ACT Vocab – Page 3 of 3
iconoclast
(n.) one who smashes revered images; an attacker of cherished beliefs
Nietzche’s attacks on government, religion, and custom made him an
iconoclast of grand dimension.
The iconoclast spoke against the traditions of the holiday.
ideology
(n.) speculation; representative way of thinking
His ideology proved to be faulty.
The ideology of business can be found in the new book.
He joined the religious group because he agreed with their ideology.
idiosyncrasy
(n.) any personal peculiarity, mannerism
Her tendency to bite her lip is an idiosyncrasy. idyll (n.) a written piece of
work describing a peaceful rural scene Reading the idyll made me think of the
family farm.
igneous
(adj.) having the nature of fire; volcanic
When the sun shone upon it, the material took on an igneous quality.
ignoble
(adj.) ordinary; dishonorable;
The king was adamant about keeping his son from wedding an ignoble serf.
Consciously lying to someone is ignoble.
It was ignoble to disgrace the family in front of all of the townspeople.
ignominious
(adj.) contemptible; disgraced; degrading
The behavior was so ignominious he was ashamed to be associated with it.
She left him because of his ignominious treatment of her.
illuminate
(v.) make understandable
I asked a classmate to illuminate the professor’s far-ranging lecture for me.
illusive
(adj.) deceiving, misleading
It was as illusive as a mirage.
illusory
(adj.) unreal; false; deceptive
He was proven guilty when his alibi was found to be illusory.
imbue
(v.) to soak or stain; permeate
The wound will imbue the shirt in blood.
The new day imbued him with a sense of optimism.
immaculate
(adj.) perfectly clean; correct; pure
An immaculate house is free of dust or clutter.
imminent
(adj.) likely to happen without delay
The storm clouds warned of the imminent downpour. immune (adj.) exempt
from or protected against something Doesn’t everybody wish to be immune from the common cold?
immutable
(adj.) unchangeable; permanent
The ties that bind alumni to their university are immutable . The man’s
immutable schedule soon became boring. impale (v.) pierce through with, or stick on; something pointed The knight was impaled by the sharp lance.
impartial
(adj.) unbiased; fair
Exasperated by charges to the contrary, the judge reiterated that he had
bent over backwards to be impartial in a case that crackled with emotion. impasse (n.) a situation that has no solution or escape The workers and administration were at an impasse in their negotiations.
impassive
(adj.) showing no emotion
Even when his father died he gave an impassive response and walked out
tearless.
Her expected announcement was met by an impassive facial expression.
impecunious
(adj.) poor; having no money
The Great Depression made family after family impecunious.
impede
(v.) to stop the progress of; obstruct
The rain impeded the work on the building.
impenitent
(adj.) without regret, shame, or remorse
It was obvious after his impenitent remark to the press that the defendant
felt no remorse for his crime.
imperious
(adj.) arrogant; urgent
Her imperious manner cost her her two best friends.
It was imperious that the message reach the police chief.
imperturbable
(adj.) calm; not easily excited
The imperturbable West Point graduate made a fine negotiator. impervious
(adj.) impenetrable; not allowing anything to pass through; unaffected The vest
that the policeman wears is impervious to bullets. The child was impervious to the actions of the adult. impetuous (adj.) moving with great force; done with little thought The impetuous movement took the art community by storm. The impetuous teenager spent her money without considering what she needed the new purchase for.
Dagmar came to regret his impetuous actions, once he realized what he’d
done.
The pirate’s men boarded the ship with impetuous matter-of-factness.
impiety (n.) irreverence toward God; lack of respect The bishop condemned the impiety of the celebrity’s assertions. Impiety is evident in the way many people commit rude actions.
implacable
(adj.) unwilling to be pacified or appeased
The baby was so implacable a warm bottle would not settle her. The two
year old was an implacable child; he cried no matter what his parents did to comfort him. implement (v.; n.) to carry into effect; something used in a given activity In case of emergency implement the evacuation plan immediately. The rack is an implement of torture.
implication
(n.) suggestion; inference
An implication was made that there might be trickery involved. implicit (adj.)
understood but not plainly stated; without doubt The child’s anger was implicit.
Implicit trust must be earned.
impolitic
(adj.) unwise; imprudent
If you are planning to invest your money, impolitic decisions may be costly.
imprecate
(v.) to pray for evil; to invoke a curse
A witch may imprecate an enemy with a curse of bad luck.
impromptu
(adj.) without preparation
Her impromptu speech was well-received, giving her new confidence in her
ability to speak off the cuff.
improvident
(adj.) not providing for the future
An improvident person may end up destitute in latter life.
impudent
(adj.) disrespectful and shameless
Impudent actions caused him to be unpopular. impugn (v.) to attack with
words; to question the truthfulness or integrity The defense lawyer impugned the witness’s testimony, which set back the prosecution’s case.
If I believe the man is a fraud I will impugn his comments. imputation (n.) to
charge, to attribute a fault or misconduct to another The imputation of guilt was made by the judge.
inadvertent
(adj.) not on purpose; unintentional
It was an inadvertent error, to be sure, but nonetheless a mistake that
required correction. inanimate (adj.) to be dull or spiritless; not animated, not
endowed with life The boy nagged his father for a real puppy, not some inanimate stuffed animal.
inarticulate
(adj.) speechless; unable to speak clearly
He was so inarticulate that he had trouble making himself understood.
inaudible
(adj.) not able to be heard
The signals were inaudible when the fans began to cheer.
incessant
(adj.) constant and unending
The mother gave in to the child after her incessant crying.
Incessant rain caused the river to flood over its banks.
inchoate
(adj.) not yet fully formed; rudimentary
The inchoate building appeared as if it would be a fast-food restaurant.
The outline of the thesis was the inchoate form of a very complex theory.
incidental
(adj.) extraneous; unexpected
The defense lawyer argued that the whereabouts of the defendant’s
sneakers were only incidental to the commission of the crime. incisive (adj.) getting to the heart of things; to the point His incisive questioning helped settle the matter quickly.
inclined
(adj.) apt to; likely; angled
The man’s ear for music indicated he was inclined toward learning an
instrument.
The hillside was inclined just enough to make for a fairly serious climb.
incognito
(adj.) unidentified; disguised; concealed
The federal Witness Protection Program makes its charges permanently
incognito.
incoherent
(adj.) illogical; rambling; disjointed
Following the accident, the woman went into shock and became incoherent
as medics struggled to understand her.
incommodious
(adj.) inconvenient
The incommodious illness caused her to miss an important interview.
incompatible (adj.) disagreeing; disharmonious not compatible Being incompatible with each other, children were assigned to sit on opposite sides of the room.
incompetence
(n.) failing to meet necessary requirements
The alleged incompetence of the construction crew would later become the
subject of a class-action suit.
inconclusive
(adj.) not final or of a definite result
The results being inconclusive, the doctors continued to look for a cause of
the illness.
incorporeal
(adj.) not consisting of matter
The apparition appeared to be incorporeal.
incorrigible
(adj.) not capable of correction or improvement The mischievous boy was an
incorrigible practical joker.
incredulous
(adj.) skeptical
The incredulous look on his face led me to believe he was not convinced of
its
importance.
The reporter was incredulous on hearing the computer executive’s UFO
account. inculcate (v.) to impress upon the mind, as by insistent urging I will inculcate the directions if people are unsure of them. incursion (n.) an entry into, especially when not desired The incursion by enemy forces left the country shocked.
indecipherable
(adj.) illegible
The scribbling on the paper is indecipherable. indelible (adj.) that which
cannot be blotted out or erased The photograph of Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon made an indelible impression on all who saw it. indemnify (v.) to insure against or pay for loss or damage It is important to indemnify your valuables with a reliable insurance company.
indict
(v.) charge with a crime
The grand jury indicted her and her husband for embezzlement and six
other lesser counts.
indifferent
(adj.) unconcerned
There he lay, indifferent to all the excitement around him.
indigence
(n.) the condition of being poor
The family’s indigence was evident by the run-down house they lived in.
indigenous
(adj.) native to a region; inborn or innate
These plants are indigenous to all of the western states.
Piranha are indigenous to the tropics.
indignant
(adj.) expressing anger to an injustice
He was indignant over the way he was treated.
indolent
(adj.) lazy; inactive
If we find him goofing off one more time, we won’t be able to escape the fact
that he’s indolent.
An indolent student slept all day.
indomitable
(adj.) not easily discouraged or defeated
The underdog candidate had an indomitable spirit.
indubitably
(adj.) unquestionably; surely
The officer was best indubitably the candidate for captain.
indulgent
(adj.) lenient; patient; permissive
He has indulgent tendencies to eat chocolate when he is happy.
ineluctable
(adj.) something inevitable
They were prepared for the ineluctable disaster.
inept
(adj.) incompetent; clumsy
She would rather update the budget book herself, since her assistant is so
inept.
inert
(adj.) not reacting chemically; inactive
Inert gases like krypton and argon can enhance window insulation.
inevitable
(adj.) sure to happen; unavoidable
A confrontation between the disagreeing neighbors seemed inevitable.
infamous
(adj.) having a bad reputation; notorious
After producing machines that developed many problems, the production
company became infamous for poor manufacturing. The infamous gang was known for robbery.
infamy
(n.) a bad reputation
The town had only 98 residents, so all it took was one bad apple to bring
infamy on the whole place.
infer
(v.) form an opinion; conclude
From the broad outline he supplied it was easy to infer that the applicant
knew a great deal about trains.
ingenious
(adj.) clever, resourceful
His ingenious idea made it possible to double production at no extra cost.
ingenue
(n.) an unworldly young woman
As an ingenue, Corky had no experience outside of her small town.
ingenuous (adj.) noble; honorable; candid; also naive, simple, artless, without guile The ingenuous doctor had a great bedside manner, especially when it came to laying out the full implications of an illness.
ingratiate
(v.) to bring into one’s good graces
The man was hoping to ingratiate himself with his wife by buying a bouquet
of flowers and candy.
ingratitude
(n.) ungratefulness
When she failed to send a thank-you card, her friend took it as a sign of
ingratitude . inherent (adj.) part of the essential character; intrinsic A constant smile is inherent in pageant competitors. The inherent desire to do well is present throughout the family.
inimical
(adj.) hostile, unfriendly
The chess player directed an inimical stare at his opponent to knock him off
his game.
iniquitous
(adj.) wicked; unjust
The verbal abuse towards the man was truly iniquitous. initiate (v.; n.)
begin; admit into a group; a person who is in the process of being admitted into a group He initiated the dinner discussion by asking his father to borrow the car. As an initiate to the Explorers, George was expected to have a taste for the outdoor life.
innate
(adj.) natural; inborn
Her talent is wondrous: it hardly matters whether it’s innate or acquired.
A lion’s hunting skills are innate.
innocuous
(adj.) harmless; dull; innocent
The remark was rude but innocuous.
