| A | B |
|---|
| abridge: | to shorten |
| abdicate: | relinquish a position of power |
| abysmal: | wretched |
| anomalous: | without an established pattern |
| absolve: | to forgive a wrongdoing |
| acquiesce: | to cede or give in |
| advocate: | to support |
| affinity: | attraction, kinship |
| agenda: | plan to deal with tasks |
| aggrandize: | to make great |
| allusion: | an indirect reference |
| altruisitic: | unselfish concern for others |
| amnesty: | pardon granted to a large group |
| animosity: | ill will, active dislike |
| anomalous: | does not follow a pattern |
| bulwark: | a defense, strong protection |
| cache: | a hiding place for valuables |
| callous: | insensitive in the extreme |
| candor: | truthfulness, honesty |
| capitualate: | surrender |
| catharsis: | to cleanse or purge |
| Greek tragedy was an opportunity | for catharsis |
| caustic: | biting in humor |
| censure: | to criticize, blame |
| chastize: | is more vehement than censure |
| acute and chronic: | concerns pain and time |
| circumspect: | careful, thoughtful and cautious |
| clique: | an exclusive group |
| coalesce: | fuse |
| colloquial: | informal speech eh. |
| compatible: | get along well, matching |
| copious: | abundant |
| abudnant: | copious |
| corroborate: | to support with evidence |
| The sheriff corroborated that the | suspect was in jail at the time of the crime |
| craven: | cowardly |
| cowardly: | craven |
| cursory: | brief without attention to detail |
| dearth: | a shortage |
| shortage: | dearth |
| deference: | respect, courtesy |
| delineate: | to describe or picture in words |
| delude: | to deceive |
| delusion: | believing something that is not so |
| depravity: | moral corruption |
| depreciate: | to lessen in value or belittle |
| desecrate: | to treat with disrespect |
| destitute: | poverty stricken |
| diatribe: | Hitler was good at them |
| speech filled with denunciations | is a diatribe |
| didactic: | instructive, intended to educate |
| diffuse: | spread widely |
| diva: | an opera singer, a conceited person |
| docile: | easily controlled, submissive |
| dormant: | plants in the winter |
| dupe: | to deceive |
| The dope | was duped. |
| ebb: | to recede |
| eccentric: | unconventional, wacky |
| eclectic: | drawn from many sources |
| egegious: | woefully bad, flagrant |
| lucid: | clear |
| elucidate: | to make clear |
| emissary: | a messenger |
| emulate: | strive to equal |
| engaging: | charming or interesting |
| enigma: | puzzle |
| esoteric: | understood by a select few |
| eulogize: | praise |
| exacerbate: | to make worse |
| exacting: | requiring close attention to detail |
| exalt: | to glorify |
| exorbitant: | extravagant to the nth degree |
| faction: | a group united on an issue |
| fawning: | to show excessive affection |
| feign: | to pretend |
| finesse: | skillful maneuvering |
| When a bird gets its fledgling feathers | it can fly for the first time |
| foray: | a raid in search of plunder |
| forfeit: | give something up as a penalty |
| fortuitous: | happening by lucky chance |
| serendipitous: | is a fortuitous event |
| galvanize: | to spur to action |
| gamut: | the full range of something |
| genteel: | refined, polite, aristocratic |
| gratuitous: | unnecessary, uncalled for |
| fledgling: | novice |
| flourish: | to grow |
| fluke: | a lucky break |
| grimace: | an ugly disapproving expression |
| grovel: | to beg persistently |
| guile: | cunning duplicity, deceit |
| harbinger: | a precursor, foreshadowing |
| heresy: | beliefs not held by others |
| hiatus: | a break from routine |
| hubris: | excessive pride |
| hyperbole: | extravagant exaggeration |
| immaterial: | insignificant, of little importance |
| imminent: | about to occur |
| immutable: | unchangeable, permanent |
| imperious: | commanding, lordly, arrogant |
| incessant: | not ceasing |
| incipient: | at an early stage |
| incontrovertible: | not open to question or dispute |
| indigent: | poverty stricken, needy |
| inept: | clumsy, awkward, incompetent |
| infamy: | evil reputation |
| inhibit: | restrain or even prohibit |
| insidious: | sly, treacherous, |
| having a gradual effect: | insidious |
| insipid: | lacking taste, dull, bland |
| intrepid: | fearless, possessing fortitude |
| jargon: | specialized vocabulary |
| jaunt: | a short pleasure trip |
| judicious: | cautious, showing good judgment |
| juxtapose: | place side by side |
| place side by side: | juxtapose |
| karma: | has to do with reincarnation |
| laconic: | brief in speech |
| liaison: | a close bond |
| listless: | lacking energy |
| malaise: | feeling of depression, uneasiness |
| maverick: | a nonconformist |
| meander: | to wander aimlessly |
| moot: | of no matter or consequence |
| morose: | gloomy, bad tempered, sullen |
| myriad: | an immense number |
| nemisis: | a powerful rival |
