A

abjure.................................................................................renounce upon oath

ablution.................................................................................washing

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

abominate.................................................................................loathe; hate

abrogate.................................................................................abolish

abscission.................................................................................cutting off; separation

abstemious.................................................................................sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

abstruse.................................................................................obscure; profound; difficult to understand

accede.................................................................................agree

acclivity.................................................................................sharp upslope of a hill

accoutre.................................................................................equip

accretion.................................................................................growth; increase

acetic.................................................................................vinegary

acme.................................................................................peak; pinnacle; highest point

acrid.................................................................................sharp; bitterly pungent

actuarial.................................................................................calculating, pertaining to insurance statistics

actuate.................................................................................motivate

addle.................................................................................muddle, drive crazy, become rotten

adjunct.................................................................................something (generally nonessential or inferior) added on or attached

adjuration.................................................................................solemn urging

adventitious.................................................................................accidental; casual

advert.................................................................................refer (to)

aegis.................................................................................shield, defense

aerie.................................................................................nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk)

agglomeration.................................................................................collection, heap

agog.................................................................................highly excited, intensely curious

alacrity.................................................................................cheerful promptness, eagerness

alimentary.................................................................................supplying nourishment

allegory.................................................................................story in which characers are used as symbols; fable

alloy.................................................................................mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate

alluvial.................................................................................pertaining to soil deposits left by running water

ambrosia.................................................................................food of the gods

ambulatory.................................................................................able to walk; not bedridden

amenable.................................................................................readily managed or willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally

amity.................................................................................friendship

anachronism.................................................................................someone or something misplaced in time

analgesic.................................................................................causing insensitivity to pain

ancillary.................................................................................serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary

animadversion.................................................................................critical remark

anneal.................................................................................reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling

anodyne.................................................................................drug that relieves pain; opiate

anthropoid.................................................................................manlike

anthropomorphic.................................................................................having human form or characteristics

aphasia.................................................................................loss of speech due to injury or illness

aphorism.................................................................................pithy maxim or saying

apiary.................................................................................place where bees are kept

apocryphal.................................................................................untrue, made up

apogee.................................................................................highest point

apostate.................................................................................one who abandons his/her religious faith or political beliefs

apothegm.................................................................................pithy, compact saying

apotheosis.................................................................................elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something

appellation.................................................................................name; title

apposite.................................................................................appropriate, fitting

approbation.................................................................................approval

appurtenances.................................................................................subordinate possessions

aquiline.................................................................................curved, hooked

arcade.................................................................................covered passageway, usually lined with shops

arcane.................................................................................secret, mysterious

argot.................................................................................slang

array.................................................................................marshal; draw up in order

array.................................................................................clothe; adorn

artifact.................................................................................object made by human beings, either handmade or mass-produced

artifice.................................................................................deception; trickery

artisan.................................................................................manually skilled worker

artless.................................................................................without guile; open and honest

ascendancy.................................................................................controlling influence

ascetic.................................................................................practicing self-denial; austere

aseptic.................................................................................preventing infection; having a cleansing effect

asinine.................................................................................stupid

asperity.................................................................................sharpness of temper

aspersion.................................................................................slanderous remark

assay.................................................................................analyze; evaluate

assiduous.................................................................................diligent

attenuate.................................................................................make thin; weaken

augury.................................................................................omen; prophecy

aureole.................................................................................sun's corona; halo

auroral.................................................................................pertaining to the aurora borealis

avarice.................................................................................greediness for wealth

aver.................................................................................state confidently

avuncular.................................................................................like an uncle

B

bacchanalian.................................................................................drunken

badinage.................................................................................teasing conversation

baleful.................................................................................deadly; having a malign influence; ominous

balmy.................................................................................mild; fragrant

bantering.................................................................................good-naturedly ridiculing

barrister.................................................................................counselor-at-law

bate.................................................................................let down; restrain

beatific.................................................................................giving bliss; blissful

beatitude.................................................................................blessedness, state of bliss

beleaguer.................................................................................besiege or attack; harass

bemused.................................................................................confused; lost in thought; preoccupied

benison.................................................................................blessing

betoken.................................................................................signify; indicate

biennial.................................................................................every two years

bifurcated.................................................................................divided into two branches

bilious.................................................................................suffering from indigestion; irritable

blandishment.................................................................................flattery

blithe.................................................................................gay; joyous

bluff.................................................................................rough but good-natured

bombastic.................................................................................pompous

bowdlerize.................................................................................expurgate

brindled.................................................................................tawny or grayish with streaks or spots

brook.................................................................................tolerate; endure

bugaboo.................................................................................bugbear; object of baseless terror

burlesque.................................................................................give an imitation that ridicules

C

cabal.................................................................................small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests

callow.................................................................................youthful; immature; inexperienced

calorific.................................................................................heat-producing

calumny.................................................................................malicious misrepresentation; slander

canard.................................................................................unfounded rumor; exaggerated report

cant.................................................................................insincere expressions of piety; jargon of thieves

canter.................................................................................slow gallop

canto.................................................................................division of a long poem

capacious.................................................................................spacious

capillary.................................................................................having a very fine bore

caprice.................................................................................whim

capricious.................................................................................unpredictable; fickle

captious.................................................................................faultfinding

carafe.................................................................................glass water bottle; decanter

carapace.................................................................................shell covering the back (of a turtle, crab, etc.)

