Barron 800 Essential Words for GRE

Terms Definitions

abate to decrease; reduce

abdicate to give up a position, right, or power

aberrant deviating from what is normal

abeyance temporary suppression or suspension

abject miserable; pitiful

abjure to reject; abandon formally

the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a

abscission
plant

abscond to depart secretly

abstemious moderate in appetite

abstinence the giving up of certain pleasures

abysmal very bad

accretion growth in size or increase in amount

accrue to accumulate; grow by additions

adamant uncompromising; unyielding

adjunct something added, attached, or joined

admonish to caution or reprimand

adulterate to corrupt or make impure

aesthetic relating to beauty or the arts

affected pretentious; phony

affinity fondness; liking; similarity

aggrandize to make larger or greater

aggregate amounting to a whole; total

alacrity cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed

medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; a

alchemy
seemingly magical power or process of transmutation

allay to lessen; ease; soothe

alleviate to relieve; improve partially

alloy a combination; a mixture of two or more metals

allure the power to entice by charm

amalgamate to combine into a unified whole

ambiguous unclear or doubtful in meaning

ambivalence the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes

ambrosia something delicious; the food of the gods

ameliorate to improve

amenable agreeable; cooperative; suited

amenity something that increases comfort

amulet ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

anachronism something out of the proper time

analgesic medication that reduces or eliminates pain

analogous comparable

anarchy absence of government; state of disorder

anodyne something that calms or soothes pain

anomalous irregular; deviating from the norm

antecedent something that comes before

antediluvian prehistoric

antipathy dislike; hostility

apathy indifference

apex the highest point

the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the
apogee
highest point

apothegm a terse, witty saying

appease to calm, pacify, placate

appellation name

apposite strikingly appropriate and relevant

apprise to inform

approbation praise, approval

appropriate to take possession of for one's own use; confiscate

apropos relevant

ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which

arabesque
one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the body

archeology the study of material evidence of past human life

ardor great emotion or passion

arduous extremely difficult; laborious

argot a specialized vocabulary used by a group

arrest to stop; to seize

artifact item made by human craft

artless guileless; natural

ascetic one who practices self-denial

asperity severity; harshness; irritability

aspersion slander; false rumor

assiduous diligent; hard-working

assuage to make less severe

astringent harsh; severe

asylum place of refuge or shelter

in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after

atavism several generations of absence; individual or a part that exhibits atavism;
return of a trait after a period of absence

