or containing bone
But the osseous outgrowth, the bones, you know, complicate things.Wells, H. G.
(Herbert George)
213. ossify
make rigid and set into a conventional pattern
Looking at it out of the corner of my eye, I could think about being a teenager, before
roles wereossified and boundaries set.New York Times (Nov 24, 2010)
214. ostensible
appearing as such but not necessarily so
This already-exhaustive book is studded with diary entries, academic papers and other
ostensibleevidence that its fictitious stories of destruction are true.New York Times
(Jun 6, 2010)
215. ostentatious
tawdry or vulgar
He was frugal and dressed in plain, ordinary clothes rather than extravagant or
ostentatiousones.Reilly, S. A.
216. ostracize
expel from a community or group
Although she may have been more sinned against than sinning, she is cast out and
ostracized by society.Moody, Dwight Lyman
217. otiose
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
There is no superfluous ornament in his orations, nothing tawdry, nothing
otiose.Lincoln, Abraham
218. oust
remove from a position or office
Maldives' torture- addicted previous president wasousted and a more democratic
government was established.Seattle Times (May 3, 2012)
219. outcome
something that results
"Very frustrating process, but a great outcome in the end," Moore told The Idaho
Statesman.Seattle Times (May 1, 2012)
220. outlandish
noticeably or extremely unconventional or unusual
His outsized personality and outlandishcomments - maybe not so absurd given what
Ryan's New York Jets have achieved - draw notice no matter the situation.Seattle Times
(Jan 23, 2011)
221. outrage
strike with disgust or revulsion
Every single time reporters, analysts, and citizens are astonished, outraged, shocked
anew that the politician didn’t just go ahead and admit what he did.Slate (Nov 9, 2011)
222. outrageous
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
“The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and it is unacceptable,” Mr. Obama said at
the White House, after meeting with Mrs. Clinton.New York Times (Feb 24, 2011)
223. outskirts
 area relatively far from the center, as of a city or town
Security forces were checking cars inside the city and in its outskirts.
224. outspoken
given to expressing yourself freely or insistently
Even my lady, so blunt and outspoken by nature, had shrunk from trying to question
the Dutch girl about her lover.Weyman, Stanley John
225. outwit
beat through cleverness
To top it all off, he regularly outwits his elders, showing natural positional sense and
finishing moves with the poise and intelligence of an expert.
226. precocious
characterized by exceptionally early development
He had been a precocious child, advanced beyond his years in all the studies of the
schools.Burns, Elmer Ellsworth
227. precursor
something indicating the approach of something or someone
In theory, learning to detect the precursors of environmental distress could help raise
the alarm before any damage is irreversible.
228. predator
any animal that lives by preying on other animals
“Polar bears are very much of a predator bear, having evolved rapidly to become a
specialist in hunting seals.New York Times (May 11, 2011)
229. predecessor
one who goes before you in time
His works in the tinted manner are full of poetic beauty, and exhibit a marked
improvement on those of his predecessors.Koehler, S. R.
230. predominance
the state of having superior power and influence over others
Below the line, among backboneless animals, there is much greater constancy of
superiority among the females, and this predominancepersists in many higher
types.Hartley, C. Gasquoine (Catherine Gasquoine)
231. premonition
a feeling of evil to come
No foreboding of evil haunted him; no slightestpremonition of danger clouded his
sky.Harvey, James Clarence
232. preponderance
exceeding in heaviness; having greater weight
Until representatives from all sections are heard from, however, it will be impossible to
say what the preponderance of opinion really is.Various
233. preposterous
inviting ridicule
It is ridiculous, preposterous even, certainly wrong, a sugary pudding of groans and
cliches.
234. prerequisite
something that is needed or obligatory in advance
For anyone wanting a job in politics, unpaid work experience has become an essential -
but often very hard to come by - prerequisite.
235. prerogative
a right reserved exclusively by a person or group
This was the right of search claimed by Great Britain as one of her
prerogatives.Comfield, Amelia Stratton
236. prescience
the power to foresee the future
We have never been good at foretelling the future, but when the news is favorable,
others forgive our lack of prescience.New York Times (Mar 27, 2010)
237. prevalent
 most frequent or common
The practice is most prevalent in Pakistani communities, but it's also common among
some Middle Eastern and east African groups.
238. prevaricate
be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
Tell your story straight, and don’t conceal aught, or prevaricate.Reid, Mayne
239. primitive
belonging to an early stage of technical development
Starting millions of years ago, the evolutionary ancestors of humans figured out how to
useprimitive stone tools in a systematic way.
