Section 1
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audacious
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Last updated
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Date created
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Cards (835)
Section 1
(50 cards)
audacious
Very bold or brave, often in a rude or reckless way; extremely original
adverse
Opposing, harmful
anoint
Rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by a ceremony that includes applying oil to someone
aesthetic
Concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste, pertaining to the science of what is beautiful (adj); a sense of beauty and taste of a particular time and place (noun)
abrasive
Rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance
analogous
Comparable, corresponding in some particular way (making a good analogy)
aggrandize
Make greater; exaggerate
abridge
Reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while retaining the main idea
aggregate
Gather together, amount to (verb); constituting a whole made up of constituent parts (adj)
apathy
Not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern
belie
Contradict or misrepresent
ascetic
abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a person who leads an austere and simple life without material pleasures, esp. someone who does this for religious reasons
ambiguous
Not clear, hard to understand, open to having several meanings or interpretations
antagonize
Make hostile or unfriendly
balk
Refuse to proceed or to do something
affable
Warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable
advocate
Speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a cause or on behalf of another person (noun)
abhor
Detest, regard with disgust
austere
Severe in manner or appearance; very self-disciplined, ascetic; without luxury or ease; sober or serious
anarchy
Absence of law or government; chaos, disorder
abjure
Give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath)
aver
Declare or affirm with confidence
arcane
Known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret
abate
Reduce, diminish
abdicate
Formally give up the throne (or some other power or responsibility)
abstain
Hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote
acme
Summit, peak, highest point
alacrity
Cheerful or speedy willingness
augment
Make larger
benign
Harmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, or beneficial; not cancerous
artifact
Any object made by humans, especially those from an earlier time, such as those excavated by archaeologists
admonish
Mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something
adhere
Stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief
archaic
Characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive
articulate
Using language in a clear, fluent way (adj); speak distinctly or give clarity to an idea (verb)
apocryphal
Of questionable authenticity; false
artless
Free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking skill or knowledge, crude, uncultured
alienate
Cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant
ascertain
Find out with certainty
ambivalent
Uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once
anomaly
Deviation from what is common; inconsistency
activism
The practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations
affectation
Fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to give a certain impression
base
Morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or no value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit
aberrant
Abnormal, deviant
autonomous
Self-governing, independent
alleviate
Lessen, make easier to endure
avid
Enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous
assuage
Make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm
arduous
Very difficult, strenuous; severe, hard to endure
Section 2
(50 cards)
commensurate
The same in size, extent, etc., equivalent; proportional
convoluted
Twisted; very complicated
complacent
Self-satisfied, smug; overly content (and therefore lazy, neglectful, or some other bad quality)
counterpoint
Contrasting item, opposite; a complement; the use of contrast or interplay in a work of art
chauvinism
Fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.
clinch
Make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together
bygone
Past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually plural noun)
complementary
Completing; fitting together well; filling mutual needs
clamor
Noisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; a loud, continuous noise
bureaucracy
Government characterized by many bureaus and petty administrators or by excessive, seemingly meaningless requirements
concur
Approve, agree
buffer
Something that shields, protects, absorbs shock, or cushions
conversant
Knowledgeable about or experienced with
construe
Interpret or translate
concede
Give in, admit, yield; acknowledge reluctantly; grant or give up (such as giving up land after losing a war)
converge
Move towards one another or towards a point; unite
conversely
In an opposite way; on the other hand
censure
Strong disapproval or official reprimand (noun); to issue such disapproval or reprimand (verb)
bogus
Fake, fraudulent
connoisseur
Expert, especially in the fine arts; person of educated, refined tastes
countenance
Facial expression or face (noun); approve or tolerate (verb)
contextualize
Place in context, such as by giving the background or circumstances
cartography
Mapmaking
buttress
Support or encourage (verb); a support or prop, esp. projecting from and supporting the wall of a building (noun)
candid
Open, sincere, honest
conundrum
Riddle, the answer to which involves a play on words; any mystery
compliant
Obeying, submissive; following the requirements
coalesce
Come together, unite; fuse together
boor
Rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a peasant or country bumpkin
castigate
Criticize severely; punish in order to correct
bolster
Strengthen or support
consolidate
Unite, combine, solidify, make coherent
cacophony
Harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds
counterintuitive
Against what one would intuitively expect
contentious
Controversial; prone to causing arguments, especially gratuitous or petty ones
condone
Overlook, tolerate, regard as harmless
confer
Consult, compare views; bestow or give
cogent
Very convincing, logical
catalyst
Causer of change
conciliatory
Reconciling, appeasing, attempting to make the peace
cosmopolitan
Belonging to the entire world, at home globally; free from local or national prejudices or attachments
constrict
Squeeze, compress; restrict the freedom of
capricious
Acting on impulse, erratic
console
Lessen the suffering or grief of (verb); a control panel, or small table or cabinet (noun)
burgeon
Grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant)
copious
Plentiful, bountiful
caustic
Capable of corroding metal or burning the skin; very critical or sarcastic
canonical
Authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or body of accepted rules, standards or artistic works
corroborate
Support, add evidence to
chronological
Arranged in or relating to time order
Section 3
(50 cards)
delineate
Mark the outline of; sketch; describe in detail
credibility
Believability, trustworthiness
denigrate
Belittle, attack the reputation of
dissonance
Harsh, inharmonious sound; cacophony; disagreement
credulous
Gullible; prone to believing or trusting too easily or without enough evidence
discrepancy
Difference or inconsistency
deleterious
Harmful, unhealthful
deride
Mock, scoff at, laugh at contemptuously
derivative
Derived from something else; not original
disinterested
Unbiased, impartial; not interested
discredit
Injure the reputation of, destroy credibility of or confidence in
disingenuous
Insincere, not genuine
diatribe
Bitter, abusive attack or criticism; rant
debunk
Expose, ridicule, or disprove false or exaggerated claims
deference
Respectful submission; yielding to the authority or opinion of another
cynical
Thinking the worst of others' motivations; bitterly pessimistic
discriminating
Judicious, discerning, having good judgment or insight
disquieting
Disturbing, causing anxiety
crafty
Cunning, skillful in deception or underhanded schemes
crescendo
Steady increase in force, intensity, or the loudness of a musical passage; a climactic moment or peak
disseminate
Scatter, spread about, broadcast
deterrent
Something that restrains or discourages
din
Loud, confused noise, esp. for a long period of time
daunt
Discourage, dishearten, lessen the courage of
craven
Very cowardly, lacking courage
didactic
Intended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson
disabuse
Free someone from a mistake in thinking
denote
Be a name or symbol for
disposition
A person's general or natural mood; tendency
discerning
Having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish mentally
disjointed
Disconnected, not coherent, jerky; having the joints separated
dissent
Disagree or take an opposing view, esp. in relation to a formal body such as a government, political party, or church; such a view
