5000 SAT vocabulary words

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Cards

abase v To lower in position, estimation, or the like; degrade  
abbess n The lady superior of a nunnery  
abbey n The group of buildings which collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns  
abbot n The superior of a community of monks  
abdicate v To give up (royal power or the like)  
abdomen n In mammals, the visceral cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor; the belly  
abdominal n Of, pertaining to, or situated on the abdomen  
abduction n A carrying away of a person against his will, or illegally  
abed adv In bed; on a bed  
aberration n Deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course  
abet v To aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense)  
abeyance n A state of suspension or temporary inaction  
abhorrence n The act of detesting extremely  
abhorrent adj Very repugnant; hateful  
abidance n An abiding  
abject adj Sunk to a low condition  
abjure v To recant, renounce, repudiate under oath  
able-bodied adj Competent for physical service  
ablution n A washing or cleansing, especially of the body  
abnegate v To renounce (a right or privilege)  
abnormal adj Not conformed to the ordinary rule or standard  
abominable adj Very hateful  
abominate v To hate violently  
abomination n A very detestable act or practice  
aboriginal adj Primitive; unsophisticated  
aborigines n The original of earliest known inhabitants of a country  
abrade v To wear away the surface or some part of by friction  
abrasion n That which is rubbed off  
abridge v To make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles  
abridgment n A condensed form as of a book or play  
abrogate v To abolish, repeal  
abrupt adj Beginning, ending, or changing suddenly or with a break  
abscess n A Collection of pus in a cavity formed within some tissue of the body  
abscission n The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation  
abscond v To depart suddenly and secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest  
absence n The fact of not being present or available  
absent-minded adj Lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business  
absolution n Forgiveness, or passing over of offenses  
absolve v To free from sin or its penalties  
absorb v To drink in or suck up, as a sponge absorbs water  
absorption n The act or process of absorbing  
abstain v To keep oneself back (from doing or using something)  
abstemious adj Characterized by self denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food  
abstinence n Self denial  
abstruse adj Dealing with matters difficult to be understood  
absurd adj Inconsistent with reason or common sense  
abundant adj Plentiful  
abusive adj Employing harsh words or ill treatment  
abut v To touch at the end or boundary line  
abyss n Bottomless gulf  
academic adj Of or pertaining to an academy, college, or university  
academician n A member of an academy of literature, art, or science  
academy n Any institution where the higher branches of learning are taught  
accede v To agree  
accelerate v To move faster  
accept v To take when offered  
access n A way of approach or entrance; passage  
accessible adj Approachable  
accession n Induction or elevation, as to dignity, office, or government  
accessory n A person or thing that aids the principal agent  
acclaim v To utter with a shout  
accommodate v To furnish something as a kindness or favor  
accompaniment n A subordinate part or parts, enriching or supporting the leading part  
accompanist n One who or that which accompanies  
accompany v To go with, or be associated with, as a companion  
accomplice n An associate in wrong-doing  
accomplish v To bring to pass  
accordion n A portable free-reed musical instrument  
accost v To speak to  
account n A record or statement of receipts and expenditures, or of business transactions  
accouter v To dress  
accredit v To give credit or authority to  
accumulate v To become greater in quantity or number  
accuracy n Exactness  
accurate adj Conforming exactly to truth or to a standard  
accursed adj Doomed to evil, misery, or misfortune  
accusation n A charge of crime, misdemeanor, or error  
accusatory adj Of, pertaining to, or involving an accusation  
accuse v To charge with wrong doing, misconduct, or error  
accustom v To make familiar by use  
acerbity n Sourness, with bitterness and astringency  
acetate n A salt of acetic acid  
acetic adj Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of vinegar  
ache v To be in pain or distress  
Achillean adj Invulnerable  
achromatic adj Colorless,  
acid n A sour substance  
acidify v To change into acid  
acknowledge v To recognize; to admit the genuineness or validity of  
acknowledgment n Recognition  
acme n The highest point, or summit  
acoustic adj Pertaining to the act or sense of hearing  
acquaint v To make familiar or conversant  
acquiesce v To comply; submit  
acquiescence n Passive consent  
acquire v To get as one's own  
acquisition n Anything gained, or made one's own, usually by effort or labor  
acquit v To free or clear, as from accusation  
acquittal n A discharge from accusation by judicial action  
acquittance n Release or discharge from indebtedness, obligation, or responsibility  
acreage n Quantity or extent of land, especially of cultivated land  
acrid adj Harshly pungent or bitter  
acrimonious adj Full of bitterness  
acrimony n Sharpness or bitterness of speech or temper  
actionable adj Affording cause for instituting an action, as trespass, slanderous words  
actuality n Any reality  
actuary n An officer, as of an insurance company, who calculates and states the risks and premiums  
actuate v To move or incite to action  
acumen n Quickness of intellectual insight, or discernment; keenness of discrimination  
acute adj Having fine and penetrating discernment  
adamant n Any substance of exceeding hardness or impenetrability  
addendum n Something added, or to be added  
addle v To make inefficient or worthless; muddle  
adduce v To bring forward or name for consideration  
adhere v To stick fast or together  
adherence n Attachment  
adherent adj Clinging or sticking fast  
adhesion n The state of being attached or joined  
adieu inter Good-by; farewell  
adjacency n The state of being adjacent  
adjacent n That which is near or bordering upon  
adjudge v To award or bestow by formal decision  
adjunct n Something joined to or connected with another thing, but holding a subordinate place  
adjuration n A vehement appeal  
adjutant adj Auxiliary  
administrator n One who manages affairs of any kind  
admissible adj Having the right or privilege of entry  
admittance n Entrance, or the right or permission to enter  
admonish v To warn of a fault  
admonition n Gentle reproof  
ado n unnecessary activity or ceremony  
adoration n Profound devotion  
adroit adj Having skill in the use of the bodily or mental powers  
adulterant n An adulterating substance  
adulterate v To make impure by the admixture of other or baser ingredients  
adumbrate v To represent beforehand in outline or by emblem  
advent n The coming or arrival, as of any important change, event, state, or personage  
adverse adj Opposing or opposed  
adversity n Misfortune  
advert v To refer incidentally  
advertiser n One who advertises, especially in newspapers  
advisory adj Not mandatory  
advocacy n The act of pleading a cause  
advocate n One who pleads the cause of another, as in a legal or ecclesiastical court  
aerial adj Of, pertaining to, or like the air  
aeronaut n One who navigates the air, a balloonist  
aeronautics n the art or practice of flying aircraft  
aerostat n A balloon or other apparatus floating in or sustained by the air  
aerostatics n The branch of pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties  
affable adj Easy to approach  
affect v To act upon  
affectation n A studied or ostentatious pretense or attempt  
affiliate n Some auxiliary person or thing  
affirmative adj Answering yes; to a question at issue  
affix v To fasten  
affluence n A profuse or abundant supply of riches  
affront n An open insult or indignity  
afoot adv In progress  
aforesaid adj Said in a preceding part or before  
afresh adv Once more, after rest or interval  
afterthought n A thought that comes later than its appropriate or expected time  
agglomerate v To pile or heap together  
aggrandize v To cause to appear greatly  
aggravate v To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome  
aggravation n The fact of being made heavier or more heinous, as a crime , offense, misfortune, etc  
aggregate n The entire number, sum, mass, or quantity of something  
aggress v To make the first attack  
aggression n An unprovoked attack  
aggrieve v To give grief or sorrow to  
aghast adj Struck with terror and amazement  
agile adj Able to move or act quickly, physically, or mentally  
agitate v To move or excite (the feelings or thoughts)  
agrarian adj Pertaining to land, especially agricultural land  
aide-de-camp n An officer who receives and transmits the orders of the general  
ailment n Slight sickness  
airy adj Delicate, ethereal  
akin adj Of similar nature or qualities  
alabaster n A white or delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum  
alacrity n Cheerful willingness  
albeit conj Even though  
albino n A person with milky white skin and hair, and eyes with bright red pupil and usually pink iris  
album n A book whose leaves are so made to form paper frames for holding photographs or the like  
alchemy n Chemistry of the middle ages, characterized by the pursuit of changing base metals to gold  
alcohol n A volatile, inflammable, colorless liquid of a penetrating odor and burning taste  
alcoholism n A condition resulting from the inordinate or persistent use of alcoholic beverages  
alcove n A covered recess connected with or at the side of a larger room  
alder n Any shrub or small tree of the genus Alumnus, of the oak family  
alderman n A member of a municipal legislative body, who usually exercises also certain judicial functions  
aldermanship n The dignity, condition, office, or term of office of an alderman  
alias n An assumed name  
alien n One who owes allegiance to a foreign government  
alienable adj Capable of being aliened or alienated, as lands  
alienate v To cause to turn away  
alienation n Estrangement  
aliment n That which nourishes  
alkali n Anything that will neutralize an acid, as lime, magnesia, etc  
allay v To calm the violence or reduce the intensity of; mitigate  
allege v To assert to be true, especially in a formal manner, as in court  
allegory n The setting forth of a subject under the guise of another subject of aptly suggestive likeness  
alleviate v To make less burdensome or less hard to bear  
alley n A narrow street, garden path, walk, or the like  
alliance n Any combination or union for some common purpose  
allot v To assign a definite thing or part to a certain person  
allotment n Portion  
allude v To refer incidentally, or by suggestion  
allusion n An indirect and incidental reference to something without definite mention of it  
alluvion n Flood  
ally n A person or thing connected with another, usually in some relation of helpfulness  
almanac n A series of tables giving the days of the week together with certain astronomical information  
aloof adv Not in sympathy with or desiring to associate with others  
altar n Any raised place or structure on which sacrifices may be offered or incense burned  
alter v To make change in  
alteration n Change or modification  
altercate v To contend angrily or zealously in words  
alternate n One chosen to act in place of another, in case of the absence or incapacity of that other  
alternative n Something that may or must exist, be taken or chosen, or done instead of something else  
altitude n Vertical distance or elevation above any point or base-level, as the sea  
alto n The lowest or deepest female voice or part  
altruism n Benevolence to others on subordination to self-interest  
altruist n One who advocates or practices altruism  
amalgam n An alloy or union of mercury with another metal  
amalgamate v To mix or blend together in a homogeneous body  
amateur adj Practicing an art or occupation for the love of it, but not as a profession  
amatory adj Designed to excite love  
ambidextrous adj Having the ability of using both hands with equal skill or ease  
ambiguous adj Having a double meaning  
ambitious adj Eagerly desirous and aspiring  
ambrosial adj Divinely sweet, fragrant, or delicious  
ambulance n A vehicle fitted for conveying the sick and wounded  
ambulate v To walk about  
ambush n The act or state of lying concealed for the purpose of surprising or attacking the enemy  
ameliorate v To relieve, as from pain or hardship  
amenable adj Willing and ready to submit  
Americanism n A peculiar sense in which an English word or phrase is used in the United States  
amicable adj Done in a friendly spirit  
amity n Friendship  
amorous adj Having a propensity for falling in love  
amorphous adj Without determinate shape  
amour n A love-affair, especially one of an illicit nature  
ampere n The practical unit of electric-current strength  
ampersand n The character &; and  
amphibious adj Living both on land and in water  
amphitheater n An edifice of elliptical shape, constructed about a central open space or arena  
amplitude n Largeness  
amply adv Sufficiently  
amputate v To remove by cutting, as a limb or some portion of the body  
amusement n Diversion  
anachronism n Anything occurring or existing out of its proper time  
anagram n The letters of a word or phrase so transposed as to make a different word or phrase  
analogous adj Corresponding (to some other) in certain respects, as in form, proportion, relations  
analogy n Reasoning in which from certain and known relations or resemblance others are formed  
analyst n One who analyzes or makes use of the analytical method  
analyze v To examine minutely or critically  
anarchy n Absence or utter disregard of government  
anathema n Anything forbidden, as by social usage  
anatomy n That branch of morphology which treats of the structure of organisms  
ancestry n One's ancestors collectively  
anecdote n A brief account of some interesting event or incident  
anemia n Deficiency of blood or red corpuscles  
anemic adj Affected with anemia  
anemometer n An instrument for measuring the force or velocity of wind  
anesthetic adj Pertaining to or producing loss of sensation  
anew adv Once more  
angelic adj Saintly  
Anglophobia n Hatred or dread of England or of what is English  
Anglo-Saxon n The entire English race wherever found, as in Europe, the United States, or India  
angular adj Sharp-cornered  
anhydrous adj Withered  
animadversion n The utterance of criticism or censure  
animadvert v To pass criticism or censure  
animalcule n An animal of microscopic smallness  
animate v To make alive  
animosity n Hatred  
annalist n Historian  
annals n A record of events in their chronological order, year by year  
annex v To add or affix at the end  
annihilate v To destroy absolutely  
annotate v To make explanatory or critical notes on or upon  
annual adj Occurring every year  
annuity n An annual allowance, payment, or income  
annunciation n Proclamation  
anode n The point where or path by which a voltaic current enters an electrolyte or the like  
anonymous adj Of unknown authorship  
antagonism n Mutual opposition or resistance of counteracting forces, principles, or persons  
Antarctic adj Pertaining to the south pole or the regions near it  
ante v In the game of poker, to put up a stake before the cards are dealt  
antecede v To precede  
antecedent n One who or that which precedes or goes before, as in time, place, rank, order, or causality  
antechamber n A waiting room for those who seek audience  
antedate v To assign or affix a date to earlier than the actual one  
antediluvian adj Of or pertaining to the times, things, events before the great flood in the days of Noah  
antemeridian adj Before noon  
antemundane adj Pertaining to time before the world's creation  
antenatal adj Occurring or existing before birth  
anterior adj Prior  
anteroom n A room situated before and opening into another, usually larger  
anthology n A collection of extracts from the writings of various authors  
anthracite n Hard coal  
anthropology n The science of man in general  
anthropomorphous adj Having or resembling human form  
antic n A grotesque, ludicrous, or fantastic action  
Antichrist n Any opponent or enemy of Christ, whether a person or a power  
anticlimax n A gradual or sudden decrease in the importance or impressiveness of what is said  
anticyclone n An atmospheric condition of high central pressure, with currents flowing outward  
antidote n Anything that will counteract or remove the effects of poison, disease, or the like  
antilogy n Inconsistency or contradiction in terms or ideas  
antipathize v To show or feel a feeling of antagonism, aversion, or dislike  
antiphon n A response or alteration of responses, generally musical  
antiphony n An anthem or other composition sung responsively  
antipodes n A place or region on the opposite side of the earth  
antiquary n One who collects and examines old things, as coins, books, medals, weapons, etc  
antiquate v To make old or out of date  
antique adj Pertaining to ancient times  
antiseptic n Anything that destroys or restrains the growth of putrefactive micro-organisms  
antislavery adj Opposed to human slavery  
antispasmodic adj Tending to prevent or relieve non-inflammatory spasmodic affections  
antistrophe n The inversion of terms in successive classes, as in "the home of joy and the joy of home"  
antitoxin n A substance which neutralizes the poisonous products of micro-organisms  
antonym n A word directly opposed to another in meaning  
anxious adj Distressed in mind respecting some uncertain matter  
apathy n Insensibility to emotion or passionate feeling  
aperture n Hole  
apex n The highest point, as of a mountain  
aphorism n Proverb  
apiary n A place where bees are kept  
apogee n The climax  
apology n A disclaimer of intentional error or offense  
apostasy n A total departure from one's faith or religion  
apostate adj False  
apostle n Any messenger commissioned by or as by divine authority  
apothecary n One who keeps drugs for sale and puts up prescriptions  
apotheosis n Deification  
appall v To fill with dismay or horror  
apparent adj Easily understood  
apparition n Ghost  
appease v To soothe by quieting anger or indignation  
appellate adj Capable of being appealed to  
appellation n The name or title by which a particular person, class, or thing is called  
append v To add or attach, as something accessory, subordinate, or supplementary  
appertain v To belong, as by right, fitness, association, classification, possession, or natural relation  
apposite adj Appropriate  
apposition n The act of placing side by side, together, or in contact  
appraise v To estimate the money value of  
appreciable adj Capable of being discerned by the senses or intellect  
apprehend v To make a prisoner of (a person) in the name of the law  
apprehensible adj Capable of being conceived  
approbation n Sanction  
appropriate adj Suitable for the purpose and circumstances  
aqueduct n A water-conduit, particularly one for supplying a community from a distance  
aqueous adj Of, pertaining to, or containing water  
arbiter n One chosen or appointed, by mutual consent of parties in dispute, to decide matters  
arbitrary adj Fixed or done capriciously  
arbitrate v To act or give judgment as umpire  
arbor n A tree  
arboreal adj Of or pertaining to a tree or trees  
arborescent adj Having the nature of a tree  
arboretum n A botanical garden or place devoted to the cultivation of trees or shrubs  
arboriculture n The cultivation of trees or shrubs  
arcade n A vaulted passageway or street; a roofed passageway having shops, etc, opening from it  
archaic adj Antiquated  
archaism n Obsolescence  
archangel n An angel of high rank  
archbishop n The chief of the bishops of an ecclesiastical province in the Greek, Roman, and Anglican church  
archdeacon n A high official administrator of the affairs of a diocese  
archaeology n The branch of anthropology concerned with the systematic investigation of the relics of man  
archetype n A prototype  
archipelago n Any large body of water studded with islands, or the islands collectively themselves  
ardent adj Burning with passion  
ardor n Intensity of passion or affection  
arid adj Very dry  
aristocracy n A hereditary nobility  
aristocrat n A hereditary noble or one nearly connected with nobility  
armada n A fleet of war-vessels  
armful n As much as can be held in the arm or arms  
armory n An arsenal  
aroma n An agreeable odor  
arraign v To call into court, as a person indicted for crime, and demand whether he pleads guilty or not  
arrange v To put in definite or proper order  
arrangement n The act of putting in proper order, or the state of being put in order  
arrant adj Notoriously bad  
arrear n Something overdue and unpaid  
arrival n A coming to stopping-place or destination  
arrogant adj Unduly or excessively proud, as of wealth, station, learning, etc  
arrogate v To take, demand, or claim, especially presumptuously or without reasons or grounds  
artful adj Characterized by craft or cunning  
Arthurian adj Pertaining to King Arthur, the real or legendary hero of British poetic story  
artifice n Trickery  
artless adj Ingenuous  
ascendant adj Dominant  
ascension n The act of rising  
ascent n A rising, soaring, or climbing  
ascetic adj Given to severe self-denial and practicing excessive abstinence and devotion  
ascribe v To assign as a quality or attribute  
asexual adj Having no distinct sexual organs  
ashen adj Pale  
askance adv With a side or indirect glance or meaning  
asperity n Harshness or roughness of temper  
aspirant n One who seeks earnestly, as for advancement, honors, place  
aspiration n An earnest wish for that which is above one's present reach  
aspire v To have an earnest desire, wish, or longing, as for something high and good, not yet attained  
assailant n One who attacks  
assassin n One who kills, or tries to kill, treacherously or secretly  
assassinate v To kill, as by surprise or secret assault, especially the killing of some eminent person  
assassination n Murderer, as by secret assault or treachery  
assay n The chemical analysis or testing of an alloy ore  
assent v To express agreement with a statement or matter of opinion  
assess v To determine the amount of (a tax or other sum to be paid)  
assessor n An officer whose duty it is to assess taxes  
assiduous adj Diligent  
assignee n One who is appointed to act for another in the management of certain property and interests  
assimilate v To adapt  
assonance n Resemblance or correspondence in sound  
assonant adj Having resemblance of sound  
assonate v To accord in sound, especially vowel sound  
assuage v To cause to be less harsh, violent, or severe, as excitement, appetite, pain, or disease  
astringent adj Harsh in disposition or character  
astute adj Keen in discernment  
atheism n The denial of the existence of God  
athirst adj Wanting water  
athwart adv From side to side  
atomizer n An apparatus for reducing a liquid to a fine spray, as for disinfection, inhalation, etc  
atone v To make amends for  
atonement n Amends, reparation, or expiation made from wrong or injury  
atrocious adj Outrageously or wantonly wicked, criminal, vile, or cruel  
atrocity n Great cruelty or reckless wickedness  
attache n A subordinate member of a diplomatic embassy  
attest v To certify as accurate, genuine, or true  
attorney-general n The chief law-officer of a government  
auburn adj Reddish-brown, said usually of the hair  
audacious adj Fearless  
audible adj Loud enough to be heard  
audition n The act or sensation of hearing  
auditory adj Of or pertaining to hearing or the organs or sense of hearing  
augment v To make bigger  
augur v To predict  
aura n Pervasive psychic influence supposed to emanate from persons  
aural adj Of or pertaining to the ear  
auricle n One of the two chambers of the heart which receives the blood from the veins  
auricular adj Of or pertaining to the ear, its auricle, or the sense of hearing  
auriferous adj Containing gold  
aurora n A luminous phenomenon in the upper regions of the atmosphere  
auspice n favoring, protecting, or propitious influence or guidance  
austere adj Severely simple; unadorned  
autarchy n Unrestricted power  
authentic adj Of undisputed origin  
authenticity n The state or quality of being genuine, or of the origin and authorship claimed  
autobiography n The story of one's life written by himself  
autocracy n Absolute government  
autocrat n Any one who claims or wields unrestricted or undisputed authority or influence  
automaton n Any living being whose actions are or appear to be involuntary or mechanical  
autonomous adj Self-governing  
autonomy n Self-government  
autopsy n The examination of a dead body by dissection to ascertain the cause of death  
autumnal adj Of or pertaining to autumn  
auxiliary n One who or that which aids or helps, especially when regarded as subsidiary or accessory  
avalanche n The fall or sliding of a mass of snow or ice down a mountain-slope, often bearing with it rock  
avarice n Passion for getting and keeping riches  
aver v To assert as a fact  
averse adj Reluctant  
aversion n A mental condition of fixed opposition to or dislike of some particular thing  
avert v To turn away or aside  
aviary n A spacious cage or enclosure in which live birds are kept  
avidity n Greediness  
avocation n Diversion  
avow v To declare openly  
awaken v To arouse, as emotion, interest, or the like  
aye adv An expression of assent  
azalea n A flowering shrub  
azure n The color of the sky  
Baconian adj Of or pertaining to Lord Bacon or his system of philosophy  
bacterium n A microbe  
badger v To pester  
baffle v To foil or frustrate  
bailiff n An officer of court having custody of prisoners under arraignment  
baize n A single-colored napped woolen fabric used for table-covers, curtains, etc  
bale n A large package prepared for transportation or storage  
baleful adj Malignant  
ballad n Any popular narrative poem, often with epic subject and usually in lyric form  
balsam n A medical preparation, aromatic and oily, used for healing  
banal adj Commonplace  
barcarole n A boat-song of Venetian gondoliers  
barograph n An instrument that registers graphically and continuously the atmospheric pressure  
barometer n An instrument for indicating the atmospheric pressure per unit of surface  
barring prep Apart from  
baritone adj Having a register higher than bass and lower than tenor  
bask v To make warm by genial heat  
bass adj Low in tone or compass  
baste v To cover with melted fat, gravy, while cooking  
baton n An official staff borne either as a weapon or as an emblem of authority or privilege  
battalion n A body of infantry composed of two or more companies, forming a part of a regiment  
batten n A narrow strip of wood  
batter n A thick liquid mixture of two or more materials beaten together, to be used in cookery  
bauble n A trinket  
bawl v To proclaim by outcry  
beatify v To make supremely happy  
beatitude n Any state of great happiness  
beau n An escort or lover  
becalm v To make quiet  
beck v To give a signal to, by nod or gesture  
bedaub v To smear over, as with something oily or sticky  
bedeck v To cover with ornament  
bedlam n Madhouse  
befog v To confuse  
befriend v To be a friend to, especially when in need  
beget v To produce by sexual generation  
begrudge v To envy one of the possession of  
belate v To delay past the proper hour  
belay v To make fast, as a rope, by winding round a cleat  
belie v To misrepresent  
believe v To accept as true on the testimony or authority of others  
belittle v To disparage  
belle n A woman who is a center of attraction because of her beauty, accomplishments, etc  
bellicose adj Warlike  
belligerent adj Manifesting a warlike spirit  
bemoan v To lament  
benediction n a solemn invocation of the divine blessing  
benefactor n A doer of kindly and charitable acts  
benefice n A church office endowed with funds or property for the maintenance of divine service  
beneficent adj Characterized by charity and kindness  
beneficial adj Helpful  
beneficiary n One who is lawfully entitled to the profits and proceeds of an estate or property  
benefit n Helpful result  
benevolence n Any act of kindness or well-doing  
benevolent adj Loving others and actively desirous of their well-being  
benign adj Good and kind of heart  
benignant adj Benevolent in feeling, character, or aspect  
benignity n Kindness of feeling, disposition, or manner  
benison n Blessing  
bequeath v To give by will  
bereave v To make desolate with loneliness and grief  
berth n A bunk or bed in a vessel, sleeping-car, etc  
beseech v To implore  
beset v To attack on all sides  
besmear v To smear over, as with any oily or sticky substance  
bestial adj Animal  
bestrew v To sprinkle or cover with things strewn  
bestride v To get or sit upon astride, as a horse  
bethink v To remind oneself  
betide v To happen to or befall  
betimes adv In good season or time  
betroth v To engage to marry  
betrothal n Engagement to marry  
bevel n Any inclination of two surfaces other than 90 degrees  
bewilder v To confuse the perceptions or judgment of  
bibliomania n The passion for collecting books  
bibliography n A list of the words of an author, or the literature bearing on a particular subject  
bibliophile n One who loves books  
bibulous adj Fond of drinking  
bide v To await  
biennial n A plant that produces leaves and roots the first year and flowers and fruit the second  
bier n A horizontal framework with two handles at each end for carrying a corpse to the grave  
bigamist n One who has two spouses at the same time  
bigamy n The crime of marrying any other person while having a legal spouse living  
bight n A slightly receding bay between headlands, formed by a long curve of a coast-line  
bilateral adj Two-sided  
bilingual adj Speaking two languages  
biograph n A bibliographical sketch or notice  
biography n A written account of one's life, actions, and character  
biology n The science of life or living organisms  
biped n An animal having two feet  
birthright n A privilege or possession into which one is born  
bitterness n Acridity, as to the taste  
blase adj Sated with pleasure  
blaspheme v To indulge in profane oaths  
blatant adj Noisily or offensively loud or clamorous  
blaze n A vivid glowing flame  
blazon v To make widely or generally known  
bleak adj Desolate  
blemish n A mark that mars beauty  
blithe adj Joyous  
blithesome adj Cheerful  
blockade n The shutting up of a town, a frontier, or a line of coast by hostile forces  
boatswain n A subordinate officer of a vessel, who has general charge of the rigging, anchors, etc  
bodice n A women's ornamental corset-shaped laced waist  
bodily adj Corporeal  
boisterous adj Unchecked merriment or animal spirits  
bole n The trunk or body of a tree  
bolero n A Spanish dance, illustrative of the passion of love, accompanied by caste nets and singing  
boll n A round pod or seed-capsule, as a flax or cotton  
bolster v To support, as something wrong  
bomb n A hollow projectile containing an explosive material  
bombard v To assail with any missile or with abusive speech  
bombardier n A person who has charge of mortars, bombs, and shells  
bombast n Inflated or extravagant language, especially on unimportant subjects  
boorish adj Rude  
bore v To weary by tediousness or dullness  
borough n An incorporated village or town  
bosom n The breast or the upper front of the thorax of a human being, especially of a woman  
botanical adj Connected with the study or cultivation of plants  
botanize v To study plant-life  
botany n The science that treats of plants  
bountiful adj Showing abundance  