He couldn’t bear to sit through another innocuous lecture. The teens
engaged in an innocuous game of touch football. innovate (v.) introduce a change; depart from the old She innovated a new product for the home construction market.
innuendo
(n.) an indirect remark; insinuation
The student made an innuendo referring to the professor. The office was
rife with innuendo that a takeover was in the works. inquisitive (adj.) eager to ask questions in order to learn An inquisitive youngster is likely to become a wise adult.
insinuate
(v.) to work into gradually and indirectly
He will insinuate his need for a vacation by saying how tired he has been
lately.
insipid
(adj.) uninteresting, boring flat, dull
Many people left the insipid movie before it was finished. Declaring the
offerings insipid, the critic grudgingly awarded the restaurant one star.
insolvent
(adj.) unable to pay debts
The insolvent state of his bank account kept him from writing any checks.
instigate
(v.) start; provoke
It was uncertain to the police as to which party instigated the riot.
insubordinate
(adj.) disobedient to authority
The boy’s insubordinate behavior was a constant source of tension
between the school and his parents. insular (adj.) having the characteristics of an island; narrow-minded, provincial After walking along the entire perimeter and seeing that the spit of land was actually insular, we realized it was time to build a boat. His insular approach to education makes him a pariah among liberals.
insularity
(n.) having the characteristics of an island
The insularity of the country made it a great place to build a resort.
intangible (adj.) incapable of being touched; immaterial Intangible though it may be, sometimes just knowing that the work you do helps others is reward enough.
intercede
(v.) to plead on behalf of another; mediate
The superpowers were called on to intercede in the talks between the two
warring nations.
intermittent
(adj.) periodic; occasional
Luckily, the snow was only intermittent, so the accumulation was slight. The
intermittent blinking light was distracting. intractable (adj.) stubborn, obstinate; not easily taught or disciplined Every teacher in the school became frustrated with the intractable student and sent him to the principal’s office. An intractable pet can be very frustrating..
intransigent
(adj.) uncompromising
With intransigent values, no amount of arguing could change her mind.
The baseball owners and players remained intransigent, so a deal was never struck.
intrepid
(adj.) fearless, bold
The intrepid photographer flew on some of the fiercest bombing raids of the
war.
Her intrepid actions deserved a medal. inundate (v.) to flood; to overwhelm
with a large amount of The broken water main inundated the business district with water. Surfing the Internet can inundate you with information: That’s why a web browser comes in handy.
inured
(adj.) accustomed to pain
Beekeepers eventually become inured to bee stings. inveterate (adj.) a
practice settled on over a long period of time The inveterate induction ceremony bespoke one of the school’s great traditions.
invoke
(v.) ask for; call upon
The parishioners invoked divine help for their troubles.
iota
(n.) a very small piece
There wasn’t one iota of evidence to suggest a conspiracy.
irascible
(adj.) prone to anger
The irascible teenager was known to cause fights when upset. Knowing
that the king was irascible, the servants decided not to tell him about the broken crystal.
ironic
(adj.) contradictory, inconsistent; sarcastic
Is it not ironic that Americans will toss out leftover French fries while people
around the globe continue to starve?
irrational
(adj.) not logical
It would be irrational to climb Mt. Everest without some very warm clothing.
irreparable (adj.) that which cannot be repaired or regained The damage to the house after the flood was irreparable. The head-on collision left the car irreparable.
irreproachable
(adj.) without blame or faults
The honesty of the priest made him irreproachable.
itinerary
(n.) travel plan; schedule; course
Their trip’s itinerary was disrupted by an unexpected snow storm.
jaded
(adj.) worn-out
A person may become jaded if forced to work too many hours. jargon (n.)
incoherent speech; specialized vocabulary in certain fields The conversation was nothing but jargon, but then the speakers were nothing but cartoon characters who specialize in an oddly bracing form of gibberish.
The engineers’ jargon is indecipherable to a layperson.
jeopardy
(n.) danger; peril
The campers realized they were in potential jeopardy when the bears
surrounded their camp.
jester
(n.) a person employed to amuse
The jester tried all of his tricks to get the girl to laugh. jettison (v.) to throw
overboard goods to lighten a vehicle; to discard To raise the balloon above the storm clouds, they had to jettison the ballast.
jocund
(adj.) happy, cheerful, genial, gay
The puppy kept a smile on the jocund boy’s face.
The jocund atmosphere was due to the team’s victory in the playoffs.
jollity
(n.) being fun or jolly
The jollity of the crowd was seen in the cheering and laughing.
jovial
(adj.) cheery; jolly; playful
She was a jovial person, always pleasant and fun to be with.
judicious
(adj.) to have or show sound judgment
Because the elder was judicious, the tough decisions were left to him.
Putting money away for a rainy day is a judicious decision.
juncture
(n.) critical point; meeting
When the gas changed into a liquid, they sensed that they’d come to a
critical juncture in their experimentation.
juxtapose
(v.) place side-by-side
The author decided to juxtapose the two sentences since they each
strengthened the meaning of the other.
ken
(v.; n.) to recognize; one’s understanding
It was difficult to ken exactly what she had in mind.
My ken of the situation proved to be incorrect.
kindle
(v.) ignite; arouse
Being around children kindled her interest in educational psychology.
kinship
(n.) family relationship; affinity
Living in close proximity increased the kinship of the family.
kith
(n.) relatives and acquaintances
Our kith will meet at the family reunion.
knavery
(n.) a dishonest act
An act of knavery is cause for loss of trust.
The teacher refused to have knavery in his classroom.
knead
(v.) mix; massage
After mixing the ingredients, they kneaded the dough and set it aside to rise.
knotty
(adj.) to be puzzling or hard to explain
The mystery was knotty.
labyrinth
(n.) maze
Be careful not to get lost in the labyrinth of vegetation.
lacerate
(v.) to tear or mangle; to wound or hurt
Sharp knives may lacerate the skin of an unsuspecting user.
Her rejection will lacerate my self-esteem.
laconic
(adj.) sparing of words; terse, pithy
After a laconic introduction the program began. The people enjoyed the
public addresses of the laconic queen. laggard (n.; adj.) a person who has fallen
behind; moving slowly The laggard child was lost in the crowd.
The train was laggard.
Anything can happen in a swim meet: Last year’s leader can become this
year’s laggard.
lambaste
(v.) to scold or beat harshly
If the boy broke the lamp his father will surely lambaste him. lambent (adj.)
traveling gently over surface; flickering The lambent flame lit the dark room as the breeze wafted in. lament (v.; n.) to mourn or grieve; expression of grief or sorrow The boy is lamenting the loss of his pet.
Pedro’s only lament was that his wife didn’t outlive him.
languid
(adj.) lacking vitality; indifferent
The languid student was always late to class.
I have studied so much that I have grown languid to the subject.
During her illness she was so languid she could not leave her bed.
larceny
(n.) theft; stealing
After robbing the liquor store, she was found guilty of larceny.
lascivious
(adj.) indecent; immoral; involves lust
He said it was a harmless pin-up poster, but his mother called it lascivious.
Known as a skirt-chaser, his lascivious ways seemed to all but preclude a
stable marriage.
lassitude
(n.) a state of being tired or listless
Lassitude was evident in the nurses who had been working for 24 hours
straight.
Ten days of continual work caused a feeling of lassitude for the worker.
latency
(n.) a period of inactivity
Its latency was small solace for the girl who feared that the cancer would
re-emerge fiercer than ever.
laud
(v.) praise
He lauded his daughter for winning the trophy.
lax
(adj.) careless; irresponsible
She was lax in everything she did and therefore could not be trusted with
important tasks.
lecherous
(adj.) impure in thought and act
The lecherous Humbert Humbert is Nabokov’s protagonist in Lolita, a novel
that sparked great controversy because of Humbert’s romantic attachment to a young girl.
The lecherous man lurked on the corner.
lethargic
(adj.) lazy; passive
Feeling very lethargic, he watched television or slept the whole day.
levee
(n.) a landing on the edge of a river or field
The swimmer came ashore on the levee.
levity
(n.) lack of seriousness; instability
The levity with which he faced the destruction hampered the rescue effort.
Levity characterized the first months of his administration.
Levity is a necessary trait for a comedian.
lewd
(adj.) lustful; wicked
The comment was so lewd it could not be repeated in front of children.
liaison
(n.) connection; link
The student council served as a liaison between the faculty and the student
body. liberalism (n.) believing in personal freedom (favoring reform or progress) If you believe in liberalism, the First Amendment is sacrosanct. libertine (n.) one who indulges his desires without restraint For the libertine, missing his child’s birthday was not as significant as missing a football game.
licentious
(adj.) morally lacking in restraint
The people of Sodom and Gomorra were known for their licentious lifestyle.
ligneous
(adj.) having the composition of wood
The ligneous material appeared to be pure maple.
limber
(adj.) flexible; pliant
The dancers must be limber to do their ballet steps.
lithe
(adj.) easily bent; pliable; supple
It is best to use a lithe material when constructing a curved object.
A gymnast needs to be lithe in order to do a split.
litigate
(v.) to involve a lawsuit
A number of the state attorneys-general are litigating against the tobacco
companies. livid (adj.) discolored, as if bruised; extremely angry; furious After the fall, her arm was livid.
She became livid when she heard the news.
When she found out she had been robbed, the woman was livid.
loiter
(v.) to spend time aimlessly
Many teenagers loiter around the mall when there is nothing else to do.
loquacious
(adj.) very talkative; garrulous
She was having difficulty ending the conversation with her loquacious
neighbor.
The staff knew the meeting would be long because the administrator was in
a
loquacious mood.
lucent
(adj.) shining; translucent
The flowing garment gave the woman a lucent quality when standing in the
spotlight.
lucid
(adj.) shiny; clear minded
He chose a shimmering, lucid fabric for his curtains.
When lucid, the man spoke of vivid memories.
lucrative
(adj.) profitable; gainful
She entered the pharmaceutical industry in the belief that it would be
lucrative.
br> (adj.) full of sorrow; mournful
The man’s lugubrious heart kept him from enjoying the special occasion.
luminous
(adj.) emitting light; shining; also enlightened or intelligent The luminous
quality of the precious stone made it look like a fallen star. They found their way through the darkness by heading toward the luminous object in the distance.
lunge
(v.) to move suddenly
The owl will lunge at its prey in order to take it off guard. lurid (adj.) glowing
through haze; shocking, sensational A lurid sun shone upon them as they watched the sun set on the beach. The tabloid specialized in lurid stories about celebrities’ indiscretions.
lustrous
(adj.) bright; radiant; shining
Surrounded by rubies, the lustrous diamond looked magnificent. luxuriant
(adj.) to grow with energy and in great abundance The luxuriant flowers grew in every available space.
macerate
(v.) to soften by steeping in liquid
It was necessary to macerate the food before the elderly man could eat it.
They placed her foot in the solvent to macerate the cement she had
stepped in. maculate (adj.; v.) spotted, blotched; hence defiled, impure (opposite: immaculate);
to stain, spot, defile
The maculate rug could not be cleaned.
Grape juice maculated the carpet.
magnanimity
(n.; adj.) a quality of nobleness of mind, disdain of meanness or revenge;
forgiving; unselfish Being full of magnanimity he asked the thief only for an apology and set him free.
The magnanimous store owner did not press charges once an apology was
given.
The magnanimity of the professor overcame the rage of the student.
malediction (n.) putting a curse on someone; talking negatively about another With the threat of a malediction, the man left the fortuneteller’s house. Never having a nice word to say about anyone, her conversations are full of malediction.
malefactor
(n.) an evil person
The malefactor ordered everyone to work over the holidays.
The prison contains malefactors of all ages.
malevolent
(adj.) wishing evil (opposite: benevolent)
The man threatened his opponent with threats and malevolent words.
She had malevolent feelings toward her sister.
malicious
(adj.) spiteful; vindictive
The malicious employee slashed her tires for revenge. malign (v.; adj.) to
speak evil of; having an evil disposition toward others (opposite: benign)
In her statement to the judge she maligned her soon-to-be ex-husband.
