GRE Pocket Reference 1 flash cards

Set: GRE Pocket Reference 1

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All 108 Terms

	Term	Definition
	abase	cause to feel shame, To lower in position, estimation, or the like; degrade.
	abet	assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
	abeyance	a state of temporary disuse or suspension : matters were held in ~ pending further inquiries. [from Old French abeance 'aspiration to a title,' from abeer 'aspire after,' from a- 'toward' + beer 'to gape.']
	abiding	unceasing, continuing; lasting; (of a feeling or a memory) lasting a long time; enduring : he had an ~ respect for her.
	abject	[ attrib. ] (of a situation or condition) extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading : ~ poverty.; • (of an unhappy state of mind) experienced to the maximum degree : his letter plunged her into ~ misery.; (of a failure) absolute and humiliating.; 2 (of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing : an ~ apology.
	abjure	formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure Ex. "She ~ed her beliefs"
	ablution	the act of washing oneself (often used for humorously formal effect) : the women performed their ~s. • a ceremonial act of washing parts of the body or sacred containers.
	abrogate	repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement) : a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike. See note at void ; [from Latin abrogat- 'repealed,' from the verb abrogare, from ab- 'away, from' + rogare 'propose a law.']
	absolve	let off the hook Ex. "I ~ you from this responsibility"; , grant remission of a sin to Ex. "The priest ~ed him and told him to say ten Hail Mary's" [from Latin absolvere 'set free, acquit,' from ab- 'from' + solvere 'loosen.']
	abstemious	not self-indulgent, esp. when eating and drinking : "We only had a bottle." "Very ~ of you." [Latin abstemius (from ab- 'from' + a word related to temetum 'strong drink' ) + -ous .]
	zephyr	a slight wind (usually refreshing); 2 historical a fine cotton gingham.; • a very light article of clothing.
	welter	a confused multitude of things, be immersed in Ex. "~ in work"; move in a turbulent fashion : the streams foam and ~.
	whet	sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone, make keen or more acute Ex. "~ my appetite"
	whimsy	n. playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor : the film is an awkward blend of ~ and moralizing.
	wily	crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem
	winsome	charming in a childlike or naive way; attractive or appealing in appearance or character : a ~ smile. [ORIGIN Old English wynsum, from wyn [joy] + -some 1 .]
	withdrawn	unsociable, aloof; shy, timid
	wizened	shriveled or wrinkled with age : a ~, weather-beaten old man.
	wraith	a ghost or ghostlike image of someone, esp. one seen shortly before or after their death. ; • used in similes and metaphors to describe a pale, thin, or insubstantial person or thing : heart attacks had reduced his mother to a ~. ; • poetic/literary a wisp or faint trace of something : a sea breeze was sending a gray ~ of smoke up the slopes. DERIVATIVES -like
	writ	(law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer
	wry	1 using or expressing dry, esp. mocking, humor : a ~ smile \| ~ comments. ; 2 (of a person's face or features) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance.
	yoke	1 put a ~ on (a pair of animals); couple or attach with or to a yoke : a plow drawn by a camel and donkey ~ed together \| figurative Hong Kong's dollar has been ~ed to America's. ; 2 informal rob; mug : two crackheads ~ed this girl.
	abut	(of an area of land or a building) be next to or have a common boundary with : gardens ~ing Great Prescott Street \| [ intrans. ] a park ~ing on an area of wasteland.
	accede	1 assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty : the authorities did not ~ to the strikers' demands. ; 2 assume an office or position : he ~ed to the post of director in September. [ Latin accedere, from ad- 'to' + cedere 'give way, yield.']
	accommodating	helpful in bringing about a harmonious adaptation; Ex. "the warden was always ~ in allowing visitors in"; "made a special effort to be ~"
	acerbic	1 (esp. of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright : his ~ wit. 2 archaic or technical tasting sour or bitter.
	acrid	having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell : ~ fumes. ; • angry and bitter : an ~ farewell.
	acuity	a quick and penetrating intelligence
	admonish	warn or reprimand someone firmly : she admonished me for appearing at breakfast unshaven \| [ trans. ] "You mustn't say that, Shiona," Ruth ~ed her. See note at rebuke .
	vitriolic	harsh or corrosive in tone
	vivacious	(esp. of a woman) attractively lively and animated. ; from Latin vivax, vivac- 'lively, vigorous' (from vivere 'to live' ) + -ious .
	vociferous	(esp. of a person or speech) vehement or clamorous : he was a ~ opponent of the takeover.
	strident	suggests a harsh, grating loudness that is particularly distressing to the ear (: her ~ voice could be heard throughout the building).
