AaptPrep Vocabulary Practive Exercise
AaptPrep Vocabulary Practive Exercise
AaptPrep Vocabulary Practive Exercise
INTRODUCTION
Ι. The importance of, and the ways of, buildingvocabulary -
Good vocabulary helps, not only in improved performance in English section of various entance exams but in greater enjoy-
ment of the language and in effective communication as well.
Building a better vocabulary can be pleasurable. Even 15 minutes a day of concentrated study on a regular basis can bring
about a rapid improvement in your vocabulary skills. This will, in turn, increase the effectiveness of your spoken and written
communication. You will also understand others’ ideas better. Overall, you would gain.
Many of the words you already know were probably picked up as you came across them while reading, in conversation, per-
haps even while watching television. You may already know thousands, and you may continueto learn more whether you work
at it or not. Consider this, though – if you learned only one new word a day for the next three years, you would have about a
thousand new words in your vocabulary, whereas, if you learn ten new words a day, in one year you would have added over
three thousand words to what you already know, and you would also have gained a lasting habit of learning and self- improve-
ment.
There are no shortcuts to vocabulary improvement. However, as you learn new words, the easier it will be to connect a new
word with words you already know, and thus remember its meaning. As such, your learning speed will increase even as your
vocabulary grows.
Let’s look at the most effective steps you can take.Read, and be aware of words:
Folks with low vocabulary levels don’t enjoy reading. It’s probably more of a task than a pleasure because they don’t under-
stand many of the words. If this applies to you,try reading easier matter. Newspapers are usually easierthan magazines, and a
magazine like Reader’s Digest is usually easier to read than, say, The Economist. It’s important to find things that you would
enjoy reading, andto read as often and as much as possible, with the idea oflearning new words always in mind.
Reading alone may not be enough to help you learn new words. When you read a novel, for instance, you must curb the de-
sire to get on with the story and skip over unfamiliar or perhaps vaguely known words. While the totally unknown words stand
out, you have to be especially aware of words that seem familiar to you but whose precise meanings you may not know. Take a
closer look at such words. First, try to guess at a word’s meaning from its context - that is, the sense of the passage in which it
appears; second, if you have a dictionary on hand, look up the word’s meaning immediately to confirm or correct your under-
standing. While this may slow down your reading speed initially, the improved understanding of each new word will eventually
make reading easier and faster. (You could follow these steps even with words that you come across when you’re listening to
the radio, talkingto friends, or watching television.)
Read whatever interests you. If magazines or illustrated books are your choice, read them, don’t just look at the
photographs. Reading and awareness of words will help you find most of the words you should be learning. It is also the
best way to check on words you have already learned.
When people use a word that puzzles you, ask what it means, or write down the word and look it up later, before the context
of the word evaporates.
Use a Dictionary:
The dictionary should be one of the most often used booksin your home. Keep it where you can find it readily and use it often.
If you do your reading and homework in the dining room or drawing room and the dictionary is on a shelf in the bedroom,
you’re less likely to use it.
The home dictionary should be large enough to contain much more than just spellings! It should contain extensivedefinitions,
word origins, notes on usage, and examples. Get in to the habit of reading the entire entry for the word you look up. Re-
member, words can have more than one meaning, and the meaning you need for the word you are looking up may not be the
first one given in your dictionary. Even if it is, the other meanings of the word will help you understand the different ways the
word is used. Also, theword’s “history”, usually given at the end of the entry, canoften give you a fascinating picture of the way
the word hasdeveloped its current meaning. This will add to the pleasureof learning the word as well as help you remember it.
Use a Thesaurus:
Start referring to a Thesaurus, which carries groups of words within overall meaning. Familiarising yourself with groups of
words, by meaning, is an effective method of being able to deal with contextual usage of words.
first two steps discussed above. The advantages of such materials are that (i) they present you with words generally consid-
ered important to know, thus saving you time, (ii) they use the words in several sentences, so that you can see the words in
different contexts, and (iii) they usually have exercises that test what you have learned.
Perhaps the most important factor in successful vocabulary building, however, is self-motivation. A larger vocabulary will
help you in academics and at work. This is absolutely true. Believe this, stay keen, and look at adding to your word bank con-
stantly. Your time could not be better spent.
The General Word List presents words, meanings of words and usage in sentences. The words are given in alphabetical
order.
There are some more words and their meanings given in the second volume (again in alphabetical order).
The Special Word List is particularly interesting. A wide variety of words has been classified into various categories. Particu-
larly useful are the Idioms and Phrases, Confusable Words and Collocations which are tested in MBA Entrance Exams.
The fourth volume deals with Prefixes, Suffixes, Roots and Spellings. Knowing the roots will help you quickly associate with
words having those roots.
You are advised to go through these volumes by spending some time on a daily basis. Try enjoying the process of learning
new words. You can then attempt the simple tests on synonyms/word usage given in volume - VΙ.
Volumes VΙΙ and VΙΙΙ deal with Vocabulary based Exercises and tests which will enhance your preparation for various MBA
Aptitude tests.
This book also has a set of exercises on various vocabulary based questions which are frequently asked in various man-
agement entrance exams, in order to ensure that a student gets ample practice in solving vocab based questions.
WORD LIST-BEGINNER
This word list presents various words in alphabetical order. Each word is followed by its meaning and a sample
sentence to help you understand its use.
11. ABEYANCE (noun) Usage: Someone has rightly said, “Absolute power
Meaning: temporarily not occurring or in use. Usage: corrupts absolutely.”
The project was kept in abeyance due topaucity of
funds. 26. ABSOLVE (verb)
Meaning: free someone from
12. ABHOR (verb) Usage: The court absolved the officer of all the
Meaning: hate charges and asked the concerned department to take
Usage: I abhor jokes that demean women or are him back into service.
racist.
27. ABSTAIN (verb)
13. ABIDE (verb) Meaning: to keep away from or hold back
Meaning: to stand by. Usage: I abstained from voting as I felt that none of
Usage: Being a stickler for punctuality, he cannot abide the candidates deserved to be elected for the presti-
people who are perpetually late. gious post.
333. DENIGRATE (verb) Usage: All nations of the world denounced the terror-
Meaning: to say that someone or something is not ist attack as the most despicable of human crimes.
good or important
Usage: The author of the novel was castigated be- 346. DESTINY (noun)
cause he denigrated the beliefs of a particular reli- Meaning: the events that will happen to a person,
gious group. seen as impossible to be changed
Usage: Escaping unhurt, despite being in the jaws of
334. DEPICT (verb) death after encountering a ghastly accident, is sheer
Meaning: to represent or show something in a pic- destiny.
ture or story.
Usage: In his novels Thomas Hardy depicts man as a 347. DESULTORY (adj)
victim of the vagaries of fate. Meaning: aimless
Usage: He is weak at studies mainly because his
335 DEPLETING (adj) reading habits are desultory.
Meaning: reduce in quantity or numbers
Usage: Environmentalists are concerned about the
348. DETENTION (noun)
depleting ground water level. Meaning: custody
336. DEPLORABLE (adj) Usage: Many freedom fighters wrote their autobi-
Meaning: very bad and unacceptable, often in a way ographies during the period of their detention.
that shocks people.
Usage: The principal severely rebuked the students 349. DETER (verb)
for their deplorable behaviour and warned them to Meaning: discourage from doing something through
mend their ways. fear of the consequences
Usage: The exorbitant price of branded clothes does
337. DEPRECATE (verb) not deter the fashion conscious youth of today.
Meaning: to feel and express strong disapproval of
something 350. DETEST (verb)
Usage: The opposition deprecated the decision tak- Meaning: hate
en by the ruling party claiming that it was detrimental Usage: I detest people who tell lies.
to the interest of the nation.
351. DETRIMENTAL (adj)
338. DERIDE (verb) Meaning: causing harm or damage
Meaning: ridicule Usage: Medical practitioners, across the world, aver
Usage: Deriding the suggestions made by young- that a sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to one’s
sters is bound to discourage them. health.
339. DEROGATORY (adj) 352. DEVIOUS (adj)
Meaning: disparaging Meaning: skilful in using underhand tactics
Usage: Politicians using derogatory comments Usage: The venal politician amassed a lot of wealth
against their adversaries is a very common phe- through devious means.
nomenon.
353. DEVOUR (verb)
340. DESECRATE (verb)
Meaning: to take in greedily with senses or the intel-
Meaning: damage, despoil
lect.
Usage: The invaders desecrated the holy shrines.
Usage: He devours books by the dozen.
341. DESIDERATUM (noun)
Meaning: something that is needed or wanted. Us- 354. DEVOUT (adj)
age: Punctuality is a desideratum for the smoothfunc- Meaning: deeply religious
tioning of any organization. Usage: She was a devout and God fearing person
who never swayed from the path of righteousness.
342. DESIST (verb)
Meaning: to stop doing something. 355. DICTION (noun)
Usage: As he is hypertensive, he was advised to Meaning: pronunciation, language
desist from smoking. Usage: He could be a good orator if he improves his
diction.
343. DESPERADO (noun)
Meaning: a desperate or reckless criminal. 356. DICTUM (noun)
Usage: The police managed to capture the fugitive Meaning: a formal statement from an authoritative
desperado when he surfaced from his hide out last source
week. Usage: He fimly believed in the dictum, ‘Neither a
344. DESPERATE (adj) borrower nor a lender be’.
Meaning: causing or involving anxiety
Usage: As he is getting older the actor seems to be 357. DIDACTIC (adj)
desperate to get as many roles as possible. Meaning: intended to teach or give moral instruction
Usage: Didactic literature does not appeal to a ma-
345. DESPICABLE (adj) jority of today’s youth.
Meaning: very unpleasant or bad, causing strong
feelings of dislike.
opportunity should slip out of your hands. of minutes when I was declared the winner.
knowledge and intelligence, most resent hisdoctri- Meaning: be chosen for a particular purpose
naire attitude. Usage: The central government has earmarked
`55crore towards developmental activities.
388. DOGGED (adj)
he pursued his goal with dogged tenacity and Usage: The idea of going on a long holiday to his
emerged successful. favourite destination put him in an ebullient mood.
39 DOUR (adj)
1.
something exciting.
409. EGRESS (noun) Usage: The heroine of the novel Tess of the
Meaning: exit Durbevilles is made to experience such poignant
Usage: Forgive me for the transgression but I would situations that we can’t help empathizing with her.
like to show the egress to all these lawmakers.
423. EMPHATIC (adj)
410. ELAN (noun) Meaning: done or said in a strong way and without
Meaning: showing great enthusiasm and energy, any doubt.
style and confidence Usage: The principal was emphatic about the impor-
Usage: The elegant young woman could carry off tance of punctuality and the adherence to rules and
any type of dress with élan regulations of the institution.
424. ENCUMBER (verb)
411. ELICIT (verb) Meaning: burden, get in the way
Meaning: to make out Usage: Children should not be encumbered with a
Usage: The police managed to elicit vital information lot of homework.
from the criminal.
425. ENDANGER (adj)
412. ELOQUENT (adj) Meaning: exposed to danger
Meaning: fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing Usage: Endangered species of birds and animals
Usage: Since he is an eloquent speaker people lis- should be saved from becoming extinct.
ten to him with rapt attention. 426. ENDEAVOUR (noun)
Meaning: a serious effort to achieve something.
413. ELUCIDATE (verb)
Usage: He was on cloud nine when his maiden
Meaning: make clear, explain
endeavour at directing a film was a phenomenal
Usage: Since his theory was abstruse he elucidated it
success.
to the gathering.
427. ENDURANCE (noun)
414. EMANCIPATE (verb) Meaning: the fact or power of enduring something
Meaning: free from legal social or political restric- painful and long-lasting.
tions Usage: The movie was so absurd that sitting
Usage: Abraham Lincoln was instrumental in eman- through it, was a test of one’s endurance.
cipating the slaves of America.
428. ENHANCE (verb)
415. EMBARK (verb) Meaning: increase the quality, value, or extent of
Meaning: begin (a new project or course of action) Usage: Reading contributes a great deal toenhance
Usage: We decided to survey the market before one’s knowledge and wisdom.
embarking on the project.
429. ENNUI (noun)
416. EMBELLISH (verb) Meaning: listlessness and dissatisfaction arisingfrom
Meaning: make more attractive boredom.
Usage: Since time immemorial women have liked to Usage: Having nothing constructive to do we were
embellish themselves with jewellery. overcome by ennui.
435. EPITOME (noun) Usage: The initial euphoria of winning the election
Meaning: essence gradually waned and the elected representatives got
Usage: She is an epitome of good mannersbe- back to their respective duties.
cause of her excellent upbringing.
448. EVASIVE (adj)
436. EQUANIMITY (noun) Meaning: elusive
Meaning: calmness and evenness of temper Usage: Usage: The seasoned politician kept giving evasive
She maintains her equanimity even duringthe most answers to all the controversial questions.
trying circumstances. 449. EVIDENCE (noun)
Meaning: proof, indication, show
437. EQUIVOCAL (adj) Usage: The judge felt that the appeal was not
Meaning: backed up by sufficient evidence.
Usage: Clever politicians deliberately give
equivocal statements. 450. EVINCE (verb)
Meaning: to make obvious or show clearly. Usage:
438. EROSION (noun) Throughout her student life she evinced keeninterest in
Meaning: gradual wearing away improving her academic knowledge.
Usage: Indiscriminate felling of trees leads to soil
erosion which in turn has a detrimental effect on the 451. EVOKE (verb)
fertility of the soil. Meaning: call to mind
Usage: Susan’s antics evoke images of mychildhood.
439. ERRANT (adj)
Meaning: straying from the accepted course or stan- 452. EVOLVE (verb)
dards Meaning: develop gradually
Usage: The Principal warned the boisterous stu- Usage: People were highly superstitious and puri-
dents of punitive action if they did not mend their er- tanical during the medieval ages but over the years
rant behaviour. the human race has gradually evolved into a more
rational species.
440. ERUDITE (adj)
Meaning: learned 453. EXACERBATE (verb)
Usage: His erudite statements left the common man Meaning: make worse
totally confused. Usage: His weak physical health was exacerbated
by the dank and inclement weather.
441. ESPOUSE (verb)
Meaning: adopt or support 454. EXALTED (adj)
Usage: Ardent feminists who espoused the cause of Meaning: at a high level
women’s liberation were instrumental in elevating the Usage: He rose to the exalted position of thepresident
position of women in a male chauvinistic society. by working very hard.
Usage: The Minister had to face expulsion from the Usage: He was not aware of the factual errors in
party when his alleged involvement in the scandal hisessay until they were pointed out.
volumes about the exquisite craftsmanship of the Meaning: when nothing is created or produced,
artists of a bygone era. notsuccessful
managed to capture the listeners‘ attention. Usage: We were famished and exhausted after
thelong and arduous journey.
been accused or found guilty of a crime to the country. Meaning: extreme beliefs or behaviour, especially
Usage: The culprit who was involved in the bank inconnection with religion or politics.
scam was extradited from Britain. Usage: Parochialism and fanaticism have a
retrogressive effect on a nation’s development.
Usage: Adam’s extravagant lifestyle has been a Meaning: a ridiculous or meaningless situation
or
Meaning: lively and cheerful Usage: Towards the fag end of her life, her atti-
Usage: She is normally a very exuberant person tude towards life was one of stoic acceptance
butof late she appears to be rather dour. driven by fatalism.
$1,00,000 to the child prodigy. Usage: After a long, fathomless and ratherun-
comfortable silence she began to speak.
Usage: The ramshackle old house was a real eye- Meaning: extreme, tiredness
sore in the upmarket neighbourhood with its palatial Usage: We were overcome by fatigue after trekking
bungalows. over the mountains continuously for almost three
hours.
471. FABLED (adj)
Meaning: famous
483. FAWNING (adj)
Usage: Visiting the fabled city of Rome, during my
Meaning: trying to gain favour by servile flattery or
holiday in Europe last year, was a dream come true
for me. attentive behaviour
Usage: Fawning bureaucrats, trying to curry favour
472. FACETIOUS (adj) with politicians are a common sight these days.
Meaning: treating serious issues with inappropriate
humour 484. FEINT (noun)
Usage: The facetious remarks made by some men Meaning: a false show, a pretence.
on women’s day was met with the scorn which it Usage: He tried a couple of feints to distract his op-
rightly deserved. ponents.
536. GARRET (noun) Usage: The murderer who was guilty of committing
Meaning: a room, often a small dark unpleasant the ghastly homicide was sentenced to death.
one, at the top of a house, especially in the roof.
Usage: Apart from huge piles of junk, the garret also 550. GHOULISH (adj)
had some antique furniture. Meaning: having an unhealthy interest in death or
disaster
537. GARRULITY (noun) Usage: People belonging to some tribal communities
Meaning: the state of being extremely talkative. living in the Amazon jungles are crude and uncivilized
Usage: His unrestrained garrulity was ratherirritat- and have a ghoulish passion for weird practices.
ing.
551. GLEAN (verb)
538. GAUCHE (adj) Meaning: collect gradually from various sources Us-
Meaning: socially awkward or unsophisticated Us- age: The evidence to support his theory was
age: The gauche young village lass felt like a fishout gleaned from books and experiments.
of water in the snobbish and sophisticatedat-
mosphere. 552. GLISTEN (verb)
Meaning: to shine
539. GAUNT (adj) Usage: She looked sick with worry and her forehead
Meaning: lean and haggard was glistening with apprehensive perspiration.
Usage: I saw a gaunt, lanky man moving around the
street looking rather suspicious. 553. GLUT (noun)
Meaning: an excessively large supply
540. GENEALOGY (noun) Usage: The copious rains this year, led to a glut in
Meaning: family tree the production of food grains.
Usage: When you draw the genealogy of our family
do not forget to give a copy to me. 554. GOAD (verb)
Meaning: provoke to action.
541. GENERATION (noun) Usage: Constant goading by her parents spurred
Meaning: age group, production her into action.
Usage: An aging generation with no social securityis
worrying sociologists. 555. GORY (adj)
Meaning: involving a lot of blood or violence,showing
542. GENESIS (noun) or describing blood and violence.
Meaning: origin Usage: Gory rituals like human sacrifice areprac-
Usage: If you trace the genesis of our family we are tised even to this day by African tribals.
the descendents of Rabindranath Tagore.
556. GRADATION (noun)
543. GENETICS (adj) Meaning: arrangement into categories
Meaning: the science of heredity Usage: The gradation of the questions from easy to
Usage: By the way, can genetics explain why the difficult became a controversial issue.
entire lineage seems to have homogeneous qualities?
557. GRADIENT (noun)
544. GENIAL (adj) Meaning: incline
Meaning: friendly and cheerful Usage: The steep gradient at the foot of the hillockis
Usage: Being a warm and genial person, Jane has proving to be a safety hazard for motorists.
endeared herself to all her friends.
558. GRATIFYING (verb)
545. GENIALITY (noun) Meaning: giving pleasure or satisfaction
Meaning: cheerfulness Usage: It is gratifying to note that children, these
Usage: The guests were overwhelmed by thehost- days, are taking active interest in social service.
ess’s warmth and geniality.
559. GRATUITOUS (adj)
546. GENOCIDE (noun) Meaning: unwarranted, free
Meaning: the murder of a whole race or group of Usage: I get irritated when people give megratu-
people itous advice.
Usage: Genocide and ethnic violence rocked sever-
al regions of the world after the Second WorldWar. 560. GRAVE (adj & noun)
Meaning: serious, tomb, ominous, solemn
547. GENRE (noun) Usage: The grave expression on his face told methat
Meaning: type it was not the right time to talk to him.
Usage: Classic movies of different genres will be
shown at the Paradise theatre during the film festival. 561. GRAVITY (noun)
Meaning: seriousness, solemnity
548. GETAWAY (noun) Usage: Try and understand the gravity of thesitua-
Meaning: escape or quick departure. tion.
Usage: The thieves managed to make a quick get-
away before the police arrived on the scene. 562. GREGARIOUS (adj)
Meaning: sociable
549. GHASTLY (adj) Usage: Marketing men are, almost invariably,gre-
Meaning: causing great horror or fear. garious by nature.
563. GRIEF (noun) Usage: With acute water scarcity and frequent pow-
Meaning: deep sorrow, especially caused by some- er cuts, most city dwellers are in for a harrowing sum-
one’s death mer this year.
Usage: She was overwhelmed with grief when she
heard the tragic news of her sister’s death in a ghast- 577. HAVEN (noun)
ly road accident. Meaning: a place where people or animals feel safe,
secure and happy.
564. GRIEVANCE (noun) Usage: The resort which is a tranquil haven, is an
Meaning: complaint, injustice ideal getaway after a long and stressful week.
Usage: Please take your grievance to someone who
is in a position to help. 578. HEADWAY (noun)
Meaning: forward progress
565. GRIEVOUS (adj) Usage: The police seem to be making little headway in
Meaning: grave investigating the bank robbery which shook the en-
Usage: The scooterist was grievously injured in the tire city.
accident.
667. INTRANSIGENT (adj) Usage: Young children are made to iterate nursery
Meaning: refusing to change one’s views or be- rhymes in order to familiarize them with language.
haviour
Usage: He could not get along with any of his team 681. JADED (adj)
mates because of his intransigent attitude. Meaning: tired out or lacking enthusiasm, havinghad
too much of something.
668. INTREPID (adj) Usage: After a hectic session at work we needed a
Meaning: extremely, brave break to rejuvenate our jaded spirits.
Usage: The intrepid traveller went ahead with his
journey despite the many obstacles which he had to 682. JARRING (adj)
encounter. Meaning: striking against something with a jolt. Us-
age: The room was tastefully decorated exceptfor
669. INTRIGUE (verb) the dark coloured curtains which had a jarringeffect
Meaning: arouse the curiosity or interest of Usage: on the rest of the decor.
We were greatly intrigued by the lives of theroyalty.
683. JAUNDICED (adj)
670. INUNDATE (verb) Meaning: feeling or showing prejudice, distaste or
Meaning: flood jealousy
Usage: The flooded river inundated several villages. Usage: A person with a jaundiced view of the world
seldom derives any happiness out of life.
671. INURE (verb)
Meaning: to make someone or something get usedto 684. JEST (noun)
something unpleasant so that they are no longer Meaning: something said or done to amuse people.
strongly affected by it. Usage: The remark was made in jest and not meantto
Usage: He became inured to his wife’s persistent be taken seriously
nagging.
685. JETTISON (verb)
672. INVESTITURE (noun) Meaning: throw overboard
Meaning: installation The entire cargo had to be jettisoned as all but one of
Usage: I attended the President’s investiturecere- the engines had developed a snag.
mony.
686. JUDICIOUS (adj)
673. INVIGORATING (adj) Meaning: sensible
Meaning: making somebody feel healthy and full of Usage: The doctor told the diabetic that he must be
energy. more judicious in his food habits.
Usage: The invigorating breeze soothed her tired
nerves and distraught soul. 687. JUNCTION (noun)
Meaning: a join; connection; crossroads
674. INVINCIBLE (adj) Usage: Every cross road in Delhi has become an
Meaning: unbeatable important junction.
Usage: The Juventus Club seems to be invincible.
688. JUNCTURE (noun)
675. INVOKE (verb) Meaning: point in time; a convergence of events Us-
Meaning: appeal to, evoke, bring into play age: The unfaithful husband left his wife at acritical
Usage: He tried to invoke the blessings of God juncture.
before his exams.
689. JURISDICTION (noun)
676. INVOLUNTARY (adj) Meaning: the authority to administer justice or exer-
Meaning: done without conscious control. cise power, authority, field.
Usage: The excruciating pain in my shoulder Usage: The policeman refused to file the complaint
caused me to let out an involuntary cry of pain. as the crime did not take place in his jurisdiction.
677. IRASCIBLE (adj) 690. JUSTIFICATION (noun)
Meaning: bad-tempered Meaning: good reason, rationale.
Usage: Socrates had a shrewish wife who wasknown Usage: Many people feel that there is no justification
for her irascible nature. for capital punishment to be awarded toanyone.
678. IRKSOME (adj)
691. JUVENILE (adj)
Meaning: tedious and annoying
Meaning: silly and more typical of a child than an
Usage: The students were vexed with the irksome
adult
regulations imposed by the warden of the hostel.
Usage: Adults behaving in a juvenile manner often
679. IRRESOLUTE (adj) become the butt of ridicule.
Meaning: not able to decide what to do.
Usage: Hamlet, the prince of Denmark wasnotorious 692. KEEPSAKE (noun)
for being irresolute. Meaning: a small item kept in memory of the person
who gained it or originally owned it.
680. ITERATE (adj) Usage: I will always treasure the gift he gave me for
Meaning: do or say repeatedly. keep sake, before he left for the U.S.
718. LEST (conjunction) Usage: Kerala has the maximum number of literates
Meaning: in order to prevent something fromhap- in India.
pening
Usage: I caught hold of my brother’s hand lest he 732. LITIGATION (noun)
should get lost in that crowd. Meaning: the process of making or defending a
claim in a court of law.
719. LETHARGIC (adj) Usage: The litigation between the two parties, which
Meaning: lacking energy and enthusiasm. went on for nearly three years, finally ended in an
Usage: Sullen weather tends to make a person dour amicable settlement.
and lethargic.
733. LOATHSOME (adj)
720. LEVITY (noun) Meaning: causing hatred or disgust
Meaning: lack of serious thought; light-heartedness Usage: It is loathsome to watch able-bodied young
Usage: Such levity in religious matters may not en- men resorting to begging.
dear you to many.
734. LODESTAR (noun)
721. LEXICON (noun) Meaning: a principle that guides somebody’s be-
Meaning: dictionary haviour or actions.
Usage: You may find colloquial words in the lexicon. Usage: Expanding its business operations to off-
shore markets is the company’s lodestar.
722. LIAISE (verb)
Meaning: to form a link (with) 735. LOPSIDED (adj)
Usage: Civilians should liaise with the police and the Meaning: with one side lower or smaller than the
army to combat terrorism. other.
Usage: The members of the opposition party accused
723. LIBEL (noun) the government of adopting lopsided policies.
Meaning: character assassination
Usage: He filed a defamation suit against the media, 736. LUCID (adj)
accusing it of libel. Meaning: clear, sane, articulate.
724. LIBERAL (adj) Usage: Since the explanation was absolutely lucid I
Meaning: open-minded, generous think no one has any questions to ask.
Usage: A liberal pay package alone may not en-
737. LUCRE (noun)
hance productivity.
Meaning: money obtained through dishonest
725. LIBERATE (verb) means.
Meaning: set free; free from conventional ideas Usage: The venal politician gloated over his filthy
about behaviour. lucre.
Usage: The woman of today is more liberated when
compared to her ancient counterpart. 738. LUGUBRIOUS (adj)
Meaning: sad and dismal
726. LIBERTINE (noun) Usage: A lugubrious atmosphere prevailed over the
Meaning: a person who lives an irresponsible life city following the leader’s assassination.
Usage: The libertine led a life of idleness anddissi-
pation and eventually died penniless. 739. LUMINARY (noun)
Meaning: a person who inspires or influences others
727. LIEGE (noun) Usage: Although he was a fledgeling artist his work
Meaning: a lord or superior was well appreciated by the leading luminaries of the
Usage: Lieges of the olden days were notorious for art world.
harassing their subjects. 740. LUNATIC (noun)
728. LIMPID (adj) Meaning: a person whose actions and manner are
Meaning: clear and transparent marked by extreme eccentricity or recklessness.
Usage: His limpid style of writing, bereft of all the Usage: The lunatic troubled everyone in the locality.
trappings of ornamentation, was comprehensible
even to the lay man. 741. LUSTROUS (adj)
Meaning: shiny
729. LITANY (noun) Usage: Her lustrous hair has been her crowning
Meaning: a long boring account of a series of glory.
events, reasons etc.
742. MACHIAVELLIAN (adj)
Usage: She listened patiently to the litany of com-
Meaning: scheming
plaints which the children made against each other.
Usage: The Machiavellian politician is rumoured to
730. LITERAL (adj) have incited the mob.
Meaning: taking words in their usual or primary
sense without metaphor or allegory 743. MACHINATIONS (noun)
Usage: Literal translations may sound very bland. Meaning: secret and complicated plans, especially to
gain power.
731. LITERATE (adj) Usage: The machinations of the opposition led to the
Meaning: able to read and write ruling party’s miserable downfall.
