Barrons 4800+ List Alphabetical PDF

1  academic related to a school; not practical or directly useful  abase lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make...

1  academic related to a school; not practical or directly useful  abase lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make  accede agree (oneself) lose self-respect  accelerate move faster ♠ abash embarrass  accessible easy to approach; obtainable ♠ abate subside or moderate  accessory additional object; useful but not essential  abbreviate shorten thing  abdicate renounce; give up (position, right, or responsi-  acclaim applaud; praise; greet with great approval; an- bility) nounce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has  aberrant abnormal or deviant been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise  aberration deviation from the normal; mental disorder  acclimate adjust to climate or environment; adapt ♠ abet assist usually in doing something wrong; encour- age ♠ acclivity sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity ♠ abeyance suspended action  accolade award of merit; strong praise and approval  abhor detest; hate ♥ merit good quality deserving praise; merits: aspect of character or behavior deserving approval or disap-  abject (of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; proval; Ex. judge each plan on its own merits; V: de- lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self- serve; earn respect; Ex. abject apology ♥ demerit fault; bad quality  abjure renounce upon oath ♥ earn gain for the performance of service or labor; gain  ablution washing (something that one deserves); deserve  abnegation renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation  accommodate oblige or help someone; adjust or bring  abolish cancel; put an end to into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. ac- commodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging  abominate loathe; hate  abominable detestable; extremely unpleasant  accomplice partner in crime  aboriginal being the first of its kind in a region; primi-  accord agreement tive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine  accost approach and speak first to a person  abortive unsuccessful; fruitless ♠ accoutre equip; N. accoutrement  abrasive rubbing away; tending to grind down  accretion growth or increase in size by gradual addi-  abridge condense or shorten tion; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex.  abrogate abolish towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete ♠ abscission cutting off; separation  accrue come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from  abscond depart secretly and hide scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank ac-  absolute complete; totally unlimited; having complete count; N. accrual power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; ♠ acerbity bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: CF. absolutism bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)  absolve pardon (an offense) ♥ bitter having a sharp biting taste;  H; causing sharp   abstain refrain; withhold from participation; intention- pain to the body or mind; filled with resentment, dis- ally not use one’s vote; l  ¶ Ý  appointment, or other unpleasant feelings; Ex. bitter wind/sorrow/tears  abstemious sparing in eating and drinking; temperate ♥ biting sharply painful to the body or mind; Ex. biting  abstinence restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or wind/remarks drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote ♠ acetic vinegary  abstract theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational ♠ acidulous slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; ♥ representational (of a style of art) showing things as caustic they actually appear in real life  acknowledge recognize; admit  abstruse obscure; profound; difficult to understand ♠ acme peak; pinnacle; highest point  abusive coarsely insulting; physically harmful  acoustics science of sound; quality that makes a room ♠ abut border upon; adjoin easy or hard to hear in  abysmal bottomless  acquiesce assent; agree passively; comply without  abyss enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit protest 1  acquittal deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from  adorn decorate a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct  adroit skillful (in using mind or hand) (oneself) in a specified manner ♠ acrid bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pun- gent 2  adulation flattery; admiration that is more than is nec- ♠ acrimonious stinging; caustic; bitter in words or man- essary or deserved ner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior  adulterate make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances  acrophobia fear of heights  advent arrival  actuarial calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics  adventitious accidental; casual; happening by chance  actuary someone who advises insurance companies  adversary opponent; enemy ♠ actuate motivate; activate; cause to act  adverse going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile  acuity sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)  adversity great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event  acumen mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; abil- ity to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen ♠ advert refer  acute (of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen;  advocacy support; active pleading on behalf of some- penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of one or something smell/analysis/pain  advocate speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); ♠ adage wise saying; proverb urge; plead for ♥ proverb adage; someone or something well known for ♠ aegis shield; protection; defense notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ♠ aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry) nest of a large bird of prey ADV. proverbially  aesthetic artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciat-  adamant hard; inflexible ing the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete;  adapt make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; CF. aesthetics modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composi-  affable easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly tion recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption friendly of a short novel.  affected artificial; pretended ♠ addendum addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)  affidavit written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)  addiction compulsive habitual need  affiliation joining; associating with ♠ addle make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)  affinity feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages  address direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or dis- cuss; direct one’s efforts or attention to; make with a  affirmation positive assertion; confirmation; solemn destination; N: formal speech pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive dis-  adept expert at; very skilled crimination  adhere stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: ad-  affliction state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suf- hering; devotion; loyality fering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on  adherent supporter; follower  affluence abundance; wealth  adjacent adjoining; neighboring; close by  affront insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: ♥ adjoin be next to insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally ♥ adjourn suspend until a later time; move from one place ♠ agape openmouthed to another ♠ agenda items of business at a meeting  adjunct something attached to but holding an inferior ♠ agglomeration collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather position into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass;  adjuration solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; heap enjoin solemnly  aggrandize make greater; increase in power, wealth, ♠ adjutant staff officer assisting the commander; assistant rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement  aggregate sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or  admonish warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; re- whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dol- prove lars ♥ adore love deeply and respect highly  aghast filled with great surprise or fear; horrified 2  agility nimbleness; ability to move quickly  ambidextrous capable of using either hand with equal ease  agitate stir up; disturb  agnostic one who is skeptical of the existence or knowa-  ambience environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant bility of a god or any ultimate reality with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature ♠ agog highly excited; intensely curious  ambiguous unclear or doubtful in meaning; having  agrarian pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrar- more than one possible interpretation ian reform  ambivalence the state of having contradictory or con-  alacrity cheerful promptness without reluctance flicting emotional attitudes or opinions  alchemy medieval chemistry  amble walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk ♠ alcove nook; recess slowly and aimlessly  alias an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to ♠ ambrosia food of the gods mislead people); ADV. alias ♥ nectar drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees  alienate make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate;  ambulatory able to walk change the ownership of  ameliorate improve  alimentary supplying nourishment ♠ alimony payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after  amenable obedient; compliant; readily managed; re- divorce sponsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable  allay calm; pacify to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex.  allege state without proof amenable to the usual tests  allegiance loyalty  amend correct; change ; generally for the better ♠ allegory story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable 3  alleviate relieve (pain)  amenities convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies  alliteration repetition of beginning sound in poetry  amiable agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly  allocate assign; set apart for a particular purpose ♥ earmark set aside (money or time) for a particular pur-  amicable peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; pose Ex. amicable settlement  alloy mixture as of metals; something added that low- ♠ amiss wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV. ers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower  amity friendship; peaceful relationship as between na- in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture tions with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. un- alloyed happiness  amnesia loss of memory  allude refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference  amnesty pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)  allure entice; attract; tempt  amoral nonmoral; having no understanding of right ♥ siren apparatus for making sounds; womanlike crea- and wrong ture  amorous moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love;  alluvial pertaining to soil deposits left by running water Ex. amorous advances  amorphous formless; lacking shape or definition ♠ aloof apart; not open in one’s relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.  amphibian able to live both on land and in water; N. ♠ aloft upward; high up in the air  amphitheater oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena  altercation noisy quarrel ♠ ample enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex.  altruistic unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; being ample; abundance; largeness of space unselfishness; OP. egoism ♠ amalgamate (of societies or groups) combine; unite in  amplify increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or one body clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. am- plify one’s remarks with a graph ♠ amalgam combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in ♠ amputate cut off part of body; prune (a limb) teeth ♠ amok(amuck) in a state of rage; Ex. run amok ♠ amass collect (gradually, in a very large amount) ♠ amulet charm; talisman; an object worn believed to pro-  amazon female warrior tect against evil, bad luck 3  anachronism an error involving time in a story; some-  antagonism hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: thing or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist ♠ analgesic causing insensitivity to pain; N. ♥ analgesia condition of being unable to feel pain ♥ protagonist leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief character in a play or story  analogous comparable; similar  antecede precede  analogy similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things  antecedents preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background  anarchist person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority  antediluvian antiquated; extremely ancient  anarchy absence of governing body; state of disorder ♠ anthem song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national an- them ♠ anathema solemn curse; someone or something re- garded as a curse; V. anathematize ♠ anthology book of literary selections by various au- thors; CF. omnibus  ancestry family descent; ADJ. ancestral  anthropoid manlike; resembling a human being; N.  anchor secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. an- chorage  anthropologist student of the history and science of hu- mankind  ancillary serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.  anthropomorphic having human form or characteris-  anecdote short story of an amusing or interesting event tics  anticlimax letdown in thought or emotion; something  anemia condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after ADJ. anemic something important or exciting  anesthetic substance that removes sensation with or  antidote remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia antidote to the economic troubles  anguish acute pain; extreme suffering  antipathy aversion; dislike or opposition  angular sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded ♠ antiquated obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner ♥ antique made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N:  animadversion critical remark; V. animadvert: com- object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare ment critically with disapproval or valuable  animated lively; spirited ♥ antiquity quality of being very old; ancient times; “ ¦@/  animosity active enmity  antiseptic substance that prevents infection in a wound; ♠ animus hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; ADJ. disposition  antithesis contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. anti-  annals records arranged in yearly parts; history thetic or antithetical  anneal reduce brittleness and improve toughness by ♥ antler bony growth on the head of a deer heating and cooling (metal or glass) ♠ anvil iron block used in hammering out metals  annex attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit  apathy lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or in- (by force); N: building added to a large one terest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic  annihilate destroy ♠ ape imitate or mimic (a person’s behavior or manner)  annotate comment; make explanatory notes ♠ aperture opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera  annuity yearly allowance that limits the amount of light  annul make void ♠ apex tip; summit; climax; highest point ♥ elope run away secretly with the intention of getting  aphasia loss of speech due to injury or illness married  aphorism pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic : ♠ anodyne drug that relieves pain or trouble; ” x] Ÿ j; opi- ate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement ♠ apiary a place where bees are kept  anoint consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony) ♥ hive box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive  anomalous abnormal; irregular ♥ apiculture bee-keeping  anomaly irregularity ♥ apiarist person who keeps bees  anonymity state of being nameless; anonymousness; ♠ aplomb poise; composure in difficult situations; assur- ADJ. anonymous ance; self-confidence 4 ♥ poise good judgment with composure; balance; V: place  arbitrary unreasonable or capricious; random; tyranni- in a carefully balanced position cal; Ex. arbitrary ruler  apocalyptic prophetic; pertaining to revelations espe-  arbitrate act as judge (at the request of both sides) cially of disaster; N. apocalypse ♠ arboretum place where different trees and shrubs are ♠ apocryphal (of a story) widely believed but untrue studied and exhibited  apogee highest point; the point farthest from the earth; ♥ arboreal of or living in trees OP. perigee  arcade a covered passageway usually lined with shops ♠ apolitical having an aversion or lack of concern for po- litical affairs  arcane esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to ♠ apologist one who writes in defense of a cause or insti- the uninitiated listener tution; N. apologia  archaeology study of artifacts and relics of early ♠ apoplexy stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too mankind much blood in the brain ♠ archaic antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the ♠ apostate one who abandons his religious faith or politi- past; N. cal beliefs; N. apostasy ♠ archetype prototype; primitive pattern ♠ apothecary druggist; pharmacist  arch- chief; first; Ex. archbishop 4 ♠ archipelago group of closely located islands ♠ apothegm(apophthegm) pithy, compact saying ♠ archives public records; place where public records are kept ♠ apotheosis elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something  ardor heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent  appall dismay; shock deeply ♠ arduous hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work  apparition ghost; phantom ♠ argot slang; speech spoken by only a small group of  appease pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. people appeasement  aria operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an ♠ appellation name; title opera or oratorio  append attach ♠ arid (of land) dry; barren; unproductive ♠ application diligent attention; diligence; V. apply one-  aristocracy hereditary nobility; privileged class; gov- self ernment by nobility; N. aristocrat  apposite appropriate; fitting  armada fleet of warships  appraise estimate value of; N. appraisal  aromatic fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell  appreciate be thankful for; increase in worth; be thor- oughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be  arraign charge in court; indict felt; Ex. appreciable difference ♠ array marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order;  apprehend arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. ap- clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; prehension Ex. in battle array ♠ apprehensive fearful; discerning  arrears being in debt; money that should have been  apprise inform paid; work that should have been done  approbation approval ♠ arrhythmic lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia  appropriate acquire; take possession of for one’s own use without permission; set aside for a particular pur-  arrogance pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleas- pose; allocate; CF. misappropriate antly self-important (with a strong confidence in one’s own importance and a lack of respect for other people) ♠ appurtenances subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing ♠ arroyo gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater ♠ apropos with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apro- ♥ artery blood-vessel; CF. vein pos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.  articulate effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly;  aptitude fitness; talent having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pro- ♠ aquiline curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. nounce clearly; unite by joints aquiline nose  arsenal storage place for military equipment ♠ arable fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land  artifacts object made by human beings, either hand-  arbiter person with power to decide a matter in dis- made or mass-produced pute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judg- ments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware ♠ artifice deception; trickery 5  artisan a manually skilled worker ♠ artless without guile; open and honest 5 ♠ astral relating to the stars  ascendancy controlling influence; position of control- ling influence; CF. in the ascendant  astringent binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent  ascertain find out for certain; make certain criticism  ascetic practicing self-denial; avoiding physical plea-  astronomical enormously large or extensive sures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism  astute wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one’s advantage  ascribe refer; attribute; assign ♠ asunder into parts; apart; V. sunder  aseptic preventing infection; having a cleansing effect  asylum place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious ♠ ashen ash-colored; deadly pale or political) ♠ asinine stupid; Ex. asinine remarks  asymmetric not identical on both sides of a dividing ♠ askance with a sideways or indirect look (with disap- central line proval or distruct); Ex. look askance at ♠ atavism resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to ♠ askew crookedly; slanted; at an angle parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ.  asperity sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or atavistic weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter  atheistic denying the existence of God; N. atheism  aspersion slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on  atone make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for  aspirant seeker after position or status  atrocity brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious  aspire seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex.  atrophy wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the lead- muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use) ership  assail assault  attentive alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. ♠ assay analyze (to discover what materials are present); attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; evaluate (soil or ore) N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration  assent agree; accept; N. assessment  attenuate make thin; weaken ♠ assert state strongly or positively; demand recognition  attest testify; bear witness of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful ac- tion); Ex. assert one’s independence  attribute essential quality; V: ascribe; explain  assiduous diligent  attrition rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force with-  assimilate absorb; take (food) into the body and digest out firing employees; wearing away of opposition by it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the peo- ple of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or think- ♠ atypical not normal; not typical ing)  audacious daring; bold; N. audacity  assuage mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy  audit examination of accounts of a business; official ex- (hunger); soothe (anger) amination; V.  assumption something taken for granted; the taking  augment increase; add to over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume ♠ augury omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. au- ♥ regent a person who governs in place of a ruler who is gur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future) ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent  assurance firm statement that something is certainly  august impressive; majestic true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one’s ♠ aureole sun’s corona; halo; bright circle of light own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his as- surances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his ♠ auroral pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of australis