GRE BASIC VOCAB

abasement: humiliation; degradation

abhor: fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate

abrasive: rubbing away; tending to grind down

abrogate: abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority

absolution: act of absolving or the state of being absolved; formal remission of sin
imparted by a priest

abstain: refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice

abstemious: sparing or moderation in eating and drinking; temperate

abstruse: obscure; profound; difficult to understand.

accolade: award of merit; expression of approval; praise

acquiesce: assent; agree without protesting

acrid: unpleasantly sharp or bitter to taste or smell; bitterly pungent

acrophobia: fear of heights; abnormal fear of high places

acuity: sharpness; acuteness of vision or perception; keenness

adamant: extremely hard; inflexible; stubbornly unyielding

adroit: skillful and adept under pressing conditions

adulation: excessive flattery or admiration; unmerited praise

adversity: state of misfortune, hardship, or affliction; misfortune

advocate: speak, plead, or argue in favour of; plead for; push for something

aesthetic: elegant or tasteful; of or concerning appreciation of beauty or good taste

affable: easily approachable; warmly friendly

alacrity: cheerful promptness or willingness; eagerness; speed or quickness

alchemy: medieval chemistry; magical or mysterious power or process of transforming

alibi: an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene

allay: calm; pacify; reduce the intensity of; relieve

alleviate: provide physical relief, as from pain; make easier; remove in part

aloof: apart; remote in manner; distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote

altruism: putting others first; being self-sacrificing

amass: collect; gather for oneself, as for one's pleasure or profit

ambiguity: state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty

ambiguous: unclear or doubtful in meaning

ambivalence: state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes, such as love

and hate

ambulatory: able to walk; formed or adapted for walking; not stationary

ameliorate: make or become better; improve; grow better

amelioration: improvement

amiable: good-natured and likable; lovable; warmly friendly

amity: friendship; peaceful relations, as between nations

amorphous: formless; lacking shape or definition

analgesic: serving to reduce sensibility to pain without loss of consciousness

analogous: comparable; similar or alike

anarchy: absence of governing body; state of disorder; political disorder and confusion

anecdote: short account of amusing or interesting event; short narrative; secret story of
history or biography

animosity: bitter hostility; active hatred; hostile feeling or act

annex: append or attach; take possession of; incorporate into an existing political unit

annex: append or attach; take possession of; incorporate into an existing political unit
anomaly: irregularity; person or something that is unusual; departure from normal or
common order

antagonism: active resistance; condition of being an opposing principle, force, or factor

antagonistic: opposed; hostile; aggressive

antediluvian: antiquated; extremely old and ancient; belonging to very ancient times

anthology: book of literary selections by various authors

antiquated: too old to be fashionable, suitable, or useful; obsolete; aged

apathetic: feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent

apathy: lack of caring; indifference

apocryphal: untrue; of questionable authorship or authenticity; erroneous; fictitious

appease: bring peace, quiet, or calm to; satisfy or relieve

apprehensive: capable of apprehending; knowing; conscious; relating to the faculty of

apprehension; sensible; feeling; perceptive

arable: fit for growing crops, as by plowing

arbitrary: randomly chosen; determined by chance or impulse, and not by reason or

principle

arcane: secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated

archaic: no longer current or applicable; antiquated

bigot: hypocrite, especially, superstitious hypocrite; one who is strongly partial to one's
own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ

bilk: defraud or cheat; frustrate or disappoint; evade or escape from

billowing: swelling out in waves; surging; stormy; affected by storms

blasphemy: act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God; utterance or
writing concerning God or a sacred entity

blatant: flagrant; conspicuously obvious; loudly offensive

blighted: suffering from a disease; destroyed, ruined, or spoiled

blithe: gay; joyous; carefree and lighthearted

blunderbuss: 1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2. a clumsy person