	volition	the faculty or power of using one's will : without conscious ~ she backed into her office. [from medieval Latin volitio(n-), from volo 'I wish.']
	volley	1 a number of bullets, arrows, or other projectiles discharged at one time : the infantry let off a couple of ~. ; • a series of utterances directed at someone in quick succession : he unleashed a ~ of angry questions. ; 2 (in sports, esp. tennis or soccer) a strike or kick of the ball made before it touches the ground. ; • utter or discharge in quick succession : the dog was ~ing joyful barks.
	voracious	wanting or devouring great quantities of food : he had a ~ appetite. ; • having a very eager approach to an activity : his ~ reading of literature. ;[from Latin vorax, vorac- (from vorare 'devour' ) + -ious .]
	wallow	1 (chiefly of large mammals) roll about or lie relaxed in mud or water, esp. to keep cool, avoid biting insects, or spread scent : watering places where buffalo liked to ~. ; • (of a boat or aircraft) roll from side to side : the small jet ~ed in the sky. ; 2 ( ~ in) (of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that creates a pleasurable sensation) : I was ~ing in the luxury of the hotel \| he had been ~ing in self-pity. ; 1 an act of wallowing : a ~ in nostalgia. [from an Indo-European root shared by Latin volvere 'to roll.']
	wan	become pale and sickly
	waspish	readily expressing anger or irritation : he had a ~ tongue.
	wayward	difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior : her ~, difficult sister \| figurative his ~ emotions.
	weather	1 wear away or change the appearance or texture of (something) by long exposure to the atmosphere : [ trans. ] his skin was ~ed almost black by his long outdoor life \| [as adj. ] ( weathered) chemically ~ed rock. ; • [ intrans. ] (of rock or other material) be worn away or altered by such processes : the ice sheet preserves specimens that would ~ away more quickly in other regions.
	verisimilitude	the appearance of being true or real : the detail gives the novel some ~. ; the ~ of her performance is gripping realism, believability, plausibility, authenticity, credibility, lifelikeness.[from Latin verisimilitudo, from verisimilis 'probable,' from veri (genitive of verus 'true' ) + similis 'like.']
	vermin	wild mammals and birds that are believed to be harmful to crops, farm animals, or game, or that carry disease, e.g., foxes, rodents, and insect pests. ; • parasitic worms or insects. ; • figurative people perceived as despicable and as causing problems for the rest of society : the ~ who ransacked her house. [from Old French, based on Latin vermis 'worm.']
	vernal	of or characteristic of or occurring in spring; Ex. "the ~ equinox"
	equinox	the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length (about September 22 and March 20).
	verve	vigor and spirit or enthusiasm : Kollo sings with supreme ~ and flexibility. [from Latin verba 'words.']
	vestige	a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists : the last ~s of colonialism. See note at trace . ; • [usu. with negative ] the smallest amount (used to emphasize the absence of something) : he waited patiently, but without a ~ of sympathy. ; [from Latin vestigium 'footprint.']
	viaduct	a long bridgelike structure, typically a series of arches, carrying a road or railroad across a valley or other low ground.
	vicarious	experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person : I could glean ~ pleasure from the struggles of my imaginary film friends. ; • acting or done for another : a ~ atonement. ; [Latin vicarius 'substitute' (see vicar ) + -ous .]
	vicissitude	a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant : her husband's sharp ~s of fortune. ; • poetic/literary alternation between opposite or contrasting things : the ~ of the seasons. 盛衰;兴败[P] His life is marked by ~. 他的一生几经沉浮。 [ from French, or from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim 'by turns,' from vic- 'turn, change.']
	vie	compete eagerly with someone in order to do or achieve something : rival mobs vying for control of the liquor business.
	vignette	1 a brief evocative description, account, or episode. ; 2 a small illustration or portrait photograph that fades into its background without a definite border. ; • a small ornamental design filling a space in a book or carving, typically based on foliage. ; short literary composition; portray (someone) in the style of a ~. [ from French, diminutive of vigne 'vine.'] [note pronounciation]
	vilify	speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner : he has been ~ed in the press. See note at .
	vim	energy; enthusiasm : in his youth he was full of ~ and vigor. ; perhaps Latin, accusative of vis 'energy.'
	virginal	pure, chaste
	vitiate	spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of : development programs have been ~ed by the rise in population. ; • destroy or impair the legal validity of. ; [from Latin vitiat- 'impaired,' from the verb vitiare, from vitium (see vice 1 ).]