attenuate to weaken

audacious bold; daring

austere stern; unadorned; simple

autonomous self-governing; independent

avarice greed

aver to affirm; declare to be true

avocation secondary occupation

avuncular like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant

axiomatic taken for granted; self-evident truth

bacchanalian pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry

banal commonplace; trite

banter playful conversation

bard poet

bawdy obscene

beatify to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to

bedizen to dress in a vulgar, showy manner

behemoth huge creature; anything very large and powerful

belie to contradict; misrepresent; give a false impression

beneficent kindly; doing good

bifurcate to divide into two parts

blandishment flattery

blasé bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned

bolster to give a boost to; prop up; support

bombastic pompous; using inflated language

boorish rude; insensitive

bovine cow like

brazen bold; shameless

broach to mention for the first time

bucolic characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral

burgeon to grow and flourish

burnish to polish

buttress to reinforce; support

cacophonous unpleasant or harsh-sounding

cadge to beg; sponge

callous thick-skinned; insensitive

calumny false and malicious accusation; slander

canard false; deliberately misleading story

an established set of principles; a basis or standard for judgment; a

canon
group of literary works

cant insincere talk; language of a particular group

cantankerous irritable; ill-humored

capricious fickle

captious faultfinding; intended to entrap, as in an argument

cardinal of foremost importance

carnal of the flesh or body; related to physical appetites

carping to find fault; complain

cartography science of making maps

any of the hereditary social classes in Hindu society; social

caste
stratification

castigation punishment; chastisement; criticism

cataclysm a violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change

catalyst something that causes change

categorical absolute; without exception

caucus smaller group within an organization

causal involving a cause

caustic burning; stinging; causing corrosion

celestial concerned with sky or heavens; sublime

centrifugal moving away from a center

centripetal moving or directed toward a center

champion to defend or support

chasten to correct by punishment or reproof; to restrain or subdue

chicanery trickery; fraud

the qualities idealized by knighthood such as bravery and gallantry

chivalry
toward women

churlish rude; boorish

circuitous roundabout
clairvoyant one who can predict the future; psychic

clamor noisy outcry

clique a small, exclusive group

cloister to confine; seclude

coagulate thicken; congeal

coalesce to cause to become one

concluding part of a literary or musical composition; something that

coda
summarizes or concludes

codify to systematize

cognizant informed; conscious; aware

artistic composition of materials pasted over a surface; an assemblage

collage
of diverse elements

commensurate proportional

compendium brief, comprehensive summary

complacent self-satisfied

complaisant overly polite; willingness to comply with the wishes of others

complement something that completes or makes up a whole

compliant yielding

compunction uneasiness caused by guilt

concave curving inward

conciliatory overcoming distrust or hostility

concoct to invent

concomitant existing concurrently

condone to overlook voluntarily; forgive

confound to baffle; perplex; mix up

congenial similar in tastes and habits; friendly; suited to

conjugal pertaining to marriage agreement

connoisseur expert in matters of taste; expert knowledge or training

conscript a person compulsorily enrolled for military service

consecrate to declare sacred

contend to assert

contentious quarrelsome; causing quarrels

contiguous touching; neighboring; connecting without a break

continence self-control; abstention from sexual activity

contrite very sorrowful for a wrong; seeking forgiveness

contumacious disobedient; rebellious

conundrum riddle; puzzle with no solution

practice widely observed in a group; custom; accepted technique or

convention
device

converge to approach; come together; tend to meet

convex curved outward

convivial sociable

convoluted twisted; complicated

copious abundant; plentiful

coquette woman who flirts

cornucopia horn overflowing with fruit and grain; state of abundance

study of the universe as a totality; theory of the origin and structure of

cosmology
the universe

covert hidden; secret

covetous desiring something owned by another

cozen to mislead by trick or fraud; deceive

craven cowardly

credence acceptance of something as true

credo statement of belief or principle; creed

daunt to discourage; intimidate; dishearten

dearth scarcity

debauchery corruption

decorum proper behavior

defame to malign; harm someone's reputation

default to fail to act

deference respect; regard for another's wish

defunct no longer existing

delineate to represent or depict

demographic related to population balance

demotic pertaining to people

demur to express doubt; question or oppose

denigrate to slur someone's reputation

denizen an inhabitant; a regular visitor

denouement outcome; unraveling of the plot of a play or work of literature

deride to mock

derivative something derived; unoriginal

desiccate to dry completely

desuetude state of disuse

desultory random; disconnected; rambling

deterrent something that discourages or hinders

detraction the act of taking away

diaphanous transparent; vague; insubstantial

diatribe bitter verbal attack

dichotomy division into two usually contradictory parts

diffidence shyness; lack of confidence

diffuse to spread out

digression act of straying from the main point

dirge funeral hymn

disabuse free from a misconception

discerning perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgment

discomfit to make uneasy; disconcert

discordant not in tune

discredit to dishonor; disgrace

discrepancy difference between

discrete constituting a separate thing; distinct

discretion quality of showing self-restraint in speech or actions

disingenuous not candid, crafty

disinterested unprejudiced; objective

disjointed lacking order or coherence; dislocated

dismiss put away from consideration; reject

disparage to belittle

disparate dissimilar

dissemble to pretend; disguise one's motives

disseminate to spread; scatter; disperse

dissident person who disagrees about beliefs

dissolution disintegration; debauchery

dissonance discord; lack of harmony

distend to expand; swell out

distill extract the essential elements

distrait inattentive; preoccupied

diverge to vary; go in different directions from the same point

divest to strip; deprive; rid

divulge to make known something that is secret

doctrinaire dogmatic; unyielding

document to provide with written evidence to support

doggerel poor verse

dogmatic stating opinions without proof

dormant inactive

dross waste; worthless matter

dupe to deceive; trick

ebullient exhilarated; overly enthusiastic

eclectic selecting from various sources

effervescence state of high spirits or liveliness; process of bubling as gas escapes