Bowdlerize v To expurgate in editing (a literary composition) by omitting words or passages  
bowler n In cricket, the player who delivers the ball  
boycott v To place the products or merchandise of under a ban  
brae n Hillside  
braggart n A vain boaster  
brandish v To wave, shake, or flourish triumphantly or defiantly, as a sword or spear  
bravado n An aggressive display of boldness  
bravo interj Well done  
bray n A loud harsh sound, as the cry of an ass or the blast of a horn  
braze v To make of or ornament with brass  
brazier n An open pan or basin for holding live coals  
breach n The violation of official duty, lawful right, or a legal obligation  
breaker n One who trains horses, dogs, etc  
breech n The buttocks  
brevity n Shortness of duration  
bric-a-brac n Objects of curiosity or for decoration  
bridle n The head-harness of a horse consisting of a head-stall, a bit, and the reins  
brigade n A body of troops consisting of two or more regiments  
brigadier n General officer who commands a brigade, ranking between a colonel and a major-general  
brigand n One who lives by robbery and plunder  
brimstone n Sulfur  
brine n Water saturated with salt  
bristle n One of the coarse, stiff hairs of swine: used in brush-making, etc  
Britannia n The United Kingdom of Great Britain  
Briticism n A word, idiom, or phrase characteristic of Great Britain or the British  
brittle adj Fragile  
broach v To mention, for the first time  
broadcast adj Disseminated far and wide  
brogan n A coarse, heavy shoe  
brogue n Any dialectic pronunciation of English, especially that of the Irish people  
brokerage n The business of making sales and purchases for a commission; a broker  
bromine n A dark reddish-brown, non-metallic liquid element with a suffocating odor  
bronchitis n Inflammation of the bronchial tubes  
bronchus n Either of the two subdivisions of the trachea conveying air into the lungs  
brooch n An article of jewelry fastened by a hinged pin and hook on the underside  
brotherhood n Spiritual or social fellowship or solidarity  
browbeat v To overwhelm, or attempt to do so, by stern, haughty, or rude address or manner  
brusque adj Somewhat rough or rude in manner or speech  
buffoon n A clown  
buffoonery n Low drollery, coarse jokes, etc  
bulbous adj Of, or pertaining to, or like a bulb  
bullock n An ox  
bulrush n Any one of various tall rush-like plants growing in damp ground or water  
bulwark n Anything that gives security or defense  
bumper n A cup or glass filled to the brim, especially one to be drunk as a toast or health  
bumptious adj Full of offensive and aggressive self-conceit  
bungle v To execute clumsily  
buoyancy n Power or tendency to float on or in a liquid or gas  
buoyant adj Having the power or tendency to float or keep afloat  
bureau n A chest of drawers for clothing, etc  
bureaucracy n Government by departments of men transacting particular branches of public business  
burgess n In colonial times, a member of the lower house of the legislature of Maryland or Virginia  
burgher n An inhabitant, citizen or freeman of a borough burgh, or corporate town  
burnish v To make brilliant or shining  
bursar n A treasurer  
bustle v To hurry  
butt v To strike with or as with the head, or horns  
butte n A conspicuous hill, low mountain, or natural turret, generally isolated  
buttress n Any support or prop  
by-law n A rule or law adopted by an association, a corporation, or the like  
cabal n A number of persons secretly united for effecting by intrigue some private purpose  
cabalism n Superstitious devotion to one's religion  
cabinet n The body of men constituting the official advisors of the executive head of a nation  
cacophony n A disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or combination of sounds or tones  
cadaverous adj Resembling a corpse  
cadence n Rhythmical or measured flow or movement, as in poetry or the time and pace of marching troops  
cadenza n An embellishment or flourish, prepared or improvised, for a solo voice or instrument  
caitiff adj Cowardly  
cajole v To impose on or dupe by flattering speech  
cajolery n Delusive speech  
calculable adj That may be estimated by reckoning  
calculus n A concretion formed in various parts of the body resembling a pebble in hardness  
callosity n The state of being hard and insensible  
callow adj Without experience of the world  
calorie n Amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree centigrade  
calumny n Slander  
Calvary n The place where Christ was crucified  
Calvinism n The system of doctrine taught by John Calvin  
Calvinize v To teach or imbue with the doctrines of Calvinism  
came n A leaden sash-bar or grooved strip for fastening panes in stained-glass windows  
cameo n Any small engraved or carved work in relief  
campaign n A complete series of connected military operations  
Canaanite n A member of one of the three tribes that dwelt in the land of Canaan, or western Palestine  
canary adj Of a bright but delicate yellow  
candid adj Straightforward  
candor n The quality of frankness or outspokenness  
canine adj Characteristic of a dog  
canon n Any rule or law  
cant v To talk in a singsong, preaching tone with affected solemnity  
cantata n A choral composition  
canto n One of the divisions of an extended poem  
cantonment n The part of the town or district in which the troops are quartered  
capacious adj Roomy  
capillary n A minute vessel having walls composed of a single layer of cells  
capitulate v To surrender or stipulate terms  
caprice n A whim  
caption n A heading, as of a chapter, section, document, etc  
captious adj Hypercritical  
carcass n The dead body of an animal  
cardiac adj Pertaining to the heart  
cardinal adj Of prime or special importance  
caret n A sign (^) placed below a line, indicating where omitted words, etc, should be inserted  
caricature n a picture or description in which natural characteristics are exaggerated or distorted  
carnage n Massacre  
carnal adj Sensual  
carnivorous adj Eating or living on flesh  
carouse v To drink deeply and in boisterous or jovial manner  
carrion n Dead and putrefying flesh  
cartilage n An elastic animal tissue of firm consistence  
cartridge n A charge for a firearm, or for blasting  
caste n The division of society on artificial grounds  
castigate v To punish  
casual adj Accidental, by chance  
casualty n A fatal or serious accident or disaster  
cataclysm n Any overwhelming flood of water  
cataract n Opacity of the lens of the eye resulting in complete or partial blindness  
catastrophe n Any great and sudden misfortune or calamity  
cathode n The negative pole or electrode of a galvanic battery  
Catholicism n The system, doctrine, and practice of the Roman Catholic Church  
catholicity n Universal prevalence or acceptance  
cat-o-nine-tails n An instrument consisting of nine pieces of cord, formerly used for flogging in the army and navy  
caucus n A private meeting of members of a political party to select candidates  
causal adj Indicating or expressing a cause  
caustic adj Sarcastic and severe  
cauterize v To burn or sear as with a heated iron  
cede v To pass title to  
censor n An official examiner of manuscripts empowered to prohibit their publication  
censorious adj Judging severely or harshly  
census n An official numbering of the people of a country or district  
centenary adj Pertaining to a hundred years or a period of a hundred years  
centiliter n A hundredth of a liter  
centimeter n A length of one hundredth of a meter  
centurion n A captain of a company of one hundred infantry in the ancient Roman army  
cereal adj Pertaining to edible grain or farinaceous seeds  
ceremonial adj Characterized by outward form or ceremony  
ceremonious adj Observant of ritual  
cessation n Discontinuance, as of action or motion  
cession n Surrender, as of possessions or rights  
chagrin n Keen vexation, annoyance, or mortification, as at one's failures or errors  
chameleon adj Changeable in appearance  
chancery n A court of equity, as distinguished from a common-law court  
chaos n Any condition of which the elements or parts are in utter disorder and confusion  
characteristic n A distinctive feature  
characterize v To describe by distinctive marks or peculiarities  
charlatan n A quack  
chasm n A yawning hollow, as in the earth's surface  
chasten v To purify by affliction  
chastise v To subject to punitive measures  
chastity n Sexual or moral purity  
chateau n A castle or manor-house  
chattel n Any article of personal property  
check v To hold back  
chiffon n A very thin gauze used for trimmings, evening dress, etc  
chivalry n The knightly system of feudal times with its code, usages and practices  
cholera n An acute epidemic disease  
choleric adj Easily provoked to anger  
choral adj Pertaining to, intended for, or performed by a chorus or choir  
Christ n A title of Jesus  
christen v To name in baptism  
Christendom n That part of the world where Christianity is generally professed  
chromatic adj Belonging, relating to, or abounding in color  
chronology n The science that treats of computation of time or of investigation and arrangement of events  
chronometer n A portable timekeeper of the highest attainable precision  
circulate v To disseminate  
circumference n The boundary-line of a circle  
circumlocution n Indirect or roundabout expression  
circumnavigate v To sail quite around  
circumscribe v To confine within bounds  
circumspect adj Showing watchfulness, caution, or careful consideration  
citadel n Any strong fortress  
cite v To refer to specifically  
claimant n One who makes a claim or demand, as of right  
clairvoyance n Intuitive sagacity or perception  
clamorous adj Urgent in complaint or demand  
clan n A tribe  
clandestine adj Surreptitious  
clangor n Clanking or a ringing, as of arms, chains, or bells; clamor  
clarify v To render intelligible  
clarion n A small shrill trumpet or bugle  
classify v To arrange in a class or classes on the basis of observed resemblance’s and differences  
clearance n A certificate from the proper authorities that a vessel has complied with the law and may sail  
clemency n Mercy  
clement adj Compassionate  
close-hauled adj Having the sails set for sailing as close to the wind as possible  
clothier n One who makes or sells cloth or clothing  
clumsy adj Awkward of movement  
coagulate v To change into a clot or a jelly, as by heat, by chemical action, or by a ferment  
coagulant adj Producing coagulation  
coalescence n The act or process of coming together so as to form one body, combination, or product  
coalition n Combination in a body or mass  
coddle v To treat as a baby or an invalid  
codicil n A supplement adding to, revoking, or explaining in the body of a will  
coerce v To force  
coercion n Forcible constraint or restraint, moral or physical  
coercive adj Serving or tending to force  
cogent adj Appealing strongly to the reason or conscience  
cognate adj Akin  
cognizant adj Taking notice  
cohere v To stick together  
cohesion n Consistency  
cohesive adj Having the property of consistency  
coincide v To correspond  
coincidence n A circumstance so agreeing with another: often implying accident  
coincident adj Taking place at the same time  
collaborate v To labor or cooperate with another or others, especially in literary or scientific pursuits  
collapse v To cause to shrink, fall in, or fail  
collapsible adj That may or can collapse  
colleague n An associate in professional employment  
collective adj Consisting of a number of persons or objects considered as gathered into a mass, or sum  
collector n One who makes a collection, as of objects of art, books, or the like  
collegian n A college student  
collide v To meet and strike violently  
collier n One who works in a coal-mine  
collision n Violent contact  
colloquial adj Pertaining or peculiar to common speech as distinguished from literary  
colloquialism n Form of speech used only or chiefly in conversation  
colloquy n Conversation  
collusion n A secret agreement for a wrongful purpose  
colossus n Any strikingly great person or object  
comely adj Handsome  
comestible adj Fit to be eaten  
comical adj Funny  
commemorate v To serve as a remembrance of  
commentary n A series of illustrative or explanatory notes on any important work  
commingle v To blend  
commissariat n The department of an army charged with the provision of its food and water and daily needs  
commission v To empower  
commitment n The act or process of entrusting or consigning for safe-keeping  
committal n The act, fact, or result of committing, or the state of being  
commodity n Something that is bought and sold  
commotion n A disturbance or violent agitation  
commute v To put something, especially something less severe, in place of  
comparable adj Fit to be compared  
comparative adj Relative  
comparison n Examination of two or more objects with reference to their likeness or unlikeness  
compensate v To remunerate  
competence n Adequate qualification or capacity  
competent adj Qualified  
competitive adj characterized by rivalry  
competitor n A rival  
complacence n Satisfaction with one's acts or surroundings  
complacent adj Pleased or satisfied with oneself  
complaisance n Politeness  
complaisant adj Agreeable  
complement v To make complete  
complex adj Complicated  
compliant adj Yielding  
complicate v To make complex, difficult, or hard to deal with  
complication n An intermingling or combination of things or parts, especially in a perplexing manner  
complicity n Participation or partnership, as in wrong-doing or with a wrong-doer  
compliment v To address or gratify with expressions of delicate praise  
component n A constituent element or part  
comport v To conduct or behave (oneself)  
composure n Calmness  
comprehensible adj Intelligible  
comprehension n Ability to know  
comprehensive adj Large in scope or content  
compress v To press together or into smaller space  
compressible adj Capable of being pressed into smaller compass  
compression n Constraint, as by force or authority  
comprise v To consist of  
compulsion n Coercion  
compulsory adj Forced  
compunction n Remorseful feeling  
compute v To ascertain by mathematical calculation  
concede v To surrender  
conceit n Self-flattering opinion  
conceive v To form an idea, mental image or thought of  
concerto n A musical composition  
concession n Anything granted or yielded, or admitted in response to a demand, petition, or claim  
conciliate v To obtain the friendship of  
conciliatory adj Tending to reconcile  
conclusive adj Sufficient to convince or decide  
concord n Harmony  
concordance n Harmony  
concur v To agree  
concurrence n Agreement  
concurrent adj Occurring or acting together  
concussion n A violent shock to some organ by a fall or a sudden blow  
condensation n The act or process of making dense or denser  
condense v To abridge  
condescend v To come down voluntarily to equal terms with inferiors  
condolence n Expression of sympathy with a person in pain, sorrow, or misfortune  
conduce v To bring about  
conducive adj Contributing to an end  
conductible adj Capable of being conducted or transmitted  
conduit n A means for conducting something, particularly a tube, pipe, or passageway for a fluid  
confectionery n The candy collectively that a confectioner makes or sells, as candy  
confederacy n A number of states or persons in compact or league with each other, as for mutual aid  
confederate n One who is united with others in a league, compact, or agreement  
confer v To bestow  
conferee n A person with whom another confers  
confessor n A spiritual advisor  
confidant n One to whom secrets are entrusted  
confide v To reveal in trust or confidence  
confidence n The state or feeling of trust in or reliance upon another  
confident adj Assured  
confinement n Restriction within limits or boundaries  
confiscate v To appropriate (private property) as forfeited to the public use or treasury  
conflagration n A great fire, as of many buildings, a forest, or the like  
confluence n The place where streams meet  
confluent n A stream that unites with another  
conformance n The act or state or conforming  
conformable adj Harmonious  
conformation n General structure, form, or outline  
conformity n Correspondence in form, manner, or use  
confront v To encounter, as difficulties or obstacles  
congeal v To coagulate  
congenial adj Having kindred character or tastes  
congest v To collect into a mass  
congregate v To bring together into a crowd  
coniferous adj Cone-bearing trees  
conjecture n A guess  
conjoin v To unite  
conjugal adj Pertaining to marriage, marital rights, or married persons  
conjugate adj Joined together in pairs  
conjugation n The state or condition of being joined together  
conjunction n The state of being joined together, or the things so joined  
connive v To be in collusion  
connoisseur n A critical judge of art, especially one with thorough knowledge and sound judgment of art  
connote v To mean; signify  
connubial adj Pertaining to marriage or matrimony  
conquer v To overcome by force  
consanguineous adj Descended from the same parent or ancestor  
conscience n The faculty in man by which he distinguishes between right and wrong in character and conduct  
conscientious adj Governed by moral standard  
conscious adj Aware that one lives, feels, and thinks  
conscript v To force into military service  
consecrate v To set apart as sacred  
consecutive adj Following in uninterrupted succession  
consensus n A collective unanimous opinion of a number of persons  
conservatism n Tendency to adhere to the existing order of things  
conservative adj Adhering to the existing order of things  
conservatory n An institution for instruction and training in music and declamation  
consign v To entrust  
consignee n A person to whom goods or other property has been entrusted  
consignor n One who entrusts  
consistency n A state of permanence  
console v To comfort  
consolidate v To combine into one body or system  
consonance n The state or quality of being in accord with  
consonant adj Being in agreement or harmony with  
consort n A companion or associate  
conspicuous adj Clearly visible  
conspirator n One who agrees with others to cooperate in accomplishing some unlawful purpose  
conspire v To plot  
constable n An officer whose duty is to maintain the peace  
constellation n An arbitrary assemblage or group of stars  
consternation n Panic  
constituency n The inhabitants or voters in a district represented in a legislative body  
constituent n One who has the right to vote at an election  
constrict v To bind  
consul n An officer appointed to reside in a foreign city, chiefly to represent his country  
consulate n The place in which a consul transacts official business  
consummate v To bring to completion  
consumption n Gradual destruction, as by burning, eating, etc, or by using up, wearing out, etc  
consumptive adj Designed for gradual destruction  
contagion n The communication of disease from person to person  
contagious adj Transmitting disease  
contaminate v To pollute  
contemplate v To consider thoughtfully  
contemporaneous adj Living, occurring, or existing at the same time  
contemporary adj Living or existing at the same time  
contemptible adj Worthy of scorn or disdain  
contemptuous adj Disdainful  
contender n One who exerts oneself in opposition or rivalry  
contiguity n Proximity  
contiguous adj Touching or joining at the edge or boundary  
continence n Self-restraint with respect to desires, appetites, and passion  
contingency n Possibility of happening  
contingent adj Not predictable  
continuance n Permanence  
continuation n Prolongation  
continuity n Uninterrupted connection in space, time, operation, or development  
continuous adj Connected, extended, or prolonged without separation or interruption of sequence  
contort v To twist into a misshapen form  
contraband n Trade forbidden by law or treaty  
contradiction n The assertion of the opposite of that which has been said  
contradictory adj Inconsistent with itself  
contraposition n A placing opposite  
contravene v To prevent or obstruct the operation of  
contribution n The act of giving for a common purpose  
contributor n One who gives or furnishes, in common with others, for a common purpose  
contrite adj Broken in spirit because of a sense of sin  
contrivance n The act planning, devising, inventing, or adapting something to or for a special purpose  
contrive v To manage or carry through by some device or scheme  
control v To exercise a directing, restraining, or governing influence over  
controller n One who or that which regulates or directs  
contumacious adj Rebellious  
contumacy n Contemptuous disregard of the requirements of rightful authority  
contuse v To bruise by a blow, either with or without the breaking of the skin  
contusion n A bruise  
convalesce v To recover after a sickness  
convalescence n The state of progressive restoration to health and strength after the cessation of disease  
convalescent adj Recovering health after sickness  
convene v To summon or cause to assemble  
convenience n Fitness, as of time or place  
converge v To cause to incline and approach nearer together  
convergent adj Tending to one point  
conversant adj Thoroughly informed  
conversion n Change from one state or position to another, or from one form to another  
convertible adj Interchangeable  
convex adj Curving like the segment of the globe or of the surface of a circle  
conveyance n That by which anything is transported  
convivial adj Devoted to feasting, or to good-fellowship in eating or drinking  
convolution n A winding motion  
convolve v To move with a circling or winding motion  
convoy n A protecting force accompanying property in course of transportation  
convulse v To cause spasms in  
convulsion n A violent and abnormal muscular contraction of the body  
copious adj Plenteous  
coquette n A flirt  
cornice n An ornamental molding running round the walls of a room close to the ceiling  
cornucopia n The horn of plenty, symbolizing peace and prosperity  
corollary n A proposition following so obviously from another that it requires little demonstration  
coronation n The act or ceremony of crowning a monarch  
coronet n Inferior crown denoting, according to its form, various degrees of noble rank less than sovereign  
corporal adj Belonging or relating to the body as opposed to the mind  
corporate adj Belonging to a corporation  
corporeal adj Of a material nature; physical  
corps n A number or body of persons in some way associated or acting together  
corpse n A dead body  
corpulent adj Obese  
corpuscle n A minute particle of matter  
correlate v To put in some relation of connection or correspondence  
correlative adj Mutually involving or implying one another  
corrigible adj Capable of reformation  
corroborate v To strengthen, as proof or conviction  
corroboration n Confirmation  
corrode v To ruin or destroy little by little  
corrosion n Gradual decay by crumbling or surface disintegration  
corrosive n That which causes gradual decay by crumbling or surface disintegration  
corruptible adj Open to bribery  
corruption n Loss of purity or integrity  
cosmetic adj Pertaining to the art of beautifying, especially the complexion  
cosmic adj Pertaining to the universe  
cosmogony n A doctrine of creation or of the origin of the universe  
cosmography n The science that describes the universe, including astronomy, geography, and geology  
cosmology n The general science of the universe  
cosmopolitan adj Common to all the world  
cosmopolitanism n A cosmopolitan character  
cosmos n The world or universe considered as a system, perfect in order and arrangement  
counter-claim n A cross-demand alleged by a defendant in his favor against the plaintiff  
counteract v To act in opposition to  
counterbalance v To oppose with an equal force  
countercharge v To accuse in return  
counterfeit adj Made to resemble something else  
counterpart n Something taken with another for the completion of either  
countervail v To offset  
counting-house n A house or office used for transacting business, bookkeeping, correspondence, etc  
countryman n A rustic  
courageous adj Brave  
course n Line of motion or direction  
courser n A fleet and spirited horse  
courtesy n Politeness originating in kindness and exercised habitually  
covenant n An agreement entered into by two or more persons or parties  
covert adj Concealed, especially for an evil purpose  
covey n A flock of quails or partridges  
cower v To crouch down tremblingly, as through fear or shame  
coxswain n One who steers a rowboat, or one who has charge of a ship's boat and its crew under an officer  
crag n A rugged, rocky projection on a cliff or ledge  
cranium n The skull of an animal, especially that part enclosing the brain  
crass adj Coarse or thick in nature or structure, as opposed to thin or fine  
craving n A vehement desire  
creak n A sharp, harsh, squeaking sound  
creamery n A butter-making establishment  
creamy adj Resembling or containing cream  
credence n Belief  
credible adj Believable  
credulous adj Easily deceived  
creed n A formal summary of fundamental points of religious belief  
crematory adj A place for cremating dead bodies  
crevasse n A deep crack or fissure in the ice of a glacier  
crevice n A small fissure, as between two contiguous surfaces  
criterion n A standard by which to determine the correctness of a judgment or conclusion  
critique n A criticism or critical review  
crockery n Earthenware made from baked clay  
crucible n A trying and purifying test or agency  
crusade n Any concerted movement, vigorously prosecuted, in behalf of an idea or principle  
crustacean adj Pertaining to a division of arthropods, containing lobsters, crabs, crawfish, etc  
crustaceous adj Having a crust-like shell  
cryptogram n Anything written in characters that are secret or so arranged as to have hidden meaning  
crystallize v To bring together or give fixed shape to  
cudgel n A short thick stick used as a club  
culinary adj Of or pertaining to cooking or the kitchen  
cull v To pick or sort out from the rest  
culpable adj Guilty  
culprit n A guilty person  
culvert n Any artificial covered channel for the passage of water through a bank or under a road, canal  
cupidity n Avarice  
curable adj Capable of being remedied or corrected  
curator n A person having charge as of a library or museum  
curio n A piece of bric-a-brac  
cursive adj Writing in which the letters are joined together  
cursory adj Rapid and superficial  
curt adj Concise, compressed, and abrupt in act or expression  
curtail v To cut off or cut short  
curtsy n A downward movement of the body by bending the knees  
cycloid adj Like a circle  
cygnet n A young swan  
cynical adj Exhibiting moral skepticism  
cynicism n Contempt for the opinions of others and of what others value  
cynosure n That to which general interest or attention is directed  
daring adj Brave  
darkling adv Blindly  
Darwinism n The doctrine that natural selection has been the prime cause of evolution of higher forms  
dastard n A base coward  
datum n A premise, starting-point, or given fact  
dauntless adj Fearless  
day-man n A day-laborer  
dead-heat n A race in which two or more competitors come out even, and there is no winner  
dearth n Scarcity, as of something customary, essential ,or desirable  
death's-head n A human skull as a symbol of death  
debase v To lower in character or virtue  
debatable adj Subject to contention or dispute  
debonair adj Having gentle or courteous bearing or manner  
debut n A first appearance in society or on the stage  
decagon n A figure with ten sides and ten angles  
decagram n A weight of 10 grams  
decaliter n A liquid and dry measure of 10 liters  
decalogue n The ten commandments  
Decameron n A volume consisting of ten parts or books  
decameter n A length of ten meters  
decamp v To leave suddenly or unexpectedly  
decapitate v To behead  
decapod adj Ten-footed or ten-armed  
decasyllable n A line of ten syllables  
deceit n Falsehood  
deceitful adj Fraudulent  
deceive v To mislead by or as by falsehood  
decency n Moral fitness  
decent adj Characterized by propriety of conduct, speech, manners, or dress  
deciduous adj Falling off at maturity as petals after flowering, fruit when ripe, etc  
decimal adj Founded on the number 10  
decimate v To destroy a measurable or large proportion of  
decipher v To find out the true words or meaning of, as something hardly legible  
decisive ad Conclusive  
declamation n A speech recited or intended for recitation from memory in public  
declamatory adj A full and formal style of utterance  
declarative adj Containing a formal, positive, or explicit statement or affirmation  
decorate v To embellish  
decorous adj Suitable for the occasion or circumstances  
decoy n Anything that allures, or is intended to allures into danger or temptation  
decrepit adj Enfeebled, as by old age or some chronic infirmity  
dedication n The voluntary consecration or relinquishment of something to an end or cause  
deduce v To derive or draw as a conclusion by reasoning from given premises or principles  
deface v To mar or disfigure the face or external surface of  
defalcate v To cut off or take away, as a part of something  
defamation n Malicious and groundless injury done to the reputation or good name of another  
defame v To slander  
default n The neglect or omission of a legal requirement  
defendant n A person against whom a suit is brought  
defensible adj Capable of being maintained or justified  
defensive adj Carried on in resistance to aggression  
defer v To delay or put off to some other time  
deference n Respectful submission or yielding, as to another's opinion, wishes, or judgment  
defiant adj Characterized by bold or insolent opposition  
deficiency n Lack or insufficiency  
deficient adj Not having an adequate or proper supply or amount  
definite adj Having an exact signification or positive meaning  
deflect v To cause to turn aside or downward  
deforest v To clear of forests  
deform v To disfigure  
deformity n A disfigurement  
defraud v To deprive of something dishonestly  
defray v To make payment for  
degeneracy n A becoming worse  
degenerate v To become worse or inferior  
degradation n Diminution, as of strength or magnitude  
degrade v To take away honors or position from  
dehydrate v To deprive of water  
deify v To regard or worship as a god  
deign v To deem worthy of notice or account  
deist n One who believes in God, but denies supernatural revelation  
deity n A god, goddess, or divine person  
deject v To dishearten  
dejection n Melancholy  
delectable adj Delightful to the taste or to the senses  
delectation n Delight  
deleterious adj Hurtful, morally or physically  
delicacy n That which is agreeable to a fine taste  
delineate v To represent by sketch or diagram  
deliquesce v To dissolve gradually and become liquid by absorption of moisture from the air  
delirious adj Raving  
delude v To mislead the mind or judgment of  
deluge v To overwhelm with a flood of water  
delusion n Mistaken conviction, especially when more or less enduring  
demagnetize v To deprive (a magnet) of magnetism  
demagogue n An unprincipled politician  
demeanor n Deportment  
demented adj Insane  
demerit n A mark for failure or bad conduct  
demise n Death  
demobilize v To disband, as troops  
demolish v To annihilate  
demonstrable adj Capable of positive proof  
demonstrate v To prove indubitably  
demonstrative adj Inclined to strong exhibition or expression of feeling or thoughts  
demonstrator n One who proves in a convincing and conclusive manner  
demulcent n Any application soothing to an irritable surface  
demurrage n the detention of a vessel beyond the specified time of sailing  
dendroid adj Like a tree  
dendrology n The natural history of trees  
denizen n Inhabitant  
denominate v To give a name or epithet to  
denomination n A body of Christians united by a common faith and form of worship and discipline  
