abacus: frame with balls for calculating 
abase: lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect  
abash: embarrass  
abate: to lessen, to subside 
abbreviate: shorten  
abdicate: renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)  
abdication: giving up control, authority 
abdomen: stomach and bowels 
aberrant: abnormal or deviant 
aberration: straying away from what is normal 
abet: help/encourage somebody (in doing wrong) 
abeyance: suspended action 
abhor: to hate, to detest 
abide: be faithful to; endure 
abject: wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect 
abjure: promise or swear to give up 
ablution: washing  
abnegation: renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation  
abode: dwelling place; home  
abolish: cancel; put an end to  
abominable: detestable; extremely unpleasant  
aboriginal: being the first of its kind in a region 
abortive: unsuccessful; fruitless 
abraded: rubbed off, worn away by friction 
abrasion: rubbing, scraping, wearing off 
abridge: condense or shorten  
abrogate: repeal or annul by authority 
abscission: cutting off; separation  
abscond: to go away suddenly (to avoid arrest) 
absolute: complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative 
absolve: pardon (an offense)  
abstemious: temperate; sparing in drink, etc. 
abstinence: restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking 
abstract: theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational  
abstruse: difficult to comprehend; obscure 
abundant: plentiful 
abusive: coarsely insulting; physically harmful  
abut: border on 
abysmal: bottomless, extreme 
abyss: enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit  
academic: related to a school; not practical or directly useful  
acarpous: effete, no longer fertile, worn out 
accede: agree  
accelerate: move faster  
accentuate: give more force or attention to 
accessory: additional object; useful but not essential thing 
acclaimed: welcomed with shouts and approval 
acclimate: adjust to climate or environment; adapt  
acclivity: sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity  
accolade: praise, approval 
accommodate: oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for 
accomplice: partner in crime  
accord: agreement  
accost: approach and speak first to a person  
accouter: equip; N. accoutrement  
accretion: the growing of separate things into one 
accrue: come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition 
acerbity: bitterness of speech and temper 
acetic: vinegary 
acidulous: slightly sour; sharp; caustic 
acknowledge: recognize; admit  
acme: peak; pinnacle; highest point  
acne: skin disease (on the face)  
acoustics: science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in  
acquiesce in: agree (without protest) 
acquisition: something acquired, acquiring 
acquittal: deliverance from a charge 
acrid: sharp; bitterly pungent 
acrimonious: stinging; caustic 
acrophobia: fear of heights  
actuarial: calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics 
actuary: someone who advises insurance companies  
actuate: motivate; activate; cause to act  
acuity: sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)  
acumen: mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well 
acute: sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe 
adage: wise saying; proverb  
adamant: kind of stone; inflexible 
adapt: make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust 
addendum: addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)  
addiction: compulsive habitual need 
addle: rotten; muddled; crazy 
address: direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination 
adept: expert at 
adhere: remain faithful, stick fast to 
adhesion: adhering, support 
adipose: fatty 
adjacent: lying near, next 
adjoin: be next to  
adjourn: suspend until a later time; move from one place to another  
adjunct: something attached to but holding an inferior position  
adjuration: solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly  
adjutant: staff officer assisting the commander; assistant  
admonish: warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove  
admonitory: containing warning 
adore: love deeply and respect highly  
adorn: add beauty; decorate 
adroit: skillful 
adulation: flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved  
adulteration: making impure, poorer in quality 
advent: arrival  
adventitious: accidental; casual 
adversary: opponent; enemy  
adverse: unfavorable; hostile 
adversity: great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event  
advert: refer  
advocacy: support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something  
advocate: speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for 
aegis: shield; protection; defense  
aerie: nest of a large bird of prey  
aesthetic: artistic; dealing with or capable off appreciation of the beautiful 
affable: polite and friendly 
affected: artificial; pretended 
affidavit: written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)  
affiliation: joining; associating with  
affinity: close connection, relationship 
affirmation: positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath 
affliction: state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; 
affluence: abundance; wealth  
affront: insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect 
afterlife: life after death; later part of one's life 
agape: openmouthed 
agenda: items of business at a meeting  
agglomeration: collection; heap 
aggrandize: make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor 
aggravate: make worse; irritate 
aggregate: sum; total 
aghast: horrified 
agile: active, quick-moving 
agility: nimbleness; ability to move quickly  
agitate: stir up; disturb  
agnostic: one who is skeptical of the existence or know ability of a god or any ultimate reality  
agog: eager/excited 
agrarian: pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform  
ail: trouble; be ill 
airy: of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal  
alacrity: eager and cheerful readiness 
albeit: although 
alchemy: medieval chemistry 
alcove: recess/partially enclosed place 
alias: an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias  
alienate: estrange 
alimentary: supplying nourishment 
alimony: payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce  
allay: calm; pacify  
allege: state without proof 
allegiance: duty, support, loyalty 
allegory: story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable 
alleviate: make (pain) easier to bear 
alliteration: repetition of beginning sound in poetry  
allocate: assign; set apart for a particular purpose  
alloy: to debase by mixing with something inferior 
allude: refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference  
allure: entice; attract; tempt  
alluvial: pertaining to soil deposits left by rivers, etc. 
alms: money or goods given to the poor  
aloft: upward; high up in the air  
aloof: reserved, indifferent 
altercation: noisy quarrel  
altruistic: unselfishly generous; concerned for others 
amalgam: combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth  
amalgamate: mix, combine, unite societies 
amass: collect (gradually, in a very large amount)  
amazon: female warrior 
ambidextrous: able to use the left hand or the right equally well 
ambience: environment; atmosphere 
ambiguous: doubtful, uncertain 
ambivalent: having both of two contrary meanings 
amble: walking at an easy unhurried pace 
ambrosia: food of the gods  
ambulatory: able to walk 
ambush: act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position 
ameliorate: improve, make better 
amenable: readily managed; willing to be led 
amend: correct; change ; generally for the better  
amendment: improving 
amenities: convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies  
amiable: agreeable; lovable 
amicable: friendly 
amiss: wrong; faulty 
amity: friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations  
amnesia: loss of memory  
amnesty: pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)  
amoral: nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong  
amorous: moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love 
amorphous: shapeless 
amortize: end (a debt) by setting aside money 
amphibian: able to live both on land in water 
amphitheater: oval building with tiers of seats 
ample: abundant 
amplify: make large or fuller, increase the strength 
amputate: cut off part of body; prune (a limb)  
amuck: in a state of rage 
amulet: charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck  
anachronism: an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time 
analgesia: condition of being unable to feel pain  
analgesic: causing insensitivity to pain 
analogous: comparable 
analogy: similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things  
anarchist: person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority  
anarchy: absence of governing body; state of disorder  
anathema: solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse 
ancestry: family descent; ADJ. ancestral  
anchor: secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place 
ancillary: serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary 
anecdote: short story of an amusing or interesting event  
anemia: condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles 
anesthetic: substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness 
anguish: severe suffering 
angular: sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner  
animadversion: critical remark 
animated: lively 
animosity: strong dislike 
animus: hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition  
annals: records arranged in yearly parts; history  
anneal: reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass) 
annex: attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force) 
annihilate: destroy  
annotate: comment; make explanatory notes  
annuity: yearly allowance  
annul: put an end to 
anodyne: drug that relieves pain or trouble; opiate 
anoint: consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)  
anomalous: abnormal; irregular 
anomaly: irregularity  
anonymous: having no name 
antagonism: hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy 
antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in opposition to the protagonist  
antecede: precede  
antecedents: preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background  
antediluvian: antiquated; ancient 
anthem: song of praise or patriotism 
anthology: book of literary selections by various authors 
anthropoid: manlike 
anticlimax: sudden fall 
antidote: medicine used against a poison or a disease 
antipathy: aversion; dislike or opposition  
antiquated: obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated  
antique: made in an earlier period and usually valuable 
antiquity: quality of being very old; ancient times 
antiseptic: substance that prevents infection in a wound 
antithetical: direct opposing 
antler: bony growth on the head of a deer  
anvil: iron block used in hammering out metals  
apartheid: brutal racial discrimination 
apathetic: indifference 
apathy: lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters 
ape: imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)  
aperture: opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light  
apex: tip; summit; climax; highest point  
aphasia: loss of speech due to injury or illness  
aphorism: pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic  
apiarist: person who keeps bees  
apiary: a place where bees are kept  
apiculture: bee-keeping  
aplomb: self-confidence 
apocalyptic: prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster 
apocryphal: not genuine; sham 
apogee: highest point; the point farthest from the earth 
apolitical: having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs  
apologist: one who writes in defense of a cause or institution 
apoplexy: stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain  
apostate: one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions 
apothecary: druggist; pharmacist  
apothegm: pithy, compact saying  
apotheosis: deification, glorification to godliness 
appall: dismay; shock deeply  
apparent: evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such 
apparition: ghost; phantom  
appease: make quiet or calm 