effete depleted of vitality; over refined; decadent

efficacy effectiveness; efficiency

effrontery shameless boldness; presumptuousness

egoism the tendency to see things in relation to oneself; self-centeredness

egotistical excessively self-centered; conceited

elegy poem or song expressing lamentation

elicit to provoke; draw out

elixir a sustance believed to have the power to cure ills

Elysian delightful; blissful

emaciated thin and wasted

embellish to adorn; enhance

emollient soothing; mollifying

empirical derived from observation or experiment

emulate to imitate; copy

encomium a formal expression of praise

endemic inherent; belonging to an area

enervate to weaken

engender to cause; produce

enhance to increase; improve

entomology the scientific study of insects

enunciate to pronounce clearly

ephemeral short-lived; fleeting

epistemology branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge

equable steady; unvarying; serene

equanimity composure; calmness

equivocate intentionally use vague language

errant mistaken; straying from the proper course

erudite learned; scholarly

esoteric hard to understand; known only to a few

essay to make an attempt; subject to a test

estimable admirable; possible to estimate

ethnocentric based on the attitude that one's group is superior

etiology causes or origins

etymology origin an history of a word

study of factors that influence the hereditary qualities of the human

eugenics
race and ways to improve those qualities

eulogy high praise to a death person

use of agreeable or inoffensive language in place of offensive

euphemism
language

euphoria feeling of extreme happiness

euthanasia mercy killing

evince to show plainly; be an indication of

evocative tending to call to mind or produce a reaction

exacerbate to aggravate; make worse

exact to force the payment of; demand and obtain by authority

exculpate to clear of blame; vindicate

execrable detestable; abhorrent

exhort to urge by strong appeals

exigency crisis; urgent requirements

existential having to do with existence

exorcise to expel evil spirits; free from bad influences

expatiate to speak or write at length

expatriate to send into exile

expiate to atone for

explicate to explain; interpret; clarify

expository explanatory

extant in existence; not lost

extemporaneous unrehearsed

extirpate to root up; to destroy

extraneous not essential

extrapolation the act of estimation by projecting known information

extrinsic not inherent of essential

facetious humorous

facilitate to make less difficult

factotum a person who does all sorts of work; a handyman

fallacious based on a false idea or fact; misleading

fallow plowed but not sowed; uncultivated

fatuous foolishly self-satisfied

fauna animals of a period o region

fawning seeking flavor by flattering

felicitous suitable expressed; wee-chose; appropriate

feral existing in a wild or untamed state

fervor warmth and intensity of emotion

fetid having a bad smell

fetter to bind; confine

fiat arbitrary order; authorization

fidelity loyalty; exact correspondence

filibuster use of obstructive tactics in a legislature to block passage of a law

finesse to handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy; refined in performance