denominator n Part of a fraction which expresses the number of equal parts into which the unit is divided  
denote v To designate by word or mark  
denouement n That part of a play or story in which the mystery is cleared up  
denounce v To point out or publicly accuse as deserving of punishment, censure, or odium  
dentifrice n Any preparation used for cleaning the teeth  
denude v To strip the covering from  
denunciation n The act of declaring an action or person worthy of reprobation or punishment  
deplete v To reduce or lessen, as by use, exhaustion, or waste  
deplorable adj Contemptible  
deplore v To regard with grief or sorrow  
deponent adj Laying down  
depopulate v To remove the inhabitants from  
deport v To take or send away forcibly, as to a penal colony  
deportment n Demeanor  
deposition n Testimony legally taken on interrogatories and reduced to writing, for use as evidence in court  
depositor n One who makes a deposit, or has an amount deposited  
depository n A place where anything is kept in safety  
deprave v To render bad, especially morally bad  
deprecate v To express disapproval or regret for, with hope for the opposite  
depreciate v To lessen the worth of  
depreciation n A lowering in value or an underrating in worth  
depress v To press down  
depression n A falling of the spirits  
depth n Deepness  
derelict adj Neglectful of obligation  
deride v To ridicule  
derisible adj Open to ridicule  
derision n Ridicule  
derivation n That process by which a word is traced from its original root or primitive form and meaning  
derivative adj Coming or acquired from some origin  
derive v To deduce, as from a premise  
dermatology n The branch of medical science which relates to the skin and its diseases  
derrick n An apparatus for hoisting and swinging great weights  
descendant n One who is descended lineally from another, as a child, grandchild, etc  
descendent adj Proceeding downward  
descent n The act of moving or going downward  
descry v To discern  
desert v To abandon without regard to the welfare of the abandoned  
desiccant n Any remedy which, when applied externally, dries up or absorbs moisture, as that of wounds  
designate v To select or appoint, as by authority  
desist v To cease from action  
desistance n Cessation  
despair n Utter hopelessness and despondency  
desperado n One without regard for law or life  
desperate adj Resorted to in a last extremity, or as if prompted by utter despair  
despicable adj Contemptible  
despite prep In spite of  
despond v To lose spirit, courage, or hope  
despondent adj Disheartened  
despot n An absolute and irresponsible monarch  
despotism n Any severe and strict rule in which the judgment of the governed has little or no part  
destitute adj Poverty-stricken  
desultory adj Not connected with what precedes  
deter v To frighten away  
deteriorate v To grow worse  
determinate adj Definitely limited or fixed  
determination n The act of deciding  
deterrent adj Hindering from action through fear  
detest v To dislike or hate with intensity  
detract v To take away in such manner as to lessen value or estimation  
detriment n Something that causes damage, depreciation, or loss  
detrude v To push down forcibly  
deviate v To take a different course  
devilry n Malicious mischief  
deviltry n Wanton and malicious mischief  
devious adj Out of the common or regular track  
devise v To invent  
devout adj Religious  
dexterity n Readiness, precision, efficiency, and ease in any physical activity or in any mechanical work  
diabolic adj Characteristic of the devil  
diacritical adj Marking a difference  
diagnose v To distinguish, as a disease, by its characteristic phenomena  
diagnosis n Determination of the distinctive nature of a disease  
dialect n Forms of speech collectively that are peculiar to the people of a particular district  
dialectician n A logician  
dialogue n A formal conversation in which two or more take part  
diaphanous adj Transparent  
diatomic adj Containing only two atoms  
diatribe n A bitter or malicious criticism  
dictum n A positive utterance  
didactic adj Pertaining to teaching  
difference n Dissimilarity in any respect  
differentia n Any essential characteristic of a species by reason of which it differs from other species  
differential adj Distinctive  
differentiate v To acquire a distinct and separate character  
diffidence n Self-distrust  
diffident adj Affected or possessed with self-distrust  
diffusible adj Spreading rapidly through the system and acting quickly  
diffusion n Dispersion  
dignitary n One who holds high rank  
digraph n A union of two characters representing a single sound  
digress v To turn aside from the main subject and for a time dwell on some incidental matter  
dilapidated pa Fallen into decay or partial ruin  
dilate v To enlarge in all directions  
dilatory adj Tending to cause delay  
dilemma n A situation in which a choice between opposing modes of conduct is necessary  
dilettante n A superficial amateur  
diligence n Careful and persevering effort to accomplish what is undertaken  
dilute v To make more fluid or less concentrated by admixture with something  
diminution n Reduction  
dimly adv Obscurely  
diphthong n The sound produced by combining two vowels in to a single syllable or running together the sounds  
diplomacy n Tact, shrewdness, or skill in conducting any kind of negotiations or in social matters  
diplomat n A representative of one sovereign state at the capital or court of another  
diplomatic adj Characterized by special tact in negotiations  
diplomatist n One remarkable for tact and shrewd management  
disagree v To be opposite in opinion  
disallow v To withhold permission or sanction  
disappear v To cease to exist, either actually or for the time being  
disappoint v To fail to fulfill the expectation, hope, wish, or desire of  
disapprove v To regard with blame  
disarm v To deprive of weapons  
disarrange v To throw out of order  
disavow v To disclaim responsibility for  
disavowal n Denial  
disbeliever n One who refuses to believe  
disburden v To disencumber  
disburse v To pay out or expend, as money from a fund  
discard v To reject  
discernible adj Perceivable  
disciple n One who believes the teaching of another, or who adopts and follows some doctrine  
disciplinary adj Having the nature of systematic training or subjection to authority  
discipline v To train to obedience  
disclaim v To disavow any claim to, connection with, or responsibility to  
discolor v To stain  
discomfit v To put to confusion  
discomfort n The state of being positively uncomfortable  
disconnect v To undo or dissolve the connection or association of  
disconsolate adj Grief-stricken  
discontinuance n Interruption or intermission  
discord n Absence of harmoniousness  
discountenance v To look upon with disfavor  
discover v To get first sight or knowledge of, as something previously unknown or unperceived  
discredit v To injure the reputation of  
discreet adj Judicious  
discrepant adj Opposite  
discriminate v To draw a distinction  
discursive adj Passing from one subject to another  
discussion n Debate  
disenfranchise v To deprive of any right privilege or power  
disengage v To become detached  
disfavor n Disregard  
disfigure v To impair or injure the beauty, symmetry, or appearance of  
dishabille n Undress or negligent attire  
dishonest adj Untrustworthy  
disillusion v To disenchant  
disinfect v To remove or destroy the poison of infectious or contagious diseases  
disinfectant n A substance used to destroy the germs of infectious diseases  
disinherit v To deprive of an inheritance  
disinterested adj Impartial  
disjunctive adj Helping or serving to disconnect or separate  
dislocate v To put out of proper place or order  
dismissal n Displacement by authority from an office or an employment  
dismount v To throw down, push off, or otherwise remove from a horse or the like  
disobedience n Neglect or refusal to comply with an authoritative injunction  
disobedient adj Neglecting or refusing to obey  
disown v To refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as connected with oneself  
disparage v To regard or speak of slightingly  
disparity n Inequality  
dispel v To drive away by or as by scattering in different directions  
dispensation n That which is bestowed on or appointed to one from a higher power  
displace v To put out of the proper or accustomed place  
dispossess v To deprive of actual occupancy, especially of real estate  
disputation n Verbal controversy  
disqualify v To debar  
disquiet v To deprive of peace or tranquillity  
disregard v To take no notice of  
disreputable adj Dishonorable or disgraceful  
disrepute n A bad name or character  
disrobe v To unclothe  
disrupt v To burst or break asunder  
dissatisfy v To displease  
dissect v To cut apart or to pieces  
dissection n The act or operation of cutting in pieces, specifically of a plant or an animal  
dissemble v To hide by pretending something different  
disseminate v To sow or scatter abroad, as seed is sown  
dissension n Angry or violent difference of opinion  
dissent n Disagreement  
dissentient n One who disagrees  
dissentious adj Contentious  
dissertation n Thesis  
disservice n An ill turn  
dissever v To divide  
dissimilar adj Different  
dissipate v To disperse or disappear  
dissipation n The state of being dispersed or scattered  
dissolute adj Lewd  
dissolution n A breaking up of a union of persons  
dissolve v To liquefy or soften, as by heat or moisture  
dissonance n Discord  
dissonant adj Harsh or disagreeable in sound  
dissuade v To change the purpose or alter the plans of by persuasion, counsel, or pleading  
dissuasion n The act of changing the purpose of or altering the plans of through persuasion, or pleading  
disyllable n A word of two syllables  
distemper n A disease or malady  
distend v To stretch out or expand in every direction  
distensible adj Capable of being stretched out or expanded in every direction  
distention n Expansion  
distill v To extract or produce by vaporization and condensation  
distillation n Separation of the more volatile parts of a substance from those less volatile  
distiller n One occupied in the business of distilling alcoholic liquors  
distinction n A note or designation of honor, officially recognizing superiority or success in studies  
distort v To twist into an unnatural or irregular form  
distrain v To subject a person to distress  
distrainor n One who subjects a person to distress  
distraught adj Bewildered  
distrust n Lack of confidence in the power, wisdom, or good intent of any person  
disunion n Separation of relations or interests  
diurnal adj Daily  
divagation n Digression  
divergent adj Tending in different directions  
diverse adj Capable of various forms  
diversion n Pastime  
diversity n Dissimilitude  
divert v To turn from the accustomed course or a line of action already established  
divertible adj Able to be turned from the accustomed course or a line of action already established  
divest v To strip, specifically of clothes, ornaments, or accouterments or disinvestment  
divination n The pretended forecast of future events or discovery of what is lost or hidden  
divinity n The quality or character of being godlike  
divisible adj Capable of being separated into parts  
divisor n That by which a number or quantity is divided  
divulge v To tell or make known, as something previously private or secret  
divulgence n A divulging  
docile adj Easy to manage  
docket n The registry of judgments of a court  
doe n The female of the deer  
dogma n A statement of religious faith or duty formulated by a body claiming authority  
dogmatic adj Making statements without argument or evidence  
dogmatize v To make positive assertions without supporting them by argument or evidence  
doleful adj Melancholy  
dolesome adj Melancholy  
dolor n Lamentation  
dolorous adj Expressing or causing sorrow or pain  
domain n A sphere or field of action or interest  
domesticity n Life in or fondness for one's home and family  
domicile n The place where one lives  
dominance n Ascendancy  
dominant adj Conspicuously prominent  
dominate v To influence controllingly  
domination n Control by the exercise of power or constituted authority  
domineer v To rule with insolence or unnecessary annoyance  
donate v To bestow as a gift, especially for a worthy cause  
donator n One who makes a donation or present  
donee n A person to whom a donation is made  
donor n One who makes a donation or present  
dormant adj Being in a state of or resembling sleep  
doublet n One of a pair of like things  
doubly adv In twofold degree or extent  
dowry n The property which a wife brings to her husband in marriage  
drachma n A modern and an ancient Greek coin  
dragnet n A net to be drawn along the bottom of the water  
dragoon n In the British army, a cavalryman  
drainage n The means of draining collectively, as a system of conduits, trenches, pipes, etc  
dramatist n One who writes plays  
dramatize v To relate or represent in a dramatic or theatrical manner  
drastic adj Acting vigorously  
drought n Dry weather, especially when so long continued as to cause vegetation to wither  
drowsy adj Heavy with sleepiness  
drudgery n Hard and constant work in any menial or dull occupation  
dubious adj Doubtful  
duckling n A young duck  
ductile adj Capable of being drawn out, as into wire or a thread  
duet n A composition for two voices or instruments  
dun v To make a demand or repeated demands on for payment  
duplex adj Having two parts  
duplicity n Double-dealing  
durance n Confinement  
duration n The period of time during which anything lasts  
duteous adj Showing submission to natural superiors  
dutiable adj Subject to a duty, especially a customs duty  
dutiful adj Obedient  
dwindle v To diminish or become less  
dyne n The force which, applied to a mass of one gram for 1 second, would give it a velocity of 1 cm/s  
earnest adj Ardent in spirit and speech  
earthenware n Anything made of clay and baked in a kiln or dried in the sun  
eatable adj Edible  
ebullient adj Showing enthusiasm or exhilaration of feeling  
eccentric adj Peculiar  
eccentricity n Idiosyncrasy  
eclipse n The obstruction of a heavenly body by its entering into the shadow of another body  
economize v To spend sparingly  
ecstasy n Rapturous excitement or exaltation  
ecstatic adj Enraptured  
edible adj Suitable to be eaten  
edict n That which is uttered or proclaimed by authority as a rule of action  
edify v To build up, or strengthen, especially in morals or religion  
editorial n An article in a periodical written by the editor and published as an official argument  
educe v To draw out  
efface v To obliterate  
effect n A consequence  
effective adj Fit for a destined purpose  
effectual adj Efficient  
effeminacy n Womanishness  
effeminate adj Having womanish traits or qualities  
effervesce v To bubble up  
effervescent adj Giving off bubbles of gas  
effete adj Exhausted, as having performed its functions  
efficacious adj Effective  
efficacy n The power to produce an intended effect as shown in the production of it  
efficiency n The state of possessing adequate skill or knowledge for the performance of a duty  
efficient adj Having and exercising the power to produce effects or results  
efflorescence n The state of being flowery, or a flowery appearance  
efflorescent adj Opening in flower  
effluvium n A noxious or ill-smelling exhalation from decaying or putrefying matter  
effrontery n Unblushing impudence  
effulgence n Splendor  
effuse v To pour forth  
effusion n an outpouring  
egoism n The theory that places man's chief good in the completeness of self  
egoist n One who advocates or practices egoism  
egotism n Self-conceit  
egotist n One given to self-mention or who is constantly telling of his own views and experiences  
egregious adj Extreme  
egress n Any place of exit  
eject v To expel  
elapse v To quietly terminate: said of time  
elasticity n That property of matter by which a body tends to return to a former shape after being changed  
electrolysis n The process of decomposing a chemical compound by the passage of an electric current  
electrotype n A metallic copy of any surface, as a coin  
elegy n A lyric poem lamenting the dead  
element n A component or essential part  
elicit v To educe or extract gradually or without violence  
eligible adj Qualified for selection  
eliminate v To separate and cast aside  
Elizabethan adj Relating to Elizabeth, queen of England, or to her era  
elocution n The art of correct intonation, inflection, and gesture in public speaking or reading  
eloquent adj Having the ability to express emotion or feeling in lofty and impassioned speech  
elucidate v To bring out more clearly the facts concerning  
elude v To evade the search or pursuit of by dexterity or artifice  
elusion n Evasion  
emaciate v To waste away in flesh  
emanate v To flow forth or proceed, as from some source  
emancipate v To release from bondage  
embargo n Authoritative stoppage of foreign commerce or of any special trade  
embark v To make a beginning in some occupation or scheme  
embarrass v To render flustered or agitated  
embellish v To make beautiful or elegant by adding attractive or ornamental features  
embezzle v To misappropriate secretly  
emblazon v To set forth publicly or in glowing terms  
emblem n A symbol  
embody v To express, formulate, or exemplify in a concrete, compact or visible form  
embolden v To give courage to  
embolism n An obstruction or plugging up of an artery or other blood-vessel  
embroil v To involve in dissension or strife  
emerge v To come into view or into existence  
emergence n A coming into view  
emergent adj Coming into view  
emeritus adj Retired from active service but retained to an honorary position  
emigrant n One who moves from one place to settle in another  
emigrate v To go from one country, state, or region for the purpose of settling or residing in another  
eminence n An elevated position with respect to rank, place, character, condition, etc  
eminent adj High in station, merit, or esteem  
emit v To send or give out  
emphasis n Any special impressiveness added to an utterance or act, or stress laid upon some word  
emphasize v To articulate or enunciate with special impressiveness upon a word, or a group of words  
emphatic adj Spoken with any special impressiveness laid upon an act, word, or set of words  
employee n One who works for wages or a salary  
employer n One who uses or engages the services of other persons for pay  
emporium n A bazaar or shop  
empower v To delegate authority to  
emulate v To imitate with intent to equal or surpass  
enact v To make into law, as by legislative act  
enamor v To inspire with ardent love  
encamp v To pitch tents for a resting-place  
encomium n A formal or discriminating expression of praise  
encompass v To encircle  
encore n The call for a repetition, as of some part of a play or performance  
encourage v To inspire with courage, hope, or strength of mind  
encroach v To invade partially or insidiously and appropriate the possessions of another  
encumber v To impede with obstacles  
encyclical adj Intended for general circulation  
encyclopedia n A work containing information on subjects, or exhaustive of one subject  
endanger v To expose to peril  
endear v To cause to be loved  
endemic adj Peculiar to some specified country or people  
endue v To endow with some quality, gift, or grace, usually spiritual  
endurable adj Tolerable  
endurance n The ability to suffer pain, distress, hardship, or stress of any kind without succumbing  
energetic adj Working vigorously  
enervate v To render ineffective or inoperative  
enfeeble v To debilitate  
enfranchise v To endow with a privilege, especially with the right to vote  
engender v To produce  
engrave v To cut or carve in or upon some surface  
engross v To occupy completely  
enhance v To intensify  
enigma n A riddle  
enjoin v To command  
enkindle v To set on fire  
enlighten v To cause to see clearly  
enlist v To enter voluntarily the military service by formal enrollment  
enmity n Hatred  
ennoble v To dignify  
enormity n Immensity  
enormous adj Gigantic  
enrage v To infuriate  
enrapture v To delight extravagantly or intensely  
enshrine v To keep sacred  
ensnare v To entrap  
entail v To involve; necessitate  
entangle v To involve in difficulties, confusion, or complications  
enthrall v To bring or hold under any overmastering influence  
enthrone v To invest with sovereign power  
enthuse v To yield to or display intense and rapturous feeling  
enthusiastic adj Full of zeal and fervor  
entirety n A complete thing  
entomology n The branch of zoology that treats of insects  
entreaty n An earnest request  
entree n The act of entering  
entrench v To fortify or protect, as with a trench or ditch and wall  
entwine v To interweave  
enumerate v To name one by one  
epic n A poem celebrating in formal verse the mythical achievements of great personages, heroes, etc  
epicure n One who cultivates a delicate taste for eating and drinking  
Epicurean adj Indulging, ministering, or pertaining to daintiness of appetite  
epicycle n A circle that rolls upon the external or internal circumference of another circle  
epicycloid n A curve traced by a point on the circumference of a circle which rolls upon another circle  
epidemic n Wide-spread occurrence of a disease in a certain region  
epidermis n The outer skin  
epigram n A pithy phrasing of a shrewd observation  
epilogue n The close of a narrative or dramatic poem  
epiphany n Any appearance or bodily manifestation of a deity  
episode n An incident or story in a literary work, separable from yet growing out of it  
epitaph n An inscription on a tomb or monument in honor or in memory of the dead  
epithet n Word used adjectivally to describe some quality or attribute of is objects, as in "Father Aeneas"  
epitome n A simplified representation  
epizootic adj Prevailing among animals  
epoch n A interval of time, memorable for extraordinary events  
epode n A species of lyric poems  
equalize v To render uniform  
equanimity n Evenness of mind or temper  
equestrian adj Pertaining to horses or horsemanship  
equilibrium n A state of balance  
equitable adj Characterized by fairness  
equity n Fairness or impartiality  
equivalent adj Equal in value, force, meaning, or the like  
equivocal adj Ambiguous  
equivocate v To use words of double meaning  
eradicate v To destroy thoroughly  
errant adj Roving or wandering, as in search of adventure or opportunity for gallant deeds  
erratic adj Irregular  
erroneous adj Incorrect  
erudite adj Very-learned  
erudition n Extensive knowledge of literature, history, language, etc  
eschew v To keep clear of  
espy v To keep close watch  
esquire n A title of dignity, office, or courtesy  
essence n That which makes a thing to be what it is  
esthetic adj Pertaining to beauty, taste, or the fine arts  
estimable adj Worthy of respect  
estrange v To alienate  
estuary n A wide lower part of a tidal river  
et cetera Latin And so forth  
eugenic adj Relating to the development and improvement of race  
eulogize v To speak or write a laudation of a person's life or character  
eulogy n A spoken or written laudation of a person's life or character  
euphemism n A figure of speech by which a phrase less offensive is substituted  
euphonious adj Characterized by agreeableness of sound  
euphony n Agreeableness of sound  
eureka Greek I have found it  
evade v To avoid by artifice  
evanesce v To vanish gradually  
evanescent adj Fleeting  
evangelical adj Seeking the conversion of sinners  
evangelist n A preacher who goes from place to place holding services  
evasion n Escape  
eventual adj Ultimate  
evert v To turn inside out  
evict v To dispossess pursuant to judicial decree  
evidential adj Indicative  
evince v To make manifest or evident  
evoke v To call or summon forth  
evolution n Development or growth  
evolve v To unfold or expand  
exacerbate v To make more sharp, severe, or virulent  
exaggerate v To overstate  
exasperate v To excite great anger in  
excavate v To remove by digging or scooping out  
exceed v To go beyond, as in measure, quality, value, action, power, skill, etc  
excel v To be superior or distinguished  
excellence n Possession of eminently or unusually good qualities  
excellency n A title of honor bestowed upon various high officials  
excellent adj Possessing distinguished merit  
excerpt n An extract or selection from written or printed matter  
excess n That which passes the ordinary, proper, or required limit, measure, or experience  
excitable adj Nervously high-strung  
excitation n Intensified emotion or action  
exclamation n An abrupt or emphatic expression of thought or of feeling  
exclude v To shut out purposely or forcibly  
exclusion n Non-admission  
excrescence n Any unnatural addition, outgrowth, or development  
excretion n The getting rid of waste matter  
excruciate v To inflict severe pain or agony upon  
excursion n A journey  
excusable adj Justifiable  
execrable adj Abominable  
execration n An accursed thing  
executor n A person nominated by the will of another to execute the will  
exegesis n Biblical exposition or interpretation  
exemplar n A model, pattern, or original to be copied or imitated  
exemplary adj Fitted to serve as a model or example worthy of imitation  
exemplify v To show by example  
exempt adj Free, clear, or released, as from some liability, or restriction affecting others  
exert v To make an effort  
exhale v To breathe forth  
exhaust v To empty by draining off the contents  
exhaustible adj Causing or tending to cause exhaustion  
exhaustion n Deprivation of strength or energy  
exhaustive adj Thorough and complete in execution  
exhilarate v To fill with high or cheerful spirits  
exhume v To dig out of the earth (what has been buried)  
exigency n A critical period or condition  
exigent adj Urgent  
existence n Possession or continuance of being  
exit n A way or passage out  
exodus n A going forth or departure from a place or country, especially of many people  
exonerate v To relieve or vindicate from accusation, imputation, or blame  
exorbitance n Extravagance or enormity  
exorbitant adj Going beyond usual and proper limits  
exorcise v To cast or drive out by religious or magical means  
exotic adj Foreign  
expand v To increase in range or scope  
expanse n A continuous area or stretch  
expansion n Increase of amount, size, scope, or the like  
expatriate v To drive from one's own country  
expect v To look forward to as certain or probable  
expectancy n The act or state of looking forward to as certain or probable  
expectorate v To cough up and spit forth  
expediency n Fitness to meet the requirements of a particular case  
expedient adj Contributing to personal advantage  
expedite v To hasten the movement or progress of  
expeditious adj Speedy  
expend v To spend  
expense n The laying out or expending or money or other resources, as time or strength  
expiate v To make satisfaction or amends for  
explicate v To clear from involvement  
explicit adj Definite  
explode v To cause to burst in pieces by force from within  
explosion n A sudden and violent outbreak  
explosive adj Pertaining to a sudden and violent outbreak  
exposition n Formal presentation  
expository adj Pertaining to a formal presentation  
expostulate v To discuss  
exposure n An open situation or position in relation to the sun, elements, or points of the compass  
expressive adj Full of meaning  
expulsion n Forcible ejection  
extant adj Still existing and known  
extemporaneous adj Done or made without much or any preparation  
extempore adv Without studied or special preparation  
extensible adj Capable of being thrust out  
extension n A reaching or stretching out, as in space, time or scope  
extensive adj Extended widely in space, time, or scope  
extensor n A muscle that causes extension  
extenuate v To diminish the gravity or importance of  
exterior n That which is outside  
external n Anything relating or belonging to the outside  
extinct adj Being no longer in existence  
extinguish v To render extinct  
extol v To praise in the highest terms  
extort v To obtain by violence, threats, compulsion, or the subjection of another to some necessity  
extortion n The practice of obtaining by violence or compulsion  
extradite v To surrender the custody of  
extradition n The surrender by a government of a person accused of crime to the justice of another government  
extrajudicial adj Happening out of court  
extraneous adj Having no essential relation to a subject  
extraordinary adj Unusual  
extravagance n Undue expenditure of money  
extravagant adj Needlessly free or lavish in expenditure  
extremist n One who supports extreme measures or holds extreme views  
extremity n The utmost point, side, or border, or that farthest removed from a mean position  
extricate v Disentangle  
extrude v To drive out or away  
exuberance n Rich supply  
exuberant adj Marked by great plentifulness  
fabricate v To invent fancifully or falsely  
fabulous adj Incredible  
facet n One of the small triangular plane surfaces of a diamond or other gem  
facetious adj Amusing  
facial adj Pertaining to the face  
facile adj Not difficult to do  
facilitate v To make more easy  
facility n Ease  
facsimile n An exact copy or reproduction  
faction n A number of persons combined for a common purpose  
factious adj Turbulent  
fallacious adj Illogical  
fallacy n Any unsound or delusive mode of reasoning, or anything based on such reasoning  
fallible adj Capable of erring  
fallow n Land broken up and left to become mellow or to rest  
famish v To suffer extremity of hunger or thirst  
fanatic n A religious zealot  
fancier n One having a taste for or interest in special objects  
fanciless adj Unimaginative  
fastidious adj Hard to please  
fathom n A measure of length, 6 feet  
fatuous adj Idiotic  
faulty adj Imperfect  
faun n One of a class of deities of the woods and herds represented as half human, with goats feet  
fawn n A young deer  
fealty n Loyalty  
feasible adj That may be done, performed, or effected; practicable  
federate v To league together  
feint n Any sham, pretense, or deceptive movement  
felicitate v To wish joy or happiness to, especially in view of a coming event  
felicity n A state of well-founded happiness  
felon n A criminal or depraved person  
felonious adj Showing criminal or evil purpose  
felony n One of the highest class of offenses, and punishable with death or imprisonment  
feminine adj Characteristic of woman or womankind  
fernery n A place in which ferns are grown  
ferocious adj Of a wild, fierce, and savage nature  
ferocity n Savageness  
fervent adj Ardent in feeling  
fervid adj Intense  
fervor n Ardor or intensity of feeling  
festal adj Joyous  
festive adj Merry  
fete n A festival or feast  
fetus n The young in the womb or in the egg  
feudal adj Pertaining to the relation of lord and vassal  
feudalism n The feudal system  
fez n A brimless felt cap in the shape of a truncated cone, usually red with a black tassel  
fiasco n A complete or humiliating failure  
fickle adj Unduly changeable in feeling, judgment, or purpose  
fictitious adj Created or formed by the imagination  
fidelity n Loyalty  
fiducial adj Indicative of faith or trust  
fief n A landed estate held under feudal tenure  
filibuster n One who attempts to obstruct legislation  
finale n Concluding performance  
finality n The state or quality of being final or complete  
finally adv At last  
financial adj Monetary  
financier n One skilled in or occupied with financial affairs or operations  
finery n That which is used to decorate the person or dress  
finesse n Subtle contrivance used to gain a point  
finite adj Limited  
fiscal adj Pertaining to the treasury or public finances of a government  
fishmonger n One who sells fish  
fissure n A crack or crack-like depression  
fitful adj Spasmodic  
fixture n One who or that which is expected to remain permanently in its position  