detached
Impartial, disinterested; unconcerned, distant, aloof
counterproductive
Defeating the purpose; preventing the intended goal
deflect
Cause to curve; turn aside, esp. from a straight course; avoid
disperse
Scatter, spread widely, cause to vanish
distill
Purify; extract the essential elements of
dispatch
Speed, promptness; send off or deal with in a speedy way
default
Failure to act, neglect (noun); fail to fulfill an obligation, especially a financial one (verb)
desiccate
Thoroughly dried up, dehydrated
deem
Judge; consider
debase
Degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral quality
covert
Secret, veiled, undercover
diverge
Differ, deviate; branch off or turn aside, as from a path
culminate
Reach the highest point or final stage
deface
Vandalize, mar the appearance of
decorous
Behaving with propriety and good taste; polite
dispassionate
Unbiased, not having a selfish or personal motivation; calm, lacking emotion
digress
Go off-topic when speaking or writing
dismiss
Allow to disperse or leave; fire from a job; put aside or reject, especially after only a brief consideration
Section 4
(50 cards)
equitable
Fair, equal, just
eclectic
Selecting the best of everything or from many diverse sources
elicit
Call forth, bring out, evoke
elated
Very happy, in high spirits
enigma
Puzzle, mystery, riddle; mysterious or contradictory person
erratic
Inconsistent, wandering, having no fixed course
document
Support with evidence, cite sources in a detailed way, create documentary evidence of
emulate
Copy in an attempt to equal or be better than
divest
Deprive or strip of a rank, title, etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell off holdings (opposite of invest)
exculpate
Clear from guilt or blame
enervate
Weaken, tire
egalitarian
Related to belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social spheres
entitlement
Having the right to certain privileges; believing, sometimes without cause, that one deserves or has a right to certain privileges
exacting
Very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention
ephemeral
Lasting only a short time, fleeting
esoteric
Understood by or intended for only a few; secret
facilitate
Make easier, help the progress of
enumerate
Count or list; specify one-by-one
egregious
Extraordinarily or conspicuously bad; glaring
dubious
Doubtful, questionable, suspect
eloquent
Marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech; expressive, emotionally moving
exacerbate
Make worse (more violent, severe, etc.), inflame; irritate or embitter (a person)
extraneous
Irrelevant; foreign, coming from without, not belonging
dogma
A system of principles laid down by an authority; established belief
eccentric
Peculiar, odd, deviating from the norm esp. in a whimsical way
estimable
Worthy of esteem, admirable; able to be estimated
elevate
Raise, lift up; lift the spirits of; move up to a higher rank or status or raise up to a higher spiritual or intellectual plane
extrapolate
Conjecture about an unknown by projecting information about something known; predict by projecting past experience
fathom
Measure the depth of (usually of water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand
eclipse
The obscuring of one thing by another, such as the sun by the moon or a person by a more famous or talented person (noun); to obscure, darken, make less important (verb)
eminent
Prominent, distinguished, of high rank
empirical
Coming from, based on, or able to be verified by experience or experimentation; not purely based on theory
embellish
Decorate, add ornamentation; enhance (a story) with fictional or fanciful details
enhance
Raise to a higher value, desirability, etc.
efficacy
The quality of being able to produce the intended effect
eulogy
Speech of praise or written work of praise, esp. a speech given at a funeral
feasible
Possible; logical or likely; suitable
divine
Discover through divination or supernatural means; perceive by insight
fanciful
Whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely imaginative rather than based on reason or reality
erudite
Scholarly, knowledgeable; possessing deep, often systematic, knowledge
erroneous
Mistaken, in error; improper, morally incorrect
fallacious
Containing a fallacy, or mistake in logic; logically unsound; deceptive
eschew
Shun, avoid, abstain from
exhaustive
Comprehensive, thorough, exhausting a topic or subject, accounting for all possibilities; draining, tending to exhaust
e.g.
For example, such as
fanatical
Excessively devoted, enthusiastic, or zealous in an uncritical way
facetious
Joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately; not serious, concerned with frivolous things
exponent
Person who expounds or explains; champion, advocate, or representative
dormant
Asleep, inactive, on a break
explicit
Direct, clear, fully revealed; clearly depicting sex or nudity
Section 5
(50 cards)
figurative
Metaphorical, based on figures of speech; containing many figures of speech (as fancy-sounding writing); related to portraying human or animal figures
inconsequential
Insignificant, unimportant; illogical
fidelity
Faithfulness, loyalty; strict observance of duty; accuracy in reproducing a sound or image
implicit
Implied, not stated directly; involved in the very essence of something, unquestionable
impede
Hold back, obstruct the progress of
impartial
Unbiased, fair
garrulous
Talkative, wordy, rambling
fortify
Strengthen, invigorate, encourage
frugal
Economical, thrifty, not wasteful with money; inexpensive
flag
Get tired, lose enthusiasm; hang limply or droop
foment
Incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of; apply medicated liquid to a body part
glib
Fluent and easy in a way that suggests superficiality or insincerity
futile
Producing no useful result, ineffective; trivial or unimportant
incendiary
Setting on fire, pertaining to arson; arousing strife, rebellion, etc.; "inflaming" the senses
gainsay
Declare false, deny; oppose
fringe
On the margin, periphery (adj); the people in a group who hold the most extreme views (noun)
fleeting
Passing quickly, transitory
incongruous
Out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious
guile
Clever deceit, cunning, craftiness
homogeneous
Of the same kind; uniform throughout
imminent
Ready to occur, impending
hierarchy
A ranked series; a classification of people according to rank, ability, etc.; a ruling body
hodgepodge
Mixture of different kinds of things, jumble
hardy
Bold, brave, capable of withstanding hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.
gawky
Physically awkward (esp. of a tall, skinny person, often used to describe teenagers)
implode
Burst inward
implication
Act of implying or that which is implied; close connection, esp. in an incriminating way
inadvertent
Unintentional; characterized by a lack of attention, careless
hedonist
Person devoted to pleasure
gist
Main idea, essence
impair
Make worse, weaken
hearken
Listen, pay attention to
incentive
Something that encourages greater action or effort, such as a reward
incipient
Just beginning; in a very early stage
illiberality
Narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity
finesse
Extreme delicacy, subtlety, or diplomacy in handling a sensitive situation or in a performance or skill (noun); use tact or diplomacy; employ a deceptive strategy (verb)
germane
Relevant and appropriate, on-topic
heterogeneous
Different in type, incongruous; composed of different types of elements
gregarious
Sociable, pertaining to a flock or crowd
foreshadow
Indicate or suggest beforehand, presage
goosebumps
The "bumps" created by hairs standing up on the skin in response to cold, fear, etc.
idiosyncrasy
Characteristic or habit peculiar to an individual; peculiar quality, quirk
inasmuch
In like manner, considering that (contraction of "in as much," generally followed by "as")
hackneyed
So commonplace as to be stale; not fresh or original
inchoate
Just begun, undeveloped, unorganized
gauche
Tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude
forfeit
Surrender or lose as a result of an error, crime, or failure to fulfill an obligation
hyberbole
Deliberate exaggeration for effect
gradation
A progression, a process taking place gradually, in stages; one of these stages
haven
Harbor or port; refuge, safe place
Section 6
(50 cards)
maverick
Rebel, individualist, dissenter
inherent
Existing as a permanent, essential quality; intrinsic
mendacious
Lying, habitually dishonest
monotony
Sameness or repetitiousness to the point of being boring; lack of variation, uniformity, esp. repetition in sound
jargon
Vocabulary specific to a group or occupation; convoluted or unintelligible language
intrepid
Fearless, brave, enduring in the face of adversity
lassitude
Tiredness, weariness; lazy indifference
lampoon
A harsh satire (noun); ridicule or satirize (verb)
indeterminate
Not fixed or determined, indefinite; vague
keen
Sharp, piercing; very perceptive or mentally sharp; intense (of a feeling)
moreover
Besides; in addition to what was just stated
mitigate
Make less severe; lessen or moderate (damage, grief, pain, etc.)