fissure crevice

flag to droop; grow weak

fledging beginner; novice

flora plants of a region or era

florid ruddy; reddish; flowery

flourish en embellishment or ornamentation

flout to treat scornfully

flux flowing; a continuous moving

foment to incite; arouse

forbearance patience

forestall to prevent; delay

formidable menacing; threatening

forswear renounce; repudiate

founder to sink; fail; collapse

fracas a loud quarrel; brawl

fractious quarrelsome; unruly; rebellious

fresco a painting done on plaster

frieze ornamental band on a wall

froward stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient

frugality thrift

fulminate to attack loudly; denounce

fulsome so excessive as to be disgusting

fusion union; synthesis

futile ineffective; useless; fruitless

gainsay to deny; dispute; oppose

gambol to frolic; leap playfully

garrulous very talkative; wordy

gauche coarse and uncouth; clumsy

geniality cheerfulness; kindliness; sociability

to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favors a political

gerrymander
party

glib fluent in an insincere way; offhand

goad to prod; urge on

gossamer sheer; light and delicate; like cobwebs

gouge to tear out; scoop out; overcharge

grandiloquent pompous; bombastic

gregarious outgoing; sociable

grouse to complain

guileless free of cunning or deceit; artless

guise outward appearance; false appearance

gullible easily deceived

gustatory affecting the sense of taste

halcyon calm and peaceful; happy; golden; prosperous

hallowed holy; sacred

harangue long, pompous speech; tirade

harrowing extremely distressing; terrifying

herbivorous an animal that feeds mainly on plants

hermetic tightly sealed; magical

heterodox not widely accepted

a system of writing in which pictorial symbols represent meanings or

hieroglyphics
sounds; writing or symbols that are difficult to decipher

hirsute covered with hair

relating to exaggerated emotional behavior calculated for effect;