flag-officer n The captain of a flag-ship  
flagrant adj Openly scandalous  
flamboyant adj Characterized by extravagance and in general by want of good taste  
flatulence n Accumulation of gas in the stomach and bowels  
flection n The act of bending  
fledgling n A young bird  
flexible adj Pliable  
flimsy adj Thin and weak  
flippant adj Having a light, pert, trifling disposition  
floe n A collection of tabular masses of floating polar ice  
flora n The aggregate of plants growing without cultivation in a district  
floral adj Pertaining to flowers  
florid adj Flushed with red  
florist n A dealer in flowers  
fluctuate v To pass backward and forward irregularly from one state or degree to another  
fluctuation n Frequent irregular change back and forth from one state or degree to another  
flue n A smoke-duct in a chimney  
fluent adj Having a ready or easy flow of words or ideas  
fluential adj Pertaining to streams  
flux n A state of constant movement, change, or renewal  
foggy adj Obscure  
foible n A personal weakness or failing  
foist v To palm off  
foliage n Any growth of leaves  
folio n A sheet of paper folded once, or of a size adapted to folding once  
folk-lore n The traditions, beliefs, and customs of the common people  
fondle v To handle tenderly and lovingly  
foolery n Folly  
foot-note n A note of explanation or comment at the foot of a page or column  
foppery n Dandyism  
foppish adj Characteristic of one who is unduly devoted to dress and the niceties of manners  
forbearance n Patient endurance or toleration of offenses  
forby adv Besides  
forcible adj Violent  
forecourt n A court opening directly from the street  
forejudge v To judge of before hearing evidence  
forepeak n The extreme forward part of a ship's hold, under the lowest deck  
foreshore n That part of a shore uncovered at low tide  
forebode v To be an omen or warning sign of, especially of evil  
forecast v To predict  
forecastle n That part of the upper deck of a ship forward of the after fore-shrouds  
foreclose v To bar by judicial proceedings the equitable right of a mortgagor to redeem property  
forefather n An ancestor  
forego v To deny oneself the pleasure or profit of  
foreground n That part of a landscape or picture situated or represented as nearest the spectator  
forehead n The upper part of the face, between the eyes and the hair  
foreign adj Belonging to, situated in, or derived from another country  
foreigner n A citizen of a foreign country  
foreknowledge n Prescience  
foreman n The head man  
foreordain v To predetermine  
foreordination n Predestination  
forerun v To go before as introducing or ushering in  
foresail n A square sail  
foresee v To discern beforehand  
foresight n Provision against harm or need  
foretell v To predict  
forethought n Premeditation  
forfeit v To lose possession of through failure to fulfill some obligation  
forfend v To ward off  
forgery n Counterfeiting  
forgo v To deny oneself  
formation n Relative disposition of parts  
formidable adj Difficult to accomplish  
formula n Fixed rule or set form  
forswear v To renounce upon oath  
forte n A strong point  
forth adv Into notice or view  
forthright adv With directness  
fortify v To provide with defensive works  
fortitude n Patient courage  
foursome adj Consisting of four  
fracture n A break  
fragile adj Easily broken  
frailty n Liability to be broken or destroyed  
fragile adj Capable of being broken  
frankincense n A gum or resin which on burning yields aromatic fumes  
frantic adj Frenzied  
fraternal adj Brotherly  
fraudulence n Deceitfulness  
fraudulent adj Counterfeit  
fray v To fret at the edge so as to loosen or break the threads  
freemason n A member of an ancient secret fraternity originally confined to skilled artisans  
freethinker n One who rejects authority or inspiration in religion  
free trade n Commerce unrestricted by tariff or customs  
frequency n The comparative number of any kind of occurrences within a given time or space  
fresco n The art of painting on a surface of plaster, particularly on walls and ceilings  
freshness n The state, quality, or degree of being fresh  
fretful adj Disposed to peevishness  
frightful adj Apt to induce terror or alarm  
frigid adj Lacking warmth  
frigidarium n A room kept at a low temperature for preserving fruits, meat, etc  
frivolity n A trifling act, thought, saying, or practice  
frivolous adj Trivial  
frizz v To give a crinkled, fluffy appearance to  
frizzle v To cause to crinkle or curl, as the hair  
frolicsome adj Prankish  
frontier n The part of a nation's territory that abuts upon another country  
frowzy adj Slovenly in appearance  
frugal adj Economical  
fruition n Fulfillment  
fugacious adj Fleeting  
fulcrum n The support on or against which a lever rests, or the point about which it turns  
fulminate v To cause to explode  
fulsome adj Offensive from excess of praise or commendation  
fumigate v To subject to the action of smoke or fumes, especially for disinfection  
functionary n An official  
fundamental adj Basal  
fungible adj That may be measured, counted, or weighed  
fungous adj Spongy  
fungus n A plant destitute of chlorophyll, as a mushroom  
furbish v To restore brightness or beauty to  
furlong n A measure, one-eighth of a mile  
furlough n A temporary absence of a soldier or sailor by permission of the commanding officer  
furrier n A dealer in or maker of fur goods  
further adj More distant or advanced  
furtherance n Advancement  
furtive adj Stealthy or sly, like the actions of a thief  
fuse v To unite or blend as by melting together  
fusible adj Capable of being melted by heat  
futile adj Of no avail or effect  
futurist n A person of expectant temperament  
gauge n An instrument for measuring  
gaiety n Festivity  
gaily adv Merrily  
gait n Carriage of the body in going  
gallant adj Possessing a brave or chivalrous spirit  
galore adj Abundant  
galvanic adj Pertaining or relating to electricity produced by chemical action  
galvanism n Current electricity, especially that arising from chemical action  
galvanize v To imbue with life or animation  
gamble v To risk money or other possession on an event, chance, or contingency  
gambol n Playful leaping or frisking  
gamester n A gambler  
gamut n The whole range or sequence  
garnish v In cookery, to surround with additions for embellishment  
garrison n The military force stationed in a fort, town, or other place for its defense  
garrote v To execute by strangling  
garrulous adj Given to constant trivial talking  
gaseous adj Light and unsubstantial  
gastric adj Of, pertaining to, or near the stomach  
gastritis n Inflammation of the stomach  
gastronomy n The art of preparing and serving appetizing food  
gendarme n In continental Europe, particularly in France, a uniformed and armed police officer  
genealogy n A list, in the order of succession, of ancestors and their descendants  
genealogist n A tracer of pedigrees  
generality n The principal portion  
generalize v To draw general inferences  
generally adv Ordinarily  
generate v To produce or cause to be  
generic adj Noting a genus or kind; opposed to specific  
generosity n A disposition to give liberally or to bestow favors heartily  
genesis n Creation  
geniality n Warmth and kindliness of disposition  
genital adj Of or pertaining to the animal reproductive organs  
genitive adj Indicating source, origin, possession, or the like  
genteel adj Well-bred or refined  
gentile adj Belonging to a people not Jewish  
geology n The department of natural science that treats of the constitution and structure of the earth  
germane adj Relevant  
germinate v To begin to develop into an embryo or higher form  
gestation n Pregnancy  
gesticulate v To make gestures or motions, as in speaking, or in place of speech  
gesture n A movement or action of the hands or face, expressive of some idea or emotion  
ghastly adj Hideous  
gibe v To utter taunts or reproaches  
giddy adj Affected with a whirling or swimming sensation in the head  
gigantic adj Tremendous  
giver n One who gives, in any sense  
glacial adj Icy, or icily cold  
glacier n A field or stream of ice  
gladden v To make joyous  
glazier n One who cuts and fits panes of glass, as for windows  
glimmer n A faint, wavering, unsteady light  
glimpse n A momentary look  
globose adj Spherical  
globular adj Spherical  
glorious adj Of excellence and splendor  
glutinous adj Sticky  
gluttonous adj Given to excess in eating  
gnash v To grind or strike the teeth together, as from rage  
Gordian knot n Any difficulty the only issue out of which is by bold or unusual manners  
gourmand n A connoisseur in the delicacies of the table  
gosling n A young goose  
gossamer adj Flimsy  
gourd n A melon, pumpkin, squash, or some similar fruit having a hard rind  
graceless adj Ungracious  
gradation n A step, degree, rank, or relative position in an order or series  
gradient adj Moving or advancing by steps  
granary n A storehouse for grain after it is thrashed or husked  
grandeur n The quality of being grand or admirably great  
grandiloquent adj Speaking in or characterized by a pompous or bombastic style  
grandiose adj Having an imposing style or effect  
grantee n The person to whom property is transferred by deed  
grantor n The maker of a deed  
granular adj Composed of small grains or particles  
granulate v To form into grains or small particles  
granule n A small grain or particle  
grapple v To take hold of  
gratification n Satisfaction  
gratify v To please, as by satisfying a physical or mental desire or need  
gratuitous adj Voluntarily  
gravity n Seriousness  
gregarious adj Not habitually solitary or living alone  
grenadier n A member of a regiment composed of men of great stature  
grief n Sorrow  
grievance n That which oppresses, injures, or causes grief and at the same time a sense of wrong  
grievous adj Creating affliction  
grimace n A distortion of the features, occasioned by some feeling of pain, disgust, etc  
grindstone n A flat circular stone, used for sharpening tools  
grisly adj Fear-inspiring  
grotesque adj Incongruously composed or ill-proportioned  
grotto n A small cavern  
ground n A pavement or floor or any supporting surface on which one may walk  
guess n Surmise  
guile n Duplicity  
guileless adj Frank  
guinea n An English monetary unit  
guise n The external appearance as produced by garb or costume  
gullible adj Credulous  
gumption n Common sense  
gusto n Keen enjoyment  
guy n Stay-rope  
guzzle v To swallow greedily or hastily; gulp  
gynecocracy n Female supremacy  
gynecology n The science that treats of the functions and diseases peculiar to women  
gyrate v To revolve  
gyroscope n An instrument for illustrating the laws of rotation  
habitable adj Fit to be dwelt in  
habitant n Dweller  
habitual adj According to usual practice  
habitude n Customary relation or association  
hackney v To make stale or trite by repetition  
haggard adj Worn and gaunt in appearance  
halcyon adj Calm  
hale adj Of sound and vigorous health  
handwriting n Penmanship  
hanger-on n A parasite  
happy-go-lucky adj Improvident  
harangue n A tirade  
harass v To trouble with importunities, cares, or annoyances  
harbinger n One who or that which foreruns and announces the coming of any person or thing  
hard-hearted adj Lacking pity or sympathy  
hardihood n Foolish daring  
harmonious adj Concordant in sound  
havoc n Devastation  
hawthorn n A thorny shrub much used in England for hedges  
hazard n Risk  
head first adv Precipitately, as in diving  
head foremost adv Precipitately, as in diving  
heartrending adj Very depressing  
heathenish adj Irreligious  
heedless adj Thoughtless  
heifer n A young cow  
heinous adj Odiously sinful  
hemorrhage n Discharge of blood from a ruptured or wounded blood-vessel  
henchman n A servile assistant and subordinate  
henpeck v To worry or harass by ill temper and petty annoyances  
heptagon n A figure having seven sides and seven angles  
heptarchy n A group of seven governments  
herbaceous adj Having the character of a herb  
herbarium n A collection of dried plants scientifically arranged for study  
herbivorous adj Feeding on herbs or other vegetable matter, as animals  
hereditary adj Passing naturally from parent to child  
heredity n Transmission of physical or mental qualities, diseases, etc, from parent to offspring  
heresy n An opinion or doctrine subversive of settled beliefs or accepted principles  
heretic n One who holds opinions contrary to the recognized standards or tenets of any philosophy  
heritage n Birthright  
hernia n Protrusion of any internal organ in whole or in part from its normal position  
hesitancy n A pausing to consider  
hesitant adj Vacillating  
hesitation n Vacillation  
heterodox adj At variance with any commonly accepted doctrine or opinion  
heterogeneity n Unlikeness of constituent parts  
heterogeneous adj Consisting of dissimilar elements or ingredients of different kinds  
heteromorphic adj Deviating from the normal form or standard type  
hexangular adj Having six angles  
hexapod adj Having six feet  
hexagon n A figure with six angles  
hiatus n A break or vacancy where something necessary to supply the connection is wanting  
hibernal adj Pertaining to winter  
Hibernian adj Pertaining to Ireland, or its people  
hideous adj Appalling  
hilarious adj Boisterously merry  
hillock n A small hill or mound  
hinder v To obstruct  
hindmost adj Farthest from the front  
hindrance n An obstacle  
hirsute adj Having a hairy covering  
hoard v To gather and store away for the sake of accumulation  
hoarse adj Having the voice harsh or rough, as from a cold or fatigue  
homage n Reverential regard or worship  
homogeneity n Congruity of the members or elements or parts  
homogeneous adj Made up of similar parts or elements  
homologous adj Identical in nature, make-up, or relation  
homonym n A word agreeing in sound with but different in meaning from another  
homophone n A word agreeing in sound with but different in meaning from another  
honorarium n A token fee or payment to a professional man for services  
hoodwink v To deceive  
horde n A gathered multitude of human beings  
hosiery n A stocking  
hospitable adj Disposed to treat strangers or guests with generous kindness  
hospitality n The practice of receiving and entertaining strangers and guests with kindness  
hostility n Enmity  
huckster n One who retails small wares  
humane adj Compassionate  
humanitarian n A philanthropist  
humanize v To make gentle or refined  
humbug n Anything intended or calculated to deceive or mislead  
humiliate v To put to shame  
hussar n A light-horse trooper armed with saber and carbine  
hustle v To move with haste and promptness  
hybrid adj Cross-bred  
hydra n The seven- or nine-headed water-serpent slain by Hercules  
hydraulic adj Involving the moving of water, of the force exerted by water in motion  
hydrodynamics n The branch of mechanics that treats of the dynamics of fluids  
hydroelectric adj Pertaining to electricity developed water or steam  
hydromechanics n The mechanics of fluids  
hydrometer n An instrument for determining the density of solids and liquids by flotation  
hydrostatics n The branch of science that treats of the pressure and equilibrium of fluids  
hydrous adj Watery  
hygiene n The branch of medical science that relates to improving health  
hypercritical adj Faultfinding  
hypnosis n An artificial trance-sleep  
hypnotic adj Tending to produce sleep  
hypnotism n An artificially induced somnambulistic state in which the mind readily acts on suggestion  
hypnotize v To produce a somnambulistic state in which the mind readily acts on suggestions  
hypocrisy n Extreme insincerity  
hypocrite n One who makes false professions of his views or beliefs  
hypodermic adj Pertaining to the area under the skin  
hypotenuse n The side of a right-angled triangle opposite the right angle  
hypothesis n A proposition taken for granted as a premise from which to reach a conclusion  
hysteria n A nervous affection occurring typically in paroxysms of laughing and crying  
ichthyic adj Fish-like  
ichthyology n The branch of zoology that treats of fishes  
ichthyosaurs n A fossil reptile  
icily adv Frigidly  
iciness n The state of being icy  
icon n An image or likeness  
iconoclast n An image-breaker  
idealize v To make to conform to some mental or imaginary standard  
idiom n A use of words peculiar to a particular language  
idiosyncrasy n A mental quality or habit peculiar to an individual  
idolize v To regard with inordinate love or admiration  
ignoble adj Low in character or purpose  
ignominious adj Shameful  
Iliad n A Greek epic poem describing scenes from the siege of Troy  
illegal adj Not according to law  
illegible adj Undecipherable  
illegitimate adj Unlawfully begotten  
illiberal adj Stingy  
illicit adj Unlawful  
illimitable adj Boundless  
illiterate adj Having little or no book-learning  
ill-natured adj Surly  
illogical adj Contrary to the rules of sound thought  
illuminant n That which may be used to produce light  
illuminate v To supply with light  
illumine v To make bright or clear  
illusion n An unreal image presented to the senses  
illusive adj Deceptive  
illusory adj Deceiving or tending to deceive, as by false appearance  
imaginable adj That can be imagined or conceived in the mind  
imaginary adj Fancied  
imbibe v To drink or take in  
imbroglio n A misunderstanding attended by ill feeling, perplexity, or strife  
imbrue v To wet or moisten  
imitation n That which is made as a likeness or copy  
imitator n One who makes in imitation  
immaculate adj Without spot or blemish  
immaterial adj Of no essential consequence  
immature adj Not full-grown  
immeasurable adj Indefinitely extensive  
immense adj Very great in degree, extent, size, or quantity  
immerse v To plunge or dip entirely under water or other fluid  
immersion n The act of plunging or dipping entirely under water or another fluid  
immigrant n A foreigner who enters a country to settle there  
immigrate v To come into a country or region from a former habitat  
imminence n Impending evil or danger  
imminent adj Dangerous and close at hand  
immiscible adj Separating, as oil and water  
immoral adj Habitually engaged in licentious or lewd practices  
immortalize v To cause to last or to be known or remembered throughout a great or indefinite length of time  
immovable adj Steadfast  
immune adj Exempt, as from disease  
immutable adj Unchangeable  
impair v To cause to become less or worse  
impalpable adj Imperceptible to the touch  
impartial adj Unbiased  
impassable adj That can not be passed through or over  
impassible adj Not moved or affected by feeling  
impassive adj Unmoved by or not exhibiting feeling  
impatience n Unwillingness to brook delays or wait the natural course of things  
impeccable adj Blameless  
impecunious adj Having no money  
impede v To be an obstacle or to place obstacles in the way of  
impel v To drive or urge forward  
impend v To be imminent  
imperative adj Obligatory  
imperceptible adj Indiscernible  
imperfectible adj That can not be perfected  
imperil v To endanger  
imperious adj Insisting on obedience  
impermissible adj Not permissible  
impersonal adj Not relating to a particular person or thing  
impersonate v To appear or act in the character of  
impersuadable adj Unyielding  
impertinence n Rudeness  
imperturbable adj Calm  
impervious adj Impenetrable  
impetuosity n Rashness  
impetuous adj Impulsive  
impetus n Any impulse or incentive  
impiety n Irreverence toward God  
impious adj Characterized by irreverence or irreligion  
implausible adj Not plausible  
impliable adj Capable of being inferred  
implicate v To show or prove to be involved in or concerned  
implicit adj Implied  
imply v To signify  
impolitic adj Inexpedient  
importation n The act or practice of bringing from one country into another  
importunate adj Urgent in character, request, or demand  
importune v To harass with persistent demands or entreaties  
impotent adj Destitute of or lacking in power, physical, moral, or intellectual  
impoverish v To make indigent or poor  
impracticable adj Not feasible  
impregnable adj That can not be taken by assault  
impregnate v To make pregnant  
impromptu n Anything done or said on the impulse of the moment  
improper adj Not appropriate, suitable, or becoming  
impropriety n The state or quality of being unfit, unseemly, or inappropriate  
improvident adj Lacking foresight or thrift  
improvise v To do anything extemporaneously or offhand  
imprudent adj Heedless  
impudence n Insolent disrespect  
impugn v To assail with arguments, insinuations, or accusations  
impulsion n Impetus  
impulsive adj Unpremeditated  
impunity n Freedom from punishment  
impure adj Tainted  
impute v To attribute  
inaccessible adj Difficult of approach  
inaccurate adj Not exactly according to the facts  
inactive adj Inert  
inadequate adj Insufficient  
inadmissible adj Not to be approved, considered, or allowed, as testimony  
inadvertent adj Accidental  
inadvisable adj Unadvisable  
inane adj Silly  
inanimate adj Destitute of animal life  
inapprehensible adj Not to be understood  
inapt adj Awkward or slow  
inarticulate adj Speechless  
inaudible adj That can not be heard  
inborn adj Implanted by nature  
inbred adj Innate  
incandescence n The state of being white or glowing with heat  
incandescent adj White or glowing with heat  
incapacitate v To deprive of power, capacity, competency, or qualification  
incapacity n Want of power to apprehend, understand, and manage  
incarcerate v To imprison  
incendiary n Chemical or person who starts a fire-literally or figuratively  
incentive n That which moves the mind or inflames the passions  
inception n The beginning  
inceptive adj Beginning  
incessant adj Unceasing  
inchmeal adv Piecemeal  
inchoate adj Incipient  
inchoative n That which begins, or expresses beginning  
incidence n Casual occurrence  
incident n A happening in general, especially one of little importance  
incidentally adv Without intention  
incinerate v To reduce to ashes  
incipience n Beginning  
incipient adj Initial  
incisor n A front or cutting tooth  
incite v To rouse to a particular action  
incitement n That which moves to action, or serves as an incentive or stimulus  
incoercible adj Incapable of being forced, constrained, or compelled  
incoherence n Want of connection, or agreement, as of parts or ideas in thought, speech, etc  
incoherent adj Not logically coordinated, as to parts, elements, or details  
incombustible adj That can not be burned  
incomparable adj Matchless  
incompatible adj Discordant  
incompetence n General lack of capacity or fitness  
incompetent adj Not having the abilities desired or necessary for any purpose  
incomplete adj Lacking some element, part, or adjunct necessary or required  
incomprehensible adj Not understandable  
incompressible adj Resisting all attempts to reduce volume by pressure  
inconceivable adj Incomprehensible  
incongruous adj Unsuitable for the time, place, or occasion  
inconsequential adj Valueless  
inconsiderable adj Small in quantity or importance  
inconsistent adj Contradictory  
inconstant adj Changeable  
incontrovertible adj Indisputable  
inconvenient adj Interfering with comfort or progress  
indefensible adj Untenable  
indefinitely adv In a vague or uncertain way  
indelible adj That can not be blotted out, effaced, destroyed, or removed  
indescribable adj That can not be described  
indestructible adj That can not be destroyed  
indicant adj That which points out  
indicator n One who or that which points out  
indict v To find and declare chargeable with crime  
indigence n Poverty  
indigenous adj Native  
indigent adj Poor  
indigestible adj Not digestible, or difficult to digest  
indigestion n Difficulty or failure in the alimentary canal in changing food into absorptive nutriment  
indignant adj Having such anger and scorn as is aroused by meanness or wickedness  
indignity n Unmerited contemptuous conduct or treatment  
indiscernible adj Not perceptible  
indiscreet adj Lacking wise judgment  
indiscriminate adj Promiscuous  
indispensable adj Necessary or requisite for the purpose  
indistinct adj Vague  
indivertible adj That can not be turned aside  
indivisible adj Not separable into parts  
indolence n Laziness  
indolent adj Habitually inactive or idle  
indomitable adj Unconquerable  
induct v To bring in  
indulgence n The yielding to inclination, passion, desire, or propensity in oneself or another  
indulgent adj Yielding to the desires or humor of oneself or those under one's care  
inebriate v To intoxicate  
inedible adj Not good for food  
ineffable adj Unutterable  
inefficient adj Not accomplishing an intended purpose  
inefficiency n That which does not accomplish an intended purpose  
ineligible adj Not suitable to be selected or chosen  
inept adj Not fit or suitable  
inert adj Inanimate  
inestimable adj Above price  
inevitable adj Unavoidable  
inexcusable adj Not to be justified  
inexhaustible adj So large or furnishing so great a supply as not to be emptied, wasted, or spent  
inexorable adj Unrelenting  
inexpedient adj Unadvisable  
inexpensive adj Low-priced  
inexperience n Lack of or deficiency in experience  
inexplicable adj Such as can not be made plain  
inexpressible adj Unutterable  
inextensible adj Of unchangeable length or area  
infallible adj Exempt from error of judgment, as in opinion or statement  
infamous adj Publicly branded or notorious, as for vice, or crime  
infamy n Total loss or destitution of honor or reputation  
inference n The derivation of a judgment from any given material of knowledge on the ground of law  
infernal adj Akin to or befitting hell or its occupants  
infest v To be present in such numbers as to be a source of annoyance, trouble, or danger  
infidel n One who denies the existence of God  
infidelity n Disloyalty  
infinite adj Measureless  
infinity n Boundless or immeasurable extension or duration  
infirm adj Lacking in bodily or mental strength  
infirmary n A place for the reception or treatment of the sick  
infirmity n A physical, mental, or moral weakness or flaw  
inflammable adj Easily set on fire or excited  
inflammation n A morbid process in some part of the body characterized by heat, swelling, and pain  
inflexible adj That can not be altered or varied  
influence n Ability to sway the will of another  
influential adj Having the power to sway the will of another  
influx n Infusion  
infrequence n Rareness  
infrequent adj Uncommon  
infringe v To trespass upon  
infuse v To instill, introduce, or inculcate, as principles or qualities  
infusion n The act of imbuing, or pouring in  
ingenious adj Evincing skill, originality, or cleverness, as in contrivance or arrangement  
ingenuity n Cleverness in contriving, combining, or originating  
ingenuous adj Candid, frank, or open in character or quality  
inglorious adj Shameful  
ingraft v To set or implant deeply and firmly  
ingratiate v To win confidence or good graces for oneself  
ingratitude n Insensibility to kindness  
ingredient n Component  
inherence n The state of being permanently existing in something  
inherent adj Intrinsic  
inhibit v To hold back or in  
inhospitable adj Not disposed to entertain strangers gratuitously  
inhuman adj Savage  
inhume v To place in the earth, as a dead body  
inimical adj Adverse  
iniquity n Gross wrong or injustice  
initiate v To perform the first act or rite  
inject v To introduce, as a fluid, by injection  
injunction n Mandate  
inkling n A hint  
inland adj Remote from the sea  
inlet n A small body of water leading into a larger  
inmost adj Deepest within  
innocuous adj Harmless  
innovate v To introduce or strive to introduce new things  
innuendo n Insinuation  
innumerable adj Countless  
inoffensive adj Causing nothing displeasing or disturbing  
inopportune adj Unsuitable or inconvenient, especially as to time  
inquire v To ask information about  
inquisition n A court or tribunal for examination and punishment of heretics  
inquisitive adj Given to questioning, especially out of curiosity  
inquisitor n One who makes an investigation  
inroad n Forcible encroachment or trespass  
insatiable adj That desires or craves immoderately or unappeasably  
inscribe v To enter in a book, or on a list, roll, or document, by writing  
inscrutable adj Impenetrably mysterious or profound  
insecure adj Not assured of safety  
insensible adj Imperceptible  
insentient adj Lacking the power of feeling or perceiving  
inseparable adj That can not be separated  
insidious adj Working ill by slow and stealthy means  
insight n Intellectual discernment  
insignificance n Lack of import or of importance  
insignificant adj Without importance, force, or influence  
insinuate v To imply  
insipid adj Tasteless  
insistence n Urgency  
insistent adj Urgent  
insolence n Pride or haughtiness exhibited in contemptuous and overbearing treatment of others  
insolent adj Impudent  
insomnia n Sleeplessness  
inspector n An official appointed to examine or oversee any matter of public interest or importance  
instance n A single occurrence or happening of a given kind  
instant n A very brief portion of time  
instantaneous adj Done without perceptible lapse of time  
instigate v To provoke  
instigator n One who incites to evil  
instill v To infuse  
instructive adj Conveying knowledge  
insufficiency n Inadequacy  
insufficient adj Inadequate for some need, purpose, or use  
insular adj Pertaining to an island  
insulate v To place in a detached state or situation  
insuperable adj Invincible  
insuppressible adj Incapable of being concealed  
insurgence n Uprising  
insurgent n One who takes part in forcible opposition to the constituted authorities of a place  
insurrection n The state of being in active resistance to authority  
intangible adj Not perceptible to the touch  
integrity n Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principle  
intellect n The faculty of perception or thought  
intellectual adj Characterized by intelligence  
intelligence n Capacity to know or understand  
intelligible adj Comprehensible  
intemperance n Immoderate action or indulgence, as of the appetites  
intension n The act of stringing or stretching, or state of being strained  
intensive adj Adding emphasis or force  
intention n That upon which the mind is set  
interact v To act reciprocally  
intercede v To mediate between persons  
intercept v To interrupt the course of  
intercession n Entreaty in behalf of others  
intercessor n A mediator  
interdict n Authoritative act of prohibition  
interim n Time between acts or periods  
interlocutor n One who takes part in a conversation or oral discussion  
interlude n An action or event considered as coming between others of greater length  
intermediate adj Being in a middle place or degree or between extremes  
interminable adj Having no limit or end  
intermission n A recess  
intermit v To cause to cease temporarily  
intermittent adj A temporary discontinuance  
interpolation n Verbal interference  
interpose v To come between other things or persons  
interposition n A coming between  
interpreter n A person who makes intelligible the speech of a foreigner by oral translation  
interrogate v To examine formally by questioning  
interrogative adj Having the nature or form of a question  
interrogatory n A question or inquiry  
interrupt v To stop while in progress  
intersect v To cut through or into so as to divide  
intervale n A low tract of land between hills, especially along a river  
intervene v To interfere for some end  
intestacy n The condition resulting from one's dying not having made a valid will  
intestate adj Not having made a valid will  
intestine n That part of the digestive tube below or behind the stomach, extending to the anus  
intimacy n Close or confidential friendship  
intimidate v To cause to become frightened  
intolerable adj Insufferable  
intolerance n Inability or unwillingness to bear or endure  