makeshift
A temporary, often improvised, substitute (noun); improvised for temporary use (adj)
ingrained
Deep-rooted, forming part of the very essence; worked into the fiber
inform
Inspire, animate; give substance, essence, or context to; be the characteristic quality of
levity
Lightness (of mind, spirit, or mood) or lack of seriousness, sometimes in an inappropriate way
mores
Customs, manners, or morals of a particular group
judicious
Using good judgment; wise, sensible
modest
Humble; simple rather than showy; decent (esp. "covering up" in terms of dress); small, limited
intelligible
Able to be understood, clear
metamorphosis
A complete change or transformation (in biology, a change such as a caterpillar becoming a pupa and then a butterfly)
ingenuous
Genuine, sincere, not holding back; naive
lucid
Clear, easy to understand; rational, sane
likewise
Also, in addition to; similarly, in the same way
indifferent
Not caring, having no interest; unbiased, impartial
laudable
Worthy of praise
lavish
Abundant or giving in abundance; marked by excess (adj); give very generously (verb)
lull
Soothe or cause to fall asleep (as in a lullaby); quiet down; make to feel secure, sometimes falsely (verb); a period of calm or quiet (noun)
log
Keep a record of, write down; travel for or at a certain distance or speed (verb); a written record (noun)
loquacious
Talkative, wordy
libertine
Morally or sexually unrestrained person; freethinker (regarding religion)
mollify
Calm or soothe (an angry person); lessen or soften
landmark
Object (such as a building) that stands out and can be used to navigate by; a very important place, event, etc.
lament
Mourn; express grief, sorrow, or regret (verb); an expression of grief, esp. as a song or poem (noun)
lackluster
Not shiny; dull, mediocre; lacking brilliance or vitality
intractable
Difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn
liberal
Favorable to progress or reform; believing in maximum possible individual freedom; tolerant, open-minded; generous (adj); a person with such beliefs or practices (noun)
jocular
Joking or given to joking all the time; jolly, playful
levy
Collect tax from, wage war on, or enlist for military service; (verb); act of colleting tax or amount owed, or the drafting of troops into military service (noun)
meticulous
Taking extreme care in regards to details; precise, fussy
layperson
A person who is not a member of the clergy or not a member of a particular profession (such as medicine, law, etc.)
innocuous
Harmless, inoffensive
intrinsic
Belonging to the essential nature of a thing
mercurial
Quickly and unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty
laconic
Using few words, concise
languid
Drooping from exhaustion, sluggish, slow; lacking in spirit
juncture
Critical point in time, such as a crisis or a time when a decision is necessary; a place where two things are joined together
incorporate
Combine, unite; form a legal corporation; embody, give physical form to
malleable
Able to be bent, shaped, or adapted
kudos
Praise, honor, congratulations
Section 7
(50 cards)
obviate
Prevent, eliminate, or make unnecessary
plausible
Believable; having the appearance of truth
plastic
Able to be shaped or formed; easily influenced
nevertheless or nonetheless
However, even so, despite that
novel
New, fresh, original
notoriety
Ill fame; the state of being well-known for a disgraceful reason
patronizing
Condescending, having a superior manner, treating as an inferior
placate
Satisfy or calm down (an angry or dissatisfied person), esp. by conciliatory gestures
placid
Peaceful, calm, tranquil
offhand
Casual, informal; done without preparation or forethought; rude in a short way, brusque
opaque
Not translucent; not allowing light, heat, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear or stupid
partisan
Devoted to a particular group, cause, etc. (adj.); fervent supporter of a group, party, idea, etc.; guerilla fighter (noun)
partial
Biased, prejudiced, favoring one over others; having a special liking for something or someone (usually partial to)
orthodox
Adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted
penchant
Liking or inclination (usually penchant for)
nuance
A subtle difference in tone, meaning, expression, etc.
onerous
Burdensome, oppressive, hard to endure
paradox
Contradiction, or seeming contradiction that is actually true
permeate
Spread or penetrate throughout
obsolete
Out of date, no longer in use
optimal
Best, most desirable or favorable
phony
Fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine
naïve
Simple and unsophisticated, unsuspecting, lacking worldly experience and critical judgment
paucity
Scarcity, the state of being small in number
pariah
Social outcast, untouchable
patent
Obvious, apparent, plain to see (adj); a letter from a government guaranteeing an inventor the rights to his or her invention (noun)
mundane
Common, ordinary, everyday
outstrip
Surpass, exceed; be larger or better than; leave behind
paradigm
Model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.
perfidious
Disloyal, treacherous, violating one's trust
offset
Counteract, compensate for (verb); a counterbalance (noun)
occult
The supernatural (noun); pertaining to magic, astrology, etc.; mysterious, secret or hidden (adj); to hide, to shut off from view (verb)
objective
Factual, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased
pathological
Relating to or caused by disease; relating to compulsive bad behavior
negate
Deny or refute; make void or cause to be ineffective
nascent
Coming into existence, still developing
overshadow
Cast a shadow over, darken; dominate, make to seem less important
optimum
most favorable condition or greatest degree or amount possible under given circumstances
obsequious
Servile, very compliant, fawning
net
Remaining after expenses or other factors have been deducted; ultimate (adj); to bring in as profit, or to catch as in a net (verb)
pith
Core, essence; significance or weight
oscillate
Swing back and forth; waver, change one's mind
philanthropy
Efforts to improve the well-being of humankind, generally through giving money
peccadillo
Small sin or fault
pedestrian
Ordinary, dull, commonplace
pious
Devout; religiously reverent and dutiful
officious
Excessively eager in giving unwanted advice or intruding where one is not wanted; meddlesome, pushy
obstinate
Stubborn or hard to control
pervasive
Tending to spread throughout
peripheral
Relating to or making up an outer boundary or region; not of primary importance, fringe
Section 8
(50 cards)
pugnacious
Inclined to fight, combative
repudiate
Reject, cast off, deny that something has authority
pronounced
Distinct, strong, clearly indicated
rescind
Annul, repeal, make void
quandary
Uncertainty or confusion about what to do, dilemma
requite
Reciprocate, repay, or revenge
probity
Honesty, integrity
resolution
The quality of being firmly determined; resolving to do something; a formal judgment, esp. decided by a vote
ponderous
Heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored
qualified
Modified, limited, conditional on something else
profuse
Abundant, extravagant, giving or given freely
presumptuous
Too bold or forward; going beyond that which is proper
precursor
Something that comes before, esp. something that also announces or suggests something on its way
plummet
Plunge, fall straight down
quotidian
Daily; everyday, ordinary
presumptive
Based on inference or assumption; providing reasonable grounds for belief
refute
Prove to be false
pristine
In an original, pure state; uncorrupted
profound
Very insightful, penetrating deeply into a subject; pervasive, intense, "down to the very bottom"; at the very bottom
recluse
Person who lives in seclusion
predisposed
Having an inclination or tendency beforehand; susceptible
posthumous
Happening or continuing after death
quibble
Make trivial arguments or criticisms, find faults in a petty way, esp. to evade something more important
pretentious
Claiming or demanding a position of importance or dignity, esp. when unjustified; showing off, creating a deceptive, false show of worth
render
Give, submit, surrender; translate; declare formally; cause to become
prodigal
Wasteful, extravagant; giving abundantly, lavish
prosaic
Dull, ordinary
prudent
Wise in practical matters, carefully providing for the future
propriety
Conforming to good manners or appropriate behavior; justness
principled
Having high moral standards
polarized
Divided into sharply opposed groups
reap
Harvest, such as by cutting; gather; get as a result of one's effort
precarious
Unstable, insecure, dangerous
prodigious
Extraordinarily large, impressive, etc.
