| A | B |
|---|
| abominate | extreme hatred, loathing; something despised |
| abridge | to shorten; to condense; to diminish; to curtail |
| abut | border upon; to adjoin |
| abyss | bottomless pit; a yawning gulf; a profound depth or void |
| adjunct | something connected or added to another in a subordinate position |
| altercation | to argue; a heated quarrel |
| amplify | to make larger, louder or more powerful |
| appalling | to fill with dismay; causing horror or consternation |
| assuage | to soothe; to make less sever; to satisfy; ease; lessen |
| atypical | not typical, abnormal |
| bereave | to be left alone, especially through the death of another |
| beset | to harass; to surround |
| cajole | to wheedle, coax, or persuade someone to do something they don't want to |
| capacious | roomy, able to hold much |
| castigate | to criticize harshly; usually with the intention of correcting wrongdoing |
| certify | to confirm formally; verify |
| chide | scold; reprove |
| couture | fashion and fashion designers |
| damper | one that depresses or restrains |
| dauntless | to be fearless; unintimidated |
| debacle | a sudden calamitous downfall; collapse or failure |
| debase | lower in quality, character, or value |
| decree | an order having the force of the law |
| deduce | to come to a conclusion by reasoning from the evidence |
| desiccate | to dry out completely; dehydrate |
| disparage | to belittle, say uncomplimentary things; to put down |
| dormant | asleep or inactive |
| duress | hardship, restraint, confinement |
| egalitarian | advocating the doctrine of equal rights for all citizens |
| embellish | to beautify by adding ornaments |
| emit | to send or give out; to express, utter |
| emulate | to attempt to equal or surpass; especially through imitation |
| engulf | to surround or enclose completely |
| enrapture | to delight; to thrill or give pleasure |
| entomb | to place in or as if in a tomb or a grave |
| entomology | the scientific study of insects |
| entreat | to ask earnestly; to implore; plead, beg |
| evoke | to summon forth, call to mind, suggest, awaken, produce |
| exhume | to dig up from a grave; to bring to light, uncover |
| feign | to give a false appearance; to pretend |
| fester | to generate pus; to become a source of resentment or irritation |
| fickle | often changing for no reason; not loyal or consisten |
| fleece | to defraud, swindle; also the wool of a sheep or similar animal |
| fortuitous | occurring by accident or chance |
| gamin | a neglected boy left to run about in the streets |
| grandiose | grand and impressive; expecially flashy and showy |
| guile | crafty, cunning, deceitfulness; artfulness |
| husbandry | management of resources, especially in agriculture |
| idiosyncrasy | a behavioral quirk; a person's idea about behavior different from others |
| infamy | having an evil reputation; extreme disgrace |
| joust | a combat with lances between two knights, a tilting match |
| laudable | worthy or deserving of praise |
| lexicon | a dictionary; vocabulary terms used in or of a particular profession, subject or style |
| lieu | instead of; in place of |
| loiter | hang around; linger |
| maim | to disable or disfigure, to cripple |
| marauder | raider; intruder |
| marshal | to assemble together for the purpose of doing something; also an officer |
| menagerie | a collection of live wild animals on exhibit |
| nepotism | favors shown by those in high position to relatives and friends |
| optimum | the most advantageous; the best condition, degree, or amount |
| ostracize | to exclude from a group; to shun |
| parry | to ward off a blow; to turn aside; to avoid skillfully, to evade |
| partition | the division of something into parts; an interior structure dividing a larger area |
| periphery | the outermost part within a boundary, the outside edge |
| permeate | to flow or spread through; penetrate, disperse |
| perverse | stubborn; contrary; intractable |
| petulant | ill humor; irritable; cranky |
| photogenic | suitable, especially for photography |
| potentate | a powerful ruler; an important person |
| quandary | state of perplexity; difficult or uncertain situation |
| relinquish | to give up doing, professing, or intending; to surrender, give in |
| rivet | something that fastens two parts together; also to hold the attention of |
| rudimentary | basic, crude, undeveloped; fundamental principles or skills |
| scapegoat | one who is made an object of blame for others |
| segregate | to separate or keep apart from others |
| serpentine | snakelike in shape or movement; winding as a snake |
| sonorous | producing sound, especially deep and rich, resonant |
| spurn | to reject with disdain |
| spur | to move into action; an incentive |
| supplant | to take the place of |
| surfeit | an overabundant amount, especially overindulgence in eating and drinking |
| truculent | inclined twoard conflict; eager to fight |
| tyro | a beginner or novice |
| umbrage | sense of injury or insult; to take offense, displeasure |
| unbridled | violent; unbounded; unrestrained |
| volition | the act of choosing; using one's own will in a conscious choice |
| wither | shriveled; shrunken; dried-up |
| wrest | to pull away; take by violence |
| yore | former days; an era long past |