She had such a malign personality that no one even tried to approach her, mostly out of fear. malinger (v.) to pretend to be ill in order to escape work He will malinger on Friday so he can go to the movies. The soldier will malinger to avoid fighting.
malleable
(adj.) easy to shape or bend; pliable
The malleable material was formed into a U shape.
The sculptor uses malleable substances to create complex masterpieces.
mandate
(n.) order; charge
The new manager wrote a mandate declaring that smoking was now
prohibited in the office. manifest (v.; adj.) to show clearly; to appear; obvious, clear The image should manifest itself as the building when the fog lifts. When the missing document suddenly manifested, the search for the person that buried it began.
America’s manifest destiny was to acquire all of the land between the Pacific
and Atlantic Oceans.
mar
(v.) damage
The statue was marred by the ravages of time.
marauder
(n.) plunderer or raider
The marauder had been traveling for two months searching for the large
stash. materialism (n.) the belief that everything in the universe is explained in
terms of matter; the belief that worldly possessions are the be-all and end-all in life Spiritualists will tell you that materialism is only half the story. Some said that the prince’s profligacy gave materialism a bad name.
maudlin
(adj.) foolishly and tearfully sentimental
The maudlin affair consisted of three speeches in honor of the benefactor.
maverick (n.) a person who does not conform to the norm The maverick drove a large truck as others were purchasing compact cars. meander (v.; adj.) wind, wander; winding, wandering aimlessly The stream meanders through the valley.
Because we took a long, meandering walk, we arrived home well after dark.
They meandered through the woods for the afternoon.
melancholy
(n.) depression; gloom
The funeral parlor was filled with the melancholy of mourning.
mellifluous
(adj.) having a sweet sound
The flute had a beautifully mellifluous sound.
melodious
(adj.) pleasing to hear
The melodious sounds of the band attracted many onlookers. menagerie
(n.) a place to keep or a collection of wild or strange animals Little Ryan couldn’t wait to visit the zoo to see the menagerie of wild boars.
mendacious
(adj.) not truthful; lying
The couple was swindled out of their life’s savings by the mendacious con
men.
mentor
(n.) teacher; wise and faithful advisor
Alan consulted his mentor when he needed critical advice. mercenary (adj.;
n.) working or done for payment only; hired (soldier) Lila was suspicious that Joe had jumped at the chance only for mercenary reasons.
A mercenary was hired for a hundred dollars a month, good money in those
days even if you had to fight a war to get it.
mercurial
(adj.) quick, changeable, fickle
The mercurial youth changed outfits six times before deciding what to wear.
meretricious (adj.) deceptive beauty – alluring by attractive appearance A
cubic zirconia is a meretricious way of impressing others.
mesmerize
(v.) hypnotize
The swaying motion of the swing mesmerized the baby into a deep sleep.
metamorphosis
(n.) change of form
A metamorphosis caused the caterpillar to become a beautiful butterfly.
meticulous
(adj.) exacting; precise
The lab technicians must be meticulous in their measurements to obtain
exact results.
mettle
(n.) spirit, courage, ardor
He proved he had the mettle to make it through basic training.
mien
(n.) appearance, being or manner
Her mien was typically one of distress, especially after the mishap.
mimicry
(n.) imitation
The comedian’s mimicry of the president’s gestures had the audience
rolling in the aisles.
minatory
(adj.) threatening
The minatory stance of the dog warned the thief of an attack.
minute
(adj.) extremely small, tiny
Being on a sodium-restricted diet, he uses only a minute amount of salt in
his dishes. mire (v.) to cause to get stuck in wet, soggy ground The car became mired in the mud.misanthrope (n.) a person who distrusts everything; a hater of mankind After the man swindled all of the woman’s savings, she became a misanthrope.
The misanthrope lived alone in the forest.
miscreant
(adj.; n.) evil; an evil person; villain
Her miscreant actions shocked and surprised her family.
The miscreant thought nothing of taking others’ money and belongings.
miser
(n.) penny pincher, stingy person
The miser made no donations and loved counting his money every night.
mite (n.) a very small sum of money; very small creature The mite they pay me is hardly worth the aggravation. The baseball team was made up of such small children they were nicknamed the “Mites”.
mitigate
(v.) alleviate; lessen; soothe
She tried to mitigate the loss of his pet by buying him a kitten.
The lawyer will attempt to mitigate the sentence probation.
modulate
(v.) to regulate or adjust; to vary the pitch
He modulated the color knob on the television set until the picture was
perfect.
A trained singer knows how to modulate her voice to the desired pitches.
mollify
(v.) to soften; to make less intense
We used our hands to mollify the sound of our giggling.
molten
(adj.) melted
Steel becomes molten after heating it to thousands of degrees. moot (adj.)
subject to or open for discussion or debate The discussion of extending the girl’s curfew was a moot point.
mordant
(adj.) cutting; sarcastic
Her mordant remark made me feel unqualified and useless.
morose
(adj.) moody, despondent
He was very morose over the death of his pet.
After the team lost the fans were morose.
motif
(n.) theme
Although the college students lived in Alaska, they decided on a tropical
motif for their dorm room.
The decorations include a rose motif.
motility
(n.) spontaneous motion
The motility of the car caused the driver to lunge for the brake.
mundane
(adj.) ordinary; commonplace
The small town was very mundane.
Going food shopping soon became mundane, losing all of its excitement.
munificent
(adj.) giving generously
The civic group made a munificent donation to the homeless shelter.
muse
(v.) to think or speak meditatively
I expect I’ll have to muse on that question for a while.
myriad
(n.) a large number
Buying an old house often necessitates fixing a myriad of problems. Gazing
up on the clear, dark midnight sky, the astronomer saw a myriad of stars. narcissistic (adj.) egotistical; self-centered; self-love, excessive interest in ones appearance, comfort, abilities, etc.
The narcissistic actor was difficult to get along with.
nascent
(adj.) starting to grow or develop
The nascent rage of in-line skating began on the West Coast. nautical
(adj.) of the sea; having to do with sailors, ships, or navigation The coastal New England town had a charming nautical influence.
nebulous
(adj.) unclear or vague
The ten page directions were a collection of nebulous words and figures.
nefarious
(adj.) morally bad; wicked
The nefarious criminal was the scourge of the local police force.
nefariousness
(adj.) being villainous or wicked
The nefariousness of the ruler was apparent when he hoarded all of the
food.
negligence
(n.) carelessness
Negligence contributed to the accident: She was traveling too fast for the icy
conditions. nemesis (n.) a person who inflicts just punishment; retribution; a
rival The criminal was killed by his nemesis, the brother of the man he murdered.
The football team plays its nemesis on Saturday.
neologism
(n.) giving a new meaning to an old word
Bad is a neologism for good.
neophyte
(n.) beginner; newcomer
Critics applauded the neophyte’s success and speculated how much better
he would get with age and experience. The neophyte dancer was overcome by the fast tempo and exotic rhythms.
nettle
(v.) annoy; irritate
The younger brother nettled his older sister until she slapped him.
The boy will nettle the father into agreeing.
neutral
(adj.) impartial; unbiased
The mother remained neutral regarding the argument between her two
children.
nexus
(n.) a connection
The nexus between the shuttle and the space station was successful.
noisome
(adj.) harmful to health; having a foul odor
The noisome food was the cause of their illness. The family was forced
from the home by a noisome odor. nostalgic (adj.) longing for the past; filled with bittersweet memories She loved her new life, but became nostalgic when she met with her old friends.
nostrum
(n.) a questionable remedy for difficulties
The doctor’s prescription was so unusual that it could be seen as a nostrum.
The nostrum of pine leaves and water did not seem to cure the illness.
notorious (adj.) infamous; renowned; having an unfavorable connotation Discovering that her new neighbor was notorious for thievery, she decided to purchase an alarm system for her home. The criminal had a notorious reputation.
novel
(adj.) new
It was a novel idea for the rock group to play classical music.
noxious
(adj.) harmful to one’s health
The noxious fumes caused the person to become ill.
nugatory
(adj.) trifling; futile; insignificant
Because the problem was nugatory it was not addressed immediately.
nullify
(v.) cancel; invalidate
Drinking alcohol excessively will nullify the positive benefits of eating well
and exercising daily.
oaf
(n.) a clumsy, dumb person
The waiter has been called an oaf ever since he dropped the tray.
obdurate
(adj.) stubborn
The obdurate child refused to go to school.
The obdurate youngster refused to eat the Brussels sprouts.
obeisance
(n.) a gesture of respect or reverence
As an obeisance, the man took off his hat as the funeral procession drove
past him.
obfuscate
(v.) to darken, confuse, bewilder
The lunar eclipse will obfuscate the light of the sun.
objective
(adj.; n.) open-minded; impartial; goal
It’s hard to set aside your biases and be objective. The law student
decided that her primary objective after graduation was to pass the Bar examination.
objurgate
(v.) to chide vehemently
The girls disliked those boys who objurgated the group. obligatory (adj.)
mandatory; necessary; legally or morally binding In order to provide a reliable source of revenue for the government, it is obligatory for each citizen to pay taxes.
obliterate
(v.) destroy completely
Poaching nearly obliterated the world’s whale population. obloquy (n.)
widespread condemnation or abuse; disgrace or infamy resulting from this.
The child suffered quite an obloquy at the hands of his classmates.
Lawyers must face frequent obloquy with their reputation as “ambulance chasers.”
obscure
(adj.) not easily understood; dark
The orchestra enjoys performing obscure American works, hoping to bring
them to a wider audience.
obsequious
(adj.) servilely attentive; fawning
The man’s attraction to the woman would be obvious if his obsequious
behavior could be noted.
The princess only seemed to encourage the obsequious behavior of her
court to enhance her own feeling of superiority.
obsolete
(adj.) out of date; pass’
Computers have made many formerly manual tasks obsolete.
obstinate
(adj.) stubborn
Her father would not allow her to stay out past midnight; she thought he was obstinate because he would not change his mind. obtrude (v.) to force oneself or one’ s ideas upon another; to thrust forward; to eject The inquisitive coworker obtrudes into the conversation often. obtuse (adj.) dull; greater than 90± but less than 180±; slow to understand or perceive The man was so obtuse, he even made the dog yawn. The textbook problem asks the reader to solve for the obtuse angle. He’s obtuse when it comes to abstract art.
obviate
(v.) to make unnecessary
The invention of cars has obviated the use of horse and carriage. A cure for the common cold would obviate the need for shelf after shelf of cold remedies. occult (adj.) hidden; beyond human understanding; mystical; mysterious The occult meaning of the message was one of dislike for the authorities. Some spend years pursuing the occult, only to find themselves no closer to the answer. Relating to the occult world means entering a new realm.
odious
(adj.) hateful; disgusting
Having to chaperone her brother was an odious chore for the girl. odium (n.) a hate; the disgrace from a hateful action Odium could be felt for the man who destroyed the school. oligarchy (n.) form of government in which the supreme power is placed in the hands of a small, exclusive group. The oligarchy took control after the king was overthrown.
ominous
(adj.) threatening
Seeing ominous clouds on the horizon, the street fair organizers decided to fold up their tent and go home.
omniscient
(adj.) having knowledge of all things
The future can be told by the omniscient woman.
opalescent
(adj.) iridescent
Her new nail polish was opalescent making her finger tips look like pearls.
opaque
(adj.) dull; cloudy; non-transparent
Not having been washed for years, the once beautiful windows of the
Victorian home became opaque.