carillon.................................................................................a set of bells capable of being played

carousal.................................................................................drunken revel

cascade.................................................................................small waterfall

cataclysm.................................................................................deluge, upheaval

cataract.................................................................................great waterfall

catechism.................................................................................book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answer

cavalcade.................................................................................procession, parade

cavil.................................................................................make frivolous objections

censorious.................................................................................critical

centaur.................................................................................mythical figure, half man and half horse

centrifugal.................................................................................radiating; departing from the center

centripetal.................................................................................tending toward the center

centurion.................................................................................Roman army officer

cerebration.................................................................................thought

chary.................................................................................cautious; sparing or restrained about giving

chase.................................................................................ornament a metal surface by indenting

chicanery.................................................................................trickery, deception

chimerical.................................................................................fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; imaginative

chisel.................................................................................swindle or cheat; cut with a chisel

choleric.................................................................................hot-tempered

churlish.................................................................................boorish; rude

cipher.................................................................................nonentity; worthless person or thing

cipher.................................................................................secret code

circumlocution.................................................................................indirect or roundabout expression

circumscribe.................................................................................limit; confine

clarion....................................................................................shrill, trumpetlike sound

cloying....................................................................................distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental

coalesce....................................................................................combine, fuse

codicil.....................................................................................a supplement to the body of a will

coeval...................................................................................living at the same time as; contemporary

cogent....................................................................................convincing

cogitate......................................................................................think over

cognate..................................................................................related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature

cohorts....................................................................................armed band

collate.....................................................................................examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order

collation..................................................................................light meal

colloquy...................................................................................informal discussion

comestible..................................................................................something fit to be eaten

comity.....................................................................................courtesy; civility

compendium..................................................................................brief, comprehensive summary

complaisant.................................................................................trying to please; obliging

comport.....................................................................................bear one's self; behave

compunction..................................................................................remorse

conclave.......................................................................................private meeting

concomitant...................................................................................that which accompanies

condign...................................................................................adequate; deservedly severe

conflagration.................................................................................great fire

confluence..................................................................................a flowing together; a crowd

congruence....................................................................................correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship

connivance..................................................................................pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend

connubial..................................................................................pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state

consanguinity...............................................................................kinship

consequential...............................................................................pompous; self-important

consign....................................................................................deliver officially; entrust; set apart

consonance.................................................................................harmony; agreement

consort..................................................................................husband or wife

continence....................................................................................self-restraint, sexual chastity

contravene.....................................................................................contradict; oppose; infringe on or transgress

controvert.................................................................................oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict

contumacious...............................................................................disobedient; resisting authority

convoke......................................................................................call together

cornice.....................................................................................projecting molding on building (usually above columns)

coterie......................................................................................group that meets socially; select circle

countenance...................................................................................approve; tolerate

countermand.................................................................................cancel; revoke

cow..........................................................................................terrorize; intimidate

cozen........................................................................................cheat; hoodwink; swindle

craven........................................................................................cowardly

credulity................................................................................belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete

crone.........................................................................................hag

culvert.....................................................................................artificial channel for water

cupidity.....................................................................................greed

curmudgeon..................................................................................churlish, miserly individual

cynosure...................................................................................object of general attention

D

deadpan....................................................................................wooden; impassive

debauch....................................................................................to corrupt; seduce from virtue

decant.......................................................................................pour off gently

declivity..................................................................................downward slope

demagogue................................................................................person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader

demotic.................................................................................pertaining to the people

demur....................................................................................to object (because of doubts, scruples); hesitate

denigrate.................................................................................blacken

denizen.....................................................................................inhabitant or resident; regular visitor

descry.....................................................................................catch sight of

despoil....................................................................................plunder

despot......................................................................................tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler

desultory...................................................................................aimless; haphazard; digressing at random

detraction.................................................................................slandering; aspersion

devious..................................................................................roundabout; erratic; not straightforward

devolve.................................................................................deputize; pass to others

diadem......................................................................................crown

dialectical................................................................................relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal

diaphanous..................................................................................sheer; transparent

dictum....................................................................................authoritative and weighty statement; saying; maxim

didactic....................................................................................teaching; instructional

diffidence..................................................................................shyness

diffuse.......................................................................................wordy; rambling; spread out (like a gas)

dilatory....................................................................................delaying

dilettante.................................................................................aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler

dint........................................................................................means; effort

diorama....................................................................................life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history

disabuse...................................................................................correct a false impression; undeceive

disaffected..................................................................................disloyal

disapprobation.................................................................................disapproval; condemnation

disclaim......................................................................................disown; renounce claim to

discomfit..................................................................................put to rout; defeat; disconcert

disconsolate...............................................................................sad

discursive..................................................................................digressing; rambling

disenfranchise..............................................................................deprive of a civil right

disengage....................................................................................uncouple; separate; disconnect

disgorge.......................................................................................surrender something; eject; vomit

disingenuous................................................................................not naive; sophisticated

disinter...................................................................................dig up; unearth

disinterested...............................................................................unprejudiced

disjunction................................................................................act or state of separation; disunity

disport......................................................................................amuse

disputatious...............................................................................argumentative; fond of arguing