844. OBLIVION (noun) Usage: The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone
Meaning: a state in which you are not aware of what is for a new airport in the city which would be opera-
happening around you, usually because you are tional by the end of next year.
unconscious or asleep.
Usage: He often sought solace for his innumerable 858. OPIATE (noun)
worries by drinking himself to oblivion. Meaning: a drug containing opium
Usage: In the past, opiate was administered in order to
845. OBNOXIOUS (adj) mitigate excruciating pain.
Meaning: very unpleasant
Usage: His obnoxious behaviour attracted a lot of 859. OPINE (verb)
criticism. Meaning: to express an opinion.
Usage: Most doctors opine that physical exercise
846. OBSOLESCENT (adj) and a wholesome diet can prevent people from fall-
Meaning: becoming obsolete ing prey to stress related ailments.
Usage: The prediction that the printed word would
become obsolescent with the advent of computers 860. OPPORTUNE (adj)
eventually turned out to be false. Meaning: done or occurring at an especially conve-
nient or appropriate time
847. OBSTINATE (adj) Usage: The soldiers were waiting for the opportune
Meaning: not easily subdued or remedied. moment to strike back at the enemy.
Usage: Her friends were piqued by her obstinate
refusal to change her decision. 861. OPPRESSIVE (adv)
Meaning: causing distress or anxiety
848. ODDITY (noun) Usage: The students resented the warden’s oppres-
Meaning: a strange person or thing. sive rules.
Usage: He looked like an oddity in his bizarre outfit
and weird hairdo. 862. OPULENCE (noun)
Meaning: luxury and grandeur
849. ODDMENTS (pl noun) Usage: The spectators were awestruck by the opu-
Meaning: something remaining over lence and grandeur of the Versailles palace.
Usage: Her house is cluttered with oddments which
she is unwilling to part with. 863. ORCHESTRATE (verb)
Meaning: direct (a situation) to produce a desired
850. ODIOUS (adj) effect.
Meaning: extremely unpleasant Usage: The rebellion was orchestrated by a group of
Usage: He is such an odious person that people mavericks.
detest his company.
864. OSTENSIBLE (adj)
Meaning: apparent
851. ODYSSEY (noun)
Usage: The ostensible reason for the increase in
Meaning: a long eventful journey.
crime is poverty but the police chief feels that there
Usage: The writer has recorded the details of his
could be other reasons too.
innumerable odyssies in his travelogue.
865. OSTRACIZE (verb)
852. OFFBEAT (adj)
Meaning: exclude from a society or group
Meaning: different from what most people expect.
Usage: The bigots of his community ostracized him
Usage: He is a man with offbeat taste and style.
for getting married to a girl belonging to a different
853. OMNIPOTENT (adj) religion.
Meaning: all-powerful.
866. OUTCRY (noun)
Usage: God is omnipotent.
Meaning: a reaction of anger or strong protestshown
854. ONEROUS (adj) by people in public.
Meaning: involving much effort and difficulty Usage: Usage: The unprecedented rise in prices provoked a
The onerous task of nurturing his youngersiblings public outcry.
fell on his tender shoulders after his father’sdeath.
867. OUTLANDISH (adj)
855. ONSLAUGHT (noun) Meaning: strange or unfamiliar
Meaning: a fierce or defensive attack Usage: His outlandish clothes made him the objectof
Usage: The armed forces are pretty well-equippedto ridicule at the party.
defend the country against an enemy onslaught.
868. OUTLAW (verb)
856. ONUS (noun) Meaning: make illegal.
Meaning: responsibility Usage: Smoking in public has been outlawed in
Usage: The onus of looking after the safety and many countries.
security of the employees rests with the employer.
869. OUTLAY (noun)
857. OPERATIONAL (adj) Meaning: an amount of money spent
Meaning: ready to be used. Usage: The project, which was started on a large
scale, required a huge financial outlay.
973. PROPENSITY (noun) Usage: The Chief Minister who was supposed to be
Meaning: a tendency to behave in a certain way the Chief Guest sent one of his cabinet colleagues
Usage: His peripatetic existence is a result of his as his proxy to attend the function.
propensity for travel.
987. PSEUDONYM (noun)
974. PROPHECY (noun) Meaning: false name, especially one used by an
Meaning: a prediction about what will happen Us- author
age: The prophecies of Nostradamus are said tobe Usage: Mary Ann Evans wrote under the pseu-
coming true one by one. donym, George Eliot.
975. PROPULSION (noun) 988. PUERILE (adj)
Meaning: the action of propelling or driving forward. Meaning: childishly silly
Usage: Most water birds use their tail feathers for Usage: It did not take much time for me to discern
propulsion. that the excuse given by him was a puerile and
evasive one.
976. PROSCRIBE (verb)
Meaning: ban
989. PUMMEL (verb)
Usage: The doctor proscribed sweets for the diabet-
Meaning: strike repeatedly with the fists.
ic.
Usage: He caught hold of the thief and pummelled
977. PROTAGONIST (noun) him severely before handing him over to the police.
Meaning: character
Usage: The protagonist in the play is a versatile 990. PURPORT (verb)
actor. Meaning: appear to be or do, especially falsely.
Usage: The book purports to reveal the whole
978. PROTEAN (adj) truth.
Meaning: able to change or adapt
Usage: The protean landscape transforms itself with 991. PURVEY (verb)
the seasons. Meaning: provide or supply (food or drink) as one’s
business
979. PROTOCOL (noun) Usage: He began his career by purveying sundry
Meaning: procedure items on the pavement and eventually grew to be-
Usage: The protocol demands that a visiting digni- come a business tycoon.
tary be received by a senior officer.
992. PUSILLANIMITY (noun)
980. PROTOTYPE (noun)
Meaning: lacking courage
Meaning: first or earlier form from which other forms
Usage: Mahatma Gandhi’s advocacy of non- vio-
are developed or copied.
lence was misconceived by the extremists as pusil-
Usage: The prototype of the radar will be displayed
lanimity.
for the benefit of research students
993. QUAINT (adj)
981. PROTRACTED (adj)
Meaning: attractively unused or old fashioned Us-
Meaning: draw out
age: Although the cottage was old-fashioned ithad
Usage: After a protracted discussion the team finally
a quaint and alluring charm.
solved the problem.
994. QUARANTINE (verb & noun)
982. PROTRACTED (adj)
Meaning: isolation imposed on those who have
Meaning: lasting longer than expected or longer
been exposed to an infectious disease.
than usual
Usage: The foreigners who are suspected to be
Usage: He expired last week after being bedridden
carrying the ‘bird flu’ virus were quarantined at the
for six months due to a protracted illness.
airport itself.
983. PROVENANCE (noun)
995. QUAVER (verb)
Meaning: the origin or earliest known history of
Meaning: tremble
something.
Usage: Her voice quavered with emotion when she
Usage: Some of the antique artefacts in the man-
read out the farewell message.
sion are of Italian provenance.
1126. SENTIENT (adj) Usage: When I saw someone skulking behind the
Meaning: able to perceive or feel things bushes, I called in the police immediately fearing
Usage: Since plants are sentient living beings they that it was a burglar.
should be nurtured with utmost care.
1139. SLAKE (verb)
1127. SEQUEL (noun) Meaning: to drink so that you no longer feel thirsty.
Meaning: follow-up, development Usage: I was so thirsty that I guzzled two bottles of
Usage: Star Wars ΙΙ is a sequel to Star Wars Ι. coke to slake my thirst.
1313. VICISSITUDES (noun) Usage: The jury did not change its verdict despite
Meaning: changes of circumstances or fortune Us- vociferous appeals from the defendant.
age: Despite experiencing the vicissitudes of lifehe is
always sanguine about the future. 1328. VOLITION (noun)
Meaning: the power of choosing freely and making
1314. VIE (verb) one’s own decision.
Meaning: to compete strongly with somebody in Usage: “No one forced me”, He remarked “I did this
order to obtain or achieve something. out of my own volition.
Usage: A few years ago nationalized banks vied
with each other to offer loans to customers at the 1329. VOLUMINOUS (adj)
lowest possible interest rate. Meaning: very large
Usage: The magician fished out the missing rabbit,
1315. VIE (verb) from the pocket of his voluminous coat.
Meaning: to contend.
1330. VORACIOUS (adj)
Usage: The resort had several inns and restaurants
Meaning: insatiable
vying with each other to lure customers.
Usage: He has a voracious appetite.
1316. VIGILANT (adj) 1331. VORTEX (noun)
Meaning: very careful to notice any signs of danger Meaning: a very powerful, force or situation that
or trouble. you cannot avoid or escape.
Usage: Since there was a spurt of burglaries in the Usage: Sometimes innocent young people are
area, residents were asked to remain vigilant. caught into a vortex of bad habits quite unsuspect-
ingly.
1317. VILE (adj)
Meaning: extremely wicked 1332. VOUCHSAFE (verb)
Usage: The weather suddenly turned vile forcing us Meaning: to give or tell something to somebody,
to shelve our plans of going to the seaside for a esp. as a privilege.
picnic. Usage: Nature has vouchsafed innumerable bene-
dictions on mankind.
1318. VILIFICATION (noun)
Meaning: speaking or writing in a very abusive way 1333. WADDLE (verb)
Usage: The vilification of our established customs Meaning: to walk with short steps.
and traditions is resented by orthodox thinkers. Usage: An obese matronly woman waddled towards
the entrance to answer the door bell.
1319. VIRULENT (adj)
Meaning: extremely harmful 1334. WAIVE (verb)
Usage: The couple were devasted after their only Meaning: refrain from insisting on or applying (a
son succumbed to a virulent strain of pneumonia. right or claim).
Usage: Claiming moral responsibility for the inci-
1320. VISAGE (noun) dent, he waived his right to appeal.
Meaning: countenance
Usage: The visage of the palace has been redone. 1335. WAYLAY (verb)
Meaning: intercept (someone) in order to attack
1321. VISION (noun) them.
Meaning: dream, eyesight, foresight Usage: The passengers were waylaid and looted
Usage: The Chairman’s vision for the company by a band of robbers.
sounded rather impractical.
1336. WAYWARD (adj)
1322. VISTA (noun)
Meaning: capricious or irregular
Meaning: view
Usage: On new year’s day, he resolved to give up
Usage: The vista from the resort is breathtaking.
his wayward behaviour and turn over a new leaf.
1323. VITALITY (noun)
Meaning: energy 1337. WEIRD (adj)
Usage: Mike’s speech lacked vitality. Meaning: suggesting something supernatural, un-
natural or unconventional
1324. VIVACIOUS (adj) Usage: People looked at her with a strange expres-
Meaning: lively sion because of her weird hairdo.
Usage: Jane is a vivacious lady.
1338. WHEEDLE (verb)
1325. VIVID (adj) Meaning: use endearments or flattery to persuade
Meaning: bright, gaudy, clear someone to do something.
Usage: He gave a vivid account of the accident. Usage: The children had a knack of wheedling
money out of their father.
1326. VOCAL (adj)
Meaning: verbal, vociferous 1339. WHEREWITHAL (noun)
Usage: The victim received vocal support from the Meaning: the money or other resources needed for a
press. particular purpose
Usage: Her uncle left her a legacy of forty thousand
1327. VOCIFEROUS (adj) pounds which gave her the required wherewithal to
Meaning: vocal buy anything that took her fancy.
WORD LIST-ADVANCED
A acclivity(n) : an upward slope
adhesive (n/adj) : sticky; a substance such as glue alliteration (n) : the recurrence of the same initial
used for sticking things together sound in words in close succession
adipose (n/adj) : of fat; fatty allude (v) : to convey an indirect reference; to
adjunct (n) : a thing joined or added, but refer without explicit mention alluvial
subordinate or not essentially a part (adj) : soil deposited by rivers or floods
adjure (v) : command; direct with matter transported in suspension
adjutant (n) : an officer who assists superior aloft (adj) : on high; on the top
officers by communicating orders, aloof (adv) : detached; some way off (from);
conducting correspondence without participation
adnauseam altruism (n) : benevolence; humanitarianism;
(phrase) : to the point of producing disgust munificence
adobe (n) : a sun-dried brick altruistic (adj) : regard for others as a principle of
adore (v) : to worship; to love or revere intensely action, unselfishness, regard forother
adorn (v) : to dress; to embellish; to decorate people
adroit (adj) : dexterous; skillful; ingenious ad- alumna (n) : a former female pupil or student
ventitious (adj) : additional; developed out of the amalgamate : combine or unite to form one
usual order or place structure, organisation, etc. amazon
advocate (n/v) : defender; attorney; lawyer; promote (n) : a female soldier; a strong,
aegis (n) : patronage; protection vigorous or aggressive woman am-
aeon (n) : a vast age; eternity aerialist bidextrous (adv) : able to use both hands equally well am-
(n) : a high-wire or trapeze artist bience (n) : atmosphere; surrounding influence
aesthete (n) : a person who has or professes to ambiguous (adj) : doubtful; indistinct; having more
have a special appreciation of beauty than one possible meaning
aesthetic (adj) : artistic; exquisite amble (n) : to move at an easy pace
aesthetician(n) : a person versed in or devoted to amen (interjection) : so let it be, (said at the end of a
aesthetics prayer) amenable
aestival : pertaining to summer (adj) : agreeable; open
aestivate (v) : spend the summer or dry season amend (v) : to alter in detail, with a view to
in a state of torpor. improvement; to rectify; to correct
aficionado(n) : a devotee of a sport or pass time amigo(n) : a friend or comrade
affect (v) : to infect or attack; to influence amiss (adv) : astray; wrongly; faultily
affidavit (n) : a written declaration on oath amoral (adj) : outside the domain of morality
affiliate (v/n) amputate (v) : to cut off
(n: affiliation) : to attach as a member or branch; amuck (adv) : to rush about wildly, attacking
an associate anyone in one’s path
affinity (n) : attraction; liking; proclivity amulet (n) : a charm worn to ward off evil,
affirmation (n) disease etc.
(v: affirm) : assertion; declaration anachronism(n) : an error assigning a thing to an
affluence (n) earlier or to a later age than itbe-
(adj: affluent) : abundance; wealth longs to
affray (n) : a brawl, fight or fray anaemia (n) : bloodlessness
agape (adj) : with gaping mouth; dumbfounded anaesthetic
agenda (n.pl) : (a list of) things to be done; (adj & n) : a substance that produces
a programme of business fordiscus- insensibility to pain
sion analgesic (adj) : producing analgesia; causing
agglomeration(n) : accumulation; collection; gather insensibility to pain analogy
aggrandize (v) : augment; increase (n) : a resemblance of relations
aggregate (n/adj) : to amount (to); total anarchist (n) : an advocate of anarchism or of
aghast (adv) : stupefied with horror political disorder anathe-
agility (n) : nimbleness; swiftness and ma (n) : abhorrence; abomination
suppleness ancillary (adj/n) : auxiliary; supplementary; subsidiary
agitation (n) : tumult; turmoil; distraction (in work) andirons : iron bars to support the end of logs
agnostic (n) : cynic; a sceptic in fire
agrarian (adj) : agricultural; relating to land animadvert (v) : to take cognizance; to take note; to
albeit (conj) : whereas; although it be comment critically; to consider
albino (n) : a person with abnormally white animated(adj) : lively; full of spirit
skin and hair and pink irises alchemy anneal (v) : to strengthen or toughen; to heat
(n) : the infant stage of chemistry, and cool gradually to temper or
aimed towards transmuting of other toughen.
metals into gold, and discovering the annotate (v) : to make notes; to append notes
elixir of life annul (v) : cancel; invalidate; to make null; to
alga (n) : the seaweeds and related forms alias abolish
(n/adv) : otherwise known as; an assumed anodyne (n) : medicine that allays pain; something
name alien- that relieves mental distress
ate (v) : to estrange anoint (v) : to smear with ointment or oil
alimentary (adj) : nutritive; pertaining to nourishment anomalous (adj) : irregular; deviating from rule
allegory (n) : symbol; symbolical narration alle- anonymous (adj) : lacking a name; lacking distinctive
viate (v) : to lessen or reduce; to mitigate features or individuality
antecede (v) : to go before in time ante- arroyo (n) : a rocky ravine; a dry watercourse
diluvian (adj) : very old-fashioned, primitive articulate (adj) : jointed; to speak distinctly
anthropoid (adj) : manlike artifacts (n) : things made by human workmanship
antipathy (n) : aversion; dislike; negative feeling artifice (n) : machination; tactic; stratagem
antithesis (n) : a thesis or proposition opposing ascendancy (n) : dominating influence
another ascertain (v) : certify; establish; verify
aperture (n) : an opening; a hole
askance (adv) : sideways; obliquely
apex (n/adj) : the summit; the culminating point
askew (adv) : aslant; awry; crooked; lopsided
or climax of anything
aphasia (n) : inability to express thought in words, asperity (n) : acrimony; harshness; bitter coldness
caused by brain disease or damage aspersion (n) : calumny; slander
aphorism (n) : a brief, pithy saying; an adage aspire (v) : yearn; desire
apiary (n) : place where bees are kept assent (n/v) : to express agreement (with, to);
aplomb (n) : self-possession, coolness apoca- approve of; consent
lyptic (adj) : prophetic of disaster or, of the end assessment (n) : appraisal; judgement
of the world; pertaining to the assimilate (v) : digest; absorb
Apocalypse assuage (v) : to soften, mitigate or allay; to ease
apocryphal (adj) : fictitious; of doubtful authority or relieve
apogee (n) : the sun’s greatest meridional asteroid (n) : one of the small planets that
altitude; acme; pinnacle revolve about the sun mainly be-
apoplexy (n) : sudden loss of sensation and
tween the orbits of Mars and Jupiter;
motion (generally the result ofhaem-
starfish
orrhage in the brain)
apostate (n) : a person who has abandoned his astigmatism (n) : a defect in an eye as-
religion, principles, etc tral (adj) : belonging to the stars
apothecary (n) : a druggist or pharmacist licensed astringent (adj) : contracting, drawing together;
to dispense prescribed drugs caustic
apothegm (n) : a pithy saying, pointed and astute (adj) : wily; bright; sagacious; intelligent
practical than the aphorism need be asunder (adv) : apart; into parts
appall (v) : to horrify, dismay; to weaken ap- asylum (n) : refuge or protection; institution for
parition (n) : a phantom; a ghost the care or relief of unfortunate(blind,
appease (v) : to pacify; to satisfy mentally ill)
appellation : name esp one attached to a atavism (n) : the reappearance of ancestral or
particular person appo- to a primitive, type characteristics
site (adj) : to the purpose appraise atelier (n) : a workshop, esp an artist’s studio
(v) : to estimate the worth of athwart (prep) : transversely; wrongly
apprehend (v) : to lay hold of; to arrest attache : a person appointed to an
appurtenances (n) : an appendage or accessory ambassador’s staff, usually with a
apropos (prep) : in reference to (with of); as per special sphere of activity
aquiline (adj) : hooked like an eagle’s beak attenuate (v) : to reduce (in strength or value) attest
arable (adj) : land fit for ploughing or croppro- (v) : to testify or bear witness to; to
duction affirm by signature
arbiter (n) : a person who has absolute control, attribute (v) : ascribe; assign
or right to judge. (fem. arbitress) attrition (n) : wearing down
arbitrator : a person appointed to settle a audacious (adj) : bold; daring aug-
dispute ment (v) : to increase
arcane (adj) : secret; mysterious augury (n) : divination; prophecy
archaeology (n) : the study of human antiquities, auscultation (n) : listening to internal bodily sounds
discovered by excavation of authenticate (v) : to prove genuine; to certify the
material remains authorship of; to give legal validity to
archaic (adj) : antiquated; old-fashioned archetype authoritarian (adj) : setting authority above freedom au-
(n) : the original pattern or model ar- tomaton (n) : a machine that acts by routine,
chipelago (n) : a group of islands; a sea without intelligence, activated by a
abounding in islands archives concealed mechanism
(n) : a repository of public records autonomous (adj) : self-governing; independent autopsy
archivist : a person who maintains and is in
(n) : a post-mortem examination of a
charge of archives
corpse
arduous (adj) : laborious; strenuous
arid (adj) : dry; barren auxiliary (adj) : supplementary; secondary
armada : a fleet of armed ships avarice (n) : greed for wealth; covetousness
aromatic (adj) : fragrant; spicy averse (adv) : disinclined; reluctant
arraign (v) : to call to account; to put on trial; aviary (n) : a large cage or enclosure forkeeping
indict birds
arrant (adj) : notorious; downright, unmitigated avocation (n) : a diversion or distraction from
arrears (n) : total unpaid debt; debts not paid one’s regular employment
by the due date avuncular : suitable to an uncle; benign
arrogate (v) : to claim as one’s own; to claim axiom (n) : a universally received principle
proudly or unduly azure (adj) : of a faint blue; sky-coloured
caucus (n/v) : conference; meeting; to hold chic (n/adj) : style, elegance; artistic skill; smart,
meetings elegant and fashionable
cauterize (v) : to destroy using caustic substances chicanery (n) : artifice; deception; fraud choler-
cavalcade (n) : a procession of people on ic : irascible, angry
horseback or in vehicles; a parade chute (n) : a passage or sloping trough for
cavil (n/v) : a trifling objection; to quibble sending down goods, water,
cede (v) : yield; surrender; relinquish rubbish, etc
celerity (n) : alacrity; speed; rapidity of motion cinch (n) : a saddle girth
or thought celes- circumlocution(n) : expressing an idea in more words
tial (adj) : heavenly; divine than are necessary
celibate (adj) : living as a single person; circumscribe (v) : to draw a line round; to enclose
abstaining from sexual relations within certain limits
censor (n/v) : an official who examines books, citadel (n) : a fortress in (or near) a city clair-
films, papers etc. with power to voyant (n/adj): the power of discerning things
delete obscene words and actions; to beyond the normal range of senseor
ban; to delete perception
censure (v) : berate; criticise; to blame; to castigate centaur clamber (v) : to climb with difficulty; to ascend
(n) : a mythical creature, half man and clamor (n) : a loud continuous outcry; uproar;
half horse persistent expression of
centenarian : a person a hundred or more years dissatisfaction
old centi- clangor (n) : a loud ringing noise that made by
grade (adj) : of a scale striking large pieces of metal clarion
centrifugal (adj) : tending away from the centre; (n/adj) : the sound of a trumpet; a stirring
proceeding in development fromthe summons (to duty, etc) claustropho-
apex towards the base bia (n): a pathological dread of confined
centripetal (adj) : tending towards the centre; spaces clavicle
proceeding in development fromthe (n) : the collar-bone
base towards the apex cleft (n/adj) : crack; split, divided
centurion (n) : In Roman army, an officer who had clemency (n) : mercy; mild; gentle cleric
the command of a hundred men : a member of the clergy
cerebral (adj) : pertaining to the brain; intellectual cliché (n) : banality; stereotype
ceremonious (adj): given to ceremony; particular in clientele (n) : all the customers; clients
observing formalities climactic (adj) : pertaining to the most important or
cessation (n) : stopping; ceasing exciting scene
chafe (v) : to heat; to wear by rubbing; to clime (n) : climate; a country, region (in poetic
cause irritation sense)
chaff (n) : husks from corn that has been cloak : an outdoor overgarment
threshed or winnowed cloven (adj) : split; divided
chaffing (adj) : teasing; banter coadjutor (n) : an associate
chagrin (n) : embarrassment; shame; humiliation coalesce (v) : to grow together or unite into one
chalice (n) : drinking cup or bowl whole; to fuse
chameleon (n) : an inconstant, changeable, or cockade (n) : a rosette worn on the hat as a badge
readily adaptable person; a lizard coda (n) : a passage forming the completion
which can change its colour to blend of a piece, rounding it off to asatisfac-
with its surroundings tory conclusion
champion (n/v) coddle (n/v) : to pamper; an effeminate person
(n : championship): a successful combatant; promote codicil (n) : a supplement to a will
chaotic (adj) : confused; disorganised coeval (n) : a person or thing of the same age;a
chaperon (n/v) : someone who supervises a group contemporary
of children or young people (usu. cog (n/adj) : a projection, eg. on a toothed wheel
for protection) cogitate (v) : contemplate; meditate; ponder
charlatan (n) : someone who pretends to have cognomen (n) : a surname
special knowledge or ability (esp in coherent : able to speak intelligibly and
medicine); an impostor; a fraud articulately, having a constant
chasm (n) : a gap or opening; a void space; phase relationship
an abyss; a ravine cohesion (n) : the act of sticking together coinci-
chassis (n/adj) : the structural framework of a motor dent(adj/adv): agreeing; corresponding or
car to which the movable working identical without any connection
parts and body may be attached colander (n) : a perforated vessel
chaste (adj) : modest; decent and pure in taste columnist : a journalist contributing regularly toa
and style newspaper
chasten (v) : to free from faults by punishing; to collage (n) : any work or construction put
purify or refine together from assembled fragments
chattel (n) : belongings; possessions collate (v) : to bring together for comparison
chauffeur : a person employed to drive a collation (n) : organisation; arrangement; group;
private or hired motor car a light meal
cherubic (adj) : a sweet innocent-looking chubby collier (n) : a coal miner; a sailor in a ship
faced person, esp a child carrying coal
colloquy (n) : conversation; discussion constellation (n) : stars which form a group as seen
collusion (n) : conspiracy; plot from the earth
colossal (adj) : massive; gigantic constituent (n) : citizen; voter
comatose (adj) : affected with coma; extremely constraint (n) : compulsion
drowsy or sleeping heavily consul (n) : an agent for a foreign government
combustible (adj) : liable to catch fire and burn appointed to attend to the interestsof
comely (adj) : pretty; pleasing; handsome co- its citizens and commerce
mestible (n) : eatable contaminate (v) : to pollute; to infect contempt
comity (n) : courteousness; civility commandeer (n) : scorn; abhorrence; disdain
(v) : confiscate; to take over for one’s contest (n/v) : competition; to challenge
own use, without asking commando context (n) : situation; circumstances
: a party of men called out for a contiguous (adj) : adjoining; touching; near next conti-
military service nence : restraint; self-control; celibacy
commemorative (adj): serving to preserve the memory of contortion (n) : deformation; a violent twisting
commensurate (adv): equal in measure or extent; in due contraband (adj) : forbidden by law to be imported;
proportion with illegally imported; smuggled contrite
commiserate (v) : to feel or express sympathy or pity for (adj) : full of guilt and remorse for a
commodious (adj): spacious; comfortable; gigantic wrong doing or sin; action showinga
communal (adj) : pertaining to a commune or a sense of guilt or sin
community; owned in common, controvert (v) : to oppose; to argue against; to
shared dispute
communiqué (n) : an official announcement or bulletin contumacious (adj): opposing lawful authority;
compact (adj/n) : closely packed or fitted together; stubborn; obstinate
concise; small; agreement; contract contumely : insolent or reproachful language or
compatible (adj) : congruous; harmonious; suitable treatment, disagree
compatriot : a fellow countryman contusion (n) : a bruise; the state of being bruised
compendium (n) : a shortening or abridgement convalescence (n): gradual recovery of health and
compensatory (adj): giving compensation strength conven-
compere : a person who introduces and links tional (adj): customary converge (v)
the artists in a variety show compila- : meet in one point
tion (n) : the act of collecting or drawing conversant (adv) : familiar
(data, list, records, speeches etc.) converse (v/adj) : to speak; reverse convex
complement (n/v): companion; counterpart; (adj) : arched; raised con-
consummate veyance (n) : means of transportation
compromise (n/v): arbitration; a settlement of differences convoke (v) : to call together; to assemble
by concession on each side com- convoluted (adj) : difficult to understand; intricate
punction (n) : regret; shame; conscience comrade : copious (adj) : abundant; plentiful; generous
a workmate, friend or companion concede (v) : to coquette (n) : flirting; dallying
admit; to make a concession; to cordial (adj) : friendly; sincere; affectionate cordon
give up (n) : encircled area to prevent or control
conceited : vain, proud passage into or out of it
concord (n) : harmony; agreement conde- cormorant (adj) : a member of shiny black web- footed
scend (v) : to act graciously to inferiors condi- seabirds, related to the pelicans,that
ment (n) : a seasoning, esp salt or pepper feeds on fish; a glutton
confidant (n) : a close friend; a person confided in cornice (n) : a projecting moulding along the
or entrusted with secrets conflagra- top of a building, window, etc corol-
tion (n) : a war or major destructive lary (n) : an easy inference; a natural result
disturbance corporeal (adj) : not spiritual; having a substance
congeal (v) : to freeze corpulent (adj) : heavy; plump; stout
congenial (adj) : pleasant; affable; cordial congenital correlation (n) : the act of correlating; mutual relation
(adj) : dating from the birth, not corrosive (adj) : having the quality of eating away
necessarily hereditary; inborn con- corrugated (adj) : wrinkled; drawn into folds
glomeration (n): collection; the state of being corsair (n) : a privateering ship; a pirate cortège
conglomerated (n) : a procession (esp funeral procession)
conifer (n) : any tree or shrub bearing cones coruscate (v) : to sparkle; to throw off flashes of
conjugal (adj) : pertaining to marriage; marital; the light
right of sexual relations with a spouse cosmic (adj) : relating to the cosmos; universal
connoisseur (n) : a person with a well-informed coterie (n) : a social, literary, or other exclusive
knowledge and appreciation, espof circle
fine food and wine or of the arts counsellor : a person who gives counsel, an
connotation (n) : implication additional to the idea advisor, a person trained to give
conscientious (adj): tending to take great care or show guidance on personal, social or psy-
diligence; scrupulous; meticulous chological problems
consecrate (v) : to devote (time, energy etc.); to countenance (n/v): the face; expression of the face; to
sanctify favour; permit or sanction counter-
consort (n/v) : spouse; mate; partner; companion feit : made in imitation, not genuine
conspiracy (n) : a plot; a secret banding together countermand (v) : to revoke; to give a command in
for a purpose (usu. unlawful) opposition to one already given
deliquescent (adj): liquefying in the air despondency (n) : lack of hope; dejection
delirium (n) : the state of being delirious, esp despot : an absolute ruler, a tyrant or
through fever oppressor
delirious (adj) : wandering in the mind; despotism (n) : absolute power; tyranny desti-
lightheaded; insane tute (n/adj) : needy; pathetic; poor; forsaken
deliverance (n) : release; liberation desuetude : disuse; discontinuance
delude (v) : to deceive or cause to accept what desultory (adj) : without rational or logical
is false as true; to mislead delusion connection; loose; hasty
(n) : the act of deluding; a hallucination detached (adj) : aloof; unbiased; impartial
delusive (adj) : tending to delude detainee : a person detained in custody esp.