intolerant adj Bigoted  
intoxicant n Anything that unduly exhilarates or excites  
intoxicate v To make drunk  
intracellular adj Occurring or situated within a cell  
intramural adj Situated within the walls of a city  
intrepid adj Fearless and bold  
intricacy n Perplexity  
intricate adj Difficult to follow or understand  
intrigue n A plot or scheme, usually complicated and intended to accomplish something by secret ways  
intrinsic adj Inherent  
introductory adj Preliminary  
introgression n Entrance  
intromit v To insert  
introspect v To look into  
introspection n The act of observing and analyzing one's own thoughts and feelings  
introversion n The act of turning or directing inward, physically or mentally  
introvert v To turn within  
intrude v To come in without leave or license  
intrusion n The act of entering without warrant or invitation; encroachment  
intuition n Instinctive knowledge or feeling  
inundate v To fill with an overflowing abundance  
inundation n Flood  
inure v To harden or toughen by use, exercise, or exposure  
invalid adj Having no force, weight, or cogency  
invalid n One who is disabled by illness or injury  
invalidate v To render of no force or effect  
invaluable adj Exceedingly precious  
invariable adj Unchangeable  
invasion n Encroachment, as by an act of intrusion or trespass  
invective n An utterance intended to cast censure, or reproach  
inveigh v To utter vehement censure or invective  
inventive adj Quick at contrivance  
inverse adj Contrary in tendency or direction  
inversion n Change of order so that the first shall become last and the last first  
invert v To turn inside out, upside down, or in opposite direction  
investigator n One who investigates  
investor n One who invests money  
inveterate adj Habitual  
invidious adj Showing or feeling envy  
invigorate v To animate  
invincible adj Not to be conquered, subdued, or overcome  
inviolable adj Incapable of being injured or disturbed  
invoke v To call on for assistance or protection  
involuntary adj Unwilling  
involution n Complication  
involve v To draw into entanglement, literally or figuratively  
invulnerable adj That can not be wounded or hurt  
inwardly adv With no outward manifestation  
iota n A small or insignificant mark or part  
irascible adj Prone to anger  
irate adj Moved to anger  
ire n Wrath  
iridescence n A many-colored appearance  
iridescent adj Exhibiting changing rainbow-colors due to the interference of the light  
irk v To afflict with pain, vexation, or fatigue  
irksome adj Wearisome  
irony n Censure or ridicule under cover of praise or compliment  
irradiance n Luster  
irradiate v To render clear and intelligible  
irrational adj Not possessed of reasoning powers or understanding  
irreducible adj That can not be lessened  
irrefragable adj That can not be refuted or disproved  
irrefrangible adj That can not be broken or violated  
irrelevant adj Inapplicable  
irreligious adj Indifferent or opposed to religion  
irreparable adj That can not be rectified or made amends for  
irrepressible adj That can not be restrained or kept down  
irresistible adj That can not be successfully withstood or opposed  
irresponsible adj Careless of or unable to meet responsibilities  
irreverence n The quality showing or expressing a deficiency of veneration, especially for sacred things  
irreverent adj Showing or expressing a deficiency of veneration, especially for sacred things  
irreverential adj Showing or expressing a deficiency of veneration, especially for sacred things  
irreversible adj Irrevocable  
irrigant adj Serving to water lands by artificial means  
irrigate v To water, as land, by ditches or other artificial means  
irritable adj Showing impatience or ill temper on little provocation  
irritancy n The quality of producing vexation  
irritant n A mechanical, chemical, or pathological agent of inflammation, pain, or tension  
irritate v To excite ill temper or impatience in  
irruption n Sudden invasion  
isle n An island  
islet n A little island  
isobar n A line joining points at which the barometric pressure is the same at a specified moment  
isochronous adj Relating to or denoting equal intervals of time  
isolate v To separate from others of its kind  
isothermal adj Having or marking equality of temperature  
itinerant adj Wandering  
itinerary n A detailed account or diary of a journey  
itinerate v To wander from place to place  
jargon n Confused, unintelligible speech or highly technical speech  
jaundice n A morbid condition, due to obstructed excretion of bile or characterized by yellowing of the skin  
jeopardize v To imperil  
Jingo n One of a party in Great Britain in favor of spirited and demonstrative foreign policy  
jocose adj Done or made in jest  
jocular adj Inclined to joke  
joggle n A sudden irregular shake or a push causing such a shake  
journalize v To keep a diary  
jovial adj Merry  
jubilation n Exultation  
judgment n The faculty by the exercise of which a deliberate conclusion is reached  
judicature n Distribution and administration of justice by trial and judgment  
judicial adj Pertaining to the administration of justice  
judiciary n That department of government which administers the law relating to civil and criminal justice  
judicious adj Prudent  
juggle v To play tricks of sleight of hand  
jugglery n The art or practice of sleight of hand  
jugular adj Pertaining to the throat  
juicy adj Succulent  
junction n The condition of being joined  
juncture n An articulation, joint, or seam  
junta n A council or assembly that deliberates in secret upon the affairs of government  
juridical adj Assumed by law to exist  
jurisdiction n Lawful power or right to exercise official authority  
jurisprudence n The science of rights in accordance with positive law  
juror n One who serves on a jury or is sworn in for jury duty in a court of justice  
joust v To engage in a tilt with lances on horseback  
justification n Vindication  
juvenile adj Characteristic of youth  
juxtapose v To place close together  
keepsake n Anything kept or given to be kept for the sake of the giver  
kerchief n A square of linen, silk, or other material, used as a covering for the head or neck  
kernel n A grain or seed  
kiln n An oven or furnace for baking, burning, or drying industrial products  
kiloliter n One thousand liters  
kilometer n A length of 1,000 meters  
kilowatt n One thousand watts  
kimono n A loose robe, fastening with a sash, the principal outer garment in Japan  
kind-hearted adj Having a kind and sympathetic nature  
kingling n A petty king  
kingship n Royal state  
knavery n Deceitfulness in dealing  
knead v To mix and work into a homogeneous mass, especially with the hands  
knickknack n A small article, more for ornament that use  
knight errant n One of the wandering knights who in the middle ages went forth in search of adventure  
knighthood n Chivalry  
laborious adj Toilsome  
labyrinth n A maze  
lacerate v To tear rudely or raggedly  
lackadaisical adj Listless  
lactation n The secretion of milk  
lacteal adj Milky  
lactic adj Pertaining to milk  
laddie n A lad  
ladle n A cup-shaped vessel with a long handle, intended for dipping up and pouring liquids  
laggard adj Falling behind  
landholder n Landowner  
landlord n A man who owns and lets a tenement or tenements  
landmark n A familiar object in the landscape serving as a guide to an area otherwise easily lost track of  
landscape n A rural view, especially one of picturesque effect, as seen from a distance or an elevation  
languid adj Relaxed  
languor n Lassitude of body or depression  
lapse n A slight deviation from what is right, proper, or just  
lascivious adj Lustful  
lassie n A little lass  
latent adj Dormant  
latency n The state of being dormant  
later adv At a subsequent time  
lateral adj Directed toward the side  
latish adj Rather late  
lattice n Openwork of metal or wood, formed by crossing or interlacing strips or bars  
laud v To praise in words or song  
laudable adj Praiseworthy  
laudation n High praise  
laudatory adj Pertaining to, expressing, or containing praise  
laundress n Washerwoman  
laureate adj Crowned with laurel, as a mark of distinction  
lave v To wash or bathe  
lawgiver n A legislator  
lawmaker n A legislator  
lax adj Not stringent or energetic  
laxative adj Having power to open or loosen the bowels  
lea n A field  
leaflet n A little leaf or a booklet  
leaven v To make light by fermentation, as dough  
leeward n That side or direction toward which the wind blows  
left-handed adj Using the left hand or arm more dexterously than the right  
legacy n A bequest  
legalize v To give the authority of law to  
legging n A covering for the leg  
legible adj That may be read with ease  
legionary n A member of an ancient Roman legion or of the modern French Legion of Honor  
legislate v To make or enact a law or laws  
legislative adj That makes or enacts laws  
legislator n A lawgiver  
legitimacy n Accordance with law  
legitimate adj Having the sanction of law or established custom  
leisure n Spare time  
leniency n Forbearance  
lenient adj Not harsh  
leonine adj Like a lion  
lethargy n Prolonged sluggishness of body or mind  
levee n An embankment beside a river or stream or an arm of the sea, to prevent overflow  
lever n That which exerts, or through which one may exert great power  
leviathan n Any large animal, as a whale  
levity n Frivolity  
levy v To impose and collect by force or threat of force  
lewd adj Characterized by lust or lasciviousness  
lexicographer n One who makes dictionaries  
lexicography n The making of dictionaries  
lexicon n A dictionary  
liable adj Justly or legally responsible  
libel n Defamation  
liberalism n Opposition to conservatism  
liberate v To set free or release from bondage  
licentious adj Wanton  
licit adj Lawful  
liege adj Sovereign  
lien n A legal claim or hold on property, as security for a debt or charge  
lieu n Stead  
lifelike adj Realistic  
lifelong adj Lasting or continuous through life  
lifetime n The time that life continues  
ligament n That which binds objects together  
ligature n Anything that constricts, or serves for binding or tying  
light-hearted adj Free from care  
ligneous adj Having the texture of appearance of wood  
likelihood n A probability  
likely adj Plausible  
liking n Fondness  
limitation n A restriction  
linear adj Of the nature of a line  
liner n A vessel belonging to a steamship-line  
lingo n Language  
lingua n The tongue  
lingual adj Pertaining to the use of the tongue in utterance  
linguist n One who is acquainted with several languages  
linguistics n The science of languages, or of the origin, history, and significance of words  
liniment n A liquid preparation for rubbing on the skin in cases of bruises, inflammation, etc  
liquefacient adj Possessing a liquefying nature or power  
liquefy v To convert into a liquid or into liquid form  
liqueur n An alcoholic cordial sweetened and flavored with aromatic substances  
liquidate v To deliver the amount or value of  
liquor n Any alcoholic or intoxicating liquid  
listless adj Inattentive  
literacy n The state or condition of knowing how to read and write  
literal adj Following the exact words  
literature n The written or printed productions of the human mind collectively  
lithe adj Supple  
lithesome adj Nimble  
lithograph n A print made by printing from stone  
lithotype n In engraving, an etched stone surface for printing  
litigant n A party to a lawsuit  
litigate v To cause to become the subject-matter of a suit at law  
litigious adj Quarrelsome  
littoral adj Of, pertaining to, or living on a shore  
liturgy n A ritual  
livelihood n Means of subsistence  
livid adj Black-and-blue, as contused flesh  
loam n A non-coherent mixture of sand and clay  
loath adj Averse  
loathe v To abominate  
locative adj Indicating place, or the place where or wherein an action occurs  
loch n A lake  
locomotion n The act or power of moving from one place to another  
lode n A somewhat continuous unstratified metal- bearing vein  
lodgment n The act of furnishing with temporary quarters  
logic n The science of correct thinking  
logical adj Capable of or characterized by clear reasoning  
logician n An expert reasoner  
loiterer n One who consumes time idly  
loneliness n Solitude  
longevity n Unusually prolonged life  
loot v To plunder  
loquacious adj Talkative  
lordling n A little lord  
lough n A lake or loch  
louse n A small insect parasitic on and sucking the blood of mammals  
lovable adj Amiable  
low-spirited adj Despondent  
lowly adv Rudely  
lucid adj Mentally sound  
lucrative adj Highly profitable  
ludicrous adj Laughable  
luminary n One of the heavenly bodies as a source of light  
luminescent adj Showing increase of light  
luminescence n Showing increase  
luminosity n The quality of giving or radiating light  
luminous adj Giving or radiating light  
lunacy n Mental unsoundness  
lunar adj Pertaining to the moon  
lunatic n An insane person  
lune n The moon  
lurid adj Ghastly and sensational  
luscious adj Rich, sweet, and delicious  
lustrous adj Shining  
luxuriance n Excessive or superfluous growth or quantity  
luxuriant adj Abundant or superabundant in growth  
luxuriate v To live sumptuously  
lying n Untruthfulness  
lyre n One of the most ancient of stringed instruments of the harp class  
lyric adj Fitted for expression in song  
macadamize v To cover or pave, as a path or roadway, with small broken stone  
machinery n The parts of a machine or engine, taken collectively  
machinist n One who makes or repairs machines, or uses metal-working tools  
macrocosm n The whole of any sphere or department of nature or knowledge to which man is related  
madden v To inflame with passion  
Madonna n A painted or sculptured representation of the Virgin, usually with the infant Jesus  
magician n A sorcerer  
magisterial adj Having an air of authority  
magistracy n The office or dignity of a magistrate  
magnanimous adj Generous in treating or judging others  
magnate n A person of rank or importance  
magnet n A body possessing that peculiar form of polarity found in nature in the lodestone  
magnetize v To make a magnet of, permanently, or temporarily  
magnificence n The exhibition of greatness of action, character, intellect, wealth, or power  
magnificent adj Grand or majestic in appearance, quality, or action  
magnitude n Importance  
maharaja n A great Hindu prince  
maidenhood n Virginity  
maintain v To hold or preserve in any particular state or condition  
maintenance n That which supports or sustains  
maize n Indian corn: usually in the United States called simply corn  
makeup n The arrangements or combination of the parts of which anything is composed  
malady n Any physical disease or disorder, especially a chronic or deep-seated one  
malaria n A fever characterized by alternating chills, fever, and sweating  
malcontent n One who is dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs  
malediction n The calling down of a curse or curses  
malefactor n One who injures another  
maleficent adj Mischievous  
malevolence n Ill will  
malevolent adj Wishing evil to others  
malign v To speak evil of, especially to do so falsely and severely  
malignant adj Evil in nature or tending to do great harm or mischief  
malleable adj Pliant  
mallet n A wooden hammer  
maltreat v To treat ill, unkindly, roughly, or abusively  
man-trap n A place or structure dangerous to human life  
mandate n A command  
mandatory adj Expressive of positive command, as distinguished from merely directory  
mane n The long hair growing upon and about the neck of certain animals, as the horse and the lion  
man-eater n An animal that devours human beings  
maneuver v To make adroit or artful moves: manage affairs by strategy  
mania n Insanity  
maniac n a person raving with madness  
manifesto n A public declaration, making announcement, explanation or defense of intentions, or motives  
manlike adj Like a man  
manliness n The qualities characteristic of a true man, as bravery, resolution, etc  
mannerism n Constant or excessive adherence to one manner, style, or peculiarity, as of action or conduct  
manor n The landed estate of a lord or nobleman  
mantel n The facing, sometimes richly ornamented, about a fireplace, including the usual shelf above it  
mantle n A cloak  
manufacturer n A person engaged in manufacturing as a business  
manumission n Emancipation  
manumit v To set free from bondage  
marine adj Of or pertaining to the sea or matters connected with the sea  
maritime adj Situated on or near the sea  
maroon v To put ashore and abandon (a person) on a desolate coast or island  
martial adj Pertaining to war or military operations  
Martian adj Pertaining to Mars, either the Roman god of war or the planet  
martyrdom n Submission to death or persecution for the sake of faith or principle  
marvel v To be astonished and perplexed because of (something)  
masonry n The art or work of constructing, as buildings, walls, etc, with regularly arranged stones  
masquerade n A social party composed of persons masked and costumed so as to be disguised  
massacre n The unnecessary and indiscriminate killing of human beings  
massive adj Of considerable bulk and weight  
masterpiece n A superior production  
mastery n The attainment of superior skill  
material n That of which anything is composed or may be constructed  
materialize v To take perceptible or substantial form  
maternal adj Pertaining or peculiar to a mother or to motherhood  
matinee n An entertainment (especially theatrical) held in the daytime  
matricide n The killing, especially the murdering, of one's mother  
matrimony n The union of a man and a woman in marriage  
matrix n That which contains and gives shape or form to anything  
matter of fact n Something that has actual and undeniable existence or reality  
maudlin adj Foolishly and tearfully affectionate  
mausoleum n A tomb of more than ordinary size or architectural pretensions  
mawkish adj Sickening or insipid  
maxim n A principle accepted as true and acted on as a rule or guide  
maze n A labyrinth  
mead n A meadow  
meager adj scanty  
mealy-mouthed adj Afraid to express facts or opinions plainly  
meander v To wind and turn while proceeding in a course  
mechanics n The branch of physics that treats the phenomena caused by the action of forces  
medallion n A large medal  
meddlesome adj Interfering  
medial adj Of or pertaining to the middle  
mediate v To effect by negotiating as an agent between parties  
medicine n A substance possessing or reputed to possess curative or remedial properties  
medieval adj Belonging or relating to or descriptive of the middle ages  
mediocre adj Ordinary  
meditation n The turning or revolving of a subject in the mind  
medley n A composition of different songs or parts of songs arranged to run as a continuous whole  
meliorate v To make better or improve, as in quality or social or physical condition  
mellifluous adj Sweetly or smoothly flowing  
melodious adj Characterized by a sweet succession of sounds  
melodrama n A drama with a romantic story or plot and sensational situation and incidents  
memento n A souvenir  
memorable adj Noteworthy  
menace n A threat  
menagerie n A collection of wild animals, especially when kept for exhibition  
mendacious adj Untrue  
mendicant n A beggar  
mentality n Intellectuality  
mentor n A wise and faithful teacher, guide, and friend  
mercantile adj Conducted or acting on business principles; commercial  
mercenary adj Greedy  
merciful adj Disposed to pity and forgive  
merciless adj Cruel  
meretricious adj Alluring by false or gaudy show  
mesmerize v To hypnotize  
metal n An element that forms a base by combining with oxygen, is usually hard, heavy, and lustrous  
metallurgy n The art or science of extracting a metal from ores, as by smelting  
metamorphosis n A passing from one form or shape into another  
metaphor n A figure of speech in which one object is likened to another, by speaking as if the other  
metaphysical adj Philosophical  
metaphysician n One skilled in metaphysics  
metaphysics n The principles of philosophy as applied to explain the methods of any particular science  
mete v To apportion  
metempsychosis n Transition of the soul of a human being at death into another body, whether human or beast  
meticulous adj Over-cautious  
metonymy n A figure of speech that consists in the naming of a thing by one of its attributes  
metric adj Relating to measurement  
metronome n An instrument for indicating and marking exact time in music  
metropolis n A chief city, either the capital or the largest or most important city of a state  
metropolitan adj Pertaining to a chief city  
mettle n Courage  
mettlesome adj Having courage or spirit  
microcosm n The world or universe on a small scale  
micrometer n An instrument for measuring very small angles or dimensions  
microphone n An apparatus for magnifying faint sounds  
microscope n An instrument for assisting the eye in the vision of minute objects or features of objects  
microscopic adj Adapted to or characterized by minute observation  
microscopy n The art of examing objects with the microscope  
midsummer n The middle of the summer  
midwife n A woman who makes a business of assisting at childbirth  
mien n The external appearance or manner of a person  
migrant adj Wandering  
migrate v To remove or pass from one country, region, or habitat to another  
migratory adj Wandering  
mileage n A distance in miles  
militant adj Of a warlike or combative disposition or tendency  
militarism n A policy of maintaining great standing armies  
militate v To have weight or influence (in determining a question)  
militia n Those citizens, collectively, who are enrolled and drilled in temporary military organizations  
Milky Way n The galaxy  
millet n A grass cultivated for forage and cereal  
mimic v To imitate the speech or actions of  
miniature adj Much smaller than reality or that the normal size  
minimize v To reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree  
minion n A servile favorite  
ministration n Any religious ceremonial  
ministry n A service  
minority n The smaller in number of two portions into which a number or a group is divided  
minute adj Exceedingly small in extent or quantity  
minutia n A small or unimportant particular or detail  
mirage n An optical effect looking like a sheet of water in the desert  
misadventure n An unlucky accident  
misanthropic adj Hating mankind  
misanthropy n Hatred of mankind  
misapprehend v To misunderstand  
misbehave v To behave ill  
misbehavior n Ill or improper behavior  
mischievous adj Fond of tricks  
miscount v To make a mistake in counting  
miscreant n A villain  
misdeed n A wrong or improper act  
misdemeanor n Evil conduct, small crime  
miser n A person given to saving and hoarding unduly  
mishap n Misfortune  
misinterpret v To misunderstand  
mislay v To misplace  
mismanage v To manage badly, improperly, or unskillfully  
misnomer n A name wrongly or mistakenly applied  
misogamy n Hatred of marriage  
misogyny n Hatred of women  
misplace v To put into a wrong place  
misrepresent v To give a wrong impression  
misrule v To misgovern  
missal n The book containing the service for the celebration of mass  
missile n Any object, especially a weapon, thrown or intended to be thrown  
missive n A message in writing  
mistrust v To regard with suspicion or jealousy  
misty adj Lacking clearness  
misunderstand v To Take in a wrong sense  
misuse v To maltreat  
mite n A very small amount, portion, or particle  
miter n The junction of two bodies at an equally divided angle  
mitigate v To make milder or more endurable  
mnemonics n A system of principles and formulas designed to assist the recollection in certain instances  
moat n A ditch on the outside of a fortress wall  
mobocracy n Lawless control of public affairs by the mob or populace  
moccasin n A foot-covering made of soft leather or buckskin  
mockery n Ridicule  
moderation n Temperance  
moderator n The presiding officer of a meeting  
modernity n The state or character of being modern  
modernize v To make characteristic of the present or of recent times  
modification n A change  
modify v To make somewhat different  
modish adj Fashionable  
modulate v To vary in tone, inflection, pitch or other quality of sound  
mollify v To soothe  
molt v To cast off, as hair, feathers, etc  
momentary adj Lasting but a short time  
momentous adj Very significant  
momentum n An impetus  
monarchy n Government by a single, sovereign ruler  
monastery n A dwelling-place occupied in common by persons under religious vows of seclusion  
monetary adj Financial  
mongrel n The progeny resulting from the crossing of different breeds or varieties  
monition n Friendly counsel given by way of warning and implying caution or reproof  
monitory n Admonition or warning  
monocracy n Government by a single person  
monogamy n The habit of pairing, or having but one mate  
monogram n A character consisting of two or more letters interwoven into one, usually initials of a name  
monograph n A treatise discussing a single subject or branch of a subject  
monolith n Any structure or sculpture in stone formed of a single piece  
monologue n A story or drama told or performed by one person  
monomania n The unreasonable pursuit of one idea  
monopoly n The control of a thing, as a commodity, to enable a person to raise its price  
monosyllable n A word of one syllable  
monotone n The sameness or monotony of utterance  
monotonous adj Unchanging and tedious  
monotony n A lack of variety  
monstrosity n Anything unnaturally huge or distorted  
moonbeam n A ray of moonlight  
morale n A state of mind with reference to confidence, courage, zeal, and the like  
moralist n A writer on ethics  
morality n Virtue  
moralize v To render virtuous  
moratorium n An emergency legislation authorizing a government suspend some action temporarily  
morbid adj Caused by or denoting a diseased or unsound condition of body or mind  
mordacious adj Biting or giving to biting  
mordant adj Biting  
moribund adj On the point of dying  
morose adj Gloomy  
morphology n the science of organic forms  
motley adj Composed of heterogeneous or inharmonious elements  
motto n An expressive word or pithy sentence enunciating some guiding rule of life, or faith  
mountaineer n One who travels among or climbs mountains for pleasure or exercise  
mountainous adj Full of or abounding in mountains  
mouthful n As much as can be or is usually put into the or exercise  
muddle v To confuse or becloud, especially with or as with drink  
muffle v To deaden the sound of, as by wraps  
mulatto n The offspring of a white person and a black person  
muleteer n A mule-driver  
multiform adj Having many shapes, or appearances  
multiplicity n the condition of being manifold or very various  
mundane adj Worldly, as opposed to spiritual or celestial  
municipal adj Of or pertaining to a town or city, or to its corporate or local government  
municipality n A district enjoying municipal government  
munificence n A giving characterized by generous motives and extraordinary liberality  
munificent adj Extraordinarily generous  
muster n An assemblage or review of troops for parade or inspection, or for numbering off  
mutation n The act or process of change  
mutilate v To disfigure  
mutiny n Rebellion against lawful or constituted authority  
myriad n A vast indefinite number  
mystic n One who professes direct divine illumination, or relies upon meditation to acquire truth  
mystification n The act of artfully perplexing  
myth n A fictitious narrative presented as historical, but without any basis of fact  
mythology n The whole body of legends cherished by a race concerning gods and heroes  
nameless adj Having no fame or reputation  
naphtha n A light, colorless, volatile, inflammable oil used as a solvent, as in manufacture of paints  
Narcissus n The son of the Athenian river-god Cephisus, fabled to have fallen in love with his reflection  
narrate v To tell a story  
narration n The act of recounting the particulars of an event in the order of time or occurrence  
narrative n An orderly continuous account of the successive particulars of an event  
narrator n One who narrates anything  
narrow-minded adj Characterized by illiberal views or sentiments  
nasal adj Pertaining to the nose  
natal adj Pertaining to one's birth  
nationality n A connection with a particular nation  
naturally adv According to the usual order of things  
nausea n An affection of the stomach producing dizziness and usually an impulse to vomit  
nauseate v To cause to loathe  
nauseous adj Loathsome  
nautical adj Pertaining to ships, seamen, or navigation  
naval adj Pertaining to ships  
navel n The depression on the abdomen where the umbilical cord of the fetus was attached  
navigable adj Capable of commercial navigation  
navigate v To traverse by ship  
nebula n A gaseous body of unorganized stellar substance  
necessary adj Indispensably requisite or absolutely needed to accomplish a desired result  
necessitate v To render indispensable  
necessity n That which is indispensably requisite to an end desired  
necrology n A list of persons who have died in a certain place or time  
necromancer n One who practices the art of foretelling the future by means of communication with the dead  
necropolis n A city of the dead  
necrosis n the death of part of the body  
nectar n Any especially sweet and delicious drink  
nectarine n A variety of the peach  
needlework n Embroidery  
needy adj Being in need, want, or poverty  
nefarious adj Wicked in the extreme  
negate v To deny  
negation n The act of denying or of asserting the falsity of a proposition  
neglectful adj Exhibiting or indicating omission  
negligee n A loose gown worn by women  
negligence n Omission of that which ought to be done  
negligent adj Apt to omit what ought to be done  
negligible adj Transferable by assignment, endorsement, or delivery  
negotiable v To bargain with others for an agreement, as for a treaty or transfer of property  
Nemesis n A goddess; divinity of chastisement and vengeance  
neocracy n Government administered by new or untried persons  
neo-Darwinsim n Darwinism as modified and extended by more recent students  
neo-Latin n Modernized Latin  
neopaganism n A new or revived paganism  
Neolithic adj Pertaining to the later stone age  
neology n The coining or using of new words or new meanings of words  
neophyte adj Having the character of a beginner  
nestle v To adjust cozily in snug quarters  
nestling adj Recently hatched  
nettle v To excite sensations of uneasiness or displeasure in  
network n Anything that presents a system of cross- lines  
neural adj Pertaining to the nerves or nervous system  
neurology n The science of the nervous system  
neuter adj Neither masculine nor feminine  
neutral adj Belonging to or under control of neither of two contestants  
nevertheless conj Notwithstanding  
Newtonian adj Of or pertaining to Sir Isaac Newton, the English philosopher  
nihilist n An advocate of the doctrine that nothing either exists or can be known  
nil n Nothing  
nimble adj Light and quick in motion or action  
nit n The egg of a louse or some other insect  
nocturnal adj Of or pertaining to the night  
noiseless adj Silent  
noisome adj Very offensive, particularly to the sense of smell  
noisy adj Clamorous  
nomad adj Having no fixed abode  
nomic adj Usual or customary  
nominal adj Trivial  
nominate v To designate as a candidate for any office  
nomination n The act or ceremony of naming a man or woman for office  
nominee n One who receives a nomination  
non-existent n That which does not exist  
non-resident adj Not residing within a given jurisdiction  
nonchalance n A state of mind indicating lack of interest  
non-combatant n One attached to the army or navy, but having duties other than that of fighting  
nondescript adj Indescribable  
nonentity n A person or thing of little or no account  
nonpareil n One who or that which is of unequaled excellence  