appellation: name; title  
append: attach  
application: diligent attention; diligence 
apposite: appropriate; fitting 
appraise: estimate value of 
appreciate: be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of 
apprehend: arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive 
apprehensive: grasping, understanding; fear, unhappy feeling about future 
apprise: give notice to, inform 
approbation: approval 
appropriate: take for one's own use, acquire, set aside 
appurtenances: subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing  
apropos: appropriate to the situation; apt 
apt: well-suited, quick-witted 
aptitude: fitness; talent  
aquiline: curved; hooked 
arabesque: a complex, ornate design 
arabesque: whimsical 
arable: fit for plowing 
arbiter: person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position to make influential judgments 
arbitrary: unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler  
arbitrate: decide by arbitration 
arboreal: of connected with trees 
arboretum: place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited  
arcade: a covered passageway usually lined with shops  
arcane: esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated 
archaeology: study of artifacts and relics of early mankind  
archaic: antiquated 
archetype: prototype; primitive pattern  
archipelago: group of closely located islands  
archives: public records; place where public records are kept  
ardently: with full of ardor 
ardor: enthusiasm 
arduous: steep, difficult ascent; laborious 
argot: jargon, slang 
aria: operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio  
arid: (of land) dry; barren; unproductive  
aristocracy: hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility 
armada: fleet of warships  
aromatic: fragrant 
arraign: charge in court; indict  
arrant: in the highest degree 
array: marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn 
arrears: being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done 
arrhythmic: lacking rhythm or regularity 
arrogance: proud, superior manner of behavior 
arroyo: gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater  
arsenal: storage place for military equipment  
artery: blood-vessel 
artful: exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning 
articulate: speak distinctly, connect by joints 
artifacts: object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced  
artifice: deception; trickery  
artisan: a manually skilled worker  
artless: without guile; open and honest  
ascend: go or come up 
ascendancy: controlling influence; position of controlling influence 
ascent: the act of ascending 
ascertain: get to know 
ascetic: practicing self-denial, austere, stark 
ascribe: consider to be the origin of or belonging to 
aseptic: surgically clean 
ashen: ash-colored 
asinine: stupid  
askance: with a sideways or indirect look  
askew:: crookedly; slanted; at an angle 
asperity: roughness, harshness, ill temper, irritability 
aspersion: slander 
aspirant: seeker after position or status  
aspire: seek to attain (position or status); long for 
assay: analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)  
assent: agree; accept; N. assessment  
assert: state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action) 
asset: valuable quality, smth that has money value 
assiduous: diligent, hard-working, sedulous 
assimilate: absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly
assuage: make smth (pain, desire) less 
assumption: smth supposed but not proved 
assurance: firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence 
asterisk: the mark * (e.g.. omitted letters) 
asteroid: small planet  
astigmatism: eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism  
astral: relating to the stars 
astringent: substance that shrinks 
astute: clever; quick at seeing to get an advantage 
astringent: binding; causing contraction 
astronomical: enormously large or extensive  
astute: wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage  
asunder: into parts; apart 
asylum: place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)  
asymmetric: not identical on both sides of a dividing central line  
atavism: resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback 
atheistic: denying the existence of God 
athwart: across; in opposition 
atone: make amends for; pay for 
atonement: repayment; death of Jesus 
atrocity: brutal deed 
atrophy: wasting away 
attentive: alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful 
attenuate: make thin. weaken, enervate 
attest: testify; bear witness  
attire: clothe 
attribute: essential quality 
attrition: rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment 
attune: bring into harmony 
atypical: not normal 
audacious: daring, foolishly bold, impudent 
audit: examination of accounts of a business; official examination 
augment: increase; add to 
augury: omen, sign 
august: majestic, venerable 
aureole: sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light  
aurora: pertaining to the aurora borealis 
auspice: protection or support, patronage 
auspicious: favorable, successful, prosperous 
austere: severely moral and strict; simple and plain 
authenticate: prove genuine  
authoritarian: subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will 
authoritative: having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial 
autocratic: having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial 
automaton: mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself  
autonomous:: self-governing 
autopsy: examination of a dead body; postmortem 
auxiliary: helping, supporting 
avalanche: great mass of falling snow and ice  
avarice: greediness for wealth  
avenge: take vengeance for something or on behalf of someone 
aver: affirm, assert, prove, justify 
averse: reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed 
aversion: strong dislike 
avert: prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought) 
aviary: enclosure for birds; large cage  
avid: eager, greedy 
avocation: secondary or minor occupation  
avow: admit. Declare openly 
avuncular: like an uncle 
awe: solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear 
awful: terrible; very bad  
awl: pointed tool used for piercing  
awry: distorted; crooked 
axiom: self-evident truth requiring no proof 
azure: sky blue 
babble: chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone 
bacchanalian: drunken  
bacchanal: noisy party with a lot of drinking  
Bacchanalia: the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus  
badger: pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again  
badinage: teasing conversation; banter; joking talk  
baffle: frustrate; perplex  
bait: harass; tease; torment 
baleful: evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening 
balk: stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate  
ballast: heavy substance used to add stability or weight 
balm: something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees 
balmy: soft and mild (of air); fragrant  
banal: hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich 
bandy: discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel 
bane: poison; cause of ruin 
baneful: harmful; poisonous  
bantering: joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing 
barb: sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark 
bard: poet 
barefaced: shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face 
baroque: highly ornate 
barrage: barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements 
barrister: counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law 
barterer: trader 
bask: luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth luxuriate take pleasure in great comfort 
bastion: stronghold; something seen as a source of protection 
bate: let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain 
bauble: trinket; cheap jewel; trifle 
bawdy: indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way 
beatific: giving or showing bliss; blissful  
beatitude: blessedness; state of great happiness 
bedizen: dress with vulgar finery  
bedraggle: wet thoroughly 
beeline: direct quick route  
befuddle: confuse thoroughly 
beget: father; become the father of; produce; give rise to  
begrudge: envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge 
beguile: deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract 
behemoth: huge creature; something of monstrous size or power 
beholden: obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude 
belabor: harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically 
belated: delayed 
beleaguer: besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset  
belie: contradict; give a false impression; disguise 
belittle: disparage; depreciate  
bellicose: warlike  
belligerent: quarrelsome  
bemoan: lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of  
bemused: confused; lost in thought; preoccupied  
benediction: blessing  
benefactor: gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose 
beneficent: kindly; doing good  
beneficial: helpful; useful; advantageous  
beneficiary: person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will  
benefit: advantage; anything that brings help, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment 
benevolent: generous; charitable; having a wish to do good  
benign: kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease) 
benison: blessing  
bent: determined 
bequeath: leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will 
berate: scold strongly  
bereavement: state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft  
bereaved: deprived of (someone beloved through death) 
bereft: deprived of (something valuable); lacking  
berserk: mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited  
beseech: beg; plead with  
beset: harass or trouble from all directions 
besiege: surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually  
besmirch: soil; defile; make dirty 
bestial: beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel  
bestow: confer  
betoken: signify; indicate; be a sign of  
betray: be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly) 
betroth: become engaged to marry  
bevy: large group 
bicameral: two-chambered as a legislative body  
bicker: quarrel  
biennial: every two years  
bifurcated: divided into two branches; forked  
bigotry: stubborn intolerance  
bigot: one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)  
bilious: suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated  
bilk: swindle; cheat  
billowing: swelling out in waves; surging  
billow:  large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke)  
bivouac: temporary encampment; camp without tents 
bizarre: fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional  
blanch: bleach; whiten; make white or pale 
bland: soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence  
blandishment: flattery  
blare: loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light  
blasphemy: irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things 
blatant: extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive 
bleak: cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing  
blighted: suffering from a disease; destroyed  
blight: plant disease 
bloated: (unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air  
blowhard: talkative boaster; braggart  
bludgeon: club; heavy-headed weapon 
bluff: pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff 
blunder: error; stupid mistake 
blurt: utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement  
bluster: blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner 
bode: foreshadow; portend  
bogus: counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false 
bohemian: unconventional (in an artistic way)  
boisterous: violent; rough; noisy  
bolster: support; reinforce  
bolt: door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth 
bombastic: pompous; using inflated language  
bombast: grandiloquent, pompous speech  
boon: blessing; benefit; something very helpful  
boorish: rude; insensitive  
boor: rude, insensitive person  
bouillon: clear beef (or meat) soup  
bountiful: generous; graciously generous; showing bounty  
bourgeois: middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions  
bovine: cow like; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm  