replete
Supplied in abundance, filled, gorged (used with with)
potentate
Ruler, person of great power
profligate
Completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely wasteful
relegate
Send or commit to an inferior place, rank, condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task) to someone else
resolve
Find a solution to; firmly decide to do something; decide by formal vote (verb); firmness of purpose (noun)
ranks
Personnel; a group of people considered all together
prologue
Introductory part to a book, play, etc.
preamble
Introductory statement, preface
remedial
Providing a remedy, curative; correcting a deficient skill
reproach
Blame, disgrace (noun); criticize, express disappointment in (verb)
prohibitive
Tending to forbid something, or serving to prevent something
proliferate
Increase or spread rapidly or excessively
pre-empt
Prevent; take the place of, supplant; take before someone else can
proscribe
Prohibit, outlaw; denounce; exile or banish
pragmatic
Practical; dealing with actual facts and reality
prospective
Potential, in the future
Section 9
(50 cards)
sap
The inner fluid of a plant or any essential body fluid; energy, vitality; a person taken advantage of (noun); undermine, weaken, tire out (verb)
simultaneous
At the same time
sanguine
Cheerfully optimistic, hopeful; reddish, ruddy (as in rosy-red cheeks indicting health or vitality)
status quo
Existing state or condition
saturate
Soak or imbue thoroughly; cause a substance to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance
scant
Not enough or barely enough
sportive
Playful, merry, joking around, done "in sport" (rather than intended seriously)
spartan
Very disciplined and stern; frugal, living simply, austere; suggestive of the ancient Spartans
solicitous
Concerned or anxious (about another person), expressing care; eager or desirous; very careful
reverent
Feeling or expressing very deep respect and awe
stolid
Unemotional, showing little emotion, not easily moved
subside
Sink, settle down, become less active; return to a normal level
scathing
Severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical (as a remark)
satiate or sate
To fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying to the point of excess (possibly inducing disgust, tiredness, etc.)
respectively
In the order given
slack
Loose, negligent, lazy, weak (adj); neglect to do one's duties; loosen up, relax (verb); period of little work (noun)
rudimentary
Elementary, relating to the basics; undeveloped, primitive
secular
Not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things
sound
Measure the depth of (usually of water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand (usually as sound the depths)
sanction
Permission or approval, something that gives support or authority to something else (noun); to allow, confirm, ratify (verb); OR a legal action by one or more countries against another country to get it to comply (noun); to place sanctions or penalties on (verb)
reticent
Not talking much; private (of a person), restrained, reserved
slight
Small, not very important, slender or delicate (adj); treat as though not very important; snub, ignore (verb); an act of treating in this way, a discourtesy (noun)
sentient
Conscious; experiencing sensation or perceiving with the senses
stark
Complete, total, utter; harsh or grim; extremely simple, severe, blunt, or plain
sedulous
Persevering, persistent, diligent in one's efforts
sacrosanct
Sacred, inviolable, not to be trespassed on or violated; above any criticism
retrospective
Looking to the past or backward; applying to the past, retroactive (adj); an art exhibit of an artist's work over a long period of time (noun)
savor
Appreciate fully, taste or smell with pleasure
static
Fixed, not moving or changing, lacking vitality
spectrum
A broad range of nevertheless related qualities or ideas, esp. those that overlap to create a continuous series (as in a color spectrum, where each color blends into the next in a continuous way)
rhetoric
The art or study of persuasion through speaking or writing; language that is elaborate or pretentious but actually empty, meaning little
sagacious
Wise; showing good judgment and foresight
skirt
Border, lie along the edge of, go around; evade
slew
A large number or quantity
sporadic
Occasional, happening irregularly or in scattered locations
spate
Sudden outpouring or rush; flood
rustic
Relating to country life, unsophisticated; primitive; made of rough wood (adj); a rural or uncultured person (noun)
specious
Seemingly true but actually false; deceptively attractive
speculate
Contemplate; make a guess or educated guess about; engage in a risky business transaction, gamble
stoic or stoical
Indifferent to pleasure or pain, enduring without complaint; person indifferent to pleasure or pain (noun)
salubrious
Healthful, promoting health
rife
Happening frequently, abundant, currently being reported
soporific
Causing sleep; sleepy, drowsy (adj); something that causes sleep (noun)
spearhead
Be the leader of
stymie or stymy
Block, hinder, or thwart (verb); an obstacle (noun)
subjective
Existing in the mind or relating to one's own thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc.; personal, individual, based on feelings
stingy
Not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give
restive
Impatient or uneasy under the control of another; resisting being controlled
skeptic
Person inclined to doubting or questioning generally accepted beliefs
standing
Status, rank, reputation (noun); existing indefinitely, not movable (adj)
Section 10
(50 cards)
vituperate
Verbally abuse, rebuke or criticize harshly
supplicate
Pray humbly; ask, beg, or seek in a humble way
temperance
Moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or other desires or pleasures; total abstinence from alcohol
viable
Capable of living (or growing, developing, etc.); practical, workable
abase
Degrade or humble; to lower in rank, status, or esteem
tangential
Only slightly relevant, going off-topic
warranted
Justified, authorized (warrant can mean to justify or a justification, but can also mean to vouch for or guarantee)
table
Lay aside to discuss later, often as a way to postpone discussion indefinitely
zenith
High point, culmination
sycophant
Servile flatterer, parasitic person who fawns in order to get ahead
trite
Lacking freshness and originality, lacking effectiveness due to overuse, cliché
zeal
Great fervor or enthusiasm for a cause, person, etc.; tireless diligence in furthering that cause; passion, ardor
surfeit
Excess, excessive amount, overindulgence
whereas
While on the contrary, considering that
ubiquitous
Existing everywhere at the same time
verbose
Wordy
wary
Watchful, motivated by caution, on guard against danger
wily
Crafty, cunning, characterized by tricks or artifice
timely
Well-timed, happening at a suitable time
succeeding
Coming after or following
synchronous
Happening at the same time; occurring at the same rate and thus happening together repeatedly
abscission
Cutting off; sudden termination; the separation of leaves, petals, or other parts from a plant or animal
tirade
Bitter, abusive criticism or verbal attack
torpor
Sluggishness, lethargy, or apathy; a period of inactivity
tenuous
Long and thin, slender; flimsy, having little substance
timorous
Fearful, timid
vintage
Related to items of high quality from a previous era, old-fashioned, antique (adj); the wine of a particular year (noun)
whimsical
Marked or motivated by whims (odd, fanciful ideas); erratic, unpredictable
vacillate
Waver in one's mind or opinions, be indecisive
underscore
Emphasize (or, literally, to underline text)
substantiate
Support with evidence or proof; give a material existence to
unseemly
Improper, inappropriate, against the rules of taste or politeness
taciturn
Not talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation
abeyance
Temporary suspension, inactivity
undermine
Weaken, cause to collapse by digging away at the foundation (of a building or an argument); injure or attack in a secretive or underhanded way
virtual
Existing only in the mind or by means of a computer network; existing in results or in essence but not officially or in name
volatile
Varying, inconstant, fleeting; tending to violence, explosive
supersede
Replace, take the position of, cause to be disregarded as void or obsolete
torrid
Very hot, parching, burning; passionate
tacit
Understood without being said; implied, not stated directly; silent
transitory
Temporary, short-lived, not lasting
surmise
Guess, infer, think, or make an opinion with incomplete information
unequivocal
Unambiguous, clear, absolute; having only one possible meaning
tractable
Easily controlled or managed, docile; easily shaped or molded
veracity
Truthfulness, accuracy; habitual adherence to the truth
unearth
Dig up, uncover, expose
venerate
Revere, regard with deep respect and awe
abreast
Side-by-side. The more common "abreast of" means keeping up with, staying aware of, or remaining equal in progress with.