disquietude...................................................................................uneasiness; anxiety

disquisition...............................................................................a formal, systematic inquiry; an explanation of the results of a formal inquiry

dissemble.....................................................................................disguise; pretend

dissimulate...................................................................................pretend; conceal by feigning

dissolution.................................................................................disintegration; looseness in morals

distrait....................................................................................absentminded

diurnal......................................................................................daily

divest........................................................................................strip; deprive

doctrinaire.....................................................................................unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding

doddering................................................................................shaky; infirm from old age

doff......................................................................................................take off

doggerel....................................................................................poor verse

dotage.........................................................................................senility

dote.......................................................................................be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline

dowdy........................................................................................slovenly; untidy

draconian......................................................................................extremely severe

dross......................................................................................waste matter; worthless impurities

ductile...................................................................................malleable; flexible; pliable

dulcet......................................................................................sweet sounding

duress......................................................................................forcible restraint, especially unlawfully

dyspeptic..................................................................................suffering from indigestion

E

earthy........................................................................................unrefined; coarse

ecclesiastic...............................................................................pertaining to the church

eclectic...................................................................................selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources

effervescence............................................................................inner excitement or exuberance; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation

effete......................................................................................worn out; exhausted; barren

effluvium......................................................................................noxious smell

effrontery...................................................................................shameless boldness

effusion...................................................................................pouring forth

egress.....................................................................................exit

ejaculation..................................................................................exclamation

elegy.........................................................................................poem or song expressing lamentation

elliptical................................................................................oval; ambiguous, either purposely or because key words have been left out

elucidate.....................................................................................explain; enlighten

elysian.....................................................................................relating to paradise; blissful

emend...........................................................................................correct, usually a text

emetic......................................................................................substance causing vomiting

emolument....................................................................................salary; compensation

encipher......................................................................................encode; convert a message into code

encomiastic................................................................................praising; eulogistic

encomium....................................................................................high praise; eulogy

endue......................................................................................provide with some quality; endow

enfranchise..................................................................................admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote)

enjoin......................................................................................command; order; forbid

ensconce.....................................................................................settle comfortably

entreat........................................................................................plead; ask earnestly

ephemeral.....................................................................................short-lived; fleeting

epicure.....................................................................................connoiseur of food and drink

epigram........................................................................................witty thought or saying; usually short

episodic...................................................................................loosely connected

epistemologist...............................................................................philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge

equable.........................................................................................tranquil; steady; uniform

equanimity....................................................................................calmness of temperament; composure

equipoise....................................................................................balance; balancing force; equilibrium

equity.........................................................................................fairness; justice

equivocal.....................................................................................ambiguous; intentionally misleading

equivocate..................................................................................lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth

esoteric...................................................................................hard to understand; known only to the chosen few

ethnology....................................................................................study of humankind

eugenic......................................................................................pertaining to the improvement of race

eulogistic.................................................................................praising

euphony.....................................................................................sweet sound

evanescent.................................................................................fleeting; vanishing

evince........................................................................................show clearly

evenhanded.....................................................................................impartial; fair

exceptionable..............................................................................objectionable

exchequer....................................................................................treasury

excoriate....................................................................................scold with biting harshness; strip the skin off

exculpate....................................................................................clear from blame

execrable......................................................................................very bad

execrate......................................................................................curse; express abhorrence for

exegesis....................................................................................explanation, especially of biblical passages

exhort........................................................................................urge

exigency.....................................................................................urgent situation

exiguous........................................................................................small; minute

existential....................................................................................pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism

expatiate......................................................................................talk at length

expiate...................................................................................make amends for (a sin)

explicate.................................................................................explain; interpret; clarify

expository................................................................................explanatory; serving to explain

expostulation.............................................................................protest; remonstrance

expropriate..................................................................................take possession of

extirpate......................................................................................root up

extrinsic...................................................................................external; not essential; extraneous

extrude........................................................................................force or push out

exult.........................................................................................rejoice

F

factious...................................................................................inclined to form factions; causing dissension

factitious...................................................................................artificial; sham

factotum.....................................................................................handyman

fallow........................................................................................plowed but not sowed; uncultivated

fastidious..................................................................................difficult to please; squeamish

fatalism........................................................................belief that events are determined by forces beyone one's control

fatuous......................................................................................foolish, inane

febrile........................................................................................feverish

fecundity...................................................................................fertility; fruitfulness

feint.........................................................................................trick; shift; sham blow

felicitous.................................................................................apt; suitably expressed

felicity.....................................................................................happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.)

fell......................................................................................cruel; deadly

fervid......................................................................................ardent

fetid........................................................................................malodorous

fiat.........................................................................................command (noun)

filch.......................................................................................steal

filial......................................................................................pertaining to a son or daughter

filigree......................................................................................delicate; lacelike metalwork

firebrand....................................................................................hothead; troublemaker

flail..........................................................................................thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about

flout.......................................................................................reject; mock

foible.........................................................................................weakness; slight fault

ford........................................................................................place where a river can be crossed on foot

forensic...................................................................................suitable to debate or courts of law

forswear.....................................................................................renounce; abandon

franchise...................................................................................right granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory

fresco.....................................................................................painting on plaster (usually fresh)

frieze........................................................................................ornamental band on a wall

frond........................................................................................fern leaf; palm or banana leaf

fructify......................................................................................bear fruit

fugitive......................................................................................fleeting or transitory; roving

fulminate......................................................................................thunder; explode

fulsome........................................................................................disgustingly excessive

fusillade....................................................................................simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)