delve (v) : investigate; explore; examine for political reasons
demagogue (n) : leader of the people detergent (n) : a cleansing agent; that which
demean (v) : to humiliate; to lower in status or cleanses
dignity determinate (n) : determined or limited; fixed
demeanour (n) : behaviour; conduct deterrent (adj) : frightening; hindrance
demesne (n) : a manor-house with lands adjacent detonation : an explosion
to it not let out to tenants detraction (n) : defamation; slander; distraction
demise (n) : death deviate (v) : to diverge; to go or change from
democrat : an advocate of democracy, a the way
member of the Democratic Party devoid (adj) : destitute; wanting; free
demographic (adj): the study of population esp with devolve (v) : to pass on; to roll down
reference to size, density anddistrib- dexterous (adj) : right-handed; skilful; adroit
ution diabolic (adj) : extremely cruel; wicked; satanic
demolition (n) : the act of pulling down; destruction diadem (n) : a crown; a jewelled headband, or
demoniac (adj) : person possessed by a demon or the like
evil spirit de- dialectic (n) : the art of discussing (esp in a debate)
motic (adj) : to the people diaphanous (adj) : transparent; clear; pellucid
demure (adj) : modest; bashful; shy diatribe (n) : an abusive or bitter harangue;
demurrage (n) : compensation for detention of vituperation
railway wagons (or any other wagon) differential (n/adj): discriminating; pertaining to
denigrate (v) : malign; defame difference
denizen : an inhabitant (human, animal or diffusion (n) : distribution; scattering abroad
plant) digressive (adj) : departing from the main subject di-
denotation (n) : that which a word denotes, in lapidated (adj) : in ruin; in a state of disrepair dilatori-
contradistinction to that which itcon- ness : given to or causing delay dilemma
notes (n) : quandary; predicament; confusion
dénouement : the outcome or result dilettante (n) : a dabbler in art, science or
denounce (v) : to inform against or accuse literature; an amateur
publicly; to condemn diligent (adj) : industrious; hard-working; studious
depilate (v) : to remove the hair from diminution (n) : decrease; reduction
deploy : to spread out and place dimwit : a stupid person
strategically (any forces) de- dinghy (n) : a small open boat propelled by
portment (n) : behaviour; conduct; manners oars, sails or an outboard motor
deposition (n) : declaration; testimony dint (n) : effort; strength; power dipsomaniac
depravity (n) : a corrupt state of moral character; (n) : person suffering from dipsomania dirge
wickedness (n) : funeral song or hymn; a slow and
depredation (n) : the act of plundering; hardship mournful piece of music
deranged (adj) : insane; disordered disabuse (v) : to undeceive or set right disap-
derelict (n/adj) : neglectful of duty; person probation (n): disapproval
abandoned by society disarray (n) : lack of array; disorder; untidiness disavowal
deride (v) : to laugh at; to mock (n) : the act denying; the act of
derision (n) : ridicule; mockery der- disclaiming knowledge of, or con-
matitis (n) : inflammation of the skin nection with
dermatologist (n) : person specialised in the diseases disband (v) : to disperse; to break up(a group,
of skin unit etc)
descant (v) : a discourse or disquisition under disburse (v) : to pay out
several heads disclaim (v) : to refuse to acknowledge or be responsible
descry (v) : to discover by looking des- for
ecrate (v) : defile; profane; contaminate discomfit (v) : to defeat or rout
desiccate (v) : to preserve by drying; to dry disconcert (v) : to throw into confusion; to frustrate
desideratum (n) : something desired or much wanted disconsolate (adj): beyond consolation; very sad or
desolate (v) : to abandon; to lay waste; to disappointed
deprive of inhabitants discordant (adj) : contradictory; inconsistent; without
desperado (n) : a desperate person, reckless of concord or agreement
danger; a wild ruffian de- discrepancy (n) : disagreement; variance of facts or senti-
spicable (adj) : contemptible; disgraceful ments
despise (v) : abhor; hate; to look down uponwith discursive (adj) : circuitous; proceeding from one
contempt subject to another with no formal plan
disgruntle (v) : discontented; disappoint disheartened dubious (adj) : doubtful; causing or having doubt
(adj/adv) : depressed; demoralised; deprive duplicity (n) : insincerity; doubleness, esp in
of courage or spirits dishev- conduct or intention
elled (adj) : hanging loose; merely untidy dyspepsia (n) : indigestion
disinclination (n) : lack of inclination; unwillingness
disingenuous (adj): not frank or open; crafty, devious dis- E
inter (v) : to remove from a grave or from the earthy (adj) : crude; unrefined; consisting of
earth; to bring out of obscurity disin- earth (natural)
terested (adj): not influenced by private feelings ebb (n/v) : decline; abate; subside
or considerations; impartial disjoint- eccentricity (n) : the condition of being eccentric;
ed (adj) : lacking connection or continuity; peculiarity of behaviour ecclesiastic
incoherent (adj) : relating to the church or to the clergyéclat
dismantle (v) : to pull down; to undo the structure (n) : applause; distinction; showy
dismember (v) : to divide up, break up splendour
disparage (v) : to dishonour by comparison with eclipse (n/v) : an over-shadowing; to excel; to
what is inferior; to dishearten;belit- surpass
tle; abuse ecologist (n) : a person with knowledge of
disparaging (adv): speak slightingly of depreciate,bring environmental studies
discredit ecstasy (n) : a state of pleasure or happiness.
disparity (n) : inequality; contrast; variation; rapture; excessive joy
difference edifice (n) : a structure; a building
dispersion (n) : scattering; state of being scattered edify (v) : to improve the mind of; to
dispirited (adj) : dejected; discouraged strengthen spiritually towards faithand
disport (v) : to attract; to amuse disputa- holiness
tious (adj) : inclined to dispute; controvert educe : to draw out; to extract eerie
disquisition (n) : a carefully or minutely argued (adj) : strangely frightening; weird
examination of a topic effectual (adj) : successful in producing the
dissection (n) : the act of cutting in pieces a plant desired effect
or animal in order to ascertain the effeminate (adj) : womanish; feminine
structure of its parts; anatomy effervesce (v) : to boil up; to bubble and hiss; to
dissolution (n) : the dispersal of an assembly; the behave or talk vivaciously
annulment or ending of a partnership effete (adj) : exhausted; degenerate, decadent
dissuade (v) : discourage; to persuade not to do efficacy (n) : the power of producing an effect;
something; to give advice against effectiveness
distaff (adj) : the female side or branch of a effigy (n) : a likeness or figure of a person
family; the stick that holds the effluvium (n) : a generally unpleasant exhalation;
bunch of flax or wool in spinning disagreeable vapours rising fromde-
diurnal (adj) : belonging to the day time; relatingto caying matter
day time effrontery (n) : impudence; shamelessness
divination (n) : seeking to know the future or effulgent (adj) : shining; radiant; splendid
hidden things by supernatural means effusive (adj) : gushing; expressing emotion in an
docile (adj) : gentle; manageable; obedient; over-demonstrative manner egoism
agreeable (n) : individuality; over-concern for
doomster : a person who predicts disaster one’s own well-being; selfishness
esp. in politics or economics dotage egotism (n) : thinking or speaking too much of
(n) : the childishness of old age; oneself; self-exaltation
excessive fondness; a doting dotard ejaculation (n) : ejection or emission
: a person who is feeble minded, elaboration (n) : complication; the process of
esp. from senility elaborating
dote (v) : to show excessive love elation (n) : exhilaration; joy; thrill
double entendre : a word or phrase open to two eleemosynary (adj): relating to charity or alms giving
interpretations elegiac (adj) : mournful; belonging to elegy
douche (n) : a jet of water directed upon or into elegy (n) : a poem of serious, pensive, or
the body from a pipe, etc reflective mood; a song of mourning
doughty (adj) : strong; brave; able elixir (n) : a liquor once supposed to have
doxology (n) : a hymn ascribing glory to God doyen the power of indefinitely prolonging
: the most senior or most prominent life; anything that invigorates
of a particular category or body of ellipsis (n) : a figure of syntax by which a word or
people words are left out and merely implied
dregs (n) : deposits; residue; the most eloquence (n) : the power of uttering strong
worthless part of anything emotion in correct, appropriate, ex-
drivel (n & v) : silly nonsense, twaddle (v. talk pressive and fluent language; per-
childishly or idiotically) suasive speech
droll (adj) : a jester; laughable; amusing elucidate (v) : to make clear; to illustrate
dromedary (n) : a thoroughbred camel; a one- elusive (adj) : deceptive
humped Arabian camel elusory (adj) : evasive; deceitful; tending to elude
drudgery (n) : hard or humble labour; or cheat
uninteresting toil elysian (adj) : delightful
emaciated (adj/adv): feeble; the condition of being lean; equable (adj) : uniform, smooth; without wide
deprived of flesh variations or extremes; even-
embed (v) : to enclose deeply; to place embla- tempered
zon (v) : to glorify, praise or celebrate embroil equestrian (adj) : of or relating to horsemanship; on
(v) : to involve; to throw into confusion horse-back
embryonic (adj) : relating to anything in an imperfect equipage (n) : something with which one is equipped;
or incomplete state; rudimentary a carriage and attendants; retinue
emend (v) : to make alterations in with a view equipoise (n) : a state of balance
to improving; to remove faults or equitable (adj) : showing in accordance with equity;
blemishes from exercised in equity; fair or just
emeritus (adj) : honourably discharged from the equivocate (v) : to use equivocal or doubtful words
performance of public duty emigrate in order to mislead
(v) : to move from one country or state errand (n/adj) : assignment
to another as a place of abode; ersatz (n/adj) : artificial; a substitute
émigré : an émigré, esp. a political exile escapade (n) : an exciting adventure (mischievous);
eminent (adj) : distinguished; conspicuous emollient an escape
(n) : a softening application; making eschew (v) : to avoid; to refrain; to abstain; to shun
supple espousal (n) : the act of espousing or betrothing;
emolument (n) : profit arising from employment, a contract or mutual promise ofmar-
such as salary or fees riage; a formal betrothal
empirical (adj) : known only by experience; ethereal (adj) : heavenly; celestial; delicate
depending on trial or experience ethnic (adj) : concerning nations or races; racial
empyreal (adj) : relating to the highest or purest ethnology (n) : the science concerned with the
region of heaven emulate varieties of the human race;cultur-
(v) : to try to equal or surpass al anthropology
enamored of (adv): in love with; keen on en- etymology (n) : the science or investigation of the
comiastic (adj) : bestowing praise derivation and original significationof
encomium (n) : high commendation; a eulogy words
encompass (v) : to surround or enclose encroach- eugenic (adj) : pertaining to genetic improvement
ment (n): an act of encroaching; something of a race by judicious mating and
that is taken by encroaching; infiltration helping the better stock to prevail
endearment (n) : something that increases affection; eulogistic (adj) : praiseworthy; full of praise eupho-
the act or state of endearing endem- nious (adj) : pleasant; agreeable; (usu. sound) eu-
ic (adj) : prevalent among a people or in a thanasia (n) : the act or practice of putting
district; confined to a particular area painlessly to death, esp in cases of
endive (n) : a salad plant incurable suffering
endorse (v) : approve; support; to assign by eviscerate (v) : to tear out the viscera or bowels of
writing on the back endue evolutionists : a person who believes in evolution
(v) : to supply or provide with as explaining the origin of species
enervate (v) : to weaken; to tire; fatigue exalted (adj) : elevated or high; dignified exas-
engender (v) : to produce; to bear; to generate perate (v) : to make very angry; to irritate ex-
enigma (n) : a mysterious person or situation; cerpt (n) : selected passage; extract excruci-
something very obscure ating (adj) : agonizing; severe; extremely painful
enjoin (v) : prohibit; ban; to forbid; to order execration (n) : express or feel abhorrence for, curse
ennui (n) : boredom; a feeling of weariness or exhume (v) : to take out of the ground or place
languor of burial
enroute (adv) : on the road, on the way exofficio (adj) : by virtue of office or position exor-
ensconce (v) : to settle comfortably; to hide safely cise (v) : to deliver from the influence of an
ensemble (n) : group; costume; outfit evil spirit; to call forth or driveaway
entente (n) : an understanding; a friendly (a spirit)
agreement or relationship between exotic (adj) : foreign; alien; imported; unusual;
states wondrous
entomology (n) : the science of insects en- expatiate : speak or write at length or in detail
tourage (n) : convoy; staff; attendants expatriate (v) : to send out of one’s country; to
entreat (v) : to ask earnestly; to beg for banish or exile; to deprive ofcitizen-
entrée (n) : admittance; freedom of access; ship
introduction or means of access expedient (n/adj) : aid; beneficial; useful
entrepreneur : businessman; capitalist expiate (v) : to make satisfaction or reparation for;
enunciate (v) : to pronounce distinctly; to state to make complete atonement for
formally exponent : a person who favours or promotes
ephemeral (adj) : short-lived; existing only for a day an idea etc
epigram (n) : a concise and pointed expression; expurgate (v) : to revise (a book, etc) by removing
an adage; saying offensive, noxious or erroneous
epilogue (n) : the concluding section of a book, etc things; censor; cleanse
epistle (n) : a letter; message extemporaneous (adj): spontaneous; impromptu extempo-
epoch (n) : a point of time fixed or made rize : compose or produce (music, a
remarkable by some great event speech etc) without preparation,
from which dates are reckoned improvise
extenuating (adj) : palliating; mitigating; moderating flick (n/v) : to lift (with a lash or a finger nail);
extol (v) : to praise highly; to lift up within no time
exude (v) : to discharge through pores; to flippancy (n) : pert fluency of speech
ooze out; to emit; to exhibit floe (n/v) : a field of floating ice
florid (adj) : flushed with red; characterized by
F flowery rhetoric, melodic figures
fabulist : a composer of fables, a liar flotsam (n) : goods lost by shipwreck and found
facile (adj) : easy; simple floating on the sea
facsimile (n) : an exact copy; an accurate flounce : struggle in mud, perform a task
reproduction badly or without knowledge; be outof
faction (n/adj) : a rebellious group one’s depth
factious (adj) : turbulent; discordant; quarrelsome flout (v) : to reject or defy (orders etc.); to mock
factotum (n) : a person employed to do all kinds flux (n) : act of flowing; a flow of matter; a
of work for another state of flow or continuous change
fait accompli (n) : an accomplished fact, a thing foible (n) : a weakness; a penchant; a
already done or done in advance deficiency
fanatic : a person filled with excessive and foment (v) : to foster; to incite; to provoke
often misguided enthusiasm for forage (n/v) : fodder; hunt; search forebear
something (n) : an ancestor; forefather
fastidious (adj) : meticulous; difficult to please forensic (adj) : of or relating to sciences or scientists
fatuous (adj) : foolish; ludicrous connected with legal investigations
fauna (n) : the assemblage of all forms of forego (v) : to go before or precede
animal life of a region or period faux foster (v/adj) : to bring up or nurse; to promote; to
pas (n) : a mistake or blunder, esp an cherish; concerned with fostering
offence against accepted standardsof foundling (n) : a little child found deserted
politeness, decorum, etc. frailty (n) : weakness; infirmity
febrile (adj) : feverish; relating to fever franchise (n) : the right to vote; a commercial
fecund (adj) : prolific; fertile; fruitful; productive concession by which a retailer is
feint (n) : a deceptive movement in fencing, granted by a company the generally
boxing, etc; a false show exclusive right of retailing its goods
felicitous (adj) : appropriate or providing its services in a speci-
ferret (n/v) : a half-tamed albino variety of the fied area, with use of the company’s
polecat; to search out or expertise, marketing, trademark, etc
investigate indefatigably fraught (adv) : laden; full; replete fray
fervid (adj) : having burning desire or emotion; (v) : to wear off by rubbing
zealous frisk (v) : to leap playfully
fervor (n) : zeal; enthusiasm; ardour fritter (n/v) : to squander or misuse; a fragment;
fester (v) : to rot or putrefy; to suppurate a piece frolic-
fetish (n) : charm; fixation some (adj) : merry; sportive
fetter (n) : a chain or shackle for the feet; frond (n) : a leaf (esp of a palm or fern)
confinement frowzy (adj) : fusty; stuffy or offensive
fiasco (n) : failure; debacle frugality (n) : economy; thrift
fictitious : imaginary, unreal, not genuine fulminate (v) : to thunder or make a loud noise; to
fidelity (n/adj) : faithfulness; honesty; accurate issue decrees with violence of threats
fiduciary (n) : a person who holds anything in trust fulsome (adv) : sickeningly obsequious;
fiend (n) : a devil; an addict nauseating praiseful
figment (n) : a fabrication or invention furtive (adj) : clandestine; secret
filch (v) : to steal; to pilfer fusillade (n) : a simultaneous or continuous
filial (adj) : in the relation of a child; pertaining discharge of firearms; anythingassault-
to a son or a daughter ing one in a similar way
finesse (n) : skill or expertise; sophisticated fustian (adj) : a kind of coarse, twilled cotton
accomplishment fabric; bombastic
finicky (adv) : particular about unimportant
matters; fussy G
finite (adv) : having an end or limit gadfly (n) : a blood sucking fly that distresses
firmament (n) : the sky cattle; someone who provokes and
fission (n) : a cleaving; reproduction by dividing irritates
fissure (n) : a narrow opening gaff (n) : a hook used especially for landing
flaccid (adj) : soft and weak large fish
flagellate (v) : to whip galaxy : the disc-shaped system,
flamboyant (adj) : gorgeously coloured or decorated; composed of spiralling arms of
extravagant stars, that contains our solarsys-
flaunt (v) : to display ostentatiously; to show tem near its edge; a splendid as-
off; to exhibit semblage
flay (v) : to strip off the skin from; to subject gall (v) : irritate; annoy; provoke
to savage criticism; to frighten fledg- galleon (n) : a large vessel mostly used for
ling (n) : a bird just fledged; a very carrying
immature or inexperienced person
imprecate (v) : to invoke evil upon, to put a curse on indissoluble (adj) : that cannot be broken or
impregnable (adj): that cannot be captured, broken dissolved; inseparable; binding
into or taken by force; strong impri- permanently
matur (n) : a licence or permission to print indite (v) : to compose or write indo-
a book, etc lence (n) : idleness; inactivity; laziness
impromptu (adj) : extemporaneous; improvised; indomitable : not to be overcome, unconquerable
spontaneous; unrehearsed impropri- indubitably (adv) : without doubt, certainly
ety (n) : mistake; error; blunder; inductive : possessive; introductory
unsuitability indulgent : lenient; permissive; ready to gratify
improvident (adj) : imprudent; thoughtless; negligent the wishes of others ine-
improvise (v) : to perform extempore; to bring briety (n) : drunkenness; intoxication
about suddenly inad- ineffable (adj) : inexpressible; not able to be
vertence (n) : negligence; over-sight described, indescribable ineluctable
(adv : inadvertently) (adj) : not able to be escaped from or
inalienable (adj) : not capable of being transferred or avoided
removed; unchangeable inarticu- inept (adj) : foolish, silly; awkward, clumsy
late : dumb; speechless; incapable of inequity (n) : discrimination; injustice
clear and fluent expression incan- inert : sluggish; static; chemically inactive
descent : radiant; luminous; fluorescent inexorable : relentless; unyielding
incantation : a formula of words sung for infamous (adj) : notorious; nefarious; having a very
purposes of enchantment, a magic bad reputation
spell; recitation of magic spells infantile (adj) : childish; undeveloped infer-
incapacitate (v) : to disqualify legally; to disable; to ence (n) : conclusion; deduction infernal
make unfit (for) (adj) : hellish; fiendish; abominable
incarcerate (v) : to imprison; to confine infidel (n) : agnostic; atheist; unbeliever
incarnadine (n) : belonging to blood-red; blood- infinitesimal (adj) : minute; tiny; microscopic in-
coloured firmity (n) : illness; ailment; disease
incendiary (n) : a person who inflames passions or infraction : breach; violation
stirs up trouble; a person whomali- ingénue (n) : an artless, naïve or inexperienced
ciously sets fire to property young woman
incessant (adj) : uninterrupted; continuous inimical (adj) : hostile; unfriendly; unfavourable
inchoate (adj) : not established; rudimentary; only inimitable (adj) : incomparable; matchless;
begun exceptionally good or remarkable
incipient (adj) : beginning; nascent; developing iniquitous (adj) : wicked; evil; sinful
inclement (adj) : severe; stormy; violent; harsh inkling (n) : a slight hint; a clue; an indication
incongruous (adj): inconsistent; unsuitable inconse- innate (adj) : natural; inborn; native
quential (adj): unimportant; negligible; trivial incontrovert- innovation (n) : a thing introduced as a novelty;
ible (adj): indisputable; unquestionable incorporeal : introduction
having no material form or body; innuendo (n) : insinuation; an indirect referenceor
intangible; spiritual or metaphysical intimation
incorrigible (adj) : beyond correction or reform in- inopportune (adj) : inauspicious; untimely
credulity (n) : not having belief; expressing inordinate (adj) : unrestrained; excessive; immoderate
disbelief; sceptical inquistor : an official investigator
incubus (n) : a nightmare; any oppressive inscribe : write or crave on stone, metal,
influence incul- paper, a book etc
cate (v) : to instil; to teach inscrutable (adj) : that cannot be scrutinized or
incumbent (n) : a person who holds an office; searched into and understood;mys-
binding; obligatory incur- terious, enigmatic
sion (n) : a sudden attack; invasion insensate (adj) : without sensation, inanimate;
indefatigable (adj): unflagging; untiring; determined in- having little of no good sense insidi-
demnify (v) : to compensate; to secure (with) ous (adj) : cunning and treacherous;
indenture (v) : contract; a written agreement deceitful; covert
between two or more parties, esp insinuate (v) : to hint or indirectly suggest; to
between an apprentice and an em- intimate
ployer insolvent (adj) : bankrupt; not able to pay one’s
indict (v) : to charge with a crime formally or debts; destitute
in writing insouciant (adj) : unconcerned; indifferent; heedless;
indigence (n) : dearth; insufficiency; poverty; apathetic
destitution insubordinate (adj): refusing to submit to authority;
indigenous : native born; originating or disobedient, rebellious
produced naturally in a country,not insularity (n) : the state of being isolated or
imported remaining aloof
indignation (n) : righteous anger at injustice, etc; insuperable (adj) : not capable of being overcome or
feeling caused by an unjustified surmounted
slight, etc to oneself integrity (n) : honesty; principle; character
indiscriminate : haphazard; random; unsystematic integument (n) : an external covering
intellect (n) : the thinking principle; intelligence;
indisputable (adj) : beyond doubt or question
brain
intelligentsia (n) : the intellectual or cultured classes jeremiad (n) : a tale of grief, a doleful story
inter (v) : to bury jester : a professional joker or ‘fool’ at a
interdict (v) : to prohibit; to forbid medieval court
interim (n) : meantime; provisional; temporary jingoism (n) : chauvinism; fanaticism
interlocutor : a person who takes part in a jocose (adj) : merry; full of jokes
dialogue or conversation jocular : merry, fond of joking
interloper (n) : a person who meddles in another’s jostle (v) : to force, push or bump jovial
affairs, esp for profit; an intruder;a (adj) : cheerful; lively; joyous jug-
trespasser gernaut (n) : a relentless destroying force
internecine (adj) : deadly; murderous junket (n) : a picnic; an outing
interpolate (v) : to tamper with or to corrupt by junta (n) : a government formed by a small
spurious insertions group of military officers jurispru-
intimidation (n) : the act of intimidating; the use of dence (n) : knowledge of law; the science or
violence or threats; to frighten philosophy of law
intone : recite with prolonged sounds, utter jurist : an expert in law, a legal writer
with a particular tone juxtapose : to place side by side
intrinsic (adj) : genuine; inherent
introspection (n) : the observation and analysis of the K
processes of one’s own mind intro- ken (n) : range of sight or knowledge
vert : a person predominantly concerned kindle (v) : to inflame (eg the passions); to
with his or own thoughts and feelings provoke, incite
rather than with external things kingpin : a main or large bolt in a central
intuition (n) : the power of the mind by which it position; the most important
perceives the truth of things without person in an organisaiton
reasoning or analysis; instinct kleptomaniac (n) : a person with a mania for stealing
inured (adj) : accustomed; habituated; hardened invei- knavery (n) : dishonesty; miscreants
gle : entice; wheedle; to persuade by knead : to work and press together into a
cajolery mass; to massage
inveterate : chronic; deep-rooted knell (n) : the sound of a bell, especially at a
invidious : malicious; likely to incur or provoke death or funeral
ill-will or resentment; likely to excite L
envy labyrinth (n) : an arrangement of tortuous paths
inviolability (n) : the quality of being inviolable in- or alleys in which it is difficult tofind
voke : to call upon earnestly or solemnly; the way out; amaze
to address in prayer lacerate (v) : cut; wounded; mutilated lachrymose
invulnerable (adj) : indomitable; unconquerable; that (adj) : tearful; weepy; pathetic lackadaisical
cannot be wounded (adj): languid and ineffectual; indolent;
iota : bit; fraction lazy; lethargic
irate (adj) : angry; enraged lackey (n) : attendant; hireling; minion
iridescent (adj) : glittering with changing colours; lacklustre (adj) : dull; lifeless; apathetic
coloured like the rainbow laconic (adj) : sententiously brief; concise
irony (n) (adj : ironic): conveyance of meaning by words laggard (adj) : a person who lags behind
whose literal meaning is theoppo- lambent (adj) : flickering; softly radiant, glowing
site; sarcasm languid (adj) : lethargic; spiritless; flagging lap-
irreconcilable (adj): incapable of being brought back to idary : a cutter of stones, esp of gem-
a state of friendship or agreement stones; an expert of gems largesse
irrefragable (adj) : that cannot be refuted; (n) : generosity; distribution of gifts
unanswerable lascivious (adj) : lecherous; wanton; obscene;
irrepressible (adj): not able or willing to be restrained, indecent
subdued lassitude (n) : exhaustion; fatigue; weariness
irreverent (adj) : sacrilegious; disrespectful; not
laudable (adj) : praiseworthy; commendable;
reverent
admirable
irrevocable (adj) : that cannot be recalled or revoked
lave (v) : to wash; to bathe
itinerant (adj) : migrant; wandering
lax (adj) : negligent; careless; derelict
itinerary (n) : travel plan; a record of a journey
lecherous (adj) : lustful; sensual
lectern (n) : a reading-desk
J
leeway (n) : scope; range; freedom; liberty
jaded (adj) : worn-out; fatigued; exhausted;
legatee : the recipient of a legacy legend
corrupt
(n) : code; key; inscription; slogan
janitor : a door keeper, a caretaker of a
legerdemain (n) : trickery; sleight-of-hand; deceit
building
lesion (n) : an injury or wound; an abnormal
jargon (n) : terminology of a profession; dialect
change in the structure of bodytissue
jaunt (n) : an excursion; outing
caused by disease or injury
jaunty (adj) : carefree; jovial; high-spirited
lewd (adj) : indecent; obscene; sensual;
jejune (adj) : immature, callow lustful; unchaste
jeopardy (n) : risk; threat; danger lexicographer (n) : a person who writes in a system in
which each sign represents a word;a
person who writes a dictionary
liaison (n) : union; connection; a secret or illicit malevolent (adj) : wishing evil; malignant; venomous;
love affair ill disposed towards others malicious