bolster: support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion

bombast: arrogant, pompous language

boorish: rude and clumsy in behavior; ungentlemanly; awkward in manners

bourgeois: middle class; selfishly materialistic; dully conventional

braggart: boaster; one given to loud, empty boasting; very talkative person

brawny: muscular

brevity: quality or state of being brief in duration; concise expression

bristle: to show irritation

broach: introduce; bring up for discussion or debate; announce

brusque: abrupt and curt in manner or speech; rudely abrupt, unfriendly

bulwark: earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends

bureaucracy: over-regulated administrative system

burgeon: grow forth; send out buds; grow or develop rapidly

burnish: make shiny by rubbing; polish

buttress: support physically; prop up; support something or someone by supplying

evidence

byline: the line that tells you who wrote an article

cacophony: discordant loud noises

cajole: influence or urge by gentle urging or flattering

caldron: large kettle or boiler of copper, brass, or iron

callow: youthful; immature; inexperienced; without feathers

candid: straightforward; frank; free from prejudice; impartial

candor: frankness; quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech

cantankerous: ill humored; irritable; marked by ill-tempered contradiction or opposition;

ugly; malicious

capacious: capable of containing a large quantity; spacious or roomy

capitulate: surrender; end all resistance; give up; go along with or comply

carping: fault-finding; excessive complaining; of unreasonable criticism or censure

cartographer: one who makes maps or charts

castigate: criticize severely; punish; revise or make corrections to publication

catharsis: purging or cleansing of any passage of body

caucus: private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy

caustic: capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action

cavalcade: ceremonial procession or display; succession or series

celerity: swiftness of action or motion; speed

censorious: critical; addicted to censure; severe in making remarks on others, or on their

writings or manners; implying or expressing censure

censure: expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism; blame

cerebral: relating to the brain or cerebrum; intellectual rather than emotional

certitude: state of being certain; complete assurance; confidence

chary: cautious; sparing or restrained about giving

chastises: punishes

chicanery: mean or unfair artifice to obscure truth; deception by trickery or sophistry

chimerical: fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; imaginative

choleric: hot-tempered; easily angered; bad-tempered; expressing anger

chronicler: person who records historical information

circuitous: being or taking a roundabout, lengthy course; going round in a circuit; not
direct

circumlocution: indirect or roundabout expression; evasion in speech or writing

circumscribe: limit narrowly; confine; draw a line around; encircle

circumspect: carefully aware of all circumstances; cautious

circumvent: surround; enclose or entrapoutwit; beat through cleverness and wit

clairvoyant: having foresight; fortuneteller

clamor: noise; loud outcry; expression of discontent or protest

clandestine: secret; conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods

counterfeit: make a copy of, usually with the intent to defraud; forge

covert: secretive, not openly shown

cower: recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from

credible: capable of being credited or believed; worthy of belief; entitled to confidence;

trustworthy

creditable: praiseworthy

credulous: apt to believe on slight evidence; easily imposed upon; unsuspecting; believed
too readily

crepuscular: active at dawn and dusk

cringe: shrink or recoil, as in fear, disgust or embarrassment; bend or crouch with base
humility

cryptic: having hidden meaning; mystifying; using code or cipher

curtail: cut short or reduce; cut off end or tail, or any part

cynical: skeptical of motives of others; selfishly calculating; negative or pessimistic

debility: weakness; incapacity

debunking: exposing false claims or myths

decathlon: an athletic competition with ten events

decorum: propriety in manners and conduct; good taste in manners; conventions or

requirements of polite behavior

decoy: lure or bait; means used to mislead or lead into danger

deference: willingness to carry out the wishes of others; great respect

defoliate: strip leaves or branches from; cause leaves of plant, tree, or forest to fall off,
especially by use of chemicals

defunct: dead; no longer in use or existence

degradation: humiliation; debasement; decline to a lower condition, quality, or level

deleterious: having harmful effect; injurious; having quality of destroying life; noxious;
poisonous

deliberate: consider; think about carefully; weigh

delineation: demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining

demur: object because of doubts; hesitate

denounce: condemn openly; criticize; make known in formal manner

deplete: decrease fullness of; use up or empty out

deplore: feel or express strong disapproval of; condemn; express sorrow or grief over;
regret