G

gadfly......................................................................................animal-biting fly; an irritating person

gainsay.......................................................................................deny

gall.........................................................................................bitterness; nerve

gall..........................................................................................annoy; chafe

galleon......................................................................................large sailing ship

gambit.......................................................................................opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed

gambol..........................................................................................romp; skip about; leap playfully

gamely........................................................................................in a spirited manner; with courage

garrulous.....................................................................................loquacious; wordy; talkative

gastronomy...................................................................................science of preparing and serving good food

gentry........................................................................................people of standing; class of people just below nobility

genuflect...................................................................................bend the knee as in worship

germinal.........................................................................................pertaining to a germ; creative

glutinous.................................................................................sticky; viscous

gourmand..................................................................................epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink

grandiloquent.............................................................................pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language

grotto.......................................................................................small cavern

grouse......................................................................................complain; fuss

guile...................................................................................deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning

guileless....................................................................................without deceit

gull...........................................................................................trick; hoodwink

guy..................................................................................cable or chain attached to something that needs to be braced or steadied

H

hale....................................................................................healthy

hap.......................................................................................chance; luck

harry.....................................................................................harass, annoy, torment; raid

hermetic................................................................................obscure and mysterious; occult

herpetologist...........................................................................one who studies reptiles

heterodox....................................................................................unorthodox; unconventional

hew.......................................................................................cut to pieces with axor sword

hibernal..................................................................................wintry

hinterlands.............................................................................back country

hireling..................................................................................one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously)

histrionic................................................................................theatrical

homily......................................................................................sermon; serious warning

hortatory..................................................................................encouraging; exhortive

hubris....................................................................................arrogance; excessive self-conceit

hummock...................................................................................small hill

husband.....................................................................................use sparingly; conserve; save

husbandry................................................................................frugality; thrift; agriculture

I

ichthyology.............................................................................study of fish

iconoclastic.............................................................................attacking cherished traditions

ignominy...............................................................................deep disgrace; shame or dishonor

immolate..................................................................................offer as a sacrifice

immure.....................................................................................imprison; shut up in confinement

impecunious...............................................................................without money

imperious.................................................................................domineering; haughty

impertinent..............................................................................insolent; rude

impetuous................................................................................violent; hasty; rash

impolitic..............................................................................not wise

imponderable.......................................................................................weightless

importunate...............................................................................urging; demanding

importune................................................................................beg persistently

imposture..................................................................................assuming a false identity; masquerade

imprecation...................................................................................curse

improvident...............................................................................thriftless

impute...................................................................................attribute; ascribe

incendiary........................................................................................arsonist

inchoate.................................................................................recently begun; rudimentary; elementary

incipient..............................................................................beginning; in an early stage

incommodious............................................................................not spacious; inconvenient

incontinent.............................................................................lacking self-restraint; licentious

incontrovertible.........................................................................indisputable; not open to question

incorporeal..............................................................................lacking a material body; insubstantial

incrustation............................................................................hard coating or crust

incubus..................................................................................burden; mental care; nightmare

inculcate...................................................................................teach

incursion.....................................................................................temporary invasion

indefatigable..................................................................................tireless

indemnify....................................................................................make secure against loss; compensate for loss

indite......................................................................................write; compose

indolent....................................................................................lazy

inductive.....................................................................................proceeding from specific to general

ineffable......................................................................................unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech

ineluctable..................................................................................irresistible; not to be escaped

inerrancy.................................................................................infallibility

inexorable..................................................................................relentless; unyielding; implacable

infernal.....................................................................................pertaining to hell; devilish

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

ingrate....................................................................................ungrateful person

inimical..................................................................................unfriendly; hostile; harmful; detrimental

insalubrious..............................................................................unwholesome; not healthful

insensate.................................................................................without feeling

insensible..............................................................................unconscious; unresponsive

insipid...................................................................................lacking in flavor; dull

insouciant..................................................................................indifferent; without concern or care

insuperable...................................................................................insurmountable; unbeatable

interdict.....................................................................................................prohibit; forbid

internecine................................................................................mutually destructive

interregnum..................................................................................period between two reigns

intractable................................................................................unruly; stubborn; unyielding

intransigence.................................................................................refusal of any compromise; stubbornness

inured......................................................................................accustomed; hardened

invective..................................................................................abuse

inveigh.........................................................................................denounce; utter censure or invective

inveigle...................................................................................lead astray; wheedle

invidious..................................................................................designed to create ill will or envy

irascible...................................................................................irritable; easily angered

irreproachable..................................................................................blameless; impeccable

irresolute....................................................................................uncertain how to act; weak

itinerant.....................................................................................wandering; traveling

J

jaundiced....................................................................................prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful)

jaunty......................................................................................lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree

jingoist..................................................................................extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist

jocose.....................................................................................given to joking

jocund............................................................................................merry

juggernaut...............................................................................................irrestistable crushing force

junta.........................................................................................group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal

K

ken..............................................................................................range of knowledge

knave...........................................................................................untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel

knell..........................................................................................tolling of bell, especially to indicate a funeral

L

labile.........................................................................................likely to change; unstable

lachrymose.....................................................................................producing tears

laconic.........................................................................................brief and to the point

laity............................................................................................laypersons; persons not connected with the clergy

lambaste.....................................................................................beat; thrash verbally or physically

lancet...........................................................................................small surgical tool for making incisions

languor.......................................................................................lassitude; depression

largess.........................................................................................generous gift

lassitude.........................................................................................languor; weariness

leaven.....................................................................................cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven

legerdemain..................................................................................sleight of hand

leonine.......................................................................................like a lion

libertine..................................................................................debauched person; roue'

libretto.....................................................................................text of an opera

ligneous.....................................................................................like wood

limn........................................................................................draw; outline; describe

limpid....................................................................................clear

lineaments..................................................................................features; especially of the face

lionize...................................................................................treat as a celebrity

litany.....................................................................................supplicatory prayer

litotes......................................................................................understatement for emphasis

lode..............................................................................................metal-bearing vein

loll..........................................................................................lounge about

loquatious....................................................................................talkative

lout......................................................................................clumsy person

lucre.......................................................................................money

lugubrious....................................................................................mournful

M

macerate.....................................................................................soften by soaking in liquid; waste away

Machiavellian..............................................................................crafty; double-dealing

machinations................................................................................evil schemes or plots

maculated.....................................................................................spotted; stained

madrigal....................................................................................pastoral song

magisterial...................................................................................authoritative; imperious

magnanimity..................................................................................generosity

magniloquent.................................................................................boastful, pompous

maladroit.....................................................................................clumsy; bungling

malapropism..................................................................................comic misuse of a word

malediction.................................................................................curse

malefactor...................................................................................evildoer; criminal

malfeasance...................................................................................wrongdoing

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

manacle........................................................................................restrain; handcuff

manumit........................................................................................emancipate; free from bondage

marshal.......................................................................................put in order

martinet.....................................................................................disciplinarian; formalist

matrix...........................................................................................point of origin; array; mold or die

mauve.......................................................................................pale purple

mawkish.....................................................................................mushy and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; maudlin

maxim......................................................................................proverb; a truth pithily stated

mayhem...................................................................................injury to body

mealymouthed................................................................................indirect in speech; hypocritical

megalomania......................................................................................mania for doing grandiose things

mellifluous...................................................................................sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious

menagerie......................................................................................collection of wild animals

mendacious.................................................................................lying; habitually dishonest

mendicant...................................................................................beggar

meretricious............................................................................flashy; tawdry

metallurgy..............................................................................the art of removing metals from ores

metaphysical..............................................................................pertaining to speculative philosophy

mettle..........................................................................................courage; spirit

miasma.......................................................................................swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere

milieu.........................................................................................environment; means of expression

militate...................................................................................................work against

minatory..........................................................................................menacing; threatening

mincing......................................................................................affectedly dainty

misapprehension...............................................................................error; misunderstanding

miscreant....................................................................................wretch; villain

misogamy.....................................................................................hatred of marriage

mite......................................................................................very small object or creature; small coin

mollycoddle.......................................................................................pamper; indulge excessively

monastic..............................................................................related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns

monolithic............................................................................solidly uniform; unyielding

moratorium.........................................................................legal delay of payment

mordant.................................................................................biting; sarcastic; stinging

moribund...................................................................................dying

mountebank.................................................................................charlatan; boastful pretender

mulct........................................................................................defraud a person of something

multifarious..............................................................................varied; greatly diversified

munificent..................................................................................very generous

N

nadir.........................................................................................lowest point

natation........................................................................................swimming

natty...........................................................................................neatly or smartly dressed

necromancy................................................................................black magic; dealings with the dead

nefarious.....................................................................................very wicked

neologism...................................................................................newly coined expression

neophyte......................................................................................recent convert; beginner

nettle.........................................................................................annoy; vex

nexus.........................................................................................connection

nicety...........................................................................................precision; minute distinction

niggardly............................................................................................meanly stingy; parsimonious

niggle.....................................................................................spend too much time on minor points; carp

nihilist...................................................................................one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist.

(nihil is Latin for nothing)

noisome.....................................................................................foul-smelling; unwholesome

nonplus.....................................................................................bring to halt by confusion; perplex

nostrum...................................................................................questionable medicine

nubile......................................................................................marriageable

nugatory.....................................................................................futile; worthless

numismatist................................................................................coin collector

O

obdurate.....................................................................................stubborn

obeisance......................................................................................a bow

obfuscate...................................................................................consuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex

oblique.....................................................................................indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line).

obloquy......................................................................................slander; disgrace; infamy

obsequious...................................................................................slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic

obsequy.......................................................................................funeral ceremony

obsidian...................................................................................black volcanic rock

obstreperous..................................................................................boisterous; noisy

obtrude.....................................................................................push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; butt in; stick out or extrude

obviate.......................................................................................make unnecessary; get rid of

occlude........................................................................................shut; close

oculist.......................................................................................eye physician

odious.......................................................................................hateful; vile

odium.........................................................................................detestation; hatefulness; disrepute

officious.....................................................................................meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services

onerous...........................................................................................burdensome

opalescent......................................................................................iridescent; lustrous

opprobrium.....................................................................................infamy; vilification

oracular............................................................................................prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous

ordination......................................................................................ceremony conferring holy orders

osseous...........................................................................................made of bone; bony

ossify..............................................................................................change or harden into bone

overweening.....................................................................................presumptuous; arrogant

ovoid................................................................................................egg-shaped