libation (n) : the pouring forth of wine or other (adj) : bearing ill-will or spite; motivated
liquid in honour of a god or goddess by hatred or ill-will
libelous (adj) : defamatory; maligning malignant (adj) : harmful; malicious; venomous; baleful
licentious (adj) : promiscuous; indulging in excessive malingerer (n) : a person who pretends or feigns
freedom sickness in order to avoid duty or work
lieu (n) : used chiefly in the phrase in lieu malleable (adj) : mouldable; ductile; able to be
of; in place of, substitute beaten, rolled, etc into a new shape
lilliputian (adj) : a midget manacle (v) : handcuffed; shackled
limber (adj) : agile; flexible; supple mangy (adj) : dirty; shabby; ragged maniacal
limbo (n) : an uncertain or intermediate state; (adj) : insane; frenzied; crazed; mad
prison manifesto (n) : public written declaration of the
limn (v) : to draw intentions, opinions or motives ofa
lineage (n) : ancestry; family tree sovereign or of party or body
lineaments (n) : distinguishing features especiallyon mannequin : a dummy figure, as used for
the face display in shop windows, etc; a
linguistic (adj) : relating to languages or knowledge person, usually a woman, employed
or the study of languages lionize to wear and displayclothes;
(v) : to treat as a hero or celebrity manumit (v) : to release from slavery; to set free maraud-
liquidate (v) : to clear off; to dispose off; to kill er (n) : outlaw; pirate; looter
lissom (adj) : flexible; nimble; lithe mariner : a sailor
listless (adj) : indolent; languid; unconcerned; marsupial (n) : a member of an order of mammals
uninterested or animals whose young are bornin
literati : men of letters, the learned class a very imperfect state and are
lithe (adj) : flexible; supple; limber usually carried in a pouch by the
litigant : engaged in a lawsuit litotes female
(n) : meiosis or understatement martial (adj) : belonging to the military; warlike
livid (adj) : enraged; furious; extremely angry masochist (n) : pleasure, especially sexual
loathe (v) : hate; abhor; detest; dislike intensely pleasure, in being dominated or
lofty (adj) : very high in position, character, treated cruelly
manner or diction; high-minded; masticate (v) : to chew; to knead mechanically, as
elevated in rubber manufacture
loiter (v) : to linger; to dawdle matriarch : a women who is the head of the
loll (v) : to lie lazily about, to lounge or sprawl family
longevity (n) : great length of life maudlin (adj) : weakly sentimental; lachrymose;
lope (v) : to run with a long stride; to leap weeping
loquacious (adj) : talkative; verbose; garrulous maunder (v) : to mutter; to grumble; to talk in a
lothario : a seducer; a rake rambling, inconclusive way, to drivel
lout (n) : an ill-mannered, aggressive or mausoleum (n) : a magnificent tomb or monument;
awkward man or youth; an idiot lu- a gloomy or spiritless place mawkish
bricity (n) : slipperiness; smoothness; instability (adj) : insipid; maudlin; sentimental;
lucent (adj) : shining; bright loathsome, disgusting
lucrative (adj) : profitable; prosperous; well-paying maxim (n) : a general principle, serving as
lucre (n) : riches; resources; funds; wealth a rule or guide; a pithy saying;a
ludicrous (adj) : absurd; ridiculous; laughable lupine proverb; an adage
(adj) : of a wolf; like a wolf; wolfish mayhem (n) : malicious damage; maiming med-
lurid (adj) : sensational; shocking; gruesome; dlesome (adj): intrusive; annoying; bothersome medi-
horrifying tation (n) : the act of meditating; deep
luscious (adj) : delicious; appetizing; exceedingly thought; serious continuous
sweet contemplation
lustre (n) : shine; brightness; gloss medley (n) : a mingled and confused mass;
luxuriant (adj) : exuberant in growth; overabundant; combination; mixture melliflu-
profuse ous (adj) : melodic; harmonious; smooth
memento : something kept or given as a
M reminder; remembrance; token
macabre (adj) : gruesome; ghastly; grotesque memoir : a written record set down as
maelstrom : a particularly powerful whirlpool; material for history or biography
a confused or disordered state of memorialize (v) : to present a memorial to; to
affairs; turmoil commemorate
maim (v) : injure; wound; lacerate; mutilate; ménage (n) : household; the management of a
disable house
malaise (n) : despondency; uneasiness; weakness mendacious (adj) : inclined to be untruthful; lying men-
malapropism (n) : the misapplication of words without dicant (n) : a beggar; a friar who depends on
mispronunciation alms
malediction (n) : a curse; a calling down of evil; mercantile (adj) : relating to merchants; having to do
anathema with trade; commercial; mercenary
malefactor (n) : a criminal; an evil-doer; a lawbreaker
mercenary (adj) : greedy; avaricious; hired for mollycoddle (v) : to coddle; an effeminate man
money; sold or done for money molt (v) : to cast or shed (feathers, skin, etc)
meretricious (adj): flashy; gaudy; artificial metamor- in the process of renewal. momen-
phosis (n): change; transformation metaphysical (adj) : tous (adj) : of great consequence; significant;
intellectual study; abstract; important
theoretical monastic (adj) : recluse; solitary; relating to
(n metaphysics) masteries, monks, or nuns mon-
mete (v) : apportion; measure; dispense grel : an animal, especially a dog, of a
meteoric (adj) : remarkably rapid; transiently mixed breed
flashing like a meteor monolithic (adj) : of a single block of stone; massive
methodical (adj) : systematic; uniform and undifferentiated; relating to a
meticulous (adj) : scrupulously careful; overcareful monolith
mettle (n) : temperament; courage; spirit mi- monologue : a soliloquy or speech by one
asma (n) : unwholesome air or atmosphere; person, or a composition intendedto
foul vapours, eg from rotting matter be spoken by one person
microcosm (n) : an object, situation, etc contained monotheism (n) : the belief in only one God monotony
within another and displaying all its (n) : routine; tedious sameness or lack
characteristics on a smaller scale, a of variety; boredom
miniature version moor (n) : a wide expanse of uncultivated
mien (n) : bearing; facial expression; look, ground; field
manner morality : morals; principles; standards; the
migrant (adj) : a person or animal that migrates oris doctrine of actions as right or wrong
migrating morbid (adj) : sickly; gruesome; ghastly;
militate (v) : to contend; to fight for a cause unwholesome
millennium : a thousand years; the thousand morganatic (adj) : relating to a marriage between
years after the second coming of people of unequal rank mo-
Christ rose (adj) : gloomy; sullen; melancholy
milliner : a person who makes or sells mortician (n) : an undertaker
women’s hats mosaic : anything composed by the piecing
minaret (n) : a mosque tower, from which the together of different things; the fitting
call to prayer is given together in a design of small pieces
minatory (adj) : threatening of coloured marble, glass, etc
mincing (adj) : not speaking frankly or openly; mote (n) : a particle of dust; anything very small
speaking or walking with affected motif : theme; concept; subject
nicety; cut into small pieces motley (adj) : mixed; variegated; multicoloured mounte-
minstrel : a person who entertains patrons bank (n) : a charlatan; a buffoon; a quack
with singing, buffoonery, etc seller of remedies, etc
minutiae (n) : minute particulars or details muddle (v) : to confuse; to mix up, fail to
misadventure (n) : misfortune; mishap; bad luck distinguish between
misalliance : an unsuitable alliance muggy : humid; sultry
misanthrope (n) : a hater of mankind, someone who mugwump (n) : a person of great importance, or
distrusts everyone else miscegena- one who thinks himself or herself to
tion (n): inter-breeding, intermarriage or be so
sexual intercourse between mulish : stubborn
different races; mixing of race multifarious (adj) : various; multiple; diverse; many-
misconstrue : to interpret wrongly; misunderstand; faceted
confuse multilingual (adj) : of many languages; speaking
miscreant (n) : criminal; rogue; scoundrel; villain several languages
misdemeanour (n): bad conduct; a misdeed misgivings murky (adj) : nebulous; obscure; cloudy; foggy
(n) : doubt; suspicion; apprehension; murrain (n) : a cattle-plague; a pestilence
a mistrust musky (adj) : having the odour of musk
misnomer (n) : a misnaming; a wrong or muster (v) : to gather; to collect
unsuitable name mis- musty (adj) : deteriorated from disuse; spoiled
ogamist (n) : one who hates marriage by damp; stale; stuffy
misogynist (n) : one who hates women mutable (adj) : fickle, inconstant; variable; subject
mite (n) : a small contribution proportionate to change
to one’s means; a very small amount mutinous (adj) : rebellious, unsubmissive; ready or
mitigate (v) : to lessen the severity, violence or inclined to mutiny
evil of; to temper; to mollify,ap- myopic (adj) : short-sighted
pease; to allay myriad (n) : any immense number; abundance
mnemonic (adj) : a device to help memory; the art of N
assisting memory narcotic : a substance including drowsiness,
mode (n) : system; practice; technique sleep, stupor, or insensibility
modicum (n) : a small quantity; little natation (n) : swimming
modulation (n) : adjustment; change; modification nauseate (v) : to feel nausea or disgust; to feel
moghul (n) : an influential person, a magnate sick; loathe
mollify (v) : to soften; to assuage; to appease; nautical (adj) : relating to navigation, or to ships
to soothe and sailors
nebulous (adj) : unclear; ambiguous; vague; cloudy; odoriferous (adj) : emitting a smell
hazy odyssey (n) : a long wandering, or a tale of
necromancy : the art of revealing future events wandering
by calling up and questioning the offal (n) : waste or rejected parts, especiallyof
spirits of the dead; enchantment; a carcase
sorcery officious (adj) : too forward in offering unwelcome
nemesis (n) : punishment; adversary neolo- or unwanted services; intermeddling
gism (n) : a new word, phrase or doctrine ogle (v) : to stare greedily; to eye
neophyte (n) : a novice in a religious order; impertinently or lecherously olfactory
a newly ordained priest (adj) : pertaining to or used in, smelling
nestle : to lie or press close; to cuddle oligarchy : government by a small exclusive
nexus (n) : connection; link class; a small body of men who
niche : a position in a field; a situation, place have the supreme power of a state in
or condition appropriate for a per- their hands
son or thing omnipresent (adj): present everywhere at the same
niggardly (adj) : miserly; stingy time
noctambulism : a sleep walker omniscient (adj) : all knowing; all-seeing ono-
nocturnal : belonging to the night; happening, matopoeia (n): the formation of a word in imitation
done, or active by night nomen- of the sound of the thing meant
clature (n) : a system of names; terminology opalescent (adj) : of milky iridescence
nominal (adj) : formal; paltry; small opprobrious (n) : reproachful, insulting or abusive;
nonage (n) : immaturity; legal infancy, minority infamous, disgraceful
nonentity (n) : a person or thing of no importance; optometrist (n) : an ophthalmic optician; a person
a thing which does not exist nonplus qualified to practise optometry opus
(v) : to perplex completely, make (n) : composition; creation; production;
uncertain what to say or do nosegay work
(n) : a bunch of fragrant flowers; oracle (n) : revelator; prophet; a medium
a bouquet progeny of divine revelation ordi-
notarize : to attest, to authenticate by a notary nance (n) : regulation; a bye-law; that which is
noxious (adj) : poisonous; unwholesome; harmful ordained by authority
nubile (adj) : marriageable; sexually mature; orientation (n) : the act of orientating; familiarising;
sexually attractive introduction
nullify (n) : to make null; to annul; to make orifice (n) : a mouth-like opening
void or of no force osmosis : any process by which something is
numismatist (n) : one who has a collection of coins acquired by absorption ornate
or medals; relating to money, coinsor (adj) : decorated; adorned; fancy
medals ornithologist : an expert in the study of birds
nuptial (adj) : relating to marriage; conjugal orotund (adj) : full, round or sonorous; grandiloquent
nurture (v) : to educate; to bring up; to educate orthography (n) : the art or practice of spelling words
nutrient (adj) : nourishing; feeding correctly
O oscillate (v) : to vary between certain limits; to
obeisance (n) : homage; reverence; respect obitu- fluctuate; vibrate; to swing to and
ary : an announcement of someone’s fro like a pendulum
death ostensible (adj) : supposed; seeming, our outwardly
objurgate (v) : to chide; to scold apparent ostenta-
oblations : anything offered in worship; an tious (adj) : pretentious; showy
offering generally ostracise : to exclude from society or from
oblique (adj) : not straightforward; indirect; slant; one’s social group; to banish; tocast
inclined out
obloquy (n) : disgrace; humiliation; shame ob- oust (v) : expel; remove; dismiss
scure (adj) : not easily understood; not clear or overt (adj) : open to view, not concealed;
perspicuous; unknown; unfamiliar evident; apparent; clear overween-
obsequious (adj) : fawning; servile ing (adj): arrogant, conceited; inflated,
obsequy : funeral rites and solemnities excessive
obsolete (adj) ovine (adj) : sheep-like; relating to sheep
(n : obsolescence): antiquated; outdated ovoid (adj) : egg-shaped
obstetrician (n) : a man or woman skilled in practising,
or qualified to practise, obstetrics P
obstreperous (adj): unruly; noisy; clamorous; making a pachyderm (n) : a thick skinned animal
loud noise pacifist (n/adj) : a person who is opposed to war
occident (n) paean (n) : a song of thanksgiving or triumph
(adj : occidental) : the quarter of the sky where the pageant (n) : ceremony; extravaganza; parade;
sun, stars and planets set procession palaeon-
occlude (v) : to stop or cover (a passage, cavity tology (n): the study of fossils
or opening); to cut or shut off palatable (adj/adv): appetizing; mouth-watering; delicious
oculist (n) palaver (n/v) : a talk or discussion; idle copious
(adj : ocular) : a specialist in diseases and talk
defects of the eye, an ophthalmologist palliate (v) : justify; mitigate; alleviate; reduce
pallid (adj) : pale; tedious; dull; wan permeate (v) : to pass through the pores of; to
palpable (adj) : noticeable; apparent; perceptible penetrate; to pervade
palpitate (v) : to beat rapidly; to pulsate; to pump; pernicious (adj) : deadly; detrimental; destructive;
to throb highly injurious
panacea (n) : a cure for all things pernod (n) : an alcoholic drink flavoured with
panegyric (n) : a eulogy; laudation aniseed
panjandrum (n) : an imaginary figure of great power perpetrate (v) : to commit; to execute
and self-importance persiflage (n) : banter; flippancy
panorama (n) : tableau; perspective; a wide or personable (adj) : of good appearance, attractive;
complete view easy to get on with, likeable; friendly
papyrus (n) : the paper-reed persona muta (n) : a character in an opera who neither
paragon (n) : a model of perfection or supreme speaks nor sings
excellence persona non grata: a person who is not acceptable or
parameter (n) : limit; boundary; demarcation disliked
paraphernalia (n) : belongings; baggage; equipment pertinacious (adj) : thoroughly tenacious; holding
paregoric (n) : a medicine that soothes pain obstinately to an opinion or a purpose
parlance (n) : speaking; conversation pertinent (adj) : related; appropriate; suitable; fitting
paroxysm (n) : a fit of acute pain; any sudden pervade (v) : to pass through; to diffuse; to
violent action; a fit of passion, permeate
laughter, coughing etc pesade (n) : a dressage manoeuvre in which a
parricide (n) : the murder of a parent or near horse rears up on its hind legswithout
relative forward movement
partisan (adj) : biased; prejudiced; adherence; pestilential (adj) : of the nature of pestilence;
partial destructive; pestering pheno-
parturition (n) : the act of giving birth barbitone (n): a sedative and hypnotic drugphial (n)
parvenu (n) : someone newly risen into wealth, : a container for liquids
notice or power; an upstart patholo- philander (v) : to flirt or have casual affairs with
gy (n) : the study of diseases or of the women
changes in tissues or organs that philology (n) : the science of language especially
are associated with disease of its historical development,
patois (n) : regional spoken dialect; jargon historical linguistics
patrimony (n) : an inheritance from a father or physiognomy (n) : the art of judging character from
from ancestors ped- appearance; the general
agogue (n) : a teacher; a pedant appearance of anything
pedant (n) : intellectual; scholar; a pedagogue; physiological (adj): relating to the science of processes
a person who values academic of life in animals and plants
learning too highly piebald (adj) : black and white in patches;
pedestal (n) : the support of a column, statue, heterogeneous
vase etc pillage (n/v) : loot; rob; to plunder
paediatrician (n) : an expert in the treatment of pinnacle (n) : the highest point; summit; acme
children’s diseases piquant (adj) : pungent; spicy; appetizing; stimulating
pediment (n) : a triangular structure crowning the piscatorial (adj) : fishing; relating to fish or fishermen
front of a building pithy (adj) : sententious and masterful; concise
pejorative (adj) : degrading; derogatory; disparaging plagiarize (v) : to steal from (the writings or ideas
pellucid (adj) : perfectly clear; transparent pendent of another); forge; lift
(adj) : hanging; drooping plangent (adj) : resounding, resonant; resounding
penitentiary (n) : penal and reformatory; relating to mournfully
penance platonic (adj) : spiritual; idealistic; incorporeal
pennant (n) : banner; a long narrow flag; plauditory (adj) : applaudable; praise bestowed,
a signalling or identifying flag pen- enthusiastic approval
sive (adj) : expressing thoughtfulness with plebiscite (n) : an ascertainment of general
sadness; meditative opinion on any matter; a direct vote
perambulate : walk through per- of the whole nation or of the people
cussion (n) : striking; impact on a special point
perdition : utter loss or ruin; hell plenipotentiary (n): having or conferring full powers;
peremptory (adj) : final; admitting no refusal or denial person invested with full powers
peregrination (n) : travelling about; wandering; plenitude (n) : fullness; completeness; plentifulness
a sojourn abroad podiatrist (n) : a specialist in the treatment of the
peremptory (adj) : final; ultimate; arrogantly disorders of the foot
commanding podium (n) : a platform; dais
perennial (adj) : growing constantly; perpetual; poignant (adj) : intense; touching; pathetic; stinging
undying; continual peri- polemic (n) : argument; controversy
patetic (adj) : walking about; itinerant politic (adv) : judicious; prudent; discreet
periphrasis (n) : circumlocution; round-about polity (n) : political organisation; a body of
expression people organised under a systemof
peritrich (n) : a bacterium bearing a ring of cilia government
around the body perlus- polygamist (n) : one who marries more than one
trate (v) : to traverse and inspect person at a time
polyglot (n/adj) : related to speaking or writing many pretentious (adj) : pompous; showy, ostentatious;
languages; one who speaks or snobbish
writes many languages preternatural (adj): abnormal; out of the ordinary
ponderous (adj) : heavy; weighty; bulky course of nature
pontificate : pretend to be infallible, be primogeniture (n) : the right of inheritance of the first-
pompously dogmatic born child; the circumstance ofbeing
porphyry (n) : a very hard, variegated rock of a first-born
purple and white colour, used in prima-donna (n) : a person, especially a woman,
sculpture who is temperamental, over-
portend (v) : to warn of as something to come; sensitive and hard to please
to forecast; to indicate portentous privation (n) : destitution; poverty; the state of
(adj) : ominous; prodigious; threatening being deprived of something
posthumous (adj): born after the father’s death; privy (n) : familiar; inmate; a lavatory,
published after the author’s orcom- especially in its own shed or outhouse
poser’s death probation (n) : a preliminary time to allow
post prandial (adj): after dinner suitability or unsuitability; testing
potentate (n) : a powerful ruler; a monarch pot- proboscis (n) : a trunk or long snout; a trunk-like
pourri (n) : a fragrant mixture of dried petals, process such as the suctorial mouth-
leaves etc used to scent a room; a parts of some insects;a nose
literary production of uncomposed prodigious (adj) : more than usually large in size or
parts; a miscellany degree
poultice (n) : a hot semi-liquid mixture spread profligate (adj) : dissolute; lascivious; prodigal;
on a bandage and applied to the extravagant
skin to reduce inflammation progenitor (n) : an ancestor; a forefather
practicable (adj) : capable of being done; carried out prognathous (adj): with a projecting jaw
or accomplished, feasible pragmatic prognosis (n) : a forecasting or forecast, especially
(adj) : fundamental; basic; realistic; sensible of the course of a disease prognosti-
precedence (n) : the act of going before in time; cate (v) : to foretell; to indicate the coming of
priority; the fact of being before in proletariat (n) : the poorest labouring class; the
rank wage-earning class
preceptor : a teacher or instructor promiscuous (adj): abandoned; careless; confusedly
preciosity (n) : fastidious over-refinement or indiscriminately mixed promontory
precipice (n) : a high vertical or nearly vertical (n) : a high cape; a projection, ridge or
cliff or rock face eminence
precipitate (v/n/adj): to accelerate; to hurl headlong; promulgate (v) : to announce publicly; to put into
abrupt; hasty; hurried; a substance effect by proclamation; to makewidely
separated from solution or suspen- known
sion, falling and settling at the bot- propagate (v) : to breed; to multiply; to spread
tom as a solid deposit from one to another pro-
precipitation (n) : the amount of rainfall; impulsive pellant (n) : something which propels
action; great hurry propinquity (n) : nearness
precipitous (adj) : steep; sheer propitiate (v) : appease; pacify; to render favourable
précis (n) : an abstract; a summary propitious (adj) : favourable; auspicious
precise (adj) : definite; accurate; exact propulsive (adj) : of a force causing forward movement
preclude (v) : to hinder by anticipation, prorogue (v) : to postpone; to prolong proscenium
counteract in advance; to prevent;to (n) : the front part of the stage proselytize (v)
stop; to curb; to obstruct : to convert
precocious (adj) : strikingly advanced or mature in prosody (n) : the study of versification
mental development, speech, protean (adj) : readily assuming different shapes;
social behaviour, etc variable; inconstant
predatory (adj) : killing and feeding on others pre- protégé : a pupil; a ward; someone under
decessor (n) : the person who preceded one in the protection or patronage ofanoth-
one’s job or position er person
predilection (n) : preference or special liking; protrude (v) : to thrust or push out or forward; to
fondness; attraction obtrude; to extend
pre-eminent (adj) : distinguished; notable; prominent provident (adj) : farsighted; thoughtful; prudent;
premonition (n) : a feeling that something is going to thrifty
happen before it actually does pre- provisional (adj) : conditional; temporary; adopted on
ponderance (n): excess in number; weighing more the understanding that it may be
preponderate (v) : to ponder beforehand preposterous changed later
(adj): utterly absurd; contrary to the proviso (n) : any condition; clauses; a provision
order of nature or reason prerogative or condition in a deed or otherwriting
(n) : a privilege that is exclusive to a provoke (v) : to excite with anger; to irritate; to incite
person, group, etc; a right arising prurient (adj) : having an unhealthy interest in
out of one’s rank, position or office sexual matters; arousing sexual
prescience (n) : fore-knowledge; foresight pre- interest
sumptuous (adj): tending to presume; impertinently
bold
(n : repletion) : filled; filled to satiety; full repre- sequacious (adj) : ready to follow a leader or
hensible (adj): blameworthy; disgraceful; shameful(n : authority; compliant
reprehend) sequester (v) : to confiscate; to seclude; to set apart
repugnance (n) : aversion; inconsistency serendipity (n) : fortune; coincidence; luck; accident
(adj : repugnant) serenity (n)
rescind (v) (adj : serene) : calm; unruffled
(adj : rescindable): to annul; to cancel serpentine (adj) : snakelike; winding; tortuous
resiliency (n) serrated (adj)
(adj : resilient) : the quality of being resilient; recoil (n : serration) : with sharp forward-pointing teeth;
resonant (adj) notched like a saw severance
(n : resonance) : resounding (n) : division; separation; partition
resplendent (adj) : shining, brilliant and splendid shambles (n) : a butcher’s market stall;
(n : resplendence) a slaughter-house; a mess or muddle
resuscitate (v) : to bring back to life or conscious; sibylline (adj) : of a prophetess, witch or female
to revive fortune-teller; prophetic books
retraction (n) sidereal (adj) : of, like, or relating to the stars
(v : retract) : drawing back silt (n) : fine sediment deposited by a bodyof
retribution (n) water
(adj : retributive) : requital; punishment simian (adj) : of the apes; apelike
retroactive (adj) : applying to or affecting things past; simile (n) : a figure of speech in which a
operating backward person or thing is described bybe-
reverberate (v) : to echo; to resound (adj ing explicitly likened to another
: reverberant) simper (v)
rhapsodize (v) (adj : simpering) : to smile in a silly, weak or affected
(adj : rhapsodic) : to piece together; to recite in manner
rhapsodies simulate (v)
risible (adj) : able or inclined to laugh; ludicrous (adj : simulated) : to feign; to fake; to re-create the
rote (n) : mechanical memory, repetition or conditions of, for the purposes of
performance without regard to the training or experimentation
meaning sinecure (n) : an office without work, a cushy job
ruminate (v) sinequanon (latin): an indispensable condition
(n : rumination) : to meditate sinewy (adj) : relating to physical strength,
rustic (adj) muscle
(n : rusticity) : of a country; like that of country sinuous (adj) : bending in a supple manner;
people; rural curvy; serpentine
skeptic (n)
S (adj : skeptical) : a person who tends to disbelieve;
sagacious (adj) a person who doubts prevailing
(n : sagacity) : clever; cunning; discerning and doctrines, esp. in religion
judicious; wise skittish (adj)
salacious (adj) (n : skittishness) : playful; lively; volatile; changeable
(n : salaciousness): lustful; lecherous; arousing lustful skulduggery (n) : underhand malpractices
or lecherous feelings sleazy (adj)
salvage (v) : to recover; to save from danger of (n : sleaziness) : cheap; shabby
loss or destruction sapient sleight (n) : juggling trick; an artful trick; dexterity
(adj) : wise; learned; sagacious slither (v)
sardonic (adj) : heartless or bitter; mockingly scornful sartorial (adj : slithery) : to slide, especially on the belly
(adj) : of or relating to a tailor, tailoring, dress saturnine (adj) : sluice (n)
gloomy; phlegmatic; grave (v : sluiced) : a floodgate or watergate; a structure
savoir-faire (n) : the faculty of knowing just what to with a gate for stopping orregulating
do and how to do it; tact flow or water
scourge (n) : a cause of widespread affliction; snivel (v)
calamity (adj : snivelling) : to whimper or cry; to utter with
scrupulous (adj) : careful; meticulous; captious snivelling
secede (v) sobriquet (n) : a nickname; an assumed name
(n : secession) : to withdraw solecism (n) : a breach of syntax or a nonstandard
seclusion (n) grammatical usage solilo-
(adj : secluded) : the act of being secluded; quy (n) : an act of talking to oneself
isolation; solitude
sombre (adj)
semantics (n)
(n : sombreness) : dark and gloomy; melancholy;
(adj : semantic) : the area of linguistics dealing with
serious; grave
the meaning of words
somnambulist (n) : a person walking in sleep
sensuous (adj)
soporific (n/adj) : a sleep-inducing agent; drowsy;
(n : sensuousness): alive to the pleasures of sensation;
sleepy
pertaining to the senses withoutim-
(adv : soporifically)
plication of lasciviousness
spasmodic (adj) : intermittent
sententious (adj) : abounding in maxims; full of
splenetic (adj) : bad-tempered, irritable or irritated;
meaning; aphoristic
melancholy
(n : sententiousness)
thesaurus (n) : a book with systematically trivial (adj) : insignificant; of little importance trouble
arranged lists of words and their shooter : a mediator in industrial or
synonyms, antonyms, etc, a word- diplomatic etc. disputes, a person
finder who traces and corrects faults in
thespian : of or relating to tragedy or drama machinery etc.
