Barron_csv_fileFull.csv

"",Barron GRE word list - A,
abase,lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect,
abash,embarrass,
abate,subside or moderate,
abbreviate,shorten,
abdicate,"renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)",
aberrant,abnormal or deviant,
aberration,deviation from the normal; mental disorder,
abet,assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage,
abeyance,suspended action,
abhor,detest; hate,
abide,"Dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I
can't abide rude people.",
abject,"(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing
lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology",
abjure,renounce upon oath,
ablution,washing,
abnegation,renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation,
abode,dwelling place; home,
abolish,cancel; put an end to,
abominable,detestable; extremely unpleasant,
abominate,loathe; hate,
aboriginal,being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine,
abortive,unsuccessful; fruitless,
abrasive,rubbing away; tending to grind down,
abridge,condense or shorten,
abrogate,abolish,
abscission,cutting off; separation,
abscond,depart secretly and hide,
absolute,"complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex.
absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism",
absolve,pardon (an offense),
abstain,refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;,
abstemious,sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
abstinence,"restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of
abstaining from vote"
abstract,theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
abstruse,obscure; profound; difficult to understand
abusive,coarsely insulting; physically harmful
abut,border upon; adjoin
abysmal,bottomless
abyss,enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
academic,related to a school; not practical or directly useful
accede,agree
accelerate,move faster
accessible,easy to approach; obtainable
accessory,additional object; useful but not essential thing
acclaim,"applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The
new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N:
strong expression of approval and praise"
acclimate,adjust to climate or environment; adapt
acclivity,sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
accolade,award of merit; strong praise and approval
accommodate,"oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space
for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging"
accomplice,partner in crime
accord,agreement
accost,approach and speak first to a person
accoutre,equip; N. accoutrement
accretion,"growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by
natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete"
accrue,"come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits
that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N.
accrual"
acerbity,"bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or
tone)"
acetic,vinegary
acidulous,slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
acknowledge,recognize; admit
acme,peak; pinnacle; highest point
acne,skin disease (on the face)
acoustics,science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
acquiesce,assent; agree passively; comply without protest
acquittal,"deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge
from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner"
acrid,bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
acrimonious,"stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured
animosity in speech or behavior"
acrophobia,fear of heights
actuarial,calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
actuary,someone who advises insurance companies
actuate,motivate; activate; cause to act
acuity,sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
acumen,"mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex.
business acumen"
acute,"(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex.
acute sense of smell/analysis/pain"
adage,wise saying; proverb
adamant,hard; inflexible
adapt,"make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation:
act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of
a short novel."
addendum,"addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or
book)"
addiction,compulsive habitual need
addle,make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
address,"direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention
to; make with a destination; N: formal speech"
adept,expert at; very skilled
adhere,stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
adherent,supporter; follower
adjacent,adjoining; neighboring; close by
adjoin,be next to
adjourn,suspend until a later time; move from one place to another
adjunct,something attached to but holding an inferior position
adjuration,solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
adjutant,staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
admonish,warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
adore,love deeply and respect highly
adorn,decorate
adroit,skillful (in using mind or hand)
adulation,flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
adulterate,"make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated)
substances"
Advent,arrival
adventitious,accidental; casual; happening by chance
adversary,opponent; enemy
adverse,going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
adversity,great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
advert,refer
advocacy,support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
advocate,speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
aegis,shield; protection; defense
"aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)",nest of a large bird of prey
aesthetic,"artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or
building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics"
affable,easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
affected,artificial; pretended
affidavit,written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
affiliation,joining; associating with
affinity,"feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities
between two languages"
affirmation,"positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an
oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination"
affliction,"state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous
suffering on"
affluence,abundance; wealth
affront,"insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of
intentionally"
afterlife,life after death; later part of one's life
agape,openmouthed
agenda,items of business at a meeting
agglomeration,"collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate:
jumbled mass; heap"
aggrandize,"make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement"
aggregate,"sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex.
aggregate 100 dollars"
aghast,filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
agility,nimbleness; ability to move quickly
agitate,stir up; disturb
agnostic,one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
agog,highly excited; intensely curious
agrarian,pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
airy,of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
alacrity,cheerful promptness without reluctance
alchemy,medieval chemistry
alcove,nook; recess
alias,an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
alienate,make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
alimentary,supplying nourishment
alimony,payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
allay,calm; pacify
allege,state without proof
allegiance,loyalty
allegory,"story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable"
alleviate,relieve (pain)
alliteration,repetition of beginning sound in poetry
allocate,assign; set apart for a particular purpose
alloy,"mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix;
make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with
other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness"
allude,refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
allure,entice; attract; tempt
alluvial,pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
alms,money or goods given to the poor
aloft,upward; high up in the air
aloof,apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
altercation,noisy quarrel
altruistic,"unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the
welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism"
amalgam,"combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for
filling holes in teeth"
amalgamate,(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
amass,"collect (gradually, in a very large amount)"
amazon,female warrior
ambidextrous,capable of using either hand with equal ease
ambience,"environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ.
ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature"
ambiguous,unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
ambivalence,the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
amble,walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
ambrosia,food of the gods
ambulatory,able to walk
ambush,"act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed
position; Ex. lie in ambush; V."
ameliorate,improve
amenable,"obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable
or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible
suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests"
amend,correct; change ; generally for the better
amenities,convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
amiable,agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
amicable,peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
amiss,wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
amity,friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
amnesia,loss of memory
amnesty,pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
amok(amuck),in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
amoral,nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
amorous,moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
amorphous,formless; lacking shape or definition
amphibian,able to live both on land and in water; N.
amphitheater,oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
ample,"enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N.
amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space"
amplify,"increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make
stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph"
amputate,cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
amulet,"charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck"
anachronism,"an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ.
anachronistic"
analgesia,condition of being unable to feel pain
analgesic,causing insensitivity to pain; N.
analogous,comparable; similar
analogy,similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
anarchist,"person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing
authority"
anarchy,absence of governing body; state of disorder
anathema,solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
ancestry,family descent; ADJ. ancestral
anchor,secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
ancillary,serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
anecdote,short story of an amusing or interesting event
anemia,condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
anesthetic,"substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N.
anesthesia"
anguish,acute pain; extreme suffering
angular,"sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in
manner"
animadversion,critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
animated,lively; spirited
animosity,active enmity
animus,hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
annals,records arranged in yearly parts; history
anneal,reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
annex,"attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a
larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one"
annihilate,destroy
annotate,comment; make explanatory notes
annuity,yearly allowance
annul,make void
anodyne,drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
anoint,consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
anomalous,abnormal; irregular
anomaly,irregularity
anonymity,state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
antagonism,"hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N.
antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal
character in oppostion to the protagonist"
antecede,precede
antecedents,preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
antediluvian,antiquated; extremely ancient
anthem,song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
anthology,book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
anthropoid,manlike; resembling a human being; N.
anthropologist,student of the history and science of humankind
anthropomorphic,having human form or characteristics
anticlimax,"letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing
coming after something important or exciting"
antidote,remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
antipathy,aversion; dislike or opposition
antiquated,obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
antique,made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier
"",period and that is rare or valuable
antiquity,quality of being very old; ancient times;
antiseptic,substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
antithesis,contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
antler,bony growth on the head of a deer
anvil,iron block used in hammering out metals
apathy,"lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex.
He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic"
ape,imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
aperture,opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
apex,tip; summit; climax; highest point
aphasia,loss of speech due to injury or illness
aphorism,pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
apiarist,person who keeps bees
apiary,a place where bees are kept
apiculture,bee-keeping
aplomb,poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
apocalyptic,prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
apocryphal,(of a story) widely believed but untrue
apogee,highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
apolitical,having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
apologist,one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
apoplexy,stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
apostate,one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
apothecary,druggist; pharmacist
apothegm(apophthegm),"pithy, compact saying"
apotheosis,elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
appall,dismay; shock deeply
apparent,evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
apparition,ghost; phantom
appease,pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
appellation,name; title
append,attach
application,diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
apposite,appropriate; fitting
appraise,estimate value of; N. appraisal
appreciate,"be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable:
enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference"
apprehend,arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
apprehensive,fearful; discerning
apprise,inform
approbation,approval
appropriate,"acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a
particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate"
appurtenances,subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
apropos,"with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ.
ADV."
aptitude,fitness; talent
aquiline,curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
arable,fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
arbiter,"person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot
make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware"
arbitrary,unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
arbitrate,act as judge (at the request of both sides)
arboreal,of or living in trees
arboretum,place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
arcade,a covered passageway usually lined with shops
arcane,"esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex.
arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener"
arch-,chief; first; Ex. archbishop
archaeology,study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
archaic,antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
archetype,prototype; primitive pattern
archipelago,group of closely located islands
archives,public records; place where public records are kept
ardor,heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
arduous,hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
argot,slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
aria,operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
arid,(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
aristocracy,hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
armada,fleet of warships
aromatic,fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
arraign,charge in court; indict
array,"marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine
clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array"
arrears,"being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been
done"
arrhythmic,lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
arrogance,"pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong
confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)"
arroyo,gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
arsenal,storage place for military equipment
artery,blood-vessel; CF. vein
artful,exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
articulate,"effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex.
articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly;
unite by joints"
artifacts,"object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced"
artifice,deception; trickery
artisan,a manually skilled worker
artless,without guile; open and honest
ascendancy,controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
ascertain,find out for certain; make certain
ascetic,"practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex.
ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism"
ascribe,refer; attribute; assign
aseptic,preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
ashen,ash-colored; deadly pale
asinine,stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
askance,with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
askew,crookedly; slanted; at an angle
asperity,"sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian
winter"
aspersion,slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
aspirant,seeker after position or status
aspire,"seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex.
aspire to/after the leadership"
assail,assault
assay,analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
assent,agree; accept; N. assessment
assert,"state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a
claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence"
assiduous,diligent
assimilate,"absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge)
completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the
people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)"
assuage,mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
assumption,"something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her
assumption of power; V. assume"
assurance,"firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty;
confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances,
he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked
assuranc"
asteroid,small planet
astigmatism,eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
astral,relating to the stars
astringent,"binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex.
astringent criticism"
astronomical,enormously large or extensive
astute,wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
asunder,into parts; apart; V. sunder
asylum,place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
asymmetric,not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
atavism,"resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier
type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic"
atheistic,denying the existence of God; N. atheism
atone,make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
atrocity,brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
atrophy,"wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack
of use)"
attentive,"alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful;
politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N.
attentions: act of courtesy and consideration"
attenuate,make thin; weaken
attest,testify; bear witness
attire,clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
attribute,essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
attrition,"rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in
the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of
harassment; Ex. a war of attrition"
atypical,not normal; not typical
audacious,daring; bold; N. audacity
audit,examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
augment,increase; add to
augury,"omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of
(something in future)"
august,impressive; majestic
aureole,sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
auroral,pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
auspicious,favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
austere,"forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and
unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral;
N. austerity"
authenticate,prove genuine
authoritarian,"subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will;
Ex. authoritarian regime/father"
authoritative,"having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be
trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative
dictionary/manner; CF. definitive"
autocratic,"having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy"
automaton,mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
autonomous,self-governing; N. autonomy
autopsy,examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
auxiliary,offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
avalanche,great mass of falling snow and ice
avantgarde,"group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF.
vanguard"
avarice,greediness for wealth
avenge,"take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death
by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged
themselves on their enemy."
aver,state confidently; declare as true
averse,"reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house
work"
aversion,firm dislike
avert,"prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his
quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight."
aviary,enclosure for birds; large cage
avid,greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
avocation,secondary or minor occupation
avow,declare openly; N. avowal
avuncular,of or like an uncle
awe,"solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe;
ADJ. awesome"
awful,terrible; very bad
awl,pointed tool used for piercing
awry,distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
axiom,self-evident truth requiring no proof
azure,sky blue
"",Barron GRE word list - B,
babble,"chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running
gently over rounded stone; N.",
bacchanal,noisy party with a lot of drinking,
bacchanalia,the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus,
bacchanalian,drunken
backslide,revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
backwards,"and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N.
reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages
between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights"
badger,"pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and
again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N:
a kind of mountain animal"
badinage,teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
baffle,frustrate; perplex
bait,"harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to
catch fish or trap animals"
baleful,"evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence;
portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look"
balk,"stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop
or get in the way of; frustrate"
ballast,heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
balm,something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
balmy,soft and mild (of air); fragrant
banal,hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed
bandy,"discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words)
heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with"
bane,posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
bank,"heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in
turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning"
bantering,joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
bar,"railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into
equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars;
forbid; exclude; CF. barrister"
barb,"sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting
remark"
bard,poet
barefaced,"shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering
on the face; Ex. barefaced lie"
bargain,"agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price
advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power"
baroque,highly ornate
barrage,"barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number
of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism"
barrister,counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar
barterer,trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money
base,"contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base
motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron"
bask,luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
bastard,illegitimate child
bastion,"stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion
of male chauvinism"
bate,"let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath;
CF. abate"
battalion,army unit made up of four or more companies
bauble,trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
bawdy,indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
bearing,deportment; connection
beatific,giving or showing bliss; blissful
beatitude,blessedness; state of great happiness
bedizen,dress with vulgar finery
bedraggle,wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
beeline,direct quick route
befuddle,confuse thoroughly
beget,father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
begrudge,"envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him
his success."
beguile,"deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract;
Ex. beguiling smile"
behemoth,huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
beholden,obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
behoove(behove),"be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves
one to do."
belabor,"harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a
ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically"
belated,delayed
beleaguer,besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
belie,"contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our
high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure."
belittle,disparage; depreciate
bellicose,warlike
belligerent,quarrelsome
bemoan,lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of
bemused,confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
benediction,blessing
benefactor,"gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good
purpose"
beneficent,kindly; doing good
beneficial,helpful; useful; advantageous
beneficiary,person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
benefit,"advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money
provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public
entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be
beneficial to; give benefits"
benevolent,generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
benign,kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor
benison,blessing
bent,"determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or
inclination"
bequeath,leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest
berate,scold strongly
bereaved,deprived of (someone beloved through death)
bereavement,"state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being
bereaved or bereft"
bereft,deprived of (something valuable); lacking
berserk,mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
beseech,beg; plead with
beset,harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
besiege,surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually
besmirch,soil; defile; make dirty
bestial,beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
bestow,confer
betoken,signify; indicate; be a sign of
betray,"be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling
hands betray her anxiety."
betroth,become engaged to marry
bevy,large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
beware,be cautious (of)
bewitch,cast a spell over; captivate completely
bicameral,two-chambered as a legislative body
bicker,quarrel
bid,"command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount
offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom"
biennial,every two years
bifurcated,divided into two branches; forked
bigot,one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)
bigotry,stubborn intolerance
bilious,"suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable;
easily irritated"
bilk,swindle; cheat
billow,"large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll
in billows"
billowing,swelling out in waves; surging
biting,sharply painful to the body or mind; Ex. biting wind/remarks
bitter,"having a sharp biting taste; ?; causing sharp pain to the body or mind;
filled with resentment, disappointment, or other unpleasant feelings; Ex.
bitter wind/sorrow/tears"
bivouac,temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
bizarre,fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
blackball,vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote
blanch,bleach; whiten; make white or pale
bland,soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
blandishment,flattery
blare,loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light
blase,bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored
blasphemy,irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V.
"",blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
blatant,"extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N.
blatancy"
bleak,cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing
blemish,"mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils
perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished"
blight,plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
blighted,suffering from a disease; destroyed
bliss,complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
blithe(blithesome),gay; joyous
bloated,(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air
blotch,spot; blot; CF. blot+botch
blowhard,talkative boaster; braggart
bludgeon,club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
blue,gloomy; depressed
blues,"state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved
from southern Black American songs)"
bluff,"pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-
natured"
blunder,error; stupid mistake
blunt,"having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V:
make or become blunt"
blurt,utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement
blush,"become red in the face (from embarrassment or shame); become red or
rosy; N."
bluster,"blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying
manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale"
bode,foreshadow; portend
bog,soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud
bogus,counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview
Bohemian,unconventional (in an artistic way)
boisterous,violent; rough; noisy
bolster,support; reinforce
bolt,"door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V:
dash or dart off; fasten (a | door); gobble down"
bombardment,attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard
bombast,"grandiloquent, pompous speech"
bombastic,pompous; using inflated language
bookish,fond of books and reading
boon,blessing; benefit; something very helpful
boor,"rude, insensitive person"
boorish,rude; insensitive
boost,lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase
botch,mismanage; blow
bouillon,clear beef (or meat) soup
bound,"leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit of; Ex. bounded by
Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty to do
something (legally or morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to
be late; Ex. I am bound to"
bountiful,generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
bourgeois,middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions
bout,"match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of
drinking/flu"
bovine,cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm
bowdlerize,expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
brackish,somewhat saline
brag,boast
braggadocio,boasting
braggart,boaster; bragger
braid,"plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together;
N: braided segment (as of hair)"
brand,"trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the
flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting
bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar."
brandish,wave around (a weapon); flourish
bravado,swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery
brave,face courageously; Ex. brave the storm
brawl,noisy quarrel
brawn,human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
brawny,muscular; having well-developed muscles
brazen,"insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-
assurance or with unshamed confidence"
breach,breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.
breadth,width; extent
breed,"produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N:
kind or sort of animal or plant"
brevity,conciseness; shortness of duration
bridle,"harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put
a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger"
brim,"uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat); Ex. The glass was
full to the brim; V: be full to the brim"
brindled,tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
brink,edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon
brisk,quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
bristle,short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
bristling,rising like bristles; showing irritation
brittle,hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation
broach,introduce as a subject; moot; open up
brocade,"rich, figured(patterned) fabric"
brochure,pamphlet
broil,cook by direct heat; N.
bromide,platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
brooch,ornamental clasp; pin
brood,"sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of
certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time"
brook,tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream
browbeat,bully; intimidate
browse,graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
bruise,injure without breaking the skin; N.
brunt,main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument
brusque,blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice
buccaneer,pirate
bucolic,rustic; pastoral
buffet,strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for
"","people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to
food that's been set",
buffoon,stupid person; clown,
buffoonery,clowning,
bugaboo,bugbear; object of baseless terror,
bulge,"protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his
pocket; V: swell outward; protrude",
bulk,"size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work
has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size",
bullion,gold and silver in the form of bars,
bully,one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.,
bulwark,"strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person
who defends",
bump,hit or knock against with force; N.,
bungle,mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior,
buoyant,"able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of
wood/water/American market",
bureaucracy,"overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ.
bureaucratic",
burgeon,"grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer
industry; CF. bludgeon",
burlesque,give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly,
burnish,make shiny by rubbing; polish,
bust,"piece of sculpture showing a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest;
V: break up; arrest; Ex. crimebuster",
buttress,"support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying
buttress",
buxom,full-bosomed; plump; jolly,
"",Barron GRE word list - C,
cabal,"small group of persons secretly united to promote their own
interests",
cache,hiding place; V.,
cacophonous,"discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture
of loud sounds"
cadaver,corpse; dead human body
cadaverous,like a corpse; pale
cadence,"rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat
of sound; rhythm"
cadet,student at a military school
cajole,persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
calamity,disaster; misery
calculated,deliberately planned; likely
caldron(cauldron),large kettle
caliber,"ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex.
work of very high caliber"
calligraphy,beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
callous,"hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of
others; unkind"
callow,youthful; immature; inexperienced
callus,area of thick hard skin
calorific,heat-producing; N. calorie
calumny,malicious misrepresentation; slander
camaraderie,good-fellowship; CF. comrade
cameo,"shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a
minor role in a film"
camp,group sharing a common cause or opinion
canard,unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
candor,frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
canine,related to dogs; doglike
canker,any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
canny,shrewd in money matters; thrifty
cant,"insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves;
special words used by a particular group of people"
cantankerous,ill-humored; irritable
cantata,"story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an
oratorio)"
canter,slow gallop; V. CF. trot
canto,division of a long poem
canvass,"determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region)
to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N."
capacious,spacious
capacity,"mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to
accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president"
capillary,"having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender;
Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF.
capillarity"
capitulate,surrender; give up all resistance
caprice,whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause
capricious,unpredictable; fickle
capsize,(of a boat) turn over
caption,title; chapter heading; text under illustration
captious,faultfinding; too critical
carafe,glass water bottle; decanter
carapace,"shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)"
carat(karat),"unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of
gold"
carcinogenic,causing cancer; N. carcinogen
cardinal,"chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number
that shows quantity rather thatn order"
cardiologist,doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
careen,"lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging
movement; stagger"
career,rush wildly; go at full speed
carefree,free from worries; having no problems
caricature,distortion; burlesque
carillon,a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played
carnage,"destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of
people or animals"
carnal,fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
carnivorous,meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
carousal,drunken revel; V. carouse
carping,petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble
carrion,rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
cartographer,map-maker
cascade,small waterfall
caste,"one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social
stratification; prestige"
castigation,punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
castrate,remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
casual,"happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal;
showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual
reader/labor/remark"
casualty,"serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an
accident or battle"
cataclysm,"deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or
change"
catalyst,"agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains
unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis"
catapult,slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
cataract,"great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of
eyesight)"
catastrophe,calamity ; disaster
catcall,"shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a
sports match); boo; V."
catechism,"book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form;
religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize"
categorical,"without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind;
unqualified; absolute"
cater,"provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of
a bad kind)"
catharsis,"purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and
weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a
dramatic work of art"
cathartic,purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
catholic,"(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including
many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic
opinions/tastes"
caucus,"private meeting of a group of people in a political party to
select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of
Boston"
caulk(calk),make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
causal,implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality
caustic,"burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action;
sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter;
harmful; OP. harmless"
cauterize,"burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic
substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection"
cavalcade,"procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF.
cavalry"
cavalier,casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
cavil,quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
cede,"yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender
formally; N. cession"
celerity,speed; rapidity
celestial,heavenly
celibate,abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy
cemetery,place for burying the dead
censor,"(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census);
person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V."
censorious,severely critical
censure,"blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe
criticism; strong disapproval"
centaur,"mythical figure, half man and half horse"
centigrade,"denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as
Celsius)"
centrifugal,radiating; departing from the center
centrifuge,machine that separates substances by whirling them
centripetal,tending toward the center
centurion,"Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100
soldiers)"
cerebral,"pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than
emotional; CF. cerebrum"
cerebration,thought; working of the brain
ceremonious,"marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF.
ceremony: conventional social courtesy"
certitude,certainty
cessation,stoppage
cession,yielding to another; ceding
chafe,warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
chaff,"worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover)
separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff"
chaffing,bantering; joking
chagrin,"annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by
humiliation or injured pride)"
chalice,goblet; consecrated cup
chameleon,lizard that changes color in different situations
champion,"support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or
supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)"
championship,"position of champion; defense or support; competition held
to determine a champion"
chancellor,"legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory):
position of a chancellor"
chant,"tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the
same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of
a chant"
chaotic,in utter disorder
chapel,"small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)"
chaperon,"older person who accompanies and supervises a young
unmarried woman"
chaplain,clergyman attached to a chapel
char,"make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to
carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood)
by incomplete combustion"
charisma,divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism
charlatan,quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)
charm,"quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have
magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch"
chary,"cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about
giving; OP. bold"
chase,"ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to
catch"
chasm,abyss; very deep crack
chassis,"framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to
which components are attached"
chaste,"morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts;
modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated;
austere"
chasten,discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
chastise,punish as by beating; criticize severely
chauvinist,"blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or
sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin"
check,stop motion; curb or restrain
checkered(chequered),"marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of
fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares"
cherubic,"angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged
angel of the highest order"
chicanery,trickery; deception
chide,scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
chimerical,"fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera:
unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature"
chip,"lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece
broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp"
chisel,swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting
chivalrous,courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry
choice,delicate; of very fine quality
choir,"group of people who sing together (esp. during religious
services); place for choir"
choleric,"hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF.
cholera"
chore,"daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and
shopping); unpleasant task"
choreography,"art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of
dances"
chortle,chuckle with delight; N.
chorus,phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
chronic,long established as a disease
chronicle,report; record (in chronological order)
chuckle,laugh quietly
churlish,boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
ciliated,having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
cipher,nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
circlet,"small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head,
arms, or neck as decoration)"
circuit,"closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly
repeated journey from place to place"
circuitous,roundabout
circumlocution,"indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily
large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a
difficult question directly)"
circumscribe,limit; confine; draw a line around
circumspect,prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
circumvent,"outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle;
avoid; get around"
cistern,reservoir or water tank
citadel,fortress
cite,quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record
civil,"having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous
and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil
strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic"
clairvoyant,having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
clamber,climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
clamor,"loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made
by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a
demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous"
clandestine,secret
clangor,loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
clap,"strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden
explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound;
put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping;
loud or explosive sound; CF. applause"
clapper,striker (tongue) of a bell
clarion,"shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former
times"
clasp,hold firmly within arms
claustrophobia,fear of being locked in
clavicle,collarbone
cleave,"split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ.
cloven"
cleft,N: split
clemency,"disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness
as of the weather; ADJ. clement"
clich\'e,"phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ.
clich\'ed"
clientele,body of customers
climactic,relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
clime,climate
clip,"cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a
short extract from film); clasp or fastener"
clipper,sailing vessel built for great speed
clique,small exclusive group of people
cloister,monastery or convent
clot,half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
clout,"great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with
fist"
clown,act stupidly; play the fool; N.
cloying,"distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or
sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much
sweetness or excess"
coagulate,congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant
coalesce,combine; fuse; N. coalescence
coalition,partnership; league; union of separate political parties
coax,persuade by flattery
coda,concluding section of a musical or literary composition
coddle,"treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby;
cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs"
codicil,supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
codify,"arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of
words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws,
rules, established social customs"
coercion,use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce
coeval,"living at the same time as; existing during the same period of
time; contemporary; of the same age"
cog,tooth projecting from a wheel
cogent,convincing
cogitate,think over; ponder
cognate,"having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by
blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N."
cognitive,"having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental
processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing"
cognizance,knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware
cohabit,live together
cohere,stick together
cohesion,tendency to keep together
cohorts,"group of people who share some common quality; armed
band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one
commander (in the ancient Rome)"
coiffure,hairstyle
coin,"make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N.