They chose an opaque shade of green for their bathroom walls.
opprobrious
(adj.) abusive
Nobody liked working for him because he was so opprobrious. optimist (n.) person who hopes for the best; sees the good side He’s ever the optimist, always seeing the glass as half full.
opulence
(n.) wealth; fortune
A 40-room mansion on 65 wooded acres is only the most visible sign of her
opulence.
ornate
(adj.) elaborate; lavish; decorated
The courthouse was framed by ornate friezes.
orthodox
(adj.) traditional; accepted
The gifted child’s parents concluded that orthodox methods of education would not do their son any good, so they decided to teach him at home. oscillate (v.) to move back and forth; to have a wavering opinion The oscillating sprinkler system covered the entire lawn. The couple often oscillates between going out and staying home.
ossify
(v.) to turn to bone; to harden
Over time, the plant matter has ossified.
The tablet will ossify when left in the sun.
ostensible
(adj.) apparent
The ostensible reason for choosing the girl was for her beauty.
ostentatious
(adj.) being showy
Sure he’d won the lottery, but coming to work in a stretch limo seemed a bit
ostentatious .
ostracize
(v.) to exclude
The students tend to ostracize the children they dislike from their games.
oust
(v.) drive out; eject
The dictator was ousted in a coup detat.
p
(adj.) mocking; cynical
He has a wry sense of humor which sometimes hurts people’s feelings.
paean
(n.) a song of praise or triumph
A paean was written in honor of the victorious warrior.
pagan
(adj.) polytheistic
Moses, distraught over some of his people’s continuing pagan ways,
smashed the stone tablets bearing the Ten Commandments.
painstaking
(adj.) thorough, careful, precise
Helga’s painstaking research paid off with a top grade on her essay.
palatial
(adj.) large and ornate, like a palace
The new palatial home contained two pools and an indoor track for jogging.
palindrome (n.) a word or phrase which reads the same backwards and forwards Bob, “Dad,” and “Madam” are examples of palindromes. palliate (v.) to alleviate or ease pain but not cure; to make appear less serious The medication will help palliate the pain.
The lawyer attempted to palliate the offense to the jury.
pallid
(adj.) pale in color
The visitor left the hospital room with a pallid face.
pallor
(n.) lack of facial color
The more vivid the testimony grew, the more the witness seemed to take on
a ghostly pallor.
palpable
(adj.) touchable; clear, obvious
The palpable decision was to discontinue the use of drugs. On a flight that
had included a sudden 5,000-foot drop, the passengers’ relief upon landing was palpable .
panegyric
(n.) high praise
Upon his retirement, he received a great panegyric from many of his
associates.
His panegyric to his opponent stood in sharp contrast to the harsh tenor of
the
campaign.
paradigm
(n.) model, prototype; pattern
The machine could no longer be produced after the paradigm was
destroyed.
The Massachusetts gubernatorial race was considered a paradigm of campaign civility. paradox (n.) a tenet seemingly contradictory or false, but actually true The paradox seemed so unlikely though it was true. At first blush, the company’s results were a paradox: Sales were down, yet profits were up. parapet (n.) a wall for protection; a low wall or railing The parapet protected the kingdom from the raging army. The parapet kept the child from falling into the river.
paraphernalia
(n.) equipment; accessories
She looked guilty since the drug paraphernalia was found in her apartment.
pariah
(n.) an outcast
The pariah of the group sat by himself under the tree. parity (n.) state of
being the same in power, value, or rank When the younger brother was promoted to co-president with the elder son, it established parity between the two.
parley
(v.) to speak with another; to discourse
I will parley the information to the appropriate person.
parochial
(adj.) religious; narrow-minded
Devout Christians, the Chesterfields enrolled their children in a parochial
school.
Governor Kean urged Republicans to rise above parochial interests and be the party of inclusion. parody (n.) a piece of work imitating another in a satirical manner; a poor imitation The play was a parody of the Prince and Princess’s marital difficulties. Ugh! This is a parody of a fashionable dress!
parry
(v.) to avoid; to ward off
I dislike talking to the woman so I will attempt to parry her by ducking around
the corner. parse (v.) to separate (a sentence) into parts and describe the
function of each An English teacher may ask a student to parse a sentence.
parsimonious
(adj.) very frugal; unwilling to spend
The owner was so parsimonious he refused to purchase new curtains when
the old ones fell off the window.
The parsimonious individual argued that twenty-five cents was much too expensive for a pack of gum. parsimony (n.) to be unreasonably careful when spending The parsimony of the wealthy woman was uncalled for. partisan (n.; adj.) supporter; follower; biased; one-sided The union president is a partisan of minimum- wage legislation. A partisan for the incumbent mayor will not support the challenger.
passive
(adj.) submissive; unassertive
He is so passive that others walk all over him.
paucity
(n.) scarcity
The described feast was actually a buffet with a paucity of food. pavilion (n.) a large tent or covered area, usually used for entertainment The wedding pavilion was not only beautifully decorated, but also served as welcome protection from a sudden downpour.
peccadillo
(n.) a slight fault or offense
The child was embarrassed when he was caught committing the peccadillo
of eating chocolate before dinner.
pecuniary
(adj.) pertaining to money
The retiring employee was delighted when he received a pecuniary gift.
pedagogue
(n.) a teacher
Seeing the way she worked with children there was no doubt she was a true
pedagogue. pedantic (adj.) emphasizing minutiae or form in scholarship or
teaching Professor Jones’s lectures were so pedantic that his students sometimes had a tough time understanding the big picture. It is important to understand pedantic terminology before beginning a lecture.
pedestrian
(adj.) mediocre; ordinary
We expected the meal to be exceptional, but it was just pedestrian.
pejorative
(adj.) making things worse
The pejorative comment deepened the dislike between the two families. pellucid
(adj.) transparent
The pellucid material was not an adequate shield from the sun.
penchant
(n.) a liking for
I have a penchant for all flavors of ice cream.
penitent
(adj.) feeling sorry for what one has done
The burglar expressed his penitent feelings during his confession.
pensive
(adj.) reflective; contemplative
She was in a pensive mood, just wanting to be alone to think. My hours
alone are often more pensive than the time I spend with friends.
The pensive mood was broken by a witty joke.
penurious
(adj.) stingy, miserly
The penurious man had millions of dollars, but lived in a cottage to save
money.
Charles Dickens’ Scrooge is the most penurious character in any of his
tales.
perceptive
(adj.) full of insight; aware
The perceptive detective discovered that the murder weapon was hidden in
a safeunder the floor.
percussion
(n.) striking one object against another
The loud percussion of the hunter’s gunshot startled the birds.
perdition
(n.) ruination
The perdition of the building was caused by the strong quake. peremptory
(adj.) barring future action; that cannot be denied, changed, etc. The peremptory means of defense was satisfactory to keep out the intruders.
The wildcat strike was a peremptory move on the part of the workers.
perfidious
(adj.) faithless; treacherous
The trust between the business associates was broken after the perfidious
actions by one of the partners. perfunctory (adj.) done in a routine, mechanical way, without interest Change in career is a good cure for someone who has become bored with their occupation and is currently performing their duties in a perfunctory fashion.
The girl will not improve unless she changes her perfunctory attitude.
peripheral
(adj.) marginal; outer
Those are peripheral problems; let’s look at the central challenge.
The peripheral shrubs were used to create a fence-like blockade. He
thought he was my best friend, when in fact, he was a peripheral acquaintance.
perjury
(n.) the practice of lying
The already sensational trial of a star athlete turned all the more so when it
turned out that a police detective had committed perjury. Lying while on the witness stand is perjury.
permeable
(adj.) porous; allowing to pass through
Because the material was permeable, the water was able to drain.
pernicious
(adj.) dangerous; harmful
Standing oil combined with a fresh rain on the asphalt can have a
pernicious impact on a driver’s control of the road. The pernicious fire engulfed four blocks of homes.
perpetual
(adj.) never ceasing; continuous
Perpetual pain keeps the woman from walking.
perquisite
(n.) extra payment; a tip
After working overtime, I had enough money to make a perquisite on my
loan.
pertinent
(adj.) related to the matter at hand
During a trial everyone should concentrate on the same subject, stating
only pertinent information.
peruse
(v.) to read carefully; to study
A vast majority of time was spent perusing the possible solution to the
dilemma.
pervade
(v.) to occupy the whole of
Her perfume was so strong that it pervaded the whole room.
pervasive
(adj.) spreading throughout
The home was filled with the pervasive aroma of baking bread. pessimism
(n.) seeing only the gloomy side; hopelessness After endless years of drought,
pessimism grew in the hearts of even the most dedicated farmer.
petty
(adj.) unimportant; of subordinate standing
With all of the crime in the world, stealing bubble gum is considered petty
theft.
petulant
(adj.) peevish; cranky; rude
The long illness put the boy in a petulant mood. The tone of his voice and
the things that he says become quite petulant when he has not gotten enough sleep. phenomenon (n.) exceptional person; unusual occurrence Not for nothing do they call Yankee Stadium “The House that Ruth Built”-the Babe was a phenomenon.
The northern lights are a rare phenomenon for those not living near the
Arctic Circle.
philanthropy
(n.) charity; unselfishness
After years of donating time and money to the children’s hospital, Mrs.
Elderwood was commended for her philanthropy. phlegmatic (adj.) without emotion or interest; sluggish and dull The playwright had hoped his story would take theatergoers on an emotional roller coaster, but on opening night they just sat there, stone faced and phlegmatic.
The phlegmatic child rarely went outside to play.
phobia
(n.) morbid fear
Fear of heights is a not uncommon phobia.
pied
(adj.) colored, blotched together
The extreme heat caused the colors to become pied.
pinioned
(adj.) bound fast
The two rafts were pinioned by steel wire.
pious
(adj.) religious; devout; dedicated
The religious couple believed that their pious method of worship would
bring them eternal life.
The statues of the saints have pious symbolism. Many people think of this
land as pious territory. pique (n.; v.) resentment at being slighted; to provoke Being passed over for the promotion aroused his pique. The more he piqued her, the redder she grew.
pithy
(adj.) terse and full of meaning
Columnist William Safire, a former presidential speech writer, has a way with
words that often yields pithy comments.
pittance
(n.) a small amount
The reward money was only a pittance compared to the money lost. The
little girl received a pittance every week for keeping her room clean.
placate
(v.) to appease or pacify
The entire family attempted to placate the stubborn child. With a soothing
voice and the promise of a juicy steak, the trainer placated the escaped lion so that he wouldn’t hurt anyone.
placid
(adj.) undisturbed and calm
The placid lake’s water was completely motionless.
plaintive
(adj.) being mournful or sad
His wife’s death made Sam plaintive.
platonic
(adj.) idealistic or impractical; not amorous or sensual The platonic advice
of the doctor was to stay away from all odors. Our relationship is platonic now, but I hope it will someday be otherwise.
plausible
(adj.) probable; feasible
After weeks of trying to determine what or who was raiding the chicken
coop, the farmer came up with a plausible explanation. After scrimping and saving for a decade, it was now plausible to send his daughter to college.
plenary
(adj.) full; entire; complete
A plenary class of students staged the protest.
plethora
(n.) a superabundance
There was a plethora of food at the royal feast.
plumb
(adj.; v.) perfectly straight down; to solve
The two walls met plumb at the corner.