bowdlerize: expurgate 
brackish: somewhat saline  
braggadocio: boasting  
brag: boast  
braggart: boaster; bragger  
brandish: wave around (a weapon); flourish  
bravado: swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery  
brawn: human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness 
brawny: muscular; having well-developed muscles sturdy strong and firm (in the body)  
brazen: insolent; without shame; bold 
brawl: noisy quarrel  
breach: breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening 
breadth: width; extent  
brevity: conciseness; shortness of duration  
brindled: tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals) 
bristling: rising like bristles; showing irritation  
bristle: short stiff hair 
brittle: hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable 
broach: introduce as a subject; moot; open up 
brocade: rich, figured (patterned) fabric  
brochure: pamphlet  
brooch: ornamental clasp; pin  
brook: tolerate; endure 
browbeat: bully; intimidate  
browse: graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually   
brunt: main impact or shock (of an attack or blow) 
brusque: blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice  
buccaneer: pirate  
bucolic: rustic; pastoral  
buffet: strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out 
buffoonery: clowning  
buffoon: stupid person 
bugaboo: bugbear; object of baseless terror  
bullion: gold and silver in the form of bars  
bulwark: strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends 
bungle: mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior  
buoyant: able to float; cheerful and optimistic 
Bureaucracy: over regulated administrative system marked by red tape 
burgeon: grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds 
burlesque: give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly 
burnish: make shiny by rubbing; polish 
buttress: support; prop up 
buxom: full-bosomed; plump; jolly plump pleasantly fat; nicely rounded 
cabal: a scheme or plot, a group of plotters 
cadaverous: like a corpse; pale 
cadge: to beg, to get by begging 
cajole: use flattery or deceit to persuade 
calf: young of the domestic cow 
calipers: metal supports attached to the legs, measuring instrument 
callous: hardened; unfeeling  
calorific: heat-producing 
calumniate: to slander, present false accusal 
calumny: slander, aspersion 
candid: frank, straight-forward 
canny: shrewd; thrifty 
cant: insincere talk/jargon 
cantankerous: bad-tempered/quarrelsome 
canvass: discuss thoroughly; sort of touting 
capacious: spacious 
capricious: fickle, whimsical, given to change, unpredictable 
captious: faultfinding 
carnal: fleshly  
carnivorous: meat-eating  
carping: finding fault 
castigate: to chastise, correct by punishing 
castigation: severe punishment 
casual: happening by chance, careless 
catalyst: substance that causes speeding up 
catholic: broadly sympathetic; liberal 
caustic: biting, sarcastic 
celestial: heavenly  
celibate: unmarried; abstaining from sexual intercourse 
censure: expression of blame or disapproval; a rebuke 
census: official counting of the population 
centigrade: measure of temperature used widely in Europe  
centrifugal: radiating; departing from the center 
centurion: leader of a unit of 100 soldiers 
cerebral: pertaining to the brain of intellect 
chaffing: bantering; joking  
chaotic: in utter disorder 
chary: cautious, wary 
chastened: corrected, punished 
chastisement: punishment 
chauvinist: a blindly devoted patriot 
checkered: marked by changes in fortune 
chicanery: legal trickery/false argument 
chimerical: fantastic; highly imaginative 
chisel: steel tool for shaping materials 
choleric: hot-tempered  
chronic: long established as a disease  
churl: bad-tempered person 
ciliated: having minute hairs  
circuitous: roundabout  
circumspect: prudent; cautious 
cite: give as an example 
clairvoyant: having foresight  
clamor: shout, complain with a lot of noise 
clandestine: secret  
clarion: shrill trumpet like sound 
cleanse: make pure, thoroughly clean 
clientele: customers 
climactic: relating to the highest point 
clinch: come to grips/settle conclusively 
cling to: resist separation 
clot: half-solid lump formed from liquid 
cloture: closing, device (in Parliament) to end a debate by voting 
coagulation: change to a thick and solid state 
coalescing: coming together and uniting into one substance 
coax: get smb to do smth by kindness 
coda: passage that completes a piece of music 
coddle: treat with care and tenderness 
coerce: compel, to force to make obedient 
coeval: of the same period, coexisting 
cogent: strong, convincing 
cogitate: think deeply, mediate 
cognate: allied by blood; of the same or kindred nature 
cognition: knowing, awareness (emotionless) 
cognizant: being fully aware of 
coherent: sticking together 
coincident: occurring at the same time 
colander: bowl-shaped vessel with many holes used to drain off water 
collaborate: work in partnership 
collusion: secret agreement for a deceitful purpose 
colossal: huge 
combustion: process of burning 
commemorate: keep the memory of 
commend: praise 
commendable: worthy of praise 
commensurate: equal in extent 
commingle: mingle together 
commodious: having plenty of space for what is needed 
commuter: person who travels regularly 
compatible: harmonious; in harmony with 
complacently: with self-satisfaction 
complaisance: tending to comply, obliging, willingness to please 
compliant: yielding 
comply: act in accordance 
compound: mix or combine 
comprise: be composed of 
compunction: feeling of regret for one's action 
conceal: hide, keep secret 
conceit: over-high opinion of, too much pride 
concentric: having a common center 
conciliatory: reconciling, soothing, comforting, mollifying 
concise: brief and compact 
concord: agreement or harmony 
concur: agree in opinion, happen together 
concurrent: happening at the same time 
condense: increase in density, strength, make laconic 
condign: adequate; deservedly severe 
condone: forgive 
congeal: make or become stiff and solid 
congenital: existing at birth  
conjoin: to join together 
conjugal: pertaining to marriage 
connoisseur: a person with good judgement (e.g.. in art) 
connotation: suggestion in addition to 
connubial: pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state 
consent: give agreement or permission 
consequential: pompous, self important 
consolation: consoling or being consoled 
console: give comfort or sympathy to 
conspicuous: easily seen; remarkable 
consternation: surprise and fear, dismay 
constrain: compel 
constrict: make tight or smaller 
consume: get to the end of 
consummate: perfect/make perfect/complete 
contemn: to scorn or despise 
contentious: argumentative, pugnacious, combative, quarrelsome 
contiguous: touching, neighboring, near 
contingent: conditional 
contrite: filled with deep sorrow for wrongdoing 
contumacious: insubordinate, rebellious 
conundrum: a riddle, dilemma, enigma 
conversant: familiar with  
conviction: convincing; firm belief 
convivial: festive; gay; characterized by joviality 
convoke: call together, summon 
convoluted: complicated; coiled, twisted 
copious: plentiful 
cord: twisted strands 
cordial: warm and sincere 
cordon: line (of police acting as a guard) 
cornucopia: abundant supply 
corporeal: physical; of or for the body 
corpulent: very fat 
correlate: have a mutual relation 
corroboration: additional, strengthening evidence 
corrosive: eating away by chemicals or disease  
cosmic: pertaining to the universe; vast 
countenance: to favor or approve of 
counterfeit: forgery 
countervail: counterbalance 
covert: disguised 
covetous: eagerly desirous 
cower: crouch; shrink back 
coy: shy/modest (esp of a girl) 
crabbed: sour; peevish 
crass: very great (es. stupidity) 
cravat: piece of linen worn as a necktie 
craven: cowardly 
crease: line made by crushing; white line on the ground in cricket 
credulity: too great a readiness to believe things 
credulous: ready to believe things 
crestfallen: dejected; dispirited 
crush: press, lose shape, subdue, overwhelm 
cryptic: secret, with a hidden meaning 
culinary: relating to cooking 
culpable: deserving blame 
cumbersome: burdensome, heavy and awkward to carry 
curmudgeon: bad-tempered person 
curriculum: course of study 
cursory: quick, hurried 
curtail: make shorter then was planned 
cynic: person who see no good in anything 
dainty: pretty/delicate(food)/difficult to please 
dart: quick movement; missile in darts 
daunt: intimidate, make fearful 
dawdler: person who is slow; waste of time 
dearth: shortage 
debacle: a breakup, overthrow, sudden disaster 
decorous: polite, decent 
dank: damp  
dauntless: bold  
debonair: friendly; aiming to please  
deciduous: falling of as of leaves  
decorous: proper 
decorum: propriety, properness 
decree: order given by authority 
decrepit: worn out by age 
decry: disapprove of 
defeatist: attitude of one who is ready to accept defeat as a natural outcome 
defer: postpone; give way (to show respect) 
deference: respect 
deferential: showing respect 
defiance: open disobedience or resistance 
definitive: final; complete  
deflect: turn aside 
defunct: dead; no longer in use or existence 
defy: resist openly 
degrade: reduce in rank or status 
deleterious: harmful  
delineate: to portray, depict, sketch out 
deluge: great flood, heavy rush of water 
delusion: false belief 
delusive: deceptive; raising vain hopes 
demagogue: person appealing not to reasons 
demoniac: fiendish  
demur: to hesitate, raise objections 
demure: grave; serious; coy 
denigrate: blacken, belittle, sully, defame 
denouement: an outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot 
denounce: give information against 
dent: hollow, depression mad by a blow 
deplete: use until none remains 
deposition: dethronement, depositing 
deprave: make morally bad; corrupt 
deprecate: protest against, express disapproval of 
deranged: insane  
derelict: abandoned 
dereliction: deserting and leaving to fall into ruins 
derision: ridicule, mockery, deriding 
derivative: derived, not original or primitive 
derivative: unoriginal, obtained from another source 
derogatory: insulting; tending to damage 
descry: catch sight of, see smth in the distance 
desiccant: substance used to absorb moisture 
desiccate: dry out all the moisture 
desiccate: to dry up, dehydrate 
despicable: contemptible  
destitute: extremely poor 
desuetude: cessation of use; disuse 
desultory: aimless, haphazard, digressing at random 
detach: separate 
deter: discourage, hinder 
detraction: slandering, verbal attack, aspersion 
detumescence: diminishing or lessening of swelling 
deviance: being different in moral standards (from normal) 
devious: going astray; erratic  
devoid: lacking  
devout: pious 
dexterity: skill (esp. in handling) 
dexterous: clever, skillful with hands 
diabolical: devilish 
diaphanous: transparent, gauzy 
diatribe: bitter and violent attack in words 
dictate: order 
diffidence: shyness 
diffident: lacking in self-confidence 
digressive: wandering away from the subject 
dilate: speak comprehensively, become wider, large 
dilatory: causing delay, procrastinating 
din: loud noise that continues 
dire: disastrous 
disabuse: to undeceive, correct a false impression 
disallow: refuse to allow or accept as a correct 
discern: see with an effort but clearly 
discernible: distinguishable; perceivable  
discerning: mentally quick and observant; having insight  
discomfit: confuse, embarrass 
discomfit: to defeat, put down 
disconcert: upset the self-possession of 
disconsolate: sad  
discordant: inharmonious; conflicting  
discountenance: refuse to approve of 
discourse: speech, lecture 
discredit: refuse to believe 
discreet: careful/prudent 
discrete: individually distinct 
discursive: digressing; rambling  
disdain: look on with contempt 
disencumber: free from encumbrance 
disheveled: untidy 
disingenuous: sophisticated, artful, trying to deceive, cunning 
disinter: dig up from the earth 
disinterested: unprejudiced  
disjointed: disconnected  
dislodge: move, force from the place occupied 
dismal: sad, gloomy, miserable 
disparate: essentially different 
dispassionate: free from passion 
dispirited: lacking in spirit  
disproof: proof to the contrary 
disputatious: argumentative; fond of argument  
dissemble: speak or behave so as to hide smth (in mind) 