coinage: word or phrase recently invented"
coincidence,"the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more
seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same
time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental"
colander,utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
collaborate,work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy
collage,work of art put together from fragments
collate,"examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange
in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)"
collateral,"security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the
same person but through different sons or daughters"
collation,a light meal; collating
collected,composed; calm; self-possessed
colloquial,"pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N.
colloquialism: colloquial expression"
colloquy,informal discussion; conversation
collusion,conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others;
"",V. collude
colossal,huge
colossus,gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance
coma,"deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison,
or a severe blow"
comatose,in a coma; extremely sleepy
combustible,easily burned; N. CF. combustion
comeback,retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
comely,attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
comestible,something fit to be eaten
comeuppance,deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke
comity,courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
commandeer,"take (private property) for military use without needing
permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes"
commemorate,"honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex.
commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the
war"
commemorative,"remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative
stamp"
commensurate,equal in extent; of the same size
commiserate,feel or express pity or sympathy for
commodious,spacious and comfortable
commonplace,ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark
commonwealth,nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation
communal,held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
commune,"small (often rural) community whose members share work
and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune
with nature"
compact,"agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief;
concise; Ex. compact statement"
compartment,one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided
compassion,sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate
compatible,harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together
compelling,"overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention;
that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling"
"",adventure story; V. compel
compendium,"brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious"
compensatory,making up for; repaying
compilation,listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling
compile,"assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from
facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a
dictionary"
complacency,self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
complaisant,trying to please; obliging; willing to please others
complement,complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
complementary,serving to complete something
compliance,"conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield;
disposition to yield to others; V. comply"
compliant,"readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes
or others; yielding; comforming to requirements"
complicity,participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
component,element; ingredient
comport,bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
compost,"mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put
or make compost"
composure,mental calmness
compound,"combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by
adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error;
ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two
or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of
buildings;"
comprehend,include; understand
comprehensive,broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive
compress,"force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words;
N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop
bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc."
comprise,include; consist of
compromise,"adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the
interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a
dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one's principle; N."
compulsion,"compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control;
irresistible impulse"
compulsive,resulting from compulsion
compulsory,obligatory; that must be done
compunction,remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
compute,reckon; calculate
concatenate,link as in a chain
concave,hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
concede,"admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield;
grant; Ex. concede a goal"
conceit,"vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value;
extravagant metaphor (in poetry)"
concentric,having a common center
conception,"beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form
an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception"
concerted,"mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex.
concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together"
concession,"an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point,
right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a
business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North
sea; CF. concessionaire"
conciliatory,"reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the
friendly feelings (by removing anger)"
concise,brief and compact
conclave,private secret meeting
conclusive,decisive; ending all debate
concoct,"prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise
(something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate
excuse for being late; N. concoction"
concomitant,"that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent
concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening
together with something else"
concord,harmony; accord
concordat,formal agreement
concur,agree; coincide; happen at the same time
concurrent,happening at the same time; in agreement
condescend,"(derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the
level of one considered inferior"
condign,adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
condiments,seasonings; spices
condole,"express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone
who has experienced great sorrow"
condone,overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
conducive,helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
conduit,aqueduct; passageway for fluids
confidant(confidante),trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret)
confide,tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about
confidence,"self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong
belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person
or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something
confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling
yo"
confidential,"spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex.
confidential secretary"
confine,"shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N.
confinement"
confiscate,"seize; take possession of (private property) by official order
(usu. as a punishment); commandeer"
conflagration,great fire
confluence,"flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together;
crowd; gathering together"
conformist,"person who uncritically conforms to the customs of a group;
OP. nonconformist: one who does not conform to accepted
beliefs of norms"
conformity,"harmony; agreement with established rules or customs;
similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be
similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule;
CF. conformance"
confound,confuse; puzzle
congeal,freeze; coagulate
congenial,"pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature;
Ex. congenial weather"
congenital,existing at birth
conglomerate,"corporation made up of several different companies in
diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together;
rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V."
conglomeration,mass of material sticking together
congruence,"correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF.
congruity"
congruent,"in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding
exactly; CF. congruous"
conifer,"pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ.
coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen"
conjecture,surmise; guess; V.
conjugal,pertaining to marriage
conjure,"cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by
magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement
of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The
magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat."
connivance,"pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance;
permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a
wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire"
connoisseur,"person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose
judgments are respected); a lover of an art"
connotation,suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote
connubial,pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
consanguineous(consanguine),having a common ancestor
consanguinity,kinship; relationship by birth
conscientious,scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
conscript,draftee; person forced into military service; V.
consecrate,"dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life
to helping the poor"
consensus,general agreement; opinion reached by a group
consequential,"self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result;
Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent"
conservatory(conservatoire),"school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-
enclosed area; CF. conservancy"
consign,"send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust;
put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose);
N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee"
consistency,"absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or
firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous"
console,lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the
"",sorrow of; N. consolation
consolidation,"unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V.
consolidate: merge; strengthen"
consonance,harmony; agreement
consonant,harmonious; in agreement; N.
consort,associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)
conspiracy,"treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more
people)"
conspire,"take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine;
Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties."
consternation,great shock; dismay
constituency,"voters represented by an elected official; district so
represented; group of supporters (or constituents)"
constituent,supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component
constitution,"constituting; system of laws; composition of something;
physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with
strong constitutions"
constraint,"restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V.
constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine
forcibly; imprison"
construe,"explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that
she agreed; CF. misconstrue"
consummate,complete; V.
contagion,"infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that
can be passed by infection in the air"
contaminate,pollute
contempt,scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible
contend,struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly
contention,assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
contentious,quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
contest,"dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win;
Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in
Parliament; N."
context,"writings preceding and following the passage quoted;
circumstance in which an event occurs"
contiguous,adjacent to; touching upon
continence,"self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary
control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent"
contingent,"dependent on something uncertain or in the future;
conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of
soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event
that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every
contingency"
contortions,"twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape;
CF. contortionist"
contraband,illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
contravene,"contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N.
contravention"
contrite,penitent; repentant; N. contrition
contrivance,"something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful
plan; scheme"
contrive,"invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation);
manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention"
contrived,"unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The
ending was rather contrived."
controvert,"oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ.
controversial; N. controversy"
contumacious,"stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp.
disobedient to an order made by a court)"
contusion,bruise
conundrum,riddle; difficult problem
convene,"come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the
council"
convention,"social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting;
international agreement"
conventional,ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons
converge,approach; tend to meet; come together
conversant,familiar with; having knowledge of
converse,opposite; ADJ.
convert,"one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V:
change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular
religion or belief"
convex,curving outward
conveyance,vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance
conviction,"judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held
belief"
convivial,"pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by
joviality; jovial"
convoke,call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
convoluted,"coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate;
complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the
surface of the brain"
convulsion,"violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness);
V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive"
copious,plentiful
coquette,"flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the
admiration of men without sincere feelings; V."
cordial,warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome
cordon,"extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or
egress; V."
cornice,"projecting molding on building (usually above columns or
pillars);"
cornucopia,"horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and
grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty"
corollary,"natural consequence (which naturally follows from something
else)"
coroner,"public official who investigates any death thought to be of
other than natural causes"
corporeal,"bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material;
tangible"
corpulent,very fat; N. corpulence
corpus,"collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of
Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse"
corpuscle,red or white cell in the blood
correlate,either of the correlated things; V.
correlation,mutual relationship
corroborate,confirm; support; strengthen
corrode,"destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a
long period)"
corrosive,eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
corrugated,wrinkled; ridged
cosmic,pertaining to the universe; vast
coterie,"group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people
with shared interests"
countenance,"approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude
behavior; N: face; appearance"
countermand,cancel; revoke (an order)
counterpart,"thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing
that has the same purpose in a different system"
coup,"highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat;
CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills"
couple,join; unite; OP. uncouple
courier,messenger
court,"attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite;
attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster"
covenant,"binding agreement between two groups or people; compact;
V: enter into a covenant; promise"
covert,secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
covetous,"avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet:
desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)"
cow,terrorize; intimidate
cower,shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
coy,"shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-
confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer"
cozen,cheat; hoodwink; swindle
crabbed,sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
craft,"skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile;
ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning"
crass,"very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and
undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior"
crave,desire; want intensely
craven,cowardly
credence,belief
credential,"evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a
person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his
credentials to the court."
credo,creed
credulity,belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous
creed,system of religious or ethical belief
creep,"move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or
slowly; N."
cremate,"incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium"
crescendo,"increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage;
climax; CF. crescent"
crest,top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird
crestfallen,dejected; dispirited
crevice,crack; fissure
cringe,shrink back as if in fear; cower
crinkle,wrinkle
criteria,standards used in judging; CF. criterion
crochet,"make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a
hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet"
crone,hag; ugly old woman
cross,bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
crossbreed,hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
crotchety,"(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N.
crotchet: odd or whimsical notion"
crust,hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
crux,"essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ.
crucial: of deciding importance"
crypt,"secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground
room (under a church)"
cryptic,mysterious; hidden; secret
cubicle,small chamber used for sleeping or work
cue,"word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech
or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to"
cuisine,style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
culinary,relating to cooking or kitchen
cull,"pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject;
select; collect (information); N."
culmination,highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point
"",in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war,
culpable,deserving blame; blameworthy,
culprit,one guilty of a crime,
culvert,artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road,
cumbersome,"heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex.
cumbersome parcel/uniform",
cumulative,growing by addition; accumulative,
cunning,clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit,
cupidity,greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid,
curator,superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library),
curb,"chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something
that checks; V: check; restrain",
curfew,"regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated
times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew",
curmudgeon,"churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person",
cursive,"(of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters
joined",
cursory,casual; hastily done with little attention to detail,
curtail,shorten; reduce,
cynical,"skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF.
cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by
selfishness",
cynosure,"object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of
attention; CF. Ursa Minor",
"",Barron GRE word list - D,
dabble,"work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a
liquid",
dainty,"delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex.
dainty movement/dress",
dais,raised platform for speakers or other important people,
dally,"trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness;
procrastinate; waste time",
damn,"condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment;
doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation"
dank,damp; unpleasantly wet
dapper,"neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance
and quick in movements; neat; spry"
dappled,spotted
dart,move or throw suddenly and quickly
daub,"smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's
clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub
of paint"
daunt,intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
dauntless,bold; fearless
dawdle,loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
daze,stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
dazzle,make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder
deadlock,"standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces;
stalemate"
deadpan,"wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless
face"
dearth,scarcity
debacle,sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
debar,bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services
debase,"degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem;
disgrace; N. debasement"
debauch,"corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior
(with sex and alcohol)"
debilitate,"weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble"
debonair,"(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to
please; CF. of good disposition"
debris,"rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or
destroyed"
debunk,"expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule"
debut,"d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young
woman to society"
debutante,young woman making formal entrance into society
decadence,"decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ."
"",decadent
decant,pour off gently (wine or liquid)
decapitate,behead
decelerate,slow down
deciduous,"falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex.
deciduous tree/teeth"
decimate,"kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a
large part of"
decipher,decode; CF. indecipherable
declivity,downward slope
decollete,"(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low
neckline (on a dress)"
decomposition,decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
decorous,"proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)"
decorum,"propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness
of behavior or conduct"
decoy,lure or bait; V.
decree,"authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or
judge by decree"
decrepit,"weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old
chair/man"
decrepitude,state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
decry,"express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something
dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of
modern films"
deducible,derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
deface,mar; disfigure
defalcate,embezzle
defame,"harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N.
defamation; ADJ. defamatory"
default,failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
defeatist,"resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural
outcome; N. CF. defeatism"
defect,shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
defection,desertion
defer,"give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N.
deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous"
deference,"courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's
wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery"
defiance,refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
defile,"pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N:
narrow passage or gorge through mountains"
definitive,"most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved;
conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme
court"
deflect,turn aside; turn away from a straight course
defoliate,"destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N.
defoliant"
defray,provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
defrock,strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
deft,neat; skillful
defunct,dead; no longer in use or existence
degenerate,"become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse;
Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person"
degradation,"humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase;
disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote
(someone); reduce in rank"
dehydrate,remove water from; dry out
deify,"turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF.
deity"
deign,condescend; stoop
delete,erase; strike out
deleterious,harmful
deliberate,consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
delineate,portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
delirium,"mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement;
ADJ. delirious"
delta,flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
delude,deceive
deluge,flood; rush; V.
delusion,false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex.
"",under the delusion that
delusive,"deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex.
delusive promises"
delve,dig; search deeply; investigate
demagogue,"person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF.
demagoguery"
demean,disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
demeanor,behavior; bearing
demented,insane
demerit,fault; bad quality
demise,death
demographic,"related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of
human population"
demolition,destruction; V. demolish
demoniac(demoniacal),fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
demotic,of or pertaining to the people
demur,"object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing
qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday"
demure,"(of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be
demure"
denigrate,blacken; defame
denizen,"(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular
place; regular visitor"
denomination,"religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF.
denominator: common trait or characteristic"
denotation,"meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to
directly; mean; CF. connotation"
denouement,"final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other
literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained"
denounce,condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
depict,portray
deplete,reduce; exhaust
deplore,"regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad;
Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad;
deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition"
deploy,spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line;
"",distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
deport,"send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment"
depose,dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
deposition,testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
depravity,extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
deprecate,"express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ.
deprecatory"
depreciate,lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
depredation,plundering; destruction
deputize,"work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power
to take charge when the leading person is away"
deranged,insane
derelict,"negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted
by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or
vagrant person"
dereliction,neglect of duty; abandonment
deride,ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
derision,ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
derivation,"deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the
word"
derivative,"unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style;
N."
dermatologist,one who studies the skin and its diseases
derogatory,"expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract;
disparage"
descry,catch sight of (something distant)
desecrate,profane; violate the sanctity of
deserts,what someone deserves
desiccate,dry up
desolate,make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
desperado,"reckless, desperate outlaw"
desperate,"having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss
of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort"
despise,"look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ.
despicable: contemptible"
despoil,plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
despondent,"without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss
of hope with gloom; dejection"
despot,"tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism"
destitute,"extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking;
devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience"
desultory,aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
detached,"emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and
objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment"
detain,keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
determinate,"having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable;
fixed; conclusive; final"
determination,resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
deterrent,something that discourages or deters
detonation,explosion
detraction,slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
detrimental,harmful; damaging; N. detriment
deviate,"turn away from (a principle, norm); move away from an accepted
standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the
path of light by a prism"
devious,"roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not
straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route"
devise,think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
devoid,empty; lacking
devolve,"deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex.
devolve on/upon/to"
devotee,enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
devout,pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
dexterous,skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
diabolical,diabolic; devilish; fiendish
diadem,crown
dialectical,"relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical
situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of
logical arguments"
diaphanous,sheer; transparent
diatribe,bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
dichotomy,"division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts
(especially contradictory ones)"
dictum,"authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court);
saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark
(something said in passing)"
didactic,"(of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching;
instructional; N. didacticism"
die,"metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or
impressing; mold; CF. dice"
diffidence,shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
diffuse,"wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in
all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse"
dignitary,person of high rank or position
digression,wandering away from the subject; V. digress
dilapidated,"falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex.
dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation"
dilate,expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
dilatory,delaying; tending to delay
dilemma,"situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable
options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives"
dilettante,"aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it
seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight"
diligence,steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
dilute,"make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the
influence of the president"
diminution,lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
din,continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
dinghy,small boat (often ship's boat)
dingy,(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
dint,means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
diorama,"life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-
dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted
background"
dire,"warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great;
urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food"
dirge,"funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead
person)"
disabuse,correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
disaffected,"disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or
loyalty"
disapprobation,disapproval; condemnation
disarray,"state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in
disarray"
disavowal,"denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF.
disclaim"
disband,"dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club
has disbanded."
disbar,make (a lawyer) leave the bar or the legal profession
disburse,pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse
discernible,distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
discerning,"mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to
make good judgments; V. discern: perceive"
disclaim,disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
disclose,reveal; N. disclosure
discombobulated,discomposed; confused
discomfit,frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
discompose,disturb the composure of; confuse
disconcert,confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
disconsolate,hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
discord,"conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are
played)"
discordant,not harmonious; conflicting
discount,"disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a
cost"
discourse,"serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either
written or spoken); conversation; V."
discredit,"defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF.
discreditable: causing discredit; shameful"
discrepancy,"lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex.
discrepancy between two descriptions"
discrete,separate; unconnected
discretion,"prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of
action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary"
discriminate,distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference
discriminating,able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
discursive,"(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear
plan)"
disdain,treat with scorn or contempt
disembark,"debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF.
embark"
disenfranchise,disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
disengage,uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage
disfigure,mar the appearance of; spoil
disgorge,surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
disgruntle,make discontented
dishearten,discourage
disheveled,untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
dishonor,disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
disinclination,unwillingness
disingenuous,not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
disinter,dig up; unearth; OP. inter
disinterested,unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
disjointed,disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin
disjunction,"act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a
choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive"
dislodge,"remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food
caught in his throat; CF. lodge"
dismantle,take apart; disassemble
dismember,cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb
dismiss,"eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court
without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct
to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal"
disparage,belittle
disparate,basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
disparity,difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
dispassionate,calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
dispatch,"speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V:
send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill"
dispel,scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
dispense,"distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation:
dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation
or a rule"
disperse,scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
dispirited,lacking in spirit
disport,amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
disproportion,lack of proportion (between the parts); ADJ. disproportionate
disputatious,argumentative; fond of argument
disquietude,uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
disquisition,"formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal
inquiry; long formal speech or written report"
dissection,analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
dissemble,disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
disseminate,distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
dissension,disagreement of opinions causing strife within a group
dissent,disagree
dissertation,formal essay; treatise
dissident,"dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious;
N."
dissimulate,pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
dissipate,squander; waste foolishly; scatter
dissolution,"disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals;
sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral
restraint; leading an immoral life"
dissonance,discord
dissuade,persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
distant,"reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV.
distantly"
distend,expand; swell out
distill,"refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation);
concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill
fresh water from sea water; CF. brew"
distinct,clearly different; clearly noticed
distinction,"honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex.
graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction"
distinctive,clearly different from others of the same kind
distort,"twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N.
distortion"
distract,"take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make
anxious; ADJ. distracted"
distrait,absentminded; distracted
distraught,"upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to
the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry"
diurnal,daily; occurring during the daytime
diva,operatic singer; prima donna
diverge,"vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent:
differing; deviating"
diverse,"differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N.
diversity: | variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance"
diversion,"act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course;
distract; amuse"
divest,"strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N.
divestiture(divestment)"
divine,"perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future;
foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination"
divulge,reveal
docile,obedient; easily managed; submissive
docket,"program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things
to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or
directions; V: describe in a docket"
doctrinaire,"unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic;
unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without
regard to its practical difficulties"
doctrine,"teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.)
taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal"
document,provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.
doddering,shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
doff,take off; OP. don
dogged,determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex.
"",Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
doggerel,poor verse
dogmatic,"opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary;
doctrinal"
doldrums,"blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period;
period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships
cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums"
dolorous,sorrowful; N. dolor
dolt,slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
domicile,"home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is
domiciled in Britain."
dominant,"exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than
the other part of a system; not recessive"
dominate,"control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a
height; ?????"
domineer,rule over tyrannically
don,put on; OP. doff
doom,"condemnation to a severe penalty; ruin; fate (esp. a tragic or ruinous
one); V."
dormant,sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
dormer,window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room
dorsal,relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
dossier,"file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers
labeled on the back"
dotage,senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage
dote,be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
dour,sullen; gloomy; stubborn
douse,"plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly;
extinguish; throw water over; dowse"
dowdy,"untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive
way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman"
downcast,disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
dowry,money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage
dowse,use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals
doze,sleep lightly; nap
drab,dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
draconian,"extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian
politician"
draft,"first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of;
conscript"
drama,"prose or verse composition to be performed by actors; play; exciting
and unusual situation"
drastic,strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures
draught,"current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of pulling roads; act
of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid swallowed at a time"
draw,choosing of a lot or card
dregs,sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
dribble,"flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move
a ball; N."
drip,"fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in
drops; liquid that falls in drops"
drivel,nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
droll,queer and amusing
drone,talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
droop,"bend or hang downward; become weakened; Ex. His shoulders
drooped with tiredness; N."
dross,waste matter; worthless impurities
drudge,do drudgery; N: person who drudges
drudgery,hard unpleasant work; menial work
dubious,"questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled
with doubt; N. dubiety"
ductile,"malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of
someone) easily influenced or controlled"
dulcet,sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
dull,"(of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge
or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and
understanding; stupid; V."
dumbfound(dumfound),"astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded,
dumbstruck"
dummy,imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy
dupe,someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
duplicity,"double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ.
duplicitous",
duration,length of time something lasts,
duress,"forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal
coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress",
dutiful(duteous),"(of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense
of duty)",
dwindle,shrink; reduce gradually,
dynamic,energetic; vigorously active,
dynamo,generator for producing electricity; energetic person,
dys-,abnormal; impaired,
dysentery,inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract,
dyslexia,"word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the
ability to read",
dyspeptic,"suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in
digesting food",
"",Barron GRE word list - E,
earmark,set aside (money or time) for a particular purpose,
earn,"gain for the performance of service or labor; gain (something that one
deserves); deserve",
earthly,"of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly
reason",
earthy,unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal,
ebb,(of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide,
ebullient,"showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience;
N. ebullition: state of boiling",
eccentric,irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric,
eccentricity,oddity; idiosyncrasy,
ecclesiastic,"ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric;
clergyman",
eclectic,"selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting
individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism",
eclipse,darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse
ecliptic,path of the sun and the planets
ecologist,"person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms
and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of
human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology"
economy,"efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of
resources"
ecosystem,ecological community together with its environment
ecstasy,"rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering
emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy"
eddy,"swirling current of water, air, etc.; V."
edict,decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command
edifice,building (of imposing size)
edify,instruct; correct morally
eerie,weird; causing fear because strange
efface,rub out; remove the surface of
effective,"effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect;
Ex. effective speech/photograph"
effectual,able to produce a desired effect; valid
effectuate,effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation
effeminate,having womanly traits
effervescence,"inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles
forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ.
effervescent; V. effervesce"
effete,having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted
efficacy,power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual
effigy,"dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an
effigy of the President"
effluvium,noxious(harmful) smell
effrontery,"rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness;
presumptousness; nerve; cheek"
effulgent,shining brightly; brilliant
effusion,"pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out;
ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing"
ego,one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem
egoism,"excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in
one's self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical"
egotism,tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively; conceit; self-importance
egotistical,egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited
egregious,notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking
egress,exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress
ejaculation,exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate
elaborate,work out carefully; add more detail or information; ADJ.
elaboration,addition of details; intricacy
elastic,"able to spring back into shape; quick to recover (as from disappointment);
able to adapt to change; Ex. elastic plans; N: elastic material"
elated,"filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and
proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation"
elegy,"poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiacal,
elegiac"
elevation,"elevated position; altitude; height; flat upright side of a building; angle
made by pointing a gun; Ex. The elevation of her style is much admired;
Ex. front elevation of the house"
elicit,draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone)
elixir,cure-all; panacea; something invigorating
ellipsis,"omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when
the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses"
elliptical,"elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either
purposely or because key words have been left out"
elope,run away secretly with the intention of getting married
eloquence,"expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive;
expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced"
elucidate,explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid
elusive,"evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude:
escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter;
Ex. His name eludes me."
elysian,relating to paradise; blissful
Elysium,place or condition of bliss
emaciated,thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)
emanate,issue forth; come out
emancipate,set free; liberate
emasculate,weaken; castrate
embargo,ban on commerce or other activity
embark,commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey
embed(imbed),enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass
embellish,adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding fictitious details)
embezzlement,"taking for one's own use in violation of trust; stealing (of money placed in
one's care)"
embitter,"make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex.