depravity: extreme corruption or degradation; wickedness

deprecate: express disapproval of; protest against; belittle

deride: ridicule; make fun of; laugh at with contempt

derogatory: expressing low opinion; disparaging; belittling

desecrate: violate with violence, especially to sacred place

desecration: spoiling something holy

desist: cease to proceed or act; stop; forbear

despondent: in low spirits from loss of hope or courage

destitution: hardship; poverty; misery

deter: keep from; stop; prevent or discourage from acting

deteriorate: become worse; decline

detrimental: causing damage or harm; injurious

devoured: greedily eaten/consumed

dexterous: skillful in the use of the hands; having mental skill

dichotomy: a division into two parts

didactic: intended to teach; instructive

diffident: lacking confidence

digress: turn aside, especially from main subject in writing or speaking

dike: dam; embankment

dilemma: predicament; state of uncertainty or between equally unfavorable options

dilettante: person who dabbles in a subject without serious study

diligent: assiduous; industrious; hard-working

diorama: model of a scene

dirge: a piece of music of a mournful character, to accompany funeral rites; funeral hymn

disapprobation: disapproval

discern: detect; perceive

discord: conflict; lack of agreement among persons, groups, or things

discordancy: cacophony; harshness; jarring

discrepancy: lack of consistency; difference

discriminate: make a clear distinction; distinguish; make sensible decisions; judge wisely

discursiveness: long windedness; indirectness

disdain: view with scorn or contempt; feel with aversion

enfranchise: admit to rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote

engender: cause; bring into existence; give rise to

enhance: make better or more attractive; increase; improve

enigma: puzzle; difficult problem

ensconce: settle oneself securely or comfortably; place or conceal in secure place

enshroud: cover

enunciation: clear pronunciation; accent; articulation

envenom: to cause bitterness and bad feeling

ephemeral: short-lived; enduring a very short time

epicure: a person with refined taste, especially in food and wine

epistle: a writing directed or sent to a person or persons; a written communication; letter

epistolary: consisting of letters; written in form of or carried on by letters

epitomized: typified; characterized; personified

equivocate: lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth

err: make a mistake

erratic: no fixed or regular course; wandering

esoteric: hard to understand; known only in a particular group

espouse: take in marriage; marry; give one's loyalty or support to; adopt

etymology: study of historical development of languages, particularly as manifested in

individual words
eulogy: expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death

euphemism: mild expression to replace offensive, unpleasant, or embarrassing one

euphony: pleasant sounds

evacuate: make empty; empty out; remove contents of

exacerbate: increase severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate

exasperated: frustrated; annoyed

exceptionable: open or liable to objection or debate; liable to cause disapproval

exculpate: pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

execrable: very bad; extremely inferiorl; intolerable; very hateful

exegesis: explanation; interpretation, especially of biblical or religious text

exemplary: serving as model; outstanding; typical

exemplify: serve as an example of; embody

exhaustive: treating all parts or aspects without omission; comprehensive

exonerates: acquits; absolves; removes blame

exorcism: act of exorcising; driving out of evil spirits from persons or places by conjuration

expatriate: someone who has withdrawn from his native land

expedient: suitable; appropriate to a purpose; serving to promote your interest

expedite: process fast and efficiently; execute quickly and efficiently

exposition: exhibition; part of a play that provides the background information; opening
section of a fugue

extol: praise highly; glorify; celebrate

extradite: deport from one country back to the home country

extraneous: not essential; coming from outside

extrapolate: extend; predict on the basis of known data

extrinsic: external; not essential; extraneous

fallacious: false; tending to mislead; deceptive

falter: be unsteady in purpose or action, as from loss of courage or confidence

fanatical: crazy; frenetic

fanaticism: excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause

fastidious: difficult to please; having complicated requirements; excessively particular