norm n A model  
normalcy n The state of being normal  
Norman adj Of or peculiar to Normandy, in northern France  
nostrum n Any scheme or recipe of a charlatan character  
noticeable adj Perceptible  
notorious adj Unfavorably known to the general public  
novellette n A short novel  
novice n A beginner in any business or occupation  
nowadays adv In the present time or age  
nowhere adv In no place or state  
noxious adj Hurtful  
nuance n A slight degree of difference in anything perceptible to the sense of the mind  
nucleus n A central point or part about which matter is aggregated  
nude adj Naked  
nugatory adj Having no power or force  
nuisance n That which annoys, vexes, or irritates  
numeration n The act or art of reading or naming numbers  
numerical adj Of or pertaining to number  
nunnery n A convent for nuns  
nuptial adj Of or pertaining to marriage, especially to the marriage ceremony  
nurture n The process of fostering or promoting growth  
nutriment n That which nourishes  
nutritive adj Having nutritious properties  
oaken adj Made of or from oak  
oakum n Hemp-fiber obtained by untwisting and picking out loosely the yarns of old hemp rope  
obdurate adj Impassive to feelings of humanity or pity  
obelisk n A square shaft with pyramidal top, usually monumental or commemorative  
obese adj Exceedingly fat  
obesity n Excessive fatness  
obituary adj A published notice of a death  
objective adj Grasping and representing facts as they are  
objector n One who objects, as to a proposition, measure, or ruling  
obligate v To hold to the fulfillment of duty  
obligatory adj Binding in law or conscience  
oblique adj Slanting; said of lines  
obliterate v To cause to disappear  
oblivion n The state of having passed out of the memory or of being utterly forgotten  
oblong adj Longer than broad: applied most commonly to rectangular objects considerably elongated  
obnoxious adj Detestable  
obsequies n Funeral rites  
obsequious adj Showing a servile readiness to fall in with the wishes or will of another  
observance n A traditional form or customary act  
observant adj Quick to notice  
observatory n A building designed for systematic astronomical observations  
obsolescence n The condition or process of gradually falling into disuse  
obsolescent adj Passing out of use, as a word  
obsolete adj No longer practiced or accepted  
obstetrician n A practitioner of midwifery  
obstetrics n The branch of medical science concerned with the treatment and care of women during pregnancy  
obstinacy n Stubborn adherence to opinion, arising from conceit or the desire to have one's own way  
obstreperous adj Boisterous  
obstruct v To fill with impediments so as to prevent passage, either wholly or in part  
obstruction n Hindrance  
obtrude v To be pushed or to push oneself into undue prominence  
obtrusive adj Tending to be pushed or to push oneself into undue prominence  
obvert v To turn the front or principal side of (a thing) toward any person or object  
obviate v To clear away or provide for, as an objection or difficulty  
occasion n An important event or celebration  
Occident n The countries lying west of Asia and the Turkish dominions  
occlude v To absorb, as a gas by a metal  
occult adj Existing but not immediately perceptible  
occupant n A tenant in possession of property, as distinguished from the actual owner  
occurrence n A happening  
octagon n A figure with eight sides and eight angles  
octave n A note at this interval above or below any other, considered in relation to that other  
octavo n A book, or collection of paper in which the sheets are so folded as to make eight leaves  
octogenarian adj A person of between eighty and ninety years  
ocular adj Of or pertaining to the eye  
oculist n One versed or skilled in treating diseases of the eye  
oddity n An eccentricity  
ode n The form of lyric poetry anciently intended to be sung  
odious adj Hateful  
odium n A feeling of extreme repugnance, or of dislike and disgust  
odoriferous adj Having or diffusing an odor or scent, especially an agreeable one  
odorous adj Having an odor, especially a fragrant one  
off adj Farther or more distant  
offhand adv Without preparation  
officiate v To act as an officer or leader  
officious adj Intermeddling with what is not one's concern  
offshoot n Something that branches off from the parent stock  
ogre n A demon or monster that was supposed to devour human beings  
ointment n A fatty preparation with a butter-like consistency in which a medicinal substance exists  
olfactory adj of or pertaining to the sense of smell  
olive-branch n A branch of the olive-tree, as an emblem of peace  
ominous adj Portentous  
omission n Exclusion  
omnipotence n Unlimited and universal power  
Omnipotent adj Possessed of unlimited and universal power  
omniscience n Unlimited or infinite knowledge  
omniscient adj Characterized by unlimited or infinite knowledge  
omnivorous adj Eating or living upon food of all kinds indiscriminately  
onerous adj Burdensome or oppressive  
onrush n Onset  
onset n An assault, especially of troops, upon an enemy or fortification  
onslaught n A violent onset  
onus n A burden or responsibility  
opalescence n The property of combined refraction and reflection of light, resulting in smoky tints  
opaque adj Impervious to light  
operate v To put in action and supervise the working of  
operative adj Active  
operator n One who works with or controls some machine or scientific apparatus  
operetta n A humorous play in dialogue and music, of more than one act  
opinion n A conclusion or judgment held with confidence, but falling short of positive knowledge  
opponent n One who supports the opposite side in a debate, discussion, struggle, or sport  
opportune adj Especially fit as occurring, said, or done at the right moment  
opportunist n One who takes advantage of circumstances to gain his ends  
opportunity n Favorable or advantageous chance or opening  
opposite adj Radically different or contrary in action or movement  
opprobrium n The state of being scornfully reproached or accused of evil  
optic n Pertaining to the eye or vision  
optician n One who makes or deals in optical instruments or eye-glasses  
optics n The science that treats of light and vision, and all that is connected with sight  
optimism n The view that everything in nature and the history of mankind is ordered for the best  
option n The right, power, or liberty of choosing  
optometry n Measurement of the powers of vision  
opulence n Affluence  
opulent adj Wealthy  
oral adj Uttered through the mouth  
orate v To deliver an elaborate or formal public speech  
oration n An elaborate or formal public speech  
orator n One who delivers an elaborate or formal speech  
oratorio n A composition for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra, generally taken from the Scriptures  
oratory n The art of public speaking  
ordeal n Anything that severely tests courage, strength, patience, conscience, etc  
ordinal n That form of the numeral that shows the order of anything in a series, as first, second, third  
ordination n A consecration to the ministry  
ordnance n A general name for all kinds of weapons and their appliances used in war  
orgies n Wild or wanton revelry  
origin n The beginning of that which becomes or is made to be  
original adj Not copied nor produced by imitation  
originate v To cause or constitute the beginning or first stage of the existence of  
ornate adj Ornamented to a marked degree  
orthodox adj Holding the commonly accepted faith  
orthodoxy n Acceptance of the common faith  
orthogonal adj Having or determined by right angles  
orthopedic adj Relating to the correcting or preventing of deformity  
orthopedist n One who practices the correcting or preventing of deformity  
oscillate v To swing back and forth  
osculate v To kiss  
ossify v to convert into bone  
ostentation n A display dictated by vanity and intended to invite applause or flattery  
ostracism n Exclusion from intercourse or favor, as in society or politics  
ostracize v To exclude from public or private favor  
ought v To be under moral obligation to be or do  
oust v To eject  
out-and-out adv Genuinely  
outbreak n A sudden and violent breaking forth, as of something that has been pent up or restrained  
outburst n A violent issue, especially of passion in an individual  
outcast n One rejected and despised, especially socially  
outcry n A vehement or loud cry or clamor  
outdo v To surpass  
outlandish adj Of barbarous, uncouth, and unfamiliar aspect or action  
outlast v To last longer than  
outlaw n A habitual lawbreaker  
outlive v To continue to exist after  
out-of-the-way adj Remotely situated  
outpost n A detachment of troops stationed at a distance from the main body to guard against surprise  
outrage n A gross infringement of morality or decency  
outrageous adj Shocking in conduct  
outreach v To reach or go beyond  
outride v To ride faster than  
outrigger n A part built or arranged to project beyond a natural outline for support  
outright adv Entirely  
outskirt n A border region  
outstretch v To extend  
outstrip v To go beyond  
outweigh v To surpass in importance or excellence  
overdo v To overtax the strength of  
overdose n An excessive dose, usually so large a dose of a medicine that its effect is toxic  
overeat v To eat to excess  
overhang n A portion of a structure which projects or hangs over  
overleap v To leap beyond  
overlord n One who holds supremacy over another  
overpass v To pass across or over, as a river  
overpay v To pay or reward in excess  
overpower v To gain supremacy or victory over by superior power  
overproduction n Excessive production  
overreach v To stretch out too far  
overrun v To infest or ravage  
oversee v To superintend  
overseer n A supervisor  
overshadow v To cast into the shade or render insignificant by comparison  
overstride v To step beyond  
overthrow v To vanquish an established ruler or government  
overtone n A harmonic  
overture n An instrumental prelude to an opera, oratorio, or ballet  
overweight n Preponderance  
pacify v To bring into a peaceful state  
packet n A bundle, as of letters  
pact n A covenant  
pagan n A worshiper of false gods  
pageant n A dramatic representation, especially a spectacular one  
palate n The roof of the mouth  
palatial adj Magnificent  
paleontology n The branch of biology that treats of ancient life and fossil organisms  
palette n A thin tablet, with a hole for the thumb, upon which artists lay their colors for painting  
palinode n A retraction  
pall v To make dull by satiety  
palliate v To cause to appear less guilty  
pallid adj Of a pale or wan appearance  
palpable n perceptible by feeling or touch  
palsy n Paralysis  
paly adj Lacking color or brilliancy  
pamphlet n A brief treatise or essay, usually on a subject of current interest  
pamphleteer v To compose or issue pamphlets, especially controversial ones  
panacea n A remedy or medicine proposed for or professing to cure all diseases  
Pan-American adj Including or pertaining to the whole of America, both North and South  
pandemic adj Affecting a whole people or all classes, as a disease  
pandemonium n A fiendish or riotous uproar  
panegyric n A formal and elaborate eulogy, written or spoken, of a person or of an act  
panel n A rectangular piece set in or as in a frame  
panic n A sudden, unreasonable, overpowering fear  
panoply n A full set of armor  
panorama n A series of large pictures representing a continuous scene  
pantheism n The worship of nature for itself or its beauty  
Pantheon n A circular temple at Rome with a fine Corinthian portico and a great domed roof  
pantomime n Sign-language  
pantoscope n A very wide-angled photographic lens  
papacy n The official head of the Roman Catholic Church  
papyrus n The writing-paper of the ancient Egyptians, and later of the Romans  
parable n A brief narrative founded on real scenes or events usually with a moral  
paradox n A statement or doctrine seemingly in contradiction to the received belief  
paragon n A model of excellence  
parallel v To cause to correspond or lie in the same direction and equidistant in all parts  
parallelism n Essential likeness  
paralysis n Loss of the power of contractility in the voluntary or involuntary muscles  
paralyze v To deprive of the power to act  
paramount adj Supreme in authority  
paramour n One who is unlawfully and immorally a lover or a mistress  
paraphernalia n Miscellaneous articles of equipment or adornment  
paraphrase v Translate freely  
pare v To cut, shave, or remove (the outside) from anything  
parentage n The relation of parent to child, of the producer to the produced, or of cause to effect  
Pariah n A member of a degraded class; a social outcast  
parish n The ecclesiastical district in charge of a pastor  
Parisian adj Of or pertaining to the city of Paris  
parity n Equality, as of condition or rank  
parlance n Mode of speech  
parley v To converse in  
parliament n A legislative body  
parlor n A room for reception of callers or entertainment of guests  
parody v To render ludicrous by imitating the language of  
paronymous adj Derived from the same root or primitive word  
paroxysm n A sudden outburst of any kind of activity  
parricide n The murder of a parent  
parse v To describe, as a sentence, by separating it into its elements and describing each word  
parsimonious adj Unduly sparing in the use or expenditure of money  
partible adj Separable  
participant n One having a share or part  
participate v To receive or have a part or share of  
partition n That which separates anything into distinct parts  
partisan adj Characterized by or exhibiting undue or unreasoning devotion to a party  
passible adj Capable of feeling of suffering  
passive adj Unresponsive  
pastoral adj Having the spirit or sentiment of rural life  
paternal adj Fatherly  
paternity n Fatherhood  
pathos n The quality in any form of representation that rouses emotion or sympathy  
patriarch n The chief of a tribe or race who rules by paternal right  
patrician adj Of senatorial or noble rank  
patrimony n An inheritance from an ancestor, especially from one's father  
patriotism n Love and devotion to one's country  
patronize v To exercise an arrogant condescension toward  
patronymic adj Formed after one's father's name  
patter v To mumble something over and over  
paucity n Fewness  
pauper n One without means of support  
pauperism n Dependence on charity  
pavilion n An open structure for temporary shelter  
payee n A person to whom money has been or is to be paid  
peaceable adj Tranquil  
peaceful adj Tranquil  
peccable adj Capable of sinning  
peccadillo n A small breach of propriety or principle  
peccant adj Guilty  
pectoral adj Pertaining to the breast or thorax  
pecuniary adj Consisting of money  
pedagogics n The science and art of teaching  
pedagogue n A schoolmaster  
pedagogy n The science and art of teaching  
pedal n A lever for the foot usually applied only to musical instruments, cycles, and other machines  
pedant n A scholar who makes needless and inopportune display of his learning  
peddle v To go about with a small stock of goods to sell  
pedestal n A base or support as for a column, statue, or vase  
pedestrian n One who journeys on foot  
pediatrics n The department of medical science that relates to the treatment of diseases of childhood  
pedigree n One's line of ancestors  
peddler n One who travels from house to house with an assortment of goods for retail  
peerage n The nobility  
peerless adj Of unequaled excellence or worth  
pellucid adj Translucent  
penalty n The consequences that follow the transgression of natural or divine law  
penance n Punishment to which one voluntarily submits or subjects himself as an expression of penitence  
penchant n A bias in favor of something  
pendant n Anything that hangs from something else, either for ornament or for use  
pendulous adj Hanging, especially so as to swing by an attached end or part  
pendulum n A weight hung on a rod, serving by its oscillation to regulate the rate of a clock  
penetrable adj That may be pierced by physical, moral, or intellectual force  
penetrate v To enter or force a way into the interior parts of  
penetration n Discernment  
peninsular adj Pertaining to a piece of land almost surrounded by water  
penitence n Sorrow for sin with desire to amend and to atone  
penitential adj Pertaining to sorrow for sin with desire to amend and to atone  
pennant n A small flag  
pension n A periodical allowance to an individual on account of past service done by him/her  
pentagram n A figure having five points or lobes  
pentavalent adj Quinqeuvalent  
pentad n The number five  
pentagon n A figure, especially, with five angles and five sides  
pentahedron n A solid bounded by five plane faces  
pentameter n In prosody, a line of verse containing five units or feet  
pentathlon n The contest of five associated exercises in the great games and the same contestants  
penultimate adj A syllable or member of a series that is last but one  
penurious adj Excessively sparing in the use of money  
penury n Indigence  
perambulate v To walk about  
perceive v To have knowledge of, or receive impressions concerning, through the medium of the body senses  
perceptible adj Cognizable  
perception n Knowledge through the senses of the existence and properties of matter or the external world  
percipience n The act of perceiving  
percipient n One who or that which perceives  
percolate v To filter  
percolator n A filter  
percussion n The sharp striking of one body against another  
peremptory adj Precluding question or appeal  
perennial adj Continuing though the year or through many years  
perfectible adj Capable of being made perfect  
perfidy n Treachery  
perforate v To make a hole or holes through  
perform v To accomplish  
perfumery n The preparation of perfumes  
perfunctory adj Half-hearted  
perhaps adv Possibly  
perigee n The point in the orbit of the moon when it is nearest the earth  
periodicity n The habit or characteristic of recurrence at regular intervals  
peripatetic adj Walking about  
perjure v To swear falsely to  
perjury n A solemn assertion of a falsity  
permanence n A continuance in the same state, or without any change that destroys the essential form or nature  
permanent adj Durable  
permeate v To pervade  
permissible adj That may be allowed  
permutation n Reciprocal change, different ordering of same items  
pernicious adj Tending to kill or hurt  
perpendicular adj Straight up and down  
perpetrator n The doer of a wrong or a criminal act  
perpetuate v To preserve from extinction or oblivion  
perquisite n Any profit from service beyond the amount fixed as salary or wages  
persecution n Harsh or malignant oppression  
perseverance n A persistence in purpose and effort  
persevere v To continue striving in spite of discouragements  
persiflage n Banter  
persist v To continue steadfast against opposition  
persistence n A fixed adherence to a resolve, course of conduct, or the like  
personage n A man or woman as an individual, especially one of rank or high station  
personal adj Not general or public  
personality n The attributes, taken collectively, that make up the character and nature of an individual  
personnel n The force of persons collectively employed in some service  
perspective n The relative importance of facts or matters from any special point of view  
perspicacious adj Astute  
perspicacity n Acuteness or discernment  
perspicuous adj Lucid  
perspiration n Sweat  
perspire v To excrete through the pores of the skin  
persuade v To win the mind of by argument, eloquence, evidence, or reflection  
persuadable adj capable of influencing to action by entreaty, statement, or anything that moves the feelings  
pertinacious adj Persistent or unyielding  
pertinacity n Unyielding adherence  
pertinent adj Relevant  
perturb v To disturb greatly  
perturbation n Mental excitement or confusion  
perusal n The act of reading carefully or thoughtfully  
pervade v To pass or spread through every part  
pervasion n The state of spreading through every part  
pervasive adj Thoroughly penetrating or permeating  
perverse adj Unreasonable  
perversion n Diversion from the true meaning or proper purpose  
perversity n Wickedness  
pervert n One who has forsaken a doctrine regarded as true for one esteemed false  
pervious adj Admitting the entrance or passage of another substance  
pestilence n A raging epidemic  
pestilent adj Having a malign influence or effect  
pestilential adj having the nature of or breeding pestilence  
peter v To fail or lose power, efficiency, or value  
petrify v To convert into a substance of stony hardness and character  
petulance n The character or condition of being impatient, capricious or petulant  
petulant adj Displaying impatience  
pharmacopoeia n A book containing the formulas and methods of preparation of medicines for the use of druggists  
pharmacy n The art or business of compounding and dispensing medicines  
phenomenal adj Extraordinary or marvelous  
phenomenon n Any unusual occurrence  
philander v To play at courtship with a woman  
philanthropic adj Benevolent  
philanthropist n One who endeavors to help his fellow men  
philanthropy n Active humanitarianism  
philately n The study and collection of stamps  
philharmonic adj Fond of music  
philogynist n One who is fond of women  
philologist n An expert in linguistics  
philology n The study of language in connection with history and literature  
philosophize v To seek ultimate causes and principles  
philosophy n The general principles, laws, or causes that furnish the rational explanation of anything  
phlegmatic adj Not easily roused to feeling or action  
phonetic adj Representing articulate sounds or speech  
phonic adj Pertaining to the nature of sound  
phonogram n A graphic character symbolizing an articulate sound  
phonology n The science of human vocal sounds  
phosphorescence n The property of emitting light  
photoelectric adj Pertaining to the combined action of light and electricity  
photometer n Any instrument for measuring the intensity of light or comparing the intensity of two lights  
photometry n The art of measuring the intensity of light  
physicist n A specialist in the science that treats of the phenomena associated with matter and energy  
physics n The science that treats of the phenomena associated with matter and energy  
physiocracy n The doctrine that land and its products are the only true wealth  
physiognomy n The external appearance merely  
physiography n Description of nature  
physiology n The science of organic functions  
physique n The physical structure or organization of a person  
picayune adj Of small value  
piccolo n A small flute  
piece n A loose or separated part, as distinguished from the whole or the mass  
piecemeal adv Gradually  
pillage n Open robbery, as in war  
pillory n A wooden framework in which an offender is fastened to boards and is exposed to public scorn  
pincers n An instrument having two lever-handles and two jaws working on a pivot  
pinchers n An instrument having two jaws working on a pivot  
pinnacle n A high or topmost point, as a mountain-peak  
pioneer n One among the first to explore a country  
pious adj Religious  
pique v To excite a slight degree of anger in  
piteous adj Compassionate  
pitiable adj Contemptible  
pitiful adj Wretched  
pitiless adj Hard-hearted  
pittance n Any small portion or meager allowance  
placate v To bring from a state of angry or hostile feeling to one of patience or friendliness  
placid adj Serene  
plagiarism n The stealing of passages from the writings of another and publishing them as one's own  
planisphere n A polar projection of the heavens on a chart  
plasticity n The property of some substances through which the form of the mass can readily be changed  
platitude n A written or spoken statement that is flat, dull, or commonplace  
plaudit n An expression of applause  
plausible adj Seeming likely to be true, though open to doubt  
playful adj Frolicsome  
playwright n A maker of plays for the stage  
plea n An argument to obtain some desired action  
pleasant adj Agreeable  
pleasurable adj Affording gratification  
plebeian adj Common  
pledgee n The person to whom anything is pledged  
pledgeor n One who gives a pledge  
plenary adj Entire  
plenipotentiary n A person fully empowered to transact any business  
plenitude n Abundance  
plenteous adj Abundant  
plumb n A weight suspended by a line to test the verticality of something  
plummet n A piece of lead for making soundings, adjusting walls to the vertical  
pluperfect adj Expressing past time or action prior to some other past time or action  
plural adj Containing or consisting of more than one  
plurality n A majority  
plutocracy n A wealthy class in a political community who control the government by means of their money  
pneumatic adj Pertaining to or consisting of air or gas  
poesy n Poetry  
poetaster n An inferior poet  
poetic adj Pertaining to poetry  
poetics n The rules and principles of poetry  
poignancy n Severity or acuteness, especially of pain or grief  
poignant adj Severely painful or acute to the spirit  
poise n Equilibrium  
polar adj Pertaining to the poles of a sphere, especially of the earth  
polemics n The art of controversy or disputation  
pollen n The fine dust-like grains or powder formed within the anther of a flowering plant  
pollute v To contaminate  
polyarchy n Government by several or many persons of what- ever class  
polycracy n The rule of many  
polygamy n the fact or condition of having more than one wife or husband at once  
polyglot adj Speaking several tongues  
polygon n A figure having many angles  
polyhedron n A solid bounded by plane faces, especially by more than four  
polysyllable adj Having several syllables, especially more than three syllables  
polytechnic adj Pertaining to, embracing, or practicing many arts  
polytheism n The doctrine or belief that there are more gods than one  
pommel v To beat with something thick or bulky  
pomposity n The quality of being marked by an assumed stateliness and impressiveness of manner  
pompous adj Marked by an assumed stateliness and impressiveness of manner  
ponder v To meditate or reflect upon  
ponderous adj Unusually weighty or forcible  
pontiff n The Pope  
populace n The common people  
populous adj Containing many inhabitants, especially in proportion to the territory  
portend v To indicate as being about to happen, especially by previous signs  
portent n Anything that indicates what is to happen  
portfolio n A portable case for holding writing-materials, drawings, etc  
posit v To present in an orderly manner  
position n The manner in which a thing is placed  
positive adj Free from doubt or hesitation  
posse n A force of men  
possess v To own  
possession n The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command  
possessive adj Pertaining to the having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command  
possessor n One who owns, enjoys, or controls anything, as property  
possible adj Being not beyond the reach of power natural, moral, or supernatural  
postdate v To make the date of any writing later than the real date  
posterior n The hinder part  
postgraduate adj Pertaining to studies that are pursued after receiving a degree  
postscript n Something added to a letter after the writer's signature  
potency n Power  
potent adj Physically powerful  
potentate n One possessed of great power or sway  
potential n Anything that may be possible  
potion n A dose of liquid medicine  
powerless adj Impotent  
practicable adj Feasible  
prate v To talk about vainly or foolishly  
prattle v To utter in simple or childish talk  
preamble n A statement introductory to and explanatory of what follows  
precarious adj Perilous  
precaution n A provision made in advance for some possible emergency or danger  
precede v To happen first  
precedence n Priority in place, time, or rank  
precedent n An instance that may serve as a guide or basis for a rule  
precedential adj Of the nature of an instance that may serve as a guide or basis for a rule  
precession n The act of going forward  
precipice n A high and very steep or approximately vertical cliff  
precipitant adj Moving onward quickly and heedlessly  
precipitate v To force forward prematurely  
precise adj Exact  
precision n Accuracy of limitation, definition, or adjustment  
preclude v To prevent  
precocious adj Having the mental faculties prematurely developed  
precursor n A forerunner or herald  
predatory adj Prone to pillaging  
predecessor n An incumbent of a given office previous to another  
predicament n A difficult, trying situation or plight  
predicate v To state as belonging to something  
predict v To foretell  
prediction n A prophecy  
predominance n Ascendancy or preponderance  
predominant adj Superior in power, influence, effectiveness, number, or degree  
predominate v To be chief in importance, quantity, or degree  
preeminence n Special eminence  
preempt v To secure the right of preference in the purchase of public land  
preemption n The right or act of purchasing before others  
preengage v To preoccupy  
preestablish v To settle or arrange beforehand  
preexist v To exist at a period or in a state earlier than something else  
preexistence n Existence antecedent to something  
preface n A brief explanation or address to the reader, at the beginning of a book  
prefatory adj Pertaining to a brief explanation to the reader at the beginning of a book  
prefer v To hold in higher estimation  
preferable adj More desirable than others  
preference n An object of favor or choice  
preferential adj Possessing, giving, or constituting preference or priority  
preferment n Preference  
prefix v To attach at the beginning  
prehensible adj Capable of being grasped  
prehensile adj Adapted for grasping or holding  
prehension n The act of laying hold of or grasping  
prejudice n A judgment or opinion formed without due examination of the facts  
prelacy n A system of church government  
prelate n One of a higher order of clergy having direct authority over other clergy  
prelude n An introductory or opening performance  
premature adj Coming too soon  
premier adj First in rank or position  
premise n A judgment as a conclusion  
premonition n Foreboding  
preoccupation n The state of having the mind, attention, or inclination preoccupied  
preoccupy v To fill the mind of a person to the exclusion of other subjects  
preordain v To foreordain  
preparation n An act or proceeding designed to bring about some event  
preparatory adj Having to do with what is preliminary  
preponderant adj Prevalent  
preponderate v To exceed in influence or power  
prepossession n A preconceived liking  
preposterous adj Utterly ridiculous or absurd  
prerogative adj Having superior rank or precedence  
presage v To foretell  
prescience n Knowledge of events before they take place  
prescient adj Foreknowing  
prescript adj Prescribed as a rule or model  
prescriptible adj Derived from authoritative direction  
prescription n An authoritative direction  
presentient adj Perceiving or feeling beforehand  
presentiment n Foreboding  
presentment n Semblance  
preservation n Conservation  
presumption n That which may be logically assumed to be true until disproved  
presumptuous adj Assuming too much  
pretension n A bold or presumptuous assertion  
pretentious adj Marked by pretense, conceit, or display  
preternatural adj Extraordinary  
pretext n A fictitious reason or motive  
prevalence n Frequency  
prevalent adj Of wide extent or frequent occurrence  
prevaricate v To use ambiguous or evasive language for the purpose of deceiving or diverting attention  
prevention n Thwarting  
prickle v To puncture slightly with fine, sharp points  
priggish adj Conceited  
prim adj Stiffly proper  
prima adj First  
primer n An elementary reading-book for children  
primeval adj Belonging to the first ages  
primitive adj Pertaining to the beginning or early times  
principal adj Most important  