I was able to plumb the riddle in a few seconds.
polemic
(adj.) controversial
The polemic decision caused a stir in the community.
polemicist
(n.) a person skilled in argument
The polemicist could debate any case skillfully. pommel (n.) the rounded,
upward- projecting front of a saddle The woman was so nervous about being on the horse she would not let go of the pommel.
ponderous
(adj.) unwieldy from weight; dull or labored
The ponderous piano posed a serious challenge to having it pulled up to
the 16th floor.
As if being grainy wasn’t bad enough, the film’s ponderous story made it
tough to get through.
portend
(v.) to be an omen of; signify
The distant roll of thunder portends of an oncoming storm. potable (adj.;
n.) drinkable; a beverage that is drinkable The liquid was not potable, but rather poisonous. Sea water isn’t potable. potent (adj.) having great power or physical strength He took very potent medication and felt better immediately.
pragmatic
(adj.) matter-of-fact; practical
Since they were saving money to buy a new home, the pragmatic married
couple decided not to go on an expensive vacation. A pragmatic solution to the car’ s continual repairs would be to purchase a new car.
prate
(v.) talking foolishly; chatter
It is not uncommon for people to prate when they become nervous about
speaking to a superior. prattle (n.; v.) childish babble; to babble while speaking I’ve listened to his prattle for far too long.
The toddler does more prattling than talking. precarious (adj.) depending
upon another; risky, uncertain The precarious plans fell through when the second couple changed their plans.
My position in the negotiations was precarious at best.
precept
(n.) a rule or direction of moral conduct
The organization believed their members should abide by certain precepts.
precipitate (v.; adj.) to cause to happen; happening quickly A rude comment may precipitate an argument. The precipitating flood caught the village off-guard.
preclude
(v.) inhibit; make impossible
A healthy diet and lifestyle will not preclude you from getting ill, although it
improves your immune system.
Exercise may help to preclude heart disease. precocious (adj.) developed
or matured earlier than usual The precocious eight year-old wanted to read the romance novel. predecessor (n.) one who has occupied an office before another Although her predecessor did not accomplish any goals that would help the poor, the new mayor was confident that she could finally help those in need.
prefatory
(adj.) coming before
The prefatory comments informed the audience of what was to come.
premise
(n.) the basis for an argument
The prosecutor claimed that the defense lawyer’s premise was shaky, and
thus his whole argument was suspect. preponderate (adj.) to outweigh; to be
superior in amount, weight, etc. His positive qualities are the preponderate ones over his occasional rudeness. presage (n.) an omen; a foreshadowing
characteristic They considered the rainbow at their wedding a presage for a happy life. Bright sun in the morning was a good presage that it was going to be a good day. prescience (n.) knowing about something before it happens The morning of the big game I had a prescience that we would win.
prescriptive
(adj.) done by custom; unbending
At the heart of the Australian aborigines’ prescriptive coming-of-age rite for
men is a walkabout.
prevalent
(adj.) generally occurring
Rain is usually more prevalent than snow during April. prevaricate (v.) to
speak equivocally or evasively, i.e., to lie The mayor’s desperate attempt to
prevaricate about the scandal was transparent to the voters.
His mother knew no one else could have done it, but the child foolishly
prevaricated about the stain on the rug.
pristine
(adj.) primitive, pure, uncorrupted
The pristine lake had not been marred by pollution. She had such a
pristine look about her, you would have thought she was an angel.
privy
(adj.) private; confidential
He was one of a handful of people privy to the news of the pending merger.
Only the woman’s best friend was privy to her secret.
probity
(n.) honesty
The young man’s probity was reassuring to the fearful parent. problematic
(adj.) being hard to deal with; unsolved situation The constant squeak of the door was problematic. The tense political struggle remains problematic.
prodigal
(adj.) wasteful; lavish
The actor’s prodigal lifestyle ultimately led to his undoing. Spending his
rent money on your birthday present was more than generous, it was prodigal.
The prodigal gift by the poor woman was truly a thoughtful gesture.
prodigious
(adj.) wonderful; enormous
The prodigious festivities lasted until the wee hours of the morning.
The Empire State Building required a prodigious amount of steel to erect.
profound
(adj.) deep; knowledgeable; thorough
It was with profound regret and sorrow that the family had to leave their
homeland for a more prosperous country. profusion (n.) great wastefulness; a large abundance of The profusion of the food-fight was unforgivable considering the worldwide hunger problem.
The profusion of uneaten food was sent to the shelter.
The wet winter brought about a profusion of mosquitoes.
progeny
(n.) children; offspring
It is through his progeny that his name shall live on. The princes were the
progeny of royalty. program (n.) the parts of entertainment; a plan for dealing with a matter; coded instructions The free-form music program on Sunday nights is virtually unique in commercial radio.
The program for better health is to eat more vegetables and fruits. The
store’s computer program allows sale information to prompt at the register for
certain items at certain hours.
proliferate
(v.) to reproduce quickly
Gerbils are known to proliferate quickly.
prolific
(adj.) fruitful
The merger resulted in a prolific business which became an asset to the
community. promontory (n.) a piece of land jutting into a body of water The boat hit the rocky promontory, splitting the bow.
propagate
(v.) to reproduce or multiply
Rabbits and gerbils are said to propagate quickly.
propensity
(n.) a natural tendency towards; bias
I have a propensity to talk too fast.
She has a propensity to hire men over women. propinquity (n.) closeness
in time or place; closeness of relationship The propinquity of the disasters put the community in chaos. The propinquity of the two stories was the basis of the teacher’s lesson.
propitiate
(v.) to win the goodwill of
If I try my best I will hopefully propitiate my new supervisor.
prosaic
(adj.) tiresome; ordinary
He wanted to do something new; he was tired of the prosaic activities his
parents suggested each day.
The only entertainment would be a prosaic game of cards. proselytize (v.)
to convert from one belief or religion to another The preacher often attempts to proselytize wayward travelers. protocol (n.) an original draft or record of a document The protocol was given to the president once it was completed. proverbial (adj.) well- known because it is commonly referred to King Solomon’s proverbial wisdom has been admired through the ages.
provident
(adj.) prudent; economical
It was provident, in his opinion, to wait and buy the new car when he was
financially secure.
provincial
(adj.) regional; unsophisticated
After living in the city for five years, he found that his family back home on
the farm was too provincial for his cultured ways. proviso (n.) A clause stating a
condition or stipulation The governor began the conference with a proviso stating the disastrous results of the flood.
provocative
(adj.) tempting; irritating
In the movie Roger Rabbit, the animated Jessica Rabbit demurs when she’s
told she’s provocative, saying that she’s only drawn that way. The U.S. considered the invasion of Kuwait a provocative action.
provoke
(v.) to stir action or feeling; arouse
By calling him names, he was provoking a fight.
quaff
(v.) drinking deeply
A dog will quaff if he becomes overheated.
quagmire
(n.) marshy land
The vehicle became stuck in the quagmire.
quaint
(adj.) old-fashioned; unusual; odd
One of the best qualities of the bed-and-breakfast was its quaint setting in
the charming English village.
qualified
(adj.) experienced, indefinite
She was well qualified for the job after working the field for ten years.
qualm
(n.) sudden feeling of uneasiness or doubt
His qualms about flying disappeared once the plane landed softly.
quandary
(n.) dilemma
Joe and Elizabeth were caught in a quandary: Should they spend
Thanksgiving with his parents or hers?
Unable to make a firm decision, I’ve been in this quandary for weeks. When
the car broke down the commuter was left in a quandary. quarantine (n.) isolation of a person or persons to prevent the spread of disease To be sure they didn’t bring any contagions back to Earth, the astronauts were put under quarantine when they returned.
quiescence
(n.) state of being at rest or without motion
After a tough day on the shipping dock, one needs quiescence.
A period of quiescence is useful to calm the nerves.
quiescent
(adj.) inactive, at rest
Everyone deserves a day off and should remain quiescent on Sundays.
The Bible says that the Lord created the Earth in six days and on the seventh He was quiescent.
quintessence
(n.) the pure essence of anything
This story is the quintessence of American fiction.
quirk
(n.) peculiar behavior; startling twist
Nobody’s perfect-we all have our quirks.
Our vacation went smoothly save for one quirk-a hurricane that came
barreling into the coastline as we were preparing to head home. The plot of that movie had so many quirks that it became very hard to follow.
Always needing to put the left shoe on first is a peculiar quirk. quixotic
(adj.) foolishly idealistic; romantically idealistic; extravagantly chivalrous He was popular with the ladies due to his quixotic charm. She had a quixotic view of the world, believing that humans need never suffer. rabid (adj.; n.) furious; with extreme anger; a disease affecting animals The insult made him rabid.
Discovering that the dog was rabid, the mail carrier knew he’d have to get a
shot.
He’s been a rabid sports fan for as long as I have known him.
raconteur
(n.) a person skilled at telling stories
Our entertainment was a raconteur who told a story of talking animals.
ramification (n.) the arrangement of branches; consequence One of the ramifications of driving fast is getting a speeding ticket.
rampant
(adj.) growing unchecked; widespread
Social unrest was rampant because of the lack of food available to the
people.
rampart
(n.; v.) a defense; to defend
The ramparts where beginning to crumble.
rancid
(adj.) having a bad odor
Left out too long, the meat turned rancid.
rancor
(n.) strong ill will; enmity
Her rancor for the man was evident in her hateful expression. Sure they
had their disagreements, but there was no rancor between them. rant (v.) to speak in a loud, pompous manner; rave He disputed the bill with the shipper, ranting that he was dealing with thieves.
rapacious
(adj.) using force to take
Rapacious actions were needed to take the gun from the intruder.
ratify
(v.) to make valid; confirm
The Senate ratified the new law that would prohibit companies from
discriminating according to race in their hiring practices. Hunters were called in to rarefy the deer population. rationalize (v.) to offer reasons for; account for on rational grounds His daughter attempted to rationalize why she had dropped out of college, but she could not give any good reasons. raucous (adj.) disagreeable to the sense of hearing; harsh; hoarse The raucous protesters stayed on the street corner all night, shouting their disdain for the whale killers. raze (v.) to scrape or shave off; to obliterate or tear down completely The plow will raze the ice from the road surface. It must be time to give the cat a manicure; she razed my skin last night. They will raze the old Las Vegas hotel to make room for a $2.5 billion gambling palace.
realm
(n.) an area; sphere of activity
In the realm of health care, the issue of who pays and how is never far from
the surface.
The bounding islands were added to the realm of the kingdom.
rebuff
(n.) a blunt refusal to offered help
The rebuff of her aid plan came as a shock.
rebuttal
(n.) refutation
The lawyer’s rebuttal to the judge’s sentencing was to present more
evidence to the case.
recalcitrant
(adj.) stubbornly rebellious
The boy became recalcitrant when the curfew was enforced. The
recalcitrant youth dyed her hair purple, dropped out of school, and generally worked hard at doing whatever others did not want her to do.
recession
(n.) withdrawal; economic downturn
Oscar’s gum recession left him with sensitive teeth. Soaring unemployment
in the nation’s industrial belt triggered recession. recidivism (n.) habitual or
chronic relapse of criminal or antisocial offenses Even after intense therapy the parolee experienced several episodes of recidivism, and was eventually sent back to prison. reciprocal (adj.) mutual; having the same relationship to each other Hernando’s membership in the Picture of Health Fitness Center gives him reciprocal privileges at 245 health clubs around the U.S. Although his first child was adopted, she had a reciprocal relationship with her father. recluse (adj.; n.) solitary; a person who lives secluded His recluse life
seems to make him happy.