his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure;  auspicious favoring success; giving signs of future suc- make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) cess; Cf. auspices feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one’s own ability; showing certainty  austere forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a  asteroid small planet monk’s austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathe- ♠ astigmatism eye defect which prevents proper focus; dral; N. austerity OP. stigmatism  authenticate prove genuine 6  authoritarian subordinating the individual to the state; ♠ badinage teasing conversation; banter; joking talk completely dominating another’s will; Ex. authoritarian  baffle frustrate; perplex regime/father ♠ bait harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food  authoritative having the weight of authority; regarded or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictio- ♠ baleful evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; hav- nary/manner; CF. definitive ing a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look  autocratic having absolute unchecked power; dictato- rial; N. autocrat, autocracy ♠ balk stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate  automaton mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself ♠ ballast heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast  autonomous self-governing; N. autonomy ♠ balm something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a  autopsy examination of a dead body; postmortem; V. pleasant smell from trees  auxiliary offering or providing help; additional or sub- ♥ pang sudden sharp feeling of pain sidiary; N: helper; assistant ♠ balmy soft and mild (of air); fragrant  avalanche great mass of falling snow and ice  banal hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking original-  avarice greediness for wealth ity; clichéd  avenge take vengence for something or on behalf of ♠ bandy discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They words with avenged themselves on their enemy.  bane posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poi-  aver state confidently; declare as true sonous  averse reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex.  bantering joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. averse to cats/doing the house work banter  aversion firm dislike  barb sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other ob-  avert prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. ject; openly cutting remark An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight. 6  aviary enclosure for birds; large cage ♠ bard poet ♠ avid greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. ♠ barefaced shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; un- avidity concealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced  avocation secondary or minor occupation lie  avow declare openly; N. avowal ♥ unregenerate making no attempt to change one’s bad practices  avuncular of or like an uncle ♠ baroque highly ornate  awe solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with won- der and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome  barrage barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelm- ing profusion; large number of questions or statements; ♥ awful terrible; very bad Ex. a barrage of criticism ♠ awl pointed tool used for piercing  barrister counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court ♠ awry distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone of law; CF. bar awry. ♥ solicitor lawyer in the lower court of law  axiom self-evident truth requiring no proof  barterer trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for ♠ azure sky blue other goods rather than money ♠ babble chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous ♠ bask luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; ♥ luxuriate take pleasure in great comfort N. ♠ bastion stronghold; something seen as a source of pro- ♠ bacchanalian drunken tection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism ♥ bacchanal noisy party with a lot of drinking ♠ bate let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; ♥ Bacchanalia the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bac- Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate chus ♠ bauble trinket; cheap jewel; trifle ♠ badger pester; annoy continually with demands; per- ♠ bawdy indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny suade by asking again and again; Ex. The children bad- way; CF. bawd gered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal ♠ beatific giving or showing bliss; blissful 7 ♥ bliss complete happiness; ADJ. blissful  benign kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor ♠ beatitude blessedness; state of great happiness  benison blessing ♥ mystic of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism  bent determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the busi- ness; N: natural talent or inclination ♠ bedizen dress with vulgar finery  bequeath leave to someone by means of a will; hand ♥ finery beautiful clothes for a special occasion down in his will; N. bequest ♠ bedraggle wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled ♠ berate scold strongly ♠ beeline direct quick route ♠ bereavement state of being deprived of something ♠ befuddle confuse thoroughly valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft ♥ fuddle make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused ♠ bereaved deprived of (someone beloved through death)  beget father; become the father of; produce; give rise to ♠ begrudge envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. ♠ bereft deprived of (something valuable); lacking We shouldn’t begrudge him his success. ♠ berserk mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly ex- ♥ grudge deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V. cited ♠ beguile deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time  beseech beg; plead with pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile ♠ beset harass or trouble from all directions; hem in ♠ behemoth huge creature; something of monstrous size ♥ hem surround tightly so that movement is impossible; or power Ex. hem in; N. ♠ beholden obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or  besiege surround with armed forces; harass (with re- indebted from gratitude quests); annoy continually ♠ behoove(behove) be suited to; be incumbent upon; be ♠ besmirch soil; defile; make dirty right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do. ♠ bestial beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel ♠ belabor harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over  bestow confer excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically ♠ betoken signify; indicate; be a sign of ♠ belated delayed ♥ token outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude ♠ beleaguer besiege or attack (with an army); harass; be- ♠ betray be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwill- set ingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety. ♠ belie contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. ♠ betroth become engaged to marry The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile be- ♠ bevy large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets lies her true feeling of displeasure.  