He was embittered by many disappointments."
emblazon,ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment
embody,give a bodily form to; incorporate; include
emboss,produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design
embrace,"hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle;
include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace;
CF. bracelet"
embroider,"decorate with needlework; ornament (a story) with fancy or fictitious
details; embellish"
embroil,"throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF.
imbroglio"
embryonic,"undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of
development"
emend,correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement
emetic,substance causing vomiting; ADJ.
eminent,rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position
emissary,agent (sent on a mission to represent another); messenger
emollient,soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.
emolument,salary; payment for an office; compensation
empathy,"ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc.; identification with
and understanding of another's feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy"
empirical,based on experience
emulate,imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)
enact,make (a bill) into law
enamored,in love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V. enamor: inspire with love
encipher,encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher
encircle,surround
enclave,territory enclosed within an alien land
encomiastic,praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy
encompass,"surround; include; Ex. His activities encompass publishing and
computers."
encroachment,"gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable
time; V. encroach: take another's possessions or right gradually or
stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon"
encumber,burden; N. encumbrance
endear,"make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone; ADJ. dear: loved; cherished;
high-priced"
endearment,fond word or act; expression of affection
endemic,"prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or
country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic"
endorse,"approve; support; write one's signature on the back of; N. endorsement;
CF. dorsal"
endue,provide with some quality; endow
enduring,"lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering) for a long time;
remain alive (in spite of difficulties); last; survive"
energize,invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active
enervate,weaken; take away energy from
enfranchise,"admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF.
franchise"
engage,"attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into
confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement:
agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something;
battle"
engaged,employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict
engaging,charming; attractive
engender,cause; produce; give rise to
engross,occupy fully; absorb
engulf,surround and swallow up
enhance,"increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or usefulness); improve"
enigma,puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling
enjoin,command; order; forbid
enlist,"(cause to) join the armed forces; obtain (help, sympathy, or support)"
enliven,make lively or spirited; animate
enmity,ill will; hatred; hostility
ennui,"boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest;
CF. annoy"
enormity,"hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the
crime; ADJ. enormous"
enrapture,please intensely; fill with rapture and delight
ensconce,settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)
ensue,follow (as a result)
entail,"make necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit the inheritance of
(property) to a specified succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B"
enterprise,"willingness to take new ventures; initiative; business organization; plan
(that is difficult or daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round the
world in a small boat"
enterprising,full of initiative; showing enterprise
enthrall,"capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of (as if magic);
hold spellbound"
entice,lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract; tempt
entity,real being
entomology,study of insects
entourage,group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround
entrance,"put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with
strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight"
entreat,plead; ask earnestly
entree(entr\'ee),"entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the
exclusive circle"
entrepreneur,"businessperson (who assumes the risk of a business venture); contractor;
ADJ. entrepreneurial"
enumerate,list; mention one by one
enunciate,"announce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially distinctly; pronounce
clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory was first enunciated by him."
environ,enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city)
eon(aeon),"long period of time; an age; longest division of geologic time containing
two or more eras"
epaulet(epaulette),"ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)"
ephemeral,short-lived; fleeting
epic,"long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art (celebrating the feats of a"
"",hero); ADJ: (of stories or events) resembling an epic; grand
epicure,connoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ. epicurean; CF. Epicurus
epicurean,"believing that pleasure is good and suffering is bad and should be
avoided; N."
epigram,"witty thought or saying, usually short"
epilogue,short speech at conclusion of dramatic work
episodic,"(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely
connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience"
epistemologist,philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge; N. epistemology
epitaph,inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a tombstone)
epithet,"word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing;
descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)"
epitome,"perfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good
manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody"
epoch,period of time
equable,tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform
equanimity,calmness of temperament; composure
equestrian,rider on horseback; ADJ.
equilibrium,balance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity
equine,resembling a horse; Ex. equine face
equinox,"period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex.
vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial"
equipoise,balance; balancing force; equilibrium
equitable,fair; impartial; OP. inequitable
equity,fairness; justice; OP. inequity
equivocal,"(of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally misleading; (of
behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal"
equivocate,"use equivocal language to deceive people; lie; mislead; attempt to conceal
the truth; N. equivocation"
erode,eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks.
erotic,pertaining to passionate love or sexual love
errant,"wandering (esp. in search of adventure); straying from proper moral
standards; Ex. knight-errant"
erratic,odd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable
erroneous,mistaken; wrong; incorrect
erudite,(of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition
escapade,prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that disobeys rules
eschew,avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks
esoteric,"hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N.
esoterica"
espionage,spying
espouse,adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N. espousal
esteem,respect; value; judge; N.
estimable,"(of a person) worthy of esteem; admirable; deserving esteem; possible to
estimate"
estranged,"separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N.
estrangement"
ethereal,"like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She
has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air"
ethnic,relating to races
ethnology,"study of humankind; study of the different races of human beings; CF.
anthropology"
ethos,"underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar
to a specific person, group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos"
etymology,study of word parts; study of the origins of words
eugenic,"pertaining to the improvement of race; N. eugenics: study of hereditary
improvement of the human race"
eulogistic,praising; full of eulogy
eulogy,"expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize"
euphemism,mild expression in place of an unpleasant one; ADJ. euphemistic
euphony,sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
euphoria,"feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being;
feeling of great happiness or well-being (when unreasonable); ADJ.
euphoriaric"
euthanasia,mercy killing
evanescent,fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce
evasive,"not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading; V. evade: avoid (a
duty or responsibility) or escape from by deceit"
evenhanded,impartial; fair
eventual,happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory
evince,show clearly
evocative,"tending to call up (emotions, memories)"
evoke,"call forth (memory or feeling); Ex. That old film evoked memories of my
childhood; N. evocation"
ewe,female sheep
exacerbate,worsen; aggravate; embitter
exact,demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction
exacting,extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety
exalt,"raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex. exalt the imagination;
ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation"
exasperate,vex; annoy or make angry (by testing the patience)
except,"exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of
unusually high quality"
exceptionable,"objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable:
entirely acceptable"
excerpt,selected passage (written or musical) taken from a longer work; V.
exchequer,treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer
excise,"cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good produced and used inside a
country; N. excision"
exclaim,cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory
excoriate,scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off
exculpate,clear from blame or guilt
execrable,very bad; detestable
execrate,curse; express abhorrence for; detest
execute,put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution
executioner,person administering capital punishment
executive,"person having administrative authority; one branch of government
executing laws; ADJ: relating to executing"
executor,person designated to execute the terms of a will;
exegesis,"explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages"
exemplary,"serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary punishment/behavior; N.
exemplar: typical example; model"
exemplify,"show by example; furnish an example; serve as an example of; Ex. His
pictures exemplify that sort of painting."
exempt,not subject to a duty or obligation; free from a duty; V.
exertion,"effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert oneself: make a great
effort"
exhale,breathe out; OP. inhale
exhilarating,"invigorating and refreshing; cheering; V. exhilarate: make cheerful and
excited; Ex. exhilarated by the ride in the sports car"
exhort,"urge (by strong argument or advice); Ex. The general exhorted his men to
fight bravely; N. exhortation"
exhume,dig out of the ground; remove from a grave
exigency,urgent situation; ADJ. exigent
exiguous,small in amount; minute
existential,pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism
exodus,departure (of a large number of people)
exonerate,acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
exorbitant,(of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable bounds
exorcise,drive out evil spirits
exotic,"not native; from another part of the world; strange; intriguingly unusual;
Ex. exotic flower/dress"
expansive,"(of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase
in size"
expatiate,talk at length; speak or write in detail
expatriate,"exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish;
leave one's country"
expedient,"suitable (for a particular purpose although not necessarily morally
correct); practical; politic(prudent); N: something expedient"
expedite,hasten; make go faster
expeditious,done with speed; quick; N. expedition
expenditure,"payment or expense; expending; something expended; output; Ex. receipt
for the expenditure; Ex. expenditure of all the energy"
expertise,specialized knowledge (in a particular field); expert skill
expiate,make amends for (a sin)
expletive,meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word
explicate,explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable
explicit,totally clear; definite; outspoken
exploit,"make use of, sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation"
expos\'e,public revelation of something discreditable
expository,explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition
expostulation,"protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V.
expostulate"
exposure,"risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements;
unmasking; act of laying something open; Ex. exposure of governmental
corruption"
expound,explain
expropriate,take possession of (often for public use and without payment)
expunge,cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase
expurgate,clean; remove offensive parts of a book
exquisite,"delicate; very finely made; extremely beautiful; Ex. exquisite piece of
jewelry"
extant,(of something written or painted) still in existence
extemporaneous,not planned; impromptu; extempore
extenuate,weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of (bad behavior)
extirpate,root up; uproot; destroy completely
extol,praise very highly; glorify
extort,"wring from; get money by threats, etc.; obtain by force or threats; CF.
extortionate: exorbitant"
extradition,"surrender of prisoner by one state to another; Ex. extradition treaty; V.
extradite"
extraneous,"not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external; coming from the outside;
Ex. extraneous details/noise/to the subject"
extrapolation,"projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from
known information"
extricate,free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle
extrinsic,external; not essential or inherent; extraneous; OP. intrinsic
extrovert,person interested mostly in external objects and actions
extrude,"force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a
die"
exuberance,"overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness;
ADJ. exuberant: high-spirited and lively; growing abundantly and
strongly"
exude,flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation
exult,rejoice
"",Barron GRE word list - F,
fabricate,"build; lie; make up (a story) in order to deceive; Ex. fabricate the whole
story; CF. fabric: underlying structure; Ex. fabric of society",
facade(fa\c{c}ade),front or face (of building); superficial or false appearance,
facet,small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side,
facetious,joking (often inappropriately); unserious; humorous,
facile,"easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial; not deep; Ex. facile
solution to a complex problem; Ex. facile speaker; N. facility: ability to
do something easily and well; ease in doing resulting from skill or
aptitude; something that facil",
facilitate,help bring about; make less difficult,
facsimile,copy,
faction,party; clique (within a large group); dissension,
factious,inclined to form factions; causing dissension,
factitious,artificial; produced artificially; sham; false; Ex. factitious tears,
factotum,handyman; person who does all kinds of work; CF. do everything,
faculty,mental or bodily powers; teaching staff,
fake,"not genuine; N: one that is not genuine; impostor; sham; V: counterfeit;
Ex. fake the results of the experiment/the signature",
fallacious,"false; based on a fallacy; misleading; N. fallacy: false idea or notion;
false reasoning; Ex. popular fallacy; Ex. fallacy of the argument",
fallible,liable to err,
fallow,(of land) plowed but not sowed (to improve the quality); uncultivated,
falsify,make (something written) false by changing,
falter,"hesitate; weaken in purpose or action; walk or move unsteadily through
weakness; N.",
fanaticism,"excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause; N. fanatic; ADJ.
fanatic",
fancied,imagined; unreal,
fancier,"breeder or dealer of animals; one who has a special interest, as for
raising specific plant or animal",
fanciful,"whimsical; visionary; imaginary; produced by imagination; Ex. fanciful
scheme",
fancy,"imagination (of a whimsical or fantastic nature); capricious liking; V:
imagine; be fond of; ADJ. decorative; elaborate"
fanfare,call by bugles or trumpets; showy display; spectacular public display
farce,"broad comedy; mockery; humorous play full of silly things happening;
ADJ. farcical"
far-fetched,too improbable to be believed; implausible; Ex. far-fetched story
fashion,give shape to; make; Ex. fashion the pot out of clay
fastidious,difficult to please; squeamish; fussy; finicky
fatalism,"belief that events are determined by forces or fates beyond one's
control; ADJ. fatalistic; CF. fatal: causing death"
fathom,"comprehend; investigate; determine the depth of; N. unit of
measurement for the depth of water"
fathomless,too deep to be measured or understood; unfathomable
fatuous,"smugly and unconsciously foolish; inane; silly; N. fatuity, fatuousness"
fauna,animals of a period or region; CF. flora
favoritism,display of partiality toward a favored person
fawning,"courting favor by cringing and flattering; V. fawn: exhibit affection as a
dog; seek favor or attention by obsequiousness"
faze,disconcert; dismay; embarrass
feasible,practical; able to be carried out; practicable
feature,"distinctive part of the faces (as the eyes or mouth); features: overall
appearance of the face; prominent or distinctive quality; prominent
article; film; V: make prominent"
febrile,feverish
fecundity,fertility; fruitfulness; ADJ. fecund: very productive of crops or young
feebleminded,deficient in intelligence; very stupid
feign,pretend
feint,trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw away defensive action; V.
felicitous,(of a word or remark) apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
felicity,"happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); quality of being
felicitous"
feline,of a member of the cat family; N.
fell,cut or knock down (a tree or a person); bring down (with a missile)
felon,person convicted of a grave crime; CF. felony: serious crime
feral,(of an animal) not domestic; wild
ferment,"agitation; commotion(noisy and excited activity); unrest (of a political
kind); V. produce by fermentation; undergo fermentation; cause (a state
of trouble)"
fermentation,"chemical reaction that splits complex organic compounds; unrest;
agitation"
ferocious,fierce; violent; N. ferocity
ferret,"drive or hunt out of hiding; hunt with ferrets; drive out (as from a
hiding place); expel; uncover or discover by searching; Ex. ferret out the
secret; N. small fierce animal which catches rats and rabbits by going
into their holes"
fertile,"producing many young, fruits, or seeds; (of land) producing good crops;
V. fertilize"
fervent,ardent; zealous; hot
fervid,ardent; zealous; hot
fervor,"glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid;
zeal; intense heat"
fester,"rankle; produce irritation or resentment; (of a cut or wound) generate
pus or rot; Ex. His insult festered in my mind for days."
festive,joyous; celebratory; relating to a feast or festival
fete(f\^ete),"honor at a festival; celebrate or honor with a feast; N. (outdoor) festival
or feast; CF. feast"
fetid(foetid),malodorous; foul
fetish(fetich),"object believed to have spiritual powers; object of excessive attention or
reverence; CF. fetishism"
fetter,"shackle; restrict the freedom of; N. chain or shackle for the foot of a
prisoner; CF. foot"
feud,"bitter prolonged quarrel (usually between two peoples or families); V.
CF. Romeo and Juliet; CF. feudal, feudalism"
fiasco,total failure; CF. bottle
fiat,command; arbitrary order; Ex. presidential fiat; CF. let it be done
fickle,changeable (in affections or friendship); faithless
fictitious,"imaginary; non-existent; purposely invented to deceive; untrue; Ex.
fictitious name/boyfriend; CF. fictional"
fidelity,loyalty; accuracy
fiend,evil spirit; devil
figment,"invention; something invented; imaginary thing; Ex. figment of your
imagination"
figurative,not literal but metaphorical; using a figure(impression) of speech
figure,"written symbols; number; amount represented in numbers; outline or
silhouette of a thing or human body; person (well-known); impression;
diagram; pattern; group in a dance; Ex. figure of speech; V. calculate
with numbers; adorn with figures; app"
figurine,small ornamental statuette(very small statue)
filch,steal (things of small value)
filial,pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter; Ex. filial respect
filibuster,"block legislation or prevent action in a lawmaking body by making very
slow long speeches; N; freebooter"
filigree,delicate ornamental lacelike metalwork
filing,particle removed by a file
filth,dirty matter; ADJ. filthy
finale,conclusion; concluding part
finery,beautiful clothes for a special occasion
finesse,delicate skill; V: handle with finesse
finicky,"too particular; fussy; difficult to please; too concerned with
unimportant details or quality; Ex. finicky about her food"
finish,surface texture; completeness of execution
finished,properly made and complete; Ex. finished product/performance
finite,limited
firebrand,"piece of burning wood; hothead; troublemaker; person who stirs up
trouble"
fissure,crevice; crack
fit,sudden outburst of an illness or feeling; convulsion caused by epilepsy
fitful,spasmodic; intermittent; irregular
flaccid,flabby; lacking firmness; weak; Ex. flaccid muscles
flag,"droop; grow feeble; decline in vigor or strength; ADJ. flagging; CF.
unflagging"
flagrant,"conspicuously wicked, bad, or offensive; blatant; outrageous"
flail,"beat with or as if with a flail; move wildly; thresh grain by hand; strike
or slap; toss about; N: threshing tool consisting of a stick swinging from
the end of a long handle"
flair,talent
flamboyant,ornate; highly elaborate; richly colored; ostentatious; showy; CF. flame
flashy,showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance
flaunt,"display ostentatiously; Ex. ``Honey, if you've got it, flaunt it !''"
flay,strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly
fleck,spot; mark with flecks; N: small mark or spot
fledgling(fledgeling),"inexperienced; N: young bird that has acquired wing feathers and is
learning to fly; inexperienced person"
fleece,"wool coat of a sheep; V: shear the fleece from; rob by a trick; swindle;
plunder"
fleet,fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral
flick,"light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light quick blow; strike with
a light quick blow (as from a whip); Ex. flick the switch"
flicker,"burn unsteadily or fitfully; move waveringly; N: flickering movement or
light; brief sensation; Ex. flicker of excitement"
flighty,"(esp. of a woman's behavior) capricious; often changing, esp. from one
lover to another; impulsive"
flinch,"hesitate; shrink back (in fear of something unpleasant); Ex. She did not
flinch in the face of danger."
flip,"send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking with a light
quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip over"
flippant,"lacking proper seriousness; Ex. flippant remarks about death; N.
flippancy"
flirt,"behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal triflingly with; N:
one (or woman) given to flirting; ADJ. flirtatious"
flit,"fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee
flitting from flower to flower"
floe,flat mass of floating ice
flora,plants of a region or era
florescence,condition or period of flowering
florid,ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose
flotsam,drifting wreckage
flounder,"struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter (as in water, mud,
snow, etc.); proceed in confusion"
flourish,"grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave; brandish; Ex. The
trees flourished in the sun. N: showy movement or gesture;
embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in handwriting)"
flout,reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules
flowery,full of flowers; full of ornate expressions
fluctuate,waver; shift; rise and fall as if in waves; change or vary irregularly
fluency,smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent
fluke,"unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune; accidental stroke of good luck;
ADJ. fluky"
flush,"redden; blush; flow suddenly and abundantly; wash out by a rapid brief
flow of water; N: reddish tinge; blush; brief rush; rush of strong feeling;
Ex. flush of pride; ADJ: having surfaces in the same plane; even;
blushing"
fluster,confuse; make nervous and confused; N.
fluted,"having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long
parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the
shaft of a column"
flutter,"(of a bird with large wings) wave (the wings) lightly, rapidly, and
irregularly; vibrate rapidly or erratically; fly by waving quickly; flitter;
N."
flux,flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux
fodder,"coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock; CF. food"
foible,small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble
foil,defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart; CF. fail
foist,"insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion; palm off; pass off
as genuine or worthy; CF. fist"
foliage,masses of leaves; CF. defoliate
foment,"stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or
unpleasant)"
foolhardy,rash; reckless; foolishly daring
foppish,"vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much
interest in his clothes and appearance"
foray,raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.
forbearance,"patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from (in a generous and
forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear to send him to prison"
ford,place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.
forebears(forbears),ancestors
foreboding,"premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V. forebode: be a warning of
(something unpleasant)"
forensic,"suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in legal proceedings and
the tracking of criminals; Ex. forensic science/medicine"
forerunner,"predecessor; one that comes before and indicates the approach of
another"
foreshadow,"give an indication beforehand; be a sign of (what is coming); portend;
prefigure"
foresight,"ability to foresee future happenings; prudence in providing for the
future"
forestall,prevent by taking action in advance
forfeit,"something surrendered as punishment for a crime or breach of
contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture"
forge,"counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by heating in a forge and
hammering into shape; move with a sudden increase of speed or power;
Ex. forged ahead in the last two years; N: furnace where metals are
heated"
forgo(forego),give up; do without
forlorn,sad and lonely; wretched; desolate
formality,"ceremonious quality; ceremonious adherence to rules; something done
just for form's sake; Ex. mere formality"
formidable,"menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; Ex. formidable
foe/question"
forsake,desert; abandon; renounce
forswear,"renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF.
abjure"
forte,strong point or special talent in a person's character
forthcoming,"happening in the near future; ready; willing to help; Ex. No answer was
forthcoming."
forthright,straightforward; direct; frank
fortitude,bravery; courage; strength of mind
fortuitous,accidental; by chance; N. fortuity
forum,"public square of an ancient Roman city; public place for open
discussion; court of law"
forward,presumptuous or bold
foster,"rear; bring up (for a certain period only); encourage; promote the
development of (feelings or ideas); Ex. help foster friendly relations;
ADJ: giving parental care although not related by blood; Ex. foster
parents"
foul,"very bad or disagreeable; very dirty; Ex. foul
smell/flavor/temper/language/air/deed/weather/means; N. act against
the rules; V. make or become foul; commit a foul"
founder,person who establishes (an organization or business)
fracas,"brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number of people take part;
melee"
fractious,unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex. fractious horse
frail,weak; N. frailty
franchise,"right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a
product in a particular territory"
frantic,wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic with fear
fraudulent,cheating; deceitful; Ex. fraudulent means; N. fraud: deception; swindle
fraught,"filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and
difficulties; CF. freight"
fray,"brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have loose threads
developing; cause to become worn out (a person's temper or nerves);
CF. rub"
freebooter,pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich
frenetic(phrenetic),frenzied; frantic
frenzied,madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement
fresco,painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)
fret,"be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of
mind; ADJ. fretful"
friction,clash or conflict in opinion; rubbing against
frieze,ornamental horizontal band on a wall
frigid,intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone
fringe,decorative edge of hanging threads; edge
frisk,move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful
fritter,waste (time or money on unimportant things)
frivolous,"lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently carefree; unworthy of
serious attention; relatively unimportant; trivial"
frock,long loose garment (worn by monks)
frolic,play and jump about happily; frisk; Ex. frolicking young lambs
frolicsome,prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky
frond,fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
fructify,bear fruit; produce fruit
frugality,"thrift; economy; ADJ. frugal: practicing economy; costing little;
inexpensive"
fruitful,producing results; profitable; prolific; producing in abundance,
fruition,"bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization; Ex. come to/be brought to
fruition",
frustrate,thwart; defeat; prevent from accomplishing a purpose,
fuddle,make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused,
fugitive,"fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering);
running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives
at large",
fulcrum,support on which a lever rests or pivots,
fulminate,thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation,
fulsome,"disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome
praise/expressions of admire",
fumble,"move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in search of something);
mishandle or drop a ball that is in play; bungle; botch; spoil by
mishandling; N.",
functional,"made for practical use only (without decoration); functioning; Ex.
functional modern furniture; CF. functionalism",
functionary,official (who performs a particular function),
fundamental,basic; primary; essential,
funereal,sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral,
furor,frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury,
furrow,long shallow trench made by a plow; deep wrinkle in the skin; V.,
furtive,"stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive
glance",
fusillade,"simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)",
fusion,union; coalition; V. fuse,
fuss:,"trouble or worry over trifles; make nervous; pay too much attention to;
N: needless concern or worry (about a trivial thing); anxious nervous
condition; display of attention; Ex. make a fuss over the baby",
fussy,fastidious; finicky; easily upset,
futile,useless; hopeless; ineffectual,
"",Barron GRE word list - G,
gadfly,animal-biting fly; irritating person
gaffe,social blunder
gainsay,deny
gait,manner of walking or running; speed
galaxy,"large isolated system of stars, such as the Milky Way; collection of brilliant
personalities"
gale,"windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughters, tears); Ex. gale of
laughter"
gall,"annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a
horse); exasperation"
galleon,large three-masted sailing ship
galley,low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
gallows,framework from which a noose is suspended (used for execution by hanging)
galvanic,"of the production of electricity by the action of an acid on a metal; having the
effect of an electric shock; Ex. galvanic cell; galvanic effect; CF. Luigi Galvani"
galvanize,"stimulate or shock by an electric current; stimulate by shock; shock into
action; stir up; coat with rust-resistant zinc by using electricity"
gambit,"opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action made to produce a
future advantage"
gambol,romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
gamely,"in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight gamely against a superior boxer;
ADJ. game"
gamut,entire range
gangrene,"decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood supply (usually following
injury); ADJ. gangrenous"
gape,"open widely; open the mouth wide; stare wonderingly with the mouth open;
CF. agape"
garbled,"mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up or distort (a message) to such
an extent as to make misleading or unintelligible"
gargantuan,huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel
gargoyle,waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building
garish,overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
garner,gather; store up; amass
garnish,"decorate; add a garnish to; decorate (food or drink) with small items such as
lemon slices; N."
garrulous,loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity
gastronomy,art and science of preparing and serving good food; CF. gastronome
gauche,clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth
gaudy,flashy; showy
gaunt,lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren
gavel,"hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an
auctioneer; V."
gawk,stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe
gazette,official periodical publication; newspaper
genealogy,record of descent; lineage; ancestry; study of ancestry
generality,"vague statement; general statement which is not detailed; quality of being
general; greater part; most; Ex. generality of people"
generate,cause; produce; create
generic,characteristic of an entire class or species; of a genus
genesis,beginning; origin
geniality,cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy; ADJ. genial: cheerful and good-tempered
genre,particular variety of art or literature
genteel,"well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance of refinement; Ex.
genteel poverty"
gentility,those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel
gentle,kindly; soft; mild; of good family
gentry,"people of standing(rank or position); people of good family or high social
position; class of people just below nobility"
genuflect,bend the knee as in worship
genus,"division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species"
geriatrics,medical treatment and care of old age
germ,"earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something that may develop into
something larger or more important; microbe"
germane,"pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand;
appropriate"
germinal,pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea
germinate,cause to sprout; sprout
gerontocracy,government ruled by old people
gerontology,study of the sociological phenomena associated with old age
gerrymander,"change voting district lines in order to favor a political party; N. CF. Elbridge
Gerry + (sala)mander"
gestate,"evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from
conception until birth"
gesticulation,motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures (while speaking)
ghastly,horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast
gibberish,nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or writing; babbling
gibe,mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks
giddy,"light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy; causing dizziness; Ex. giddy youth;
Ex. giddy climb/height"
gild,cover with a thin layer of gold
gingerly,very carefully; ADJ.
girth,distance around something; circumference
gist,essence; main point; substance
glacial,like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg
glamor,compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous
glare,shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.
glaring,"(of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly bright; shining intensely and
blindingly"
glaze,"cover with a thin and shiny surface; apply a glaze to; N: thin, smooth, shiny
coating (as for pottery); Ex. unglazed pottery"
gleam,brief flash of light; glow; V.
glean,"gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or
information) often with difficulty"
glib,fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick
glimmer,"shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady light; faint indication; Ex.
glimmer of hope"
glitter,"shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex. glittering diamond ring; N:
sparkling light; attractiveness; glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on the waves"
gloat,"express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view
malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels."
gloss,brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression; V.
gloss_over,explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults
glossary,brief explanation of words used in the text
glossy,"smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on a surface; superficially
attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners"
glow,shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals); show redness and heat
"","(in the face) after hard work or because of strong feelings; N: light produced
by a heated body; brilliance of a color"
glower,scowl; glare; look or stare angrily
glut,overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply
glutinous,sticky; viscous; gluey
glutton,"someone who eats too much; ADJ. gluttonous: given to gluttony; greedy; CF.
gluttony: habit of eating too much"
gnarl,protruding knot on a tree; V.
gnarled,twisted
gnome,dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure hoards
goad,"urge on; drive with a goad; cause (someone) to do something by continued
annoyance; Ex. They goaded him into doing it by saying he was a coward; N:
sharp-pointed stick for driving cattle; stimulus; CF. annoy continually"
gobble,eat very quickly
gorge,stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful
gory,bloody; N. gore: blood (from a wound)
gossamer,sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb
gouge,overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex. gouge the public; CF. usury
gourmand,epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink
gourmet,connoisseur of food and drink; epicure
gracious,kind in a generous way (to someone less important)
gradation,series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression
graduate,"arrange into categories or grades; divide into marked intervals (for use in
measurement); Ex. graduated ruler"
graduated,"arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc.)"
granary,storehouse for grain
grandeur,impressiveness; stateliness; majesty
grandiloquent,"(of a person or speech) using high sounding or important-sounding language;
pompous; bombastic"
grandiose,"affectedly grand; pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously exaggerated;
impressive; great in size or scope; grand; Ex. grandiose ideas"
granulate,form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle
graphic,pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described
graphite,black form of carbon used in lead pencils
grapple,wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and struggle with; Ex. grapple with
"",the burglar
grate,"make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred by rubbing against a
rough surface; Ex. grated cheese N: framework of metal bars to hold fuel in a
fireplace"
gratify,please; satisfy; Ex. gratify a desire
gratis,free; without charge; ADJ.