P

pachyderm.........................................................................................thick-skinned animal

paean........................................................................................song of praise or joy

paleontology.......................................................................................study of prehistoric life

palimpsest.........................................................................................parchment used for second time after original writing has been erased

pall.........................................................................................grow tiresome

palliate.......................................................................................ease pain; make less severe or offensive

pallid........................................................................................pale; wan

panegyric........................................................................................formal praise

paradigm........................................................................................model; example; pattern

parity......................................................................................equality; close resemblance

parley.........................................................................................conference

parochial..................................................................................narrow in outlook; provincial; related to parishes

paroxysm.......................................................................................fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage

parquet........................................................................................floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic-like pattern

parry........................................................................................ward of a blow; deflect

parsimony.........................................................................................stinginess; excessive frugality

pastiche....................................................................................imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing

patent.....................................................................................open for the public to read; obvious

pathos.....................................................................................tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings

patina..................................................................................green crust on old bronze works; tone slowly taken by varnished painting

patois.....................................................................................local or provincial dialect

patrician..................................................................................noble; aristocratic

peccadillo.....................................................................................slight offense

penultimate................................................................................next to the last

philatelist...............................................................................stamp collector

philistine..................................................................................narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain

philology..................................................................................study of language

phlegmatic..................................................................................calm; not easily disturbed

physiognomy....................................................................................face

piebald.....................................................................................of different colors; mottled; spotted

pied........................................................................................variegated; multicolored

pillory........................................................................................punish by placing in a wooden frame; subject to criticism and ridicule

pinion......................................................................................to restrain

piquant.....................................................................................pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating

piscatorial...............................................................................pertaining to fishing

pith.......................................................................................core or marrow; essence; substance

pithy.....................................................................................concise; meaningful; substantial; mealy

plenary...................................................................................complete; full

plenitude...................................................................................abundance; completeness

plumb........................................................................................examine critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding)

plumb.......................................................................................vertical

plutocracy..................................................................................society ruled by the wealthy

polemic.....................................................................................controversy; argument in support of point of view

polemical....................................................................................aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious

politic.......................................................................................expedient; prudent; well devised

polity.........................................................................................form of government of nation or state

polyglot......................................................................................speaking many languages

ponderous....................................................................................weighty; unwieldy

pontifical........................................................................................pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious

portent........................................................................................sign; open; forewarning

potentate....................................................................................monarch; sovereign

poultice................................................................................soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body

prate........................................................................................speak foolishly; boast idly

precept..................................................................................practical rule guiding conduct

precipitant.................................................................................something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form

precipitate................................................................................rash; premature; hasty; sudden

precipitate..................................................................................throw headlong; hasten

precipitious...................................................................................steep; overhasty

predilection...............................................................................partiality; preference

preen......................................................................................make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction

prefatory.....................................................................................introductory

prehensile................................................................................capable of grasping or holding

premonitory.................................................................................serving to warn

preponderance................................................................................superiority of power, quantity, etc.

presage........................................................................................foretell

prescience....................................................................................ability to foretell the future

presentiment.................................................................................feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear; premonition

privation..................................................................................hardship; want

probity......................................................................................uprightness; incorruptibility

prodigal...................................................................................wasteful; reckless with money

prodigious.....................................................................................marvelous; enormous

profligate...................................................................................dissipated; wasteful; wildly immoral

progenitor......................................................................................ancestor

prognosticate.................................................................................predict

prolixity.......................................................................................tedious wordiness; verbosity

promontory....................................................................................headland

promulgate......................................................................................................proclaim a doctrine orlaw; make known by official publication

propinquity...................................................................................nearness; kinship

propitiate....................................................................................appease

propitious...................................................................................favorable; fortunate; advantageous

propound.....................................................................................put forth for analysis

prosaic......................................................................................dull and imaginative; matter-of-fact; factual

proscenium....................................................................................part of stage in front of curtain

proscribe......................................................................................ostracize; banish; outlaw

proselytize....................................................................................induce someone to convert to a religion or belief

prosody.........................................................................................the art of versification

protean........................................................................................versatile; able to take on many forms

provenance.....................................................................................origin or source of something

provender.....................................................................................dry food; fodder

provident......................................................................................displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies

proviso........................................................................................stipulation

prurient.......................................................................................having or causing lustful thoughts of desires

puerile.........................................................................................childish

pugilist........................................................................................boxer

pulchritude......................................................................................beauty; comeliness

punctilious......................................................................................stressing niceties of conduct or form; minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points

purgatory..........................................................................................place of spiritual expiation

purport..........................................................................................intention; meaning

pusillanimous....................................................................................cowardly; fainthearted

putative........................................................................................supposed; reputed