disseminate: distribute (esp. ideas) 
dissent: have a different opinion, refuse to assent 
dissipation: going away, dispersing 
dissolute: loose in morals  
dissolution: disintegration, looseness in morals 
distend: swell out 
distinct: easily heard, seen, understood, clearly marked 
distorted: pulled out of the usual shape, give a false account of 
distrait: absentminded  
distraught: distracted, violently upset in mind 
distress: great pain; cause discomfort 
diurnal: daily 
divergence: getting farther apart from a point 
diverse: of different kinds 
divestiture: taking off, getting rid of, giving up 
divulge: make known smth secret 
docile: obedient; easily managed 
doggerel: trivial, poorly constructed verse 
dogmatic: positive, certain, arbitrary, without room for discussion 
dogmatism: being dogmatic 
dolorous: sorrowful 
dolt: stupid fellow 
dormant: in a state of inactivity but awaiting development 
dorsal: relating to the back of an animal 
dote: show much fondness, center one's attention 
doughty: courageous  
dour: sullen; stubborn 
drawl: slow way of speaking 
droll: jesting 
drone: male bee, person who isn't self-employed 
drowsiness: feeling sleepy, half asleep 
dubious: feeling doubt 
dud: no use person, smth that fails 
dulcet: melodious, harmonious 
dupe: cheat, make a fool of 
duplicity: deliberate deception 
duress: threats to compel smb 
dwarf: person or smb much below the usual size 
dynamo: a generator, something that produces electric current 
earthenware: dishes made of baked clay 
earthy: unrefined; coarse 
ebullience: exuberance, outburst of feeling 
ebullient: overflowing with enthusiasm; showing excitement 
ecclesiastic: pertaining to the church 
ecumenical: representing the whole Christian world 
edacious: voracious, devouring 
eddy: circular or spiral movement (e.g.. of wind) 
edible: fit to be eaten/not poisonous 
eerie: weird  
effectual: efficient  
effeminate: having womanly traits 
effete: infertile, worn out, weak 
efficacy: production of a desired result 
efflorescent: flowering  
effluvia: outflow in a stream of particles; a noxious odor or vapor 
effrontery: boldness, impudence, arrogance 
effulgent: brilliantly radiant  
effusive: pouring forth; gushing 
egregious: gross; shocking 
egress: way out, exit 
elaborate: worked out with much care in great detail 
elate: stimulate 
elation: high-spirits 
electorate: all the electors 
elegiac: like an elegy; mournful 
elegy: a lament, a melancholy composition 
elicit: draw out 
eloquence: fluent speaking; skillful use of language 
elusive: evasive; baffling; hard to grasp  
elusory: tending to deceive expectations; elusive 
emaciate: make thin and weak 
embellish: make beautiful 
embezzle: use in a wrong way for one's own benefit 
emergence: emerging 
eminent: high; lofty 
emote: stir up, excite 
empirical: relying on experiment 
enamored: in love 
encapsulate: enclose in capsule 
encomium: warm or glowing praise; eulogy, panegyric 
encumbrance: burden; things that get on the way of 
endearing: making dear or liked 
endemic: prevailing in a specific area 
endorse: write one's name on the back of 
enduring: lasting 
enervate: weaken, deprive of strength, attenuate 
engender: cause, produce, give rise to 
engrave: impress deeply 
engrossing: taken up all the time or attention; writing in large or formal 
engulf: swallow up 
enigma: smth that is puzzling 
enmity: hatred; being an enemy 
enormity: excessive wickedness; evilness 
enormousness: great size 
ensign: flag/badge 
entangle: put into difficulties 
enthrall: please greatly/enslave (fig) 
entice: tempt or persuade 
entreat: ask earnestly 
enunciate: pronounce (words)/express a theory 
enzyme: catalyst 
ephemeral: short-lived; fleeting 
epicure: food lover, a connoisseur of food 
epicurean: devoted to pleasure (sensuous enjoyment) 
epistle: letter 
epithet: adjective 
epitome: brief summary; representative example; a typical model 
equable: steady, regular 
equanimity: calmness of temperament 
equilibrium: state of being balanced 
equipoise: equal distribution of weight; equilibrium 
equivocal: having a double or doubtful meaning; suspicious 
equivocate: try to deceive by equivocal language 
eradicate: get rid of; pull up by the roots 
erasure: erasing, removing all traces 
erode: wear away, eat into 
errant: wandering 
erratic: irregular in behaviour or opinion 
erudite: learned, scholarly 
escalate: increase, develop 
eschew: avoid 
esoteric: abstruse; intended only for a small circle of 
espouse: marry; give one's support to 
estranged: separated 
ethereal: light; heavenly; fine  
ethnic: relating to races 
eulogistic: praising 
eulogy: formal praise; panegyric 
euphonious: pleasing in sound 
euphoria: elation; state of pleasant excitement 
euthanasia: easy and painless death 
evaluating: finding out the value 
evanescent: fleeting; vanishing 
evaporate: change into vapor, disappear, die 
evasive: tending to evade 
evince: to show clearly, to indicate 
evoke: call up, bring out 
evolve: unfold, develop naturally and gradually 
excoriate: to flay, stip off the skin; to denounce sharply 
excoriation: severe criticism 
exculpate: free from blame 
exculpate: to clear from a charge of guilt 
execrable: very bad  
exemplary: serving as a model; outstanding 
exert: but forth; bring into use 
exertion: instance of exerting 
exhaustive: complete, thorough 
exigency: emergency, an urgent situation 
exiguous: small; minute 
exonerate: free; clear 
exoneration: set smb clear, free (e.g.. from blame) 
exorbitant: much too high or great 
exotic: not native; strange 
expatiate: to roam, wander freely 
expedient: likely to be useful for a purpose 
expeditiously: rapidly and efficiently 
expiation: ending; expiring 
exploit: brilliant achievement; develop; use selfishly 
expostulate: argue earnestly to dissuade, correct, or protest 
expurgate: to remove obscenity, purify, censor 
exscind: to cut out, cut away 
exert: thrust out, push forth 
extant: still in existence 
extempore: without previous thought or preparation 
extensive: far-reaching 
extenuate: reduce the strength of, lessen seriousness, partially excuse 
extinct: no longer active 
extinguish: end the existence of/wipe or put out 
extirpate: to destroy, exterminate, cut out, exscind 
extol: praise highly 
extort: obtain by threats, violence 
extralegal: outside the law 
extraneous: not essential; external  
extricable: that can be freed 
extrinsic: external; not inherent; foreign  
extrovert: cheerful person 
exuberance: state of growing vigorously; being full of life 
exuberant: abundant; effusive; lavish 
facetious: humorous, funny, jocular 
facile: easily done 
facilitate: make easy (e.g.. a process of smth) 
factious: inclined to form factions; causing dissension  
factitious: artificial; sham 
fain: gladly 
fallacious: based on error 
fallacy: false or mistaken belief 
fallible: liable to err  
fallow: plowed but not sowed; uncultivated 
falter: waver/move in an uncertain manner 
fancied: imagined; unreal  
fanciful: whimsical; visionary  
fantastic: unreal; grotesque; whimsical  
fastidious: difficult to please; squeamish 
fatuous: without sense, foolish self-satisfaction 
faucet: device for controlling the outflow of a liquid 
fawn: young deer, try to win smb's favor 
fawning: courting favor by cringing and flattering  
feasible: practical 
feckless: futile, irresponsible, inefficient 
feckless: lacking purpose or vitality; ineffective; careless 
fecund: fertile 
feint: pretend 
felicitous: apt; suitably expressed, well chosen, apropos 
fell: cruel; deadly 
felon: person guilty of murder 
ferment: substance; become excited 
ferocity: savage cruelty 
ferret: discover by searching; search 
fertile: producing much, full of ideas 
fertilize: make fertile or productive 
fervent: ardent; hot 
fervid: intense, zealous 
fervor: warmth of feelings; earnestness 
fetid: stinking 
fetter: to shackle, put in chains 
feud: bitter quarrel over a long period of time 
fickle: changeable; faithless  
fictitious: imaginary 
fidelity: loyalty, accuracy 
fidget: move restlessly, make nervous 
figurehead: carved image on the prow of a ship 
filial: pertaining to a son daughter 
finesse: delicate way of dealing with a situation 
finicky: too fussy about food, clothing, etc.  
finite: limited, having bounds 
fission: splitting or division (esp. of cells) 
fitful: spasmodic; intermittent 
fixate: stare at 
flaccid: flabby  
flagging: weak; drooping  
flagrant: conspicuously wicked 
flak: criticism/anti-aircraft guns 
flamboyant: brightly colored, florid 
flammable: having tendency to burst into flames 
flaunting: show off complacently 
flaw: crack, lessen value 
flax: pale yellow (hair); a plant 
fledged: able to fly, trained, experienced 
fledgling: inexperienced 
fleet: number of ships, quick-moving 
fleeting: passing quickly 
flexibility: easily bent without braking 
flinch: draw, move back, wince 
flop: fail/move/fall clumsily 
florid: very much ornamented; naturally red (e.g.. of face) 
floridness: ruddiness; heavily decorated; ornateness 
flout: reject, mock, to go against (as in going against tradition) 
fluke: lucky stroke 
fluster: make nervous or confused 
foible: defect of character (a person is wrongly proud) 
foil: prevent from carrying out; contrast 
foment: put smth warm (to lessen the pain) 
foolhardy: rash 
foolproof: incapable of failure or error 
foppish: like a man who pays too much attention to his clothes 
forage: food for horses and cattle 
forbear: refrain from, be patient; ancestor 
forbearance: patience, willingness to wait 
ford: shallow place in a river (to cross) 
forensic: suitable to debate or courts of law 
forestall: prevent by taking action in advance, preempt 
forfeit: suffer the loss of smth 
forge: workshop for the shaping of metal; to shape metal; lead 
forgery: counterfeit 
formidable: menacing; threatening 
forswear: renounce, disallow, repudiate 
fortify: strengthen 
fortuitous: happening by chance 
foster: nurture, care for 
fracas: noisy quarrel 
fractious: unruly 
fragile: easily injured, broken or destroyed 
fragrant: sweet-smelling 
franchise: special right given by authority 
frantic: wildly excited with joy, pain, anxiety 
fraudulent: cheating; deceitful  
fraught: filled 
frenetic: frantic, frenzied 
frenzied: madly excited 
fret: worry; irritation; wear away 
friction: the rubbing of one thing against another, difference of opinion 
frigid: intensely cold 
fringe: edge; ornamental border; part of hair over the forehead 
frolicsome: prankish; gay  
froward: intractable, not willing to yield or comply, stubborn 
frowzy: slovenly; unkempt; dirty 
frugal: careful, economical 
fulminate: berate, vituperate, to thunder out, to explode 
fulmination: bitter protest 
fulsome: disgusting, offensive due to excessiveness 
funereal: sad; solemn 
furtive: stealthy 
fustian: pompous; bombastic 
gainsay: to deny, declare false, to oppose 
gambol: quick, playful jumping 
garble: make unfair selection from facts 
garish: gaudy 
garment: article of clothing 
garner: to gather and save; to store up 
garrulity: talkativeness 
garrulous: too talkative 
gaucherie: socially awkward, tactless behavior 
genteel: well-bred; elegant 
germane: relevant; pertinent to 
ghastly: horrible 
gist: the point, general sense 
glean: gather facts in small quantities 
glib: ready and smooth but not sincere 
glimmer: weak/unsteady light 
gloat over: look at with selfish delight 
glossy: smooth and shining 
glut: supply to much, fill to excess 
glutinous: sticky; viscous  
gluttonous: greedy for food 
gnarled: twisted 
gnaw: waste away; bite steadily 
goad: smth urging a person to action 
gorge: eat greedily/narrow opening with a stream 
gory: bloody 
gossamer: soft, light, delicate material 
gouge: tool for cutting grooves in wood 
grace: favor 
grandiloquent: using pompous words 
grave: serious, requiring consideration 
graze: touch or scrape lightly in passing 
gregarious: living in societies; liking the company 
grievance: cause for complaint or protest 
grievous: causing grief or pain; serious, dire, grave 
grimace: twisted expression of a face 
grind: crush, polish 
grooves: long channel in the surface, habitual way of living 
grovel: crawl, humble oneself 
guile: deceit, cunning 
guileless: straight-forward, candid 
gull: cheat, deceive 
gullible: easily gulled 
gush: burst out suddenly/talk ardently 
gust: outburst of feeling; sudden rain, wind, fire, etc. 