	adulation	obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise : he found it difficult to cope with the ~ of the fans. [from Latin adūlātiō, adūlātiōn-, from adūlātus, past participle of adūlārī, to flatter.]
	adumbrate	report or represent in outline : James Madison ~ed the necessity that the Senate be somewhat insulated from public passions. ; • indicate faintly : the walls were not more than ~ed by the meager light. ; • foreshadow or symbolize : what qualities in Christ are ~ by the vine? • overshadow : her happy reminiscences were ~ed by consciousness of something else. ; from Latin adumbrat- 'shaded,' from the verb adumbrare, from ad- 'to' (as an intensifier) + umbrare 'cast a shadow' (from umbra 'shade' ).]
	adventitious	associated by chance and not an integral part; happening or carried on according to chance rather than design or inherent nature : my adventures were always ~, always thrust on me. See note at accidental . ; ~ also implies the lack of an essential relationship, referring to something that is a mere random occurrence (: ~ circumstances that led to victory). ; [from Latin adventicius 'coming to us from abroad' (from advenire 'arrive' ) + -ous (see also -itious 2 ).]
	adversarial	involving or characterized by conflict or opposition : industry and government had an ~ relationship. ; • opposed; hostile : Williams had an uncertain relationship to Marxism, sometimes ~, sometimes allied. ;
	aerie	a large nest of a bird of prey, esp. an eagle, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff.
	aerodynamics	the study of the properties of moving air, and esp. of the interaction between the air and solid bodies moving through it. ;• the properties of a solid object regarding the manner in which air flows around it. ;• [treated as pl. ] these properties insofar as they result in maximum efficiency of motion.
	insofar	to the extent that : he decided that philosophy spoke of personal problems only ~ as they illustrated general ones.
	affable	friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to : an ~ and agreeable companion.
	affront	an action or remark that causes outrage or offense : he took his son's desertion as a personal ~ \| privilege publicly worn is an ~ to democracy. v. offend the modesty or values of : she was ~ed by his familiarity.
	aggrieve	feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated : they were ~ed at the outcome \| she did not see herself as the ~ party.
	allay	diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry) : the report attempted to educate the public and ~ fears. ; • relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger) : some stale figs partly ~ed our hunger.
	allegory	a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one : Pilgrim's Progress is an ~ of the spiritual journey. ; • the genre to which such works belong. ; • a symbol.
	alliteration	the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. [from medieval Latin alliteratio(n-), from Latin ad- (expressing addition) + littera 'letter.']
	allusive	(of a remark or reference) working by suggestion rather than explicit mention : ~ references to the body.
	aloof	not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant : they were courteous but faintly ~ \| an ~ and somewhat austere figure. ; • conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste : he stayed ~ from the bickering.
	altercation	a noisy argument or disagreement, esp. in public : I had an ~ with the conductor. See note at quarrel . [from Latin altercat- 'wrangled,' from altercari.]
	wrangle	a dispute or argument, typically one that is long and complicated : an insurance ~ is holding up compensation payments. ; 1 [ intrans. ] have such a dispute or argument : [as n. ] ( ~ing) weeks of political wrangling. See note at quarrel . ; 2 [ trans. ] round up, herd, or take charge of (livestock) : the horses were ~ed early. ; [late Middle English : compare with Low German wrangeln, frequentative of wrangen 'to struggle' ; related to wring .]
	wangle	obtain (something that is desired) by persuading others to comply or by manipulating events : I ~ed an invitation to her party \| I think we should be able to ~ it so that you can start tomorrow. ; an act or an instance of obtaining something in such a way : they regarded the coalition as a ~.
	ambidextrous	(of a person) able to use the right and left hands equally well : few of us are naturally ~. ;• (of an implement) designed to be used by left-handed and right-handed people with equal ease. [(from Latin ambi- 'on both sides' + dexter 'right-handed' ) + -ous .]
	ambulatory	relating to or adapted for walking.
	amenable	(of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled : parents who have had easy babies and ~ children. ; • [ predic. ] ( amenable to) (of a thing) capable of being acted upon in a particular way; susceptible to : the patients had cardiac failure not ~ to medical treatment.
	amity	a friendly relationship : international ~ and goodwill.
