| A | B |
|---|
| Term | Definition |
| abjure | (v.) to renounce, repudiate under oath; to avoid, shun |
| abrasive | (adj.) causing irritation, harsh; grinding or wearing down; (n.) a substance used to smooth or polish |
| acclimate | (v.) to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation |
| acquiesce | (v.) to accept without protest; to agree or submit |
| acrid | (adj.) harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper |
| alacrity | (n.) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action |
| alleviate | (v.) to relieve, make more bearable |
| allude | (v.) to refer to casually or indirectly |
| allure | (v.) to entice, tempt; to be attractive to; (n.) a strong attraction; the power to attract, charm |
| antipathy | (n.) a strong dislike, hostile feeling |
| antithesis | (n.) the direct opposite, a sharp contrast |
| appall | (v.) to fill with dismay or horror |
| applicable | (adj.) capable of being applied; relevant, suitable |
| askew | (adj., adv.) twisted to one side, crooked; disapprovingly |
| asset | (n.) something of value; a resource; an advantage |
| august | (adj.) majestic, inspiring admiration and respect |
| bellicose | (adj.) warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome |
| beset | (v.) to attack from all sides; to surround, hem in; (adj., part.) harassed, troubled; studded (as with jewels) |
| blithe | (adj.) cheerful, lighthearted; casual, unconcerned |
| callous | (adj.) emotionally hardened, unfeeling |
| chagrin | (n.) irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration; (\I.) to cause such a feeling |
| clairvoyant | (adj.) supernaturally perceptive; (n.) one who possesses extrasensory powers, seer |
| clandestine | (adj.) secret, concealed; underhanded |
| compassion | (n.) sympathy for another's suffering; pity |
| complacent | (adj.) self-satisfied; overly content |
| compunction | (n.) remorse, regret |
| conclusive | (adj.) serving to settle an issue; final |
| concur | (v.) to express agreement, approve |
| conflagration | (n.) a large destructive fire |
| contentious | (adj.) quarrelsome, inclined to argue |
| covet | (v.) to desire something belonging to another |
| crestfallen | (adj.) discouraged, dejected, downcast |
| decorum | (n.) proper behavior, good taste; orderliness |
| defamation | (n.) slander or libel |
| disheveled | (adj.) rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder |
| disparage | (v.) to belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue |
| disreputable | (adj.) not respectable, not esteemed |
| dissonant | (adj.) not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds |
| droll | (adj.) amusingly odd |
| duress | (n.) compulsion by threat; forcible confinement |
| edict | (n.) an order issued by someone in authority |
| elated | (ad)., part.) in high spirits, jubilant; extremely pleased |
| elucidate | (v.) to clarify, explain |
| endemic | (adj.) native or confined to a particular region or people; characteristic of or prevalent in a field |
| exemplary | (adj.) worthy of imitation, commendable; serving as a model |
| explicate | (v.) to make plain or clear, explain; to interpret |
| exponent | (n.) one who advocates, speaks for, explains, or interprets; (math) the power to which a number, symbol, or expression is to be raised |
| exuberant | (adj.) high-spirited, enthusiastic, unrestrained; excessive, abundant |
| facsimile | (n.) an exact copy |
| fathom | (v.) to understand, get to the bottom of; to determine the depth of; (n.) a measure of depth in water |
| fracas | (n.) a noisy quarrel or brawl |
| garrulous | (adj.) given to much talking, tediously chatty |
| grotesque | (adj.) unnatural, distorted; bizarre |
| guile | (n.) treacherous cunning, deceit |
| imbibe | (v.) to drink; to take in, absorb |
| implacable | (adj.) not to be satisfied or pacified; unyielding |
| indelible | (adj.) not able to be erased or removed; memorable |
| indulgent | (adj.) yielding to the wishes or demands of others |
| infinitesimal | (adj.) so small as to be almost immeasurable; minute |