Q

quaff...........................................................................................drink with relish

quail..........................................................................................cower; lose heart

quarry.........................................................................................victim; object of a hunt

quarry...........................................................................................dig into

quay............................................................................................dock; landing place

querulous...........................................................................................fretful; whining

quiescent........................................................................................at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive

quietude.........................................................................................tranquility

quintessence.......................................................................................purest and highest embodiment

quisling..........................................................................................traitor who aids invaders

quotidian........................................................................................daily; commonplace; customary

R

rakish.............................................................................................stylish; sporty

ramshackle........................................................................................rickety; falling apart

rancor...........................................................................................bitterness; hatred

rankle.............................................................................................irritate; fester

rapacious.........................................................................................excessively grasping; plundering

rarefied..........................................................................................made less dense [of a gas]

ratiotination.....................................................................................reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises

ravel.............................................................................................fall apart into tangles; unravel or untwist; entangle

rebus.............................................................................................puzzle in which pictures stand for words

recalcitrant......................................................................................obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly

recondite.........................................................................................abstruse; profound; secret

recumbent.........................................................................................reclining; lying down completely or in part

redolent..........................................................................................fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor

redoubtable.......................................................................................formidable; causing fear

refectory.........................................................................................dining hall

refractory........................................................................................stubborn; unmanageable

refulgent.........................................................................................brightly shining; gleaming

rejoinder.........................................................................................retort; comeback; reply

remonstrance......................................................................................protest; objection

remunerative......................................................................................compensating; rewarding

renege............................................................................................deny; go back on

repartee..........................................................................................clever reply

repast............................................................................................meal; feast; banquet

repine............................................................................................fret; complain

reprobate.........................................................................................person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency

reprobation.......................................................................................severe disapproval

reprove...........................................................................................censure; rebuke

repudiate.........................................................................................disown; disavow

requite...........................................................................................repay; revenge

restive...........................................................................................restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control

retinue...........................................................................................following; attendants

retrograde........................................................................................go backwards; degenerate

ribald............................................................................................wanton; profane

rococo............................................................................................ornate; highly decorated

ruffian...........................................................................................bully; scoundrel

runic.............................................................................................mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet

rusticate..........................................................................................banish to the country; dwell in the country

S

sacrosanct........................................................................................most sacred; inviolable

sagacious.........................................................................................perceptive; shrewd; having insight

salacious............................................................................................lascivious; lustful

salient.........................................................................................prominent

salubrious........................................................................................healthful

salutary........................................................................................tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome

sanguinary.......................................................................................bloody

sanguine............................................................................................cheerful; hopeful

sardonic............................................................................................disdainful; sarcastic; cynical

sartorial..........................................................................................pertaining to tailors

saturnine......................................................................................gloomy

scotch...........................................................................................stamp out; thwart; hinder

scruple...........................................................................................fret about; hesitate for ethical reasons

scurrilous........................................................................................obscene; indecent

scurvy............................................................................................despicable; contemptible

secrete...........................................................................................hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism

sedition.........................................................................................resistance to authority; insubordination

sedulous........................................................................................diligent

seine.................................................................................................net for catching fish

seminal............................................................................................germinal; influencing future developments

sententious........................................................................................terse; concise; aphoristic

septic............................................................................................putrid; producing putrifaction

sepulcher..........................................................................................tomb

sere...............................................................................................parched; dry

serendipity.........................................................................gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck

sheaf...........................................................................................bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together

shyster........................................................................................lawyer using questionable methods

sibylline......................................................................................prophetic; oracular

sidereal........................................................................................relating to the stars

simper..............................................................................................smirk; smile affectedly

sinecure............................................................................................well-paid position with little reponsibility

sinuous.............................................................................................winding; bending in and out; not morally honest

skinflint........................................................................................stingy person; miser

skittish.........................................................................................lively; frisky

skulduggery.......................................................................................dishonest behavior

slake............................................................................................quench; sate

slapdash..........................................................................................haphazard; careless; sloppy

sleazy.........................................................................................flimsy; unsubstantial

sleight.......................................................................................dexterity

sluice............................................................................................artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water

smattering.......................................................................................slight knowledge

sojourn.........................................................................................temporary stay

solecism..........................................................................................construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically

solicitous.........................................................................................worried; concerned

soluble.........................................................................................able to be dissolved; able to be worked out

somnambulist......................................................................................sleepwalker

somnolent...............................................................................................half asleep

sonorous............................................................................................resonant

sophist........................................................................................teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning

sophistry..............................................................................................seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning

spate......................................................................................................sudden flood

specious...................................................................................................seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)

spectral..........................................................................................ghostly

spendthrift.......................................................................................someone who wastes money

sphinx-like.......................................................................................enigmatic; mysterious

sportive..........................................................................................playful

spruce............................................................................................neat and trim

stalwart..........................................................................................strong; brawny; steadfast

stanch............................................................................................check flow of blood

stentorian........................................................................................extremely loud

stilted...........................................................................................bombastic; stiffly pompous

stint.............................................................................................be thrifty; set limits

stint.............................................................................................supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work

stipple...........................................................................................paint or draw with dots

stoke.............................................................................................stir up a fire; feed plentifully

stolid............................................................................................dull; impassive

stricture.........................................................................................critical comments; severe and adverse criticism

stygian...........................................................................................gloomy; hellish; deathly

subaltern.........................................................................................subordinate

subliminal........................................................................................below the threshold