240. replenish
fill something that had previously been emptied
They arrived at the Cape late in May, and stopped there for thirty-eight days, refitting,
replenishingprovisions, and refreshing the worn-out crew.Whymper, Frederick
241. reprehensible
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
Normally, punitive damages are awarded only when the conduct in question is
malicious, unusually reckless, or otherwise reprehensible.Education, United States
Department of
242. repress
block the action of
Rutherford was manly in his feelings, but he could not repress his starting tears.Roe,
Azel Stevens
243. reprove
reprimand, scold, or express dissatisfaction with
If he continue to offend his neighbor, the next time he shall be openly reproved and
admonished before the Congregation when met together.Berens, Lewis Henry
244. repudiate
reject as untrue, unfounded, or unjust
Repudiating the king's claim to unconditional obedience, they declared the Regulating
Act unconstitutional, and called on all officers under it to resign their places.French,
Allen
245. repugnant
offensive to the mind
Such accusations, when made by minors, are generally full of disgusting details, which
would berepugnant to any adult.Lombroso, Gina
246. reputable
held in high esteem and honor
Youngsters, who might be expected to embrace new ways of doing things, must
therefore publish in existing, reputable journals if they want recognition and promotion.
247. resolute
firm in purpose or belief
Her performance is purposeful and resolute, but she knows when to let Victoria's
softness show, too.
248. resonate
evoke or suggest a strong meaning or belief
He says that message is increasingly resonatingthroughout Iowa, particularly in the
rural northwest, where his campaign began to catch fire.Washington Post (Jan 1, 2012)
249. restitution
a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
Authorities have said in court filings they are looking into using the book proceeds to
help repay a $23 million restitution order to his victims.Seattle Times (Nov 7, 2011)
250. restive
impatient especially under restriction or delay
The king kept her away from all active warfare, and she grew restive and impatient with
her life of inaction.Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)
251. resurgence
bringing again into activity and prominence
The controversy, however, was by no means ended, and around 1704 it flared again in
aresurgence of attacks upon the stage.Anonymous
252. resuscitate
cause to regain consciousness
The baby, he said, needed to be resuscitatedtwice because his heart had stopped
beating.New York Times (Mar 21, 2011)
253. retaliate
make a counterattack and return like for like
He said, generally speaking, those who sue him are " retaliating" for lawsuits he filed
against them.
254. reticent
cool and formal in manner
He was reserved and very reticent, cold in manner and not sympathetic.
255. sacrilegious
grossly irreverent toward what is considered holy
Some say the artwork blurs the line between church and state; others consider it
sacrilegiousto have Mexico's patron saint pictured surfing.Seattle Times (Jun 8, 2011)
256. sacrosanct
treated as if holy and kept free from violation or criticism
After decades of being considered politicallysacrosanct, why are homeowner mortgage
write-offs suddenly on the chopping block?Washington Post (Aug 12, 2011)
257. sagacious
acutely insightful and wise
The sagacious painter had a truer insight into this matter than most of our modern
educationists.Miller, Hugh
258. salubrious
promoting health
The air is extremely salubrious, and the place has long been remarkable for its
freedom from epidemics.Holdsworth, J. H.
259. sardonic
disdainfully or ironically humorous
With unemployment in some parishes above 25 percent, sardonic bumper stickers
entered state lore: “Last one out, turn off the lights.”New York Times (Aug 8, 2010)
260. satiate
fill to satisfaction
That means it's more effective at keeping your blood sugar levels stable, leaving you
feelingsatiated and less likely to start eating again hours later.
261. satirical
exposing human folly to ridicule
Inevitably there were instant faux feeds on Twitter with satirical commentary about Bin
Laden’s death, including Ghost Osama and Osama in Hell.New York Times (May 2,
2011)
262. saturate
infuse or fill completely
The head was shockingly disfigured, battered by some heavy instrument, and the
clothes weresaturated with blood.Various
263. scarce
deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand
Many Americans reside in food deserts—communities where retailers offering fresh
food are scarce but fast-food restaurants and convenience stores selling prepared
foods can abound.Scientific American (May 13, 2012)
264. scathing
marked by harshly abusive criticism
"You sickening little coward—you sneak," said Osmond, with scathing
 contempt.Reynolds, Mrs. Baillie
265. schism
division of a group into opposing factions
After building a market worth at least $6 billion, fair trade is undergoing a schism, with
Fair Trade USA splitting off.BusinessWeek (Nov 3, 2011)
266. scion
a descendent or heir
Mr. Papandreou, a political scion whose father and grandfather were also prime
ministers, took office late last year.New York Times (Feb 7, 2010)
267. scornful
expressing extreme contempt
Mr. Gates also was scornful of the top deal makers: “Russian democracy has
disappeared, and the government is an oligarchy run by the security services.”New York
Times (Dec 29, 2010)
268. scrupulous
characterized by extreme care and great effort
“His films have a look, an ambience, a setting, that’s very real because of his
scrupulousattention to detail,” Mr. Jewison added.New York Times (Aug 3, 2010)
269. scrutinize
examine carefully for accuracy
Days before Thanksgiving, AT&T's heavyweight lobbying team was busy setting up
meetings with antitrust authorities scrutinizing the company’s $39 billion acquisition of
T-Mobile.