Howard Hughes, among the most famous and enigmatic figures of the 20th
century, ultimately retreated to a life as a recluse.
recondite
(adj.) hard to understand; concealed
The students were dumbfounded by the recondite topic. Many scientific
theories are recondite, and therefore not known at all by the general public.
rectify
(v.) correct
The service manager rectified the shipping mistake by refunding the
customer’s money.
recumbent
(adj.) resting
The recumbent puppy stirred.
recusant
(adj.) disobedient of authority
Recusant inmates may be denied privileges. redolent (adj.) sweet-smelling; having the odor of a particular thing The redolent aroma of the pie tempted everyone. The restaurant was redolent with the smell of spices. redundant (adj.) wordy; repetitive; unnecessary to the meaning The redundant lecture of the professor repeated the lesson in the text. Her comments were both redundant and sarcastic. With millions of transactions at stake, the bank built a redundant processing center on a separate power grid.
refurbish
(v.) to make new; renovate
The Newsomes are refurbishing their old colonial home with the help of an
interior designer.
refute
(v.) challenge; disprove
He refuted the proposal, deeming it unfair
regal
(adj.) royal; grand
The regal home was lavishly decorated and furnished with European
antiques.
The well-bred woman behaves in a regal manner.
reiterate
(v.) to repeat again
Rose found that she had to reiterate almost everything, leading her to fear
her husband was going deaf.
If you did not hear me the first time, I will reiterate the directions for you.
relegate
(v.) banish; put to a lower position
With Internal Affairs launching an investigation into charges that Officer
Wicker had harassed a suspect, he was relegated to desk duty.
relevant
(adj.) of concern; significant
Asking applicants about their general health is relevant since much of the
job requires physical strength.
relinquish
(v.) to let go; abandon
House Speaker Jim Wright had to relinquish his position after an ethics
investigation undermined his authority.
remonstrate
(v.) to protest or object to
The population will remonstrate against the new taxes.
remorse
(n.) guilt; sorrow
The prosecutor argued that the defendant had shown no remorse for his
actions.
renascence
(n.) a new life; rebirth
The renascence of the band resulted in a new recording contract. rend (v.)
to rip or pull from; to split with violence; to disturb with a sharp noise The kidnapper rent the newborn baby from the arms of its mother as she was leaving the hospital.
A freakish water spout rent the fishing boat in half. Every morning, the 5:47
local out of New Brunswick rends the dawn’s silence with its air horn.
render
(v.) deliver; provide
The Yorkville First Aid Squad was first on the scene to render assistance.
renegade (n.) a person who abandons something, as a religion, cause or movement; a traitor Benedict Arnold remains one of the most notorious renegades in American history.
repast
(n.) food that is eaten
The repast consisted of cheese, wine, and bread
replete
(adj.) well supplied
The kitchen came replete with food and utensils.
replica
(n.) copy; representation; reproduction
The equine sculpture was a replica of a Remington.
reprehend
(v.) to reprimand; to find fault with
Finding the need to reprehend the student’s actions, she gave her
detention. reproach (v.) to blame and thus make feel ashamed; to rebuke The major reproached his troops for not following orders.
reprobate
(v.) to condemn; to reject
The teacher will reprobate the actions of the delinquent student.
His assertions were reprobated as inappropriate.
reproof
(n.) a rebuke
For all his hard work, all he got was a reproof of his efforts. repudiate (v.)
to disown; to deny support for; reject; cancel The man will repudiate all claims that he was involved in the deal. Although his party supported the bill, this senator repudiated it.
The offer was repudiated because of its cost.
repugnant
(adj.) inconsistent; resistance
The repugnant actions of the man made others lose trust in him.
Despite their efforts to convince her, she remained repugnant.
resignation
(n.) quitting; submission
He submitted his resignation because he found a new job. You could see
the resignation on his face: Things just weren’t working out as he’d expected.
resilient (adj.) flexible; capable of withstanding stress The elderly man attributed his resilient health to a good diet and frequent exercise.
resolution
(n.) proposal; promise; determination
Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell journeyed to Ireland to help bring
about a peaceful resolution to years of strife.
resonant
(adj.) resounding; re-echoing
Beautiful resonant music escaped from the cathedral’s windows.
respite
(n.) recess; rest period
The workers talked and drank coffee during the respite.
The team was given a respite from the long practice schedule.
resplendent
(adj.) dazzling and shining
Her new diamond was resplendent in the sunshine.
resurgent
(adj.) rising or tending to rise again
A resurgent wave of enthusiasm erupted from the once quiet crowd.
reticent
(adj.) silent; reserved; shy
The reticent girl played with her building blocks while the other children
played tag.
It was difficult to get the reticent boy to join the conversation.
retract
(v.) to draw or take back
Once you say something, it’s hard to retract.
retroaction
(n.) a reverse action
The retroaction of the car sent those standing behind it fleeing. The bill’s
retroaction stood to save taxpayers an average of $500 a head. reverent (adj.)
respectful; feeling or showing deep love, respect, or awe The congregation was very reverent of its spiritual leader. reverie (n.) the condition of being unaware of one’s surroundings, trance; dreamy thinking or imagining, especially of agreeable things As their anniversary neared, Lisa fell into a reverie as she recalled all the good times she and Roscoe had had.
After spending the morning in reverie, I decided to work in the afternoon.
revile
(v.) to be abusive in speech
It is not appropriate for a teacher to revile a student. rhapsodize (v.) to speak or write in a very enthusiastic manner Hearing the general rhapsodize about his time as a plebe sent a wave of recognition through the academy grads. rhetorical (adj.) having to do with verbal communication; artificial eloquence In posing a rhetorical question, he hoped to get people thinking. The perception that Gary Hart was spouting rhetorical flourishes enabled fellow Democrat Walter Mondale to score debate points by asking, “Where’s the beef?”
ribald
(adj.) vulgar joking or mocking
Some people find the comedian’s ribald act offensive.
The ribald story proved an embarrassment to its audience.
rigor
(n.) severity
She criticized the planning board’s vote with rigor.
rivet
(v.) to secure; to hold firmly, as in eyes
We can rivet the boat to the dock.
She could not look away from the morbid scene; she was riveted to it.
roseate
(adj.) rose-colored
The roseate sunset faded into the sky.
rout
(n.; v.) a noisy or disorderly crowd; a retreat or terrible defeat; to dig up The
rout kept the police busy all morning with crowd control. The Scarlet Knights beat the Fighting Irish in a rout, 56-14.
I need to rout the backyard in order to put in the pipes.
rudimentary
(adj.) elementary
Adding two plus two is a rudimentary activity.
ruffian
(n.) tough person or a hoodlum
Contrary to popular opinion, ruffians are nothing new in the city.
ruminate
(v.) to consider carefully
The doctor will ruminate on his diagnosis.
Facing a tough decision, he decided to ruminate before making his
thoughts known.
rummage
(v.) search thoroughly
Determined to find his college yearbook, he rummaged through every box in the garage. rustic (adj.) plain and unsophisticated; homely; of or living in the country The president enjoyed spending weekends at Camp David, a rustic retreat in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland. saga (n.) a legend; any long story of adventure or heroic deed The saga of King Arthur and his court has been told for generations.
sagacious
(adj.) wise
Many of her friends came to her with their problems because she gave
sagacious advice.
The old man gave sagacious advice.
salient
(adj.) noticeable; prominent
What’s salient about the report is its documentation of utter despair in the
heartland of the richest nation on Earth. His most salient feature is his nose.
His salient bruise will alert his mother to the altercation.
salubrious
(adj.) promoting good health
Salubrious food helps maintain an ideal weight.
Exercising frequently and eating healthy foods are salubrious habits.
salutatory
(adj.) of or containing greetings
Two messengers were sent to the new neighbors with a salutatory letter.
salvage
(v.) rescue from loss
The family tried to salvage their belongings after their home was destroyed by a tornado. sanction (v.; n.) an act of giving authoritative permission; to give encouragement; a blockade The government has sanctioned the meetings as a worthy cause. He did more than tolerate her actions, he sanctioned them. Before committing troops to war, the president wanted to give the sanctions a chance to work.
sanguine
(adj.) optimistic; cheerful; red
Even when victory seemed impossible, the general remained sanguine.
The dress was sanguine with a bright green border stripe.
With a sanguine nod the interviewee entered the office.
sapid
(adj.) having a pleasant taste
Yellow and blue icing covered the sapid pastry.
sarcasm
(n.) ironic; bitter humor designed to wound
The teacher did not appreciate the student’s sarcasm and gave him
detention.
sardonic
(adj.) having a sarcastic quality
H.L. Mencken was known for his sardonic writings on political figures. satire
(n.) a novel or play that uses humor or irony to expose folly The new play was a satire that exposed the President’s inability to lead the country.
saturate
(v.) soak thoroughly; drench
She saturated the sponge with soapy water before she began washing the
car.
saturnine
(adj.) gloomy, sluggish
The never-ending rain put everyone in a saturnine mood.
saunter
(v.) to walk at a leisurely pace; stroll
The loving couple sauntered down the wooded path.
savant
(n.) one who is intelligent
The savant accepted his award of excellence. savor (v.) to receive pleasure from; to enjoy with appreciation; dwell on with delight After several months without a day off, she savored every minute of her week-long vacation.
scanty
(adj.) inadequate; sparse
The malnutrition was caused by the scanty amount of healthy food eaten
each day.
schism
(n.) a division in an organized group
When the group could not decide on a plan of action, a schism occurred.
scourge
(v.) to whip severely
The trainer will scourge the animal if it attacks someone.
scrupulous
(adj.) honorable; exact
After finding a purse with valuable items inside, the scrupulous Mr.
Prendergast returned everything to its owner.
A scrupulous cleaning was conducted before the family moved.
scrutinize
(v.) examine closely; study
After allowing his son to borrow the family car, the father scrutinized every
section for dents.
scurrilous
(adj.) vulgarity
The scurrilous language made the mother twinge.
sectarian
(adj.) to be narrow minded or limited
A sectarian precluded him from listening to the other side. sedentary (adj.)
characterized by sitting; remaining in one locality The sedentary child had
not moved after two hours. The old woman who never left her home town has led a sedentary life.
sedition
(n.) a revolt
The sedition by the guards ended with their being executed for treason.
sedulous
(adj.) working diligently; persistent
The sedulous habits of the team will surely conclude in victory.
Only the most sedulous salespeople will succeed.
seethe
(v.) to be violently disturbed
By the time I arrived, she was seething with anger.
He seethed at the prospect of losing the business to his conniving uncle.
sequester
(v.) to separate or segregate
The jury was sequestered at the local inn.
serendipity
(n.) an apparent aptitude for making fortunate discoveries accidentally
Serendipity seemed to follow the lucky winner where ever he went.
serrated
(adj.) having a saw-toothed edge
While camping, the family used a serrated band saw to cut firewood.
servile
(adj.) slavish; groveling
He knew they both possessed equal abilities, and yet he was always treated
as a servile underling.
His servile leadership forced her to take over.
The servile nurse did everything the doctor told her to do.
shady
(adj.) a character of questionable honesty
A shady person would not be trusted with a sensitive secret.
shoal
(n.) a large group or crowd
Shoals of grain were stored in the barn.
shoddy
(adj.) of inferior quality; cheap
The state’s attorney said many homes, as they were built with shoddy
materials, were bound to just blow apart even in winds of 60 or 70 miles per hour.