principality n The territory of a reigning prince  
principle n A general truth or proposition  
priory n A monastic house  
pristine adj Primitive  
privateer n A vessel owned and officered by private persons, but carrying on maritime war  
privilege n A right or immunity not enjoyed by all, or that may be enjoyed only under special conditions  
privity n Knowledge shared with another or others regarding a private matter  
privy adj Participating with another or others in the knowledge of a secret transaction  
probate adj Relating to making proof, as of a will  
probation n Any proceeding designed to ascertain or test character, qualification, or the like  
probe v To search through and through  
probity n Virtue or integrity tested and confirmed  
procedure n A manner or method of acting  
proceed v To renew motion or action, as after rest or interruption  
proclamation n Any announcement made in a public manner  
procrastinate v To put off till tomorrow or till a future time  
procrastination n Delay  
proctor n An agent acting for another  
prodigal n One wasteful or extravagant, especially in the use of money or property  
prodigious adj Immense  
prodigy n A person or thing of very remarkable gifts or qualities  
productive adj Yielding in abundance  
profession n Any calling or occupation involving special mental or other special disciplines  
professor n A public teacher of the highest grade in a university or college  
proffer v To offer to another for acceptance  
proficiency n An advanced state of acquirement, as in some knowledge, art, or science  
proficient adj Possessing ample and ready knowledge or of skill in any art, science, or industry  
profile n An outline or contour  
profiteer n One who profits  
profligacy n Shameless viciousness  
profligate adj Abandoned to vice  
profuse adj Produced or displayed in overabundance  
progeny n Offspring  
progression n A moving forward or proceeding in course  
prohibition n A decree or an order forbidding something  
prohibitionist n One who favors the prohibition by law of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages  
prohibitory adj Involving or equivalent to prohibition, especially of the sale of alcoholic beverages  
projection n A prominence  
proletarian n A person of the lowest or poorest class  
prolific adj Producing offspring or fruit  
prolix adj Verbose  
prologue n A prefatory statement or explanation to a poem, discourse, or performance  
prolong v To extend in time or duration  
promenade v To walk for amusement or exercise  
prominence n The quality of being noticeable or distinguished  
prominent adj Conspicuous in position, character, or importance  
promiscuous adj Brought together without order, distinction, or design (for sex)  
promissory adj Expressing an engagement to pay  
promontory n A high point of land extending outward from the coastline into the sea  
promoter n A furtherer, forwarder, or encourager  
promulgate v To proclaim  
propaganda n Any institution or systematic scheme for propagating a doctrine or system  
propagate v To spread abroad or from person to person  
propel v To drive or urge forward  
propellant adj Propelling  
propeller n One who or that which propels  
prophecy n Any prediction or foretelling  
prophesy v To predict or foretell, especially under divine inspiration and guidance  
propitious adj Kindly disposed  
proportionate adj Being in proportion  
propriety n Accordance with recognized usage, custom, or principles  
propulsion n A driving onward or forward  
prosaic adj Unimaginative  
proscenium n That part of the stage between the curtain and the orchestra  
proscribe v To reject, as a teaching or a practice, with condemnation or denunciation  
proscription n Any act of condemnation and rejection from favor and privilege  
proselyte n One who has been won over from one religious belief to another  
prosody n The science of poetical forms  
prospector n One who makes exploration, search, or examination, especially for minerals  
prospectus n A paper or pamphlet containing information of a proposed undertaking  
prostrate adj Lying prone, or with the head to the ground  
protagonist n A leader in any enterprise or contest  
protection n Preservation from harm, danger, annoyance, or any other evil  
protective adj Sheltering  
protector n A defender  
protege n One specially cared for and favored by another usually older person  
Protestant n A Christian who denies the authority of the Pope and holds the right of special judgment  
protomartyr n The earliest victim in any cause  
protocol n A declaration or memorandum of agreement less solemn and formal than a treaty  
protoplasm n The substance that forms the principal portion of an animal or vegetable cell  
prototype n A work, original in character, afterward imitated in form or spirit  
protract v To prolong  
protrude v To push out or thrust forth  
protrusion n The act of protruding  
protuberance n Something that swells out from a surrounding surface  
protuberant adj Bulging  
protuberate v To swell or bulge beyond the surrounding surface  
proverb n A brief, pithy saying, condensing in witty or striking form the wisdom of experience  
provident adj Anticipating and making ready for future wants or emergencies  
providential adj Effected by divine guidance  
provincial adj Uncultured in thought and manner  
proviso n A clause in a contract, will, etc, by which its operation is rendered conditional  
provocation n An action or mode of conduct that excites resentment  
prowess n Strength, skill, and intrepidity in battle  
proximately adv Immediately  
proxy n A person who is empowered by another to represent him or her in a given matter  
prudence n Caution  
prudential adj Proceeding or marked by caution  
prudery n An undue display of modesty or delicacy  
prurient adj Inclined to lascivious thoughts and desires  
pseudapostle n A pretended or false apostle  
pseudonym n A fictitious name, especially when assumed by a writer  
pseudonymity n The state or character of using a fictitious name  
psychiatry n The branch of medicine that relates to mental disease  
psychic adj Pertaining to the mind or soul  
psychopathic adj Morally irresponsible  
psychotherapy n The treatment of mental disease  
pudgy adj Small and fat  
puerile adj Childish  
pugnacious adj Quarrelsome  
puissant adj Possessing strength  
pulmonary adj Pertaining to the lungs  
punctilious adj Strictly observant of the rules or forms prescribed by law or custom  
punctual adj Observant and exact in points of time  
pungent adj Affecting the sense of smell  
pungency n The quality of affecting the sense of smell  
punitive adj Pertaining to punishment  
pupilage n The state or period of being a student  
purgatory n An intermediate state where souls are made fit for paradise or heaven by expiatory suffering  
purl v To cause to whirl, as in an eddy  
purloin v To steal  
purport n Intent  
purveyor n one who supplies  
pusillanimous adj Without spirit or bravery  
putrescent adj Undergoing decomposition of animal or vegetable matter accompanied by fetid odors  
pyre n A heap of combustibles arranged for burning a dead body  
pyromania n An insane propensity to set things on fire  
pyrotechnic adj Pertaining to fireworks or their manufacture  
pyx n A vessel or casket, usually of precious metal, in which the host is preserved  
quackery n Charlatanry  
quadrate v To divide into quarters  
quadruple v To multiply by four  
qualification n A requisite for an employment, position, right, or privilege  
qualify v To endow or furnish with requisite ability, character, knowledge, skill, or possessions  
qualm n A fit of nausea  
quandary n A puzzling predicament  
quantity n Magnitude  
quarantine n The enforced isolation of any person or place infected with contagious disease  
quarrelsome adj Irascible  
quarter n One of four equal parts into which anything is or may be divided  
quarterly adj Occurring or made at intervals of three months  
quartet n A composition for four voices or four instruments  
quarto n An eight-page newspaper of any size  
quay n A wharf or artificial landing-place on the shore of a harbor or projecting into it  
querulous adj Habitually complaining  
query v To make inquiry  
queue n A file of persons waiting in order of their arrival, as for admittance  
quibble n An utterly trivial distinction or objection  
quiescence n Quiet  
quiescent adj Being in a state of repose or inaction  
quiet adj Making no noise  
quietus n A silencing, suppressing, or ending  
quintessence n The most essential part of anything  
quintet n Musical composition arranged for five voices or instruments  
quite adv Fully  
Quixotic adj Chivalrous or romantic to a ridiculous or extravagant degree  
rabid adj Affected with rabies or hydrophobia  
racy adj Exciting or exhilarating to the mind  
radiance n Brilliant or sparkling luster  
radiate v To extend in all directions, as from a source or focus  
radical n One who holds extreme views or advocates extreme measures  
radix n That from or on which something is developed  
raillery n Good-humored satire  
ramify v To divide or subdivide into branches or subdivisions  
ramose adj Branch-like  
rampant adj Growing, climbing, or running without check or restraint  
rampart n A bulwark or construction to oppose assault or hostile entry  
rancor n Malice  
rankle v To produce irritation or festering  
rapacious adj Disposed to seize by violence or by unlawful or greedy methods  
rapid adj Having great speed  
rapine n The act of seizing and carrying off property by superior force, as in war  
rapt adj Enraptured  
raptorial adj Seizing and devouring living prey  
ration v To provide with a fixed allowance or portion, especially of food  
rationalism n The formation of opinions by relying upon reason alone, independently of authority  
raucous adj Harsh  
ravage v To lay waste by pillage, rapine, devouring, or other destructive methods  
ravenous adj Furiously voracious or hungry  
ravine n A deep gorge or hollow, especially one worn by a stream or flow of water  
reaction n Tendency towards a former, or opposite state of things, as after reform, revolution, or inflation  
reactionary adj Pertaining to, of the nature of, causing, or favoring reaction  
readily adv Without objection or reluctance  
readjust v To put in order after disarrangement  
ready adj In a state of preparedness for any given purpose or occasion  
realism n The principle and practice of depicting persons and scenes as they are believed really to exist  
rearrange v To arrange again or in a different order  
reassure v To give new confidence  
rebellious adj Insubordinate  
rebuff n A peremptory or unexpected rejection of advances or approaches  
rebuild v To build again or anew  
rebut v To oppose by argument or a sufficient answer  
recant v To withdraw formally one's belief (in something previously believed or maintained)  
recapitulate v To repeat again the principal points of  
recapture v To capture again  
recede v To move back or away  
receivable adj Capable of being or fit to be received - often money  
receptive adj Having the capacity, quality, or ability of receiving, as truths or impressions  
recessive adj Having a tendency to go back  
recidivist n A confirmed criminal  
reciprocal adj Mutually interchangeable or convertible  
reciprocate v To give and take mutually  
reciprocity n Equal mutual rights and benefits granted and enjoyed  
recitation n The act of reciting or repeating, especially in public and from memory  
reck v To have a care or thought for  
reckless adj Foolishly headless of danger  
reclaim v To demand or to obtain the return or restoration of  
recline v To cause to assume a leaning or recumbent attitude or position  
recluse n One who lives in retirement or seclusion  
reclusory n A hermitage  
recognizance n An acknowledgment entered into before a court with condition to do some particular act  
recognize v To recall the identity of (a person or thing)  
recoil v To start back as in dismay, loathing, or dread  
recollect v To recall the knowledge of  
reconcilable adj Capable of being adjusted or harmonized  
reconnoiter v To make a preliminary examination of for military, surveying, or geological purposes  
reconsider v To review with care, especially with a view to a reversal of previous action  
reconstruct v To rebuild  
recourse n Resort to or application for help in exigency or trouble  
recover v To regain  
recreant n A cowardly or faithless person  
recreate v To refresh after labor  
recrudescence n The state of becoming raw or sore again  
recrudescent adj Becoming raw or sore again  
recruit v To enlist men for military or naval service  
rectify v To correct  
rectitude n The quality of being upright in principles and conduct  
recuperate v To recover  
recur v To happen again or repeatedly, especially at regular intervals  
recure v To cure again  
recurrent adj Returning from time to time, especially at regular or stated intervals  
redemption n The recovery of what is mortgaged or pledged, by paying the debt  
redolent adj Smelling sweet and agreeable  
redolence n Smelling sweet and agreeable  
redoubtable adj Formidable  
redound n Rebound  
redress v To set right, as a wrong by compensation or the punishment of the wrong-doer  
reducible adj That may be reduced  
redundance n Excess  
redundant adj Constituting an excess  
reestablish v To restore  
refer v To direct or send for information or other purpose  
referrer n One who refers  
referable adj Ascribable  
referee n An umpire  
refinery n A place where some crude material, as sugar or petroleum, is purified  
reflectible adj Capable of being turned back  
reflection n The throwing off or back of light, heat, sound, or any form of energy that travels in waves  
reflector n A mirror, as of metal, for reflecting light, heat, or sound in a particular direction  
reflexible adj Capable of being reflected  
reform n Change for the better  
reformer n One who carries out a reform  
refract v To bend or turn from a direct course  
refractory adj Not amenable to control  
refragable adj Capable of being refuted  
refringency n Power to refract  
refringent adj Having the power to refract  
refusal n Denial of what is asked  
refute v To prove to be wrong  
regale v To give unusual pleasure  
regality n Royalty  
regenerate v To reproduce  
regent n One who is lawfully deputized to administer the government for the time being in the name of the ruler  
regicide n The killing of a king or sovereign  
regime n Particular conduct or administration of affairs  
regimen n A systematized order or course of living with reference to food, clothing and personal habits  
regiment n A body of soldiers  
regnant adj Exercising royal authority in one's own right  
regress v To return to a former place or condition  
regretful adj Feeling, expressive of, or full of regret  
rehabilitate v To restore to a former status, capacity, right rank, or privilege  
reign v To hold and exercise sovereign power  
reimburse v To pay back as an equivalent of what has been expended  
rein n A step attached to the bit for controlling a horse or other draft-animal  
reinstate v To restore to a former state, station, or authority  
reiterate v To say or do again and again  
rejoin v To reunite after separation  
rejuvenate v To restore to youth  
rejuvenescence n A renewal of youth  
relapse v To suffer a return of a disease after partial recovery  
relegate v To send off or consign, as to an obscure position or remote destination  
relent v To yield  
relevant adj Bearing upon the matter in hand  
reliance n Dependence  
reliant adj Having confidence  
relinquish v To give up using or having  
reliquary n A casket, coffer, or repository in which relics are kept  
relish v To like the taste or savor of  
reluctance n Unwillingness  
reluctant adj Unwilling  
remembrance n Recollection  
reminiscence n The calling to mind of incidents within the range of personal knowledge or experience  
reminiscent adj Pertaining to the recollection of matters of personal interest  
remiss adj Negligent  
remission n Temporary diminution of a disease  
remodel v Reconstruct  
remonstrance n Reproof  
remonstrant adj Having the character of a reproof  
remonstrate v To present a verbal or written protest to those who have power to right or prevent a wrong  
remunerate v To pay or pay for  
remuneration n Compensation  
Renaissance n The revival of letters, and then of art, which marks the transition from medieval to modern time  
rendezvous n A prearranged place of meeting  
rendition n Interpretation  
renovate v To restore after deterioration, as a building  
renunciation n An explicit disclaimer of a right or privilege  
reorganize v To change to a more satisfactory form of organization  
reparable adj Capable of repair  
reparation n The act of making amends, as for an injury, loss, or wrong  
repartee n A ready, witty, or apt reply  
repeal v To render of no further effect  
repel v To force or keep back in a manner, physically or mentally  
repellent adj Having power to force back in a manner, physically or mentally  
repentance n Sorrow for something done or left undone, with desire to make things right by undoing the wrong  
repertory n A place where things are stored or gathered together  
repetition n The act of repeating  
repine v To indulge in fretfulness and faultfinding  
replenish v To fill again, as something that has been emptied  
replete adj Full to the uttermost  
replica n A duplicate executed by the artist himself, and regarded, equally with the first, as an original  
repository n A place in which goods are stored  
reprehend v To find fault with  
reprehensible adj Censurable  
reprehension n Expression of blame  
repress v To keep under restraint or control  
repressible adj Able to be kept under restraint or control  
reprieve v To grant a respite from punishment to  
reprimand v To chide or rebuke for a fault  
reprisal n Any infliction or act by way of retaliation on an enemy  
reprobate n One abandoned to depravity and sin  
reproduce v To make a copy of  
reproduction n The process by which an animal or plant gives rise to another of its kind  
reproof n An expression of disapproval or blame personally addressed to one censured  
repudiate v To refuse to have anything to do with  
repugnance n Thorough dislike  
repugnant adj Offensive to taste and feeling  
repulse n The act of beating or driving back, as an attacking or advancing enemy  
repulsive adj Grossly offensive  
repute v To hold in general opinion  
requiem n A solemn mass sung for the repose of the souls of the dead  
requisite adj Necessary  
requital n Adequate return for good or ill  
requite v To repay either good or evil to, as to a person  
rescind v To make void, as an act, by the enacting authority or a superior authority  
reseat v To place in position of office again  
resemblance n Similarity in quality or form  
resent v To be indignant at, as an injury or insult  
reservoir n A receptacle where a quantity of some material, especially of a liquid or gas, may be kept  
residue n A remainder or surplus after a part has been separated or otherwise treated  
resilience n The power of springing back to a former position  
resilient adj Having the quality of springing back to a former position  
resistance n The exertion of opposite effort or effect  
resistant adj Offering or tending to produce resistance  
resistive adj Having or exercising the power of resistance  
resistless adj Powerless  
resonance n The quality of being able to reinforce sound by sympathetic vibrations  
resonance adj Able to reinforce sound by sympathetic vibrations  
resonate v To have or produce resonance  
resource n That which is restored to, relied upon, or made available for aid or support  
respite n Interval of rest  
resplendent adj Very bright  
respondent adj Answering  
restitution n Restoration of anything to the one to whom it properly belongs  
resumption n The act of taking back, or taking again  
resurgent adj Surging back or again  
resurrection n A return from death to life  
resuscitate v To restore from apparent death  
retaliate v To repay evil with a similar evil  
retch v To make an effort to vomit  
retention n The keeping of a thing within one's power or possession  
reticence n The quality of habitually keeping silent or being reserved in utterance  
reticent adj Habitually keeping silent or being reserved in utterance  
retinue n The body of persons who attend a person of importance in travel or public appearance  
retort n A retaliatory speech  
retouch v To modify the details of  
retrace v To follow backward or toward the place of beginning, as a track or marking  
retract v To recall or take back (something that one has said)  
retrench v To cut down or reduce in extent or quantity  
retrieve v To recover something by searching  
retroactive adj Operative on, affecting, or having reference to past events, transactions, responsibilities  
retrograde v To cause to deteriorate or to move backward  
retrogression n A going or moving backward or in a reverse direction  
retrospect n A view or contemplation of something past  
retrospective adj Looking back on the past  
reunite v To unite or join again, as after separation  
revelation n A disclosing, discovering, or making known of what was before secret, private, or unknown  
revere v To regard with worshipful veneration  
reverent adj Humble  
reversion n A return to or toward some former state or condition  
revert v To return, or turn or look back, as toward a former position or the like  
revile v To heap approach or abuse upon  
revisal n Revision  
revise v To examine for the correction of errors, or for the purpose of making changes  
revocation n Repeal  
revoke v To rescind  
rhapsody n Rapt or rapturous utterance  
rhetoric n The art of discourse  
rhetorician n A showy writer or speaker  
ribald adj Indulging in or manifesting coarse indecency or obscenity  
riddance n The act or ridding or delivering from something undesirable  
ridicule n Looks or acts expressing amused contempt  
ridiculous adj Laughable and contemptible  
rife adj Abundant  
righteousness n Rectitude  
rightful adj Conformed to a just claim according to established laws or usage  
rigmarole n Nonsense  
rigor n Inflexibility  
rigorous adj Uncompromising  
ripplet n A small ripple, as of water  
risible adj capable of exciting laughter  
rivulet n A small stream or brook  
robust adj Characterized by great strength or power of endurance  
rondo n A musical composition during which the first part or subject is repeated several times  
rookery n A place where crows congregate to breed  
rotary adj Turning around its axis, like a wheel, or so constructed as to turn thus  
rotate v To cause to turn on or as on its axis, as a wheel  
rote n Repetition of words or sounds as a means of learning them, with slight attention  
rotund adj Round from fullness or plumpness  
rudimentary adj Being in an initial, early, or incomplete stage of development  
rue v To regret extremely  
ruffian adj A lawless or recklessly brutal fellow  
ruminant adj Chewing the cud  
ruminate v To chew over again, as food previously swallowed and regurgitated  
rupture v To separate the parts of by violence  
rustic adj Characteristic of dwelling in the country  
ruth n Sorrow for another's misery  
sacrifice v To make an offering of to deity, especially by presenting on an altar  
sacrificial adj Offering or offered as an atonement for sin  
sacrilege n The act of violating or profaning anything sacred  
sacrilegious adj Impious  
safeguard v To protect  
sagacious adj Able to discern and distinguish with wise perception  
salacious adj Having strong sexual desires  
salience n The condition of standing out distinctly  
salient adj Standing out prominently  
saline adj Constituting or consisting of salt  
salutary adj Beneficial  
salutation n Any form of greeting, hailing, or welcome, whether by word or act  
salutatory n The opening oration at the commencement in American colleges  
salvage n Any act of saving property  
salvo n A salute given by firing all the guns, as at the funeral of an officer  
sanctimonious adj Making an ostentatious display or hypocritical pretense of holiness or piety  
sanction v To approve authoritatively  
sanctity n Holiness  
sanguinary adj Bloody  
sanguine adj Having the color of blood  
sanguineous adj Consisting of blood  
sapid adj Affecting the sense of taste  
sapience n Deep wisdom or knowledge  
sapient adj Possessing wisdom  
sapiential adj Possessing wisdom  
saponaceous adj Having the nature or quality of soap  
sarcasm n Cutting and reproachful language  
sarcophagus n A stone coffin or a chest-like tomb  
sardonic adj Scornfully or bitterly sarcastic  
satiate v To satisfy fully the appetite or desire of  
satire n The employment of sarcasm, irony, or keenness of wit in ridiculing vices  
satiric adj Resembling poetry, in which vice, incapacity ,or corruption is held up to ridicule  
satirize v To treat with sarcasm or derisive wit  
satyr n A very lascivious person  
savage n A wild and uncivilized human being  
savor v To perceive by taste or smell  
scabbard n The sheath of a sword or similar bladed weapon  
scarcity n Insufficiency of supply for needs or ordinary demands  
scholarly adj Characteristic of an erudite person  
scholastic adj Pertaining to education or schools  
scintilla n The faintest ray  
scintillate v To emit or send forth sparks or little flashes of light  
scope n A range of action or view  
scoundrel n A man without principle  
scribble n Hasty, careless writing  
scribe n One who writes or is skilled in writing  
script n Writing or handwriting of the ordinary cursive form  
Scriptural adj Pertaining to, contained in, or warranted by the Holy Scriptures  
scruple n Doubt or uncertainty regarding a question of moral right or duty  
scrupulous adj Cautious in action for fear of doing wrong  
scurrilous adj Grossly indecent or vulgar  
scuttle v To sink (a ship) by making holes in the bottom  
scythe n A long curved blade for mowing, reaping, etc  
seance n A meeting of spirituals for consulting spirits  
sear v To burn on the surface  
sebaceous adj Pertaining to or appearing like fat  
secant adj Cutting, especially into two parts  
secede v To withdraw from union or association, especially from a political or religious body  
secession n Voluntary withdrawal from fellowship, especially from political or religious bodies  
seclude v To place, keep, or withdraw from the companionship of others  
seclusion n Solitude  
secondary adj Less important or effective than that which is primary  
secondly adv In the second place in order or succession  
second-rate adj Second in quality, size, rank, importance, etc  
secrecy n Concealment  
secretive adj Having a tendency to conceal  
sedate adj Even-tempered  
sedentary adj Involving or requiring much sitting  
sediment n Matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid  
sedition n Conduct directed against public order and the tranquillity of the state  
seditious adj Promotive of conduct directed against public order and the tranquillity of the state  
seduce v To entice to surrender chastity  
sedulous adj Persevering in effort or endeavor  
seer n A prophet  
seethe v To be violently excited or agitated  
seignior n A title of honor or respectful address, equivalent to sir  
seismograph n An instrument for recording the phenomena of earthquakes  
seize v To catch or take hold of suddenly and forcibly  
selective adj Having the power of choice  
self-respect n Rational self-esteem  
semblance n Outward appearance  
semicivilized adj Half-civilized  
semiconscious adj Partially conscious  
semiannual adj Recurring at intervals of six months  
semicircle n A half-circle  
seminar n Any assemblage of pupils for real research in some specific study under a teacher  
seminary n A special school, as of theology or pedagogics  
senile adj Peculiar to or proceeding from the weakness or infirmity of old age  
sensation n A condition of mind resulting from spiritual or inherent feeling  
sense n The signification conveyed by some word, phrase, or action  
sensibility n Power to perceive or feel  
sensitive adj Easily affected by outside operations or influences  
sensorium n The sensory apparatus  
sensual adj Pertaining to the body or the physical senses  
sensuous adj Having a warm appreciation of the beautiful or of the refinements of luxury  
sentence n A related group of words containing a subject and a predicate and expressing a complete thought  
sentience n Capacity for sensation or sense-perception  
sentient adj Possessing the power of sense or sense-perception  
sentinel n Any guard or watch stationed for protection  
separable adj Capable of being disjoined or divided  
separate v To take apart  
separatist n A seceder  
septennial adj Recurring every seven years  
sepulcher n A burial-place  
sequacious adj Ready to be led  
sequel n That which follows in consequence of what has previously happened  
sequence n The order in which a number or persons, things, or events follow one another in space or time  
sequent adj Following in the order of time  
sequester v To cause to withdraw or retire, as from society or public life  
sequestrate v To confiscate  
sergeant n A non-commissioned military officer ranking next above a corporal  
sergeant-at-arms n An executive officer in legislative bodies who enforces the orders of the presiding officer  
sergeant-major n The highest non-commissioned officer in a regiment  
service n Any work done for the benefit of another  
serviceable adj Durable  
servitude n Slavery  
severance n Separation  
severely adv Extremely  
sextet n A band of six singers or players  
sextuple adj Multiplied by six  
sheer adj Absolute  
shiftless adj Wanting in resource, energy, or executive ability  
shrewd adj Characterized by skill at understanding and profiting by circumstances  
shriek n A sharp, shrill outcry or scream, caused by agony or terror  
shrinkage n A contraction of any material into less bulk or dimension  
shrivel v To draw or be drawn into wrinkles  
shuffle n A mixing or changing the order of things  
sibilance n A hissing sound  
sibilant adj Made with a hissing sound  
sibilate v To give a hissing sound to, as in pronouncing the letter s  
sidelong adj Inclining or tending to one side  
sidereal adj Pertaining to stars or constellations  
siege n A beleaguerment  
significance n Importance  
significant adj Important, especially as pointing something out  
signification n The meaning conveyed by language, actions, or signs  
similar adj Bearing resemblance to one another or to something else  
simile n A comparison which directs the mind to the representative object itself  
similitude n Similarity  
simplify v To make less complex or difficult  
simulate v Imitate  
simultaneous adj Occurring, done, or existing at the same time  
sinecure n Any position having emoluments with few or no duties  
singe v To burn slightly or superficially  
sinister adj Evil  
sinuosity n The quality of curving in and out  
sinuous adj Curving in and out  
sinus n An opening or cavity  
siren n A sea-nymph, described by Homer as dwelling between the island of Circe and Scylla  
sirocco n hot winds from Africa  
sisterhood n A body of sisters united by some bond of sympathy or by a religious vow  
skeptic n One who doubts any statements  
skepticism n The entertainment of doubt concerning something  
skiff n Usually, a small light boat propelled by oars  
skirmish n Desultory fighting between advanced detachments of two armies  
sleight n A trick or feat so deftly done that the manner of performance escapes observation  
slight adj Of a small importance or significance  
slothful adj Lazy  
sluggard n A person habitually lazy or idle  
sociable adj Inclined to seek company  
socialism n A theory of civil polity that aims to secure the reconstruction of society  
socialist adj One who advocates reconstruction of society by collective ownership of land and capital  
sociology n The philosophical study of society  
Sol n The sun  
solace n Comfort in grief, trouble, or calamity  