gratuitous,"given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done without good reason; Ex.
gratuitous comment"
gratuity,n. money given to sb who has done one a service; tip ;
gravity,seriousness; ADJ. grave
graze,"(of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an animal) to feed on grass;
scrape (esp. the skin) or touch lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can't graze the
cattle till summer; N: surface wound"
gregarious,sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group
grievance,cause of complaint; complaint
grill,"question severely; cook on a grill; broil; N: cooking surface of parallel metal
bars"
grim,causing great fear; unrelenting; determined in spite of fear; Ex. grim smile
grimace,"facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc; V."
grisly,ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies
groom,"man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush
(an animal)"
groove,"long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the movement of something;
Ex. groove of the record"
gross,"total; fragrant; clearly wrong; (of people's behavior) coarse; corpulent; Ex.
gross insolence/behavior; V: earn as a total amount; N: 12 dozens"
grotesque,"fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or
amusement)"
grotto,small cavern
grouch,"bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining; V: complain;
grumble"
grouse,complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump chickenlike game bird
grovel,crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate; behave in a servile manner
growl,"low, guttural, menacing sound (as of a dog)"
grudge,deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.
grudging,unwilling; reluctant; stingy(giving reluctantly)
gruel,thin liquid porridge,
grueling,exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race,
gruesome,grisly; horrible,
gruff,rough-mannered; (of a voice) rough; hoarse,
grumble,complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.,
grunt,utter a deep guttural sound (as a pig does); N.,
guffaw,boisterous laughter; V.,
guile,deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning; Ex. persuade her by guile,
guileless,without deceit,
guise,outward appearance; costume; Ex. in a new guise,
gull,trick; deceive; hoodwink; N: person who is easily tricked; dupe,
gullible,easily deceived,
gush,"(of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole; make an excessive display
of feeling (without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from the wound.",
gust,strong abrupt rush of wind; V. CF. bluster,
gustatory,affecting or relating to the sense of taste,
gusto,eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm,
gusty,windy,
guy,"cable or chain attached to something that needs to be braced or steadied; CF.
guide",
gyroscope,"apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc.",
"",Barron GRE word list - H,
habitat,natural home of a plant or animal; CF. habitation,
habituate,accustom or familiarize; addict,
hackles,"hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone's hackles rise",
hackneyed,commonplace; trite,
haggard,wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the rescued miners,
haggle,argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain),
hail,frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate hail,
halcyon,calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days
hale,healthy
halfhearted,exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm
hallowed,blessed; consecrated; Ex. hallowed ground; V. hallow: set apart as holy
hallucination,"delusion; false idea; false perception of objects with a compelling sense of
their reality; objects so perceived; V. hallucinate; ADJ. hallucinatory"
halting,"hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act
with uncertainty; falter; hesitate; waver; stop"
hamper,obstruct; prevent the free movement of;
handsome,large in quantity; generous; Ex. handsome reward
hap,chance; luck
haphazard,"random; by chance; happening in an unplanned manner; Ex. haphazard
growth of the town"
hapless,unfortunate; luckless
harangue,"long, passionate, and vehement speech; V."
harass,annoy by repeated attacks
harbinger,forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
harbor,"give protection (by giving food and shelter); provide a refuge for; hide; keep
in mind (thoughts or feelings); Ex. harbor a grudge/criminal; N: place of
shelter; refuge"
hardy,"(of people or animals) sturdy; robust; (of plants) able to stand
inclement(stormy) weather"
harping,"tiresome dwelling on a subject; V. harp: dwell on(think or speak a lot about)
tediously"
harrowing,"agonizing; distressing; traumatic; V. harrow: break up and level (soil) with a
harrow; inflict great distress on; agonize; N: farming machine to break up the
earth"
harry,"harass, annoy, torment (by repeated attacks); raid"
hatch,"deck opening; lid covering a deck opening; V: emerge from an egg; produce
(young) from an egg"
haughtiness,pride; arrogance; ADJ. haughty
haunt,"(of a spirit) visit (a place); come to mind continually; visit (a place) regularly;
frequent; Ex. haunted house; Ex. haunted by his last words; N: place much
frequented"
haven,place of safety; refuge; harbor; Ex. tax haven
havoc,widespread damage; disorder; chaos
hazard,venture; put in danger; risk; Ex. hazard a guess; N: possible source of danger
hazardous,dangerous
hazy,"slightly obscure; misty; unclear; N. haze: light mist or smoke; confused state
of mind"
headfirst,moving with the head leading; headlong
headlong,hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.
headstrong,"willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to have one's own way; CF. no
'excessive'"
healthful,conducive to good health; Ex. healthful mountain air
healthy,possessing good health; healthful
heckler,"person who verbally harasses others; V. heckle: verbally harass as with gibes
(by interrupting a speaker or speech)"
hedonist,"one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life; CF. hedonism: practice
of living one's life purely for pleasure"
heed,pay attention to; N: close attention
heedless,not noticing; disregarding
hegemony,dominance especially of one nation over others
heinous,atrocious; wicked; hatefully bad; Ex. heinous crime
helm,steering wheel of a ship; position of control
hem,surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.
herald,"messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex.
unheralded researcher"
herbivorous,grain-eating; CF. herbivore
herd,"group of animals; crowd; one who looks after a herd; Ex. shepherd/goatherd;
Ex. herd instinct; Ex. herdsman; V: come together in a herd; look after a
herd; Ex. herd cattle"
hereafter,life after death
heresy,"opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion;
ADJ. heretical; CF. heretic"
hermetic,concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult
hermitage,home of a hermit
herpetologist,"one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with
reptiles and amphibians"
heterodox,(of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional
heterogeneous,dissimilar; mixed; not homogeneous; consisting of dissimilar elements or
"",plants
hew,cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.
heyday,time of greatest success or power; prime
hiatus,gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break
hibernal,wintry; wintery; of or like winter
hibernate,sleep throughout the winter; N. hibernation
hide,skin of an animal
hideous,repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex. hideous face/scream
hierarchy,"arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks;
body of persons having authority"
hieroglyphic,picture writing; ADJ.
high-flown,highly pretentious or inflated
hilarity,boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ. hilarious: full of laughter
hindmost,furthest behind; farthest to the rear
hindrance,block; obstacle; V. hinder
hindsight,understanding the nature of an event after it has actually happened
hinterlands,back country; inner part of a country; OP. foreland
hireling,"one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously); one who works solely
for compensation; Ex. hireling politician"
hirsute,hairy; having a lot of hair
historic,important in history; Ex. historic battle
historical,"connected with history; based on events in history (whether regarded as
important or not)"
histrionic,"theatrical; excessively dramatic or emotional; affected; of actors or acting; N.
histrionics: histrionic behavior"
hive,box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
hoard,stockpile; accumulate for future use; N: supply stored for future use
hoary,white with age
hoax,trick which makes someone take action; practical joke; Ex. hoax mail; V.
holocaust,destruction by fire; CF. burnt whole; CF. Holocaust
holster,leather pistol case (that hangs on a belt around the waist)
homage,honor; tribute; great respect; Ex. pay/do homage to
homely,not good-looking; unattractive
homeostasis,tendency of a system or organism to maintain relative stability or internal
"",equilibrium; CF. homeo-: constant; Ex. homeotherm
homespun,"domestic; made at home; spun or woven at home; simple and ordinary; Ex.
homespun philosophy"
homily,sermon; tedious moralizing lecture; serious warning; ADJ. homiletic
homogeneous,of the same kind; uniform in composition throughout
hone,sharpen (a tool); N: whetstone for sharpening a tool
hoodwink,deceive; delude
horde,crowd; swarm
horoscope,"diagram of the positions of stars at a given moment (eg. of a person's birth)
used by astrologers"
hortatory,encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation; CF. exhort
horticultural,"pertaining to cultivation of gardens; N. horticulture: science or art of
cultivating fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants; CF. agriculture: science
or art of farming or growing crops"
hostage,"person who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy so that the other side will do
what the enemy demands"
hostility,unfriendliness; hatred; enmity; ADJ. hostile
hothead,person who does things too quickly without thinking; ADJ. hotheaded
hovel,shack; small wretched house
hover,"hang about; (of birds or aircraft) stay in the air in one place; (of people) wait
nearby; stay around one place; waver; be in an uncertain state"
hubbub,confused uproar; loud noise; din
hubris,arrogance; excessive self-conceit
hue,color; aspect; Ex. opinions of every hue
hue_and_cry,"outcry; loud cry or clamor; strong protest; Ex. hue and cry against the new
rule"
hull,husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship
humane,"marked by kindness or consideration; kind and compassionate;
humanitarian"
humanitarian,one devoted to the promotion of human welfare; CF. humanism
humble,"of low rank or position; modest; having a low opinion of oneself and a high
opinion of others; unassuming; not proud; V. humiliate: make humble; cause
to feel ashamed or to lose the respect of others"
humdrum,dull; monotonous
humid,damp; N. humidity
humility,humbleness of spirit,
hummock,small hill; hillock,
humor,"indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality that makes something
amusing; state of mind; mood; Ex. in a bad humor; Ex. out of humor",
humus,substance or rich soil formed by decaying vegetable matter; CF. soil,
hurl,throw forcefully; shout out violently,
hurtle,crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling runaway train,
husband,use sparingly; conserve; save; Ex. husband one's energy; CF. house holder,
husbandry,"frugality; thrift; economy; agriculture; farming; Ex. animal husbandry; CF.
husbandman",
hut,crude dwelling; shack,
hybrid,mongrel; mixed breed; V. hybridize,
hydrophobia,fear of water; rabies,
hygiene,"science and practice of the promotion and preservation of health; ADJ.
hygienic: showing careful attention to cleanness (to prevent disease); Ex.
hygienic condition",
hyperbole,exaggeration; overstatement; ADJ. hyperbolic: of hyperbole; of a hyperbola,
hypercritical,excessively exacting; too critical (without noticing good qualities),
hypnosis,induced sleeping state; ADJ. hypnotic; V. hypnotize,
hypochondriac,"person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness;
ADJ. CF. hypochondria: neurosis that one is or is becoming ill; CF. abdomen",
hypocritical,"pretending to be virtuous; deceiving; N. hypocrisy: profession of beliefs one
does not possess; CF. hypocrite",
hypothetical,based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed; N. hypothesis,
hysteria,"excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric: person suffering from
hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack of hysteria",
"",Barron GRE word list - I,
ichthyology,study of fish; CF. ichthyo-: fish,
icon(ikon),religious image; idol; image or representation,
iconoclastic,"attacking cherished traditions; N. iconoclast: one who attacks traditional
ideas; one who destroys sacred images",
ideology,system of ideas characteristic of a group or culture,
idiom,expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its,
"","individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern
popular music; ADJ. idiomatic"
idiosyncrasy,"individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral peculiarity; eccentricity;
attitude, behavior, or opinion peculiar to a person; anything highly
individual or eccentric; ADJ. idiosyncratic"
idle,"not working; not employed or busy; lazy; without purpose; useless; lacking
substance; baseless; not based on truth; Ex. idle worker; Ex. talk idly; V."
idolatry,worship of idols; excessive admiration or devotion; ADJ. idolatrous
idyll(idyl),"short poem idealizing rural life; simple happy period of life (in the country);
scene from such a time; Ex. idyll of two young lovers"
idyllic,charmingly carefree; simple and happy; Ex. idyllic scene
igneous,"produced by fire; of fire; volcanic; (of rocks) formed from lava; Ex. igneous
meteorite"
ignite,kindle; light; catch fire or set fire to
ignoble,unworthy; not noble; dishonorable; Ex. ignoble deed
ignominy,"deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous
defeat"
illicit,illegal
illimitable,infinite; limitless
illuminate,"brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten; enable to
understand; Ex. illuminating remarks"
illusion,misleading vision or visual image; false idea or belief; CF. delusion
illusive,deceiving; based on illusion; causing illusion; deceptive
illusory,illusive; deceptive; not real
imbalance,lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion
imbecility,"weakness of mind; state of being an imbecile; N. imbecile: stupid person;
fool"
imbibe,drink in
imbroglio,"complicated situation (as in a play); painful or complex misunderstanding
(as in a play); entanglement; confused mass (as of papers); V. embroil"
imbue,saturate(soak thoroughly); fill; Ex. imbue someone with feelings
immaculate,spotless; flawless; absolutely clean
imminent,impending; near at hand
immobility,state of being immovable
immolate,offer or kill as a sacrifice (by fire)
immune,resistant to; free or exempt from; N. immunity
immure,imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall
immutable,unchangeable
impair,injure; hurt; damage
impale,pierce (with a sharp point); Ex. impaled by the spear
impalpable,"imperceptible(not easily understood); intangible; OP. palpable: tangible;
easily perceptible"
impart,grant a share of; make known; Ex. news to impart
impartial,not biased; fair; N. impartiality
impassable,not able to be traveled or crossed
impasse,"predicament(dangerous condition) from which there is no escape; situation
allowing for no further progress"
impassioned,(of speech) filled with passion; fervent
impassive,without feeling; expressionless; imperturbable; stoical; Ex. impassive face
impeach,"charge (a public official) with crime in office; raise doubts about; indict; Ex.
impeach a witness's credibility"
impeccable,faultless
impecunious,without money
impede,hide; retard or obstruct the progress of; block
impediment,"hindrance; stumbling-block; speech defect preventing clear articulation; Ex.
speech impediment"
impel,drive or force onward; drive to take action; urge to action
impending,nearing; approaching; about to happen
impenetrable,"not able to be pierced or entered; beyond understanding; impossible to
understand; Ex. impenetrable mystery"
impenitent,not repentant
imperative,"absolutely necessary; that must be done; critically important; expressing
command; Ex. It is imperative that; N: something that must be done"
imperceptible,unnoticeable; impossible to perceive; undetectable
imperial,like an emperor; related to an empire; CF. imperialism
imperil,put in danger
imperious,domineering; too commanding; haughty; CF. imperial/emperor
impermeable,"impervious; not permitting passage through its substance; impossible to
permeate"
impersonal,not being a person; not showing personal feelings; Ex. impersonal
"",force/manner/organization
impertinent,insolent; rude; not pertinent; N. impertinence
imperturbable,unshakably calm; placid
impervious,"impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed; incapable of being
affected (in one's opinions); Ex. impervious to water/criticism"
impetuous,"violent; hasty; rash; impulsive; without careful thought; Ex. impetuous
decision"
impetus,"moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus;
impulse"
impiety,irreverence; lack of respect for God or piety
impinge,"infringe; encroach; influence; touch; collide with; Ex. The effects are
impinging on every aspect of our lives."
impious,irreverent
implacable,incapable of being pacified; impossible to appease; Ex. implacable enemy
implausible,unlikely (to be true); unbelievable; Ex. implausible alibi
implement,"put into effect; enforce; carry out; supply with tools; Ex. implement the
plan/suggestion; N: tool or instrument"
implicate,"incriminate; involve incriminatingly; show to be involved (in a crime); Ex.
implicate someone in the crime"
implication,something hinted at or suggested; implying; implicating
implicit,"understood but not stated; implied; unquestioning and complete; Ex.
implicit trust"
implode,burst inward; CF. vaccum tube
implore,v. ask or beg earnestly; beseech
imply,suggest a meaning not expressed; signify
impolitic,not wise; not expedient; not politic
imponderable,weightless; that cannot undergo precise evaluation; CF. pound
import,significance; importance; meaning
importunate,urging; always demanding; troublesomely urgent or persistent
importune,beg persistently; make repeated requests (in an annoying way)
imposture,assuming a false identity; masquerade; CF. impostor
impotent,weak; ineffective; lacking in physical strength or power
impoverish,"make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex.
impoverished soil"
imprecation,curse; swearword
impregnable,"invulnerable; impossible to capture or enter by force; Ex. impregnable
fort/argument; CF. take"
impregnate,make pregnant; fill thoroughly; saturate
impromptu,"without previous preparation; off the cuff(end of a sleeve); on the spur of
the moment"
impropriety,improperness; unsuitableness
improvident,thriftless; not providing for the future
improvise,compose on the spur of the moment
imprudent,lacking caution; not prudent; injudicious
impudence,impertinence; insolence
impugn,"dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way); attack as false or
questionable; challenge; gainsay; CF. fight"
impuissance,powerlessness; feebleness
impunity,freedom from punishment or harm; CF. punish
impute,attribute; ascribe; charge; N. imputation
inadvertently,unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
inalienable,not to be taken away; nontransferable; Ex. inalienable rights
inamorata,woman whom a man loves
inane,silly; senseless; Ex. inane remarks; N. inanity
inanimate,lifeless; not animate
inarticulate,"speechless; producing indistinct speech; not articulate; not expressing
oneself clearly"
inasmuch_as,since; owing to the fact that
inaugurate,"begin formally; install in office; induct into office by a formal ceremony; N.
inauguration; ADJ. inaugural"
incandescent,"strikingly bright; shining with intense heat; emitting visible light when
heated; Ex. incandescent light bulb; CF. candle"
incantation,"singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; (the saying of) words
used in magic; CF. enchant"
incapacitate,disable; N. incapacity: lack of capacity
incarcerate,imprison
incarnate,"endowed with flesh; invested with bodily form; personified; Ex. devil
incarnate; V: give bodily form to; embody"
incarnation,"act of assuming a human body and human nature; one who personifies
something; personification; Ex. previous incarnation/reincarnation"
incendiary,arsonist; ADJ: causing fire; of arson; Ex. incendiary bomb
incense,"enrage; infuriate(make furious); make extremely angry; outrage; N:
aromatic substance burned to produce a pleasant odor"
incentive,spur; motive; something which encourages one to greater activity
inception,start; beginning
incessant,uninterrupted; unceasing
inchoate,"(of desire, wish, plan) recently begun; not explicit; at the beginning of
development; rudimentary; elementary; Ex. inchoate mass"
incidence,"rate of occurrence; particular occurrence; Ex. high incidence of infant
mortality"
incident,event; event that causes a crisis
incidental,not essential; minor; N: something incidental
incinerate,burn to ashes
incipient,beginning; in an early stage
incisive,"(appreciatively) cutting; sharp; Ex. incisive remarks; V. incise: make a cut
into"
incite,"arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist; Ex. incite a riot/the crowd
to rebellion"
inclement,stormy; unkind; unmerciful; CF. clement
incline,slope; slant; Ex. steep incline
inclined,tending or leaning toward; bent; V. incline: slant; dispose; be disposed; tend
inclusive,tending to include all; all-inclusive; Ex. inclusive charge
incognito,with identity concealed; using an assumed name; ADJ.
incoherent,"unintelligible; muddled; unable to express one's thoughts in an orderly
manner; illogical; lacking cohesion; not coherent"
incommodious,not spacious; inconvenient
incompatible,inharmonious; N. incompatibility
incongruity,"lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous: lacking in harmony;
inappropriate"
inconsequential,insignificant; unimportant
inconsistency,"state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness; ADJ.
inconsistent: displaying a lack of consistency; erratic; contradictory;
incompatible"
incontinent,lacking self-restraint; not continent; licentious
incontrovertible,indisputable; impossible to dispute; not open to question; unquestionable
incorporate,"introduce something into a larger whole; include; embody; give material
form to; ADJ."
incorporeal,without a material body; insubstantial
incorrigible,uncorrectable
incredulity,tendency to disbelief
incredulous,withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief
increment,increase
incriminate,"accuse of or implicate in a crime; serve as evidence against; cause to seem or
make guilty of a crime; Ex. incriminating evidence"
incrustation,hard coating or crust; V. incrust: encrust; cover with a crust
incubate,"hatch; warm (eggs) with the body to promote hatching; maintain at optimal
environment conditions for development; be holding in one's body an
infection which is going to develop into a disease; N. incubation; CF.
incubation:disease"
incubus,"burden; very worriying problem; mental care; nightmare; male devil; CF.
succubus"
inculcate,teach (ideas or principles); instill
incumbent,"obligatory; imposed as an obligation; currently holding an office; N: person
who holds an office"
incur,bring upon oneself
incursion,temporary invasion; CF. excursion: short journey
indecision,irresolution; inability to make up one's mind
indecisive,marked by indecision; inconclusive; Ex. indecisive battle
indefatigable,tireless; untiring; showing no sign of getting tired
indelible,not able to be erased
indemnify,"make secure against damage or loss; compensate for damage or loss; CF.
make uninjured"
indentation,notch; deep recess; V. indent; CF. tooth
indenture,"bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind by indenture; N: contract
binding one party into the service of another for a specified time (as
between an apprentice and his master)"
indeterminate,uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
indicative,suggestive; implying; serving to indicate
indices,"signs; indications; Ex. indices of a student's potential; CF. index: something
that reveals or indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index"
indict,charge; N. indictment
indifferent,"unmoved or unconcerned by; having no interest in; mediocre; neither good
nor bad"
indigence,poverty
indigenous,native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New World
indigent,poor; destitute
indignation,anger at an injustice; Ex. righteous indignation; ADJ. indignant
indignity,"treatment or situation that causes shame or loss of dignity, respect;
offensive or insulting treatment; humiliating or degrading treatment; Ex. I
suffered the indignity of having to say that in front of them."
indiscriminate,choosing at random; confused; not based on careful distinctions
indisputable,too certain to be disputed; beyond doubt
indissoluble,permanent; impossible to dissolve or disintegrate
indite,write; compose
indoctrinate,"cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with
mindless anti-communism"
indolent,lazy
indomitable,unconquerable; unyielding
indubitable,unable to be doubted; which cannot be doubted; unquestionable
induce,persuade; lead to do something; bring about; N. inducement
induct,"place formally in office; install; admit as a member; initiate; N. induction:
inducting; process of deriving general principles from particular facts"
inductive,pertaining to induction or proceeding from the specific to the general
indulge,"yield to; gratify; allow oneself a special pleasure; Ex. indulge one's every
whim/a child/in a big cigarette; N. indulgence"
indulgent,humoring; yielding; lenient; showing indulgence
industrious,diligent; hard-working; N. industry
inebriate,make drunk; intoxicate; N. intoxicated person
inebriated,habitually intoxicated; drunk; N. inebriety
ineffable,"unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech;
indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy"
ineffectual,not effective; not having a desired effect; weak
ineluctable,irresistible; not to be escaped; unavoidable
inept,"unsuited; inappropriate; lacking skill; incompetent; CF. inapt: (of
statements or ideas) inappropriate"
inequity,unfairness; ADJ. inequitable
inerrancy,infallibility
inert,"inactive; lacking power to move; unable to move or act; Ex. chemically inert;
N. inertia: state of being inert; force which keeps a thing in the position or
state"
inestimable,impossible to estimate; (apprec) invaluable; of immeasurable worth
inevitable,unavoidable
inexorable,"relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable of being changed by entreaty
or efforts; Ex. inexorable price rises"
inextricable,"from which it is impossible to get free; that cannot be untied; Ex.
inextricable troubles; Ex. inextricable two histories"
infallible,unerring; never making mistakes
infamous,"notoriously bad; notorious; well known for being bad; Ex. infamous
behavior; N: infamy: infamous act; evil fame or reputation"
infantile,childish; infantlike
infer,deduce; conclude; N. inference
infernal,pertaining to hell; devilish; N. inferno: place of fiery heat or destruction
infest,"inhabit in numbers large enough to be harmful; Ex. Mice infested the house;
Ex. shark-infested waters"
infidel,unbeliever (with respect to a particular religion)
infiltrate,"pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an organization) sneakily; Ex.
infiltrate the troops into enemy territory; CF. infiltrator"
infinitesimal,very small
infirmity,weakness
inflated,exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas)
influx,flowing into
infraction,violation (of a rule or regulation); breach
infringe,violate (a law); encroach (the right of another person)
ingenious,marked by inventive skill; clever; resourceful; N. ingenuity
ingenue,ing\'enue; young innocent girl
ingenuous,naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated; candid
ingrained,deeply established; firmly rooted; Ex. ingrained dirt/prejudice
ingrate,ungrateful person (not expressing thanks)
ingratiate,"become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate
himself with the boss"
inherent,firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic
inhibit,restrain; prohibit; retard or prevent; N. inhibition
inhibited,(of a person) unable to express what one really feels
inimical,"(of someone) unfriendly; hostile; (of something) harmful; detrimental; CF.
enemy"
inimitable,matchless; not able to be imitated
iniquitous,wicked; immoral; unrighteous; N. iniquity; Ex. den of iniquity
initiate,"begin; originate; receive into a group; introduce to a new field or activity;
Ex. initiate someone into the mysteries of a secret religion; N: one who has
been initiated"
injurious,harmful; causing injury
inkling,hint; slight indication
innate,inborn
innocuous,harmless
innovation,"change; something newly introduced; introduction of something new; V.
innovate: begin or introduce (something new); be creative; ADJ. innovative"
innuendo,indirect or subtle (derogatory) hint; insinuation; Ex. sexual innuendo
inopportune,untimely; inappropriate or ill-timed; poorly chosen
inordinate,beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive; Ex. inordinate demands
inquisitive,eager for knowledge; unduly curious
inquisitor,questioner (especially harsh); investigator; person making an inquisition
inroad,"hostile invasion; advance that lessens the quantity or difficulty of
something; Ex. The long illness made serious inroads on his savings; CF.
raid"
insalubrious,unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious place
insatiable,not easily satisfied; unquenchable; Ex. insatiable appetite
inscrutable,difficult to understand; impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious
insensate,without feeling; lacking sense; foolish
insensible,"unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex.
insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite
of sensible"
insidious,"treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading harmfully in a stealthy
manner; Ex. insidious spreading of dry rot"
insightful,discerning; perceptive
insinuate,"hint; imply; suggest indirectly; creep in; introduce or insert (oneself) by
artful means; Ex. insinuate himself into the boss's favor; CF. ingratiate"
insipid,lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid food/character
insolence,impudent disrespect; haughtiness; ADJ. insolent; CF. haughty + rude
insolvent,bankrupt; lacking money to pay; N. insolvency
insomnia,wakefulness; inability to sleep
insouciant,without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent
instigate,start; urge; provoke; incite; Ex. instigate a search/quarrel
institute,organization for a special purpose; V: establish
institution,"instituting; (building for the) organization; established custom, practice, or
relationship in a society; mental hospital; Ex. institution of marriage"
institutionalize,make into an institution; put or confine in an institution
insubordination,disobedience; rebelliousness; ADJ. insubordinate
insubstantial,lacking substance; insignificant; frail; immaterial
insularity,"narrow-mindedness; isolation; ADJ. insular: of an island; isolated; narrow-
minded; CF. peninsula"
insuperable,insurmountable; unbeatable; Ex. insuperable difficulties
insurgent,rebellious; N.