demanding about details

fatuous: foolish or silly, especially in self-satisfied way

feasible: capable of being accomplished or brought about

fecund: fertile

felicitous: apt; suitably expressed; well chosen

fervor: intensity of feeling; warmth of feeling; intense, heated emotion

fickle: not fixed or firm; liable to change; unstable; of a changeable mind

finesse: refinement and delicacy of performance; skillful, subtle handling

fitful: intermittently stopping and starting; irregular; variable; unstable

flagrant: obvious and offensive, blatant, scandalous; flaming into notice

flamboyant: elaborately or excessively ornamented

flaunt: display proudly or shamelessly; show oneself off

flippant: lacking proper seriousness; speaking freely; talkative; communicative

hamper: put at disadvantage; prevent progress or free movement of

hangar: shelter especially for housing or repairing aircraft

harangue: noisy speech; speech or piece of writing with strong feeling or expression

harbingers: indicators; bringers of warnings

hasten: accelerate; quicken

haughtiness: pride; arrogance; highness or loftiness

headstrong: stubbornly and often recklessly willful; unyielding

hedonism: self indulgence; pleasure-seeking

hedonist: one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life

heed: pay attention to; listen to and consider

heresy: opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion

hiatus: gap; interruption in duration or continuity; pause

hidebound: rigid in opinions

hieroglyphics: 1. picture writing; 2. writing which is difficult to read or enigmatic

hinder: put at a disadvantage; tie up; hamper; prevent the progress

histrionic: characteristic of acting or stage performance

hoary: gray or white with or as if with age; covered with grayish hair

hone: sharpen; perfect or make more intense or effective

hyperbole: figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis; overstatement

hypochondriac: patient with imaginary symptoms and ailments; one who is morbidly
anxious about his health, and generally depressed

hypocritical: pretending to be virtuous; deceiving

iconoclast: person who opposes orthodoxy

idiosyncrasy: behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

ignominious: shameful

ignominy: deep disgrace; shame or dishonor

illuminate: provide or brighten with light; clear up or make understandable; enlighten

illusory: deceptive or tending of deceive; not real

immoderate: excessive; extreme

immutable: unable to be changed without exception; not mutable

impartial: not biased; fair; showing lack of favoritism

impecunious: without money; poor; penniless

impious: irreverent; lacking due respect or dutifulness

impoverished: poor; reduced to poverty; deprived of natural richness or strength

impromptu: without previous preparation

inadvertent: not intentional; not on purpose; careless; negligent; inattentive

incantation: singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; verbal charm or spell

incarceration: putting in prison

incessant: uninterrupted; unceasing; continuing without interruption

incipient: beginning to exist or appear; in an early stage

inclination: preference; tendency; inclined surface; slope

incoherent: lacking cohesion, connection, or harmony; unable to think in clear manner

incongruous: not fitting; lacking in harmony or compatibility

inconsequential: insignificant; lacking importance; not following from premises or

evidence; illogical

inconspicuous: not easily seen; subtle; not noticeable

indelible: impossible to remove, erase, or wash away; permanent

indifferent: having no particular interest or concern; being neither good nor bad

indigenous: native; originating where it is found

indolence: laziness

inductee: novice; beginner

indulgent: yielding; lenient; forbearing or tolerant

inebriation: drunkenness; intoxication

ineffable: unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech

inept: lacking of judgment, sense, or reason; unsuited; inappropriate; foolish

inertia: property of matter by which it tends when at rest to remain so, and when in motion
to continue in motion, and in the same straight line or direction

inevitable: unavoidable; incapable of being avoided or prevented

inexorable: not capable of being swayed; unyielding; implacable

inexpedient: not advisable

infallible: incapable of failure or error

infamous: notoriously bad; having exceedingly bad reputation

infer: deduce; conclude from evidence or premises; lead to as a consequence or conclusion

kindle: build or fuel a fire; cause to glow; light up; inspire

knotty: tied in knots; covered with knots or knobs; difficult to understand or solve