| nuance: | a subtle distinction |
| obviate: | to make unnecessary |
| odious: | hateful, evil, vile |
| osmosis: | gradual absorption of gases |
| oust: | to banish |
| palatable: | pleasant to the taste |
| overture: | an opening move |
| pariah: | an outcast |
| paucity: | scarcity |
| scarcity: | paucity |
| penchant: | strong like for something |
| peruse: | to study, to read over |
| pique: | to irritate |
| placate: | to soothe |
| polemic: | a powerful argument |
| precept: | a rule or principle |
| prosaic: | dull, unimaginative |
| provincial: | narrow in ideas |
| quintessential: | the most perfect example |
| quixotic: | foolishly impractical and idealistic |
| rebuff: | snub |
| rebuke: | to reprimand |
| reciprocal: | mutual |
| rescind: | to repeal or cancel |
| rustic: | primitive, rural |
| sardonic: | disdainful, scornfully mocking |
| servile: | submissive |
| spurious: | false, fake |
| stoic: | indifference to pain |
| stratagem: | deceptive scheme |
| succinct: | concise |
| to table: | remove from consideration |
| tenet: | principle, doctrine, belief |
| tenuous: | flimsy |
| tepid: | unenthusiastic |
| terse: | concise |
| thwart: | to frustrate, hinder |
| tirade: | a long and angry speech |
| transfix: | stand motionless |
| travesty: | a parody |
| parody: | a feeble imitation |
| tumult: | noisy commotion, uproar |
| urbane: | sophisticated |
| usurp: | to seize wrongfully |
| vapid: | dull, tasteless |
| verbose: | wordy |
| wordy: | verbose |
| vestige: | the remains of something |
| vilify: | to defame |
| virulent: | extremely poisonous |
| volatile: | explosive, burns quickly |
| wanton: | immoral, lewd |
| waver: | to be indecisive |
| winsome: | charming, sweetly engaging |
| wistful: | yearning, sad longing |
| zealot: | a person with great enthusiasm |
| abeyance: | temporary suspension of activity |
| abrogate: | repeal |
| accoutrements: | personal stuff |
| adjure: | command or urge solemnly |
| aegis: | protection, patronage |
| alchemy: | seemingly magical transformation |
| ancillary: | subsidiary, subordinate |
| anomie: | social instability stemming from a breakdown |
| apochryphal: | of doubtful origin |
| apostasy: | abandonment of a religion |
| arbiter: | person who has the final decision |
| ascetic: | the life of a hermit, self-denial |
| assiduous: | diligent |
| assignation: | a tryst |
| bacchanal: | drunken revelery |
| bathos: | overdone pathos |
| belie: | show something as false |
| besmirch: | to stain |
| bilious: | cranky |
| bowdlerize: | to censor prudishly |
| brook: | to tolerate |
| bumptious: | self-assertive |
| byzantine: | intricate |
| cabal: | a secret group of conspirators |
| cachet: | a mark of distinction |
| calumny: | slander |
| capricious: | impulsive |
| castigate: | chastise |
| cataclysm: | a violent upheaval |
| cavil: | to quibble |
| chary: | cautious, careful, wary |
| chicanery: | deception or trickery |
| chimeral: | absurd |
| clout: | influence |
| cogitate: | think over |
| compunction: | remorse |
| concomitant: | going along with |
| coterie: | common interest group |
| debacle: | a disaster |
| deleterious: | harmful |
| depredate: | to prey upon |
| descry: | to catch sight of |
| diaspora: | breaking up of Jewish community |
| dichotomy: | division into two parts |
| dilettante: | a dabbler in the arts |
| discomfit: | confuse or deceive |
| effete: | lacking vitality |
| elan: | elegant style |
| encomium: | expression of high praise |
| endemic: | belonging to a specific region |
| ersatz: | an inferior substitute |
| exemplar: | an excellent model |
| exigent: | demanding prompt action |
| extirpate: | to rip up by the roots |
| feckless: | ineffective |
| fecund: | fertile |
| fey: | other-worldly, magical |
| forswear: | to renounce, retract, recant |
| gainsay: | to deny, to speak or act against |
| gesticulate: | gesture |
| hidebound: | rigid, inflexible |
| histrionic: | overly dramatic |
| homeopathy: | system of natural healing |
| ignominious: | disgraceful and dishonorable |
| imbroglio: | complicated disagreement |
| implacable: | not appeased or mollified |
| impugn: | an attack on one's integrity |
| incohoate: | incomplete |
| intransigent: | uncompromising, stubborn |
| inveterate: | well established |
| irascible: | hot-tempered, cranky |
| largess: | philanthropy |
| lassitude: | a state of lethargy |
| libidinous: | lustful, lascivious |
| malapropism: | humorous misuse of a word |
| malfeasance: | an illegal act |
| mendacious: | dishonest, deceitful |
| milieu: | environment |
| mordant: | sarcastic |
| muckrake: | expose political scandals |
| munificent: | generous |
| myopia: | lacking foresight |
| nabob: | wealthy, influential person |
| nascent: | coming into existence |
| neophyte: | a novice |
| nihilism: | nothingness |
| nirvana: | blissful happiness |