insurmountable,overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable
insurrection,rebellion; uprising
intangible,not able to be perceived by touch; vague
integral,complete; necessary for completeness; Ex. integral part
integrate,make whole; combine; make into one unit
integrity,"honesty; uprightness; wholeness; state of being whole and undivided;
completeness"
intellect,higher mental powers; person of great intellectual ability
intelligentsia,intellectuals; members of the educated elite (often used derogatorily)
inter,bury; N. interment
interdict,prohibit; forbid; N.
interim,"meantime; Ex. in the interim; ADJ. taking place during an interim; Ex.
interim paper"
interjection,exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch''
interloper,intruder; one who interferes
intermediary,intermediate; acting as a mediator; N: mediator; go-between
interminable,endless
intermittent,periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at intervals
internecine,mutually destructive
interpolate,insert between
interregnum,period between two successive reigns or governments
interrogate,question closely; cross-examine; cross-question
interstice,narrow space between things
intervene,come between; interfere; Ex. intervened to prevent a fight; N. intervention
intimate,"hint; suggest; imply; ADJ: marked by close relationship; familiar; private;
personal; Ex. intimate knowledge/thoughts in the diary; N: close friend or
confidant; CF. intimacy"
intimidate,frighten; N. intimidation
intolerant,"not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one's own; CF. tolerant;
CF. tolerate"
intoxicate,"make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated by all the money he might
win"
intractable,unruly; difficult to manage; Ex. intractable problem/child
intransigence,"refusal of any compromise; stubbornness; ADJ. intransigent:
uncompromising"
intrepid,fearless
intrigue,"make secret plans; plot; arouse the curiosity of; N: secret scheme; plot;
secret love affair"
intrinsic,essential; inherent; built-in
introspective,looking within oneself; N. introspection: self-examination
introvert,"one who is introspective or inclined to think more about oneself; ADJ.
introverted"
intrude,"put or force in without being asked; trespass; enter as an uninvited person;
Ex. intrude one's own opinion into the report; CF. thrust in"
intuition,"immediate insight; power of knowing without reasoning; ADJ. intuitive; V.
intuit: know by intuition"
inundate,flood; overflow; submerge; cover completely; Ex. inundated with work
inured,"accustomed; hardened; Ex. inured to the Alaskan cold; V. inure: make used
to something undesirable; harden; CF. unfeeling"
invalid,"one incapacitated(disabled) by a chronic illness; ADJ: incapacitated by
illness; not valid; null; V: allow to leave (a military force) because of ill-
health"
invalidate,weaken; destroy; make invalid; nullify
invective,abuse
inveigh,denounce; utter censure or invective; Ex. inveigh against the evils of drink
inveigle,"deceive; lead astray by deception; wheedle(cajole); Ex. inveigle her into
joining the club; CF. interest dishonestly"
inverse,opposite
invert,turn upside down or inside out; reverse the position or condition of
inveterate,deep-rooted; habitual; CF. grow old
invidious,"designed to create ill will or envy; tending to rouse ill will or envy; Ex.
invidious comparison"
invincible,unconquerable
inviolable,"secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or profanation); unassailable;
Ex. inviolable oath/rights; N. inviolability"
invocation,"prayer for help (used in invoking); calling upon as a reference or support;
act of invoking"
invoke,"call and bring into use (a right or law); call on/upon (a higher power or god)
for help; ask for; beg for; conjure (a spirit); Ex. invoke the veto power; Ex.
invoke one's advisor/God"
invulnerable,incapable of injury; impossible to damage or injure
iota,very small quantity
irascible,irritable; easily angered
irate,angry; CF. ire: anger; wrath
iridescent,exhibiting rainbowlike colors; Ex. iridescent oil slick; N. iridescence
irksome,annoying; tedious; V. irk: annoy
ironic,expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner
irony,"hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem to mean the opposite of
what they actually mean; use of words to convey the opposite of their literal
meaning"
irreconcilable,impossible to reconcile; incompatible; not able to be resolved
irrefutable,indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable
irrelevant,not applicable; unrelated
irremediable,incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy
irreparable,not able to be corrected or repaired; impossible to repair
irrepressible,unable to be restrained or held back; impossible to hold back
irreproachable,beyond reproach; blameless; impeccable; Ex. irreproachable conduct
irresolute,uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in resolution; indecisive; N. irresolution
irretrievable,impossible to recover or regain; CF. retrieve
irreverence,lack of proper respect or reverence; ADJ. irreverent,
irrevocable,unalterable; irreversible; impossible to revoke,
isotope,varying from of an element,
isthmus,narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land,
itinerant,"wandering; traveling from place to place (to perform work); Ex. itinerant
preacher",
itinerary,plan of a trip; record of a trip,
"",Barron GRE word list - J,
jab,poke abruptly with something sharp; punch with short blows,
jabber,chatter rapidly or unintelligibly,
jaded,"tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued; surfeited; worn out; wearied; Ex.
jaded appetite",
jargon,"language used by special group; technical terminology; gibberish; nonsensical
or incoherent talk",
jaundice,"medical condition in which the skin, the white part of the eyes, etc. turn
yellow; V: affect with jaundice; affect with prejudice, envy, or hostility; bias",
jaundiced,"yellowed; prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful) from long and
disappointing experience of human affairs; Ex. with a jaundiced eye",
jaunt,trip; short journey,
jaunty,"cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree;
dapper in appearance; Ex. jaunty person/hat",
jeopardize,endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy: danger,
jest,playful remark or act; V. act or speak playfully,
jetsam,things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship),
jettison,throw overboard (from a ship or plane),
jibe,agree; be in harmony with; gibe,
jingoist,"extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism:
extreme nationalism",
jocose,given to(having a tendency of) joking,
jocular,said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking,
jocund,merry,
jollity,gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay,
jostle,,"shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly; Ex. jostled by the
crowds",
jovial,,good-natured; merry; cheerful,
jubilation,,rejoicing; great joy,
judiciary,,judicial branch of government,
judicious,,sound on judgment; wise,
jug,,pitcher; container for holding liquids,
juggernaut,,"irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing force that crushes
everything in its path",
jumble,,mix in a confused way,
juncture,,crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining,
junket,,trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense,
junta,,"group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers
ruling a country after seizing power (by force)",
juridical,,of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of courts of law; CF. judiciary,
jurisdiction,,right and power to apply the law; authority,
jurisprudence,,science of law,
juxtapose,,place side by side; CF. next,
"",Barron GRE word list - K,
kaleidoscope,"tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of
glass, etc. produce interesting symmetrical effects; series of changing events;
Ex. kaleidoscope of European history; CF. beautiful",
ken,range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken,
kernel,central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn),
killjoy,grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others,
kindle,start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse,
kindred,"related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character; Ex.
kindred languages; N: relative; kin; kinship",
kinetic,producing motion; of motion,
kismet,fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.,
kleptomaniac,person who has a compulsive desire to steal,
knack,special talent; art,
knave,untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery,
knead,"mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex.
knead dough",
kneel,go down on one's knee(s),
knell,"tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the
funeral bell; V.",
knit,"contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or
garment) by interwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones
should knit together in a few weeks.",
knoll,little round hill; hillock,
knotty,intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot,
kudos,honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement,
"",Barron GRE word list - L,
labile,likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile; N. lability,
laborious,demanding much work or care; tedious,
labyrinth,maze,
lace,"cord used to draw and tie together two opposite edges (as of a shoe); delicate
fabric made of fine threads; V: draw together by tying a lace",
laceration,torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin as with broken glass); wound,
lachrymose,producing tears; tearful,
lackadaisical,lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid,
lackluster,lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull,
laconic,brief and to the point; using few words; terse,
lag,move or develop more slowly; straggle; Ex. lag behind the rest; N.,
laggard,slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler,
lagoon,"shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated from a sea by
sandbars or coral reefs",
laity,laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy,
lament,grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation,
lampoon,"ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or
institution",
lance,pierce with a lance; cut into; N: spearlike weapon,
lancet,small surgical tool for making incisions
languid,lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless
languish,lose animation or strength
languor,lack of physical or mental energy; lassitude; depression
lank,"long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln"
lap,"take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently; Ex. waves lapping the
shore; N: front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person"
larceny,theft; Ex. petit larceny
larder,pantry; place where food is kept
largess,generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)
lascivious,lustful
lassitude,languor; weariness; listlessness
latch,"fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch; V: close
with a latch"
latent,"present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF.
potential"
lateral,of or coming from the side
latitude,freedom from narrow limitations
laud,praise; N. ADJ. laudable: praiseworthy; ADJ. laudatory: expressing praise
lavish,"liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse;
great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance"
lax,careless; negligent; not paying enough attention; Ex. lax service
layman,man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional
leash,"restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on
a leash"
leaven,"add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast,
that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens"
leave-taking,farewell or departure
lechery,gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man
lectern,reading desk or stand for a public speaker
leery,(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious
leeway,room to move; margin; latitude; Ex. leeway for the deadline
legacy,gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor
legato,(of music) played smoothly
legend,explanatory list of symbols on a map
legerdemain,sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand
legislature,legislating branch of government; CF. legislate: make laws
leniency,"mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe in judgment or
punishment"
leonine,like a lion
lethal,deadly
lethargic,drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness and inactivity
levee,earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise
levitate,rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light
levity,lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner
levy,"impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect (a tax); Ex. levy a tax on
tobacco"
lewd,lustful
lexicographer,compiler of a dictionary; CF. lexicography: work of compiling a dictionary
lexicon,dictionary
liability,"drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being
liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)"
liaison,"contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups;
one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise:
keep a connection"
libel,"defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person's
character; V. ADJ. libelous"
libertine,debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou\'e; CF. free
libidinous,lustful
libido,psychic and emotional energy or urges behind human activity; sexual desire
libretto,text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
license,"official or legal permission; latitude of action or speech; excessive freedom
that causes harm or damage; V."
licentious,amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
lien,legal claim or right on a property
ligneous,like wood
lilliputian,extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels
limber,flexible; supple; pliable; V.
limbo,region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex.
"",Purgatory and Limbo
limn,draw; outline; describe; CF. line ?
limp,walk lamely; ADJ: lacking firmness; weak
limpid,crystal clear
lineage,descent; ancestry
lineaments,features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line
linger,"loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going; continue or persist; be slow to
disappear; Ex. The smell lingered for days."
linguistic,pertaining to language
lionize,treat (a person) as a celebrity
liquidate,settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate; kill or abolish
list,tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)
listless,lacking in spirit or energy; languid
litany,"supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies
in the same words"
lithe,flexible; supple; CF. limber
litigation,lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V. litigate
litotes,understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''
litter,"waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover
untidily with scattered litter"
livid,"lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely
angry"
loath,"reluctant; unwilling; disinclined; Ex. Romeo and Juliet were both loath for
him to go."
loathe,detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive; Ex. loathsome smell
lode,metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)
loft,room or space under the roof; attic
lofty,very high
log,"record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk;
V."
loiter,hang about/around; stand idly about; linger
loll,lounge about
longevity,long life; long duration
lookout,"act of keeping watch; high place commanding a wide view; person who keeps
watch"
loom,"appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct, or distorted form); Ex.
The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly. N: apparatus for making
thread into cloth"
lope,gallop slowly
lopsided,heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
loquacious,talkative; N. loquacity
lot,object used in making a determination at random; fate; piece of land
lottery,contest in which winners are selected in a drawing of lots
lounge,"stand, sit, or lie in a lazy, relaxed way"
lout,clumsy person; ADJ. loutish; CF. from countrysides ?
low,moo; make the sound of a cow
lubricate,apply a lubricant to; N. lubricant: substance that reduces friction
lucid,easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity
lucrative,profitable; producing wealth
lucre,money; profit; Ex. filthy lucre
ludicrous,laughable; ridiculous; trifling
lugubrious,mournful; sorrowful
lull,"moment of calm; period of reduced activity; Ex. a lull in the rain; V: cause to
become less active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false
sense of security; CF. lullaby"
lumber,"move heavily or clumsily; Ex. The bear lumbered through the woods; N:
timber"
lumen,unit of light energy (one candle's worth)
luminary,"celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object that gives light (as a celestial
body)"
luminous,shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light; Ex. luminous paint/road signs
lunar,pertaining to the moon
lunatic,insane; Ex. lunatic asylum
lurid,wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; Ex. lurid details of the murder
lurk,stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived
luscious,pleasing to taste or smell; delicious
lush,(of a plant or grass) growing very well
lust,intense sexual desire; intense eagerness; V.
luster,shine; gloss (of a polished surface)
lustrous,shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair,
luxuriant,"abundant; growing healthily and in large amounts; excessively ornate; rich
and splendid; fertile; Ex. luxuriant forests/prose; CF. luxurious, luxuriate",
luxuriate,take pleasure in great comfort,
"",Barron GRE word list - M,,
macabre,,gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death,
mace,,"ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval
weapon",
macerate,,"soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered
wood to make paper",
Machiavellian,,"crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which
holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power",
machinations,,"evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V.
machinate",
maculated,,spotted; stained; CF. immaculate,
madrigal,,pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments,
maelstrom,,violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream,
magisterial,,"authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex.
magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner",
magistrate,,official with power to administer the law,
magnanimity,,generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous,
magnate,,"person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in
business or industry); Ex. oil magnate",
magniloquent,,boastful; pompous,
magnitude,,greatness (in size or extent); extent,
maim,,mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life,
makeshift,,"temporary expedient or substitute (in the case of urgent need); Ex.
makeshift shelter",
maladroit,,clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling,
malady,,illness,
malaise,,"uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or
appearance of disease)",
malapropism,,comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop,
malapropos,inappropriate; ADV.
malcontent,"person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person;
ADJ: discontented"
malediction,curse
malefactor,evildoer; criminal
maleficient,doing evil; N. maleficience
malevolent,wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence
malfeasance,wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)
malicious,"hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others;
spite"
malign,"speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame; ADJ: harmful;
Ex. malign influence"
malignant,"tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex.
malignant tumor"
malingerer,"one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to
avoid work"
malleable,"(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable;
(of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled;
tractable"
malodorous,foul-smelling
mammal,vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young
mammoth,gigantic; enormous
manacle,restrain; handcuff; N.
mandate,"order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another
country; power to given to a government; region under
administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex.
mandated territory"
mandatory,obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
maneuver(manoeuver),"strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes);
carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military
maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end"
mange,skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair
mangle,tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex. badly mangled bodies
mangy,shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance
maniacal,"raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder
of the mind; intense enthusiasm"
manifest,evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly
manifestation,"outward demonstration; manifesting; indication of the presence of
something; Ex. manifestation of his pronounced musical bent"
manifesto,public declaration of principles; statement of policy
manifold,many in number or kind; numerous; varied
manipulate,"operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.)
artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate publicity and men; ADJ.
manipulative"
mannered,affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech
mannerism,"distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art (according to a set of
styles)"
mantle,"loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or
envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core"
manumit,emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
mar,spoil the appearance of
maraud,move in search of plunder; Ex. marauding army
margin,border; room; allowance beyond what is needed; Ex. margin of safety
marginal,of a margin; barely within a limit; Ex. marginal effect/writing ability
marital,pertaining to marriage
maritime,"bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea;
Ex. Maritime Provinces"
marked,"noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked
improvement/man"
maroon,leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
marred,damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure
marrow,"soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood
cells"
marshal,"put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal
the children into the museum; N: military officer; official"
marsupial,"one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a
pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat"
martial,warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law
martinet,"strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules
and orders; CF. Jean Martinet"
martyr,"one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause;
great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism"
mash,"crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and
nutrients fed to livestock and fowl"
masochist,person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism
mason,"one who builds or works with stone or brick; N. masonry: work of a
mason; stonework or brickwork"
masquerade,"wear a mask or disguise; pretend; N: costume party or ball at which
masks are worn; pretense; disguise"
mass,Christian religious ceremony; CF. Mass: ceremony of the Eucharist
masticate,chew
mat,"not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as
a floor covering; V."
materialism,"preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard
for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)"
maternal,motherly; N. maternity: motherhood
matin\'ee(matinee),dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon
matriarch,woman who rules a family or larger social group
matriculate,enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix
matrimony,state of being married
matrix,"point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die;
Ex. the matrix of Western civilization"
maudlin,effusively sentimental
maul,"handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his
overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer"
mausoleum,monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos
mauve,pale purple
maverick,rebel; nonconformist (in a group)
mawkish,"mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively
and objectionably sentimental"
maxim,proverb; truth pithily stated
mayhem,"injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person;
violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim"
meager,scanty; inadequate
mealymouthed,"indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said);
hypocritical; evasive"
meander,"wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move
aimlessly and idly"
meddlesome,interfering; V. meddle: interfere
mediate,"settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an
intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire"
mediocre,ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad
meditation,reflection; thought; V. meditate
medium,"element that is a creature's natural environment; nutrient setting in
which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or
means of expression; channel of communication; compromise;
middle position between extremes; intervening substan"
medley,mixture
meek,submissive; patient and long-suffering
megalomania,"mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by
delusions of wealth, power, or importance"
melancholy,gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia
melee,fight
mellifluous,"(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having
a pleasant tune"
memento,token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit
memoir,memoirs; autobiography; biography
memorial,"something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to honor the
memory of a person or event; ADJ: commemorative"
memorialize,commemorate
menace,threat; V: threaten
menagerie,collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo
mendacious,lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity
mendicant,beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
menial,"suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial
work (esp. servant in a house)"
mentor,counselor; teacher
mercantile,concerning trade or merchants
mercenary,motivated solely by money or gain; N.
mercurial,"capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element
mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood"
meretricious,"flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex.
metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute"
merger,combination (of two business corporations); act of merging
merit,deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
mesmerize,hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer
metallurgical,"pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy:
science that deals with extracting metals from ores"
metamorphosis,"change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V.
metamorphose: change by metamorphosis"
metaphor,implied comparison; CF. simile
metaphysical,"pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N.
metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of
reality"
mete,measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
meteoric,"like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame;
N. meteor"
meter,arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual rhythm)
methodical,systematic; N. method: systematic method of procedure
meticulous,"excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking;
scrupulous"
metrical,"metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of
Homer"
metropolis,large city
mettle,"courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ.
mettlesome"
miasma,"swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from
decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere
or influence"
microcosm,"small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of
English society"
migrant,"changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one
that migrates"
migratory,"wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another;
move periodically from one region to another"
milieu,"social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu;
Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor."
militant,combative; bellicose; N.
militate,"work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF.
serve as a soldier"
militia,army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers
millennium,"thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of
happiness and prosperity"
mime,"pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic;
pantomime"
mimicry,imitation
minatory,menacing; threatening
mincing,"affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small
pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way,
taking little short steps; Ex. The actor minced across the stage; CF.
mincemeat; CF. mincer"
mingle,mix together in close association
miniature,small model; small painting; ADJ: small
minion,servile dependent; obsequious follower
minuscule(miniscule),extremely small
minute,"extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a
meeting"
minutiae,petty or trivial details; CF. minutia
mirage,unreal reflection; optical illusion
mire,"entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep
mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire"
mirth,merriment; laughter
misadventure,mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure
misanthrope,one who hates mankind; misanthropist
misapprehension,error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend
miscellaneous,made up of a variety of parts
miscellany,mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items
mischance,ill luck
mischief,"behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage;
harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief;
playfully troublesome"
misconduct,immoral behavior; bad management; V.
misconstrue,interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge
miscreant,"wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF.
believe"
misdemeanor,minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing
miserly,stingy; mean
misgivings,doubts
mishap,unfortunate accident
misnomer,wrong or improper name; incorrect designation
misogamy,hatred of marriage
misogynist,hater of woman; CF. misogyny
missile,object to be thrown or projected
missive,letter; written statement; CF. sent
mite,very small object or insect-like creature; small coin
mitigate,appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity
mnemonic,"pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as
formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid"
mobile,movable; not fixed; N. mobility
mock,ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision
mode,"prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something;
Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life"
modicum,"limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of
sense; CF. moderate"
modish,fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
modulate,"tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate;
change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G"
mogul,"powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol, Moghul; CF. Mongolian"
molecule,"the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all
the properties of that substance"
mollify,soothe an angry person
mollycoddle,pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively
molt(moult),"periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a
new growth)"
molten,melted; Ex. molten lava
momentous,very important; N. moment; CF. momentary
momentum,quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force
monarchy,government under a single ruler
monastic,related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns
monetary,pertaining to money
mongrel,plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed; ADJ.
monochromatic,having only one color
monochrome,painting in only one color; ADJ.
monogram,design composed of one or more initials of a name; V.
monograph,scholarly article
monolithic,"solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block
of stone"
monotheism,belief in one God
monotony,"sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous;
CF. monotone"
monumental,massive; impressively large; built as a monument
moodiness,"fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods;
subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood: | state of mind or
emotion"
moratorium,"legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the
building of new houses"
morbid,"given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic
of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease"
mordant,"biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant
pen/wit"
mores,conventions; moral standards; moral customs
morgue,mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation
moribund,dying; at the point of death; CF. death
morose,ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy
mortar,vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle
mortician,undertaker; CF. death
mortify,"humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh;
discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder;
Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die"
mosaic,picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.
mote,small speck (esp. of dust)
motif,"theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work;
single or repeated pattern; figure"
motility,ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously
motley,"multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed;
heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval
courts)"
mottled,"blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with
blotches of different colors"
motto,brief statement used to express a principle
mountebank,charlatan; boastful pretender
muddle,confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion
muggy,(of weather) warm and damp
mulct,"defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his
legacy"
multifarious,varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities
multiform,having many forms
multilingual,having many languages; fluent in several languages
multiplicity,"state of being numerous or multiple; large number; Ex. multiplicity
of details; ADJ. multiple: of more than one element"
mundane,"worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex.
mundane existence; CF. world"
munificent,very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience
mural,wall painting
murky,"dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N.
murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom"
murmur,"low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble"
muse,ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)
musky,"having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an
Asian deer"
muster,"gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the
ordeal; N."
musty,stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist
mutablility,"ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change;
fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant"
mute,"silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to speak; N: one who
is incapable of speech; V: soften the sound, color, shade of"
muted,silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic noise
mutilate,maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part
mutinous,unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open
"",rebellion; CF. mutineer,
mutter,utter (complaining words) indistinctly in low tones,
myopic,nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia,
myriad,very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand,
mystic,"of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N.
CF. mysticism",
"",Barron GRE word list - N,
nadir,"lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the
zenith",
naivet\'e(naivety),"quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ.
naive(na\""ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous",
narcissist,conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus,
narrative,"related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a
story); CF. narration",
nascent,incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex. nascent ability in music,
natal,connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF. postnatal,
natation,swimming,
natty,neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser,
nausea,feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness,
nauseate,cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea,
nauseous,causing nausea; feeling nausea,
nautical,pertaining to ships or navigation,
navigable,"(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through;
(of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered",
nebula,diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy,
nebulous,vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal,
necromancy,"black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to
communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF.
necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis",
nectar,drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees,
nefarious,very wicked,
negate,cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation,
negligence,"neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not
taking enough care"
negligible,"so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded"
nemesis,someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis
neologism,new or newly coined word or phrase
neophyte,recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant
nepotism,favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
nether,lower; Ex. nether garments/regions
nettle,irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
nexus,connection
nib,beak(bill); pen point
nicety,"precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety:
exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties"
niggardly,meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person
niggle,"spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault;
Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling"
nihilist,"one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence
meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief
that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing
political or social institutio"
nimble,"quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble
climber/mind"
nip,"snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with
cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers
nipped by the extreme chill"
nirvana,"in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself
in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude"
nocturnal,done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne
noisome,foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
nomadic,wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place
nomenclature,"terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming
things"
nominal,"in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF.
nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint"
nonchalance,"indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned;
cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts"
noncommittal,"neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged;
undecided"
nondescript,"undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a
crowd"
nonentity,person of no importance; nonexistence
nonplus,put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
nonsense,"speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex.
make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail"
noose,loop formed in a rope
nostalgia,"homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s;
ADJ. nostalgic"
nostrum,questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
notable,conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted
notch,V-shaped cut in a surface; V.
notoriety,disrepute; ill fame
nourish,provide with food necessary for life and growth
nourishment,something that nourishes; food
nova,"star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original
brightness"
novelty,something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original
novice,beginner
noxious,harmful; CF. obnoxious
nuance,shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction
nubile,marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
nugatory,worthless; futile
nullify,make invalid; make null; invalidate
numismatist,"person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money,
coins, and medals"
nuptial,"related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding
ceremony"
nurse,"suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex.
nurse a hope/grudge against someone"
nurture,"nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing;
foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing"
nutrient,nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment
nutrition,process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition,
nutritious,providing nourishment,
"",Barron GRE word list - O,
oaf,stupid awkward person; CF. elf,
oath,"solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings;
swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''",
oatmeal,crushed oats used for making porridge,
obdurate,stubborn; refusing to change one's belief,
obeisance,bow (to show respect and obedience),
obelisk,"tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and
ending in a pyramid",
obese,excessively fat; N. obesity,
obfuscate,"confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so
confused as to be difficult to understand",
obituary,death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.,
objective,not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim,
obligatory,"binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a
favor; accommodate",
oblique,"indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line);
Ex. oblique reference",
obliterate,destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate the village,
oblivion,obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness,
oblivious,"inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful(having the
habit of forgetting)",
obloquy,slander; disgrace; infamy,
obnoxious,offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell,
obscure,"dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V:
darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning",
obsequious,slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic,
obsequy,funeral ceremony,
obsessive,"related to thinking about something constantly; of an obsession;
preoccupying; N. obsession: compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea;
compulsive idea; V. obsess: preoccupy the mind of excessively",
obsidian,black volcanic rock
obsolete,outmoded; no longer used
obstetrician,"physician specializing in delivery(assisting in giving birth) of babies; N.
obstetrics; CF. midwife"
obstinate,stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy
obstreperous,boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable
obtrude,"push (oneself or one's ideas) forward or intrude; impose (oneself or one's
ideas) on others; butt in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B;
ADJ. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; CF. unobtrusive"
obtuse,blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding
obviate,make unnecessary; get rid of; Ex. obviate the need
Occident,the West
occlude,shut; close; obstruct; Ex. A blood clot occluded an artery.
occult,"mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF.
mysterious to human ?; OP. bare"
oculist,physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes
odds,"chances; probability; disagreement; Ex. The odds are that it will rain. Ex. at
odds with"
odious,arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile
odium,"detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from
hateful conduct)"
odoriferous,giving off an odor
odorous,having an odor
odyssey,"long, eventful, adventurous journey"
offensive,"attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend: violate; hurt the feelings of; N.
offense: offending; violating of a moral or social code; crime; attack; Ex. first
offense"
offhand,casual; done without prior thought or preparation
officious,"meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services; overly eager in
offering unwanted services or advices; Ex. officious bellboy"
ogle,look at amorously; make eyes at; Ex. old men ogling young girls
olfactory,concerning the sense of smell
oligarchy,government by a privileged few
ominous,threatening; of an evil omen
omnipotent,all-powerful; having unlimited power
omnipresent,universally present; ubiquitous
omniscient,all-knowing
omnivorous,eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything
onerous,burdensome
onomatopoeia,words formed in imitation of natural sounds
onslaught,vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected onslaught of the enemy
onus,burden; responsibility
ooze,"(of a thick liquid) pass or flow slowly; N: mud or thick liquid as at the bottom
of a river"
opalescent,iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence
opaque,dark; not transparent; N. opacity
opiate,"medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or
causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium"
opportune,timely; well-chosen
opportunist,"individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of
circumstances; N. opportunism"
opprobrium,"infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn;
contempt; Ex. opprobrium hurled against him; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing
contempt; shameful or infamous"
optician,maker and seller of eyeglasses
optimist,person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism
optimum,most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition
optional,"not compulsory; left to one's choice; N. option: act of choosing; choice;
freedom or power to choose; something available as a choice; Ex. have no
option; Ex. two options"
optometrist,one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects
opulence,"extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great
wealth; abundant"
opus,work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; CF. opera
oracular,"of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or
ambiguous; hard to understand; N. oracle: wiser person; prophecy made by
an oracle"
orator,public speaker
oratorio,"dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without
acting; CF. cantata"
ordain,"decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister,"
"","priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination"
ordeal,"severe trial or affliction; difficult experience; trial(test of patience or
endurance); affliction"
ordinance,decree; authoritative order
ordination,ceremony conferring holy orders; ceremony of ordaining a priest
orgy,"wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of
shopping"
orient,get one's bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate
orientation,act of finding oneself in society; orienting
orifice,"mouthlike opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body);
CF. mouth"
ornate,excessively or elaborately decorated
ornithologist,scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds
orthodox,"traditional; (of someone) conservative in belief; adhering to an established
doctrine"
orthography,correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics
oscillate,vibrate pendulumlike; waver
osseous,made of bone; bony
ossify,change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging in one's ideas
ostensible,"apparent; appearing as such; professed(pretended); pretended; Ex. ostensible
purpose of the expedition"
ostentatious,showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display
ostracize,"banish from a group; exclude from public favor; ban; Ex. His friends
ostracized him. N. ostracism"
oust,expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting
outcast,one that has been excluded from a society; ADJ.
outfit,clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy outfit
outgoing,sociable; eager to mix socially with others
outlandish,bizzare; peculiar; unconventional
outlaw,"fugitive from the law (excluded from legal protection); V: declare (someone)
to be an outlaw; deprive of the protection of the law; declare illegal; Ex.