unprecedented
Never before known or seen, without having happened previously
trifling
Trivial, not very important; so small as to be unimportant; frivolous, shallow
Section 11
(50 cards)
antedate
Be older than, precede in time; assign to an earlier date
asperity
Rigor, severity; harshness or sharpness of tone; roughness of surface
apostate
Person who deserts a party, cause, religion, etc.
arrogate
Claim or take presumptuously or without the right to do so
anodyne
Medicine that relieves pain (noun); soothing, relieving pain (adj)
baying
Howling in a deep way, like a dog or wolf
aseptic
Free from germs
august
Venerable, majestic; inspiring admiration
assail
Attack violently, assault
besiege
Attack, overwhelm, crowd in on or surround
adumbrate
Give a rough outline of; foreshadow; reveal only partially; obscure
axiom
Self-evident truth requiring no proof; universally or generally accepted principle
albeit
Although, even though
bent
Personal inclination or tendency
acerbic
Sour; harsh or severe
attuned
In harmony; in sympathetic relationship
arbiter
Judge, umpire, person empowered to decide matters at hand
acumen
Keen, quick, accurate insight or judgment
accretion
Gradual increase; an added part or addition
augury
Telling the future, such as through supernatural means
abscond
Depart suddenly and secretively
approbation
Praise or approval, especially formal approval
antithetical
Directly opposed, opposite; involving antithesis (the rhetorical act of placing two phrases opposite one another for contrast, as in love me or hate me)
beneficent
Doing good
ardent
Very passionate, devoted, or enthusiastic
adulterate
Make impure by adding inappropriate or inferior ingredients
anachronism
Something that is not in its correct historical time; a mistake in chronology, such as by assigning a person or event to the wrong time period
analgesia
Pain relief; inability to feel pain
attenuate
Weaken or thin out
amalgamate
Blend, merge, or unite
aloof
Distant physically or emotionally; reserved; indifferent
acidulous
Slightly acid or sour; sharp or caustic
aspersions
Damaging remarks, defamation, slander
apprise
Inform, give notice to
appropriate
Set aside or authorize (such as money) for a particular purpose; take for one's own use
avarice
Insatiable greed; a miserly desire to hoard wealth
balloon
Swell or puff out; increase rapidly
bevy
Group of birds or other animals that stay close together; any large group
bane
Something that ruins or spoils
annul
Make void or null, cancel, abolish (usually of laws or other established rules)
assiduous
Persevering, diligent, constant
ameliorate
Improve; make better or more bearable
banal
Lacking freshness and originality; cliché
accede
Agree, give consent; assume power (usually as "accede to")
apostle
Pioneer of a reform movement (originally, an early follower of Jesus)
abyss
A deep and vast space or cavity; anything profound or infinite
amortize
Gradually pay off a debt, or gradually write off an asset
aerie
Dwelling or fortress built on a high place; the nest of a bird of prey, such as an eagle or hawk, built on a mountain or cliff
ascribe
Assign or credit to a certain cause or source
apposite
Highly appropriate, suitable, or relevant
Section 12
(50 cards)
cosset
Treat as a pet, pamper
dichotomy
Division into two parts or into two contradictory groups
confound
Confuse, frustrate; mix up or make worse
contraries
Things that are opposing; either of two opposite things
connote
Suggest or imply in addition to the precise, literal meaning
coagulate
Cause a liquid to become solid or semisolid
bilk
Cheat or defraud
burnish
Polish, make smooth and lustrous
bifurcate
To fork into two branches or divide into two halves
contumacious
Rebellious; stubbornly disobedient
cloying
Disgustingly or distastefully sweet
circumspect
Cautious, prudent; careful to consider the circumstances and consequences
circumscribe
Strictly limit a role, range of activity, or area; in math, to be constructed around so as to touch as many points as possible
demur
Show reluctance or object, especially for moral reasons
desultory
Lacking consistency or order, disconnected, sporadic; going off topic
demagogue
A leader who lies and gains power by arousing the passions and especially prejudices of the people
delimit
Fix, mark, or define the boundaries of
brandish
Shake, wave, or flourish, as a weapon
dirge
A funeral or mourning song or poem
convoke
Call together, as to a meeting
blight
Disease that kills plants rapidly, or any cause of decay or destruction (noun); ruin or cause to wither (verb)
calumny
Malicious lie intended to hurt someone's reputation; the act of telling such lies
clamber
Climb awkwardly or with difficulty, scramble
cupidity
Greed, great or excessive desire
coffer
Chest for storing valuables; financial resources, a treasury
compendium
Concise but complete summary; a list or collection
brook
Suffer or tolerate
curmudgeon
Bad-tempered, difficult person; grouch
catholic
Universal, broad-minded
diffident
Lacking confidence, shy
dilate
To become wider or make wider, cause to expand; to speak or write at length, elaborate upon
declivity
Downward slope
complaisant
Eager to please; cheerfully complying
cardinal
Chief, most important
coda
Final part of a musical composition; an ending, esp. one that sums up what has come before
diffuse
Spread widely, disseminate (verb); dispersed, widely spread out, or wordy and going off-topic (adj)
dilettante
Person who takes up an art or activity for amusement only or in a superficial way
dictum
Formal or authoritative pronouncement; saying or proverb
bucolic
Pertaining to shepherds; suggesting a peaceful and pleasant view of rural life
bombastic
(Of speech or writing) far too showy or dramatic than is appropriate; pretentious
contrite
Remorseful; feeling sorry for one's offenses or sins
coterie
Close or exclusive group, clique
collude
Conspire; cooperate for illegal or fraudulent purposes
chicanery
Trickery, deception by knowingly false arguments
declaim
Speak in an impassioned, pompous, or oratorical manner; give a formal speech
bonhomie
Friendliness, open and simple good heartedness
dilatory
Slow, late; procrastinating or stalling for time
canard
Rumor, a false or baseless story
diaphanous
Very sheer, fine, translucent
blithe
Joyous, merry; excessively carefree (so as to ignore more important concerns)
Section 13
(50 cards)
elegy
Song or poem of sorrow, esp. for a deceased person
expurgate
Censor; remove objectionable or offensive parts
egress
An exit or the action of exiting
exonerate
Clear from blame or accusation; free from a responsibility
endemic
Native, local; natural, specific to, or confined to a particular place
dupe
Person who is easily fooled or used (noun); to fool or exploit (verb)
ethos
The character, personality, or moral values specific to a person, group, time period, etc.