solar adj Pertaining to the sun  
solder n A fusible alloy used for joining metallic surfaces or margins  
soldier n A person engaged in military service  
solecism n Any violation of established rules or customs  
solicitor n One who represents a client in court of justice; an attorney  
solicitude n Uneasiness of mind occasioned by desire, anxiety, or fear  
soliloquy n A monologue  
solstice n The time of year when the sun is at its greatest declination  
soluble adj Capable of being dissolved, as in a fluid  
solvent adj Having sufficient funds to pay all debts  
somber adj Gloomy  
somniferous adj Tending to produce sleep  
somnolence n Oppressive drowsiness  
somnolent adj Sleepy  
sonata n An instrumental composition  
sonnet n A poem of fourteen decasyllabic or octosyllabiclines expressing two successive phrases  
sonorous adj Resonant  
soothsayer n One who claims to have supernatural insight or foresight  
sophism n A false argument understood to be such by the reasoner himself and intentionally used to deceive  
sophistical adj Fallacious  
sophisticate v To deprive of simplicity of mind or manner  
sophistry n Reasoning sound in appearance only, especially when designedly deceptive  
soprano n A woman's or boy's voice of high range  
sorcery n Witchcraft  
sordid adj Of degraded character or nature  
souvenir n A token of remembrance  
sparse adj Thinly diffused  
Spartan adj Exceptionally brave; rigorously severe  
spasmodic adj Convulsive  
specialize v To assume an individual or specific character, or adopt a singular or special course  
specialty n An employment limited to one particular line of work  
specie n A coin or coins of gold, silver, copper, or other metal  
species n A classificatory group of animals or plants subordinate to a genus  
specimen n One of a class of persons or things regarded as representative of the class  
specious adj Plausible  
spectator n One who beholds or looks on  
specter n Apparition  
spectrum n An image formed by rays of light or other radiant energy  
speculate v To pursue inquiries and form conjectures  
speculator n One who makes an investment that involves a risk of loss, but also a chance of profit  
sphericity n The state or condition of being a sphere  
spheroid n A body having nearly the form of a sphere  
spherometer n An instrument for measuring curvature or radii of spherical surfaces  
spinous adj Having spines  
spinster n A woman who has never been married  
spontaneous adj Arising from inherent qualities or tendencies without external efficient cause  
sprightly adj Vivacious  
spurious adj Not genuine  
squabble v To quarrel  
squalid adj Having a dirty, mean, poverty-stricken appearance  
squatter n One who settles on land without permission or right  
stagnant adj Not flowing: said of water, as in a pool  
stagnate v To become dull or inert  
stagnation n The condition of not flowing or not changing  
stagy adj Having a theatrical manner  
staid adj Of a steady and sober character  
stallion n An uncastrated male horse, commonly one kept for breeding  
stanchion n A vertical bar, or a pair of bars, used to confine cattle in a stall  
stanza n A group of rimed lines, usually forming one of a series of similar divisions in a poem  
statecraft n The art of conducting state affairs  
static adj Pertaining to or designating bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium  
statics n The branch of mechanics that treats of the relations that subsist among forces in order  
stationary adj Not moving  
statistician n One who is skilled in collecting and tabulating numerical facts  
statuesque adj Having the grace, pose, or quietude of a statue  
statuette n A figurine  
stature n The natural height of an animal body  
statute n Any authoritatively declared rule, ordinance, decree, or law  
stealth n A concealed manner of acting  
stellar adj Pertaining to the stars  
steppe n One of the extensive plains in Russia and Siberia  
sterling adj Genuine  
stifle v To smother  
stigma n A mark of infamy or token of disgrace attaching to a person as the result of evil-doing  
stiletto n A small dagger  
stimulant n Anything that rouses to activity or to quickened action  
stimulate v To rouse to activity or to quickened action  
stimulus n Incentive  
stingy adj Cheap, unwilling to spend money  
stipend n A definite amount paid at stated periods in compensation for services or as an allowance  
Stoicism n The principles or the practice of the Stoics-being very even tempered in success and failure  
stolid adj Expressing no power of feeling or perceiving  
strait n A narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water  
stratagem n Any clever trick or device for obtaining an advantage  
stratum n A natural or artificial layer, bed, or thickness of any substance or material  
streamlet n Rivulet  
stringency n Strictness  
stringent adj Rigid  
stripling n A mere youth  
studious adj Having or showing devotion to the acquisition of knowledge  
stultify v To give an appearance of foolishness to  
stupendous adj Of prodigious size, bulk, or degree  
stupor n Profound lethargy  
suasion n The act of persuading  
suave adj Smooth and pleasant in manner  
subacid adj Somewhat sharp or biting  
subaquatic adj Being, formed, or operating under water  
subconscious adj Being or occurring in the mind, but without attendant consciousness or conscious perception  
subjacent adj Situated directly underneath  
subjection n The act of bringing into a state of submission  
subjugate v To conquer  
subliminal adj Being beneath the threshold of consciousness  
sublingual adj Situated beneath the tongue  
submarine adj Existing, done, or operating beneath the surface of the sea  
submerge v To place or plunge under water  
submergence n The act of submerging  
submersible adj Capable of being put underwater  
submersion n The act of submerging  
submission n A yielding to the power or authority of another  
submittal n The act of submitting  
subordinate adj Belonging to an inferior order in a classification  
subsequent adj Following in time  
subservience n The quality, character, or condition of being servilely following another's behests  
subservient adj Servilely following another's behests  
subside v To relapse into a state of repose and tranquillity  
subsist v To be maintained or sustained  
subsistence n Sustenance  
substantive adj Solid  
subtend v To extend opposite to  
subterfuge n Evasion  
subterranean adj Situated or occurring below the surface of the earth  
subtle adj Discriminating  
subtrahend n That which is to be subtracted  
subversion n An overthrow, as from the foundation  
subvert v To bring to ruin  
succeed v To accomplish what is attempted or intended  
success n A favorable or prosperous course or termination of anything attempted  
successful adj Having reached a high degree of worldly prosperity  
successor n One who or that which takes the place of a predecessor or preceding thing  
succinct adj Concise  
succulent adj Juicy  
succumb v To cease to resist  
sufferance n Toleration  
sufficiency n An ample or adequate supply  
suffrage n The right or privilege of voting  
suffuse v To cover or fill the surface of  
suggestible adj That can be suggested  
suggestive adj Stimulating to thought or reflection  
summary n An abstract  
sumptuous adj Rich and costly  
superabundance n An excessive amount  
superadd v To add in addition to what has been added  
superannuate v To become deteriorated or incapacitated by long service  
superb adj Sumptuously elegant  
supercilious adj Exhibiting haughty and careless contempt  
superficial adj Knowing and understanding only the ordinary and the obvious  
superfluity n That part of anything that is in excess of what is needed  
superfluous adj Being more than is needed  
superheat v To heat to excess  
superintend v To have the charge and direction of, especially of some work or movement  
superintendence n Direction and management  
superintendent n One who has the charge and direction of, especially of some work or movement  
superlative n That which is of the highest possible excellence or eminence  
supernatural adj Caused miraculously or by the immediate exercise of divine power  
supernumerary adj Superfluous  
supersede v To displace  
supine adj Lying on the back  
supplant v To take the place of  
supple adj Easily bent  
supplementary adj Being an addition to  
supplicant n One who asks humbly and earnestly  
supplicate v To beg  
supposition n Conjecture  
suppress v To prevent from being disclosed or punished  
suppressible adj Capable of being suppressed  
suppression n A forcible putting or keeping down  
supramundane adj Supernatural  
surcharge n An additional amount charged  
surety n Security for payment or performance  
surfeit v To feed to fullness or to satiety  
surmise v To conjecture  
surmount v To overcome by force of will  
surreptitious adj Clandestine  
surrogate n One who or that which is substituted for or appointed to act in place of another  
surround v To encircle  
surveyor n A land-measurer  
susceptibility n A specific capability of feeling or emotion  
susceptible adj Easily under a specified power or influence  
suspense n Uncertainty  
suspension n A hanging from a support  
suspicious adj Inclined to doubt or mistrust  
sustenance n Food  
swarthy adj Having a dark hue, especially a dark or sunburned complexion  
Sybarite n A luxurious person  
sycophant n A servile flatterer, especially of those in authority or influence  
syllabic adj Consisting of that which is uttered in a single vocal impulse  
syllabication n Division of words into that which is uttered in a single vocal impulse  
syllable n That which is uttered in a single vocal impulse  
syllabus n Outline of a subject, course, lecture, or treatise  
sylph n A slender, graceful young woman or girl  
symmetrical adj Well-balanced  
symmetry n Relative proportion and harmony  
sympathetic adj Having a fellow-feeling for or like feelings with another or others  
sympathize v To share the sentiments or mental states of another  
symphonic adj Characterized by a harmonious or agreeable mingling of sounds  
symphonious adj Marked by a harmonious or agreeable mingling of sounds  
symphony n A harmonious or agreeable mingling of sounds  
synchronism n Simultaneousness  
syndicate n An association of individuals united for the prosecution of some enterprise  
syneresis n The coalescence of two vowels or syllables, as e'er for ever  
synod n An ecclesiastical council  
synonym n A word having the same or almost the same meaning as some other  
synopsis n A syllabus or summary  
systematic adj Methodical  
tableau n An arrangement of inanimate figures representing a scene from real life  
tacit adj Understood  
taciturn adj Disinclined to conversation  
tack n A small sharp-pointed nail  
tact n Fine or ready mental discernment shown in saying or doing the proper thing  
tactician n One who directs affairs with skill and shrewdness  
tactics n Any maneuvering or adroit management for effecting an object  
tangency n The state of touching  
tangent adj Touching  
tangible adj Perceptible by touch  
tannery n A place where leather is tanned  
tantalize v To tease  
tantamount adj Having equal or equivalent value, effect, or import  
tapestry n A fabric to which a pattern is applied with a needle, designed for ornamental hangings  
tarnish v To lessen or destroy the luster of in any way  
taut adj Stretched tight  
taxation n A levy, by government, of a fixed contribution  
taxidermy n The art or process of preserving dead animals or parts of them  
technic adj Technical  
technicality n Something peculiar to a particular art, trade, or the like  
technique n Manner of performance  
technography n The scientific description or study of human arts and industries in their historic development  
technology n The knowledge relating to industries and manufactures  
teem v To be full to overflowing  
telepathy n Thought-transference  
telephony n The art or process of communicating by telephone  
telescope v To drive together so that one slides into the another like the sections of a spy-glass  
telltale adj That gives warning or information  
temerity n Recklessness  
temporal adj Pertaining to or concerned with the affairs of the present life  
temporary adj Lasting for a short time only  
temporize v To pursue a policy of delay  
tempt v To offer to (somebody) an inducement to do wrong  
tempter n An allurer or enticer to evil  
tenacious adj Unyielding  
tenant n An occupant  
tendency n Direction or inclination, as toward some objector end  
tenet n Any opinion, principle, dogma, or doctrine that a person believes or maintains as true  
tenor n A settled course or manner of progress  
tense adj Strained to stiffness  
tentative adj Done as an experiment  
tenure n The term during which a thing is held  
tercentenary adj Pertaining to a period of 300 years  
termagant adj Violently abusive and quarrelsome  
terminal adj Pertaining to or creative of a boundary, limit  
terminate v To put an end or stop to  
termination n The act of ending or concluding  
terminus n The final point or goal  
terrify v To fill with extreme fear  
territorial adj Pertaining to the domain over which a sovereign state exercises jurisdiction  
terse adj Pithy  
testament n A will  
testator n The maker of a will  
testimonial n A formal token of regard, often presented in public  
thearchy n Government by a supreme deity  
theism n Belief in God  
theocracy n A government administered by ecclesiastics  
theocrasy n The mixed worship of polytheism  
theologian n A professor of divinity  
theological adj Based on or growing out of divine revelation  
theology n The branch of theological science that treats of God  
theoretical adj Directed toward knowledge for its own sake without respect to applications  
theorist n One given to speculating  
theorize v To speculate  
thereabout adv Near that number, quantity, degree, place, or time, approximately  
therefor adv For that or this  
thermal adj Of or pertaining to heat  
thermoelectric adj Denoting electricity produced by heat  
thermoelectricity n Electricity generated by differences of temperature,  
thesis n An essay or treatise on a particular subject  
thoroughbred adj Bred from the best or purest blood or stock  
thoroughfare n A public street or road  
thrall n One controlled by an appetite or a passion  
tilth n Cultivation  
timbre n The quality of a tone, as distinguished from intensity and pitch  
timorous adj Lacking courage  
tincture n A solution, usually alcoholic, of some principle used in medicine  
tinge n A faint trace of color  
tipsy adj Befuddled with drinks  
tirade n Harangue  
tireless adj Untiring  
tiresome adj Wearisome  
Titanic adj Of vast size or strength  
toilsome adj Laborious  
tolerable adj Moderately good  
tolerance n Forbearance in judging of the acts or opinions of others  
tolerant adj Indulgent  
tolerate v To passively permit or put up with  
toleration n A spirit of charitable leniency  
topography n The art of representing on a map the physical features of any locality or region with accuracy  
torpor n Apathy  
torrid adj Excessively hot  
tortious adj Wrongful  
tortuous adj Abounding in irregular bends or turns  
torturous adj Marked by extreme suffering  
tractable adj Easily led or controlled  
trait n A distinguishing feature or quality  
trajectory n The path described by a projectile moving under given forces  
trammel n An impediment  
tranquil adj Calm  
tranquilize v To soothe  
tranquility n Calmness  
transalpine adj Situated on the other side of the Alps  
transact v To do business  
transatlantic adj Situated beyond or on the other side of the Atlantic  
transcend v To surpass  
transcendent adj Surpassing  
transcontinental adj Extending or passing across a continent  
transcribe v To write over again (something already written)  
transcript n A copy made directly from an original  
transfer v To convey, remove, or cause to pass from one person or place to another  
transferable adj Capable of being conveyed from one person or place to another  
transferee n The person to whom a transfer is made  
transference n The act of conveying from one person or place to another  
transferrer n One who or that which conveys from one person or place to another  
transfigure v To give an exalted meaning or glorified appearance to  
transfuse v To pour or cause to pass, as a fluid, from one vessel to another  
transfusible adj Capable of being poured from one vessel to another  
transfusion n The act of pouring from one vessel to another  
transgress v To break a law  
transience n Something that is of short duration  
transient n One who or that which is only of temporary existence  
transition n Passage from one place, condition, or action to another  
transitory adj Existing for a short time only  
translate v To give the sense or equivalent of in another language or dialect  
translator n An interpreter  
translucence n The property or state of allowing the passage of light  
translucent adj Allowing the passage of light  
transmissible adj That may e sent through or across  
transmission n The act of sending through or across  
transmit v To send trough or across  
transmute v To change in nature, substance, or form  
transparent adj Easy to see through or understand  
transpire v To come to pass  
transplant v To remove and plant in another place  
transposition n The act of reversing the order or changing the place of  
transverse adj Lying or being across or in a crosswise direction  
travail n Hard or agonizing labor  
travesty n A grotesque imitation  
treacherous adj Perfidious  
treachery n Violation of allegiance, confidence, or plighted faith  
treasonable adj Of the nature of betrayal, treachery, or breech of allegiance  
treatise n An elaborate literary composition presenting a subject in all its parts  
treble adj Multiplied by three  
trebly adv Triply  
tremendous adj Awe-inspiring  
tremor n An involuntary trembling or shivering  
tremulous adj Characterized by quivering or unsteadiness  
trenchant adj Cutting deeply and quickly  
trepidation n Nervous uncertainty of feeling  
trestle n An open braced framework for supporting the horizontal stringers of a railway-bridge  
triad n A group of three persons of things  
tribune n Any champion of the rights and liberties of the people: often used as the name for a newspaper  
trickery n Artifice  
tricolor adj Of three colors  
tricycle n A three-wheeled vehicle  
trident n The three-pronged fork that was the emblem of Neptune  
triennial adj Taking place every third year  
trimness n Neatness  
trinity n A threefold personality existing in the one divine being or substance  
trio n Three things grouped or associated together  
triple adj Threefold  
triplicate adj Composed of or pertaining to three related things or parts  
triplicity n The state of being triple or threefold  
tripod n A three-legged stand, usually hinged near the top, for supporting some instrument  
trisect v To divide into three parts, especially into three equal parts  
trite adj Made commonplace by frequent repetition  
triumvir n One of three men united coordinately in public office or authority  
trivial adj Of little importance or value  
troublesome adj Burdensome  
truculence n Ferocity  
truculent adj Having the character or the spirit of a savage  
truism n A statement so plainly true as hardly to require statement or proof  
truthful adj Veracious  
turgid adj Swollen  
turpitude n Depravity  
tutelage n The act of training or the state of being under instruction  
tutelar adj Protective  
tutorship n The office of a guardian  
twinge n A darting momentary local pain  
typical adj Characteristic  
typify v To serve as a characteristic example of  
typographical adj Pertaining to typography or printing  
typography n The arrangement of composed type, or the appearance of printed matter  
tyrannical adj Despotic  
tyranny n Absolute power arbitrarily or unjustly administrated  
tyro n One slightly skilled in or acquainted with any trade or profession  
ubiquitous adj Being present everywhere  
ulterior adj Not so pertinent as something else to the matter spoken of  
ultimate adj Beyond which there is nothing else  
ultimatum n A final statement or proposal, as concerning terms or conditions  
ultramundane adj Pertaining to supernatural things or to another life  
ultramontane adj Beyond the mountains, especially beyond the Alps (that is, on their Italian side)  
umbrage n A sense of injury  
unaccountable adj Inexplicable  
unaffected adj Sincere  
unanimous adj Sharing the same views or sentiments  
unanimity n The state or quality of being of one mind  
unavoidable adj Inevitable  
unbearable adj Unendurable  
unbecoming adj Unsuited to the wearer, place, or surroundings  
unbelief n Doubt  
unbiased adj Impartial, as judgment  
unbridled adj Being without restraint  
uncommon adj Rare  
unconscionable adj Ridiculously or unjustly excessive  
unconscious adj Not cognizant of objects, actions, etc  
unction n The art of anointing as with oil  
unctuous adj Oily  
undeceive v To free from deception, as by apprising of the real state of affairs  
undercharge v To make an inadequate charge for  
underexposed adj Insufficiently exposed for proper or full development, as negatives in photography  
undergarment n A garment to be worn under the ordinary outer garments  
underman v To equip with less than the full complement of men  
undersell v To sell at a lower price than  
undersized adj Of less than the customary size  
underhanded adj Clandestinely carried on  
underlie v To be the ground or support of  
underling n A subordinate  
undermine v To subvert in an underhand way  
underrate v To undervalue  
understate v To fail to put strongly enough, as a case  
undervalue v To underestimate  
underworld n Hades  
underwrite v To issue or be party to the issue of a policy of insurance  
undue adj More than sufficient  
undulate v To move like a wave or in waves  
undulous adj Resembling waves  
unfavorable adj Adverse  
ungainly adj Clumsy  
unguent n Any ointment or lubricant for local application  
unicellular adj Consisting of a single cell  
univalence n Monovalency  
unify v To cause to be one  
unique adj Being the only one of its kind  
unison n A condition of perfect agreement and accord  
unisonant adj Being in a condition of perfect agreement and accord  
Unitarian adj Pertaining to a religious body that rejects the doctrine of the Trinity  
unlawful adj Illegal  
unlimited adj Unconstrained  
unnatural adj Artificial  
unnecessary adj Not essential under the circumstances  
unsettle v To put into confusion  
unsophisticated adj Showing inexperience  
unspeakable adj Abominable  
untimely adj Unseasonable  
untoward adj Causing annoyance or hindrance  
unutterable adj Inexpressible  
unwieldy adj Moved or managed with difficulty, as from great size or awkward shape  
unwise adj Foolish  
unyoke v To separate  
up-keep n Maintenance  
upbraid v To reproach as deserving blame  
upcast n A throwing upward  
upheaval n Overthrow or violent disturbance of established order or condition  
upheave v To raise or lift with effort  
uppermost adj First in order of precedence  
uproarious adj Noisy  
uproot v To eradicate  
upturn v To throw into confusion  
urban adj Of, or pertaining to, or like a city  
urbanity n Refined or elegant courtesy  
urchin n A roguish, mischievous boy  
urgency n The pressure of necessity  
usage n Treatment  
usurious adj Taking unlawful or exorbitant interest on money loaned  
usurp v To take possession of by force  
usury n The demanding for the use of money as a loan, a rate of interest beyond what is allowed by law  
utilitarianism n The ethical doctrine that actions are right because they are useful or of beneficial tendency  
utility n Fitness for some desirable practical purpose  
utmost n The greatest possible extent  
vacate v To leave  
vaccinate v To inoculate with vaccine virus or virus of cowpox  
vacillate v To waver  
vacuous adj Empty  
vacuum n A space entirely devoid of matter  
vagabond n A wanderer  
vagrant n An idle wanderer  
vainglory n Excessive, pretentious, and demonstrative vanity  
vale n Level or low land between hills  
valediction n A bidding farewell  
valedictorian n Student who delivers an address at graduating exercises of an educational institution  
valedictory n A parting address  
valid adj Founded on truth  
valorous adj Courageous  
vapid adj Having lost sparkling quality and flavor  
vaporizer n An atomizer  
variable adj Having a tendency to change  
variance n Change  
variant n A thing that differs from another in form only, being the same in essence or substance  
variation n Modification  
variegate v To mark with different shades or colors  
vassal n A slave or bondman  
vaudeville n A variety show  
vegetal adj Of or pertaining to plants  
vegetarian n One who believes in the theory that man's food should be exclusively vegetable  
vegetate v To live in a monotonous, passive way without exercise of the mental faculties  
vegetation n Plant-life in the aggregate  
vegetative adj Pertaining to the process of plant-life  
vehement adj Very eager or urgent  
velocity n Rapid motion  
velvety adj Marked by lightness and softness  
venal adj Mercenary, corrupt  
vendible adj Marketable  
vendition n The act of selling  
vendor n A seller  
veneer n Outside show or elegance  
venerable adj Meriting or commanding high esteem  
venerate v To cherish reverentially  
venereal adj Pertaining to or proceeding from sexual intercourse  
venial adj That may be pardoned or forgiven, a forgivable sin  
venison n The flesh of deer  
venom n The poisonous fluid that certain animals secrete  
venous adj Of, pertaining to, or contained or carried in a vein or veins  
veracious adj Habitually disposed to speak the truth  
veracity n Truthfulness  
verbatim adv Word for word  
verbiage n Use of many words without necessity  
verbose adj Wordy  
verdant adj Green with vegetation  
verification n The act of proving to be true, exact, or accurate  
verify v To prove to be true, exact, or accurate  
verily adv In truth  
verity n Truth  
vermin n A noxious or troublesome animal  
vernacular n The language of one's country  
vernal adj Belonging to or suggestive of the spring  
versatile adj Having an aptitude for applying oneself to new and varied tasks or to various subjects  
version n A description or report of something as modified by one's character or opinion  
vertex n Apex  
vertical adj Lying or directed perpendicularly to the horizon  
vertigo n Dizziness  
vestige n A visible trace, mark, or impression, of something absent, lost, or gone  
vestment n Clothing or covering  
veto n The constitutional right in a chief executive of refusing to approve an enactment  
vicarious adj Suffered or done in place of or for the sake of another  
viceroy n A ruler acting with royal authority in place of the sovereign in a colony or province  
vicissitude n A change, especially a complete change, of condition or circumstances, as of fortune  
vie v To contend  
vigilance n Alert and intent mental watchfulness in guarding against danger  
vigilant adj Being on the alert to discover and ward off danger or insure safety  
vignette n A picture having a background or that is shaded off gradually  
vincible adj Conquerable  
vindicate v To prove true, right, or real  
vindicatory adj Punitive  
vindicative adj Revengeful  
vinery n A greenhouse for grapes  
viol n A stringed instrument of the violin class  
viola n A musical instrument somewhat larger than a violin  
violator n One who transgresses  
violation n Infringement  
violoncello n A stringed instrument held between the player's knees  
virago n A bold, impudent, turbulent woman  
virile adj Masculine  
virtu n Rare, curious, or beautiful quality  
virtual adj Being in essence or effect, but not in form or appearance  
virtuoso n A master in the technique of some particular fine art  
virulence n Extreme poisonousness  
virulent adj Exceedingly noxious or deleterious  
visage n The face, countenance, or look of a person  
viscount n In England, a title of nobility, ranking fourth in the order of British peerage  
vista n A view or prospect  
visual adj Perceptible by sight  
visualize v To give pictorial vividness to a mental representation  
vitality n The state or quality of being necessary to existence or continuance  
vitalize v To endow with life or energy  
vitiate v To contaminate  
vituperable adj Deserving of censure  
vivacity n Liveliness  
vivify v To endue with life  
vivisection n The dissection of a living animal  
vocable n a word, especially one regarded in relation merely to its qualities of sound  
vocative adj Of or pertaining to the act of calling  
vociferance n The quality of making a clamor  
vociferate v To utter with a loud and vehement voice  
vociferous adj Making a loud outcry  
vogue n The prevalent way or fashion  
volant adj Flying or able to fly  
volatile adj Changeable  
volition n An act or exercise of will  
volitive adj Exercising the will  
voluble adj Having great fluency in speaking  
voluptuous adj having fullness of beautiful form, as a woman, with or without sensuous or sensual quality  
voracious adj Eating with greediness or in very large quantities  
vortex n A mass of rotating or whirling fluid, especially when sucked spirally toward the center  
votary adj Consecrated by a vow or promise  
votive adj Dedicated by a vow  
vulgarity n Lack of refinement in conduct or speech  
vulnerable adj Capable of receiving injuries  
waif n A homeless, neglected wanderer  
waistcoat n A vest  
waive v To relinquish, especially temporarily, as a right or claim  
wampum n Beads strung on threads, formerly used among the American Indians as currency  
wane v To diminish in size and brilliancy  
wantonness n Recklessness  
warlike adj Belligerent  
wavelet n A ripple  
weak-kneed adj Without resolute purpose or energy  
weal n Well-being  
wean v To transfer (the young) from dependence on mother's milk to another form of nourishment  
wearisome adj Fatiguing  
wee adj Very small  
well-bred adj Of good ancestry  
well-doer n A performer of moral and social duties  
well-to-do adj In prosperous circumstances  
whereabouts n The place in or near which a person or thing is  
whereupon adv After which  
wherever adv In or at whatever place  
wherewith n The necessary means or resources  
whet v To make more keen or eager  
whimsical adj Capricious  
whine v To utter with complaining tone  
wholly adv Completely  
wield v To use, control, or manage, as a weapon, or instrument, especially with full command  
wile n An act or a means of cunning deception  
winsome adj Attractive  
wintry adj Lacking warmth of manner  
wiry adj Thin, but tough and sinewy  
witchcraft n Sorcery  
witless adj Foolish, indiscreet, or silly  
witling n A person who has little understanding  
witticism n A witty, brilliant, or original saying or sentiment  
wittingly adv With knowledge and by design  
wizen v To become or cause to become withered or dry  
wizen-faced adj Having a shriveled face  
working-man n One who earns his bread by manual labor  
workmanlike adj Like or befitting a skilled workman  
workmanship n The art or skill of a workman  
wrangle v To maintain by noisy argument or dispute  
wreak v To inflict, as a revenge or punishment  
wrest v To pull or force away by or as by violent twisting or wringing  
wretchedness n Extreme misery or unhappiness  
writhe v To twist the body, face, or limbs or as in pain or distress  
writing n The act or art of tracing or inscribing on a surface letters or ideographs  
wry adj Deviating from that which is proper or right  
yearling n A young animal past its first year and not yet two years old  
zealot n One who espouses a cause or pursues an object in an immoderately partisan manner  
zeitgeist n The intellectual and moral tendencies that characterize any age or epoch  
zenith n The culminating-point of prosperity, influence, or greatness  
zephyr n Any soft, gentle wind  
zodiac n An imaginary belt encircling the heavens within which are the larger planets  

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