hack: cut roughly; hired horse 
hallow: to make holy; consecrate 
halcyon: calm and peaceful 
hamper: basket with a lid, prevent free movement or activity 
hapless: unlucky, unfortunate 
harangue: a long, passionate speech 
harbinger: smth or smb that foretells the coming of 
harrow: to distress, create stress or torment 
harsh: rough, cruel, stern 
haughty: arrogant; conceited 
haven: harbor, safety place 
hazardous: dangerous  
hazy: slightly obscure 
heed: attention/give notice to 
heed: pay attention; notice 
heedless: not noticing; disregarding 
heinous: odious (of crime) 
heresy: belief contrary to what is generally accepted 
hermetic: sealed by fusion 
heterogeneous: made up of different kinds 
hew: make by hard work; cut (by striking) 
hibernal: wintry 
highbrow: (person) with superior tastes 
hindmost: furthest behind 
hirsute: hairy, shaggy 
histrionic: theatrical 
hoary: white with age 
hoax: mischievous trick played on smb for a joke 
hollow: not soled, with hole 
holster: leather case for a pistol 
homespun: domestic; made at home 
homiletics: act of preaching 
homogeneous: of the same kind 
hone: stone used for sharpening tools 
hoodwink: trick, mislead 
horticultural: pertaining to cultivation of gardens 
hospitable: liking to give hospitality 
hubris: arrogant pride 
humane: kind  
humdrum: dull; monotonous  
humid: damp 
hurdle: light frame, fence to be jumped over 
hush: make or become silent 
husk: worthless outside part of anything 
hypercritical: excessively exacting 
hypocrisy: falsely making oneself appear to be good 
hypocritical: pretending to be virtuous; deceiving 
hypothetical: based on assumptions or hypotheses 
iconoclast: person who attacks popular beliefs 
iconoclastic: attacking cherished beliefs 
idiosyncrasy: personal mannerism 
idolatrous: worshipping idols 
idolatry: excessive admiration of 
idyll: a carefree episode or experience 
igneous: produced by fire; volcanic 
ignoble: dishonorable, common, undignified 
ignominious: shameful, dishonorable, undignified, disgraceful 
illicit: unlawful, forbidden 
illimitable: infinite 
illusory: deceptive; an illusion 
imbroglio: complicated and embarrassing situation 
immaculate: pure, faultless 
immerse: absorb; put under the surface of 
imminent: likely to come or happen soon 
immutable: that cannot be changed 
impair: worsen, diminish in value 
impaired: damaged, weakened 
impassive: unmoved; feeling no sign of passion 
impeccable: faultless 
impecunious: having little or no money 
impede: hinder; get in the way of 
impediment: smth that hinders (e.g. stammer) 
impending: imminent, being about to happen, expected 
impenitent: not repentant 
imperative: urgent, essential 
imperious: commanding, haughty, arrogant 
impermeable: impervious; not permitting passage through its substance  
impertinent: insolent 
imperviousness: haughty, arrogant, commanding 
impermeable: that cannot be permeated 
imperturbable: calm; not capable of being excited 
impervious: not allowing to pass through (of materials) 
imperviousness: arrogance, commanding presence, overbearingness 
impetuous: having sudden energy, impulsive, thrusting ahead, forceful 
impiety: lack of reverence or dutifulness 
impious: irreverent 
implacable: incapable of being placated, unappeasable 
implausibility: incredibility 
implicate: show that smb has a share 
implicit: implied though not plainly expressed 
implosion: collapse; bursting inward 
imply: make a suggestion 
impolitic: not wise 
importune: beg urgently; solicit (of a prostitute) 
imprecation: an invocation of evil; a curse 
impregnable: invulnerable 
impromptu: without preparation 
improvident: thriftless 
impudence: being rash, indiscreet 
impudent: rash, indiscreet 
impugned: challenged, to be doubted 
impute: to attribute to a cause or source, ascribe 
inadvertent: done thoughtlessly 
inadvertent: not paying proper attention 
inalienable: not to be taken away; nontransferable 
inane: silly, senseless 
inanimate: lifeless  
inarticulate: speechless; producing indistinct speech 
inasmuch: since, because 
incarnate: endowed with flesh; personified 
incense: make angry 
incessant: often repeated, continual 
inchoate: not yet fully formed, rudimentary, elementary 
incipient: beginning 
incise: engrave, make a cut in 
incisive: cutting; sharp 
incite: stir up, rouse 
inclement: stormy; unkind  
inclined: directing the mind in a certain direction 
inclusive: tending to include all 
incognito: with identity concealed; using an assumed name 
incoherently: not consistently, unclearly 
incommodious: not spacious  
incompatible: inharmonious 
incongruous: out of place, not in harmony or agreement 
inconsequential: of trifling significance  
incontrovertible: indisputable 
incorporeal: immaterial; without a material body 
incorrigibility: cannot be cured or corrected 
incredulous: skeptical, unwilling to believe 
inculcate: fix firmly by repetition 
incumbents: official duties 
incursion: a raid, a sudden attack 
indefatigability: not easily exhaustible; tirelessness 
indelible: that cannot be rubbed out 
indelicate: immodest; lacking in refinement 
indigence: poverty 
indigenous: native 
indigent: poor  
indisputable: too certain to be disputed 
indistinct: not easily heard, seen, clearly marked 
indolence: laziness 
indomitable: not easily discouraged or subdued 
indubitably: beyond a doubt 
indulge: gratify, give way to, satisfy; allow oneself 
indulgent: inclined to indulge 
ineffable: to great to be described in words 
ineluctable: certain, inevitable 
inept: unskillful; said or done at the wrong time 
ineptitude: quality of being unskillful 
inexorable: relentless; unyielding; implacable  
infallible: unerring  
infamous: notoriously bad 
inferno: hell 
infertile: not fertile, barren 
infinitesimal: very small 
inflame: become red, angry 
inflammatory: tending to inflame 
inflated: enlarged with air or gas 
infuriate: fill with fury or rage 
infuse: put, pour, fill 
ingenuous: naive, young, artless, frank, honest, sincere 
ingest: take in by swallowing 
inherent: existing as a natural part 
inhibit: hinder, restrain 
inimical: harmful or friendly 
inimitable: defying imitation, unmatchable 
iniquitous: unjust; wicked  
innate: inborn 
innocuous: causing no harm 
inordinate: unrestrained; excessive  
insatiable: not easily satisfied; greedy 
inscrutable: incapable of being discovered or understood 
insensate: without feeling 
insensible: unconscious, unresponsive, unaffected 
insidious: treacherous; stealthy; sly 
insinuate: suggest unpleasantly; make a way for smth gently 
insipid: without taste or flavor 
insolent: haughty and contemptuous 
insouciant: unconcerned, carefree 
insular: like an island; narrow-minded 
insularity: narrow-mindedness, isolated 
insuperable: insurmountable; invincible 
insurgent: rebellious 
insurrection: rising of people to open resistance to 
interdict: prohibit, forbid 
interim: as an installment 
interminable: endless  
intermittent: periodic; on and off 
intersperse: place here and there 
intervene: come between; interfere to change the result 
intractable: unruly, refractory, stubborn 
intransigence: unwillingness to compromise, stubbornness, intractability 
intransigent: uncompromising 
intrepid: fearless, brave, undaunted 
intrinsic: belonging to a thing in itself; inherent 
introspection: examining one's own thoughts and feelings 
introvert: inclined to think more about oneself 
inundate: flood; cover by overflowing 
inured: accustomed to, adapted 
invective: abusive language, curses 
inveigh: to attack verbally, denounce, deprecate 
inverse: opposite 
inveterate: deep-rooted. long-established 
invidious: designed to create ill will or envy 
invincible: too strong to be defeated 
involute: complex 
invulnerable: incapable of injury 
irascible: irritable, easily angered 
irate: angry 
ire: anger 
iridescent: exhibiting rainbow like colors 
irksome: tiresome 
ironical: resulting in an unexpected and contrary manner 
irreconcilable: incompatible; not able to be resolved 
irrelevant: not relevant, not connected 
irremediable: incurable; uncorrectable  
irreparable: not able to be corrected or repaired 
irresolute: hesitating; undecided 
irreverent: lacking proper respect 
irrevocable: final and unalterable 
itinerant: wandering; traveling 
itinerary: plan for a journey, details or records of a route 
itinerate: to travel from place to place, to peregrinate
jab: poke abruptly with something sharp; punch with short blows  
jabber: chatter rapidly or unintelligibly  
jaded: tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued; surfeited; worn out; wearied 
jargon: language used by special group; technical terminology; gibberish; nonsensical or incoherent talk  
jaundiced: yellowed; prejudiced (envious, hostile, or resentful) from long and disappointing experience of human affairs 
jaundice: medical condition in which the skin, the white part of the eyes, etc. turn yellow 
jaunt: trip; short journey  
jaunty: cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree; dapper in appearance 
jeopardize: endanger; imperil; put at risk 
jeopardy: danger  
jest: playful remark or act; V. act or speak playfully 
jettison: throw overboard (from a ship or plane) 
jibe: make heckling or mocking remarks; gibe  
jingoist: extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist 
jingoism: extreme nationalism  
jocose: given to (having a tendency of) joking  
jocular: said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking  
jocund: merry  
jollity: gaiety; cheerfulness 
jolly: merry; gay  
jostle: shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly 
jovial: good-natured; merry; cheerful  
jubilation: rejoicing; great joy  
judicious: sound on judgment; wise 
juggernaut: irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its path jug pitcher; container for holding liquids 
juncture: crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining 
junket: trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense 
junta: group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force) 
jurisprudence: science of law 
jurisdiction: right and power to apply the law; authority juridical of the law and its administration 
juxtapose: place side by side 
kaleidoscope: tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce interesting symmetrical effects; series of changing events 
ken: range of knowledge 
kernel: central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn) 
killjoy: grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others 
kindle: start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse 
kindred: related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character 
kinetic: producing motion; of motion 
kismet: fate; destiny 
kleptomaniac: person who has a compulsive desire to steal  
knave: untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack 
knead: mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands) 
knell: tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell 
knit: contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interlining yarn or thread 
knoll: little round hill; hillock 
knotty: intricate; difficult; tangled 
kudos: honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement 
labyrinth: maze 
labyrinthine: to entangle the state of affairs 
lachrymose: causing tears, tearful 
lackey: footman; toady 
lackluster: (of eyes) dull 
laconic: brief, to the point, terse 
lag: go too slow 
lagniappe: trifling present given to a customer  
lagoon: shallow body of water near a sea; lake 
laity: laymen; persons not connected with the clergy  
lament: show, feel great sorrow 
lapidary: worker in precious stones 
largess: generous gift 
lassitude: weariness, tiredness 
latent: present but not yet active, developed or visible 
latitude: freedom from narrow limitations 
laudatory: expressing or giving praise 
lavish: giving or producing freely, liberally or generously 
leakage: the process of leaking 
legacy: something handed down from ancestors 
lesion: unhealthy change in structure; injury 
levee: formal reception/embankment 
levity: lack of seriousness 
lexicon: dictionary 
liaison: officer who acts as go-between for two armies  
libel: statement that damages reputation 
liberality: free giving; generosity 
libertine: immoral person 
libretto: text of an opera  
lien: legal claim until a debt on it is repaid 
lieu: instead of 
limn: paint, portray 
limp: lacking strength, walking unevenly 
lionize: treat as a famous person 
lithe: bending, twisting 
litigation: lawsuit 
lode: metal-bearing vein    
loll: rest, to sit or stand in a lazy way; hang (dog's tongue) 
longevity:: long life 
lope: move along with long strides 
loquacious: talkative, garrulous 
lout:: clumsy person 
lubricant: substance that makes work easier 
lubricate: put oil to make work easily 
lubricious: lewd, wanton, greasy, slippery 
lucre: money  
lucubrate: write in scholarly fashion 
luculent: easily understood, lucid, clear 
lugubrious: mournful, excessively sad 
lull: become quiet or less active 
lumber: move in a clumsy/noisy way 
luminary: star, light-giving body 
luster: shine; gloss 