diurnal
Occurring every day; happening in the daytime (rather than at night)
disparage
Belittle, put down; bring shame upon, discredit
euphony
Pleasing or sweet sound, especially as formed by a harmonious use of words
fecund
Fruitful, fertile; capable of abundantly producing offspring, vegetation, or creative or intellectual work
fatuous
Foolish, silly, esp. in a smug or complacent manner
expedient
Suitable, proper; effective, often at the expense of ethics or other considerations
engender
Produce, give rise to, cause to exist; procreate
effrontery
Shameless boldness
dissolution
Dissolving, the state of having been dissolved; breaking bonds or breaking up of a group of people; death, disintegration; sinking into extreme hedonism, vice, and degradation
doff
Take off (such as clothes), put aside; remove one's hat as a gesture
equivocate
Use unclear language to deceive or avoid committing to a position
faction
Group or clique within a larger organization; party strife and dissension
euphemism
Substitution of a mild, inoffensive, or indirect expression for one that is considered offensive or too direct
duplicity
Deceit, double-dealing, acting in two different ways for the purpose of deception
fawn
Show affection or try to please in the manner of a dog; try to win favor through flattery and submissive behavior
encomium
Warm, glowing praise, esp. a formal expression of praise
discomfiting
Disconcerting, confusing, frustrating
effigy
Representation or image of a person, esp. a crude facsimile used to mock a hated person
dither
Act indecisively (verb); a state of fear or trembling excitement
emaciate
Make abnormally thin, cause to physically waste away
exigent
Requiring immediate attention, action, or aid; excessively demanding
ebullient
Very enthusiastic, lively, excited; bubbling as though being boiled
dovetail
Join or fit together
fastidious
Excessively particular, difficult to please; painstaking, meticulous, requiring excessive attention to detail
distend
Swell, expand, stretch, bloat
doctrinaire
Person who applies doctrine in an impractical or rigid and close-minded way (noun); merely theoretical, impractical, or fanatical about other people accepting one's ideas (adj)
epicure
Person with cultivated, refined tastes, esp. in food and wine
extemporaneous
Done without preparation (esp. of a speech), or with some preparation but no notes; improvised, done on the spur of the moment
dyspeptic
Grumpy, pessimistic, irritable; suffering from dyspepsia (indigestion)
discrete
Separate, distinct, detached, existing as individual parts
fervid
Very hot; heated in passion or enthusiasm
discordant
Harsh or inharmonious in sound; disagreeing, incongruous
erstwhile
Former, previous (adj); in the past, formerly (adv)
echelon
A level, rank or grade; the people at that level
ersatz
Artificial, synthetic; being an inferior substitute
distaff
Female, esp. relating to the maternal side of the family; women or women's work; a staff that holds wool or flax for spinning
edify
Uplift, enlighten, instruct or improve in a spiritual or moral way
disparate
Distinct, different
equanimity
Composure, evenness of mind; mental or emotional stability, esp. under stress
droll
Funny in an odd way
fallow
Left unplanted (of land); not in use
dissemble
Mislead, conceal the truth, put on a false appearance of
felicitous
Admirably appropriate, very well-suited for the occasion; pleasant, fortunate, marked by happiness
Section 14
(50 cards)
forestall
Delay, hinder, prevent by taking action beforehand
grouse
Complain or grumble (verb); a reason for complaint (noun)
grovel
Creep or crawl with one's face to the ground, prostrate oneself as a token of subservience, degrade or abase oneself
hoary
Very old, gray or white as from old age
forage
Wander in search of; rummage, hunt, make a raid
grievous
Causing grief or suffering; very serious, grave; flagrant, outrageous
hotly
In an intense, fiery, or heated way
flout
Treat with disdain, contempt, or scorn (usually of rules)
iconoclast
Attacker of cherished beliefs or institutions
hew
Strike, chop, or hack (as with an axe, sword. etc.); make or shape something (such as a statue) with a cutting tool
furtive
Done secretly; stealthy, sly, shifty
gestation
Pregnancy; the period from conception until birth of an animal or (metaphorically) of an idea or plan
idolatry
Idol worship; excessive or unthinking devotion or adoration
fluke
Stroke of luck, something accidentally successful
imbue
Permeate or saturate, as dye in a fabric; influence throughout
husband
Manage prudently, sparingly, or economically; conserve
halcyon
Calm and peaceful, carefree; prosperous, successful, happy
ignoble
Not noble; having mean, base, low motives; low quality
glacial
Pertaining to glaciers; cold, icy, slow, unsympathetic
hermetic
Airtight, sealed, isolated; reclusive; pertaining to alchemy, occult
fractious
Unruly, troublemaking; irritable
frenetic
Wildly excited, frantic, distracted
gambol
Frolic; skip or leap playfully
ford
Place where a river or similar body of water is shallow enough to walk or ride a vehicle across (noun); to cross at such a place (verb)
hegemony
Domination, authority; influence by one country over others socially, culturally, economically, etc.
immutable
Unchangeable
homage
Honor or respect demonstrated publicly
fortuitous
Happening by chance; lucky
hoodwink
Trick, deceive
hapless
Unlucky, unfortunate
fledgling
A young bird that has just recently gotten its feathers, an inexperienced person (noun); new or inexperienced (adj)
graft
Insert part of a plant into another plant, where it continues to grow; join living tissue (such as skin) to part of the body where it will continue to live and grow; attach as if by grafting (verb); the part so grafted (as in a graft of skin); the act of acquiring money or other benefits through illegal means, esp. by abusing one's power (noun)
impasse
Position or road from which there is no escape; deadlock
florid
Reddish or rosy; flowery, showy, or excessively fancy
hedge
Avoid commitment by leaving provisions for withdrawal or changing one's mind; protect a bet by also betting on the other side
grandstand
Perform showily in an attempt to impress onlookers
grandiloquent
Relating to lofty speech, esp. to the point of being pompous, overblown, bombastic
fetid
Stinking; having an offensive smell
harrow
Farming tool that breaks up soil (noun); painfully disturb or distress (verb)
harangue
Long, intense verbal attack, esp. when delivered publicly
garner
Gather and store; amass, collect
goad
Urge on (as cattle) with a pointed or electrically charged stick; spur on, stimulate, encourage
hand-wringing
Grasping, squeezing, etc. of the hands as an expression of nervousness, guilt, etc.; extend debate over what to do about an issue
fulminate
Explode, detonate; attack verbally in a vehement, thunderous way
grating
Irritating; harsh or discordant (of a noise); scraping
hallmark
A mark indicating quality, purity, genuineness, etc.; any distinguishing characteristic
fracas
Noisy disturbance or fight; brawl
idyllic
Presenting a positive, peaceful view of rural life (as poetry or prose); pleasant in a natural, simple way
gouge
Scooping or digging tool, like a chisel, or a hole made with such a tool (noun); cut or scoop out; force out a person's eye with one's thumb; swindle, extort money from (verb)
glower
Stare in an angry, sullen way
Section 15
(50 cards)
irresolute
Wavering, not sure how to proceed, not firm in one's decision-making
invidious
Hateful, offensive, injurious
inimical
Hostile, adverse, harmful
impervious
Impenetrable, not able to be harmed or emotionally disturbed
insurrection
Rebellion or revolt against a government or similarly established authority
interplay
Interaction, reciprocal relationship or influence
intransigent
Refusing to compromise, inflexible, having extreme attitudes
incarnadine
Blood red or flesh-colored
implacable
Not able to be appeased, calmed, or satisfied
insipid
Dull, stale, lacking taste or interest
inert
Inactive; having little or no power to move
inordinate
Excessive, not within proper limits, unrestrained
inculcate
Teach persistently, implant (an idea) in a person
insensible
Incapable of feeling; unconscious, unaware
imperturbable
Calm, not able to be upset or agitated
impecunious
Poor, without money
ingratiate
Make an effort to gain favor with
inveigle
Entice, lure; get something by flattery, cleverness, or offering incentives
itinerant
Traveling from place to place, esp. as part of a job
indigence
Extreme poverty
impetuous
Passionately impulsive, marked by sudden, hasty emotion; forceful, violent
inter
Bury (a dead body) or place in a tomb
invective
Violent denunciation; accusations, insults, or verbal abuse
juxtapose
Place side by side (either physically or in a metaphorical way, such as to make a comparison)
inexorable
Relentless, unyielding; not moved by pleading
investiture
Investing; formally giving someone a right or title
inconstancy
Fickleness, unreliability; the state of changing without good reason
inure
Toughen up; accustom or habituate to pain, hardship, etc.