bicameral two-chambered as a legislative body  belittle disparage; depreciate  bicker quarrel  bellicose warlike  biennial every two years  belligerent quarrelsome ♠ bifurcated divided into two branches; forked ♠ bemoan lament; moan for; express sorrow or disap- proval of ♠ bigotry stubborn intolerance ♠ bemused confused; lost in thought; preoccupied ♥ bigot one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or pol- itics)  benediction blessing ♥ intolerant not willing to accept ways of thinking differ-  benefactor gift giver; patron; person who does good or ent from one’s own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate who gives money for a good purpose ♠ bilious suffering from indigestion; sick from having too  beneficent kindly; doing good much bile; irritable; easily irritated  beneficial helpful; useful; advantageous ♠ bilk swindle; cheat  beneficiary person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an ♠ billowing swelling out in waves; surging insurance policy or will ♥ billow large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of ♠ benefit advantage; anything that brings helpl, advan- smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows tage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. un- ♥ swell long wave of water that moves continuously employment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; without breaking; V. give benefits ♥ surge powerful movement of or like a wave; V.  benevolent generous; charitable; having a wish to do ♠ bivouac temporary encampment; camp without tents; good V. 8  bizarre fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; ♥ bombast grandiloquent, pompous speech strikingly unconventional ♠ boon blessing; benefit; something very helpful ♠ blanch bleach; whiten; make white or pale ♠ boorish rude; insensitive ♠ bland soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no ♥ boor rude, insensitive person trouble or offence ♠ bouillon clear beef (or meat) soup ♠ blandishment flattery ♠ bountiful generous; graciously generous; showing ♠ blare loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of bounty light ♥ gracious kind in a generous way (to someone less im- ♥ screech unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V. portant) ♥ dazzle make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze;  bourgeois middle class; selfishly materialistic; too inter- fill with wonder ested in material possessions ♠ blasé bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested  bovine cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm or bored ♠ bowdlerize expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler ♠ blasphemy irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad lan- guage about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blas- ♠ brackish somewhat saline phemous; CF. sacrilege ♠ braggadocio boasting ♠ blatant extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offen- ♥ brag boast sive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy ♠ braggart boaster; bragger ♠ bleak cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing ♠ brandish wave around (a weapon); flourish ♠ blighted suffering from a disease; destroyed ♠ bravado swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery ♥ blight plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy ♥ swagger walk or behave with an over-confident manner ♠ blithe(blithesome) gay; joyous ♠ bloated (unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water ♠ brawn human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness or air ♥ brawny muscular; having well-developed muscles ♠ blowhard talkative boaster; braggart ♥ sturdy strong and firm (in the body) ♠ bludgeon club; heavy-headed weapon; V. ♠ brazen insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: ♠ bluff pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confi- rough but good-natured dence 7 ♥ brawl noisy quarrel ♠ breach breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap;  blunder error; stupid mistake opening; V. ♠ blurt utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement  breadth width; extent  brevity conciseness; shortness of duration ♠ bluster blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, ♠ brindled tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of an- gale imals) ♥ bully one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V. ♥ tawny brownish yellow  bode foreshadow; portend ♠ bristling rising like bristles; showing irritation  bogus counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. ♥ bristle short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly bogus interview ♠ brittle hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. ♠ bohemian unconventional (in an artistic way) brittle situation  boisterous violent; rough; noisy ♠ broach introduce as a subject; moot; open up ♠ bolster support; reinforce ♠ brocade rich, figured(patterned) fabric ♠ bolt door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric;  brochure pamphlet large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten (a door); ♠ brooch ornamental clasp; pin gobble down ♥ clasp hold firmly within arms ♥ dart move or throw suddenly and quickly ♠ brook tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: ♥ gobble eat very quickly small stream ♠ bombardment attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. ♠ browbeat bully; intimidate bombard ♠ browse graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at ♠ bombastic pompous; using inflated language casually 9 ♥ graze (of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an ♠ cajole persuade by praise or false promise; coax; whee- animal) to feed on grass; scrape (esp. the skin) or touch dle lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can’t graze the cattle ♥ coax persuade by flattery till summer; N: surface wound  calamity disaster; misery ♥ skim read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid  calculated deliberately planned; likely ♠ brunt main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. ♠ caldron(cauldron) large kettle brunt of the argument ♠ caliber ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round ♠ brusque blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber being nice  calligraphy beautiful writing; excellent penmanship ♠ buccaneer pirate ♠ callous hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the ♠ bucolic rustic; pastoral sufferings of others; unkind ♠ buffet strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table ♥ callus area of thick hard skin with food set out for people to server themselves; meal ♠ callow youthful; immature; inexperienced at which people help themselves to food that’s been set ♠ calorific heat-producing; N. calorie ♥ slap hit quickly with the flat part of the hand; N. CF.  calumny malicious misrepresentation; slander smack ♠ camaraderie good-fellowship; CF. comrade ♠ buffoonery clowning ♠ cameo shell or jewel carved in relief; star’s special ap- ♥ buffoon stupid person; clown pearance in a minor role in a film ♥ clown act stupidly; play the fool; N. ♠ canard unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report ♠ bugaboo bugbear; object of baseless terror ♠ bullion gold and silver in the form of bars ♠ candor frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid ♠ bulwark strong wall built for defense; earthwork or ♠ canine related to dogs; doglike other strong defense; person who defends ♠ canker any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer ♠ bungle mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by ♥ ulcer sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside clumsy behavior the body; Ex. stomach ulcer; ADJ. ulcerous; V. ulcerate ♥ botch mismanage; blow ♠ canny shrewd in money matters; thrifty  buoyant able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoy- ♠ cant insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of ancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market thieves; special words used by a particular group of people  bureaucracy overregulated administrative system  cantankerous ill-humored; irritable marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic ♠ cantata story set to music to be sung by a chorus ♠ burgeon grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. (shorter than an oratorio) burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon ♠ canter slow gallop; V. CF. trot ♠ burlesque give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly 8 ♠ burnish make shiny by rubbing; polish ♠ canto division of a long poem ♠ buttress support; prop up; N. stationary structure to ♠ canvass determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go support wall; Ex. flying buttress through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a ♥ prop support placed under or against something; V. survey; N. ♠ buxom full-bosomed; plump; jolly  capacious spacious ♥ plump pleasantly fat; nicely rounded ♠ capacity mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as ♠ cabal small group of persons secretly united to promote president their