histrionic
theatrical acts or performances

homeostasis automatic maintenance by an organism in balance with itself

homily sermon; tedious moralizing lecture

homogeneous composed of identical parts; uniform in composition

hyperbole purposeful exaggeration for effect

iconoclastic attacking cherished traditions

idolatry idol worship; blind or excessive devotion

igneous produced by fire; volcanic

imbroglio complicated situation; an entanglement

immutable unchangeable

impair to damage; injure

impassive showing no emotion

impecunious poor; having no money

impede to hinder; block

impermeable impossible to permeate

imperturbable not easily disturbed

impervious incapable of being affected; impossible to penetrate

impinge to strike; encroach

implacable inflexible; incable of being pleased or calmed down

implausible unlikely; unbelievable

implicit implied; understood but not stated

implode collapse inward violently

imprecation curse; damnation

impute to attribute the fault to; relate to a particular cause or source

inadvertently carelessly; unintentionally

incarnate having bodily form

inchoate imperfectly formed or formulated

incongruity state of not fitting

inconsequential insignificant; unimportant

incorporate introduce something into another thing already in existence

incursion sudden invasion

indeterminate uncertain; indefinite

indigence poverty

indolent habitually lazy; idle

ineluctable not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable

inert unable to move; sluggish

ingenuous naive and trusting; lacking sophistication

inherent firmly established by nature or habit

innocuous harmless

insensible unconscious; unresponsive

insinuate to suggest; say indirectly; imply

insipid lacking in flavor; dull

insouciant indifferent; lacking concern or care

insularity narrow-mindedness; isolation

insuperable insurmountable; unconquerable

intangible not material

interdict to forbid; prohibit

internecine deadly to both sides

interpolate to insert; change by adding new words or material

interregnum interval between reigns; gap in continuity

intimate marked by close acquaintance

intractable not easily managed

intransigence stubbornness; refusal to compromise

introspective contemplating one's own thoughts and feelings

inundate to cover with water, overwhelm

inured hardened; accustomed; used to

invective verbal abuse

inveigh to disapprove; protest vehemently

inveigle to win over by flattering or coaxing

inveterate confirmed; long standing

invidious likely to provoke ill will

irascible easily angered

irresolute unsure of how to act; weak

itinerant wandering from place to place; unsettled

itinerary route of a traveler's journey

jaundiced having a yellowish discoloration of the skin; affected by envy

jibe to be in agreement

jocose fond of joking; jocular

juggernaut huge force destroying everything in its path

junta group of people united in political intrigue

juxtapose place side by side

kudos fame; glory; honor

labile likely to change

laconic using few words

lambaste to trash verbally or physically

lascivious lustful

lassitude lethargy; sluggishness

latent dormant; potential not apparent

laud praise

lethargic inactive

levee en embankment that prevents a river from overflowing

levity light manner or attitude

liberal tolerant; broad-minded

libertine one without moral restraint

libido sexual desire

Lilliputian extremely small

limn to draw, describe

limpid clear; transparent

linguistic pertaining to language

litany lengthy recitation; repetitive chant

 literati scholarly of learned persons

litigation legal proceedings

log record of a voyage; record of daily activities

loquacious talkative

lucid bright; clear; intelligible

lucre money or profits

luminous bright; brilliant; glowing

lustrous shining

Machiavellian crafty; double-dealing

machinations plots or schemes

maelstrom whirlpool; turmoil

magnanimity generosity; nobility

to speak evil of
malign
to feign illness to escape duty

Nevertheless, paradoxical though it may seem, cases of pure malingering of

mental disease are comparatively ________ in actual practice.

sporadic
malinger illogical
intermittent
obvious
contradictory
compelling

malleable capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionate

maverick dissenter

megalomania delusions of power or importance

menagerie a variety of animals kept together

mendacious dishonest

mendicant beggar

meretricious gaudy; specious; falsely attractive

mesmerize to hypnotize

metamorphosis change; transformation

metaphysics a branch of philosophy that investigates the ultimate nature of reality

meteorological concerned with the weather

meticulous very careful; picky; fastidious

mettle courage; endurance

mettlesome full of courage and fortitude

microcosm a small system having analogies to a larger system

militate to work against

minatory threatening; menacing

minuscule very small

minutia petty details

misanthrope one who hates humanity; one who dislikes others

miscellany mixture of writings on various subjects

miscreant villain; criminal

misogynist one who hates women

mitigate alleviate; to become less severe

mnemonic related to memory; assisting memory

modicum limited quantity

mollify to soothe

monolithic solid and uniform; constituting a single, unified whole

morose ill-humored; sullen

motley many colored; made up of many parts

multifarious diverse

mundane worldly as opposed to spiritual; concerned with the ordinary

necromancy black magic

negate to cancel out; nullify

neologism new word or expression

neophyte novice; beginner

nexus a means of connection; a center

nonplussed bewildered

nostalgia sentimental longing for a past time

nostrum medicine or remedy of doubtful effectiveness

nugatory trifling; invalid

obdurate stubborn

obsequious overly submissive

obsequy funeral ceremony

obviate to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent

occlude to shut; block

occult relating to practices connected with supernatural phenomena

odyssey a long, adventurous voyage; a quest

officious too helpful; meddlesome

olfactory concerning the sense of smell

oligarchy form of government in which power belongs to only a few leaders

onerous burdensome
 formation or use of words that imitate sounds of the actions they refer
onomatopoeia
to