270. tacit
implied by or inferred from actions or statements
The sentiment here is not tacit, but communicable and overt.Rhys, Ernest
271. taciturn
habitually reserved and uncommunicative
He is of a reserved, taciturn habit, somewhat surly: not talkative even in his cups.Reid,
Mayne
272. tactful
having a sense of what is considerate in dealing with others
Lady Ruth went back to her guests, and with the effortless ease of long training, she
became once more the gracious and tactful hostess.Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward
Phillips)
273. tactile
of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch
Researchers are promoting magnetic interfaces for touch screens, which will make
operating the touch screen more tactile and reduce excessive tapping.Forbes (Jan 20,
2012)
274. taint
contaminate with a disease or microorganism
The industry, though, hasn’t disclosed what chemicals are used, raising concerns
abouttainted drinking water supplies and a call for peer-reviewed studies on the effects.
275. talisman
a trinket thought to be a magical protection against evil
Tiny prayer wheels are now a popular car ornament, a talisman to ward off accidents.
276. tangential
of superficial relevance if any
It is terrific fun, but its relation to the theme remains tangential at best.
277. tangible
perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
It has the capacity to change tangible, hard realities through no more than airy
nothings, mere gauzy thoughts.
278. tantalizing
arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable
 For long, monotonous months she had been struggling against just such cravings,
impossible of realization, and therefore all the moretantalizing.Fischer, Anton Otto
279. tantamount
being essentially equal to something
"But keeping rabbits cooped up alone in hutches of the type sold by these big retail
chains is justtantamount to cruelty."
280. taper
diminish gradually
The snow tapered off after the field was cleared for warmups, but it picked back up
toward halftime and kept falling with the mercury.Washington Post (Dec 21, 2010)
281. tariff
a government tax on imports or exports
South Korea is dropping a long list of tariffsunder the agreement, including stiff taxes
on U.S. agricultural goods.Washington Post (Oct 1, 2010)
282. taunt
harass with persistent criticism or carping
Verbal harassment refers to teasing, taunting, or insulting someone.New York Times
(Nov 17, 2011)
283. taut
pulled or drawn tight
The stay wires were tightened by turn buckles till they were taut as fiddle strings,
assuring stability of the wings.Goldfrap, John Henry
284. tautological
characterized by unnecessary repetition
The expression sounds trite and tautological; but it needs emphasis.
285. unpretentious
lacking affectation
Yet Norman Wisdom remained that most modest of British superstars, unpretentious,
full of humility, despite a dizzying rise to international fame.
286. unprincipled
lacking moral scruples
He was no better, in his unprincipled cravings, than a wild beast.Oxenham, John
287. unravel
become undone
I described how one day recently, Matthew’s mental state unraveled and he spent
hours on the floor of the classroom in tears.New York Times (Mar 12, 2012)
288. unregulated
not subject to rule or discipline
The Internet provides an inexpensive, anonymous, geographically unbounded, and
largelyunregulated virtual haven for terrorists.National Security Council (U.S.)
289. unrelenting
never-ceasing
Constant and unrelenting, it streamed steadily upward, as though it drew its volume
from central fires that would never cease.Ratcliffe, S. K. (Samuel Kerkham)
290. unremitting
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
The most unremitting attention and constant care were what the boy required declared
the physician when he had made an examination.Madison, Lucy Foster
291. unrequited
not returned in kind
As an elderly man looking back, he narrates the story, which turns out to be one of
unfulfilled if not actually unrequited love.New York Times (Mar 12, 2011)
292. unresponsive
not reacting to some influence or stimulus
All the time Sigurd was strange, remote, moving like a body without a spirit,
unresponsive to all her attempts at comfort and cheer.Bates, Katharine Lee
293. unrestrained
marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
The cook danced, clapped her hands, sat down in a chair, and reeled backward and
forward inunrestrained ecstasy.Coffin, Charles Carleton
294. unruly
noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
Once, long ago, award ceremonies were ratherunruly and rambunctious affairs.