own interests ♠ capillary having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine  cache hiding place; V. and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hair-  cacophonous discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: like tube; CF. capillarity unpleasant mixture of loud sounds ♠ capitulate surrender; give up all resistance  cadaver corpse; dead human body  caprice whim; sudden change of mind without any real  cadaverous like a corpse; pale cause  capricious unpredictable; fickle ♠ cadence rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm  caption title; chapter heading; text under illustration 10 ♠ captious faultfinding; too critical ♠ catechism book for religious instruction in question- and-answer form; religious instruction by question and ♠ carafe glass water bottle; decanter answer; V. catechize ♠ carapace shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise,  categorical without exceptions; made without any crab, etc.) doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute ♠ carat(karat) unit of weight for precious stones; measure ♥ qualify reach a necessary standard; limit the meaning of the purity of gold of something stated ♠ carcinogenic causing cancer; N. carcinogen  catharsis purging or cleansing of any passage of the ♠ cardinal chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal num- body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a ber: number that shows quantity rather thatn order result of experiencing a dramatic work of art  cardiologist doctor specializing in ailments of the heart  cathartic purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ. ♠ careen lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregu- ♠ catholic (of likings and interests) universal; general; lar swinging movement; stagger broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes ♥ career rush wildly; go at full speed ♠ caucus private meeting of a group of people in a polit- ♥ sway swing from side to side; influence (someone) to ical party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the change one’s opinion; N. Caucus club of Boston  caricature distortion; burlesque ♠ caulk(calk) make watertight (by blocking up cracks as  carillon a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being in a ship) played  causal implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N.  carnage destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large causality numbers of people or animals  caustic burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical ac-  carnal fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the tion; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; body bitter; harmful; OP. harmless  carnivorous meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore ♠ cauterize burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent ♠ carousal drunken revel; V. carouse infection ♠ carping petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complain- ♠ cavalcade procession of riders or horse-drawn car- ing; quibble riages; parade; CF. cavalry ♠ carrion rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture ♠ cavalier casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight ♠ cartographer map-maker ♠ cavil quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault un-  cascade small waterfall necessarily ♠ caste one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; so- ♠ cede yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); cial stratification; prestige surrender formally; N. cession  castigation punishment; severe criticism or disapproval  celerity speed; rapidity  celestial heavenly  casualty serious or fatal accident; person killed or ♥ hereafter life after death wounded in an accident or battle ♥ afterlife life after death; later part of one’s life ♥ casual happening by chance; irregular; occasional; in- formal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual ♠ celibate abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; reader/labor/remark N. celibacy ♠ cataclysm deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and  censor (in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking sudden event or change the census); person who eliminates inappropriate mat- ter; V. ♠ catalyst agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catal- ♠ censorious severely critical ysis  censure blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N:  catapult slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from cata- severe criticism; strong disapproval pult  centaur mythical figure, half man and half horse ♥ hurl throw forcefully; shout out violently  centigrade denoting a widely used temperature scale ♠ cataract great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a (basically same as Celsius) gradual loss of eyesight)  centrifugal radiating; departing from the center  catastrophe calamity ; disaster  centrifuge machine that separates substances by whirling them ♠ catcall shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.  centripetal tending toward the center 11  centurion Roman army officer (commanding a com- ♠ cherubic angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. ser- pany of about 100 soldiers) aph: winged angel of the highest order  cerebral pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual ♠ chicanery trickery; deception rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum ♠ chide scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)  cerebration thought; working of the brain ♠ chimerical fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; ♠ ceremonious marked by formality; extremely formal N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy ♥ unceremonious not done politely without due formali- ♠ chisel swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting ties ♥ chip lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: ♠ certitude certainty small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato  cessation stoppage chip/crisp ♠ cession yielding to another; ceding  chivalrous courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry ♠ chafe warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N. ♠ choleric hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera ♠ chaff worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the ♠ choreography art of representing dances in written wheat from the chaff symbols; arrangement of dances ♠ chaffing bantering; joking ♥ chore daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task ♠ chagrin annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride) ♠ chortle chuckle with delight; N. ♠ chalice goblet; consecrated cup ♥ chuckle laugh quietly  chameleon lizard that changes color in different situa-  chronic long established as a disease tions  chronicle report; record (in chronological order) 9 ♠ churlish boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo ♠ ciliated having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eye-  champion support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, lash person, etc.)  cipher nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret ♥ championship position of champion; defense or sup- code; V. port; competition held to determine a champion  circlet small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn  chaotic in utter disorder on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)  charisma divine gift; great popular charm or appeal;  circuitous roundabout magnetism ♥ circuit closed circular line around an area; circumfer- ♠ charlatan quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in ence; regularly repeated journey from place to place medicine)  circumlocution indirect or roundabout expression (by ♠ chary cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or re- using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. strained about giving; OP. bold when trying to avoid answering a difficult question di- rectly) ♠ chase ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch  circumscribe limit; confine; draw a line around  chasm abyss; very deep crack ♠ circumspect prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought ♠ chassis framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached  circumvent outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around  chaste morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sex- ual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not ♠ cistern reservoir or water tank highly decorated; austere  citadel fortress ♠ chasten discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. casti-  cite quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official gate record ♠ chastise punish as by beating; criticize severely  civil having to do with citizens; not military or reli-  chauvinist blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of gious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil cere- a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvin- mony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic ism; Nicolas Chauvin  check stop motion; curb or restrain  clairvoyant having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoy- ance ♠ checkered(chequered) marked by great changes in for- tune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: hav- ♥ hindsight understanding the nature of an event after it ing a pattern of squares has actually happened 12 ♠ clamber climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble ♠ codicil supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will  clamor loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make  codify arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; code: system of words used instead of ordinary writ- ADJ. clamorous ing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs  clandestine secret  coercion use of force to get someone to object; com- ♥ chaperon older person who accompanies and super- pelling; V. coerce vises a young unmarried woman ♠ coeval living at the same time as; existing during the ♠ clangor loud resounding noise; sound of repeated same period of time; contemporary; of the same age clanging ♠ clapper striker (tongue) of a bell ♠ cog tooth projecting from a wheel ♥ clap strike the palms of the hands together with a sud-  cogent convincing den explosive sound; come together suddenly with a  cogitate think over; ponder sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in  cognate having a common origin; related linguistically; jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate ♠ clarion shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used languages; N. in former times  cognitive having to do with knowing or perceiving re-  claustrophobia fear of being locked in lated to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental ♠ clavicle collarbone process of knowing ♥ scrimmage disorderly fight between two or more peo-  cognizance knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowl- ple edge; aware  cleave split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. ♠ cohabit live together cleavage; ADJ. cloven  cohere stick together ♠ cleft N: split  cohesion tendency to keep together ♠ clemency disposition to be lenient in deciding punish- ♠ cohorts group of people who share some common qual- ments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement ity; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 sol-  cliché phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; plati- diers under one commander (in the ancient Rome) tude; ADJ. clichéd ♠ coiffure hairstyle ♥ bromide platitude; chemical compound used to calm  coin make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); excitement N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented ♠ clientele body of customers  coincidence the chance occurrence, at the same time, of  climactic relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. cli- two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: matic happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coinci- dent; CF. coincidental ♠ clime climate ♠ colander utensil with perforated bottom used for strain- ♠ clique small exclusive group of people ing  cloister monastery or convent ♠ clout great influence (especially political or social); hard 10 blow with fist  collaborate work together; cooperate treasonably with  cloying distasteful (because excessive); excessively the enemy sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant ♠ collage work of art put together from fragments through too much sweetness or excess ♥ scrap small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; ♠ coagulate congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for ♥ clot half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V. disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel ♥ pudding hot sweet dish ♥ scraps leftover food  coalesce combine; fuse; N. coalescence ♥ scrappy quarrelsome  coalition partnership; league; union of separate politi-  collate examine and compare in order to verify authen- cal parties ticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound) ♠ coda concluding section of a musical or literary compo- sition  collateral security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; de- scended from the same person but through different ♠ coddle treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mol- sons or daughters lycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs ♠ collation a light meal; collating 13  colloquial pertaining to conversational or common  compendium brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expres- compendious sion  compensatory making up for; repaying  colloquy informal discussion; conversation  compilation listing of information in tabular or book  collusion conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or form; compiling deceive others; V. collude  compile assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report  colossal huge or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary  colossus gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance  complacency self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. compla- cent ♠ comatose in a coma; extremely sleepy ♥ smug self-satisfied; complacent ♥ coma deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by dis- ease, poison, or a severe blow  complaisant trying to please; obliging; willing to please others  combustible easily burned; N. CF. combustion  complement complete; consummate; make perfect; N.  comely attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appear- ance  complementary serving to complete something ♥ homely not good-looking; unattractive  compliance conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V.  comestible something fit to be eaten comply ♠ comeuppance deserts; well-deserved punishment or  compliant readily acting in accordance with a rule, or- misfortune; rebuke der, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to ♥ deserts what someone deserves requirements ♠ comity courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations  complicity participation; involvement (in a question-  commandeer take (private property) for military use able act or a crime) without needing permission or giving payment; draft  component element; ingredient for military purposes ♠ comport bear one’s self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; ♥ draft first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a N. comportment draft of; conscript ♥ deport send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, ♥ draught current of air (through a room or to a fire); act deportment of pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of ♥ bearing deportment; connection liquid swallowed at a time  composure mental calmness ♠ commemorative remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp  compound combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. ♥ commemorate honor the memory of; serve as a memo- compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more rial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area en- who died in the war closed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex.  commensurate equal in extent; of the same size factory compound; CF. complex  commiserate feel or express pity or sympathy for  comprehensive broad; including a lot or everything;  commodious spacious and comfortable thorough; inclusive ♠ communal held in common; public; of