opprobrium public disgrace; contempt

ornithologist scientist who studies birds

oscillate to move back and forth

ostentatious showy; pretentious

overweening presumptuous; arrogant

paean song of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy

paleonthology study of past geological eras through fossil remains

pallid lacking color or liveliness

panegyric elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise

paragon model of perfection or excellence

partisan one-sided; committed to a party, group or cause

pathological departing from normal condition

patois jargon; a regional dialect

paucity scarcity

pedantic showing off learning

pellucid transparent; easily understood

penchant inclination

penury extreme poverty

peregrination wandering from place to place

peremptory imperative; leaving no choice

perennial present throughout the years; persistent

perfidious faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy

perfunctory superficial; performed really as a duty

perigee point in an orbit that is closest to the earth

permeable penetrable

perturb to disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious

pervasive spread throughout every part

petulant rude; peevish

phlegmatic unemotional; calm in temperament

phoenix anything that is restored after suffering great destruction

physiognomy facial features

piety devoutness

piquant pleasantly pungent; attractive

pique fleeting feeling or hurt pride

placate soothe; pacify

placid calm

plaintive melancholy; mournful

plasticity pliability; condition of being able to be shaped or formed

platitude stale; overused expression

platonic spiritual; theoretical

plethora excess; overabundance

plumb to examine deeply; determine the depth

plummet to fall; plunge

plutocracy society ruled by the wealthy

porous full of holes; permeable to liquids

poseur person who affects an attitude to impress others

pragmatic practical

prate to talk idly; chatter

prattle meaningless, foolish talk

preamble preliminary statement

precarious uncertain

precept principle; law

precipitate rash; hasty; sudden; done without deliberation

precipitate to cause to happen; throw down from a height

precursor forerunner; predecessor

preempt to supersede; appropriate for oneself

prehensile capable of grasping

premonition forewarning; presentiment

presage to foretell; indicate in advance

presumptuous rude; improperly bold

preternatural supernatural; beyond the normal use of nature

prevaricate to quibble; evade the truth

primordial original; existing from the beginning

pristine untouched; uncorrupted

probity honesty; high-mindness

problematic posing a problem; doubtful

prodigal wasteful; extravagant; lavish

profound deep, not superficial

prohibitive so high as to prevent the purchase or use of, forbidding

proliferate to increase rapidly

propensity inclination, tendency

propitiate to win over, appease

propriety correct conduct, fitness

proscribe to condemn, forbid, outlaw

provident providing for future need, frugal

puissant powerful

punctilious careful in observing rules of behavior

pungent penetrating, caustic, to the point

purport to profess, suppose, claim

pusillanimous cowardly

quagmire marsh, difficult situation

quail to cower, lose heart

qualified limited, restricted

qualm sudden feeling of faintness or nausea

query question

quibble to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details

quiescent inactive, still

quorum number of member necessary to conduct a meeting

raconteur witty, skillful storyteller

rail to scold with bitter or abusive language

raiment clothing

ramification implication, consequence

rarefied refined

rationale fundamental reason

rebu puzzle in whic pictures or symbols represent words

recalcitrant resisting authority or control

recant retract a statement of opinion

recluse person who lives in seclusion and often in solitude

recondite abstruse, profound

redoubtable formidable, arousing fear

refractory stubborn, resisting ordinary methods of treatment

refulgent brightly shining, resplendent

refute to contradict, disprove

regale to entertain

relegate to consign to an inferior position

remonstrate to object or protest

renege to go back on one's word

reparation amends, compensation

repine fret, complain

reprise repetition, especially of a piece of music

reproach to find fault with, blame

reprobate morally unprincipled person

repudiate to reject as having no authority

rescind to cancel

resolution determination, resolve

resolve determination, firmness of purpose

reticent nor speaking freely, reserved, reluctant

reverent expressing deep respect, worshipful

riposte retaliatory action or retort

rococo excessively ornate

rubric protocol, title or heading

rue regret

ruse trick, crafty stratagem

sage wise

salacious lascivious, lustful

salubrious healthful

salutary expecting an improvement, favorable to health

sanction to approve, ratify, permit

sardonic cynical, scornfully mocking

sartorial pertaining to tailors

satiate to satisfy

saturate imbue throughout, soak thoroughly

saturnine gloomy

satyr a creature that is half-man, half beast, with the horns and legs of a goat

savor to enjoy, have a distinctive flavor or smell

schematic relating to or in the form of an outline or diagram

secrete produce and release substance into organism

sedition behavior prompting rebellion

sedulous diligent, assiduous

seismic relating to earthquakes

sensual relating to the senses, gratifying the physical (sexual) senses

sensuous relating to the senses

sentient aware, conscious, able to perceive

servile submissive, obedient

sextant navigation tool that determines latitude and longitude

shard a piece of broken glass or pottery

sidereal relating to the stars

simian apelike, relating to apes

simile comparison of one thing with another using "like" or "as"