295. unsavory
morally offensive
For a more disreputable, unsavory, desperate and wicked band of men it would be
almost impossible to find.Baker, Willard F.
296. unscathed
not injured
Ever wondered why mosquitoes eat some people up but leave others relatively
unscathed?Scientific American (Jan 4, 2012)
297. unscheduled
not planned or on a regular timetable
Secretary of State even made a personal,unscheduled visit to huddle with Mr. Zardari
at his hotel.New York Times (May 11, 2010)
298. unseemly
not in keeping with accepted standards of what is proper
In a country that has long shunned haggling outside of car dealerships and mattress
stores, my behavior may have once appeared unseemly, even crass.Washington Post
(Jan 31, 2010)
299. unsightly
unpleasant to look at
White paper is laid over black tablecloths — acceptable when pristine, but it quickly
becameunsightly with smudges of food.
300. villain
the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction
The hero passes through thrilling adventures in his endeavours to rescue his betrothed
from the hands of an unscrupulous villain.Gilson, Charles
301. vindicate
clear of accusation, blame, or doubt with supporting proof
They were later vindicated when wiretaps played in court proved they were framed by
police and corrupt businessmen.
302. vindictive
showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt
There aren’t any vindictive contestants stabbing nicer ones in the back.BusinessWeek
(May 24, 2012)
303. vintage
the oldness of wines
Progress is counted by the annual vintage, and the best wines mature over decades,
not years.
304. virtual
being actually such in almost every respect
The public opinion polls, which registered avirtual dead heat in recent months, are
beginning to inch in his favor.
305. virtue
any admirable quality or attribute
In my defense, there are virtues to being the new guy — I’m seeing the world through
fresh eyes.New York Times (May 11, 2012)
306. virtuoso
someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
As a virtuoso I think Liszt stood above Rubinstein, for his playing must have possessed
amazing, dazzling qualities.Hofmann, Josef
307. virulent
extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom
It is an unusually virulent cancer of white blood cells that are overproduced in bone
marrow and invade other parts of the body.New York Times (Feb 11, 2012)
308. visage
the human face
Some patients want surgeons to dig deeper, cutting away at bones underneath their
faces to create a more perfect visage.
309. viscera
internal organs collectively
The viscera are the soft internal organs especially in the abdominal and thoracic
cavities.New York Times (Jul 12, 2010)
310. visceral
obtained through intuition rather than from reasoning
“It was an overwhelming feeling — a brutallyvisceral response — heartfelt and
unmediated by my training or my feminist pro-choice politics,” she wrote.New York
Times (Jul 14, 2010)
311. viscid
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
This species has a cap two to four inches broad,viscid or sticky when moist.Hard, Miron
Elisha
312. vital
performing an essential function in the living body
Shanahan passed out, his vital signs quit, his heart stopped beating for a half minute,
and a priest gave him last rites.Washington Post (May 31, 2012)
313. vitality
the property of being able to survive and grow
Notwithstanding these evidences of vitality, Catharism was rapidly dying out.Lea,
Henry Charles
314. vitiate
corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
He thought that trial down there, before partisan juries and biased judges, would be a
farce whichvitiated the whole spirit of justice.
315. waft
be driven or carried along, as by the air
We were again wafted through the air, and were once more moving over the tops of
countless houses on the way.Suyematsu, Baron Kencho
316. waggish
witty or joking
Dinner, however, came, and the little waggishdoctor could not, for the life of him, avoid
his jokes.Carleton, William
317. waif
a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned
Had they not been poor children, little waifs, they would not have been locked in the
cabin to perish like rats.Debs, Eugene V.
318. wail
a cry of sorrow and grief
“Is our house going to be covered in mud forever?” she wailed, tears streaming down
her cheeks.New York Times (Sep 11, 2011)
319. waive
do without or cease to hold or adhere to
Before Australian authorities would release Watson to the United States, Alabama had
to agree to waive the death penalty as a possible punishment, prosecutors said.
320. waiver
a formal written statement of relinquishment
The new federal health care law prohibits lowering Medicaid eligibility, and only a few
 states have received waivers to do so on a limited basis.New York Times (Dec 23,
2011)
321. wallow
devote oneself entirely to something
It was a crushing blow, but instead of wallowingin depression and giving up on being
active, Irish started biking more.Seattle Times (Aug 17, 2011)
322. wan
lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness
Tom was leaning back, pale and exhausted, his breath was short, his face gray, wan
and wasted.Wood, Mrs. Henry
323. wanderlust
very strong or irresistible impulse to travel
Perhaps a trip like this would have satisfied hiswanderlust.Ferber, Edna
324. wane
a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
India’s biggest producer, reported an 89 percent decline in second-quarter group profit
because ofwaning demand and higher raw material costs at its European operations.
