| A | B |
|---|
| anagram | n. a word or phrase formed from another word or phrase by changing the order of the letters |
| goad | n. a prod for driving cattle; anything that drives or urges; an irritating stimulus; v. to prod into action; to urge on |
| noncommittal | adj. not committing to any one position or course of action; not revealing one’s purpose or position |
| assertion | n. the act of declaring something; a claim or declaration stated positively |
| quixotic | adj. impractically idealistic; marked by a romantic notion of noble or chivalric ideas and deeds |
| coherent | adj. logically connected; consistent; clearly expressed |
| fulminate | v. to talk or argue violently and loudly; to denounce; to explode suddenly |
| proboscis | n. the long snout of an animal; a nose, especially a prominent one; a tubular organ |
| inexplicable | adj. impossible to explain or understand |
| surmise | v. to guess or suppose; n. a guess based on little evidence |
| climactic | adj. of the highest point; of the most intense part of a story or event |
| fidelity | n. loyalty, faithfulness; accuracy; accuracy of the reproduction of a sound or picture |
| anecdote | n. a brief, entertaining account of an interesting incident |
| staunch | adj. loyal, steadfast; strong or solid; watertight; v. to check the flow of (blood, etc.) |
| prodigy | n. a person with extraordinary talents, especially a gifted child; an act or thing that causes amazement; a marvel |
| forte | n. someone who does something very well; a strong point |
| epilogue | n. a short concluding section at the end of a literary work; speech at the end of a play |
| stigma | n. a mark of shame; a stain; in botany, the portion of a flower’s pistil on which pollen is deposited for germination |
| hypochondriac | n. a person who suffers from abnormal anxiety about his or her health; one who imagines he or she is sick or has symptoms of a disease |
| extemporaneous | adj. done, said, or performed with little or no preparation; unrehearsed; offhand |
| subservient | adj. submissive; obedient; useful or of service, especially as a subordinate |
| rudiment | n. a fundamental principle, rule, or step (usually used in the plural); an early or undeveloped form or stage of something |
| gibe | v. to make mocking remarks; to jeer; to scoff at; n. a derisive remark; a taunt |
| bumptious | adj. conceited and arrogant; crudely and unpleasantly forward |
| repartee | n. a quick, witty reply or retort; skill in making clever, witty replies |
| consonant | adj. in agreement, accord, harmony; n. any letter of the alphabet that is not a vowel |
| satiate | v. to satisfy an appetite fully; to provide with more than enough; to glut |
| sanction | n. authorized permission or approval; a step taken by a country to force another country to obey international law; v. to confirm, approve, or permit officially |
| vivacious | adj. animated; spirited; sprightly |
| cite | v. to quote; to mention by way of example or proof; to commend for bravery in an official report; to summon before a court |
| comely | adj. having a pleasant appearance; attractive; suitable |
| miscreant | n. a villain; an evildoer; adj. criminal; evil |
| flaunt | v. to show off; to display oneself proudly or conspicuously |
| erroneous | adj. false; mistaken; incorrect |
| decadence | n. a process, condition, or period of decline or decay; deterioration; moral decay |
| stereotype | n. a generalized, oversimplified view or opinion that members of a group rigidly apply to a thing, an idea, or another group |
| pretentious | adj. claiming an undeserved distinction; affectedly grand |
| ostentatious | adj. too showy; done in an overly elaborate way to attract attention |
| hypercritical | adj. too severe in judgment |
| irascible | adj. easily angered; given to outburst of temper; irritable |