iniquity
Injustice, wickedness, sin
jettison
Discard, cast off; throw items overboard in order to lighten a ship in an emergency
irascible
Irritable, easily angered
ingrate
Ungrateful person
inundate
Flood, cover with water, overwhelm
kindle
Ignite, cause to begin burning; incite, arouse, inflame
indolent
Lazy, slothful
inquest
Legal or judicial inquiry, especially before a jury and especially made by a coroner into the cause of someone's death; the results of such an inquiry
itinerary
Travel schedule; detailed plan for a journey
indefatigable
Untiring, not able to become fatigued
insular
Pertaining to an island; detached, standing alone; narrow-minded, provincial
impious
Not religious, lacking reverence, ungodly
infallible
Incapable of error; certain
impugn
Attack the truth or integrity of
jingoism
Excessive, loud patriotism and aggressive, warlike foreign policy
impute
Credit, attribute; lay blame or responsibility for (sometimes falsely)
interregnum
A time in between two reigns or regimes during which there is no ruler; a period during which government does not function; any period of freedom from authority or break or interruption in a series
insinuate
Hint, suggest slyly; introduce (an idea) into someone's mind in a subtle, artful way
imperious
Commanding, domineering; acting like a high-ranking person; urgent
imprecation
Curse; prayer for harm to come to someone
impermeable
Impassable, not allowing passage through (such as by a liquid)
impassive
Not having or not showing physical feeling or emotion
Section 16
(50 cards)
mirth
Jollity, merriment; amusement or laughter
laudable
Worthy of praise
malinger
Pretend to be sick, esp. to get out of work, duties, etc.
larceny
Theft
modicum
A little bit or limited quantity
listless
Spiritless, lacking interest or energy
modish
Stylish, contemporary
misanthrope or misanthropist
Hater of humankind
maelstrom
Violent whirlpool; any chaotic, turbulent situation
malediction
A curse
militate
Have a great effect, weigh heavily (often as militate against)
molt
Shed or cast off, esp. to regularly shed skin, feathers, etc. (as a snake)
magnanimous
High-minded, noble, lofty; generous in forgiving others, free of resentment
metaphysical
Concerned with abstract thought, related to metaphysics (branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the nature of being and of the world); very subtle or abstruse
mendicant
Beggar, or religious follower who lives by begging
munificent
Generous, giving liberally
monastic
Relating to or resembling a monastery (where monks or nuns live), esp. by being quiet, secluded, contemplative, strict, and/or lacking luxuries
lurid
Gruesome or excessively vivid; sensational, shocking, unrestrained
lugubrious
Mournful, gloomy (sometimes in an exaggerated way)
kinetic
Pertaining to motion
maxim
A general truth or fundamental principle, esp. expressed as a proverb or saying
magnate
Very important or influential person, esp. in business
licentious
Sexually unrestrained; immoral; ignoring the rules
leery
Suspicious or wary
mar
Damage, spoil, ruin
myopic
Near-sighted; lacking long-term thinking, short-sighted
multifarious
Diverse, having a lot of variety
manifest
Obvious, apparent, perceptible to the eye (adj); to show, make clear, or prove (verb)
legerdemain
Slight-of-hand (magic as performed by a magician); trickery or deception
mannered
Having a particular manner, esp. an artificial one
luminous
Shining, radiant, well-lit; brilliant or enlightening
missive
Letter, written message
largess or largesse
Generosity, the giving of money or gifts (esp. with the implication that the giver is a bit superior to the recipient)
lionize
Treat like a celebrity
livid
Furiously angry, enraged
lachrymose
Tearful, mournful
milieu
Environment, atmosphere; the environmental setting in which something happens or develops
limpid
Clear, transparent; completely calm
latent
Potential; existing but not visible or active
lethargic
Lazy, drowsy, or sluggish
martinet
Person who adheres to rules extremely closely; strict disciplinarian
mired
Stuck, entangled (in something, like a swamp or muddy area), soiled
maudlin
Excessively sentimental, showing sadness or some other emotion in a foolish or silly way
lax
Not strict; careless, loose, slack
lissome
Flexible, supple, agile
meretricious
Attractive in a vulgar or flashy way, tawdry; deceptive
machination or machinations
Crafty schemes or plots
knell
The sound made by a bell for a funeral, or any sad sound or signal of a failure, death, ending, etc. (noun); to make such a sound (verb)
morose
Gloomy, sullen
lumber
Walk in a heavy or clumsy way, sometimes due to being weighed down
Section 17
(50 cards)
pare
Peel or cut off the outer layer (such as peeling fruit with a knife), reduce or trim as if cutting off the outer parts
pernicious
Very harmful or destructive, deadly
plethora
Excess; excessive amount
panegyric
Formal or lofty expression of praise
ostentatious
Pretentious, boastful showiness
philistine
Person deficient in or hostile to culture
obdurate
Stubborn, hardhearted, hardened in wrongdoing
pejorative
Disparaging, derogatory, belittling (adj); a name or word that is disparaging (noun)
pallid
Abnormally pale (as skin); lacking color or vitality
ostensible or ostensive
Professed, evident, or pretended; outwardly appearing in a certain way
orotund
Full, rich, and clear (of the voice or speaking); pompous, bombastic
paragon
Model of excellence, perfect example
ossify
Become bone or become hard like bone; become inflexible in attitudes, opinions, etc.
