 | Term | Definition |
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plane |
carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat |
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verbatim |
word for word; in the same words; repeating the actual words exactly |
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flagrant |
conspicuously wicked, bad, or offensive; blatant; outrageous |
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impale |
pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear |
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vigor |
active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous |
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gourmet |
connoisseur of food and drink; epicure |
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seethe |
be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent. |
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equilibrium |
balance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity |
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inextricable |
from which it is impossible to get free; that cannot be untied; Ex. inextricable troubles; Ex. inextricable two histories |
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composure |
mental calmness |
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inviolable |
secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or profanation); unassailable; Ex. inviolable oath/rights; N. inviolability |
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avid |
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity |
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aureole |
sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light |
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holster |
leather pistol case (that hangs on a belt around the waist) |
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incline |
slope; slant; Ex. steep incline |
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cog |
tooth projecting from a wheel |
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apprehensive |
fearful; discerning |
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actuate |
motivate; activate; cause to act |
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gerontology |
study of the sociological phenomena associated with old age |
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bard |
poet |
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larder |
pantry; place where food is kept |
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cleft |
N: split |
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rider |
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill |
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jostle |
shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly; Ex. jostled by the crowds |
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coquette |
flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V. |
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exhume |
dig out of the ground; remove from a grave |
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crypt |
secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church) |
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resurrect |
revive |
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zenith |
point directly overhead in the sky; summit; acme; highest point |
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stamina |
power of endurance; strength; staying power |
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blurt |
utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement |
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extrapolation |
projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from known information |
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vagabond |
wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp |
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check |
stop motion; curb or restrain |
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sophisticated |
worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate |
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solstice |
point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator |
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amalgamate |
(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body |
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auspicious |
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices |
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pediatrician |
physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics |
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elucidate |
explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid |
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foolhardy |
rash; reckless; foolishly daring |
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title |
name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation as of rank or office (such as Lord or General); right or claim to possession; championship; Ex. title as head of the family; Ex. title to the estate |
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fallible |
liable to err |
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alimony |
payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce |
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hirsute |
hairy; having a lot of hair |
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militia |
army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers |
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sheaf |
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together |
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rusticate |
banish to the country; dwell in the country |
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ardor |
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent |
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sonic |
of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic |
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leaven |
add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens |
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suborn |
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation |
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pare |
cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a knife); trim; Ex. pare apples/expenses |
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misdemeanor |
minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing |
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tendentious |
promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend: move in a certain direction |
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throes |
violent anguish |
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savor |
enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or smell; distinctive quality |
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apolitical |
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs |
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emancipate |
set free; liberate |
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bovine |
cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm |
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expletive |
meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word |
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agape |
openmouthed |
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lampoon |
ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution |
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forte |
strong point or special talent in a person's character |
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supple |
flexible; limber; pliant |
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demerit |
fault; bad quality |
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callus |
area of thick hard skin |
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defoliate |
destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant |
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credence |
belief |
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flip |
send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking with a light quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip over |
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prognosis |
forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic |
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flounder |
struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter (as in water, mud, snow, etc.); proceed in confusion |
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skiff |
small light sailboat or rowboat |
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demoniac(demoniacal) |
fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil |
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ruse |
trick to deceive; stratagem |
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sequester |
isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life |
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transgression |
violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond (a limit); violate; do wrong |
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analogous |
comparable; similar |
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eclectic |
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism |
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mangle |
tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex. badly mangled bodies |
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buccaneer |
pirate |
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placid |
peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake |
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inscrutable |
difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious |
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gaudy |
flashy; showy |
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pigment |
coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil) |
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skittish |
inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit |
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precept |
practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept |
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contumacious |
stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court) |
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solace |
comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble |
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affliction |
state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on |
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introspective |
looking within oneself; N. introspection: self-examination |
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contravene |
contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention |
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daunt |
intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten |
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apogee |
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee |
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temperament |
characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess; ADJ. temperamental: of temperament; having frequent changes of temper; Ex. temperamental dislike of sports; Ex. temperamental actress |
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misadventure |
mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure |
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flick |
light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light quick blow; strike with a light quick blow (as from a whip); Ex. flick the switch |
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plenitude |
abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty |
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preposterous |
absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous |
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benefactor |
gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose |
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suspense |
state of being undecided; anxiety or apprehension resulting from uncertainty |
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gobble |
eat very quickly |
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unfetter |
liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter |
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incarnation |
act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies something; personification; Ex. previous ~/reincarnation |
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