| innocuous | (adj.) harmless, inoffensive; insignificant |
| insuperable | (adj.) incapable of being overcome |
| integrity | (n.) honesty, high moral standards; an unimpaired condition, completeness, soundness |
| inveterate | (adj.) firmly established, long-standing; habitual |
| irrelevant | (adj.) not to the point, not applicable or pertinent |
| itinerary | (n.) a route of travel; a record of travel; a guidebook |
| lamentable | (adj.) to be regretted or pitied |
| laud | (v.) to praise |
| loll | (v.) to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to recline, droop |
| loquacious | (adj.) talkative, wordy; fond of talking |
| magnanimous | (adj.) generous in forgiving, above small meanness |
| mandatory | (adj.) required, obligatory |
| militate | (v.) to have effect or force on or against someone or something, fight against |
| misconstrue | (v.) to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning of |
| misnomer | (n.) an unsuitable or misleading name |
| nocturnal | (adj.) of or occurring in the night; under cover of darkness |
| nondescript | (adj.) ordinary, not outstanding; not easily classified |
| obnoxious | (adj.) highly offensive, arousing strong dislike |
| pandemonium | (n.) a wild uproar, din, or commotion |
| patent | (n.) exclusive rights over an invention; copyright; (v.) to arrange or obtain such rights; (ad).) plain, open to view; copyrighted |
| phlegmatic | (adj.) slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional |
| placate | (v.) to appease, soothe, pacify |
| placid | (adj.) calm, peaceful |
| plagiarism | (n.) passing off or using as one's own the writing (or other materials) of another person |
| platitude | (n.) a commonplace, stale, or trite remark |
| potent | (adj.) powerful; highly effective |
| pretext | (n.) a false reason, deceptive excuse |
| profess | (v.) to affirm openly; to state belief in; to claim, pretend |
| protrude | (v.) to stick out, thrust forth |
| prowess | (n.) distinguished bravery; superior skill or ability |
| quell | (v:) to subdue, put down forcibly |
| quiescent | (adj.) inactive; at rest |
| raucous | (adj.) disagreeably harsh-sounding; disorderly |
| receptive | (adj.) open and responsive to ideas or suggestions |
| renounce | (v.) to give up or resign something |
| repress | (v.) to hold back; to put down or check by force |
| rescind | (v) to repeal, cancel |
| respite | (n.) a period of relief or rest |
| reticent | (adj.) not inclined to speak; reserved; reluctant |
| retribution | (n.) a repayment; a deserved punishment |
| ruminate | (v.) to meditate, think about at length; to chew the cud |
| savory | (adj.) tasty, appetizing; pungent or salty, not sweet; inoffensive, respectable |
| sedate | (adj.) quiet, settled, sober; (v.) to administer a tranquilizer |
| sinuous | (adj.) winding, having many curves; lithe and flexible |
| somnolent | (adj.) sleepy, drowsy; inducing sleep |
| sonorous | (adj.) full, deep, or rich in sound; impressive in style |
| stark | (adj.) harsh, unrelieved, desolate; (adv.) utterly |
| stentorian | (adj.) extremely loud |
| stipulate | (v.) to arrange specifically; to require as a condition of agreement |
| superficial | (adj.) on or near the surface; concerned with or understanding only what is on the surface, shallow |
| tacit | (adj.) unspoken, silent; implied, inferred |
| tangible | (adj.) capable of being touched; real, concrete |
| trenchant | (adj.) incisive, keen; forceful, effective; cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cut |
| ultimatum | (n.) a final proposal or statement of conditions |
| vanguard | (n.) the foremost part of an army; the leading position in any field If |
| vehement | (adj.) intense, forceful, powerful |
| vivacious | (adj.) lively, sprightly, full of energy |
| voluble | (adj.) characterized by a ready flow of words; glib, fluent |
| wastrel | (n.) a wasteful person, spendthrift; a good-for-nothing |
| whet | (v) to sharpen, put an edge on; to make keen or eager |
| zealous | (adj.) eager, earnest, devoted |