Drinking has been outlawed."
outlook,"point of view; view from a particular place; expectation for the future;
prospect; Ex. outlook on life; Ex. pleasing outlook; Ex. weather outlook"
outmoded,no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned
outrage,"act of extreme violence or viciousness; resentful anger; V: commit an outrage
on; produce anger in; ADJ. outrageous: offensive",
outskirts,fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston,
outspoken,candid; blunt,
outstrip,outrun; surpass; outdo,
outwit,outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly,
ovation,enthusiastic applause,
overbearing,"bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing
manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate",
overblown,inflated; exaggerated,
oversee,"watch over and direct; supervise; N. oversight: unintentional failure to notice
or do something; supervision",
overt,open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert,
overthrow,topple; N.,
overture,"musical introduction to a long musical piece; first offer or proposal (to begin
talks in the hope of reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace",
overturn,turn over; capsize; topple,
overweening,arrogant; presumptuous,
overwhelm,"(of water) cover completely; defeat completely by much greater force; Ex.
overwhelmed by grief",
overwrought,"nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought:
made or done",
ovoid,egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate,
"",Barron GRE word list - P,
pachyderm,thick-skinned animal,
pacifist,"one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N. pacifism: opposition to
war as a means of resolving disputes",
pacify,soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to,
padre,chaplain (in the armed forces),
paean,song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory,
painstaking,taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and,
"",through
palatable,agreeable; pleasing to the taste
palate,roof of the mouth; sense of the taste
palatial,of or suitable for a palace; magnificent
paleontology,"study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric;
Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents"
palette,board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring matters)
palimpsest,"parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after
original writing has been erased"
pall,become boring; grow tiresome
pallet,small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet
palliate,"ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or
illness)"
pallid,pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion
palm,"conceal in the palm of the hand; palm off: pass off; Ex. palm off some
bad oranges onto the lady/the painting as a real Renoir"
palpable,"tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious; Ex. palpable
blunder"
palpitate,throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.
paltry,insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash
pan,criticize harshly
panacea,cure-all; remedy for all diseases
panache,"flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing
admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with
great panache;"
pandemic,"widespread; affecting the majority of people; N: pandemic disease;
CF. all people"
Pandemonium,wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF. Paradise Lost
pander,cater to (the low desires of others)
panegyric,formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.
pang,sudden sharp feeling of pain
panoramic,"denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama:
unbroken view of a wide area"
pantomime,acting without dialogue; V.
papyrus,ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant
parable,short simple story teaching a moral
paradigm,"model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the
inflectional forms of a word"
paradox,"something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless
be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct"
paragon,model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue
parallel,"similar; analogous; corresponding; N: parallel line; person or thing
that is parallel (to another); similarity; Ex. know of no parallel to the
case; Ex. without parallel; V: be similar to; make parallel; Ex. Your
experience parallels mine; CF. unp"
parallelism,state of being parallel; similarity; analogy
parameter,"limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem; Ex.
within the parameters of the budget"
paramount,"foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex.
paranormal"
paramour,illicit lover
paranoia,"psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; N: ADJ:
paranoid, paranoiac"
paraphernalia,"equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal
belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman's
property exclusive of her dowry"
paraphrase,"restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of
author; N: restatement of a text in other words"
parasite,animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; CF. para-: beside
parched,"extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry
(by exposure to heat)"
parchment,writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat
pare,"cut away the outer covering or skin of (with a knife); trim; Ex. pare
apples/expenses"
pariah,social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah
parish,area in the care of a single priest and served by one main church
parity,equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate
parlance,language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance
parley,conference (between opponents); CF. speak
parochial,narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes
parody,humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.
paroxysm,"fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst"
parquet,"floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip:
long narrow piece"
parry,"ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very
skillfully; N."
parsimony,stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious
partial,"incomplete; favoring one side over another; having a liking for
something"
partiality,"state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias; special fondness;
preference"
partisan,"one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any
others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla"
partition,divide into parts
parvenu,upstart; newly rich person
pass\'e,old-fashioned; past the prime
pass_off,present falsely; represent falsely to be
passive,"not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return;
accepting without resistance"
paste,"smooth viscous mixture as of flour(powder made by crushing grain)
and water (used as an adhesive); V: cause to adhere by applying paste"
pastiche,"imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing; work
of art openly imitating the works of other artists"
pastoral,rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor
pastry,paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)
patent,"obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a
patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N."
pathetic,"causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching"
pathological,pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease
pathos,"tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these
feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel"
patina,"green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by
varnished painting"
patois,local or provincial dialect
patriarch,father and ruler of a family or tribe
patrician,"noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of
the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian"
patrimony,property inherited from a father
patronize,"support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a
customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N.
patronage; CF. boycott"
paucity,scarcity; dearth
pauper,very poor person
peccadillo,slight offense or fault; CF. sin
pecuniary,pertaining to money
pedagogue,teacher; CF. child leader
pedagogy,teaching; art of education
pedant,"scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning,
or technicalities"
pedantic,"bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious
concern for book learning; N. pedantry"
peddle,travel about selling (wares); CF. foot
pedestal,support or base as for a pillar or statue
pedestrian,"ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot;
Ex. pedestrian prose; N."
pediatrician,physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics
pedigree,ancestry; lineage
peer,"one who has equal standing with another; nobleman; V: look intently;
N. peerage; CF. peeress"
peerless,having no equal; incomparable
peevish,bad-tempered; irritable; V. peeve: make angry
pejorative,"(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value;
negative in connotation; having a belittling effect; Ex. Many women
now considers ``housewife'' a pejorative expression, because it
patronized them."
pell-mell,in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell
pellucid,"transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to
understand"
pen,"fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V:
confine in a pen; enclose"
penance,"self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance for one's sins; CF.
penitent"
penchant,strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is
"",disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars
pendant(pendent),"hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from
a necklace etc.)"
pending,"not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP.
while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the decision pending his return"
pendulous,hanging; suspended
penetrate,"enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance
of; understand"
penitent,repentant; N.
penology,study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation
pensive,"dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a
hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over"
penumbra,partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow
penury,extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy
peon,"landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N.
peonage"
perceptive,"insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding;
aware; wise; of perception"
percussion,"striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion
instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by
percussion"
perdition,damnation; complete ruin; hell
peregrination,journey; V. peregrinate
peremptory,"demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory
decree/knock"
perennial,"something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the
year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring"
perfidious,treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
perforate,pierce; put a hole through
perfunctory,"done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking
interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss"
perigee,point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee
perimeter,outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference
peripatetic,"walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic
school of philosophy"
peripheral,of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex.
"",peripheral nerve/interest
periphery,"outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of
the town"
perjury,"false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely
under oath"
permeable,"that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to
pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge"
permissive,allowing much freedom; lenient; Ex. permissive society
pernicious,very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia
peroration,"conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech;
speak at great length"
perpetrate,commit an offense; do (something wrong)
perpetual,everlasting
perpetuate,"make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from
extinction; N. perpetuity"
perquisite(perk),"any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals
and a car"
persevere,continue steadily in spite of difficulties
persist,"continue in existence; last; continue in a course of action in spite of
opposition; Ex. persist in/with something; ADJ. persistent"
personable,attractive (in personality or appearance)
personify,"represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or
perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N.
personification"
perspicacious,(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute
perspicuity,clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
perspicuous,"(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex.
perspicuous comments"
pert,"(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty;
Ex. pert young miss/hat"
pertinacious,holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent
pertinent,suitable; to the point; relevant
perturb,disturb greatly
peruse,read through with care; N. perusal
pervasive,"spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells, ideas, feelings) spread
throughout; charge; permeate"
perverse,"purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly
wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked
and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a
perverse mood; N. perversity"
perversion,corruption; turning from right to wrong
pervert,"corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex. perverted sexual
desire/scientific knowledge; N: person whose sexual behavior is not
natural"
pessimism,"belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take
the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic"
pestilential(pestilent),"causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal
epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)"
pestle,tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar
petrify,turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze
petty,trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded
petulant,touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
phalanx,"formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears;
group of men packed together (for attack or defense)"
pharisaical,"pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to
tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical"
pharisee,"Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group that emphasized strict
observance of the Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy);
hypocritical self-righteous person"
phenomena,"observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG.
phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event;
marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual;
extraordinary; of a phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength"
philanderer,faithless lover; flirt
philanthropist,lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy
philatelist,stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
Philistine,"narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in
material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and
cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP.
aesthete"
philology,study of language or words
phlegmatic,"calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus
produced in the respiratory tract"
phobia,morbid fear
phoenix,symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes
phylum,"major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals;
category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division"
physiognomy,"face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human
character from facial features"
physiological,"pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N.
physiology"
piebald,"of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black
and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald"
piecemeal,one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal
pied,piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
piety,devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious
pigment,coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)
pilfer,steal things of small value; filch; snitch
pillage,plunder
pillory,"punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to
criticism and ridicule; N."
pinch,"squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; Ex. I had to
pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. N: amount that can be
held between the thumb and a finger"
pine,long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline
pinion,restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing
pinnace,small boat
pinnacle,peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
pious,devout; religious; N. piety
piquant,"pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant
situation when my old enemy asked for my help"
pique,"irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V:
provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her
curiosity"
piscatorial,pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
pitfall,hidden danger; concealed trap
pith,"core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence;
substance"
pithy,concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
pittance,small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
pivotal,of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
placate,pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease
placebo,harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
placid,peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
plagiarize,"steal another's ideas or writings and pass them off as one's own; Ex.
ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap"
plaintive,expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
plait,"braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving
strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o
fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail"
plane,carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
plaster,paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls; V.
plasticity,"ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded;
Ex. plastic material such as clay"
platitude,trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous
platonic,purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
plaudit,"praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of
applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud"
plausible,conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious
plebeian,"common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common
people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician"
plebiscite,direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)
plenary,"(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex.
plenary power"
plenitude,"abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF.
plenary, plenty"
plethora,excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
pliable,flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
pliant,flexible; easily influenced
plight,"difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition);
predicament"
ploy,strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management ploy
pluck,"courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ.
plucky: courageous; brave"
plumage,feathers of a bird;
plumb,"exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very
carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by
sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of"
plumber,one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(pipes)
plume,"feather, esp. large or showy one; something that rises into the air (like
the shape of a feather); Ex. plume of smoke: ?? ??"
plummet,fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.
plump,pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
plutocracy,society ruled by the wealthy
podiatrist,doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics
podium,pedestal; raised platform
poignancy,"quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant:
touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly
distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick"
poise,"good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully
balanced position"
polar,of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex. polar opposites
polarity,state of having two opposite qualities
polarize,split into opposite extremes or camps
polemic,"attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument
in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy"
polemical(polemic),"aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply
expressing opinions)"
politic,prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
polity,"(particular form of) political organization; form of government of
nation or state; Ex. student polity"
polygamist,"one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF.
polyandry"
polyglot,"speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society;
N."
pomposity,"self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt(pompous person);
ADJ. pompous: self-important"
ponderous,"having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex.
ponderous body/style of writing"
pontifical,"pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff:
pope; bishop"
pore,study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.
porous,full of pores; like a sieve
porridge,soft food made by boiling oatmeal
portend,"foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen;
forewarning"
portly,stout; corpulent
pose,"assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect a particular
attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a threat; N."
poseur,"person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress
others; person who poses; CF. pose"
posterity,"descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; CF.
posterior, anterior"
posthumous,"after death (as of child born after father's death or book published
after author's death); coming or occurring after one's death; Ex.
posthumous fame/novel"
postmortem,autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem
postulate,"self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the
truth of (as a basis of an argument)"
posture,assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose; attitude
potable,suitable for drinking; drinkable
potent,powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
potentate,monarch; sovereign
potential,expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
potion,dose (of liquids); liquid dose
potpourri,"heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot
(to give a pleasant smell to a room)"
poultice,"soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the
body"
pr\'ecis,"abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a
text"
practicable,feasible
practical,"based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than
theory); useful; Ex. practical man"
pragmatic,"practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or
impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill"
pragmatist,"practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way of dealing with
things"
prance,move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
prank,mischievous trick
prate,talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
prattle,talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
preamble,introductory statement
precarious,unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living
precedent,"preceding (in time, rank, etc.)"
precept,practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept
precinct,"division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that
surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college"
precipice,cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice
precipitant,"something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate
out in solid form; OP. solvent"
precipitate,"hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner;
condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be
separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden"
precipitous,steep; overhasty; precipitate
precise,exact
preclude,make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
precocious,advanced in development; N. precocity
precursor,forerunner; predecessor
predator,"predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and
devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others; ADJ.
predatory: living by preying on other organisms; plundering; N.
predation"
predecessor,former occupant of a post
predetermine,"determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand;
influence markedly"
predicament,difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma
predilection,preference; partiality
predispose,"give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex.
predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition"
preeminent,outstanding; superior
preempt,"prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall by acting first;
appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of;
displace; Ex. preempt any attempts; ADJ. preemptive"
preen,"make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a
bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on;
CF. prune"
prefatory,introductory; of a preface
prefigure,be a sign of; foreshadow
prehensile,"capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex.
prehensile tails"
prelate,church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)
prelude,introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner
premeditate,plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
premise,assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based
premonition,forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
premonitory,serving to warn
preponderance,"superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V. preponderate: be greater in
power, weight, or importance; ADJ. preponderant"
prepossessing,attractive; CF. preoccupying ?
preposterous,absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
prerogative,privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
presage,foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen
prescience,"ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur;
ADJ. prescient"
presentiment,"premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory
fear"
prestige,"respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or
reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having
prestige"
presume,"take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume
on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or
connection); N. presumption"
presumptuous,"going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking
liberties"
pretend,"feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don't
pretend to much expertise; N. pretense"
pretension,"pretentiousness; claim (without foundation); Ex. I make no
pretensions to skill as an artist."
pretentious,"ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims;
overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim to be art"
preternatural,"beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural
strength/forces"
pretext,excuse
prevail,"be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade;
induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do
something"
prevalent,widespread; generally accepted
prevaricate,lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
prey,"target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey; victimize; Ex. Cats
prey on mice."
prim,"proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal;
exceedingly proper"
primal,"first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man's
primal innocence"
primary,"first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary
stages; N. CF. first"
primate,group of mammals including humans
prime,"period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning stage; Ex. in
the prime of life; Ex. prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in
importance or rank; first; V: make ready; prepare"
primogeniture,"seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the
eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)"
primordial,existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
primp,groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
pristine,"unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times;
primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition"
privation,"lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF.
deprive"
privy,"secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret;
Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF.
private"
prize,"pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized
possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy
ship)"
probe,"explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used
to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an
unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe"
probity,uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
problematic,"causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable;
Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic."
proclivity,inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)
procrastinate,postpone; delay or put off
procurement,"obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for
another"
prod,"poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action; N: pointed
object used to prod; prodding"
prodigal,"wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas;
N. prodigality"
prodigious,"enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious
amount/memory"
prodigy,highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder
profane,"violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for;
ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things"
profligate,"wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N:
profligate person; N. profligacy"
profound,"deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound
thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity"
profusion,"great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex.
profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given
abundantly; extravagant"
progenitor,ancestor
progeny,children; offspring; descendants
prognosis,forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
prognosticate,predict (according to present indications)
prohibitive,"so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the
purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or
forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax"
projectile,missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
proletarian,"member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working
class (who have to work for wages)"
proliferate,grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation
prolific,"producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly
fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer"
prolixity,tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse
prologue,introduction (to a poem or play)
prolong,lengthen; extend; draw out
prominent,protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent
promiscuous,"mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully;
indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly
sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity"
promontory,headland
promote,"advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in
forming; publicize or popularize; Ex. Milk promotes health; Ex.
promote a match/bill; Ex. promote a new product"
prompt,"cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an actor); ADJ: done without
delay; done at the right time; punctual; on time; N: reminder or cue"
promulgate,"announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official
publication"
prone,"inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front
downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes; Ex. accident-prone"
prong,pointed projecting part
pronounced,distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp
prop,support placed under or against something; V.
propagate,"increase in number by producing young; multiply; spread; Ex. Most
plants propagate by seed; Ex. newspaper propagating their ideas"
propellant(propellent),"substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive
charge or a rocket fuel)"
propensity,natural inclination
prophetic,"of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N.
prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet"
prophylactic,"used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic; condom; N.
prophylaxis: prevention of disease"
propinquity,nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship
propitiate,appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
propitious,"favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious
day/sign"
proponent,supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
propound,"put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a
problem/theory"
propriety,"fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to
prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary"
propulsive,driving forward; N. propulsion
prosaic,"lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-
fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; CF.
prose"
proscenium,part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage
proscribe,prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
proselytize,"(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new
convert to a doctrine or religion"
prosody,art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse
prosper,"become successful (esp. financially); thrive; grow well; Ex. children
prospering under his care"
prosperity,good fortune and financial success; physical well-being
prosperous,successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off
prostrate,"stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating
illness; ADJ: lying face down; having lost all strength"
prot\'eg\'e,person receiving protection and support from a patron
protagonist,"leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief character in a play or
story"
protean,"able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change
his shape at will"
protocol,"diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats;
first copy of a treaty before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that
the queen meet him at the airport."
prototype,original work used as a model by others
protract,prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
protrude,stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth
protuberance,protrusion; swelling; bulge
provenance,"place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of
Chinese provenance; CF. come"
provender,dry food for livestock; fodder
proverb,"adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ.
proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially"
providence,"quality of being provident; divine care; god's care; Providence: god;
Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there;
ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate"
provident,"providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for
emergencies; OP. improvident"
provincial,pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated
provision,"act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure;
provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in
an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement"
provisional,tentative; temporary
proviso,stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision
provocative,"arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex. provocative in tight
jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger; cause (an unpleasant action or
feeling); N. provocation"
prowess,extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle
proximity,nearness; ADJ. proximate
proxy,authorized agent; authority to act for another
prude,"excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by
improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish:
excessively concerned with propriety"
prudent,cautious; careful; prudential
prune,cut away; trim
prurient,"having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate
sexual desire"
pry,"inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to
raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying"
pseudonym,"pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; ADJ.
pseudonymous"
psyche,soul; mind
psychiatrist,doctor who treats mental diseases
psychic,of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary mental powers
psychopathic,"pertaining to mental dearrangement; N. psychopath: person with an
antisocial personality disorder"
psychosis,mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic
psychosomatic,of the influence of the mind on the body (esp. with respect to disease)
pterodactyl,extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger
pucker,gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
pudding,hot sweet dish
puerile,childish; immature; CF. puer: boy
pugilist,boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing
pugnacity,"combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious: (of people)
belligerent; combative in nature"
puissant,powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power
pulchritude,beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous
pulmonary,pertaining to the lungs
pulpit,raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
pulsate,throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly
pulse,"rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally
constant quantity; V: pulsate"
pulverize,crush or grind into very small particles
pummel,pommel; beat or pound with fists
punctilious,"minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing
niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful
attention payed to every small exact detail"
pundit,authority on a subject; expert; learned person
pungent,"stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic;
N. pungency"
punitive,punishing; Ex. punitive measures
puny,tiny; weak; insignificant
purchase,secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
purgatory,"place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the
souls must expiate their sins"
purge,"remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free
from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or
defilement); N."
purport,"intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which
purports to be signed by the general"
purported,alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists
purse,pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
purveyor,"furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish;
CF. provide"
pushy,disagreeably aggressive
pusillanimous,cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted
putative,"supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of
the child"
putrefy,make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
putrescent,becoming putrid; putrefying
putrid,decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity,
puzzle,"baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over a problem in an
effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the
answer; N.",
pyromaniac,person with an insane desire to set things on fire,
"",Barron GRE word list - Q,
quack,charlatan; impostor,
quadruped,four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped,
quaff,drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); CF. sip,
quagmire,"bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament; complex or dangerous
situation from which it is difficult to free oneself",
quail,cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart,
quaint,odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque,
qualified,limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify,
qualify,reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of something stated,
qualms,"uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of
conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen.",
quandary,dilemma; state of uncertainty; Ex. She is in a quandary about whether to go.,
quarantine,"isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in
quarantine",
quarry,dig into (to get stone); N: mine;,
quash,"crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a rebellion/the decision of
the low court",
quay,dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats),
queasy,"experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish; Ex. feel a little
queasy",
queer,strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal,
quell,"suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet; Ex. ``Army
Quells Rebellion'' in newspaper; CF. kill",
quench,assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish; put out; suppress,
querulous,given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining,
query,inquiry; question; V.,
queue,line (of waiting people or vehicles),
quibble,minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil,
quicksilver,mercury,
quiescent,dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence,
quietude,tranquillity; calmness,
quintessence,"purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential
element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence",
quip,taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.,
quirk,"sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of
behavior; Ex. by a quirk of fate",
quisling,traitor who aids invaders; CF. Vidkun Quisling,
quiver,tremble; shake; N.,
quixotic,idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote,
quizzical,"curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying); questioning; teasing;
mocking; bantering; Ex. quizzical glance",
quorum,minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting,
quotidian,daily; commonplace; customary; Ex. quotidian routine,
"",Barron GRE word list - R,
rabble,mob; noisy crowd,
rabid,"of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies:
hydrophobia",
rabies,"disease passed on by the bite of an infected animal (causing madness and
death)",
raconteur,story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill,
raffle,lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off a new car,
rag,"scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming unfinished and
imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance",
ragamuffin,dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes,
rail,complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices,
raiment,clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.,
rake,immoral or dissolute person,
rakish,"jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a
rakish and jaunty angle.",
rally,"come or bring together; call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.);
revive or recuperate (after illness or difficulty); N: act of rallying; mass
gathering"
ram,male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
ramble,wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress
ramification,"branching out; subdivision; one branch of a system; one of the results
following from an action or decision; Ex. ramifications of a business/the
decision"
ramify,branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions
ramp,slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
rampant,"growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained;
Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed"
rampart,defensive mound of earth
ramshackle,(of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart
rancid,having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
rancor,"long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ.
rancorous"
random,"without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex.
chosen at random"
rank,offensive in odor or flavor
rankle,irritate; fester; annoy
ransack,"search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers
ransacked the town."
rant,"speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make
a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil."
rapacious,"voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping;
plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds"
rapport,close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony
rapt,engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
rapture,great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
rare,(of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains
rarefied,made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
rasp,"(of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant
effect; rub with something rough; Ex. The cat's tongue rasped my hand."
raspy,making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
ratify,approve formally; confirm; verify
ratiocination,"reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason
logically"
ration,fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
rational,(of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason; logical
rationale,"fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based);
fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action"
rationalize,"make rational; devise false reasons for (one's behavior); offer an excuse;
give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable ones;
N. rationalization"
raucous,"(of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex.
raucous shouts"
ravage,devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms
rave,overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as if mad; Ex. raving lunatic
ravel,fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
ravenous,extremely hungry; voracious
ravine,"narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon"
raze,destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground
reactionary,"strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically
ultraconservative; N. OP. radical"
realm,kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility
reaper,"one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather
(crop); harvest a crop"
rebate,return of part of a payment; discount; V.