| nonplus: | to puzzle or bewilder |
| obsequious: | fawning, subservient, servile |
| officious: | unnecessarily helpful |
| omniscient: | all knowing |
| onerous: | burdensome |
| opprobrious: | critical, disgraceful |
| ossify: | to become rigid |
| palliate: | to ease without curing |
| pallid: | lacking color |
| panacea: | a remedy that cures everything |
| panegyric: | lofty praise |
| paradigm: | a model or example |
| parsimonious: | stingy |
| patina: | surface discoloration |
| penultimate: | next to last |
| penury: | extreme poverty |
| peregrination: | expedition, wandering |
| perfidious: | faithless |
| perfunctory: | done merely as duty |
| perorate: | long formal speech |
| perquisite: | informally is a perk |
| perspicacious: | strong powers of discernment |
| petulant: | cranky |
| phantasm: | an apparition |
| philistine: | smugly insensitive |
| phlegmatic: | calm, indifferent |
| piquant: | pungent |
| placebo: | fake medication |
| plebeian: | low class |
| prescient: | pertaining to foresight |
| prevaricate: | detour from the truth |
| probity: | honesty |
| profligate: | wildly extravagant |
| propinquity: | kinship |
| provenance: | proof of past ownership |
| prurient: | having lustful thoughts |
| puissance: | power |
| quiescence: | state of inactivity |
| raffish: | vulgar |
| recalcitrant: | stubbornly defiant |
| recidivism: | act of repeating an offense |
| recondite: | hard to understand |
| redoubtable: | deserving of respect |
| reprobate: | scoundrel |
| rife: | abounding |
| rout: | a huge defeat |
| rubric: | title |
| ruminate: | to muse upon |
| sagacious: | wise, shrewd |
| salubrious: | favorable to one's health |
| sangfroid: | composure under stress |
| saturnine: | sullen |
| savant: | scholar |
| scofflaw: | continuous lawbreaker |
| sententious: | pompous |
| shibboleth: | a distinctive word, a slogan |
| sine qua non: | without that nothing |
| somnolent: | drowsy |
| spelunker: | a cave explorer |
| stalwart: | robust |
| striated: | marked with thin grooves |
| sturm and drang: | turmoil |
| sui generis: | a class of its own |
| supercilious: | arrogant |
| sycophant: | a toady, a yes man |
| sylvan: | wooded |
| synergy: | combination of two forces |
| temerity: | audacity |
| temporize: | to compromise |
| tendentious: | biased |
| truculent: | savage |
| umbrage: | resentment |
| vacuous: | lacking intelligence |
| vagary: | acting on a whim |
| vainglorious: | pompous |
| viscosity: | the pour rate of a liquid |
| vitriolic: | scathing |
| wont: | custom, habit |
| zaftig: | plump |
| zephyr: | a west wind |
| abnegate: | renounce |
| agathism: | belief that things lead to good |
| aleatory: | based on chance |
| aphasia: | loss of speech |
| aphorism: | a wise saying |
| arrant: | notoriously without moderation |
| arriviste: | a social climber |
| aseptic: | free of germs |
| atrabilious: | inclined to melancholy |
| bailiwick: | particular area of expertise |
| benison: | benediction |
| bifurcated: | forked |
| boondoggle: | a wasteful project or activity |
| bosky: | wooded |
| braggadocio: | arrogant pretension |
| caducity: | the frailty of old age |
| canard: | a hoax |
| claque: | an audience paid to clap |
| codicil: | addition to a will |
| coeval: | originating during the same period |
| contradistinction: | in contrast with |
| defalcate: | embezzle |
| denoument: | the outcome |
| denunciation: | open condemnation |
| dolorous: | sorrowful |
| ephemeral: | short-lived, transitory |
| etiolate: | pale and drawn |
| fustian: | bombastic |
| hegira: | an escape to avoid danger |
| homoogate: | to confirm officially |
| hugger-mugger | muddle |
| indubitable: | unquestionable |
| ineffable: | intangible |
| ineluctable: | inescapable |
| inured: | becoming used to the undesirable |
| jejune: | lacking interest |
| labile: | liable to change |
| lachrymose: | tearful |
| lambent: | marked by lightness |
| lupine: | characteristics of a wolf |
| melange: | mixture of incongruous elements |
| mien: | demeanor |
| minion: | an underling |
| nimbus: | a radiant light suggesting holiness |
| obstreperous: | stubbornly defiant |
| odium: | burden, distastefulness |
| palimpest: | a long-lived writing tablet |
| paroxysm: | convulsion |
| parvenu: | an upstart |
| pastiche: | a hodgepodge |
| percipience: | keen perception |
| perdition: | eternal damnation |
| pluvial: | rainy |
| poltroon: | coward |
| proselytize: | conversion to a religion or cause |
| retinue: | a group of followers |
| satrap: | a subordinate ruler |
| sciolism: | superficial knowledge |
| temerarious: | rash |
| tenebrous: | dark and gloomy |
| tor: | a high rocky hill |
| tumid: | swollen |
| ukase: | official edict |
| vernal: | occurring in the spring |
| vitiate: | to corrupt morally |
| vituperative: | acrimonious |
| ziggurat: | tower built by the Assyrians |