lustrous: being bright, polished 
lurk: be out of view ready to attack 
macabre: gruesome, suggesting death 
macerate: make or become soft by soaking in water 
machination: plot, scheme (esp. evil) 
maladroit: tactless, clumsy 
malapropism: misuse of a word (for one that resembles it) 
malevolence: wishing to do evil 
malign: injurious, speak ill of smb, tell lie 
malinger: to fake illness or injury, in order to shirk a duty 
malleable: yielding; easily shaped; moldable; adapting 
manacle: chains for the hands or feet 
martial: brave, of associated with war 
massacre: cruel killing of a large number of people 
matriculation: be admitted, enter a university as a student 
mature: come to full development, to a state ready for use 
maudlin: sentimental in a silly or tearful way 
maul: hurt by rough handling 
maverick: unorthodox person 
maverick: rebel, nonconformist 
mellifluous: sweetly flowing 
mendacious: false 
mendacity: dishonesty 
mendicant: a beggar 
mercurial: quick, changeable in character, fleeting 
meretricious: attractive on the surface but of little value 
mesmerize: hypnotize 
meticulous: giving great attention to details 
mettle: quality of endurance or courage 
mettlesome: courageous, high-spirited 
middling: fairly good but not very good 
minatory: menacing, threatening 
mince: pronounce or speak affectedly, euphemize 
misanthrope: person who hates mankind 
mischievous: harmful, causing mischief 
miser: person who loves wealth and spends little 
misogynist: one who hates women/females 
missile: smth that is thrown or shot 
mitigate: make less severe or painful 
moderation: quality of being limited, not extreme 
mollify: make calmer or quieter 
molt: moult, lose hair, feathers before new growing 
morbid: diseased, unhealthy (e.g.. about ideas) 
morose: ill-tempered, unsocial 
mortuary: place where dead bodies are taken to be kept until burial 
muffler: cloth worn round the neck/silencer 
multifarious: varied, motley, greatly diversified 
mundane: worldly as opposed to spiritual; commonplace, everyday 
myriad: very great number 
nadir: lowest, weakest point 
nascent: coming into existence, emerging 
nebulous: cloud-like; hazy; vague; indistinct 
negligent: taking too little care 
neophyte: person who has been converted to a belief 
nexus: a connection, tie, or link 
nibble: show some inclination to accept (an offer) 
nice: scrupulous/hard to please/bad(ironic) 
nice: precise, sensitive to subtleness 
noisome: offensive, disgusting (smell) 
nonchalant: not having interest 
nonplused: greatly surprised 
nostrum: a quack remedy, an untested cure 
notion: nominal, token 
noxious: harmful 
nugatory: trifling/worthless 
nullify: make void and null 
numb: without ability to feel or move 
numbness: without ability to move a finger 
obdurate: hardened and unrepentant; stubborn, inflexible 
obfuscate: to darken, make obscure, muddle 
oblivious: unaware, having no memory 
obloquy: abusively detractive language, sharp criticism, vituperation 
obsequious: too eager to obey or serve 
obsolete: no longer used 
obstreperous: noisy, loud 
obtain: to be established, accepted, or customary 
obtrusive: projecting, prominent, undesirably noticeable 
obtuse: blunt/stupid 
obviate: to make unnecessary, get rid of 
occluded: blocked up 
occult: hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension 
odious: repulsive, hateful 
odium: contempt, dislike, aversion 
odor: smell; favor; reputation 
officious: too eager or ready to help, offer advice 
ominous: threatening 
onerous: needing effort, burdensome 
opaqueness: dullness/not allowing light to pass through 
opprobrious: showing scorn or reproach 
ossify: to turn to bone; to settle rigidly into an idea 
ostensible: seeming, appearing as such, professed 
ostentation: display to obtain admiration or envy 
ostentatious: fond of showing ostentation 
ostracism: shut out from society, refuse to meet, talk 
ostrich: fast-running bird unable to fly 
outset: start 
overhaul: examine thoroughly to learn about the condition 
overweening: presumptuously arrogant, overbearing, immoderate, being a jerk 
overwhelm: weigh down, submerge 
paean: song of praise or triumph 
palate: roof of the mouth; sense of taste 
palatial: magnificent 
palliate: lessen the severity of 
palliate: to make something appear less serious, to alleviate, to gloss over 
palpability: can be felt, touched, understood 
palpitate: tremble, beat rapidly and irregularly 
pan: flat/zoom 
panegyric: formal praise, eulogy 
paradigm: a model, example, or pattern 
parenthesis: sentence within another one, smth separated 
pariah: an outcast, a rejected and despised person 
parsimonious: too economical, miserly 
partisan: one-sided, committed to a party, biased or prejudiced 
patron: regular customer; person who gives support 
paucity: scarcity, a lacking of 
peccadillo: small sin; small weakness in one's character 
pedantic: bookish, showing off learning 
pedestrian: commonplace, trite, unremarkable 
pellucid: transparent, easy to understand 
penchant: strong inclination, a liking 
penitent: feeling or showing regret 
penurious: poor/stingy 
penury: extreme poverty 
peregrination: traveling about, wandering 
peremptory: urgent, imperative, unchallengeable, ending debate 
perennial: lasting for a long time (e.g.. a year) 
perfidious: treacherous, faithless 
perfidy: treachery; breaking of faith 
perfunctory: done as a duty without care 
perilous: dangerous 
peripatetic: wandering 
perish: be destroyed; decay 
perjury: willful false statement, unlawful act 
permeate: spread into every part of 
pernicious: harmful, injurious 
perpetrate: be guilty; commit (a crime) 
persevere: keep on steadily, continue 
personable: pleasing in appearance, attractive 
perspicacity: quick judging and understanding 
pertain: belong as a part, have reference 
pest: destructive thing or a person who is nuisance 
petrified: taken away power (to think, feel, act) 
petrify: to make hard, rocklike 
petrous: like a rock, hard, stony 
petulant: unreasonably impatient 
philistine: a smug ignorant person; one who lacks knowledge 
phlegmatic: calm, sluggish temperament; unemotional 
picaresque: involving clever rogues or adventurers 
pied: of mixed colors 
pinch: be too tight, take between the thumb and finger 
pine: waste away through sorrow or illness 
pious: dutiful to parents; devoted to religion 
piquant: agreeably pungent, stimulating 
pique: hurt the pride or self-respect, stir (curiosity) 
pitfall: covered hole as a trap, unsuspected danger 
pith: essential part, force, soft liquid substance 
pivotal: of great importance (others depend on it) 
placate: soothe, pacify, calm 
plaintive: mournful, melancholy, sorrowful 
plaque: flat metal on a wall as a memorial 
platitude: a trite or banal statement; unoriginality 
plea: request 
plead: address a court of law as an advocate 
plethora: glut 
pliant: pliable, easily bent, shaped or twisted 
plod: continue doing smth without resting 
pluck: pull the feathers off, pick (e.g.. flowers) 
plumb: get to the root of 
plummet: fall, plunge, steeply 
plunge: move quickly, suddenly and with force 
poignant: deeply moving; keen 
poise: be ready, be balanced, self-possession 
polemical: controversial, argued 
poncho: large piece of cloth 
ponderous: heavy, bulky, dull 
portent: omen; marvelous; threatening 
poseur: someone taking on airs to impress others; a phony 
posture: state, attitude; adopt a vain 
poverty: state of being poor 
pragmatic: practical, favoring utility 
precarious: uncertain, risky, dangerous 
precept: moral instruction 
precepts: rules establishing standards of conduct 
precipitate: throw smth violently down from a height 
preclude: prevent, make impossible 
precursory: preliminary, anticipating 
predilection: special liking, mental preference 
predominate: have more power than others 
preempt: obtain by preemption or in advance 
preen: tidy/show self-satisfaction 
premature: doing or happening smth before the right time 
preponderance: greatness in number, strength, weight 
presage: warning sign 
presumption: arrogance 
preternatural: not normal or usual 
prevalent: common 
prevaricate: to equivocate, to stray from the truth 
prim: neat; formal 
pristine: primitive, unspoiled, pure, as in earlier times, unadulterated 
probity: uprightness, incorruptibility, principle 
proclivity: inclination 
procrastination: keeping on putting off 
prodigal: wasteful, reckless with money 
prodigious: enormous, wonderful 
profane: worldly, having contempt for God 
profligacy: shameless immorality 
profligate: wasteful, prodigal, licentious, extravagant 
profundity: depth 
profuse: abundant/lavish 
proliferate: grow, reproduce by rapid multification 
prolix: tiring because too long 
prone: prostrate; inclined to (undesirable things) 
propagation: increasing the number, spreading, extending 
propinquity: nearness in time or place, affinity of nature 
propitiate: do smth to take away the anger of 
propitiatory: conciliatory, appeasing, mitigating 
propitious: auspicious, presenting favorable circumstances 
prosaic: everyday, mundane, commonplace, trite, pedestrian 
proscribe: denounce as dangerous 
protracted: prolonged 
provident: frugal; looking to the future 
provisional: of the present time only 
provoke: make angry; vax 
prudence: careful forethought 
prudish: easily shocked, excessively modest 
prune: dried plum, silly person 
pry: get smth; inquire too curiously 
pucker: wrinkle 
pugnacious: fond of, in the habit of fighting 
puissance: strength 
punch: strike with the fist; tool for cutting holes; alc. drink 
punctilious: precise, paying attention to trivialities 
pundit: pedant, authority on a subject 
pungency: sharpness; stinging quality 
purvey: provide, supply 
pusillanimous: cowardly, craven 
putrefaction: becoming rotten 
pyre: large pile of wood for burning 
quack: person dishonestly claiming to smth 
quaff: drink deeply 
quail: lose courage, turn frightened 
qualm: feeling of doubt, temporary feeling of sickness 
quandary: state of doubt or perplexity 
quell: suppress, subdue 
querulous: fretful; whining 
quibble: try to avoid by sophistication 
quiescence: state of being passive/motionless 
quiescent: at rest, dormant, torpid 
quirk: habit or action peculiar to smb or smth 
quixotic: generous, unselfish 
quizzical: bantering; comical; humorously serious 
quotidian: banal; everyday 
rabble: mob, crowd; the lower classes of populace 
rabid: like a fanatic; furious 
raconteur: person who tells anecdotes 
radiant: bright, shining 
raffish: low, vulgar, base, tawdry 
ramify: to be divided or subdivided; to branch out 
rampant: rearing up on hind legs; unrestrained 
rancid: having the odor of stale fat 
rancorous: feeling bitterness, spitefulness 
rant: use extravagant language 
rapacious: greedy (esp for money) 
rarefied: made less dense of a gas 
rarefy: to make thin, to make less dense, to purify or refine 
raucous: harsh and shrill 
rave: act with excessive enthusiasm 
ravening: rapacious; seeking prey 
ravenous: extremely hungry 
reactionary: opposing progress 
rebuff: snub 
recalcitrant: disobedient 
recant: take back as being false; give up 
recast: cast or fashion anew 
recidivism: relapse into antisocial or criminal behavior 
reciprocal: mutual; exchangeable; interacting 
reciprocity: granting of privileges in return for similar 
recitals: a number of, performance of music 
recluse: person who lives alone and avoids people 
recompense: make payment to; reward, punish 
reconcile: settle a quarrel; restore peace 
recondite: little known; abstruse 
recourse: smth turned to for help 
recreancy: cowardice, a cowardly giving up 
recumbent: reclining; lying down completely or in part  
recuperate: become strong after illness, loss, exhaustion 
recurrent: occurring again and again 
redeem: get back by payment; compensate 
redemptive: serving to redeem 
redolent: fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor 
redoubtable: formidable, causing fear 
redundant: superfluous; excessively wordy; repetitious 
refine: make or become pure, cultural 
refractory: stubborn, unmanageable, intractable 
refulgent: shining, brilliant 
regal: royal 
regale: to delight or entertain; to feast 
regicide: crime of killing a king 
reiterate: say or do again several times 
rejuvenation: becoming young in nature or appearance 
relapse: fall back again 
relinquish: give up 
reluctant: unwilling or disinclined 
remediable: reparable 
remedial: curative; corrective 
remiss: negligent 
remonstrate: to protest, object 
remunerative: compensating; rewarding 
render: deliver, provide, represent 
renovate: restore smth to better condition 
renowned: celebrated, famous 
rent: regular payment for the use of smth, division or split 
reparable: capable of being repaired 
repast: meal 
repel: refuse to accept/cause dislike 
repellent: driving away; unattractive 
repine at: be discontented with 
replete: filled to capacity; abundantly supplied 
reprehensible: deserving blame 
reproach: scold, upbraid 
reprobate: person hardened in sin; one devoid of decency 
repudiate: disown, refuse to accept or pay 
repulsive: causing a feeling of disgust 