threnody (n) : an ode or song of lamentation, truculence (n) : aggression; belligerence; hostility trumpery
especially for the dead (n) : showy and worthless stuff; ritual
throng (n) : a crowd; mass; a great multitude foolery; rubbish
throttle (n) : to choke by pressure on the truncate : amputate; to cut short
windpipe; to strangle; gag tryst : meetings; an appointment to meet;a
thwart (adv) : obstruct; prevent cattle-fair
thyroid (n) : a ductless gland in the neck which tumult (n) : a state of violent and confused
secretes thyroxin emotion; violent commotion withup-
tiara (n) : a richly jewelled semicircular head- roar
ornament worn by women; the turgid (adj) : pompous; bombastic; inflated;
pope’s triple crown swollen
tiff (n) : a slight quarrel; an altercation timbre turmoil (n) : unrest; tumult; disquiet
: the quality of a sound, as opposed turnkey (n) : an under-jailer turpitude
to pitch and loudness (n) : baseness; depravity
tinge (v) : trace; tint; shade; to impart a slight tutelage (n) : tuition; guardianship; state of being
modification or trace to under a guardian
tiptop (n) : the extreme top; the height of twaddle (n) : a senseless or tedious
excellence; of the highest excellence uninteresting talk
titter (n) : a stifled laugh tweak (n) : to twitch or pinch; to pull or twist
tittle – tattle : petty gossip with sudden jerks
tocsin (n) : an alarm-bell tweed (n) : a rough woollen cloth much used
toddle (n) : to walk with short feeble steps; an for men’s suits; a predominantly
aimless stroll upper-class, outdoor type
tolerate (v) : to endure with patience or twerp : a silly or contemptible person twilight
forbearance; to bear; to suffer (n) : the faint light after sunset and
tome (n) : a large book or volume before sunrise; a period of decay
torpid (adj) : having lost the power of motion following a period of success
and feeling; sluggish; lethargic tycoon : a business magnate
torpor : inactivity; dullness; stupidity totali- tyke : a rough mannered person, child;a
tarian (adj) : a characteristic of or a form of dog
government that includes control typhoon : a violent cyclonic storm; a whirlwind
of everything under one authority, typography : the art or style of printing, or of
and allows no opposition using type effectively
tourniquet : any appliance for compressing an tyrant (n) : a ruler who uses power arbitrarily
artery to stop bleeding; a turnstile and oppressively; an absoluteruler;
toxic (adj) : poisonous; unhealthy an oppressor
tragedy (n) : disaster; catastrophe; any event tyro : a beginner; a novice
involving death or killing U
traipse : to trail; to trudge ukase (n) : any arbitrary decree from any source
trammel (n) : anything that confines or hinders ultimatum (n) : a last offer or demand; a last word
tranquil : calm; peaceful unassuming (adj) : making no assumption;
transcribe : make a copy of esp in writing tran- unpretentious, modest
sient : of short duration, impermanent uncanny (adj) : weird, supernatural; much greater
transit (n) : the conveyance or passage of than one would expect from anordi-
things or people over, across or nary human being
through a distance unconscionable (adj): unscrupulous; outrageous, inordinate
translucent : shining through; imperfectly unction (n) : ointment; warmth of address; that
transparent; clear; lucid which is anointing
transmute : change the form, nature, or substance unctuous (adj) : offensively suave and smug; full of
unction
transpose : a cause to change place
unequivocal (adj) : explicit; clear and emphatic;
travail : labour in child birth; excessive straightforward
labour; suffering unerring (adj) : making no error, infallible; faultless
treacherous (adj) : betrayal; misleadingly inviting in unfaltering (adj) : steady; without stumbling unfledged
appearance; not to be trusted trea- (adj) : undeveloped or inexperienced; of
tise (n) : a written composition especially early youth un-
one treating a subject formally or gainly (adj) : awkward; clumsy
systematically unguent (n) : ointment; lotion; balm
trenchant : (of a style or language etc) unilateral (adj) : one-sided; on one side
incisive, terse, vigorous unimpeachable (adj): blameless; free from fault
trepidation (n) : trembling; anxiety; worry; uninhibited (adj) : unreserved; unrestricted
apprehension; alarmed agitation; unique (adj) : found solely in, belong solely to;
panic rare; individual; distinctive
unison (n) :
a sound of the same pitch; versatile (adj) :
capable of many uses; all-purpose
complete agreement un- vertex (n) :the point opposite to the base; the
kempt (adj) : uncombed; messy; scruffy top or summit
unmitigated (adj) : not mitigated; unqualified vertiginous (adj) : producing dizziness; giddy;
unobtrusive (adj) : inconspicuous; modest relating to vertigo
unprecedented (adj): of which there has been no verve (n) : enthusiasm; spirit, energy
previous instance vestige (n) : a surviving trace of what has
unruly (adj) : unmanageable; turbulent almost disappeared
unsavory (adj) : offensive; disagreeable; disreputable veteran : a person who has grown old in or
unscathed (adj) : not harmed or injured had long experience of esp.mili-
unseemly (adj) : inappropriate; ill-looking tary service or an occupation
unsullied (adj) : without a spot or tarnish; unpolluted vex (n) : annoy; irritate; disturb; harass
untenable (adj) : not tenable; not defensible untoward viands (n) : an article of food; food
(adj) : unlucky; unfitting; unfavourable; vignette (n) : a character sketch, a word-picture
unexpected; inconvenient unwitting vindictive (adj) : revengeful; spiteful
(adj) : unaware; without knowing; virago (n) : a violent or bad-tempered woman
unintentional virile (adj) : manly; masculine
unwonted (adj) : unusual; unaccustomed virtuoso (n) : master; expert; an artist of the
usurp (v) : seize; to take possession of by highest technical skill
force, without right, or unjustly usury virulent (adj) : deadly; hostile; malicious;
(n) : the taking of interest on a loan; extremely infectious; highly
interest poisonous or malignant
utopia (n) : any real or imaginary state or visionary (adj) : fanciful, not real; chimerical; idealistic
place believed to be ideal, perfect, vitreous (adj) : glassy; pertaining to, consisting of
excellent or like glass; glass-green in colour
uxorious (adj) : excessively or submissively fond vituperate : revile, abuse
of a wife vivisection (n) : merciless and minute examination
V or criticism; the act or practice of
vainglorious (adj) : boastful; proud; given to, or making surgical operations on living
proceeding from, vainglory valedic- animals for the purposes of physio-
tory (adj) : saying farewell; of or for a leave- logical research or demonstration
taking vixen : a female fox; a bad-tempered woman
valet : a man’s personal attendant who volition (n) : decision; the act of willing or
looks after his clothes choosing; will; choice
validate (v) : to certify; to confirm, substantiate, voluble (adj) : fluent in speech; talkative, verbose;
verify wordy
vassal (n) : a person holding land from a feudal voluminous (adj) : abundant; bulky; sizable; huge;
superior in return for homage and massive
loyalty voluptuous (adj) : shapely and sexually attractive;
vaunted (adj) : of boasted seductive; provocative; sensual
veer (v) : to change the direction; to change votary (n) : a devoted worshipper or adherent
course especially away from the vulpine (adj) : cunning; pertaining to or like a fox
wind; to turn
vegetate (v) : to live an inactive, almost purely W
physical, or dull life; idle waggish (adj) : amusing or mischievous
vendetta (n) : a blood-feud; any similarly waif (n) : a neglected ownerless child;
prolonged, violent, etc feud or quarrel a homeless wanderer
veneer (n) : layer; covering; to disguise with wallow (v) : to live in filth or vice; to immerse or
superficial refinement indulge oneself in emotion etc
venerable (adj) wangle (v) : to manipulate or falsify
(v : venerate) : aged-looking; worthy of reverence; wanton (adj) : thoughtlessly cruel; rudely; merciless
respected; honourable warble (v) : to sing sweetly; to make or be
venison (n) : deer’s flesh as food produced as a sweet quavering
ventriloquist (n) : one who has the art of speaking so as sound
to give the illusion that the sound warranty (n) : an undertaking or assurance
comes from some other source expressed or implied in certain
venturesome (adj): inclined or willing to take risks; contracts; a guarantee
involving the taking of risk verbiage warren (n) : a densely populated slum dwelling
(n) : superfluity of words, verbosity; or district; a maze of narrowpassages
prolixity wastrel (n) : spendthrift; idler; a profligate
vermicular (adj) : like a worm; caused by intestinal wayfarer : a traveller
worms wet blanket : a gloomy person preventing the
vernal (adj) : fresh and youthful; happening or enjoyment of others
appearing in spring wheedle (v) : to obtain by coaxing; to entice by
vernacular (n) : of the jargon or idiom of a soft words, flatter, cajole
particular group; indigenous, native, whelp (n) : the cub of a tiger, lion or wolf; a puppy
spoken by the people of the country
or of one’s own country
ECONOMICS
arbitrage : buying of shares, currencies and collateral : property pledged as security for a
commodities for quick resale at a loan
higher price conglomerate : business corporation made up of
arbitrageur : one who buys up shares in diverse companies
companies threatened by takeover debenture : fixed interest security issued by a
bids company
bear : speculator who anticipates falling dow Jones Index: daily average of prices on the
prices New York Stock Exchange
bull : speculator who anticipates rising prices flotation : launching of a business venture
cartel : an association of similar companies through issue of shares
grouped together to prevent compe- gilt edged
tition securities : low risk fixed-interest securities
issued by the government
INSURANCE TERMS
GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS
Ireland - OIREACHTAS
Israel - KNESSET
Japan - DIET
Australia - BUNDESVERSAMMLUNG Jersy - STATES OF JERSEY
Bulgaria - NARODNA SUBRANIE Mongolia - KHURAL
Denmark - FOLKETING Nepal - NATIONAL PANCHAYAT
Ethiopia - SHERGO Netherlands - STATEN GENERAAL
Finland - EDUSKUNTA Norway - STORTING
Germany - DEUTSCHER, BUNDESTAG Sark - COURT OF CHIEF PLEAS
Greenland - LANDSTRAAD Spain - CORTES
Iceland - ALTHING Sweden - RIKSDAG
India - RAJYA SABHA AND LOK SABHA Switzerland - BUNDESVERSAMMLUNG
Iran - MAJLIS
INDEX
AGES
AIR CRAFT
ALPHABET AND WRITING SYSTEMS
ANNIVERSARIES
DRAMA
FURNITURE & FURNITURE STYLES
GEM STONES
GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
LEGAL TERMS
LITERARY TERMS
MANIAS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
DOCTOR - DISEASED PART
MEDICINES - WHAT THEY TREAT/CURE
MEDICAL AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR USAGE
SURGICAL OPERATIONS – BODY PART
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
MISCELLANEOUS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS
PAINTINGS AND TERMS RELATED TO ART
PHILOSOPHIES
POETRY RELATED TERMS
THEATRE TERMS THERA-
PIES
WEATHER
alphabetically for easy reference. While some of these cuneiform : Ancient Middle Eastern script
may be subject specific, others are in everyday use. En- cyrillic : Russian and Bulgarian alphabet
tries like anniversaries, gem stones, geographical features devanagari : Script used in Sanskrit and other some
and government systems which are not so well- known, Indian languages
but of common interest, also find a place. glagolitic : Early Slavonic alphabet
hieroglyphics : Ancient Egyptian picture writing
The meaning and origin of a number of words which have ideography : Chinese system of symbolic characters
crept into the English language and hardly seem foreign to represent entire words or ideas
any more are listed under the language of their source. international phonetic alphabet (ipa)
Idioms and phrasal verbs are an integral part of the lan- : Standard set of letters and symbols, to
guage and probably the most challenging for a learner. So represent the sounds of all languages
these have been added. Users of English as a second lan- kana : Japanese syllabic scripts, either
guage invariably have trouble with word collocations. The Hiragana or Katakana
most commonly used noun/adjective collocations have kanji : Japanese syllabary based on
been included. Chinese characters
kufic : Early Arabic script or alphabet
The art-oriented will find entries related to theatre, paint- linear a : Ancient Cretan script, still
ing, poetry and music, interesting. undeciphered
linear b : Ancient script used in Crete and
There is also a list of frequently confused words, with their mainland Greece, deciphered in 1952
right usage which will set at rest any doubt about the right ogham : Ancient angular Celtic alphabet
word in a given context. and script used mainly in Ireland
A study of this volume will help you not only from an exam- romaji : Roman alphabet as used to
ination perspective but also enrich your language and transliterate Japanese
strengthen your spoken and written communication skills. pictography : System of pictures to represent word
roman alphabet : Standard alphabet of most western
and central European languages
Nouns that depict the ages of humans quinqua- runes : Ancient Germanic, carved alphabetic
genarian : one who is 50 + script
sexagenarian : one who is 60 + syllabary : Set of written characters each
septuagenarian : one who is 70+ representing a syllable
octogenarian : one who is 80+
nonagenarian : one who is 90+
centenarian : one who is 100+ AMERICAN ENGLISH BRITISH ENGLISH
billfold : wallet
aerostat : Aircraft that is lighter than air broiler : griller
aerodyne : Aircraft that is heavier than air candidacy : candidature
monocoque : Aircraft fuselage cotton candy/
jet : Aircraft driven by jet engines spun sugar : fairy floss
hovercraft : A vehicle that travels on land and water cookie : sweet biscuit
over a cushion of air derby : bowler hat
autogyro : Aircraft with horizontal rotor as well as diaper : nappy
conventional propellers drapes : curtains
druggist : chemist
canard : Aircraft that has its tail plane located
faucet : tap
in front of the main wings
fender : mud guard
drone : Air craft operated by remote control
flashlight : torch
vector : Aircraft’s course or direction when
freeway : highway
guided by radio
hangar : Building for parking aircraft furlough : leave of absence from
sonic boom : Explosive bang produced by a shock military duty
wave from an aircraft that is flying faster gas : petrol
than the speed of sound garbage can : dust bin
volplane : Gliding without power hood : bonnet in-
altimeter : Instrument for measuring attitude stallment plan : hire purchase
sortie : Single raid or mission by a combat jelly : jam
aircraft laundromat : launderette
yaw : Spin or wobble in flight monkey wrench : spanner
mortician : undertakers
muffler : silencer (of a car)
pacifier : baby’s dummy
pitcher : jug
realtor : estate agent ARCHAEOLOGY : SOME FREQUENTLY
solitaire : card game of patience USED TERMS
sophomore : second year student
suspenders : braces
barrow : burial mound covered with earth
thumbtack : drawing pin
crannog : artificial Island supporting
trunk : boot of car
buildings
tuxedo : dinner jacket
dendrochronology : dating of past events by
vest : waist coat
analyzing tree rings
veteran : ex-serviceman
dolmen : chamber or tomb formed by a
zip code : post code
horizontal stone atop two or
ANIMALS AND RELATED ADJECTIVES more vertical ones
eolithic : earliest period of human culture
menhir : large, free-standing stone
ape, monkey - simian, pongid mesolithic : refers to Middle Stone Age
ass, donkey - asinine neolithic : refers to New Stone Age
badger - meline paleolithic : refers to Old Stone Age when
bear - ursine man began to make tools
pig - porcine palaeontology : study of fossils and ancient
cat - feline forms of life
cattle - bovine sherd : a piece of broken potteryfound
deer - cervine during excavation
dog - canine stratigraphy : the dating of objects,
elephant - elephantine depending on the layers in
fox - vulpine which they lie
frog - ranine, batrachian
goat - capric, hircine
horse - equine baroque : An elaborate style developed in the17th
kangaroo - macropine century Europe
lion - leonine brutalism : Very plain modern style, functionalist
architecture without any decorations
3 years - triennial byzantine : Styles predominated by domes and
5 years - quinquennial minarets
100 years - centenary classical : Formal, precise style found especiallyin
150 years - sesquicentennial Rome and Greece
200 years - bicentenary colonial : Georgian style of the 17th and 18th century
300 years - tricentennial English settlements in North America
500 years - quincentenary gothic : 13th to 15th century style with pointed
1000 years - millennium windows and arches
(Wedding anniversaries and celebrations) neo classical : Late 18th century style, which revived
the precision and symmetry of Greece
1st year - cotton
and Rome
2nd year - paper palladian : 18th century style based on Italian
3rd year - leather architecture
4th year - flower/fruit regency : Style of 18th century that used tall
5th year - wood windows and delicate iron balconies
6th year - iron/sugar candy renaissance : A style that reopened Greek and
7th year - wool Roman ideals
8th year - bronze rococo : A greatly elaborate style of eighteenth
9th year - copper/pottery century Europe
10th year - tin romanesque : European 9th to 12th century style
11th year - steel
12th year - silk and fine linen ART MOVEMENTS
13th year - lace
14th year - ivory
15th year - crystal
Art Deco : art that uses plastic and steel and
20th year - china
has a distinctive design with bold
25th year - silver
geometric shapes
30th year - pearl
Art Nouveau : decorative style using narrow wavy
35th year - coral
lines and swirling forms.
40th year - ruby
Barbizon School: art that depicts landscapes
45th year - sapphire
Constructivism : geometric art not representing
50th year - gold
anything particular
55th year - emerald
60 - 65 - diamond
Cubism :art begun in the early twentieth Big bang theory: the belief that the universe came
century which introduced multiple into existence after a huge
view points using many lines and explosion
geometric shapes black hole : a region in space which has such
Expressionism : art which believed in the direct a great gravitational pull that evenlight
expression of the ‘artists’ feeling cannot escape from it
Fauvism : the use of bright and vibrant heliocentric or
colours copernican theory: belief that the sun and not the
Futurism : early 20th century Italian movement earth is the centre of the solarsys-
displaying the energy of thema- tem
chine age corona : the halo of light around the Sun
Impressionism : 19th century French movement and the Moon
which concentrated on the visual nebula : cloud of dust and gas in a galaxy
impact of drawings nutation : a periodic variation in the
Neoclassicism : late 18th and 19th century inclination of an axis of rotation
movement marked by a revival of perigee : point at which an orbiting object is
classical proportion and restraint closest to the earth
Post impressionism: movement in painting advancing perihelion : point at which an orbiting object is
from Impressionism towards compo- closest to the sun
sitions based on the arrangement of pulsar : rapidly rotating star that sends out
solid forms a regular flash of radiation
Realism : 19th century movement in arts quasar : an extremely brilliant object that
which recorded life objectively withno may be the nucleus of a distantgal-
idealization axy
Romanticism : early 19th century movement in
arts emphasising individual
almagest :Arabic version of Ptolemy’s
emotions and free imagination
astronomical treatise
Surrealism : 20th century art movement dealing
almanac : a book containing important dates
with fantasy, dreams and thesub-
and statistical information
conscious annal : record of historical events
Vorticism : English movement which started in anthology : collection of writing by a single
1914 marked by the expression of author or on a single theme
energy through abstract forms armorial : book listing details about arms
baedeker : a tourist guide book
ascendant : a section of the zodiac rising bestiary : a book about animal fables
above the eastern horizon at agiven breviary : prayer/hymn book for Roman
moment Catholic clergymen
combust : star or planet too close to the sunto cambist : book showing exchange rates and
be visible conversion charts for weights and
constellation : group of stars forming a measures
recognized pattern festschrift : book of essays by scholars and
cusp : transition between two signs of the compiled as a tribute to a learned
zodiac colleague
descendent : elliptical opposite of ascendant formulary : a collection of set forms especially
horoscope : a diagrammatic representation of for religious use; formula used inthe
the position of the stars andplanets preparation of medical drugs
at a given time hornbook : elementary text book introducing a
nativity : horoscope based on the time subject
when one is born incunabulum : book printed before 1501
quintile : positioning of two stars that are lectionary : a list of portions of scripture
72°apart. appointed to be read at divineser-
trine : positioning of two stars that are vice
120°apart lexicon : dictionary
zodiac : imaginary band of the planets in missal : prayer book, especially for the
the celestial sphere Roman Catholic Mass
monograph : booklet or a pamphlet on a specific
subject or a single aspect of it
apogee : point at which an orbiting object is
omnibus : a volume containing or assembling
farthest from the earth
several related writings
asteroid : a small rocky body in orbit around
pharmacopoeia : officially published book with a list
the sun
of drugs and directions for their
azimuth : horizontal bearing of a celestial
use
object measured clockwise from a
primer : introductory book especially for
given direction
language teaching
psalter : book of psalms
sepia - brown
subfusc - black
ultramarine - blue
walnut - brown
DRAMA
anagnorisis : moment of recognition of the
truth
subjects
catharsis : drama that figuratively purges
the
play
figurant : character in a play who does
not
speak
grand Guig- : short horrifying play
nol
LEGAL TERMS
LITERARY TERMS
allegory : work in which the characters and events are symbolic of something else
bathos : a sudden change from a serious or important subject to a ridiculous or ordinary one
epigram : short and meaningful statement
epistolary novel : novel in the form of letters leit-
motif : a recurring theme in a novel
mimesis : imitation in literature of nature or human nature
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Drums
bongo : either of a pair of small long bodied drums held between the knees and played with fingers
conga : a tall, narrow, low-toned drum beaten with the hands kettle-
drum : larger bowl shaped drum with a membrane stretched across
pedal drum : kettledrum with pedals
snare drum : small cylindrical drum covered with skin at either end
tabla : Indian drums – a pair of small drums
tabor : small drum beaten by hand tam-
bourine : small drum with jingles set in the frame
tenor drum : set of two or three kettledrums
tom-tom : oriental drum
String Instruments
aeolian harp : a stringed instrument that produces music when the wind passes through it
balalaika : three stringed guitar-like triangular Russian instrument
bouzouki : mandolin-like Greek folk instrument
cittern : 16th century instrument which looks like a lute
clairschach : ancient Irish harp
dulcimer : instrument with strings stretched over a soundboard and struck with hammers
kithara : ancient Greek lyre with box-shaped frame
kit, pochette : miniature violin formerly used by dancing masters
koto : Japanese, 13 stringed instrument in the shape of a box
lute : a medieval guitar like instrument with a long neck and a pear-shaped body
lyre : harp-like ancient Greek instrument
mandolin : plucked instrument, resembling the lute with paired strings
oud : South African and West Asian lute-like instrument
pandoura : Persian lute with a long neck
rebeck : medieval three stringed instrument played with a bow
samisen : a long three stringed Japanese guitar
abstract : a work of art that does not represent any specific object
aquarelle : painting made using transparent water colours aquatint
: a process of etching by which tonal effects are produced
chiaroscuro : contrasting light and shade in a painting
collage : picture made up of a variety of materials pasted onto a surface.
fresco : painting on fresh plaster on a wall or a ceiling
frieze : decorative painting running horizontally all along the wall
gouache : a technique that uses opaque water colours bound with gum
grotesque : decoration that combines animal, human and plant forms
impasto : thick opaque surface paint in oil painting
minimal art : use of geometric shapes and primary colours mon-
tage : picture made up of a number of individual pictures
mural : painting on a wall or a ceiling
opart : an art form that creates the impression of movement by using optical illusions
pastel : drawing or sketch in delicate colours using chalky crayon
pastoral : painting representing rural life
pieta : representation of Virgin Mary
putto : representation of a small boy or angel sec-
co : painting on dry plaster on a wall or a ceiling
still life : representation of inanimate objects
tempera : paint made of colour mixed with egg white or water
tondo : circular painting
PHILOSOPHIES
Aestheticism : belief that beauty is the basic principle of good in life and underlies morality
Behaviorism : doctrine that behaviour, rather than consciousness is all that can be known or studied
about human nature
Nominalism : a philosophy that believes that essences, universals and abstract concepts exist only in
name and that only actual individual objects exist
Ontology : a philosophy that studies the nature of existence
Perspectivism : the belief that there can be no absolute knowledge of truth Phenom-
enalism : belief that the sense perceptions are the only certainty of knowledge
Phenomenology : study of awareness
Positivism : doctrine that knowledge is derived from actual facts
Pragmatism : a doctrine that believes in a practical approach to political or personal dealings Prescrip-
tivism : the belief that statements about good and evil are not absolute but are moral prescriptions
Rationalism : the belief that knowledge can be acquired only through reason
Reductionism : the doctrine that analyses problems by reducing them to their components
Solipsism : belief that self is the only truth
Stoicism : the belief that man attains virtue by suppressing his emotions
Structuralism : the study of the structure of language rather than its history
Syndicalism : theory supporting government by trade unions or syndicates
Transcendentalism : theory that knowledge is obtained by intuition or reflecting on the reasoning process itself.