labyrinth: maze; complex structure of interconnecting passages

labyrinthine: complicated; highly convoluted

laceration: torn, ragged wound; rough or jagged breach made by rending

lachrymose: weeping or inclined to weep; tearful; showing sorrow

lackluster: dull; lacking luster or shine

laconic: brief; effectively cut short; marked by use of few words

lamentation: expression of regret or sorrow

lampoon: ridicule; subject to abusive ridicule expressed in work of art

lance: weapon, consisting of long handle and steel blade or head; spear carried by
horsemen, often decorated with small flag
languid: lacking energy or vitality; weak; sluggish; lacking spirit or liveliness

languish: lose animation; be or become weak or feeble; lose strength or vigor

larceny: unlawful taking and removing of another's personal property; theft

largess: generous gift; money or gifts bestowed

laud: give praise to; glorify; celebrate or honor

lavish: liberal; wasteful; excessive spending

lax: loose and not easily controlled; lacking in rigor or strictness

legend: explanatory list of symbols on a map; unverified story handed down from earlier
times

legion: a body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at different
periods; military force; military bands; a great number

lethargic: drowsy; dull; indifferent or apathetic

levity: lack of seriousness; lightness of manner or speech, especially when inappropriate

libertarian: one who advocates individual rights and free will

liniment: medicinal liquid that is rubbed into skin to relieve muscular stiffness and pain

lithe: flexible; moving and bending with ease

livid: lead-colored; black and blue; discolored, as from a bruise; extremely angry

lobbyist: person who tries to persuade someone to support a particular cause

lofty: high, tall, having great height; idealistic, implying over-optimism

longevity: long life; great duration of life; long duration or continuance, as in an occupation

loquacious: talkative; given to continual talking; chattering

lucid: easily understood; clear; intelligible

ludicrous: laughable; completely devoid of wisdom or good sense

lukewarm: 1. unenthusiastic; 2. neither hot nor cold

lummox: big or clumsy, often stupid person

luscious: pleasing or sweet to taste or smell

lynch: execute without due process of law, especially to hang, as by a mob

machinations: plots and plans

maelstrom: whirlpool; powerful circular current of water

magnanimous: generous; high-minded or great-souled; chivalrous

magnate: powerful or influential person, especially in business or industry

maladroit: showing lack of skill; clumsy or awkward

malady: disease, disorder, or ailment; unwholesome condition

malediction: curse; evil speaking; utterance of curse or execration

malefactor: criminal; one who does evil or injury to another

malinger: deliberately avoid work; shirk

malingerer: one who feigns illness to escape duty

malleable: capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable

mallet: hammer; a tool resembling a hammer but with a large head; a light drumstick with
a rounded head

manipulatable: influencable; controllable

marred: damaged or disfigured by injury or rough wear

marshal: put in order; arrange or place something in line

marsupial: any mammal of which the female typically has a pouch in which it rears its
young, such as kangaroo or koala

martinet: strict disciplinarian; one who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules

masochist: one who obtains pleasure from receiving punishment

matriarchy: society governed by women

maverick: one that refuses to abide or be independent; an unbranded range animal

meager: deficient in quantity, fullness, or extent; inadequate; feeble

meander: follow a winding and turning course; move aimlessly and idly without fixed
direction

mellow: soft; melodious; ripe

menagerie: collection of live wild animals on exhibition; enclosure in which wild animals
are kept

noxious: harmful to living things; injurious to health

nuance: subtle or slight degree of difference

nullify: make invalid; make null; invalidate; counteract force or effectiveness of

nuzzle: cuddle; snuggle

obdurate: hardened in wrongdoing or wickedness; not giving in to persuasion

obfuscate: confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex

objective: not influenced by emotions; having actual existence or reality

oblique: having slanting or sloping direction, course, or position; inclined

obliterate: destroy completely; do away with completely so as to leave no trace

oblivious: inattentive or unmindful; lacking all memory; forgetful

obscure: darken; make dim or indistinct; conceal in obscurity

obscured: hidden; covered; buried

obsequious: slavishly attentive; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery

obsession: compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion

obsolete: no longer useful; outmoded; antiquated

obstreperous: noisily aggressive; making great noise or outcry

obtuse: lacking in insight or discernment; stupid

obviate: bypass requirement or make it unnecessary; get rid of

odious: hateful; arousing strong dislike, aversion, or intense displeasure

officious: marked by excessive eagerness in offering unwanted services or advice to others

ogle: look at amorously; cast glances as in fondness or to attract notice

olfactory: relating to, or contributing to sense of smell

ominous: threatening; foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

omnipotent: all-powerful; having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force

omniscient: having total knowledge; knowing everything

onerous: burdensome or oppressive; not easily borne; wearing

onus: burden or obligation; difficult or disagreeable responsibility or necessity

opaque: impenetrable by light; not transparent; not reflecting light; having no luster

opulent: wealthy; rich; magnificent

ordain: decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine

ornate: excessively or elaborately decorated; flashy, showy, or florid in style or manner

orthodox: traditional; conservative in belief; adhering to established faith, especially in

religion

ossify: change or form into bone; become set in a rigidly conventional pattern; change
from soft tissue to hard bony tissue

ostentatious: showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention

oust: expel; eject from a position or place; force out

overt: open to view; not secret or hidden

overwrought: extremely disturbed from emotion

palatable: acceptable; sufficiently agreeable in flavor to be eaten

palisade: fence made of posts

pallid: abnormally pale; lacking intensity of color or luminousness

palpable: tangible; easily perceptible; unmistakable

panacea: remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all

paradigm: one that serves as a pattern or model; system of assumptions, concepts,

values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality

paradox: something apparently contradictory in nature; statement that looks false but is
actually correct

paragon: model of excellence or perfection; peerless example

paramount: foremost in importance; supreme in rank

parasite: animal or plant living on another

parched: dried out by heat; toasted or roasted slightly

pariah: social outcast; person who is rejected from society or home

parity: equality in status or amount; similarity or close

parochial: narrow in outlook; related to local church community

parody: work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or
irony; make fun of

parry: avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing

parsimonious: excessively unwilling to spend; excessively sparing or frugal

parsimony: extreme care in spending money; reluctance to spend money unnecessarily

partisan: one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party

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

patron: benefactor; regular customer

patronize: act as a patron to; support or sponsor

placid: peaceful; tranquil; calm or quiet

plaintiff: one who brings a suit in civil law against a defendant; accuser
plaudit: enthusiastically worded approval; round of applause

plausible: likely but not certain to be or become true or real

plethora: excess; overfullness in any respect; superabundance

pliable: flexible; yielding; easily bent or shaped

plumage: covering of feathers on bird; feathers used ornamentally; elaborate dress

plummet: fall straight down; plunge; decline suddenly and steeply

podium: platform raised above surrounding level to give prominence to person on it

poignant: deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions

poised: calm; collected; self-possessed

polemical: aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious

ponderous: slow and laborious because of weight; labored and dull

pontificate: speak pompously or dogmatically

portend: foretell; serve as an omen or a warning of; indicate by prediction

portent: omen; forewarning; something that portends an event about to occur, especially
unfortunate or evil event

poseur: person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant to impress others

posterity: descendants; future generations

posthumous: after death, as of child born after father's death or book published after
author's death

postulate: essential premise; underlying assumption

potable: suitable for drinking; drinkable

potent: powerful; having power to influence or convince; having great control or authority

pragmatic: practical as opposed to idealistic; concerned with the practical worth or impact
of something
pragmatist: who acts in response to particular situations rather than upon abstract ideals

preamble: introductory statement; introductory paragraph or division of discourse or

writing

precarious: uncertain; risky; dangerously lacking in security or stability

precedent: act or instance that may be used as example in subsequent similar cases

precept: rule or principle prescribing particular action or conduct; authorized direction or

order

precinct: district or division of city; place or enclosure by definite limits

precipice: cliff; overhanging or extremely steep mass of rock; dangerous position

precipitous: extremely steep; descending rapidly, or rushing onward

preclude: make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent; eliminate