requite: repay, give in return 
rescind: repeal/annul/cancel 
resigned: unresisting, submissive 
resilience: quality of quickly recovering the original shape 
resolve: determine 
resonant: echoing; resounding; possessing resonance 
resort to: frequently visit 
resplendent: brilliant; lustrous 
restive: refusing to move; reluctant to be controlled 
resurrect: bring back into use 
resuscitation: coming back to consciousness 
retard: check, hinder 
retentive: holding; having a good memory 
reticent: reserved, untalkative, silent, taciturn 
retroactive: of a law which dates back to a period before its enactment  
retrograde: going backwards; degenerating 
revere: have deep respect for 
reverent: feeling or showing deep respect 
rheumy: pertaining to a discharge from nose and eyes 
ribald: wanton; profane 
riddle: puzzling person or thing 
rife: abundant; current 
rift: split, crack, dissension 
risible: inclined to laugh; ludicrous  
rivet: fix, take up, secure; metal pin 
roan: brown mixed with gray or white  
robust: vigorous; strong  
rococo: ornate; highly decorated 
rope: thick strong cord made by twisting 
roseate: rosy; optimistic 
rotund: rich and deep; plump and round 
rubicund: having a healthy reddish color; ruddy; florid 
rubric: heading, title, or category 
ruddy: reddish; healthy-looking  
rudimentary: not developed; elementary  
rueful: regretful; sorrowful; dejected 
ruffian: violent, cruel man 
rumple: make rough 
ruthless: pitiless 
sacerdotal: priestly  
sacrilegious: desecrating; profane  
sacrosanct: most sacred; inviolable  
sadistic: inclined to cruelty  
saffron: orange-colored; colored like the autumn crocus 
sagacious: having sound judgment; perceptive, wise; like a sage 
salacious: obscene 
salient: prominent, protruding, conspicuous, highly relevant 
saline: salty 
sallow: yellowish; sickly in color 
salubrious: healthful 
salutary: remedial, wholesome, causing improvement 
sanctimony: self-righteousness, hypocritical, with false piety 
sanction: approval (by authority); penalty 
sanguinary: bloody 
sanguine: cheerful, confident, optimistic 
sanity: health of mind; soundness of judgment 
sap: weaken 
sapid: savory; tasty; relish able 
sapient: wise; shrewd 
sardonic: disdainful; sarcastic; cynical 
sash: long strip worn round the waist 
sate: satiate 
satiate: satisfy fully 
saturnine: gloomy, dark, sullen, morose 
savant: person of great learning 
savor: taste, flavor smth 
sawdust: tiny bits of wood 
scabbard: sheath for the blade 
scent: smell (esp pleasant) 
scorch: become discolored/dry up/go at high speed 
scribble: write hastily 
scrupulous: conscientious; extremely thorough 
scurrilous: obscene; indecent 
scurvy: mean, contemptible 
seal: piece of wax, lead, etc stamped on the document 
sebaceous: oily; fatty 
secular: material (not spiritual); living outside monasteries 
sedate: composed; grave  
sedentary: requiring sitting 
sedulous: persevering 
seminal: like a seed; constituting a source, originative 
sensual: devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptuous 
sententious: short and pithy, full of maxims/proverbs 
sequence: succession, connected line of 
sere: make hard and without feeling 
sermon: reproving a person for his faults 
serrated: having a toothed edge 
serration: having a toothed edge 
servile: like a slave, lacking independence 
sever: break off 
severance: severing 
shaft: arrow or spear, smth long and narrow 
shallow: little depth; not earnest 
shard: piece of broken earthenware 
sheath: cover for the blade of a weapon or a tool 
shoddy: sham; not genuine; inferior 
shove: push 
shrewd: astute; showing sound judgement 
shrill: sharp, piercing 
shun: keep away from; avoid 
shunt: send from one track to another; lay aside; evade discussion 
sidereal: relating to the stars 
sidestep: step to one side 
simian: monkeylike 
simper: (give a) silly/self-conscious smile 
sinister: evil 
sinuous: winding, undulating, serpentine 
skiff: small boat 
skit: short piece of humorous writing 
skittish: lively; frisky 
slack: sluggish; dull; not tight 
slake: to assuage, to satisfy, allay 
slate: king of blue-grey stone; propose; criticize 
sleazy: flimsy; unsubstantial 
slovenly: untidy; careless in work habits 
sluggard: lazy, slow-moving person 
slur: join sounds/words (indistinct) 
smolder: burn slowly without flame 
snare: trap 
snub: treat with contempt 
soar: rise, fly high 
sober: self-controlled 
sobriety: quality or condition of being sober 
sodden: soaked, saturated 
soggy: heavy with water 
solicitous: worried; concerned 
solvent: of the power of forming a solution 
somatic: of the body 
somnolent: half asleep 
sonorous: resonant 
soot: black powder in smoke 
sophisticated: complex, subtle, refined 
sophistry: fallacious reasoning, faulty logic 
sophomoric: self-assured though immature, affected, bombastic, overblown 
soporific: producing sleep 
sordid: wretched, comfortless, contemptible 
spasmodic: fitful; periodic 
spatial: relating to space 
spear: weapon with a metal point on a long shaft 
specious: illogical, of questionable truth or merit 
spectral: ghostly 
splenetic: bad-tempered, irritable 
splice: join (two ends) 
sponge: porous rubber for washing; live at once expense 
sporadic: occurring irregularly 
sportive: playful 
spurious: false, counterfeit 
spurn: have nothing to do; reject or refuse 
squat: crouch/settle without permission 
squalid: foul, filthy 
squander: spend wastefully 
stagnant: motionless; stale; dull 
staid:: sober; sedate 
stanch: to stop the flow of a fluid 
steeply: rising or falling sharply 
stellar: pertaining to the stars 
stentorian: extremely loud and powerful 
stickler: person who insists on importance of smth 
stigma: mark of shame or disgrace 
stigmatize: describe smb scornfully 
sting: smth sharp 
stingy: spending, using unwillingly 
stint: to be thrifty, to set limits 
stipple: paint with dots 
stipulate: state or put forward as a necessary condition 
stolid: showing no emotion; impassive 
strands: smth twisted together into a rope, line of development 
stray: wander, lose one's way 
streak: long, thin; move very fast 
striated: striped, grooved, or banded 
stride: walk with long steps 
strident: loud and harsh 
stringent: binding; rigid 
strut: a supporting bar 
stygian: hence, dark, gloomy 
stymie: to hinder, obstruct, or block 
subdue: overcome, bring under control 
sublime: extreme; astounding 
submerge: put under water, liquid, sink out of sight 
suborn: induce by bribery or smth to commit perjury 
subpoena: written order requiring a person to appear in a low court 
sub rosa: in strict confidence; privately  
subsequent: following; later  
subservient: behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious 
subsidiary: subordinate; secondary 
substantiation: giving facts to support (statement) 
subsume: include under a rule 
subversive: tending to overthrow or ruin  
succinct: brief; terse; compact 
succor: assistance, relief in time of distress 
succulent: juicy; full of richness 
suffice: be enough 
suffocate: cause or have difficulty in breathing 
sullied: to be stained or discredited 
sultry: sweltering 
summarily: briefly; without delay 
sumptuous: magnificent 
sundry: various, miscellaneous, separate 
superannuated: retired on pension because of age 
supercilious: disdainful; characterized by haughty scorn 
superficial: trivial; shallow 
superfluous: more then is needed or wanted 
superimpose: put smth on the top 
supersede: take the place of 
supine: lying on the back; slow to act, passive 
suppliant: asking humbly, beseeching 
supplicate: make a humble petition to 
supposititious: assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical 
suppress: prevent from being known; put an end to 
surcharge: additional load/charge 
surfeit: satiate, feed to fulness or to excess 
surly: rude; cross  
surreptitious: secret 
susceptibility:sensitiveness 
sustain: keep from falling; maintain; suffer; give a decision 
sycophant: person who flatter to the rich and powerful 
sylvan: pertaining to the woods; rustic 
synchronous: similarly timed; simultaneous with 
synopsis: summary or outline 
synthetic: artificial; resulting from synthesis 
swerve: change direction suddenly 
taciturn: untalkative, silent 
tadpole: form of a frog when it leaves the egg 
talon: claw of a bird of prey 
tamp: tap or drive down by repeated light blows 
tamper: interfere with 
tangential: suddenly changeable 
tantalize: tease; torture with disappointment 
tarnished: lost brightness 
tassel: bunch of threads 
taunt: contemptuous reproach, hurtful remark 
taut: tightly stretched 
tautology: a repetition, a redundancy 
tawdry: cheap, gaudy, showy, tacky 
tease: annoy; puzzling question 
tedious: tiresome 
teetotal: oppose to alcohol 
temerity: boldness, brashness, intrepidness 
temperance: abstinence from alcohol, self-control, moderation 
temperate: showing self-control 
temporize: avoid committing oneself; gain time 
tenacity: firmness, persistency, adhesiveness, tending to hang on 
tenuous: insubstantial, flimsy, weak 
tepid: lukewarm 
terse: brief and to the point 
testiness: witness/evidence 
tether: tie with a rope 
thrift: care, economy, thriving, prosperous 
throttle: strangle 
thwart: obstruct/frustrate 
timid: shy, easily frightened 
timorous: fearful, timid, afraid 
tipple: drink alcoholic beverages frequently 
toady: obsequious flatterer 
tolerable: fairly good 
tonic: smth giving strength or energy 
topple: be unsteady and overturn 
torment: severe pain or suffering 
torpid: sleeping, sluggish, lethargic, dormant 
torque: twisting force causing rotation 
tortuous: devious/not straightforward 
tortuous: full of twists and bends 
tout: person who worries others to buy smth, to use his service 
touting: act as tout 
toy: think not seriously, handle absent-mindedly 
tractable: easily controlled or guided 
traduce: expose to slander 
transcend: exceed; surpass  
transcribe: copy 
transgress: break, go beyond (a limit) 
transient: temporary, fleeting 
transitory: brief 
transmute: change; convert to something different 
transpire: exhale; become known; happen  
traverse: go through or across 
travesty: parody/imitation 
trek: travel; migrate 
trenchant: forceful, effective, vigorous; extremely perceptive, incisive 
trend: tendency, general direction 
trepidation: alarm, excited state of mind 
trickle: flow in drops 
trifling: unimportant 
trite: not new 
truce: (agreement) stop of fighting for a time 
truculence: aggressiveness, ferocity 
trudge: walk heavily 
turbid: muddy, having the sediment stirred up 
turbulence: being uncontrolled, violent 
turgid: excessively ornate; swollen or bloated 
turmoil: trouble, disturbance 
turpitude: wickedness, shamefulness 
turquoise: greenish-blue precious stone 
tyro: tiro, beginner 
ubiquitous: present everywhere 
ulterior: situated beyond 
ultimate: Final; not susceptible to further analysis; fundamental 
ultimatum: last demand; last warning; last statement of conditions that must be met 
umbrage: offense, resentment 
unaccountable: inexplicable; impossible to account for; unreasonable or mysterious 
unanimity: complete agreement 
unassailable: not open to attack; impregnable; not subject to question 
unassuaged: unsatisfied; not soothed 
unassuming: modest 
unbridled: violent; uncontrolled 
uncanny: strange; mysterious 
unconscionable: unscrupulous; not guided by conscience; excessive; beyond reason 
uncouth: rough, awkward 
unction: the act of anointing with oil 
unctuous: oily; bland; insincerely suave 
underbid: make a lower bid then somebody else 
underlying: lying below; fundamental 
undermine: weaken gradually; sap; dig a mine beneath 
underscore: underline; emphasize 
undulate: to move in wavelike fashion, fluctuate 
unearth: discover and bring to light 
unearthly: not earthly; supernatural; weird; ghostly 
unencumbered: easy-going, trifle 
unequivocal: plain; clear; obvious 
unerringly: infallibly 
unexceptionable: entirely acceptable; not offering any basis for criticism 
unfaltering: steadfast; firm; not changing 
unfeigned: not pretended, sincere 
unfetter: liberate; free from chains 
unfledged: immature; not having the feathers necessary to fly 
unfrock: defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority 
ungainly: awkward in movement; clumsy; unwieldy 
unguent: ointment 
uniformity: sameness; monotony 
unilateral: one-sided; involving or affecting only one side 
unimpeachable: that cannot be impeached; beyond doubt or question; blameless and exemplary 
uninhibited: unrepressed; free in behavior and feelings 
unintimidating: unfrightening 
unique: without an equal; single in kind 
unison: unity of pitch (in musical performance); complete accord 
universal: characterizing or affecting all; general; present everywhere; of the universe; cosmic 
unkempt: disheveled; uncared for in appearance; not combed 
unmitigated: (of something bad) not moderated; unrelieved or immoderate; without qualification; absolute 
unobtrusive: inconspicuous; not blatant 
unprecedented: having no previous example; novel; unparalleled 
unprepossessing: unattractive 
unravel: disentangle; solve 
unrequited: not requited; not reciprocated 