The shoddy homes were blown over in the storm.
sinuous
(adj.) full of curves; twisting and turning
Sinuous mountain roads at night present extra danger at night when it’s
harder to see the road’s edge.
skeptic
(n.) doubter
Even after seeing evidence that his competitor’s new engine worked, the
engineer remained a skeptic that it was marketable.
skulk
(v.) to move secretly, implies sinister
The thief skulked around the neighborhood hoping to find his next target.
They found the boy skulking in the bushes.
The woman attempted to skulk away from cleaning the house by hiring a
cleaning service.
slander
(v.) defame; maliciously misrepresent
Orville said he’d been slandered, and he asked the court who would-or
could- give him his name back.
sloth
(n.) disinclination to action or labor
Employers want to guard against hiring sloths as new employees.
slothful
(adj.) lazy
The slothful actions of the player led to his benching.
slovenly
(adv.) sloppy
His mother-in-law did not approve of his slovenly manner. sodden (adj.)
soggy; dull in action as if from alcohol The flowers were sodden after the rain.
The sodden reaction of the man caused the accident.
sojourn
(v.) to stay temporarily
The family will sojourn at their summer home. The guest remained only for
a sojourn; she was going to leave in the afternoon.
solace
(n.) hope; comfort during a time of grief
When her father passed away, she found solace amongst her friends and
family. solemnity (n.) a deep, reverent feeling often associated with religious
occasions The church service was full of solemnity.
The solemnity of the funeral procession stood in stark contrast to the young
children splashing with delight in a nearby pool.
solicit
(v.) ask; seek
The jobless man solicited employment from many factories before he was
able to find work. soliloquy (n.) a talk one has with oneself (esp. on stage) Imagine T.S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land performed on stage as a kind of soliloquy!
The soliloquy by the man standing alone on the cliff sent a message of
regret. solubility (n.) that can be solved; that can be dissolved The solubility of
sugar causes it to disappear when put in water.
somber
(adj.) dark and depressing; gloomy
The sad story had put everyone in a somber mood.
soporific
(adj.) causing sleep
The soporific medication should not be taken when you need to drive.
sordid
(adj.) filthy; base; vile
The sordid gutters needed to be cleaned after the long, rainy autumn. The
criminals thought patterns were so sordid that he was not granted parole.
sovereign
(adj.) superior
The power was given to the sovereign warrior. specious (adj.) plausible,
but deceptive; apparently, but not actually, true The jury forewoman said the jury saw through the defense lawyer’s specious argument and convicted his client on the weight of the evidence.
I was unsure of the meaning of the specious statement.
spelunker
(n.) one who studies caves
The spelunker made a startling discovery in the old mine. spendthrift (n.) a
person who spends money extravagantly The spendthrift bought two new necklaces and three pairs of shoes.
splenetic
(adj.) marked by hostility
The splenetic warriors advanced with no thought of what they were
destroying. sporadic (adj.) rarely occurring or appearing; intermittent In the desert there is usually only sporadic rainfall.
spurious
(adj.) not genuine, false; bogus
Spurious claims by the importer hid the fact that prison labor had been
used in the garments’ fabrication.
The newspaper was notorious for spurious information.
spurn
(v.; n.) to push away; a strong rejection
The woman spurned the advances of her suitor, saying she wasn’t ready
for a commitment.
Unlucky enough to be the ninth telemarketer to call Jane that evening, he
caught her spurn.
squalid
(adj.) filthy; wretched (from squalor)
The lack of sanitation piping caused squalid conditions. He makes good
money, but I would never want to work in those squalid crawl spaces.
stagnant
(adj.) motionless, uncirculating
The stagnant water in the puddle became infested with mosquitoes.
staid
(adj.) marked by self-control
The horse was staid as it entered the stable.
stamina
(n.) endurance
Anybody who can finish the New York Marathon has lots of stamina.
stanch
(v.) to stop or check the flow of; staunch
It is necessary to stanch the bleeding from the wound as soon as possible.
stanza (n.) group of lines in a poem having a definite pattern The poet uses an odd simile in the second stanza of the poem.
static
(adj.) inactive; changeless
The view while riding in the train across the endless, flat landscape
remained static for days.
The static water of the lake reflected the image of the trees.
steadfast
(adj.) loyal
The secret service agents are steadfast to their oath to protect the
president.
stigma
(n.) a mark of disgrace
The “F” on his transcript is a stigma on his record.
stigmatize
(v.) to characterize or make as disgraceful
The gross error will stigmatize the worker as careless.
stipend
(n.) payment for work done
She receives a monthly stipend for her help with the project. The bank will pay the woman a stipend of a hundred dollars a week. stoic (adj.) detached; unruffled; calm; austere indifference to joy, grief, pleasure, or pain The soldier had been in week after week of fierce battle; nonetheless, he remained stoic. With stoic obedience the child sat quietly on the chair.
stoke
(v.) to feed fuel to; especially a fire
With the last embers dying, he stoked the fire one more time.
stolid
(adj.) showing little emotion
With a stolid expression, the man walked away from the confrontation.
striated
(adj.) having lines or grooves
The striated road was ready for traffic.
stridency
(n.) harshness or shrillness sound
The stridency of the whistle hurt the dog’s ears.
strident
(adj.) creaking; harsh, grating
Her strident voice hampered her chances of getting the announcer position.
stupor
(n.) a stunned or bewildered condition
He was in a stupor after being hit on the head.
stymie
(v.) to hinder or obstruct
Large amounts of snowfall will stymie the rescue effort.
suave
(adj.) effortlessly gracious
She was a suave negotiator, always getting what she wanted without
anyone feeling they’d lost anything.
The elegant woman entered the room with a suave walk.
subjugate
(v.) to dominate or enslave
The bully will attempt to subjugate the remainder of the class. The royal
family subjugated the peasants, making them perform hard labor.
subliminal
(adj.) below the level of consciousness
Critics of advertising say that it’s loaded with subliminal messages.
subsidiary (adj.) giving a service; being in a subordinate position The function of the subsidiary was to oversee the bank’s commercial loans.
He acknowledged the importance of the issue, but called it subsidiary to a
host of other concerns. substantive (adj.) existing independently of others; a large quantity The only company not acquired in the merger retained its substantive existence.
A substantive amount of money will be needed to fund the project.
subsume
(v.) to include within a larger group
The AFL was subsumed by the NFL in the 1960s. subtlety (n.) propensity of
understatement; so slight as to be barely noticeable There was no subtlety
in theprotest; each person carried a sign and yelled for civil rights.
With great subtlety we slipped away from the boring party. succinct (adj.)
clearly stated; characterized by conciseness The speech was succinct yet
emotional.
Usually, the most succinct definition is the right one. Articles in USA Today
are so succinct that some observers nicknamed the newspaper “McPaper.”
succor
(n.) aid; assistance
Succor was given to the fire victim in the form of clothes and temporary
shelter.
succumb
(v.) give in; yield; collapse
When dieting, it is difficult not to succumb to temptation.
suffuse
(v.) to overspread
The rain will suffuse the spilled sand around the patio.
sumptuous
(adj.) involving great expense
A sumptuous spread of meats, vegetables, soups and breads was prepared
for the guests.
sunder
(v.) break; split in two
The Civil War threatened to sunder the United States. Management seeks
to sunder the workers’ connections to the union. sundry (adj.) various;
miscellaneous; separate; distinct This store sells many sundry novelty items.
Sundry items may be purchased as a single item. superficial (adj.) on the
surface, narrow minded; lacking depth The victim had two stab wounds, but luckily were only superficial.
superfluous
(adj.) unnecessary; extra
Although the designer considered the piece superfluous, the woman
wanted the extra chair in her bedroom.
Only the first sentence is necessary; all of these details are superfluous.
After they finished their seven-course meal, a large dessert seemed superfluous.
superlative
(adj.) of the highest kind or degree
The Golden Gate Bridge is a superlative example of civil engineering.
supplant
(v.) to take the place of
Can you supplant my position if I cannot play?
suppliant
(adj.) asking earnestly and submissively
Her suppliant request of wanting to know the name of the man was met with
a laugh.
suppress
(v.) to bring to an end; hold back
The illegal aliens were suppressed by the border patrol. surfeit (v.; n.)
excessively indulging; overindulgence The teenagers were warned not to surfeit at the party. The result of her surfeit was a week of regret.
surmise
(n; v) a guess; to guess
Was my surmise correct?
I surmise that we will not
He surmised how the play would end before the second act began.
surpass
(v.) go beyond; out do
After recovering from a serious illness, the boy surpassed the doctor’s
expectations by leaving the hospital two days early.
surreptitious
(adj.) done secretly
The surreptitious maneuvers gave the advancing army an advantage.
susceptible
(adj.) easily imposed; inclined
She gets an annual flu shot since she is susceptible to becoming ill.
swathe
(v.) to wrap around something; envelop
Soft blankets swathe the new born baby.
sycophant
(n.) flatterer
Rodolfo honed his skills as a sycophant, hoping it would get him into Sylvia’
s good graces.
The sycophant is known for attending many parties. syllogism (n.)
reasoning in order from general to particular The syllogism went from fish to guppies.
symmetry
(n.) correspondence of parts; harmony
The roman columns give the building a symmetry.
synthetic
(adj.) not real, rather artificial
The synthetic skin was made of a thin rubber.
table
(n.) a systematic list of details
The train schedule was set up as a table.
tacit
(adj.) not voiced or expressed
The National Security Agency aide argued, in effect, that he had received
the president’ s tacit approval for the arms-for-hostages deal. taciturn (adj.) inclined to silence; speaking little; dour, stern The man was so taciturn it was forgotten that he was there.
tantalize
(v.) to tempt; to torment
The desserts were tantalizing, but he was on a diet.
tarry
(v.) to go or move slowly; delay
She tarried too long, and therefore missed her train.
taut
(adj.) stretched tightly
They knew a fish was biting, because the line suddenly became taut.
tawdry
(adj.) tastelessly ornamented
The shop was full of tawdry jewelry.
tedious
(adj.) wearisome, tiresome
Cleaning the house is a tedious chore for some people. With so many new
safety precautions instituted, flying has become a tedious affair. teem (v.) to be
stocked to overflowing; to pour out; to empty The new plant seemed to be teeming with insects. It is healthier to teem the grease from the broth before serving it.
temerity
(n.) foolhardiness
Temerity can result in tragedy if the activity is dangerous. temper (v.) to
moderate, as by mingling with something else; to bring to the proper condition by treatment She drew a hot bath, but then realized she’d have to temper it with a little cool water or end up scalded.
The craftsman tempered the steel before being able to twist it to form a
table leg.
temperament
(n.) one’s customary frame of mind
The girl’s temperament is usually very calm.
tenacious
(adj.) holding; persistent
With a tenacious grip, the man was finally able to pull the nail from the wall.
After his tenacious pleas, she finally conceded.
His hold on his dreams is as tenacious as anyone I know.
tenet
(n.) a principle accepted as authoritative
The tenets of socialism were explained in the book.
tensile
(adj.) undergoing or exerting tension
The pipeline was capable of flexing to withstand the tremendous tensile
strain that might accompany an seismic movement.
tentative
(adj.) not confirmed; indefinite
Not knowing if he’d be able to get the days off, Al went ahead anyway and
made tentative vacation plans with his pal.
tenuous
(adj.) thin, slim, delicate; weak
The hurricane force winds ripped the tenuous branches from the tree. The spectators panicked as they watched the cement block dangle from one tenuous piece of twine. tepid (adj.) lacking warmth, interest, enthusiasm; lukewarm The tepid bath water was perfect for relaxing after a long day.
termagant
(n.) a constantly quarrelsome woman
Agreement with the termagant was an impossibility.
terrestrial
(adj.) pertaining to the earth
Deer are terrestrial animals; fish are aquatic.
terse
(adj.) concise; abrupt
She believed in getting to the point, so she always gave terse answers. The terse speech contained only the essential comments. tether (n.) the range or limit of one’s abilities; rope or chain used to keep a boat from drifting or an animal from wandering My tether of playing basketball is shooting air balls. The bulldog was tethered to his doghouse.
thrall
(n.) a slave
The worker was treated like a thrall, having to work many hours of overtime.
thrifty
(adj.) frugal, careful with money
Being thrifty, the woman would not purchase the item without a coupon.