rebuff,reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
rebuke,scold harshly; criticize severely
rebus,"representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which
pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. ``R U 18'' is a rebus for ``Are you
18''."
rebuttal,refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove
recalcitrant,"disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately
stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child"
recant,"disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex.
recant one's faith/a statement"
recapitulate,summarize
recast,"reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again"
receptive,"quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the"
"",proposal
recess,"pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place; Ex. parliament in
recess; V. CF. recessive"
recession,withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
recidivism,habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
recipient,receiver
reciprocal,"mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex.
reciprocal trade agreement"
reciprocate,"do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually;
interchange; move"
recital,"act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance
(by a solo performer)"
recite,"repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N.
recitation"
reckon,count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose
recline,lie down
recluse,hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
reconcile,"make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in
opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one's political principles
with one's religious beliefs"
recondite,abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
reconnaissance,"survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a
preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)"
recount,narrate or tell (a story); count over again
recourse,resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
recreant,disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
recrimination,countercharges; V. recriminate
rectify,set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
rectitude,"moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of
judgment"
recumbent,reclining; lying down completely or in part
recuperate,recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses
recurrent,occurring again and again
redolent,odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
redoubtable,formidable; causing fear
redress,"remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put
right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for"
reduce,"diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in
rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex.
reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction"
redundant,"superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively wordy;
repetitious"
reek,"emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out
smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench"
refectory,dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)
referendum,direct vote by all the people
refraction,bending of a ray of light
refractory,unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse
refrain,abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus
refulgent,effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon
refurbish,"renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by
polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish"
refuse,anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash
refute,disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
regal,royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
regale,entertain
regatta,boat or yacht race
regeneration,"spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or
obtain new life; reform spiritually"
regent,"a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child;
ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent"
regicide,murder of a king or queen
regime,method of system or government
regimen,"prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily
regimen of a dancer"
regiment,military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society
rehabilitate,restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
reimburse,repay; pay back
reinstate,restore to a previous condition or position
reiterate,repeat
rejoinder,reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply
rejuvenate,make young again
relapse,return to a former state (esp. after improvement); N.
relegate,"put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior position; delegate;
assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture to the children's room; Ex. relegated to
the second division"
relent,"become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless: unyielding;
continuously severe"
relevant,"having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance,
relevancy"
relic,"surviving remnant (from an extinct culture); memento; keepsake; relics:
corpse; Ex. ancient relics; Ex. relics of his travel; Ex. His relics are buried at
X."
religious,of religion; (of a person) pious; having reverence for a deity
relinquish,"give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish
power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm"
relish,enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
remediable,reparable
reminiscence,recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
reminiscent,suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence
remiss,negligent; careless about a duty
remission,"temporary moderation (of disease symptoms); remitting of a debt or
punishment; cancelation of a debt; pardon; Ex. The disease went into
remission; Ex. Christians pray for the remission of sins."
remit,transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
remittance,remitting of money; amount of money remitted
remnant,remainder
remonstrate,protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest
remorse,deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach
remunerative,"(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate:
reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble"
rend,split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow
render,"give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform;
make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully"
rendezvous,meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.
rendition,"rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc"
renegade,deserter; traitor; ADJ.
renege,"break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off
the debt"
renounce,"abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; Ex.
renounce one's claim to the property/one's religion; N. renunciation"
renovate,restore to good condition; renew
renown,fame; ADJ. renowned
rent,tear made by rending; rip; split
reparable,capable of being repaired
reparation,"compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the
damage; CF. repair"
repartee,quick clever reply
repast,meal; feast; banquet
repeal,revoke; annul
repel,"drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty
room; CF. repulsion"
repellent,driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive; N.
repercussion,rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion
repertoire,"list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; CF.
repertory"
repine,fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
replenish,fill up again
replete,"fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly
supplied; Ex. report replete with errors"
replica,copy
replicate,reproduce; duplicate
repose,"resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex.
repose our hopes in a single man"
repository,storehouse
reprehensible,deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame
representational,(of a style of art) showing things as they actually appear in real life
repress,"hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex.
repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion"
reprieve,"postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone
or cancel the punishment of"
reprimand,reprove severely; rebuke; N.
reprisal,retaliation
reprise,"musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance;
recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises"
reproach,"blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval or disappointment; N.
ADJ. reproachful"
reprobate,"morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of
decency; CF. disapproved by God ?"
reprobation,severe disapproval; CF. approbation
reprove,censure; rebuke; N. reproof
repudiate,disown; disavow; deny
repugnance,"disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust;
repulsive"
repulse,"reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an
enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion"
repulsion,"distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ. repulsive: causing disgust;
tending to drive away; V. repel (not `repulse')"
reputable,respectable; having a good reputation
reputed,"supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute: consider; N. repute:
reputation; esteem"
requiem,mass for the dead; dirge
requisite,necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required; necessary
requisition,"formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment;
V."
requite,make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal
rescind,"repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)"
resentment,indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel anger about
reserve,"self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex.
without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and
uncommunicative"
residual,remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue
residue,remainder; balance
resign,"give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively"
resignation,"patiently submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job; ADJ.
resigned: acquiescent"
resilient,elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from
"",misfortune)
resolution,determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute: firm or determined in purpose
resolve,decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined decision; N. resolution
resonant,"(of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding loudly); deep and full in sound;
producing resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance"
resort,turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
resound,"(of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound loudly; sound back;
echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter"
resourceful,"clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource,
resourcefulness"
respiration,breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory
respite,time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment; reprieve
resplendent,brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious
responsiveness,"state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.; ADJ. responsive: readily
reacting; Ex. responsive to treatment"
restitution,"returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation;
indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury"
restive,"impatiently restless (induced by external coercion or restriction); restlessly
impatient; obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses because of
wolves; CF. not a general synonym for `restless'"
restraint,moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
resumption,"taking up again; recommencement; V. resume: begin or take up again; take
or occupy again; Ex. Kindly resume your seats."
resurge,"rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or
beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again"
resurrect,revive
resuscitate,"revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned
child"
retain,"keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N.
retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor"
retaliate,repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
retard,"delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a child) slower in
development"
retentive,"holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good
memory"
reticent,"inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about
the reasons; N. reticence"
retinue,following; attendants
retiring,shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality
retort,quick sharp reply; V.
retract,"withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a statement/an offer/claws; N.
retraction; CF. retractile"
retrench,cut down; cut down expenses; economize
retribution,"deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for offenses;
compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back"
retrieve,recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex. retrieve the situation
retroactive,"taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax); (of a
law) having effect on the past as well as the future"
retrograde,go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.
retrospective,looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V. retrospect
revelry,"boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy
greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration"
reverberate,echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.
reverend,deserving reverence; N: priest
reverent,"respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence:
profound respect"
reverie,daydream; abstracted musing
revert,relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former owner; N. reversion
revile,attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)
revoke,cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable
revulsion,"sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative
reaction; Ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture"
rhapsodize,"speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize
over the beauty of the scenery"
rhapsody,"excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of
irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)"
rhetoric,"art of effective communication; art of using language effectively and
persuasively; style of speaking or writing; grandiloquent language; Ex.
political rhetoric; ADJ. rhetorical; CF. rhetorical question: question to
which no answer is expected as"
ribald,"marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald
language or joke"
rickety,(of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets; CF. rickets; CF. vitamin
"",D
riddle,"pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled
the car with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with errors; N. large
sieve (separating earth from stone)"
rider,amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
rife,(of something bad) widespread; abundant; current
rift,"narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a
rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation"
rig,"arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a ship) with rigging; ADJ.
rigging: ropes that hold up a ship's sails"
righteous,morally upright; just
rightful,legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
rigid,"hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict;
rigorous; Ex. rigid rule"
rigor,severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
rile,irritate; vex; muddy
rip,"tear or be torn quickly and violently; Ex. The sail ripped under the force of
the wind; N."
rivet,"metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet;
engross"
riveting,holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing
rivulet,small stream; CF. rill < rivulet < river
robust,strong; vigorous
rococo,ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
roil,make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
rolling,"(of land) rising and falling in long gentle slopes; happening continuously by
stages; Ex. rolling devolution of power to local governments"
romp,play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N.
rooster,cock; adult male chicken
roseate,rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
roster,list (of names)
rostrum,raised platform for speech-making; pulpit
rote,"repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex.
learn poetry by rote"
rotund,(of a person) fat and round
rotunda,circular building or hall covered with a dome,
rotundity,roundness; sonorousness of speech,
rou\'e,lecherous man,
rousing,"lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse: waken; arouse from sleep or
depression; excite; stir up",
rout,put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat,
rubble,fragments (esp. from a destroyed building),
rubric,title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol,
ruddy,reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking,
rudimentary,"elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or
principle; Ex. rudiments of the language",
rue,regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. ADJ. rueful,
ruffian,violent scoundrel; bully,
rumble,make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder or stomach),
ruminant,animal that ruminates; ADJ.,
ruminate,"chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically); mull over(ponder)",
rummage,ransack; thoroughly search,
run-down,(of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a person) weak or exhausted,
runic,"mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune: one of the letters of
an alphabet used by ancient Germanic peoples (cut on stone or wood);
magic charm",
ruse,trick to deceive; stratagem,
rustic,"pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of
furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person",
rusticate,banish to the country; dwell in the country,
rustle,make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together,
ruthless,pitiless; merciless; cruel,
"",Barron GRE word list - S,
saboteur,"one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property; N. sabotage:
destruction of property (usually carried out secretly)",
saccharine,cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin,
sacrilegious,"desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration, misuse, or theft of",
"",something sacred
sacrosanct,invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable
sadistic,inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty
saga,Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative
sagacious,wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity
sage,person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; ADJ: wise
salacious,lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk
salient,"prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient
features"
saline,salty
sallow,"(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex.
sallow complexion due to jaundice"
salubrious,"healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable;
Ex. salubrious area; CF. health"
salutary,"tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment
had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health"
salvage,rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved
sanctimonious,"displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N.
sanctimony: hypocritical piety"
sanction,"approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce
compliance"
sanctuary,"place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex. The outlaw was
granted sanctuary in the church."
sanguinary,bloody; with much bloodshed
sanguine,optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red
sap,"diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification);
Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength."
sarcasm,"cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging rebuke; ADJ.
sarcastic"
sardonic,"scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic
smile"
sartorial,"pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial
elegance; CF. sartor: tailor"
sate,satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy
satellite,small body revolving around a larger one
satiate,satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety:
"",condition of being satiated
satire,"form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are
employed to attack human vice and folly"
satirical,using satire; mocking
saturate,soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity
saturnine,"morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine
countenance."
satyr,"half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus
(resembling a goat), portrayed as wanton(unrestrained) and
cunning; lecher; CF. faun; CF. goat: lecherous man"
saunter,stroll(go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.
savant,scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know
savor,"enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality; N: taste or
smell; distinctive quality"
savory,"pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable; Ex.
savory reputation"
scabbard,case for a sword blade; sheath
scad,a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes
scaffold,"temporary platform for workers (to work at heights above the
ground); bracing framework; platform for execution"
scale,"climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of
epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones"
scanty,meager; insufficient
scapegoat,"someone who bears the blame for others; whipping boy; CF.
escape+goat"
scavenge,"hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food;
search, especially for food; N. scavenger: one who scavenges;
animal that feeds on refuse and carrion"
scenario,"plot outline; screenplay(script for a movie); opera libretto;
outline of possible future events"
schematic,"of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a
system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation;
outline"
scheme,"systematic plan; plot; clever dishonest plan; orderly arrangement
of elements; Ex. health insurance scheme; Ex. a scheme to escape
taxes; Ex. a color scheme; Ex. a story with no scheme; V: contrive
a scheme"
schism,division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split
scholarly,full of learning; erudite; like a scholar; Ex. scholarly journal
scintilla,"trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla
of truth; CF. spark"
scintillate,"sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating
conversation"
scion,detached plant shoot used in grafting; descendant
scoff,laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats
scorch,sear; N.
score,"number of points; written form of a musical composition; reason;
group of 20; notch or incision; Ex. full/vocal score; Ex. Don't
worry on that score; V: mark with lines or notches; Ex. score the
paper to make it easy to fold"
scotch,"stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor;
CF. cut; CF. ??? ??? ??"
scourge,"lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe
punishment; V: whip; afflict"
scowl,frown angrily; N: angry frown
scrap,"small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap
of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as
worthless; fight; quarrel"
scrappy,quarrelsome
scraps,leftover food
screech,unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.
scrimmage,disorderly fight between two or more people
scruple,"hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to
read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience;
conscience"
scrupulous,conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker
scrutinize,examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny
scuffle,"struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry; N. CF.
scuffling twins ?"
scurrilous,abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark
scurry,move hastily; hurry; move briskly
scurvy,"contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of
Vitamin C"
scuttle,"sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small
hatch in a ship's deck or hull"
seamy,sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life
sear,"burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause (a plant) to
wither"
season,"enhance the flavor of by adding a spice, etc.; inure; harden; N.
seasoning: something used in seasoning"
seasonable,"occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex.
seasonable intervention in the dispute"
seasonal,of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment
seasoned,experienced
secession,withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership
seclusion,isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate
secrete,"conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a substance
into an organism; CF. secretive"
sect,"separate religious body; faction; group of people with common
beliefs within a larger group"
sectarian,"of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member of a sect;
narrow-minded person"
secular,worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal
sedate,"composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative
to; CF. sedative"
sedentary,"requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place
to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population"
sedition,"conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to
authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious"
seduce,lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive
sedulous,diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity
seedy,"run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy
downtown hotel"
seemly,(of behavior) proper; appropriate
seep,pass slowly through small openings; ooze; trickle; N. seepage
seethe,"be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if
boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent."
seine,seine net; net for catching fish
seismic,pertaining to earthquakes
selective,"careful in choosing; having an effect only on certain things; not
general; Ex. eclectic weed killer"
self-indulgence,excessive indulgence of one's own desire
self-righteous,sure of one's own righteousness; moralistic
semblance,"outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring
a/some semblance of order to the city."
seminal,"related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for
further development; influencing future developments; Ex.
seminal research in a new field"
seminary,"school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially
for young women"
senility,"old age; feeblemindedness of old age; ADJ. senile: resulting from
old age; showing the weakness of body or mind from old age; Ex.
senile dementia"
sensitization,"process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an
external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become
sensitive"
sensual,"devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous; Ex.
sensual woman/curves/lips"
sensuous,"giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses;
operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on
the skin"
sententious,pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic
sentient,"capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient
creature; N. sentience"
sentimental,swayed by sentiment; appealing to the sentiments
sentinel,sentry; lookout
septic,"of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis:
poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)"
sepulcher,tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral
sequester,isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life
sere,sear; parched; dry
serendipity,"gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good
fortune or luck; CF. The Three Princes of Serendip"
serenity,calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene
serpentine,"winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of
the river; N. serpent: snake"
serrated,having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf
servile,slavish; cringing; N. servility
servitude,slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment
sever,"separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up (a relationship);
N. severance; CF. severance pay: extra pay given an employee
upon leaving a position"
severity,"harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh;
strict; extremely violent or intense"
sextant,"navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude
(by measuring the altitudes of stars)"
shack,crude cabin
shackle,chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.
shade,"slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of
meaning/grey"
sham,"pretend; feign; ADJ: not genuine; fake; Ex. sham jewelry; N:
something that is not what it appears; impostor; pretense; Ex.
The agreement was a sham."
shambles,"(place or scene of) complete disorder or ruin; wreck; mess; Ex.
After the hurricane, the coast was a shambles."
Shangri-la,imaginary remote paradise on earth; CF. Lost Horizon
shard,"fragment generally of broken pottery (glass, clay bowl, or cup)"
shaving,"very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp
blade)"
sheaf,bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
shear,"remove (fleece or hair) by cutting; remove the hair or fleece from;
cut with or as if with shears; N: shears; pair of scissors"
sheathe,"place into a case; insert into or provide with a sheath; Ex. He
sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a blade"
shed,"small roofed structure for storage and shelter; V: pour forth; lose
by natural process; repel without allowing penetration; radiate;
cast; Ex. shed tears/light/water/skin/leaves"
sheer,pure; thin and transparent; very steep
sherbet,flavored dessert ice
shift,"change position or place; exchange (one thing) for another;
change in direction or position; Ex. shift the stolen goods; N.
group of workers which takes turns with other groups; working
period of such a group"
shimmer,"shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The
moonlight shimmered on the water; N."
shirk,"avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger"
shoddy,"made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest;
Ex. shoddy goods/trick"
shoot,new growth from a plant
shove,"push forward; push roughly; Ex. pushing and shoving to get on
the bus; N."
shrew,scolding woman; very small mouselike animal
shrewd,clever; astute
shrivel,make or become shrunken and wrinkled (often by drying)
shudder,shake uncontrollably; tremble; V.
shuffle,"mix together; jumble; move (something) from one place to
another; slide (the feet) along the ground while walking; Ex.
shuffle papers from one pile to another; N."
shun,"keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by
her neighbors."
shunt,"move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside;
divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N."
shyster,lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner
sibling,brother or sister
sibylline,"prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient
world)"
sidereal,relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day
sidetrack,"switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from a main issue; N.
CF. siding: short section of railroad track connected by switches
with a main track"
sift,"put through a sieve to separate fine from coarse particles; sort or
examine carefully"
significant,"expressing a meaning; important; Ex. significant smile; N.
significance: importance; meaning; V. signify: denote; mean;
signal; make known; matter; be significant"
silt,"sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor
or by a bend in a river)"
simian,monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
simile,"comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as"
simper,smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly
simplistic,oversimplified
simulate,feign; imitate
sinecure,"well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without
care; CF. San Serif"
sinewy,"(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon;
strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone"
singular,"being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex.
singular beauty/behavior"
sinister,evil; ominous
sinuous,twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest
siren,apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
skeptic,"sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has
examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ.
skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism"
skiff,small light sailboat or rowboat
skim,"read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush;
remove from the surface of a liquid"
skimp,"provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on
necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy;
niggardly"
skinflint,miser; stingy person
skirmish,minor fight; minor battle in war; V.
skittish,"inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but
skittish young woman; CF. skit"
skulduggery(skullduggery),dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election
skulk,"move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less
fashionable sections of the city."
slack,"moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent;
lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V."
slacken,slow up; loosen; make or become slack
slag,glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter
slake,satisfy (thirst); quench; sate
slander,"defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ.
slanderous"
slap,hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF. smack
slapdash,hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)
slaughter,"killing of animals for food; massacre; V: butcher (animals) for
food; kill in large numbers"
slavish,"of or like a slave; servile; showing no originality; copied very
closely; Ex. slavish devotion/copy of the original"
sleazy,"shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street
hotel/fabric"
sledge,large sled drawn by work animals
sleek,smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
sleeper,"one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of
little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable"
sleigh,large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
sleight,"dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the
hands in doing tricks"
slew,large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left
slick,"make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ:
smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib"
slight,"insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance;
insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance"
slink,"move furtively; ADJ. slinky: stealthy; furtive; sneaky (as in
ambush)"
slipshod,slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work
slither,slip or slide
sloth,"slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy;
indolent"
slough,"(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that
is shed"
slovenly,"untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is
habitually untidy or careless"
sluggard,lazy person
sluggish,lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell
sluice,"artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water
(with a gate to regulate the flow)"
slur,pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble
sly,clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's intentions
smart,"intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex. smart
pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N: smarting pain"
smattering,"slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex.
smattering of German"
smear,"spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by
smearing"
smelt,"melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend
ores changing their chemical composition"
smirk,"conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone
else's misfortune); V."
smolder,"smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at
any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger"
smother,"kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in
little stickers"
smudge,dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
smug,self-satisfied; complacent
sneak,"move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one who sneaks;
ADJ. sneaky"
snicker,half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.
snip,short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors
snivel,"complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't
come back sniveling to me."
snub,"ignore or behave coldly toward; Ex. I made a suggestion but she
snubbed me; N."
snuffle,"sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out
of the nose)"
soar,rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.
sober,"serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make
or become sober"
sobriety,"moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol);
seriousness"
sodden,thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink
sojourn,temporary stay; V: stay for a time
solace,"comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console
in time of sorrow or trouble"
solder,"repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy
(usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic
parts"
solecism,"nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is
flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette"
solemnity,seriousness; gravity
solicit,"entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF.
solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer"
solicitor,lawyer in the lower court of law
solicitous,"anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do
something; N. solicitude"
soliloquy,"talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long
speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)"
solitude,"state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary: existing or living
alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded; single; sole; Ex.
solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of proof"
solstice,point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
soluble,able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved
solvent,"substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of dissolving
another substance"
somatic,pertaining to the body; bodily; physical
somber,dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow
somnambulist,sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism
somnolent,half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
sonic,"of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic, supersonic"
sonnet,14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern
sonorous,resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound
soothsayer,one who foretells the future
sophist,"teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning;
N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument"
sophisticated,"worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V.
sophisticate"
sophistry,seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism
sophomoric,immature; half-baked; like a sophomore
soporific,sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy
sordid,filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story
sound,"in good condition; showing good judgment or good sense;
thorough; complete; Ex. sound mind/investment/training"
sour,having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.
sovereign,"ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-
governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent"
sovereignty,"complete independence and self-government (of a country);
supremacy of authority; power to govern"
sow,plant or scatter seed
spangle,small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
spare,"give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt;
Ex. spare me 5 minutes; Ex. Take this money and spare my life;
Ex. The emperor was spared the onus; ADJ: kept in reserve; free
for other use; unoccupied; Ex. spare time"
sparse,not thick; thinly scattered; scanty
Spartan,"without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly
disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life"
spasmodic,"fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary
muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion"
spat,squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel
spate,sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
spatial,relating to space
spatula,broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
spawn,"lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large
numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals"
specious,"seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often
intentionally)"
speck,small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye
spectral,ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom
spectrum,"colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a
prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of
modern thoughts"
speechless,"unable for the moment to speak (because of strong feeling); Ex.
speechless with anger"
spendthrift,someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth
sphinx-like,enigmatic; mysterious
spin,"rotate swiftly; make (thread) by twisting (cotton, wool, etc.); N."
splice,"join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten
together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N."
spoilsport,one who spoils the pleasure of others
spontaneity,"lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint;
ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening
without being planned"
spoof,parody
spoonerism,"accidental transposition of sounds in successive words; Ex. ``Let
me sew you to your sheet'' for ``Let me show you to your seat'';
CF. William Spooner"
sporadic,occurring irregularly; intermittent
sportive,"playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF.
sportsmanlike"
sprout,"begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new growth on a plant;
shoot"
spruce,"neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job
interview; V."
spry,(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble
spurious,false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments
spurn,reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.
squabble,"minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex.
squabbling children"
squalor,"condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected
state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid
story"
squander,waste; spend foolishly
squash,crush; quash; suppress
squat,short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.
squeamish,"easily shocked or sickened by unpleasant things; fastidious; Ex. A
nurse should not be squeamish."
squelch,"produce a splashing sound (when stepping through mud); crush;
squash;"
staccato,"played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex.
staccato applause"
stagnant,"(of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not
developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output"
staid,serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
stalemate,deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
stalwart,"physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or
determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower"
stamina,power of endurance; strength; staying power
stammer,speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
stamp,"step on heavily (so as to crush or extinguish); put an end to;
imprint or impress with a mark, design, or seal; shape with a die;
characterize; Ex. machine stamping out car bodies; Ex.
newspaper stamping him as a liar; N. stamping; implement us"
stampede,"sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals or people); V:
participate in or cause stampede; Ex. stampede before the price
rises"
stanch,stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
standstill,condition of no movement or activity; stop
stanza,division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
start,move suddenly or involuntarily; Ex. start at the sight of a snake
stately,formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
static,"having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis:
stable state"
statute,law enacted by the legislature
statutory,"created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex.
statutory age limit"
steadfast,steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
stealth,"action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness;
secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy"
steep,"soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ:
precipitous"
stellar,"pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex.
stellar attraction of the entire performance"
stem,"stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the
slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk"
stem_from,arise from; originate from
stench,strong foul odor; reek; stink
stentorian,"(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the
Iliad"
stereotype,"one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and
unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often
reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a
stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to ster"
sterile,"incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V.
sterilize"
stickler,perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
stifle,suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
stigma,"token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma;
characterize as disgraceful"
stilted,bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
stink,stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
stint,"supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work;
limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint"
stipend,pay for services
stipple,paint or draw with dots or short strokes
stipulate,"state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express
conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance"
stock,"standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine;
common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N:
goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique"
stockade,"wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive
barrier"
stodgy,dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
stoic,stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
stoke,stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
stolid,"dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are
expected"
stoop,"bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower
standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop
to lying"
stout,"rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in
determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter"
straggle,"stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out in a scattered
group; Ex. straggling marathon racer; Ex. straggling branch"
strangle,kill by choking or suffocating; suppress
stratagem,deceptive scheme; clever trick
stratified,divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
stratum,layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata
strew,"spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose
petals"
striated,"marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks;
V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line"
stricture,"severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or
restriction"
strident,loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
stringent,"(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex.
stringent economic conditions"
strut,supporting bar; CF. airplane wing building support
studied,"carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate;
thoughtful; Ex. studied remark"
studious,given to diligent study
stultify,"make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or
inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect
of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression"
stumble,trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act falteringly; N.
stump,"base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk
in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle"
stun,make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
stupefy,stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
stupor,state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
sturdy,strong and firm (in the body)
stygian,"unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief
river in the subterranean land of the dead"
stymie,thwart; present an obstacle; stump
suavity,urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
subaltern,subordinate
subdue,"less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer;
make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one's anger"
subjective,"influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within
the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence"
subjugate,conquer; bring under control
sublimate,"refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable
activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state"
sublime,"causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble
and uplifting; utter"
subliminal,"below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal
advertisement"
submerge,place under water; dip; go under water; cover completely (as with
"",water); Ex. submerged in work
submissive,willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
subordinate,"occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower
rank or class"
suborn,"persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N.
subornation"
subpoena,"writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness
to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena"
subsequent,following in time or order; later
subservient,"behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N.
subservience"
subside,"sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a
sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate"
subsidiary,serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
subsidy,"direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a
subsidy"
subsistence,"existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V.
subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)"
substantial,"of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample;
considerable; well-to-do; wealthy"
substantiate,support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
substantive,"substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial;
considerable; Ex. substantive issues"
subsume,include (as a member of a group); encompass
subterfuge,"stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a
harmless subterfuge"
subtlety,"perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle: delicate; so
slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions;
clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning"
subversive,"tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely
(an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?"
succor,assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
succulent,"juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such
as a cactus"
succumb,"yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to
the illness"
suckle,give or take milk at the breast or udder
suffocate,die or kill from lack of air; suppress
suffragist,"advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF.
suffrage"
suffuse,"spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A
blush suffused her cheeks."
suitor,man who is courting a woman
sullen,silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
sully,defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one's hands in menial labor
sultry,(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous
summation,"act of finding the total; summing-up; summary (esp. one given by
the judge at the end of a trial)"
sumptuous,grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
sunder,separate; part; CF. asunder
sundry,"miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous
items"
superannuated,retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
supercilious,"haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow,
cilium"
supererogatory,superfluous; more than needed or demanded
superficial,"of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex.
superficial analysis/knowledge"
superfluous,excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity
superimpose,place over something else
supernumerary,"person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; ADJ:
additional to the usual or necessary number"
supersede,replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
supine,"lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay
supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision"
supplant,take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
supple,flexible; limber; pliant
suppliant,entreating; beseeching; N.
supplicant,one who supplicates; ADJ.
supplicate,petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
supposition,assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
supposititious,assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
suppress,"put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm; inhibit the
expression of; check; prevent from being published or made
public; Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress the magazine/truth"
surfeit,"satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in
anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food"
surge,powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
surly,bad-tempered; rude; cross
surmise,guess; N.
surmount,overcome
surpass,exceed
surreptitious,done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
surrogate,"substitute; person or thing used in place of another; Ex. surrogate
mother; ADJ."
surveillance,"close observation of a person (esp. one under suspicion);
watching; guarding"
susceptible,"impressionable; easily influenced; sensitive; having little
resistance as to a disease; likely to suffer; receptive to; capable of
accepting; Ex. susceptible to persuasion/colds; Ex. The
agreement is not susceptible of alteration; N. susceptibility"
suspend,"cause to stop for a period; interrupt; hold in abeyance; defer;
hang from above; exclude for a period from a position; Ex.
suspended state; Ex. suspend judgment; Ex. suspended from the
team; N. suspension"
suspense,"state of being undecided; anxiety or apprehension resulting from
uncertainty"
sustain,"suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop; maintain; keep
in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the
trapped miners"
sustenance,"sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food, nourishment;
something that maintains life; food"
suture,"stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision;
material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound"
swagger,walk or behave with an over-confident manner
swamp,wetland; marsh; V: flood; overwhelm; drench in with liquid
swarm,"large group of insects moving in a mass; crowd of people or
animals; V: move in a crowd or mass"
swarthy,(of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?
swathe,swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in
"",bandages,
sway,"swing from side to side; influence (someone) to change one's
opinion; N.",
swear,vow; promise; use profane oaths; use offensive words,
swear-word,word considered offensive; Ex. ``bloody'',
swell,long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.,
swelter,(of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be oppressed by heat,
swerve,"deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course; Ex. swerve
from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the right.",
swill,drink greedily,
swindler,cheater,
swipe,hit with a sweeping motion; N.,
sybarite,"lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF.
Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy",
sycophant,servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic,
syllogism,"logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise
and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument",
sylvan,pertaining to the woods or the country,
symbiosis,"interdependent relationship (between groups, species) often
mutually beneficial; ADJ. symbiotic; CF. together + life",
symmetry,"arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity; ADJ.
symmetrical",
synchronous,"similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring at the same time;
V. synchronize",
synoptic,providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis,
synthesis,"combining parts or separate things into a whole; the whole so
formed; PL. syntheses; V. synthesize",
synthetic,"not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis; Ex. synthetic
fiber; N.",
"",Barron GRE word list - T,
tablet,"small round piece of medicine; flat piece of stone or metal bearing an
inscription; Ex. stone tablet on the wall",
tacit,"understood (without actually being expressed); not put into words; Ex. tacit
agreement",
taciturn,habitually silent; talking little
tact,skill or sensitivity in dealing with people without causing offence
tactful,careful no to cause offence; OP. tactless
tactile,pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
taint,"contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad; Ex.
tainted reputation; N: stain; touch of decay or bad influence; CF. touch"
takeoff,burlesque; act of leaving the ground
talisman,charm; object believed to give supernatural powers to or protect its bearer
talon,claw of bird
tan,convert (hide) into leather; make brown by exposure to the sun
tangential,"only slightly connected; not central; peripheral; digressing; showing
divergence; CF. tangent"
tangible,"able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand;
Ex. tangible proof"
tanner,person who turns animal hides into leather
tantalize,"tease; excite by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach;
torture with disappointment; CF. Tantalus: Greek mythological figure"
tantamount,"equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration
of war; CF. amount"
tantrum,fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex. The child went into tantrums.
taper,"very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or
become gradually narrower toward one end"
tarantula,venomous spider
tardy,slow; sluggish; not on time; late; Ex. tardy arrival
tarnish,make or become dull or discolored; N.
tarry,linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle
tart,sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex. tart apple/reply
tatter,"torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes) old and torn; (of a person)
dressed in old torn clothes"
taunt,deride or provoke; challenge in derision; N.
taut,tight; strained; tense; ready; OP. slack
tautological,"needlessly repetitious; Ex. ``It was visible to the eye''; N. tautology: needless
repetition of the same sense; statement that is always true"
tawdry,cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry
tawny,brownish yellow
taxonomist,"specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF. taxonomy: science of
classification"
tedium,boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious
teetotalism,"practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks; N. teetotaler;; ADJ.
teetotal; CF. T + total"
temerity,"boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only
three day's work"
temper,"moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) as by
alternate heating and cooling"
temperament,"characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess; ADJ.
temperamental: of temperament; having frequent changes of temper; Ex.
temperamental dislike of sports; Ex. temperamental actress"
temperate,"moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature;
CF. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic
drinks; Ex. temperance society"
tempestuous,stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest: violent storm
tempo,speed of music
temporal,of time; not lasting forever; limited by time; temporary; secular; worldly
temporize,gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself
tenacious,holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
tenacity,firmness; persistence
tenancy,possession of land or building by rent; period of a tenant's occupancy
tenant,one that pays rent to use property owned by another
tend,have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply one's attention; attend
tendentious,"promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to
further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend: move in
a certain direction"
tender,"offer formally; extend; Ex. tender one's resignation/the exact fare; N: formal
offer; money; Ex. legal tender; ADJ: young and vulnerable; sensitive to the
touch; sore; soft; delicate; Ex. child of tender years; Ex. tender wound"
tenet,doctrine; dogma
tensile,capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. tensile rubber
tension,"stretching; condition of being stretched; mental strain; strained relationship
between groups or people"
tentative,"not fully worked out or developed; provisional; experimental; uncertain;
hesitant; not definite or positive; Ex. tentative agreement/reply"
tenuous,thin; slim; rare
tenure,holding of an office or real estate; time during which such an office is held
tepid,"lukewarm; slightly warm; half-hearted; not eager; Ex. tepid reaction to the
new film; Ex. tepid supporter"
terminal,"part that forms the end; railroad or bus station; ADJ. forming an end; ending
in death; fatal; Ex. terminal cancer"
termination,end; V. terminate
terminology,terms used in a science or art; study of nomenclature
terminus,last stop of railroad; end
terrestrial,on or relating to the earth
terse,concise; abrupt; pithy
tertiary,third in order or rank
tessellated,mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
testator,maker of a will; CF. testatrix
testy,irritable; impatient and bad-tempered; short-tempered; N. testiness
tether,"tie (an animal) with a rope or tether; N: rope or chain to which an animal is
tied; limit of one's endurance; Ex. the end of one's tether"
thematic,of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
theocracy,government run by religious leaders
theoretical,based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical
therapeutic,curative; N. therapy
thermal,"pertaining to heat; producing heat; warm; Ex. thermal bath; N: rising current
of warm air"
thesis,opinion put forward and supported by reasoned arguments
thespian,pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress
thrall,slave; bondage; slavery; Ex. Her beauty held him in thrall; CF. enthrall
thrash,"beat with a whip or flail; defeat utterly; talk about thoroughly in order to find
the answer; move wildly or violently; Ex. The fishes thrashed about in the
net."
threadbare,"worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor; hackneyed; Ex.
threadbare excuses"
threat,"sign or warning (of coming danger); Ex. threat of rain; V: express a threat;
give warning of (something bad); Ex. The cloud threatens rain."
thresh,"beat (cereal plants) with a machine or flail to separate the grains from the
straw"
thrifty,careful about money; economical; N. thrift
thrive,prosper; flourish
throb,"(of a heart or machine) beat rapidly or violently; N. Ex. hearthrob: heartbeat;
sweetheart"
throes,violent anguish
throng,crowd (of people or things); V.
throttle,"strangle; regulate the speed of with a throttle; N: valve that regulates the
flow; CF. throat ?"
thwart,block or hinder; baffle; frustrate
tickle,touch (the body) lightly so as to cause laughter; please
tightwad,miser; excessively frugal person
tiller,handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer)
timbre,"quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument (which
distinguishes it from others of the same pitch)"
timidity,lack of self-confidence or courage
timorous,fearful; timid; demonstrating fear
tinge,"give a slight degree of a color or quality to; N: slight degree of a color or
quality; Ex. tinged with grey/jealousy"
tint,slight degree of color; V: give a tint to
tipple,drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink
tirade,"long angry denunciatory speech; diatribe; harangue; extended scolding;
denunciation"
titanic,gigantic; N. titan
tithe,tax of one-tenth (contributed to a church); V: pay a tithe
titillate,tickle; excite pleasantly; Ex. not to titillate the audience but to enlighten it
title,"name (of a book, film, etc.); mark of rank; formal appellation as of rank or
office (such as Lord or General); right or claim to possession; championship;
Ex. title as head of the family; Ex. title to the estate"
titter,nervous giggle; nervous laugh; V.
titular,"of a title; in name only; nominal; having the title of an office without the
obligations; Ex. titular head of the company"
toady,servile flatterer; yes man; sycophant; V: be a toady to; fawn
toga,Roman outer robe
token,outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude
toll,"sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals; N: sound of a bell; fixed tax or
charge"
tome,large volume; book
tonsure,shaving of the head especially by person entering religious orders; V.
topography,physical features of a region (such as the shape and height); CF. topo-: place
topple,become unsteady and fall down
torpedo,underwater explosive apparatus; V.
torpor,"lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy; ADJ. torpid: lethargic; lazy; inactive; (of
an animal) dormant; hibernating"
torque,twisting force; force producing rotation
torrent,rushing stream; flood; Ex. The rain fell in torrents.
torrid,(of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid love affairs
torso,trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk
tortuous,winding; full of curves; Ex. tortuous mountain road
toss,"throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion; flip (a coin) to
decide something"
totem,"animal, plant, or natural object serving as a symbol of a clan or family;
representation of this; Ex. totem pole"
totter,shake or move unsteadily; sway as if about to fall
touching,"causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic; V. touch: cause to feel pity or
sympathy; ADJ. touched"
touchstone,stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion; standard
touchy,"oversensitive; easily offended; irasible; delicate; needing delicate handling;
Ex. touchy situation"
tout,"promote or publicize (one's goods or service); praise excessively (as a form of
advertisement); CF. advertise"
toxic,poisonous; N. toxicity
tract,"propaganda pamphlet (esp. by a religious or political group); expanse of
land; region of indefinite size; system of related organs; Ex. digestive tract"
tractable,"docile; easily managed; (of something) easily changed or molded; N.
tractability"
traduce,expose to slander
trajectory,path taken by a projectile; Ex. trajectory of a bullet
tramp,"walk with a heavy step; travel on foot; N: vagrant; one who travels aimlessly
about; long walk; sound of heavy walking"
trample,step heavily with the feet; crush under the feet
trance,hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding
"",(as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition
tranquillity,calmness; peace
transcendent,"exceeding ordinary limits; superior; surpassing; V. transcend: go beyond;
exceed; surpass; N. transcendancy"
transcendental,"going beyond common thought or ideas; impossible to understand by
practical experiences or practices; known only by studying thoughts or
intuition; OP. empirical; CF. transcendentalism"
transcribe,copy; write a copy of; N. transcription
transgression,violation of a law; sin; V. transgress: go beyond (a limit); violate; do wrong
transient,staying for a short time; momentary; temporary; N: one that is transient
transition,going from one state of action to another
transitory,transient; impermanent; fleeting; N. transitoriness
translucent,partly transparent
transmute,transform; change; convert to something different
transparent,"permitting light to pass through freely; easily detected; obvious; clear; Ex.
transparent lie"
transpire,"(of a fact) become known; be revealed; happen; give off (watery waste
matter) through pores"
transport,"strong emotion; rapture; Ex. in a transport/transports of; V: move to strong
emotion; enrapture"
transpose,reverse the order or position of
trappings,outward decorations; ornaments (as an outward sign of rank)
traumatic,"(of an experience) deeply shocking; pertaining to an injury caused by
violence; N. trauma: serious wound; emotional shock that causes lasting
psychological damage"
travail,strenuous work; toil; painful labor; labor of childbirth
traverse,go through or across
travesty,"copy or example of something that completely misrepresents the true nature
of the real thing; comical parody or imitation; treatment aimed at making
something appear ridiculous; Ex. travesty of justice; OP. paragon"
tread,walk; trample; N: grooved face of a tire; horizontal part of a step
treasure,keep as precious; cherish
treatise,article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly
trek,travel; journey; V: make a long difficult journey
tremor,trembling; slight quiver (as of the earth or from nervous agitation)
tremulous,trembling; wavering
trenchant,cutting; incisive; keen
trepidation,fear; nervous apprehension
tribulation,suffering; ordeal; distress; trial
tribunal,court of justice
tribune,"official of ancient Rome elected by the plebians to protect their rights;
protector of the people"
tribute,"tax levied by a ruler; payment made by one nation to another in
acknowledgment of submission; mark of respect (such as praise or gift); Ex.
pay tribute to"
trickle,flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
trickster,person who cheats people
trident,three-pronged spear
trifle,"something of little importance or value; small amount; Ex. a trifle; V: treat
without seriousness; flirt"
trifling,trivial; unimportant
trigger,set off; start
trilogy,"group of three related works (connected by a shared subject but each
complete in itself)"
trim,"make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by removing what is unnecessary;
ornament; decorate (round the edges); Ex. trim the cost; Ex. jacket trimmed
with fur; N. ADJ: tidy; in good order"
trinket,knickknack; bauble; cheap jewelry
trite,hackneyed; commonplace
trivia,trifles; unimportant matters
troth,pledge of good faith especially in betrothal; betrothal; Ex. by my troth
trough,"long narrow container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave,
business cycle, etc.); long narrow depression as between waves"
truculence,aggressiveness; ferocity; ADJ. truculent: aggressive; pugnacious; fierce
truism,self-evident truth
truncate,cut the top off; shorten
trunk,"main wooden stem of a tree; human body excluding the head and limbs;
torso; prehensile nose of an elephant"
tryst,meeting arranged by lovers; arrangement between lovers to meet
tumid,(of a part of the body) swollen; distended; bombastic; pompous
tumult,"commotion of a great crowd; riot; noise; uproar; ADJ. tumultuous: noisy and
disorderly",
tundra,rolling treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America,
turbid,(of a liquid) having the sediment disturbed; muddy; thick,
turbulence,state of violent agitation; ADJ. turbulent: violently agitated or disturbed,
tureen,deep dish for serving soup,
turgid,swollen; distended (as from liquid),
turmoil,"extreme confusion; great commotion and confusion; Ex. throw the country
into turmoil",
turncoat,traitor,
turpitude,depravity; baseness; Ex. moral turpitude,
tutelage,guardianship; training; function of a tutor; instruction,
tutelary,protective; pertaining to a guardianship; Ex. tutelary deities,
tycoon,"wealthy and powerful businessperson; wealthy leader; magnate; Ex. business
tycoon",
typhoon,tropical hurricane or cyclone,
tyranny,"oppression; cruel government; ADJ. tyrannical: of a tyrant or tyranny;
despotic; V. tyrannize: treat tyrannically; oppress",
tyro,beginner; novice,
"",Barron GRE word list - U,
ubiquitous,being everywhere; omnipresent; N. ubiquity,
ulcer,"sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body; Ex.
stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate",
ulterior,"intentionally hidden; beyond what is evident; situated beyond;
unstated and often questionable; Ex. ulterior motive",
ultimate,"final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental; Ex. The
sun is the ultimate source of energy.",
ultimatum,"last demand; last warning; last statement of conditions that must
be met; Ex. They have ignored our ultimatum.",
umbrage,"resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult; Ex. take umbrage at
his rudeness",
unaccountable,"unexplicable; impossible to account for; unreasonable or
mysterious",
unanimity,complete agreement; ADJ. unanimous
unassailable,not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question
unassuaged,unsatisfied; not soothed
unassuming,modest; Ex. the champion's unassuming manner
unbridled,violent; uncontrolled; Ex. unbridled rage/greed
uncanny,strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack
unceremonious,not done politely without due formalities
unconscionable,"unscrupulous; not guided by conscience; excessive; beyond
reason; Ex. unconscionable demand"
uncouth,boorish; clumsy in speech or behavior; outlandish
unction,the act of anointing with oil; Ex. extreme unction
unctuous,oily; bland; insincerely suave
underhand(underhanded),done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)
underlying,lying below; fundamental
undermine,weaken gradually; sap; dig a mine beneath
underscore,underline; emphasize
understate,"state with less truth than seems warranted by the facts; Ex. He
understated the seriousness of the crime; N. understatement; OP.
overstate"
undertaker,funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials
undulating,moving with a wavelike motion; V. undulate; CF. und: wave
unearth,"dig up; discover (facts) by careful searching; Ex. He unearthed
some secrets about her; OP. conceal"
unearthly,not earthly; supernatural; weird; ghostly
unequivocal,plain; clear; obvious
unerringly,infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes
unexceptionable,entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism
unfaltering,steadfast; firm; not changing
unfeigned,genuine; real
unfetter,liberate; free from chains; V. unfetter
unfledged,immature; not having the feathers necessary to fly; CF. fledgling
unfrock,defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority
ungainly,"(of someone) awkward in movement; clumsy; (of something)
unwieldy; Ex. ungainly dancer/instrument"
unguent,ointment
uniformity,sameness; monotony; ADJ. uniform: the same all over
unilateral,"one-sided; involving or affecting only one side; Ex. unilateral
declaration"
unimpeachable,"that cannot be impeached; beyond doubt or question; blameless
and exemplary"
uninhibited,unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings
unintimating,unfrightening
unique,without an equal; single in kind
unison,"unity of pitch (in musical performance); complete accord; Ex. The
choir sang in unison."
universal,"characterizing or affecting all; general; present everywhere; of the
universe; cosmic; Ex. universal agreement; Ex. a subject of
universal interest"
unkempt,disheveled; uncared for in appearance; not combed; CF. comb
unmitigated,"(of something bad) not moderated; unrelieved or immoderate;
without qualification; absolute; Ex. unmitigated disaster"
unobtrusive,inconspicuous; not blatant
unprecedented,having no previous example; novel; unparalleled
unprepossessing,unattractive
unravel,disentangle; solve
unregenerate,making no attempt to change one's bad practices
unrequited,not requited; not reciprocated; Ex. unrequited love
unruly,disobedient; lawless; difficult to control
unsavory,"distasteful; disagreeable; morally offensive; Ex. unsavory
activity/reputation"
unscathed,unharmed; Ex. escape the accident unscathed
unseemly,"unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent; Ex. leave with
unseemly haste"
unsightly,ugly; unpleasant to look at
unsullied,untarnished; CF. sully
untenable,"(of a position, esp. in an argument) indefensible; not able to be
maintained"
untoward,"unexpected and adverse; unfortunate or unlucky; Ex. untoward
encounter"
unwarranted,"unjustified; having no justification; groundless; baseless;
undeserved",
unwieldy,awkward (to carry or move); cumbersome; unmanageable,
unwitting,"not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex. She was their unwitting
accomplice; Ex. unwitting insult; CF. wit: know",
unwonted,"unaccustomed; unusual; Ex. He arrived with unwonted
punctuality.",
upbraid,reprimand; severely scold,
upright,(sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral,
uproar,noisy confusion,
uproarious,"marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy (esp. with laughter);
hilarious; causing loud laughter; extremely funny",
upshot,outcome; final result,
urbane,suave; refined in manner; elegant,
urchin,"mischievous child (usually a boy); CF. urchin: hedgehog; CF.
porcupine: pig with spikes ?; CF. sea urchin",
urge,"drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to take action;
impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that
prompts action",
urgent,"compelling immediate action; pressing; persistent; importunate;
Ex. urgent in his demands",
ursine,bearlike; pertaining to a bear,
usage,"act or manner of using; accepted practice; way in which words are
actually used",
usurp,"seize another's power or rank (without legal authority); supplant;
appropriate; N. usurpation; CF. take for one's own use",
usury,lending money at illegal high rates of interest,
utopia,"ideal place, state, or society; ADJ. utopian",
uxorious,excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife; CF. uxor: wife,
"",Barron GRE word list - W,
wade,"walk through a substance, such as water, that impedes movement",
waffle,speak equivocally about an issue; N.,
waft,"move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the
window",
wag,"shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog wagged its tail; N: humorous
person; wit"
wage,begin and continue (a war)
waggish,humorous; mischievous; tricky
waif,homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
waive,"give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that
waives a right or claim"
wake,"trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone
before; Ex. hunger followed in the wake of the war"
wallow,"roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex.
wallow in the mud/luxury"
wan,having a pale or sickly color; pallid
wanderlust,strong longing to travel
wane,"decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex.
The moon waxes and wanes every month; N."
wangle,"achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an
invitation to the party."
wanton,"unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually
improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause"
warble,(of a bird) sing; babble; N.
ward,"administrative division of a city; division in a hospital or prison; incompetent
person placed under the protection of a guardian; V: guard; ward off: avert"
warp,twist out of shape; N.
warrant,"justification; written order that serves as authorization (esp. a judicial writ);
Ex. search/death warrant; V: justify; guarantee"
warranted,justified; authorized
warranty,guarantee; assurance by seller
warren,"tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in
which people live"
wary,very cautious; watchful
wastrel,waster; profligate
waver,"move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady in decision or
movement; Ex. wavering between accepting and refusing"
wax,increase gradually (as the moon); grow
waylay,ambush; lie in wait for and attack
wean,accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the young of a mammal) to take
"","nourishment other than by suckling; give up a cherished activity; cause to
gradually leave (an interest or habit); Ex. wean oneself from cigarettes"
weary,tired after long work; V.
weather,"pass safely through (a storm or difficult period); endure the effects of weather
or other forces"
weird,eerie; strange; unnatural
well-bred,of good upbringing; well-mannered and refined
welt,raised mark from a beating or whipping
welter,"wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in blood); Ex. The victims
weltered in their blood."
wheedle,"deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax; Ex. wheedle a promise
out of her"
whelp,"young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young wolf, dog, tiger, etc."
whet,sharpen; stimulate; Ex. whet someone's appetite
whiff,"puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); short-lasting smell; hint; Ex. whiff of
perfume/scandal"
whim,sudden capricious idea; fancy
whimsical,capricious; fanciful; amusingly strange
whimsy,whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely; Ex. story full of whimsy
whine,complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as in pain or supplication)
whinny,neigh like a horse; CF. neigh: make the sound which horses make
whit,small amount; smallest speck; Ex. not a whit of
whittle,"pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually;
trim"
wholesome,conducive to mental or physical health; healthful
whorl,"ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the
fingers"
wiggle,wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions
willful,wilful; intentional; headstrong
willowy,flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
wilt,loose freshness; droop
wily,crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem
wince,"move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex. She winced as she touched the
cold body."
windfall,fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event
winnow,"sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad;
CF. wind"
winsome,charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging
wisp,small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)
wispy,thin; slight; barely discernible
wistful,"sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely
longing"
withdrawn,introverted; retiring; remote remote/distant in manner; aloof
wither,(of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay
withhold,refuse to give; hold back; Ex. withholding tax
withstand,stand up against; resist successfully
witless,lacking intelligence or wit; foolish; idiotic
witticism,witty saying; wisecrack(clever joking remark)
wizardry,sorcery; magic
wizened,shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady
woe,great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering; Ex. financial woes
woeful,"sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably bad; Ex. woeful housing
conditions"
wont,"(the stated person's) habit or custom; habitual procedure; ADJ. wonted:
customary"
worldly,engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual; of the material world
wrangle,quarrel noisily; obtain through arguing; herd cattle; N.
wrath,anger; fury
wreak,inflict; Ex. wreak one's vengeance on
wrench,twist; pull; strain; Ex. He wrenched the gun out of her hands.
wrest,"obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence; Ex. wrest victory from
their grasp"
wretch,"miserable person; bad or despicable person; ADJ. wretched: miserable; bad;
contemptible; vile"
wring,twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting; wrench painfully (necks or hands)
wrinkle,small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.
writ,"written command issued by a court (telling someone to do or not to do
something)"
writhe,twist in coils; contort in pain
wrongheaded,stubbornly wrong
wry,"(esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing
displeasure)",
"",Barron GRE word list - X,
xenophobia,fear or hatred of foreigners; N. xenophobe,
"",Barron GRE word list - Y,
yen,strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel,
yeoman,man or farmer owning small estate; middle-class farmer,
yield,"amount produced; crop; income on investment; profit obtained from an investment;
V: produce; give in; surrender",
yoke,join together; unite; N: crossbar used to joining two draft animals,
yokel,rustic; country bumpkin;,
yore,time long past; Ex. in the days of yore,
"",Barron GRE word list - Z,
zany,comic; crazy; N: clown; comical person (given to outlandish behavior),
zeal,eager enthusiasm (to a cause or ideal); ADJ. zealous,
zealot,one who is zealous; fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal,
zenith,point directly overhead in the sky; summit; acme; highest point,
zephyr,gentle breeze; west wind,
zest,"outer skin of an orange used for giving a special taste to food; spice; interest; flavor;
spirited enjoyment; Ex. add a certain zest to the affair; Ex. zest for life",