Utilitarianism : the doctrine that the greatest good is what produces maximum happiness for the greatest
number of people
anapaest - a metrical foot consisting of two short unstressed syllables and one long stressed syllable
alternation - a figure of speech in poetry involving the repetition of the same consonant sound
ballad - a story told in verse
blank verse - unrhymed ten-syllable lines
Canto - a part or section of a long poem
eclogue - short pastoral poem often in the form of a dialogue
elegy - poem lamenting the death of a person
envoi - short final stanza of same poems (especially French)
foot - unit of metre in poetry
free verse - verse without metre or rhyme
haiku - Japanese poem of three lines with seventeen syllables
heroic couplet - two lines witty end rhymes and ten syllables
iambic - metre in poetry consisting of one short unstressed syllable, followed by a long stressed
syllable
idyll - short, lyrical, pastoral poem
internal rhyme - rhyme occurring within the line
limerick - short witty poem of five lines, also called nonsense verse
macaronic verse - humorous verse in a language
ode - poem written in praise of someone or something
rondeau - lyrical poem of French origin which uses only two rhymes throughout
stanza - a complete verse
sonnet - poem of 14 lines containing 10 syllables per line
quatrain - a verse of 4 lines in a poem
ROOTS
cide [kill] suicide (self-killer or self-killing), homicide (man, cus, cuse (see cause)
human killer or killing), genocide (race killing), tyrannicide
(tyrant killer or tyrant killing), pesticide (pest killer), germi- cycl, cyclo [wheel, circular] Cyclops (a mythical giant with
cide (germ killer), insecticide (insect killer) one eye in the middle of his forehead), cyclone (a
wind blowing circularly ; a tornado), unicycle, bicycle
cise [cut] decide (cut off uncertainity), precise (cut exactly
right), concise, incision, scissors, criticize D
deca [ten] decade, Decalogue, decapod (ten feet),
cit [to call, start] incite, citation, cite Decapolis, decathlon
civ [citizen] civic (relating to a citizen), civil, civilian, civvies dem [people] democracy (people-rule), demagogue (peo-
(citizen clothing), civilization ple-leader, one who stirs up people for selfish ends), de-
mography (vital statistics of the people: deaths, births,
calm, claim [cry out] exclamation, clamor, proclamation, etc.), epidemic (on or among the people; general), pan-
reclamation, acclamation, declamation , claim demonium
clemen [merciful] inclement (not merciful), clemency, dent, dont [tooth] dental (relating to teeth), orthodontist (a
clement dentist who practices orthodontia), denture, dentifrice
clud, clus, claus [shut] include (to take in), recluse (one
derm [skin] hypodermic (under skin; injected under the
who shuts himself away from others), claustrophobia (*ab-
skin), dermatology (skin study), epidermis (on skin; outer
normal fear of being shut up, confined), conclude, include,
layer), taxidermy (arranging skin; mounting animals)
preclude, seclude, close, closet
cognose, gnosi [know] prognosis (forward knowing), di- dic, dict [say, speak] diction (how one speaks, what one
agnosis (thorough knowledge), recognize (to know again), says), dictionary, dictate, dictator, dictum (a saying), dicta-
incognito (not known), agnostic (not knowing about God) phone, dictagraph, dictatorial, edict, predict, verdict, con-
tradict, adjudicate (to speak the law, to judge), benediction
cosm [universe, world] cosmos (the universe), cosmic,
domin [master] dominate, dominion, domain, predomi-
cosmology, cosmopolitan (world citizen), cosmonaut, mi-
nanat, Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord, abbreviated
crocosm, macrocosm
A.D)
don [give] donate (make a gift), condone
dorm [sleep] dormant, dormitory form [form, shape] form, uniform, conform, deform, re-
form, perform, formative, formation, formal, formula
dox [opinion, praise] doxy (belief, creed or ism), orthodox
(having the correct, commonly accepted opinion), hetero- fort, forc [strong] fort, fortress (a strong point, fortified),
dox (differing opinion; contrary, self-contradictory), doxolo- fortify (make strong), forte (one’s strong point), forte
gy (statement or song of praise), paradox (strong, loud in music), fortitude (strength for endurance),
force, effort, comfort, pianoforte, force (power)
drome [to run, step] syndrome (run together; symptoms)
hippodrome (a place where horses run) fract, frag [break] fracture (a break), infraction, fragile
(easy to break), fraction (result of breaking a whole into
duc, duct [lead] duke (leader), induce (lead into, per- equal parts), refract (to break or bend, as a light ray), re-
suade), seduce (lead aside); traduce (lead across in public fractive, fragment
disgrace, vilify), aquaduct (water leader, artificial channel),
subdue, ductile (easily drawn out or hammered thin), fum [smoke] fume (smoke; odour) fumigate (destroy
viaduct, conduct, conduit, produce, reduce, educate germs by smoking them out), perfume
flex, flect [bend] flex (bend), reflex (bending back), flexi- grat [pleasing] congratulate (express pleasure over suc-
ble, flexor (muscle for bending), inflexibility, reflect, deflect, cess), gratis (as a favor, free), gratuitous (gratis), gratuity
genuflect (bend the knee) (mark of favor, a tip), grateful, gracious, ingrate (not thank-
ful; hence, unpleasant), ingratiate
flu, fluc, fluv [flowing] influence (to flow in), fluctuate (to
grav [heavy, weighty] grave, gravity, aggravate, gravitate
wave in an unsteady motion), fluviograph (instrument for
measuring the flow of rivers), fluid, flue, flush, fluently, greg [herd, group, crowd] gregarian (belonging to a herd),
affluent congregation (a group functioning together), segregative
(tending to group aside or apart), aggregation
helio [sun] heliograph (an instrument for using the sun’s levis (light) alleviate (lighten a load), levitate, levity
rays), heliotrope (a plant which turns to the sun)
lic, licit [permit, license] (freedom to act), licit (permitted;
hema, hemo [blood] hematid (red blood corpuscle), hemo- lawful; conceded), illicit (not permitted), licentious (taking
toxic (causing blood poisoning), hemorrhage, hemoglobin, liberties; disregarding rules, especially in morals)
hemophilia, hematose
lith [stone] monolith (one stone, a single mass), lithogra-
here, has [stick] adhere, cohere, inherent phy (stone writing, printing from a flat stone or metal plate),
neolithic (new stone, of the later stone age), paleolithic
hetero [different] heterogeneous (different in birth; miscel- (ancient stone)
laneous), heterodox, heterochromatic (of different colors),
heteromorphic (of different forms), superhetrodyne, hetero- liver, liber [free] liberal (relating to liberty), delivery (free-
sexual (with interest in opposite sex) dom; liberation), liberalize (to make more free: as, to liber-
alize the mind from prejudice), deliverance
homo [same] homogeneous (of same birth or kind),
loc, loco [place] locomotion (act of moving from place to
homonym (word with same name or pronunciation as an-
place), locality (locale: neighborhood), allocate (to assign; to
other), homosexual (with sex desire for those of the same
place; apportion), relocate to put back into their homes)
sex), homologous (same-minded, agreeing), homogenize
log, logo, ology [word, study, speech] Logo (the word,
hum, human [earth, ground, man] humility (quality of low- Jesus), logic (orig., speech: then reasoning), prologue,
liness), humane (marked by sympathy, compassion, for epilogue, dialogue, catalogue, logorrhea (a flux of words;
other human beings and animals), humus, exhume, hu- excessively wordy), zoology (animal study), psychology
manity (mind study), theology (god study)
hypn [sleep] hypnoidal (relating to hypnosis or sleep),
loqu, locut [talk, speak] eloquent (speaking out well and
hypnosis, Hypnos (god of sleep), hypnotherapy (treatment
forecefully), loquacious (talkative), colloquial (talking to-
of disease by hypnosis)
gether; conversational or informal), obloquy (a
hydr, hydro, hydra [water] dehydrate (take water out of; speaking against, a reproach), circumlocution (talking
dry), hydrant (water faucet), hydraulic (pertaining to water orto around a subject), soliloquy
liquids), hydraulics, hydrogen, hydrophobia, hydroelectric
luc, lum, lus, lun [light] Luna (the moon goddess), lumen(a
Ι unit of light), luminary (a heavenly body; someone who
ignis [fire] ignite, igneous, ignition shines in his profession), translucent (letting light come
through), lustre (sparkle; gloss; glaze), illuminate
J
ject [throw] deject, inject, project (throw forward), eject, lude [play] ludicrous, prelude (before play), interlude
object, ejaculate M
magn [great] magnify (make great, enlarge), magnificent,
join, junct [join] junction (act of joining), enjoin (to lay an
magnanimous (great of mind or spirit), magnate, magni-
order upon; to command), juncture, conjunction, joint, ad-
tude, magnum
joining, injunction
man [hand] manual, manage, manufacture, manacle,
jud, judi, judic [judge, lawyer] judge (a public officer who
manicure, manifest, manedver, emancipate
has the authority to give a judgement), abjudicate (reject
the case, judicial (relating to a administration of justice), mand [command] mandatory (commanded), remand (or-
judicious, prejudice der back), writ of mandamus (written order from a court),
jur, jus [law] justice (a just judgement; as justice must be countermand (order against, cancelling a previous order),
served), conjure (to swear together; to imagine; to entreat; mandate
as, conjure the king to be merciful), juror, jurisdiction mania [madness] mania (insanity; craze; excessive crav-
juven [young] juvenile, juvenescent (becoming young), ing), monomania (mania on one idea), kleptomania (thief
rejuvenate (to make young again) mania; abnormal tendency to steal), pyromania (insane
tendancy to set fire) dipsomania (uncontrollable craving for
L
alcoholic drink), manic, maniac
later [side, broad] lateral, latitude
mar, mari, mer [sea, pool] mermaid (fabled marine crea-
laut, lav, lot, lut [wash] lavish (flowing like water), dilute ture, half fish), marine (a sailor serving on shipboard), marsh
(to make a liquid thinner and weaker) ablution (a (wet land, swamp), maritime (relating to the sea and navi-
washing away), launder (to wash and iron clothes), lavato- gation)
ry, laundry, lotion, deluge
matri, matro, matric [mother] matrimony (state of wed-
leg [law] legal (lawful; according to law), legislate (to enact a lock), maternal (relating to the mother), matriarchate
law), legislature (a body of persons who can make laws), (rulership of a woman), matris (mother goddess of the
legitimise (make legal), legacy Hindu deities), matron, metropolic (the mother city)
medi [half, middle, between, halfway] mediate (come be- nom [law, order] autonomy (self-law, self-government),
tween, intervene), medieval (pertaining to the middle astronomy, Deuteronomy (lit., second law, as given by
ages), mediterranean (lying between lands), medium (a Moses), gastronomy (lit., stomach law; art of good eating),
person having the faculty to make contact with the super agronomy (lit., field law; crop production), economy
natural), mediocre (household law, management)
mega [great] megaphone (great sound), megacephalic
(great-headed), megalith, megalopolis (great city; an ex- nomen, nomin [name] nomenclature, nominate, nominal
tensive urban area including a number of cities), megacy-
cle (a million cycles), megaton (force of a million tons of nounce, nunci [warn, declare] announcer (one who
TNT), omega (great) makes announcements publicly), enunciate (to
pronounce carefully), pronounce (declare; articulate), re-
mem [remember] memorandum (a note; a reminder), nounce (retract; reoke), denounce
commemoration (the act of observing by a memorial or
ceremony), memento, memoir, memo, memorable nov [new] novel (new; strange; not formerly known), reno-
meter [measure] meter (a measure), gravimeter (instru- vate (to make like new again), novice, nova, innovate
ment for measuring weight and density), voltameter (instru-
ment to measure volts in an electric circuit), barometer, nox, noc [night] nocturnal, equinox (equal nights), noctilu-
thermometer ca (something which shines by night)
micro [small] microscope, microfilm, microcard, mi- null [none] null, nullification, nullify, nullifidian (one who
crowave, micrometer (device for measuring very small has no faith), nulliparous
distance), micron (a millionth of a meter), microbe (small
living thing), microorganism, omicron (small) number, numer [number] numeral (a figure expressing a
number), numeration (act of counting), numberable (can
migra [wander] migrate (to wander), emigrant (one who be numbered), enumerate (count out, one by one), innu-
leaves a country), immigrate (to come into the land to set- merable
tle), migratory (one who roves; a wanderer)
mit, miss [send] emit (send out, give off), remit (send O
back, as money due), submit, admit, commit, permit, omni [all every] omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all
transmit (send across), omit, intermittent (sending be- knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), omnivorous
tween, at intervals), mission, missile (all eating), omnibus, (covering all things)
mob, mot, mov [move] mobile (capable of moving), mo- onus [burden] onerous (burdensome), onus, exonerate (to
tionless (without motion), motor (that which imparts mo- take out or take away a burden)
tion; source of mechanical power), emotional (moved
strongly by feelings), motivate, promotion, demote onym [name]anonymous (without a name), pseudonym
(false name), antonym (against name; word of opposite
mon [warn, remind] admonish (warn), admonition, meaning), synonym
monitor,premonition (forewarning), monument (a reminder
or memorial of a person or event), reminisce oper [work] opera (a work which has been set to music
monstr, mist [show] demonstrate (to display; show) and is sung instead of spoken), operate (to labor;
muster (to gather together; collect; put on display) demon- function), opus (a musical composition or work), cooperate
stration, monstrosity (work together)
morph [form] amorphous (with no form, shapeless), an- ortho [straight, correct] orthodox (of the correct or accept-
thropomorphic (man form), Morpheus (the shaper, god of ed opinion), orthodontist (tooth straightener), orthopedic
dreams), morphine (drug making sleep and dreams), (originally pertaining to straightening a child), orthography
metamorphosis (a change of form, as a caterpillar into a (correct writing, spelling), unorthodox
butterfly), morphidite
oss, osteo [bone] ossicle (a small bone), ossification (the
mori, mort, mors [mortal, death] mortal (causing death or
process of making into bone), osteopath (one who prac-
destined for death), immortal (not subject to death), mortality
tices osteopathy), osteoporosis (a condition in old age
(rate of death), immortality, mortician (one who buries the
when bones become porous and fragile)
dead), mortification (lit., made dead; shame; chagrin), mor-
tuary; (place for the dead a morgue), remorse
P
multi, multus [many, much] multifold (folded many times), pac [peace] pacifist (one for peace only; opposed to war),
multilinguist (one who speaks many languages), multiped pacify (make peace, quiet), Pacific Ocean (peaceful
(an organism with many feet), multiply (to increase a num- ocean)
ber quickly by multiplication)
pan [all] Pan American, panacea (cureall), pandemonium
N (place of all the demons; wild disorder), pandemic,
nasc, nat [to be born, to spring forth] nature (the essenceof panchromatic (sensitive to all colors), pantheism (all-god
a person or a thing), innate (inborn, inherent in), in- belief; belief that God is all and all is God), pantheon (tem-
ternational (between or among nations), renascence (a ple of all gods)
rebirth; a revival), natal, native, nativity
neur [nerve] neuritis (inflammation of a nerve), neuropath- pater, part [father] patriarch (the head of the tribe, family),
ic (having a nerve disease), neurologist (one who practices patron (a wealthy person who supports as would a father),
neurology), neural, neurosis, neurotic paternity (fatherhood, responsibility, etc.), patriot
path, pathy [feeling, suffering] pathos (feeling of pity, sor- poli [city] metropolis (mother city; main city), police, poli-
row), pathetic, sympathy, antipathy (against feeling), apa- tics, Indianapolis, megalopolis, Acropolis (high city, forti-
thy (without feeling), empathy (feeling or identifying with field upper part of Athens), cosmopolite (world citizen)
another), telepathy (far feeling; through transference),
pathogenic (disease being born; causing suffering or dis- pon, pos, pound [place, put] postpone (put afterward),
ease) component, opponent (one put against), proponent, de-
pose, expose, impose, purpose, propose deposit, deposi-
ped, pod [foot] pedal (lever for a foot), impede (get the tion, expound, compound, posture (how one places himself),
feet in a trap, hinder), impediment, pedestal (foot or baseof position, post
a statue), pedestrian (foot traveller), centipede, tripod pop [people] population (the number of people in an area),
(three-footed support), podiatry (care of the feet), an- Populist (a member of the Populist party), populous (full of
tipodes (opposite feet; parts of the earth diametrically op- inhabitants), popular
posed), podium (platform for a performer)
port [carry] porter (one who carries), portable, transport,
pedo [child] orthopedic, pedagogue (child leader, teacher),
(carry across), report, export, import support, comport
pedant (narrow-minded teacher), pediatrics (medical care
deportment (how one carries himself, behaves), portage,
of children)
transportation, port, disport
pel, puls [drive, urge] compel, dispel, expel, repel, impel, portion [part, share] portion (a part; a share, as a portionof
propel, pulse, impulse, pulsate, compulsory, expulsion, a pie), proportion (the relation of one share to others),
repulsive portionless (without portion; without dowry)
pend, pens, pond [hang, weigh] pendant (a hanging ob- posse, potent [power] posse (an armed band; a force with
ject), appendix, pendulum, depend, impend, suspend, legal authority), possible, potent, potentate, omnipotent,
perpendicular, pending, dispense, pensive (weighing impotent
thought), appendage, ponderous (weighty)
phan, phen, [show, appear] phantom, phenomenal, fanta- prehend [seize] apprehend (size a criminal, seize an ide-
sy al), comprehend (seize with the mind), comprehensible,
comprehensive (seizing much, extensive), reprehensible
phemi [speak] euphemism (speak well of), prophet (needing to be seized back, rebuked)
phil [love] philosophy (love of wisdom), philanthropy, phil- prim, prime [first] primacy (state of being first in rank),
harmonic, bibliophile, Philip, Philadelphia (city of brotherly prima donna (the first lady of opera), primitive (from the
love) earliest or first time), primary, primal
phobia (fear) phobia (abnormal fear), claustrophobia (fear
proto [first] prototype, protocol, protagonist, protozoan
of closed places), acrophobia, (fear of high places), photo-
phobia (fear of light), aquaphobia (fear of water), pyropho- psych [mind, soul] psyche (soul, mind), psychic (sensitive to
bia (fear of fire) forces beyond the physical), psychiatry (healing of the
mind), psychology, psychopath (mind feeling; one with
phon [sound] phonograph, phonetic (pertaining to sound),
mental disease), psychosis (serious mental disorder), psy-
phonology, symphony (sounds with or together), poly-
chotherapy (mind treatment), psychogenic (of psychic birth,
phonic (having many sounds or tunes), dictaphone, eu-
origin)
phony (pleasing sound)
photo [light] photograph (light-writing), photoelectric, punct [point, dot] punctual (being exactly on time), punc-
photoflash, photogenic (artistically suitable for being pho- tum (a dot; a point), compunction (remorse; points of guilt),
tographed), photometer (light meter), photon (a punctuation, puncture, acupuncture
quantum of light energy), photosynthesis (action of light on
put [think] computer a (computing or thinking machine),
chlorphyll to make carbohydrates)
deputy, reputable (honourable; estimable; a thinker), dis-
pict [paint] pictograph (writing with pictures or symbols), pute, repute
picture (make a mental image), depiction (the act of de- Q
picting or representing), picturesque, pictorial quies [be at rest] acquiesce, quiescent, quiet
plac, plais [please] placid (calm, unruffled), placatory (ap- R
peasing, soothing), placebo, placate, complacent (self- sat- reg, recti [straighten] regular, rectify (make straight), regi-
isfied) ment, rectangle, correct, direct, erect, incorrigible
plenus [full] plenary, replenish, plentiful, plenteous ri, ridi, risi [laughter] ridicule (laughter at the expense of
another; mockery), deride (make mock of; jeer at), risible
plic, pli, ply [fold] inexplicable, pliable, implicate
(likely to laugh), ridiculous
plu, plur, plus [more] plus (indicating that something is to
be added), plural (more than one), pluralist (one who holds rog, roga [ask] prerogative (privilege; asking before), inter-
two or more jobs), plurisyllabic (having more than one rogation (questioning; the act of questioning), surrogate,
syllable) derogatory
pneuma, pneumon [breath] pneumatic (pertaining to air, rupt [break] rupture (break), interrupt (break into), abrupt
wind or other gases), pneumonia (disease of the lungs), (broken off), disrupt (break apart), erupt (break out), incor-
pneumatogram (tracing of respiratory movements) ruptible (unable to be broken down)
pod (see ped)
sequ, secu, sue [follow] sequence (following of one thing stru, struct [build] structure, construct, instruct, obstruct,
after another), sequel, consequence, subsequent, obse- construe (build in the mind, interpret), destroy, destruction,
quious (blindly following), prosecute, execute, consecutive instrument (originally, a tool for building)
(following in order), ensue, pursue, second (following first)
serv [save, serve] servant, service, subservient, servitude, sume, sump [take, use, waste] assume (to take; to use),
servile, reservation, preserve, conserve, deserve, observe, consume (to use up), presume (to take upon oneself be-
conservation fore knowing for sure), presumption, sump pump (a
pump which takes up water)
sign, signi [sign, mark, seal] signal (a gesture or sign to
call attention), signature (the mark of a person written in T
his own handwriting), design, insignia (distinguishing tact, tang, tag, tig, ting [touch] contagious (transmission, of
marks), signify disease by touching) contact (touch), tact (sense of touch
silic [flint] silicon (a non-metallic element found in the for the appropriate), intact (untouched, uninjured), intangi-
earth’s crust), silicosis (a disease prevalent among miners ble (not able to be touched), tangible, contingent (touching
and stone cutters who breathe much dust) together, depending on something), tactile
terra [earth] territory, terrestrial, terrain, terrarium vale, vali, valu [strength, worth, valor] valor (value; worth),
validity (truth; legal strength), equivalent (of equal worth),
test [to bear witness] testament (a will; bearing witness to evaluate (find out the value; appraise actual worth), vale-
someone’s wishes), detest, attest (certify; affirm; bear wit- dictorian, valiant, value
ness to), testimony, contest, intestate
ven, vent [come] convene (come together, assemble),
the, theo [God, a god] monotheism (belief in one god), intervene (come between), circumvent (coming around),
polytheism (belief in many gods), atheism (a belief that adventure, invent, subvention, venturesome, convent,
there is no god), pantheism (a belief that God is in all inventory, venture, venue, event, eventually, souvenir, con-
things), theology. travene (come against) avenue, advent, convenient, pre-
vent
therm [heat] therm (heat unit), thermic, thermal, thermo-
stat (heat plus stationary; a device for keeping heat con- ver, veri [true] verify (truth), very, verify (show to be true),
stant), hypothermia (subnormal body temperature), ther- verisimilitude, aver (say to be true, affirm), verdict
monuclear
vert, vers [turn] avert (turn away), divert (turn aside,
thesis, thet [place, put] antithesis (place against), hypoth- amuse), invert (turn over), introvert (turn inward, one inter-
esis (place under), synthesis, (put together), epithet ested in his own reactions), extrovert (turn outward, one
interested in what is happening outside himself), controver-
tom [cut] atom (not cutable; the smallest particle of sy (a turning against; a dispute), reverse, versatile (turning
matter), appendectomy (cutting out an appendix), tonsil- easily from one skill to another), convertible, adversary,
lectomy, epitome (cut on; a summary), dichotomy (cutting adverse
in two; a division), anatomy (cutting, dissecting to study
structure) vest [clothe, to dress] vest (an article of clothing; vest-
ment), investor (one who has laid out money for profit),
tort, tors [twist] torsion (act of twisting, as a torsion bar), travesty, vestry, vestment
torture (twisting to inflict pain), retort (twist back, reply
sharply), extort (twist out), distort (twist out of shape), con- vic, vicis [change, substitute] vicarious, vicar, vicissitude
tort, tortuous (full of twists, as a mountain road) vict, vinc [conquer] victor (conqueror, winner), evict (con-
tox [poison] toxic, intoxicate, antitoxin quer out, expel), convict (prove guilty), convince (conquer
mentally, persuade), invincible (not able to be conquered),
tract, tra [draw, pull] tractable (can be handled), abstract evince, eviction
(to draw away), tractor, attract, subtract, subtrahend (the
number to be drawn away from another) vid, vis [see] video (television), vision, evident, provide,
providence, visible, revise, supervise (oversee), vista, visit,
trib [pay, bestow] tribute (a fine paid to a conquering pow- visage
er), distribute (to divide among many), redistribute, con-
tribute (to give money to a cause), attribute, retribution, viv, vita, vivi [alive, life] revive (make live again), survive
tributary (live beyond, outlive), vivid (full of life), vivify (enliven),
convivial (fond of “living it up” with friends), vivisection
trophy [nourishment, development] dystrophy (badly nour- (surgery on a living animal), vitality, vivacious (full of life)
ished), atrophy
voc [call] vocation (a calling), avocation (occupation not
tui, tuit, tut [guard, teach] tutor (one who teaches a pupil), one’s calling), convocation (a calling together), invocation
tuition (payment for instruction or teaching fees), intuent (calling it), evoke, provoke, revoke, advocate, provocative,
(knowing by intuition) vocal, vocation, vocabulary
vol [will] malevolent, benevolent (one of good will), volun-
turbo [disturb] turbulent, turmoil, disturb, turbid
teer, volition
typ [print] type, prototype (first print, model), typical, typog- vola [to fly] volatile (able to fly off or vaporize), volley, vol-
raphy, typewriter, typology (study of types, symbols), typify ery, volitant
U volvo [turn about, roll] voluble (easily turned about or
ultima [last] ultima (last; final; most remote), ultimate around), voluminous, volution, revolt
(man’s last destiny), ultimatum (the final or last offer that
can be made) vor [eat greedily] voracious, carnivorous (flesh-eating),
herbivorous (plant-eating), omnivorous (eating everything),
unda [wave, flow] abundant, inundate, undulation, redundant devour (eat greedily)
uni [one] unicorn (a legendary creature with one horn), Z
uniface (a design that appears only on one side), unify Zo [animal] zoo (short for zoological garden), zoology
(make into one), university, unanimous, universal (study of animal life), zoomorphism (attributing animal form
to God), zodiac (circle of animal constellations), protozoa
(first animal; one-celled animals)
am / ami – words: Amateur, Amiable, Amicable some other words: accept, perception, perceive, receive,
meaning: love, friend inception, intercept, conceive, conception
some other words: amateur, amatory, amour, amorous,
enamored, inamorata, paramour, amiable, amicable, ami- circ – words: Circumspect
cicide, amity, unamiable meaning: ring, wheel, round some other words: circle,
encircle, circadian, circuit, circulate, circumspect, circum-
ambul – words: Anteambulate ference, circumvent, circumstance, circumnavigate, circum-
meaning: walk, take steps, move around locution, circumflex, circumscribe
some other words: amble, ambulate, ambulant, ambu-
cogn / cogni – words: Cognate
lance, ambulatory, ambulophobia, anteambulate, circum-
meaning: know, learn
ambulate, funambulate, noctambulist,
some other words: cognition, cognisance, cognoscente,
somnambulist, perambulate, preamble
incognito, precognition, recognition
ante – words: Anteambulate, Antediluvian coll – words: Collateral
meaning: before, in front of, prior to, forward meaning: glue, adherent, related
some other words: antebellum, antecedents, some other words: collate, collage, colleague, collect,col-
lege, collide, collocate, collude
anthrop – words: Misanthrope
meaning: human con / com – words: Concept, Unconscientious,
some other words: anthropology, anthropomorphism,an- Uncongenial, Connected, Conceded
thropophagy, philanthropy meaning: with, jointly, together
some other words: concur, contemporary, convention,con-
apo / apho – words: Apostles, Apocryphal, Apocalyptic, cur, contemporary, convention, common
Aphorism
meaning: away, off, separate (far, extreme) cred – words: Credible, Discreditable
some other words: apology, apostrophe, apotheosis, meaning: believe, belief, faith, confidence, trust some
apogee, apoplexy, apostate other words: credit, accredit, credence, credentials, credo,
credulity, credulous, creed
arch – words: Anarchies
meaning: govern, rule cracy / crat – words: Democracies, Timocracies,
some other words: monarchy, autarchy, cryptarchy, chil- Plutocracies
iarch, demarch, diarchy, hierarchy, patriarchy, matriarchy, meaning: to govern, to rule; government, strength, power,
oligarchy might, authority
some other words: aristiocracy, autocracy, bureaucracy,
auto – words: Autonomy gerontocracy, gynocracy, kakistocracy, kleptocracy,
meaning: self, same, spontaneous, directed from within mediocracy, meritocracy, ochlocracy
some other words: autarch, autism, authentic, automatic,
autoactivation, autoanalysis, autocephaly, autobiography, cryp / crypt / crypto – words: Apocryphal
autocrat, autoclave meaning: hidden, secret
some other words: crypt, cryptic, cryptography, encrypt,
bell / belli – words: Belligerent, Bellicose
decrypt
meaning: war, fight, fighting
some other words: rebellion, antebellum, bellicism culpa – words: Inculpate, Culprit
meaning: blame; responsible for wrong or error
bene / bon – words: Benefactor, Beneficial, Benediction