unruly: disobedient; lawless; difficult to control 
unsavory: distasteful; disagreeable; morally offensive 
unscathed: unharmed, unhurt 
unseemly: unbecoming; not proper in behavior; indecent 
unsightly: ugly; unpleasant to look at 
unsullied: untarnished 
untenable: (of a position, esp. in an argument) indefensible; not able to be maintained 
untoward: unfortunate, inconvenient 
unwarranted: unjustified; having no justification; groundless; baseless; undeserved 
unwieldy: awkward (to carry or move); cumbersome; unmanageable 
unwitting: not knowing; unaware; unintentional 
unwonted: unaccustomed; unusual 
upbraid: scold, reproach 
uproarious: marked by commotion or uproar; very noisy (esp. with laughter); hilarious; causing loud laughter; extremely funny 
uproar: noisy confusion 
upshot: outcome; final result 
urbane: elegant, refined in manners 
urchin: mischievous child (usually a boy) 
ursine: bear like; pertaining to a bear 
usurp: seize another's power or rank (without legal authority); supplant; appropriate 
usury: lending money at illegal high rates of interest 
utopia: ideal place, state, or society 
uxorious: excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife 
vacillation: being uncertain, hesitating 
vacuous: empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid 
vagabond: wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp 
vagary: strange act or idea 
vagrant: homeless wanderer  
vagrant: wandering from place to place; roving; stray; moving in a random fashion 
vain: without use, result; conceited 
vainglorious: boastful; excessively conceited 
valediction: saying farewell; expression of leave-taking  
valedictory: pertaining to farewell 
valiant: brave 
valid: logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable; effective 
validate: make valid; confirm; ratify  
valor: bravery 
valorous: brave 
vampire: ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living  
vanguard: forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement 
vanquish: conquer 
vantage: position giving an advantage (such as a strategic point) 
vapid: lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; ex. vapid lecture 
vapor: mist 
vaporize: turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)  
variegate: change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)  
variegated: (esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored  
varnish: paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film; glossy coating produced by using this substance 
vassal: in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord; subordinate or dependent  
vaunted: boasted; bragged; highly publicized; v. vaunt: boast; brag  
veer: change direction 
vegetate: live in a monotonous way (without interests or activity) 
vehement: forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong 
velocity: speed 
venal: capable of being bribed; corrupt 
vendetta: blood feud (esp. between two families) 
vendor: seller 
veneer: surface appearance covering the true nature 
veneration: regard with deep respect 
venial: (of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial 
venison: meat of a deer 
venom: poison (of an animal); hatred 
vent: small opening; outlet (as of fumes or a gas) 
vent: release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly); utter 
ventilate: admit fresh air into to replace stale air 
ventral: abdominal 
ventriloquist: someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing 
venture: risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk 
venturesome: (of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an action) risky 
venue: location; place (of a crime, trial, gathering, etc.) 
veracious: (of a person) truthful 
veracity: truth 
verbalize: put into words; adj. verbal: of words; spoken rather than written; oral; of a verb 
verbatim: word for word; in the same words; repeating the actual words exactly 
verbiage: pompous array of words; too many unnecessary words; wordiness 
verbose: wordy 
verdant: fresh and green 
verdigris: green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather 
verge: border; edge, rim, or margin; ex. on the verge of: very near to 
verisimilar: having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible 
verisimilitude: appearing true or real 
veritable: real, rightly named 
verity: quality of being true; lasting truth or principle 
vernacular: living language (as compared to the official language); language spoken in a country or region; natural style 
vernal: pertaining to spring 
versatile: having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions 
vertex: summit; highest point 
vertigo: severe dizziness; giddiness 
verve: spirit, vigor, enthusiasm 
vestige: trace or sign 
veto: vested power to reject a bill; exercise of this right 
vex: annoy, distress, trouble 
viable: capable of maintaining life; feasible; practical or workable 
viand: food 
vibrant: full of vigor or energy; vibrating 
vicarious: experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute 
vicar: parish priest; representative 
vicissitude: change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune 
victuals: food; provisions 
vie: contend; compete 
vigilance: watchfulness, self-appointed group who maintain order 
vigilant: watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to spot danger 
vigil: keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours) 
vigilante: one who without authority assumes law enforcement powers 
vigor: active strength; energy; enthusiasm 
vigorous: strong, energetic 
vignette: small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene 
vilify: slander, say evil things 
vindicate: clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge 
vindictive: having a desire to revenge 
vintner: wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine 
viper: poisonous snake 
virago: a loud, domineering woman; a scold or nag 
virile: manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength 
virtual: in essence; existing in essence though not in actual form; for practical purposes 
virtue: goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage 
virtuoso: highly skilled artist (esp. in music) 
virulent: (of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter 
virus: disease communicator 
visage: face; appearance 
visceral: of the internal organs of the body 
viscid: adhesive; gluey 
viscous: sticky/semi-fluid 
vise: vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device 
vision: eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural 
visionary: produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical; showing foresight 
vital: full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing 
vitiate: lower the quality; weaken the strength 
vitreous: of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass 
vitriolic: causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol 
vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression 
vituperate: curse, abuse in words 
vivacious: lively, high-spirited 
vivisection: act of dissecting living animals 
vixen: female fox; ill-tempered woman 
vociferous: clamorous; noisy 
vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining) 
vogue: popular fashion 
volatile: changeable, inconstant, fickle, unstable, explosive 
Volition: act of using one's will; act of making a conscious choice 
Volley: simultaneous discharge of a number of shots 
volubility: fluency, verbosity, easy use of spoken language 
voluble: fluent 
voluminous: occupying much space 
voodoo: religion practiced chiefly in haiti 
voracious: ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable 
vortex: whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged 
vouchsafe: grant condescendingly; guarantee 
vouch: give a personal guarantee 
voyeur: peeping tom; person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others 
vulnerable: susceptible to wounds or attack 
vulpine: like a fox; crafty 
vulture: carrion-eating birds 
vying: contending
wade: walk through a substance, such as water, that impedes movement  
waffle: talk vaguely and without much result 
waft: scent, waving movement; carry lightly through 
wag: merry person 
wage: payment, carry on, engage in (war) 
waggish: humorous; mischievous; tricky  
waif: homeless child or animal;  
waive: give up temporarily; yield;  
wake: trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before;  
wallow:  roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless;  
wan: having a pale or sickly color; pallid  
wanderlust: strong longing to travel  
wane: decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end;  
wangle: achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake;  
wanton: unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous;  
warble: (of a bird) sing; babble;  
ward: administrative division of a city; division in a hospital or prison; 
warmonger: person who stirs up war 
warp: become bent 
warrant: authority, written order, guarantee 
warranted:  justified; authorized  
warranty: guarantee; assurance by seller  
warren: tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live  
wary: cautious 
wastrel: waster; profligate  
waver: move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady in decision or movement;  
wax: increase gradually (as the moon); grow  
waylay: ambush; lie in wait for and attack  
wean: to turn away (from a habit) 
weary: tired after long work;  
weather: pass safely through (a storm or difficult period); endure the effects of weather or other forces  
weave: make (threads) into cloth 
weigh: measure how heavy something is 
weird: eerie; strange; unnatural  
welt: raised mark from a beating or whipping  
welter: turmoil; a bewildering jumble 
wend: to go, proceed 
wheedle: deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax;  
whelp: young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.  
whet: sharpen; stimulate;  
whiff: puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); short-lasting smell; hint;  
whim: sudden capricious idea; fancy  
whimsical: full of odd and fanciful ideas 
whimsy: whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely;  
whine: complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as in pain or supplication)  
whinny: neigh like a horse;  
whit: small amount; smallest speck;  
whittle: pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually; trim  
wholesome: conducive to mental or physical health; heal
whorl: ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement;  
wiggle: wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions  
willful: intentional; headstrong  
willowy: flexible; pliant; slender;  
wilt: loose freshness; droop  
wily: crafty; cunning; artful;  
wince: show bodily or mental pain 
windfall: fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event  
winnow: sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad;  
winsome: charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging  
wisp: small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)  
wispy: thin; slight; barely discernible  
wistful: sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing  
withdrawn: introverted; retiring; remote  
wither: (of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay  
withhold: refuse to give; hold back;  
withstand: stand up against; resist successfully  
witless: lacking intelligence or wit; foolish; idiotic  
witticism: witty saying; wisecrack (clever joking remark)  
wizardry: sorcery; magic  
wizened: shriveled; withered;  
woe: great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering;  
woeful: sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably bad;  
wont: (the stated person's) habit or custom; habitual procedure;  
woo: try to win 
worldly: engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual; of the material world 
wrangle: quarrel noisily; obtain through arguing; herd cattle;  
wrath: anger; fury  
wreak: inflict;  
wrench: twist; pull; strain;  
wrest: obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence;  
wretch: miserable person; bad or despicable person;  
wring: twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting; wrench painfully (necks or hands)  
wrinkle: small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); v.  
writ: written order 
writhe: twist in coils; contort in pain  
wrongheaded: stubbornly wrong  
wry: (esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing displeasure) 
xenophobia: fear or hatred of foreigners 
yarn: tale, story; fibers for knitting 
yen: strong desire; longing; urge 
yeoman: man or farmer owning small estate; middle-class farmer  
yield: amount produced; crop; income on investment; profit obtained from an investment 
yoke: join together; unite 
yokel: rustic; country bumpkin 
yore: time long past 
zany: comic; crazy 
zeal: eager enthusiasm (to a cause or ideal) 
zealot: one who is zealous; fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal  
zenith: point directly overhead in the sky; summit; acme; highest point  
zephyr: gentle breeze; west wind  
zest: interest; flavor; spirited enjoyment