	amorphous	without a clearly defined shape or form : ~ blue forms and straight black lines. ; • vague; ill-organized; unclassifiable : make explicit the ~ statements. ; • (of a group of people or an organization) lacking a clear structure or focus : an ~ and leaderless legislature. ;• Mineralogy & Chemistry (of a solid) noncrystalline; having neither definite form nor apparent structure. [from modern Latin amorphus, from Greek amorphos 'shapeless' (from a- 'without' + morphē 'form' ) + -ous .]
	amortize	reduce or extinguish (a debt) by money regularly put aside : loan fees can be ~ed over the life of the mortgage. ; • gradually write off the initial cost of (an asset) : they want to amortize the tooling costs quickly. ; [based on Latin ad 'to, at' + mors, mort- 'death.']
	amphitheater	(esp. in Greek and Roman architecture) a round building, typically unroofed, with a central space for the presentation of dramatic or sporting events. Tiers of seats for spectators surround the central space. ;• a sloping, semicircular seating gallery : I was permitted to attend a lecture in the ~ of the hospital. ;• a large circular hollow in rocks or hills : that vast ~ chiseled out of the mountain.
	chisel	2 informal cheat or swindle (someone) out of something : he's ~ed me out of my dues.
	usury	the illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest.
	valiant	possessing or showing courage or determination : she made a ~ effort to hold her anger in check \| a ~ warrior.
	valorous	adj. having or showing valor
	vanquish	defeat thoroughly : Mexican forces ~ed the French army in a battle in Puebla. ; [from Latin vincere 'conquer.']
	vapid	offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging : tuneful but ~ musical comedies. [(used originally in description of drinks as [lacking in flavor] ): from Latin vapidus.]
	variegated	exhibiting different colors, esp. as irregular patches or streaks : ~ yellow bricks. ; • Botany (of a plant or foliage) having or consisting of leaves that are edged or patterned in a second color, esp. white as well as green. ; • marked by variety : his ~ and amusing observations.
	vaunt	boast about or praise (something), esp. excessively : the much ~ed information superhighway. [from late Latin vantare, based on Latin vanus 'vain, empty.']
	venal	showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery : why should these ~ politicians care how they are rated? \| their generosity had been at least partly ~. ;
	venial	denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. Often contrasted with mortal . ; • (of a fault or offense) slight and pardonable. ; [ from Latin venalis, from venum 'thing for sale.']
	venerate	regard with great respect; revere : Mother Teresa is ~ed as a saint. See note at revere .
	verdant	(of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation. ; • of the bright green color of lush grass : a deep, ~ green.
	verdure	noun. lush green vegetation. ; • the fresh green color of such vegetation. ; • poetic/literary a condition of freshness.
	unfrock(defrock)	deprive (a person in holy orders) of ecclesiastical status. • [usu. as adj. ] ( -ed) deprive (someone) of professional status or membership in a prestigious group : a ~ psychiatrist.
	unheralded	not previously announced, expected, or recognized.
	herald	be a sign that (something) is about to happen : the speech ~ed a change in policy. ;• (usu. be heralded) acclaim : the band has been ~ as the industrial supergroup of the '90s.
	unimpeachable	not able to be doubted, questioned, or criticized; entirely trustworthy : an ~ witness.
	impeach	call into question the integrity or validity of (a practice) : there is no basis to Searle's motion to ~ the verdict.
	uninitiated	without special knowledge or experience : a bachelor neither prudish nor ~ \| [as plural n. ] ( the ~) the discussion wasn't easy to follow for the ~.
	unruffled	not disordered or disarranged : the ~ waters of the lake. ;• (of a person) not agitated or disturbed; calm.
	equanimity	mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, esp. in a difficult situation : she accepted both the good and the bad with ~.
	unstinting	given or giving without restraint; unsparing : he was ~ in his praise.
	unsullied	not spoiled or made impure : an ~ reputation.
	untoward	unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient : both tried to behave as if nothing ~ had happened \| ~ jokes and racial remarks.
	unwitting	(of a person) not aware of the full facts : an ~ accomplice. ; • not done on purpose; unintentional : we are anxious to rectify the ~ mistakes made in the past.
	upbraid	find fault with (someone); scold : he was ~ed for his slovenly appearance. See note at scold . {we were ~ed for leaving the back door unlocked reprimand, rebuke, admonish, chastise, chide, reprove, reproach, scold, berate, take to task, lambaste, give someone a piece of one's mind, give someone a tongue-lashing, rake/haul over the coals, lecture; informal tell off, give someone a talking-to, tear a strip off (of), dress down, give someone an earful, rap over the knuckles, bawl out, lay into, chew out, ream out; formal castigate; rare reprehend. See note at scold .}
	uproarious	characterized by or provoking loud noise or uproar : an ~ party. ; • provoking loud laughter; very funny. ;