precocious: advanced in development; appearing or developing early

predecessor: former occupant of post; ancestor or forefather

predicament: tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma; troublesome

preeminent: outstanding; superior to or notable above all others

prerogative: privilege; unquestionable right; exclusive power to command

prescient: having fore-knowledge

presentiment: sense that something is about to occur; anticipatory fear; premonition

presumptuous: overconfident; going beyond what is right or proper; excessively forward

pretentious: intended to attract notice and impress others; making unjustified claims;
overly ambitious

prevaricate: lie; stray from or evade truth; behave in evasive way such as to delay action

pristine: uncorrupted by civilization; primitive; remaining free from dirt or decay

proclivity: inclination; natural tendency; readiness; facility of learning

procrastinate: postpone or delay needlessly; put off doing something, especially out of
habitual carelessness or laziness

prodigal: wasteful; reckless with money

prodigious: impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous

profane: violate; put to improper, unworthy, or degrading use; abuse

profanity: swearing; cursing

profound: deep; not superficial; far-reaching

profundity: depth

proletarian: member of working class; blue collar person

prolific: producing offspring or fruit in great abundance; fertile

proponents: promoters; supporters

prosaic: dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factual

proscribe: command against; banish; outlaw

prosody: study of versification

prostration: 1. lying face down; 2. be overcome with extreme weakness

protagonist: principal character in a work of fiction; main character in a drama; leader of a

cause; champion

remuneration: payment for work done

renown: fame; quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

replete: filled to brim or to point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied

reprehensible: deserving blame; admonition; blameworthy

reprieve: temporary relief from harm or discomfort; postponement or cancellation of

punishment

repudiate: disown; refuse to acknowledge; reject validity or authority of

rescind: cancel; make void; repeal or annul

resignation: act of resigning or giving up, as a claim, possession, or office; surrender

resolution: determination; resolving to do something; formal statement of a decision

resonant: echoing; strong and deep in tone; resounding; having lasting presence or effect

respite: usually short interval of rest or relief; delay in punishment

resplendent: dazzling; glorious; shining with brilliant luster; very bright

restorative: a tonic

retention: preservation; withholding

reticent: inclined to keep silent; reserved; uncommunicative.

retraction: withdrawal; cancellation of a statement

revere: worship; regard with feelings of respect or honor

riddled: full of (usually full of holes)

rife: excessively abundant or numerous; in widespread existence, practice, or use

rigor: strictness or severity, as in temperament, action, or judgment; something hard to

endure

robust: vigorous; full of health and strength; vigorous

rotund: round

ruminate: chew over and over mentally, or like cows physically; mull over; ponder

ruse: trick; use of artifice or trickery; deceptive maneuver, especially to avoid capture

saccharin: falsely sweet

sacrosanct: regarded as sacred and inviolable

sagacious: perceptive; shrewd; having insight

sage: one celebrated for wisdom, experience, and judgment; various plants of the genus
Salvia

salacious: lustful; suggestive of or tending to moral looseness

sallow: yellowish

salubrious: healthful; favorable to health; promoting health; wholesome

salutary: tending to improve; beneficial; favorable to health

sanctimonious: excessively or hypocritically pious; possessing sanctity; sacred; holy;

saintly; religious

sanction: give authorization or approval to something; penalize a state, especially for

violating international law

sanguinary: bloodthirsty; bloody

sanguine: cheerfully confident; optimistic; of healthy reddish color; ruddy

sardonic: disdainful or ironically humorous; cynical; scornful and mocking

savant: scholar; man of learning or science; one eminent for learning

scale: climb up or over; alter according to a standard; estimate or measure; remove in

layers

scapegoat: someone who bears the blame for others

scrupulous: exactly and carefully conducted; by extreme care and great effort; cautious

scrutinize: examine closely and critically

scuttle: scurry; run with short, rapid steps

seminary: school, especially a theological school for training of priests, ministers, or rabbis;
school of higher education, especially for girls