some other words: culpable, culpability, exculpate, mea
meaning: good, well
culpa
some other words: benevolent, benedictory, benign, bon
vivant, bon voyage dem / demo – words: pandemic, epidemic
meaning: people, population
cad / cas / cid – words: Cadaverous, Decadence, Cadence
meaning: to fall, befall some other words: demagogue, democracy, democrat,
some other words: cad, accident, incident, coincidental, demography, demophilia, demotic, endemic,
caducity, cascade, recidivist deca – words: decade
carn – words: Incarnations meaning: ten
some other words: decahedron, decathlon, decametre,
meaning: flesh, meat
some other words: carnivorous, carnal, incarnate,carnival, decagonal
carnage derm – words: pachydermic
meaning: skin
cede / cess – words: Ceded, Conceded
some other words: dermis, epidermis, dermatology,taxi-
meaning: to be in motion; to go, to go away, to yield, to
dermy
give up, to withdraw
some other words: antecedents, abcess, accede, cease, dign / dain – words: disdain
cessation, deceased, exceed, excess, intercede, precede, meaning: worthy; to deem worthy or fit
proceed, recede, secede, supercede,unprecedented some other words: condign, dainty, deign, dignity, dignify
cept / ceive – words: Concept dol / dolor – words: dolorous, doleful
meaning: catch, seize, take, take hold of meaning: to feel pain, to grieve; sorrow, grief, mourning
some other words: condole, dole, dolorific, indolent
mater / matri / matr – words: matrimony, matriarch sens / senso / senti – words: consensus
meaning: mother, motherhood meaning: feeling, sensation, perception through the sens-
some other words: maternal, maternity, matricide,matrilin- es, to be aware, to discern by the senses
eage, matron, matrimonial, matronym some other words: sense, sensory, sensitive, sensible,
consent, dissent, dissentious, insensate, insensitive, non-
melano / melan – words: melancholy sense, multisensory, photosensitive, presentiment, resent,
meaning: the color black; dark resentful, sensation, senseless
some other words: melanin, melanoma, melanopathy
simal / simil / simul / semble – words: verisimilitude mean-
miser – words: miseries ing: same, like, alike; same time; to appear, toseem;
meaning: wretched, miserable, pitiable together
some other words: miser, miserable, commiserate,miseri- some other words: similar, simulate, simulacrum, simulta-
cord neous, assemble, ensemble, resemble, assimilate, dis-
mod – words: modesty semble, simile, facsimile
meaning: measure; suitable; size, limit, way, method; soli / sol – words: sole
rhythm, harmony meaning: one, alone, only
some other words: commodious, accommodate, modulate, some other words: solo, soloist, solitary, solitude, solitaire,
moderate, modest, mode, modal, modality, model, mod- solicism, soliloquy, desolate, desolation, isolate, isolation
ern, modify, module
moll – words: emollient sol / solu / solv – words: dissolute
meaning: soft meaning: loosen, to loose; to dissolve; to untie, to set free
some other words: mollify, mollusk, mollycoddle some other words: solve, solution, absolve, absolution,
absolute, aerosol, dissolve, soluble, solvable, insolvent,
mono / mon – words: monarch resolve, resolute
meaning: one, alone, single
some other words: monogamy, monk, monastry, monothe- soph / sopho / sophic – words: sophistication
ism, monatheism, monaural, monism, monochrome, meaning: wise, wisdom; knowledge
monocular, monodrama, monoglot, monogram, monolatry, some other words: pansophism, philosophy, sophist,
monolith, monomachy sophistry, sophisticated, sophomore, theosophy
mor / mora – words: moral tacit / taci / tace – words: taciturnity mean-
meaning: custom, habit, manner ing: silent, silence; unspoken; quietsome
some other words: mores, amoral, immoral, demoralise, other words: reticent, tacit, tacitly
morale
term / termin – words: terminate
morbi – words: morbid meaning: end, last, final, boundary
meaning: disease some other words: term, determine, determination,exter-
some other words: morbidity, premorbid minate, indeterminate, interminable
mort / mor / mori / morti – words: moribund
meaning: death, dead; die, dying testi / test – words: testifying
some other words: motal, mortality, amortise, benemortasia, meaning: a witness, one who stands by
mortgage, mortician, mortuary, mortification some other words: attest, attestation, contest, contestant,
detest, detestable, intestate, protest, protestant, testament,
mot / moto / motile / motive / mov – words: motile testify, testimony, testimonial
meaning: move, motion
some other words: motor, motion, demote, promote, loco- torp – words: torpid
motive, emote, emotion, motility, motivate meaning: stupor, numb, sluggish
mut – words; mutable, immutable some other words: torpor, torpescent, torpidity
meaning: change, changeable
some other words: mutate, mutation, permutation,trans- tors / tort / torqu – words: extort, distort
mute, commute, immutable meaning: bend, curve, turn, twist (by extension) wrong
some other words: retort, contort, torment, torsion, torque,
sci / scien / scient – words: conscience tortuous, torture
meaning: to know, to learn; knowledge
some other words: science, scientific, conscientious, con- trac / tract – words: extract
scious, nescient, omniscient, prescient meaning: drag, draw together; a drawing out or pulling
some other words: abstact, attract, contract, detract,dis-
scrib / script – words: proscription tract, tractable, intractable, protract, retract, subtract,trac-
meaning: write, record tile, tractor
some other words: scribe, script, ascribe, circumscribe,
circumscription, conscribe, conscript, describe, descrip- trans – words: transmission, transmutation, transformance
tion, inscribe, proscribe, prescribe, manuscript, postscript, meaning: across, through, over, beyond, on the far side of
scribble, scripture, scrivener, subscribe, subscription, su- some other words: transit, transport, transmit, transfer,
perscription transplant, transfuse, transform, transvestite, transverse,
secu / secut / suit / sue – words: suitable transgress, transcend, transient, transition
meaning: follow, followed, following trepid – words: trepidation
some other words: consecutive, consequent, ensue, ob- meaning: agitated, alarmed, restless, anxious, solicitous;
sequies, persecute, prosecute, pursue, sequel, sequence, fear, fearful, fright; terror; consternation
suit, pursuit, suitor, unsuitable some other words: intrepid, trepidant, trepidity
PREFIXES
A
a, an [not, without] amoral (without a sense of moral re-
sponsibility), atheism, anaemia, atypical, atom (not
cutable), apathy (without feeling)
ab, abs, a [from, away] abnormal, avert (turn away)
acro [high] acropolis (high city), acrobat, acrogen (of the
highest class), acronym, acrophobia (fear of height)
ad (ac af, ag, al, an, ap, ar, as, at) [to, towards] admire
(look at with wonder), attract, admit, advance, allege, an-
nounce, assert, aggressive, accept
ambi, amb [both, around] ambidextrous (skilled with both
hands), ambiguous, amble
amphi [both] amphibious (living on both land and water),
amphitheatre
ana [on, up, backward] analysis (loosing up or taking apart
for study), anatomy, anachronism
E
em, en [in, into] embrace enslave
hyper [over, above] hypercritical, hyperemia, hypersensi- peri [around] perimeter (measurement around an area),
tive, hypertensive, hyperactive periphery, periscope, pericardium, period
hypo [under] hypodermic, hypothesis, hypotension poly [many] polygon (figure having many angles or sides),
polygamy, polyglot, polychrome
Ι
idio [private, personal] idiom, idiosyncrasy, idiomatic post [after] postpone, postwar, postscript, post-season
il (ir, in, im) [not] incorrect, illegal, immoral, irregular pre [before] prewar, preview, precede, prevent,premonition
in (il, im) [into] inject, inside, illuminate, impose, illustrate, pro [forward, in favor of] project (throw forward), progress,
implant, imprison pro-abortion, promote, prohibition
infra [beneath] infrared pseudo [false] pseudonym (false or assumed name),
pseudo, pseudopodia
inter [between] intercollegiate, interfere, intervene, inter-
rupt (break between) R
re [back, again] reclaim, revive, revoke, rejuvenate, retard,
intra [within] intramural, intravenous (within the veins) reject, return
intro [into, inward] introduce, introvert (turn inward) retro [backwards] retrorspective (looking backwards),
M retroactive, retrorocket, retrofression
macro [large, excessive] macrodent (having large teeth), S
macrocosm se [aside] seduce (lead aside), secede, secrete, segregate
mal [badly, poor] maladjusted, malnutrition, malfunction, self [by oneself] self-determination, self-employed, self-
malady service, selfish
meta [beyond, after, with] metabolism (thrown beyond,
sesqui [one and a half] sesquicentennial (one and one-
literally; hence, chemical and physical change), metaphor,
half centuries)
metamorphosis, metaphysical
mis [incorrect, bad] misuse, misprint sub [under] submerge (put under), submarine, subhuman,
subject, substitute, subsoil, suburb
miso [hating, wrong] misanthropist, misogamist, miser suf (sug, sup, sus) [from under] suffer, suggest, support,
suspect, sufficient, suspend
mono [one] monoplane, monotone, monogamy, mono-
chrome, monocle super, supr, sur [above, over, more] supervise, super-
man, survivor, supreme, supernatural, superior
multi [many] multiply, multiform, multilateral
syn (sym, sys, syl) [with, together] sympathy, system,
N
synthesis, symphony, syllable, synchronize (time together),
neo [new] neopaganism, neoclassic, neologism, neophyte
synonym
non [not] nontaxable (not taxed), nontoxic, nonexistent,
nonsense T
trans, tra [across, beyond] transoceanic, transmit, tra-
O verse (lying across as a bridge over a stream), transfusion
ob (of, op, oc) [towards, against] obstruct, offend, oppose, tri [three] tricycle, triangle, tripod, tristate
occur
P U
para [beside, almost] parasite (one who eats beside or at un [not, release] unfair, unnatural, unbutton, unfasten
table of another), paraphrase, parody, parachute, para- under [beneath] underground, underling
medic, parallel
uni [one, below] unicycle, uniform, unify, universe, unique
penta [five] pentagon (figure or building having five anglesor
sides), pentateuch, pentameter, pentathlon ultra [beyond, exceedingly] ultramodern, ultraviolet, ultra-
per [throughout, completely] pervert (completely turn conservative
V
wrong, corrupt), perfect, perceive permanent, persuade,
vice [in place of ] vice-president, vice-admiral, viceroy
pervade
SUFFIXES
able, ible [able, can do] capable, agreeable, edible,visible al [relating to] sensual, gradual, manual, natural (relatingto
(can be seen) nature)
ad, ade [result of action] monad (a unit, an individual), algia [pain] neuralgia (nerve pain)
blockade (the result of a blocking action), lemonade an, ian [native of, relating to] (Czechoslovakian, African)
age [act of, state of, collection of ] salvage (act of saving), ance, ancy [action, process, state] assistance, allowance,
storage, forage defiance, resistance
ant [performing, agent] assistant, servant, defiant ile [relating to, suited for, capable of] domicile, agile,juve-
nile, senile (related to being old), missile
ar, er, or [one who, that which] doctor, baker, miller,
teacher, racer, amplifier ine [nature of] feminine, masculine, geniuine, medicine
ard, art [one who] drunkard, dullard, braggart ion, sion, tion [act of, state of, result of] action, injection,
infection, suspension (state of suspending)
ary, ery, ory [relating to, quality, place where] dictionary,
dietary, bravery, dormitory (a place where people sleep) ish [origin, nature, resembling] foolish, Irish, clownish(re-
sembling a clown)
asis, esis, osis [action, process, condition] genesis,hyp-
nosis, neurosis ism [doctrine, system, manner, condition, characteristic]
ate [cause, make] enumerate, liquidate, segregate (caus- alcoholism, exorcism, heroism (characteristic of a hero),
ing a group to be set aside) Communism, realism
ist [one who, that which] artist, dentist, violinist, racist
cian [having a certain skill or art] logician, musician, beau-
tician, magician, physician ite [nature of, quality of, mineral product] expedite, Is-
raelite, graphite, sulfite, dynamite (quality of being power-
cide [kill] homicide, pesticide, genocide (killing a race of ful)
people)
ity, ty [state of, quality] captivity, chastity, fraternity, clarity
cule, ling [very small] molecule, ridicule, duckling (very
small duck), sapling ive [causing, making] assertive, abusive (causing abuse),
affirmative, exhaustive
cy [action, function] hesitancy prophecy, normalcy
ize [make] emphasize, liberalize [make liberal), idolize,
dom [quality, realm, office] boredom, freedom, kingdom, penalize, publicize
stardom, wisdom (quality of being wise)
less [without] baseless, careless [without care), artless,
ee [one who receives the action] employee, devotee, nom-
fearless, helpless
inee (one who is nominated), refugee, trustee
ly [like, manner of ] carelessly, fearlessly, hopelessly,
en [made of, make] silken, frozen, oaken (made of oak),
shamelessly
wooden, lighten
ment [act of, state of, result] contentment, alignment,
ence, ency [action, state of, quality] difference, confer-
amendment (state of amending), achievement
ence, proficiency (quality of being proficient), urgency
mony [a resulting thing] patrimony, alimony, acrimony
er (see ar)
ery (see ary) ness [state of] carelessness, restlessness, lifelessess
esce [to become] acquiesce (become restful, peaceful), old [like, resembling] asteroid, spheroid, tabloid, anthro-
coalesce poid
escent [in the process of] convalescent, obsolescent ology [study, science, theory] biology, anthropology, geol-
ogy, neurology
esis (see asis)
or (see ar)
ese [ a native of, the language] Japanese, Vietname
ory (see ary)
esque [in the style of ] burlesque, arabesque
osis (see asis)
ess [female] actress goddess, lioness
ous [full of, having] gracious, nervous, vivacious (full of,
et, ette [a small one, group] midget, octet, baronet, having) gracious, nervous, vivacious (full of life), spacious
bassinet
rhea [flowing, discharge] pyorrhoea, diarrhea, gonorrhea
fic [making, causing] scientific, specific [discharge from the reproductive organs]
ful [full of] frightful, careful, helpful (full of help) ship [office, state, quality, skill, profession] friendship, au-
thorship, scholarship, dictatorship
fy [make] fortify (make strong), simplify, terrify,amplify
some [like, apt, tending to] lonesome, threesome, grue-
hood [order, condition, quality] manhood, womanhood, some
brotherhood
tude [state of, condition of] gratitude, multitude (condition of
ible (see able)
being many), aptitude, solitude
ic [nature of, like] acidic, metallic (of the nature of metal),
heroic, poetic ure [state of, act, process, rank] culture, literature, pres-
sure, rupture (state of being broken)
ice [condition, state, quality] justice, malice
ward [in the direction of] eastward, forward, backward
id, ide (a thing connected with or belonging to) fluid, fluo-
ride y [inclined to, tend to] cheery, crafty, faulty, dirty, itchy
WORD GROUPS
abrogate – revoke, end, recall, withdraw, reverse, cancel, clergy – priesthood, ministry, clerics, clergymen, church-
abolish, repeal, renounce, take back, call back, retract, men, holy orders, ecclesiastics
repudiate, negate, rescind, invalidate, annul, nullify, recant,
obviate, disclaim, countermand cohort – supporter, partner, associate, mate, assistant,
follower, comrade, protagonist, accomplice, henchman
abstract – theoretical, complex, intellectual, subtle, pro-
found, speculative, unrealistic, conceptual, indefinite, oc- commotion – disturbance, to-do, riot, disorder, excitement,
cult, hypothetical, generalized, impractical, arcane, notion- fuss, turmoil, racket, upheaval, bustle, furore, uproar, fer-
al, abstruse, recondite, conjectural, unpractical ment, agitation, ado, tumult
acquiesce – submit, agree, accept, approve, yield, bend, conceal – hide, bury, secrete, cover, screen, disguise,
surrender, consent, tolerate, comply, give in, conform, obscure, camouflage, mask, veil, dissemble
conditional – dependent, limited, qualified, subject to,
succumb, concur, assent, capitulate, accede
contingent, provisional, with reservations
adjunct – addition, supplement, accessory, complement,
conjecture – guess, theory, fancy, speculation, assump-
auxiliary, add-on, appendage, addendum, appurtenance
tion, hypothesis, inference, presumption, surmise, theoriz-
adumbrate – intimate, insinuate, hint, suggest, inkling (N) ing, guesswork, supposition
affluent – wealthy, rich, prosperous, opulent conscientious – careful, exact, faithful, meticulous,
painstaking, diligent, punctilious, moral, strict, straightfor-
allegiance – loyalty, duty, obligation, devotion, fidelity, ward, upright, honest, scrupulous, high-minded, incorrupt-
obedience, adherence, constancy, faithfulness ible, ethical
argot – jargon, slang, dialect, idiom, vernacular, patter, corroborate(-ion) – support, establish, confirm, document,
parlance, cant, lingo, patois sustain, back up, endorse, ratify, validate, bearout, substan-
artificial – synthetic, manufactured, plastic, insincere, tiate, authenticate
forced, affected, assumed, false, pretended, hollow, con- courtly – ceremonious, civil, formal, obliging, refined, po-
trived, unnatural, feigned, spurious, meretricious, spe- lite, dignified, stately, aristocratic, gallant, affable, urbane,
cious, fabricated, counterfeit decorous, chivalrous, highbred
assiduous – diligent, constant, steady, hard-working, per- craven – cowardly, weak, scared, fearful, abject, dastard-
sistent, attentive, persevering, laborious, industrious, inde- ly, lily-livered, timorous, pusillanimous
fatigable, studious, untiring, sedulous
autonomous – free, independent, sovereign, self- suffi- dawdle – waste time, potter, trail, lag, idle, hang about,
cient, self-governing loiter, linger, procrastinate
barricade – barrier, wall, railing, fence, blockade, obstruc- decimate – destroy, devastate, annihilate, eradicate, wipe
tion, rampart, fortification, bulwark, palisade,stockade out, eliminate, carry off, extinguish, ravage
bent (N) – inclination, ability, taste, leaning, tendency, decorate – adorn, deck, trim, embroider, garnish, orna-
preference, faculty, forte, flair, penchant, propensity,apti- ment, embellish, festoon, bedeck, beautify, grace, orna-
tude, predisposition, predilection, proclivity, liking berate – ment, (Adj. – florid, ruddy, ornate)
rebuke, reproof, scold, lambast, reprimand,remonstrate,
castigate, chastise, objurgate deference – respect, regard, consideration, attention, hon-
our, esteem, courtesy, reverence, politeness, civility, ven-
bland(-ness) – dull, boring, plain, commonplace, tedious, eration
dreary, tiresome, monotonous, uninspiring, humdrum,
denounce(-iating) – condemn, attack, censure, decry,
unimaginative, uninteresting, insipid, unexciting, vapid
castigate, revile, vilify, proscribe, stigmatize, impugn, exco-
bottomless – deep, profound, boundless, unfathomable, riate
immeasurable, fathomless, endless, inexhaustible
depose – (a) oust, dismiss, displace, degrade, down-
Also abysmal (dreadful, bad, terrible, awful, appalling,
grade, cashier(v), demote, dethrone.
dismal, dire, ghastly, hideous, atrocious)
(b) swear, declare, to give testimony(=deposition)
burgeon(-ing) – develop, increase, grow, flower, progress, deride – mock, ridicule, scorn, insult, taunt, sneer, jeer,
mature, thrive, flourish, bloom, bud, blossom, prosper disdain, scoff, detract, flout, disparage, chaff, gibe
buttress – support, sustain, strengthen, shore, prop,rein- derisive – mocking, ridiculing, jeering, taunting, scoffing,
force, back up, brace, uphold, bolster, augment contemptuous, scornful
catholic – wide, liberal, global, varied, comprehensive, diaphanous – fine, light, thin, sheer, delicate,
universal, tolerant, eclectic, ecumenical, broad-minded, transparent, translucent, gossamer, gauzy, filmy, pellucid
unbigoted, unsectarian diatribe – tirade, abuse, criticism, denunciation, reviling,
stricture, harangue, invective, vituperation
clairvoyant(-ce) – visionary, prophetic, prescient, telepathic,
extrasensory, oracular, presaging, prognostic, augural diffuse – spread, distribute, scatter, circulate, disperse,
dispense, dispel, dissipate, propagate, disseminate, mean-
der
digress – drift, stray, depart, ramble, meander, diverge, ennui – boredom, dissatisfaction, tiredness, doldrums,
deviate, expatiate lethargy, tedium, lassitude, listlessness, indifferent, insou-
ciant, unconcerned, jaunty
disconcert – disturb, worry, trouble, upset, confuse, baf-
fle, unsettle, bewilder, agitate, ruffle, perplex, fluster, per- epidemic – outbreak, plague, growth, spread, scourge,
turb, faze, nonplus contagion
disconsolate – inconsolable, despairing, sad, miserable, exacerbate – intensify, worsen, infuriate, aggravate, ex-
gloomy, hopeless, dismal, melancholy, desolate, forlorn, asperate, vex, embitter
woeful, dejected, grief-stricken, wretched
exorbitant – excessive, high, expensive, extreme, ridicu-
dissemble – hide, act, pretend, bluff, be dishonest, dis-
lous, outrageous, extravagant, unreasonable, undue, pre-
simulate, conceal, mask
posterous, inordinate, extortionate, unconscionable, im-
don – (N) – lecturer, professor, fellow, academic, scholar moderate
(V) – put on, get into, dress in, pull on, change into, get
extempore – impromptu, off-the-cuff, offhand, unrehearsed
dressed in
extradite – deport, exile, hand over, expel, banish, send
drab – dull, grey, gloomy, dismal, dreary, sombre, lacklus- back, expatriate
tre, flat, uninspired, vapid
extricate – withdraw, relieve, free, clear, deliver, liberate,
draconian – severe, harsh, stern, drastic, stringent, puni- disencumber, disentangle, untangle, disengage
tive, austere, pitiless, cruel, relentless, oppressive, aus-
tere, unrelenting, inexorable facetious – flippant, funny, playful, frivolous, droll, jocular,
unserious, jocose
dreadful – terrible, distressing, appalling, tragic, horrible,
formidable, fearful, dire, horrendous, hideous, monstrous, fallacious – incorrect, wrong, mistaken, false, misleading,
atrocious, frightful untrue, deceptive, spurious, fictitious, illogical, erroneous,
illusory, delusive, delusory, sophistic
drivel – babble, ramble, maunder, prate, prattle, gibber,
chatter, blabber, twaddle famish(-ed) – hungry, starving, voracious, ravenous
dulcet – sweet, pleasing, melodious, mellifluous, eupho- fashionable – popular, trendy, current, modern, smart,
nious, prevailing, stylish, genteel, in vogue, modish
dupe – deceive, trick, cheat, con, hoax, defraud, beguile, fastidious – particular, meticulous, fussy, overdelicate,
delude, swindle, outwit, bamboozle, hoodwink difficult, nice, critical, discriminating, dainty, squeamish,
choosy, hard to please, finicky, punctilious
effusive – demonstrative, enthusiastic, extravagant, over-
flowing, gushing, exuberant, ebullient, unrestrained, talk- fervent – ardent, earnest, enthusiastic, fervid, passionate,
ative, fulsome, profuse warm, excited, emotional, intense, flaming, eager, animat-
ed, fiery, ecstatic, devout, impassioned, zealous
elite – aristocracy, cream, upper/privileged class, nobility,
gentry, high society, crème de la crème (French), non- fetter – chain, tie up, shackle, hobble, hold captive,
pareil manacle, captivity(N), bondage(N)
elixir – panacea, cure-all, nostrum, syrup, potion, distillate filibuster – obstruction, delay, postponement, hindrance,
procrastination
emancipate(-ion) – free, release, liberate, set free, en-
franchise, unshackle, disencumber, unfetter, unbridle, finicky – fussy, difficult, particular, hard to please, critical,
disenthral, manumit scrupulous, fastidious, dainty, squeamish, choosy, over-
embargo – ban, barrier, restriction, boycott, prohibition, particular
moratorium, stoppage, impediment, blockage, hindrance, flaunt – show off, display, boast, parade, exhibit, brandish,
interdiction, proscription, ostracize vaunt
embezzle – misappropriate, steal, appropriate, rob, siphon
flay – upbraid, castigate, revile, excoriate, execrate, criti-
off, pilfer, purloin, filch
cise, lash, assail, fleece
embroil – complicate, mix up, implicate, entangle, mire,
flimsy – fragile, weak, slight, delicate, shallow, shaky, frail,
ensnare, encumber
superficial, makeshift, insubstantial
encumbrance – burden, difficulty, obstacle, embarrass-
flinch – wince, start, duck, shrink, cringe, quail, recoil,
ment, obstruction, hindrance, restraint, inconvenience,
impediment cower, swerve, shirk
engross – engulf, steep, immerse, soak up, absorb, gingerly – cautiously, carefully, reluctantly, suspiciously,
plunge, involve, engage, occupy tentatively, warily, hesitantly, timidly, circumspectly, charily
glean – gather, learn, collect, harvest, accumulate, reap, infirm – frail, weak, feeble, failing, ailing, debilitated, de-
garner, amass crepit, enfeebled, doddery
gloat – relish, triumph, glory, revel in, vaunt, exult, brag, inimical – hostile, opposed, contrary, destructive, harmful,
tout, preen adverse, hurtful, unfriendly, unfavourable, antagonistic,
injurious
grate – annoy, irritate, gall, exasperate, nettle, jar, vex,
chafe, irk inquest – inquiry, investigation, probe, inquisition insulari-
ty – narrow-minded, prejudiced, provincial,limited, narrow,
gratitude(-inous) – thankfulness, recognition, petty, parochial, blinkered, circumscribed,illiberal, sectarian
appreciation, indebtedness, gratefulness
interim – temporary, provisional, makeshift, acting, pass-
gregarious – outgoing, friendly, cordial, sociable, affable, ing, intervening, caretaker, improvised, transient, stopgap
convivial, companionable
intermittent – broken, occasional, recurring, irregular,
gusto – relish, enthusiasm, appetite, appreciation, liking, sporadic, recurrent, fitful, spasmodic, discontinuous
delight, pleasure, enjoyment, savour, zeal, verve, zest,
fervour, exhilaration intimidate – frighten, pressurize, threaten, scare, terrify,
cow, menace, hound, daunt, harass, subdue, oppress,
haven – sanctuary, shelter, retreat, asylum, refuge, oasis, persecute, tyrannize, domineer
sanctum
investiture – installation, ordination, inauguration, invest-
hedonist – pleasure-seeker, epicurean, bon vivant ment, investing, admission, induction,enthronement
(French), epicure, sensualist, voluptuary, sybarite
jaundiced – cynical, bitter, hostile, prejudiced, biased,
husband – conserve, budget, use sparingly, save, store, suspicious, partial, jealous, distorted, sceptical, resentful,
hoard, economize, frugal(Adj.), provident(Adj.) envious, bigoted, spiteful, preconceived
hydrate – moisten, wet, water, soak, sodden, dampen, jocund – jolly, jovial, merry, mirthful, jocose, animated,
moisturize, bedew glad, hilarious, buoyant, airy, jubilant, cheery, cordial, con-
hyperbole – exaggeration, overstatement, enlargement, vivial, blithe
magnification, amplification juggle – manipulate, change, doctor, alter, modify,
disguise, manoeuvre, tamper, misrepresent, falsify
hypothetical – theoretical, academic, assumed, imagi-
nary, speculative, putative, conjectural, theatrical, histrion- kindred – kin, lineage, kinsmen, compatible, congenial,
ic, melodramatic companionable, congnate
immaculate – pure, perfect, spotless, flawless, impecca- lampoon – ridicule, mock, mimic, parody, caricature,
ble, stainless, faultless, unblemished, unsullied, uncontam- squib, burlesque, satirize
inated, unpolluted, untarnished,
unexceptionable, undefiled lanky – gangling, thin, tall, gaunt, bony, rangy, scraggy
immanent – inherent, innate, intrinsic, natural, internal, legend – myth, story, tale, fiction, narrative, saga, fable,
indigenous, subjective, inborn folk tale, celebrity, star, phenomenon, genius, spectacle,
wonder, marvel, prodigy, luminary
imminent – threatening, forthcoming, looming, levity – frivolity, silliness, triviality, fickleness, flippancy,
menacing, brewing, impending, upcoming, giddiness, skittishness, facetiousness
impetuous(-ity) – rash, hasty, impulsive, violent, furious, lumber(-ing) – plod, shuffle, shamble, trudge, stump,
spontaneous, precipitate, ardent, impassioned, unplanned, clump, waddle
unbridled, vehement, unrestrained, unthinking, unpremedi-
tated lunacy – foolishness, madness, folly, stupidity, absurdity,
aberration, imbecility, foolhardiness, insanity, madness,
imprison(-ment) – gaol, immure, incarcerate, jail, put be- mania, dementia
hind bars, remand, intern, impound, confine, jurisprudence
magnanimous – generous, kind, noble, selfless, charita-
indemnify – compensate, pay, reimburse, repair, repay, ble, bountiful, unselfish, unstinting, beneficent, munificent
requite, recompense, reparation, restitution
maladroit – clumsy, awkward, bungling, inept, inexpert,
indict – charge, accuse, prosecute, summon, impeach, unskilful
arraign, sentence, blame, condemn, convict, damn, incul- mannered – affected, posed, artificial, pretentious, stilted,
pate counterfeit, feigned, spurious, conceited, insincere
indigent(-ce) – destitute, poor, impoverished, needy, pen- maudlin – sentimental, tearful, weepy, mawkish,lachry-
niless, penurious, necessitous, impecunious mose
infamous(infamy) – notorious, base, disgraceful, shame- maverick – rebel, radical, dissenter, individualist, pro-
ful, vile, scandalous, wicked, atrocious, heinous, odious, tester, eccentric, heretic, nonconformist, iconoclast
ignominious, disreputable, egregious, abominable, villain-
ous, dishonourable, nefarious, iniquitous, detestable, op-
probrious
meddlesome – interfering, meddling, intrusive, mischie- pine – (a) waste, decline, weaken, sicken, sink, flag, fade,
vous, prying, officious decay, wither, wilt, languish, droop
mercurial – capricious, volatile, unpredictable, erratic, (b) long, ache, crave, yearn
variable, unstable, fickle, temperamental, impulsive, irre- pious – religious, godly, devoted, spiritual, holy, dedicated,
pressible, changeable, whimsical righteous, devout, saintly, God-fearing, reverent, sancti-
mimic – imitate, ape, parody, caricature, impersonate monious
moderate – soften, control, calm, temper, regulate, quiet, pluck(N) – courage, nerve, heart, spirit, grit, bravery, met-
diminish, curb, restrain, subdue, play down, lessen, re- tle, boldness, intrepidity
press, mitigate, tone down, pacify, modulate
plumb(V) – examime throughly, measure, explore, probe,
momentous – significant, important, serious, vital, critical, sound out, search, go into, penetrate, gauge, unravel,
crucial, grave, historic, decisive, pivotal, fateful, weighty, fathom
consequential
ponder – think about, consider, study, reflect on, examine,
mundane – ordinary, routine, commonplace, banal, contemplate, deliberate about, muse on, brood on, medi-
everyday, prosaic, humdrum tate on, mull over, ruminate on, cogitate
narcissistic – self-loving, conceited, self-centred,
precipitate – quicken, trigger, accelerate, advance, hurry,
egocentric, self-obsessed, egoistic, proud, vain