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Terms	108
Creator	settinghead
Created	July 31, 2008
Group	the GRE Brigade
Subject	gre
Access	Anyone
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settinghead : Changed yoke → 1 put a yoke on (a pair of animals); couple or attach with or to a yoke : a plow drawn by a camel and donkey ~ed together | figurative Hong Kong's dollar has been ~ed to America's. ; 2 informal rob; mug : two crackheads ~ed this girl. to yoke → 1 put a ~ on (a pair of animals); couple or attach with or to a yoke : a plow drawn by a camel and donkey ~ed together | figurative Hong Kong's dollar has been ~ed to America's. ; 2 informal rob; mug : two crackheads ~ed this girl.

settinghead : Changed vicissitude → a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant : her husband's sharp ~s of fortune. ; • poetic/literary alternation between opposite or contrasting things : the ~ of the seasons. [ from French, or from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim 'by turns,' from vic- 'turn, change.'] to vicissitude → a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant : her husband's sharp ~s of fortune. ; • poetic/literary alternation between opposite or contrasting things : the ~ of the seasons. 盛衰;兴败[P] His life is marked by ~. 他的一生几经沉浮。 [ from French, or from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim 'by turns,' from vic- 'turn, change.']

settinghead : Changed herald → be a sign that (something) is about to happen : the speech ~ed a change in policy. ;• (usu. be heralded) acclaim : the band has been heralded as the industrial supergroup of the '90s. to herald → be a sign that (something) is about to happen : the speech ~ed a change in policy. ;• (usu. be heralded) acclaim : the band has been ~ as the industrial supergroup of the '90s.

settinghead : Changed uninitiated → without special knowledge or experience : a bachelor neither prudish nor ~ | [as plural n. ] ( the uninitiated) the discussion wasn't easy to follow for the ~. to uninitiated → without special knowledge or experience : a bachelor neither prudish nor ~ | [as plural n. ] ( the ~) the discussion wasn't easy to follow for the ~.

settinghead : Changed wallow → 1 (chiefly of large mammals) roll about or lie relaxed in mud or water, esp. to keep cool, avoid biting insects, or spread scent : watering places where buffalo liked to ~. ; • (of a boat or aircraft) roll from side to side : the small jet ~ed in the sky. ; 2 ( wallow in) (of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that creates a pleasurable sensation) : I was ~ing in the luxury of the hotel | he had been ~ing in self-pity. ; 1 an act of wallowing : a ~ in nostalgia. [from an Indo-European root shared by Latin volvere 'to roll.'] to wallow → 1 (chiefly of large mammals) roll about or lie relaxed in mud or water, esp. to keep cool, avoid biting insects, or spread scent : watering places where buffalo liked to ~. ; • (of a boat or aircraft) roll from side to side : the small jet ~ed in the sky. ; 2 ( ~ in) (of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that creates a pleasurable sensation) : I was ~ing in the luxury of the hotel | he had been ~ing in self-pity. ; 1 an act of wallowing : a ~ in nostalgia. [from an Indo-European root shared by Latin volvere 'to roll.']

settinghead : Changed adulation → obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise : he found it difficult to cope with the ~ of the fans. to adulation → obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise : he found it difficult to cope with the ~ of the fans. [from Latin adūlātiō, adūlātiōn-, from adūlātus, past participle of adūlārī, to flatter.]

settinghead : Changed vignette → 1 a brief evocative description, account, or episode. ; 2 a small illustration or portrait photograph that fades into its background without a definite border. ; • a small ornamental design filling a space in a book or carving, typically based on foliage. ; short literary composition; portray (someone) in the style of a ~. [ from French, diminutive of vigne 'vine.'] to vignette → 1 a brief evocative description, account, or episode. ; 2 a small illustration or portrait photograph that fades into its background without a definite border. ; • a small ornamental design filling a space in a book or carving, typically based on foliage. ; short literary composition; portray (someone) in the style of a ~. [ from French, diminutive of vigne 'vine.'] [note pronounciation]

settinghead : Changed aggrieve → feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated : they were aggrieved at the outcome | she did not see herself as the ~ party. to aggrieve → feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated : they were ~ed at the outcome | she did not see herself as the ~ party.

settinghead : Changed aloof → not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant : they were courteous but faintly aloof | an ~ and somewhat austere figure. ; • conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste : he stayed ~ from the bickering. to aloof → not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant : they were courteous but faintly ~ | an ~ and somewhat austere figure. ; • conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste : he stayed ~ from the bickering.

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