suborn............................................................................................persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury)

subsume...........................................................................................include; encompass

succor............................................................................................aid; assist; comfort

suffuse...........................................................................................to spread over

sunder............................................................................................separate; part

sundry............................................................................................various; several

superannuated.....................................................................................retired or disqualified because of age

supercilious......................................................................................arrogant; condescending; patronizing

supererogatory....................................................................................superfluous; more than needed or demanded

supernumerary.....................................................................................person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extra

supersede.........................................................................................cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete

suppliant.........................................................................................entreating; beseeching

supposititious....................................................................................assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical

surfeit...........................................................................................satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything

swathe............................................................................................wrap around; bandage

swelter...........................................................................................be oppressed by heat

swill.............................................................................................drink greedily

sybarite..........................................................................................lover of luxury

sycophant.........................................................................................servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man

syllogism.........................................................................................logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument

sylvan............................................................................................pertaining to the woods; rustic

synoptic..........................................................................................providing a general overview; summary

T

talisman...........................................................................................charm

taper..............................................................................................candle

tautological.......................................................................................needlessly repetitious

temerity...........................................................................................boldness; rashness

temporal...........................................................................................not lasting forever; limited by time; secular

temporize..........................................................................................avoiding committing oneself; gain time

tendentious........................................................................................having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause

tensile............................................................................................capable of being stretched

tesselated.........................................................................................inlaid; mosaic

testator...........................................................................................maker of a will

thrall.............................................................................................slave; bondage

timorous...........................................................................................fearful; demonstrating fear

titular............................................................................................having the title of an office without hte obligations

toady..............................................................................................servile flatterer; yes man

tonsure............................................................................................shaving of the head; especially by person entering religious orders

torpor.............................................................................................lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy

torrid.............................................................................................passionate; hot or scorching

touchstone.........................................................................................stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion

tractable..........................................................................................docile; easily managed

traduce............................................................................................expose to slander

travesty...........................................................................................comical parody; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous

trenchant..........................................................................................cutting; keen

trident............................................................................................three-pronged spear

troth..............................................................................................pledge of good faith especially in betrothal

truculence.........................................................................................aggressiveness; ferocity

turbid.............................................................................................muddy; having the sediment disturbed

turgid.............................................................................................swollen; distended

tutelary...........................................................................................protective; pertaining to a guardianship

tyro...............................................................................................beginner; novice

U

unbridled......................................................................................violent

unction........................................................................................the act of anointing with oil

unctuous.........................................................................................oily; bland; insincerely suave

unexceptionable.................................................................................not offering any basis for criticism; entirely acceptable

unfledged......................................................................................immature

unguent.........................................................................................ointment

unilateral.........................................................................................one-sided

unprepossessing..................................................................................unattractive

untoward............................................................................................unfortunate or unlucky; adverse; unexpected

unwonted............................................................................................unaccustomed

upbraid..........................................................................................severely scold; reprimand

urbane............................................................................................suave; refined; elegant

ursine...........................................................................................bearlike; pertaining to a bear

uxorious.........................................................................................excessively devoted to one's wife

V

vagary.....................................................................................caprice; whim

vagrant.....................................................................................stray; random

vainglorious.................................................................................boastful; excessively conceited

valedictory.....................................................................................pertaining to farewell

vanguard.........................................................................................forefunners; advance forces

vapid.........................................................................................dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless

variegated...................................................................................many-colored

vassal.........................................................................................in feudalism; one who held land of a superior lord

vaunted.............................................................................................boasted; bragged; highly publicized

venal......................................................................................capable of being bribed

venerate.......................................................................................to revere

venial........................................................................................forgivable; trivial

verbiage........................................................................................pompous array of words

verdigris.....................................................................................green coating on copper

verisimilar.................................................................................very probable or likely; having the appearance of truth

verisimilitude................................................................................appearance of truth; likelihood

vernal....................................................................................pertaining to spring

viand.......................................................................................food

vicissitude..................................................................................change of fortune

vignette....................................................................................picture; short literary sketch

vintner.....................................................................................winemaker; seller of wine

viscid.....................................................................................adhesive; gluey

vitiate.....................................................................................spoil the effect of; make inoperative

vitreous..................................................................................pertaining to or resembling glass

vituperative..............................................................................abusive; scolding

vixen.......................................................................................female fox; ill-tempered woman

voluble.....................................................................................fluent; glib; talkative

vouchsafe..............................................................................grant condescendingly; guarantee

W on

waggish..................................................................................mischievous; humorous; tricky

waif........................................................................................homeless child or animal

wangle.........................................................................................wiggle out; fake

wanton.......................................................................................unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste

warren........................................................................................tunnels in which rabbits live; crowded conditions where people live

wastrel.......................................................................................(noun) profligate (wasteful)

waylay.........................................................................................ambush; lie in wait

welter..........................................................................................turmoil; bewildering jumble

welter...............................................................................................wallow

whelp.........................................................................................young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.

whorl...................................................................................ring of leaves around a stem; ring

winnow......................................................................................wift; separate good parts from bad

wizened........................................................................................withered; shriveled

wont......................................................................................custom; habitual procedure

yeoman......................................................................................man owning small estate; middle-class farmer

zephyr......................................................................................gentle breeze; west wind