dispatch, speed up, hasten, expedite
nemesis – bane, scourge, curse, affliction, retribution,
preposterous – ridiculous, bizarre, incredible, outrageous,
destruction, vengeance
shocking, crazy, absurd, foolish, ludicrous, unthinkable,
obliterate – destroy, eliminate, devastate, wreck, wipe out, unreasonable, insane, irrational, senseless, laughable,
demolish, ravage, eradicate, desolate, annihilate, raze, asinine
extirpate
prerogative – right, choice, claim, authority, title, advan-
occult – supernatural, mysterious, mystical, unearthly, tage, privilege, birthright, droit, perquisite
unnatural, esoteric, uncanny, arcane, paranormal, ab-
presumptuous – bold, arrogant, presuming, rash, auda-
struse, recondite, preternatural
cious, conceited, foolhardy, insolent, overconfident
onerous – trying, hard, taxing, demanding, difficult, heavy,
responsible, grave, exhausting, exacting, formidable, trou- pristine – new, pure, immaculate, untouched, unspoiled,
blesome, oppressive, laborious, burdensome, irksome, unsullied, uncorrupted, undefiled, original
exigent prolific – productive, creative, fertile, inventive, copious,
opprobrium – censure, criticism, condemnation, discredit, generative, profuse, fecund
disapproval, reproach, calumny, odium, obloquy, contume- prolix – talkative, garrulous, loquacious, forthcoming,
ly, scurrility, slur, ignominy, infamy articulate, fluent, chatty, wordy, effusive, voluble, verbose
paltry – insignificant, trivial, worthless, unimportant, small,
prologue – introduction, preliminary, prelude, preface,
base, slight, petty, trifling
preamble, foreword, exordium
pan(V) – criticize, knock, blast, censure, flay, lambast
promontory – point, cape, head, spur, headland, foreland
parch – wither, burn, blight, brand, scorch, sizzle, shrivel,
cauterize, desiccate, dry up prudish – exaggeratedly proper, prim, formal, proper, puri-
tanical, demure, squeamish, narrow-minded, overmodest,
partisan – (Adj.) – prejudiced, one-sided, biased, partial,
overnice
sectarian, factional, tendentious
quail – shrink, cringe, flinch, shake, faint, tremble, quake,
(Noun) – supporter, champion, follower, backer, disciple,
stalwart, devotee, adherent, upholder shudder, falter, droop, recoil, cower, blench
pathetic – sad, moving, touching, affecting, distressing, quaint – unusual, odd, curious, original, strange, bizarre,
tender, poignant, plaintive, pitiable fantastic, old-fashioned, peculiar, eccentric, queer, fanciful,
whimsical, droll, picturesque, antique, gothic
pecuniary – monetary, economic, financial, capital, com-
mercial, fiscal, budgetary querulous – complaining, cross, discontented, grumbling,
pensive – thoughtful, serious, sad, grave, sober, musing, peevish, critical, sour, carping, murmuring, whining, dissat-
preoccupied, melancholy, solemn, reflective, dreamy, wist- isfied, irritable, touchy, petulant, plaintive, irascible, can-
ful, contemplative, meditative, sorrowful, ruminative, cogi- tankerous, tetchy
tative quiver – shake, tremble, shiver, quake, shudder, agitate,
permeate – pervade, saturate, charge, fill, pass through, vibrate, pulsate, convulse, palpitate
penetrate, infiltrate, imbue, impregnate, seep, percolate
rail(-ed) – complain, attack, abuse, criticize, censure,
pernicious – damaging, dangerous, evil, offensive, fatal, scold, castigate, revile
deadly, destructive, harmful, poisonous, malicious, malign,
malignant, detrimental, hurtful, malevolent, noxious, ven- raillery – banter, badinage, light-hearted teasing,
omous, ruinous, baleful, deleterious, injurious, noisome, persiflage, repartee
baneful, pestilent, maleficent
rapture – ecstasy, delight, enthusiasm, joy, happiness,
bliss, euphoria, rhapsody, exaltation, delectation, beati-
pillage – plunder, sack, rob, rifle, loot, ravage, ransack,
maraud tude, ravishment
ratify – approve, establish, confirm, bind, sanction, en- (b) dirty, squalid, mean, foul, filthy, unclean, wretched,
dorse, uphold, authorize, affirm, certify, consent to, vali- slovenly
date, corroborate, authenticate
specious – fallacious, misleading, deceptive, plausible,
raucous – harsh, rough, loud, noisy, grating, strident, sophistic, casuistic
rasping, husky, discordant, clamorous, cacophonous, din
rectitude – morality, principle, honour, virtue, decency, spotted – speckled, dotted, flecked, pied, specked,mot-
justice, equity, integrity, goodness, honesty, correctness, tled, dappled
righteousness, probity, incorruptibility, scrupulousness, stall – hinder, obstruct, impede, block, halt, slow down,
uprightness, verity hamper, thwart, sabotage
renaissance – rebirth, revival, restoration, renewal, awak- stout – robust, brawny, plucky, fat, overweight, plump,
ening, resurrection, regeneration, resurgence bulky, obese, fleshy, portly, rotund, corpulent, plucky
rent(V) – tear, split, rip, slash, slit stupor – numbness, unconsciousness, trance, coma,
rustic – rural, country, pastoral, bucolic, sylvan, simple, lethargy, torpor, stupefaction, insensibility
homely, basic, plain, unsophisticated, unrefined, artless, subjugate – defeat, crush, suppress, put down, overthrow,
unpolished subdue, overpower, quell, rule over, enslave, vanquish
sacrilege – desecration, violation, blasphemy, mockery, tawdry – vulgar, cheap, tasteless, gaudy, showy,
heresy, irreverence, profanity, impiety, profanation, pro- meretricious
faneness
sanctum – sanctuary, shrine, altar, holy place, refuge, titan – behemoth, colossus, giant, leviathan,
retreat mammothian
sap – weaken, drain, undermine, rob, exhaust, erode, traitor – betrayer, deserter, turncoat, deceiver, informer,
deplete, enervate, devitalize renegade, defector, quisling, apostate, miscreant
saturnine – gloomy, grave, sombre, dour, morose, glum, turpitude – wickedness, evil, corruption, depravity,im-
dismal, melancholy, mournful, lugubrious, doleful morality, iniquity, viciousness, vileness, nefariousness
scathing – critical, cutting, biting, harsh, savage, brutal, uncommunicative – reticent, reserved, withdrawn,
searing, belittling, sarcastic, caustic, scornful, vitriolic, guarded, silent, shy, curt, taciturn, unresponsive, unforth-
trenchant, mordant coming
sedentary – inactive, sitting, seated, desk, motionless, unconquerable – invincible, unbeatable, indomitable,
torpid, lazy, sluggish, languid, slow, dull, passive, numb, enduring, irresistible, irrepressible, insurmountable, un-
motionless, stagnant, inert, slow-moving, lethargic, apa- yielding, undefeatable
thetic, drowsy, listless, indolent, languorous, somnolent, unctuous – obsequious, plausible, oily, fawning, cringing,
lackadaisical, slothful ingratiating, insincere, sycophantic
seminal – influential, important, original, creative, produc- unfledged – inexperienced, immature, callow, young,
tive, innovative, imaginative green, raw, undeveloped
sentient – feeling, living, conscious, live, sensitive, reac- unkempt – untidy, scruffy, dishevelled, disordered, messy,
tive sloppy, shabby, rumpled, slovenly, disarranged, un-
groomed, disarrayed
slack – negligent, lazy, lax, idle, inactive, tardy, neglectful, [
slipshod, inattentive, remiss, dodge valor – gallantry, heroism, valiance, bravery, courage,
fearlessness, intrepidity, doughtiness, boldness, pluck, grit,
slight – insignificant, negligible, weak, modest, trivial, su-
fortitude
perficial, feeble, trifling, meagre, unimportant, paltry, in-
substantial, scanty verbiage – verbosity, repetition, tautology, redundancy,
circumlocution, prolixity, periphrasis, wordiness, garrulity,
sordid – (a) base, degraded, shameful, vicious, shabby, loquaciousness
vile, degenerate, despicable, disreputable, debauched
COLLOCATIONS
FIGURES OF SPEECH
alliteration : The repetition of the same sound irony : A statement in which the real meaning
at the beginning of each word. ex- is exactly the opposite of what is
ample : Peter Piper picked a peck of literally conveyed.
pickled pepper. example : For Brutus is an honourable manl.
litotes : Conveying an affirmative by
anacoluthon : A sentence where the construction negating the opposite.
is changed midway. example : You are no fool.
example : My feeling is why don’t you take a
holiday? malapropism : Word misused because of
confusion with a similar soundingword,
anadiplosis : Repetition of a word or a group of often creating a comic effect.
words at the end of one phrase and example : She became historical (hysterical)
the beginning of another for rhetori- after the incident.
cal effect.
metaphor : An implied comparison.
example : The explanation is so clear
example : She sailed through the
so clear that no one can misunder-
examination with ease.
stand my intentions.
metonymy : Use of a term to refer to a wider
anastrophe : Inversion of the normal order of idea.
words for rhetorical effect. exam- example : The Bench for the judges.
ple : Many a horrible sight have I seen. onomatopoeia : Use of words whose sound
antithesis : Contrasting ideas put together. suggests their meaning.
example : Fight a war to bring peace. example : Buzz of bees.
antonomasia : Use of a name to refer to anyone oxymoron : Putting together the most unlikely
else who belongs to the same class. or contradictory terms.
example : She is the Lata Mangeshkar of the example : The careful carelessness of her
locality. attire.
aposiopesis or pathetic fallacy : Attributing human feelings to
ellipses : Sudden breaking off in a sentence natural or inanimate objects. ex-
for dramatic effect. ample : The car groaned under the load.
example : There was complete darkness.
personification : Representation of an object oridea
The door opened and. ….
as human.
apostrophe : Direct address to an absent or example : Death came calling.
dead person or personified thing.
example : “Oh pain and sorrow! Why do you simile : Comparison of two unlikely ideas or
trouble me thus?” objects using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.
example : Roads as smooth as Hema’s cheeks.
assonance : The repetition of the same vowel
sound producing a rhyming effect. syllepsis : Use of a single word to apply to
example : The rain in Spain stays mainly on two others in a different way. exam-
the plain. ple : He read the book and my thoughts.
FOREIGN WORDS/PHRASES
LATIN memory of
among other things
ab absurdo - from absurdity entirely
ab initio - from the beginning ipso facto - by that fact
ab origine - from the origin ipso jure - by the law itself
addendum - an appendix lacuna - gap
ad arbitrium - at will lapsus calami - a slip of the pen
ad hoc - for a specific purpose lapsus lingual - a slip of the tongue
ad hominem - relating to a particular person
ad infinitum - without limit
ad interim - for the time being
as nauseam - to a disgusting degree
ad valorem - in proportion to the estimated
value of the goods
ad verbum - to the last word
alias - a false or assumed name
alibi - proof that you were else where
when a crime was committed
alma mater - gracious mother; school or
university one went to al-
pha and omega - the beginning and the end
alter ego - one’s other self
alumnus - former student
amor vincit omnia - love conquers all
annus mirabilis - remarkable or auspicious year
a priori - from cause to effect; deductive
bona fide - in good faith
caveat emptor - warning to buyer that the
purchase may not be exactly
as hoped
corri- -
gendum
de facto -
de jure -
de novo -
dictum -
e.g. -
ex gratia -
et al -
ex officio -
facsimile -
gratis -
homo -
sapiens
in memo- -
riam
inter alia -
in toto -
corrections in a
bookin realityby
right, legally
starting anew
a saying or maxim
exempli gratia (for example)
as a favour
and others
by virtue of one’s officea
perfect copy
free of charge
modern man in
1. ACCESS / ASSESS
4. ALTER / ALTAR
Alter is to change or to make someone or something different.She
wanted to alter her appearance.
Altar is a special table where religious ceremonies are performed.He
stood at the altar, waiting for the priest.
5. ANTICIPATE / EXPECT
Anticipate is to be aware of something in advance.We
anticipate a good monsoon this year.
Expect is to think or believe something will happen.
I expect you will do very well in your examination because you worked so hard.
6. APPRAISE / APPRISE
Appraise is to make an estimate.
Frequent appraisals of a company’s performance is the hallmark of good management.
Apprise means to inform.
I was apprised of the dangers that I might face during the trip.
7. ACCEDE / CONCEDE
Accede means to agree.
I acceded to his suggestion that I should continue my education before seeking employment.
Concede means to admit or give in to.
The opponent conceded defeat without much fight.
8. ADAPT / ADEPT / ADOPT
Adapt is to change in accordance with the need or situation.In
order to progress, one must adapt to change.
Adept means to be skilful at something.
These thieves are adept at breaking into locked houses.
Adopt is to become legal parents of a child that is not one’s own.
Many people have come forward to adopt the orphans after the tsunami.
9. ANTICS / ANTIQUE
Antics are absurd acts or postures.
His antics at the party amused everyone.
Antique is something very old which is very valuable.This
shop sells antique items.
10. AESTHETIC / ASCETIC
Aesthetic is something artistic or beautiful or tasteful.
The lady was praised for her aesthetic sense.
Ascetic is one who abstains from pleasures and luxuries.
He wanted to retire from his profession and lead the life of an ascetic.
11. ALLUDE / ELUDE
Allude is to hint at.
The lady alluded that her husband was to blame for the misunderstanding.Elude
means evade or escape from.
The facts of the incident eluded him.
12. ALLUSION / ILLUSION
Allusion is an indirect reference to something.The
allusion that I am a lazy person is false. Illusion is
false notion / idea or belief.
Do not have any illusion that this problem is easy to solve.
13. AFFECT / EFFECT
Affect is the influence of something upon something or someone.Don’t
let the weather affect your work.
Effect is the result of something.
The effect of the heavy monsoon this year is that we have adequate water in the city.
14. AURAL / ORAL / AURIC
Aural has to do with the sense of hearing.
The scientist has invented a new machine that will improve one’s aural faculties.
Oral refers to the spoken language.
Schools should lay adequate stress on oral work too.Auric
has to do with gold.
The auric splendour of the autumn leaves held everyone spellbound.
15. BENEFICIAL / BENEFICIARY
Beneficial is something that helps people to improve their lives.
Vitamins are beneficial to our health.
Beneficiary is someone who gains or is helped by something.
Mohan is the chief beneficiary of his father’s will.
Get away with something : to commit (an offence or wrongdoing etc) without being caught or punished
Get back at someone : to take revenge on them
Get by : 1. to manage to live
2. to be just about acceptable
Get someone down : to make them sad or depressed
Get something down : 1. to manage to swallow it
2. to write it down
Get down to something : to apply oneself to (a task or piece of work)
Get something in : 1. to gather or harvest it
2. to succeed in doing or making it before something else occurs
Get round to : deal with (a task) in due course
Get into something : to develop a liking or enthusiasm for it
Get in with someone : to become friendly with them, often for selfish reasons
7Get off/get someone off : 1. to escape, or cause them to escape, with no punishment or with only the
stated punishment
2. to fall asleep or send (eg a child) to sleep.
Get off something : to stop discussing or dealing with (a subject)
Get round/around : successfully coax especially to secure a favour
Get on : to make progress; to be successful
Get on at/someone : to pester or criticize them continually
Get on to someone : 1. to make contact with them
2. to begin dealing with them
Get on to something : 1. to find out the truth about it
2. to start dealing with a matter
Get on with someone : to have a friendly relationship with them
Get out of : said of information: extracted from someone
Get something out : 1. to manage to say it, usually with difficulty
2. to publish it
Get out of something : to avoid having to do it
Get over someone/something : to be no longer emotionally affected by them or it, to recover from something
(an illness, disappointment, etc.)
Get something over : to explain it successfully; to make it understood
Get something over with : to deal with (something unpleasant) as quickly as possible
Get round : (said of information, a rumour, etc) to become generally known
Get round someone : to persuade them or win their approval or permission
Get round to something/someone : to deal with it or them eventually
Get through something : 1. to complete (a task, piece of work, etc)
2. to use it steadily until it is finished
3. to pass (a test, etc)
Get someone through : to help someone pass (a test, etc)
Get through to someone : 1. to make contact with them by telephone
2. to make them understand
Get through : pass or assist in passing
Get oneself up : to get dressed up
Get something up : 1. to arrange, organize or prepare it
2. to learn it by deliberate effort
3. to increase and maintain (speed)
Get someone up : to make them get out of bed
Get together : to assemble, especially for a specified purpose
Get up to something : to do or be involved in it, especially when it is bad, unwelcome or not approved of
To come to grief : to fail; to ruin
To go out of the way : to take special trouble
To go hard with : to suffer severely; to prove a serious matter
To hold water : to stand scrutiny
By hook or by crook : by any means - fair or foul
To hang together : to be consistent; to keep united
With a high hand : oppressively; having some power
To be hand and glove
(also hand in glove) : to be deeply involved (negative connotation) on very intimate terms
To hope against hope : to hope even when the result seems to be futile.
To hit the nail on the head : to state the truth exactly
To have one's heart in the right place: be of a kindly and sympathetic disposition
To be in high spirits : to be cheerful; joyful
To be in hand : to be under control
To have one's hands full : to be very busy
To have a hand : to be involved in or concerned with To
harp on the same string : dwell tediously on the same subjectTo
be hard of hearing : slightly deaf
Heads I win, tails you lose : in any case I will be the winner
To do the handsome thing
by somebody : to behave in a magnanimous manner towards somebody
To hang in the balance : to be undecided
To go to heart : to touch deeply
To hold good : to be valid; to remain deliberation
To be head and shoulders above : be much above
To hang on somebody's lips/words : to listen eagerly to somebody's words; to give close admiring attention to
somebody
To hang fire : be slow in taking action or in progressing
To heap coals of fire on the
head of enemy : to return good for evil and make the enemy ashamed of enmity.
A hard nut to crack : a difficult problem to solve
To be in hot water : to be in trouble
Hobson's choice : no choice at all
Hoist with (or by) one’s own petard : affected adversely by one’s schemes against others
Hang about/around : 1. to waste time; to stand around doing nothing
2. to stay or remain
Hang about or around with someone: to spend a lot of time in their company
Hang back : to be unwilling or reluctant to do something
Hang on : 1. to wait; “I’ll hang on for a bit”
2. to carry on bravely, inspite of problems or difficulties
Hang on something : 1. to depend on it. Eg. It all hangs on the weather
2. to listen closely to it. Eg. Hanging on her every word
Hang something on someone : to blame them for it
Hang on to something : to keep a hold or control it
Hang out : 1. to lean or bend (eg of a window, etc)
2. (said of clothes) to hang up outside to dry
3. to frequent a place. Eg. He hangs out in local bars
Hang something out : to hang up (washing) outside to dry
Hang together : make sense
Hang over someone : (said of an unresolved problem, decision, etc) to overshadow or threaten them
Hang over something : to project over or lean out from it
Hang together : 1. (said of two people) to be united and support each other
2. (said of ideas etc), to be consistent
Hang up : to finish a telephone conversation by replacing the receiver
Hang something up : to hang something on a hook, hanger, etc
To have an old head on
young shoulders : to be wise beyond one's age
To be at issue : to be in dispute
To be ill at ease : uncomfortable; uneasy; anxious
The ins and outs of : the full details of
To have too many irons in the fire : to engage oneself into many works at the same time
To keep pace with : to progress at an equal rate (speed)
To keep in the dark : to keep in ignorance; to hide
To keep in touch with : to have knowledge of
To keep one's own counsel : to preserve a discreet silence; not sharing details of one's plans with others
To kick up a row : to make a great noise
Of a kind : of the same type
In kind : in the same way; in the same measure
To know a thing or two : to be wise or cunning
To keep a good table : to provide luxurious food
To keep one's head above water : to keep out of debt
To keep at arm's length : to keep at a distance
To keep up appearances : to keep an outward show of prosperity
To know what one is about : to be far-sighted and prudent
To keep the wolf from the door : to keep away from starvation
To keep on tenterhooks : to keep in a state of suspense and anxiety
Keep a stiff upper lip : to show no emotion or worry when faced with difficulties
Knock about/around : 1. to wander about (a place) in a casual and aimless way; to lie about unused;to
die knocking about the streets
2. to travel about, roughing it and having varied experience. Eg. He knocked
about Europe for the summer
Knock someone about/around : to treat them roughly; to hit or batter them
Knock about with someone : to associate or go about with them
Knock someone back : 1. to cost them (a specified amount) Eg. Knocked me back 500 quid
2. surprise, dismay, or disappoint them
3. to rebuff or reject them; to turn them down
Knock someone down : to strike them to the ground, knocked down by a car
Knock something down : 1. to demolish (a building)
2. to reduce its price
Knock together : put together hastily
Knock into someone : to meet them by chance or unexpectedly
Knock into someone/something : to collide with them
Knock something into someone : to teach it to them forcefully
Knock off : 1. to finish work
2. strike off with a blow
Knock something off : 1. to produce it or them at speed or in quick succession, apparently quite easily
2. to deduct (a certain amount)
3. to rob or steal it
4. to copy and distribute illegally
5. (often in commands) to stop it
Knock someone out : 1. to make them unconscious, especially by hitting them
2. boxing to make them unconscious or render them incapable of rising in the
competition
3. to amaze them; to impress them greatly
Knock someone sideways : to come as a severe shock to them; to devastate or disconcert them
Knock something together : to make it hurriedly
Knock up : to exchange practice shots with one’s opponent before a match
Knock someone up : 1. to wake them by knocking
2. to exhaust them
3. coarse slang to make them pregnant
Know a thing or two : be experienced or shrewd
Kick about/around : 1. to lie around unused and neglected
2. to be idle; to go about aimlessly
Kick someone/around : to treat them badly or roughly
Kick something about/around : to discuss (an idea, etc) informally among several people
Kick in : to take effect
Kick off : 1. to start, or restart, a football game by kicking the ball away from the center
Kick something off : to begin (a discussion, etc)
Kick someone/something out : to dismiss or get rid of them or get rid of it, especially using force
To lose ground : to become less powerful or acceptable To
live from hand to mouth : satisfying only one’s immediate needs In
the long run : eventually; ultimately
To live by one's wits : to live by deceit or fraud
To the letter : exactly with adherence to every detail
To lord over : to dominate
The long and the short of it : the simple fact; the whole matter in a few words
To leave no stone unturned : to adopt all possible means
To be on last legs : on the verge of ruin
To lie in the bed that one has made: to take the consequences of one's own acts; suffer for one's misdeeds
To lay hands on : to catch hold of
To leave for good : to leave permanently
To lay at the door : to impute blame
To let the grass grow under one's feet: to remain idle; to procrastinate
Leave a person cold : not impress or excite a person
To leave one in the lurch : to desert one in difficulties; to leave one in a helpless condition
To be led by the nose : to follow submissively
Let someone or something down : to disappoint or fail to help them at a crucial time. Let
someone in for something : to involve them in something difficult or unpleasantLet
someone in on something : to share a secret, etc with them
Let off : let go without punishment
Let someone/something off : to release them or it from work, duties, etc
Let up : to stop or to become less strong or violentEg.
The rain let up at last
Lay something aside : 1. to put it to one side, especially for later use or treatment
2. to discard or abandon it
Lay something by : to put away for future use
Lay something down : 1. to put it on the ground or some other surface
2. to give it as a deposit, pledge, formulate or device
3. to give up or sacrifice (life)
4. to formulate or device (law)
5. to store (wine) in a cellar
6. to begin to build (a ship or railway)
7. to put (music) onto tape, CD, etc
Lay something in : to get and store a supply of it
To pay back in one's own coin : to treat one in the same way he has treated
To play false : to deceive; to betray
To pocket affront : to receive or submit to something without protest
To put on the market : to offer for sale
Pass muster : accept as satisfactory
To put a good face on : to bear up courageously
To play with fire : to trifle with matters liable to cause trouble
To put one's hand in one's pocket : to give money in charity
To put one's heart in the right place: be faithful and true-hearted
To put two and two together : to reason logically; to draw correct inference
To put the screw on : to bring pressure to bear on
In the pink : in the best of healthIn
the palm of one’s hand : in one’s power Palm
something off on someone/
palm someone off with something : to give them something unwanted or unwelcome, especially by trickery
Play about/around : to behave ineffectively or irresponsibly
Play about/around with someone : to behave irresponsibly towards them, their affections, etc
Play about/around with something : to fiddle or meddle with it
Play someone along : to manipulate them, usually for one’s own advantage
Play along with someone : to co-operate with them for the time being; to humour them
Play at something : 1. to make a pretence of it, especially in play, eg., play at being cowboys
2. to indulge in it trivially or flippantly, eg. play at politics
3. (ironic) to try to achieve it, eg. what are they playing at?
Play something back : to play (a film or sound recording) through immediately after making it Play
something down : to represent it as unimportant, to minimize, make light of or discount it Play
off : 1. to replay a match, etc after a draw
2. (golf) to play from the tee
Play one person off against another: to set them in rivalry, especially for one’s own advantage
Play on something : 1. to exploit (someone’s fears, feelings sympathies, etc) for one’s own benefit
2. to make a pun on it. eg. played on the two meanings of ‘batter’
Play something on someone : to perpetrate (a trick or joke) against them
Play something out : to act out in real life a part, scene, etc that is so predictable that it could have
come from a play
Play out/across something : (said of light, facial expression, etc), to flicker over, across, etc (a surface, etc)
Play up : 1. to behave unco-operatively
2. to cause one pain or discomfort, e.g., His stomach is playing up again
3. (said of a machine etc) to function faultily
4. to try one’s hardest in a game, match, etc
Play something up : to highlight it or give prominence to it
Play up to someone : to flatter them; to ingratiate oneself with them
Play with someone : 1. said especially of children: to spend time in recreation with them
2. to joke with them at their expense
Play with something : to contemplate (an idea, plan, etc), e.g., played with the idea of becoming a writer
Pick at something : 1. to eat only small quantities of (one’s food)
2. to keep pulling at (a scab, etc) with one’s fingernails
Pick a quarrel : start an argument or fight deliberately
Pick on someone : 1. to blame them unfairly
2. to bully them
3. to choose them for an unpleasant job
Pick on something : to choose it
Pick someone out : 1. to select them from a group
2. to recognize or distinguish them among a group or crowd
Pick on : to find faults
Pick over : select the best from
Pick up : said of a person, a person’s health, or a situation: to recover or improve
Pick up or pick something up : to resume
Talk the hind leg off a donkey : talk continuously
Talk nineteen to the dozen : talk continuously
Talk through one’s hat : 1. talk nonsensically
2. exaggerate
To be up-to-date : modern; recent
Up to the mark : quite satisfactory
An ugly customer : formidable person to deal with
Under one's nose : in the very presence of one
Upto the eyes : completely; to its full extent
Upto the mark : in excellent health; completely prepared or fit
To be under the thumb of : to be completely under the influence or control of
Under false pretences : by giving a deliberately misleading impression
Make a virtue of necessity : derive some credit or benefit from an unwelcome obligation
With one voice : unanimously
Not worth his salt : quite worthless
To win one's laurels : to acquire glory
To win one's spurs : to make reputation or to gain distinction
Without reserve : fully; implicitly
To wash one's hands off something: refuse to be involved any more To be
within an ace of : on the point of, within the reach ofTo
be well-balanced : to be reasonable; moderate
A wild-goose chase : a foolish and fruitless search
Wash one’s hands of : renounce responsibility
A wolf in sheep's clothing : a hypocrite
To wash one's dirty linen in public : discussing unpleasant private matters before strangers
To be on the wrong side of sixty : to be more than sixty years of age
White elephant : an item that is expensive to maintain
For want of something : in the absence of it
In want of something : needing it
Warm to someone : to gain in affection or approval from them
To be at wit’s ends : to be quite puzzled; not knowing what is to be done
Lay waste : ravage
Whistle in the dark : pretend to be unafraid
Within a stone's throw : at a short distance from
To do yeoman service : to do an excellent service