parry
Deflect or avoid (esp. a blow or attack); skillfully evade (a question)
nadir
Lowest point
peripatetic
Journeying from place to place; traveling on foot
perspicacious
Having penetrating insight or good discernment
pellucid
Transparent, translucent; clear, easy to understand
penury
Extreme poverty or scarcity
nettle
Irritate, sting, or annoy
penumbra
Outer part of a shadow from an eclipse; any surrounding region, fringe, periphery; any area where something "sort of" exists
nominal
Trivial, so small as to be unimportant; in name only, so-called
panoply
Splendid, wide-ranging, impressive display or array
plebian
Of the common people
nontrivial
Important or big enough to matter
noisome
Offensive, disgusting; harmful
perennial
Lasting through the years or indefinitely, enduring; recurring
per se
Intrinsically; by itself; in itself
opprobrium
Disgrace and disapproval that result from outrageously shameful actions
phlegmatic
Apathetic, sluggish, not easily excited or made emotional
perfunctory
Done superficially, without much care, or merely as routine
platitude
A shallow, overused statement; cliche
oblique
Slanting or sloping; indirect, misleading, or evasive
palliate
Make less serious or severe; relieve symptoms of an illness
pathogenic
Capable of producing disease
palatial
Suitable for or resembling a palace, magnificent
opine
Express an opinion
neologism
New word or phrase (or a new meaning applied to an existing word or phrase)
phalanx
Formation of soldiers carrying shields close together for defense; any very close group of people
pedant
Person who pays excessive attention to book learning and rules, or who uses his or her learning to show off
normative
Implying or attempting to establish a norm; expressing value judgments or telling people what to do (rather than merely describing that which is happening)
pastiche
Mix of incongruous parts; artistic work imitating the work of other artists, often satirically
neophyte
Beginner, novice; person newly converted to a religion
peddle
Travel around while selling; sell illegally; give out or disseminate
panache
Flair, style, swagger; a flamboyant or grand way of acting
peregrinate
Travel from place to place, esp. on foot
overwrought
Overly nervous, agitated, or excited; too ornate, elaborate, or fussy; overdone
penitent
Regretful, feeling remorse for one's sins or misdeeds (adj); a person who feels this way (noun)
parley
Discussion, negotiation, esp. between enemies (noun); to have such a discussion (verb)
occlude
Stop up, close, shut in or shut off
Section 18
(50 cards)
primacy
The state of being first or most important
propitious
Favorable, giving good signs for the future, likely to work out; kind or forgiving
raconteur
Witty storyteller
proclivity
Inclination, natural tendency
plutocracy
Rule by the wealthy
posit
Presume, suggest, put forward (an idea)
recalcitrant
Not obedient, resisting authority, hard to manage
rarefied
Lofty, very high up or elevated (in a metaphorical way); exclusive, select; thin, pure, or less dense (as air at the top of a mountain)
polemic
Controversial argument, esp. one attacking a specific idea
quiescent
Quiet, still
prophetic
Relating to prophesy, predicting, ominous
redress
Setting something right after a misdeed, compensation or relief for injury or wrongdoing (noun); correct, set right, remedy (verb)
preternatural
Supernatural, exceptional
refractory
Stubbornly disobedient, hard to manage
rejoinder
Response or reply, esp. a witty comeback
propagate
Reproduce, spread, increase
précis
Concise summary, abstract
prolix
Excessively long and wordy (of a person, piece of writing, etc.)
recondite
Not easily understood, hidden, dealing with an obscure topic
repertorial
Pertaining to a repertory or repertoire, a stock of available things or a number of theatrical performances presented regularly or in sequence
prescient
Having foreknowledge or foresight, seeing the future
politic
Shrewd, pragmatic; tactful or diplomatic
proxy
Agent, substitute, person authorized to act on behalf of another
prevaricate
Stray from the truth, mislead, lie
propensity
Natural inclination or tendency
pusillanimous
Cowardly, timid
rend
Tear violently, esp. to tear one's clothing or hair out of grief; pull apart, split, or tear away
pulchritude
Physical beauty
refulgent
Shining, radiant
puissance
Power, might
predilection
Preference, tendency or favorability towards
redound
To have a good or bad effect, esp. as a result of a person's efforts or actions (usually used with to, on, or upon)
pugilism
boxing, fighting with the fists
prattle
Talk in an idle, simple-minded, meaningless, or foolish way; chatter, babble
propitiate
Attempt to reconcile with, satisfy, or reduce the animosity of (a person who is angry, offended, etc.)
reprobate
Disreputable, unprincipled, or damned person (noun); shameless, depraved (adj)
querulous
Given to complaining, grumbling
repose
The act or state of resting; peacefulness, tranquility; lying dead in a grave
precipitate
Cause to happen suddenly or prematurely; fling, plunge, or hurl down
recapitulate
Summarize, repeat in a concise way
pungent
Having a sharp taste or smell; biting, stimulating, sharp
reactant
Something that reacts; a substance that undergoes a change in a chemical reaction
repast
A meal (noun); to eat or feast (verb)
providential
Lucky, fortunate, or relating to divine care (the idea that a deity has helped or cared for a person)
plucky
Brave, spirited
quixotic
Extremely impractical but very romantic, chivalrous, or idealistic; impulsive
recant
Withdraw, retract, or disavow something one has previously said, esp. formally
puerile
Juvenile, immature
recrudescent
Revival, breaking out into renewed activity
polyglot
Speaking or composed of many languages (of a person, book, etc.); a person who knows several languages
Section 19
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sublime
Lofty or elevated, inspiring reverence or awe; excellent, majestic; complete, utter
synoptic
Relating to a synopsis or summary; giving a general view
searchingly
In a searching or penetrating manner; while examining closely or probing for answers
syntax
The rules governing grammar and how words join to make sentences (or how words and symbols join in writing computer code), the study of these rules, or any system or orderly arrangement
shard
Fragment of some brittle substance, esp. a sharp fragment of pottery, glass, etc.
resurgent
Having a revival, renewing, rising or surging again
ridden
Dominated or burdened by
rococo
Very elaborate and ornate (in decorating or metaphorically, as in speech and writing); relating to a highly ornate style of art and architecture in 18th-century France
stratagem
Military maneuver to deceive or surprise; crafty scheme
stigma
Mark of disgrace, a figurative stain or mark on someone's reputation
stint
Period of time spent doing something, or a specific, limited amount of work (noun); to be frugal, to get by on little (verb)
semantic
Relating to the different meanings of words or other symbols
rue
Regret, remorse (noun); to feel regret or remorse (verb)
ribald
Using or relating to obscene or vulgar humor
stentorian
Very loud and powerful (generally of a human voice)
solidarity
Fellowship in interests, feelings, responsibilities, etc., such as among a group of people or among classes, nations, etc.
somatic
Of the body
seraphic
Like an angel; serene, spiritually carried off or transported
revamp
Renovate, redo, revise (verb); a restructuring, upgrade, etc. (noun)
scurvy
Contemptible, mean
solecism
Nonstandard use of grammar or words; mistake, esp. in etiquette
salient
Obvious, standing out; projecting, protruding, jutting out
squalid
Disgusting, filthy, foul, extremely neglected
slake
Satisfy (esp. thirst), cool, or refresh; make less active
strut
A structural support or brace
sedition
Inciting rebellion against a government, esp. speech or writing that does this
stasis
Equilibrium, a state of balance or inactivity, esp. caused by equal but opposing forces
rift
A gap or fissure (such as in rock), a break in friendly relations
tendentious
Marked by a strong point of view, biased
symbiosis
Mutually dependent relationship between two organisms, people, groups, etc.
stipulate
Specify; make an open demand, esp. as a condition of agreement
supposition
Assumption, hypothesis, something that has been supposed
sully
Make dirty, stain, tarnish, defile
secrete
Produce and release a substance from a cell or gland of the body for a functional purpose
supplant
Take the place of, displace, especially through sneaky tactics
surly
Bad-tempered, hostile, unfriendly, or rude
ruminate
Turn over in the mind, reflect on; chew cud (as a cow)
tawdry
Gaudy, cheap or cheap-looking; indecent
subpoena
A court order requiring a person to appear in court and give testimony
scintilla
A tiny bit or trace
stratum
One of many layers (such as in a rock formation or in the classes of a society)
sardonic
Scornfully or ironically mocking, cynically derisive
sobriquet
A nickname
savant
Learned person, scholar, someone admitted to membership in a scholarly field; a person with amazing mental abilities despite having a cognitive difference or disability
surrogate
Substitute, person who acts for another (noun); acting as a replacement (adj)
sinecure
A job or position that pays while requiring little or no work
squelch
Crush, squash; suppress or silence; walk through ooze or in wet shoes, making a smacking or sucking sound
sybarite
Person devoted to pleasure and luxury
steeped
Immersed (in), saturated (with)
skittish
Shy, fickle, uncertain, or prone to act suddenly due to nervousness; lively in a restless or excessive way
Section 20
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