sensuous: appealing to the senses

sentinel: one that keeps guard; soldier stationed as a guard

sequester: isolate; retire from public life; segregate; seclude

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

serene: completely clear and fine

serrated: saw-like; having a row of sharp or tooth-like projections

servile: slavish; suitable to slave or servant; relating to servitude or forced labor

skeptical: marked by or given to doubt; questioning

skirmish: minor battle in war; minor or preliminary conflict or dispute

sluggard: lazy person; person habitually lazy, idle, and slow; sluggish; lazy

smelt: melt or blend ores, changing their chemical composition

smorgasbord: a swedish buffet of cold dishes

solace: comfort or relieve in sorrow, misfortune, or distress

solicit: request earnestly; seek to obtain by persuasion or formal application

somnambulist: sleepwalker; person who walks in his sleep

soothsayer: fortuneteller

talisman: charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune; something that apparently has
magic power

tangent: going off the main subject

tangible: able to be touched; real or concrete; palpable

tardy: late; delayed; moving slowly

tawdry: cheap in nature or appearance; tastelessly showy; shameful or indecent

tedium: dullness owing to length or slowness; boredom

temper: moderate; tone down or restrain; bring to a desired consistency; adjust finely

tenacious: sticking together; stubbornly unyielding; holding together firmly

tentative: hesitant; not fully worked out or developed; experimental; not definite or
positive

tenuous: long and thin; slender; having little substance

terse: effectively concise; appearing as if wiped or rubbed, as smooth

therapeutic: curative; having or exhibiting healing powers; relating to healing art

thwart: hinder or prevent of ; frustrate

timorous: fearful; demonstrating fear; weakly hesitant

tirade: extended scolding; long angry or violent speech

titter: laugh in a restrained, nervous way; giggle

tome: large volume; large and scholarly book

torpid: having lost motion, or the power of exertion and feeling; numb; benumbed

torpor: state of mental or physical inactivity or insensibility; sluggishness; dormancy

totter: walk unsteadily or feebly; stagger; sway, as if about to fall

tractable: easily managed or controlled; governable; easily handled or worked; docile

tranquil: free from disturbance; pacific

transcribe: copy; write over again in same words

transgress: pass over or beyond; surpass

transient: momentary; temporary; staying for short time

traverse: go through or across, often under difficult conditions

trepidation: state of alarm or dread; nervous apprehension; involuntary trembling or

quivering

trinket: cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing

trite: repeated too often; over familiar through overuse; worn out by use

trivial: unimportant; of little significance or value; ordinary; commonplace

truant: wandering from business or duty; idle, and shirking duty

truncate: cut the top off; make shorter as if by cutting off

tumult: noise, as made by a crowd; riot or uprising

turpitude: depravity; corrupt, depraved, or degenerate act

tyro: beginner in learning something; novice

ubiquitous: being or existing everywhere; omnipresent

unalloyed: not alloyed; not reduced by foreign admixture; unmixed; unqualified; pure

unctuous: oily; composed of oil or fat; characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere

earnestness

undermined: damaged; attacked

underscore: draw a mark or line under; emphasize; stress

unequivocal: admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; clear and unambiguous

unfetter: liberate; free from chains; set free or keep free from restrictions or bonds

unfrock: strip a priest or minister of church authority; remove from status as member of
clergy

unprecedented: having no previous example; novel; unparalleled

unscathed: not injured or unharmed

unwitting: not intended; not knowing; unaware; ignorant

upbraid: severely criticize; reprimand; reprove sharply

uproarious: characterized by loud, confused noise, or by noisy and uncontrollable laughter

upshot: final result; outcome or effect; central idea or point; gist

urbane: showing a high degree of refinement

utilitarian: practical and functional, not just for show

utopian: idealistic but usually impractical social reformer

vacillate: sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate

vacuous: empty; showing lack of thought or intelligence; vacant

vagrant: person without home or job; bird found outside its species' usual range

vapid: dull and unimaginative; lacking taste or flavor

variegated: streaked, spotted, or marked with a variety of color; very colorful

vehemence: violence; fervor; forcefulness

vehement: forceful; intensely emotional; inclined to react violently