The thrifty couple saved money by taking the bus to work.
throe
(n.) spasm or pang; agony
A particularly violent throe knocked her off her feet. The wounded soldier squirmed in throes of agony. thwart (v.) prevent from accomplishing a purpose; frustrate Their attempt to take over the country was thwarted by the palace guard. timbre (n.) the quality of sound which distinguishes one from another The timbre of guitar music is different from that of piano music.
timorous
(adj.) lacking courage; timid
The timorous child hid behind his parents.
Hillary came to accept him as a timorous soul who needed succor.
torpid
(adj.) being dormant; slow, sluggish
When we came upon the hibernating bear, it was in a torpid state.
A torpid animal does not act with energy.
The old, torpid dog spent most of his time sleeping. tortuous (adj.) full of twists and turns; not straight forward; possibly deceitful The suspect confessed after becoming confused by the tortuous questioning of the captain.
toxic
(adj.) poisonous
It’s best to store cleansing solutions out of children’s reach because of their toxic contents. tractable (adj.) easily managed (opposite: intractable) The boat was so lightweight it was tractable by one person. Having a tractable staff made her job a lot easier.
traduce
(v.) to defame or slander
His actions traduced his reputation.
tranquillity
(n.) peace; stillness; harmony
The tranquillity of the tropical island was reflected in its calm blue waters
and warm sunny climate.
transmutation
(n.) a changed form
Somewhere in the network’s entertainment division, the show underwent a
transmutation from a half-hour sitcom into an hour-long drama.
transmute
(v.) to transform
Decorators transmute ordinary homes into interesting showcases.
transpire
(v.) to take place; come about
With all that’s transpired today, I’m exhausted.
traumatic
(adj.) causing a violent injury
It was a traumatic accident, leaving the driver with a broken vertebra, a
smashed wrist, and a concussion.
travail
(n.) very hard work; intense pain or agony
The farmer was tired after the travail of plowing the fields.
The analgesic finally ended her travail.
trek
(v.) to make a journey
They had to trek through the dense forest to reach the nearest village.
trenchant
(adj.) cutting; keen or incisive words
Without a trenchant tool, they would have to break the branches rather
than cut them.
The trenchant words hurt the man deeply.
trepidation
(n.) apprehension; uneasiness
Her long absence caused more than a little trepidation.
With great trepidation, the boy entered the water for the first time.
tribunal
(n.) the seat of judge
The tribunal heard the case of the burglary.
tribute
(n.) expression of admiration
Her performance was a tribute to her retiring teacher.
trite
(adj.) commonplace; overused
The committee was looking for something new, not the same trite ideas.
Eating tomato salads became trite after their excessive popularity.
trivial
(adj.) unimportant; small; worthless
Although her mother felt otherwise, she considered her dish washing chore
trivial.
troth
(n.) belief; faith; fidelity
The couple pledged troth to each other through their vows.
truculent
(adj.) fierce, savage, cruel
Truculent fighting broke out in the war-torn country. The truculent beast
approached the crowd with wild eyes and sharpened claws.
truncate
(v.) to shorten by cutting
With the football game running over, the show scheduled to follow it had to
be truncated.
tumid
(adj.) swollen; pompous
The tumid river washed away the homes built on the shore.
After he earned his high-school diploma, he became insufferably tumid.
The tumid balloon floated, but the empty one did not.
tumult
(n.) a noisy commotion; disturbance
The tumult was caused by two boys wanting the same toy.
After the tumult, I found it difficult to resume my studies.
turbid
(adj.) thick and dense; cloudy
The turbid green waters of the lake prevented them from seeing the bottom. turbulence (n.) condition of being physically agitated; disturbance Everyone on the plane had to fasten their seat belts as the plane entered an area of turbulence.
turmoil
(n.) unrest; agitation
Before the country recovered after the war, they experienced a time of
great turmoil.
turpitude
(n.) vileness
The turpitude of the action caused a rage among the people. tutelage (n.)
the condition of being under a guardian or a tutor Being under the tutelage of a master musician is a great honor.
tycoon
(n.) wealthy leader
The business tycoon prepared to buy his fifteenth company.
tyranny
(n.) absolute power; autocracy
The people were upset because they had no voice in the government that
the king ran as a tyranny.
ubiquitous
(adj.) omnipresent; present everywhere
A ubiquitous spirit followed the man wherever he went.
Water may seem ubiquitous, until a drought comes along.
ulterior
(adj.) buried; concealed; undisclosed
She was usually very selfish, so when she came bearing gifts he suspected
that she had ulterior motives.
My ulterior concerns are more important than my immediate ones. The man’
s ulterior motive was to spy on the lab, though he said he wanted a job.
umbrage
(n.) offense or resentment
The candidate took umbrage at the remark of his opponent.
unalloyed
(adj.) pure, of high quality
An unalloyed chain is of greater value than a piece of costume jewelry.
uncanny
(adj.) of a strange nature; weird
That two people could be so alike was uncanny.
uncouth
(adj.) uncultured; crude
The social club would not accept an uncouth individual.
undermine
(v.) to weaken; often through subtle means
The attempts to undermine the merger were unsuccessful. The supervisor
undermined the director’s power and began controlling the staff.
unequivocal
(adj.) clear and unambiguous
The 50-0 vote against the bill was an unequivocal statement against the
measure.
His response was unequivocal, which seemed unusual for a politician.
unfeigned
(adj.) genuine; real; sincere
Her unfeigned reaction of surprise meant she had not expected the party.
ungainly
(adj.) clumsy and unattractive
The ungainly man knocked over the plant stand. uniform (adj.) never
changing, always with the same standard The marching band moved in uniform across the field. Patrons of fast-food chains say they like the idea of a uniform menu wherever they go.
unique
(adj.) without equal; incomparable
The jeweler assured him that the dubloon was unique, as it was part of the long lost treasure of the Atocha. universal (adj.) concerning everyone; existing everywhere Pollution does not affect just one country or state- it’s a universal problem. unobtrusive (adj.) out of the way; remaining quietly in the background The shy man found an unobtrusive seat in the far corner of the room. It was easy to miss the unobtrusive plaque above the fireplace.
unprecedented
(adj.) unheard of; exceptional
Weeks of intense heat created unprecedented power demands, which the
utilities were hard pressed to meet.
unpretentious
(adj.) simple; plain; modest
He was an unpretentious farmer: An old John Deere and a beat-up Ford
pick-up were all he needed to get the job done. unruly (adj.) not submitting to discipline; disobedient The unruly boys had to be removed from the concert hall.
untoward
(adj.) improper; unfortunate
Asking guests to bring their own food would be an untoward request.
All of their friends expressed sympathy about their untoward separation.
unwonted
(adj.) rare
The unwonted raise would be the only one received for a few years. The
changed migratory habits of the Canada geese, though unwonted, is unwanted because of the mess they make.
upshot
(n.) the final act or result
The upshot of the debate was that the bill would be released to the floor.
urbane
(adj.) cultured; suave
The gala concert and dinner dance was attended by the most urbane
individuals.
The English businessman was described by his peers as witty and urbane. usurpation (n.) art of taking something for oneself; seizure During the war, the usurpation of the country forced an entirely new culture on the natives. usury (n.) the lending of money with an excessively high interest rate An interest rate 30 points above the prime rate would be considered usury in the United States. Loan sharks frequently practice usury, but their debtors usually have little choice but to keep quiet and pay up. utopia (n.) imaginary land with perfect social and political systems Voltaire wrote of a utopia where the streets were paved with gold.
waft
(v.) move gently by wind or breeze
The smoke wafted out of the chimney.
waive
(v.) to give up; to put off until later
I will waive my rights to have a lawyer present because I don’t think I need
one.
As hard as he tried, he could only waive his responsibility for so long.
wan
(adj.) lacking color; sickly pale
Her face became wan at the sight of blood.
wane
(v.) to gradually become less; to grow dim
After time, interest in the show will wane and it will no longer be as popular.
The full moon waned until it was nothing but a sliver in the sky. wanton
(adj.) unmanageable; unjustifiably malicious My wanton hunger must be satiated.
With wanton aggression, the army attacked the defenseless village.
It is hard to lose weight when one has a wanton desire for sweets.
warrant
(v.) justify; authorize
The police official warranted the arrest of the suspect once enough proof
had been found.
welter
(n.) a confused mass; turmoil
When the emergency alarm sounded, a welter of shivering office workers
formed in the street as people evacuated the site. The welter moved from street to street to escape the fire.
wheedle
(v.) to influence or persuade
The crook may attempt to wheedle the money from the bank.
He tried hard to wheedle his father into buying him a car.
whet
(v.) to sharpen by rubbing; to stimulate
Before carving the turkey, you must whet the blade.
The smell of cooking food has whet my appetite.
The smell of dinner cooking whetted her appetite.
whimsical
(adj.) fanciful; amusing
Strolling down Disney World’s Main Street is bound to put child and grown-
up alike in a whimsical mood.
wily
(adj.) concealing; sly
The wily explanation was meant to confuse the investigator.
winsome
(adj.) charming; sweetly attractive
His winsome words moved the crowd to love him even more.
wither
(v.) wilt; shrivel; humiliate; cut down
The plant withered slowly since it received little light and little water.
wizened
(adj.) shriveled; withered
The wizened face of the old man was covered by his hat.
wooden
(adj.) to be expressionless or dull
The wooden expression of the man made him look like a statue.
workaday
(adj.) commonplace
The workaday meal was not exciting to the world class chef.
wrath
(n.) violent or unrestrained anger; fury
Do not trespass on his property or you will have to deal with his wrath.
wreak
(v.) to give vent; to inflict
The dragon will wreak havoc upon the countryside. wrest (v.) to pull or
force away by a violent twisting The warriors wrest the power from the king. wretched (adj.) miserable or unhappy; causing distress Brought up in an orphanage, Annie led a wretched existence. The continual rain made for a wretched vacation.
wry
(adj.) mocking; cynical
He has a wry sense of humor which sometimes hurts people’s feelings.
xenophobia
(n.) fear of foreigners
Xenophobia kept the townspeople from encouraging any immigrants to
move into the neighborhood.
yoke
(n.) harness; collar; bond
The jockey led her horse by the yoke around its neck and face.
yore
(n.) former period of time
When he sees his childhood friends, they speak about the days of yore.
zealot
(n.) believer; enthusiast; fan
The zealot followed whatever rules the cult leader set. zenith (n.) point directly overhead in the sky; highest point The astronomer pointed her telescope straight up toward the zenith. The Broncos seemed to be at the zenith of their power just as their rivals on the turf were flagging.
The sun will reach its zenith at noon.
The zenith of her career occurred during her time as chairperson.
zephyr
(n.) a gentle wind; breeze
It was a beautiful day, with a zephyr blowing in from the sea.
The zephyr blew the boat slowly across the lake.