sinecure well-paying job that requires little or no work

singular unique, extraordinary, odd

sinuous intricate, complex

skeptic one who doubts

sobriety seriousness

sodden thoroughly soaked, saturated

solicitous concerned, attentive, eager

soliloquy literary or dramatic speech by one character, not addressed to others

solvent able to meet financial obligations

somatic relating to or affecting the body, corporeal

soporific sleep producing

sordid filthy, contemptible and corrupt

specious seeming to be logical and sound, but not really so

spectrum band of color, broad range of related ideas or objects

spendthrift person who spends money recklessly

sporadic irregular

squalor filthy, wretched condition

staccato marked by abrupt, clear-cut sounds

stanch to stop or check the flow of

stentorian extremely loud

stigma mark of disgrace or inferiority

stint to be sparing

stipulate to specify as an essential condition

stolid having or showing little emotion

stratified arranged in layers

striated marked with thin, narrow grooves or channels

stricture something that restrains, negative criticism

strident loud, harsh, unpleasantly noisy

strut to swagger, display to impress others

stultify to impair or reduce to uselessness

stupefy to dull the senses of, stun, astonish

stygian dark and gloomy, hellish

subpoena notice ordering someone to appear in court

subside to settle down, grow quiet

substantiate to support with proof or evidence

substantive essential

subsume to include, incorporate

intended to undermine or underthrown, especially an established

subversive
government

succor relief, help in time of distress or want

suffrage the right to vote

sundry various

supersede to replace, especially to displace as inferior or antiquated

supine lying in the back, marked by lethargy

supplant to replace, substitute

suppliant beseeching

supplicant one who asks humbly and earnestly

supposition the act of assuming to be true or real

a form of deductive reasoning with a major premise, a minor premise,

syllogism
and a conclusion

sylvan related to the woods or forest

tacit silently understood, implied

talisman charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune

tangential peripheral, irrelevant, digressing

tautology unnecessary repetition

taxonomy science of classification

tenet belief, doctrine

tenuous weak, insubstantial

terrestrial earthly, commonplace

theocracy government by priests representing a god

thespian an actor or actress

timbre voice tone color

tirade long, violent speech, verbal assault

toady flatterer, yes-man

tome book, usually large and academic

 torpor lethargy, dormancy, sluggishness

torque a turning or twisting force

tortuous having many twists and turns, highly complex

tout to promote or praise energetically

tractable obedient, yielding

transgression act of trespassing or violating a law or rule

transient temporary, fleeting

translucent partially transparent

travail work, especially arduous work

travesty parody, exaggerated imitation, caricature

treatise article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly

tremulous trembling, frugal, timid

trepidation fear and anxiety

truculence aggressiveness, ferocity

tryst agreement between lovest to meet, rendez-vous

tumid swollen, distended

turbid muddy, opaque, in a state of great confusion

turgid swollen, pompous

tutelary serving as a guardian or protector

uncanny mysterious, strange

undulating moving in waves

unfeigned not false, genuine

untenable indefensible
untoward not favorable, troublesome, unruly

usury a practice of lending money at exorbitant rates

vacillate to waver, oscillate

vacuous empty, void, lacking intelligence

valedictory pertaining to a farewell

vapid tasteless, dull

variegated varied, marked with different colors

vaunt to boast, drag

venal mercenary, corruptible

vendetta prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility

venerate to adore, honor, respect

veracious truthful, accurate

verbose wordy

vertigo dizziness

vexation irritation, annoyance

viable practicable, capable of developing

vindictive vengeful, unforgiving

virtuoso someone with master skills, expert musician

visage appearance, aspect

viscous thick, syrupy

vitiate to impair the quality of, corrupt morally

vituperative using or containing harsh, abusive censure

dissection, surgery, or painful experiments performed on a living

vivisection
animal for the purpose of scientific research
vogue prevailing fashion or practice

volatile tending to vary frequently, fickle

vortex whirlpool, center of turbulence

warranted justified

wary careful, cautious

welter wallow or roll, toss about, be in turmoil

whimsical fanciful, unpredictable

wistful vaguely longing, sadly thoughtful

zealot one who is fanatically devoted to a cause