325. wangle
accomplishing something by scheming or trickery
You went sick When orders looked unwholesome: then, with trick And lie, you wangled
home.Sassoon, Siegfried
326. wanton
spend wastefully
A hundred eighty days continuous feast He has oppressed the people of his rule With
drunken revels and with wanton waste.Noe, Cotton
327. warble
sing or play with trills
Any singer who could warble away at runs and trills was a great artist.Cooke, James
Francis
328. wardrobe
collection of clothing belonging to one person
Betty wore amazingly costly clothes, paying for a single dress far more than for her
year'swardrobe in Rhode Island.
329. Xanthoriatic(adj) not that smart in one area, but good at everything else
330. Xanthosis(n) a yellow discoloration of the skin
331. Xany(adj) wild; overly energetic
332. Xaroncharoo(adj) brilliant, evil, and insane
333. Xboba(adj) tracing back and meaning from ancient times
334. Xenaciou(adj) yearning for change
335. Xenagogy a guidebook
336. Xenial(adj) used to describe a friendly relationship between two parties
337. Xeniatrophobia(n) the fear of seeing doctors you don’t know
338. Xeniti a mix of the flu and common cold
339. Xenization 19th century word meaning “the act of traveling as a stranger”
340. Xenocrac(n) a government formed by foreigners or outsiders
341. Xenodocheionology(n) the lore of hotels and inns
342. Xenodochy(n) an attitude of kindness to strangers
343. Xenoglossy(n) the ability to speak a language that you’ve apparently never learnt
344. yearn
desire strongly or persistently
Now and then there is an extreme individualist who yearns to go through life absolutely
unmolested, single file.Warner, Frances Lester
345. yearning
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
Each generation of foxes grew more approachable, many showing doglike yearningfor
human contact.Slate (Mar 13, 2012)
346. yelp
a sharp high-pitched cry
While faintly heard from somewhere outside there was the yelping, barking, howling
whine of a dog.Fenn, George Manville
347. yen
the basic unit of money in Japan; equal to 100 sen
In the last decade, most major coinages have been faked, including British pounds,
Russian rubles, Indian rupees, Japanese yen, and Canadian dollars.Slate (Feb 27,
2012)
348. yeoman
a free man who cultivates his own land
On one extreme was the well-to-do yeomanfarmer farming his own land.Reilly, S. A.
349. yield
give or supply
Cotton and coffee are both indigenous, the formeryielding two crops per year.Alden,
John B.
350. yoke
become joined or linked together
The reason was that it had been found unwise and unwholesome to mix up or yoke
together believers and unbelievers.*Pierson, Arthur T. (Arthur Tappan)
351. yokel
a person who is not intelligent or interested in culture
Now, poor people, yokels, clods, cannot love what is incomprehensible to
them.Meredith, George
352. yonder
distant but within sight
“ Yonder,” said he, pointing to some distance down the river.Borrow, George Henry
353. yore
time long past
Yore, long ago; generally used in the expression "of yore," formerly, once upon a
time.Turner, Winifred
354. zany
ludicrous or foolish
Style: Pleasantly earnest overall; on occasion displayed his goofy and zany side.
355. zeal
a feeling of strong eagerness
While many states, particularly in the West, have nonrestrictive gun laws, Arizona’s zeal
for weapons has often made headlines.New York Times (Jan 9, 2011)
356. zealot
a fervent and even militant proponent of something
Finally having conquered his irritable bowel syndrome, he worked out like a zealot all
winter, adding about 17 pounds of solid muscle.Seattle Times (Feb 29, 2012)
357. zealous
marked by active interest and enthusiasm
"You are so willing and zealous; but for that very reason I must guard against your
enthusiasm carrying you too far."Madison, Lucy Foster
358. zenith
the point above the observer directly opposite the nadir
Zenith, the point in the celestial sphere directly overhead.Warren, Henry White
359. zephyr
a slight wind
Nor I. On the contrary, all the allusions to the winds are of the gentler kind,—"balmy
Zephyrs," "whispering breezes" and so forth.Pope, Alexander
360. zest
vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
So I pursued my studies with zest and unabated enthusiasm.
361.
362.