a group of peo- ♥ comprehend include; understand ple; of a commune  compress force into less space; squeeze; contract; put ♥ commune small (often rural) community whose mem- into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part bers share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, feelings; Ex. commune with nature etc.  compact agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm;  comprise include; consist of brief; concise; Ex. compact statement ♠ compromise adjust or settle by making mutual conces-  compatible harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist sions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into together danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. com- promise one’s principle; N.  compelling overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one’s attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a  compunction remorse; strong uneasiness caused by compelling adventure story; V. compel guilt ♥ compulsion compelling; strong desire that is difficult to  compute reckon; calculate control; irresistible impulse ♥ reckon count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose ♥ compulsory obligatory; that must be done  concatenate link as in a chain ♥ compulsive resulting from compulsion  concave hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex 14  concede admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluc- ♥ confidential spoken or written in secret; trusted with tantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal private matters; Ex. confidential secretary  conceit vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one’s  confine shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry) limits; N. confinement ♥ vain full of self-admiration; conceited; without result;  confiscate seize; take possession of (private property) unsuccessful; N. vanity by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer  concentric having a common center  conception beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization;  conflagration great fire V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become  confluence flowing together; the place where two rivers pregnant; CF. inception flow together; crowd; gathering together ♠ concerted mutually agreed on; done together by agree-  conformity harmony; agreement with established rules ment; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working to- or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; gether V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex.  concession an act of yielding; conceding; something conform to the rule; CF. conformance conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege ♥ conformist person who uncritically conforms to the of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil con- customs of a group; OP. nonconformist: one who does cessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire not conform to accepted beliefs of norms  conciliatory reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: recon- cile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing ♠ confound confuse; puzzle anger)  congeal freeze; coagulate  concise brief and compact  congenial pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one’s ♠ conclave private secret meeting tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather  conclusive decisive; ending all debate  congenital existing at birth  concoct prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction 11  conglomeration mass of material sticking together ♥ conglomerate corporation made up of several different  concomitant that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a companies in diversified fields; mass of various material frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or hap- gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held pening together with something else together by clay; V.  concord harmony; accord  congruence correspondence of parts; harmonious rela- ♥ concordat formal agreement tionship; CF. congruity  concur agree; coincide; happen at the same time  congruent in agreement; harmonious; corresponding;  concurrent happening at the same time; in agreement coinciding exactly; CF. congruous  condescend (derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior ♠ conifer pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; air; descend to the level of one considered inferior ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen  condign adequate; (of punishment) severe and well de-  conjecture surmise; guess; V. served  conjugal pertaining to marriage  condiments seasonings; spices  conjure cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or  condole express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very for someone who has experienced great sorrow quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring  condone overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.  conducive helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. con- duce to/towards  connivance pretense of ignorance of something wrong;  conduit aqueduct; passageway for fluids assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign igno- rance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal ac- ♠ confidant(confidante) trusted friend (to whom one tells tion; conspire one’s secret)  connoisseur person competent to act as a judge of art, ♥ confide tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art confident about  connotation suggested or implied meaning of an ex- ♥ confidence self-assurance; calm unworried feeling pression; V. connote based on a strong belief in one’s abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a per-  connubial pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial son or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence state in your ability; Ex. I’m telling you this in confidence; ♥ matrimony state of being married Ex. exchange confidences about their boyfriends; ADJ. confident ♥ patrimony property inherited from a father 15  consanguinity kinship; relationship by birth ♥ drastic strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures ♥ consanguineous(consanguine) having a common an- cestor  contaminate pollute  conscientious scrupulous; through and careful; Ex.  contempt scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. con- conscientious worker temptible  conscript draftee; person forced into military service; V.  contend struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly  consecrate dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. con-  contention assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competi- secrate one’s life to helping the poor tion  consensus general agreement; opinion reached by a ♥ thesis opinion put forward and supported by reasoned group arguments ♥ boost lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N:  consequential self-important; significant; consequent; push upward; increase following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subse- quent  contentious quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments  conservatory(conservatoire) school of the fine arts (es- pecially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. con-  contest dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete servancy for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. con- test a seat in Parliament; N.  consign send to a person or place for sale; deliver of- ficially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart  context writings preceding and following the passage (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs consignee  contiguous adjacent to; touching upon  consistency absence of contradictions; uniformity; de- ♠ continence self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual absti- gree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick nence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel func- cream; CF. viscous tions; ADJ. continent  console lessen sadness or disappointment; give com- ♠ contingent dependent on something uncertain or in the fort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contin-  consolidation unification; process of becoming firmer